THE THREE APPLES.

Sir, said she, I have already had the honour to entertain your

majesty with a ramble which the Caliph Haroun Alraschid made one

night from his palace; I will give you an account of one more.

This prince one day commanded the grand vizier Giafar to come to

his palace the night following. Vizier, says he, I will take a

walk round the town, to inform myself what people say, and

particularly how they are pleased with my officers of justice. If

there be any against whom they have reason of just complaint, we

will turn them out, and put others in their stead, who may

officiate better: If, on the contrary, there be any that have

gained their applause, we will have that esteem for them which

they deserve. The grand vizier being come to the palace at the

hour appointed, the caliph, he, and Mesrour the chief of the

eunuchs, disguised themselves so as they could not be known, and

went out ail together. They passed through several places, and by

several markets; and as they entered a small street, they

perceived, by the light of the moon, a tall man, with a white

beard, who carried nets on his head; he had a folding basket of

palm leaves on his arm, and a club in his hand. This old man,

says the caliph, does not seem to be rich; let us go to him, and

inquire into his circumstances. Honest man, said the vizier, who

art thou? The old man replied, Sir, I am a fisher, but one of the

poorest and most miserable of the trade; I went from my house

about noon to go a-fishing, and from that time to this I have not

been able to catch one fish; at the same time I have a wife and

small children, and nothing to maintain them. The caliph, moved

with compassion, says to the fisherman, Hast thou the courage to

go back and cast thy nets once more? We will give thee a hundred

sequins for what thou shall bring up. At this proposal, the

fisherman, forgetting all his day's toil, took the caliph at his

word, and with him, Giafar, and Mesrour, returned to the Tigris;

he saying to himself, These gentlemen seem to be too honest and

reasonable not to reward my pains; and if they give me the

hundredth part of what they promise me, it will be a great deal.

They came to the bank of the river; and the fisherman throwing in

his net, when he drew it again, brought up a trunk close shut,

and very heavy. The caliph made the grand vizier pay him a

hundred sequins immediately, and sent him away. Mesrour, by his

master's order, carried the trunk on his shoulder; and the caliph

was so very eager to know what was in it, that he returned to the

palace with all speed. When the trunk was opened, they found in

it a large basket made of palm leaves, shut up, and the covering

of it sewed with red thread. To satisfy the caliph's impatience,

they would not take time to unrip it, but cut the thread with a

knife, and they took out of the basket a bundle wrapt up in a

sorry piece of hanging, and bound round with a rope, which being

untied, and the bundle opened, they found, to their great

amazement, the corpse of a young lady, whiter than snow, all cut

in pieces.

Your majesty may imagine, a great deal better than I am able to

express the astonishment of the caliph at this dreadful

spectacle. His surprise was instantly changed into passion, and

darting an angry look at the vizier, Ah! thou wretch, said he, is

this your inspection into the actions of my people? Do they

commit such impious murders under thy ministry in my capital

city, and throw my subjects into the Tigris, that they may cry

for vengeance against me at the day of judgment? If thou dost not

speedily revenge the murder of this woman, by the death of her

murderer, I swear by Heaven, that I will cause thee to be hanged,

and forty more of thy kindred. Commander of the faithful, replied

the grand vizier, I beg your majesty to grant me time to make

inquiry. I will allow thee no more, said the caliph, than three

days; therefore thou must look to it. The vizier Giafar went home

in great confusion of mind. Alas, said he, how is it possible

that, in such a vast and populous city as Bagdad, I should be

able to detect a murderer, who undoubtedly committed the crime

without witness, and perhaps may be already gone from hence? Any

other person but me would take some wretched person out of

prison, and cause him to die, to satisfy the caliph; but I will

not burden my conscience with such a barbarous action; I will

rather die than save my life at this rate. He ordered the

officers of police and justice to make strict search for the

criminal: they sent their servants about, and they themselves

were not idle, for they were no less concerned in this matter

than the vizier. But all their endeavours turned to nothing; what

pains soever they took, they could not find out the murderer; so

that the vizier concluded his life to be gone, unless some

remarkable providence hindered it. The third day being come, an

officer came to this unfortunate minister with a summons to

follow him, which the vizier obeyed. The caliph asked him for the

murderer. He answered, with tears in his eyes, Commander of the

faithful, I have not found any person that could give me the

least account of him. The caliph, full of fury and rage, gave him

many reproachful words, and ordered that he and forty

Bermecides[Footnote: The Bermecides were a family come out of

Persia, and of them the grand Vizier was descended.] more should

be hanged up at the gate of the palace.

In the mean while the gibbets were preparing, and orders were

sent to seize forty Bermecides more in their houses; a public

crier was sent about the city to cry thus, by the caliph's order,

Those who have a desire to see the grand vizier Giafar hanged,

and forty more Bermecides of his kindred, let them come to the

square before the palace. When all things were ready, the judge

criminal, and a great many officers belonging to the palace,

brought out the grand vizier with forty Bermecides, and set each

of them at the foot of the gibbet designed for them, and a rope

was put about each of their necks. The multitude of people that

filled the square could not, without grief and tears, behold this

tragical sight; for the grand vizier and the Bermecides were

loved and honoured on account of their probity, bounty, and

impartiality, not only in Bagdad, but through all the dominions

of the caliph.

Nothing could prevent the execution of this prince's too severe

and irrevocable sentence; and the lives of the most honest people

in the city were just going to be taken away, when a young man,

of handsome mien and good apparel, pressed through the crowd till

he came to the place where the grand vizier was; and after he had

kissed his hand, said, Most excellent vizier, chief of the emirs

of this court, and comforter of the poor, you are not guilty of

the crime for which you stand here. Withdraw, and let me expiate

the death of the lady who was thrown into the Tigris. It was I

who murdered her, and deserve to be punished for it. Though these

words occasioned great joy to the vizier, yet he could not but

pity the young man, in whose look he saw something that, instead

of being ominous, was engaging; but as he was about to answer

him, a tall man, pretty well in years, who had likewise forced

his way through the crowd, came up to him, saying, Sir, do not

believe what this young man tells you; I killed that lady who was

found in the trunk; and this punishment ought only to fall upon

me. I conjure you, in the name of God, not to punish the innocent

for the guilty. Sir, says the young man to the vizier, I do

protest that I am he who committed this vile act, and nobody else

had any hand it. My son, said the old man, it is despair that

brought you hither, and you would anticipate your destiny. I have

lived a long time in the world, and it is time for me to be gone;

let me therefore sacrifice my life for yours. Sir, said he again

to the vizier, I tell you once more I am the murderer; let me die

without any more ado. The controversy between the old man and the

young one obliged the grand vizier Giafar to carry them both

before the caliph, to which the criminal judge consented, being

very glad to serve the vizier. When he came before the prince, he

kissed the ground seven times, and spoke after this manner:

Commander of the faithful, I have brought here before your

majesty this old man, and this young one, who both confess

themselves to be the sole murderers of the lady. Then the caliph

asked the criminals which of them it was that so cruelly murdered

the lady, and threw her into the Tigris? The young man assured

him it was he, but the old man maintained the contrary. Go, says

the caliph to the grand vizier, and cause them both to be hanged.

But, sir, says the vizier, if only one of them be guilty, it

would be unjust to take the lives of both. At these words the

young man spoke again: I swear by the great God, who has raised

the heavens so high as they are, that I am the man who killed the

lady, cut her in quarters, and threw her into the Tigris about

four days ago. I renounce my part of happiness among the just at

the day of judgment, if what I say be not truth; therefore I am

he that ought to suffer. The caliph, being surprised at this

oath, believed him, especially as the old man made no answer to

this. Whereupon, turning to the young man, Thou wretch, said he,

what was it that made thee to commit that detestable crime, and

what is it that moves thee to offer thyself voluntarily to die?

Commander of the faithful, said he, if all that has passed

between that lady and me were set down in writing, it would be a

history that would be very useful to other men. I command you

then to relate it, said the caliph. The young man obeyed, and

began.

THE STORY OF THE LADY THAT WAS MURDERED,

AND OF THE YOUNG MAN HER HUSBAND.

Commander of the faithful, your majesty may be pleased to know,

that this murdered lady was my wife, the daughter of this old man

you see here, who is my uncle by the father's side. She was not

above twelve years old when he gave her to me, and it is now

eleven years ago. I have three children by her, all boys, yet

alive; and I must do her the justice to say, that she never gave

me the least occasion of offence; she was chaste, of good

behaviour, and made it her whole business to please me. For my

part, I loved her entirely, and rather prevented her, in granting

any thing she desired, than opposed it. About two months ago she

fell sick; I took all imaginable care of her, and spared nothing

that could procure a speedy recovery. After a month, she began to

grow better, and had a mind to go to the bagnio. Before she went

out of the house, Cousin, said she, (for so she used to call me

from familiarity), I long for some apples; if you could get me

any, you would please me extremely; I have longed for them a

great while, and I must own it is come to that height, that if I

be not satisfied very soon, I fear some misfortune will befal me.

With all my heart, said I, I will do all that is in my power to

make you easy, and went immediately round all the markets and

shops in the town to seek for apples, but could not get one,

though I offered a sequin for each. I returned home very much

dissatisfied at my disappointment. As for my wife, when she

returned from the bagnio, and saw no apples, she became so very

uneasy, that she could not sleep all night: I rose betimes in the

morning, and went through all the gardens, but had no better

success than the day before; only I happened to meet an old

gardener, who told me that all my pains would signify nothing,

for I could not expect to find apples any where but in your

majesty's garden at Balsora. As I loved my wife passionately, and

would not have any thing of neglect to satisfy her chargeable

upon me, I put myself in a traveller's habit, and after I had

told her my design, I went to Balsora, and made my journey with

so great diligence, that I returned at the end of fifteen days

with three apples, which cost me a sequin each; there were no

more left in the garden, so that the gardener would let me have

them no cheaper. As soon as I came home, I presented them to my

wife, but her longing was over; so she satisfied herself with

receiving them, and laid them down by her. In the mean time she

continued sickly, and I knew not what remedy to get for her.

A few days after I returned from my journey, as I was sitting in

my shop, in the public place where all sorts of fine stuffs are

sold, I saw an ugly tall black slave come in with an apple in his

hand, which I knew to be one of those I had brought from Balsora.

I had no reason to doubt it, because I was certain there was not

one to be had in all Bagdad, nor in any garden about it. I called

to him, and said, Good slave, pray thee tell me where thou hadst

this apple? It is a present (said he, smiling) from my mistress.

I was to see her to-day, but found her indisposed. I saw three

apples lying by her, and asked where she had them? She told me,

the good man her husband had made a fortnight's journey on

purpose for them, and brought them to her. We had a collation

together; and, when I took my leave of her, I brought away this

apple that you see. This discourse put me out of my senses; I

rose, shut up my shop, ran home with all speed, and going to my

wife's chamber, looked immediately for apples, and seeing only a

couple, asked what was become of the third? Then my wife turning

her head to the place where the apples lay, and perceiving there

were but two, answered me coldly, Cousin, I know not what is

become of it. At this answer I did verily believe what the slave

told me to be true; and at the same time giving myself up to

madness and jealousy, I drew my knife from my girdle, and thrust

it into the unfortunate creature's throat; I afterwards cut off

her head, and divided her body into four quarters, which I packed

up in a bundle, and hiding it in a basket, sewed it up with a

thread of red yarn, put all together in a trunk, and, when night

came, carried it on my shoulder down to the Tigris, where I sunk

it.

The two youngest of my children were already put to bed, and

asleep, the third being gone abroad; but, at my return, I found

him sitting by my gate, weeping very much. I asked him the

reason: Father, said he, I took this morning from my mother,

without her knowledge, one of those three apples you brought her,

and I kept it a long while; but, as I was playing some time ago

with my little brother in the street, a tall slave that went by

snatched it out of my hands, and carried it with him: I ran after

him, demanding it back; and besides, told him that it belonged to

my mother, who was sick; and that you had made a fortnight's

journey to fetch it; but all to no purpose, he would not restore

it. And whereas I still followed him, crying out, he turned and

beat me, and then ran away as fast as ever he could from one lane

to another, till at length I lost sight of him. I have since been

walking without the town, expecting your return, to pray you,

dear father, not to tell my mother of it, lest it should make her

worse. When he had said these words, he fell a weeping again more

bitterly than before.

My son's discourse afflicted me beyond measure: I then found

myself guilty of an enormous crime, and repented too late of

having so easily believed the calumnies of a wretched slave, who,

from what he had learned of my son, invented that fatal lie. My

uncle, here present, came just at the time to see his daughter;

but, instead of finding her alive, understood from me that she

was murdered, for I concealed nothing from him; and, without

staying for his censure, declared myself the greatest criminal in

the world. Upon this, instead of reproaching me, he joined his

tears with mine, and we wept three days together without

intermission; he for the loss of a daughter whom he always loved

tenderly, and I for the loss of a dear wife, of whom I had

deprived myself after so cruel a manner, by giving too easy

credit to the report of a lying slave.

This, commander of the faithful, is the sincere confession your

majesty commanded from me. You have now heard all the

circumstances of my crime, and I most humbly beg of you to order

the punishment which it merits; and, however severe it may be, I

shall not in the least complain, but esteem it too easy and

gentle.

The caliph was very much astonished at the young man's relation;

but this just prince, finding he was to be pitied rather than

condemned, began to speak in his favour. This young man's crime,

said he, is pardonable before God, and excusable with men. The

wicked slave is the sole cause of this murder; it is he alone

that must be punished. Wherefore, said he, looking upon the grand

vizier, I give you three days time to find him out; if you do not

bring him within that space, you shall die in his stead. The

unfortunate Giafar, who thought himself now out of danger, was

terribly perplexed at this new order of the caliph; but not

daring to return any answer to the prince, whose hasty temper he

well knew, he departed from his presence, and retired to his

house with tears in his eyes, persuading himself he had but three

days to live; for he was so fully convinced that he should not

find the slave, that he made not the least inquiry about him. Is

it possible, said he, that in such a city as Bagdad, where there

is such an infinite number of negro slaves, I should be able to

find out him who is guilty? So that, unless God be pleased to

bring it about, as he has already detected the murderer, nothing

can possibly save my life! The vizier spent the two first days in

mourning with his family, who sat round him weeping, and

complaining of the caliph's cruelty. The third day being come, he

prepared himself to die with courage, as an honest minister, and

one who had nothing to trouble his conscience with: he sent for

notaries and witnesses, who signed the last will he made in their

presence; after which he took leave of his wife and children, and

bade them the last farewell. All his family were drowned in

tears, so that there never was a more sorrowful spectacle; At

last the messenger came from the caliph to tell him that he was

out of all patience, having heard nothing from him, nor

concerning the negro slave, whom he had commanded him to search

for: I am therefore ordered, said he, to bring you before his

throne. The afflicted vizier made ready to follow the messenger;

but, as he was going but, they brought him his youngest daughter,

who was about five or six years of age. The nurses who attended

her, presented her to her father to receive his last blessing.

Having a particular love to the child, he prayed the messenger to

give him leave to stop for a moment, and, taking his daughter in

his arms, kissed her several times; as he was embracing her the

last time, he perceived she had somewhat in her bosom that looked

bulky, and a sweet scent. My dear little one, said he, what hast

thou in thy bosom? My dear father, said she, it is an apple, upon

which is written the name of our lord and master the caliph; our

slave Rihan[Footnote: This word signifies, in Arabic, basilic, an

odoriferous plant; and the Arabians call their slaves by this

name, as the custom in France is to give the name of jessamin to

a footman.] sold it to me for two sequins.

At the words apple and slave, the grand vizier cried out with

surprise intermixed with joy, and, putting his hand into the

child's bosom, pulled out the apple. He caused the slave, who was

not far off, to be brought immediately; and when he came, Rascal!

said he, where hadst thou this apple? My lord, said the slave, I

swear to you that I neither stole it in your house, nor out of

the commander of the faithful's garden; but the other day, as I

was going through a street where three or four children were at

play, one of them having it in his hand, I snatched it from him,

and carried it away. The child ran after me, telling me it was

none of his own, but belonged to his mother, who was sick; and

that his father, to save her longing, had made a long journey,

and brought home three apples, whereof this was one, which he had

taken from his mother without her knowledge. He said what he

could to make me give it him back, but I would not; I brought it

home, and sold it for two sequins to the little lady your

daughter; and this is the whole truth of the matter.

Giafar could not enough admire how the roguery of a slave had

been the cause of an innocent woman's death, and almost of his

own. He carried the slave along with him, and, when he came

before the caliph, gave the prince an exact account of all that

the slave had told him, and the chance that brought him to the

discovery of his crime. Never was any surprise so great as the

caliph's, yet he could not prevent himself from falling into

excessive fits of laughter. At last he recovered himself, and,

with a serious mien, told the vizier, That, since his slave had

been the occasion of so strange an accident, he deserved an

exemplary punishment. Sir, I must own it, said the vizier, but

his guilt is not irremissible; I remember a strange story of a

vizier of Cairo, called Noureddin[Footnote: Noureddin signifies,

in Arabic, the light of religion.] Ali and of his son

Bedreddin[Footnote: Bedreddin signifies the full moon of

religion.] Hassan of Balsora; and as your majesty delights to

hear such things, I am ready to tell it on this condition, that

if your majesty find it more astonishing than that which gives me

occasion to tell it, you will be pleased to pardon my slave. I am

content, said the caliph; but you undertake a hard task, for I do

not believe you can save your slave, the story of the apples

being so very singular. Upon this Giafar began his story thus:

THE STORY OF NOUREDDIN ALI AND BEDREDDIN

HASSAN.

Commander of the faithful, there was in former days a sultan of

Egypt, a strict observer of justice, gracious, merciful, and

liberal; and his valour made him terrible to his neighbours. He

loved the poor, and protected the learned, whom he advanced to

the highest dignities. This sultan had a vizier, who was prudent,

wise, sagacious, and well versed in the sciences. This minister

had two sons, very handsome men, and who in every thing followed

his own footsteps. The eldest was called Schemseddin[Footnote:

That is to say, the sun of religion.] Mohammed, and the younger

Noureddin Ali. The last especially was endowed with all the good

qualities that any man could have. The vizier their father being

dead, the sultan sent for them; and after he had caused them both

to put on the usual robes of a vizier, I am as sorry, says he,

for the loss of your father as yourselves; and because I know you

live together, and love one another entirely, I will bestow his

dignity upon you conjunctly; go and imitate your father's

conduct. The two new viziers humbly thanked the sultan, and went

home to their house to make due preparation for their father's

interment. They did not go abroad for a month, and then went to

court, where they appeared continually on council-days; when the

sultan went a hunting, one of the brothers went along with him

and this honour they had by turns. One evening, as they were

talking after supper, the next day being the elder brother's turn

to go a hunting with the sultan, he said to his younger brother,

since neither of us is yet married, and as we live so lovingly

together, a thought is come into my head; Let us both marry in

one day, and let us choose two sisters out of some family that

may suit our quality: What do you think of this fancy? I must

tell you, brother, answered Noureddin, that it is very suitable

to our friendship; there cannot be a better thought; for my part,

I am ready to agree to any thing you shall think fit. But hold,

this is not all, says Schemseddin; my fancy carries me further.

Suppose both our wives should conceive the first night of

marriage, and should happen to be brought to bed on one day,

yours of a son and mine of a daughter, we will give them to one

another in marriage when they come of age. Nay, says Noureddin

aloud, I must acknowledge that this project is admirable; such a

marriage will perfect our union, and I willingly consent to it.

But then, brother, says he further, if this marriage should

happen, would you expect that my son should settle a jointure on

your daughter? There is no difficulty in that, replies the elder;

for I am persuaded, that, besides the usual articles of

marriage-contract, you will not fail to promise in his name at

least three thousand sequins, three good manors, and three

slaves. No, said the younger, I will not consent to that; are we

not brethren, and equal in title and dignity? Do not you and I

both know what is just? The male being nobler than the female, it

is your part to give a large dowry with your daughter. By what I

perceive, you are a man that would have your business done at

another's charge.

Though Noureddin spoke these words in jest, his brother, being of

an ill temper, was offended; and falling into a passion, A

mischief upon your son, said he, since you prefer him before my

daughter; I wonder you had so much confidence as to believe him

worthy of her; you must needs have lost your judgment, to think

that you are my equal, and say we are colleagues: I would have

you to know, you fool, that, since you are so impudent, I would

not marry my daughter to your son, though you would give him more

than you are worth. This pleasant quarrel between two brothers,

about the marriage of their children before they were born, went

so far, that Schemseddin concluded with threatening: Were I not

to-morrow, says he, to attend the sultan, I would treat you as

you deserve; but, at my return, I shall make you sensible that it

does not become a younger brother to speak so insolently to his

elder brother as you have done to me. Upon this he retired to his

apartment, and his brother went to bed.

Schemseddin rose very early next morning, and goes to the palace

to attend the sultan, who went to hunt about Cairo, near the

pyramids. As for Noureddin, he was very uneasy all night, and

considering that it would not be possible for him to live longer

with a brother who treated him with so much haughtiness, he

provided a good mule, furnished himself with money, jewels,

provisions, and victuals; and having told his people that he was

going a private journey for two or three days, he departed. When

he was out of Cairo, he rode by the desert toward Arabia; but his

mule happening to tire by the way, he was forced to pursue his

journey on foot. A courier that was going to Balsora, by good

fortune overtaking him, took him up behind him. As soon as the

courier came to Balsora, Noureddin alighted, and returned him

thanks for his kindness. As he went about to seek for a lodging,

he saw a person of quality, with a great retinue, coming along,

to whom all the people showed a mighty respect, and stood still

till he passed by, Noureddin stopping among the rest. This was

the grand vizier to the sultan of Balsora, who walked through the

city, to see that the inhabitants kept good order and discipline.

This minister, casting his eye by chance on Noureddin, and

finding something extraordinary in his aspect, looked very

attentively upon him, and as he came near him, and saw him in a

traveller's habit, he stood still, asked him who he was, and from

whence he came? Sir, said Noureddin, I am an Egyptian, born at

Cairo, and have left my country, because of the unkindness of a

near relation, and am resolved to travel through the world, and

rather to die than return home again. The grand vizier, who was a

reverend old gentleman, after hearing those words, says to him,

Son, beware, do not pursue your design; there is nothing but

misery in the world; you are not sensible of the hardships you

must endure; come follow me, I may perhaps make you forget the

thing that has forced you to leave your own country. Noureddin

followed the grand vizier, who soon perceived his good qualities,

and fell so much in love with him, that one day he said to him in

private, My son, I am, as you see, so far gone in years, that

there is no likelihood I shall live much longer. Heaven has

bestowed only one daughter upon me, who is beautiful as you are

handsome, and now fit for marriage. Several people of the

greatest quality at this court have desired her for their sons,

but I could not grant their request. I have a love for you, and

think you so worthy to be received into my family, that,

preferring you before all those that have sought her, I am ready

to accept you for my son-in-law. If you like the proposal, I will

acquaint the sultan my master that I have adopted you by this

marriage, and will pray him to grant you the reversion of my

dignity of grand vizier in the kingdom, of Balsora. In the

meantime, nothing being more requisite for me than ease in my old

age, I will not put you in possession of my estate, but leave the

administration of public affairs to your management. Having made

an end of this kind and generous proposal, Noureddin fell at his

feet, and expressing himself in terms that demonstrated his joy

and gratitude, told the vizier that he was at his command in

every thing. Upon this the vizier sent for his chief domestics,

ordered them to furnish the great hall of his palace, and to

prepare a great feast. He afterwards sent to invite the nobility

of the court and city to honour him with their company, and when

they were all met, (Noureddin having now told him who he was,) he

said to those lords, for he thought it proper to speak thus on

purpose to satisfy such of them to whom he had refused his

alliance: I am now, my lords, to discover a thing to you which I

have hitherto kept a secret. I have a brother who is grand vizier

to the sultan of Egypt, as I am to the sultan of this kingdom.

This brother has but one son, whom he would not marry in the

court of Egypt, but sent him hither to marry my daughter, that

both our branches may be reunited. His son, whom I knew to be my

nephew as soon as I saw him, is the young gentleman whom I here

present to you, and is to be my son-in-law. I hope you will do me

the honour to be present at his wedding, which I am resolved to

celebrate this day. The noblemen, who could not take it ill that

he preferred his nephew before all the great matches that had

been proposed to him, said, that he had very good reasons, for

what he did, were willing to be witnesses to the ceremony, and

wished that God might prolong his days to enjoy the satisfaction

of the happy match.

The lords met at the vizier's, having testified their

satisfaction at the marriage of his daughter with Noureddin, sat

down to dinner, which lasted a good while; and the latter course

was sweet-meats, of which every one, according to custom, took

what he thought fit. The notaries came in with the

marriage-contract, when the chief lords signed it; and, after the

company departed, the grand vizier ordered his servants to

prepare a bagnio, and have every thing else provided for

Noureddin in the best manner: When he had washed and dried

himself, he was going to put on his former apparel, but had an

extraordinary rich suit brought him. Being dressed and perfumed

with the most odoriferous essence, he went to see the grand

vizier, his father-in-law, who was exceedingly well pleased with

his genteel mien; and having made him sit down, My son, said he,

you have declared unto me who you are, and the quality you had at

the court of Egypt. You have also told me of a difference betwixt

you and your brother, which occasioned you to leave your country.

I desire you to make me your entire confident, and to acquaint me

with the cause of your quarrel; for now you have no reason either

to doubt me, or to conceal any thing from me. Noureddin

accordingly gave him an account of every circumstance of the

quarrel; at which the vizier burst out into a fit of laughter,

and said, This is one of the oddest things that I ever heard: Is

it possible, my son, that your quarrel should rise so high about

an imaginary marriage? I am sorry you fell out with your elder

brother upon such a frivolous matter; but I find he is in the

wrong to be angry at what you only spoke in jest, and I ought to

thank Heaven for that difference which has procured me such a

son-in-law. But, said the old gentleman, it is late, and time for

you to retire; go to your bride, my son; she expects you;

to-morrow I will present you to the sultan, and hope he will

receive you in such a manner as shall satisfy us both. Noureddin

took leave of his father-in-law, and went to his spouse's

apartment. It is remarkable, continued Giafar, that Schemseddin

happened also to marry at Cairo the very same day that this

marriage was solemnized at Balsora; the particulars are as

follow. After Noureddin left Cairo, with an intention never to

return, Schemseddin, who was gone a hunting with the sultan of

Egypt, did not come back in a month; for the Sultan loved the

game extremely, and continued the sport all that while.

Schemseddin, on his return, ran to Noureddin's apartment, but was

much surprised when he understood, that, under pretence of taking

a journey of two or three days, he had gone away on a mule the

same day that the sultan went a hunting, and never appeared

since. This circumstance vexed him so much the more, beeause he

did not doubt that the hard words he had used were the cause of

his going away. He sent a messenger in search of him, who went to

Damascus, and as far as Aleppo, but Noureddin was then at

Balsora. When the courier returned, and brought word that he

heard no news of him, Schemseddin intended to make further

inquiry after him in other parts; but in the mean time had a

fancy to marry, and obtained the daughter of one of the greatest

lords in Cairo upon the same day that his brother married the

daughter of the grand vizier of Balsora.

But this is not all, said Giafar; at the end of nine months,

Schemseddin's wife was delivered of a daughter at Cairo, and on

the same day Noureddin's wife had a son at Balsora, who was named

Bedreddin Hassan. The grand vizier of Balsora testified his joy

for the birth of his grandson by great gifts and public

entertainments; and, to show his son-in-law the great esteem he

had for him, he went to the palace, and begged the sultan to

grant Noureddin his office, that he might have the comfort,

before his death, to see his son-in-law made grand vizier his

stead. The sultan, who had taken a great liking to Noureddin when

his father presented him after his marriage, and had ever since

heard every body speak well of him, readily granted his

father-in-law's request, and caused Noureddin immediately to put

on the robe of a grand vizier. The next day, when the father saw

his son-in-law preside in council as he himself had done, and

perform all the offices of grand vizier, his joy was complete.

Noureddin behaved himself so well in every thing, that one would

have thought he had been all his lifetime employed in such

affairs. He continued afterwards to assist in council every time

when the infirmities of age would not permit his father-in-law to

appear. The old gentleman died about four years after, and

Noureddin performed the last duties to him with all possible love

and gratitude. As soon as his son Bedreddin had attained to seven

years of age, he provided him a most excellent tutor, who taught

him as became his birth. The child had a ready wit, a genius

capable of receiving all the instructions that could be given,

and, after having been two years under the tuition of his master,

learned the alcoran by heart. His father Noureddin put him

afterwards to other tutors, by whom his mind was cultivated to

such a degree, that, when he was twelve years of age, he had no

more occasion for them; and then, as his physiognomy promised

wonders, he was admired by all.

Noureddin had hitherto kept him to his studies, and had not yet

brought him into public; but now he carried him to the palace, on

purpose to have the honour of kissing the hand of the sultan, who

received him very graciously. The people who saw him in the

streets were charmed with his genteel mien, and gave him a

thousand blessings. His father, purposing to make him capable of

supplying his place, spared no cost for that end, brought him up

to business of the greatest moment, and in short omitted nothing

to advance a son he loved so well. But as he began to enjoy the

fruits of his labour, he was all of a sudden taken with a violent

fit of sickness; and, finding himself past recovery, disposed

himself to die like a good Mussulman. In his last moments he

forgot not his son Bedreddin, but called for him, and said, My

son, you see this world is transitory; there is nothing durable

but that to which I shall speedily go. You must therefore from

henceforth begin to fit yourself for this change, as I have done;

you must prepare for it without murmuring, so as to have no

trouble of conscience for not acting the part of a really honest

man. As for your religion, you are sufficiently instructed in it

by what you have learned from your tutors, and by your own study.

As to what belongs to an honest man, I shall give you some

instructions, of which I hope you will make good use; and as it

is a necessary thing to know one's self, and you cannot come to

that knowledge unless you first understand who I am, I shall now

tell you. I am a native of Egypt; my father, your grandfather,

was first minister to the sultan of that kingdom. I myself had

the honour to be vizier to that same sultan, and so has my

brother, your uncle, who, I suppose, is yet alive; his name is

Schemseddin. I was obliged to leave him, and come into this

country, where I have raised myself to the high dignity which I

now enjoy. But you will understand all these matters more fully

by a manuscript which I shall leave you. Noureddin pulled out his

pocket-book, which he had written with his own hand, and carried

always about him, and giving it to Bedreddin, Take it, says he,

and read it at your leisure; you will find, among other things,

the day of my marriage, and that of your birth; these are such

circumstances as perhaps you may hereafter have occasion to know;

therefore you must keep it very carefully. Bedreddin, being most

afflicted to see his father in that condition, and sensibly

touched with his discourse, could not but weep when he received

the pocket-book, and promised never to part with it.

That very moment Noureddin fainted, so that it was thought he

would have expired; but he came to himself again, and uttered

these words: My son, the first instruction I give you is, not to

make yourself familiar with all sorts of people. The way to live

happy is to keep your mind to yourself, and not tell your

thoughts too freely. Secondly, Not to do violence to any body

whatever, for in that case you will draw every body's hatred upon

you. You ought to consider the world as a creditor, to whom you

owe moderation, compassion, and forbearance. Thirdly, Not to say

a word when you are reproached; for, as the proverb says, he that

keeps silence is out of danger. In this case particularly you

ought to practise it. You also know what one of our poets says

upon this subject, That silence is the ornament and safeguard of

life; and that our speech ought not to be like a storm of rain

that spoils all. Never did any man yet repent of having spoken

too little, though many have been sorry that they spoke too much.

Fourthly, To drink no wine, for that is the source of all vices.

Fifthly, To be frugal in your way of living; if you do not

squander your estate away, it will maintain you in time of

necessity. I do not mean you should be either too liberal or too

niggardly; for though you have but little, if you husband it

well, and lay it out upon proper occasions, you will have many

friends; but if, on the contrary, you have great riches, and make

a bad use of them, the world will forsake you, and leave you to

yourself.

In short, Noureddin Ali continued, till the last moment of his

breath, to give good advice to his son, by whom he was

magnificently interred.

Bedreddin Hassan of Balsora, for so he was called because born in

that town, was so overwhelmed with grief for the death of his

father, that instead of a month's time to mourn, according to

custom, he kept himself closely shut up in tears and solitude

about two months without seeing any body, or so much as going

abroad to pay his duty to the sultan of Balsora, who, being

displeased at his neglect, and regarding it as a slight put upon

his court and person, suffered his passion to prevail, and in his

fury called for the new grand vizier, (for he had created a new

one as soon as Noureddin died,) commanded him to go to the house

of the deceased, and seize upon it, with all his other houses,

lands, and effects, without leaving any thing for Bedreddin

Hassan, and to bring him prisoner along with him. The new grand

vizier, accompanied by a great many messengers belonging to the

palace, justices and other officers, went immediately to execute

his commission; but one of Bedreddin's slaves, happening

accidentally to come into the crowd, no sooner understood the

vizier's errand, than he ran in all haste to give his master

warning. He found him sitting in the porch of his house, as

melancholy as if his father had been but newly dead. He fell down

at his feet quite out of breath; and, after he had kissed the hem

of his garment, cried out, My lord, save yourself immediately.

Bedreddin, lifting up his head, said, What is the matter? what

news dost thou bring? My lord, said he, there is no time to be

lost; the sultan, horribly incensed against you, has sent people

to take all you have, and to seize your person.

The words of this faithful and affectionate slave put Bedreddin

into great confusion. May not I have so much time, said he, as to

take some money and jewels along with me? No, sir, replied the

slave; the grand vizier will be here this moment. Begone

immediately; save yourself. Bedreddin rose up from the sofa in

haste, put his feet in his sandals, and, after covering his head

with the tail of his gown, that his face might not be known, he

fled, without knowing what way to go, in order to avoid the

impending danger.

The first thought that came into his head was to get out at the

next gate with all speed. He ran without stopping till he came to

the public church-yard; and, as it was growing dark, he resolved

to pass the night on his father's tomb. It was a large edifice in

the form of a dome, which Noureddin Ali built when he was alive.

Bedreddin met by the way a very rich Jew, who was a banker and

merchant, and was returning to the city from a place where his

affairs had called him. The Jew, knowing Bedreddin, halted, and

saluted him very courteously.

The caliph was very attentive to the discourse of the grand

vizier, who went on after this manner. Isaac the Jew, after he

had paid his respects to Bedreddin Hassan by kissing his hand,

says, My lord, dare I be so bold as to ask whither you are going

at this time of night alone, and so much troubled? Has any thing

disquieted you? Yes, said Bedreddin, a while ago I was asleep,

and my father appeared to me in a dream, looking fiercely upon

me, as if he were very angry; I started out of my sleep very much

frightened, and came out immediately to go and pray upon his

tomb. My lord, said the Jew, who did not know the true reason why

Bedreddin left the town, your father of happy memory, and my good

lord, had store of merchandise in several vessels which are yet

at sea, and belong to you; I beg the favour of you to grant me

the first refusal of them before any other merchant. I am able to

lay down ready money for all the goods that are in your ships;

and to begin, if you will give me those that happen to come in

the first ship that arrives in safety, I will pay you down, in

part payment, a thousand sequins. Drawing out a bag from under

his gown, he showed it him sealed up with one seal.

Bedreddin, banished from home, and dispossessed of all he had in

the world, looked upon this proposal of the Jew as a favour from

Heaven, and therefore accepted it with a great deal of joy. My

lord, said the Jew, then you sell unto me, for a thousand

sequins, the lading of the first of your ships that shall arrive

in port? Yes, answered Bedreddin, I sell it to you for a thousand

sequins; it is done. Upon this, the Jew delivered him the bag of

a thousand sequins, and offered to count them; but Bedreddin

saved him the trouble, and said, he would trust his word. Since

it is so, my lord, be pleased to favour me with a small note, in

writing, of the bargain we have made. Having said this, he pulled

his ink-horn from his girdle, and taking a small reed out of it,

neatly cut for writing, he presented it to him, with a piece of

paper he took out of his letter-case, and, whilst he held the

ink-horn, Bedreddin Hassan wrote these words: 'This writing is to

testify, that Bedreddin Hassan of Balsora has sold to Isaac the

Jew, for the sum of one thousand sequins, received in hand, the

lading of the first of his ships that shall arrive in this port.'

This note he delivered to the Jew, who put it in his letter-case,

and then took leave of him.

While Isaac pursued his journey to the city, Bedreddin made the

best of his way to his father's tomb. When he came to it, he

bowed his face to the ground, and, with his eyes full of tears,

deplored his miserable condition. Alas! said he, unfortunate

Bedreddin, what will become of thee? Whither canst thou fly for

refuge against the unjust prince who persecutes thee? Was it not

enough to be afflicted for the death of so dear a father? Must

fate add new misfortunes to just complaints? He continued a long

time in this posture; but at last rose up again, and, leaning his

head upon his father's sepulchre, his sorrows returned more

violently than before; so that he sighed and mourned, till,

overcome with heaviness, he stretched himself upon the floor, and

fell asleep. He had not slept long when a genius, who had retired

to the church-yard during the day, and was intending, according

to custom, to range about the world at night, espying this young

man in Noureddin's tomb, entered, and finding Bedreddin lying on

his back, was surprised at his beauty. When he had attentively

considered Bedreddin, he said to himself, To judge of this

creature by his good mien, he seems to be an angel of the

terrestrial paradise, whom God has sent to put the world in a

flame with his beauty. At last, after he had satisfied himself

with looking upon him, he took a flight into the air, where

meeting by chance with a fairy, they saluted each other; after

which he said to her, Descend with me into the church-yard where

I stay, and I will show you a prodigious beauty, who is worthy of

your admiration as well as mine. The fairy consented, and both

descended in an instant; they came into the tomb: Look ye, said

the genius to the fairy, showing him Bedreddin, did you ever see

a young man of a better shape, and more beautiful than this? The

fairy, having attentively observed Bedreddin, answered, I must

confess that he is a very handsome man, but I am just come from

seeing an object at Cairo still more admirable; and if you hear

me, I will tell you a strange story concerning her. You will very

much oblige me by so doing, answered the genius. You must know

then, said the fairy, that the sultan of Egypt has a vizier

called Schemseddin Mohammed, who has a daughter of about twenty

years of age, the most beautiful and complete person that ever

was known. The sultan having heard of this young lady's beauty,

sent the other day for her father, and said, I understand you

have a daughter; I have a mind to marry her; will you consent to

it? The vizer, who did not expect this proposal, was troubled at

it; and, instead of accepting it joyfully, which another in his

place would certainly have done, he answered the sultan, May it

please your majesty, I am not worthy of the honour you confer

upon me, and I most humbly beseech you to pardon me if I do not

agree to your request. You know I had a brother called Noureddin

Ali, who had the honour, as well as myself, to be one of your

viziers: We had some difference together, which was the cause of

his leaving me on a sudden, and since that time I have had no

account of him till within these four days, when I heard he died

at Balsora, being grand vizier to the sultan of that kingdom. He

has left a son behind him; and there having been an agreement

between us to match our children together, should we have any, I

am persuaded he intended the match when he died. Being desirous

to fulfil the promise on my part, I conjure your majesty to grant

me leave; you have in your court many other lords who have

daughters on whom you may please to bestow that honour.

The sultan of Egypt was incensed against Schemseddin to the

highest degree, and said to him in a passion, which he could not

restrain, Is this the way you requite my condescension to stoop

so low as to desire your alliance? I know how to revenge your

daring to prefer another to me, and I swear that your daughter

shall be married to the most contemptible and ugly of all my

slaves. Having spoken these words, he angrily bid the vizier

begone, who went home to his house full of confusion, and very

sad. The same day the sultan sent for one of his grooms, who is

hump-backed, big-bellied, crook-legged, and as ugly as a

hobgoblin; and, after having commanded Schemseddin to consent to

marry his daughter to this ghastly slave, he caused the contract

to be made out and signed by witnesses in his own presence. The

preparations for this fantastical wedding, says the fairy, are

all ready, and at this moment all the slaves belonging to the

lords of the court of Egypt are waiting at the door of the

bagnio, each with a flambeau in his hand, for the crook-backed

groom to go along with them to his bride, who is already dressed

to receive him. When I departed from Cairo, the ladies, met for

that purpose, were going to conduct her, in all her nuptial

attire, to the hall, where she is to receive her hump-backed

bridegroom, and is this minute now expecting him; I have seen

her, and do assure you that no person can look upon her without

admiration.

When the fairy left off speaking, the genius says to her,

Whatever you think or say, I cannot be persuaded that the girl's

beauty exceeds that of this young man. I will not dispute it with

you, answered the fairy, for I must confess he deserves to be

married to that charming creature whom they design for Hump-back;

and I think it were a deed worthy of us to obstruct the sultan of

Egypt's injustice, and put this young gentleman in the room of

the slave. You are in the right, answered the genius; I am

extremely obliged to you for so good a thought; let us deceive

him: I consent to your revenge upon the sultan of Egypt; let us

comfort a distressed father, and make his daughter as happy as

she thinks herself miserable; I shall do my utmost to make this

project take, and am persuaded you will not be backward; I shall

carry him to Cairo before he awake, and afterwards leave it to

you to carry him elsewhere when we have accomplished our design.

The plan being thus concerted, the genius lifted Bedreddin

gently, carried him with an inconceivable swiftness through the

air, and set him down at the door of a public-house next to the

bagnio, whence Hump-back was to come with the train of slaves

that waited for him. Bedreddin awaked that very moment, and was

mightily surprised to find himself in the middle of a city which

he knew not: He was going to cry out, and to ask where he was;

but the genius touched him gently on the shoulder, and forbade

him to speak a word. Then he put a torch in his hand, bid him mix

with the crowd at the bagnio door, and follow them till he came

into a hall, where they were to celebrate a marriage. The

bridegroom is a hump-backed fellow, and by this description you

will easily know him. Place yourself at the right hand as you go

in, then immediately open the purse of sequins you have in your

bosom, and distribute them among the musicians and dancers as

they go along. When you have got into the hall, give money also

to the female slaves you see about the bride, when they come near

you; but every time you put your hand in your purse, be sure to

take out a whole handful, and be not sparing. Observe to do every

thing exactly as I have told you, with great presence of mind; be

not afraid of any person or thing, but leave the rest to a

superior power, who will order matters as he thinks fit.

Young Bedreddin, thus instructed in all that he was to do,

advanced towards the door of the bagnio: the first thing he did

was to light his torch like a slave; then mixing among them, as

if he belonged to some nobleman of Cairo, he marched along as

they did, following Hump-back, who came out of the bagnio, and

mounted a horse from the sultan's own stable. Being come near the

musicians and men and women-dancers, who preceded the bridgroom,

Bedreddin pulled out, time after time, whole handfuls of sequins,

which he distributed among them. As he gave his money with an

unparalleled grace and engaging mien, those who received it cast

their eyes upon him, and, after they had taken a full view of his

face, found him so handsome and comely, that they could not look

off again.

At last they came to Schemseddin's gate. Schemseddin was

Bedreddin's uncle, and little thought his nephew was so near. The

door-keepers, to prevent any disorder, kept back all the slaves

who carried torches, and would not let them come in. Bedreddin

was likewise refused; but the musicians, who had free entrance,

stood still, and protested they would not go in without him. He

is not one of the slaves, said they; look upon him, and you will

soon be satisfied as to that; he is certainly a young stranger,

who is curious to see the ceremonies observed at weddings in this

city. Saying thus, they put him in the midst of them, and carried

him in; they took his torch out of his hand, and gave it to the

first they met. Having brought him into the hall, they placed him

at the right hand of the hump-backed bridegroom, who sat near the

vizier's daughter on a throne most richly adorned. She appeared

very lovely in her dress, but in her face there was nothing to be

seen but poignant grief. The cause was easy to be guessed at,

when she had by her side a bridegroom so very deformed, and so

unworthy of her love. The throne of that ill-matched couple was

in the midst of a sofa. The ladies of the emirs, viziers, those

of the sultan's bed-chamber, and several other ladies of the

court and city, were placed on each side, a little lower, every

one according to rank, and all of them so fine and richly

dressed, that it was one of the pleasantest sights that could be

seen, each of them holding a large wax taper. As soon as they saw

Bedreddin come into the room, all fixed their eyes upon him,

admiring his shape, his behaviour, and the beauty of his face.

When he was set down, they left their seats, and came near him,

to have a full view of his face; and almost all of them, as they

returned to their seats, found themselves moved with tender

passion.

The disparity between Bedreddin and the hump-backed groom, who

made such a horrible figure, occasioned a great murmuring among

the company, insomuch that the ladies cried out, We must give our

bride to this handsome young gentleman, and not to this ugly

hump-back. Nor did they rest here, but uttered imprecations

against the sultan, who, abusing his absolute power, would unite

ugliness and beauty together. They also upbraided the bridegroom,

and put him quite out of countenance, to the great satisfaction

of the spectators, whose shouts for some time put a stop to the

concert of music in the hall. At last the musicians began again,

and the women who had dressed the bride came round her. Each time

she changed her habit, she rose up from her seat, followed by her

bride-women, and passed by Hump-back without giving him one look;

but went towards Bedreddin, before whom she presented herself in

her new attire. On this occasion Bedreddin, according to the

instructions given him by the genius, failed not to put his hand

in his purse, and pulled out handfuls of sequins, which he

distributed among the women that followed the bride; nor did he

forget the players and dancers, but also threw money to them.

They showed themselves very thankful, and made signs that the

young bride should be for him, and not for the hump-back fellow.

The women who attended her told her the same thing, and did not

care whether the groom heard them or not; for they put a thousand

tricks upon him, which very much pleased the spectators.

The ceremony of changing habits being over, the musicians ceased

and went away, but made a sign to Bedreddin Hassan to stay

behind. The ladies did the same, and went all home, except those

belonging to the house. The bride went into a closet, whither her

women followed to undress her, and none remained in the hall but

the hump-back groom, Bedreddin, and some of the domestics.

Hump-back, who was furiously mad at Bedreddin, suspecting him to

be his rival, gave him a cross look, and said, And thou, what

dost thou wait for? Why art thou not gone as well as the rest?

Begone. Bedreddin, having no pretence to stay, withdrew, not

knowing what to do with himself. But he had not got out of the

porch, when the genius and the fairy met and stopped him. Whither

art thou going? said the fairy; stay, for Hump-back is not in the

hall, but has gone out about some business; you have nothing to

do but to return, and introduce yourself into the bride's

chamber: As soon as you are alone with her, tell her boldly that

you are her husband; that the sultan's intention was only to make

sport with the groom; and, to make this pretended bridegroom some

amends, you had caused to be prepared for him, in the stable, a

good dish of cream: Then tell her all the fine things you can

think of to persuade her, for, with your handsomeness, little

persuasion will do, and she will think herself happy in being

deceived so agreeably. In the mean time we shall take care that

Hump-back return not, and let nothing hinder you from passing the

night with your bride, for she is yours.

While the fairy thus encouraged Bedreddin, and instructed him how

he should behave himself, Hump-back was really gone out of the

room; for the genius went to him in the shape of a great cat,

miauling at a most fearful rate: The fellow called to the cat,

and clapped his hands to make her flee; but, instead of that, the

cat stood upon her hind feet, staring with her eyes like fire,

looking fiercely at him, miauling louder than she did at first,

and growing bigger, till she was as large as an ass. At this

sight Hump-back would have cried out for help, but his fear was

so great that he stood gaping, and could not utter one word. That

he might have no time, however, to recover, the genius changed

himself immediately into a large buffalo, and in this shape

called to him with a voice that redoubled his fear, Thou

hump-backed villain! At these words the affrighted groom cast

himself on the ground, and covering his face with his gown, that

he might not see this dreadful beast, Sovereign prince of

buffaloes, said he, what is it you want with me? Woe be to thee,

replies the genius, hast thou the boldness to venture to marry my

mistress? O my lord, said Hump-back, I pray you to pardon me; if

I am guilty, it, is through ignorance; I did not know that this

lady had a buffalo for her sweetheart: Command me in any thing

you please; I give you my oath that I am ready to obey you. By

death, replied the genius, if thou goest out from hence, or

speakest a word till the sun rises, I will crush thy head to

pieces; but then I give thee leave to go from hence: I warn thee

to hasten, and not to look back; but if thou hast the impudence

to return, it shall cost thee thy life. When the genius had done

speaking, he transformed himself into the shape of a man, took

Hump-back by the legs, and after having set him against the wall,

with his head downwards, If thou stir, said he, before the sun

rises, as I have told thee already, I will take thee by the heels

again, and dash thy head in a thousand pieces against the wall.

To return to Bedreddin: Being prompted by the genius and the

presence of the fairy, he got into the hall again, from whence he

slipped into the bride-chamber, where he sat down expecting the

success of his adventure. After a while the bride arrived,

conducted by an old matron, who came no further than the door,

exhorting the bridegroom to do his duty like a man, without

looking to see if it was Hump-back or another; she then locked

the door, and retired. The young bride was mightily surprised,

instead of Hump-back to find Bedreddin Hassan, who came up to her

with the best grace in the world. What! my dear friend, said she,

by your being here at this time of night, you must be my

husband's comrade? No, madam, said Bedreddin, I am of another

sort of quality than that ugly hump-back. But, said she, you do

not consider that you speak degradingly of my husband. He your

husband, madam? replied he; can you retain these thoughts so

long? Be convinced of your mistake, madam, for so much beauty

must never be sacrificed to the most contemptible of mankind: It

is I, madam, that am the happy mortal for whom it is reserved.

The sultan had a mind to make himself merry by putting this trick

upon the vizier your father, but he chose me to be your real

husband. You might have observed how the ladies, the musicians,

the dancers, your women, and all the servants of your family,

were pleased with this comedy. I have sent that hump-back fellow

to his stable again, where he is just now eating a dish of cream;

and you may rest assured that he will never appear any more

before you.

At this discourse, the vizier's daughter, who was more like one

dead than alive when she came into the bride-chamber, put on a

gay air, which made her so handsome that Bedreddin was perfectly

charmed with her. I did not expect, said she, to meet with so

pleasing a surprise, and had condemned myself to live unhappy all

my days; but my good fortune is so much the greater, as I possess

in you a man that is worthy of my tenderest affection. Having

spoken thus, she undressed herself, and stepped into bed.

Bedreddin, overjoyed to see himself possessor of so many charms,

made haste to follow her, and laid his clothes upon a chair, with

a bag that he got from the Jew, which, notwithstanding all the

money he pulled out, was still full. He likewise threw off his

turban, and put on a night-cap that had been ordered for

Hump-back, and so went to bed in his shirt and drawers[Footnote:

All the eastern nations lie in their drawers; but this

circumstance will serve Bedreddin in the sequel.]; the latter

were of blue satin, tied with a lace of gold. Whilst the two

lovers were asleep, the genius, who had met again with the fairy,

says to him, That it was high time to finish what was begun, and

hitherto so successfully carried on; then let us not be overtaken

by day-light, which will soon appear; go you, and bring off the

young man again without awaking him. The fairy went into the

bed-chamber where the two lovers were fast asleep, and took up

Bedreddin just as he was, that is to say, in his shirt and

drawers, and, in company with the genius, with a wonderful

swiftness flew away with him to the gates of Damascus in Syria,

where they arrived when the officer of the mosques, appointed for

that end, was calling the people to come to prayers at break of

day. The fairy laid Bedreddin softly on the ground, and, leaving

him close by the gate, departed with the genius. The gate of the

city being opened, and a great many people assembled to get out,

they were mightily surprised to see Bedreddin lying in his shirt

and drawers upon the ground. One said, He has been so hard put to

it to get away from his mistress, that he had not time to put on

his clothes. Look ye, says another, how people expose themselves;

sure enough he has spent the most part of the night in drinking

with his friends, till he has got drunk, and then perhaps, having

occasion to go out, instead of returning, is come this length,

and, not having his senses about him, was overtaken with sleep.

Others were of different opinions; but nobody could guess the

occasion of his being there. A small puff of wind happening to

blow at the time, uncovered his breast, which was whiter than

snow. Every one, being struck with admiration at the fineness of

his complexion, spoke so loud as to awake him. His surprise was

as great as theirs, when he found himself at the gate of a city

where he had never been before, and encompassed by a crowd of

people gazing at him. Gentlemen, said he, for God's sake tell me

where I am, and what you would have of me. One of the crowd said

to him, Young man, the gates of the city were just now opened,

and, as we came out, we found you lying here in this condition,

and stood to look on you: Have you lain here all night? and do

you not know that you are at one of the gates of Damascus? At one

of the gates of Damascus! answered Bedreddin; sure you mock me:

When I lay down to sleep last night, I was at Cairo. When he said

these words, some of the people, moved with compassion for him,

said, It is a pity such a handsome young man should have lost his

senses; and so went away. My son, says an old gentleman to him,

you know not what you say: How is it possible that you, being

this morning at Damascus, could be last night at Cairo? It is

true for all that, said Bedreddin; for I swear to you that I was

all yesterday at Balsora. He had no sooner said these words, than

all the people fell into a fit of laughter, and cried out, He is

a fool, he is a madman. There were some, however, who pitied him

because of his youth; and one among the company said to him, My

son, you must certainly be crazed; you do not consider what you

say; how is it possible that a man could yesterday be at Balsora,

the same night at Cairo, and next morning at Damascus? Sure you

are asleep still; come, rouse up your spirits. What I say,

answered Bedreddin, is so true, that last night I was married in

the city of Cairo. All those that laughed before could not

forbear laughing again when he said so. Recollect yourself, says

the same person that spoke before; you have dreamed all this, and

that fancy still possesses your brain. I am sensible of what I

say, answered the young man: Pray can you tell me how it was

possible to go in a dream to Cairo, where I am very certain I was

in person, and where my bride was seven times brought before me,

each time dressed in a different habit, and where I saw an ugly

hump-backed fellow to whom they intended to give her? Besides, I

want to know what is become of my gown, my turban, and the bag of

sequins I had at Cairo. Though he assured them that all these

things were matters of fact, yet they could not forbear laughing

at him, which put him into such confusion that he knew not well

what to think.

After Bedreddin had confidently affirmed all that he said to be

true, he rose up to go into the town, and every one that followed

him called out, A madman, a fool. Upon this, some looked out at

their windows, some came to their doors, and others joined with

those that were about him, calling out as they did, but not

knowing for what. In this perplexity Bedreddin happened to reach

a pastry-cook's shop, and went into it to avoid the rabble. This

pastry-cook had formerly been captain of a troop of Arabian

robbers who plundered the caravans; and though he was become a

citizen of Damascus, where he behaved himself with decorum, yet

he was dreaded by all those who knew him; wherefore, as soon as

he came out to the rabble that followed Bedreddin, they

dispersed. The pastry-cook, seeing them all gone, asked him what

he was, and who brought him hither? Bedredclin told him all, not

even concealing his birth, nor the death of his father the grand

vizier: He afterwards gave him an account why he left Balsora;

how, after he fell asleep the night following upon his father's

tomb, he found himself, when he awaked, at Cairo, where he had

married a lady; and, finally, in what amazement he was when he

found himself at Damascus, without being able to penetrate into

all those wonderful events.

Your history is one of the most surprising (said the

pastry-cook); but, if you follow my advice, you will let no man

know the matters yon have revealed to me, but patiently expect

till Heaven think fit to put an end to your misfortunes: You are

free to stay with me till then; and as I have no children, I will

own you for my son, if you consent to it; and when you are so

adopted, you may freely walk up and down the city, without being

further exposed to the insults of the rabble. Though this

adoption was below the son of a grand vizier, Bedreddin was glad

to accept of the pastry-cook's proposal, judging it the best

thing he could do in his then circumstances. The cook clothed

him, called witnesses, and sent for a notary, before whom he

acknowledged him as his son. After this, Bedreddin staid with him

by the name of Hassan, and learned the pastry trade. Whilst these

things passed at Damascus, Schemseddin Mohammed's daughter

awaked, and, finding Bedreddin out of bed, supposed he had risen

softly from a fear of disturbing her, but that he would soon

return. As she was in expectation of him, her father the vizier,

who was mightily vexed at the affront put upon him by the sultan,

came and knocked at her chamber-door, with a resolution to bewail

her sad destiny. He called her by her name, and she, knowing him

by his voice, immediately got up and opened the door; she kissed

his hand, and received him with so much satisfaction in her

countenance as surprised the vizier, who expected to find her

drowned in tears, and as much grieved, as himself. Unhappy

wretch! said he in a passion, do you appear before me thus? after

the hideous sacrifice you have just consummated, can you see me

with so much satisfaction? The new bride, seeing her father angry

at her pleasant countenance, said to him, For God's sake, sir, do

not reproach me wrongfully: It is not the hump-back fellow, whom

I abhor more than death, it is not that monster I have married;

every body laughed him so to scorn, and put him so out of

countenance, that he was forced to run away and hide himself, to

make room for a charming young gentleman who is my real husband.

What fable do you tell me? said Schemseddin roughly? What! did

not Crook-back lie with you last night? No, sir, said she, it was

that young gentleman who has large eyes and black eye-brows. At

these words the vizier lost all patience, and fell into a

terrible passion. Ah, wicked woman, says he, you will make me

distracted! It is you, father, said she, that puts me out of my

senses by your incredulity. So it is not true, replies the

vizier, that Hump-back--Let us talk no more of Hump-back, said

she; a curse upon Hump-back, must I always have him cast in my

dish? Father, said she, I tell you once more that I did not bed

with him, but with my dear spouse, who, I believe, is not very

far off. Schemseddin immediately went out to seek him; but,

instead of seeing him, was mightily surprised to find Hump-back

with his head on the ground, and his heels uppermost, as the

genius had placed him. What is the meaning of this? said he; who

placed you thus? Crook-back, knowing it to be the vizier,

answered, Alas! alas! it is you then that would marry me to the

mistress of a buffalo, the sweetheart of an ugly genius; I will

not be your fool, you shall not put a trick upon me. Schemseddin,

on hearing Hump-back speak thus, thought he was raving, and bade

him move, and stand upon his legs. I will take care how I do

that, said Hump-back, unless the sun be risen. Know, sir, that

when I came thither last night, on a sudden a black cat appeared

to me, and in an instant grew as big as a buffalo: I have not

forgotten what he said to me; therefore you may go about your

business, and leave me here. The vizier, instead of going away,

took Hump-back by the heels, and made him get up, after which he

ran as fast as he could, without looking behind him, and, coming

to the palace, presented himself to the sultan, who laughed

heartily when he told him how the genius had served him.

Schemseddin returned to his daughter's chamber more astonished

than before. Well then, my abused daughter, said he, can you give

me no further light into this matter? Sir, said she, I can give

you no other account than what I have done already. Here are my

husband's clothes, which he left upon the chair; perhaps you may

find somewhat that may solve your doubt. She then showed him

Bedreddin's turban, which he took and examined carefully on all

sides. I should take this to be a vizier's turban, if it were not

made after the Moussol[Footnote: The town of Moussol is in

Mesopotamia, and built opposite to old Nineveh.] fashion; but,

perceiving somewhat to be sewed between the stuff and the lining,

he called for scissars, and, having unripped it, found the paper

which Noureddin Ali gave Bedreddin his son as he was dying, and

he had put it in his turban for more security. Schemseddin,

having opened the paper, knew his brother Noureddin's hand, and

found this superscription, 'For my son Bedreddin Hassan.' Before

he could make any reflections, his daughter delivered him the bag

that lay under his clothes, which he likewise opened, and found

full of sequins; for, as before mentioned, notwithstanding all

the liberality of Bedreddin, it was still kept full by the genius

and fairy. He read these words upon a note in the bag, 'A

thousand sequins belonging to Isaac the Jew;' and these lines

underneath, which the Jew wrote before he departed from

Bedreddin: ' Delivered to Bedreddin Hassan, for the cargo of the

first of those ships that formerly belonged to Noureddin Ali, his

father, of worthy memory, sold unto me upon its arrival in this

place.' He had scarcely read these words, when he gave a shout,

and fainted. Being recovered, however, by the help of his

daughter, and the woman whom she called to her assistance,

Daughter, said he, do not frighten yourself at this accident, the

reason of which is such as you can scarcely believe: Your

bridegoom is your cousin, the son of Noureddin Ali; the thousand

sequins put me in mind of a quarrel I had with my dear brother;

it is without doubt the dowry he gives you. God be praised for

all things, and particularly for this, miraculous adventure,

which demonstrates his almighty power. Then looking again upon

his brother's writing, he kissed it several times, shedding

abundance of tears. Having looked over the book from one end to

the other, he found the date of his brother's arrival at Balsora,

his marriage, and the birth of Bedreddin Hasaan; and when he

compared the same with the day of his own marriage, and the birth

of his daughter at Cairo, he wondered how every thing so exactly

agreed. This happy discovery put him into such a transport of

joy, that he took up the book, with the ticket of the bag, and

showed it to the sultan, who pardoned what was past, and was so

much pleased with the relation of the adventure, that he caused

it, with all its circumstances, to be put in writing for the use

of posterity.

Meanwhile Schemseddin could not comprehend why his nephew did not

appear; he expected him every moment, and was impatient to have

him in his arms. After he had expected him seven days in vain, he

searched for him through all Cairo, but could hear no news of

him, which perplexed him very much. This is the strangest

adventure, said he, that ever man met with. Not knowing what

alteration might happen, he thought fit to draw up in writing,

with his own hand, after what manner the wedding had been

solemnized; how the hall and his daughter's bed-chamber were

furnished, and other circumstances. He likewise made the turban,

the bag, and the rest of Bedreddin's things, into a bundle, and

locked them up. After some weeks, the vizier's daughter perceived

herself with child, and was delivered of a son at the end of nine

months. A nurse was provided, besides women and slaves; and his

grandfather called him Agib[Footnote: This word, in Arabic,

signifies wonderful.]. When young Agib had attained the age of

seven, the vizier, instead of teaching him to read at home, sent

him to a master who was in great esteem; and two slaves were

ordered to wait upon him. Agib used to play with his

school-fellows, and as they were all inferior to him in quality,

they showed him great respect, according to the example of their

master, who often would excuse faults in him that he would not

pass by in the rest. This complaisance spoiled Agib so, that he

became proud and insolent, would have his play-fellows bear all

from him, and would bear nothing from them, but be master every

where; and if any one took the liberty to thwart him, he would

call them a thousand names, and many times beat them. In short,

all the scholars were weary of his company, and complained of him

to the master, who answered, that they must have patience. But

when he saw that Agib still grew more and more insolent, and

occasioned him a great deal of trouble, Children, said he to his

scholars, I find that Agib is a little insolent gentleman; I will

show you a way how to mortify him, so that he will never torment

you more; nay, I believe it will make him leave the school: When

he comes again to-morrow, and if you have a mind to play

together, set yourselves round him, and do one of you call out,

Come let us play, but upon condition, that he who desires to play

shall tell his own name, and the names of his father and mother;

and they who refuse it shall be esteemed bastards, and not

suffered to play in our company. Next day, accordingly, when they

were gathered together, they failed not to follow their master's

instructions: they placed themselves round Agib, and one of them

called out, Let us begin a play, but on condition, that he who

cannot tell his own name, with that of his father and mother,

shall not play at all. They all cried out, and so did Agib, We

consent to it. Then he that spoke first asked every one the

question, and all fulfilled the condition except Agib, who

answered, My name is Agib, my mother is called the lady of

beauty, and my father Schemseddih Mohammed, vizier to the sultan.

At these words the children cried out, Agib, What do you say?

That is not the name of your father, but of your grandfather. A

curse on you, said he in a passion: What! dare you say that the

vizier Schemseddin is not my father? No, no, cried they, with

great laughter, he is but your grandfather, and you shall not

play with us; nay, we will take care how we come into your

company. Having spoken thus, they left him, scoffing and laughing

among themselves, which mortified Agib so much that he wept. The

schoolmaster, who was near, and heard all that passed, came just

at the nick of time, and speaking to Agib, says, Agib, do not you

know that the vizier Schemseddin is not your father, but your

grandfather, and the father of your mother, the lady of beauty?

We know not the name of your father any more than you do; but

only know that the sultan was going to marry your mother to one

of his grooms, a hump-back fellow, but a genius lay with her.

This is hard upon you, and ought to teach you to treat your

school-fellows with less haughtiness than you have done hitherto.

Little Agib, being nettled at this, ran hastily out of the

school, and went home crying. He came straight to his mother's

chamber, who, being alarmed to see him thus grieved, asked him

the reason. He could not answer for tears, and it was but now and

then he could speak plain enough to repeat what had been the

occasion of his sorrow. Having come to himself, Mother, said he,

for the love of God, be pleased to tell me who is my father. My

son, said she, Schemseddin Mohammed, that every day makes so much

of you, is your father. You do not tell me truth, said he; he is

your father, not mine; but whose son am I? At this question, the

lady of beauty, calling to mind her wedding-night, which had been

succeeded by a long widowhood, began to shed tears, repining

bitterly at the loss of so lovely a husband as Bedreddin. Whilst

she and Agib were weeping, the vizier entered, and demanded the

reason of their sorrow. The lady told him the shame Agib had

undergone at school, which did so much afflict the vizier, that

he joined his tears with theirs; and judging that the misfortune

that had happened to his daughter was the common discourse of the

town, he was quite out of patience. In this state he went to the

sultan's palace, and, falling at his feet, humbly prayed him to

give him leave to make a journey into the provinces of the

Levant, and particularly to Balsora, in search of his nephew

Bedreddin, as he could not bear that the people of the city

should believe a genius had got his daughter with child. The

sultan was much concerned at the vizier's affliction, commended

his resolution, gave him leave to go, and caused a passport also

to be written for him, praying, in the most obliging terms, all

kings and princes, in whose dominions the said Bedreddin might

sojourn, to grant that the vizier might bring him along with him.

Schemseddin, not knowing how to express his thankfulness to the

sultan for this favour, thought it his duty to fall down before

him a second time, and the floods of tears he shed gave

sufficient testimony of his gratitude. At last, having wished the

sultan all manner of prosperity, he took leave, and went home to

his house, where he disposed every thing for his journey, the

preparations for which were carried on with so much diligence,

that in four days he left the city, accompanied by his daughter

and his grandson Agib.

They travelled nineteen days without stopping; but on the

twentieth, arriving in a very pleasant meadow at a small distance

from Damascus, they stopped, and pitched their tents on the banks

of a river that runs through the town, and affords a very

agreeable prospect to its neighbourhood. Schemseddin Mohammed

declared that he would stay in that pleasant place two days, and

pursue his journey on the third. In the mean time he granted

permission to his retinue to go to Damascus; and almost all of

them made use of it--some influenced by curiosity to see a city

of which they had heard much, and others by the opportunity of

vending in it such Egyptian goods as they had brought with them,

or of buying the stuffs and rarities of the country. The

beautiful lady, desirous that her son Agib might share in the

satisfaction of viewing that celebrated city, ordered the black

eunuch, who acted in the quality of his governor, to conduct him

hither, and to take care that he came to no harm. Accordingly

Agib, arrayed in magnificent apparel, went along with the eunuch,

who held a large cane in his hand. They had no sooner entered the

city than Agib, fair and glorious as the day, attracted the eyes

of the people. Some left their houses in order to gain a nearer

view of him, others looked out at their windows, and those who

passed along the streets were not satisfied with stopping to view

him, but kept pace with him to prolong the pleasure of such an

agreeable sight: in fine, every one admired him, and implored a

thousand benedictions on the father and mother who had given

being to so fine a child. By chance the eunuch and he passed by

the shop where Bedreddin Hassan was, and there the crowd was so

great, that they were forced to halt.

The pastry-cook who had adopted Bedreddin, had died some years

before, leaving him his shop and all his estate; and he now

managed the pastry trade so dexterously, that he gained great

reputation in Damascus. Bedreddin, seeing so great a crowd gazing

attentively upon Agib and the black eunuch, stepped out to view

them himself. Having cast his eyes particularly on Agib, he

presently found himself involuntarily moved. He was not struck

like the crowd, with the shining beauty of the boy; a very

different cause, unknown to him, gave rise to his commotion. It

was the force of the blood that worked in this tender father,

who, laying aside all business, made up to Agib, and, with an

engaging air, said to him, My little lord, who hast won my soul,

be so kind as to come into my shop, and eat a bit of such fare as

I have, that I may have the pleasure of admiring you at my ease.

These words he pronounced with such tenderness, that tears

trickled from his eyes. Little Agib himself was greatly moved;

and, turning to the eunuch, said, This honest man's face pleases

me much; he speaks in such an affectionate manner, that I cannot

avoid complying with his desire; let us step into his house, and

taste his pastry. Ah, by my troth! replied the slave, it would be

a fine thing to see the son of a vizier go into a pastry shop to

eat; do not you imagine that I will suffer any such thing. Alas,

my little lord, cried Bedreddin, it is an injustice to trust your

conduct in the hands of a person who treats you so harshly. Then

applying himself to the eunuch, My good friend, continued he,

pray do not himder this young lord to grant me the favour I ask;

do not put that piece of mortification on me; rather do me the

honour to walk in along with him; and, by so doing, you will give

the world to know, that, though your outside is brown like a

chesnut, your inside is as white as his. Do you know, continued

he, that I am master of the secret to make you white, instead of

being black as you are? This set the eunuch a laughing, and then

he asked Bedreddin what that secret was. I will tell you, replied

Bedreddin, repeating some verses in praise of black eunuchs,

implying, that by their ministry the honour of princes, and of

all great men, was insured. The eunuch was so charmed with the

verses, that, without further hesitation, he suffered Agib to go

into the shop, and also went in himself. Bedreddin was overjoyed

at having obtained what he had so passionately desired; and

falling about the work he had discontinued, I was making, said

he, cream-tarts, and you must, with submission, eat of them, I am

persuaded you will find them very good; for my own mother, who

makes them incomparably well, taught me; and people send to buy

them of me from all quarters of the town. This said, he took a

cream-tart out of the oven, and, after strewing on it some

pomegranate kernels and sugar, set it before Agib, who pronounced

it very delicious. Another was served up to the eunuch, who gave

the same judgment. While they were both eating, Bedreddin

regarded Agib very attentively; and, after looking on him again

and again, it occurred to him that, for any thing he knew, he

might have such a son by his charming wife, from whom he had been

so soon and so cruelly separated; and the very thoughts drew

tears from his eyes. He also intended to put some questions to

little Agib about his journey to Damascus; but the child had no

time to gratify his curiosity; for the eunuch, pressing him to

return to his grandfather's tent, took him away as soon as he had

done eating. Bedreddin, however, not contented with looking after

him, shut up his shop immediately, and followed him. The eunuch,

perceiving that he followed them, was extremely surprised: You

impertinent fellow, said he, with an angry tone, what do you

want? My dear friend, replied Bedreddin, do not trouble yourself;

I have a little business out of town that is just come into my

head, and I must needs go and look after it. This answer,

however, did not at all appease the eunuch, who, turning to Agib,

said, This is all owing to you; I foresaw that I should repent of

my complaisance; you would needs go into the man's shop; it was

not wise in me to give you leave. Perhaps, replied Agib, he has

real business out of town, and the road is free to every body.

While this conversation passed, they kept walking together,

without looking behind them, till they came near the vizier's

tents, when they turned about to see if Bedreddin followed them.

Agib, perceiving he was within two paces of him, grew red and

white alternately, according to his different emotions; he was

afraid that the grand vizier his grandfather should come to know

that he had been in the pastry-shop, and had eaten there. In this

dread he took up a pretty large stone that lay at his foot, and

throwing it at Bedreddin, hit him on the forehead, which gave him

such a wound, that his face was covered with blood; he then took

to his heels, and ran under the eunuch's tent. The eunuch gave

Bedreddin to understand that he had no reason to complain of a

mischance which he had merited and brought upon himself.

Bedreddin turned towards the city, staunching the blood with his

apron, which he had not put off. I was a fool, said he within

himself, for leaving my house, to take so much pains about this

brat; for doubtless he would never have used me after this

manner, if he had not thought I had some fatal design against

him; When he got home, he had his wound dressed, and softened the

sense of his mischance by the reflection that there was an

infinite number of people yet more unfortunate than himself.

Bedreddin kept on the pastry trade at Damascus, whence his uncle

Sehemseddin departed three days after his arrival; he went by the

way of Emaus, Hanah, and Halep; then crossed the Euphrates; and,

after passing through Mardin, Moussoul, Singier, Diarbeker, and

several other towns, arrived at last at Balsora; and, immediately

after his arrival, desired audience of the sultan, who was no

sooner informed of Schemseddin's quality, than he received him

very favourably, and asked him the occasion of his journey to

Balsora. Sir, replied the vizier Schemseddin, I come to know what

is become of the son of Noureddin Ali, my brother, who has had

the honour to serve your majesty. Noureddin, said the sultan, has

been dead a long while: as to his son, all I can tell you of him

is, that he disappeared very suddenly about two months after his

father's death, and nobody has seen him since, notwithstanding

all the inquiry I ordered to be made; but his mother, who is the

daughter of one of my viziers, is still alive. Schemseddin

desired leave of the sultan to see her, and carry her to Egypt;

and having obtained his request, without tarrying till next day

for the satisfaction of seeing her, inquired her place of abode,

and that very hour went to her house, accompanied by his daughter

and grandson.

The widow of Noureddin resided still in the same house where her

husband had lived: it was a very magnificent structure, adorned

with marble pillars; but Schemseddin did not stop to view it. At

his entry, he kissed the gate, and the piece of marble upon which

his brother's name was written in letters of gold. He desired to

speak with his sister-in-law, and was told by the servants that

she was then in a small edifice, in the form of a dome, which

they showed him, in the middle of a very spacious court. This

tender mother used to spend the greater part of the day, as well

as the night, in that room, which she had built in order to

represent the tomb of Bedreddin, whom she supposed to be dead

after so long an absence. At this very instant she was shedding

tears at the thoughts of her dear child; and Schemseddin

entering, found her labouring under that affliction. He paid his

compliments, and, after beseeching her to suspend her tears and

groans, gave her to know that he had the honour to be her

brother-in-law, and acquainted her with the occasion of his

journey from Cairo to Balsora. Schemseddin, after relating all

that had passed at Cairo on his daughter's wedding-night, and the

surprise occasioned by the discovery of the paper sewed up in

Bedreddin's turban, presented to her Agib and the beautiful lady.

The widow of Noureddin Ali, who had still continued sitting like

a woman moped and weaned from the affairs of this world, no

sooner understood by his discourse that her dear son, whom she

lamented so bitterly, might still be alive, than she rose, and

repeatedly embraced the beautiful lady and her grandchild Agib;

and perceiving in the youth the features of Bedreddin, she shed

tears very different from those to which she had been so long

accustomed. She could not forbear kissing the youth, who, on his

part, received her embraces with all the demonstrations of joy he

was capable of. Madam, said Schemseddin, it is time to wipe away

your tears, and cease your groans; you must now think of

accompanying us to Egypt. The sultan of Balsora has given me

leave to carry you thither, and I doubt not that you will agree

to it. I am hopeful that we shall at last find out your son, my

nephew; and if that should come to pass, the history of him, of

you, of my own daughter, and of my own adventures, will deserve

to be committed to writing, and to be transmitted to posterity.

The widow of Noureddin Ali heard this proposal with pleasure, and

from that very minute ordered preparations to be made for her

departure. In the mean time Schemseddin desired a second

audience; and, after taking leave of the sultan, who received him

with ample marks of respect, giving him a considerable present

for himself, and another of great value for the sultan of Egypt,

he set out from Balsora for the city of Damascus. When he arrived

in its neighbourhood, he ordered his tents to be pitched without

the gate at which he designed to enter the city, and gave out

that he would tarry there three days in order to give his

equipage rest, and buy up the best curiosities he could meet

with, in order to present them to the sultan of Egypt. While he

was thus employed in choosing the finest of the stuffs which the

principal merchants had brought to his tents, Agib begged the

black eunuch, his governor, to carry him through the city, in

order to see what he had not leisure to view as he passed before,

and to know what was become of the pastry-cook whom he had

wounded with a stone. The eunuch, complying with his request,

went with him towards the city, after leave obtained from his

mother. They entered Damascus by the paradise-gate, which lay

next to the tents of the vizier Schemseddin. They walked through

the great squares and public places where the richest goods were

sold, and viewed the ancient mosque of the Ommidae[Footnote: That

is, of caliphs who reigned after the four first successors of

Mahomet, and were so called from one of their ancestors whose

name was Ommiam.], at the hour of prayer, between noon and

sunset[Footnote: This prayer is always repeated two hours and a

half before sunset.]. After that they passed the shop of

Bedreddin, whom they found still employed in making cream-tarts:

I salute you, sir, said Agib. Do you know me? Do you remember

ever seeing me before? Bedreddin, hearing these words, cast his

eyes on him, and knowing him, (oh, the surprising effect of

paternal love!) found the same emotions which he had experienced

when he first saw him; he seemed much confused; and, instead of

making an answer, continued a long time without uttering one

word. But at last, recollecting himself, My little lord, said he,

be so kind as to come once more with your governor into my house,

and taste a cream-tart. I beg your lordship's pardon for my

imprudence in following you out of town; I was at that time not

myself, and scarcely knew what I did. You dragged me after you,

and the violence of the pull was so soft, that I could not

withstand it. Agib, astonished at what Bedreddin said, replied

thus: There is an excess in the kindness you express; and unless

you engage, on oath, not to follow me when I go from hence, I

will not enter your house. If you give me your promise, and prove

a man of your word, I will visit you again to-morrow, as the

vizier my grand-father is still employed in buying up things for

a present to the sultan of Egypt. My little lord, replied

Bedreddin, I will do whatever you desire me. Accordingly Agib and

the eunuch went into the shop. Bedreddin set before them a

cream-tart, fully as good as what they had eaten of when they saw

him before. Come, said Agib, addressing himself to Bedreddin, sit

down by me, and eat with us. Bedreddin sat down, and offered to

embrace Agib, as a testimony of the joy he conceived on his

sitting by him; but Agib, shoving him away, desired him to be

easy, not to run his friendship too close, and to content bimself

with seeing and entertaining him. Bedreddin obeyed, and began to

sing a song, the words of which he had composed extempore in

praise of Agib: he did not eat himself, but busied himself in

serving his guests. When they had done eating, he brought them

water to wash with[Footnote: The Mahometans having a custom of

washing their hands five times a day when they go to prayers,

they reckon that they have no occasion to wash before eating, but

always after it, because they eat without forks.], and a white

napkin to wipe their hands: he then filled a large china cup with

sherbet, and put snow into it[Footnote: This is done all over the

Levant, for the purpose of cooling liquor.]; and offering it to

Agib, This, said he, is sherbet of roses, and the pleasantest you

will meet with in all Damascus; I am sure you never tasted

better. Agib, having drunk of it with pleasure, Bedreddin Hassan

took the cup from him, and presented it to the eunuch, who drank

the contents at one pull. In short, Agib and his governor having

fared sumptuously, returned thanks to the pastry-cook for their

good entertainment, and proceeded homewards, it being then pretty

late. Whew they arrived at the tents of Schemseddin, Agib's

grandmother received him with transports of joy: her son

Bedreddin ran always in her mind; and, in embracing Agib, the

remembrance of him drew tears from her eyes. Ah, my child! said

she, my joy would be complete, had I the pleasure of embracing

your father Bedreddin Hassan as I now embrace you! Then sitting

down to supper, she made Agib sit by her, and put several

questions to him relating to the walk he had been taking along

with the eunuch; and, complaining of his want of appetite, gave

him a piece of a cream-tart that she had made herself, and was

indeed very good; for I told you before that she could make them

better than the best pastry-cooks. She likewise gave part of it

to the eunuch; but they had eaten so heartily at Bedreddin's

house, that they could not taste it.

Agib no sooner touched the piece of cream-tart that had been set

before him, than he pretended that he did not like it, and left

it uncut. Schaban[Footnote: The Mahometans give this name

generally to their black eunuchs.] (for such was the eunuch's

name) did the same. The widow of Noureddin Ali observed, with

regret, that her grandson did not like the tart. What! said she,

does my child thus despise the work of my hands? Be it known to

you, that not one in the world can make such cream-tarts, except

myself and your father Bedreddin, whom I myself taught. My good

mother, replied Agib, give me leave to tell you, that if you do

not know how to make them better, there is a pastry-cook in this

town who exceeds you. We were but just now at his shop, and ate

of one that was much better than yours. The grandmother, frowning

on the eunuch, said, How now, Schaban? was the care of my

grandchild committed to you to carry him to eat at pastry-shops

like a beggar? Madam, replied the eunuch, it is true we did stop

a little while, and talked with the pastry-cook, but we did not

eat with him. Pardon me, said Agib; we went into his shop, and

there ate a cream-tart. Upon this, the lady, more incensed

against the eunuch than before, rose in a passion from the table,

and running to the tent of Schemseddin, informed him of the

eunuch's crime, and that in such terms as tended more to inflame

the vizier than to dispose him to excuse it. Schemseddin, who was

naturally passionate, did not fail on this occasion to display

his anger. He went forthwith to his sister-in-law's tent; and,

making up to the eunuch, What! said he, you pitiful wretch, have

you the impudence to abuse the trust I repose in you? Schaban,

though sufficiently convicted by Agib's testimony, still denied

the fact. But the child persisted in what he had already

affirmed: Grandfather, said he, I can assure you that we did not

only eat, but that both of us so much satisfied our appetites,

that we have no occasion for supper; besides, the pastry-cook

treated us with a large bowl of sherbet. Well, cried Schemseddin,

turning to Schaban, after all this, will you continue to deny

that you entered the pastry-cook's house, and ate there? Schaban

had still the impudence to swear that it was not true. Then you

are a liar! said the vizier; I will believe my grandchild rather

than you; but, after all, if you can eat up this cream-tart on

the table, I shall be persuaded that you have truth on your side.

Though Schaban had crammed himself immoderately before, yet he

agreed to stand the test, and accordingly took a piece of the

tart; but his stomach rising against it, he was obliged to spit

it out of his mouth: he still, however, pursued the lie,

pretending he had over-eaten himself the day before, so that his

stomach was cloyed. The vizier, irritated by the eunuch's

frivolous pretences, and convinced of his guilt, ordered him to

lie flat upon the ground, and to be soundly bastinadoed. In

undergoing this punishment, the poor wretch shrieked out

prodigiously, and at last confessed the truth: I own, cried he,

that we did eat a cream-tart at the pastry-cook's, and that it

was much better than that upon the table. The widow of Noureddin

thought it was out of spite to her, and with a design to mortify

her, that Schaban commended the pastry-cook's tart; and

accordingly said, I cannot believe the cook's tarts are better

than mine, and am resolved to satisfy myself upon that head.

Where does he live? Go immediately, and buy me one of his tarts.

The eunuch having received of her the money necessary for the

purchase, repaired to Bedreddin's shop, and, addressing him, Good

Mr. Pastry-cook, said he, take this money, and let me have one of

your cream-tarts; one of our ladies wants to taste them.

Bedreddin chose one of the best, and gave it to the eunuch. Take

this, said he, I will engage it is an excellent one, and can

assure you that nobody is able to make the like unless it be my

mother, who perhaps still lives. Schaban returned speedily to the

tents, and gave the tart to Noureddin's widow, who snatched it

eagerly, and broke off a piece; but had no sooner put it to her

mouth, than she screamed and swooned away, Schemseddin, being

present, was extremely surprised at the accident, threw water

upon her face himself, and was very active in succouring her. As

soon as she recovered, My God! cried she, it must certainly be my

son, my dear Bedreddin, who made this tart!

When the vizier Schemseddin heard his sister-in-law say that the

maker of the tart brought by the eunuch must without doubt be

Bedreddin, he was overjoyed; but reflecting that his joy might

prove groundless, and in all likelihood the conjecture of

Noureddin's widow be false, Madam, said he, why are you of that

mind? Do you think there may not be a pastry-cook in the world

who knows how to make cream-tarts as well as your son? I own,

replied she, there may be pastry-cooks who can make as good

tarts; but as I make them after a peculiar manner, and nobody but

my son is let into the secret, it must absolutely be he who made

this. Come, my brother, added she in transport, let us call up

mirth and joy; we have at last found what we have been so long

looking for! Madam, said the vizier, I entreat you to moderate

your impatience, for we shall quickly know the truth. All we have

to do, is to bring the pastry-cook hither, and then you and my

daughter will readily distinguish whether it is Bedreddin or not;

but you must both be hidden, so as to have a view of him without

his seeing you; for my design is to delay the discovery till we

return to Cairo, where I propose to regale you with very

agreeable diversion. He then left the ladies in their tent, and

retired to his own, where he called for fifty of his men, and

said to them, Take each of you a stick in your hands, and follow

Schaban, who will conduct you to a pastry-cook's in the city.

When you arrive there, break and dash in pieces all you find in

the shop; if he asks you why you commit such disorder, only ask

him again if it was not he who made the cream-tart that was

brought from his house. If he owns himself the man, seine his

person, fetter him, and bring him along with you; but take care

you do not beat him, nor do him the least harm. Go, and lose no

time.

The vizier's orders were immediately executed. The detachment,

conducted by the black eunuch, went with expedition to

Bedreddin's house, and broke in pieces the plates, kettles,

copper-pans, tables, and all the other moveables and utensils

they met with, and drowned the sherbet-shop with creams and

comfits. Bedreddin, astonished at the sight, said, with a pitiful

tone, Pray, good people, why do you serve me so? What is the

matter? What have I done? Was it not you, said they, who sold

this eunuch the cream-tart? Yes, replied he, I am the man, and

who says any thing against it? I defy any one to make a better.

Instead of giving him an answer, they continued to break all

round them; even the oven was not spared. The neighbours in the

mean time took the alarm; and, surprised to see fifty armed men

commit such a disorder, asked the reason of such violence.

Bedreddin said once more to the actors of it. Pray, tell me what

crime I am guilty of, to have deserved this usage? Was it not

you, replied they, who made the cream-tart you sold to the

eunuch? Yes, it was I, replied he; I maintain it is a good one,

and I do not deserve the usage you give me. However, without

listening to him, they seized his person, and snatching the cloth

off his turban, tied his hands with it behind his back; then

dragging him by force out of his shop, they marched off with him.

The mob gathering, and taking compassion on Bedreddin, took his

part, and offered opposition to Schemseddin's men; but that very

minute up came some officers from the governor of the city, who

dispersed the people, and favoured the carrying off of Bedreddin;

for Schemseddin had in the mean time gone to the governor's house

to acquaint him with the order he had given, and to demand the

interposition of force to favour the execution. The governor, who

commanded all Syria in the name of the sultan of Egypt, was loath

to refuse any thing to his master's vizier; so that Bedreddin was

carried off, notwithstanding his cries and tears. It was needless

for him to ask, by the way, those who forced him off, what fault

had been found with his cream-tart, as they gave him no answer.

In short, they carried him to the tents, and detained him till

Schemseddin returned from the governor of Damascus's house.

Upon the vizier's return, Bedreddin Hassan was brought before

him: My lord, said Bedreddin, with tears in his eyes, pray do me

the favour to let me know wherein I have displeased you. Why, you

wretch! said the vizier, was it not you who made the cream-tart

you sent me? I own I am the man, replied Bedreddin; but pray what

crime is that? I will punish you according to your deserts, said

Schemseddin: it shall cost you your life for sending me such a

sorry tart. Good God, cried Bedreddin, what news is this? Is it a

capital crime to make a bad creamtart? Yes, said the vizier, and

you are to expect no mercy from me. While this interview lasted,

the ladies, who were hid, observed Bedreddin narrowly, and

readily knew him, though he had been so long absent. They were so

transported with joy, that they swooned away, and, when they

recovered, would fain have run and fallen upon Bedreddin's neck;

but the promise they had made to the vizier, not to discover

themselves, restrained the tender emotions of love and nature.

Schemseddin, having resolved to set out that very night, ordered

the tents to be struck, and the necessary preparations to be made

for his journey. As for Bedreddin, he ordered him to be put into

a chest or box well locked, and laid on a camel. When every thing

was got ready, the vizier and his retinue began their march, and

travelled all that night and the next day without stopping. In

the evening they halted, when Bedreddin was taken out of his cage

in order to be served with necessary refreshments, but still

carefully kept at a distance from his mother and wife; and,

during the whole expedition, which lasted twenty days, he was

served in the same manner. When they arrived at Cairo, and had

encamped in the neighbourhood of that place, Schemaeddin called

for Bedreddin, gave orders in his presence to a carpenter to get

some wood with all expedition, and make a stake. Heyday! said

Bedreddin, what do you mean to do with a stake? Why, to nail you

to it, replies Schemseddin; then to have you carried through all

the quarters of the town, that the people may have the spectacle

of a worthless pastry-cook who makes cream-tarts without pepper!

Bedreddin cried out so comically, that Schemseddin could hardly

keep his countenance: Good God, cried he, must I suffer a death,

as cruel as ignominious, for not putting pepper in a cream-tart?

Must I be rifled, and have all the godds in my house broken in

pieces, imprisoned in a chest, and at last nailed to a stake? and

all for not putting pepper in a cream-tart! Good God! who ever

heard of such a thing? Are these the actions of Mussulmen, of

persons who make professions of probity and justice, and practise

all manner of good works? With these words he shed tears; and

then renewing his complaint, No, continued he, never was man used

so unjustly, nor so severely. Is it possible they should be

capable of taking a man's life for not putting pepper in a

cream-tart? Cursed be all cream-tarts, as well as the hour in

which I was born! Would to God I had died that minute!

The disconsolate Bedreddin did not cease to pour forth his

lamentations; and when the stake was brought, and the nails to

nail him to it, he cried out bitterly at the horrid sight.

Heaven! said he, canst thou suffer me to die an ignominious and

painful death? And for what crime? Not for robbery or murder, or

renouncing my religion, but for not putting pepper in a cream-

tart!

Night being pretty far advanced, the vizier ordered Bedreddin to

be put up again in his cage, saying to him, Stay here till

to-morrow; the day shall not be spent before I give orders for

your death. The chest or cage was then carried away, and laid

upon the camel that had brought it from Damascus; at the same

time all the other camels were loaded again, and the vizier,

mounting his horse, ordered the camel that carried his nephew to

march before him, thus entering the city, with all his equipage

following. After passing through several streets, where nobody

appeared, every one being in bed, he arrived at his house, where

he ordered the chest to be taken down, but not to be opened till

further orders. While his retinue were unloading the other

camels, the vizier took Bedreddin's mother and his daughter

aside; and, addressing himself to the latter, said, God be

praised, my child, for this happy occasion of meeting your cousin

and your husband. You surely remember in what order your chamber

was on your wedding night; put every thing in the very same

situation; and, in the mean time, if your memory do not serve

you, I can supply you by a written account which I caused to be

taken upon that occasion; and leave the rest to me.

The beautiful lady went joyfully about the orders of her father,

who at the same time began to put things in the hall in the same

order they were in when Bedreddin was there with the sultan of

Egypt's hunch-backed groom. As he went over his manuscript, his

domestics placed every moveable accordingly. The throne was not

forgotten, nor the lighted wax-candles. When every thing was put

to rights in the hall, the vizier went into his daughter's

chamber, and put Bedreddin's clothes, with the purse of sequins,

in their proper place. This done, he said to the beautiful lady,

Undress yourself, my child, and go to bed. As soon as Bedreddin

enters the room, complain of his being from you so long, and tell

him, that when you awaked, you were astonished you did not find

him by you. Press him to come to bed again; and to-morrow morning

you will divert your mother-in-law and me by telling us what has

passed between you and him. The vizier went from his daughter's

apartment, and left her to undress and go to bed.

Schemseddin ordered all his domestics to leave the hall, except

two or three, whom he ordered to remain. These he commanded to go

and take Bedreddin out of the chest, to strip him to his shirt

and drawers, conduct him in that condition to the hall, leave him

there all alone, and shut the door upon him. Bedreddin, though

overwhelmed with grief, had been asleep all the while; insomuch

that the vizier's domestics had taken him put of the chest, and

stripped him, before he awaked, and carried him so suddenly into

the hall, that they did not give him time to bethink himself

where he was. When he found himself alone in the hall, he looked

round, and the objects of his sight recalling to his memory the

circumstances of his marriage, he perceived with astonishment

that it was the same hall where he had seen the sultan's groom of

the stables. His surprise was still greater, when, approaching

softly to the door of a chamber which he found open, he espied

his clothes in the very place where he remembered to have left

them on his wedding-night. My God! said he, rubbing his eyes, am

I asleep or awake?

His wife, who in the mean time was diverting herself with his

astonishment, suddenly opened the curtains of her bed; and,

bending her head forward, My dear lord, said she, with a tender

air, what do you there? Pr'ythee come to bed again; you have been

out of it a long time. I was strangely surprised, when I awaked,

at not finding you by me. Bedreddin's countenance changed when he

perceived that the lady who spoke to him was the charming person

he had lain with before; he therefore entered the room; but,

calling to mind all that had passed for an interval of ten years,

and not being able to persuade himself that it could have

happened in one night, he went to the place where his clothes and

the purse of sequins lay, and, after examining them very

carefully, By Heaven, cried he, these are things that I can by no

means comprehend! The lady, who enjoyed his confusion, said, Once

more, I pray you, my lord, come to bed again; why do you stand?

He then stepped towards the bed, and said to her, Pray, madam,

tell me, is it long since I left you? The question, answered she,

surprises me. Did you not rise from me but now? Your thoughts are

surely very busy. Madam, replied Bedreddin, I do assure you that

my thoughts are not very easy. I remember, indeed, to have been

with you; but I remember, at the same time, that I have since

lived ten years at Damascus. Now, if I was actually in bed with

you this night, I cannot have been from you so long; these two

things are inconsistent. Pray tell me what to think; whether my

marriage with you be an illusion, or whether my absence from you

be only a dream, Yes, my lord, cried she; doubtless you were

light-headed when you thought you were at Damascus. Upon this

Bedreddin laughed heartily, and said, What a comical fancy is

this! I assure you, madam, this dream of mine will be very

pleasant to you. Do but imagine, if you please, that I was at the

gate of Damascus in my shirt and drawers, as I am here now; that

I entered the town with the halloo of a mob who followed and

insulted me; that I fled into a pastry-cook's, who adopted me,

taught me his trade, and left me all he had when he died; and

that after his death I kept a shop. In fine, madam, I had a great

number of other adventures too tedious to recount; and all I can

say is, that it was not amiss that I awaked, for they were going

to nail me to a stake. Oh, Lord, and for what (cried the lady,

feigning astonishment) would they have used you so cruelly? You

must certainly have committed some enormous crime. Not in the

least, replied Bedreddin; it was nothing in the world but a mere

trifle, the most ridiculous thing you can think of. All the crime

I was charged with, was selling a cream-tart that had no pepper

in it. As for that matter, said the beautiful lady, laughing

heartily, I must say they did you great injustice. Ah, madam,

replied he, that was not all; for this cursed cream-tart was

every thing in my shop broken to pieces, and myself bound,

fettered, and flung into a chest, where I lay so close, that

methinks I am there still. In fine, a carpenter was sent for, and

he was ordered to get ready a stake for me; but, thanks be to

God, all these things are no more than a dream.

Bedreddin was not easy all night; he awaked from time to time,

and put the question to himself, whether he dreamed or was awake.

He distrusted his felicity; and to ascertain whether it was real

or not, opened the curtains, and looked round the room. I am not

mistaken, said he; this is the same chamber which I entered,

instead of the hunch-backed groom of the stables, and am now in

bed with the fair lady who was designed for him. Day-light, which

then appeared, had not yet dispelled his uneasiness, when the

vizier Schemseddin, his uncle, knocked at the door, and went to

bid him good-morrow.

Bedreddin was extremely surprised to see, on a sudden, a man whom

he knew so well, and who now appeared with a quite different air

from that with which he pronounced the terrible sentence of death

against him. Ah! cried Bedreddin, it was you who condemned me so

unjustly to a manner of death the thoughts of which make me

shrink still; and all for a cream-tart without pepper. The vizier

laughed heartily; but, to put him out of suspense, told him how,

by the ministry of a genius, (for Bossu's relation had made him

suspect the adventure) he had been at his house, and had married

his daughter instead of the sultan's groom of the stables; he

then acquainted him that he had discovered him to be his nephew

by a book written by the hand of Noureddin Ali, and, pursuant to

that discovery, had gone from Cairo to Balsora in quest of him.

My dear nephew, added he, with embraces and all the marks of

tenderness, I ask your pardon for all I have made you undergo

since I discovered you: I had a mind to bring you to my house

before I told you your happiness, which ought now to be so much

the dearer to you as it has cost you so much perplexity. To atone

for all your afflictions, comfort yourself with the joy of being

in the company of those who ought to be dearest to you. While you

are dressing yourself, I shall acquaint your mother, who is

beyond measure impatient to see you; and will likewise bring to

you your son, whom you saw at Damascus, and for whom you showed

so much affection without knowing him. No words are sufficient to

express the joy of Bedreddin when he saw his mother and his son.

These three embraced, and showed all the transports which love

and tenderness can inspire. The mother spoke to Bedreddin in the

most moving terms; she mentioned the grief she had felt for his

long absence, and the tears she had shed. Little Agib, instead of

flying his father's embraces as at Damascus, received them with

ail the marks of pleasure; while his father, divided between two

objects so worthy of his love, thought he could not give

sufficient proofs of his affection.

In the mean time Schemseddin went to the palace to give an

account of the happy success of his travels to the sultan, who

was so charmed with the recital, that he ordered it to be taken

down in writing, and to be preserved among the archives of his

kingdom. After Schemseddin's return to his house, having prepared

a noble feast, he sat down at the table with his family, and all

his household passed the day in social conviviality.

The vizier Giafar having made an end of the story of Bedreddin

Hassan, told the Caliph Haroun Alraschid, that this was what he

had to relate to his majesty. The caliph found the story so

surprising, that, without further hesitation, he granted his

slave Rihan's pardon, and to condole the young man for the grief

of having unhappily deprived himself of a woman whom he loved so

tenderly, he married him to one of his slaves, bestowed liberal

gifts upon him, and entertained him until he died.

But, sir, said Scheherazade, observing that day began to appear,

though the story I have how told you be agreeable, I have one

that is even much more so. If your majesty will please to hear it

the next night, I am certain you will be of the same mind.

Schahriar rose without giving any answer, and was in a quandary

what to do. The good sultaness, said he within himself, tells

very long stories; and when once she begins one, there is no

refusing to hear it out. I cannot tell whether I shall put her to

death to-day or not. No, surely not, I will do nothing rashly:

the story she promises is perhaps more diverting than those she

has yet told, and I will not deprive myself of the pleasure of

hearing it. Dinarzade did not fail to awake the sultaness of the

Indies, who thus commenced her story.