* * * * *
One of the illusions is that the present hour is not the decisive hour.
Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.
EMERSON
The Walrus and the Carpenter
BY LEWIS CARROLL
1. The sun was shining on the sea,
Shining with all his might;
He did his very best to make
The billows smooth and bright--
And this was odd, because it was
The middle of the night.
2. The moon was shining sulkily,
Because she thought the sun
Had got no business to be there
After the day was done:
"It's very rude of him," she said,
"To come and spoil the fun!"
3. The sea was wet as wet could be,
The sands were dry as dry.
You could not see a cloud, because
No cloud was in the sky:
No birds were flying overhead--
There were no birds to fly.
4. The Walrus and the Carpenter
Were walking close at hand;
They wept like anything to see
Such quantities of sand:
"If this were only cleared away,"
They said, "it would be grand!"
5. "If seven maids with seven mops
Swept it for half a year,
Do you suppose," the Walrus said,
"That they could get it clear?"
"I doubt it," said the Carpenter,
And shed a bitter tear.
6. "O Oysters, come and walk with us!"
The Walrus did beseech.
"A pleasant walk, a pleasant talk,
Along the briny beach:
We can not do with more than four,
To give a hand to each."
7. The eldest Oyster looked at him,
But never a word he said:
The eldest Oyster winked his eye,
And shook his heavy head,--
Meaning to say he did not choose
To leave the Oyster-bed.
8. But four young Oysters hurried up,
All eager for the treat:
Their coats were brushed, their faces washed,
Their shoes were clean and neat--
And this was odd, because, you know,
They hadn't any feet.
9. Four other Oysters followed them,
And yet another four;
And thick and fast they came at last,
And more, and more, and more,--
All hopping through the frothy waves,
And scrambling to the shore.
10. The Walrus and the Carpenter
Walked on a mile or so,
And then they rested on a rock
Conveniently low:
And all the little Oysters stood
And waited in a row.
11. "The time has come," the Walrus said,
"To talk of many things:
Of shoes--and ships--and sealing wax--
Of cabbages--and kings--
And why the sea is boiling hot--
And whether pigs have wings."
12. "But wait a bit," the Oysters cried,
"Before we have our chat;
For some of us are out of breath,
And all of us are fat!"
"No hurry!" said the Carpenter.
They thanked him much for that.
13. "A loaf of bread," the Walrus said,
"Is what we chiefly need:
Pepper and vinegar besides
Are very good indeed:
Now if you're ready, Oysters dear,
We can begin to feed."
14. "But not on us!" the Oysters cried,
Turning a little blue.
"After such kindness that would be
A dismal thing to do!"
"The night is fine," the Walrus said;
"Do you admire the view?
15. "It was so kind of you to come!
And you are very nice!"
The Carpenter said nothing but,
"Cut us another slice:
I wish you were not quite so deaf--
I've had to ask you twice!"
16. "It seems a shame," the Walrus said,
"To play them such a trick,
After we've brought them out so far,
And made them trot so quick!"
The Carpenter said nothing but,
"The butter's spread too thick!"
17. "I weep for you," the Walrus said:
"I deeply sympathize."
With sobs and tears he sorted out
Those of the largest size,
Holding his pocket handkerchief
Before his streaming eyes.
18. "O Oysters," said the Carpenter,
"You've had a pleasant run!
Shall we be trotting home again?"
But answer came there none--
And this was scarcely odd, because
They'd eaten every one.
* * * * *
=Bĭl´lō̍_w_s̝=: great waves of the sea. =Sŭlk´ĭ ly̆=: peevishly;
angrily. =Bē̍ sē_e_ch´=: beg; ask earnestly. =Brīn´y̆=: salty.
=Frŏth´y̆=: full of bubbles. =Dĭs̝´mal=: sad. =Sy̆m´pȧ thīz_e_=:
pity.
The Story of Prince Ahmed and the Fairy Peribanou
FROM "THE ARABIAN NIGHTS"
The exact origin of these famous Eastern tales is uncertain. They
were first made known to English readers about two hundred years
ago, and they have ever since maintained a foremost place in the
affections of children.
I
1. There was a sultan who had three sons and a niece. The eldest of the
princes was called Houssain; and the second, Ali; and the youngest,
Ahmed; and the princess, his niece, Nouronnihar.
2. The Princess Nouronnihar was the orphan daughter of the sultan's
younger brother. The sultan brought his niece up in his palace with the
three princes, proposing to marry her, when she arrived at a proper
age, to some neighboring prince. But when he perceived that the three
princes, his sons, all loved her, he was very much concerned. As he was
not able to decide among them, he sent all three to travel in distant
countries, promising his niece in marriage to the one who should bring
him as a gift the greatest curiosity.
3. The princes accordingly set out disguised as merchants. They went
the first day's journey together, and, as they parted, they agreed to
travel for a year and to meet again at a certain inn. The first that
came should wait for the rest; so that, as they had all three taken
leave together of the sultan, they might all return together. By break
of day they mounted their horses and set forth.
[Illustration: They mounted their horses and set forth.]
4. Prince Houssain, the eldest brother, went to the kingdom of
Bisnagar. Here, by good fortune, he found a wonderful carpet. It was
ordinary in appearance, but had this singular property: whoever seated
himself on it was at once transported to any place he might wish.
5. Prince Ali, the second brother, joined a caravan and journeyed to
the capital of the kingdom of Persia. There he procured from a merchant
an ivory tube which would reveal to any one looking through it whatever
he wished to see.
6. Prince Ahmed took the road to Samarkand. He also bought what he
considered the greatest possible curiosity. This was an artificial
apple, the smell of which would cure a person of the most deadly
disease.
7. At the appointed time the princes met at the inn. They showed one
another their treasures, and immediately saw through the tube that the
princess was dying. They then sat down on the carpet, wished themselves
with her, and were there in a moment.
8. As soon as Prince Ahmed was in Nouronnihar's chamber, he rose from
the carpet, and going to the bedside put the apple under her nose. The
princess immediately opened her eyes, and turned her head from one side
to another, looking at the persons who stood about her; then she rose
up in bed and asked to be dressed, just as if she had waked out of a
sound sleep.
9. The princes then went to throw themselves at the feet of the sultan,
their father, and to pay their respects to him. But when they came
before him, they found he had been informed of their arrival and by
what means the princess had been cured. The sultan received them with
the greatest joy.
10. After the usual ceremonies and compliments, the princes presented
their curiosities: Prince Houssain his carpet, Prince Ali his ivory
tube, and Prince Ahmed his artificial apple; and after each had
commended his present, they begged the sultan to declare to which of
them he would give the Princess Nouronnihar for a wife, according to
his promise.
11. The sultan, having heard all that the princes could say about their
gifts, remained some time silent. At last he said: "I would declare for
one of you, my children, with a great deal of pleasure if I could do
it with justice. But the gift of no one of you alone would have been
sufficient to cure the princess; Ahmed's apple would have been of no
use if Ali's tube had not first revealed her illness, and Houssain's
carpet transported you to her side. Therefore, as neither carpet, tube,
nor apple can be preferred one before the other, I cannot grant the
princess to any one of you.
12. "I must use other means to make my choice. Get each of you a bow
and arrow, and go to the great plain where they exercise the horses. I
will give the princess to him who shoots the farthest."
13. The three princes had nothing to say against the decision of the
sultan. Each provided himself with a bow and arrow, and went to the
plain, followed by a great crowd of people.
14. Prince Houssain, as the eldest, took his bow and arrow, and shot
first; Prince Ali shot next, and much beyond him; and Prince Ahmed last
of all, but nobody could see where his arrow fell; and, in spite of
all the care that was used by himself and everybody else in searching,
it was not to be found far or near.
[Illustration: Prince Ahmed shot last of all.]
15. Though it was believed that Prince Ahmed shot the farthest, and
that he, therefore, deserved the Princess Nouronnihar, it was necessary
that his arrow should be found, to make the matter certain. So the
sultan judged in favor of Prince Ali, and the wedding took place soon
after.
II
16. Prince Houssain would not honor the feast with his presence. In
short, such was his grief that he left the court and became a hermit.
17. Prince Ahmed, too, did not go to the wedding; but he did not
renounce the world, as Houssain had done. As he could not imagine what
had become of his arrow, he stole away from his attendants to search
for it. He went to the place where the other arrows had been found,
going straight forward from there and looking carefully on both sides
of him.
18. He went on till he came to some steep, craggy rocks, which were
situated in a barren country about four leagues distant from where
he set out. When Prince Ahmed came near these rocks, he perceived an
arrow, which he picked up, and was much astonished to find that it was
his.
19. "Certainly," said he to himself, "neither I nor any man living
could shoot an arrow so far!" and finding it laid flat, not sticking
into the ground, he judged that it had rebounded against the rock.
20. As these rocks were full of caves, the prince entered one, and,
looking about, saw an iron door which seemed to have no lock. Thrusting
against it, it opened, and revealed an easy descent, down which he
walked. At first he thought he was going into a dark, gloomy place, but
presently light succeeded; and, entering into a large, open place, he
perceived a magnificent palace about fifty or sixty paces distant.
21. At the same time a lady of majestic port and air advanced as far as
the porch, attended by a large troop of finely dressed and beautiful
ladies.
The lady addressed him and said: "Come nearer, Prince Ahmed; you are
welcome."
22. It was no small surprise to the prince to hear himself named in a
place of which he had never heard, though it was so near his father's
capital; and he could not understand how he should be known to a lady
who was a stranger to him.
23. He returned the lady's compliment by throwing himself at her feet,
saying: "Madam, I return you a thousand thanks for your welcome. But
may I dare ask how you know me? And how you, who live so near me,
should be so great a stranger to me?"
"Prince," said the lady, "let us go into the hall; there I will gratify
your request."
24. The lady led Prince Ahmed into the hall, and, when they were seated
on a sofa, she said: "You are surprised, you say, that I should know
you and not be known to you; but you will be no longer surprised when
I inform you who I am. I am the daughter of one of the most powerful
genies, and my name is Peribanou. I was present when you drew your
arrow, and it was I who made it strike against the rocks near which
you found it. It lies in your power to make use of the favorable
opportunity which presents itself to make you happy."
25. As the fairy Peribanou looked tenderly upon Prince Ahmed, with a
modest blush on her cheeks, it was no hard matter for the prince to
understand what happiness she meant. He considered that the Princess
Nouronnihar could never be his, and that the fairy Peribanou excelled
her infinitely in beauty, agreeableness, wit, and, as much as he could
conjecture by the magnificence of the palace, in immense riches.
26. He blessed the moment that he thought of seeking after his arrow
a second time, and replied: "Madam, should I all my life have the
happiness of being your slave, I should think myself the most fortunate
of men. Don't refuse to admit into your court a prince who is entirely
devoted to you."
27. "Prince," answered the fairy, "will you not pledge your faith to
me, as I give mine to you?"
"Yes, madam," replied the prince, in great joy; "I give you my heart
without the least reserve."
"Then," answered the fairy, "you are my husband and I am your wife.
Come, now, and I will show you my palace."
28. The fairy Peribanou then carried him through all the apartments,
where he saw diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and all sorts of fine jewels.
The prince owned that he could not have imagined that there was in the
world anything that could equal it.
The wedding feast was held the next day; or, rather, the days following
were a continual feast.
III
29. At the end of six months Prince Ahmed, who always loved and honored
his father, the sultan, longed to know how he was. He told the fairy of
this desire, and asked if it were her pleasure that he should go to see
his father.
30. "Prince," said she, "go when you please. But first let me give you
some advice: I think it will be best for you not to tell the sultan,
your father, about me nor about our marriage. Beg him to be satisfied
in knowing that you are happy, and inform him that the only end of your
visit is to let him know that you are well and happy."
31. She appointed twenty gentlemen, well mounted and equipped, to
attend him. When all was ready, Prince Ahmed took his leave of the
fairy, embraced her, and renewed his promise to return soon.
32. As it was not a great way to his father's capital, Prince Ahmed
soon arrived there. The people, glad to see him again, received him
with shouts of joy.
The prince told the story of his adventures, but without speaking of
the fairy, and ended: "The only favor I ask of your majesty is to give
me leave to come often and pay you my respects."
33. "Son," answered the sultan, "I cannot refuse your request; but I
should much rather you would resolve to stay with me. At least tell
me where I may send to you if you should fail to come, or if I should
think your presence necessary."
"Sir," replied Prince Ahmed, "what your majesty asks of me is part
of a mystery. I beg of you to give me leave to remain silent on this
subject."
34. The sultan pressed Prince Ahmed no more, but said to him: "Son, I
penetrate no farther into your secrets, but can tell you that whenever
you come you will always be welcome."
Prince Ahmed stayed but three days at his father's court, and on the
fourth day returned to the fairy Peribanou, who did not expect him so
soon.
35. A month after Prince Ahmed's return from paying a visit to his
father, he went again, with the same attendance as before, but
much finer, and was received by the sultan with the same joy and
satisfaction. For several months he continued his visits, and each time
with a richer and finer attendance than before.
36. At last some viziers, the sultan's favorites, who judged of Prince
Ahmed's wealth and power by his magnificent appearance, said that it
was to be feared Prince Ahmed might try to win the people's favor and
to dethrone his father.
The sultan was far from thinking that Prince Ahmed could be capable of
such a design, and said: "You are mistaken; my son loves me, and I am
certain of his tenderness and fidelity."
37. But the favorites went on abusing Prince Ahmed, till the sultan
said: "I cannot believe my son Ahmed is so wicked as you would persuade
me he is; however, I am obliged to you for your good advice."
38. The talk of his favorites had so alarmed the sultan that he
resolved to have Prince Ahmed watched, unknown to his grand vizier. So
he sent for a female magician and said: "Go immediately and follow my
son; watch him so as to find out where he retires, and bring me word."
39. The magician left the sultan, and, knowing the place where Prince
Ahmed found his arrow, went immediately thither and hid herself near
the rocks so that nobody could see her.
The next morning Prince Ahmed set out by daybreak, according to his
custom. The magician, seeing him coming, followed him with her eyes
till suddenly she lost sight of him and his attendants.
40. As the rocks were very steep and craggy, the magician judged that
the prince had gone either into some cave or into an abode of genies
or fairies. Thereupon she came out of the place where she was hid and
looked carefully about on all sides, but could perceive no opening. The
iron gate which Prince Ahmed had discovered was to be seen and opened
only by those whom the fairy Peribanou favored.
[Illustration: Prince Ahmed went out with his attendants.]
41. As Prince Ahmed never failed to visit the sultan's court once a
month, the magician, about the time of his next visit, went to the foot
of the rock where she had lost sight of the prince and his attendants,
and waited there.
IV
42. The next morning Prince Ahmed went out, as usual, at the iron
gate, with his attendants, and passed by the magician, whom he did
not know to be such. Seeing her lying with her head against the rock
and complaining as if she were in great pain, he pitied her, and his
attendants carried her back through the iron gate into the court of the
fairy's palace.
43. The fairy Peribanou came at once to see why the prince had returned
so soon. Not giving her time to ask him the reason, the prince said:
"Princess, I desire you to care for this poor woman."
44. The fairy Peribanou ordered two of her attendants to carry the
woman into the palace.
While they obeyed the fairy's commands, she went to Prince Ahmed and
whispered: "Prince, this woman is not so sick as she pretends to be;
and I am very much mistaken if she is not an impostor, who will be the
cause of great trouble to you. But be persuaded that I will deliver
you out of all the snares that may be laid for you. Go and pursue your
journey."
45. These words of the fairy's did not in the least frighten Prince
Ahmed. "My princess," said he, "as I do not remember ever to have
done or intended anybody an injury, I cannot believe anybody can have
a thought of doing me one; but, if any one has, I shall not for that
reason forbear doing good whenever I have an opportunity." Then he went
on to his father's palace.
46. In the meantime the two women carried the magician into a very fine
apartment, richly furnished. They made a bed for her, the sheets of
which were of the finest linen, and the coverlet cloth-of-gold.
47. When they had put her into bed--for she pretended that her fever
was so violent that she could not help herself in the least--one of the
women went out and brought a dish full of a certain liquor, which she
presented to the magician.
"Drink this liquor," said she; "it is the water of the Fountain of
Lions, and a sovereign cure for all fevers. You will feel the effect of
it in less than an hour's time."
48. The two women came in an hour later and found the magician up and
dressed. "O admirable medicine!" she said. "It has cured me even
sooner than you told me it would, and I shall be able to continue my
journey."
According to the fairy's orders, the two women then conducted the
magician through several magnificent apartments into a large hall most
richly furnished.
49. Peribanou sat in this hall on a throne of gold enriched with
diamonds, rubies, and pearls of an extraordinary size, and attended on
each hand by a great number of beautiful fairies, all richly clothed.
50. At the sight of so much splendor, the magician was so amazed that
she could not speak.
However, Peribanou said to her: "Good woman, I am glad to see that you
are able to pursue your journey. I will not detain you."
51. The magician went back and related to the sultan all that had
happened, and how Prince Ahmed since his marriage with the fairy was
richer than all the kings in the world, and how there was danger that
he would come and take the throne from his father.
52. Now the favorites advised that the prince should be killed, but the
magician advised differently: "Make him give you all kinds of wonderful
things, by the fairy's help, till she tires of him and sends him away.
As, for example, might you not ask him to procure a tent which can be
carried in a man's hand, and which will be so large as to shelter your
whole army against bad weather?"
53. When the magician had finished her speech, the sultan asked his
favorites if they had anything better to propose; and finding them all
silent, he determined to follow the magician's advice.
V
54. Next day the sultan did as the magician had advised him, and asked
for the great tent.
Prince Ahmed replied: "Though it is with the greatest reluctance, I
will not fail to ask of my wife the favor your majesty desires, but I
will not promise you to obtain it; and, if I should not have the honor
to come again to pay you my respects, that will be the sign that I have
not had success. But, beforehand, I desire you to forgive me and to
consider that you yourself have reduced me to this extremity."
55. "Son," replied the sultan of the Indies, "I should be very sorry
if what I ask of you should deprive me of the pleasure of seeing you
again. Your wife would show that her love for you was very slight if
she, with the power of a fairy, should refuse so small a request as
this."
The prince went back, and was very sad for fear of offending the fairy.
She kept pressing him to tell her what was the matter.
56. At last he said: "Madam, you may have observed that hitherto I
have been content with your love and have never asked you any other
favor. Consider, then, I conjure you, that it is not I, but the sultan,
my father, who begs of you a tent which is large enough to shelter him,
his court, and his army from the violence of the weather, and which a
man may carry in his hand. But remember it is the sultan, my father,
who asks this favor."
57. "Prince," replied the fairy, smiling, "I am sorry that so small a
matter should disturb you."
Then the fairy sent for her treasurer, to whom she said: "Nourgihan,
bring me the largest tent in my treasury."
58. Nourgihan returned presently with the tent--which she could not
only hold in her hand, but in the palm of her hand when she shut her
fingers--and presented it to her mistress, who gave it to Prince Ahmed.
59. When Prince Ahmed saw the tent which the fairy called the largest
in her treasury, he thought that she jested with him. Peribanou,
perceiving this, said: "Nourgihan, go and set the tent up so that the
prince may judge whether it be large enough for the sultan, his father."
60. The treasurer immediately carried it a great way off; and when she
had set it up, one end reached to the palace, and the prince found it
large enough to shelter two greater armies than that of the sultan.
He said to Peribanou: "I ask my princess a thousand pardons for my
incredulity. After what I have seen, I believe there is nothing
impossible to you."
61. The treasurer took down the tent and brought it to the prince,
who took it, and the next day mounted his horse and went with his
attendants to his father's court.
The sultan, who was persuaded that there could not be such a tent as he
had asked for, was greatly surprised when he saw it.
62. But he was not yet satisfied, and he requested his son to bring him
some water from the Fountain of Lions, which was a sovereign remedy for
all sorts of fevers. By the aid of the fairy Peribanou, Prince Ahmed
found this fountain, passed safely through all the perils of the way,
and returned to the sultan with the water he had required.
63. The sultan showed outwardly all the signs of great joy, but
secretly became more jealous, and by the advice of the magician he said
to Prince Ahmed: "Son, I have one thing more to ask of you, after which
I shall expect nothing more from your obedience nor from your interest
with your wife. This request is to bring me a man not above a foot
and a half high, whose beard is thirty feet long, who carries upon
his shoulders a bar of iron of five hundredweight, which he uses as a
quarterstaff."
64. Prince Ahmed, who did not believe that there was such a man in the
world as his father described, would gladly have excused himself; but
the sultan persisted in his demand, and told him the fairy could do
more incredible things.
VI