In days of yore and times long gone before there was a Sultan of India
who begat three sons; the eldest hight Prince Husayn, the second Prince
Ali, and the youngest Prince Ahmad; moreover he had a niece, named
Princess Nur al-Nihár,[64] the daughter of his cadet brother who, dying
early, left his only child under her uncle’s charge. The King busied
himself with abundant diligence about her instruction and took all care
that she should be taught to read and write, sew and embroider, sing and
deftly touch all instruments of mirth and merriment. This Princess also
in beauty and loveliness and in wit and wisdom far excelled all the
maidens of her own age in every land. She was brought up with the
Princes her cousins in all joyance; and they ate together and played
together and slept together; and the king had determined in his mind
that when she reached marriageable age he would give her in wedlock to
some one of the neighbouring royalties; but, when she came to years of
discretion, her uncle perceived that the three Princes his sons were all
three deep in love of her, and each desired in his heart to woo and to
win and to wed her. Wherefore was the King sore troubled in mind and
said to himself, “An I give the Lady Nur al-Nihár in wedlock to any one
of her cousins, the other twain will be dissatisfied and murmur against
my decision; withal my soul cannot endure to see them grieved and
disappointed. And should I marry her to some stranger the three Princes
my sons will be sore distressed and saddened in soul; nay, who knoweth
that they may not slay themselves or go forth and betake them to some
far and foreign land? The matter is a troublous and a perilous; so it
behoveth me their sire to take action on such wise that if one of them
espouse her, the other two be not displeased thereat.” Long time the
Sultan revolved the matter in his mind; and at length he devised a
device; and, sending for the three Princes, addressed them saying, “O my
sons, ye are in my opinion of equal merit one with other; nor can I give
preference to any of you and marry him to the Princess Nur al-Nihar; nor
yet am I empowered to wed her with all three. But I have thought of one
plan whereby she shall be wife to one of you, and yet shall not cause
aught of irk or envy to his brethren; so may your mutual love and
affection remain unabated, and one shall never be jealous of the other’s
happiness. Brief, my device is this:—Go ye and travel to distant
countries, each one separating himself from the others; and do ye bring
me back the thing most wondrous and marvellous of all sights ye may see
upon your wayfarings; and he who shall return with the rarest of
curiosities shall be husband to the Princess Nur al-Nihar. Consent ye
now to this proposal; and whatso of money ye require for travel and for
the purchase of objects seld-seen and singular, take ye from the royal
treasury as much as ye desire.” The three Princes, who were ever
submissive to their sire, consented with one voice to this proposal, and
each was satisfied and confident that he would bring the King the most
extraordinary of gifts and thereby win the Princess to wife. So the
Sultan bade give to each what moneys he wanted without stint or account,
and counselled them to make ready for the journey without stay or delay
and depart their home in the Peace of Allah.——And as the morn began to
dawn Shahrazad held her peace till
The end of the Six Hundred and Forty-fourth Night.
Then said she:——I have heard, O auspicious King, that the three princely
brothers forthright made them ready for journey and voyage. So they
donned disguise, preferring the dress of wandering merchants; and,
buying such things as they needed and taking with them each his suite
they mounted steeds of purest blood and rode forth in a body from the
palace. For several stages they travelled the same road until, reaching
a place where it branched off in three different ways, they alighted at
a Khan and ate the evening meal. Then they made compact and covenant,
that whereas they had thus far travelled together they should at break
of day take separate roads and each wend his own way and all seek
different and distant regions, agreeing to travel for the space of one
year only, after which, should they be in the land of the living, all
three would rendezvous at that same caravanserai and return in company
to the King their sire. Furthermore, they determined that the first who
came back to the Khan should await the arrival of the next, and that two
of them should tarry there in expectancy of the third. Then, all this
matter duly settled, they retired to rest, and when the morning morrowed
they fell on one another’s necks and bade farewell; and, lastly,
mounting their horses, they rode forth each in his own direction. Now
Prince Husayn, the eldest, had oft heard recount the wonders of the land
Bishangarh[65], and for a long while had wished to visit it; so he took
the road which led thither, and, joining himself to a caravan journeying
that way, accompanied it by land and by water and traversed many
regions, desert wilds and stony wolds, dense jungles and fertile tracts,
with fields and hamlets and gardens and townships. After three months
spent in wayfare at length he made Bishangarh, a region over-reigned by
manifold rulers, so great was its extent and so far reaching was its
power. He put up at a Khan built specially for merchants who came from
the farthest lands, and from the folk who dwelt therein he heard tell
that the city contained a large central market[66] wherein men bought
and sold all manner of rarities and wondrous things. Accordingly, next
day Prince Husayn repaired to the Bazar and on sighting it he stood
amazed at the prospect of its length and width. It was divided into many
streets, all vaulted over but lit up by skylights; and the shops on
either side were substantially builded, all after one pattern and nearly
of the same size, while each was fronted by an awning which kept off the
glare and made a grateful shade. Within these shops were ranged and
ordered various kinds of wares; there were bales of “woven air”[67] and
linens of finest tissue, plain-white or dyed or adorned with life-like
patterns wherefrom beasts and trees and blooms stood out so distinctly
that one might believe them to be very ferals, bosquets and gardens.
There were moreover silken goods, brocaded stuffs, and finest satins
from Persia and Egypt of endless profusion; in the China warehouses
stood glass vessels of all kinds, and here and there were stores wherein
tapestries and thousands of foot-carpets lay for sale. So Prince Husayn
walked on from shop to shop and marvelled much to see such wondrous
things whereof he had never even dreamt: and he came at length to the
Goldsmiths’ Lane and espied gems and jewels and golden and silvern
vessels studded with diamonds and rubies, emeralds, pearls and other
precious stones, all so lustrous and dazzling bright that the stores
were lit up with their singular brilliancy. Hereat he said to himself,
“If in one street only there be such wealth and jewels so rare, Allah
Almighty and none save He knoweth what may be the riches in all this
city.” He was not less astonished to behold the Brahmins, how their
woman-kind for excess of opulence bedecked themselves with the finest
gems and were ornamented with the richest gear from front to foot: their
very slave-boys and handmaids wore golden necklaces and bracelets and
bangles studded with precious stones. Along the length of one
market-street were ranged hosts of flower-sellers; for all the folk,
both high and low, wore wreaths and garlands: some carried nosegays in
hand, other some bound fillets round their heads, while not a few had
ropes and festoons surrounding and hanging from their necks. The whole
place seemed one huge parterre of bloomery; even traders set bouquets in
every shop and stall, and the scented air was heavy with perfume.
Strolling to and fro Prince Husayn was presently tired and would fain
have sat him down somewhere to rest awhile, when one of the merchants,
noting his look of weariness, with kindly courtesy prayed him be seated
in his store. After saluting him with the salam the stranger sat down;
and anon he saw a broker come that way, offering for sale a carpet some
four yards square, and crying, “This be for sale; who giveth me its
worth; to wit, thirty thousand gold pieces?”——And as the morn began to
dawn Shahrazad held her peace till
The end of the Six Hundred and Forty-fifth Night.
Then said she:——I have heard, O auspicious King, that the Prince
marvelled with excessive marvel at the price, and, beckoning the dealer,
examined his wares right well; then said he, “A carpet such as this is
selleth for a few silverlings. What special virtue hath it that thou
demand therefor the sum of thirty thousand gold coins?” The broker,
believing Husayn to be a merchant man lately arrived at Bishangarh,
answered him saying, “O my lord, thinkest thou I price this carpet at
too high a value? My master hath bidden me not to sell it for less than
forty thousand Ashrafis.” Quoth the Prince, “It surely doth possess some
wondrous virtue, otherwise wouldst thou not demand so prodigious a sum;”
and quoth the broker, “’Tis true, O my lord, its properties are singular
and marvellous. Whoever sitteth on this carpet and willeth in thought to
be taken up and set down upon other site will, in the twinkling of an
eye, be borne thither, be that place nearhand or distant many a day’s
journey and difficult to reach.”[68] The Prince hearing these words said
to himself, “Naught so wonder-rare as this rug can I carry back to the
Sultan my sire to my gift, or any that afford him higher satisfaction
and delight. Almighty Allah be praised, the aim of my wayfare is
attained and hereby, Inshallah! I shall win to my wish. This, if
anything, will be to him a joy for ever.” Wherefore the Prince, with
intent to buy the Flying Carpet, turned to the broker and said, “If
indeed it have properties such as thou describest, verily the price thou
askest therefor is not over much, and I am ready to pay thee the sum
required.” The other rejoined, “An thou doubt my words I pray thee put
them to the test and by such proof remove thy suspicions. Sit now upon
this square of tapestry, and at thy mere wish and will it shall
transport us to the caravanserai wherein thou abidest: on this wise
shalt thou be certified of my words being sooth, and when assured of
their truth thou mayest count out to me, there and then, but not before,
the value of my wares.” Accordingly, the man spread out the carpet upon
the ground behind his shop and seated the Prince thereupon, he sitting
by his side. Then, at the mere will[69] and wish of Prince Husayn, the
twain were at once transported as though borne by the throne of Solomon
to the Khan. So the eldest of the brothers joyed with exceeding joy to
think that he had won so rare a thing, whose like could nowhere be found
in the lands nor amongst the Kings; and his heart and soul were
gladdened for that he had come to Bishangarh and hit upon such a
prodigy. Accordingly he counted out the forty thousand Ashrafis as
payment for the carpet, and gave, moreover, another twenty thousand by
way of sweetmeat to the broker. Furthermore, he ceased not saying to
himself that the King on seeing it would forthright wed him to the
Princess Nur al-Nihar; for it were clear impossible that either of his
brothers, e’en though they searched the whole world over and over, could
find a rarity to compare with this. He longed to take seat upon the
carpet that very instant and fly to his own country, or, at least, to
await his brothers at the caravanserai where they had parted under
promise and covenant, pledged and concluded, to meet again at the year’s
end. But presently he bethought him that the delay would be long and
longsome, and much he feared lest he be tempted to take some rash step;
wherefore he resolved upon sojourning in the country whose King and
subjects he had ardently desired to behold for many a day, and
determined that he would pass the time in sight-seeing and in pleasuring
over the lands adjoining. So Prince Husayn tarried in Bishangarh some
months. Now the King of that country was wont to hold a high court once
every week for hearing disputes and adjudging causes which concerned
foreign merchants; and thus the Prince ofttimes saw the King, but to
none would he tell a word of his adventure. However, inasmuch as he was
comely of countenance, graceful of gait, and courteous of accost, stout
hearted and strong, wise and ware and witty, he was held by the folk in
higher honour than the Sultan; not to speak of the traders his fellows;
and in due time he became a favourite at court and learned of the ruler
himself all matters concerning his kingdom and his grandeur and
greatness. The Prince also visited the most famous Pagodas[70] of that
country. The first he saw was wrought in brass and orichalch of most
exquisite workmanship: its inner cell measured three yards square and
contained amiddlemost a golden image in size and stature like unto a man
of wondrous beauty; and so cunning was the workmanship that the face
seemed to fix its eyes, two immense rubies of enormous value, upon all
beholders no matter where they stood.[71] He also saw another
idol-temple, not less strange and rare than this, builded in a village
on a plain surface of some half acre long and broad, wherein bloomed
lovely rose-trees and jasmine and herb-basil and many other
sweet-scented plants, whose perfume made the air rich with fragrance.
Around its court ran a wall three feet high, so that no animal might
stray therein; and in the centre was a terrace well-nigh the height of a
man, all made of white marble and wavy alabaster, each and every slab
being dressed so deftly and joined with such nice joinery that the whole
pavement albeit covering so great a space, seemed to the sight but a
single stone. In the centre of the terrace stood the domed fane towering
some fifty cubits high and conspicuous for many miles around: its length
was thirty cubits and its breadth twenty, and the red marbles of the
revetment were clean polished as a mirror, so that every image was
reflected in it to the life. The dome was exquisitely carved and
sumptuously ornamented without; and within were ranged in due rank and
sequence rows and rows of idols. To this, the Holy of Holies, from morn
till eve thousands of Brahmins, men and women, came flocking for daily
worship. They had sports and diversions as well as rites and ceremonies:
some feasted and others danced, some sang, others played on instruments
of mirth and merriment, while here and there were plays and revels and
innocent merry-makings. And hither at every season flocked from distant
lands hosts of pilgrims seeking to fulfil their vows and to perform
their orisons; all bringing gifts of gold and silver coin and presents
rare and costly which they offered to the gods in presence of the royal
officers.——And as the morn began to dawn Shahrazad held her peace till
The end of the Six Hundred and Forty-sixth Night.
Then said she:——I have heard, O auspicious King, that Prince Husayn also
saw a fête held once a year within the city of Bishangarh, and the Ryots
all, both great and small, gathered together and circumambulated the
Pagodas; chiefly circuiting one which in size and grandeur surpassed all
others. Great and learned Pandits versed in the Shástras[72] made
journeys of four or five months and greeted one another at that
festival; thither too the folk from all parts of India pilgrimaged in
such crowds that Prince Husayn was astounded at the sight; and, by
reason of the multitudes that thronged around the temples, he could not
see the mode in which the gods were worshipped. On one side of the
adjacent plain which stretched far and wide, stood a new-made
scaffolding of ample size and great magnificence, nine storeys high, and
the lower part supported by forty pillars; and here one day in every
week the King assembled his Wazirs for the purpose of meting out justice
to all strangers in the land. The palace within was richly adorned and
furnished with costly furniture: without, upon the wall-faces were
limned homely landscapes and scenes of foreign parts and notably all
manner beasts and birds and insects even gnats and flies, portrayed with
such skill of brain and cunning of hand that they seemed real and alive
and the country-folk and villagers seeing from afar paintings of lions
and tigers and similar ravenous beasts, were filled with awe and dismay.
On the three other sides of the scaffolding were pavilions, also of
wood, built for use of the commons, illuminated and decorated inside and
outside like the first, and wroughten so cunningly that men could turn
them round, with all the people in them, and moving them about transfer
them to whatsoever quarter they willed. On such wise they shifted these
huge buildings by aid of machinery;[73] and the folk inside could look
upon a succession of sports and games. Moreover, on each side of the
square elephants were ranged in ranks, the number amounting to well-nigh
one thousand, their trunks and ears and hinder parts being painted with
cinnabar and adorned with various lively figures; their housings were of
gold brocade and their howdahs purfled with silver, carrying minstrels
who performed on various instruments, whilst buffoons delighted the
crowd with their jokes and mimes played their most diverting parts. Of
all the sports, however, which the Prince beheld, the elephant-show
amused him most and filled him with the greatest admiration. One huge
beast, which could be wheeled about where the keepers ever listed, for
that his feet rested upon a post which travelled on casters, held in his
trunk a flageolet whereon he played so sweetly well that all the people
were fain to cry Bravo! There was another but a smaller animal which
stood upon one end of a beam laid crosswise upon, and attached with
hinges to, a wooden block eight cubits high, and on the further end was
placed an iron weight as heavy as the elephant, who would press down for
some time upon the beam until the end touched the ground, and then the
weight would raise him up again.[74] Thus the beam swung like a see-saw
aloft and adown; and, as it moved, the elephant swayed to and fro and
kept time with the bands of music, loudly trumpeting the while. The
people moreover could wheel about this elephant from place to place as
he stood balanced on the beam; and such exhibitions of learned elephants
were mostly made in presence of the King. Prince Husayn spent well-nigh
a year in sight-seeing amongst the fairs and festivals of Bishangarh;
and, when the period of the fraternal compact drew near, he spread his
carpet upon the courtground behind the Khan wherein he lodged, and
sitting thereon, together with the suite and the steeds and all he had
brought with him, mentally wished that he might be transported to the
caravanserai where the three brothers had agreed to meet. No sooner had
he formed the thought than straightway, in the twinkling of an eye, the
carpet rose high in air and sped through space and carried them to the
appointed stead where, still garbed as a merchant he remained in
expectation of his brothers’ coming. Hearken now, O auspicious King, to
what befel Prince Ali, the second brother of Prince Husayn. On the third
day after he had parted from the two others, he also joined a caravan
and journeyed towards Persia; then, after a march of four months
arriving at Shiraz, the capital of Iran-land, he alighted at a Khan, he
and his fellow-travellers with whom he had made a manner of friendship;
and, passing as a jeweller, there took up his abode with them. Next day
the traders fared forth to buy wares and to sell their goods; but Prince
Ali, who had brought with him naught of vendible, and only the things he
needed, presently doffed his travelling dress, and in company with a
comrade of the caravan entered the chief Bazar, known as the
Bazistán,[75] or cloth-market. Ali strolled about the place, which was
built of brick and where all the shops had arched roofs resting on
handsome columns; and he admired greatly to behold the splendid
store-houses exposing for sale all manner goods of countless value. He
wondered much what wealth was in the town if a single market-street
contained riches such as these. And as the brokers went about crying
their goods for sale, he saw one of them hending in hand an ivory tube
in length about a cubit, which he was offering for sale at the price of
thirty thousand Ashrafis. Hearing such demand Prince Ali thought to
himself, “Assuredly this fellow is a fool who asketh such a price for so
paltry a thing.”——And as the morn began to dawn Shahrazad held her peace
till
The end of the Six Hundred and Forty-seventh Night.
Then said she:——I have heard, O auspicious King, that Prince Ali
presently asked one of the shopkeepers with whom he had made
acquaintance, saying, “O my friend, is this man a maniac that he asketh
a sum of thirty thousand Ashrafis for this little pipe of ivory? Surely
none save an idiot would give him such a price and waste upon it such a
mint of money.” Said the shopman, “O my lord, this broker is wiser and
warier than all the others of his calling, and by means of him I have
sold goods worth thousands of sequins. Until yesterday he was in his
sound senses; but I cannot say what state is his to-day and whether or
no he have lost his wits; but this wot I well, that if he ask thirty
thousand for yon ivory tube, ’twill be worth that same or even more.
Howbeit we shall see with our own eyes. Sit thee here and rest within
the shop until he pass this way.” So Prince Ali took where he was bidden
and presently the broker was seen coming up the street. Then the shopman
calling to him said, “O man, rare merit hath yon little pipe; for all
the folk are astounded to hear thee ask so high a price therefor; nay
more, this friend of mine thinketh that thou art crazy.” The broker, a
man of sense, was on no wise chafed at these words but answered with
gentle speech, “O my lord, I doubt not but that thou must deem me a
madman to ask so high a price, and set so great a value upon an article
so mean; but when I shall have made known to thee its properties and
virtues, thou wilt most readily consent to take it at that valuation.
Not thou alone but all men who have heard me cry my cry laugh and name
me ninny.” So saying, the broker showed the Spying Tube to Prince Ali
and handing it to him said, “Examine well this ivory, the properties of
which I will explain to thee. Thou seest that it is furnished with a
piece of glass at either end;[76] and, shouldst thou apply one extremity
thereof to thine eye, thou shalt see what thing soe’er thou listest and
it shall appear close by thy side though parted from thee by many an
hundred of miles.” Replied the Prince “This passeth all conception, nor
can I believe it to be veridical until I shall have tested it and I
become satisfied that ’tis even as thou sayest.” Hereupon the broker
placed the little tube in Prince Ali’s hand, and showing him the way to
handle it said, “Whatso thou mayest wish to descry will be shown to thee
by looking through this ivory.” Prince Ali silently wished to sight his
sire, and when he placed the pipe close to his eye forthwith he saw him
hale and hearty, seated on his throne and dispensing justice to the
people of his dominion. Then the youth longed with great longing to look
upon his lady-love the Princess Nur al-Nihar; and straightway he saw her
also sitting upon her bed, sound and sane, talking and laughing, whilst
a host of handmaids stood around awaiting her commands. The Prince was
astonished exceedingly to behold this strange and wondrous spectacle,
and said to himself, “An I should wander the whole world over for ten
years or more and search in its every corner and cranny, I shall never
find aught so rare and precious as this tube of ivory.” Then quoth he to
the broker, “The virtues of thy pipe I find are indeed those thou hast
described, and right willingly I give thee to its price the thirty
thousand Ashrafis.” Replied the salesman, “O my lord, my master hath
sworn an oath that he will not part with it for less than forty thousand
gold pieces.” Hereupon the Prince, understanding that the broker was a
just man and a true, weighed out to him the forty thousand sequins and
became master of the Spying Tube, enraptured with the thought that
assuredly it would satisfy his sire and obtain for him the hand of
Princess Nur al-Nihar. So with mind at ease Ali journeyed through Shiraz
and over sundry parts of Persia; and in fine, when the year was
well-nigh spent he joined a caravan and, travelling back to India,
arrived safe and sound at the appointed caravanserai whither Prince
Husayn had foregone him. There the twain tarried awaiting the third
brother’s safe return. Such, O King Shahryar, is the story of the two
brothers; and now I beseech thee incline thine ear and hearken to what
befel the youngest, to wit Prince Ahmad; for indeed his adventure is yet
more peregrine and seld-seen of all. When he had parted from his
brothers, he took the road leading to Samarkand; and, arriving there
after long travel, he also like his brothers alighted at a Khan. Next
day he fared forth to see the market-square, which folk call the
Bazistan, and he found it fairly laid out, the shops wroughten with
cunning workmanship and filled with rare stuffs and precious goods and
costly merchandise. Now as he wandered to and fro he came across a
broker who was hawking a Magical Apple and crying aloud, “Who will buy
this fruit, the price whereof be thirty-five thousand gold pieces?”
Quoth Prince Ahmad to the man, “Prithee let me see the fruit thou
holdest in hand, and explain to me what hidden virtue it possesseth that
thou art asking for it so high a value.” Quoth the other, smiling and
handing to him the apple, “Marvel not at this, O good my lord: in sooth
I am certified that when I shall have explained its properties and thou
shalt see how it advantageth all mankind, thou wilt not deem my demand
exorbitant; nay, rather thou wilt gladly give a treasure-house of gold
so thou may possess it.”——And as the morn began to dawn Shahrazad held
her peace till
The end of the Six Hundred and Forty-eighth Night.
Then said she:——I have heard, O auspicious King, that the broker said
moreover to Prince Ahmad, “Now hearken to me, O my lord, and I will tell
thee what of virtue lieth in this artificial apple. If anyone be sick of
a sickness however sore, nay more if he be ill nigh unto death, and
perchance he smell this pome, he will forthwith recover and become well
and whole of whatsoever disease he had, plague or pleurisy, fever or
other malignant distemper, as though he never had been attacked; and his
strength will return to him forthright, and after smelling this fruit he
will be free from all ailment and malady so long as life shall remain to
him.” Quoth Prince Ahmad, “How shall I be assured that what thou
speakest is truth? If the matter be even as thou sayest, then verily I
will give thee right gladly the sum thou demandest.” Quoth the broker,
“O my lord, all men who dwell in the parts about Samarkand know full
well how there once lived in this city a sage of wondrous skill who,
after many years of toil and travail, wrought this apple by mixing
medicines from herbs and minerals countless in number. All his good,
which was great, he expended upon it, and when he had perfected it he
made whole thousands of sick folk whom he directed only to smell the
fruit. But, alas! his life presently came to an end and death overtook
him suddenly ere he could save himself by the marvellous scent; and, as
he had won no wealth and left only a bereaved wife and a large family of
young children and dependants manifold, his widow had no help but
provide for them a maintenance by parting with this prodigy.” While the
salesman was telling his tale to the Prince a crowd of citizens gathered
around them and one amongst the folk, who was well known to the broker,
came forward and said, “A friend of mine lieth at home sick to the
death: the doctors and surgeons all despair of his life; so I beseech
thee let him smell this fruit that he may live.” Hearing these words,
Prince Ahmad turned to the salesman and said, “O my friend, if this sick
man of whom thou hearest can recover strength by smelling the apple,
then will I straightway buy it of thee at a valuation of forty thousand
Ashrafis.” The man had permission to sell it for a sum of thirty-five
thousand; so he was satisfied to receive five thousand by way of
brokerage, and he rejoined, “’Tis well, O my lord; now mayest thou test
the virtues of this apple and be persuaded in thy mind: hundreds of
ailing folk have I made whole by means of it.” Accordingly the Prince
accompanied the people to the sick man’s house and found him lying on
his bed with the breath in his nostrils; but, as soon as the dying man
smelt the fruit, at once recovering strength he rose in perfect health,
sane and sound. Hereupon Ahmad bought the Magical Apple of the dealer
and counted out to him the forty thousand Ashrafis. Presently, having
gained the object of his travels, he resolved to join some caravan
marching Indiawards and return to his father’s home; but meanwhile he
resolved to solace himself with the sights and marvels of Samarkand. His
especial joy was to gaze upon the glorious plain hight Soghd,[77] one of
the wonders of this world: the land on all sides was a delight to the
sight, emerald-green and bright, with crystal rills like the plains of
Paradise; the gardens bore all manner flowers and fruits and the cities
and palaces gladdened the stranger’s gaze. After some days Prince Ahmad
joined a caravan of merchants wending Indiawards; and, when his long and
longsome travel was ended, he at last reached the caravanserai where his
two brothers, Husayn and Ali, impatiently awaited his arrival. The three
rejoiced with exceeding joy to meet once more and fell on one another’s
necks; thanking Allah who had brought them back safe and sound, hale and
hearty, after such prolonged and longsome absence. Then Prince Husayn,
being the eldest, turned to them and said, “Now it behoveth us each to
recount what hath betided him and announce what rare thing he hath
brought back and what be the virtues thereof; and I, being the
first-born, will be the foremost to tell my adventures. I bring with me
from Bishangarh, a carpet, mean to look at, but such are its properties
that should any sit thereon and wish in mind to visit country or city,
he will at once be carried thither in ease and safety although it be
distant months, nay years of journey. I have paid forty thousand gold
pieces to its price; and, after seeing all the wonders of
Bishangarh-land, I took seat upon my purchase and willed myself at this
spot. Straightway I found myself here as I wished and have tarried in
this caravanserai three months awaiting your arrival. The flying carpet
is with me; so let him who listeth make trial of it.” When the senior
Prince had made an end of telling his tale, Prince Ali spake next and
said, “O my brother, this carpet which thou hast brought is marvel-rare
and hath most wondrous gifts; nor according to thy statement hath any in
all the world seen aught to compare with it.” Then bringing forth the
Spying Tube, he pursued, “Look ye here, I too have bought for forty
thousand Ashrafis somewhat whose merits I will now show forth to
you.”——And as the morn began to dawn Shahrazad held her peace till
The end of the Six Hundred and Forty-ninth Night.
Then said she:——I have heard, O auspicious King, that Prince Ali
enlarged upon the virtues of his purchase and said:—“Ye see this ivory
pipe? By means of it man may descry objects hidden from his sight and
distant from him many a mile. ’Tis truly a most wondrous matter and
right worthy your inspection, and you two may try it an ye will. Place
but an eye close to the smaller glass and form a wish in mind to see
what thing soe’er your soul desireth; and, whether it be near hand or
distant many hundreds of miles, this ivory will make the object look
clear and close to you.” At these words Prince Husayn took the pipe from
Prince Ali and, applying his eye to one end as he had been directed,
then wished in his heart to behold the Princess Nur al-Nihar;[78] and
the two brothers watched him to learn what he would say. Suddenly they
saw his face change colour and wither as a wilted flower, while in his
agitation and distress a flood of tears gushed from his eyes; and, ere
his brothers recovered from their amazement and could enquire the cause
of such strangeness, he cried aloud, “Alas! and well-away. We have
endured toil and travail, and we have travelled so far and wide hoping
to wed the Princess Nur al-Nihar. But ’tis all in vain: I saw her lying
on her bed death-sick and like to breathe her last and around her stood
her women all weeping and wailing in the sorest of sorrow. O my
brothers, an ye would see her once again for the last time, take ye one
final look through the glass ere she be no more.” Hereat Prince Ali
seized the Spying Tube and peered through it and found the condition of
the Princess even as his brother Husayn had described; so he presently
passed it over to Prince Ahmad, who also looked and was certified that
the Lady Nur al-Nihar was about to give up the ghost. So he said to his
elder brothers, “We three are alike love-distraught for the Princess and
the dearest wish of each one is to win her. Her life is on the ebb,
still I can save her and make her whole if we hasten to her without stay
or delay.” So saying he pulled from his pocket the Magical Apple and
showed it to them crying, “This thing is not less in value than either
the Flying Carpet or the Spying Tube. In Samarkand I bought it for forty
thousand gold pieces and here is the best opportunity to try its
virtues. The folk told me that if a sick man hold it to his nose,
although on the point of death, he will wax at once well and hale again:
I have myself tested it, and now ye shall see for yourselves its
marvel-cure when I shall apply it to the case of Nur al-Nihar. Only, let
us seek her presence ere she die.” Quoth Prince Husayn, “This were an
easy matter: my carpet shall carry us in the twinkling of an eye
straight to the bedside of our beloved. Do ye without hesitation sit
down with me thereupon, for there is room sufficient to accommodate us
three; we shall instantly be carried thither and our servants can follow
us.” Accordingly, the three Princes disposed themselves upon the Flying
Carpet and each willed in his mind to reach the bedside of Nur al-Nihar,
when instantly they found themselves within her apartment. The handmaids
and eunuchs in waiting were terrified at the sight and marvelled how
these stranger men could have entered the chamber; and, as the Castratos
were fain fall upon them, brand in hand, they recognised the Princes and
drew back still in wonderment at their intrusion. Then the brothers rose
forthright from the Flying Carpet and Prince Ahmad came forwards and put
the Magical Apple to the nostrils of the lady, who lay stretched on the
couch in unconscious state; and as the scent reached her brain the
sickness left her and the cure was complete. She opened wide her eyes
and sitting erect upon her bed looked all around and chiefly at the
Princes as they stood before her; for she felt that she had waxed hale
and hearty and as though she awoke after the sweetest of slumber.
Presently she rose from her couch and bade her tire-women dress her the
while they related to her the sudden coming of the three Princes, her
uncle’s sons, and how Prince Ahmad had made her smell something whereby
she had recovered of her illness. And after she had made the Ablution of
Health she joyed with exceeding joy to see the Princes and returned
thanks to them, but chiefly to Prince Ahmad in that he had restored her
to health and life.——And as the morn began to dawn Shahrazad held her
peace till
The end of the Six Hundred and Fiftieth Night.
Then she said:——I have heard, O auspicious King, that the brothers also
were gladdened with exceeding gladness to see the Princess Nur al-Nihar
recover so suddenly from mortal malady; and, presently taking leave of
her, they fared to greet their father. Meanwhile the Eunuchs had
reported the whole matter to the Sultan, and when the Princes came
before him he rose and embraced them tenderly and kissed them on their
foreheads, filled with satisfaction to see them again and to hear from
them the welfare of the Princess, who was dear to him as she had been
his daughter. Then the three brothers produced each one the wondrous
thing he had brought from his wayfare; and Prince Husayn first showed
the Flying Carpet which in the twinkling of an eye had transported them
home from far distant exile and said, “For outward show this carpet hath
no merit, but inasmuch as it possesseth such wondrous virtue, methinks
’tis impossible to find in all the world aught that can compare to it
for rarity.” Next, Prince Ali presented to the King his Spying Tube and
said, “The mirror of Jamshíd[79] is as vain and naught beside this pipe,
by means whereof all things from East to West and from North to South
are made clearly visible to the ken of man.” Last of all, Prince Ahmad
produced the Magical Apple which wondrously saved the dear life of Nur
al-Nihar and said, “By means of this fruit all maladies and grievous
distempers are at once made whole.” Thus each presented his rarity to
the Sultan, saying, “O our lord, deign examine well these gifts we have
brought and do thou pronounce which of them all is most excellent and
admirable; so, according to thy promise, he amongst us on whom thy
choice may fall shall marry the Princess Nur al-Nihar.” When the King
had patiently listened to their several claims and had understood how
each gift took part in restoring health to his niece, for a while he
dove deep in the sea of thought and then answered, “Should I award the
palm of merit to Prince Ahmad, whose Magical Apple cured the Princess,
then should I deal unfairly by the other two. Albeit his rarity restored
her to life and health from mortal illness, yet say me how had he known
of her condition save by the virtue of Prince Ali’s Spying Tube? In like
manner, but for the Flying Carpet of Prince Husayn, which brought you
three hither in a moment’s space, the Magical Apple would have been of
no avail. Wherefore ’tis my rede all three had like part and can claim
equal merit in healing her; for it were impossible to have made her
whole if any one thing of the three were wanting; furthermore all three
objects are wondrous and marvellous without one surpassing other, nor
can I, with aught of reason, assign preference or precedence to any. My
promise was to marry the Lady Nur al-Nihar to him who should produce the
rarest of rarities, but although strange ’tis not less true that all are
alike in the one essential condition. The difficulty still remaineth and
the question is yet unsolved, whilst I fain would have the matter
settled ere the close of day, and without prejudice to any. So needs
must I fix upon some plan whereby I may be able to adjudge one of you to
be the winner, and bestow upon him the hand of Princess Nur al-Nihar,
according to my plighted word; and thus absolve myself from all
responsibility. Now I have resolved upon this course of action; to wit,
that ye should mount each one his own steed and all of you be provided
with bow and arrows; then do ye ride forth to the Maydán—the
hippodrome—whither I and my Ministers of State and Grandees of the
kingdom and Lords of the land will follow you. There in my presence ye
shall each, turn by turn, shoot a shaft with all your might and main;
and he amongst you whose arrow shall fly the farthest will be adjudged
by me worthiest to win the Princess Nur al-Nihar to wife.” Accordingly
the three Princes, who could not gainsay the decision of their sire nor
question its wisdom and justice, backed their coursers, and each taking
his bow and arrows made straight for the place appointed. The King also,
when he had stored the presents in the royal treasury, arrived there
with his Wazirs and the dignitaries of his realm; and as soon as all was
ready, the eldest son and heir, Prince Husayn, essayed his strength and
skill and shot a shaft far along the level plain. After him Prince Ali
hent his bow in hand and, discharging an arrow in like direction,
overshot the first; and lastly came Prince Ahmad’s turn. He too aimed at
the same end, but such was the decree of Destiny, that although the
knights and courtiers urged on their horses to note where his shaft
might strike ground, withal they saw no trace thereof and none of them
knew if it had sunk into the bowels of earth or had flown up to the
confines of the sky. Some, indeed, there were who with evil mind held
that Prince Ahmad had not shot any bolt, and that his arrow had never
left his bow. So at last the King bade no more search be made for it and
declared himself in favour of Prince Ali and adjudged that he should wed
the Princess Nur al-Nihar, forasmuch as his arrow had outsped that of
Prince Husayn. Accordingly, in due course the marriage rites and
ceremonies were performed after the law and ritual of the land with
exceeding pomp and grandeur. But Prince Husayn would not be present at
the bride-feast by reason of his disappointment and jealousy, for he had
loved the Lady Nur al-Nihar with a love far exceeding that of either of
his brothers; and he doffed his princely dress and donning the garb of a
Fakir fared forth to live a hermit’s life. Prince Ahmad also burned with
envy and refused to join the wedding-feast: he did not, however, like
Prince Husayn, retire to a hermitage, but he spent all his days in
searching for his shaft to find where it had fallen. Now it so fortuned
that one morning he went again, alone as was his wont, in quest thereof,
and starting from the stead whence they had shot their shafts reached
the place where the arrows of Princes Husayn and Ali had been found.
Then going straight forwards he cast his glances on every side over hill
and dale to his right and to his left——And as the morn began to dawn
Shahrazad held her peace till
The end of the Six Hundred and Fifty-first Night.
Then said she:——I have heard, O auspicious King, that Prince Ahmad went
searching for his shaft over hill and dale when, after covering some
three parasangs, suddenly he espied it lying flat upon a rock.[80]
Hereat he marvelled greatly, wondering how the arrow had flown so far,
but even more so when he went up to it and saw that it had not stuck in
the ground but appeared to have rebounded and to have fallen flat upon a
slab of stone. Quoth he to himself, “There must assuredly be some
mystery in this matter: else how could anyone shoot a shaft to such a
distance and find it fallen after so strange a fashion.” Then, threading
his way amongst the pointed crags and huge boulders, he presently came
to a hollow in the ground which ended in a subterraneous passage, and
after pacing a few paces he espied an iron door. He pushed this open
with all ease, for that it had no bolt, and entering, arrow in hand, he
came upon an easy slope by which he descended. But whereas he feared to
find all pitch-dark, he discovered at some distance a spacious square, a
widening of the cave, which was lighted on every side with lamps and
candelabra. Then advancing some fifty cubits or more his glance fell
upon a vast and handsome palace, and presently there issued from within
to the portico a lovely maiden lovesome and lovable, a fairy-form robed
in princely robes and adorned from front to foot with the costliest of
jewels. She walked with slow and stately gait, withal graceful and
blandishing, whilst around her ranged her attendants like the stars
about a moon of the fourteenth night. Seeing this vision of beauty,
Prince Ahmad hastened to salute her with the salam and she returned it;
then coming forwards greeted him graciously and said in sweetest
accents, “Well come and welcome, O Prince Ahmad: I am pleased to have
sight of thee. How fareth it with thy Highness and why hast thou tarried
so long away from me?” The King’s son marvelled greatly to hear her name
him by his name; for that he knew not who she was, as they had never
seen each other aforetime—how then came she to have learnt his title and
condition? Then kissing ground before her he said, “O my lady, I owe
thee much of thanks and gratitude for that thou art pleased to welcome
me with words of cheer in this strange place where I, alone and a
stranger, durst enter with exceeding hesitation and trepidation. But it
perplexeth me sorely to think how thou camest to learn the name of thy
slave.” Quoth she with a smile, “O my lord, come hither and let us sit
at ease within yon belvedere; and there I will give an answer to thine
asking.” So they went thither, Prince Ahmad following her footsteps; and
on reaching it he was filled with wonder to see its vaulted roof of
exquisite workmanship and adorned with gold and lapis lazuli[81] and
paintings and ornaments, whose like was nowhere to be found in the
world. The lady seeing his astonishment said to the Prince, “This
mansion is nothing beside all my others which now, of my free will, I
have made thine own; and when thou seest them thou shalt have just cause
for wonderment.” Then that sylph-like being took seat upon a raised daïs
and with abundant show of affection seated Prince Ahmad by her side.
Presently quoth she, “Albeit thou know me not, I know thee well, as thou
shalt see with surprise when I shall tell thee all my tale. But first it
behoveth me disclose to thee who I am. In Holy Writ belike thou hast
read that this world is the dwelling-place not only of men, but also of
a race hight the Jánn in form likest to mortals. I am the only daughter
of a Jinn chief of noblest strain and my name is Perí Bánú. So marvel
not to hear me tell thee who thou art and who is the King thy sire and
who is Nur al-Nihar, the daughter of thine uncle. I have full knowledge
of all concerning thyself and thy kith and kin; how thou art one of
three brothers who all and each were daft for love of Princess Nur
al-Nihar and strave to win her from one another to wife. Furthermore thy
sire deemed it best to send you all far and wide over foreign lands, and
thou faredest to far Samarkand and broughtest back a Magical Apple made
with rare art and mystery which thou boughtest for forty thousand
Ashrafis; then by means whereof thou madest the Princess thy lady-love
whole of a grievous malady, whilst Prince Husayn, thine elder brother,
bought for the same sum of money a Flying Carpet at Bishangarh, and
Prince Ali also brought home a Spying Tube from Shiraz-city. Let this
suffice to show thee that naught is hidden from me of all thy case; and
now do thou tell me in very truth whom dost thou admire the more, for
beauty and loveliness, me or the lady Nur al-Nihar thy brother’s wife?
My heart longeth for thee with excessive longing and desireth that we
may be married and enjoy the pleasures of life and the joyance of love.
So say me, art thou also willing to wed me, or pinest thou in preference
for the daughter of thine uncle? In the fulness of my affection for thee
I stood by thy side unseen during the archery-meeting upon the plain of
trial, and when thou shottest thy shaft I knew that it would fall far
short of Prince Ali’s[82], so I hent it in hand ere it touched ground
and carried it away from sight, and striking it upon the iron door
caused it rebound and lie flat upon the rock where thou didst find it.
And ever since that day I have been sitting in expectancy, wotting well
that thou wouldst search for it until thou find it, and by such means I
was certified of bringing thee hither to me.” Thus spake the beautiful
maiden Peri-Banu who with eyes fall of love-longing looked up at Prince
Ahmad; and then with modest shame bent low her brow and averted her
glance.——And as the morn began to dawn Shahrazad held her peace till
The end of the Six Hundred and Fifty-second Night.
Then said she:——I have heard, O auspicious King, that when Prince Ahmad
heard these words of Peri-Banu he rejoiced with joy exceeding, and said
to himself; “The Princess Nur al-Nihar is not within my power to win,
and Peri-Banu doth outvie her in comeliness of favour and in loveliness
of form and in gracefulness of gait.” In short so charmed was he and
captivated that he clean forgot his love for his cousin; and, noting
that the heart of his new enchantress inclined towards him, he replied,
“O my lady, O fairest of the fair, naught else do I desire save that I
may serve thee and do thy bidding all my life long. But I am of human
and thou of non-human birth. Thy friends and family, kith and kin, will
haply be displeased with thee an thou unite with me in such union.” But
she made answer, “I have full sanction of my parents to marry as I list
and whomsoever I may prefer. Thou sayest that thou wilt be my servant,
nay, rather be thou my lord and master; for I myself and my life and all
my good are very thine, and I shall ever be thy bondswoman. Consent now,
I beseech thee, to accept me for thy wife: my heart doth tell me thou
wilt not refuse my request.” Then Peri-Banu added, “I have told thee
already that in this matter I act with fullest authority. Besides all
this there is a custom and immemorial usage with us fairy-folk that,
when we maidens come to marriageable age and years of understanding,
each one may wed, according the dictates of her heart, the person that
pleaseth her most and whom she judgeth likely to make her days happy.
Thus wife and husband live with each other all their lives in harmony
and happiness. But if a girl be given away in marriage by the parents,
according to their choice and not hers, and she be mated to a helpmate
unmeet for her, because ill-shapen or ill-conditioned or unfit to win
her affection, then are they twain likely to be at variance each with
other for the rest of their days; and endless troubles result to them
from such ill-sorted union. Nor are we bound by another law which
bindeth modest virgins of the race of Adam; for we freely announce our
preference to those we love, nor must we wait and pine to be wooed and
won.” When Prince Ahmad heard these words of answer, he rejoiced with
exceeding joy and stooping down essayed to kiss the skirt of her
garment, but she prevented him, and in lieu of her hem gave him her
hand. The Prince clasped it with rapture and according to the custom of
that place, he kissed it and placed it to his breast and upon his eyes.
Hereat quoth the Fairy, smiling a charming smile, “With my hand locked
in thine plight me thy troth even as I pledge my faith to thee, that I
will alway true and loyal be, nor ever prove faithless or fail of
constancy.” And quoth the Prince, “O loveliest of beings, O dearling of
my soul, thinkest thou that I can ever become a traitor to my own heart,
I who love thee to distraction and dedicate to thee my body and my
sprite; to thee who art my queen, the very empress of me? Freely I give
myself to thee, do thou with me whatso thou wilt.” Hereupon Peri-Banu
said to Prince Ahmad, “Thou art my husband and I am thy wife.[83] This
solemn promise made between thee and me standeth in stead of
marriage-contract: no need have we of Kazi, for with us all other forms
and ceremonies are superfluous and of no avail. Anon I will show thee
the chamber where we shall pass the bride-night; and methinks thou wilt
admire it and confess that there is none like thereto in the whole world
of men.” Presently her handmaidens spread the table and served up dishes
of various kinds, and the finest wines in flagons and goblets of gold
dubbed with jewels. So they twain sat at meat and ate and drank their
sufficiency. Then Peri-Banu took Prince Ahmad by the hand and led him to
her private chamber wherein she slept; and he stood upon the threshold
amazed to see its magnificence and the heaps of gems and precious stones
which dazed his sight, till recovering himself he cried, “Methinks there
is not in the universe a room so splendid and decked with costly
furniture and gemmed articles such as this.” Quoth Peri-Banu, “An thou
so admire and praise this palace what wilt thou say when sighting the
mansions and castles of my sire the Jann-King? Haply too when thou shalt
behold my garden thou wilt be filled with wonder and delight; but now
’tis over late to lead thee thither and night approacheth.” Then she
ushered Prince Ahmad into another room where the supper had been spread,
and the splendour of this saloon yielded in naught to any of the others;
nay, rather it was the more gorgeous and dazzling. Hundreds of wax
candles set in candelabra of the finest amber[84] and the purest
crystal, ranged on all sides, rained floods of light, whilst golden
flowerpots and vessels of finest workmanship and priceless worth, of
lovely shapes and wondrous art, adorned the niches and the walls.——And
as the morn began to dawn Shahrazad held her peace till
The end of the Six Hundred and Fifty-third Night.
Then said she:——I have heard, O auspicious King, that tongue of man can
never describe the magnificence of that room in which bands of virgin
Peris, loveliest of forms and fairest of features, garbed in choicest
garments played on sweet-toned instruments of mirth and merriment or
sang lays of amorous significance to strains of heart-bewitching music.
Then they twain, to wit the bride and bridegroom sat down at meat, ever
and anon delaying to indulge in toyings and bashful love-play and chaste
caresses. Peri-Banu with her own hands passed the choicest mouthfuls to
Prince Ahmad and made him taste of each dish and dainty, telling him
their names and whereof they were composed. But how shall I, O
auspicious King Shahryar, avail to give thee any notion of those
Jinn-made dishes or to describe with due meed of praise the delicious
flavour of meats such as no mortal ever tasted or ever beheld? Then,
when both had supped, they drank the choicest wines, and ate with relish
sweet conserves and dry fruits and a dessert of various delicacies. At
length, when they had their requirement of eating and drinking, they
retired into another room which contained a raised daïs of the grandest,
bedecked with gold-purfled cushions and pillows wrought with seed-pearl
and Achæmenian tapestries, whereupon they took seat side by side for
converse and solace. Then came in a troop of Jinns and fairies who
danced and sang before them with wondrous grace and art; and this pretty
show pleased Peri-Banu and Prince Ahmad, who watched the sports and
displays with ever-renewed delight. At last the newly wedded couple rose
and retired, weary of revelry, to another chamber, wherein they found
that the slaves had dispread the genial bed, whose frame was gold
studded with jewels and whose furniture was of satin and sendal flowered
with the rarest embroidery. Here the guests who attended at the marriage
festival and the handmaids of the palace, ranged in two lines, hailed
the bride and bridegroom as they went within; and then, craving
dismissal, they all departed leaving them to take their joyance in bed.
On such wise the marriage-festival and nuptial merry-makings were kept
up day after day, with new dishes and novel sports, novel dances and new
music; and, had Prince Ahmad lived a thousand years with mortal kind,
never could he have seen such revels or heard such strains or enjoyed
such love-liesse. Thus six months soon passed in the Fairyland beside
Peri-Banu, whom he loved with a love so fond that he would not lose her
from his sight for a moment’s space; but would feel restless and
ill-at-ease whenas he ceased to look upon her. In like manner Peri-Banu
was fulfilled with affection for him and strove to please her bridegroom
more and more every moment by new arts of dalliance and fresh appliances
of pleasure, until so absorbing waxed his passion for her that the
thought of home and kindred, kith and kin, faded from his thoughts and
fled his mind. But after a time his memory awoke from slumber and at
times he found himself longing to look upon his father, albeit well did
he wot that it were impossible to find out how the far one fared unless
he went himself to visit him. So one day quoth he to Peri-Banu, “An it
be thy pleasure, I pray thee give me thy command that I may leave thee
for a few days to see my sire, who doubtless grieveth at my long absence
and suffereth all the sorrows of separation from his son.” Peri-Banu,
hearing these words was dismayed with sore dismay, for that she thought
within herself that this was only an excuse whereby he might escape and
leave her after enjoyment and possession had made her love pall upon the
palate of his mind. So quoth she in reply, “Hast thou forgotten thy vows
and thy plighted troth, that thou wishest to leave me now? Have love and
longing ceased to stir thee, whilst my heart always throbbeth in
raptures as it hath ever done at the very thought of thee?” Replied the
Prince, “O dearling of my soul, my queen, my empress, what be these
doubts that haunt thy mind, and why such sad misgivings and sorrowful
words? I know full well that the love of thee and thine affection
me-wards are even as thou sayest; and did I not acknowledge this truth
or did I prove unthankful or fail to regard thee with a passion as warm
and deep, as tender and as true as thine own, I were indeed an ingrate
and a traitor of the darkest dye. Far be it from me to desire severance
from thee nor hath any thought of leaving thee never to return at any
time crossed my mind. But my father is now an old man well shotten in
years and he is sore grieved in mind at this long separation from his
youngest son. If thou wilt deign command, I would fain go visit him and
with all haste return to thine arms; yet I would not do aught in this
matter against thy will; and such is my fond affection for thee that I
would fain be at all hours of the day and watches of the night by thy
side nor leave thee for a moment of time.” Peri-Banu was somewhat
comforted by this speech; and from his looks, words and acts she was
certified that Prince Ahmad really loved her with fondest love and that
his heart was true as steel to her as was his tongue. Whereupon she
granted him leave and liberty to set forth and see his sire, whilst at
the same time she gave him strict commandment not to tarry long with his
kith and kin. Hearken now, O auspicious King Shahryar, to what befel the
Sultan of Hindostan and how it fared with him after the marriage of
Prince Ali to Princess Nur al-Nihar.——And as the morn began to dawn
Shahrazad held her peace till
The end of the Six Hundred and Fifty-fourth Night.
Then said she:——I have heard, O auspicious King, that not seeing Prince
Husayn and Prince Ahmad for the space of many days the Sultan waxed
exceeding sad and heavy-hearted, and one morning after Darbár,[85] asked
his Wazirs and Ministers what had betided them and where they were.
Hereto the councillors made answer saying, “O our lord, and shadow of
Allah upon earth, thine eldest son and fruit of thy vitals and heir
apparent to thine Empire the Prince Husayn, in his disappointment and
jealousy and bitter grief hath doffed his royal robes to become a
hermit, a devotee, renouncing all worldly lusts and gusts. Prince Ahmad
thy third son also in high dudgeon hath left the city; and of him none
knoweth aught, whither he hath fled or what hath befallen him.” The King
was sore distressed and bade them write without stay or delay and
forthright despatch firmans and commands to all the Nabobs and Governors
of the provinces, with strict injunctions to make straight search for
Prince Ahmad and to send him to his sire the moment he was found. But,
albeit the commandments were carried out to the letter and all the
seekers used the greatest diligence none came upon any trace of him.
Then, with increased sadness of heart, the Sultan ordered his Grand
Wazir to go in quest of the fugitive and the Minister replied, “Upon my
head be it and mine eyes! Thy servant hath already caused most careful
research to be made in every quarter, but not the smallest clue hath yet
come to hand: and this matter troubleth me the more for that he was dear
to me as a son.” The Ministers and Grandees now understood that the King
was overwhelmed with woe, tearful-eyed and heavy-hearted by reason of
the loss of Prince Ahmad; whereupon bethought the Grand Wazir of a
certain witch famed for the Black Art who could conjure down the stars
from heaven; and who was a noted dweller in the capital. So going to the
Sultan he spake highly of her skill in knowledge of the abstruse,[86]
saying “Let the King, I pray thee, send for this sorceress and enquire
of her concerning his lost son.” And the King replied, “’Tis well said:
let her be brought hither and haply she shall give me tidings of the
Prince and how he fareth.” So they fetched the Sorceress and set her
before the Sultan, who said, “O my good woman, I would have thee know
that ever since the marriage of Prince Ali with the Lady Nur al-Nihar,
my youngest son Prince Ahmad,[87] who was disappointed in her love, hath
disappeared from our sight and no man knoweth aught of him. Do thou
forthright apply thy magical craft and tell me only this:—Is he yet
alive or is he dead? An he live I would learn where is he and how fareth
he; moreover, I would ask, Is it written in my book of Destiny that I
shall see him yet again?” To this the Witch made reply, “O Lord of the
Age and ruler of the times and tide, ’tis not possible for me at once to
answer all these questions which belong to the knowledge of Hidden
Things; but, if thy Highness deign grant me one day of grace, I will
consult my books of gramarye and on the morrow will give thee a
sufficient reply and a satisfactory.” The Sultan to this assented,
saying, “An thou can give me detailed and adequate answer, and set my
mind at ease after this sorrow, thou shalt have an exceeding great
reward and I will honour thee with highmost honour.” Next day the
Sorceress, accompanied by the Grand Wazir, craved permission to appear
before the presence, and when it was granted came forward and said, “I
have made ample investigation by my art and mystery and I have assured
myself that Prince Ahmad is yet in the land of the living. Be not
therefore uneasy in thy mind on his account; but at present, save this
only, naught else can I discover regarding him, nor can I say for sure
where he be or how he is to be found.” At these words the Sultan took
comfort, and hope sprang up within his breast that he should see his son
again ere he died. Now return we to the story of Prince Ahmad. Whenas
Peri-Banu understood that he was bent upon visiting his sire and she was
convinced that his love her-wards remained firm and steadfast as before,
she took thought and determined that it would ill become her to refuse
him leave and liberty for such purpose; so she again pondered the matter
in her mind and debated with herself for many an hour till at length,
one day of the days, she turned to her husband and said, “Albeit my
heart consenteth not to part from thee for a moment or to lose sight of
thee for a single instant, still inasmuch as thou hast ofttimes made
entreaty of me and hast shown thyself so solicitous to see thy sire, I
will no longer baffle thy wish. But this my favour will depend upon one
condition; otherwise I will never grant thy petition and give thee such
permission. Swear to me the most binding of oaths that thou wilt haste
thee back hither with all possible speed, and thou wilt not by long
absence cause me yearning grief and anxious waiting for thy safe return
to me.” Prince Ahmad, well pleased to win his wish, thanked her saying,
“O my beloved, fear not for me after any fashion and rest assured I will
come back to thee with all haste as soon as I shall have seen my sire;
and life hath no charms for me away from thy presence. Although I must
needs be severed from thee for a few days, yet will my heart ever turn
to thee and to thee only.” These words of Prince Ahmad gladdened the
heart of Peri-Banu and drove away the darksome doubts and mysterious
misgivings which ever haunted her nightly dreams and her daily
musings.——And as the morn began to dawn Shahrazad held her peace till
The end of the Six Hundred and Fifty-fifth Night.