work, however hard or humble it may be, than the idleness of unavailing
regret. So for a whole year he lived with the old gardener as if he
had been his son, wearing a blue smock down to his knees, working with
a hoe, tending plants, tilling the soil, and carrying its produce
for sale to the market. And every day he looked out over the sea for
the merchant vessel which was to arrive and bear him back to his own
country and to the arms of his beloved.
Now turn we to the Princess Badoura, whom we left lying asleep in her
tent. When she awoke she inquired after her husband, the Prince, but
he was not to be found; some had seen him go into the tent, but no
one had seen him come out. Then, as she put on her dress, she noticed
that the knot in her girdle had been untied and that the stone was
missing. 'Alas, O Beloved, what hast thou done?' she cried. 'Ignorant
of its virtues thou hast taken from me the talisman which unites us;
now surely if thou hast lost it we shall be separated for ever.' And
as time went on her distress and her certainty of misfortune became
greater; for she knew that had not the Prince already lost the talisman
its infallible virtues would by now have brought him back to her.
Knowing therefore that if the talisman were indeed lost, he also was
lost to her, and that when found, he would return to her again, she
made no useless delay in proceeding to her destination. Yet was there
now great peril if the absence of the Prince were discovered, lest she
and her women and all the wealth which her father had bestowed on her
might fall a prey to the men who formed their escort. For this reason
she concealed the matter from all but her women, and having dressed
herself in some of her husband's clothes, and put into her litter a
girl-slave wearing the royal veil, she went forth from her tent and
gave orders for the camp to be struck and their journey resumed.
So, for many days she continued to travel by land and sea, till she
came before a city set on a height with a great harbour lying below;
and when she inquired its name of the inhabitants they said to her,
'This is the city of Ebony, wherein dwells King Amanos, and he has a
beautiful daughter whose name is Hayatelnefoos.'
Presently word went to the palace that a stranger prince of very noble
appearance, accompanied by a large retinue, had arrived in the harbour
and was seeking admission to the city. Whereupon the King sent in haste
certain high dignitaries of his court to give welcome and to conduct
the supposed Prince into his presence. And no sooner had he beheld the
noble appearance of his guest and the graciousness of her bearing than
he gave orders for a great banquet to be prepared, appointed that she
should be lodged in the palace, and extended to her for three days an
entertainment of the most royal magnificence.
During the whole of these festivities the Princess bore herself exactly
as Camaralzaman would have done, doing honour to that rank and name
which for her own protection she had assumed. Therefore the heart of
King Amanos was drawn greatly towards her, and when she began to speak
of departure, he said, 'Wherefore, O Prince, shouldst thou seek to
leave a country where happiness and power can be thine? For behold, I
am an old man and childless, save for one daughter, whose beauty and
perfection resemble thine. But, for me, the cares of state have become
too heavy a burden, and I sigh to be released from them. Remain with
us, therefore, and I will give to thee even now the hand of my daughter
and the sceptre and rule of my kingdom.'
At this proposal, so generously expressed, the face of Badoura became
covered with bashfulness, for strange indeed to a woman was this offer
of a kingdom and a bride. Yet at her father's court she had long since
become learned in the affairs of state, and to rule a kingdom had ever
been her desire; moreover, since by the loss of the talisman she and
her husband seemed destined to eternal separation, there was no cause
that she could see why her life should not thus be dedicated; there was
also some peril in a refusal, which the King would be certain to take
as an affront both to himself and his daughter. So after pondering the
matter for a while she lifted her head and spoke to the King as follows:
'O King, if I delayed for one moment my acceptance of so splendid an
offer, it was only a knowledge of unworthiness which held me back. Yet
to delay longer might seem to throw a doubt on the discretion of your
royal mind. Beset by these two dangers I place myself entirely in your
Majesty's hands; and if I may have your promise of the guidance and
counsel which I shall constantly need, then I will unreservedly accept
your Majesty's proposal. To hear is to obey.'
The marriage being thus agreed on, the nuptial ceremony was fixed for
the following day. The pretended Prince, putting a bold face upon the
matter, informed the officers of her escort of the coming event, saying
also that the Princess Badoura had given it her approval. As for her
women, their silence was already assured since, as partners to the
deception, their very lives depended on it.
So on the morrow King Amanos gathered together his emirs, viziers,
and captains, and having presented to them the Princess Badoura as
his destined son-in-law and heir, he placed her upon the throne and
gave orders for the nuptial ceremony to commence. And when the day of
rejoicings was ended, the Princess Badoura was conducted to the bridal
chamber.
But no sooner did Badoura find herself by the side of the beautiful
Princess Hayatelnefoos than the thought of her beloved Camaralzaman
overwhelmed her with grief, and committing herself to prayer and
recitation, she continued at her devotions till the bride lay fast
asleep. And thus she did the next night and on the night following.
Finding herself thus neglected by the husband of whom she had received
such glowing reports, the Princess Hayatelnefoos was filled with a
depression of spirit which immediately became visible in her looks; and
when her father, King Amanos, discerning his daughter's grief, inquired
what was amiss, she informed him that her husband, whom she already
loved most tenderly, had conceived for her an aversion so intense that
to avoid all intimacy of conversation he committed himself to prayer,
and thus continued till weariness and sleep overcame her.
At this news the countenance of King Amanos was darkened, and he said
to his daughter, 'If the Prince does not treat thee with the respect
due from a husband to a wife, he shall be divested of his royal dignity
and banished from my kingdom.'
This threat so afflicted the heart of Hayatelnefoos, to whom the
thought of separation from her husband was already unbearable, that on
their next meeting she confided to Badoura her grief, informing her
also of the King's words and of the danger that threatened her.
Then said Badoura, 'O amiable and charming Princess, though thou canst
not be my wife thou canst be my friend. Hear first my story, and
then, if thou art unable to pardon me thou canst at least have the
satisfaction of depriving me of life.' And forthwith she proceeded to
give the full story of her adventures.
When she had finished, Hayatelnefoos replied, 'O Princess, I should
indeed be unworthy of your confidence, if such a tale of misfortune
had failed to win not only my pity, but my devotion. Henceforth we two
are of one mind, and will have between us but one heart and one desire
for the preservation of thy life and honour and the restoration of thy
husband.'
[Illustration: Badoura Watching the Ship.
'It so happened as the ship came into the harbour, Badoura was looking
out towards the sea.' (p. 96)]
Thereupon the two Princesses embraced with the tenderest affection, and
from that day on, concealing from all others the true facts, they lived
together in the greatest amity and concord; while the Princess Badoura
continued in her husband's name to rule over the city of Ebony, giving
law and justice to all.
Prince Camaralzaman, meanwhile, was living with the old gardener,
tilling the soil, and carrying each day fruit and vegetables to the
market. The time was now near for the merchant vessel which he was
awaiting to return; but having lost the talisman of which he had come
in quest, he had little hope of a successful issue to the adventure. So
one day, when the inhabitants of the city were making holiday and all
the markets were closed, the Prince, released from labour, sat in deep
dejection of spirit under the trees of the garden away from the sound
of festival, when suddenly he heard a strange cry of birds and in the
leaves overhead he saw one furiously attacking another with beak and
claw. So desperate was the fight, that before many minutes were over
one of the birds fell dead at his feet, and the conqueror, uttering a
loud cry of triumph, flew swiftly away.
But hardly had it disappeared, when two other birds of larger size
came flying into the garden, and making straight for the murdered body
they bowed their heads over it, crying lamentably and seeking with the
warmth of their breasts to restore it to life. Presently, when all
their efforts proved vain, they scooped a grave with their claws, and
having laid therein the slaughtered bird, they covered it with earth
and immediately soared upward and disappeared.
Camaralzaman sat weeping; for the mourning of these birds reminded him
in some way of the grief and separation he himself had endured, and as
little could he hope for the return of his lost happiness as they for
the revival of their dead comrade. As he was thus thinking, once again
came the strange cry he had heard before, and looking up he saw the
two birds flying back carrying the murderer in their claws. No sooner
had they alighted above the grave than falling upon their captive they
tore out his heart and entrails, and having drained out his blood as an
offering to the slain, they left the body lying, and flew away.
All this while Camaralzaman had looked on in wonder; and surely it
seemed to him that if, in the lower order of creation such miracles
of devotion and service were wrought, humanity had no cause for
despair. And even as he so thought, he saw in the torn body of the bird
something that shone brightly, and coming nearer he recognised it as
the talisman which he had taken from his wife's girdle.
Instantly all life became changed to him; seizing the stone he wiped it
of blood and pressed it a thousand times to his lips. 'Now at last,' he
cried, 'I believe and know that my beloved is to be restored to me!'
So sure was he his good fortune had now returned to him that, unable to
remain idle and inactive, he seized a hoe, and started to break up the
ground at the foot of the tree under which he had been standing. At the
third stroke the earth gave back a hollow and metallic sound. Quickly
removing the soil he discovered a trapdoor, which, when it was opened,
disclosed an aperture and a narrow flight of steps. Descending these he
found himself in a deep cellar lined with jars, twenty in all, filled
with red gold.
Contentment now took hold of his spirit, and having returned to the
garden he replaced the trap and continued at his work until in the
evening the old gardener returned from the festivities.
On seeing him the old man said, 'Rejoice, my son, I bring you good
tidings. The ship which you have so long waited for is now in the
harbour, and in three days will be ready once more to set sail.'
This news so delighted Camaralzaman that taking the old man's hand he
kissed it saying, 'I too have tidings for you of a happy kind.' And
leading the gardener to the tree he lifted the trap, and disclosed to
his astonished eyes the gold that lay stored below.
'Well,' said the gardener, 'I am glad that my poor plot of ground
should have yielded thee such rich fruit. Take it, my son, and Heaven
prosper thee by its aid till thou come once more to thine own land and
the heart of thy beloved.'
'Not so,' replied Camaralzaman, 'I will take nothing if I may not share
it equally with thee.'
So it was agreed. Then said the gardener, 'My son, hast thou thought
how to convey safely so much gold on a voyage where thou wilt be alone
in the hands of strangers? Surely if they find thee possessed of such
wealth they will kill thee for the sake of it. Hearken, therefore, to
what I shall advise. From this country we send olives into all parts
of the world, and many ships go laden with them. Fill for thyself,
therefore, fifty jars from the olive-trees which are in this garden,
and at the bottom of each jar lay a portion of the gold: so shall it be
safe, and no man will know of it.'
So the Prince did as the gardener advised; and fearing lest, while on
the voyage, he himself might be robbed, he put the talisman along with
the gold in one of the olive jars, marking it with a number so that
he might know it again. Then he made a bargain with the owner of the
vessel, and on the third day the seamen came and carried away the jars
and stowed them on board. And the captain said to Camaralzaman, who had
accompanied them, 'Do not be long in returning, for the wind is fair
and I only wait for you to set sail.'
So Camaralzaman hastened back to say farewell to the old gardener and
to thank him for all that he had done; but when he arrived at the house
he found the old man so stricken with grief at his departure that he
was already at the point of death. Camaralzaman therefore sat down
by his bed and tended him, holding him by the hand and speaking many
comfortable words; and toward evening, having made his profession of
faith, as all good Mussulmans do, the old man let fell his head and
expired.
Camaralzaman closed his eyes, wrapped his body for burial, and having
dug a grave in the garden, interred it. Then he went down in haste to
the shore and found that the vessel had gone.
Once again, therefore, despair returned to him, for now a second time
the talisman was lost, and he had no hope of recovering it. Also he
must needs wait another year before the ship could return and take him
upon his way. So going to the landlord of the garden he became a tenant
in the place of his dead friend, and hiding what remained of the gold
in fifty other olive jars, he set to work once more as a gardener until
the time should once more come round for him to embark.
Meantime, under a favourable wind, the ship arrived at the island of
Ebony; and it so happened that as it came into the harbour the Princess
Badoura was looking out of one of the palace windows toward the sea.
No sooner did her eyes rest upon the sails of that ship than her heart
became uplifted with joy. 'Surely,' she said to herself, 'either my
beloved is there on board or it brings news of him.'
[Illustration: Capture of Camaralzaman.
'The captain of the ship goes to capture Camaralzaman at the command of
Badoura.' (p. 99)]
So going down to the shore, accompanied by her emirs and attendants,
she caused the master of the vessel to be summoned before her and
inquired of him what merchandise he had brought. 'O King,' replied the
captain, 'I have spices, drugs, aromatic scents, and sweet ointments;
I have also rich fabrics and metal-work; and in addition to all these
things I have olives such as are not to be found in any other country,
and these, since I came by them fortunately, I can let you have cheap.'
On hearing this a desire for the olives took hold of the Princess, and
she said, 'What quantity have you brought?' 'Fifty jars,' answered the
master; 'that is all I have.' 'Well,' said the Princess, 'I will take
fifty.' And she paid him for them the price that he asked--a thousand
pieces of silver.
Now presently, when the olives had been conveyed to the palace, there
came upon the Princess a strange desire to taste that which she had
just purchased, so she gave orders for one of the jars to be opened and
the contents to be poured into a dish; and as the attendant poured,
first came olives and then a heap of red gold.
Then said Badoura to the Princess Hayatelnefoos, who alone was with
her, 'That is gold!' So she examined further and in every jar found
gold in equal quantity. Presently as she emptied one of the jars, along
with the gold came the talisman which Camaralzaman had concealed there;
and no sooner did the Princess Badoura see it than she knew it again;
and she showed it to Hayatelnefoos, saying, 'Lo, this is the stone
whose loss hath caused our separation; now, finding it again, I know
that my beloved will be restored to me.'
Then she sent in haste and caused the master of the vessel to be
brought before her, and she said to him, 'Whence had you these olives?
Tell me the truth, or you shall die!'
Thereupon the master being smitten in his conscience dropped to earth
and lay there, crying, 'Alas, I had them of a poor man who brought
them himself to the vessel but did not return at the appointed time;
therefore I sailed without him. Be assured, O King, that all the money
I got for them shall be honestly paid to him.'
Then said Badoura, 'As to that I care not. But go back straightway
to that country from which you came and find the man and bring him
to me, for he is a malefactor against the laws of this kingdom, for
he hath stolen from me a precious thing dearer than life itself;
therefore is his life forfeit. And if you fail to bring him, then all
the merchandise which you have now brought I will hold, and no ship or
merchandise of yours shall ever enter this port again. But if you bring
him safely, I will reward you abundantly.'
The master therefore, being so compelled, left his merchandise in bond
and returned with all haste to the port from which he had set out, and
there coming with his men to the house of Camaralzaman, he knocked; and
no sooner had the Prince opened than, seizing him, they carried him
off, and bestowed him on board the vessel as a prisoner.
Camaralzaman said to them, 'Masters, why are you treating me thus?'
They answered, 'Thou art an offender and malefactor against the King of
the Ebony Isles, son to the King Amanos, and hast stolen his wealth;
yea, a precious thing hast thou stolen from him, and now he requires it
of thee!'
'Well,' said Camaralzaman, 'this is the first that I have heard of it.'
So they bore him away, and after they had sailed for some while they
came again to the city of Ebony, and word was sent to the palace that
the master of the vessel had returned bringing the King his prisoner.
Then Badoura gave orders, and Camaralzaman, still in his workman's
dress, his body wasted with grief, and his face and hands soiled with
the defilements of his long voyage, came and stood before her. As soon
as she saw him her heart leapt with joy, but she feared to reveal
herself, for how would it appear to her emirs and chamberlains were she
before all eyes to throw herself into the arms of a common gardener.
Therefore, retaining her disguise, she spoke to him as a King should do
to a peasant, and in a man's voice. And Camaralzaman, fearful of the
unknown charge which was to be brought against him, stood before her
with bowed head and did not look up.
The Princess asked him but a few questions, of the country from which
he had come, of the time that he had lived there, and what calling
he had followed. Then she said to him, 'Be assured that if thou art
innocent of that which is charged against thee, thine honour and
integrity shall be made known to all. Even now if thou wilt confess to
having taken a thing which is not thine and wilt restore it to me, I
am willing to pardon thee, seeing that it was done without thought of
evil.' But Camaralzaman hearing these words knew not what they meant,
for his thoughts were all astray and he did not dream that it was of
himself and of the talisman that she spoke.
Then Badoura ordered an officer of her household to take charge of
the prisoner and treat him with all care; and having recompensed the
master of the vessel and set free his merchandise, she went in to
Hayatelnefoos, and told her of all that had come about. And she said
to her, 'O bosom-friend and comforter of my heart, be sure that what
brings happiness to me shall bring it to thee also; for no fortune
shall Heaven send me, nor any bliss, however great, that I am not ready
to share equally with thee.' Then speaking of Camaralzaman she said,
'So great a distance divides in men's eyes what seems his present lot
from ours, that it were peril to be sudden in this matter lest the
truth of our story should not be believed. Therefore we must wait till
of his own natural nobleness he shall have raised himself in the eyes
of all.' And to this plan Queen Hayatelnefoos agreed.
So the next day Badoura gave orders to conduct Camaralzaman to the
bath; then she caused him to be clad in an emir's robes and brought
forth where all might see; and lo! as a willow branch after rain or the
planet of love shining at dusk, so seemed he then to the eyes of all.
Then again she caused him to be brought before her in the Hall of
Judgment and pronounced him clear of all that had been charged against
him. 'For that which was precious to me,' she said, 'has been restored;
and other hands held it from me, not thine. Therefore as thou hast been
proved true I will appoint thee to high honour.' Then addressing the
emirs and councillors who were gathered about her she said, 'My lords,
this Camaralzaman whom to-day I admit to my Councils is not unworthy of
the high post which I confer on him; for not only have I tested him as
ye have seen on an accusation whereof he is innocent, but he is a man
of approved valour, of grace, and learning, being also a descendant of
kings.'
Great was Camaralzaman's astonishment at finding his name and lineage
known to the King of the Ebony Isles; but not daring to question how
his good fortune had come about he prostrated himself before the
throne, saying, 'O King, only by thy favour have I been raised to this
honour, and by that alone can I either deserve or maintain it.' So the
Council ended, and Camaralzaman was conducted to a large and sumptuous
abode with slaves and attendants to wait upon him, and everything that
his heart could desire save only his beloved Princess.
After a few days Badoura, wishing to find occasion for Camaralzaman's
more frequent presence, appointed him to the office of Grand Treasurer,
and thereafter scarcely a day passed that she did not bestow on him
fresh honours; while Camaralzaman, for his part, wondering why such
high favours were shown him, served the King diligently, and was
greatly respected not only by all the emirs and officials of the Court,
but by the common people, who swore by his life, and would have asked
no better than for such an one as he to be their ruler.
So time went on, and ever did the wonder of Camaralzaman increase why
he alone had been chosen for such great honours. And because this thing
seemed to him without reason, he came at last to fear it. Furthermore,
for loss of his beloved, restlessness and the desire for travel filled
his heart, and in no one place could he find happiness. So one day
coming to the King--that is to say to Badoura--he spoke as follows: 'O
King of the Age, so great is the favour that thou hast shown me, that I
know well it cannot last. Suffer me therefore to depart before I have
outstayed my welcome; so shall my gratitude be undiminished and the
nature of thy regard for me unchanged.' When Badoura heard these words
she smiled on him and said: 'If indeed it is thy will to depart, then
must thou take and cast away once more--yea, lose utterly--this stone
whose virtue brought thee back to me, and by which, while it is in my
possession, our lives are bound.' So saying she reached out and put the
talisman in his hand.
When Camaralzaman beheld the stone once more his wonder was beyond
words. 'O King,' he cried, 'whence came this to thee? For herein lies
the cause of all my afflictions and separation from one whom I loved as
my own soul.'
'Surely,' answered Badoura, 'none can part from that talisman without
estrangement and separation. And since now I have parted from it to
thee, our separation must infallibly begin from this hour. Therefore
the King of the Ebony Isles thou shalt see no more.'
So saying she passed out of the chamber, and Camaralzaman stood and
wondered, not knowing what to think.