told me where I should find the treasure, and assured me that whatever
idea I might have formed of its splendour, I should find the reality
far exceed my expectations. At last, when the generous old man died,
I, as his sole heir, performed for him the last offices, and, taking
possession of his property, of which this house is a part, proceeded
at once to see this treasure. I confess to you, my lord, that I was
thunderstruck. I found it to be, if not inexhaustible, at least so
vast that I could never expend it, even if heaven were to permit me to
live beyond the age of man. My resolution therefore was at once
formed, and instead of keeping the promise I made to the old merchant,
I spend my riches freely. It is my boast that there is no one in Basra
who has not benefited by my generosity. My house is open to all who
desire my aid, and they leave it perfectly contented. Do you call it
_possessing_ a treasure if it must not be touched? And can I make a
better use of it than by endeavouring to relieve the unhappy, to
receive strangers with liberality, and to lead a life of generosity
and charity? Every one thought I should be ruined a second time.
"If Aboulcassem," said they, "had all the treasures of the commander
of the faithful, he would spend them."
But they were much astonished, when, instead of seeing my affairs in
disorder, they, on the contrary, appeared every day to become more
flourishing. No one could imagine how my fortune increased, while I
was thus squandering it. As the old man predicted, a feeling of envy
was excited against me. A rumour prevailed that I had found a
treasure. This was sufficient to attract the attention of a number of
persons greedy of gain. The lieutenant of police at Basra came to see
me.
"I am," said he, "the daroga, and am come to demand where the treasure
is which enables you to live in such magnificence."
I trembled at these words, and remained silent. He guessed from my
confused air that his suspicions were not without foundation; but
instead of compelling me to discover my treasure, "My lord
Aboulcassem," continued he, "I exercise my office as a man of sense.
Make me some present worthy of my discretion in this affair, and I
will retire."
"How much do you ask?" said I.
"I will content myself with ten gold sequins a day."
"That is not enough--I will give you a hundred. You have only to come
here every day or every month, and my treasurer will count them out
to you."
The lieutenant of police was transported with joy at hearing these
words. "My lord," said he, "I wish that you could find a thousand
treasures. Enjoy your fortune in peace; I shall never dispute your
possession of it." Then taking a large sum of money in advance he went
his way.
A short time after the vizir Aboulfatah-Waschi sent for me, and,
taking me into his cabinet, said:
"Young man, I hear you have discovered a treasure. You know the fifth
part belongs to God; you must give it to the king. Pay the fifth, and
you shall remain the quiet possessor of the other four parts."
I answered him thus: "My lord, I acknowledge that I _have_ found a
treasure, but I swear to you at the same time that I will confess
nothing, though I should be torn in pieces. But I promise to give you
every day a thousand gold sequins, provided you leave me in peace."
Aboulfatah was as tractable as the lieutenant of police. He sent his
confidential servant, and my treasurer gave him thirty thousand
sequins for the first month. This vizir, fearing no doubt that the
king of Basra would hear of what had passed, thought it better to
inform him himself of the circumstance. The prince listened very
attentively, and thinking the affair required investigating, sent to
summon me. He received me with a smiling countenance, saying:
"Approach, young man, and answer me what I shall ask you. Why do you
not show me your treasure? Do you think me so unjust, that I shall
take it from you?"
"Sire," replied I, "may the life of your majesty be prolonged for
ages; but if you commanded my flesh to be torn with burning pincers I
would not discover my treasure; I consent every day to pay to your
majesty two thousand gold sequins. If you refuse to accept them, and
think proper that I should die, you have only to order it; but I am
ready to suffer all imaginable torments, sooner than satisfy your
curiosity."
The king looked at his vizir as I said this, and demanded his opinion.
"Sire," said the minister, "the sum he offers you is considerable--it
is of itself a real treasure. Send the young man back, only let him be
careful to keep his word with your majesty."
The king followed this advice; he loaded me with caresses, and from
that time, according to my agreement, I pay every year to the prince,
the vizir, and the lieutenant of police, more than one million sixty
thousand gold sequins. This, my lord, is all I have to tell you. You
will now no longer be surprised at the presents I have made you, nor
at what you have seen in my house.
CONCLUSION OF THE STORY OF THE TREASURES OF BASRA.
When Aboulcassem had finished the recital of his adventures, the
caliph, animated with a violent desire to see the treasure, said to
him, "Is it possible that there is in the world a treasure that your
generosity can never exhaust? No! I cannot believe it, and if it was
not exacting too much from you, my lord, I would ask to see what you
possess, and I swear never to reveal what you may confide to me." The
son of Abdelaziz appeared grieved at this speech of the caliph's. "I
am sorry, my lord," he said, "that you have conceived this curiosity;
I cannot satisfy it but upon very disagreeable conditions."
"Never mind," said the prince, "whatever the conditions, I submit
without repugnance."
"It is necessary," said Aboulcassem, "that I blindfold your eyes, and
conduct you unarmed and bareheaded, with my drawn scimitar in my hand,
ready to cut you to pieces at any moment, if you violate the laws of
hospitality. I know very well I am acting imprudently, and ought not
to yield to your wishes; but I rely on your promised secrecy, and
besides that, I cannot bear to send away a guest dissatisfied."
"In pity then satisfy my curiosity," said the caliph.
"That cannot be just yet," replied the young man, "but remain here
this night, and when my domestics are gone to rest I will come and
conduct you from your apartment."
He then called his people, and by the light of a number of wax tapers,
carried by slaves in gold flambeaux, he led the prince to a
magnificent chamber, and then retired to his own. The slaves disrobed
the caliph, and left him to repose, after placing at the head and foot
of his bed their lighted tapers, whose perfumed wax emitted an
agreeable odour. Instead of taking any rest, Haroun-al-Raschid
impatiently awaited the appearance of Aboulcassem, who did not fail to
come for him towards the middle of the night. "My lord," he said, "all
my servants are asleep. A profound silence reigns in my house. I will
now show you my treasure upon the conditions I named to you."
"Let us go then," said the caliph. "I am ready to follow you, and I
again swear that you will not repent thus satisfying my curiosity."
The son of Abdelaziz aided the prince to dress; then putting a bandage
over his eyes, he said, "I am sorry, my lord, to be obliged to treat
you thus; your appearance and your manners seem worthy of confidence,
but--"
"I approve of these precautions," interrupted the caliph, "and I do
not take them in ill part."
Aboulcassem then made him descend by a winding staircase into a garden
of vast extent, and after many turnings they entered the place where
the treasure was concealed. It was a deep and spacious cavern closed
at the entrance by a stone. Passing through this they entered a long
alley, very dark and steep, at the end of which was a large saloon,
brilliantly lighted by carbuncles. When they arrived at this room the
young man unbound the caliph's eyes, and the latter gazed with
astonishment on the scene before him. A basin of white marble, fifty
feet in circumference and thirty feet deep, stood in the middle of the
apartment. It was full of large pieces of gold, and ranged round it
were twelve columns of the same metal, supporting as many statues
composed of precious stones of admirable workmanship. Aboulcassem
conducted the prince to the edge of the basin and said to him, "This
basin is thirty feet deep. Look at that mass of gold pieces. They are
scarcely diminished the depth of two fingers. Do you think I shall
soon spend all this?"
Haroun, after attentively looking at the basin, replied: "Here are, I
confess, immense riches, but you still may exhaust them."
"Well," said the young man, "when this basin is empty I shall have
recourse to what I am now going to show you."
He then proceeded to another room, more brilliant still, where on a
number of red brocaded sofas were immense quantities of pearls and
diamonds. Here was also another marble basin, not so large or so deep
as that filled with gold pieces, but to make up for this, full of
rubies, topazes, emeralds, and all sorts of precious stones. Never was
surprise equal to that of the caliph's. He could scarcely believe he
was awake, this new basin seemed like enchantment. His gaze was still
fixed on it, when Aboulcassem made him observe two persons seated on a
throne of gold, who he said were the first masters of the treasure.
They were a prince and princess, having on their heads crowns of
diamonds. They appeared as if still alive, and were in a reclining
posture, their heads leaning against each other. At their feet was a
table of ebony, on which were written these words in letters of gold:
"I have amassed all these riches during the course of a long life. I
have taken and pillaged towns and castles, have conquered kingdoms and
overthrown my enemies. I have been the most powerful monarch in the
world, but all my power has yielded to that of death. Whoever sees me
in this state ought to reflect upon it. Let him remember that once I
was living, and that he also must die. He need not fear diminishing
this treasure: it will never be exhausted. Let him endeavour so to use
it as to make friends both for this world and the next. Let him lead a
life of generosity and charity, for in the end he must also die. His
riches cannot save him from the fate common to all men."
"I will no longer disapprove of your conduct," said Haroun to the
young man on reading these words; "you are right in living as you now
do, and I condemn the advice given you by the old merchant. But I
should like to know the name of this prince. What king could have
possessed such riches? I am sorry this inscription does not inform
us."
The young man next took the caliph to see another room in which also
there were many rarities of even greater value than what he had seen,
amongst others several trees like the one he had given the prince.
Haroun would willingly have passed the remainder of the night admiring
all that was contained in this wonderful cavern, but the son of
Abdelaziz, fearing to be observed by his servants, wished to return
before daybreak in the same manner as they came, namely, the caliph
blindfolded and bareheaded, and Aboulcassem with his scimitar in his
hand, ready to cut off the prince's head if he made the least
resistance. In this order they traversed the garden, and ascended by
the winding stairs to the room where the caliph had slept. Finding the
tapers still burning, they conversed together till sunrise; the caliph
then, with many thanks for the reception he had received, returned to
the caravansary, from whence he took the road to Bagdad, with all the
domestics and presents he had accepted from Aboulcassem.
Two days after the prince's departure, the vizir Aboulfatah, hearing
of the magnificent gifts that Aboulcassem made to strangers when they
came to see him, and above all astonished at the regularity of his
payments to the king, the lieutenant, and himself, resolved to spare
no means to discover the treasure from which he drew such
inexhaustible supplies. This minister was one of those wicked men to
whom the greatest crimes are nothing, when they wish to gain their own
ends. He had a daughter eighteen years of age, and of surpassing
beauty. She was named Balkis, and possessed every good quality of
heart and mind. Prince Aly, nephew of the king of Basra, passionately
loved her; he had already demanded her of her father, and they were
soon to be married. Aboulfatah summoned Balkis one day to his presence
and said: "My daughter, I have great need of your assistance. I wish
you to array yourself in your richest robes, and go this evening to
the house of the young Aboulcassem. You must do every thing to charm
him, and oblige him to discover the treasure he has found."
Balkis trembled at this speech; her countenance expressed the horror
she felt at this command. "My lord," said she, "what is it you propose
to your daughter? Do you know the peril to which you may expose her?
Consider the stain on your honour, and the outrage against the prince
Aly."
"I have considered all this," answered the vizir, "but nothing will
turn me from my resolution, and I order you to prepare to obey me."
The young Balkis burst into tears at these words. "For heaven's sake,
my father," said the weeping girl, "stifle this feeling of avarice,
seek not to despoil this man of what is his own. Leave him to enjoy
his riches in peace."
"Be silent, insolent girl!" said the vizir angrily, "it does not
become you to blame my actions. Answer me not. I desire you to repair
to the house of Aboulcassem, and I swear that if you return without
having seen his treasure, I will kill you."
Balkis, hearing this dreadful alternative, retired to her apartment
overwhelmed with grief; she called her women, and made them attire her
in the richest apparel and most costly ornaments, though in reality
she needed nothing to enhance her natural beauty. No young girl was
less desirous to please than Balkis. All she feared was appearing too
beautiful in the eyes of the son of Abdelaziz, and not sufficiently so
to prince Aly.
At length, when night arrived and Aboulfatah judged it time for his
daughter to go, he secretly conducted her to the door of the young
man's house, where he left her, after again declaring he would kill
her if she returned unsuccessful. She timidly knocked and desired to
speak to the son of Abdelaziz. A slave led her to a room where his
master was reposing on a sofa, musing on the vicissitudes of his past
life. As soon as Balkis appeared Aboulcassem rose to receive his
visitor; he gravely saluted her, and, taking her hand with a
respectful air, seated her on a sofa, at the same time inquiring why
she honoured him by this visit. She answered, that hearing of his
agreeable manners, she had resolved to spend an evening in his
company.
"Beautiful lady," said he, "I must thank my lucky star for procuring
me this delightful interview; I cannot express my happiness."
After some conversation supper was announced. They seated themselves
at a table covered with choice delicacies. A great number of officers
and pages were in attendance, but Aboulcassem dismissed them that the
lady might not be exposed to their curious looks. He waited on her
himself, presenting her with the best of every thing, and offering her
wine in a gold cup enriched with diamonds and rubies. But all these
polite attentions served but to increase the lady's uneasiness; and at
length, frightened at the dangers which menaced her, she suddenly
changed countenance and became pale as death, whilst her eyes filled
with tears.
"What is it, madam?" said the young man much surprised; "why this
sudden grief? Have I said or done any thing to cause your tears to
flow? Speak, I implore you; inform me of the cause of your sorrow."
"Oh, Mahomet!" exclaimed Balkis, "I can dissimulate no longer; the
part I am acting is insupportable. I have deceived you, Aboulcassem; I
am a lady of rank. My father, who knows you have a hidden treasure,
wishes me to discover where you have concealed it. He has ordered me
to come here and spare no means to induce you to show it me. I refused
to do so, but he has sworn to kill me if I return without being able
to satisfy his curiosity. What an unhappy fate is mine! If I was not
beloved by a prince who will soon marry me, this cruel vow of my
father's would not appear so terrible."
When the daughter of Aboulfatah had thus spoken, Aboulcassem said to
her, "Madam, I am very glad you have informed me of this. You will not
repent your noble frankness; you shall see my treasure, and be treated
with all the respect you may desire. Do not weep, therefore, or any
longer afflict yourself."
"Ah, my lord," exclaimed Balkis at this speech, "it is not without
reason that you pass for the most generous of men. I am charmed with
your noble conduct, and shall not be satisfied until I have found
means to testify my gratitude."
After this conversation Aboulcassem conducted the lady to the same
chamber that the caliph had occupied, where they remained until all
was quiet in the dwelling. Then blindfolding the eyes of Balkis he
said, "Pardon me, madam, for being obliged to act thus, but it is only
on this condition that I can show you my treasure."
"Do what you please, my lord," answered Balkis; "I have so much
confidence in your generosity that I will follow wherever you desire;
I have no fear but that of not sufficiently repaying your kindness."
Aboulcassem then took her by the hand, and causing her to descend to
the garden by the winding stairs, he entered the cavern and removed
the bandage from her eyes. If the caliph had been surprised to see
such heaps of gold and precious stones, Balkis was still more so.
Every thing she saw astonished her. But the objects that most
attracted her attention were the ancient owners of the treasure. As
the queen had on a necklace composed of pearls as large as pigeons'
eggs, Balkis could not avoid expressing her admiration. Aboulcassem
detached it from the neck of the princess, and placed it round that of
the young lady, saying her father would judge from this that she had
seen the treasure; he then, after much persuasion, made her take a
large quantity of precious stones which he himself chose for her.
The young man then, fearing the day would dawn whilst she was looking
at the wonders of the cavern, again placed the bandage over her eyes,
and conducted her to a saloon where they conversed together until
sunrise. Balkis then took leave, repeatedly assuring the son of
Abdelaziz that she would never forget his generous conduct.
She hastened to her father's and informed him of all that had passed.
The vizir had been impatiently awaiting his daughter's return. Fearing
she might not be sufficiently able to charm Aboulcassem, he remained
in a state of inconceivable agitation. But when he saw her enter with
the necklace and precious stones that Aboulcassem had given her, he
was transported with joy.
"Well, my daughter," he said, "have you seen the treasure?"
"Yes, my lord," answered Balkis, "and to give you a just idea of its
magnitude, I tell you that if all the kings of the world were to unite
their riches, they could not be compared to those of Aboulcassem. But
still, however vast this young man's treasures, I am less charmed with
them than with his politeness and generosity." And she then related to
her father the whole of her adventure.
In the mean time Haroun-al-Raschid was advancing towards Bagdad. As
soon as he arrived at his palace he set his chief vizir at liberty,
and restored him to his confidence. He then proceeded to relate to him
the events of his journey, and ended by asking, "Giafar, what shall I
do? You know the gratitude of monarchs ought to surpass the pleasures
they have received. If I should send the magnificent Aboulcassem the
choicest and most precious treasure I possess, it will be but a slight
gift, far inferior to the presents he has made me. How then can I
surpass him in generosity?"
"My lord," replied the vizir, "since your majesty condescends to
consult me, I should write this day to the king of Basra and order him
to commit the government of the state to the young Aboulcassem. We can
soon despatch the courier, and in a few days I will depart myself to
Basra and present the patents to the new king."
The caliph approved of this advice. "You are right," he said to his
minister, "it will be the only means of acquitting myself towards
Aboulcassem, and of taking vengeance on the king of Basra and his
unworthy vizir, who have concealed from me the considerable sums they
have extorted from this young man. It is but just to punish them for
their violence against him; they are unworthy of the situations they
occupy."
He immediately wrote to the king of Basra and despatched the courier.
He then went to the apartment of the princess Zobeide to inform her of
the success of his journey, and presented her with the little page,
the tree, and the peacock. He also gave her a beautiful female slave.
Zobeide found this slave so charming that she smilingly told the
caliph she accepted this gift with more pleasure than all his other
presents. The prince kept only the cup for himself; the vizir Giafar
had all the rest; and this good minister, as he had before resolved,
made preparations for his departure from Bagdad.
The courier of the caliph no sooner arrived in the town of Basra than
he hastened to present his despatch to the king, who was greatly
concerned on reading it. The prince showed it to his vizir.
"Aboulfatah," said he, "see the fatal order that I have received from
the commander of the faithful. Can I refuse to obey it?"
"Yes, my lord," answered the minister; "do not afflict yourself.
Aboulcassem must be removed from hence. Without taking his life I will
make every one believe he is dead. I can keep him so well concealed
that he shall never be seen again; and by this means you will always
remain on the throne and possess the riches of this young man; for
when we are masters of his person we can increase his sufferings until
he is obliged to reveal where his treasure is concealed."
"Do what you like," replied the king; "but what answer shall we send
the caliph?"
"Leave that to me. The commander of the faithful will be deceived as
well as others. Let me execute the design I meditate, and the rest
need cause you no uneasiness."
Aboulfatah then, accompanied by some courtiers who were ignorant of
his intention, went to pay a visit to Aboulcassem. He received them
according to their rank, regaled them magnificently, seated the vizir
in the place of honour, and loaded him with presents without having
the least suspicion of his perfidy. Whilst they were at table and
partaking of the most delicious wines, the treacherous Aboulfatah
skilfully threw unperceived into the cup of the son of Abdelaziz a
powder which would render him insensible, and cause his body to remain
in a state of lethargy resembling that of a corpse long deprived of
life. The young man had no sooner taken the cup from his lips than he
fainted away. His servants hastened to support him, but soon
perceiving he had all the appearance of a dead man, they placed him on
a sofa and uttered the most lamentable cries. The guests, struck with
sudden terror, were silent from astonishment. As for Aboulfatah, it is
impossible to say how well he dissimulated. He not only feigned the
most immoderate grief, but tore his clothes and excited the rest of
the company to follow his example. He ordered a coffin to be made of
ivory and ebony, and while they were preparing it, he collected all
the effects of Aboulcassem and placed them in the king's palace. The
account of the young man's death soon spread abroad. All persons, men
and women, put on mourning, and came to the door of the house, their
heads and feet bare; old and young men, women and girls, were bathed
in tears, filling the air with their cries and lamentations. Some said
they had lost in him an only son, others a brother or a husband
tenderly beloved. Rich and poor were equally afflicted at his death;
the rich mourned a friend who had always welcomed them, and the poor a
benefactor whose charity had never been equalled. His death caused a
general consternation.
Meanwhile the unhappy Aboulcassem was enclosed in the coffin, and a
procession having been formed, the people, by order of Aboulfatah,
carried him out of the town to a large cemetery containing a number of
tombs, and amongst others a magnificent one where reposed the vizir's
father and many others of his family. They placed the coffin in this
tomb, and the perfidious Aboulfatah, leaning his head on his knees,
beat his breast, and gave way apparently to the most violent grief.
Those present pitied and prayed heaven to console him. As night
approached the people returned to the town, but the vizir remained
with two of his slaves in the tomb, the door of which he shut and
double locked. They lit a fire, warmed some water in a silver basin,
and taking Aboulcassem from the coffin, bathed him with the warm
water. The young man by degrees regained his senses. He cast his eyes
on Aboulfatah, whom he at once recognized. "Ah, my lord," said he,
"where are we, and to what state am I reduced?"