questioned anent the coming of the caravan, he replied, “Next year
‘twill come.” At these words the Prince wept sore and fell a-sorrowing
for himself and his Mamelukes; and lamenting his separation from his
mother and father and all which had befallen him in his wanderings. Then
said the Jew, “O young man, do not weep, but sojourn with us till the
caravan shall come, when we will send thee with it to thine own
country.” So he tarried with the Jew two whole months and every day he
went out walking in the streets for his solace and diversion. Now it
chanced one day, whilst he paced about the main thoroughfares, as of
wont, and was bending his steps right and left, he heard a crier crying
aloud and saying, “Who will earn a thousand gold pieces and a slave-girl
of surpassing beauty and loveliness by working for me between morning
and noontide?” But no one answered him and Janshah said in his mind,
“Were not this work dangerous and difficult, he would not offer a
thousand dinars and a fair girl for half a day’s labour.” Then he
accosted the crier and said, “I will do the work;” so the man carried
him to a lofty mansion where they found one who was a Jew and a
merchant, seated on an ebony chair, to whom quoth the crier, standing
respectfully before him, “O merchant, I have cried every day these three
months, and none hath answered, save this young man.” Hearing his speech
the Jew welcomed Janshah, led him into a magnificent sitting-room and
signalled to bring food. So the servants spread the table and set
thereon all manner meats, of which the merchant and Janshah ate, and
washed their hands. Then wine was served up and they drank; after which
the Jew rose and bringing Janshah a purse of a thousand dinars and a
slave-girl of rare beauty, said to him, “Take maid and money to thy
hire.” Janshah took them and seated the girl by his side when the trader
resumed, “To-morrow to the work!”; and so saying he withdrew and Janshah
slept with the damsel that night. As soon as it was morning, the
merchant bade his slaves clothe him in a costly suit of silk whenas he
came out of the Hammam-bath. So they did as he bade them and brought him
back to the house, whereupon the merchant called for harp and lute and
wine and they drank and played and made merry till the half of the night
was past, when the Jew retired to his Harim and Janshah lay with his
slave-girl till the dawn. Then he went to the bath and on his return,
the merchant came to him and said, “Now I wish thee to do the work for
me.” “I hear and obey,” replied Janshah. So the merchant bade his slaves
bring two she-mules and set Janshah on one, mounting the other himself.
Then they rode forth from the city and fared on from morn till noon,
when they made a lofty mountain, to whose height was no limit. Here the
Jew dismounted, ordering Janshah to do the same; and when he obeyed the
merchant gave him a knife and a cord, saying, “I desire that thou
slaughter this mule.” So Janshah tucked up his sleeves and skirts and
going up to the mule, bound her legs with the cord, then threw her and
cut her throat; after which he skinned her and lopped off her head and
legs and she became a mere heap of flesh. Then said the Jew, “Slit open
the mule’s belly and enter it and I will sew it up on thee. There must
thou abide awhile and whatsoever thou seest in her belly, acquaint me
therewith.” So Janshah slit the mule’s belly and crept into it,
whereupon the merchant sewed it up on him and withdrew to a
distance,——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her
permitted say.
Now when it was the Five Hundred and Seventh Night,
She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the merchant sewed
up the mule’s belly on Janshah and, withdrawing to a distance, hid
himself in the skirts of the mountain. After a while a huge bird swooped
down on the dead mule and snatching it up, flew up with it to the top of
the mountain, where it set down the quarry and would have eaten it; but
Janshah, feeling the bird begin to feed, slit the mule’s belly and came
forth. When the bird saw him, it took fright at him and flew right away;
whereupon he stood up and looking right and left, saw nothing but the
carcasses of dead men, mummied by the sun, and exclaimed, “There is no
Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah, the Glorious, the Great!”
Then he looked down the precipice and espied the merchant standing at
the mountain-foot, looking for him. As soon as the Jew caught sight of
him, he called out to him, “Throw me down of the stones which are about
thee, that I may direct thee to a way whereby thou mayst descend.” So
Janshah threw him down some two hundred of the stones, which were all
rubies,[544] chrysolites and other gems of price; after which he called
out to him, saying, “Show me the way down and I will throw thee as many
more.” But the Jew gathered up the stones and, binding them on the back
of the mule, went his way without answering a word and left Janshah
alone on the mountain-top. When the Prince found himself deserted, he
began to weep and implore help of Heaven, and thus he abode three days;
after which he rose and fared on over the mountainous ground two month’s
space, feeding upon hill-herbs; and he ceased not faring till he came to
its skirts and espied afar off a Wady full of fruitful trees and birds
harmonious singing the praises of Allah, the One, the Victorious. At
this sight he joyed with great joy and stayed not his steps till, after
an hour or so, he came to a ravine in the rocks, through which the
rain-torrents fell into the valley. He made his way down the cleft till
he reached the Wady which he had seen from the mountain-top and walked
on therein, gazing right and left, nor ceased so doing until he came in
sight of a great castle, towering high in air. As he drew near the gates
he saw an old man of comely aspect and face shining with light standing
thereat with a staff of carnelian in his hand, and going up to him,
saluted him. The Shaykh returned his salam and bade him welcome, saying,
“Sit down, O my son.” So he sat down at the door of the castle and the
old man said to him, “How camest thou to this land, untrodden by son of
Adam before thee, and whither art thou bound?” When Janshah heard his
words he wept bitterly at the thought of all the hardships he had
suffered and his tears choked his speech. Quoth the Shaykh, “O my son,
leave weeping; for indeed thou makest my heart ache.” So saying, he rose
and set somewhat of food before him and said to him, “Eat.” He ate and
praised Allah Almighty; after which the old man besought him saying, “O
my son, I would have thee tell me thy tale and acquaint me with thine
adventures.” So Janshah related to him all that had befallen him, from
first to last, whereat the Shaykh marvelled with exceeding marvel. Then
said the Prince, “Prithee inform me who is the lord of this valley and
to whom doth this great castle belong?” Answered the old man, “Know, O
my son, this valley and all that is therein and this castle with all it
containeth belong to the lord Solomon, son of David (on both be peace!).
As for me, my name is Shaykh Nasr,[545] King of the Birds; for thou must
know that the lord Solomon committed this castle to my charge,”——And
Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
Now when it was the Five Hundred and Eighth Night,
She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Shaykh Nasr
pursued, “Thou must know that the lord Solomon committed this castle to
my charge and taught me the language of birds and made me ruler over all
the fowls which be in the world; wherefore each and every come hither
once in the twelvemonth, and I pass them in review: then they depart;
and this is why I dwell here.” When Janshah heard this, he wept sore and
said to the Shaykh, “O my father, how shall I do to get back to my
native land?” Replied the old man, “Know, O my son, that thou art near
to the mountain Kaf, and there is no departing for thee from this place
till the birds come, when I will give thee in charge to one of them, and
he will bear thee to thy native country. Meanwhile tarry with me here
and eat and drink and divert thyself with viewing the apartments of this
castle.” So Janshah abode with Shaykh Nasr, taking his pleasure in the
Wady and eating of its fruits and laughing and making merry with the old
man, and leading a right joyous life till the day appointed for the
birds to pay their annual visit to their Governor. Thereupon the Shaykh
said to him, “O Janshah, take the keys of the castle and solace thyself
with exploring all its apartments and viewing whatever be therein, but
as regards such a room, beware and again beware of opening its door; and
if thou gainsay me and open it and enter therethrough nevermore shalt
thou know fair fortune.” He repeated this charge again and again with
much instance; then he went forth to meet the birds, which came up, kind
by kind, and kissed his hands. Such was his case; but as regards
Janshah, he went round about the castle, opening the various doors and
viewing the apartments into which they led, till he came to the room
which Shaykh Nasr had warned him not to open or enter. He looked at the
door and its fashion pleased him, for it had on it a padlock of gold,
and he said to himself, “This room must be goodlier than all the others;
would Heaven I wist what is within it, that Shaykh Nasr should forbid me
to open its door! There is no help but that I enter and see what is in
this apartment; for whatso is decreed unto the creature perforce he must
fulfil.” So he put out his hand and unlocked the door and entering,
found himself before a great basin; and hard by it stood a little
pavilion, builded all of gold and silver and crystal, with
lattice-windows of jacinth. The floor was paved with green beryl and
balass rubies and emeralds and other jewels, set in the ground-work
mosaic-fashion, and in the midmost of the pavilion was a jetting
fountain in a golden basin, full of water and girt about with figures of
beasts and birds, cunningly wrought of gold and silver and casting water
from their mouths. When the zephyr blew on them, it entered their ears
and therewith the figures sang out with birdlike song, each in its own
tongue. Beside the fountain was a great open saloon with a high daïs
whereon stood a vast throne of carnelian, inlaid with pearls and jewels,
over which was spread a tent of green silk fifty cubits in width and
embroidered with gems fit for seal-rings and purfled with precious
metals. Within this tent was a closet containing the carpet of the lord
Solomon (on whom be peace!); and the pavilion was compassed about with a
vast garden full of fruit-trees and streams; while near the palace were
beds of roses and basil and eglantine and all manner sweet-smelling
herbs and flowers. And the trees bore on the same boughs fruits fresh
and dry and the branches swayed gracefully to the wooing of the wind.
All this was in that one apartment and Janshah wondered thereat till he
was weary of wonderment; and he set out to solace himself in the palace
and the garden and to divert himself with the quaint and curious things
they contained. And first looking at the basin he saw that the gravels
of its bed were gems and jewels and noble metals; and many other strange
things were in that apartment.——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day
and ceased saying her permitted say.
Now when it was the Five Hundred and Ninth Night,
She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Janshah saw many
strange things and admirable in that apartment. Then he entered the
pavilion and mounting the throne, fell asleep under the tent set up
thereover. He slept for a time and, presently awaking, walked forth and
sat down on a stool before the door. As he sat, marvelling at the
goodliness of that place, there flew up from mid-sky three birds, in
dove-form but big as eagles, and lighted on the brink of the basin,
where they sported awhile. Then they put off their feathers and became
three maidens,[546] as they were moons, that had not their like in the
whole world. They plunged into the basin and swam about and disported
themselves and laughed, while Janshah marvelled at their beauty and
loveliness and the grace and symmetry of their shapes. Presently, they
came up out of the water and began walking about and taking their solace
in the garden; and Janshah seeing them land was like to lose his wits.
He rose and followed them, and when he overtook them, he saluted them
and they returned his salam; after which quoth he, “Who are ye, O
illustrious Princesses, and whence come ye?” Replied the youngest
damsel, “We are from the invisible world of Almighty Allah and we come
hither to divert ourselves.” He marvelled at their beauty and said to
the youngest, “Have ruth on me and deign kindness to me and take pity on
my case and on all that hath befallen me in my life.” Rejoined she,
“Leave this talk and wend thy ways”; whereat the tears streamed from his
eyes, and he sighed heavily and repeated these couplets:—
She shone out in the garden in garments all of green, ✿ With open vest
and collars and flowing hair beseen:
“What is thy name?” I asked her, and she replied, “I’m she ✿ Who roasts
the hearts of lovers on coals of love and teen.”
Of passion and its anguish to her I made my moan; ✿ “Upon a rock,” she
answered, “thy plaints are wasted clean.”
“Even if thy heart,” I told her, “be rock in very deed, ✿ Yet hath God
made fair water well from the rock, I ween.”[547]
When the maidens heard his verses, they laughed and played and sang and
made merry. Then he brought them somewhat of fruit, and they ate and
drank and slept with him till the morning, when they donned their
feather-suits, and resuming dove shape flew off and went their way. But
as he saw them disappearing from sight, his reason well-nigh fled with
them, and he gave a great cry and fell down in a fainting fit and lay
a-swooning all that day. While he was in this case Shaykh Nasr returned
from the Parliament of the Fowls and sought for Janshah, that he might
send him with them to his native land, but found him not and knew that
he had entered the forbidden room. Now he had already said to the birds,
“With me is a young man, a mere youth, whom destiny brought hither from
a distant land; and I desire of you that ye take him up and carry him to
his own country.” And all answered, “We hear and we obey.” So he ceased
not searching for Janshah till he came to the forbidden door and seeing
it open he entered and found the Prince lying a-swoon under a tree. He
fetched scented waters and sprinkled them on his face, whereupon he
revived and turned——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased
to say her permitted say.
Now when it was the Five Hundred and Tenth Night,
She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Shaykh Nasr
saw Janshah lying a-swoon under the tree he fetched him somewhat of
scented waters and sprinkled them on his face. Thereupon he revived and
turned right and left, but seeing none by him save the Shaykh, sighed
heavily and repeated these couplets:—
“Like fullest moon she shines on happiest night, ✿ Soft-sided fair, with
slender shape bedight.
Her eye-babes charm the world with gramarye; ✿ Her lips remind of rose
and ruby light.
Her jetty locks make night upon her hips; ✿ Ware, lovers, ware ye of
that curl’s despight!
Yea, soft her sides are, but in love her heart ✿ Out-hardens flint,
surpasses syenite:
And bows of eyebrows shower glancey shafts ✿ Despite the distance never
fail to smite.
Then, ah, her beauty! all the fair it passes; ✿ Nor any rival her who
see the light.”
When Shaykh Nasr heard these verses, he said, “O my son, did I not warn
thee not to open that door and enter that room? But now, O my son, tell
me what thou sawest therein and acquaint me with all that betided thee.”
So Janshah related to him all that had passed between him and the three
maidens, and Shaykh Nasr, who sat listening in silence said, “Know, O my
son, that these three maidens are of the daughters of the Jann and come
hither every year for a day, to divert themselves and make merry until
mid-afternoon, when they return to their own country.” Janshah asked,
“And where is their country?”; and the old man answered, “By Allah, O my
son, I wot not:” presently adding, “but now take heart and put away this
love from thee and come with me, that I may send thee to thine own land
with the birds.” When Janshah heard this, he gave a great cry and fell
down in a trance; and presently he came to himself, and said, “O my
father, indeed I care not to return to my native land: all I want is to
foregather with these maidens and know, O my father, that I will never
again name my people, though I die before thee.” Then he wept and cried,
“Enough for me that I look upon the face of her I love, although it be
only once in the year!” And he sighed deeply and repeated these
couplets:—
Would Heaven the Phantom[548] spared the friend at night ✿ And would
this love for man were ever dight!
Were not my heart a-fire for love of you, ✿ Tears ne’er had stained my
cheeks nor dimmed my sight.
By night and day, I bid my heart to bear ✿ Its griefs, while fires of
love my body blight.
Then he fell at Shaykh Nasr’s feet and kissed them and wept sore,
crying, “Have pity on me, so Allah take pity on thee and aid me in my
strait so Allah aid thee!” Replied the old man, “By Allah, O my son, I
know nothing of these maidens nor where may be their country; but, O my
son, if thy heart be indeed set on one of them, tarry with me till this
time next year for they will assuredly reappear; and, when the day of
their coming draweth near, hide thyself under a tree in the garden. As
soon as they have alighted and doffed their feather-robes and plunged
into the lake and are swimming about at a distance from their clothes,
seize the vest of her whom thy soul desireth. When they see thee, they
will come a-bank and she, whose coat thou hast taken, will accost thee
and say to thee with the sweetest of speech and the most witching of
smiles, “Give me my dress, O my brother, that I may don it and veil my
nakedness withal.” But if thou yield to her prayer and give her back the
vest thou wilt never win thy wish: nay, she will don it and fly away to
her folk and thou wilt nevermore see her again. Now when thou hast
gained the vest, clap it under thine armpit and hold it fast, till I
return from the Parliament of the Fowls, when I will make accord between
thee and her and send thee back to thy native land, and the maiden with
thee. And this, O my son, is all I can do for thee, nothing more.”——And
Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
Now when it was the Five Hundred and Eleventh Night,
She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that quoth Shaykh Nasr
to Janshah, “Hold fast the feather-robe of her thy soul desireth and
give it not back to her till I return from the Parliament of the Fowls.
And this, O my son, is all I can do for thee, nothing more.” When
Janshah heard this, his heart was solaced and he abode with Shaykh Nasr
yet another year, counting the days as they passed until the day of the
coming of the birds. And when at last the appointed time arrived the old
man said to him, “Do as I enjoined thee and charged thee with the
maidens in the matter of the feather-dress, for I go to meet the birds;”
and Janshah replied, “I hear and I obey, O my father.” Then the Shaykh
departed whilst the Prince walked into the garden and hid himself under
a tree, where none could see him. Here he abode a first day and a second
and a third, but the maidens came not; whereat he was sore troubled and
wept and sighed from a heart hard tried; and he ceased not weeping and
wailing till he fainted away. When he came to himself, he fell to
looking now at the basin and now at the welkin, and anon at the earth
and anon at the open country, whilst his heart grieved for stress of
love-longing. As he was in this case, behold, the three doves appeared
in the firmament, eagle-sized as before, and flew till they reached the
garden and lighted down beside the basin. They turned right and left;
but saw no one, man or Jann; so they doffed their feather-suits and
became three maidens. Then they plunged into the basin and swam about,
laughing and frolicking; and all were mother-naked and fair as bars of
virgin silver. Quoth the eldest, “O my sister, I fear lest there be some
one lying ambushed for us in the pavilion.” Answered the second, “O
sister, since the days of King Solomon, none hath entered the pavilion,
be he man or Jann;” and the youngest added, laughing, “By Allah, O my
sisters, if there be any hidden there, he will assuredly take none but
me.” Then they continued sporting and laughing and Janshah’s heart kept
fluttering for stress of passion: but he hid behind the tree so that he
saw without being seen. Presently they swam out to the middle of the
basin leaving their clothes on the bank. Hereupon he sprang to his feet,
and running like the darting leven to the basin’s brink, snatched up the
feather-vest of the youngest damsel, her on whom his heart was set and
whose name was Shamsah the Sun-maiden. At this the girls turned and
seeing him, were affrighted and veiled their shame from him in the
water. Then they swam near shore and looking on his favour saw that he
was bright faced as the moon on the night of fullness and asked him,
“Who art thou and how camest thou hither and why hast thou taken the
clothes of the lady Shamsah?”; and he answered, “Come hither to me and I
will tell you my tale.” Quoth Shamsah, “What deed is this, and why hast
thou taken my clothes, rather than those of my sisters?” Quoth he, “O
light of mine eyes, come forth of the water, and I will recount thee my
case and acquaint thee why I chose thee out.” Quoth she, “O my lord and
coolth of my eyes and fruit of my heart, give me my clothes, that I may
put them on and cover my nakedness withal; then will I come forth to
thee.” But he replied, “O Princess of beautiful ones, how can I give
thee back thy clothes and slay myself for love-longing? Verily, I will
not give them to thee, till Shaykh Nasr, the king of the birds, shall
return.” Quoth she, “If thou wilt not give me my clothes withdraw a
little apart from us, that my sisters may land and dress themselves and
lend me somewhat wherewithal to cover my shame.” “I hear and obey,”
answered he, and walked away from them into the pavilion, whereupon the
three Princesses came out and the two elder, donning their dress, gave
Shamsah somewhat thereof, not enough to fly withal, and she put it on
and came forth of the water, and stood before him, as she were the
rising full-moon or a browsing gazelle. Then Shamsah entered the
pavilion, where Janshah was still sitting on the throne; so she saluted
him and taking seat near him, said, “O fair of face, thou hast undone
thyself and me; but tell us thy adventures that we may ken how it is
with thee.” At these words he wept till he drenched his dress with his
tears; and when she saw that he was distracted for love of her, she rose
and taking him by the hand, made him sit by her side and wiped away the
drops with her sleeve; and said she, “O fair of face, leave this weeping
and tell us thy tale.” So he related to her all that had befallen him
and described to her all he had seen,——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn
of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
Now when it was the Five Hundred and Twelfth Night,
She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the lady
Shamsah said to Janshah, “Tell us thy tale;” so he related to her all
that had befallen him; and, after she had lent attentive ear she sighed
and said, “O my lord, since thou art so fondly in love with me, give me
my dress, that I may fly to my folk, I and my sisters, and tell them
what affection thou hast conceived for me, and after I will come back to
thee and carry thee to thine own country.” When he heard this, he wept
sore and replied, “Is it lawful to thee before Allah to slay me
wrongfully?” She asked, “O my lord, why should I do such wrongous
deed?”; and he answered, “If I give thee thy gear thou wilt fly away
from me, and I shall die forthright.” Princess Shamsah laughed at this
and so did her sisters; then said she to him, “Be of good cheer and keep
thine eyes cool and clear, for I must needs marry thee.” So saying, she
bent down to him and embraced him and pressing him to her breast kissed
him between the eyes and on his cheeks. They clipped and clasped each
other awhile, after which they drew apart and sat down on the throne.
Then the eldest Princess went out into the garden and, plucking somewhat
of fruits and flowers, brought them into the pavilion; and they ate and
drank and laughed and sported and made merry. Now Janshah was singular
in beauty and loveliness and slender shape and symmetry and grace, and
the Princess Shamsah said to him, “O my beloved, by Allah, I love thee
with exceeding love and will never leave thee!” When he heard her words,
his breast broadened and he laughed for joy till he showed his teeth;
and they abode thus awhile in mirth and gladness and frolic. And when
they were at the height of their pleasure and joyance, behold, Shaykh
Nasr returned from the Parliament of the Fowls and came in to them;
whereupon they all rose to him and saluted him and kissed his hands. He
gave them welcome and bade them be seated. So they sat down and he said
to Princess Shamsah, “Verily this youth loveth thee with exceeding love;
Allah upon thee, deal kindly with him, for he is of the great ones of
mankind and of the sons of the kings, and his father ruleth over the
land of Kabul and his reign compasseth a mighty empire.” Quoth she, “I
hear and I obey thy behest”; and, kissing the Shaykh’s hands, stood
before him in respect. Quoth he, “If thou say sooth, swear to me by
Allah that thou wilt never betray him, what while thou abidest in the
bonds of life.” So she swore a great oath that she would never betray
Janshah, but would assuredly marry him, and added, “Know, O Shaykh Nasr,
that I never will forsake him.” The Shaykh believed in her oath and said
to Janshah, “Thanks be to Allah, who hath made you arrive at this
understanding!” Hereupon the Prince rejoiced with exceeding joy, and he
and Shamsah abode three months with Shaykh Nasr, feasting and toying and
making merry.——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying
her permitted say.
Now when it was the Five Hundred and Thirteenth Night,