the city he was then in, was a whole year’s journey distant from
those countries where mussulmen lived, and which were governed by
princes of their religion; but that by sea he might reach the isle
of Ebony in a much shorter time; and that from thence it would be
more easy to pass to the Islands of the Children of Khaledan: that
every year a merchant ship sailed to the Isle of Ebony, and that he
might avail himself of that opportunity to return from thence to the
Islands of the Children of Khaledan. “If you had arrived some days
sooner,” continued he, “you might have embarked in that which
sailed this year. But if you will wait till that of next year sails,
and like to live with me, I offer you my house, such as it is, with
all my heart.”
Prince Camaralzaman esteemed himself very fortunate in having thus
met with an asylum, in a place where he neither knew any one, nor
had any interest to form acquaintances. He accepted the offer, and
remained with the gardener; and while he waited the departure of a
merchant vessel for the Isle of Ebony, he employed himself in
working in the garden during the day; and the nights, when nothing
prevented his thoughts from fixing on his dear princess Badoura, he
passed in sighs, tears, and lamentations. We will leave him in this
place to return to the princess Badoura, whom we left sleeping in
her tent.
This princess slept for some time, and on waking was surprised that
prince Camaralzaman was not with her. She called her women, and
asked them if they knew where he was. Whilst they were assuring her
that they had seen him go into the tent, but had not observed his
quitting it, she perceived, on taking up her girdle, that the little
bag was open, and that the talisman was no longer in it. She did not
doubt that the prince had taken it out to examine it, and that he
would bring it back. She expected him till night with the greatest
impatience, and could not comprehend what could oblige him to be
absent from her so long. When she perceived that night was come on,
and that it was already quite dark, and yet he did not return, she
gave herself up to the deepest affliction. She uttered a thousand
curses, both on the talisman and on him who made it; and if respect
had not restrained her tongue, she would even have indulged in
imprecations against the queen, her mother, for having made her so
fatal a present. Although she was distracted at this event, so much
the more afflicting, as she could form no conception why the
talisman should be the cause of the prince’s departure, she did
not lose her presence of mind, but, on the contrary, formed a
courageous design, not common with people of her sex.
None, but the princess and her women, knew of Camaralzaman’s
disappearance; for at that time his people had all retired, and were
sleeping in their tents. As she feared they might betray her if his
absence came to their knowledge, she endeavoured to subdue her
grief, and commanded her women not to say or do any thing that might
create the slightest suspicion. She then changed her dress for one
of Camaralzaman’s, whom she resembled so strongly, that his people
supposed it to be him on the following morning, when she made her
appearance, and commanded them to pack up the baggage, and proceed
on their journey. When all was ready, she made one of her women take
her place in the litter, and she herself mounted her horse, and they
set off.
After a journey of several months by land, as well as by sea, the
princess, who had continued the disguise of prince Camaralzaman, in
order to reach the Islands of the Children of Khaledan, arrived at
the capital of the Isle of Ebony, the reigning king of which was
named Armanos. As those of her people, who disembarked the first to
seek a lodging for her, had published in the town, that the vessel
which was just arrived bore prince Camaralzaman, who was returning
from a long voyage, and whom bad weather had obliged to make for
this port, the intelligence soon reached the palace of the king.
King Armanos, accompanied by the greatest part of his court,
immediately set out to receive the princess, and met her just as she
had left the vessel, and was going to the lodging that was engaged
for her. He received her as the son of a king who was his friend and
ally, with whom he had always lived on terms of amity, and conducted
her to his palace, where he lodged her and her whole suit,
notwithstanding her earnest entreaties to be permitted to have a
lodging to herself. He conferred upon her all the honors imaginable,
besides regaling her for three days with extraordinary magnificence.
When the three days were expired, king Armanos finding that the
princess, whom he still supposed to be prince Camaralzaman, talked
of re-embarking, and continuing her voyage, and being quite charmed
with a prince who appeared to him so handsome and well-made, and
possessed of so much wit and knowledge, spoke to her in private.
“Prince,” said he, “at the advanced age to which you see I am
arrived, with little hope of living much longer, I endure the
mortification of not having a son, to whom I can bequeath my
kingdom. Heaven has bestowed on me one only daughter, who is
possessed of such beauty as cannot be matched but with a prince of
such high birth and such mental as well as personal accomplishments
as distinguish you. Instead, therefore, of preparing to return to
your own country, accept her from my hands, together with my crown,
which I from this moment resign in your favor, and remain with us.
It is now time for me to repose, after having borne the weight of it
for so many years; I cannot do it with more satisfaction to myself,
than at a period when I am likely to see my state governed by so
worthy a successor.”
This generous offer of the king of the Island of Ebony, to give his
only daughter in marriage to the princess Badoura, who, being a
woman, could not accept her, and of giving up to her all his
dominions, occasioned her a degree of embarrassment which she little
expected. After having told the king that she was Camaralzaman, and
having supported the character with so much plausibility, she
thought it would be unworthy of a princess of her rank to undeceive
him, and to declare, that instead of being the prince himself, she
was only his wife. But if she refused him, she had just reason to
fear, from the extreme desire he had evinced for the completion of
the marriage, that he might change his friendship and good-will
towards her into enmity and hatred, and might even attempt her life.
Besides which, she could not be certain that she should find
Camaralzaman at the court of king Schahzaman, his father.
These considerations, together with that of acquiring a kingdom for
the prince, her husband, in case she should ever rejoin him,
determined Badoura to accept the proposals of king Armanos. Having,
therefore, remained for some minutes without speaking, she thus
replied, her face being at the same time overspread with blushes,
which the king attributed to her modesty, “Sire, I am under
infinite obligations to your majesty, for the good opinion you have
conceived of my person, and for the honor you do me, by conferring
on me so great a favor, which I am by no means deserving of, yet
dare not refuse. But, Sire,” added she, “I cannot accept so
great an alliance, except on condition, that your majesty will
assist me with your counsels; and that I undertake nothing that you
shall not previously have approved of.”
The marriage being thus agreed on and concluded, the ceremony of the
nuptials was postponed to the following day; and the princess
Badoura took that opportunity of acquainting her officers, who still
supposed her to be prince Camaralzaman, of what was to take place,
that they might not be astonished at it; and she assured them, that
the princess Badoura had given her consent. She spoke of it to her
women also, charging them to continue faithful to the secret.
The king of the Island of Ebony, overjoyed at having acquired a
son-in-law, with whom he was so well satisfied, assembled his
council on the morrow, and declared, that he bestowed the princess,
his daughter, in marriage, on prince Camaralzaman, whom he had taken
with him, and seated next him; that he resigned his crown to him,
and enjoined them to accept him as their king, and to pay him
homage. When he had concluded, he descended from the throne, and
made the princess Badoura ascend and take his place, where she
received the oaths of fidelity and allegiance from the principal
nobles, who were present.
At the conclusion of the council, the new king was solemnly
proclaimed throughout the city; rejoicings for several days were
ordered, and couriers dispatched to all parts of the kingdom, that
the same ceremonies and the same demonstrations of joy might be
observed.
In the evening, the whole palace was in festivity, and the princess
Haiatalnefous, for this was the name of the daughter of the king of
the Island of Ebony, was conducted to the princess Badoura, whom
every one supposed to be a man, with a magnificence truly royal. The
ceremonies being completed, they were left alone, and retired to
rest.
The next morning, while the princess Badoura received the
compliments of a large assembly of courtiers on her marriage and
accession to the throne, king Armanos and his queen repaired to the
apartment of the new queen, their daughter, to inquire how she
passed the night. Instead of making any reply, she fixed her eyes on
the ground, and by the expression of sorrow which overspread her
countenance, plainly showed, that she was dissatisfied.
In order to console the princess Haiatalnefous, the king said to
her, “My dear daughter, let not this afflict you; when prince
Camaralzaman landed here, he only sought to return, as soon as
possible, to king Schahzaman, his father. Although we have prevented
him from putting his design in execution, by means, with which he
must be well satisfied, we must nevertheless conclude, that he feels
much disappointment at being so suddenly deprived even of the hope
of ever seeing him again, or any one belonging to his family. You
may, therefore, expect, when these emotions of filial tenderness are
a little subsided, that he will behave towards you as a good
husband.”
The princess Badoura, under the assumed name of Camaralzaman, and
king of the island of Ebony, passed the whole of that day, not only
in receiving the compliments of her court, but also in reviewing the
regular troops belonging to the household, and in several other
royal functions, with a dignity and ability which acquired her the
approbation of all those who witnessed it.
The night was advanced, when she entered the apartment of queen
Haiatalnefous, and she soon perceived, by the restraint with which
the latter received her, that she recollected the preceding night.
She endeavoured to dissipate her sadness by a long conversation,
that she held with her, and in which she employed all her eloquence,
of which she had a considerable share, to persuade her that she
loved her excessively. She at last gave her time to go to bed, and
during this interval, she began to say a prayer; but she remained so
long thus employed, that Haiatalnefous fell asleep. She then ceased
from praying, and lay down by her side, without waking her, as much
afflicted at the necessity she was under of acting a character which
did not become her, as the loss of her beloved Camaralzaman, whom
she unceasingly lamented. She arose the next morning at break of
day, before Haiatalnefous awoke, and went to the council, dressed in
the royal robes.
King Armanos did not fail to see the queen, his daughter, again on
that day, and he found her in tears. He required no further proof,
to be satisfied of the cause of her affliction. Quite indignant at
this affront, for such he conceived it, the cause of which he could
not comprehend; “Daughter,” said he, “have patience for one
night more; I have elevated your husband to my throne, but I shall
find the means of abasing him, and of banishing him from hence with
shame and ignominy, if he does not behave to you properly. In my
present anger, at seeing you treated with such neglect, I do not
know whether I shall be satisfied with so moderate a punishment. It
is not to you, but to my person that he offers so unpardonable an
affront.”
The princess Badoura returned to the chamber of Haiatalnefous as
late that evening as on the preceding one. She conversed with her in
the same manner, and was then going to say her prayer, while she
went to bed; but Haiatalnefous prevented her, and obliged her to sit
down again. “What!” said she, “I see you intend to treat me
this night as you did the two former ones. Tell me, I entreat you,
in what I can have displeased you; I, who not only love, but adore
you, and esteem myself the happiest of all the princesses of my
rank, for having so amiable a prince as you are for my husband? Any
other besides me would have a good opportunity of revenge by
abandoning you to your luckless fate for so indignant an affront to
my person; but even did I not love you as I do, I am too
compassionate for the misfortunes even of those who are totally
indifferent to me, not to warn you, that the king, my father, is
extremely irritated with your mode of proceeding; and that he only
suspends his anger till to-morrow, when you will feel its just
effects, if you continue this usage of me. I conjure you not to
drive a princess to despair, who cannot avoid loving you.”
This speech occasioned inexpressible embarrassment to the princess
Badoura. She could not doubt the sincerity of Haiatalnefous; the
coolness which king Armanos had shown her on that day, fully proved
his displeasure. The only method that occurred to her of justifying
her conduct, was to confess her sex to Haiatalnefous. But although
she had foreseen that she should be obliged to make this
declaration, yet the uncertainty, whether this princess would take
it in good part made her tremble. But at last, when she reflected
that if prince Camaralzaman was still alive, he must necessarily
stop at the Isle of Ebony, in his way to the dominions of
Schahzaman, that she ought to preserve herself for him, and that she
could only do it by discovering herself to the princess
Haiatalnefous, she hazarded this confession.
As Badoura had remained silent and confused, Haiatalnefous, becoming
impatient, was going to continue, when she prevented her by these
words: “Too amiable and charming princess,” said she, “I
confess I am in fault; and I freely condemn myself: but I hope you
will pardon me; and that you will not violate the secret I am going
to entrust you with for my justification.” At the same moment
Badoura uncovered her bosom: “See, princess,” continued she,
“if a woman and a princess, such as you are yourself, does not
deserve your pardon; I am persuaded you will grant it with good-will
when I shall have related to you my history; and above all, when you
are made acquainted with the misfortune which has obliged me to act
a deceitful part.”
When the princess Badoura had concluded her narration, and made
herself known to the princess of the Isle of Ebony, she entreated
her a second time not to betray her secret, and to agree to continue
the deceit, and pretend, that she was really her husband, until the
arrival of prince Camaralzaman, whom she hoped shortly to see again.
“Princess,” replied Haiatalnefous, “it would indeed be a
singular destiny, if so happy an union as yours has been, should be
of such short duration, after a mutual affection, conceived and
preserved with so many miraculous adventures. I join my wishes to
yours, that Heaven may soon re-unite you. Be assured, in the mean
time, that I will most religiously preserve the secret you have
entrusted me with. I shall feel the greatest pleasure at being the
only person in the great kingdom of the Isle of Ebony, who really
knows you, while you govern it with the wisdom you have displayed at
the commencement of your reign. I asked you to love me, but now I
declare to you that I shall be fully satisfied, if you do not refuse
me your friendship.” After this conversation, the two princesses
tenderly embraced, and with a thousand demonstrations of reciprocal
friendship, they lay down to rest.
It was a custom in this island, that the consummation of royal
marriages should be made known to the public. The princesses,
however, found some means of overcoming this difficulty; and not
only the female attendants of the princess Haiatalnefous were the
next morning deceived, but also king Armanos, the queen, his
consort, and his whole court. And from this time the princess
Badoura continued to govern the kingdom in great tranquillity, to
the complete satisfaction of the king and all his subjects.
While these things were in this situation in the Isle of Ebony
between the princess Badoura and Haiatalnefous, king Armanos, the
queen, the court, and the rest of the people in the kingdom, prince
Camaralzaman was still in the city of idolaters, with the gardener,
who had offered him a retreat.
One morning very early, while the prince was preparing to work in
the garden, as was his usual custom, the good old gardener prevented
him. “The idolaters,” said he to him, “have a grand festival
to-day, and as they abstain from all kinds of labour, to pass it in
public assemblies and rejoicings, they will not suffer mussulmen
either to work; and the latter, to preserve peace and amity with
them, enter into their amusements, and are present at the various
spectacles, which are well worthy of notice: so you may allow
yourself a little rest to-day. I shall leave you here, and as the
time approaches for the merchant vessel, which I mentioned to you,
to sail for the Island of Ebony; I am going to see some friends, and
will inquire of them what day it is to set sail, and at the same
time I will arrange matters for your embarking on it.” The
gardener put on his best dress and went out.
When prince Camaralzaman found himself alone, instead of partaking
of the public rejoicings which enlivened the whole city, the state
of inactivity he remained in brought to his mind in stronger colours
the sad recollection of his ever beloved princess. Absorbed by his
melancholy reflections, he sighed and moaned as he walked along the
garden; when the noise made by two birds, who had perched on a tree
near him, attracting his attention, inclined him to lift up his head
and stop.
Camaralzaman observed that these birds were fighting desperately,
pecking each other with their beaks, and in a few minutes he saw one
of them fall dead at the foot of a tree. The bird who remained
conqueror resumed his flight, and soon disappeared.
At the same moment, two other birds of a larger size, who had seen
the combat from a distance, arrived from a different quarter, and
alighted, one at the head, the other at the feet of the deceased,
looked at him for a considerable time, shaking their heads in a way
which showed their grief, and then dug a grave for him with their
claws, in which they buried him.
As soon as the birds had again filled the grave with the earth, they
flew away, and a short time after returned, holding in their beaks,
one by the wing and the other by a claw, the criminal bird, who
uttered dreadful screams, and made violent efforts to escape. They
brought him to the grave of the bird he had in his rage destroyed,
and there, sacrificing him to the just punishment he merited for the
cruel murder he had committed, they deprived him of life by pecking
him with their beaks. They then tore open his body, drew out the
entrails, and leaving the corpse on the ground, flew away.
Camaralzaman remained in silent admiration the whole time this
surprising spectacle continued. He approached the tree where the
scene had taken place, and casting his eyes on the entrails, which
lay scattered on the ground, he perceived something red appearing
out of the stomach of the bird that had been torn to pieces. He took
up the mangled remains of the body, and taking out the red substance
which had attracted his notice, he found it to be the talisman of
the princess Badoura, his dear and tenderly beloved princess, which
had cost him so much anxiety, pain, and regret, since this bird had
flown away with it. “Cruel bird,” cried he, looking at it,
“you delighted in evil actions, and I have no little cause to
complain of the grief you have occasioned me. But in proportion to
what I have suffered through you, so much do I wish well to those
who have revenged my injuries by revenging the death of their
companion.”
It is not possible to express the joy of prince Camaralzaman at this
adventure. “Dearest princess,” he exclaimed again, “this
fortunate moment, in which I thus redeem what is so valuable to you,
is no doubt a happy presage that announces my meeting with you in
the same unexpected manner, and perhaps even sooner than I dare to
hope. Blessed be the day in which I taste such happiness, and which,
at the same time, flatters me with the delightful prospect of the
greatest pleasure I can enjoy.”
As he finished these words Camaralzaman kissed the talisman, and,
wrapping it up carefully, tied it round his arm. During his extreme
affliction he had passed almost every night without closing his
eyes, and in the midst of tormenting reflections. He slept very
tranquilly the whole of that which succeeded this happy event; and
the next morning at break of day, putting on his working dress, he
went to the gardener for his orders, who begged him to cut and root
up a particular tree, which he pointed out to him, as being old and
no longer bearing fruit.
Camaralzaman took an axe, and set to work. As he was cutting a part
of the root, he struck something, which seemed to resist, and made a
loud noise. He removed the earth and discovered a large plate of
brass, under which he found a stair-case with ten steps. He
immediately descended, and when he had reached the bottom, he saw
himself in a sort of cave, or vault, about fifteen feet square, in
which he counted fifty large bronze jars, ranged round it, each with
a cover. He uncovered them all, one after the other, and found them
filled with gold dust. He then left the vault, quite overjoyed at
having discovered so rich a treasure; he replaced the plate over the
staircase, and continued to root up the tree, while he waited for
the gardener’s return.
The gardener had been informed on the preceding day, that the
vessel, which sailed annually to the Isle of Ebony, was to depart in
a very few days; but those who had given him this intelligence,
could not acquaint him with the precise day; they promised, however,
to do so on the morrow. He had been to gain the information he
wanted, and returned with a countenance which displayed the joy he
felt at being the bearer of such good news to Camaralzaman.” “My
son,” said he to him, for by his great age he claimed the
privilege of addressing the prince in such familiar terms,
“rejoice, and hold yourself in readiness to embark in three days;
the vessel will sail on that day without fail, and I have agreed
with the captain about your passage and departure.”
“In my present situation,” replied Camaralzaman, “you could
not announce to me any thing of so agreeable a nature. But, in
return, I have to communicate to you also a piece of news, which
will give you great pleasure. Take the trouble of following me, and
you will see the good fortune that Heaven sends you.” Camaralzaman
conducted the gardener to the spot, where he had rooted up the tree,
and made him go down into the vault; when he had shown him the
number of jars it contained, all filled with gold dust, he expressed
his joy, that God had thus recompensed his virtue, and all the
fatigue and pain he had undergone for so many years.
“What do you mean?” replied the gardener. “Do you suppose,
then, that I will possess myself of all this treasure? No, it is all
your own; I have no pretensions to any part of it. During eighty
years that I have worked in this garden since my father’s death, I
have never chanced to discover it. It is a sign that it was destined
for you alone, since God permitted you to find it; it is more
appropriate to a prince, like you, than to me, who am on the brink
of the grave, and want nothing more. God sends it you very
opportunely, at the time that you are about to return to the states
which are to belong to you, and where you will make a good use of
it.”