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 and the Wazir entered the place

wherein were the Bhang-eater and the damsel, and took their seats. Now

the meats were ready and they served up to them the trays and the

dishes, when they fell to and were cheered by the sumptuous viands until

they had eaten after the measure of their sufficiency. And when their

hands were washed, the confections and sherbet and coffee were set

before them, so they ate and were satisfied and gladdened and made

merry. After this quoth the Sultan to the Bhang-eater, “Where is the

damsel?” and quoth the man, “She is here,” whereat he was commanded to

bring her. Accordingly he went off and led her in and as soon as the

King sighted her he recognised her and ordered her owner to make her

over to him and said when he did so, “O man, wilt thou sell to me this

damsel?” But the other kissed ground before him and replied, “O King of

the age, she is from me a free gift to thee;” and quoth the Sultan, “She

is accepted from thee, O Shaykh, and do thou come and bring her thyself

to the Palace about sundown-time.” He replied, “To hear is to obey.” And

at the hour named he took the damsel and ceased not faring with her till

he brought her to the Serai,[275] where the Eunuchry met her and took

her and carried her in to the Sultan. But as soon as she entered she

nestled in his bosom and he threw his arms round her neck and kissed her

of his excessive desire to her. Then he asked her saying, “This man who

purchased thee, hath he any time approached thee?” whereto she answered,

“By Allah, O King, from the time he bought me in the box which he opened

and found me alive therein until this present never hath he looked upon

my face, and as often as I addressed him he would bow his brow

earthwards.” Quoth the Sultan, “By Allah, this wight deserveth an

aidance for that he paid down for thee an hundred dinars and he hath

presented thee in free gift to me.” Now when morrowed the morning the

King sent after the Bhang-eater and summoned him between his hands and

bestowed upon him one thousand five hundred dinars with a suit of royal

raiment, after which he presented to him, by way of honourable

robe,[276] a white slave girl. He also set apart for him an apartment

and made him one of his boon companions. So look thou, O hearer,[277]

how it happened to this Bhang-eater from the Khwajah’s daughter and his

love herwards; how he failed to win her and how he gained of blows

whatso he gained; and after what prosperity befel him from the part of

Kut Al-Kulub. And ever afterwards when the Sultan would ride out for

disport or for the hunt and chase he would take the man with him.

Presently of the perfection of his prosperity this Bhang-eater fully

mastered the affairs of the kingdom, both its income and its outgo, and

his knowledge embraced all the regions and cities which were under the

rule of his lord. Furthermore, whenever he would counsel the King, his

advice was found to be in place and he was consulted upon all State

affairs, and whenever he heard of any business he understood its inner

as well as its outer meaning until the Sultan and the Wazir both sought

rede of him, and he would point out to them the right and unright, and

that which entaileth trouble and no trouble, when they could fend it off

and overthrow it or by word or by deed of hand. Now one day of the many

days the King was in a certain of his gardens a-solacing himself with

the sights when his heart and stomach became full of pain and he fell

ill and his illness grew upon him, nor did he last four days ere he

departed to the mercy of Allah Almighty. As he had no issue, either son

or daughter, the country remained without a King for three days, when

the Lords of the land forgathered and agreed upon a decision, all and

some, that they would have no King or Sultan save the Wazir and that the

man the Bhang-eater should be made Chief Councillor. So they agreed upon

this matter and their words went forth to the Minister who at once took

office. After this he gave general satisfaction and lavished alms on the

mean and miserable, also on the widows and orphans, when his fame was

bruited abroad and it dispread far and wide till men entitled him the

“Just Wazir” and in such case he governed for a while of time.——And

Shahrazad was surprised by 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 Four Hundred and Tenth 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 Wazir governed for a

while of time with all justice of rule so that the caravans spread

abroad the name and fame of him throughout every city and all the

countries. Presently there befel him an affair between two women

which were sister-wives to one man.[278] Now these had conceived by

him in the same month and when the time of their pregnancy had

passed, the twain were delivered in the same place at the same hour

and the midwife was one and the same. One brought forth a babe but

it was a daughter which incontinently died and the other a man-child

who lived. The women quarrelled and fought about the boy-babe and

both of them said, “This is my child;” and there befel between them

exceeding contention and excessive hostility. So they carried their

cause before the divines and the Olema and the head men of the

place, yet did none of them know how to decide between the twain and

not a few of the folk said, “Let each woman take the child to her

for a month,” whilst others declared that they might keep it between

them at all times, whilst of the women one said, “’Tis well: this be

_my_ boy!” and the other declared “’Tis well, this be _my_ son!” nor

could any point out to which of the women the boy belonged. So the

town’s people were gathered together and said, “None can determine

this dispute except the Just Wazir;” and they agreed upon this, so

that the husband of the two women and sundry of his associates arose

and took the twain of them and travelled with them to hear the

Minister’s judgment. Also the Olema and the great men of the place

declared “By Allah, we also needs must travel with the party and

produce the two women and be present at the Just Wazir’s judgment.”

So they all assembled and followed after the two adversaries, nor

did they cease travelling until they entered the city where the

Minister abode. There they delayed for rest during one day and on

the second they all joined one another and went in to the Wazir and

recounted to him the case of the two women. Hearing this he bowed

his brow groundwards and presently raising it he cried, “Bring me

two eggs and void them of their contents and see that the shells be

clean empty.” Then he commanded that each of the women drain

somewhat of milk from her nipple into the egg-shell till she had

filled it. They did accordingly and set before him the egg-shells

brimful when he said, “Bring me a pair of scales.”[279] After this

he placed both eggs in the balance-pan and raising it aloft from its

rounded stead perceived that one was weighty and the other was

light. Quoth he, “The milk of the woman in this egg is the heavier

and she is the mother of the boy-babe whereas the other bare the

girl-child and we know not an it be alive or dead.” Hereat the true

mother of the boy held her peace but the other wailed aloud and

said, “’Tis well: still this be _my_ babe!” Thereupon quoth the

Wazir, “I am about to take the boy and hew him in halves whereof I

will give one to each of you twain.” But the true mother arose and

cried out, “No! O my lord, do not on this wise: I will forfeit my

claim for Allah’s sake;” while the other one exclaimed, “All this is

right good!” Now all the folk of the city who were then standing by

heard these words and looked on; but when this order was pronounced

and the woman was satisfied and declared, “I will take half the

boy,” the Wazir gave orders forthright that they seize her and hang

her; so they hanged her and he gave the babe to the right mother.

Then said they to him, “O our lord, how was it proved to thee that

the boy was the child of this one?” and he said, “It became evident

to me from two sides; in the first place because her milk was the

heavier, so that I knew that the boy was her boy, and secondly when

I commanded:——Let us cut the boy in half, the real mother consented

not to this and the matter was hard upon her because the child was a

slice of her liver, and she said to herself:—His life is better than

his death, even though my sister-wife take him, at any rate I shall

be able to look upon him. But the second woman designed only to

gratify her spite whether the boy died or not and to harm her

sister-wife; so when I saw that she was contented to have the babe

killed, I knew that it was right to do her die.” Then all who were

present of the Lords of the land and the Olema and divines and

notables wondered at the judgment and exclaimed, “By Allah, well

done,[280] O Wazir of the realm.” Now this history of the Minister’s

perspicacity and penetration was spread abroad and all folk went

from his presence and everyone who had wives that had borne girls

took somewhat of milk from the women and went to each and every of

those who had borne boys and took from them milk in the same

quantity as the Wazir had taken, and weighed it in the scales, when

they found that the mothers of males produced milk that was not

equal to, nay it weighed two-fold that of those who bare girls.

Hereupon they said, “It is not right that we call this Minister only

the Just Wazir;” and all were agreed that he should be titled “The

Wazir-wise-in-Allah-Almighty;”[281] and the reason whereof was the

judgment which he passed in the cause between the two women. Now

after this it befel him to deliver a decision more wondrous than the

former.——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 enjoyable and

delectable!” Quoth she, “And where is this compared with that I

should 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 Four Hundred and Eleventh 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 to the Wazir-wise-in-Almighty-Allah there befel

between his hands a strange matter which was as follows. As he was

sitting one day of the days there came in to him unexpectedly two men,

of whom one led a cow and a little colt whilst the second had with him a

mare and a little calf. Now the first who came forward was the owner of

the mare and quoth he, “O my lord, I have a claim upon this man.” Quoth

the Minister, “What be thy claim?” And the plaintiff continued, “I was

going a-morn to the meadow for pasture and with me was my mare followed

by her young one, her little colt, when yonder man met me upon the road

and the colt began to play and to throw up gravel with its hoofs as is

the wont of horseflesh and draw near to the cow. Hereupon this man came

up and seized it and said, “This colt is the offspring of my cow,” and

so saying he took it away and he gave me his calf, crying, “Take this

which be the issue of thy mare.”” So the Wazir turning to the master of

the cow asked, “O man, what sayest thou concerning what thy comrade hath

spoken?” and the other answered, “O my lord, in very deed this colt is

the produce of my cow and I brought it up by hand.” Quoth the Wazir, “Is

it right that black cattle should bring forth horses and that horses

should bear cows? indeed the intelligence of an intelligent man may not

compass this;” and quoth the other, “O my lord, Allah createth whatso He

willeth and maketh kine to produce horses and horses to produce kine.”

Hereupon the Minister said to him, “O Shaykh, when thou seest a thing

before thee and lookest thereon canst thou speak of it in the way of

truth?” And the other assented. Then the Wazir continued addressing the

two men, “Wend your ways at this time and on the morrow be present here

at early morn and let it be at a vacant hour.” Accordingly they

forthright went forth, and the next day early the two men came to the

divan of the Wazir who set before them a she-mouse he had provided and

called for a sack which he filled with earth. And as the men stood

between his hands he said, “Wait ye patiently without speaking a word;”

so they held their peace and presently he bade them set the sack and the

mouse before him and he ordered the men to load the sack upon the mouse.

Both cried, “O our lord, ’tis impossible that a mouse can carry a sack

full of earth,” when he answered, “How then can a cow bear a colt? and

when a mouse shall be able to bear a sack then shall a cow bear a colt.”

All this and the Sultan was looking out at the latticed window listening

and gazing. Hereupon the Wazir gave an order that the master of the mare

take her colt and the master of the cow carry off her calf; after which

he bade them go about their business.——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 Four Hundred and Twelfth 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, whose Minister was the

Wazir-wise-in-Allah-Almighty, on a certain day summoned his Chief

Councillor and when he came said to him, “Verily my breast is straitened

and I am beset by unease, so I desire to hear something which may

broaden my bosom;” and said the other, “O King of the age, by Allah, I

have a friend who is named Mahmúd the ’Ajamí and that man is a choice

spirit and he hath all kind of rare tales and strange anecdotes and

wondrous histories and marvellous adventures.” Said the Sultan, “There

is no help but that thou summon him to us hither and let us hear from

him somewhat.” So the Wazir sent after the Persian and when the man

stood in the presence said to him, “Verily the Sultan hath summoned

thee.” He replied, “Hearing and obeying,” when he was taken and set

before the Sovran and as he entered he saluted him with the salams of

the Caliphs and blessed him and prayed for him.[282] The King returned

his greeting and after seating him said to him, “O Mahmud, at this

moment my breast is indeed straitened and I have heard of thee that thou

hast a store of rare stories which I would that thou cause me hear[283]

and let it be somewhat sweet of speech which shall banish my cark and my

care and the straitness of my breast.” Hereto the other replied,

“Hearing and obeying;” and began to relate the

_TALE OF MAHMUD THE PERSIAN AND THE KURD SHARPER._[284]

The Sultan was delighted with the ’Ajami’s relation and largessed him

two thousand pieces of gold; after which he returned to his palace and

took seat upon his Divan when suddenly a poor man appeared before him

carrying a load of fruit and greens and greeted him and prayed for him

and expressed a blessing which the Sultan returned and bade him fair

welcome. After which he asked, “What hast thou with thee, O Shaykh?” and

the other answered, “O King of the Age, I have an offering to thee of

fresh greens and firstfruits;” and the King rejoined, “It is accepted.”

Thereupon the man placed them between his royal hands and stood up, and

the King having removed the cover[285] found under it a portion of

ordinary cucumbers and sundry curling cucumbers and bundles of

rose-mallows[286] which had been placed before him. So he took thereof

some little matter and ate it and was much pleased and bade the Eunuchry

bear the rest into the Harem. They carried out his commands and the

women also were delighted and having eaten somewhat they distributed the

remainder to the slave-girls. Then said they, “By Allah, this man, the

fruit-owner, deserveth Bakhshísh;”[287] so they sent to him by the

Eunuch one hundred gold pieces whereto the Sultan added twain, so the

whole of his gain was three hundred dinars. But the Sultan was much

pleased with the man and a part of the care which he felt was lightened

to him, whereupon asked he, “O Shaykh, knowest thou aught of

boon-companionship with the Kings?” to which the other answered, “Yes;”

for he was trim of tongue and ready of reply and sweet of speech.

Presently the Sultan continued, “O Shaykh, for this present go back to

thy village and give to thy wife and family that which Allah hath made

thy lot.” Accordingly the man went forth and did as the King bade him;

after which he returned in a short time and went into the presence about

set of sun when he found his liege lord at supper. The King bade him sit

to the trays which he did and he ate after the measure of his

sufficiency, and again when the Sultan looked upon him he was pleased

with him. And when the hour of night-prayers came all prayed

together;[288] then the King invited him to sit down as a cup-companion

and commanded him to relate one of his tales.——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 should 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 Four Hundred and Seventeenth Night,

Dunyazad said to her, “Allah upon thee, O my sister, an thou be other

then 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 man took seat as a boon-companion of the

King, and began to relate

_THE TALE OF THE SULTAN AND HIS SONS AND THE ENCHANTING BIRD._[289]

It is told anent a man, one of the Kings of Orient-land, that he had

three sons, of whom the eldest one day of the days heard the folk

saying, “In such a place there is a bird hight the shrilling

Philomelet,[290] which transmews everyone who comes to it into a form of

stone.” Now when the heir apparent heard this report he went to his

father and said, “’Tis my desire to fare forth and to get that

marvellous bird;” and said the father, “O my son, thou wouldst work only

to waste thy life-blood and to deprive us of thee; for that same bird

hath ruined Kings and Sultans, not to speak of Bashas and Sanjáks,[291]

men in whose claws[292] thou wouldst be as nothing.” But the son

replied, “Needs must I go and if thou forbid my going I will kill

myself.” So quoth his father, “There is no Majesty and no Might save in

Allah, the Glorious, the Great;” and saith the son, “Affects are

affected and steps are sped towards a world that is vile and distributed

daily bread.”[293] Then he said to him, “O my child, set out upon thy

journey and mayest thou win to thy wish.” Hereupon they prepared for him

somewhat of victual and he went forth on his wayfare. But before

departing he took off his seal-ring from his finger and gave it to his

second brother saying, “O my brother, an this signet press hard upon thy

little finger do thou know and make certain that mishap hath happened to

me.” So the second Prince took it and put it upon his minim finger,

after which the eldest youth farewelled his father and his mother and

his brothers and the Lords of the land and departed seeking the city

wherein the Bird woned. He ceased not travelling by nights and days, the

whole of them, until he reached the place wherein was the bird

Philomelet whose habit it was to take station upon his cage between

mid-afternoon and sunset, when he would enter it to pass the night. And

if any approached him with intent of capturing him, he would sit afar

from the same and at set of sun he would take station upon the cage and

would cry aloud speaking in a plaintive voice, “Ho thou who sayest to

the mean and mesquin, ‘Lodge!’[294] Ho thou who sayest to the sad and

severed, ‘Lodge!’ Ho thou who sayest to the woeful and doleful,

‘Lodge!’” Then if these words were grievous to the man standing before

him and he make reply “Lodge!” ere the words could leave his lips the

Bird would take a pinch of dust from beside the cage and hovering over

the wight’s head would scatter it upon him and turn him into stone. At

length arrived the youth who had resolved to seize the Bird and sat afar

from him till set of sun: then Philomelet came and stood upon his cage

and cried, “Ho thou who sayest to the mean and mesquin, ‘Lodge!’ Ho thou

who sayest to the sad and severed, ‘Lodge!’ Ho thou who sayest to the

woeful and doleful, ‘Lodge!’” Now the cry was hard upon the young Prince

and his heart was softened and he said, “Lodge!” This was at the time

when the sun was disappearing, and as soon as he spake the word the Bird

took a somewhat of dust and scattered it upon the head of the youth, who

forthright became a stone. At that time his brother was sitting at home

in thought concerning the wanderer, when behold, the signet squeezed his

finger and he cried, “Verily my brother hath been despoiled of life and

done to death!”——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 Four Hundred and Eighteenth 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 second Prince, when the signet squeezed his

little finger, cried out saying, “My brother, by Allah, is ruined and

lost; but needs must I also set forth and look for him and find what

hath befallen him.” Accordingly he said to his sire, “O my father, ’tis

my desire to seek my brother;” and the old King answered, “Why, O my

son, shouldst thou become like thy brother, both bereaving us of your

company?” But the other rejoined, “There is no help for that nor will I

sit at rest till I go after my lost one and espy what hath betided him.”

Thereupon his sire gave orders for his journey and got ready what would

suffice him of victual, and he departed, but before he went he said to

his youngest brother, “Take thou this ring and set it upon thy little

finger, and if it press hard thereupon do thou understand and be

certified that my life’s blood is shed and that I have perished.” After

this he farewelled them and travelled to the place of the Enchanting

Bird, and he ceased not wayfaring for whole days and nights and nights

and days until he arrived at that stead. Then he found the bird

Philomelet and sat afar from him till about sundown when he took station

upon his cage and began to cry, “Ho thou who sayest to the mean and

mesquin, ‘Lodge!’ Ho thou who sayest to the sad and severed, ‘Lodge!’ Ho

thou who sayest to the woeful and doleful, ‘Lodge!’” Now this cry of the

Bird was hard upon the young Prince and he had no sooner pronounced the

word “Lodge!” than the Philomelet took up somewhat of dust beside his

cage and scattered it upon him, when forthright he became a stone lying

beside his brother. Now the youngest of the three Princes was sitting at

meat with his sire when suddenly the signet shrank till it was like to

cut off his finger; so he rose forthright to his feet and said, “There

is no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah, the Glorious, the

Great.” Quoth his father, “What is to do with thee, O my son?” and quoth

he, “By Allah, my brother is ruined and wasted, so needs must I also

fare forth and look after the twain of them.” Exclaimed his sire, “Why,

O my son, should you three be cut off?” but the other answered, “Needs

must I do this, nor can I remain after them without going to see what

hath betided them, and either we three shall return in safety and

security or I also shall become one of them.” So the father bade them

prepare for his journey and after they had got ready for him a

sufficiency of provision he farewelled him and the youth set out. But

when he departed from his sire the old man and his wife filleted their

brows with the fillets of sorrow[295] and they fell to weeping by night

and by day. Meanwhile the youth left not wayfaring till he reached the

stead of the Bird and the hour was mid-afternoon, when he found his

brothers ensorcelled to stones, and about sunset he sat down at a

distance from Philomelet who took station upon his cage and began to

cry, “Ho thou who sayest to the mean and mesquin, ‘Lodge!’ Ho thou who

sayest to the sad and severed, ‘Lodge!’ together with many words and

instances of the same kind.” But the Prince hardened his heart nor would

speak the word, and albeit the Bird continued his cry none was found to

answer him. Now when the sun evanished and he had kept up his appeal in

vain he went into the cage, whereupon the youngest of the Princes arose

and running up shut the door upon him. Quoth the Bird, “Thou hast done

the deed, O son of the Sultan,” and the youth replied, “Relate to me

whatso thou hast wrought in magic to these creations of God.” Replied

Philomelet, “Beside thee lie two heaps of clay whereof one is white and

the other blue: this is used in sorcery and that to loose the

spells.”——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 should

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 Four Hundred and Twentieth 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 Bird said to the youngest son of the

Sultan, “By the side of my cage are two heaps of clay, this blue and

that white; and the first is the material for sorcery whilst the second

looseth the spell.” Hereupon the youth approached them and finding the

mounds took somewhat of the white and scattered it upon the stones and

cried, “Be ye returned unto your older shapes;” and, as he did so, each

and every of the stones became men as they had been. Now amongst them

were sundry sons of the Sultans, also the children of Kings and Wazirs

and Bashas and Lords of the land, and of the number two were the elder

brothers of the young Prince: so they salamed to him and all

congratulated one another on their safety. After this one came forward

to the youth and said to him, “Verily this place is a city, all and some

of whose folk are ensorcelled.” So he took a somewhat of clay from the

white and entered the streets, where, finding the case as described to

him, he fell to sifting the clay upon them and they were transmewed from

statues of stone into the shapes of Adam’s sons. Then, at last, the sons

of that city rose one and all and began offering to the Prince gifts and

rarities until he had of them a mighty matter. But when his brothers saw

that he had become master of the bird Philomelet and his cage, and all

these presents and choice treasures, they were filled with envy of

him[296] and said each to other, “How shall our brother win him all this

and we abide with him in servile condition, especially when we hie us

homewards and return to our own land? And will not folk say that the

salvation of the two elder brothers was by the hand of the youngest? But

we cannot endure such disgrace as this!” So envy entered them and in

their jealousy they planned and plotted the death of their cadet, who

knew not that was in their minds or whatso was hidden from him in the

Limbo of Secrets. And when they had wrought their work the youngest

Prince arose and bade his pages and eunuchs lade the loads upon the

camels and mules and, when they had done his bidding, they all set forth

on the homewards march. They travelled for whole days and nights till

they drew near their destination and the youngest Prince bade his

attendants seek an open place wherein they might take repose, and they

said, “Hearkening and obedience.” But when they came upon it they found

a well builded of stone, and the brothers said to the cadet, “This be a

place befitting rest by reason of this well being here; for the water

thereof is sweet and good for our drink and therewith we can supply our

folk and our beasts.” Replied the youth, “This is what we desire.” So

they set up their tents hard by that well, and when the camp was pitched

they let prepare the evening meal, and as soon as it was sun-set-tide

they spread the trays and supped their sufficiency until presently night

came down upon them. Now the youngest Prince had a bezel’d signet-ring

which he had taken from the bird Philomelet, and he was so careful

thereof that he never slept without it. But his brothers awaited until

he was drowned in sleep, when coming softly upon him they pinioned him

and carried him off and cast him into the well without anyone knowing

aught thereof. Then as soon as morning morrowed the two eldest Princes

arose and commanded the attendants to load, but these said to them,

“Where be our lord?” and said the others, “He is sleeping in the

Takhtrawán.” So the camel men arose and loaded the loads and the litter

and the two Princes sent forwards to the King their sire a messenger of

glad tidings who when he found him informed him of the fair news.

Accordingly he and all his Lords took horse and rode forth to meet his

sons upon the road that he might salam to them and give them joy of

their safe return. Now he chanced in their train to catch sight of the

caged bird which is called “the shrilling Philomelet,” and he rejoiced

thereat and asked them, “How did ye become masters of him?” Then he

enquired anent their brother.——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 Four Hundred and Twenty-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 Sultan enquired of the two elder sons

concerning their younger brother and they said, “We made ourselves

masters of the Bird and we have brought him hither and we know nothing

about our cadet.” However, the King who loved his youngest with

exceeding love put the question, “Have ye not looked after him and have

ye not been in his company?” whereto they answered saying, “A certain

wayfarer declared to have seen him on some path or other.” When the

father heard this from them he cried, “There is no Majesty and there is

no Might save in Allah, the Glorious, the Great;” and he fell to

striking palm upon palm.[297] On this wise it befel these, but as

regards the case of their brother, when they cast him into the well he

awoke from his sleep and he felt himself falling into the depths, so he

cried, “I take refuge with the All-sufficient Words of Allah[298] from

the mischief He hath created.” And by the blessing of these Holy Names

he reached the sole of the well without aught of harm or hurt. Here

finding himself pinioned, he strained upon his bonds and loosed them;

but the well was deep of bottom and he came upon an arched recess, so he

sat in it and exclaimed, “Verily we are Allah’s and to Him we are

returning and I who wrought for them such work[299] am rewarded with the

contrary thereof; withal the power is unto Allah.” And suddenly he heard

the sound of speaking at some little distance beside him, and the voice

was saying, “O Black of Head, who hath come amongst us?” and his comrade

responded, “By Allah, this youth is the son of the Sultan and his best

beloved, and the same hath released his brothers from sorcery and was

carrying them to their homes when they played him false and cast him

into this well. However, he hath a signet-ring with a bezel which if he

rub ’twill bespeak him with whatso he desireth, and will do what he may

wish.” So the Prince said in his mind, “I bid the Servant of this Ring

to take me out;” after which he rubbed it and the Jinni appeared and

cried, “Yea verily, O son of the Sultan, what is it thou requirest of

me?”——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 should 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 Four Hundred and Twenty-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 Ringbezel said to him, “What dost thou

require of me?” and said the Prince, “I demand that thou hoist me out of

the well: and this done that thou summon for me an host with Pages and

Eunuchs and tents and pavilions and ensigns and banners.” Whereto the

other replied, “Present!”[300] Then he brought him forth the well and

the youth found hard by it all he needed, so he bade them load their

belongings upon the beasts and when this was done he set out seeking the

city of his sire. And as he drew so near it that it was within shot of

eye, he alighted there upon a broad plain and ordered them to pitch the

camp. Accordingly they set up the tents and the sitting pavilions while

the Farráshes fell to sprinkling water upon the ground afront the abodes

and to setting up the ensigns and colours whilst the band of kettledrums

went dub-a-dub and the trumpets blared tantaras. The cooks also began at

once to prepare the evening meal. Now when the city-folk saw this pomp

and circumstance, they held in their minds that the new comer was some

Sultan approaching to take their town; so they gathered together and

went in to their own King and informed him thereof. But he, having heard

their words, felt his heart melt and his vitals throb and a certain joy

penetrate into his heart, so he said, “Praise to the Lord, there hath

entered into my heart a certain manner of pleasure, albeit I know not

what may be the case and Allah hath said in his Holy Book, “We have

heard good news.””[301] Hereupon he and the Lords of his land took horse

and rode till they reached the front of the pavilions where the King

dismounted from his steed. Now the Prince his younger son was dressed in

a habit that might have belonged to a hidden Hoard, and when he saw his

father he recognised him, so he rose and met him and kissed his hands,

but his sire knew him not by reason of the case the youth was in, so he

supposed him to be a strange Sultan. Presently, the Prince asked him,

“Where be thy youngest son?” and the King hearing this fell down

a-fainting, but, soon recovering from his swoon, he said, “Verily my son

hath wasted the blood of his life and hath become food for wild beasts.”

Hereupon the youth laughed aloud and cried, “By Allah, thy son hath not

suffered aught from the shifts and changes of the World, and he is still

in the bonds of life, safe and sound; nor hath there befallen him

anything of harm whatever.” “Where is he?” quoth the father: “He

standeth between thy hands,” quoth the son. So the Sultan looked at him

and straightly considering him found that it was his very son who was

bespeaking him, and of his delight he threw his arms around his neck and

fell with him aswoon to the ground. This lasted for a full-told hour;

but when he recovered from his fainting he asked his son what had

betided him, so he told all that had befallen, to wit how he had become

master of the Enchanting Bird Philomelet and also of the magical clay

wherewith he had besprinkled his brethren and others of the city-folk

who had been turned to stone, all and some, and how they had returned to

the shapes whilome they wore. Moreover he recounted to him the presents

and offerings which had been made to him and also how, when they arrived

at a certain place, his brothers had pinioned him and cast him into the

well. And ere he finished speaking, lo and behold! the two other Princes

came in and when they looked upon his condition and noted the state of

prosperity he was in, surrounded as he was by all manner of weal, they

felt only increase of envy and malice. But as soon as their sire espied

them he cried, “Ye have betrayed me in my son and have lied to me and,

by Allah, there is no retribution for you on my part save death;” and

hereupon the Sultan bade do them die. Then the youngest Prince made

intercession for his brethren and said, “O my sire, whoso doeth a deed

shall meet its deserts,” and thus he obtained their pardon. So they

passed that night one and all in camp and when morning morrowed they

loaded and returned to the city and all were in the most pleasureable

condition. Now when the King heard this tale from the owner of the fruit

it pleased him and he rejoiced therein and said, “By Allah, O Shaykh,

indeed that hath gone from us which we had of cark and care; and in good

sooth this history deserveth that it be written with water of gold upon

the pages of men’s hearts.” Replied the other, “By Allah, O King of the

Age, this adventure is marvellous, but I have another more wondrous and

pleasurable and delectable than any thou hast yet heard.” Quoth the

Sultan, “Needs must thou repeat it to us,” and quoth the fruit-seller,

“Inshallah—God willing—I will recite it to thee on the coming night.”

Hereupon the Sultan called for a handmaiden who was a model of beauty

and loveliness and stature and perfect grace and from the time of his

buying her he never had connection with her nor had he once slept with

her, and he gave her in honourable gift to the reciter. Then he set

apart for them both an apartment with its furniture and appurtenances

and the slave-girl rejoiced greatly thereat. Now when she went in to her

new lord she donned her best of dresses so he lay down beside her and

sought carnal copulation, but his prickle would not stand erect, as was

its wont, although he knew not the cause thereof.——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 Four Hundred and Twenty-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 the prickle of the Fruiterer would not stand to

the handmaid as was the wont thereof, so he cried, “Verily this is a

wondrous business.” Then the girl fell to rubbing it up and to toying

therewith, her object being to stablish an erection. But the article in

question grew not and remained limp, whereupon she said, “O my lord,

Allah increase the progress of thy pego!” Thereupon she arose and opened

a bag wherefrom she drew out kerchiefs and dried aromatic herbs[302]

such as are scattered upon corpses; and she also brought a gugglet of

water. Presently she fell to washing the prickle as it were a dead body,

and after bathing it she shrouded it with a kerchief: then she cried

upon her women and they all bewept the untimely fate of his yard which

was still clothed in the kerchief.[303] And when morning morrowed the

Sultan sent after the man and summoned him and said to him, “How passed

thy night?” So he told him all that had betided him, and concealed from

him naught; and when the Sultan heard this account from him he laughed

at him on such wise that from excess of merriment he well nigh fell upon

his back and cried, “By Allah, if there be such cleverness in that girl,

she becometh not any save myself.” Accordingly he sent to fetch her as

she stood and left the furniture of the place wholly and entirely to the

owner of the fruit. And when this was done the Sultan made of him a

boon-companion for that day from morning to evening and whenever he

thought of the handmaid’s doings he ordered the man to repeat the tale

and he laughed at him and admired the action of the slave-girl with the

Limpo. When darkness came on they prayed the night-prayer and they

supped and sat down to converse and to tell anecdotes.[304] Thereupon

the King said to the Fruiterer, “Relate us somewhat of that thou hast

heard anent the Kings of old;” and said the other, “Hearing and

obeying,” and forthwith began the

_STORY OF THE KING OF AL-YAMAN AND HIS THREE SONS._

It is related that there was a Sultan in the land of Al-Yaman who had

three male children, two of them by one mother and a third by another.

Now that King used to dislike this second wife and her son, so he sent

her from him and made her, together with her child, consort with the

handmaids of the kitchen, never asking after them for a while of time.

One day the two brothers-german went in to their sire and said to him,

“’Tis the desire of us to go forth a-hunting and a-chasing,” whereto

their father replied, “And have ye force enough for such sport?” They

said, “Yea, verily, we have!” when he gave to each of them a horse with

its furniture of saddle and bridle, and the twain rode off together. But

as soon as the third son (who together with his mother had been banished

to the kitchen) heard that the other two had gone forth to hunt, he went

to his mother and cried, “I also would fain mount and away to the chase

like my brethren.” His mother responded, saying, “O my son, indeed I am

unable to buy thee a horse or aught of the kind;” so he wept before her

and she brought him a silvern article, which he took and fared forth

with it to the bazar, and there, having sold it for a gold piece, he

repaired to a neighbouring mill and bought him a lame garron. After this

he took a bittock of bread; and, backing the beast without saddle or

bridle, he followed upon the footsteps of his brothers through the first

day and the second, but on the third he took the opposite route.

Presently he reached a Wady, when behold, he came across a string[305]

of pearls and emeralds which glittered in the sunlight, so he picked it

up and set it upon his head and he fared onwards singing for very joy.

But when he drew near the town he was met by his two brothers who seized

him and beat him and, having taken away his necklace, drove him afar

from them. Now he was much stronger and more beautiful than they were,

but as he and his mother had been cast off by the King, he durst not

offer aught of resistance.[306] Now the two brothers having taken the

necklace from him went away joyful, and repairing to their father,

showed him the ornament and he rejoiced in them and hending it in his

hand marvelled thereat. But the youngest son went to his mother with his

heart well nigh broken. Then the Sultan said to his two sons, “Ye have

shown no cleverness herein until ye bring me the wearer of this

necklace.” They answered, “Hearkening and obedience, and we will set out

to find her.”——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 should

relate to you on the coming night an the King suffer me to survive?” Now

when it was the next night and that was

The Four Hundred and Twenty-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 the sons of the Sultan made them ready for the

march whereby they might bring back the bird to whom the necklace

belonged. So they took them a sufficiency of provision and, farewelling

their father, set out for the city wherein they judged the bird might

be. Such was their case; but as regards their unhappy brother, when he

heard the news of their going he took with him a bittock of bread and

having bidden adieu to his mother mounted his lame garron and followed

upon the traces of his brethren for three days. Presently he found

himself in the midst of the wild and the wold, and he ceased not faring

therethrough till he came to a city whose folk were all weeping and

wailing and crying and keening. So he accosted an aged man and said to

him, “The Peace be upon thee!” and when the other returned his salam and

welcomed him he asked saying, “O my uncle, tell me what causeth these

groans and this grief?” The other replied, “O my son, verily our city is

domineered over by a monstrous Lion who every year cometh about this

time and he hath already done on such wise for forty and three years.”

Now he expecteth every twelvemonth as he appeareth to be provided with a

damsel arrayed and adorned in all her finery, and if he chance to come

as is his wont and find her not he would assault the city and destroy

it. So before the season of his visit they cast lots upon the maidens of

the place and whomso these befal, her they decorate and lead forth to a

place without the walls that the monster may take her. And this year the

sort hath fallen upon the King’s daughter.[307] When the youth heard

these words he held his peace and, having taken seat by the old man for

an hour or so, he arose and went forth to the place where the Lion was

wont to appear and he took his station there, when behold, the daughter

of the King came to him and right heavy was she of heart. But as she

found the youth sitting there, she salam’d to him and made friendship

with him and asked, “What brought thee to this stead?” Answered he,

“That which brought _thee_ brought me also.” Whereto quoth she, “Verily

at this hour the Lion shall come to seize me, but as soon as he shall

see me he will devour thee before me, and thus both of us shall lose our

lives; so rise up and depart and save thyself, otherwise thou wilt

become mere wasted matter in the belly of the beast.” “By Allah, O my

lady,” quoth he, “I am thy sacrifice at such a moment as this!” And as

they were speaking, suddenly the world was turned topsy-turvy,[308] and

dust-clouds and sand-devils[309] flew around and whirlwinds began to

play about them, and lo and behold! the monster made his appearance; and

as he approached he was lashing his flanks with his tail like the sound

of a kettle-drum. Now when the Princess espied him, the tears poured

down her cheeks, whereat the youth sprang to his feet in haste, and

unsheathing his sword, went forth to meet the foe, who at the sight of

him gnashed his tusks at him. But the King’s son met him bravely,

springing nimbly from right to left, whereat the Lion raged furiously,

and with the design to tear him limb from limb, made a rush at the

youth, who smote him with all the force of his forearm and planted

between his eyes a sway of scymitar so sore that the blade came out

flashing between his thighs, and he fell to the ground slain and

bleeding amain. When the Princess saw this derring-do of her defender,

she rejoiced greatly and fell to wiping with her kerchief the sweat from

his brow; and the youth said to her, “Arise and do thou fare to thy

family.” “O my lord, and O light of mine eyes!” said she, “we twain

together will wend together as though we were one flesh;” but he

rejoined, “This is on no wise possible.” Then he arose from beside her

and ceased not faring until he had entered the city, where he rested

himself beside a shop. She also sprang up, and faring homewards, went in

to her father and mother, showing signs of sore sorrow. When they saw

her, their hearts fluttered with fear lest the monster should attack the

town and destroy it, whereupon she said to them, “By Allah, the Lion

hath been slain and lieth there dead.” They asked her saying, “What was

it killed him?” and she answered, “A handsome youth fair of favour,” but

they hardly believed her words and both went to visit the place, where

they found the monster stonedead. The folk of the city, one and all,

presently heard this fair news, and their joy grew great, when the

Sultan said to his daughter, “Thou! knowest thou the man who slew him?”

to which she answered, “I know him.” But as all tidings of the youth

were cut off, the King let proclaim about the city——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 King suffer me to survive?” Now when it was the next

night and that was

The Four Hundred and Twenty-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 King let proclaim through the city how none

should oppose him or delay to obey his bidding; nay, that each and

every, great and small, should come forth and pass before the windows of

his daughter’s palace. Accordingly the Crier went abroad and cried about

the city to that purport, bidding all the lieges muster and defile in

front of the Princess’s windows; and they continued so doing for three

full-told days, while she sat continually expecting to sight the youth

who had slain the Lion, but to no purpose. At last never a soul remained

who had not passed in the review, so the Sultan asked, “Is there anyone

who hath absented himself?” and they answered, “There is none save a

stranger youth who dwelleth in such and such a place.” “Bring him

hither!” cried the King, “and command him to pass muster,” when the

others hastened to fetch him; and as soon as he drew near to the window,

behold, a kerchief was thrown upon him.[310] Then the Sultan summoned

him, and he, when standing in the presence, saluted and made obeisance

and blessed the Sovran with the blessings fit for the Caliphs. The

Sultan was pleased thereat and said, “Art thou he who slew the Lion?”

and said the other, “I did.” Hereupon quoth the King, “Ask a favour of

me, that I grant it to thee;” and quoth the Youth, “I pray of Allah and

then of our lord the Sultan that he marry me to his daughter.” But the

King continued, “Ask of me somewhat of wealth,” and all the Lords of the

land exclaimed, “By Allah, he deserveth the Princess who saved her from

the Lion and slew the beast.” Accordingly the King bade the

marriage-knot be tied, and let the bridegroom be led in procession to

the bride, who rejoiced in him with extreme joy, and he abated her

maidenhead and the two lay that night together. But the Prince arose

about the latter hours without awaking his bride, and withdrawing her

seal-ring from her finger passed his own thereupon and wrote in the palm

of her hand, “I am ’Aláeddín,[311] son of King Such-and-such, who ruleth

in the capital of Al-Hind, and, given thou love me truly, do thou come

to me, otherwise stay in thy father’s house.” Then he went forth without

awaking her and fared through wilds and wolds for a term of ten days,

travelling by light and by night, till he drew near a certain city which

was domineered over by an Elephant. Now this beast would come every year

and take from the town a damsel; and on this occasion it was the turn of

the Princess, daughter to the King who governed that country. But as the

youth entered the streets he was met by groans and moans and crying and

keening; so he asked thereanent and was answered that the Elephant was

presently approaching to seize the maiden and devour her.[312] He asked,

“To what stead cometh he?” and they pointed out to him a place without

the city whereto he repaired and took his seat. Suddenly the Princess

presented herself before him a-weeping and with tears down her cheeks

a-creeping, when he said to her, “O my lady, there is no harm for thee.”

Said she, “O youth, by Allah! thou wastest thy life to no purpose and

seekest thy death without cause, so rise up and save thyself, for the

Elephant will be here this very hour.” And behold, the beast came up to

the heart of the waste and he was raising a dust-cloud and trumpeting

with rage[313] and lashing flanks with tail. But when he arrived at the

wonted place he was confronted by the youth who, with heart stronger

than granite, hastened to fall upon him[314] and fatigued him and dealt

blows without cease; and, when the Elephant charged down upon him, he

met the monster with a stroke between the eyes dealt with all the force

of his forearm, and the blade came flashing out from between the thighs,

when the beast fell to the ground slain and weltering in his blood

amain. Thereupon, in the stress of her joy, the Princess arose hurriedly

and walked towards the youth——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 should relate to you on the coming night an the King suffer me to

survive?” Now when it was the next night and that was

The Four Hundred and Thirtieth 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 walked hurriedly towards the youth

and in the stress of her joy she threw her arms around his neck and

kissed him between the eyes and cried, “O my lord, may thy hands never

palsied grow nor exult over thee any foe!” Said he to her, “Return to

thy people!” and said she, “There is no help but that I and thou fare

together.” But he replied, “This matter is not the right rede,” and he

went from her at a double quick pace, saying, “O Allah, may none see

me!” until he entered the city and presently seating him beside a

tailor’s shop fell to conversing with its owner. Presently the man said,

“There is no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah, the Glorious,

the Great: by this time the daughter of the King will have been seized

by the Elephant and torn to pieces and devoured, and she the mainstay of

her mother and her father.” And behold loud lullilooing[315] flew about

the city and one began exclaiming “Verily the Elephant which is wont to

come hither year by year hath been slaughtered by a man quite young in

years, and the Sultan hath sent a Crier to cry amongst the crowds, ‘Let

the slayer of the beast come into the presence and crave a boon and

marry the maiden.’” So quoth the Youth to the tailor, “What is to do?”

and the other informed him of the truth of the report, whereupon he

asked, “If I go to the King will he give her to me?” Answered the

tailor, “Who art thou that thou shouldst intermarry with the daughter of

the King?” and the Prince rejoined, “We will go and bespeak him and lie

to him saying, I am he who slew the monster.” But the other retorted, “O

Youth, thou art willingly and wilfully going to thy death, for an thou

lie to him he will assuredly cut off thy head.” Presently the Prince,

who was listening to the Crier, said to his companion, “Up with thee and

come with us that thou mayest look upon my execution;” and cried the

other, “Why so, O thou true-born son?”[316] whereto the Youth replied,

“Needs must I do this!” Hereupon he and the man arose and went till they

came to the palace of the Sultan, where they craved leave to enter, but

were forbidden by the Chamberlain, when lo and behold! the Princess

looked out from the lattice and saw the Prince together with the tailor.

So she threw the kerchief upon his head and cried aloud, “By Allah, here

he be, and ’tis none but he who slew the Elephant and who saved me from

him.” Hereat the tailor fell to wondering at the youth, but when the

King saw that his daughter had thrown the kerchief upon him, he

presently sent to summon him between his hands and asked him how it

happened, and heard from him the truth of the tale. Then said he, “By

Allah, verily my daughter was lost, so that this youth well deserveth

her.” Thereupon he tied the marriage tie between the twain and the youth

after wedding her went to her in procession and did away her pucelage,

and lay the night with her. And presently when day was nigh, the young

Prince arose and seeing her slumbering wrote in the palm of her hand, “I

am Such-and-such, the son of such a King in Such-and-such a capital; and

if thou love me truly, come to find me, or otherwise stay in thy

father’s house.” Then without awaking her he fared forth to the city of

the Enchanting Bird and ceased not cutting athwart the wilds and the

wolds throughout the nights and the days till he arrived at the place

wherein dwelt the Bird Philomelet whereto the necklace belonged. And she

was the property of the Princess the daughter to the Sovran whose seat

was in that capital, and it was the greatest of cities and its King was

the grandest of the Kings. When he entered the highways he leant against

the shop of an Oilman to whom he said, “The Peace be upon you,” and the

other returned his salutation and seated him beside himself, and the two

fell to conversing. Presently the Prince asked him, “O my lord, what

canst thou tell me concerning a certain Bird and her owner?” and the

other made answer, “I know nothing but of oil and of honey and of

clarified butter, whereof whatever thou requirest I will give to thee.”

Quoth the youth, “This is no reply to my question,” and quoth the

oilman, “I know not nor regard aught save what is by me in my shop.” So

the Prince rising from beside him left him and went forth to continue

his search; but whenever he asked concerning the Bird and its owner, the

folk changed the subject and returned him no reply save, “We know not.”

This lasted until he accosted a man well stricken in years, whose age

was nigh to an hundred; and he was sitting alone at one side of the

city; so the Youth walked up to him and salam’d; and, after the other

returned his greeting and kindly welcomed him and seated him near him,

the two fell a-talking together, and the Prince asked him, “O my uncle,

what canst thou tell me concerning the Bird whose necklet is of precious

stones, and what concerning the owner thereof?” The aged man held his

peace for awhile and presently exclaimed, “O my son, why ask me of this?

O my child,[317] verily the Kings and sons of the Kings have sought her

in marriage but could not avail; and indeed the lives of folks manifold

have been wasted upon her. How, then, canst thou hope to win her?

Nevertheless, O my son, go and buy thee seven lambs and slaughter them

and skin them, after which do thou roast them and cut them all in

halves; for she hath seven doors at each whereof standeth as warder a

rending Lion; and at the eighth which guardeth the maiden and the Bird

are posted forty slaves who at all times are there lying. And now I

leave thee to thy luck, O my son.” But when the Prince heard these words

he asked his aidance of the Shaykh and went forth from him——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 how enjoyable and delectable!”

Quoth she, “And where is this compared with that I would relate to you

on the coming night an the King suffer me to survive?” Now when it was

the next night and that was

The Four Hundred and Thirty-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 Prince craved for the prayers of the

Shaykh, who blessed him. Then he went forth from him and bought of the

lambs what he had been charged to buy, and these he slaughtered and

skinned and roasted and he cut each and every into two halves. He waited

until night descended with its darkness and ceased the to-ing and

fro-ing of folk, when he arose and walked to the place pointed out and

there he found the Lion whose shape and size equalled the stature of a

full-grown bull. He threw to him half a lamb and the beast allowed him

to pass through that door, and it was the same with the other entrances,

all seven of them, until he reached the eighth. Here he found the forty

slaves who were bestrewn on the ground bedrowned in sleep; so he went in

with soft tread and presently he came upon the Bird Philomelet in a cage

encrusted with pearls and precious stones and he saw the Princess who

owned him lying asleep upon a couch. Hereat he wrote upon the palm of

her hand, “I am Such-and-such, son to the King Such-and-such, of such a

city; and I have come in upon thee and beheld thee bared whilst thou

wast sleeping, and I have also taken away the Bird. However, an thou

love me and long for me, do thou come to me in mine own city.” Then he

seized the Bird to his prize and fared forth and what he did with the

Lions coming that he did when going out. The Veiler[318] veiled him, and

he went forth the city and met not a single soul, and he ceased not

faring the live-long night till next morning did appear, when he hid in

a place seeking repose and he ate somewhat of victual. But as soon as

the daylight shone bright, he arose and continued his journey, praying

Allah for protection on his wayfare, till it was mid-afternoon: then he

found, like an oasis in the middle of the waste, certain pastures of the

wild Arabs and as he drew near the owner met him and salam’d to him and

greeted him and blessed him. So he lay that night with them till dawn

when the Shaykh of the encampment who had heard of the stranger came to

him and welcomed him and found him a youth fair of form and favour and

saw by his side the Enchanting Bird in its cage. He recognised it and

wondered at the young man’s derring-do and cried, “Subhana ’llah—praise

be to God—who hath committed His secret unto the weakliest of His

creation![319] Verily this Bird hath caused on its account to be slain

many of the Wazirs and the Kings and the Sultans, yet hath yonder lad

mastered it and carried it away. This however is by virtue of his good

fortune.” Then the old man had compassion on him and gave him a horse

that he had by him together with somewhat of provaunt. The Prince took

them from him and returning to his march traversed the wilds and the

wolds for days and nights, all of them; and he continued in that case

when he drew near his father’s capital which rose within eye-shot. And

as he walked on without heed, behold, his brethren met him and

confronted him and fell upon him and, having taken away the Enchanting

Bird, reviled him and beat him and shook him off and drove him away.

Then they entered the city and sought their sire who received them with

fair reception and greeted them and rejoiced in them; after which they

presented him with the Bird Philomelet, and said, “Here we bring him to

thee and there befel us through his account much toil and trouble.” But

their brother who had really won the prize went to his mother in sadness

of heart——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 should

relate to you on the coming night an the King suffer me to survive?” Now

when it was the next night and that was

The Four Hundred and Thirty-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 young Prince who had brought the Bird and

whom his brothers had beaten and robbed of his prize, went to his mother

in sadness of heart and shedding tears. Quoth she, “What is thy case and

what hath befallen thee?” So he told her what had betided him and she

said, “Sorrow not, O my son; the course of the right shall be made

manifest.” Then she quieted him and soothed his heart. This is what

happened to these persons; but as regards the Princess, the owner of the

Bird, when she awoke at dawn of day and opened her eyes, she found her

favourite gone and as her glance fell upon the things about her,

suddenly she saw something written in the palm of her hand. But as soon

as she had read it and comprehended its purport, she cried aloud with a

mighty grievous cry which caused the palace-women to flock around,[320]

and her father to ask what was to do but none could explain it because

no one knew. So the Sultan arose forthright and, going in to his

daughter, found her buffeting her face for the sake of her Bird and

asked her, “What is to do with thee?” So she informed him of what had

befallen her, adding, “Verily he who came into my bower and discovered

me bare and looked upon me and wrote upon the palm of my hand, him I am

determined to have and none other save that one.” Quoth her father, “O

my daughter, many sons of the Wazirs and the Kings have sought the Bird

and have failed; and now do thou suppose that he hath died;” but quoth

the Princess, “I desire none save the man who found me in sleep and

looked upon me, and he is the son of King So-and-so, reigning in a such

a capital.” Said her father, “Then how standeth the case?” and said she,

“Needs must I thank him and seek his city and marry him, for assuredly

amongst the sons of the Kings, all of them, none can be fairer or more

delightsome than he who hath craftily devised this entrance to me in so

guarded a stead as this. How then can anyone be his peer?”[321] Hereupon

her father bade muster the forces without the city and he brought out

for his daughter rarities and presents and mule-litters, and they

pitched the tents and after three days they loaded the loads for travel.

Then they fared for whole days and nights until they drew near the city

wherein the youth had slain the Elephant and had saved the daughter of

the King. So the Sultan set up his encampment with its tents and

pavilions hard by the walls, to the end that all might take their rest,

but when the King of the City saw this he rode forth to visit the

stranger, and after greeting asked him the cause of his coming with such

a host. The Sultan apprised him of what had happened to his daughter,

how she had lost the Enchanting Bird, also how the youth had come into

her bower and had written a writ upon the palm of her hand. But when the

King heard from him this account he knew and was certified that it was

the same Prince who had also slain the Elephant and who had on such wise

saved his daughter’s life; so he said to the Sultan, “Verily he who took

the Bird belonging to thy Princess hath also married my daughter, for he

hath done such-and-such deeds.” After which he related to him the

slaughter of the Elephant and all that had happened from beginning to

end. Now as soon as the Sultan heard these words he cried, “By Allah my

daughter is excusable and she hath shown her insight and her

contrivance;” and presently he arose and going in to her related what he

had heard from the King of the City, and she wondered at the tale of the

youth’s adventures and the killing of the Elephant. They nighted in that

stead and the tidings soon reached the ears of the youth’s wife, the

Princess who had been saved from the Elephant, and she said to her sire,

“I also needs must go to him and forgather with him.” Hereupon the King

her father bade muster his troops together with the Lords of the land

without the city beside the host of the chief Sultan, and on the second

day both Sovrans bade the loads be loaded for the march. When their

bidding was obeyed the twain set out together and travelled for days and

nights until they drew near to the capital of the King where the youth

had slain the Lion, and they pitched their tents in its neighbourhood.

Presently the Sovran of that capital came out and greeted them and asked

them the cause of their coming; so they informed him of their adventures

from commencement to conclusion; and he, when certified of the truth of

this tale, returned to inform his daughter thereof.——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 King suffer me to survive?” Now when it was the next

night and that was

The Four Hundred and Thirty-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 the third King informed his daughter of the

certainty of the tidings, and she also exclaimed, “Needs must I as well

as they set out to seek him and forgather with him.” So her father

returned to the Sultan and the King and told them of the adventures of

the youth, and how he was the cause of his daughter’s salvation from the

Lion which he had slain; and when the twain heard his words they

marvelled and cried, “By Allah, verily this youth is fortunate in all

his doings: would Heaven we knew how be his condition with his father

and whether he is loved or he is loathed.” Then the three fell to

talking of the Prince’s qualities, and presently the third King arose

and gave orders for gathering together the Lords of his land and his

army, and he brought out for his daughter mule-litters, and gat ready

all she might require of rarities and offerings. Then the three Kings

gave orders to load the beasts and fared together, taking with them

their three daughters who, whenever they conversed together used to

praise the high gifts of the Prince, and she who was the mistress of the

Bird would say “Ye twain have forgathered with him;” and the others

would answer, “We passed with him no more than a single night;” after

which they would relate to her the slaughter of the Lion and the

Elephant. So she wondered and cried, “By Allah! verily he is auspicious

of fortune.” And they ceased not to be in such case for whole days and

nights, and nights and days, throughout the length of the journey till

they drew near the far-famed[322] city which was the bourne of their

wayfare and the object of their wishes. Now this happened about

sunset-tide, so the three Kings who had alighted together bade their

tents and pavilions be set up, and when their behest was obeyed, each

and every of the three commanded that the firemen and the linkmen light

up their torches and cressets, and they did so, one and all, until that

Wady was illumined as by the sheen of day. But when the city folk saw

what was done by the three Kings, their hearts quaked and their flesh

quivered, and they cried, “Verily for the mighty hosts of these Kings

there needs must be a cause of coming.” However the strangers nighted in

site until morn grew light, when the three Sovrans forgathered, and sent

a messenger with an invite to the Lord of the city, who on receiving

him, exclaimed, “Hearkening and obedience!” Then mounting without stay

or delay he rode forth till he reached the strangers’ camp, where he

alighted and went in and greeted them; and they, on similar guise, arose

to him and wished him long life, and seated him and fell to conversing

with him for a full-told hour. But he was whelmed in the ocean of

thought, and he kept saying to himself, “Would Heaven I knew what be the

cause of the Kings coming to this my country.” However, the four Sovrans

continued to converse until the noontide hour, when the trays were

dispread for them, and the tables were laid with sumptuous meats in

platters and chargers of precious metal, the very basins and ewers being

of virgin gold. But when the King of that city beheld this he marvelled,

and said in his mind, “By Allah, there is not with me aught of rarities

like these.” As soon as they had ended eating what sufficed them, water

was brought to them and they washed their hands, after which they were

served with confections and coffee and sherbets. Anon the three Kings

said to their guest, “Thou, hast thou any children?” and said he, “Yes,

I have two sons.” Quoth they, “Summon them before us that we may look

upon them;” so he sent and bade them make act of presence. The Princes

donned their finest dresses and perfumed themselves; then they took

horse and rode until they had reached their father’s palace. But the

three Princesses stood to look at them, and she who was owner of the

Bird Philomelet asked of the two others, saying, “Is he amongst these

twain?” and they answered, “Nay, he is not.” She exclaimed, “By Allah,

both of them be fine men,” and the others cried, “Indeed, our husband is

far fairer and finer than they.” But when the Kings saw the two brothers

they said to their sire, “Verily our need is not with them.”——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 should relate to you on the coming

night an the King suffer me to survive?” Now when it was the next night

and that was

The Four Hundred and Thirty-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 the two Kings said to the lord of the city,

“Verily our need is not in this pair of youths,” and the third King

added, “By Allah, indeed these two young men be fair of favour,” for

that he had not seen the Prince who had taken his daughter’s Bird

Philomelet. Presently the two asked the father saying, “Thou, is there

by thee no issue other than these two?” and said he, “Yes, I have a son,

but I have cast him out and I have placed his mother amongst the

handmaids of the kitchen.” “Send to fetch him,” quoth they; so he

despatched a messenger to bring him into the presence. And he came,

withal he was without any finery of dress; but as soon as the two

damsels saw him they communed concerning him and he inclined to them and

went into their pavilion, when they rose to him and threw their arms

round his neck and kissed him between his eyes. Hereupon the mistress of

the Bird said to the two others, “Be this he?” and said they, “Yes;” so

she also arose and kissed his hand. But when he had finished greeting

them he at once went forth to the assembled Kings, who stood up in

honour to him and welcomed him and greeted him; and when his father saw

that case he wondered with great wonderment. Then the youth took seat

afar from his brothers and addressed them, saying, “Which of the twain

was first to take the necklace?” And they held their peace. He resumed

speech and said to them, “Which of you killed the Lion and which of you

slew the Elephant and which of you embraved his heart and going into the

bower of the august damsel, daughter to this Sultan, carried off her

Bird Philomelet?” But they answered him never a syllable and were far

from offering a reply. So he resumed, “Wherefore did you fall upon me

and beat me and take away the Enchanting Bird, when I was able to slay

you both? Yet to everything is its own time and this my father had

banished me and banished my mother nor did he give her aught of what

became her.” Saying these words the youth fell upon his two brethren

with his sword and striking a single stroke he slew the twain, after

which he would have assaulted his sire, and put him to death. However

the three Kings forbade him and presently he whose daughter owned the

Bird put an end to this by insisting upon the marriage-tie with him

being tied. So he went in unto her that very night and the three damsels

became his acknowledged spouses. After this his father gave command that

his mother be admitted into the Palace and he honoured her and banished

the parent of his two elder sons for he was assured that their cadet had

done such derring-do by slaying the Lion and the Elephant and by

bringing into the presence Philomelet the Enchanting Bird and he was

certified that the deed had been done by none other. So he set apart a

palace for the young Prince and his three Princesses and he gave him a

commandment and their joys ever increased. And lastly the three Kings

ceased not abiding in that place for forty days after which they devised

their departure.——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 King suffer me to

survive?” Now when it was the next night and that was

The Four Hundred and Thirty-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 three Kings desired, one and all of them,

to depart and return to their countries and their capitals; and their

son-in-law presented them with gifts and rarities, whereupon they

blessed him and went their ways. After this the young Prince, who had

become Sovran and Sultan, took seat upon the throne of his realm and by

the reign he was obeyed and the servants of Allah for him prayed.

Presently on a day of the days he inclined to the hunt and the chase, so

he went off with his suite till they found themselves in the middle of

the wildest of wolds where the ruler came upon an underground cavern. He

proposed to enter therein, when his followers prevented him and behold,

a man came to him from the desert showing the signs of wayfare and

carrying a somewhat of water and victual and his garments were all

threadbare. The King enquired of him saying, “Whence hast thou come and

whither art thou going?” and the other replied, “We be three in this

antre who have fled our country; and whenever we require aught of meat

and drink, one of us fareth forth to fetch what will suffice us of

provision for ten days.” “And what is the cause of your flying your

native land?” asked the King, and the other answered, “Verily our tale

is wondrous and our adventures are joyous and marvellous.” Hereupon

quoth the King, “Walláhi, we will not quit this spot till such time as

we shall have heard your histories; and let each one of you three

recount to us what befel him, so that we hear it from his own mouth.”

Hereupon the King commanded sundry of his suite to set forth home and

the rest to abide beside him; and he sent a Chamberlain of the

Chamberlains that he might go bring from the city somewhat of victual

and water and wax candles and all the case required, saying the while to

himself, “Verily the hearing of histories is better than hunting and

birding, for haply they may solace and gladden the hearts of men.”[323]

So the Chamberlain went forth and, after an absence of an hour or so he

returned bringing all the King had commanded; upon which he and the

suite brought in the Larrikin[324] together with his two companions

until they led them to the presence and seated the three together. All

this while none of the vagabonds knew that the personage before them was

the King of the city. So they fell to conversing until the next night

came on when the Sovran bade them tell their tales of themselves and

what had befallen each and every of them. They replied, “Hearkening and

obedience;” and the foremost of them began to recite the

_HISTORY OF THE FIRST LARRIKIN._

Verily, O King, my tale is a rare and it is e’en as follows:—I had a

mother of whose flocks the World had left her but a single kid, and we

owned ne’er another. Presently we determined to sell it; and, having so

done, we bought with its price a young calf, which we brought up for a

whole year till it grew fat and full-sized. Then my mother said to me,

“Take yon calf and go sell it;” so I went forth with it to the Bazar,

and I saw that not one was like it, when behold, a body of

vagabonds,[325] who numbered some forty, looked at the beast, and it

pleased them; so they said one to other, “Let us carry this away and cut

its throat and flay it.” Then one of them, as all were standing afar

off, came near me and said, “O youth, wilt thou sell this kid?” and

quoth I, “O my uncle, verily this is a calf and not a kid;” and the

other rejoined, “Art thou blind? This is a kid.” Cried I, “A calf!” So

he asked, “Wilt thou take from me a dollar?”[326] and I answered, “Nay,

O my uncle!” Thereupon he went away from me, and another came after him

and said, “O youth, wilt thou sell this kid?” and said I, “This is a

calf,” and quoth he “This is a kid,” and reviled me the while I held my

peace. Again quoth he, “Wilt thou take for this a dollar?” but I was not

satisfied therewith, and they ceased not to wrangle with me, one after

other, each coming up and saying, “O youth, wilt thou sell this kid?” At

last their Shaykh[327] accosted me and cried, “Wilt thou sell it?” and I

rejoined, “There is no Majesty save in Allah! I will sell it on one

condition, to wit, that I take from thee its tail.” Replied to me[328]

the Shaykh of the Vagabonds, “Thou shalt take the tail when we have

slaughtered it;” then, paying me a dollar, he led off the beast, and

returned to his own folk. Presently they killed it and flayed it, when I

took the tail and hastened back to my mother. She said to me, “Hast thou

sold the calf?” and said I, “Yes, I have sold it, and have taken a

dollar and the calf’s tail.” “And what wilt thou do for the tail?” asked

she; and I answered, “I will do him brown[329] who took it from me

saying, This is a kid, and I will serve him a sleight which shall get

out of him to its price ten times one hundred.”[330] With these words I

arose and, taking the tail, I flayed it and studded it with nails and

bits of glass, and I asked of my mother a maiden’s dress, which she

brought me; and presently I covered my face with a Burka’-veil,[331] and

I adorned me and perfumed myself and I girded my loins underneath my

clothes with the tail of that calf. Then went I forth like a virgin girl

till I reached the barrack of those blackguards, when I found that they

had cooked the whole calf and naught of it remained undressed, and they

had prepared to spread the table and were about sitting down to supper.

Then I went[332] in to them and said, “The Peace be upon you,” and they

rose to me in a body of their joy, and returned my greetings and said,

“By Allah, our night is a white one.” So I entered to them and supped

with them, and they all inclined to me, and their moustachios wagged in

token that they would disport with me. But when darkness came on they

said, “This night is for our Shaykh, but after this each one of us shall

take her for his own night.”——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 should relate to you on the coming night an the King suffer me to

survive?” Now when it was the next night and that was

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