[_Translated by Aristide Marre and Chauncey C. Starkweather_]
This is the history of the Princess Djouher-Manikam, whose renown is
celebrated in all lands, windward and leeward.
There was in the city of Bagdad a king named Haroun-er-Raschid,
sovereign of a vast empire. He was a prince who feared God the
almighty, and worthy of all praise, for he was a king descended from
the prophet. After having lived for some time in his kingdom, he
desired to start on a pilgrimage. So he addressed his ministers and his
military chiefs and spoke to them as follows:
"O you all, my subjects, my officers, what is your opinion? I would
fain make a pilgrimage to the house of God."
The cadi, prostrating himself, answered: "Sire, King of the world, the
will of your sublime Majesty is very just, but in my opinion your
departure would cause the ruin of the inhabitants of the fields, and
those of your subjects who accompany you will have much to suffer."
The prince, having heard these words, said: "The opinion of the cadi is
loyal, and you, my officers, tell what is your advice."
The officers arose, then they prostrated themselves and spoke as
follows: "Sire, King of the world, we, your servants, beg you a
thousand and a thousand times to cause your forgiveness to descend upon
our heads, but how will your Majesty accomplish the pilgrimage? In whom
can you trust to protect the country and watch over the palace?"
The prince having heard these words of his officers, none of whom
approved of the pilgrimage, kept silence and restrained his anger, and
then departed and returned to the palace. Some days after this, by the
will of the most high God, the heart of the prince felt more keenly
still the desire to make the pilgrimage. He gave orders to gather
together the interpreters of the law, the wise men, and the _muftis_,
as well as the officers. When they were all assembled, the prince went
to the audience-chamber, and there before the officers of the court he
questioned one of the doctors. It was the _mufti_ of the city of
Bagdad. He, prostrating himself, said: "The pilgrimage of his Majesty
would be an excellent work, but is it of absolute necessity? For the
voyage will be very long, and there is no one, my lord, who would be
capable of ruling in the place of your sublime Majesty."
The prince answered: "He in whom we first of all place our trust is
God. We shall hope then in the blessing of his envoy. We shall leave
the cadi here, and if it pleases God the most high, we shall return
promptly as soon as we have accomplished the pilgrimage."
The King therefore caused to be equipped and provided with all sorts of
provisions, those of his subjects who were going to accompany him, and
when, the favorable moment had arrived he started with the Queen, some
of the maids-of-honor, and his son named Minbah Chahaz. He took his
son, but he left behind, guarded in the palace, his daughter called the
Princess Djouher-Manikam. In those times there was no one in the
country of Bagdad who surpassed in beauty the Princess Djouher-Manikam.
Furthermore, she had in her heart the fear of God the most high and
worthy of all praise, and would not cease her prayers.
After travelling for some time, the prince her father arrived at Mecca,
and fulfilled his duties as a pilgrim. He recited the appropriate
prayers. But observing that there was still a great quantity of
provisions, the prince said to his officers:
"It is good for us to wait a year or so, for our provisions are yet
considerable."
The officers replied: "It is well, lord of the world! Whatever may be
your Majesty's commands, we place them above our heads." "Since it is
thus," answered the prince, "it is fitting that we should send a letter
thus conceived: Peace and blessing upon the cadi: I place my trust in
God first of all, and in the cadi, to guard my kingdom, palace, and my
child the Princess Djouher-Manikam. Be a faithful guardian, neglect
nothing in the cares to be given to my kingdom, for I am going to
remain another year for the great pilgrimage.'"
The prince's letter reached the cadi. The latter gave all his efforts
to the good administration of the country, and, according to the words
of the prince, he avoided every negligence.
But one night while he was on watch near the fortifications of the
King's palace, Satan came to him and slid into his heart a temptation.
The cadi thought in his heart: "The King's daughter is of a marvellous
beauty; her name, Djouher-Mani-kam, is charming; and her face is
lovely. Since it is thus, I must marry this daughter of the King." The
cadi called the man who was guarding the gate, exclaiming:
"Ho! Guardian of the gate! Open unto me."