not flying with Janshah two full days; till it reached the spot where
the nest was, and set him down there and said, “O Janshah, this is where
our nest was.” He wept sore and replied, “I pray thee bear me farther on
to where thy parents used to forage for food.” The bird consented; so it
took him up again and flew on with him seven nights and eight days, till
it set him down on the top of a high hill Karmús hight and left him
there saying, “I know of no land behind this hill.” Then it flew away
and Janshah sat down on the hill-top and fell asleep. When he awoke, he
saw a something gleaming afar off as it were lightning and filling the
firmament with its flashings; and he wondered what this sheen could be
without wotting that it was the Castle he sought. So he descended the
mountain and made towards the light, which came from Takni, the Castle
of Jewels, distant two months’ journey from Karmús, the hill whereon he
had alit and its foundations were fashioned of red rubies and its
buildings of yellow gold. Moreover, it had a thousand turrets builded of
precious metals, and stones of price studded and set in the minerals
brought from the Main of Murks, and on this account it was named the
Castle of Jewels, Takni. It was a vast great castle and the name of its
king was King Shahlan, the father of the lady Shamsah and her sisters.
Such was the case with Janshah; but as regards Princess Shamsah, when
she fled from Janshah, she made straight for the Castle of Jewels and
told her father and mother all that had passed between the Prince and
herself; how he had wandered the world and seen its marvels and wonders
and how fondly he loved her and how dearly she loved him. Quoth they,
“Thou hast not dealt righteously with him, as Allah would have thee
deal.” Moreover King Shahlan repeated the story to his guards and
officers of the Marids of the Jinn and bade them bring him every mortal
they should see. For the lady Shamsah had said to her parents, “Janshah
loveth me with passionate love and forsure he will follow me; for when
flying from his father’s roof I cried to him:—An thou love me, seek me
at Takni, the Castle of Jewels!” Now when Janshah beheld that sheen and
shine, he made straight for it wishing to find out what it might be. And
as chance would have it, Shamsah had that very day despatched a Marid on
an occasion in the direction of the hill Karmus, and on his way thither
he caught sight of a man, a mortal; so he hastened up to him and saluted
him. Janshah was terrified at his sight, but returned his salam, and the
Marid asked, “What is thy name?” and he answered, “My name is Janshah,
and I have fallen madly in love with a Jinniyah known as Princess
Shamsah, who captivated me by her beauty and loveliness; but despite my
dear love she fled from the palace wherein I placed her and behold, I am
here in quest of her.” Herewith he wept with bitter weeping. The Marid
looked at him and his heart burned with pity on hearing the sad tale,
and he said, “Weep not, for surely thou art come to thy desire. Know
that she loveth thee fondly and hath told her parents of thy love for
her, and all in yonder castle love thee for her sake; so be of good
cheer and keep thine eyes cool of tear.” Then he took him on his
shoulders and made off with him to the Castle of Jewels, Takni.
Thereupon the bearers of fair tidings hastened to report his coming and
when the news reached Shamsah and her father and mother, they all
rejoiced with exceeding joy, and King Shahlan took horse and rode out,
commanding all his guards and Ifrits and Marids honourably to meet the
Prince.——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her
permitted say.
Now when it was the Five Hundred and Twenty-sixth Night,
She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that King Shahlan
commanded all his guards and Ifrits and Marids to meet the Prince; and,
as soon as he came up with him, he dismounted and embraced him, and
Janshah kissed his hand. Then Shahlan bade put on him a robe of honour
of many-coloured silk, laced with gold and set with jewels, and a
coronet such as man never saw, and, mounting him on a splendid mare of
the steeds of the Kings of the Jinn, took horse himself and, with an
immense retinue riding on the right hand and the left, brought him in
great state to the Castle. Janshah marvelled at the splendour of this
edifice, with its walls builded of rubies and other jewels and its
pavement of crystal and jasper and emerald, and fell a-weeping at the
memory of his past miseries; but the King and Queen, Shamsah’s mother,
wiped away his tears and said, “Now no more weeping and be of good
cheer, for thou hast won to thy will.” Then Shahlan carried him into the
inner court of the Castle, where he was received by a multitude of
beautiful damsels and pages and black Jinn-slaves, who seated him in the
place of honour and stood to do him service, whilst he was lost in
amazement at the goodliness of the place, and its walls all edified of
precious metals and jewels of price. Presently King Shahlan repaired to
his hall of audience, where he sat down on his throne and, bidding the
slave-girls and the pages introduce the Prince, rose to receive him and
seated him by his side on the throne. Then he ordered the tables to be
spread and they ate and drank and washed their hands; after which in
came the Queen Shamsah’s mother, and saluting Janshah, bade him welcome
in these words, “Thou hast come to thy desire after weariness and thine
eyes shall now sleep after watching; so praised be Allah for thy
safety!” Thus saying, she went away and forthwith returned with the
Princess Shamsah, who saluted Janshah and kissed his hands, hanging her
head in shame and confusion before him and her parents; after which as
many of her sisters as were in the palace came up to him and greeted him
in like manner. Then quoth the Queen to him, “Welcome, O my son, our
daughter Shamsah hath indeed sinned against thee, but do thou pardon her
misdeed for our sakes.” When Janshah heard this, he cried out and fell
down fainting, whereat the King marvelled and they sprinkled on his face
rose-water mingled with musk and civet, till he came to himself and,
looking at Princess Shamsah, said, “Praised be Allah who hath brought me
to my desire and hath quenched the fire of my heart!” Replied she, “May
He preserve thee from the Fire!; but now tell me, O Janshah, what hath
befallen thee since our parting and how thou madest thy way to this
place; seeing that few even of the Jann ever heard of Takni, the Castle
of Jewels; and we are independent of all the Kings nor any wotteth the
road hither.” Thereupon he related to her every adventure and peril and
hardship he had suffered and how he had left his father at war with King
Kafid, ending with these words, “And all for thy sake, my lady Shamsah!”
Quoth the Queen, “Now hast thou thy heart’s desire, for the Princess is
thy handmaid, and we give her in free gift to thee.” Janshah joyed
exceedingly at these words and the Queen added, “Next month, if it be
the will of Almighty Allah, we will have a brave wedding and celebrate
the marriage festival and after the knot is tied we will send you both
back to thy native land, with an escort of a thousand Marids of our
body-guard, the least of whom, an thou bid him slay King Kafid and his
folk, would surely destroy them to the last man in the twinkling of an
eye. Furthermore if it please thee we will send thee, year after year, a
company of which each and every can so do with all thy foes.”——And
Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
Now when it was the Five Hundred and Twenty-seventh Night,
She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the lady
Shamsah’s mother ended with saying, “And if it so please thee we will
send thee, year after year, a company of which each and every can
destroy thy foes to the last man.” Then King Shahlan sat down on his
throne and, summoning his grandees and officers of state, bade them make
ready for the marriage-festivities and decorate the city seven days and
nights. “We hear and we obey,” answered they and busied themselves two
months in the preparations, after which they celebrated the marriage of
the Prince and Princess and held a mighty festival, never was there its
like. Then they brought Janshah in to his bride and he abode with her in
all solace of life and delight for two years, at the end of which time
he said to her, “Thy father promised to send us to my native land, that
we might pass one year there and the next here.” Answered she, “I hear
and obey,” and going in to King Shahlan at nightfall told him what the
Prince had said. Quoth he, “I consent; but have patience with me till
the first of the month, that I may make ready for your departure.” She
repeated these words to her husband and they waited till the appointed
time, when the King bade his Marids bring out to them a great litter of
red gold, set with pearls and jewels and covered with a canopy of green
silk, purfled in a profusion of colours and embroidered with precious
stones, dazzling with its goodliness the eyes of every beholder. He
chose out four of his Marids to carry the litter in whichever of the
four quarters the riders might choose. Moreover, he gave his daughter
three hundred beautiful damsels to wait upon her and bestowed on Janshah
the like number of white slaves of the sons of the Jinn. Then the lady
Shamsah took formal leave of her mother and sisters and all her kith and
kin; and her father fared forth with them. So the four Marids took up
the litter, each by one corner, and rising under it like birds in air,
flew onward with it between earth and heaven till midday, when the King
bade them set it down and all alighted. Then they took leave of one
another and King Shahlan commended Shamsah to the Prince’s care, and
giving them in charge to the Marids, returned to the Castle of Jewels,
whilst the Prince and Princess remounted the litter, and the Marids
taking it up, flew on for ten whole days, in each of which they
accomplished thirty months’ journey, till they sighted the capital of
King Teghmus. Now one of them knew the land of Kabul; so when he saw the
city, he bade the others let down the litter at that populous place
which was the capital.——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and
ceased to say her permitted say.
Now when it was the Five Hundred and Twenty-eighth Night,
She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Marid-guards
let down the litter at the capital of King Teghmus who had been routed
and had fled from his foes into the city, where he was in sore straits,
King Kafid having laid close siege to him. He sought to save himself by
making peace with the King of Hind, but his enemy would give him no
quarter; so seeing himself without resource or means of relief, he
determined to strangle himself and to die and be at rest from this
trouble and misery. Accordingly he bade his Wazirs and Emirs farewell
and entered his house to take leave of his Harim; and the whole realm
was full of weeping and wailing and lamentation and woe. And whilst this
rout and hurly-burly was enacting, behold, the Marids descended with the
litter upon the palace that was in the citadel, and Janshah bade them
set it down in the midst of the Divan. They did his bidding and he
alighted with his company of handmaids and Mamelukes; and, seeing all
the folk of the city in straits and desolation and sore distress, said
to the Princess, “O love of my heart and coolth of mine eyes, look in
what a piteous plight is my sire!” Thereupon she bade the Marid-guard
fall upon the beleaguering host and slay them, saying, “Kill ye all,
even to the last man;” and Janshah commanded one of them, by name
Karátash,[565] who was exceeding strong and valiant, to bring King Kafid
to him in chains. So they set down the litter and covered it with the
canopy; then, having waited till midnight, they attacked the enemy’s
camp one of them being a match for ten; or at least for eight. And while
these smote the foes with iron maces, those mounted their magical
elephants and soared high in the lift, and then swooping down and
snatching up their opponents, tare them to pieces in mid-air. But
Karatash made straight for Kafid’s tent where he found him lying in a
couch; so he took him up, shrieking for fear, and flew with him to
Janshah, who bade the four Marids bind him on the litter and hang him
high in the air over his camp, that he might witness the slaughter of
his men. They did as the Prince commanded them and left Kafid, who had
swooned for fear, hanging between earth and air and buffetting his face
for grief. As for King Teghmus, when he saw his son, he well-nigh died
for excess of joy and, crying with a loud cry, fell down in a swoon.
They sprinkled rose-water on his face, till he came to himself, when he
and his son embraced and wept with sore weeping; for he knew not that
the Jinn-guard were battling with King Kafid’s men. Then Princess
Shamsah accosted the King and kissing his hand, said to him, “Sire, be
pleased to go up with me to the palace-roof and witness the slaughter of
thy foes by my father’s Marids.” So he went up to the terrace-roof and
sitting down there with his daughter-in-law, enjoyed watching the Marids
do havoc among the besiegers and break a way through the length and
breadth of them. For one of them smote with his iron mace upon the
elephants and their riders and pounded them till man was not to be
distinguished from beast; whilst another shouted in the faces of those
who fled, so that they fell down dead; and the third caught up a score
of horsemen, beasts and all; and, towering with them high in air, cast
them down on earth, so that they were torn in pieces. And this was high
enjoyment for Janshah and his father and the lady Shamsah.——And
Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
[Illustration]
Now when it was the Five Hundred and Twenty-ninth Night,
She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that King Teghmus and
his son and daughter-in-law went up to the terrace-roof and enjoyed a
prospect of the Jinn-guards battling with the beleaguering host. And
King Kafid (still hanging between heaven and earth) also saw the
slaughter of his troops and wept sore and buffetted his face; nor did
the carnage cease among the army of Hind for two whole days, till they
were cut off even to the last man. Then Janshah commanded a Marid, by
name Shimwál, chain up King Kafid with manacles and fetters, and
imprison him in a tower called the Black Bulwark. And when his bidding
was done, King Teghmus bade beat the drums and despatched messengers to
announce the glad news to Janshah’s mother, informing her of his
approach; whereupon she mounted in great joy and she no sooner espied
her son than she clasped him in her arms and swooned away for stress of
gladness. They sprinkled rose-water on her face, till she came to
herself, when she embraced him again and again wept for excess of joy.
And when the lady Shamsah knew of her coming, she came to her and
saluted her; and they embraced each other and after remaining embraced
for an hour sat down to converse. Then King Teghmus threw open the
city-gates and despatched couriers to all parts of the kingdom, to
spread the tidings of his happy deliverance; whereupon all his princely
Vassals and Emirs and the Grandees of the realm flocked to salute him
and give him joy of his victory and of the safe return of his son; and
they brought him great store of rich offerings and curious presents. The
visits and oblations continued for some time, after which the King made
a second and a more splendid bride-feast for the Princess Shamsah and
bade decorate the city and held high festival. Lastly they unveiled and
paraded the bride before Janshah, with apparel and ornaments of the
utmost magnificence, and when her bridegroom went in to her he presented
her with an hundred beautiful slave-girls to wait upon her. Some days
after this, the Princess repaired to the King and interceded with him
for Kafid, saying, “Suffer him return to his own land, and if
henceforward he be minded to do thee a hurt, I will bid one of the
Jinn-guard snatch him up and bring him to thee.” Replied Teghmus, “I
hear and I obey,” and bade Shimwal bring him the prisoner, who came
manacled and fettered and kissed earth between his hands. Then he
commanded to strike off his chains and, mounting him on a lame mare,
said to him, “Verily Princess Shamsah hath interceded for thee: so
begone to thy kingdom, but if thou fall again to thine old tricks, she
will send one of the Marids to seize thee and bring thee hither.”
Thereupon King Kafid set off homewards, in the sorriest of plights,——And
Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
Now when it was the Five Hundred and Thirtieth Night,
She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that King Kafid set off
homewards in the sorriest of plights, whilst Janshah and his wife abode
in all solace and delight of life, making the most of its joyance and
happiness. All this recounted the youth sitting between the tombs unto
Bulukiya, ending with, “And behold, I am Janshah who witnessed all these
things, O my brother, O Bulukiya!” Then Bulukiya who was wandering the
world in his love for Mohammed (whom Allah bless and keep!) asked
Janshah, “O my brother, what be these two sepulchres and why sittest
thou between them and what causeth thy weeping?” He answered, “Know, O
Bulukiya, that we abode in all solace and delight of life, passing one
year at home and the next at Takni, the Castle of Jewels, whither we
betook not ourselves but in the litter borne by the Marids and flying
between heaven and earth.” Quoth Bulukiya, “O my brother, O Janshah,
what was the distance between the Castle and thy home?” Quoth he, “Every
day we accomplished a journey of thirty months and the time we took was
ten days. We abode on this wise a many of years till, one year we set
out for the Castle of Jewels, as was our wont, and on the way thither
alighted from the litter in this island to rest and take our pleasure
therein. We sat down on the river-bank and ate and drank; after which
the Lady Shamsah, having a mind to bathe, put off her clothes and
plunged into the water. Her women did likewise and they swam about
awhile, whilst I walked on along the bank of the stream leaving them to
swim about and play with one another. And behold, a huge shark of the
monsters of the deep seized the Princess by the leg, without touching
any of the girls; and she cried out and died forthright, whilst the
damsels fled out of the river to the pavilion, to escape from the shark.
But after awhile they returned and taking up her corpse carried her to
the litter. Now when I saw her dead, I fell down fainting and they
sprinkled water on my face, till I recovered and wept over her. Then I
despatched the Jinn-guards to her parents and family, announcing what
had befallen her; and in the shortest time they came to the spot and
washed her and shrouded her; after which they buried her by the
river-side and made mourning for her. They would have carried me with
them to their own country; but I said to King Shahlan, “I beseech thee
to dig me a grave beside her tomb, that, when I die, I may be buried by
her side in that grave.” Accordingly, the King commanded one of his
Marids to do as I wished, after which they departed and left me here to
weep and mourn for her till I die. And this is my story and the cause of
my sojourn between these two tombs.” And he repeated these two
couplets:[566]—
“The house, sweet heart, is now no home to me ✿ Since thou art gone, nor
neighbour neighbourly.
The friend whilome I took to heart, no more ✿ Is friend, and brightest
lights lose brilliancy.”
But when Bulukiya heard out Janshah’s tale he marvelled——And Shahrazad
perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
Now when it was the Five Hundred and Thirty-first Night,
She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Bulukiya
heard out Janshah’s tale he wondered and exclaimed, “By Allah, methought
I had indeed wandered over the world and compassed it about; but now I
forget all I have seen after listening to these adventures of thine!” He
was silent a while and then resumed, “I beg thee, of thy favour and
courtesy, to direct me in the way of safety.” So Janshah directed him
into the right road, and Bulukiya farewelled him and went his ways. All
this the Serpent-queen related to Hasib Karim al-Din, and he asked her,
“But how knowest thou of these things?”; and she answered, “O Hasib,
thou must ken that I had occasion, some five-and-twenty years ago, to
send one of my largest serpents to Egypt and gave her a letter for
Bulukiya, saluting him.” So she went there willingly for she had a
daughter in the land called Bint Shumukh[567]; and after asking anent
Bulukiya she found him and gave him my missive. He read it and replied
to the messenger snake, “Thou comest from the Queen of the Serpents whom
I am minded to visit for I have an occasion to her.” She replied, “I
hear and obey.” Then she bore him to her daughter of whom she took leave
and said to her companion, “Close thine eyes.” So he closed them and
opening them again, behold, he found himself on the mountain where I now
am. Then his guide carried him to a great serpent, whom he saluted;
whereupon quoth she, “Didst thou deliver the missive to Bulukiya?”; and
she replied, “Even so; and he hath accompanied me and here he standeth.”
Presently Bulukiya asked after me, the Serpent-queen, and the great
serpent answered, “She hath gone to the mountain Kaf with all her host,
as is her wont in winter; but next summer she will come hither again. As
often as she goeth thither, she appointeth me to reign in her room,
during her absence; and if thou have any occasion to her, I will
accomplish it for thee.” Said he, “I beg thee to bring me the herb,
which whoso crusheth and drinketh the juice thereof, sickeneth not
neither groweth grey nor dieth.” “I will not bring it,” said the
serpent, “till thou tell me what befel thee since thou leftest the Queen
of the Serpents, to go with Affan in quest of King Solomon’s tomb.” So
he related to her all his travels and adventures, together with the
history of Janshah, and said at last, “Grant me my request, that I may
return to mine own country.” Replied the serpent, “By the virtue of the
lord Solomon, I know not where is to be found the herb whereof thou
speakest.” Then she bade the serpent which had brought him thither,
carry him back to Egypt: so the messenger obeyed her and said to him,
“Shut thine eyes!” He did so and, opening them again, found himself on
the mountain Mukattam.[568] “When I returned from the mountain Kaf”
(added the Queen) “the serpent, my deputy, informed me of Bulukiya’s
visit and gave me his salutations and repeated to me his story and his
meeting with Janshah. And this, O Hasib, is how I came to know the
adventures of Bulukiya and the history of Janshah.” Thereupon Hasib said
to her, “O Queen, deign recount to me what befel Bulukiya as regards his
return to Egypt.” She replied, “Know, O Hasib, that when he parted from
Janshah he fared on nights and days till he came to a great sea; so he
anointed his feet with the juice of the magical herb and, walking over
the face of the waters, sped onwards till he came to an island abounding
in trees and springs and fruits, as it were the Garden of Eden. He
landed and walked about, till he saw an immense tree, with leaves as big
as the sails of a ship. So he went up to the tree and found under it a
table spread with all manner meats, whilst on a branch of the branches
sat a great bird, whose body was of pearls and leek-green emeralds, its
feet of silver, its beak of red carnelian and its plumery of precious
metals; and it was engaged in singing the praises of Allah the Most High
and blessing Mohammed (on whom be benediction and peace!)”——And
Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
Now when it was the Five Hundred and Thirty-second Night,