princess, but not to waste time in needless regret, as he knew that she
still passionately desired possession of the marvellous treasures, he
interrupted her, saying: "Sister, our regret for our brother is vain;
our lamentations cannot restore him to life; it is the will of God; we
must submit and adore the decrees of the Almighty without searching into
them. Why should you now doubt of the truth of what the holy woman told
you? Do you think she spoke to you of three things that were not in
being, and that she invented them to deceive you who had received her
with so much goodness and civility? Let us rather believe that our
brother's death is owing to some error on his part, or some accident
which we cannot conceive. It ought not therefore to prevent us from
pursuing our object. I offered to go this journey, and am now more
resolved than ever; his example has no effect upon my resolution;
to-morrow I will depart."
The princess did all she could to dissuade Prince Perviz, conjuring him
not to expose her to the danger of losing two brothers; but he was
obstinate, and all the remonstrances she could urge had no effect upon
him. Before he went, that she might know what success he had, he left
her a string of a hundred pearls, telling her that if they would not run
when she should count them upon the string, but remain fixed, that would
be a certain sign he had undergone the same fate as his brother; but at
the same time told her he hoped it would never happen, but that he
should have the delight of seeing her again.
Prince Perviz, on the twentieth day after his departure, met the same
dervish in the same place as his brother Bahman had done before him. He
went directly up to him, and after he had saluted, asked him if he
could tell him where to find the Talking Bird, the Singing Tree, and the
Golden Water. The dervish urged the same remonstrances as he had done to
Prince Bahman, telling him that a young gentleman, who very much
resembled him, was with him a short time before; that, overcome by his
importunity, he had shown him the way, given him a guide, and told him
how he should act to succeed, but that he had not seen him since, and
doubted not but he had shared the same fate as all other adventurers.
"Good dervish," answered Prince Perviz, "I know whom you speak of; he
was my elder brother, and I am informed of the certainty of his death,
but know not the cause." "I can tell you," replied the dervish; "he was
changed into a black stone, as all I speak of have been; and you must
expect the same transformation, unless you observe more exactly than he
has done the advice I gave him, in case you persist in your resolution,
which I once more entreat you to renounce."
"Dervish," said Prince Perviz, "I cannot sufficiently express how much I
am obliged for the concern you take in my life, who am a stranger to
you, and have done nothing to deserve your kindness; but I thoroughly
considered this enterprise before I undertook it; therefore I beg of you
to do me the same favour you have done my brother. Perhaps I may have
better success in following your directions." "Since I cannot prevail
with you," said the dervish, "to give up your obstinate resolution, if
my age did not prevent me, and I could stand, I would get up to reach
you a bowl I have here, which will show you the way."
Without giving the dervish time to say more, the prince alighted from
his horse and went to the dervish, who had taken a bowl out of his bag,
in which he had a great many, and gave it him, with the same directions
he had given Prince Bahman; and after warning him not to be discouraged
by the voices he should hear, however threatening they might be, but to
continue his way up the hill till he saw the cage and bird, he let him
depart.
Prince Perviz thanked the dervish, and when he had remounted and taken
leave, threw the bowl before his horse, and spurring him at the same
time, followed it. When the bowl came to the bottom of the hill it
stopped, the prince alighted, and stood some time to recollect the
dervish's directions. He encouraged himself, and began to walk up with a
resolution to reach the summit; but before he had gone above six steps,
he heard a voice, which seemed to be near, as of a man behind him, say
in an insulting tone: "Stay, rash youth, that I may punish you for your
presumption."
Upon this affront the prince, forgetting the dervish's advice, clapped
his hand upon his sword, drew it, and turned about to revenge himself;
but had scarcely time to see that nobody followed him before he and his
horse were changed into black stones.
In the meantime the Princess Periezade, several times a day after her
brother's departure, counted her chaplet. She did not omit it at night,
but when she went to bed put it about her neck, and in the morning when
she awoke counted over the pearls again to see if they would slide.
The day that Prince Perviz was transformed into a stone she was counting
over the pearls as she used to do, when all at once they became
immovably fixed, a certain token that the prince, her brother, was dead.
As she had determined what to do in case it should so happen, she lost
no time in outward demonstrations of grief, which she concealed as much
as possible, but having disguised herself in man's apparel, she mounted
her horse the next morning, armed and equipped, having told her servants
she should return in two or three days, and took the same road that her
brothers had done.
The princess, who had been used to ride on horseback in hunting,
supported the fatigue of so long a journey better than most ladies could
have done; and as she made the same stages as her brothers, she also met
with the dervish on the twentieth day. When she came near him, she
alighted from her horse, leading him by the bridle, went and sat down by
the dervish, and after she had saluted him, said: "Good dervish, give me
leave to rest myself; and do me the favour to tell me if you have not
heard that there are somewhere in this neighbourhood a Talking Bird, a
Singing Tree, and Golden Water."
"Princess," answered the dervish, "for so I must call you, since by your
voice I know you to be a woman disguised in man's apparel, I know the
place well where these things are to be found; but what makes you ask me
this question?"
"Good dervish," replied the princess, "I have had such a flattering
relation of them given me, that I have a great desire to possess them."
"Madam," replied the dervish, "you have been told the truth. These
curiosities are more singular than they have been represented, but you
have not been made acquainted with the difficulties which must be
surmounted in order to obtain them. If you had been fully informed of
these, you would not have undertaken so dangerous an enterprise. Take my
advice, return, and do not urge me to contribute toward your ruin."
"Good father," said the princess, "I have travelled a great way, and
should be sorry to return without executing my design. You talk of
difficulties and danger of life, but you do not tell me what those
difficulties are, and wherein the danger consists. This is what I desire
to know, that I may consider and judge whether I can trust my courage
and strength to brave them."
The dervish repeated to the princess what he had said to the Princes
Bahman and Perviz, exaggerating the difficulties of climbing up to the
top of the mountain, where she was to make herself mistress of the Bird,
which would inform her of the Singing Tree and Golden Water. He
magnified the din of the terrible threatening voices which she would
hear on all sides of her, and the great number of black stones alone
sufficient to strike terror. He entreated her to reflect that those
stones were so many brave gentlemen, so metamorphosed for having omitted
to observe the principal condition of success in the perilous
undertaking, which was not to look behind them before they had got
possession of the cage.
When the dervish had done, the princess replied: "By what I comprehend
from your discourse, the difficulties of succeeding in this affair are,
first, the getting up to the cage without being frightened at the
terrible din of voices I shall hear; and, secondly, not to look behind
me. For this last, I hope I shall be mistress enough of myself to
observe it; as to the first, I own that voices, such as you represent
them to be, are capable of striking terror into the most undaunted; but
as in all enterprises and dangers every one may use stratagem, I desire
to know of you if I may use any in one of so great importance." "And
what stratagem is it you would employ?" said the dervish. "To stop my
ears with cotton," answered the princess, "that the voices, however
terrible, may make the less impression upon my imagination, and my mind
remain free from that disturbance which might cause me to lose the use
of my reason."
"Princess," replied the dervish, "of all the persons who have addressed
themselves to me for information, I do not know that ever one made use
of the contrivance you propose. All I know is that they all perished. If
you persist in your design, you may make the experiment. You will be
fortunate if it succeeds, but I would advise you not to expose yourself
to the danger."
"My good father," replied the princess, "I am sure my precaution will
succeed, and am resolved to try the experiment. Nothing remains for me
but to know which way I must go, and I conjure you not to deny me that
information." The dervish exhorted her again to consider well what she
was going to do; but finding her resolute, he took out a bowl, and
presenting it to her, said: "Take this bowl, mount your horse again, and
when you have thrown it before you, follow it through all its windings,
till it stops at the bottom of the mountain; there alight and ascend the
hill. Go, you know the rest."
After the princess had thanked the dervish, and taken her leave of him,
she mounted her horse, threw the bowl before her, and followed it till
it stopped at the foot of the mountain.
She then alighted, stopped her ears with cotton, and after she had well
examined the path leading to the summit began with a moderate pace and
walked up with intrepidity. She heard the voices and perceived the great
service the cotton was to her. The higher she went, the louder and more
numerous the voices seemed, but they were not capable of making any
impression upon her. She heard a great many affronting speeches and
raillery very disagreeable to a woman, which she only laughed at. "I
mind not," said she to herself, "all that can be said, were it worse; I
only laugh at them and shall pursue my way." At last, she climbed so
high that she could perceive the cage and the Bird which endeavoured, in
company with the voices, to frighten her, crying in a thundering tone,
notwithstanding the smallness of its size: "Retire, fool, and approach
no nearer."
The princess, encouraged by this sight, redoubled her speed, and by
effort gained the summit of the mountain, where the ground was level;
then running directly to the cage and clapping her hand upon it, cried:
"Bird, I have you, and you shall not escape me."
While Periezade was pulling the cotton out of her ears the Bird said to
her: "Heroic princess, be not angry with me for joining with those who
exerted themselves to preserve my liberty. Though in a cage, I was
content with my condition; but since I am destined to be a slave, I
would rather be yours than any other person's, since you have obtained
me so courageously. From this instant, I swear entire submission to all
your commands. I know who you are. You do not; but the time will come
when I shall do you essential service, for which I hope you will think
yourself obliged to me. As a proof of my sincerity, tell me what you
desire and I am ready to obey you."
The princess's joy was the more inexpressible, because the conquest she
had made had cost her the lives of two beloved brothers, and given her
more trouble and danger than she could have imagined. "Bird," said she,
"it was my intention to have told you that I wish for many things which
are of importance, but I am overjoyed that you have shown your goodwill
and prevented me. I have been told that there is not far off a Golden
Water, the property of which is very wonderful; before all things, I ask
you to tell me where it is." The Bird showed her the place, which was
just by, and she went and filled a little silver flagon which she had
brought with her. She returned at once and said: "Bird, this is not
enough; I want also the Singing Tree; tell me where it is." "Turn
about," said the Bird, "and you will see behind you a wood where you
will find the tree." The princess went into the wood, and by the
harmonious concert she heard, soon knew the tree among many others, but
it was very large and high. She came back again and said: "Bird, I have
found the Singing Tree, but I can neither pull it up by the roots nor
carry it." The Bird replied: "It is not necessary that you should take
it up; it will be sufficient to break off a branch and carry it to plant
in your garden; it will take root as soon as it is put into the earth,
and in a little time will grow to as fine a tree as that you have seen."
When the princess had obtained possession of the three things for which
she had conceived so great a desire, she said again: "Bird, what you
have yet done for me is not sufficient. You have been the cause of the
death of my two brothers, who must be among the black stones I saw as I
ascended the mountain. I wish to take the princes home with me."
The Bird seemed reluctant to satisfy the princess in this point, and
indeed made some difficulty to comply. "Bird," said the princess,
"remember you told me that you were my slave. You are so; and your life
is in my disposal." "That I cannot deny," answered the bird; "but
although what you now ask is more difficult than all the rest, yet I
will do it for you. Cast your eyes around," added he, "and look if you
can see a little pitcher." "I see it already," said the princess. "Take
it then," said he, "and as you descend the mountain, sprinkle a little
of the water that is in it upon every black stone."
The princess took up the pitcher accordingly, carried with her the cage
and Bird, the flagon of Golden Water, and the branch of the Singing
Tree, and as she descended the mountain, threw a little of the water on
every black stone, which was changed immediately into a man; and as she
did not miss one stone, all the horses, both of her brothers and of the
other gentlemen, resumed their natural forms also. She instantly
recognised Bahman and Perviz, as they did her, and ran to embrace her.
She returned their embraces and expressed her amazement. "What do you
here, my dear brothers?" said she, and they told her they had been
asleep. "Yes," replied she, "and if it had not been for me, perhaps you
might have slept till the day of judgment. Do not you remember that you
came to fetch the Talking Bird, the Singing Tree, and the Golden Water,
and did not you see, as you came along, the place covered with black
stones? Look and see if there be any now. The gentlemen and their horses
who surround us, and you yourselves, were these black stones. If you
desire to know how this wonder was performed," continued she, showing
the pitcher, which she set down at the foot of the mountain, "it was
done by virtue of the water which was in this pitcher, with which I
sprinkled every stone. After I had made the Talking Bird (which you see
in this cage) my slave, by his directions I found out the Singing Tree,
a branch of which I have now in my hand; and the Golden Water, with
which this flagon is filled; but being still unwilling to return without
taking you with me, I constrained the Bird, by the power I had over him,
to afford me the means. He told me where to find this pitcher, and the
use I was to make of it."
The Princes Bahman and Perviz learned by this relation the obligation
they had to their sister, as did all the other gentlemen, who expressed
to her that, far from envying her happiness in the conquest she had
made, and which they all had aspired to, they thought they could not
better express their gratitude for restoring them to life again, than by
declaring themselves her slaves, and that they were ready to obey her in
whatever she should command.
"Gentlemen," replied the princess, "if you had given any attention to my
words, you might have observed that I had no other intention in what I
have done than to recover my brothers; therefore, if you have received
any benefit, you owe me no obligation, and I have no further share
in your compliment than your politeness toward me, for which I return
you my thanks. In other respects, I regard each of you as quite as free
as you were before your misfortunes, and I rejoice with you at the
happiness which has accrued to you by my means. Let us, however, stay no
longer in a place where we have nothing to detain us, but mount our
horses and return to our respective homes."
[Illustration]
_It will be sufficient to break off a branch and carry it to plant in
your garden._
The princess took her horse, which stood in the place where she had left
him. Before she mounted, Prince Bahman desired her to give him the cage
to carry. "Brother," replied the princess, "the Bird is my slave and I
will carry him myself; if you will take the pains to carry the branch of
the Singing Tree, there it is; only hold the cage while I get on
horseback." When she had mounted her horse, and Prince Bahman had given
her the cage, she turned about and said to Prince Perviz: "I leave the
flagon of Golden Water to your care, if it will not be too much trouble
for you to carry it," and Prince Perviz accordingly took charge of it
with pleasure.
When Bahman, Perviz, and all the gentlemen had mounted their horses, the
princess waited for some of them to lead the way. The two princes paid
that compliment to the gentlemen, and they again to the princess, who,
finding that none of them would accept the honour, but that it was
reserved for her, addressed herself to them and said: "Gentlemen, I
expect that some of you should lead the way;" to which one who was
nearest to her, in the name of the rest, replied: "Madam, were we
ignorant of the respect due to your sex, yet after what you have done
for us there is no deference we would not willingly pay you,
notwithstanding your modesty; we entreat you no longer to deprive us of
the happiness of following you."
"Gentlemen," said the princess, "I do not deserve the honour you do me,
and accept it only because you desire it." At the same time she led the
way, and the two princes and the gentlemen followed.
This illustrious company called upon the dervish as they passed, to
thank him for his reception and wholesome advice, which they had all
found to be sincere. He was dead, however; whether of old age, or
because he was no longer necessary to show the way to obtaining the
three rarities, did not appear. They pursued their route, but lessened
in their numbers every day. The gentlemen who, as we said before, had
come from different countries, after severally repeating their
obligations to the princess and her brothers, took leave of them one
after another as they approached the road by which they had come.
As soon as the princess reached home, she placed the cage in the garden,
and the Bird no sooner began to warble than he was surrounded by
nightingales, chaffinches, larks, linnets, goldfinches, and every
species of birds of the country. The branch of the Singing Tree was no
sooner set in the midst of the parterre, a little distance from the
house, than it took root and in a short time became a large tree, the
leaves of which gave as harmonious a concert as those of the parent from
which it was gathered. A large basin of beautiful marble was placed in
the garden, and when it was finished, the princess poured into it all
the Golden Water from the flagon, which instantly increased and swelled
so much that it soon reached up to the edges of the basin, and afterward
formed in the middle a fountain twenty feet high, which fell again into
the basin perpetually, without running over.
The report of these wonders was presently spread abroad, and as the
gates of the house and those of the gardens were shut to nobody, a great
number of people came to admire them.
Some days after, when the Princes Bahman and Perviz had recovered from
the fatigue of their journey, they resumed their former way of living;
and as their usual diversion was hunting, they mounted their horses and
went for the first time since their return, not to their own demesne,
but two or three leagues from their house. As they pursued their sport,
the emperor of Persia came in pursuit of game upon the same ground. When
they perceived, by the number of horsemen in different places, that he
would soon be up, they resolved to discontinue their chase, and retire
to avoid encountering him; but in the very road they took they chanced
to meet him in so narrow a way that they could not retreat without being
seen. In their surprise they had only time to alight and prostrate
themselves before the emperor, without lifting up their heads to look at
him. The emperor, who saw they were as well mounted and dressed as if
they had belonged to his court, had a curiosity to see their faces. He
stopped and commanded them to rise. The princes rose up and stood before
him with an easy and graceful air, accompanied with modest countenances.
The emperor took some time to view them before he spoke, and after he
had admired their good air and mien, asked them who they were and where
they lived.
"Sir," said Prince Bahman, "we are the sons of the late intendant of
your majesty's gardens, and live in a house which he built a little
before he died, till we should be fit to serve your majesty and ask of
you some employ when opportunity offered."
"By what I perceive," replied the emperor, "you love hunting." "Sir,"
replied Prince Bahman, "it is our common exercise, and what none of your
majesty's subjects who intend to bear arms in your armies, ought,
according to the ancient custom of the kingdom, to neglect." The
emperor, charmed with so prudent an answer, said: "Since it is so, I
should be glad to see your expertness in the chase; choose your own
game."
The princes mounted their horses again and followed the emperor, but had
not gone far before they saw many wild beasts together. Prince Bahman
chose a lion and Prince Perviz a bear, and pursued them with so much
intrepidity that the emperor was surprised. They came up with their game
nearly at the same time, and darted their javelins with so much skill
and address that they pierced the one the lion and the other the bear so
effectually that the emperor saw them fall one after the other.
Immediately afterward Prince Bahman pursued another bear, and Prince
Perviz another lion, and killed them in a short time, and would have
beaten out for fresh game, but the emperor would not let them, and sent
to them to come to him. When they approached he said: "If I had given
you leave, you would soon have destroyed all my game; but it is not that
which I would preserve, but your persons; for I am so well assured your
bravery may one time or other be serviceable to me, that from this
moment your lives will be always dear to me."
The emperor, in short, conceived so great a kindness for the two
princes, that he invited them immediately to make him a visit, to which
Prince Bahman replied: "Your majesty does us an honour we do not
deserve, and we beg you will excuse us."
The emperor, who could not comprehend what reason the princes could have
to refuse this token of his favour, pressed them to tell him why they
excused themselves. "Sir," said Prince Bahman, "we have a sister younger
than ourselves, with whom we live in such perfect union, that we
undertake nothing before we consult her, nor she anything without asking
our advice." "I commend your brotherly affection," answered the emperor.
"Consult your sister, meet me to-morrow, and give me an answer."