Title: The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night — Volume 02
Author: Richard F. Burton, - To be updated
Language: English
As this book started as an ASCII text book there are no pictures available.


*** Start of this LibraryBlog Digital Book "The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night — Volume 02" ***


Laura Shaffer, Lan Wang, Doris Ringbloom



THE BOOK OF THE THOUSAND NIGHTS AND A NIGHT

A Plain and Literal Translation

of the Arabian Nights Entertainments

Translated and Annotated by Richard F. Burton

                           VOLUME TWO

Privately Printed By The Burton Club

                      To John Payne, Esq.

My Dear Sir,

     Allow me thus publicly to express my admiration of your magnum
     opus, "The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night;" and to
     offer you my cordial thanks for honouring me with the dedication
     of that scholar-like and admirable version.

                    Ever yours sincerely,

                         Richard F. Burton.

Queen's College, Oxford,

     August 1, 1885.


                 Contents of the Second Volume

7.   Nur Al-Din Ali and the Damsel Anis Al-Jalis

8.   Tale of Ghanim Bin Ayyub, The Distraught, The Thrall O' Love

     a.   Tale of the First Eunuch, Bukhayt

     b.   Tale of the Second Eunuch, Kafur

9.   Tale of King Omar Bin Al-Nu'uman and His Sons Sharrkan and

     Zau Al-Makan

     a.   Tale of Taj Al-Muluk and the Princess Dunya

          aa.  Tale of Aziz and Azizah


The Book Of The

THOUSAND NIGHTS AND A NIGHT

          Nur Al-Din Ali and the Damsel Anis Al-Jalis

Quoth Shahrazad [FN#1]:—It hath reached me, O auspicious King of
intelligence penetrating, that there was, amongst the Kings of
Bassorah[FN#2], a King who loved the poor and needy and cherished his
lieges, and gave of his wealth to all who believed in Mohammed (whom
Allah bless and assain!), and he was even as one of the poets described
him,

"A King who when hosts of the foe invade, * Receives them with

     lance-lunge and sabre-sway;

Writes his name on bosoms in thin red lines, * And scatters the

     horsemen in wild dismay."[FN#3]


His name was King Mohammed bin Sulayman al-Zayni, and he had two
Wazirs, one called Al-Mu'ín, son of Sáwí and the other Al-Fazl son of
Khákán. Now Al-Fazl was the most generous of the people of his age,
upright of life, so that all hearts united in loving him and the wise
flocked to him for counsel; whilst the subjects used to pray for his
long life, because he was a compendium of the best qualities,
encouraging the good and lief, and preventing evil and mischief.  But
the Wazir Mu'ín bin Sáwí on the contrary hated folk [FN#4] and loved
not the good and was a mere compound of ill; even as was said of him,

"Hold to nobles, sons of nobles! 'tis ever Nature's test  * That

     nobles born of nobles shall excel in noble deed:

And shun the mean of soul, meanly bred, for 'tis the law, *  Mean

     deeds come of men who are mean of blood and breed."


And as much as the people loved and fondly loved Al-Fazl bin Khákán, so
they hated and thoroughly hated the mean and miserly Mu'ín bin Sáwí. It
befel one day by the decree of the Decreer, that King Mohammed bin
Sulayman al-Zayni, being seated on his throne with his officers of
state about him, summoned his Wazir Al-Fazl and said to him, "I wish to
have a slave-girl of passing beauty, perfect in loveliness, exquisite
in symmetry and endowed with all praiseworthy gifts."  Said the
courtiers, "Such a girl is not to be bought for less than ten thousand
gold pieces:" whereupon the Sultan called out to his treasurer and
said, "Carry ten thousand dinars to the house of Al-Fazl bin Khákán."
The treasurer did the King's bidding; and the Minister went away, after
receiving the royal charge to repair to the slave-bazar every day, and
entrust to brokers the matter aforesaid.  Moreover the King issued
orders that girls worth above a thousand gold pieces should not be
bought or sold without being first displayed to the Wazir.  Accordingly
no broker purchased a slave-girl ere she had been paraded before the
minister; but none pleased him, till one day a dealer came to the house
and found him taking horse and intending for the palace.  So he caught
hold of his stirrup saying,

"O thou, who givest to royal state sweet savour, * Thou'rt a

     Wazir shalt never fail of favour!

Dead Bounty thou hast raised to life for men;  * Ne'er fail of

     Allah's grace such high endeavour!"


Then quoth he, "O my lord, that surpassing object for whom the gracious
mandate was issued is at last found; [FN#5]" and quoth the Wazir, "Here
with her to me!"  So he went away and returned after a little, bringing
a damsel in richest raiment robed, a maid spear-straight of stature and
five feet tall; budding of bosom with eyes large and black as by Kohl
traced, and dewy lips sweeter than syrup or the sherbet one sips, a
virginette smooth cheeked and shapely faced, whose slender waist with
massive hips was engraced; a form more pleasing than branchlet waving
upon the top-most trees, and a voice softer and gentler than the
morning breeze, even as saith one of those who have described her,

"Strange is the charm which dights her brows like Luna's disk

     that shine; * O sweeter taste than sweetest Robb[FN#6] or

     raisins of the vine.

A throne th'Empyrean keeps for her in high and glorious state, *

     For wit and wisdom, wandlike form and graceful bending line:

She in the Heaven of her face[FN#7] the seven-fold stars

     displays, * That guard her cheeks as satellites against

     the spy's design:

If man should cast a furtive glance or steal far look at her, *

     His heart is burnt by devil-bolts shot by those piercing

     eyne."


When the Wazir saw her she made him marvel with excess of admiration,
so he turned, perfectly pleased, to the broker and asked, "What is the
price of this girl?"; whereto he answered, "Her market-value stands at
ten thousand dinars, but her owner swears that this sum will not cover
the cost of the chickens she hath eaten, the wine she hath drunken and
the dresses of honour bestowed upon her instructor: for she hath
learned calligraphy and syntax and etymology; the commentaries of the
Koran; the principles of law and religion; the canons of medicine, and
the calendar and the art of playing on musical instruments."[FN#8] Said
the Wazir, "Bring me her master."  So the broker brought him at once
and, behold, he was a Persian of whom there was left only what the days
had left; for he was as a vulture bald and scald and a wall trembling
to its fall.  Time had buffetted him with sore smart, yet was he not
willing this world to depart; even as said the poet,

"Time hath shattered all my frame, *  Oh! how time hath

     shattered me.

Time with lordly might can tame    * Manly strength and vigour

     free.

Time was in my youth, that none    * Sped their way more fleet

     and fast:

Time is and my strength is gone,   * Youth is sped, and speed

     is past.[FN#9]"


The Wazir asked him, "Art thou content to sell this slave-girl to the
Sultan for ten thousand dinars?"; and the Persian answered, "By Allah,
if I offer her to the King for naught, it were but my devoir."[FN#10]
So the Minister bade bring the monies and saw them weighed out to the
Persian, who stood up before him and said, "By the leave of our lord
the Wazir, I have somewhat to say;" and the Wazir replied, "Out with
all thou hast!"  "It is my opinion," continued the slave-dealer, "that
thou shouldst not carry the maid to the King this day; for she is newly
off a journey; the change of air[FN#11] hath affected her and the toils
of trouble have fretted her.  But keep her quiet in thy palace some ten
days, that she may recover her looks and become again as she was.  Then
send her to the Hammam and clothe her in the richest of clothes and go
up with her to the Sultan: this will be more to thy profit."  The Wazir
pondered the Persian's words and approved of their wisdom; so he
carried her to his palace, where he appointed her private rooms, and
allowed her every day whatever she wanted of meat and drink and so
forth.  And on this wise she abode a while. Now the Wazir Al-Fazl had a
son like the full moon when sheeniest dight, with face radiant in
light, cheeks ruddy bright, and a mole like a dot of ambergris on a
downy site; as said of him the poet and said full right,

"A moon which blights you[FN#12] if you dare behold; * A branch

     which folds you in its waving fold:

Locks of the Zanj[FN#13] and golden glint of hair; * Sweet gait

     and form a spear to have and hold:

Ah! hard of heart with softest slenderest waist, * That evil to

     this weal why not remould?[FN#14]

Were thy form's softness placed in thy heart, * Ne'er would thy

     lover find thee harsh and cold:

Oh thou accuser! be my love's excuser, * Nor chide if love-pangs

     deal me woes untold!

I bear no blame: 'tis all my hear and eyne; * So leave thy

     blaming, let me yearn and pine."


Now the handsome youth knew not the affair of the damsel; and his
father had enjoined her closely, saying, "Know, O my daughter, that I
have bought thee as a bedfellow for our King, Mohammed bin Sulayman
al-Zayni; and I have a son who is a Satan for girls and leaves no maid
in the neighbourhood without taking her maidenhead; so be on thy guard
against him and beware of letting him see thy face or hear they voice."
"Hearkening and obedience," said the girl; and he left her and fared
forth.  Some days after this it happened by decree of Destiny, that the
damsel repaired to the baths in the house, where some of the slave
women bathed her; after which she arrayed herself in sumptuous raiment;
and her beauty and loveliness were thereby redoubled.  Then she went in
to the Wazir's wife and kissed her hand; and the dame said to her,
"Naiman!  May it benefit thee,[FN#15] O Anis al- Jalis![FN#16]  Are not
our baths handsome?"  "O my mistress," she replied, "I lacked naught
there save thy gracious presence." Thereupon the lady said to her
slave-women, "Come with us to the Hammam, for it is some days since we
went there:" they answered, "To hear is to obey!" and rose and all
accompanied her. Now she had set two little slave-girls to keep the
door of the private chamber wherein was Anis al-Jalis and had said to
them, "Suffer none go in to the damsel."  Presently, as the beautiful
maiden sat resting in her rooms, suddenly came in the Wazir's son whose
name was Nur al-Din Ali,[FN#17] and asked after his mother and her
women, to which the two little slave-girls replied, "They are in the
Hammam."  But the damsel, Anis al-Jalis, had heard from within Nur
al-Din Ali's voice and had said to herself, "O would Heaven I saw what
like is this youth against whom the Wazir warned me, saying that he
hath not left a virgin in the neighbourhood without taking her
virginity: by Allah, I do long to have sight of him!"  So she sprang to
her feet with the freshness of the bath on her and, stepping to the
door, looked at Nur al-Din Ali and saw a youth like the moon in its
full and the sight bequeathed her a thousand sighs. The young man also
glanced at her and the look make him heir to a thousand thoughts of
care; and each fell into Love's ready snare.  Then he stepped up to the
two little slave-girls and cried aloud at them; whereupon both fled
before him and stood afar off to see what he would do.  And behold, he
walked to the door of the damsel's chamber and, opening it, went in and
asked her "Art thou she my father bought for me?" and she answered
"Yes." Thereupon the youth, who was warm with wine, came up to her and
embraced her; then he took her legs and passed them round his waist and
she wound her arms about his neck, and met him with kisses and murmurs
of pleasure and amorous toyings.  Next he sucked her tongue and she
sucked his, and lastly, he loosed the strings of her petticoat-trousers
and abated her maidenhead.  When the two little slave-girls saw their
young master get in unto the damsel, Anis al-Jalis, they cried out and
shrieked; so as soon as the youth had had his wicked will of her, he
rose and fled forth fearing the consequences of his ill-doing.  When
the Wazir's wife heard the slave-girls' cries, she sprang up and came
out of the baths with the perspiration pouring from her face, saying,
"What is this unseemly clamour in the house[FN#18]?"  Then she came up
to the two little slave- girls and asked them saying, "Fie upon you!
what is the matter?"; and both answered, "Verily our lord Nur al-Din
came in and beat us, so we fled; then he went up to Anis al-Jalis and
threw his arms round her and we know not what he did after that; but
when we cried out to thee he ran away." Upon this the lady went to Anis
al-Jalis and said to her, "What tidings?"  "O my lady," she answered,
"as I was sitting here lo! a handsome young man came in and said to
me:—Art thou she my father bought for me?; and I answered Yes; for, by
Allah, O mistress mine, I believed that his words were true; and he
instantly came in and embraced me."  "Did he nought else with thee but
this?" quoth the lady, and quoth she, "Indeed he did!  But he did it
only three times." "He did not leave thee without dishonouring thee!"
cried the Wazir's wife and fell to weeping and buffetting her face, she
and the girl and all the handmaidens, fearing lest Nur al-Din's father
should kill him.[FN#19]  Whilst they were thus, in came the Wazir and
asked what was the matter, and his wife said to him, "Swear that whatso
I tell thee thou wilt attend to it."  "I will," answered he.  So she
related to him what his son had done, whereat he was much concerned and
rent his raiment and smote his face till his nose bled, and plucked out
his beard by the handful. "Do not kill thyself," said his wife, "I will
give thee ten thousand dinars, her price, of my own money."  But he
raised his head and cried, "Out upon thee!  I have no need of her
purchase-money: my fear is lest life as well as money go."  "O my lord,
and how is that?" "Wottest thou not that yonder standeth our enemy Al
Mu'ín bin Sáwí who, as soon as he shall hear of this matter, will go up
to the Sultan"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased
saying her permitted say.

              When it was the Thirty-fifth Night,

She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Wazir
said to his wife, "Wottest thou not that yonder standeth our enemy
Al-Mu'ín bin Sáwí who, as soon as he hears of this matter will go up to
the Sultan and say to him, 'Thy Wazir who, thou wilt have it loveth
thee, took from thee ten thousand ducats and bought therewith a
slave-girl whose like none ever beheld; but when he saw her, she
pleased him and he said to his son, 'Take her: thou art worthier of her
than the Sultan.'  So he took her and did away with her virginity and
she is now in his house.' The King will say, 'Thou liest!' to which he
will reply, 'With thy leave I will fall upon him unawares and bring her
to thee.' The King will give him warranty for this and he will come
down upon the house and will take the girl and present her to the
Sultan, who will question her and she will not be able to deny the
past.  Then mine enemy will say, 'O my lord, thou wottest that I give
thee the best of counsel; but I have not found favour in thine eyes.' 
Thereupon the Sultan will make an example of me, and I shall be a
gazing-stock to all the people and my life will be lost." Quoth his
wife, "Let none know of this thing which hath happened privily, and
commit thy case to Allah and trust in Him to save thee from such
strait; for He who knoweth the future shall provide for the future." 
With this she brought the Wazir a cup of wine and his heart was
quieted, and he ceased to feel wrath and fear.  Thus far concerning
him; but as regards his son Nur al-Din Ali, fearing the consequence of
his misdeed he abode his day long in the flower garden and came back
only at night to his mother's apartment where he slept; and, rising
before dawn, returned to the gardens.  He ceased not to do thus for two
whole months without showing his face to his parent, till at last his
mother said to his father, "O my lord, shall we lose our boy as well as
the girl?  If matters continue long in this way he will flee from us." 
"And what to do?" asked he; and she answered, "Do thou watch this
night; and, when he cometh, seize on him and frighten him: I will
rescue him from thee and do thou make peace with him and give him the
damsel to wife, for she loveth him as he loveth her.  And I will pay
thee her price." So the Minister say up that night and, when his son
came, he seized him and throwing him down knelt on his breast and
showed as thou he would cut his throat; but his mother ran to the
youth's succour and asked her husband, "What wouldest thou do with
him?"  He answered her, "I will split his weasand."  Said the son to
the father, "Is my death, then, so light a matter to thee?"; and his
father's eyes welled with tears, for natural affection moved him, and
he rejoined, "O my son, how light was to thee the loss of my good and
my life!"  Quoth Nur al-Din, "Hear, O my father, what the poet hath
said,

‘Forgive me! thee-ward sinned I, but the wise * Ne'er to the

     sinner shall deny his grace:

Thy foe may pardon sue when lieth he * In lowest, and thou

     holdest highest place!'"


Thereupon the Wazir rose from off his son's breast saying, "I forgive
thee!"; for his heart yearned to him; and the youth kissed the hand of
his sire who said, "O my son, were I sure that thou wouldest deal
justly by Anis al-Jalis, I would give her to thee."  "O my father, what
justice am I to do to her?"  "I enjoin thee, O my son, not to take
another wife or concubine to share with her, nor sell her."  "O my
father! I swear to thee that verily I will not do her injustice in
either way."  Having sworn to that effect Nur al-Din went in to the
damsel and abode with her a whole year, whilst Allah Almighty caused
the King to forget the matter of the maiden; and Al-Mu'ín, though the
affair came to his ears, dared not divulge it by reason of the high
favour in which his rival stood with the Sultan.  At the end of the
year Al-Fazl went one day to the public baths; and, as he came out
whilst he was still sweating, the air struck him[FN#20] and he caught a
cold which turned to a fever; then he took to his bed. His malady
gained ground and restlessness was longsome upon him and weakness bound
him like a chain; so he called out, "Hither with my son;" and when Nur
al-Din Ali came he said to him, "O my son, know that man's lot and
means are distributed and decreed; and the end of days by all must be
dree'd; and that every soul drain the cup of death is nature's need." 
The he repeated these lines,

"I die my death, but He alone is great who dieth not! * And well

     I wot, soon shall I die, for death was made my lot:

A King there's not that dies and holds his kingdom in his hand, *

     For Sovranty the Kingdom is of Him who dieth not."


Then he continued, "O my son, I have no charge to leave thee save that
thou fear Allah and look to the issues of thine acts and bear in mind
my injunctions anent Anis al-Jalis."  "O my father!" said Nur al-Din,
"who is like unto thee? Indeed thou art famed for well doing and
preachers offer prayers for thee in their pulpits!"  Quoth Al-Fazl, "O
my son, I hope that Allah Almighty may grant me acceptance!"  Then he
pronounced the Two Testimonies,[FN#21] or Professions of the Faith, and
was recorded among the blessed.  The palace was filled with crying and
lamentation and the news of his death reached the King, and the
city-people wept, even those at their prayers and women at household
cares and the school-children shed tears for Bin- Khákán.  Then his son
Nur al-Din Ali arose and made ready his funeral, and the Emirs and
Wazirs and high Officers of State and city-notables were present,
amongst them the Wazir al-Mu'ín bin Sáwí. And as the bier went forth
from the house some one in the crowd of mourners began to chant these
lines,

"On the fifth day I quitted al my friends for evermore, * And

     they laid me out and washed me on a slab without my

     door:[FN#22]

They stripped me of the clothes I was ever wont to wear, * And

     they clothed me in the clothes which till then I never wore.

On four men's necks they bore me and carried me from home * To

     chapel; and some prayed for him on neck they bore:

They prayed for me a prayer that no prostration knows;[FN#23] *

     They prayed for me who praised me and were my friends of

     yore;

And they laid me in a house with a ceiling vaulted o'er, * And

     Time shall be no more ere it ope to me its door."


When they had shovelled in the dust over him and the crowd had
dispersed, Nur al-Din returned home and he lamented with sobs and
tears; and the tongue of the case repeated these couplets,

"On the fifth day at even-tide they went away from me: *

     farewelled them as faring they made farewell my lot:

But my spirit as they went, with them went and so I cried, * 'Ah

     return ye!' but replied she, 'Alas! return is not

To a framework lere and lorn that lacketh blood and life, * A

     frame whereof remaineth naught but bones that rattle and

     rot:

Mine eyes are blind and cannot see quencht by the flowing tear! *

     Mine ears are dull and lost to sense: they have no power to

     hear!'"


He abode a long time sorrowing for his father till, one day, as he was
sitting at home, there came a knocking at the door; so he rose in haste
and opening let in a man, one of his father's intimates and who had
been the Wazir's boon-companion.  The visitor kissed Nur al-Din's hand
and said to him, "O my lord, he who hath left the like of thee is not
dead; and this way went also the Chief of the Ancients and the Moderns.
[FN#24] O my lord Ali, be comforted and leave sorrowing."  Thereupon
Nur al-Din rose and going to the guest-saloon transported thither all
he needed. Then he assembled his companions and took his handmaid
again; and, collecting round him ten of the sons of the merchants,
began to eat meat and drink wine, giving entertainment after
entertainment and lavishing his presents and his favours. One day his
Steward came to him and said, "O my lord Nur al-Din, hast thou not
heard the saying, Whoso spendeth and reckoneth not, to poverty wendeth
and recketh not?"  And he repeated what the poet wrote,

"I look to my money and keep it with care, * For right well I wot

     'tis my buckler and brand:

Did I lavish my dirhams on hostilest foes,[FN#25] * I should

     truck my good luck by mine ill luck trepanned:

So I'll eat it and drink it and joy in my wealth; * And no

     spending my pennies on others I'll stand:

I will keep my purse close 'gainst whoever he be; * And a niggard

     in grain a true friend ne'er I fand:

Far better deny him than come to say:—Lend, * And five-fold the

     loan shall return to thy hand!

And he turns face aside and he sidles away, * While I stand like

     a dog disappointed, unmanned,

Oh, the sorry lot his who hath yellow-boys none, * Though his

     genius and virtues shine bright as the sun!


O my master," continued the Steward, "this lavish outlay and these
magnificent gifts waste away wealth."  When Nur al-Din Ali heard these
words he looked at his servant and cried, "Of all thou hast spoken I
will not heed one single word, for I have heard the saying of the poet
who saith,

'An my palm be full of wealth and my wealth I ne'er bestow, * A

     palsy take my hand and my foot ne'er rise again!

Show my niggard who by niggardise e'er rose to high degree, * Or

     the generous gifts generally hath slain.'"


And he pursued, "Know, O Steward, it is my desire that so long as thou
hast money enough for my breakfast, thou trouble me not with taking
thought about my supper."  Thereupon the Steward asked, "Must it be
so?"; and he answered, "It must."  So the honest man went his way and
Nur al-Din Ali devoted himself to extravagance; and, if any of his
cup-companions chanced to say, "This is a pretty thing;" he would
reply, "'Tis a gift to thee!"; or if another said, "O my lord, such a
house is handsome;" he would answer, "Take it: it is thine!" After this
reckless fashion he continued to live for a whole year, giving his
friends a banquet in the morning and a banquet in the evening and a
banquet at midnight, till one day, as the company was sitting together,
the damsel Anis al-Jalis repeated these lines,

"Thou deemedst well of Time when days went well, * And feardest

     not what ills might deal thee Fate:

Thy nights so fair and restful cozened thee, *  For peaceful

     nights bring woes of heavy weight."


When she had ended her verse behold, somebody knocked at the door. So
Nur al-Din rose to open it and one of his boon- companions followed him
without being perceived.  At the door he found his Steward and asked
him, "What is the matter?"; and he answered, "O my lord, what I dreaded
for thee hath come to pass!" "How so?"  "Know that there remains not a
dirham's worth, less or more in my hands.  Here are my Daftars and
account books showing both income and outlay and the registers of thine
original property."  When Nur al-Din heard these words he bowed his
head and said, "There is no Majesty and there is no Might save in
Allah!"  When the man who had followed him privily to spy on him heard
the Steward's words, he returned to his friends and warned them saying,
"Look ye well to what ye do: Nur al-Din is penniless;" and, as the
young host came back to his guests, vexation showed itself in his face.
 Thereupon one of the intimates rose; and, looking at the entertainer,
said to him, "O my lord, may be thou wilt give me leave to retire?" 
"And why so early retirement this day?"; asked he and the other
answered him, "My wife is in childbirth and I may not be absent from
her: indeed I must return and see how she does."  So he gave him leave,
whereupon another rose and said, "O my lord Nur al-Din, I wish now to
go to my brother's for he circumciseth his son to- day."[FN#26]  In
short each and every asked permission to retire on some pretence or
other, till all the ten were gone leaving Nur al-Din alone.  Then he
called his slave-girl and said to her, "O Anis al-Jalis, hast thou seen
what case is mine?"  And he related to her what the Steward had told
him.  Then quoth she, "O my lord, for many nights I had it in my mind
to speak with thee of this matter, but I heard thee repeating,

'When the World heaps favours on thee, pass on * Thy favours to

     friends ere her hand she stay:

Largesse never let her when fain she comes, * Nor niggardise kept

     her from turning away!'


When I heard these verses I held my peace and cared not to exchange a
word with thee."  "O Anis al-Jalis," said Nur al-Din, "thou knowest
that I have not wasted my wealth save on my friends, especially these
ten who have now left me a pauper, and I think they will not abandon
and desert me without relief."  "By Allah," replied she, "they will not
profit thee with aught of aid."  Said he, "I will rise at once and go
to them and knock at their doors; it may be I shall get from them
somewhat wherewith I may trade and leave pastime and pleasuring." So he
rose without stay or delay, and repaired to a street wherein all his
ten friends lived.  He went up to the nearest door and knocked;
whereupon a handmaid came out and asked him, "Who art thou?"; and he
answered, "Tell thy master that Nur al-Din Ali standeth at the door and
saith to him, 'Thy slave kisseth thy hand and awaiteth thy bounty.'" 
The girl went in and told her master, who cried at her, "Go back and
say, 'My master is not at home.'"  So she returned to Nur al-Din, and
said to him, "O my lord, my master is out." Thereupon he turned away
and said to himself, "If this one be a whoreson knave and deny himself,
another may not prove himself such knave and whoreson."  Then he went
up to the next door and sent in a like message to the house-master, who
denied himself as the first had done, whereupon he began repeating,

"He is gone who when to his gate thou go'st, * Fed thy famisht maw with
his boiled and roast."

When he had ended his verse he said, "By Allah, there is no help but
that I make trial of them all: perchance there be one amongst them who
will stand me in the stead of all the rest."  So he went the round of
the ten, but not one of them would open his door to him or show himself
or even break a bit of bread before him; whereupon he recited,

"Like a tree is he who in wealth doth wone, * And while fruits he

     the folk to his fruit shall run:

But when bared the tree of what fruit it bare, * They leave it to

     suffer from dust and sun.

Perdition to all of this age!  I find * Ten rogues for every

     righteous one."


Then he returned to his slave-girl and his grief had grown more
grievous and she said to him, "O my lord, did I not tell thee, none
would profit thee with aught of aid?"  And he replied, "By Allah, not
one of them would show me his face or know me!"  "O my lord," quoth
she, "sell some of the moveables and household stuff, such as pots and
pans, little by little; and expend the proceeds until Allah Almighty
shall provide."  So he sold all of that was in the house till nothing
remained when he turned to Anis al-Jalis and asked her "What shall we
do now?"; and she answered, "O my lord, it is my advice that thou rise
forthwith and take me down to the bazar and sell me.  Thou knowest that
they father bought me for ten thousand dinars: haply Allah may open
thee a way to get the same price, and if it be His will to bring us
once more together, we shall meet again."  "O Anis al- Jalis," cried
he, "by Allah it is no light matter for me to be parted from thee for a
single hour!"  "By Allah, O my lord," she replied, "nor is it easy to
me either, but Need hath its own law, as the poet said,

'Need drives a man into devious roads, * And pathways doubtful of

     trend and scope:

No man to a rope[FN#27] will entrust his weight, * Save for cause

     that calleth for case of rope.'"


Thereupon he rose to his feet and took her,[FN#28] whilst the tears
rolled down his cheek like rain; and he recited with the tongue of the
case these lines,

"Stay! grant one parting look before we part, * Nerving my heart

     this severance to sustain:

But, an this parting deal thee pain and bane, * Leave me to die

     of love and spare thee pain!"


Then he went down with her to the bazar and delivered her to the broker
and said to him, "O Hajj Hasan,[FN#29] I pray thee note the value of
her thou hast to cry for sale."  "O my lord Nur al- Din," quoth the
broker, "the fundamentals are remembered;"[FN#30] adding, "Is not this
the Anis al-Jalis whom thy father bought of me for ten thousand
dinars?" "Yes," said Nur al-Din.  Thereupon the broker went round to
the merchants, but found that all had not yet assembled. So he waited
till the rest had arrived and the market was crowded with slave-girls
of all nations, Turks, Franks and Circassians; Abyssinians, Nubians and
Takruris;[FN#31] Tartars, Georgians and others; when he came forward
and standing cried aloud, "O merchants! O men of money! every round
thing is not a walnut and every long thing a banana is not; all reds
are not meat nor all whites fat, nor is every brown thing a
date![FN#32]  O merchants, I have here this union-pearl that hath no
price: at what sum shall I cry her?" "Cry her at four thousand five
hundred dinars," quoth one of the traders. The broker opened the door
of sale at the sum named and, as he was yet calling, lo! the Wazir
Al-Mu'ín bin Sáwí passed through the bazar and, seeing Nur al-Din Ali
waiting at one side, said to himself, "Why is Khákán's son[FN#33]
standing about here? Hath this gallows-bird aught remaining wherewith
to buy slave-girls?"  Then he looked round and, seeing the broker
calling out in the market with all the merchants around him, said to
himself, "I am sure that he is penniless and hath brought hither the
damsel Anis al-Jalis for sale;" adding, "O how cooling and grateful is
this to my heart!" Then he called the crier, who came up and kissed the
ground before him; and he said to him, "I want this slave-girl whom
thou art calling for sale."  The broker dared not cross him, so he
answered, "O my lord, Bismillah! in Allah's name so be it;" and led
forward the damsel and showed her to him.  She pleased him much whereat
he asked, "O Hasan, what is bidden for this girl?" and he answered,
"Four thousand five hundred dinars to open the door of sale." Quoth
Al-Mu'ín, "Four thousand five hundred is MY bid." When the merchants
heard this, they held back and dared not bid another dirham, wotting
what they did of the Wazir's tyranny, violence and treachery. So
Al-Mu'ín looked at the broker and said to him, "Why stand still? Go and
offer four thousand dinars for me and the five hundred shall be for
thyself." Thereupon the broker went to Nur al-Din and said, "O my lord,
thy slave is going for nothing!"  "And how so?" asked he. The broker
answered, "We had opened the biddings for her at four thousand five
hundred dinars; when that tyrant, Al-Mu'ín bin Sáwí, passed through the
bazar and, as he saw the damsel she pleased him, so he cried to me,
'Call me the buyer at four thousand dinars and thou shalt have five
hundred for thyself.'  I doubt not but that he knoweth that the damsel
if thine, and if he would pay thee down her price at once it were well;
but I know his injustice and violence; he will give thee a written
order upon some of his agents and will send after thee to say to them,
'Pay him nothing.'  So as often as though shalt go in quest of the coin
they will say, 'We'll pay thee presently!' and they will put thee off
day after day, and thou art proud of spirit; till at last, when they
are wearied with thine importunity, they will say, 'Show us the
cheque.' Then, as soon as they have got hold of it they will tear it up
and so thou wilt lose the girl's price." When Nur al-Din heard this he
looked at the broker and asked him, "How shall this matter be
managed?"; and he answered, "I will give thee a counsel which, if thou
follow, it shall bring thee complete satisfaction." "And what is that?"
quoth Nur al-Din. Quoth the broker, "Come thou to me anon when I am
standing in the middle of the market and, taking the girl from my hand,
give her a sound cuffing and say to her, 'Thou baggage, I have kept my
vow and brought thee down to the slave-market, because I swore an oath
that I would carry thee from home to the bazar, and make brokers cry
thee for sale.'  If thou do this, perhaps the device will impose upon
the Wazir and the people, and they will believe that thou broughtest
her not to the bazar, but for the quittance of thine oath." He replied,
"Such were the best way." Then the broker left him and, returning into
the midst of the market, took the damsel by the hand, and signed to the
Wazir and said, "O my lord, here is her owner." With this up came Nur
al-Din Ali and, snatching the girl from the broker's hand, cuffed her
soundly and said to her, "Shame on thee, O thou baggage!  I have
brought thee to the bazar for quittance of mine oath; now get thee home
and thwart me no more as is thy wont.  Woe to thee! do I need thy
price, that I should sell thee? The furniture of my house would fetch
thy value many times over!" When Al-Mu'ín saw this he said to Nur
al-Din, "Out on thee!  Hast thou anything left for selling or buying?" 
And he would have laid violent hands upon him, but the merchants
interposed (for they all loved Nur al-Din), and the young man said to
them, "Here am I in your hands and ye all know his tyranny."  "By
Allah," cried the Wazir, "but for you I had slain him!"  Then all
signed with significant eyes to Nur al-Din as much as to say, "Take thy
wreak of him; not one of us will come between thee and him."  Thereupon
Nur al-Din, who was stout of heart as he was stalwart of limb, went up
to the Wazir and, dragging him over the pommel of his saddle, threw him
to the ground.  Now there was in that place a puddling- pit for brick-
clay,[FN#34] into the midst of which he fell, and Nur al-Din kept
pummelling and fisti-cuffing him, and one of the blows fell full on his
teeth, and his beard was dyed with his blood.  Also there were with the
minister ten armed slaves who, seeing their master entreated after this
fashion, laid hand on sword-hilt and would have bared blades and fallen
on Nur al-Din to cut him down; but the merchants and bystanders said to
them, "This is a Wazir and that is the son of a Wazir; haply they will
make friends some time or other, in which case you will forfeit the
favour of both. Or perchance a blow may befal your lord, and you will
all die the vilest of deaths; so it were better for you not to
interfere." Accordingly they held aloof and, when Nur al-Din had made
an end of thrashing the Wazir, he took his handmaid and fared
homewards. Al-Mu'ín also went his ways at once, with his raiment dyed
of three colours, black with mud, red with blood and ash coloured with
brick-clay. When he saw himself in this state, he bound a bit of
matting[FN#35] round his neck and, taking in hand two bundles of coarse
Halfah-grass,[FN#36] went up to the palace and standing under the
Sultan's windows cried aloud, "O King of the age, I am a wronged man! I
am foully wronged!"  So they brought him before the King who looked at
him; and behold, it was the chief Minister; whereupon he said, "O Wazir
who did this deed by thee?"  Al-Mu'ín wept and sobbed and repeated
these lines,

"Shall the World oppress me when thou art in't? * In the lion's

     presence shall wolves devour?

Shall the dry all drink of thy tanks and I * Under rain-cloud

     thirst for the cooling shower?"


"O my lord," cried he, "the like will befal every one who loveth and
serveth thee well."  "Be quick with thee," quoth the Sultan, "and tell
me how this came to pass and who did this deed by one whose honour is
part of my honour."  Quoth the Wazir, "Know, O my lord, that I went out
this day to the slave-market to buy me a cookmaid, when I saw there a
damsel, never in my life long saw I a fairer; and I designed to buy her
for our lord the Sultan; so I asked the broker of her and of her owner,
and he answered, "She belongeth to Ali son of Al-Fazl bin Khákán.  Some
time ago our lord the Sultan gave his father ten thousand dinars
wherewith to buy him a handsome slave-girl, and he bought this maiden
who pleased him; so he grudged her to our lord the Sultan and gave her
to his own son. When the father died, the son sold all he had of houses
and gardens and household gear, and squandered the price till he was
penniless. Then he brought the girl to the market that he might sell
her, and he handed her over to the broker to cry and the merchants bid
higher and higher on her, until the price reached four thousand dinars;
whereupon quoth I to myself, 'I will buy this damsel for our lord the
Sultan, whose money was paid for her.' So I said to Nur al-Din, 'O my
son, sell her to me for four thousand dinars.' When he heard my words
he looked at me and cried, 'O ill-omened oldster, I will sell her to a
Jew or to a Nazarene, but I will not sell her to thee!'  'I do not buy
her for myself,' said I, 'I buy her for our lord and benefactor the
Sultan.'  Hearing my words he was filled with rage; and, dragging me
off my horse (and I a very old man), beat me unmercifully with his
fists and buffeted me with his palms till he left me as thou seest, and
all this hath befallen me only because I thought to buy this damsel for
thee!"  Then the Wazir threw himself on the ground and lay there
weeping and shivering. When the Sultan saw his condition and heard his
story, the vein of rage started out between his eyes[FN#37] and he
turned to his body-guard who stood before him, forty white slaves,
smiters with the sword, and said to them, "Go down forthright to the
house built by the son of Khákán and sack it and raze it and bring to
me his son Nur al-Din with the damsel; and drag them both on their
faces with their arms pinioned behind them."  They replied, "To hear is
to obey;" and, arming themselves, they set out for the house of Nur
al-Din Ali.  Now about the Sultan was a Chamerlain, Alam[FN#38] al-Din
Sanjar hight, who had aforetime been Mameluke to Al-Fazl; but he had
risen in the world and the Sultan had advanced him to be one of his
Chamberlains.  When he heard the King's command and saw the enemies
make them ready to slay his old master's son, it was grievous to him:
so he went out from before the Sultan and, mounting his beast, rode to
Nur al- Din's house and knocked at the door.  Nur al-Din came out and
knowing him would have saluted him: but he said, "O my master this is
no time for greeting or treating.  Listen to what the poet said,

  'Fly, fly with thy life if by ill overtaken!

   Let thy house speak thy death by its builder forsaken!

   For a land else than this land thou may'st reach, my brother,

   But thy life tho'lt ne'er find in this world another.'"[FN#39]


"O Alam al-Din what cheer?" asked Nur al-Din, and he answered, "Rise
quickly and fly for thy life, thou and the damsel; for Al- Mu'ín hath
set a snare for you both; and, if you fall into his hands, he will slay
you.  The Sultan hath despatched forty sworders against you and I
counsel you to flee ere harm can hurt you."  Then Sanjar put his hand
to his purse and finding there forty gold pieces took them and gave
them to Nur al-Din, saying, "O my lord receive these and journey with
them.  Had I more I would give them to thee, but this is not the time
to take exception." Thereupon Nur al-Din went in to the damsel and told
her what had happened, at which she wrung her hands.  Then they fared
forth at once from the city, and Allah spread over them His veil of
protection, so that they reached the river-bank where they found a
vessel ready for sea. Her skipper was standing amidships and crying,
"Whoso hath aught to do, whether in the way of provisioning or taking
leave of his people; or whoso hath forgotten any needful thing, let him
do it at once and return, for we are about to sail"; and all of them
saying, "There is naught left to be done by us, O captain!", he cried
to his crew, "Hallo there! cast off the cable and pull up the mooring-
pole!"[FN#40] Quoth Nur al-Din, "Whither bound, O captain?" and quoth
he, "To the House of Peace, Baghdad,"—-And Shahrazad perceived the dawn
of day and ceased to say her permitted say.

              When it was the Thirty-sixth Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the skipper
answered, "To the House of Peace, Baghdad," Nur al-Din Ali and the
damsel went on board, and they launched the craft and shook out the
sails, and the ship sped forth as though she were a bird on wing; even
as said one of them and said right well,

"Watch some tall ship, she'll joy the sight of thee, * The breeze

     outstripping in her haste to flee;

As when a bird, with widely-spreading wings, * Leaveth the sky to

     settle on the sea."


So the vessel sailed on her fastest and the wind to her was fairest.
Thus far concerning them; but as regards the Mamelukes, they went to
Nur al-Din's mansion and, breaking open the doors, entered and searched
the whole place, but could find no trace of him and the damsel; so they
demolished the house and, returning to the Sultan, reported their
proceedings; whereupon quoth he, "Make search for them both, wherever
they may be;" and they answered, "Hearing is obeying."  The Wazir
Al-Mu'ín had also gone home after the Sultan had bestowed upon him a
robe of honour, and had set his heart at rest by saying, "None shall
take blood-wreak for thee save I;" and he had blessed the King and
prayed for his long life and prosperity.  Then the Sultan bade proclaim
about the city, "Oyez, O ye lieges one and all!  It is the will of our
lord the Sultan that whoso happeneth on Nur al-Din Ali son of Al- Fazl
bin Khákán, and bringeth him to the Sultan, shall receive a robe of
honour and one thousand gold pieces; and he who hideth him or knoweth
his abiding place and informeth not, deserveth whatsoever pains and
penalties shall befal him."  So all began to search for Nur al-Din Ali,
but they could find neither trace nor tidings of him. Meanwhile he and
his handmaid sailed on with the wind right aft, till they arrived in
safety at Baghdad, and the captain said to them, "This is Baghdad and
'tis the city where security is to be had: Winter with his frosts hath
turned away and Prime hath come his roses to display; and the flowers
are a- glowing and the trees are blowing and the streams are flowing."
So Nur al-Din landed, he and his handmaid and, giving the captain five
dinars, walked on a little way till the decrees of Destiny brought them
among the gardens, and they came to a place swept and sprinkled, with
benches along the walls and hanging jars filled with water.[FN#41] 
Overhead was a trellis of reed-work and canes shading the whole length
of the avenue, and at the upper end was a garden gate, but this was
locked.  "By Allah," quoth Nur al-Din to the damsel, "right pleasant is
this place!"; and she replied, "O my lord sit with me a while on this
bench and let us take our ease."  So they mounted and sat them down on
the bench, after which they washed their faces and hands; and the
breeze blew cool on them and they fell asleep and glory be to Him who
never sleepeth!  Not this garden was named the Garden of
Gladness[FN#42] and therein stood a belvedere hight the Palace of
Pleasure and the Pavilion of Pictures, the whole belonging to the
Caliph Harun al-Rashid who was wont, when his breast was straitened
with care, to frequent garden and palace and there to sit.  The palace
had eighty latticed windows and fourscore lamps hanging round a great
candelabrum of gold furnished with wax- candles; and, when the Caliph
used to enter, he would order the handmaids to throw open the lattices
and light up the rooms; and he would bid Ishak bin Ibrahim the
cup-companion and the slave- girls to sing till his breast was
broadened and his ailments were allayed.  Now the keeper of the garden,
Shaykh Ibrahim, was a very old man, and he had found from time to time,
when he went out on any business, people pleasuring about the garden
gate with their bona robas; at which he was angered with exceeding
anger.[FN#43]  But he took patience till one day when the Caliph came
to his garden; and he complained of this to Harun al-Rashid who said,
"Whomsoever thou surprisest about the door of the garden, deal with him
as thou wilt."  Now on this day the Gardener chanced to be abroad on
some occasion and returning found these two sleeping at the gate
covered with a single mantilla; whereupon said he, "By Allah, good! 
These twain know not that the Caliph hath given me leave to slay anyone
I may catch at the door; but I will give this couple a shrewd whipping,
that none may come near the gate in future."  So he cut a green
palm-frond[FN#44] and went up to them and, raising his arm till the
white of his arm-pit appeared, was about to strike them, when he
bethought himself and said, "O Ibrahim, wilt thou beat them unknowing
their case?  Haply they are strangers or of the Sons of the
Road,[FN#45] and the decrees of Destiny have thrown them here.  I will
uncover their faces and look at them."  So he lifted up the mantilla
from their heads and said, "They are a handsome couple; it were not
fitting that I should beat them." Then he covered their faces again
and, going to Nur al-Din's feet, began to rub and shampoo them,[FN#46]
whereupon the youth opened his eyes and, seeing an old man of grave and
reverend aspect rubbing his feet, he was ashamed and drawing them in,
sat up.  Then he took Shaykh Ibrahim's hand and kissed it.  Quoth the
old man, "O my son, whence art thou?"; and quoth he, "O my lord, we two
are strangers," and the tears started from his eyes.  "O my son," said
Shaykh Ibrahim, "know that the Prophet (whom Allah bless and preserve!)
hath enjoined honour to the stranger;" and added, "Wilt not thou arise,
O my son, and pass into the garden and solace thyself by looking at it
and gladden thy heart?"  "O my lord," said Nur al-Din, "to whom doth
this garden belong?;" and the other replied, "O my son, I have
inherited it from my folk."  Now his object in saying this was to set
them at their ease and induce them to enter the garden.  So Nur al-Din
thanked him and rose, he and the damsel, and followed him into the
garden; and lo! it was a garden, and what a garden!  The gate was
arched like a great hall and over walls and roof ramped vines with
grapes of many colours; the red like rubies and the black like ebonies;
and beyond it lay a bower of trelliced boughs growing fruits single and
composite, and small birds on branches sang with melodious recite, and
the thousand-noted nightingale shrilled with her varied shright; the
turtle with her cooing filled the site; the blackbird whistled like
human wight[FN#47] and the ring-dove moaned like a drinker in grievous
plight.  The trees grew in perfection all edible growths and fruited
all manner fruits which in pairs were bipartite; with the camphor-
apricot, the almond-apricot and the apricot "Khorasani" hight; the
plum, like the face of beauty, smooth and bright; the cherry that makes
teeth shine clear by her sleight, and the fig of three colours, green,
purple and white.  There also blossomed the violet as it were sulphur
on fire by night; the orange with buds like pink coral and marguerite;
the rose whose redness gars the loveliest cheeks blush with despight;
and myrtle and gilliflower and lavender with the blood-red anemone from
Nu'uman hight.  The leaves were all gemmed with tears the clouds had
dight; the chamomile smiled showing teeth that bite, and Narcissus with
his negro[FN#48] eyes fixed on Rose his sight; the citrons shone with
fruits embowled and the lemons like balls of gold; earth was carpeted
with flowers tinctured infinite; for Spring was come brightening the
place with joy and delight; and the streams ran ringing, to the birds'
gay singing, while the rustling breeze upspringing attempered the air
to temperance exquisite.  Shaykh Ibrahim carried them up into the
pavilion, and they gazed on its beauty, and on the lamps aforementioned
in the latticed windows; and Nur al-Din, remembering his entertainments
of time past, cried, "By Allah, this is a pleasant place; it hath
quenched in me anguish which burned as a fire of Ghaza-wood.[FN#49]" 
Then they sat down and Shaykh Ibrahim set food before them; and they
ate till they were satisfied and washed their hands: after which Nur
al-Din went up to one of the latticed windows, and, calling to his
handmaid fell to gazing on the trees laden with all manner fruits. 
Presently he turned to the Gardener and said to him, "O Shaykh Ibrahim
hast thou no drink here, for folk are wont to drink after eating?"  The
Shaykh brought him sweet water, cool and pleasant, but he said, "This
is not the kind of drink I wanted." "Perchance thou wishest for wine?" 
"Indeed I do, O Shaykh!"  "I seek refuge from it with Allah: it is
thirteen years since I did this thing, for the Prophet (Abhak[FN#50])
cursed its drinker, presser, seller and carrier!"  "Hear two words of
me." "Say on." "If yon cursed ass[FN#51] which standeth there be
cursed, will aught of his curse alight upon thee?" "By no means!" "Then
take this dinar and these two dirhams and mount yonder ass and, halting
afar from the wine-shop, call the first man thou seest buying liquor
and say to him, 'Take these two dirhams for thyself, and with this
dinar buy me some wine and set it on the ass.' So shalt thou be neither
the presser, nor the buyer, nor the carrier; and no part of the curse
will fall  upon thee."  At this Shaykh Ibrahim laughed and said, "By
Allah, O my son, I never saw one wilier of wit than thou art, nor heard
aught sweeter than thy speech."  So he did as he was bidden by Nur al-
Din who thanked him and said, "We two are now dependent on thee, and it
is only meet that thou comply with our wishes; so bring us here what we
require."  "O my son," replied he, "this is my buttery before thee"
(and it was the store-room provided for the Commander of the Faithful);
"so go in, and take whatso thou wilt, for there is over and above what
thou wantest."  Nur al-Din then entered the pantry and found therein
vessels of gold and silver and crystal set with all kinds of gems, and
was amazed and delighted with what he saw.  Then he took out what he
needed and set it on and poured the wine into flagons and glass ewers,
whilst Shaykh Ibrahim brought them fruit and flowers and aromatic
herbs. Then the old man withdrew and sat down at a distance from them,
whilst they drank and made merry, till the wine got the better of them,
so that their cheeks reddened and their eyes wantoned like the
gazelle's; and their locks became dishevelled and their brightness
became yet more beautiful.  Then said Shaykh Ibrahim to himself, "What
aileth me to sit apart from them?  Why should I not sit with them? 
When shall I ever find myself in company with the like of these two
that favour two moons?" So he stepped forward and sat down on the edge
of the dais, and Nur al- Din said to him, "O my lord, my life on thee,
come nearer to us!" He came and sat by them, when Nur al-Din filled a
cup and looked towards the Shaykh and said to him, "Drink, that thou
mayest try the taste of it!" "I take refuge from it with Allah!"
replied he; "for thirteen years I have not done a thing of the kind." 
Nur al-Din feigned to forget he was there and, drinking off the cup,
threw himself on the ground as if the drink had overcome him; whereupon
Anis al-Jalis glanced at him and said, "O Shaykh Ibrahim see how this
husband of mine treateth me;" and he answered, "O my lady, what aileth
him?"  "This is how he always serveth me," cried she, "he drinketh
awhile, then falleth asleep and leaveth me alone with none to bear me
company over my cup nor any to whom I may sing when the bowl goeth
round." Quoth the Shaykh (and his mien unstiffened for that his soul
inclined towards her), "By Allah, this is not well!" Then she crowned a
cup and looking towards him said, "By my life thou must take and drink
it, and not refuse to heal my sick heart!"  So he put forth his hand
and took it and drank it off and she filled a second and set it on the
chandelier and said, "O master mine, there is still this one left for
thee."  "By Allah, I cannot drink it;" cried he, "what I have already
drunk is enough for me;" but she rejoined, "By Allah, there is no help
for it."  So he took the cup and drank; and she filled him a third
which he took and was about to drink when behold, Nur al-Din rolled
round and sat upright,—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and
ceased saying her permitted say.

             When it was the Thirty-seventh Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Nur al-Din sat
upright and said, "Ho, Shaykh Ibrahim, what is this?  Did I not adjure
thee a while ago and thou refusedst, saying, 'What I! 'tis thirteen
years ago since I have done such a thing!'"  "By Allah," quoth the
Shaykh (and indeed he was abashed), "no sin of mine this, she forced me
to do it." Nur al-Din laughed and they sat down again to wine and
wassail, but the damsel turned to her master and said in a whisper, "O
my lord, drink and do not press him, that I may show thee some sport
with him."  Then she began to fill her master's cup and he hers and so
they did time after time, till at last Shaykh Ibrahim looked at them
and said, "What fashion of good fellowship is this?  Allah curse the
glutton who keepeth the cup to himself!  Why dost thou not give me to
drink, O my brother? What manners are these, O blessed one?"  At this
the two laughed until they fell on their backs; then they drank and
gave him to drink and ceased not their carousal till a third part of
the night was past.  Then said the damsel, "O Shaykh Ibrahim, with thy
leave I will get up and light one of these candles." "Do so," he
replied, "but light no more than one." So she sprang to her feet and,
beginning with one candle, lighted all the eighty and sat down again.
Presently Nur al-Din said, "O Shaykh Ibrahim, in what favour am I with
thee? May I not light one of these lamps?" "Light one," replied he,
"and bother me no more in thy turn!"  So he rose and lighted one lamp
after another, till he had lighted the whole eight and the palace
seemed to dance with brilliancy.  Quoth the Shaykh (and indeed
intoxication had overcome him), "Ye two are bolder than I am." Then he
rose to his feet and opened all the lattices and sat down again; and
they fell to carousing and reciting verses till the place rang with
their noisy mirth.  Now Allah, the Decreer who decreeth all things and
who for every effect appointeth a cause, had so disposed that the
Caliph was at that moment sitting in the light of the moon at one of
the windows of his palace overlooking the Tigris.  He saw the blaze of
the lamps and wax candles reflected in the river and, lifting his eyes,
perceived that it came from the Garden Palace which was all ablaze with
brilliancy. So he cried, "Here to me with Ja'afar the Barmaki!"; and
the last word was hardly spoken ere the Wazir was present before the
Commander of the Faithful, who cried at him, "O dog of a Minister, hast
thou taken from me this city of Baghdad without saying aught to me?" 
"What words are these words?" asked Ja'afar; and the Caliph answered,
"If Baghdad city were not taken from me, the Palace of Pictures would
not be illuminated with lamps and candles, nor would its windows be
thrown open.  Woe to thee! who durst do a deed like this except the
Caliphate had been taken from me?" Quoth Ja'afar (and indeed his
side-muscles trembled as he spoke), "Who told thee that the Palace of
Pictures was illuminated and the windows thrown open?"  "Come hither
and see," replied the Caliph.  Then Ja'afar came close to the Caliph
and, looking towards the garden, saw the palace blazing with
illumination that rayed through the gloom of the night; and, thinking
that this might have been permitted by the keeper for some reason of
his own, he wished to make an excuse for him; so quoth he, "O Commander
of the Faithful, Shaykh Ibrahim said to me last week, 'O my lord
Ja'afar, I much wish to circumcise my sons during the life of the
Commander of the Faithful and thy life.' I asked, 'What dost thou
want?'; and he answered, 'Get me leave from the Caliph to hold the
festival in the Garden Palace.' So said I to him, 'Go circumcise them
and I will see the Caliph and tell him.'  Thereupon he went away and I
forgot to let thee know."  "O Ja'afar," said the Caliph, "thou hast
committed two offences against me; first in that thou didst no report
to me, secondly, thou didst not give him what he sought; for he came
and told thee this only as excuse to ask for some small matter of
money, to help him with the outlay; and thou gavest him nothing nor
toldest me."  "O Commander of the Faithful," said Ja'afar, "I forgot." 
"Now by the rights of my forefathers and the tombs of my forbears,"
quoth the Caliph, "I will not pass the rest of this night save in
company with him; for truly he is a pious man who frequenteth the
Elders of the Faith and the Fakirs and other religious mendicants and
entertaineth them; doubtless they are not assembled together and it may
be that the prayer of one of them will work us weal both in this world
and in the next. Besides, my presence may profit and at any rate be
pleasing to Shaykh Ibrahim."  "O Commander of the Faithful," quoth
Ja'afar, "the greater part of the night is passed, and at this time
they will be breaking up."  Quoth the Caliph, "It matters not: I needs
must go to them."  So Ja'afar held his peace, being bewildered and
knowing not what to do.  Then the Caliph rose to his feet and, taking
with him Ja'afar and Masrur the eunuch sworder, the three disguised
themselves in merchants' gear and leaving the City-palace, kept
threading the streets till they reached the garden. The Caliph went up
to the gate and finding it wide open, was surprised and said, "See, O
Ja'afar, how Shaykh Ibrahim hath left the gate open at this hour
contrary to his custom!"  They went in and walked on till they came
under the pavilion, when the Caliph said, "O Ja'afar, I wish to look in
upon them unawares before I show myself, that I may see what they are
about and get sight of the elders; for hitherto I have heard no sound
from them, nor even a Fakir calling upon the name of Allah.[FN#52]"
Then he looked about and, seeing a tall walnut-tree, said to Ja'afar,
"I will climb this tree, for its branches are near the lattices and so
look in upon them."  Thereupon he mounted the tree and ceased not
climbing from branch to branch, till he reached a bough which was right
opposite one of the windows, and here he took seat and looked inside
the palace. He saw a damsel and a youth as they were two moons (glory
be to Him who created them and fashioned them!), and by them Shaykh
Ibrahim seated cup in hand and saying, "O Princess of fair ones,
drinking without music is nothing worth; indeed I have heard a poet
say,

'Round with bit and little, the bowl and cup, * Take either than

     moon[FN#53] in his sheen hath crowned:

Nor drink without music, for oft I've seen, * The horse drink

     best to the whistle's sound!'"


When the Caliph saw this, the vein of wrath started up between his eyes
and he came down and said to the Wazir, "O Ja'afar, never beheld I yet
men of piety in such case; so do thou mount this tree and look upon
them, lest the blessings of the blest be lost to thee."  Ja'afar,
hearing the words of the Commander of the Faithful and being confounded
by them, climbed to the tree- top and looking in, saw Nur al-Din and
the damsel, and Shaykh Ibrahim holding in his hand a brimming bowl.  At
this sight he made sure of death and, descending, stood before the
Commander of the Faithful, who said to him, "O Ja'afar, praise be to
Allah who hath made us of those that observe external ordinances of
Holy Law and hath averted from us the sin of disguising ourselves after
the manner of hypocrites!"[FN#54]  But Ja'afar could not speak a word
for excess of confusion; so the Caliph looked at him and said, "I
wonder how they came hither, and who admitted them into my pavilion! 
But aught like the beauty of this youth and this damsel my eyes never
yet saw!"  "Thou sayest sooth, O our Lord the Sultan!" replied Ja'afar
(and he hoped to propitiate the Caliph Harun al-Rashid).  Then quoth
the Caliph, "O Ja'afar, let us both mount the branch opposite the
window, that we may amuse ourselves with looking at them."  So the two
climbed the tree and, peering in, heard Shaykh Ibrahim say, "O my lady,
I have cast away all gravity mine by the drinking of wine, but 'tis not
sweet save with the soft sounds of the lute-strings it combine." "By
Allah," replied Anis al-Jalis, "O Shaykh Ibrahim, an we had but some
instrument of music our joyance were complete."  Hearing this he rose
to his feet and the Caliph said to Ja'afar, "I wonder what he is about
to do!" and Ja'afar answered, "I know not."  The Shaykh disappeared and
presently reappeared bringing a lute; and the Caliph took not of it and
knew it for that of Abu Ishak the Cup-companion.[FN#55]  "By Allah,"
said the Caliph, "if this damsel sing ill I will crucify all of you;
but if she sing well I will forgive them and only gibbet thee."  "O
Allah cause her to sing vilely!" quoth Ja'afar. Asked the Caliph, "Why
so?"; and he answered, "If thou crucify us all together, we shall keep
one another company."  The Caliph laughed at his speech. Presently the
damsel took the lute and, after looking at it and tuning it, she played
a measure which made all hearts yearn to her; then she sang these
lines,

"O ye that can aid me, a wretched lover, * Whom longing burns nor

     can rest restore me!

Though all you have done I have well deserved, * I take refuge

     with you, so exult not o'er me:

True, I am weak and low and vile, * But I'll bear your will and

     whatso you bore me:

My death at your hands what brings it of glory? * I fear but your

     sin which of life forlore me!"


Quoth the Caliph, "By Allah, good!  O Ja'afar, never in my life have I
heard a voice so enchanting as this."  "Then haply the Caliph's wrath
hath passed away," said Ja'afar, and he replied, "Yes, 'tis gone." 
Thereupon they descended from the tree, and the Caliph said to Ja'afar,
"I wish to go in and sit with them and hear the damsel sing before me."
"O Commander of the Faithful," replied Ja'afar, "if thou go in to them
they will be terribly troubled, and Shaykh Ibrahim will assuredly die
of fright."  But the Caliph answered, "O Ja'afar, thou must teach me
some device wherewith to delude them and whereby I can foregather with
them without their knowing me."  So they walked towards the Tigris
pondering the matter, and presently came upon a fisherman who stood
fishing under the pavilion windows.  Now some time before this, the
Caliph (being in the pavilion) had called to Shaykh Ibrahim and asked
him, "What noise is this I hear under the windows?" and he had
answered, "It is voices of fisher folk catching fish:" so quoth the
Caliph, "Go down and forbid them this place;" and he forbade them
accordingly.  However that night a fisherman named Karim, happening to
pass by and seeing the garden gate open, said to himself, "This is a
time of negligence; and I will take advantage of it to do a bit of
fishing."  So he took his net and cast it, but he had hardly done so
when behold, the Caliph come up single-handed and, standing hard by,
knew him and called aloud to him, "Ho, Karim!"  The fisherman, hearing
himself named, turned round, and seeing the Caliph, trembled and his
side-muscles quivered, as he cried, "By Allah, O Commander of the
Faithful, I did it not in mockery of the mandate; but poverty and a
large family drove me to what thou seest!"  Quoth the Caliph, "Make a
cast in my name."  At this the fisherman was glad and going to the bank
threw his net, then waiting till it had spread out at full stretch and
settled down, hauled it up and found in it various kinds of fish.  The
Caliph was pleased and said, "O Karim, doff thy habit."  So he put off
a gaberdine of coarse woollen stuff patched in an hundred places
whereon the lice were rampant, and a turband which had never been
untwisted for three years but to which he had sown every rag he came
upon. The Caliph also pulled off his person two vests of Alexandrian
and Ba'lbak silk, a loose inner robe and a long-sleeved outer coat, and
said to the fisherman, "Take them and put them on," while he assumed
the foul gaberdine and filthy turband and drew a corner of the
head-cloth as a mouth-veil[FN#56] before his face. Then said he to the
fisherman, "Get thee about thy business!; and the man kissed the
Caliph's feet and thanked him and improvised the following couplets,

"Thou hast granted more favours than ever I craved; * Thou hast

     satisfied needs which my heart enslaved:

I will thank thee and thank whileas life shall last, * And my

     bones will praise thee in grave engraved!"


Hardly had the fisherman ended his verse, when the lice began to crawl
over the Caliph's skin, and he fell to catching them on his neck with
his right and left and throwing them from him, while he cried, "O
fisherman, woe to thee! what be this abundance of lice on thy
gaberdine." "O my lord," replied he, "they may annoy thee just at
first, but before a week is past thou wilt not feel them nor think of
them."  The Caliph laughed and said to him, "Out on thee!  Shall I
leave this gaberdine of thine so long on my body?" Quoth the fisherman,
"I would say a word to thee but I am ashamed in presence of the
Caliph!"; and quoth he, "Say what thou hast to say."  "It passed
through my thought, O Commander of the Faithful," said the fisherman,
"that, since thou wishest to learn fishing so thou mayest have in hand
an honest trade whereby to gain thy livelihood, this my gaberdine
besitteth thee right well."[FN#57] The Commander of the Faithful
laughed at this speech, and the fisherman went his way.  Then the
Caliph took up the basket of fish and, strewing a little green grass
over it, carried it to Ja'afar and stood before him. Ja'afar thinking
him to be Karim the fisherman feared for him and said, "O Karim, what
brought thee hither?  Flee for thy life, for the Caliph is in the
garden to-night and, if he see thee, thy neck is gone."  At this the
Caliph laughed and Ja'afar recognized him and asked, "Can it be thou,
our lord the Sultan?"; and he answered, "Yes, O Ja'afar, and thou art
my Wazir and I and thou came hither together; yet thou knowest me not;
so how should Shaykh Ibrahim know me, and he drunk?  Stay here, till I
came back to thee."  "To hear is to obey," said Ja'afar.  Then the
Caliph went up to the door of the pavilion and knocked a gentle knock,
whereupon said Nur al-Din," O Shaykh Ibrahim, some one taps at the
door." "Who goes there?" cried the Shaykh and the Caliph replied, "It
is I, O Shaykh Ibrahim!"  "Who art thou," quoth he, and quoth the
other, "I am Karim the fisherman: I hear thou hast a feast, so I have
brought thee some fish, and of a truth 'tis good fish."  When Nur
al-Din heard the mention of fish, he was glad, he and the damsel, and
they both said to the Shaykh, "O our lord, open the door and let him
bring us his fish." So Shaykh Ibrahim opened and the Caliph came in
(and he in fisherman guise), and began by saluting them. Said Shaykh
Ibrahim, "Welcome to the blackguard, the robber, the dicer!  Let us see
thy fish."  So the Caliph showed them his catch and behold, the fishes
were still alive and jumping, whereupon the damsel exclaimed, "By
Allah!  O my lord, these are indeed fine fish: would they were fried!"
and Shaykh Ibrahim rejoined, "By Allah, O my lady, thou art right." 
Then said he to the Caliph, "O fisherman, why didst thou not bring us
the fish ready fried?  Up now and cook them and bring them back to us."
"On my head be thy commands!" said the Caliph, "I will fry thee a dish
and bring it."  Said they, "Look sharp." Thereupon he went and ran till
he came up to Ja'afar when he called to him, "Hallo, Ja'afar!"; and he
replied, "Here am I, O Commander of the Faithful, is all well?"  "They
want the fish fried," said the Caliph, and Ja'afar answered, "O
Commander of the Faithful, give it to me and I'll fry it for them." 
"By the tombs of my forbears," quoth the Caliph, "none shall fry it but
I, with mine own hand!"  So he went to the gardener's hut, where he
searched and found all that he required, even to salt and saffron and
wild marjoram and else besides.  Then he turned to the brasier and,
setting on the frying-pan, fried a right good fry. When it was done, he
laid it on a banana-leaf, and gathering from the garden wind-fallen
fruits, limes and lemons, carried the fish to the pavilion and set the
dish before them.  So the youth and the damsel and Shaykh Ibrahim came
forward and ate; after which they washed their hands and Nur al-Din
said to the Caliph, "By Allah, O fisherman, thou hast done us a right
good deed this night." Then he put hand in pouch and, taking out three
of the dinars which Sanjar had given him, said, "O fisherman, excuse
me.  By Allah had I known thee before that which hath lately befallen
me, I had done away the bitterness of poverty from thy heart; but take
thou this as the best I can do for thee." Then he threw the gold pieces
to the Caliph, who took them and kissed them and put them in pouch. Now
his sole object in doing all this was to hear the damsel sing; so he
said to Nur al-Din, "Thou hast rewarded me most liberally, but I beg of
thy boundless bounty that thou let this damsel sing an air, that I may
hear her."[FN#58]  So Nur al- Din said, "O Anis al-Jalis!" and she
answered "Yes!" and he continued, "By my life, sing us something for
the sake of this fisherman who wisheth so much to hear thee." Thereupon
she took the lute and struck the strings, after she had screwed them
tight and tuned them, and sang these improvised verses,

"The fawn of a maid hent her lute in hand * And her music made us

     right mettlesome:

For her song gave hearing to ears stone-deaf, * While Brava!

     Brava! exclaimed the dumb."


Then she played again and played so ravishingly, that she charmed their
wits and burst out improvising and singing these couplets,

"You have honoured us visiting this our land, * And your

     splendour illumined the glooms that blent:

So 'tis due that for you I perfume my place * With rose-water,

     musk and the camphor-scent!"


Hereupon the Caliph was agitated, and emotion so overpowered him that
he could not command himself for excess of pleasure, and he exclaimed,
"By Allah, good! by Allah, good! by Allah, good!"[FN#59]  Asked Nur
al-Din, "O fisherman, doth this damsel please thee?" and the Caliph
answered, "Ay, by Allah!"  Whereupon said Nur al-Din, "She is a gift to
thee, a gift of the generous who repenteth him not of his givings and
who will never revoke his gift!"  Then he sprang to his feet and,
taking a loose robe, threw it over the fisherman and bade him receive
the damsel and be gone.  But she looked at him and said, "O my lord,
art thou faring forth without farewell?  If it must be so, at least
stay till I bid thee good-bye and make known my case."  And she began
versifying in these verses,

"When love and longing and regret are mine, * Must not this body

     show of ills a sign?

My love! say not, 'Thou soon shalt be consoled'; * When state

     speaks state none shall allay my pine.

If living man could swim upon his tears, * I first should float

     on waters of these eyne:

O thou, who in my heart infusedst thy love, * As water mingles in

     the cup with wine,

This was the fear I feared, this parting blow. * O thou whose

     love my heart-core ne'er shall tyne!

O Bin Khákán! my sought, my hope, my will, * O thou whose love

     this breast make wholly thine!

Against thy lord the King thou sinn'dst for me, * And winnedst

     exile in lands peregrine:

Allah ne'er make my lord repent my loss * To cream[FN#60] o' men

     thou gavest me, one right digne."


When she had ended her verses, Nur al-Din answered her with these
lines,

"She bade me farewell on our parting day, * And she wept in the

     fire of our bane and pains:

'What wilt thou do when fro' thee I'm gone?' * Quoth I, 'say this

     to whom life remains!'"


When the Caliph heard her saying in her verse,

   "To Karim, the cream of men thou gavest me;"

his inclination for her redoubled and it seemed a hard matter and a
grievous to part them; so quoth he to the youth, "O my lord, truly the
damsel said in her verses that thou didst transgress against her master
and him who owned her; so tell me, against whom didst thou transgress
and who is it hath a claim on thee?" "By Allah, O fisherman," replied
Nur al-Din, "there befel me and this damsel a wondrous tale and a
marvellous matter: an 't were graven with needle-gravers on the
eye-corners it would be a warner to whoso would be warned."  Cried the
Caliph, "Wilt thou not tell me thy story and acquaint me with thy case?
Haply it may bring thee relief, for Allah's aid is ever nearhand." "O
fisherman," said Nur al-Din, "Wilt thou hear our history in verse or in
prose?"  "Prose is a wordy thing, but verses," rejoined the Caliph,
"are pearls on string."  Then Nur al-Din bowed his head, and made these
couplets,

"O my friend! reft of rest no repose I command, * And my grief is

     redoubled in this far land:

Erst I had a father, a kinder ne'er was; * But he died and to

     Death paid the deodand:

When he went from me, every matter went wrong * Till my heart was

     nigh-broken, my nature unmanned:

He bought me a handmaid, a sweeting who shamed * A wand of the

     willow by Zephyr befanned:

I lavisht upon her mine heritage, * And spent like a nobleman

     puissant and grand:

Then to sell her compelled, my sorrow increased; * The parting

     was sore but I mote not gainstand:

Now as soon as the crier had called her, there bid * A wicked old

     fellow, a fiery brand:

So I raged with a rage that I could not restrain, * And snatched

     her from out of his hireling's hand;

When the angry curmudgeon made ready for blows, * And the fire of

     a fight kindled he and his band,

I smote him in fury with right and with left, * And his hide,

     till well satisfied, curried and tanned:

Then in fear I fled forth and lay hid in my house, * To escape

     from the snares which my foeman had spanned:

So the King of the country proclaimed my arrest; * When access to

     me a good Chamberlain fand:

And warned me to flee from the city afar, * Disappear, disappoint

     what my enemies planned:

Then we fled from our home 'neath the wing of the night, * And

     sought us a refuge by Baghdad strand:

Of my riches I've nothing on thee to bestow, * O Fisher, except

     the fair gift thou hast scanned:

The loved of my soul, and when I from her part, * Know for sure

     that I give thee the blood of my heart."[FN#61]


When he had ended his verse, the Caliph said to him, "O my lord Nur
al-Din, explain to me thy case more fully,"  So he told him the whole
story from beginning to end, and the Caliph said to him, "Whither dost
thou now intend?" "Allah's world is wide," replied he.  Quoth the
Caliph, "I will write thee a letter to carry to the Sultan Mohammed bin
Sulayman al-Zayni, which when he readeth, he will not hurt nor harm
thee in aught."—-And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased
saying her permitted say.

             When it was the Thirty-eighth Night,

She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the
Caliph said to Nur al-Din Ali, "I will write thee a letter to carry to
the Sultan Mohammed bin Sulayman al-Zayni, which when he readeth, he
will not hurt nor harm thee in aught," Nur al-Din asked "What! is there
in the world a fisherman who writeth to Kings?  Such a thing can never
be!"; and the Caliph answered, "Thou sayest sooth, but I will tell thee
the reason. Know that I and he learnt in the same school under one
schoolmaster, and that I was his monitor.  Since that time Fortune
befriended him and he is become a Sultan, while Allah hath abased me
and made me a fisherman; yet I never send to him to ask aught but he
doeth my desire; nay, though I should ask of him a thousand favours
every day, he would comply." When Nur al-Din heard this he said, "Good!
write that I may see." So the Caliph took ink-case and reed-pen and
wrote as follows,—"In the name of Allah, the Compassionating, the
Compassionate!  But after.[FN#62] This letter is written by Harun
al-Rashid, son of Al-Mahdi, to his highness Mohammed bin Sulayman
al-Zayni, whom I have encompassed about with my favour and made my
viceroy in certain of my dominions.  The bearer of these presents is
Nur al-Din Ali, son of Fazl bin Khákán the Wazir. As soon as they come
to thy hand divest thyself forthright of the kingly dignity and invest
him therewith; so oppose not my commandment and peace be with thee." He
gave the letter to Nur al-Din, who took it and kissed it, then put it
in his turband and set out at once on his journey. So far concerning
him; but as regards the Caliph, Shaykh Ibrahim stared to him (and he
still in fisher garb) and said, "O vilest of fishermen, thou hast
brought us a couple of fish worth a score of half-dirhams,[FN#63] and
hast gotten three dinars for them; and thinkest thou to take the damsel
to boot?"  When the Caliph heard this, he cried out at him, and signed
to Masrur who discovered himself and rushed in upon him. Now Ja'afar
had sent one of the gardener-lads to the doorkeeper of the palace to
fetch a suit of royal raiment for the Prince of the Faithful; so the
man went and, returning with the suit, kissed the ground before the
Caliph and gave it him.  Then he threw of the clothes he had on[FN#64]
and donned kingly apparel.  Shaykh Ibrahim was still sitting upon his
chair and the Caliph tarried to behold what would come next. But seeing
the Fisherman become the Caliph, Shaykh Ibrahim was utterly confounded
and he could do nothing but bite his finger- ends[FN#65] and say,
"Would I knew whether am I asleep or am I awake!"  At last the Caliph
looked at him and cried, "O Shaykh Ibrahim, what state is this in which
I see thee?" Thereupon he recovered from his drunkenness and, throwing
himself upon the ground, repeated these verses,

"Pardon the sinful ways I did pursue; * Ruth from his lord to

     every slave is due:

Confession pays the fine that sin demands; * Where, then, is that

     which grace and mercy sue?"[FN#66]


The Caliph forgave him and bade carry the damsel to the city- palace,
where he set apart for her an apartment and appointed slaves to serve
her, saying to her, "Know that we have sent thy lord to be Sultan in
Bassorah and, Almighty Allah willing, we will dispatch him the dress of
investiture and thee with it." Meanwhile, Nur al-Din Ali ceased not
travelling till he reached Bassorah, where he repaired to the Sultan's
palace and he shouted a long shout.[FN#67]  The Sultan heard him and
sent for him; and when he came into his presence, he kissed the ground
between his hands and, producing the letter, presented it to him. 
Seeing the superscription in the writing of the Commander of the
Faithful, the Sultan rose to his feet and kissed it three times; and
after reading it said, "I hear and I obey Allah Almighty and the
Commander of the Faithful!"  Then he summoned the four Kazis[FN#68] and
the Emirs and was about to divest himself of the rule royal, when
behold, in came Al Mu'ín bin Sáwí. The Sultan gave him the Caliph's
letter and he read it, then tore it to pieces and putting it into his
mouth, chewed it[FN#69] and spat it out.  "Woe to thee," quoth the
Sultan (and indeed he was sore angered); "what induced thee to do this
deed?"  "Now by thy life! O our lord the Sultan," replied Mu'ín, "this
man hath never foregathered with the Caliph nor with his Wazir; but he
is a gallows-bird, a limb of Satan, a knave who, having come upon a
written paper in the Caliph's hand, some idle scroll, hath made it
serve his own end.  The Caliph would surely not send him to take the
Sultanate from thee without the imperial autograph[FN#70] and the
diploma of investiture, and he certainly would have despatched with him
a Chamberlain or a Minister.  But he hath come alone and he never came
from the Caliph, no, never! never! never!"  "What is to be done?" asked
the Sultan, and the Minister answered, "Leave him to me and I will take
him and keep him away from thee, and send him in charge of a
Chamberlain to Baghdad-city.  Then, if what he says be sooth, they will
bring us back autograph and investiture; and if not, I will take my due
out of this debtor."  When the Sultan heard the Minister's words he
said, "Hence with thee and him too." Al Mu'ín took trust of him from
the King and, carrying him to his own house, cried out to his pages who
laid him flat and beat him till he fainted. Then he let put upon his
feet heavy shackles and carried him to the jail, where he called the
jailor, one Kutayt,[FN#71] who came and kissed the ground before him. 
Quoth the Wazir, "O Kutayt, I wish thee to take this fellow and throw
him into one of the underground cells[FN#72] in the prison and torture
him night and day."  "To hear is to obey," replied the jailor and,
taking Nur al-Din into the prison, locked the door upon him.  Then he
gave orders to sweep a bench behind the door and, spreading on it a
sitting-rug and a leather-cloth, seated Nur al-Din thereon and loosed
his shackles and entreated him kindly.  The Wazir sent every day
enjoining the jailor to beat him, but he abstained from this, and so
continued to do for forty days.  On the forty-first day there came a
present from the Caliph; which when the Sultan saw, it pleased him and
he consulted his Ministers on the matter, when one of them said,
"Perchance this present was for the new Sultan."  Cried Al-Mu'ín, "We
should have done well had we put him to death at his first coming;" and
the Sultan cried "By Allah, thou hast reminded me of him!  Go down to
the prison and fetch him, and I will strike off his head."  "To hear is
to obey," replied Al-Mu'ín: then he stood up and said, "I will make
proclamation in the city:—Whoso would solace himself with seeing the
beheading of Nur al-Din bin al-Fazl bin Khákán, let him repair to the
palace!  So follower and followed, great and small will flock to the
spectacle, and I shall heal my heart and harm my foe."  "Do as thou
wilt," said the Sultan.  The Wazir went off (and he was glad and gay),
and ordered the Chief of Police to make the afore-mentioned
proclamation. When the people heard the crier, they all sorrowed and
wept, even the little ones at school and the traders in their shops;
and some strove to get places for seeing the sight, whilst others went
to the prison with the object of escorting him thence.  Presently, the
Wazir came with ten Mamelukes to the jail and Kutayt the jailor asked
him, "Whom seekest thou, O our lord the Wazir?"; whereto he answered,
"Bring me out that gallows- bird."  But the jailor said, "He is in the
sorriest of plights for the much beating I have given him."  Then he
went into the prison and found Nur al-Din repeating these verses,

"Who shall support me in calamities, * When fail all cures and

     greater cares arise?

Exile hath worm my heart, my vitals torn;   The World to foes

     hath turned my firm allies.

O folk, will not one friend amidst you all * Wail o'er my woes,

     and cry to hear my cries?

Death and it agonies seem light to me, * Since life has lost all

     joys and jollities:

O Lord of Mustafa,[FN#73] that Science-sea, * Sole Intercessor,

     Guide all-ware, all-wise!

I pray thee free me and my fault forego, * And from me drive mine

     evil and my woe."


The jailor stripped off his clean clothes and, dressing him in two
filthy vests, carried him to the Wazir.  Nur al-Din looked at him and
saw it was his foe that sought to compass his death; so he wept and
said, "Art thou, then, so secure against the World? Hast thou not heard
the saying of the poet,

'Kisras and Caesars in a bygone day * Stored wealth; where it is, and
ah! where are they?'

O Wazir," he continued, "know that Allah (be He extolled and exalted!)
will do whatso He will!"  "O Ali," replied he, "thinkest thou to
frighten me with such talk?  I mean this very day to smite thy neck
despite the noses of the Bassorah folk and I care not; let the days do
as they please; nor will I turn me to thy counsel but rather to what
the poet saith,

'Leave thou the days to breed their ban and bate, * And make thee
strong t' upbear the weight of Fate.'

And also how excellently saith another,

'Whoso shall see the death-day of his foe, * One day surviving, wins
his bestest wish.'"

Then he ordered his attendants to mount Nur al-Din upon the bare back
of a mule; and they said to the youth (for truly it was irksome to
them), "Let us stone him and cut him down thou our lives go for it." 
But Nur al-Din said to them, "Do not so: have ye not heard the saying
of the poet,

'Needs must I bear the term by Fate decreed, * And when that day

     be dead needs must I die:

If lions dragged me to their forest-lair, * Safe should I live

     till draw my death-day nigh.'"


Then they proceeded to proclaim before Nur al-Din, "This is the least
of the retribution for him who imposeth upon Kings with forgeries." 
And they ceased not parading him round about Bassorah, till they made
him stand beneath the palace-windows and set him upon the leather of
blood,[FN#74] and the sworder came up to him and said, "O my lord, I am
but a slave commanded in this matter: an thou have any desire, tell it
me that I may fulfil it, for now there remaineth of they life only so
much as may be till the Sultan shall put his face out of the lattice." 
Thereupon Nur al-Din looked to the right and to the left, and before
him and behind him and began improvising,

"The sword, the sworder and the blood-skin waiting me I sight, *

     And cry, Alack, mine evil fate! ah, my calamity!

How is't I see no loving friend with eye of sense or soul? *

     What! no one here? I cry to all: will none reply to me?

The time is past that formed my life, my death term draweth nigh,

     * Will no man win the grace of God showing me clemency;

And look with pity on my state, and clear my dark despair, * E'en

     with a draught of water dealt to cool death's agony?"


The people fell to weeping over him; and the headsman rose and brought
him a draught of water; but the Wazir sprang up from his place and
smote the gugglet with his hand and broke it: then he cried out at the
executioner and bade him strike off Nur al-Din's head.  So he bound the
eyes of the doomed man and folk clamoured at the Wazir and loud
wailings were heard and much questioning of man and man.  At this
moment behold, rose a dense dust-cloud filling sky and wold; and when
the Sultan, who was sitting in the palace, descried this, he said to
his suite, "Go and see what yon cloud bringeth:"  Replied Al Mu'ín,
"Not till we have smitten this fellow's neck;" but the Sultan said,
"Wait ye till we see what this meaneth."  Now the dust-cloud was the
dust of J'afar the Barmecide, Wazir to the Caliph, and his host; and
the cause of his coming was as follows. The Caliph passed thirty days
without calling to mind the matter of Nur al-Din Ali,[FN#75] and none
reminded him of it, till one night, as he passed by the chamber of Anis
al-Jalis, he heard her weeping and singing with a soft sweet voice
these lines of the poet,

"In thought I see thy form when farthest far or nearest near; * And on
my tongue there dwells a name which man shall ne'er unhear."

Then her weeping redoubled; when lo! the Caliph opened the door and,
entering the chamber, found Anis al-Jalis in tears.  When she saw him
she fell to the ground and kissing his feet three times repeated these
lines,

"O fertile root and noble growth of trunk; * Ripe-fruitful branch

     of never sullied race;

I mind thee of what pact thy bounty made; * Far be 't from thee

     thou should'st forget my case!"


Quoth the Caliph, "Who art thou?" and she replied, "I am she whom Ali
bin Khákán gave thee in gift, and I wish the fulfilment of thy promise
to send me to him with the robe of honour; for I have now been thirty
days without tasting the food of sleep." Thereupon the Caliph sent for
Ja'afar and said to him, "O Ja'afar, 'tis thirty days since we have had
news of Nur al-Din bin Khákán, and I cannot suppose that the Sultan
hath slain him; but, by the life of my head and by the sepulchres of my
forefathers, if aught of foul play hath befallen him, I will surely
make an end of him who was the cause of it, though he be the dearest of
all men to myself! So I desire that thou set out for Bassorah within
this hour and bring me tidings of my cousin, King Mohammed bin Sulayman
al-Zayni, and how he had dealt with Nur al-Din Ali bin Khákán;" adding,
"If thou tarry longer on the road than shall suffice for the journey, I
will strike off they head. Furthermore, do thou tell the son of my
uncle the whole story of Nur al-Din, and how I sent him with my written
orders; and if thou find, O my cousin,[FN#76] that the King hath done
otherwise than as I commanded, bring him and the Wazir Al-Mu'ín bin
Sáwí to us in whatsoever guise thou shalt find them."[FN#77] "Hearing
and obedience," replied Ja'afar and, making ready on the instant, he
set out for Bassorah where the news of his coming had foregone him and
had reached to the ears of King Mohammed. When Ja'afar arrived and saw
the crushing and crowding of the lieges, he asked, "What means all this
gathering?" so they told him what was doing in the matter of Nur
al-Din; whereupon he hastened to go to the Sultan and saluting him,
acquainted him with the cause why he came and the Caliph's resolve, in
case of any foul play having befallen the youth, to put to death whoso
should have brought it about.  Then he took into custody the King and
the Wazir and laid them in ward and, giving order for the release of
Nur al-Din Ali, enthroned him as Sultan in the stead of Mohammed bin
Sulayman.  After this Ja'afar abode three days in Bassorah, the usual
guest-time, and on the morning of the fourth day, Nur al-Din Ali turned
to him and said, "I long for the sight of the Commander of the
Faithful." Then said Ja'afar to Mohammed bin Sulayman, "Make ready to
travel, for we will say the dawn-prayer and mount Baghdad-wards;" and
he replied, "To hear is to obey." Then they prayed and they took horse
and set out, all of them, carrying with them the Wazir, Al-Mu'ín bin
Sáwí, who began to repent him of what he had done. Nur al-Din rode by
Ja'afar's side and they stinted not faring on till they arrived at
Baghdad, the House of Peace, and going in to the Caliph told him how
they had found Nur al-Din nigh upon death.  Thereupon the Caliph said
to the youth, "Take this sword and smite with it the neck of thine
enemy."  So he took the sword from his hand and stepped up to Al-Mu'ín
who looked at him and said, "I did according to my mother's milk, do
thou according to thine."[FN#78] Upon this Nur al-Din cast the sword
from his hand and said to the Caliph, "O Commander of the Faithful, he
hath beguiled me with his words;" and he repeated this couplet,

"By craft and sleight I snared him when he came; * A few fair words aye
trap the noble-game!"

"Leave him then," cried the Caliph and, turning to Masrur said, "Rise
thou and smite his neck."  So Masrur drew his sword and struck off his
head. Then quoth the Caliph to Nur al-Din Ali, "Ask a boon of me."  "O
my lord," answered he, "I have no need of the Kingship of Bassorah; my
sole desire is to be honoured by serving thee and by seeing the
countenance." "With love and gladness," said the Caliph.  Then he sent
for the damsel, Anis al-Jalis, and bestowed plentiful favours upon them
both and gave them one of his palaces in Baghdad, and assigned stipends
and allowances, and made Nur al-Din Ali bin Fazl bin Khákán, one of his
cup-companions; and he abode with the Commander of the Faithful
enjoying the pleasantest of lives till death overtook him.  "Yet
(continued Shahrazad) is not his story in any wise more wondrous than
the history of the merchant and his children." The King asked "And what
was that?" and Shahrazad began to relate the

Tale of Ghanim bin Ayyub[FN#79], the Distraught, the Thrall o'

Love.


It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that in times of yore and in
years and ages long gone before, there lived in Damascus a merchant
among the merchants, a wealthy man who had a son like the moon on the
night of his fulness[FN#80] and withal sweet of speech, who was named
Ghánim bin ‘Ayyúb, surnamed the Distraught, the Thrall o' Love. He had
also a daughter, own sister to Ghanim, who was called Fitnah, a damsel
unique in beauty and loveliness. Their father died and left them
abundant wealth.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to
say her permitted say.

              When it was the Thirty-ninth Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the merchant left
his two children abundant wealth and amongst other things an hundred
loads[FN#81] of silks and brocades, musk pods and mother o' pearl; and
there was written on every bale, "This is of the packages intended for
Baghdad," it having been his purpose to make the journey thither, when
Almighty Allah took him to Himself, which was in the time of the Caliph
Harun al-Rashid. After a while his son took the loads and, bidding
farewell to his mother and kindred and townsfolk, went forth with a
company of merchants, putting his trust in Allah Almighty, who decreed
him safety, so that he arrived without let or stay at Baghdad. There he
hired for himself a fair dwelling house which he furnished with carpets
and cushions, curtains and hangings; and therein stored his bales and
stabled his mules and camels, after which he abode a while resting.
Presently the merchants and notables of Baghdad came and saluted him,
after which he took a bundle containing ten pieces of costly stuffs,
with the prices written on them, and carried it to the merchants'
bazar, where they welcomed and saluted him and showed him all honour;
and, making him dismount from his beast, seated him in the shop of the
Syndic of the market, to whom he delivered the package. He opened it
and, drawing out the pieces of stuff, sold them for him at a profit of
two diners on every diner of prime cost. At this Ghanim rejoiced and
kept selling his silks and stuffs one after another, and ceased not to
do on this wise for a full year. On the first day of the following year
he went, as was his wont, to the Exchange which was in the bazar, but
found the gate shut; and enquiring the reason was told, "One of the
merchants is dead and all the others have gone to follow his
bier,[FN#82] and why shouldst thou not win the meed of good deeds by
walking with them?"[FN#83] He replied "Yes," and asked for the quarter
where the funeral was taking place, and one directed him thereto. So he
purified himself by the Wuzu-ablution[FN#84] and repaired with the
other merchants to the oratory, where they prayed over the dead, then
walked before the bier to the burial place, and Ghanim, who was a
bashful man, followed them being ashamed to leave them. They presently
issued from the city, and passed through the tombs until they reached
the grave where they found that the deceased's kith and kin had pitched
a tent over the tomb and had brought thither lamps and wax candles. So
they buried the body and sat down while the readers read out and
recited the Koran over the grave; and Ghanim sat with them, being
overcome with bashfulness and saying to himself "I cannot well go away
till they do." They tarried listening to the Koranic perfection till
nightfall, when the servants set supper and sweetmeats[FN#85] before
them and they ate till they were satisfied; then they washed their
hands and again took their places. But Ghanim's mind was preoccupied
with his house and goods, being in fear of robbers, and he said to
himself, "I am a stranger here and supposed to have money; if I pass
the night abroad the thieves will steal my money bags and my bales to
boot." So when he could no longer control his fear he arose and left
the assembly, having first asked leave to go about some urgent
business; and following the signs of the road he soon came to the city
gate. But it was midnight and he found the doors locked and saw none
going or coming nor heard aught but the hounds baying and the wolves
howling. At this he exclaimed, "There is no Majesty and there is no
Might save in Allah! I was in fear for my property and came back on its
account, but now I find the gate shut and I am in mortal fear for my
life!" Then he turned back and, looking out for a place where he could
sleep till morning, presently found a Santon's tomb, a square of four
walls with a date-tree in the central court and a granite gateway. The
door was wide open; so he entered and would fain have slept, but sleep
came not to him; and terror and a sense of desolation oppressed him for
that he was alone amidst the tombs. So he rose to his feet and, opening
the door, looked out and lo! he was ware of a light afar off in the
direction of the city gate; then walking a little way towards it, he
saw that it was on the road whereby he had reached the tomb. This made
him fear for his life, so he hastily shut the door and climbed to the
top of the dale tree where he hid himself in the heart of the fronds.
The light came nearer and nearer till it was close to the tomb; then it
stopped and he saw three slaves, two bearing a chest and one with a
lanthorn, an adze and a basket containing some mortar. When they
reached the tomb, one of those who were carrying the case said, "What
aileth thee O Sawáb?"; and said the other, "What is the matter O
Káfúr?"[FN#86] Quoth he, "Were we not here at supper tide and did we
not leave the door open?" "Yes," replied the other, "that is true.''
"See," said Kafur, "now it is shut and barred." "How weak are your
wits!" cried the third who bore the adze and his name was
Bukhayt,[FN#87] "know ye not that the owners of the gardens use to come
out from Baghdad and tend them and, when evening closes upon them, they
enter this place and shut the door, for fear lest the wicked blackmen,
like ourselves, should catch them and roast 'em and eat 'em."[FN#88]
"Thou sayest sooth," said the two others, "but by Allah, however that
may be, none amongst us is weaker of wits than thou." "If ye do not
believe me," said Bukhayt, "let us enter the tomb and I will rouse the
rat for you; for I doubt not but that, when he saw the light and us
making for the place, he ran up the date tree and hid there for fear of
us." When Ghanim heard this, he said in himself, "O curstest of slaves!
May Allah not have thee in His holy keeping for this thy craft and
keenness of wit! There is no Majesty and there is no Might save in
Allah, the Glorious, the Great! How shall I win free of these
blackamoors?" Then said the two who bore the box to him of the adze,
"Swarm up the wall and open the gate for us, O Bukhayt, for we are
tired of carrying the chest on our necks; and when thou hast opened the
gate thou shalt have one of those we catch inside, a fine fat rat which
we will fry for thee after such excellent fashion that not a speck of
his fat shall be lost." But Bukhayt answered, "I am afraid of somewhat
which my weak wits have suggested to me: we should do better to throw
the chest over the gateway; for it is our treasure." "If we throw it
'twill break," replied they; and he said, "I fear lest there be robbers
within who murder folk and plunder their goods, for evening is their
time of entering such places and dividing their spoil." "O thou weak o'
wits," said both the bearers of the box, "how could they ever get in
here!"[FN#89] Then they set down the chest and climbing over the wall
dropped inside and opened the gate, whilst the third slave (he that was
called Bukhayt) stood by them holding the adze, the lanthorn and the
hand basket containing the mortar. After this they locked the gate and
sat down; and presently one of them said, "O my brethren, we are
wearied with walking and with lifting up and setting down the chest,
and with unlocking and locking the gate; and now 'tis midnight, and we
have no breath left to open a tomb and bury the box: so let us rest
here two or three hours, then rise and do the job. Meanwhile each of us
shall tell how he came to be castrated and all that befel him from
first to last, the better to pass away our time while we take our
rest." Thereupon the first, he of the lanthorn and whose name was
Bukhayt, said, "I'll tell you my tale." "Say on," replied they; so he
began as follows the

Tale of the First Eunuch, Bukhayt.

Know, O my brothers, that when I was a little one, some five years old,
I was taken home from my native country by a slave driver who sold me
to a certain Apparitor.[FN#90] My purchaser had a daughter three years
old, with whom I was brought up; and they used to make mock of me,
letting me play with her and dance for her[FN#91] and sing to her, till
I reached the age of twelve and she that of ten; and even then they did
not forbid me seeing her. One day I went in to her and found her
sitting in an inner room, and she looked as if she had just come out of
the bath which was in the house; for she was scented with essences and
reek of aromatic woods, and her face shone like a circle of the moon on
the fourteenth night. She began to sport with me, and I with her. Now I
had just reached the age of puberty; so my prickle stood at point, as
it were a huge key. Then she threw me on my back and, mounting
astraddle on my breast, fell a wriggling and a bucking upon me till she
had uncovered my yard. When she saw it standing with head erect, she
hent it in hand and began rubbing it upon the lips of her little
slit[FN#92] outside her petticoat trousers. Thereat hot lust stirred in
me and I threw my arms round her, while she wound hers about my neck
and hugged me to her with all her might, till, before I knew what I
did, my pizzle split up her trousers and entered her slit and did away
her maiden head. When I saw this, I ran off and took refuge with one of
my comrades. Presently her mother came in to her; and, seeing her in
this case, fainted clean away. However she managed the matter advisedly
and hid it from the girl's father out of good will to me; nor did they
cease to call to me and coax me, till they took me from where I was.
After two months had passed by, her mother married her to a young man,
a barber who used to shave her papa, and portioned and fitted her out
of her own monies; whilst the father knew nothing of what had passed.
On the night of consummation they cut the throat of a pigeon poult and
sprinkled the blood on her shift.[FN#93] After a while they seized me
unawares and gelded me; and, when they brought her to her bridegroom,
they made me her Agha,[FN#94] her eunuch, to walk before her
wheresoever she went, whether to the bath or to her father's house. I
abode with her a long time enjoying her beauty and loveliness by way of
kissing and clipping and coupling with her,[FN#95] till she died, and
her husband and mother and father died also; when they seized me for
the Royal Treasury as being the property of an intestate, and I found
my way hither, where I became your comrade. This, then, O my brethren,
is the cause of my cullions being cut off; and peace be with you! He
ceased and his fellow began in these words the

Tale of the Second Eunuch, Kafur.

Know, O my brothers that, when beginning service as a boy of eight, I
used to tell the slave dealers regularly and exactly one lie every
year, so that they fell out with one another, till at last my master
lost patience with me and, carrying me down to the market, ordered the
brokers to cry, "Who will buy this slave, knowing his blemish and
making allowance for it?" He did so and they asked him, "Pray, what may
be his blemish?" and he answered, "He telleth me one single lie every
year." Now a man that was a merchant came up and said to the broker,
"How much do they allow for him with his blemish?" "They allow six
hundred dirhams," he replied; and said the other, "Thou shalt have
twenty dirhams for thyself." So he arranged between him and the slave
dealer who took the coin from him and the broker carried me to the
merchant's house and departed, after receiving his brokerage. The
trader clothed me with suitable dress, and I stayed in his service the
rest of my twelvemonth, until the new year began happily. It was a
blessed season, plenteous in the produce of the earth, and the
merchants used to feast every day at the house of some one among them,
till it was my master's turn to entertain them in a flower garden
without the city. So he and the other merchants went to the garden,
taking with them all that they required of provaunt and else beside,
and sat eating and carousing and drinking till mid day, when my master,
having need of some matter from his home, said to me, "O slave, mount
the she mule and hie thee to the house and bring from thy mistress such
and such a thing and return quickly." I obeyed his bidding and started
for the house but, as I drew near it, I began to cry out and shed
tears, whereupon all the people of the quarter collected, great and
small; and my master's wife and daughters, hearing the noise I was
making, opened the door and asked me what was the matter. Said I, "My
master was sitting with his friends beneath an old wall, and it fell on
one and all of them; and when I saw what had happened to them, I
mounted the mule and came hither in haste to tell you." When my
master's daughters and wife heard this, they screamed and rent their
raiment and beat their faces, whilst the neighbours came around them.
Then the wife over turned the furniture of the house, one thing upon
another, and tore down the shelves and broke the windows and the
lattices and smeared the walls with mud and indigo, saying to me, "Woe
to thee, O Kafur! come help me to tear down these cupboards and break
up these vessels and this china ware,[FN#96] and the rest of it." So I
went to her and aided her to smash all the shelves in the house with
whatever stood upon them, after which I went round about the terrace
roofs and every part of the place, spoiling all I could and leaving no
china in the house unbroken till I had laid waste the whole, crying out
the while "Well away! my master!" Then my mistress fared forth bare
faced wearing a head kerchief and naught else, and her daughters and
the children sallied out with her, and said to me, "O Kafur, go thou
before us and show us the place where thy master lieth dead, that we
may take him from under the fallen wall and lay him on a bier and bear
him to the house and give him a fine funeral." So I went forth before
them crying out, "Slack, my master!"; and they after me with faces and
heads bare and all shrieking, "Alas! Alas for the man!" Now there
remained none in the quarter, neither man nor woman, nor epicene, nor
youth nor maid, nor child nor old trot, but went with us smiting their
faces and weeping bitterly, and I led them leisurely through the whole
city. The folk asked them what was the matter, whereupon they told them
what they had heard from me, and all exclaimed, "There is no Majesty
and there is no Might save in Allah!" Then said one of them, "He was a
personage of consequence; so let us go to the Governor and tell him
what hath befallen him." When they told the Governor,—And Shahrazad
perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.

             When it was the Fortieth Night,[FN#97]

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when they told
the Governor, he rose and mounted and, taking with him labourers, with
spades and baskets, went on my track, with many people behind him; and
I ran on before them, howling and casting dust on my head and beating
my face, followed by my mistress and her children keening for the dead.
But I got ahead of them and entered the garden before them, and when my
master saw me in this state, I smiting my face and saying, "Well away!
my mistress! Alas! Alas! Alas! who is left to take pity on me, now that
my mistress is gone? Would I had been a sacrifice for her!", he stood
aghast and his colour waxed yellow and he said to me, "What aileth thee
O Kafur! What is the matter?" "O my lord," I replied, "when thou
sentest me to the house, I found that the saloon wall had given way and
had fallen like a layer upon my mistress and her children!" "And did
not thy mistress escape?" "No, by Allah, O my master; not one of them
was saved; the first to die was my mistress, thine elder daughter!"
"And did not my younger daughter escape?"; "No, she did not!" "And what
became of the mare mule I use to ride, is she safe?" "No, by Allah, O
my master, the house walls and the stable walls buried every living
thing that was within doors, even to the sheep and geese and poultry,
so that they all became a heap of flesh and the dogs and cats are
eating them and not one of them is left alive." "And hath not thy
master, my elder son, escaped?" "No, by Allah! not one of them was
saved, and now there is naught left of house or household, nor even a
sign of them: and, as for the sheep and geese and hens, the cats and
dogs have devoured them." When my master heard this the light became
night before his sight; his wits were dazed and he so lost command of
his senses that he could not stand firm on his feet: he was as one
struck with a sudden palsy and his back was like to break. Then he rent
his raiment and plucked out his beard and, casting his turband from off
his head, buffeted his face till the blood ran down and he cried aloud,
"Alas, my children! Alas, my wife! Alas, my calamity! To whom ever
befel that which hath befallen me?" The merchants, his friends, also
cried aloud at his crying and wept for his weeping and tore their
clothes, being moved to pity of his case; and so my master went out of
the garden, smiting his face with such violence that from excess of
pain he staggered like one drunken with wine. As he and the merchants
came forth from the garden gate, behold, they saw a great cloud of dust
and heard a loud noise of crying and lamentation; so they looked and
lo! it was the Governor with his attendants and the townsfolk, a world
of people, who had come out to look on, and my master's family
following them, all screaming and crying aloud and weeping exceeding
sore weeping. The first to address my owner were his wife and children;
and when he saw them he was confounded and laughed[FN#98] and said to
them, "How is it with all of you and what befel you in the house and
what hath come to pass to you?" When they saw him they exclaimed,
"Praise be to Allah for thy preservation!" and threw themselves upon
him and his children hung about him crying, "Slack, our father! Thanks
to Allah for thy safety, O our father!" And his wife said to him, "Art
thou indeed well! Laud to Allah who hath shown us thy face in safety!"
And indeed she was confounded and her reason fled when she saw him, and
she asked, "O, my lord, how didst thou escape, thou and thy friends the
merchants?"; and he answered her, "And how fared it with thee in the
house?" Quoth they, "We were all well, whole and healthy, nor hath
aught of evil befallen us in the house, save that thy slave Kafur came
to us, bareheaded with torn garments and howling, 'Alas, the master!
Alas the master!' So we asked him, 'What tidings, O Kafur?' and he
answered 'A wall of the garden hath fallen on my master and his friends
the merchants, and they are all crushed and dead!''' "By Allah," said
my master, "he came to me but now howling, 'Alas, my mistress! Alas,
the children of the mistress!', and said, 'My mistress and her children
are all dead, every one of them!'" Then he looked round and seeing me
with my turband rent in rags round my neck, howling and weeping with
exceeding weeping and throwing dust upon my head, he cried out at me.
So I came to him and he said, "Woe to thee, O ill omened slave! O
whoreson knave! O thou damned breed! What mischief thou hast wrought?
By Allah! I will flog thy skin from thy flesh and cut thy flesh from
thy bones!" I rejoined, "By Allah, thou canst do nothing of the kind
with me, O my lord, for thou boughtest me with my blemish; and there
are honest men to bear witness against thee that thou didst so
accepting the condition, and that thou knewest of my fault which is to
tell one lie every year. Now this is only a half lie, but by the end of
the year I will tell the other half, then will the lie stand whole and
complete." "O dog, son of a dog!", cried my master, "O most accursed of
slaves, is this all of it but a half lie? Verily if it be a half lie
'tis a whole calamity! Get thee from me, thou art free in the face of
Allah!" "By Allah," rejoined I, if thou free me, I will not free thee
till my year is completed and I have told thee the half lie which is
left. When this is done, go down with me to the slave market and sell
me as thou boughtest me to whoso will buy me with my blemish; but thou
shalt not manumit me, for I have no handicraft whereby to gain my
living;[FN#99] and this my demand is a matter of law which the doctors
have laid down in the Chapter of Emancipation."[FN#100] While we were
at these words, up came the crowd of people, and the neighbours of the
quarter, men, women and children, together with the Governor and his
suite offering condolence. So my master and the other merchants went up
to him and informed him of the adventure, and how this was but a half
lie, at which all wondered, deeming it a whole lie and a big one. And
they cursed me and reviled me, while I stood laughing and grinning at
them, till at last I asked, "How shall my master slay me when he bought
me with this my blemish?" Then my master returned home and found his
house in ruins, and it was I who had laid waste the greater part of
it,[FN#101] having broken things which were worth much money, as also
had done his wife, who said to him, "'Twas Kafur who broke the vessels
and chinaware." Thereupon his rage redoubled and he struck hand upon
hand exclaiming, "By Allah! in my life never saw I a whoreson like this
slave; and he saith this is but a half lie! How, then, if he had told
me a whole lie? He would ruin a city, aye or even two." Then in his
fury he went to the Governor, and they gave me a neat thing in the
bastinado-line and made me eat stick till I was lost to the world and a
fainting fit came on me; and, whilst I was yet senseless, they brought
the barber who docked me and gelded me[FN#102] and cauterised the
wound. When I revived I found myself a clean eunuch with nothing left,
and my master said to me, "Even as thou hast burned my heart for the
things I held dearest, so have I burnt thy heart for that of thy
members whereby thou settest most store!" Then he took me and sold me
at a profit, for that I was become an eunuch. And I ceased not bringing
trouble upon all, wherever I was sold, and was shifted from lord to
lord and from notable to notable, being sold and being bought, till I
entered the palace of the Commander of the Faithful. But now my spirit
is broken and my tricks are gone from me, so alas! are my ballocks.
When the two slaves heard his history, they laughed at him and chaffed
him and said, "Truly thou art skite[FN#103] and skite-son! Thou liedest
an odious lie." Then quoth they to the third slave, "Tell us thy tale."
"O sons of my uncle," quoth he, "all that ye have said is idle: I will
tell you the cause of my losing my testicles, and indeed I deserved to
lose even more, for I futtered both my mistress and my master's eldest
son and heir: but my story is a long one and this is not the time to
tell it; for the dawn, O my cousins, draweth near and if morning come
upon us with this chest still unburied, we shall get into sore disgrace
and our lives will pay for it. So up with you and open the door and,
when we get back to the palace, I will tell you my story and the cause
of my losing my precious stones." Then he swarmed up and dropped down
from the wall inside and opened the door, so they entered and, setting
down the lantern, dug between four tombs a hole as long as the chest
and of the same breadth. Kafur plied the spade and Sawab removed the
earth by baskets full till they reached the depth of the stature of a
man;[FN#104] when they laid the chest in the hole and threw back the
earth over it: then they went forth and shutting the door disappeared
from Ghanim's eyes. When all was quiet and he felt sure that he was
left alone in the place, his thought was busied about what the chest
contained and he said to himself, "Would that I knew the contents of
that box!" However, he waited till day broke, when morning shone and
showed her sheen: whereupon he came down from the date tree and scooped
away the earth with his hands, till the box was laid bare and
disengaged from the ground. Then he took a large stone and hammered at
the lock till he broke it and, opening the lid, behold a young lady, a
model of beauty and loveliness, clad in the richest of garments and
jewels of gold and such necklaces of precious stones that, were the
Sultan's country evened with them, it would not pay their price. She
had been drugged with Bhang, but her bosom, rising and falling, showed
that her breath had not departed. When Ghanim saw her, he knew that
some one had played her false and hocussed her; so he pulled her out of
the chest and laid her on the ground with her face upwards. As soon as
she smelt the breeze and the air entered her nostrils, mouth and lungs,
she sneezed and choked and coughed; when there fell from out her throat
a pill of Cretan Bhang, had an elephant smelt it he would have slept
from night to night. Then she opened her eyes and glancing around said,
in sweet voice and gracious words, "Woe to thee O wind! there is naught
in thee to satisfy the thirsty, nor aught to gratify one whose thirst
is satisfied! Where is Zhar al-Bostan?" But no one answered her, so she
turned her and cried out, "Ho Sabíhah! Shajarat al-Durr! Núr al-Hudá!
Najmat al-Subh! be ye awake? Shahwah, Nuzhab, Halwá, Zarífah, out on
you, speak![FN#105]'' But no one answered; so she looked all around and
said, "Woe's me! have they entombed me in the tombs? O Thou who knowest
what man's thought enwombs and who givest compensation on the Day of
Doom, who can have brought me from amid hanging screens and curtains
veiling the Harim rooms and set me down between four tombs?" All this
while Ghanim was standing by: then he said to her, "O my lady, here are
neither screened rooms nor palace Harims nor yet tombs; only the slave
henceforth devoted to thy love, Ghanim bin Ayyub, sent to thee by the
Omniscient One above, that all thy troubles He may remove and win for
thee every wish that cloth behove!" Then he held his peace. She was
reassured by his words and cried, "I testify that there is no god but
the God and I testify that Mohammed is the Apostle of God!"; then she
turned to Ghanim and, placing her hands before her face, said to him in
the sweetest speech, "O blessed youth, who brought me hither? See, I am
now come to myself." "O my lady," he replied, "three slave eunuchs came
here bearing this chest;" and related to her the whole of what had
befallen him, and how evening having closed upon him had proved the
cause of her preservation, otherwise she had died smothered.[FN#106]
Then he asked her who she was and what was her story, and she answered,
"O youth, thanks be to Allah who hath cast me into the hands of the
like of thee! But now rise and put me back into the box; then fare
forth upon the road and hire the first camel driver or muleteer thou
findest to carry it to thy house. When I am there, all will be well and
I will tell thee my tale and acquaint thee with my adventures, and
great shall be thy gain by means of me." At this he rejoiced and went
outside the tomb. The day was now dazzling bright and the firmament
shone with light and the folk had begun to circulate; so he hired a man
with a mule and, bringing him to the tomb, lifted the chest wherein he
had put the damsel and set it on the mule. Her love now engrossed his
heart and he fared homeward with her rejoicing, for that she was a girl
worth ten thousand gold pieces and her raiment and ornaments would
fetch a mint of money. As soon as he arrived at his house he carried in
the chest and opening it,—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and
ceased to say her permitted say.

               When it was the Forty-first night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Ghanim son
of Ayyub arrived with the chest at his house, he opened it and took out
the young lady, who looked about her and, seeing that the place was
handsome, spread with carpets and dight with cheerful colours and other
deckings; and noting the stuffs up piled and packed bales and other
else than that, knew that he was a substantial merchant and a man of
much money. There upon she uncovered her face and looked at him, and
lo! he was a fair youth; so when she saw him she loved him and said, "O
my lord, bring us something to eat." "On my head and mine eyes!"
replied he; and, going down to the bazar, bought a roasted lamb and a
dish of sweetmeats and with these dry fruits and wax candles, besides
wine and whatsoever was required of drinking materials, not forgetting
perfumes. With all this gear he returned to the house; and when the
damsel saw him she laughed and kissed him and clasped his neck. Then
she began caressing him, which made his love wax hotter till it got the
mastery of his heart. They ate and drank and each had conceived the
fondest affection; for indeed the two were one in age and one in
loveliness; and when night came on Ghanim bin Ayyub, the Distraught,
the Thrall o' Love, rose and lit the wax candles and lamps till the
place blazed with light;[FN#107] after which he produced the wine
service and spread the table. Then both sat down again, he and she, and
he kept filling and giving her to drink, and she kept filling and
giving him to drink, and they played and toyed and laughed and recited
verses; whilst their joy increased and they dove in closer love each to
each (glory be to the Uniter of Hearts!). They ceased not to carouse
after this fashion till near upon dawn when drowsiness overcame them
and they slept where they were, apart each from other, till the
morning.[FN#108] Then Ghanim arose and going to the market, bought all
they required of meat and vegetables and wine and what not, and brought
them to the house; whereupon both sat down to eat and ate their
sufficiency, when he set on wine. They drank and each played with each,
till their cheeks flushed red and their eyes took a darker hue and
Ghanim's soul longed to kiss the girl and to lie with her and he said,
"O my lady, grant me one kiss of that dear mouth: per chance 't will
quench the fire of my heart." "O Ghanim," replied she, "wait till I am
drunk and dead to the world; then steal a kiss of me, secretly and on
such wise that I may not know thou hast kissed me." Then she rose and
taking off her upper dress sat; in a thin shift of fine linen and a
silken head kerchief.[FN#109] At this passion inflamed Ghanim and he
said to her, "O my lady, wilt thou not vouchsafe me what I asked of
thee?" "By Allah," she replied, "that may not be thine, for there is
written upon my trouser string[FN#110] a hard word!" Thereupon Ghanim's
heart sank and desire grew on him as its object offered difficulties;
and he improvised these verses,

"I asked the author of mine ills * To heal the wound with one

     sweet kiss:

No! No! she cried,[FN#111] for ever no! * But I, soft whispering,

     urged yes:

Quoth she, Then take it by my leave, * When smiles shall pardon

     thine amiss:

By force, cried I? Nay, she replied * With love and gladness eke

     I wis.

Now ask me not what next occurred * Seek grace of God and whist

     of this!

Deem what thou wilt of us, for love * By calumnies the sweeter is

Nor after this care I one jot * Whether my foe be known or not."


Then his affection increased and love fires rose hotter in his heart,
while she refused herself to him saying, "Thou canst not possess me."
They ceased not to make love and enjoy their wine and wassail, whilst
Ghanim was drowned in the sea of love and longing; but she redoubled in
coyness and cruelty till the night brought on the darkness and let fall
on them the skirts of sleep. Thereupon Ghanim rose and lit the lamps
and wax candles and refreshed the room and removed the table; then he
took her feet and kissed them and, finding them like fresh cream,
pressed his face[FN#112] on them and said to her, "O my lady, take pity
on one thy love hath ta'en and thine eyes hath slain; for indeed I were
heart whole but for thy bane!" And he wept somewhat. "O my lord, and
light of my eyes," quoth she, "by Allah, I love thee in very sooth and
I trust to thy truth, but I know that I may not be thine." "And what is
the obstacle?" asked he; when she answered, "Tonight I will tell thee
my tale, that thou mayst accept my excuse." Then she threw herself upon
him and winding her arms like a necklace about his neck, kissed him and
caressed him and promised him her favours; and they ceased not playing
and laughing till love get the firmest hold upon both their hearts. And
so it continued a whole month, both passing the night on a single
carpet bed, but whenever he would enjoy her, she put him off; whilst
mutual love increased upon them and each could hardly abstain from
other. One night, as he lay by her side, and both were warm with wine
Ghanim passed his hand over her breasts and stroked them; then he
slipped it down to her waist as far as her navel. She awoke and,
sitting up, put her hand to her trousers and finding them fast tied,
once more fell asleep. Presently, he again felt her and sliding his
hand down to her trouser string, began pulling at it, whereupon she
awoke and sat upright. Ghanim also sat up by her side and she asked
him, "What dost thou want?" "I want to lie with thee," he answered,
"and that we may deal openly and frankly with each other." Quoth she,
"I must now declare to thee my case, that thou mayst know my quality;
then will my secret be disclosed to thee and my excuse become manifest
to thee." Quoth he, "So be it!" Thereat she opened the skirt of her
shift and taking up her trouser string, said to him, "O my lord, read
what is worked on the flat of this string:" so he took it in hand, and
saw these words broidered on it in gold, "I AM THINE, AND THOU ART
MINE, O COUSIN OF THE APOSTLE!''[FN#113] When he read this, he withdrew
his hand and said to her, "Tell me who thou art!" "So be it," answered
she; "know that I am one of the concubines of the Commander of the
Faithful, and my name is Kút al-Kulúb the Food of Hearts. I was brought
up in his palace and, when I grew to woman's estate, he looked on me
and, noting what share of beauty and loveliness the Creator had given
me, loved me with exceeding love, and assigned me a separate apartment,
and gave me ten slave girls to wait on me and all these ornaments thou
seest me wearing. On a certain day he set out for one of his provinces,
and the Lady Zubaydah came to one of the slave girls in my service and
said to her, 'I have something to require of thee.' 'What is it, O my
lady?' asked she and the Caliph's wife answered, 'When thy mistress Kut
al-Kulub is asleep, put this piece of Bhang into her nostrils or drop
it into her drink, and thou shalt have of me as much money as will
satisfy thee.' 'With love and gladness;' replied the girl and took the
Bhang from her, being a glad woman because of the money and because
aforetime she had been one of Zubaydah's slaves. So she put the Bhang
in my drink, and when it was night drank, and the drug had no sooner
settled in my stomach than I fell to the ground, my head touching my
feet, and knew naught of my life but that I was in another world. When
her device succeeded, she bade put me in this chest, and secretly
brought in the slaves and the doorkeepers and bribed them; and, on the
night when thou wast perched upon the date tree, she sent the blacks to
do with me as thou sawest. So my delivery was at thy hands, and thou
broughtest me to this house and hast entreated me honourably and with
thy kindest. This is my story, and I wot not what is become of the
Caliph during my absence. Know then my condition and divulge not my
case." When Ghanim heard her words and knew that she was a concubine of
the Caliph, he drew back, for awe of the Caliphate beset him, and sat
apart from her in one of the corners of the place, blaming himself and
brooding over his affair and patiencing his heart bewildered for love
of one he could not possess. Then he wept for excess of longing, and
plained him of Fortune and her injuries, and the world and its enmities
(and praise be to Him who causeth generous hearts to be troubled with
love and the beloved, and who endoweth not the minds of the mean and
miserly with so much of it as eveneth a grain-weight!). So he began
repeating,

"The lover's heart for his beloved must meet * Sad pain, and from

     her charms bear sore defeat:

What is Love's taste? They asked and answered I, * Sweet is the

     taste but ah! 'tis bitter sweet."


Thereupon Kut al-Kulub arose and took him to her bosom and kissed him;
for the love of him was firm fixed in her heart, so that she disclosed
to him her secret and all the affection she felt; and, throwing her
arms round Ghanim's neck like a collar of pearls, kissed him again and
yet again. But he held off from her in awe of the Caliph. Then they
talked together a long while (and indeed both were drowned in the sea
of their mutual love); and, as the day broke, Ghanim rose and donned
his clothes and going to the bazar, as was his wont, took what the
occasion required and returned home. He found her weeping; but when she
saw him she checked herself and, smiling through her tears, said, "Thou
hast desolated me, O beloved of my heart. By Allah, this hour of
absence hath been to me like a year![FN#114] I have explained to thee
my condition in the excess of my eager love for thee; so come now near
me, and forget the past and have thy will of me." But he interrupted
her crying, "I seek refuge with Allah! This thing may never be. How
shall the dog sit in the lion's stead? What is the lord's is unlawful
to the slave!" So he with-drew from her, and sat down on a corner of
the mat. Her passion for him increased with his forbearance; so she
seated herself by his side and caroused and played with him, till the
two were flushed with wine, and she was mad for her own dishonour. Then
she sang these verses,

"The lover's heart is like to break in twain: * Till when these

     coy denials ah! till when?

O thou who fliest me sans fault of mine, * Gazelles are wont at

     times prove tame to men:

Absence, aversion, distance and disdain, * How shall young lover

     all these ills sustain?"


Thereupon Ghanim wept and she wept at his weeping, and they ceased not
drinking till nightfall, when he rose and spread two beds, each in its
place. "For whom is this second bed?" asked she, and he answered her,
"One is for me and the other is for thee: from this night forth we must
not sleep save thus, for that which is the lord's is unlawful to the
thrall." "O my master!" cried she, "let us have done with this, for all
things come to pass by Fate and Fortune." But he refused, and the fire
was lighted in her heart and, as her longing waxed fiercer, she clung
to him and cried, "By Allah, we will not sleep save side by side!"
"Allah forefend!" he replied and prevailed against her and lay apart
till the morning, when love and longing redoubled on her and
distraction and eager thirst of passion. They abode after this fashion
three full told months, which were long and longsome indeed, and every
time she made advances to him, he would refuse himself and say,
"Whatever belongeth to the master is unlawful to the man." Now when
time waxed tiresome and tedious to her and anguish and distress grew on
her, she burst out from her oppressed heart with these verses,

"How long, rare beauty! wilt do wrong to me? * Who was it bade

     thee not belong to me?

With outer charms thou weddest inner grace * Comprising every

     point of piquancy:

Passion thou hast infused in every heart, * From eyelids driven

     sleep by deputy:

Erst was (I wet) the spray made thin of leaf. * O Cassia spray!

     Unlief thy sin I see:[FN#115]

The hart erst hunted I: how is 't I spy * The hunter hunted (fair

     my hart!) by thee?

Wondrouser still I tell thee aye that I * Am trapped while never

     up to trap thou be!

Ne'er grant my prayer! For if I grudge thyself * To thee, I

     grudge my me more jealously

And cry so long as life belong to me, * Rare beauty how, how long

     this wrong to me?"


They abode in this state a long time, and fear kept Ghanim aloof from
her. So far concerning these two; but as regards the Lady Zubaydah,
when, in the Caliph's absence she had done this deed by Kut al-Kulub
she became perplexed, saying to herself, "What shall I tell my cousin
when he comes back and asks for her? What possible answer can I make to
him?" Then she called an old woman, who was about her and discovered
her secret to her saying, "How shall I act seeing that Kut al-Kulub
died by such untimely death?" "O my lady," quoth the old crone, "the
time of the Caliph's return is near; so do thou send for a carpenter
and bid him make thee a figure of wood in the form of a corpse. We will
dig a grave for it midmost the palace and there bury it: then do thou
build an oratory over it and set therein lighted candles and lamps, and
order each and every in the palace to be clad in black.[FN#116]
Furthermore command thy handmaids and eunuchs as soon as they know of
the Caliph's returning from his journey, to spread straw over the
vestibule floors and, when the Commander of the Faithful enters and
asks what is the matter, let them say:— Kut al-Kulub is dead, and may
Allah abundantly compensate thee for the loss of her![FN#117]; and, for
the high esteem in which she was held of our mistress, she hath buried
her in her own palace. When he hears this he will weep and it shall be
grievous to him; then will he cause perfections of the Koran to be made
for her and he will watch by night at her tomb. Should he say to
himself, 'Verily Zubaydah, the daughter of my uncle, hath compassed in
her jealousy the death of Kut al-Kulub'; or, if love longing overcome
him and he bid her be taken out of her tomb, fear thou not; for when
they dig down and come to the image in human shape he will see it
shrouded in costly grave clothes; and, if he wish to take off the
winding sheet that he may look upon her, do thou forbid him or let some
other forbid him, saying, 'The sight of her nakedness is unlawful.' The
fear of the world to come will restrain him and he will believe that
she is dead and will restore the figure to its place and thank thee for
thy doings; and thus thou shalt escape, please Almighty Allah, from
this slough of despond." When the Lady Zubaydah heard her words, she
commended the counsel and gave her a dress of honour and a large sum of
money, ordering her to do all she had said. So the old woman set about
the business forthright and bade the carpenter make her the afore said
image; and, as soon as it was finished, she brought it to the Lady
Zubaydah, who shrouded it and buried it and built a sepulchre over it,
wherein they lighted candles and lamps, and laid down carpets about the
tomb. Moreover she put on black and she spread abroad in the Harim that
Kut al-Kulub was dead. After a time the Caliph returned from his
journey and went up to the palace, thinking only of Kut al-Kulub. He
saw all the pages and eunuchs and handmaids habited in black, at which
his heart fluttered with extreme fear; and, when he went in to the Lady
Zubaydah, he found her also garbed in black. So he asked the cause of
this and they gave him tidings of the death of Kut al-Kulub, whereon he
fell a swooning. As soon as he came to himself, he asked for her tomb,
and the Lady Zubaydah said to him, "Know, O Prince of the Faithful,
that for especial honour I have buried her in my own palace." Then he
repaired in his travelling garb[FN#118] to the tomb that he might wail
over her, and found the carpets spread and the candles and lamps
lighted. When he saw this, he thanked Zubaydah for her good deed and
abode perplexed, halting between belief and unbelief till at last
suspicion overcame him and he gave order to open the grave and take out
the body. When he saw the shroud and would have removed it to look upon
her, the fear of Allah Almighty restrained him, and the old woman
(taking advantage of the delay) said, "Restore her to her place." Then
he sent at once for Fakirs and Koran readers, and caused perfections to
be made over her tomb and sat by the side of the grave, weeping till he
fainted; and he continued to frequent the tomb and sit there for a
whole month,— And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying
her permitted say.

              When it was the Forty-second Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Caliph ceased
not to frequent the tomb for the period of a whole month, at the end of
which time it so happened one day that he entered the Serraglio, after
dismissing the Emirs and Wazirs, and lay down and slept awhile; and
there sat at his head a slave girl fanning him, and at his feet a
second rubbing and shampooing them. Presently he awoke and, opening his
eyes, shut them again and heard the handmaid at his head saying to her
who was at his feet, "A nice business this, O Khayzarán!" and the other
answered her "Well, O Kazíb al-Bán?"[FN#119] "Verily" said the first,
"our lord knoweth naught of what hath happened and sitteth waking and
watching by a tomb wherein is only a log of wood carved by the
carpenter's art." "And Kut al-Kulub," quoth the other, "what hath
befallen her?" She replied, "Know that the Lady Zubaydah sent a pellet
of Bhang by one of the slave women who was bribed to drug her; and when
sleep overpowered her she let put her in a chest, and ordered Sawab and
Kafur and Bukhayt to throw her amongst the tombs." "What dost thou say,
O Kazib al-Ban;" asked Khayzaran, "is not the lady Kut al-Kulub dead?"
"Nay, by Allah!" she answered "and long may her youth be saved from
death! but I have heard the Lady Zubaydah say that she is in the house
of a young merchant named Ghanim bin Ayyub of Damascus, highs the
Distraught, the Thrall o' Love; and she hath been with him these four
months, whilst our lord is weeping and watching by night at a tomb
wherein is no corpse." They kept on talking this sort of talk, and the
Caliph gave ear to their words; and, by the time they had ceased
speaking, he knew right well that the tomb was a feint and a fraud, and
that Kut al-Kulub had been in Ghanim's house for four months. Whereupon
he was angered with exceeding anger and rising up, he summoned the
Emirs of his state; and his Wazir Ja'afar the Barmaki came also and
kissed the ground between his hands. The Caliph said to him in fury,
"Go down, O Ja'afar, with a party of armed men and ask for the house of
Ghanim son of Ayyub: fall upon it and spoil it and bring him to me with
my slave girl, Kut al-Kulub, for there is no help but that I punish
him!" "To hear is to obey," said Ja'afar; and setting out with the
Governor and the guards and a world of people, repaired to Ghanim's
house. Now about that time the youth happened to have brought back a
pot of dressed meat and was about to put forth his hand to eat of it,
he and Kut al-Kulub, when the lady, happening to look out saw calamity
surrounding the house on every side; for the Wazir and the Governor,
the night guard and the Mamelukes with swords drawn had girt it as the
white of the eye girdeth the black. At this she knew that tidings of
her had reached the Caliph, her lord; and she made sure of ruin, and
her colour paled and her fair features changed and her favour faded.
Then she turned to Ghanim and said to him, "O my love! fly for thy
life!" "What shall I do," asked he, "and whither shall I go, seeing
that my money and means of maintenance are all in this house?"; and she
answered, "Delay not lest thou be slain and lose life as well as
wealth." "O my loved one and light of mine eyes!" he cried, "how shall
I do to get away when they have surrounded the house?" Quoth she, "Fear
not;" and, stripping off his fine clothes, dressed him in ragged old
garments, after which she took the pot and, putting in it bits of
broken bread and a saucer of meat,[FN#120] placed the whole in a basket
and setting it upon his head said, "Go out in this guise and fear not
for me who wotteth right well what thing is in my hand for the
Caliph."[FN#121] So he went out amongst them, bearing the basket with
its contents, and the Protector vouchsafed him His protection and he
escaped the snares and perils that beset him, by the blessing of his
good conscience and pure conduct. Meanwhile Ja'afar dismounted and
entering the house, saw Kut al-Kulub who had dressed and decked herself
in splendid raiments and ornaments and filled a chest with gold and
jewellery and precious stones and rarities and what else was light to
bear and of value rare. When she saw Ja'afar come in, she rose and,
kissing the ground before him, said, "O my lord, the Reed hath written
of old the rede which Allah decreed!''[FN#122] "By Allah, O my lady,"
answered Ja'afar, "he gave me an order to seize Ghanim son of Ayyub;"
and she rejoined, "O my lord, he made ready his goods and set out
therewith for Damascus and I know nothing more of him; but I desire
thee take charge of this chest and deliver it to me in the Harim of the
Prince of the Faithful." "Hearing and obedience," said Ja'afar, and
bade his men bear it away to the head quarters of the Caliphate
together with Kut al-Kulub, commanding them to entreat her with honour
as one in high esteem. They did his bidding after they had wrecked and
plundered Ghanim's house. Then Ja'afar went in to the Caliph and told
him all that had happened, and he ordered Kut al-Kulub to be lodged in
a dark chamber and appointed an old women to serve her, feeling
convinced that Ghanim had debauched her and slept with her. Then he
wrote a mandate to the Emir Mohammed bin Sulayman al-Zayni, his viceroy
in Damascus, to this effect: "The instant thou shalt receive this our
letter, seize upon Ghanim bin Ayyub and send him to us." When the
missive came to the viceroy, he kissed it and laid it on his head; then
he let proclaim in the bazars, "Whoso is desirous to plunder, away with
him to the house of Ghanim son of Ayyub."[FN#123] So they flocked
thither, when they found that Ghanim's mother and sister had built him
a tomb[FN#124] in the midst of the house and sat by it weeping for him;
whereupon they seized the two without telling them the cause and, after
spoiling the house, carried them before the viceroy. He questioned them
concerning Ghanim and both replied, "For a year or more we have had no
news of him." So they restored them to their place. Thus far concerning
them; but as regards Ghanim, when he saw his wealth spoiled and his
ruin utterest he wept over himself till his heart well nigh brake. Then
he fared on at random till the last of the day, and hunger grew hard on
him and walking wearied him. So coming to a village he entered a
mosque[FN#125] where he sat down upon a mat and propped his back
against the wall; but presently he sank to the ground in his extremity
of famine and fatigue. There he lay till dawn, his heart fluttering for
want of food; and, owing to his sweating, the lice[FN#126] coursed over
his skin; his breath waxed fetid and his whole condition was changed.
When the villagers came to pray the dawn prayer, they found him
prostrate, ailing, hunger lean, yet showing evident signs of former
affluence. As soon as prayers were over, they drew near him; and,
understanding that he was starved with hunger and cold, they gave him
an old robe with ragged sleeves and said to him, "O stranger, whence
art thou and what sickness is upon thee?" He opened his eyes and wept
but returned no answer; whereupon one of them, who saw that he was
starving, brought him a saucer of honey and two barley scones. He ate a
little and they sat with him till sun rise, when they went to their
work. He abode with them in this state for a month, whilst sickness and
weakliness grew upon him; and they wept for him and, pitying his
condition, took counsel with one another upon his case and agreed to
forward him to the hospital in Baghdad.[FN#127] Meanwhile behold, two
beggar women, who were none other than Ghanim's mother and
sister,[FN#128] came into the mosque and, when he saw them, he gave
them the bread that was at his head; and they slept by his side that
night but he knew them not. Next day the villagers brought a camel and
said to the cameleer, "Set this sick man on thy beast and carry him to
Baghdad and put him down at the Spital door; so haply he may be
medicined and be healed and thou shalt have thy hire."[FN#129] "To hear
is to comply," said the man. So they brought Ghanim, who was asleep,
out of the mosque and set him, mat and all, on the camel; and his
mother and sister came out among the crowd to gaze upon him, but they
knew him not. However, after looking at him and considering him
carefully they said, "Of a truth he favours our Ghanim, poor boy!; can
this sick man be he?" Presently, he woke and finding himself bound with
ropes on a camel's back, he began to weep and complain,[FN#130] and the
village people saw his mother and sister weeping over him, albeit they
knew him not. Then they fared forth for Baghdad, but the camel-man
forewent them and, setting Ghanim down at the Spital gate, went away
with his beast. The sick man lay there till dawn and, when the folk
began to go about the streets, they saw him and stood gazing on him,
for he had become as thin as a toothpick, till the Syndic of the bazar
came up and drove them away from him, saying, "I will gain Paradise
through this poor creature; for if they take him into the Hospital,
they will kill him in a single day."[FN#131] Then he made his young men
carry him to his house, where they spread him a new bed with a new
pillow,[FN#132] and he said to his wife, "Tend him carefully;" and she
replied, "Good! on my head be it!" Thereupon she tucked up her sleeves
and warming some water, washed his hands, feet and body; after which
she clothed him in a robe belonging to one of her slave girls and made
him drink a cup of wine and sprinkled rose wafer over him. So he
revived and complained, and the thought of his beloved Kut al-Kulub
made his grief redouble. Thus far concerning him; but as regards Kut
al-Kulub, when the Caliph was angered against her,— And Shahrazad
perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.

               When it was the Forty-third Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the Caliph
was angered against Kut al-Kulub, he ordered her to a dark chamber
where she abode eighty days, at the end of which the Caliph, happening
to pass on a certain day the place where she was, heard her repeating
poetry, and after she ceased reciting her verse, saying, "O my darling,
O my Ghanim! how great is thy goodness and how chaste is thy nature!
thou didst well by one who did ill by thee and thou guardedst his
honour who garred thine become dishonour, and his Harim thou didst
protect who to enslave thee and shine did elect! But thou shalt surely
stand, thou and the Commander of the Faithful, before the Just Judge,
and thou shalt be justified of him on the Day when the Lord (to whom be
honour and glory!) shall be Kazi and the Angels of Heaven shall be
witnesses!" When the Caliph heard her com plaint, he knew that she had
been wronged and, returning to the palace, sent Masrur the Eunuch for
her. She came before him with bowed head and eyes tearful and heart
sorrowful; and he said to her, "O Kut al-Kulub, I find thou accuses me
of tyranny and oppression, and thou avouches that I have done ill by
one who did well by me. Who is this who hath guarded my honour while I
garred his become dishonour? Who protected my Harim and whose Harim I
wrecked?" "He is Ghanim son of Ayyub," replied she, "for he never
approached me in wantonness or with lewd intent, I swear by thy
munificence, O Commander of the Faithful!" Then said the Caliph, "There
is no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah! Ask what thou wilt
of me, O Kut al-Kulub." "O Prince of the Faithful!", answered she, "I
require of thee only my beloved Ghanim son of Ayyub." He did as she
desired, whereupon she said, "O Lord of the Moslems, if I bring him to
thy presence, wilt thou bestow me on him?"; and he replied, "If he come
into my presence, I will give thee to him as the gift of the generous
who revoketh not his largesse." "O Prince of True Believers," quoth
she, "suffer me to go and seek him; haply Allah may unite me with him:"
and quoth he, "Do even as thou wilt." So she rejoiced and, taking with
her a thousand diners in gold, went out and visited the elders of the
various faiths and gave alms in Ghanim's name.[FN#133] Next day she
walked to the merchants' bazar and disclosed her object to the Syndic
and gave him money, saying, "Bestow this in charity to the stranger!"
On the following Friday she fared to the bazar (with other thousand
diners) and, entering the goldsmiths' and jewellers' market street,
called the Chief and presented to him a thousand diners with these
words, "Bestow this in charity to the stranger!" The Chief looked at
her (and he was the Syndic who had taken in Ghanim) and said, "O my
lady, wilt thou come to my house and look upon a youth, a stranger I
have there and see how goodly and graceful he is?" Now the stranger was
Ghanim, son of Ayyub, but the Chief had no knowledge of him and thought
him to be some wandering pauper, some debtor whose wealth had been
taken from him, or some lover parted from his beloved. When she heard
his words her heart fluttered[FN#134] and her vitals yearned, and she
said to him, "Send with me one who shall guide me to thy house." So he
sent a little lad who brought her to the house wherein was the head
man's stranger guest and she thanked him for this. When she reached the
house, she went in and saluted the Syndic's wife, who rose and kissed
the ground between her hands, for she knew her. Then quoth Kut
al-Kulub, "Where is the sick man who is with thee?" She wept and
replied, "Here is he, O my lady; by Allah, he is come of good folk and
he beareth the signs of gentle breeding: you see him lying on yonder
bed." So she turned and looked at him: and she saw something like him,
but he was worn and wasted till he had become lean as a toothpick, so
his identity was doubtful to her and she could not be certain that it
was he. Yet pity for him possessed her and she wept saying, "Verily the
stranger is unhappy, even though he be a prince in his own land!"; and
his case was grievous to her and her heart ached for him, yet she knew
him not to be Ghanim. Then she furnished him with wine and medicines
and she sat awhile by his head, after which she mounted and returned to
her palace and continued to visit every bazar in quest of her lover.
Meanwhile Ghanim's mother and sister Fitnah arrived at Baghdad and met
the Syndic, who carried them to Kut al-Kulub and said to her, "O
Princess of beneficent ladies, there came to our city this day a woman
and her daughter, who are fair of favour and signs of good breeding and
dignity are apparent in them, though they be dressed in hair cloth and
have each one a wallet hanging to her neck; and their eyes are tearful
and their hearts are sorrowful. So I have brought them to thee that
thou mayst give them refuge, and rescue them from beggary, for they are
not of asker folk and, if it please Allah, we shall enter Paradise
through them." "By Allah, O my master," cried she, "thou makest me long
to see them! Where are they?", adding, "Here with them to me!" So he
bade the eunuch bring them in; and, when she looked on them and saw
that they were both of distinguished beauty, she wept for them and
said, "By Allah, these are people of condition and show plain signs of
former opulence." "O my lady," said the Syndic's wife, "we love the
poor and the destitute, more especially as reward in Heaven will
recompense our love; and, as for these persons, haply the oppressor
hath dealt hardly with them and hath plundered their property and
harried their houses." Then Ghanim's mother and sister wept with sore
weeping, remembering their former prosperity and contrasting it with
their present poverty and miserable condition; and their thoughts dwelt
upon son and brother, whilst Kut al-Kulub wept for their weeping; and
they said, "We beseech Allah to reunite us with him whom we desire, and
he is none other but my son named Ghanim bin Ayyud!" When Kut al-Kulub
heard this, she knew them to be the mother and sister of her lover and
wept till a swoon came over her. When she revived she turned to them
and said, "Have no fear and sorrow not, for this day is the first of
your prosperity and the last of your adversity!"—And Shahrazad
perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.

              When it was the Forty-fourth Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Kut al-Kulub
had consoled them she bade the Syndic lead them to his house and let
his wife carry them to the Hammam and dress them in handsome clothes
and take care of them and honour them with all honour; and she gave him
a sufficient sum of money. Next day, she mounted and, riding to his
house, went in to his wife who rose up and kissed her hands and thanked
her for her kindness. There she saw Ghanim's mother and sister whom the
Syndic's wife had taken to the Hammam and clothed afresh, so that the
traces of their former condition became manifest upon them. She sat
talking with them awhile, after which she asked the wife about the sick
youth who was in her house and she replied, "He is in the same state."
Then said Kut al-Kulub, "Come, let us go and visit him." So she arose,
she and the Chief's wife and Ghanim's mother and sister, and went in to
the room where he lay and sat down near him. Presently Ghanim bin
Ayyub, the Distraught, the Thrall o' Love, heard them mention the name
of Kut al-Kulub; whereupon life returned to him, emaciated and withered
as he was and he raised his head from the pillow and cried aloud, "O
Kut al-Kulub!" She looked at him and made certain it was he and
shrieked rather than said, "Yes, O my beloved!" "Draw near to me;" said
he, and she replied, "Surely thou art Ghanim bin Ayyub?"; and he
rejoined "I am indeed!" Hereupon a swoon came upon her; and, as soon as
Ghanim's mother and his sister Fitnah heard these words, both cried out
"O our joy'" and fainted clean away. When they all recovered, Kut
al-Kulub exclaimed "Praise be to Allah who hath brought us together
again and who hath reunited thee with thy mother and thy sister!" And
she related to him all that had befallen her with the Caliph and said
"I have made known the truth to the Commander of the Faithful, who
believed my words and was pleased with thee; and now he desireth to see
thee," adding, "He hath given me to thee." Thereat he rejoiced with
extreme joy, when she said, "Quit not this place till I come back" and,
rising forthwith, betook herself to her palace. There she opened the
chest which she had brought from Ghanim's house and, taking out some of
the diners, gave them to the Syndic saying, "Buy with this money for
each of them four complete suits of the finest stuffs and twenty
kerchiefs, and else beside of whatsoever they require;" after which she
carried all three to the baths and had them washed and bathed and made
ready for them consommés, and galangale-water and cider against their
coming out. When they left the Hammam, they put on the new clothes, and
she abode with them three days feeding them with chicken meats and
bouillis, and making them drink sherbert of sugar candy. After three
days their spirits returned; and she carried them again to the baths,
and when they came out and had changed their raiment, she led them back
to the Syndic's house and left them there, whilst she returned to the
palace and craved permission to see the Caliph. When he ordered her to
come in, she entered and, kissing the ground between his hands, told
him the whole story and how her lord, Ghanim bin Ayyub, yclept the
Distraught, the Thrall o' Love, and his mother and sister were now in
Baghdad. When the Caliph heard this, he turned to the eunuchs and said,
"Here with Ghanim to me." So Ja'afar went to fetch him; but Kut
al-Kulub forewent him and told Ghanim, "The Caliph hath sent to fetch
thee before him," and charged him to show readiness of tongue and
firmness of heart and sweetness of speech. Then she robed him in a
sumptuous dress and gave him diners in plenty, saying, "Be lavish of
largesse to the Caliph's household as thou goest in to him." Presently
Ja'afar, mounted on his Nubian mule, came to fetch him; and Ghanim
advanced to welcome the Wazir and, wishing him long life, kissed the
ground before him. Now the star of his good fortune had risen and shone
brightly; and Ja'afar took him; and they ceased not faring together, he
and the Minister, till they went in to the Commander of the Faithful.
When he stood in the presence, he looked at the Wazirs and Emirs and
Chamberlains, and Viceroys and Grandees and Captains, and then at the
Caliph. Hereupon he sweetened his speech and his eloquence and, bowing
his head to the ground, broke out in these extempore couplets,

"May that Monarch's life span a mighty span, * Whose lavish of

     largesse all Empyrean! lieges scan:

None other but he shall be Kaysar highs, * Lord of lordly hall

     and of haught Divan:

Kings lay their gems on his threshold-dust * As they bow and

     salam to the mighty man;

And his glances foil them and all recoil, * Bowing beards aground

     and with faces wan:

Yet they gain the profit of royal grace, * The rank and station

     of high

Earth's plain is scant for thy world of men, * Camp there in Kay

     wan's[FN#135] Empyrean!

May the King of Kings ever hold thee dear; * Be counsel shine and

     right steadfast plan

Till thy justice spread o'er the wide spread earth * And the near

     and the far be of equal worth."


When he ended his improvisation the Caliph was pleased by it and
marvelled at the eloquence of his tongue and the sweetness of his
speech,—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her
permitted say.

               When it was the Forty-fifth Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Caliph, after
marvelling at his eloquence of tongue and sweetness of speech, said to
him, "Draw near to me." So he drew near and quoth the King, "Tell me
thy tale and declare to me thy case." So Ghanim sat down and related to
him what had befallen him in Baghdad, of his sleeping in the tomb and
of his opening the chest after the three slaves had departed, and
informed him, in short, of everything that had happened to him from
commencement to conclusion none of which we will repeat for interest
fails in twice told tales. The Caliph was convinced that he was a true
man; so he invested him with a dress of honour, and placed him near
himself in token of favour, and said to him, "Acquit me of the
responsibility I have incurred.''[FN#136] And Ghanim so did, saying, "O
our lord the Sultan, of a truth thy slave and all things his two hands
own are his master's." The Caliph was pleased at this and gave orders
to set apart a palace for him and assigned to him pay and allowances,
rations and donations, which amounted to something immense. So he
removed thither with sister and mother; after which the Caliph, hearing
that his sister Fitnah was in beauty a very "fitnah,"[FN#137] a mere
seduction, demanded her in marriage of Ghanim who replied, "She is thy
handmaid as I am thy slave." The Caliph thanked him and gave him an
hundred thousand diners, then summoned the witnesses and the Kazi, and
on one and the same day they wrote out the two contracts of marriage
between the Caliph and Fitnah and between Ghanim bin Ayyub and Kut
al-Kulub; and the two marriages were consummated on one and the same
night. When it was morning, the Caliph gave orders to record the
history of what had befallen Ghanim from first to last and to deposit
it in the royal muniment rooms, that those who came after him might
read it and marvel at the dealings of Destiny and put their trust in
Him who created the night and the day. Yet, O auspicious King, this
story to which thou hast deigned give ear is on no wise more wondrous
than the

     Tale Of King Omar Bin Al-Nu'uman And His Sons Sharrkan

                       And Zau Al-Makan,


 And What Befel Them of Things Seld-Seen and Peregrine.[FN#138]

The King asked her, "And what was their story?" and she answered: It
hath reached me, O auspicious King, that there was in the City of
Safety, Baghdad, before the Caliphate of Abd al-Malik bin
Marwán,[FN#139] a King, Omar bin al-Nu'umán highs, who was of the
mighty giants and had subjected the Chosroës of Persia and the Kaysars
of Eastern Rome; for none could warm himself at his fire;[FN#140] nor
could any avail to meet him in the field of foray and fray; and, when
he was angered, there came forth from his nostrils sparks of flame. He
had made himself King over all quarters, and Allah had subjected to him
all His creatures; his word went forth to all great cities and his
hosts had harried the farthest lands.  East and West had come under his
command with whatsoever regions lay interspersed between them, Hind and
Sind and Sin,[FN#141] the Holy Land, Al-Hijaz, the rich mountains of
Al-Yaman and the archipelagos of India and China.  Moreover, he reigned
supreme over the north country and Diyár Bakr, or Mesopotamia, and over
Sudán, the Eastern Negro land and the Islands of the Ocean, and all the
far famed rivers of the earth, Sayhún and Jayhún,[FN#142] Nile and
Euphrates.  He sent envoys and ambassadors to capitals the most remote,
to provide him with true report; and they would bring back tidings of
justice and peace, with assurance of loyalty and obedience and of
prayers in the pulpits for King Omar bin al-Nu'uman; for he was, O
Ruler of the Age, a right noble King; and there came to him presents of
rarities and toll and tribute from all lands of his governing. This
mighty monarch had a son yclept Sharrkan,[FN#143] who was likest of all
men to his father and who proved himself one of the prodigies of his
time for subduing the brave and bringing his contemporaries to bane and
ban.  For this his father loved him with love so great none could be
greater, and made him heir to the kingdom after himself. This Prince
grew up till he reached man's estate and was twenty years old, and
Allah subjected His servants to him, by reason of his great might and
prowess in battle.  Now his father, King Omar, had four wives legally
married, but Allah had vouchsafed him no son by them, save Sharrkan,
whom he had begotten upon one of them, and the rest were barren. 
Moreover he had three hundred and sixty concubines, after the number of
days in the Coptic year, who were of all nations; and he had furnished
for each and every a private chamber within his own palace.  For he had
built twelve pavilions, after the number of the months, each containing
thirty private chambers, which thus numbered three hundred and three
score, wherein he lodged his handmaids: and he appointed according to
law for each one her night, when he lay with her and came not again to
her for a full year;[FN#144] and on this wise he abode for a length of
time.  Meanwhile his son Sharrkan was making himself renowned in all
quarters of the world and his father was proud of him and his might
waxed and grew mightier; so that he passed all bounds and bore himself
masterfully and took by storm castles and cities.  Presently, by decree
of the Decreer, a handmaid among the handmaids of Omar bin Nu'uman
became pregnant; and, her pregnancy being announced to the Harim, the
King was informed thereof; whereupon he rejoiced with exceeding joy and
said, "Haply it will be a son, and so all my offspring will be males!"
Then he documented the date of her conception and entreated her with
all manner of kindness.  But when the tidings came to Sharrkan, he was
troubled and the matter seemed to him a sore one and a grievous; and he
said, "Verily one cometh who shall dispute with me the sovereignty:" so
quoth he to himself, "If this concubine bear a male child I will kill
it:" but he kept that intention hidden in his heart.  Such was the case
with Sharrkan; but what happened in the matter of the damsel was as
follows.  She was a Roumiyah, a Greek girl, by name Sofiyah or
Sophia,[FN#145] whom the King of Roum and Lord of Cæsarea had sent to
King Omar as a present, together with great store of gifts and of
rarities: she was the fairest of favour and loveliest of all his
handmaids and the most regardful of her honour; and she was gifted with
a wit as penetrating as her presence was fascinating.  Now she had
served the King on the night of his sleeping with her, saying to him,
"O King!  I desire of the God of the Heavens that he bless thee this
night with a male child by me, so I may bring him up with the best of
rearing, and enable him to reach man's estate perfect in intelligence,
good manners and prudent bearing"[FN#146]—a speech which much pleased
the King.  During her pregnancy she was instant in prayer, fervently
supplicating the Lord to bless her with a goodly male child and make
his birth easy to her; and Allah heard her petition so that after her
months were accomplished she sat safely upon the birth stool.[FN#147] 
Now the King had deputed a eunuch to let him know if the child she
should bring forth were male or female; and in like way his son
Sharrkan had sent one to bring him tidings of the same.  In due time
Sophia was delivered of a child, which the midwives examined and found
to be a girl with a face sheenier than the moon.  So they announced
this to all present in the room, whereupon the King's messenger carried
the news to him; and Sharrkan's eunuch did the like with his master who
rejoiced with exceeding joy.  But, after the two had departed, quoth
Sophia to the midwives, "Wait with me awhile, for I feel as if there
were still somewhat in my womb." Then she cried out and the pains of
child bed again took her; and Allah made it easy to her and she gave
birth to a second child.  The wise women looked at it and found it a
boy like the full moon, with forehead flower white, and cheek ruddy
bright with rosy light; whereupon the mother rejoiced, as did the
eunuchs and attendants and all the company; and Sophia was delivered of
the after birth whilst all in the palace sent forth the trill of
joy.[FN#148]  The rest of the concubines heard it and envied her lot;
and the tidings reached Omar son of Al- Nu'uman, who was glad and
rejoiced at the excellent news.  Then he rose and went to her and
kissed her head, after which he looked at the boy; and, bending over
him, kissed him, whilst the damsels struck the tabors and played on
instruments of music; and the King gave order that the boy should be
named Zau al-Makán and his sister Nuzhat al-Zamán.[FN#149]  They
answered "Hearing and obedience," and did his bidding; so he appointed
wet nurses and dry nurses and eunuchs and attendants to serve them; and
assigned them rations of sugar and diet drinks and unguents and else
beside, beyond the power of tongue to rehearse.  Moreover the people of
Baghdad, hearing that Allah had blessed their King with issue,
decorated the city and made proclamation of the glad tidings with drum
and tom tom; and the Emirs and Wazirs and high dignitaries came to the
palace and wished King Omar bin al-Nu'uman joy of his son, Zau
al-Makan, and of his daughter Nuzhat al-Zaman, wherefore he thanked
them and bestowed on them dresses of honour and further favoured them
with gifts, and dealt largesse to all, gentle and simple, who were
present.  After this fashion he did for four days full told, and he
lavished upon Sophia raiment and ornaments and great store of wealth;
and, every few days he would send a messenger to ask after her and the
new-borns.  And when four years had gone by, he provided her with the
wherewithal to rear the two children carefully and educate them with
the best of instructions.  All this while his son Sharrkan knew not
that a male child had been born to his father, Omar son of Al-Nu'uman,
having news only that he had been blessed with the birth of Nuzhat
al-Zaman; and they hid the intelligence from him, until days and years
had sped by, whilst he was busied in battling with the brave and
fighting single handed against the knights.  One day, as King Omar was
sitting in his palace, his Chamberlains came in to him and, kissing the
ground before him, said, "O King there be come Ambassadors from the
King of Roum, Lord of Constantinople the Great, and they desire
admission to thee and submission to thy decree: if the King commend us
to introduce them we will so do; and, if not, there is no disputing his
behest." He bade them enter and, when they came in, he turned to them
and, courteously receiving them, asked them of their case, and what was
the cause of their coming.  They kissed the ground before him and said,
"O King glorious and strong!  O lord of the arm that is long! know that
he who despatched us to thee is King Afrídún,[FN#150] Lord of Ionia
land[FN#151] and of the Nazarene armies, the sovereign who is firmly
established in the empery of Constantinople, to acquaint thee that he
is now waging fierce war and fell with a tyrant and a rebel, the Prince
of Casarea; and the cause of this war is as follows.  One of the Kings
of the Arabs in past time, during certain of his conquests, chanced
upon a hoard of the time of Alexander,[FN#152] whence he removed wealth
past compute; and, amongst other things, three round jewels, big as
ostrich eggs, from a mine of pure white gems whose like was never seen
by man.  Upon each were graven characts in Ionian characters, and they
have many virtues and properties, amongst the rest that if one of these
jewels be hung round the neck of a new-born child, no evil shall befal
him and he shall neither wail, nor shall fever ail him as long as the
jewel remain without fail.[FN#153] When the Arab King laid hands upon
them and learned their secrets, he sent to King Afridun presents of
certain rarities and amongst them the three jewels afore mentioned; and
he equipped for the mission two ships, one bearing the treasure and the
other men of might to guard it from any who might offer hindrance on
the high seas, albeit well assured that none would dare waylay his
vessels, for that he was King of the Arabs, and more by token that
their course lay over waters subject to the King of Constantinople and
they were bound to his port; nor were there on the shores of that sea
any save the subjects of the Great King, Afridun.  The two ships set
out and voyaged till they drew near our city, when there sallied out on
them certain corsairs from that country and amongst them troops from
the Prince of Caesarea, who took all the treasures and rarities in the
ships, together with the three jewels, and slew the crews.  When our
King heard of this, he sent an army against them, but they routed it;
then he marched a second and a stronger but they put this also to
flight,—whereupon the King waxed wroth and swore that he would not go
forth[FN#154] against them save in his own person at the head of his
whole army; nor would he turn back from them till he had left Caesarea,
of Armenia[FN#155] in ruins and had laid waste all the lands and cities
over which her Prince held sway.  So he sent us to the Lord of the age
and the time, Sultan Omar bin al-Nu'uman, King of Baghdad and of
Khorasan, desiring that he aid us with an army, so may honour and glory
accrue to him; and he hath also forwarded by us somewhat of various
kinds of presents, and of the King's grace he beggeth their acceptance
and the friendly boon of furtherance." Then the Ambassadors kissed the
ground before him,—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased
to say her permitted say.

               When it was the Forty-sixth Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that, after the
Ambassadors and retinue from the Constantinopolitan King had kissed the
ground before Omar and had delivered their embassage, they brought out
the presents, which were fifty damsels of the choicest from
Graecia-land, and fifty Mamelukes in tunics of brocade, belted with
girdles of gold and silver, each wearing in his ears hoops of gold with
pendants of fine pearls costing a thousand ducats every one. The girls
were adorned in like fashion and were clad in stuffs worth a treasury
of money.  When the King saw them, he rejoiced in them and accepted
them; then he bade the Ambassadors be honourably entreated and,
summoning his Wazirs, took counsel with them of what he should do. 
Herewith rose up among them a Wazir, an ancient man, Dandan[FN#156]
highs, who kissed the ground before Omar and said, "O King, there is
nothing better to do in this matter than equip an army valiant and
victorious, and set over it thy son Sharrkan with us as his
lieutenants; and this rede commendeth itself to me on two counts;
first, because the King of Roum hath invoked thine assistance and hath
sent thee gifts which thou hast accepted; and, secondly, because while
no enemy dareth attack our country, thine army may go forth safely and,
should it succour the King of Graecia-land and defeat his foe, the
glory will be thine. Moreover, the news of it will be noised abroad in
all cities and countries and especially, when the tidings shall reach
the Islands of the Ocean and the Kings of Mauritania shall hear it,
they will send thee offerings of rarities and pay thee tribute of
money." The King pleased by the Wazir's words and approving his rede,
gave him a dress of honour and said to him, "Of the like of thee should
Kings ask counsel, and it seemeth fit that thou shouldst conduct the
van of our army and our son Sharrkan command the main battle." Then he
sent for his son who came and kissed ground before him and sat down;
and he expounded to him the matter, telling him what the Ambassadors
and the Wazir Dandan had said, and he charged him to take arms and
equip himself for the campaign, enjoining him not to gainsay Dandan in
aught he should do.  Moreover, he ordered him to pick out of his army
ten thousand horsemen, armed cap-à-pie and inured to onset and stress
of war.  Accordingly, Sharrkan arose on the instant, and chose out a
myriad of horsemen, after which he entered his palace and mustered his
host and distributed largesse to them, saying, "Ye have delay of three
days." They kissed the earth before him in obedience to his commands
and began at once to lay in munitions, and provide provisions for the
occasion; whilst Sharrkan repaired to the armouries and took therefrom
whatsoever he required of arms and armour, and thence to the stable
where he chose horses of choice blood and others.  When the appointed
three days were ended, the army drew out to the suburbs of Baghdad
city;[FN#157] and King Omar came forth to take leave of his son who
kissed the ground before him and received from the King seven parcels
of money.[FN#158] Then he turned to Danden and commended to his care
the army of his son; and the Wazir kissed the ground before him and
answered, "I hear and I obey;" and lastly he charged Sharrkan that he
should consult the Wazir on all occasions, which he promised to do. 
After this, the King returned to his city and Sharrkan ordered the
officers to muster their troops in battle array. So they mustered them
and their number was ten thousand horsemen, besides footmen and camp
followers.  Then they loaded their baggage on their beasts and the war
drums beat and the trumpets blared and the bannerols and standards were
unfurled, whilst Sharrkan mounted horse, with the Wazir Dandan by his
side, and the colours fluttering over their heads.  So the host fared
forth and stinted not faring, with the ambassadors preceding them, till
day departed and night drew nigh, when they alighted and encamped for
the night.  And as soon as Allah caused the morn tomorrow, they mounted
and tried on, guided by the Ambassadors, for a space of twenty days;
and by the night of the twenty first they came to a fine and spacious
Wady well grown with trees and shrubbery.  Here Sharrkan ordered them
to alight and commanded a three days' halt, so they dismounted and
pitched their tents, spreading their camp over the right and the left
slopes of the extensive valley, whilst the Wazir Dandan and the
Ambassadors of King Afridun pitched in the sole of the Wady.[FN#159] 
As for Sharrkan, he tarried behind them for awhile till all had
dismounted and had dispersed themselves over the valley sides; he then
slacked the reins of his steed, being minded to explore the Wady and to
mount guard in his own person, because of his father's charge and owing
to the fact that they were on the frontier of Graecia land and in the
enemy's country.  So he rode out alone after ordering his armed slaves
and his body guard to camp near the Wazir Dandan, and he fared on along
the side of the valley till a fourth part of the night was passed, when
he felt tired and drowsiness overcame him, so that he could no longer
urge horse with heel.  Now he was accustomed to take rest on horseback;
so when slumber overpowered him, he slept and the steed ceased not
going on with him till half the night was spent and entered one of the
thickets[FN#160] which was dense with growth; but Sharrkan awoke not
until his horse stumbled over wooded ground.  Then he started from
sleep and found himself among the trees, and the moon arose and shone
brightly over the two horizons, Eastern and Western.  He was startled
when he found himself alone in this place and said the say which ne'er
yet shamed its sayer, "There is no Majesty and there is no Might save
in Allah, the Glorious, the Great!" But as he rode on, in fear of wild
beasts, behold, the moon spread her glad light over a meadow as if it
were of the meads of Paradise; and he heard pleasant voices and a loud
noise of talk and laughter captivating the senses of men.  So King
Sharrkan alighted and, tying his steed to one of the trees, went over a
little way till he came upon a stream and heard a woman talking in
Arabic and saying, "Now by the crush of the Messiah, this is not well
of you! but whose utters a word, I will throw her and truss her up with
her own girdle[FN#161]!"  He kept walking in the direction of the sound
and when he reached the further side he looked and behold, a stream was
gushing and flowing, and antelopes at large were frisking and roving,
and wild cattle amid the pasture moving, and birds expressed joy and
gladness in their divers tongues, and that place was purfled with all
manner flowers and green herbs, even as a poet described it in these
couplets,

"Most beautiful is earth in budding bloom, * When lucid waters

     course through plain and wood:

No work but His th' All great, th' All glorious, * Giver of all

     gifts, Giver of all good!"


And as Sharrkan considered the place, he saw in it a Christian
Monastery within whose enceinte a castle towered high in air catching
the light of the moon.[FN#162] Through the midst of the convent passed
a stream, the water flowing amongst its gardens; and upon the bank sat
the woman whose voice he had heard, while before her stood ten
handmaids like moons and wearing various sorts of raiment and ornaments
that dazed and dazzled the beholder, high bosomed virgins, as saith of
them the poet in these couplets,

"The mead is bright with what is on't * Of merry maidens

     debonnair:

Double its beauty and its grace * Those trooping damsels slender-

    fair:

Virgins of graceful swimming gait * Ready with eye and lip to

     ensnare;

And like the tendril'd vine they loose * The rich profusion of

     their hair:

Shooting their shafts and arrows from * Beautiful eyes beyond

     compare;

Overpowering and transpiercing * Every froward adversaire."


Sharrkan gazed upon the ten girls and saw in their midst a lady like
the moon at fullest, with ringleted hair and forehead sheeny white, and
eyes wondrous wide and black and bright, and temple locks like the
scorpion's tail; and she was perfect in essence and attributes, as the
poet said of her in these couplets,

"She beamed on my sight with a wondrous glance, * And her

     straight slender stature enshamed the lance:

She burst on my sight with cheeks rosy red, * Where all manner of

     beauties have habitance:

And the locks on her forehead were lowering as night * Whence

     issues a dawn tide of happiest chance."


Then Sharrkan heard her say to the handmaids, "Come ye on, that I may
wrestle with you and gravel you, ere the moon set and the dawn break!"
So each came up to her in turn and she grounded them forthright, and
pinioned them with their girdles, and ceased not wrestling and pitching
them until she had overthrown one and all. Then there turned to her an
old woman who was before her, and the beldam said as in wrath, "O
strumpet, cost thou glory in grounding these girls? Behold I am an old
woman, yet have I thrown them forty times!  So what hast thou to boast
of?  But if thou have the strength to wrestle with me, stand up that I
may grip thee and set thy head between thy heels!" The young lady
smiled at her words, but she was filled with inward wrath, and she
jumped up and asked, "O my lady Zat al-Dawahi,[FN#163] by the truth of
the Messiah, wilt thou wrestle with me in very deed, or dost thou jest
with me?"; and she answered, "Yea,"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of
day and ceased saying her permitted say.

              When it was the Forty-seventh Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the young
lady asked Zat al-Dawahi, "By the truth of the Messiah, wilt wrestle
with me or dost jest?", and she answered, "Yea, I will wrestle with
thee in very deed" (Sharrkan looking on the while), the damsel cried,
"Rise up for the fall an thou have spunk so to do." When the old woman
heard this, she raged with exceeding rage, and her body hair stood on
end like the bristles of a fretful hedgehog.[FN#164] Then she sprang to
her feet, whilst the damsel stood up to her, and said, "Now by the
truth of the Messiah, I will not wrestle with thee unless I be naked,
Mistress whore!"[FN#165] So she loosed her petticoat trousers and,
putting her hand under her clothes, tore them off her body; then
twisted up a silken kerchief into cord shape, girt it round her middle
and became as she were a scald head If ritah or a spotted snake.  With
this she inclined towards the damsel and said, "Do thou as I have
done." All this time, Sharrkan was gazing at the twain, and laughing at
the beldam's loathly semblance.  So the damsel leisurely rose and,
taking a sash of Yamani stuff, passed it twice round her waist, then
she tucked up her trousers and displayed two calves of alabaster
carrying a mound of crystal, smooth and rounded, and a stomach which
exhaled musk from its dimples, as it were a bed of Nu'uman's anemones;
and breasts like double pomegranates.  Then the old woman leant towards
her, and the two laid hold either of each, while Sharrkan raised his
head Heavenwards and prayed Allah that the belle might beat the beldam.
Presently the young woman get beneath the old woman; and, gripping her
waist cloth with the left and circling her neck with the right hand,
hoisted her off the ground with both; whereupon the old woman strove to
free herself and, in so doing fell on her back arsiversy, with her legs
high in air and her hairy bush between them showed manifest in the
moonshine; furthermore she let fly two great farts[FN#166] one of which
blew up the dust from the earth's face and the other steamed up to the
gate of Heaven.  Sharrkan laughed till he fell back upon the ground. 
Then he arose and, baring his brand looked right and left, but he saw
no one save the old woman sprawling on her back, and said to himself,
"He lied not who named thee Lady of Calamities!  Verily thou knewest
her prowess by her performance upon the others." So he drew near them
to hear what should pass between them.  Then the young lady went up to
the old one and, throwing a wrapper of thin silk upon her nakedness,
helped her to don her clothes and made excuses saying, "O my lady Zat
al- Dawahi, I intended only to throw thee and not all this, but thou
triedst to twist out of my hands; so laud to Allah for safety!" She
returned her no answer, but rose in her shame and walked away till out
of sight, leaving the handmaids prostrate and pinioned, with the fair
damsel standing amongst them.  Quoth Sharrkan to himself, "Every luck
hath its cause.  Sleep did not fall upon me nor the war horse bear me
hither save for my good fortune; for doubtless this maid and what is
with her shall become booty to me." So he made towards his steed and
mounted and heeled[FN#167] him on, when he sped as the shaft speeds
from the bow and in his hand he still hent his brand bare of sheath,
which he brandished shouting the while his war cry, "Allah is All
mighty[FN#168]!" When the damsel saw him she sprang to her feet and,
taking firm stand on the bank of the stream, whose breadth was six
ells, the normal cubits, made one bound and landed clear on the farther
side,[FN#169] where she turned and cried out with a loud voice, "Who
art thou, O thou fellow, that breakest in upon our privacy and pastime,
and that too hanger in hand as if charging a host? Whence camest thou
and whither art thou going?  Speak sooth, for truth will stand thee in
good stead, and lie not, for lies come of villein breed Doubtless thou
hast wandered this night from thy way, that thou chancedst upon this
place whence escape were the greatest of mercies; for thou art now in
an open plain and, did we shout but a single shout, would come to our
rescue four thousand knights.[FN#170] So tell me what thou wantest; and
if thou wouldst only have us set thee on the right road, we will do
so." When Sharrkan heard her words he replied, "I am a stranger of the
Moslems, who fared forth this night single handed, seeking for spoil;
nor could this moonlight show me a fairer booty than these ten maidens;
so I shall seize them and rejoin my comrades with them." Quoth she, "I
would have thee know that as for the booty thou hast not come at it;
and, as for the handmaids, by Allah, they shall never be thy spoil. 
Have I not told thee that to lie is villein vile?" Quoth he, "The wise
man is he who taketh warning by others." Thereupon quoth she, "By the
truth of the Messiah, did I not fear that thy death would be on my
hands, I would shout a shout should fill the mead for thee with war
steeds and with men of might, but I take pity upon the stranger. So, if
thou seek booty, I require of thee that thou alight from thy steed and
swear to me, by thy faith, that thou wilt not advance against me aught
like arms in hand, and we will wrestle, I and thou.  If thou throw me,
set me on thy steed and take all of us to thy booty; but if I throw
thee, thou shalt become under my command.  Swear this to me, for I fear
thy treachery: indeed it hath become a common saw, 'Where Perfidy is
innate there Trust is a weakly mate.' Now an thou wilt swear I will
return and draw near to thee and tackle thee." Answered Sharrkan (and
indeed he lusted to seize her and said in his soul, "Truly she knoweth
not that I am a champion of champions"); "Swear me by what oath thou
wilt and by what thou deemest most binding, and I will not approach
thee with aught till thou hast made thy preparation and sayest, 'Draw
near that I wrestle with thee.' If thou throw me, I have money where
withal to ransom myself; and if I throw thee, 'twill be booty and booty
enough for me!" Rejoined the damsel, "I am content herewith!" and
Sharrkan was astounded at her words and said, "And by the truth of the
Apostle (whom Allah bless and keep!) I too am content on the other
part!" Then said she, "Swear to me by Him who sprite in body dight and
dealt laws to rule man kind aright, that thou wilt not offer me aught
of violence save by way of wrestling; else mayst thou die without the
pale of Al- Islam." Sharrkan replied, "By Allah!  were a Kazi to swear
me, even though he were a Kazi of the Kazis,[FN#171] he would not
impose upon me such an oath as this!" Then he sware to her by all she
named and tied his steed to a tree; but he was drowned in the sea of
thought, saying in himself, "Praise be to Him who fashioned her from
dirty water!"[FN#172] Then he girt himself and made ready for
wrestling, and said to her, "Cross the stream to me;" but she replied,
"It is not for me to come over to thee: if thou wilt, pass thou over
here to me." "I cannot do that," quoth he, and quoth she, "O boy, I
will come across to thee." So she tucked up her skirts and, leaping,
landed on the other side of the stream by his side; whereupon he drew
near to her and bent him forwards and clapped palms.[FN#173] But he was
confounded by her beauty and loveliness; for he saw a shape which the
Hand of Power had tanned with the dye leaves of the Jann, which had
been fostered by the Hand of Beneficence and fanned by the Zephyrs of
fair fortune and whose birth a propitious ascendant had greeted. Then
she called out to him, "O Moslem, come on and let us wrestle ere the
break of morning," and tucked up her sleeves from a forearm like fresh
curd, which illumined the whole place with its whiteness; and Sharrkan
was dazzled by it.  Then he bent forwards and clapped his palms by way
of challenge, she doing the like, and caught hold of her, and the two
grappled and gripped and interlocked hands and arms.  Presently he
shifted his hands to her slender waist, when his finger tips sank into
the soft folds of her middle, breeding languishment, and he fell a
trembling like the Persian reed in the roaring gale.  So she lifted him
up and, throwing him to the ground, sat upon his breast with hips and
hinder cheeks like mounds of sand, for his soul had lost mastery over
his senses.  Then she asked him, "O Moslem! the slaying of Nazarenes is
lawful to you folk; what then hast thou to say about being slain
thyself?"; and he answered, "O my lady, thy speech as regards slaying
me is not other than unlawful; for our prophet Mohammed (whom Allah
bless and preserve!) prohibited the slaying of women and children, old
men and monks!" "As it was thus revealed to your Prophet," she replied,
"it behoveth us to render the equivalent of his mercy; so rise.  I give
thee thy life, for generosity is never lost upon the generous." Then
she got off his breast and he rose and stood shaking the dust from his
head against the owners of the curved rib, even women; and she said to
him, "Be not ashamed; but verily one who entereth the land of Roum in
quest of booty, and cometh to assist Kings against Kings, how happeneth
it that he hath not strength enough to defend himself from one made out
of the curved rib?" "'Twas not for lack of strength in me," he
answered; "nor didst thou throw me by thy force; it was thy loveliness
overthrew me; so if thou wilt grant me another bout, it will be of thy
courtesy." She laughed and said, "I grant thee thy request: but these
handmaids have long been pinioned and their arms and sides are weary,
and it were only right I should loose them, for haply this next
wrestling bout will be long." Then she went to the slave girls and,
unbinding them, said to them in the tongue of Greece, "Get ye to some
safe place, till I foil this Moslem's lust and longing for you." So
they went away, whilst Sharrkan kept gazing at them and they kept
turning to look at the two.  Then each approached the adversary and he
set his breast against hers, but when he felt waist touch waist, his
strength failed him; and she, waxing ware of this, lifted him with her
hands swiftlier than the blinding leven-flash, and threw him to the
ground.  He fell on his back,[FN#174] and then she said to him, "Rise:
I give thee thy life a second time.  I spared thee in the first count
because of thy Prophet, for that he made unlawful the slaying of women;
and I do so on the second count because of thy weakliness and the
greenness of thine years and thy strangerhood; but I charge thee, if
there be in the Moslem army sent by Omar bin al-Nu'uman to succour the
King of Constantinople, a stronger than thou, send him hither and tell
him of me: for in wrestling there are shifts and trips, catches and
holds, such as the feint or falsing and the snap or first grip, the
hug, the feet-catch, the thigh Lite,[FN#175] the jostle and the
leg-lock." "By Allah, O my lady," quoth Sharrkan (and indeed he was
highly incensed against her), "had I been Master al-Safdí, Master
Mohammed Kimál or Ibn al-Saddí,[FN#176] as they were in their prime, I
had kept no note of these shifts thou mentionest; for O my mistress, by
Allah, thou hast not grassed me by thy strength, but by the
blandishments of thy back parts; for we men of Mesopotamia so love a
full formed thigh that nor sense was left me nor foresight.  But now,
an thou wish, thou shalt try a third fall with me while my wits are
about me, and this last match is allowed me by the laws of the game
which sayeth the best of three: moreover I have regained my presence of
mind." When she heard his words she said to him, "Hast thou not had a
belly full of this wrestling, O vanquished one?  However come on, an
thou wilt; but know that this must be the last round." Then she bent
forward and challenged him and Sharrkan did likewise, setting to it in
real earnest and being right cautious about the throw: so the two
strove awhile and the damsel found in him a strength such as she had
not observed before and said to him, "O Moslem, thou art now on thy
mettle." "Yes," he replied, "thou knowest that there remaineth to me
but this one round, after which each of us will wend a different way."
She laughed and he laughed too;[FN#177] then she overreached at his
thigh and caught firm hold of it unawares, which made him greet the
ground and fall full on his back.  She laughed at him and said, "Art
thou an eater of bran?  Thou are like a Badawi's bonnet which falleth
off with every touch or else the Father of Winds[FN#178] that droppeth
before a puff of air.  Fie upon thee, O thou poor thing!" adding, "Get
thee back to the Moslem army and send us other than thyself, for thou
fairest of thews; and proclaim for us, among the Arabs and Persians,
the Turks and Daylamites,[FN#179] whoso hath might in him, let him come
to us." Then she made a spring and landed on the other side of the
stream and said to Sharrkan, laughing, "Parting with thee is right
grievous to me, O my lord; but get thee to thy mates before dawn, lest
the Knights come upon thee and pick thee up on their lance points. 
Thou hast no strength to defend thee against a woman, so how couldst
thou hold thine own amongst men of might and Knights?" Sharrkan was
confounded and called to her (as she turned from him making towards the
convent), "O my lady, wilt thou go away and leave the miserable
stranger, the broken hearted slave of love?" So she turned to him
laughing and said, "What is thy want?  I will grant thee thy prayer."
"Have I set foot in thy country and tasted the sweetness of thy
courtesy," replied he, "and shall I return without eating of thy
victual and tasting thy hospitality; I who have become one of thy
servitors!" "None baulk kindliness save the base," she rejoined,
"honour us in Allah's name, on my head and eyes be it!  Mount thy steed
and ride along the brink of the stream over against me, for now thou
art my guest." At this Sharrkan was glad and, hastening back to his
horse, mounted and walked him abreast of her, and she kept faring on
till they came to a drawbridge[FN#180] built of beams of the white
poplar, hung by pullies and steel chains and made fast with hooks and
padlocks.  When Sharrkan looked, he saw awaiting her upon the bridge
the same ten handmaids whom she had thrown in the wrestling bouts; and,
as she came up to them, she said to one in the Greek tongue, "Arise and
take the reins of his horse and conduct him across into the convent."
So she went up to Sharrkan and led him over, much puzzled and perturbed
with what he saw, and saying to himself, "O would that the Wazir Dandan
were here with me that his eyes might look upon these fairest of
favours." Then he turned to the young lady and said to her, "O marvel
of loveliness, now I have two claims upon thee; first the claim of good
fellowship, and secondly for that thou hast carried me to thy home and
offered me thy hospitality.  I am now under thy commandance and thy
guidance; so do me one last favour by accompanying me to the lands of
Al-Islam; where thou shalt look upon many a lion hearted warrior and
thou shalt learn who I am." When she heard this she was angered and
said to him, "By the truth of the Messiah, thou hast proved thyself
with me a man of keen wit; but now I see what mischief there is in thy
heart, and how thou canst permit thyself a speech which proveth thy
traitorous intent.  How should I do as thou sayest, when I wot that if
I came to that King of yours, Omar bin al- Nu'uman, I should never get
free from him?  For truly he hath not the like of me or behind his city
walls or within his palace halls, Lord of Baghdad and of Khorasan
though he be, who hath built for himself twelve pavilions, in number as
the months of the year, and in each a concubine after the number of the
days; and if I come to him he would not prove shy of me, for your folk
believe I am lawful to have and to hold as is said in your writ, 'Or
those women whom your right hand shall possess as slaves.'[FN#181] So
how canst thou speak thus to me?  As for thy saying, 'Thou shalt look
upon the braves of the Moslems,' by the truth of the Messiah, thou
sayest that which is not true, for I saw your army when it reached our
land, these two days ago; and I did not see that your ordinance was the
ordinance of Kings, but I beheld only a rabble of tribesmen gathered
together.  And as to thy words, 'Thou shalt know who I am,' I did not
do thee kindness because of thy dignity but out of pride in myself; and
the like of thee should not talk thus to the like of me, even wert thou
Sharrkan, Omar bin al- Nu'uman's son, the prowess name in these days!"
"Knowest thou Sharrkan?" asked he; and she answered Yes! and I know of
his coming with an army numbering ten thousand horsemen; also that he
was sent by his sire with this force to gain prevalence for the King of
Constantinople." "O my lady," said Sharrkan, "I adjure thee by thy
religion, tell me the cause of all this, that sooth may appear to me
clear of untruth, and with whom the fault lies." "Now by the virtue of
thy faith," she replied, "did I not fear lest the news of me be bruited
abroad that I am of the daughters of Roum, I would adventure myself and
sally forth single handed against the ten thousand horsemen and slay
their leader, the Wazir Dandan and vanquish their champion
Sharrkan.[FN#182] Nor would aught of shame accrue to me thereby, for I
have read books and studied the rules of good breeding in the language
of the Arabs.  But I have no need to vaunt my own prowess to thee, more
by token as thou hast proved in thy proper person my skill and strength
in wrestling; and thou hast learnt my superiority over other women. 
Nor, indeed, had Sharrkan himself been here this night and it were said
to him, 'Clear this stream,' could he have done it; and I only long and
lust that the Messiah would throw him into my hands in this very
convent, that I might go forth to him in the habit of a man and drag
him from his saddle seat and make him my captive and lay him in
bilboes."- -And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say
her permitted say.

              When it was the Forty-eighth Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the Nazarene
damsel said to Sharrkan (and he listening impatiently enow), "Verily if
Sharrkan fell into my hands, I would go forth to him in the habit of a
man and drag him from his saddle seat and make him my captive and lay
him in bilboes," pride and passion and knightly jealousy took
possession of him and he desired to discover and declare himself and to
lay on load; but her loveliness restrained him and he began repeating,

"An faulty of one fault the Beauty prove, * Her charms a thousand
advocates shall move."

So she went up and Sharrkan after her; and, when he saw the maiden's
back and hinder cheeks that clashed against each other, like rollers in
the rolling sea, he extemporised these couplets:- -

"For her sins is a pleader that brow, * And all hearts its fair

     pleading must bow:

When I saw it I cried, "To night * The moon at its fullest doth

     show;

Tho' Balkis' own Ifrit[FN#183] try a bout, * Spite his force she

     would deal him a throw."


The two fared on till they reached a gate over which rose a marble
archway. This she opened and ushered Sharrkan into a long vestibule,
vaulted with ten connected arches, from each of which hung a crystal
lamp glistening like a spark of fire.  The handmaids met her at the
further end bearing wax candles of goodly perfume, and wearing on their
heads golden fillets crusted with all manner bezel gems,[FN#184] and
went on before her (Sharrkan still following), till they reached the
inner convent. There the Moslem saw couches and sofas ranged all
around, one opposite the other and all over hung with curtains flowered
in gold.  The monastery floor was paved with every kind of vari
coloured marbles and mosaic work, and in the midst stood a basin that
held four and twenty jetting fountains of gold, whence the water ran
like molten silver; whilst at the upper end stood a throne spread with
silks fit only for Kings. Then said the damsel, "Ascend, O my lord,
this throne." So he went up to it and sat down and she withdrew to
remain absent for some time. Sharrkan asked of her from one of the
servants who answered him, "She hath gone to her dormitory; but we will
serve thee even as she ordered." So they set before him viands of rare
varieties, and he ate his sufficiency, when they brought him a basin of
gold and an ewer of silver, and he washed his hands.  Then his thoughts
reverted to his army, knowing not what had befallen it in his absence
and calling to mind also how he had forgotten his father's injunctions:
so he was troubled about his case, repenting of what he had done till
the dawn broke and the day appeared; when he lamented and sighed and
became drowned in sea of sadness and repeated,

"I am not lost to prudence, but indeed * Here I'm bewildered,

     what shall be my rede?

Would any aid me in mine ails of love, * By my own might and

     sleight would I be free'd:

But ah! my heart is lost and passion-shent: * To none save Allah

     can I trust my need!"


When he ended his verse behold, there came up to him a rare show and a
fair, more than twenty maidens like crescents encompassing the young
lady, who shone in their midst as the full moon among the
constellations guarding and girding her.  She was clad in brocades
befitting Kings; her breasts were like twin pomegranates, a woven zone
set with all kinds of jewels tightly clasped her waist which expanded
below into jutting hips; and her hinder cheeks stood out as a mound of
crystal[FN#185] supporting a silvern shaft.  When Sharrkan looked at
her his wits went nigh to fly away from him with delight; and he forgot
army and Wazir as he gazed on her fair head decked and dight with a net
work of pearls set off by divers sorts of gems.  Handmaids on her right
and handmaids on her left bore her train, as she paced with dainty
graceful gait in all the pride of seemlihead.  He sprang to his feet
seeing such beauty and loveliness, and cried aloud, "Beware and beware
of that zone rarely fair!" and broke out into these couplets,

"With heavy back parts, high breasts delicate, * And lissome form

     that sways with swimming gait

She deftly hides love longing in her breast; * But I may never

     hide its ban and bate

While hosts of followers her steps precede,[FN#186] * Like pearls

     now necklaced and now separate."


She gazed upon him for a long time and considered him till she was
assured of him, when she came up to him and said, "In very sooth the
place is honoured and illumined by thee, O Sharrkan! How sped thy
night, O hero, after we went away and left thee?"; adding, "Verily
lying is a vile thing and a shameful, especially in great Kings! and
thou art Crown Prince Sharrkan, son and heir of King Omar bin
al-Nu'uman; so henceforth make no secret of thy rank and condition, nor
let me hear aught from thee but the truth; for leasing bequeatheth hate
and despite.  And as thou art pierced by the shaft of Fate, be
resignation thine and abide content to wait." When he heard her words
he saw that artifice availed him naught and he acknowledged the truth,
saying, "I am Sharrkan, bin Omar bin al-Nu'uman, whom fortune hath
afflicted and cast into this place; so whatso thou willest, do it in my
case!" She hung her head groundwards a long while, then turned to him
and said, "Be of good cheer and let thine eyes be cool and
clear;[FN#187] for thou art the guest of my hospitality, and bread and
salt hath made a tie between me and thee; wherefore thou art in my ward
and under my safeguard.  Have no fear for, by the truth of the Messiah,
if all on earth sought to do thee hurt they should not come at thee,
till life had left my body for thy sake: indeed thou art now under the
charge of the Messiah and of me." Hereat she sat her down by his side
and fell to playing with him, till his alarm subsided and he knew that
had she desired to slay him, she would have done so during the past
night. Presently she bespoke in the Grecian tongue one of her slave
girls, who went away and soon came back bringing a beaker and a tray of
food; but Sharrkan abstained from eating and said to himself, "Haply
she hath put somewhat in this meat." She knew what was in his thought;
so she turned to him and said, "By the truth of the Messiah, the case
is not on such wise, nor is there aught in this meat of what thou
suspectest!  Had my mind been set on slaying thee, I had slain thee ere
now." Then she walked up to the tray and ate of every dish a mouthful;
where upon Sharrkan came forward and ate too.  She was pleased at this
and both ate till they were satisfied.  They washed their hands and
after that she rose and ordered a handmaid to bring perfumes and herbs
of sweet savour, wines of all colours and kinds and a wine-service with
vessels of gold, silver and crystal.  She filled a first goblet and
drank it off before offering it to him, even as she had done with the
food: then she crowned a second and handed it to him.  He drank and she
said to him, "O Moslem, see how thou art here in all solace and delight
of life!" And she ceased not to drink and ply him with drink, till he
took leave of his wits,- -And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day, and
ceased saying her permitted say.

               When it was the Forty-ninth Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the damsel ceased
not to drink and ply Sharrkan with drink till he took leave of his
wits, for the wine and the intoxication of love he bore her.  Presently
she said to the slave girl, "O Marjanah[FN#188]!  bring us some
instruments of music!" "To hear is to obey," said the hand maid and
going out, returned in the twinkling of an eye with a Damascus
lute,[FN#189] a Persian harp, a Tartar pipe, and an Egyptian dulcimer. 
The young lady took the lute and, after tuning each several string,
began in gentle undersong to sing, softer than zephyr's wing and
sweeter than Tasmin[FN#190] spring, with heart safe and secure from
everything the couplets following,

"Allah assain those eyne!  What streams of blood they shed! * How

     many an arrowy glance those lids of thine have sped.

I love all lovers who to lovers show them cure; * 'Twere wrong to

     rue the love in wrong head born and bred:

Haply fall hapless eye for thee no sleeping kens! * Heaven help

     the hapless heart by force of thee misled!

Thou doomest me to death who art my king, and I * Ransom with

     life the deemster who would doom me dead."


Thereupon each and every of the maidens rose up and taking an
instrument, played and recited couplets in the Roumi tongue; then their
mistress sang also and seeing Sharrkan in ecstasies asked him, "O
Moslem, dost thou understand what I say?"; and he answered, "Nay, my
ecstasy cometh from the beauty of thy finger sips." She laughed and
continued, "If I sing to thee in Arabic what wouldst thou do?" "I
should no longer," quoth he, "be master of my senses." Then she took an
instrument and, changing the measure, began singing these verses,

"The smack of parting's myrrh to me, * How, then, bear patience'

     aloë?

I'm girt by ills in trinity          * Severance, distance,

     cruelty!

My freedom stole that fairest she,   * And parting irks me

     bitterly."


When she ended her verse, she looked at Sharrkan and found him lost to
existence, and he lay for a while stretched at full length and prone
among the maidens.[FN#191] Then he revived and, remembering the songs,
again inclined to mirth and merriment; and the twain returned to their
wine and wassail, and continued their playing and toying, their pastime
and pleasure till day ceased illuminating and night drooped her wing. 
Then the damsel went off to her dormitory and when Sharrkan asked after
her they answered, "She is gone to her sleeping chamber," whereto he
rejoined, "Under Allah's ward and His good guard!" As soon as it was
morning, a handmaid came to him and said to him, "My mistress biddeth
thee to her." So he rose and followed her and, as he drew near her
lodging, the damsels welcomed him with smitten tabrets and songs of
greeting, and led him through a great door of ivory studded with pearls
and jewels.  Thence they passed with him into a tall and spacious hall,
at the upper end of which was a wide dais carpeted with all kinds of
silks, and round it open lattices commanding a view of trees and
streams.  About the saloon were figures carved in human form, and
fashioned on such wise that the air passed through them and set in
motion musical instruments within, so that the beholder would fancy
they spoke.[FN#192] Here sat the young lady, looking at the figures;
but when she saw Sharrkan, she sprang to her feet and, taking him by
the hand, made him sit down by her side, and asked him how he had
passed the night.  He blessed her and the two sat talking awhile till
she asked him, "Knowest thou aught touching lovers and slaves of
love?"; and he answered "Yes! I wot somewhat in verse on that matter."
"Let me hear it," quoth she, so he began quoting,

"Pleasure and health, good cheer, good appetite * To Azzah,

     freest with our name and fame!

By Allah!  would I near her off she flies * At tangent, granting

     less the more I claim:

I dote on Azzah, but when clear I off * My rivals, clears me too

     that dearest dame;

Like wandering wight that chose for shade a cloud * Which, ere

     siesta done, thin air became."


When she heard this she said, "Verily Al-Kuthayyir[FN#193] was
conspicuous for sweet speech and chaste, and he was superlative in his
praise of Azzah when he sang" (and she began to recite),

"Did Azzah deal behest to Sun o' noon, * The judge had judged her

     beauty's bestest boon;

And girls who come to me and carp at her, * God make their rosy

     cheeks her sandal-shoon!


And indeed," quoth she, "'twas said that Azzah boasted exceeding beauty
and loveliness." Then she asked Sharrkan saying, "O Prince, cost thou
know aught of Jamil's[FN#194] verses to Buthaynah?  if so repeat to us
somewhat of them;" and he answered, "Yes, I know them better than any;"
whereupon he began repeating these couplets,

"Jamil, in Holy war go fight!" to me they say: * What war save

     fight for fair ones would I e'er essay?

To me their every word and work are mere delight, * And martyrs

     crepe I all they slay in fight and fray:

An ask I, 'O Buthaynah!  what's this love, I pray, * Which eats

     my heart?' quoth she ' 'Twill stay for ever and aye!'

And when I cry, 'Of wits return some small display * For daily

     use,' quoth she, 'Far, far 'tis fled away!

Thou seekst my death; naught else thy will can satisfy * While I

     no goal espy save thee and thee alway.'"


"Thou hast spoken right well," said she, "O King's son, and Jamil also
spoke excellently well.  But what would Buthaynah have done with him
that he saith in his hemistich,

'Thou seekst my death; naught else thy will can satisfy?'"

"O my lady," quoth Sharrkan, "she willed to do him what thou willest to
do with me, and even that will not satisfy thee." She laughed at his
opportune reply and they ceased not carousing till Day put out her
light and Night came in darkness dight.  Then she rose and went to her
dormitory and slept, while Sharrkan slept in his place till morning
dawned.  As soon as he awoke, the hand maids came to him with tabrets
and other instruments of mirth and merriment, as wont; and, kissing the
ground between his hands, said to him, "Bismillah!  in Allah's name be
so kind as to come[FN#195]: our mistress biddeth thee to her presence!"
So he rose and accompanied the slave girls who surrounded him, playing
on tabrets and other instruments of music, till they passed from that
saloon into another and a yet more spacious hall, decorated with
pictured likenesses and figures of birds and beasts, passing all
description.  Sharrkan marvelled at the art and artifice of the place
and began reciting,

"He plucks fruits of her necklace in rivalry, * And her breast-

    pearls that bedded in gold mine lie.

Pure water on silvern bars is her brow, * And her cheeks show

     roses with rubies vie:

Meseems in her eyne that the violet's hue * Lies purpling set in

     the Ithmid's[FN#196] dye."


When the lady saw Sharrkan, she stood up to him in honour and,

taking his hand, seated him by her side and asked, "O son of King

Omar bin al-Nu'uman, hast thou any cunning in the game of chess?"

"Yes," he answered, "but do not thou with me as said the poet,


'I speak and longing love upties me and unties me; * Till with

     her honey dew of inner lip she plies me:

I brought the chess board and my liefest lover plays me * With

     white and black,[FN#197] but black cum white ne'er satisfies

     me:

'Twas as if King for Castle I were fain to place me * Till wilful

     loss of game atwixt two queens surprise me:

And if I seek to read intent in eyes that eye me * Oh man!  that

     glance askance with hint of wish defies me.'"


Then she brought the chessboard and played with him; but Sharrkan,
instead of looking at her moves, kept gazing at her fair mouth, and
putting knight in place of elephant and elephant[FN#198] instead of
knight.  She laughed and said to him, "If thy play be after this
fashion, thou knowest naught of the game." "This is only our first,"
replied he, "judge not by this bout." When she beat him he replaced the
pieces in position and played again with her; but she beat him a second
time, a third, a fourth and a fifth.  So she turned to him and said,
"Thou art beaten in everything;" and he replied, "O my lady, how should
one playing with the like of thee avoid being beaten?" Then she bade
bring food, and they ate and washed their hands; after which the wine
was set before them and they drank.  Presently, she took the dulcimer,
for her hand was cunning in smiting it, and she began repeating to an
accompaniment these couplets,

"Twixt the close tied and open wide no medium Fortune knoweth, *

     Now ebb and flow then flow and ebb this wise her likeness

     showeth.

Then drink her wine the syne she's thine and smiling thou dost

     find her * Anon she'll fall and fare away when all thy good

     forth goeth."


They ceased not to carouse till nightfall and this day was pleasanter
even than the first.  When darkness set in, the lady betook her to her
dormitory, leaving him alone with the hand maids; so he threw himself
on the ground and slept till dawn, when the damsels came to him with
tambourines and other instruments according to custom.  Seeing them he
roused him hastily and sat up; and they carried him to their mistress,
who came to meet him and, taking him by the hand, seated him by her
side.  Then she asked him how he had passed his night, whereat he
prayed that her life be prolonged; and she took the lute and sang to it
these verses which she improvised,

"Ne'er incline thee to part * Which embitters the heart

E'en the sun when he sets   * Shall in pallor depart."


While they were solacing themselves after this fashion, behold, there
arose a great and sudden clamour, and a confused crowd of knights and
men rushed in, holding drawn swords that glittered and gleamed in their
hands, and cried aloud in the Grecian tongue "Thou hast fallen into our
hands, O Sharrkan, so make thee sure of death!" When he heard this, he
said to himself, "By Allah, she hath entrapped me and held me in play,
till her men should come. These are the Knights with whom she
threatened me; but 'tis I who have thrown myself into this strait."
Then he turned towards the young lady to reproach her, but saw that she
had changed colour and her face was pale; and she sprang to her feet
and asked the crowd, "Who are ye?" "O most gracious Princess and
peerless onion pearl," answered the leading Knight, "dost thou weet who
is yon man by thy side?" "Not I," she replied, "who may he be?" Quoth
the Patrician, "This is of towns the highwayman!  This is he who rideth
in the horseman's van!  This is Sharrkan, son of King Omar bin
al-Nu'uman!  This is he that forceth fortalice and penetrateth every
impregnable place!  The news of him reached King Hardub, thy father, by
report of the ancient dame Zat al- Dawahi; and thy sire, our sovereign,
hath made sure that thou hast rendered good service to the army of the
Greeks by taking captive this ominous lion." When she heard this, she
looked at the Knight and asked him, "What be thy name?" and he
answered, "I am Másúrah, son of thy slave Mausúrah bin Káshardah,
Knight of Knights." "And how?" quoth she, "durst thou enter my presence
without leave?" Quoth he, "O my lady, when I came to the gate, none
forbade me, neither chamberlain nor porter, but all the door keepers
rose and forewent us as of wont; although, when others come, they leave
them standing at the gate while they ask permission to admit them.  But
this is not a time for long talking, when the King is expecting our
return with this Prince, the scorpion sting[FN#199] of the Islamitic
host, that he may kill him and drive back his men whither they came,
without the bane of battling with them." "These words be ill words,"
rejoined the Princess, "and Dame Zat al-Dawahi lied, avouching an idle
thing and a vain, whereof she weeteth not the truth; for by the virtue
of the Messiah, this man who is with me is not Sharrkan, nor is he a
captive, but a stranger who came to us seeking our hospitality, and I
made him my guest.  So even were we assured that this be Sharrkan and
were it proved to us that it is he beyond a doubt, I say it would ill
befit mine honour that I should deliver into your hands one who hath
entered under my protection.  So make me not a traitor to my guest and
a disgrace among men; but return to the King, my father, and kiss the
ground before him, and inform him that the case is contrariwise to the
report of the Lady Zat al-Dawahi." "O Abrízah," replied Masurah, the
Knight, "I cannot return to the King's majesty without his debtor and
enemy." Quoth she (and indeed she had waxed very wroth).  "Out on thee!
 Return to him with my answer, and no blame shall befal thee!" Quoth
Masurah, "I will not return without him." Thereupon her colour changed
and she exclaimed, "Exceed not in talk and vain words; for verily this
man had not come in to us, were he not assured that he could of himself
and single handed make head against an hundred riders; and if I said to
him, 'Thou art Sharrkan, son of King Omar bin al-Nu'uman,' he would
answer, 'Yes.' But 'tis not of your competence to let or hinder him;
for if you do so, he will not turn back from you till he hath slain all
that are in this place.  Behold, here he is by my side, and I will
bring him before you sword and targe in hand." "Albeit I were safe from
thy wrath," answered Masurah the Knight, "I am not safe from that of
thy father, and when I see him, I shall sign to the Knights to take him
captive, and we will carry him to the King bound and in abject sort."
When she heard this, she said, "The matter shall not pass thus, for
'twould be blazoning mere folly.  This man is but one and ye are an
hundred Knights: so if you would attack him come out against him, one
after one, that it may appear to the King which is the valiant amongst
you."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her
permitted say.

                When it was the Fiftieth Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Princess Abrizah
said to the Knight, "This man is but one, and ye are an hundred: so if
ye would attack him, come out against him, one after one, that it may
appear to the King which is the valiant." Quoth Masurah, the Knight,
"By the truth of the Messiah, thou sayest sooth, and none but I shall
sally out against him first." Quoth she, "Wait till I go to him and
acquaint him with the case and hear what answer he will make.  If he
consent, 'tis well; but if he refuse, ye shall on no wise come to him,
for I and my hand maids and whosoever is in the convent will be his
ransom." So she went to Sharrkan and told him the news, whereat he
smiled and knew that she had not informed any of the Emirs; but that
tidings of him had been bruited and blazed abroad, till the report
reached the King, against her wish and intent.  So he again began
reproaching himself and said, "How came I to adventure and play with my
life by coming to the country of the Greeks?" But hearing the young
lady's proposal he said to her, "Indeed their onset, one after one,
would be overburdensome to them.  Will they not come out against me,
ten by ten?" "That would be villainy," said she; "Let one have at one."
When he heard this, he sprang to his feet and made for them with his
sword and battle gear; and Masurah, the Knight, also sprang up and bore
down upon him. Sharrkan met him like a lion and delivered a shoulder
cut[FN#200] which clove him to the middle, and the blade came out
gleaming and glittering from his back and bowels.  When the lady beheld
that swashingblow, Sharrkan's might was magnified in her sight and she
knew that when she overthrew him in the wrestle it was not by her
strength but by her beauty and loveliness.  So she turned to the
Knights and said, "Take wreak for your chief!" Thereupon out came the
slain man's brother, a fierce and furious Knight, and rushed upon
Sharrkan, who delayed not, but smote him also with the shoulder cut and
the sword came out glittering from his vitals.  Then cried the
Princess, "O ye servants of the Messiah, avenge your comrade!" So they
ceased not charging down upon him, one after one; and Sharrkan also
ceased not playing upon them with the blade, till he had slain fifty
Knights, the lady looking on the while.  And Allah cast a panic into
the hearts of the survivors, so that they held back and dared not meet
him in the duello, but fell upon him in a body; and he laid on load
with heart firmer than a rock, and smote them and trod them down like
straw under the threshing sled,[FN#201] till he had driven sense and
soul out of them.  Then the Princess called aloud to her damsels,
saying, "Who is left in the convent?"; and they replied, "None but the
gate keepers;" whereupon she went up to Sharrkan and took him to her
bosom, he doing the same, and they returned to the palace, after he had
made an end of the melee.  Now there remained a few of the Knights
hiding from him in the cells of the monastery, and when the Princess
saw this she rose from Sharrkan's side and left him for a while, but
presently came back clad in closely meshed coat of ring mail and
holding in her hand a fine Indian scymitar.  And she said, "Now by the
truth of the Messiah, I will not be a niggard of myself for my guest;
nor will I abandon him though for this I abide a reproach and a by word
in the land of the Greeks." Then she took reckoning of the dead and
found that he had slain fourscore of the Knights, and other twenty had
taken to flight.[FN#202] When she saw what work he had made with them
she said to him, "Allah bless thee, O Sharrkan!  The Cavaliers may well
glory in the like of thee." Then he rose and wiping his blade clean of
the blood of the slain began reciting these couplets,

"How oft in the mellay I've cleft the array, * And given their

     bravest to lions a prey:

Ask of me and of them when I proved me prow * O'er creation, on

     days of the foray and fray:

When I left in the onslaught their lions to lie * On the sands of

     the low lands[FN#203] in fieriest day."


When he ended his verse, the Princess came up to him with smiles and
kissed his hand; then she doffed her hauberk and he said to her, "O
lady mine, wherefore didst thou don that coat of mail and bare thy
brand?" "To guard thee against these caitiffs,"[FN#204] she replied. 
Then she summoned the gate keepers and asked them, "How came ye to
admit the King's Knights into my dwelling without leave of me?"; and
they answered, "O Princess, it is not our custom to ask leave of thee
for the King's messengers, and especially for the chief of his
Knights." Quoth she, "I think ye were minded only to disgrace me and
murder my guest;" and bade Sharrkan smite their necks.  He did so and
she cried to the rest of her servants, "Of a truth, they deserved even
more than that!" Then turning to Sharrkan, she said to him, "Now that
there hath become manifest to thee what was concealed, thou shalt be
made acquainted with my history.  Know, then, that I am the daughter of
King Hardub of Roum; my name is Abrizah and the ancient dame, yclept
Zat al-Dawahi, is my grandmother by the sword side.  She it certainly
is who told my father of thee, and as surely she will compass a sleight
to slay me, more by token as thou hast slain my father's chivalry and
it is noised abroad that I have separated myself from the Nazarenes and
have become no better than I should be with the Moslems.  Wherefore it
were wiser that I leave this dwelling while Zat al-Dawahi is on my
track; but I require of thee the like kindness and courtesy I have
shown thee, for enmity will presently befal between me and my father on
thine account.  So do not thou neglect to do aught that I shall say to
thee, remembering all this betided me not save by reason of thee."
Hearing her words, Sharrkan joyed greatly; his breast broadened and his
wits flew from him for delight, and he said, "By Allah, none shall come
at thee, while life is in my bosom! But hast thou patience to bear
parting from thy parents and thy people?" "Even so," she answered; and
Sharrkan swore to her and the two plighted their troth.  Then said she,
"Now is my heart at ease; but there remaineth one other condition for
thee." "What is it?" asked he and she answered, "It is that thou return
with thy host to thine own country." Quoth he, "O lady mine, my father,
King Omar bin al- Nu'uman, sent me to wage war upon thy sire, on
account of the treasure he plundered from the King of Constantinople,
and amongst the rest three great jewels, noted givers of good fortune."
Quoth she, "Cheer thy heart and clear thine eyes: I will tell thee the
whole of the tale and the cause of our feud with the King of
Constantinople.  Know that we have a yearly festival, highs the Convent
Feast, whereat Kings from all quarters and the noblest women are wont
to congregate; thither also come merchants and traders with their wives
and families, and the visitors abide there seven days.  I was wont to
be one of them; but, when there befel enmity between us, my father
forbade me to be present at the festival for the space of seven years.
One year, it chanced that amongst the daughters of the great who
resorted to the patron, as was their custom, came a daughter of the
King of Constantinople, a beautiful girl called Sophia.  They tarried
at the monastery six days and on the seventh the folk went their
ways;[FN#205] but Sophia said, 'I will not return to Constantinople
save by water.' So they equipped for her a ship in which she embarked
with her suite; and making sail they put out to sea; but as they were
voyaging behold, a contrary wind caught them and drove the vessel from
her course till, as Fate and Fortune would have it, she fell in with a
Nazarene craft from the Camphor Island[FN#206] carrying a crew of five
hundred armed Franks, who had been cruising about a long time.  When
they sighted the sails of the ship, wherein Sophia and her women were,
they gave chase in all haste and in less than an hour they came up with
her, then they laid the grappling irons aboard her and captured her. 
Then taking her in tow they made all sail for their own island and were
but a little distant from it when the wind veered round and, splitting
their sails, drove them on to a shoal which lies off our coast. 
Thereupon we sallied forth and, looking on them as spoil driven to us
by Fate,[FN#207] boarded and took them; and, slaying the men, made
prize of the wreck, wherein we found the treasures and rarities in
question and forty maidens, amongst whom was the King's daughter,
Sophia.  After the capture we carried the Princess and her women to my
father, not knowing her to be a daughter of King Afridun of
Constantinople; and he chose out for himself ten including her; and
divided the rest among his dependents.  Presently he set apart five
damsels, amongst whom was the King s daughter, and sent them to thy
father, King Omar bin al-Nu'uman, together with other gifts, such as
broadcloth[FN#208] and woollen stuffs and Grecian silks.  Thy father
accepted them and chose out from amongst the five girls Sophia,
daughter of King Afridun; nor did we hear more of her till the
beginning of this year, when her father wrote to my father in words
unfitting for me to repeat, rebuking him with menaces and saying to
him: Two years ago, you plundered a ship of ours which had been seized
by a band of Frankish pirates in which was my daughter, Sophia,
attended by her maidens numbering some threescore.  Yet ye informed me
not thereof by messenger or otherwise; nor could I make the matter
public, lest reproach befal me amongst the Kings, by reason of my
daughter's honour. So I concealed my case till this year, when I wrote
to certain Frankish corsairs and sought news of my daughter from the
Kings of the Isles.  They replied, 'By Allah we carried her not forth
of thy realm; but we have heard that King Hardub rescued her from
certain pirates. And they told me the whole tale.' Then he added in the
writing which he writ to my father: 'Except you wish to be at feud with
me and design to disgrace me and dishonour my daughter, you will, the
instant my letter reacheth you, send my daughter back to me.  But if
you slight my letter and disobey my commandment, I will assuredly make
you full return for your foul dealing and the baseness of your
practices.'[FN#209] When my father read this letter and understood the
contents,[FN#210] it vexed him and he regretted not having known that
Sophia, King Afridun's daughter, was among the captured damsels, that
he might have sent her back to her sire; and he was perplexed about the
case because, after so long a time, he could not send to King Omar bin
al-Nu'uman and demand her back from him, especially as he had lately
heard that Heaven had granted him boon of babe by this Sophia.  So when
we pondered that truth, we knew that this letter was none other than a
grievous calamity; and my father found nothing for it but to write an
answer to King Afridun, making his excuses and swearing to him by
strong oaths that he knew not his daughter to be among the bevy of
damsels in the ship and setting forth how he had sent her to King Omar
bin al Nu'uman, who had gotten the blessing of issue by her.  When my
father's reply reached King Afridun he rose up and sat down,[FN#211]
and roared and foamed at the mouth crying:—'What! shall he take captive
my daughter and even her with slave girls and pass her on from hand to
hand sending her for a gift to Kings, and they lie with her without
marriage contract?  By the Messiah and the true Faith,' said he, 'I
will not desist till I have taken my blood vengeance for this and have
wiped out my shame; and indeed I will do a deed which the chroniclers
shall chronicle after me!' So he bided his time till he devised a
device and laid notable toils and snares, when he sent an embassy to
thy father, King Omar, to tell him that which thou hast heard:
accordingly thy father equipped thee and an army with thee and sent
thee to King Afridun, whose object is to seize thee and thine army to
boot.  As for the three jewels whereof he told thy father when asking
his aid, there was not one soothfast word in that matter, for they were
with Sophia, his daughter; and my father took them from her, when he
got possession of her and of her maidens, and gave them to me in free
gift, and they are now with me.  So go thou to thy host and turn them
back ere they be led deep into, and shut in by, the land of the bevy of
damsels in the ship and setting forth the Franks and the country of the
Greeks; for as soon as you have come far enough into their interior,
they will stop the roads upon you and there will be no escape for you
till the Day of retribution and retaliation.  I know that thy troops
are still halting where thou leftest them, because thou didst order a
three days' rest; withal they have missed thee all this time and they
wot not what to do." When Sharrkan heard her words, he was absent
awhile in thought; then he kissed Princess Abrizah's hand and said,
"Praise be to Allah who hath bestowed thee on me and appointed thee to
be the cause of my salvation and the salvation of whoso is with me! 
But 'tis grievous to me to part from thee and I know not what will
become of thee after my departure." "Go now to thine army," she
replied, "and turn them back, while ye are yet near your own country. 
If the envoys be still with them, lay hands on them and keep them, that
the case may be made manifest to you; and, after three days, I will be
with you all and we will enter Baghdad together." As he turned to
depart she said, "Forget not the compact which is between me and thee,"
then she rose to bid[FN#212] him farewell and embrace him and quench
the fire of desire, so she took leave of him and, throwing her arms
round his neck, wept with exceeding weeping, and repeated these verses,

"I bade adieu, my right hand wiped my tears away, * The while my

     left hand held her in a close embrace:

'Fearest thou naught,' quoth she, 'of shame?'  I answered 'Nay, *

     The lover's parting day is lover's worst disgrace.'"


Then Sharrkan left her and walked down from the convent.  They brought
his steed, so he mounted and rode down stream to the drawbridge which
he crossed and presently threaded the woodland paths and passed into
the open meadow.  As soon as he was clear of the trees he was aware of
horsemen which made him stand on the alert, and he bared his brand and
rode cautiously, but as they drew near and exchanged curious looks he
recognized them and behold, it was the Wazir Dandan and two of his
Emirs.  When they saw him and knew him, they dismounted and saluting
him, asked the reason of his absence; whereupon he told them all that
had passed between him and Princess Abrizah from first to last.  The
Wazir returned thanks to Almighty Allah for his safety and
said,[FN#213] "Let us at once leave these lands; for the envoys who
came with us are gone to inform the King of our approach, and haply he
will hasten to fall on us and take us prisoners." So Sharrkan cried to
his men to saddle and mount, which they did and, setting out at once,
they stinted not faring till they reached the sole of the valley
wherein the host lay.  The Ambassadors meanwhile had reported
Sharrkan's approach to their King, who forthright equipped a host to
lay hold of him and those with him.  But Sharrkan, escorted by the
Wazir Dandan and the two Emirs, had no sooner sighted the army, than he
raised the cry "March! March!" They took horse on the instant and fared
through the first day and second and third day, nor did they cease
faring for five days; at the end of which time they alighted in a well
wooded valley, where they rested awhile. Then they again set out and
stayed not riding for five and twenty days which placed them on the
frontiers of their own country.  Here, deeming themselves safe, they
halted to rest; and the country people came out to them with guest
gifts for the men and provender and forage for the beasts.  They
tarried there two days after which, as all would be making for their
homes, Sharrkan put the Wazir Dandan in command, bidding him lead the
host back to Baghdad.  But he himself remained behind with an hundred
riders, till the rest of the army had made one day's march: then he
called "To horse!" and mounted with his hundred men.  They rode on two
parasangs'[FN#214] space till they arrived at a gorge between two
mountains and lo!  there arose before them a dark cloud of sand and
dust.  So they checked their steeds awhile till the dust opened and
lifted, discovering beneath it an hundred cavaliers, lion faced and in
mail coats cased.  As soon as they drew within earshot of Sharrkan and
his meiny they cried out to them, saying, "By the virtue of John and
Mary, we have won to our wish!  We have been following you by forced
marches, night and day, till we forewent you to this place.  So
dismount and lay down your arms and yield yourselves, that we may grant
you your lives." When Sharrkan heard this, his eyes stood out from his
head and his cheeks flushed red and he said 'How is it, O.  Nazarene
dogs, ye dare enter our country and overmatch our land?  And doth not
this suffice you, but ye must adventure yourselves and address us in
such unseemly speech?  Do you think to escape out of our hands and
return to your country?" Then he shouted to his hundred horsemen, "Up
and at these hounds, for they even you in number!" So saying, he bared
his sabre and bore down on them, he and his, but the Franks met them
with hearts firmer than rocks, and wight dashed against wight, and
knight dashed upon knight, and hot waxed the fight, and sore was the
affright, and nor parley nor cries of quarter helped their plight; and
they stinted not to charge and to smite, right hand meeting right, nor
to hack and hew with blades bright white, till day turned to night and
gloom oppressed the sight.  Then they drew apart and Sharrkan mustered
his men and found none wounded save four only, who showed hurts but not
death hurts. Said he to them, "By Allah, my life long have I waded in
the clashing sea of fight and I have met many a gallant sprite, but
none so unfrightened of the sword that smites and the shock of men that
affrights like these valiant Knights!" "Know, O King," said they, that
there is among them a Frankish cavalier who is their leader and,
indeed, he is a man of valour and fatal is his spear thrust: but, by
Allah, he spares us great and small; for whoso falls into his hands he
lets him go and forbears to slay him.  By Allah, had he willed he had
killed us all." Sharrkan was astounded when he heard what the Knight
had done and such high report of him, so he said, "When the morn shall
morrow, we will draw out and defy them, for we are an hundred to their
hundred; and we will seek aid against them from the Lord of the
Heavens." So they rested that night in such intent; whilst the Franks
gathered round their Captain and said, "Verily this day we did not win
our will of these;" and he replied, "At early dawn when the morrow
shall morn, we will draw out and challenge them, one after one." They
also rested in that mind, and both camps kept guard until Almighty
Allah sent the light of day dawn.  Thereupon King Sharrkan and his
hundred riders took horse and rode forth to the plain, where they found
the Franks ranged in line of battle; and Sharrkan said to his
followers, "Our foes have determined like ourselves to do their devoir;
so up and at them and lay on load." Then came forth an Herald of the
Franks and cried out, saying, "Let there be no general engagement
betwixt us this day, save by the duello, a champion of yours against a
champion of ours." Whereupon one of Sharrkan's riders dashed out from
the ranks and crave between the two lines crying, "Ho! who is for
smiting?  Let no dastard engage me this day nor niderling!" Hardly had
he made an end of his vaunt, when there sallied forth to him a Frankish
cavalier, armed cap-à-pie and clad in a surcoat of gold stuff, riding
on a grey white steed,[FN#215] and he had no hair on his cheeks.  He
urged his charger on to the midst of the battle plain and the two fell
to derring do of cut and thrust, but it was not long before the Frank
foined the Moslem with the lance point; and, toppling him from his
steed, took him prisoner and led him off crestfallen.  His folk
rejoiced in their comrade and, forbidding him to go out again to the
field, sent forth another, to whom sallied out another Moslem, brother
to the captive, and offered him battle.  The two fell to, either
against other, and fought for a little while, till the Frank bore down
upon the Moslem and, falsing him with a feint, tumbled him by a thrust
of the lance heel from his destrier and took him prisoner.  After this
fashion the Moslems ceased not dashing forwards, one after one, and the
Franks to unhorse them and take them captive, till day departed and the
night with darkness upstarted.  Now they had captured of the Moslems
twenty cavaliers, and when Sharrken saw this, it was grievous to him
and he mustered his men and said to them, "What is this thing that hath
befallen us?  To- morrow, I myself will go forth to the field and offer
singular combat to their chief and learn what is the cause of his
entering our land and warn him against doing battle with our band.  If
he persist, we will punish him with death, and if he prove peaceable we
will make peace with him." They righted on this wise till Allah
Almighty caused the morn to dawn, when mounted the twain and drew up
for battle fain; and Sharrkan was going forth to the plain, but behold,
more than one half of the Franks dismounted and remained on foot before
one of them who was mounted, till they reached the midst of the battle
plain.  Sharrken looked at that horseman and lo!  he was their chief. 
He was clad in a surcoat of blue satin and a close ringed mail shirt;
his face was as the moon when it rises and no hair was upon his cheeks.
 He hent in hand an Indian scymitar and he rode a sable steed with a
white blaze on brow, like a dirham; and he smote the horse with heel
till he stood almost in the midst of the field when, signing to the
Moslems, he cried out in fluent Arab speech "Ho, Sharrkan!  Ho, son of
Omar bin al- Nu'uman!  Ho, thou who forcest fortalice and overthrowest
cities and countries!  up and out to battle bout, and blade single
handed wield with one who halves with thee the field! Thou art Prince
of thy people and I am Prince of mine; and whoso overcometh his
adversary, him let the other's men obey and come under his sway."
Hardly had he ended his speech, when out came Sharrkan with a heart
full of fury, and urging his steed into the midst of the field, closed
like a raging lion with the Frank who encountered him with wariness and
steadfastness and met him with the meeting of warriors.  Then they fell
to foining and hewing, and they stinted not of onset and offset, and
give and take, as they were two mountains clashing together or two seas
together dashing; nor did they cease fighting until day darkened and
night starkened.  Then they drew apart and each returned to his own
party; but as soon as Sharrkan foregathered with his comrades, he said,
"Never looked I on the like of this cavalier: he hath one quality I
have not yet seen in any and this it is that, when his foemen
uncovereth a place for the death blow, he reverseth his weapon and
smiteth with the lance-heel!  In very deed I know not what will be the
issue 'twixt him and me; but 'tis my wish that we had in our host his
like and the like of his men." Then he went to his rest for the night
and, when morning dawned, the Frank came forth and rode down to the mid
field, where Sharrkan met him; and they fell to fighting and to
wheeling, left and right; and necks were stretched out to see the
sight, nor did they stint from strife and sword play and lunge of lance
with main and might, till the day turned to night and darkness
overwhelmed the light.  Then the twain drew asunder and returned each
to his own camp, where both related to their comrades what had befallen
them in the duello; and at last the Frank said to his men, "Tomorrow
shall decide the matter!" So they both passed that night restfully till
dawn; and, as soon as it was day, they mounted and each bore down on
other and ceased not to fight till half the day was done.  Then the
Frank bethought him of a ruse; first urging his steed with heel and
then checking him with the rein, so that he stumbled and fell with his
rider; thereupon Sharrkan threw himself on the foe, and would have
smitten him with the sword fearing lest the strife be prolonged, when
the Frank cried out to him, "O Sharrkan, champions are not wont to do
thus!  This is the act of a man accustomed to be beaten by a
woman."[FN#216] When Sharrkan heard this, he raised his eyes to the
Frank's face and gazing steadfastly at him, recognized in him Princess
Abrizah with whom that pleasant adventure had befallen him in the
convent; whereupon he cast brand from hand and, kissing the earth
before her, asked her, "What moved thee to a deed like this?"; and she
answered, "I desired to prove thy prowess afield and test thy
doughtiness in tilting and jousting. These that are with me are my
handmaids, and they are all clean maids; yet they have vanquished thy
horsemen in fair press and stress of plain; and had not my steed
stumbled with me, thou shouldst have seen my might and prowess in
combat." Sharrkan smiled at her speech and said, "Praise be to Allah
for safety and for my reunion with thee, O Queen of the age!" Then she
cried out to her damsels to loose the twenty captives of Sharrkan's
troop and dismount.  They did as she bade and came and kissed the earth
before her and Sharrkan who said to them, "It is the like of you that
Kings keep in store for the need hour." Then he signed to his comrades
to salute the Princess; so all alighted and kissed the earth before
her, for they knew the story.  After this, the whole two hundred took
horse, and fared on night and day for six days' space, till they drew
near to Baghdad, when they halted and Sharrkan bade Abrizah and her
handmaids doff the Frankish garb that was on them,—And Shahrazad
perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.

               When it was the Fifty-first Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Sharrkan bade
Princess Abrizah and her damsels doff the garb that was on them and don
the garments of daughters of Greece; and thus did they.  Then he
despatched a company of his companions to Baghdad to acquaint his
father Omar bin al-Nu'uman, with his arrival and report that he was
accompanied by Princess Abrizah, daughter of King Hardub, Lord of
Graecia-land.  They halted forthright in the place they had reached,
and Sharrkan also halted and all righted there; and when Almighty Allah
made morning dawn, Sharrkan and his company and Abrizah and her company
took horse and fared on towards the city; when lo!  on the way they met
the Wazir Dandan, who had come out amongst a thousand horse to honour
Abrizah and Sharrkan, by especial commandment of King Omar Son of Al-
Nu'uman.  When the two drew near, they turned towards them and kissed
ground before them; then they mounted again and escorted them into the
city and went up with them to the palace.  Sharrkan walked in to his
father, who rose and embraced him and questioned him of his case.  So
he told him all that Abrizah had told him, and what had passed between
them and said, "She hath parted from her sire and departed from her
reign and hath chosen to take part with us and make her abode with us;
and indeed," he said to his father, "the King of Constantinople hath
plotted to do us a mischief, because of his daughter Sophia, for that
the King of Greece had made known to him her story and the cause of her
being given to thee; and he (the Grecian King) not knowing her to be
daughter of King Afridun, Lord of Constantinople; and, had he known
that, he would not have bestowed her upon thee, but he would have
restored her to her parent.  And of a verity," he continued, "we were
saved from these perils only by the Lady Abrizah, and never saw we a
more valiant than she." And he went on to tell his father all that had
passed from first to last of the wrestling and the single fighting. 
When King Omar heard the story of Sharrkan, Abrizah was exalted in his
eyes, and he longed to see her and question her.  Thereupon Sharrkan
went out to her and said, "The King calleth for thee;" she replied, "I
hear and I obey;" and he took her and brought her in to his father, who
was seated on his throne and who, having dismissed his high officers,
was attended only by his eunuchs.  The Princess entered and kissing the
ground between his hands, saluted him in choice terms.  He was amazed
at her eloquent speech and thanked her for her dealing with his son
Sharrkan and bade her be seated.  So she sat down and unveiled her
face;[FN#217] and, when the King saw her beauty, his reason fled his
head and he made her draw near and showed her favour, appointing her an
especial palace for herself and her damsels, and assigning them solde
and allowances. Then began he to ask her of the three jewels aforesaid,
and she answered, "Here be they with me, O King of the age!" So saying,
she rose and going to her lodging, unpacked her baggage and from it
brought out a box and from the box a casket of gold.  She opened the
casket and taking out those three jewels, kissed them and gave them to
the King.  Then she went away bearing his heart with her.  After her
going the King sent for his son Sharrkan and gave him one jewel of the
three, and when he enquired of the other two replied, "O my son!  I
mean to give one to thy brother Zau al-Makan, and the other to thy
sister Nuzhat al- Zaman." But when Sharrkan heard that he had a brother
(for to that time he knew only of his sister) he turned to his sire and
said to him, "O King, hast thou a son other than myself?" He answered,
"Yes, and he is now six years old;" adding that his name was Zau al-
Makan and that he and Nuzhat al-Zaman were twins, born at a birth. 
This news was grievous to Sharrkan, but he kept his secret and said,
"The bless- ing of Allah Most High be upon them!", and he cast the
jewel from his hand and shook the dust off his clothes.  Quoth the
King, "How do I see thee change thy manner when hearing of this,
considering that after me thou becomes" heir of the kingdom.  Of a
truth the troops have sworn to thee and the Emirs and Grandees have
taken the oath of succession to thee; and this one of the three jewels
is thine." Sharrkan bowed his head to the ground and was ashamed to
bandy words with his parent so he accepted the jewel and went away,
knowing not what to do for exceeding wrath, and stayed not walking till
he had entered Abrizah's palace.  As he approached she stood up to meet
him and thanked him for what he had done and prayed for blessings on
him and his sire.  Then she sat down and seated him by her side; but
when he had taken his place she saw rage in his face and questioned
him, whereupon he told her that Allah had blessed his father with two
children by Sophia, a boy and a girl, and that he had named the boy Zau
al-Makan and the girl Nuzhat al-Zaman; adding, "He hath kept the other
two jewels for them and hath given me one of thine, so I left it
behind; I knew naught of Zau al-Makan's birth till this day, and the
twain are now six years old.  So when I learnt this, wrath possessed
me; and I tell thee the reason of my rage and hide nothing from thee. 
But now I fear lest my father take thee to wife, for he loveth thee and
I saw in him signs of desire for thee: so what wilt thou say, if he
wish this?" Quoth she, "Know, O Sharrkan, that thy father hath no
dominion over me, nor can he have me without my consent; and if he
prevail over me by force, I will take my own life.  As for the three
jewels, it was not my intent that he should give any of them to either
of his children and I had no thought but that he would lay them up in
his treasury with his things of price; but now I desire of thy favour
that thou make me a present of the jewel which he gave thee, if thou
have accepted it." "Hearkening and obedience," replied Sharrkan, and
gave it to her.  Then said she, "Fear nothing," and talked with him
awhile and continued, "I fear lest my father hear that I am with you
and sit not patiently under my loss, but do his endeavours to find me;
and to that end he may ally himself with King Afridun, on account of
his daughter Sophia, and both come on thee with armies and so there
befal great turmoil." When Sharrken heard these words, he said to her,
"O my lady, if it please thee to sojourn with us, take no thought of
them; though there gather together against us all that be on land and
on sea." " 'Tis well," rejoined she; "if ye entreat me fair, I will
tarry with you, and if ye deal evilly by me, I will depart from you."
Then she bade her slave maidens bring food; so they set the tables, and
Sharrkan ate a little and went away to his own house, disturbed and
perturbed. Such was his case; but regarding the affairs of his father,
Omar bin al-Nu'uman, after dismissing his son Sharrkan he arose and,
taking the other two jewels, betook himself to the Lady Sophia, who
stood up when she saw him and remained standing till he was seated. 
Presently, his two children, Zau al-Makan and Nuzhat al-Zaman, came to
him and he kissed them and hung a jewel round each one's neck, at which
they rejoiced and kissed his hands.  Then went they to their mother,
who joyed in their joy and wished the King long life; so he asked her,
"Why hast thou not informed me all this time that thou art the daughter
of King Afridun, Lord of Constantinople, that I might have honoured
thee still more and enlarged thee in dignity and raised thy rank?" "O
King," answered Sophia, "and what could I desire greater or higher than
this my standing with thee, overwhelmed as I am with thy favours and
thy benefits? And, furthermore, Allah hath blessed me with two children
by thee, a son and a daughter." Her reply pleased the King and after
leaving her, he set apart for her and her children a wondrous fine
palace.  Moreover, he appointed for them eunuchs and attendants and
doctors of law and doctors of philosophy and astrologers and physicians
and surgeons to do them service; and in every way he redoubled his
favour and entreated them with the best of treatment.  And presently he
returned to the palace of his dominion and to his Court where he
distributed justice among the lieges.  So far concerning him and Sophia
and her children; but in the matter of Abrizah the King was greatly
occupied with love of her and burnt with desire of her night and day;
and every night, he would go in to her and converse with her and pay
his court to her, but she gave him no answer, only saying, "O King of
the age!  I have no desire for men at this present." When he saw her
withdraw from him, his passion waxed hotter and his longing and pining
increased until, when weary of this, he summoned his Wazir Dandan and,
opening his very heart to him, told him of his love for Princess
Abrizah, daughter of Hardub, and informed him how she refused to yield
to his wishes and how desire for her was doing him to die, for that he
could get no grace of her.  The Wazir, hearing these words, said to the
King, "As soon as it is dark night, take thou a piece of Bhang the
measure of a miskal, about an ounce, and go in to her and drink
somewhat of wine with her.  When the hour of ending the carousel shall
draw near, fill her a last cup and dropping therein the Bhang, give it
to her to drink, and she will not reach her sleeping chamber ere the
drug take effect on her.  Then do thou go in to her and take thy will
of her; and such is my advice."[FN#218] "Thy rede is aright," quoth the
King, and seeking his treasury, he took thence a piece of concentrated
Bhang, if an elephant smelt it he would sleep from year to year.  This
he put in his bosom pocket and waited till some little of the night
went by, when he betook himself to the palace of Princess Abrizah, who
seeing him stood up to receive him; but he bade her sit down.  So she
sat down, and he sat by her, and he began to talk with her of wine and
wassail, whereupon she furnished the carousing table[FN#219] and placed
it before him.  Then she set on the drinking vessels and lighted the
candles and ordered to bring dried fruits and sweet meats and all that
pertaineth to drinking.  So they fell to tippling and the King ceased
not to pledge her till drunkenness crept into her head; and seeing this
he took out the bit of Bhang from his pocket and, holding it between
his fingers, filled a cup with his own hand and drank it off.  Then
filling a second he said, "To thy companionship!"; and dropped the drug
into her cup, she knowing naught of it.  She took it and drank it off;
then she rose and went to her sleeping chamber.  He waited for less
than an hour till he was assured that the dose had taken effect on her
and had robbed her of her senses, when he went in to her and found her
thrown on her back: and she had doffed her petticoat trousers and the
air raised the skirt of her shift and discovered what was between her
thighs.  When the King saw the state of things and found a lighted
candle at her head and another at her feet, shining upon what her
thighs enshrined he took leave of his five senses for lust and Satan
seduced him and he could not master himself, but put off his trousers
and fell upon her and abated her maiden head.  Then he rose off her and
went to one of her women, by name Marjánah, and said, "Go in to thy
lady and speak with her." So she went in to her mistress and found her
lying on her back insensible, with the blood running down to the calves
of her legs, whereupon she took a kerchief and wiped away the blood and
lay by her that night.  As soon as Almighty Allah brought the dawn, the
handmaid Marjanah washed her mistress's hands and feet and brought rose
water and bathed her face and mouth with it, where upon she sneezed and
yawned and cast up from her inside that bit of Bhang like a
bolus.[FN#220] Then she revived and washed her hands and mouth and said
to Marjanah, "Tell me what hath befallen me." So she told her what had
passed and how she had found her, lying on her back, with the blood
running down, wherefore she knew that King Omar bin al-Nu'uman had lain
with her and had undone her and taken his will of her. At this she
grieved with exceeding grief and retired into privacy, saying to her
damsels, "Deny me to whoso would come in to me and say to him that I am
ill, till I see what Allah will do with me." Presently the news of her
sickness came to the King; so he sent her sherbets and sugar
electuaries.  Some months she thus passed in solitude, during which
time the King's flame cooled and his desire for her was quenched, so
that he abstained from her. Now she had conceived by him, and when the
months of child breeding had gone by, her pregnancy appeared and her
belly swelled, and the world was straitened upon her, so she said to
her handmaid Marjanah, "Know that it is not the folk who have wronged
me, but I who sinned against my own self[FN#221] in that I left my
father and mother and country.  Indeed, I abhor life, for my spirit is
broken and neither courage nor strength is left me.  I used, when I
mounted my steed, to have the mastery of him, but now I am unable to
ride.  If I be brought to bed among them I shall be dishonoured before
my hand women and every one in the palace will know that he hath taken
my maidenhead in the way of shame; and if I return to my father, with
what face shall I meet him or with what face shall I have recourse to
him?  How well quoth the poet,

'Say, what shall solace one who hath nor home nor stable stead *

     Nor cup companion, nor a cup, nor place to house his head?'"


Marjanah answered her, "It is thine to command; I will obey;" and
Abrizah said, "I desire at once to leave this place secretly, so that
none shall know of me but thou; and return to my father and my mother,
for when flesh stinketh, there is naught for it but its own folk and
Allah shall do with me e'en as He will." "O Princess," Marjanah
replied, "what thou wouldest do is well." Then she made matters ready
and kept her secret and waited for some days till the King went out to
chase and hunt, and his son Sharrkan betook himself to certain of the
fortresses to sojourn there awhile.  Then said she to Marjanah, "I wish
to set out this night, but how shall I do against my destiny?  For
already I feel the pangs of labour and child birth, and if I abide
other four or five days, I shall be brought to bed here, and I shall be
unable to travel to my country. But this is what was written on my
forehead." Then she considered awhile, and said to Marjanah, "Look us
out a man who will go with us and serve us by the way, for I have no
strength to bear arms." "By Allah, O my lady," replied Marjanah, "I
know none but a black slave called Al- Ghazbán,[FN#222] who is one of
the slaves of King Omar bin al- Nu'uman; he is a valiant wight, and he
keepeth guard at our palace gate.  The King appointed him to attend us,
and indeed we have overwhelmed him with our favours; so, lookye, I will
go out and speak with him of this matter, and promise him some monies
and tell him that, if he have a mind to tarry with us, I will marry him
to whom he will.  He told me before to day that he had been a
highwayman; so if he consent to us we shall win our wish and reach to
our own land." She rejoined, "Call him that I may talk with him;"
whereupon Marjanah fared forth and said to the slave, 'O Ghazban, Allah
prosper thee, so thou fall in with what my lady saith to thee!" Then
she took him by the hand and brought him to the Princess, whose hands
he kissed but as she beheld him, her heart took fright at him.  "How
ever," she said to herself, "of a truth, Need giveth the law;" and she
approached to speak with him, yet her heart started away from him. 
Presently she said, "O Ghazban, say me, wilt thou help me against the
perfidies of Fortune and conceal my secret if I discover it to thee?"
When the slave saw her, his heart was taken by storm and he fell in
love with her forthright and could not but reply; "O my mistress,
whatsoever thou biddest me do, I will not depart therefrom." Quoth she,
"I would have thee take me at this hour and take this my handmaid and
saddle us two camels and two of the King's horses and set on each horse
a saddle bag of goods and somewhat of provaunt, and go with us to our
own country; where, if thou desire to abide with us, I will marry thee
to her thou shalt choose of my handmaidens, or, if thou prefer return
to thine own land, we will marry thee and give thee whatso thou
desires" after thou hast taken of money what shall satisfy thee." When
Al Ghazban, heard this, he rejoiced with great joy and replied, "O my
lady, I will serve both of you with mine eyes and will go at once and
saddle the horses." Then he went away gladsome and saying to himself,
"I shall get my will of them and if they will not yield to me, I will
kill them both and take their riches." But he kept this his intent to
himself, and presently returned with two camels and three head of
horses, one of which he rode, and Princess Abrizah made Marjanah mount
the second she mounting the third, albeit she was in labour pains and
possessed not her soul for anguish.  And the slave ceased not
travelling with them night and day through the passes of the mountains,
till there remained but musingly march between them and their own
country; when the travail pangs came upon Abrizah and she could no
longer resist; so she said to Al-Ghazban, "Set me down, for the pains
of labour are upon me;" and cried to Marjanah, "Do thou alight and sit
by me and deliver me." Then Marjanah dismounted from her horse, and
Al-Ghazban did in like sort, and they made fast the bridles and helped
the Princess to dismount, for she was aswoon from excess of anguish. 
When Al-Ghazban saw her on the ground, Satan entered into him and he
drew his falchion and brandishing it in her face, said "O my lady,
vouchsafe me thy favours." Hearing these words she turned to him and
said, "It remaineth for me only that I yield me to negro slaves, after
having refused Kings and Braves!"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of
day and ceased to say her permitted say.

              When it was the Fifty-second Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Princess Abrizah
said to the black slave Al Ghazban, "It remaineth for me only that I
yield me to negro slaves, after having refused Kings and Braves!" And
she was wroth with him and cried, "Woe to thee! what words are these
thou sayest?  Out on thee, and talk not thus in my presence and know
that I will never consent to what thou sayest, though I drink the cup
of death.  Wait till I have cast my burden and am delivered of the
after birth, and then, if thou be able thereto, do with me as thou
wilt; but, an thou leave not lewd talk at this time assuredly I will
slay myself with my own hand and quit the world and be at peace from
all this." And she began reciting extempore,[FN#223]

"O spare me, thou Ghazban, indeed enow for me * Are heavy strokes

     of time, mischance and misery!

Whoredom my Lord forfends to all humanity; * Quoth He, 'Who

     breaks my bidding Hell for home shall see!'

And if thou leave not suing me to whoredom's way * Against th'

     Almighty's choicest gift, my chastity,

Upon my tribesmen I with might and main will call * And gather

     all, however far or near they be;

And with Yamáni blade were I in pieces hewn, * Ne'er shall he

     sight my face who makes for villeiny,

The face of free born come of noble folk and brave; * What then

     can be to me the seed of whoreson slave?"


When Ghazban heard these lines he was wroth exceedingly; his eyes
reddened with blood and his face became a dusty grey[FN#224]; his
nostrils swelled, his lips protruded and the repulsiveness of his
aspect redoubled.  And he repeated these couplets,

"Ho thou, Abrizah, mercy! leave me not for I * Of thy love and

     Yamáni[FN#225] glance the victim lie

My heart is cut to pieces by thy cruelty, * My body wasted and my

     patience done to die:

From glances ravishing all hearts with witchery * Reason far

     flies, the while desire to thee draws nigh;

Though at thy call should armies fill the face of earth * E'en

     now I'd win my wish and worlds in arms defy!"


When Abrizah heard these words, she wept with sore weeping and said to
him, "Woe to thee, O Ghazban!  How dareth the like of thee to address
me such demand, O base born and obscene bred? Dost thou deem all folk
are alike?" When the vile slave heard this from her, he waxt more
enraged and his eyes grew redder: and he came up to her and smiting her
with the sword on her neck wounded her to the death.  Then he drove her
horse before him with the treasure and made off with himself to the
mountains. Such was the case with Al-Ghazban; but as regards Abrizah,
she gave birth to a son, like the moon, and Marjanah took the babe and
did him the necessary offices and laid him by his mother's side; and lo
and behold!  the child fastened to its mother's breast and she
dying.[FN#226]  When Marjanah saw this, she cried out with a grievous
cry and rent her raiment and cast dust on her head and buffeted her
cheeks till blood flowed, saying, "Alas, my mistress!  Alas, the pity
of it!  Thou art dead by the hand of a worthless black slave, after all
thy knightly prowess!" And she ceased not weeping when suddenly a great
cloud of dust arose and walled the horizon;[FN#227] but, after awhile,
it lifted and discovered a numerous conquering host.  Now this was the
army of King Hardub, Princess Abrizah's father, and the cause of his
coming was that when he heard of his daughter and her handmaids having
fled to Baghdad, and that they were with King Omar bin al- Nu'uman, he
had come forth, leading those with him, to seek tidings of her from
travellers who might have seen her with the King.  When he had gone a
single day's march from his capital, he espied three horse men afar off
and made towards them, intending to ask whence they came and seek news
of his daughter. Now these three whom he saw at a distance were his
daughter and Marjanah and the slave Al- Ghazban; and he made for them
to push inquiry. Seeing this the villain blackamoor feared for himself;
so he killed Abrizah and fled for his life.  When they came up, King
Hardub saw his daughter lying dead and Marjanah weeping over her, and
he threw himself from his steed and fell fainting to the ground.  All
the riders of his company, the Emirs and Waxirs, took foot and forth
right pitched their tents on the mountain and set up for the King a
great pavilion, domed and circular, without which stood the grandees of
the realm. When Marjanah saw her master, she at once recognized him and
her tears redoubled; and, when he came to himself, he questioned her
and she told him all that had passed and said, "Of a truth he that hath
slain thy daughter is a black slave belonging to King Omar bin
al-Nu'uman, and she informed him how Sharrkan's father had dealt with
the Princess.  When King Hardub heard this, the world grew black in his
sight and he wept with sore weeping.  Then he called for a litter and,
therein laying his dead daughter, returned to Caesarea and carried her
into the palace, where he went in to his mother, Zat al-Dawahi, and
said to that Lady of Calamities, "Shall the Moslems deal thus with my
girl? Verily King Omar bin al-Nu'uman despoiled her of her honour by
force, and after this, one of his black slaves slew her.  By the truth
of the Messiah, I will assuredly take blood revenge for my daughter and
clear away from mine honour the stain of shame; else will I kill myself
with mine own hand!" And he wept passing sore.  Quoth his mother, "None
other than Marjanah killed thy daughter, for she hated her in secret;"
and she continued to her son, "Fret not for taking the blood wit of thy
daughter, for, by the truth of the Messiah, I will not turn back from
King Omar bin al-Nu'uman till I have slain him and his sons; and of a
very truth I will do with him a deed, passing the power of Sage and
Knight, whereof the chroniclers shall tell chronicles in all countries
and in every place: but needs must thou do my bidding in all I shall
direct, for whoso be firmly set on the object of his desire shall
surely compass his desire." "By the virtue of the Messiah," replied he,
"I will not cross thee in aught thou shalt say." Then quoth she, "Bring
me a number of hand maids, high bosomed virgins, and summon the wise
men of the age and let them teach them philosophy and the rules of
behaviour before Kings, and the art of conversation and making verses;
and let them talk with them of all manner science and edifying
knowledge.  And the sages must be Moslems, that they may teach them the
language and traditions of the Arabs, together with the history of the
Caliphs and the ancient annals of the Kings of Al-Islam; and if we
persevere in this for four years' space, we shall gain our case.  So
possess thy soul in patience and wait; for one of the Arabs saith, 'If
we take man bote after years forty the time were short to ye.' When we
have taught the girls these things, we shall be able to work our will
with our foe, for he doteth on women and he hath three hundred and
sixty concubines, whereto are now added an hundred of the flowers of
thy handmaidens who were with thy daughter, she that hath found
mercy.[FN#228] As soon as I have made an end of their education, as
described to thee, I will take them and set out with them in person."
When King Hardub heard his mother's words, he rejoiced and arose and
kissed her head; and at once despatched messengers and couriers to
lands sundry and manifold to fetch him Moslem sages.  They obeyed his
commands and fared to far countries and thence brought him the sages
and the doctors he sought.  When these came into presence, he honoured
them with notable honorurs and bestowed dresses on them and appointed
to them stipends and allowances and promised them much money whenas
they should have taught the damsels.  Then he committed the handmaidens
to their hands—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased
saying her permitted say.

               When it was the Fifty-third Night.

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the sages
and the doctors stood in presence of King Hardub, he honoured them with
notable honours and committed the hand maidens to their hands,
enjoining that these be instructed in all manner of knowledge,
philosophy and polite accomplishments; and they set themselves to do
his bidding.  Such was the case with King Hardub; but as for King Omar
bin al Nu'uman, when he returned from coursing and hunting and entered
his palace, he sought Princess Abrizah but found her not, nor any one
knew of her nor could any give him news of her.  This was grievous to
him and he said, "How could the lady leave the palace unknown of any? 
Had my kingdom been at stake in this case, it were in perilous
condition there being none to govern it!  I will never again go to
sport and hunt till I have stationed at the gates those who shall keep
good guard over them!"  And he was sore vexed and his breast was
straitened for the loss of Princess Abrizah. Hereupon behold, his son
Sharrkan returned from his journey; and the father told him what had
happened, and informed him how the lady had fled, whilst he was chasing
and hunting, whereat he grieved with exceeding grief.  Then King Omar
took to visiting his children every day and making much of them and
brought them learned men and doctors to teach them, appointing for them
stipends.  When Sharrkan saw this, he raged with exceeding rage and
envied thereupon his brother and sister till the signs of chagrin
appeared in his face and he ceased not to languish by reason of this
matter: so one day his father said to him, "Why do I see thee grown
weak in body and yellow of face?" "O my father," replied Sharrkan,
"every time I see thee fondle my brother and sister and make much of
them, jealousy seizeth on me, and I fear lest it grow on me till I slay
them and thou slay me in return. And this is the reason of my weakness
of body and change of complexion.  But now I crave of thy favour that
thou give me one of thy castles outlying the rest, that I may abide
there the remnant of my life, for as the sayer of bywords saith,
'Absence from my friend is better and fitter for me'; and, 'Whatso eye
doth not perceive, that garreth not heart to grieve.'" And he bowed his
head towards the ground.  When King Omar bin al-Nu'uman heard his words
and knew the cause of his ailment and of his being broken down, he
soothed his heart and said to him, "O my son, I grant thee this and I
have not in my reign a greater than the Castle of Damascus, and the
government of it is thine from this time." Thereupon he forthright
summoned his secretaries of state and bade them write Sharrkan's patent
of investiture to the viceroyalty of Damascus of Syria.  And when they
had written it, he equipped him and sent with him the Wazir Dandan, and
invested him with the rule and government and gave him instructions as
to policy and regulations; and took leave of him, and the grandees and
officers of state did likewise, and he set out with his host. When he
arrived at Damascus, the townspeople beat the drums and blew the
trumpets and decorated the city and came out to meet him in great
state; whilst all the notables and grandees paced in procession, and
those who stood to the right of the throne walked on his right flank,
and the others to the left.  Thus far concerning Sharrkan; but as
regards his father, Omar bin al- Nu'uman, soon after the departure of
his son, the children's tutors and governors presented themselves
before him and said to him, "O our lord, thy children have now learnt
knowledge and they are completely versed in the rules of manners and
the etiquette of ceremony." The King rejoiced thereat with exceeding
joy and conferred bountiful largesse upon the learned men, seeing Zau
al- Makan grown up and flourishing and skilled in horsemanship.  The
Prince had reached the age of fourteen and he occupied himself with
piety and prayers, loving the poor, the Olema and the Koran students,
so that all the people of Baghdad loved him, men and women.  One day,
the procession of the Mahmil[FN#229] of Irák passed round Baghdad
before its departure for the pilgrimage to Meccah and visitation of the
tomb of the Prophet (whom Allah bless and preserve!).  When Zau
al-Makan the Mahmil procession he was seized with longing desire to
become a pilgrim,[FN#230] so he went in to his sire and said, "I come
to ask thy leave to make the pilgrimage." But his father forbade him
saying, "Wait till next year and I will go and thou too." When the
Prince saw that the matter was postponed, he betook himself to his
sister Nuzhat al-Zaman, whom he found standing at prayer.  As soon as
she had ended her devotions he said to her, "I am dying with desire of
pilgrimage to the Holy House of Allah at Meccah and to visit the tomb
of the Prophet, upon whom be peace!  I asked my father's leave, but he
forbade me that, so I mean to take privily somewhat of money and set
out on the pilgrimage without his knowledge." "Allah upon thee,"
exclaimed she, "take me with thee and deprive me not of visitation to
the tomb of the Prophet, whom Allah bless and keep!" And he answered,
"As soon as it is dark night, do thou come forth from this place,
without telling any." Accordingly,When it was the middle of the night
she arose and took somewhat of money and donned a man's habit; and she
ceased not walking to the palace gate, where she found Zau al-Makan
with camels ready for marching.  So he mounted and mounted her; and the
two fared on till they were in the midst of the Iraki[FN#231]
pilgrim-party, and they ceased not marching and Allah wrote safety for
them, till they entered Meccah the Holy and stood upon Arafát and
performed the pilgrimage rites.  Then they made a visitation to the
tomb of the Prophet (whom Allah bless and assain!) and thought to
return with the pilgrims to their native land.  But Zau al-Makan said
to his sister, "O my sister, it is in my mind to visit the Holy
House,[FN#232] Jerusalem, and Abraham the Friend of Allah[FN#233] (on
whom be peace!)." "I also desire so to do," replied she.  So they
agreed upon this and he fared forth and took passage for himself and
her and they made ready and set out in the ship with a company of
Jerusalem palmers.  That very night the sister fell sick of an aguish
chill, and was grievously ill but presently recovered, after which the
brother also sickened.  She tended him during his malady and they
ceased not wayfaring till they arrived at Jerusalem, but the fever
increased on him and he grew weaker and weaker.  They alighted at a
Khan and there hired a lodging; but Zau al- Makan's sickness ceased not
to increase on him, till he was wasted with leanness and became
delirious.  At this, his sister was greatly afflicted and exclaimed,
"There is no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah, the Glorious,
the Great! This is the decree of Allah!" They sojourned in that place
awhile, his weakness ever increasing and she attending him and buying
necessaries for him and for herself, till all the money she had was
expended and she became so poor that she had not so much as a dirham
left.  Then she sent a servant of the Khan to the bazar with some of
her clothes, and he sold them and she spent the price upon her brother;
then sold she something more and she ceased not selling all she had,
piece by piece, till nothing was left but an old rug.  Whereupon she
wept and exclaimed, "Verily is Allah the Orderer of the past and the
future!" Presently her brother said to her, "O my sister, I feel
recovery drawing near and my heart longeth for a little roast meat."
"By Allah!  O my brother," replied she, "I have no face to beg; but
tomorrow I will enter some rich man's house and serve him and earn
somewhat for our living." Then she bethought herself awhile and said,
"Of a truth 'tis hard for me to leave thee and thou in this state, but
I must despite myself!" He rejoined, "Allah forbid!  Thou wilt be put
to shame; but there is no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah!"
And he wept and she wept too.  Then she said, "O my brother, we are
strangers who have dwelt here a full year, but none hath yet knocked at
our door.  Shall we then die of hunger?  I know no resource but that I
go out and do service and earn somewhat to keep us alive, till thou
recover from thy sickness, when we will travel back to our native
land." She sat weeping awhile and he wept too, propped upon his elbow. 
Then Nuzhat al-Zaman arose and, veiling her head with a bit of
camlet,[FN#234] which had been of the cameleer's clothes and which the
owner had forgotten and left with them; she kissed the head of her
brother and embraced him and went forth from him, weeping and knowing
not whither she should wend.  And she stinted not going and her brother
Zau al-Makan awaiting her return till the supper time; but she came
not, and he watched for her till the morning morrowed but still she
returned not; and this endured till two days went by.  He was greatly
troubled thereat and his heart fluttered for her, and hunger was sore
upon him.  At last he left the chamber and, calling the servant of the
caravanserai, said, "I wish thee to bear me to the bazar." So he
carried him to the market street and laid him down there; and the
people of Jerusalem gathered round him and were moved to tears seeing
his condition.  He signed to them begging for somewhat to eat; so they
brought him some money from certain of the merchants who were in the
bazar, and bought food and fed him therewith; after which they carried
him to a shop, where they spread him a mat of palm leaves and set an
ewer of water at his head.  When night fell, all the folk went away,
sore concerned for him and, in the middle of the night, he called to
mind his sister and his sickness redoubled on him, so that he abstained
from eating and drinking and became insensible to the world around him.
 Then the bazar people arose and took for him from the merchants thirty
seven dirhams, and hiring a camel, said to the driver, "Carry this sick
man to Damascus and leave him in the hospital; haply he may be cured
and recover health." "On my head be it!" replied the camel man; but he
said to himself, "How shall I take this sick man to Damascus, and he
nigh upon death?" So he carried him away to a place and hid with him
till the night, when he threw him down on the ash heap near the fire
hole of a Hammam and went his way.  When morning dawned the
Stoker[FN#235] of the bath came to his work and, finding Zau al-Makan
cast on his back, exclaimed, "Why did they not throw their dead body
anywhere but here?" So saying, he gave him a kick and he moved;
whereupon quoth the Fireman, "Some one of you who hath eaten a bit of
Hashish and hath thrown himself down in whatso place it be!" Then he
looked at his face and saw his hairless cheeks and his grace and
comeliness; so he took pity on him and knew that he was sick and a
stranger in the land.  And he cried, "There is no Majesty and there is
no Might save in Allah!  verily, I have sinned against this youth, for
indeed the Prophet (whom Allah bless and keep!) enjoineth honour to the
stranger, more especially when the stranger is sick." Then he carried
him home and went in with him to his wife and bade her tend him.  So
she spread him a sleeping rug and set a cushion under his head, then
warmed water for him and washed therewith his hands and feet and face.
Meanwhile, the Stoker went to the market and bought some rose water and
sugar, and sprinkled Zau al-Makan's face with the water and gave him to
drink of the sherbet.  Then he fetched a clean shirt and put it on him.
 With this, Zau al-Makan sniffed the zephyr of health and recovery
returned to him; and he sat up and leant against the pillow.  Hereat
the Fireman rejoiced and exclaimed, "Praise be to Allah for the welfare
of this youth!  O Allah, I beseech Thee by Thy knowledge of hidden
things, that Thou make the salvation of this youth to be at my
hands!"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her
permitted say.

              When it was the Fifty-fourth Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Fireman
exclaimed, "O Allah, I beseech Thee of Thy knowledge of hidden things,
that Thou make this young man's life the work of my hands!" And he
ceased not to nurse him for three days, giving him to drink of sherbet
of sugar and willow flower water and rose water; and doing him all
manner of service and kindness, till health began to return to his body
and Zau al-Makan opened his eyes.  Presently came in the Fireman and,
seeing him sitting up and showing signs of amendment, said to him,
"What is now thy state, O my son?" "Praise be to Allah," replied Zau
al-Makan, "I am well and like to recover, if such be the will of Allah
Almighty at this time." The Stoker praised the Lord of All for this
and, wending fast to the market, bought ten chickens, which he carried
to his wife and said, "Kill two of these for him every day, one at dawn
of day and the other at fall of day." So she rose up and killed a fowl
and brought it to him boiled, and fed him with the flesh and made him
drink its broth.  When he had done eating, she fetched hot water and he
washed his hands and lay back upon the pillow, whereupon she covered
him up with the coverlet, and he slept till the time of the mid
afternoon prayer. Then she arose and killed another fowl and boiled it;
after which she cut it up and, bringing it to Zau al-Makan, said, "Eat,
O my son!" While he was eating; behold, her husband entered and seeing
her feeding him, sat down at his head and said to him, "How is it with
thee now, O my son?" "Thanks be to Allah for recovery!" he replied:
"may the Almighty requite thee thy kindness to me." At this the Fireman
rejoiced and going out, bought sherbet of violets and rose water and
made him drink it.  Now the Stoker used to work at the Hammam all day
for a wage of five dirhams, whereof he spent every day, for Zau
al-Makan, one dirham upon sugar and sherbet of rose water and willow
flower water,[FN#236] and another dirham for fowls; and he ceased not
to entreat him thus kindly during a whole month, till the traces of
illness ceased from him and he was once more sound and whole. 
Thereupon the Fireman and his wife rejoiced and asked him, "O my son,
wilt thou go with me to the bath?"; whereto he answered, "Yes!" So the
Stoker went to the bazar and fetched a donkey boy, and he mounted Zau
al-Makan on the ass and supported him in the saddle till they came to
the bath.  Then he made him sit down and seated the donkey boy in the
furnace-room and went forth to the market and bought Iote leaves and
lupin-flour,[FN#237] with which he returned to the bath and said to Zau
al-Makan, "O my master, in Allah's name, walk in and I will wash thy
body." So they entered the inner room of the bath, and the Fireman took
to rubbing Zau al-Makan's legs and began to wash his body with the
leaves and meal, when there came to them a bathman, whom the bath
keeper had sent to Zau al-Makan; and he, seeing the Stoker washing and
rubbing him, said, "This is doing injury to the keeper's rights."
Replied the Fireman, "The master overwhelmeth us with his favours!"
Then the bathman proceeded to shave Zau al-Makan's head, after which he
and the Stoker washed themselves and returned to the house, where he
clad Zau al-Makan in a shirt of fine stuff and a robe of his own; and
gave him a handsome turband and girdle and a light kerchief which he
wound about his neck. Meanwhile the Fireman's wife had killed and
cooked two chickens; so, as soon as Zau al-Makan entered and seated
himself on the carpet, the husband arose and, dissolving sugar in
willow flower water, made him drink of it.  Then he brought the food
tray and, cutting up the chickens, fed him with the flesh and gave him
the broth to drink till he was satisfied; when he washed his hands and
praised Allah for recovery, and said to the Fireman, "Thou art he whom
the Almighty vouchsafed to me and made the cause of my cure!" "Leave
this talk," replied the other, "and tell us the cause of thy coming to
this city and whence thou art. Thy face showeth signs of gentle
breeding." "Tell me first how thou camest to fall in with me," said Zau
al-Makan; "and after I will tell thee my story." Rejoined the Fireman,
"As for that, I found thee lying on the rubbish heap by the door of the
fire house, as I went to my work near the morning, and knew not who had
thrown thee there.  So I carried thee home with me; and this is all my
tale." Quoth Zau al-Makan, "Glory to Him who quickeneth the bones,
though they be rotten!  Indeed, O my brother, thou hast not done good
save to one worthy of it, and thou shalt presently gather its
fruitage." And he added, "But where am I now?" "Thou art in the city of
Jerusalem," replied the Stoker; where upon Zau al-Makan called to mind
his strangerhood and remembered his separation from his sister and
wept.  Then he discovered his secret to the Fireman and told him his
story and began repeating,

"In love they bore me further than my force would go, * And for

     them made me suffer resurrection throe:

Oh, have compassion, cruel!  on this soul of mine * Which, since

     ye fared, is pitied by each envious foe;

Nor grudge the tender mercy of one passing glance * My case to

     lighten, easing this excess of woe:

Quoth I 'Heart, bear this loss in patience!' Patience cried *

     'Take heed! no patience in such plight I'm wont to show.' "


Then he redoubled his weeping, and the Fireman said to him, "Weep not,
but rather praise Allah for safety and recovery." Asked Zau al-Makan,
"How far is it hence to Damascus?" Answered the other, "Six days'
journey." Then quoth Zau al-Makan, "Wilt thou send me thither?" "O my
lord," quoth the Stoker, "how can I allow thee to go alone, and thou a
youth and a stranger to boot?  If thou would journey to Damascus, I am
one who will go with thee; and if my wife will listen to and obey me
and accompany me, I will take up my abode there; for it is no light
matter to part with thee." Then said he to his wife, "Wilt thou travel
with me to Damascus of Syria or wilt thou abide here, whilst I lead
this my lord thither and return to thee?  For he is bent upon going to
Damascus of Syria and, by Allah, it is hard to me to part with him, and
I fear for him from highway men." Replied she, "I will go with you
both;" and he rejoined, "Praised be Allah for accord, and we have said
the last word!" Then he rose and selling all his own goods and his
wife's gear,—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying
her permitted say,

               When it was the Fifty-fifth Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Fire man and
his wife agreed with Zau al-Makan to travel with him Damascus wards. 
Then the Stoker sold his goods and his wife's gear and bought a camel
and hired an ass for Zau al-Makan; and they set out, and ceased not
wayfaring for six days till they reached Damascus.  And they arrived
there towards eventide; when the Fireman went forth and, as was his
wont, bought some meat and drink.  They had dwelt but five days in
Damascus, when his wife sickened and, after a short illness, was
translated to the mercy of Almighty Allah.  Her death was a heavy
matter to Zau al-Makan, for he was grown used to her as she had tended
him assiduously; and the Fireman grieved for her with excessive grief. 
Presently the Prince turned to the Stoker and finding him mourning,
said to him, "Grieve not, for at this gate we must all go in." Replied
he, "Allah make weal thy lot, O my son! Surely He will compensate us
with His favours and cause our mourning to cease. What sayst thou, O my
son, about our walking abroad to view Damascus and cheer thy spirits?"
Replied Zau al-Makan, "Thy will is mine." So the Fireman arose and
placed his hand in that of Zau al- Makan and the two walked on till
they came to the stables of the Viceroy of Damascus, where they found
camels laden with chests and carpets and brocaded stuffs, and horses
ready saddled and Bactrian dromedaries, while Mamelukes and negro
slaves and folk in a hubbub were running to and fro.  Quoth Zau
al-Makan, "I wonder to whom belong all these chattels and camels and
stuffs!" So he asked one of the eunuchs, "Whither this dispatching?''
and he answered, "These are presents sent by the Emir of Damascus to
King Omar bin al-Nu'uman, with the tribute of Syria." Now when Zau
al-Makan heard his father's name his eyes brimmed over with tears, and
he began repeating,

"Oh ye gone from the gaze of these ridded eyne, * Ye whose sight

     in my spirit shall ever dwell!

Your charms are gone, but this heart of me * Hath no sweet, and

     no pleasures its sour dispel;

If Allah's grace make us meet again, * In long drawn love-tale my

     love I'll tell."


And when he had ended his verse, he wept and the Fireman said to him,
"O my son, we hardly believed that thy health had returned;[FN#238] so
take heart and do not weep, for I fear a relapse for thee." And he
ceased not comforting and cheering him, whilst Zau al-Makan sighed and
moaned over his strangerhood and separation from his sister and his
family; and tears streamed from his eyes and he recited these couplets,

"Get thee provaunt in this world ere thou wend upon thy way, *

     And know how surely Death descends thy life lot to waylay:

All thy worldly goods are pride and the painfullest repine; * All

     thy worldly life is vexing, of thy soul in vain display:

Say is not worldly wone like a wanderer's place of rest, * Where

     at night he 'nakhs'[FN#239] his camels and moves off at dawn

     of day?"


And he continued to weep and wail over his separation; whilst the
Fireman also bewept the loss of his wife, yet ceased not to comfort Zau
al-Makan till morning dawned.  When the sun rose, he said to him,
"Meseemeth thou yearnest for thy native land?" "Yes," replied Zau
al-Makan, "and I can no longer tarry here; so I will commend thee to
Allah's care and set out with these folk and journey with them, little
by little, till I come to my mother land." Said the Stoker, "And I with
thee; for of a truth I cannot bear to part with thee.  I have done thee
kindly service and I mean to complete it by tending thee on thy
travel." At this, Zau al-Makan rejoiced and said, "Allah abundantly
requite thee for me!" and was pleased with the idea of their travelling
together. The Fireman at once went forth and bought another ass,
selling the camel; and laid in his provaunt and said to Zau al-Makan,
"This is for thee to ride by the way; and, when thou art weary of
riding, thou canst dismount and walk." Said Zau al-Makan, "May Allah
bless thee and aid me to requite thee!  for verily thou hast dealt with
me more lovingly than one with his brother." Then he waited till it was
dark night, when he laid the provisions and baggage on that ass and set
forth upon their journey.  This much befel Zau al-Makan and the
Fireman; but as regards what happened to his sister Nuzhat al-Zaman,
when she left her brother in the Khan where they abode and, wrapped in
the old camlet, went out to seek service with some one, that she might
earn wherewithal to buy him the roast meat he longed for, she fared on,
weeping and knowing not whither to go, whilst her mind was occupied
with thoughts of her brother and of her family and her native land. So
she implored Allah Almighty to do away with these calamities from them
and began versifying,

"Dark falls the night and Passion comes sore pains to gar me

     dree, * And pine upstirs those ceaseless pangs which work my

     tormentry,

And cease not separation flames my vitals to consume, * And

     drives me on destruction way this sorrow's ecstacy

And longing breeds me restlessness; desire for ever fires, * And

     tears to all proclaim what I would keep in secrecy

No cunning shift is known to me a meeting to secure, * That I may

     quit this sickly state, may cure my malady:

The love which blazeth in my heart is fed with fancy fuel, * The

     lover from its hell of fire must bear Hell's agony![FN#240]

O thou who blamest me for all befel me, 'tis enough, * Patient I

     bear what ever wrote the Reed of Doom for me:

By Love I swear I'll never be consoled, no, never more; * I swear

     the oath of Love's own slaves who know no perjury:

O Night, to chroniclers of Love the news of me declare; * That

     sleep hath fed mine eyelids of thy knowledge witness bear!"


Then she walked on, weeping and turning right and left as she went,
when behold, there espied her an old Badawi[FN#241] who had come into
the town from the desert with wild Arabs other five. The old man took
note of her and saw that she was lovely, but she had nothing on her
head save a piece of camlet, and, marvelling at her beauty, he said to
himself, "This charmer dazzleth men's wits but she is in squalid
condition, and whether she be of the people of this city or she be a
stranger, I needs must have her." So he followed her, little by little,
till he met her face to face and stopped the way before her in a narrow
lane, and called out to her, asking her case, and said, "Tell me, O my
little daughter!  art thou a free woman or a slave?" When she heard
this, she said to him, "By thy life, do not add to my sorrows!" Quoth
he, "Allah hath blessed me with six daughters, of whom five died and
only one is left me, the youngest of all; and I came to ask thee if
thou be of the folk of this city or a stranger; that I might take thee
and carry thee to her, to bear her company so as to divert her from
pining for her sisters.  If thou have no kith and kin, I will make thee
as one of them and thou and she shall be as my two children." Nuzhat
al-Zaman bowed her head in bashfulness when she heard what he said and
communed with herself, "Haply I may trust myself to this old man." Then
she said to him, "O nuncle, I am a maiden of the Arabs and a stranger
and I have a sick brother; but I will go with thee to thy daughter on
one condition, which is, that I may spend only the day with her and at
night may return to my brother.  If thou strike this bargain I will
fare with thee, for I am a stranger and I was high in honour among my
tribe, and I awoke one morning to find myself vile and abject.  I came
with my brother from the land of Al-Hijaz and I fearless he know not
where I am." When the Badawi heard this, he said to himself, "By Allah,
I have got my desire!" Then he turned to her and replied, "There shall
none be dearer to me than thou; I wish thee only to bear my daughter
company by day and thou shalt go to thy brother at earliest nightfall.
Or, if thou wilt, bring him over to dwell with us." And the Badawi
ceased not to console her heart and coax her, till she trusted in him
and agreed to serve him.  Then he walked on before her and, when she
followed him, he winked to his men to go in advance and harness the
dromedaries and load them with their packs and place upon them water
and provisions, ready for setting out as soon as he should come up with
the camels.  Now this Badawi was a base born churl, a highway thief and
a traitor to the friend he held most fief, a rogue in grain, past
master of plots and chicane.  He had no daughter and no son and was
only passing through the town when, by the decree of the Decreer, he
fell in with this unhappy one.  And he ceased not to hold her in
converse on the highway till they came without the city of Jerusalem
and, when outside, he joined his companions and found they had made
ready the dromedaries.  So the Badawi mounted a camel, having seated
Nuzhat al-Zaman behind him and they rode on all night.  Then she knew
that the Badawi's proposal was a snare and that he had tricked her; and
she continued weeping and crying out the whole night long, while they
journeyed on making for the mountains, in fear any should see them. Now
when it was near dawn, they dismounted from their dromedaries and the
Badawi came up to Nuzhat al-Zaman and said to her, "O city strumpet,
what is this weeping?  By Allah, an thou hold not thy peace, I will
beat thee to death, O thou town filth!" When she heard this she loathed
life and longed for death; so she turned to him and said, "O accursed
old man, O gray beard of hell, how have I trusted thee and thou hast
played me false, and now thou wouldst torture me?" When he heard her
reply he cried out, "O lazy baggage, dost thou dare to bandy words with
me?" And he stood up to her and beat her with a whip, saying, "An thou
hold not thy peace, I will kill thee!" So she was silent awhile, then
she called to mind her brother and the happy estate she had been in and
she shed tears secretly.  Next day, she turned to the Badawi and said
to him, "How couldst thou play me this trick and lure me into these
bald and stony mountains, and what is thy design with me?" When he
heard her words he hardened his heart and said to her, "O lazy baggage
of ill omen and insolent!  wilt thou bandy words with me?" and he took
the whip and came down with it on her back till she felt faint.  Then
she bowed down over his feet and kissed[FN#242] them; and he left
beating her and began reviling her and said, "By the rights of my
bonnet,[FN#243] if I see or hear thee weeping, I will cut out thy
tongue and stuff it up thy coynte, O thou city filth!" So she was
silent and made him no reply, for the beating pained her; but sat down
with her arms round her knees and, bowing her head upon her collar,
began to look into her case and her abasement after her lot of high
honour; and the beating she had endured; and she called to mind her
brother and his sickness and forlorn condition, and how they were both
strangers in a far country, which crave her tears down her cheeks and
she wept silently and began repeating,

"Time hath for his wont to upraise and debase, * Nor is lasting

     condition for human race:

In this world each thing hath appointed turn; * Nor may man

     transgress his determined place:

How long these perils and woes?  Ah woe * For a life, all woeful

     in parlous case!

Allah bless not the days which have laid me low * I' the world,

     with disgrace after so much grace!

My wish is baffled, my hopes cast down, * And distance forbids me

     to greet his face:

O thou who passeth that dear one's door, * Say for me, these

     tears shall flow evermore!"


When she had finished her verses, the Badawi came up to her and, taking
compassion on her, bespoke her kindly and wiped away her tears.  Then
he gave her a barley scone and said, "I love not one who answereth at
times when I am in wrath: so henceforth give me no more of these
impertinent words and I will sell thee to a good man like myself, who
will do well with thee, even as I have done." "Yes; whatso thou doest
is right," answered she; and when the night was longsome upon her and
hunger burnt her, she ate very little of that barley bread.  In the
middle of the night the Badawi gave orders for departure,—And Shahrazad
perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.

               When it was the Fifty-sixth Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the Badawi
gave the barley scone to Nuzhat al-Zaman and promised he would sell her
to a good man like himself, she replied, "Whatso thou doest is right!"
and, about midnight when hunger burned her,[FN#244] she ate a very
little of that barley bread and the Badawi ordered his party to set
out; so they loaded their loads and he mounted a camel setting Nuzhat
al-Zaman behind him.  Then they journeyed and ceased not journeying for
three days, till they entered the city of Damascus and alighted at the
Sultan's Khan, hard by the Viceroy's Gate.  Now she had lost her colour
by grief and the fatigue of such travelling, and she ceased not to weep
over her misfortunes.  So the Badawi came up to her and said, "O thou
city filth, by the right of my bonnet, if thou leave not this weeping,
I will sell thee to none but a Jew!" Then he arose and took her by the
hand and carried her to a chamber, and walked off to the bazar, and he
went round to, the merchants who dealt in slave girls, and began to
parley with them, saying, "I have brought a slave girl whose brother
fell ill, and I sent him to my people about Jerusalem, that they might
tend him till he is cured.  As for her I want to sell her, but after
the dog her brother fell sick, the separation from him was grievous to
her, and since then she doth nothing but weep, and now I wish that
whoso is minded to buy her of me speak softly to her and say, 'Thy
brother is with me in Jerusalem ill'; and I will be easy with him about
her price." Then one of the merchants came up to him and asked, "How
old is she?" He answered "She is a virgin, just come to marriageable
age, and she is endowed with sense and breeding and wit and beauty and
loveliness.  But from the day I sent her brother to Jerusalem, her
heart hath been yearning for him, so that her beauty is fallen away and
her value lessened." Now when the merchant heard this, he set forth
with the Badawi and said, "O Shaykh[FN#245] of the Arabs, I will go
with thee and buy of thee this girl whom thou praisest so highly for
wit and manners and beauty and loveliness; and I will pay thee her
price but it must be upon conditions which if thou accept, I will give
thee ready money, and if thou accept not I will return her to thee."
Quoth the Badawi, "An thou wilt, take her up to the Sultan Sharrkan,
son of Omar bin al-Nu'uman lord of Baghdad and of the land of Khorasan,
and condition me any conditions thou likest, for when thou hast brought
her before King Sharrkan, haply she will please him, and he will pay
thee her price and a good profit for thyself to boot." Rejoined the
merchant, "It happens that I have just now something to ask from him,
and it is this that he write me an order upon the office, exempting me
from custom dues and also that he write me a letter of recommendation
to his father, King Omar bin al-Nu'uman.  So if he take the girl, I
will weigh[FN#246] thee out her price at once." "I agree with thee to
this condition," answered the Badawi.  So they returned together to the
place where Nuzhat al-Zaman was and the wild Arab stood at the chamber
door and called out, saying, "O Nájiyah[FN#247]!" which was the name
wherewith he had named her.  When she heard him, she wept and made no
answer.  Then he turned to the merchant and said to him, "There she
sitteth; go to her and look at her and speak to her kindly as I
enjoined thee." So the trader went up to her in courteous wise and saw
that she was wondrous beautiful and loveable, especially as she knew
the Arabic tongue; and he said to the Badawi, "If she be even as thou
saddest, I shall get of the Sultan what I will for her." Then he
bespake her, "Peace be on thee, my little maid!  How art thou?" She
turned to him and replied, "This also was registered in the Book of
Destiny." Then she looked at him and, seeing him to be a man of
respectable semblance with a handsome face, she said to herself, "I
believe this one cometh to buy me;" and she continued, "If I hold aloof
from him, I shall abide with my tyrant and he will do me to death with
beating.  In any case, this person is handsome of face and maketh me
hope for better treatment from him than from my brute of a Badawi.  May
be he cometh only to hear me talk; so I will give him a fair answer."
All this while her eyes were fixed on the ground; then she raised them
to him and said in a sweet voice, "And upon thee be peace, O my lord,
and Allah's mercy and His benediction![FN#248] This is what is
commanded of the Prophet, whom Allah bless and preserve! As for thine
enquiry how I am, if thou wouldst know my case, it is such as thou
wouldst not wish but to thy foe." And she held her peace.  When the
merchant heard what she said, his fancy took wings for delight in her
and, turning to the Badawi, he asked him, "What is her price, for
indeed she is noble?" Thereupon the Badawi waxed angry and answered,
"Thou wilt turn me the girl's head with this talk!  Why dost thou say
that she is noble,[FN#249] while she is of the scum of slave girls and
of the refuse of folk?  I will not sell her to thee!" When the merchant
heard this, he knew the man to be weak of wits and said to him, "Calm
thyself, for I will buy her of thee with these blemishes thou
mentionest." "And how much wilt thou give me for her?" enquired the
Badawi.  Replied the merchant, "Name thy price for her: none should
name the son save his sire." Rejoined the Badawi, "None shall name it
but thou thyself." Quoth the merchant to himself, "This wildling is a
rudesby and a maggotty head.  By Allah, I cannot tell her price, for
she hath won my heart with her fair speech and good looks; and, if she
can read and write, it will be complete fair luck to her and to her
purchaser.  But this Badawi does not know her worth." Then he turned
and said to him, "O Shaykh of the Arabs, I will give thee in ready
money, clear of the tax and the Sultan's dues, two hundred gold
pieces." Now when the Badawi heard this, he flew into a violent rage
and cried at the merchant, saying, "Get up and go thy ways!  By Allah,
wert thou to offer me two hundred diners for the bit of camlet she
weareth, I would not sell it to thee.  And now I will not sell her, but
will keep her by me, to pasture the camels and grind my grist." And he
cried out to her, saying, "Come here, thou stinkard!  I will not sell
thee." Then he turned to the merchant and said to him, "I used to think
thee a man of judgment; but, by the right of my bonnet, if thou begone
not from me, I will let thee hear what shall not please thee!" Quoth
the merchant to himself, "Of a truth this Badawi is mad and knoweth not
her value, and I will say no more to him about her price at the present
time; for by Allah, were he a man of sense, he would not say, 'By the
rights of my bonnet!' By the Almighty, she is worth the kingdom of the
Chosroës and I have not her price by me, but if he ask even more, I
will give him what he will, though it be all my goods." Then he turned
and said to him, "O Shaykh of the Arabs, take patience and calm thyself
and tell me what clothes she hath with thee?" Cried the Badawi, "And
what hath the baggage to do with clothes? By Allah, this camlet in
which she is wrapped is ample for her." "With thy leave," said the
merchant, "I will unveil her face and examine her even as folk examine
slave girls whom they think of buying."[FN#250]  Replied the other, "Up
and do what thou wilt and Allah keep thy youth! Examine her outside and
inside and, if thou wilt, strip off her clothes and look at her when
she is naked." Quoth the trader, "Allah forfend!  I will look at naught
save her face."[FN#251] Then he went up to her and was put to shame by
her beauty and loveliness,—And Shahrazed perceived the dawn of day and
ceased to say her permitted say.

              When it was the Fifty-seventh Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the merchant went
up to Nuzhat al-Zaman and was put to shame by her beauty and
loveliness, so he sat by her side and asked her, "O my mistress, what
is thy name?" She answered, "Doss thou ask what is my name this day or
what it was before this day?" Thereupon the merchant enquired, "Hast
thou then two names: to day's and yesterday's?" "Yes," replied she, "my
name in the past was Nuzhat al-Zaman, the Delight of the Age; but my
name at this present is Ghussat[FN#252] al-Zaman, the Despight of the
Age." When the merchant heard this his eyes brimmed over with tears and
quoth he to her, "Hast thou not a sick brother?" "Ay by Allah, O my
lord, I have," quoth she, "but fortune hath parted me and him and he
lieth sick in Jerusalem." The merchant's head was confounded at the
sweetness of her speech and he said to himself, "Verily, the Badawi
spake the truth of her." Then she called to mind her brother and his
sickness and his strangerhood and her separation from him in his hour
of weakness and her not knowing what had befallen him; and she thought
of all that had happened to her with the Badawi and of her severance
from her mother and father and native land; and the tears coursed down
her cheeks and fast as they started they dropped; and she began
reciting,

"Allah, where'er thou be, His aid impart * To thee, who distant

     dwellest in my heart!

Allah be near thee how so far thou fare; * Ward off all shifts of

     Time, all dangers thwart!

Mine eyes are desolate for thy vanisht sight, * And start my

     tears-ah me, how fast they start!

Would Heaven I kenned what quarter or what land * Homes thee, and

     in what house and tribe thou art

An fount of life thou drain in greenth of rose, * While drink I

     tear drops for my sole desert?

An thou 'joy slumber in those hours, when I * Peel 'twixt my side

     and couch coals' burning smart?

All things were easy save to part from thee, * For my sad heart

     this grief is hard to dree."


When the merchant heard her verses, he wept and put out his hand to
wipe away the tears from her cheeks; but she let down her veil over her
face, saying, "Heaven forbid, O my lord!''[FN#253]  Then the Badawi,
who was sitting at a little distance watching them, saw her cover her
face from the merchant while about to wipe the tears from her cheeks;
and he concluded that she would have hindered him from handling her: so
he rose and running to her, dealt her, with a camel's halter he had in
his hand, such a blow on the shoulders that she fell to the ground on
her face.  Her eyebrow struck a stone which cut it open, and the blood
streamed down her cheeks; whereupon she screamed a loud scream and felt
faint and wept bitterly.  The merchant was moved to tears for her and
said in himself, "There is no help for it but that I buy this damsel,
though at her weight in gold, and free her from this tyrant." And he
began to revile the Badawi whilst Nazhat al- Zaman lay in sensible. 
When she came to herself, she wiped away the tears and blood from her
face; and she bound up her head: then, raising her glance to heaven,
she besought her Lord with a sorrowful heart and began repeating,

"And pity one who erst in honour throve, * And now is fallen into

     sore disgrace.

She weeps and bathes her cheeks with railing tears, * And asks

     'What cure can meet this fatal case?'"


When she had ended her verse, she turned to the merchant and said in an
undertone, "By the Almighty, do not leave me with a tyrant who knoweth
not Allah the Most High!  If I pass this night in his place, I shall
kill myself with my own hand: save me from him, so Allah save thee from
Gehenna-fire." Then quoth the merchant to the Badawi, "O Shaykh of the
Arabs, this slave is none of thine affair; so do thou sell her to me
for what thou wilt." "Take her," quoth the Badawi, "and pay me down her
price, or I will carry her back to the camp and there set her to feed
the camels and gather their dung."[FN#254]  Said the merchant, "I will
give thee fifty thousand diners for her." "Allah will open!"[FN#255]
replied the Badawi.  "Seventy thousand," said the merchant. "Allah will
open!" repeated the Badawi: "this is not the capital spent upon her,
for she hath eaten with me barley bread to the value of ninety thousand
gold pieces." The merchant rejoined, "Thou and thine and all thy tribe
in the length of your lives have not eaten a thousand ducats' worth of
barley; but I will say thee one word, wherewith if thou be not
satisfied, I will set the Viceroy of Damascus on thee and he will take
her from thee by force." The Badawi continued, "Say on!" "An hundred
thousand," quoth the merchant.  "I have sold her to thee at that
price," answered the Badawi; "I shall be able to buy salt with her."
The merchant laughed and, going to his lodgings, brought the money and
put it into the hand of the Badawi, who took it and made off, saying to
himself, "Needs must I go to Jerusalem where, haply, I shall happen on
her brother, and I will bring him here and sell him also." So he
mounted and journeyed till he arrived at Jerusalem, where he went to
the Khan and asked for Zau al-Makan, but could not find him.  Such was
the case with him; but for what regards the merchant and Nazhat
al-Zaman, when he took her he threw some of his clothes over her and
carried her to his lodgings,—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day
and ceased saying her permitted say.

              When it was the Fifty-eighth Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the trader
saved Nuzhat al-Zaman from the Badawi and bore her to his lodgings and
robed her in the richest raiment, he went down with her to the bazar,
where he bought her what ornaments she chose and put them in a satin
bag, which he set before her, saying, "All is for thee and I ask
nothing of thee in return but that, when I lead thee to the Sultan,
Viceroy of Damascus, thou acquaint him with the price I paid for thee,
albeit it was little compared with thy value: and, if seeing thee he
buy thee of me, thou tell him how I have dealt with thee and ask of him
for me a royal patent, and a written recommendation wherewith I can
repair to his father, King Omar bin al-Nu'uman, Lord of Baghdad, to the
intent that he may forbid the tax on my stuffs or any other goods in
which I traffic." When she heard his words, she wept and sobbed, and
the merchant said to her, "O my lady, I observe that, every time I
mention Baghdad, thine eyes are tearful: is there any one there whom
thou lovest?  If it be a trader or the like, tell me; for I know all
the merchants and so forth there and, if thou wouldst send him a
message, I will bear it for thee." Replied she, "By Allah, I have no
acquaintance among merchant folk and the like!  I know none there but
King Omar bin Nu'uman, Lord of Baghdad." When the merchant heard her
words, he laughed and rejoiced with exceeding joy and said in himself,
"By Allah, I have won my wish!" Then he said to her, "Hast thou been
shown to him in time past?" She answered, "No, but I was brought up
with his daughter and he holdeth me dear and I have high honour with
him; so if thou wouldst have the King grant thee thy desire, give me
ink case and paper and I will write thee a letter; and when thou
reachest the city of Baghdad, do thou deliver it into the hand of King
Omar bin al-Nu'uman and say to him, 'Thy handmaid, Nuzhat al-Zaman,
would have thee to know that the chances and changes of the nights and
days have struck her as with a hammer, and have smitten her so that she
hath been sold from place to place, and she sendeth thee her salams.'
And, if he ask further of her, say that I am now with the Viceroy at
Damascus." The merchant wondered at her eloquence, and his affection
for her increased and he said to her I cannot but think that men have
played upon thine understanding and sold thee for money.  Tell me, dost
thou know the Koran by heart?" "Yes," answered she; "and I am also
acquainted with philosophy and medicine and the prolegomena of science
and the commentaries of Galen, the physician, on the canons of
Hippocrates; and I have commented him and I have read the Tazkirah and
have commented the Burhán; and I have studied the Simples of Ibn
Baytár, and I have something to say of the canon of Meccah, by
Avicenna.  I can ree riddles and can solve ambiguities, and discourse
upon geometry and am skilled in anatomy I have read the books of the
Sháfi'í[FN#256] school and the Traditions of the Prophet and syntax;
and I can argue with the Olema and discourse of all manner learning. 
Moreover I am skilled in logic and rhetoric and arithmetic and the
making of talismans and almanacs, and I know thoroughly the Spiritual
Sciences[FN#257] and the times appointed for religious duties and I
understand all these branches of knowledge."  Then quoth she to the
merchant, "Bring me ink case and paper, that I write thee a letter
which shall aid thee on thy journey to Baghdad and enable thee to do
without passports." Now when the merchant heard this, he cried out
"Brava!  Brava![FN#258] Then O happy he in whose palace thou shalt! 
Thereupon he brought her paper and ink case and a pen of brass and
bussed the earth before her face to do her honour.  She took a sheet
and handled the reed and wrote therewith these verses,

"I see all power of sleep from eyes of me hath flown; * Say, did

     thy parting teach these eyne on wake to wone?

What makes thy memory light such burnings in my heart?  * Hath

     every lover strength such memories to own?

How sweet the big dropped cloud which rained on summer day; *

     'Tis gone and ere I taste its sweets afar 'tis flown:

I pray the wind with windy breath to bring some news * From thee,

     to lover wightwi' love so woe begone

Complains to thee a lover of all hope forlorn, * For parting

     pangs can break not only heart but stone."


And when she had ended writing the verses she continued, "These words
are from her who saith that melancholy destroyeth her and that watching
wasteth her; in the murk of whose night is found no light and darkness
and day are the same in her sight.  She tosseth on the couch of
separation and her eyes are blackened with the pencils of
sleeplessness; she watcheth the stars arise and into the gloom she
strains her eyes: verily, sadness and leanness have consumed her
strength and the setting forth of her case would run to length.  No
helper hath she but tears and she reciteth these verses,

'No ring dove moans from home on branch in morning light, * But

     shakes my very frame with sorrow's killing might:

No lover sigheth for his love or gladdeth heart * To meet his

     mate, but breeds in me redoubled blight

I bear my plaint to one who has no ruth for me, * Ah me, how Love

     can part man's mortal frame and sprite!' "


Then her eyes welled over with tears, and she wrote also these two
couplets,

"Love smote my frame so sore on parting day, * That severance

     severed sleep and eyes for aye.

I waxt so lean that I am still a man, * But for my speaking, thou

     wouldst never say."


Then she shed tears and wrote at the foot of the sheet, "This cometh
from her who is far from her folk and her native land, the sorrowful
hearted woman Nuzhat al-Zaman." In fine, she folded the sheet and gave
it to the merchant, who took it and kissed it and understood its
contents and exclaimed, "Glory to Him who fashioned thee!"—And
Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted
say.

               When it was the Fifty-ninth Night,

She said, It reached me, O auspicious King, that Nuzhat al-Zaman wrote
the letter and gave it to the merchant; and he took it and read it and
understood the contents and exclaimed, "Glory to Him who fashioned
thee!"  Then he redoubled his kindness and made himself pleasant to her
all that day, and when night came he sallied out to the bazar and
bought some food, wherewith he fed her; after which he carried her to
the Hammam and said to the bath woman, "As soon as thou hast made an
end of washing her head, dress her and send and let me know of it." And
she replied "Hearing is obeying." Meanwhile he fetched food and fruit
and wax candles and set them on the bench in the outer room of the
bath; and when the tire woman had done washing her, she dressed her and
led her out of the bath and seated her on the bench.  Then she sent to
tell the merchant, and Nuzhat al-Zaman went forth to the outer room,
where she found the tray spread with food and fruit. So she ate and the
tire woman with her, and gave the rest to the people and keeper of the
bath.  Then she slept till the morning, and the merchant lay the night
in a place apart from her.  When he aroused himself from sleep he came
to her and waking her, presented her with a shift of fine stuff and a
head kerchief worth a thousand diners, a suit of Turkish embroidery and
walking boots purfled with red gold and set with pearls and gems.
Moreover, he hung in each of her ears a circlet of gold with a fine
pearl therein, worth a thousand diners, and threw round her neck a
collar of gold with bosses of garnet and a chain of amber beads that
hung down between her breasts over her navel.  Now to this chain were
attached ten balls and nine crescents, and each crescent had in its
midst a bezel of ruby, and each ball a bezel of balass: the value of
the chain was three thousand diners and each of the balls was priced at
twenty thousand dirhams, so that the dress she wore was worth in all a
great sum of money.  When she had put these on, the merchant bade her
adorn herself, and she adorned herself to the utmost beauty; then she
let fall her fillet over her eyes and she fared forth with the merchant
preceding her.  But when folk saw her, all wondered at her beauty and
exclaimed, "Blessed be Allah, the most excellent Creator!  O lucky the
man in whose house the hall be!" And the trader ceased not walking (and
she behind him) till they entered the palace of Sultan Sharrkan; when
he sought an audience and, kissing the earth between his hands, said,
"O auspicious King, I have brought thee a rare gift, unmatched in this
time and richly gifted with beauty and with good qualities." Quoth the
King, "Let me see it." So the merchant went out and brought her, she
following him till he made her stand before King Sharrkan.  When he
beheld her, blood yearned to blood, though she had been parted from him
in childhood and though he had never seen her, having only heard a long
time after her birth that he had a sister called Nuzhat al- Zaman and a
brother Zau al-Makan, he having been jealous of them, because of the
succession.  And such was the cause of his knowing little about them.
Then, having placed her before the presence, the merchant said, "O King
of the age, besides being peerless in her time and beauty and
loveliness, she is also versed in all learning, sacred and profane,
including the art of government and the abstract sciences." Quoth the
King to the trader, "Take her price, according as thou boughtest her,
and go thy ways." "I hear and I obey," replied the merchant; "but first
write me a patent, exempting me for ever from paying tithe on my
merchandise." Said the King, "I will do this, but first tell me what
price thou paidest for her." Said the merchant, "I bought her for an
hundred thousand diners, and her clothes cost me another hundred
thousand." When the Sultan heard these words, he declared, "I will give
thee a higher price than this for her;" and, calling his treasurer,
said to him, "Pay this merchant three hundred and twenty thousand
ducats; so will he have an hundred and twenty thousand diners profit."
Thereupon the Sultan summoned the four Kazis and paid him the money in
their presence and then he said, "I call you to witness that I free
this my slave girl and purpose to marry her." So the Kazis wrote out
the deed of emancipation and the contract of marriage, when the Sultan
scattered much gold on the heads of those present; and the pages and
the eunuchs picked up this largesse.  Then, after paying him his
monies, Sharrkan bade them write for the merchant a perpetual patent,
exempting him from toll, tax or tithe upon his merchandise and
forbidding each and every in all his government to molest him, and
lastly bestowed on him a splendid dress of honour.—And Shahrazad
perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.

                When it was the Sixtieth Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that King Sharrkan
bade them write for the merchant a mandate, after paying him his
monies; and they wrote a perpetual patent, exempting him from the tithe
upon his merchandise and forbidding any in his government to molest
him; and lastly bestowed upon him a splendid dress of honour.  Then all
about him retired, and none remained save the Kazis and the merchant,
whereupon said he to the judges, "I wish you to hear such discourse
from this damsel as may prove her knowledge and accomplishments in all
aimed for her by this trader, that we ascertain the truth of his
assertions." They answered, "There is no evil in that!"; and he
commanded the curtain to be let down between him and those with him and
the maiden and those with her; and the women about the damsel behind
the curtains began to wish her joy and kiss her hands and feet, when
they learned that she was become the King's wife.  Then they came round
her and took off her dresses easing her of the weight of her clothes
and began to look upon her beauty and loveliness. Presently the wives
of the Emirs and Wazirs heard that King Sharrkan had bought a hand
maiden unmatched for her beauty and learning and philosophy and account
keeping, and versed in all branches of knowledge, that he had paid for
her three hundred and twenty thousand dinars, and that he had set her
free and had written a marriage contract with her and had summoned the
four Kazis to make trial of her, how she would answer all their
questions and hold disputetion with them.  So they asked leave of their
husbands and repaired to the palace wherein was Nuzhat al- Zaman.  When
they came in to her, they found the eunuchs standing before her; and,
as soon as she saw the wives of the Emirs and Wazirs and Grandees of
the realm coming to call upon her, she arose to them on her feet and
met them with courtesy, her handmaidens standing behind her, and she
received them saying, "Ye be welcome!" The while she smiled in their
faces so as to win their hearts; and she promised them all manner of
good and seated them in their proper stations, as if she had been
brought up with them; so all wondered at her beauty and loveliness and
said to one another, "This damsel is none other than a Queen, the
daughter of a King." Then they sat down, magnifying her worth and said
to her, "O our lady, this our city is illumined by thee, and our
country and abode and birth place and reign are honoured by thy
presence.  The kingdom indeed is thy kingdom and the palace is thy
palace, and we all are thy handmaids; so, by Allah, do not shut us out
from thy favours and the sight of thy beauty." And she thanked them for
this.  All this while the curtains were let down between Nuzhat
al-Zaman and the women with her, on the one side, and King Sharrkan and
the four Kazis and the merchant seated by him on the other.  Presently
King Sharrkan called to her and said, "O Queen, the glory of thine age,
this merchant hath described thee as being learned and accomplished;
and he claimeth that thou art skilled in all branches of knowledge,
even to astrology: so let us hear something of all this he hath
mentioned, and favour us with a short discourse on such subjects." She
replied, saying: "O King, to hear is to obey.[FN#259] The first
subjects whereof I will treat are the art of government and the duties
of Kings and what behoveth governors of command meets according to
religious law, and what is incumbent on them in respect of satisfactory
speech and manners. Know then, O King, that all men's works tend either
to religious or to laical life, for none attaineth to religion save
through this world, because it is the best road to futurity.  Now the
works of this world are not ordered save by the doings of its people,
and men's doings are divided into four divisions, government, commerce,
husbandry and craftsmanship.  Now government requireth perfect
administration with just and true judgment; for government is the pivot
of the edifice of the world, which world is the road to futurity; since
Allah Almighty hath made the world for His servants as viaticum to the
traveller for the attainment of his goal; and it befitteth each man
that he receive of it such measure as shall bring him to Allah, and
that he follow not herein his own mind and his individual lust.  If
folk would take of worldly goods with justice and equity, all cause of
contention would be cut off; but they take thereof with violence ant
after their own desires, and their persistence therein giveth rise to
contentions; so they have need of the Sultan, that he do justice
between them and order their affairs; and, if the King restrain not his
folk from one another, the strong will drive the weak to the wall. 
Hence Ardeshir[FN#260] saith, 'Religion and Kingship be twins';
religion is a hidden treasure and the King is its keeper; and the
Divine Ordinances and men's intelligence point out that it behoveth the
people to adopt a Sultan who shall withhold oppressor from oppressed
and do the weak justice against the strong and restrain the violence of
the proud and the rebels against rule.  For know, O King, that
according to the measure of the Sultan's good morals, even so will be
the time; as saith the Apostle of Allah (on whom be peace and
salvation!), 'There be two classes who, if they be good, the people
will be good; and if they be bad, the people will be bad, even the
Olema and the Emirs.' And it is said by a certain sage, 'There be three
kinds of Kings, the King of the Faith, the King who protecteth things
to which reverence is due, and the King of his own lusts.' The King of
the Faith obligeth his subjects to follow their faith, and it behoveth
he be the most faithful,[FN#261] for it is by him that they take
pattern in the things of the Faith; and it becometh the folk to obey
him in whatso he commandeth according to Divine Ordinance; but he shall
hold the discontented in the same esteem as the contented, because of
submission to the decrees of Destiny.  As for the King who protecteth
things to be reverenced, he upholdeth the things of the Faith and of
the World and compelleth his folk to follow the Divine Law and to
preserve the rights of humanity; and it fitteth him to unite Pen and
Sword; for whoso declineth from what Pen hath written his feet slip and
the King shall rectify his error with the sharp Sword and dispread his
justice over all mankind.  As for the King of his own lusts, he hath no
religion but the following his desire and, as he feareth not the wrath
of his Lord who set him on the throne, so his Kingdom inclineth to
deposition and the end of his pride is in the house of perdition. And
sages say, 'The King hath need of many people, but the people have need
of but one King' wherefore it beseemeth that he be well acquainted with
their natures, that he reduce their discord to concord, that with his
justice be encompass them all and with his bounties overwhelm them all.
 And know, O King, that Ardeshir, styled Jamr Shadíd, or the Live Coal,
third of the Kings of Persia, conquered the whole world and divided it
into four divisions and, for this purpose, get for himself four seal
rings, one for each division.  The first seal was that of the sea and
the police of prohibition and on it was written, Alterna lives. The
second was the seal of tribute and of the receipt of monies, and on it
was written, Building up.  The third was the seal of the provisioning
department and on it was written, Plenty.  The fourth was the seal of
the oppressed, and on it was written, Justice.  And these usages
remained valid in Persia until the revelation of Al-Islam.  Chosroës
also wrote his son, who was with the army, 'Be not thou too open handed
with thy troops, or they will be too rich to need thee.'—And Shahrazad
perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.

               When it was the Sixty-first night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Chosroës wrote
his son, 'Be not thou too open handed with thy troops, or they will be
too rich to need thee; nor be thou niggardly with them, or they will
murmur against thee.  Give thy giving deliberately and confer thy
favours advisedly; open thy hand to them in time of success and stint
them not in time of distress.' There is a legend that a desert Arab
came once to the Caliph Al- Mansúr[FN#262] and said, 'Starve thy dog
and he shall follow thee.' When the Caliph heard his words, he was
enraged with the Arab, but Abu 'l-Abbás of Tús said to him, 'I fear
that if some other than thou should show him a scone, the dog would
follow him and leave thee alone.' Thereupon the Caliph Al-Mansur's
wrath subsided and he knew that the wild Arab had intended no offence
and ordered him a present.  And know, O King, that Abd al-Malik bin
Marwán wrote to his brother Abd al-Azíz, when he despatched him to
Egypt, as follows, 'Pay heed to thy Secretaries and thy Chamberlains,
for the Secretaries will acquaint thee with estate fished matters and
the Chamberlains with matters of official ceremony, whilst thine
expenditure will make thy troops known to thee.' Omar bin
Al-Khattáb[FN#263] (whom Allah accept!) when engaging a servant was in
the habit of conditioning him with four conditions; the first that he
should not ride the baggage beasts, the second that he should not wear
fine clothes, the third that he should not eat of the spoil and the
fourth that he should not put off praying till after the proper period.
 It is said that there is no wealth more profitable than understanding,
and there is no understanding like common sense and prudence, and there
is no prudence like piety; that there is no means of drawing near to
God like good morals, no measure like good breeding, no traffic like
good works and no profit like earning the Divine favour; that there is
no temperance like standing within the limits of the law, no science
like that of meditation, no worship like obeying the Divine commends,
no faith like modesty, no calculation like self abasement and no honour
like knowledge.  So guard the head and what it containeth and the belly
and what it compriseth; and think of death and doom ere it ariseth. 
Saith Ali (whose face Allah honour!), 'Beware of the wickedness of
women and be on thy guard against them: consult them not in
aught;[FN#264] but grudge not complaisance to them, lest they greed for
intrigue.' And eke quoth he, 'Whoso leaveth the path of moderation his
wits become perplexed'; and there be rules for this which we will
mention, if it be Allah's will.  And Omar (whom Allah accept!) saith,
'There are three kinds of women, firstly the true believing, Heaven
fearing, love full and fruit full, who helpeth her mate against fate,
not helping fate against her mate; secondly, she who loveth her
children but no more and, lastly, she who is a shackle Allah setteth on
the neck of whom He will.' Men be also three: the wise when he
exerciseth his own judgement; the wiser who, when befalleth somewhat
whereof he knoweth not the issue, seeketh folk of good counsel and
acteth by their advice; and the unwise irresolute ignoring the right
way nor heeding those who would guide him straight.  Justice is
indispensable in all things; even slave girls have need of justice; and
men quote as an instance highway robbers who live by violenting
mankind, for did they not deal equitably among themselves and observe
justice in dividing their booty, their order would fall to
pieces.[FN#265] In short, for the rest, the Prince of noble qualities
is Beneficence cum Benevolence; and how excellent is the saying of the
poet,

By open hand and ruth the youth rose to his tribe's command; * Go and
do likewise for the same were easy task to thee.'

And quoth another,

'In ruth and mildness surety lies and mercy wins respect, * And

     Truth is best asylum for the man of soothfast soul:

Whoso for wealth of gold would win and wear the world's good

     word, * On glory's course must ever be the first to gain the

     goal.'"


And Nazhat al-Zaman discoursed upon the policy of Kings till the
bystanders said, "Never have we seen one reason of rule and government
like this damsel! Haply she will let us hear some discourse upon
subject other than this." When she heard their words and understood
them she said, "As for the chapter of good breeding, it is wide of
comprehension, being a compend of things perfect.  Now it so happened
that one day there came to the Caliph Mu'áwiyah[FN#266] one of his
companions, who mentioned the people of Irak and the goodness of their
wit; and the Caliph's wife Maysún, mother of Yezíd, heard his words. 
So, when he was gone, she said to the Caliph, 'O Prince of the
Faithful, I would thou let some of the people of Irak come in and talk
to thee, that I may hear their discourse.' Therewith Mu'awiyah said to
his attendants, 'See who is at the door?' And they answered, 'The Banu
Tamim.' 'Let them come in,' said he.  So they came in and with them
Al-Ahnáf son of Kays.[FN#267]  Then quoth Mu'awiyah, 'Enter, O Abu
Bahr,' and drew a curtain between himself and Maysun, that she might
hear what they said without being seen herself; then he said to
Al-Ahnaf, 'O Son of the Sea, draw near and tell me what counsel thou
hast for me.' Quoth Al-Ahnaf, 'Part thy hair and trim thy moustachio
and pare thy nails and pluck thine armpits and shave thy pubes[FN#268]
and ever use the toothstick because therein be two and seventy virtues,
and make the Ghusl or complete ablution on Friday, as an expiation for
all between the Fridays.'—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and
ceased saying her permitted say.

              When it was the Sixty-second Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Ahnaf bin Kays
replied to Al-Mu'awiyah's[FN#269] question, 'And ever use the
toothstick, because therein be two end seventy virtues and make the
complete Friday ablution as an expiation for all between the two
Fridays.' Quoth Mu'awiyah, 'What is thy counsel to thyself?' 'To set my
feet firmly on the ground, to move them deliberately and watch over
them with mine eyes!' 'How dost thou order thyself when thou goest in
to one not of the nobles of thy tribe?' 'I lower mine eyes modestly and
I salute first; I avoid what concerneth me not and I spare my words!'
'And how when thou goest in to thine equals?' 'I give ear to them when
they speak and I do not assail them when they err!'  'When thou goest
in to thy chiefs?' 'I salute without making any sign and await the
reply: if they bid me draw near, I draw near, and if they draw off from
me I withdraw!' 'How dost thou with thy wife?' Quoth Ahnaf, 'Excuse me
from answering this, O Commander of the Faithful!'; but Mu'awiyah
cried, 'I conjure thee inform me.' He said, 'I entreat her kindly and
show her familiarity and am large in expenditure, for woman was created
of a crooked rib.'[FN#270] 'And how dost thou when thou hast a mind to
lie with her?' 'I bid her perfume herself and kiss her till she is
moved to desire; then, should it be as thou knowest,[FN#271] I throw
her on her back.  If the seed abide in her womb I say, 'O Allah make it
blessed and let it not be a wastrel, but fashion it into the best of
fashions!'[FN#272]  Then I rise from her to ablution and first I pour
water over my hands and then over my body and lastly, I praise Allah
for the joy He hath given me.' Said Mu'awiyah, 'Thou hast answered
right well and now tell me what be thy requirements?' Said Ahnaf, 'I
would have thee rule thy subjects in the fear of Allah and do even
handed justice between them.' Thereupon Ahnaf rose to his feet and left
the Caliph's presence, and when he had gone Maysun said, 'Were there
but this man in Irak, he would suffice to it.' Then continued Nuzhat
al-Zaman, "And all this is a section of the chapter of good breeding,
and know O King, that Muaykib was intendant of the public treasury
during the Caliphate of Omar bin al-Khattáb,"—And Shahrazad perceived
the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.

               When it was the Sixty-third Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Nuzhat al- Zaman
continued, "Know, O King, that Mu'aykib was intendant of the public
treasury during the Caliphate of Omar bin al-Khattab; and it so befel
him that he saw Omar's son and gave him a dirham out of the treasury. 
Thereupon, quoth Mu'aykib, 'I returned to my own house, and while I was
sitting there behold, a messenger came to me from Omar and I was afraid
and went to him, and when I came into his presence, in his hand was the
dirham I had given his son.  He said to me, 'Woe to thee Mu'aykib!  I
have found somewhat concerning thy soul.' I asked 'And what is that?';
and he answered, 'It is that thou hast shown thyself a foe to the
followers of Mohammed (on whom be peace and salvation!) in the matter
of this dirham, and thou wilt have to account for it on Resurrection
Day.'[FN#273] And Omar also wrote a letter to Abú Músá
al-Ashári[FN#274] as follows, 'When these presents reach thee, give the
people what is theirs and remit to me the rest.' And he did so.  Now
when Othman succeeded to the Caliphate, he wrote a like letter to Abu
Musa, who did his bidding and sent him the tribute accordingly, and
with it came Ziyád.[FN#275]  And when Ziyad laid the tribute before
Othman, the Caliph's son came in and took a dirham, whereupon Ziyad
shed tears.  Othman asked 'Why weepest thou?'; and Ziyad answered, 'I
once brought Omar bin al-Khattab the like of this and his son took a
dirham, where upon Omar bade snatch it from his hand.  Now thy son hath
taken of the tribute, yet I have seen none say aught to him or snatch
the money from him.' Then Othman[FN#276] cried, 'And where wilt thou
find the like of Omar?' Again Zayd bin Aslam relates of his father that
he said, 'I went out one night with Omar till we approached a blazing
fire.  Quoth Omar, 'O Aslam, I think these must be travellers who are
suffering from the cold.  Come, let us join them.' So we walked on till
we came to them and behold!  we found a woman who had lighted a fire
under a cauldron and by her side were two children, both a wailing. 
Said Omar, 'Peace be with you, O folk of light (for it was repugnant to
him to say 'folk of fire'),[FN#277] what aileth you?' Said she, 'The
cold and the night trouble us.' He asked, 'What aileth these little
people that they weep?'; and she answered, 'They are hungry.' He
enquired, 'And what is in this cauldron?'; and she replied, 'It is what
I quiet them withal, and Allah will question Omar bin al- Khattab of
them, on the Day of Doom.' He said, 'And what should Omar know of their
case?' 'Why then,' rejoined she, 'should he manage people's affairs and
yet be unmindful of them?' Thereupon Omar turned to me (continned
Aslam) and cried, 'Come with us!' So we set off running till we reached
the pay department of his treasury, where he took out a sack containing
flour and a pot holding fat and said to me, 'Load these on my back!'
Quoth I, 'O Commander of the Faithful, I will carry them for thee.' He
rejoined, 'Wilt thou bear my load for me on the Day of Resurrection?'
So I put the things on his back, and we set off, running, till we threw
down the sack hard by her. Then he took out some of the flour and put
it in the cauldron; and, saying to the woman, 'Leave it to me,' he
began blowing the fire under the cauldron.  Now he was a long bearded
man[FN#278] and I saw the smoke issuing from between the hairs of his
beard till the flour was cooked, when he took some of the fat and threw
it in and said to the woman, 'Bed them while I cool it for them.' So
they fell to eating till they had eaten their fill, and he left the
rest with her. Then he turned to me and said, 'O Aslam, I see it was
indeed hunger made them weep; and I am glad I did not go away ere I
found out the cause of the light I saw.'—And Shahrazad per ceived the
dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.

              When it was the Sixty-fourth Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Nuzhat al- Zaman
continued, "It is related that Omar passed by a flock of sheep, kept by
a Mameluke, and asked him to sell him a sheep.  He answered, 'They are
not mine.' 'Thou art the man I sought,' said Omar, and bought him and
freed him; whereupon the slave exclaimed, 'O Allah, as thou hast
bestowed on me the lesser emancipation; so vouchsafe me the
greater!'[FN#279] It is also said that Omar bin al- Khattab was wont to
give his servants sweet milk and himself eat coarse fare, and to clothe
them softly and himself wear rough garments.  He rendered unto all men
their due, and exceeded in his giving to them.  He once gave a man four
thousand dirhams and added thereto a thousand, wherefore it was said to
him, 'Why dost thou not increase to thy son as thou increasest to this
man?' He answered, 'This man's father stood firm at the battle day of
Ohod.'[FN#280] Al-Hasan relates that Omar once came back from foray
with much money, and that Hafsah[FN#281] approached him and said, 'O
Commander of the Faithful, the due of kinship!' 'O Hafsah!' replied he,
'verily Allah hath enjoined us to satisfy the dues of kinship, but not
with the monies of the True Believers.  Indeed, thou pleasest" thy
family, but thou angerest thy father.' And she went away trailing her
skirts.[FN#282]  The son of Omar said, 'I implored the Lord to show me
my father one year after his death, till at last I saw him wiping the
sweat from his brow and asked him, 'How is it with thee, O my father?'
He answered, 'But for my Lord's mercy thy father surely had perished.'
Then said Nuzhat al-Zaman, "Hear, O auspicious King, the second
division of the first chapter of the instances of the followers of the
Apostle and other holy men. Saith Al Hasan al-Basrí,[FN#283] Not a soul
of the sons of Adam goeth forth of the world without regretting three
things,- failure to enjoy what he hath amassed, failure to compass what
he hoped, failure to provide himself with sufficient viaticum for that
hereto he goeth.[FN#284] It was said of Sufyan,[FN#285] 'Can a man be a
religious and yet possess wealth?' He replied, 'Yes, so he be patient
when grieved and be thankful when he hath received.' Abdullah bin
Shaddád, being about to die, sent for his son Mohammed and admonished
him, saying, 'O my son, I see the Summoner of Death summoning me, and
so I charge thee to fear Allah both in public and private, to praise
Allah and to be soothfastin thy speech, for such praise bringeth
increase of prosperity, and piety in itself is the best of provision
for the next world; even as saith one of the poets,

'I see not happiness lies in gathering gold; * The man most pious

     is man happiest:

In truth the fear of God is best of stores, * And God shall make

     the pious choicely blest.'


Then quoth Nuzhat al-Zaman, "Let the King also give ear to these notes
from the second section of the first chapter." He asked her 'What be
they?'; and she answered, "When Omar bin Abd al-Azíz[FN# 286] succeeded
to the Caliphate, he went to his household and laying hands on all that
was in their hold, put it into the public treasury.  So the Banu
Umayyah flew for aid to his father's sister, Fátimah, daughter of
Marwan, and she sent to him saying, 'I must needs speak to thee.' So
she came to him by night and, when he had made her alight from her
beast and sit down, he said to her, 'O aunt, it is for thee to speak
first, since thou hast some thing to ask: tell me then what thou
wouldst with me.' Replied she, 'O Commander of the Faithful, it is
thine to speak first, for thy judgment perceiveth that which is hidden
from the intelligence of others.' Then said Omar, 'Of a verity Allah
Almighty sent Mohammed as a blessing to some and a bane to others; and
He elected for him those with him, and commissioned him as His Apostle
and took him to Himself,'—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and
ceased saying her permitted say.

               When it was the Sixty-fifth Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Nuzhat al- Zaman
continued thus, "Said Omar, 'Verily Allah commissioned as His Apostle
Mohammed (upon whom be the benediction of Allah and His salvation!),
for a blessing to some and a bane to others; and He elected for him
those with him and took him to Himself, leaving the people a stream
whereof they might drink.  After him Abu Bakr[FN#287] the Truth teller
became Caliph and he left the river as it was, doing what was pleasing
to Allah.  Then arose Omar and worked a work and strove in holy war and
strife where of none might do the like.  But when Othman arose to power
he diverted a streamlet from the stream, and Mu'awiyah in his turn
diverted from it several streamlets; and without ceasing in like
manner, Yezid and the Banu Marwán such as Abd al-Malik and Walíd and
Sulaymán[FN#288] drew away water from the stream, and the main course
dried up, till rule devolved upon me, and now I am minded to restore
the stream to its normal condition.' When Fatimah heard this, she said,
'I came wishing only to speak and confer with thee, but if this be thy
word, I have nothing to say to thee.' Then she returned to the Ommiades
and said to them, 'Now take ye the consequences of your act when ye
allied yourselves by marriage with Omar bin al-Khattab.'[FN#289]  And
it is also said that when Omar was about to die, he gathered his
children round him, and Maslamah[FN#290] bin Abd al-Malik said to him,
'O Prince of the Faithful, how wilt thou leave thy children paupers and
thou their protector?  None can hinder thee in thy lifetime from giving
them what will suffice them out of the treasury; and this indeed were
better than leaving the good work to him who shall rule after thee.'
Omar looked at him with a look of wrath and wonder and presently
replied, 'O Maslamah, I have defended them from this sin all the days
of my life, and shall I make them miserable after my death?  Of a truth
my sons are like other men, either obedient to Almighty Allah who will
prosper them, or disobedient and I will not help them in their
disobedience.  Know, O Maslamah, that I was present, even as thou, when
such an one of the sons of Marwanwas buried, and I fell asleep by him
and saw him in a dream given over to one of the punishments of Allah,
to whom belong Honour and Glory!  This terrified me and made me
tremble, and I vowed to Allah, that if ever I came to power, I would
not do such deeds as the dead man had done.  I have striven to fulfil
this vow all the length of my life and I hope to die in the mercy of my
Lord.' Quoth Maslamah, 'A certain man died and I was present at his
burial, and when all was over I fell asleep and I saw him as a sleeper
seeth a dream, walking in a garden of flowing waters clad in white
clothes.  He came up to me and said: 'O Maslamah, it is for the like of
this that rulers should rule.' Many are the instances of this kind, and
quoth one of the men of authority, 'I used to milk the ewes in the
Caliphate of Omar bin Abd al-Aziz, and one day I met a shepherd, among
whose sheep I saw a wolf or wolves.  I thought them to be dogs, for I
had never before seen wolves; so I asked, 'What dost thou with these
dogs?' 'They are not dogs, but wolves,' answered the shepherd.  Quoth
I, 'Can wolves be with sheep and not hurt them?' Quoth he, 'When the
head is whole, the body is whole.'[FN#291] Omar bin Abd al-Aziz once
preached from a pulpit of clay and, after praising and glorifying Allah
Almighty, said three words as follows, 'O folk, make clean your inmost
hearts, that your outward lives may be dean to your brethren, and
abstain ye from the things of the world.  Know that between us and Adam
there is no one man alive among the dead.  Dead are Abd al- Malik and
those who forewent him, and Omar also shall die and those who forewent
him.' Asked Maslamah, 'O Commander of the Faithful, an we set a pillow
behind thee, wilt thou lean on it a little while?' But Omar answered,
'I fear lest it be a fault about my neck on Resurrection Day.' Then he
gasped with the death rattle and fell back in a faint; whereupon
Fatimah cried out, saying, 'Ho, Maryam!  Ho, Muzahim![FN#292] Ho, such
an one!  Look to this man!' And she began to pour water on him weeping,
till he revived from his swoon; and, seeing her in tears said to her,
'What causeth thee to weep, O Fatimah?' She replied, 'O Commander of
the Faithful, I saw thee lying prostrate before us and thought of thy
prostration in death before Almighty Allah, of thy departure from the
world and of thy separation from us.  This is what made me weep.'
Answered he, 'Enough, O Fatimah, for indeed thou exceedest.' Then he
would have risen, but fell down and Fatimah strained him to her and
said, 'Thou art to me as my father and my mother, O Commander of the
Faithful!  We cannot speak to thee, all of us.' Then quoth Nuzhat
al-Zaman to her brother Sharrkan and the four Kazis, "Here endeth the
second section of the first chapter."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn
of day and ceased to say her permitted say.

               When it was the Sixty-sixth Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Nuzhat al- Zaman
said to her brother Sharrkan and the four Kazis, "Here endeth the
second section of the first chapter.  And it so happened that Omar bin
Abd al-Aziz wrote to the people of the festival at Meccah as follows,
'I call Allah to witness, in the Holy Month, in the Holy City and on
the day of the Greater Pilgrimage,[FN#293] that I am innocent of your
oppression and of his wrongs that doth wrong you, in that I have
neither commanded this nor purposed it, neither hath any report of
aught thereof hitherto reached me, nor have I compassed any knowledge
thereof; and I trust that a cause for pardon will be found in that none
hath authority from me to oppress any man, for I shall assuredly be
questioned concerning every one oppress.  And if any of my officers
swerve from the right and act otherwise than the Holy Book and the
Traditions of the Apostle do authorise, obey him not so that he may
return to the way of righteousness.' He said also (Allah accept of
him!), 'I do not wish to be relieved from death, because it is the
supreme thing for which the True Believer is rewarded.' Quoth one of
authority, 'I went to the Prince of the Faithful, Omarbin Abd al-Aziz,
who was then Caliph, and saw before him twelve dirhams, which he
ordered for deposit in the public treasury.  So I said to him, 'O
Commander of the Faithful, thou impoverishest thy children and reducest
them to beggary having nothing whereon to live.  An thou wouldst
appoint somewhat by will to them and to those who are poor of the
people of thy house, it were well.' 'Draw near to me,' answered he: so
I drew near to him and he said, 'Now as for thy saying, 'Thou beggarest
thy children; provide for them and for the poor of thy household,' it
is without reason; for Allah of a truth will replace me to my children
and to the poor of my house, and He will be their guardian.  Verily,
they are like other men; he who feareth Allah, right soon will Allah
provide for him a happy issue, and he that is addicted to sins, I will
not up hold him in his sin against Allah.' Then he summoned his sons
who numbered twelve, and when he beheld them his eyes dropped tears and
presently he said to them, 'Your Father is between two things; either
ye will be well to do, and your parent will enter the fire, or ye will
be poor and your parent will enter Paradise; and your father's entry
into Paradise is liefer to him than that ye should be well to
do.[FN#294] So arise and go, Allah be your helper, for to Him I commit
your affairs!' Khálid bin Safwán[FN#295] said, 'Yúsuf bin Omar[FN#296]
accompanied me to Hishám bin Abd al-Malik,[FN#297] and as I met him he
was coming forth with his kinsmen and attendants.  He alighted and a
tent was pitched for him.  When the people had taken their seats, I
came up to the side of the carpet whereon he sat reclining and looked
at him; and, waiting till my eyes met his eyes, bespoke him thus, 'May
Allah fulfil His bounty to thee, O Commander of the Faithful, I have an
admonition for thee, which hath come down to us from the history of the
Kings preceding thee!'  At this, he sat up whenas he had been reclining
and said to me, 'Bring what thou hast, O son of Safwan!' Quoth I, 'O
Commander of the Faithful, one of the Kings before thee went forth in a
time before this thy time, to this very country and said to his
companions, 'Saw ye ever any state like mine and say me, hath such case
been given to any man even as it hath been given unto me?' Now there
was with him a man of those who survive to bear testimony to Truth;
upholders of the Right and wayfarers in its highway, and he said to
him, 'O King, thou askest of a grave matter.  Wilt thou give me leave
to answer?' 'Yes,' replied the King, and the other said, 'Dost thou
judge thy present state to be short lasting or ever lasting?' 'It is
temporary,' replied the King.  'How then,' rejoined the man, 'do I see
thee exulting in that which thou wilt enjoy but a little while and
whereof thou wilt be questioned for a long while and for the rendering
an account whereof thou shalt be as a pledge which is pawned?' Quoth
the King, 'Whither shall I flee and what must I seek for me?' 'That
thou abide in thy kingship,' replied the other, 'or else robe thee in
rags[FN#298] and apply thyself to obey Almighty Allah thy Lord until
thine appointed hour.  I will come to thee again at daybreak.' Khalid
bin Safwan further relates that the man knocked at the door at dawn and
behold, the King had put off his crown and resolved to become an
anchorite, for the stress of his exhortation.  When Hishám bin Abd
al-Malik heard this, he wept till his beard was wet, and, bidding his
rich apparel be put off, shut himself up in his palace.  Then the
grandees and dependents came to Khalid and said, 'What is this thou
hast done with the Commander of the Faithful?  Thou hast troubled his
pleasure and disturbed his life!' Then quoth Nuzhat al-Zaman,
addressing herself to Sharrkan, "How many instances of admonition are
there not in this chapter!  Of a truth I cannot report all appertaining
to this head in a single sitting,"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of
day and ceased to say her permitted say.

              When it was the Sixty-seventh Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Nuzhat al- Zaman
continued, speaking to Sharrkan, "Know, O King, that in this chapter be
so many instances of admonition that of a truth I cannot report all
appertaining to this head in a single sitting but, with length of days,
O King of the age, all will be well." There said the Kazis, "O King, of
a truth this damsel is the wonder of the world, and of our age the
unique pearl!  Never heard we her like in the length of time or in the
length of our lives." And they called down blessings on the King and
went away. Then Sharrkan turned to his attendants and said, "Begin ye
to prepare the marriage festival and make ready food of all kinds." So
they forthright did his bidding as regards the viands, and he commanded
the wives of the Emirs and Wazirs and Grandees depart not until the
time of the wedding banquet and of the unveiling of the bride.  Hardly
came the period of afternoon prayer when the tables were spread with
whatso heart can desire or eye can delight in of roast meats and geese
and fowls; and the subjects ate till they were satisfied.  Moreover,
Sharrkan had sent for all the singing women of Damascus and they were
present, together with every slave girl of the King and of the notables
who knew how to sing.  And they went up to the palace in one body. 
When the evening came and darkness starkened they lighted candles,
right and left, from the gate of the citadel to that of the palace; and
the Emirs and Wazirs and Grandees marched past before King Sharrkan,
whilst the singers and the tire women took the damsel to dress and
adorn her, but found she needed no adornment. Meantime King Sharrkan
went to the Hammam and coming out, sat down on his seat of estate,
whilst they paraded the bride before him in seven different dresses:
after which they eased her of the weight of her raiment and ornaments
and gave such injunctions as are enjoined upon virgins on their wedding
nights.  Then Sharrkan went in unto her and took her
maidenhead;[FN#299] and she at once conceived by him and, when she
announced it, he rejoiced with exceeding joy and commanded the savants
to record the date of her conception.  On the morrow he went forth and
seated himself on his throne, and the high officers came in to him and
gave him joy.  Then he called his private secretary and bade him write
a letter to his father, King Omar bin al-Nu'uman, saying that he had
bought him a damsel, who excels in learning and good breeding and who
is mistress of all kinds of knowledge.  Moreover he wrote, "There is no
help but that I send her to Baghdad to visit my brother Zau al-Makan
and my sister Nuzhat al-Zaman.  I have set her free and married her and
she hath conceived by me." And he went on to praise her wit and salute
his brother and sister together with the Wazir Dandan and all the
Emirs.  Then he sealed the letter and despatched it to his father by a
post courier who was absent a whole month, after which time he returned
with the answer and presented it in the presence.  Sharrkan took it and
read as follows, "After the usual Bismillah, this is from the afflicted
distracted man, from him who hath lost his children and home by bane
and ban, King Omar bin al- Nu'uman, to his son Sharrkan.  Know that,
since thy departure from me, the place is become contracted upon me, so
that no longer I have power of patience nor can I keep my secret: and
the cause thereof is as follows.  It chanced that when I went forth to
hunt and course Zau al-Makan sought my leave to fare Hijaz wards, but
I, fearing for him the shifts of fortune, forbade him therefrom until
the next year or the year after.  My absence while sporting and hunting
endured for a whole month"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and
ceased saying her permitted say.

              When it was the Sixty-eighth night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that King Omar bin
al-Nu'uman wrote in his letter, "My absence while sporting and hunting
endured for a whole month, and when I returned I found that thy brother
and sister had taken somewhat of money and had set out with the pilgrim
caravan for pilgrimage by stealth. When I knew this, the wide world
narrowed on me, O my son!  but I awaited the return of the caravan,
hoping that haply they would come back with it.  Accordingly, when the
palmers appeared I asked concerning the twain, but they could give me
no news of them; so I donned mourning for them, being heavy at heart,
and in sleep I have no part and I am drowned in the tears of my eyes."
Then he wrote in verse,

"That pair in image quits me not one single hour, * Whom in my

     heart's most honourable place I keep:

Sans hope of their return I would not live one hour, * Without my

     dreams of them I ne'er would stretch me in sleep."


The letter went on, "And after the usual salutations to thee and thine,
I command thee neglect no manner of seeking news of them for indeed
this is a shame to us." When Sharrkan read the letter he felt grief for
his father and joy for the loss of his brother and sister.  Then he
took the missive and went in with it to Nuzhat al-Zaman who knew not
that he was her brother, nor he that she was his sister, albeit he
often visited her both by night and by day till the months were
accomplished and she sat down on the stool of delivery.  Allah made the
child birth easy to her and she bare a daughter, whereupon she sent for
Sharrkan and seeing him she said to him, "This is thy daughter: name
her as thou wilt." Quoth he, "It is usual to name children on the
seventh day after birth.[FN#300]" Then he bent over the child to kiss
it and he saw, hung about its neck, a jewel, which he knew at once for
one of those which Princess Abrizah had brought from the land of the
Greeks.  Now when he saw the jewel hanging from his babe's neck he
recognised it right well, his senses fled and wrath seized on him; his
eyes rolled in rage and he looked at Nuzhat al- Zaman and said to her,
"Whence hadst thou this jewel, O slave girl?" When she heard this from
Sharrkan she replied, "I am thy lady, and the lady of all in thy
palace!  Art thou not ashamed to say to me Slave girl?  I am a Queen,
daughter of King Omar bin al-Nu'uman." Hearing this, he was seized with
trembling and hung his head earthwards,—And Shahrazad perceived the
dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.

               When it was the Sixty-ninth Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Sharrkan
heard these words, his heart fluttered and his colour waxed yellow and
he was seized with trembling and he hung his head earthwards, for he
knew that she was his sister by the same father.  Then he lost his
senses; and, when he revived, he abode in amazement, but did not
discover his identity to her and asked, O my lady, say, art thou in
sooth the daughter of King Omar bin al- Nu'uman?" "Yes," answered she;
and he continued, "Tell me the cause of thy leaving thy sire and of thy
being sold for a slave." So she related to him all that had befallen
her from beginning to end, how she had left her brother sick in the
Sanctified City, Jerusalem, and how the Badawi had kidnapped her and
had sold her to the trader. When Sharrkan heard this, he was certified
of her being his sister on the sword side and said to himself, "How can
I have my sister to wife?  By Allah, needs must I marry her to one of
my chamberlains; and, if the thing get wind, I will declare that I
divorced her before consummation and married her to my Chief
Chamberlain." Then he raised his head and sighing said, "O Nuzhat
al-Zaman, thou art my very sister and I cry: 'I take refuge with Allah
from this sin whereinto we have fallen,' for I am Sharrkan, son of Omar
bin al-Nu'uman." She looked at him and knew he spoke the truth; and,
becoming as one demented, she wept and buffeted her face, exclaiming,
"There is no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah!  Verily have
we fallen into mortal sin![FN#301] What shall I do and what shall I say
to my father and my mother when they ask me, Whence hadst thou thy
daughter?" Quoth Sharrkan, "It were meetest that I marry thee to my
Chamberlain and let thee bring up my daughter in his house, that none
may know thou be my sister.  This hath befallen us from Almighty Allah
for a purpose of his own, and nothing shall cover us but thy marriage
with this Chamberlain, ere any know." Then he fell to comforting her
and kissing her head and she asked him, "What wilt thou call the girl?"
"Call her Kuzia Fakán,"[FN#302] answered he.  Then he gave the mother
in marriage to the Chief Chamberlain, and transferred her to his house
with the child, which they reared on the laps of the slave girls, and
fed with milk and dosed with powders.  Now all this occurred whilst the
brother, Zau al-Makan, still tarried with the Fireman at Damascus.  One
day there came to King Sharrkan a courier from his father, with a
letter which he took and read and found therein, "After the Bismillah
know, O beloved King, that I am afflicted with sore affliction for the
loss of my children: sleep ever faileth me and wakefulness ever
assaileth me.  I send thee this letter that, as soon as thou receivest
it, thou make ready the monies and the tribute, and send them to us,
together with the damsel whom thou hast bought and taken to wife; for I
long to see her and hear her discourse; more especially because there
hath come to us from Roumland an old woman of saintly bearing and with
her be five damsels high bosomed virgins, endowed with knowledge and
good breeding and all arts and sciences befitting mortals to know; and
indeed tongue faileth me to describe this old woman and these who with
her wend; for of a truth they are compendiums of perfections in
learning and accomplishments.  As soon as I saw them I loved them, and
I wished to have them in my palace and in the compass of my hand; for
none of the Kings owneth the like of them; so I asked the old woman
their price and she answered, 'I will not sell them but for the tribute
of Damascus.' And I, by Allah, did not hold this price exorbitant,
indeed it is but little, for each one of them is worth the whole
valuation.  So I agreed to that and took them into my palace, and they
remain in my possession.  Wherefore do thou forward the tribute to us
that the woman may return to her own country; and send to us the damsel
to the end that she may dispute with them before the doctors; and, if
she prevail over them, I will return her to thee accompanied by the
tribute of Baghdad."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased
to say her permitted say.

               When it was the Seventieth Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that King Omar son of
Al-Nu'uman said in his letter, "And send to us the damsel to the end
that she may dispute with them before the doctors and, if she prevail
over them, I will return her to thee accompanied with the tribute of
Baghdad." As soon as Sharrkan knew the contents, he went in to his
brother in law and said to him, "Bring the damsel to whom I married
thee;" and when she came he showed her the letter and said, "O my
sister!  what answer wouldst thou advise me make to this letter?"
Replied she, "Seek advice from thyself!" and presently added (for she
yearned after her people and her native land), "Send me together with
my husband the Chamberlain, to Baghdad, that I may tell my father my
tale and let him know whatso befel me with the Badawi who sold me to
the merchant, and that I also inform him how thou boughtest me of the
trader and gavest me in marriage to the Chamberlain, after setting me
free." "Be it so," replied Sharrkan.  Then Sharrkan took his daughter,
Kuzia Fakan, and committed her to the charge of the wet nurses and the
eunuchs, and he made ready the tribute in haste, bidding the
Chamberlain travel with the Princess and the treasure to Baghdad.  He
also furnished him two travelling litters one for himself and the other
for his wife.  And the Chamberlain replied, "To hear is to obey."
Moreover Sharrkan collected camels and mules and wrote a letter to his
father and committed it to the Chamberlain; then he bade farewell to
his sister, after he had taken the jewel from her and hung it round his
daughter's neck by a chain of pure gold; and she and her husband set
out for Baghdad the same night.  Now it so happened that Zau al-Makan
and his friend the Fireman had come forth from the hut in which they
were, to see the spectacle, and they beheld camels and Bukhti[FN#303]
dromedaries and bât-mules and torches and lanterns alight; and Zau
al-Makan enquired about the loads and their owner and was told that it
was the tribute of Damascus going to King Omar bin al-Nu'uman, Lord of
the City of Baghdad. He then asked, "Who be the leader of the caravan?"
and they answered, "The Head Chamberlain who hath married the damsel so
famous for learning and science." Thereupon Zau al-Makan wept with
bitter weeping and was minded of his mother and his father and his
sister and his native land, and he said to the Stoker, "I will join
this caravan and, little by little, will journey homewards." Quoth the
Fireman, "I would not suffer thee to travel single handed from the Holy
City to Damascus, then how shall I be sure of thy safety when thou
farest for Baghdad?  But I will go with thee and care for thee till
thou effectest thine object." "With joy and good will," answered Zau
al-Makan.  Then the Fireman get him ready for the journey and hired an
ass and threw saddle bags over it and put therein something of
provaunt; and, when all was prepared, he awaited the passage of the
caravan. And presently the Chamberlain came by on a dromedary and his
footmen about him.  Then Zau al-Ma ken mounted the ass and said to his
companion, "Do thou mount with me." But he replied, "Not so: I will be
thy servant." Quoth Zau al-Makan, "There is no help for it but thou
ride awhile." "'Tis well," quoth the Stoker; "I will ride when I grow
tired." Then said Zau al-Makan, "O my brother, soon shalt thou see how
I will deal with thee, when I come to my own folk." So they fared on
till the sun rose and,When it was the hour of the noonday sleep[FN#304]
the Chamberlain called a halt and they alighted and reposed and watered
their camels.  Then he gave the signal for departure and, after five
days, they came to the city of Hamáh,[FN#305] where they set down and
made a three days' halt;—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and
ceased saying her permitted say.

              When it was the Seventy-first Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that they halted in
the city of Hamah three days; they then fared forwards and ceased not
travelling till they reached another city.  Here also they halted three
days and thence they travelled till they entered the province Diyár
Bakr.  Here blew on them the breezes of Baghdad, and Zau al-Makan
bethought him of his father and mother and native land, and how he was
returning to his sire without his sister: so he wept and sighed and
complained, and his regrets grew on him, and he began improvising these
couplets,

"Sweetheart!  How long must I await by so long suffering teed? *

     Nor cometh messenger to tell me where thou dost abide:

Ah me!  in very sooth our meeting time was short enow: * Would

     Heaven shorter prove to me the present parting-tide!

Now trend my hand and open my robe and thou within shall sight *

     How wasted are the limbs of me and yet the waste I hide:

When say they 'Comfort take for loss of love' I but reply * 'By

     Allah, till the Day of Doom no comfort shall betide!' "


Thereupon said to him the Fireman, "Leave this weeping and wailing, for
we are near the Chamberlain's tent." Quoth Zau al- Makan, "Needs must I
recite somewhat of verse; haply it may quench the fire of my heart."
"Allah upon thee," cried the other, "cease this lamentation till thou
come to shine own country; then do what thou wilt, and I will be with
thee wherever thou art." Replied Zau al-Makan, "By Allah!  I cannot
forbear from this!" Then he turned his face towards Baghdad and the
moon was shining brightly and shedding her light on the place, and
Nuzhat al-Zaman could not sleep that night, but was restless and called
to mind her brother and wept.  And while she was in tears, he heard Zau
al-Makan weeping and improvising the following distichs,

'Al-Yaman's[FN#306] leven-gleam I see, * And sore despair

     despaireth me

For friend who erst abode wi' me * Crowning my cup with gladdest

     gree:

It minds me o' one who jilted me * To mourn my bitter liberty.

Say sooth, thou fair sheet lightning!  shall * We meet once more

     in joy and glee?

O blamer!  spare to me thy blame * My Lord hath sent this dule to

     dree,

Of friend who left me, fain to flee; * Of Time that breeds

     calamity:

All bliss hath fled the heart of me * Since Fortune proved mine

     enemy.

He[FN#307] brimmed a bowl of merest pine, * And made me drain the

     dregs, did he:

I see me, sweetheart, dead and gone * Ere I again shall gaze on

     thee.

Time!  prithee bring our childhood back, * Restore our happy

     infancy,

When joy and safety 'joyed we * From shafts that now they shoot

     at me!

Who aids the hapless stranger wight, * That nights in fright and

     misery,

That wastes his days in lonely grief, * For 'Time's

     Delight'[FN#308] no more must be?

Doomed us despite our will to bear * The hands of base bores cark

     and care."


When he ended his verse he cried out and fell down in a fainting fit. 
This is how it fared with him; but as regards Nuzhat al- Zaman, when
she heard that voice in the night, her heart was at rest and she rose
and in her joy she called the Chief Eunuch, who said to her, "What is
thy will?" Quoth she, "Arise and bring me him who recited verses but
now." Replied he, "Of a truth I did not hear him"—And Shahrazad
perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.

             When it was the Seventy-second Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Nuzhat
Al-Zaman heard her brother reciting, she called the Chief Eunuch and
said to him, "Go, fetch me the man who is repeating this poetry!"
Replied he, "Of a truth I heard him not and I wot him not and folks are
all sleeping." But she said, "Whomsoever thou seest awake, he is the
reciter." So he went, yet found none on wake save the Stoker; for Zau
al-Makan was still insensible, and when his companion saw the Eunuch
standing by his head he was afraid of him.  Then said the Eunuch, "Art
thou he who repeated poetry but now and my lady heard him?" The Stoker
fancied that the dame was wroth with the reciter; and, being afraid, he
replied, "By Allah, 'twas not I!" Rejoined the Eunuch, "Who then was
the reciter?: point him out to me.  Thou must know who it was, seeing
that thou art awake." The Fireman feared for Zau al- Makan and said in
himself, "Haply the Eunuch will do him some hurt"; so he answered, "By
Allah, I know not who it was." Said the Eunuch, "By Allah, thou liest,
for there is none on wake here but thou!  So needs must thou know him."
"By Allah," replied the Fireman, "I tell thee the truth!: some passer
by, some wayfarer must have recited the verses and disturbed me and
kept me awake; Allah requite him!" Quoth the Eunuch, "If thou happen
upon him, point him out to me and I will lay hands on him and bring him
to the door of our lady's litter[FN#309] or do thou take him with thine
own hand." Said the Fireman, "Go thou back and I will bring him to
thee." So the Eunuch left him and went his ways; and, going in to his
mistress, told her all this and said to her, "None knoweth who it was;
it must have been some passer by, some wayfarer." And she was silent. 
Meanwhile, Zau al-Makan came to himself and saw that the moon had
reached the middle Heavens; the breath of the dawn breeze[FN#310]
breathed upon him and his heart was moved to longing and sadness; so he
cleared his throat and was about to recite verses, when the Fire man
asked him, "What wilt thou do?" Answered Zau al-Makan, "I have a mind
to repeat somewhat of poetry, that I may quench therewith the fire of
my heart." Quoth the other, "Thou knowest not what befel me whilst thou
wast a faint, and how I escaped death only by beguiling the Eunuch."
"Tell me what happened," quoth Zau al-Makan.  Replied the Stoker,
"Whilst thou wast aswoon there came up to me but now an Eunuch, with a
long staff of almond tree wood in his hand, who took to looking in all
the people's faces, as they lay asleep, and asked me who it was recited
the verses, finding none awake but myself.  I told him in reply it was
some passerby, some wayfarer; so he went away and Allah delivered me
from him; else had he killed me.  But first he said to me, 'If thou
hear him again, bring him to us.'" When Zau al-Makan heard this he wept
and said, "Who is it would forbid me to recite?  I will surely recite,
befal me what may; for I am near mine own land and care for none."
Rejoined the Fireman, "Thy design is naught save to lose thy life;" and
Zau al-Makan retorted, "Needs must I recite verses." "Verily," said the
Stoker, "needs must there be a parting between me and thee in this
place, albeit;I had intended not to leave thee, till I had brought thee
to thy native city and reunited thee with thy mother and father.  Thou
hast now tarried with me a year and a half and I have never harmed thee
in aught. What ails thee, then, that thou must needs recite verses,
seeing that we are tired out with walking and watching and all the folk
are asleep, for they require sleep to rest them of their fatigue?" But
Zau al-Makan answered, "I will not be turned away from my
purpose."[FN#311] Then grief moved him and he threw off concealment and
began repeating these couplets,

"Stand thou by the homes and hail the lords of the ruined stead;

     * Cry thou for an answer, belike reply to thee shall be

     sped:

If the night and absence irk thy spirit kindle a torch * Wi'

     repine; and illuminate the gloom with a gleaming greed:

If the snake of the sand dunes hiss, I shall marvel not at all!

     * Let him bite so I bite those beauteous lips of the

     luscious red:

O Eden, my soul hath fled in despite of the maid I love: * Had I

     lost hope of Heaven my heart in despair were dead."


And he also improvised the two following distichs,

"We were and were the days enthralled to all our wills, *

     Dwelling in union sweet and homed in fairest site:

Who shall restore the home of the beloved, where showed * Light

     of the Place for aye conjoined with Time's

     Delight?''[FN#312]


And as he ceased his verses, he shrieked three shrieks and fell
senseless to the ground and the Fireman rose and covered him. When
Nuzhat al-Zaman heard the first improvisation, she called to mind her
father and her mother and her brother and their whilome home; then she
wept and cried at the Eunuch and said to him, "Woe to thee!  He who
recited the first time hath recited a second time and I heard him hard
by.  By Allah, an thou fetch him not to me, I will assuredly rouse the
Chamberlain on thee, and he shall beat thee and cast thee out.  But
take these hundred diners and give them to the singer and bring him to
me gently, and do him no hurt.  If he refuse, hand to him this purse of
a thousand diners, then leave him and return to me and tell me, after
thou hast informed thyself of his place and his calling and what
countryman he is. Return quickly and linger not."—And Shahrazad
perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.

              When it was the Seventy-third Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Nuzhat al- Zaman
sent the Eunuch to make enquiries concerning the singer and said,
"Beware how thou come back to me and report, I could not find him." So
the Eunuch went out and laid about the people and trod in their tents,
but found none awake, all being asleep for weariness, till he came to
the Stoker and saw him sitting up, with his head uncovered.  So he drew
near and seizing him by the hand, said to him, "It was thou didst
recite the verses!" The Fireman was afeard for his life and replied,
"No, by Allah, O chief of the people, it was not I!" But the Eunuch
said, "I will not leave thee till thou show me who it was that recited
the verses, for I dread returning to my lady without him." Now when the
Fireman heard these words he feared for Zau al-Makan and wept with
exceeding weeping and said to the Eunuch, "By Allah, it was not I, and
I know him not.  I only heard some passer by, some wayfarer, recite
verses: so do not thou commit sin on me, for I am a stranger and come
from the Holy City of Jerusalem; and Abraham, the friend of Allah, be
with you all." "Rise up and fare with me," rejoined the Eunuch, "and
tell my lady this with thine own mouth, for I have seen none awake save
thyself." Quoth the Stoker, "Hast thou not come and seen me sitting in
the place where I now am, and dost thou not know my station? Thou
wottest none can stir from his place, except the watchman seize him. 
So go thou to thy station and if thou again meet any one after this
hour reciting aught of poetry, whether he be near or far, it will be I
or some one I know, and thou shalt not learn of him but by me." Then he
kissed the Eunuch's head and spake him fair till he went away; but the
Castrato fetched a round and, returning secretly, came and stood behind
the Fireman, fearing to go back to his mistress without tidings.  As
soon as he was gone, the Stoker arose and aroused Zau al-Makan and said
to him, "Come, sit up, that I may tell thee what hath happened." So Zau
al-Makan sat up, and his companion told him what had passed, and he
answered, "Let me alone; I will take no heed of this and I care for
none, for I am mine own country."[FN#313] Quoth the Stoker, "Why wilt
thou obey thy flesh and the devil?  If thou fear no one, I fear for
thee and for my life, so Allah upon thee!  recite nothing more of
verses till thou come to thine own land.  Indeed, I had not deemed thee
so ill conditioned.  Dost thou not know that this lady is the wife; of
the Chamberlain and is minded to chastise thee for disturbing her? 
Belike, she is ill or restless for fatigue of the journey and the
distance of the place from her home, and this is the second time she
hath sent the Eunuch to look for thee." However Zau al-Makan paid no
heed to the Fireman's words but cried out a third time and began
versifying with these couplets,

"I fly the carper's injury,* Whose carping sorely vexeth me:

He chides and taunts me, wotting not * He burns me but more

     grievously.

The blamer cries 'He is consoled!' * I say, 'My own dear

     land[FN#314] to see:'

They ask, 'Why be that land so dear?' * I say, 'It taught me in

     love to be:'

They ask, 'What raised its dignity?' * I say, 'What made my

     ignomy:'

Whate'er the bitter cup I drain, * Far be fro' me that land to

     flee:

Nor will I bow to those who blame, * And for such love would deal

     me shame.


Hardly had he made an end of his verses and come to a conclusion, when
the Eunuch (who had heard him from his hiding place at his head) came
up to him; whereupon the Fireman flea end stood afar off to see what
passed between them. Then said the Eunuch to Zau al-Makan, "Peace be
with thee, O my lord!" "And on thee be peace," replied Zau al-Makan,
"and the mercy of Allah and His blessings!" "O my lord," continued the
Eunuch—-And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her
permitted say,

             When it was the Seventy-fourth Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Eunuch said
to Zau al-Makan, "O my lord, I have sought thee these several times
this night, for my mistress biddeth thee to her." Quoth Zau al- Makan,
"And who be this bitch that seeketh for me? Allah curse her and curse
her husband with her!"[FN#315] And he began to revile the Eunuch, who
could make him no answer, because his mistress had charged him to do
Zau al-Makan no hurt, nor bring him save of his own especial free will;
and, if he would not accompany him, to give him the thousand diners. 
So the Castrato began to speak him fair and say to him, "O my lord,
take this purse and go with me.  We will do thee no upright, O my son,
nor wrong thee in aught; but our object is that thou bend thy gracious
steps with me to my mistress, to receive her answer and return in weal
and safety: and thou shalt have a handsome present as one who bringeth
good news." When Zau al- Makan heard this, he arose and went with the
Eunuch and walked among the sleeping folk, stepping over them; whilst
the Fireman followed after them from afar, and kept his eye upon him
and said to himself, "Alas the pity of his youth!  Tomorrow they will
hang him." And he ceased not following them till he approached their
station,[FN#316] without any observing him.  Then he stood still and
said, "How base it will be of him, if he say it was I who bade him
recite the verses!" This was the case of the Stoker; but as regards
what befel Zau al-Makan, he ceased not walking with the Eunuch till he
reached his station and the Castrato went in to Nuzhat al-Zaman and
said, "O my lady, I have brought thee him whom thou soughtest, and he
is a youth, fair of face and bearing the marks of wealth and gentle
breeding." When she heard this, her heart fluttered and she cried, "Let
him recite some verses, that I may hear him near hand, and after ask
him his name and his condition and his native land." Then the Eunuch
went out to Zau al-Makan and said to him, "Recite what verses thou
knowest, for my lady is here hard by, listening to thee, and after I
will ask thee of thy name and thy native country and thy condition."
Replied he, "With love and gladness but, an thou ask my name, it is
erased and my trace is unplaced and my body a waste.  I have a story,
the beginning of which is not known nor can the end of it be shown, and
behold, I am even as one who hath exceeded in wine drinking and who
hath not spared himself; one who is afflicted with distempers and who
wandereth from his right mind, being perplexed about his case and
drowned in the sea of thought." When Nuzhat al-Zaman heard this, she
broke out into excessive weeping and sobbing, and said to the Eunuch,
"Ask him if he have parted from one he loveth even as his mother or
father." The Castrato asked as she bade him, and Zau al-Makan replied,
"Yes, I have parted from every one I loved: but the dearest of all to
me was my sister, from whom Fate hath separated me." When Nuzhat al-
Zaman heard this, she exclaimed, "Allah Almighty reunite him with what
he loveth!"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying
her permitted say.

              When it was the Seventy-fifth Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Nuzhat
al-Zaman heard his words she said, "Allah reunite him with what he
loveth!" Then quoth she to the Eunuch, "Tell him to let me hear
somewhat anent his separation from his countrymen and his country." The
Eunuch did so, and Zau al-Makan sighed heavily and began repeating
these couplets,[FN#317]

"Is not her love a pledge by all mankind confest?  * The house

     that hometh Hinda be forever blest'

Her love all levels; man can reck of naught beside; * Naught or

     before or after can for man have zest

'Tis though the vale is paved with musk and ambergris * That day

     when Hinda's footstep on its face is prest:

Hail to the beauty of our camp, the pride of folk, * The dearling

     who en' Slaves all hearts by her behest:

Allah on 'Time's Delight' send large dropped clouds that teem *

     With genial rain but bear no thunder in their breast."


And also these,

"I vow to Allah if at home I sight * My sister Nuzhat al-Zamani

     highs

I'll pass the days in joyance and delight * Mid bashful minions,

     maidens soft and white:

To sound of harps in various modes they smite * Draining the

     bowl, while eyes rain lively light

'Neath half closed lids, a sipping lips red bright * By stream

     bank flowing through my garden site."


When he had finished his verse, Nuzhat al-Zaman lifted up a skirt of
the litter curtain and looked at him.  As soon as her eyes fell on his
face, she knew him for certain and cried out, "O my brother!  O Zau
al-Makan!" He also looked at her and knew her and cried out, "O my
sister!  O Nuzhat al-Zaman!" Then she threw herself upon him and he
gathered her to his bosom and the twain fell down in a fainting fit. 
When the Eunuch saw this case, he wondered at them and throwing over
them somewhat to cover them, waited till they should recover. After a
while they came to themselves, and Nuzhat al-Zaman rejoiced with
exceeding joy: oppression and depression left her and gladness took the
mastery of her, and she repeated these verses,

"Time sware my life should fare in woeful waste; * Forsworn art

     Time, expiate thy sin in haste![FN#318]

Comes weal and comes a welcome friend to aid; * To him who brings

     good news, rise, gird thy waist

I spurned old world tales of Eden bliss; * Till came I

     Kausar[FN#319] on those lips


When Zau al-Makan heard this, he pressed his sister to his breast;
tears streamed from his eyes for excess of joy and he repeated these
couplets,[FN#320]

"Long I lamented that we fell apart, * While tears repentant

     railed from these eyne;

And sware, if Time unite us twain once more, * 'Severance' shall

     never sound from tongue of mine:

Joy hath so overwhelmed me that excess * Of pleasure from mine

     eyes draws gouts of brine:

Tears, O mine eyes, have now become your wont * Ye weep for

     pleasure and you weep for pine!"


They sat awhile at the litter door till she said to him, "Come with me
into the litter and tell me all that hath befallen thee, and I will
tell thee what happened to me." So they entered and Zau al-Maken said,
"Do thou begin thy tale." Accordingly she told him all that had come to
her since their separation at the Khan and what had happened to her
with the Badawi; how the merchant had bought her of him and had taken
her to her brother Sharrkan and had sold her to him; how he had freed
her at the time of buying; how he had made a marriage contract with her
and had gone in to her and how the King, their sire, had sent and asked
for her from Sharrkan.  Then quoth she, "Praised be Allah who hath
vouchsafed thee to me and ordained that, even as we left our father
together, so together shall we return to him!" And she added, "Of a
truth my brother Sharrkan gave me in marriage to this Chamberlain that
he might carry me to my father.  And this is what befel me from first
to last; so now tell me how it hath fared with thee since I left thee."
Thereupon he told her all that had happened to him from beginning to
end; and how Allah vouchsafed to send the Fireman to him, and how he
had journeyed with him and spent his money on him and had served him
night and day.  She praised the Stoker for this and Zau al-Makan added,
"Of a truth, O my sister, this Fireman hath dealt with me in such
benevolent wise as would not lover with lass nor sire with son, for
that he fasted and gave me to eat, and he walked whilst he made me
ride; and I owe my life to him." Said she, "Allah willing, we will
requite him for all this, according to our power." Then she called the
Eunuch, who came and kissed Zau al- Makan's hand, and she said, "Take
thy reward for glad tidings, O face of good omen!  It was thy hand
reunited me with my brother; so the purse I gave thee and all in it are
thine.  But now go to thy master and bring him quickly to me." The
Castrato rejoiced and, going in to the Chamberlain, him to his
mistress. Accordingly, he came in to his wife and finding Zau al-Makan
with her, asked who he was.  So she told him all that had befallen them
both, first and last, and added, "Know, O Chamberlain, that thou hast
married no slave girl; far from it, thou hast taken to wife the
daughter of King Omar bin al-Nu'uman for I am Nuzhat al- Zaman, and
this is my brother, Zau al-Makan." When the Chamberlain heard the story
he knew it to be sooth, and its manifest truth appeared to him and he
was certified that he was become King Omar bin al-Nu'uman's son in law,
so he said to himself, " 'Twill be my fate to be made viceroy of some
province."[FN#321] Then he went up to Zau al-Makan and gave him joy of
his safety and reunion with his sister, and bade his servants forthwith
make him ready a tent and one of the best of his own horses to ride. 
Thereupon said Nuzhat al-Zaman, "We are now near our country and I
would be left alone with my brother, that we may enjoy each other's
company and take our fill of it ere we reach Baghdad; for we have been
parted a long, long time." "Be it as thou biddest," replied the
Chamberlain, and, going forth from them, sent them wax candles and
various kinds of sweetmeats, together with three suits of the costliest
for Zau al-Makan.  Then he returned to the litter and related the good
he had done and Nuzhat al-Zaman said to him, "Bid the Eunuch bring me
the Fireman and give him a horse to ride and ration him with a tray of
food morning and evening, and let him be forbidden to leave us." The
Chamberlain called the Castrato and charged him to do accordingly; so
he replied, "I hear and I obey;" and he took his pages with him and
went out in search of the Stoker till he found him in the rear of the
caravan, girthing his ass and preparing for flight.  The tears were
running adown his cheeks, out of fear for his life and grief for his
separation from Zau al-Makan; and he was saying to himself, "Indeed, I
warned him for the love of Allah, but he would not listen to me; Oh
would I knew what is become of him!" Ere he had done speaking the
Eunuch was standing by his head whilst the pages surrounded him The
Fireman turned and seeing the Eunuch and the pages gathered around him
became yellow with fear,—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and
ceased to say her permitted say.

              When it was the Seventy-sixth Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the Stoker
girthed his ass for flight and bespake himself, saying, "Oh would I
knew what is become of him!"; ere he had done speaking the Castrato was
standing by his head and his side muscles quivered for fear and he
lifted up his voice and cried, "Verily he knoweth not the value of the
good offices I have done him!  I believe he hath denounced me to the
Eunuch (hence these pages et about me) and he hath made me an
accomplice in his crime." Then the effeminated one cried at him,
saying, "Who was it recited the verses?  O liar!  why didst thou say,
'I never repeated these couplets, nor do I know who repeated them;'
when it was thy companion?  But now I will not leave thee between this
place and Baghdad, and what betideth thy comrade shall betide thee."
Quoth the Fireman, "What I feared hath befallen me." And he repeated
this couplet,

"'Twas as I feared the coming ills discerning: * But unto Allah we are
all returning."

Then the Eunuch cried upon the pages, saying, "Take him off the ass."
So they carried him along with the caravan, surrounded by the pages, as
the white contains the black of the eye; and the Castrato said to them,
"If a hair of him be lost, you will be lost with it." And he bade them
privily treat him with honour and not humiliate him.  But when the
Stoker saw himself beset by the pages, he despaired of his life and
turning to the Eunuch, said to him, "O Chief, I am neither this youth's
brother nor am I akin to him, nor is he sib to me; but I was a Fireman
in a Hammam and found him cast out, in his sickness, on the dung heap."
Then the caravan fared on and the Stoker wept and imagined in himself a
thousand things, whilst the Eunuch walked by his side and told him
nothing, but said to him, "Thou disturbedst our mistress by reciting
verses, thou and this youth: but fear nothing for thy self;" and kept
laughing at him the while to himself.  Whenever the caravan halted,
they served him with food, and he and the Castrato ate from one
dish.[FN#322] Then the Eunuch bade his lads bring a gugglet of sugared
sherbet and, after drinking himself, gave it to the Fireman, who drank;
but all the while his tears never dried, out of fear for his life and
grief for his separation from Zau al-Makan and for what had befallen
them in their strangerhood.  So they both travelled on with the
caravan, whilst the Chamberlain now rode by the door of his wife's
litter, in attendance on Zau al-Makan and his sister, and now gave an
eye to the Fireman; and Nuzhat al-Zaman and her brother occupied
themselves with converse and mutual condolence; and they ceased not
after this fashion till they came within three days' journey from
Baghdad.  Here they alighted at eventide and rested till the morning
morrowed; and as they awoke and they were about to load the beasts,
behold, there appeared afar off a great cloud of dust that darkened the
firmament till it became black as gloomiest night.[FN#323] Thereupon
the Chamberlain cried out to them, "Stay, and your loading delay!";
then, mounting with his Mamelukes, rode forward in the direction of the
dust cloud.  When they drew near, suddenly appeared under it a numerous
conquering host like the full tide sea, with flags and standards, drums
and kettledrums, horsemen and footmen.  The Chamberlain marvelled at
this; and when the troops saw him, there detached itself from amongst
them a plump of five hundred cavaliers, who fell upon him and his suite
and surrounded them, five for one; whereupon said he to them, "What is
the matter and what are these troops, that ye do this with us?" Asked
they, "Who art thou; and whence comest thou, and whither art thou
bound?" and he answered, "I am the Chamberlain of the Emir of Damascus,
King Sharrkan, son of Omar bin al-Nu'uman, Lord of Baghdad and of the
land of Khorasan, and I bring tribute and presents from him to his
father in Baghdad." When the horsemen heard his words they let their
head kerchiefs fall over their faces and wept, saying, "In very sooth
King Omar is dead and he died not but of poison.  So fare ye forwards;
no harm shall befal you till you join his Grand Wazir, Dandan." Now
when the Chamberlain heard this, he wept sore and exclaimed, "Oh for
our disappointment in this our journey!" Then he and all his suite wept
till they had come up with the host and sought access to the Wazir
Dandan, who granted an interview and called a halt and, causing his
pavilion to be pitched, sat down on a couch therein and commanded to
admit the Chamberlain. Then he bade him be seated and questioned him;
and he replied that he was Chamberlain to the Emir of Damascus and was
bound to King Omar with presents and the tribute of Syria.  The Wazir,
hearing the mention of King Omar's name, wept and said, "King Omar is
dead by poison, and upon his dying the folk fell out amongst themselves
as to who should succeed him, until they were like to slay one another
on this account; but the notables and grandees and the four Kazis
interposed and all the people agreed to refer the matter to the
decision of the four judges and that none should gainsay them.  So it
was agreed that we go to Damascus and fetch thence the King's son,
Sharrkan, and make him Sultan over his father's realm.  And amongst
them were some who would have chosen the cadet, Zau Al-Makan, for,
quoth they, his name be Light of the Place, and he hath a sister Nuzhat
al-Zaman highs, the Delight of the Time; but they set out five years
ago for Al-Hijaz and none wotteth what is become of them." When the
Chamberlain heard this, he knew; that his wife had told him the truth
of her adventures; and he grieved with sore grief for the death of King
Omar, albeit he joyed with exceeding joy, especially at the arrival of
Zau al-Makan, for that he would now become Sultan of Baghdad in his
father's stead—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased
saying her permitted say.

             When it was the Seventy-seventh Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Sharrkan's
Chamberlain heard of the death of King Omar bin al- Nu'uman he mourned,
but he rejoiced because of his wife and her brother Zau al-Makan who
would become Sultan of Baghdad in his father's stead.  So he turned to
the Wazir Dandan and said to him, "Verily your tale is a wonder of
wonders!  Know, O Chief Wazir, that here, where you have encountered
me, Allah hath given you rest from fatigue and bringeth you your desire
after the easiest of fashions, for that His Almighty Will restoreth to
you Zau al-Makan and his sister Nuzhat al-Zaman; whereby we will settle
the matter as we easily can." When the Minister heard these words he
rejoiced with great joy and said, "O Chamberlain, tell me the tale of
the twain and what befel them and the cause of their long absence." So
he repeated to him the whole story and told him that Nuzhat al-Zaman
was his wife and related to him the adventures of Zau al-Makan from
first to last.  As soon as he had ended his tale, the Wazir sent for
the Emirs and Wazirs and Chief Officers and acquainted them with the
matter; whereat they rejoiced with great joy and wondered at the happy
chance.  Then they gathered in a body and went in to the Chamberlain
and did their service to him, kissing the ground between his hands; and
the Wazir Dandan also rose and went out to meet him and stood before
him in honour.  After this, the Chamberlain held on that day a Divan
council; and he and the Wazir sat upon a throne, whilst all the Emirs
and Grandees and Officers of State took their places before them,
according to their several ranks.[FN#324] Then they melted sugar in
rose water and drank, after which the Emirs sat down to hold council
and permitted the rest of the host to mount and ride forward leisurely,
till they should make an end of their debate and overtake them.  So the
officers kissed the ground between their hands and mounting, rode
onwards, preceded by the standards of war.  When the grandees had
finished their conference, they took horse and rejoined the host; and
the Chamberlain approached the Wazir Dandan and said, "I deem it well
to ride on before you, and precede you, that I may get ready a place
for the Sultan and notify him of your coming and of your choosing him
as Sultan over the head of his brother Sharrkan." "Aright thou
reckest," answered the Wazir Then the Chamberlain rose up in haste and
Dandan also stood up to do him honour and brought him presents, which
he conjured him to accept. In similar guise did all the Emirs and
Grandees and Officers of State, bringing him gifts and calling down
blessings on him and saying to him, "Haply thou wilt mention our case
to Sultan Zau al-Makan and speak to him to continue us in our
dignities."[FN#325] The Chamberlain promised all they required and bade
his pages be ready to march, whereupon the Wazir Dandan sent with him
tents and bade the tent pitchers set them up at a day's journey from
the city.  And they did his bidding.  Then the Chamberlain mounted and
rode forward, full of joy and saying to himself, "How blessed is this
gurney!", and indeed his wife was exalted in his eyes, she and her
brother Zau al-Makan.  They made all haste over their wayfare, till
they reached a place distant a day's journey from Baghdad, where the
Chamberlain called a halt for rest, and bade his men alight and make
ready a sitting place for the Sultan Zau al-Makan, son of King Omar bin
al-Nu'uman, while he rode forward with his Mamelukes and, alighting at
a distance from Nuzhat al-Zaman's litter, commanded the eunuchs to ask
leave of admission to the presence.  They did so and she gave
permission; whereupon he went in to her and conversed with her and her
brother; and told them of the death of their father; and of Zau
al-Makan, how the heads of the people had made him King over them in
the stead of his sire; and he gave them joy of the kingdom.  They both
wept for their father and asked the manner of his being killed; but the
Chamberlain answered, "The news rests with the Wazir Dandan who will be
here tomorrow leading all the host; and it only remaineth for thee, O
King, to do what they counsel, since they have unanimously chosen thee
Sultan; for if thou do not this, they will choose some one else and
thou canst not be sure of thy life with another Sultan.  Haply he will
kill thee, or discord may befal between you twain and the kingdom pass
out of the hands of both." Zau al-Makan bowed his head awhile and then
said, "I accept this position;" for indeed there was no refusing; and
he was certified that the Chamberlain had counselled him well and
wisely and set him on the right way. Then he added, "O my uncle, how
shall I do with my brother Sharrkan?" "O my son," replied the
Chamberlain, "thy brother will be Sultan of Damascus and thou Sultan of
Baghdad; so take heart of grace and get ready thy case." Zau al-Makan
accepted this and the Chamberlain presented him with a suit of royal
raiment and a dagger[FN#326] of state, which the Wazir Dandan had
brought with him; then leaving him he bade the tent pitchers choose a
spot of rising ground and set up thereon a spacious pavilion, wherein
the Sultan might sit to receive the Emirs and Grandees.  Moreover he
ordered the kitcheners to cook rich viands and serve them and he
commanded the water carriers to dispose the water troughs.  They did as
he bade them and presently arose a cloud of dust from the ground and
spread till it walled the horizon round.  After awhile, the dust
dispersed and there appeared under it the army of Baghdad and Khorasan,
a conquering host like the full tide sea.—And Shahrazad perceived the
dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.

             When it was the Seventy-eighth Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the
Chamberlain bade the tent pitchers set up a pavilion spacious enough to
receive the subjects flocking to their Sultan, they planted a splendid
Sháhmiyánah[FN#327] befitting Kings.  And as they ended their labours
behold, a dust cloud spired aloft and the breeze made it lift and
beneath it showed a conquering host; and presently it appeared that
this was the army of Baghdad and Khorasan preceded by the Wazir Dandan.
 And in it all rejoiced at the accession of the "Light of the Place."
Now Zau al-Makan had donned robes of royal estate and girt himself with
the sword of state: so the Chamberlain brought him a steed and he
mounted surrounded by the Mamelukes and all the company from the tents
on foot, to do him service, and he rode on until he came to the great
pavilion, where he sat down and he laid the royal dagger across his
thighs, whilst the Chamberlain stood in attendance on him and his armed
slaves stationed themselves under the entrance awning of the
Shahmiyanah, with drawn swords in their hands. Presently, up came the
troops and the host and craved admission so the Chamberlain went in to
Zau al-Makan and asked his leave whereupon he bade admit them, ten by
ten.  The Chamberlain acquainted them with the King's commands, to
which they replied, "We hear and we obey;" and all drew up before the
pavilion entrance.  Then he took ten of them and carried them through
the vestibule into the presence of Sultan Zau al-Makan, whom when they
saw, they were awed; but he received them with most gracious kindness
and promised them all good.  So they gave him joy of his safe return
and invoked Allah's blessings upon him after which they took the oath
of fealty never to gainsay him in aught and they kissed ground before
him and withdrew.  Then other ten entered and he entreated them as he
had entreated the ethers; and they ceased not to enter, ten by ten,
till none was left but the Wazir Dandan.  Lastly the Minister went in
and kissed the ground before Zau al-Makan, who rose to meet him,
saying, "Welcome, O Wazir and sire sans peer!  Verily, thine acts are
those of a counsellor right dear, and judgement and foreseeing clear
are in the hands of the Subtle of Lere." Then bade he the Chamberlain
forthwith go out and cause the tables to be spread and order all the
troops thereto.  So they came and ate and drank. Moreover the Sultan
commanded his Wazir Dandan call a ten days' halt of the army, that he
might be private with him and learn from him how and wherefore his
father had been slain.  The Wazir obeyed the commands of the Sultan
with submission and wished him eternity of glory and said, "This needs
must be!" He then repaired to the heart of the encampment and ordered
the host to halt ten days.  They did as he bade them and, moreover, he
gave them leave to divert themselves and ordered that none of the lords
in waiting should attend upon the King for service during the space of
three days.  Then the Wazir went to the Sultan and reported all to him,
and Zau al-Makan waited until nightfall, when he went in to his sister
Nuzhat al-Zaman and asked her, "Dost thou know the cause of my father's
murder or not?" "I have no knowledge of the cause," she answered, and
drew a silken curtain before herself, whilst Zau al-Makan seated
himself without the curtain and commanded the Wazir to the presence
and, when he came, said to him, "I desire thou relate to me in detail
the cause of the killing of my sire, King Omar bin al-Nu'uman!" "Know
then, O King," replied Dandan, "that King Omar bin al- Nu'uman, when he
returned to Baghdad from his chasing and hunting and entered the city,
enquired for thee and thy sister, but could not find you and knew that
you twain had gone on the Pilgrimage; whereat he was greatly grieved
and much angered, and his breast was straitened and he abode thus half
a year, seeking news of you from all who came and went but none could
give him any tidings. Now while we were in attendance upon him one day,
after a whole year had sped since ye were lost to his sight, lo!  there
came to us an ancient dame with signs of being a devotee, accompanied
by five damsels, high bosomed virgins like moons, endowed with such
beauty and loveliness as tongue faileth to describe; and, to crown
their perfections of comeliness, they could read the Koran and were
versed in various kinds of learning and in the histories of bygone
peoples.  Then that old woman sought audience of the King, and he bade
admit her; whereupon she entered the presence and kissed the ground
between his hands.  I was then sitting by his side and he, seeing in
her the signs of asceticism and devoutness, made her draw near and take
seat hard by him.  And when she had sat down she addressed him and
said, 'Know, O King, that with me are five damsels, whose like no King
among the Kings possesseth; for they are endowed with wit and beauty
and loveliness and perfection.  They read the Koran—and the Traditions
and are skilled in all manner of learning and in the history of bygone
races.  They stand here between thy hands to do thee service, O King of
the Age, and it is by trial that folk are prized or despised.  'Thy
father, who hath found mercy;[FN#328] looked at the damsels and their
favour pleased him; so he said to them, Let each and every of you make
me hear something of what she knoweth anent the history of the folk of
yore and of peoples long gone before!'—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn
of day and ceased saying her permitted say.

              When it was the Seventy-ninth Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Wazir Dandan
said unto King Zau al-Makan, "Thy father, who hath found mercy, glanced
at the damsels and their favour pleased him and he said to them, 'Let
each and every of you make me hear something of what she knoweth anent
the history of the folk of yore and of peoples long gone before!'
Thereupon one of them came forward and, kissing the ground before him,
spake as follows[FN#329] 'Know, O King, that it behoveth one of good
breeding to eschew impertinence and adorn himself with excellencies,
and observe the Divine injunctions and avoid mortal sins; and to this
he should apply himself with the assiduity of one who, if he stray
therefrom, falleth into perdition; for the foundation of good breeding
is virtuous behaviour.  And know that the chief cause and reason of
man's existence is the endeavour after life everlasting, and the right
way thereto is the service of Allah. Wherefore it behoveth thee to deal
beneficently with the people: and swerve not from this canon, for the
mightier men are in dignity, the more their need of prudence and
foresight; and indeed Monarchs need this more than the many, for the
general cast themselves into affairs, without taking thought to the
issue thereof.  Be thou prodigal of thy life and thy good in the way of
Allah, and know that, if an enemy dispute with thee, thou mayst dispute
with him and refute him with proofs and be proof against him; but as
for thy friend, there is none can judge between thee and him save
righteousness and fair dealing.  Choose, therefore, thy friend for
thyself, after thou hast proved him.  If he be of the brotherhood of
futurity,[FN#330] let him be zealous in observing the externals of the
Holy Law and versed in its inner meaning, as far as may be; and if he
be of the brotherhood of the world, let him be free born, sincere,
neither a fool nor a perverse, for the fool man is such that even his
parents might well flee from him, and a liar cannot be a true friend. 
Indeed the word, Siddík[FN#331] ('friend') deriveth from Sidk ('truth')
that welleth up from the bottom of the heart; and how can this be the
case, when falsehood is manifest upon the tongue?  And know, that the
observance of the Law profiteth him who practiseth it: so love thy
brother, if he be of this quality and do not cast him off, even if thou
see in him that which irketh thee, for a friend is not I like a wife,
whom one can divorce and re-marry: nay, his heart is like glass: once
broken, it may not be mended.  And Allah bless him who saith,

'Ware how thou hurtest man with hurt of heart; * 'Tis hard to win

     thee back the heart offended:

For hearts indeed, whence love is alien made, * Like broken glass

     may nevermore be mended.'


The maiden continued and concluded with pointing out to us what sages
say, 'The best of brethren is he who is the most constant in good
counsel; the best of action is that which is fairest in its
consequence, and the best of praise is not that which is in the mouths
of men.  It is also said, 'It behoveth not the servant to neglect
thanking Allah especially for two favours, health and reason.' Again it
is said, 'Whoso honoureth himself, his lust is a light matter to him,
and he who maketh much of his small troubles, Allah afflicteth him with
the greater; he who obeyeth his own inclination neglecteth his duties
and he who listeneth to the slanderer loseth the true friend.  He who
thinketh well of thee, do thou fulfill his thought of thee.  He who
exceedeth in contention sinneth, and he who against upright standeth
not on ward, is not safe from the sword.  Now will I tell thee somewhat
of the duties of Kazis and judges.  Know, O King, that no judgement
serveth the cause of justice save it be given after proof positive, and
it behoveth the judge to treat all people on the same level, to the
intent that the great may not hunger for oppression nor the small
despair of justice.  Furthermore he should extract proof from the
complainant and impose an oath upon the defendant; and mediation is
admissible between Moslems, except it be a compromise sanctioning the
unlawful or forbidding the lawful.[FN#332] If thou shalt have done
aught during the day, of which thy reason is doubtful but thy good
intention is proved, thou (O Kazi) shouldst revert to the right, for to
do justice is a religious obligation and to return to that which is
right is better than persistence in wrong.  Then (O judge) thou
shouldest study precedents and the law of the case and do equal justice
between the suitors, withal fixing thine eyes upon the truth and
committing thine affair to Allah (be He extolled and exalted!). And
require thou proof of the complainant, and if he adduce evidence let
him have due benefit of it; and if not, put the defendant to his oath;
for this is the ordinance of Allah. Receive thou the testimony of
competent Moslem witnesses, one against other, for Almighty Allah hath
commanded judges to judge by externals, He Himself taking charge of the
inner and secret things.  It behoveth the judge also to avoid giving
judge meet, whilst suffering from stress of pain or hunger,[FN#333] and
that in his decisions between folk he seek the face of Allah Almighty
for he whose intent is pure and who is at peace with himself, Allah
shall guarantee him against what is between him and the people.' Quoth
al-Zuhri,[FN#334] 'There are three things for which, if they be found
in a Kazi, he should be deposed; namely, if he honour the base, if he
love praise and if he fear dismissal.  And Omar bin Abd al-Aziz once
deposed a Kazi, who asked him, 'Why hast thou dismissed me?  It hath
reached me,' answered Omar, 'that thy converse is greater than thy
condition.' It is said also that Iskandar[FN#335] said to his Kazi, 'I
have invested thee with this function and committed to thee in it my
soul and mine honour and my manliness; so do thou guard it with thy
sense and thine understanding.' To his Cook he said, 'Thou art the
Sultan of my body; so look thou tender it as thine own self.' To his
Secretary he said, 'Thou art the controller of my wit: so do thou watch
over me in what thou writest for me and from me.'" Thereupon the first
damsel backed out from the presence and a second damsel came
forward.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her
permitted say.

                When it was the Eightieth Night,

She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Wazir
Dandan said to Zau al-Makan, "Thereupon the first damsel backed out
from the presence and a second damsel came forward and, kissing the
ground seven times before the King thy father, spake as follows, 'The
sage Lukmán[FN#336] said to his son, 'There be three who are known only
in three several cases; the merciful man is unknown save in time of
wrath, the brave only in battle, and thy friend in time of need.' It is
said that the oppressor shall be depress though by people praised, and
that the oppress is at rest though by people blamed.  Quoth Allah
Almighty,[FN#337] 'Assuredly deem not that those who rejoice in what
they have done, and who love to be praised for what they have not done,
shall escape reckoning of punishment: indeed there is reserved for them
a grievous penalty.' And he said[FN#338] (on whom be salvation and
salutation!), 'Works are according to intention and to each man is
attributed that which he intendeth.' He said also, 'In the body is a
part which being sound the rest is sound, and which being unsound the
whole is unsound.' And this is the heart.  Now this heart is the most
marvellous of what is in man, since it is that which ordereth his whole
affair: If covetise stir in it, desire destroyeth him, and if
affliction master it, anguish slayeth him; if anger rage in it, danger
is hard upon him; if it be blest with contentment, he is safe from
discontent; if fear surprise it, he is full of mourning; and if
calamity overtake it, affliction betideth him.  If a man gain the use
of wealth, peradventure he is diverted thereby from the remembrance of
his Lord; if poverty choke him his heart is distracted by woe, or if
disquietude waste his heart, weakness causeth him to fall.  Thus, in
any case, nothing profiteth him but that he be mindful of Allah and
occupy himself with gaining his livelihood in this world and securing
his place in the next. It was asked of a certain sage, 'Who is the most
ill conditioned of men?'; and he answered, 'The man whose lusts master
his manhood and whose mind soareth over high, so that his knowledge
dispreadeth and his excuse diminisheth; and how excellently saith the
poet,

Freest am I of all mankind fro' meddling wight * Who, seeing

     others err, self error ne'er can sight:

Riches and talents are but loans to creature lent, * Each wears

     the cloak of that he bears in breast and sprite:

If by mistaken door attempt on aught thou make, * Thou shalt go

     wrong and if the door be right, go right!'


Continued the maiden, 'As for anecdotes of devotees, quoth Hisham bin
Bashar, 'I asked Omar bin Ubayd, What is true piety?'; and he answered,
'The Apostle of Allah (to whom be salutation and salvation!) hath
explained it when he sayeth, The pious is he who forgetteth not the
grave nor calamity and who preferreth that which endureth to that which
passeth away; who counteth not the morrow as of his days but reckoneth
himself among the dead.' And it is related that Abu Zarr[FN#339] used
to say, Want is dearer to me than wealth, and unheal is dearer to me
than health.' Quoth one of the listeners, 'May Allah have mercy on Abu
Zarr!'.  For my part, I say, 'Whoso putteth his trust in the goodness
of the election of Almighty Allah should be content with that condition
which Allah hath chosen for him.' Quoth one of the Companions of the
Prophet, 'Ibn Abi Aufa[FN#340] once prayed with us the dawn prayer. 
When he had done, he recited, 'O Thou Enwrapped!'[FN#341] till he came
to where Allah saith, 'When there shall be a trumping on the trumpet,'
and fell down dead. It is said that Sabit al-Banani wept till he well
nigh lost his eyes.  They brought him a man to medicine him who said to
him, 'I will cure thee, provided thou obey my bidding' Asked Sabit, 'In
what matter?' Quoth the leach, 'In that thou leave weeping!' 'What is
the worth of mine eyes?', rejoined Sabit, 'if they do not weep?' Quoth
a man to Mohammed bin Abdillah, 'Exhort thou me!'"—And Shahrazad
perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.

              When it was the Eighty-first Night,

She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Wazir
Dandan said to Zau al-Makan, "Thus spake the second hand maid to the
King who hath found mercy, Omar bin al-Nu'uman. 'Quoth a man to
Mohammed bin Abdillah, Exhort thou me!' 'I exhort thee,' replied he,
'to be a self ruler, an abstainer in this world, and in the next a
greedy slave.' 'How so?' asked the other and Mohammed answered, 'The
abstinent man in this world conquereth both the world that is and the
world to come.' And quoth Ghaus bin Abdillah, 'There were two brothers
among the sons of Israel, one of whom said to the other, 'What be the
most perilous[FN#342] thing thou hast done?' Replied the brother, 'I
once came upon a nest of young birds; so I took out one and threw it
back into the nest; but among the chickens were some which drew apart
from it.  This is the most perilous thing I ever did; now what be the
most perilous thing thou hast ever done?' He rejoined, 'When I arise
for prayer I am fearful that it is only for the sake of the reward.'
Now their father heard these words and exclaimed, 'O Allah, an say they
sooth take them to Thyself!' It was declared by one of the wise men,
'Verily, these were of the most virtuous of children.' Quoth Sa'íd bin
Jubayr,[FN#343] 'I was once in company with Fuzalah bin 'Ubaydand said
to him, 'Exhort thou me!, Replied he, 'Bear in mind these two
necessaries, Shun syntheism[FN#344] and harm not any of Allah's
creatures.' And he repeated these two couplets,

'Be as thou wilt, for Allah still is bounteous Lord, * And care

     dispeller dread not therefore bane and ban

To two things only never draw thee nigh, nor give * Partner to

     Allah trouble to thy brother man.'


And how well saith the poet,

'An thou of pious works a store neglect * And after death meet

     one who did collect,

Thou shalt repent thou diddest not as he, * Nor madest ready as

     he did elect.'


Then the third damsel came forward, after the second had with drawn,
and said, 'Of a truth, the chapter of piety is exceeding wide; but I
will mention what occurreth to me thereof, concerning the pious of old.
 Quoth a certain holy man, 'I congratulate myself in death, though I am
not assured of rest therein, save that I know death interveneth between
a man and his works; so I hope for the doubling of good works and the
docking off of ill works.' And Ita'a al Salami, when he had made an end
of an exhortation, was wont to tremble and grieve and weep sore; and as
they asked him why he did this he answered, 'I desire to enter upon a
grave matter, and it is the standing up before Almighty Allah to do in
accordance with my exhortation.' In similar guise Zayn
al-Abidín,[FN#345] son of Al-Husayn, was wont to tremble when he rose
to pray. Being asked the cause of this, he replied, 'Know ye not before
whom I stand and whom I address?' It is said that there lived near
Sufyán al-Thauri[FN#346] a blind man who, when the month of Ramazan
came, went out with the folk to pray,[FN#347] but remained silent and
hung back.  Said Sufyan, 'On the Day of Resurrection he shall come with
the people of the Koran and they will be distinguished by increase of
honour from their fellows.' Quoth Sufyan, 'Were the soul established in
the heart as befitteth, it would fly away for joy and pining for
Paradise, and for grief and fear of hell-fire.' It is related also of
Sufyan Al-Thauri that he said, 'To look upon the face of a tyrant is a
sin.' Then the third damsel retired and came for ward the fourth, who
said, 'Here am I to treat of sundry traditions of pious men which
suggest themselves to me. It is related that Bishr Barefoot[FN#348]
said, 'I once heard Khálid say, 'Beware of secret polytheism.' I asked,
'What may secret polytheism be?'; and he answered, 'When one of you in
praying prolong his inclinations and prostrations till a cause of
impurity[FN#349] come upon him.' And one of the sages said, 'Doing
works of weal expiateth what is ill.' Quoth Ibrahim,[FN#350] 'I
supplicated Bishr Barefoot to acquaint me with some theological
mysteries; but he said, 'O my son, this knowledge it behoveth us not to
teach to every one; of every hundred five, even as the legal alms upon
money.' Said Ibrahim, 'I thought his reply excellent and approved of it
and while I was praying behold, Bishr was also praying: so I stood
behind him[FN#351] making the prayer bow till the Mu'ezzin called his
call.  Then rose a man of tattered appearance and said, O folk, beware
of a truth which bringeth unweal, for there is no harm in a lie
bringing weal,[FN#352] and in time of need no choice we heed: speech
booteth not in the absence of good qualities even as silence hurteth
not in the presence of good.  Presently I saw Bishr drop a
danik,[FN#353] so I picked it up and exchanged it for a dirham which I
gave him.  Quoth he, 'I will not take it.' Quoth I, 'It is perfectly
lawful change'; but he rejoined 'I cannot take in exchange the riches
of the present world for those of the future world.' It is related also
that Bishr Barefoot's sister once went to Ahmad bin Hanbal"[FN#354]—And
Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted
say.

              When it was the Eighty-second Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Wazir Dandan
continued to bespeak Zau al-Makan on this wise, "And quoth the maiden
to thy father, 'Bishr Barefoot's sister once went to Ahmad bin Hanbal
and said to him, 'O Imam of the Faith, we are a family that spin thread
by night and work for our living by day; and oftentimes the cressets of
the watch of Baghdad pass by and we on the roof spinning by their
light.  Is this forbidden to us?' Asked Ahmad:'Who are thou?' 'I am the
sister of Bishr Barefoot,' answered she. Rejoined the Iman, 'O
household of Bishr, I shall never cease to drink full draughts of piety
from your hearts.' Quoth one of the sages, 'When Allah willeth well to
His servant He openeth upon him the gate of action.' Málik bin
Dinár,[FN#355] when he passed through the bazar and saw aught he
desired, was wont to say, 'O soul, take patience, for I will not accord
to thee what thou desirest.' He said also (Allah accept him!), 'The
salvation of the soul lies in resistance to it and its damnation in
submission to it.' Quoth Mansúr bin Ammár,[FN#356] 'I made a pilgrimage
and was faring Meccahwards by way of Cufa, and the night was overcast,
when I heard a voice crying out from the deeps of the darkness saying,
'O Allah, I swear by Thy Greatness and Thy Glory, I meant not through
my disobedience to transgress against Thee; for indeed I am not
ignorant of Thee; but my fault is one Thou didst foreordain to me from
eternity without beginning;[FN#357] so do Thou pardon my transgression,
for indeed I disobeyed Thee of my ignorance!' When he had made an end
of his prayer he recited aloud the verse, 'O true believers, save your
souls and those of your families from the fire whose fuel is men and
stones.'[FN#358] Then I heard a fall, but not knowing what it was I
passed on.  When the morning morrowed, as we went our way, behold, we
fell in with a funeral train, followed by an old woman whose strength
had left her.  I asked her of the dead, and she answered, 'This is the
funeral of a man who passed by us yesterday whilst my son was standing
at prayer and after his prayers he recited a verse from the Book of
Allah Almighty when the man's gall bladder burst and he fell dead.'
Therewith the fourth damsel retired and the fifth came forward and
said, 'I here will also repeat what occurreth to me regarding the acts
of devotees in olden time. Maslamah bin Dinár used to say, 'By making
sound the secret thoughts, sins great and small are covered'; and,
'when the servant of Allah is resolved to leave sinning, victory cometh
to him.' Also quoth he, 'Every worldly good which doth not draw one
nearer to Allah is a calamity, for a little of this world distracteth
from a mickle of the world to come and a mickle of the present maketh
thee forget the whole of the future.' It was asked of Abú
Házim,[FN#359] 'Who is the most prosperous of men?'; and he answered,
'Whoso spendeth his life in submission to Allah.' The other enquired,
'And who is the most foolish of mankind?' 'Whoso selleth his future for
the worldly goods of others,' replied Abu Hazim.  It is reported of
Moses[FN#360] (on whom be peace!) that when he came to the waters of
Midian he exclaimed, 'O Lord, verily I stand in need of the good which
thou shalt send down to me.'[FN#361] And he asked of his Lord and not
of his folk.  There came two damsels and he drew water for them both
and allowed not the shepherds to draw first. When the twain returned,
they informed their father Shu'ayb (on whom be peace!) who said,
'Haply, he is hungry,' adding to one of them, 'Go back to him and bid
him hither.' Now when she came to Moses, she veiled her face and said,
'My father biddeth thee to him that he may pay thee thy wage for having
drawn water for us.' Moses was averse to this and was not willing to
follow her.  Now she was a woman large in the back parts, and the wind
blowing upon her garment[FN#362] covered the hinder cheeks to Moses;
which when Moses saw, he lowered his eyes and said to her, 'Get thee
behind while I walk in front.' So she followed him till he entered the
house of Shu'ayb where supper was ready."—And Shahrazad perceived the
dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.

              When it was the Eighty-third Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Wazir Dandan
continued to Zau al-Makan, "Now, quoth the fifth damsel to thy sire,
'When Moses (on whom be peace!) entered the home of Shu'ayb where
supper was ready, Shu'ayb said to him, 'O Moses, I desire to pay thee
thy wage for having drawn water for these two.' But Moses answered, 'I
am of a household which selleth nothing of the fashion of the next
world[FN#363] for what is on earth of gold and silver.' Then quoth
Shu'ayb, 'O youth! nevertheless thou art my guest, and it is my wont
and that of my forbears to honour the guest by setting food before
him.' So Moses sat down and ate.  Then Shu'ayb hired Moses for eight
pilgrimages, that is to say, eight years, and made his wage marriage
with one of his two daughters, and Moses' service to him was to stand
for her dowry.  As saith the Holy Writ of him, 'Verily I will give thee
one of these my two daughters in marriage, on condition that thou serve
me for hire eight pilgrimages: and if thou fulfil ten years, it is in
thine own breast; for I seek not to impose a hardship on thee.'[FN#364]
A certain man once said to one of his friends whom he had not met for
many days, 'Thou hast made me desolate, for that I have not seen thee
this long while.' Quoth the other, 'I have been distracted from thee by
Ibn Shiháb: dost thou know him?' Quoth his friend, 'Yes, he hath been
my neighbour these thirty years, but I have never spoken to him.' He
replied, 'Verily thou forgettest Allah in forgetting—thy neighbour! If
thou lovedst Allah thou wouldst love thy neighbour.  Knowest thou not
that a neighbour hath a claim upon his neighbour,[FN#365] even as the
right of kith and kin?' Said Huzayfah, 'We entered Meccah with Ibráhím
bin Adham, and Shakík al-Balkhí was also making a pilgrimage that year.
 Now we met whilst circumambulating the Ka'abah and Ibrahim said to
Shakik, 'What is your fashion in your country?' Replied Shakik, 'When
we are blest with our daily bread we eat, and when we hunger we take
patience.' 'This wise,' said Ibrahim, 'do the dogs of Balkh; but we,
when blest with plenty, do honour to Allah and when an hungered we
thank Him.' And Shakik seated himself before Ibrahim and said to him,
'Thou art my master.' Also said Mohammed bin Imrán, 'A man once asked
of Hátim the Deaf[FN#366] 'What maketh thee to trust in Allah?' 'Two
things,' answered he, 'I know that none save myself shall eat my daily
bread, so my heart is at rest as to that; and I know that I was not
created without the knowledge of Allah, and am abashed before Him.'
Then the fifth damsel retired and the ancient dame came forward and,
kissing the ground before thy father nine times, said, 'Thou hast
heard, O King, what these all have spoken on the subject of piety; and
I will follow their example in relating what hath reached me of the
famous men of past times. It is said that the Imam al-Sháfi'í departed
the night into three portions, the first for study, the second for
sleep and the third for prayer.  The Imam Abú Hanífah[FN#367] was wont
also to pass half the night in prayer.  One

day a man pointed him out to another, as he walked by and remarked,
'Yonder man watcheth the whole night.' When he heard this Abu Hanifah
said, 'I was abashed before Allah to hear myself praised for what was
not in me'; so after this he used to watch the whole night.  And one of
the Sages hath said,

'Who seeketh for pearl in the Deep dives deep; * Who on high would hie
robs his night of sleep.'

Al-Rabí a relates that Al-Shafi'i used to recite the whole Koran
seventy times during the month of Ramazan, and that in his daily
prayers.  Quoth Al-Shafi'i (Allah accept him!), 'During ten years I
never ate my fill of barley bread, for fullness hardeneth the heart and
deadeneth the wit and induceth sleep and enfeebleth one from standing
up to pray.'[FN#368] It is reported of Abdullah bin Mohammed al-Sakrá
that he said, 'I was once talking with Omar and he observed to me,
'Never saw I a more God fearing or eloquent man than Mohammed bin Idris
al-Shafi'i.' It so happened I went out one day with Al-Háris bin Labíb
al-Saffár, who was a disciple of Al-Muzani[FN#369] and had a fine voice
and he read the saying of the Almighty, 'This shall be a day whereon
they shall not speak to any purpose, nor shall they be permitted to
excuse themselves.'[FN#370] I saw Al-Shafi'i's colour change; his skin
shuddered with horripilation, he was violently moved and he fell down
in a fainting fit When he revived he said, 'I take refuge with Allah
from the stead of the liars and the lot of the negligent!  O Allah,
before whom the hearts of the wise abase themselves, O Allah, of Thy
bene ficence accord to me the remission of my sins, adorn me with the
curtain of Thy protection and pardon me my shortcomings, by the
magnanimity of Thy Being!' Then I rose and went away.  Quoth one of the
pious, 'When I entered Baghdad, Al-Shafi'i was there.  So I sat down on
the river bank to make the ablution before prayer; and behold, there
passed me one who said, 'O youth, make thy Wuzu-ablution well and Allah
will make it well for thee in this world and in the next.' I turned and
lo!  there was a man behind whom came a company of people.  So I
hastened to finish my ablution and followed him. Presently, he turned
and asked me, 'Say, dost thou want aught?' 'Yes,' answered I, 'I desire
that thou teach me somewhat of that which Allah Almighty hath taught
thee.' He said, 'Know then that whoso believeth in Allah shall be
saved, and whoso jealously loveth his faith shall be delivered from
destruction, and whoso practiseth abstinence in this world, his eyes
shall be solaced on the morrow of death.  Shall I tell thee any more?'
I replied, 'Assuredly;' and he continued, 'Be thou of the world that
is, heedless; and of the world to come, greediest.  Be truthful in all
thy dealings, and thou shalt be saved with the Salvationists.' Then he
went on and I asked about him and was told that he was the Imam
Al-Shafi'i.  Al-Shafi'i was wont to remark, 'I love to see folk profit
by this learning of mine, on condition that nothing of it be attributed
to me."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her
permitted say.

              When it was the Eighty-fourth Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Wazir Dandan
continued to Zau al-Makan, "The old woman bespake thy sire, saying,
'The Imam Al-Shafi'i was wont to remark, I love to see folk profit by
this learning of mine on condition that nothing of it be attributed to
me.' He also said, 'I never disputed with any one, but I would that
Almighty Allah should give him the knowledge of the Truth and aid him
to dispread it: nor did I ever dispute with anyone at all but for the
showing forth of the Truth, and I reck not whether Allah manifest it by
my tongue or by His.' He said also (whom Allah accept!), 'If thou fear
to grow conceited of thy lore, then bethink thee Whose grace thou
seekest and for what good thou yearnest and what punishment thou
dreadest.' It was told to Abu Hanífah that the Commander of the
Faithful, Abú Ja'afar al-Mansúr, had appointed him Kazi and ordered him
a salary of ten thousand dirhams; but he would not accept of this; and,
when the day came on which the money was to be paid him, he prayed the
dawn prayer, then covered his head with his robe—and spoke not.  When
the Caliph's messenger came with the money, he went in to the Imam and
accosted him, but he would not speak to him. So the messenger said,
'Verily this money is lawfully thine.' 'I know that it is lawfully
mine,' replied he: 'but I abhor that the love of tyrants get a hold
upon my heart.'[FN#371]  Asked the other, 'If thou go in to them canst
thou not guard thyself from loving them?' Answered Abu Hanifah, 'Can I
look to enter the sea without my clothes being wet?' Another of
Al-Shafi'i's sayings (Allah accept him!) is,

'Oh soul of me, an thou accept my rede, * Thou shalt be wealthy

     and of grace entire:

Cast off ambitious hopes and vain desires, * How many a death was

     done by vain desire!'


Among the sayings of Sufyán al-Thaurí, with which he admonished Ali bin
al-Hasan al-Salami was, 'Be thou a man of truth and 'ware lies and
treachery and hypocrisy and pride.  Be not indebted save to Him who is
merciful to His debtors; and let thine associate be one who shall
dissociate thee from the world.  Be ever mindful of death and be
constant in craving pardon of Allah and in beseeching of Allah peace
for what remaineth of thy life. Counsel every True Believer, when he
asketh thee concerning the things of his faith; and beware of betraying
a Believer, for whoso betrayeth a Believer, betrayeth Allah and His
Apostle. Avoid dissensions and litigation; and leave that which causeth
doubt in thee for things which breed no doubt:[FN#372] so shalt thou be
at peace. Enjoin beneficence and forbid malevolence: so shalt thou be
loved of Allah. Adorn thine inner man and Allah shall adorn thine outer
man.  Accept the excuse of him who excuseth self to thee and hate not
any one of the Moslems.  Draw near unto those who withdraw from thee
and excuse those that misuse thee: so shalt thou be the friend of the
Prophets.  Let thine affairs, both public and private, be in Allah's
charge, and fear Him with the fear of one who knoweth he is dead and
who fareth towards Resurrection and Judgement stead between the hands
of the Lord of Dread; and remember that to one of two houses thou art
sped, either for Heavens eterne or to the Hell fires that burn.'
Thereupon the old woman sat down beside the damsels.  Now when thy
father, who hath found mercy, heard their discourse, he knew that they
were the most accomplished of the people of their time; and, seeing
their beauty and loveliness and the extent of their wisdom and lore, he
showed them all favour.  Moreover, he turned to the ancient dame and
treated her with honour, and set apart for her and her damsels the
palace which had lodged Princess Abrizah, daughter of the King of
Greece, to which he bade carry all the luxuries they needed.  They
abode with him ten days and the old woman abode with them; and,
whenever the King visited them, he found her absorbed in prayer,
watching by night and fasting by day; whereby love of her took hold
upon his heart and he said to me, 'O Wazir, verily this old woman is of
the pious, and awe of her is strong in my heart.' Now on the eleventh
day, the King visited her, that he might pay her the price of the
damsels; but she said to him, 'O King, know that the price of these
maidens surpasseth the competence of men; indeed I seek not for them
either gold or silver or jewels, be it little or much.' Now when thy
father heard these words he wondered and asked her, 'O my lady and what
is their price?'; whereto she answered, 'I will not sill them to thee
save on condition that thou fast, watching by night a whole month, and
abstaining by day, all for the love of Allah Almighty; and, if thou do
this, they are thy property to use in thy palace as thou please.' So
the King wondered at the perfection of her rectitude and piety and
abnegation; she was magnified in his eyes and he said, 'Allah make this
pious woman to profit us!' Then he agreed with her to fast for a month
as she had stipulated, and she said to him, 'I will help thee with the
prayers I pray for thee and now bring me a gugglet of water.' They
brought one and she took it and recited over it and muttered spells,
and sat for an hour speaking in speech no one understood or knew aught
thereof.  Lastly she covered it with a cloth and, sealing it with her
signet ring, gave it to thy sire, saying, 'When thou hast fasted the
first ten days, break thy fast on the eleventh night with what is in
this gugglet, for it will root out the love of the world from thy heart
and fill it with light and faith.  As for me, tomorrow I will go forth
to my brethren, the Invisible[FN#373] Controuls, for I yearn after
them, and I will return to thee when the first ten days are past.  Thy
father took the gugglet and arose and set it apart in a closet of his
palace, then locked the door and put the key in his pocket.  Next day
the King fasted and the old woman went her ways."—And Shahrazad
perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.

              When it was the Eighty-fifth Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Wazir Dandan
thus continued to Zau al-Makan, "Now when came the day for the Sultan's
fast, the old woman went her ways.  And after he had accomplished the
ten days thereof, on the eleventh he opened the gugglet and drank what
was therein and found it cordial to his stomach.  Within the second ten
days of the month the old woman returned, bringing sweetmeats wrapped
in a green leaf, like no leaf of known tree.  She went in to thy sire
and saluted him; and, when he saw her, he rose to her saying, 'Welcome,
O pious lady!' 'O King,' quoth she, 'the Invisible Controuls salute
thee, for I told them of thee, and they rejoiced in thee and have sent
thee their Halwá,[FN#374] which is of the sweetmeats of the other
world.  Do thou break thy fast on it at the end of the day.' The King
rejoiced at this with great joy, and exclaimed, 'Praised be Allah, who
hath given me brethren of the Invisible World!' Thereupon he thanked
the ancient dame and kissed her hands; and he honoured her and the
damsels with exceeding honour. She went forth for the twenty days of
thy father's fast at the end of which time she came to him and said,
'Know, O King, that I told the Invisible Controuls of the love which is
between me and thee, and informed them how I had left the maidens with
thee, and they were glad that the damsels should belong to a King like
thee; for they were wont, when they saw them, to be strenuous in
offering on their behalf prayers and petitions ever granted.  So I
would fain carry them to the Invisible Controuls that they may benefit
by the breath of their favour, and peradventure, they shall not return
to thee without some treasure of the treasures of the earth, that thou,
after completing thy fast, mayst occupy thyself with their raiment and
help thyself by the money they shall bring thee, to the extent of thy
desires.' When thy sire heard her words, he thanked her for them and
said, 'Except that I fear to cross thee, I would not accept the
treasure or aught else; but when wilt thou set out with them?' Replied
she, 'On the seven and twentieth night; and I will bring them back to
thee at the head of the month, by which time thou wilt have
accomplished thy fast and they will have had their courses and be free
from impurity; and they shall become thine and be at thy disposal.  By
Allah, each damsel of them is worth many times thy kingdom!' He said,
'I know it, O pious lady!' Then quoth the old woman, 'There is no help
but that thou send with them someone in thy palace who is dear to thee,
that she may find solace and seek a blessing of the Invisible
Controuls.' Quoth he, 'I have a Greek slave called Sophia, by whom I
have been blessed with two children, a girl and a boy; but they were
lost; years ago.  Take her with thee that she may get the
blessing'"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say
her permitted say.

              When it was the Eighty-sixth Night,

 She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Wazir Dandan
 continued to Zau al-Makan, "Quoth thy sire to the ancient woman when
 she demanded the handmaids of him, 'I have a Greek slave called
 Sophia, by whom I have been blest with two children, a girl and a boy,
 but they were lost years ago; so take her with thee, haply she may get
 the benediction and, belike, the Invisible Controuls will sue Allah
 for her that her two children may be restored to her.' 'Thou hast said
 well,' replied she; 'for that indeed was her grievousest want.' Thy
 sire gave not over finishing his fast till the old woman said to him,
 'O my son, I am going to the Invisible Controuls; so bring me Sophia.'
 Accordingly, he summoned her and she came forthright, and he delivered
 her to the old woman who mixed her up with the other damsels.  Then
 she went in to her chamber and bringing out a sealed cup, presented it
 to the Sultan saying, 'On the thirtieth day, do thou repair to the
 Hammam and when thou comest out, enter one of the closets in thy
 palace and drink what is in this cup. Then sleep, and thou shalt
 attain what thou seekest, and peace be with thee'!  Thereat the King
 was glad and thanked her and kissed her hands. Quoth she, 'I commend
 thee to Allah's care;' whereat quoth he, 'And when shall I see thee
 again, O pious lady?  In very sooth I love not to part with thee.'
 Then she called down blessings on him and departed with the five
 damsels and the Queen; whilst the King fasted after her departure
 other three days, till the month ended, when he arose and went to the
 Hammam and coming out shut himself up in a closet of his palace,
 commanding that none should go in to him.  There, after making fast
 the door, he drank what was in the cup and lay down to sleep; and we
 sat awaiting him till the end of the day, but he did not come out and
 we said, 'Perchance he is tired with the bath and with watching by
 night and fasting by day; wherefore he sleepeth.' So we waited till
 next day; but still he did not come forth.  Then we stood at the
 closet door and cried aloud so haply he might awake and ask what was
 the matter.  But nothing came of that; so at last we lifted up the
 door;[FN#375] and, going in, found him dead, with his flesh torn into
 strips and bits and his bones broken.[FN#376] When we saw him in this
 condition it was grievous to us, and we took up the cup and found
 within its cover a piece of paper whereon was inscribed, 'Whoso doeth
 evil leaveth no regrets, and this be the reward of him who playeth
 traitor with the daughters of Kings and who debaucheth them; and we
 make known to all who fall upon this scroll that Sharrkan, when he
 came to our country, seduced our Queen Abrizah; nor did that suffice
 him but he must needs take her from us and bring her to you.  Then
 he[FN#377] sent her away in company of a black slave who slew her, and
 we found her lying dead on the desert sward and thrown out to wild
 beasts.  This be no kingly deed, and he who did this is requited with
 naught but what he merited.  So do ye suspect none of having killed
 him, for no one slew him but the cunning witch, whose name is Zat
 al-Dawahi.  And behold, I have taken the King's wife, Sophia, and have
 carried her to her father, Afridun King of Constantinople.  Moreover,
 there is no help for it but that we wage war upon you and kill you and
 take your country from you, and ye shall be cut off even to the last
 man, nor shall a living soul be spared by Death nor one who bloweth
 fire with his breath, save he who Cross and Belt[FN#378] worshippeth.'
 When we read this paper, we knew that the ancient woman had beguiled
 us and carried out her plot against us: whereupon we cried aloud and
 buffeted our faces and wept sore when weeping availed us naught.  And
 the troops fell out as to whom they should make Sultan; some would
 have thee, and others would have thy brother Sharrkan; and we ceased
 not to dispute about this for the space of a month, at the end of
 which certain of us drew together and agreed to repair to thy brother
 Sharrkan: so we set out and journeyed on till we fell in with thee. 
 And such is the manner of the death of Sultan Omar bin al-Nu'uman!"
 Now when the Wazir Dandan had made an end of his story, Zau al- Makan
 and his sister, Nuzhat al-Zaman wept; and the Chamberlain, who wept
 also, said to Zau al-Makan, "O King, weeping will avail thee naught;
 nor shall aught profit thee but that thou harden thy heart and
 strengthen thy stress and establish thy sovranty; for verily whoso
 leaveth the like of thee is not dead." Thereupon Zau al-Makan gave
 over his weeping and caused his throne to be set up without the
 pavilion, and then commanded the army to pass in review order before
 him.  And the Chamberlain sat by his side and all the
 armour-bearers[FN#379] behind him, whilst the Wazir Dandan and the
 rest of the Emirs and Grandees stood each in his individual stead. 
 Then quoth King Zau al-Makan to the Minister Dandan, "Inform me
 concerning my sire's treasures;" and he replied, "I hear and I obey;"
 and gave him to know of the late King's hoards and monies, and what
 was in the treasury of amassed wealth and jewels, and acquainted him
 with other precious things. So Zau al-Makan opened his hand to the
 army, and gave a sumptuous robe of honour to the Wazir Dandan, saying,
 "Thou continues" in office.  Whereupon Dandan kissed the ground before
 him and wished him long life.  Then he bestowed dresses on the Emirs,
 after which he said to the Chamberlain, "Bring out before me the
 tribute of Damascus that is with thee." So he was shown the chests of
 money and rarities and jewels, when he took them and parted them all
 amongst the troops,—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased
 saying her permitted say.

             When it was the Eighty-seventh Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Zau al- Makan
ordered the Chamberlain to bring out before him what he had brought of
the tribute of Damascus; and, when he was shown the chests of money and
rarities and jewels, he took them and parted them all amongst the
troops, till nothing was left. And the Emirs kissed the ground before
him and wished him long life, saying, "Never saw we a King, who gave
the like of these gifts." Then all went away to their tents and when it
was morning he gave orders for marching.  So they marched for three
days, till, on the fourth day, they drew near to Baghdad. When they
entered the city, they found it decorated, and Zau al-Makan, the
Sultan, went up to his father's palace and sat down on the throne,
whilst the Emirs of the army and the Wazir Dandan and the Chamberlain
of Damascus stood between his hands.  Then he bade his private
secretary write a writ to his brother Sharrkan, acquainting him with
all that had passed, from first to last, and he concluded, "As soon as
thou hast read this letter, make ready thine affair and join us with
thine army, that we may turn to Holy War upon the Infidels and take man
bote for our father and wipe out the stain upon our honour." Then he
folded the letter and sealed it with his seal ring and said to the
Minister Dandan, "None shall carry this letter but thou; and it
behoveth thee speak my brother fair and say to him, 'If thou have a
mind to thy father's kingdom, it is thine, and thy brother shall be
Viceroy for thee in Damascus; for to this effect am I instructed by
him.'" So the Wazir went down from before him and made ready for his
march. Then Zau al-Makan bade set apart a magnificent house for the
Fireman and furnished it with the best of furniture and long is the
tale of that Fireman.[FN#380]  Presently Zau al-Makan went out chasing
and hunting and, as he was returning to Baghdad, one of the Emirs
presented him with blood horses and with beauteous handmaids whose
description the tongue evades.  One of the damsels pleased him: so he
went in unto her and knew her that night, and she conceived by him
forthright.  After a while, the Wazir Dandan returned from his journey,
bringing him news of his brother Sharrkan and that he was then on his
way to him, and said, "It were fitting thou go forth to meet him." Zau
al- Makan replied, "I hear and I consent;" and riding forth with his
Grandees a day's journey from Baghdad, he pitched his pavilions there
awaiting his brother.  Next morning appeared King Sharrkan amid the
army of Syria, a horseman of might, a lion fierce in fight, a prow and
doughty knight.  As the squadrons drew nigh and the dust clouds came
hard by and the troops rode up with banners on high, Zau al-Makan and
those with him pushed forward to meet Sharrkan and his men; and when
Zau al-Makan saw his brother, he desired to dismount, but Sharrkan
conjured him not to do on this wise, and himself footed it, and walked
a few paces towards him.[FN#381] As soon as he reached Zau al-Makan,
the new Sultan threw himself upon him, and Sharrkan embraced him and
wept with great weeping and the twain condoled with each other.  Then
they mounted and rode onward, they and their troops, till they reached
Baghdad, where they alighted and went up to the royal palace and there
they passed that night, and when next morning came, Zau al- Makan went
forth and bade summon the troops from all parts, and proclaimed a Holy
War and a Razzia.[FN#382] They then awaited the coming of the levies
from each quarter of the kingdom, and every one who came they entreated
with honour and promised him all manner of good; till in so doing a
full month had sped, and the fighting men flocked to them in a
continuous body.  Then Sharrkan said to Zau al-Makan, "O my brother,
tell me thy history." So he told him all that had befallen him from
first to last, including the benevolent dealing of the Fireman with
him.  Asked Sharrkan, 'Hast thou requited his kindness?"; and he
answered, "O my brother!  I have not rewarded him as yet, but
Inshallah!  I will recompense him whenas I return from this raid"—And
Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted
say.

              When it was the Eighty-eighth Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Sharrkan asked
his brother Zau al-Makan, "Hast thou requited the Fireman for his
kindness?"; and he answered, "O my brother, I have not rewarded him as
yet, but Inshallah!  I will recompense him whenas I return from this
raid and find time so to do." Therewith Sharrkan was certified that his
sister, Nuzhat al-Zaman, had told him the whole truth; but he concealed
what had passed between them and offered his salutation to her by her
husband the Chamberlain.  She sent him back her greeting, calling down
blessings on him and enquiring after her daughter Kuzia-Fakan, to which
he replied that the maiden was well and in the best of health and
safety.  Where upon she praised Almighty Allah and gave him thanks.
Then Sharrkan went to his brother to take counsel with him for
departure; and Zau al-Makan said, "O my brother, as soon as the army is
complete and the Arabs have come in from all parts, we will march
forth." So he bade make ready the commissariat and prepare munitions of
war and went in to his wife, who was now five months gone with child;
and he put under her astrologers and mathematicians, to whom he
appointed stipends and allowances.  Then he set out three months after
the arrival of the army of Syria, and as soon as the Arabs were come in
and the troops were assembled from all directions; and, as he fared
forth, he was followed by the warriors and the united host.  Now the
name of the General of the Daylam army was Rustam and that of the
General of the army of the Turks[FN#383] Bahram.  And Zau al- Makan
marched in mid host and on his right was his brother Sharrkan, and on
his left the Chamberlain his brother-in-law.  So the squadrons broke up
and pushed forward and the battalions and companies filed past in
battle array, till the whole army was in motion.  They ceased not to
fare on for the space of a month, and each body dismounted at its own
ground and there rested every week three days (for the host was great);
and they advanced in this order till they came to the country of the
Greeks.  Then the people of the villages and hamlets and the poorer
sort took fright at them and fled to Constantinople.  But when King
Afridun heard the tidings he arose and betook himself to Zat al-Dawahi,
the same who had contrived the stratagem, and had travelled to Baghdad
and had slain King Omar bin Al-Nu'uman; and who after carrying off her
slaves and Queen Sophia, had returned with them all to her native land.
 Now when she had been restored to her son, the King of Greece, and
felt herself safe, she said to King Hardub, "Cool thine eyes; for I
have avenged by blood the shame of thy daughter Abrizah, and have
killed Omar bin al-Nu'uman and have brought back Sophia.  So now let us
go to the King of Constantinople and carry to him his daughter and
acquaint him with what hath happened, that all of us be on guard and
prepare our forces; and I will fare with thee to King Afridun, Lord of
Constantinople, for I opine that the Moslems will not await our
attack." Said Hardub, "Tarry thou till they draw near our country, that
we may make us ready meantime and assemble our power." Accordingly they
took to levying their forces and preparing for war, and, when the news
of the Moslems' advance reached them, they were prepared for defence;
and Zat al Dawahi had preceded them.  Now when she and her son arrived
at Constantinople, the King of Kings, Afridun, hearing of the approach
of Hardub, King of the Greeks, came forth to meet him and asked how it
was with him and the cause of his visit.  So Hardub acquainted him with
the cunning doings of his mother, Zat al-Dawahi, how she had slain the
Moslem King and recovered from him Queen Sophia, and had said, "The
Moslems have assembled their forces and are on their way to attack us,
wherefore it behoveth that we two join hands in single band and meet
them." Now King Afridun rejoiced in the return of his daughter and the
killing of King Omar bin al-Nu'uman; and he sent to all countries
seeking succour and acquainting the folk with the cause of slaying the
Moslem King.  So the Nazarene troops flocked to him and three months
were not past ere the army of the Greeks was complete, besides which
there joined themselves to him Franks from all their lands, French,
Germans[FN#384] and Ragusans,[FN#385] with men of Zara,[FN#386]
Venetians, Genoese, and all the hosts of the Yellow Faces[FN#387]; and,
when the gathering was at its full, earth was straitened on them by
reason of their multitude. Then Afridun, the Great King, ordered a
march; so they set out and ceased not to defile through the city for
ten days.  They fared on till they reached the Wady highs Al-Nu'uman, a
broad sided vale hard by the Salt Sea, where they halted three days;
and on the fourth they were about to set out again, when news came that
the army of Al-Islam on them press, and the defenders of the faith of
Mohammed, of Men the Best.  So they halted in it other three days, and
on the eighth they espied a dust cloud which towered till it walled the
whole land; nor was an hour of the day past ere that dust began to
drift and was torn to shreds in the lift, and pierced through its
shades the starry radiance of lance and the white levee of blades. 
Presently there appeared beneath it the banners Islamitan and the
ensigns Mahometan; the horsemen urged forward, like the letting loose
of seas that surged, clad in mail, as they were mackerel-back clouds
which the moon enveil; whereupon the two hosts clashed, like two
torrents on each other dashed.  Eyes fell upon eyes; and the first to
seek combat singular was the Wazir Dandan, he and the army of Syria,
numbering thirty thousand bridles, and with him were the General of the
Turks, and the General of Daylam, Rustam and Bahram, amid twenty
thousand horse, behind whom came the men from the shores of the Salt
Sea, clad in iron mail, as they were full moons that past through a
night o'ercast.  Then the Nazarene host called out on Jesus and Mary,
and the defiled[FN#388] Cross and they heaped themselves upon the Wazir
Dandan and those with him of the Syrian host.  Now all this was in
pursuance of a stratagem devised by that ancient woman Zat al-Dawahi;
for, before his departure, King Afridun had gone in to her and asked
her, "How shall I do and what plan shall I pursue?; it is thou hast
caused this great distress to us;" and she had answered, "O great King
and mighty Cohen![FN#389] I will teach thee a trick would baffle Iblis
himself, though he summon to his assistance all his grisly hosts."—And
Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted
say.

              When it was the Eighty-ninth Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, all this was a
stratagem of the ancient woman, for that the King before his departure
had gone to her and asked, "How shall I do and what plan shall I
pursue?  it is thou hast caused this great distress to us!" And she had
answered, "O great King and mighty Cohen, I will teach thee a trick
would baffle the Devil himself though he summon to his assistance all
his grisly hosts.  It is that thou send fifty thousand men going down
in ships, and sailing over the sea to the Mountain of Smoke; and there
let them land and stir not till {he standards of Al-Islam come upon
thee, when do thou up and at them.  Then bid the troops from the
seaward sally out upon the Moslems and take them in rear, whilst we
confront them from the landward.  So not one of them shall escape, and
our sorrows shall tease and peace abide with us." Now the counsel of
this ancient woman commended itself to King Afridun, and he replied,
"Right is the recking thou reckest, O Princess of wits and recourse of
Kings and Cohens warring for their blood wit!" So when the army of
Al-Islam came upon them in chat valley, before they knew of it the
flames began to burn up the tents and the swords in men's bodies to
make rents. Then hurried up the army of Baghdad and Khorasan who
numbered one hundred and twenty thousand horse, with Zau al-Makan in
the front of war.  When the host of the Infidels that lay by the sea
saw them, they sallied out against them and followed in their tracks;
and when Zau al- Makan espied this he cried out to his men, "Turn back
to the Infidels, O People of the Chosen Apostle, and slay those who
deny and hate the authority of the Compassionating, the Compassionate!"
So they turned and fought with the Christians. Then Sharrkan marched up
with another corps of the Moslem host, some hundred thousand men,
whilst the Infidels numbered nigh upon a thousand and six hundred
thousand men. When the Moslems were united, their hearts were
strengthened and they cried out, saying, "Verily Allah hath pro mised
us victory, and to the Infidels hath assigned defeat." And they clashed
together with sword and spear.  Now Sharrkan tare through rank and row
and raged among the masses of the foe, fighting so fierce a fight as to
make children grey grow; nor did he cease tourneying among the infidel
horde and working havoc among them with the keen edged sword, shouting
"Allaho Akbar!" (Allah is Most Great) till he drove back the host to
the coast.  Then failed the force of the foe and Allah gave victory to
the faith of Al-Islam, and folk fought folk, drunken without strong
drink till they slew of the Infidels in this affair forty and five
thousand, while of the Moslems but three thousand and five hundred
fell.  Moreover, the Lion of the Faith, King Sharrkan, and his brother,
Zau al-Makan, slept not that night, but occupied themselves with
congratulating their braves and with looking to the wounded and with
assuring the army of victory and salvation and promise of reward in the
world to come.  Thus far concerning the Moslem; but as regards King
Afridun, Lord of Constantinople and Sovran of Roum, and Zat Al-Dawahi,
they assembled the Emirs of the host and said to them, "Verily, we had
worked our will and solaced our hearts, but our over confidence in our
numbers, and that only, defeated us." Then quoth to them the ancient
one, the Lady of Calamities, "In very sooth nought shall profit you,
except ye draw you nigh unto the Messiah and put your trust in the True
Belief, for, by the virtue of the Messiah, the whole strength of the
Moslem host lieth in that Satan, King Sharrkan." "Tomorrow," said King
Afridun, "I have resolved to draw up in battle array and to send out
against them that redoubtable cavalier, Lúká bin Shamlút; for if King
Sharrkan come forth as a champion to fight single handed, our man will
slay him and will slay the other Moslem Knights, till not one is left.
And I purpose this night to sacre you all with the Holy Incense." When
the Emirs heard these words they kissed the ground before him.  Now the
incense which he designated was the excrement of the Chief Patriarch,
the denier, the defiler of the Truth, and they sought for it with such
instance, and they so highly valued it that the high priests of the
Greeks used to send it to all the countries of the Christians in silken
wraps after mixing it with musk and ambergris.  Hearing of it Kings
would pay a thousand gold pieces for every dram and they sent for and
sought it to fumigate brides withal; and the Chief Priests and the
great Kings were wont to use a little of it as collyrium for the eyes
and as a remedy in sickness and colic; and the Patriarchs used to mix
their own skite[FN#390] with it, for that the skite of the Chief
Patriarch could not suffice for ten countries.[FN#391] So, as soon as
dawn was seen and the morning shone with its shine and sheen, the
horsemen ran to their spears full keen, and King Afridun,—And Shahrazad
perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.

                When it was the Ninetieth Night,

 She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, as soon as dawn was
 seen and the morning shone with its shine and sheen, the horsemen ran
 to their spears full keen and King Afridun summoned his chief Knights
 and Nobles and invested them with dresses of honour; and, drawing the
 sign of the cross on their brows, incensed them with the incense which
 as aforesaid was the skite of the Chief Patriarch, the Cohen, the
 Heresiarch.  This incensing done, he called for Luka bin Shamlut,
 surnamed the Sword of the Messiah; and, after fumigating him and
 rubbing his palate with the Holy Merde, caused him to snuff it and
 smeared his cheeks and anointed his moustaches with the rest.  Now
 there was no stouter champion in the land of Roum than this accursed
 Luka, nor any better at bending of bow or sway of sword or lunge with
 lance on the day of devoir; but he was foul of favour, for his face
 was as the face of an ass, his shape that of an ape and his look as
 the look of a malignant snake: his presence was grievouser than
 parting from the beloved make; and blacker than night was his
 blackness and more fetid than the lion was his breath for foulness;
 more crooked than a bow was his crookedness and grimmer than the
 leopard was his ugliness, and he was branded with the mark of the
 Infidels on face.[FN#392] After this he came up to King Afridun and
 kissed his feet and stood before him; and the King said to him, "I
 desire thou go out against Sharrkan, King of Damascus, son of Omar bin
 al-Nu'uman, and deliver us from this affliction." Quoth Luka,
 "Hearkening and obedience;" and the King made the sign of the cross on
 his forehead and felt assured of help from Heaven being near hand. 
 Then Luka went out from the presence and the accursed one mounted a
 sorrel horse; he was clad in a red robe and a hauberk of gold set with
 jewels, and he bore a trident spear, as he were Iblis the damned on
 the day of drewing out his hosts war to darraign.  Then he rode
 forward, he and his horde of Infidels, even as though they were
 driving to the Fire, preceded by a herald, crying aloud in the Arabic
 tongue and saying, "Ho, sect of Mohammed (upon whom be salutation and
 salvation!), let none of you come out but your champion Sharrkan, the
 Sword of Al-Islam, Lord of Damascus in Shám[FN#393]!" Nor had he made
 an end of speaking, when arose a tumult in the plain; all the people
 heard the strain and the whole moving bodies of the armies twain
 called to mind the Day of Complain.  Then the cowards trembled and all
 necks turned towards the sound, and lo! it was King Sharrkan, son of
 King Omar bin al-Nu'uman.  For when his brother, Zau al-Makan, saw
 that accursed one push out on the plain, and heard the pursuivant, he
 turned to Sharrkan and said to him, "Of a surety they seek for thee."
 Said he, "Should it so be, 'twere most pleasing to me." So when they
 made sure of the matter and heard the herald crying in the plain, "Let
 none of you come out against me save Sharrkan," they knew this cursed
 Luka to be champion of the land of Roum who had sworn to sweep the
 earth clean of Moslems.  Now he was one of the greatest of villains, a
 wretch who caused hearts to pain; and the DayIamites, Turks and Kurds
 dreaded his might and main.  Presently Sharrkan crave at him like a
 lion angry grim, mounted on a courser like a wild gazelle flying snell
 and slim; and coming nigh to him made the spear he hent to shake as it
 were a darting snake, and recited these couplets,

"I have a sorrel steed, whose pride is fain to bear the rein, *

     Shall give thee what thou likest not and make thee feel his

     main:

I have a handy limber spear full bright and keen of point, * Upon

     whose shaft the dam of Death her throny seat hath ta'en:

I have a trenchant glaive of Hind; and, when I bare its face * Of

     scabbard" veil, from out its brow the rays of levee rain."


Luka understood not the sense of his speech nor did he apprehend the
vehemence of the verse; but he smote his forehead with his hand, in
honour of the Cross drawn thereon and kissed it; then he couched his
throw spear and ran at Sharrkan.  But first he tossed the javelin with
one hand in air to such height that it was lost to the spectators'
sight; and, catching it with the other hand as do the jugglers, hurled
it at Sharrkan.  It flew from his grasp like a shooting star and folk
clamoured and feared for Sharrkan; but, as the spear flew near him, he
put out his hand and caught it in full flight to the amazement of all
who saw the sight. Then he shook it with the hand that took it till it
was well nigh broken, and hurled it so high into the welkin that it
disappeared from view.  As it descended, he caught it again with the
other hand, in less than the twinkling of an eye, and cried out from
his heart core, saying, "By the truth of Him who created the sevenfold
skies, I will assuredly make this cursed wight a byword for mankind to
despise!" Then threw he the throw spear at Luka, who thought to do as
Sharrkan had done and put forth his hand to trend it in mid flight; but
Sharrkan prevented him, and sped at him a second throw spear which
smote him and the point fell on his forehead, in the very centre of the
sign of the Cross, and Allah hurried his soul to the Fire and Dwelling
place dire.[FN#394]  But when the Infidels saw Luka bin Shamlut fall
slain, they buffeted their faces and they cried, "Alas!" and "Woe worth
the day!" and called for aid upon the Abbots of the monasteries,—And
Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted
say.

              When it was the Ninety-first Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the Infidels
saw Luka bin Shamlut fall slain, they buffeted their faces and cried,
"Alas!" and "Woe worth the day!" and called upon the Abbots of the
monasteries and cried, "Where be the crosses?" So the Religious offered
up prayers and the Christians all drew together against Sharrkan; and,
brandishing their scymitars and lances, rushed forward to the attack. 
Then army met army and breasts fell under hoof, whilst spear and sword
ruled the day and forearms and wrists grew weak and the coursers seemed
created without legs;[FN#395] nor did the herald of-war cease calling
to fight, till arms were aweary and day took flight and night came on
with darkness dight.  So the two hosts drew apart, whilst every brave
staggered like a drunken knave, for that with so much cut and thrust
they strave; and the place was choked with the slain; fell were the
wounds and the hurt knew not by whom they fell.  Then Sharrkan joined
his brother, Zau al-Makan, and the Chamberlain and the Wazir Dandan,
and said to them, "Verily Allah hath opened a door for the Infidels to
fall, praised be the Lord of the Worlds one and all!" Replied Zau
al-Makan, "Let us never cease to praise Allah, for that He hath
dispelled trouble from the Arab and the Ajam.  Indeed the folk,
generation after generation, shall tell of thy derring do against the
accursed Luka, the falsifier of the Evangel;[FN#396] of thy catching
the throng spear in mid-flight, and how the enemy of Allah among men
thou didst smite; and thy fame shall endure until the end of time."
Then said Sharrkan, "Harkye, O grand Chamberlain and doughty
Capitayne!" and he answered, "Adsum!"[FN#397] Quoth Sharrkan, "Take
with thee the Wazir Dandan and twenty thousand horse, and lead them
seven parasangs towards the sea, and force the march till ye shall have
come near the shore, and there remain only two parasangs between thee
and the foe.  Then ambush ye in the hollows of the ground till ye hear
the tumult of the Infidels disembarking from their ships; and the war
cry from every side strike your ear and ye know that the sabres have
begun labour between us and them; and, whenso ye see our troops falling
back, as if defeated, and all the Infidels following them, as well
those in front as those from the seaward and the tents, do ye still lie
in wait for them: but as soon as ye see the standard with the words,
There is no god but the God, and Mohammed is God's Apostle (on whom be
salutation and salvation!), then up with the green banner, and do your
endeavour and fall on their rear and shout, 'Alla ho Akbar!  Allah is
most Great!' and circle round that they may not interpose between the
retreating army and the sea." He replied, "To hear is to obey!"; and
forthright they agreed upon this matter and they went forth.  Now the
Chamberlain took with himself the Wazir Dandan and twenty thousand men
even as Sharrkan had commanded.  As soon as dawned the morn, the troops
sprung to horse when they had donned their armour gear and drawn the
scymitar and slung the spear.  Then the Christians dispread themselves
over hill and dale and the Ecclesiasts[FN#398] cried out and all heads
were bared, and those in the ships hoisted the Cross at their mast
heads and began making for shore from every side, and landed their
horses and get them ready for fight and fray, whilst the sword blades
glittered bright and the javelins glanced like levee light on mail
shirt white; and all joined fight and the grind mill of Death whirled
round and ground those who fought from horse and aground: heads from
bodies flew end tongues mute grew and eyes no vision knew. Scymitars
strave with utmost strain and heads flew over the battle plain; gall
bladders crave and wrists were shorn in twain; steeds plashed in pools
of gore and beards were gripped right sore; the host of Al-Islam called
out, saying, "On the Prince of Mankind be blessings and peace, and to
the Compassionate glory and praise, which ne'er shall cease, for His
boons which aye increase;" and the host of the Infidels shouted, "Glory
to the Cross and the Belt and the vine press juice, and the wine
presser and the Priests and the Monks and the Festival of Palms and the
Metropolitan!" Now Zau al-Makan and Sharrkan held back and their troops
gave way and feigned flight from before the enemy, while the Infidel
array pressed hard upon them deeming them in rout, and made ready to
foin and hew.  Then the meiny of the Moslems raised their voices,
reciting the first verses of the Chapter of the Cow,[FN#399] whilst the
dead were trampled under hoofs of steeds, and the heralds of the Greeks
cried out, "Ho, servants of the Messiah!  Ho, people of the True Faith!
 Ho, followers of the Primate![FN#400] Verily Divine grace upon you
opes; for see, the hosts of Al Islam like birds with broken wings
incline to elope! So turn ye not to them your backs, but let your
swords cleave deep in their necks and hold not your hands from them,
else are ye outcasts from the Messiah, Mary's son, who spoke even when
a cradled one!"[FN#401] Now Afridun, King of Constantinople, deemed
that the Infidels were victorious, knowing not that this was but a
clever stratagem of the Moslems, and sent to King Hardub of Roum
congratulations on success, adding, "Availed us naught but the Holy
Merde of the Arch Patriarch, whose fragrance exhaled from the beards
and mustachios of the slaves of the Cross near and far; and I swear, by
the Miracles of the Messiah; and by thy daughter Abrizah, the Nazarene,
the Mariolater; and by the Waters of Baptism, that I will not leave
upon the earth a single defender of Al- Islam!  And to the bitter end
will I carry out this plan." So the messenger betook himself with the
address to King Hardub, whilst the Infidels called to one another
saying, "Take we vengeance wreak for Luka!"—And Shahrazad perceived the
dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.

              When it was the Ninety-second Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Infidels
called to one another, saying, "Take we vengeance wreak for Luka!"
while Hardub King of Greece cried aloud, "Ho, to our revenge for
Abrizah!" Thereupon King Zau al-Makan shouted "Ho, servants of the
Requiting King!: smite the children of denial and disobedience with the
blanch of sword and the brown of spear!" So the Moslems returned to the
Infidels and plied them with the keen edged scymitar, whilst their
herald cried aloud, "Up, and at the foes of the Faith, all ye who love
the Prophet Elect, with hope of salvation on the Day of Fear, to win
favour of the Bountiful, the Forgiving One; for verily the Garden of
Paradise is under the shadow of swords!" And behold, Sharrkan and his
men charged down upon the Infidels and cut off their retreat and
wheeled and tourneyed among the ranks; when lo!  a knight of goodly
presence opened a passage through the army of Unbelievers and circled
hither and thither amongst the Deniers, cutting and thrusting and
covering the ground with heads and trunks, so that the Faithless feared
him and their necks bent under his lunge and hew.  He was girt with two
swords, his glances and his brand, and he was armed with two lances,
one of bamboo cane and the other his straight wand like shape; and his
flowing hair stood him in stead of many warriors, even as saith the
poet,

"Laud not long hair,[FN#402] except it be dispread * In two fold

     locks, on day of fight and fray,

O'er youth who bears his lance 'twixt flank and thigh, * From

     many a whis kered knight to win the day."


And as singeth another,

"I say to him, what while he slings his sword, * 'For sword shall

     serve those looks that sword like show!'

Says he, 'My sabre looks for those I love, * My sword for those

     who sweets of love unknow!'"


When Sharrkan saw him, he said to him, "I conjure thee by the Koran and
the attributes of the Compassionate One, O Champion of the Champions! 
tell me who thou art: for verily by thy deeds this day thou hast
pleased the Requiting King, whom one thing distracteth not from other
thing; in that thou hast been discomforting the children of impiety and
in rebellion revelling." Then cried the Cavalier to him saying, "Thou
art he who madest brother covenant with me but yesterday: how quickly
thou hast forgotten me!" Thereupon he withdrew his mouth veil,[FN#403]
so that what was hidden of his beauty was disclosed, and lo!  it was
none other than Zau al-Makan.  Then Sharrkan rejoiced in his brother,
save that he feared for him the rush of fighting and the crush of
braves a smiting; and this for two reasons, the first, his tender age
and exposure to the evil eye, and the second, that his safety was to
the kingdom the greater of the two overshadowing wings.  So he said to
him, "O King!  thou riskest thy life, so join thy steed to mine; in
very sooth I fear for thee from the foe; and better thou stint
hazarding thyself forth of these squadrons, that we may shoot at the
enemy thine unerring shaft." Quoth Zau al-Makan, "I desire to even thee
in fray and I will not be niggard of myself before thee in the melay."
Then the host of Al-Islam, heaping itself upon the Infidels, girt them
on all sides, warred on them a right Holy War, and brake the power of
the children of impiety and pride and stowre.  But King Afridun sighed
when he saw the evil wreak that had fallen on the Greek, and they
turned their backs from fight and addressed themselves to flight,
making for the ships, when lo!  there came out upon them from the
seacoast another host, led by the Minister Dandan, the champion who was
wont to make champions bite the dust, and to lay load on them with cut
and thrust.  Nor less came forth the Emir Bahram, Lord of the Provinces
of Sham, amid twenty thousand horse doughty of arm; and the host of
Al-Islam pressed them in front and on flank and wrought them grievous
harm. Then a body of the Moslems turned against those who in the ships
remained, and perdition on them rained, till they threw themselves into
the main, and they slew of them many slain, more than a hundred
thousand noblemen, nor was one of their champions, great or small,
saved from bale and bane.  Moreover, they took their ships, with all
the money and treasure and cargo, save a score of keel, and the Moslems
got that loot whose like was never gotten in by gone years; nor was
such cut and thrust ever heard of by men's ears.[FN#404] Now amongst
the booty were fifty thousand horses, besides treasure and spoil past
reckoning and arithmetic, whereat the Moslems rejoiced with an
exceeding joy for that Allah had given them victory and protection. 
Such was the case with them; but as regards the fugitive Infidels they
soon reached Constantinople, whither the tidings preceded them that
King Afridun had prevailed over the Moslems; so quoth the ancient dame,
Zat al-Dawahi, "I know that my son Hardub, King of Roum, is no runagate
and that he feareth not the Islamitic hosts, but will restore the whole
world to the Nazarene faith." Then she bade the Great King, Afridun,
give command that the city be decorated, and the people held festival
high and drank their wines drunkenly and knew not the decrees of
Destiny.  Now whilst they were in the midst of their rejoicings,
behold, the raven of dule and downfall croaked over them, and up came
the twenty fugitive ships wherein was the King of Cæsarea.  So King
Afridun, Lord of Constantinople, met them on the sea shore, and they
told him all that had befallen them from the Moslem, and they wept sore
and groaned and moaned; and rejoicing at weal was turned into dismay
for unheal; and they informed him concerning Luka son of Shamlut, how
calamity had betided him and how Death had shot him with his shaft.
Thereat the horrors of Doomday rose upon King Afridun,[FN#405] and he
knew that there was no making straight their crook.  Then came up from
them the sound of weeping and wailing; the city was full of men
mourning and the keepers were keening, and sighs and cries were heard
from all sides.  And when King Hardub of Greece met King Afridun he
told him the truth of the case and how the flight of the Moslems was by
way of stratagem and deceit, and said to him, "Look not to see any of
the army, save those who have already reached thee." When King Afridun
heard these words he fell down in a fainting fit, with his nose under
his feet; and, as soon as he revived, he exclaimed, "Surely the Messiah
was wroth with them that he caused the Moslems to prevail over them!"
Then came the Arch Patriarch sadly to the King who said to him, "O our
father, annihilation hath overtaken our army and the Messiah hath
punished us!" Replied the Patriarch, "Grieve not nor feel concerned,
for it cannot be but that one of you have sinned against the Messiah,
and all have been punished for his offence; but now we will read
prayers for you in the churches, that the Mohammeden hosts may be
repelled from you." After which the old woman, Zat al-Dawahi, came to
Afridun and said to him, "O King, verily the Moslem hosts are many, and
we shall never overcome them save by wile: wherefore I purpose to work
upon them by guile and repair to this army of Al-Islam, haply I may win
my wish of their leader and slay their champion, even as I slew his
father. If my stratagem succeed in his case, not one of the host he
leads shall return to his native land, for all are strong only because
of him; but I desire to have some Christian dwellers of Syria, such as
go out every month and year to sell their goods, that they may help me
(for this they can do) in carrying out my plan." Replied the King, "Be
it so whenever thou wilt." So she bade fetch an hundred men, natives of
Najrán,[FN#406] in Sham, and the King asked them, "Have ye not heard
what hath befallen the Christians with the Moslems?" "Yes," answered
they; and he rejoined, "Know ye that this woman hath devoted her life
to the Messiah and purposeth to go forth with you, disguised as
Monotheists and Mohammedans, to work out a device which shall profit us
and hinder the Moslem from us: say, then, are ye also willing to devote
yourselves to the Anointed and I will give you a quintal of
gold?[FN#407] He of you who escapeth shall have the money, and him of
you who dieth will the Messiah reward." "O King," replied they, "we
will devote our lives to the Messiah, and we will be thy sacrifice."
Thereupon the old woman took all she required of aromatic roots and
placed them in water which she boiled over the fire till the black
essence of them was extracted.  She waited till the decoction was cold,
then dipped the corner of a long kerchief therein and stained her face
therewith.  Moreover, she donned over her clothes a long gaberdine with
an embroidered border and took in her hand a rosary, and afterwards
went in to King Afridun, who knew her not, nor did any of his
companions know her, till she discovered herself to them: and there was
none in the assembly but who thanked and praised her for her cunning;
and her son rejoiced and said, "May the Messiah never fail thee!"
Thereupon she took with her the Syrian Christians, and set out for the
army of Baghdad.— And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased
saying her permitted say.

              When it was the Ninety-third Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when King Afridun
heard these words, he fell into a fainting fit with his nose under his
feet; and, as soon as he revived, fear fluttered the scrotum[FN#408]
below his belly and he complained to the ancient dame, Zat al-Dawahi. 
Now this accursed old woman was a witch of the witches, past mistress
in sorcery and deception; wanton and wily, deboshed and deceptious;
with foul breath, red eyelids, yellow cheeks, dull brown face, eyes
bleared, mangy body, hair grizzled, back humped, skin withered and wan
and nostrils which ever ran.  But she had studied the scriptures of
Al-Islam and had made the Pilgrimage to the Holy House of Meccah and
all this that she might come to the knowledge of the Mohammedan
ordinances and the miraculous versets of the Koran; and she had
professed Judaism in the Holy City of Jerusalem[FN#409] for two years'
space, that she might master the magic of men and demons; so that she
was a plague of plagues and a pest of pests, wrong headed as to belief
and to no religion fief.  Now the chief reason of her sojourn with her
son, King Hardub of Greece, was on account of the slave virgins at his
court: for she was given to tribadism[FN#410] and could not exist
without sapphism or she went mad: so if any damsel pleased her, she was
wont to teach her the art of rubbing clitoris against clitoris and
would anoint her with saffron[FN#411] till she fainted away for excess
of volupty.  Whoso obeyed her she was wont to favour and make her son
incline towards her; but whoso repelled her she would contrive to
destroy; and so she abode for a length of time.  This was known to
Marjanah and Rayhánah and Utrijah, the handmaids of Abrizah, and their
Princess loathed the old woman and abhorred to lie with her, because of
the rank smell from her armpits, the stench of her fizzles more fetid
than carrion, and the roughness of her hide coarser than palm fibre.
She was wont to bribe those who rubbed parts with her by means of
jewels and instructions; but Abrizah held aloof from her and sought
refuge with the Omnipotent, the Omniscient; for, by Allah, right well
quoth the poet,

"Ho thou who grovellest low before the great * Nor over fording

     lesser men dost blench

Who gildest dross by dirham gathering, * No otter scent disguises

     carrion stench!


And now to return to the story of her stratagem and the woes of her
working. Presently she departed, taking the chief Nazarenes with their
hosts, and turned towards the army of the Moslems. Whereupon King
Hardub went in to King Afridun and said to him, "O King, we have no
need of the Chief Patriarch nor of his prayers, but will consult my
mother's counsel and observe what she will do with her craft unending
against the Moslem hosts; for these are marching with all their power,
they will soon be upon us and they will encircle us on all sides." When
King Afridun heard this, terror took hold upon his heart and he wrote
letters, without stay or delay, to all the nations of the Nazarenes,
saying, "It behoveth none of the Messiahites or Cross knights to hold
back, especially the folk of the strongholds and forts: but let them
all come to us, foot and horse, women and children, for the Moslem
hosts already tread our soil.  So haste!  haste ye!  ere what we fear
to us here appear." Thus much concerning them; but regarding the work
of the old woman, Zat al-Dawahi; when she went forth from the city with
her suite, she clad them in the clothing of Moslem merchants, having
provided herself with an hundred mules carrying stuffs of Antioch, such
as goldwoven satins and royal brocades and so forth.  And she had taken
a letter from King Afridun to the following effect: "These be
merchantmen from the land of Sham who have been with us: so it
besitteth none to do them harm or hindrance, nor take tax and tithe of
them, till they reach their homes and safe places, for by merchants a
country flourisheth, and these are no men of war nor of ill faith."
Then quoth the accursed Zat al-Dawahi to those with her, "Verily I wish
to work out a plot for the destruction of the Moslem." Replied they, "O
Queen, command us whatso thou wilt; we are at thy disposal and may the
Messiah never disappoint thy dealings!" Then she donned a gown of fine
white wool and rubbed her forehead, till she made a great mark as of a
scar and anointed it with an ointment of her own fashion, so that it
shone with prodigious sheen.  Now the old hag was lean bodied and
hollow eyed, and she bound her legs tightly round with cords[FN#412]
just above her feet, till she drew near the Moslem camp, when she
unwound them, leaving their marks deeply embedded in her ankles.  Then
she anointed the wheels with dragon's blood and bade her companions
beat her with a severe beating, and set her in a chest and, quoth she,
"Cry abroad the Refrain of Unity,[FN#413] nor fear from it aught of
damage!" Replied they, "How can we beat thee, who be our sovereign
lady, Zat al-Dawahi, mother of the King we glory in?" Then said she,
"We blame not nor deal reproach to him who goeth to the jakes, and in
need evil becometh good deed.  When ye have set me in the chest, take
it and make it one of the bales and place it on mule back and fare
forth with it and the other goods through the Moslem camp, and fear ye
no blame.  And if any of the Moslems hinder you, give up the mules and
their lading and be take yourselves to their King, Zau al-Makan, and
implore his protection saying, 'We were in the land of the Infidels and
they took nothing from us, but wrote us a passport, that none shall do
us hindrance or work our mischance.' If he ask you, 'What profit had ye
of your property in the land of Roum?' answer him, 'We profited in the
deliverance of a pious man, who had been bound down in an underground
cell nigh fifteen years, crying out for help yet none helped him. Nay,
the Infidels tortured him night and day.  We knew not this; but, after
we had tarried in Constantinople for some time, having sold our goods
and bought others in their stead, we determined on and made ready for a
return to our native land.  We spent that night conversing about our
journey and when day broke, we saw figured upon the wall a human form
and as we drew nigh it, behold, it moved and said, 'O Moslems, is there
amongst you one who is minded to woo the favour of the Lord of the
three Worlds?'[FN#414] 'How so?' asked we; and the figure answered,
'Know that Allah hath made me speak to you, to the intent that your
faith be fortified, and that your belief embolden you and that you may
go forth of the country of the Infidels and repair to the Moslem host;
for with them wones the Sword of the Com passionate One, of our Age the
Champion, King Sharrkan, by whom He shall conquer Constantinople town
and destroy the sect of the Nazarene.  And when ye shall have journeyed
three days, you will find an hermitage known as the Hermitage of the
ascetic Matruhina[FN#415] and containing a cell; visit it with pure
intent and contrive to arrive there by force of will, for therein is a
Religious from the Holy City, Jerusalem, by name Abdullah, and he is
one of the devoutest of mankind, endowed with the power of working
saintly miracles[FN#416] such as dispel doubts and obscurity. Certain
of the monks seized him by fraud and shut him up in a souterrain where
he hath lain a long time.  By his deliverance you will please the Lord
of Faithful Men, for such release is better than fighting for the
Faith.'" Now when the ancient dame and those with her had agreed upon
such words, she said, "As soon as that which I impart shall reach the
ears of King Sharrkan, say him further, 'Hearing this from that image
we knew that the holy man'"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and
ceased to say her permitted say.

              When it was the Ninety-fourth Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the old
woman, Zat al-Dawahi, and those with her had agreed upon such words,
she said, "Now as soon as that which I impart shall reach the ears of
King Sharrkan say him further, 'Hearing these words from that image we
knew that the holy man was indeed of the chiefest devotees and Allah's
servants of purest qualities; so we made three days' march till we came
in sight of that hermitage, and then we went up to it and passed the
day in buying and selling, as is the wont of merchants.  As soon as day
had departed our sight and night was come to darken light, we repaired
to the cell wherein was the dungeon, and we heard the holy man, after
chanting some verses of the Koran, repeat the following couplets,

'My heart disheartened is, my breast is strait, * And sinks my

     soul in sea of bale and bate

Unless escape be near I soon shall die; * And Death were better

     than this doleful strait:

O Lightning an thou light my home and folk, * An their still

     brighter charms thy shine abate,

Say, what my path to meet them, being barred * By wars, and

     barricado'd succour's gate?'


"When once ye have brought me into the Moslem camp, and I mix with them
you shall see," the old woman continued, "how I will make shift to
beguile them and slay them all, even to the last man." The Nazarenes
hearing whet she said, kissed her hands and set her in the chest, after
they had beaten her with a grievous beating in obedience to her
commands, for they saw it was incumbent on them to do her bidding in
this; then they all made for the Moslem host as hath erst been said. 
Such was the case with the damned hag, Zat al-Dawahi and her
companions; but as regards the Mohammeden army, they indeed, after
Allah had given them victory over their enemies and they had plundered
everything in the ships of money and hoards, all sat down to converse
with one another and Zau al-Makan said to his brother Sharrkan,
"Verily, Allah hath granted us to prevail because of our just dealing
and discipline and concord amongst ourselves; wherefore continue, O
Sharrkan, to obey my commandment, in submission to Allah (be He exalted
and extolled!), for I mean to slay ten Kings in blood revenge for my
sire, to cut the throat of fifty thousand Greeks and to enter
Constantinople." Replied Sharrkan, "My life be thy ransom against
death! Needs must I follow out the Holy War, though I wone many a year
in their country.  But I have, O my brother, in Damascus a daughter,
named Kuzia Fakan, whom I love heartily for she is one of the marvels
of the time and she will soon be of age.' Said Zau al-Makan, "And I
also have left my wife with child and near her time, nor do I know what
Allah will vouchsafe me by her.  But promise me, O my brother, that if
Allah bless me with a son, thou wilt grant me thy daughter for wife to
him, and make covenant with me and pledge me thy faith thereon." "With
love and good will, replied Sharrkan; and, stretching out his hand to
his brother, he said, If she bring thee a son, I will give him my
daughter Kuzia Fakan, to wife." At this Zau al-Makan rejoiced, and they
fell to congratulating each other on the victory over the enemy.  And
the Wazir Dandan also congratulated the two brothers and said to them,
"Know, O ye Kings, that Allah hath given us the victory, for that we
have devoted our lives to Him (be He exalted and ex tolled!); and we
have left our homes and households; and it is my counsel that we follow
up the foe and press upon him and harass him, so haply Allah shall
enable us to win our wishes, and we shall destroy our enemies, branch
and root.  If it please you, do ye go down in these ships and sail over
the sea, whilst we fare forward by land and bear the brunt of battle
and the thrust of fight." And the Minister Dandan ceased not to urge
them to combat and repeated his words who said,

"To slay my foes is chiefest bliss I wist, * And on the courser's

     back be borne a list;

Comes promising tryst a messenger from friend * Full oft, when

     comes the friend withouten tryst."


And these words of another,

"War for my mother (an I live) I'll take; * Spear for my brother;

     scymitar for sire

With every shag haired brave who meets his death * Smiling, till

     won from Doom his dear desire!"


And when the Wazir ended his verses, he said, "Praise be to Him who
aided us dear victory to uphold and who hath given us spoil of silver
and fine gold!" Then Zau al-Makan commanded the army to depart; and
they fared on forcing their marches for Constantinople, till they came
to a wide and spacious champaign, full of all things fair and fain,
with wild cattle frisking and gazelles pacing to and fro across the
plain.  Now they had traversed great deserts and drink had been six
days cut off from them, when they drew near this meadow and saw therein
waters founting and ripe fruits daunting and that land as it were
Paradise; for it had donned its adornments and decked itself.[FN#417] 
Gently waved the branches of its trees drunken with the new wine of the
dew, and combined with the nectar of Tasnim the soft breathings of the
morning breeze. Mind and gazer were confounded by its beauty, even as
saith the poet,

"Behold this lovely garden!  'tis as though * Spring o'er its

     frame her greeny cloak had spread.

Looking with fleshly eyne, thou shalt but sight * A lake whose

     waters balance in their bed,

But look with spirit eyes and lo!  shalt see * Glory in every

     leaf o'erwaves thy head."


And as another saith,

"The stream's a cheek by sunlight rosy dyed, * Whose down[FN#418]

     is creeping shade of tamarisk stems

Round legs of tree trunks waveless roll in rings * Silvern, and

     blossoms are the diadems."


When Zau al-Makan saw this champaign, with its trees bowing and its
flowers blooming and its birds warbling, he called to his brother
Sharrkan and said, "O my brother, verily in Damascus is naught the like
of this place.  We will not march from it save after three days, that
we may take rest ourselves and that the army of Al-Islam may regain
strength and their souls be fortified to encounter the blamed
Infidels." So they halted therein and while camping behold, they heard
a noise of voices from afar, and Zau al-Makan asked the cause thereof,
and was answered that a caravan of merchants from the Land of Syria had
halted there to rest and that the Moslem troops had come on them and
had haply seized something of the goods which they had brought from the
country of the Infidels.  After a while up came the merchants, crying
out and appealing to the King for aidance.  When Zau al- Makan saw
this, he bade them be brought before him and, when in presence they
said to him, "O King, we have been in the country of the Infidels and
they plundered us of nothing: why then do our brothers the Moslems
despoil our goods, and we in their own land? Of a truth when we saw
your troops, we went up to them and they robbed us of what we had with
us and we have now reported to thee all that hath befallen us."
Thereupon they brought out to him the letter of the King of
Constantinople, and Sharrkan read it and said, "We will presently
restore to you what hath been taken from you; but yet it behoveth you
not to carry merchandise to the country of the Infidels." Replied they,
"O our Lord, in very sooth Allah despatched us thither that we might
win what Gházi[FN#419] never won the like of, not even thou in all thy
razzias." Asked Sharrkan, "What was it ye won?" "O King," answered
they, "we will not tell thee save in private; for if this matter be
noised among the folk, haply it may come to the ears of some,[FN#420]
and this will be the cause of our ruin and of the ruin of all Moslems
who resort to the land of the Greeks." Now they had hidden the chest
wherein was the damned Zat al- Dawahi.  So Zau al-Makan and his brother
brought them to a private place, where they laid bare to both of them
the story of the devotee, and wept till they made the two Kings
weep.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her
permitted say.

              When it was the Ninety-fifth Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Nazarenes who
wore merchants' weed, when brought to a private place by Zau al-Makan
and his brother Sharrkan, laid bare to both of them the story of the
devotee and wept till they made the two Kings weep and repeated to them
all which had been taught by the old witch Zat al-Dawahi.  Thereupon
Sharrkan's heart yearned to the devotee and he was moved to ruth for
him and was fired with zeal for the service of Almighty Allah.  So
quoth he to them, "Did ye rescue this holy man or is he still in the
hermitage?" Quoth they, "We delivered him and slew the hermit, fearing
for our lives; after which we made haste to fly for dread of death; but
a trusty man told us that in this hermitage are quintals of gold and
silver and stones of price." Then they fetched the chest and brought
out the accursed old woman, as she were a cassia pod[FN#421] for excess
of blackness and leanness, and she was laden with the same fetters and
shackles.  When Zau al-Makan and the bystanders saw her, they took her
for a man of the best of Allah's devotees and surpassing in pious
qualities, more especially because of the shining of her forehead for
the ointment wherewith she had anointed her face.  So Zau al-Makan and
Sharrkan wept sore; then they rose up in honour and kissed her hands
and feet, sobbing aloud: but she signed to them and said, "Cease this
weeping and hear my words. Hereat they dried their tears in obedience
to her bidding, and she said, "Know ye both that I was content to
accept what my Lord did unto me, for I kenned that the affliction which
befel me was a trial from Him (be He exalted and extolled!); and whoso
hath not patience under calamity and tribulation, for him there is no
coming to the delights of Paradise.  I had indeed supplicated Him that
I might return to my native land, not as a compensation for the
sufferings decreed to me, but that I might die under the horse hoofs of
warriors fighting for the Faith who, being slain in fray, live again
without suffering death."[FN#422] Then she repeated the following
couplets,

"Our Fort is Tor,[FN#423] and flames the fire of fight: * Moses

     art thou and this is time for aid:

Cast down thy rod, 'twill swallow all they wrought, * Nor dread

     for men their ropes be vipers made.[FN#424]

For Chapters read on fight day lines of foes, * And on their

     necks 'grave versets[FN#425] wi' thy blade!"


When the old woman had ended her verse, her eyes overflowed with tears
and her forehead under the unguent shone like gleaming light, and
Sharrkan rose and kissed her hand and caused food be brought before
her: but she refused it, saying, "I have not broken my fast by day for
fifteen years; and how should I break it at such a time when my Lord
hath been bountiful to me in delivering me from the captivity of the
Infidels and removing from me that which was more grievous to me than
torment of fire? I will wait till sun down." So when it was nightfall,
Sharrkan and Zau al-Makan came and served her with food and said, "Eat,
O ascetic!" But she said, "This is no time for eating; it is the time
for worshipping the Requiting King." Then she stood up in the prayer
niche and remained praying till the night was spent; and she ceased not
to do after this fashion for three days and nights, sitting not but at
the time of the Salám or salutation[FN#426] ending with several
prayers.  When Zau al- Makan saw her on this wise, firm belief in her
get hold of his heart and he said to Sharrkan, "Cause a tent of
perfumed leather to be pitched for this Religious, and appoint a body
servant to wait upon him." On the fourth day she called for food; so
they brought her all kinds of meats that could seduce the sense or
delight the sight; but of all this she would eat only a scone with
salt.  Then she again turned to her fast and, as the night came, she
rose anew to pray; when Sharrkan said to Zau al-Makan, "Verily, this
man carrieth renunciation of the world to the extreme of renouncing,
and, were it not for this Holy War, I would join myself to him and
worship Allah in his service, till I came before His presence.  And now
I desire to enter his tent and talk with him for an hour." Quoth Zau
al-Makan, "And I also: tomorrow we sally forth to fight against
Constantinople, and we shall find no time like the present." Said the
Wazir Dandan, "And I no less desire to see this ascetic; haply he will
pray for me that I find death in this Holy War and come to the presence
of my Lord, for I am aweary of the world." So as soon as night had
darkened, they repaired to the tent of that witch, Zat al-Dawahi; and,
seeing her standing to pray, they drew near her and fell a weeping for
pity of her; but she paid no heed to them till midnight was past, when
she ended her orisons by pronouncing the salutation. Then she turned to
them and after wishing them long life, asked them "Wherefore come ye?",
whereto they answered, "O thou holy man!  diddest thou not hear us weep
around thee?" She rejoined, "To him who standeth in the presence of
Allah, remaineth no existence in time, either for hearing any or for
seeing aught about him." Quoth they, "We would have thee recount to us
the cause of thy captivity and pray for us this night, for that will
profit us more than the possession of Constantinople." Now when she
heard their words she said, "By Allah, were ye not the Emirs of the
Moslems, I would not relate to you aught of this at any time; for I
complain not but to Allah alone.  However, to you I will relate the
circumstances of my captivity.  Know, then, that I was in the saintly
City of Jerusalem with certain ecstatics and inspired men, and did not
magnify myself among them, for that Allah (be He exalted and extolled!)
had endowed me with humility and abnegation, till I chanced to go down
to the sea one night and walked upon the water.  Then entered into me
pride; whence I know not, and I said to myself, 'Who like me can walk
the water?' And my heart from that time hardened and Allah afflicted me
with the love of travel.  So I journeyed to Roum land and visited every
part for a whole year, and left no place but therein I worshiped Allah.
 When I came to this spot,[FN#427] I clomb the mountain and saw there
an hermitage, inhabited by a monk called Matrubina, who, when he
sighted me, came out and kissed my hands and feet and said, 'Verily, I
have seen thee since thou enteredst the land of the Greeks, and thou
hast filled me with longing for the land of Al-Islam.' Then he took my
hand and carried me into that hermitage, and brought me to a dark room;
and, when I entered it unawares, he locked the door on me and left me
there forty days, without meat or drink; for it was his intent to kill
me by delay.  It chanced one day, that a Knight called Dakianús[FN#428]
came to the hermitage, accompanied by ten squires and his daughter
Tamásil, a girl whose beauty was incom parable.  When they entered that
hermitage, the monk Matruhina told them of me, and the Knight said,
'Bring him out, for surely there is not on him a bird's meal of meat.'
So they opened the door of the dark room and found me standing in the
niche, praying and reciting the Koran and glorifying Allah and humbling
myself before the Almighty.  When they saw me in this state Matrohina
exclaimed, 'This man is indeed a sorcerer of the sorcerers!'; and
hearing his words, they all came in on me, Dakianus and his company
withal, and they beat me with a grievous beating, till I desired death
and reproached myself, saying, 'This is his reward who exalteth himself
and who prideth himself on that which Allah hath vouchsafed to him,
beyond his own competence!  And thou, O my soul, verily self esteem and
arrogance have crept into thee.  Dost thou not know that pride angereth
the Lord and hardeneth the heart and bringeth men to the Fire?' Then
they laid me in fetters and returned me to my place which was the
dungeon under ground.  Every three days, they threw me down a scone of
barley bread and a draught of water; and every month or two the Knight
came to the hermitage. Now his daughter Tamasil had grown up, for she
was nine years old when I first saw her, and fifteen years passed over
me in captivity, so that she had reached her four and twentieth year. 
There is not in our land nor in the land of the Greeks a fairer than
she, and her father feared lest the King take her from him; for she had
vowed herself to the Messiah and rode with Dakianus in the habit of a
cavalier, so that albeit none might compare with her in loveliness, no
one who saw her knew her for a woman.  And her father had laid up his
monies in this hermitage, every one who had aught of price or treasured
hoard being wont to deposit it therein; and I saw there all manner of
gold and silver and jewels and precious vessels and rarities, none may
keep count of them save Almighty Allah.  Now ye are worthier of these
riches than those Infidels; so lay hands on that which is in the
hermitage and divide it among the Moslems and especially on fighters in
the Holy War.  When these merchants came to Constantinople and sold
their merchandise, that image which is on the wall spoke to them, by
grace of a marvel which Allah granted to me; so they made for that
hermitage and slew Matruhina, after torturing him with most grievous
torments, and dragging him by the beard, till he showed them the place
where I was; when they took me and found no path but flight for dread
of death.  Now tomorrow night Tamasil will visit that hermitage as is
her habit, and her father and his squires will come after her, as he
feareth for her; so, if ye would witness these things, take me with you
and I will deliver to you the monies and the riches of the Knight
Dakianus which be in that mountain; for I saw them bring out vessels of
gold and silver to drink therefrom, and I heard a damsel of their
company sing to them in Arabic and well-away!  that so sweet a voice
should not be busied in chaunting the Koran.  If, then, ye will; enter
into that hermitage and hide there against the coming of Dakianus and
his daughter; and take her, for she is fit only for the King of the
Age, Sharrkan, or King Zau al-Makan." Thereat they all rejoiced with
the exception of the Wazir Dandan, who put scant faith in her story,
for her words took no hold on his reason, and signs of doubt in her and
disbelief showed in his face.[FN#429] Yet he was confounded at her
discourse, but he feared to speak with her for awe of the King.  Then
quoth the ancient dame, Zat al-Dawahi, "Verily, I fear lest the Knight
come and, seeing these troops encamped in the meadow, be afraid to
enter the hermitage." So Zau al-Makan ordered the army to march upon
Constantinople and said, "I have resolved to take with me an hundred
horse and many mules and make for that mountain, where we will load the
beasts with the monies which be in the hermitage." Then he sent at once
for the Chief Chamberlain whom they brought into the presence; and he
summoned likewise the leaders of the Turks and Daylamites and said, "As
soon as it is dawn, do ye set forth for Constantinople; and thou, O
Chamberlain, shalt take my place in council and contrivance, while
thou, O Rustam, shalt be my brother's deputy in battle.  But let none
know that we are not with you and after three days we will rejoin you."
Then he chose out an hundred of the doughtiest riders, and he and
Sharrkan and the Minister Dandan set out for the hermitage, and the
hundred horsemen led the mules with chests for transporting the
treasure.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her
permitted say.

              When it was the Ninety-sixth Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Sharrkan and his
brother, Zau al-Makan and the Wazir Dandan set off with an hundred
horse for the hermitage described to them by that accursed Zat
al-Dawahi, and they took with them mules and chests for transporting
the treasure.  Now as soon as dawned the morn, the Chamberlain
signalled to the host an order for departure, and they set out thinking
that the two Kings and the Wazir were with them; knowing not that the
three had made for the monastery. Such was the case with the host, but
as regards the two Kings and the Minister, they tarried in their place
till the end of that day.  Now the Infidels who were with Zat al-Dawahi
took their departure privily, after they had gone in to her and kissed
her hands and feet and obtained her leave to march.  So she not only
gave them permission but also taught them all she minded of wile and
guile.  And when it was dark night, she arose and went in to Zau
al-Makan and his companions and said to them, "Come, let us set out for
the mountain, and take with you a few men at arms." They obeyed her and
left five horsemen at the foot of the mountain, whilst the rest rode on
before Zat al-Dawahi, who gained new strength for excess of joy, so
that Zau al-Makan said, "Glory be to Him who sustaineth this holy man,
whose like we never saw!" Now the witch had written a letter to the
King of Constantinople and despatched it on the wings of a
bird,[FN#430] acquainting him with what had passed and ending, "I wish
thee to send me ten thousand horsemen of the bravest of the Greeks and
let them steal along the foot of the mountains with caution, lest the
host of Al-Islam get sight of them; and, when they reach the hermitage,
let them ambush themselves there, till I come to them with the Moslem
King and his brother, for I shall inveigle them and will bring them
thither, together with the Wazir and an hundred horse and no more, that
I may presently deliver to them the crosses which be in the hermitage. 
I am resolved to slay the Monk Matruhina, since my scheme cannot be
carried out but by taking his life.  If my plot work well, not one of
the Moslems shall return to his own country; no, not a living wight nor
one who blows the fire alight; and Matruhina shall be a sacrifice for
the followers of the Nazarene faith and the servants of the Cross, and
praise be to the Messiah, first and last." When this letter reached
Constantinople, the keeper of the carrier pigeons carried it to King
Afridun, who read it and forthwith inspected his host and equipped ten
thousand cavaliers with horses and dromedaries and mules and provaunt
and bade them repair to that hermitage and, after reaching the tower,
to hide therein.  Thus far concerning them; but as regards King Zau
al-Makan and his brother Sharrkan and the Wazir Dandan and the escort,
when they reached the hermitage they entered and met the Monk
Matruhina, who came out to see who and what they were; whereupon quoth
that pious man Zat al-Dawahi, "Slay this damned fellow."[FN#431] So
they smote him with their swords and made him drink the cup of death. 
Then the accursed old woman carried them to the place of offerings and
ex votos, and brought out to them treasures and precious things more
than she had described to them; and after gathering the whole together,
they set the booty in chests and loaded the mules therewith.  As for
Tamasil, she came not, she or her father, for fear of the Moslems; so
Zau al-Makan tarried there, awaiting her all that day and the next and
a third, till Sharrkan said to him, "By Allah, I am troubled anent the
army of Al-Islam, for I know not what is become of them." His brother
replied, "And I also am concerned for them: we have come by this great
treasure and I do not believe that Tamasil or any one else will
approach the hermitage, after that befel which hath befallen the host
of the Christians.  It behoveth us, then, to content ourselves with
what Allah hath given us and depart; so haply He will help us conquer
Constantinople." Accordingly they came down from the mountain, while
Zat al-Dawahi was impotent to oppose their march for fear of betraying
her deceit; and they fared forwards till they reached the head of a
defile, where the old woman had laid an ambush for them with the ten
thousand horse. As soon as these saw the Moslems they encircled them
from all sides, couching lance and baring the white sabre blade; and
the Infidels shouted the watch word of their faithless Faith and set
the shafts of their mischief astring.  When Zau al-Makan and his
brother Sharrkan and the Minister Dandan looked upon this host, they
saw that it was a numerous army and said, "Who can have given these
troops information of us?" Replied Sharrkan, "O my brother, this be no
time for talk; this is the time for smiting with swords and shooting
with shafts) so gird up your courage and hearten your hearts, for this
strait is like a street with two gates; though, by the virtue of the
Lord of Arabs and Ajams, were not the place so narrow I would bring
them to naught, even though they were an hundred thousand men!" Said
Zau al-Makan, "Had we wotted this we would have brought with us five
thousand horse;" and the Wazir Dandan continued, "If we had ten
thousand horse they had availed us naught in these narrows; but Allah
will succour us against them.  I know this defile and its straitness,
and I know there be many places of refuge in it; for I have been here
on razzia with King Omar bin al-Nu'uman, what while we besieged
Constantinople.  We abode in this place, and here is water colder than
snow.  So come, let us push out of this defile ere the Infidel host
increase on us and get the start of us to the mountain top, whence they
will hurl down rocks upon us, and we powerless to come at them." So
they began hurrying on to get out of those narrows; but the pious man,
Zat al-Dawahi, looked at them and said, "What is it ye fear, ye who
have vowed yourselves to the Lord, and to working His will?  By Allah,
I abode imprisoned underground for fifteen years, yet never gainsaid
the Almighty in aught he did with me!  Fight ye in Allah's way; so
whoever of you is slain Paradise shall be his abode, and whoso slayeth,
his striving shall be to his honour." When they heard from the ascetic
these words, their care and anxiety ceased from them and they stood
firm till the Infidels charged down from all sides, whilst the swords
played upon their necks and the cup of death went round amongst them. 
The Moslems fought for the service of Allah a right good fight, and
wrought upon His foes with sway of sword and lunge of lance; whilst Zau
al-Makan smote upon the men and garred the knights bite the dust and
their heads from their bodies take flight, five by five and ten by ten,
till he had done to death a number of them past numbering and an
accompt beyond counting.  Now while so doing, he looked at the accursed
old woman who was waving her sword and heartening them, and all who
feared fled to her for shelter; but she was also signing the Infidels
to slay Sharrkan.  So troop after troop rushed on him with design to do
him die; but each troop that charged, he charged and drove back; and
when another troop attacked him he repelled the assault with the sword
in their backs; for he thought it was the devotee's blessing that gave
him the vic tory, and he said in himself, "Verily on this holy men
Allah looketh with eyes of His favour and strengtheneth my prowess
against the Infidels with the purity of his pious intent: for I see
that they fear me and cannot prevail against me, but every one who
assaileth me turneth tail and taketh flight." So they battled the rest
of the day and, when night fell, the Moslems took refuge in a cave of
that defile being weary with stress of war and cast of stone: and that
day were slain of them five and forty.  And when they were gathered
together, they sought the devotee, but could find no trace of him; and
this was grievous to them and they said, "Belike, he hath died a
martyr." Quoth Sharrkan, "I saw him heartening the horsemen with divine
instances and using as talisman verses of Holy Writ." Now while they
were talking, behold, the accursed old woman, Zat al-Dawahi, stood
before them, hending in hand the head of the Chief Captain of the ten
thousand horse, a noble knight, a champion fierce in fight and a Satan
for blight.  One of the Turks had slain him with an arrow, and Allah
hurried his soul to the fire; and when the Infidels saw what that
Moslem had done with their leader, they all fell on him and wrought his
bane and hewed him in pieces with their swords, and Allah hurried his
soul to Heaven.  Then the accursed old woman cut off that Knight's head
and brought it and threw it at the feet of Sharrkan and Zau al-Makan
and the Wazir Dandan.  Now when Sharrkan sew her, he sprang up hastily
before her and exclaimed, "Praised be Allah for thy safety and for our
sighting thee, O holy man and devout champion of the Religion!" Replied
she, O my son, I have sought martyrdom this day, and have thrown my
life away amid the Infidel array, but they feared me with dismay.  When
ye dispersed, I waxed jealous for your honour; so I rushed on the Chief
Knight their leader, albeit he was a match for a thousand horse, and I
smote him till I severed head from trunk.  Not one of the Infidels
could near me; so I brought his head to you,"—And Shahrazad perceived
the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.

             When it was the Ninety-seventh Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the damned
witch, Zat al-Dawahi, took the head of the Knight, the leader of the
twenty thousand Infidels, she brought it and threw it down before Zau
al-Makan and his brother Sharrkan and the Wazir Dandan, saying, "When I
saw your condition, I waxed jealous for your honour; so I rushed on the
Chief Knight and smote him with the sword till I severed head from
trunk.  And none could near me, so I brought his head to you, that you
may be strengthened in Holy War and work out with your swords the will
of the Lord of the Faithful.  And now I purpose leaving you to strive
against the Infidels, whilst I go to your army, though they be at the
gates of Constantinople, and return with twenty thousand horse to
destroy these Unfaithfuls." Quoth Sharrkan, "How wilt thou pass to
them, O thou holy man, seeing that the valley is blocked up on all
sides by the Miscreants?" Quoth the accursed hag, "Allah will veil me
from their eyes and they shall not sight me;[FN#432] nor, if any saw
me, would he dare to attack me at that time, for I shall be as one non
existing, absorbed in Allah, and He will fend off from me His foes."
"Thou sayest sooth, O holy man," rejoined Sharrkan, "for indeed I have
been witness of that; so, if thou can pass out at the first of the
night, 'twill be best for us." Replied she, "I will set out at this
very hour and, if thou desire, thou shalt go with me and none shall see
thee.  Furthermore if thy brother also have a mind to go with us we
will take him, but none else; for the shadow of a saint can cover only
twain." Sharrkan said, "As for me I will not leave my comrades; but, if
my brother will, there is no harm in his going with thee and setting us
free of this strait; for he is the stronghold of the Moslems and the
sword of the Lord of the three Worlds; and if it be his pleasure, let
him take with him the Wazir Dandan, or whom else he may elect and send
us ten thousand horse to succour us against these caitiffs." So after
debate they agreed on this and the old woman said, "Give me leisure to
go before you and consider the condition of the Infidels, if they be
asleep or awake." Quoth they, "We will not go forth save with thee and
trust our affair to Allah." "If I do your bidding," replied she, "blame
me not but blame yourselves; for it is my rede that you await me till I
bring you tidings of the case." Then said Sharrkan, "Go to them and
delay not from us, for we shall be awaiting thee." Thereupon she fared
forth and Sharrkan turned to his brother addressing him and said, "Were
not this holy man a miracle worker, he had never slain yonder furious
knight.  This is proof sufficient of the ascetic's power; and of a
truth the pride of the Infidels is laid low by the slaying of this
cavalier, for he was violent, an evil devil and a stubborn." Now whilst
they were thus devising of the mighty works of the devotee, behold, the
accursed Zat al-Dawahi came upon them and promised them victory over
the Unbelievers; wherefor they thanked her (not knowing that all this
was wile and guile) and the damned hag asked, "Where be the King of the
Age, Zau al-Makan, and the Minister Dandan?" Answered he, "Here am I!"
Take with thee thy Wazir," said she, "and follow after me, that we may
fare forth to Constantinople." Now she had acquainted the Infidels with
the cheat she had put upon the Moslems, and they rejoiced with
exceeding great joy, and said, Our hearts will not be contented till we
shall have slain their King in return for the Knight's death; because
we had no stouter rider than he;" and they added (bespeaking the ill
omened hag as she told them her plan of faring to the land of the
Moslems), "When thou bringest him to us, we will bear him to King
Afridun." Then she went out and went out with her Zau al-Makan and the
Minister Dandan, and she walked on before the two saying, "Fare forth
with the blessing of Almighty Allah!" So they did her bidding, for the
shaft of Pate and Fortune of man's lot had shot them, and she ceased
not leading them both through the midst of the Grecian camp, till they
came to the defile, the narrow pass aforesaid, whilst the Infidel enemy
watched them, but did them no hindrance; for the infernal old woman had
enjoined this.  Now when Zau al-Makan and the Wazir Dandan saw that the
Infidel host offered them no let and stay and yet had them in sight,
the Wazir exclaimed, "By Allah, this is one of the holy man's saintly
miracles! and doubtless he be of the elect." Rejoined Zau al-Makan, "By
Allah, I think the Infidels be naught but blind, for we see them and
they see us not." And while they were thus praising the holy man and
recounting his mighty works and his piety and his prayers, behold, the
Infidels charged down on them from all sides and surrounded them and
seized them, saying, "Is there anyone else with you twain, that we may
seize upon him too?" And the Wazir Dandan replied, "See you not yon
other man that is before us?  ' Replied the Unbelievers, "By the truth
of the Messiah and the Monks, and the Primate and the Metropolitan, we
see none save you two!" Then Zau Al-Makan said, "By Allah, this is a
chastisement decreed to us by Almighty Allah!"—And Shahrazad perceived
the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.

              When it was the Ninety-eighth Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the
Unfaithful had seized upon King Zau al-Makan and the Wazir Dandan, they
said to the two, "Is there anyone else with you twain, that we may
seize upon him also?" And the Wazir Dandan replied, "See you not yon
other man who be with us?" They rejoined, "By the truth of the Messiah
and the Monks and the Primate and the Metropolitan, we see none save
you two!" Then the Infidels laid shackles on their feet and set men to
guard them during the night, whilst Zat al-Dawahi fared on and
disappeared from their sight.  So they fell to lamenting and saying to
each other, "Verily, the opposing of pious men leadeth to greater
distress than this, and we are punished by the strait which hath
befallen us." So far concerning Zau al-Makan and the Wazir Dandan; but
as regards King Sharrkan, he passed that night in the cavern with his
comrades, and when dawned the day and he had prayed the morn prayer, he
and his men made ready to do battle with the Infidel and he heartened
them and promised them all good.  Then they sallied out till they were
hard upon the Unbelievers and, when these saw them from afar, they
cried out to them, saying, "O Moslems, we have taken captives your
Sultan and your Wazir who hath the ordering of your affairs; and except
ye leave off fighting us, we will slay you to the last man; but an you
yield yourselves we will take you to our King, who will make peace with
you on condition that you quit our country and return home and harm us
in naught, and we will do you no harm in aught. If ye accept, it will
be well for you; but if ye refuse there remaineth nothing for you but
death.  So we have told you sooth, and this is our last word to you."
Now when Sharrkan heard this and was certified of the captivity of his
brother and the Wazir Dandan, he was weighed down with woe and wept;
his force failed him and, making sure of death, he said to himself,
"Would I knew the cause of their capture!  Did they fail of respect to
the holy man or disobey him, or what was the matter?" Then they sprang
up to battle with the Unbelievers and slew great numbers of them. The
brave was known that day from craven men, and sword and spear were dyed
with bloody stain; for the Infidels flocked up on them, as flies flock
to drink, from hill and from plain; but Sharrkan and his men ceased not
to wage the fight of those who fear not to die, nor let death hinder
them from the pursuit of victory, till the valley ran gore and earth
was full of the slain she bore. And when night fell the armies
separated each making for his own place; and the Moslems returned to
the cavern where gain and loss were manifest to them: few remained of
them and there was no dependence for them but on Allah and the
scymitar.  Now there had been slain of them that day five and thirty
men of the chiefest Emirs, and they had killed thousands of the
Infidels, footmen and fighters on horse.  When Sharrkan saw this, the
case was grievous to him and he asked his comrades "What shall we do?";
whereto all answered, "That which Almighty Allah willeth shall befal
us." On the morning of the second day, Sharrkan said to the remnant of
his troop, "If ye go forth to fight, not one of you will remain alive
and we have but little left of food and water; so I deem ye would do
better to bare your brands and go forth and stand at the mouth of this
cavern, to hinder any from entering.  Haply the holy man may have
reached the Moslem host, and may return with ten thousand horses to
succour us in fight with the Infidels, for belike the Unfaithful may
have failed to see him and those with him." They said, This were the
better course to take, and of its expediency no doubt we make." So the
troop went out and held the cavern mouth standing by its walls; and
every one of the Infidels who sought to enter in, they slew.  Thus did
they fend off the foe from the gape of the cave and they patiently
supported all such assaults, till day was done and night came on dusky
and dun;—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her
permitted say.

              When it was the Ninety-ninth Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the army of the
Moslems held the cavern mouth and stood by its walls and they fended
off the foe, and every one of the Infidels attempted to charge them,
him they slew; and they patiently supported all such assaults till day
was done and night came on dusky and dun, by which time King Sharrkan
had only five and twenty men and no more left.  Then quoth the Infidels
to one another, "When shall these battle days have an end?  We are
weary of warring the Moslems." And quoth one of them, "Up and at them,
for there remain of them but five and twenty men!  If we cannot prevail
on them to fight, let us light a fire upon them;[FN#433] and if they
submit themselves and yield to us, we will take them prisoners; but if
they refuse we will leave them for fuel to the fire, so shall they
become to men of foreseeing mind a warning dire.  May the Messiah on
their fathers have no grace, and may the sojourn of the Nazarenes be
for them no abiding place!" So they carried fuel to the jaws of the
cavern and set fire to it.  Thereupon Sharrkan and his companions made
sure of perdition and yielded themselves prisoners.  And while they
were in this condition, lo!  the knight their captain said to those who
counselled their slaughter, "It is not for any save for King Afridun to
kill them, that he may gratify his wrath; therefore it behoveth us to
keep them in durance by us till the morrow, when we will journey with
them to Constantinople and deliver them to our King, who shall deal
with them as he please." Said they, "This is the right course;" and he
commanded to pinion them and set guards over them.  Then, as soon as it
was black night, the Infidels busied themselves with feasting and
making festival; and they called for wine and drank it till all fell
upon their backs.  Now Sharrkan and his brother, Zau al-Makan, were in
confinement and so also were his companion knights; whereupon the elder
turned to the younger brother and said to him, "O my brother, how win
free?" "By Allah," replied Zau al Makan, "I know not; for here we be
like birds in cage." Then Sharrkan waxed wroth and sighed for excess of
rage and stretched himself, till his pinion bonds brass asunder;
whereupon being free he arose and went up to the Captain of the guard,
and taking from his pocket the keys of the fetters, freed Zau al-Makan
and the Wazir Dandan and the rest of his men. Then he turned to the two
and said, "I desire to slay three of these Infidels and take and don
their dress, we three; so that we shall be guised as Greeks and we will
pass through them, with out their knowing us, and fare forth to our own
force." Replied Zau al-Makan, "This is no safe counsel for if we kill
them, I fear some of their comrades may hear their shrieks and the foe
be aroused upon us and kill us.  'Twere the surer way to pass out of
the defile." So they agreed upon this and set out; and, when they had
left the head of the strait a little distance behind, they saw horses
picketed and the riders sleeping: and Sharrkan said to his brother,
"Better we take each one of us a steed." There were five and twenty
horsemen, so they took five and twenty horses, whilst Allah sent sleep
upon the Infidels for a purpose He knew and the Faithful mounted and
fared on till they were out of reach. Meanwhile Sharrkan set to
gathering from the Infidels as many weapons, swords, and spears, as
were wanted.  And while they took saddle and struck forwards none of
the Infidels supposed that anyone could release Zau al-Makan and his
brother and their men; or that their prisoners had power to escape. 
Now when all the captives were safe from the Unfaithful, Sharrkan came
up with his comrades, and found them awaiting his arrival, on coals of
flame, expecting him in anxious grame, so he turned to them and said,
"Feel no fear since Allah protecteth us.  I have that to propose which
haply shall effect our purpose." "What is it?" asked they and he
answered, "I desire that ye all climb to the mountain top and cry out
with one voice, 'Allaho Akbar!' and ye add, 'The army of Al Islam is
upon you!  Allaho Akbar!' This wise their company will surely be
dissolved nor will they find out the trick for they are drunk, but they
will think that the Moslem troops have encompassed them about on all
sides and have mingled with them; so they will fall on one another
brand in hand during the confusion of drunkenness and sleep, and we
will cleave them asunder with their own swords and the scymitar will go
round amongst them till dawn." Replied Zau al-Makan, "This plan is not
good; we should do better to make our way to our army and speak not a
word; for if we cry out 'Allaho Akbar,' they will wake and fall on us
and not one of us will escape." Rejoined Sharrkan, "By Allah, though
they should awake tis no matter, and I long that ye fall in with my
plan, for naught save good can come of it!" So they agreed thereon and
clomb the mountain and shouted, "Allaho Akbar!" And hills and trees and
rocks reworded their Allaho Akbar for fear of the Almighty.  But when
the Kafirs heard this slogan they cried out to one another,—And
Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted
say.

              When it was the One Hundredth Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Sharrkan spake
thus, "I long that ye fall in with this my plan, for naught save good
can come of it." So they agreed thereon and clomb the mountain head and
shouted, "Allaho Akbar!"; and hills and trees and rocks re worded their
Allaho Akbar for fear of the Almighty. The Infidels heard it and cried
out one to other and donned their armour and said, "The foe is upon us,
by the truth of the Messiah!" Then they fell on one another and slew of
their own men more than any knoweth save Almighty Allah.  As soon as it
was dawn, they sought for the captives, but found no trace of them, and
their captains said, "They who did this were the prisoners in our
possession; up, then, and after them in all haste till ye overtake
them, when we will make them quaff the cup of requital; and let not
fright nor the panic of sudden awaking possess you." So they took horse
and rode after the fugitives and it wanted but an eye twinkling before
they overtook them and surrounded them. Now when Zau al-Makan saw this,
he was seized with increase of terror and said to his brother, "What I
feared would come, is come upon us, and now it remaineth only for us to
fight for the Faith." But Sharrkan preferred to hold his peace.  Then
Zau al- Makan and his companions rushed down from the hill crest,
shouting, "Allaho Akbar!" and his men repeated the war cry and
addressed themselves to fight and to sell their lives in the service of
the Lord of Faithful Men; and while they were in this case, behold,
they heard many voices voicing, "There is no god but the God! God is
most great!  Salutation and salvation upon the Apostle, the Bringer of
glad Tidings, the Bearer of bad Tidings!''[FN#434]  So they turned
towards the direction of the sound and saw a company of Moslems who
believed in one God, pushing towards them, whereat their hearts were
heartened and Sharrkan charged upon the Infidels crying out, "There is
no god but the God!  God is most great! he and those with him, so that
earth quaked as with an earthquake and the Unbeliever host brake
asunder and fled into the mountains and the Moslems followed them with
lunge and blow; and Zau al-Makan and his comrades of the Moslems ceased
not to smite the hosts of the Infidel foe, and parted heads from bodies
till day darkened and night coming on starkened sight.  Thereupon the
Moslems drew together and passed the night in congratulations, and,
when morning dawned and daybreak shone with its shine and sheen, they
saw Bahram, the captain of the Daylamites, and Rustam, the captain of
the Turks, advancing to join them, with twenty thousand cavaliers like
lions grim.  As soon as they saw Zau al-Makan, the riders dismounted
and saluted him, and kissed ground between his hands when he said to
them, "Rejoice ye in the glad tidings of the victory of the Moslem and
the discomfiture of the tribe of Unbelievers!" Then they gave one
another joy of their deliverance and of the greatness of their reward
after Resurrection Day.  Now the cause of the coming of the succours to
that place was this.  When the Emir Bahram and the Emir Rustam and the
Chief Chamberlain, with the Moslem host and flags flaunting high ahead,
came in sight of Constantinople they saw that the Nazarenes had mounted
the walls and manned the towers and the forts, and had set all their
defenders in order of defence, as soon as they learned of the approach
of the host of Al-Islam and the banners Mohammedan, and they heard the
clash of arms and the noise of war voices and tramp of horse hoofs and
from their look outs they beheld the Moslems, with their standards and
ensigns of the Faith of Unity under the dust clouds and lo! they were
like a flight of locusts or rain clouds raining rain, and the voices of
the Moslems chanting the Koran and glorifying the Compassionate One,
struck their ears.  Now the Infidels knew of the approach of this host
through Zat al-Dawahi with her craft and whoredom,[FN#435] calumny and
contrivance.  And the armies of Al-Islam drew near, as it were the
swollen sea, for the multitude of footmen and horsemen and women and
children.  Then quoth the General of the Turks to the General of the
Daylamites, "O Emir, of a truth, we are in jeopardy from the multitude
of the foe who is on the walls.  Look at yonder bulwarks and at this
world of folk like the seas that clash with dashing billows.  Indeed
yon Infidel outnumbereth us an hundredfold and we cannot be safe from
spies who may inform them that we are without a Sultan.  In very sooth,
we run danger from these enemies, whose numbers may not be told and
whose resources none can withhold, especially in the absence of King
Zau al-Makan and his brother Sharrkan and the illustrious Wazir Dandan.
 If they know of this, they will be emboldened to attack us in their
absence and with the sword they will annihilate us to the last man; not
one of us safety shall see. So it is my counsel that thou take ten
thousand riders of the allies and the Turks, and march them to the
hermitage of Matruhina and the meadow of Malúkhiná in quest of our
brothers and comrades.  If thou act by my advice, it may be we shall
approve ourselves the cause of their deliverance, in case they be hard
pressed by the Infidels; and if thou act not, blame will not attach to
me.  But, an ye go, it behoveth that ye return quickly, for ill
suspicion is part of prudence." The Emir aforesaid fell in with his
counsel; so they chose twenty thousand horse and they set out covering
the roads and making for the monastery above mentioned.  So much for
the cause of their coming; but as regards the ancient dame, Zat
al-Dawahi, as soon as she had delivered Sultan Zau al-Makan and his
brother Sharrkan and the Wazir Dandan into the hands of the Infidels,
the foul whore mounted a swift steed, saying to the Faithless, "I
design to rejoin the Moslem army which is at Constantinople and
contrive for their destruction; for I will inform them that their
chiefs are dead, and when they hear that from me, their joining will be
disjointed and the cord of their confederation cut and their host
scattered. Then will I go to King Afridun, Lord of Constantinople, and
to my son Hardub, King of Roum, and relate to them their tidings and
they will sally forth on the Moslems with their troops and will destroy
them and will not leave one of them alive." So she mounted and struck
across country on her good steed all the livelong night; and, when day
dawned, appeared the armies of Bahram and Rustam advancing towards her.
 So she turned into a wayside brake and hid her horse among the trees
and she walked a while saying to herself, "Haply the Moslem hosts be
returning, routed, from the assault of Constantinople." However, as she
drew near them she looked narrowly and made sure that their standards
were not reversed,[FN#436] and she knew that they were coming not as
conquered men, but fearing for their King and comrades. When she was
assured of this, she hastened towards them, running at speed, like a
devil of ill rede, till reaching them she cried out, "Haste ye!  haste
ye!  O soldiers of the Compassionate One, hasten to the Holy War
against the hosts of Satan!" When Bahram saw her he dismounted and
kissed the ground before her and asked her, "O friend of Allah what is
behind thee?" Answered she, "Question not of sad case and sore
condition; for when our comrades had taken the treasure from the
hermitage of Matruhina, and designed to win their way Constantinople
wards, thereupon came out on them a driving host and a dreadful of the
Infidels." And the damned witch repeated to them the story to fill them
with trouble and terror, adding, "The most of them are dead, and there
are but five and twenty men left." Said Bahram, "O holy man! when didst
thou leave them?" "But this night,"[FN#437] replied she.  He cried,
"Glory be to Allah!  to Him who hath rolled up the far distance for
thee like a rug, so that thou hast sped thus walking upon thy feet and
props upon a mid-rib of palm-tree!  But thou art one of the saints
which fly like birds when inspired and possessed by His
directions."[FN#438]  Then he mounted his horse, and he was perplexed
and confounded by what he had heard from the beldam so strong in lies
and ill calumnies, and he said, "There is no Majesty and there is no
Might save in Allah, the Glorious, the Great!  Verily our labour is
lost and our hearts are heavy within us, for our Sultan is a prisoner
and those who are with him." Then they cut across the country, wide and
side, night and day, and when morning dawned they reached the head of
the defile and saw Zau al-Makan and Sharrkan shouting.  "There is no
god but the God!  Allaho Akbar!  and Salutation and Salvation upon the
Congratulator, the Comminator."[FN#439]  Whereupon he and his drove at
the Unbelievers and whelmed them, as the rain torrent whelms the waste;
and cried out their war cries, till fear get hold of the prowess
Knights and the mountains were cloven in affright.  And when shone the
day and showed its shine and sheen, the breeze of morning blew upon
them sweet and fragrant, and each recognised other as hath been said
before.  Then they kissed the ground before the King and before his
brother Sharrkan, who told them all that had befallen the party in the
cave.  Now thereat they marvelled and said to one another, "Hasten we
back to Constantinople, for we left our companions there, and our
hearts are with them." So they hurried departure, commending themselves
to the Subtle, the All-wise, and Zau al-Makan exhorted the Moslems to
steadfast- ness and versified in the following couplets,[FN#440]

"Be praises mine to all praiseworthy Thee, * O Lord, who stinted

     not mine aid to be!

Though was I lost abroad, Thou west to me * Strongest support

     which vouchsafed victory:

Thou gav'st me wealth and reign and goodly gifts, * And slungest

     con quering sword of valiancy:

Thou mad'st me blest beneath Thy kingly shade, * Engraced with

     generous boons dealt fain and free:

Thou savedst *from every fear I feared, by aid * Of my Wazir, the

     Age's noblest he!

Garred us Thy grace in fight to throw the Greek, * Who yet came

     back dight in War's cramoisie:

Then made I feint to fly from out the fight; * But like grim lion

     turning made them flee,

And left on valley sole my foemen, drunk * Not with old

     wine[FN#441] but Death-cup's revelry:

Then came the Saintly Hermit, and he showed * His marvels wrought

     for town and wold to see;

When slew they hero-wights who woke to dwell * In Eden bowers

     wherein sweet rill-lets well."


But, when Zau al-Makan had made an end of versifying, his brother
Sharrkan congratulated him on his safety and thanked him for the deeds
he had done; after which both set out forcing their marches to rejoin
their army.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying
her permitted say.

          When it was the One Hundred and First Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Sharrkan
congratulated his brother, Zau al-Makan, on his safety and thanked him
for the deeds he had done; after which both set out forcing their
marches to rejoin their army. Such was their case; but as regards the
old woman, Zat al-Dawahi, after she had foregathered with the hosts of
Rustam and Bahram, she returned to the coppice, where she took her
steed and mounted and sped on at speed, till she drew near the Moslem
army that beleaguered Constantinople, when she lighted down from her
destrier and led it to the pavilion tent of the Chief Chamberlain.  And
when he saw her, he stood up to her in honour and signed to her with
his right hand and said, "Welcome O pious recluse!" Then he questioned
her of what had befallen, and she repeated to him her disquieting lies
and deluding calumnies, saying, "In sooth I fear for the Emir Rustam,
and the Emir Bahram, for that I met them and theirs on the way and sent
them and their following to relieve the King and his companions.  Now
there are but twenty thousand horse and the Unbelievers outnumber them;
so I would have thee at this moment send off the rest of thy troops at
full speed to their suc cour, lest they be slain to the last man." And
she cried to them, "Haste!  Haste!" When the Chamberlain and the
Moslems heard these words, their spirits fell and they wept; but Zat
al-Dawahi said to them, "Ask aidance of Allah and bear patiently this
triburation; for ye have the example of those who have been before you
of the people of Mohammed; and Paradise with its palaces is laid out by
Allah for those who die martyrs; and needs must all die, but most
praiseworthy is dying while fighting for the Faith." The Chamberlain,
hearing this speech of the accursed old woman, called for the Emir
Bahram's brother, a knight by name Tarkash; and, choosing out for him
ten thousand horse, riders famed for force, bade him set out at once. 
So he fared forth and marched all that day and the whole of the next
night, till he neared the Moslems.  When daylight dawned, Sharrkan saw
the dust cloud about them and feared for the men of Al-Islam and said,
"If these troops which are coming upon us be Moslem men our victory is
assured by them; but, if these be Nazarenes, there is no gainsaying
Destiny's decrees." Then he turned to his brother, Zau al- Makan, and
said, Never fear, for with my life I will ransom thee from death.  If
these be Mohammedan troops, then were it an increase of heavenly
favours; but, if they be our foes, there is no help save that we fight
them.  Yet do I long to meet the Holy Man ere I die, so I may beg him
to pray that I die not save by death of martyrdom." Whilst the twain
were thus speaking, behold, there appeared the banners inscribed with
the words, "There is no god but the God and Mohammed is the Apostle of
God;" and Sharrkan cried out, "How is it with the Moslems?" "All are
sound and safe," replied they, "and we came not but out of concern for
you." Then the Chief of the army dismounted and, kissing ground before
Sharrkan, asked, "O my lord, how be the Sultan and the Wazir Dandan and
Rustam and my brother Bahram; are they all in safety?" He answered,
"All well; but who brought thee tidings of us?" Quoth Tarkash; "It was
the Holy Man who told us that he had met my brother Bahram and Rustam
and had sent them both to you and he also assured us that the Infidels
had encompassed you and out numbered you; but I see not the case save
the contrary thereof and that you are victorious." They questioned him,
"And how did the Holy Man reach you?"; and he replied, "Walking on his
feet and he had compassed in a day and a night, ten days' journey for a
well girt horseman." "There is no doubt but that he is a Saint of
Allah," said Sharrkan, "but where is he now?" They rejoined, "We left
him with our troops, the folk of the Faith, moving them to do battle
with the rebels and the Faithless." Thereat Sharrkan rejoiced and all
thanked Allah for their own deliverance and the safety of the Holy Man;
and commended the dead to His mercy saying, "This was writ in the
Book." Then they set out making for Constantinople by forced marches,
and whilst they were on this enterprise, behold, a dust cloud arose to
such height that it walled the two horizons, the eastern and the
western, from man's sight and the day was darkened by it to night.  But
Sharrkan looked at it and said, "Verily, I fear lest this be the
Infidels who have routed the army of Al-Islam for that this dust
walleth the world, east and west, and hideth the two horizons, north
and south." Presently appeared under the dust a pillar of darkness,
blacker than the blackness of dismal days; nor ceased to come upon them
that column more dreadful than the dread of the Day of Doom. Horse and
foot hastened up to look at it and know the terrors of the case, when
behold, they saw it to be the recluse aforesaid; so they thronged round
him to kiss his hands and he cried out, "O people of the Best of
Mankind,[FN#442] the lamp which shineth in darkness blind, verily the
Infidels have outwitted the Moslems by guile, for they fell upon the
host of the One God whilst they deemed themselves safe from the
Faithless, and attacked them in their tents and made a sore slaughter
of them what while they looked for no wile; so hasten to the aid of the
Believers in the unity of God, and deliver them from those who deny
Him!" Now when Sharrkan heard these words, his heart flew from his
breast with sore trouble; and, alighting from his steed in amazement,
he kissed the Recluse's hands and feet.  On like wise did his brother,
Zau al-Makan, and the rest of the foot and horse troops; except the
Wazir Dandan, who dismounted not but said, "By Allah, my heart flieth
from this devotee, for I never knew show of devotion to religion that
bred not bane.  So leave him and rejoin your comrades the Moslems, for
this man is of the outcasts from the gate of the mercy of the Lord of
the Three Worlds!  How often have I here made razzias with King Omar
bin al-Nu'uman and trodden the earth of these lands!" Said Sharrkan,
"Put away from thee such evil thought, hast thou not seen this Holy Man
exciting the Faithful to fight, and holding spears and swords light? 
So slander him not, for backbiting is blameable and poisoned is the
flesh of the pious.[FN#443]  Look how he inciteth us to fight the foe;
and, did not Almighty Allah love him, He had cast him aforetime into
fearful torment." Then Sharrkan bade bring a Nubian mule for the
ascetic to ride and said, "Mount, O pious man, devout and virtuous!"
But the devotee refused to ride and feigned self denial, that he might
attain his end; and they knew not that this holy personage was like him
of whom the poet saith,

"He prayeth and he fasteth for an end he doth espy; * When once his end
is safely won then fast and prayer good bye."[FN#444]

So the devotee ceased not to walk among the horsemen and the footmen,
like a wily fox meditating guile, and began to uplift her voice,
chanting the Koran and praising the Compassionate One. And they
continued pressing forward till they approached the camp of Al-Islam,
where Sharrkan found the Moslem in conquered plight and the Chamberlain
upon the brink of falling back in flight, whilst the sword of Greece
havoc dight among the Faithful, the righteous and those who work
upright,—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her
permitted say.

         When it was the One Hundred and Second Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Sharrkan saw
the Moslems in conquered plight and the Chamberlain upon the brink of
retreat and flight and the sword havoc dight among the righteous and
the workers of upright, the cause of this weakness among the Moslems
was that the accursed old woman, Zat al- Dawahi, the foe of the Faith,
after seeing that Bahram and Rustam had set forward with their troops
to join Sharrkan and his brother Zau al-Makan, repaired to the camp of
the Mahometans before Constantinople and caused the mission of the Emir
Tarkash, as hath been before said.  In this her purpose was to divide
the Moslem forces the better to weaken them.  Then she left them and
entered Constantinople, and called with a loud voice on the knights of
the Greeks, saying, "Let me down a cord that I may tie thereto this
letter, and do ye bear it to your King Afridun, that he may read it and
to my son King Hardub that they both do what is written therein of
bidding and forbidding." So they let down for her a string and she tied
thereto a letter whose purport was the following: "From the terriblest
of tribulations[FN#445] and the chiefest of all calamities, Zat
al-Dawahi, to King Afridun greeting. But afterwards, of a truth I have
contrived a device for destroying the Moslems; so bide ye quiet and
content.  I have cozened and captured their Sultan and the Wazir
Dandan; and then I returned to their camp and acquainted them
therewith, whereby their pride had a fall and their withers were wrung.
And I have so wrought upon the host 'leaguering Constantinople that
they have sent ten thousand men under the Emir Tarkash to succour the
capitves, of whom there be now left but few; it is therefore my object
that ye sally forth against them with all your power while this day
endureth; and that ye fall on them in their tents and that ye leave
them not till ye shall have slain them to the last man; for, verily the
Messiah looketh down upon you and the Blessed Virgin favoureth you; and
I hope of the Messiah that he forget not what deed I have done." When
her letter came to King Afridun, he rejoiced with great joyance; and,
sending at once for King Hardub of Greece, son of Zat al-Dawahi, read
the letter to him as soon as he came,whereathe was exceeding glad and
said, "See my mother's craft; verily it dispenseth with swords, and her
aspect standeth in stead of the terrors of the Day of Dread." Rejoined
Afridun, "May the Messiah not bereave us of thy venerable parent nor
deprive her of her wile and guile!" Then he bade the Knights give
orders for sallying outside the city, and the news was noised abroad in
Constantinople.  So the Nazarenes and the cohorts of the Cross burst
forth and unsheathed their keen sabres in their numbers, shouting out
their professions of impiety and heresies, and blaspheming the Lord of
all Creatures. When the Chamberlain saw the sally, he said, "Behold,
the Greek is upon us and they surely have learned that our Sultan is
far away; and haply they have attacked us, for that the most part of
our troops have marched to the succour of King Zau al-Makan!" Therewith
he waxed wroth and cried out, "Ho, soldiers of Al-Islam and favourers
of the True Faith, an you flee you are lost, but if ye stand fast, ye
win!  Know ye that valiancy lieth in endurance of outrance and that no
case is so strait but that the Almighty is able to make it straight;
Allah assain you and look upon you with eyes of compassion fain!"
Thereupon the Moslems cried out, "Allaho Akbar!" and the believer in
the One God shouted his slogan, and whirled the mill wheels of fight
with cutting and thrusting in main and might; scymitars and spears
played sore and the plains and valleys were swamped with gore.  The
priests and monks priested it, tight girding their girdles and
uplifting the Crucifixes, while the Moslem shouted out the professions
of the Requiting King and verses of the Koran began to sing.  The hosts
of the Compassion are One fought against the legions of Satan; and head
flew from body of man, while the good Angels hovered above the people
of the Chosen Prophet, nor did the sword cease to smite till the day
darkened and night came on and starkened. Now the miscreants had
encompassed the Moslems and made sure of escaping the pains that
awaited them; and the Faithless greeded for victory over the Faithful
until day dawned and dazzled. There upon the Chamberlain mounted, he
and his men, trusting thee Allah would help them to victory; and host
was mingled with host and battle rose a foot and took post.  And heads
flew from trunks whilst the brave stood fast in stead; the craven
turned tail and fled; and the Judge of death judged and sentence sped,
so that the champions fell from their saddles slain and corpses
cumbered meadow and plain.  Then the Moslem began to give ground and
rearwards bent; and the Greek took possession of some of their tents;
whereupon the Moslems were about to break and retreat and take flight,
when meanwhile behold, up came Sharrkan with the rest of the host of
Al-Islam and the standards of the Believers in Unity.  And having come
up with them, he charged the Infidels; and followed him Zau al-Makan
and the Wazir Dandan and the Emirs Bahram and Rustam with his brother
Tarkash.  When the foe saw this, they lost head and their reason fled,
and the dust clouds towered till they covered the country whilst the
righteous Believers joined their pious comrades.  Then Sharrkan
accosted the Chamberlain and praised him for his steadfastness; and he
in turn gave the Prince joy of his timely succour and his gaining the
day. Thereat the Moslems were glad and their hearts were heartened; so
they rushed upon their enemies and devoted themselves to Allah in their
Fight for the Faith.  But when the Idolaters beheld the standards
Mohammedan and there on the profession of Faith Islamitan, proclaiming
the Unity, they shrieked "Woe!" and "Ruin!" and besought succour of the
Patriarchs of the Monasteries.  Then fell they to calling upon John and
Mary and the Cross abhorrent and stayed their hands from slaughter,
whilst King Afridun went up to consult King Hardub of Greece, for the
two Kings stood one at the head of each wing, right and left. Now there
was with them also a famous cavalier, Lawiya highs, who commanded the
centre; and they drew out in battle array, but indeed they were full of
alarm and affray. Meanwhile, the Moslems aligned their forces and
thereupon Sharrkan came to his brother, Zau al-Makan, and said, "O King
of the Age, doubtless they mean to champion it, and that is also the
object of our desire; but it is my wish to push forward the stoutest
hearted of our fighters, for by forethought is one half of life
wrought." Replied the Sultan, "As thou wilt, O companion of good
counsel!" "It is my wish," added Sharrkan, "to stand in mid line
opposite the Infidel, with the Wazir Dandan on my left and thee on my
right, whilst the Emir Bahram leads the dexter wing and the Emir Rustam
leads the wing sinistral; and thou, O mighty King, shalt be under the
standards and the ensigns, for that thou art the pillar of our defence;
upon thee, after Allah, is our dependence and we will all be thy ransom
from aught that can harm thee."  Zau al-Makan thanked him therefor, and
the slogan arose and the sabre was drawn; but, as things stood thus,
behold, there came forth a cavalier from the ranks of Roum; and, as he
drew near, they saw that he was mounted on a slow paced she mule,
fleeing with her master from the shock of swords.  Her housings were of
white silk covered by a prayer-carpet of Cash mere stuff, and on her
back sat a Shaykh, an old man of comely presence and reverend aspect,
garbed in a gown of white wool.  He stinted not pushing her and
hurrying her on till he came near the Moslem and said, "I am an
ambassador to you all, and an ambassador hath naught to do save to
deliver; so give me safe conduct and permit of speech, that I
communicate to you my message." Replied Sharrkan, "Thou art in safety:
fear neither sway of sword nor lunge of lance." Thereupon the old man
dismounted and, taking the Cross from his neck, placed it before the
Sultan and humbled himself with much humility.  Then quoth to him the
Moslems, "What is with thee of news?"; and quoth he, "I am an
ambassador from King Afridun, for I counselled him to avert the
destruction of all these frames of men and temples of the Compassionate
One; and to him it seemed righteous to stay the shedding of blood and
limit it to the encounter of two knights in shock of fight singular; so
he agreed to that and he saith to you, 'Verily, I will ransom my army
with my life; so let the Moslem King do as I do and with his life
ransom his host.  And if he kill me, there will be no stay left in the
army of Roum, and if I kill him, there will be no stability with the
Moslems." When Sharrkan heard this he said, "O monk, I agree to that,
for it is just nor may it be gainsaid; and behold, I will meet him in
duello and do with him derring do, for I am Champion of the Faithful
even as he is Champion of the Faithless; and if he slay me, he will
have won the day and naught will remain for the Moslems forces save
flight.  So return to him, O thou monk, and say that the single combat
shall take place to morrow, for this day we have come off our journey
and are aweary; but after rest neither reproach nor blame fear ye." So
the monk returned (and he rejoicing) to King Afridun and King Hardub,
and told them both what Sharrkan had said, whereat King Afridun was
glad with exceeding gladness and fell from him anxiety and sadness, and
he said to himself, "No doubt but this Sharrkan is their doughtiest
swayer of the sword and the dourest at lunge of lance; and when I shall
have slain him, their hearts will be disheartened and their strength
will be shattered." Now Zat al-Dawahi had written to King Afridun of
that and had told him how Sharrkan was a Knight of the Braves and the
bravest of knights and had warned him against him; but Afridun was a
stalwart cavalier who fought in many a fashion; he could hurl rocks and
throw spears and smite with the iron mace and he feared not the prowess
of the prow. So when he heard the report of the monk that Sharrkan
agreed to the duello, he was like to fly for exceeding joy because he
had self confidence and he knew that none could with stand him.  The
Infidels passed that night in joy and jubilee and wine bibbing; and, as
soon as it was dawn, the two armies drew out with the swart of spear
and the blanch of blade.  And behold a cavalier rode single handed into
the plain, mounted on a steed of purest strain, and for foray and fray
full ready and fain.  And that Knight had limbs of might and he was
clad in an iron cuirass made for stress of fight.  On his breast he
wore a jewelled mirror and in his hand he bore a keen scymitar and his
lance of Khalanj wood,[FN#446] the curious work of the Frank, weighing
a quintal. Then the rider uncovered his face and cried out, saying,
"Whoso knoweth me verily hath enough of me, and whoso knoweth me not
right soon[FN#447] shall ken who I be.  I am Afridun the overwhelmed by
the well omened Shawáhi,[FN#448] Zat al-Dawahi." But he had not ended
speaking ere Sharrkan, the Champion of the Moslems, fared forth to meet
him, mounted on a sorrel horse worth a thousand pieces of red gold with
accoutrements purfled in pearls and precious stone; and he bore in
baldrick a blade of watered Indian steel that through necks shore and
made easy the hard and sore.  He crave his charger between the two
hosts in line whilst the horsemen all fixed on him their eyne, and he
cried out to Afridun, "Woe to thee, O accursed!  dost thou deem me one
of the horsemen thou hast overta'en who cannot stand against thee on
battle plain?" Then each rushed upon other and they bashed together
like two mountains crashing or two billows dash ing and clashing: they
advanced and retreated; and drew together and withdrew; and stinted not
of fray and fight and weapon play, and strife and stay, with stroke of
sword and lunge of lance.  Of the two armies looking on, some said,
"Sharrkan is victor!" and others, "Afridun will conquer!"; and the two
riders stayed not their hands from the hustle until ceased the clamour
and the bustle; and the dust columns rose and the day waned and the sun
waxed yellow and wan.  Then cried out King Afridun to Sharrkan, saying,
"By the truth of the Messiah and the Faith which is no liar, thou art
nought save a doughty rider and a stalwart fighter; but thou art
fraudful and thy nature is not that of the noble.  I ken thy work is
other than praiseworthy nor is thy prowess that of a Prince; for thy
people behave to thee as though thou wert a slave;[FN#449] and see! 
they bring thee out a charger which is not thine, that thou mayst mount
and return to the fight.  But by the truth of my Faith, thy fighting
irketh and fatigueth me and I am weary of cutting and thrusting with
thee; and if thou purpose to lay on load with me to night, thou wouldst
not change aught of thy harness nor thy horse, till thou approve to the
cavaliers, thy generous blood and skill in brunt." When Sharrkan heard
him say these words concerning his own folk behaving to him though he
were a slave, he waxt wroth and turned towards his men, meaning to sign
to them and bid them not prepare him change of harness or horse, when
lo!  Afridun shook his throw spear high in air and cast it at Sharrkan.
 Now when the Moslem turned his back, he found none of the men near
him, and he knew this to be a trick of the accursed Infidel; so he
wheeled round in haste and behold, the javelin came at him, so he
swerved from it, till his head was bent low as his saddle bow.  The
weapon grazed his breast, and pierced the skin of his chest, for
Sharrkan was high bosomed: whereupon he gave one cry and swooned away. 
Thereat the accursed Afridun was joyful, thinking he had slain him; and
shouted to the Infidels bidding them rejoice, whereat the Faithless
were encouraged and the Faithful wept. When Zau al-Makan saw his
brother reeling in selle so that he well nigh fell, he despatched
cavaliers towards him and the braves hurried to his aid and came up
with him.  Thereupon the Infidels drove at the Moslems; the two hosts
joined battle and the two lines were mingled, whilst the keen scymitar
of Al-Yaman did good work.  Now the first to reach Sharrkan was the
Wazir Dandan,—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say
her permitted say.

          When it was the One Hundred and Third Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when King Zau
al-Makan saw that the accursed Infidel had struck with javelin his
brother Sharrkan, he deemed him dead, and despatched cavaliers towards
him; and the first to reach him were the Wazir Dandan and the Emir of
the Turks, Bahram, and the Emir of the Daylamites, Rustam.  They found
him falling from his horse; so they stayed him in his saddle and
returned with him to his brother, Zau al-Makan; then they gave him in
charge to his pages, and went again to do the work of cut and thrust. 
So the strife redoubled and the weapons together clashed and ceased not
bate and debate and naught was to be seen but blood flowing and necks
bowing; nor did the swords cease on the napes of men to make play nor
the strife to rage with more and more affray, till the most part of the
night was past away and the two hosts were aweary of the mellay.  So
they called a truce and each army returned to its tents, whilst all the
Infidels repaired to King Afridun and kissed the ground before him, and
the priests and monks wished him joy of his victory over Sharrkan. 
Then the King fared for Constantinople and sat upon the throne of his
realm, when King Hardub came to him and said, "May the Messiah
strengthen thy fore arm and never cease to be thy helper and hearken to
what prayers my pious mother, Zat al-Dawahi, shall pray for thee! Know
that the Moslems can make no stay without Sharrkan." Replied Afridun,
"To morrow shall end the affair when to fight I fare: I will seek Zau
al-Makan and slay him, and their army shall turn tail and of flight
shall avail." Such was the case with the Kafirs; but as regards the
host of Al-Islam, when Zau al-Makan returned to his tent, he thought of
naught but his brother and, going into the pavilion, found him in evil
case and sore condition; whereupon he summoned for counsel the Wazir
Dandan and Rustam and Bahram. When they entered, they opined to
assemble the physicians that they might medicine Sharrkan, and they
wept and said, "The world will not readily afford his like!" and they
watched by him all that night, and about the later hours came to them
the Recluse in tears.  When Zau al-Makan saw him, he rose in honour;
and the Religious stroked Sharrkan's wound with his hand, chanting
somewhat of the Koran and repeating by way of talisman some of the
verses of the Compassionate One.  And the pretender ceased not to watch
over him till dawn, when he came to himself and, opening his eyes,
moved his tongue in his mouth and spake.  At this Zau al-Makan
rejoiced, saying, "Of a truth the blessing of the Holy Man hath taken
effect on him!" And Sharrkan said, "Praised be Allah for recovery;
indeed, I am well at this hour. That accursed one played me false; and,
but that I swerved aside lighter than lightening, the throw spear had
pierced through my breast.  So praised be Allah for saving me!  And how
is it with the Moslems?" Answered Zau al-Makan, "All are weeping for
thee." Quoth Sharrkan, "I am well and in good case; but where is the
Holy Man?" Now he was sitting by him and said, "At thy head." So the
Prince turned to him and kissed his hand when he said, "O my son!  Be
of good patience and Allah shall increase thy reward; for the wage is
measured by the work." Sharrkan rejoined, "Pray for me," and he prayed
for him.  As soon as morning dawned and day brake in shine and sheen,
the Moslems sallied out to the plain and the Kafirs made ready to
thrust and cut.  Then the Islamite host advanced and offered fight with
weapons ready dight, and King Zau al-Makan and Afridun made to charge
one at other.  But when Zau al-Makan fared forth into the field, there
came with him the Wazir Dandan and the Chamberlain and Bahram, saying,
"We will be thy sacrifice." He replied, "By the Holy House and Zemzem
and the Place![FN#450]  I will not be stayed from going forth against
these wild asses." And when he rode out into the field he played with
sword and spear till riders marvelled and both armies wondered; then he
rushed upon the foe's right wing and of it slew two knights and in like
manner he dealt with the left wing.  Presently he stayed his steed in
the midst of the field and cried out, "Where is Afridun, that I may
make him taste the cup of disgrace?" But when King Hardub saw the case
he conjured Afridun not to attack him, saying, "O King, yesterday it
was thy turn to fight: it is mine to day.  I care naught for his
prowess." So he rushed out towards Zau al-Makan brand in hand and under
him a stallion like Abjar, which was Antar's charger and its coat was
jet black even as saith the poet,

"On the glancing racer outracing glance * He speeds, as though he

     would collar Doom:

His steed's black coat is of darkest jet, * And likest Night in

     her nightliest gloom:

Whose neigh sounds glad to the hearer's ears * Like thunders

     rolling in thun d'rous boom:

If he race the wind he will lead the way, * And the lightning

     flash will behind him loom.''[FN#451]


Then each rushed upon the opponent, parrying blows and proving the
marvellous qualities were stored in him; and they fell to drawing on
and withdrawing till the breasts of the bystanders were straitened and
they were weary of waiting for the event.  At last Zau al-Makan cried
out his war cry and rushed upon Hardub, King of Cæsarea,[FN#452] and
struck him a stroke that shore head from trunk and slew him on the
spot.  When the Infidels saw this, they charged in a body, compact and
united, upon Zau al-Makan, who met them amidfield, and they engaged in
hewing and foining, till blood ran in rills.  Then the Moslems cried
out, "Allaho Akbar!" (God is most Great) and "There is no god but the
God!", and invoked salvation for the Prophet, the Bringer of Glad
Tidings, the Bearer of Bad Tidings.  And there befel a great fight, but
Allah assigned victory to the Faithful and defeat to the Faithless. 
The Wazir Dandan shouted, "Take your blood revenge for King Omar bin al
Nu'uman and his son Sharrkan!"; and bared his head and cried out to the
Turks.  Now there were by his side more than twenty thousand horse, and
all charged with him as men, when the Faithless found naught to save
their lives but flight.  So they turned tail to fly while the biting
sabre wrought its havoc and the Moslems slew of them that day some
fifty thousand horse and took more than that number: much folk also
were slain while going in at the gates, for the flock was great.  Then
the Greeks hove to the doors and swarmed up the walls to await the
assault; and in fine the Moslem hosts returned to their tents aided to
glory and victory, and King Zau al-Makan went in to his brother whom he
found in most joyous case.  So he made a prostration of thanks to the
Bountiful and the Exalted; and then he came forward and gave Sharrkan
joy of his recovery. Answered he, "Verily we are all under the
benediction of this Religious, holy and righteous, nor would you have
been victorious, but for his accepted orisons; indeed all day he
remained at prayer to invoke victory on the Moslems."—And Shahrazad
perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.

         When it was the One Hundred and Fourth Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Zau al-
Makan went in to his brother Sharrkan, he found him sitting with the
Holy Man by his side; so he rejoiced and drew near him and gave him joy
of his recovery.  Answered he, "Verily we are all under the benediction
of this Recluse nor would you have been victorious but for his prayers,
indeed he felt no fear this day and he ceased not supplication for the
Moslems.  I found strength return to me, when I heard your 'Allaho
Akbar,' for then I knew you to be victorious over your enemies.  But
now recount to me, O my brother, what befel thee." So he told him all
that had passed between him and the accursed Hardub and related how he
had slain him and sent him to the malediction of Allah; and Sharrkan
praised him and thanked him for his prowess.  When Zat al-Dawahi heard
tell of her son's death (and she still drest as a devotee), her face
waxed yellow and her eyes ran over with railing tears: she kept her
counsel, however, and feigned to the Moslems that she was glad and wept
for excess of joy.  But she said to herself, "By the truth of the
Messiah, there remaineth no profit of my life, if I burn not his heart
for his brother, Sharrkan, even as he hath burned my heart for King
Hardub, the mainstay of Christendom and the hosts of Crossdom!" Still
she kept her secret.  And the Wazir Dandan and King Zau al-Makan and
the Chamberlain remained sitting with Sharrkan till they had dressed
and salved his wound; after which they gave him medicines and he began
to recover strength; whereat they joyed with exceeding joy and told the
troops who congratulated themselves, saying, "To morrow he will ride
with us and do manly devoir in the siege." Then said Sharrkan to them,
"Ye have fought through all this day and are aweary of fight; so it
behoveth that you return to your places and sleep and not sit up." They
accepted his counsel and then each went away to his own pavilion, and
none remained with Sharrkan but a few servants and the old woman Zat
al-Dawahi.  He talked with her through part of the night, then he
stretched himself to rest: and his servants did likewise and presently
sleep overcame them all and they lay like the dead.  Such was the case
with Sharrkan and his men; but as regards the old woman she alone abode
awake while they slumbered in the tent and, looking at Sharrkan she
presently saw that he was drowned in sleep. Thereupon she sprang to her
feet, as she were a scald she bear or a speckled snake, and drew from
her waist cloth a dagger so poisoned that if laid thereon it would have
melted a rock.  Then she unsheathed the poniard and went up to
Sharrkan's head and she drew the knife across his throat and severed
his weasand and hewed off his head from his body.  And once more she
sprang to her feet; and, going the round of the sleeping servants, she
cut off their heads also, lest they should awake.  Then she left the
tent and made for the Sultan's pavilion, but finding the guards on the
alert, turned to that of the Wazir Dandan.  Now she found him reading
the Koran and when his sight fell upon her he said, "Welcome to the
Holy Man!" Hearing this from the Wazir, her heart trembled and she
said, "The reason of my coming hither at this time is that I heard the
voice of a saint amongst Allah's Saints and am going to him." Then she
turned her back, but the Wazir said to himself, "By Allah, I will
follow our Devotee this night!" So he rose and walked after her; but
when the accursed old woman sensed his footsteps, she knew that he was
following her: wherefore she feared the disgrace of discovery and said
in herself, "Unless I serve some trick upon him he will disgrace me."
So she turned and said to him from afar, "Ho, thou Wazir, I am going in
search of this Saint that I may learn who he is; and, after learning
this much, I will ask his leave for thee to visit him. Then I will come
back and tell thee: for I fear thine accompanying me, without having
his permission, lest he take umbrage at me seeing thee in my society."
Now when the Wazir heard these words, he was ashamed to answer her; so
he left her and returned to his tent, and would have slept; but sleep
was not favourable to him and the world seemed heaped upon him.
Presently he rose and went forth from the tent saying in himself, "I
will go to Sharrkan and chat with him till morning." But when he
entered into Sharrkan's pavilion, he found the blood running like an
aqueduct and saw the servants lying with their throats cut like beasts
for food.  At this he cried a cry which aroused all who were asleep;
the folk hastened to him and, seeing the blood streaming, set up a
clamour of weeping and wailing.  Then the noise awoke the Sultan, who
enquired what was the matter, and it was said to him, "Sharrkan thy
brother and his servants are murthered." So he rose in haste and
entered the tent, and found the Wazir Dandan shrieking aloud and he saw
his brother's body without a head. Thereat he swooned away and all the
troops crowded around him, weeping and crying out, and so remained for
a while, till he came to himself, when he looked at Sharrkan and wept
with sore weeping, while the Wazir and Rustam and Bahram did the like. 
But the Chamberlain cried and lamented more than the rest and asked
leave to absent himself, such was his alarm.  Then said Zau al-Makan,
"Know ye who did this deed and how is it I see not the Devotee, him who
the things of this world hath put away?" Quoth the Wazir, "And who
should have been the cause of this affliction, save that Devotee, that
Satan?  By Allah, my heart abhorred him from the first, because I know
that all who pretend to be absorbed in practices religious are vile and
treacherous!" And he repeated to the King the tale of how he would have
followed the Religious, but he forbade him, whereupon the folk broke
out into a tumult of weeping and lamentation and humbled themselves
before Him who is ever near, Him who ever answereth prayer,
supplicating that He would cause the false Devotee who denied Allah's
testimony to fall into their hands.  Then they laid Sharrken out and
buried him in the mountain aforesaid and mourned over his far-famed
virtues.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her
permitted say.

          When it was the One Hundred and Fifth Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that they laid
Sharrkan out and buried him in the mountain aforesaid and mourned over
his far-famed virtues.  Then they looked for the opening of the city
gate; but it opened not and no sign of men appeared to them on the
walls; whereat they wondered with exceeding wonder. But King Zau
al-Makan said, "By Allah, I will not turn back from them, though I sit
here for years and years, till I take blood revenge for my brother
Sharrkan and waste Constantinople and kill the King of the Nazarenes,
even if death overcome me and I be at rest from this woeful world!"
Then he bade be brought out the treasure taken from the Monastery of
Matruhina; and mustered the troops and divided the monies among them,
and he left not one of them but he gave him gifts which contented him. 
Moreover, he assembled in the presence three hundred horse of every
division and said to them, "Do ye send supplies to your households, for
I am resolved to abide by this city, year after year, till I have taken
man bote for my brother Sharrkan, even if I die in this stead." And
when the army heard these words and had received his gifts of money
they replied, "To hear is to obey!" Thereupon he summoned couriers and
gave them letters and charged them to deliver the same, together with
the monies, to the soldiers' families and inform them that all were
safe and satisfied, and acquaint them saying, "We are encamped before
Constantinople and we will either destroy it or die; and, albeit we be
obliged to abide here months and years, we will not depart hence till
we take it." Moreover, he bade the Wazir Dandan write to his sister,
Nuzhat al-Zaman, and said to him, "Acquaint her with what hath befallen
us, and what be our situation and commend my child to her care since
that, when I went out to war, my wife was near her delivery and by this
time she must needs have been brought to bed; and if she hath given
birth to a boy, as I have heard say, hasten your return and bring me
the acceptable news." Then he gave them somewhat of money, which they
pouched and set out at once; and all the people flocked forth to take
leave of them and entrust them with the monies and the messages.  After
they had departed, Zau al-Makan turned to the Wazir Dandan and
commanded him to advance with the army against the city walls.  So the
troops pushed forward, but found none on the ramparts, whereat they
marvelled, while Zau al-Makan was troubled at the case, for he deeply
mourned the severance from his brother Sharrkan and he was sore
perturbed about that traitor the Ascetic.  In this condition they abode
three days without seeing anyone.  So far concerning the Moslems; but
as regards the Greeks and the cause of their refusing to fight during
these three days the case was this.  As soon as Zat al-Dawahi had slain
Sharrkan, she hastened her march and reached the walls of
Constantinople, where she called out in the Greek tongue to the guards
to throw her down a rope.  Quoth they, "Who art thou?"; and quoth she,
"I am Zat al- Dawahi." They knew her and let down a cord to which she
tied herself and they drew her up; and, when inside the city, she went
in to the King Afridun and said to him, "What is this I hear from the
Moslems?  They say that my son King Hardub is slain." He answered,
"Yes;" and she shrieked out and wept right grievously and ceased not
weeping thus till she made Afridun and all who were present weep with
her.  Then she told the King how she had slain Sharrkan and thirty of
his servants, whereat he rejoiced and thanked her; and, kissing her
hands, exhorted her to resignation for the loss of her son.  Said she,
"By the truth of the Messiah, I will not rest content with killing that
dog of the Moslem dogs in blood revenge for my son, a King of the Kings
of the age!  Now there is no help for it but that I work some guile and
I contrive a wile whereby to slay the Sultan Zau al-Makan and the Wazir
Dandan and the Chamberlain and Rustam and Bahram and ten thousand
cavaliers of the army of Al-Islam; for it shall never be said that my
son's head be paid with the bloodwit of Sharrkan's head; no, never!"
Then said she to King Afridun, "Know, O King of the Age, that it is my
wish to set forth mourning for my son and to cut my Girdle and to break
the Crosses." Replied Afridun, "Do what thou desire; I will not gainsay
thee in aught.  And if thou prolong thy mourning for many days it were
a little thing; for though the Moslems resolve to beleaguer us years
and years, they will never win their will of us nor gain aught of us
save trouble and weariness." Then the Accursed One (when she had ended
with the calamity she had wrought and the ignominies which in herself
she had thought) took ink case and paper and wrote thereon: "From
Shawahi, Zat al- Dawahi, to the host of the Moslems.  Know ye that I
entered your country and duped by my cunning your nobles and at first
hand I slew your King Omar bin al-Nu'uman in the midst of his palace.
Moreover, I slew, in the affair of the mountain pass and of the cave,
many of your men; and the last I killed were Sharrkan and his servants.
 And if fortune do not stay me and Satan obey me, I needs must slay me
your Sultan and the Wazir Dandan, for I am she who came to you in
disguise of a Recluse and who heaped upon you my devices and deceits.
Wherefore, an you would be in safety after this, fare ye forth at once;
and if you seek your own destruction cease not abiding for the nonce;
and though ye tarry here years and years, ye shall not do your desire
on us.  And so peace be yours!" After writing her writ she devoted
three days to mourning for King Hardub; arid, on the fourth, she called
a Knight and bade him take the letter and make it fast to a shaft and
shoot it into the Moslem camp.  When this was done, she entered the
church and gave herself up to weeping and wailing for the loss of her
son, saying to him who took the kingship after him, "Nothing will serve
me but I must kill Zau al-Makan and all the nobles of Al-Islam." Such
was the case with her; but as regards what occurred to the Moslems, all
passed three days in trouble and anxiety, and on the fourth when gazing
at the walls behold, they saw a knight holding a bow and about to shoot
an arrow along whose side a letter was bound.  So they waited till he
had shot it among them and the Sultan bade the Wazir Dandan take the
missive and read it.  He perused it accordingly; and, when Zau al-Makan
heard it to end and understood its purport, his eyes filled with tears
and he shrieked for agony at her perfidy; and the Minister Dandan said,
"By Allah, my heart shrank from her!" Quoth the Sultan, "How could this
whore play her tricks upon us twice?  But by the Almighty I will not
depart hence till I fill her cleft with molten lead and jail her with
the jailing of a bird encaged, then bind her with her own hair and
crucify her over the gate of Constantinople." And he called to mind his
brother and wept with excessive weeping.  But when Zat al-Dawahi
arrived amongst the Infidels and related to them her adventures at
length, they rejoiced at her safety and at the slaying of Sharrkan. 
There upon the Moslems addressed themselves again to the siege of the
city and the Sultan promised his men that, if it should be taken, he
would divide its treasures among them in equal parts.  But he dried not
his tears grieving for his brother till his body was wasted and sick,
growing thin as a tooth pick. Presently the Wazir Dandan came in to him
and said, "Be of good cheer and keep thine eyes cool and clear; in very
sooth thy brother died not but because his hour was come, and there is
no profit in this mourning.  How well saith the poet,

"Whatso is not to be no sleight shall bring to pass; * What is to

     be without a failure shall become;

Soon the becoming fortune shall be found to be, * And Folly's

     brother[FN#453] shall abide forlorn and glum."


Wherefore do thou leave this weeping and wailing and hearten thy heart
to bear arms." He replied, "O Wazir, my heart is heavy for the death of
my father and my brother and for our absence from hearth and home; and
my mind is concerned for my subjects." Thereupon the Wazir and the
bystanders wept; but they ceased not from pushing forward the siege of
Constantinople for a length of days.  And they being thus, behold, news
arrived from Baghdad, by one of the Emirs to the effect that the King's
wife had been blessed with a boy, and that his sister, Nuzhat al-Zaman,
had named him Kánmákán.[FN#454] Moreover, that the boy bid fair to be
famous, already showing wondrous signs and marvellous tokens; and that
she had commanded the Olema and the preachers to pray for mother and
child from the pulpits and bless them in all wise; furthermore that the
twain were well, that the land had enjoyed abundant rains, and that his
comrade the Fireman was established in all prosperity, with eunuchs and
slaves to wait upon him; but that he was still ignorant of what had
befallen him.  And she ended with the greeting of peace.  Then quoth
Zau al- Makan to the Wazir Dandan, "Now is my back strengthened for
that I have been blest with a son whose name is Kanmakan."—And
Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted
say.

          When it was the One Hundred and Sixth Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when they brought
him the news of his wife having borne him a boy child, Zau al- Makan
rejoiced with great joy and cried, "Now is my back strengthened, for
that I have been blessed with a son[FN#455] whose name is Kanmakan."
And he spake to the Wazir Dandan, saying, "I am minded to leave this
mourning and order perfections of the Koran for my brother and command
almsdeeds on his account." Quoth the Wazir, "Thy design is good."
Thereupon he caused tents to be pitched over his brother's tomb; so
they raised them and gathered together such of the men at arms as could
repeat the Koran; and some began reciting the Holy volume; whilst
others chanted litanies containing the names of Allah, and thus they
did till the morning.  Then Zau al-Makan went up to the grave of his
brother Sharrkan and poured forth copious tears, and improvised these
couplets,

"They bore him bier'd, and all who followed wept * With Moses'

     shrieks what day o'erhead shook Tor;[FN#456]

Till reached the grave which Pate had made his home, * Dug in

     men's souls who one sole God adore:

Ne'er had I thought before to see my joy * Borne on the bier

     which heads of bearers bore:

Ah no!  nor ere they homed thee in the dust * That stars of

     heaven earth ever covered o'er.

Is the tomb dweller hostage of a stead, * Where light and

     splendour o'er thy face shall pour?

Praise to restore his life her word hath pledged: * Cribbed and

     confined he shall dispread the more!"


When Zau al-Makan had made an end of his versifying he wept and wept
with him all the troops; then he came to the grave and threw himself
upon it wild with woe, and the Wazir repeated the words of the poet,

"Pain leaving life that fleets thou hast th' eternal won; * Thou

     didst as whilom many a doer like thee hath done

Leftest this worldly house without reproach or blame; * Ah, may

     th' ex change secure thee every benison!

Thou west from hostile onset shield and firm defence, * For us to

     baffle shafts and whistling spears to shun.

I see this world is only cheat and vanity, * Where man naught

     else must seek but please the Truthful One:

Th' Empyrean's Lord allow thee bower of heavenly bliss, * And wi'

     thy faithful friends The Guide show goodly wone:

I bid thee last good e'en with sigh of bitter grief, * Seeing the

     West in woe for lack of Easting Sun."


When the Wazir Dandan had finished his reciting, he wept with sore
weeping and the tears rained from his eyes like cushioned pearls.  Then
came forward one who had been of Sharrkan's boon companions in his cups
and he wept till ran in rills the drops, and he enumerated the dead
man's generous qualities, reciting the following pentastichs,

"Where gone is Bounty since thy hand is turned to clay?  * And I

     in misery lie since thou west ta'en away.

See'st not, O litter guide[FN#457] (Heaven keep thee glad and

     gay!), * How tears adorn my cheeks, these furrowed wrinkles

     fray?

        A sight to joy shine eyes and fill thee with

        dismay.[FN#458]

By Allah ne'er this heart within I spoke of thee; * Ah no!  nor

     dared my sight to see thy brilliancy:

Save that my tear drops sorest wound have garred me dree * Yea!

     and if e'er on other rest these eyne of me,

        May yearning draw their reins nor suffer sleep to see."


And when the man stinted reciting, Zau al-Makan and the Minister Dandan
wept and the whole army was moved to tears; after which all retired to
their tents, and the King turning to the Wazir took counsel with him
concerning the conduct of the campaign.  On this wise the two passed
days and nights, while Zau al-Makan was weighed down with grief and
mourning till at last he said, "I long to hear stories and adventures
of Kings and tales of lover folk enslaved by love; haply Allah may make
this to solace that which is on my heart of heavy anxiety, and stint
and stay my weeping and wailing." Quoth the Wazir, "If naught can
dispel thy trouble but hearing curious tales of Kings and people long
gone before and stories of folk enslaved by love of yore, and so forth,
this thing were easy, for I had no other business, in the lifetime of
thy father (who hath found mercy) than to relate stories and to repeat
verses to him.  This very night I will tell thee a tale of a lover and
his beloved, so shall thy breast be broadened." When Zau al-Makan heard
these words from the Minister, his heart was set upon that which had
been promised to him and he did nothing but watch for the coming of the
night, that he might hear what the Wazir Dandan had to tell of the
Kings of yore and distracted lovers long gone before.  And hardly would
he believe that night had fallen ere he bade light the wax candles and
the lamps and bring all that was needful of meat and drink and perfume
gear, and what not; and when all was in presence, he summoned the Wazir
Dandan, and the Emirs Rustam and Bahram and Tarkash and the Grand
Chamberlain; then waited till the whole party was seated before him;
whereupon he turned to the Minister and said, "Know, O Wazir, that
night is come and hath let down over us its veil of gloom, and we
desire that thou tell us those tales which thou promisedst us." Replied
the Wazir, "With joy and good will."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn
of day and ceased to say her permitted say.

         When it was the One Hundred and Seventh Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when King Zau
Al-Makan summoned the Wazir and the Chamberlain and Rustam and Bahram,
he turned towards the Minister Dandan and said, "Know, O Wazir, that
night is come and hath let down over us its veil of gloom, and we
desire that thou tell us those tales which thou promisedst us." Replied
the Wazir, "With love and gladness! Know, O auspicious King, that there
reached my ears a relation of a lover and a loved one and of the
discourse between them and what befel them of things rare and fair, a
story such as repelleth care from the heart and dispelleth sorrow like
unto that of the patriarch Jacob[FN#459]; and it is as follows":

Tale of Taj al-Muluk and the Princess Dunya

(The Lover and the Loved).


There stood in times long gone by behind the Mountains of Ispahán, a
city highs the Green City, wherein dwelt a King named Suláyman Sháh. 
Now he was a man of liberality and beneficence, of justice and
integrity, of generosity and sincerity, to whom travellers repaired
from every country, and his name was noised abroad in all regions and
cities and he reigned many a year in high worship and prosperity, save
that he owned neither wives nor children.  He had a Minister who
rivalled him in goodness and generosity and it so happened that one
day, he sent for him and when he came into the presence said to him, "O
my Wazir, my heart is heavy and my patience is past and my force
faileth me, for that I have neither wife nor child.  This is not the
way of Kings who rule over all men, princes.  and paupers; for they
rejoice in leaving behind them children and successors whereby are
doubled their number and their strength. Quoth the Prophet (whom Allah
bless and keep!); 'Marry ye, increase ye, and multiply ye, that I may
boast me of your superiority over the nations on the Day of
Resurrection.' So what is thy rede, O Wazir?  Advise me of what course
and contrivance be advisable!" When the Minister heard these words, the
tears sprang from his eyes in streams, and he replied, "Far be it from
me, O King of the Age, that I debate on that which appertaineth to the
Compassionate One! Wilt thou have me cast into the fire by the All
powerful King's wrath and ire? Buy thee a concubine." Rejoined the
King, "Know, O Wazir, that when a sovereign buyeth a female slave, he
knoweth neither her rank nor her lineage and thus he cannot tell if she
be of simple origin that he may abstain from her, or of gentle strain
that he may be intimate in her companionship.  So, if he have commerce
with her, haply she will conceive by him and her son be a hypocrite, a
man of wrath and a shedder of blood.  Indeed the like of such woman may
be instanced by a salt and marshy soil, which if one till for ever it
yieldeth only worthless growth and no endurance show eth; for it may be
that her son will be obnoxious to his Lord's anger, doing not what He
biddeth him or abstaining from what He for biddeth him.  Wherefore will
I never become the cause of this through the purchase of a concubine;
and it is my desire that thou demand for me in marriage the daughter of
some one of the Kings, whose lineage is known and whose loveliness hath
renown.  If thou can direct me to some maiden of birth and piety of the
daughters of Moslem Sovranty, I will ask her in marriage and wed her in
presence of witnesses, so may accrue to me the favour of the Lord of
all Creatures." Said the Wazir, "O King, verily Allah hath fulfilled
thy wish and hath brought thee to thy desire;" presently adding, "Know,
O King, it hath come to my knowledge that King Zahr Shah,[FN#460] Lord
of the White Land, hath a daughter of surpassing loveliness whose
charms talk and tale fail to express: she hath not her equal in this
age, for she is perfect in proportion and symmetry, black eyed as if
Kohl dyed and long locked, wee of waist and heavy of hip.  When she
draweth nigh she seduceth and when she turneth her back[FN#461] she
slayeth; she ravisheth heart and view and she looketh even as saith of
her the poet,

'A thin waist maid who shames the willow wand; * Nor sun nor moon

     can like her rising shine:

'Tis as her honey dew of lips were blent * With wine, and pearls

     of teeth were bathed in wine:

Her form, like heavenly Houri's, graceful slim; * Fair face; and

     ruin dealt by glancing eyne:

How many a dead done man her eyes have slain * Upon her way of

     love in ruin li'en:

An live I she's my death!  I'll say no more * But dying without

     her vain were life of mine.' "


Now when the Wazir had made an end of describing that maiden, he said
to Sulayman Shah, "It is my counsel, O King, that thou despatch to her
father an ambassador, sagacious, experienced and trained in the ways of
the world, who shall courteously demand her in marriage for thee of her
sire; for in good sooth she hath not her equal in the far parts of the
world nor in the near.  So shalt thou enjoy her lovely face in the way
of grace, and the Lord of Glory be content with thy case; for it is
reported of the Prophet (whom Allah bless and preserve!) that he said,
'There be no monkery in Al-Islam."' At this the King was transported to
perfect joy; his breast was broadened and lightened; care and cark
ceased from him and he turned to the Wazir and said, "Know thou, O
Minister, that none shall fare about this affair save thou, by reason
of thy consummate intelligence and good breeding; wherefore hie thee
home and do all thou hast to do and get thee ready by the morrow and
depart and demand me in marriage this maiden, with whom thou hast
occupied my heart and thought; and return not to me but with her."
Replied the Wazir, "I hear and I obey." Then he tried to his own house
and bade make ready presents befitting Kings, of precious stones and
things of price and other matters light of load but weighty of worth,
besides Rabite steeds and coats of mail, such as David made[FN#462] and
chests of treasure for which speech hath no measure.  And the Wazir
loaded the whole on camels and mules, and set out attended by an
hundred slave girls with flags and banners flaunting over his head. 
The King charged him to return to him after a few days; and, when he
was gone, Sulayman Shah lay on coals of fire, engrossed night and day
with desire; while the envoy fared on without ceasing through gloom and
light, spanning fertile field and desert site, till but a day's march
remained between him and the city whereto he was bound.  Here he sat
him down on the banks of a river and, summoning one of his confidants,
bade him wend his way to King Zahr Shah and announce his approach
without delay.  Quoth the messenger, "I hear and I obey!" And he rode
on in haste to that city and, as he was about to enter therein, it so
chanced that the King, who was sitting in one of his pleasaunces before
the city gate, espied him as he was passing the doors, and knowing him
for a stranger, bade bring him before the presence.  So the messenger
coming forward informed him of the approach of the Wazir of the mighty
King Sulayman Shah, Lord of the Green Land and of the Mountains of
Ispahan: whereat King Zahr Shah rejoiced and welcomed him.  Then he
carried him to his palace and asked him, "Where leavedst thou the
Wazir?"; and he answered, "I left him in early day on the banks of such
a river and tomorrow he will reach thee, Allah continue his favours to
thee and have mercy upon thy parents!" Thereupon King Zahr Shah
commanded one of his Wazirs to take the better part of his Grandees and
Chamberlains and Lieutenants and Lords of the land, and go out to meet
the ambassador in honour of King Sulayman Shah; for that his dominion
extended over the country.  Such was the case with Zahr Shah; but as
regards the Wazir he abode in his stead till night was half
spent[FN#463] and then set out for the city; but when morning shone and
the sun rose upon hill and down, of a sudden he saw King Zahr Shah's
Wazir approaching him, with his Chamberlains and high Lords and Chief
Officers of the kingdom; and the two parties joined company at some
parasangs' distance from the city.[FN#464]  Thereat the Wazir made sure
of the success of his errand and saluted the escort, which ceased not
preceding him till they reached the King's palace and passed in before
him through the gate to the seventh vestibule, a place where none might
enter on horseback, for it was near to where the King sat.  So the
Minister alighted and fared on a foot till he came to a lofty saloon,
at whose upper end stood a marble couch, set with pearls and stones of
price, and having for legs four elephant's tusks.  Upon it was a
coverlet of green satin purfled with red gold, and above it hung a
canopy adorned with pearls and gems, whereon sat King Zahr Shah, whilst
his officers of state stood in attendance before him.  When the Wazir
went in to him, he composed his mind and, unbinding his tongue,
displayed the oratory of Wazirs and saluted the King in the language of
eloquence.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say
her permitted say,

         When it was the One Hundred and Eighth Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the Wazir of
King Sulayman Shah entered the presence of King Zahr Shah he composed
his mind and, unbinding his tongue, displayed the oratory of Wazirs and
saluted the King in the language of eloquence and improvised these
couplets,

"He cometh robed and bending gracefully: * O'er crop and cropper

     dews of grace sheds he:

He charms; nor characts, spells nor gramarye * May fend the

     glances of those eyne from thee:

Say to the blamer, "Blame me not, for I * From love of him will

     never turn to flee":

My heart hath played me false while true to him, * And Sleep, in

     love with him, abhorreth me:

O heart!  th'art not the sole who loveth him, * So bide with him

     while I desertion dree:

There's nought to joy mine ears with joyous sound * Save praise

     of King Zahr Shah in jubilee:

A King albeit thou leave thy life to win * One look, that look

     were all sufficiency:

And if a pious prayer thou breathe for him, * Shall join all

     Faithfuls in such pious gree:

Folk of his realm!  If any shirk his right * For other hoping,

     gross Unfaith I see."


When the Wazir had ended his poetry, King Zahr Shah bade him draw near
and honoured him with the highmost honours; then, seating him by his
own side, smiled in his face and favoured him with a gracious reply. 
They ceased not on this wise till the time of the under meal when the
attendants brought forward the tables of food in that saloon and all
ate till they were sated; after which the tables were removed and those
who were in the assembly withdrew, leaving only the chief officers. 
Now when the Minister saw this, he rose to his feet and, after
complimenting the King a second time and kissing the ground before him,
spake as follows, "O mighty King and dread Lord!  I have travelled
hither and have visited thee upon a matter which shall bring thee
peace, profit and prosperity: and it is this, that I come as ambassador
to thee, seeking in marriage thy daughter, the noble and illustrious
maid, from Sulayman Shah, a Prince famed for justice and integrity,
sincerity and generosity, Lord of the Green Land and of the Mountains
of Ispahan, who sendeth thee of presents a store, and gifts of price
galore, ardently desiring to become thy son in law. But art thou
inclined to him as he to thee?" He then kept silence, awaiting a reply.
 When King Zahr Shah heard these words, he sprang to his feet and
kissed the ground respectfully before the Wazir, while the bystanders
were confounded at his condescension to the ambassador and their minds
were amazed. Then he praised Him who is the Lord of Honour and Glory
and replied (and he still standing), "O mighty Wazir and illustrious
Chief; hear thou what I say!  Of a truth we are to King Sulayman Shah
of the number of his subjects, and we shall be ennobled by his alliance
and we covet it ardently; for my daughter is a handmaid of his
handmaidens, and it is my dearest desire that he may become my stay and
my reliable support." Then he summoned the Kazis and the witnesses, who
should bear testimony that King Sulayman Shah had despatched his Wazir
as proxy to conclude the marriage, and that King Zahr Shah joyfully
acted and officiated for his daughter.  So the Kazis concluded the
wedding contract and offered up prayers for the happiness and
prosperity of the wedded feres; after which the Wazir arose and,
fetching the gifts and rarities and precious things, laid them all
before the King. Then Zahr Shah occupied himself anent the fitting out
of his daughter and honourably entertained the Wazir and feasted his
subjects all, great and small; and for two months they held high
festival, omitting naught that could rejoice heart and eye.  Now when
all things needful for the bride were ready, the King caused the tents
to be carried out and they pitched the camp within sight of the city,
where they packed the bride's stuffs in chests and get ready the Greek
handmaids and Turkish slave girls, and provided the Princess with great
store of precious treasures and costly jewels. Then he had made for her
a litter of red gold, inlaid with pearls and stones of price, and set
apart two mules to carry it; a litter which was like one of the
chambers of a palace, and within which she seemed as she were of the
loveliest Houris and it became as one of the pavilions of Paradise. 
And after they had made bales of the treasures and monies, and had
loaded them upon the mules and camels, King Zahr Shah went forth with
her for a distance of three parasangs; after which he bade farewell to
her and the Wazir and those with him, and returned to his home in
gladness and safety.  Thereupon the Wazir, faring with the King's
daughter, pushed on and ceased not his stages over desert ways,—And
Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted
say.

          When it was the One Hundred and Ninth Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Wazir fared
on with the King's daughter and ceased not forcing his stages over
desert ways and hastened his best through nights and days, till there
remained between him and his city but three marches.  Thereupon he sent
forward to King Sulayman Shah one who should announce the coming of the
bride.  The King rejoiced thereat and bestowed on the messenger a dress
of honour; and bade his troops march forth in grand procession to meet
the Princess and her company for due worship and honour, and don their
richest apparel with banners flying over their heads. And his orders
were obeyed.  He also commanded to cry throughout the city that neither
curtained damsel nor honoured lady nor time-ruptured crone should fail
to fare forth and meet the bride.  So they all went out to greet her
and the grandest of them vied in doing her service and they agreed to
bring her to the King's palace by night.  More over, the chief officers
decided to decorate the road and to stand in espalier of double line,
whilst the bride should pass by preceded by her eunuchs and serving
women and clad in the gear her father had given her.  So when she made
her appearance, the troops surrounded her, these of the right wing and
those of the left, and the litter ceased not advancing with her till
she approached the palace; nor remained any but came forth to gaze upon
the Princess.  Drums were beaten and spears were brandished and horns
blared and flags fluttered and steeds pranced for precedence and scents
shed fragrance till they reached the Palace gate and the pages entered
with the litter through the Harim wicket.  The place shone with its
splendours and the walls glittered for the glamour of its gear.  Now
when night came, the eunuchs threw open the doors of the bridal chamber
and stood surrounding the chief entrance whereupon the bride came
forward and amid her damsels she was like the moon among stars or an
union shining on a string of lesser pearls, and she passed into the
bridal closet where they had set for her a couch of alabaster inlaid
with unions and jewels.  As soon as she had taken seat there, the King
came in to her and Allah filled his heart with her love so he abated
her maidenhead and ceased from him his trouble and disquiet.  He abode
with her well nigh a month but she had conceived by him the first
night; and, when the month was ended, he went forth and sat on his sofa
of state, and dispensed justice to his subjects, till the months of her
pregnancy were accomplished. On the last day of the ninth month,
towards day break, the Queen was seized with the pangs of labour; so
she sat down on the stool of delivery and Allah made the travail easy
to her and she gave birth to a boy child, on whom appeared auspicious
signs.  When the King heard of this, he joyed with exceeding joy and
rewarded the bearer of the good tidings with much treasure; and of his
gladness he went in to the child and kissed him between the eyes and
wondered at his brilliant loveliness; for in him was approved the
saying of the poet,

"In the towering forts Allah throned him King, * A lion, a star

     in the skies of reign:

At his rising the spear and the throne rejoiced, * The gazelle,

     the ostrich, The men of main:[FN#465]

Mount him not on the paps, for right soon he'll show * That to

     throne on the war steed's loins he's fain:

And wean him from sucking of milk, for soon * A sweeter drink,

     the foe's blood, he'll drain."


Then the midwives took the newborn child and cut the navel cord and
darkened his eyelids with Kohl powder[FN#466] and named him Táj
al-Mulúk Khárán.[FN#467] He was suckled at the breast of fond
indulgence and was reared in the lap of happy fortune; and thus his
days ceased not running and the years passing by till he reached the
age of seven.  Thereupon Sulayman Shah summoned the doctors and learned
men and bade them teach his son writing and science and belle-lettres. 
This they continued to do for some years, till he had learnt what was
needful; and, when the King saw that he was well grounded in whatso he
desired, he took him out of the teachers' and professors' hands and
engaged for him a skilful master, who taught him cavalarice and
knightly exercises till the boy attained the age of fourteen; and when
he fared abroad on any occasion, all who saw him were ravished by his
beauty and made him the subject of verse; and even pious men were
seduced by his brilliant loveliness.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn
of day and ceased to say her permitted say.

          When it was the One Hundred and Tenth Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, That when Taj al-Muluk
Kharan, son of Sulayman Shah, became perfect in riding craft and
excelled all those of his time, his excessive beauty, when he fared
abroad on any occasion, caused all who saw him to be ravished and to
make him the subject of verse; and even pious men were seduced by his
brilliant loveliness.  Quoth the poet of him,

"I clipt his form and wax'd drunk with his scent, * Fair branch

     to whom Zephyr gave nutriment:

Nor drunken as one who drinks wine, but drunk * With night

     draught his lips of the honey dew lent:

All beauty is shown in the all of him, * Hence all human hearts

     he in hand hath hens:

My mind, by Allah!  shall ne'er unmind * His love, while I wear

     life's chains till spent:

If I live, in his love I'll live; if I die * For pine and

     longing, 'O blest!' I'll cry


When he reached the eighteenth year of his age, tender down[FN#468]
sprouted, on his side face fresh with youth, from a mole upon one rosy
cheek and a second beauty spot, like a grain of ambergris adorned the
other; and he won the wits and eyes of every wight who looked on him,
even as saith the poet,

"He is Caliph of Beauty in Yúsufs lieu, * And all lovers fear

     when they sight his grace:

Pause and gaze with me; on his cheek thou'lt sight * The

     Caliphate's banner of sable hue."[FN#469]


And as saith another,

"Thy sight hath never seen a fairer sight, * Of all things men

     can in the world espy,

Than yon brown mole, that studs his bonny cheek * Of rosy red

     beneath that jet black eye."


And as saith another,

"I marvel seeing yon mole that serves his cheeks' bright flame *

     Yet burneth not in fire albeit Infidel[FN#470]

I wonder eke to see that apostolic glance, * Miracle working,

     though it work by magic spell:

How fresh and bright the down that decks his cheek, and yet *

     Bursten gall bladders feed which e'en as waters well."


And as saith another,

"I marvel hearing people questioning of * The Fount of Life and

     in what land 'tis found:

I see it sprung from lips of dainty fawn, * Sweet rosy mouth with

     green mustachio down'd:

And wondrous wonder 'tis when Moses viewed * That Fount, he

     rested not from weary round."[FN#471]


Now having developed such beauty, when he came to man's estate his
loveliness increased, and it won for him many comrades and intimates;
while every one who drew near to him wished that Taj al-Muluk Kharan
might become Sultan after his father's death, and that he himself might
be one of his Emirs.  Then took he passionately to chasing and hunting
which he would hardly leave for a single hour.  His father, King
Sulayman Shah, would have forbidden him the pursuit fearing for him the
perils of the waste and the wild beasts; but he paid no heed to his
warning voice. And it so chanced that once upon a time he said to his
attendants "Take ye ten days food and forage;" and, when they obeyed
his bidding, he set out with his suite for sport and disport.  They
rode on into the desert and ceased not riding four days, till they came
to a place where the ground was green, and they saw in it wild beasts
grazing and trees with ripe fruit growing and springs flowing.  Quoth
Taj al-Muluk to his followers, "Set up the nets here and peg them in a
wide ring and let our trysting place be at the mouth of the fence, in
such a spot." So they obeyed his words and staked out a wide circle
with toils; and there gathered together a mighty matter of all kinds of
wild beasts and gazelles, which cried out for fear of the men and threw
themselves for fright in the face of the horses.  Then they loosed on
to them the hounds and lynxes[FN#472] and hawks;[FN#473] and they shot
the quarry down with shafts which pierced their vitals; and, by the
time they came to the further end of the net ring, they had taken a
great number of the wild beasts, and the rest fled.  Then Taj al-Muluk
dismounted by the water side and bade the game be brought before
himself, and divided it, after he had set apart the best of the beasts
for his father, King Sulayman Shah, and despatched the game to him; and
some he distributed among the officers of his court.  He passed the
night in that place, and when morning dawned there came up a caravan of
merchants conveying negro slaves and white servants, and halted by the
water and the green ground.  When Taj al-Muluk saw them, he said to one
of his companions, "Bring me news of yonder men and question them why
they have halted in this place."[FN#474]  So the messenger went up to
them and addressed them, "Tell me who ye be, and answer me an answer
without delay." Replied they, "We are merchants and have halted to
rest, for that the next station is distant and we abide here because we
have confidence in King Sulayman Shah and his son, Taj al-Muluk, and we
know that all who alight in his dominions are in peace and safety; more
over we have with us precious stuffs which we have brought for the
Prince." So the messenger returned and told these news to the King's
son who, hearing the state of the case and what the merchants had
replied, said, "If they have brought stuff on my account I will not
enter the city nor depart hence till I see it shown to me." Then he
mounted horse and rode to the caravan and his Mamelukes followed him
till he reached it. Thereupon the merchants rose to receive him and
invoked on him Divine aid and favour with continuance of glory and
virtues; after which they pitched him a pavilion of red satin,
embroidered with pearls and jewels, wherein they spread him a kingly
divan upon a silken carpet worked at the upper end with emeralds set in
gold.  There Taj al-Muluk seated himself whilst his white servants
stood in attendance upon him, and sent to bid the merchants bring out
all that they had with them. Accordingly, they produced their
merchandise, and displayed the whole and he viewed it and took of it
what liked him, paying them the price. Then he looked about him at the
caravan, and remounted and was about to ride onwards, when his glance
fell on a handsome youth in fair attire, and a comely and shapely make,
with flower white brow and moon like face, save that his beauty was
wasted and that yellow hues had overspread his cheeks by reason of
parting from those he loved;—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day
and ceased to say her permitted say.

        When it was the One Hundred and Eleventh Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Taj Al- Muluk,
when he looked about him at the caravan, saw a handsome youth in neat
attire and of shapely make, with flower like forehead and moon like
face, save that his beauty was wasted and yellow hues had overspread
his cheeks by reason of parting from those he loved; and great was his
groaning and moaning, and the tears streamed from his eyelids as he
repeated these couplets,

"Longsome is Absence; Care and Fear are sore, * And ceaseless

     tears, O friend, mine eyes outpour:

Yea, I farewelled my heart on parting day * And heartless,

     hopeless, now I bide forlore:

Pause, O my friend, with me farewelling one * Whose words my cure

     can work, my health restore!"


Now when the youth ended his poetry he wept awhile and fell down in a
fainting fit, whilst Taj al-Muluk looked at him and wondered at his
case.  Then, coming to himself, he stared with distracted air, and
versified in these couplets,

"Beware her glance I rede thee, 'tis like wizard wight, * None

     can escape unscathed those eye shafts' glancing flight:

In very sooth black eyes, with languorous sleepy look, * Pierce

     deeper than white swords however these may bite.

Be not thy senses by her sweets of speech beguiled, * Whose

     brooding fever shall ferment in thought and sprite:

Soft sided Fair[FN#475] did silk but press upon her skin, *

     'Twould draw red blood from it, as thou thyself canst sight.

Chary is she of charms twixt neck and anklets dwell, * And ah!

     what other scent shall cause me such delight?[FN#476]"


Then he sobbed a loud sob and swooned away.  But when Taj al- Muluk saw
him in this case, he was perplexed about his state and went up to him;
and, as the youth came to his senses and saw the King's son standing at
his head, he sprang to his feet and kissed the ground between his
hands.  Taj al-Muluk asked him, 'Why didst thou not show us thy
merchandise?" end he answered, O my lord, there is naught among my
stock worthy of thine august highness." Quoth the Prince, "Needs must
thou show me what thou hast and acquaint me with thy circumstance; for
I see thee weeping eyed and heavyhearted.  If thou have been oppressed,
we will end thine oppression, and if thou be in debt, we will pay thy
debt; for of a truth my heart burneth to see thee, since I first set
eyes on thee."[FN#477] Then Taj al-Muluk bade the seats be set, and
they brought him a chair of ivory and ebony with a net work of gold and
silk, and spread him a silken rug for his feet.  So he sat down on the
chair and bidding the youth seat himself on the rug said to him, "Show
me thy stock in trade!" The young merchant replied, "O my Lord, do not
name this to me, for my goods be unworthy of thee." Rejoined Taj
al-Muluk "It needs must be thus!"; and bade some of the pages fetch the
goods.  So they brought them in despite of him; and, when he saw them,
the tears streamed from his eyes and he wept and sighed and lamented:
sobs rose in his throat and he repeated these couplets,

"By what thine eyelids show of Kohl and coquetry!  * By what thy

     shape displays of lissome symmetry!

By what thy liplets store of honey dew and wine!  * By what thy

     mind adorns of gracious kindly gree!

To me thy sight dream-visioned, O my hope!  exceeds * The

     happiest escape from horriblest injury."


Then the youth opened his bales and displayed his merchandise to Taj
Al-Muluk in detail, piece by piece, and amongst them he brought out a
gown of satin brocaded with gold, worth two thousand dinars.  When he
opened the gown there fell a piece of linen from its folds.  As soon as
the young merchant saw this he caught up the piece of linen in haste
and hid it under his thigh; and his reason wandered, and he began
versifying,

"When shall be healed of thee this heart that ever bides in woe?

      * Than thee the Pleiad-stars more chance of happy meeting

     show

Parting and banishment and longing pain and lowe of love, *

     Procrastinating[FN#478] and delay these ills my life lay

     low:

Nor union bids me live in joy, nor parting kills by grief, * Nor

     travel draws me nearer thee nor nearer comest thou:

Of thee no justice may be had, in thee dwells naught of rush, *

     Nor gain of grace by side of thee, nor flight from thee I

     know:

For love of thee all goings forth and comings back are strait *

     On me, and I am puzzled sore to know where I shall go."


Taj al-Muluk wondered with great wonder at his verse, and could not
comprehend the cause.  But when the youth snatched up the bit of linen
and placed it under thigh, he asked him, "What is that piece of linen?"
"O my Lord," answered the merchant, "thou hast no concern with this
piece." Quoth the King's son, "Show it me;" and quoth the merchant, "O
my lord, I refused to show thee my goods on account of this piece of
linen; for I cannot let thee look upon it."—And Shahrazad perceived the
dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say,

         When it was the One Hundred and Twelfth Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the young
merchant said to Taj al-Muluk, "I did not refuse to show thee my goods
save on this account, for I cannot let thee look upon it." Whereupon
Taj al Muluk retorted, "Perforce I must and will see it;" and insisted
and became angry.  So the youth drew it out from under his thigh, and
wept and moaned and redoubled his sighs and groans, and repeated these
verses,

"Now blame him not; for blame brings only irk and pain! * Indeed,

     I spake him sooth but ne'er his ear could gain:

May Allah guard my moon which riseth in the vale * Beside our

     camp, from loosed robe like skyey plain:[FN#479]

I left him but had Love vouchsafed to leave for me * Some peace

     in life such leave of him I ne'er had ta'en:

How long he pleaded for my sake on parting morn, * While down his

     cheeks and mine tears ran in railing rain:

Allah belie me not: the garb of mine excuse * This parting rent,

     but I will Mend that garb again!

No couch is easy to my side, nor on such wise * Aught easeth him,

     when all alone without me lain:

Time with ill omened hand hath wrought between us two, * And made

     my waxing joys to wane and his to wane,

And poured mere grief and woe, what time Time fain had crowned *

     The bowl he made me drink and gave for him to drain."


When he ended his recitation, quoth Taj al-Muluk, "I see thy conduct
without consequence; tell me then why weepest thou at the sight of this
rag!" When the young merchant heard speak of the piece of linen, he
sighed and answered, "O my lord, my story is a strange and my case out
of range, with regard to this piece of linen and to her from whom I
brought it and to her who wrought on it these figures and emblems."
Hereupon, he spread out the piece of linen, and behold, thereon was the
figure of a gazelle wrought in silk and worked with red gold, and
facing it was another gazelle traced in silver with a neck ring of red
gold and three bugles[FN#480] of chrysolite upon the ring.  When Taj
al-Muluk saw the beauty of these figures, he exclaimed, "Glory be to
Allah who teacheth man that which he knoweth not!"[FN#481]  And his
heart yearned to hear the youth's story; so he said to him, "Tell me
thy story with her who owned these gazelles." Replied the young man:
"Hear, O my Lord, the

 Tale of Aziz and Azizah.[FN#482]

My father was a wealthy merchant and Allah had vouchsafed him no other
child than myself; but I had a cousin, Azízah highs, daughter of my
paternal uncle and we twain were brought up in one house; for her
father was dead and before his death, he had agreed with my father that
I should marry her.  So when I reached man's estate and she reached
womanhood, they did not separate her from me or me from her, till at
last my father spoke to my mother and said, "This very year we will
draw up the contract of marriage between Aziz and Azizah." So having
agreed upon this he betook himself to preparing provision for the
wedding feast. Still we ceased not to sleep on the same carpet knowing
naught of the case, albeit she was more thoughtful, more intelligent
and quicker witted than I.  Now when my father had made an end of his
preparations, and naught remained for him but to write out the contract
and for me but to consummate the marriage with my cousin, he appointed
the wedding for a certain Friday, after public prayers; and, going
round to his intimates among the mer chants and others, he acquainted
them with that, whilst my mother went forth and invited her women
friends and summoned her kith and kin.  When the Friday came, they
cleaned the saloon and prepared for the guests and washed the marble
floor; then they spread tapestry about our house and set out thereon
what was needful, after they had hung its walls with cloth of gold. 
Now the folk had agreed to come to us after the Friday prayers; so my
father went out and bade them make sweetmeats and sugared dishes, and
there remained nothing to do but to draw up the contract. Then my
mother sent me to the bath and sent after me a suit of new clothes of
the richest; and, when I came out of the Hammam, I donned those habits
which were so perfumed that as I went along, there exhaled from them a
delicious fragrance scenting the wayside.  I had designed to repair to
the Cathedral mosque when I bethought me of one of my friends and
returned in quest of him that he might be present at the writing of the
contract; and quoth I to myself, "This matter will occupy me till near
the time of congregational prayer." So I went on and entered a by
street which I had never before entered, perspiring profusely from the
effects of the bath and the new clothes on my body; and the sweat
streamed down whilst the scents of my dress were wafted abroad: I
therefore sat me at the upper end of the street resting on a stone
bench, after spreading under me an embroidered kerchief I had with me. 
The heat oppressed me more and more, making my forehead perspire and
the drops trickled along my cheeks; but I could not wipe my face with
my kerchief because it was dispread under me.  I was about to take the
skirt of my robe and wipe my cheeks with it, when unexpectedly there
fell on me from above a white kerchief, softer to the touch than the
morning breeze and pleasanter to the sight than healing to the
diseased.  I hent it in hand and raised my head to see whence it had
fallen, when my eyes met the eyes of the lady who owned these
gazelles.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her
permitted say

       When it was the One Hundred and Thirteenth Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the youth
continued to Taj al-Muluk: "So I raised my head to see whence this
kerchief had fallen, when my eyes met those of the lady who owned these
gazelles.  And lo! she was looking out of a wicket in a lattice of
brass and never saw my eyes a fairer than she, and in fine my tongue
faileth to describe her beauty.  When she caught sight of me looking at
her, she put her forefinger into her mouth, then joined her middle
finger and her witness finger[FN#483] and laid them on her bosom,
between her breasts; after which she drew in her head and closed the
wicket shutter and went her ways.  There upon fire broke out in and was
heaped upon my heart, and greater grew my smart; the one sight cost me
a thousand sighs and I abode perplexed, for that I heard no word by her
spoken, nor understood the meaning of her token.  I looked at the
window a second time, but found it shut and waited patiently till
sundown, but sensed no sound and saw no one in view.  So when I
despaired of seeing her again, I rose from my place and taking up the
handkerchief, opened it, when there breathed from it a scent of musk
which caused me so great delight I became as one in Paradise.[FN#484]
Then I spread it before me and out dropped from it a delicate little
scroll; whereupon I opened the paper which was perfumed with a
delicious perfume, and therein were writ these couplets,

"I sent to him a scroll that bore my plaint of love, * Writ in

     fine delicate hand; for writing proves man's skill:

Then quoth to me my friend, 'Why is thy writing thus; * So fine,

     so thin drawn 'tis to read unsuitable?'

Quoth I, 'for that I'm fine-drawn wasted, waxed thin, * Thus

     lovers' writ Should be, for so Love wills his will.


And after casting my eyes on the beauty of the kerchief,[FN#485] I saw
upon one of its two borders the following couplets worked in with the
needle,

"His cheek down writeth (O fair fall the goodly scribe!) * Two

     lines on table of his face in Rayhán-hand:[FN#486]

O the wild marvel of the Moon when comes he forth!  * And when he

     bends, O shame to every Willow wand!"


And on the opposite border these two couplets were traced,

"His cheek down writeth on his cheek with ambergris on pearl *

     Two lines, like jet on apple li'en, the goodliest design:

Slaughter is in those languid eyne whene'er a glance they deal, *

     And drunkenness in either cheek and not in any wine."


When I read the poetry on the handkerchief the flames of love darted
into my heart, and yearning and pining redoubled their smart.  So I
took the kerchief and the scroll and went home, knowing no means to win
my wish, for that I was incapable of conducting love affairs and
inexperienced in interpreting hints and tokens.  Nor did I reach my
home ere the night was far spent and I found the daughter of my uncle
sitting in tears.  But as soon as she saw me she wiped away the drops
and came up to me, and took off my walking dress and asked me the
reason of my absence, saying, "All the folk, Emirs and notables and
merchants and others, assembled in our house; and the Kazi and the
witnesses were also present at the appointed time.  They ate and
tarried awhile sitting to await thine appearance for the writing of the
contract; and, when they despaired of thy presence, they dispersed and
went their ways.  And indeed," she added, "thy father raged with
exceeding wrath by reason of this, and swore that he would not
celebrate our marriage save during the coming year, for that he hath
spent on these festivities great store of money." And she ended by
asking, "What hath befallen thee this day to make thee delay till now?;
and why hast thou allowed that to happen which happened because of
thine absence?" Answered I, "O daughter of mine uncle, question me not
concerning what hath befallen me."[FN#487] Then I told her all that had
passed from beginning to end, and showed her the handkerchief.  She
took the scroll and read what was written therein; and tears ran down
her cheeks and she repeated these cinquains,

"Who saith that Love at first of free will came, * Say him: Thou

     liest!  Love be grief and grame:

Yet shall such grame and grief entail no shame; * All annals

     teach us one thing and the same

        Good current coin clips coin we may not crepe!


An please thou, say there's pleasure in thy pain, * Find

     Fortune's playful gambols glad and fain:

Or happy blessings in th' unhappy's bane, * That joy or grieve,

     with equal might and main:

        Twixt phrase and antiphrase I'm all a heap!


But he, withal, whose days are summer bright, * Whom maids e'er

     greet with smiling lips' delight;

Whom spicey breezes fan in every site * And wins whate'er he

     wills, that happy wight

        White blooded coward heart should never keep!"


Then she asked me, "What said she, and what signs made she to thee?" I
answered, "She uttered not a word, but put her fore finger in her
mouth, then joining it to her middle finger, laid both fingers on her
bosom and pointed to the ground.  Thereupon she withdrew her head and
shut the wicket; and after that I saw her no more.  However, she took
my heart with her, so I sat till sun down, expecting her again to look
out of the window; but she did it not; and, when I despaired of her, I
rose from my seat and came home.  This is my history and I beg thee to
help me in this my sore calamity." Upon this she raised her face to me
and said, "O son of mine uncle, if thou soughtest my eye, I would tear
it for thee from its eyelids, and perforce I cannot but aid thee to thy
desire and aid her also to her desire; for she is whelmed in passion
for thee even as thou for her." Asked I, "And what is the
interpretation of her signs?"; and Azizah answered, "As for the putting
her finger in her mouth,[FN#488] it showed that thou art to her as her
soul to her body and that she would bite into union with thee with her
wisdom teeth.  As for the kerchief, it betokeneth that her breath of
life is bound up in thee.  As for the placing her two fingers on her
bosom between her breasts, its explanation is that she saith; 'The
sight of thee may dispel my grief.' For know, O my cousin, that she
loveth thee and she trusteth in thee.  This is my interpretation of her
signs and, could I come and go at Will, I would bring thee and her
together in shortest time, and curtain you both with my skirt." Hearing
these words I thanked her (continued the young merchant) for speaking
thus, and said to myself, "I will wait two days." So I abode two days
in the house, neither going out nor coming in; neither eating nor
drinking but I laid my head on my cousin's lap, whilst she comforted me
and said to me, "Be resolute and of good heart and hope for the
best!"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her
permitted say,

       When it was the One Hundred and Fourteenth Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the youth pursued
to Taj al-Muluk:—"And when the two days were past she said to me, "Be
of good cheer and clear thine eyes of tears and take courage to dress
thyself and go to her, according to thy tryst." Then she rose and
changed my clothes and perfumed me with incense smoke.  So I braced
myself up and heartened my heart and went out and walked on till I came
to the by-street, where I sat down on the bench awhile.  And behold,
the wicket suddenly opened and I looked up and seeing her, fell down in
a swoon.  When I revived, I called up resolution and took courage and
gazed again at her and again became insensible to the world around me.
Then I came to myself and looking at her, saw that she held in hand a
mirror and a red kerchief.  Now when she caught my glance, she bared
her forearms and opened her five fingers and smote her breast with palm
and digits; and after this she raised her hands and, holding the mirror
outside the wicket, she took the red kerchief and retired into the room
with it, but presently returned and putting out her hand with the
kerchief, let it down towards the lane three several times, dipping it
and raising it as often.  Then she wrung it out and folded it in her
hands, bending down her head the while; after which she drew it in from
the lattice and, shutting the wicket shutter, went away without a
single word; nay, she left me confounded and knowing not what signified
her signs.[FN#489].  I tarried sitting there till supper time and did
not return home till near midnight; and there I found the daughter of
my uncle with her cheek props in her hand and her eyelids pouring forth
tears; and she was repeating these couplets,

"Woe's me! why should the blamer gar thee blaming bow?  * How be

     consoled for thee that art so tender bough?

Bright being! on my vitals cost thou prey, and drive * My heart

     before platonic passion's[FN#490] force to bow.

Thy Turk like[FN#491] glances havoc deal in core of me, * As

     furbished sword thin ground at curve could never show:

Thou weigh's" me down with weight of care, while I have not *

     Strength e'en to bear my shift, so weakness lays me low:

Indeed I weep blood tears to hear the blamer say; * 'The lashes

     of thy lover's eyne shall pierce thee through!'

Thou hast, my prince of loveliness! an Overseer,[FN#492] * Who

     wrongs me, and a Groom[FN#493] who beats me down with brow.

He foully lies who says all loveliness belonged * To Joseph, in

     thy loveliness is many a Joe:

I force myself to turn from thee, in deadly fright * Of spies;

     and what the force that turns away my sight!"


When I heard her verse, cark increased and care redoubled on me and I
fell down in a corner of our house; whereupon she arose in haste and,
coming to me lifted me up and took off my outer clothes and wiped my
face with her sleeve.  Then she asked me what had befallen me, and I
described all that had happened from her.  Quoth she, "O my cousin, as
for her sign to thee with her palm and five fingers its interpretation
is, Return after five days; and the putting forth of her head out of
the window, and her gestures with the mirror and the letting down and
raising up and wringing out of the red kerchief,[FN#494] signify, Sit
in the dyer's shop till my messenger come to thee." When I heard her
words fire flamed up in my heart and I exclaimed, "O daughter of my
uncle, thou sayest sooth in this thine interpretation; for I saw in the
street the shop of a Jew dyer." Then I wept, and she said, "Be of good
cheer and strong heart: of a truth others are occupied with love for
years and endure with constancy the ardour of passion, whilst thou hast
but a week to wait; why then this impatience?" Thereupon she went on
cheering me with comfortable talk and brought me food: so I took a
mouthful and tried to eat but could not; and I abstained from meat and
drink and estranged myself from the solace of sleep, till my colour
waxed yellow and I lost my good looks; for I had never been in love
before nor had I ever savoured the ardour of passion save this time. 
So I fell sick and my cousin also sickened on my account; but she would
relate to me, by way of consolation, stories of love and lovers every
night till I fell asleep; and when ever I awoke, I found her wakeful
for my sake with tears running down her cheeks.  This ceased not till
the five days were past, when my cousin rose and warmed some water and
bathed me with it.  Then she dressed me in my best and said to me,
"Repair to her and Allah fulfil thy wish and bring thee to thy desire
of thy beloved!" So I went out and ceased not walking on till I came to
the upper end of the by street.  As it was the Sabbath[FN#495] I found
the dyer's shop locked and sat before it, till I heard the call to mid
afternoon prayer.  Then the sun yellowed and the Mu'ezzins[FN#496]
chanted the call to sundown prayer and the night came; but I saw no
sign nor heard one word, nor knew any news of her.  So I feared for my
life sitting there alone; and at last I arose and walked home reeling
like a drunken man.  When I reached the house, I found my cousin Azizah
standing, with one hand grasping a peg driven into the wall and the
other on her breast; and she was sighing and groaning and repeating
these couplets,

"The longing of an Arab lass forlorn of kith and kin * (Who to

     Hijazian willow wand and myrtle[FN#497] cloth incline,

And who, when meeting caravan, shall with love-lowe set light *

     To bivouac fire, and bang for conk her tears of pain and

     pine)

Exceeds not mine for him nor more devotion shows, but he * Seeing

     my heart is wholly his spurns love as sin indign."


Now when she had finished her verse she turned to me and, seeing me,
wiped away her tears and my tears with her sleeve.  Then she smiled in
my face and said, "O my cousin, Allah grant thee enjoyment of that
which He hath given thee!  Why didst thou not pass the night by the
side of thy beloved and why hast thou not fulfilled thy desire of her?"
When I heard her words, I gave her a kick in the breast and she fell
down in the saloon and her brow struck upon the edge of the raised
pavement and hit against a wooden peg therein.  I looked at her and saw
that her forehead was cut open and the blood running,—And Shahrazad
perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.

        When it was the One Hundred and Fifteenth Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the young
merchant continued to Taj al-Muluk: "Now when I kicked the daughter of
my uncle in the breast she fell on the edge of the raised pavement in
the saloon and her brow struck upon a wooden peg.  Thereby her forehead
was cut open and the blood ran down, but she was silent and did not
utter a single sound.[FN#498] Presently she rose up, and made some
tinder of rags, then staunching with it the bleeding wound, bound her
forehead with a bandage; after which she wiped up the blood that had
fallen on the carpet, and it was as if nothing had been.  Presently she
came up to me and smiling in my face, said with gentle voice, "By
Allah, O son of my uncle, I spake not these words to mock at thee or at
her!  But I was troubled with an ache in my head and was minded to be
blooded, but now thou hast eased my head and lightened my brow; so tell
me what hath befallen thee to day." Thereupon I told her all that had
passed between me and her that day; and she wept as she heard my words
and said, "O son of my uncle, rejoice at the good tidings of thy desire
being fulfilled and thine aim being attained.  Of a truth this is a
sign of acceptance; for that she stayed away only because she wisheth
to try thee and know if thou be patient or not, and sincere in thy love
for her or otherwise.  Tomorrow, repair to her at the old place and see
what sign she maketh to thee; for indeed thy gladness is near and the
end of thy sadness is at hand." And she went on to comfort me; but my
cark and care ceased not to increase on me.  Presently she brought me
food which I kicked away with my foot so that the contents of every
saucer were scattered in all directions, and I said, "Every lover is a
madman; he inclineth not to food neither enjoyeth he sleep." And my
cousin Azizah rejoined, "By Allah, O son of my uncle, these be in very
deed the signs of love!" And the tears streamed down her cheeks whenas
she gathered the fragments of the saucers and wiped up the food; then
she took seat and talked to me, whilst I prayed Allah to hasten the
dawn.  At last, when morning arose with its sheen and shine, I went out
to seek her and hastening to her by street sat down on that bench, when
lo!  the wicket opened and she put out her head laughing.  Then she
disappeared within and returned with a mirror, a bag; and a pot full of
green plants and she held in hand a lamp.  The first thing she did was
to take the mirror and, putting it into the bag, tie it up and throw it
back into the room; then she let down her hair over her face and set
the lamp on the pot of flowers during the twinkling of an eye; then she
took up all the things and went away shutting the window without saying
a word.  My heart was riven by this state of the case, and by her
secret signals, her mysterious secrets and her utter silence; and
thereby my longing waxed more violent and my passion and distraction
redoubled on me.  So I retraced my steps, tearful-eyed and heavy
hearted, and returned home, where I found the daughter of my uncle
sitting with her face to the wall; for her heart was burning with grief
and galling jealousy; albeit her affection forbade her to acquaint me
with what she suffered of passion and pining when she saw the excess of
my longing and distraction.  Then I looked at her and saw on her head
two bandages, one on account of the accident to her forehead and the
other over her eye in consequence of the pain she endured for stress of
weeping; and she was in miserable plight shedding tears and repeating
these couplets,

"I number nights; indeed I count night after night; * Yet lived I

     long ere learnt so sore accompt to see, ah!

Dear friend, I compass not what Allah pleased to doom * For

     Laylá, nor what Allah destined for me, ah!

To other giving her and unto me her love, * What loss but Layla's

     loss would He I ever dree, ah!"


And when she had finished her reciting, she looked towards me and
seeing me through her tears, wiped them away and came up to me hastily,
but could not speak for excess of love.  So she remained silent for
some while and then said, "O my cousin, tell me what befel thee with
her this time." I told her all that had passed and she said, "Be
patient, for the time of thy union is come and thou hast attained the
object of thy hopes.  As for her signal to thee with the mirror which
she put in the bag, it said to thee, When the sun is set; and the
letting down of her hair over her face signified, When night is near
and letteth fall the blackness of the dark and hath starkened the
daylight, come hither.  As for her gesture with the pot of green plants
it meant, When thou comest, enter the flower garden which is behind the
street; and as for her sign with the lamp it denoted, When thou
enterest the flower garden walk down it and make for the place where
thou seest the lamp shining; and seat thyself beneath it and await me;
for the love of thee is killing me." When I heard these words from my
cousin, I cried out from excess of passion and said, "How long wilt
thou promise me and I go to her, but get not my will nor find any true
sense in thine interpreting." Upon this she laughed and replied, "It
remaineth for thee but to have patience during the rest of this day
till the light darken and the night starker and thou shalt enjoy union
and accomplish thy hopes; and indeed all my words be without leasing."
Then she repeated these two couplets,

"Let days their folds and plies deploy, * And shun the house that

     deals annoy!

Full oft when joy seems farthest far * Thou nighmost art to hour

     of joy."'


Then she drew near to me and began to comfort me with soothing speech,
but dared not bring me aught of food, fearing lest I be angry with her
and hoping I might incline to her; so when coming to me she only took
off my upper garment and said to me, "Sit O my cousin, that I may
divert thee with talk till the end of the day and, Almighty Allah
willing, as soon as it is night thou shalt be with thy beloved." But I
paid no heed to her and ceased not looking for the approach of
darkness, saying, "O Lord, hasten the coming of the night!" And when
night set in, the daughter of my uncle wept with sore weeping and gave
me a crumb of pure musk, and said to me, "O my cousin, put this crumb
in thy mouth, and when thou hast won union with thy beloved and hast
taken thy will of her and she hath granted thee thy desire, repeat to
her this couplet,

'Ho, lovers all!  by Allah say me sooth * What shall he do when love
sore vexeth youth?'"[FN#499]

And she kissed me and swore me not to repeat this couplet till I should
be about to leave my lover and I said, "Hearing is obeying!" And when
it was supper-tide I went out and ceased not walking on till I came to
the flower garden whose door I found open.  So I entered and, seeing a
light in the distance, made towards it and reaching it, came to a great
pavilion vaulted over with a dome of ivory and ebony, and the lamp hung
from the midst of the dome.  The floor was spread with silken carpets
embroidered in gold and silver, and under the lamp stood a great
candle, burning in a candelabrum of gold.  In mid pavilion was a
fountain adorned with all manner of figures;[FN#500] and by its side
stood a table covered with a silken napkin, and on its edge a great
porcelain bottle full of wine, with a cup of crystal inlaid with gold. 
Near all these was a large tray of silver covered over, and when I
uncovered it I found therein fruits of every kind, figs and
pomegranates, grapes and oranges, citrons and shaddocks[FN#501]
disposed amongst an infinite variety of sweet scented flowers, such as
rose, jasmine, myrtle, eglantine, narcissus and all sorts of sweet
smelling herbs.  I was charmed with the place and I joyed with
exceeding joy, albeit I found not there a living soul and my grief and
anxiety ceased from me.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day, and
ceased to say her permitted say.

        When it was the One Hundred and Sixteenth Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the young
merchant continued to Taj al-Muluk: "I was charmed with the place and
joyed with great joy albeit there I found not a living soul of Almighty
Allah's creatures, and saw nor slave nor hand maid to oversee these
things or to watch and ward these properties.  So I sat down in the
pavilion to await the coming of the beloved of my heart; but the first
hour of the night passed by, and the second hour, and the third hour,
and still she came not.  Then hunger grew sore upon me, for that it was
long since I had tasted food by reason of the violence of my love: but
when I found the place even as my cousin had told me, and saw the truth
of her in terpretation of my beloved's signs, my mind was set at rest
and I felt the pangs of hunger; moreover, the odour of the viands on
the table excited me to eat.  So making sure of attaining my desire,
and being famished for food I went up to the table and raised the cover
and found in the middle a china dish containing four chickens reddened
with roasting and seasoned with spices, round the which were four
saucers, one containing sweetmeats, another conserve of pomegranate
seeds, a third almond pastry[FN#502] and a fourth honey fritters; and
the contents of these saucers were part sweet and part sour.  So I ate
of the fritters and a piece of meat, then went on to the almond cakes
and ate what I could; after which I fell upon the sweetmeats, whereof I
swallowed a spoonful or two or three or four, ending with part of a
chicken and a mouthful of something beside.  Upon this my stomach
became full and my joints loose and I waxed too drowsy to keep awake;
so I laid my head on a cushion, after having washed my hands, and sleep
over came me; I knew not what happened to me after this, and I awoke
not till the sun's heat scorched me, for that I had never once tasted
sleep for days past.  When I awoke I found on my stomach a piece of
salt and a bit of charcoal; so I stood up and shook my clothes and
turned to look right and left, but could see no one; and discovered
that I had been sleeping on the marble pavement without bedding beneath
me.  I was perplexed thereat and afflicted with great affliction; the
tears ran down my cheeks and I mourned for myself.  Then I returned
home, and when I entered, I found my cousin beating her hand on her
bosom and weeping tears like rain shedding clouds; and she versified
with these couplets,

"Blows from my lover's land a Zephyr cooly sweet, * And with its

     every breath makes olden love new glow:

O Zephyr of the morning hour, come show to us * Each lover hath

     his lot, his share of joy and woe:

Could I but win one dearest wish, we had embraced * With what

     embrace and clip of breast fond lovers know.

Allah forbids, while bides unseen my cousin's face, * All joys

     the World can give or hand of Time bestow.

Would Heaven I knew his heart were like this heart of me, *

     Melted by passion-flame and charged with longing owe."


When she saw me, she rose in haste and wiped away her tears and
addressed me with her soft speech, saying, "O son of my uncle, verily
Allah hath been gracious to thee in thy love, for that she whom thou
lovest loveth thee, whilst I pass my time in weeping and bewailing my
severance from thee who blamest me and chidest me; but may Allah not
punish thee for my sake!" Thereupon she smiled in my face a smile of
reproach and caressed me; then taking off my walking clothes, she
spread them out and said, "By Allah, this is not the scent of one who
hath enjoyed his lover! So tell me what hath befallen thee, O my
cousin." I told her all that had passed, and she smiled again a smile
of reproach and said, "Verily, my heart is full of pain; but may he not
live who would hurt thy heart!  Indeed, this woman maketh herself
inordinately dear and difficult to thee, and by Allah, O son of my
uncle, I fear for thee from her.[FN#503]  Know, O my cousin, that the
meaning of the salt is thou west drowned in sleep like insipid food,
disgustful to the taste; and it is as though she said to thee; 'It
behoveth thou be salted lest the stomach eject thee; for thou professes
to be of the lovers noble and true; but sleep is unlawful and to a
lover undue; therefore is thy love but a lie.' However, it is her love
for thee that lieth; for she saw thee asleep yet aroused thee not and
were her love for thee true, she had indeed awoken thee.  As for the
charcoal, it means 'Allah blacken thy face'[FN#504] for thou makest a
lying presence of love, whereas thou art naught but a child and hast no
object in life other than eating and drinking and sleeping!  such is
the interpretation of her signs, and may Allah Almighty deliver thee
from her!" When I heard my cousin's words, I beat my hand upon my
breast and cried out, "By Allah, this is the very truth, for I slept
and lovers sleep not!  Indeed I have sinned against myself, for what
could have wrought me more hurt than eating and sleeping?  Now what
shall I do?" Then I wept sore and said to the daughter of my uncle,
"Tell me how to act and have pity on me, so may Allah have pity on
thee: else I shall die." As my cousin loved me with very great
love,—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her
permitted say.

       When it was the One Hundred and Seventeenth Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the young
merchant continued his tale to Taj al-Muluk: "Thereupon quoth I to the
daughter of my uncle, "Tell me what to do and have pity on me, so may
Allah have pity on thee!" As the daughter of my uncle loved me with
great love, she replied, "On my head and eyes! But, O my cousin, I
repeat what I have told thee oftentimes, if I could go in and out at
will, I would at once bring you two together and cover you both with my
skirt: nor would I do this but hoping to win thy favour. Inshallah, I
will do my utmost endeavour to unite you; but hear my words and do my
bidding.  Go thou to the very same place and sit down where thou
sattest before and at supper tide look thou eat not, for eating
induceth sleep; and have a care-thou slumber not, for she will not come
to thee till a fourth part of the night be passed.  And the Almighty
avert her mischief from thee!" Now when I heard these words I rejoiced
and besought Allah to hasten the night; and, as soon as it was dark, I
was minded to go, and my cousin said to me, "When thou shalt have met
her, repeat to her the couplet I taught thee before, at the time of thy
leave taking." Replied I, "On my head and eyes!" and went out and
repaired to the garden, where I found all made ready in the same state
as on the previous night, with every requisite of meat and drink, dried
fruits, sweet scented flowers and so forth.  I went up into the
pavilion and smelt the odour of the viands and my spirit lusted after
them; but I possessed my soul in patience for a while, till at last I
could no longer withstand temptation.  So I arose from my seat and went
up to the table and, raising its cover, found a dish of fowls,
surrounded by four saucers containing four several meats.  I ate a
mouthful of each kind and as much as I would of the sweetmeats and a
piece of meat: then I drank from the saucer a sauce yellowed with
saffron[FN#505] and as it pleased me, I supped it up by the spoonful
till I was satisfied and my stomach was full. Upon this, my eyelids
drooped; so I took a cushion and set it under my head, saying, "Haply I
can recline upon it without going to sleep." Then I closed my eyes and
slept, nor did I wake till the sun had risen, when I found on my
stomach a cube of bone,[FN#506] a single tip-cat stick,[FN#507] the
stone of a green date[FN#508] and a carob pod.  There was no furniture
nor aught else in the place, and it was as if there had been nothing
there yesterday.  So I rose and shaking all these things off me, fared
forth in fury; and, going home, found my cousin groaning and versifying
with these couplets,

"A wasted body, heart enpierced to core, * And tears that down my

     poor cheeks pour and pour:

And lover cure of access; but, but still * Naught save what's

     fair can come from fairest flow'r:

O cousin mine thou fill'st my soul with pate, * And from these

     tears mine eyelids ache full sore!"


I chid the daughter of my uncle and abused her, whereat she wept; then,
wiping away her tears, she came up to me and kissed me and began
pressing me to her bosom, whilst I held back from her blaming myself. 
Then said she to me, "O my cousin, it seemeth thou sleptest again this
night?" Replied I, "Yes; and when I awoke, I found on my stomach a cube
of bone, a single tip-cat stick, a stone of a green date and a carob
pod, and I know not why she did this." Then I wept and went up to her
and said, "Expound to me her meaning in so doing and tell me how shall
I act and aid me in my sore strait." She answered, "On my head and
eyes! By the single tip cat stick and the cube of bone which she placed
upon thy stomach she saith to thee 'Thy body is present but thy heart
is absent'; and she meaneth, 'Love is not thus: so do not reckon
thyself among lovers.' As for the date stone, it is as if she said to
thee, 'An thou wert in love thy heart would be burning with passion and
thou wouldst not taste the delight of sleep; for the sweet of love is
like a green date[FN#509] which kindleth a coal of fire in the vitals.'
As for the carob pod[FN#510] it signifieth to thee, 'The lover's heart
is wearied'; and thereby she saith, 'Be patient under our separation
with the patience of Job.' " When I heard this interpretation, fires
darted into my vitals like a dart and grief redoubled upon my heart and
I cried out, saying, "Allah decreed sleep to me for my ill fortune."
Then I said to her, "O my cousin, by my life, devise me some device
whereby I may win my will of her!" She wept and answered, "O Aziz, O
son of my uncle, verily my heart is full of sad thought which I cannot
speak: but go thou again to night to the same place and beware thou
sleep not, and thou shalt surely attain thy desire. This is my counsel
and peace be with thee!" Quoth I, "If Allah please I will not sleep,
but will do as thou biddest me." Then my cousin rose, and brought me
food, saying, "Eat now what may suffice thee, that nothing may divert
thy heart." So I ate my fill and, when night came, my cousin rose and
bringing me a sumptuous suit of clothes clad me therein. Then she made
me swear I would repeat to my lover the verse aforesaid and bade me
beware of sleeping.  So I left her and repaired to the garden and went
up into that same pavilion where I occupied myself in holding my
eyelids open with my fingers and nodding my head as the night darkened
on me."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her
permitted say.

       When it was the One Hundred and Eighteenth Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the young
merchant continued to Taj al Muluk: "So I repaired to the garden and
went up into that same pavilion and occupied myself in gazing upon the
flower beds and in holding my eyelids open with my fingers and nodding
my head as the night darkened on me.  And presently I grew hungry with
watching and the smell of the meats being wafted towards me, my
appetite increased: so I went up to the table and took off the cover
and ate a mouthful of every dish and a bit of meat; after which I
turned to the flagon of wine, saying to myself, I will drink one cup. 
I drank it, and then I drank a second and a third, till I had drunk
full ten, when the cool air smote me and I fell to the earth like a
felled man.  I ceased not to lie thus till day arose, when I awoke and
found myself out side the garden, and on my stomach were a butcher's
knife and a dram-weight of iron.[FN#511] Thereat I trembled and, taking
them with me, went home, where I found my cousin saying, "Verily, I am
in this house wretched and sorrowful, having no helper but weeping."
Now when I entered, I fell down at full length and throwing the knife
and the dram weight from my hand, I fainted clean away.  As soon as I
came to myself, I told her what had befallen me and said, Indeed, I
shall never enjoy my desire." But when she saw my tears and my passion,
they redoubled her distress on my account, and she cried, "Verily, I am
helpless!  I warned thee against sleeping; but thou wouldst not hearken
to my warning, nor did my words profit thee aught." I rejoined, "By
Allah, I conjure thee to explain to me the meaning of the knife and the
iron dram-weight." "By the dram weight," replied my cousin, "she
alludeth to her right eye,[FN#512] and she sweareth by it and saith,
'By the Lord of all creatures and by my right eye!  if thou come here
again and sleep, I will cut thy throat with this very knife.' And
indeed I fear for thee, O my cousin, from her malice; my heart is full
of anguish for thee and I cannot speak.  Nevertheless, if thou can be
sure of thyself not to sleep when thou returnest to her, return to her
and beware of sleeping and thou shalt attain thy desire; but if when
returning to her thou wilt sleep, as is thy wont, she will surely
slaughter thee." Asked I, "What shall I do, O daughter of my uncle: I
beg thee, by Allah, to help me in this my calamity." Answered she, "On
my head and eyes!  if thou wilt hearken to my words and do my bidding,
thou shalt have thy will." Quoth I, "I will indeed hearken to thy words
and do thy bidding;" and quoth she, "When it is time for thee to go, I
will tell thee." Then she pressed me to her bosom and laying me on the
bed, shampoo'd my feet, till drowsiness overcame me and I was drowned
in sleep, then she took a fan and seated herself at my head with the
fan in her hand and she was weeping till her clothes were wet with
tears.  Now when she saw that I was awake, she wiped away the drops and
fetched me some food and set it before me.  I refused it, but she said
to me, "Did I not tell thee that thou must do my bidding?  Eat!" So I
ate and thwarted her not and she proceeded to put the food into my
mouth and I to masticate it, till I was full.  Then she made me drink
jujube sherbet[FN#513] and sugar and washed my hands and dried them
with a kerchief; after which she sprinkled me with rose water, and I
sat with her awhile in the best of spirits. When the darkness had
closed in, she dressed me and said to me, "O son of my uncle, watch
through the whole night and sleep not; for she will not come to thee
this tide till the last of the dark hours and, Allah willing, thou
shalt be at one with her this night; but forget not my charge." Then,
she wept, and my heart was pained for her by reason of her over much
weeping, and I asked, "What is the charge thou gayest me?" She
answered, "When thou takest leave of her repeat to her the verse before
mentioned." So, full of joy I left her and repairing to the garden,
went up into the pavilion where, being satiated with food, I sat down
and watched till a fourth part of the dark hours was past. That night
seemed longsome to me as it were a year: but I remained awake till it
was three quarters spent and the cocks crew and I was famished for long
watching.  Accordingly I went up to the table and ate my fill,
whereupon my head grew heavy and I wanted to sleep, when behold, a
light appeared making towards me from afar.  I sprang up and washed my
hands and mouth and roused myself; and before long she came with ten
damsels, in whose midst she was like the full moon among the stars. 
She was clad in a dress of green satin purfled with red gold, and she
was as saith the poet,

"She lords it o'er our hearts in grass green gown, * With

     buttons[FN#514] loose and locks long flowing down.

Quoth I, 'What is thy name?' Quoth she, 'I'm she, * Who burns the

     lover-heart live coals upon:'

I made my plaint to her of loving lowe; * Laughed she, 'To stone

     thou moanest useless moan!'

Quoth I, 'An be of hardest stone thy heart, * Allah drew sweetest

     spring from hardest stone.' "


When she saw me she laughed and said, "How is it that thou art awake
and that sleep overcame thee not?  Forasmuch as thou hast watched
through the night, I know that thou art a lover; for night watching is
the mark of lovers displaying brave endurance of their desires." Then
she turned to her women and signed to them and they went away from her,
whereupon she came up to me and strained me to her breast and kissed
me, whilst I kissed her, and she sucked my upper lip whilst I sucked
her lower lip.  I put my hand to her waist and pressed it and we came
not to the ground save at the same moment.  Then she undid her
petticoat trousers which slipped down to her anklets, and we fell to
clasping and embracing and toying and speaking softly and biting and
inter twining of legs and going round about the Holy House and the
corners thereof,[FN#515] till her joints became relaxed for love
delight and she swooned away.  I entered the sanctuary, and indeed that
night was a joy to the sprite and a solace to the sight even as saith
the poet,

"Sweetest of nights the world can show to me, that night * When

     cups went round and round as fed by ceaseless spring:

There utter severance made I 'twixt mine eyes and sleep, * And

     joined, re joined mine ear drop with the anklet

     ring."[FN#516]


We lay together in close embrace till the morning when I would have
gone away, but she stopped me and said, "Stay till I tell thee
something"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying
her permitted say.

       When it was the One Hundred and Nineteenth Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the young
merchant continued his recital to Taj al Muluk: "When I would have gone
away, she stopped me and said, "Stay, till I tell thee something and
charge thee with a charge." So I stayed whilst she unfolded a kerchief
and drew out this piece of linen and spread it open before me.  I found
worked on it these two figures of gazelles and admired it with great
admiration.  Then I took the piece of linen and went away, joyful,
after we had agreed that I should visit her every night in the garden;
but in my joy I forgot to repeat to her the verse my cousin had taught
me.  For when giving me the piece of linen with the gazelles she had
said to me, "Keep this carefully, as it is my sister's handiwork." I
asked her, "What is thy sister's name?"; and she answered, "Her name is
Núr al-Hudá." When I went to my cousin, I found her lying down; but as
soon as she saw me, she rose, with the tears running from her eyes, and
came up to me, and kissed me on the breast and said, "Didst thou do as
I enjoined thee?  and repeat the verse to her?" "I forgot it," replied
I; "and nothing drove it out of my mind but these two figured
gazelles." And I threw the piece of linen on the floor before her.  She
rose and sat down again, but was unable to contain herself for
impatience, and her eyes ran over with tears, whilst she repeated these
two couplets,

"O thou who seekest parting, softly fare!  * Let not the Pair

     delude with cunning art:

Pare softly, Fortune's nature is to 'guile, * And end of every

     meeting is to part."


And when she ended her recitation she said, "O my cousin, give me this
piece of linen." So I gave it to her and she took it and unfolding it,
saw what was therein.  When the tryst time came for my going to my
lover, the daughter of my uncle said to me, "Go, and peace attend thee;
and when thou art about to leave her, recite to her the verse I taught
thee long ago and which thou didst forget." Quoth I, "Tell it me
again"; and she repeated it. Then I went to the garden and entered the
pavilion, where I found the young lad, awaiting me. When she saw me,
she rose and kissed me and made me sit in her lap; and we ate and drank
and did our desire as before.  In the morning, I repeated to her my
cousin's verse which was this,

"Ho, lovers all!  by Allah say me sooth * What shall he do when

     Love sor' vexeth youth?"


When she heard this, her eyes filled with tears and she answered and
said,

"Strive he to cure his case, to hide the truth, * Patiently

     humble self and sue for rush!"


I committed it to memory and returned home rejoicing at having done my
cousin's bidding.  When I entered the house I found her lying down and
my mother at her head weeping over her case; but as soon as I went in
to her my mother said to me, "A foul plague on such a cousin!  How
couldst thou leave the daughter of thy uncle ailing and not ask what
ailed her?" But when my cousin saw me she raised her head and sat up
and asked me, "O Aziz, didst thou repeat to her the couplet I taught
thee?" I answered, "Yes, and when she heard it she wept and recited in
answer another couplet which I committed to memory." Quoth my cousin,
"Tell it me." I did so; and when she heard it she wept with much
weeping and repeated the following verses,

'How shall youth cure the care his life undo'th, * And every day

     his heart in pieces hew'th?

In sooth he would be patient, but he findeth * Naught save a

     heart which love with pains imbu'th."


Then added my cousin, "When thou goest to her as of wont, repeat to her
also these two couplets which thou hast heard." I replied, "Hearkening
and obedience!" and I went at the wonted time, to the garden, where
there passed between my mistress and myself what tongue faileth to
describe.  When I was about to leave her, I repeated to her those two
couplets of my cousin's; whereupon the tears streamed from her eyes and
she replied,

"If he of patience fail the truth to hide * For him no cure save

     Death my vision view'th!"


I committed them to memory and returned home, and when I went in to my
cousin I found her fallen into a fit and my mother sitting at her head.
 When she heard my voice, she opened her eyes and asked, "O Aziz! didst
thou repeat the two couplets to her?" whereto I answered, "Yes; but she
wept on hearing them and she replied with this couplet beginning, If he
of patience fail, to the end." And I repeated it; whereupon my cousin
swooned again, and when she came to herself, she recited these two
couplets,

"Hearkening, obeying, with my dying mouth * I greet who joy of

     union ne'er allow'th:

Pair fall all happy loves, and fair befal * The hapless lover

     dying in his drowth!"


Again when it was night, I repaired to the garden as usual where I
found the young lady awaiting me.  We sat down and ate and drank, after
which we did all we wanted and slept till the morning; and, as I was
going away, I repeated to her the saying of my cousin.  When she heard
the couplet she cried out with a loud cry and was greatly moved and
exclaimed, "Awáh! Awáh![FN#517]  By Allah, she who spake these lines is
dead!" Then she wept and said to me, "Woe to thee! How is she who spoke
thus related to thee?" Replied I, "She is the daughter of my father's
brother." "Thou liest," rejoined she; "by Allah, were she thy cousin,
thou hadst borne her the same love as she bore thee!  It is thou who
hast slain her and may the Almighty kill thee as thou killedst her!  By
Allah, hadst thou told me thou hadst a cousin, I would not have
admitted thee to my favours!" Quoth I, "Verily it was she who
interpreted to me the signs thou madest and it was she who taught me
how to come to thee and how I should deal with thee; and, but for her,
I should never have been united to thee." She then asked me, "Did thy
cousin then know of us?"; and I answered, "Yes;" whereupon she
exclaimed, "Allah give thee sorrow of thy youth, even as thou hast
sorrowed her youth!" Then she cried to me, "Go now and see after her."
So I went away troubled at heart, and ceased not walking till I reached
our street, when I heard sounds of wailing, and asking about it, was
answered, "Azizah, we found her dead behind the door." I entered the
house, and when my mother saw me, she said, "Her death lieth heavy on
thy neck and may Allah not acquit thee of her blood!"—And Shahrazad
perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.

        When it was the One Hundred and Twentieth Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the young
merchant continued to Taj al-Muluk: "So I entered the house and when my
mother saw me she said, "Her death lieth heavy on thy neck and may
Allah not acquit thee of her blood!  A plague on such a cousin!" Then
came my father, and we laid her out and get ready her bier and buried
her; and we had recitations of the whole Koran over her tomb and we
abode by her grave three days, after which we returned to our home, and
I grieving for her grievously.  Then my mother came to me and said, "I
would fain know what thou didst to her, to break her heart[FN#518] for,
O my son, I questioned her at all times of the cause of her complaint,
but she would tell me nothing nor let me know aught of it.  So Allah
upon thee, tell me what thou hast been doing to her that she died."
Quoth I, "I did nothing." Quoth my mother, "Allah avenge her on thee! 
Verily she told me naught, but kept her secret till she died of her
love longings for thee; but when she died I was with her and she opened
her eyes and said to me; 'O wife of my uncle may Allah hold thy son
guiltless of my blood and punish him not for what he hath done by me! 
And now Allah transporteth me from the house of the world which is
perishable to the house of the other world which is eternal.' Said I,
'O my daughter, Allah preserve thee and preserve thy youth!' And as I
questioned her of the cause of her illness, she made me no answer; but
she smiled and said, 'O wife of my uncle, bid thy son, whenever he
would go whither he goeth every day, repeat these two saws at his going
away; 'Faith is fair! Unfaith is foul!' For this is of my tender
affection to him, that I am solicitous concerning him during my
lifetime and after my death.' Then she gave me somewhat for thee and
sware me that I would not give it until I see thee weeping for her and
lamenting her death. The thing is with me; and, when I have seen thy
case as I have said, I will make it over to thee." "Show it me," cried
I: but she would not.  Then I gave myself up to love delights and
thought no more of my cousin's death: for my mind was unsettled and
fain would I have been with my lover the livelong day and
night.[FN#519]  So hardly had I perceived the darkness fall when I
betook myself to the garden, where I found the young lady sitting on
coals of fire for much impatience.  As soon as she was sure that she
saw me, she ran to me and throwing her arms about my neck, enquired of
the daughter of my uncle.  I replied, "Sooth to say she is dead, and we
have caused Zikr- litanies and recitations of the Koran to be performed
for her; and it is now four nights and this be the fifth since she is
gone." When she heard that, she shrieked aloud and wept and said, "Did
I not tell thee that thou hast slain her?  Hadst thou let me know of
her before her death, I would have requited her the kindness she did
me, in that she served me and united thee to me; for without her, we
had never foregathered, we twain, and I fear lest some calamity befal
thee because of thy sin against her." Quoth I, "She acquitted me of
offence ere she died;" and I repeated to her what my mother had told
me. Quoth she, "Allah upon thee!  when thou returnest to thy mother,
learn what thing she keepeth for thee." I rejoined, "My mother also
said to me; 'Before the daughter of thy uncle died, she laid a charge
upon me, saying, Whenever thy son would go whither he is wont to go,
teach him these two saws, 'Faith is fair; Unfaith is foul!' " When my
lady heard this she exclaimed, "The mercy of Almighty Allah be upon
her!  Indeed, she hath delivered thee from me, for I minded to do thee
a mischief, but now I will not harm thee nor trouble thee." I wondered
at this and asked her, "What then west thou minded to do with me in
time past and we two being in bond of love?" Answered she, "Thou art
infatuated with me; for thou art young in life and a raw laddie; thy
heart is void of guile and thou weetest not our malice and deceit. 
Were she yet alive, she would protect thee; for she is the cause of thy
preservation and she hath delivered thee from destruction.  And now I
charge thee speak not with any woman, neither accost one of our sex, be
she young or be she old; and again I say Beware!  for thou art simple
and raw and knowest not the wiles of women and their malice, and she
who interpreted the signs to thee is dead.  And indeed I fear for thee,
lest thou fall into some disgrace and find none to deliver thee from
it, now that the daughter of thy uncle is no more."—And Shahrazad
perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.

      When it was the One Hundred and Twenty-first Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the young
merchant continued to Taj al-Muluk: "Then the young lady said to me, "I
fear for thee lest thou fall into some disgrace and find none to
deliver thee from it.  Alas for thy cousin and ah, the pity of her! 
Would I had known her before her death, that I might have requited by
waiting upon her the fair service she did me.  The mercy of Allah
Almighty be upon her, for she kept her secret and revealed not what she
suffered, and but for her thou hadst never foregathered with me; no,
never!  But there is one thing I desire of thee." I asked, "What is
it?"; and she answered, "It is that thou bring me to her grave, that I
may visit her in the tomb wherein she is and write some couplets
thereon." I rejoined, "To morrow, if Allah please!"[FN#520]  I slept
with her that night, and she ceased not saying after every hour, "Would
thou hadst told me of thy cousin before her death!" And I asked her,
"What is the meaning of the two saws she taught me?  'Faith is fair! 
Unfaith is foul!'" But she made no answer. As soon as it was day she
rose and, taking a purse of gold pieces, said to me, "Come, show me her
tomb, that I may visit it and grave some verses thereon and build a
dome over it and commend her to Allah's mercy and bestow these diners
in alms for her soul." I replied, "To hear is to obey!"; and walked on
before her, whilst she followed me, giving alms as she went and saying
to all upon whom she lavisht bounty, "This is an alms for the soul of
Azizah, who kept her counsel till she drank the cup of death and never
told the secret of her love." And she stinted not thus to give alms and
say, "for Azizah's soul," till the purse was empty and we came to the
grave.  And when she looked at the tomb, she wept and threw herself on
it; then, pulling out a chisel of steel and a light hammer, she graved
therewith upon the head stone in fine small characters these couplets,

"I past by a broken tomb amid a garth right sheen, * Whereon

     seven blooms of Nu'uman[FN#521] glowed with cramoisie;

Quoth I, 'Who sleepeth in this tomb?' Quoth answering Earth *

     'Before a lover Hades-tombed[FN#522] bend reverently!'

Quoth I, 'May Allah help thee, O thou slain of Love, * And grant

     thee home in Heaven and Paradise height to see!'

Hapless are lovers all e'en tombed in their tombs, * Where amid

     living folk the dust weighs heavily!

Pain would I plant a garden blooming round thy grave, * And water

     every flower with tear drops flowing free!"


Then she turned away in tears and I with her and returned to the garden
where she said to me, "By Allah!  I conjure thee never leave me!" "To
hear is to obey," replied I.  Then I gave myself wholly up to her and
paid her frequent visits: she was good and generous to me; and as often
as I passed the night with her, she would make much of me and would ask
me of the two saws my cousin Azizah told my mother and I would repeat
them to her.  And matters ceased not to be on this wise and I continued
for a whole year eating and drinking and enjoying dalliance and wearing
change of rich raiment until I waxed gross and fat, so that I lost all
thought of sorrowing and mourning, and I clean forgot my cousin Azizah.
 And on New Year's day I went to the bath, where I refreshed myself and
put on a suit of sumptuous clothes; then coming out I drank a cup of
wine and smelt the scent of my new gear which was perfumed with various
essences; and my breast was broadened thereby, for I knew not the
tricks of Pate nor the changing ways of Time.  When the hour of night
prayer came, I was minded to repair to my lover; but, being the worse
for wine, I knew not when going to her whither I went, so my
drunkenness turned me into a by street called Syndic Street;[FN#523]
and the while I walked up that street behold, I caught sight of an old
woman faring with a lighted taper in one hand, and in the other a
folded letter.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased
saying her permitted say.

      When it was the One Hundred and Twenty-second Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the young
merchant, whose name was Aziz, continued to Taj al-Muluk:—And when I
entered the street called Syndic Street behold, I caught sight of an
old woman walking with a lighted taper in one hand and in the other a
folded letter and I drew near her and lo! she was weeping and repeating
these couplets,

"O glad news bearer well come!  Welcome!  Hail!  * How sweet thy

     speech to me, what treat thy tale:

O messenger from him whose weal I love, * God bless thee long as

     breathes soft morning-gale!"


Now when she saw me she asked, "O my son! canst thou read?"; and I
answered, of my officiousness, "Yes, old naunty!" Rejoined she, "Then
take this letter and read it to me." And when she handed it to me, I
took it and unfolding it read it to her and behold it was from an
absent man to his friends and lovers whom he greeted; and, when she
heard its purport, she rejoiced at the good tidings and blessed me,
saying, "Allah dispel thine anxiety, even as thou hast dispelled mine!"
Then she took the letter and walked on. Meanwhile, I was urged by a
call of nature and sat down on my heels to make water.[FN#524] When I
had ended I stood up and wiped the orifice with a pebble and then,
letting down my clothes, I was about to wend my way, when suddenly the
old woman came up to me again and, bending down over my hand, kissed it
and said, "O my master!  the Lord give thee joy of thy youth!  I
entreat thee to walk with me a few steps as far as yonder door, for I
told them what thou didst read to me of the letter, and they believe me
not, so come with me two steps and read them the letter from behind the
door and accept the prayers of a righteous woman." I enquired, "What is
the history of this letter?", and she replied, "O my son, this letter
is from my son, who hath been absent for a term of ten years.  He set
out with a stock of merchandise and tarried long in foreign parts, till
we lost hope of him and supposed him to be dead.  Now after all that
delay cometh this letter from him, and he hath a sister who weepeth for
him night and day; so I said to her, 'He is well and all right.' But
she will not believe me and declares, 'There is no help but thou bring
me one who will read this letter in my presence, that my heart may be
at rest and my mind at ease.' Thou knowest, O my son, that all who love
are wont to think evil: so be good enough to go with me and read to her
this letter, standing behind the curtain, whilst I call his sister to
listen within the door, so shalt thou dispel our heed and fulfil our
need.  Verily quoth the Apostle of Allah (whom Allah bless and
preserve!), 'Whoso easeth the troubled of one of the troubles of this
troublous world, Allah will ease him of an hundred troubles'; and
according to another tradition, 'Whoso easeth his brother of one of the
troubles of this troublous world, Allah shall relieve him of seventy
and two troubles on the Day of Resurrection.' And I have betaken myself
to thee; so disappoint me not." Replied I, "To hear is to obey: do thou
go before me!" So she walked on devancing me and I followed her a
little way, till she came to the gate of a large and handsome mansion
whose door was plated with copper.[FN#525]  I stood behind the door,
whilst the old woman cried out in Persian, and ere I knew it a damsel
ran up with light and nimble step.  She had tucked up her trousers to
her knees, so that I saw a pair of calves that confounded thinker and
lighter, and the maid herself was as saith the poet describing her,

"O thou who barest leg calf, better to suggest * For passion

     madded amourist better things above!

Towards its lover cloth the bowl go round and run; * Cup[FN#526]

     and cup bearer only drive us daft with love."[FN#527]


Now these legs were like two pillars of alabaster adorned with anklets
of gold, wherein were set stones of price.  And the damsel had tucked
up the end of her gown under her arm pit and had rolled up her sleeves
to the elbow, so that I could see her white wrists whereon were two
pairs of bracelets with clasps of great pearls; and round her neck was
a collar of costly gems. Her ears were adorned with pendants of pearls
and on her head she wore a kerchief[FN#528] of brocade, brand new and
broidered with jewels of price.  And she had thrust the skirt of her
shift into her trousers string being busy with some household business.
 So when I saw her in this undress, I was confounded at her beauty, for
she was like a shining sun.  Then she said, with soft, choice speech,
never heard I sweeter, "O my mother!  is this he who cometh to read the
letter?" "It is," replied the old woman; and she put out her hand to me
with the letter. Now between her and the door was a distance of about
half a rod[FN#529]; so I stretched forth my hand to take the letter
from her and thrust head and shoulders within the door, thinking to
draw near her and read the letter when, before I knew what her design
was, the old woman butted her head against my back and pushed me
forwards with the letter in my hand, so that ere I could take thought I
found myself in the middle of the hall far beyond the vestibule. Then
she entered, faster than a flash of blinding leven, and had naught to
do but to shut the door.  And Shahrazed perceived the dawn of day and
ceased to say her permitted say.

      When it was the One Hundred and Twenty-third Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the youth Aziz
pursued to Taj al Muluk: "When the old woman pushed me forwards I found
myself, ere I could think, inside the vestibule; and the old woman
entered faster than a flash of blinding levee and had naught to do but
to shut the door.  When the girl saw me in the vestibule, she came up
to me and strained me to her bosom, and threw me to the floor; then she
sat astraddle upon my breast and kneaded my belly with her fingers,
till I well nigh lost my senses.  Thereupon she took me by the hand and
led me, unable to resist for the violence of her pressure, through
seven vestibules, whilst the old woman forewent us with the lighted
candle, till we came to a great saloon with four estrades whereon a
horseman might play Polo.[FN#530] Here she released me, saying, "Open
thine eyes." So I opened them still giddy for the excess of her
embracing and pressing, and saw that the whole saloon was built of the
finest marbles and alabasters, and all its furniture was of silk and
brocade even to the cushions and mattresses. Therein also were two
benches of yellow brass and a couch of red gold, set with pearls and
precious stones, befitting none save Kings like thyself.  And off the
saloon were smaller sitting rooms; and the whole place was redolent of
wealth.  Then she asked, "O Aziz, which is liefer to thee life or
death?" "Life," answered I; and she said, "If life be liefer to thee,
marry me." Quoth I, "Indeed I should hate to marry the like of thee."
Quoth she, "If thou marry me thou wilt at least be safe from the
daughter of Dalílah the Wily One."[FN#531]  I asked, "And who be that
daughter of the Wily One?" Whereupon she laughed and replied, " 'Tis
she who hath companied with thee this day for a year and four months
(may the Almighty destroy and afflict her with one worse than herself!)
By Allah, there liveth not a more perfidious than she.  How many men
hath she not slain before thee and what deeds hath she not done.  Nor
can I understand how thou hast been all the time in her company, yet
she hath not killed thee nor done thee a mischief." When I heard her
words, I marvelled with exceeding marvel and said, "O my lady, who made
thee to know her?"  Said she, "I know her as the age knoweth its
calamities; but now I would fain have thee tell me all that hath passed
between you two, that I may ken the cause of thy deliverance from her."
So I told her all that had happened between us, including the story of
my cousin Azizah.  She expressed her pity when she heard of the death,
and her eyes ran over with tears and she claps hand on hand and cried
out, Her youth was lost on Allah's way,[FN#532] and may the Lord bless
thee for her good works!  By Allah, O Aziz, she who died for thee was
the cause of thy preservation from the daughter of Dalia the Wily; and,
but for her, thou hadst been lost.  And now she is dead I fear for thee
from the Crafty One's perfidy and mischief; but my throat is choking
and I cannot speak." Quoth I Ay, by Allah: all this happened even as
thou sayest." And she shook her head and cried, "There liveth not this
day the like of Azizah.  I continued, "And on her death bed she bade me
repeat to my lover these two saws, 'Faith is fair! Unfaith is foul'"
When she heard me say this, she exclaimed, "O Aziz, by Allah those same
words saved thee from dying by her hand; and now my heart is at ease
for thee from her, for she will never kill thee and the daughter of thy
uncle preserved thee during her lifetime and after her death.  By
Allah, I have desired thee day after day but could not get at thee till
this time when I tricked thee and outwitted thee; for thou art a raw
youth[FN#533] and knowest not the wiles of young women nor the deadly
guile of old women." Rejoined I, No, by Allah!" Then said she to me,
"Be of good cheer and eyes clear; the dead hath found Allah's grace,
and the live shall be in good case.  Thou art a handsome youth and I do
not desire thee but according to the ordinance of Allah and His Apostle
(on whom be salutation and salvation!).  Whatever thou requirest of
money and stuff, thou shalt have forthright without stint, and I will
not impose any toil on thee, no, never!, for there is with me always
bread baked hot and water in pot.  All I need of thee is that thou do
with me even as the cock doth." I asked "And what doth the cock?" Upon
this she laughed and clapped her hands and fell over on her back for
excess of merriment then she sat up and smiled and said, "O light of my
eyes, really dost thou not know what cock's duty is?" "No, by Allah!"
replied I, and she, "The cock's duty is to eat and drink and tread.' I
was abashed at her words and asked, "Is that the cock's duty?  Yes,
answered she; "and all I ask of thee now is to gird thy loins and
strengthen thy will and futter thy best." Then she clapped her hands
and cried out, saying, "O my mother, bring forward those who are with
thee." And behold, in came the old woman accompanied by four lawful
witnesses, and carrying a veil of silk.  Then she lighted four candles,
whilst the witnesses saluted me and sat down; and the girl veiled
herself with the veil and deputed one of them to execute the contract
on her behalf.  So they wrote out the marriage bond and she testified
to have received the whole sum settled upon her, both the half in
advance and the half in arrears; and that she was indebted to me in the
sum of ten thousand dirhams.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day
and ceased saying her permitted say.

      When it was the One Hundred and Twenty-fourth Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the young
merchant continued to Taj al-Muluk: When they wrote out the marriage
contract, she testified to having received the whole sum settled upon
her, the half in advance and the half in arrears and that she was
indebted to me in the sum of ten thousand dirhams. She paid the
witnesses their wage and they withdrew whence they came.  Thereupon she
arose and cast off her clothes and stood in a chemise of fine silk
edged with gold lace, after which she took off her trousers and seized
my hand and led me up to the couch, saying, "There is no sin in a
lawful put in." She lay down on the couch outspread upon her back; and,
drawing me on to her breast, heaved a sigh and followed it up with a
wriggle by way of being coy.  Then she pulled up the shift above her
breasts, and when I saw her in this pose, I could not withhold myself
from thrusting it into her, after I had sucked her lips, whilst she
whimpered and shammed shame and wept when no tears came, and then said
she, "O my beloved, do it, and do thy best!" Indeed the case reminded
me of his saying, who said,

"When I drew up her shift from the roof of her coynte, * I found

     it as strait* as my mind and my money:

So I drove it half-way, and she sighed a loud sigh * Quoth I,

     'Why this sigh?': 'For the rest of it, honey!'"


And she repeated, "O my beloved, let the finish be made for I am thine
handmaid.  My life on thee, up with it!  give it me, all of it!  that I
may take it in my hand and thrust it into my very vitals!" And she
ceased not to excite me with sobs and sighs and amorous cries in the
intervals of kissing and clasping until amid our murmurs of pleasure we
attained the supreme delight and the term we had in sight.  We slept
together till the morning, when I would have gone out; but lo!  she
came up to me, laughing, and said, "So! So! thinkest thou that going
into the Hammam is the same as going out?[FN#534] Dost thou deem me to
be the like of the daughter of Dalilah the Wily One? Beware of such a
thought, for thou art my husband by contract and according to law.  If
thou be drunken return to thy right mind, and know that the house
wherein thou art openeth but one day in every year.  Go down and look
at the great door." So I arose and went down and found the door locked
and nailed up and returned and told her of the locking and nailing.  "O
Aziz," said she, "We have in this house flour, grain, fruits and
pomegranates; sugar, meat, sheep, poultry and so forth enough for many
years; and the door will not be opened till after the lapse of a whole
twelvemonth and well I weet thou shalt not find thyself without this
house till then." Quoth I "There is no Majesty, and there is no Might
save in Allah, the Glorious, the Great!" "And how can this harm thee,"
rejoined she; "seeing thou knowest cock's duty, whereof I told thee?"
Then she laughed and I laughed too, and I conformed to what she said
and abode with her, doing cock's duty and eating and drinking and
futtering for a year of full twelve months, during which time she
conceived by me, and I was blessed with a babe by her.  On the New
Year's day I heard the door opened and behold, men came in with cakes
and flour and sugar.  Upon this, I would have gone out but my wife
said, "Wait till supper tide and go out even as thou camest in." So I
waited till the hour of night prayer and was about to go forth in fear
and trembling, when she stopped me, saying, "By Allah, I will not let
thee go until thou swear to come back this night before the closing of
the door." I agreed to this, and she swore me a solemn oath on Blade
and Book,[FN#535] and the oath of divorce to boot, that I would return
to her.  Then I left her and going straight to the garden, found the
door open as usual; where at I was angry and said to myself, "I have
been absent this whole year and come here unawares and find the place
open as of wont!  I wonder is the damsel still here as before? I needs
must enter and see before I go to my mother, more by reason that it is
now nightfall." So I entered the flower garden,—And Shahrazad perceived
the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.

End of Vol. 2.

Volume 2 Footnotes

[FN#1] Supplementarily to note 2, p. 2, [FN#2 Vol 1]and note 2, p. 14,
[FN#21 Vol 1] vol. i., I may add that "Shahrázád," in the Shams
al-Loghat, is the P.N. of a King. L. Langlès (Les Voyages de Sindibâd
Le Marin et La Ruse des Femmes, first appended to Savary's Grammar and
reprinted 12 mot pp. 161 + 113, Imprimerie Royale, Paris, M.D.CCC.XIV)
explains it by Le cyprès, la beauté de la ville; and he is followed by
(A. de Biberstein) Kazimirski (Ends el-Djelis Paris, Barrois, 1847).
Ouseley (Orient. Collect.) makes Shahrzád=town-born; and others an
Arabisation of Chehr-ázád (free of face, ingenuous of countenance) the
petit nom of Queen Humay, for whom see the Terminal Essay. The name of
the sister, whom the Fihrist converts into a Kahramánah, or nurse,
vulgarly written Dínár-zád, would= child of gold pieces, freed by gold
pieces, or one who has no need of gold pieces: Dínzád=child of faith
and Daynázád, proposed by Langlès, "free from debt (!)" I have adopted
Macnaghten's Dunyazad. "Shahryar," which Scott hideously writes "Shier
ear," is translated by the Shams, King of the world, absolute monarch
and the court of Anushir wan while the Burhán-i-Káti'a renders it a
King of Kings, and P.N. of a town. Shahr-báz is also the P.N. of a town
in Samarcand.

[FN#2] Arab. "Malik," here used as in our story-books: "Pompey was a
wise and powerful King" says the Gesta Romanorum. This King is, as will
appear, a Regent or Governor under Harun al-Rashid. In the next tale he
is Viceroy of Damascus, where he is also called "Sultan."

[FN#3] The Bull Edit. gives the lines as follows:—-

     The lance was his pen, and the hearts of his foes *

         His paper, and dipped he in blood for ink;

     Hence our sires entitled the spear Khattíyah, *

         Meaning that withal man shall write, I think.


The pun is in "Khattíyah" which may mean a writer (feminine) and also a
spear, from Khatt Hajar, a tract in the province Al-Bahrayn (Persian
Gulf), and Oman, where the best Indian bamboos were landed and
fashioned into lances. Imr al-Keys (Mu'allakah v. 4.) sings of "our
dark spears firmly wrought of Khattiyan cane;" Al-Busírí of "the brown
lances of Khatt;" also see Lebid v. 50 and Hamásah pp. 26, 231, Antar
notes the "Spears of Khatt" and "Rudaynian lances." Rudaynah is said to
have been the wife of one Samhár, the Ferrara of lances; others make
her the wife of Al-Ka'azab and hold Sambár to be a town in Abyssinia
where the best weapons were manufactured The pen is the Calamus or
Kalam (reed cut for pen) of which the finest and hardest are brought
from Java: they require the least ribbing. The rhetorical figure in the
text is called Husn al-Ta'alíl, our aetiology; and is as admirable to
the Arabs as it appears silly to us.

[FN#4] "He loves folk" is high praise, meaning something more than
benevolence and beneficence.. Like charity it covers a host of sins.

[FN#5] The sentence is euphuistic.

[FN#6] Arab. "Rubb"=syrup a word Europeanised by the "Rob

Laffecteur."


[FN#7] The Septentriones or four oxen and their wain.

[FN#8] The list fatally reminds us of "astronomy and the use of the
globes" . . . "Shakespeare and the musical glasses."

[FN#9] The octave occurs in Night xv. I quote Torrens (p. 360) by way
of variety.

[FN#10] A courteous formula of closing with the offer.

[FN#11] To express our "change of climate" Easterns say, "change of
water and air," water coming first.

[FN#12] "The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night"
(Psalm cxxi. 6). Easterns still believe in the blighting effect of the
moon's rays, which the Northerners of Europe, who view it under
different conditions, are pleased to deny. I have seen a hale and
hearty Arab, after sitting an hour in the moonlight, look like a man
fresh from a sick bed; and I knew an Englishman in India whose face was
temporarily paralysed by sleeping with it exposed to the moon.

[FN#13] The negroids and negroes of Zanzibar.

[FN#14] i.e. Why not make thy heart as soft as thy sides! The converse
of this was reported at Paris during the Empire, when a man had by
mistake pinched a very high personage: "Ah, Madame! if your heart be as
hard as (what he had pinched) I am a lost man."

[FN#15] "Na'íman" is said to one after bathing or head-shaving: the
proper reply, for in the East every sign of ceremony has its
countersign, is "Allah benefit thee!" (Pilgrimage i. 11, iii. 285; Lane
M. E. chaps. viii.; Caussin de Perceval's Arabic Grammar, etc., etc.) I
have given a specimen (Pilgrimage i., 122) not only of sign and
countersign, but also of the rhyming repartee which rakes love. Hanien
! (pleasant to thee! said when a man drinks). Allah pleasure thee
(Allah yuhanník which Arnauts and other ruffians perverted to Allah
yaník, Allah copulate with thee); thou drinkest for ten! I am the cock
and thou art the hen! (i.e. a passive catamite) Nay, I am the thick one
(the penis which gives pleasure) and thou art the thin! And so forth
with most unpleasant pleasantries.

[FN#16] In the old version she is called "The Fair Persian," probably
from the owner: her name means "The Cheerer of the Companion."

[FN#17] Pronounce "Nooraddeen." I give the name written in

Arabic.


[FN#18] Amongst Moslems, I have said, it is held highly disgraceful
when the sound of women's cries can be heard by outsiders.

[FN#19] In a case like this, the father would be justified by Rasm (or
usage) not by Koranic law, in playing Brutus with his son. The same
would be the case in a detected intrigue with a paternal concubine and,
in very strict houses, with a slave-girl.

[FN#20] Orientals fear the "Zug" or draught as much as Germans; and
with even a better reason. Draughts are most dangerous in hot climates.

[FN#21] The Unity of the Godhead and the Apostleship of Mohammed.

[FN#22] This would be done only in the case of the very poor.

[FN#23] Prayers over the dead are not universal in Al-Islam; but when
they are recited they lack the "sijdah" or prostration.

[FN#24] Or, "Of the first and the last," i.e. Mohammed, who claimed
(and claimed justly) to be the "Seal" or head and end of all Prophets
and Prophecy. For note that whether the Arab be held inspired or a mere
imposter, no man making the same pretension has moved the world since
him. Mr. J. Smith the Mormon (to mention one in a myriad) made a bold
attempt and failed.

[FN#25] i.e. flatterers.

[FN#26] In one matter Moslems contrast strongly with Christians, by
most scrupulously following the example of their law-giver: hence they
are the model Conservatives. But (European) Christendom is here, as in
other things, curiously contradictory: for instance, it still keeps a
"Feast of the Circumcision," and practically holds circumcision in
horror. Eastern Christians, however, have not wholly abolished it, and
the Abyssinians, who find it a useful hygenic precaution, still
practise it. For ulcers, syphilis and other venereals which are readily
cured in Egypt become dangerous in the Highlands of Ethiopia.

[FN#27] Arab. "Sabab," the orig. and material sense of the word; hence
"a cause," etc.

[FN#28] Thus he broke his promise to his father, and it is insinuated
that retribution came upon him.

[FN#29] "O Pilgrim" (Ya Hájj) is a polite address even to those who
have not pilgrimaged. The feminine "Hájjah" (in Egypt pronounced
"Hággeh") is similarly used.

[FN#30] Arab. "usúl"=roots, i.e. I have not forgotten my business.

[FN#31] Moslems from Central and Western North Africa.

(Pilgrimage i. 261; iii. 7, etc); the "Jabarti" is the Moslem

Abyssinian.


[FN#32] This is a favourite bit of chaff and is to be lengthened out
almost indefinitely e.g. every brown thing is not civet nor every
shining thing a diamond; every black thing is not charcoal nor every
white chalk; every red thing is not a ruby nor every yellow a topaz;
every long-necked thing is not a camel, etc., etc., etc.

[FN#33] He gives him the name of his grandfather; a familiar usage.

[FN#34] Arab. "Ma'janah," a place for making unbaked bricks (Tob=Span.
Adobe) with chaff and bruised or charred straw. The use of this article
in rainless lands dates from ages immemorial, and formed the outer
walls of the Egyptian temple.

[FN#35] Arab. "Barsh," a bit of round matting used by the poor as a
seat. The Wazir thus showed that he had been degraded to the condition
of a mat-maker.

[FN#36] The growth (a Poa of two species) which named Wady Halfá (vulg.
"Halfah"), of which the home public has of late heard perhaps a trifle
too much. Burckhardt (Prov. 226) renders it "dry reeds"—-incorrectly
enough.

[FN#37] This "Háshimi" vein, as they call it, was an abnormal
development between the eyes of the house of Abbas, inherited from the
great- grandfather of the Prophet; and the latter had it remarkably
large, swelling in answer and battle-rage. The text, however, may read
"The sweat of wrath," etc.

[FN#38] Torrens and Payne prefer "Ilm"=knowledge. Lane has more
correctly "Alam"=a sign, a flag.

[FN#39] The lines were in Night xi.: I have quoted Torrens (p. 379) for
a change.

[FN#40] Still customary in Tigris-Euphrates land, where sea-craft has
not changed since the days of Xisisthrus-Noah, and long before.

[FN#41] To cool the contents.

[FN#42] Hence the Khedivial Palace near Cairo "Kasr al-Nuzhah;"
literally, "of Delights;" one of those flimsy new-Cairo buildings which
contrast so marvellously with the architecture of ancient and even of
mediæval Egypt, and which are covering the land with modern ruins.
Compare Mohammed Ali's mosque in the citadel with the older Sultan
Hasan. A popular tale is told that, when the conquering Turk, Yáwúz
Sultan Selim, first visited Cairo, they led him to Mosque Al-Ghúrí.
"This is a splendid Ká'ah (saloon)!" quoth he. When he entered Sultan
Hasan, he exclaimed, "This is a citadel!"; but after inspecting the
Mosque Al-Mu'ayyad he cried, "'Tis a veritable place of prayer, a fit
stead for the Faithful to adore the Eternal!"

[FN#43] Arab. gardeners are very touchy on this point. A friend of mine
was on a similar occasion addressed, in true Egyptian lingo, by an old
Adam-son, "Ya ibn al-Kalb! beta'mil ay?" (O dog- son, what art thou up
to?).

[FN#44] "The green palm-stick is of the trees of Paradise;" say the
Arabs in Solomonic style but not Solomonic words: so our "Spare the
rod," etc.

[FN#45] Wayfarers, travellers who have a claim on the kindness of those
at home: hence Abd al-Rahman al-Burai sings in his famous Ode:—

 He hath claim on the dwellers in the places of their birth, *

Whoso wandereth the world, for he lacketh him a home.


It is given in my "First Footsteps in East Africa" (pp. 53-55).

[FN#46] The good old man treated the youth like a tired child.

[FN#47] In Moslem writings the dove and turtle-dove are mostly
feminine, whereas the female bird is always mute and only the male
sings to summon or to amuse his mate.

[FN#48] An unsavoury comparison of the classical Narcissus with the
yellow white of a nigger's eyes.

[FN#49] A tree whose coals burn with fierce heat: Al-Hariri (Vth
Seance). This Artemisia is like the tamarisk but a smaller growth and
is held to be a characteristic of the Arabian Desert. A Badawi always
hails with pleasure the first sight of the Ghazá, after he has
sojourned for a time away from his wilds. Mr. Palgrave (i. 38)
describes the "Ghadá" as an Euphorbia with a woody stem often 5-6 feet
high and slender, flexible green twigs (?), "forming a feathery tuft,
not ungraceful to the eye, while it affords some shelter to the
traveller, and food to his camels."

[FN#50] Arab. "Sal'am"=S(alla) A(llah) a(layhi) was S(allam);

A(llah) b(less) h(im) a(nd) k(eep)=Allah keep him and assain!


[FN#51] The ass is held to be ill-omened. I have noticed the braying
elsewhere. According to Mandeville the Devil did not enter the Ark with
the Ass, but he left it when Noah said "Benedicite." In his day (A.D.
1322) and in that of Benjamin of Tudela, people had seen and touched
the ship on Ararat, the Judi (Gordiæi) mountains; and this dates from
Berosus (S.C. 250) who, of course, refers to the Ark of Xisisthrus. See
Josephus Ant. i. 3, 6; and Rodwell (Koran, pp. 65, 530).

[FN#52] As would happen at a "Zikr," rogation or litany. Those who wish
to see how much can be made of the subject will read "Pearls of the
Faith, or Islam's Rosary, being the ninety-nine beautiful names of
Allah" (Asmá-el-Husna) etc. by Edwin Arnold: London, Trübner, 1883.

[FN#53] i.e. the Sáki, cup-boy or cup-bearer. "Moon-faced," as I have
shown elsewhere, is no compliment in English, but it is in Persian and
Arabic.

[FN#54] He means we are "Záhirí," plain honest Moslems, not "Bátiní,"
gnostics (ergo reprobates) and so forth, who disregard all appearances
and external ordinances. This suggests his opinion of Shaykh Ibrahim
and possibly refers to Ja'afar's suspected heresy.

[FN#55] This worthy will be noticed in a subsequent page.

[FN#56] Arab. "Lisám," the end of the "Kufiyah," or head-kerchief
passed over the face under the eyes and made fast on the other side.
This mouth-veil serves as a mask (eyes not being recognisable) and
defends from heat, cold and thirst. I also believe that hooding the
eyes with this article, Badawi-fashion, produces a sensation of
coolness, at any rate a marked difference of apparent temperature;
somewhat like a pair of dark spectacles or looking at the sea from a
sandy shore. (Pilgrimage i., 210 and 346.) The woman's "Lisám"
(chin-veil) or Yashmak is noticed in i., 337.

[FN#57] Most characteristic is this familiarity between the greatest
man then in the world and his pauper subject. The fisherman alludes to
a practise of Al-Islman, instituted by Caliph Omar, that all rulers
should work at some handicraft in order to spare the public treasure.
Hence Sultan Mu'ayyad of Cairo was a calligrapher who sold his
handwriting, and his example was followed by the Turkish Sultans
Mahmúd, Abd al-Majíd and Abd al-Azíz. German royalties prefer
carpentering and Louis XVI, watch-making.

[FN#58] There would be nothing singular in this request. The democracy
of despotism levels all men outside the pale of politics and religion.

[FN#59] "Wa'lláhi tayyib!" an exclamation characteristic of the

Egyptian Moslem.


[FN#60] The pretended fisherman's name Karím=the Generous.

[FN#61] Such an act of generosity would appear to Europeans well- nigh
insanity, but it is quite in Arab manners. Witness the oft- quoted tale
of Hatim and his horse. As a rule the Arab is the reverse of generous,
contrasting badly, in this point, with his cousin the Jew: hence his
ideal of generosity is of the very highest. "The generous (i.e.
liberal) is Allah's friend, aye, though he be a sinner; and the miser
is Allah's foe, aye, though he be a saint!" Indian Moslems call a
skin-flint Makhi-chús = fly-sucker. (Pilgrimage i. 242.)

[FN#62] Arab. "Ammá ba'ad" or (Wa ba'ad), an initiatory formula
attributed to Koss ibn Sa'idat al-Iyadi, bishop of Najrán (the town in
Al-Yaman which D'Herbelot calls Negiran) and a famous preacher in
Mohammed's day, hence "more eloquent than Koss" (Maydání, Arab. Prov.,
189). He was the first who addressed letters with the incept, "from A.
to B."; and the first who preached from a pulpit and who leant on a
sword or a staff when discoursing. Many Moslems date Ammá ba'ad from
the Prophet David, relying upon a passage of the Koran (xxxviii. 19).

[FN#63] Arab. "Nusf"=half (a dirham): vulgarly pronounced "nuss," and
synonymous with the Egypt. "Faddah" (=silver), the Greek "Asper," and
the Turkish "paráh." It is the smallest Egyptian coin, made of very
base metal and, there being forty to the piastre, it is worth nearly a
quarter of a farthing.

[FN#64] The too literal Torrens and Lane make the Caliph give the
gardener-lad the clothes in which he was then clad, forgetting, like
the author or copier, that he wore the fisherman's lousy suit.

[FN#65] In sign of confusion, disappointment and so forth: not "biting
his nails," which is European and utterly un-Asiatic.

[FN#66] See lines like these in Night xiii. (i. 136); the sentiment is
trite.

[FN#67] The Arab will still stand under his ruler's palace and shout
aloud to attract his attention. Sayyid Sa'íd known as the "Imán of
Muskat" used to encourage the patriarchal practice. Mohammed repeatedly
protested against such unceremonious conduct (Koran xciv. 11, etc.).
The "three times of privacy" (Koran cv. 57) are before the dawn prayer,
during the Siesta (noon) and after the even-prayer.

[FN#68] The Judges of the four orthodox schools.

[FN#69] That none might see it or find it ever after.

[FN#70] Arab. "Khatt Sharíf"=a royal autographical letter: the term is
still preserved in Turkey, but Europeans will write "Hatt."

[FN#71] Meaning "Little tom-cat;" a dim. of "Kitt" vulg. Kutt or

Gutt.


[FN#72] Arab. "Matmúrah"—-the Algerine "Matamor"—-a "silo," made
familiar to England by the invention of "Ensilage."

[FN#73] The older "Mustapha"=Mohammed. This Intercession-doctrine is
fiercely disputed. (Pilgrimage ii. 77.) The Apostle of Al- Islam seems
to have been unable to make up his mind upon the subject: and modern
opinion amongst Moslems is apparently borrowed from the Christians.

[FN#74] Lane (i. 486) curiously says, "The place of the stagnation of
blood:" yet he had translated the word aright in the Introduction (i.
41). I have noticed that the Nat'a is made like the "Sufrah," of
well-tanned leather, with rings in the periphery, so that a thong
passed through turns it into a bag. The Sufrah used for provisions is
usually yellow, with a black border and small pouches for knives or
spoons. (Pilgrimage i. 111.)

[FN#75] This improbable detail shows the Caliph's greatness.

[FN#76] "Cousin" is here a term of familiarity, our "coz."

[FN#77] i.e. without allowing them a moment's delay to change clothes.

[FN#78] i.e. according to my nature, birth, blood, de race.

[FN#79] Our "Job." The English translators of the Bible, who borrowed
Luther's system of transliteration (of A.D. 1522), transferred into
English the German "j" which has the sound of "i" or "y"; intending us
to pronounce Yacob (or Yakob), Yericho, Yimnites, Yob (or Hiob) and
Yudah. Tyndall, who copied Luther (A.D. 1525-26), preserved the true
sound by writing lacob, Ben Iamin and Iudas. But his successors
unfortunately returned to the German; the initial I, having from the
xiii century been ornamentally lengthened and bent leftwards, became a
consonant. The public adopted the vernacular sound of "j" (da) and
hence our language and our literature are disgraced by such barbarisms
as "Jehovah" and "Jesus"; Dgehovah and Dgeesus for Yehovah and Yesus.
Future generations of school-teachers may remedy the evil; meanwhile we
are doomed for the rest of our days to hear

  Gee-rusalem! Gee-rusalem! etc.

Nor is there one word to be said in favour of the corruption except
that, like the Protestant mispronunciation of Latin and the Erasmian
ill-articulation of Greek, it has become English, and has lent its
little aid in dividing the Britons from the rest of the civilised
world.

[FN#80] The moon, I repeat, is masculine in the so-called

"Semitic" tongues.


[FN#81] i.e. camel loads, about lbs. 300; and for long journeys lbs.
250.

[FN#82] Arab. "Janázah," so called only when carrying a corpse; else
Na'ash, Sarír or Tábút: Irán being the large hearse on which chiefs are
borne. It is made of plank or stick work; but there are several
varieties. (Lane, M. E. chaps. xxviii.)

[FN#83] It is meritorious to accompany the funeral cortège of a

Moslem even for a few paces.


[FN#84] Otherwise he could not have joined in the prayers.

[FN#85] Arab. "Halwá" made of sugar, cream, almonds, etc. That of

Maskat is famous throughout the East.


[FN#86] i.e. "Camphor" to a negro, as we say "Snowball," by the figure
antiphrase.

[FN#87] "Little Good Luck," a dim. form of "bakht"=luck, a

Persian word naturalized in Egypt.


[FN#88] There are, as I have shown, not a few cannibal tribes in
Central Africa and these at times find their way into the slave market.

[FN#89] i.e. After we bar the door.

[FN#90] Arab. "Jáwísh" from Turk. Cháwúsh, Chiaoosh, a sergeant,
poursuivant, royal messenger. I would suggest that this is the word
"Shálish" or "Jálish" in Al-Siynti's History of the Caliphs (p. 501)
translated by Carlyle "milites," by Schultens "Sagittarius" and by
Jarett "picked troops."

[FN#91] This familiarity with blackamoor slave-boys is common in Egypt
and often ends as in the story: Egyptian blood is sufficiently mixed
with negro to breed inclination for miscegenation. But here the girl
was wickedly neglected by her mother at such an age as ten.

[FN#92] Arab. "Farj"; hence a facetious designation of the other sex is
"Zawi'l-furuj" (grammatically Zawátu'l- furúj)=habentes rimam, slit
ones.

[FN#93] This ancient and venerable practice of inspecting the
marriage-sheet is still religiously preserved in most parts of the
East, and in old-fashioned Moslem families. It is publicly exposed in
the Harem to prove that the "domestic calamity" (the daughter) went to
her husband a clean maid. Also the general idea is that no blood will
impose upon the exerts, or jury of matrons, except that of a
pigeon-poult which exactly resembles hymeneal blood— when not subjected
to the microscope. This belief is universal in Southern Europe and I
have heard of it in England. Further details will be given in Night
ccxi.

[FN#94] "Agha" Turk.=sir, gentleman, is, I have said, politely
addressed to a eunuch.

[FN#95] As Bukhayt tells us he lost only his testes, consequently his
erectio et distensio penis was as that of a boy before puberty and it
would last as long as his heart and circulation kept sound. Hence the
eunuch who preserves his penis is much prized in the Zenanah where some
women prefer him to the entire man, on account of his long performance
of the deed of kind. Of this more in a future page.

[FN#96] It is or rather was the custom in Egypt and Syria to range long
rows of fine China bowls along the shelves running round the rooms at
the height of six or seven feet, and they formed a magnificent cornice.
I bought many of them at Damascus till the people, learning their
value, asked prohibitive prices.

[FN#97] The tale is interesting as well as amusing, excellently
describing the extravagance still practiced in middle-class Moslem
families on the death of the pater familias. I must again note that
Arab women are much more unwilling to expose the back of the head
covered by the "Tarhah" (head-veil) than the face, which is hidden by
the "Burke" or nose bag.

[FN#98] The usual hysterical laughter of this nervous race.

[FN#99] Here the slave refuses to be set free and starve. For a master
so to do without ample reasons is held disgraceful. I well remember the
weeping and wailing throughout Sind when an order from Sir Charles
Napier set free the negroes whom British philanthropy thus doomed to
endure if not to die of hunger.

[FN#100] Manumission, which is founded upon Roman law, is an extensive
subject discussed in the Hidáyah and other canonical works. The slave
here lays down the law incorrectly but his claim shows his truly
"nigger" impudence.

[FN#101] This is quite true to nature. The most remarkable thing in the
wild central African is his enormous development of "destructiveness."
At Zanzibar I never saw a slave break a glass or plate without a grin
or a chuckle of satisfaction.

[FN#102] Arab. "Khassá-ni"; Khusyatáni (vulg.) being the testicles,
also called "bayzatán" the two eggs) a double entendre which has given
rise to many tales. For instance in the witty Persian book "Dozd o
Kazi" (The Thief and the Judge) a footpad strips the man of learning
and offers to return his clothes if he can ask him a puzzle in law or
religion. The Kazi (in folk-lore mostly a fool) fails, and his wife
bids him ask the man to supper for a trial of wits on the same
condition. She begins with compliments and ends by producing five eggs
which she would have him distribute equally amongst the three; and,
when he is perplexed, she gives one to each of the men taking three for
herself. Whereupon the "Dozd" wends his way, having lost his booty as
his extreme stupidity deserved. In the text the eunuch, Kafur, is made
a "Sandal" or smooth-shaven, so that he was of no use to women.

[FN#103] Arab. "Khara," the lowest possible word: Yá Khara! is the
commonest of insults, used also by modest women. I have heard one say
it to her son.

[FN#104] Arab. "Kámah," a measure of length, a fathom, also called
"Bá'a." Both are omitted in that sadly superficial book, Lane's Modern
Egyptians, App. B.

[FN#105] Names of her slave-girls which mean (in order),

Garden-bloom, Dawn (or Beautiful), Tree o' Pearl (P. N. of

Saladin's wife), Light of (right) Direction, Star o' the Morn

Lewdness (= Shahwah, I suppose this is a chaff), Delight,

Sweetmeat and Miss Pretty.


[FN#106] This mode of disposing of a rival was very common in Harems.
But it had its difficulties and on the whole the river was (and is)
preferred.

[FN#107] An Eastern dislikes nothing more than drinking in a dim dingy
place: the brightest lights seem to add to his "drinkitite."

[FN#108] He did not sleep with her because he suspected some
palace-mystery which suggested prudence, she also had her reasons.

[FN#109] This as called in Egypt "Allah." (Lane M. E. chaps. i.)

[FN#110] It would be a broad ribbon-like band upon which the letters
could be worked.

[FN#111] In the Arab. "he cried." These "Yes, Yes!" and "No! No!"
trifles are very common amongst the Arabs.

[FN#112] Arab. "Maragha" lit. rubbed his face on them like a fawning
dog. Ghanim is another "softy" lover, a favourite character in Arab
tales; and by way of contrast, the girl is masterful enough.

[FN#113] Because the Abbaside Caliphs descend from Al-Abbas, paternal
uncle of Mohammed, text means more explicitly, "O descendant of the
Prophet's uncle!"

[FN#114] The most terrible part of a belle passion in the East is that
the beloved will not allow her lover leave of absence for an hour.

[FN#115] It is hard to preserve these wretched puns. In the original we
have "O spray (or branch) of capparis-shrub (aráki) which has been
thinned of leaf and fruit (tujna, i.e., whose fruit, the hymen, has
been plucked before and not by me) I see thee (aráka) against me
sinning (tajní).

[FN#116] Apparently the writer forgets that the Abbaside banners and
dress were black, originally a badge of mourning for the Imám Ibrahim
bin Mohammed put to death by the Ommiade Caliph Al-Marwan. The modern
Egyptian mourning, like the old Persian, is indigo-blue of the darkest;
but, as before noted, the custom is by no means universal.

[FN#117] Koran, chaps. iv. In the East as elsewhere the Devil quotes
Scripture.

[FN#118] A servant returning from a journey shows his master due honour
by appearing before him in travelling suit and uncleaned.

[FN#119] The first name means "Rattan", the second "Willow wand," from
the "Bán" or "Khiláf" the Egyptian willow (Salix Ægyptiaca Linn.)
vulgarly called "Safsáf." Forskal holds the "Bán" to be a different
variety.

[FN#120] Arab. "Ta'ám," which has many meanings: in mod. parlance it
would signify millet holcus seed.

[FN#121] i.e. "I well know how to deal with him."

[FN#122] The Pen (title of the Koranic chaps. Ixviii.) and the

Preserved Tablet (before explained).


[FN#123] These plunderings were sanctioned by custom. But a few years
ago, when the Turkish soldiers mutinied about arrears of pay (often
delayed for years) the governing Pasha would set fire to the town and
allow the men to loot what they pleased during a stated time. Rochet
(soi-disant D'Hericourt) amusingly describes this manoeuvre of the
Turkish Governor of Al-Hodaydah in the last generation. (Pilgrimage
iii. 381.)

[FN#124] Another cenotaph whose use was to enable women to indulge in
their pet pastime of weeping and wailing in company.

[FN#125] The lodging of pauper travellers, as the chapel in Iceland is
of the wealthy. I have often taken benefit of the mosque, but as a rule
it is unpleasant, the matting being not only torn but over-populous.
Juvenal seems to allude to the Jewish Synagogue similarly used: "in quâ
te quæro proseuchâ"? (iii. 296) and in Acts iii. we find the lame,
blind and impotent in the Temple-porch.

[FN#126] This foul sort of vermin is supposed to be bred by
perspiration. It is an epoch in the civilised traveller's life when he
catches his first louse.

[FN#127] The Moslem peasant is a kind hearted man and will make many
sacrifices for a sick stranger even of another creed. It is a manner of
"pundonor" with the village.

[FN#128] Such treatment of innocent women was only too common under the
Caliphate and in contemporary Europe.

[FN#129] This may also mean, "And Heaven will reward thee," but
camel-men do not usually accept any drafts upon futurity.

[FN#130] He felt that he was being treated like a corpse.

[FN#131] This hatred of the Hospital extends throughout Southern

Europe, even in places where it is not justified.


[FN#132] The importance of the pillow (wisádah or makhaddah) to the
sick man is often recognised in The Nights. "He took to his pillow" is
= took to his bed.

[FN#133] i.e in order that the reverend men, who do not render such
suit and service gratis, might pray for him.

[FN#134] The reader will notice in The Nights the frequent mention of
these physical prognostications, with which mesmerists are familiar.

[FN#135] The Pers. name of the planet Saturn in the Seventh

Heaven. Arab. "Zuhal"; the Kiun or Chiun of Amos vi. 26.


[FN#136] i.e. "Pardon me if I injured thee"— a popular phrase.

[FN#137] A "seduction," a charmer. The double-entendre has before been
noticed.

[FN#138] This knightly tale, the longest in the Nights (xliv.— cxlv.),
about one-eighth of the whole, does not appear in the Bres. Edit. Lane,
who finds it "objectionable," reduces it to two of its episodes,
Azíz-cum-Azízah and Táj al-Mulúk. On the other hand it has been
converted into a volume (8vo, pp. 240) "Scharkan, Conte Arabe," etc.
Traduit par M. Asselan Riche, etc. Paris: Dondey-Dupré. 1829. It has
its longueurs and at times is longsome enough; but it is interesting as
a comparison between the chivalry of Al-Islam and European
knight-errantry. Although all the characters are fictitious the period
is evidently in the early crusading days. Cæsarea, the second capital
of Palestine, taken during the Caliphate of Omar (A.H. 19) and
afterwards recovered, was fortified in A.H. 353 = 963 as a base against
the Arabs by the Emperor Phocas, the Arab. "Nakfúr" i.e. Nicephorus. In
A.H. 498=1104, crusading craft did much injury by plundering
merchantmen between Egypt and Syria, to which allusion is found in the
romance. But the story teller has not quite made up his mind about
which Cæsarea he is talking, and M. Riche tells us that Césarée is a
"ville de la Mauritanie, en Afrique" (p. 20).

[FN#139] The fifth Ommiade Caliph reign. A.H. 65-86 = 685-704.

[FN#140] This does not merely mean that no one was safe from his wrath:
or, could approach him in the heat of fight: it is a reminiscence of
the masterful "King Kulayb," who established game-laws in his dominions
and would allow no man to approach his camp-fire. Moreover the Jinn
lights a fire to decoy travellers, but if his victim be bold enough to
brave him, he invites him to take advantage of the heat.

[FN#141] China.

[FN#142] The Jaxartes and the Bactrus (names very loosely applied).

[FN#143] In full "Sharrun kána" i.e. an evil (Sharr) has come to being
(kána) that is, "bane to the foe" a pagan and knightly name. The hero
of the Romance "Al-Dalhamah" is described as a bitter gourd
(colocynth), a viper, a calamity.

[FN#144] This is a Moslem law (Koran chaps. iv. bodily borrowed from
the Talmud) which does not allow a man to marry one wife unless he can
carnally satisfy her. Moreover he must distribute his honours equally
and each wife has a right to her night unless she herself give it up.
This was the case even with the spouses of the Prophet; and his
biography notices several occasions when his wives waived their rights
in favour of one another M. Riche kindly provides the King with la
piquante francaise (p. 15).

[FN#145] So the celebrated mosque in Stambul, famed for being the
largest church in the world is known to the Greeks as "Agia (pron. Aya)
Sophia" and to Moslems as "Aye Sofíyeh" (Holy Wisdom) i.e. the Logos or
Second Person of the Trinity (not a Saintess). The sending a Christian
girl as a present to a Moslem would, in these days, be considered
highly scandalous. But it was done by the Mukaukis or Coptic Governor
of Egypt (under Heraclius) who of course hated the Greeks. This worthy
gave two damsels to Mohammed; one called Sírín and the other Máriyah
(Maria) whom the Prophet reserved for his especial use and whose abode
is still shown at Al-Medinah. The Rev. Doctor Badger (loc. cit. p. 972)
gives the translation of an epistle by Mohammed to this Mukaukis,
written in the Cufic character ( ? ?) and sealed "Mohammed, The Apostle
of Allah." My friend seems to believe that it is an original, but upon
this subject opinions will differ. It is, however, exceedingly
interesting, beginning with "Bismillah," etc., and ending (before the
signature) with a quotation from the Koran (iii. 57); and it may be
assumed as a formula addressee to foreign potentates by a Prophet who
had become virtually "King of Arabia."

[FN#146] This prayer before "doing the deed of kind" is, I have said,
Moslem as well Christian.

[FN#147] Exodus i. 16, quoted by Lane (M. E., chaps. xxvii.).

Torrens in his Notes cites Drayton's "Moon-calf':—


    Bring forth the birth-stool—no, let it alone;

    She is so far beyond all compass grown,

    Some other new device us needs must stead,

    Or else she never can be brought to bed.


It is the "groaning-chair" of Poor Robin's Almanac (1676) and we find
it alluded to in Boccaccio, the classical sedile which according to
scoffers has formed the papal chair (a curule seat) ever since the days
of Pope Joan, when it has been held advisable for one of the Cardinals
to ascertain that His Holiness possesses all the instruments of
virility. This "Kursí al-wiládah" is of peculiar form on which the
patient is seated. A most interesting essay might be written upon the
various positions preferred during delivery, e.g. the wild Irish still
stand on all fours, like the so-called "lower animals." Amongst the
Moslems of Waday, etc., a cord is hung from the top of the hut, and the
woman in labour holds on to it standing with her legs apart, till the
midwife receives the child.

[FN#148] Some Orientalists call "lullilooing" the trilling cry, which
is made by raising the voice to its highest pitch and breaking it by a
rapid succession of touches on the palate with the tongue-tip, others
"Ziraleet" and Zagaleet, and one traveller tells us that it began at
the marriage-festival of Isaac and Rebecca (!). Arabs term it
classically "Tahlíl" and vulgarly "Zaghrutah" (Plur. Zaghárit) and
Persians "Kil." Finally in Don Quixote we have "Lelilies," the
battle-cry of the Moors (Duffield iii. 289). Dr. Buchanan likens it to
a serpent uttering human sounds, but the good missionary heard it at
the festival of Jagannath. (Pilgrimage iii. 197 )

[FN#149] i.e. "Light of the Place" (or kingdom) and "Delight of the

Age."


[FN#150] It is utterly absurd to give the old heroic Persian name
Afridun or Furaydun, the destroyer of Zohák or Zahhák to a Greek, but
such anachronisms are characteristic of The Nights and are evidently
introduced on purpose. See Boccaccio, ix. 9.

[FN#151] Arab. "Yunán" lit. Ionia, which applies to all Greece, insular
and continental, especially to ancient Greece.

[FN#152] In 1870 I saw at Sidon a find of some hundreds of gold

"Philippi" and "Alexanders."


[FN#153] M. Riche has (p. 21), "Ces talismans travaillés par le ciseau
du célèbre Califaziri," adding in a note, "Je pense que c'est un
sculpteur Arabe."

[FN#154] This periphrase, containing what seems to us a useless
negative, adds emphasis in Arabic.

[FN#155] This bit of geographical information is not in the Bull

Edit.


[FN#156] In Pers. = a tooth, the popular word.

[FN#157] This preliminary move, called in Persian Nakl-i Safar, is
generally mentioned. So the Franciscan monks in California, when
setting out for a long journey through the desert, marched three times
round the convent and pitched tents for the night under its walls.

[FN#158] In Arab. "Khazinah" or "Khaznah" lit. a treasure, representing
1,000 "Kís" or purses (each=£5). The sum in the text is 7,000 purses X
5=£35,000.

[FN#159] Travellers often prefer such sites because they are sheltered
from the wind, and the ground is soft for pitching tents; but many have
come to grief from sudden torrents following rain.

[FN#160] Arab "Ghábah" not a forest in our sense of the word, but a
place where water sinks and the trees (mostly Mimosas), which elsewhere
are widely scattered, form a comparatively dense growth and collect in
thickets. These are favourite places for wild beasts during noon-heats.

[FN#161] At various times in the East Jews and Christians were ordered
to wear characteristic garments, especially the Zunnár or girdle.

[FN#162] The description is borrowed from the Coptic Convent, which
invariably has an inner donjon or keep. The oldest monastery in the
world is Mar Antonios (St. Anthony the Hermit) not far from Suez. (Gold
Mines of Midian, p. 85.)

[FN#163] "Dawáhí," plur. of Dáhiyah = a mishap. The title means
"Mistress of Misfortunes" or Queen of Calamities (to the enemy); and
the venerable lady, as will be seen, amply deserved her name, which is
pronounced Zát al-Dawáhí.

[FN#164] Arab. "Kunfuz"=hedgehog or porcupine.

[FN#165] These flowers of speech are mere familiarities, not insults.
In societies where the sexes are separated speech becomes exceedingly
free. "Étourdie que vous êtes," says M. Riche, toning down the text.

[FN#166] Arab. "Zirt," a low word. The superlative "Zarrát"
(fartermost) or, "Abu Zirt" (Father of farts) is a facetious term among
the bean-eating Fellahs and a deadly insult amongst the Badawin (Night
ccccx.). The latter prefer the word Taggáa (Pilgrimage iii. 84). We did
not disdain the word in farthingale=pet en air.

[FN#167] Arab. "kicked" him, i.e. with the sharp corner of the
shovel-stirrup. I avoid such expressions as "spurring" and "pricking
over the plain," because apt to give a wrong idea.

[FN#168] Arab. "Allaho Akbar!" the classical Moslem slogan.

[FN#169] Arab horses are never taught to leap, so she was quite safe on
the other side of a brook nine feet broad.

[FN#170] "Batrík" (vulg. Bitrík)=patricius, a title given to

Christian knights who commanded ten thousand men; the Tarkhan (or

Nobb) heading four thousand, and the Kaumas (Arab. Káid) two

hundred. It must not be confounded with Batrak (or

Batrik)=patriarcha. (Lane's Lex.)


[FN#171] Arab. "Kázi al-Kuzát," a kind of Chief Justice or Chancellor.
The office wag established under the rule of Harun al Rashid, who so
entitled Abú Yúsuf Ya'akab al-Ansári: therefore the allusion is
anachronistic. The same Caliph also caused the Olema to dress as they
do still.

[FN#172] The allusion is Koranic: "O men, if ye be in doubt concerning
the resurrection, consider that He first created you of the dust of the
ground (Adam), afterwards of seed" (chaps. xxii.). But the
physiological ideas of the Koran are curious. It supposes that the Mani
or male semen is in the loins and that of women in the breast bone
(chaps Ixxxvi.); that the mingled seed of the two (chaps. Ixxvi.)
fructifies the ovary and that the child is fed through the navel with
menstruous blood, hence the cessation of the catamenia. Barzoi (Kalilah
and Dímnah) says:— "Man's seed, falling into the woman's womb, is mixed
with her seed and her blood: when it thickens and curdles the Spirit
moves it and it turns about like liquid cheese; then it solidifies, its
arteries are formed, its limbs constructed and its joints
distinguished. If the babe is a male, his face is placed towards his
mother's back; if a female, towards her belly." (P. 262, Mr. L G.N.
Keith- Falconer's translation.) But there is a curious prolepsis of the
spermatozoa-theory. We read (Koran chaps. vii.), "Thy Lord drew forth
their posterity from the loins of the sons of Adam;" and the
commentators say that Allah stroked Adam's back and extracted from his
loins all his posterity, which shall ever be, in the shape of small
ants; these confessed their dependence on God and were dismissed to
return whence they came." From this fiction it appears (says Sale) that
the doctrine of pre-existence is not unknown to the Mohammedans, and
there is some little conformity between it and the modern theory of
generatio ex animalculis in semine marium. The poets call this
Yaum-i-Alast = the Day of Am-I-not (-your Lord)? which Sir William
Jones most unhappily translated "Art thou not with thy Lord ?" (Alasta
bi Rabbi- kum); fand they produce a grand vision of unembodied spirits
appearing in countless millions before their Creator.

[FN#173] The usual preliminary of a wrestling bout.

[FN#174] In Eastern wrestling this counts as a fair fail. So Ajax fell
on his back with Ulysses on his breast. (Iliad xxxii., 700, etc.)

[FN#175] So biting was allowed amongst the Greeks in the , the final
struggle on the ground.

[FN#176] Supposed to be names of noted wrestlers. "Kayim" (not El-Kim
as Torrens has it) is a term now applied to a juggler or "professor" of
legerdemain who amuses people in the streets with easy tricks. (Lane,
M. E., chaps. xx.)

[FN#177] Lit. "laughed in his face" which has not the unpleasant
meaning it bears in English.

[FN#178] Arab. "Abu riyáh"=a kind of child's toy. It is our
"bull-roarer" well known in Australia and parts of Africa.

[FN#179] The people of the region south of the Caspian which is called
"Sea of Daylam." It has a long history; for which see D'Herbelot, s.v.
"Dilem."

[FN#180] Coptic convents in Egypt still affect these drawbridges over
the keep-moat.

[FN#181] Koran iv., xxii. etc., meaning it is lawful to marry women
taken in war after the necessary purification although their husbands
be still living. This is not permitted with a free woman who is a True
Believer. I have noted that the only concubine slave-girl mentioned in
the Koran are these "captives possessed by the right hand."

[FN#182] The Amazonian dame is a favourite in folk-lore and is an
ornament to poetry from the Iliad to our modern day. Such heroines,
apparently unknown to the Pagan Arabs, were common in the early ages of
Al-Islam as Ockley and Gibbon prove, and that the race is not extinct
may be seen in my Pilgrimage (iii. 55) where the sister of Ibn Rumi
resolved to take blood revenge for her brother.

[FN#183] And Solomon said, "O nobles, which of you will bring me her
throne ?" A terrible genius (i.e. an If rit of the Jinn named Dhakwan
or the notorious Sakhr) said, " I will bring it unto thee before thou
arise from thy seat (of justice); for I am able to perform it, and may
be trusted" (Koran, xxvii. 38-39). Balkís or Bilkís (says the Durrat
al-Ghawwás) daughter of Hozád bin Sharhabíl, twenty-second in the list
of the rulers of Al- Yaman, according to some murdered her husband, and
became, by Moslem ignorance, the Biblical " Queen of Sheba." The
Abyssinians transfer her from Arabian Saba to Ethiopia and make her the
mother by Solomon of Menelek, their proto-monarch; thus claiming for
their royalties an antiquity compared with which all reigning houses in
the world are of yesterday. The dates of the Tabábi'ah or Tobbas prove
that the Bilkis of history ruled Al-Yaman in the early Christian era.

[FN#184] Arab. "Fass," fiss or fuss; the gem set in a ring; also
applied to a hillock rounded en cabochon. In The Nights it is used to
signify "a fine gem."

[FN#185] This prominence of the glutæi muscles is always insisted upon,
because it is supposed to promise well in a bed-fellow. In Somali land
where the people are sub- steatopygous, a rich young man, who can
afford such luxury, will have the girls drawn up in line and choose her
to wife who projects furthest behind

[FN#186] The "bull" is only half mine.

[FN#187] A favourite Arab phrase, the "hot eye" is one full of tears.

[FN#188] i.e., "Coral," coral branch, a favourite name for a
slave-girl, especially a negress. It is the older "Morgiana." I do not
see why Preston in Al-Haríni's "Makamah (Séance) of Singar" renders it
pearls, because Golius gives "small pearls," when it is evidently
"coral." Richardson (Dissert. xlviii.) seems to me justified in finding
the Pari (fairy) Marjan of heroic Persian history reflected in the
Fairy Morgain who earned off King Arthur after the battle of Camelon.

[FN#189] Arab. "'Ud Jalaki"=Jalak or Jalik being a poetical and almost
obsolete name of Damascus.

[FN#190] The fountain in Paradise whose water shall be drunk with
"pure" wine mixed and sealed with musk (for clay). It is so called
because it comes from the "Sanam" (Sanima, to be high) boss or highest
ridge of the Moslem Heaven (Koran lv. 78 and lxxxiii. 27). Mr. Rodwell
says "it is conveyed to the highest apartments in the Pavilions of
Paradise." (?)

[FN#191] This "hysterical" temperament is not rare even amongst the
bravest Arabs.

[FN#192] An idea evidently derived from the Æolipyla (olla animatoria)
the invention of Hero Alexandrinus, which showed that the ancient
Egyptians could apply the motive force of steam.

[FN#193] Kuthayyir ibn Abi Jumah, a poet and far-famed Ráwí or
Tale-reciter, mentioned by Ibn Khallikan he lived at Al-Medinah and
sang the attractions of one Azzah, hence his soubriquet Sáhib (lover
of) Azzah. As he died in A. H. 105 (=726), his presence here is a gross
anachronism the imaginary Sharrkan flourished before the Caliphate of
Abd al-Malik bin Marwán A. H. 65-86.

[FN#194] Jamíl bin Ma'amar, a poet and lover contemporary with

Al-Kuthayrir.


[FN#195] Arab. "Tafazzal," a word of frequent use in
conversation="favour me," etc.

[FN#196] The word has a long history. From the Gr.        or is the
Lat. stibium; while the Low Latin "antimonium" and the Span. Althimod
are by metathesis for Al-Ithmid. The dictionaries define the substance
as a stone from which antimony is prepared, but the Arabs understand a
semi-mythical mineral of yellow colour which enters into the veins of
the eyes and gives them Iynx-like vision. The famous Anz nicknamed
Zarká (the blue eyed) of Yamámah (Province) used it; and, according to
some, invented Kohl. When her (protohistoric) tribe Jadis had destroyed
all the rival race of Tasm, except Ribáh ibn Murrah; the sole survivor
fled to the Tobba of Al-Yaman, who sent a host to avenge him. The king
commanded his Himyarites to cut tree-boughs and use them as screens
(again Birnam wood). Zarká from her Utum, or peel-tower, saw the army
three marches off and cried, "O folk, either trees or Himyar are coming
upon you!" adding, in Rajaz verse:—

I swear by Allah that trees creep onward, or that Himyar beareth
somewhat which he draweth along!

She then saw a man mending his sandal. But Jadis disbelieved; Cassandra
was slain and, when her eyes were cut out the vessels were found full
of Ithmid. Hence Al-Mutanabbi sang:

          "Sharper-sighted than Zarká of Jau" (Yamámah).

See C. de Perceval i. 101; Arab. Prov. i. 192; and Chenery p. 381.

(The Assemblies of Al-Hariri; London, Williams and Norgate, 1867).

I have made many enquiries into the true nature of Ithmid and

failed to learn anything: on the Upper Nile the word is=Kohl.


[FN#197] The general colour of chessmen in the East, where the game is
played on a cloth more often than a board.

[FN#198] Arab. "Al-fil," the elephant=the French fol or fou and our
bishop. I have derived "elephant" from Píl (old Persian, Sansk. Pilu)
and Arab. Fil, with the article Al-Fil, whence the Greek the suffix—as
being devoted to barbarous words as Obod-as (Al Ubayd), Aretas
(Al-Háris), etc. Mr. Isaac Taylor (The Alphabet i. 169), preserves the
old absurdity of "eleph-ant or ox-like (!) beast of Africa." Prof.
Sayce finds the word al-ab (two distinct characters) in line 3, above
the figure of an (Indian) elephant, on the black obelisk of Nimrod
Mound, and suggests an Assyrian derivation.

[FN#199] Arab. "Shaukat" which may also mean the "pride" or "mainstay"
(of the army).

[FN#200] Lit. "smote him on the tendons of his neck." This is the
famous shoulder-cut (Tawash shuh) which, with the leg-cut (Kalam),
formed, and still forms, the staple of Eastern attack with the sword.

[FN#201] Arab. "Dirás." Easterns do not thresh with flails. The
material is strewed over a round and smoothed floor of dried mud in the
open air and threshed by different connivances. In Egypt the favourite
is a chair-like machine called "Norag," running on iron plates and
drawn by bulls or cows over the corn. Generally, however, Moslems
prefer the old classical         , the Tribulum of Virgil and Varro, a
slipper-shaped sled of wood garnished on the sole with large-headed
iron nails, or sharp fragments of flint or basalt. Thus is made the
"Tibn" or straw, the universal hay of the East, which our machines
cannot imitate.

[FN#202] These numbers appear to be grossly exaggerated, but they were
possible in the days of sword and armour: at the battle of Saffayn the
Caliph Ali is said to have cut down five hundred and twenty-three men
in a single night.

[FN#203] Arab. "Bika'á": hence the "Buka'ah" or Cœlesyria.

[FN#204] Richardson in his excellent dictionary (note 103) which modern
priggism finds "unscientific " wonderfully derives this word from Arab.
"Khattáf," a snatcher (i.e. of women), a ravisher. It is an evident
corruption of "captivus" through Italian and French

[FN#205] These periodical and fair-like visitations to convents are
still customary; especially amongst the Christians of Damascus.

[FN#206] Camphor being then unknown.

[FN#207] The "wrecker" is known all over the world; and not only
barbarians hold that ships driven ashore become the property of the
shore

[FN#208] Arab. "Jokh": it is not a dictionary word, but the only term
in popular use for European broadcloth.

[FN#209] The second person plural is used because the writer would
involve the subjects of his correspondent in the matter.

[FN#210] This part of the phrase, which may seem unnecessary to the
European, is perfectly intelligible to all Orientalists. You may read
many an Eastern letter and not understand it. Compare Boccacoo iv. 1.

[FN#211] i.e. he was greatly agitated

[FN#212] In text "Li-ajal a al-Taudi'a," for the purpose of
farewelling, a low Egyptianism; emphatically a "Kalám wáti."
(Pilgrimage thee iii. 330.)

[FN#213] In the Mac. Edit. Sharrkan speaks, a clerical error.

[FN#214] The Farsakh (Germ. Stunde) a measure of time rather than
distance, is an hour's travel or its equivalent, a league, a
meile=three English stat. miles. The word is still used in Persia its
true home, but not elsewhere. It is very old, having been determined as
a lineal measure of distance by Herodotus (ii. 5 and 6 ; v. 53), who
computes it at 30 furlongs (=furrow-lengths, 8 to the stat. mile).
Strabo (xi.) makes it range from 40 to 60 stades (each=606 feet 9
inches), and even now it varies between 1,500 to 6,000 yards. Captain
Francklin (Tour to Persia) estimates it = about four miles. (Pilgrimage
ii. 113.)

[FN#215] Arab. "Ashhab." Names of colours are few amongst semi
civilised peoples, but in Arabia there is a distinct word for every
shade of horseflesh.

[FN#216] She had already said to him "Thou art beaten in everything!"

[FN#217] Showing that she was still a Christian.

[FN#218] This is not Badawi sentiment: the honoratioren amongst wild
people would scorn such foul play; but amongst the settled Arabs honour
between men and women is unknown and such "hocussing" would be held
quite fair.

[FN#219] The table of wine, in our day, is mostly a japanned tray with
glasses and bottles, saucers of pickles and fruits and, perhaps, a
bunch of flowers and aromatic herbs. During the Caliphate the
"wine-service" was on a larger scale.

[FN#220] Here the "Bhang" (almost a generic term applied to hellebore,
etc.) may be hyoscyamus or henbane. Yet there are varieties of
Cannabis, such as the Dakha of South Africa capable of most violent
effect. I found the use of the drug well known to the negroes of the
Southern United States and of the Brazil, although few of their owners
had ever heard of it.

[FN#221] Amongst Moslems this is a reference to Adam who first "sinned
against himself,' and who therefore is called " Safíyu'llah," the Pure
of Allah. (Pilgrimage iii. 333.)

[FN#222] Meaning, an angry, violent man.

[FN#223] Arab. "Inshád," which may mean reciting the verse of another
or improvising one's own. In Modern Egypt "Munshid" is the singer or
reciter of poetry at Zikrs (Lane M. E. chaps. xxiv.). Here the verses
are quite bad enough to be improvised by the hapless Princess.

[FN#224] The negro skin assumes this dust colour in cold, fear,
concupiscence and other mental emotions.

[FN#225] He compares her glance with the blade of a Yamani sword, a
lieu commun of Eastern poetry. The weapons are famous in The Nights;
but the best sword-cutlery came from Persia as the porcelain from China
to Sana'á. Here, however, is especial allusion as to the sword "Samsam"
or "Samsamah." It belonged to the Himyarite Tobba, Amru bin Ma'ad Kurb,
and came into the hands of Harun al-Rashid. When the Emperor of the
Greeks sent a present of superior sword-blades to him by way of a
brave, the Caliph, in the presence of the Envoys, took "Samsam" in hand
and cut the others in twain as if they were cabbages without the least
prejudice to the edge of "Samsam."

[FN#226] This touch of pathos is truly Arab. So in the "Romance of
Dalhamah" (Lane, M. E. xxiii.) the infant Gundubah sucks the breast of
its dead mother and the King exclaims, "If she had committed this crime
she would not be affording the child her milk after she was dead."

[FN#227] Arab. "Sadda'l-Aktár," a term picturesque enough to be
preserved in English. "Sadd," I have said, is a wall or dyke, the term
applied to the great dam of water- plants which obstructs the
navigation of the Upper Nile, the lilies and other growths floating
with the current from the (Victoria) Nyanza Lake. I may note that we
need no longer derive from India the lotus-llily so extensively used by
the Ancient Egyptians and so neglected by the moderns that it has well
nigh disappeared. All the Central African basins abound in the Nymphæa
and thence it found its way down the Nile Valley.

[FN#228] Arab. "Al Marhúmah": equivalent to our "late lamented."

[FN#229] Vulgarly pronounced "Mahmal," and by Egyptians and Turks
"Mehmel." Lane (M. E. xxiv.) has figured this queenly litter and I have
sketched and described it in my Pilgrimage (iii. 12).

[FN#230] For such fits of religious enthusiasm see my Pilgrimage (iii.
254).

[FN#231] "Irák" (Mesopotamia) means "a level country beside the banks
of a ever."

[FN#232] "Al Kuds," or "Bays al-Mukaddas," is still the popular name of
Jerusalem, from the Heb. Yerushalaim ha-Kadushah (legend on shekel of
Simon Maccabeus).

[FN#233] "Follow the religion of Abraham" says the Koran (chaps. iii.
89). Abraham, titled "Khalílu'llah," ranks next in dignity to Mohammed,
preceding Isa, I need hardly say that his tomb is not in Jerusalem nor
is the tomb itself at Hebron ever visited. Here Moslems (soi disant)
are allowed by the jealousies of Europe to close and conceal a place
which belongs to the world, especially to Jews and Christians. The
tombs, if they exist, lie in a vault or cave under the Mosque.

[FN#234] Abá, or Abáyah, vulg. Abayah, is a cloak of hair, goat's or
camel's; too well known to require description.

[FN#235] Arab. "Al-Wakkád," the man who lights and keeps up the
bath-fires.

[FN#236] Arab. "Má al-Khaláf" (or "Khiláf") a sickly perfume but much
prized, made from the flowers of the Salix Ægyptiaca.

[FN#237] Used by way of soap; like glasswort and other plants.

[FN#238] i.e., "Thou art only just recovered."

[FN#239] To "Nakh" is to gurgle "Ikh! Ikh!" till the camel kneels.
Hence the space called "Barr al-Manákhah" in Al-Medinah (Pilgrimage i.
222, ii. 91). There is a regular camel vocabulary amongst the Arabs,
made up like our "Gee" (go ye!), etc. of significant words worn down.

[FN#240] Arab. "Laza," the Second Hell provided for Jews.

[FN#241] The word has been explained (vol. i. 112).[see Volume 1, note
199]  It is trivial, not occurring in the Koran which uses "Arabs of
the Desert ;" "Arabs who dwell in tents," etc. (chaps. ix. and
xxxiii.). "A'arábi" is the classical word and the origin of "Arab" is
disputed. According to Pocock (Notæ Spec. Hist. Arab.): "Diverse are
the opinions concerning the denomination of the Arabs; but the most
certain of all is that which draws it from Arabah, which is part of the
region of Tehama (belonging to Al-Medinah Pilgrimage ii. 118), which
their father Ismail afterwards inhabited." Tehamah (sierra caliente) is
the maritime region of Al Hijaz, the Moslems Holy Land; and its
"Arabah," a very small tract which named a very large tract, must not
be confounded, as some have done, with the Wady Arabah, the ancient
outlet of the Dead Sea. The derivation of "Arab" from "Ya'arab" a
fancied son of Joktan is mythological. In Heb. Arabia may be called
"Eretz Ereb" (or "Arab")=land of the West; but in Arabic "Gharb" (not
Ereb) is the Occident and the Arab dates long before the Hebrew.

[FN#242] "When thine enemy extends his hand to thee, cut it off if thou
can, or kiss it," wisely said Caliph al-Mansur.

[FN#243] The Tartur was a peculiar turban worn by the Northern Arabs
and shown in old prints. In modern Egypt the term is applied to the
tall sugar-loaf caps of felt affected mostly by regular Dervishes.
Burckhardt (Proverbs 194 and 398) makes it the high cap of felt or fur
proper to the irregular cavalry called Dely or Delaty. In Dar For
(Darfour) "Tartur" is a conical cap adorned with beads and cowries worn
by the Manghwah or buffoon who corresponds with the Egyptian "Khalbús"
or "Maskharah" and the Turkish "Sutari." For an illustration see Plate
iv. fig. 10 of Voyage au Darfour par Mohammed El Tounsy (The Tunisian),
Paris, Duprat, 1845.

[FN#244] The term is picturesque and true; we say "gnaw," which is not
so good.

[FN#245] Here, meaning an Elder, a Chief, etc.; the word has been
almost naturalised in English. I have noted that Abraham was the first
"Shaykh."

[FN#246] This mention of weighing suggests the dust of Dean Swift and
the money of the Gold Coast It was done, I have said, because the gold
coin, besides being "sweated" was soft and was soon worn down.

[FN#247] Fem. of Nájí (a deliverer, a saviour)=Salvadora.

[FN#248] This, I have noted, is according to Koranic command (chaps.
iv. 88). "When you are saluted with a salutation, salute the person
with a better salutation." The longer answer to "Peace be with (or
upon) thee! " is still universally the custom. The "Salem" is so
differently pronounced by every Eastern nation that the observant
traveller will easily make of it a Shibboleth.

[FN#249] The Badawi, who was fool as well as rogue, begins to fear that
he has kidnapped a girl of family.

[FN#250] These examinations being very indecent are usually done in
strictest privacy. The great point is to make sure of virginity.

[FN#251] This is according to strict Moslem law: the purchaser may not
look at the girl's nakedness till she is his, and he ought to manage
matters through an old woman.

[FN#252] Lit. wrath; affliction which chokes; in Hindustani it means
simply anger.

[FN#253] i.e. Heaven forbid I be touched by a strange man.

[FN#254] Used for fuel and other purposes, such as making "doss stick."

[FN#255] Arab "Yaftah'Allah" the offer being insufficient. The rascal
is greedy as a Badaw and moreover he is a liar, which the Badawi is
not.

[FN#256] The third of the four great Moslem schools of Theology, taking
its name from the Imam al-Sháfi'í (Mohammed ibn Idrís) who died in
Egypt A.H. 204, and lies buried near Cairo. (Sale's Prel. Disc. sect.
viii.)

[FN#257] The Moslem form of Cabbala, or transcendental philosophy of
the Hebrews.

[FN#258] Arab. "Bakh" the word used by the Apostle to Ali his
son-in-law. It is the Latin "Euge."

[FN#259] Readers, who read for amusement, will do well to "skip" the
fadaises of this highly educated young woman.

[FN#260] There are three Persian Kings of this name (Artaxerxes)

which means "Flour and milk," or "high lion." The text alludes to

Ardeshir Babegan, so called because he married the daughter of

Babak the shepherd, founder of the Sassanides in A.D. 202. See

D,Herberot, and the Dabistan.


[FN#261] Alluding to the proverb, "Folk follow their King's faith,"

"Cujus regio ejus religio" etc.


[FN#262] Second Abbaside, A.H. 136-158 (=754-775).

[FN#263] The celebrated companion of Mohammed who succeeded Abu Bakr in
the Caliphate (A.H. 13-23=634-644). The Sunnis know him as Al-Adil the
Just, and the Shiahs detest him for his usurpation, his austerity and
harshness. It is said that he laughed once and wept once. The laugh was
caused by recollecting how he ate his dough-gods (the idols of the
Hanifah tribe) in The Ignorance. The tears were drawn by remembering
how he buried alive his baby daughter who, while the grave was being
dug, patted away the dust from his hair and beard. Omar was doubtless a
great man, but he is one of the most ungenial figures in Moslem history
which does not abound in genialities. To me he suggests a Puritan, a
Covenanter of the sourest and narrowest type; and I cannot wonder that
the Persians abhor him, and abuse him on all occasions.

[FN#264] The austere Caliph Omar whose scourge was more feared than the
sword was the - author of the celebrated saying "Consult them
(feminines) and do clear contrary-wise."

[FN#265] Our "honour amongst thieves."

[FN#266] The sixth successor of Mohammed and founder of the Banu
Umayyah or Ommiades, called the "sons of the little mother" from their
eponymus (A.H. 41-60=661-680). For his Badawi wife Maysun, and her
abuse of her husband, see Pilgrimage iii. 262.

[FN#267] Shaykh of the noble tribe, or rather nation, Banu Tamím and a
notable of the day, surnamed, no one knows why, "Sire of the Sea."

[FN#268] This is essential for cleanliness in hot lands: however much
the bath may be used, the body-pile and lower hair, if submitted to a
microscope, will show more or less sordes adherent. The axilla-hair is
plucked because if shaved the growing pile causes itching and the
depilatories are held deleterious. At first vellication is painful but
the skin becomes used to it. The pecten is shaved either without or
after using depilatories, of which more presently. The body-pile is
removed by "Takhfíf"; the Libán Shámi (Syrian incense), a fir- gum
imported from Scio, is melted and allowed to cool in the form of a
pledget. This is passed over the face and all the down adhering to it
is pulled up by the roots (Burckhardt No. 420). Not a few Anglo-Indians
have adopted these precautions

[FN#269] This Caliph was a tall, fair, handsome man of awe-inspiring
aspect. Omar used to look at him and say, "This is the Cæsar of the
Arabs," while his wife called him a "fatted ass."

[FN#270] The saying is attributed to Abraham when "exercised" by the
unkindly temper of Sarah; "woman is made hard and crooked like a rib;"
and the modern addition is, "whoso would straighten her, breaketh her."

[FN#271] i.e. "When ready and in erection."

[FN#272] "And do first (before going in to your wives) some act which
may be profitable unto your souls" or, for you: soul's good. (Koran,
chaps. ii. 223.) Hence Ahnaf makes this prayer.

[FN#273] It was popularly said that "Truth-speaking left Omar without a
friend." Entitled "The Just" he was murdered by Abu Lúlúah, alias
Fírúz, a (Magian ?) slave of Al-Maghírah for denying him justice.

[FN#274] Governor of Bassorah under the first four Caliphs. See

D'Herbelot s.v. "Aschári."


[FN#275] Ziyad bin Abi Sufyan, illegitimate brother of the Caliph

Mu'awiyah afterwards governor of Bassorah, Cufa and Al-Hijaz.


[FN#276] The seditions in Kufah were mainly caused by the wilful
nepotism of Caliph Othman bin Asákir which at last brought about his
death. His main quality seems to have been personal beauty: "never was
seen man or woman of fairer face than he and he was the most comely of
men:" he was especially famed for beautiful teeth which in old age he
bound about with gold wire. He is described as of middling stature,
large- limbed, broad shouldered, fleshy of thigh and long in the
fore-arm which was hairy. His face inclined to yellow and was
pock-marked; his beard was full and his curly hair, which he dyed
yellow, fell below his ears. He is called "writer of the Koran" from
his edition of the M.S., and "Lord of the two Lights" because he
married two of the Prophet's daughters, Rukayyah and Umm Kulthum; and,
according to the Shi'ahs who call him Othman-i-Lang or" limping
Othman," he vilely maltreated them. They justify his death as the act
of an Ijmá' al-Muslimín, the general consensus of Moslems which
ratifies "Lynch law." Altogether Othman is a mean figure in history.

[FN#277] "Nár" (fire) is a word to be used delicately from its
connection with Gehenna. You say, e.g. "bring me a light, a coal
(bassah)" etc.; but if you say "bring me fire! " the enemy will
probably remark "He wanteth fire even before his time!" The slang
expression would be "bring the sweet." (Pilgrimage i. 121.)

[FN#278] Omar is described as a man of fair complexion, and very ruddy,
but he waxed tawny with age, when he also became bald and grey. He had
little hair on the cheeks but a long mustachio with reddish ends. In
stature he overtopped the people and was stout as he was tall. A
popular saying of Mohammed's is, "All (very) long men are fools save
Omar, and all (very) short men are knaves save Ali." The Persians, who
abhor Omar, compare every lengthy, ungainly, longsome thing with him;
they will say, "This road never ends, like the entrails of Omar." We
know little about Ali's appearance except that he was very short and
stout, broad and full-bellied with a tawny complexion and exceedingly
hairy, his long beard, white as cotton, filling all the space between
his shoulders. He was a "pocket. Hercules," and incredible tales, like
that about the gates of Khaybar, are told of his strength. Lastly, he
was the only Caliph who bequeathed anything to literature: his
"Cantiloquium" is famous and he has left more than one mystical and
prophetic work. See Ockley for his "Sentences" and D'Herbelot s. D.
"Ali" and "Gebr." Ali is a noble figure in Moslem history.

[FN#279] The emancipation from the consequences of his sins; or it may
mean a holy death.

[FN#280] Battle fought near Al-Medinah A.D. 625. The word is derived
from "shad" (one). I have described the site in my Pilgrimage, (vol.
ii. 227).

[FN#281] "Haphsa" in older writers; Omar's daughter and one of
Mohammed's wives, famous for her connection with the manuscripts of the
Koran. From her were (or claimed to be) descended the Hafsites who
reigned in Tunis and extended their power far and wide over the Maghrib
(Mauritania), till dispossessed by the Turks.

[FN#282] i.e. humbly without the usual strut or swim: it corresponds
with the biblical walking or going softly. (I Kings xxi. 27; Isaiah
xxxviii. 15, etc.)

[FN#283] A theologian of the seventh and eighth centuries.

[FN#284] i.e. to prepare himself by good works, especially alms-giving,
for the next world.

[FN#285] A theologian of the eighth century.

[FN#286] Abd al-Aziz was eighth Ommiade (regn. A.H. 99=717) and the
fifth of the orthodox, famed for a piety little known to his house. His
most celebrated saying was, " Be constant in meditation on death: if
thou bein straitened case 'twill enlarge it, and if in affluence 'twill
straiten it upon thee." He died. poisoned, it is said, in A.H 101,

[FN#287] Abu Bakr originally called Abd al-Ka'abah (slave of the
Ka'abah) took the name of Abdullah and was surnamed Abu Bakr (father of
the virgin) when Mohammed, who before had married only widows, took to
wife his daughter, the famous or infamous Ayishah. "Bikr" is the usual
form, but "Bakr," primarily meaning a young camel, is metaphorically
applied to human youth (Lane's Lex. s. c.). The first Caliph was a
cloth-merchant, like many of the Meccan chiefs. He is described as very
fair with bulging brow, deep set eyes and thin-checked, of slender
build and lean loined, stooping and with the backs of his hands
fleshless. He used tinctures of Henna and Katam for his beard. The
Persians who hate him, call him "Pir-i-Kaftár," the old she-hyaena, and
believe that he wanders about the deserts of Arabia in perpetual rut
which the males must satisfy.

[FN#288] The second, fifth, sixth and seventh Ommiades.

[FN#289] The mother of Omar bin Abd al-Aziz was a granddaughter of

Omar bin al-Khattab.


[FN#290] Brother of this Omar's successor, Yezid II.

[FN#291] So the Turkish proverb "The fish begins to stink at the head."

[FN#292] Calling to the slaves.

[FN#293] When the "Day of Arafat" (9th of Zú'l-Hijjah) falls upon a
Friday. For this Hajj al- Akbar see my Pilgrimage iii. 226. It is often
confounded by writers (even by the learned M. Caussin de Perceval) with
the common Pilgrimage as opposed to the Umrah, or " Lesser Pilgrimage"
(ibid. iii. 342, etc.). The latter means etymologically cohabiting with
a woman in her father's house as opposed to 'Ars or leading her to the
husband's home: it is applied to visiting Meccah and going through all
the pilgrim-rites but not at the Pilgrimage-season. Hence its title
"Hajj al-Asghar" the "Lesser Hajj." But "Umrah" is also applied to a
certain ceremony between the hills Safá (a large hard rock) and Marwah
(stone full of flints), which accompanies the Hajj and which I have
described (ibid. iii. 344). At Meccah I also heard of two places called
Al-Umrah, the Greater in the Wady Fátimah and the Lesser half way
nearer the city (ibid. iii. 344).

[FN#294] A fair specimen of the unworthy egoism which all religious
systems virtually inculcate Here a pious father leaves his children
miserable to save his own dirty soul.

[FN#295] Chief of the Banú Tamín, one of the noblest of tribes, derived
from Tamím, the uncle of Kuraysh (Koreish); hence the poets sang:—

     There cannot be a son nobler than Kuraysh,

     Nor an uncle nobler than Tamím.


The high minded Tamín is contrasted with the mean-spirited Kays, who
also gave rise to a tribe; and hence the saying concerning one
absolutely inconsistent, "Art thou now Tamín and then Kays?"

[FN#296] Surnamed Al-Sakafi, Governor of Al-Yaman and Irak.

[FN#297] Tenth Ommiade (regn. A H. 105-125 = 724-743).

[FN#298] Or "clothe thee in worn-out clothes" i.e. "Become a Fakir" or
religious mendicant.

[FN#299] This gratuitous incest in ignorance injures the tale and is as
repugnant to Moslem as to Christian taste.

[FN#300] The child is named either on the day of its birth or on that
day week. The father whispers it in the right ear, often adding the
Azán or prayer-call, and repeating in the left ear the "Ikámah" or
Friday sentence. There are many rules for choosing names according to
the week-day, the ascendant planet, the "Sortes Coranicæ," etc.

[FN#301] Amongst Moslems as amongst Christians there are seven deadly
sins: idolatry, murder, falsely charging modest women with unchastity,
robbing orphans, usury, desertion in Holy War and disobedience to
parents. The difference between the two creeds is noteworthy. And the
sage knows only three, intemperance, ignorance and egoism.

[FN#302] Meaning, "It was decreed by Destiny; so it came to pass,"
appropriate if not neat.

[FN#303] The short, stout, dark, long-haired and two-bunched camel from
"Bukhtar" (Bactria), the "Eastern" (Bakhtar) region on the Amu or
Jayhun (Oxus) River; afterwards called Khorasan. The two-humped camel
is never seen in Arabia except with northern caravans, and to speak of
it would be a sore test of Badawi credulity.

[FN#304] "Kaylúlah" is the "forty-winks" about noon: it is a Sunnat or
Practice of the Prophet who said, "Make the mid-day siesta, for verily
at this hour the devils sleep not." "Aylúlain" is slumbering after
morning prayers (our "beauty-sleep"), causing heaviness andid leness:
"Ghaylúlah" is dozing about 9 a.m. engendering poverty and
wretchedness: "Kaylúlah" (with the guttural Kaf) is sleeping before
evening prayers and "Faylúlah" is slumbering after sunset—both held to
be highly detrimental. (Pilgrimage ii 49.)

[FN#305] The Biblical "Hamath" (Hightown) too well known to require
description. It is still famous for the water-wheels mentioned by
al-Hariri (assembly of the Banu Harám).

[FN#306] When they say, "The levee flashes bright on the hills of

Al-Yaman," the allusion is to the south quarter, where

summer-lightning is seen. Al-Yaman (always with the article) means,

I have said, the right-hand region to one facing the rising sun and

Al-Sham (Syria) the left-hand region.


[FN#307] Again "he" for "she," in delicacy and jealousy of making
public the beauty or conditions of the "veiled sex." Even public
singers would hesitate to use a feminine pronoun. As will be seen
however, the rule is not invariably kept and hardly ever in Badawi
poetry.

[FN#308] The normal pun on "Nuzhat al-Zaman" = Delight of the Age or
Time.

[FN#309] The reader will find in my Pilgrimage (i. 305) a sketch of the
Takht-rawan or travelling-litter, in which pilgrimesses are wont to
sleep.

[FN#310] In poetry it holds the place of our Zephyr; end the "Bád-
i-Sabá"=Breeze o' the morn, Is much addressed by Persian poets.

[FN#311] Here appears the nervous, excitable, hysterical Arab
temperament which is almost phrensied by the neighbourhood of a home
from which he had run away.

[FN#312] Zau al-Makan and Nuzhat al-Zaman.

[FN#313] The idea is essentially Eastern, "A lion at home and a lamb
abroad" is the popular saying.

[FN#314] Arab. "Hubb al-Watan" (= love of birthplace, patriotism) of
which the Tradition says "Min al-Imán" (=is part of man's religion).

[FN#315] He is supposed to speak en prince; and he yields to a prayer
when he spurns a command.

[FN#316] In such caravans each party must keep its own place under pain
of getting into trouble with the watchmen and guards.

[FN#317] Mr. Payne (ii. 109) borrows this and the next quotation from
the Bull Edit. i. 386.

[FN#318] For the expiation of inconsiderate oaths see Koran (chaps.
v.). I cannot but think that Al-Islam treats perjury too lightly: all
we can say is-that it improves upon Hinduism which practically seems to
leave the punishment to the gods.

[FN#319] "Kausar," as has been said, represents the classical nectar,
the Amrita of the Hindus.

[FN#320] From Bull Edit. i. 186. The couplet in the Mac. Edit. i. 457
is very wildly applied.

[FN#321] The "insula" of Sancho Panza.

[FN#322] This should have assured him that he stood in no danger.

[FN#323] Here ends the wearisome tale of the brother and sister, and
the romance of chivalry begins once more with the usual Arab
digressions.

[FN#324] I have derived this word from the Persian "rang"=colour, hue,
kind.

[FN#325] Otherwise all would be superseded, like U. S. officials under
a new President.

[FN#326] Arab. "Nímshah" from the Pers. Nímchah, a "half-sword," a long
dagger worn in the belt. Richardson derives it from Namsh, being
freckled (damasked).

[FN#327] The Indian term for a tent large enough to cover a troop of
cavalry.

[FN#328] Arab. "Marhúm" a formula before noticed. It is borrowed from
the Jewish, "of blessed memory" (after the name of the honoured dead,
Prov. x. 17.); with the addition of "upon whom be peace," as opposed to
the imprecation, "May the name of the wicked rot!"

[FN#329] The speeches of the five damsels should be read only by
students.

[FN#330] i.e. Those who look for "another and a better."

[FN#331] The title of Caliph Abu Bakr because he bore truthful witness
to the Apostle's mission or, others say, he confirmed the "Mi'ráj" or
nocturnal journey to Heaven.

[FN#332] All this is Koranic (chaps. ii., etc.).

[FN#333] This may have applied more than once to "hanging judges" in
the Far West.

[FN#334] A traditionist and jurisconsult of Al-Medinah in the seventh
and eighth centuries.

[FN#335] The Alexander of the Koran and Eastern legends, not to be
confounded with the Alexander of Macedon. He will be noticed in a
future Night.

[FN#336] Æsop, according to the Arabs: of him or rather of the two

Lukmans, more presently.


[FN#337] Koran ii. 185.

[FN#338] Mohammed.

[FN#339] One of the Asháb or Companions of Mohammed.

[FN#340] A noted traditionist at Cufa in the seventh century.

[FN#341] Koran, chaps. lxxiv. I (and verse 8 follows). The Archangel
Gabriel is supposed to address Mohammed and not a few divines believe
this Surah (chapter) to have been first revealed. Mr. Rodwell makes it
No. ii. following the Fatrah or silent interval which succeeded No.
xcvi. "Clots of Blood." See his 2nd Edit. p. 3 for further details.

[FN#342] i.e. dangerous to soul-health.

[FN#343] In the Mac. Edit. "Abd" for "Sa'id." The latter was a black
and a native of Cufa during the first century (A.H ) and is still
famous as a traditionist.

[FN#344] Arab. "Shirk," giving a partner to Allah, attending chiefly to
Christians and idolaters and in a minor degree to Jews and Guebres. We
usually English it by "polytheism," which is clumsy and conveys a wrong
idea

[FN#345] Grandson of the Caliph Ali. He is one of the Imams

(High-priests) of the Shi'ah school.


[FN#346] An eminent traditionist of the eighth century (A.D.).

[FN#347] The prayers of the Fast-month and Pilgrimage-month are often
said in especial places outside the towns and cities; these are the
Indian Id(Eed-)gáh. They have a screen of wall about a hundred yards
long with a central prayer-niche and the normal three steps for the
preacher; and each extremity is garnished with an imitation minaret.
They are also called Namáz-gah and one is sketched by Herklots (Plate
iii. fig. 2). The object of the trips thither in Zu'l-Ka'adah and
Zu'l-Hijjah is to remind Moslems of the "Ta'aríf," or going forth from
Meccah to Mount Arafat.

[FN#348] Arab. "Al-Háfi," which in Egyptian means sore-footed as well.
He was an ascetic of the eighth and ninth centuries (A.D.). He relates
a tradition of the famous soldier saint Khálid bin Walíd who lies
buried like the poet Ka'ab al-Ahbár near Hums (Emessa) once the Bœotia,
Phrygia, Abdera, Suabia of Syria now Halbun (pronounced Halbáun) near
Damascus. I cannot explain how this Kuraysh noble (a glorious figure in
Moslem history) is claimed by the Afghans as one of their countrymen
and made to speak Pukhtu or Pushtu, their rough old dialect of Persian.
The curious reader will consult my Pilgrimage iii. 322 for the dialogue
between Mohammed and Khalid. Again there is general belief in Arabia
that the English sent a mission to the Prophet, praying that Khalid
might be despatched to proselytise them: unfortunately Mohammed was
dead and the "Ingríz" ratted. It is popularly held that no armed man
can approach Khalid's grave; but I suppose my revolver did not count.

[FN#349] When he must again wash before continuing prayer.

[FN#350] Bin Adham; another noted ascetic of the eighth century.

Those curious about these unimportant names will consult the great

Biographical Dictionary of Ibn Khallikan, translated by Baron

MacGuckin de Slane (1842-45).


[FN#351] Thus making Bishr the "Imám" (artistes) lit. one who stands in
front. In Koran xvii. 74 it means "leader": in ii. 118 Allah makes
Abraham an "Imam to mankind."

[FN#352] A favourite sentiment in the East: we find it at the very
beginning of Sa'di's Gulistan: better a weal-bringing lie than a
harm-dealing truth.

[FN#353] A penny, one sixth of the drachma.

[FN#354] Founder of the Hanbali, fourth (in date) of the four orthodox
Moslem schools. The Caliph al-Mu'atasim bi'llah, son of Harun
al-Rashid, who believed the Koran to have been created and not a Logos
(whatever that may be), co-eternal with Allah, scourged this Imam
severely for "differing in opinion" (A.H. 220=833). In fact few of the
notable reverends of that day escaped without a caress of the scourge
or the sword.

[FN#355] A learned man of the eighth century at Bassorah (A.D.).

[FN#356] A traditionist of Khorasan in the ninth century (A.D.).

[FN#357] "Azal," opp. to "Abad," eternity without end, infinity.

[FN#358] Koran lxvi. 6.

[FN#359] A traditionist of Al-Medinah, eighth century (A.D.).

[FN#360] Arab. "Músá": the Egyptian word was "Mesu," the "child" or the
"boy" (brought up in the palace?), and the Hebrews made it "Mosheh" or
"one drawn out of the water;" "Mu" in Egypt being water, the Arab "Ma";
whence probably the moderns have derived the dim. "Moyeh ," vulg.
Egyptian for water.

[FN#361] Koran, chaps. xxviii.: Shu'ayb is our Jethro: Koran, chaps.
vii. and xi. Mr. Rodwell suggests (p. 101) that the name has been
altered from Hobab (Numb. x. 29).

[FN#362] Arab. "Taub" (Saub), the long shirt popularly written in
English Tobe and pronounced so by Egyptians. It is worn by both sexes
(Lane, M. E. chaps. i. "Tob") in Egypt, and extends into the heart of
Moslem Africa: I can compare it with nothing but a long nightgown dyed
a dirty yellow by safflower and about as picturesque as a carter's
smock-frock.

[FN#363] There is nothing of this in the Koran; and it is a most
unhappy addition, as Moses utterly and pretentiously ignored a "next
world."

[FN#364] Koran xxviii. 22-27. Mohammed evidently confounded the
contract between Laban and Jacob. (Gen. xxix. 15-39.)

[FN#365] So says Al-Hariri (Ass. of Sasan), "The neighbour before the
house and the traveller before the journey." In certain cities the
neighbourhood is the real detective police, noting every action and
abating scandals (such as orgies, etc.) with a strong hand and with the
full consent of public opinion and of the authorities. This loving the
neighbour shows evident signs of being borrowed from Christianity.

[FN#366] Al-Asamm a theologian of Balkh, ninth century (A.D.).

[FN#367] The founder of the Senior School, for which see Sale Prel.

Disc. sect. viii.


[FN#368] Thus serving the Lord by sinning against his own body.

[FN#369] An Egyptian doctor of the law (ninth century).

[FN#370] Koran lxxvii. 35, 36. This is one of the earliest and most
poetical chapters of the book.

[FN#371] Abu Hanifah was scourged for refusing to take office and was
put to death in prison, it is said by poison (A.H. 150=A.D. 767), for a
judicial sentence authorising rebellion against the second Abbaside,
Al-Mansur, surnamed Abu'l-Dawánik (Father of Pence) for his exceeding
avarice.

[FN#372] "Lá rayba fí-hi" says the Koran (ii. 1) of itself; and the
saying is popularly applied to all things of the Faith.

[FN#373] Arab. "Rivál al-Ghayb," somewhat like the "Himalayan Brothers"
of modern superstition. See Herklots (Qanoon-e-Islam) for a long and
careful description of these "Mardán-i-Ghayb" (Pers.), a "class of
people mounted on clouds," invisible, but moving in a circular orbit
round the world, and suggesting the Hindu "Lokapálas." They should not
be in front of the traveller nor on his right, but either behind or on
his left hand. Hence tables, memorial couplets and hemistichs are
required to ascertain the station, without which precaution journeys
are apt to end badly.

[FN#374] A sweetmeat before noticed.

[FN#375] Door hinges in the east are two projections for the top and
bottom of the leaf playing in hollows of the lintel and threshold. It
appears to be the primitive form, for we find it in the very heart of
Africa. In the basaltic cities of the Hauran, where the doors are of
thick stone, they move easily on these pins. I found them also in the
official (not the temple)City of Palmyra, but all broken.

[FN#376] The effect of the poison and of the incantation which
accompanied it.

[FN#377] King Omar who had raped her. My sympathies are all with the
old woman who nightly punished the royal lecher.

[FN#378] Arab. "Zunnár," the Gr.     . Christians and Jews were
compelled by the fanatical sumptuary laws of the Caliph Al- Mutawakkil
(AD. 856) to wear a broad leather belt in public, hence it became a
badge of the Faith. Probably it was confounded with the "Janeo"
(Brahmanical thread) and the Parsi sacred girdle called Kashti.
(Dabistan i, 297, etc.). Both Mandeville and La Brocquière speak of
"Christians of the Girdle, because they are all girt above," intending
Jacobites or Nestorians.

[FN#379] "Siláh dár" (Arab. and Pers.)=a military officer of high rank;
literally an "armour-bearer," chosen for velour and trustworthiness. So
Jonathan had a "young man" (brave) who bare his armour (I Sam. xiv. 1,
6 and 7); and Goliath had a man that bare the shield before him (ibid.
xvii. 7, 41). Men will not readily forget the name of Sulayman Agha,
called the Silahdar, in Egypt. (Lane M. E. chaps. iv.)

[FN#380] It will be told afterwards.

[FN#381] The elder brother thus showed himself a vassal and proved
himself a good Moslem by not having recourse to civil war.

[FN#382] Arab. "Ghazwah," the corrupt Gallicism, now

Europeanised=raid, foray.


[FN#383] Turk in modern parlance means a Turkoman, a pomade: the
settled people call themselves Osmanli or Othmanli. Turkoman=Turk-
like.

[FN#384] Arab. "Nimsá;" southern Germans, Austrians; from the Slav.
"Nemica" (any Germans), literally meaning "The dumb" (nemac), because
they cannot speak Slav.

[FN#385] Arab. "Dubárá" from the Slav. "Dubrovnik," from "Dub" (an oak)
and "Dubrava" (an oak forest). Ragusa, once a rival of Venice, gave
rise to the word "Argosy." D'Herbelot calls it "Dobravenedik" or "Good
Venice," the Turkish name, because it paid tribute when Venice would
not (?).

[FN#386] Arab. "Jawarnah," or, "Júrnah" evidently Zara, a place of many
names, Jadera (Hirtius de Bell. Alex. cap. 13), Jadra, Zadra (whence
the modern term), Diadora, Diadosca and Jadrossa. This important
Liburnian city sent forth many cruisers in crusading days; hence the
Arabs came to know its name.

[FN#387] Arab. "Banu'l-Asfar;" which may mean "Pale faces," in the
sense of "yeller girls" (New Orleans) and that intended by North
American Indians, or, possibly, the peoples with yellow (or rather
tow-coloured) hair we now call Russians. The races of Hindostan term
the English not "white men," but "red men;" and the reason will at once
be seen by comparing a Britisher with a high-caste Nágar Brahman whose
face is of parchment colour as if he had drunk exsangue cuminum. The
Yellow-faces of the text correspond with the Sansk.
"Svetadvipa"—Whiteman's Land.

[FN#388] Arab. "Al-Musakhkham." No Moslem believes that Isa was
crucified and a favourite fancy is that Judas, changed to the likeness
of Jesus, thus paid for his treason. (Evangel. Barnabæ.) Hence the
resurrection is called not "Kiyámah" but "Kumámah"=rubbish. This heresy
about the Cross they share with the Docetes, "certain beasts in the
shape of men" (says Ignatius), who held that a phantom was crucified.
So far the Moslems are logical, for "Isa," being angelically,
miraculously and immaculately conceived, could not be; but they
contradict themselves when they hold a vacant place near Mohammed's
tomb for the body of Isa after his second coming as a forerunner to
Mohammed and Doomday. (Pilgrimage ii. 89.)

[FN#389] A diviner, priest, esp. Jewish, and not belonging to the tribe
of Levi.

[FN#390] Again the coarsest word "Khara." The allusion is to the

vulgar saying, "Thou eatest skite!" (i.e. thou talkest nonsense).

Decent English writers modify this to, "Thou eatest dirt:" and Lord

Beaconsfield made it ridiculous by turning it into "eating sand."


[FN#391] These silly scandals, which cause us only to smile, excite

Easterns to fury. I have seen a Moslem wild with rage on hearing a

Christian parody the opening words of the Koran, "Bismillahi 'l-

Rahmáni 'l-Rahím, Mismish wa Kamar al-din," roughly translated,


 "In the name of Allah, the Compassionating, the Compassionate!
 Apricots and marmalede." The idea of the Holy Merde might have been
 suggested by the Hindus: see Mandeville, of the archiprotopapaton
 (prelate) carrying ox-dung and urine to the King, who therewith
 anoints his brow and breast, &c. And, incredible to relate, this is
 still practiced after a fashion by the Parsis, one of the most
 progressive and the sharpest witted of Asiatic races.

[FN#392] Meaning that he had marked his brow with a cross (of ashes?)
as certain do on Ash Wednesday.

[FN#393] Syria, the "left-hand land" as has before been explained. The
popular saying about its people is "Shámi shúmi!"—the Syrian is small
potatoes (to render the sense Americanicè). Nor did Syrus, the slave in
Roman days, bear the best of names. In Al-Hijaz the Syrian is addressed
"Abú Shám" (Father of Syria) and insulted as "Abuser of the Salt" (a
traitor). Yet many sayings of Mohammed are recorded in honour of Syria,
and he sometimes used Syriac words. Such were "Bakh, bakh" (=euge,
before noticed), and "Kakh," a congener of the Latin Cacus and Caca
which our day has docked to "cack." (Pilgrimage iii. 115)

[FN#394] Koran xiv. 34. "They (Unbelievers) shall be thrown therein
(i.e., the House of Perdition=Hell); and an unhappy dwelling shall it
be."

[FN#395] The leg-cut is a prime favourite with the Eastern Sworder, and
a heavy two-handed blade easily severs a horse's leg.

[FN#396] Mohammed repeatedly declared (Koran lxi.) that the Christians
had falsified the passage ("I go to my Father and the Paraclete shall
come," John xvi. 7) promising the advent of the Comforter,           
(ibid. xiv. 20; xv. 26) by substituting the latter word for          
glorious, renowned, i.e., Ahmed or Mohammed=the praised one. This may
have been found in the Arabic translation of the Gospels made by
Warakah, cousin to Mohammed's first wife; and hence in Koran lxi. we
find Jesus prophesying of an Apostle "whose name shall be Ahmad." The
word has consequently been inserted into the Arabic Gospel of Saint
Barnabas (Dabistan iii. 67). Moslems accept the Pentateuch, the Psalter
and the Gospel; but assert (Koran, passim.) that all extant copies have
been hopelessly corrupted, and they are right. Moses, to whom the
Pentateuch is attributed, notices his own death and burial—"the mair
the miracle," said the old Scotch lady. The "Psalms of David" range
over a period of some five hundred years, and there are three Isaiahs
who pass with the vulgar for one. The many apocryphal Gospels, all of
which have been held genuine and canonical at different times and in
different places, prove that the four, which are still in use, were
retained because they lack the manifest absurdities of their discarded
rivals.

[FN#397] Arab. " Labbayka; " the Pilgrimage-cry (Night xxii.) which in
Arabic is,

     Labbayk' Allahumma, Labbayk'!

     Lá Sharíka lake, Labbayk'!

     Inna 'l-hamda w'al ni'amata lake wa'l mulk!

     Labbayk' Allahumma, Labbayk'!


Some add "Here am I, and I honour Thee, the son of Thy two slaves;
beneficence and good are all between Thy hands."With the "Talbiyah" the
pilgrims should bless the Prophet, pray Allah to grant Heaven and
exclaim, "By Thy mercy spare us from the pains of Hell-fire!"
(Pilgrimage iii. 232.) Labbayka occurs in the verses attributed to
Caliph Ali; so labba=he faced, and yalubbu=it faces (as one house faces
another); lastly, he professed submission to Allah; in which sense,
together with the verbal noun "Talbiyah," it is used by Al- Hanri
(Pref. and Ass. of Su'adah).

[FN#398] Arab. "Kissís" (plur. Kusús) from ‘            .

[FN#399] Koran ii. The "red cow" is evidently the "red heifer" of

Barnabas, chaps. vii.


[FN#400] Arab. "Al-Jásalík"=         .

[FN#401] This is from the first "Gospel of Infancy," wherein Jesus said
to his mother, "Verily I am Jesus, the Son of God, the Word which thou
hast brought forth, as the Angel Gabriel did declare unto thee; and my
Father hath sent me to save the world" (chaps. i. 2.). The passage is
virtually quoted in the Koran (chaps. iii. 141), of course omitting "
the Son of God"

[FN#402] Mohammed allowed his locks to grow down to his ear-lobes but
never lower.

[FN#403] Arab. "Lisám" I have explained as a covering for the lower
face, made by drawing over it the corner of the head-kerchief
(Pilgrimage i. 346). The Lisám of the African Tawárik hoods the eyes so
that a man must turn up his face to see, and swathes all the lower
half, leaving only the nose exposed. And this is worn by many men by
night as well as by day, doubtless to avoid the evil eye. The native
Sultans of Darfur, like those of Bornu and others further west, used
white muslin as a face-wrap: hence, too, the ceremonies when spitting,
etc., etc. The Kúfiyah or head-kerchief of the Arabs soon reached
Europe and became in Low Latin Cuphia; in Spanish Escofia; in Ital.
Cuffia or Scuffia; in French Escoffion, Scofion (Reine Marguerite)
Coëffe (une pellicule, marque de bonheur) Coiffe and Coife, &c.; the
Scotch Curch or Coif, opposed to the maiden snood, and, lastly our
Sergeant-at-Law's Coif. Littré, the Learned, who in erudition was né
coiffé, has missed this obvious derivation.

[FN#404] "Cutting," throughout the book, alludes to the scymitar with
which Arabs never give point; and "thrusting" to the footman's spear
and the horseman's lance.

[FN#405] A popular phrase, I repeat, for extreme tenor and
consternation.

[FN#406] The name usually applies to a well-known district and city of
Al Yaman, where "Koss the eloquent" was bishop in Mohammed's day: the
Negiran of D'Herbelot. Here, however, it is the Syrian Najrán (Nejrân
of Missionary Porter's miserable Handbook), now a wretched village near
the volcanic Lajjá, about one hundred and twenty miles direct south of
Damascus and held by Druzes and Christians.

[FN#407] The Kantár (quintal) of 100 ratls (Ibs.) =98-99 Ibs. avoir.

[FN#408] Arab. "Juráb (bag) mi'adat- ih (of his belly)," the "curdling
of the testicles" in fear is often mentioned.

[FN#409] Clearly alluding to the magic so deeply studied by mediæval
Jews.

[FN#410] Arab. "Sahákah," lit. rubbing. The Moslem Harem is a great
school for this "Lesbian (which I would call Atossan) love "; but the
motive of the practice lies deeper. As amongst men the mixture of the
feminine with the masculine temperament leads to sodomy, so the reverse
makes women prefer their own sex. These tribades are mostly known by
peculiarities of form and features, hairy cheeks and upper lips, gruff
voices, hircine odour and the large projecting clitoris with erectile
powers known to the Arabs as "bazar" hence Tabzír=circumcision or
amputation of such clitoris. Burckhardt (Prov. 436) translates "
Bazarah" by slut or wench. He adds " it originally signifies the labia
which the Cairenes also entice Zambúr and which are cut off in
girlhood." See also Lane, Lex. s.v.; Tabzír. Both writers confuse
excision of the nymphæ with circumcision of the clitoris (Zambúr)
Al-Siyúti (Kitab al-Izá' fi'Ilm al-Nikah) has a very interesting
chapter on Sapphic venery, which is well known to Europe as proved by
such works as "Gamiani," and "Anandria ou Confessions de Mademoiselle
Sappho, avec la Clef," Lesbos, 1718. Onanism is fatally prevalent: in
many Harems and girls' schools tallow candles and similar succedanea
are vainly forbidden and bananas when detected are cut into four so as
to be useless; of late years, however, China has sent some marvellous
artificial phalli of stuffed bladder, horn and even caoutchouc, the
latter material of course borrowed from Europe.

[FN#411] This is considered a powerful aphrodisiac in the East. Hence
male devotees are advised to avoid tile "two reds," i.e. meat and wine;
while the "two reds," which corrupt women, are gold and saffron, that
is perfumery. Hence also the saying of Mohammed:— "Perfumes for men
should have scent and not colour; for women should have colour and not
scent." (Mishkát al-Masábíh ii. 361.)

[FN#412] These are the "Hibás" or thin cords of wool which the

Badawi binds round his legs, I believe to keep off cramp.

(Pilgrimage iii. 78).


[FN#413] Crying out "La iláha illa 'llah." (There is no god but the

God.); technically called "Tahlíl."


[FN#414] i.e. Men, angels and devils, the "Triloka" (triple people) of
the Hindus. Alamín (plur.), never Alamayn (dual), is the Triregno
denoted by the papal Tiara, the three Christian kingdoms being Heaven,
Hell and Purgatory.

[FN#415] Matrahinna or Mit-Rahinah is a well-known village near
Memphis, the name being derived from the old Egyptian Minat-ro- hinnu,
the port at the mouth of the canal. Let me remark that two of these
three words, "Minat" and "Ru," are still common in " Aryan" Persian.

[FN#416] Kirámat, a sign, a prodigy, opposed to Mu'ujizah, a miracle
wrought by a prophet. The Sufis explain this thaumaturgy by Allah
changing something of Nature's ordinary course in favour of an especial
worshipper, and, after a fashion, this is Catholic doctrine (See
Dabistan, iii. 173).

[FN#417] Koran, x. 25, "until the earth receive its vesture and be
adorned with various plants."

[FN#418] i.e. the young hair sprouting on the boy's cheek.

[FN#419] A fighter for the faith and now a title which follows the
name, e.g. Osmán Páshá Ghází, whom the English press dubbed "Ghazi
Osman."

[FN#420] That is the King of Constantinople.

[FN#421] Cassia fistularis, a kind of carob: " Shambar" is the

Arab. form of the Persian " Chambar."


[FN#422] Koran, ii. 149. Hence the vulgar idea that Martyrs are still
alive in the flesh. See my Pilgrimage (ii. 110 and elsewhere) for the
romantic and picturesque consequences of that belief. The Commentators
(Jalál al-Dín, etc.) play tricks with the Koranic words, " they
(martyrs) are not dead but living" (iii. 179) by placing the happy
souls in the crops of green birds which eat of the fruits and drink of
the waters of Paradise; whereas the reprobates and the (very) wicked
are deposited in black birds which drain the sanies and the boiling
waters of Hell. Amongst the Greeks a body remaining entire long after
death suggests Anathema Maranatha: it is the contrary with Catholic
Christians (Boccaccio iv. 5, of the Pot of Basil). Concerning this
creed see Maundrell, Letter of 1698.

[FN#423] Tor is "Mount Sinai" in the Koran (xcv. 1). I have only to
repeat my opinion concerning the present site so called: "It is evident
that Jebel Serbal dates only from the early days of Coptic
Christianity; that Jebel Musa, its Greek rival, rose after the visions
of Helena in the fourth century; whilst the building of the Convent by
Justinian belongs to A.D 527. Ras Safsáfah, its rival to the north, is
an affair of yesterday, and may be called the invention of Robinson;
and Jebel Katerina, to the south is the property of Rüppell" (Midian
Revisited i., 237). I would therefore call the "Sinaitic" Peninsula,
Peninsula of Paran in old days and Peninsula of Tor (from its chief
port) in our time. It is still my conviction that the true Mount Sinai
will be found in Jabal Aráif, or some such unimportant height to the
north of the modern Hajj- road from Suez to Akabah. Even about the name
(which the Koran writes "Sainá" and "Sínín") there is a dispute: It is
usually derived from the root "Sanah"=sentis, a bush; but this is not
satisfactory. Our eminent Assyriologist, Professor Sayce, would connect
it with "Sin," the Assyrian Moon- god as Mount Nebo with the Sun-god
and he expects to find there the ruins of a Lunar temple as a Solar
fane stands on Ba'al Zapuna (Baal Zephon) or the classical Mount
Casius.

[FN#424] Alluding to the miracle of Aaron's rod (the gift of Jethro) as
related in the Koran (chapts. vii. 1., xx., etc.), where the Egyptian
sorcerers threw down thick ropes which by their magic twisted and
coiled like serpents.

[FN#425] Arab. "Ayát" lit. "signs," here "miracles of the truth," 1. c.
Koranic versets as opposed to chapters. The ranks of the enemy
represent the latter, sword-cuts the former—a very persuasive mode of
preaching.

[FN#426] Lane (M. E. chapt.. iii.) shows by a sketch the position of
the worshipper during this "Salám" which is addressed, some say, to the
guardian angels, others suppose to all brother-believers and angels.

[FN#427] i.e., where the Syrians found him.

[FN#428] i.e., Dedianus Arabised; a name knightly and plebian.

[FN#429] In such tales the Wazir is usually the sharp-witted man,
contrasting with the "dummy," or master.

[FN#430] Carrier-pigeons were extensively used at this time. The Caliph
Al-Násir li-Díni ‘lláh (regn. A.H. 575=1180) was, according to Ibn
Khaldún, very fond of them. The moderns of Damascus still affect them.
My successor, Mr. Consul Kirby Green, wrote an excellent report on
pigeon-fancying at Damascus. The so-called Maundeville or Mandeville in
A. D. 1322 speaks of carrier-pigeons in Syria as a well-known mode Of
intercourse between lord and lord.

[FN#431] Mohammed who declared "There is no monkery in Al-Islam," and
who virtually abolished the priest, had an especial aversion to the
shaveling (Ruhbán). But the "Gens æterna in quâ nemo nascitur" (Pliny
v. 17) managed to appear even in Al-lslam, as Fakirs,, Dervishes,
Súfis, etc. Of this more hereafter.

[FN#432] i.e. her holiness would act like a fascinating talisman.

[FN#433] The "smoking out" practice is common amongst the Arabs: hence
Marshal Pelissier's so- called " barbarity." The Public is apt to
forget that on a campaign the general's first duty is to save his own
men by any practice which the laws of fair warfare do not absolutely
forbid.

[FN#434] i.e. Mohammed, who promised Heaven and threatened Hell.

[FN#435] Arab. "Ahr" or "ihr," fornication or adultery, i.e.,
irreligion, infidelity as amongst the Hebrews (Isaiah xxiii.17).

[FN#436] A sign of defeat.

[FN#437] In English "last night": I have already noted that the Moslem
day, like the Jewish and the Scandinavian, begins at sundown; and "layl
" a night, is often used to denote the twenty- four hours between
sunset and sunset, whilst "yaum," a day, would by us be translated in
many cases "battle-day."

[FN#438] Iterum the "Himalayan Brothers."

[FN#439] Again, Mohammed who promised Good to the Good, and vice versâ.

[FN#440] They are sad doggrel like most of the pièces d'occasion
inserted in The Nights.

[FN#441] Here "Kahwah" (coffee) is used in its original sense of strong
old wine. The derivation is "Akhá"=fastidire fecit, causing
disinclination for food, the Matambre (kill- hunger) of the Iberians.
In old days the scrupulous called coffee "Kihwah" in order to
distinguish it from 'Kakwah," wine.

[FN#442] i.e. Mohammed, a common title.

[FN#443] That is, fatal to the scoffer and the impious.

[FN#444] Equivalent to our "The Devil was sick," etc.

[FN#445] i.e. to the enemy: the North American Indians (so called) use
similar forms of "inverted speech"; and the Australian aborigines are
in no way behind them.

[FN#446] See Vol. i., p. 154 (Night xvi.).

[FN#447] Arab. "Sauf," a particle denoting a near future whereas

"Sa-" points to one which may be very remote.


[FN#448] From the root "Shanh"=having a fascinating eye, terrifying.
The Irish call the fascinater "eybitter" and the victim (who is also
rhymed to death) "eybitten."

[FN#449] i.e., not like the noble-born, strong in enduring the stress
of fight.

[FN#450] i.e., of Abraham. For the Well Zemzem and the Place of Abraham
see my Pilgrimage (iii. 171-175, etc.), where I described the water as
of salt-bitter taste, like that of Epsom (iii. 203). Sir William Muir
(in his excellent life of Mahomet, I. cclviii.) remarks that "the
flavour of stale water bottled up for months would not be a criterion
of the same water freshly drawn;" but soldered tins-full of water drawn
a fortnight before are to be had in Calcutta and elsewhere after
Pilgrimage time; and analysis would at once detect the salt.

[FN#451] Racing was and is a favourite pastime with those hippomanists,
the Arabs; but it contrasts strongly with our civilised form being a
trial of endurance rather than of speed. The Prophet is said to have
limited betting in these words, "There shall be no wagering save on the
Kuff (camel's foot), the Hafir (hoof of horse, ass, etc.) or the Nasal
(arrow-pile or lance head)."

[FN#452] In the Mac. Edit. "Arman"=Armenia, which has before occurred.
The author or scribe here understands by "Cæsarea" not the old Turris
Stratonis, Herod's city called after Augustus, but Cæsareia the capital
of Cappadocia (Pliny, vi. 3), the royal residence before called Mazaca
(Strabo).

[FN#453] An idiom meaning "a very fool."

[FN#454] i.e. Kána (was) má (that which) was (kána).

[FN#455] A son being "the lamp of a dark house."

[FN#456] When the Israelites refused to receive the Law (the souls of
all the Prophets even those unborn being present at the Covenant),
Allah tore up the mountain (Sinai which is not mentioned) by the roots
and shook it over their heads to terrify them, saying, "Receive the Law
which we have given you with a resolution to keep it" (Koran chaps.
xlx. 170). Much of this story is from the Talmud (Abodah Sar. 2, 2,
Tract Sabbath, etc.) whence Al-Islam borrowed so much of its Judaism,
as it took Christianity from the Apocryphal New Testament. This
tradition is still held by the Israelites, says Mr. Rodwell (p. 333)
who refers it to a misunderstanding of Exod. xix. 17, rightly rendered
in the E. version "at the nether part of the mountain."

[FN#457] Arab. "Azghán" = the camel-litters in which women travel.

[FN#458] i.e. to joy foes and dismay friends.

[FN#459] Whose eyes became white (i.e. went blind) with mourning for
his son Joseph (Koran, chaps. xii. 84). He recovered his sight when his
face was covered with the shirt which Gabriel had given to the youth
after his brethren had thrown him into the well.

[FN#460] "Poison King" (Persian); or "Flower-King" (Arabic).

[FN#461] A delicate allusion to the size of her hips and back parts, in
which volume is, I have said, greatly admired for the best of reasons.

[FN#462] All Prophets had some manual trade and that of David was
making coats of mail, which he invented, for before his day men used
plate-armour. So "Allah softened the iron for him" and in his hands it
became like wax (Koran xxi. xxxiv., etc.). Hence a good coat of mail is
called "Davidean." I have noticed (First Footsteps, p. 33 and
elsewhere) the homage paid to the blacksmith on the principle which
made Mulciber (Malik Kabir) a god. The myth of David inventing mail
possibly arose from his peculiarly fighting career. Moslems venerate
Dáúd on account of his extraordinary devotion, nor has this view of his
character ceased : a modern divine preferred him to "all characters in
history."

[FN#463] "Travel by night," said the Prophet, "when the plagues of
earth (scorpions, serpents, etc.) afflict ye not." Yet the night- march
in Arabia is detestable (Pilgrimage iii.).

[FN#464] This form of ceremony is called "Istikbál" (coming forth to
greet) and is regulated by the severest laws of etiquette. As a rule
the greater the distance (which may be a minimum of one step) the
higher the honour. Easterns infinitely despise strangers who ignore
these vitals of politeness.

[FN#465] i.e. he will be a desert Nimrod and the game will delight to
be killed by him.

[FN#466] This serves to keep the babe's eyes free from inflammation.

[FN#467] i.e. Crown of the Kings of amorous Blandishment.

[FN#468] Lane (i. 531) translates "the grey down." The Arabs use

"Akhzar" (prop. "green") in many senses, fresh, gray-hued, etc.


[FN#469] Allusion to the well-known black banners of the house of
Abbas. The Persians describe the growth of hair on a fair young face
by, "His cheeks went into mourning for the loss of their charms."

[FN#470] Arab. "Káfir" a Koranic word meaning Infidel, the active
participle of Kufr= Infidelity i.e. rejecting the mission of Mohammed.
It is insulting and in Turkish has been degraded to "Giaour." Here it
means black, as Hafiz of Shiraz terms a cheek mole "Hindu" i.e.
dark-skinned and idolatrous.

[FN#471] Alluding to the travel of Moses (Koran chaps. xviii.) with
Al-Khizr (the "evergreen Prophet") who had drunk of the Fountain of
Life and enjoyed flourishing and continual youth. Moses is represented
as the external and superficial religionist; the man of outsight;
Al-Khizr as the spiritual and illuminated man of insight.

[FM#472] The lynx was used like the lion in Ancient Egypt and the
Chita-leopard in India: I have never seen or heard of it in these days.

[FN#473] Arab. "Sukúr," whence our "Saker" the falcon, not to be
confounded with the old Falco Sacer, the Gr.      . Falconry which,
like all arts, began in Egypt, is an extensive subject throughout
Moslem lands. I must refer my readers to "Falconry in the Valley of the
Indus" (Van Voorst, 1852) and a long note in Pilgrimage iii. 71.

[FN#474] It was not respectful to pitch their camp within dog-bark.

[FN#475] Easterns attach great importance to softness and smoothness of
skin and they are right: a harsh rough epidermis spoils sport with the
handsomest woman.

[FN#476] Canticles vii. 8: Hosea xiv. 6.

[FN#477] The mesmeric attraction of like to like.

[FN#478] Arab. "Taswif"=saying "Sauf," I will do it soon. It is a
beautiful word–etymologically.

[FN#479] A very far fetched allusion. The face of the beloved springing
from an unbuttoned robe is the moon rising over the camp in the hollow
(bat'há).

[FN#480] Arab. "Kasabát" = "canes," long beads, bugles.

[FN#481] Koran, xcvi. 5.

[FN#482] Both words (masc. and fem.) mean "dear, excellent, highly-
prized." The tale is the Arab form of the European "Patient Griselda"
and shows a higher conception of womanly devotion, because Azizah,
despite her wearisome weeping, is a girl of high intelligence and Aziz
is a vicious zany, weak as water and wilful as wind. The phenomenon
(not rare in life) is explained by the couplet:—

     I love my love with an S—

     Because he is stupid and not intellectual.


This fond affection of clever women for fools can be explained only by
the law of unlikeness which mostly governs sexual unions in physical
matters; and its appearance in the story gives novelty and point. Aziz
can plead only the violence of his passion which distinguished him as a
lover among the mob of men who cannot love anything beyond themselves.
And none can pity him for losing a member which he so much abused.

[FN#483] Arab. "Sháhid," the index, the pointer raised in testimony:
the comparison of the Eastern and the Western names is curious.

[FN#484] Musk is one of the perfumes of the Moslem Heaven; and "musky"
is much used in verse to signify scented and dark-brown.

[FN#485] Arab. "Mandíl": these kerchiefs are mostly oblong, the shore
sides being worked with gold and coloured silk, and often fringed,
while the two others are plain.

[FN#486] Arab. "Rayhání," of the Ocymum Basilicum or sweet basil: a
delicate handwriting, so called from the pen resembling a leaf (?) See
vol. i. p. 128. [Volume 1, note 229 & 230]

[FN#487] All idiom meaning "something unusual happened."

[FN#488] An action common in grief and regret: here the lady would show
that she sighs for union with her beloved.

[FN#489] Lane (i. 608) has a valuable note on the language of signs,
from M. du Vigneau's "Secretaire Turc," etc. (Paris, 1688), Baron von
Hammer-Purgstall ("Mines de ['Orient," No. 1, Vienna, 1809) and
Marcel's "Comes du Cheykh El-Mohdy" (Paris, 1833). It is practiced in
Africa as well as in Asia. At Abeokuta in Yoruba a man will send a
symbolical letter in the shape of cowries, palm-nuts and other kernels
strung on rice- straw, and sharp wits readily interpret the meaning. A
specimen is given in p. 262 of Miss Tucker's "Abbeokuta; or Sunrise
within the Tropics."

[FN#490] Mr. Payne (ii. 227) translates "Hawá al-'Urzí" by "the love of
the Beni Udhra, an Arabian tribe famous for the passion and devotion
with which love was practiced among them." See Night dclxxxiii. I
understand it as "excusable love" which, for want of a better term, is
here translated "platonic." It is, however, more like the old
"bundling" of Wales and Northern England; and allows all the pleasures
but one, the toyings which the French call les plaisirs de la petite
ode; a term my dear old friend Fred. Hankey derived from la petite
voie. The Afghans know it as "Námzad-bází" or betrothed play
(Pilgrimage, ii. 56); the Abyssinians as eye- love; and the Kafirs as
Slambuka a Shlabonka, for which see The traveller Delegorgue.

[FN#491] "Turk" in Arabic and Persian poetry means a plunderer, a
robber. Thus Hafiz: "Agar án Turk-i-Shirázi ba-dast árad dil-i- márá,"
If that Shirazi (ah, the Turk!) would deign to take my heart in hand,
etc.

[FN#492] Arab. "Názir," a steward or an eye (a "looker"). The idea is
borrowed from Al-Hariri (Assemblies, xiii.), and,—

[FN#493] Arab. "Hájib," a groom of the chambers, a chamberlain; also an
eyebrow. See Al-Hariri, ibid. xiii. and xxii.

[FN#494] This gesture speaks for itself: it is that of a dyer staining
a cloth. The "Sabbágh's" shop is the usual small recess, open to the
street and showing pans of various dyes sunk like "dog- laps" in the
floor.

[FN#495] The Arab. "Sabt" (from sabata, he kept Sabt) and the Heb.
"Sabbath" both mean Saturn's day, Saturday, transferred by some unknown
process throughout Christendom to Sunday. The change is one of the most
curious in the history of religions. If there be a single command
stronger than all others it is "Keep the Saturday holy." It was so kept
by the Founder of Christianity; the order was never abrogated and yet
most Christians are not aware that Sabbath, or "Sawbath," means
Saturn's day, the "Shiyár" of the older Arabs. And to complete its
degradation "Sabbat" in French and German means a criaillerie, a "row,"
a disorder, an abominable festival of Hexen (witches). This monstrous
absurdity can be explained only by aberrations of sectarian zeal, of
party spirit in religion.

[FN#496] The men who cry to prayer. The first was Bilál, the Abyssinian
slave bought and manumitted by Abu Bakr. His simple cry was "I testify
there is no Iláh (god) but Allah (God)! Come ye to prayers!" Caliph
Omar, with the Prophet's permission, added, "I testify that Mohammed is
the Apostle of Allah." The prayer-cry which is beautiful and human,
contrasting pleasantly with the brazen clang of the bell. now is

     Allah is Almighty (bis).

     I declare no god is there but Allah (bis).

     Hie ye to Rogation (Hayya=halumma).

     Hie ye to Salvation (Faláh=prosperity, Paradise).

     ("Hie ye to Edification," a Shi'ah adjunct).

     Prayer is better than sleep (in the morning, also bis).

     No god is there but Allah


This prayer call is similarly worded and differently pronounced and
intoned throughout Al-Islam.

[FN#497] i.e. a graceful youth of Al-Hijaz, the Moslem Holy Land, whose
"sons" claim especial privileges.

[FN#498] Arab. "harf'= a letter, as we should say a syllable.

[FN#499] She uses the masculine "fatá," in order to make the question
more mysterious.

[FN#500] The fountain-bowl is often ornamented by a rude mosaic of
black and white marble with enlivenments of red stone or tile in
complicated patterns.

[FN#501] Arab. "Kubád" = shaddock (citrus decumana): the huge orange
which Captain Shaddock brought from the West Indies; it is the
Anglo-Indian pompelmoose, vulg. pummelo. An excellent bitter is made
out of the rind steeped in spirits. Citronworts came from India whence
they spread throughout the tropics: they were first introduced into
Europe by the heroic Joam de Castro and planted in his garden at Cintra
where their descendants are still seen.

[FN#502] Arab. "Bakláwah," Turk. "Baklává," a kind of pastry with
blanched almonds bruised small between layers of dough, baked in the
oven and cut into lozenges. It is still common

[FN#503] Her just fear was that the young woman might prove "too clever
by half" for her simpleton cousin.

[FN#504] The curse is pregnant with meaning. On Judgment-day the
righteous shall arise with their faces shining gloriously: hence the
blessing, "Bayyaz' Allaho wajh-ak" (=Allah whiten thy countenance!).
But the wicked shall appear with faces scorched black and deformed by
horror (Koran xxiv.): hence "God blacken thy brow!" I may observe that
Easterns curse, the curse being everywhere the language of excited
destructiveness; but only Westerns, and these chiefly English, swear, a
practice utterly meaningless. "Damn it" without specifying what the
"it" is, sounds like the speech of a naughty child anxious only to use
a "wicked word." "Damn you!" is intelligible all the world over. It has
given rise to "les goddams" in France, "Godámes" in the Brazil and
"Gotáma" amongst the Somal of Eastern Africa, who learn it in Aden,

[FN#505] Arab. "Zardah," usually rice dressed with saffron and honey,
from Pers. "Zard," saffron, yellow. See Night dcxii.

[FN#506] Vulgarly called "knuckle-bone," concerning which I shall have
something to say.

[FN#507] A bit of wood used in the children's game called "Táb" which
resembles our tip-cat (Lane M. E. chaps. xvii.).

[FN#508] Arab. "Balah," the unripened date, which is considered a
laxative and eaten in hot weather.

[FN#509] Lane (i. 611), quoting Al-Kazwíní, notes that the date- stone
is called "Nawá" (dim. "Nawáyah") which also means distance, absence,
severance. Thus the lady threatens to cast off her greedy and sleepy
lover.

[FN#510] The pad of the carob-bean which changes little after being
plucked is an emblem of constancy.

[FN#511] This dirham=48 grains avoir.

[FN#512] The weight would be round: also "Hadíd" (=iron) means sharp or
piercing (Koran chaps. Vi]. 21). The double "swear" is intended to be
very serious. Moreover iron conjures away fiends: when a water-spout or
a sand-devil (called Shaytán also in Arabia) approaches, you point the
index at the Jinn and say, "Iron, O thou ill-omened one!" Amongst the
Ancient Egyptians the metal was ill- omened being the bones of Typhon,
80 here, possibly, we have an instance of early homœopathy—similia
similibus.

[FN#513] Probably fermented to a kind of wine. The insipid fruit
(Unnáb) which looks like an apple in miniature, is much used in stews,
etc. It is the fruit (Nabak classically Nabik) of Rhamnus Nabeca (or
Sidrat) also termed Zizyphus Jujuba, seu Spina Christi because fabled
to have formed the crown of thorns: in the English market this plum is
called Chinese Japonica. I have described it in Pilgrimage ii. 205, and
have noticed the infusion of the leaves for washing the dead (ibid. ii.
105): this is especially the use of the "Ber" in India, where the
leaves are superstitiously held peculiarly pure. Our dictionaries
translate "Sidr" by "Lote-tree"; and no wonder that believers in
Homeric writ feel their bile aroused by so poor a realisation of the
glorious myth. The Homerids probably alluded to Hashish or Bhang.

[FN#514] Arab. "Azrár": the open collar of the Saub ("Tobe") or long
loose dress is symptomatic. The Eastern button is on the same principle
as ours (both having taken the place of the classical fibula); but the
Moslem affects a loop (like those to which we attach our "frogs") and
utterly ignores a button-hole.

[FN#515] Alluding to the ceremonious circumambulation of the Holy

House at Meccah: a notable irreverence worthy of Kneph-town

(Canopus).


[FN#516] The ear-drop is the penis and the anklet its crown of glory.

[FN#517] Equivalent to our "Alas! Alas!" which, by the by, no one ever
says. "Awah," like "Yauh," is now a woman's word although used by
Al-Hariri (Assembly of Basrah) and so Al-awwáh=one who cries from grief
"Awáh." A favourite conversational form is "Yehh" with the aspirate
exasperated, but it is an expression of astonishment rather than
sorrow. It enters into Europe travel-books.

[FN#518] In the text "burst her gall-bladder."

[FN#519] The death of Azizah is told with true Arab pathos and
simplicity: it still draws tear. *from the eyes of the Badawi, and I
never read it without a "lump in the throat."

[FN#520] Arab. "Inshallah bukra!" a universal saying which is the
horror of travellers.

[FN#521] I have explained "Nu'uman's flower" as the anemone which in
Grecised Arabic is "Anúmiyá." Here they are strewed over the tomb;
often the flowers are planted in a small bed of mould sunk in the upper
surface.

[FN#522] Arab. "Barzakh" lit. a bar, a partition: in the Koran (chapts.
xxiii. and xxxv.) the space or the place between death and resurrection
where souls are stowed away. It corresponds after a fashion with the
classical Hades and the Limbus (Limbo) of Christendom, e.g.. Limbus
patrum, infantum, fatuorum. But it must not be confounded with
Al-A'aráf, The Moslem purgatory.

[FN#523] Arab. "Zukák al-Nakíb," the latter word has been explained as
a chief, leader, head man.

[FN#524] Moslems never stand up at such times, for a spray of urine
would make their clothes ceremonially impure: hence the scrupulous will
break up with stick or knife the hard ground in front of them. A
certain pilgrim was reported to have made this blunder which is hardly
possible in Moslem dress. A high personage once asked me if it was true
that he killed a man who caught him in a standing position; and I found
to my surprise that the absurd scandal was already twenty years old.
After urinating the Moslem wipes the os penis with one to three bits of
stone, clay or handfuls of earth, and he must perform Wuzu before he
can pray. Tournefort (Voyage au Levant iii. 335) tells a pleasant story
of certain Christians at Constantinople who powdered with
"Poivre-d'Inde" the stones in a wall where the Moslems were in the
habit of rubbing the os penis by way of wiping The same author (ii.
336) strongly recommends a translation of Rabelais' Torcheculative
chapter (Lib i., chaps. 13) for the benefit of Mohammedans.

[FN#525] Arab. "Nuhás ahmar," lit. red brass.

[FN#526] The cup is that between the lady's legs.

[FN#527] A play upon "Sák" = calf, or leg, and "Sákí," a cup- bearer.
The going round (Tawáf) and the running (Sa'i) allude to the
circumambulation of the Ka'abah, and the running between Mount Safá and
Marwah (Pilgrimage ii. 58, and iii. 343). A religious Moslem would hold
the allusion highly irreverent.

[FN#528] Lane (i. 614) never saw a woman wearing such kerchief which is
deshabille. It is either spread over the head or twisted turband-wise.

[FN#529] The "Kasabah" was about two fathoms of long measure, and
sometimes 12 ½ feet; but the length has been reduced.

[FN#530] "Bat and ball," or hockey on horseback (Polo) is one of the
earliest Persian games as shown by every illustrated copy of Firdausi's
"Shahnámeh." This game was played with a Kurrah or small hand-ball and
a long thin bat crooked at the end called in Persian Chaugán and in
Arabic Saulaján. Another sense of the word is given in the
Burhán-i-Káti translated by Vullers (Lex. Persico-Latinum), a large
bandy with bent head to which is hung an iron ball, also called
Kaukabah (our "morning-star") and like the umbrella it denotes the
grandees of the court. The same Kaukabah particularly distinguished one
of the Marquesses of Waterford. This Polo corresponds with the
folliculus, the pallone, the baloun-game (moyen âge) of Europe, where
the horse is not such a companion of man; and whereof the classics
sang:—

     Folle decet pueros ludere, folle senes.

In these days we should spell otherwise the "folle" of seniors playing
at the ball or lawn-tennis.

[FN#531] "Dalíl" means a guide; `'Dalílah," a woman who misguides, a
bawd. See the Tale of Dalílah the Crafty, Night dcxcviii.

[FN#532] i.e. she was a martyr.

[FN#533] Arab. "Ghashím" a popular and insulting term, our "Johnny

Raw." Its use is shown in Pilgrimage i. 110.


[FN#534] Bathers pay on leaving the Hammam; all enter without paying.

[FN#535] i.e. she swore him upon his sword and upon the Koran: a loaf
of bread is sometimes added. See Lane (i. 615).





*** End of this LibraryBlog Digital Book "The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night — Volume 02" ***

Copyright 2023 LibraryBlog. All rights reserved.