than sleepy, finish for us thy tale that we may cut short the watching
of this our latter night!” She replied:——With love and good will! It
hath reached me, O auspicious King, the director, the right-guiding,
lord of the rede which is benefiting and of deeds fair-seeming and
worthy celebrating, that the King desired to be private with the
Minister and when they were left alone he said, “O Wazir, how was it
between thee and that Harim of mine?” Said the other, “O King of the
Age, she sent to me not only once but five several times and I refrained
from her and whatsoever eunuch she despatched I slew, saying, Haply she
may cease so doing and abandon her evil intent. But she did not repent,
so I feared for thine honour and sent to acquaint thee with the matter.”
The Sultan bowed his head groundwards for a while, then raising it he
bade summon the two Chamberlains whom he had sent to slay his wife and
three children. On their appearing he asked them, “What have you done in
fulfilling my commandment?” They answered, “We did that which thou
badest be done,” and showed him the four flasks they had filled with the
blood and said, “This be their blood, a flask-full from each.” The
Sultan hent them in hand and mused over what had taken place between him
and his wife of love and affection and union; so he wept with bitter
weeping and fell down in a fainting fit. After an hour or so he
recovered and turning to the Wazir said, “Tell me, hast thou spoken
sooth?” and the other replied, “Yes, I have.” Then the Sultan addressed
the two Chamberlains and asked them, “Have ye put to death my daughters
with their mother?” But they remained silent nor made aught of answer or
address. So he exclaimed, “What is on your minds that ye speak not?”
They rejoined, “By Allah, O King of the Age, the honest man cannot tell
an untruth for that lying and leasing are the characteristics of
hypocrites and traitors.” When the Wazir heard the Chamberlains’ speech
his colour yellowed, his frame was disordered and a trembling seized his
limbs, and the King turned to him and noted that these symptoms had been
caused by the words of the two officials. So he continued to them, “What
mean ye, O Chamberlains, by your saying that lies and leasing are the
characteristics of hypocrites and traitors? Can it be that ye have not
put them to death? And as ye claim to be true men either ye have killed
them and ye speak thus or you are liars. Now by Him who hath set me upon
the necks of His lieges, if ye declare not to me the truth I will do you
both die by the foulest of deaths.” They rejoined, “By Allah, O King of
the Age, whenas thou badest us take them and slay them, we obeyed thy
bidding and they knew not nor could they divine what was to be until we
arrived with them at the middlemost and broadest of the desert; and when
we informed them of what had been done by the Wazir, thy Harem
exclaimed:——There is no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah, the
Glorious, the Great. Verily we are Allah’s and unto Him are we
returning. But an ye kill us you will kill us wrongfully and ye wot not
wherefor. By the Lord, this Wazir hath foully lied and hath accused us
falsely before the Almighty. So we said to her, O King of the
Age:——Inform us of what really took place; and said the mother of the
Princesses:——Thus and thus it happened. Then she fell to telling us the
whole tale from first to last of the nurse who was sent to her and the
handmaids and the Eunuch.”[157] Hereupon the Sultan cried, “And ye, have
ye slain them or not?” and the Chamberlains replied, “By Allah, O King
of the Age, whenas the loyalty of thy Harem was made manifest to us we
snared a gazelle and cut its throat and filled these four flasks with
its blood; after which we broiled some of the flesh upon the embers and
offered it to thy Harem and her children saying to them:——We give thee
in charge to Him who never disappointeth those committed to His care,
and we added, Your truth shall save you. Lastly we left them in the
midmost of the waste and we returned hither.” When the Sultan heard
these words he turned to the Wazir and exclaimed, “Thou hast estranged
from me my wife and my children;” but the Minister uttered not a word
nor made any address and trembled in every limb like one afflicted with
an ague. And when the King saw the truth of the Chamberlains and the
treachery of the Minister he bade fuel be collected and set on fire and
they did his bidding. Then he commanded them to truss up the Wazir, hand
tied to foot, and bind him perforce upon a catapult[158] and cast him
into the middle of the fiery pyre which made his bones melt before his
flesh. Lastly he ordered his palace to be pillaged, his good to be
spoiled and the women of his Harem to be sold for slaves. After this he
said to the Chamberlains, “You must know the spot wherein you left the
Queen and Princesses;” and said they, “O King of the Age, we know it
well; but when we abandoned them and returned home they were in the
midst of the wolds and the wilds nor can we say what befel them or
whether they be now alive or dead.” On this wise fared it with them; but
as regards us three maidens and our mother, when we entered the
city——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and fell silent and ceased
saying her permitted say. Then quoth her sister Dunyazad, “How sweet and
tasteful is thy tale, O sister mine, and enjoyable and delectable?”
Quoth she, “And where is this compared with that I would relate to you
on the coming night an the Sovran suffer me to survive?” Now when it was
the next night and that was
The Three Hundred and Sixty-ninth Night,
Dunyazad said to her, “Allah upon thee, O my sister, an thou be other
than sleepy, finish for us thy tale that we may cut short the watching
of this our latter night!” She replied:——With love and good will! It
hath reached me, O auspicious King, the director, the right-guiding,
lord of the rede which is benefiting and of deeds fair-seeming and
worthy celebrating, that the youngest sister continued her tale:——So
when we three maidens and our mother entered the city about sunset I the
youngest said to them, “We be three Princesses and a Queen-mother: so we
cannot show ourselves in this our condition and needs must we lodge us
in a Khan: also ’tis my rede that we should do best by donning boys’
dress. All agreeing hereto we did accordingly and, entering a
Caravanserai, hired us a retired chamber in one of the wings. Now every
day we three fared forth to service and at eventide we forgathered and
took what sufficed us of sustenance; but our semblance had changed with
the travails of travel and all who looked at us would say, These be
lads. In this plight we passed the space of a year full-told till, one
day of the days, we three fared forth to our chares, as was our wont,
and behold, a young man met us upon the way and turning to me asked, “O
lad, wilt thou serve in my house?”” Quoth I, “O my uncle,[159] I must
ask advice,” and quoth he, “O my lad, crave counsel of thy mother and
come and serve in our home.” He then looked at my sisters and enquired,
“Be these thy comrades, O lad?” and I replied “No, they are my
brothers.” So we three went to our mother in the Khan and said to her,
“This young man wisheth to hire the youngest of us for service,” and
said she, “No harm in that.” Thereupon the youth arose and taking me by
the hand guided me to his home and led me in to his mother and his wife,
and when the ancient dame saw me, her heart was opened to me. Presently
quoth the young man to his parent, “I have brought the lad to serve in
our house and he hath two brothers and his mother dwelling with them.”
Quoth she, “May it be fortunate to thee, O my son.”[160] So I tarried
there serving them till sunset and when the evening-meal was eaten, they
gave me a dish of meat and three large bannocks of clean bread. These I
took and carried to my mother whom I found sitting with my sisters and I
set before them the meat and bread; but when my parent saw this she wept
with sore weeping and cried, “Time hath overlooked us; erst we gave food
to the folk and now the folk send us food.” And cried I, “Marvel not at
the works of the Creator; for verily Allah hath ordered for us this and
for others that and the world endureth not for any one;” and I ceased
not soothing my mother’s heart till it waxed clear of trouble and we ate
and praised Almighty Allah. Now every day I went forth to serve at the
young man’s house and at eventide bore to my mother and sisters their
sufficiency of food for supper,[161] breakfast and dinner; and when the
youth brought eatables of any kind for me I would distribute it to the
family. And he looked well after our wants and at times he would supply
clothing for me and for the youths, my sisters, and for my parent; so
that all hearts in our lodgings were full of affection for him. At last
his mother said, “What need is there for the lad to go forth from us
every eventide and pass the night with his people? Let him lie in our
home and every day about afternoon-time carry the evening meal to his
mother and brothers and then return to us and keep me company.” I
replied, “O my lady, let me consult my mother, to whom I will fare
forthright and acquaint her herewith.” But my parent objected saying, “O
my daughter, we fear lest thou be discovered and they find thee out to
be a girl.” I replied, “Our Lord will veil our secret;” and she
rejoined, “Then do thou obey them.” So I lay with the young man’s mother
nor did any divine that I was a maid, albeit from the time when I
entered into that youth’s service my strength and comeliness had
increased. At last, one night of the nights, I went after supper to
sleep at my employer’s and the young man’s mother chanced to glance in
my direction when she saw my loosed hair which gleamed and glistened
many-coloured as a peacock’s robe. Next morning I arose and gathering up
my locks donned the Tákiyah[162] and proceeded, as usual, to do service
about the house never suspecting that the mother had taken notice of my
hair. Presently she said to her son, “’Tis my wish that thou buy me a
few rose-blossoms which be fresh.” He asked, “To make conserve?” and she
answered, “No.” Then he enquired; “Wherefore wantest thou roses?” and
she replied, “By Allah, O my son, I wish therewith to try this our
servant whom I suspect to be a girl and no boy; and under him in bed I
would strew rose-leaves, for an they be found wilted in the morning he
is a lad, and if they remain as they were he is a lass.”[163] So he
fared forth and presently returned to his mother with the rose-blossoms;
and, when the sleeping-hour came, she went and placed them in my bed. I
slept well and in the morning when I arose she came to me and found that
the petals had not changed for the worse; nay, they had gained lustre.
So she made sure that I was a girl.——And Shahrazad was surprised by the
dawn of day and fell silent and ceased to say her permitted say. Then
quoth her sister Dunyazad, “How sweet is thy story, O sister mine, and
how enjoyable and delectable!” Quoth she, “And where is this compared
with that I would relate to you on the coming night an the Sovran suffer
me to survive?” Now when it was the next night and that was
The Three Hundred and Seventieth Night,
Dunyazad said to her, “Allah upon thee, O my sister, an thou be other
than sleepy, finish for us thy tale that we may cut short the watching
of this our latter night!” She replied:——With love and good will! It
hath reached me, O auspicious King, the director, the right-guiding,
lord of the rede which is benefiting and of deeds fair-seeming and
worthy celebrating, that the damsel continued:——So the young man’s
mother made certain that her servant lad was a virgin lass. But she
concealed her secret from her son and was kind to me and showed me
respect and, of the goodness of her heart, sent me back early to my
mother and sisters. Now one day of the days the youth came home about
noon as was his wont; and he found me with sleeves tucked up to the
elbows engaged in washing a bundle of shirts and turbands; and I was
careless of myself so he drew near me and noted my cheeks that flushed
rosy red and eyes which were as those of the thirsty gazelle and my
scorpion locks hanging adown my side face. This took place in
summertide; and when he saw me thus his wits were distraught and his
sound senses were as naught and his judgment was in default: so he went
in to his parent and said to her, “O my mother, indeed this servant is
no boy, but a maiden girl and my wish is that thou discover for me her
case and make manifest to me her condition and marry me to her, for that
my heart is fulfilled of her love.” Now by the decree of the Decreer I
was privily listening to all they said of me; so presently I arose,
after washing the clothes and what else they had given me; but my state
was changed by their talk and I knew and felt certified that the youth
and his mother had recognised me for a girl. I continued on this wise
till eventide when I took the food and returned to my family and they
all ate till they had eaten enough, when I told them my adventure and my
conviction. So my mother said to me, “What remaineth for us now to do?”
and said I, “O my mother, let us arise, we three, before night shall set
in and go forth ere they lock the Khan upon us;[164] and if the
door-keeper ask us aught let us answer:—We are faring to spend the night
in the house of the youth where our son is serving.” My mother replied,
“Right indeed is thy rede.” Accordingly, all four of us went forth at
the same time and when the porter asked, “This is night-tide and whither
may ye be wending?” we answered, “We have been invited by the young man
whom our son serveth for he maketh a Septena-festival[165] and a
bridal-feast: so we purpose to night with him and return a-morn.” Quoth
he, “There is no harm in that. So we issued out and turned aside and
sought the waste lands, the Veiler veiling us, and we ceased not walking
till the day brake and we were sore a-wearied. Then we sat for rest till
the rise of sun and when it shone we four sprang up and strave with our
wayfare throughout the first day and the second and the third until the
seventh. (Now all this was related to Mohammed the Sultan of Cairo and
his Wazir by the youngest Princess and they abode wondering at her
words.) On the seventh day we reached this city and here we housed
ourselves; but to this hour we have no news of our sire after the
Minister was burnt nor do we know an he be whole or dead. Yet we yearn
for him: so do thou, of thine abundant favour, O King of the Age, and
thy perfect beneficence, send a messenger to seek tidings of him and to
acquaint him with our case, when he will send to fetch us.” Here she
ceased speaking and the Monarch and Minister both wondered at her words
and exclaimed, “Exalted be He who decreeth to His servants severance and
reunion.” Then the Sultan of Cairo arose without stay or delay and wrote
letters to the King of Al-Irák, the father of the damsels, telling him
that he had taken them under his safeguard, them and their mother, and
gave the writ to the Shaykh of the Cossids[166] and appointed for it a
running courier and sent him forth with it to the desert. After this the
King took the three maidens and their mother and carried them to his
Palace where he set apart for them an apartment and he appointed for
them what sufficed of appointments. Now, as for the Cossid who fared
forth with the letter, he stinted not spanning the waste for the space
of two months until he made the city of the bereaved King of Al-Irák,
and when he asked for the royal whereabouts they pointed out to him a
pleasure-garden. So he repaired thither and went in to him, kissed
ground before him, offered his services, prayed for him and lastly
handed to him the letter. The King took it and brake the seal and opened
the scroll; but when he read it and comprehended its contents, he rose
up and shrieked a loud shriek and fell to the floor in a fainting fit.
So the high officials flocked around him and raised him from the ground,
and when he recovered after an hour or so they questioned him concerning
the cause of this. He then related to them the adventures of his wife
and children; how they were still in the bonds of life whole and hearty;
and forthright he ordered a ship to be got ready for them and stored
therein gifts and presents for him who had been the guardian of his
Queen and her daughters. But he knew not what lurked for them in the
future. So the ship sailed away, all on board seeking the desired city,
and she reached it without delay, the winds blowing light and fair. Then
she fired the cannon of safe arrival[167] and the Sultan sent forth to
enquire concerning her,——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and
fell silent and ceased saying her permitted say. Then quoth her sister
Dunyazad, “How sweet and tasteful is thy tale, O sister mine, and
enjoyable and delectable!” Quoth she, “And where is this compared with
that I would relate to you on the coming night an the Sovran suffer me
to survive?” Now when it was the next night and that was
The Three Hundred and Seventy-first Night,
[Illustration]
Dunyazad said to her, “Allah upon thee, O my sister, an thou be other
than sleepy, finish for us thy tale that we may cut short the watching
this our latter night!” She replied:——With love and good will! It hath
reached me, O auspicious King, the director the right-guiding, lord of
the rede which is benefiting and of deeds fair-seeming and worthy
celebrating, that the Sultan made enquiries concerning that ship, when
behold! the Rais[168] came forth her to the land and accosting the King
handed to him the letter and acquainted him with the arrival of the
gifts and presents. Whereupon he bade all on board her come ashore and
be received in the guest-house for a space of three days until the
traces of travel should disappear from them. After that time the Sultan
gat ready whatso became his high degree of offerings evening those
despatched to him by the father of the damsels and stowed them in the
vessel, where he also embarked as much of victual and provaunt as might
suffice for all the voyagers. On the fourth day after sunset the damsels
and their mother were borne on board and likewise went the master after
they had taken leave of the King and had salam’d to him and prayed for
his preservation. Now in early morning the breeze blew free and fair so
they loosed sail and made for the back[169] of the sea and voyaged
safely for the first day and the second. But on the third about
mid-afternoon a furious gale came out against them; whereby the sails
were torn to tatters and the masts fell overboard: so the crew made
certain of death, and the ship ceased not to be tossed upwards and to
settle down without mast or sail till midnight, all the folk lamenting
one to other, as did the maidens and their mother, till the wreck was
driven upon an island and there went to pieces. Then he whose life-term
was short died forthright and he whose life-term was long survived; and
some bestrode planks and others butts and others again bulks of timber
whereby all were separated each from other. Now the mother and two of
the daughters clomb upon planks they chanced find and sought their
safety; but the youngest of the maidens who had mounted a keg,[170] and
who knew nothing of her mother and sisters, was carried up and cast down
by the waves for the space of five days till she landed upon an
extensive seaboard where she found a sufficiency to eat and drink. She
sat down upon the shore for an hour of time until she had taken rest and
her heart was calmed and her fear had flown and she had recovered her
spirits: then she rose and paced the sands, all unknowing whither she
should wend, and whenever she came upon aught of herbs she would eat of
them. This lasted through the first day and the second till the forenoon
of the third, when lo and behold! a Knight advanced towards her, falcon
on fist and followed by a greyhound. For three days he had been
wandering about the waste questing game either of birds or of beasts,
but he happened not upon either when he chanced to meet the maiden, and
seeing her said in his mind, “By Allah, yon damsel is my quarry this
very day.” So he drew near her and salam’d to her and she returned his
salute; whereupon he asked her of her condition and she informed him of
what had betided her; and his heart was softened towards her and taking
her up on his horse’s crupper he turned him homewards. Now of this
youngest sister (quoth Shahrazad) there is much to say, and we will say
it when the tale shall require the telling. But as regards the second
Princess, she ceased not floating on the plank for the space of eight
days, until she was borne by the set of the sea close under the walls of
a city: but she was like one drunken with wine when she crawled up the
shore and her raiment was in rags and her colour had wanned for excess
of affright. However, she walked onwards at a slow pace till she reached
the city and came upon a house of low stone walls. So she went in and
there finding an ancient dame sitting and spinning yarn, she gave her
good evening and the other returned it adding, “Who art thou, O my
daughter, and whence comest thou?” She answered, “O my aunt, I’m fallen
from the skies and have been met by the earth: thou needest not question
me of aught, for my heart is clean molten by the fire of grief. An thou
take me in for love and kindness ’tis well and if not I will again fare
forth on my wanderings.” When the old woman heard these words she
compassioned the maiden and her heart felt tender towards her, and she
cried, “Welcome to thee, O my daughter, sit thee down!” Accordingly she
sat her down beside her hostess and the two fell to spinning yarn
whereby to gain their daily bread: and the old dame rejoiced in her and
said, “She shall take the place of my daughter.” Now of this second
Princess (quoth Shahrazad) there is much to say and we will say it when
the tale shall require the telling. But as regards the eldest sister,
she ceased not clinging to the plank and floating over the sea till the
sixth day passed, and on the seventh she was cast upon a stead where lay
gardens distant from the town six miles. So she walked into them and
seeing fruit close-clustering she took of it and ate and donned the
cast-off dress of a man she found nearhand. Then she kept on faring till
she entered the town and here she fell to wandering about the Bazars
till she came to the shop of a Kunáfah[171]-maker who was cooking his
vermicelli; and he, seeing a fair youth in man’s habit, said to her, “O
younker, wilt thou be my servant?” “O my uncle,” she said, “I will
well;” so he settled her wage each day a quarter farthing,[172] not
including her diet. Now in that town were some fifteen shops wherein
Kunafah was made. She abode with the confectioner the first day and the
second and the third to the full number of ten, when the traces of
travel left her and fear departed from her heart, and her favour and
complexion were changed for the better and she became even as the moon,
nor could any guess that the lad was a lass. Now it was the practice of
that man to buy every day half a quartern[173] of flour and use it for
making his vermicelli; but when the so-seeming youth came to him he
would lay in each morning three quarterns; and the townsfolk heard of
this change and fell to saying, “We will never dine without the Kunafah
of the confectioner who hath in his house the youth.” This is what befel
the eldest Princess of whom (quoth Shahrazad) there is much to say and
we will say it when the tale shall require the telling. But as regards
the Queen-mother,——And Shahrazad was surprised by the dawn of day and
fell silent and ceased to say her permitted say. Then quoth her sister
Dunyazad, “How sweet is thy story, O sister mine, and how enjoyable and
delectable!” Quoth she, “And where is this compared with that I would
relate to you on the coming night an the Sovran suffer me to survive?”
Now when it was the next night and that was
The Three Hundred and Seventy-second Night,
Dunyazad said to her, “Allah upon thee, O my sister, an thou be other
than sleepy, finish for us thy tale that we may cut short the watching
of this our latter night!” She replied:——With love and good will! It
hath reached me, O auspicious King, the director, the right-guiding,
lord of the rede which is benefiting and of deeds fair-seeming and
worthy celebrating, that as regards the mother of the maidens, when the
ship broke up under them and she bestrode the bulk of timber, she came
upon the Rais in his boat manned by three of the men; so he took her on
board and they ceased not paddling for a space of three days when they
sighted a lofty island which fulfilled their desire, and its summit
towered high in air. So they made for it till they drew near it and
landed on a low side-shore where they abandoned their boat; and they
ceased not walking through the rest of that day and those that followed
till one day of the days behold, a dust-cloud suddenly appeared to them
spiring up to the skies. They fared for it and after a while it lifted,
showing beneath it a host with swords glancing and lanceheads gleams
lancing and war steeds dancing and prancing, and these were ridden by
men like unto eagles and the host was under the hands of a Sultan around
whom ensigns and banners were flying. And when this King saw the Rais
and the sailors and the woman following, he wheeled his charger
themwards to learn what tidings they brought and rode up to the
strangers and questioned them; and the castaways informed them that
their ship had broken up under them. Now the cause of this host’s taking
the field was that the King of Al-Irak, the father of the three maidens,
after he appointed the ship and saw her set out, felt uneasy at heart,
presaging evil, and feared with sore fear the shifts of Time. So he went
forth, he and his high Officials and his host, and marched adown the
longshore till, by decree of the Decreer, he suddenly and all
unexpectedly came upon his Queen who was under charge of the ship’s
captain. Presently, seeing the cavalcade and its ensigns the Rais went
forward and recognising the King hastened up to him and kissed his
stirrup and his feet. The Sultan turned towards him and knew him; so he
asked him of his state and the Rais answered by relating all that had
befallen him. Thereupon the King commanded his power to alight in that
place and they did so and set up their tents and pavilions. Then the
Sultan took seat in his Shámiyánah[174] and bade them bring his Queen
and they brought her, and when eye met eye the pair greeted each other
fondly and the father asked concerning her three children. She declared
that she had no tidings of them after the shipwreck and she knew not
whether they were dead or alive. Hereat the King wept with sore weeping
and exclaimed, “Verily we are Allah’s and unto Him we are returning!”
after which he gave orders to march from that place upon his capital.
Accordingly they stinted not faring for a space of four days till they
reached the city and he entered his citadel-palace. But every time and
every hour he was engrossed in pondering the affair of the three
Princesses and kept saying, “Would heaven I wot are they drowned or did
they escape the sea; and, if they were saved, Oh, that I knew whether
they were scattered or abode in company one with other and whatever else
may have betided them!” And he ceased not brooding over the issue of
things and kept addressing himself in speech; and neither meat was
pleasant to him nor drink. Such were his case and adventure; but as
regards the youngest sister whenas she was met by the Knight and seated
upon the crupper of his steed, he ceased not riding with her till he
reached his city and went into his citadel-palace. Now the Knight was
the son of a Sultan who had lately deceased, but a usurper had seized
the reins of rule in his stead and Time had proved a tyrant to the
youth, who had therefore addicted himself to hunting and sporting. Now
by the decree of the Decreer he had ridden forth to the chase where he
met the Princess and took her up behind him, and at the end of the ride,
when he returned to his mother, he was becharmed by her charms; so he
gave her in charge to his parent and honoured her with the highmost
possible honour and felt for her a growing fondness even as felt she for
him. And when the girl had tarried with them a month full-told she
increased in beauty and loveliness and symmetrical stature and perfect
grace; then, the heart of the youth was fulfilled with love of her and
on like wise was the soul of the damsel who, in her new affection,
forgot her mother and her sisters. But from the moment that maiden
entered his Palace the fortunes of the young Knight amended and the
world waxed propitious to him nor less did the hearts of the lieges
incline to him; so they held a meeting and said, “There shall be over us
no Sovran and no Sultan save the son of our late King; and he who at
this present ruleth us hath neither great wealth nor just claim to the
sovereignty.” Now all this benefit which accrued to the young King was
by the auspicious coming of the Princess. Presently the case was agreed
upon by all the citizens of the capital that on the morning of the next
day they would make him ruler and depose the usurper.——And Shahrazad
perceived the dawn of day and fell silent and ceased saying her
permitted say. Then quoth her sister Dunyazad, “How sweet and tasteful
is thy tale, O sister mine, and enjoyable and delectable!” Quoth she,
“And where is this compared with that I would relate to you on the
coming night an the Sovran suffer me to survive?” Now when it was the
next night and that was
The Three Hundred and Seventy-eighth Night,
Dunyazad said to her, “Allah upon thee, O my sister, an thou be other
than sleepy, finish for us thy tale that we may cut short the watching
of this our latter night!” She replied:——With love and good will! It
hath reached me, O auspicious King, the director, the right-guiding,
lord of the rede which is benefiting and of deeds fair-seeming and
worthy celebrating, that the citizens in early morning held a meeting
whereat were present the Lords of the land and the high Officials, and
they went in to the usurping Sultan determined to remove and depose him.
But he refused and forswore consent, saying, “By Allah, such thing may
not be except after battle and slaughter.” Accordingly they fared forth
and acquainted the young King who held the matter grievous and was
overridden by cark and care: however he said to them, “If there must
perforce be fighting and killing, I have treasures sufficient to levy a
host.” So saying he went away and disappeared; but presently he brought
them the moneys which they distributed to the troops. Then they repaired
to the Maydán, the field of fight outside the city, and on like guise
the usurping Sultan rode out with all his power. And when the two
opposing hosts were ranged in their forces, each right ready for the
fray, the usurper and his men charged home upon the young King and
either side engaged in fierce combat and sore slaughter befel. But the
usurper had the better of the battle and purposed to seize the young
King amidst his many when, lo and behold! appeared a Knight backing a
coal-black mare; and he was armed cap-à-pie in a coat of mail, and he
carried a spear and a mace. With these he bore down upon the usurper and
shore off his right forearm so that he fell from his destrier, and the
Knight seeing this struck him a second stroke with the sword and parted
head from body. When his army saw the usurper fall, all sought safety in
flight and _sauve qui peut_; but the army of the young King came up with
them and caused the scymitar to fall upon them so that were saved of
them only those to whom length of life was foreordained. Hereupon the
victors lost no time in gathering the spoils and the horses together;
but the young King stood gazing at the Knight and considering his
prowess; yet he failed to recognize him and after an hour or so the
stranger disappeared leaving the conqueror sorely chafed and vexed for
that he knew him not and had failed to forgather with him. After this
the young King returned from the battle-field with his band playing
behind him and he entered the seat of his power, and was raised by the
lieges to the station of his sire. Those who had escaped the slaughter
dispersed in all directions and sought safety in flight and the
partizans who had enthroned the young King thronged around him and gave
him joy as also did the general of the city, whose rejoicings were
increased thereby. Now the coming of the aforesaid Knight was a wondrous
matter. When the rightful King made ready for battle the Princess feared
for his life and, being skilled in the practice of every weapon, she
escaped the notice of the Queen-dowager and after donning her war-garb
and battle-gear she went forth to the stable and saddled her a mare and
mounted her and pushed in between the two armies. And as soon as she saw
the usurper charge down upon the young King as one determined to shed
his life’s blood, she forestalled him and attacked him and tore out the
life from between his ribs. Then she returned to her apartment nor did
any know of the deed she had done. Presently, when it was eventide the
young King entered the Palace after securing his succession to royalty;
but he was still chafed and vexed for that he knew not the Knight. His
mother met him and gave him joy of his safety and his accession to the
Sultanate, whereto he made reply, “Ah! O my mother, my length of days
was from the hand of a horseman who suddenly appearing joined us in our
hardest stress and aided me in my straitest need and saved me from
Death.” Quoth she, “O my son, hast thou recognised him?” and quoth he,
“’Twas my best desire to discover him and to stablish him as my Wazir,
but this I failed to do.” Now when the Princess heard these words she
laughed and rejoiced and still laughing said, “To whoso will make thee
acquainted with him what wilt thou give?” and said he, “Dost thou know
him?” So she replied, “I wot him not,” and he rejoined, “Then what is
the meaning of these thy words?” when she answered him in these prosaic
rhymes:[175]—
“O my lord, may I prove thy sacrifice ✿ Nor exult at thy sorrows thine
enemies!
Could unease and disease by others be borne ✿ The slave should bear load
on his lord that lies:
I’ll carry whatever makes thee complain ✿ And be my body the first that
dies.”
When he heard these words he again asked, “Dost thou know him?” and she
answered, “He? Verily we wot him not;”[176] and repeated the saying to
him a second time: withal he by no means understood her. So quoth she,
“How canst thou administer the Sultanate and yet fail to comprehend my
simple words? For indeed I have made the case clear to thee.” Hereupon
he fathomed the secret of the saying and flew to her in his joy and
clasped her to his bosom and kissed her upon the cheeks. But his mother
turned to him and said, “O my son, do not on this wise for everything
hath its time and season;”——And Shahrazad was surprised by the dawn of
day and fell silent and ceased to say her permitted say. Then quoth her
sister Dunyazad, “How sweet is thy story, O sister mine, and how
enjoyable and delectable!” Quoth she, “And where is this compared with
that I would relate to you on the coming night an the Sovran suffer me
to survive?” Now when it was the next night and that was
The Three Hundred and Seventy-fourth Night,
Dunyazad said to her, “Allah upon thee, O my sister, an thou be other
than sleepy, finish for us thy tale that we may cut short the watching
of this our latter night!” She replied:——With love and good will! It
hath reached me, O auspicious King, the director, the right-guiding,
lord of the rede which is benefiting and of deeds fair-seeming and
worthy celebrating, that the Sultan’s mother said, “O my son, everything
hath its time and season; and whoso hurrieth a matter before opportunity
befit shall be punished with the loss of it.” But he replied, “By Allah,
O my mother, thy suspicion be misplaced: I acted thus only on my
gratitude to her, for assuredly she is the Knight who came to my aidance
and who saved me from death.” And his mother excused him. They passed
that night in converse and next day at noontide the King sought the
Divan in order to issue his commandments; but when the assembly filled
the room and became as a garden of bloom the Lords of the land said to
him, “O King of the Age, ’twere not suitable that thou become Sultan
except thou take to thee a wife; and Alhamdolillah—laud to the Lord who
hath set thee on the necks of His servants and who hath restored the
realm to thee as successor of thy sire. There is no help but that thou
marry.” Quoth he, “To hear is to consent,” then he arose without stay or
delay and went in to his mother and related to her what had happened.
Quoth she, “O my son, do what becometh thee and Allah prosper thy
affairs!” He said to her, “O my mother, retire thou with the maiden and
persuade her to marriage for I want none other and I love not aught save
herself,” and said she, “With joy and gladness.” So he went from her and
she arose and was private with the damsel when she addressed her, “O my
lady, the King desireth to wed thee and he wanteth none other and he
seeketh not aught save thee.” But the Princess hearing this exclaimed,
“How shall I marry, I who have lost my kith and kin and my dear ones and
am driven from my country and my birth-place? This were a proceeding
opposed to propriety! But if it need must be and I have the fortune to
forgather with my mother and sisters and father, then and then only it
shall take place.” The mother replied, “Why this delay, O my daughter?
The Lords of the land have stood up against the King in the matter of
marriage, and in the absence of espousals we fear for his deposition.
Now maidens be many and their relations long to see each damsel wedded
to my son and become a Queen in virtue of her husband’s degree: but he
wanteth none other and loveth naught save thyself. Accordingly, an thou
wouldst take compassion on him and protect him by thy consent from the
insistence of the Grandees, deign accept him to mate.” Nor did the
Sultan’s mother cease to speak soothing words to the maiden and to
gentle her with soft language until her mind was made up and she gave
consent.[177] Upon this they began to prepare for the ceremony
forthright, and summoned the Kazi and witnesses who duly knotted the
knot of wedlock and by eventide the glad tidings of the espousals were
bruited abroad. The King bade spread bride-feasts and banqueting tables
and invited his high Officials and the Grandees of the kingdom and he
went in to the maiden that very night and the rejoicings grew in
gladness and all sorrows ceased to deal sadness. Then he proclaimed
through the capital and all the burghs that the lieges should decorate
the streets with rare tapestries and multiform in honour of the
Sultanate. Accordingly, they adorned the thoroughfares in the city and
its suburbs for forty days and the rejoicings increased when the King
fed the widows and the Fakirs and the mesquin and scattered gold and
robed and gifted and largessed till all the days of decoration were gone
by. On this wise the sky of his estate grew clear by the loyalty of the
lieges and he gave orders to deal justice after the fashion of the older
Sultans, to wit, the Chosroes and the Cæsars; and this condition endured
for three years, during which Almighty Allah blessed him by the Princess
with two men-children as they were moons. Such was the case with the
youngest Princess; but as regards the cadette, the second sister,——And
Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and fell silent and ceased saying
her permitted say. Then quoth her sister Dunyazad, “How sweet and
tasteful is thy tale, O sister mine, and enjoyable and delectable!”
Quoth she, “And where is this compared with that I would relate to you
on the coming night an the Sovran suffer me to survive?” Now when it was
the next night and that was
The Three Hundred and Seventy-fifth Night,
Dunyazad said to her, “Allah upon thee, O my sister, an thou be other
than sleepy, finish for us thy tale that we may cut short the watching
of this our latter night!” She replied:——With love and good will! It
hath reached me, O auspicious King, the director, the right-guiding,
lord of the rede which is benefiting and of deeds fair-seeming and
worthy celebrating, that as regards the case of the cadette, the second
damsel, when she was adopted to daughter by the ancient dame she fell to
spinning with her and living by the work of their hands. Now there
chanced to govern that city a Báshá[178] who had sickened with a sore
sickness till he was near unto death; and the wise men and leaches had
compounded for him of medicines a mighty matter which, however, availed
him naught. At last the tidings came to the ears of the Princess who
lived with the old woman and she said to her, “O my mother, I desire to
prepare a tasse of broth and do thou bear it to the Basha and let him
drink of it; haply will Almighty Allah vouchsafe him a cure whereby we
shall gain some good.” Said the other, “O my daughter, and how shall I
obtain admittance and who shall set the broth before him?” The maiden
replied, “O my mother, at the Gate of Allah Almighty!”[179] and the dame
rejoined, “Do thou whatso thou willest.” So the damsel arose and cooked
a tasse of broth and mingled with it sundry hot spices such as
pimento[180] and she had certain leaflets taken from the so-called
Wind-tree,[181] whereof she inserted a small portion deftly mingling the
ingredients. Then the old woman took it and set forth and walked till
she reached the Basha’s mansion where the servants and eunuchs met her
and asked her of what was with her. She answered, “This is a tasse of
broth which I have brought for the Basha that he drink of it as much as
he may fancy: haply Almighty Allah shall vouchsafe healing to him.” They
went in and reported that to the Basha who exclaimed, “Bring her to me
hither.” Accordingly, they led her within and she offered to him the
tasse of broth, whereupon he rose and sat upright and removed the cover
from the cup which sent forth a pleasant savour: so he took it and
sipped of it a spoonful and a second and a third when his heart opened
to her and he drank of it till he could no more. Now this was in the
forenoon and after finishing the soup he gave the old woman a somewhat
of dinars which she took and returned therewith to the damsel rejoicing,
and handed to her the gold pieces. But the Basha immediately after
drinking the broth felt drowsy and he slept a restful sleep till
mid-afternoon and when he awoke health had returned to his frame
beginning from the time he drank. So he asked after the ancient dame and
sent her word to prepare for him another tasse of broth like the first;
but they told him that none knew her dwelling-place. Now when the old
woman returned home the maiden asked her whether the broth had pleased
the Basha or not; and she said that it was very much to his liking; so
the girl got ready a second portion but without all the stronger
ingredients[182] of the first. Then she gave it to the dame who took it
and went forth with it and whilst the Basha was asking for her behold,
up she came and the servants took her and led her in to the Governor. On
seeing her he rose and sat upright and called for other food and when it
was brought he ate his sufficiency, albeit for a length of time he could
neither rise nor walk. But from the hour he drank all the broth he
sniffed the scent of health and he could move about as he moved when
hale and hearty. So he asked the old dame saying, “Didst thou cook this
broth?” and she answered, “O my lord, my daughter made it and sent me
with it to thee.” He exclaimed, “By Allah this maiden cannot be thy
daughter, O old woman; and she can be naught save the daughter of Kings.
But bid her every day at morning-tide cook me a tasse of the same
broth.” The other replied, “To hear is to obey,” and returned home with
this message to the damsel who did as the Basha bade the first day and
the second to the seventh day. And the Basha waxed stronger every day
and when the week was ended he took horse and rode to his
pleasure-garden. He increased continually in force and vigour till, one
day of the days, he sent for the dame and questioned her concerning the
damsel who lived with her; so she acquainted him with her case and what
there was in her of beauty and loveliness and perfect grace. Thereupon
the Basha fell in love with the girl by hearsay and without
eye-seeing[183]:——And Shahrazad was surprised by the dawn of day and
fell silent and ceased to say her permitted say. Then quoth her sister
Dunyazad, “How sweet is thy story, O sister mine, and how enjoyable and
delectable!” Quoth she, “And where is this compared with that I would
relate to you on the coming night an the Sovran suffer me to survive?”
Now when it was the next night and that was
The Three Hundred and Seventy-sixth Night,
Dunyazad said to her, “Allah upon thee, O my sister, an thou be other
than sleepy, finish for us thy tale that we may cut short the watching
of this our latter night!” She replied:——With love and good will! It
hath reached me, O auspicious King, the director, the right-guiding,
lord of the rede which is benefiting and of deeds fair-seeming and
worthy celebrating, that the Basha fell in love with the girl by hearsay
and without eye-seeing: so he changed his habit and donning a dress of
Darwaysh-cut left his mansion and threaded the streets passing from
house to house until he reached that of the old woman. He then knocked
at the entrance and she came behind it and asked “Who’s at the door?” “A
Darwaysh and a stranger,” answered he, “who knoweth no man in this town
and who is sore anhungered.” Now the ancient dame was by nature
niggardly and she had lief put him off, but the damsel said to her,
“Turn him not away,” and quoting ‘Honour to the foreigner is a duty,’
said, “So do thou let him in.” She admitted him and seated him when the
maiden brought him a somewhat of food and stood before him in his
service. He ate one time and ten times he gazed at the girl until he had
eaten his sufficiency when he washed his hands and rising left the house
and went his ways. But his heart flamed with love of the Princess and he
was deeply enamoured of her and he ceased not walking until he reached
his mansion whence he sent for the old woman. And when they brought her,
he produced a mint of money and a sumptuous dress in which he requested
and prayed her to attire the damsel: then the old woman took it and
returned to her protegée, saying to herself, “By Allah, if the girl
accept the Basha and marry him she will prove sensible as fortunate; but
an she be not content so to do I will turn her out of my door.” When she
went in she gave her the dress and bade her don it, but the damsel
refused till the old woman coaxed her and persuaded her to try it on.
Now when the dame left the Basha, he privily assumed a woman’s habit and
followed in her footsteps; and at last he entered the house close behind
her and beheld the Princess in the sumptuous dress. Then the fire of his
desire flamed higher in his heart and he lacked patience to part from
her, so he returned to his mansion with mind preoccupied and vitals
yearning. Thither he summoned the old woman and asked her to demand the
girl in marriage and was instant with her and cried, “No help but this
must be.” Accordingly she returned home and acquainted the girl with
what had taken place adding, “O my daughter, verily the Basha loveth
thee and his wish is to wed thee: he hath been a benefactor to us, and
thou wilt never meet his like; for that he is deeply enamoured of thee
and the byword saith, ‘Reward of lover is return of love.’” And the
ancient dame ceased not gentling her and plying her with friendly words
till she was soothed and gave consent. Then she returned to the Basha
and informed him of her success, so he joyed with exceeding joy, and
without stay or delay bade slaughter beeves and prepare bridal feasts
and spread banquets whereto he invited the notables of his government:
after which he summoned the Kazi who tied the knot and he went in to her
that night. And of the abundance of his love he fared not forth from her
till seven days had sped; and he ceased not to cohabit with her for a
span of five years during which Allah vouchsafed to him a man-child by
her and two daughters. Such was the case with the cadette Princess; but
as regards the eldest sister, when she entered the city in youth’s
attire she was accosted by the Kunáfah-baker and was hired for a daily
wage of a Mídí of silver besides her meat and drink in his house. Now
’twas the practice of that man every day to buy half a quartern of flour
and thereof make his vermicelli; but when the so-seeming youth came to
him he would buy and work up three quarterns; and all the folk who
bought Kunafah of him would flock to his shop with the view of gazing
upon the beauty and loveliness of the Youth and said, “Exalted be He who
created and perfected what He wrought in the creation of this young
man!” Now by the decree of the Decreer the baker’s shop faced the
lattice-windows of the Sultan’s Palace and one day of the days the
King’s daughter chanced to look out at the window and she saw the Youth
standing with sleeves tucked up from arms which shone like ingots[184]
of silver. Hereat the Princess fell in love with the Youth,——And
Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and fell silent and ceased saying
her permitted say. Then quoth her sister Dunyazad, “How sweet and
tasteful is thy tale, O sister mine, and enjoyable and delectable!”
Quoth she, “And where is this compared with that I would relate to you
on the coming night an the Sovran suffer me to survive?” Now when it was
the next night and that was
The Three Hundred and Seventy-seventh Night,
Dunyazad said to her, “Allah upon thee, O my sister, an thou be other
than sleepy finish for us thy tale that we may cut short the watching of
this our latter night!” She replied:——With love and good will! It hath
reached me, O auspicious King, the director, the right-guiding, lord of
the rede which is benefiting and of deeds fair-seeming and worthy
celebrating, that when the Sultan’s daughter looked out at the window
she fell in love with the youth, and she knew not how to act that she
might forgather with him: so desire afflicted her and extreme fondness
and presently she took to her pillow all for her affection to that young
man. Thereupon her nurse went in to her and found her lying upon her
carpet-bed a-moaning and a-groaning “Ah!” So she exclaimed, “Thy safety
from all whereof thou hast to complain!” Then she took her hand and felt
her pulse but could find in it no symptoms of sickness bodily, whereupon
she said, “O my lady, thou hast no unease save what eyesight hath
brought thee.” She replied, “O my mother, do thou keep sacred my secret,
and if thy hand can reach so far as to bring me my desire, prithee do
so;” and the nurse rejoined, “O my lady, like me who can keep a secret?
therefore confide to me thy longing and Allah vouchsafe thee thy dearest
hope.” Said the Princess, “O my mother, my heart is lost to the young
man who worketh in the vermicelli-baker’s shop and if I fail to be
united with him I shall die of grief.” The nurse replied, “By Allah, O
my lady, he is the fairest of his age and indeed I lately passed by him
as his sleeves were tucked up above his forearms and he ravished my
wits: I longed to accost him but shame overcame me in presence of those
who were round him, some buying Kunafah and others gazing on his beauty
and loveliness, his symmetric stature and his perfect grace. But I, O my
lady, will do thee a service and cause thee forgather with him ere
long.” Herewith the heart of the Princess was solaced and she promised
the nurse all good. Then the old woman left her and fell to devising how
she should act in order to bring about a meeting between her and the
youth or carry him into the Palace. So she went to the baker’s shop and
bringing out an Ashrafi[185] said to him, “Take, O Master, this gold
piece and make me a platter[186] of vermicelli meet for the best and
send it for me by this Youth who shall bring it to my home that be near
hand: I cannot carry it myself.” Quoth the baker in his mind, “By Allah,
good pay is this gold piece and a Kunafah is worth ten silverlings; so
all the rest is pure profit.” And he replied, “On my head and eyes be
it, O my lady;” and taking the Ashrafi made her a plate of vermicelli
and bade his servant bear it to her house. So he took it up and
accompanied the nurse till she reached the Princess’s palace when she
went in and seated the Youth in an out-of-the-way closet. Then she
repaired to her nursling and said, “Rise up, O my lady, for I have
brought thee thy desire.” The Princess sprang to her feet in hurry and
flurry and fared till she came to the closet; then, going in she found
the Youth who had set down the Kunafah and who was standing in
expectation of the nurse’s return that he and she might wend homewards.
And suddenly the Sultan’s daughter came in and bade the Youth be seated
beside her, and when he took seat she clasped him to her bosom of her
longing for him and fell to kissing him on the cheeks and mouth ever
believing him to be a male masculant, till her hot desire for him was
quenched.[187] Then she gave to him two golden dinars and said to him,
“O my lord and coolth of my eyes, do thou come hither every day that we
may take our pleasure, I and thou.” He said, “To hear is to obey,” and
went forth from her hardly believing in his safety, for he had learnt
that she was the Sultan’s daughter, and he walked till he reached the
shop of his employer to whom he gave the twenty dinars. Now when the
baker saw the gold, affright and terror entered his heart and he asked
his servant whence the money came; and, when told of the adventure, his
horror and dismay increased and he said to himself, “An this case of
ours continue, either the Sultan will hear that this youth practiseth
upon his daughter, or she will prove in the family way and ’twill end in
our deaths and the ruin of our country. The lad must quit this evil
path.” Thereupon quoth he to the Youth, “From this time forwards do thou
cease faring forth thereto,” whereat quoth the other, “I may not prevent
myself from going and I dread death an I go not.” So the man cried, “Do
whatso may seem good to thee.” Accordingly, the Princess in male attire
fell to going every morning and meeting the Sultan’s daughter, till one
day of the days she went in and the twain sat down and laughed and
enjoyed themselves, when lo and behold! the King entered. And as soon as
he espied the youth and saw him seated beside his daughter, he commanded
him be arrested and they arrested him;——And Shahrazad was surprised by
the dawn of day and fell silent and ceased to say her permitted say.
Then quoth her sister Dunyazad, “How sweet is thy story, O sister mine,
and how enjoyable and delectable!” Quoth she, “And where is this
compared with that I would relate to you on the coming night an the
Sovran suffer me to survive?” Now when it was the next night and that
was
The Three Hundred and Seventy-eighth Night,
Dunyazad said to her, “Allah upon thee, O my sister, an thou be other
than sleepy, finish for us thy tale that we may cut short the watching
of this our latter night!” She replied:——With love and good will! It
hath reached me, O auspicious King, the director, the right-guiding,
lord of the rede which is benefiting and of deeds fair-seeming and
worthy celebrating, that when the Sultan entered and saw the youth
sitting beside his daughter he commanded him to be arrested and they
arrested him; they also seized the Princess and bound her forearms to
her sides with straitest bonds. Then the King summoned the Linkman and
bade him smite off both their heads: so he took them and went down with
them to the place of execution. But when the tidings reached the
Kunáfáni he shut up shop without stay and delay and fled. Presently the
Sultan said in his mind, “Fain would I question the Youth touching his
object in entering hither, and ask him who conducted him to my daughter
and how he won access to her.” Accordingly he sent to bring back the
twain and imprisoned them till nightfall: then he went in to his Harem
and caused his daughter’s person to be examined, and when they inspected
her she proved to be a pure maid. This made the King marvel, for he
supposed that the Youth must have undone her maidenhead;[188] so he sent
for him to the presence, and when he came he considered him and found
him fairer even than his daughter; nay, far exceeding her in beauty and
loveliness. So he cried, “By Allah this be a wondrous business! Verily
my daughter hath excuse for loving this Youth nor to my judgment doth
she even him in charms: not the less this affair is a shame to us, and
the foulest of stains and needs must the twain be done to death
to-morrow morning!” Herewith he commanded the jailer to take the Youth
and to keep him beside him and he shut up the girl with her nurse. The
jailer forthwith led his charge to the jail; but it so happened that its
portal was low; and, when the Youth was ordered to pass through it, he
bent his brow downwards for easier entrance, when his turband struck
against the lintel and fell from his head. The jailer turned to look at
him, and behold, his hair was braided and the plaits being loosed
gleamed like an ingot of gold. He felt assured that the youth was a
maiden so he returned to the King in all haste and hurry and cried,
“Pardon, O our lord the Sultan!” “Allah pardon us and thee;” replied the
King, and the man rejoined, “O King of the Age, yonder Youth is no boy;
nay, he be a virgin girl.” Quoth the Sultan, “What sayest thou?” and
quoth the other, “By the truth of Him who made thee ruler of the necks
of His worshippers, O King of the Age, verily this is a maiden.” So he
bade the prison-keeper bring her and set her in his presence and he
returned with her right soon, but now she paced daintily as the gazelle
and veiled her face, because she saw that the jailer had discovered her
sex. The King then commanded them carry her to the Harem whither he
followed her and presently, having summoned his daughter, he questioned
her concerning the cause of her union with the so-seeming Youth.
Herewith she related all that had happened with perfect truth: he also
put questions to the Princess in man’s habit, but she stood abashed
before him and was dumb, unable to utter a single word. As soon as it
was morning, the Sultan asked of the place where the Youth had dwelt and
they told him that he lodged with a Kunáfah-baker, and the King bade
fetch the man, when they reported that he had fled. However, the Sultan
was instant in finding him, so they went forth and sought him for two
days when they secured him and set him between the royal hands. He
enquired into the Youth’s case and the other replied, “By Allah, O King
of the Age, between me and him were no questionings and I wot not whence
may be his origin.” The Monarch rejoined, “O man, thou hast my plighted
word for safety, so continue thy business as before and now gang thy
gait.” Then he turned to the maiden and repeated his enquiries, when she
made answer saying, “O my lord, my tale is wondrous and my adventures
marvellous.” “And what may they be?” he asked her.——And Shahrazad was
surprised by the dawn of day and fell silent and ceased saying her
permitted say. Then quoth her sister Dunyazad, “How sweet and tasteful
is thy tale, O sister mine, and enjoyable and delectable!” Quoth she,
“And where is this compared with that I would relate to you on the
coming night an the Sovran suffer me to survive?” Now when it was the
next night and that was
The Three Hundred and Seventy-ninth Night,
Dunyazad said to her, “Allah upon thee, O my sister, an thou be other
than sleepy, finish for us thy tale that we may cut short the watching
of this our latter night!” She replied:——With love and good will! It
hath reached me, O auspicious King, the director, the right-guiding,
lord of the rede which is benefiting and of deeds fair-seeming and
worthy celebrating, that the Princess said to the Sultan, “In very sooth
my tale is passing strange,” and he besought her to recount it. So she
began to disclose the whole of her history and the adventures which had
befallen her and her sisters and their mother; especially of the
shipwreck in middlemost ocean and of her coming to land; after which she
told the affair of the Wazir burnt by her sire, that traitor who had
separated children from father and, brief, all that had betided them
from first to last. Hearing her soft speech and her strange story the
Sultan marvelled and his heart inclined herwards; then he gave her in
charge to the Palace women and conferred upon her favours and benefits.
But when he looked upon her beauty and loveliness, her brilliancy and
perfect grace he fell deeply in love with her, and his daughter hearing
the accidents which had happened to the Princess’s father cried, “By
Allah, the story of this damsel should be chronicled in a book, that it
become the talk of posterity and be quoted as an instance of the
omnipotence of Allah Almighty; for He it is who parteth and scattereth
and re-uniteth.” So saying she took her and carried her to her own
apartment where she entreated her honourably; and the maiden, after she
had spent a month in the Palace, showed charms grown two-fold and even
more. At last one day of the days, as she sat beside the King’s daughter
in her chamber about eventide, when the sun was hot after a sultry
summer day and her cheeks had flushed rosy red, behold, the Sultan
entered passing through the room on his way to the Harem and his glance
undesignedly[189] fell upon the Princess who was in home gear, and he
looked a look of eyes that cost him a thousand sighs. So he was
astounded and stood motionless knowing not whether to go or to come; and
when his daughter sighted him in such plight she went up to him and
said, “What hath betided thee and brought thee to this condition?” Quoth
he, “By Allah, this girl hath stolen my senses from my soul: I am fondly
enamoured of her and if thou aid me not by asking her in marriage and I
fail to wed her ’twill make my wits go clean bewildered.” Thereupon the
King’s daughter returned to the damsel and drawing near her said, “O my
lady and light of my eyes, indeed my father hath seen thee in thy
deshabille and he hath hung[190] all his hopes upon thee, so do not thou
contrary my words nor the counsel I am about to offer thee.” “And what
may that be, O my lady?” asked she, and the other answered, “My wish is
to marry thee to my sire and thou be to him wife and he be to thee man.”
But when the maiden heard these words she wept with bitter weeping till
she sobbed aloud and cried, “Time hath mastered us and decreed
separation: I know nothing of my mother and sisters and father, an they
be dead or on life, and whether they were drowned or came to ground;
then how should I enjoy a bridal fête when they may be in mortal sadness
and sorrow?” But the other ceased not to soothe her and array fair words
against her and show her fondly friendship till her soul consented to
wedlock. Presently the other brought out to her what habit befitted the
occasion still comforting her heart with pleasant converse,[191] after
which she carried the tidings to her sire. So he sent forthright to
summon his Lords of the reign and Grandees of the realm and the knot was
tied between them twain; and, going in unto her that night, he found her
a hoard wherefrom the spell had freshly been dispelled; and of his
longing for her and his desire to her he abode with her two se’nnights
never going forth from her or by night or by day. Hereat the dignitaries
of his empire were sore vexed for that their Sultan ceased to appear at
the Divan and deal commandment between man and man, and his daughter
went in and acquainted him therewith. He asked her how long he had
absented himself and she answered saying, “Knowest thou how long thou
hast tarried in the Palace?” whereto he replied “Nay.” “Fourteen whole
days,” cried she, whereupon he exclaimed, “By Allah, O my daughter, I
thought to myself that I had spent with her two days and no more.” And
his daughter wondered to hear his words. Such was the case of the
cadette Princess; but as regards the King, the father of the damsel,
when he forgathered with the mother of his three daughters and she told
him of the shipwreck and the loss of her children he determined to
travel in search of the three damsels, he and the Wazir habited as
Darwayshes——And Shahrazad was surprised by the dawn of day and fell
silent and ceased to say her permitted say. Then quoth her sister
Dunyazad, “How sweet is thy story, O sister mine, and how enjoyable and
delectable!” Quoth she, “And where is this compared with that I would
relate to you on the coming night an the Sovran suffer me to survive?”
Now when it was the next night and that was
The Three Hundred and Eightieth Night,
Dunyazad said to her, “Allah upon thee, O my sister, an thou be other
than sleepy, finish for us thy tale that we may cut short the watching
of this our latter night!” She replied:——With love and good will! It
hath reached me, O auspicious King, the director, the right-guiding,
lord of the rede which is benefiting and of deeds fair-seeming and
worthy celebrating, that the Sultan resolved to travel in search of his
children (the three damsels) he and his Wazir habited as Darwayshes. So
leaving the government in charge of his wife he went forth and the twain
in their search first visited the cities on the seaboard beginning with
the nearest; but they knew not what was concealed from them in the world
of the future. They stinted not travelling for the space of a month till
they came to a city whose Sultan had a place hight Al-Dijlah[192]
whereupon he had built a Palace. The Darwayshes made for it and found
the King sitting in his Kiosque[193] accompanied by two little lads, the
elder eight years old and the second six. They drew near to him and
saluting him offered their services and blessed him, wishing him length
of life as is the fashion when addressing royalties; and he returned
their greetings and made them draw near and showed them kindness; also,
when it was eventide he bade his men serve them with somewhat of food.
On the next day the King fared forth to Tigris-bank and sat in his
Kiosque together with the two boys. Now the Darwayshes had hired them a
cell in the Khan whence it was their daily wont to issue forth and
wander about the city asking for what they sought; and this day they
again came to the place wherein sat the Sultan and they marvelled at the
fair ordinance of the Palace. They continued to visit it every day till
one day of the days the two went out, according to their custom, and
when entering the Palace one of the King’s children, which was the
younger, came up to them and fell to considering them as if he had
forgotten his own existence. This continued till the Darwayshes retired
to their cell in the caravanserai whither the boy followed them to carry
out the Secret Purpose existing in the All-knowledge of Allah. And when
the two sat down the Sultan’s son went in to them and fell to gazing
upon them and solacing himself with the sight, when the elder Darwaysh
clasped him to his bosom and fell to kissing his cheeks, marvelling at
his semblance and at his beauty; and the boy in his turn forgot his
father and his mother and took to the old man. Now whenas night fell the
Sultan retired homewards fancying that his boy had foregone him to his
mother while the Sultánah fancied that her child was with his father,
and this endured till such time as the King had entered the Harem. But
only the elder child was found there so the Sultan asked, “Where is the
second boy?” and the Queen answered, “Day by day thou takest them with
thee to Tigris-bank and thou bringest them back; but to-day only the
elder hath returned.” Thereupon they sought him but found him not and
the mother buffeted her face in grief for her child and the father lost
his right senses. Then the high Officials fared forth to search for
their King’s son and sought him from early night to the dawn of day, but
not finding him they deemed that he had been drowned in Tigris-water. So
they summoned all the fishermen and divers and caused them to drag the
river for a space of four days. All this time and the boy abode with the
Darwayshes, who kept saying to him, “Go to thy father and thy mother;”
but he would not obey them and he would sit with the Fakirs upon whom
all his thoughts were fixed while theirs were fixed upon him. This
lasted till the fifth day when the door-keeper unsummoned entered the
cell and found the Sultan’s son sitting with the old men; so he went out
hurriedly and repairing to the King cried, “O my Sovran, thy boy is with
those Darwayshes who were wont daily to visit thee.” Now when the Sultan
heard the porter’s words, he called aloud to his Eunuchs and
Chamberlains and gave them his orders; when they ran a race, as it were,
till they entered upon the holy men and carried them from their cell
together with the boy and set all four[194] before the Sultan. The King
exclaimed, “Verily these Darwayshes must be spies and their object was
to carry off my boy;” so he took up his child and clasped him to his
bosom and kissed him again and again of his yearning fondness to him,
and presently he sent him to his mother who was well-nigh frantic. Then
he committed the two Fakirs (with commands to decapitate them) to the
Linkman who took them and bound their hands and bared their heads and
fell to crying, “This be his reward and the least of awards who turneth
traitor and kidnappeth the sons of the Kings;” and as he cried all the
citizens great and small flocked to the spectacle. But when the boy
heard the proclamation, he went forth in haste till he stood before the
elder Darwaysh who was still kneeling upon the rug of blood and threw
himself upon him at full length till the Grandees of his father forcibly
removed him. Then the executioner stepped forward purposing to strike
the necks of the two old men and he raised his sword hand till the dark
hue of his armpit showed[195] and he would have dealt the blow when the
boy again made for the elder Fakir and threw himself upon him not only
once but twice and thrice, preventing the Sworder’s stroke and abode
clinging to the old man. The Sultan cried, “This Darwaysh is a
Sorcerer:” but when the tidings reached the Sultanah, the boy’s mother,
she exclaimed, “O King, needs must this Darwaysh have a strange tale to
tell, for the boy is wholly absorbed in him. So it is not possible to
slay him on this wise till thou summon him to the presence and question
him: I also will listen to him behind the curtain and thus none shall
hear him save our two selves.” The King did her bidding and commanded
the old man to be brought: so they took him from under the sword and set
him before the King——And Shahrazad was surprised by the dawn of day and
fell silent and ceased saying her permitted say. Then quoth her sister
Dunyazad, “How sweet and tasteful is thy tale, O sister mine, and
enjoyable and delectable!” Quoth she, “And where is this compared with
that I would relate to you on the coming night an the Sovran suffer me
to survive?” Now when it was the next night and that was
The Three Hundred and Eighty-first Night,
Dunyazad said to her, “Allah upon thee, O my sister, an thou be other
than sleepy, finish for us thy tale that we may cut short the watching
of this our latter night!” She replied:——With love and good will! It
hath reached me, O auspicious King, the director, the right-guiding,
lord of the rede which is benefiting and of deeds fair-seeming and
worthy celebrating, that at the King’s bidding they took up the Fakir
who was still kneeling under the glaive and set him before the King who
bade him be seated. And when he sat him down the Sultan commanded all
who were in the presence of Eunuchs and Chamberlains to withdraw, and
they withdrew leaving the Sovran with the old religious. But the second
Darwaysh still knelt in his bonds under the sword of the Sworder who,
standing over against his head, kept looking for the royal signal to
strike. Then cried the King, “O Mendicant, what drove thee to take my
son, the core of my heart?” He replied, “By Allah, O King, I took him
not for mine own pleasure; but he would not go from me and I threatened
him, withal he showed no fear till this destiny descended upon us.” Now
when the Sultan heard these words his heart softened to the old man and
he pitied him while the Sultanah who sat behind the curtain fell to
weeping aloud. Presently the King said, “O Darwaysh, relate to us thy
history, for needs must it be a singular;” but the old man began to shed
tears and said, “O King of the Age, I have a marvellous adventure which
were it graven with needle-gravers upon the eye corners were a warning
to whoso would be warned.” The Sultan was surprised and replied, “What
then may be thy history, O Mendicant?” and the other rejoined, “O King
of the Age, I will recount it to thee.”[196] Accordingly he told him of
his kingship and the Wazir tempting his wife and of her slaying the
nurse, the slave-girls, and the Eunuch; but when he came to this point
the Sultanah ran out in haste and hurry from behind the curtain and
rushing up to the Darwaysh threw herself upon his bosom. The King seeing
this marvelled and in a fury of jealousy clapped hand to hilt crying to
the Fakir, “This be most unseemly behaviour!” But the Queen replied,
“Hold thy hand, by Allah, he is my father and I am his loving daughter;”
and she wept and laughed alternately[197] all of the excess of her joy.
Hereat the King wondered and bade release the second religious and
exclaimed, “Sooth he spake who said:—
Allah joineth the parted when think the twain ✿ With firmest thought
ne’er to meet again.”
Then the Sultanah began recounting to him the history of her sire and
specially what befel him from his Wazir; and he, when he heard her
words, felt assured of their truth. Presently he bade them change the
habits of her father and of his Wazir and dress them with the dress of
Kings; and he set apart for them an apartment and allotted to them
rations of meat and drink; so extolled be He who disuniteth and
re-uniteth! Now the Sultanah in question was the youngest daughter of
the old King who had been met by the Knight when out hunting, the same
that owed all his fair fortunes to her auspicious coming. Accordingly
the father was assured of having found the lost one and was delighted to
note her high degree; but after tarrying with her for a time he asked
permission of his son-in-law to set out in quest of her two sisters and
he supplicated Almighty Allah to reunite him with the other twain as
with this first one. Thereupon quoth the Sultan, “It may not be save
that I accompany thee, for otherwise haply some mishap of the world may
happen to thee.” Then the three sat down in council debating what they
should do and in fine they agreed to travel, taking with them some of
the Lords of the land and Chamberlains and Nabobs. They made ready and
after three days they marched out of the city——And Shahrazad was
surprised by the dawn of day and fell silent and ceased to say her
permitted say. Then quoth her sister Dunyazad, “How sweet is thy story,
O sister mine, and how enjoyable and delectable!” Quoth she, “And where
is this compared with that I would relate to you on the coming night an
the Sovran suffer me to survive?” Now when it was the next night and
that was
The Three Hundred and Eighty-second Night,
Dunyazad said to her, “Allah upon thee, O my sister, an thou be other
than sleepy, finish for us thy tale that we may cut short the watching
of this our latter night!” She replied:——With love and good will! It
hath reached me, O auspicious King, the director, the right-guiding,
lord of the rede which is benefiting and of deeds fair-seeming and
worthy celebrating, that the old King marched forth the city accompanied
by his son-in-law and his Wazir after the Sultan had supplied his own
place by a Viceregent who would carry out his commandments. Then they
turned to travelling in quest of the two lost daughters and stinted not
their wayfare for a space of twenty days, when they drew near a city
lofty of base, and, finding a spacious camping-plain, thereon pitched
their tents. The time was set of sun, so the cooks applied themselves to
getting ready the evening meal and when supper was served up all ate
what sufficed them, and it was but little because of the travails of
travel, and they nighted in that site until morn was high. Now the ruler
of that city was a Sultan mighty of might, potent of power and exceeding
in energy; and he was surprised to hear a Chamberlain report to him
saying, “O King of the Age, after an eventless night early this morning
we found outside thy capital tents and pavilions with standards and
banners planted overagainst them and all this after the fashion of the
Kings.” The Sovran replied, “There is no help but that to these
creations of Allah some requirement is here: however, we will learn
their tidings.” So he took horse with his Grandees and made for the
ensigns and colours, and drawing near he noted gravity and majesty in
the array and eunuchs and followers and serving-men standing ready to do
duty. Then he dismounted and walked till he approached the bystanders
whom he greeted with the salam. They salam’d in return and received him
with most honourable reception and highmost respect till they had
introduced him into the royal Shahmiyánah; when the two Kings rose to
him and welcomed him and he wished them long life in such language as is
spoken by Royalties; and all sat down to converse one with other. Now
the Lord of the city had warned his people before he fared forth that
dinner must be prepared; so when it was mid-forenoon the
Farrásh-folk[198] spread the tables with trays of food and the guests
came forward, one and all, and enjoyed their meal and were gladdened.
Then the dishes were carried away for the servants and talk went round
till sunset, at which time the King again ordered food to be brought and
all supped till they had their sufficiency. But the Sultan kept
wondering in his mind and saying, “Would Heaven I wot the cause of these
two Kings coming to us!” and when night fell the strangers prayed him to
return home and to revisit them next morning. So he farewelled them and
fared forth. This lasted three days, during which time he honoured them
with all honour, and on the fourth he got ready for them a banquet and
invited them to his Palace. They mounted and repaired thither when he
set before them food; and as soon as they had fed, the trays were
removed and coffee and confections and sherbets were served up and they
sat talking and enjoying themselves till supper-tide when they sought
permission to hie campwards. But the Sultan of the city sware them to
pass the night with him; so they returned to their session till the
father of the damsels said, “Let each of us tell a tale that our waking
hours may be the more pleasant.” “Yes,” they replied and all agreed in
wishing that the Sultan of the city would begin. Now by the decree of
the Decreer the lattice-window of the Queen opened upon the place of
session and she could see them and hear every word they said. He began,
“By Allah I have to relate an adventure which befel me and ’tis one of
the wonders of our time.” Quoth they, “And what may it be?”——And
Shahrazad was surprised by the dawn of day and fell silent and ceased
saying her permitted say. Then quoth her sister Dunyazad, “How sweet and
tasteful is thy tale, O sister mine, and enjoyable and delectable!”
Quoth she, “And where is this compared with that I would relate to you
on the coming night an the Sovran suffer me to survive?” Now when it was
the next night and that was
The Three Hundred and Eighty-third Night,
Dunyazad said to her, “Allah upon thee, O my sister, an thou be other
than sleepy, finish for us thy tale that we may cut short the watching
of this our latter night!” She replied:——With love and good will! It
hath reached me, O auspicious King, the director, the right-guiding,
lord of the rede which is benefiting and of deeds fair seeming and
worthy celebrating, that the Sultan of the city said, “In such a year I
had a malady which none availed to medicine until at last an old woman
came to me bearing a tasse of broth which when I drank caused health
return to me. So I bade her bring me a cupful every day and I drank it
till, after a time, I chanced to ask her who made that broth and she
answered that it was her daughter. And one day I assumed a disguise and
went to the ancient dame’s house and there saw the girl who was a model
of beauty and loveliness, brilliancy, symmetric stature and perfect
grace, and seeing her I lost my heart to her, and asked her to wife.”
She answered, “How can I wed; I separated from my sisters and parents
and all unknowing what hath become of them?” Now when the father of the
damsels heard these words, tears rolled down his cheeks in rills and he
remembered his two lost girls and wept and moaned and complained, the
Sultan looking on in astonishment the while; and when he went to his
Queen he found her lying in a fainting fit. Hereupon he cried out her
name and seated her and she on coming to exclaimed, “By Allah, he who
wept before you is my very father: by Him who created me I have no doubt
thereof!” So the Sultan went down to his father-in-law and led him up to
the Harem, and the daughter rose and met him and they threw their arms
round each other’s necks, and fondly greeted each other. After this the
old King passed the night relating to her what had befallen him while
she recounted to him whatso hath betided her, from first to last,
whereupon their rejoicings increased and the father thanked Almighty
Allah for having found two of his three children. The old King and his
sons-in-law and his Wazir ceased not to enjoy themselves in the city,
eating and drinking[199] and making merry for a space of two days when
the father asked aidance of his daughters’ husbands to seek his third
child that the general joy might be perfected. This request they granted
and resolved to journey with him; so they made their preparations for
travel and issued forth the city together with sundry Lords of the land
and high Dignitaries, all taking with them what was required of rations.
Then travelling together in a body they faced the march. This was their
case; but as regards the third daughter (she who in man’s attire had
served the Kunáfah-baker), after being married to the Sultan his love
for her and desire to her only increased and she cohabited with him for
a length of time. But one day of the days she called to mind her parents
and her kith and kin and her native country, so she wept with sorest
weeping till she swooned away and when she recovered she rose without
stay or delay and taking two suits of Mameluke’s habits patiently
awaited the fall of night. Presently she donned one of the dresses and
went down to the stables where, finding all the grooms asleep, she
saddled her a stallion of the noblest strain and clinging to the near
side mounted him. Then, having supplicated the veiling of the Veiler,
she fared undercover of the glooms for her own land, all unweeting the
way, and when night gave place to day she saw herself amidst mountains
and sands; nor did she know what she should do. However she found on a
hill-flank some remnants of the late rain which she drank; then, loosing
the girths of her horse she gave him also to drink and she was about to
take her rest in that place when, lo and behold! a lion big of bulk and
mighty of might drew near her and he was lashing his tail[200] and
roaring thunderously.——And Shahrazad was surprised by the dawn of day
and fell silent and ceased to say her permitted say. Then quoth her
sister Dunyazad, “How sweet is thy story, O sister mine, and how
enjoyable and delectable!” Quoth she, “And where is this compared with
that I would relate to you on the coming night an the Sovran suffer me
to survive?” Now when it was the next night and that was
The Three Hundred and Eighty-fourth Night,
Dunyazad said to her, “Allah upon thee, O my sister, an thou be other
than sleepy, finish for us thy tale that we may cut short the watching
of this our latter night!” She replied:——With love and good will! It
hath reached me, O auspicious King, the director, the right-guiding,
lord of the rede which is benefiting and of deeds fair-seeming and
worthy celebrating, that when the lion advanced to spring upon the
Princess who was habited as a Mameluke, and rushed to rend her in
pieces, she, seeing her imminent peril, sprang up in haste and bared her
blade and met him brand in hand saying, “Or he will slay me or I slay
him.” But as she was hearty of heart she advanced till the two met and
fell to fight and struck each at other, but the lion waxed furious and
gnashed his tusks, now retreating and now circuiting around her and then
returning to front his foe purposing to claw her, when she heartened her
heart and without giving ground she swayed her sabre with all the force
of her forearm and struck the beast between the eyes and the blade came
out gleaming between his thighs and he sank on earth life-forlore and
weltering in his gore. Presently she wiped her scymitar and returned it
to its sheath; then, drawing a whittle she came up to the carcass
intending to skin it for her own use, when behold, there towered from
afar two dust-clouds, one from the right and the other from the left,
whereat she withdrew from flaying the lion’s fell and applied herself to
looking out. Now by the decree of the Decreer the first dust-cloud
approaching her was that raised by the host of her father and his
sons-in-law who, when they drew near all stood to gaze upon her and
consider her, saying in wonderment one to other, “How can this white
slave (and he a mere lad) have slain this lion single-handed? Walláhi,
had that beast charged down upon us he had scattered us far and wide,
and haply he had torn one of us to pieces. By Allah, this matter is
marvellous!” But the Mameluke looked mainly at the old King whom he knew
to be his sire for his heart went forth to him. Meanwhile the second
dust-cloud approached until those beneath it met the others who had
foregone them, and behold, under it was the husband of the disguised
Princess and his many. Now the cause of this King marching forth and
coming thither was this. When he entered the Palace intending for the
Harem, he found not his Queen, and he fared forth to seek her and
presently by the decree of the Decreer the two hosts met at the place
where the lion had been killed. The Sultan gazed upon the Mameluke and
marvelled at his slaying the monster and said to himself, “Now were this
white slave mine I would share with him my good and stablish him in my
kingdom.” Herewith the Mameluke came forward and flayed the lion of his
fell and gutted him; then, lighting a fire he roasted somewhat of his
flesh until it was sufficiently cooked all gazing upon him the while and
marvelling at the heartiness of his heart. And when the meat was ready,
he carved it and setting it upon a Sufrah[201] of leather said to all
present, “Bismillah, eat, in the name of Allah, what Fate hath given to
you!” Thereupon all came forward and fell to eating of the lion’s flesh
except the Princess’s husband who was not pleased to join them and said,
“By Allah, I will not eat of this food until I learn the case of this
youth.”[202] Now the Princess had recognised her spouse from the moment
of his coming, but she was concealed from him by her Mameluke’s
clothing; and he disappeared time after time then returned to gaze upon
the white slave, eyeing now his eyes now his sides and now the turn of
his neck and saying privily in his mind, “Laud to the Lord who created
and fashioned him! By Allah this Mameluke is the counterpart of my wife
in eyes and nose, and all his form and features are made likest-like
unto hers. So extolled be He who hath none similar and no equal!” He was
drowned in this thought but all the rest ate till they had eaten enough;
then they sat down to pass the rest of their day and their night in that
stead. When it was dawn each and every craved leave to depart upon his
own business; but the Princess’s husband asked permission to wander in
quest of her while the old King, the father of the damsels, determined
to go forth with his two sons-in-law and find the third and last of his
lost daughters. Then the Mameluke said to them, “O my lords, sit we
down, I and you, for the rest of the day in this place and to-morrow I
will travel with you.” Now the Princess for the length of her wanderings
(which began too when she was a little one) had forgotten the semblance
of her sire; but when she looked upon the old King her heart yearned
unto him and she fell to talking with him, while he on his part whenever
he gazed at her felt a like longing and sought speech of her. So the
first who consented to the Mameluke’s proposal was the sire whose desire
was naught save to sit beside her; then the rest also agreed to pass the
day reposing in that place, for that it was a pleasant mead and a
spacious, garnished with green grass and bright with bourgeon and
blossom. So they took seat there till sundown when each brought out what
victual he had and all ate their full and then fell to conversing; and
presently said the Princess, “O my lords, let each of you tell us a tale
which he deemeth strange.” Her father broke in saying, “Verily this rede
be right and the first to recount will be I, for indeed mine is a rare
adventure.” Then he began his history telling them that he was born a
King and that such-and-such things had befallen him and so forth until
the end of his tale; and the Princess hearing his words was certified
that he was her sire. So presently she said, “And I too have a strange
history.”——And Shahrazad was surprised by the dawn of day and fell
silent and ceased saying her permitted say. Then quoth her sister
Dunyazad, “How sweet and tasteful is thy tale, O sister mine, and
enjoyable and delectable!” Quoth she, “And where is this compared with
that I would relate to you on the coming night an the Sovran suffer me
to survive?” Now when it was the next night and that was
The Three Hundred and Eighty-fifth Night,
Dunyazad said to her, “Allah upon thee, O my sister, an thou be other
than sleepy, finish for us thy tale that we may cut short the watching
of this our latter night!” She replied:——With love and goodwill! It hath
reached me, O auspicious King, the director, the right-guiding, lord of
the rede which is benefiting and of deeds fair-seeming and worthy
celebrating, that the Princess in Mameluke’s habit said, “And I too have
a strange history.” Then she fell to relating all that had betided her
from the very beginning to that which hath before been described; and
when her father heard it he felt assured that she was his daughter. So
he arose and threw himself upon her and embraced her and after he veiled
her face with a kerchief was with him, and her husband exclaimed, “Would
to Heaven that I also could forgather with my wife.” Quoth she,
“Inshallah, and that soon,” and she inclined to him after kindly fashion
and said to herself, “Indeed this be my true husband.” Herewith all
resolved to march from that stead and they departed, the Princess’s
spouse still unknowing that she was his wife; and they stinted not
faring till they entered the Sultan’s city and all made for the Palace.
Then the Princess slipped privily into the Harem without the knowledge
of her mate and changed her semblance, when her father said to her
husband, “Hie thee to the women’s apartment: haply Allah may show to
thee thy wife.” So he went in and found her sitting in her own apartment
and he marvelled as he espied her and drew near her and threw his arms
round her neck of his fond love to her and asked her concerning her
absence. Thereupon she told him the truth saying, “I went forth seeking
my sire and habited in a Mameluke’s habit and ’twas I slew the lion and
roasted his flesh over the fire, but thou wouldest not eat thereof.” At
these words the Sultan rejoiced and his rejoicings increased and all
were in the highmost of joy and jolliment; he and her father with the
two other sons-in-law, and this endured for a long while. But at last
all deemed it suitable to revisit their countries and capitals and each
farewelled his friends and the whole party returned safe and sound to
their own homes.[203]