himself, exclaiming, "There is no deliverance from the destiny decreed
by Allah; nor is there any escape from that which He hath predestined!"
Then he went up to the roof and found the strips of Ba'albak stuff tied
to the crenelles and hanging down to the ground, and thus it was he
knew that she had descended thence and had fled forth, as one
distracted and demented with desire and passion. Presently, he turned
and seeing there two birds, a gor-crow and an owl he justly deemed this
an omen of ill; so he groaned and recited these couplets,
"I came to my dear friends' door, of my hopes the goal, *
Whose sight mote assuage my sorrow and woes of soul:
No friends found I there, nor was there another thing *
To find, save a corby-crow and an ill-omened owl.
And the tongue o' the case to me seemed to say, *
'Indeed This parting two lovers fond was cruel and
foul!
So taste thou the sorrow thou madest them taste and live *
In grief: wend thy ways and now in thy sorrow prowl!'"
Then he descended from the castle-roof, weeping, and bade the servants
fare forth and search the mount for their mistress; so they sought for
her, but found her not. Such was their case; but as regards Uns
al-Wujud, when he was certified that Rose-in-Hood was indeed gone, he
cried with a great cry and fell down in a fainting-fit, nor came to
himself for a long time, whilst the folk deemed that his spirit had
been withdrawn by the Compassionating One; and that he was absorbed in
contemplation of the splendour, majesty and beauty of the Requiting
One. Then, despairing of finding Uns al-Wujud, and seeing that the
Wazir Ibrahim was distracted for the loss of his daughter, the Minister
of King Dirbas addressed himself to return to his own country, albeit
he had not attained the object of his journey, and while bidding his
companion adieu, said to him, "I have a mind to take the Fakir with me;
it may be Allah Almighty will incline the King's heart to me by his
blessing, for that he is a holy man; and thereafter, I will send him to
Ispahan, which is near our country." "Do as thou wilt," answered
Ibrahim. So they took leave of each other and departed, each for his
own mother land, the Wazir of King Dirbas carrying with him Uns
al-Wujud,—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her
permitted say.
When it was the Three Hundred and Eightieth Night,
She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Wazir of King
Dirbas carried with him Uns al-Wujud who was still insensible. They
bore him with them on mule-back (he unknowing if he were carried or
not) for three days, when he came to himself and said, "Where am I?"
"Thou art in company with the Minister of King Dirbas," replied they
and went and gave news of his recovering to the Wazir, who sent him
rose-water and sherbet of sugar, of which they gave him to drink and
restored him. Then they ceased not faring on till they drew near King
Dirbas's capital and the King, being advised of his Wazir's coming,
wrote to him, saying, "If Uns al-Wujud be not with thee, come not to me
ever." Now when the Wazir read the royal mandate, it was grievous to
him, for he knew not that Rose-in-Hood was with the King, nor why he
had been sent in quest of Uns al-Wujud, nor the King's reason for
desiring the alliance; whilst Uns al-Wujud also knew not whither they
were bearing him or that the Wazir had been sent in quest of him; nor
did the Wazir know that the Fakir he had with him was Uns al-Wujud
himself. And when the Minister saw that the sick man was whole, he said
to him, "I was despatched by the King on an errand, which I have not
been able to accomplish. So, when he heard of my return, he wrote to
me, saying, 'Except thou have fulfilled my need enter not my city.'"
"And what is the King's need?" asked Uns al-Wujud. So the Wazir told
him the whole tale, and he said, "Fear nothing, but go boldly to the
King and take me with thee; and I will be surety to thee for the coming
of Uns al-Wujud." At this the Wazir rejoiced and cried, "Is this true
which thou sayest?" "Yes," replied he; whereupon the Wazir mounted and
carried him to King Dirbas who, after receiving their salutations said
to him, "Where is Uns al-Wujud?" Answered the young man, "O King, I
know where he is." So the King called him to him and said, "Where?"
Returned Uns al-Wujud, "He is near-hand and very near; but tell me what
thou wouldst with him, and I will fetch him into thy presence." The
King replied, "With joy and good gree, but the case calleth for
privacy." So he ordered the folk to withdraw and, carrying Uns al-Wujud
into his cabinet, told him the whole story; whereupon quoth the youth,
"Robe me in rich raiment, and I will forthright bring Uns al-Wujud to
thee." So they brought him a sumptuous dress, and he donned it and
said, "I am Uns al-Wujud, the World's Delight, and to the envious a
despite"; and presently he smote with his glances every sprite, and
began these couplets to recite,
"My loved one's name in cheerless solitude aye cheereth me * And
driveth off my desperance and despondency:
I have no helper[FN#76] but my tears that ever flow in fount, *
And as they flow, they lighten woe and force my grief to
flee.
My longing is so violent naught like it ere was seen; * My love-
tale is a marvel and my love a sight to see:
I spend the night with lids of eye that never close in sleep, *
And pass in passion twixt the Hells and Edens heavenly.
I had of patience fairish store, but now no more have I; * And
love's sole gift to me hath been aye-growing misery:
My frame is wasted by the pain of parting from my own, * And
longing changed my shape and form and made me other be.
Mine eyelids by my torrent tears are chafed, and ulcerate, * The
tears, whose flow to stay is mere impossibility.
My manly strength is sore impaired for I have lost my heart; *
How many griefs upon my griefs have I been doomed to dree!
My heart and head are like in age with similar hoariness * By
loss of Beauty's lord,[FN#77] of lords the galaxy:
Despite our wills they parted us and doomed us parted wone, *
While they (our lords) desire no more than love in unity.
Then ah, would Heaven that I wot if stress of parting done, *
The world will grant me sight of them in union fain and
free—
Roll up the scroll of severance which others would unroll— *
Efface my trouble by the grace of meeting's jubilee!
And shall I see them homed with me in cup-company, * And change
my melancholic mood for joy and jollity?"
And when he had ended his verses the King cried aloud, "By Allah, ye
are indeed a pair of lovers true and fain and in Beauty's heaven of
shining stars a twain: your story is wondrous and your case
marvellous." Then he told him all that had befalled Rose-in- Hood; and
Uns al-Wujud said, "Where is she, O King of the age?" "She is with me
now," answered Dirbas and, sending for the Kazi and the witnesses, drew
up the contract of marriage between her and him. Then he honoured Uns
al-Wujud with favours and bounties and sent to King Shamikh acquainting
him with what had befallen, whereat this King joyed with exceeding joy
and wrote back the following purport. "Since the ceremony of contract
hath been performed at thy court, it behoveth that the marriage and its
consummation be at mine." Then he made ready camels, horses and men and
sent them in quest of the pair; and when the embassy reached King
Dirbas, he gave the lovers much treasure and despatched them to King
Shamikh's court with a company of his own troops. The day of their
arrival was a notable day, never was seen a grander; for the King
gathered together all the singing- women and players on instruments of
music and made wedding banquets and held high festival seven days; and
on each day he gave largesse to the folk and bestowed on them sumptuous
robes of honour. Then Uns al-Wujud went in to Rose-in-Hood and they
embraced and sat weeping for excess of joy and gladness, whilst she
recited these couplets,
"Joyance is come, dispelling cark and care; *
We are united, enviers may despair.
The breeze of union blows, enquickening *
Forms, hearts and vitals, fresh with fragrant air:
The splendour of delight with scents appears, *
And round us[FN#78] flags and drums show gladness rare.
Deem not we're weeping for our stress of grief;*
It is for joy our tears as torrents fare:
How many fears we've seen that now are past! *
And bore we patient what was sore to bear:
One hour of joyance made us both forget *
What from excess of terror grey'd our hair."
And when the verses were ended, they again embraced and ceased not from
their embrace, till they fell down in a swoon,—And Shahrazad perceived
the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
When it was the Three Hundred and Eighty-first Night,
She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Uns al- Wujud and
Rose-in-Hood embraced when they foregathered and ceased not from their
embrace, till they fell down in a swoon for the delight of reunion; and
when they came to themselves, Uns al- Wujud recited these couplets,
"How joyously sweet are the nights that unite, *
When my dearling deigns keep me the troth she did
plight;
When union conjoins us in all that we have, *
And parting is severed and sundered from sight,
To us comes the world with her favour so fair, *
After frown and aversion and might despight!
Hath planted her banner Good Fortune for us, *
And we drink of her cup in the purest delight.
We have met and complained of the pitiful Past, *
And of nights a full many that doomed us to blight.
But now, O my lady, the Past is forgot; *
The Compassionate pardon the Past for unright!
How sweet is existence, how glad is to be! *
This union my passion doth only incite."
And when he ended his verses they once more embraced, drowned in the
sea of passion; and lay down together in the private apartment
carousing and conversing and quoting verses and telling pleasant tales
and anecdotes. On this wise seven days passed over them whilst they
knew not night from day and it was to them, for very stress of gaiety
and gladness, pleasure and possession, as if the seven days were but
one day with ne'er a morrow. Not did they know the seventh day,[FN#79]
but by the coming of the singers and players on instruments of music;
whereat Rose-in-Hood beyond measure wondered and improvised these
couplets,
"In spite of enviers' jealousy, at end *
We have won all we hoped of the friend:
We've crowned our meeting with a close embrace *
On quilts where new brocades with sendal blend;
On bed of perfumed leather, which the spoils *
Of downy birds luxuriously distend.
But I abstain me from unneeded wine, *
When honey-dews of lips sweet musk can lend:
Now from the sweets of union we unknow *
Time near and far, if slow or fast it wend,
The seventh night hath come and gone, O strange! *
How went the nights we never reckt or kenned;
Till, on the seventh wishing joy they said, *
'Allah prolong the meet of friend with friend!'"
When she had finished her song, Uns al-Wujud kissed her, more than an
hundred times, and recited these couplets,
"O day of joys to either lover fain! *
The loved one came and freed from lonely pain:
She blest me with all inner charms she hath; *
And companied with inner grace deep lain:
She made me drain the wine of love till I, *
Was faint with joys her love had made me drain:
We toyed and joyed and on each other lay; *
Then fell to wine and soft melodious strain:
And for excess of joyance never knew, *
How went the day and how it came again.
Fair fall each lover, may he union win *
And gain of joy like me the amplest gain;
Nor weet the taste of severance' bitter fruit *
And joys assain them as they us assain!"
Then they went forth and distributed to the folk alms and presents of
money and raiment and rare gifts and other tokens of generosity; after
which Rose-in-Hood bade clear the bath for her[FN#80] and, turning to
Uns al-Wujud said to him, "O coolth of my eyes, I have a mind to see
thee in the Hammam, and therein we will be alone together." He joyfully
consented to this, and she let scent the Hammam with all sorts of
perfumed woods and essences, and light the wax-candles. Then of the
excess of her contentment she recited these couplets,
"O who didst win my love in other date *
(And Present e'er must speak of past estate);
And, oh! who art my sole sufficiency, *
Nor want I other friends with me to mate:
Come to the Hammam, O my light of eyes, *
And enter Eden through Gehenna-gate!
We'll scent with ambergris and aloes-wood *
Till float the heavy clouds with fragrant freight;
And to the World we'll pardon all her sins *
And sue for mercy the Compassionate;
And I will cry, when I descry thee there, *
'Good cheer, sweet love, all blessings on thee
wait!'"[FN#81]
Whereupon they arose and fared to the bath and took their pleasure
therein; after which they returned to their palace and there abode in
the fulness of enjoyment, till there came to them the Destroyer of
Delights and the Sunderer of societies; and glory be to Him who
changeth not neither ceaseth, and to whom everything returneth! And
they also tell a tale of
ABU NOWAS WITH THE THREE BOYS AND THE CALIPH HARUN AL-RASHID[FN#82]
Abu Nowas one day shut himself up and, making ready a richly-furnished
feast, collected for it meats of all kinds and of every colour that
lips and tongue can desire. Then he went forth, to seek a minion worthy
of such entertainment, saying, "Allah, my Lord and my Master, I beseech
Thee to send me one who befitteth this banquet and who is fit to
carouse with me this day!" Hardly had he made an end of speaking when
he espied three youths handsome and beardless, as they were of the boys
of Paradise,[FN#83] differing in complexion but fellows in incomparable
beauty; and all hearts yearned with desire to the swaying of their
bending shapes, even to what saith the poet,
"I passed a beardless pair without compare *
And cried, 'I love you, both you ferly fir!'
'Money'd?' quoth one: quoth I, 'And lavish too;' *
Then said the fair pair, 'Pere, c'est notre affaire.'"
Now Abu Nowas was given to these joys and loved to sport and make merry
with fair boys and cull the rose from every brightly blooming check,
even as saith the bard,
Full many a reverend Shaykh feels sting of flesh, *
Loves pretty faces, shows at Pleasure's depot:
Awakes in Mosul,[FN#84] land of purity; *
And all the day dreams only of Aleppo.[FN#85]
So he accosted them with the salutation, and they returned his greeting
with civility and all honour and would have gone their several ways,
but he stayed them, repeating these couplets,
"Steer ye your steps to none but me *
Who hath a mine of luxury:-
Old wine that shines with brightest blee *
Made by the monk in monastery;
And mutton-meat the toothsomest *
And birds of all variety.
Then eat of these and drink of those *
Old wines that bring you jollity:
And have each other, turn by turn, *
Shampooing this my tool you see."[FN#86]
Thereupon the youths were beguiled by his verses and consented to his
wishes,—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her
permitted say.
When it was the Three hundred and Eighty-second Night,
She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Abu Nowas
beguiled the youths with his wishes, saying, "We hear and obey;" and
accompanied him to his lodging, where they found all ready that he had
set forth in his couplets. They sat down and ate and drank and made
merry awhile, after which they appealed to Abu Nowas to decide which of
them was handsometh of face and shapliest of form. So he pointed to one
of them and, having kissed him twice over, recited the following
verses,
"I'll ransom that beauty-spot with my soup; *
Where's it and where is a money-dole?[FN#87]
Praise Him who hairless hath made that cheek *
And bid Beauty bide in that mole, that mole!"
Then he pointed to another and, kissing his lips, repeated these
couplets,
"And loveling weareth on his cheek a mole *
Like musk, which virgin camphor ne'er lets off it:
My peepers marvel such a contrast seeing; *
And cried the Mole to me, 'Now bless the
Prophet.'"[FN#88]
Then he pointed to the third and, after kissing him half a score times
repeated these couplets,
"Melted pure gold in silvern bowl to drain *
The youth, whose fingers wore a winey stain:
He with the drawers[FN#89] served one cup of wine, *
And served his wandering eyes the other twain.
A loveling, of the sons of Turks,[FN#90] a fawn *
Whose waist conjoins the double Mounts Honayn.[FN#91]
Could Eve's corrupting daughers[FN#92] tempt my heart *
Content with two-fold lure 'twould bear the bane.
Unto Diyar-I-Bakr ('maid-land '[FN#93] this one lures; *
That lures to two-mosqued cities of the plain."[FN#94]
Now each of the youths had drunk two cups, and when it came to the turn
of Abu Nowas, he took the goblet and repeated these couplets,
"Drink not strong wine save at the slender dearling's hand; *
Each like to other in all gifts the spirt grace:
For wine can never gladden toper's heart and soul, *
Unless the cup-boy show a bright and sparkling face."
Then he drank off his cup and the bowl went round, and when it came to
Abu Nowas again, joyance got the mastery of him and he repeated these
couplets,
"For cup-friends cup succeeding cup assign, *
Brimming with grape-juice, brought in endliess line,
By hand of brown-lipped[FN#95] Beauty who is sweet *
At wake as apple or musk finest fine.[FN#96]
Drink not the wine except from hand of fawn *
Whose cheek to kiss is sweeter than the wine."
Presently the drink got into his noddle, drunkenness mastered him and
he knew not hand from head, so that he lolled from side to side in joy
and inclined to the youths one and all, anon kissing them and anon
embracing them leg overlying leg. And he showed no sense of sin or
shame, but recited these couplets,
"None wotteth best joyance but generous youth *
When the pretty ones deign with him company keep:
This sings to him, sings to him that, when he wants *
A pick-me-up[FN#97] lying there all of a heap:
And when of a loveling he needeth a kiss, *
He takes from his lips or a draught or a nip;
Heaven bless them! How sweetly my day with them sped; *
A wonderful harvest of pleasure I reap:
Let us drink our good liquor both watered and pure, *
And agree to swive all who dare slumber and sleep."
While they were in this deboshed state behold, there came a knocking at
the door; so they bade him who knocked enter, and behold, it was the
Commander of the Faithful, Harun al-Rashid. When they saw him, they all
rose and kissed ground before him; and Abu Nowas threw off the fumes of
the wine for awe of the Caliph, who said to him, "Holla, Abu Nowas!" He
replied, "Adsum, at thy service, O Commander of the Faithful, whom
Allah preserve!" The Caliph asked, "What state is this?" and the poet
answered, "O Prince of True Believers, my state indubitably dispenseth
with questions." Quoth the Caliph, "O Abu Nowas, I have sought
direction of Allah Almighty and have appointed thee Kazi of pimps and
panders." Asked he, "Dost thou indeed invest me with that high office,
O Commander of the Faithful?"; and the Caliph answered "I do;"
whereupon Abu Nowas rejoined, "O Commander of the Faithful, hast thou
any suit to prefer to me?" Hereat the Caliph was wroth and presently
turned away and left them, full of rage, and passed the night sore
an-angered against Abu Nowas, who amid the party he had invited spent
the merriest of nights and the jolliest and joyousest. And when
day-break dawned and the star of morn appeared in sheen and shone, he
broke up the sitting and, dismissing the youths, donned his court-dress
and leaving his house set out for the palace of the Caliph. Now it was
the custom of the Commander of the Faithful, when the Divan broke up,
to withdraw to his sitting-saloon and summon thither his poets and
cup-companions and musicians, each having his own place, which he might
not overpass. So it happened that day, he retired to his saloom, and
the friends and familiars came and seated themselves, each in his rank
and degree. Presently, in walked Abu Nowas and was about to take his
usual seat, when the Caliph cried to Masrur, the sworder, and bade him
strip the poet of his clothes and bind an ass's packsaddle on his back
and a halter about his head and a crupper under his rump and lead him
round to all the lodgings of the slave-girls, —And Shahrazad perceived
the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
When it was the Three hundred and Eighty-third Night,
She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Caliph
commanded Masrur, the sworder, to strip Abu Nowas of his court-suit and
bind an ass's packsaddle on his back and a halter about his head, and a
crupper under his rump and lead him round to all the lodgings of the
slave-girls, and the chambers of the Harim, that the women might make
mock of him; then cut off his head and bring it to him. "Hearkening and
obedience," replied Masrur and, doing with Abu Nowas as the Caliph had
bidden him, led him round all the chambers whose number equalled the
days of the year; but Abu Nowas was a funny fellow, so he made all the
girls laugh with his buffooneries and each gave him something whereby
he returned not save with a pocketful of money. And while this was
going on behold, Ja'afar the Barmecide, who had been absent on an
important business for the Commander of the Faithful, entered and
recognising the poet, albeit in this plight, said to him, "Holla, Abu
Nowas!" He said, "Here at thy service, O our lord." Ja'afar asked,
"What offence hast thou committed to bring this punishment on thee?"
Thereupon he answered, "None whatsoever, except that I made our lord
the Caliph a present of the best of my poetry and he presented me, in
return, with the best of his raiment." When the Prince of True
Believers head this, he laughed, from a heart full of wrath,[FN#98] and
pardoned Abu Nowas, and also gave him a myriad of money. And they also
recount the tale of
ABDALLAH BIN MA'AMAR WITH THE MAN OF BASSORAH AND HIS SLAVE-GIRL.
A certain man of Bassorah once bought a slave-girl and reared and
educated her right well. Moreover, he loved her very dearly and spent
all his substance in pleasuring and merry-making with her, til he had
naught left and extreme poverty was sore upon him. So she said to him,
"O my master, sell me; for thou needest my price and it maketh my heart
ache to see thy sorry and want-full plight. If thou vend me and make
use of my value, 'twill be better for thee than keeping me by thee, and
haply Almighty Allah will ample thee and amend thy fortune." He agreed
to this for the straitness of his case, and carried her to the bazar,
where the broker offered her for sale to the Governor of Bassorah, by
name Abdallah bin Ma'amar al-Taymi, and she pleased him. So he bought
her, for five hundred dinars and paid the sum to her master; but when
he book the money and was about to go away, the girl burst into tears
and repeated these two couplets,
"May coins though gainest joy in heart instil; *
For me remaineth naught save saddest ill:
I say unto my soul which sorely grieves, *
'Thy friend departeth an thou will nor nill.'"
And when her master heard this, he groaned and replied in these
couplets,
"Albeit this thy case lack all resource, *
Nor findeth aught but death's doom, pardon still;
Evening and morning, thoughts of thee will dole *
Comfort to heart all woes and griefs full fill:
Peace be upon thee! Meet we now no more *
Nor pair except at Ibn Ma'amar's will."
Now when Abdullah bin Ma'amar heard these verses and saw their
affection, he exclaimed, "By Allah, I will not assist fate in
separating you; for it is evident to me that ye two indeed love each
other. So take the money and the damsel, O man, and Allah bless thee in
both; for verily parting be grievous to lovers." So they kissed his
hand and going away, ceased not to dwell together, till death did them
part; and glory be to Him whom death over-taketh not! And amonst
stories is that of
THE LOVERS OF THE BANU[FN#99] OZRAH
There was once, among the Banu Ozrah, a handsome and accomplished man,
who was never a single day out of love, and it chanced that he became
enamoured of a beauty of his own tribe and sent her many messages; but
she ceased not to entreat him with cruelty and disdain; till, for
stress of love and longing and desire and distraction, he fell sick of
a sore sickness and took to his pillow and murdered sleep. His malady
redoubled on him and his torments increased and he was well nigh dead
when his case became known among the folk and his passion
notorious;—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say
her permitted say.