his nephew. He taught him to ride, draw the bow, and all other
accomplishments becoming the son of a sovereign; so that Codadad, at
eighteen years of age, was looked upon as a prodigy. The young prince,
being inspired with a courage worthy his birth, said one day to his
mother: "Madam, I begin to grow weary of Samaria; I feel a passion for
glory; give me leave to seek it amidst the perils of war. My father the
sultan of Harran has many enemies. Why does he not call me to his
assistance? Must I spend my life in sloth, when all my brothers have the
happiness to be fighting by his side?" "My son," answered Pirouzè, "I am
no less impatient to have your name become famous; I could wish you had
already signalised yourself against your father's enemies; but we must
wait till he requires it." "No, madam," replied Codadad, "I have already
waited too long. I burn to see the sultan, and am tempted to offer him
my service, as a young stranger: no doubt but he will accept of it, and
I will not discover myself till I have performed some glorious actions."
Pirouzè approved of his generous resolutions, and Codadad departed from
Samaria, as if he had been going to the chase, without acquainting
Prince Samer, lest he should thwart his design.
He was mounted on a white charger, who had a bit and shoes of gold, his
housing was of blue satin embroidered with pearls; the hilt of his
cimeter was of one single diamond, and the scabbard of sandalwood,
adorned with emeralds and rubies, and on his shoulder he carried his bow
and quiver. In this equipage, which greatly set off his handsome
person, he arrived at the city of Harran, and soon found means to offer
his service to the sultan; who being charmed with his beauty, and
perhaps indeed by natural sympathy, gave him a favourable reception, and
asked his name and quality. "Sir," answered Codadad, "I am son to an
emir of Grand Cairo; an inclination to travel has made me quit my
country, and understanding that you were engaged in war, I am come to
your court to offer your majesty my service." The sultan, upon hearing
this, shewed him extraordinary kindness, and gave him a command in his
army.
The young prince soon gained the esteem of the officers, and was admired
by the soldiers. Having no less wit than courage, he so far advanced
himself in the sultan's esteem, as to become his favourite. All the
ministers and other courtiers daily resorted to Codadad, and were so
eager to purchase his friendship, that they neglected the sultan's sons.
The princes could not but resent this conduct, and all conceived an
implacable hatred against him; but the sultan's affection daily
increasing, he was never weary of giving him fresh testimonies of his
regard. He always would have him near his person; and to shew his high
opinion of his wisdom and prudence, committed to his care the other
princes, though he was of the same age as they; so that Codadad was made
governor of his brothers.
This only served to heighten their hatred. "Is it come to this," said
they, "that the sultan, not satisfied with loving a stranger more than
us, will have him to be our governor, and not allow us to act without
his leave? This is not to be endured. We must rid ourselves of this
foreigner." "Let us go together," said one of them, "and despatch him."
"No, no," answered another; "we had better be cautious how we sacrifice
ourselves. His death would render us odious to the sultan. Let us
destroy him by some stratagem. We will ask his permission to hunt, and,
when at a distance from the palace, proceed to some other city and stay
there some time. The sultan will wonder at our absence, and perceiving
we do not return, perhaps put the stranger to death, or at least will
banish him from court, for suffering us to leave the palace."
All the princes applauded this artifice. They went together to Codadad,
and desired him to allow them to take the diversion of hunting,
promising to return the same day. Pirouzè's son was taken in the snare,
and granted the permission his brothers desired. They set out, but never
returned. They had been three days absent, when the sultan asked Codadad
where the princes were, for it was long since he had seen them. "Sir,"
answered Codadad, after making a profound reverence, "they have been
hunting these three days, but they promised me they would return
sooner." The sultan grew uneasy, and his uneasiness increased when he
perceived the princes did not return the next day. He could not check
his anger: "Indiscreet stranger," said he to Codadad, "why did you let
my sons go without bearing them company? Go, seek them immediately, and
bring them to me, or your life shall be forfeited."
These words chilled with alarm Pirouzè's unfortunate son. He armed
himself, departed from the city, and like a shepherd who had lost his
flock, searched the country for his brothers, inquiring at every village
whether they had been seen; but hearing no news of them, abandoned
himself to the most lively grief. He was inconsolable for having given
the princes permission to hunt, or for not having borne them company.
After some days spent in fruitless search, he came to a plain of
prodigious extent, in the midst whereof was a palace built of black
marble. He drew near, and at one of the windows beheld a most beautiful
lady; but set off with no other ornament than her own charms; for her
hair was dishevelled, her garments torn, and on her countenance appeared
all the marks of affliction. As soon as she saw Codadad, and judged he
might hear her, she directed her discourse to him, saying: "Young man,
depart from this fatal place, or you will soon fall into the hands of
the monster that inhabits it: a black, who feeds only on human blood,
resides in this palace; he seizes all persons whom their ill fate
conducts to this plain, and shuts them up in his dungeons, whence they
are never released, but to be devoured by him."
"Madam," answered Codadad, "tell me who you are, and be not concerned
for myself." "I am a lady of quality of Grand Cairo," replied the
captive; "I was passing by this castle yesterday, on my way to Bagdad,
and met with the black, who killed all my attendants, and brought me
hither. I beg of you," she cried, "to make your escape: the black will
soon return; he is gone out to pursue some travellers he espied at a
distance on the plain. Lose no time, but fly."
She had scarcely done speaking before the black appeared. He was of
monstrous bulk, and of a dreadful aspect, mounted on a large Tartar
horse, and bore a heavy cimeter, that none but himself could wield. The
prince seeing him, was amazed at his gigantic stature, directed his
prayers to Heaven to assist him, then drew his own cimeter, and firmly
awaited his approach. The monster, despising so inconsiderable an enemy,
called to him to submit without fighting. Codadad by his conduct shewed
that he was resolved to defend his life; for rushing upon the black, he
wounded him on the knee. The monster, feeling himself wounded, uttered
such a dreadful yell as made all the plain resound. He grew furious and
foamed with rage, and raising himself on his stirrups, made at Codadad
with his dreadful cimeter. The blow was so violent, that it would have
put an end to the young prince, had not he avoided it by a sudden
spring. The cimeter made a horrible hissing in the air: but, before the
black could have time to make a second blow, Codadad struck him on his
right arm with such force that he cut it off. The dreadful cimeter fell
with the hand that held it, and the black, yielding under the violence
of the stroke, lost his stirrups, and made the earth shake with the
weight of his fall. The prince alighted at the same time, and cut off
his enemy's head. Just then the lady, who had been a spectator of the
combat, and was still offering up her earnest prayers to Heaven for the
young hero, uttered a shriek of joy, and said to Codadad: "Prince and
Deliverer, finish the work you have begun; the black has the keys of
this castle, take them and deliver me out of prison."
The prince searched the wretch as he lay stretched on the ground, and
found several keys. He opened the first door, and entered a court, where
he saw the lady coming to meet him; she would have cast herself at his
feet, the better to express her gratitude, but he would not permit her.
She commended his valour, and extolled him above all the heroes in the
world. He returned her compliments; and she appeared still more lovely
to him near, than she had done at a distance. I know not whether she
felt more joy at being delivered from the desperate danger she had been
in, than he for having done so considerable a service to so beautiful a
person.
Their conversation was interrupted by dismal cries and groans. "What do
I hear?" said Codadad; "whence come these miserable lamentations, which
pierce my ears?" "My lord," said the lady, pointing to a little door in
the court, "they come from thence. There are I know not how many
wretched persons whom fate has thrown into the hands of the black. They
are all chained, and the monster drew out one every day to devour."
"It is an addition to my joy," answered the young prince, "to understand
that my victory will save the lives of those unfortunate beings. Come
with me, madam, to partake in the satisfaction of giving them their
liberty." Having so said, they advanced toward the door of the dungeon,
where Codadad, pitying them, and impatient to put an end to their
sufferings, presently put one of the keys into the lock. The noise made
all the unfortunate captives, who concluded it was the black coming,
according to custom, to seize one of them to devour, redouble their
cries and groans.
In the meantime, the prince had opened the door; he went down a steep
staircase into a deep vault, which received some feeble light from a
little window, and in which there were above a hundred persons, bound to
stakes. "Unfortunate travellers," said he to them, "who only expected
the moment of an approaching death, give thanks to Heaven which has this
day delivered you by my means. I have slain the black by whom you were
to be devoured, and am come to knock off your chains." The prisoners
hearing these words, gave a shout of mingled joy and surprise. Codadad
and the lady began to unbind them; and as soon as any of them were
loose, they helped to take off the fetters from the rest; so that in a
short time they were all at liberty.
They then kneeled down, and having returned thanks to Codadad for what
he had done for them, went out of the dungeon; but when they were come
into the court, how was the prince surprised to see among the prisoners
those he was in search of, and almost without hopes to find! "Princes,"
cried he, "is it you whom I behold? May I flatter myself that it is in
my power to restore you to the sultan your father, who is inconsolable
for the loss of you? Are you all here alive? Alas! the death of one of
you will suffice to damp the joy I feel for having delivered you."
The forty-nine princes all made themselves known to Codadad, who
embraced them one after another, and told them how uneasy their father
was on account of their absence. They gave their deliverer all the
commendations he deserved, as did the other prisoners, who could not
find words expressive enough to declare their gratitude. Codadad, with
them, searched the whole castle, where was immense wealth: curious
silks, gold brocades, Persian carpets, China satins, and an infinite
quantity of other goods, which the black had taken from the caravans he
had plundered, a considerable part whereof belonged to the prisoners
Codadad had then liberated. Every man knew and claimed his property. The
prince restored them their own, and divided the rest of the merchandise
among them. Then he said to them: "How will you carry away your goods?
We are here in a desert place, and there is no likelihood of your
getting horses." "My lord," answered one of the prisoners, "the black
robbed us of our camels, as well as of our goods, and perhaps they may
be in the stables of this castle." "That is not unlikely," replied
Codadad; "let us examine." Accordingly they went to the stables, where
they not only found the camels, but also the horses belonging to the
sultan of Harran's sons. All the merchants, overjoyed that they had
recovered their goods and camels, together with their liberty, thought
of nothing but prosecuting their journey; but first repeated their
thanks to their deliverer.
When they were gone, Codadad, directing his discourse to the lady, said:
"What place, madam, do you desire to go to? I intend to bear you company
to the spot you shall choose for your retreat, and I question not but
that all these princes will do the same." The sultan of Harran's sons
protested to the lady, that they would not leave her till she was
restored to her friends.
"Princes," said she, "I am of a country too remote from here; and,
besides that, it would be abusing your generosity to oblige you to
travel so far. I must confess that I have left my native country for
ever. I told you that I was a lady of Grand Cairo; but since you have
shewn me so much favour, I should be much in the wrong in concealing the
truth from you: I am a sultan's daughter. A usurper has possessed
himself of my father's throne, after having murdered him, and I have
been forced to fly to save my life."
Codadad and his brothers requested the princess to tell them her story,
and after thanking them for their repeated protestations of readiness to
serve her, she could not refuse to satisfy their curiosity, and began
the recital of her adventures in the following manner.
"There was in a certain island," said the princess, "a great city called
Deryabar, governed by a magnificent and virtuous sultan, who had no
children, which was the only blessing wanting to make him happy. He
continually addressed his prayers to Heaven, but Heaven only partially
granted his requests, for the queen his wife, after a long expectation,
brought forth a daughter.
"I am that unfortunate princess; my father was rather grieved than
pleased at my birth; but he submitted to the will of God, and caused me
to be educated with all possible care, being resolved, since he had no
son, to teach me the art of ruling, that I might supply his place after
his death.
"There was, at the court of Deryabar, an orphan youth of good birth whom
the sultan, my father, had befriended and educated according to his
rank. He was very handsome, and, not wanting ability, found means to
please my father, who conceived a great friendship for him. All the
courtiers perceived it, and guessed that the young man might in the end
be my husband. In this idea, and looking on him already as heir to the
crown, they made their court to him, and every one endeavoured to gain
his favour. He soon saw into their designs, and forgetting the distance
there was between our conditions, flattered himself with the hopes that
my father was fond enough of him to prefer him before all the princes in
the world. He went farther; for the sultan not offering me to him as
soon as he could have wished, he had the boldness to ask me of him.
Whatever punishment his insolence deserved, my father was satisfied with
telling him he had other thoughts in relation to me. The youth was
incensed at this refusal; he resented the contempt, as if he had asked
some maid of ordinary extraction, or as if his birth had been equal to
mine. Nor did he stop here, but resolved to be revenged on the sultan,
and with unparalleled ingratitude conspired against him. In short, he
murdered him, and caused himself to be proclaimed sovereign of Deryabar.
The grand vizier, however, while the usurper was butchering my father
came to carry me away from the palace, and secured me in a friend's
house, till a vessel he had provided was ready to sail. I then left the
island, attended only by a governess and that generous minister, who
chose rather to follow his master's daughter than to submit to a tyrant.
"The grand vizier designed to carry me to the courts of the neighbouring
sultans, to implore their assistance, and excite them to revenge my
father's death; but Heaven did not concur in a resolution we thought so
just. When we had been but a few days at sea, there arose such a furious
storm, that our vessel, carried away by the violence of the winds and
waves, was dashed in pieces against a rock. My governess, the grand
vizier, and all that attended me, were swallowed up by the sea. I lost
my senses; and whether I was thrown upon the coast, or whether Heaven
wrought a miracle for my deliverance, I found myself on shore when my
senses returned.
"In my despair and horror I was on the point of casting myself into the
sea again; when I heard behind me a great noise of men and horses. I
looked about to see what it might be, and espied several armed horsemen,
among whom was one mounted on an Arabian charger. He had on a garment
embroidered with silver, a girdle set with precious stones, and a crown
of gold on his head. Though his habit had not convinced me that he was
chief of the company, I should have judged it by the air of grandeur
which appeared in his person. He was a young man extraordinarily well
shaped, and perfectly beautiful. Surprised to see a young lady alone in
that place, he sent some of his officers to ask who I was. I answered
only by weeping. The shore being covered with the wreck of our ship,
they concluded that I was certainly some person who had escaped from the
vessel. This conjecture excited the curiosity of the officers, who began
to ask me a thousand questions, with assurances that their master was a
generous prince, and that I should receive protection at his court.
"The sultan, impatient to know who I was, grew weary of waiting the
return of his officers, and drew near to me. He gazed on me very
earnestly, and observing that I did not cease weeping, without being
able to return an answer to their questions, he forbade them troubling
me any more; and directing his discourse to me: 'Madam,' said he, 'I
conjure you to moderate your excessive affliction. I dare assure you
that, if your misfortunes are capable of receiving any relief, you shall
find it in my dominions. You shall live with the queen my mother, who
will endeavour by her kindness to ease your affliction. I know not yet
who you are, but I find I already take an interest in your welfare.'
"I thanked the young sultan for his goodness to me, accepted his
obliging offer; and to convince him that I was not unworthy of them,
told him my condition. When I had done speaking, the prince assured me
that he was deeply concerned at my misfortunes. He then conducted me to
his palace, and presented me to the queen his mother, to whom I was
obliged again to repeat my misfortunes. The queen seemed very sensible
of my trouble, and conceived extreme affection for me. On the other
hand, the sultan her son fell desperately in love with me, and soon
offered me his hand and his crown. I was so taken up with the thoughts
of my calamities, that the prince, though so lovely a person, did not
make so great an impression on me as he might have done at another time.
However, gratitude prevailing, I did not refuse to make him happy, and
our nuptials were concluded with all imaginable splendour.
"While the people were taken up with the celebration of their
sovereign's nuptials, a neighbouring prince, his enemy, made a descent
by night on the island with a great number of troops and surprised and
cut to pieces my husband's subjects. We escaped very narrowly, for he
had already entered the palace with some of his followers; but we found
means to slip away and to get to the sea-coast, where we threw ourselves
into a fishing-boat which we had the good fortune to meet with. Two days
we were driven about by the winds, without knowing what would become of
us. The third day we espied a vessel making toward us under sail. We
rejoiced at first, believing it had been a merchant-ship which might
take us aboard; but what was our consternation, when, as it drew near,
we saw ten or twelve armed pirates appear on the deck. Having boarded,
five or six of them leaped into our boat, seized us, bound the prince,
and conveyed us into their ship, where they immediately took off my
veil. My youth and features touched them, and they all declared how much
they were charmed at the sight of me. Instead of casting lots, each of
them claimed the preference, and me as his right. The dispute grew warm,
they came to blows, and fought like madmen. The deck was soon covered
with dead bodies, and they were all killed but one, who, being left sole
possessor of me, said: 'You are mine. I will carry you to Grand Cairo,
to deliver you to a friend of mine, to whom I have promised a beautiful
slave. But who,' added he, looking upon the sultan, my husband, 'is that
man? What relation does he bear to you? Are you allied by blood or
love?' 'Sir,' answered I, 'he is my husband.' 'If so,' replied the
pirate, 'in pity I must rid myself of him: it would be too great an
affliction to him to see you disposed of to another.' Having spoken
these words, he took up the unhappy prince, who was bound, and threw him
into the sea, notwithstanding all my endeavours to prevent him.
"I shrieked in a dreadful manner at the sight of what he had done, and
had certainly cast myself into the sea also, but that the pirate held
me. He saw my design, and therefore bound me with cords to the
main-mast, then hoisting sail, made toward the land, and got ashore. He
unbound me and led me to a little town, where he bought camels, tents,
and slaves, and then set out for Grand Cairo, designing, as he still
said, to present me to his friend, according to his promise.
"We had been several days upon the road, when, as we were crossing this
plain yesterday, we descried the black who inhabited this castle. At a
distance we took him for a tower, and when near us, could scarcely
believe him to be a man. He drew his huge cimeter, and summoned the
pirate to yield himself prisoner, with all his slaves and the lady he
was conducting. You know the end of this dreadful adventure and can
foresee what would have been my fate had you, generous prince, not come
to my deliverance."
[Illustration]
_As it drew near we saw ten or twelve armed pirates appear on the deck._
As soon as the princess had finished the recital of her adventures,
Codadad declared to her that he was deeply concerned at her misfortunes.
"But, madam," added he, "it shall be your own fault if you do not live
at ease for the future. The sultan of Harran's sons offer you a safe
retreat in the court of their father; be pleased to accept of it, and if
you do not disdain the affection of your deliverer, permit me to assure
you of it, and to espouse you before all these princes; let them be
witnesses to our contract." The princess consented, and the marriage was
concluded that very day in the castle, where they found all sorts of
provisions, with an abundance of delicious wine and other liquors.
They all sat down at table; and after having eaten and drunk
plentifully, took with them the rest of the provisions, and set out for
the sultan of Harran's court. They travelled several days, encamping in
the pleasantest places they could find, and were within one day's
journey of Harran, when Codadad, directing his discourse to all his
company, said: "Princes, I have too long concealed from you who I am.
Behold your brother Codadad! I, as well as you, received my being from
the sultan of Harran, the prince of Samaria brought me up, and the
Princess Pirouzè is my mother. Madam," added he, addressing himself to
the princess of Deryabar, "do you also forgive me for having concealed
my birth from you? Perhaps, by discovering it sooner, I might have
prevented some disagreeable reflections, which may have been occasioned
by a match you may have thought unequal." "No, sir," answered the
princess "the opinion I at first conceived of you heightened every
moment and you did not stand in need of the extraction you now discover
to make me happy."
The princes congratulated Codadad on his birth, and expressed much
satisfaction at being made acquainted with it. But in reality, instead
of rejoicing, their hatred of so amiable a brother was increased. They
met together at night, and forgetting that had it not been for the brave
son of Pirouzè they must have been devoured by the black, agreed among
themselves to murder him. "We have no other course to choose," said one
of them, "for the moment our father shall come to understand that this
stranger, of whom he is already so fond, is our brother, he will declare
him his heir, and we shall all be obliged to obey and fall down before
him." He added much more, which made such an impression on their
unnatural minds, that they immediately repaired to Codadad, then asleep,
stabbed him repeatedly, and leaving him for dead in the arms of the
princess of Deryabar, proceeded on their journey to the city of Harran,
where they arrived the next day.