O lord of beneficence and benevolence, my parents were possessed of
wealth and riches sufficient to provide their son when they died with
ample means for a life-long livelihood so that he might pass his days
like a Grandee of the land in ease and joyance and delight. I—their only
child—had nor care nor trouble about any matter until one day of the
days, when in the prime of manhood, I was a-minded to take unto me a
wife, a woman winsome and comely to look upon, that we might live
together in mutual love and double blessedness. But Allah Almighty
willed not that a model helpmate become mine; nay, Destiny wedded me to
grief and the direst misery. I married a maid who in outward form and
features was a model of beauty and loveliness without, however, one
single gracious gift of mind or soul; and on the very second day after
the wedding her evil nature began to manifest itself. Thou art well
aware, O Prince of True Believers, that by Moslem custom none may look
upon the face of his betrothed before the marriage-contract, nor after
wedlock can he complain should his bride prove a shrew or a fright: he
must needs dwell with her in such content as he may and be thankful for
his fate, be it fair or unfair. When I saw first the face of my bride
and learnt that it was passing comely, I joyed with exceeding joy and
gave thanks to Almighty Allah that He had bestowed on me so charming a
mate. That night I slept with her in joy and love-delight; but next day
when the noon-meal was spread for me and her I found her not at table
and sent to summon her; and after some delay, she came and sat her down.
I dissembled my annoyance and forbore for this late-coming to find fault
with her; which I soon had ample reason to do. It so happened that
amongst the many dishes which were served up to us was a fine pilaff,[8]
of which I, according to the custom in our city, began to eat with a
spoon; but she, in lieu of it pulled out an ear-pick from her pocket and
therewith, fell to picking up the rice and ate it grain by grain. Seeing
this strange conduct I was sore amazed and fuming inwardly said in sweet
tones, “O my Aminah,[9] what be this way of eating? hast thou learnt it
of thy people or art thou counting grains of rice purposing to make a
hearty meal hereafter? Thou hast eaten but ten or twenty during all this
time. Or haply thou art practising thrift? if so I would have thee know
that Allah Almighty hath given me abundant store and fear not on that
account; but do thou, O my dearling, as all do and eat as thou seest thy
husband eat.” I fondly thought that she would assuredly vouchsafe some
words of thanks, but never a syllable spake she and ceased not picking
up grain after grain: nay more, in order to provoke me to greater
displeasure, she paused for a long time between each. Now when the next
course of cakes came on she idly brake some bread and tossed a crumb or
two into her mouth; in fact she ate less than would satisfy the stomach
of a sparrow. I marvelled much to see her so obstinate and selfwilled
but I said to myself, in mine innocence, “May be she hath not been
accustomed to eat with men, and especially she may be too shame-faced to
eat heartily in presence of her husband: she will in time do whatso do
other folk.” I thought also that perchance she hath already broken her
fast and lost appetite, or haply it hath been her habit to eat alone. So
I said nothing and after dinner went out to smell the air and play the
Jaríd[10] and thought no more of the matter. When, however, we two sat
again at meat my bride ate after the same fashion as before; nay, she
would ever persist in her perversity; whereat I was sore troubled in
mind, and marvelled how without food she kept herself alive. One night
it chanced that deeming me fast asleep she rose up in stealth from my
side, I being wide awake: when I saw her step cautiously from the bed as
one fearing lest she might disturb me. I wondered with exceeding wonder
why she should arise from sleep to leave me thus and methought I would
look into the matter. Wherefore I still feigned sleep and snored but
watched her as I lay, and presently saw her dress herself and leave the
room; I then sprang off the bed and throwing on my robe and slinging my
sword across my shoulder looked out of the window to spy whither she
went. Presently she crossed the courtyard and opening the street-door
fared forth; and I also ran out through the entrance which she had left
unlocked; then followed her by the light of the moon until she entered a
cemetery hard by our home.——And as the morn began to dawn Shahrazad held
her peace till
The end of the Six Hundred and Twelfth Night.
Then said she:——I have heard O auspicious King, that Sidi Nu’uman
continued his story saying:—But when I beheld Aminah my bride enter the
cemetery, I stood without and close to the wall over which I peered so
that I could espy her well but she could not discover me. Then what did
I behold but Aminah sitting with a Ghúl![11] Thy Highness wotteth well
that Ghuls be of the race of devils; to wit, they are unclean spirits
which inhabit ruins and which terrify solitary wayfarers and at times
seizing them feed upon their flesh; and if by day they find not any
traveller to eat they go by night to the graveyards and dig out and
devour dead bodies. So I was sore amazed and terrified to see my wife
thus seated with a Ghul. Then the twain dug up from the grave a corpse
which had been newly buried, and the Ghul and my wife Aminah tore off
pieces of the flesh which she ate making merry the while and chatting
with her companion; but inasmuch as I stood at some distance I could not
hear what it was they said. At this sight I trembled with exceeding
fear. And when they had made an end of eating they cast the bones into
the pit and thereover heaped up the earth e’en as it was before. Leaving
them thus engaged in their foul and fulsome work, I hastened home; and,
allowing the street-door to remain half-open as my bride had done, I
reached my room, and throwing myself upon our bed feigned sleep.
Presently Aminah came and doffing her dress calmly lay beside me, and I
knew by her manner that she had not seen me at all, nor guessed that I
had followed her to the cemetery. This gave me great relief of mind,
withal I loathed to bed beside a cannibal and a corpse-eater; howbeit I
lay still despite extreme misliking till the Muezzin’s call for
dawn-prayers, when getting up I busied myself with the Wuzú-ablution and
set forth mosque-wards. Then having said my prayers and fulfilled my
ceremonial duties,[12] I strolled about the gardens, and during this
walk having turned over the matter in my mind, determined that it
behoved me to remove my bride from such ill companionship, and wean her
from the habit of devouring dead bodies. With these thoughts I came back
home at dinner-time, when Aminah on seeing me return bade the servants
serve up the noontide-meal and we twain sat at table; but as before she
fell to picking up the rice grain by grain. Thereat said I to her, “O my
wife, it irketh me much to see thee picking up each grain of rice like a
hen. If this dish suit not thy taste see there are, by Allah’s grace and
the Almighty’s favour, all kinds of meats before us. Do thou eat of that
which pleaseth thee most; each day the table is bespread with dishes of
different kinds and if these please thee not, thou hast only to order
whatsoever food thy soul desireth. Yet I would ask of thee one question:
Is there no meat upon the table as rich and toothsome as man’s flesh,
that thou refusest every dish they set before thee?” Ere I had finished
speaking my wife became assured that I was aware of her night adventure:
she suddenly waxed wroth with exceeding wrath, her face flushed red as
fire, her eyeballs started out from their sockets and she foamed at the
mouth with ungovernable fury. Seeing her in this mood I was terrified
and my sense and reason fled by reason of my affright; but presently in
the madness of her passion she took up a tasse of water which stood
beside her and dipping her fingers in the contents muttered some words
which I could not understand; then sprinkling some drops over me, cried,
“Accursed that thou art! for this thine insolence and betrayal do thou
be straightway turned into a dog.” At once I became transmewed and she,
picking up a staff began to ribroast me right mercilessly and well-nigh
killed me. I ran about from room to room but she pursued me with the
stick, and tunded and belaboured me with might and main, till she was
clean exhausted. She then threw the street-door half open and, as I made
for it to save my life, attempted violently to close it, so as to
squeeze my soul out of my body; but I saw her design and baffled it,
leaving behind me, however, the tip of my tail; and piteously yelping
hereat I escaped further basting and thought myself lucky to get away
from her without broken bones. When I stood in the street still whining
and ailing, the dogs of the quarter seeing a stranger, at once came
rushing at me barking and biting;[13] and I with tail between my legs
tore along the market-place and ran into the shop of one who sold
sheeps’ and goats’ heads and trotters; and there crouching low hid me in
a dark corner.——And as the morn began to dawn Shahrazad held her peace
till
The end of the Sixth Hundred and Thirteenth Night.
Then said she:——I have heard, O auspicious King, that Sidi Nu’uman
continued his story as follows:—The shopkeeper, despite his scruples of
conscience which caused him to hold all dogs impure,[14] had ruth upon
my sorry plight and drove away the yelling and grinning curs that would
have followed me into his shop; and I, escaping this danger of doom,
passed all the night hid in my corner. Early next morning the butcher
sallied forth to buy his usual wares, sheeps’ heads and hooves; and,
coming back with a large supply, he began to lay them out for sale
within the shop when I, seeing that a whole pack of dogs had gathered
about the place attracted by the smell of flesh, also joined them. The
owner noticed me among the ragged tykes and said to himself, “This dog
hath tasted naught since yesterday when it ran yelping hungrily and hid
within my shop.” He then threw me a fair sized piece of meat, but I
refused it and went up to him and wagged my tail to the end that he
might know my wish to stay with him and be protected by his stall: he,
however, thought that I had eaten my sufficiency, and, picking up a
staff frightened me and chased me away. So when I saw how the butcher
heeded not my case, I trotted off and wandering to and fro presently
came to a bakery and stood before the door wherethrough I espied the
baker at breakfast. Albeit I made no sign as though I wanted aught of
food, he threw me a bittock of bread; and I, in lieu of snapping it up
and greedily swallowing it, as is the fashion with all dogs, the gentle
and simple of them, approached him with it and gazed in his face and
wagged my tail by way of thanks. He was pleased by this my well-bred
behaviour and smiled at me; whereat I, albeit not one whit anhungered,
but merely to humour him, fell to eating the bread, little by little
slowly and leisurely, to testify my respect. He was yet more satisfied
with my manners and wished to keep me in his shop; and I, noting his
intent, sat by the door and looked wistfully at him, whereby he knew
that I desired naught of him save his protection. He then caressed me
and took charge of me and kept me to guard his store, but I would not
enter his house till after he had led the way; he also showed me where
to lie o’nights and fed me well at every meal and entreated me right
hospitably. I likewise would watch his every movement and always lay
down or rose up even as he bade me; and whenas he left his lodging or
walked anywhither he took me with him. If ever when I lay asleep he went
outside and found me not, he would stand still in the street and call to
me crying, “Bakht! Bakht!”[15] an auspicious name he had given to me;
and straightway on hearing him I would rush about and frisk before the
door; and when he set out to taste the air I paced beside him now
running on ahead, now following at his heels and ever and anon looking
up in his face. Thus some time passed during which I lived with him in
all comfort; till one day of the days it so chanced that a woman came to
the bakery to buy her bread and gave the owner several dirhams to its
price, whereof one was bad coin whilst the others were good. My master
tested all the silvers and, finding out the false bit, returned it
demanding a true dirham in exchange; but the woman wrangled and would
not take it back and swore that it was sound. Quoth the baker, “The
dirham is beyond all doubt a worthless: see yonder dog of mine, he is
but a beast, yet mark me he will tell thee whether it be true or false
silver.” So he called me by my name, “Bakht! Bakht!” whereat I sprang up
and ran towards him and he, throwing all the moneys upon the ground
before me, cried, “Here look these dirhams over and if there be a false
coin among them separate it from all the others.” I inspected the
silvers each by each and found the counterfeit: then, putting it on one
side and all the others on another, I placed my paw upon the false
silver and wagging what remained of my tail looked up at my master’s
face. The baker was delighted with my sagacity, and the woman also,
marvelling with excessive marvel at what had happened, took back her bad
dirham and paid another in exchange. But when the buyer fared forth, my
master called together his neighbours and gossips and related to them
this matter; so they threw down on the ground before me coins both good
and bad, in order that they might test me and see with their own eyes an
I were as clever as my master had said I was. Many times in succession I
picked out the false coin from amongst the true and placed my paw upon
them without once failing; so all went away astounded and related the
case to each and every one they saw and thus the bruit of me spread
abroad throughout the city. That livelong day I spent in testing dirhams
fair and foul.——And as the morn began to dawn Shahrazad held her peace
till
The end of the Sixth Hundred and Fourteenth Night.
Then said she:——I have heard, O auspicious King, that Sidi Nu’uman
continued his story saying:—From that day forwards the baker honoured me
yet more highly, and all his friends and familiars laughed and said,
“Forsooth thou hast in this dog a mighty good Shroff.”[16] And some
envied my master his luck in having me within the shop, and tried
ofttimes to entice me away, but the baker kept me with him nor would he
ever allow me to leave his side; for the fame of me brought him a host
of customers from every quarter of the town, even the farthest. Not many
days after there came another woman to buy loaves at our shop and paid
the baker six dirhams whereof one was worthless. My master passed them
over to me for test and trial, and straightway I picked out the false
one, and placing paw thereon looked up in the woman’s face. Hereat she
waxed confused and confessed that it was miscoined and praised me for
that I had found it out; then, going forth the same woman made signs to
me that I should follow her unbeknown to the baker. Now I had not ceased
praying Allah that somehow He would restore me to my human form and
hoped that some good follower of the Almighty would take note of this my
sorry condition and vouchsafe me succour. So as the woman turned several
times and looked at me, I was persuaded in my mind that she had
knowledge of my case; I therefore kept my eyes upon her; which seeing
she came back ere she had stepped many paces, and beckoned me to
accompany her. I understood her signal and sneaking out of the presence
of the baker, who was busy heating his oven, followed in her wake.
Pleased beyond all measure to see me obey her, she went straightway home
with me, and entering she locked the door and led me into a room where
sat a fair maid in embroidered dress whom I judged by her favour to be
the good woman’s daughter. The damsel was well skilled in arts magical;
so the mother said to her, “O my daughter, here is a dog which telleth
bad dirhams from good dirhams. When first I heard the marvel I bethought
me that the beastie must be a man whom some base wretch and
cruel-hearted had turned into a dog. Methought that to-day I would see
this animal and test it when buying loaves at the booth of yonder baker
and behold, it hath acquitted itself after the fairest of fashions and
hath stood the test and trial. Look well, O my daughter, at this dog and
see whether it be indeed an animal or a man transformed into a beast by
gramarye.” The young lady, who had veiled her face,[17] hereupon
considered me attentively and presently cried, “O my mother, ’tis even
as thou sayest, and this I will prove to thee forthright.” Then rising
from her seat she took a basin of water and dipping hand therein
sprinkled some drops upon me saying, “An thou wert born a dog then do
thou abide a dog, but an thou wert born a man then, by virtue of this
water, resume thy human favour and figure.” Immediately I was
transformed from the shape of a dog to human semblance and I fell at the
maiden’s feet and kissed the ground before her giving her thanks; then,
bussing the hem of her garment, I cried, “O my lady, thou hast been
exceeding gracious unto one unbeknown to thee and a stranger. How can I
find words wherewith to thank and bless thee as thou deservest? Tell me
now, I pray thee, how and whereby I may shew my gratitude to thee? From
this day forth I am beholden to thy kindness and am become thy slave.”
Then I related all my case and told her of Aminah’s wickedness and what
of wrongs she had wrought me; and I made due acknowledgment to her
mother for that she had brought me to her home. Herewith quoth the
damsel to me, “O Sidi Nu’uman, I pray thee bestow not such exceeding
thanks upon me, for rather am I glad and grateful in conferring this
service upon one so well-deserving as thou art. I have been familiar
with thy wife Aminah for a long time before thou didst marry her; I also
knew that she had skill in witchcraft and she likewise knoweth of my
art, for we twain learnt together of one and the same mistress in the
science. We met ofttimes at the Hammam as friends but, inasmuch as she
was ill-mannered and ill-tempered, I declined further intimacy with her.
Think not that it sufficeth me to have made thee recover thy form as it
was aforetime; nay, verily needs must I take due vengeance of her for
the wrong she hath done thee. And this will I do at thy hand, so shalt
thou have mastery over her and find thyself lord of thine own house and
home.[18] Tarry here awhile until I come again.” So saying the damsel
passed into another room and I remained sitting and talking with her
mother and praised her excellence and kindness towards me. The ancient
dame also related strange and rare deeds of wonder done by her with pure
purpose and lawful means, till the girl returned with an ewer in hand
and said, “O Sidi Nu’uman, my magical art doth tell me that Aminah is at
this present away from home but she will return thither presently.
Meanwhile she dissembleth with the domestics and feigneth grief at
severance from thee; and she hath pretended that, as thou sattest at
meat with her, thou didst suddenly arise and fare forth on some weighty
matter, when presently a dog rushed through the open door into the room
and she drove it away with a staff.” Then giving me a gugglet full of
the water the maiden resumed, “O Sidi Nu’uman, go now to thine own house
and, keeping this gugglet by thee, await patiently Aminah’s coming. Anon
she will return and seeing thee will be sore perplexed and will hasten
to escape from thee; but before she go forth sprinkle some drops from
this gugglet upon her and recite these spells which I shall teach thee.
I need not tell thee more; thou wilt espy with thine own eyes what shall
happen.” Having said these words the young lady taught me magical
phrases which I fixed in my memory full firmly, and after this I took my
leave and farewelled them both. When I reached home it happened even as
the young magician had told me; and I had tarried but a short time in
the house when Aminah came in. I held the gugglet in hand and she seeing
me trembled with sore trembling and would fain have run away; but I
hastily sprinkled some drops upon her and repeated the magical words,
whereat she was turned into a mare—the animal thy Highness deigned
remark but yesterday. I marvelled greatly to sight this transformation
and seizing the mare’s mane led her to the stable and secured her with a
halter.——And as the morn began to dawn Shahrazad held her peace till
The end of the Six Hundred and Fifteenth Night.
Then said she:——“I have heard, O auspicious King, that Sidi Nu’uman
continued his story saying:—When I had secured the mare, I loaded her
with reproaches for her wickedness and her base behaviour, and lashed
her with a whip till my forearm was tired.[19] Then I resolved within
myself that I would ride her at full speed round the square each day and
thus inflict upon her the justest penalty.” Herewith Sidi Nu’uman held
his peace, having made an end of telling his tale; but presently he
resumed, “O Commander of the Faithful, I trow thou art not displeased at
this my conduct, nay rather thou wouldst punish such a woman with a
punishment still greater than this.” He then kissed the hem of the
Caliph’s robe and kept silence; and Harun al-Rashid, perceiving that he
had said all his say, exclaimed, “In very sooth thy story is exceeding
strange and rare. The wrongdoing of thy wife hath no excuse and thy
requital is methinks in due measure and just degree, but I would ask
thee one thing—How long wilt thou chastise her thus, and how long will
she remain in bestial guise? ’Twere better now for thee to seek the
young lady by whose magical skill thy wife was transformed and beg that
she bring her back to human shape. And yet I fear me greatly lest
perchance whenas this sorceress, this Ghulah, shall find herself
restored to woman’s form and resumeth her conjurations and incantations
she may—who knoweth?—requite thee with far greater wrong than she hath
done thee heretofore, and from this thou wilt not be able to escape.”
After this the Prince of True Believers forbore to urge the matter,
albeit he was mild and merciful by nature,[20] and addressing the third
man whom the Wazir had brought before him said, “As I was walking in
such a quarter I was astonished to see thy mansion, so great and so
grand is it; and when I made enquiry of the townsfolk they answered each
and every, that the palace belongeth to one (thyself) whom they called
Khwájah Hasan. They added that thou wast erewhile exceeding poor and in
straitened case, but that Allah Almighty had widened thy means and had
now sent thee wealth in such store that thou hast builded the finest of
buildings; moreover, that albeit thou hast so princely a domicile and
such abundance of riches, thou art not unmindful of thy former estate,
and thou dost not waste thy substance in riotous living but thou addest
thereto by lawful trade. The neighbourhood all speaketh well of thee and
not a wight of them hath aught to say against thee; so I now would know
of thee the certainty of these things, and hear from thine own lips how
thou didst gain this abundant wealth. I have summoned thee before me
that I might be assured of all such matters by actual hearsay: so fear
not to tell me all thy tale; I desire naught of thee save knowledge of
this thy case. Enjoy thou to thy heart’s content the opulence that
Almighty Allah deigned bestow upon thee, and let thy soul have pleasure
therein.” Thus spake the Caliph and the gracious words reassured the
man. Then Khwajah Hasan threw himself before the Commander of the
Faithful and, kissing the carpet at the foot of the throne, exclaimed,
“O Prince of True Believers I will relate to thee a faithful relation of
my adventure, and Almighty Allah be my witness that I have not done
aught contrary to thy laws and just commandments, and that all this my
wealth is by the favour and goodness of Allah alone.” Harun al-Rashid
hereupon again bade him speak out boldly and forthwith he began to
recount in the following words the