to her palace. Now certain of her damsels became aware of her secret,
and one of these slave girls disclosed it to King Sasan, who went into
Kuzia Fakan and, drawing his sabre upon her, would have slain her: but
her mother Nuzhat al-Zaman entered and said to him, "By Allah, do her no
harm, for if thou hurt her, the report will be noised among the folk and
thou shalt become a reproach amongst the Kings of the age! Know thou
that Kanmakan is no son of adultery, but a man of honour and nobility,
who would not do aught that could shame him, and she was reared with
him. So be not hasty; for verily the report is spread abroad, among all
the palace-people and all the folk of Baghdad, how the Wazir Dandan hath
levied armies from all countries and is on his way hither to make
Kanmakan King." Quoth Sasan, "By Allah, needs must I cast him into such
calamity that neither earth shall support him nor sky shall shadow him!
I did but speak him fair and show him favour because of my lieges and my
lords, lest they incline to him; but right soon shalt thou see what
shall betide." Then he left her and went out to order the affairs of the
realm. Such, then, was the case with King Sasan; but as regards
Kanmakan, on the next day he came in to his mother and said, "O my
mother! I am resolved to ride forth a-raiding and a-looting: and I will
cut the road of caravans and lift horses and flocks, negroes and white
slaves and, as soon as I have collected great store and my case is
bettered galore, I will demand my cousin Kuzia Fakan in marriage of my
uncle Sasan." Replied she, "O my son, of a truth the goods of men are
not ready to hand like a scape-camel;[95] for on this side of them are
sword-strokes and lance-lungings and men that eat the wild beast and lay
countries waste and chase lynxes and hunt lions." Quoth he, "Heaven
forefend that I turn back from my resolve, till I have won to my will!"
Then he despatched the old woman to Kuzia Fakan, to tell her that he was
about to set out in quest of a marriage-settlement befitting her, saying
to the beldam, "Thou needs must pray her to send me an answer." "I hear
and I obey," replied the old woman and going forth, presently returned
with Kuzia Fakan's reply, which was, "She will come to thee at
midnight." So he abode awake till one half of the night was passed, when
restlessness gat hold on him, and before he was aware she came in to
him, saying, "My life be thy ransom from wakefulness!" and he sprang up
to receive her, exclaiming, "O desire of my heart, my life be thy
redemption from all ills and evils!" Then he acquainted her, with his
intent, and she wept: but he said, "Weep not, O daughter of my uncle;
for I beseech Him who decreed our separation to vouchsafe us reunion and
fair understanding." Then Kanmakan, having fixed a day for departure,
went in to his mother and took leave of her, after which came he down
from his palace and threw the baldrick of his sword over his shoulder
and donned turband and face-veil; and mounting his horse, Al-Katul, and
looking like the moon at its full, he threaded the streets of Baghdad,
till he reached the city gate. And behold, here he found Sabbah bin
Rammah coming out of town; and his comrade seeing him, ran to his
stirrup and saluted him. He returned his salutation, and Sabbah asked
him, "O my brother, how camest thou by this good steed and this sword
and clothes, whilst I up to present time have gotten nothing but my
sword and target?" Answered Kanmakan, "The hunter returneth not but with
quarry after the measure of his intention. A little after thy departure,
fortune came to me: so now say, wilt thou go with me and work thine
intent in my company and journey with me in this desert?" Replied
Sabbah, "By the Lord of the Ka'abah, from this time forth I will call
thee naught but 'my lord'!" Then he ran on before the horse, with his
sword hanging from his neck and his budget between his shoulder-blades,
and Kanmakan rode a little behind him; and they plunged into the desert,
for a space of four days, eating of the gazelles and drinking water of
the springs. On the fifth day they drew near a high hill, at whose foot
was a spring-encampment[96] and a deep running stream; and the knolls
and hollows were filled with camels and cattle and sheep and horses, and
little children played about the pens and folds. When Kanmakan saw this,
he rejoiced at the sight and his breast was filled with delight; so he
addressed himself to fight, that he might take the camels and the
cattle, and said to Sabbah, "Come, fall with us upon this loot, whose
owners have left it unguarded here, and do we battle for it with near
and far, so haply may fall to our lot of goods some share." Replied
Sabbah, "O my lord, verily they to whom these herds belong be many in
number; and among them are doughty horsemen and fighting footmen; and if
we venture lives in this derring-do we shall fall into danger great and
neither of us will return safe from this bate; but we shall both be cut
off by fate and leave our cousins desolate." Then Kanmakan laughed and
knew that he was a coward; so he left him and rode down the rise, intent
on rapine, with loud cries and chanting these couplets:—
Oh a valiant race are the sons of Nu'umán, ✿ Braves whose blades shred
heads of the foeman-clan![97]
A tribe who, when tried in the tussle of war, ✿ Taketh prowest stand in
the battle-van:
In their tents safe close gaberlunzie's eyne, ✿ Nor his poverty's ugly
features scan:
And I for their aidance sue of Him ✿ Who is King of Kings and made soul
of man.
Then he rushed upon the she-camels like a he-camel in rut and drove all
before him, sheep and cattle, horses and dromedaries. Therewith the
slaves ran at him with their blades so bright and their lances so long;
and at their head rode a Turkish horseman who was indeed a stout
champion, doughty in fray and in battle chance and skilled to wield the
nut-brown lance and the blade with bright glance. He drove at Kanmakan,
saying, "Woe to thee! Knewest thou to whom these herds belong thou hadst
not done this deed. Know that they are the goods of the band Grecian,
the champions of the ocean and the troop Circassian; and this troop
containeth none but valiant wights numbering an hundred knights, who
have cast off the allegiance of every Sultan. But there hath been stolen
from them a noble stallion, and they have vowed not to return hence
without him." Now when Kanmakan heard these words, he cried out, saying,
"O villain, this I bestride is the steed whereof ye speak and after
which ye seek, and ye would do battle with me for his sake! So come out
against me, all of you at once, and do you dourest for the nonce!" Then
he shouted between the ears of Al-Katul who ran at them like a Ghul;
whereupon Kanmakan let drive at the Turk[98] and ran him through the
body and threw him from his horse and let out his life; after which he
turned upon a second and a third and a fourth, and also of life bereft
them. When the slaves saw this, they were afraid of him, and he cried
out and said to them, "Ho, sons of whores, drive out the cattle and the
stud or I will dye my spear in your blood." So they untethered the
beasts and began to drive them out; and Sabbah came down to Kanmakan
with loud voicing and hugely rejoicing; when lo! there arose a cloud of
dust and grew till it walled the view, and there appeared under of it
riders an hundred, like lions an-hungered. Upon this Sabbah took flight,
and fled to the hill's topmost height, leaving the assailable site, and
enjoyed sight of the fight, saying, "I am no warrior; but in sport and
jest I delight."[99] Then the hundred cavaliers made towards Kanmakan
and surrounded him on all sides, and one of them accosted him, saying,
"Whither goest thou with this loot?" Quoth he, "I have made it my prize
and am carrying it away; and I forbid you from it, or come on to the
combat, for know ye that he who is before you is a terrible lion and an
honourable champion, and a sword that cutteth wherever it turneth!" When
the horseman heard these words, he looked at Kanmakan and saw that he
was a knight like a mane-clad lion in might, whilst his face was as the
full moon rising on its fourteenth night, and valour shone from between
his eyes. Now that horseman was the captain of the hundred horse, and
his name was Kahrdash; and when he saw in Kanmakan the perfection of
cavalarice with surpassing gifts of comeliness, his beauty reminded him
of a beautiful mistress of his whose name was Fátin.[100] Now she was
one of the fairest of women in face, for Allah had given her charms and
grace and noble qualities of all kinds, such as tongue faileth to
explain and which ravish the hearts of men. Moreover, the cavaliers of
the tribe feared her prowess and all the champions of that land stood in
awe of her high spirit; and she had sworn that she would not marry nor
let any possess her, except he should conquer her in combat (Kahrdash
being one of her suitors); and she said to her father, "None shall
approach me, save he be able to deal me overthrow in the field and stead
of war-thrust and blow. Now when this news reached Kahrdash, he scorned
to fight with a girl, fearing reproach; and one of his intimates said to
him, "Thou art complete in all conditions of beauty and goodliness; so
if thou contend with her, even though she be stronger than thou, thou
must needs overcome her; for when she seeth thy beauty and grace, she
will be discomfited before thee and yield thee the victory; for verily
women have a need of men e'en as thou heedest full plain. Nevertheless
Kahrdash refused and would not contend with her, and he ceased not to
abstain from her thus, till he met from Kanmakan that which hath been
set down. Now he took the Prince for his beloved Fatin and was afraid;
albeit indeed she loved him for what she had heard of his beauty and
valour; so he went up to him and said, "Woe to thee,[101] O Fatin! Thou
comest here to show me thy prowess; but now alight from thy steed, that
I may talk with thee, for I have lifted these cattle and have foiled my
friends and waylaid many a brave and man of knightly race, all for the
sake of thy beauty of form and face, which are without peer. So marry me
now, that Kings' daughters may serve thee and thou shalt become Queen of
these countries." When Kanmakan heard these words, the fires of wrath
flamed up in him and he cried out, "Woe to thee, O Persian dog! Leave
Fatin and thy trust and mistrust, and come to cut and thrust, for
eftsoon thou shalt lie in the dust;" and so saying, he began to wheel
about him and assail him and feel the way to prevail. But when Kahrdash
observed him closely he knew him for a doughty knight and a stalwart in
fight; and the error of his thought became manifest to him, whenas he
saw the green down on his cheeks dispread like myrtles springing from
the heart of a rose bright-red. And he feared his onslaught and quoth he
to those with him, "Woe to you! Let one of you charge down upon him and
show him the keen sword and the quivering spear; for know that when many
do battle with one man it is foul shame, even though he be a kemperly
wight and an invincible knight." Upon this, there ran at Kanmakan a
horseman like a lion in fight, mounted on a black horse with hoofs
snow-white and a star on his forehead, the bigness of a dirham,
astounding wit and sight, as he were Abjar, which was Antar's destrier,
even as saith of him the poet:—
The courser chargeth on battling foe, ✿ Mixing heaven on high with the
earth down low:[102]
As though the Morning had blazed his brow, ✿ And he rends her vitals as
quid pro quo.
He rushed upon Kanmakan, and they wheeled about awhile, giving blows and
taking blows such as confound the sprite and dim the sight; but Kanmakan
was the first to smite the foe a swashing blow, that rove through
turband and iron skull-cap and reached his head, and he fell from his
steed with the fall of a camel when he rolleth over. Then a second came
out to him and offered battle, and in like guise a third, a fourth and a
fifth, and he did with them all as he had done with the first. Thereupon
the rest at once rushed upon him, for indeed they were roused by rage
and wild with wrath; but it was not long before he had pierced them all
with the point of his spear. When Kahrdash saw these feats of arms, he
feared death; for he knew that the youth was stoutest of heart and
concluded that he was unique among knights and braves; and he said to
Kanmakan, "I waive my claim to thy blood and I pardon thee the blood of
my comrades: so take what thou wilt of the cattle and wend thy ways, for
thy firmness in fight moveth my ruth and life is better for thee than
death." Replied Kanmakan, "Thou lackest not of the generosity of the
noble! but leave this talk and run for thy life and reck not of blame
nor think to get back the booty; but take the straight path for thine
own safety." Thereupon Kahrdash waxed exceeding wroth, and rage moved
him to the cause of his death; so he said to Kanmakan, "Woe to thee, an
thou knew who I be, thou wouldst not wield these words in the open
field. I am the lion to bash known as Kahrdash, he who spoileth great
Kings and waylayeth all travellings and seizeth the merchants'
preciousest things. And the steed under thee is that I am seeking; and I
call upon thee to tell me how thou camest by him and hast him in thy
keeping." Replied Kanmakan, "Know thou that this steed was being carried
to my uncle King Sasan, under the escort of an ancient dame high in rank
attended by ten slaves, when thou fellest upon her and tookest the horse
from her; and I have a debt of blood against this old woman for the sake
of my grandfather King Omar bin al-Nu'uman and my uncle King Sharrkan."
"Woe to thee!" quoth Kahrdash, "who is thy father, O thou that hast no
lawful mother?" Quoth he, "Know that I am Kanmakan, bin Zau al-Makan,
son of Omar bin al-Nu'uman." But when Kahrdash heard this address he
said, "Thy perfection cannot be denied, nor yet the union in thee of
knightly virtue and seemlihead," and he added, "Fare in peace, for thy
father showed us favour." Rejoined Kanmakan, "By Allah, I will not deign
to honour thee, O wretch I disdain, so far as to overcome thee in
battle-plain!" Upon this the Badawi waxed wroth and they drove at each
other, shouting aloud, whilst their horses pricked their ears and raised
their tails.[103] And they ceased not clashing together with such a
crash that it seemed to each as if the firmament were split in sunder,
and they continued to strive like two rams which butt, smiting and
exchanging with their spears thrust and cut. Presently Kahrdash foined
at Kanmakan; but he evaded it and rejoined upon him and so pierced him
through the breast that the spearhead issued from his back. Then he
collected the horses and the plunder, and he cried out to the slaves,
saying, "Up and be driving as hard as ye may!" Hearing this, down came
Sabbah and, accosting Kanmakan, said to him, "Right well hast thou
dight, O Knight of the age! Verily I prayed Allah for thee and the Lord
heard my prayer." Then he cut off Kahrdash's head and Kanmakan laughed
and said, "Woe to thee, O Sabbah! I thought thee a rider fain of fight."
Quoth the Badawi, "Forget not thy slave in the division of the spoil, so
haply therewith I may marry my cousin Najmah." Answered Kanmakan, "Thou
shalt assuredly share in it, but now keep watch over the booty and the
slaves." Then he set out for his home and he ceased not journeying night
and day till he drew near Baghdad city, and all the troops heard of
Kanmakan, and saw what was his of loot and cattle and the horse-thief's
head on the point of Sabbah's spear. Also (for he was a noted
highwayman) the merchants knew Kahrdash's head and rejoiced, saying,
"Allah hath rid mankind of him!"; and they marvelled at his being slain
and blessed his slayer. Thereupon all the people of Baghdad came to
Kanmakan, seeking to know what adventures had befallen him, and he told
them what had passed, whereupon all men were taken with awe of him and
the Knights and champions feared him. Then he drove his spoil under the
palace walls; and, planting the spear-heel, on whose point was
Kahrdash's head, over against the royal gate, gave largesse to the
people of Baghdad, distributing horses and camels, so that all loved him
and their hearts inclined to him. Presently he took Sabbah and lodged
him in a spacious dwelling and gave him a share of the loot; after which
he went in to his mother and told her all that had befallen him in his
last journey. Meanwhile the news of him reached the King, who rose from
his levee and, shutting himself up with his chief officers, said to
them, "Know ye that I desire to reveal to you my secret and acquaint you
with the hidden facts of my case. And further know that Kanmakan will be
the cause of our being uprooted from this kingdom, our birth-place; for
he hath slain Kahrdash, albeit he had with him the tribes of the Kurds
and the Turks, and our affair with him will end in our destruction,
seeing that the most part of our troops are his kinsmen and ye weet what
the Wazir Dandan hath done; how he disowneth me, after all I have shown
him of favours; and after being faithful he hath turned traitor. Indeed
it hath reached me that he hath levied an army in the provinces and hath
planned to make Kanmakan Sultan, for that the Sultanate was his father's
and his grandfather's; and assuredly he will slay me without mercy." Now
when the Lords of the Realm heard from him these words, they replied, "O
King, verily his man[104] is unequal to this, and did we not know him to
have been reared by thee, not one of us would approve of him. And know
thou that we are at thy commandment; if thou desire his death, we will
do him die; and if thou wilt remove him, we will remove him." Now when
King Sasan heard this, he said, "Verily, to slay him were wise; but
needs must ye swear an oath to it." So all sware to slay Kanmakan
without giving him a chance; to the end that, when the Wazir Dandan
should come and hear of his death, his force might be weakened and he
fail of his design. When they had made this compact and covenant with
him, the King honoured them with the highest honours and presently
retired to his own apartments. But the officers deserted him and the
troops refused their service and would neither mount nor dismount until
they should espy what might befal, for they saw that most of the army
was with the Wazir Dandan. Presently, the news of these things came to
Kuzia Fakan and caused her much concern; so that she sent for the old
woman who was wont to carry messages between her and her cousin, and
when she came, bade her go to him and warn him of the plot. Whereto he
replied, "Bear my salutation to the daughter of my uncle and say to
her:—Verily the earth is of Allah (to whom belong Might and Majesty!),
and He giveth it as heritage to whomsoever of His servants he willeth.
How excellent is the saying of the sayer:—
Allah holds Kingship! Whoso seeks without Him victory ✿ Shall be cast
out, with soul condemned to Hell of low degree:
Had I or any other man a finger-breadth of land, ✿ The rule were changed
and men a twain of partner-gods would see."