with the princess of Gazna and her governess, I left her apartment
before daybreak, promising to return next day. I lost no time in
getting into my machine, and ascended to a great height that I might
not be seen by the soldiers. I alighted in the wood, left the box
there, and went into the city, where I purchased a stock of provisions
for eight days, magnificent robes, a turban of Indian woof surrounded
with a golden circlet, darting forth rays of light, and a rich girdle.
At the same time I did not forget the costliest perfumes and
essences. I spent all my money in these purchases without troubling my
head about the future; for I thought that after such a pleasant
adventure as had befallen me, I should never more want for any thing.
I remained all day in the wood employed in dressing and perfuming
myself with the utmost care and attention. When night came on, I
entered the machine and set off for the roof of Schirine's palace,
where I introduced myself into her apartment as before, and spent
another delightful evening in conversation with the princess and her
attendant. I left the palace when night was waning, for fear lest my
imposture should be discovered. I returned next day, and always
conducted myself so cleverly that the princess and Mahpeiker had not
the least idea that I was an impostor. True it is that the princess by
degrees had acquired such a fondness for me that, on this account, she
gave a more ready belief to what I said; for love is blind and, when
such feelings exist in favour of a person, his sincerity is never
doubted. I, too, had become deeply enamoured of the beautiful
princess, and more than once regretted the imposture I was practising
on her; but what was I to do? To discover it was certain destruction,
and I could not summon up courage to undeceive her.
After some days had elapsed, the king of Gazna, attended by some of
his officers, paid his weekly visit to his daughter's palace, and
finding the gates securely fastened, and his seal on the locks, said
to the vizirs who accompanied him:
"Every thing goes on as well as possible: so long as the palace gates
continue in this state I have little fear of the evil with which my
daughter is threatened."
He went up to her apartment alone and unannounced, and at seeing him
she could not help betraying some emotion, which he noticed and
required to know the reason of. His curiosity added to her perplexity;
and, finding herself at last compelled to satisfy him, she related
all that had taken place. Your majesty may conceive the astonishment
of king Bahaman when he learned that, without his knowledge, a
proposal of marriage had been made by the king of the genii. But he
was not so easily duped as his daughter. Suspecting the truth, he
exclaimed:
"Alas! my child, how credulous you are! O Heaven! I see that it is
hopeless to endeavour to avoid the misfortunes destined for us; the
horoscope of Schirine is fulfilled; some villain has deceived her!"
So saying, he left the princess's room in a state of great agitation,
and went over all the palace, from the top to the bottom, searching
every where, and strictly examining all the attendants, but I need
hardly say without success, for he found no trace of any stranger, nor
the slightest circumstance to lead to the supposition that bribery had
been resorted to, which increased his astonishment. "By what means,"
he said, "can any person, however ingenious and daring, enter this
fortress? To me it is inconceivable."
He resolved to get at the truth of the matter somehow, but being
desirous of setting to work prudently, and of speaking himself alone,
in the first instance, and without witnesses, to the pretended genius,
he sent back his vizirs and courtiers to Gazna. "Withdraw," he said to
them, "and I will remain alone at the palace this night with my
daughter; and do you return here to-morrow."
They all obeyed the king's orders: they returned to the city, and
Bahaman set about questioning the princess afresh until night drew on.
He asked her if I had eaten with her. She replied that I had not, for
that she had in vain offered me refreshments, and that she had not
seen me either eat or drink any thing since I came to her. "Tell me
the whole occurrence again," he said, "and conceal nothing." Schirine
related to him her story all over again, and the king, who was
attentive to her recital, weighed every circumstance of it carefully.
Night had now set in; Bahaman seated himself on a sofa, and ordered
tapers to be lit and to be placed before him on the marble table. He
then drew his sabre, to be employed, if necessary, in wiping out with
my blood the insult he conceived to have been offered to his honour.
He sat thus, expecting me every moment; and the idea of seeing me
appear instantaneously probably agitated him not a little.
That night it happened that the atmosphere was highly charged with
electric matter. A brilliant flash of lightning darted across the sky
before him and made him start. Approaching the window at which
Schirine had told him I should enter, and observing the heavens to be
on fire with vivid flashes, his imagination was excited, although
nothing was taking place but what was quite natural: he thought he saw
in the clouds fanciful forms, among which was prominently conspicuous
that of a venerable old man, such as the prophet is represented to us.
As he gazed he forgot to reflect that these meteors arose merely from
exhalations of an inflammable nature that exploded in the air, and
came to regard them as brilliant lights announcing to the world the
descent of the king of the genii. In such a state of mind the king was
disposed to receive me as really bearing the character to which I
pretended, and therefore when I appeared at the window, instead of
exhibiting the fury he had contemplated, he was overcome with respect
and fear; he dropped his sabre, and, falling at my feet, kissed them,
and said, "O great king! what am I, and what have I done to deserve
the honour of being your father-in-law?"
From these words I could guess what had passed between the king and
the princess, and discovered that the worthy monarch was almost as
easily imposed upon as his daughter. We sat down together on the sofa
and conversed. I now formally renewed to him my suit for the hand of
the princess. He believed all I told him, and feeling delighted at the
prospect of being allied to me, again prostrated himself at my feet
in sign of gratitude for my kindness. I raised him up, embraced him,
and assured him of my protection, for which he could not find language
sufficiently strong to thank me. It was arranged that the marriage
should take place the following day. I stopped with Schirine and her
father for a few hours, but however pleased I might be with our
interview, I did not forget how time was flying; I was apprehensive of
daylight surprising us, and of my box being seen on the roof of the
palace. I therefore made haste to leave in good time and to reseat
myself in the machine.
The following day, on the return of the vizirs and great officers of
state, a magnificent banquet was prepared at the palace, and
immediately on my arrival in the evening the marriage was celebrated
with great pomp and rejoicing.
A month had nearly passed during which I continued to be looked on and
treated as the king of the genii, and I was leading a most agreeable
life, when there arrived in the city of Gazna an ambassador from a
neighbouring monarch to demand Schirine in marriage. On being admitted
to an audience, and detailing the object of his embassy, Bahaman said
to him:
"I am sorry that I am unable to give my daughter in marriage to the
king, your master, for I have already bestowed her hand on the king of
the genii."
From such a reply the ambassador supposed that king Bahaman had lost
his senses; he therefore took leave and returned to his master, who
also at first thought Bahaman was mad, but on reconsidering the answer
began to look on the refusal as a studied insult; he therefore raised
troops, and forming a large army, entered the kingdom of Gazna in a
hostile manner. This king, whose name was Cacem, was more powerful
than Bahaman, who also was so slow in preparing to oppose his enemy
that he could not prevent him from making great progress. Cacem
defeated some troops which opposed him, and advancing rapidly towards
the city of Gazna, found the army of Bahaman intrenched in the plain
before the castle of the princess Schirine. The design of the
irritated lover was to attack Bahaman in his intrenchments; but as his
troops had need of rest, and he had only arrived that evening in the
plain after a long forced march, he delayed his attack until the
following morning.
The king of Gazna, having been informed of the numbers and valour of
Cacem's soldiers, began to tremble for the result. He assembled his
privy council and asked for their advice, when one of its members
spoke in the following terms:
"I am astonished that the king should appear to be at all uneasy on
this occasion. What alarm can all the princes of the world, to say
nothing of Cacem, occasion to the father-in-law of the king of the
genii? Your majesty need only address yourself to him, and beg his
assistance, and he will soon confound your enemies. It is his duty to
do this, indeed, since it is on his account that Cacem has come to
disturb the quiet of your majesty's subjects."
This speech did not fail to inspire king Bahaman with confidence.
"You are right," he said to the courtier; "I shall at once go and beg
of him to repulse my proud enemy, and I venture to hope that he will
not reject my supplication."
So saying, he went to visit his daughter, and said to her:
"Schirine, to-morrow at daybreak it is Cacem's intention to attack us,
and I am afraid he will carry our intrenchments. I wish to entreat of
the king of the genii that he would undertake our defence. Let us
unite our prayers that he would be favourable to us."
"My lord and father," replied the princess, "there will be no great
difficulty in engaging the king on our side; he will soon disperse the
enemy's troops, and all the kings of the world will learn, at Cacem's
expense, to respect you."
"But," resumed king Bahaman, "night is coming on, and still the king
of the genii does not appear; can he have forsaken us?"
"No, no, my father," replied Schirine; "do not fear that he will fail
us in time of need. He sees the army which is now besieging us, and is
perhaps at this moment preparing to carry disorder and terror into all
its ranks."
And this, in fact, was what I was desirous of doing. I had watched
during the day Cacem's troops; I had observed their arrangement, and
taken particular notice of the head-quarters of the king. I collected
a quantity of stones and pebbles, both large and small, with which I
filled my box, and at midnight I mounted aloft. Advancing towards the
tents of Cacem, I easily discovered that in which the king was
reposing. It was very lofty, richly adorned with gilding, and in the
form of a dome, supported on twelve columns of painted wood, fixed
deep in the ground; the spaces between the columns were intertwined
with branches of different kinds of trees, and towards the summit
there were two windows, one at the east, and another at the south
side.
All the soldiers around the tent were asleep; and this circumstance
permitted me to descend near one of the windows without being
perceived. Through it I saw the king lying on a sofa, with his head
supported on a satin cushion. Rising a little in my box, I hurled a
large stone at Cacem; I struck him on the forehead, and wounded him
dangerously; he uttered a cry, which soon awoke his guards and
officers, who, running up to him, found him covered with blood, and
almost insensible. Immediately loud cries were heard, and the alarm
was communicated to the whole quarter, every one asking what had
happened. A report was soon circulated that the king was wounded, and
it was not known by whom the blow had been struck. Whilst the culprit
was being searched for, I ascended high up among the clouds, and
discharged from an immense height a shower of stones on the royal tent
and all near it. The stones cut through the silk of the tent, and
severely wounded the attendants; many of the soldiers who surrounded
it, too, were very badly hit, and began to cry out that stones were
being rained down on them from heaven. The news soon spread, and to
confirm it I scattered my stony artillery in all directions. Terror
took possession of the army; both officers and soldiers thinking that
the Prophet was enraged with Cacem, and that his anger was too
evidently declared by this miraculous interference. In short,
Bahaman's enemies took to flight in a panic, and with such
precipitation, that they abandoned their tents and baggage to their
foes, crying out, "We are lost; Heaven is destroying us!"
When day dawned the king of Gazna was not a little surprised to find,
that, instead of advancing to the attack, the enemy was in full
retreat. Seeing this, however, he pursued the fugitives with his best
troops, who made prodigious carnage, and took prisoner Cacem himself,
whose wound prevented his making a sufficiently speedy flight.
"Why," asked Bahaman, when his enemy was brought before him, "why have
you advanced into my dominions against all right and reason? What
provocation have I given you for making war against me?"
"Bahaman," replied the vanquished monarch, "I thought you had refused
me your daughter out of contempt for me, and I thirsted to be revenged
upon you. I believed the story of the king of the genii being your
son-in-law to be a mere pretext. I have now, however, good reason to
be sure of its truth, for it is he who has wounded me and dispersed my
army."
When the pursuit was ended Bahaman returned to Gazna with Cacem, who,
however, died of his wound the same day. The spoil was divided, and it
was so considerable, that even the common soldiers returned home
laden with booty; and prayers were offered up in all the mosques
thanking Heaven for having confounded the enemies of the state.
When night arrived, the king repaired to the princess's palace.
"My daughter," he said, "I have come to thank the king of the genii
for a success I owe entirely to him. The courier whom I despatched to
you has informed you of all that he has done for us, and I am so
profoundly grateful for it, that I am dying with impatience to embrace
his knees."
This satisfaction was soon granted him. I entered Schirine's room by
the usual window, and there, as I indeed expected, I found him.
"O great king!" he exclaimed, "language is wanting to express to you
what I feel on this occasion. Read yourself in my countenance the full
measure of my gratitude."
I raised up Bahaman, and kissed his forehead.
"Prince," I said to him, "could you possibly think that I would refuse
to help you in the embarrassing situation in which you were placed on
my account? I have punished the proud Cacem who intended to make
himself master of your kingdom, and to carry off Schirine, to place
her among the slaves of his seraglio. No longer fear that any
potentate on the earth will dare to make war against you; but if any
one should be so bold, be assured that I will rain a fiery shower upon
his troops, which will reduce them to ashes."
After having again assured the king of Gazna that I would take his
kingdom under my protection, I related how the enemy's army had been
terrified at seeing stones showered down upon their camp. Bahaman, for
his part, repeated to me what Cacem had told him, and then took his
departure, leaving Schirine and myself to ourselves. The princess was
as sensible as her father of the important service I had rendered to
the country, and manifested the greatest gratitude, caressing me a
thousand times over.
Two days after the interment of Cacem, on whom, although a foe, a
magnificent funeral was bestowed, the king of Gazna commanded that
rejoicings should take place in the city for the defeat of the enemy's
troops. I thought that a festival prepared in my honour ought to be
signalized by some wonderful prodigy; and for this purpose I purchased
in Gazna some combustible materials. With these I manufactured
fireworks, which I let off at as great a height as possible, while the
people in the streets were celebrating their victory with great
rejoicings. My pyrotechnic display was very successful; and as soon as
daylight appeared I left my machine, and went into the town to have
the pleasure of hearing what people said about me. I was not deceived
in my expectations. A thousand extravagant accounts were current among
those who had been spectators of my display. Some said that the king
of the genii had illuminated the whole heavens expressly to show his
satisfaction with the festival; and others asserted that they had even
seen him in the sky, surrounded by a blaze of meteors.
All these speeches amused me exceedingly. But alas! while I was
indulging in these pleasurable sensations, my box--my dear
machine--the instrument by which I had worked all my wonders--was
burning to ashes in the wood. A spark, which I had not perceived, had
set fire to it in my absence, and consumed it, and in this state I
found it on my return. A father who enters his house, and finds his
only son pierced with a thousand mortal wounds, and lying bathed in
his blood, could not suffer more than I did on this occasion. I tore
my hair and garments, while the wood resounded with my cries and
lamentations; I even wonder that I did not lay violent hands upon
myself in the paroxysm of my despair. However, by degrees I became
calmed, and reflecting that there was no help for my disaster, I at
the same time perceived that some resolution must be formed
immediately. Only one course seemed open to me, and that was to seek
my fortunes elsewhere.
Leaving, therefore, Bahaman and Schirine, doubtless in the deepest
distress about me, I left the city of Gazna, and falling in with a
caravan of Egyptian merchants, returning to their own country, I
joined myself to them, and travelled to Grand Cairo, where I became a
weaver in order to gain a subsistence. I lived there for some years
and afterwards came to Damascus, where I have followed the same
occupation. In appearance I am very well satisfied with my condition,
but in reality I am not at all happy, I cannot forget my former
fortunate condition, Schirine is ever present to my thoughts, and
although I would wish to banish her from my recollection, and in truth
make every effort to do so, yet the attempt, as painful as useless,
merely causes me constant uneasiness.
I have now, may it please your majesty, performed what you required of
me. I know very well that you do not approve the deceit I practised
towards the king of Gazna and the princess Schirine, for I have
perceived oftener than once, that my story was repugnant to your
feelings and that your piety shuddered at my sacrilegious audacity.
But be pleased to remember that you demanded a true account from me,
and condescend to forgive the confession I have made of my adventures,
in consideration of the necessity I was under of obeying you.
CONCLUSION.
The king of Damascus made a suitable reply, and dismissed the weaver,
whose story afforded a new argument in favour of the grand vizir's
opinion that there is no man who is perfectly happy: however, the king
would not desist.
"Atalmulc," he said, "with the exception of yourself, there is no man
approaches me but with a smiling countenance; it cannot be that not
one of all these is perfectly happy; I shall ask my generals,
courtiers, and all the officers of my household. Go, vizir, and summon
them all into my presence in succession."
He had the patience to speak to them all individually, and they all
made the same reply; namely, that they were not exempt from grief. One
complained of his wife, another of his children; the poor accused
their poverty as the cause of all their misfortunes, and the rich
either did not enjoy good health, or laboured under some other source
of affliction.
Bedreddin having questioned so many persons, not one of whom was
contented with his lot, came at last to be of the same mind with
Atalmulc, and was obliged to admit to his favourite vizir that perfect
felicity is not to be looked for in the present life; that every lot
and every station has its cares, its anxieties, and its misfortunes;
and that we approach the condition of complete happiness only as we
conscientiously discharge those duties which our position daily and
hourly requires of us.
[Illustration]
THE END.
FOOTNOTES:
[9] A gift to the kingdom.
[10] The Devil.
[11] Captain of the door of the king's chamber.
[12] The officer in command of the pages.
[13] Lieutenant.
[14] Archers.
GILBERT AND RIVINGTON, PRINTERS, ST. JOHN'S SQUARE, LONDON.
* * * * *
WILLIAM LAY'S
_Catalogue_
OF
ATTRACTIVE AND ENTERTAINING WORKS
BY POPULAR AUTHORS.
LONDON:
WILLIAM LAY, KING WILLIAM STREET, STRAND.
1857.
* * * * *
THE AMUSING LIBRARY
FOR HOME AND RAIL.
The object is to provide a choice supply of Books of Light Reading,
entirely free from objectionable matter, and which may be
indiscriminately used by young and old. Great care has been bestowed
in the selection; and it is hoped that the Works contained in this
Series will be found adapted in every respect for the perusal of all
who desire a sound and healthy imaginative literature, free from
everything immoral on the one hand, or controversial on the other. The
volumes, while issued at a price which brings them within the reach of
all, yet possess sufficient attractions of typography and
embellishment to fit them for the drawing-room table and for presents
to friends.
"We have not seen for many a day books which so deeply interested us,
and which are so much in advance of the ordinary books provided for
the rail or road. The 'Amusing Library' will be the most popular of
the many which these stirring days have produced."--_Churchman's
Companion._
"Ministers of religion and philanthropists have long lamented the
absence of some well-written serial works suitable for the million, to
counteract the baneful influence of the impure literature of the day.
The want is here supplied with judgment and good taste. The books are
valuable both to old and young."--_Manchester Courier._
Grantley Manor:
The well-known and favourite Novel by Lady Georgiana
Fullerton. 2_s._ boards; 2_s._ 6_d._ cloth.
"The skill with which the plot of 'Grantley Manor' is constructed, the
exquisite truth of delineation which the characters exhibit, and the
intensity of passion which warms and dignifies the subject, are alike
admirable.... The depth of passion which surrounds the story of
Genevra is the result of unquestionable genius. No heroine that we can
remember excels this lovely creation in purity, deep affection, a
solemn sense of the sanctity of duty, and a profound feeling of the
beauty and holiness of religion."--_Times._
Tales of Humour.
Fcap. 8vo, 2_s._ boards; 2_s._ 6_d._ cloth.
"Spirited and well-selected tales of most inviting dimensions. Will be
a favourite on the 'line.'"--_Brighton Herald._
Abroad and at Home.
Tales Here and There. By Miss Pardoe. Fcap. 8vo, 2_s._
boards; 2_s._ 6_d._ cloth.
"Ten pretty tales, full of interesting matter, gracefully
related."--_Glasgow Herald._
* * * * *
[Illustration: The Lay of the Golden Dice.]
Amusing Poetry.
A new and choice selection, Edited by Shirley Brooks. Fcap. 8vo, 2_s._
boards; 2_s._ 6_d._ cloth.
13; KING WILLIAM STREET, STRAND.
* * * * *
AMUSING LIBRARY, _continued_.
Hendrik Conscience's Tales.
Complete in Six Volumes. Each Fcap. 8vo, 2_s._ boards; 2_s._ 6_d._
cloth.
I. THE DEMON OF GOLD. (_Just ready._)
II. THE LION OF FLANDERS.
III. THE CURSE OF THE VILLAGE, ETC.
IV. VEVA; OR, THE WAR OF THE PEASANTS.
V. THE MISER, AND RICKETICKETACK.
VI. TALES OF FLANDERS.
"Had our writers of fiction preserved the healthful tone which
characterises these volumes, they would not have been a proscribed
class. Each of the tales may be read by the most modest without a
blush, and by the most fastidious without scruple."--_Eclectic
Review._
"Writing in a language familiar to comparatively few, Conscience owes
to his own merits alone the European reputation which he now enjoys.
There is a truthfulness in his pictures which is perfectly delightful,
while the whole moral of his works is such as to make them a valuable
addition to the light-reading division of a library."--_Notes and
Queries._
"We do not know if, laying aside Sir Walter Scott, it would be
possible to name any English historical novel at all equal in
deep interest to the 'Lion of Flanders,' or the 'War of the
Peasants.'"--_Scotsman._
Romantic Tales of Great Men: