than sleepy, finish for us thy tale that we may cut short the watching
of this our latter night!” She replied:——With love and good will! It
hath reached me, O auspicious King, the director, the right-guiding,
lord of the rede which is benefiting and of deeds fair-seeming and
worthy celebrating, that the Khwajah stinted not wending until he found
himself without the town, where he was expectedly met by a wight in
Darwaysh-garb to whom he salam’d and by whom he was saluted. Presently
the holy man turned to the merchant and seeing him changed of colour and
conduct asked him, “What is with thee to do, and what ill hast thou to
rue that thy case and complexion are so changed to view?” “O Fakir,”
answered the other, “verily a matter of marvel hath betided me and I
know not how to act therein.” Quoth the ghostly man, “And what may that
be?” whereupon the Merchant related to him all his affair first and
last, and how he had heard a Voice saying to him, “In very deed thy
daughter shall conceive after unlawful fashion by the King’s son of
Al-Irak.” The Darwaysh was surprised on hearing these words from him and
said in his thought, “There is no averting of adversity foredoomed and
Allah will do whatso he will;” presently adding, “O Khwajah, in yonder
direction riseth a mountain Jabal al-Saháb[502] hight, which is
impenetrable or to mankind or to Jinn-kind; but given thou avail to
reach it thou wilt find therein and about the middle combe thereof a
vast cavern two miles in breadth by an hundred long. Here, an thou have
in thee force and thou attain thereto and lodge thy daughter, haply
shall Allah Almighty conserve and preserve the maid from what evils thou
heardest the Voice declare to thee for her destiny: however, thou shalt
on no wise reach those highlands until thou shalt have expended thereon
a matter of much money. Moreover at the head and front of that cave[503]
is an inner crevice which, extending to the mountain-top, admitteth
daylight into its depths and displayeth a small pavilion by whose side
be five-fold pleasaunce-gardens with flowers and fruits and rills and
trees besprent and birds hymning Allah, the One, the Omnipotent. Now an
thou avail to convey thy daughter to that place, she shall dwell there
secure, safe-guarded.” As soon as the Khwajah heard those words from the
Fakir, there faded from his heart whatso there was of thought and
forethought and cark and care and he took the hand of the Religious whom
he led to his home and honoured him and robed him, for that he had
indicated such place of protection. When the maiden reached the age of
five and had waxed killing in beauty, her father brought her a learned
Divine with whom she began reading and who taught her the Koran and
writing and the art of caligraphy;[504] and when she had seen the first
decade, she fell to studying astrology and astronomy and the aspect of
the Heavens. Such was her case; but as regards that of her sire the
Merchant, from the hour he forgathered with the Darwaysh he ceased not
to hold him in his heart and presently he proposed to take him and
travel with him to the mountain aforementioned. So they set out together
and when they reached it they found it a site right strong as though
fortified, and entering the antre they fell to considering it right and
left till they reached its head where they came upon the little
pavilion. After all this quoth the Fakir, “Indeed such stead shall
safe-guard thy daughter from the shifts of the Nights and the Days;”
withal was he unknowing that the Decreed be determined and must perforce
be done, albeit Doom be depending from the skirts of the clouds.[505]
And the Religious ceased not showing the site until he caused his
companion enter the parterres, which he found as they had been described
to him with flowers and fruits and streams and trees besprent and birds
hymning the One, the Omnipotent. As soon as they had finished solacing
themselves with the sights, they fared back to their town where, during
their absence-term, the damsel’s mother had made ready for them viaticum
and presents, and by the time the twain returned they found ready to
hand everything of travel-gear and all the wants of wayfare. So they
equipped themselves and set forth, taking with them the maiden together
with five white slave-girls and ten negresses and as many sturdy black
chattels who loaded the packs upon the mules’ and the camels’ backs.
Then they fell to cutting across the wilds and wolds, each and everyone
intent upon ministering to the maiden, and they ceased not faring until
they drew near the mountain, and they took station by the cavern-door.
Here they unloaded the bales and burthens and transported them to the
pavilion within the cave, after which the Merchant’s daughter went in
and as she walked forwards fell to gazing, rightwards and leftwards,
until such time as she had reached the pavilion. Presently she found it
poikilate of corners and columns, and she was assured that the distance
of that mountain from her father’s town measured the march of a
full-told month. And whenas she had taken seat and had settled in that
pavilion, her father considered the unapproachable nature of the place
and waxed contented of heart and his mind became right of rede, because
he was certified of his daughter that she was safe from the tricks of
Time and every trickster.[506] So he tarried beside her for a decade of
days, after which he farewelled her and wended him home, leaving the
damsel in the mountain-cave. Thus fared it with these; but as regards
the case of the Prince of Al-Irak, his father who owned no issue, or
man-child or girl-child, lay sleeping one night of the nights when, lo
and behold! he heard the words, “All things befal by Fate and Fortune.”
Hereat he arose from slumber being sore startled and cried, “Laud to the
Lord whom I have heard say[507] that all things depend upon Doom and
Destiny.” On the next night he slept with his spouse who by leave of
Almighty Allah forthright conceived. When her pregnancy became manifest
the Sovran rejoiced and he scattered and largessed and doled alms-deeds
to the widows and paupers and the mean and miserable; and he sued the
Creator on high saying, “O Lord vouchsafe to me a man-boy which may
succeed me in the reign, and deign Thou make him a child of life.”[508]
But when the Queen’s time had sped she was seized by labour-pangs and
delivery-pains, after which she bare a babe—Glory be to God who created
him and confirmed what He had wrought in the creation of that child who
was like unto a slice of the moon! They committed him to the wet-nurses
who fell to suckling him and tending him and fondling him till the
milk-term was completed, and when his age had reached the sixth year,
his father brought for him a Divine perfect in knowledge of all the
sciences, spiritual and temporal, and the craft of penmanship and what
not. Accordingly, the boy began to read and study under his learner
until he had excelled him in every line of lore, and he became a writer
deft, doughty in all the arts and sciences: withal his sire knew not
that was doomed to him of dule and dolours.——And Shahrazad was surprised
by the dawn of day and fell silent and ceased to say her permitted say.
Then quoth her sister Dunyazad, “How sweet is thy story, O sister mine,
and how enjoyable and delectable!” Quoth she, “And where is this
compared with that I would relate to you on the coming night an the King
suffer me to survive?” Now when it was the next night and that was
The Seven Hundred and Ninetieth Night,
Dunyazad said to her, “Allah upon thee, O my sister, an thou be other
than sleepy, finish for us thy tale that we may cut short the watching
of this our latter night!” She replied:——With love and good will! It
hath reached me, O auspicious King, the director, the right-guiding,
lord of the rede which is benefiting and of deeds fair-seeming and
worthy celebrating, that the Prince became a penman doughty in all
knowledge, withal he wist not that was written for him of dule and
dolours. This lasted until his tenth year, and the old King rejoiced in
him and caused him to back steeds until he had mastered all of
horsemanship, and he waxed accomplished in hunting and birding and he
had attained the bourne of _omnis res scibilis_. Every morning he would
superintend the governance of his sire in the office of Commandments and
direct him to affairs wherein lay rede that was right until, one day of
the days, his parent said to him “O my son, do thou rule for a day and I
will govern on the next.” “O my father,” said he, “I am young of years
nor is it meet that I meddle with public matters or sit in thy Divan.”
Now when he reached the age of fourteen and had entered upon man’s
estate and had waxed perfect in the words of ordinance and had become
complete and sanspareil in beauty and loveliness, the King resolved upon
marrying him, but he consented not, nor did his heart incline to
womankind for the being in the All-Knowledge of Almighty Allah all that
was foredoomed to him from Time beginningless. Presently on a chance day
his nature longed for the hunt and chase, and he asked leave of his sire
who consented not, fearing for his safety; but he said in himself, “An I
go not I will slay myself;”[509] and so he privily apprized of his
intent a party of his dependents who, all and every, prepared to ride
forth with him into the Desert. Now the King had in his stables a
stallion, known as Abú Hamámah,[510] which was kept alone in a smaller
stall, and he was chained by four chains to a like number of posts[511]
and was served by two grooms who never could draw nigh to him or let him
loose; nor could any, save only his lord, approach him with bridle or
saddle or aught of horse-gear. But when the Prince had designed to fare
forth a-hunting and a-birding, he went in to his father’s steed Abu
Hamamah by hest of Allah Almighty’s might over him and for what was
hidden to him in the Future, and found him chained and tethered; and, as
the horse pleased him and affected his fancy, he approached him and
gentled him with caressing hands. The stallion also at that time under
decree of Destiny was influenced by the Lord and directed towards the
Prince for the sake of that which was hidden from him in the World of
Secrets. So he continued to gentle the animal and to caress him and to
make much of him, and he was ever the more pleased with him, and said to
himself, “Verily my riding forth to the hunt and chase shall not be save
upon this stallion;” and he ceased not pacing and pressing around him,
soothing him the while, until the steed showed subjection and neither
started nor lashed-out nor indeed moved a limb, but stood like a man
obedient and dependent. And when the youth’s glance wandered around he
saw beside the stallion a closet, and as he neared it and opened it he
found therein all manner harness and equipments, such as a saddle
complete with its girths and shovel-stirrups and bit and bridle,[512]
whilst on every side was gear of warfare enfolded in the furniture, such
as scymitar and dagger;[513] and a pair of pistols. So he wondered at
this circumstance of the horse how that none could draw near him or
place upon him that harness, and he likewise marvelled at the subjection
of the steed to himself. Hereupon he carried the furniture from the
closet and going forth with it walked up to the Father of a Pigeon,
which was somewhat fearful of him and affrighted, and he uplifted the
saddle and threw it upon his back, and girthed him tight and bridled him
with the bit, when the horse became adorned as a bride who is displayed
upon her throne. Now the King’s son at times enquired of himself saying,
“An I loose this horse from his chains he will start away from me;” and
at other times quoth he, “At this hour the stallion will not think of
bolting from me,” and on this wise he abode between belief and unbelief
in his affair. And he stinted not asking of himself until his suite was
a-weary of waiting and of looking at him, so they sent to him praying
that he would hurry, and he said in his thought, “I place my trust in
Allah, for the Forewritten hath no flight therefrom.” Anon he loosed the
stallion’s chains after harnessing and girthing him straitly; then,
throwing his right leg over his back[514] mounted thereupon with a
spring and settled himself in selle and came forth. And all who looked
at that steed were unable to stand upon the road until the Prince had
ridden forwards and had overtaken the rest of his suite without the
town, whence they sought the hunting-grounds. But when they were
amiddlemost the waste lands and beyond sight of the city, the courser
glanced right and left and tossed his crest and neighed and snorted and
ran away; then shaking his head and buck-jumping under the son of the
Sultan bolted[515] with him until he became like a bird whereof is seen
no trace nor will trick avail to track.[516] When his folk beheld him
they were impotent to govern their horses until their lord had vanisht
from their view, nor had anyone the muscle or the manhood to keep up
pursuit. So waxing perplext and wildered in their wits they sought
counsel one of other saying, “Let each and every of us ride by a
separate road until such a day when haply we shall meet him.” Hereupon
the whole party dispersed and all took their own directions seeking the
Prince; and they stinted not search, anon putting out to speed and anon
retracing their steps[517] and then returning by the same road. This
endured for five days when not a soul came upon their liege lord, so
they waxed distraught nor could they find right guidance to aught they
should do. However when the trysting-day came, all gathered together and
said, “Fare we to the Sultan and acquaint we him with this and let him
devise a device for the matter of his son; because this youth is his
father’s prop and stay, nor owneth he any other than this one.” Hereupon
they set out citywards and ceased not riding until they drew near the
capital where they found a marquee pitched without the walls, and having
considered it they knew it to be the King’s own. So they drew near it
and there found the Chamberlains and Nabobs and officers of high
commandment standing round about it, and when they asked saying, “What
is the cause for setting up yonder tent in such place?” they were
answered, “Verily, whenas his son fared from him designing to hunt and
bird, on the next day his heart was straitened for the Youth and he wist
not what had befallen him. On the first night when the Prince fared
forth from him and disappeared, all went well, but on the second his
breast was straitened and in his vitals he sensed a change and ’twas at
the hour when the stallion began buck-jumping with his child and running
away. Anon he lost all patience and was unable to endure session within
his Palace so he commanded pitch his pavilion without the walls and here
we have been sitting for a space of six days, awaiting the escort to
return.” As the party drew near the marquee the bruit of them went
abroad until it came to the King’s ears.——And Shahrazad was surprised by
the dawn of day, and fell silent and ceased saying her permitted say.
Then quoth her sister Dunyazad, “How sweet and tasteful is thy tale, O
sister mine, and how enjoyable and delectable!” Quoth she, “And where is
this compared with that I would relate to you on the coming night an the
Sovran suffer me to survive?” Now when it was the next night and that
was
The Seven Hundred and Ninety-third Night,
Dunyazad said to her, “Allah upon thee, O my sister, an thou be other
than sleepy, finish for us thy tale that we may cut short the watching
of this our latter night!” She replied:——With love and good will! It
hath reached me, O auspicious King, the director, the right-guiding,
lord of the rede which is benefiting and of deeds fair-seeming and
worthy celebrating, that the King feeling his breast a-straitened bade
pitch his pavilion without the walls and tarried therein for a space of
six days and on the seventh appeared his son’s suite which had been left
behind when the horse ran away with the Prince, nor did any know what
direction the beast had taken. As soon as the bruit went abroad and came
to the ears of the bereaved father, he cried out with a single outcry
and fell to the ground aswoon, and the fainting fit lasted for two days.
But when he came to himself and asked after his son, the suite reported
all that had befallen the youth from the stallion and at that moment the
King recalled to mind the Voice which had spoken saying, “All things
befal by Fate and Fortune;” and had declared, “Resignation to the trials
sent by Allah is first and best till such time as Destiny shall win to
her end.” “If” (he mused) “my lot be forgathering with him anywheres
then needs must it be; and, if otherwise, we will be patient under the
All-might of Allah Most Highest.” Such was the case with these; but as
concerns the young Prince,[518] when the stallion started off with him
and bolted and became like a bird flying between the firmament and terra
firma, he suffered nor fatigue nor emotion, nay, he sat contented upon
the beast’s back, for that had he hent in hand a cup full of coffee
naught thereof would have been spilt. And the stallion ceased not
galloping at speed with him through the livelong day until night came on
when, seeing a lake, he halted by the side of it. The Prince thereupon
dismounted and withdrawing the bridle offered him water which he drank;
then he foddered him with forage which he ate, for our Lord had
subjected to him that steed till it became between his hands like one
familiar from the first and, as the youth had somewhat of provaunt in
his budget he drew forth of it and took food. But the Prince knew not
whither the horse was minded to bear him and the Fiat of Fate drove him
to the matter foredoomed to him from Eternity. So after that time as
often as he mounted and let loose the bridle thongs,[519] the horse
paced unguided on those wilds and wastes and hills and dales and stony
leas, and whenever they drew near a city or a town the son of the Sultan
dismounted from his steed; and, leaving him where he was, went into the
streets in order to bring provaunt and forage, after which he could
return to his beast and feed him in the same place. And he ceased not
wayfaring until he drew near a city where he designed to dismount as was
his wont and lay in somewhat of vivers and fodder, so he alighted and
leaving his horse outside the houses he went in to satisfy his need. Now
by the decree of the Decreer the King of that Capital had left it on an
excursion to hunt and bird, and he chanced return at that moment and as
he drew near the walls behold, he found the steed standing alone and
harnessed with trappings fit for the Kings. The Sultan was astounded
when he looked upon this and being on horseback himself he designed to
draw near and catch the animal, and when he came close he put forth his
hand. But the steed was scared with the scaring of a camel, and the King
bade his followers form ring around him and seize him; so they gat about
him and designed to catch him and lead him away, when suddenly the steed
screamed a scream which resounded throughout the city and when the
horses heard the cry of that stallion they turned with their riders in
headlong flight and dispersed one from other. And amongst them was the
Sultan, who, when his courser ran away with him, strove hard to pull him
up and control him, but he lost all power and whilst the rest of the
horses were trembling under their riders he swooned and fell to the
ground. Presently the followers came to his aid and found him in
fainting condition, so they propped him up and sprinkled somewhat of
water upon him, when he recovered and asked them, “Where is the horse?”
Answered they, “He is still standing in the same place;” and quoth he,
“Walláhi, needs must this affair have a cause, and do ye lie awaiting
him and see whither he will wend, for this beast God wots must be of the
Jinns.” On this wise it befel them; but as regards the horse’s owner,
the son of the Sultan, when he entered the city seeking to buy somewhat
of victual and fodder, he heard the scream of the steed and recognised
it, but of the city-folk all who had hearkened to that outcry felt their
hearts fluttering with extreme affright; so each one rose and padlocked
his shop and hardly believed that he could reach his house in safety and
this continued until the capital (even within its bazars) became empty
like a waste, a ruin. Hereupon quoth the youth, “By Allah, needs must
some matter of the matters have befallen the horse,” and so saying he
went forth the city and walked on till he neared the site where he had
left the steed when, behold, he came suddenly upon a party of people in
the middlemost whereof appeared one sitting and trembling in all his
limbs, and he saw the attendants standing about him and each one holding
in hand a horse. So he drew near him and asked him what was to do and
they acquainted him with the affair of the stallion and his scream and
the cause of the man being seated; and this was none other than the
Sultan who had been seized with affright and had fainted at the outcry
of the Father of a Pigeon. Hereupon he fell to conversing with them and
they knew not that he was the owner of the steed until such time as he
asked them, “And doth not any of you avail to draw near him?” Answered
they, “O Youth, indeed there is none who can approach him.” Quoth he,
“This is a matter which is easy to us and therein is no hindrance;” and
so saying he left them and turned towards the courser who no sooner saw
him than he shook his head at him; and he approached the beast and fell
to stroking his coat and kissing him upon the brow. After this he
strewed somewhat of fodder before him and offered him water and the
stallion ate and drank until he was satisfied. All this and the suite of
the Sultan was looking on at the Prince and presently informed their
lord, saying, “O King of the Age, a Youth hath come to us and asked as
for information touching this steed and when we told him what had
happened he approached him and gentled him and bussed him on the brow;
and after that he strewed before him somewhat of forage which he ate and
gave him water to drink and still he standeth hard by him.” When the
Sultan heard these words he marvelled and cried, “By Allah, indeed this
is a wondrous matter, but do ye fare to him and bring him to me, him and
his horse; and, if he make aught delay with you, seize and pinion him
and drag him before me debased and degraded and in other than plight
pleasurable!”——And Shahrazad was surprised by the dawn of day and fell
silent and ceased to say her permitted say. Then quoth her sister
Dunyazad, “How sweet is thy story, O sister mine, and how enjoyable and
delectable!” Quoth she, “And where is this compared with that I would
relate to you on the coming night an the King suffer me to survive?” Now
when it was the next night and that was
The Seven Hundred and Ninety-fifth Night,