some of thy pleasant tales,” whereupon Shahrazad replied, “With love and
good will.”——It hath reached me, O King of the Age, that when Alaeddin
had come to his fifteenth year, it befel, one day of the days, that as
he was sitting about the quarter at play with the vagabond boys behold,
a Darwaysh from the Maghrib, the Land of the Setting Sun, came up and
stood gazing for solace upon the lads and he looked hard at Alaeddin and
carefully considered his semblance, scarcely noticing his companions the
while. Now this Darwaysh was a Moorman from Inner Marocco and he was a
magician who could upheap by his magic hill upon hill, and he was also
an adept in astrology. So after narrowly considering Alaeddin he said in
himself, “Verily, this is the lad I need and to find whom I have left my
natal land.” Presently he led one of the children apart and questioned
him anent the scapegrace saying, “Whose[69] son is he?” And he sought
all information concerning his condition and whatso related to him.
After this he walked up to Alaeddin and drawing him aside asked, “O my
son, haply thou art the child of Such-an-one the tailor?” and the lad
answered, “Yes, O my lord, but ’tis long since he died.” The
Maghrabi,[70] the Magician, hearing these words threw himself upon
Alaeddin and wound his arms around his neck and fell to bussing him,
weeping the while with tears trickling adown his cheeks. But when the
lad saw the Moorman’s case he was seized with surprise thereat and
questioned him, saying, “What causeth thee weep, O my lord; and how
camest thou to know my father?” “How canst thou, O my son,” replied the
Moorman, in a soft voice saddened by emotion, “question me with such
query after informing me that thy father and my brother is deceased; for
that he was my brother-german and now I come from my adopted country and
after long exile I rejoiced with exceeding joy in the hope of looking
upon him once more and condoling with him over the past; and now thou
hast announced to me his demise. But blood hideth not from blood[71] and
it hath revealed to me that thou art my nephew, son of my brother, and I
knew thee amongst all the lads, albeit thy father, when I parted from
him, was yet unmarried.”——And Shahrazad was surprised by the dawn of day
and ceased to say her permitted say.
Now when it was the Five Hundred and Sixteenth Night,
Quoth Dunyazad, “O sister mine, an thou be other than sleepy, do tell us
some of thy pleasant tales,” whereupon Shahrazad replied, “With love and
good will.”——It hath reached me, O King of the Age, that the Maghrabi,
the Magician, said to the tailor’s orphan, “O my son Alaeddin, and I
have now failed in the mourning ceremonies and have lost the delight I
expected from meeting thy father, my brother, whom after my long
banishment I had hoped to see once more ere I die; but far distance
wrought me this trouble nor hath the creature aught of asylum from the
Creator or artifice against the commandments of Allah Almighty.” Then he
again clasped Alaeddin to his bosom crying, “O my son, I have none to
condole with now save thyself; and thou standest in stead of thy sire,
thou being his issue and representative and ‘whoso leaveth issue dieth
not,’[72] O my child!” So saying, the Magician put hand to purse and
pulling out ten gold pieces gave them to the lad asking, “O my son,
where is your house and where dwelleth she, thy mother, and my brother’s
widow?” Presently Alaeddin arose with him and showed him the way to
their home and meanwhile quoth the Wizard, “O my son, take these moneys
and give them to thy mother, greeting her from me, and let her know that
thine uncle, thy father’s brother, hath reappeared from his exile and
that Inshallah—God willing—on the morrow I will visit her to salute her
with the salam and see the house wherein my brother was homed and look
upon the place where he lieth buried.” Thereupon Alaeddin kissed the
Maghrabi’s hand, and, after running in his joy at fullest speed to his
mother’s dwelling, entered to her clean contrariwise to his custom,
inasmuch as he never came near her save at meal-times only. And when he
found her, the lad exclaimed in his delight, “O my mother, I give thee
glad tidings of mine uncle who hath returned from his exile and who now
sendeth me to salute thee.” “O my son,” she replied, “meseemeth thou
mockest me! Who is this uncle and how canst thou have an uncle in the
bonds of life?” He rejoined, “How sayest thou, O my mother, that I have
nor living uncles nor kinsmen, when this man is my father’s own brother?
Indeed he embraced me and bussed me, shedding tears the while, and bade
me acquaint thee herewith.” She retorted, “O my son, well I wot thou
haddest an uncle, but he is now dead nor am I ware that thou hast other
eme.”——And Shahrazad was surprised by the dawn of day and ceased to say
her permitted say.
Now when it was the Five Hundred and Seventeenth Night,
Quoth Dunyazad, “O sister mine, an thou be other than sleepy, do tell us
some of thy pleasant tales,” whereupon Shahrazad replied, “With love and
good will.”——It hath reached me, O King of the Age, that the Maroccan
Magician fared forth next morning and fell to finding out Alaeddin, for
his heart no longer permitted him to part from the lad; and, as he was
to-ing and fro-ing about the city-highways, he came face to face with
him disporting himself, as was his wont, amongst the vagabonds and the
scapegraces. So he drew near to him and, taking his hand, embraced him
and bussed him; then pulled out of his poke two dinars and said, “Hie
thee to thy mother and give her these couple of ducats and tell her that
thine uncle would eat the evening-meal with you; so do thou take these
two gold pieces and prepare for us a succulent supper. But before all
things show me once more the way to your home.” “On my head and mine
eyes be it, O my uncle,” replied the lad and forewent him, pointing out
the street leading to the house. Then the Moorman left him and went his
ways and Alaeddin ran home and, giving the news and the two sequins to
his parent, said, “My uncle would sup with us.” So she arose straightway
and going to the market-street bought all she required; then, returning
to her dwelling she borrowed from the neighbours whatever was needed of
pans and platters and so forth and when the meal was cooked and
suppertime came she said to Alaeddin, “O my child, the meat is ready but
peradventure thine uncle wotteth not the way to our dwelling; so do thou
fare forth and meet him on the road.” He replied, “To hear is to obey,”
and before the twain ended talking a knock was heard at the door.
Alaeddin went out and opened when, behold, the Maghrabi, the Magician,
together with an eunuch carrying the wine and the dessert-fruits; so the
lad led them in and the slave went about his business. The Moorman on
entering saluted his sister-in-law with the salam; then began to shed
tears and to question her saying, “Where be the place whereon my brother
went to sit?” She showed it to him, whereat he went up to it and
prostrated himself in prayer[73] and kissed the floor crying, “Ah, how
scant is my satisfaction and how luckless is my lot, for that I have
lost thee, O my brother, O vein of my eye!” And after such fashion he
continued weeping and wailing till he swooned away for excess of sobbing
and lamentation; wherefor Alaeddin’s mother was certified of his
soothfastness. So coming up to him she raised him from the floor and
said, “What gain is there in slaying thyself?”——And Shahrazad was
surprised by the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
[Illustration]
Now when it was the Five Hundred and Eighteenth Night,
Quoth Dunyazad, “O sister mine, an thou be other than sleepy, do tell us
some of thy pleasant tales,” whereupon Shahrazad replied “With love and
good will.”——It hath reached me, O King of the Age, that Alaeddin’s
mother began consoling the Maghrabi, the Magician, and placed him upon
the divan; and, as soon as he was seated at his ease and before the
food-trays were served up, he fell to talking with her and saying, “O
wife of my brother, it must be a wonder to thee how in all thy days thou
never sawest me nor learnedst thou aught of me during the life-time of
my brother who hath found mercy.[74] Now the reason is that forty years
ago I left this town and exiled myself from my birth-place and wandered
forth over all the lands of Al-Hind and Al-Sind and entered Egypt and
settled for a long time in its magnificent city,[75] which is one of the
world-wonders, till at last I fared to the regions of the Setting Sun
and abode for a space of thirty years in the Maroccan interior. Now one
day of the days, O wife of my brother, as I was sitting alone at home, I
fell to thinking of mine own country and of my birth-place and of my
brother (who hath found mercy); and my yearning to see him waxed
excessive and I bewept and bewailed my strangerhood and distance from
him. And at last my longings drave me homewards until I resolved upon
travelling to the region which was the falling-place of my head[76] and
my homestead, to the end that I might again see my brother. Then quoth I
to myself:—O man,[77] how long wilt thou wander like a wild Arab from
thy place of birth and native stead? Moreover, thou hast one brother and
no more; so up with thee and travel and look upon him[78] ere thou die;
for who wotteth the woes of the world and the changes of the days?
’Twould be saddest regret an thou lie down to die without beholding thy
brother and Allah (laud be to the Lord!) hath vouchsafed thee ample
wealth; and belike he may be straitened and in poor case, when thou wilt
aid thy brother as well as see him. So I arose at once and equipped me
for wayfare and recited the Fátihah; then, whenas Friday prayers ended,
I mounted and travelled to this town, after suffering manifold toils and
travails which I patiently endured whilst the Lord (to whom be honour
and glory!) veiled me with the veil of His protection. So I entered and
whilst wandering about the streets, the day before yesterday, I beheld
my brother’s son Alaeddin disporting himself with the boys and, by God
the Great, O wife of my brother, the moment I saw him this heart of mine
went forth to him (for blood yearneth unto blood!), and my soul felt and
informed me that he was my very nephew. So I forgot all my travails and
troubles at once on sighting him and I was like to fly for joy; but,
when he told me of the dear one’s departure to the ruth of Allah
Almighty, I fainted for stress of distress and disappointment.
Perchance, however, my nephew hath informed thee of the pains which
prevailed upon me; but after a fashion I am consoled by the sight of
Alaeddin, the legacy bequeathed to us by him who hath found mercy for
that ‘whoso leaveth issue is not wholly dead.’”[79]——And Shahrazad was
surprised by the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
Now when it was the Five Hundred and Nineteenth Night,
Quoth Dunyazad, “O sister mine, an thou be other than sleepy, do tell us
some of thy pleasant tales,” whereupon Shahrazad replied, “With love and
good will.”——It hath reached me, O King of the Age, that the Maghrabi,
the Magician, said to Alaeddin’s mother, “Whoso leaveth issue is not
wholly dead.” And when he looked at his sister-in-law she wept at these
his words; so he turned to the lad that he might cause her forget the
mention of her mate, as a means of comforting her and also of completing
his deceit, and asked him, saying, “O my son Alaeddin what hast thou
learned in the way of work and what is thy business? Say me, hast thou
mastered any craft whereby to earn a livelihood for thyself and for thy
mother?” The lad was abashed and put to shame and he hung down his head
and bowed his brow groundwards; but his parent spake out, “How,
forsooth? By Allah, he knoweth nothing at all, a child so ungracious as
this I never yet saw; no, never! All the day long he idleth away his
time with the sons of the quarter, vagabonds like himself, and his
father (O regret of me!) died not save of dolour for him. And I also am
now in piteous plight: I spin cotton and toil at my distaff, night and
day, that I may earn me a couple of scones of bread which we eat
together. This is his condition, O my brother-in-law; and, by the life
of thee, he cometh not near me save at meal-times and none other.
Indeed, I am thinking to lock the house-door nor ever open to him again
but leave him to go and seek a livelihood whereby he can live, for that
I am now grown a woman in years and have no longer strength to toil and
go about for a maintenance after this fashion. O Allah, I am compelled
to provide him with daily bread when I require to be provided!” Hereat
the Moorman turned to Alaeddin and said, “Why is this, O son of my
brother, thou goest about in such ungraciousness? ’Tis a disgrace to
thee and unsuitable for men like thyself. Thou art a youth of sense, O
my son, and the child of honest folk, so ’tis for thee a shame that thy
mother, a woman in years, should struggle to support thee. And now that
thou hast grown to man’s estate it becometh thee to devise thee some
device whereby thou canst live, O my child. Look around thee and
Alhamdolillah—praise be to Allah—in this our town are many teachers of
all manner of crafts and nowhere are they more numerous; so choose thee
some calling which may please thee to the end that I stablish thee
therein; and, when thou growest up, O my son, thou shalt have some
business whereby to live. Haply thy father’s industry may not be to thy
liking; and, if so it be, choose thee some other handicraft which
suiteth thy fancy; then let me know and I will aid thee with all I can,
O my son.” But when the Maghrabi saw that Alaeddin kept silence and made
him no reply, he knew that the lad wanted none other occupation than a
scapegrace-life, so he said to him, “O son of my brother, let not my
words seem hard and harsh to thee, for, if despite all I say, thou still
dislike to learn a craft, I will open thee a merchant’s store[80]
furnished with costliest stuffs and thou shalt become famous amongst the
folk and take and give and buy and sell and be well known in the city?”
Now when Alaeddin heard the words of his uncle the Moorman, and the
design of making him a Khwájah[81]—merchant and gentleman,—he joyed
exceedingly knowing that such folk dress handsomely and fare delicately.
So he looked at the Maghrabi smiling and drooping his head groundwards
and saying with the tongue of the case that he was content.——And
Shahrazad was surprised by the dawn of day and ceased to say her
permitted say.
Now when it was the Five Hundred and Twentieth Night,
Quoth Dunyazad, “O sister mine, an thou be other than sleepy, do tell us
some of thy pleasant tales,” whereupon Shahrazad replied, “With love and
good will.”——It hath reached me, O King of the Age, that the Maghrabi,
the Magician, looked at Alaeddin and saw him smiling, whereby he
understood that the lad was satisfied to become a trader. So he said to
him, “Since thou art content that I open thee a merchant’s store and
make thee a gentleman, do thou, O son of my brother, prove thyself a man
and Inshallah—God willing—to-morrow I will take thee to the Bazar in the
first place and will have a fine suit of clothes cut out for thee, such
gear as merchants wear; and, secondly, I will look after a store for
thee and keep my word.” Now Alaeddin’s mother had somewhat doubted the
Maroccan being her brother-in-law; but as soon as she heard his promise
of opening a merchant’s store for her son and setting him up with stuffs
and capital and so forth, the woman decided and determined in her mind
that this Maghrabi was in very sooth her husband’s brother, seeing that
no stranger man would do such goodly deed by her son. So she began
directing the lad to the right road and teaching him to cast ignorance
from out his head and to prove himself a man; moreover she bade him ever
obey his excellent uncle as though he were his son and to make up for
the time he had wasted in frowardness with his fellows. After this she
arose and spread the table, then served up supper; so all sat down and
fell to eating and drinking, while the Maghrabi conversed with Alaeddin
upon matters of business and the like, rejoicing him to such degree that
he enjoyed no sleep that night. But when the Moorman saw that the dark
hours were passing by, and the wine was drunken, he arose and sped to
his own stead; but, ere going, he agreed to return next morning and take
Alaeddin and look to his suit of merchant’s clothes being cut out for
him. And as soon as it was dawn, behold, the Maghrabi rapped at the door
which was opened by Alaeddin’s mother: the Moorman, however, would not
enter, but asked to take the lad with him to the market-street.
Accordingly Alaeddin went forth to his uncle and, wishing him good
morning, kissed his hand; and the Maroccan took him by the hand and
fared with him to the Bazar. There he entered a clothier’s shop
containing all kinds of clothes and called for a suit of the most
sumptuous; whereat the merchant brought him out his need, all wholly
fashioned and ready sewn; and the Moorman said to the lad, “Choose, O my
child, whatso pleaseth thee.” Alaeddin rejoiced exceedingly seeing that
his uncle had given him his choice, so he picked out the suit most to
his own liking and the Maroccan paid to the merchant the price thereof
in ready money. Presently he led the lad to the Hammám-baths where they
bathed; then they came out and drank sherbets, after which Alaeddin
arose and, donning his new dress in huge joy and delight, went up to his
uncle and kissed his hand and thanked him for his favours.——And
Shahrazad was surprised by the dawn of day and ceased to say her
permitted say.
Now when it was the Five Hundred and Twenty-first Night,
Quoth Dunyazad, “O sister mine, an thou be other than sleepy, do tell us
some of thy pleasant tales,” whereupon Shahrazad replied, “With love and
good will.”——It has reached me, O King of the Age, that the Maghrabi,
the Magician, after leaving the Hammam with Alaeddin, took him and
trudged with him to the Merchants’ bazar; and, having diverted him by
showing the market and its sellings and buyings, said to him, “O my son,
it besitteth thee to become familiar with the folk, especially with the
merchants, so thou mayest learn of them merchant-craft, seeing that the
same hath now become thy calling.” Then he led him forth and showed him
the city and its cathedral-mosques together with all the pleasant sights
therein; and, lastly, made him enter a cook’s shop. Here dinner was
served to them on platters of silver and they dined well and ate and
drank their sufficiency, after which they went their ways. Presently the
Moorman pointed out to Alaeddin the pleasances and noble buildings, and
went in with him to the Sultan’s Palace and diverted him with displaying
all the apartments which were mighty fine and grand; and led him finally
to the Khán of stranger merchants where he himself had his abode. Then
the Maroccan invited sundry traders which were in the Caravanserai; and
they came and sat down to supper, when he notified to them that the
youth was his nephew, Alaeddin by name. And after they had eaten and
drunken and night had fallen, he rose up and taking the lad with him led
him back to his mother, who no sooner saw her boy as he were one of the
merchants[82] than her wits took flight and she waxed sad for very
gladness. Then she fell to thanking her false connection, the Moorman,
for all his benefits and said to him, “O my brother-in-law, I can never
say enough though I expressed my gratitude to thee during the rest of
thy days and praised thee for the good deeds thou hast done by this my
child.” Thereupon quoth the Maroccan, “O wife of my brother, deem this
not mere kindness of me, for that the lad is mine own son and ’tis
incumbent on me to stand in the stead of my brother, his sire. So be
thou fully satisfied!” And quoth she, “I pray Allah by the honour of the
Hallows, the ancients and the moderns, that He preserve thee and cause
thee continue, O my brother-in-law, and prolong for me thy life; so
shalt thou be a wing overshadowing this orphan lad; and he shall ever be
obedient to thine orders nor shall he do aught save whatso thou biddest
him thereunto.” The Maghrabi replied, “O wife of my brother, Alaeddin is
now a man of sense and the son of goodly folk, and I hope to Allah that
he will follow in the footsteps of his sire and cool thine eyes. But I
regret that, to-morrow being Friday, I shall not be able to open his
shop, as ’tis meeting-day when all the merchants, after congregational
prayer, go forth to the gardens and pleasances. On the Sabbath,[83]
however, Inshallah!—an it please the Creator—we will do our business.
Meanwhile to-morrow I will come to thee betimes and take Alaeddin for a
pleasant stroll to the gardens and pleasances without the city which
haply he may hitherto not have beheld. There also he shall see the
merchants and notables who go forth to amuse themselves, so shall he
become acquainted with them and they with him.”——And Shahrazad was
surprised by the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
Now when it was the Five Hundred and Twenty-second Night,
Quoth Dunyazad, “O sister mine, an thou be other than sleepy, do tell us
some of thy pleasant tales,” whereupon Shahrazad replied, “With love and
good will.”——It hath reached me, O King of the Age, that the Maghrabi
went away and lay that night in his quarters; and early next morning he
came to the tailor’s house and rapped at the door. Now Alaeddin (for
stress of his delight in the new dress he had donned and for the past
day’s enjoyment in the Hammam and in eating and drinking and gazing at
the folk; expecting furthermore his uncle to come at dawn and carry him
off on pleasuring to the gardens) had not slept a wink that night, nor
closed his eyelids, and would hardly believe it when day broke. But
hearing the knock at the door he went out at once in hot haste, like a
spark of fire, and opened and saw his uncle, the Magician, who embraced
him and kissed him. Then, taking his hand, the Moorman said to him as
they fared forth together, “O son of my brother, this day will I show
thee a sight thou never sawest in all thy life,” and he began to make
the lad laugh and cheer him with pleasant talk. So doing they left the
city gate, and the Maroccan took to promenading with Alaeddin amongst
the gardens and to pointing out for his pleasure the mighty fine
pleasances and the marvellous high-builded[84] pavilions. And whenever
they stood to stare at a garth or a mansion or a palace the Maghrabi
would say to his companion, “Doth this please thee, O son of my
brother?” Alaeddin was nigh to fly with delight at seeing sights he had
never seen in all his born days; and they ceased not[85] to stroll about
and solace themselves until they waxed aweary, when they entered a
mighty grand garden which was nearhand, a place that the heart delighted
and the sight belighted; for that its swift-running rills flowed amidst
the flowers and the waters jetted from the jaws of lions moulded in
yellow brass like unto gold. So they took seat over against a lakelet
and rested a little while, and Alaeddin enjoyed himself with joy
exceeding and fell to jesting with his uncle and making merry with him
as though the Magician were really his father’s brother. Presently the
Maghrabi arose and loosing his girdle drew forth from thereunder a bag
full of victual, dried fruits and so forth, saying to Alaeddin, “O my
nephew, haply thou art become anhungered; so come forward and eat what
thou needest.” Accordingly the lad fell upon the food and the Moorman
ate with him and they were gladdened and cheered by rest and good cheer.
Then quoth the Magician, “Arise, O son of my brother, an thou be reposed
and let us stroll onwards a little and reach the end of our walk.”
Thereupon Alaeddin arose and the Maroccan paced with him from garden to
garden until they left all behind them and reached the base of a high
and naked hill; when the lad who, during all his days, had never issued
from the city-gate and never in his life had walked such a walk as this,
said to the Maghrabi, “O uncle mine, whither are we wending? We have
left the gardens behind us one and all and have reached the barren
hill-country[86]; and, if the way be still long, I have no strength left
for walking: indeed I am ready to fall with fatigue. There are no
gardens before us, so let us hark back and return to town.” Said the
Magician, “No, O my son; this is the right road, nor are the gardens
ended for we are going to look at one which hath ne’er its like amongst
those of the Kings and all thou hast beheld are naught in comparison
therewith. Then gird thy courage to walk; thou art now a man,
Alhamdolillah—praise be to Allah!” Then the Maghrabi fell to soothing
Alaeddin with soft words and telling him wondrous tales, lies as well as
truth, until they reached the site intended by the African Magician who
had travelled from the Sunset-land to the regions of China for the sake
thereof. And when they made the place, the Moorman said to Alaeddin, “O
son of my brother, sit thee down and take thy rest, for this is the spot
we are now seeking and, Inshallah, soon will I divert thee by displaying
marvel-matters whose like not one in the world ever saw; nor hath any
solaced himself with gazing upon that which thou art about to
behold.”——And Shahrazad was surprised by the dawn of day and ceased to
say her permitted say.
Now when it was the Five Hundred and Twenty-third Night,