THOUSAND NIGHTS AND A NIGHT

When it was the One Hundred and Twenty-Fifth Night

Shahrazad continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Aziz

pursued to Taj al-Muluk: Then I entered the flower garden and made for

the pavilion, where I found the daughter of Dalilah the Wily One,

sitting with head on knee and hand to cheek. Her colour was changed

and her eyes were sunken; but, when she saw me, she exclaimed, "Praised

be Allah for thy safety!" And she was minded to rise but fell down for

joy. I was abashed before her and hung my head; presently, however, I

went up to her and kissed her and asked, "How knewest thou that I

should come to thee this very night?" She answered, "I knew it not! By

Allah, this whole year past I have not tasted the taste of sleep, but

have watched through every night, expecting thee; and such hath been my

case since the day thou wentest out from me and I gave thee the new

suit of clothes, and thou promisedst me to go to the Hammam and to come

back! So I sat awaiting thee that night and a second night and a third

night; but thou camest not till after so great delay, and I ever

expecting thy coming; for this is lovers' way. And now I would have

thee tell me what hath been the cause of thine absence from me the past

year long?" So I told her. And when she knew that I was married, her

colour waxed yellow, and I added, "I have come to thee this night but I

must leave thee before day." Quoth she, "Doth it not suffice her that

she tricked thee into marrying her and kept thee prisoner with her a

whole year, but she must also make thee swear by the oath of divorce,

that thou wilt return to her on the same night before morning, and not

allow thee to divert thyself with thy mother or me, nor suffer thee to

pass one night with either of us, away from her? How then must it be

with one from whom thou hast been absent a full year, and I knew thee

before she did? But Allah have mercy on thy cousin Azizah, for there

befel her what never befel any and she bore what none other ever bore

and she died by thy ill usage; yet 'twas she who protected thee against

me. Indeed, I thought thou didst love me, so I let thee take thine own

way; else had I not suffered thee to go safe in a sound skin, when I

had it in my power to clap thee in jail and even to slay thee." Then

she wept with sore weeping and waxed wroth and shuddered in my face

with skin bristling[FN#1] and looked at me with furious eyes. When I

saw her in this case I was terrified at her and my side muscles

trembled and quivered, for she was like a dreadful she Ghul, an ogress

in ire, and I like a bean over the fire. Then said she, "Thou art of no

use to me, now thou art married and hast a child; nor art thou any

longer fit for my company; I care only for bachelors and not for

married men:[FN#2] these profit us nothing Thou hast sold me for yonder

stinking armful; but, by Allah, I will make the whore's heart ache for

thee, and thou shalt not live either for me or for her!" Then she cried

a loud cry and, ere I could think, up came the slave girls and threw me

on the ground; and when I was helpless under their hands she rose and,

taking a knife, said, "I will cut thy throat as they slaughter he

goats; and that will be less than thy desert, for thy doings to me and

the daughter of thy uncle before me." When I looked to my life and

found myself at the mercy of her slave women, with my cheeks dust

soiled, and saw her sharpen the knife, I made sure of death.—And

Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted

say.

When it was the One Hundred and Twenty-sixth Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Wazir Dandan

thus continued his tale to Zau al-Makan: Then quoth the youth Aziz to

Taj al-Muluk, Now when I found my life at the mercy of her slave women

with my cheeks dust soiled, and I saw her sharpen the knife, I made

sure of death and cried out to her for mercy. But she only redoubled

in ferocity and ordered the slave girls to pinion my hands behind me,

which they did; and, throwing me on my back, she seated herself on my

middle and held down my head. Then two of them came up and squatted on

my shin bones, whilst other two grasped my hands and arms; and she

summoned a third pair and bade them beat me. So they beat me till I

fainted and my voice failed. When I revived, I said to myself, "

'Twere easier and better for me to have my gullet slit than to be

beaten on this wise!" And I remembered the words of my cousin, and how

she used to say to me, "Allah, keep thee from her mischief!"; and I

shrieked and wept till my voice failed and I remained without power to

breathe or to move. Then she again whetted the knife and said to the

slave girls, "Uncover him." Upon this the Lord inspired me to repeat to

her the two phrases my cousin had taught me, and had bequeathed to me,

and I said, "O my lady, dost thou not know that Faith is fair, Unfaith

is foul?" When she heard this, she cried out and said, "Allah pity

thee, Azizah, and give thee Paradise in exchange for thy wasted youth!

By Allah, of a truth she served thee in her life time and after her

death, and now she hath saved thee alive out of my hands with these two

saws. Nevertheless, I cannot by any means leave thee thus, but needs

must I set my mark on thee, to spite yonder brazen faced piece, who

hath kept thee from me." There upon she called out to the slave women

and bade them bind my feet with cords and then said to them, "Take seat

on him!" They did her bidding, upon which she arose and fetched a pan

of copper and hung it over the brazier and poured into it oil of

sesame, in which she fried cheese.[FN#3] Then she came up to me (and I

still insensible) and, unfastening my bag trousers, tied a cord round

my testicles and, giving it to two of her women, bade them trawl at it.

They did so, and I swooned away and was for excess of pain in a world

other than this. Then she came with a razor of steel and cut off my

member masculine,[FN#4] so that I remained like a woman: after which

she seared the wound with the boiling and rubbed it with a powder, and

I the while unconscious. Now when I came to myself, the blood had

stopped; so she bade the slave girls unbind me and made me drink a cup

of wine. Then said she to me, "Go now to her whom thou hast married and

who grudged me a single night, and the mercy of Allah be on thy cousin

Azizah, who saved thy life and never told her secret love! Indeed,

haddest thou not repeated those words to me, I had surely slit thy

weasand. Go forth this instant to whom thou wilt, for I needed naught

of thee save what I have just cut off; and now I have no part in thee,

nor have I any further want of thee or care for thee. So begone about

thy business and rub thy head[FN#5] and implore mercy for the daughter

of thine uncle!" Thereupon she kicked me with her foot and I rose,

hardly able to walk; and I went, little by little, till I came to the

door of our house. I saw it was open, so I threw myself within it and

fell down in a fainting fit; whereupon my wife came out and lifting me

up, carried me into the saloon and assured herself that I had become

like a woman. Then I fell into a sleep and a deep sleep; and when I

awoke, I found myself thrown down at the garden gate,—And Shahrazad

perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.

When it was the One Hundred and Twenty-seventh Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Wazir Dandan

pursued to King Zau al-Makan, The youth Aziz thus continued his story

to Taj al-Muluk: When I awoke and found myself thrown down at the

garden gate, I rose, groaning for pain and misery, and made my way to

our home and entering, I came upon my mother weeping for me, and

saying, "Would I knew, O my son, in what land art thou?" So I drew near

and threw myself upon her, and when she looked at me and felt me, she

knew that I was ill; for my face was coloured black and tan. Then I

thought of my cousin and all the kind offices she had been wont to do

me, and I learned when too late that she had truly loved me; so I wept

for her and my mother wept also Presently she said to me, "O my son,

thy sire is dead." At this my fury against Fate redoubled, and I cried

till I fell into a fit. When I came to myself, I looked at the place

where my cousin Azizah had been used to sit and shed tears anew, till I

all but fainted once more for excess of weeping; and I ceased not to

cry and sob and wail till midnight, when my mother said to me, "Thy

father hath been dead these ten days." "I shall never think of any one

but my cousin Azizah," replied I; "and indeed I deserve all that hath

befallen me, for that I neglected her who loved me with love so dear."

Asked she, "What hath befallen thee?" So I told her all that had

happened and she wept awhile, then she rose and set some matter of meat

and drink before me. I ate a little and drank, after which I repeated

my story to her, and told her the whole occurrence; whereupon she

exclaimed, "Praised be Allah, that she did but this to thee and forbore

to slaughter thee!" Then she nursed me and medicined me till I regained

my health; and, when my recovery was complete, she said to me, "O my

son, I will now bring out to thee that which thy cousin committed to me

in trust for thee; for it is thine. She swore me not to give it thee,

till I should see thee recalling her to mind and weeping over her and

thy connection severed from other than herself; and now I know that

these conditions are fulfilled in thee." So she arose, and opening a

chest, took out this piece of linen, with the figures of gazelles

worked thereon, which I had given to Azizah in time past; and taking it

I found written therein these couplets,

"Lady of beauty, say, who taught thee hard and harsh design, *

To slay with longing Love's excess this hapless lover thine?

An thou fain disremember me beyond our parting day, * Allah will

know, that thee and thee my memory never shall tyne.

Thou blamest me with bitter speech yet sweetest 'tis to me; *

Wilt generous be and deign one day to show of love a sign?

I had not reckoned Love contained so much of pine and pain; *

And soul distress until I came for thee to pain and pine

Never my heart knew weariness, until that eve I fell * In love

wi' thee, and prostrate fell before those glancing eyne!

My very foes have mercy on my case and moan therefor; * But thou,

O heart of Indian steel, all mercy dost decline.

No, never will I be consoled, by Allah, an I die, * Nor yet

forget the love of thee though life in ruins lie!"

When I read these couplets, I wept with sore weeping and buffeted my

face; then I unfolded the scroll, and there fell from it an other

paper. I opened it and behold, I found written therein, 'Know, O son

of my uncle, that I acquit thee of my blood and I beseech Allah to make

accord between thee and her whom thou lovest; but if aught befal thee

through the daughter of Dalilah the Wily, return thou not to her

neither resort to any other woman and patiently bear thine affliction,

for were not thy fated life tide a long life, thou hadst perished long

ago; but praised be Allah who hath appointed my death day before thine!

My peace be upon thee; preserve this cloth with the gazelles herein

figured and let it not leave thee, for it was my companion when thou

was absent from me;"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased

saying her permitted say.

When it was the One Hundred and Twenty-eighth Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Wazir Dandan

pursued to King Zau al-Makan, And the youth Aziz continued to Taj

al-Muluk: So I read what my cousin had written and the charge to me

which was, "Preserve this cloth with the gazelles and let it not leave

thee, for it was my companion when thou west absent from me and, Allah

upon thee! if thou chance to fall in with her who worked these

gazelles, hold aloof from her and do not let her approach thee nor

marry her; and if thou happen not on her and find no way to her, look

thou consort not with any of her sex. Know that she who wrought these

gazelles worketh every year a gazelle cloth and despatcheth it to far

countries, that her report and the beauty of her broidery, which none

in the world can match, may be bruited abroad. As for thy beloved, the

daughter of Dalilah the Wily, this cloth came to her hand, and she used

to ensnare folk with it, showing it to them and saying, 'I have a

sister who wrought this.' But she lied in so saying, Allah rend her

veil! This is my parting counsel; and I have not charged thee with

this charge, but because I know[FN#6] that after my death the world

will be straitened on thee and, haply, by reason of this, thou wilt

leave thy native land and wander in foreign parts, and hearing of her

who wrought these figures, thou mayest be minded to fore gather with

her. Then wilt thou remember me, when the memory shall not avail thee;

nor wilt thou know my worth till after my death. And, lastly, learn

that she who wrought the gazelles is the daughter of the King of the

Camphor Islands and a lady of the noblest." Now when I had read that

scroll and understood what was written therein, I fell again to

weeping, and my mother wept because I wept, and I ceased not to gaze

upon it and to shed tears till night fall. I abode in this condition a

whole year, at the end of which the merchants, with whom I am in this

cafilah, prepared to set out from my native town; and my mother

counseled me to equip myself and journey with them, so haply I might be

consoled and my sorrow be dispelled, saying, "Take comfort and put away

from thee this mourning and travel for a year or two or three, till the

caravan return, when perhaps thy breast may be broadened and thy heart

heartened." And she ceased not to persuade me with endearing words,

till I provided myself with merchandise and set out with the caravan.

But all the time of my wayfaring, my tears have never dried; no, never!

and at every halting place where we halt, I open this piece of linen

and look on these gazelles and call to mind my cousin Azizah and weep

for her as thou hast seen; for indeed she loved me with dearest love

and died, oppressed by my unlove. I did her nought but ill and she did

me nought but good. When these merchants return from their journey, I

shall return with them, by which time I shall have been absent a whole

year: yet hath my sorrow waxed greater and my grief and affliction were

but increased by my visit to the Islands of Camphor and the Castle of

Crystal. Now these islands are seven in number and are ruled by a

King, by name Shahriman,[FN#7] who hath a daughter called Dunyá;[FN#8]

and I was told that it was she who wrought these gazelles and that this

piece in my possession was of her embroidery. When I knew this, my

yearning redoubled and I burnt with the slow fire of pining and was

drowned in the sea of sad thought; and I wept over myself for that I

was become even as a woman, without manly tool like other men, and

there was no help for it. From the day of my quitting the Camphor

Islands, I have been tearful eyed and heavy hearted, and such hath been

my case for a long while and I know not whether it will be given me to

return to my native land and die beside my mother or not; for I am sick

from eating too much of the world. Thereupon the young merchant wept

and groaned and complained and gazed upon the gazelles; whilst the

tears rolled down his cheeks in streams and he repeated these two

couplets,

"Joy needs shall come," a prattler 'gan to prattle: *

"Needs cease thy blame!" I was commoved to rattle:

'In time,' quoth he: quoth I ' 'Tis marvellous! *

Who shall ensure my life, O cold of tattle!'"[FN#9]

And he repeated also these,

"Well Allah weets that since our severance day *

I've wept till forced to ask of tears a loan:

'Patience! (the blamer cries): thou'lt have her yet!' *

Quoth I, 'O blamer where may patience wone?'"

Then said he, "This, O King! is my tale: hast thou ever heard one

stranger?" So Taj al-Muluk marvelled with great marvel at the young

merchant's story, and fire darted into his entrails on hearing the name

of the Lady Dunya and her loveliness.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn

of day and ceased to say her permitted say.

When it was the One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Wazir Dandan

continued to Zau al-Makan: Now when Taj al-Muluk heard the story of the

young merchant, he marvelled with great marvel and fire darted into his

entrails on hearing the name of the Lady Dunya who, as he knew, had

embroidered the gazelles; and his love and longing hourly grew, so he

said to the youth, "By Allah, that hath befallen thee whose like never

befel any save thyself, but thou hast a life term appointed, which thou

must fulfil; and now I would fain ask of thee a question." Quoth Aziz,

"And what is it?" Quoth he, "Wilt thou tell me how thou sawest the

young lady who wrought these gazelles?" Then he, "O my lord, I got me

access to her by a sleight and it was this. When I entered her city

with the caravan, I went forth and wandered about the garths till I

came to a flower garden abounding in trees, whose keeper was a

venerable old man, a Shaykh stricken in years. I addressed him,

saying, 'O ancient sir, whose may be this garden?' and he replied, 'It

belongs to the King's daughter, the Lady Dunya. We are now beneath her

palace and, when she is minded to amuse herself, she openeth the

private wicket and walketh in the garden and smelleth the fragrance of

the flowers.' So I said to him, 'Favour me by allowing me to sit in

this garden till she come; haply I may enjoy a sight of her as she

passeth.' The Shaykh answered, 'There can be no harm in that.'

Thereupon I gave him a dirham or so and said to him, Buy us something

to eat.' He took the money gladly and opened door and, entering

himself, admitted me into the garden, where we strolled and ceased not

strolling till we reached a pleasant spot in which he bade me sit down

and await his going and his returning. Then he brought me somewhat of

fruit and, leaving me, disappeared for an hour; but after a while he

returned to me bringing a roasted lamb, of which we ate till we had

eaten enough, my heart yearning the while for a sight of the lady.

Presently, as we sat, the postern opened and the keeper said to me,

'Rise and hide thee.' I did so; and behold, a black eunuch put his head

out through the garden wicket and asked, 'O Shaykh, there any one with

thee?' 'No,' answered he; and the eunuch said, 'Shut the garden gate.'

So the keeper shut the gate, and lo! the Lady Dunya came in by the

private door. When I saw her, methought the moon had risen above the

horizon and was shining; I looked at her a full hour and longed for her

as one athirst longeth for water. After a while she withdrew and shut

the door; whereupon I left the garden and sought my lodging, knowing

that I could not get at her and that I was no man for her, more

especially as I was become like a woman, having no manly tool: moreover

she was a King's daughter and I but a merchant man; so; how could I

have access to the like of her or— to any other woman? Accordingly,

when these my companions made ready for the road, I also made

preparation and set out with them, and we journeyed towards this city

till we arrived at the place ere we met with thee. Thou askedst me and

I have answered; and these are my adventures and peace be with thee!"

Now when Taj al-Muluk heard that account, fires raged in his bosom and

his heart and thought were occupied love for the Lady Dunya; and

passion and longing were sore upon him. Then he arose and mounted

horse and, taking Aziz with him, returned to his father's capital,

where he settled him in a separate house and supplied him with all he

needed in the way of meat and drink and dress. Then he left him and

returned to his palace, with the tears trickling down his cheeks, for

hearing oftentimes standeth instead of seeing and knowing.[FN#10] And

he ceased not to be in this state till his father came in to him and

finding him wan faced, lean of limb and tearful eyed, knew that

something had occurred to chagrin him and said, "O my son, acquaint me

with thy case and tell me what hath befallen thee, that thy colour is

changed and thy body is wasted. So he told him all that had passed and

what tale he had heard of Aziz and the account of the Princess Dunya;

and how he had fallen in love of her on hearsay, without having set

eyes on her. Quoth his sire, "O my son, she is the daughter of a King

whose land is far from ours: so put away this thought and go in to thy

mother's palace."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased

saying her permitted say.

When it was the One Hundred and Thirtieth Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Wazir Dandan

continued to Zau al-Makan: And the father of Taj al-Muluk spake to him

on this wise, "O my son, her father is a King whose land is far from

ours: so put away this thought and go into thy mother's palace where

are five hundred maidens like moons, and whichsoever of them pleaseth

thee, take her; or else we will seek for thee in marriage some one of

the King's daughters, fairer than the Lady Dunya." Answered Taj

al-Muluk, "O my father, I desire none other, for she it is who wrought

the gazelles which I saw, and there is no help but that I have her;

else I will flee into the world and the waste and I will slay myself

for her sake." Then said his father, "Have patience with me, till I

send to her sire and demand her in marriage, and win thee thy wish as I

did for myself with thy mother. Haply Allah will bring thee to thy

desire; and, if her parent will not consent, I will make his kingdom

quake under him with an army, whose rear shall be with me whilst its

van shall be upon him." Then he sent for the youth Aziz and asked him,

"O my son, tell me dost thou know the way to the Camphor Islands?" He

answered "Yes"; and the King said, "I desire of thee that thou fare

with my Wazir thither." Replied Aziz, "I hear and I obey, O King of the

Age!"; where upon the King summoned his Minister and said to him,

"Devise me some device, whereby my son's affair may be rightly managed

and fare thou forth to the Camphor Islands and demand of their King his

daughter in marriage for my son, Taj al-Muluk." The Wazir replied,

"Hearkening and obedience." Then Taj al-Muluk returned to his dwelling

place and his love and longing redoubled and the delay seemed endless

to him; and when the night darkened around him, he wept and sighed and

complained and repeated this poetry,

"Dark falls the night: my tears unaided rail * And fiercest

flames of love my heart assail:

Ask thou the nights of me, and they shall tell * An I find aught

to do but weep and wail:

Night long awake, I watch the stars what while * Pour down my

cheeks the tears like dropping hail:

And lone and lorn I'm grown with none to aid; * For kith and kin

the love lost lover fail."

And when he had ended his reciting he swooned away and did not recover

his senses till the morning, at which time there came to him one of his

father's eunuchs and, standing at his head, summoned him to the King's

presence. So he went with him and his father, seeing that his pallor

had increased, exhorted him to patience and promised him union with her

he loved. Then he equipped Aziz and the Wazir and supplied them with

presents; and they set out and fared on day and night till they drew

near the Isles of Camphor, where they halted on the banks of a stream,

and the Minister despatched a messenger to acquaint the King of his

arrival. The messenger hurried forwards and had not been gone more

than an hour, before they saw the King's Chamberlains and Emirs

advancing towards them, to meet them at a parasang's distance from the

city and escort them into the royal presence. They laid their gifts

before the King and became his guests for three days. And on the

fourth day the Wazir rose and going in to the King, stood between his

hands and acquainted him with the object which induced his visit;

whereat he was perplexed for an answer inasmuch as his daughter

misliked men and disliked marriage. So he bowed his head groundwards

awhile, then raised it and calling one of his eunuchs, said to him, "Go

to thy mistress, the Lady Dunya, and repeat to her what thou hast heard

and the purport of this Wazir's coming." So the eunuch went forth and

returning after a time, said to the King, "O King of the Age, when I

went in to the Lady Dunya and told her what I had heard, she was wroth

with exceeding wrath and rose at me with a staff designing to break my

head; so I fled from her, and she said to me 'If my Father force me to

wed him, whomsoever I wed I will slay.' Then said her sire to the Wazir

and Aziz, "Ye have heard, and now ye know all! So let your King wot of

it and give him my salutations and say that my daughter misliketh men

and disliketh marriage."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and

ceased to say her permitted say.

When it was the One Hundred and Thirty-first Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that King Shahriman

thus addressed the Wazir and Aziz, "Salute your King from me and inform

him of what ye have heard, namely that my daughter misliketh marriage."

So they turned away unsuccessful and ceased not faring on till they

rejoined the King and told him what had passed; whereupon he commanded

the chief officers to summon the troops and get them ready for marching

and campaigning. But the Wazir said to him, "O my liege Lord, do not

thus: the King is not at fault because, when his daughter learnt our

business, she sent a message saying, 'If my father force me to wed,

whomsoever I wed I will slay and myself after him.' So the refusal

cometh from her." When the King heard his Minister's words he feared

for Taj al-Muluk and said, "Verily if I make war on the King of the

Camphor Islands and carry off his daughter, she will kill herself and

it will avail me naught." Then he told his son how the case stood, who

hearing it said, "O my father, I cannot live without her; so I will go

to her and contrive to get at her, even though I die in the attempt,

and this only will I do and nothing else." Asked his father, "How wilt

thou go to her?" and he answered, "I will go in the guise of a

merchant."[FN#11] Then said the King, "If thou need must go and there

is no help for it, take with thee the Wazir and Aziz." Then he brought

out money from his treasuries and made ready for his son merchandise to

the value of an hundred thousand dinars. The two had settled upon this

action; and when the dark hours came Taj al-Muluk and Aziz went to

Aziz's lodgings and there passed that night, and the Prince was heart

smitten, taking no pleasure in food or in sleep; for melancholy was

heavy upon him and he was agitated with longing for his beloved. So he

besought the Creator that he would vouch safe to unite him with her and

he wept and groaned and wailed and began versifying,

"Union, this severance ended, shall I see some day? * Then shall

my tears this love lorn lot of me portray.

While night all care forgets I only minded thee, * And thou didst

gar me wake while all forgetful lay."

And when his improvising came to an end, he wept with sore weeping and

Aziz wept with him, for that he remembered his cousin; and they both

ceased not to shed tears till morning dawned, whereupon Taj al-Muluk

rose and went to farewell his mother, in travelling dress. She asked

him of his case and he repeated the story to her; so she gave him fifty

thousand gold pieces and bade him adieu; and, as he fared forth, she

put up prayers for his safety and for his union with his lover and his

friends. Then he betook himself to his father and asked his leave to

depart. The King granted him permission and, presenting him with other

fifty thousand dinars, bade set up a tent for him without the city and

they pitched a pavilion wherein the travellers abode two days. Then

all set out on their journey. Now Taj al-Muluk delighted in the company

of Aziz and said to him, "O my brother, henceforth I can never part

from thee." Replied Aziz, "And I am of like mind and fain would I die

under thy feet: but, O my brother, my heart is concerned for my

mother." "When we shall have won our wish," said the Prince, "there

will be naught save what is well!" Now the Wazir continued charging Taj

al-Muluk to be patient, whilst Aziz entertained him every evening with

talk and recited poetry to him and diverted him with histories and

anecdotes. And so they fared on diligently night and day for two whole

months, till the way became tedious to Taj al-Muluk and the fire of

desire redoubled on him; and he broke out,

"The road is lonesome; grow my grief and need, * While on my

breast love fires for ever feed:

Goal of my hopes, sole object of my wish! * By him who moulded

man from drop o' seed,

I bear such loads of longing for thy love, * Dearest, as weight

of al Shumm Mounts exceed:

O 'Lady of my World'[FN#12] Love does me die; * No breath of life

is left for life to plead;

But for the union hope that lends me strength, * My weary limbs

were weak this way to speed."

When he had finished his verses, he wept (and Aziz wept with him) from

a wounded heart, till the Minister was moved to pity by their tears and

said, "O my lord, be of good cheer and keep thine eyes clear of tears;

there will be naught save what is well!" Quoth Taj al-Muluk, "O Wazir,

indeed I am weary of the length of the way. Tell me how far we are yet

distant from the city." Quoth Aziz, "But a little way remaineth to us."

Then they continued their journey, cutting across river vales and

plains, words and stony wastes, till one night, as Taj al-Muluk was

sleeping, he dreamt that his beloved was with him and that he embraced

her and pressed her to his bosom; and he awoke quivering, shivering

with pain, delirious with emotion, and improvised these verses,

"Dear friend, my tears aye flow these cheeks adown, *

With longsome pain and pine, my sorrow's crown:

I plain like keening woman child bereft, *

And as night falls like widow dove I groan:

An blow the breeze from land where thou cost wone, *

I find o'er sunburnt earth sweet coolness blown.

Peace be wi' thee, my love, while zephyr breathes, *

And cushat flies and turtle makes her moan."

And when he had ended his versifying, the Wazir came to him and said,

"Rejoice; this is a good sign: so be of good cheer and keep thine eyes

cool and clear, for thou shalt surely compass thy desire." And Aziz

also came to him and exhorted him to patience and applied himself to

divert him, talking with him and telling him tales. So they pressed

on, marching day and night, other two months, till there appeared to

them one day at sunrise some white thing in the distance and Taj

al-Muluk said to Aziz, "What is yonder whiteness?" He replied, "O my

lord! yonder is the Castle of Crystal and that is the city thou

seekest." At this the Prince rejoiced, and they ceased not faring

forwards till they drew near the city and, as they approached it, Taj

al-Muluk joyed with exceeding joy, and his care ceased from him. They

entered in trader guise, the King's son being habited as a merchant of

importance; and repaired to a great Khan, known as the Merchants'

Lodging. Quoth Taj al-Muluk to Aziz, "Is this the resort of the

merchants?"; and quoth he, "Yes; 'tis the Khan wherein I lodged

before." So they alighted there and making their baggage camels kneel,

unloaded them and stored their goods in the warehouses.[FN#13] They

abode four days for rest; when the Wazir advised that they should hire

a large house. To this they assented and they found them a spacious

house, fitted up for festivities, where they took up their abode, and

the Wazir and Aziz studied to devise some device for Taj al-Muluk, who

remained in a state of perplexity, knowing not what to do. Now the

Minister could think of nothing but that he should set up as a merchant

on 'Change and in the market of fine stuffs; so he turned to the Prince

and his companion and said to them, "Know ye that if we tarry here on

this wise, assuredly we shall not win our wish nor attain our aim; but

a something occurred to me whereby (if Allah please!) we shall find our

advantage." Replied Taj al-Muluk and Aziz, "Do what seemeth good to

thee, indeed there is a blessing on the grey beard; more specially on

those who, like thyself, are conversant with the conduct of affairs: so

tell us what occurreth to thy mind." Rejoined the Wazir "It is my

counsel that we hire thee a shop in the stuff bazar, where thou mayst

sit to sell and buy. Every one, great and small, hath need of silken

stuffs and other cloths; so if thou patiently abide in thy shop, thine

affairs will prosper, Inshallah! more by token as thou art comely of

aspect. Make, however, Aziz thy factor and set him within the shop, to

hand thee the pieces of cloth and stuffs." When Taj al-Muluk heard

these words, he said, 'This rede is right and a right pleasant

recking." So he took out a handsome suit of merchant's weed, and,

putting it on, set out for the bazar, followed by his servants, to one

of whom he had given a thousand dinars, wherewith to fit up the shop.

They ceased not walking till they came to the stuff market, and when

the merchants saw Taj al-Muluk's beauty and grace, they were confounded

and went about saying, "Of a truth Rizwán[FN#14] hath opened the gates

of Paradise and left them unguarded, so that this youth of passing

comeliness hath come forth." And others, "Peradventure this is one of

the angels." Now when they went in among the traders they asked for the

shop of the Overseer of the market and the merchants directed them

thereto. So they delayed not to repair thither and to salute him, and

he and those who were with him rose to them and seated them and made

much of them, because of the Wazir, whom they saw to be a man in years

and of reverend aspect; and viewing the youths Aziz and Taj al-Muluk in

his company, they said to one another, "Doubtless our Shaykh is the

father of these two youths." Then quoth the Wazir, "Who among you is

the Overseer of the market?" "This is he," replied they; and behold, he

came forward and the Wazir observed him narrowly and saw him to be an

old man of grave and dignified carriage, with eunuchs and servants and

black slaves. The Syndic greeted them with the greeting of friends and

was lavish in his attentions to them: then he seated them by his side

and asked them, "Have ye any business which we[FN#15] may have the

happiness of transacting?" The Minister answered, "Yes; I am an old

man, stricken in years, and have with me these two youths, with whom I

have travelled through every town and country, entering no great city

without tarrying there a full year, that they might take their pleasure

in viewing it and come to know its citizens. Now I have visited your

town intending to sojourn here for a while; so I want of thee a

handsome shop in the best situation, wherein I may establish them, that

they may traffic and learn to buy and sell and give and take, whilst

they divert themselves with the sight of the place, and be come

familiar with the usages of its people." Quoth the Overseer, "There is

no harm in that;" and, looking at the two youths, he was delighted with

them and affected them with a warm affection. Now he was a great

connoisseur of bewitching glances, preferring the love of boys to that

of girls and inclining to the sour rather than the sweet of love. So

he said to himself, "This, indeed, is fine game. Glory be to Him who

created and fashioned them out of vile water!"[FN#16] and rising stood

before them like a servant to do them honour. Then he went out and

made ready for them a shop which was in the very midst of the Exchange;

nor was there any larger or better in the bazar, for it was spacious

and handsomely decorated and fitted with shelves of ivory and ebony

wood. After this he delivered the keys to the Wazir, who was dressed

as an old merchant, saying, "Take them, O my lord, and Allah make it a

blessed abiding place to thy two sons!" The Minister took the keys and

the three returning to the Khan where they had alighted, bade the

servants transport to the shop all their goods and stuffs.—And

Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted

say.

When it was the One Hundred and Thirty-second Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the Wazir

took the shop keys, he went accompanied by Taj al-Muluk and Aziz to the

Khan, and they bade the servants transport to the shop all their goods

and stuffs and valuables of which they had great store worth treasures

of money. And when all this was duly done, they went to the shop and

ordered their stock in trade and slept there that night. As soon as

morning morrowed the Wazir took the two young men to the Hammam bath

where they washed them clean; and they donned rich dresses and scented

themselves with essences and enjoyed themselves to the utmost. Now

each of the youths was passing fair to look upon, and in the bath they

were even as saith the poet,

"Luck to the Rubber, whose deft hand o'erdies *

A frame begotten twixt the lymph and light:[FN#17]

He shows the thaumaturgy of his craft, *

And gathers musk in form of camphor dight."[FN#18]

After bathing they left; and, when the Overseer heard that they had

gone to the Hammam, he sat down to await the twain, and presently they

came up to him like two gazelles; their cheeks were reddened by the

bath and their eyes were darker than ever; their faces shone and they

were as two lustrous moons or two branches fruit laden. Now when he

saw them he rose forthright and said to them, "O my sons, may your bath

profit you always!"[FN#19] Where upon Taj al-Muluk replied, with the

sweetest of speech, "Allah be bountiful to thee, O my father; why didst

thou not come with us and bathe in our company?" Then they both bent

over his right hand and kissed it and walked before him to the shop, to

entreat him honourably and show their respect for him, for that he was

Chief of the Merchants and the market, and he had done them kindness in

giving them the shop. When he saw their hips quivering as they moved,

desire and longing redoubled on him; and he puffed and snorted and he

devoured them with his eyes, for he could not contain himself,

repeating the while these two couplets,

"Here the heart reads a chapter of devotion pure; *

Nor reads dispute if Heaven in worship partner take:

No wonder 'tis he trembles walking 'neath such weight! *

How much of movement that revolving sphere must

make.[FN#20]"

Furthermore he said,

"I saw two charmers treading humble earth. *

Two I must love an tread they on mine eyes."

When they heard this, they conjured him to enter the bath with them a

second time. He could hardly believe his ears and hastening thither,

went in with them. The Wazir had not yet left the bath; so when he

heard of the Overseer's coming, he came out and meeting him in the

middle of the bath hall invited him to enter. He refused, whereupon

Taj al-Muluk taking him by the hand walked on one side and Aziz by the

other, and carried him into a cabinet; and that impure old man

submitted to them, whilst his emotion increased on him. He would have

refused, albeit this was what he desired; but the Minister said to him,

"They are thy sons; let them wash thee and cleanse thee." "Allah

preserve them to thee!" exclaimed the Overseer, "By Allah your coming

and the coming of those with you bring down blessing and good luck upon

our city!" And he repeated these two couplets,

"Thou camest and green grew the hills anew; *

And sweetest bloom to the bridegroom threw,

While aloud cried Earth and her earth-borns too *

'Hail and welcome who comest with grace to endue.'"

They thanked him for this, and Taj al-Muluk ceased not to wash him and

to pour water over him and he thought his soul in Paradise. When they

had made an end of his service, he blessed them and sat by the side of

the Wazir, talking but gazing the while on the youths. Presently, the

servants brought them towels, and they dried themselves and donned

their dress. Then they went out, and the Minister turned to the Syndic

and said to him, "O my lord! verily the bath is the Paradise[FN#21] of

this world." Replied the Overseer, "Allah vouchsafe to thee such

Paradise, and health to thy sons and guard them from the evil eye! Do

ye remember aught that the eloquent have said in praise of the bath.?"

Quoth Taj al-Muluk, "I will repeat for thee a pair of couplets;" and he

recited,

The life of the bath is the joy of man's life,[FN#22] *

Save that time is short for us there to bide:

A Heaven where irksome it were to stay; *

A Hell, delightful at entering-tide."

When he ended his recital, quoth Aziz, "And I also remember two

couplets in praise of the bath." The Overseer said, "Let me hear them,"

so he repeated the following,

"A house where flowers from stones of granite grow, *

Seen at its best when hot with living lows:

Thou deem'st it Hell but here, forsooth, is Heaven, *

And some like suns and moons within it show."

And when he had ended his recital, his verses pleased the Overseer and

he wondered at his words and savoured their grace and fecundity and

said to them, "By Allah, ye possess both beauty and eloquence. But now

listen to me, you twain!" And he began chanting, and recited in song

the following verses,

"O joy of Hell and Heaven! whose tormentry *

Enquickens frame and soul with lively gree:

I marvel so delightsome house to view, *

And most when 'neath it kindled fires I see:

Sojourn of bliss to visitors, withal *

Pools on them pour down tears unceasingly."

Then his eye-sight roamed and browsed on the gardens of their beauty

and he repeated these two couplets,

"I went to the house of the keeper-man; *

He was out, but others to smile began:

I entered his Heaven[FN#23] and then his Hell;[FN#24] *

And I said 'Bless Málik[FN#25] and bless Rizwán.' "[FN#26]

When they heard these verses they were charmed, and the Over seer

invited them to his house; but they declined and returned to their own

place, to rest from the great heat of the bath. So they took their

ease there and ate and drank and passed that night in perfect solace

and satisfaction, till morning dawned, when they arose from sleep and

making their lesser ablution, prayed the dawn- prayer and drank the

morning draught.[FN#27] As soon as the sun had risen and the shops and

markets opened, they arose and going forth from their place to the

bazar opened their shop, which their servants had already furnished,

after the handsomest fashion, and had spread with prayer rugs and

silken carpets and had placed on the divans a pair of mattresses, each

worth an hundred dinars. On every mattress they had disposed a rug of

skin fit for a King and edged with a fringe of gold; and a-middlemost

the shop stood a third seat still richer, even as the place required.

Then Taj al-Muluk sat down on one divan, and Aziz on another, whilst

the Wazir seated himself on that in the centre, and the servants stood

before them. The city people soon heard of them and crowded about

them, so that they sold some of their goods and not a few of their

stuffs; for Taj al-Muluk's beauty and loveliness had become the talk of

the town. Thus they passed a trifle of time, and every day the people

flocked to them and pressed upon them more and more, till the Wazir,

after exhorting Taj al-Muluk to keep his secret, commended him to the

care of Aziz and went home, that he might commune with himself alone

and cast about for some contrivance which might profit them.

Meanwhile, the two young men sat talking and Taj al-Muluk said to Aziz,

"Haply some one will come from the Lady Dunya." So he ceased not

expecting this chance days and nights, but his heart was troubled and

he knew neither sleep nor rest; for desire had got the mastery of him,

and love and longing were sore upon him, so that he renounced the

solace of sleep and abstained from meat and drink; yet ceased he not to

be like the moon on the night of fullness. Now one day as he sat in

the shop, behold, there came up an ancient woman.—And Shahrazad

perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.

When it was the One Hundred and Thirty-third Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Wazir Dandan

continued to Zau al-Makan: Now one day as Taj al-Muluk sat in his shop,

behold, there appeared an ancient woman, who came up to him followed by

two slave girls. She ceased not advancing till she stood before the

shop of Taj al-Muluk and, observing his symmetry and beauty and

loveliness, marvelled at his charms and sweated in her petticoat

trousers, exclaiming, "Glory to Him who created thee out of vile water,

and made thee a temptation to all beholders!" And she fixed her eyes on

him and said, "This is not a mortal, he is none other than an angel

deserving the highest respect."[FN#28] Then she drew near and saluted

him, whereupon he returned her salute and rose to his feet to receive

her and smiled in her face (all this by a hint from Aziz); after which

he made her sit down by his side and fanned her with a fan, till she

was rested and refreshed. Then she turned to Taj al-Muluk and said, "O

my son! O thou who art perfect in bodily gifts and spiritual graces;

say me, art thou of this country?" He replied, in voice the sweetest

and in tone the pleasantest, "By Allah, O my mistress, I was never in

this land during my life till this time, nor do I abide here save by

way of diversion." Rejoined she, "May the Granter grant thee all honour

and prosperity! And what stuffs hast thou brought with thee? Show me

something passing fine; for the beauteous should bring nothing but what

is beautiful." When he heard her words, his heart fluttered and he knew

not their inner meaning; but Aziz made a sign to him and he replied, "I

have everything thou canst desire and especially I have goods that

besit none but Kings and King's daughters; so tell me what stuff thou

wantest and for whom, that I may show thee what will be fitting for

him." This he said, that he might learn the meaning of her words; and

she rejoined, "I want a stuff fit for the Princess Dunya, daughter of

King Shahriman." Now when the Prince heard the name of his beloved, he

joyed with great joy and said to Aziz, "Give me such a parcel." So Aziz

brought it and opened it before Taj al-Muluk who said to the old woman,

"Select what will suit her; for these goods are to be found only with

me." She chose stuffs worth a thousand dinars and asked, "How much is

this?"; and she ceased not the while to talk with him and rub what was

inside her thighs with the palm of her hand. Answered Taj al-Muluk,

"Shall I haggle with the like of thee about this paltry price? Praised

be Allah who hath acquainted me with thee!" The old woman rejoined,

"Allah's name be upon thee! I commend thy beautiful face to the

protection of the Lord of the Daybreak.[FN#29] Beautiful face and

eloquent speech! Happy she who lieth in thy bosom and claspeth thy

waist in her arms and enjoyeth thy youth, especially if she be

beautiful and lovely like thyself!" At this, Taj al-Muluk laughed till

he fell on his back and said to himself, "O Thou who fulfillest desires

human by means of pimping old women! They are the true fulfillers of

desires!" Then she asked, "O my son, what is thy name?" and he

answered, "My name is Taj al-Muluk, the Crown of Kings." Quoth she,

"This is indeed a name of Kings and King's sons and thou art clad in

merchant's clothes." Quoth Aziz, "for the love his parents and family

bore him and for the value they set on him, they named him thus."

Replied the old woman, "Thou sayest sooth, Allah guard you both from

the evil eye and the envious, though hearts be broken by your charms!"

Then she took the stuffs and went her way; but she was amazed at his

beauty and stature and symmetry, and she ceased not going till she

found the Lady Dunya and said to her, "O my mistress! I have brought

thee some handsome stuffs." Quoth the Princess, "Show me that same";

and the old woman, "O apple of my eye, here it is, turn it over and

examine it." Now when the Princess looked at it she was amazed and

said, "O my nurse, this is indeed handsome stuff: I have never seen its

like in our city." "O my lady," replied the old nurse, "he who sold it

me is handsomer still. It would seem as if Rizwan had left the gates

of Paradise open in his carelessness, and as if the youth who sold me

this stuff had come bodily out of Heaven. I would he might sleep this

night with thee and might lie between thy breasts.[FN#30] He hath come

to thy city with these precious stuffs for amusement's sake, and he is

a temptation to all who set eyes on him." The Princess laughed at her

words and said, "Allah afflict thee, O pernicious old hag! Thou dotest

and there is no sense left in thee." Presently, she resumed, "Give me

the stuff that I may look at it anew." So she gave it her and she took

it again and saw that its size was small and its value great. It

pleased her, for she had never in her life seen its like, and she

exclaimed, "By Allah, this is a handsome stuff!" Answered the old

woman, "O my lady, by Allah! if thou sawest its owner thou wouldst know

him for the handsomest man on the face of the earth." Quoth the Lady

Dunya, "Didst thou ask him if he had any need, that he might tell us

and we might satisfy it?" But the nurse shook her head and said, "The

Lord keep thy sagacity! By Allah, he hath a want, may thy skill not

fail thee. What! is any man free from wants?" Rejoined the Princess,

"Go back to him and salute him and say to him, 'Our land and town are

honoured by thy visit and, if thou have any need, we will fulfil it to

thee, on our head and eyes.' " So the old woman at once returned to

Taj al-Muluk, and when he saw her his heart jumped for joy and gladness

and he rose to his feet before her and, taking her hand, seated her by

his side. As soon as she was rested, she told him what Princess Dunya

had said; and he on hearing it joyed with exceeding joy; his breast

dilated to the full; gladness entered his heart and he said to himself,

"Verily, I have my need." Then he asked the old woman, "Haply thou wilt

take her a message from me and bring me her answer?"; and she answered,

"I hear and I obey." So he said to Aziz, "Bring me ink-case and paper

and a brazen pen." And when Aziz brought him what he sought, he hent

the pen in hand and wrote these lines of poetry,

"I write to thee, O fondest hope! a writ *

Of grief that severance on my soul cloth lay:

Saith its first line, 'Within my heart is [owe!' *

Its second, 'Love and Longing on me prey!'

Its third, 'My patience waste is, fades my life!' *

Its fourth, 'Naught shall my pain and pine allay!'

Its fifth, 'When shall mine eyes enjoy thy sight?' *

Its sixth, 'Say, when shall dawn our meeting-day?' "

And, lastly, by way of subscription he wrote these words. "This letter

is from the captive of captivation * prisoned in the hold of longing

expectation * wherefrom is no emancipation * but in anticipation and

intercourse and in unification * after absence and separation. * For

from the severance of friends he loveth so fain * he suffereth love

pangs and pining pain. *" Then his tears rushed out, and he indited

these two couplets,

"I write thee, love, the while my tears pour down; *

Nor cease they ever pouring thick and fleet:

Yet I despair not of my God, whose grace *

Haply some day will grant us twain to meet."

Then he folded the letter[FN#31] and sealed it with his signet ring and

gave it to the old woman, saying, "Carry it to the Lady Dunya." Quoth

she, "To hear is to obey;" whereupon he gave her a thousand dinars and

said to her, "O my mother! accept this gift from me as a token of my

affection." She took both from him and blessed him and went her way and

never stinted walking till she went in to the Lady Dunya. Now when the

Princess saw her she said to her, "O my nurse, what is it he asketh of

need that we may fulfil his wish to him?" Replied the old woman, "O my

lady, he sendeth thee this letter by me, and I know not what is in it;"

and handed it to her. Then the Princess took the letter and read it;

and when she understood it, she exclaimed, "Whence cometh and whither

goeth this merchant man that he durst address such a letter to me?" And

she slapt her face saying, "'Whence are we that we should come to

shopkeeping? Awah! Awah! By the lord, but that I fear Almighty Allah

I had slain him;" and she added, "Yea, I had crucified[FN#32] him over

his shop door!" Asked the old woman, "What is in this letter to vex thy

heart and move thy wrath on this wise? Doth it contain a complaint of

oppression or demand for the price of the stuff?" Answered the

Princess, "Woe to thee! There is none of this in it, naught but words

of love and endearment. This is all through thee: otherwise whence

should this Satan[FN#33] know me?" Rejoined the old woman, "o my lady,

thou sittest in thy high palace and none may have access to thee; no,

not even the birds of the air. Allah keep thee, and keep thy youth

from blame and reproach! Thou needest not care for the barking of

dogs, for thou art a Princess, the daughter of a King. Be not wroth

with me that I brought thee this letter, knowing not what was in it;

but I opine that thou send him an answer and threaten him with death

and forbid him this foolish talk; surely he will abstain and not do the

like again." Quoth the Lady Dunya, "I fear that, if I write to him, he

will desire me the more." The old woman returned "When he heareth thy

threats and promise of punishment, he will desist from his

persistence." She cried, "Here with the ink case and paper and brazen

pen;" and when they brought them she wrote these couplets,

"O thou who for thy wakeful nights wouldst claim my love

to boon, * For what of pining thou must feel and

tribulation!

Dost thou, fond fool and proud of sprite, seek meeting with the

Moon? * Say, did man ever win his wish to take in arms the

Moon?

I counsel thee, from soul cast out the wish that dwells

therein, * And cut that short which threatens thee with

sore risk oversoon:

An to such talk thou dare return, I bid thee to expect *

Fro' me such awful penalty as suiteth froward loon:

I swear by Him who moulded man from gout of clotted

blood,[FN#34] * Who lit the Sun to shine by day and lit

for night the moon,

An thou return to mention that thou spakest in thy pride, *

Upon a cross of tree for boon I'll have thee crucified!"

Then she folded the letter and handing it to the old woman said, "Give

him this and say him, 'Cease from this talk!' " "Hearkening and

obedience," replied she, and taking the letter with joy, returned to

her own house, where she passed the night; and when morning dawned she

betook herself to the shop of Taj al-Muluk whom she found expecting

her. When he saw her, he was ready to fly[FN#35] for delight, and when

she came up to him, he stood to her on his feet and seated her by his

side. Then she brought out the letter and gave it to him, saying,

"Read what is in this;" adding "When Princess Dunya read thy letter she

was angry; but I coaxed her and jested with her till I made her laugh,

and she had pity on thee and she hath returned thee an answer." He

thanked her for her kindness and bade Aziz give her a thousand gold

pieces: then he perused the letter and understanding it fell to weeping

a weeping so sore that the old woman's heart was moved to ruth for him,

and his tears and complaints were grievous to her. Presently she asked

him, "O my son, what is there in this letter to make thee weep?"

Answered he, "She hath threatened me with death and crucifixion and she

forbiddeth me to write to her, but if I write not my death were better

than my life. So take thou my answer to the letter and let her work

her will." Rejoined the old woman, "By the life of thy youth, needs

must I risk my existence for thee, that I may bring thee to thy desire

and help thee to win what thou hast at heart!" And Taj al-Muluk said,

"Whatever thou dost, I will requite thee for it and do thou weigh it in

the scales of thy judgement, for thou art experienced in managing

matters, and skilled in reading the chapters of the book of intrigue:

all hard matters to thee are easy doings; and Allah can bring about

everything." Then he took a sheet of paper and wrote thereon these

improvised couplets,

"Yestre'en my love with slaughter menaced me, *

But sweet were slaughter and Death's foreordainčd:

Yes, Death is sweet for lover doomed to bear *

Long life, rejected, injured and constrainčd:

By Allah! deign to visit friendless friend! *

Thy thrall am I and like a thrall I'm chainčd:

Mercy, O lady mine, for loving thee! *

Who loveth noble soul should be assainčd."

Then he sighed heavy sighs and wept till the old woman wept also and

presently taking the letter she said to him, "Be of good cheer and cool

eyes and clear; for needs must I bring thee to thy wish."—And Shahrazad

perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.

When it was the One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Taj al-Muluk

wept the old woman said to him, "Be of good cheer and cool eyes and

clear; for needs must I bring thee to thy wish." Then she rose and left

him on coals of fire; and returned to Princess Dunya, whom she found

still showing on her changed face rage at Taj al-Muluk's letter. So

she gave her his second letter, whereat her wrath redoubled and she

said, "Did I not say he would desire us the more?" Replied the old

woman, "What thing is this dog that he should aspire to thee?" Quoth

the Princess, "Go back to him and tell him that, if he write me after

this, I will cut off his head." Quoth the nurse, "Write these words in

a letter and I will take it to him that his fear may be the greater."

So she took a sheet of paper and wrote thereon these couplets,

"Ho thou, who past and bygone risks regardest with uncare! *

Thou who to win thy meeting prize dost overslowly fare!

In pride of spirit thinkest thou to win the star Soha[FN#36]? *

Albe thou may not reach the Moon which shines through

upper air?

How darest thou expect to win my favours, hope to clip *

Upon a lover's burning breast my lance like shape and rare?

Leave this thy purpose lest my wrath come down on thee some

day, * A day of wrath shall hoary turn the partings of

thy hair!"

Then she folded the letter and gave it to the old woman, who took it

and repaired to Taj al-Muluk. And when he saw her, he rose to his feet

and exclaimed, "May Allah never bereave me of the blessing of thy

coming!" Quoth she, "Take the answer to thy letter." He took it and

reading it, wept with sore weeping and said, "I long for some one to

slay me at this moment and send me to my rest, for indeed death were

easier to me than this my state!" Then he took ink case and pen and

paper and wrote a letter containing these two couplets,

"O hope of me! pursue me not with rigour and disdain: *

Deign thou to visit lover wight in love of thee is drowned;

Deem not a life so deeply wronged I longer will endure; * My soul

for severance from my friend divorced this frame unsound."

Lastly he folded the letter and handed it to the old woman, saying, "Be

not angry with me, though I have wearied thee to no purpose." And he

bade Aziz give her other thousand ducats, saying, "O my mother, needs

must this letter result in perfect union or utter severance." Replied

she, "O my son, by Allah, I desire nought but thy weal; and it is my

object that she be thine, for indeed thou art the shining moon, and she

the rising sun.[FN#37] If I do not bring you together, there is no

profit in my existence; and I have lived my life till I have reached

the age of ninety years in the practice of wile and intrigue; so how

should I fail to unite two lovers, though in defiance of right and

law?" Then she took leave of him having comforted his heart, and ceased

not walking till she went in to the Lady Dunya. Now she had hidden the

letter in her hair: so when she sat down by the Princess she rubbed her

head and said, "O my lady, maybe thou wilt untwist my hair knot, for it

is a time since I went to the Hammam." The King's daughter bared her

arms to the elbows and, letting down the old woman's locks, began to

loose the knot of back hair; when out dropped the letter and the Lady

Dunya seeing it, asked, "What is this paper?" Quoth the nurse, "As I

sat in the merchant's shop, this paper must have stuck to me: give it

to me that I may return it to him; possibly it containeth some account

whereof he hath need." But the Princess opened it and read it and, when

she understood it, she cried out, "This is one of thy manifold tricks,

and hadst thou not reared me, I would lay violent hands on thee this

moment! Verily Allah hath afflicted me with this merchant: but all

that hath befallen me with him is on thy head. I know not from what

country this one can have come: no man but he would venture to affront

me thus, and I fear lest this my case get abroad, more by token as it

concerneth one who is neither of my kin nor of my peers." Rejoined the

old woman "None would dare speak of this for fear of thy wrath and for

awe of thy sire; so there can be no harm in sending him an answer."

Quoth the Princess, "O my nurse, verily this one is a perfect Satan!

How durst he use such language to me and not dread the Sultan's rage.

Indeed, I am perplexed about his case: if I order him to be put to

death, it were unjust; and if I leave him alive his boldness will

increase." Quoth the old woman, "Come, write him a letter; it may be he

will desist in dread." So she called for paper and ink case and pen and

wrote these couplets,

"Thy folly drives thee on though long I chid, *

Writing in verse: how long shall I forbid?

For all forbiddal thou persistest more, *

And my sole grace it is to keep it hid;

Then hide thy love nor ever dare reveal, *

For an thou speak, of thee I'll soon be rid

If to thy silly speech thou turn anew, *

Ravens shall croak for thee the wold amid:

And Death shall come and beat thee down ere long, *

Put out of sight and bury 'neath an earthen lid:

Thy folk, fond fool! thou'lt leave for thee to mourn, *

And through their lives to sorrow all forlorn."

Then she folded the letter and committed it to the old woman, who took

it and returning to Taj al-Muluk, gave it to him. When he read it, he

knew that the Princess was hard hearted and that he should not win

access to her; so he complained of his case to the Wazir and besought

his counsel. Quoth the Minister, "Know thou that naught will profit

thee save that thou write to her and invoke the retribution of Heaven

upon her." And quoth the Prince, "O my brother, O Aziz, do thou write

to her as if my tongue spake, according to thy knowledge." So Aziz took

a paper and wrote these couplets,

"By the Five Shaykhs,[FN#38] O Lord, I pray deliver me; *

Let her for whom I suffer bear like misery:

Thou knowest how I fry in flaming lowe of love, *

While she I love hath naught of ruth or clemency:

How long shall I, despite my pain, her feelings spare? *

How long shall she wreak tyranny o'er weakling me?

In pains of never ceasing death I ever grieve: *

O Lord, deign aid; none other helping hand I see.

How fain would I forget her and forget her love! *

But how forget when Love garred Patience death to dree?

O thou who hinderest Love to 'joy fair meeting tide *

Say! art thou safe from Time and Fortune's jealousy?

Art thou not glad and blest with happy life, while I *

From folk and country for thy love am doomed flee?"

Then Aziz folded the letter and gave it to Taj al-Muluk, who read it

and was pleased with it. So he handed it to the old woman, who took it

and went in with it to Princess Dunya. But when she read it and

mastered the meaning thereof, she was enraged with great rage and said,

"All that hath befallen me cometh by means of this ill omened old

woman!" Then she cried out to the damsels and eunuchs, saying, "Seize

this old hag, this accursed trickstress and beat her with your

slippers!" So they came down upon her till she swooned away; and, when

she came to herself, the Princess said to her, "By the Lord! O wicked

old woman, did I not fear Almighty Allah, I would slay thee." Then

quoth she to them, "Beat her again" and they did so till she fainted a

second time, whereupon she bade them drag her forth and throw her

outside the palace door. So they dragged her along on her face and

threw her down before the gate; but as soon as she revived she got up

from the ground and, walking and sitting by turns, made her way home.

There she passed the night till morning, when she arose and went to Taj

al-Muluk and told them all that had occurred. He was distressed at

this grievous news and said, "O my mother, hard indeed to us is that

which hath befallen thee, but all things are according to fate and

man's lot." Replied she, "Be of good cheer and keep thine eyes cool and

clear, for I will not give over striving till I have brought thee and

her together, and made thee enjoy this wanton who hath burnt my skin

with beating." Asked the Prince "Tell me what caused her to hate men;"

and the old woman answered, "It arose from what she saw in a dream."

"And what was this dream?" "'Twas this: one night, as she lay asleep,

she saw a fowler spread his net upon the ground and scatter wheat grain

round it. Then he sat down hard by, and not a bird in the

neighbourhood but flocked to his toils. Amongst the rest she beheld a

pair of pigeons, male and female; and, whilst she was watching the net,

behold, the male bird's foot caught in the meshes and he began to

struggle; whereupon all the other birds took fright and flew away. But

presently his mate came back and hovered over him, then alighted on the

toils unobserved by the fowler, and fell to pecking with her beak and

pulling at the mesh in which the male bird's foot was tangled, till she

released the toes and they flew away together. Then the fowler came

up, mended his net and seated himself afar off. After an hour or so the

birds flew back and the female pigeon was caught in the net; whereupon

all the other birds took fright and scurried away; and the male pigeon

fled with the rest and did not return to his mate, but the fowler came

up and took the female pigeon and cut her throat. The Princess awoke,

troubled by her dream, and said, 'All males are like this pigeon,

worthless creatures: and men in general lack grace and goodness to

women.'" When the old woman had ended her story, the Prince said to

her, "O my mother, I desire to have one look at her, though it be my

death; so do thou contrive me some contrivance for seeing her." She

replied, "Know then that she hath under her palace windows a garden

wherein she taketh her pleasure; and thither she resorteth once in

every month by the private door. After ten days, the time of her thus

going forth to divert herself will arrive; so when she is about to

visit the garden, I will come and tell thee, that thou mayst go thither

and meet her. And look thou leave not the garden, for haply, an she

see thy beauty and Loveliness, her heart will be taken with love of

thee, and love is the most potent means of union." He said, "I hear and

obey;" whereupon he and Aziz arose and left the shop and, taking the

old woman with them, showed her the place where they lodged. Then said

Taj al- Muluk to Aziz, "O my brother, I have no need of the shop now,

having fulfilled my purpose of it; so I give it to thee with all that

is in it; for that thou hast come abroad with me and hast left thy

native land for my sake." Aziz accepted his gift and then they sat

conversing, while the Prince questioned him of the strange adventures

which had befallen him, and his companion acquainted him with the

particulars thereof. Presently, they went to the Wazir and, reporting

to him Taj al-Muluk's purpose, asked him, "What is to be done?" "Let us

go to the garden," answered he. So each and every donned richest

clothes and went forth, followed by three white slaves to the garden,

which they found thick with thickets and railing its rills. When they

saw the keeper sitting at the gate, they saluted him with the Salam and

he returned their salute. Then the Wazir gave him an hundred gold

pieces, saying, "Prithee, take this small sum and fetch us somewhat to

eat; for we are strangers and I have with me these two lads whom I wish

to divert."[FN#39] The Gardener took the sequins and said to them,

"Enter and amuse yourselves in the garden, for it is all yours; and sit

down till I bring you what food you require." So he went to the market

while the Wazir and Taj al-Muluk and Aziz entered the garden. And

shortly after leaving for the bazar the Gardener returned with a

roasted lamb and cotton white bread, which he placed before them, and

they ate and drank; thereupon he served up sweetmeats, and they ate of

them, and washed their hands and sat talking. Presently the Wazir said

to the garth keeper, "Tell me about this garden: is it thine or dost

thou rent it?" The Shaykh replied, "It doth not belong to me, but to

our King's daughter, the Princess Dunya." "What be thy monthly wages?"

asked the Wazir and he answered, "One diner and no more." Then the

Minister looked round about the garden and, seeing in its midst a

pavilion tall and grand but old and disused, said to the keeper, "O

elder, I am minded to do here a good work, by which thou shalt remember

me. Replied the other, "O my lord, what is the good work thou wouldest

do?" "Take these three hundred diners," rejoined the Wazir When the

Keeper heard speak of the gold, he said, "O my lord, whatso thou wilt,

do!" So the Wazir gave him the monies, saying, "Inshallah, we will make

a good work in this place!" Then they left him and returned to their

lodging, where they passed the night; and when it was the next day, the

Minister sent for a plasterer and a painter and a skilful goldsmith

and, furnishing them with all the tools they wanted, carried them to

the garden, where he bade them whitewash the walls of the pavilion and

decorate it with various kinds of paintings. Moreover he sent for gold

and lapis lazuli[FN#40] and said to the painter, "Figure me on the

wall, at the upper end of this hall, a man fowler with his nets spread

and birds falling into them and a female pigeon entangled in the meshes

by her bill." And when the painter had finished his picture on one

side, the Wazir said, "Figure me on the other side a similar figure and

represent the she pigeon alone in the snare and the fowler seizing her

and setting the knife to her neck; and draw on the third side wall, a

great raptor clutching the male pigeon, her mate, and digging talons

into him." The artist did his bidding, and when he and the others had

finished the designs, they received their hire and went away. Then the

Wazir and his companions took leave of the Gardener and returned to

their place, where they sat down to converse. And Taj al-Muluk said to

Aziz, "O my brother, recite me some verses: perchance it may broaden my

breast and dispel my dolours and quench the fire flaming in my heart."

So Aziz chanted with sweet modulation these couplets,

"Whate'er they say of grief to lovers came, *

I, weakling I, can single handed claim:

An seek thou watering spot,[FN#41] my streaming eyes *

Pour floods that thirst would quench howe'er it flame

Or wouldest view what ruin Love has wrought *

With ruthless hands, then see this wasted frame."

And his eyes ran over with tears and he repeated these couplets also,

"Who loves not swan-neck and gazelle-like eyes, *

Yet claims to know Life's joys, I say he lies:

In Love is mystery, none avail to learn *

Save he who loveth in pure loving wise.

Allah my heart ne'er lighten of this love, *

Nor rob the wakefulness these eyelids prize."

Then he changed the mode of song and sang these couplets:

"Ibn Síná[FN#42] in his Canon cloth opine *

Lovers' best cure is found in merry song:

In meeting lover of a like degree, *

Dessert in garden, wine draughts long and strong:

I chose another who of thee might cure *

While Force and Fortune aided well and long

But ah! I learnt Love's mortal ill, wherein *

Ibn Sina's recipe is fond and wrong."

After hearing them to the end, Taj al-Muluk was pleased with his verses

and wondered at his eloquence and the excellence of his recitation,

saying, "Indeed, thou hast done away with somewhat of my sorrow." Then

quoth the Wazir "Of a truth, there occurred to those of old what

astoundeth those who hear it told." Quoth the Prince, "If thou canst

recall aught of this kind, prithee let us hear thy subtle lines and

keep up the talk." So the Minister chanted in modulated song these

couplets,

"Indeed I deemed thy favours might be bought *

By gifts of gold and things that joy the sprite

And ignorantly thought thee light-o'-love, *

When can thy love lay low the highmost might;

Until I saw thee choosing one, that one *

Loved with all favour, crowned with all delight:

Then wot I thou by sleight canst ne'er be won *

And under wing my head I hid from sight

And in this nest of passion made my wone, *

Wherein I nestle morning, noon and night."

So far concerning them; but as regards the old woman she remained shut

up from the world in her house, till it befel that the King's daughter

was taken with a desire to divert herself in the garden. Now she had

never been wont so to do save in company with her nurse; accordingly

she sent for her and made friends with her and soothed her sorrow,

saying, "I wish to go forth to the garden, that I may divert myself

with the sight of its trees and Fruits, and broaden my breast with the

scent of its flowers." Replied the old woman, "I hear and obey; but

first I would go to my house, and soon I will be with thee." The

Princess rejoined, "Go home, but be not long absent from me." So the

old woman left her and, repairing to Taj al-Muluk, said to him, "Get

thee ready and don thy richest dress and go to the garden and find out

the Gardener and salute him and then hide thyself therein." "To hear is

to obey" answered he; and she agreed with him upon a signal, after

which she returned to the Lady Dunya. As soon as she was gone, the

Wazir and Aziz rose and robed Taj al-Muluk in a splendid suit of royal

raiment worth five thousand diners, and girt his middle with a girdle

of gold set with gems and precious metals. Then they repaired to the

garden and found seated at the gate the Keeper who, as soon as he saw

the Prince, sprang to his feet and received him with all respect and

reverence, and opening the gate, said, "Enter and take thy pleasure in

looking at the garden." Now the Gardener knew not that the King's

daughter was to visit the place that day; but when Taj al-Muluk had

been a little while there, he heard a hubbub and ere he could think,

out issued the eunuchs and damsels by the private wicket. The Gardener

seeing this came up to the Prince, informed him of her approach and

said to him, "O my lord, what is to be done? The Princess Dunya, the

King's daughter, is here." Replied the Prince, "Fear not, no harm shall

befal thee; for I will hide me somewhere about the garden." So the

Keeper exhorted him to the utmost prudence and went away. Presently

the Princess entered the garden with her damsels and with the old

woman, who said to herself, "If these eunuchs stay with us, we shall

not attain our end." So quoth she to the King's daughter, "O my lady, I

have somewhat to tell thee which shall ease thy heart." Quoth the

Princess, "Say what thou hast to say." "O my lady, rejoined the old

woman, "thou hast no need of these eunuchs at a time like the present;

nor wilt thou be able to divert thyself at thine ease, whilst they are

with us; so send them away;" and the Lady Dunya replied, "Thou speakest

sooth" Accordingly she dismissed them and presently began to walk

about, whilst Taj al-Muluk looked upon her and fed his eyes on her

beauty and loveliness (but she knew it not); and every time he gazed at

her he fainted by reason of her passing charms.[FN#43] The old woman

drew her on by converse till they reached the pavilion which the Wazir

had bidden be decorated, when the Princess entered and cast a glance

round and perceived the picture of the birds the fowler and the pigeon;

whereupon she cried, "Exalted be Allah! This is the very counterfeit

presentment of what I saw in my dream." She continued to gaze at the

figures of the birds and the fowler with his net, admiring the work,

and presently she said, "O my nurse, I have been wont to blame and hate

men, but look now at the fowler how he hath slaughtered the she bird

who set free her mate; who was minded to return to her and aid her to

escape when the bird of prey met him and tore him to pieces." Now the

old woman feigned ignorance to her and ceased not to occupy her in

converse, till they drew near the place where Taj al-Muluk lay hidden.

Thereupon she signed to him to come out and walk under the windows of

the pavilion, and, as the Lady Dunya stood looking from the casement,

behold, her glance fell that way and she saw him and noting his beauty

of face and form, said to the old woman, "O my nurse, whence cometh

yonder handsome youth?" Replied the old woman, "I know nothing of him

save that I think he must be some great King's son, for he attaineth

comeliness in excess and extreme loveliness." And the Lady Dunya fell

in love with him to distraction; the spells which bound her were loosed

and her reason was overcome by his beauty and grace; and his fine

stature and proportions strongly excited her desires sexual. So she

said, "O my nurse! this is indeed a handsome youth;" and the old woman

replied, "Thou sayest sooth, O my lady," and signed to Taj al-Muluk to

go home. And though desire and longing flamed in him and he was

distraught for love, yet he went away and took leave of the Gardener

and returned to his place, obeying the old woman and not daring to

cross her. When he told the Wazir and Aziz that she had signed him to

depart, they exhorted him to patience, saying, "Did not the ancient

dame know that there was an object to be gained by thy departure, she

had not signalled thee to return home." Such was the case with Taj

al-Muluk, the Wazir and Aziz but as regards the King's daughter, the

Lady Dunya, desire and passion redoubled upon her; she was overcome

with love and longing and she said to her nurse, "I know not how I

shall manage a meeting with this youth, but through thee." Exclaimed

the old woman, "I take refuge with Allah from Satan the stoned! Thou

who art averse from men! How cometh it then that thou art thus

afflicted with hope and fear of this young man? Yet, by Allah, none is

worthy of thy youth but he." Quoth the Lady Dunya, "O my nurse, further

my cause and help me to foregather with him, and thou shalt have of me

a thousand diners and a dress of honour worth as much more: but if thou

aid me not to come at him, I am a dead woman in very sooth." Replied

the ancient dame, "Go to thy palace and leave me to devise means for

bringing you twain together. I will throw away my life to content you

both!" So the Lady Dunya returned to her palace, and the old woman

betook herself to Taj al-Muluk who, when he saw her, rose to receive

her and entreated her with respect and reverence making her sit by his

side. Then she said, "The trick hath succeeded," and told him all that

had passed between herself and the Princess. He asked her, "When is

our meeting to be?"; and she answered, "Tomorrow." So he gave her a

thousand diners and a dress of like value, and she took them and

stinted not walking till she returned to her mistress, who said to her,

"O my nurse! what news of the be loved?" Replied she, "I have learnt

where he liveth and will bring him to thee tomorrow." At this the

Princess was glad and gave her a thousand diners and a dress worth as

much more, and she took them and returned to her own place, where she

passed the night till morning. Then she went to Taj al-Muluk and

dressing him in woman's clothes, said to him, "Follow me and sway from

side to side[FN#44] as thou steppest, and hasten not thy pace nor take

heed of any who speaketh to thee." And after thus charging him she went

out, and the Prince followed her in woman's attire and she continued to

charge and encourage him by the way, that he might not be afraid; nor

ceased they walking till they came to the Palace-gate. She entered and

the Prince after her, and she led him on, passing through doors and

vestibules, till they had passed seven doors.[FN#45] As they approached

the seventh, she said to him, "Hearten thy heart and when I call out to

thee and say, 'O damsel pass on!' do not slacken thy pace, but advance

as if about to run. When thou art in the vestibule, look to thy left

and thou wilt see a saloon with doors: count five doors and enter the

sixth, for therein is thy desire." Asked Taj al-Muluk, "And whither

wilt thou go?"; and she answered, "Nowhere shall I go except that

perhaps I may drop behind thee, and the Chief Eunuch may detain me to

chat with him." She walked on (and he behind her) till she reached the

door where the Chief Eunuch was stationed and he, seeing Taj al-Muluk

with her dressed as a slave girl, said to the old woman, "What business

hath this girl with thee?" Replied she, "This is a slave girl of whom

the Lady Dunya hath heard that she is skilled in different kinds of

work and she hath a mind to buy her." Rejoined the Eunuch, "I know

neither slave girls nor anyone else; and none shall enter here without

my searching according to the King's commands."—And Shahrazad perceived

the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.