The Fifteenth Constable's History.[FN#125]

It is told of a thieving person, one of the braves, that he used

to rob and cut the way by himself upon caravans, and whenever the

Chief of Police and the Governors sought him, he would flee from

them and fortify himself in the mountains. Now it came to pass

that a certain man journeyed along the road wherein was that

robber, and this man was single-handed and knew not the sore

perils besetting his way. So the highwayman came out upon him and

said to him, "Bring out that which is with thee, for I mean to

kill thee and no mistake." Quoth the traveller, "Kill me not,

but annex these saddle-bags and divide that which is in them and

take to thee the fourth part." And the thief answered, "I will

not take aught but the whole."[FN#126] Rejoined the traveller,

"Take half, and let me go;" but the robber replied, "I will have

naught but the whole, and eke I will kill thee." So the wayfarer

said, "Take it." Accordingly the highwayman took the saddle-bags

and offered to slay the traveller, who said, "What is this? Thou

hast against me no blood-feud that should make my slaughter

incumbent." Quoth the other, "Needs must I kill thee;" whereupon

the traveller dismounted from his horse and grovelled before him,

beseeching the thief and bespeaking him fair. The man hearkened

not to his prayers, but cast him to the ground; whereupon the

traveller raised his eyes and seeing a francolin flying over him,

said, in his agony, "O Francolin,[FN#127] bear testimony that

this man slayeth me unjustly and wickedly; for indeed I have

given him all that was with me and entreated him to let me go,

for my children's sake; yet would he not consent. But be thou

witness against him, for Allah is not unmindful of deeds which

the oppressors do." The highwayman paid no heed to what he heard,

but smote him and cut off his head. After this, the rulers

compounded with the highwayman for his submission, and when he

came before them, they enriched him and he became in such favour

with the lieutenant of the Sultan that he used to eat and drink

with him and there befel between them familiar converse which

lasted a long while till in fine there chanced a curious chance.

The lieutenant of the Sultan one day of the days made a banquet,

and therein was a roasted francolin, which when the robber saw,

he laughed a loud laugh. The lieutenant was angered against him

and said to him, "What is the meaning of thy laughter? Seest thou

any fault or dost thou mock at us, of thy lack of good manners?"

Answered the highwayman, "Not so, by Allah, O my lord; but I saw

yonder francolin, which brought to my mind an extraordinary

thing; and 'twas on this wise. In the days of my youth, I used to

cut the way, and one day I waylaid a man, who had with him a pair

of saddle-bags and money therein. So I said to him, 'Leave these

saddle-bags, for I mean to slay thee.' Quoth he, 'Take the fourth

part of that which is in them and leave me the rest;' and quoth

I, 'Needs must I take the whole and kill thee without mistake.'

Then said he, 'Take the saddle bags and let me wend my way;' but

I answered, 'There is no help but that I slay thee.' As we were

in this contention, behold, he saw a francolin and turning to it,

said, 'Bear testimony against him, O Francolin, that he slayeth

me unjustly and letteth me not go to my children, for all he hath

taken my money.' However, I had no pity on him neither hearkened

to that which he said, but smote him and slew him and concerned

not myself with the evidence of the francolin." His story

troubled the lieutenant of the Sultan and he was enraged against

him with sore rage; so he drew his sword and smiting him, cut off

his head while he sat at table; whereupon a voice recited these

couplets--

"An wouldst not be injur�d, injure not; * But do good and from

Allah win goodly lot,

For what happeth by Allah is doomed to be * Yet thine acts are

the root I would have thee wot."[FN#128]

Now this voice was the francolin which bore witness against him.

The company present marvelled at this tale and all cried, "Woe to

the oppressor!" Then came forward the sixteenth constable and

said, "And I for another will tell you a marvellous story which

is on this wise."

The Sixteenth Constable's History.

I went forth one day of the days, intending to travel, and

suddenly fell upon a man whose wont it was to cut the way. When

he came up with me he offered to slay me and I said to him, "I

have naught with me whereby thou mayst profit." Quoth he, "My

profit shall be the taking of thy life." I asked, "What is the

cause of this? Hath there been enmity between us aforetime?" and

he answered, "Nay; but needs must I slay thee." Thereupon I ran

away from him to the river side; but he caught me up and casting

me to the ground, sat down on my breast. So I sought help of the

Shaykh of the Pilgrims[FN#129] and cried to him, "Protect me from

this oppressor!" And indeed he had drawn a knife to cut my throat

when, lo and behold! there came a mighty great crocodile forth of

the river and snatching him up from off my breast plunged into

the water, with him still hending knife in hand, even within the

jaws of the beast: whilst I abode extolling Almighty Allah, and

rendering thanks for my preservation to him who had delivered me

from the hand of that wrong-doer.[FN#130]

TALE OF HARUN AL-RASHID AND ABDULLAH BIN

NAFI'.[FN#131]

Know thou, O King of the Age, that there was in days of yore and

in ages and times long gone before, in the city of Baghdad, the

Abode of Peace, a Caliph Harun al-Rashid hight, and he had cup-

companions and tale-tellers to entertain him by night. Among his

equerries was a man named Abdullah bin N�fi', who stood high in

favour with him and dear to him, so that he did not forget him a

single hour. Now it came to pass, by the decree of Destiny, that

it became manifest to Abdullah how he was grown of small account

with the Caliph, who paid no heed unto him nor, if he absented

himself, did he ask after him, as had been his habit. This was

grievous to Abdullah and he said within himself, "Verily, the

soul of the Commander of the Faithful and his Wazir are changed

towards me and nevermore shall I see in him that cordiality and

affection wherewith he was wont to treat me." And this was

chagrin-full to him and concern grew upon him, so that he recited

these couplets:--

"Whoso's contemned in his home and land * Should, to better his

case, in self-exile hie:

So fly the house where contempt awaits, * Nor on fires of grief

for the parting fry;

Crude Ambergris[FN#132] is but offal where * 'Tis born; but

abroad on our necks shall stye;

And Kohl at home is a kind of stone, * Cast on face of earth and

on roads to lie;

But when borne abroad it wins highest worth * And thrones between

eyelid and ball of eye."

(Quoth the sayer,) Then he could brook this matter no longer; so

he went forth from the dominions of the Prince of True Believers,

under presence of visiting certain of his kith and kin, and took

with him nor servant nor comrade, neither acquainted any with his

intent, but betook himself to the road and fared deep into the

wold and the sandwastes, unknowing whither he went. After awhile,

he unexpectedly fell in with travellers who were making the land

of Hind and journeyed with them. When he came thither, he lighted

down in a city of that country and housed him in one of the

lodging-houses; and there he abode a while of days, relishing not

food neither solacing himself with sleep; nor was this for lack

of dirhams or dinars, but for that his mind was occupied with

musing upon the shifts of Destiny and bemoaning himself for that

the revolving sphere had turned against him in enmity, and the

days had decreed unto him the disfavour of our lord the

Imam.[FN#133] After such fashion he abode a space of days, and

presently he homed him in the land and took to himself friends

and got him many familiars, with whom he addressed himself to

diversion and good cheer. He used also to go a-pleasuring with

his companions and their hearts were solaced by his company and

he entertained them every evening with stories and displays of

his manifold accomplishments[FN#134] and diverted them with

delectable verses and told them abundance of stories and

histories. Presently, the report of him reached King Jamh�r, lord

of Kashgar of Hind, who sent in quest of him, and great was his

desire to see him. So Abdullah repaired to his court and going in

to him, kissed ground before him; and Jamhur welcomed him and

treated him with kindness and bade lodge him in the guest-house,

where he abode three days, at the end of which the king sent to

him a chamberlain of his chamberlains and bade bring him to the

presence. When he came before him, he greeted him, and the

truchman accosted him, saying, "Verily, King Jamhur hath heard of

thy report, that thou art a pleasant cup-companion and an

eloquent teller of night-tales, and he would have thee company

with him o' nights and entertain him with that which thou knowest

of histories and pleasant stories and verses." And he made

answer, ' To hear is to obey!" (Quoth Abdullah bin Nafi',) So I

became his boon-companion and entertained him by night with tales

and talk; and this pleased him with the utmost pleasure and he

took me into favour and bestowed on me robes of honour and set

apart for me a lodging; indeed he was bountiful exceedingly to me

and could not brook to be parted from me a single hour. So I

sojourned with him a while of time and every night I caroused and

conversed with him till the most part of the dark hours was past;

and when drowsiness overcame him, he would rise and betake

himself to his sleeping-place, saying to me, 'Forsake not my

service and forego not my presence.' And I made answer with

'Hearing and obeying.' Now the king had a son, a nice child,

called the Emir Mohammed, who was winsome of youth and sweet of

speech: he had read books and had perused histories and he loved

above all things in the world the telling and hearing of verses

and tales and anecdotes. He was dear to his father King Jamhur,

for that he owned no other son than he on life, and indeed he had

reared him in the lap of love and he was gifted with exceeding

beauty and loveliness, brilliancy and perfect grace: he had also

learnt to play upon the lute and upon all manner instruments and

he was used to converse and company with friends and brethren.

Now it was his wont when the king arose seeking his

sleeping-chamber, to sit in his place and require me to entertain

him with tales and verses and pleasant anecdotes; and on this

wise I abode with them both a great while in all joyance and

delight, and the Prince still loved me with mighty great love and

treated me with the utmost tenderness. It fortuned one day that

the king's son came to me, after his sire had withdrawn, and

cried, 'O Ibn Nafi'!' 'At thy service, O my lord;' 'I would have

thee tell me a wondrous story and a marvellous matter, which thou

hast never related either to me or to my father Jamhur.' 'O my

lord, what story is this that thou desirest of me and of what kind

shall it be of the kinds?' 'It mattereth little, so it be a

goodly story, whether it befel of olden tide or in these times.'

'O my lord, I know by rote many stories of various kinds; so

which of the kinds preferrest thou, and wilt thou have a story of

mankind or of Jinn kind?' ' 'Tis well! An thou have espied aught

with thine eyes and heard it with thine ears, tell it me.' Then

he bethought himself and said to me, 'I conjure thee by my life,

tell me a tale of the tales of the Jinn and that which thou hast

heard of them and seen of them!' I replied, 'O my son, indeed

thou conjurest me by a mighty conjuration; so lend an ear to the

goodliest of stories, ay, and the strangest of them and the

pleasantest and rarest.' Quoth the Prince, 'Say on, for I am

attentive to thy speech;' and quoth I, 'Hear then, O my son,

The Tale of the Damsel Tohfat al-Kulub and the Caliph Harun al-

Rashid.

The Viceregent of the Lord of the three Worlds, Harun al-Rashid,

had a boon-companion of the number of his boon-companions, by

name Ishak bin Ibrahim al-Nadim al-Mausili,[FN#135] who was the

most accomplished of the folk of his time in smiting upon the

lute; and of the Commander of the Faithful's love for him, he set

apart for him a palace of the choicest of his palaces, wherein he

was wont to instruct hand-maidens in the arts of singing and of

lute playing. If any slave-girl became, by his instruction,

clever in the craft, he carried her before the Caliph, who bade

her perform upon the lute; and if she pleased him, he would order

her to the Harim; else would he restore her to Ishak's palace.

One day, the Commander of the Faithful's breast was straitened;

so he sent after his Wazir Ja'afar the Barmecide and Ishak the

cup-companion and Masrur the eunuch, the Sworder of his

vengeance; and when they came, he changed his habit and disguised

himself, whilst Ja'afar and Ishak and Masrur and Al-Fazl[FN#136]

and Y�nus[FN#137] (who were also present) did the like. Then he

went out, he and they, by the postern, to the Tigris and taking

boat fared on till they came to near Al-T�f,[FN#138] when they

landed and walked till they came to the gate of the high street.

Here there met them an old man, handsome in his hoariness and of

a venerable bearing and a dignified, agreeable of aspect and

apparel. He kissed the earth before Ishak al-Mausili (for that he

knew only him of the company, the Caliph being disguised, and

deemed the others certain of his friends), and said to him, "O my

lord, there is presently with me a hand-maid, a lutanist, never

saw eyes the like of her nor the like of her grace, and indeed I

was on my way to pay my respects to thee and give thee to know of

her, but Allah, of His favour, hath spared me the trouble. So now

I desire to show her to thee, and if she take thy fancy, well and

good; otherwise I will sell her." Quoth Ishak, "Go before me to

thy quarters,[FN#139] till I come to thee and see her." The old

man kissed his hand and went away; whereupon quoth Al-Rashid to

him, "O Ishak, who is yonder man and what is his want?" The other

replied, "O my lord, this is a man Sa'�d the Slave-dealer hight,

and 'tis he that buyeth us maidens and Mamelukes. He declareth

that with him is a fair slave, a lutanist, whom he hath withheld

from sale, for that he could not fairly sell her till he had

passed her before me in review." Quoth the Caliph, "Let us go to

him so we may see her, by way of solace, and sight what is in the

slave-dealer's quarters of slave-girls;" and quoth Ishak,

"Command belongeth to Allah and to the Commander of the Faithful."

Then he forewent them and they followed in his track till they

came to the slave-dealer's quarters and found a building tall of

wall and large of lodgment, with sleeping-cells and chambers

therein, after the number of the slave-girls, and folk sitting

upon the wooden benches. So Ishak entered, he and his company and

seating themselves in the place of honour, amused themselves by

looking at the hand-maids and Mamelukes and watching how they

were bought and sold, till the vending came to an end, when some

of the folk went away and some remained seated. Then cried the

slave-dealer, "Let none sit with us except whoso purchaseth by

the thousand dinars and upwards." Accordingly those present

withdrew and there remained none but Al-Rashid and his suite;

whereupon the slave-dealer called the damsel, after he had caused

set her a chair of Faww�k,[FN#140] lined with Grecian brocade,

and she was like the sun shining high in the shimmering sky. When

she entered, she saluted and sitting down, took the lute and

smote upon it, after she had touched its strings and tuned it, so

that all present were amazed. Then she sang thereto these

couplets:

"Breeze o' Morn, an thou breathe o'er the loved one's land, *

Deliver my greeting to all the dear band!

And declare to them still I am pledged to their love * And my

longing excels all that lover unmanned:

O ye who have blighted my heart, ears and eyes, * My passion and

ecstasy grow out of hand;

And torn is my sprite every night with desire, * And nothing of

sleep can my eyelids command."

Ishak exclaimed, "Brava, O damsel! By Allah, this is a fair

hour!" Whereupon she sprang up and kissed his hand, saying, 'O my

lord, in very sooth the hands stand still before thy presence and

the tongues at thy sight, and the loquent when confronting thee

wax dumb; but thou art the looser of the veil."[FN#141] Then she

clung to him and cried, "Stand;" so he stood and said to her,

"Who art thou and what is thy need?" She raised a corner of the

veil, and behold she was a damsel as she were the full moon

rising or the levee glancing, with two side-locks of hair which

fell down to her anklets. She kissed his hand and said to him, "O

my lord, know that I have been in these quarters some five

months, during which I have withheld myself from sale till thou

shouldst be present and see me; and yonder slave-dealer also made

thy coming a pretext for not vending me, and forbade me for all I

sought of him night and day that he should cause thee come hither

and vouchsafe me thy company and gar me and thee forgather."

Quoth Ishak, "Tell me what thou wouldst have;" and quoth she, "I

beseech thee, by Allah Almighty, that thou buy me, so I may be

with thee by way of service." He asked, "Is that thy desire?" and

she answered, "Yes." So Ishak returned to the slave-dealer and

said to him, "Ho thou, Shaykh Sa'�d!" Said the old man, "At thy

service, O my lord," and Ishak continued, "In the corridor is a

chamber and therein wones a damsel pale and wan. What is her

price in dirhams and how much dost thou ask for her?" Quoth the

slave-dealer, "She whom thou mentionest, O my lord, is called

Tohfat al-Humak�?"[FN#142] Ishak asked, "What is the meaning of

Al-Humaka?" and the old man answered, "Her price hath been

weighed and paid an hundred times and she still saith, Show me

him who would buy me; and when I show her to him she saith, This

one I mislike; he hath in him such and such a default. And in

every one who would fain buy her she noteth some defect or other,

so that none careth now to purchase her and none seeketh her, for

fear lest she find some fault in him." Quoth Ishak, "She seeketh

at this present to sell herself; so go thou to her and inquire of

her and see her price and send her to the palace." Quoth Sa'id,

"O my lord, her price is an hundred dinars, though, were she free

of this paleness that is upon her face, she would be worth a

thousand gold pieces; but wanton folly and wanness have

diminished her value; and behold I will go to her and consult her

of this." So he betook himself to her and enquired of her, "Wilt

thou be sold to Ishak bin Ibrahim al-Mausili?" She replied,

"Yes," and he said, "Leave folly, for to whom doth it happen to

be in the house of Ishak the cup-companion?"[FN#143] Thereupon

Ishak went forth the slave-dealer's quarters and overtook Al-

Rashid who had preceded him; and they ceased not walking till

they came to their landing-place, where they embarked in the boat

and fared on to Thaghr al-Kh�nakah.[FN#144] As for the slave-

dealer, he sent the damsel to the house of Ishak al-Nadim, whose

slave-girls took her and carried her to the Hammam. Then each

damsel gave her somewhat of her gear and they decked her with

earrings and bracelets, so that she redoubled in beauty and

became as she were the moon on the night of its full. When Ishak

returned home from the Caliph's palace, Tohfah rose to him and

kissed his hand; and he saw that which the hand-maids had done

with her and thanked them for so doing and said to them, "Let her

home in the house of instruction and bring her instruments of

music, and if she be apt at song teach her; and may Allah

Almighty vouchsafe her health and weal!" So there passed over her

three months, while she homed with him in the house of

instruction, and they brought her the instruments of music.

Furthermore, as time went on she was vouchsafed health and

soundness and her beauty waxed many times brighter than before

and her pallor was changed to white and red, so that she became a

seduction to all who saw her. One day, Ishak bade summon all who

were with him of slave-girls from the house of instruction and

carried them up to Al-Rashid's palace, leaving none in his house

save Tohfah and a cookmaid; for that he thought not of Tohfah,

nor did she come to his memory, and none of the damsels reminded

him of her. When she saw that the house was empty of the slave-

girls, she took the lute (now she was singular in her time for

smiting upon the lute, nor had she her like in the world, no, not

Ishak himself, nor any other) and sang thereto these couplets:--

"When soul desireth one that is its mate * It never winneth dear

desire of Fate:

My life for him whose tortures tare my frame, * And dealt me pine

he can alone abate!

He saith (that only he to heal mine ill, * Whose sight is

medicine to my doleful state),

'O scoffer-wight, how long wilt mock my woe * As though did Allah

nothing else create?' "

Now Ishak had returned to his house on an occasion that called

for him; and when he entered the vestibule, he heard a sound of

singing, the like whereof he had never heard in the world, for

that it was soft as the breeze and more strengthening than

oil[FN#145] of almonds. So the pleasure of it get hold of him and

delight so seized him, that he fell down fainting in the

vestibule. Tohfah heard the noise of footfalls and laying the

lute from her hand, went out to see what was the matter. She

found her lord Ishak lying aswoon in the entrance; so she took

him up and strained him to her bosom, saying, "I conjure thee in

Allah's name, O my lord, tell me, hath aught of ill befallen

thee?" When he heard her voice, he recovered from his fainting

and asked her, "Who art thou?" She answered, "I am thy slave-

girl Tohfah;" and he said to her, "Art thou indeed Tohfah?"

"Yes," replied she; and he, "By Allah, I had indeed forgotten

thee and remembered thee not till this moment!" Then he looked at

her and said, "Verily, thy case is altered to other case and thy

wanness is changed to rosiness and thou hast redoubled in beauty

and loveliness. But was it thou who was singing just now?" She

was troubled and affrighted and answered, "Even I, O my lord;"

whereupon Ishak seized upon her hand and carrying her into the

house, said to her, "Take the lute and sing; for never saw I nor

heard thy like in smiting upon the lute; no, not even myself!"

Quoth she, "O my lord, thou mockest me. Who am I that thou

shouldst say all this to me? Indeed, this is but of thy

kindness." Quoth he, "Nay, by Allah, I said but the truth to thee

and I am not of those on whom pretence imposeth. For these three

months nature hath not moved thee to take the lute and sing

thereto, and this is naught save a rare thing and a strange. But

all this cometh of strength in the art and thy self-restraint."

Then he bade her sing; and she said, "Hearkening and obedience."

So she took the lute and tightening its strings to the sticking

point, smote thereon a number of airs, so that she confounded

Ishak's wit and for delight he was like to fly. Then she returned

to the first mode and sang thereto these couplets:--

"By your ruined stead aye I stand and stay, * Nor shall change or

dwelling depart us tway!

No distance of homestead shall gar me forget * Your love, O

friends, but yearn alway:

Ne'er flies your phantom the babes of these eyne * You are moons

in Nighttide's murkest array:

And with growing passion mine unrest grows * And each morn I find

union dissolved in woes."

When she had made an end of her song and laid down the lute,

Ishak looked fixedly on her, then took her hand and offered to

kiss it; but she snatched it from him and said to him, "Allah, O

my lord, do not that!"[FN#146] Cried he, "Be silent. By Allah, I

had said that there was not in the world the like of me; but now

I have found my din�r in the art but a d�nik,[FN#147] for thou

art more excellent of skill than I, beyond comparison or

approximation or calculation! This very day will I carry[FN#148]

thee up to the Commander of the Faithful, Harun al-Rashid, and

when his glance lighteth on thee, thou wilt become a Princess of

womankind. So Allah, Allah upon thee, O my lady, whenas thou

becomest of the household of the Prince of True Believers, do not

thou forget me!" She replied, "Allah, O my lord, thou art the

root of my fortunes and in thee is my heart fortified." Thereat

he took her hand and made a covenant with her of this and she

swore to him that she would not forget him. Then said he to her,

"By Allah, thou art the desire of the Commander of the Faithful!

Now take the lute and sing a song which thou shalt sing to the

Caliph, when thou goest in to him." So she took the lute and

tuning it, improvised these couplets:--

"His lover hath ruth on his woeful mood * And o'erwept him as

still by his couch he[FN#149] stood:

And garred him drink of his lip-dews and wine[FN#150] * Ere he

died and this food was his latest good."

Ishak stared at her and seizing her hand, said to her, "Know that

I am bound by an oath that, when the singing of a damsel pleaseth

me, she shall not end her song but before the Prince of True

Believers. But now tell me, how came it that thou tarriedst with

the slave-dealer five months and wast not sold to any one, and

thou of this skill, especially when the price set on thee was no

great matter?" Hereat she laughed and answered, "O my lord, my

story is a wondrous and my case a marvellous. Know that I belonged

aforetime to a Maghribi merchant,who bought me when I was three

years old, and there were in his house many slave-girls and

eunuchs; but I was the dearest to him of them all. So he kept me

with him and used not to address me otherwise than, 'O

daughterling,' and indeed to this moment I am a clean maid. Now

there was with him a damsel, a lutanist, and she reared me and

taught me the art, even as thou seest. Then was my master removed

to the mercy of Allah Almighty[FN#151] and his sons divided his

monies. I fell to the lot of one of them; but 'twas only a little

while ere he had wasted all his wealth and there was left him

naught of coin. So I gave up the lute, fearing lest I should fall

into the hand of a man who knew not my worth, for well I wot that

needs must my master sell me; and indeed but a few days passed

ere he carried me forth to the quarters of the slave-merchant who

buyeth damsels and displayeth them to the Commander of the

Faithful. Now I desired to learn the art and mystery; so I

refused to be sold to other than thou, until Allah (extolled and

exalted be He!) vouchsafed me my desire of thy presence;

whereupon I came out to thee, as soon as I heard of thy coming,

and besought thee to buy me. Thou heartenedst my heart and

boughtest me; and since I entered thy house, O my lord, I have

not taken up the lute till now; but to-day, when I was left

private by the slave-girls, I took it; and my purpose in this was

that I might see if my hand were changed[FN#152] or not. As I was

singing, I heard a footfall in the vestibule; so springing up, I

laid the lute from my hand and going forth to see what was to do,

found thee, O my lord, after this fashion." Quoth Ishak, "Indeed,

this was of thy fair fortune. By Allah, I know not that which

thou knowest in this art!" Then he arose and opening a chest,

brought out therefrom striped clothes,[FN#153] netted with jewels

and great pearls and other costly gems and said to her, "In the

name of Allah, don these, O my lady Tohfah." So she arose and

donned that dress and veiled herself and went up with Ishak to

the palace of the Caliphate, where he made her stand without,

whilst he himself went in to the Prince of True Believers (with

whom was Ja'afar the Barmaki) and kissing the ground before him,

said to him, "O Commander of the Faithful, I have brought thee a

damsel, never saw eyes of seer her like for excellence in singing

and touching the lute; and her name is Tohfah." Al-Rashid asked,

"And where be this Tohfah[FN#154] who hath not her like in the

world?" Answered Ishak, "Yonder she standeth, O Commander of the

Faithful ;" and he acquainted the Caliph with her case from first

to last. Then said Al-Rashid, " 'Tis a marvel to hear thee praise

a slave-girl after this fashion. Admit her that we may look upon

her, for verily the morning may not be hidden." Accordingly,

Ishak bade admit her; so she entered, and when her eyes fell upon

the Prince of True Believers, she kissed ground before him and

said, "The Peace be upon thee, O Commander of the faithful Fold

and Asylum of all who the true Creed hold and Quickener of

justice in the Worlds threefold! Allah make thy feet tread on

safest wise and give thee joy of what He gave thee in generous

guise and make thy harbourage Paradise and Hell-fire that of

thine enemies!" Quoth Al-Rashid, "And on thee be the Peace, O

damsel! Sit." So she sat down and he bade her sing; whereupon she

took the lute and tightening its strings, played thereon in many

modes, so that the Prince of True Believers and Ja'afar were

confounded in sprite and like to fly for delight. Then she

returned to the first mode and improvised these couplets:--

"O mine eyes! I swear by him I adore, * Whom pilgrims seek

thronging Araf�t;

An thou call my name on the grave of me, * I'll reply to thy call

tho' my bones go rot:

I crave none for friend of my heart save thee; * So believe me,

for true are the well-begot."

Al-Rashid considered her comeliness and the goodliness of her

singing and her eloquence and what other qualities she comprised

and rejoiced with joy exceeding; and for the stress of that which

overcame him of delight, he descended from the couch and sitting

down with her upon the floor, said to her, "Thou hast done well,

O Tohfah. By Allah, thou art indeed a choice gift!"[FN#155] Then

he turned to Ishak and said to him, "Thou dealtest not justly, O

Ishak, in the description of this damsel, nor didst thou fairly

set forth all that she comprised of charms and art; for that, by

Allah, she is inconceivably more skilful than thou; and I know of

this craft that which none knoweth save I!" Exclaimed the Wazir

Ja'afar, "By Allah, thou sayst sooth, O my lord, O Commander of

the Faithful. Indeed, she hath done away my wit, hath this

damsel." Quoth Ishak, "By Allah, O Prince of True Believers, I

had said that there was not on the face of the earth one who knew

the art of the lute like myself; but when I heard her, my skill

became nothing worth in mine eyes." Then said the Caliph to her,

"Repeat thy playing, O Tohfah." So she repeated it and he cried

to her, "Well done!" Moreover, he said to Ishak, "Thou hast

indeed brought me a marvellous thing, one which is worth in mine

eyes the empire of the world." Then he turned to Masrur the

eunuch and said to him, "Carry Tohfah to the chamber of honour."

Accordingly, she went away with the Castrato and the Caliph

looked at her raiment and ornaments and seeing her clad in

clothing of choice, asked Ishak, "O Ishak, whence hath she these

robes?" Answered he, "O my lord, these are somewhat of thy

bounties and thy largesse, and they are a gift to her from me. By

Allah, O Commander of the Faithful, the world, all of it, were

little in comparison with her!" Then the Caliph turned to the

Wazir Ja'afar and said to him, "Give Ishak fifty thousand dirhams

and a robe of honour of the choicest apparel." "Hearing and

obeying," replied Ja'afar and gifted him with that which the

Caliph ordered him. As for Al-Rashid, he was private with Tohfah

that night and found her a pure virgin and rejoiced in her; and

she took high rank in his heart, so that he could not suffer her

absence a single hour and committed to her the keys of the

affairs of the realm, for that which he saw in her of good

breeding and fine wit and leal will. He also gave her fifty

slave-girls and two hundred thousand dinars and a quantity of

raiment and ornaments, gems and jewels worth the kingdom of

Egypt; and of the excess of his love for her, he would not

entrust her to any of the hand-maids or eunuchs; but, whenever he

went out from her, he locked the door upon her and took the key

with him, against he should return to her, forbidding the damsels

to go in to her, of his fear lest they should slay her or poison

her or practice on her with the knife; and in this way he abode

awhile. One day, as she sang before the Commander of the

Faithful, he was delighted with exceeding delight, so that he

offered to kiss her hand;[FN#156] but she drew it away from him

and smote upon her lute and broke it and wept. Al-Rashid wiped

away her tears and said, "O desire of the heart, what is it

maketh thee weep? May Allah not cause an eye of thine to shed

tears!" Said she, "O my lord, what am I that thou shouldst kiss

my hand? Wilt thou have Allah punish me for this and my term come

to an end and my felicity pass away? For this is what none ever

attained unto." He rejoined, "Well said, O Tohfah. Know that thy

rank in my esteem is high and for that which delighted me of what

I saw in thee, I offered to do this, but I will not return unto

the like thereof; so be of good cheer, with eyes cool and clear,

for I have no desire to other than thyself and will not die but

in the love of thee, and thou to me art queen this day, to the

exclusion of al! humankind." Therewith she fell to kissing his

feet; and this her fashion pleased him, so that his love for her

redoubled and he became unable to brook severance from her a

single hour. Now Al-Rashid one day went forth to the chase and

left Tohfah in her pavilion. As she sat perusing a book, with a

candle-branch of gold before her, wherein was a perfumed candle,

behold, a musk-apple fell down before her from the top of the

saloon.[FN#157] So she looked up and beheld the Lady Zubaydah

bint al-Kasim,[FN#158] who saluted her with a salam and

acquainted her with herself, whereupon Tohfah sprang to her feet

and said, "O my lady, were I not of the number of the

new,[FN#159] I had daily sought thy service; so do not thou

bereave me of those noble steps."[FN#160] The Lady Zubaydah

called down blessings upon her and replied, "I knew this of thee;

and, by the life of the Commander of the Faithful, but that it is

not of my wont to go forth of my place, I had come out to do my

service to thee." Then quoth she to her, "Know, O Tohfah, that

the Commander of the Faithful hath deserted all his concubines

and favourites on thine account, even myself hath he abandoned on

this wise, and I am not content to be as one of the mistresses;

yet hath he made me of them and forsaken me, and I have sought

thee, so thou mayst beseech him to come to me, though it be but

once a month, in order that I may not be the like of the hand-

maids and concubines nor take rank with the slave-girls; and this

is my need of thee." Answered Tohfah, "Hearkening and obedience!

By Allah, O my lady, I would that he might be with thee a whole

month and with me but one night, so thy heart might be heartened,

for that I am one of thy hand-maids and thou in every case art my

lady." The Princess Zubaydah thanked her for this and taking

leave of her, returned to her palace. When the Caliph came back

from the chase and course, he betook himself to Tohfah's pavilion

and bringing out the key, opened the lock and went in to her. She

rose to receive him and kissed his hand, and he gathered her to

his breast and seated her on his knee.[FN#161] Then food was

brought to them and they ate and washed their hands; after which

she took the lute and sang, till Al-Rashid was moved to sleep.

When aware of this, she ceased singing and told him her adventure

with the Lady Zubaydah, saying, "O Prince of True Believers, I

would have thee favour me with a favour and hearten my heart and

accept my intercession and reject not my supplication, but fare

thee forthright to the Lady Zubaydah." Now this talk befel after

he had stripped himself naked and she also had doffed her dress;

and he said, "Thou shouldst have named this ere we stripped

ourselves naked, I and thou!" But she answered, saying, "O

Commander of the Faithful, I did this not except in accordance

with the saying of the poet in these couplets,

"Of all intercessions can none succeed, * Save whatso Tohfah bint

Marj�n sue'd:

No intercessor who comes enveiled;[FN#162] * She sues the best

who sues mother-nude."

When Al-Rashid heard this, her speech pleased him and he strained

her to his bosom. Then he went forth from her and locked the door

upon her, as before; whereupon she took the book and sat perusing

it awhile. Presently, she set it aside and taking the lute,

tightened its strings; and smote thereon, after a wondrous

fashion, such as would have moved inanimate things to dance, and

fell to singing marvellous melodies and chanting these couplets:--

"Cease for change to wail,* The world blames who rail;

Bear patient its shafts * That for aye prevail.

How often a joy * Grief-garbed thou shalt hail:

How oft gladding bliss * Shall appear amid bale!"

Then she turned and saw within the chamber an old man, handsome

in his hoariness and stately of semblance, who was dancing in

goodly and winning wise, a dance whose like none might dance. So

she sought refuge with Allah Almighty from Satan the Stoned and

said, "I will not give over what I am about, for whatso the Lord

willeth, He fulfilleth." Accordingly, she went on singing till

the Shaykh came up to her and kissed ground before her, saying,

"Well done, O Highmost of the East and the West! May the world be

not bereaved of thee! By Allah, indeed thou art perfect of

manners and morals, O Tohfat al-Sud�r![FN#163] Dost thou know

me?" Cried she, "Nay, by Allah, but methinks thou art of the

Jann." Quoth he, "Thou sayst sooth; I am Ab� al-Taw�if[FN#164]

Iblis, and I come to thee every night, and with me thy sister

Kamariyah, for that she loveth thee and sweareth not but by thy

life; and her pastime is not pleasant to her, except she come to

thee and see thee whilst thou seest her not. As for me, I

approach thee upon an affair, whereby thou shalt gain and rise to

high rank with the kings of the Jann and rule them, even as thou

rulest mankind; and to that end I would have thee come with me

and be present at the festival of my daughter's wedding and the

circumcision of my son;[FN#165] for that the Jann are agreed upon

the manifestation of thy command. And she answered, "Bismillah;

in the name of the Lord."[FN#166] So she gave him the lute and he

forewent her, till he came to the Chapel of Ease,[FN#167] and

behold, therein was a door and a stairway. When Tohfah saw this,

her reason fled; but Iblis cheered her with chat. Then he

descended the steps and she followed him to the bottom of the

stair, where she found a passage and they fared on therein, till

they came to a horse standing, ready saddled and bridled and

accoutred. Quoth Iblis, "Bismillah, O my lady Tohfah;" and he

held the stirrup for her. So she mounted and the horse heaved

like a wave under her and putting forth wings soared upwards with

her, while the Shaykh flew by her side; whereat she was

affrighted and clung to the pommel of the saddle;[FN#168] nor was

it but an hour ere they came to a fair green meadow, fresh-

flowered as if the soil thereof were a fine robe, purfled with

all manner bright hues. Amiddlemost that mead was a palace

towering high in air, with crenelles of red gold, set with pearls

and gems, and a two-leaved door; and about the gateway were much

people of the chiefs of the Jann, clad in costliest clothing.

When they saw the Shaykh, they all cried out, saying, "The Lady

Tohfah is come!" And as soon as she reached the palace-gate, they

pressed forward in a body, and dismounting her from the horse's

back, carried her into the palace and fell to kissing her hands.

When she entered, she beheld a palace whereof seers ne'er saw the

like; for therein were four halls, one facing other, and its

walls were of gold and its ceilings of silver. It was high-

builded of base, wide of space, and those who descried it would

be posed to describe it. At the upper end of the hall stood a

throne of red gold set with pearls and jewels, up to which led

five steps of silver, and on its right and on its left were many

chairs of gold and silver. Quoth Tohfah, "The Shaykh led me to

the estrade and seated me on a chair of gold beside the throne,

and over the dais was a curtain let down, gold and silver wrought

and broidered with pearls and jewels." And she was amazed at that

which she beheld in that place and magnified her Lord (extolled

and exalted be He!) and hallowed Him. Then the kings of the Jann

came up to that throne and seated themselves thereon; and they

were in the semblance of Adam's sons, excepting two of them, who

appeared in the form and aspect of the Jann, each with one eye

slit endlong and jutting horns and projecting tusks.[FN#169]

After this there came up a young lady, fair of favour and seemly

of stature, the light of whose face outshone that of the waxen

flambeaux; and about her were other three women, than whom none

fairer abode on face of earth. They saluted Tohfah with the salam

and she rose to them and kissed ground before them whereupon they

embraced her after returning her greeting[FN#170] and sat down on

the chairs aforesaid. Now the four women who thus accosted Tohfah

were the Princess Kamariyah, daughter of King Al-Sh�sb�n, and her

sisters; and Kamariyah loved Tohfah with exceeding love. So, when

she came up to her, she fell to kissing and embracing her, and

Shaykh Iblis cried, "Fair befal the accolade! Take me between

you." At this Tohfah laughed and Kamariyah said, "O my sister, I

love thee, and doubtless hearts have their witnesses,[FN#171]

for, since I saw thee, I have loved thee." Replied Tohfah, "By

Allah, hearts have sea-like deeps, and thou, by Allah, art dear

to me and I am thy hand-maid." Kamariyah thanked her for this and

kissing her once more said, "These be the wives of the kings of

the Jann: greet them with the salam! This is Queen

Jamrah,[FN#172] that is Queen Wakh�mah and this other is Queen

Shar�rah, and they come not but for thee." So Tohfah rose to her

feet and bussed their hands, and the three queens kissed her and

welcomed her and honoured her with the utmost honour. Then they

brought trays and tables and amongst the rest a platter of red

gold, inlaid with pearls and gems; its raised rims were of or and

emerald, and thereon were graven[FN#173] these couplets:--

To bear provaunt assigned, * By hands noble designed,

For the gen'rous I'm made * Not for niggardly hind!

So eat safe all I hold * And praise God of mankind.

After reading the verses they ate and Tohfah looked at the two

kings who had not changed shape and said to Kamariyah, "O my

lady, what be this feral and that other like unto him? By Allah,

mine eye may not suffer the sight of them." Kamariyah laughed and

answered, "O my sister, that is my sire Al-Shisban and the other

is hight Maymun the Sworder; and of the arrogance of their souls

and their insolence, they consented not to change their created

shapes. Indeed, all whom thou seest here are nature-fashioned

like them; but on thine account they have changed favour, for

fear lest thou be disquieted and for the comforting of thy mind,

so thou mightest become familiar with them and be at thine ease."

Quoth Tohfah, "O my lady, verily I cannot look at them. How

frightful is this Maymun, with his monocular face! Mine eye

cannot brook the sight of him, and indeed I am in affright of

him." Kamariyah laughed at her speech, and Tohfah continued, "By

Allah, O my lady, I cannot fill my eye with the twain!"[FN#174]

Then cried her father Al-Shisban to her, "What be this laughing?"

So she bespoke him in a tongue none understood but they two and

acquainted him with that which Tohfah had said; whereat he

laughed a prodigious loud laugh, as it were the roaring thunder.

Presently they ate and the tables were removed and they washed

their hands; after which Iblis the Accursed came up to Tohfah and

said to her, "O my lady, thou gladdenest the place and

enlightenest and embellishest it with thy presence; but now fain

would these kings hear somewhat of thy singing, for Night hath

dispread her pinions for departure and there abideth of it but a

little." Quoth she, "Hearing and obeying." So she took the lute

and touching its strings with rare touch, played thereon after

wondrous wise, so that it seemed to those who were present as if

the palace surged like a wave with them for the music. Then she

began singing and chanting these couplets,

"Folk of my faith and oath, Peace with you be! * Quoth ye not I

shall meet you you meet me?

I'll chide you softerwise than breeze o' morn, * Sweeter than

spring of coolest clarity.

I' faith mine eyelids are with tears chafed sore: * My vitals

plain to you some cure to see.

My friends! Our union to disunion changed * Was aye my fear for

'twas my certainty.

I'll plain to Allah of all ills I bore; * For pine and yearning

misery still I dree."

The kings of the Jann were moved to delight by that sweet singing

and seemly speech and thanked Tohfah therefore; and Queen

Kamariyah rose to her and threw her arms round her neck and

kissed her between the eyes, saying, "By Allah, 'tis good, O my

sister and coolth of mine eyes and core of my heart!" Then said

she, "I conjure thee by Allah, give us more of this lovely

singing;" and Tohfah answered with "To hear is to obey." So she

took the lute and playing thereon in a mode different from the

former fashion, sang these couplets:--

"I, oft as ever grows the pine of me, * Console my soul with hope

thy sight to see.

Haply shall Allah join our parted lives, * E'en as my fortunes

far from thee cast He!

Then oh! who thrallest me by force of love-- * Seiz�d by fond

affection's mastery

All hardships easy wax when thou art nigh; * And all the far

draws near when near thou be.

Ah! be the Ruthful light to lover fond, * Love-lorn, frame- wasted, ready Death to dree!

Were hope of seeing thee cut off, my loved; * After thine absence

sleep mine eyes would flee!

I mourn no worldly joyance, my delight * Is but to sight thee

while thou seest my sight."

At this the accursed Iblis was hugely pleased and thrust his

finger up his fundament,[FN#175] whilst Maymun danced and said,

"O Tohfat al-Sudur, soften the sound;[FN#176] for, as pleasure

entereth into my heart, it arresteth my breath and blood." So she

took the lute and altering the tune, played a third air; then she

returned to the first and sang these couplets:--

"The waves of your[FN#177] love o'er my life have rolled; * I

sink while I see you all aid withhold:

You have drowned my vitals in deeps of your love, * Nor can heart

and sprite for your loss be consoled:

Deem not I forget my troth after you: * How forget what Allah

decreed of old?[FN#178]

Love clings to the lover who nights in grief, * And 'plains of

unrest and of woes ensouled.

The kings and all those who were present rejoiced in this with

joy exceeding and the accursed Iblis came up to Tohfah and

kissing her hand, said to her, "Verily there abideth but little

of the night; so tarry with us till the morrow, when we will

apply ourselves to the wedding[FN#179] and the

circumcision."[FN#180] Then all the Jann went away, whereupon

Tohfah rose to her feet and Iblis said, "Go ye up with Tohfah to

the garden for the rest of the night." So Kamariyah took her and

went with her into the garden, which contained all manner birds,

nightingale and mocking-bird and ringdove and curlew[FN#181] and

other than these of all the kinds. Therein were all manner of

fruits: its channels[FN#182] were of gold and silver and the

water thereof, as it broke forth of its conduits, was like the

bellies of fleeing serpents, and indeed it was as it were the

Garden of Eden.[FN#183] When Tohfah beheld this, she called to

mind her lord and wept sore and said, "I beseech Allah the Most

High to vouchsafe me speedy deliverance and return to my palace

and to my high estate and queendom and glory, and reunion with my

lord and master Al-Rashid." Then she walked about that garden and

saw in its midst a dome of white marble, raised on columns of

black teak whereto hung curtains purfled with pearls and gems.

Amiddlemost this pavilion was a founfain, inlaid with all kinds

of jacinths, and thereon a golden statue of a man and beside it a

little door. She opened the door and found herself in a long

corridor: so she followed it and entered a Hammam-bath walled

with all kinds of costly marbles and floored with a mosaic of

pearls and jewels. Therein were four cisterns of alabaster, one

facing other, and the ceiling of the bath was of glass coloured

with all varieties of colours, such as confounded the

understanding of those who have insight and amazed the wit of

every wight. Tohfah entered the bath, after she had doffed her

dress, and behold the Hammam-basin was overlaid with gold set

with pearls and red balasses and green emeralds and other jewels:

so she extolled Allah Almighty and hallowed Him for the

magnificence of that which she saw of the appointments of that

bath. Then she made her Wuzu-ablution in that basin and

pronouncing the Prohibition,[FN#184] prayed the dawn-prayer and

what else had escaped her of orisons;[FN#185] after which she

went out and walked in that garden among jessamine and lavender

and roses and chamomile and gillyflowers and thyme and violets

and basil royal, till she came to the door of the pavilion

aforesaid. There she sat down, pondering that which would betide

Al-Rashid after her, when he should come to her apartment and

find her not; and she plunged into the sea of her solicitude,

till slumber overtook her and soon she slept. Presently she felt

a breath upon her face; whereupon she awoke and found Queen

Kamariyah kissing her, and with her her three sisters, Queen

Jamrah, Queen Wakh�mah and Queen Shar�rah. So she arose and

kissed their hands and rejoiced in them with the utmost joy and

they ceased not, she and they, to talk and converse, what while

she related to them her history, from the time of her purchase by

the Maghrabi to that of her coming to the quarters of the slave-

dealer, where she besought Ishak al-Nadim to buy her,[FN#186] and

how she won union with Al-Rashid, till the moment when Iblis came

to her and brought her to them. They gave not over talking till

the sun declined and yellowed and the hour of its setting drew

near and the day departed, whereupon Tohfah was urgent in

supplication[FN#187] to Allah Almighty, on the occasion of the

sundown-prayer, that he would reunite her with her lord

Al-Rashid. After this, she abode with the four queens, till they

arose and entered the palace, where she found the waxen tapers

lit and ranged in candlesticks of gold and silver, and censing

vessels of silver and gold filled with lign-aloes and ambergris,

and there were the kings of the Jann sitting. So she saluted them

with the salam, kissing the earth before them and doing them

service; and they rejoiced in her and in her sight. Then she

ascended the estrade and sat down upon her chair, whilst King Al-

Shisban and King Al-Muzfir[FN#188] and Queen L�l�ah and other

kings of the Jann sat on chairs, and they brought choice tables,

spread with all manner meats befitting royalties. They ate their

fill; after which the tables were removed and they washed their

hands and wiped them with napkins. Then they brought the wine-

service and set on tasses and cups and flagons and beakers of

gold and silver and bowls of crystal and gold; and they poured

out the wines and they filled the flagons. Then Iblis took the

bowl and signed to Tohfah to sing: and she said, "To hear is to

obey!" So she hent the lute in hand and tuning it, sang these

couplets,

"Drink wine, O ye lovers, I rede you alw�y, * And praise his

worth who loves night and day;

'Mid the myrtle, narcissus and lavender, * And the scented herbs

that bedeck the tray."

So Iblis the Damned drank and said, "Brava, O desire of hearts!

But thou owest me still another aria." Then he filled the cup and

signed to her to sing. Quoth she, "Hearkening and obedience," and

chanted these couplets,

"Ye wot, I am whelmed in despair and despight, * Ye dight me

blight that delights your sight:

Your wone is between my unrest and my eyes; * Nor tears to melt

you, nor sighs have might.

How oft shall I sue you for justice, and you * With a pining

death my dear love requite?

But your harshness is duty, your farness near; * Your hate is

Union, your wrath is delight:

Take your fill of reproach as you will: you claim * All my heart,

and I reck not of safety or blame."

All present were delighted and the sitting-chamber was moved like

a wave with mirth, and Iblis said, "Brave, O Tohfat al-Sudur!"

Then they left not liquor-bibbing and rejoicing and making merry

and tambourining and piping till the night waned and the dawn

waxed near; and indeed exceeding delight entered into them. The

most of them in mirth was the Shaykh Iblis, and for the stress of

that which befel him of joyance, he doffed all that was on him of

coloured clothes and cast them over Tohfah, and among the rest a

robe broidered with jewels and jacinths, worth ten thousand

dinars. Then he kissed the earth and danced and he thrust his

finger up his fundament and hending his beard in hand, said to

her, "Sing about this beard and endeavour after mirth and

pleasance, and no blame shall betide thee for this." So she

improvised and sang these couplets:--

"Barbe of the olden, the one eyed goat! * What words shall thy

foulness o' deed denote?

Be not of our praises so pompous-proud: * Thy worth for a dock-

tail dog's I wot.

By Allah, to-morrow shall see me drub * Thy nape with a

cow-hide[FN#189] and dust thy coat!"

All those present laughed at her mockery of Iblis and wondered at

the wittiness of her visnomy[FN#190] and her readiness in

versifying, whilst the Shaykh himself rejoiced and said to her,

"O Tohfat al-Sudur, verily, the night be gone; so arise and rest

thyself ere the day; and to-morrow there shall be naught save

weal." Then all the kings of the Jinn departed, together with

those who were present of guards; and Tohfah abode alone,

pondering the case of Al-Rashid and bethinking her of how it went

with him after her going, and of what had betided him for her

loss, till the dawn lightened, when she arose and walked about

the palace. Suddenly she saw a handsome door; so she opened it

and found herself in a flower-garden finer than the first--ne'er

saw eyes of seer a fairer than it. When she beheld this garth,

she was moved to delight and she called to mind her lord Al-

Rashid and wept with sore weeping and cried, "I crave of the

bounty of Allah Almighty that my return to him and to my palace

and to my home may be nearhand!" Then she walked about the

parterres till she came to a pavilion, high-builded of base and

wide of space, never espied mortal nor heard of a grander than

it. So she entered and found herself in a long corridor, which

led to a Hammam goodlier than that aforetime described, and its

cisterns were full of rose-water mingled with musk. Quoth Tohfah,

"Extolled be Allah! Indeed, this[FN#191] is none other than a

mighty great king." Then she pulled off her clothes and washed

her body and made her Ghusl-ablution of the whole person[FN#192]

and prayed that which was due from her of prayer from the evening

of the previous day.[FN#193] When the sun rose upon the gate of

the garden and she saw the wonders thereof, with that which was

therein of all manner blooms and streams, and heard the voices of

its birds, she marvelled at what she beheld of the rareness of

its ordinance and the beauty of its disposition and sat musing

over the case of Al-Rashid and pondering what was come of him

after her. Her tears coursed down her cheeks and the Zephyr blew

on her; so she slept and knew no more till she suddenly felt a

breath on her side-face, whereat she awoke in affright and found

Queen Kamariyah kissing her, and she was accompanied by her

sisters, who said, "Rise, for the sun hath set." So Tohfah arose

and making the Wuzu-ablution, prayed her due of prayers[FN#194]

and accompanied the four queens to the palace, where she saw the

wax candles lighted and the kings sitting. She saluted them with

the salam and seated herself upon her couch; and behold, King Al-

Shisban had shifted his semblance, for all the pride of his soul.

Then came up Iblis (whom Allah damn!) and Tohfah rose to him and

kissed his hands. He also kissed her hand and blessed her and

asked, "How deemest thou? Is not this place pleasant, for all its

desertedness and desolation?" Answered she, "None may be desolate

in this place;" and he cried, "Know that this is a site whose

soil no mortal dare tread;" but she rejoined, "I have dared and

trodden it, and this is one of thy many favours." Then they

brought tables and dishes and viands and fruits and sweetmeats

and other matters, whose description passeth powers of mortal

man, and they ate their sufficiency; after which the tables were

removed and the dessert-trays and platters set on, and they

ranged the bottles and flagons and vessels and phials, together

with all manner fruits and sweet-scented flowers. The first to

raise the bowl was Iblis the Accursed, who said, "O Tohfat al-

Sudur, sing over my cup." So she took the lute and touching it,

carolled these couplets,

"Wake ye, Ho sleepers all! and take your joy * Of Time, and boons

he deign�d to bestow;

Then hail the Wine-bride, drain the wine-ptisane * Which, poured

from flagon, flows with flaming glow:

O Cup-boy, serve the wine, bring round the red[FN#195] * Whose

draught gives all we hope for here below:

What's worldly pleasure save my lady's face, * Draughts of pure

wine and song of musico?"

So Iblis drained his bowl and, when he had made an end of his

draught, waved his hand to Tohfah; then, throwing off that which

was upon him of clothes, delivered them to her. The suit would

have brought ten thousand dinars and with it was a tray full of

jewels worth a mint of money. Presently he filled again and gave

the cup to his son Al-Shisban, who took it from his hand and

kissing it, stood up and sat down again. Now there was before him

a tray of roses; so he said to her, "O Tohfah, sing thou somewhat

upon these roses." She replied, "Hearkening and obedience," and

chanted these two couplets,

"It proves my price o' er all the flowers that I * Seek you each

year, yet stay but little stound:

And high my vaunt I m dy�d by my lord * Whom Allah made the best

e'er trod on ground.[FN#196]"

So Al-Shisban drank off the cup in his turn and said, "Brava, O

desire of hearts!" and he bestowed on her that was upon him, to

wit, a dress of cloth-of-pearl, fringed with great unions and

rubies and purfled with precious gems, and a tray wherein were

fifty thousand dinars. Then Maymun the Sworder took the cup and

began gazing intently upon Tohfah. Now there was in his hand a

pomegranate-flower and he said to her, "Sing thou somewhat, O

queen of mankind and Jinn kind upon this pomegranate-flower; for

indeed thou hast dominion over all hearts." Quoth she, "To hear

is to obey;" and she improvised and sang these couplets,

"Breathes sweet the zephyr on fair part�rre; * Robing lute in the

flamings that fell from air:

And moaned from the boughs with its cooing rhyme * Voice of

ring-doves plaining their love and care:

The branch dresses in suit of fine sendal green* And in wine-hues

borrowed from bloom Gulnare."[FN#197]

Maymun the Sworder drained his bowl and said to her, "Brava, O

perfection of qualities!" Then he signed to her and was absent

awhile, after which he returned and with him a tray of jewels

worth an hundred thousand ducats, which he gave to Tohfah.

Thereupon Kamariyah arose and bade her slave-girl open the closet

behind the Songstress, wherein she laid all that wealth; and

committed the key to her, saying, "Whatso of riches cometh to

thee, lay thou in this closet that is by thy side, and after the

festivities, it shall be borne to thy palace on the heads of the

Jinn." Tohfah kissed her hand and another king, by name

Mun�r,[FN#198] took the bowl and filling it, said to her, "O

ferly Fair, sing to me over my bowl somewhat upon the jasmine."

She replied with, "Hearkening and obedience," and improvised

these couplets,

"'Twere as though the Jasmine (when self she enrobes * On her

boughs) doth display to my wondering eyne;

In sky of green beryl, which Beauty enclothes, * Star-groups like

studs of the silvern mine."

Munir drank off his cup and ordered her eight hundred thousand

dinars, whereat Kamariyah rejoiced and rising to her feet, kissed

Tohfah on her face and said to her, "Be the world never bereaved

of thee, O thou who lordest it over the hearts of Jinn-kind and

mankind!" Then she returned to her place and the Shaykh Iblis

arose and danced, till all present were confounded; after which

the Songstress {sic!} said, "Verily, thou embellishest my festivities, O

thou who commandest men and Jinn and rejoicest their hearts with

thy loveliness and the beauty[FN#199] of thy faithfulness to thy

lord. All that thy hands possess shall be borne to thee in thy

palace and placed at thy service; but now the dawn is nearhand;

so do thou rise and rest thee according to thy custom." Tohfah

turned and found with her none of the Jinn; so she laid her head

on the floor and slept till she had gotten her repose; after

which she arose and betaking herself to the lakelet, made the

Wuzu-ablution and prayed. Then she sat beside the water awhile

and meditated the matter of her lord Al-Rashid and that which had

betided him after her loss and wept with sore weeping. Presently,

she heard a blowing behind her;[FN#200] so she turned and behold,

a Head without a body and with eyes slit endlong: it was of the

bigness of an elephant's skull and bigger and had a mouth as it

were an oven and projecting canines as they were grapnels, and

hair which trailed upon the ground. So Tohfah cried, "I take

refuge with Allah from Satan the Stoned!" and recited the Two

Preventives;[FN#201] what while the Head drew near her and said,

"Peace be with thee, O Princess of Jinn and men and union-pearl

of her age and her time! Allah continue thee on life, for all the

lapsing of the days, and reunite thee with thy lord the

Imam!"[FN#202] She replied, "And upon thee be Peace; O thou whose

like I have not seen among the Jann!" Quoth the Head, "We are a

folk who may not change their favours and we are hight Ghuls:

mortals summon us to their presence, but we cannot present

ourselves before them without leave. As for me, I have gotten

leave of the Shaykh Abu al-Tawaif to appear before thee and I

desire of thy favour that thou sing me a song, so I may go to thy

palace and question its Haunters[FN#203] concerning the plight of

thy lord after thee and return to thee; and know, O Tohfat al-

Sudur, that between thee and thy lord be a distance of fifty

years' journey for the bon�-fide traveller." She rejoined,

"Indeed, thou grievest me anent him between whom and me is fifty

years' journey;" but the Head[FN#204] cried to her, "Be of good

cheer and of eyes cool and clear, for the sovrans of the Jann

will restore thee to him in less than the twinkling of an eye."

Quoth she, "I will sing thee an hundred songs, so thou wilt bring

me news of my lord and that which betided him after me." And

quoth the Head, "Do thou favour me and sing me a song, so I may

go to thy lord and fetch thee tidings of him, for that I desire,

before I go, to hear thy voice, so haply my thirst[FN#205] may be

quenched." So she took the lute and tuning it, sang these

couplets:--

"They have marched, yet no empty stead left they: * They are

gone, nor heart grieves me that fled be they:

My heart forebode the bereaval of friends; * Allah ne'er bereave

steads wherefrom sped be they!

Though they hid the stations where led were they, * I'll follow

till stars fall in disarray!

Ye slumber, but wake shall ne'er fly these lids; * 'Tis I bear

what ye never bore--well-away!

It had irked them not to farewell who fares * With the parting-

fires that my heart waylay.

My friends,[FN#206] your meeting to me is much * But more is the

parting befel us tway:

You're my heart's delight, or you present be * Or absent, with

you is my soul for aye!"

Thereupon the Head wept exceeding sore and cried, "O my lady,

indeed thou hast solaced my heart, and I have naught but my life;

so take it." She replied, "Nay, an I but knew that thou wouldst

bring me news of my lord Al-Rashid, 'twere fainer to me than the

reign of the world;" and the Head answered her, "It shall be done

as thou desirest." Then it disappeared and returning to her at

the last of the night, said, "O my lady, know that I have been to

thy palace and have questioned one of its Haunters of the case of

the Commander of the Faithful and that which befel him after

thee; and he said, 'When the Prince of True Believers came to

Tohfah's apartment and found her not and saw no sign of her, he

buffeted his face and head and rent his raiment.' Now there was

in thy chamber the Castrato, the chief of thy household, and the

Caliph cried out at him, saying, 'Bring me Ja'afar the Barmaki

and his father and brother at this very moment!' The Eunuch went

out, bewildered in his wit for fear of the King, and when he

stood in the presence of Ja'afar, he said to him, 'Come to the

Commander of the Faithful, thou and thy father and thy brother.'

So they arose in haste and betaking themselves to the presence,

said, 'O Prince of True Believers what may be the matter?' Quoth

he, 'There is a matter which passeth description. Know that I

locked the door and taking the key with me, betook myself to my

uncle's daughter, with whom I lay the night; but, when I arose in

the morning and came and opened the door, I found no sign of

Tohfah.' Quoth Ja'afar, 'O Commander of the Faithful have

patience, for that the damsel hath been snatched away, and needs

must she return, seeing that she took the lute with her, and 'tis

her own lute. The Jinns have assuredly carried her off, and we

trust in Allah Almighty that she will return.' Cried the Caliph,

'This[FN#207] is a thing which may nowise be!' And he abode in

her apartment, nor eating nor drinking, while the Barmecides

besought him to fare forth to the folk; and he weepeth and

tarrieth on such fashion till she shall return. This, then, is

that which hath betided him after thee." When Tohfah heard his

words, they were grievous to her and she wept with sore weeping;

whereupon quoth the Head to her, "The relief of Allah the Most

High is nearhand; but now let me hear somewhat of thy speech." So

she took the lute and sang three songs, weeping the while. The

Head exclaimed, "By Allah, thou hast been bountiful to me, the

Lord be with thee!" Then it disappeared and the season of sundown

came: so she rose and betook herself to her place in the hall;

whereupon behold, the candles sprang up from under the earth and

kindled themselves. Then the kings of the Jann appeared and

saluted her and kissed her hands and she greeted them with the

salam. Presently appeared Kamariyah and her three sisters and

saluted Tohfah and sat down; whereupon the tables were brought

and they ate; and when the tables were removed there came the

wine-tray and the drinking-service. So Tohfah took the lute and

one of the three queens filled the cup and signed to the

Songstress. Now she had in her hand a violet, so Tohfah

improvised these couplets:--

"I'm clad in a leaf-cloak of green; * In an honour-robe

ultramarine:

I'm a wee thing of loveliest mien * But all flowers as my vassals

are seen:

An Rose title her 'Morn-pride,' I ween * Nor before me nor after

she's Queen."

The queen drank off her cup and bestowed on Tohfah a dress of

cloth-of-pearl, fringed with red rubies, worth twenty thousand

ducats, and a tray whereon were ten thousand sequins. All this

while Maymun's eye was upon her and presently he said to her,

"Harkye, Tohfah! Sing to me." But Queen Zalzalah cried out at

him, and said "Desist,[FN#208] O Maymun. Thou sufferest not

Tohfah to pay heed to us." Quoth he, "I will have her sing to

me:" and many words passed between them and Queen Zalzalah cried

aloud at him. Then she shook and became like unto the Jinns and

taking in her hand a mace of stone, said to him, "Fie upon thee!

What art thou that thou shouldst bespeak us thus? By Allah, but

for the respect due to kings and my fear of troubling the session

and the festival and the mind of the Shaykh Iblis, I would

assuredly beat the folly out of thy head!" When Maymun heard

these her words, he rose, with the fire shooting from his eyes,

and said, "O daughter of Iml�k, what art thou that thou shouldst

outrage me with the like of this talk?" Replied she, "Woe to

thee, O dog of the Jinn, knowest thou not thy place?" So saying,

she ran at him, and offered to strike him with the mace, but the

Shaykh Iblis arose and casting his turband on the ground cried,

"Out on thee, O Maymun! Thou dost always with us on this wise.

Wheresoever thou art present, thou troublest our pleasure! Canst

thou not hold thy peace until thou go forth of the festival and

this bride-feast be accomplished? When the circumcision is at an

end and ye all return to your dwellings, then do as thou willest.

Fie upon thee, O Maymun! Wottest thou not that Imlak is of the

chiefs of the Jinn? But for my good name, thou shouldst have seen

what would have betided thee of humiliation and chastisement; yet

on account of the festival none may speak. Indeed thou exceedest;

dost thou not ken that her sister Wakhimah is doughtier[FN#209]

than any of the Jann? Learn to know thyself: hast thou no regard

for thy life?" So Maymun was silent and Iblis turned to Tohfah

and said to her, "Sing to the kings of the Jinns this day and to-

night until the morrow, when the boy will be circumcised and each

shall return to his own place." Accordingly she took the lute and

Kamariyah said to her (now she had a citron in hand), "O my

sister, sing to me somewhat on this citron." Tohfah replied, "To

hear is to obey," and improvising, sang these couplets,

"I'm a dome of fine gold and right cunningly dight; * And my

sweetness of youth gladdeth every sight:

My wine is ever the drink of kings * And I'm fittest gift to the

friendliest sprite.

At this Queen Kamariyah rejoiced with joy exceeding and drained

her cup, crying, "Brava! O thou choice Gift of hearts!"

Furthermore, she took off a sleeved robe of blue brocade, fringed

with red rubies, and a necklace of white jewels worth an hundred

thousand ducats, and gave them to Tohfah. Then she passed the cup

to her sister Zalzalah, who hent in her hand herb basil, and she

said to Tohfah, "Sing to me somewhat on this basil." She replied,

"Hearing and obeying," and improvised and sang these couplets,

"I'm the Queen of herbs in the s�ance of wine * And in Heaven

Na'�m are my name and sign:

And the best are promised, in garth of Khuld, * Repose, sweet

scents and the peace divine:[FN#210]

What prizes then with my price shall vie? * What rank even mine,

in all mortals' eyne?"

Thereat Queen Zalzalah rejoiced with joy exceeding and bidding

her treasuress bring a basket, wherein were fifty pairs of

bracelets and the same number of earrings, all of gold, crusted

with jewels of price, whose like nor mankind nor Jinn-kind

possessed, and an hundred robes of vari-coloured brocades and an

hundred thousand ducats, gave the whole to Tohfah. Then she

passed the cup to her sister Shararah, who had in her hand a

stalk of narcissus; so she took it from her and turning to the

Songstress, said to her, "O Tohfah, sing to me somewhat on this."

She replied, "Hearkening and obedience," and improvised these

couplets,

"With the smaragd wand doth my form compare; * 'Mid the finest

flowers my worth's rarest rare:

My eyes are likened to Beauty's eyne, * And my gaze is still on

the bright part�rre."

When she had made an end of her song, Shararah was moved to

delight exceeding, and drinking off her cup, said to her, "Brava,

O thou choice Gift of hearts!" Then she ordered her an hundred

dresses of brocade and an hundred thousand ducats and passed the

cup to Queen Wakhimah. Now she had in her hand somewhat of

Nu'uman's bloom, the anemone; so she took the cup from her sister

and turning to the Songstress, said to her, "O Tohfah, sing to me

on this." Quoth she, "I hear and I obey," and improvised these

couplets,

"I'm a dye was dyed by the Ruthful's might; * And all confess me

the goodliest sight:

I began in the dust and the clay, but now * On the cheeks of fair

women I rank by right."

Therewith Wakhimah rejoiced with joy exceeding and drinking off

the cup, ordered her twenty dresses of Roum� brocade and a tray,

wherein were thirty thousand ducats. Then she gave the cup to

Queen Shu'�'ah,[FN#211] Regent of the Fourth Sea, who took it and

said, "O my lady Tohfah, sing to me on the gillyflower." She

replied, "Hearing and obeying," and improvised these couplets,

"The time of my presence ne'er draws to a close, * Amid all whose

joyance with mirth o'erflows;

When topers gather to sit at wine * Or in nightly shade or when

morning shows,

I filch from the flagon to fill the bowls * And the crystal cup

where the wine-beam glows."

Queen Shu'a'ah rejoiced with joy exceeding and emptying her cup,

gave Tohfah an hundred thousand ducats. Then up sprang Iblis

(whom Allah curse!) and cried, "Verily, the dawn lighteneth;"

whereupon the folk arose and disappeared, all of them, and there

abode not one of them save the Songstress, who went forth to the

garden and entering the Hamman made her Wuzu-ablutions and prayed

whatso lacked her of prayers. Then she sat down and when the sun

rose, behold, there came up to her near an hundred thousand green

birds, which filled the branches of the trees with their

multitudes and they warbled in various voices, whilst Tohfah

marvelled at their fashion. Suddenly, appeared eunuchs, bearing a

throne of gold, studded with pearls and gems and jacinths, both

white and red, and having four steps of gold, together with many

carpets of sendal and brocade and Coptic cloth of silk sprigged

with gold; and all these they spread in the centre of the garden

and setting up the throne thereon, perfumed the place with virgin

musk, Nadd[FN#212] and ambergris. After that, there came a queen;

never saw eyes a fairer than she nor than her qualities; she was

robed in rich raiment, broidered with pearls and gems, and on her

head was a crown set with various kinds of unions and jewels.

About her were five hundred slave-girls, high-bosomed maids, as

they were moons, screening her, right and left, and she among

them like the moon on the night of its full, for that she was the

most worthy of them in majesty and dignity. She ceased not

walking till she came to Tohfah, whom she found gazing on her in

amazement; and when the Songstress saw her turn to her, she rose

to her, standing on her feet, and saluted her and kissed ground

between her hands. The queen rejoiced in her and putting out her

hand to her, drew her to herself and seated her by her side on

the couch; whereupon the Songstress kissed her hands and the

queen said to her, "Know, O Tohfah, that all which thou treadest

of these carpets belongeth not to any of the Jinn, who may never

tread them without thy leave,[FN#213] for that I am the queen of

them all and the Shaykh Abu al-Tawaif Iblis sought my permission

to hold festival[FN#214] and prayed me urgently to be present at

the circumcision of his son. So I despatched to him, in my stead,

a slave-girl of my slave-girls, namely, Shu'�'ah Queen of the

Fourth Sea, who is vice-reine of my reign. When she was present

at the wedding and saw thee and heard thy singing, she sent to

me, informing me of thee and setting forth to me thy grace and

amiability and the beauty of thy breeding and thy

courtesy.[FN#215] So I am come to thee, for that which I have

heard of thy charms, and hereby I do thee a mighty great favour

in the eyes of all the Jann."[FN#216] Thereupon Tohfah arose and

kissed the earth and the queen thanked her for this and bade her

sit. So she sat down and the queen called for food; when they

brought a table of gold, inlaid with pearls and jacinths and

jewels and bearing kinds manifold of birds and viands of various

hues, and the queen said, "O Tohfah, in the name of Allah! Let us

eat bread and salt together, I and thou." Accordingly the

Songstress came forward and ate of those meats and found therein

somewhat the like whereof she had never eaten; no, nor aught more

delicious than it, while the slave-girls stood around the table,

as the white compasseth the black of the eye, and she sat

conversing and laughing with the queen. Then said the lady, "O my

sister, a slave-girl told me of thee that thou saidst, 'How

loathly is what yonder Jinni Maymun eateth!"[FN#217] Tohfah

replied, "By Allah, O my lady, I have not any eye that can look

at him,[FN#218] and indeed I am fearful of him." When the queen

heard this, she laughed till she fell backwards and said "O my

sister, by the might of the graving upon the seal-ring of

Solomon, prophet of Allah, I am queen over all the Jann, and none

dare so much as cast on thee a glance of the eye;" whereat Tohfah

kissed her hand. Then the tables were removed and the twain sat

talking. Presently up came the kings of the Jinn from every side

and kissed ground before the queen and stood in her service; and

she thanked them for this, but moved not for one of them.[FN#219]

Then appeared the Shaykh Abu al-Taw�if Iblis (Allah curse him!)

and kissed the earth before her, saying, "O my lady, may I not be

bereft of these steps!"[FN#220] She replied, "O Shaykh Abu

al-Taw�if, it behoveth thee to thank the bounty of the Lady

Tohfah, who was the cause of my coming." Rejoined he, "Thou

sayest sooth," and kissed ground. Then the queen fared on towards

the palace and there arose and alighted upon the trees an hundred

thousand birds of manifold hues. The Songstress asked, "How many

are these birds?" and Queen Wakhimah answered her, "Know, O my

sister, that this queen is hight Queen al-Shahb�[FN#221] and that

she is queen over all the Jann from East to West. These birds

thou seest are of her host, and unless they appeared in this

shape, earth would not be wide enough for them. Indeed, they came

forth with her and are present with her presence at this

circumcision. She will give thee after the measure of that which

hath been given to thee from the first of the festival to the

last thereof;[FN#222] and indeed she honoureth us all with her

presence." Then the queen entered the palace and sat down on the

couch of the circumcision[FN#223] at the upper end of the hall,

whereupon Tohfah took the lute and pressing it to her breast,

touched its strings suchwise that the wits of all present were

bewildered and Shaykh Iblis cried to her, "O my lady Tohfah, I

conjure thee, by the life of this noble queen, sing for me and

praise thyself, and cross me not." Quoth she, "To hear is to

obey; still, but for thine adjuration, I had not done this. Say

me, doth any praise himself? What manner thing is this?" Then she

improvised these couplets:

"In all f�tes I'm Choice Gift[FN#224] to the minstrel-race;

Folk attest my worth, rank and my pride of place,

While Fame, merit and praises with honour engrace."

Her verses pleased the kings of the Jann and they cried, "By

Allah, thou sayst sooth!" Then she rose to her feet, hending lute

in hand, and played and sang, whilst the Jinns and the Shaykh Abu

al-Taw�if danced. Presently the Father of the Tribes came up to

her bussing her bosom, and gave her a Br�hmani[FN#225] carbuncle

he had taken from the hidden hoard of Y�fis bin N�h[FN#226] (on

whom be the Peace), and which was worth the reign of the world;

its light was as the sheen of the sun and he said to her, "Take

this and be equitable therewith to the people of the world."

[FN#227] She kissed his hand and rejoiced in the jewel and said,

"By Allah, this befitteth none save the Commander of the

Faithful." Now Queen Al-Shahba laughed with delight at the

dancing of Ibl�s and she said to him, "By Allah, this is a goodly

pavane!" He thanked her for this and said to the Songstress, "O

Tohfah, there is not on earth's face a skilfuller than Ishak

al-Nadim;[FN#228] but thou art more skilful than he. Indeed, I

have been present with him many a time and have shown him

positions[FN#229] on the lute, and there has betided me with him

that which betided. Indeed, the story of my dealings with him is

a long one but this is no time to repeat it; for now I would show

thee a shift on the lute, whereby thou shalt be exalted over all

folk." Quoth she, "Do what seemeth good to thee." So he took the

lute and played thereon a wondrous playing, with rare divisions

and marvellous modulations, and showed her a passage she knew

not; and this was goodlier to her than all that she had gotten.

Then she took the lute from him and playing thereon, sang and

presently returned to the passage which he had shown her; and he

said, "By Allah, thou singest better than I!" As for Tohfah, it

became manifest to her that her former practice was all of it

wrong and that what she had learnt from the Shaykh Abu al-Taw�if

Iblis was the root and foundation of all perfection in the art

and its modes. So she rejoiced in that which she had won of skill

in touching the lute far more than in all that had fallen to her

lot of wealth and honour-robes and kissed the Master's hand. Then

said Queen Al-Shahba, "By Allah, O Shaykh, my sister Tohfah is

indeed singular among the folk of her time, and I hear that she

singeth upon all sweet-smelling blooms." Iblis replied, "Yes, O my

lady, and I am in extremest wonderment thereat. But there

remaineth somewhat of sweet-scented flowers, which she hath not

besung, such as myrtle and tuberose and jessamine and the

moss-rose and the like." Then the Shaykh signed to her to sing

somewhat upon the rest of the flowers, that Queen Al-Shahba might

hear, and she said, "Hearing and obeying." So she took the lute

and played thereon in many modes, then returned to the first and

sang these couplets,

"I'm one of the lover-retinue * Whom long pine and patience have

doom�d rue:

And sufferance of parting from kin and friends * Hath clothed me,

O folk, in this yellow hue:

Then, after the joyance had passed away, * Heart-break, abasement

and cark I knew,

Through the long, long day when the lift is light, * Nor, when

night is murk, my pangs cease pursue:

So, 'twixt fairest hope and unfailing fear, * My bitter tears

ever flow anew."

Thereat Queen Al-Shahba rejoiced with joy exceeding and cried,

"Brava, O queen of delight! No one is able to describe thee. Sing

to us on the Apple." Quoth Tohfah, "Hearkening and obedience."

Then she recited these couplets,

"I surpass all forms in my coquetry* For mine inner worth and

mine outer blee;

Tend me noble hands in the sight of all * And slake with pure

waters the thirst of me;

My robe is of sendal, and eke my veil * Is of sunlight the

Ruthful hath bidden be:

When my fair companions are marched afar, * In sorrow fro' home

they are forced to flee:

But noble hands deign hearten my heart * With beds where I sit in

my high degree; [FN#230]

And where, like full moon at its rise, my light * 'mid the

garden-fruits thou shalt ever see."

Queen Al-Shahba rejoiced in this with exceeding joy and cried

"Brava! By Allah, there is none excelleth thee." Tohfah kissed

the ground, then returned to her place and versified on the

Tuberose, saying,

"I'm a marvel-bloom to be worn on head! * Though a stranger among

you fro' home I fled:

Make use of wine in my company * And flout at Time who in

languish sped.

E'en so doth camphor my hue attest, * O my lords, as I stand in

my present stead.

So gar me your gladness when dawneth day, * And to highmost seat

in your homes be I led:

And quaff your cups in all jollity, * And cheer and ease shall

ne'er cease to be."

At this Queen Al-Shahba rejoiced with exceeding joy and cried,

"Brava, O queen of delight! By Allah, I know not how I shall do

to give thee thy due! May the Most High grant us the grace of thy

long continuance!" Then she strained her to her breast and bussed

her on the cheek; whereupon quoth Iblis (on whom be a curse!),

"This is a mighty great honour!" Quoth the queen, "Know that this

lady Tohfah is my sister and that her biddance is my biddance and

her forbiddance my forbiddance. So all of you hearken to her word

and render her worshipful obedience." Therewith the kings rose in

a body and kissed ground before Tohfah, who rejoiced in this.

Moreover, Queen Al-Shahba doffed dress and habited her in a suit

adorned with pearls, jewels and jacinths, worth an hundred

thousand ducats, and wrote for her on a slip of paper[FN#231] a

patent appointing her to be her deputy. So the Songstress rose

and kissed ground before the Queen, who said to her, "Of thy

favour, sing to us somewhat concerning the rest of the

sweet-scented flowers and herbs, so I may hear thy chant and

solace myself with witnessing thy skill." She replied, "To hear

is to obey, O lady mine," and, taking the lute, improvised these

couplets,

"My hue excelleth all hues in light, * And I would all eyes

should enjoy my sight:

My site is the site of fillets and pearls * Where the fairest

brows are with jasmine dight:

My light's uprist (and what light it shows!) * Is a silvern zone

on the waist of Night."

Then she changed the measure and improvised these couplets,

"I'm the gem of herbs, and in seasons twain * My tryst I keep

with my lovers-train:

I stint not union for length of time * Nor visits, though some be

of severance fain;

The true one am I and my troth I keep, * And, easy of plucking,

no hand disdain."

Then, changing measure and the mode, she played so that she

bewildered the wits of those who were present, and Queen

Al-Shahba, moved to mirth and merriment, cried, "Brava, O queen

of delight!" Presently she returned to the first mode and

improved these couplets on Nenuphar,

"I fear me lest freke espy me, * In air when I fain deny me;

So I root me beneath the wave, * And my stalks to bow down apply

me."

Hereat Queen Al-Shahba rejoiced with exceeding joy, and cried,

"Brava, O Tohfah! Let me hear more of thy chant." Accordingly,

she smote the lute and changing the mode, recited on the Moss-

rose these couplets,

"Look on Nasr�n[FN#232] those branchy shoots surround; * With

greenest leafery 'tis deckt and crowned:

Its graceful bending stem draws every gaze * While beauteous

bearing makes their love abound."

Then she changed measure and mode and sang these couplets on the

Water-lily,

"O thou who askest S�san[FN#233] of her scent, * Hear thou my

words and beauty of my lay.

'Emir am I whom all mankind desire' * (Quoth she) 'or present or

when ta'en away.'"

When Tohfah had made an end of her song, Queen Al-Shahba rose and

said, "I never heard from any the like of this;" and she drew the

Songstress to her and fell to kissing her. Then she took leave of

her and flew away; and on like wise all the birds took flight

with her, so that they walled the horizon; whilst the rest of the

kings tarried behind. Now as soon as it was the fourth night,

there came the boy who was to be circumcised, adorned with jewels

such as never saw eye nor heard ear of, and amongst the rest a

crown of gold crusted with pearls and gems, the worth whereof was

an hundred thousand sequins. He sat down upon the couch and

Tohfah sang to him, till the chirurgeon[FN#234] came and they

snipped his foreskin in the presence of all the kings, who

showered on him a mighty great store of jewels and jacinths and

gold. Queen Kamariyah bade her Eunuchs gather up all this and lay

it in Tohfah's closet and it was as much in value as all that had

fallen to her, from the first of the festivities to the last

thereof. Moreover, the Shaykh Iblis (whom Allah curse!) bestowed

upon the Songstress the crown worn by the boy and gave the

circumcisee another, whereat Tohfah's reason took flight. Then

the Jinn departed, in order of rank, whilst Iblis farewelled

them, band after band. Seeing the Shaykh thus occupied with

taking leave of the kings, Maymun seized his opportunity, the

place being empty, and taking up Tohfah on his shoulders, soared

aloft with her to the confines of the lift, and flew away with

her. Presently, Iblis came to look for the Songstress and see

what she purposed, but found her not and sighted the slave-girls

slapping their faces: so he said to them, "Fie on you! What may

be the matter?" They replied, "O our lord, Maymun hath snatched

up Tohfah and flown away with her." When Iblis heard this, he

gave a cry whereto earth trembled and said, "What is to be done?"

Then he buffetted his face and head, exclaiming, "Woe to you!

This be none other than exceeding insolence. Shall he carry off

Tohfah from my very palace and attaint mine honour? Doubtless,

this Maymun hath lost his wits." Then he cried out a second time,

so that the earth quaked, and rose on his wings high in air. The

news came to the rest of the kings; so they flew after him and

overtaking him, found him full of anxiety and affright, with fire

issuing from his nostrils, and said to him, "O Shaykh

al-Tawaif,[FN#235] what is to do?" He replied, "Know ye that

Maymun hath carried off Tohfah from my palace and attainted mine honour."

When they heard this, they cried, "There is no Majesty and there

is no Might save in Allah the Glorious, the Great. By God he hath

ventured upon a grave matter and verily he destroyeth self and

folk!" Then Shaykh Iblis ceased not flying till he fell in with

the tribes of the Jann, and they gathered together a world of

people, none may tell the tale of them save the Lord of

All-might. So they came to the Fortress of Copper and the Citadel

of Lead,[FN#236] and the people of the sconces saw the tribes of

the Jann issuing from every deep mountain-pass[FN#237] and said,

"What be the news?" Then Iblis went in to King Al-Shisban and

acquainted him with that which had befallen; whereupon quoth he,

"Verily, Allah hath destroyed Maymun and his many! He pretendeth

to possess Tohfah, and she is become queen of the Jann! But have

patience till we devise that which befitteth in the matter of

Tohfah." Iblis asked, "And what befitteth it to do?" And

Al-Shisban answered, "We will fall upon him and kill him and his

host with cut of brand." Then quoth Shaykh Iblis, "'Twere better

to acquaint Queen Kamariyah and Queen Zalzalah and Queen

Shararah and Queen Wakhimah; and when they are assembled, Allah

shall ordain whatso He deemeth good in the matter of her

release." Quoth Al-Shisban, "Right is thy rede" and they

despatched to Queen Kamariyah an Ifrit hight Salhab who came to

her palace and found her sleeping, so he roused her and she said,

"What is to do, O Salhab?" Cried he, "O my lady, come to the

succour of thy sister the Songstress, for Maymun hath carried her

off and attainted thine honour and that of Shaykh Iblis." Quoth

she, "What sayst thou?" and she sat up straight and cried out

with a great cry. And indeed she feared for Tohfah and said, "By

Allah, in very sooth she used to say that he gazed at her and

prolonged the gaze; but ill is that whereto his soul hath

prompted him." Then she rose in haste and mounting a Sataness of

her Satans, said to her, "Fly." So she flew off with her and

alighted in the palace of her sister Shararah, whereupon she sent

for her sisters Zalzalah and Wakhimah and acquainted them with

the tidings, saying, "Know that Maymun hath snatched up Tohfah

and flown off with her swiftlier than the blinding leven." Then

they all flew off in haste and lighting down in the place where

were their father Al-Shisban and their grandfather the Shaykh Abu

al-Taw�if, found the folk on the sorriest of situations. When

their grandfather Iblis saw them, he rose to them and wept, and

they all wept for the Songstress. Then said Iblis to them,

"Yonder hound hath attainted mine honour and taken Tohfah, and I

think not other wise[FN#238] but that she is like to die of

distress for herself and her lord Al-Rashid and saying, 'The

whole that they said and did was false.'"[FN#239] Quoth

Kamariyah, "O grandfather mine, nothing is left for it but

stratagem and device for her deliverance, for that she is dearer

to me than everything; and know that yonder accursed when he

waxeth ware of your coming upon him, will ken that he hath no

power to cope with you, he who is the least and meanest of the

Jann; but we dread that he, when assured of defeat, will slay

Tohfah; wherefore nothing will serve but that we contrive a

sleight for saving her; else will she perish." He asked, "And

what hast thou in mind of device?" and she answered, "Let us take

him with fair means, and if he obey, all will be well;[FN#240]

else will we practice stratagem against him; and expect not her

deliverance from other than myself." Quoth Iblis, "The affair is

thine; contrive what thou wilt, for that Tohfah is thy sister and

thy solicitude for her is more effectual than that of any other."

So Kamariyah cried out to an Ifrit of the Ifrits and a calamity

of the calamities,[FN#241] by name Al-Asad al-Tayy�r, the Flying

Lion, and said to him, "Hie with my message to the Crescent

Mountain,[FN#242] the wone of Maymun the Sworder, and enter and

say to him, My lady saluteth thee with the salam and asketh thee,

'How canst thou be assured for thyself of safety, after what thou

hast done, O Maymun? Couldst thou find none to maltreat in thy

drunken humour save Tohfah, she too being a queen? But thou art

excused, because thou didst not this deed, but 'twas thy drink,

and the Shaykh Abu al-Taw�if pardoneth thee, because thou wast

drunken. Indeed, thou hast attainted his honour; but now restore

her to her palace, for that she hath done well and favoured us

and rendered us service, and thou wottest that she is this day

our queen. Belike she may bespeak Queen Al-Shahba, whereupon the

matter will become grievous and that wherein there is no good

shall betide thee; and thou wilt get no tittle of gain. Verily, I

give thee good counsel, and so the Peace!'" Al-Asad answered

"Hearing and obeying," and flew till he came to the Crescent

Mountain, when he sought audience of Maymun, who bade admit him.

So he entered and kissing ground before him, gave him Queen

Kamariyah's message, which when he heard, he cried to the Ifrit,

"Return whence thou comest and say to thy mistress, 'Be silent

and thou wilt show thy good sense.' Else will I come and seize

upon her and make her serve Tohfah; and if the kings of the Jinn

assemble together against me and I be overcome by them, I will

not leave her to scent the wind of this world and she shall be

neither mine nor theirs, for that she is presently my sprite

[FN#243] from between my ribs; and how shall any part with his

sprite?" When the Ifrit heard Maymun's words, he said to him, "By

Allah, O Maymun, art thou a changeling in thy wits, that thou

speakest these words of my lady, and thou one of her page-boys?"

Whereupon Maymun cried out and said to him, "Woe to thee, O dog

of the Jinns! Wilt thou bespeak the like of me with these words?"

Then he bade those who were about him bastinado Al-Asad, but he

took flight and soaring high in air, betook himself to his

mistress and told her the tidings: when she said, "Thou hast done

well, O good knight!" Then she turned to her sire and said to

him, "Hear that which I shall say to thee." Quoth he, "Say on;"

and quoth she, "I rede thee take thy troops and go to him, for

when he heareth this, he will in turn levy his many and come

forth to thee; whereupon do thou offer him battle and prolong the

fight with him and make a show to him of weakness and giving way.

Meantime, I will devise me a device for getting at Tohfah and

delivering her, what while he is busied with you in battle; and

when my messenger cometh to thee and informeth thee that I have

gotten possession of Tohfah and that she is with me, return thou

upon Maymun forthwith and overthrow him and his hosts, and take

him prisoner. But, an my device succeed not with him and we fail

to deliver Tohfah, he will assuredly practice to slay her,

without recourse, and regret for her will remain in our hearts."

Quoth Iblis, "This is the right rede" and bade call a march among

the troops, whereupon an hundred thousand knights, doughty wights

of war, joined themselves to him and set out for the country of

Maymun. As for Queen Kamariyah, she flew off to the palace of her

sister Wakhimah, and told her what deed Maymun had done and how

he declared that, whenas he saw defeat nearhand, he would slay

Tohfah; adding, "And indeed, he is resolved upon this; otherwise

had he not dared to work such sleight. So do thou contrive the

affair as thou see fit, for in rede thou hast no superior." Then

they sent for Queen Zalzalah and Queen Shararah and sat down to

take counsel, one with other, concerning what they had best do in

the matter. Presently said Wakhimah, " 'Twere advisable we fit

out a ship in this our island home and embark therein, disguised

as Adam's sons, and fare on till we come to anchor under a little

island that lieth over against Maymun's palace. There will we sit

drinking and smiting the lute and singing; for Tohfah will

assuredly be seated there overlooking the sea, and needs must she

see us and come down to us, whereupon we will take her by force

and she will be under our hands, so that none shall be able to

molest her any more. Or, an Maymun be gone forth to do battle

with the Jinns, we will storm his stronghold and take Tohfah and

raze his palace and slay all therein. When he hears of this, his

heart will be broken and we will send to let our father know,

whereat he will return upon him with his troops and he will be

destroyed and we shall have rest of him." They answered her,

saying, "This is a good counsel." Then they bade fit out a ship

from behind the mountain,[FN#244] and it was fitted out in less

than the twinkling of an eye; so they launched it on the sea and

embarking therein, together with four thousand Ifrits, set out,

intending for Maymun's palace. They also bade other five thousand

Ifrits betake themselves to the island under the Crescent

Mountain and there lie in wait for them ambushed well. Thus fared

it with the kings of the Jann; but as regards Shaykh Abu

al-Taw�if Iblis and his son Al-Shisban the twain set out, as we

have said, with their troops, who were of the doughtiest of the

Jinn and the prowest of them in wing-flying and horsemanship,

and fared on till they drew near the Crescent Mountain. When the

news of their approach reached Maymun, he cried out with a mighty

great cry to the troops, who were twenty thousand riders, and

bade them make ready for departure. Then he went in to Tohfah and

kissing her, said, "Know that thou art this day my life of the

world, and indeed the Jinns are gathered together to wage war on

me for thy sake. An I win the day from them and am preserved

alive, I will set all the kings of the Jann under thy feet and

thou shalt become queen of the world." But she shook her head and

shed tears; and he said, "Weep not, for I swear by the virtue of

the mighty inscription borne on the seal-ring of Solomon, thou

shalt never again see the land of men; no, never! Say me, can any

one part with his life? Give ear, then, to my words; else will I

slay thee." So she was silent. And forthright he sent for his

daughter, whose name was Jamrah,[FN#245] and when she came, he

said to her, "Harkye, Jamrah! Know that I am going to fight the

clans of Al-Shisban and Queen Kamariyah and the Kings of the

Jann. An I be vouchsafed the victory over them, to Allah be the

laud and thou shalt have of me largesse;[FN#246] but, an thou see

or hear that I am worsted and any come to thee with ill news of

me, hasten to kill Tohfah, so she may fall neither to me nor to

them." Then he farewelled her and mounted, saying, "When this

cometh about, pass over to the Crescent Mountain and take up

thine abode there, and await what shall befal me and what I shall

say to thee." And Jamrah answered "Hearkening and obedience." Now

when the Songstress heard these words, she fell to weeping and

wailing and said, "By Allah, naught irketh me but severance from

my lord Al-Rashid; however, when I am dead, let the world be

ruined after me!"[FN#247] And she was certified in herself that

she was assuredly lost. Then Maymun set forth with his army and

departed in quest of the hosts of the Jinn, leaving none in the

palace save his daughter Jamrah and Tohfah and an Ifrit which was

dear to him. They fared on till they met with the army of

Al-Shisban; and when the two hosts came face to face, they fell

each upon other and fought a fight, a passing sore than which

naught could be more. After a while, Al-Shisban's troops began to

give way, and when Maymun saw them do thus, he despised them and

made sure of victory over them. On this wise it befel them; but

as regards Queen Kamariyah and her company they sailed on without

ceasing, till they came under the palace wherein was Tohfah, to

wit, that of Maymun the Sworder; and by the decree of the Lord of

destiny, the Songstress herself was at that very time sitting on

the belvedere of the palace, pondering the affair of Harun

al-Rashid and her own and that which had befallen her and weeping

for that she was doomed to death. She saw the vessel and what was

therein of those we have named, and they in mortal guise, and

said, "Alas, my sorrow for this ship and for the men that be

therein!" As for Kamariyah and her many, when they drew near the

palace, they strained their eyes and seeing the Songstress

sitting, cried, "Yonder sitteth Tohfah. May Allah not bereave us

of her!" Then they moored their craft and, making for the island

which lay over against the palace, spread carpets and sat eating

and drinking; whereupon quoth Tohfah, "Well come and welcome to

yonder faces! These be my kinswomen and I conjure thee by Allah,

O Jamrah, that thou let me down to them, so I may sit with them

awhile and enjoy kindly converse with them and return." Quoth

Jamrah, "I may on no wise do that;" and Tohfah wept. Then the

folk brought out wine and drank, while Kamariyah took the lute

and sang these couplets,

"By Allah, had I never hoped to greet you * Your guide had failed

on camel to seat you!

Far bore you parting from friend would greet you * Till meseems

mine eyes for your wone entreat you."

When Tohfah heard this, she cried out so great a cry, that the

folk heard her and Kamariyah said, "Relief is nearhand." Then the

Songstress looked out to them and called to them, saying, "O

daughters of mine uncle, I am a lonely maid, an exile from kin

and country: so for the love of Allah Almighty, repeat that

song!" Accordingly Kamariyah repeated it and Tohfah swooned away.

When she came to herself, she said to Jamrah, "By the rights of

the Apostle of Allah (whom may He save and assain!) unless thou

suffer me go down to them and look on them and sit with them for

a full hour, I will hurl myself headlong from this palace, for

that I am aweary of my life and know that I am slain to all

certainty; wherefore will I kill myself, ere you pass sentence

upon me." And she was instant with her in asking. When Jamrah

heard her words, she knew that, an she let her not down, she

would assuredly destroy herself. So she said to her, "O Tohfah,

between thee and them are a thousand cubits, but I will bring the

women up to thee." The Songstress replied, "Nay, there is no help

but that I go down to them and solace me in the island and look

upon the sea anear; then will we return, I and thou; for that, an

thou bring them up to us, they will be affrighted and there will

betide them neither joy nor gladness. As for me, I wish but to be

with them, that they may cheer me with their company neither give

over their merrymaking, so peradventure I may broaden my breast

with them, and indeed I swear that needs must I go down to them;

else I will cast myself upon them." And she cajoled Jamrah and

kissed her hands, till she said, "Arise and I will set thee down

beside them." Then she took Tohfah under her armpit and flying up

swiftlier than the blinding leven, set her down with Kamariyah

and her company; whereupon she went up to them and accosted them,

saying, "Fear ye not: no harm shall befal you; for I am a mortal,

like unto you, and I would fain look on you and talk with you and

hear your singing." So they welcomed her and kept their places

whilst Jamrah sat down beside them and fell a-snuffing their

odours and saying, "I smell the scent of the Jinn![FN#248] Would

I wot whence it cometh!" Then said Wakhimah to her sister

Kamariyah, "Yonder foul slut smelleth us and presently she will

take to flight; so what be this inaction concerning her?"[FN#249]

Thereupon Kamariyah put out an arm long as a camel's neck, and

dealt Jamrah a buffet on the head, that made it fly from her body

and cast it into the sea. Then cried she, "Allah is

All-great!"[FN#250] And they uncovered their faces, whereupon

Tohfah knew them and said to them, "Protection!" Queen Kamariyah

embraced her, as also did Queen Zalzalah and Queen Wakhimah and

Queen Shararah, and the first-named said to her, "Receive the

good tidings of assured safety, for there abideth no harm for

thee; but this is no time for talk." Then they cried out,

whereupon up came the Ifrits ambushed in that island, hending

swords and maces in hand, and taking up Tohfah, flew with her to the

palace and made themselves masters of it, whilst the Ifrit

aforesaid, who was dear to Maymun and whose name was

Dukh�n,[FN#251] fled like an arrow and stinted not flying till he

came to Maymun and found him fighting a sore fight with the Jinn.

When his lord saw him, he cried out at him, saying, "Fie upon

thee! Whom hast thou left in the palace?" Dukhan answered,

saying, "And who abideth in the palace? Thy beloved Tohfah they

have captured and Jamrah is slain and they have taken the palace,

all of it." At these ill tidings Maymun buffeted his face and

head and said, "Oh! Out on it for a calamity!" Then he cried

aloud. Now Kamariyah had sent to her sire and reported to him the

news, whereat the raven of the wold[FN#252] croaked for the foe.

So, when Maymun saw that which had betided him (and indeed the

Jinn smote upon him and the wings of eternal severance overspread

his host), he planted the heel of his lance in the earth and

turning its head to his heart, urged his charger thereat and

pressed upon it with his breast, till the point came forth

gleaming from his back. Meanwhile the messenger had made the

friendly host with the news of Tohfah's deliverance, whereat the

Shaykh Abu al-Taw�if rejoiced and bestowed on the bringer of lief

tidings a sumptuous robe of honour and made him commander over a

company of the Jann. Then they charged home upon Maymun's host

and wiped them out to the last man; and when they came to Maymun,

they found that he had slain himself and was even as we have

said. Presently Kamariyah and her sister Wakhimah came up to

their grandfather and told him what they had done; whereupon he

came to Tohfah and saluted her with the salam and congratulated

her on deliverance. Then he made over Maymun's palace to Salhab;

and, taking all the rebel's wealth gave it to the Songstress,

while the troops encamped upon the Crescent Mountain.

Furthermore, the Shaykh Abu al-Taw�if said to Tohfah, "Blame me

not," and she kissed his hands, when behold, there appeared to

them the tribes of the Jinn, as they were clouds, and Queen

Al-Shahba flying in their van, drawn sword in grip. As she came

in sight of the folk, they kissed ground between her hands and

she said to them, "Tell me what hath betided Queen Tohfah from

yonder dog Maymun and why did ye not send to me and report to

me?" Quoth they, "And who was this dog that we should send to

thee on his account? Indeed he was the least and lowest of the

Jinn." Then they told her what Kamariyah and her sisters had done

and how they had practiced upon Maymun and delivered the

Songstress from his hand, fearing lest he should slay her when he

found himself defeated; and she said, "By Allah, the accursed was

wont to lengthen his looking upon her!" And Tohfah fell to

kissing Al-Shahba's hand, whilst the queen strained her to her

bosom and kissed her, saying, "Trouble is past; so rejoice in

assurance of deliverance." Then they rose and went up to the

palace whereupon the trays of food were brought and they ate and

drank; after which quoth Queen Al-Shahba, "O Tohfah, sing to us,

by way of sweetmeat[FN#253] for thine escape, and favour us with

that which shall solace our minds, for that indeed my thoughts

have been occupied with thee." And quoth Tohfah, "Hearkening and

obedience, O my lady." So she improvised and sang these couplets,

"Breeze of East[FN#254] an thou breathe o'er the dear ones' land

* Speed, I pray thee, my special salute and salam:

And say them I'm pledged to love them and * In pine that passeth

all pine I am."

Thereat Queen Al-Shahba rejoiced and with her all who were

present; and they admired her speech and fell to kissing her; and

when she had made an end of her song, Queen Kamariyah said to

her, "O my sister, ere thou go to thy palace, I would fain bring

thee to look upon Al-'Ank�,[FN#255] daughter of Bahram J�r, whom

Al-'Anka, daughter of the wind, carried off, and her beauty; for

that there is not her fellow on earth's face." And Queen

Al-Shahba said, "O Kamariyah, I also think it were well an I

beheld her." Quoth Kamariyah, "I saw her three years ago; but my

sister Wakhimah seeth her at all times, for she is near to her

people, and she saith that there is not in the world fairer than

she. Indeed, this Queen Al-Anka is become a byword for beauty and

comeliness." And Wakhimah said, "By the mighty inscription on the

seal-ring of Solomon, there is not her like for loveliness here

below." Then said Queen Al-Shahba, "An it needs must be and the

affair is as ye say, I will take Tohfah and go with her to

Al-Anka, so she may look upon her!" So they all arose and

repaired to Al-Anka, who abode in the Mountain Kaf. When she saw

them, she drew near to them and saluted them, saying, "O my

ladies, may I not be bereaved of you!" Quoth Wakhimah to her,

"Who is like unto thee, O Anka? Behold, Queen Al-Shahba is come

to thee." So Al-Anka kissed the Queen's feet and lodged them in

her palace; whereupon Tohfah came up to her and fell to kissing

her and saying, "Never saw I a seemlier than this semblance." Then

she set before them somewhat of food and they ate and washed

their hands; after which the Songstress took the lute and smote

it well; and Al-Anka also played, and they fell to improvising

verses in turns, whilst Tohfah embraced Al-Anka every moment.

Al-Shahba cried, "O my sister, each kiss is worth a thousand

dinars;" and Tohfah replied, "And a thousand dinars were little

therefor;" whereat Al-Anka laughed and after nighting in her

pavilion on the morrow they took leave of her and went away to

Maymun's palace. Here Queen Al-Shahba farewelled them and taking

her troops, returned to her capital, whilst the kings also went

away to their abodes and the Shaykh Abu al-Taw�if applied himself

to diverting Tohfah till nightfall, when he mounted her on the

back of one of the Ifrits and bade other thirty gather together

all that she had gotten of treasure and raiment, jewels and robes

of honour. Then they flew off, whilst Iblis went with her, and in

less than the twinkling of an eye he set her down in her sleeping

room, where he and those who were with him bade adieu to her and

went away. When Tohfah found herself in her own chamber[FN#256]

and on her couch, her reason fled for joy and it seemed to her as

if she had never stirred thence: then she took the lute and tuned

it and touched it in wondrous fashion and improvised verses and

sang. The Eunuch heard the smiting of the lute within the chamber

and cried, "By Allah, that is the touch of my lady Tohfah!" So he

arose and went, as he were a madman, falling down and rising up,

till he came to the Castrato on guard at the gate of the

Commander of the Faithful and found him sitting. When his fellow

neutral saw him, and he like a madman, slipping down and

stumbling up, he asked him, "What aileth thee and what bringeth

thee hither at this hour?" The other answered, "Wilt thou not

make haste and awaken the Prince of True Believers?" And he fell

to crying out at him; whereupon the Caliph awoke and heard them

bandying words together and Tohfah's slave crying to the other,

"Woe to thee! Awaken the Commander of the Faithful in haste." So

quoth he, "O Sawab, what hast thou to say?" and quoth the Chief

Eunuch, "O our lord, the Eunuch of Tohfah's lodging hath lost his

wits and crieth, 'Awaken the Commander of the Faithful in haste!'

" Then said Al-Rashid to one of the slave-girls, "See what may be

the matter." Accordingly she hastened to admit the Castrato, who

entered at her order; and when he saw the Commander of the

Faithful, he salamed not neither kissed ground, but cried in his

hurry, "Quick: up with thee! My lady Tohfah sitteth in her

chamber, singing a goodly ditty. Come to her in haste and see all

that I say to thee! Hasten! She sitteth awaiting thee." The

Caliph was amazed at his speech and asked him, "What sayst thou?"

He answered, "Didst thou not hear the first of the speech? Tohfah

sitteth in the sleeping-chamber, singing and lute-playing. Come

thy quickest! Hasten!" Accordingly Al-Rashid sprang up and donned

his dress; but he believed not the Eunuch's words and said to

him, "Fie upon thee! What is this thou sayst? Hast thou not seen

this in a dream?" Quoth the Eunuch, "By Allah, I wot not what

thou sayest, and I was not asleep;" and quoth Al-Rashid, "An thy

speech be soothfast, it shall be for thy good luck, for I will

free thee and give thee a thousand gold pieces; but, an it be

untrue and thou have seen this in dream-land, I will crucify

thee." The Eunuch said within himself, "O Protector, let me not

have seen this in vision!" then he left the Caliph and running to

the chamber-door, heard the sound of singing and lute-playing;

whereupon he returned to Al-Rashid and said to him, "Go and

hearken and see who is asleep." When the Prince of True Believers

drew near the door of the sleeping-chamber, he heard the sound of

the lute and Tohfah's voice singing; whereat he could not

restrain his reason and was like to faint for excess of delight.

Then he pulled out the key, but his hand refused to draw the bolt:

however, after a while, he took heart and applying himself,

opened the door and entered, saying, "Methinks this is none other

than a vision or an imbroglio of dreams." When Tohfah saw him,

she rose and coming to meet him, pressed him to her breast; and

he cried out a cry wherein his sprite was like to depart and fell

down in a fit. She again strained him to her bosom and sprinkled

on him rose-water mingled with musk, and washed his face, till he

came to himself, as he were a drunken man, and shed tears for the

stress of his joy in Tohfah's return to him, after he had

despaired of her returning. Then she took the lute and smote

thereon, after the fashion she had learnt from Shaykh Iblis, so

that Al-Rashid's wit was bewildered for excess of joy and his

understanding was confounded for exultation; after which she

improvised and sang these couplets,

"That I left thee my heart to believe is unlief; * For the life

that's in it ne'er leaveth; brief,

An thou say 'I went,' saith my heart 'What a fib!' * And I bide

'twixt believing and unbelief."

When she had made an end of her verses, Al-Rashid said to her, "O

Tohfah, thine absence was wondrous, yet is thy presence still

more marvellous." She replied, "By Allah, O my lord, thou sayst

sooth;" then, taking his hand, she said to him, "O Commander of

the Faithful, see what I have brought with me." So he looked and

spied treasures such as neither words could describe nor

registers could document, pearls and jewels and jacinths and

precious stones and unions and gorgeous robes of honour, adorned

with margarites and jewels and purfled with red gold. There he

beheld what he never had beheld all his life long, not even in

idea; and she showed him that which Queen Al-Shahba had bestowed

on her of those carpets, which she had brought with her, and that

throne, the like whereof neither Kisr� possessed nor C�sar, and

those tables inlaid with pearls and jewels and those vessels

which amazed all who looked on them, and that crown which was on

the head of the circumcised boy, and those robes of honour, which

Queen Al-Shahba and Shaykh Abu al-Taw�if had doffed and donned

upon her, and the trays wherein were those treasures; brief, she

showed him wealth whose like he had never in his life espied and

which the tongue availeth not to describe and whereat all who

looked thereon were bewildered, Al-Rashid was like to lose his

wits for amazement at this spectacle and was confounded at that

he sighted and witnessed. Then said he to Tohfah, "Come, tell me

thy tale from beginning to end, and let me know all that hath

betided thee, as if I had been present." She answered,

"Hearkening and obedience," and acquainting him with all that had

betided her first and last, from the time when she first saw the

Shaykh Abu al-Taw�if, how he took her and descended with her

through the side of the Chapel of Ease; and she told him of the

horse she had ridden, till she came to the meadow aforesaid and

described it to him, together with the palace and that was

therein of furniture, and related to him how the Jinn rejoiced in

her, and whatso she had seen of their kings, masculine and

feminine, and of Queen Kamariyah and her sisters and Queen

Shu'a'ah, Regent of the Fourth Sea, and Queen Al-Shahba, Queen of

Queens, and King Al-Shisban, and that which each one of them had

bestowed upon her. Moreover, she recited to him the story of

Maymun the Sworder and described to him his fulsome favour, which

he had not deigned to change, and related to him that which befel

her from the kings of the Jinn, male and female, and the coming

of the Queen of Queens, Al-Shahba, and how she had loved her and

appointed her her vice-reine and how she was thus become ruler

over all the kings of the Jann; and she showed him the writ of

investiture which Queen Al-Shahba had written her and told him

what had betided her with the Ghulish Head, when it appeared to

her in the garden, and how she had despatched it to her palace,

beseeching it to bring her news of the Commander of the Faithful

and of what had betided him after her. Then she described to him

the flower-gardens, wherein she had taken her pleasure, and the

Hammam-baths inlaid with pearls and jewels and told him that

which had befallen Maymun the Sworder, when he bore her off, and

how he had slain himself; in fine, she related to him everything

she had seen of wonders and marvels and that which she had beheld

of all kinds and colours among the Jinn. Then she told him the

story of Al-Anka, daughter of Bahram Jur, with Al-Anka, daughter

of the wind, and described to him her dwelling-place and her

island, whereupon quoth Al-Rashid, "O Tohfat al-Sadr,[FN#257]

tell me of Al-Anka, daughter of Bahram Jur; is she of the

Jinn-kind or of mankind or of the bird-kind? For this long time

have I desired to find one who should tell me of her." Tohfah

replied, "'Tis well, O Commander of the Faithful. I asked the

queen of this and she acquainted me with her case and told me who

built her the palace." Quoth Al-Rashid, "Allah upon thee, tell it

me;" and quoth Tohfah, "I will well," and proceeded to tell him.

And he was amazed at that which he heard from her and what she

reported to him and at that which she had brought back of jewels

and jacinths of various hues and precious stones of many sorts,

such as amazed the beholder and confounded thought and mind. As

for this, Tohfah was the means of the enrichment of the

Barmecides and the Abbasides, and they had endurance in their

delight. Then the Caliph went forth and bade decorate the city:

so they decorated it and the drums of glad tidings were beaten;

and they made banquets to the people for whom the tables were

spread seven days. And Tohfah and the Commander of the Faithful

ceased not to enjoy the most delightsome of life and the most

prosperous till there came to them the Destroyer of delights and

the Severer of societies; and this is all that hath come down to

us of their story.