that he was now rescuing the man, but, to his utter surprise, a
terrible Lion came climbing up. His mane was shaggy, his teeth were
white and cruel, and his claws were long and crooked. It seemed to the
traveller that he would be compelled to drop this terrible creature
back into the pitfall, but the Lion's voice reassured him.
"Do not be afraid," said the Lion. "You have won a protector whose
services are not to be disdained. You have given me my life to-day and
perhaps I may be able to save yours. Your fellow-man, who is still in
the pitfall, will never be able to be of such service to you."
The traveller thereupon redoubled his efforts and drew the lion to the
top.
"Friend," said the Lion, "my den is in this forest, opposite the
mountain. Come and see me, and you will always be welcome."
There still remained two prisoners to deliver, and the rope was thrown
back in the pit. The Serpent wound himself around it, and was drawn up.
"Generous friend," cried the Serpent, "I want to give you a piece of
advice, and as advice is considered to be cheap, I have no idea that
you will follow it. Serpents are considered to be wise. I have left
in the bottom of this pitfall the most outrageous impostor the world
has ever seen. Leave him to his fate if you do not wish to regret your
kindness. You seem to be too kind, but on the faith of a serpent I will
deliver you out of the first difficulty into which your good heart gets
you. My house is all along the walls of the neighboring city."
But in spite of all this advice the traveller was too generous to
permit his fellow-man to die in the pitfall, and for the fourth
time he dropped the rope. The Vizier seized it and was saved. It is
impossible to describe the joy of the Vizier at this turn of affairs.
His expressions of gratitude were effusive. He embraced his deliverer
and called him his saviour. He wanted to relate his history to the
traveller, and, in doing so began to deceive his benefactor. He spoke
only of the injustice of the King, and his discourse seemed to be so
full of truth that the traveller was grateful that it had fallen to his
lot to rescue so admirable a person.
"I live in the adjoining village," said the deposed Vizier, "and I
offer you a home there. You shall be made welcome."
The traveller thanked him heartily, but he had other ends in view.
He was on his way to the Ganges to purchase merchandise, and he
proceeded thither with that inward satisfaction that arises from the
accomplishment of a good deed. On the shores of the Ganges, in India,
the traveller entered into trade, and his fortunes prospered. He soon
found himself possessed of a large sum of money, and he was filled
with a desire to see his native country. He returned by the same road,
and, after travelling for some time, he found himself once more in
the forest where, on a former occasion, his rope had been of such
assistance to the unfortunates who had fallen into the pit.
He remembered with pleasure the eloquent words of the grateful Rustem,
and he regretted that he could not see his old friend. As for the three
animals—the Monkey, the Lion, and the Snake—their remarks had made
but little impression on his mind; he was only grateful to them for not
having devoured him.
While he was thinking of these things the rich traveller found himself
surrounded with enemies even more ferocious than the animals he had
rescued. He found himself in the midst of a band of thieves. The
robbers seized the traveller, compelled him to dismount from his horse,
took possession of his treasures, and were preparing to take his life,
when the captain of the band remarked that it would be a useless
murder. But the thieves bound the traveller at the foot of a tree, and
left him to die there of hunger.
The cries of the unfortunate traveller reached the ears of the big
Monkey that had been rescued from the pitfall. His instinct recognized
the voice of his deliverer, and he came to the rescue of the traveller.
The Monkey seized the bonds in his strong teeth, and they soon fell
apart, and it was not long before the traveller was free to go his way.
But the grateful Monkey took him to his home, where fresh fruits
appeased his hunger, and cool and pure water quenched his thirst. To
the Monkey the traveller related his sad adventure, and the recital
touched the heart of the grateful animal.
The Monkey had lived in the forest so long that he was not only
familiar with the habits of the robbers, but knew where their abode
was. To that he made haste to go. He found the robbers asleep, with
many treasures by their side. He seized bags of gold and silver and
precious stones, together with a supply of rich apparel, and carried
them to his benefactor.
Having recovered his hard-earned fortune, the traveller thanked the
Monkey, and continued on his journey. He was astonished that such a
creature could be so grateful, and reproached himself for never having
thought of the animal. He was walking along in the midst of these
reflections when he heard a terrible roaring, and a ferocious-looking
Lion appeared before him. The traveller was seized with terror. He was
so frightened that he leaned against a tree to keep from falling to the
ground. To his surprise, the King of the Forest spoke to him thus:
"Good-day, my friend, my deliverer! It was you that saved my life. I
want to show you my gratitude. Come into my cavern and take a few
moments' rest."
The conduct of the Monkey had somewhat reconciled the traveller to the
animals. Whatever fear he might have had in the presence of the Lion,
the traveller hoped that the King of Beasts would not be less generous
than the Monkey.
"I am happy to tell you," said the Lion, after having heard about
the Monkey, "that gratitude ought to be the first virtue of beasts,
since it is not that of man." At the same time the Lion thought to
himself—"How can I show my gratitude to my dear deliverer, and what
can I do for him so as not to appear inferior to the Monkey?"
He was filled with these reflections when they arrived at the
cavern. The traveller was well taken care of by the Lion. He dined
most sumptuously, drank of the best wines, and ate of the most
delicious fruits. But while they were discussing the dessert, the same
distressing thought came into the Lion's head—"What can I do to retain
my dignity and pay the sacred debt I owe my deliverer?"
But he could not think of anything suitable, and the traveller observed
it. So he said:
"What is the matter, my friend? You seem disconsolate."
"Nothing," said the Lion. "But you must promise me that you will not
leave this place until I return."
"But why?" inquired the traveller.
"You will know later," responded the lion.
"Very well," said the traveller, "here I will remain."
The Lion bounded away, and he was soon in the middle of the forest,
looking this way and that, to the right and to the left, in search of
something marvellous to give to the traveller, when all of a sudden
he saw the young Prince, the Vizier's pupil, who had been exiled,
promenading in his castle grounds. On the Prince's head there was a
turban, which was ornamented with a superb cluster of diamonds.
"That is the very thing," exclaimed the Lion, and with one bound he
seized the Prince and strangled him. Thus was the jeweller avenged, and
his diamonds were returned to him. The traveller, who had been robbed
and beaten by order of the young Prince and his Vizier, was glad to get
his jewels back, and he did not know how to be grateful enough to the
Lion, of whom he had formerly been afraid.
The traveller then set out toward the city in hopes of finding his
excellent friend Rustem. He hoped, indeed, to spend some time with
this philosopher, whom he had rescued, and who had offered to share
his house with his benefactor. With a happy heart and a light step the
traveller went on his way, and the next morning at the break of day he
reached the city where the former Vizier had taken up his abode. In
spite of the early hour the streets were crowded, and the squares were
filled with people. On all sides the populace spoke to each other in
subdued tones, as if some dreadful calamity were pending.
The curiosity of the traveller was excited, and he approached a group,
and listened. Some one was relating that the young Prince, who had been
exiled from the court, had been found bleeding and dead in the park of
the castle. It was thought that the murder of the Prince was the work
of some thief who desired to get possession of the beautiful jewels
that the young man wore.
Having his curiosity satisfied, the traveller made his way to the house
of his friend, the philosopher Rustem, where he was received with open
arms. According to the wishes of his friend, the traveller related all
the particulars of his journey, which were even more wonderful than are
related here. He told, in short, his whole history. He told Rustem of
all his troubles—how he had been rescued by a Monkey, and how he was
met by a terrible Lion, who was rejoiced to see him, and who had given
a sumptuous feast in his honor; and who, thinking this not enough, had
presented him with a magnificent cluster of diamonds.
After relating this extraordinary adventure, the traveller made bold
to exhibit to Rustem the beautiful diadem, who regarded it with a
greedy and knowing look, and who made many exclamations of surprise and
admiration. The worthy traveller did not foresee the troubles that this
unfortunate diadem was to cause him. He did not know that it had been
the cause of the death of the son of the King.
Meanwhile, Rustem was thinking to himself, "I recognize these diamonds.
They belonged to my young master. What a reward must be in store for
the one who will inform the monarch of the murderer of his child!"
Night came, and the traveller was fast asleep. The cluster of diamonds
was lying on a table. The cowardly Vizier seized it and ran to the
palace. The ingrate, cowardly as he was, would not hesitate to
sacrifice his benefactor, provided he could recover his lost power.
"Here is the property of the son whom you have so rigorously punished.
Do you recognize these diamonds? I have in my power the assassin who
had possession of this diadem."
The unfortunate King wept on seeing the familiar ornament which his
favorite son had worn. He kissed it, and pressed it to his heart as if
it had been his favorite child.
"Let the murderer be brought before me," he exclaimed, "and he shall be
thrown into the darkest dungeon."
The unfortunate traveller, who was ignorant of the crime of which he
was accused, was brought before the King with trouble and confusion
imprinted on his features. He saw the perfidious Rustem in the crowd
that surrounded him, and, remembering the wise counsels of the Monkey
and the Serpent, suspected that he had been made the victim of this
treacherous person.
"I deserve," he said, sadly, "the cruel lot that is in store for me."
The King, mistaking the true meaning of these words, thought that the
prisoner had been frightened into making a confession. He was thereupon
condemned to be burned in the public square.
Fortunately, as this punishment was to be witnessed by the whole
populace, it was postponed until after the funeral of the young
Prince. The poor traveller was cast into the dungeon set apart for the
condemned. It was dark and clammy, and on entering it he bade farewell
to life and happiness.
A friend, however, was watching over the poor traveller. It was the
Serpent he had delivered from the pitfall. Cautiously he crawled along
the damp walls and under the doors, and avoided the observation of the
jailers. The traveller recognized him at once.
"Fear nothing," said the Serpent, "I come to deliver you."
"How can you do that, my friend?" asked the traveller.
"I have promised to redeem you from the results of your own generosity,
and I am faithful to my promise. You refused to believe that man is the
most ungrateful of the animals, and that he returns evil for good. You
have forgotten the good advice given you by the Lion and the Monkey.
However, let us forget that. I will be more cunning than the vile
wretch who is seeking your ruin."
"What must be done?" the traveller asked.
"Take this herb. It alone has virtue to cure the poison with which I
have inoculated the King's favorite wife. The monarch has now become
a victim of the keenest grief, and you alone can appease it. He will
soon forget the crime of which you are accused. He who can make himself
useful is always innocent. Advertise your talents; that is the way
to success. Apply the herb I have given you, and you will perform
miracles. Farewell! time presses. Here comes the King to visit you."
The traveller took the advice of the Serpent, and it soon became known
at the court that he had an infallible remedy for all sorts of poisons,
and he was taken from the dungeon and carried to the palace, and to the
apartment of the Queen. This estimable lady was sick and pale, and it
was apparent that she was dying little by little.
The first application of the herb revived the dying Queen, and when the
remedy was applied the second time the gracious lady found herself
fully recovered.
"Your Majesty," said the traveller, "the Queen will never feel again
the cruel pains that she has suffered, and her life is hereafter
safe; but I am on the eve of terminating mine—a fate that I have not
deserved. You are too just to punish an innocent person, and I am not
the murderer of your son. That monster, Rustem, had contaminated the
Prince's youth, and it was through his corrupt counsels that the young
Prince was dragged into disgrace. You will know this villain better
when I prove to you that he is the most ungrateful of human beings."
Then the traveller related to the King the adventure in the pitfall
and all that followed. Convinced that the traveller was telling the
truth, the King ordered that the ingrate Rustem should suffer all the
tortures that had been reserved for the man who was a prisoner.
This perfidious creature, Rustem, was ignorant of all that had taken
place at the palace, and was waiting with impatience for the success
of his treasonable plots. He was aroused from his vain dreams of
greatness, seized, and hurried off to his doom.
XIV
THE ENCHANTED PRINCESS
Once upon a time there lived in a far country a young Prince, who
desired nothing better than to take to himself a wife, but none of the
women who had been presented to him suited his fancy or touched his
heart.
"How is it," he cried, "that in all my father's kingdom I am unable to
find a wife that suits me?"
The poor young Prince became disconsolate. He shed burning tears,
refused to eat or drink, and dwindled away in the sight of the sun. The
King saw his son's despair and took pity on him. So one day he called
the young Prince to him and said:
"My son, here is a gold key. Go to the top of the highest tower of my
castle, and there you will find a door. Open it and enter, and you will
then see before you the most beautiful and the most virtuous women in
the world. You can have your choice. I hope you will find among them
the wife you desire."
Filled with joy, Prince Erian took the golden key, climbed the long
stairs leading to the tower, and soon arrived at the door his father
had described. But there was no lock in which he could place the key.
He searched in vain. Disappointed, he returned to his father.
"I found the door," he said, "but the key was useless. There was no
lock."
"All that is necessary," the King replied, "is to touch the door with
your key, and immediately it will swing back on its ruby hinges, so
that you may enter."
The Prince made haste to return to the castle tower, and he had no
sooner touched the door with the key than it swung on its ruby hinges.
Never since the day when the sun first shone on this poor earth of
ours, never since the golden stars sparkled in the firmament, has such
a scene been presented to the human eye as that which Prince Erian
saw before him. An immense hall, inlaid with thousands of glistening
diamonds, sapphires as blue as the sky, and opals with their changing
hues, lay spread out before the King's son, who stood dumb with
astonishment and admiration. There were soft carpets everywhere,
unmatchable pictures, and bright-colored flowers. Silver perfuming-pans
swinging from their golden chains, and filling the air with rich
incense, burned incessantly in this enchanted place.
There were twelve windows in this wonderful hall, and in each window a
young girl stood, a living picture in a frame. All were so beautiful
and so graceful that the young Prince was dazed. Never in his wildest
dreams had he caught a glimpse of fairies quite so beautiful, and even
the water-nymphs that he had seen disporting themselves on the water's
edge were not so charming.
Dazed and delighted as he was, there was, nevertheless, a mystery that
puzzled the young Prince. In the first of the twelve windows stood a
young girl whose head was covered with a gauze veil. She alone had not
turned when the King's son entered. Prince Erian stepped to her side
and removed the veil.
"Why do you look at me?" she asked, sadly.
"Because," he replied, "you are the most charming of all the
marvellous beauties that surround you; because you are like the moon
among the stars—like the rose among the flowers of a garden."
"What do you desire of me?" the young girl asked.
"Something that makes me tremble to say it," responded Prince Erian. "I
want to make you my Queen, and live at your side."
"Alas! to marry me you must rescue me. I am the prisoner of the most
powerful magician of the earth. I am held captive by Magor, the King of
the Sorcerers."
"No matter!" cried the young Prince. "I shall rescue you. I shall die
if I do not make you mine."
"May you be victorious over my deadly enemy; but, unfortunate that I
am!" sighed the beautiful prisoner, "I fear you will share the sad
fate of the many gallant young princes who have wished to deliver me
from my bonds."
Quite happy, Prince Erian returned to his father.
"Well," said the King, "did you meet the lady of your dreams?"
"Yes, my father."
"Tell me: which did you choose?"
"The most beautiful of all," exclaimed the Prince; "the fairest of the
stars, the rose that perfumes the gardens."
"The stars are all brilliant," said the King, "and each flower sheds
its perfume. Answer me, my son; which is the lady of your choice?"
"My father, it is the veiled lady."
"Unfortunate boy, you are lost!" cried the monarch. "It is the Queen of
Golconda, the prisoner of Magor, the King of the Magicians, that you
have chosen. My poor son! to make her your queen you must take her
away from that terrible sorcerer."
"Well, my father," cried the enthusiastic young prince, "I will be her
deliverer!"
"Alas, my son!" said the King, "I fear you will fail, and then you will
be turned into a statue of stone."
"The risk is mine," cried Prince Erian. "I shall overcome him."
"Ah, my son! your defeat is certain. Remain with me."
"It is too late, my father, I cannot."
The princely lover lost no time in setting out to conquer Magor, the
King of the Magicians, who held the beautiful Princess in enchantment.
Prince Erian had been travelling for several days, when he came to a
gloomy forest. Unfortunately, in passing through this dark forest, he
lost his way, and in spite of all his efforts, he could not find it
again. He wandered about in the woods for some time when, suddenly, and
as if by magic, a stranger appeared before him.
"Good-day, friend!" exclaimed Prince Erian. "What are you doing, and
what is your name?"
"My name is Long," replied the other; "and I am looking for a master
who needs my services."
"The master is already found," said the young Prince. "If you give your
consent you shall serve me."
"Agreed!" exclaimed Long. "From this day I am entirely subject to your
orders."
"For the present," said Prince Erian. "I ask nothing of you except to
help me find my way out of this terrible forest."
"Is that all? Wait a moment." With this, Long stretched himself to
such an amazing extent that his head was above the tallest trees of the
forest.
"What are you doing?" asked the astonished Prince.
"I am trying to find our way out." In a little while Long made himself
short again, no taller than an ordinary man.
"Well, have you found the road?" the Prince inquired anxiously.
"Surely," replied Long. "We must take the one to the right of you, and
soon we shall be out of this jungle."
So the Prince and his companion took the road to the right and soon
found themselves clear of the impenetrable forest. As they came to its
borders they saw a stout man sitting at the foot of a tree. He was
round as any barrel, and he sat breathing heavily and wiping his face
with the back of his hand.
"Good-day, my slim friend," said the Prince. "What are you doing here,
and what is your name?"
"My father named me Large," replied the stout man; "and I am resting in
the shade here, waiting for some one who needs my services."
"Your services? And what can you do, my man?" inquired the Prince.
Large made no reply. He simply caused his body to expand to such an
extent that he filled the open field. Before Prince Erian and Long
could recover from their astonishment, Large caused himself to subside,
being careful however, not to collapse so suddenly as to create a great
storm.
"Now, then," said he, "can I be of service to any one?"
"I think you can," the Prince answered; "and since you possess such an
extraordinary talent, I will take you as my servant. Come with me."
"Gladly!" exclaimed Large, and the Prince and his two servants
continued on their way.
As the travellers drew near their journey's end, they saw a man leaning
against an immense oak. He had a bandage over his eyes, and he stood
motionless, appearing to be very much preoccupied.
"Take this unfortunate person into your service," Long suggested to the
Prince. "Who knows but he may prove to be of great assistance to you
later on?"
"My friend," said Prince Erian, addressing the stranger, "what is your
name?"
"My father named me Keen Eyes," said the other.
"A pretty neat name for a blind man," remarked the Prince. "What can
you do?"
"My trade is to see clearly," replied Keen Eyes. "My eyes are bandaged
so that my sight may do no damage to the objects I fix my gaze on."
"Really!" exclaimed Prince Erian; "if your power is so great, give us
an example of it."
"Look!" cried Keen Eyes. "Do you see that immense rock yonder?"
"Yes."
"Keep your eyes on it! In an instant it shall fly to pieces."
Keen Eyes removed his bandage, looked steadily upon the imposing mass
of granite, and it seemed to melt before his eyes; it crumbled and fell
to pieces.
"My friend," said the Prince, "you are an extraordinary man. If you
will come with me, I will take you as my servant."
Keen Eyes gladly accepted the offer.
After travelling a little farther, Prince Erian and his servants,
Long, Large, and Keen Eyes, came upon a magnificent castle, the walls
of which were armored with iron and brass. This castle belonged to the
terrible Magor, the King of the Magicians, who held the Princess of
Golconda in the spell of his enchantment.
"This is the end of our journey," said Prince Erian.
He then explained to his servants the bold scheme he had in mind, and
they made an effort to enter at once into the castle, but the door was
made of brass and it was barred and locked.
"What shall we do?" said the young Prince.
"Wait!" answered Keen Eyes. He raised his bandage, gave the door one
glance and it crumbled into pieces. Without further ceremony, the four
travellers entered the castle.
It was a wonderful place, this home of the King of the Sorcerers.
On every side statues of gold and silver were to be found, luminous
flowers, and amidst all the beauty, charming birds that spoke the
language of human beings.
In one room of the castle the travellers found a table already set and
covered with the most palatable dishes and perfumed wines. The Prince
and his companions were very hungry; so they sat themselves down to the
feast spread before them, and ate a great deal and drank a great deal
more. After this excellent meal, Prince Erian and his three servants
went out to walk in the beautiful garden. They had scarcely gone ten
paces when they met Magor and his charming captive. At sight of these
unknown persons, the Sorcerer stood dumb with amazement. At last, full
of rage, he cried out: