HASAN OF BASSORAH.[FN#5]

There was once of days of yore and in ages and times long gone

before, a merchant, who dwelt in the land of Bassorah and who

owned two sons and wealth galore. But in due time Allah, the

All-hearing the All-knowing, decreed that he should be admitted

to the mercy of the Most High; so he died, and his two sons laid

him out and buried him, after which they divided his gardens and

estates equally between them and of his portion each one opened a

shop.[FN#6] Presently the elder son, Hasan hight, a youth of

passing beauty and loveliness, symmetry and perfect grace, betook

himself to the company of lewd folk, women and low boys,

frolicking with them in gardens and feasting them with meat and

wine for months together and occupying himself not with his

business like as his father had done, for that he exulted in the

abundance of his good. After some time he had wasted all his

ready money, so he sold all his father's lands and houses and

played the wastrel until there remained in his hand nothing,

neither little nor muchel, nor was one of his comrades left who

knew him. He abode thus anhungred, he and his widowed mother,

three days, and on the fourth day, as he walked along, unknowing

whither to wend, there met him a man of his father's friends, who

questioned him of his case. He told him what had befallen him and

the other said, "O my son, I have a brother who is a goldsmith;

an thou wilt, thou shalt be with him and learn his craft and

become skilled therein." Hasan consented and accompanied him to

his brother, to whom he commended him, saying, "In very sooth

this is my son; do thou teach him for my sake." So Hasan abode

with the goldsmith and busied himself with the craft; and Allah

opened to him the door of gain and in due course he set up shop

for himself. One day, as he sat in his booth in the bazar, there

came up to him an 'Ajamí, a foreigner, a Persian, with a great

white beard and a white turband[FN#7] on his head, having the

semblance of a merchant who, after saluting him, looked at his

handiwork and examined it knowingly. It pleased him and he shook

his head, saying, "By Allah, thou art a cunning goldsmith! What

may be thy name?" "Hasan," replied the other, shortly.[FN#8] The

Persian continued to look at his wares, whilst Hasan read in an

old book[FN#9] he hent in hand and the folk were taken up with

his beauty and loveliness and symmetry and perfect grace, till

the hour of mid-afternoon prayer, when the shop became clear of

people and the Persian accosted the young man, saying, "O my son,

thou art a comely youth! What book is that? Thou hast no sire

and I have no son, and I know an art, than which there is no

goodlier in the world."--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day

and ceased saying her permitted say.

When it was the Seven Hundred and Seventy-ninth Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Persian

accosted the young man saying, "O my son, thou art a comely

youth! Thou hast no sire and I have no son, and I know an art

than which there is no goodlier in the world. Many have sought

of me instruction therein, but I consented not to instruct any of

them in it; yet hath my soul consented that I teach it to thee,

for thy love hath gotten hold upon my heart and I will make thee

my son and set up between thee and poverty a barrier, so shalt

thou be quit of this handicraft and toil no more with hammer and

anvil,[FN#10] charcoal and fire." Hasan asked, "O my lord and

when wilt thou teach me this?"; and the Persian answered,

"To-morrow, Inshallah, I will come to thee betimes and make thee

in thy presence fine gold of this copper." Whereupon Hasan

rejoiced and sat talking with the Persian till nightfall, when he

took leave of him and going in to his mother, saluted her with

the salam and ate with her; but he was dazed, without memory or

reason, for that the stranger's words had gotten hold upon his

heart. So she questioned him and he told her what had passed

between himself and the Persian, which when she heard, her heart

fluttered and she strained him to her bosom, saying, "O my son,

beware of hearkening to the talk of the folk, and especially of

the Persians, and obey them not in aught; for they are sharpers

and tricksters, who profess the art of alchemy[FN#11] and swindle

people and take their money and devour it in vain." Replied

Hasan, "O my mother, we are paupers and have nothing he may

covet, that he should put a cheat on us. Indeed, this Persian is

a right worthy Shaykh and the signs of virtue are manifest on

him; Allah hath inclined his heart to me and he hath adopted me

to son." She was silent in her chagrin, and he passed the night

without sleep, his heart being full of what the Persian had said

to him; nor did slumber visit him for the excess of his joy

therein. But when morning morrowed, he rose and taking the keys,

opened the shop, whereupon behold, the Persian accosted him.

Hasan stood up to him and would have kissed his hands; but he

forbade him from this and suffered it not, saying, "O Hasan, set

on the crucible and apply the bellows."[FN#12] So he did as the

stranger bade him and lighted the charcoal. Then said the

Persian, "O my son, hast thou any copper?" and he replied, "I

have a broken platter." So he bade him work the shears[FN#13] and

cut it into bittocks and cast it into the crucible and blow up

the fire with the bellows, till the copper became liquid, when he

put hand to turband and took therefrom a folded paper and opening

it, sprinkled thereout into the pot about half a drachm of

somewhat like yellow Kohl or eyepowder.[FN#14] Then he bade

Hasan blow upon it with the bellows, and he did so, till the

contents of the crucible became a lump of gold.[FN#15] When the

youth saw this, he was stupefied and at his wits' end for the joy

he felt and taking the ingot from the crucible handled it and

tried it with the file and found it pure gold of the finest

quality: whereupon his reason fled and he was dazed with excess

of delight and bent over the Persian's hand to kiss it. But he

forbade him, saying, "Art thou married?" and when the youth

replied "No!" he said, "Carry this ingot to the market and sell

it and take the price in haste and speak not." So Hasan went

down into the market and gave the bar to the broker, who took it

and rubbed it upon the touchstone and found it pure gold. So

they opened the biddings at ten thousand dirhams and the

merchants bid against one another for it up to fifteen thousand

dirhams,[FN#16] at which price he sold it and taking the money,

went home and told his mother all that had passed, saying, "O my

mother, I have learnt this art and mystery." But she laughed at

him, saying, "There is no Majesty and there is no Might save in

Allah, the Glorious, the Great!"--And Shahrazad perceived the

dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.

When it was the Seven Hundred and Eightieth Night,

She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when

Hasan the goldsmith told his mother what he had done with the

Ajami and cried, "I have learnt this art and mystery," she

laughed at him, saying, "There is no Majesty and there is no

Might save in Allah, the Glorious, the Great!"; and she was

silent for vexation. Then of his ignorance, he took a metal

mortar and returning to the shop, laid it before the Persian, who

was still sitting there and asked him, "O my son, what wilt thou

do with this mortar?" Hasan answered, "Let us put it in the

fire, and make of it lumps of gold." The Persian laughed and

rejoined, "O my son, art thou Jinn-mad that thou wouldst go down

into the market with two ingots of gold in one day? Knowest thou

not that the folk would suspect us and our lives would be lost?

Now, O my son, an I teach thee this craft, thou must practise it

but once in each twelvemonth; for that will suffice thee from

year to year." Cried Hasan, "True, O my lord," and sitting down

in his open shop, set on the crucible and cast more charcoal on

the fire. Quoth the Persian, "What wilt thou, O my son?"; and

quoth Hasan, "Teach me this craft." "There is no Majesty and

there is no Might save in Allah, the Glorious, the Great!"

exclaimed the Persian, laughing; "Verily, O my son, thou art

little of wit and in nowise fitted for this noble craft. Did

ever any during all his life learn this art on the beaten way or

in the bazars? If we busy ourselves with it here, the folk will

say of us, These practise alchemy; and the magistrates will hear

of us, and we shall lose our lives.[FN#17] Wherefore, O my son,

an thou desire to learn this mystery forthright, come thou with

me to my house." So Hasan barred his shop and went with that

Ajamí; but by the way he remembered his mother's words and

thinking in himself a thousand thoughts he stood still, with

bowed head. The Persian turned and seeing him thus standing

laughed and said to him, "Art thou mad? What! I in my heart

purpose thee good and thou misdoubtest I will harm thee!"

presently adding, "But, if thou fear to go with me to my house, I

will go with thee to thine and teach thee there." Hasan replied,

"'Tis well, O uncle," and the Persian rejoined, "Go thou before

me." So Hasan led the way to his own house, and entering, told

his mother of the Persian's coming, for he had left him standing

at the door. She ordered the house for them and when she had

made an end of furnishing and adorning it, her son bade her go to

one of the neighbours' lodgings. So she left her home to them

and wended her way, whereupon Hasan brought in the Persian, who

entered after asking leave. Then he took in hand a dish and

going to the market, returned with food, which he set before the

Persian, saying, "Eat, O my lord, that between us there may be

bread and salt and may Almighty Allah do vengeance upon the

traitor to bread and salt!" The Persian replied with a smile,

"True, O my son! Who knoweth the virtue and worth of bread and

salt?"[FN#18] Then he came forward and ate with Hasan, till they

were satisfied; after which the Ajami said, "O my son Hasan,

bring us somewhat of sweetmeats." So Hasan went to the market,

rejoicing in his words, and returned with ten saucers[FN#19] of

sweetmeats, of which they both ate and the Persian said, "May

Allah abundantly requite thee, O my son! It is the like of thee

with whom folk company and to whom they discover their secrets

and teach what may profit him!"[FN#20] Then said he, "O Hasan

bring the gear." But hardly did Hasan hear these words than he

went forth like a colt let out to grass in spring-tide, and

hastening to the shop, fetched the apparatus and set it before

the Persian, who pulled out a piece of paper and said, "O Hasan,

by the bond of bread and salt, wert thou not dearer to me than my

son, I would not let thee into the mysteries of this art, for I

have none of the Elixir[FN#21] left save what is in this paper;

but by and by I will compound the simples whereof it is composed

and will make it before thee. Know, O my son Hasan, that to

every ten pounds of copper thou must set half a drachm of that

which is in this paper, and the whole ten will presently become

unalloyed virgin gold;" presently adding, "O my son, O Hasan,

there are in this paper three ounces,[FN#22] Egyptian measure,

and when it is spent, I will make thee other and more." Hasan

took the packet and finding therein a yellow powder, finer than

the first, said to the Persian, "O my lord, what is the name of

this substance and where is it found and how is it made?" But he

laughed, longing to get hold of the youth, and replied, "Of what

dost thou question? Indeed thou art a froward boy! Do thy work

and hold thy peace." So Hasan arose and fetching a brass platter

from the house, shore it in shreds and threw it into the

melting-pot; then he scattered on it a little of the powder from

the paper and it became a lump of pure gold. When he saw this,

he joyed with exceeding joy and was filled with amazement and

could think of nothing save the gold; but, whilst he was occupied

with taking up the lumps of metal from the melting-pot, the

Persian pulled out of his turband in haste a packet of Cretan

Bhang, which if an elephant smelt, he would sleep from night to

night, and cutting off a little thereof, put it in a piece of the

sweetmeat. Then said he, "O Hasan, thou art become my very son

and dearer to me than soul and wealth, and I have a daughter

whose like never have eyes beheld for beauty and loveliness,

symmetry and perfect grace. Now I see that thou befittest none

but her and she none but thee; wherefore, if it be Allah's will,

I will marry thee to her." Replied Hasan, "I am thy servant and

whatso good thou dost with me will be a deposit with the

Almighty!" and the Persian rejoined, "O my son, have fair

patience and fair shall betide thee." Therewith he gave him the

piece of sweetmeat and he took it and kissing his hand, put it in

his mouth, knowing not what was hidden for him in the after time

for only the Lord of Futurity knoweth the Future. But hardly had

he swallowed it, when he fell down, head foregoing heels, and was

lost to the world; whereupon the Persian, seeing him in such

calamitous case, rejoiced exceedingly and cried, "Thou hast

fallen into my snares, O gallows-carrion, O dog of the Arabs!

This many a year have I sought thee and now I have found thee, O

Hasan!"--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased

saying her permitted say.

When it was the Seven Hundred and Eighty-first Night,

She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when

Hasan the goldsmith ate the bit of sweetmeat given to him by the

Ajami and fell fainting to the ground, the Persian rejoiced

exceedingly and cried, "This many a year have I sought thee and

now I have found thee!" Then he girt himself and pinioned

Hasan's arms and binding his feet to his hands laid him in a

chest, which he emptied to that end and locked it upon him.

Moreover, he cleared another chest and laying therein all Hasan's

valuables, together with the piece of the first gold-lump and the

second ingot which he had made locked it with a padlock. Then he

ran to the market and fetching a porter, took up the two chests

and made off with them to a place within sight of the city, where

he set them down on the sea-shore, hard by a vessel at anchor

there. Now this craft had been freighted and fitted out by the

Persian and her master was awaiting him; so, when the crew saw

him, they came to him and bore the two chests on board. Then the

Persian called out to the Rais or Captain, saying, "Up and let us

be off, for I have done my desire and won my wish." So the

skipper sang out to the sailors, saying, "Weigh anchor and set

sail!" And the ship put out to sea with a fair wind. So far

concerning the Persian; but as regards Hasan's mother, she

awaited him till supper-time but heard neither sound nor news of

him; so she went to the house and finding it thrown open, entered

and saw none therein and missed the two chests and their

valuables; wherefore she knew that her son was lost and that doom

had overtaken him; and she buffeted her face and rent her raiment

crying out and wailing and saying, "Alas, my son, ah! Alas, the

fruit of my vitals, ah!" And she recited these couplets,

"My patience fails me and grows anxiety; * And with your absence

growth of grief I see.

By Allah, Patience went what time ye went! * Loss of all Hope how

suffer patiently?

When lost my loved one how can' joy I sleep? * Who shall enjoy

such life of low degree?

Thou 'rt gone and, desolating house and home, * Hast fouled the

fount erst flowed from foulness free:

Thou wast my fame, my grace 'mid folk, my stay; * Mine aid wast

thou in all adversity!

Perish the day, when from mine eyes they bore * My friend, till

sight I thy return to me!"

And she ceased not to weep and wail till the dawn, when the

neighbours came in to her and asked her of her son, and she told

them what had befallen him with the Persian, assured that she

should never, never see him again. Then she went round about the

house, weeping, and wending she espied two lines written upon the

wall; so she sent for a scholar, who read them to her; and they

were these,

"Leyla's phantom came by night, when drowsiness had overcome me,

towards morning while my companions were sleeping in the

desert,

But when we awoke to behold the nightly phantom, I saw the air

vacant and the place of visitation was distant."[FN#23]

When Hasan's mother heard these lines, she shrieked and said,

"Yes, O my son! Indeed, the house is desolate and the

visitation-place is distant!" Then the neighbours took leave of

her and after they had prayed that she might be vouchsafed

patience and speedy reunion with her son, went away; but she

ceased not to weep all watches of the night and tides of the day

and she built amiddlemost the house a tomb whereon she let write

Hasan's name and the date of his loss, and thenceforward she

quitted it not, but made a habit of incessantly biding thereby

night and day. Such was her case; but touching her son Hasan and

the Ajami, this Persian was a Magian, who hated Moslems with

exceeding hatred and destroyed all who fell into his power. He

was a lewd and filthy villain, a hankerer after alchemy, an

astrologer and a hunter of hidden hoards, such an one as he of

whom quoth the poet,

"A dog, dog-fathered, by dog-grandsire bred; * No good in dog

from dog race issued:

E'en for a gnat no resting-place gives he * Who is composed of

seed by all men shed."[FN#24]

The name of this accursed was Bahrám the Guebre, and he was wont,

every year, to take a Moslem and cut his throat for his own

purposes. So, when he had carried out his plot against Hasan the

goldsmith, they sailed on from dawn till dark, when the ship made

fast to the shore for the night, and at sunrise, when they set

sail again, Bahram bade his black slaves and white servants bring

him the chest wherein were Hasan. They did so, and he opened it

and taking out the young man, made him sniff up vinegar and blew

a powder into his nostrils. Hasan sneezed and vomited the Bhang;

then, opening his eyes, he looked about him right and left and

found himself amiddleward the sea on aboard a ship in full sail,

and saw the Persian sitting by him; wherefore he knew that the

accursed Magian had put a cheat on him and that he had fallen

into the very peril against which his mother had warned him. So

he spake the saying which shall never shame the sayer, to wit,

"There is no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah, the

Glorious, the Great! Verity, we are Allah's and unto Him we are

returning! O my God, be Thou gracious to me in Thine appointment

and give me patience to endure this Thine affliction, O Lord of

the three Worlds!" Then he turned to the Persian and bespoke him

softly, saying, "O my father, what fashion is this and where is

the covenant of bread and salt and the oath thou swarest to

me?"[FN#25] But Bahram stared at him and replied, "O dog,

knoweth the like of me bond of bread and salt? I have slain of

youths like thee a thousand, save one, and thou shalt make up the

thousand." And he cried out at him and Hasan was silent, knowing

that the Fate-shaft had shot him.--And Shahrazad perceived the

dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.

When it was the Seven Hundred and Eighty-second Night,

She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when

Hasan beheld himself fallen into the hands of the damned Persian

he bespoke him softly but gained naught thereby for the Ajami

cried out at him in wrath, so he was silent, knowing that the

Fate-shaft had shot him. Then the accursed bade loose his

pinion-bonds and they gave him a little water to drink, whilst

the Magian laughed and said, "By the virtue of the Fire and the

Light and the Shade and the Heat, methought not thou wouldst fall

into my nets! But the Fire empowered me over thee and helped me

to lay hold upon thee, that I might win my wish and return and

make thee a sacrifice, to her[FN#26] so she may accept of me."

Quoth Hasan, "Thou hast foully betrayed bread and salt";

whereupon the Magus raised his hand and dealt him such a buffet

that he fell and, biting the deck with his fore-teeth, swooned

away, whilst the tears trickled down his cheeks. Then the Guebre

bade his servants light him a fire and Hasan said, "What wilt

thou do with it?" Replied the Magian, "This is the Fire, lady of

light and sparkles bright! This it is I worship, and if thou

wilt worship her even as I, verily I will give thee half my

monies and marry thee to my maiden daughter." Thereupon Hasan

cried angrily at him, "Woe to thee! Thou art a miscreant Magian

who to Fire dost pray in lieu of the King of Omnipotent sway,

Creator of Night and Day; and this is naught but a calamity among

creeds!" At this the Magian was wroth and said to him, "Wilt thou

not then conform with me, O dog of the Arabs, and enter my

faith?" But Hasan consented not to this: so the accursed Guebre

arose and prostrating himself to the fire, bade his pages throw

him flat on his face. They did so, and he beat him with a hide

whip of plaited thongs[FN#27] till his flanks were laid open,

whilst he cried aloud for aid but none aided him, and besought

protection, but none protected him. Then he raised his eyes to

the All-powerful King and sought of Him succour in the name of

the Chosen Prophet. And indeed patience failed him; his tears

ran down his cheeks, like rain, and he repeated these couplets

twain,

"In patience, O my God, Thy doom forecast * I'll bear, an thereby

come Thy grace at last:

They've dealt us wrong, transgressed and ordered ill; * Haply Thy

Grace shall pardon what is past."

Then the Magian bade his negro-slaves raise him to a sitting

posture and bring him somewhat of meat and drink. So they sat

food before him; but he consented not to eat or drink; and Bahram

ceased not to torment him day and night during the whole voyage,

whilst Hasan took patience and humbled himself in supplication

before Almighty Allah to whom belong Honour and Glory; whereby

the Guebre's heart was hardened against him. They ceased not to

sail the sea three months, during which time Hasan was

continually tortured till Allah Almighty sent forth upon them a

foul wind and the sea grew black and rose against the ship, by

reason of the fierce gale; whereupon quoth the captain and

crew,[FN#28] "By Allah, this is all on account of yonder youth,

who hath been these three months in torture with this Magian.

Indeed, this is not allowed of God the Most High." Then they

rose against the Magian and slew his servants and all who were

with him; which when he saw, he made sure of death and feared for

himself. So he loosed Hasan from his bonds and pulling off the

ragged clothes the youth had on, clad him in others; and made

excuses to him and promised to teach him the craft and restore

him to his native land, saying, "O my son, return me not evil for

that I have done with thee." Quoth Hasan, "How can I ever rely

upon thee again?"; and quoth Bahram, "O my son, but for sin,

there were no pardon. Indeed, I did all these doings with thee,

but to try thy patience, and thou knowest that the case is

altogether in the hands of Allah." So the crew and captain

rejoiced in Hasan's release, and he called down blessings on them

and praised the Almighty and thanked Him. With this the wind was

stilled and the sky cleared and with a fair breeze they continued

their voyage. Then said Hasan to Bahram, "O Master,[FN#29]

whither wendest thou?" Replied the Magian, "O my son, I am

bound for the Mountain of Clouds, where is the Elixir which we

use in alchemy." And the Guebre swore to him by the Fire and the

Light that he had no longer any cause to fear him. So Hasan's

heart was set at ease and rejoicing at the Persian's words, he

continued to eat and drink and sleep with the Magian, who clad

him in his own raiment. They ceased not sailing on other three

months, when the ship came to anchor off a long shoreline of many-

coloured pebbles, white and yellow and sky-blue and black and

every other hue, and the Magian sprang up and said, "O Hasan,

come, let us go ashore for we have reached the place of our wish

and will." So Hasan rose and landed with Bahram, after the

Persian had commended his goods to the captain's care. They

walked on inland, till they were far enough from the ship to be

out of sight, when Bahram sat down and taking from his pocket a

kettle-drum[FN#30] of copper and a silken strap, worked in gold

with characts, beat the drum with the strap, until there arose a

cloud of dust from the further side of the waste. Hasan

marvelled at the Magian's doings and was afraid of him: he

repented of having come ashore with him and his colour changed.

But Bahram looked at him and said, "What aileth thee, O my son?

By the truth of the Fire and the Light, thou hast naught to fear

from me; and, were it not that my wish may never be won save by

thy means, I had not brought thee ashore. So rejoice in all

good; for yonder cloud of dust is the dust of somewhat we will

mount and which will aid us to cut across this wold and make easy

to us the hardships thereof."--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn

of day and ceased saying her permitted say.

When it was the Seven Hundred and Eighty-third Night,

She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the

Persian said to Hasan, "In very sooth yonder dust-cloud is the

cloud of something we will mount and which will aid us to cut

across this wold and will make easy to us the hardships thereof."

Presently the dust lifted off three she-dromedaries, one of which

Bahram mounted and Hasan another. Then they loaded their victual

on the third and fared on seven days, till they came to a wide

champaign and, descending into its midst, they saw a dome vaulted

upon four pilasters of red gold; so they alighted and entering

thereunder, ate and drank and took their rest. Anon Hasan

chanced to glance aside and seeing from afar a something lofty

said to the Magian, "What is that, O nuncle?" Bahram replied,

"'Tis a palace," and quoth Hasan, "Wilt thou not go thither, that

we may enter and there repose ourselves and solace ourselves with

inspecting it?" But the Persian was wroth and said, "Name not to

me yonder palace; for therein dwelleth a foe, with whom there

befel me somewhat whereof this is no time to tell thee." Then he

beat the kettle-drum and up came the dromedaries, and they

mounted and fared on other seven days. On the eighth day, the

Magian said, "O Hasan, what seest thou?" Hasan replied, "I see

clouds and mists twixt east and west." Quoth Bahram, "That is

neither clouds nor mists, but a vast mountain and a lofty whereon

the clouds split,[FN#31] and there are no clouds above it, for

its exceeding height and surpassing elevation. Yon mount is my

goal and thereon is the need we seek. 'Tis for that I brought

thee hither, for my wish may not be won save at thy hands." Hasan

hearing this gave his life up for lost and said to the Magian,

"By the right of that thou worshippest and by the faith wherein

thou believest, I conjure thee to tell me what is the object

wherefor thou hast brought me!" Bahram replied, "The art of

alchemy may not be accomplished save by means of a herb which

groweth in the place where the clouds pass and whereon they

split. Such a site is yonder mountain upon whose head the herb

groweth and I purpose to send thee up thither to fetch it; and

when we have it, I will show thee the secret of this craft which

thou desirest to learn." Hasan answered, in his fear, "'Tis

well, O my master;" and indeed he despaired of life and wept for

his parting from his parent and people and patrial stead,

repenting him of having gainsaid his mother and reciting these

two couplets,

"Consider but thy Lord, His work shall bring * Comfort to thee,

with quick relief and near:

Despair not when thou sufferest sorest bane: * In bane how many

blessed boons appear!"

They ceased not faring on till they came to the foothills of that

mountain where they halted; and Hasan saw thereon a palace and

asked Bahram, "What be yonder palace?"; whereto he answered,

"'Tis the abode of the Jann and Ghuls and Satans." Then the

Magian alighted and making Hasan also dismount from his dromedary

kissed his head and said to him, "Bear me no ill will anent that

I did with thee, for I will keep guard over thee in thine ascent

to the palace; and I conjure thee not to trick and cheat me of

aught thou shalt bring therefrom; and I and thou will share

equally therein." And Hasan replied, "To hear is to obey." Then

Bahram opened a bag and taking out a handmill and a sufficiency

of wheat, ground the grain and kneaded three round cakes of the

flour; after which he lighted a fire and baked the bannocks.

Then he took out the copper kettle-drum and beat it with the

broidered strap, whereupon up came the dromedaries. He chose out

one and said, "Hearken, O my son, O Hasan, to what I am about to

enjoin on thee;" and Hasan replied, "'Tis well." Bahram

continued, "Lie down on this skin and I will sew thee up therein

and lay thee on the ground; whereupon the Rakham birds[FN#32]

will come to thee and carry thee up to the mountain-top. Take

this knife with thee; and, when thou feelest that the birds have

done flying and have set thee down, slit open therewith the skin

and come forth. The vultures will then take fright at thee and

fly away; whereupon do thou look down from the mountain head and

speak to me, and I will tell thee what to do." So he sewed him

up in the skin, placing therein three cakes and a leathern bottle

full of water, and withdrew to a distance. Presently a vulture

pounced upon him and taking him up, flew away with him to the

mountain-top and there set him down. As soon as Hasan felt

himself on the ground, he slit the skin and coming forth, called

out to the Magian, who hearing his speech rejoiced and danced for

excess of joy, saying to him, "Look behind thee and tell me what

thou seest." Hasan looked and seeing many rotten bones and much

wood, told Bahram, who said to him, "This be what we need and

seek. Make six bundles of the wood and throw them down to me, for

this is wherewithal we do alchemy." So he threw him the six

bundles and when he had gotten them into his power he said to

Hasan, "O gallows bird, I have won my wish of thee; and now, if

thou wilt, thou mayst abide on this mountain, or cast thyself

down to the earth and perish. So saying, he left him[FN#33] and

went away, and Hasan exclaimed, "There is no Majesty and there is

no Might save in Allah, the Glorious, the Great! This hound hath

played the traitor with me." And he sat bemoaning himself and

reciting these couplets,

"When God upon a man possessed of reasoning, Hearing and sight

His will in aught to pass would bring,

He stops his ears and blinds his eyes and draws his wit, From

him, as one draws out the hairs to paste that cling;

Till, His decrees fulfilled, He gives him back His wit, That

therewithal he may receive admonishing.

So say thou not of aught that haps, 'How happened it?' For Fate

and fortune fixed do order everything.[FN#34]"

--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her

permitted say.

When it was the Seven Hundred and Eighty-fourth Night,

She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the

Magian sent Hasan to the mountain-top and made him throw down all

he required he presently reviled him and left him and wended his

ways and the youth exclaimed, "There is no Majesty and there is

no Might save in Allah, the Glorious, the Great! This damned

hound hath played the traitor." Then he rose to his feet and

looked right and left, after which he walked on along the

mountain top, in mind making certain of death. He fared on thus

till he came to the counterslope of the mountain, along which he

saw a dark-blue sea, dashing with billows clashing and yeasting

waves each as it were a lofty mount. So he sat down and repeated

what he might of the Koran and besought Allah the Most High to

ease him of his troubles, or by death or by deliverance from such

strait. Then he recited for himself the funeral-prayer[FN#35]

and cast himself down into the main; but, the waves bore him up

by Allah's grace, so that he reached the water unhurt, and the

angel in whose charge is the sea watched over him, so that the

billows bore him safe to land, by the decree of the Most High.

Thereupon he rejoiced and praised Almighty Allah and thanked Him;

after which he walked on in quest of something to eat, for stress

of hunger, and came presently to the place where he had halted

with the Magian, Bahram. Then he fared on awhile, till behold,

he caught sight of a great palace, rising high in air, and knew

it for that of which he had questioned the Persian and he had

replied, "Therein dwelleth a foe, of mine." Hasan said to

himself, "By Allah, needs must I enter yonder palace; perchance

relief awaiteth me there." So coming to it and finding the gate

open, he entered the vestibule, where he saw seated on a bench

two girls like twin moons with a chess-cloth before them and they

were at play. One of them raised her head to him and cried out

for joy saying, "By Allah, here is a son of Adam, and methinks

'tis he whom Bahram the Magian brought hither this year!" So

Hasan hearing her words cast himself at their feet and wept with

sore weeping and said, "Yes, O my ladies, by Allah, I am indeed

that unhappy." Then said the younger damsel to her elder sister,

"Bear witness against me,[FN#36] O my sister, that this is my

brother by covenant of Allah and that I will die for his death

and live for his life and joy for his joy and mourn for his

mourning." So saying, she rose and embraced him and kissed him

and presently taking him by the hand and her sister with her, led

him into the palace, where she did off his ragged clothes and

brought him a suit of King's raiment wherewith she arrayed him.

Moreover, she made ready all manner viands[FN#37] and set them

before him, and sat and ate with him, she and her sister. Then

said they to him, "Tell us thy tale with yonder dog, the wicked,

the wizard, from the time of thy falling into his hands to that

of thy freeing thee from him; and after we will tell thee all

that hath passed between us and him, so thou mayst be on thy

guard against him an thou see him again." Hearing these words and

finding himself thus kindly received, Hasan took heart of grace

and reason returned to him and he related to them all that had

befallen him with the Magian from first to last. Then they

asked, "Didst thou ask him of this palace?"; and he answered,

"Yes, but he said, 'Name it not to me; for it belongeth to Ghuls

and Satans.'" At this, the two damsels waxed wroth with exceeding

wrath and said, "Did that miscreant style us Ghuls and Satans?"

And Hasan answered, "Yes." Cried the younger sister, "By Allah, I

will assuredly do him die with the foulest death and make him to

lack the wind of the world!" Quoth Hasan, "And how wilt thou get

at him, to kill him, for he is a crafty magician?"; and quoth

she, "He is in a garden by name Al-Mushayyad,[FN#38] and there is

no help but that I slay him before long." Then said her sister,

"Sooth spake Hasan in everything he hath recounted to us of this

cur; but now tell him our tale, that all of it may abide in his

memory." So the younger said to him, "Know, O my brother, that

we are the daughters of a King of the mightiest Kings of the

Jann, having Marids for troops and guards and servants, and

Almighty Allah blessed him with seven daughters by one wife; but

of his folly such jealousy and stiff-neckedness and pride beyond

compare gat hold upon him that he would not give us in marriage

to any one and, summoning his Wazirs and Emirs, he said to them,

'Can ye tell me of any place untrodden by the tread of men and

Jinn and abounding in trees and fruits and rills?' And quoth

they, 'What wilt thou therewith, O King of the Age?' And quoth

he, 'I desire there to lodge my seven daughters.' Answered they,

'O King, the place for them is the Castle of the Mountain of

Clouds, built by an Ifrit of the rebellious Jinn, who revolted

from the covenant of our lord Solomon, on whom be the Peace!

Since his destruction, none hath dwelt there, nor man nor Jinni,

for 'tis cut off[FN#39] and none may win to it. And the Castle

is girt about with trees and fruits and rills, and the water

running around it is sweeter than honey and colder than snow:

none who is afflicted with leprosy or elephantiasis[FN#40] or

what not else drinketh thereof but he is healed forthright.

Hearing this our father sent us hither, with an escort of his

troops and guards and provided us with all that we need here.

When he is minded to ride to us he beateth a kettle-drum,

whereupon all his hosts present themselves before him and he

chooseth whom he shall ride and dismisseth the rest; but, when he

desireth that we shall visit him, he commandeth his followers,

the enchanters, to fetch us and carry us to the presence; so he

may solace himself with our society and we accomplish our desire

of him; after which they again carry us back hither. Our five

other sisters are gone a-hunting in our desert, wherein are wild

beasts past compt or calculation and, it being our turn to do

this we two abode at home, to make ready for them food. Indeed,

we had besought Allah (extolled and exalted be He!) to vouchsafe

us a son of Adam to cheer us with his company and praised be He

who hath brought thee to us! So be of good cheer and keep thine

eyes cool and clear, for no harm shall befal thee." Hasan

rejoiced and said, "Alhamdolillah, laud to the Lord who guideth

us into the path of deliverance and inclineth hearts to us!" Then

his sister[FN#41] rose and taking him by the hand, led him into a

private chamber, where she brought out to him linen and furniture

that no mortal can avail unto. Presently, the other damsels

returned from hunting and birding and their sisters acquainted

them with Hasan's case; whereupon they rejoiced in him and going

into him in his chamber, saluted him with the salam and gave him

joy of his safety. Then he abode with them in all the solace of

life and its joyance, riding out with them to the chase and

taking his pleasure with them whilst they entreated him

courteously and cheered him with converse, till his sadness

ceased from him and he recovered health and strength and his body

waxed stout and fat, by dint of fair treatment and pleasant time

among the seven moons in that fair palace with its gardens and

flowers; for indeed he led the delightsomest of lives with the

damsels who delighted in him and he yet more in them. And they

used to give him drink of the honey-dew of their lips[FN#42]

these beauties with the high bosoms, adorned with grace and

loveliness, the perfection of brilliancy and in shape very

symmetry. Moreover the youngest Princess told her sisters how

Bahram the Magian had made them of the Ghuls and Demons and

Satans,[FN#43] and they sware that they would surely slay him.

Next year the accursed Guebre again made his appearance, having

with him a handsome young Moslem, as he were the moon, bound hand

and foot and tormented with grievous tortures, and alighted with

him below the palace-walls. Now Hasan was sitting under the trees

by the side of the stream; and when he espied Bahram, his heart

fluttered,[FN#44] his hue changed and he smote hand upon

hand.--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying

her permitted say.

When it was the Seven Hundred and Eighty-fifth Night,

She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when

Hasan the goldsmith saw the Magian, his heart fluttered, his hue

changed and he smote hand upon hand. Then he said to the

Princesses, "O my sisters, help me to the slaughter of this

accursed, for here he is come back and in your grasp, and he

leadeth with him captive a young Moslem of the sons of the

notables, whom he is torturing with all manner grievous torments.

Lief would I kill him and console my heart of him; and, by

delivering the young Moslem from his mischief and restoring him

to his country and kith and kin and friends, fain would I lay up

merit for the world to come, by taking my wreak of him.[FN#45]

This will be an almsdeed from you and ye will reap the reward

thereof from Almighty Allah." "We hear and we obey Allah and

thee, O our brother, O Hasan," replied they and binding

chin-veils, armed themselves and slung on their swords: after

which they brought Hasan a steed of the best and equipped him in

panoply and weaponed him with goodly weapons. Then they all

sallied out and found the Magian who had slaughtered and skinned

a camel, ill-using the young Moslem, and saying to him, "Sit thee

in this hide." So Hasan came behind him, without his knowledge,

and cried out at him till he was dazed and amazed. Then he came

up to him, saying, "Hold thy hand, O accursed! O enemy of Allah

and foe of the Moslems! O dog! O traitor! O thou that flame dost

obey! O thou that walkest in the wicked ones' ways, worshipping

the fire and the light and swearing by the shade and the heat!"

Herewith the Magian turned and seeing Hasan, thought to wheedle

him and said to him, "O my son, how diddest thou escape and who

brought thee down to earth?" Hasan replied, "He delivered me, who

hath appointed the taking of thy life to be at my hand, and I

will torture thee even as thou torturedst me the whole way long.

O miscreant, O atheist,[FN#46] thou hast fallen into the twist

and the way thou hast missed; and neither mother shall avail thee

nor brother, nor friend nor solemn covenant shall assist thee;

for thou saidst, O accursed, Whoso betrayeth bread and salt, may

Allah do vengeance upon him! And thou hast broken the bond of

bread and salt; wherefore the Almighty hath thrown thee into my

grasp, and far is thy chance of escape from me." Rejoined

Bahram, "By Allah, O my son, O Hasan, thou art dearer to me than

my sprite and the light of mine eyes!" But Hasan stepped up to

him and hastily smote him between the shoulders, that the sword

issued gleaming from his throat-tendons and Allah hurried his

soul to the fire, and abiding-place dire. Then Hasan took the

Magian's bag and opened it, then having taken out the kettle-drum

he struck it with the strap, whereupon up came the dromedaries

like lightning. So he unbound the youth from his bonds and

setting him on one of the camels, loaded him another with victual

and water,[FN#47] saying, "Wend whither thou wilt." So he

departed, after Almighty Allah had thus delivered him from his

strait at the hands of Hasan. When the damsels saw their brother

slay the Magian they joyed in him with exceeding joy and gat

round him, marvelling at his valour and prowess,[FN#48] and

thanked him for his deed and gave him joy of his safety, saying,

"O Hasan thou hast done a deed, whereby thou hast healed the

burning of him that thirsteth for vengeance and pleased the King

of Omnipotence!" Then they returned to the palace, and he abode

with them, eating and drinking and laughing and making merry; and

indeed his sojourn with them was joyous to him and he forgot his

mother;[FN#49] but while he led with them this goodly life one

day, behold, there arose from the further side of the desert a

great cloud of dust that darkened the welkin and made towards

them. When the Princesses saw this, they said to him, "Rise, O

Hasan, run to thy chamber and conceal thyself; or an thou wilt,

go down into the garden and hide thyself among the trees and

vines; but fear not, for no harm shall befal thee." So he arose

and entering his chamber, locked the door upon himself, and lay

lurking in the palace. Presently the dust opened out and showed

beneath it a great conquering host, as it were a surging sea,

coming from the King, the father of the damsels. Now when the

troops reached the castle, the Princesses received them with all

honour and hospitably entertained them three days; after which

they questioned them of their case and tidings and they replied

saying, "We come from the King in quest of you." They asked,

"And what would the King with us?"; and the officers answered,

"One of the Kings maketh a marriage festival, and your father

would have you be present thereat and take your pleasure

therewith." The damsels enquired, "And how long shall we be

absent from our place?"; and they rejoined, "The time to come and

go, and to sojourn may be two months." So the Princesses arose

and going in to the palace sought Hasan, acquainted him with the

case and said to him, "Verily this place is thy place and our

house is thy house; so be of good cheer and keep thine eyes cool

and clear and feel nor grief nor fear, for none can come at thee

here; but keep a good heart and a glad mind, till we return to

thee. The keys of our chambers we leave with thee; but, O our

brother, we beseech thee, by the bond of brotherhood, in very

deed not to open such a door, for thou hast no need thereto."

Then they farewelled him and fared forth with the troops, leaving

Hasan alone in the palace. It was not long before his breast

grew straitened and his patience shortened: solitude and sadness

were heavy on him and he sorrowed for his severance from them

with passing chagrin. The palace for all its vastness, waxed

small to him and finding himself sad and solitary, he bethought

him of the damsels and their pleasant converse and recited these

couplets,

"The wide plain is narrowed before these eyes * And the landscape

troubles this heart of mine.

Since my friends went forth, by the loss of them * Joy fled and

these eyelids rail floods of brine:

Sleep shunned these eyeballs for parting woe * And my mind is

worn with sore pain and pine:

Would I wot an Time shall rejoin our lots * And the joys of love

with night-talk combine."

--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her

permitted say.

When it was the Seven Hundred and Eighty-sixth Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that after the

departure of the damsels, Hasan sat in the palace sad and

solitary and his breast was straitened by severance. He used to

ride forth a-hunting by himself in the wold and bring back the

game and slaughter it and eat thereof alone: but melancholy and

disquiet redoubled on him, by reason of his loneliness. So he

arose and went round about the palace and explored its every

part; he opened the Princesses' apartments and found therein

riches and treasures fit to ravish the beholder's reason; but he

delighted not in aught thereof, by reason of their absence. His

heart was fired by thinking of the door they had charged him not

to approach or open on any account and he said in himself, "My

sister had never enjoined me not to open this door, except there

were behind it somewhat whereof she would have none to know; but,

by Allah, I will arise and open it and see what is within, though

within it were sudden death!" Then he took the key and, opening

the door,[FN#50] saw therein no treasure but he espied a vaulted

and winding staircase of Yamani onyx at the upper end of the

chamber. So he mounted the stair, which brought him out upon the

terrace- roof of the palace, whence he looked down upon the

gardens and vergiers, full of trees and fruits and beasts and

birds warbling praises of Allah, the One, the All-powerful; and

said in himself "This is that they forbade to me." He gazed

upon these pleasaunces and saw beyond a surging sea, dashing with

clashing billows, and he ceased not to explore the palace right

and left, till he ended at a pavilion builded with alternate

courses, two bricks of gold and one of silver and jacinth and

emerald and supported by four columns. And in the centre he saw

a sitting- room paved and lined with a mosaic of all manner

precious stones such as rubies and emeralds and balasses and

other jewels of sorts; and in its midst stood a basin[FN#51]

brimful of water, over which was a trellis-work of sandalwood and

aloes-wood reticulated with rods of red gold and wands of emerald

and set with various kinds of jewels and fine pearls, each sized

as a pigeon's egg. The trellis was covered with a climbing vine,

bearing grapes like rubies, and beside the basin stood a throne

of lign-aloes latticed with red gold, inlaid with great pearls

and comprising vari-coloured gems of every sort and precious

minerals, each kind fronting each and symmetrically disposed.

About it the birds warbled with sweet tongues and various voices

celebrating the praises of Allah the Most High: brief, it was a

palace such as nor Cæsar nor Chosroës ever owned; but Hasan saw

therein none of the creatures of Allah, whereat he marvelled and

said in himself, "I wonder to which of the Kings this place

pertaineth, or is it Many-Columned Iram whereof they tell, for

who among mortals can avail to the like of this?" And indeed he

was amazed at the spectacle and sat down in the pavilion and cast

glances around him marvelling at the beauty of its ordinance and

at the lustre of the pearls and jewels and the curious works

which therein were, no less than at the gardens and orchards

aforesaid and at the birds that hymned the praises of Allah, the

One, the Almighty; and he abode pondering the traces of him whom

the Most High had enabled to rear that structure, for indeed He

is muchel of might.[FN#52] And presently, behold, he espied ten

birds[FN#53] flying towards the pavilion from the heart of the

desert and knew that they were making the palace and bound for

the basin, to drink of its waters: so he hid himself, for fear

they should see him and take flight. They lighted on a great

tree and a goodly and circled round about it; and he saw amongst

them a bird of marvel-beauty, the goodliest of them all, and the

nine stood around it and did it service; and Hasan marvelled to

see it peck them with its bill and lord it over them while they

fled from it. He stood gazing at them from afar as they entered

the pavilion and perched on the couch; after which each bird rent

open its neck-skin with its claws and issued out of it; and lo!

it was but a garment of feathers, and there came forth therefrom

ten virgins, maids whose beauty shamed the brilliancy of the

moon. They all doffed their clothes and plunging into the basin,

washed and fell to playing and sporting one with other; whilst

the chief bird of them lifted up the rest and ducked them down

and they fled from her and dared not put forth their hands to

her. When Hasan beheld her thus he took leave of his right

reason and his sense was enslaved, so he knew that the Princesses

had not forbidden him to open the door save because of this; for

he fell passionately in love with her, for what he saw of her

beauty and loveliness, symmetry and perfect grace, as she played

and sported and splashed the others with the water. He stood

looking upon them whilst they saw him not, with eye gazing and

heart burning and soul[FN#54] to evil prompting; and he sighed to

be with them and wept for longing, because of the beauty and

loveliness of the chief damsel. His mind was amazed at her

charms and his heart taken in the net of her love; lowe was

loosed in his heart for her sake and there waxed on him a flame,

whose sparks might not be quenched, and desire, whose signs might

not be hidden. Presently, they came up out of that basin, whilst

Hasan marvelled at their beauty and loveliness and the tokens of

inner gifts in the elegance of their movements. Then he cast a

glance at the chief damsel who stood mother- naked and there was

manifest to him what was between her thighs a goodly rounded dome

on pillars borne, like a bowl of silver or crystal, which

recalled to him the saying of the poet,[FN#55]

"When I took up her shift and discovered the terrace-roof of her

kaze, I found it as strait as my humour or eke my worldly

ways:

So I thrust it, incontinent, in, halfway, and she heaved a sigh.

'For what dost thou sigh?' quoth I. 'For the rest of it

sure,' she says."

Then coming out of the water they all put on their dresses and

ornaments, and the chief maiden donned a green dress,[FN#56]

wherein she surpassed for loveliness all the fair ones of the

world and the lustre of her face outshone the resplendent full

moons: she excelled the branches with the grace of her bending

gait and confounded the wit with apprehension of disdain; and

indeed she was as saith the poet,[FN#57]

"A maiden 'twas, the dresser's art had decked with cunning

sleight;

The sun thou 'd'st say had robbed her cheek and shone with

borrowed light.

She came to us apparelled fair in under vest of green,

Like as the ripe pomegranate hides beneath its leafy screen;

And when we asked her what might be the name of what she wore,

She answered in a quaint reply that double meaning bore:

The desert's heart we penetrate in such apparel dressed,

And Pierce-heart therefore is the name by which we call the

vest."

--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her

permitted say.

When it was the Seven Hundred and Eighty-seventh Night,

She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when

Hasan saw the damsels issue forth the basin, the chief maiden

robbed his reason with her beauty and loveliness compelling him

to recite the couplets forequoted. And after dressing they sat

talking and laughing, whilst he stood gazing on them, drowned in

the sea of his love, burning in the flames of passion and

wandering in the Wady of his melancholy thought. And he said to

himself, "By Allah, my sister forbade me not to open the door,

but for cause of these maidens and for fear lest I should fall in

love with one of them! How, O Hasan shalt thou woo and win them?

How bring down a bird flying in the vasty firmament? By Allah

thou hast cast thyself into a bottomless sea and snared thyself

in a net whence there is no escape! I shall die desolate and

none shall wot of my death." And he continued to gaze on the

charms of the chief damsel, who was the lovliest creature Allah

had made in her day, and indeed she outdid in beauty all human

beings. She had a mouth magical as Solomon's seal and hair

blacker than the night of estrangement to the love-despairing

man; her brow was bright as the crescent moon of the Feast of

Ramazán[FN#58] and her eyes were like eyes wherewith gazelles

scan; she had a polished nose straight as a cane and cheeks like

blood-red anemones of Nu'uman, lips like coralline and teeth like

strung pearls in carcanets of gold virgin to man, and a neck like

an ingot of silver, above a shape like a wand of Bán: her middle

was full of folds, a dimpled plain such as enforceth the

distracted lover to magnify Allah and extol His might and main,

and her navel[FN#59] an ounce of musk, sweetest of savour could

contain: she had thighs great and plump, like marble columns

twain or bolsters stuffed with down from ostrich ta'en, and

between them a somewhat, as it were a hummock great of span or a

hare with ears back lain while terrace-roof and pilasters

completed the plan; and indeed she surpassed the bough of the

myrobalan with her beauty and symmetry, and the Indian rattan,

for she was even as saith of them the poet whom love did

unman,[FN#60]

"Her lip-dews rival honey-sweets, that sweet virginity; *

Keener than Hindi scymitar the glance she casts at thee:

She shames the bending bough of Bán with graceful movement slow *

And as she smiles her teeth appear with leven's brilliancy:

When I compared with rose a-bloom the tintage of her cheeks, *

She laughed in scorn and cried, 'Whoso compares with rosery

My hue and breasts, granados terms, is there no shame in him? *

How should pomegranates bear on bough such fruit in form or

blee?

Now by my beauty and mine eyes and heart and eke by Heaven *

Of favours mine and by the Hell of my unclemency,

They say 'She is a garden-rose in very pride of bloom'; *

And yet no rose can ape my cheek nor branch my symmetry!

If any garden own a thing which unto me is like, *

What then is that he comes to crave of me and only me?"'

They ceased not to laugh and play, whilst Hasan stood still

a-watching them, forgetting meat and drink, till near the hour of

mid-afternoon prayer, when the beauty, the chief damsel, said to

her mates, "O Kings' daughters, it waxeth late and our land is

afar and we are weary of this stead. Come, therefore, let us

depart to our own place." So they all arose and donned their

feather vests, and becoming birds as they were before, flew away

all together, with the chief lady in their midst. Then, Hasan,

despairing of their return, would have arisen and gone down into

the palace but could not move or even stand; wherefore the tears

ran down his cheeks and passion was sore on him and he recited

these couplets,

"May God deny me boon of troth if I * After your absence sweets

of slumber know:

Yea; since that sev'rance never close mine eyes, * Nor rest

repose me since departed you!

'Twould seem as though you saw me in your sleep; * Would Heaven

the dreams of sleep were real-true!

Indeed I dote on sleep though needed not, * For sleep may bring

me that dear form to view."

Then Hasan walked on, little by little, heeding not the way he

went, till he reached the foot of the stairs, whence he dragged

himself to his own chamber; then he entered and shutting the

door, lay sick eating not nor drinking and drowned in the sea of

his solitude. He spent the night thus, weeping and bemoaning

himself, till the morning, and when it morrowed he repeated these

couplets,

"The birds took flight at eve and winged their way; * And sinless

he who died of Love's death-blow.

I'll keep my love-tale secret while I can * But, an desire

prevail, its needs must show:

Night brought me nightly vision, bright as dawn; * While nights

of my desire lack morning-glow.

I mourn for them[FN#61] while they heart-freest sleep * And winds

of love on me their plaything blow:

Free I bestow my tears, my wealth, my heart * My wit, my sprite:–

most gain who most bestow!

The worst of woes and banes is enmity * Beautiful maidens deal us

to our woe.

Favour they say's forbidden to the fair * And shedding lovers'

blood their laws allow;

That naught can love-sicks do but lavish soul, * And stake in

love-play life on single throw:[FN#62]

I cry in longing ardour for my love: * Lover can only weep and

wail Love-lowe."

When the sun rose he opened the door, went forth of the chamber

and mounted to the stead where he was before: then he sat down

facing the pavilion and awaited the return of the birds till

nightfall; but they returned not; wherefore he wept till he fell

to the ground in a fainting-fit. When he came to after his swoon,

he dragged himself down the stairs to his chamber; and indeed,

the darkness was come and straitened upon him was the whole world

and he ceased not to weep and wail himself through the livelong

night, till the day broke and the sun rained over hill and dale

its rays serene. He ate not nor drank nor slept, nor was there

any rest for him; but by day he was distracted and by night

distressed, with sleeplessness delirious and drunken with

melancholy thought and excess of love-longing. And he repeated

the verses of the love-distraught poet,

"O thou who shamest sun in morning sheen * The branch

confounding, yet with nescience blest;

Would Heaven I wot an Time shall bring return * And quench the

fires which flame unmanifest,--

Bring us together in a close embrace, * Thy cheek upon my cheek,

thy breast abreast!

Who saith, In Love dwells sweetness? when in Love * Are bitterer

days than Aloës[FN#63] bitterest."

--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her

permitted say.

When it was the Seven Hundred and Eighty-eighth Night,

She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when

Hasan the goldsmith felt love redouble upon him, he recited those

lines; and, as he abode thus in the stress of his

love-distraction, alone and finding none to cheer him with

company, behold, there arose a dust-cloud from the desert,

wherefore he ran down and hid himself knowing that the Princesses

who owned the castle had returned. Before long, the troops

halted and dismounted round the palace and the seven damsels

alighted and entering, put off their arms and armour of war. As

for the youngest, she stayed not to doff her weapons and gear,

but went straight to Hasan's chamber, where finding him not, she

sought for him, till she lighted on him in one of the sleeping

closets hidden, feeble and thin, with shrunken body and wasted

bones and indeed his colour was changed and his eyes sunken in

his face for lack of food and drink and for much weeping, by

reason of his love and longing for the young lady. When she saw

him in this plight, she was confounded and lost her wits; but

presently she questioned him of his case and what had befallen

him, saying, "Tell me what aileth thee, O my brother, that I may

contrive to do away thine affliction, and I will be thy

ransom!"[FN#64] Whereupon he wept with sore weeping and by way of

reply he began reciting,

"Lover, when parted from the thing he loves, * Has naught save

weary woe and bane to bear.

Inside is sickness, outside living lowe, * His first is fancy and

his last despair."

When his sister heard this, she marvelled at his eloquence and

loquent speech and his readiness at answering her in verse and

said to him, "O my brother, when didst thou fall into this thy

case and what hath betided thee, that I find thee speaking in

song and shedding tears that throng? Allah upon thee, O my

brother, and by the honest love which is between us, tell me what

aileth thee and discover to me thy secret, nor conceal from me

aught of that which hath befallen thee in our absence; for my

breast is straitened and my life is troubled because of thee."

He sighed and railed tears like rain, after which he said, "I

fear, O my sister, if I tell thee, that thou wilt not aid me to

win my wish but wilt leave me to die wretchedly in mine anguish."

She replied, "No, by Allah, O my brother, I will not abandon

thee, though it cost me my life!" So he told her all that had

befallen him, and that the cause of his distress and affliction

was the passion he had conceived for the young lady whom he had

seen when he opened the forbidden door; and how he had not tasted

meat nor drink for ten days past. Then he wept with sore weeping

and recited these couplets,

"Restore my heart as 'twas within my breast, * Let mine eyes

sleep again, then fly fro' me.

Deem ye the nights have had the might to change * Love's vow?

Who changeth may he never be!"

His sister wept for his weeping and was moved to ruth for his

case and pitied his strangerhood; so she said to him, "O my

brother, be of good cheer and keep thine eyes cool and clear, for

I will venture being and risk existence to content thee and

devise thee a device wherewith, though it cost me my dear life

and all I hold dear, thou mayst get possession of her and

accomplish thy desire, if such be the will of Allah Almighty.

But I charge thee, O my brother, keep the matter secret from my

sisterhood and discover not thy case to any one of them, lest my

life be lost with thy life. An they question thee of opening the

forbidden door, reply to them, 'I opened it not; no, never; but I

was troubled at heart for your absence and by my loneliness here

and yearning for you.'"[FN#65] And he answered, "Yes: this is the

right rede." So he kissed her head and his heart was comforted

and his bosom broadened. He had been nigh upon death for excess

of affright, for he had gone in fear of her by reason of his

having opened the door; but now his life and soul returned to

him. Then he sought of her somewhat of food and after serving it

she left him, and went in to her sisters, weeping and mourning

for him. They questioned her of her case and she told them how

she was heavy at heart for her brother, because he was sick and

for ten days no food had found way into his stomach. So they

asked the cause of his sickness and she answered, "The reason was

our severance from him and our leaving him desolate; for these

days we have been absent from him were longer to him than a

thousand years and scant blame to him, seeing he is a stranger,

and solitary and we left him alone, with none to company with him

or hearten his heart; more by token that he is but a youth and

may be he called to mind his family and his mother, who is a

woman in years, and bethought him that she weepeth for him all

whiles of the day and watches of the night, ever mourning his

loss; and we used to solace him with our society and divert him

from thinking of her." When her sisters heard these words they

wept in the stress of their distress for him and said,

"Wa'lláhi--'fore Allah, he is not to blame!" Then they went out

to the army and dismissed it, after which they went into Hasan

and saluted him with the salam. When they saw his charms changed

with yellow colour and shrunken body, they wept for very pity and

sat by his side and comforted him and cheered him with converse,

relating to him all they had seen by the way of wonders and

rarities and what had befallen the bridegroom with the bride.

They abode with him thus a whole month, tendering him and

caressing him with words sweeter than syrup; but every day

sickness was added to his sickness, which when they saw, they

bewept him with sore weeping, and the youngest wept even more

than the rest. At the end of this time, the Princesses having

made up their minds to ride forth a-hunting and a-birding invited

their sister to accompany them, but she said, "By Allah, O my

sisters, I cannot go forth with you whilst my brother is in this

plight, nor indeed till he be restored to health and there cease

from him that which is with him of affliction. Rather will I sit

with him and comfort him." They thanked her for her kindness and

said to her, "Allah will requite thee all thou dost with this

stranger." Then they left her with him in the palace and rode

forth taking with them twenty days' victual;--And Shahrazad

perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.

When it was the Seven Hundred and Eighty-ninth Night,

She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the

Princesses mounted and rode forth a-hunting and a-birding, after

leaving in the palace their youngest sister sitting by Hasan's

side; and as soon as the damsel knew that they had covered a long

distance from home, she went in to him and said, "O my brother,

come, show me the place where thou sawest the maidens." He

rejoiced in her words, making sure of winning his wish, and

replied, "Bismillah! On my head!" Then he essayed to rise and

show her the place, but could not walk; so she took him up in her

arms, holding him to her bosom between her breasts; and, opening

the staircase-door, carried him to the top of the palace, and he

showed her the pavilion where he had seen the girls and the basin

of water, wherein they had bathed. Then she said to him, "Set

forth to me, O my brother, their case and how they came." So he

described to her whatso he had seen of them and especially the

girl of whom he was enamoured; but hearing these words she knew

her and her cheeks paled and her case changed. Quoth he, "O my

sister, what aileth thee to wax wan and be troubled?"; and quoth

she, "O my brother, know thou that this young lady is the

daughter of a Sovran of the Jann, of one of the most puissant of

their Kings, and her father had dominion over men and Jinn and

wizards and Cohens and tribal chiefs and guards and countries and

cities and islands galore and hath immense wealth in store. Our

father is a Viceroy and one of his vassals and none can avail

against him, for the multitude of his many and the extent of his

empire and the muchness of his monies. He hath assigned to his

offspring, the daughters thou sawest, a tract of country, a whole

year's journey in length and breadth, a region girt about with a

great river and a deep; and thereto none may attain, nor man nor

Jann. He hath an army of women, smiters with swords and lungers

with lances, five-and-twenty thousand in number, each of whom,

whenas she mounteth steed and donneth battle-gear, eveneth a

thousand knights of the bravest. Moreover, he hath seven

daughters, who in valour and prowess equal and even excel their

sisters,[FN#66] and he hath made the eldest of them, the damsel

whom thou sawest,[FN#67] queen over the country aforesaid and who

is the wisest of her sisters and in valour and horsemanship and

craft and skill and magic excels all the folk of her dominions.

The girls who companied with her are the ladies of her court and

guards and grandees of her empire, and the plumed skins wherewith

they fly are the handiwork of enchanters of the Jann. Now an

thou wouldst get possession of this queen and wed this jewel

seld-seen and enjoy her beauty and loveliness and grace, do thou

pay heed to my words and keep them in thy memory. They resort to

this place on the first day of every month; and thou must take

seat here and watch for them; and when thou seest them coming

hide thee near the pavilion sitting where thou mayst see them,

without being seen of them, and beware, again beware lest thou

show thyself, or we shall all lose our lives. When they doff

their dress note which is the feather-suit of her whom thou

lovest and take it, and it only, for this it is that carrieth her

to her country, and when thou hast mastered it, thou hast

mastered her. And beware lest she wile thee, saying, 'O thou who

hast robbed my raiment, restore it to me, because here am I in

thine hands and at thy mercy!' For, an thou give it her, she will

kill thee and break down over us palace and pavilion and slay our

sire: know, then, thy case and how thou shalt act. When her

companions see that her feather-suit is stolen, they will take

flight and leave her to thee, and beware lest thou show thyself

to them, but wait till they have flown away and she despaireth of

them: whereupon do thou go in to her and hale her by the hair of

her head[FN#68] and drag her to thee; which being done, she will

be at thy mercy. And I rede thee discover not to her that thou

hast taken the feather-suit, but keep it with care; for, so long

as thou hast it in hold, she is thy prisoner and in thy power,

seeing that she cannot fly to her country save with it. And

lastly carry her down to thy chamber where she will be thine."

When Hasan heard her words his heart became at ease, his trouble

ceased and affliction left him; so he rose to his feet and

kissing his sister's head, went down from the terrace with her

into the palace, where they slept that night. He medicined

himself till morning morrowed; and when the sun rose, he sprang

up and opened the staircase-door and ascending to the flat roof

sat there till supper-tide when his sister brought him up

somewhat of meat and drink and a change of clothes and he slept.

And thus they continued doing, day by day until the end of the

month. When he saw the new moon, he rejoiced and began to watch

for the birds, and while he was thus, behold, up they came, like

lightning. As soon as he espied them, he hid himself where he

could watch them, unwatched by them, and they lighted down one

and all of them, and putting off their clothes, descended into

the basin. All this took place near the stead where Hasan lay

concealed, and as soon as he caught sight of the girl he loved,

he arose and crept under cover, little by little, towards the

dresses, and Allah veiled him so that none marked his approach

for they were laughing and playing with one another, till he laid

hand on the dress. Now when they had made an end of their

diversion, they came forth of the basin and each of them slipped

on her feather-suit. But the damsel he loved sought for her

plumage that she might put it on, but found it not; whereupon she

shrieked and beat her cheeks and rent her raiment. Her

sisterhood[FN#69] came to her and asked what ailed her, and she

told them that her feather-suit was missing; wherefore they wept

and shrieked and buffeted their faces: and they were confounded,

wotting not the cause of this, and knew not what to do. Presently

the night overtook them and they feared to abide with her lest

that which had befallen her should befal them also; so they

farewelled her and flying away left her alone upon the

terrace-roof of the palace, by the pavilion basin.--And Shahrazad

perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.

When it was the Seven Hundred and Ninetieth Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Hasan

had carried off the girl's plumery, she sought it but found it

not and her sisterhood flew away leaving her alone. When they

were out of sight, Hasan gave ear to her and heard her say, "O

who hast taken my dress and stripped me, I beseech thee to

restore it to me and cover my shame, so may Allah never make thee

taste of my tribulation!" But when Hasan heard her speak thus,

with speech sweeter than syrup, his love for her redoubled,

passion got the mastery of his reason and he had not patience to

endure from her. So springing up from his hiding-place, he rushed

upon her and laying hold of her by the hair dragged her to him

and carried her down to the basement of the palace and set her in

his own chamber, where he threw over her a silken cloak[FN#70]

and left her weeping and biting her hands. Then he shut the door

upon her and going to his sister, informed her how he had made

prize of his lover and carried her to his sleeping-closet, "And

there," quoth he, "she is now sitting, weeping and biting her

hands." When his sister heard this, she rose forthright and

betook herself to the chamber, where she found the captive

weeping and mourning. So she kissed ground before her and

saluted her with the salam and the young lady said to her, "O

King's daughter, do folk like you do such foul deed with the

daughters of Kings? Thou knowest that my father is a mighty

Sovran and that all the liege lords of the Jinn stand in awe of

him and fear his majesty: for that there are with him magicians

and sages and Cohens and Satans and Marids, such as none may cope

withal, and under his hand are folk whose number none knoweth

save Allah. How then doth it become you, O daughters of Kings,

to harbour mortal men with you and disclose to them our case and

yours? Else how should this man, a stranger, come at us?"

Hasan's sister made reply, "O King's daughter, in very sooth this

human is perfect in nobleness and purposeth thee no villainy; but

he loveth thee, and women were not made save for men. Did he not

love thee, he had not fallen sick for thy sake and well-nigh

given up the ghost for desire of thee." And she told her the

whole tale how Hasan had seen her bathing in the basin with her

attendants, and fallen in love with her, and none had pleased him

but she, for the rest were all her handmaids, and none had

availed to put forth a hand to her. When the Princess heard this,

she despaired of deliverance and presently Hasan's sister went

forth and brought her a costly dress, wherein she robed her.

Then she set before her somewhat of meat and drink and ate with

her and heartened her heart and soothed her sorrows. And she

ceased not to speak her fair with soft and pleasant words,

saying, "Have pity on him who saw thee once and became as one

slain by thy love;" and continued to console her and caress her,

quoting fair says and pleasant instances. But she wept till

daybreak, when her trouble subsided and she left shedding tears,

knowing that she had fallen into the net and that there was no

deliverance for her. Then said she to Hasan's sister, "O King's

daughter, with this my strangerhood and severance from my country

and sisterhood which Allah wrote upon my brow, patience becometh

me to support what my Lord hath foreordained." Therewith the

youngest Princess assigned her a chamber in the palace, than

which there was none goodlier and ceased not to sit with her and

console her and solace her heart, till she was satisfied with her

lot and her bosom was broadened and she laughed and there ceased

from her what trouble and oppression possessed her, by reason of

her separation from her people and country and sisterhood and

parents. Thereupon Hasan's sister repaired to him, and said,

"Arise, go in to her in her chamber and kiss her hands and

feet."[FN#71] So he went in to her and did this and bussed her

between the eyes, saying, "O Princess of fair ones and life of

sprites and beholder's delight, be easy of heart, for I took thee

only that I might be thy bondsman till the Day of Doom, and this

my sister will be thy servant; for I, O my lady, desire naught

but to take thee to wife, after the law of Allah and the practice

of His Apostle, and whenas thou wilt, I will journey with thee to

my country and carry thee to Baghdad-city and abide with thee

there: moreover, I will buy thee handmaidens and negro chattels;

and I have a mother, of the best of women, who will do thee

service. There is no goodlier land than our land; everything

therein is better than elsewhere and its folk are a pleasant

people and bright of face." Now as he bespake her thus and

strave to comfort her, what while she answered him not a

syllable, lo! there came a knocking at the palace-gate. So Hasan

went out to see who was at the door and found there the six

Princesses, who had returned from hunting and birding, whereat he

rejoiced and went to meet them and welcomed them. They wished

him safety and health and he wished them the like; after which

they dismounted and going each to her chamber doffed their soiled

clothes and donned fine linen. Then they came forth and demanded

the game, for they had taken a store of gazelles and wild cows,

hares and lions, hyaenas, and others; so their suite brought out

some thereof for butchering, keeping the rest by them in the

palace, and Hasan girt himself and fell to slaughtering for them

in due form,[FN#72] whilst they sported and made merry, joying

with great joy to see him standing amongst them hale and hearty

once more. When they had made an end of slaughtering, they sat

down and addressed themselves to get ready somewhat for breaking

their fast, and Hasan, coming up to the eldest Princess, kissed

her head and on like wise did he with the rest, one after other.

Whereupon said they to him, "Indeed, thou humblest thyself to us

passing measure, O our brother, and we marvel at the excess of

the affection thou showest us. But Allah forfend that thou

shouldst do this thing, which it behoveth us rather to do with

thee, seeing thou art a man and therefor worthier than we, who

are of the Jinn."[FN#73] Thereupon his eyes brimmed with tears

and he wept sore; so they said to him, "What causeth thee to

weep? Indeed, thou troublest our pleasant lives with thy weeping

this day. 'Twould seem thou longest after thy mother and native

land. An things be so, we will equip thee and carry thee to thy

home and thy friends." He replied, "By Allah, I desire not to

part from you!" Then they asked, "Which of us hath vexed thee,

that thou art thus troubled?" But he was ashamed to say, "Naught

troubleth me save love of a damsel," lest they should deny and

disavow him: so he was silent and would tell them nothing of his

case. Then his sister came forward and said to them, "He hath

caught a bird from the air and would have you help him to tame

her." Whereupon they all turned to him and cried, "We are at thy

service every one of us and whatsoever thou seekest that will we

do: but tell us thy tale and conceal from us naught of thy case."

So he said to his sister, "Do thou tell them, for I am ashamed

before them nor can I face them with these words."--And Shahrazad

perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.

When it was the Seven Hundred and Ninety-first Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Hasan said

to his sister, "Do thou tell them my tale, for before them I

stand abashed nor can I face them with these words." So she said

to them, "O my sisters, when we went away and left alone this

unhappy one, the palace was straitened upon him and he feared

lest some one should come in to him, for ye know that the sons of

Adam are light of wits. So, he opened the door of the staircase

leading to the roof, of his loneliness and trouble, and sat

there, looking upon the Wady and watching the gate, in his fear

lest any should come thither. One day, as he sat thus, suddenly

he saw ten birds approach him, making for the palace, and they

lighted down on the brink of the basin which is in the

pavilion-terrace. He watched these birds and saw, amongst them,

one goodlier than the rest, which pecked the others and flouted

them, whilst none of them dared put out a claw to it. Presently,

they set their nails to their neck-collars and, rending their

feather-suits, came forth therefrom and became damsels, each and

every, like the moon on fullest night. Then they doffed their

dress and plunging into the water, fell to playing with one

another, whilst the chief damsel ducked the others, who dared not

lay a finger on her and she was fairest of favour and most famous

of form and most feateous of finery. They ceased not to be in

this case till near the hour of mid-afternoon prayer, when they

came forth of the basin and, donning their feather-shifts, flew

away home. Thereupon he waxed distracted, with a heart afire for

love of the chief damsel and repenting him that he had not stolen

her plumery. Wherefore he fell sick and abode on the palace-roof

expecting her return and abstaining from meat and drink and

sleep, and he ceased not to be so till the new moon showed, when

behold, they again made their appearance according to custom and

doffing their dresses went down into the basin. So he stole the

chief damsel's feather-suit, knowing that she could not fly save

therewith, hiding himself carefully lest they sight him and slay

him. Then he waited till the rest had flown away, when he arose

and seizing the damsel, carried her down from the terrace into

the castle." Her sisters asked, "Where is she?"; and she

answered, "She is with him in such a chamber." Quoth they,

"Describe her to us, O our sister:" so quoth she, "She is fairer

than the moon on the night of fullness and her face is sheenier

than the sun; the dew of her lips is sweeter than honey and her

shape is straighter and slenderer than the cane; one with eyes

black as night and brow flower-white; a bosom jewel-bright,

breasts like pomegranates twain and cheeks like apples twain, a

waist with dimples overlain, a navel like a casket of ivory full

of musk in grain, and legs like columns of alabastrine vein. She

ravisheth all hearts with Nature-kohl'd eyne, and a waist

slender-fine and hips of heaviest design and speech that heals

all pain and pine: she is goodly of shape and sweet of smile, as

she were the moon in fullest sheen and shine." When the

Princesses heard these praises, they turned to Hasan and said to

him, "Show her to us." So he arose with them, all

love-distraught, and carrying them to the chamber wherein was the

captive damsel, opened the door and entered, preceding the seven

Princesses. Now when they saw her and noted her loveliness, they

kissed the ground between her hands, marvelling at the fairness

of her favour and the significance which showed her inner gifts,

and said to her, "By Allah, O daughter of the Sovran Supreme,

this is indeed a mighty matter: and haddest thou heard tell of

this mortal among women thou haddest marvelled at him all thy

days. Indeed, he loveth thee with passionate love; yet, O King's

daughter, he seeketh not lewdness, but desireth thee only in the

way of lawful wedlock. Had we known that maids can do without

men, we had impeached him from his intent, albeit he sent thee no

messenger, but came to thee in person; and he telleth us he hath

burnt the feather dress; else had we taken it from him." Then

one of them agreed with the Princess and becoming her deputy in

the matter of the wedding contract, performed the marriage

ceremony between them, whilst Hasan clapped palms with her,

laying his hand in hers, and she wedded him to the damsel by

consent; after which they celebrated her bridal feast, as

beseemeth Kings' daughters, and brought Hasan in to her. So he

rose and rent the veil and oped the gate and pierced the

forge[FN#74] and brake the seal, whereupon affection for her

waxed in him and he redoubled in love and longing for her. Then,

since he had gotten that which he sought, he gave himself joy and

improvised these couplets,

"Thy shape's temptation, eyes as Houri's fain * And sheddeth

Beauty's sheen[FN#75] that radiance rare:

My glance portrayed thy glorious portraiture: * Rubies one-half

and gems the third part were:

Musk made a fifth: a sixth was ambergris * The sixth a pearl but

pearl without compare.

Eve never bare a daughter evening thee * Nor breathes thy like in

Khuld's[FN#76] celestial air.

An thou would torture me 'tis wont of Love * And if thou pardon

'tis thy choice I swear:

Then, O world bright'ner and O end of wish! * Loss of thy charms

who could in patience bear?"

--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her

permitted say.

When it was the Seven Hundred and Ninety-second Night,

She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when

Hasan went in unto the King's daughter and did away her

maidenhead, he enjoyed her with exceeding joy and affection for

her waxed in him and he redoubled in love-longing for her; so he

recited the lines aforesaid. Now the Princesses were standing at

the door and when they heard his verses, they said to her, "O

King's daughter, hearest thou the words of this mortal? How

canst thou blame us, seeing that he maketh poetry for love of

thee and indeed he hath so done a thousand times."[FN#77] When

she heard this she rejoiced and was glad and felt happy and Hasan

abode with her forty[FN#78] days in all solace and delight,

joyance and happiest plight, whilst the damsels renewed

festivities for him every day and overwhelmed him with bounty and

presents and rarities; and the King's daughter became reconciled

to her sojourn amongst them and forgot her kith and kin. At the

end of the forty days, Hasan saw in a dream, one night, his

mother mourning for him and indeed her bones were wasted and her

body had waxed shrunken and her complexion had yellowed and her

favour had changed the while he was in excellent case. When she

saw him in this state, she said to him, "O my son, O Hasan, how

is it that thou livest thy worldly life at thine ease and

forgettest me? Look at my plight since thy loss! I do not

forget thee, nor will my tongue cease to name thy name till I

die; and I have made thee a tomb in my house, that I may never

forget thee. Would Heaven I knew[FN#79] if I shall live, O my

son, to see thee by my side and if we shall ever again foregather

as we were." Thereupon Hasan awoke from sleep, weeping and

wailing, the tears railed down his cheeks like rain and he became

mournful and melancholy; his tears dried not nor did sleep visit

him, but he had no rest, and no patience was left to him. When

he arose, the Princesses came in to him and gave him good-morrow

and made merry with him as was their wont; but he paid no heed to

them; so they asked his wife concerning his case and she said, "I

ken not." Quoth they, "Question him of his condition." So she

went up to him and said, "What aileth thee, O my lord?"

Whereupon he moaned and groaned and told her what he had seen in

his dream and repeated these two couplets,

"Indeed afflicted sore are we and all distraught, * Seeking for

union; yet we find no way:

And Love's calamities upon us grow * And Love though light with

heaviest weight doth weigh."

His wife repeated to the Princesses what he said and they,

hearing the verses, had pity on him and said to him, "In Allah's

name, do as thou wilt, for we may not hinder thee from visiting

thy mother; nay, we will help thee to thy wish by what means we

may. But it behoveth that thou desert us not, but visit us,

though it be only once a year." And he answered, "To hear is to

obey: be your behest on my head and eyes!" Then they arose

forthright and making him ready victual for the voyage, equipped

the bride for him with raiment and ornaments and everything of

price, such as defy description, and they bestowed on him gifts

and presents which pens of ready writers lack power to set forth.

Then they beat the magical kettle-drum and up came the

dromedaries from all sides. They chose of them such as could

carry all the gear they had prepared; amongst the rest

five-and-twenty chests of gold and fifty of silver; and, mounting

Hasan and his bride on others, rode with them three days, wherein

they accomplished a march of three months. Then they bade them

farewell and addressed themselves to return; whereupon his

sister, the youngest damsel, threw herself on Hasan's neck and

wept till she fainted. When she came to herself, she repeated

these two couplets,

"Ne'er dawn the severance-day on any wise * That robs of sleep

these heavy-lidded eyes.

From us and thee it hath fair union torn * It wastes our force

and makes our forms its prize."

Her verses finished she farewelled him, straitly charging him,

whenas he should have come to his native land and have

foregathered with his mother and set his heart at ease, to fail

not of visiting her once in every six months and saying, "If

aught grieve thee or thou fear aught of vexation, beat the

Magian's kettle-drum, whereupon the dromedaries shall come to

thee; and do thou mount and return to us and persist not in

staying away." He swore thus to do and conjured them to go home.

So they returned to the palace, mourning for their separation

from him, especially the youngest, with whom no rest would stay

nor would Patience her call obey, but she wept night and day.

Thus it was with them; but as regards Hasan and his wife, they

fared on by day and night over plain and desert site and valley

and stony heights through noon-tide glare and dawn's soft light;

and Allah decreed them safety, so that they reached Bassorah-city

without hindrance and made their camels kneel at the door of his

house. Hasan then dismissed the dromedaries and, going up to the

door to open it, heard his mother weeping and in a faint strain,

from a heart worn with parting-pain and on fire with consuming

bane, reciting these couplets,

"How shall he taste of sleep who lacks repose * Who wakes a-night

when all in slumber wone?

He ownèd wealth and family and fame * Yet fared from house and

home an exile lone:

Live coal beneath his[FN#80] ribs he bears for bane, * And mighty

longing, mightier ne'er was known:

Passion hath seized him, Passion mastered him; * Yet is he

constant while he maketh moan:

His case for Love proclaimeth aye that he, * (As prove his tears)

is wretched, woebegone."

When Hasan heard his mother weeping and wailing he wept also and

knocked at the door a loud knock. Quoth she, "Who is at the

door?"; and quoth he, "Open!" Whereupon she opened the door and

knowing him at first sight fell down in a fainting fit; but he

ceased not to tend her till she came to herself, when he embraced

her and she embraced him and kissed him, whilst his wife looked

on mother and son. Then he carried his goods and gear into the

house, whilst his mother, for that her heart was comforted and

Allah had reunited her with her son versified with these

couplets,

"Fortune had ruth upon my plight * Pitied my long long bane and

blight;

Gave me what I would liefest sight; * And set me free from all

afright.

So pardon I the sin that sin * nèd she in days evanisht quite;

E'en to the sin she sinned when she * Bleached my hair-parting

silvern white."

--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her

permitted say.

When it was the Seven Hundred and Ninety-third Night,