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 sent to his suite bidding them bring
the owner of that stallion adding, “If he make aught delay with you drag
him before me debased and degraded, and in other than pleasurable
plight.” Accordingly, they went to him and accosting him said, “O Youth,
thou owest hearing and obeying to His Highness the King; and, if thou
come not to him with good gree we will bear thee maugre thyself.” But
the Prince, hearing these their words, set his left foot in stirrup and
throwing his right leg over the saddle mounted till he was firm of seat
upon his stallion’s back and had power over his monture. Then he asked
saying, “Who amongst you shall come near me or carry me to yonder Sultan
of yours?” Whenas they saw this from him they kept away from his
arm-reach, but inasmuch as they could not return to their King and
report saying, “We availed not to bring him,” they exclaimed, “Allah
upon thee, O Youth, that thou draw nigh with us to the Sovran and
bespeak him from the back of thy steed: so shall we be clear and bear
nor rebuke nor reproach.” Hearing this much the Prince understood what
was in their thoughts and that their design was to win free of the King
and the avoidance of blame; accordingly he said to them; “Fare ye before
me and I will follow you.”[520] But when they returned with the youth
behind them to within a short distance of the King where either of the
twain could hear the other’s words, the Prince asked, “O King of the
Age, what dost thou require of me and what is it thou wantest?” “Do thou
dismount,” answered the Sultan, “and draw near me when I will tell thee
and question thee of a certain matter:” but quoth the youth, “I will not
alight from the back of my steed and let whoso hath a claim upon me
demand satisfaction,[521] for here be the Maydán—the field of fight.” So
saying he wheeled his steed and would have made for the open country,
when the Sultan cried aloud to his followers, “Seize him and bring him
hither.” So they took horse all of them, a matter of one hundred and
fifty riders, and followed him at full speed (he still riding) and
overtook him and formed a ring around him, and he seeing this shortened
the bridle-reins and gored flanks with stirrup-irons when the beast
sprang from under him like the wafting of the wind. Then he cried out to
them, “Another day, O ye dogs;” and no sooner had they heard his outcry
than they turned from him flying and to safety hieing. When the Sultan
beheld his followers, some hundred and fifty riders, returning to the
presence in headlong flight and taking station before him, he enquired
the cause of their running, and they replied that none could approach
that horseman, adding, “Verily he cried a warcry which caused each and
every of us to turn and flee, for that we deemed him one of the Jánn.”
“Woe to you!” exclaimed the King: “an hundred and fifty riders and not
avail to prevail over a single horseman!” presently adding, “By Allah,
his say was sooth who said:—
And how many an one in the tribe they count ✿ When to one a thousand
shall ne’er amount?
Verily this youth could not be confronted by a thousand, nor indeed
could a whole tribe oppose him, and by Allah, I have been deficient in
knightly devoir for not doing him honour; however, it was not to be save
on such wise.” But the youth ceased not faring through days and nights
for the whole of four months, unknowing the while when he should reach a
place wherein to take repose. And as soon as this long wayfare ended,
suddenly a mountain towering high to the heights of heaven arose before
him; so he set his face thither, and after a further term of three
days[522] (and he ever wayfaring) he reached it and beheld upon its
flanks fair leasows with grasses and rills and trees and fruits
besprent, and birds hymning Allah the One, the Omnipotent. Anon he
alighted therein for that his heart had somewhat to say anent that
mountain, and he also marvelled thereat by cause that during his wayfare
he had never seen aught like it at all, nor anything resembling that
herbage and those streams. And after dismounting he unbridled his steed
and suffered him browse and pasture upon the greenery and drink of the
water, while he on like wise fell to eating of the fruits which hung
from the trees and taking his ease and repose. But the more he shifted
from place to place the fairer he found it than the first, so he was
delighted with the site, and as he looked upon it he improvised these
couplets:—
“O who fearest the world do thou feel right safe; ✿ Trust all to Him did
mankind create:
Fate aye, O my lord, shall come to pass ✿ While safe thou art from th’
undoomed by Fate.”
The Sultan’s son ceased not straying from stead to stead for a term of
ten days, during which he wandered round about the Mountain and solaced
himself by gazing upon the trees and waters,[523] and he was gladdened
by the warbling of the birds till at length the Doom of Destiny and the
Fiat of Fate cast him over against the door of the cave which contained
the Khwajah’s daughter with her handmaids and her negro slaves. He
looked at the entrance and marvelled and was perplexed at——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-seventh 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 when the King’s son took place before the
Cavern-door he marvelled at its strength intended to protect those
within, but he knew not if it had any inmate or an it were void of
inhabitants, seeing that the mountain was far distant and divided from
towns and cities nor could any avail to reach it. So he said in his
mind, “Sit thee down here over against the entrance amid these grasses
and trees and fruits, for an thou quit this site thou shalt find none
like it in charms and eke it shall console thee for parting from thy
people. Moreover, haply shall someone of this place pass by me and from
him I may ask tidings concerning this region and peradventure Almighty
Allah shall guide me back to my own country and I shall forgather with
my father and my folk and my friends. Indeed possibly there may be
someone within this place who when he issueth forth shall become my
familiar.” So he ceased not sitting at the door of the cave for a term
of twenty days eating of the fruits of the trees and drinking of the
water of the rain pools as likewise did his steed; but when it was the
twenty and first day, behold, the door of the antre was thrown open and
there came forth it two black slave-girls and a negro chattel, followed
five white hand-maidens, all seeking diversion and disport among those
meadows which lay on the mountain-flank and beyond. But as they paced
along their eyes fell on the son of the Sultan who was still sitting
there with his steed before him and they found him cast in the mould of
beauty and loveliness, for he had now rested in that place from his
wayfare and the perfection of charms was manifest upon him. When the
slave-girls looked at him they were overwhelmed by the marvels of his
comeliness and shapeliness and they returned in haste and hurry to their
mistress and said to her, “O our lady, verily at the cavern-door is a
Youth, never saw we a fairer than he or a seemlier of semblance, and in
very deed he resembleth thee in grace and elegance of face and form, and
before him standeth a steed even as a bride.” Now when the Merchant’s
daughter heard these words from her handmaidens, she arose and in haste
and hurry made for the cave-door and her heart was filled with gladness
and she ceased not walking till she reached it. Then she looked upon the
Prince and came forward and embraced him[524] and gave him the salam and
she continued to gaze upon and consider his beauty and comeliness, until
love to him settled in her heart and likewise the Prince’s love to her
increased. Hereupon she hent him by the hand and led him into the cavern
where he fell to looking rightwards and leftwards about the sides
thereof and wondering at what he saw therein of pleasaunces and trees
and streams and birds, until at last they reached the pavilion. But
before entering thither the Prince had led his horse and loosed him in
the leasows which lay in the cavern; and, when at last the twain ended
at the palace and went within, the attendants brought meat for him; so
he ate his sufficiency and they washed his hands and then the couple
fell to conversing together whilst all were delighted with the son of
the King. And they continued in such case until night drew nigh when
each of the handmaidens went to her chamber and lay her down and on like
wise did the black slaves until there remained none save the Prince and
the Merchant’s daughter. Then began she to excite him and incite him and
disport with him until his heart inclined towards her by reason of her
toyings and her allurements, so he drew near to her and clasped her to
his breast and at last he threw her upon her back and did away her
maidenhead. Now by hest of Allah Almighty’s All-might she conceived of
him that very night and they ceased not to be in sport and laughter
until the Creator brought on the dawn which showed its sheen and shone
and the sun arose over lowland and lawn. Then did the twain, she and he,
sit communing together, when the girl began to improvise these
couplets:—
“Loving maid in obedience doth come ✿ Trailing skirt with her pride all
astir;
And she’s meet for no man save for him ✿ And he’s meet for no maid save
for her.”[525]
After this the Khwajah’s daughter tarried with the King’s son for a term
of six months; but, from the night when he had abated her pucelage, he
never approached her at all, and she also on like wise felt no lust of
the flesh for him in any way nor did she solicit him to
love-liesse.[526] But when it was the seventh month, the youth
remembered his family and native land and he sought leave of her to
travel but she said to him, “Why dost thou not tarry beside us?” Said
he, “If in our life there be due length needs must we forgather.” Then
asked she, “O my lord, who mayest thou be?” so he declared to her his
pedigree and degree and the name of his native country and she also
informed him of her rank and lineage and her patrial stead. Presently he
farewelled her and mounting his horse fared forth from her in early
morning,——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-ninth 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’s son farewelled the Merchant’s
daughter and fared forth from her in early morning, seeking his folk and
his natal land, and he drove amiddlemost the wilds and the wolds. On
this wise it was with him; but as regards the merchant, the father of
the damsel, he and the Darwaysh after consigning her to the cavern
returned to his town and there spent six months in business as was his
wont; but on the seventh he called to mind his child and was desolated
by her absence because he had none other. So quoth he to her mother, “I
have an intent to visit the girl and look upon her and see what may be
her condition, for my heart is in sore doubt on her account and I cannot
but fancy that some unforeseen casualty hath brought calamity or that
some wayfarer may have visited her; and my thoughts are occupied with
her, so ’tis my will to fare forth and see her.” “Such act were
advisable,” quoth the wife; and so saying she fell to making him
somewhat of provaunt amounting to some ten camel-loads.[527] Presently
he led forth with him a few of his negro slaves and set out to see his
daughter on the Jabal al-Saháb. So he dove into the depths of the desert
and cut across the dales and the hills and conjoined the journeyings of
night with day for a space of three months, and about sunset-tide on the
first of the fourth behold, a rider appeared to him coming from the
breast of the waste, nor had he with him anyone. When the stranger drew
near, the Khwajah saluted him and his salam was returned by the horseman
who happened to be the Prince returning from the Merchant’s daughter.
Quoth the Khwajah, “O Youth, dismount with us in this place and let us
twain, I and thou, night together and solace ourselves with
converse;[528] then, when it shall be morning, each of us shall depart
seeking his own stead.” Quoth the Prince, “No harm in that,” and so
saying he sprang from the back of his steed and unbridled him and
suffered him to browse upon the grasses and greenery together with the
Khwajah’s cattle. Hereat the two sat down together in talk while the
slaves slaughtered a lamb and flayed it, then, having lighted a fire,
they set the meat thereupon in a chauldron and when it was cooked they
fished it out with a flesh-hook and scored it[529] and placed it in a
mighty platter which they served up to their lord and the King’s son.
Both ate of it after the measure of their sufficiency and the remnants
were borne off by the slaves for their suppers. And when the time for
night-prayers came, the two having made the Wuzú ablution performed the
orisons obligatory upon them, and anon sat down for evening converse,
overtalking the tidings of the world and its affairs, until quoth the
Merchant to the Prince, “O Youth, whence comest thou and whither art
thou wending?” Quoth the other, “Walláhi, O Khwajah, I have a wondrous
tale, nay a marvel of marvels which, were it graved with needle-gravers
upon the eye-corners were a warning to whoso would be warned. And this
it is, I am the King’s son of Al-Irak and my sire’s prop and stay in the
House of the World, and he reared me with the fairest of rearing; but
when I had grown to man’s estate and had learnt the mysteries of venerie
I longed one chance day of the days to ride forth hunting and birding.
So I went for a horse (as was my wont) to the stables, where I found yon
stallion which is with me chained to four posts; whereupon of my
ignorance, unknowing that none could approach him save myself nor any
avail to mount him, I went up to him and girthed him, and he neither
started nor moved at my gentling of him, for this was existing in the
purpose of Almighty Allah. Then I mounted him and sought my suite
without informing my sire and rode forth the city with all my many, when
suddenly the horse snorted with his nostrils and neighed through his
throttle and buckjumped in air and bolted for the wilderness swift as
bird in firmament-plain, nor wist I whither he was intending.[530] He
ceased not running away with me the whole day till eventide when we
reached a lake in a grassy mead.” (Now when the Khwajah heard the words
of the Prince his heart was heartened and presently the other pursued),
“So I took seat and ate somewhat of my vivers, my horse also feeding
upon his fodder, and we nighted in that spot and next morning I set out
and stinted not riding for a march of four months. But on the first of
the fifth I neared a towering mountain whose length and whose breadth
had no bounds, and on its flanks I found leasows manifold with trees and
fruits and streams besprent and birds hymning the One, the Omnipotent.
So I was gladdened by the sight and dismounted and unbridled my steed
whom I allowed to browse the while I ate of the fruits, and presently I
fell to roaming about from site to site. And when some time had passed I
came to the mouth of a cavern whence after a short delay on my part
fared forth slave-girls under the escort of a negro chattel. When they
beheld me they rejoiced in me, then going in they disappeared for an
hour and anon returned bringing a young lady as she was the moon of the
fourteenth night, who salam’d to me, and invited me to become her guest
and led me into the cave”——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 Eight Hundred and First 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 continued to the Merchant
saying:—The slave-girls invited me and led me into the cave until I
reached a Pavilion that was there. I tarried beside them for a matter of
some six months when I felt desolate for my folk and my native land, so
I craved leave to depart from them and farewelled them and went forth,
they sending me away with highmost honour. But when bidding them
good-bye, I covenanted with them saying, “an there be in life any length
needs must we forgather; and with these words I left them, and now ’tis
some time since I journeyed thence when thou mettest me in this place.”
Now the Merchant hearing his tale knew from the beginning what had
occurred there, and was certified of the saying of the Voice, and
judging from the tenor of the information said in his mind, “There is no
doubt or hesitation but that this be the youth to whom was appointed my
daughter, that of him she should conceive in the way of unright and the
Written[531] is now fulfilled.” So quoth the Merchant, “O Youth, where
is thy town?” and he informed him thereof. Now the Prince knew not that
he had come upon the damsel’s father by the road, whereas the Khwajah
wotted right well that this man had had to do with his daughter. As soon
as it was morning the twain farewelled each other and either of them
went his own way; but, the Khwajah fell into cark and care such as
cannot be conceived, and he fasted from food nor was meat to him sweet
nor was sleep. However, he ceased not travelling till he arrived at the
Jabal al-Sahab, when he approached the door of the cave and rapped
thereat. The handmaidens opened to him and as soon as they saw his face
they recognised him, and returning to their lady informed her thereof:
so she arose to seek him, and presently met him and salam’d to him and
kissed his hands and walked by his side until she reached the Pavilion,
where the twain, he and she, went up, and she seated him and stood
before him in his suit and service. Hereat her father looked at her and
considered her and found her colour changed and her belly grown big, and
asked her, “What is to do with thee and what is’t hath altered thy
complexion, for to-day I see thee heavy of body, and no doubt some man
has mixed[532] with thee?” Now when she heard the words of her father
she understood and was certified that he had compassed full knowledge
concerning what had befallen her, so she returned him nor answer nor
address, and she was overwhelmed with shame and confusion, and waxed
changed and was well nigh falling upon the floor. Presently she sat down
in abashment before her sire by reason of the bigness of her belly, but
he bowed in obedience before the power of Almighty Allah; and they two
ceased not conversing until fall of night, when each and every of the
handmaids had sought her own chamber that she might sleep therein. As
soon as the Khwajah remained alone with his daughter and without other
being present he said to her, “O my child, verily this matter was
foredoomed to thee from the Lord of the Heavens, and there is no Averter
of whatso is fated; but do thou relate to me what befel between thee and
the youth who owneth the steed, and who is the King’s son of Al-Irak.”
Hereupon the girl was consterned and she could return no reply, and
presently when she recovered she said to her sire, “How shall I relate
to one who is already informed of all, first and last, and thou
declarest that the foredoomed must come to pass, nor can I say
thereanent a single word?” And presently she resumed, “O my father,
verily the Youth promised me that an his life have length he would
certainly forgather with me, and I desire of thee that when thou shalt
return to thy country thou take me and carry me in thy company to him,
and reunite me with him and let me meet his sire and ask him to keep his
word, for I require none else nor shall anyone ever unveil me in
privacy. And in fine do thou marry me to him. Now whatso hath betided me
thou hast heard it from the Voice, and thou hast wearied thy soul in
transporting me to this place, fearing for me the shifts of the days,
and thou hast contraried the power of Allah, nor hath this profited thee
aught, because the Destinies which be writ upon mankind from infinity
and eternity must needs be carried out. All this was determined by
Allah, for that prosperity and adversity and benefaction and
interdiction all be from the Almighty. Do thou whatso I have said and
that which is inscribed upon my forehead shall be the quickening of me
(Inshallah—an so please God!), since patience and longsuffering are
better than restless thought.” When her father heard from her such
words, he agreed with her in all she had spoken to him, and as soon as
it was morning he fell to preparing for wayfare, he and his daughter and
his handmaidens and his negro-slaves; and on the third day they loaded
their loads and set forth on return to their country and city. Then they
conjoined the travel of night and day and pushed forward on their
journey without stay or delay for a term of five months, until they
reached their home and settled them down therein. Such was their case;
but as regards the King’s son of Al-’Irak, after he had met the girl’s
father on the road and had parted from him, without recognising him
withal, he strave for return to his own land and behold, he wandered
from the way and was confronted by a sea dashing with clashing billows.
So he was perplext as to his affair and his judgment left him and his
right wits, and he knew not what he should do or whither he should wend,
or what direction he should take or what Allah had decreed for him——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 Eight Hundred and Third Night,