carpet is a most surprising curiosity. But you must allow that there may
be other rarities at least as wonderful. Here is an ivory tube, which
appears to the eye no more a prodigy than your carpet. It cost me forty
purses, and I am as well satisfied with my purchase as you can be with
yours; for on looking at one end of this tube you can see whatever
object you wish to behold. I would not have you take my word,” added
Prince Ali, presenting the tube to him. “Take it, and make a trial of it
yourself.”
Houssain took the ivory tube, and wished to see the Princess
Nouronnihar, when Ali and Prince Ahmed, who kept their eyes fixed on
him, were extremely surprised to see his countenance suddenly express
extraordinary alarm and affliction. Prince Houssain did not give them
time to ask what was the matter, but cried out, “Alas! princes, to what
purpose have we undertaken such long and fatiguing journeys, with the
hopes of being recompensed by the hand of the charming Nouronnihar, when
in a few moments that lovely princess will breathe her last! I saw her
in bed, surrounded by her women, all weeping and seeming to expect her
death. Take the tube, behold yourselves the miserable state she is in,
and mingle your tears with mine.”
Prince Ali took the tube out of Houssain’s hand, and after he had seen
the same object with the deepest grief presented it to Ahmed, who also
beheld the sad sight which so much concerned them all.
When Prince Ahmed had taken the tube out of Ali’s hands, and saw that
the Princess Nouronnihar’s end was so near, he addressed himself to his
two companions, and said, “Brothers, the Princess Nouronnihar, whom we
all equally loved, is indeed just at death’s door; but provided we make
haste and lose no time, we may preserve her life. This apple which you
see cost the same sum as the carpet and the tube; but it has this
surprising power—its smell will restore to life a sick person, whatever
be the malady. I have made the experiment, and can show you its
wonderful effect on the person of the Princess Nouronnihar if we hasten
to assist her.”
“If that be all,” replied Prince Houssain, “we cannot make more despatch
than by transporting ourselves instantly into her chamber by means of my
carpet. Come, lose no time, sit down, it is large enough to hold us
all.”
As soon as the order was given, the Princes Ali and Ahmed sat down by
Houssain, and as their interest was the same, they all framed the same
wish, and were transported instantaneously into the Princess
Nouronnihar’s chamber.
The presence of the three princes, who were so little expected, alarmed
the princess’s women and guards, who could not comprehend by what
enchantment three men should be among them; for they did not know them
at first; and the guards were ready to fall on them, as people who had
got into a part of the palace where they were not allowed to come; but
they quickly found out their mistake.
Prince Ahmed no sooner saw himself in Nouronnihar’s chamber than he rose
off the carpet, and went to the bedside, and put the apple to her
nostrils. The princess instantly opened her eyes, and sitting up, asked
to be dressed, as if she had awakened out of a sound sleep. Her women
presently informed her that she was obliged to the three princes, her
cousins, and particularly to Prince Ahmed, for the sudden recovery of
her health. She immediately expressed her joy at seeing them, and
thanked them all together, but afterwards Prince Ahmed in particular. As
she desired to dress, the princes contented themselves with telling her
how great a pleasure it was to them to have come soon enough to
contribute each in any degree towards relieving her from the imminent
danger she was in, and what ardent prayers they had offered for the
continuance of her life; after which they retired.
While the princess was dressing, the princes went to throw themselves at
the sultan their father’s feet; but when they came to him, they found he
had been previously informed of their unexpected arrival by the chief of
the princess’s guards, and by what means the princess had been so
suddenly cured. The sultan received and embraced them with the greatest
joy, both for their return and the wonderful recovery of the princess,
his niece, whom he loved as if she had been his own daughter. After the
usual compliments the princes each presented the rarity which he had
brought: Prince Houssain his carpet, Prince Ali his ivory tube, and
Prince Ahmed the artificial apple; and after each had commended his
present, as he put it into the sultan’s hands, they begged of him to
pronounce their fate, and declare to which of them he would give the
Princess Nouronnihar, according to his promise.
The Sultan of the Indies having heard all that the princes had to say in
favor of their rarities remained some time silent, considering what
answer he should make. At last he broke silence, and said to them in
terms full of wisdom, “I would declare for one of you, my sons, if I
could do it with justice. It is true, Ahmed, the princess, my niece, is
obliged to your artificial apple for her cure; but let me ask you,
whether you could have contrived to cure her if you had not known by
Ali’s tube the danger she was in, and if Houssain’s carpet had not
brought you to her so soon? Your tube, Ali, revealed to you and your
brothers the illness of your cousin; but you must grant that the
knowledge of her illness would have been of no service without the
artificial apple and the carpet. And as for you, Houssain, your carpet
was an essential instrument in effecting her cure; but consider, it
would have been of little use if you had not been acquainted with her
illness by Ali’s tube, or if Ahmed had not applied his artificial apple.
Therefore, as the carpet, the ivory tube, and the artificial apple have
no preference over each other, but on the contrary as each had an equal
share in her cure, I cannot grant the princess to any one of you; and
the only fruit you have reaped from your travels is the happiness of
having equally contributed to restore her to health.
“As this is the case,” added the sultan, “I must resort to other means
to determine the choice I ought to make; and as there is time enough
between now and night, I will do it to-day. Go and procure each of you a
bow and arrow, and repair to the plain where the horses are exercised. I
will soon join you, and will give the Princess Nouronnihar to him who
shoots the farthest.”
The three princes had nothing to object to the decision of the sultan.
When they were dismissed from his presence, they each provided
themselves with a bow and arrow, and went to the plain appointed,
followed by a great concourse of people.
As soon as the sultan arrived, Prince Houssain, as the eldest, took his
bow and arrow, and shot first. Prince Ali shot next, and much beyond
him, and Prince Ahmed last of all; but it so happened that nobody saw
where his arrow fell; and notwithstanding all the search made by himself
and the spectators, it was not to be found. So the sultan determined in
favor of Prince Ali, and gave orders for preparations to be made for the
wedding of him and Nouronnihar, which was celebrated a few days after
with great magnificence.
Prince Houssain would not honor the feast with his presence. His love
for the princess was so sincere and ardent that he could scarcely
support with patience the mortification of seeing her marry Prince Ali,
who, he said, did not deserve her better nor love her more than himself.
In short, his grief was so great that he left the court, and renounced
all right of succession to the crown, to turn dervish, and put himself
under the discipline of a famous holy man, who had gained great
reputation for his holy life.
Prince Ahmed, from the same motive, did not assist at Prince Ali and the
Princess Nouronnihar’s nuptials any more than his brother Houssain, yet
did not renounce the world as he had done. But as he could not imagine
what had become of his arrow, he resolved to search for it. With this
intent he went to the place where the Princes Houssain’s and Ali’s were
picked up, and proceeding straightforward thence, looked carefully on
both sides as he advanced. He went so far that at last he began to think
his labor was in vain; yet he felt compelled to proceed, till he came to
some steep craggy rocks, which completely prevented any further
progress.
At the very foot of these rocks he perceived an arrow, which, to his
great astonishment, he found to be the same he had shot. “Certainly,”
said he to himself, “neither I nor any man living could shoot an arrow
so far. There must be come mystery in this; and perhaps fortune, to make
amends for depriving me of what I thought the greatest happiness of my
life, may have reserved a greater blessing for my comfort.”
On looking about, the prince beheld an iron door, which seemed to be
locked; but on his pushing against it, it opened, and revealed a
staircase, which he walked down with his arrow in his hand. At first he
thought he was going into a dark place, but presently he was surrounded
by light, and beheld a splendid palace, the admirable structure of which
he had not time to look at; for at the same instant a lady of majestic
air, and of a beauty heightened by the richness of the jewels which
adorned her person, advanced, attended by a troop of ladies, who were
scarcely less magnificently dressed than their mistress.
As soon as Ahmed perceived the lady, he hastened to pay his respects;
but the lady, addressing him first, said, “Enter, Prince Ahmed, you are
welcome.”
After these words the lady led Prince Ahmed into a grand hall. She then
sat down on a sofa; and when the prince, at her entreaty, had seated
himself by her, she continued, “You know that the world is inhabited by
genii as well as men; I am Perie Banou, the daughter of one of the most
powerful of these genii. I am no stranger to your loves or your travels.
The artificial apple which you bought at Samarcand, the carpet which
Prince Houssain purchased at Bisnagar, and the tube which Prince Ali
brought from Shiraz were of my contrivance. You seemed to me worthy of a
better fate than to marry the Princess Nouronnihar; and that you might
attain to it, I caused your arrow to fly out of sight, and to strike
against the rocks near which you found it. It is in your power to avail
yourself of the favorable opportunity which presents itself to make you
happy.”
As the fairy Perie Banou pronounced the last words with a different
tone, and after looking tenderly at the prince, sat with downcast eyes
and a modest blush on her cheeks, it was not difficult for him to
comprehend what happiness she meant; and he replied, “Could I have the
pleasure of making you the partner of my life, I should think myself the
happiest of men.”
“Then you shall be my husband,” answered the fairy, “and I will be your
wife. Our fairy marriages are contracted with no other ceremonies than a
mutual consent. I will give orders for the preparation of our wedding
feast this evening; and in the meanwhile I will show you my palace.”
The fairy led Ahmed through the apartments of the palace, where he saw
diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and all sorts of fine jewels intermixed with
pearls, agate, jasper, and the most precious marbles, together with the
richest furniture disposed in the most elegant profusion. At last he
entered the hall where the cloth was laid for the feast. It was adorned
with an infinite number of wax candles perfumed with amber. A concert
accompanied the feast, formed of the most harmonious instruments that
were ever heard. After the dessert, which consisted of the choicest
fruits and sweetmeats, the fairy Perie Banou and Prince Ahmed rose and
repaired to a dais, provided with cushions of fine silk, curiously
embroidered. Presently a great number of genii and fairies danced before
them, and at last divided themselves into two rows, through which the
prince and Perie Banou passed toward their chambers and, after bowing,
retired.
Every day spent with the fairy Perie was a continual feast, for every
day she provided new delicacies, new concerts, new dances, new shows,
and new diversions, which were all so gratifying to the senses that
Ahmed, if he had lived a thousand years among men, could not have
experienced equal enjoyment.
The fairy’s intention was not only to give the prince convincing proofs
of her love, but to let him see that he could meet with nothing at his
father’s court comparable to the happiness he enjoyed with her. She
hoped by those means to attach Prince Ahmed entirely to herself.
At the end of six months, Prince Ahmed felt a great desire to visit the
sultan his father, and know how he was. He mentioned his wish to Perie
Banou, who was much alarmed lest this was only an excuse to leave her,
and entreated him to forego his intention.
“My queen,” replied the prince, “I did not make the request with any
intention of displeasing you, but from a motive of respect towards my
father, who, as I have reason to presume, believes that I am dead. But
since you do not consent that I should go and comfort him by the
assurance of my life, I will deny myself the pleasure, as there is
nothing to which I would not submit to please you.”
The fairy heard the prince say this with extreme satisfaction.
Meanwhile the Sultan of the Indies, in the midst of the rejoicings on
account of the nuptials of Prince Ali and the Princess Nouronnihar, was
deeply afflicted at the absence of the other two princes his sons. He
was soon informed of the resolution Prince Houssain had taken to forsake
the world, and as he knew that he was alive and well, he supported his
absence more patiently. He made the most diligent search after Ahmed,
and despatched messengers to all the provinces of his kingdom, with
orders to the governors to stop him, and oblige him to return to court;
but all the pains he took had not the desired success; and his
affliction, instead of diminishing, increased. “Vizier,” he one day
said, “thou knowest I always loved Ahmed the most of all my sons. My
grief is so heavy at his strange absence that I shall sink under it. If
thou hast any regard for my life I beg thee to assist me, and find out
where he is.”
The grand vizier, anxious to give his king some ease, proposed to send
for and consult a sorceress, of whom he had heard many wonders. The
sultan consented, and the grand vizier, on her arrival, introduced her
into the presence of the ruler.
The sultan said to the sorceress, “Canst thou tell me by thy art and
skill what is become of Prince Ahmed my son? If he be alive, where is
he? What is he doing? May I hope ever to see him again?”
“Sire,” replied the sorceress, “if you will allow me till to-morrow, I
will endeavor to satisfy you.”
The sultan granted her the time, and promised to recompense her richly.
The sorceress returned the next day and said to the sultan, “Sire, I
have not been able to discover anything more than that Prince Ahmed is
alive, but as to where he is I cannot tell.”
The Sultan of the Indies was obliged to remain satisfied with this
answer, which in a small degree relieved his anxiety about the prince.
Prince Ahmed still adhered to his resolution not again to ask permission
to leave the fairy Perie Banou, but he frequently talked about his
father, and she perceived that he retained his wish to see him. At
length, being assured of the sincerity of his affection for herself, she
resolved to grant him the permission which he so ardently desired. One
day she said to him, “Prince, as I am now fully convinced that I can
depend on the fidelity of your love, I grant you leave to visit the
sultan your father, on condition that your absence shall not be long.
You can go when you please; but first let me give you some advice how
you shall conduct yourself. Do not inform your father of our marriage,
neither of my quality, nor the place of our residence. Beg of him to be
satisfied with knowing that you are happy, and that the sole end of your
visit is to make him easy respecting your fate.”
After Prince Ahmed had expressed to Perie Banou his sincere gratitude,
the fairy summoned twenty horsemen, well mounted and equipped, to attend
him. When all was ready, Prince Ahmed took his leave of the fairy. A
charger, which was most richly caparisoned, and as beautiful a creature
as any in the sultan’s stables, was brought to him, and he set forward
on his journey.
As it was no great distance, Prince Ahmed soon arrived at his father’s
capital. The people received him with shouts and followed him in crowds
to the palace. The sultan embraced him with great joy, complaining at
the same time, with a fatherly tenderness, of the affliction his long
absence had occasioned.
“Sire,” replied Prince Ahmed, “I could not bear to resign the Princess
Nouronnihar to my brother Ali, and I felt that my arrow, though it could
not be found, had gone beyond his. The loss of my arrow dwelt
continually on my mind, and I resolved to find it. I therefore returned
alone to look for it, and I sought all about the plain where Houssain’s
and Ali’s arrows were found, and where I imagined mine must have fallen,
but all my labor was in vain. I had gone in the same direction about a
league, a distance that the strongest archers could not reach with their
arrows, and was about to abandon my search and return home, when I found
myself drawn forward against my will. After having gone four leagues, to
the end of the plain, where it is bounded by rocks, I perceived an
arrow. I ran, took it up, and knew it to be the same which I had shot.
Far from blaming your majesty for declaring in favor of my brother Ali,
I never doubted but there was a mystery in what had happened to my
advantage. But as to the revealing of this mystery, I beg you will not
be offended if I remain silent, and that you will be satisfied to know
from my own mouth that I am happy and content with my fate. To tell you
this, and to relieve your anxiety, was the motive which brought me
hither. I must now return, and the only favor I ask is your leave to
come occasionally to pay you my duty, and to inquire after your health.”
“Son,” answered the Sultan of the Indies, “I wish to penetrate no
further into your secrets. I can only tell you that your presence has
restored to me the joy I have not felt for a long time. You shall always
be welcome when you can come to visit me.”
Prince Ahmed stayed but three days at his father’s court and on the
fourth returned to the fairy Perie Banou, who received him with the
greater joy, as she did not expect him so soon. At the end of a month
after the prince’s return, the fairy, no longer doubting his love for
her, proposed herself that he should pay his respects to the sultan. “It
is a month,” she said, “since you have seen the sultan your father. I
think you should not be longer in renewing your visits. Go to him
to-morrow, and after that visit him once a month, without speaking to me
or waiting for my permission. I readily consent to such an arrangement.”
Prince Ahmed went the next morning with the same attendants as before,
but much more magnificently mounted, equipped, and dressed, and was
received by the sultan with the same joy and satisfaction. For several
months he constantly made these visits, and always in a richer and more
brilliant equipage.
At last the sultan’s counsellors, who judged of Prince Ahmed’s power by
the splendor of his appearance, sought to make the sultan jealous of his
son. They represented that it was but common prudence to discover where
the prince had retired, and how he could afford to live so
magnificently, since he had no revenue assigned for his expenses; that
he seemed to come to court only to insult him, by affecting a more
splendid display than himself; and that it was to be feared he might
court the people’s favor and dethrone him. They represented the danger
to be greater, as the prince could not reside far from the capital, for
on every visit his attendants were different, their habits new, and
their arms clean and bright, as if just come from the maker’s hands; and
their horses looked as if they had only been walked out. “These are
sufficient proofs,” they said, “that Prince Ahmed does not travel far,
so that we should think ourselves wanting in our duty did we not make
our humble remonstrances, in order that, for your own preservation and
the good of your people, your majesty may take such measures as you
shall think advisable.”
When the courtiers had concluded these insinuations, the sultan said, “I
do not believe my son Ahmed would act as you would persuade me; however,
I am obliged to you for your advice, and do not doubt that it proceeds
from your loyalty to my person.”
The Sultan of the Indies said this that his courtiers might not know the
impression their words had made on his mind. He was, however, so much
alarmed by them, that he resolved to have Prince Ahmed watched. For this
end he sent privately for the sorceress, who was introduced by a secret
door into his study. “You told me the truth,” said he, “when you assured
me my son Ahmed was alive. He now comes to my court every month, but I
cannot learn from him where he resides. I believe you are capable of
discovering his secret. He is at this time with me, and will depart in
the morning, without taking leave of me or any of my court. I require
you to watch him so as to find out where he retires, and bring me
information.”
The sorceress left the sultan, and learning by her art the place where
Prince Ahmed had found his arrow, went immediately thither, and
concealed herself near the rocks so as not to be seen.
The next morning Prince Ahmed set out by daybreak, without taking leave
either of the sultan or any of his court, according to custom. The
sorceress saw him coming, and watched him and his attendants till she
suddenly lost sight of them in the rocks. The steepness of the rocks
formed a strong barrier to men, whether on horseback or on foot, so that
the sorceress judged that the prince and his retinue had suddenly
retired either into some cavern or some underground place, the abode of
genii or fairies. When she thought the prince and his attendants must
have advanced far into whatever concealment they inhabited, she came out
of the place where she had hidden herself, and explored the spot where
she had lost sight of them, but could perceive nothing. The sorceress
was obliged to be satisfied with the insufficient discovery she had
made, and returned to communicate it to the sultan; but at the same time
informed him that she did not despair of obtaining the information he
wished.
The sultan was much pleased, and to encourage her presented her with a
diamond of great value, telling her it was only a forerunner of the
ample recompense she should receive when she had performed the important
service which he left to her management. The sorceress, knowing the time
when Prince Ahmed would again visit his father, went shortly before that
time to the foot of the rock where she had lost sight of him and his
attendants, and waited there to execute the project she had formed.
The next morning as Prince Ahmed went out as usual at the iron door,
with his attendants, on his journey to the capital, he saw a woman lying
with her head on a rock, and complaining as if she was in great pain. He
pitied her, turned his horse, and said, “Good woman, I will assist you,
and convey you where you shall not only have all possible care taken of
you, but where you will find a speedy cure. Rise, and let one of my
people take you behind him.”
At these words the sorceress made many feigned efforts to rise,
pretending that the violence of her illness prevented her. At the same
time two of the prince’s attendants, alighting, helped her up, and
placed her behind one of their companions. They mounted their horses
again, and followed the prince, who turned back to the iron gate, which
was opened by one of his followers. When he came into the outward court
of the fairy’s palace, without dismounting himself, he sent to tell her
he wanted to speak with her. The fairy came with all imaginable haste,
when Prince Ahmed said, “My princess, I desire you would have compassion
on this good woman. I recommend her to your care, and am persuaded that
you, from inclination, as well as my request, will not abandon her.”
The fairy, who had her eyes fixed on the pretended sick woman all the
time the prince was speaking, ordered two of her women to take her from
the men who supported her, conduct her into an apartment of the palace,
and take as much care of her as they would of herself.