THE TWO SISTERS WHO ENVIED THEIR CADETTE.[98]

In days of yore and in times long gone before there lived a King of

Persia, Khusrau Sháh hight, renowned for justice and righteousness. His

father, dying at a good old age, had left him sole heir to all the realm

and, under his rule, the tiger and the kid drank side by side at the

same Ghát[99]; and his treasury was ever full and his troops and guards

were numberless. Now it was his wont to don disguise and, attended by a

trusty Wazir, to wander about the street at night-time. Whereby things

seld-seen and haps peregrine became known to him, the which, should I

tell thee all thereof, O auspicious King, would weary thee beyond

measure. So he took seat upon the throne of his forbears and when the

appointed days of mourning were ended, according to the custom of that

country, he caused his exalted name, that is Khusrau Shah, be struck

upon all the coins of the kingdom and entered into the formula of public

prayer.[100] And when stablished in his sovranty he went forth as

aforetime on one evening accompanied by his Grand Wazir, both in

merchant’s habit, walking the streets and squares, the markets and

lanes, the better to note what might take place both of good and of bad.

By chance they passed, as the night darkened, through a quarter where

dwelt people of the poorer class; and, as they walked on, the Shah heard

inside a house women talking with loud voices; then going near, he

peeped in by the door-chink, and saw three fair sisters who having

supped together were seated on a divan talking one to other. The King

thereupon applied his ear to the crack and listened eagerly to what they

said, and heard each and every declaring what was the thing she most

desired.[101] Quoth the eldest, “I would I were married to the Shah’s

head Baker for then should I ever have bread to eat, the whitest and

choicest in the city, and your hearts would be fulfilled with envy and

jealousy and malice at my good luck.” Quoth the second, “I would rather

wive with the Shah’s chief Kitchener and eat of dainty dishes that are

placed before his Highness, wherewith the royal bread which is common

throughout the Palace cannot compare for gust and flavour.” And quoth

the third and youngest of the three, and by far the most beautiful and

lovely of them all, a maiden of charming nature, full of wit and humour;

sharp-witted, wary and wise, when her turn came to tell her wish, “O

sisters, my ambition is not as ordinary as yours. I care not for fine

bread nor glutton-like do I long for dainty dishes. I look to somewhat

nobler and higher: indeed I would desire nothing less than to be married

by the King and become the mother of a beautiful Prince, a model of form

and in mind as masterful as valorous. His hair should be golden on one

side and silvern on the other: when weeping he should drop pearls in

place of tears, and when laughing his rosy lips should be fresh as the

blossom new-blown.” The Shah was amazed with exceeding amazement to hear

the wishes of the three sisters, but chiefly of the youngest and

determined in himself that he would gratify them all. Wherefore quoth he

to the Grand Wazir, “Mark well this house and on the morrow bring before

me these maidens whom we heard discoursing;” and quoth the Wazir, “O

Asylum of the Universe, I hear but to obey.” Thereupon the twain walked

back to the palace and laid them down to rest. When morning morrowed,

the Minister went for the sisters and brought them to the King, who,

after greeting them and heartening their hearts, said to them in kindly

tone, “O ye maidens of weal, last night what was it that in merry word

and jest ye spake one to other? Take heed ye tell the Shah every whit in

full detail, for all must become known to us; something have we heard,

but now the King would have ye recount your discourse to his royal

ears.”——And as the morn began to dawn Shahrazad held her peace till

The end of the Six Hundred and Sixty-eighth Night.

Then said she:——I have heard, O auspicious King, that at these words of

the Shah the sisters, confused and filled with shame, durst not reply

but stood before him silent with heads bent low; and despite all

questioning and encouragement they could not pluck up courage. However,

the youngest was of passing comeliness in form and feature and forthwith

the Shah became desperately enamoured of her; and of his love began

reassuring them and saying, “O ye Princesses of fair ones, be not afraid

nor troubled in thought; nor let bashfulness or shyness prevent you

telling the Shah what three wishes you wished, for fain would he fulfil

them all.” Thereat they threw themselves at his feet and, craving his

pardon for their boldness and freedom of speech, told him the whole

talk, each one repeating the wish she had wished; and on that very day

Khusrau Shah married the eldest sister to his chief Baker, and the

second sister to his head Cook, and bade make all things ready for his

own wedding with the youngest sister. So when the preparations for the

royal nuptials had been made after costliest fashion, the King’s

marriage was celebrated with royal pomp and pageantry, and the bride

received the titles of Light of the Harem and Bánú of Irán-land. The

other two maidens were likewise married, one to the King’s Baker the

other to his Cook, after a manner according to their several degrees in

life and with little show of grandeur and circumstance. Now it had been

only right and reasonable that these twain having won each her own wish,

should have passed their time in solace and happiness, but the decree of

Destiny doomed otherwise; and, as soon as they saw the grand estate

whereto their youngest sister had risen, and the magnificence of her

marriage-festival, their hearts were fired with envy and jealousy and

sore despite and they resolved upon giving the rein to their hatred and

malignancy and to work her some foul mischief. On this wise they

remained for many months consumed with rancour, day and night; and they

burned with grief and anger whenever they sighted aught of her superior

style and state. One morning as the two met at the Hammám and found

privacy and opportunity, quoth the eldest sister to the second, “A

grievous thing it is indeed that she, our youngest sister, no lovelier

than ourselves, should thus be raised to the dignity and majesty of

Queendom and indeed the thought is overhard to bear.” Quoth the other,

“O sister mine, I also am perplexed and displeased at this thing, and I

know not what of merit the Shah could have seen in her that he was

tempted to choose her for his consort. She ill befitteth that high

estate with that face like a monkey’s favour; and, save her youth, I

know nothing that could commend her to his Highness that he should so

exalt her above her fellows. To my mind thou and not she art fit to

share the royal bed; and I nurse a grudge against the King for that he

hath made this jade his Queen.” And the eldest sister rejoined, “I

likewise marvel beyond all measure; and I swear that thy youth and

beauty, thy well-shaped figure and lovely favour and goodliness of gifts

past challenge or compare, might well have sufficed to win the King and

have tempted him to wed and bed with thee and make thee his crowned

Queen and Sovran Lady in lieu of taking to his arms this paltry

strumpet. Indeed he hath shown no sense of what is right and just in

leaving thee disappointed; and on this account only the matter troubleth

me with exceeding trouble.”——And as the morn began to dawn Shahrazad

held her peace till

The end of the Six Hundred and Sixty-ninth Night.

Then said she:——I have heard, O auspicious King, that the two sisters

took counsel each with other how they might abase their youngest sister

in the Shah’s sight and cause her downfall and utter ruin. Day and night

they conned over the matter in their minds and spoke at great length

about it when they ever met together, and pondered endless plans to

injure the Queen their sister, and if possible bring about her death;

but they could fix upon none. And, whilst they bore this despite and

hatred towards her and diligently and deliberately sought the means of

gratifying their bitter envy, hatred and malice, she on the other hand

regarded them with the same favour and affection as she had done before

marriage and thought only how to advantage their low estate. Now when

some months of her wedded life had passed, the fair Queen was found to

be with child whereof the glad tidings filled the Shah with joy; and

straightway he commanded all the people of the capital and throughout

the whole Empire keep holiday with feasts and dancing and every manner

jollity as became so rare and important an occasion. But as soon as the

news came to the ears of the two Envious Sisters they were constrained

perforce to offer their congratulations to the Queen; and, after a long

visit, as the twain were about to crave dismissal they said, “Thanks be

to Almighty Allah, O our sister, who hath shown us this happy day. One

boon have we to ask of thee: to wit, that when the time shall come for

thee to be delivered of a child, we may assist as midwives at thy

confinement, and be with thee and nurse thee for the space of forty

days.” The Queen in her gladness made reply, “O sisters mine, I fain

would have it so; for at a time of such need I know of none on whom to

rely with such dependence as upon you. During my coming trial your

presence with me will be most welcome and opportune; but I can do only

what thing the Shah biddeth nor can I do aught save by his leave. My

advice is thus:—Make known this matter to your mates who have always

access to the royal presence, and let them personally apply for your

attendance as midwives; I doubt not but that the Shah will give you

leave to assist me and remain by my side, considering the fond

relationship between us three.” Then the two sisters returned home full

of evil thoughts and malice, and told their wishes to their husbands

who, in turn, bespake Khusrau Shah, and proffered their petition with

all humility, little knowing what was hidden from them in the Secret

Purpose. The King replied, “When I shall have thought the matter over in

my mind, I will give you suitable orders.” So saying he privately

visited the Queen and to her said, “O my lady, an it please thee,

methinks ’twould be well to summon thy sisters and secure their aidance,

when thou shalt be labouring of child, in lieu of any stranger: and if

thou be of the same mind as myself let me at once learn and take steps

to obtain their consent and concert ere thy time arriveth. They will

wait on thee with more loving care than any hired nurse and thou wilt

find thyself the safer in their hands.” Replied the Queen, “O my lord

the Shah, I also venture to think that ’twould be well to have my

sisters by my side and not mere aliens at such an hour.” Accordingly he

sent word to them and from that day they dwelt within the palace to make

all ready for the expected confinement; and on this wise they found

means to carry out their despiteful plot which during so many days they

had devised to scanty purpose. When her full tale of months had been

told, the Banu was brought to bed of a man-child marvellous in beauty,

whereat the fire of envy and hatred was kindled with redoubled fury in

the sisters’ breasts. So they again took counsel nor suffered ruth or

natural affection to move their cruel hearts; and presently, with great

care and secrecy, they wrapped the new-born in a bit of blanket and

putting him into a basket cast him into a canal which flowed hard by the

Queen’s apartment.[102] They then placed a dead puppy in the place of

the prince and showed it to the other midwives and nurses, averring that

the Queen had given birth to such abortion. When these untoward tidings

reached the King’s ears he was sore discomforted and waxed wroth with

exceeding wrath.——And as the morn began to dawn Shahrazad held her peace

till

The end of the Six Hundred and Seventieth Night.

Then said she:——I have heard, O auspicious King, that the King, inflamed

with sudden fierceness, drew his sword and would have slain his Queen

had not the Grand Wazir, who happened to be in his presence at the time,

restrained his rage and diverted him from his unjust design and

barbarous purpose. Quoth he, “O Shadow of Allah upon earth, this mishap

is ordained of the Almighty Lord whose will no man hath power to

gainsay. The Queen is guiltless of offence against thee, for what is

born of her is born without her choice, and she indeed hath no hand

therein.” With this and other sage counsels he dissuaded his lord from

carrying out his fell purpose and saved the guiltless Queen from a

sudden and cruel death. Meanwhile the basket wherein lay the newly-born

Prince was carried by the current into a rivulet which flowed through

the royal gardens; and, as the Intendant of the pleasure grounds and

pleasaunces chanced to walk along the bank, by the decree of Destiny he

caught sight of the basket floating by, and he called a gardener,

bidding him lay hold of it and bring it to him that he might see what

was therein. The man ran along the rivulet side; and, with a long stick

drawing the basket to land, showed it to the Intendant who opened it and

beheld within a new-born babe, a boy of wondrous beauty wrapped in a bit

of blanket; at which sight he was astounded beyond measure of surprise.

Now it so chanced that the Intendant, who was one of the Emirs and who

stood high in favour with the Sovran, had no children: withal he never

ceased offering prayers and vows to Almighty Allah that he might have a

son to keep alive his memory and continue his name. Delighted at the

sight he took home the basket with the babe and giving it to his wife

said, “See how Allah hath sent to us this man-child which I just now

found floating upon the waters; and do thou apply thee forthright and

fetch a wet-nurse to give him milk and nourish him; and bring him up

with care and tenderness as though he were thine own.” So the

Intendant’s wife took charge of the child with great gladness and reared

him with her whole heart, diligently as though born of her own womb; nor

did the Intendant say aught to any, or seek to find out whose might be

the child lest haply some one claim and take it from him. He was

certified in his mind that the boy came from the Queen’s quarter of the

palace, but deemed it inexpedient to make too strict enquiry concerning

the matter; and he and his spouse kept the secret with all secrecy. A

year after this the Queen gave birth to a second son, when her sisters,

the Satanesses full of spite, did with this babe, even as they had done

by the first: they wrapped it in a cloth and set it in a basket which

they threw into the stream, then gave out that the Queen had brought

forth a kitten. But once more, by the mercy of Allah Almighty, this boy

came to the hands of that same Intendant of the gardens who carried him

to his wife and placed him under her charge with strict injunctions to

take care of the second foundling sedulously as she had done with the

first. The Shah, enraged to hear the evil tidings, again rose up to slay

the Queen; but as before the Grand Wazir prevented him and calmed his

wrath with words of wholesome rede and a second time saved the unhappy

mother’s life. And after another year had gone by the Banu was brought

to bed and this time bore a daughter by whom the sisters did as they had

done by her brothers: they set the innocent inside a basket and threw

her into the stream; and the Intendant found her also and took her to

his wife and bade her rear the infant together with the other two

castaways. Hereupon the Envious Sisters, wild with malice, reported that

the Queen had given birth to a musk-ratling;[103] whereat King Khusrau

could no longer stay his wrath and indignation. So he cried in furious

rage to the Grand Wazir, “What, shall the Shah suffer this woman, who

beareth naught but vermin and abortions, to share the joys of his bed?

Nay more, the King can no longer allow her to live, else she will fill

the palace with monstrous births: in very sooth, she is herself a

monster, and it behoveth us to rid this place of such unclean creature

and accursed.” So saying the Shah commanded them do her to death; but

the ministers and high officers of estate who stood before the presence

fell at the royal feet and besought pardon and mercy for the Queen. The

Grand Wazir also said with folded hands, “O Sháhinsháh[104]—O King of

the kings—thy slave would fain represent that ’tis not in accordance

with the course of justice or the laws of the land to take the life of a

woman for no fault of her own. She cannot interfere with Destiny, nor

can she prevent unnatural births such as have thrice betided her; and

such mishaps have oftentimes befallen other women, whose cases call for

compassion and not punishment. An the King be displeased with her then

let him cease to live with her, and the loss of his gracious favour will

be a penalty dire enough; and, if the Shah cannot suffer the sight of

her, then let her be confined in some room apart, and let her expiate

her offence by alms deeds and charity until ’Izráíl, the Angel of Death,

separate her soul from her flesh.” Hearing these words of counsel from

his aged Councillor, Khusrau Shah recognised that it had been wrong to

slay the Queen, for that she could on no wise do away with aught that

was determined by Fate and Destiny; and presently he said to the Grand

Wazir, “Her life is spared at thine intercession, O wise man and ware;

yet will the King doom her to a weird which, haply, is hardly less hard

to bear than death. And now do thou forthright make ready, by the side

of the Cathedral-mosque, a wooden cage with iron bars and lock the Queen

therein as one would confine a ferocious wild beast.[105] Then every

Mussulman who wendeth his way to public prayers shall spit in her face

ere he set foot within the fane, and if any fail to carry out this

command he shall be punished in like manner. So place guards and

inspectors to enforce obedience and let me hear if there be aught of

gainsaying.” The Wazir durst not make reply but carried out the Shah’s

commandments; and this punishment inflicted upon the blameless Queen had

far better befitted her Envious Sisters.——And as the morn began to dawn

Shahrazad held her peace till

The end of the Six Hundred and Seventy-first Night.

Then said she:——I have heard, O auspicious King, that the cage was made

ready with all speed; and, when the forty days after purification of

child-bed[106] had come to an end, the Banu was locked therein; and,

according to the King’s commandment, all who came to prayer in the Great

Mosque would first spit in her face. The hapless woman, well knowing

that she was not worthy of this ignominy, bore her sufferings with all

patience and fortitude; nor were they few who deemed her blameless and

undeserving to endure these torments and tortures inflicted upon her by

the Shah; and they pitied her and offered prayers and made vows for her

release. Meanwhile the Intendant of the gardens and his wife brought up

the two Princes and the Princess with all love and tenderness; and, as

the children grew in years, their love for these adopted ones increased

in like proportion. They gave the eldest Prince the name Bahman,[107]

and to his brother Parwez;[108] and, as the maiden was rare of beauty

and passing of loveliness and graciousness, they called her

Perízádah.[109] When the Princes became of years to receive instruction,

the Intendant of the gardens appointed tutors and masters to teach them

reading and writing and all the arts and sciences: the Princess also,

showing like eagerness to acquire knowledge, was taught letters by the

same instructors, and soon could read and write with as perfect fluency

and facility as could her brothers. Then they were placed under the most

learned of the Philosophers and the Olema, who taught them the

interpretation of the Koran and the sayings of the Apostle; the science

of geometry as well as poetry and history, and even the abstruse

sciences and the mystic doctrines of the Enlightened; and their teachers

were astonished to find how soon and how far all three made progress in

their studies and bid fair to outstrip even the sages however learned.

Moreover, they all three were reared to horsemanship and skill in the

chase, to shooting with shafts and lunging with lance and sway of sabre

and jerking the Jeríd, with other manly and warlike sports. Besides all

this the Princess Perizadah was taught to sing and play on various

instruments of mirth and merriment, wherein she became the peerless

pearl of her age and time. The Intendant was exceeding glad of heart to

find his adopted children prove themselves such proficients in every

branch of knowledge; and presently, forasmuch as his lodging was small

and unfit for the growing family, he bought at a little distance from

the city a piece of land sufficiently large to contain fields and

meadows and copses. Here he fell to building a mansion of great

magnificence; and busied himself day and night with supervising the

architects and masons and other artificers. He adorned the walls inside

and out with sculptural work of the finest and paintings of the

choicest, and he fitted every apartment with richest furniture. In the

front of his mansion he bade lay out a garden and stocked it with

scented flowers and fragrant shrubs and fruit trees whose produce was as

that of Paradise. There was moreover a large park girt on all sides by a

high wall wherein he reared game, both fur and feather, as sport for the

two Princes and their sister. And when the mansion was finished and fit

for habitation, the Intendant, who had faithfully served the Shah for

many generations of men, craved leave of his lord that he might bid

adieu to the city and take up his abode in his new country seat; and the

King, who had always looked upon him with the eye of favour, granted to

him the required boon right heartily; furthermore, to prove his high

opinion of his old servant and his services, he inquired of him if he

had aught to request that it might be granted to him. Replied the other,

“O my liege lord, thy slave desireth naught save that he may spend the

remnant of his days under the shadow of the Shah’s protection, with body

and soul devoted to his service, even as I served the sire before the

son.” The Shah dismissed him with words of thanks and comfort, when he

left the city and taking with him the two Princes and their sister, he

carried them to his newly-built mansion. Some years before this time his

wife had departed to the mercy of Allah, and he had passed only five or

six months in his second home when he too suddenly fell sick and was

admitted into the number of those who have found ruth. Withal he had

neglected every occasion of telling his three foundlings the strange

tale of their birth and how he had carried them to his home as castaways

and had reared them as rearlings and had cherished them as his own

children. But he had time to charge them, ere he died, that they three

should never cease to live together in love and honour and affection and

respect one towards other. The loss of their protector caused them to

grieve with bitter grief, for they all thought he was their real father;

so they bewailed them and buried him as befitted; after which the two

brothers and their sister dwelt together in peace and plenty. But one

day of the days the Princes, who were full of daring and of highest

mettle, rode forth a-hunting and Princess Perizadah was left alone at

home when an ancient woman——And as the morn began to dawn Shahrazad held

her peace till

The end of the Six Hundred and Seventy-second Night.

Then said she:——I have heard, O auspicious King, that perchance an

ancient woman of the Moslems, a recluse and a devotee came to the door

and begged leave to enter within and repeat her prayers, as it was then

the canonical hour and she had but time to make the Wuzú-ablution.

Perizadah bade bring her and saluted her with the salam and kindly

welcomed her; then, when the holy woman had made an end of her orisons,

the handmaids of the Princess, at her command, conducted her all through

the house and grounds, and displayed to her the rooms with their

furniture and fittings, and lastly the garden and orchard and game-park.

She was well pleased with all she saw and said within herself, “The man

who built this mansion and laid out these parterres and vergiers was

verily an accomplished artist and a wight of marvellous skill.” At last

the slaves led her back to the Princess who, awaiting her return, was

sitting in the belvedere; and quoth she to the devotee, “Come, O good my

mother, do thou sit beside me and make me happy by the company of a

pious recluse whom I am fortunate enough to have entertained unawares,

and suffer I listen to thy words of grace and thereby gain no small

advantage in this world and the next. Thou hast chosen the right path

and straight whereon to walk, and that which all men strive for and pine

for.” The holy woman would fain have seated herself at the feet of the

Princess, but she courteously arose and took her by the hand and

constrained her to sit beside her. Quoth she, “O my lady, mine eyes

never yet beheld one so well-mannered as thou art: indeed, I am unworthy

to sit with thee, natheless, as thou biddest, I will e’en do thy

bidding.” As they sat conversing each with other the slave-girls set

before them a table whereon were placed some platters of bread and cakes

with saucers full of fruits both fresh and dried, and various kinds of

cakes and sweetmeats. The Princess took one of the cakes and giving it

to the good woman said, “O my mother, refresh thyself herewith and eat

of the fruits such as thou likest. ’Tis now long since thou didst leave

thy home and I trow thou hast not tasted aught of food upon the road.”

Replied the holy woman, “O lady of gentle birth, I am not wont to taste

of dainty dishes such as these, but I can ill refuse thy provision,

since Allah the Almighty deigneth send me food and support by so liberal

and generous a hand as thine.” And when they twain had eaten somewhat

and cheered their hearts, the Princess asked the devotee concerning the

manner of her worship and of her austere life; whereto she made due

answer and explained according to her knowledge. The Princess then

exclaimed, “Tell me, I pray thee, what thou thinkest of this mansion and

the fashion of its building and the furniture and the appurtenances; and

say me is all perfect and appropriate, or is aught still lacking in

mansion or garden?” And she replied, “Since thou deignest ask my

opinion, I confess to thee that both the building and the parterres are

finished and furnished to perfection; and the belongings are in the best

of taste and in the highest of ordinance. Still to my thinking there be

three things here wanting, which if thou hadst the place would be most

complete.” The Princess Perizadah adjured her saying, “O my aunt, I

beseech thee tell me what three articles yet are lacking, that I may

lose nor pains nor toil to obtain them;” and, as the maiden pressed her

with much entreaty, the devotee was constrained to tell her. Quoth she,

“O gentle lady, the first thing is the Speaking-Bird, called

Bulbul-i-hazár-dástán;[110] he is very rare and hard to find but,

whenever he poureth out his melodious notes, thousands of birds fly to

him from every side and join him in his harmony. The next thing is the

Singing-Tree, whose smooth and glossy leaves when shaken by the wind and

rubbed one against other send forth tuneful tones which strike the ear

like the notes of sweet-voiced minstrels, ravishing the hearts of all

who listen. The third thing is the Golden-Water of transparent purity,

whereof should but one drop be dripped into a basin and this be placed

inside the garden it presently will fill the vessel brimful and will

spout upwards in gerbes playing like a fountain that jets: moreover it

never ceaseth plying, and all the water as it shooteth up falleth back

again inside the basin, not one gout thereof being lost.” Replied the

Princess, “I doubt not but thou knowest for a certainty the very spot

where these wondrous things are to be found; and I pray thee tell me now

the place and means whereby I may take action to obtain them.”——And as

the morn began to dawn Shahrazad held her peace till

The end of the Six Hundred and Seventy-third Night.

Then said she:——I have heard, O auspicious King, that the holy woman

thus answered the Princess, “These three rarities are not to be found,

save on the boundary-line that lieth between the land of Hind and the

confining countries, a score of marches along the road that leadeth

Eastwards from this mansion. Let him who goeth forth in quest of them

ask the first man he meeteth on the twentieth stage concerning the spot

where he may find the Speaking-Bird, the Singing-Tree and the

Golden-Water; and he will direct the seeker where to come upon all

three.” When she had made an end of speaking the Devotee, with many

blessings and prayers and vows for her well-being, farewelled the lady

Perizadah and fared forth homewards. The Princess, however, ceased not

to ponder her words and ever to dwell in memory upon the relation of the

holy woman who, never thinking that her hostess had asked for

information save by way of curiosity, nor really purposed in mind to set

forth with intent of finding the rarities, had heedlessly told all she

knew and had given a clue to the discovery. But Perizadah kept these

matters deeply graven on the tablets of her heart with firm resolution

to follow the directions and, by all means in her power, to gain

possession of these three wonders. Withal, the more she reflected the

harder appeared the enterprise, and her fear of failing only added to

her unease. Now whilst she sat perplexed with anxious thought and anon

terrified with sore affright, her brothers rode back from the

hunting-ground; and they marvelled much to see her sad of semblance and

low-spirited, wondering the while what it was that troubled her.

Presently quoth Prince Bahman, “O sister mine, why art thou so heavy of

heart this day? Almighty Allah forbid thou be ill in health or that

aught have betided thee to cause thy displeasure or to make thee

melancholy. Tell us I beseech thee what it is, that we may be sharers in

thy sorrow and be alert to aid thee.” The Princess answered not a word,

but after long silence raised her head and looked up at her brothers;

then casting down her eyes she said in curt phrase that naught was amiss

with her. Quoth Prince Bahman, “Full well I wot that there is a somewhat

on thy mind which thou hesitatest to tell us; and now hear me swear a

strong oath that I will never leave thy side till thou shalt have told

us what cause it is that troubleth thee. Haply thou art aweary of our

affection and thou wouldst undo the fraternal tie which hath united us

from our infancy.” When she saw her brothers so distressed and

distraught, she was compelled to speak and said, “Albeit, O my

dearlings, to tell you wherefore I am sad and sorrowful may cause you

grief, still there is no help but I explain the matter to you twain.

This mansion, which our dear father (who hath found ruth) builded for

us, is perfect in every attribute nor lacketh it any condition of

comfort or completion. Howbeit I have found out by chance this day that

there are yet three things which, were they set within these walls, of

the house and grounds, would make our place beyond compare, and in the

wide world there would be naught with it to pair. These three things are

the Speaking-Bird and the Singing-Tree and the Golden-Water; and ever

since I heard of them my heart is filled with extreme desire to place

them within our domain and excessive longing to obtain them by any means

within my power. It now behoveth you help me with your best endeavour

and to consider what person will aid me in getting possession of these

rarities.” Replied Prince Bahman, “My life and that of my brother are at

thy service to carry out thy purpose with heart and soul; and, couldst

thou give me but a clue to the place where these strange things are

found, I would sally forth in quest of them at daybreak as soon as the

morning shall morrow.” When Prince Parwez understood that his brother

was about to make this journey, he spake saying, “O my brother, thou art

eldest of us, so do thou stay at home while I go forth to seek for these

three things and bring them to our sister. And indeed it were more

fitting for me to undertake a task which may occupy me for years.”

Replied Prince Bahman, “I have full confidence in thy strength and

prowess, and whatso I am able to perform thou canst do as well as I can.

Still it is my firm resolve to fare forth upon this adventure alone and

unaided, and thou must stay and take care of our sister and our home.”

So next day Prince Bahman learned from the Princess the road whereon he

was to travel and the marks and signs whereby to find the place.

Presently, he donned armour and arms and bidding the twain adieu, he

took horse and was about to ride forth with the stoutest of hearts,

whereat Princess Perizadah’s eyes brimmed with tears and in faltering

accents she addressed him saying, “O dear my brother, this bitter

separation is heart-breaking; and sore sorrowful am I to see thee part

from us. This disunion and thine absence in a distant land cause me

grief and woe far exceeding that wherewith I mourned and pined for the

rarities wherefor thou quittest us. If only we might have some news of

thee from day to day then would I feel somewhat comforted and consoled;

but now ’tis clear otherwise and regret is of none avail.”——And as the

morn began to dawn Shahrazad held her peace till

The end of the Six Hundred and Seventy-fourth Night.

Then said she:——I have heard, O auspicious King, that Prince Bahman made

answer in these words: “O sister mine, I am fully determined in mind to

attempt this derring-do: be thou not however anxious or alarmed, for

Inshallah—God willing—I shall return successful and triumphant. After my

departure shouldst thou at any time feel in fear for my safety, then by

this token which I leave thee thou shalt know of my fate and lot, good

or evil.” Then, drawing from his waist-shawl a little hunting-knife like

a whittle, he gave it to Princess Perizadah, saying, “Take now this

blade and keep it ever by thee; and shouldst thou at any day or hour be

solicitous concerning my condition, draw it from its sheath; and, if the

steel be clean and bright as ’tis now then know that I am alive and safe

and sound; but an thou find stains of blood thereon then shalt thou know

that I am slain, and naught remaineth for thee to do save to pray for me

as for one dead.” With these words of solace the Prince departed on his

journey, and travelled straight along the road to India, turning nor to

right hand nor to left but ever keeping the same object in view. Thus a

score of days was spent in journeying from the land of Iran, and upon

the twentieth he reached the end of his travel. Here he suddenly sighted

an ancient man of frightful aspect sitting beneath a tree hard by his

thatched hut wherein he was wont to shelter himself from the rains of

spring and the heats of summer and the autumnal miasmas and the wintry

frosts. So shotten in years was this Shaykh that hair and beard,

mustachios and whiskers were white as snow, and the growth of his upper

lip was so long and so thick that it covered and concealed his mouth,

while his beard swept the ground and the nails of his hands and feet had

grown to resemble the claws of a wild beast. Upon his head he wore a

broad-brimmed hat of woven palm-leaves like that of a Malábár fisherman,

and all his remaining habit was a strip of matting girded around his

waist. Now this Shaykh was a Darwaysh who for many years had fled the

world and all worldly pleasures; who lived a holy life of poverty and

chastity and other-worldliness whereby his semblance had become such as

I, O auspicious King, have described to thee. From early dawn that day

Prince Bahman had been watchful and vigilant, ever looking on all sides

to descry some one who could supply him with information touching the

whereabouts of the rarities he sought; and this was the first human

being he had sighted on that stage, the twentieth and last of his

journey. So he rode up to him, being assured that the Shaykh must be the

wight of whom the holy woman had spoken. Then Prince Bahman dismounting

and making low obeisance to the Darwaysh, said, “O my father, Allah

Almighty prolong thy years and grant thee all thy wishes!” Whereto the

Fakir made answer but in accents so indistinct that the Prince could not

distinguish a single word he said; and presently Bahman understood that

his moustache had on such wise closed and concealed his mouth that his

utterance became indistinct and he only muttered when he would have

spoken. He therefore haltered his horse to a tree and pulling out a pair

of scissors said, “O holy man, thy lips are wholly hidden by this

overlong hair; suffer me, I pray thee, clip the bristling growth which

overspreadeth thy face and which is so long and thick that thou art

fearsome to behold; nay, more like to a bear than to a human being.” The

Darwaysh with a nod consented, and when the Prince had clipped it and

trimmed the growth, his face once more looked young and fresh as that of

a man in the prime of youth. Presently quoth Bahman to him, “Would

Heaven I had a mirror wherein to show thee thy face, so wouldst thou see

how youthful thou seemest, and how thy favour hath become far more like

that of folk than whilom it was.” These flattering words pleased the

Darwaysh who smiling said, “I thank thee much for this thy goodly

service and kindly offices; and, if in return I can do aught of favour

for thee, I pray thee let me know, and I will attempt to satisfy thee in

all things with my very heart and soul.” Then said the Prince, “O holy

man, I have come hither from far distant lands along a toilsome road in

quest of three things; to wit, a certain Speaking-Bird, a Singing-Tree

and a Golden-Water; and this know I for certain that they are all to be

found hard by this site.”——And as the morn began to dawn Shahrazad held

her peace till

The end of the Six Hundred and Seventy-fifth Night.

Then said she:——I have heard, O auspicious King, that the Prince,

turning to the Darwaysh, continued, “O Devotee, albeit well I wot that

the three things I seek are in this land and nearhand, yet I know not

the exact spot wherein to find them. An thou have true information

concerning the place and will inform me thereof, I on my part will never

forget thy kindness, and I shall have the satisfaction of feeling that

this long and toilsome wayfare hath not been wholly vain.” Hearing these

words of the Prince, the Darwaysh changed countenance and his face waxed

troubled and his colour wan; then he bent his glance downwards and sat

in deepest silence. Whereat the other said, “O holy father, dost thou

not understand the words wherewith I have bespoken thee? An thou art

ignorant of the matter prithee let me know straightway that I may again

fare onwards until such time as I find a man who can inform me thereof.”

After a long pause the Darwaysh made reply, “O stranger, ’tis true I ken

full well the site whereof thou art in search; but I hold thee dear in

that thou hast been of service to me; and I am loath for thine own sake

to tell thee where to find that stead.” And the Prince rejoined, “Say

me, O Fakir, why dost thou withhold this knowledge from me, and

wherefore art thou not lief to let me learn it?” Replied the other,

“’Tis a hard road to travel and full of perils and dangers. Besides

thyself many have come hither and have asked the path of me, and I

refused to tell them, but they heeded not my warning and pressed me sore

and compelled me to disclose the secret which I would have buried in my

breast. Know, O my son, that all those braves have perished in their

pride and not one of them hath returned to me safe and sound. Now, an

thy life be dear to thee, follow my counsel and fare no further, but

rather turn thee back without stay or delay and make for house and home

and family.” Hereto Prince Bahman, stern in resolution, made reply,

“Thou hast after kindly guise and friendly fashion advised me with the

best of advice; and I, having heard all thou hast to say, do thank thee

gratefully. But I reck not one jot or tittle of what dangers affront me,

nor shall thy threats however fatal deter me from my purpose: moreover,

if thieves or foemen haply fall upon me, I am armed at point and can and

will protect myself, for I am certified that none can outvie me in

strength and stowre.” To this the Fakir made reply, “The beings who will

cut thy path and bar thy progress to that place are unseen of man, nor

will they appear to thee on any wise: how then canst thou defend thyself

against them?” And he replied, “So be it, still I fear not and I pray

thee only show me the road thither.” When the Darwaysh was assured that

the Prince had fully determined in mind to attempt the exploit and would

by no means turn or be turned back from carrying out his purpose, he

thrust his hand into a bag which lay hard by and took therefrom a ball,

and said, “Alas, O my son, thou wilt not accept my counsel and I needs

must let thee follow thy wilful way. Take this ball and, mounting thy

horse, throw it in front of thee, and as long as it shall roll onwards

do thou ride after it, but when it shall stop at the hill-foot dismount

from thy horse and throw the reins upon his neck and leave him alone,

for he will stay there without moving until such time as thou return.

Then manfully breast the ascent, and on either side of the path, right

and left, thou shalt see a scatter of huge black boulders. Here the

sound of many voices in confused clamour and frightful will suddenly

strike thine ears, to raise thy wrath and to fill thee with fear and

hinder thy higher course uphill. Have a heed that thou be not dismayed,

also beware, and again I say beware, lest thou turn thy head at any time

and cast a look backwards. An thy courage fail thee, or thou allow

thyself one glance behind thee, thou shalt be transformed that very

moment into a black rock; for know thou, O Prince, that all those stones

which thou shalt see strewn upon thy way were men whilom and braves like

thyself, who went forth with intent to gain the three things thou

seekest, but frightened at those sounds lost human shape and became

black boulders. However, shouldst thou reach the hill-top safe and

sound, thou shalt find on the very summit a cage and perched therein the

Speaking-Bird ready to answer all thy queries. So ask of him where thou

mayest find the Singing-Tree and the Golden-Water, and he will tell thee

all thou requirest. When thou shalt safely have seized all three thou

wilt be free from further danger; yet, inasmuch as thou hast not yet set

out upon this journey give ear to my counsel. I beg of thee desist from

this thy purpose and return home in peace whilst thou hast yet the

power.”——And as the morn began to dawn Shahrazad held her peace till

The end of the Six Hundred and Seventy-sixth Night.

Then said she:——I have heard, O auspicious King, that the Prince made

answer to the Darwaysh, “Until, O thou holy man, such time as I win to

my purpose I will not go back; no, never; therefore adieu.” So he

mounted his horse and threw the ball in front of him; and it rolled

forward at racing-speed and he, with gaze intent thereupon, rode after

it and did not suffer it to gain upon him. When it had reached the hill

whereof the Darwaysh spake, it ceased to make further way, whereupon the

Prince dismounted and throwing the reins on his horse’s neck left him

and fared on afoot to the slope. As far as he could see, the line of his

path from the hill-foot to the head was strewn with a scatter of huge

black boulders; withal his heart felt naught of fear. He had not taken

more than some four or five paces before a hideous din and a terrible

hubbub of many voices arose, even as the Darwaysh had forewarned him.

Prince Bahman, however, walked on valiantly with front erect and

fearless tread, but he saw no living thing and heard only the

Voices[111] sounding all around him. Some said, “Who is yon fool man and

whence hath he come? Stop him, let him not pass!” Others shouted out,

“Fall on him, seize this zany and slay him!” Then the report waxed

louder and louder still, likest to the roar of thunder, and many Voices

yelled out, “Thief! Assassin! Murtherer!” Another muttered in taunting

undertones, “Let him be, fine fellow that he is! Suffer him to pass on,

for he and he only shall get the cage and the Speaking-Bird.” The Prince

feared naught but advanced hot foot with his wonted nerve and spirit;

presently, however, when the Voices kept approaching nearer and nearer

to him and increased in number on every side, he was sore perplexed. His

legs began to tremble, he staggered and in fine overcome by fear he

clean forgot the warning of the Darwaysh and looked back, whereat he was

incontinently turned to stone like the scores of knights and adventurers

who had foregone him. Meantime the Princess Perizadah ever carried the

hunting-knife, which Bahman her brother had given her, sheathed as it

was in her maiden zone. She had kept it there ever since he set out upon

his perilous expedition, and whenever she felt disposed she would bare

the blade and judge by its sheen how fared her brother. Now until that

day when he was transmewed to stone she found it, as often as she looked

at it, clean and bright; but on the very evening when that evil fate

betided him perchance Prince Parwez said to Perizadah, “O sister mine,

give me I pray thee the hunting-knife that I may see how goeth it with

our brother.” She took it from her waist-belt and handed it to him; and

as soon as he unsheathed the knife lo and behold! he saw gouts of gore

begin to drop from it. Noting this he dashed the hunting-knife down and

burst out into loud lamentations, whilst the Princess who divined what

had happened shed a flood of bitter tears and cried with sighs and sobs,

“Alas, O my brother, thou hast given thy life for me. Ah, woe is me and

well-away! why did I tell thee of the Speaking-Bird and the Singing-Tree

and the Golden-Water? Wherefore did I ask that holy woman how she liked

our home, and hear of those three things in answer to my question? Would

to Heaven she had never crossed our threshold and darkened our doors!

Ungrateful hypocrite, dost thou requite me on such wise for the favour

and the honour I was fain to show thee; and what made me ask of thee the

means whereby to win these things? If now I obtain possession of them

what will they advantage me, seeing that my brother Bahman is no more?

What should I ever do with them?” Thus did Perizadah indulge her grief

bewailing her sad fate; while Parwez in like manner moaned for his

brother Bahman with exceeding bitter mourning. At last the Prince, who

despite his sorrow was assured that his sister still ardently desired to

possess the three marvels, turned to Perizadah and said, “It behoveth

me, O my sister, to set out forthright and to discover whether Bahman

our brother met his death by doom of Destiny, or whether some enemy have

slain him; and if he hath been killed then must I take full vengeance on

his murtherer.” Perizadah besought him with much weeping and wailing not

to leave her, and said, “O joy of my heart, Allah upon thee, follow not

in the footsteps of our dear departed brother nor quit me in order to

attempt a journey so rife in risks. I care naught for those things in my

fear lest I lose thee also while attempting such enterprise.” But Prince

Parwez would on no wise listen to her lament and next day took leave of

her, but ere he fared she said to him, “The hunting-knife which Bahman

left with me was the means of informing us concerning the mishap which

happened to him; but, say me how shall I know what happeneth to thee?”

Then he produced a string of pearls which numbered one hundred and said,

“As long as thou shalt see these pearls all parted one from other and

each running loose upon the string, then do thou know that I am alive;

but an thou shouldst find them fixed and adhering together then be thou

ware that I am dead.” The Princess taking the string of pearls hung it

around her neck, determined to observe it hour after hour and find out

how it fared with her second brother. After this Prince Parwez set out

upon his travels and at the twentieth stage came to the same spot where

Bahman had found the Darwaysh and saw him there in like condition. Then,

after saluting him with the salam, the Prince asked, “Canst thou tell me

where to find the Speaking-Bird and the Singing-Tree and the

Golden-Water; and by what manner of means I may get possession of them?

An thou can I pray thee inform me of this matter.”——And as the morn

began to dawn Shahrazad held her peace till

The end of the Six Hundred and Seventy-seventh Night.

Then said she:——I have heard, O auspicious King, that the Darwaysh

strave to stay Prince Parwez from his design and shewed him all the

dangers on the way. Quoth he, “Not many days ago one like unto thee in

years and in features came hither and enquired of me concerning the

matter thou now seekest. I warned him of the perils of the place and

would have weaned him from his wilful ways, but he paid no wise heed to

my warnings and refused to accept my counsel. He went off with full

instructions from me how to find those things he sought; but as yet he

hath not returned, and doubtless he also hath perished like the many who

preceded him upon that perilous enterprise.” Then said Prince Parwez, “O

holy father, I know the man of whom thou speakest, for that he was my

brother; and I learned that he was dead, but have no inkling of the

cause whereby he died.” Replied the Darwaysh, “O my lord, I can inform

thee on this matter; he hath been transmewed into a black stone, like

the others of whom I just now spake to thee. If thou wilt not accept my

advice and act according to my counsel thou also surely shalt perish by

the same means as did thy brother; and I solemnly forewarn thee to

desist from this endeavour.” Prince Parwez having pondered these words,

presently made reply, “O Darwaysh, I thank thee again and again and am

much beholden to thee in that thou art fain of my welfare and thou hast

given me the kindest of counsel and the friendliest of advice; nor am I

worthy of such favours bestowed upon a stranger. But now remaineth

naught for me to beseech save that thou wilt point out the path, for I

am fully purposed to fare forwards and on no wise to desist from my

endeavour. I pray thee favour me with full instructions for the road

even as thou favourest my brother.” Then said the Darwaysh, “An thou

wilt not lend ear to my warnings and do as I desire thee, it mattereth

to me neither mickle nor little. Choose for thyself and I by doom of

Destiny must perforce forward thy attempt and albeit, by reason of my

great age and infirmities, I may not conduct thee to the place I will

not grudge thee a guide.” Then Prince Parwez mounted his horse and the

Darwaysh taking one of many balls from out his scrip placed it in the

youth’s hands, directing him the while what to do, as he had counselled

his brother Bahman; and, after giving him much advice and many warnings

he ended with saying, “O my lord, have a heed not to be perplexed and

terrified by the threatening Voices,[112] and sounds from unseen beings,

which shall strike thine ear; but advance dauntless to the hill-top

where thou shalt find the cage with the Speaking-Bird and the

Singing-Tree and the Golden-Water.” The Fakir then bid him adieu with

words of good omen and the Prince set forth. He threw the ball on the

ground before him and, as it rolled up the path, he urged his horse to

keep pace with it. But when he reached the hill-foot and saw that the

ball had stopped and lay still, he dismounted forthright and paused

awhile ere he should begin to climb and conned well in his mind the

directions, one and all, given to him by the Darwaysh. Then, with firm

courage and fast resolve, he set out afoot to reach the hill-top. But

hardly had he begun to climb before he heard a voice beside him

threatening him in churlish tongue and crying, “O youth of ill-omen,

stand still that I may trounce thee for this thine insolence.” Hearing

these insulting words of the Invisible Speaker, Prince Parwez felt his

blood boil over; he could not refrain his rage and in his passion he

clean forgot the words of wisdom wherewith the Fakir had warned him. He

seized his sword and drawing it from the scabbard, turned about to slay

the man who durst insult him on such wise; but he saw no one and, in the

act of looking back both he and his horse became black stones. Meanwhile

the Princess ceased not at all hours of the day and watches of the night

to consult the string of pearls which Parwez had left her: she counted

them overnight when she retired to rest, she slept with them around her

neck during the hours of darkness, and when she awoke at the dawn of day

she first of all consulted them and noted their condition. Now at the

very hour when her second brother was turned to stone she found the

pearls sticking one to other so close together that she might not move a

single bead apart from its fellows and she knew thereby that Prince

Parwez also was lost to her for ever.——And as the morn began to dawn

Shahrazad held her peace till

The end of the Six Hundred and Seventy-eighth Night.

Then said she:——I have heard, O auspicious King, that the Princess

Perizadah was sore grieved at so sudden a blow and said to herself, “Ah!

woe is me and well-away! How bitter will be living without the love of

such brothers whose youthtide was sacrificed for me! ’Tis but right that

I share their fate whate’er be my lot; else what shall I have to say on

the Day of Doom and the Resurrection of the Dead and the Judgment of

Mankind?” Wherefore next morning, without further let or stay, she

donned disguise of man’s attire; and, warning her women and slaves that

she would be absent on an errand for a term of days during which they

would be in charge of the house and goods, she mounted her hackney and

set out alone and unattended. Now, inasmuch as she was skilled in

horsemanship and had been wont to accompany her brothers when hunting

and hawking, she was better fitted than other women to bear the toils

and travails of travel. So on the twentieth day she arrived safe and

sound at the hermitage-hut where, seeing the same Shaykh, she took seat

beside him and after salaming to him and greeting him she asked him, “O

holy father, suffer me to rest and refresh myself awhile in this site of

good omen; then deign point out to me, I pray thee, the direction of the

place, at no far distance herefrom, wherein are found a certain

Speaking-Bird and a Singing-Tree and a Golden-Water. An thou wilt tell

me I shall deem this the greatest of favour.” Replied the Darwaysh, “Thy

voice revealeth to me that thou art a woman and no man, albeit attired

in male’s apparel. Well I wot the stead whereof thou speakest and which

containeth the marvellous things thou hast named. But say me, what is

thy purpose in asking me?” The Princess made reply, “I have been told

many a tale anent these rare and wondrous things, and I would fain get

possession of them and bear them to my home and make them its choicest

adornments.” And said the Fakir, “O my daughter, in very truth these

matters are exceeding rare and admirable: right fit are they for fair

ones like thyself to win and take back with thee, but thou hast little

inkling of the dangers manifold and dire that encompass them. Better far

were it for thee to cast away this vain thought and go back by the road

thou camest.” Replied the Princess, “O holy father and far-famed

anchorite, I come from a distant land whereto I will nevermore return

except after winning my wish; no, never! I pray thee tell me the nature

of those dangers and what they be, that hearing thereof my heart may

judge if I have or have not the strength and the spirit to meet them.”

Then the Shaykh described to the Princess all the risks of the road as

erst he had informed Princes Bahman and Parwez; and he ended with

saying, “The dangers will display themselves as soon as thou shalt begin

to climb the hill-foot and shall not end till such time as thou wilt

have reached the hill-head where is the home of the Speaking-Bird. Then,

if thou be fortunate enough to seize him, he will direct thee where to

find the Singing-Tree and the Golden-Water. All the time thou climbest

the hill, Voices from throats unseen and accents fierce and fell shall

resound in thine ears. Furthermore, thou shalt see black rocks and

boulders strewn upon thy path; and these, thou must know, are the

transformed bodies of men who with exceeding courage attempted the same

enterprise, but filled with sudden fear and tempted to turn and to look

backwards were changed into stones. Now do thou steadily bear in mind

what was their case. At the first they listened to those fearful sounds

and cursings with firm souls, but anon their hearts and minds misgave

them, or, haply, they fumed with fury to hear the villain words

addressed to them and they turned about and gazed behind them, whereat

both men and horses became black boulders.” But when the Darwaysh had

told her every whit, the Princess made reply, “From what thou sayest it

seemeth clear to me that these Voices can do nothing but threaten and

frighten by their terrible din; furthermore that there is naught to

prevent a man climbing up the hill, nor is there any fear of any one

attacking him; all he hath to do is on no account to look behind him.”

And after a short pause she presently added, “O Fakir, albeit a woman

yet I have both nerve and thews to carry me through this adventure. I

shall not heed the Voices nor be enraged thereat, neither will they have

any power to dismay me: moreover, I have devised a device whereby my

success on this point is assured.” “And what wilt thou do?” asked he,

and she answered, “I will stop mine ears with cotton so may not my mind

be disturbed and reason perturbed by hearing those awesome sounds.” The

Fakir marvelled with great marvel and presently exclaimed, “O my lady,

methinks thou art destined to get possession of the things thou seekest.

This plan hath not occurred to any hitherto[113] and hence it is haply

that one and all have failed miserably and have perished in the attempt.

Take good heed to thyself however, nor run any risk other than the

enterprise requireth.” She replied, “I have no cause for fear since this

one and only danger is before me to prevent happy issue. My heart doth

bear me witness that I shall surely gain the guerdon wherefor I have

undertaken such toil and trouble. But now do thou tell me what I must

do, and whither to win my wish I must wend.” The Darwaysh once more

besought her to return home, but Perizadah refused to listen and

remained as firm and resolute as before; so when he saw that she was

fully bent upon carrying out her purpose he exclaimed, “Depart, O my

daughter, in the peace of Almighty Allah and His blessing; and may He

defend thy youth and beauty from all danger.” Then taking from his bag a

ball he gave it her and said, “When thou art seated in saddle throw this

before thee and follow it whitherso it lead thee; and when it shall stop

at the hill-foot then dismount and climb the slope. What will happen

after I have already told thee.”——And as the morn began to dawn

Shahrazad held her peace till

The end of the Six Hundred and Seventy-ninth Night.

Then said she:——I have heard, O auspicious King, that the Princess after

farewelling the Fakir straightway bestrode her steed and threw the ball

in front of his hooves as she had been bidden do. It rolled along before

her in the direction of the hill and she urged her hackney to keep up

with it, until reaching the hill it suddenly stopped. Hereat the

Princess dismounted forthwith and having carefully plugged both her ears

with cotton, began to breast the slope with fearless heart and dauntless

soul; and as soon as she had advanced a few steps a hubbub of voices

broke out all around her, but she heard not a sound, by reason of her

hearing being blunted by the cotton-wool. Then hideous cries arose with

horrid din, still she heard them not; and at last they grew to a storm

of shouts and shrieks and groans and moans flavoured with foul language

such as shameless women use when railing one at other. She caught now

and then an echo of the sounds but recked naught thereof and only

laughed and said to herself, “What care I for their scoffs and jeers and

fulsome taunts? Let them hoot on and bark and bay as they may: this at

least shall not turn me from my purpose.” As she approached the goal the

path became perilous in the extreme and the air was so filled with an

infernal din and such awful sounds that even Rustam would have quailed

thereat and the bold spirit of Asfandiyar[114] have quaked with terror.

The Princess, however, pressed on with uttermost speed and dauntless

heart till she neared the hill-top and espied above her the cage in

which the Speaking-Bird was singing with melodious tones; but, seeing

the Princess draw nigh, he broke out despite his puny form in thundering

tones and cried, “Return, O fool: hie thee back nor dare come nearer.”

Princess Perizadah heeded not his clamour a whit but bravely reached the

hill-top, and running over the level piece of ground made for the cage

and seized it saying, “At last I have thee and thou shalt not escape

me.” She then pulled out the cotton-wool wherewith she had stopped her

ears, and heard the Speaking-Bird reply in gentle accents, “O lady

valiant and noble, be of good cheer for no harm or evil shall betide

thee, as hath happened to those who essayed to make me their prize.

Albeit I am encaged I have much secret knowledge of what happeneth in

the world of men and I am content to become thy slave, and for thee to

be my liege lady. Moreover I am more familiar with all that concerneth

thee even than thou art thyself; and one day of the days I will do thee

a service which shall deserve thy gratitude. What now is thy command?

Speak that I may fulfil thy wish.” Princess Perizadah was gladdened by

these words, but in the midst of her joy she grieved at the thought of

how she had lost her brothers whom she loved with a love so dear, and

anon she said to the Speaking-Bird, “Full many a thing I want, but first

tell me if the Golden-Water, of which I have heard so much, be nigh unto

this place and if so do thou show me where to find it.” The Bird

directed her accordingly and the Princess took a silver flagon she had

brought with her and filled it brimful from the magical fount. Then

quoth she to the Bird, “The third and last prize I have come to seek is

the Singing-Tree: discover to me where that also can be found.” The Bird

replied, “O Princess of fair ones, behind thy back in yonder clump that

lieth close at hand groweth the Tree;” so she went forthright to the

copse and found the Tree she sought singing with sweetest toned voice.

But inasmuch as it was huge in girth she returned to her slave the Bird

and said, “The Tree indeed I found but ’tis lofty and bulky; how then

shall I pull it up?” and he made answer, “Pluck but a branchlet of the

Tree and plant it in thy garden: ’twill at once take root and in

shortest time be as gross and fair a growth as that in yonder copse.” So

the Princess broke off a twig, and now that she had secured the three

things, whereof the holy woman spake to her, she was exceeding joyful

and turning to the Bird said, “I have in very deed won my wish, but one

thing is yet wanting to my full satisfaction. My brothers who ventured

forth with this same purpose are lying hereabouts turned into black

stones; and I fain would have them brought to life again and the twain

return with me in all satisfaction and assurance of success. Tell me now

some plan whereby mine every desire may be fulfilled.”——And as the morn

began to dawn Shahrazad held her peace till

The end of the Six Hundred and Eightieth Night.

Then said she:——I have heard, O auspicious King, that the Speaking-Bird

replied, “O Princess, trouble not thyself, the thing is easy. Sprinkle

some of the Golden-Water from the flagon upon the black stones lying

round about, and by virtue thereof each and every shall come to life

again, thy two brothers as well as the others.” So Princess Perizadah’s

heart was set at rest and taking the three prizes with her she fared

forth and scattered a few drops from the silver flagon upon each black

stone as she passed it when, lo and behold! they came to life as men and

horses. Amongst them were her brothers whom she at once knew and falling

on their necks she embraced them, and asked in tones of surprise, “O my

brothers, what do ye here?” To this they answered, “We lay fast asleep.”

Quoth she, “Strange indeed that ye take delight in slumber away from me

and ye forget the purpose wherefor ye left me; to wit, the winning of

the Speaking-Bird and the Singing-Tree and the Golden-Water. Did ye not

see this place all bestrown with dark hued rocks? Look now and say if

there be aught left of them. These men and horses now standing around us

were all black stones as ye yourselves also were; but, by the boon of

Almighty Allah, all have come to life again and await the signal to

depart. And if now ye wish to learn by what strange miracle both ye and

they have recovered human shape, know ye that it hath been wrought by

virtue of a water contained in this flagon which I sprinkled on the

rocks with leave of the Lord of all Living. When I had gained possession

of this cage and its Speaking-Bird, and also of the Singing-Tree, a wand

whereof ye see in my hand, and lastly of the Golden-Water, I would not

take them home with me unless ye twain could also bear me company; so I

asked of this Bird the means whereby ye could be brought to life again.

He made me drop some drops of the Golden-Water on the boulders and when

I had done this ye two like all the others returned to life and to your

proper forms.” Hearing these her words the Princes Bahman and Parwez

thanked and praised their sister Perizadah; and all the others she had

saved showered thanks and blessings on her head saying with one accord,

“O our lady, we are now thy slaves; nor can a life-long service repay

the debt of gratitude we owe thee for this favour thou hast shown us.

Command and we are ready to obey thee with our hearts and our souls.”

Quoth Perizadah, “The bringing back to life of these my brothers were my

aim and purpose, and in so doing ye too have profited thereby; and I

accept your acknowledgments as another pleasure. But now do ye mount

each and every man his horse and ride back by the way ye came to your

homes in Allah’s peace.” On this wise the Princess dismissed them and

made herself also ready to depart; but, as she was about to bestride her

steed, Prince Bahman asked permission of her that he might hold in hand

the cage and ride in front of her. She answered, “Not so, O brother

mine; this Bird is now my slave and I will carry him myself. An thou

wilt, take thou this twig with thee, but hold the cage only till I am

seated in saddle.” She then mounted her hackney and, placing the cage

before her on the pommel, bade her brother Parwez take charge of the

Golden-Water in the silver flagon and carry it with all care and the

Prince did her bidding without gainsaying. And when they all were ready

to ride forth, including the knights and the squires whom Perizadah had

brought to life by sprinkling the Water the Princess turned to them and

said, “Why delay we our departure and how is it that none offereth to

lead us?” But as all hesitated she gave command, “Now let him amongst

your number whose noblesse and high degree entitle him to such

distinction fare before us and show us the way.” Then all with one

accord replied, “O Princess of fair ones, there be none amongst us

worthy of such honour, nor may any wight dare to ride before thee.” So

when she saw that none amongst them claimed pre-eminence or right of

guidance, and none desired to take precedence of the rest, she made

excuse and said, “O my lords, ’tis not for me by right to lead the way,

but since ye order I must needs obey.” Accordingly she pushed on to the

front, and after came her brothers and behind them the rest. And as they

journeyed on all desired to see the holy man, and thank him for his

favours and friendly rede, but when they reached the spot where he dwelt

they found him dead, and they knew not if old age had taken him away, or

if he perished in his pride because the Princess Perizadah had found and

had carried off the three things whereof he had been appointed by

Destiny guard and guide.——And as the morn began to dawn Shahrazad held

her peace till

The end of the Six Hundred and Eighty-first Night.

Then said she:——I have heard, O auspicious King, that all the company

rode on, and as each one arrived at the road which led him to his natal

land he took leave of the Lady Perizadah and went his way, until all

were gone and the Princess and her brothers were the only left. At last

they reached their journey’s end safe and sound, and on entering their

mansion Perizadah hung the cage inside the garden hard by the belvedere

and no sooner did the Speaking-Bird begin to sing than flights of

ringdoves and bulbuls and nightingales and skylarks and parrots and

other songsters came flocking around him from afar and anear. Likewise

she set the twig, which she had taken from the Singing-Tree, in a choice

parterre also hard by the belvedere, and forthright it took root and put

forth boughs and buds and grew goodly in growth, till it became a trunk

as large as that from which she had plucked the twig, whilst from its

leafage went forth bewitching sounds rivalling the music of the parent

tree. She lastly bid them carve her a basin of pure white marble and set

it in the centre of the pleasure grounds; then she poured therein the

Golden-Water and forthright it filled the bowl and shot upwards like a

spouting fountain some twenty feet in height; moreover the gerbes and

jets fell back whence they came and not one drop was lost: whereby the

working of the waters was unbroken and ever similar. Now but few days

passed ere the report of these three wonders was bruited abroad and

flocked the folk daily from the city to solace themselves with the

sight, and the gates stood always open wide and all who came had

entrance to the house and gardens and free leave to walk about at will

and see these rarities which affected them with admiration and delight.

Then also, as soon as both the Princes had recovered from the toils of

travel, they began to go a-hunting as heretofore; and it chanced one day

they rode forth several miles from home and were both busied in the

chase, when the Shah of Irán-land came by decree of Destiny to the same

place for the same purpose. The Princes, seeing a band of knights and

huntsmen drawing near, were fain to ride home and to avoid such meeting;

so they left the hunting-grounds and turned them homewards. But as Fate

and lot would have it they hit upon the very road whereby King Khusrau

Shah was coming, and so narrow was the path that they could not avoid

the horsemen by wheeling round and wending another way. So they drew

rein perforce and dismounting they salamed and did obeisance to the Shah

and stood between his hands with heads bent low. The Sovran, seeing the

horses’ fine trappings and the Princes’ costly garments, thought that

the two youths were in the suite of his Wazirs and his Ministers of

state and much wished to look upon their faces; he therefore bade them

raise their heads and stand upright in the presence and they obeyed his

bidding with modest mien and downcast eyes. He was charmed to behold

their comeliness of favour and their graceful forms and their noble air

and their courtly mien; and, after gazing at them for some time in not a

little wonder and admiration, he asked them who they were and what might

be their names and where they abode. Hereto Prince Bahman made reply, “O

Asylum of the Universe, we are the sons of one whose life was spent in

serving the Shah, the Intendant of the royal gardens and pleasaunces. As

his days drew to a close he builded him a home without the town for us

to dwell in till we should grow to man’s estate and become fit to do thy

Highness suit and service and carry out thy royal commands.” The Shah

furthermore asked them, “How is it that ye go a-hunting? This is a

special sport of Kings and is not meant for the general of his subjects

and dependants.” Prince Bahman rejoined, “O Refuge of the World, we yet

are young in years and being brought up at home we know little of

courtly customs; but, as we look to bear arms in the armies of the Shah

we fain would train our bodies to toil and moil.” This answer was

honoured by the royal approof and the King rejoined, “The Shah would see

how ye deal with noble game; so choose ye whatever quarry ye will and

bring it down in the presence.” The Princes hereat remounted their

horses and joined the Sovran; and when they reached the thick-most of

the forest, Prince Bahman started a tiger and Prince Parwez rode after a

bear; and the twain used their spears with such skill and good will that

each killed his quarry and laid it at the Shah’s feet. Then entering the

wood again Prince Bahman slew a bear, and Prince Parwez a tiger[115] and

did as before; but when they would have ridden off the third time the

King forbade them saying, “What! would ye strip the royal preserve of

all the game? This be enough and more than enough, the Shah wished only

to put your valour to the proof and having seen it with his own eyes he

is fully satisfied. Come now with us and stand before us as we sit at

meat.” Prince Bahman made reply, “We are not worthy of the high honour

and dignity wherewith thou favourest us thy humble servants. We

dutifully and humbly petition thy Highness to hold us excused for this

day; but if the Asylum of the Universe deign appoint some other time thy

slaves will right gladly execute thy auspicious orders.”——And as the

morn began to dawn Shahrazad held her peace till

The end of the Six Hundred and Eighty-second Night.

Then said she:——I have heard, O auspicious King, that Khusrau Shah,

astonished at their refusal, asked the cause thereof when Prince Bahman

answered, “May I be thy sacrifice,[116] O King of kings, we have at home

an only sister; and all three are bound together with bonds of the

fondest affection; so we brothers go not anywhere without consulting her

nor doth she aught save according to our counsel.” The King was pleased

to see such fraternal love and union and presently quoth he, “By the

head of the Shah,[117] he freely giveth you leave to go to-day: consult

your sister and meet the Shadow of Allah[118] to-morrow at this

hunting-ground, and tell him what she saith and if she be content to let

you twain come and wait upon the Shah at meat.” So the Princes

farewelled and prayed for him; then rode back home; but they both forgot

to tell their sister how they had fallen in with the King; and of all

that passed between them they remembered not one word.[119] Next day

again they went a-hunting and on returning from the chase the Shah

enquired of them, “Have ye consulted with your sister if ye may serve

the King, and what saith she thereto? Have ye obtained permission from

her?” On hearing these words the Princes waxed aghast with fear; the

colour of their faces changed, and each began to look into the other’s

eyes. Then Bahman said, “Pardon, O Refuge of the World, this our

transgression. We both forgot the command and remembered not to tell our

sister.” Replied the King, “It mattereth naught! ask her to-day and

bring me word to-morrow.” But it so happened that on that day also they

forgot the message yet the King was not annoyed at their shortness of

memory, but taking from his pocket three little balls of gold, and tying

them in a kerchief of silk, he handed them to Prince Bahman saying, “Put

these balls in thy waist-shawl, so shalt thou not forget to ask thy

sister; and if perchance the matter escape thy memory, when thou shalt

go to bed and take off thy girdle, haply the sound of them falling to

the ground will remind thee of thy promise.” Despite this strict

injunction of the Shadow of Allah the Princes on that day also clean

forgot the order and the promise they had made to the King. When,

however, night came on, and Prince Bahman went to his bed-chamber for

sleep, he loosed his girdle and down fell the golden balls and at the

sound the message of the Shah flashed across his thought. So he and his

brother Parwez at once hastened to Perizadah’s bower, where she was

about retiring to rest; and, with many excuses for troubling her at so

unseasonable an hour, reported to her all that had happened. She

lamented their thoughtlessness which for three successive days had

caused them forget the royal behest and ended with saying, “Fortune hath

favoured you, O my brothers, and brought you suddenly to the notice of

the Asylum of the Universe, a chance which often hath led to the height

of good. It grieveth me sore that in your over regard for our fraternal

love and union ye did not take service with the King when he deigned

command you. Moreover ye have far greater cause for regret and

repentance than I in that ye failed to plead a sufficient excuse and

that which ye offered must have sounded rude and churlish. A right

dangerous thing it is to thwart Kingly wishes. In his extreme

condescension the Shah commandeth you to take service with him and ye,

in rebelling against his exalted orders have done foolishly and ye have

caused me much trouble of mind. Howbeit I will sue counsel from my slave

the Speaking-Bird and see what he may say; for when I have ever any hard

and weighty question to decide I fail not to ask his advice.” Hereupon

the Princess set the cage by her side and after telling her slave all

that her brothers had made known to her, asked admonition of him

regarding what they should do. The Speaking-Bird made answer, “It

behoveth the Princes to gratify the Shah in all things he requireth of

them; moreover, let them make ready a feast for the King and humbly pray

him to visit this house, and thereby testify to him loyalty and devotion

to his royal person.” Then said the Princess, “O Bird, my brothers are

most dear to me nor would I suffer them leave my sight for one moment if

it were possible; and Allah forfend that this daring on their part do

injury to our love and affection.” Said the Speaking-Bird, “I have

counselled thee for the best and have offered thee the right rede; nor

do thou fear aught in following it, for naught save good shall come

therefrom.” “But,” quoth the Princess, “an the Shadow of Allah honour us

by crossing the threshold of this house needs must I present myself

before him with face unveiled?”[120] “By all means,” quoth the

Speaking-Bird, “this will not harm thee, nay rather ’twill be to thine

advantage.”——And as the morn began to dawn Shahrazad held her peace till

The end of the Six Hundred and Eighty-third Night.

Then said she:——I have heard, O auspicious King, that early next day the

two Princes Bahman and Parwez rode as aforetime to the hunting-ground

and met Khusrau Shah, who asked them, saying, “What answer bring ye from

your sister?” Hereupon the elder brother advancing said, “O Shadow of

Allah, verily we are thy slaves and whatever thou deign bid that we are

ready to obey. These less than the least have referred the matter to

their sister and have obtained her consent; nay more, she blamed and

chided them for that they did not hurry to carry out the commands of the

Refuge of the World the moment they were delivered. Therefore being sore

displeased at us, she desireth us on her behalf to plead forgiveness

with the Sháhinshah[121] for this offence by us offered.” Replied the

King, “No crime have ye committed to call forth the royal displeasure:

nay more, it delighteth the Shadow of Allah exceedingly to see the love

ye twain bear towards your sister.” Hearing such words of condescension

and kindliness from the Shah, the Princes held their peace and hung

their heads for shame groundwards; and the King who that day was not

keen, according to his custom, after the chase, whenever he saw the

brothers hold aloof, called them to his presence and heartened their

hearts with words of favour; and presently, when aweary of sport, he

turned the head of his steed palace-wards and deigned order the Princes

to ride by his side. The Wazirs and Councillors and Courtiers one and

all fumed with envy and jealousy to see two unknowns entreated with such

especial favour; and as they rode at the head of the suite adown the

market-street all eyes were turned upon the youths and men asked one of

other, “Who be the two who ride beside the Shah? Belong they to this

city, or come they from some foreign land?” And the folk praised and

blessed them saying, “Allah send our King of kings two Princes as goodly

and gallant as are these twain who ride beside him. If our hapless Queen

who languisheth in durance had brought forth sons, by Allah’s favour

they would now be of the same age as these young lords.” But as soon as

the cavalcade reached the palace the King alighted from his horse and

led the Princes to his private chamber, a splendid retreat magnificently

furnished, wherein a table had been spread with sumptuous meats and

rarest cates; and having seated himself thereat he motioned them to do

likewise. Hereupon the brothers making low obeisance also took their

seats and ate in well-bred silence with respectful mien. Then the Shah,

desiring to warm them into talk[122] and thereby to test their wit and

wisdom, addressed them on themes galore and asked of them many

questions; and, inasmuch as they had been taught well and trained in

every art and science, they answered with propriety and perfect ease.

The Shah struck with admiration bitterly regretted that Almighty Allah

had not vouchsafed to him sons so handsome in semblance and so apt and

so learned as these twain; and, for the pleasure of listening to them,

he lingered at meat longer than he was wont to do. And when he rose from

table and retired with them to his private apartment he still sat

longwhile talking with them and at last in his admiration he exclaimed,

“Never until this day have I set eyes on youths so well brought up and

so comely and so capable as are these, and methinks ’twere hard to find

their equals anywhere.” In fine quoth he, “The time waxeth late, so now

let us cheer our hearts with music.” And forthright the royal band of

minstrels and musicians began to sing and perform upon instruments of

mirth and merriment, whilst dancing-girls and boys displayed their

skill, and mimes and mummers played their parts. The Princes enjoyed the

spectacle with extreme joy and the last hours of the afternoon passed in

royal revelry and regale. But when the sun had set and evening came on,

the youths craved dismissal from the Shah with many expressions of

gratitude for the exalted favours he had deigned bestow on them; and ere

they fared forth the King of kings bespake them, saying, “Come ye again

on the morrow to our hunting-ground as heretofore, and thence return to

the palace. By the beard of the Shah, he fain would have you always with

him, and solace him with your companionship and converse.” Prince

Bahman, prostrating himself before the presence, answered, “’Tis the

very end and aim of all our wishes, O Shadow of Allah upon Earth, that

on the morrow when thou shalt come from the chase and pass by our poor

house, thou graciously deign enter and rest in it awhile, thereby

conferring the highmost of honours upon ourselves and upon our sister.

Albeit the place is not worthy of the Shahinshah’s exalted presence, yet

at times do mighty Kings condescend to visit the huts of their slaves.”

The King, ever more and more enchanted with their comeliness and

pleasant speech, vouchsafed a most gracious answer, saying, “The

dwelling-place of youths in your estate and degree will certainly be

goodly and right worthy of you; and the Shah willingly consenteth for

the morrow to become the guest of you twain and of your sister whom,

albeit he have not yet seen, he is assured to find perfect in all gifts

of body and mind. Do ye twain therefore about early dawn-tide expect the

Shah at the usual trysting place.” The Princes then craved leave to wend

their ways; and going home said to their sister, “O Perizadah, the Shah

hath decreed that to-morrow he will come to our house and rest here

awhile after the hunt.” Said she, “An so it be, needs must we see to it

that all be made ready for a royal banquet and we may not be put to

shame when the Shadow of Allah shall deign shade us. There is no help

but that in this matter I ask of my slave, the Speaking-Bird, what

counsel he would give; and that prepare according thereto such meats as

are meet for him and are pleasing to the royal palate.”——And as the morn

began to dawn Shahrazad held her peace till

The end of the Six Hundred and Eighty-fourth Night.

Then said she:——I have heard, O auspicious King, that the Princes both

approved of her plan and went to seek repose; whereupon Perizadah sent

for the cage and setting it before her said, “O Bird, the Shah hath made

a promise and hath decreed that he will deign honour this our house on

the morrow, wherefore we must needs make ready for our liege lord the

best of banquets and I bid thee say me what dishes should the kitcheners

cook for him?” The Speaking-Bird replied, “O my lady, thou hast the most

skilful of cooks and confectioners. Do thou bid them dress for thee the

choicest dainties, but above all others see thou with thine own eyes

that they set before the Shah a dish of new green cucumbers stuffed with

pearls.” Quoth the Princess in utter wonderment, “Never until this time

heard I of such a dainty! How? cucumbers with a filling of pearls! And

what will the King, who cometh to eat bread and not to gaze on stones,

say to such meat? Furthermore, I have not in my possession pearls enough

to serve for even a single cucumber.” Replied the Speaking-Bird, “This

were an easy matter: do thou dread naught but only act as I shall advise

thee. I seek not aught save thy welfare and would on no wise counsel

thee to thy disadvantage. As for the pearls thou shalt collect them on

this wise; go thou to-morrow betimes to the pleasure-gardens and bid a

hole be dug at the foot of the first tree in the avenue to thy right

hand, and there shalt thou find of pearls as large a store as thou shalt

require.” So after dawn on the next day Princess Perizadah bade a

gardener-lad accompany her and fared to the site within the

pleasure-gardens whereof the Speaking-Bird had told her. Here the boy

dug a hole both deep and wide when suddenly his spade struck upon

somewhat hard, and he removed with his hands the earth and discovered to

view a golden casket well-nigh one foot square. Hereupon the young

gardener showed it to the Princess who exclaimed, “I brought thee with

me for this very reason. Take heed and see that no harm come to it, but

dig it out and bring it to me with all care.” When the lad did her

bidding she opened it forthright and found it filled with pearls and

unions fresh from the sea, round as rings and all of one and the same

size perfectly fitted for the purpose which the Speaking-Bird had

proposed. Perizadah rejoiced with extreme joy at the sight and taking up

the box walked back with it to the house; and the Princes who had seen

their sister faring forth betimes with the gardener-lad and had wondered

why she went to the park thus early unaccording to her wonted custom,

catching sight of her from the casement quickly donned their walking

dresses and came to meet her. And as the two brothers walked forwards

they saw the Princess approaching them with somewhat unusual under her

arm, which when they met, proved to be a golden casket whereof they knew

naught. Quoth they, “O our sister, at early light we espied thee going

to the pleasure grounds with a gardener-lad empty handed, but now thou

bringest back this golden casket; so disclose to us where and how thou

hast found it; and haply there may be some hoard close hidden in the

parterre?” Perizadah replied, “Sooth ye say, O my brothers: I took this

lad with me and made him dig under a certain tree where we came upon

this box of pearls, at the sight whereof methinks your hearts will be

delighted.” The Princess straightway opened the box and her Brothers

sighting the pearls and unions were amazed with extreme amazement and

rejoiced greatly to see them. Quoth the Princess, “Come now ye twain

with me, for that I have in hand a weighty matter;” and quoth Prince

Bahman, “What is there to do? I pray thee tell us without delay for

never yet hast thou kept aught of thy life from us.” She made reply, “O

my brothers, I have nothing to hide from you, nor think ye any ill of

me, for I am now about to tell you all the tale.” Then she made known to

them what advice the Speaking-Bird had given to her; and they, conning

the matter over in their minds, marvelled much why her slave had bidden

them set a dish of green cucumbers stuffed with pearls before the Shah,

nor could they devise any reason for it. Presently the Princess resumed,

“The Speaking-Bird indeed is wise and ware; so methinks this counsel

must be for our advantage; and at any rate it cannot be without some

object and purpose. It therefore behoveth us to do even as he hath

commanded.” Hereupon the Princess went to her own chamber and summoning

the head cook said to him, “This day the Shah, the Shadow of Allah upon

Earth, will condescend here to eat the noon-meal. So do thou take heed

that the meats be of choicest flavour and fittest to set before the

Asylum of the World, but of all the dishes there is one thou alone must

make and let not another have a hand therein. This shall be of the

freshest green cucumbers with a stuffing of unions and pearls.”——And as

the morn began to dawn Shahrazad held her peace till

The end of the Six Hundred and Eighty-fifth Night.

Then said she:——I have heard, O auspicious King, that the head Cook

listened to this order of the Princess with wonderment and said in

himself, “Who ever heard of such a dish or dreamed of ordering such an

one.” The Lady seeing his astonishment betrayed in his semblance without

the science of thought-reading,[123] said to him, “It seemeth from thy

countenance that thou deemest me daft of wits to give thee such order. I

know that no one ever tasted a dish of the kind, but what is that to

thee? Do thou e’en as thou art bidden. Thou seest this box brimful of

pearls; so take of them as many as thou needest for the dish, and what

remaineth over leave in the box.” The Kitchener who could answer nothing

in his confusion and amazement, chose as many precious stones as he

required, and presently fared away to superintend the meats being cooked

and made ready for the feast. Meanwhile the Princess went over the house

and grounds and gave directions to the slaves about the ordinance

thereof, lending especial attention to the carpets and divans, the lamps

and all other furniture. Next day at break of dawn Princes Bahman and

Parwez rode forth in rich attire to the appointed place where they first

met the Shah, who was also punctual to his promise and vouchsafed to

join them in the hunt. Now when the sun had risen high and its rays

waxed hot, the King gave up the chase, and set forth with the Princes to

their house; and as they drew nigh thereto the cadet pushed forwards and

sent word to the Princess that the Asylum of the World was coming in all

good omen. Accordingly, she hastened to receive him and stood waiting

his arrival at the inner entrance; and after, when the King rode up to

the gate and dismounting within the court stepped over the threshold of

the house-door, she fell down at his feet and did him worship. Hereat

her brothers said, “O Asylum of the World, this is our sister of whom we

spake;” and the Shah with gracious kindness and condescension raised her

by the hand, and when he saw her face he marvelled much at its wondrous

comeliness and loveliness. He thought in himself, “How like she is to

her brothers in favour and form, and I trow there be none of all my

lieges in city or country who can compare with them for beauty and noble

bearing. This country-house also exceedeth all that I have ever seen in

splendour and grandeur.” The Princess then led the Shah through the

house and showed him all the magnificence thereof, while he rejoiced

with extreme joy at everything that met his sight. So when King Khusrau

had considered whatso was in the mansion he said to the Princess, “This

home of thine is far grander than any palace owned by the Shah, who

would now stroll about the pleasure-garden, never doubting but that it

will be delightsome as the house.” Hereat the Princess threw wide open

the door whence the grounds could be seen; and at once the King beheld

before and above all other things, the fountain which cast up

incessantly, in gerbes and jets, water clear as crystal withal golden of

hue. Seeing such prodigy he cried, “This is indeed a glorious gusher:

never before saw I one so admirable. But say me where is its source, and

by what means doth it shoot up in spurts so high? Whence cometh this

constant supply and in what fashion was it formed? The Shah would fain

see it near hand.” “O King of kings, and Lord of the lands,” quoth the

Princess, “be pleased to do whatso thou desirest.” Thereupon they went

up to the fountain and the Shah stood gazing upon it with delight when

behold, he heard a concert of sugar-sweet voices choiring with the

harmony and melody of wit-ravishing music. So he turned him round and

gazed about him to discover the singers, but no one was in sight; and

albeit he looked both far and near all was in vain, he heard the voices

but he could descry no songster. At length completely baffled he

exclaimed, “Whence come these most musical of sounds; and rise they from

the bowels of earth or are they floating in the depths of air? They fill

the heart with rapture, but strangely surprise the senses to see that no

one singer is in sight.” Replied the Princess with a smile, “O Lord of

lords, there are no minstrels here and the strains which strike the

Shah’s ear come from yonder tree. Deign walk on, I pray thee, and

examine it well.” So he advanced thereto, ever more and more enchanted

with the music, and he gazed now at the Golden-Water and now at the

Singing-Tree till lost in wonderment and amazement; then, “O Allah,”

said he to himself, “is all this Nature-made or magical, for in very

deed the place is full of mystery?” Presently, turning to the Princess

quoth he, “O my lady, prithee whence came ye by this wondrous tree which

hath been planted in the middlemost of this garden: did anyone bring it

from some far distant land as a rare gift, and by what name is it

known?” Quoth Perizadah in reply, “O King of kings, this marvel hight

Singing-Tree groweth not in our country. ’Twere long to recount whence

and by what means I obtained it; and suffice it for the present to say

that the Tree, together with the Golden-Water and the Speaking-Bird,

were all found by me at one and the same time. Deign now accompany thy

slave and look upon this third rarity; and when the Shah shall have

rested and recovered from the toils and travails of hunting, the tale of

these three strange things shall be told to the Asylum of the World in

fullest detail.” Hereto the King replied, “All the Shah’s fatigue hath

gone for gazing upon these wonders; and now to visit the

Speaking-Bird.”——And as the morning began to dawn Shahrazad held her

peace till

The end of the Six Hundred and Eighty-sixth Night.

Then said she:——I have heard, O auspicious King, that the Princess took

the King and when she had shown to him the Speaking-Bird, they returned

to the garden where he never ceased considering the fountain with

extreme surprise and presently exclaimed, “How is this? No spring whence

cometh all this water meeteth the Shah’s eye, and no channel; nor is

there any reservoir large enough to contain it.” She replied, “Thou

speakest sooth, O King of kings! This jetting fount hath no source; and

it springeth from a small marble basin which I filled from a single

flagon of the Golden-Water; and by the might of Allah Almighty it

increased and waxed copious until it shot up in this huge gerbe which

the Shah seeth. Furthermore it ever playeth day and night; and,

marvellous to relate, the water falling back from that height into the

basin minisheth not in quantity nor is aught of it spilt or wasted.”

Hereat the King, filled with wonder and astonishment, bade go back to

the Speaking-Bird; whereupon the Princess led him to the belvedere

whence he looked out upon thousands of all manner fowls carolling in the

trees and filling air with their hymns and praises of the Creator; so he

asked his guide, “O my lady, whence come these countless songsters which

haunt yonder tree and make the welkin resound with their melodious

notes; yet they affect none other of the trees?” Quoth Perizadah, “O

King of kings, they are all attracted by the Speaking-Bird and flock

hither to accompany his song; and for that his cage hangeth to the

window of this belvedere they prefer only the nearest of the trees; and

here he may be heard singing sweeter notes than any of the others, nay

in a plaint more musical far than that of any nightingale.” And as the

Shah drew nigh the cage and gave ear to the Bird’s singing, the Princess

called to her captive saying, “Ho, my slave the Bird, dost thou not

perceive the Asylum of the Universe is here that thou payest him not due

homage and worship?” Hearing these words the Speaking-Bird forthright

ceased his shrilling and at the same moment all the other songsters sat

in deepest silence; for they were loyal to their liege lord nor durst

any one utter a note when he held his peace. The Speaking-Bird then

spake in human voice saying, “O great King, may Almighty Allah by His

Might and Majesty accord thee health and happiness;” so the Shah

returned the salutation and the Slave of Princess Perizadah ceased not

to shower blessings upon his head. Meanwhile the tables were spread

after sumptuous fashion and the choicest meats were set before the

company which was seated in due order and degree, the Shah placing

himself hard by the Speaking-Bird and close to the casement where the

cage was hung. Then the dish of green cucumbers having been set before

him, he put forth his hand to help himself, but drew it back in

wonderment when he saw that the cucumbers, ranged in order upon the

plate, were stuffed with pearls which appeared at either end. He asked

the Princess and her brothers, “What is this dish? It cannot be meant

for food; then wherefore is it placed before the Shah? Explain to me, I

command you, what this thing meaneth.” They could not give an answer

unknowing what reply to make, and as all held their peace the

Speaking-Bird answered for them saying, “O King of the Age and the Time,

dost thou deem it strange to see a dish of cucumbers stuffed with

pearls? How much stranger then it is that thou wast not astonished to

hear that the Queen thy Consort had, contrary to the laws of Allah’s

ordinance, given birth to such animals as dog and cat and musk-rat. This

should have caused thee far more of wonder, for who hath ever heard of

woman bearing such as these?” Hereat the Shah made answer to the

Speaking-Bird, “All that thou sayest is right indeed and I know that

such things are not after the law of Almighty Allah; but I believed the

reports of the midwives, the wise women who were with the Queen such

time she was brought to bed, for they were not strangers but her own

sisters, born of the same parents as herself. How then could I do

otherwise than trust their words?” Quoth the Speaking-Bird, “O King of

kings, indeed the truth of the matter is not hidden from me. Albeit they

be the sisters of thy Queen, yet seeing the royal favours and affection

towards their cadette they were consumed with anger and hatred and

despite by reason of their envy and jealousy. So they devised evil

devices against her and their deceits at last succeeded in diverting thy

thoughts from her, and in hiding her virtues from thy sight. Now are

their malice and treason made manifest to thee; and, if thou require

further proof, do thou summon them and question them of the case. They

cannot hide it from thee and will be reduced to confess and crave thy

pardon.”——And as the morn began to dawn Shahrazad held her peace till

The end of the Six Hundred and Eighty-seventh Night.

Then said she:——I have heard, O auspicious King, that the Speaking-Bird

said also to Khusrau Shah, “These two royal brothers so comely and

stalwart and this lovely Princess, their sister, are thine own lawful

children to whom the Queen thy Consort gave birth. The midwives, thy

sisters-in-law, by reason of the blackness of their hearts and faces

bore them away as soon as they were born: indeed every time a child was

given to thee they wrapped it in a bit of blanket and putting it in a

basket committed it to the stream which floweth by the palace to the

intent that it might die an obscure death. But it so fortuned that the

Intendant of thy royal gardens espied these baskets one and all as they

floated past his grounds, and took charge of the infants he found

therein. He then caused them to be nursed and reared with all care and,

whilst they were growing up to man’s estate, he looked to their being

taught every art and science; and whilst his life endured he dealt with

them and brought them up in love and tenderness as though they had been

his very own. And now, O Khusrau Shah, wake from thy sleep of ignorance

and heedlessness, and know that these two Princes Bahman and Parwez and

the Princess Perizadah their sister are thine own issue and thy rightful

heirs.” When the King heard these words and was assured of their purport

being true and understood the evil doing of those Satans, his

sisters-in-law, he said, “O Bird, I am indeed persuaded of thy

soothfastness, for when I first saw these youths at the hunting-ground

my bowels yearned with affection towards them and my heart felt

constrained to love them as though they had been my own seed. Both they

and their sister have drawn my affections to them as a magnet draweth

iron: and the voice of blood crieth to me and compelleth me to confess

the tie and to acknowledge that they are my true children, borne in the

womb of my Queen, whose direful Destiny I have been the means of

carrying out.” Then turning to the Princes and their sister he said with

tearful eyes and broken voice, “Ye are my children and henceforth do ye

regard me as your father.” At this they ran to him with rare delight and

falling on his neck embraced him. Then they all sat down to meat and

when they had finished eating, Khusrau Shah said to them, “O my

children, I must now leave you, but Inshallah—Allah willing—I will come

again to-morrow and bring with me the Queen your mother.” So saying he

farewelled them fondly and mounting his horse departed to his palace;

and no sooner had he seated himself upon his throne than he summoned the

Grand Wazir and commanded him saying, “Do thou send this instant and

bind in heaviest bonds those vile women, the sisters of my Queen; for

their ill deeds have at last come to light and they deserve to die the

death of murtherers. Let the Sworder forthright make sharp his sword;

for the ground thirsteth for their blood. Go see thyself that they are

beheaded without stay or delay: await not other order, but instantly

obey my commandment.” The Grand Wazir went forth at once and in his

presence the Envious Sisters were decapitated and thus underwent fit

punishment for their malice and their evil doing. After this, Khusrau

Shah with his retinue walked afoot to the Cathedral-mosque whereby the

Queen had been imprisoned for so many years in bitter grief and woe, and

with his own hands he led her forth from her cage and tenderly embraced

her. Then seeing her sad plight and her care-worn countenance and

wretched attire he wept and cried, “Allah Almighty forgive me this mine

unjust and wrongful dealing towards thee. I have put to death thy

sisters who deceitfully and despitefully raised my wrath and anger

against thee, the innocent, the guiltless; and they have received due

retribution for their misdeeds.”——And as the morn began to dawn

Shahrazad held her peace till

The end of the Six Hundred and Eighty-eighth Night.

Then said she:——I have heard, O auspicious King, that the King spake

kindly and fondly to his Consort, and told her all that had betided him,

and what the Speaking-Bird had made known to him, ending with these

words, “Come now with me to the palace where thou shalt see thy two sons

and daughter grown up to become the loveliest of beings. Hie with me and

embrace them and take them to thy bosom, for they are our children, the

light of our eyes. But first do thou repair to the Hammám and don thy

royal robes and jewels.” Meanwhile tidings of these events were noised

about the city how the King had at length shown due favour to the Queen,

and had released her from bondage with his own hands and prayed

forgiveness for the wrongs he had done to her; and how the Princes and

the Princess had been proved to be her true-born children, and also how

that Khusrau Shah had punished her sisters who conspired against her: so

joy and gladness prevailed both in city and kingdom, and all the folk

blessed the Shah’s Bánú and cursed the Satanesses her sisters. And next

day when the Queen had bathed in the Hammam and had donned royal dress

and regal jewels, she went to meet her children together with the King

who led up to her the Princes Bahman and Parwez and the Princess

Perizadah and said, “See, here are thy children, fruit of thy womb and

core of thy heart, thine own very sons and thy daughter: embrace them

with all a mother’s love and extend thy favour and affection to them

even as I have done. When thou didst give them birth, thine ill-omened

sisters bore them away from thee and cast them into yonder stream and

said that thou hadst been delivered first of a puppy, then of a kitten

and lastly of a musk-ratling. I cannot console myself for having

credited their calumnies and the only recompense I can make is to place

in thine embrace these three thou broughtest forth, and whom Allah

Almighty hath restored to us and hath made right worthy to be called our

children.” Then the Princes and Princess fell upon their mother’s neck

and fondly embraced her weeping tear-floods of joy. After this the Shah

and the Banu sat down to meat together with their children; and, when

they had made an end of eating, King Khusrau Shah repaired to the garden

with his Consort that he might show her the Singing-Tree and the

fountain of Golden-Water, whereat the Queen was filled with wonder and

delight. Next they turned to the belvedere and visited the Speaking-Bird

of whom, as they sat at meat, the King had spoken to her in highest

praise, and the Queen rejoiced in his sweet voice and melodious singing.

And when they had seen all these things, the King mounted horse, Prince

Bahman riding on his right hand and on his left Prince Parwez, while the

Queen took Princess Perizadah with her inside her litter, and thus they

set forth for the palace. As the royal cavalcade passed the city walls

and entered the capital with royal pomp and circumstance, the subjects

who had heard the glad tidings thronged in multitudes to see their

progress and volleyed shouts of acclamation; and as the lieges had

grieved aforetime to see the Queen-consort imprisoned, so now they

rejoiced with exceeding joy to find her free once more. But chiefly they

marvelled to look upon the Speaking-Bird, for the Princess carried the

cage with her, and as they rode along thousands of sweet-toned songsters

came swarming round them from every quarter, and flew as an escort to

the cage, filling the air with marvellous music; while flocks of others,

perching upon the trees and the housetops, carolled and warbled as it

were to greet their lord’s cage accompanying the royal cavalcade. And

when the palace was reached, the Shah and his Queen and his children sat

down to a sumptuous banquet; and the city was illuminated, and

everywhere dancings and merry-makings testified to the joy of the

lieges; and for many days these revels and rejoicings prevailed

throughout the capital and the kingdom where every man was blithe and

happy and had feastings and festivities in his house. After these

festivals King Khusrau Shah made his elder son Bahman heir to his throne

and kingdom and committed to his hands the affairs of state in their

entirety, and the Prince administered affairs with such wisdom and

success that the greatness and glory of the realm were increased

twofold. The Shah also entrusted to his youngest son Parwez the charge

of his army, both of horsemen and foot-soldiers; and Princess Perizadah

was given by her sire in marriage to a puissant King who reigned over a

mighty country; and lastly the Queen-mother forgot in perfect joy and

happiness the pangs of her captivity. Destiny ever afterwards endowed

them, one and all, with days the most delectable and they led the

liefest of lives until at last there came to them the Destroyer of

delights and the Sunderer of societies and the Depopulator of palaces

and the Garnerer of graveyards and the Reaper for Resurrection-day, and

they became as though they never had been. So laud be to the Lord who

dieth not and who knoweth no shadow of change.