accommodation for entertainment; he therefore told his father of the
difficulty in which Cogia Houssain's favours had placed him, and Ali
Baba with great willingness at once offered to arrange matters. "My
son," said he, "to-morrow being a holiday, all shops will be closed;
then do you after dinner invite Cogia Houssain to walk with you; and
as you return bring him this way and beg him to come in. That will
be better than a formal invitation, and Morgiana shall have a supper
prepared for you."
This proposal was exactly what Ali Baba's son could have wished, so on
the morrow he brought Cogia Houssain to the door as if by accident, and
stopping, invited him to enter.
Cogia Houssain, who saw his object thus suddenly attained, began by
showing pretended reluctance, but Ali Baba himself coming to the door,
pressed him in the most kindly manner to enter, and before long had
conducted him to the table, where food stood prepared.
But there an unlooked-for difficulty arose. Wicked though he might be
the robber captain was not so impious as to eat the salt of the man
he intended to kill. He therefore began with many apologies to excuse
himself; and when Ali Baba sought to know the reason, "Sir," said
he, "I am sure that if you knew the cause of my resolution you would
approve of it. Suffice it to say that I have made it a rule to eat of
no dish that has salt in it. How then can I sit down at your table if I
must reject everything that is set before me?"
"If that is your scruple," said Ali Baba, "it shall soon be satisfied,"
and he sent orders to the kitchen that no salt was to be put into
any of the dishes presently to be served to the newly arrived guest.
"Thus," said he to Cogia Houssain, "I shall still have the honour, to
which I have looked forward, of returning to you under my own roof the
hospitality you have shown to my son." Morgiana, who was just about
to serve supper, received the order with some discontent. "Who," she
said, "is this difficult person that refuses to eat salt? He must be a
curiosity worth looking at." So when the saltless courses were ready to
be set upon the table, she herself helped to carry in the dishes. No
sooner had she set eyes on Cogia Houssain than she recognized him in
spite of his disguise; and observing his movements with great attention
she saw that he had a dagger concealed beneath his robe. "Ah!" she said
to herself, "here is reason enough! For who will eat salt with the man
he means to murder? But he shall not murder my master if I can prevent
it."
Now Morgiana knew that the most favourable opportunity for the robber
captain to carry out his design would be after the courses had been
withdrawn, and when Ali Baba and his son and guest were alone together
over their wine, which indeed was the very project that Cogia Houssain
had formed. Going forth, therefore, in haste, she dressed herself as
a dancer, assuming the headdress and mask suitable for the character.
Then she fastened a silver girdle about her waist, and hung upon it a
dagger of the same material. Thus equipped, she said to Abdallah the
cook, "Take your tabor and let us go in and give an entertainment in
honour of our master's guest."
So Abdallah took his tabor, and played Morgiana into the hall. As soon
as she had entered she made a low curtsey, and stood awaiting orders.
Then Ali Baba, seeing that she wished to perform in his guest's honour,
said kindly, "Come in, Morgiana, and show Cogia Houssain what you can
do."
[Illustration: Then for the last figure of all she drew out the dagger.]
Immediately Abdallah began to beat upon his tabor and sing an air for
Morgiana to dance to; and she, advancing with much grace and propriety
of deportment, began to move through several figures, performing them
with the ease and facility which none but the most highly practised can
attain to. Then, for the last figure of all, she drew out the dagger
and, holding it in her hand, danced a dance which excelled all that
had preceded it in the surprise and change and quickness and dexterity
of its movements. Now she presented the dagger at her own breast, now
at one of the onlookers; but always in the act of striking she drew
back. At length, as though out of breath, she snatched his instrument
from Abdallah with her left hand, and, still holding the dagger in her
right, advanced the hollow of the tabor toward her master, as is the
custom of dancers when claiming their fee. Ali Baba threw in a piece of
gold; his son did likewise. Then advancing it in the same manner toward
Cogia Houssain, who was feeling for his purse, she struck under it, and
before he knew had plunged her dagger deep into his heart.
Ali Baba and his son, seeing their guest fall dead, cried out in horror
at the deed. "Wretch!" exclaimed Ali Baba, "what ruin and shame hast
thou brought on us?" "Nay," answered Morgiana, "it is not your ruin but
your life that I have thus secured; look and convince yourself what man
was this which refused to eat salt with you!" So saying, she tore off
the dead robbers disguise, showing the dagger concealed below, and the
face which her master now for the first time recognized.
Ali Baba's gratitude to Morgiana for thus preserving his life a second
time, knew no bounds. He took her in his arms and embraced her as a
daughter. "Now," said he, "the time is come when I must fulfil my
debt; and how better can I do it than by marrying you to my son?" This
proposition, far from proving unwelcome to the young man, did but
confirm an inclination already formed. A few days later the nuptials
were celebrated with great joy and solemnity, and the union thus
auspiciously commenced was productive of as much happiness as lies
within the power of mortals to secure.
As for the robbers'cave, it remained the secret possession of Ali
Baba and his posterity; and using their good fortune with equity and
moderation, they rose to high office in the city and were held in great
honour by all who knew them.
THE STORY OF THE MAGIC HORSE
In the land of the Persians there lived in ancient times a King who had
three daughters and an only son of such beauty that they drew the eyes
of all beholders like moonrise in a clear heaven. Now it was the custom
in that country for a great festival to be held at the new year, during
which people of all grades, from the highest to the lowest, presented
themselves before the King with offerings and salutations. So it
happened that on one of these days there came to the King as he sat in
state three sages, masters of their craft, bringing gifts for approval.
The first had with him a peacock of gold which was so constructed that
at the passing of each hour it beat its wings and uttered a cry. And
the King, having proved it, found the gift acceptable and caused the
inventor thereof to be suitably rewarded. The second had made a trumpet
so that if placed over the gates of a city it blew a blast against any
that sought to enter; and thus was the city held safe from surprise by
an enemy. And when the King had found that it possessed that property,
he accepted it, bestowing on its maker a rich reward.
But the gift of the third sage, who was an Indian, appeared more
prodigious than all, for he had brought with him a horse of ivory and
ebony, for which he claimed that, at the will of its owner, or of any
one instructed in the secret, it would rise above the earth and fly,
arriving at distant places in a marvellously short space of time. The
King, full of wonder at such a statement, and eager to test it, was
in some doubt as to how he might do so, for the Indian was unwilling
to part with the secret until secure of the reward which in his own
mind he had fixed on. Now it happened that at a distance of some three
leagues from the city there stood a mountain the top of which was
clearly discernible to all eyes; so, in order that the Indian's word
might be proved, the King, pointing to it, said, "Go yonder, and bring
back to me while I wait the branch of a palm-tree which grows at the
foot of that mountain; then I shall know that what you tell me is true."
Instantly the Indian set foot in the stirrup and vaulted upon his
charger, and scarcely had he turned a small peg which was set in the
pommel of the saddle, when the horse rose lightly into the air and bore
him away at wondrous speed amid the shouts of the beholders; and while
all were still gazing, amazed at so sudden a vanishing, he reappeared
high overhead, bearing the palm branch, and descending into their
midst alighted upon the very spot from which he had started, where,
prostrating himself, he laid the branch at the King's feet.
[Illustration: At so arrogant a claim all the courtiers burst into loud
laughter.]
The King was so delighted when the wonderful properties of the horse
had been thus revealed to him, that, eager to possess it, he bade the
Indian name his own reward, declaring that no price could be too great.
Then said the sage, "Since your Majesty so truly appreciates the value
of my invention, I do not fear that the reward I ask for will seem
too high. Give me in marriage the hand of the fairest of your three
daughters, and the horse shall be yours."
At so arrogant a claim all the courtiers burst into loud laughter;
the King alone, consumed with the desire of possessing the wonderful
treasure, hesitated as to what answer he should give. Then the King's
son, Prince Firouz Schah, seeing his father lend ear to so shameful
a proposal, became moved with indignation. Determined to defend his
sister's honour and his own, he addressed the King. "Pardon me, Sire,"
said he, "if I take the liberty of speaking. But how shall it be
possible for one of the greatest and most powerful monarchs to ally
himself to a mere nobody? I entreat you to consider what is due not
to yourself alone but to the high blood of your ancestors and of your
children."
"My son," replied the King of Persia, "what you say is very true, so
far as it goes; but you do not sufficiently consider the value of so
incomparable a marvel as this horse has proved itself to be, or how
great would be my chagrin if any other monarch came to possess it.
And though I have not yet agreed to the Indian's proposal, I cannot
incontinently reject it. But first I must be satisfied that the horse
will obey other hands besides those of its inventor, else, though I
become its possessor, I may find it useless."
The Indian, who had stood aside during this discussion, was now full
of hope, for he perceived that the King had not altogether rejected
his terms, and nothing seemed likelier than that the more he became
familiar with the properties of the magic horse the more would he wish
to possess it. When, therefore, the King proposed that the horse should
be put to a more independent trial under another rider, the Indian
readily agreed; the more so when the prince himself, relinquishing his
apparent opposition, came forward and volunteered for the essay.
The King having consented, the prince mounted, and eager in his design
to give his father opportunity for cooler reflection, he did not wait
to hear all the Indian's instructions, but turning the peg, as he
had seen the other do when first mounting, caused the horse to rise
suddenly in the air, and was carried away out of sight in an easterly
direction more swiftly than an arrow shot from a bow.
No sooner had the horse and its rider disappeared than the King became
greatly concerned for his son's safety; and though the sage could
justly excuse himself on the ground that the young prince's impatience
had caused him to cut short the instructions which would have insured
his safe return, the King choose to vent upon the Indian the full
weight of his displeasure; and cursing the day wherein he had first set
eyes on the magic horse, he caused its maker to be thrown into prison,
declaring that if the prince did not return within a stated time the
life of the other should be forfeit.
The Indian had now good cause to repent of the ambition which had
brought him to this extremity, for the prince, of whose opposition to
his project he had been thoroughly informed, had only to prolong his
absence to involve him in irretrievable ruin. But on the failure of
arrogant pretensions the sympathy of the judicious is wasted; let us
return therefore to Prince Firouz Schah, whom we left flying through
the air with incredible swiftness on the back of the magic steed.
For a time, confident of his skill as a rider and undismayed either
by the speed or altitude of his flight, the prince had no wish to
return to the palace; but presently the thought of his father's anxiety
occurred to him, and being of a tender and considerate disposition he
immediately endeavoured to divert his steed from its forward course.
This he sought to do by turning in the contrary direction the peg
which he had handled when mounting, but to his astonishment the horse
responded by rising still higher in the air and flying forward with
redoubled swiftness. Had courage then deserted him, his situation might
have become perilous; but preserving his accustomed coolness he began
carefully to search for the means by which the speed of the machine
might be abated, and before long he perceived under the horse's mane
a smaller peg, which he had no sooner touched than he felt himself
descending rapidly toward the earth, with a speed that lessened the
nearer he came to ground.
[Illustration: As he descended, the daylight in which hitherto he had
been travelling faded from view.]
As he descended, the daylight in which hitherto he had been travelling
faded from view, and he passed within a few minutes from sunset into an
obscurity so dense that he could no longer distinguish the nature of
his environment, till, as the horse alighted, he perceived beneath him
a smooth expanse ending abruptly on all sides at an apparent elevation
among the objects surrounding it.
Dismounting he found himself on the roof of a large palace, with marble
balustrades dividing it in terraces, and at one side a staircase which
led down to the interior. With a spirit ever ready for adventure
Prince Firouz Schah immediately descended, groping his way through the
darkness till he came to a landing on the further side of which an open
door led into a room where a dim light was burning.
[Illustration: He saw black eunuchs lying asleep.]
The prince paused at the doorway to listen, but all he could hear
was the sound of men breathing heavily in their sleep. He pushed
the door and entered; and there across an inner threshold he saw
black eunuchs lying asleep, each with a drawn sword in his hand.
Immediately he guessed that something far more fair must lie beyond;
so, undeterred by the danger, he advanced, and stepping lightly across
their swords passed through silken hangings into the inner chamber.
Here he perceived, amid surroundings of regal magnificence, a number
of couches, one of which stood higher than the rest. Upon each of
these a fair damsel lay asleep; but upon that which was raised above
its fellows lay a form of such perfect and enchanting beauty that
the prince had no will or power to turn away after once beholding
it. Approaching the sleeper softly, he kneeled down and plucked her
gently by the sleeve; and immediately the princess--for such if rank
and beauty accorded she needs must be--opened to him the depths of her
lustrous eyes and gazed in quiet amazement at the princely youth whose
handsome looks and reverent demeanour banished at once all thought of
alarm.
Now it so happened that a son of the King of India was at that time
seeking the hand of the princess in marriage; but her father, the King
of Bengal, had rejected him owing to his ferocious and disagreeable
aspect. When therefore the princess saw one of royal appearance
kneeling before her she supposed he could be no other than the suitor
whom she knew only by report, and shedding upon him the light of her
regard, "By Allah," she said, smiling, "my father lied in saying that
good looks were lacking to thee!"
Prince Firouz Schah, perceiving from these words and the glance which
accompanied them, that her disposition towards him was favourable,
no longer feared to acquaint her with the plight in which he found
himself; while the princess, for her part, listened to the story of
his adventures with lively interest, and learned, not without secret
satisfaction, that her visitor possessed a rank and dignity equal to
her own.
[Illustration: She gave orders for a rich banquet to be prepared.]
Meanwhile the maidens who were in attendance on the princess had
awakened in dismay to the unaccountable apparition of a fair youth
kneeling at the feet of their mistress, and, dreading discovery by the
attendants, were all at a loss what to do. The princess however, seeing
that they were awake, called them to her with perfect composure and
bade them go instantly and prepare an inner chamber where the prince
might sleep and recover from the fatigues of his journey; at the same
time she gave orders for a rich banquet to be prepared against the time
when he should be ready to partake of it. Then when her visitor had
retired, she arose and began to adorn herself in jewels and rich robes
and to anoint her body with fragrance, giving her women no rest till
the tale of her mirror contented her; and when all had been done many
times over, and the last touch of art added to her loveliness, she sent
to inquire whether the prince had yet awaked and were ready to receive
her.
[Illustration: Till the tale of her mirror contented her.]
Upon the receipt of that message the prince rose eagerly, and dressing
in haste, although it was scarcely yet day, heard everywhere within the
palace sounds of preparation for the feast that was being got ready in
his honour.
Before long the princess herself entered to inquire how he had slept,
and being fully assured on that score, she gave orders for the banquet
to be served. Everything was done in the greatest magnificence, but the
princess was full of apologies, declaring the entertainment unworthy of
so distinguished a guest. "You must pardon me, prince," she said, "for
receiving you with so little state, and after so hasty a preparation;
but the chief of the eunuchs does not enter here without my express
permission, and I feared that elsewhere our conversation might be
interrupted."
Prince Firouz Schah was now convinced that the inclinations of the
princess corresponded with his own; but though her every word and
movement increased the tenderness of his passion, he did not forget
the respect due to her rank and virtue. One of her women attendants
however, seeing clearly in what direction matters were tending, and
fearing for herself the results of a sudden discovery, withdrew
secretly, saying nothing to the rest, and running quickly to the chief
of the eunuchs she cried, "O miserable man, what sorry watch is this
that thou hast kept, guarding the King's honour; and who is this man or
genie that thou hast admitted to the presence of our mistress? Nay, if
the matter be not already past remedy the fault is not thine!" At these
words the eunuch leapt up in alarm, and going secretly he lifted the
curtain of the inner chamber, and there beheld at the princess's side a
youth of such fair and majestical appearance that he durst not intrude
unbidden. He ran shrieking to the King, and as he went he rent his
garments and threw dust upon his head. "O sire and master," he cried,
"come quickly and save thy daughter, for there is with her a genie in
mortal form and like a king's son to look upon, and if he have not
already carried her away, make haste and give orders that he be seized,
lest thou become childless."
[Illustration: She cried: "O miserable man what sorry watch is this
that thou hast kept".]
The King at once arose and went in great haste and fear to his
daughters palace. There he was met by certain of her women, who, seeing
his alarm, said, "O sire, have no fear for the safety of thy daughter;
for this young man is as handsome of heart as of person, and as his
conduct is chaste, so also are his intentions honourable."
Then the King's wrath was cooled somewhat; but since much remained
which demanded explanation he drew his sword and advanced with a
threatening aspect into the room where his daughter and the prince
still sat conversing. Prince Firouz Schah observing the new-comer
advance upon him in a warlike attitude, drew his own sword and stood
ready for defence; whereupon the King, seeing that the other was
the stronger, sheathed his weapon, and with a gesture of salutation
addressed him courteously. "Tell me, fair youth," he said, "whether you
are man or devil, for though in appearance you are human, how else than
by devilry have you come here?"
"Sire," replied the youth, "but for the respect that is owing to the
father of so fair a daughter, I, whom am a son of kings, might resent
such an imputation. Be assured, however, that by whatever means I
have chosen to arrive, my intentions now are altogether human and
honourable; for I have no other or dearer wish than to become your
son-in-law through my marriage with this princess in whose eyes it is
my happiness to have found favour."
"What you tell me," answered the King, "may be all very true; but it is
not the custom for the sons of kings to enter into palaces without the
permission of their owners, coming, moreover, unannounced and with no
retinue or mark of royalty about them. How, then, shall I convince my
people that you are a fit suitor for the hand of my daughter?"
"The proof of honour and kingship," answered the other, "does not rest
in splendour and retinue alone, though these also would be at my call
had I the patience to await their arrival from that too distant country
where my father is king. Let it suffice if I shall be able to prove my
worth alone and unaided, in such a manner as to satisfy all." "Alone
and unaided?" said the King; "how may that be?" "I will prove it thus,"
answered the prince. "Call out your troops and let them surround this
palace; tell them that you have here a stranger, of whom nothing is
known, who declares that if you will not yield him the hand of your
daughter in marriage he will carry her away from you by force. Bid them
use all means to capture and slay me, and if I survive so unequal a
contest, judge then whether or no I am fit to become your son-in-law."
The King immediately accepted the proposal, agreeing to abide by the
result; yet was he grieved that a youth of such fair looks and promise
should throw away his life in so foolhardy an adventure. As soon as day
dawned he sent for his Vizier and bade him cause all the chiefs of his
army to assemble with their troops and companies, till presently there
were gathered about the palace forty thousand horsemen and the same
number of foot; and the King gave them instructions, saying, "When the
young man of whom I have warned you comes forth and challenges you to
battle, then fall upon and slay him, for in no wise must he escape." He
then led the prince to an open space whence he could see the whole army
drawn up in array against him. "Yonder," said the King, pointing, "are
those with whom you have to contend; go forth and deal with them as
seems best to you."
"Nay," answered the prince, "these are not fair conditions, for yonder
I see horsemen as well as foot; how shall I contend against these
unless I be mounted?" The King at once offered him the best horse in
his stables, but the prince would not hear of it. "Is it fair," he
said, "that I should trust my life under such conditions to a horse
that I have never ridden? I will ride no horse but that upon which I
came hither." "Where is that?" inquired the King. "If it be where I
left it," answered the prince, "it is upon the roof of the palace."
All who heard this answer were filled with laughter and astonishment,
for it seemed impossible that a horse could have climbed to so high a
roof. Nevertheless the King commanded that search should be made, and
there, sure enough, those that were sent found the horse of ebony and
ivory standing stiff and motionless. So though it still seemed to them
but a thing for jest and mockery, obeying the King's orders they raised
it upon their shoulders, and bearing it to earth carried it forth into
the open space before the palace where the King's troops were assembled.