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

with his mother then sat talking and she asked him, "How faredst

thou, O my son, with the Persian?" whereto he answered, "O my

mother, he was no Persian, but a Magian, who worshipped the fire,

not the All-powerful Sire." Then he told her how he dealt with

him, in that he had journeyed with him to the Mountain of Clouds

and sewed him up in the camel's skin, and how the vultures had

taken him up and set him down on the summit and what he had seen

there of dead folk, whom the Magian had deluded and left to die

on the crest after they had done his desire. And he told her how

he had cast himself from the mountain-top into the sea and Allah

the Most High had preserved him and brought him to the palace of

the seven Princesses and how the youngest of them had taken him

to brother and he had sojourned with them till the Almighty

brought the Magian to the place where he was and he slew him.

Moreover, he told her of his passion for the King's daughter and

how he had made prize of her and of his seeing her[FN#81] in

sleep and all else that had befallen him up to the time when

Allah vouchsafed them reunion. She wondered at his story and

praised the Lord who had restored him to her in health and

safety. Then she arose and examined the baggage and loads and

questioned him of them. So he told her what was in them, whereat

she joyed with exceeding joy. Then she went up to the King's

daughter, to talk with her and bear her company; but, when her

eyes fell on her, her wits were confounded at her brilliancy and

she rejoiced and marvelled at her beauty and loveliness and

symmetry and perfect grace: and she sat down beside her, cheering

her and comforting her heart while she never ceased to repeat

"Alhamdolillah, O my son, for thy return to me safe and sound!"

Next morning early she went down into the market and bought

mighty fine furniture and ten suits of the richest raiment in the

city, and clad the young wife and adorned her with everything

seemly. Then said she to Hasan, "O my son, we cannot tarry in

this town with all this wealth; for thou knowest that we are poor

folk and the people will suspect us of practising alchemy. So

come, let us depart to Baghdad, the House[FN#82] of Peace, where

we may dwell in the Caliph's Sanctuary, and thou shalt sit in a

shop to buy and sell, in the fear of Allah (to whom belong Might

and Majesty!) and He shall open to thee the door of blessings

with this wealth." Hasan approved her counsel and going forth

straightway, sold the house and summoned the dromedaries, which

he loaded with all his goods and gear, together with his mother

and wife. Then he went down to the Tigris, where he hired him a

craft to carry them to Baghdad and embarked therein all his

possessions and his mother and wife. They sailed up the river

with a fair wind for ten days till they drew in sight of Baghdad,

at which they all rejoiced, and the ship landed them in the city,

where without stay or delay Hasan hired a storehouse in one of

the caravanserais and transported his goods thither. He lodged

that night in the Khan and on the morrow, he changed his clothes

and going down into the city, enquired for a broker. The folk

directed him to one, and when the broker saw him, he asked him

what he lacked. Quoth he, "I want a house, a handsome one and a

spacious." So the broker showed him the houses at his disposal

and he chose one that belonged to one of the Wazirs and buying it

of him for an hundred thousand golden dinars, gave him the price.

Then he returned to his caravanserai and removed all his goods

and monies to the house; after which he went down to the market

and bought all the mansion needed of vessels and carpets and

other household stuff, besides servants and eunuchs, including a

little black boy for the house. He abode with his wife in all

solace and delight of life three years, during which time he was

vouchsafed by her two sons, one of whom he named Násir and the

other Mansúr: but, at the end of this time he bethought him of

his sisters, the Princesses, and called to mind all their

goodness to him and how they had helped him to his desire. So he

longed after them and going out to the marketstreets of the city,

bought trinkets and costly stuffs and fruit-confections, such as

they had never seen or known. His mother asked him the reason of

his buying these rarities and he answered, "I purpose to visit my

sisters, who showed me every kind of kindness and all the wealth

that I at present enjoy is due to their goodness and munificence:

wherefore I will journey to them and return soon, Inshallah!"

Quoth she, "O my son, be not long absent from me;" and quoth he,

"Know, O my mother, how thou shalt do with my wife. Here is her

feather-dress in a chest, buried under ground in such a place; do

thou watch over it, lest haply she hap on it and take it, for she

would fly away, she and her children, and I should never hear of

them again and should die of grieving for them; wherefore take

heed, O my mother, while I warn thee that thou name this not to

her. Thou must know that she is the daughter of a King of the

Jinn, than whom there is not a greater among the Sovrans of the

Jann nor a richer in troops and treasure, and she is mistress of

her people and dearest to her father of all he hath. Moreover,

she is passing high-spirited, so do thou serve her thyself and

suffer her not to go forth the door neither look out of window

nor over the wall, for I fear the air for her when it

bloweth,[FN#83] and if aught befel her of the calamities of this

world, I should slay myself for her sake." She replied, "O my

son, I take refuge with Allah[FN#84] from gainsaying thee! Am I

mad that thou shouldst lay this charge on me and I disobey thee

therein? Depart, O my son, with heart at ease, and please Allah,

soon thou shalt return in safety and see her and she shall tell

thee how I have dealt with her: but tarry not, O my son, beyond

the time of travel."--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and

ceased to say her permitted say.

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

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

Hasan had determined to visit the Princesses, he gave his mother

the orders we have mentioned.[FN#85] Now, as Fate would have it,

his wife heard what he said to his mother and neither of them

knew it. Then Hasan went without the city and beat the

kettle-drum, whereupon up came the dromedaries and he loaded

twenty of them with rarities of Al-Irak; after which he returned

to his mother and repeated his charge to her and took leave of

her and his wife and children, one of whom was a yearling babe

and the other two years old. Then he mounted and fared on,

without stopping night or day, over hills and valleys and plains

and wastes for a term of ten days till, on the eleventh, he

reached the palace and went in to his sisters, with the gifts he

had brought them. The Princesses rejoiced at his sight and gave

him joy of his safety, whilst his sister decorated the palace

within and without. Then they took the presents and, lodging him

in a chamber as before, asked him of his mother and his wife, and

he told them that she had borne him two sons. And the youngest

Princess, seeing him well and in good case, joyed with exceeding

joy and repeated this couplet,

"I ever ask for news of you from whatso breezes pass * And never

any but yourselves can pass across my mind."

Then he abode with them in all honour and hospitality, for three

months, spending his time in feasting and merrymaking, joy and

delight, hunting and sporting. So fared it with him; but as

regards his wife, she abode with his mother two days after her

husband's departure, and on the third day, she said to her,

"Glory be to God! Have I lived with him three years and shall I

never go to the bath?" Then she wept and Hasan's mother had pity

on her condition and said to her, "O my daughter, here we are

strangers and thy husband is abroad. Were he at home, he would

serve thee himself, but, as for me, I know no one. However, O my

daughter, I will heat thee water and wash thy head in the

Hammam-bath which is in the house." Answered the King's daughter,

"O my lady, hadst thou spoken thus to one of the slave-girls, she

had demanded to be sold in the Sultan's open market and had not

abode with thee.[FN#86] Men are excusable, because they are

jealous and their reason telleth them that, if a woman go forth

the house, haply she will do frowardness. But women, O my lady,

are not all equal and alike and thou knowest that, if woman have

a mind to aught, whether it be the Hammam or what not else, none

hath power over her to guard her or keep her chaste or debar her

from her desire; for she will do whatso she willeth and naught

restraineth her but her reason and her religion."[FN#87] Then she

wept and cursed fate and bemoaned herself and her strangerhood,

till Hasan's mother was moved to ruth for her case and knew that

all she said was but truth and that there was nothing for it but

to let her have her way. So she committed the affair to Allah

(extolled and exalted be He!) and making ready all that they

needed for the bath, took her and went with her to the Hammam.

She carried her two little sons with her, and when they entered,

they put off their clothes and all the women fell to gazing on

the Princess and glorifying God (to whom belong Might and

Majesty!) for that He had created so fair a form. The women of

the city, even those who were passing by, flocked to gaze upon

her, and the report of her was noised abroad in Baghdad till the

bath was crowded that there was no passing through it. Now it

chanced there was present on that day and on that rare occasion

with the rest of the women in the Hammam, one of the slave-girls

of the Commander of the Faithful, Harun al-Rashid, by name

Tohfah[FN#88] the Lutanist, and she, finding the Hammam over

crowded and no passing for the throng of women and girls, asked

what was to do; and they told her of the young lady. So she

walked up to her and, considering her closely, was amazed at her

grace and loveliness and glorified God (magnified be His

majesty!) for the fair forms He hath created. The sight hindered

her from her bath, so that she went not farther in nor washed,

but sat staring at the Princess, till she had made an end of

bathing and coming forth of the caldarium donned her raiment,

whereupon beauty was added to her beauty. She sat down on the

divan,[FN#89] whilst the women gazed upon her; then she looked at

them and veiling herself, went out. Tohfah went out with her and

followed her, till she saw where she dwelt, when she left her and

returned to the Caliph's palace; and ceased not wending till she

went in to the Lady Zubaydah and kissed ground between her hands;

whereupon quoth her mistress, "O Tohfah, why hast thou tarried in

the Hammam?" She replied, "O my lady, I have seen a marvel,

never saw I its like amongst men or women, and this it was that

distracted me and dazed my wit and amazed me, so that I forgot

even to wash my head." Asked Zubaydah, "And what was that?" ;

and Tohfah answered, "O my lady, I saw a damsel in the bath,

having with her two little boys like moons, eye never espied her

like, nor before her nor after her, neither is there the fellow

of her form in the whole world nor her peer amongst Ajams or

Turks or Arabs. By the munificence, O my lady, an thou toldest

the Commander of the Faithful of her, he would slay her husband

and take her from him, for her like is not to be found among

women. I asked of her mate and they told me that he is a

merchant Hasan of Bassorah hight. Moreover, I followed her from

the bath to her own house and found it to be that of the Wazir,

with the two gates, one opening on the river and the other on the

land.[FN#90] Indeed, O my lady, I fear lest the Prince of True

Believers hear of her and break the law and slay her husband and

take love-liesse with her."--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of

day and ceased saying her permitted say.

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

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

Tohfah, after seeing the King's daughter, described her beauty to

the Lady Zubaydah ending with, "Indeed, O my mistress, I fear

lest the Prince of True Believers hear of her and break the law

and slay her mate and take her to wife," Zubaydah cried, "Woe to

thee, O Tohfah, say me, doth this damsel display such passing

beauty and loveliness that the Commander of the Faithful should,

on her account, barter his soul's good for his worldly lust and

break the Holy Law! By Allah, needs must I look on her, and if

she be not as thou sayest, I will bid strike off thy head! O

strumpet, there are in the Caliph's Serraglio three hundred and

three score slave girls, after the number of the days of the

year, yet is there none amongst them so excellent as thou

describest!" Tohfah replied, "No, by Allah, O my lady!: nor is

there her like in all Baghdad; no, nor amongst the Arabs or the

Daylamites nor hath Allah (to whom belong Might and Majesty!)

created the like of her!" Thereupon Zuhaydah called for Masrur,

the eunuch, who came and kissed the ground before her, and she

said to him, "O Masrur, go to the Wazir's house, that with the

two gates, one giving on the water and the other on the land, and

bring me the damsel who dwelleth there, also her two children and

the old woman who is with her, and haste thou and tarry not."

Said Masrur, "I hear and I obey," and repairing to Hasan's house,

knocked at the door. Quoth the old woman, "Who is at the door?"

and quoth he, "Masrur, the eunuch of the Commander of the

Faithful." So she opened the door and he entered and saluted

her with the salam; whereupon she returned his salute and asked

his need; and he replied, "The Lady Zubaydah, daughter of

Al-Kasim[FN#91] and queen-spouse of the Commander of the Faithful

Harun al-Rashid sixth[FN#92] of the sons of Al-Abbas, paternal

uncle of the Prophet (whom Allah bless and keep!) summoneth thee

to her, thee and thy son's wife and her children; for the women

have told her anent her and her beauty." Rejoined the old woman,

"O my lord Masrur, we are foreigner folk and the girl's husband

(my son) who is abroad and far from home hath strictly charged me

not to go forth nor let her go forth in his absence, neither show

her to any of the creatures of Allah Almighty; and I fear me, if

aught befal her and he come back, he will slay himself; wherefore

of thy favour I beseech thee, O Masrur, require us not of that

whereof we are unable." Masrur retorted, "O my lady, if I knew

aught to be feared for you in this, I would not require you to

go; the Lady Zubaydah desireth but to see her and then she may

return. So disobey not or thou wilt repent; and like as I take

you, I will bring you both back in safety, Inshallah!" Hasan's

mother could not gainsay him; so she went in and making the

damsel ready, brought her and her children forth and they all

followed Masrur to the palace of the Caliphate where he carried

them in and seated them on the floor before the Lady Zubaydah.

They kissed ground before her and called down blessings upon her;

and Zubaydah said to the young lady (who was veiled), "Wilt thou

not uncover thy face, that I may look on it?" So she kissed the

ground between her hands and discovered a face which put to shame

the full moon in the height of heaven. Zubaydah fixed her eyes

on her and let their glances wander over her, whilst the palace

was illumined by the light of her countenance; whereupon the

Queen and the whole company were amazed at her beauty and all who

looked on her became Jinn-mad and unable to bespeak one another.

As for Zubaydah, she rose and making the damsel stand up,

strained her to her bosom and seated her by herself on the couch.

Moreover, she bade decorate the palace in her honour and calling

for a suit of the richest raiment and a necklace of the rarest

ornaments put them upon her. Then said she to her, "O liege lady

of fair ones, verily thou astoundest me and fillest mine

eyes.[FN#93] What arts knowest thou?" She replied, "O my lady, I

have a dress of feathers, and could I but put it on before thee,

thou wouldst see one of the fairest of fashions and marvel

thereat, and all who saw it would talk of its goodliness,

generation after generation." Zubaydah asked, "And where is this

dress of thine?"; and the damsel answered, "'Tis with my

husband's mother. Do thou seek it for me of her." So Zubaydah

said to the old woman, "O my lady the pilgrimess, O my mother, go

forth and fetch us her feather-dress, that we may solace

ourselves by looking on what she will do, and after take it back

again." Replied the old woman, "O my lady, this damsel is a liar.

Hast thou ever seen any of womankind with a dress of feathers?

Indeed, this belongeth only to birds." But the damsel said to the

Lady Zubaydah, "As thou livest, O my lady, she hath a

feather-dress of mine and it is in a chest, which is buried in

such a store-closet in the house." So Zubaydah took off her neck

a rivière of jewels, worth all the treasures of Chosroe and

Cæsar, and gave it to the old woman, saying, "O my mother, I

conjure thee by my life, take this necklace and go and fetch us

this dress, that we may divert ourselves with the sight thereof,

and after take it again!" But she sware to her that she had

never seen any such dress and wist not what the damsel meant by

her speech. Then the Lady Zubaydah cried out at her and taking

the key from her, called Masrur and said to him as soon as her

came, "Take this key and go to the house; then open it and enter

a store-closet there whose door is such and such and amiddlemost

of it thou wilt find a chest buried. Take it out and break it

open and bring me the feather-dress which is therein and set it

before me."--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased

saying her permitted say.

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

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

Zubaydah, having taken the key from Hasan's mother, handed it to

Masrur, saying, "Take this key and open such a closet; then bring

forth of it the chest; break it open; bring me the feather-dress

which is therein and set it before me." "Hearkening and

obedience," replied he and taking the key went forth, whereupon

the old woman arose and followed him, weeping-eyed and repenting

her of having given ear to the damsel and gone with her to the

bath, for her desire to go thither was but a device. So she went

with him to the house and opened the door of the closet, and he

entered and brought out the chest. Then he took therefrom the

feather-dress and wrapping it in a napkin, carried it to the Lady

Zubaydah, who took it and turned it about, marvelling at the

beauty of its make; after which she gave it to the damsel,

saying, "Is this thy dress of feathers?" She replied, "Yes, O my

lady," and at once putting forth her hand, took it joyfully. Then

she examined it and rejoiced to find it whole as it was, not a

feather gone. So she rose and came down from beside the Lady

Zubaydah and taking her sons in her bosom, wrapped herself in the

feather-dress and became a bird, by the ordinance of Allah (to

whom belong Might and Majesty!), whereat Zubaydah marvelled as

did all who were present. Then she walked with a swaying and

graceful gait and danced and sported and flapped her wings,

whilst all eyes were fixed on her and all marvelled at what she

did. Then said she with fluent tongue, "Is this goodly, O my

ladies?"; and they replied, "Yes, O Princess of the fair! All

thou dost is goodly." Said she, "And this, O my mistresses, that

I am about to do is better yet." Then she spread her wings and

flying up with her children to the dome of the palace, perched on

the saloon-roof whilst they all looked at her, wide-eyed and

said, "By Allah, this is indeed a rare and peregrine fashion!

Never saw we its like." Then, as she was about to take flight for

her own land, she bethought her of Hasan and said, "Hark ye, my

mistresses!" and she improvised these couplets,[FN#94]

"O who hast quitted these abodes and faredst lief and light * To

other objects of thy love with fain and fastest flight!

Deem'st thou that 'bided I with you in solace and in joy * Or

that my days amid you all were clear of bane and blight?

When I was captive ta'en of Love and snarèd in his snare, * He

made of Love my prison and he fared fro' me forthright:

So when my fear was hidden, he made sure that ne'er should I *

Pray to the One, th' Omnipotent to render me my right:

He charged his mother keep the secret with all the care she

could, * In closet shut and treated me with enemy's

despight:

But I o'erheard their words and held them fast in memory * And

hoped for fortune fair and weal and blessings infinite:

My faring to the Hammam-bath then proved to me the means * Of

making minds of folk to be confounded at my sight:

Wondered the Bride of Al-Rashid to see my brilliancy * When she

beheld me right and left with all of beauty dight:

Then quoth I, 'O our Caliph's wife, I once was wont to own * A

dress of feathers rich and rare that did the eyes delight:

An it were now on me thou shouldst indeed see wondrous things *

That would efface all sorrows and disperse all sores of

sprite:'

Then deigned our Caliph's Bride to cry, 'Where is that dress of

thine?' * And I replied, 'In house of him kept darkling as

the night.'

So down upon it pounced Masrúr and brought it unto her, * And

when 'twas there each feather cast a ray of beaming light:

Therewith I took it from his hand and opened it straightway * And

saw its plumèd bosom and its buttons pleased my sight:

And so I clad myself therein and took with me my babes; * And

spread my wings and flew away with all my main and might;

Saying, 'O husband's mother mine tell him when cometh he * An

ever wouldest meet her thou from house and home must flee."'

When she had made an end of her verses, the Lady Zubaydah said to

her, "Wilt thou not come down to us, that we may take our fill of

thy beauty, O fairest of the fair? Glory be to Him who hath

given thee eloquence and brilliance!" But she said, "Far be from

me that the Past return should see!" Then said she to the mother

of the hapless, wretched Hasan, "By Allah, O my lady, O mother of

my husband, it irketh me to part from thee; but, whenas thy son

cometh to thee and upon him the nights of severance longsome

shall be and he craveth reunion and meeting to see and whenas

breezes of love and longing shake him dolefully, let him come in

the islands of Wák[FN#95] to me." Then she took flight with her

children and sought her own country, whilst the old woman wept

and beat her face and moaned and groaned till she swooned away.

When she came to herself, she said to the Lady Zubaydah, "O my

lady, what is this thou hast done?" And Zubaydah said to her, "O

my lady the pilgrimess, I knew not that this would happen and

hadst thou told me of the case and acquainted me with her

condition, I had not gainsaid thee. Nor did I know until now

that she was of the Flying Jinn; else had I not suffered her to

don the dress nor permitted her to take her children: but now, O

my lady, words profit nothing; so do thou acquit me of offence

against thee." And the old woman could do no otherwise than

shortly answer, "Thou art acquitted!" Then she went forth the

palace of the Caliphate and returned to her own house, where she

buffeted her face till she swooned away, When she came to

herself, she pined for her daughter-in-law and her grandchildren

and for the sight of her son and versified with these couplets,

"Your faring on the parting-day drew many a tear fro' me, * Who

must your flying from the home long mourn in misery:

And cried I for the parting pang in anguish likest fire * And

tear-floods chafed mine eyelids sore that ne'er of tears

were free;

'Yes, this is Severance, Ah, shall we e'er joy return of you? *

For your departure hath deprived my power of privacy!'

Ah, would they had returned to me in covenant of faith * An they

return perhaps restore of past these eyne may see."

Then arising she dug in the house three graves and betook herself

to them with weeping all whiles of the day and watches of the

night; and when her son's absence was longsome upon her and grief

and yearning and unquiet waxed upon her, she recited these

couplets,

"Deep in mine eye-balls ever dwells the phantom-form of thee * My

heart when throbbing or at rest holds fast thy memory:

And love of thee doth never cease to course within my breast, *

As course the juices in the fruits which deck the branchy

tree:

And every day I see thee not my bosom straightened is * And even

censurers excuse the woes in me they see:

O thou whose love hath gotten hold the foremost in the heart * Of

me whose fondness is excelled by mine insanity:

Fear the Compassionate in my case and some compassion show! *

Love of thee makes me taste of death in bitterest pungency."

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

permitted say.

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

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

Hasan's mother bewept through the watches of the night and the

whiles of the day her separation from her son and his wife and

children. On this wise it fared with her; but as regards Hasan,

when he came to the Princesses, they conjured him to tarry with

them three months, after which long sojourn they gave him five

loads of gold and the like of silver and one load of victual and

accompanied him on his homeward way till he conjured them to

return, whereupon they farewelled him with an embrace; but the

youngest came up to him, to bid him adieu and clasping his neck

wept till she fainted. Then she recited these two couplets,

"When shall the severance-fire be quenched by union, love, with

you? * When shall I win my wish of you and days that were

renew?

The parting-day affrighted me and wrought me dire dismay * And

doubleth woe, O master mine, by the sad word 'Adieu.'"

Anon came forward the second Princess and embraced him and

recited these two couplets,

"Farewelling thee indeed is like to bidding life farewell * And

like the loss of Zephyr[FN#96] 'tis to lose thee far our

sight:

Thine absence is a flaming fire which burneth up my heart * And

in thy presence I enjoy the Gardens of Delight."[FN#97]

Presently came forward the third and embraced him and recited

these two couplets,

"We left not taking leave of thee (when bound to other goal) *

From aught of ill intention or from weariness and dole:

Thou art my soul, my very soul, the only soul of me: * And how

shall I farewell myself and say, 'Adieu my Soul?'"[FN#98]

After her came forward the fourth and embraced him and recited

these two couplets,

"Nought garred me weep save where and when of severance spake he,

* Persisting in his cruel will with sore persistency:

Look at this pearl-like ornament I've hung upon mine ear: * 'Tis

of the tears of me compact, this choicest jewelry!"

In her turn came forward the fifth and embraced him and recited

these two couplets,

"Ah, fare thee not; for I've no force thy faring to endure, * Nor

e'en to say the word farewell before my friend is sped:

Nor any patience to support the days of severance, * Nor any

tears on ruined house and wasted home to shed."

Next came the sixth and embraced him and recited these two

couplets,

"I cried, as the camels went off with them, * And Love pained my

vitals with sorest pain:

Had I a King who would lend me rule * I'd seize every ship that

dares sail the Main."

Lastly came forward the seventh and embraced him and recited

these couplets,

"When thou seest parting, be patient still, * Nor let foreign

parts deal thy soul affright:

But abide, expecting a swift return, * For all hearts hold

parting in sore despight."

And eke these two couplets,

"Indeed I'm heartbroken to see thee start, * Nor can I farewell

thee ere thou depart;

Allah wotteth I left not to say adieu * Save for fear that saying

would melt your heart."

Hasan also wept for parting from them, till he swooned, and

repeated these couplets,

"Indeed, ran my tears on the severance-day * Like pearls I

threaded in necklace-way:

The cameleer drove his camels with song * But I lost heart,

patience and strength and stay:

I bade them farewell and retired in grief * From tryst-place and

camp where my dearlings lay:

I turned me unknowing the way nor joyed * My soul, but in hopes

to return some day.

Oh listen, my friend, to the words of love * God forbid thy heart

forget all I say!

O my soul when thou partest wi' them, part too * With all joys of

life nor for living pray!"

Then he farewelled them and fared on diligently night and day,

till he came to Baghdad, the House of Peace and Sanctuary of the

Abbaside Caliphs, unknowing what had passed during his wayfare.

At once entering his house he went in to his mother to salute

her, but found her worn of body and wasted of bones, for excess

of mourning and watching, weeping and wailing, till she was grown

thin as a tooth-pick and could not answer him a word. So he

dismissed the dromedaries then asked her of his wife and children

and she wept till she fainted, and he seeing her in this state

searched the house for them, but found no trace of them. Then he

went to the store-closet and finding it open and the chest broken

and the feather-dress missing, knew forthright that his wife had

possessed herself thereof and flown away with her children. Then

he returned to his mother and, finding her recovered from her

fit, questioned her of his spouse and babes, whereupon she wept

and said, "O my son, may Allah amply requite thee their loss!

These are their three tombs."[FN#99] When Hasan heard these words

of his mother, he shrieked a loud shriek and fell down in a

fainting-fit in which he lay from the first of the day till

noon-tide; whereupon anguish was added to his mother's anguish

and she despared of his life. However, after a-while, he came

to himself and wept and buffeted his face and rent his raiment

and went about the house clean distraught, reciting these two

couplets,[FN#100]

"Folk have made moan of passion before me, of past years, * And

live and dead for absence have suffered pains and fears;

But that within my bosom I harbour, with mine eyes * I've never

seen the like of nor heard with mine ears."

Then finishing his verses he bared his brand and coming up to his

mother, said to her, "Except thou tell me the truth of the case,

I will strike off thy head and kill myself." She replied, "O my

son, do not such deed: put up thy sword and sit down, till I tell

thee what hath passed." So he sheathed his scymitar and sat by

her side, whilst she recounted to him all that had happened in

his absence from first to last, adding, "O my son, but that I saw

her weep in her longing for the bath and feared that she would go

and complain to thee on thy return, and thou wouldst be wroth

with me, I had never carried her thither; and were it not that

the Lady Zubaydah was wroth with me and took the key from me by

force, I had never brought out the feather-dress, though I died

for it. But thou knowest, O my son, that no hand may measure

length with that of the Caliphate. When they brought her the

dress, she took it and turned it over, fancying that somewhat

might be lost thereof, but she found it uninjured; wherefore she

rejoiced and making her children fast to her waist, donned the

feather-vest, after the Lady Zubaydah had pulled off to her all

that was upon herself and clad her therein, in honour of her and

because of her beauty. No sooner had she donned the dress than

she shook and becoming a bird, promenaded about the palace,

whilst all who were present gazed at her and marvelled at her

beauty and loveliness. Then she flew up to the palace roof and

perching thereon, looked at me and said: 'Whenas thy son cometh

to thee and the nights of separation upon him longsome shall be

and he craveth reunion and meeting to see and whenas the breezes

of love and longing shake him dolefully let him leave his native

land and journey to the Islands of Wak and seek me.' This, then,

is her story and what befel in thine absence."--And Shahrazad

perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.

When it was the Seven Hundred and Ninety-eighth Night,

She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that as soon

as Hasan's mother had made an end of her story, he gave a great

cry and fell down in a fainting fit which continued till the end

of day, when he revived and fell to buffeting his face and

writhing on the floor like a scotched snake. His mother sat

weeping by his head until midnight, when he came to himself and

wept sore and recited these couplets',[FN#101]

"Pause ye and see his sorry state since when ye fain withdrew; *

Haply, when wrought your cruelty, you'll have the grace to

rue:

For an ye look on him, you'll doubt of him by sickness-stress *

As though, by Allah, he were one before ye never knew.

He dies for nothing save for love of you, and he would be *

Numbered amid the dead did not he moan and groan for you.

And deem not pangs of severance sit all lightly on his soul; *

'Tis heavy load on lover-wight; 'twere lighter an ye slew."

Then having ended his verse he rose and went round about the

house, weeping and wailing, groaning and bemoaning himself, five

days, during which he tasted nor meat nor drink. His mother came

to him and conjured him, till he broke his fast, and besought him

to leave weeping; but he hearkened not to her and continued to

shed tears and lament, whilst she strove to comfort him and he

heeded her not. Then he recited these couplets,[FN#102]

"Beareth for love a burden sore this soul of me, * Could break a

mortal's back however strong that be;

I am distraught to see my case and languor grows * Making my day

and night indifferent in degree:

I own to having dreaded Death before this day: * This day I hold

my death mine only remedy."

And Hasan ceased not to do thus till daybreak, when his eyes

closed and he saw in a dream his wife grief-full and repentant

for that which she had done. So he started up from sleep crying

out and reciting these two couplets,

"Their image bides with me, ne'er quits me, ne'er shall fly; *

But holds within my heart most honourable stead;

But for reunion-hope, I'd see me die forthright, * And but for

phantom-form of thee my sleep had fled."

And as morning morrowed he redoubled his lamentations. He abode

weeping-eyed and heavy-hearted, wakeful by night and eating

little, for a whole month, at the end of which he bethought him

to repair to his sisters and take counsel with them in the matter

of his wife, so haply they might help him to regain her.

Accordingly he summoned the dromedaries and loading fifty of them

with rarities of Al-Irak, committed the house to his mother's

care and deposited all his goods in safe keeping, except some few

he left at home. Then he mounted one of the beasts and set out

on his journey single handed, intent upon obtaining aidance from

the Princesses, and he stayed not till he reached the Palace of

the Mountain of Clouds, when he went in to the damsels and gave

them the presents in which they rejoiced. Then they wished him

joy of his safety and said to him, "O our brother, what can ail

thee to come again so soon, seeing thou wast with us but two

months since?" Whereupon he wept and improvised these couplets,

"My soul for loss of lover sped I sight; * Nor life enjoying

neither life's delight:

My case is one whose cure is all unknown; * Can any cure the sick

but doctor wight?

O who hast reft my sleep-joys, leaving me * To ask the breeze

that blew from that fair site,--

Blew from my lover's land (the land that owns * Those charms so

sore a grief in soul excite),

'O breeze, that visitest her land, perhaps * Breathing her scent,

thou mayst revive my sprite!'"

And when he ended his verse he gave a great cry and fell down in

a fainting-fit. The Princesses sat round him, weeping over him,

till he recovered and repeated these two couplets,

"Haply and happily may Fortune bend her rein * Bringing my love,

for Time's a freke of jealous strain;[FN#103]

Fortune may prosper me, supply mine every want, * And bring a

blessing where before were ban and bane."

Then he wept till he fainted again, and presently coming to

himself recited the two following couplets,

"My wish, mine illness, mine unease! by Allah, own * Art thou

content? then I in love contented wone!

Dost thou forsake me thus sans crime or sin * Meet me in ruth, I

pray, and be our parting gone."

Then he wept till he swooned away once more and when he revived

he repeated these couplets,

"Sleep fled me, by my side wake ever shows * And hoard of

tear-drops from these eyne aye flows;

For love they weep with beads cornelian-like * And growth of

distance greater dolence grows:

Lit up my longing, O my love, in me * Flames burning 'neath my

ribs with fiery throes!

Remembering thee a tear I never shed * But in it thunder roars

and leven glows."

Then he wept till he fainted away a fourth time, and presently

recovering, recited these couplets,

"Ah! for lowe of love and longing suffer ye as suffer we? * Say,

as pine we and as yearn we for you are pining ye?

Allah do the death of Love, what a bitter draught is his! * Would

I wot of Love what plans and what projects nurseth he!

Your faces radiant-fair though afar from me they shine, * Are

mirrored in our eyes whatsoever the distance be;

My heart must ever dwell on the memories of your tribe; * And the

turtle-dove reneweth all as oft as moaneth she:

Ho thou dove, who passest night-tide in calling on thy fere, *

Thou doublest my repine, bringing grief for company;

And leavest thou mine eyelids with weeping unfulfilled * For the

dearlings who departed, whom we never more may see:

I melt for the thought of you at every time and hour, * And I

long for you when Night showeth cheek of blackest blee."

Now when his sister heard these words and saw his condition and

how he lay fainting on the floor, she screamed and beat her face

and the other Princesses hearing her scream came out and learning

his misfortune and the transport of love and longing and the

passion and distraction that possessed him they questioned him of

his case. He wept and told them what had befallen in his absence

and how his wife had taken flight with her children, wherefore

they grieved for him and asked him what she said at leave-taking.

Answered he, "O my sisters, she said to my mother, 'Tell thy son,

whenas he cometh to thee and the nights of severance upon him

longsome shall be and he craveth reunion and meeting to see, and

whenas the winds of love and longing shake him dolefully, let him

fare in the Islands of Wak to me." When they heard his words they

signed one to other with their eyes and shook their heads, and

each looked at her sister, whilst Hasan looked at them all. Then

they bowed their heads groundwards and bethought themselves

awhile; after which they raised their heads and said, "There is

no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah, the Glorious, the

Great!"; presently adding, "Put forth thy hand to heaven and when

thou reach thither, then shalt thou win to thy wife.--And

Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her

permitted say.

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

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

Princesses said to Hasan, "Put forth thy hand to Heaven and when

thou reach thither, then shalt thou win to wife and children,"

thereat the tears ran down his cheeks like rain and wet his

clothes, and he recited these couplets,

"Pink cheeks and eyes enpupil'd black have dealt me sore

despight; * And whenas wake overpowered sleep my patience

fled in fright:

The fair and sleek-limbed maidens hard of heart withal laid waste

* My very bones till not a breath is left for man to sight:

Houris, who fare with gait of grace as roes o'er sandy-mound: *

Did Allah's saints behold their charms they'd doat thereon

forthright;

Faring as fares the garden breeze that bloweth in the dawn. * For

love of them a sore unrest and troubles rack my sprite:

I hung my hopes upon a maid, a loveling fair of them, * For whom

my heart still burns with lowe in Lazá-hell they light;--

A dearling soft of sides and haught and graceful in her gait, *

Her grace is white as morning, but her hair is black as

night:

She stirreth me! But ah, how many heroes have her cheeks *

Upstirred for love, and eke her eyes that mingle black and

white."

Then he wept, whilst the Princesses wept for his weeping, and

they were moved to compassion and jealousy for him. So they fell

to comforting him and exhorting him to patience and offering up

prayers for his reunion with his wife; whilst his sister said to

him, "O my brother, be of good cheer and keep thine eyes cool and

clear and be patient; so shalt thou win thy will; for whoso hath

patience and waiteth, that he seeketh attaineth. Patience

holdeth the keys of relief and indeed the poet saith,

'Let destiny with slackened rein its course appointed fare! And

lie thou down to sleep by night, with heart devoid of care;

For 'twixt the closing of an eye and th' opening thereof, God

hath it in His power to change a case from foul to

fair."[FN#104]

So hearten thy heart and brace up thy resolve, for the son of ten

years dieth not in the ninth.[FN#105] Weeping and grief and

mourning gender sickness and disease; wherefore do thou abide

with us till thou be rested, and I will devise some device for

thy winning to thy wife and children, Inshallah--so it please

Allah the Most High!" And he wept sore and recited these verses,

"An I be healed of disease in frame, * I'm unhealed of illness in

heart and sprite:

There is no healing disease of love, * Save lover and loved one

to re-unite."

Then he sat down beside her and she proceeded to talk with him

and comfort him and question him of the cause and the manner of

his wife's departure. So he told her and she said, "By Allah, O

my brother, I was minded to bid thee burn the feather-dress, but

Satan made me forget it." She ceased not to converse with him

and caress him and company with him other ten days, whilst sleep

visited him not and he delighted not in food; and when the case

was longsome upon him and unrest waxed in him, he versified with

these couplets,

"A beloved familiar o'erreigns my heart * And Allah's ruling

reigns evermore:

She hath all the Arabs' united charms * This gazelle who feeds on

my bosom's core.

Though my skill and patience for love of her fail, * I weep

whilst I wot that 'tis vain to deplore.

The dearling hath twice seven years, as though * She were moon of

five nights and of five plus four."[FN#106]

When the youngest Princess saw him thus distracted for love and

longing-for passion and the fever-heat of desire, she went in to

her sisterhood weeping-eyed and woeful-hearted, and shedding

copious tears threw herself upon them, kissed their feet and

besought them to devise some device for bringing Hasan to the

Islands of Wak and effecting his reunion with his wife and wees.

She ceased not to conjure them to further her brother in the

accomplishment of his desire and to weep before them, till she

made them weep and they said to her, "Hearten thy heart: we will

do our best endeavour to bring about his reunion with his family,

Inshallah!" And he abode with them a whole year, during which his

eyes never could retain their tears. Now the sisterhood had an

uncle, brother-german to their sire and his name was Abd

al-Kaddús, or Slave of the Most Holy; and he loved the eldest

with exceeding love and was wont to visit her once a year and do

all she desired. They had told him of Hasan's adventure with the

Magian and how he had been able to slay him; whereat he rejoiced

and gave the eldest Princess a pouch[FN#107] which contained

certain perfumes, saying, "O daughter of my brother, an thou be

in concern for aught, or if aught irk thee, or thou stand in any

need, cast of these perfumes upon fire naming my name and I will

be with thee forthright and will do thy desire." This speech was

spoken on the first of Moharram[FN#108]; and the eldest Princess

said to one of the sisterhood, "Lo, the year is wholly past and

my uncle is not come. Rise, bring me the fire-sticks and the box

of perfumes." So the damsel arose rejoicing and, fetching what

she sought, laid it before her sister, who opened the box and

taking thence a little of the perfume, cast it into the fire,

naming her unde's name; nor was it burnt out ere appeared a

dust-cloud at the farther end of the Wady; and presently lifting,

it discovered a Shaykh riding on an elephant, which moved at a

swift and easy pace, and trumpeted under the rider. As soon as

he came within sight of the Princesses, he began making signs to

them with his hands and feet; nor was it long ere he reached the

castle and, alighting from the elephant, came in to them,

whereupon they embraced him and kissed his hands and saluted him

with the salam. Then he sat down, whilst the girls talked with

him and questioned him of his absence. Quoth he, "I was sitting

but now with my wife, your aunt, when I smelt the perfumes and

hastened to you on this elephant. What wouldst thou, O daughter

of my brother?" Quoth she, "O uncle, indeed we longed for thee,

as the year is past and 'tis not thy wont to be absent from us

more than a twelvemonth." Answered he, "I was busy, but I

purposed to come to you to-morrow." Wherefore they thanked him

and blessed him and sat talking with him.--And Shahrazad

perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.

When it was the Eight Hundredth Night,

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

girls sat down to chat with their uncle the eldest said to him, "O

my uncle, we told thee the tale of Hasan of Bassorah, whom Bahram

the Magian brought and how he slew the wizard and how, after

enduring all manner of hardships and horrors, he made prize of

the Supreme King's daughter and took her to wife and journeyed

with her to his native land?" Replied he, "Yes, and what befel

him after that?" Quoth the Princess, "She played him false after

he was blest with two sons by her; for she took them in his

absence and fled with them to her own country, saying to his

mother: 'Whenas thy son returneth to thee and asketh for me and

upon him the nights of severance longsome shall be and he craveth

reunion and meeting to see and whenas the breezes of love and

longing shake him dolefully, let him come in the Islands of Wak

to me.'" When Abd al-Kaddus heard this, he shook his head and bit

his forefinger; then, bowing his brow groundwards he began to

make marks on the earth with his finger-tips;[FN#109] after which

he again shook his head and looked right and left and shook his

head a third time, whilst Hasan watched him from a place where he

was hidden from him. Then said the Princesses to their uncle,

"Return us some answer, for our hearts are rent in sunder." But

he shook his head at them, saying, "O my daughters, verily hath

this man wearied himself in vain and cast himself into grievous

predicament and sore peril; for he may not gain access to the

Islands of Wak." With this the Princesses called Hasan, who came

forth and, advancing to Shaykh Abd al-Kaddus, kissed his hand and

saluted him. The old man rejoiced in him and seated him by his

side; whereupon quoth the damsels, "O uncle, acquaint our brother

Hasan with that thou hast told us." So he said to Hasan, "O my

son, put away from thee this peine forte et dure; for thou canst

never gain access to the Islands of Wak, though the Flying Jinn

and the Wandering Stars were with thee; for that betwixt thee and

these islands are seven Wadys and seven seas and seven mighty

mountains. How then canst thou come at this stead and who shall

bring thee thither? Wherefore, Allah upon thee, O my son, do

thou reckon thy spouse and sons as dead and turn back forthright

and weary not thy sprite! Indeed, I give thee good counsel, an

thou wilt but accept it." Hearing these words from the Shaykh,

Hasan wept till he fainted, and the Princesses sat round him,

weeping for his weeping, whilst the youngest sister rent her

raiment and buffeted her face, till she swooned away. When

Shaykh Abd al-Kaddus saw them in this transport of grief and

trouble and mourning, he was moved to ruth for them and cried,

"Be ye silent!" Then said he to Hasan, "O my son, hearten thy

heart and rejoice in the winning of thy wish, an it be the will

of Allah the Most High;" presently adding, "Rise, O my son, take

courage and follow me." So Hasan arose forthright and after he

had taken leave of the Princesses followed him, rejoicing in the

fulfilment of his wish. Then the Shaykh called the elephant and

mounting, took Hasan up behind him and fared on three days with

their nights, like the blinding leven, till he came to a vast

blue mountain, whose stones were all of azure hue and amiddlemost

of which was a cavern, with a door of Chinese iron. Here he took

Hasan's hand and let him down and alighting dismissed the

elephant. Then he went up to the door and knocked, whereupon it

opened and there came out to him a black slave, hairless, as he

were an Ifrit, with brand in right hand and targe of steel in

left. When he saw Abd al-Kaddus, he threw sword and buckler from

his grip and coming up to the Shaykh kissed his hand. Thereupon

the old man took Hasan by the hand and entered with him, whilst

the slave shut the door behind them; when Hasan found himself in

a vast cavern and a spacious, through which ran an arched

corridor and they ceased not faring on therein a mile or so, till

it abutted upon a great open space and thence they made for an

angle of the mountain wherein were two huge doors cast of solid

brass. The old man opened one of them and said to Hasan, "Sit at

the door, whilst I go within and come back to thee in haste, and

beware lest thou open it and enter." Then he fared inside and,

shutting the door after him, was absent during a full sidereal

hour, after which he returned, leading a black stallion, thin of

flank and short of nose, which was ready bridled and saddled,

with velvet housings; and when it ran it flew, and when it flew,

the very dust in vain would pursue; and brought it to Hasan,

saying, "Mount!" So he mounted and Abd al-Kaddus opened the

second door, beyond which appeared a vast desert. Then the twain

passed through the door into that desert and the old man said to

him, "O my son, take this scroll and wend thou whither this steed

will carry thee. When thou seest him stop at the door of a

cavern like this, alight and throw the reins over the saddle-bow

and let him go. He will enter the cavern, which do thou not

enter with him, but tarry at the door five days, without being

weary of waiting. On the sixth day there will come forth to thee

a black Shaykh, clad all in sable, with a long white beard,

flowing down to his navel. As soon as thou seest him, kiss his

hands and seize his skirt and lay it on thy head and weep before

him, till he take pity on thee and he will ask thee what thou

wouldst have. When he saith to thee, 'What is thy want?' give

him this scroll which he will take without speaking and go in and

leave thee. Wait at the door other five days, without wearying,

and on the sixth day expect him; and if he come out to thee

himself, know that thy wish will be won, but, if one of his pages

come forth to thee, know that he who cometh forth to thee,

purposeth to kill thee; and--the Peace![FN#110] For know, O my

son, that whoso self imperilleth doeth himself to death;"--And

Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her

permitted say.

When it was the Eight Hundred and First Night,

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

handing the scroll to Hasan, Shaykh Abd al-Kaddus told him what

would befal him and said, "Whoso self imperilleth doeth himself

to death; but also who ventureth naught advantageth naught.

However an thou fear for thy life, cast it not into danger of

destruction; but, an thou fear not, up and do thy will, for I

have expounded to thee the whole case. Yet shouldest thou be

minded to return to thy friends the elephant is still here and

he will carry thee to my nieces, who will restore thee to thy

country and return thee to thy home, and Allah will vouchsafe

thee a better than this girl, of whom thou art enamoured." Hasan

answered the Shaykh, saying, "And how shall life be sweet to me,

except I win my wish? By Allah, I will never turn back, till I

regain my beloved or my death overtake me!" And he wept and

recited these couplets,

"For loss of lover mine and stress of love I dree, * I stood

bewailing self in deep despondency.

Longing for him, the Spring-camp's dust I kissed and kissed, *

But this bred more of grief and galling reverie.

God guard the gone, who in our hearts must e'er abide * With

nearing woes and joys which still the farther flee.

They say me, 'Patience!' But they bore it all away: * On

parting-day, and left me naught save tormentry.

And naught affrighted me except the word he said, * 'Forget me

not when gone nor drive from memory.'

To whom shall turn I? hope in whom when you are lost? * Who were

my only hopes and joys and woes of me?

But ah, the pang of home-return when parting thus! * How joyed at

seeing me return mine enemy.

Then well-away! this 'twas I guarded me against! * And ah, thou

lowe of Love double thine ardency![FN#111]

An fled for aye my friends I'll not survive the flight; * Yet an

they deign return, Oh joy! Oh ecstacy!

Never, by Allah tears and weeping I'll contain * For loss of you,

but tears on tears and tears will rain."

When Abd al-Kaddus heard his verse he knew that he would not turn

back from his desire nor would words have effect on him, and was

certified that naught would serve him but he must imperil

himself, though it lose him his life. So he said to him, "Know,

O my son, that the Islands of Wak are seven islands, wherein is a

mighty host, all virgin girls, and the Inner Isles are peopled by

Satans and Marids and warlocks and various tribesmen of the Jinn;

and whoso entereth their land never returneth thence; at least

none hath done so to this day. So, Allah upon thee, return

presently to thy people, for know that she whom thou seekest is

the King's daughter of all these islands: and how canst thou

attain to her? Hearken to me, O my son, and haply Allah will

vouchsafe thee in her stead a better than she." "O my lord,"

answered Hasan, though for the love of her I were cut in pieces

yet should I but redouble in love and transport! There is no

help but that I enter the Wak Islands and come to the sight of my

wife and children; and Inshallah, I will not return save with her

and with them." Said the Shaykh, "Then nothing will serve thee

but thou must make the journey?" Hasan replied "Nothing! and I

only ask of thee thy prayers for help and aidance; so haply Allah

will reunite me with my wife and children right soon." Then he

wept for stress of longing and recited these couplets,

"You are my wish, of creatures brightest-light * I deem you lief

as hearing, fain as sight:

You hold my heart which hath become your home * And since you

left me, lords, right sore's my plight:

Then think not I have yielded up your love, * Your love which set

this wretch in fierce affright:

You went and went my joy whenas you went; * And waned and wax'ed

wan the brightest light:

You left me lone to watch the stars in woe: * Railing tears

likest rain-drops infinite.

Thou'rt longsome to the wight, who pining lies * On wake,

moon-gazing through the night,

O Night! Wind! an thou pass the tribe where they abide * Give

them my greeting, life is fain of flight.

And tell them somewhat of the pangs I bear: * The loved one

kenneth not my case aright."

Then he wept with sore weeping till he fainted away; and when he

came to himself, Shaykh Abd al-Kaddus said to him, "O my son,

thou hast a mother; make her not taste the torment of thy loss."

Hasan replied, "By Allah, O my lord, I will never return except

with my wife, or my death shall overtake me." And he wept and

wailed and recited these couplets,

"By Love's right! naught of farness thy slave can estrange * Nor

am I one to fail in my fealty:

I suffer such pains did I tell my case * To folk, they'd cry,

'Madness! clean witless is he!'

Then ecstasy, love-longing, transport and lowe! * Whose case is

such case how shall ever he be?"

With this the old man knew that he would not turn from his

purpose, though it cost him his life; so he handed him the scroll

and prayed for him and charged him how he should do, saying "I

have in this letter given a strict charge concerning thee to Abú

al-Ruwaysh,[FN#112] son of Bilkís, daughter of Mu'in, for he is

my Shaykh and my teacher, and all, men and Jinn, humble

themselves to him and stand in awe of him. And now go with the

blessing of God." Hasan forthright set out giving the horse the

rein, and it flew off with him swiftlier than lightning, and

stayed not in its course ten days, when he saw before him a vast

loom black as night, walling the world from East to West. As he

neared it, the stallion neighed under him, whereupon there

flocked to it horses in number as the drops of rain, none could

tell their tale or against them prevail, and fell to rubbing

themselves against it. Hasan was affrighted at them and fared

forwards surrounded by the horses, without drawing rein till he

came to the cavern which Shaykh Abd al-Kaddus had described to

him. The steed stood still at the door and Hasan alighted and

bridged the bridle over the saddle-bow[FN#113]; whereupon the

steed entered the cavern, whilst the rider abode without, as the

old man had charged him, pondering the issue of his case in

perplexity and distraction and unknowing what would befal

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

her permitted say.

When it was the Eight Hundred and Second Night,

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

dismounting from the steed, stood at the cavern-mouth pondering

the issue of his case and unknowing what might befal him. He

abode standing on the same spot five days with their nights,

sleepless, mournful, tearful-eyed; distracted, perplexed,

pondering his severance from home and family, comrades and

friends, with weeping eye-lids and heavy heart. Then he bethought

him of his mother and of what might yet happen to him and of his

separation from his wife and children and of all that he had

suffered, and he recited these couplets,

"With you is my heart-cure a heart that goes; * And from

hill-foot of eyelids the tear-rill flows:

And parting and sorrow and exile and dole * And farness from

country and throe that o'erthrows:

Naught am I save a lover distracted by love, * Far parted from

loved one and wilted by woes.

And 'tis Love that hath brought me such sorrow, say where * Is

the noble of soul who such sorrow unknows?"

Hardly had Hasan made an end of his verses, when out came the

Shaykh Abu al-Ruwaysh, a blackamoor and clad in black raiment,

and at first sight he knew him by the description that Abd

al-Kaddus had given him. He threw himself at his feet and rubbed

his cheeks on them and seizing his skirt, laid it on his head and

wept before him. Quoth the old man, "What wantest thou, O my

son?" Whereupon he put out his hand to him with the letter, and

Abu al-Ruwaysh took it and re-entered the cavern, without making

him any answer. So Hasan sat down at the cave-mouth in his place

other five days as he had been bidden, whilst concern grew upon

him and terror redoubled on him and restlessness gat hold of him,

and he fell to weeping and bemoaning himself for the anguish of

estrangement and much watching. And he recited these couplets,

"Glory to Him who guides the skies! * The lover sore in sorrow

lies.

Who hath not tasted of Love's food * Knows not what mean its

miseries.

Did I attempt to stem my tears * Rivers of blood would fount and

rise.

How many an intimate is hard * Of heart, and pains in sorest

wise!

An she with me her word would keep, * Of tears and sighs I'd fain

devise,

But I'm forgone, rejected quite * Ruin on me hath cast her eyes.

At my fell pangs fell wildlings weep * And not a bird for me but

cries."

Hasan ceased not to weep till dawn of the sixth day, when Shaykh

Abu al-Ruwaysh came forth to him, clad in white raiment, and with

his hand signed[FN#114] to him to enter. So he went in,

rejoicing and assured of the winning of his wish, and the old man

took him by the hand and leading him into the cavern, fared on

with him half a day's journey, till they reached an arched

doorway with a door of steel. The Shaykh opened the door and

they two entered a vestibule vaulted with onyx stones and

arabesqued with gold, and they stayed not walking till they came

to a great hall and a wide, paved and walled with marble. In its

midst was a flower-garden containing all manner trees and flowers

and fruits, with birds warbling on the boughs and singing the

praises of Allah the Almighty Sovran; and there were four daïses,

each facing other, and in each daïs a jetting fountain, at whose

corners stood lions of red gold, spouting gerbes from their

mouths into the basin. On each daïs stood a chair, whereon sat

an elder, with exceeding store of books before him[FN#115] and

censers of gold, containing fire and perfumes, and before each

elder were students, who read the books to him. Now when the

twain entered, the elders rose to them and did them honour;

whereupon Abu al-Ruwaysh signed to them to dismiss their scholars

and they did so. Then the four arose and seating themselves

before that Shaykh, asked him of the case of Hasan to whom he

said, "Tell the company thy tale and all that hath betided thee

from the beginning of thine adventure to the end." So Hasan wept

with sore weeping and related to them his story with Bahram;

whereupon all the Shaykhs cried out and said, "Is this indeed he

whom the Magian caused to climb the Mountain of Clouds by means

of the vultures, sewn up in the camel-hide?" And Hasan said,

"Yes." So they turned to the Shaykh, Abu al-Ruwaysh and said to

him, "O our Shaykh, of a truth Bahram contrived his mounting to

the mountaintop; but how came he down and what marvels saw he

there?" And Abu al-Ruwaysh said, "O Hasan, tell them how thou

camest down and acquaint them with what thou sawest of marvels."

So he told them all that had befallen him, first and last; how he

had gotten the Magian into his power and slain him, how he had

delivered the youth from him and sent him back to his own

country, and how he had captured the King's daughter of the Jinn

and married her; yet had she played him false and taken the two

boys she had borne him and flown away; brief, he related to them

all the hardships and horrors he had undergone; whereat they

marvelled, each and every, and said to Abu al-Ruwaysh, "O elder

of elders, verily by Allah, this youth is to be pitied! But

belike thou wilt aid him to recover his wife and wees."--And

Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her

permitted say.

When it was the Eight Hundred and Third Night,

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

Hasan told his tale to the elders, they said to Shaykh Abu

al-Ruwaysh, "This youth is to be pitied and haply thou wilt aid

him to recover his wife and wees." He replied, "O my brothers, in

very sooth this is a grave matter and a perilous; and never saw I

any loathe his life save this youth. You know that the Islands

of Wak are hard of access and that none may come to them but at

risk of life; and ye know also the strength of their people and

their guards. Moreover I have sworn an oath not to tread their

soil nor transgress against them in aught; so how shall this man

come at the daughter of the Great King, and who hath power to

bring him to her or help him in this matter?" Replied the other,

"O Shaykh of Shaykhs, verily this man is consumed with desire and

he hath endangered himself to bring thee a scroll from thy

brother Abd al-Kaddus; wherefore it behoveth thee to help him."

And Hasan arose and kissed Abu al-Ruwaysh's feet and raising the

hem of his garment laid it on his head, weeping and crying, "I

beseech thee, by Allah, to reunite me with my wife and children,

though it cost me my life and my soul!" The four elders all wept

for his weeping and said to Abu al-Ruwaysh, "Deal generously with

this unhappy and show him kindness for the sake of thy brother

Abd al-Kaddus and profit by this occasion to earn reward from

Allah for helping him." Quoth he, "This wilful youth weeteth not

what he undertaketh; but Inshallah! we will help him after the

measure of our means, nor leave aught feasible undone." When

Hasan heard the Shaykh's word he rejoiced and kissed the hands of

the five elders, one after other, imploring their aidance.

Thereupon Abd al-Ruwaysh took inkcase and a sheet of paper and

wrote a letter, which he sealed and gave to Hasan, together with

a pouch of perfumed leather,[FN#116] containing incense and

fire-sticks[FN#117] and other needs, and said to him, "Take

strictest care of this pouch, and whenas thou fallest into any

strait, burn a little of the incense therein and name my name,

whereupon I will be with thee forthright and save thee from thy

stress." Moreover, he bade one of those present fetch him an

Ifrit of the Flying Jinn; and he did so incontinently; whereupon

quoth Abu al-Ruwaysh to the fire-drake, "What is thy name!"

Replied the Ifrit, "Thy thrall is hight Dahnash bin Faktash." And

the Shaykh said "Draw near to me!" So Dahnash drew near to him

and he put his mouth to his ear and said somewhat to him, whereat

the Ifrit shook his head and answered, "I accept, O elder of

elders!" Then said Abu al-Ruwaysh to Hasan, "Arise, O my son,

mount the shoulders of this Ifrit, Dahnash the Flyer; but, when

he heaveth thee heaven-wards and thou hearest the angels

glorifying God a-welkin with 'Subhána 'lláh,' have a care lest

thou do the like; else wilt thou perish and he too." Hasan

replied, "I will not say a word; no, never;" and the old man

continued, "O Hasan, after faring with thee all this day,

to-morrow at peep of dawn he will set thee down in a land cleanly

white, like unto camphor, whereupon do thou walk on ten days by

thyself, till thou come to the gate of a city. Then enter and

enquire for the King of the city; and when thou comest to his

presence, salute him with the salam and kiss his hand: then give

him this scroll and consider well whatso he shall counsel thee."

Hasan replied, "Hearing and obeying," and rose up and mounted the

Ifrit's shoulders, whilst the elders rose and offered up prayers

for him and commended him to the care of Dahnash the Firedrake.

And when he had perched on the Flyer's back the Ifrit soared with

him to the very confines of the sky, till he heard the angels

glorifying God in Heaven, and flew on with him a day and a night

till at dawn of the next day he set him down in a land white as

camphor, and went his way, leaving him there. When Hasan found

himself in the land aforesaid with none by his side he fared on

night and day for ten days, till he came to the gate of the city

in question and entering, enquired for the King. They directed

him to him and told him that his name was King Hassún,[FN#118]

Lord of the Land of Camphor, and that he had troops and soldiers

enough to fill the earth in its length and breadth. So he sought

audience of him and, being admitted to his presence, found him a

mighty King and kissed ground between his hands. Quoth the King,

"What is thy want?" Whereupon Hasan kissed the letter and gave it

to him. The King read it and shook his head awhile, then said to

one of his officers, "Take this youth and lodge him in the house

of hospitality." So he took him and stablished him in the

guest-house, where he tarried three days, eating and drinking and

seeing none but the eunuch who waited on him and who entertained

him with discourse and cheered him with his company, questioning

him of his case and how he came to that city; whereupon he told

him his whole story, and the perilous condition wherein he was.

On the fourth day, that eunuch carried him before the King, who

said to him, "O Hasan, thou comest to me, seeking to enter the

Islands of Wak, as the Shaykh of Shaykhs adviseth me. O my son, I

would send thee thither this very day, but that by the way are

many perils and thirsty wolds full of terrors; yet do thou have

patience and naught save fair shall befal thee, for needs must I

devise to bring thee to thy desire, Inshallah! Know, O my son,

that here is a mighty host,[FN#119] equipped with arms and steeds

and warlike gear, who long to enter the Wak Islands and lack

power thereto. But, O my son, for the sake of the Shaykh Abu

al-Ruwaysh, son of Bilkis,[FN#120] the daughter of Mu'in, I may

not send thee back to him unfulfilled of thine affair. Presently

there will come to us ships from the Islands of Wak and the first

that shall arrive I will send thee on board of her and give thee

in charge to the sailors, so they may take care of thee and carry

thee to the Islands. If any question thee of thy case and

condition, answer him saying, 'I am kinsman to King Hassun, Lord

of the Land of Camphor;' and when the ship shall make fast to the

shore of the Islands of Wak and the master shall bid thee land,

do thou land. Now as soon as thou comest ashore, thou wilt see a

multitude of wooden settles all about the beach, of which do thou

choose thee one and crouch under it and stir not. And when dark

night sets in, thou wilt see an army of women appear and flock

about the goods landed from the ship, and one of them will sit

down on the settle, under which thou hast hidden thyself,

whereupon do thou put forth thy hand to her and take hold of her

and implore her protection. And know thou, O my son, that an she

accord thee protection, thou wilt win thy wish and regain thy

wife and children; but, if she refuse to protect thee, make thy

mourning for thyself and give up all hope of life, and make sure

of death for indeed thou art a dead man. Understand, O my son,

that thou adventurest thy life and this is all I can do for thee,

and--the peace!"--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and

ceased to say her permitted say.

When it was the Eight Hundred and Fourth Night,

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

Hassun spake these words to Hasan and charged him as we have

related, ending with, "This is all I can do for thee and know

that except the Lord of Heaven had aided thee, thou hadst not

come hither!" The youth wept till he swooned away, and when he

recovered, he recited these two couplets,

"A term decreed my lot I 'spy; * And, when its days shall end, I

die.

Though lions fought with me in lair * If Time be mine I'd beat

them, I!"

Then having ended his verse he kissed the ground before the

Sovran and said to him, "O mighty King, how many days remain till

the coming of the ships?" Replied the other, "In a month's time

they will come and will tarry here, selling their cargueson,

other two months, after which they will return to their own

country; so hope not to set out save after three whole months."

Then the King bade him return to the house of hospitality and

bade supply him with all that he needed of meat and drink and

raiment fit for Kings. Hasan abode in the guest-house a month,

at the end of which the vessels arrived and the King and the

merchants went forth to them, taking Hasan with them. Amongst

them he saw a ship with much people therein, like the shingles

for number; none knew their tale save He who created them. She

was anchored in mid-harbour and had cocks which transported her

lading to the shore. So Hasan abode till the crew had landed all

the goods and sold and bought and to the time of departure there

wanted but three days; whereupon the King sent for him and

equipped him with all he required and gave him great gifts:

after which he summoned the captain of the great ship and said to

him, "Take this youth with thee in the vessel, so none may know

of him save thou, and carry him to the Islands of Wak and leave

him there; and bring him not back." And the Rais said, "To hear

is to obey: with love and gladness!" Then quoth the King to

Hasan, "Look thou tell none of those who are with thee in the

ship thine errand nor discover to them aught of thy case; else

thou art a lost man;" and quoth he, "Hearing and obedience!" With

this he farewelled the King, after he had wished him long life

and victory over his enviers and his enemies; wherefore the King

thanked him and wished him safety and the winning of his wish.

Then he committed him to the captain, who laid him in a chest

which he embarked in a dinghy, and bore him aboard, whilst the

folk were busy in breaking bulk and no man doubted but the chest

contained somewhat of merchandise. After this, the vessels set

sail and fared on without ceasing ten days, and on the eleventh

day they made the land. So the Rais set Hasan ashore and, as he

walked up the beach, he saw wooden settles[FN#121] without

number, none knew their count save Allah, even as the King had

told him. He went on, till he came to one that had no fellow and

hid under it till nightfall, when there came up a mighty many of

women, as they were locusts over-swarming the land and they

marched afoot and armed cap-à-pie in hauberks and strait-knit

coats of mail hending drawn swords in their hands, who, seeing

the merchandise landed from the ships, busied themselves

therewith. Presently they sat down to rest themselves, and one of

them seated herself on the settle under which Hasan had crouched:

whereupon he took hold of the hem of her garment and laid it on

his head and throwing himself before her, fell to kissing her

hands and feet and weeping and crying, "Thy protection! thy

good-will!" Quoth she, "Ho, thou! Arise and stand up, ere any

see thee and slay thee." So he came forth and springing up kissed

her hands and wept and said to her, "O my mistress, I am under

thy protection!"; adding, "Have ruth on one who is parted from

his people and wife and children, one who hath haste to rejoin

them and one who adventureth life and soul for their sake! Take

pity on me and be assured that therefor Paradise will be thy

reward; or, an thou wilt not receive me, I beseech thee, by Allah

the Great, the Concealer, to conceal my case!" The merchants

stared to see him talking with her; and she, hearing his words

and beholding his humility, was moved to ruth for him; her heart

inclined to him and she knew that he had not ventured himself and

come to that place, save for a grave matter. So she said to him,

"O my son, be of good cheer and keep thine eyes cool and clear,

hearten thy heart and take courage and return to thy hiding-place

till the coming night, and Allah shall do as He will." Then she

took leave of him and Hasan crept under the wooden settle as

before, whilst the troops lighted flambeaux of wax mixed with

aloes-wood and Nadd-perfume and crude ambergris[FN#122] and

passed the night in sport and delight till the morning. At

daybreak, the boats returned to the shore and the merchants

busied themselves with buying and selling and the transport of

the goods and gear till nightfall, whilst Hasan lay hidden

beneath the settle, weeping-eyed and woeful-hearted, knowing not

what was decreed to him in the secret preordainment of Allah. As

he was thus, behold, the merchant-woman with whom he had taken

refuge came up to him and giving him a habergeon and a helmet, a

spear, a sword and a gilded girdle, bade him don them and seat

himself on the settle after which she left him, for fear of the

troops. So he arose and donned the mail-coat and helmet and

clasped the girdle about his middle; then he slung the sword over

his shoulder till it hung under his armpit, and taking the spear

in his hand, sat down on that settle, whilst his tongue neglected

not to name Allah Almighty and call on Him for protection.--And

Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her

permitted say.

When it was the Eight Hundred and Fifth Night,

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

Hasan received the weapons which the merchant-woman had given to

him, saying, "Sit thee upon the settle and let none wot thy

case," he armed himself and took his seat, whilst his tongue

neglected not to name Allah Almighty and to call upon Him for

protection. And behold, there appeared cressets and lanthorns

and flambeaux and up came the army of women. So he arose and

mingling with them, became as one of them. A little before

daybreak, they set out, and Hasan with them, and fared on till

they came to their camp, where they dispersed each to her tent,

and Hasan followed one of them and lo! it was hers for whose

protection he had prayed. When she entered, she threw down her

arms and doffed her hauberk and veil. So Hasan did the like and

looking at his companion, saw her to be a grizzled old woman

blue-eyed and big-nosed, a calamity of calamities, the foulest of

all created things, with face pock-marked and eyebrows bald,

gap-toothed and chap-fallen, with hair hoary, nose running and

mouth slavering;[FN#123] even as saith the like of her the poet,

"In her cheek-corners nine calamities * Wone, and when shown,

each one Jehannam is:

Hideous the face and favour foulest foul * As cheek of hog; yea,

'tis a cesspool phiz."

And indeed she was like a pied snake or a scald she-wolf. Now

when the old woman looked at Hasan, she marvelled and said, "How

came this one to these lands and in which of the ships was he and

how arrived he hither in safety?" And she fell to questioning

him of his case and admiring at his arrival, whereupon he fell at

her feet and rubbed his face on them and wept till he fainted;

and, when he recovered himself, he recited these couplets,

"When will Time grant we meet, when shall we be * Again united

after severance stark?

And I shall win my choicest wish and view? * Blame end and Love

abide without remark?

Were Nile to flow as freely as my tears, * 'Twould leave no

region but with water-mark:

'Twould overthrow Hijaz and Egypt-land * 'Twould deluge Syria and

'twould drown Irák.

This, O my love, is caused by thy disdain, * Be kind and promise

meeting fair and fain!"

Then he took the crone's skirt and laid it on his head and fell

to weeping and craving her protection. When she saw his ardency

and transport and anguish and distress, her heart softened to him

and she promised him her safeguard, saying, "Have no fear

whatsoever." Then she questioned him of his case and he told her

the manner of his coming thither and all that had befallen him

from beginning to end, whereat she marvelled and said, "This that

hath betide thee, methinks, never betided any save thyself and

except thou hadst been vouchsafed the especial protection of

Allah, thou hadst not been saved: but now, O my son, take comfort

and be of good courage; thou hast nothing more to fear, for

indeed thou hast won thy wish and attained thy desire, if it

please the Most High!" Thereat Hasan rejoiced with joy exceeding

and she sent to summon the captains of the army to her presence,

and it was the last day of the month. So they presented

themselves and the old woman said to them, "Go out and proclaim

to all the troops that they come forth to-morrow at daybreak and

let none tarry behind, for whoso tarryeth shall be slain." They

replied, "We hear and we obey," and going forth, made

proclamation to all the host anent a review next morning, even as

she bade them, after which they returned and told her of this;

whereby Hasan knew that she was the Commander-in-chief of the

army and the Viceregent in authority over them; and her name was

Shawahí the Fascinator, entituled Umm al-Dawáhi, or Mother of

Calamities.[FN#124] She ceased not to bid and forbid and Hasan

doffed not off his arms from his body that day. Now when the

morning broke, all the troops fared forth from their places, but

the old woman came not out with them, and as soon as they were

sped and the stead was clear of them, she said to Hasan, "Draw

near unto me, O my son[FN#125]." So he drew near unto her and

stood between her hands. Quoth she, "Why and wherefore hast thou

adventured thyself so boldly as to enter this land, and how came

thy soul to consent to its own undoing? Tell me the truth and

the whole truth and fear aught of ill come of it, for thou hast

my plighted word and I am moved to compassion for thy case and

pity thee and have taken thee under my protection. So, if thou

tell me the truth, I will help thee to win thy wish, though it

involve the undoing of souls and the destruction of bodies; and

since thou hast come to seek me, no hurt shall betide thee from

me, nor will I suffer any to have at thee with harm of all who be

in the Islands of Wak." So he told her his tale from first to

last, acquainting her with the matter of his wife and of the

birds; how he had captured her as his prize from amongst the ten

and married her and abode with her, till she had borne him two

sons, and how she had taken her children and flown away with

them, whenas she knew the way to the feather-dress. Brief, he

concealed from her no whit of his case, from the beginning to

that day. But when Shawahi heard his relation, she shook her

head and said to him, "Glory be to God who hath brought thee

hither in safety and made thee hap upon me! For, hadst thou

happened on any but myself, thou hadst lost thy life without

winning thy wish; but the truth of thine intent and thy fond

affection and the excess of thy love-longing for thy wife and

yearning for thy children, these it was that have brought thee to

the attainment of thine aim. Didst thou not love her and love

her to distraction, thou hadst not thus imperilled thyself, and

Alhamdolillah--Praised be Allah--for thy safety! Wherefore it

behoveth us to do thy desire and conduce to thy quest, so thou

mayst presently attain that thou seekest, if it be the will of

Almighty Allah. But know, O my son, that thy wife is not here,

but in the seventh of the Islands of Wak and between us and it is

seven months' journey, night and day. From here we go to an

island called the Land of Birds, wherein, for the loud crying of

the birds and the flapping of their wings, one cannot hear other

speak."--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to

say her permitted say.

When it was the Eight Hundred and Sixth Night,

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

woman said to Hasan, "Indeed thy wife is in the Seventh

Island,[FN#126] the greatest amongst the Islands of Wak and

betwixt us and it is a seven-months' journey. From here we fare

for the Land of Birds, whereon for the force of their flying and

the flapping of their wings, we cannot hear one other speak.

Over that country we journey night and day, eleven days, after

which we come forth of it to another called the Land of Ferals

where, for stress of roaring of lions and howling of wolves and

laughing of hyænas and the crying of other beasts of prey we

shall hear naught, and therein we travel twenty days' journey.

Then we issue therefrom and come to a third country, called the

Land of the Jánn, where, for stress of the crying of the Jinn and

the flaming of fires and the flight of sparks and smoke from

their mouths and the noise of their groaning and their arrogance

in blocking up the road before us, our ears will be deafened and

our eyes blinded, so that we shall neither hear nor see, nor dare

any look behind him, or he perisheth: but there horseman boweth

head on saddle-bow and raiseth it not for three days. After

this, we abut upon a mighty mountain and a running river

contiguous with the Isles of Wak, which are seven in number and

the extent whereof is a whole year's journey for a well-girt

horseman. And thou must know, O my son, that these troops are

all virgin girls, and that the ruler over us is a woman of the

Archipelago of Wak. On the bank of the river aforesaid is another

mountain, called Mount Wak, and it is thus named by reason of a

tree which beareth fruits like heads of the Sons of Adam.[FN#127]

When the sun riseth on them, the heads cry out all, saying in

their cries:-- 'Wak! Wak! Glory be to the Creating King,

Al-Khallák!' And when we hear their crying, we know that the sun

is risen. In like manner, at sundown, the heads set up the same

cry, 'Wak! Wak! Glory to Al-Khallak!' and so we know that the

sun hath set. No man may abide with us or reach to us or tread

our earth; and betwixt us and the abiding-place of the Queen who

ruleth over us is a month's journey from this shore, all the

lieges whereof are under her hand, as are also the tribes of the

Jinn, Marids and Satans, while of the warlocks none kenneth the

number save He who created them. Wherefore, an thou be afraid, I

will send with thee one who will convey thee to the coast and

there bring one who will embark thee on board a ship that bear

thee to thine own land. But an thou be content to tarry with us,

I will not forbid thee and thou shalt be with me in mine

eye,[FN#128] till thou win thy wish, Inshallah!" Quoth he, "O my

lady, I will never quit thee till I foregather with my wife or

lose my life!"; and quoth she, "This is a light matter; be of

good heart, for soon shalt thou come to thy desire, Allah

willing; and there is no help but that I let the Queen know of

thee, that she may help thee to attain thine aim." Hasan blessed

her and kissed her head and hands, thanking her for her good deed

and exceeding kindness and firm will. Then he set out with her,

pondering the issue of his case and the horrors of his

strangerhood; wherefore he fell a-weeping and a-wailing and

recited these couplets,

"A Zephyr bloweth from the lover's site; * And thou canst view me

in the saddest plight:

The Night of Union is as brilliant morn; * And black the

Severance-day as blackest night:

Farewelling friend is sorrow sorest sore * Parting from lover's

merest undelight.

I will not blame her harshness save to her, * And 'mid mankind

nor friend nor fere I sight:

How can I be consoled for loss of you? * Base censor's blame

shall not console my sprite!

O thou in charms unique, unique's my love; * O peerless thou, my

heart hath peerless might!

Who maketh semblance that he loveth you * And dreadeth blame is

most blame-worthy wight."

Then the old woman bade beat the kettle-drums for departure and

the army set out. Hasan fared with her, drowned in the sea of

solicitude and reciting verses like those above, whilst she

strave to comfort him and exhorted him to patience; but he awoke

not from his tristesse and heeded not her exhortations. They

journeyed thus till they came to the boundaries of the Land of

Birds[FN#129] and when they entered it, it seemed to Hasan as if

the world were turned topsy-turvy for the exceeding clamour. His

head ached and his mind was dazed, his eyes were blinded and his

ears deafened, and he feared with exceeding fear and made certain

of death, saying to himself, "If this be the Land of Birds, how

will be the Land of Beasts?" But, when the crone hight Shawahi

saw him in this plight, she laughed at him, saying, "O my son, if

this be thy case in the first island, how will it fare with thee,

when thou comest to the others?" So he prayed to Allah and

humbled himself before the Lord, beseeching Him to assist him

against that wherewith He had afflicted him and bring him to his

wishes; and they ceased not going till they passed out of the

Land of Birds and, traversing the Land of Beasts, came to the

Land of the Jann which when Hasan saw, he was sore affrighted and

repented him of having entered it with them. But he sought aid

of Allah the Most High and fared on with them, till they were

quit of the Land of the Jann and came to the river and set down

their loads at the foot of a vast mountain and a lofty, and

pitched their tents by the stream-bank. Then they rested and ate

and drank and slept in security, for they were come to their own

country. On the morrow the old woman set Hasan a couch of

alabaster, inlaid with pearls and jewels and nuggets of red gold,

by the river-side, and he sat down thereon, having first bound

his face with a chin-kerchief, that discovered naught of him but

his eyes. Then she bade proclaim among the troops that they

should all assemble before her tent and put off their clothes and

go down into the stream and wash; and this she did that she might

parade before him all the girls, so haply his wife should be

amongst them and he know her. So the whole army mustered before

her and putting off their clothes, went down into the stream, and

Hasan seated on his couch watched them washing their white skins

and frolicking and making merry, whilst they took no heed of his

inspecting them, deeming him to be of the daughters of the Kings.

When he beheld them stripped of their clothes, his chord

stiffened for that looking at them mother-naked he saw what was

between their thighs, and that of all kinds, soft and rounded,

plump and cushioned; large-lipped, perfect, redundant and

ample,[FN#130] and their faces were as moons and their hair as

night upon day, for that they were of the daughters of the Kings.

When they were clean, they came up out of the water, stark naked,

as the moon on the night of fullness and the old woman questioned

Hasan of them, company by company, if his wife were among them;

but, as often as she asked him of a troop, he made answer, "She

is not among these, O my lady."--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn

of day and ceased saying her permitted say.

When it was the Eight Hundred and Seventh Night,

She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the old

woman questioned Hasan of the girls, company after company, if

haply his wife were among them; but as often as she asked him of

a troop, he made answer, "She is not among these, O my lady!"

Last of all, there came up a damsel, attended by ten slave-girls

and thirty waiting-women, all of them high-bosomed maidens. They

put off their clothes and went down into the river, where the

damsel fell to riding the high horse over her women, throwing

them down and ducking them. On this wise she continued for a

full hour, after which all came up out of the water and sat down;

and they brought her napkins[FN#131] of gold-purfled silk, with

which she dried herself. Then they brought her clothes and

jewels and ornaments of the handiwork of the Jinn, and she donned

them and rose and walked with graceful pace among the troops, she

and her maidens. When Hasan saw her, his heart was ready to fly

from his breast and he said, "Verily this girl is the likest of

all folk to the bird I saw in the basin atop of the palace of my

sisters the Princesses, and she lorded it over her lieges even as

doth this one." The old woman asked, "O Hasan, is this thy

wife?"; and he answered, "No, by thy life, O my lady; this is not

my wife, nor ever in my life have I set eyes on her; neither

among all the girls I have seen in these islands is there the

like of my wife nor her match for symmetry and grace and beauty

and loveliness!" Then said Shawaki, "Describe her to me and

acquaint me with all her attributes, that I may have her in my

mind; for I know every girl in the Islands of Wak, being

commander of the army of maids and governor over them; wherefore,

an thou describe her to me, I shall know her and will contrive

for thee to take her." Quoth he, "My wife hath the fairest face

and a form all grace; smooth is she of cheeks and high of breasts

with eyes of liquid light, calves and thighs plump to sight,

teeth snowy white, with dulcet speech dight; in speech soft and

bland as she were a willow-wand; her gifts are a moral and lips

are red as coral; her eyes wear natural Kohl-dye and her lower

labia[FN#132] in softness lie. On her right cheek is a mole and

on her waist, under her navel, is a sign; her face shines as the

rondure of the moon in sheen, her waist is slight, her hips a

heavy weight, and the water of her mouth the sick doth heal, as

it were Kausar or Salsabil."[FN#133] Said the old woman, "Give me

an increased account of her, Allah increase thee of passion for

her!" Quoth he, "My wife hath a face the fairest fair and oval

cheeks the rarest rare; neck long and spare and eyes that Kohl

wear; her side face shows the Anemones of Nu'uman, her mouth is

like a seal of cornelian and flashing teeth that lure and stand

one in stead of cup and ewer. She is cast in the mould of

pleasantness and between her thighs is the throne of the

Caliphate, there is no such sanctuary among the Holy Places; as

saith in its praise the poet,

"The name of what drave me distraught * Hath letters renowned

among men:

A four into five multiplied * And a multiplied six into

ten.[FN#134]"