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THE BOOK OF THE THOUSAND NIGHTS AND A NIGHT
A Plain and Literal Translation
of the Arabian Nights Entertainments
Translated and Annotated by Richard F. Burton
VOLUME FOUR
To Foster Fitzgerald Arbuthnot.
My Dear Arbuthnot,
I have no fear that a friend, whose friendship has lasted nearly a
third of a century, will misunderstand my reasons for inscribing his
name upon these pages. You have lived long enough in the East and, as
your writings show, observantly enough, to detect the pearl which lurks
in the kitchen-midden, and to note that its lustre is not dimmed nor
its value diminished by its unclean surroundings.
Ever yours sincerely,
Richard F. Burton.
Athenжum Club, October 1, 1885
Contents of the Fourth Volume
Contents
Tale of Kamar Al-Zaman (continued) a. Ni'amar Bin Al-Rabi'a and
Naomi His Slave-girl b. Conclusion of the Tale of Kamar Al-Zaman 22.
Ala Al-Din Abu Al-Shamat 23. Hatim of the Trive of Tayy 24. Ma'an
the Son of Zaidah 25. Ma'an the Son of Zaidah and the Badawi 26. The
City of Labtayt 27. The Caliph Hisham and the Arab Youth 28. Ibrahim
Bin Al-Mahdi and the Barber-Surgeon 29. The City of Many-Columned
Iram and Abdullah Son of Abi Kilabah 30. Isaac of Mosul 31. The
Sweep and the Noble Lady 32. The Mock Caliph 33. Ali the Persian 34.
Haru Al-Rashid and the Slave-Girl and the Iman Abu Yusuf 35. The
Lover Who Feigned Himself A Thief 36. Ja'afar the Barmecide and the
Bean-Seller 37. Abu Mohammed Hight Lazybones 38. Generous Dealing of
Yahya Bin Khбlid The Barmecide with Mansur 39. Generous Dealing of
Yahya Son of Khбlid with a Man Who Forged a Letter in his Name 40.
Caliph Al-Maamum and the Strange Scholar 41. Ali Shar and Zumurrud
42. The Loves of Jubayr Bin Umayr and the Lady Budur 43. The Man of
Al-Yaman and His Six Slave-Girls 44. Harun Al-Rashid and the Damsel
and Abu Nowas 45. The Man Who Stole the Dish of Gold Wherein The Dog
Ate 46. The Sharper of Alexandria and the Chief of Police 47.
Al-Malik Al-Nasir and the Three Chiefs of Police a. Story of the
Chief of Police of Cairo b. Story of the Chief of the Bulak Police
c. Story of the Chief of the Old Cairo Police 48. The Thief and the
Shroff 49. The Chief of the Kus Police and the Sharper 50. Ibrahim
Bin Al-Mahdi and the Merchant's Sister 51. The Woman Whose Hands were
Cut Off For Giving Alms to the Poor 52. The Devout Israelite 53. Abu
Hassan Al-Ziyadi and the Khorasan 54. The Poor Man and His Friend in
Need 55. The Ruined Man Who became Rich Again Through A Dream 56.
Caliph Al-Mutawakkil and His Concubine Mahbubah 57. Wardan the
Butcher; His Adventure With the Lady and the Bear 58. The King's
Daughter and the Ape
The Book of the Thousand Nights and A Night
Ni'amah bin al-Rabi'a and Naomi his Slave-girl.
There lived once in the city of Cufa[FN#1] a man called Al-Rabн'a bin
Hбtim, who was one of the chief men of the town, a wealthy and a
healthy, and Heaven had vouchsafed him a son, whom he named Ni'amah
Allah.[FN#2] One day, being in the slave-brokers' mart, he saw a woman
exposed for sale with a little maid of wonderful beauty and grace on
her arm. So he beckoned to the broker and asked him, "How much for this
woman and her daughter?" He answered "Fifty dinars." Quoth Al-Rabi'a
"Write the contract of sale and take the money and give it to her
owner." Then he gave the broker the price and his brokerage and taking
the woman and her child, carried them to his house. Now when the
daughter of his uncle who was his wife saw the slave, she said to her
husband, "O my cousin, what is this damsel?" He replied, "Of a truth, I
bought her for the sake of the little one on her arm; for know that,
when she groweth up, there will not be her like for beauty, either in
the land of the Arabs or the Ajams." His wife remarked, "Right was thy
rede", and said to the woman "What is thy name?" She replied, "O my
lady, my name is Tauflнk.[FN#3]" "And what is thy daughter's name?"
asked she? Answered the slave, "Sa'ad, the happy." Rejoined her
mistress; "Thou sayst sooth, thou art indeed happy, and happy is he who
hath bought thee." Then quoth she to her husband, "O my cousin, what
wilt thou call her?"; and quoth he, "Whatso thou chooses"; so she said,
"Then let us call her Naomi," and he rejoined "Good is thy device." The
little Naomi was reared with Al-Rabi'a's son Ni'amah in one cradle, so
to speak, till the twain reached the age of ten and each grew handsomer
than the other; and the boy used to address her, "O my sister!" and
she, "O my brother!", till they came to that age when Al-Rabi'a said to
Ni'amah, "O my son, Naomi is not thy sister but thy slave. I bought her
in thy name whilst thou wast yet in the cradle; so call her no more
sister from this day forth." Quoth Ni'amah, "If that be so, I will take
her to wife." Then he went to his mother and told her of this, and she
said to him, "O my son, she is thy handmaid." So he wedded and went in
unto Naomi and loved her; and two[FN#4] years passed over them whilst
in this condition, nor was there in all Cufa a fairer girl than Naomi,
or a sweeter or a more graceful. As she grew up she learnt the Koran
and read works of science and excelled in music and playing upon all
kinds of instruments; and in the beauty of her singing she surpassed
all the folk of her time. Now one day as she sat with her husband in
the wine chamber, she took the lute, tightened the strings, and sang
these two couplets,
"While thou'rt my lord whose bounty's my estate, * A sword
whereby my woes to annihilate,
Recourse I never need to Amru or Zayd,[FN#5] * Nor aught save
thee if way to me grow strait!"
Ni'amah was charmed with these verses and said to her, "By my life, O
Naomi, sing to us with the tambourine and other instruments!" So she
sang these couplets to a lively measure,
"By His life who holds my guiding rein, I swear * I'll meet on
love ground parlous foe nor care:
Good sooth I'll vex revilers, thee obey * And quit my slumbers
and all joy forswear:
And for thy love I'll dig in vitals mine * A grave, nor shall my
vitals weet 'tis there!"
And Ni'amah exclaimed, "Heaven favoured art thou, O Naomi!" But whilst
they led thus the most joyous life, behold! Al-Hajjбj,[FN#6] the
Viceroy of Cufa said to himself, "Needs must I contrive to take this
girl named Naomi and send her to the Commander of the Faithful, Abd
al-Malik bin Marwбn, for he hath not in his palace her like for beauty
and sweet singing." So he summoned an old woman of the duennas of his
wives and said to her, "Go to the house of Al-Rabi'a and foregather
with the girl Naomi and combine means to carry her off; for her like is
not to be found on the face of the earth." She promised to do his
bidding; the next morning she donned the woollen clothes of a devotee
and hung around her neck a rosary of beads by the thousand; and,
henting in hand a staff and a leather water bottle of Yamani
manufacture.— And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say
her permitted say.
When it was the Two Hundred and Thirty-eighth Night,
She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the old woman
promised to do the bidding of Al-Hajjaj, and whenas it was morning she
donned the woollen clothes of a devotee[FN#7] and hung around her neck
a rosary of beads by the thousand and hent in hand a staff and a
leather water bottle of Yamani manufacture and fared forth crying,
"Glory be to Allah! Praised be Allah! There is no god but the God!
Allah is Most Great! There is no Majesty and there is no Might save in
Allah, the Glorious, the Great!" Nor did she leave off her lauds and
her groaning in prayer whilst her heart was full of guile and wiles,
till she came to the house of Ni'amah bin al-Rabi'a at the hour of noon
prayer, and knocked at the door. The doorkeeper opened and said to her,
"What dost thou want?" Quoth she, "I am a poor pious woman, whom the
time of noon prayer hath overtaken, and fief would I pray in this
blessed place." Answered the porter, "O old woman, this is no mosque
nor oratory, but the house of Ni'amah son of al Rabi'a." She replied,
"I know there is neither cathedral-mosque nor oratory like the house of
Ni'amah bin al-Rabi'a. I am a chamberwoman of the palace of the Prince
of True Believers and am come out for worship and the visitation of
Holy Places." But the porter rejoined, "Thou canst not enter;" and many
words passed between them, till at last she caught hold and hung to him
saying, "Shall the like of me be denied admission to the house of
Ni'amah bin al-Rabi'a, I who have free access to the houses of Emirs
and Grandees?" Anon, out came Ni'amah and, hearing their loud language,
laughed and bade the old woman enter after him. So she followed him
into the presence of Naomi, whom she saluted after the godliest and
goodliest fashion, and, when she looked on her, she was confounded at
her exceeding seemliness and said to her, "O my lady, I commend thee to
the safeguard of Allah, who made thee and thy lord fellows in beauty
and loveliness!" Then she stood up in the prayer niche and betook
herself to inclination and prostration and prayer, till day departed
and night darkened and starkened, when Naomi said to her, "O my mother,
rest thy legs and feet awhile." Replied the old woman "O my lady, whoso
seeketh the world to come let him weary him in this world, and whoso
wearieth not himself in this world shall not attain the dwellings of
the just in the world to come." Then Naomi brought her food and said to
her, "Eat of my bread and pray Heaven to accept my penitence and to
have mercy on me." But she cried, "O my lady, I am fasting. As for
thee, thou art but a girl and it befitteth thee to eat and drink and
make merry; Allah be indulgent to thee!; for the Almighty saith: All
shall be punished except him who shall repent and believe and shall
work a righteous work."[FN#8] So Naomi continued sitting with the old
woman in talk and presently said to Ni'amah, "O my lord, conjure this
ancient dame to sojourn with us awhile, for piety and devotion are
imprinted on her countenance." Quoth he, "Set apart for her a chamber
where she may say her prayers; and suffer no one to go in to her:
peradventure, Allah (extolled and exalted be He!) shall prosper us by
the blessing of her presence and never separate us." So the old woman
passed her night in praying and reciting the Koran; and when Allah
caused the morn to dawn, she went in to Ni'amah and Naomi and, giving
them good morning, said to them, "I pray Allah have you in His holy
keeping!" Quoth Naomi, "Whither away, O my mother? My lord hath bidden
me set apart for thee a chamber, where thou mayst seclude thee for thy
devotions." Replied the old woman, "Allah give him long life, and
continue His favour to you both! But I would have you charge the
doorkeeper not to stay my coming in to you; and, Inshallah! I will go
the round of the Holy Places and pray for you two at the end of my
devotions every day and night." Then she went out (whilst Naomi wept
for parting with her knowing not the cause of her coming), and returned
to Al-Hajjaj who said to her, "As thou do my bidding soon, thou shalt
have of me abundant good." Quoth she, "I ask of thee a full month;" and
quoth he "Take the month." Thereupon the old hag fell to daily visiting
Ni'amah's house and frequented his slave-wife, Naomi.— And Shahrazad
perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
When it was the Two Hundred and Thirty-ninth Night,
She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the old hag fell
to visiting daily Ni'amah's house and frequenting his slave wife,
Naomi; and both ceased not to honour her, and she used to go in to them
morning and evening and all in the house respected her till, one day,
being alone with Naomi, she said to her, "O my lady! by Allah, when I
go to the Holy Places, I will pray for thee; and I only wish thou wert
with me, that thou mightest look on the Elders of the Faith who resort
thither, and they should pray for thee, according to thy desire." Naomi
cried, "I conjure thee by Allah take me with thee!"; and she replied,
"Ask leave of thy mother in law, and I will take thee." So Naomi said
to her husband's mother, "O my lady, ask my master to let us go forth,
me and thee, one day with this my old mother, to prayer and worship
with the Fakirs in the Holy Places." Now when Ni'amah came in and sat
down, the old woman went up to him and would have kissed his hand, but
he forbade her; so she invoked blessings[FN#9] on him and left the
house. Next day she came again, in the absence of Ni'amah, and she
addressed Naomi, saying, "We prayed for thee yesterday; but arise now
and divert thyself and return ere thy lord come home." So Naomi said to
her mother-in-law, "I beseech thee, for Allah's sake, give me leave to
go with this pious woman, that I may sight the saints of Allah in the
Holy Places, and return speedily ere my lord come back." Quoth
Ni'amah's mother, "I fear lest thy lord know;" but said the old woman,
"By Allah, I will not let her take seat on the floor; no, she shall
look, standing on her feet, and not tarry." So she took the damsel by
guile and, carrying her to Al-Hajjaj's palace, told him of her coming,
after placing her in a lonely chamber; whereupon he went in to her and,
looking upon her, saw her to be the loveliest of the people of the day,
never had he beheld her like. Now when Naomi caught sight of him she
veiled her face from him; but he left her not till he had called his
Chamberlain, whom he commanded to take fifty horsemen; and he bade him
mount the damsel on a swift dromedary, and bear her to Damascus and
there deliver her to the Commander of the Faithful, Abd al-Malik bin
Marwan. Moreover, he gave him a letter for the Caliph, saying, "Bear
him this letter and bring me his answer and hasten thy return to me."
So the Chamberlain, without losing time, took the damsel (and she
tearful for separation from her lord) and, setting out with her on a
dromedary, gave not over journeying till he reached Damascus. There he
sought audience of the Commander of the Faithful and, when it was
granted, the Chamberlain delivered the damsel and reported the
circumstance. The Caliph appointed her a separate apartment and going
into his Harim, said to his wife, "Al Hajjaj hath bought me a
slave-girl of the daughters of the Kings of Cufa[FN#10] for ten
thousand dinars, and hath sent me this letter."— And Shahrazad
perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
When it was the Two Hundred and Fortieth Night,
She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the Caliph
acquainted his wife with the story of the slave-girl, she said to him,
"Allah increase to thee His favour!" Then the Caliph's sister went in
to the supposed slave-girl and, when she saw her, she said, "By Allah,
not unlucky is the man who hath thee in his house, were thy cost an
hundred thousand dinars!" And Naomi replied, "O fair of face, what
King's palace is this, and what is the city?" She answered, "This is
the city of Damascus, and this is the palace of my brother, the
Commander of the Faithful, Abd al-Malik bin Marwan.[FN#11]" Then she
resumed, "Didst thou not know all this?" Naomi said, "By Allah, O my
lady, I had no knowledge of it!"; when the other asked, "And he who
sold thee and took thy price did he not tell thee that the Caliph had
bought thee?" Now when Naomi heard these words, she shed tears and said
to herself, "Verily, I have been tricked and the trick hath succeeded,"
adding to herself, "If I speak, none will credit me; so I will hold my
peace and take patience, for I know that the relief of Allah is near."
Then she bent her head for shame, and indeed her cheeks were tanned by
the journey and the sun. So the Caliph's sister left her that day and
returned to her on the morrow with clothes and necklaces of jewels, and
dressed her; after which the Caliph came in to her and sat down by her
side, and his sister said to him, "Look on this handmaid in whom Allah
hath conjoined every perfection of beauty and loveliness." So he said
to Naomi, "Draw back the veil from thy face;" but she would not unveil,
and he beheld not her face. However, he saw her wrists and love of her
entered his heart; and he said to his sister, "I will not go in unto
her for three days, till she be cheered by thy converse." Then he arose
and left her, but Naomi ceased not to brood over her case and sigh for
her separation from her master, Ni'amah, till she fell sick of a fever
during the night and ate not nor drank; and her favour faded and her
charms were changed. They told the Caliph of this and her condition
grieved him; so he visited her with physicians and men of skill, but
none could come at a cure for her. This is how it fared with her; but
as regards Ni'amah, when he returned home he sat down on his bed and
cried, "Ho, Naomi!" But she answered not; so he rose in haste and
called out, yet none came to him, as all the women in the house had
hidden themselves for fear of him. Then he went out to his mother, whom
he found sitting with her cheek on her hand, and said to her, "O my
mother, where is Naomi?" She answered, "O my son, she is with one who
is worthier than I to be trusted with her, namely, the devout old
woman; she went forth with her to visit devotionally the Fakirs and
return." Quoth Ni'amah, "Since when hath this been her habit and at
what hour went she forth?" Quoth his mother, "She went out early in the
morning." He asked, "And how camest thou to give her leave for this?";
and she answered, "O my son, 'twas she persuaded me." "There is no
Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah, the Glorious, the Great!"
exclaimed Ni'amah and, going forth from his home in a state of
distraction, he repaired to the Captain of the Watch to whom said he,
"Doss thou play tricks upon me and steal-my slave-girl away from my
house? I will assuredly complain of thee to the Commander of the
Faithful." Said the Chief of Police, "Who hath taken her?" and Ni'amah
replied, "An old woman of such and such a mien, clad in woollen raiment
and carrying a rosary of beads numbered by thousands." Rejoined the
other, "Find me the old woman and I will get thee back thy slave-girl."
"And who knows the old woman?" retorted Ni'amah. "And who knows the
hidden things save Allah (may He be extolled and exalted!)?" cried the
Chief, who knew her for Al-Hajjaj's procuress. Cried Ni'amah, "I look
to thee for my slave-girl, and Al-Hajjaj shall judge between thee and
me;" and the Master of Police answered, "Go to whom thou wilt." So
Ni'amah went to the palace of Al-Hajjaj, for his father was one of the
chief men of Cufa; and, when he arrived there, the Chamberlain went in
to the Governor and told him the case; whereupon Al-Hajjaj said,
"Hither with him!" and when he stood before him enquired, "What be thy
business?" Said Ni'amah, "Such and such things have befallen me;" and
the Governor said, "Bring me the Chief of Police, and we will commend
him to seek for the old woman." Now he knew that the Chief of Police
was acquainted with her; so, when he came, he said to him, "I wish thee
to make search for the slave-girl of Ni'amah son of Al-Rabi'a." And he
answered, "None knoweth the hidden things save Almighty Allah."
Rejoined Al-Hajjaj, "There is no help for it but thou send out horsemen
and look for the damsel in all the roads, and seek for her in the
towns."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her
permitted say.
When it was the Two Hundred and Forty-First Night,
She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Al-Hajjaj said to
the Captain of the Watch, "There is no help for it but thou send out
horsemen, and look for the damsel on all the roads and seek for her in
the towns." Then he turned to Ni'amah and said to him, "And thy
slave-girl return not, I will give thee ten slave-girls from my house
and ten from that of the Chief of Police." And he again bade the
Captain of the Watch, "Go and seek for the girl." So he went out, and
Ni'amah returned home full of trouble and despairing of life; for he
had now reached the age of fourteen and there was yet no hair on his
side cheeks. So he wept and lamented and shut himself up from his
household; and ceased not to weep and lament, he and his mother, till
the morning, when his father came in to him and said, "O my son, of a
truth, Al-Hajjaj hath put a cheat upon the damsel and hath taken her;
but from hour to hour Allah giveth relief." However grief redoubled on
Ni'amah, so that he knew not what he said nor knew he who came in to
him, and he fell sick for three months his charms were changed, his
father despaired of him and the physicians visited him and said, "There
is no remedy for him save the damsel." Now as his father was sitting
one day, behold he heard tell of a skillful Persian physician, whom the
folk gave out for perfect in medicine and astrology and geomancy. So
Al-Rabi'a sent for him and, seating him by his side, entreated him with
honour and said to him, "Look into my son's case." Thereupon quoth he
to Ni'amah, "Give me thy hand." The young man gave him his hand and he
felt his pulse and his joints and looked in his face; then he laughed
and, turning to his father, said, "Thy son's sole ailment is one of the
heart."[FN#12] He replied, Thou sayest sooth, O sage, but apply thy
skill to his state and case, and acquaint me with the whole thereof and
hide naught from me of his condition." Quoth the Persian, "Of a truth
he is enamoured of a slave-girl and this slave-girl is either in
Bassorah or Damascus; and there is no remedy for him but reunion with
her." Said Al-Rabi'a, "An thou bring them together, thou shalt live all
thy life in wealth and delight." Answered the Persian, "In good sooth
this be an easy matter and soon brought about," and he turned to
Ni'amah and said to him, "No hurt shall befall thee; so be of good
cheer and keep thine eyes cool and clear." Then quoth he to Al-Rabi'a,
"Bring me out four thousand dinars of your money;" so he gave them to
him, and he added, "I wish to carry thy son with me to Damascus; and
Almighty Allah willing, I will not return thence but with the damsel."
Then he turned to the youth and asked, "What is thy name?"; and he
answered "Ni'amah." Quoth the Persian, "O Ni'amah, sit up and be of
good heart, for Allah will reunite thee with the damsel." And when he
sat up the leach continued, "Be of good cheer for we set out for
Damascus this very day: put thy trust in the Lord and eat and drink and
be cheerful so as to fortify thyself for travel." Upon this the Persian
began making preparation of all things needed, such as presents and
rarities; and he took of Al-Rabi'a in all the sum of ten thousand
dinars, together with horses and camels and beasts of burden and other
requisites. Then Ni'amah farewelled his father and mother and journeyed
with the physician to Aleppo. They could find no news of Naomi there so
they fared on to Damascus, where they abode three days, after which the
Persian took a shop and he adorned even the shelves with vessels of
costly porcelain, with covers of silver, and with gildings and stuffs
of price. Moreover, he set before himself vases and flagons of glass
full of all manner of ointments and ups, and he surrounded them with
cups of crystal—and, placing astrolabe and geomantic tablet facing him,
he donned a physician's habit and took his seat in the shop. Then he
set Ni'amah standing before him clad in a shirt and gown of silk and,
girding his middle with a silken kerchief gold-embroidered, said to
him, "O Ni'amah, henceforth thou art my son; so call me naught but
sire, and I will call thee naught but son." And he replied, "I hear and
I obey." Thereupon the people of Damascus flocked to the Persian's shop
that they might gaze on the youth's goodliness and the beauty of the
shop and its contents, whilst the physician spoke to Ni'amah in Persian
and he answered him in the same tongue, for he knew the language, after
the wont of the sons of the notables. So that Persian doctor soon
became known among the townsfolk and they began to acquaint him with
their ailments, and he to prescribe for them remedies. Moreover, they
brought him the water of the sick in phials,[FN#13] and he would test
it and say, "He, whose water this is, is suffering from such and such a
disease," and the patient would declare, "Verily this physician sayeth
sooth." So he continued to do the occasions of the folk and they to
flock to him, till his fame spread throughout the city and into the
houses of the great. Now, one day as he sat in his-shop, behold, there
came up an old woman riding on an ass with a stuffed saddle of brocade
embroidered with jewels; and, stopping before the Persian's shop, drew
rein and beckoned him, saying, "Take my hand." He took her hand, and
she alighted and asked him "Art thou the Persian physician from Irak?"
"Yes," answered he, and she said, "Know that I have a sick daughter."
Then she brought out to him a phial—and the Persian looked at it and
said to her, "O my mistress, tell me thy daughter's name, that I may
calculate her horoscope and learn the hour in which it will befit her
to drink medicine." She replied, "O my brother the Persian,[FN#14] her
name is Naomi."— And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased
saying her permitted say.
When it was the Two Hundred and Forty-second Night,
She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the Persian
heard the name of Naomi, he fell to calculating and writing on his hand
and presently said, "O my lady, I cannot prescribe a medicine for her
till I know what country woman she is, because of the difference of
climate: so tell me in what land she was brought up and what is her
age." The old woman replied "She is fourteen years old and she was
brought up in Cufa of Irak." He asked, "And how long hath she sojourned
in this country?" "But a few months," answered she. Now when Ni'amah
heard the old woman's words and recognised the name of his slave- girl,
his heart fluttered and he was like to faint. Then said the Persian,
"Such and such medicines will suit her case;" and the old woman
rejoined, "Then make them up and give me what thou hast mentioned, with
the blessing of Almighty Allah." So saying, she threw upon the shop
board ten gold pieces, and he looked at Ni'amah and bade him prepare
the necessary drugs; whereupon she also looked at the youth and
exclaimed, "Allah have thee in his keeping, O my son! Verily, she
favoureth thee in age and mien." Then said she to the physician, "O my
brother the Persian, is this thy slave or thy son?" "He is my son,"
answered he. So Ni'amah put up the medicine and, placing it in a little
box, took a piece of paper and wrote thereon these two couplets,[FN#15]
"If Naomi bless me with a single glance, * Let Su'adб sue and
Juml joy to
They said, "Forget her: twenty such thou'lt find." * But none is
like her—I will not forget!"
He pressed the paper into the box and, sealing it up, wrote upon the
cover the following words in Cufic characters, "I am Ni'amah of
al-Rabi'a of Cufa." Then he set it before the old woman who took it and
bade them farewell and returned to the Caliph's palace, and when she
went up with the drugs to the damsel she placed the little box of
medicine at her feet, saying, "O my lady, know that there is lately
come to our town a Persian physician, than whom I never saw a more
skilful nor a better versed in matters of malady. I told him thy name,
after showing him the water-bottle, and forthwith he knew thine ailment
and prescribed a remedy. Then he bade his son make thee up this
medicine; and there is not in Damascus a comelier or a seemlier youth
than this lad of his, nor hath anyone a shop the like of his shop." So
Naomi took the box and, seeing the names of her lord and his father
written on the cover, changed colour and said to herself, "Doubtless,
the owner of this shop is come in search of me." So she said to the old
woman, "Describe to me this youth." Answered the old woman, "His name
is Ni'amah, he hath a mole on his right eyebrow, is richly clad and is
perfectly handsome." Cried Naomi, "Give me the medicine, whereon be the
blessing and help of Almighty Allah!" So she drank off the potion (and
she laughing) and said, "Indeed, it is a blessed medicine!" Then she
sought in the box and, finding the paper, opened it, read it,
understood it and knew that this was indeed her lord, whereas her heart
was solaced and she rejoiced. Now when the old woman saw her laughing,
she exclaimed, "This is indeed a blessed day!"; and Naomi said, "O
nurse, I have a mind for something to eat and drink." The old woman
said to the serving women, "Bring a tray of dainty viands for your
mistress;" whereupon they set food before her and she sat down to eat.
And behold in came the Caliph who, seeing her sitting at meat,
rejoiced; and the old woman said to him, "O Commander of the Faithful,
I give thee joy of thy hand maid Naomi's recovery! And the cause is
that there is lately come to this our city a physician than whom I
never saw a better versed in diseases and their remedies. I fetched her
medicine from him and she hath drunken of it but once and is restored
to health." Quoth he, "Take a thousand dinars and apply thyself to her
treatment, till she be completely recovered." And he went away,
rejoicing in the damsel's recovery, whilst the old woman betook herself
to the Persian's house and delivered the thousand dinars, giving him to
know that she was become the Caliph's slave and also handing him a
letter which Naomi had written. He took it and gave the letter to
Ni'amah, who at first sight knew her hand and fell down in a swoon.
When he revived he opened the letter and found these words written
therein: "From the slave despoiled of her Ni'amah, her delight; her
whose reason hath been beguiled and who is parted from the core of her
heart. But afterwards of a truth thy letter hath reached me and hath
broadened my breast, and solaced my soul, even as saith the poet,
"Thy note came: long lost hungers wrote that note, * Till drop
they sweetest scents for what they wrote:
Twas Moses to his mother's arms restored; * 'Twas Jacob's eye-
sight cured by Joseph's coat!"[FN#16]
When Ni'amah read these verses, his eyes ran over with tears and the
old woman said to him, "What maketh thee to weep, O my son? Allah never
cause thine eye to shed tears!" Cried the Persian, "O my lady, how
should my son not weep, seeing that this is his slave-girl and he her
lord, Ni'amah son of al-Rabi'a of Cufa; and her health dependeth on her
seeing him, for naught aileth her but loving him.—And Shahrazad
perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
When it was the Two Hundred and Forty-third Night,
She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Persian cried
out to the old woman, "How shall my son not weep, seeing that this is
his slave-girl and he her lord, Ni'amah son of al-Rabi'a of Cufa; and
the health of this damsel dependeth on her seeing him and naught aileth
her but loving him. So, do thou, O my lady, take these thousand dinars
to thyself and thou shalt have of me yet more than this; only look on
us with eyes of rush; for we know not how to bring this affair to a
happy end save through thee." Then she said to Ni'amah, "Say, art thou
indeed her lord?" He replied, "Yes," and she rejoined, "Thou sayest
sooth; for she ceaseth not continually to name thee." Then he told her
all that had passed from first to last, and she said, "O youth, thou
shalt owe thy reunion with her to none but myself." So she mounted and,
at once returning to Naomi, looked in her face and laughed saying, "It
is just, O my daughter, that thou weep and fall sick for thy separation
from thy master, Ni'amah, son of Al-Rabi'a of Cufa." Quoth Naomi,
"Verily, the veil hath been withdrawn for thee and the truth revealed
to thee." Rejoined the old woman, "Be of good cheer and take heart, for
I will assuredly bring you together, though it cost me my life." Then
she returned to Ni'amah and said to him, "I went to thy slave- girl and
conversed with her, and I find that she longeth for thee yet more than
thou for her; for although the Commander of the Faithful is minded to
become intimate with her, she refuseth herself to him. But if thou be
stout of purpose and firm of heart, I will bring you together and
venture my life for you, and play some trick and make shift to carry
thee into the Caliph's palace, where thou shalt meet her, for she
cannot come forth." And Ni'amah answered, "Allah requite thee with
good!" Then she took leave of him and went back to Naomi and said, "Thy
lord is indeed dying of love for thee and would fain see thee and
foregather with thee. What sayest thou?" Naomi replied, "And I too am
longing for his sight and dying for his love." Whereupon the old woman
took a parcel of women's clothes and ornaments and, repairing to
Ni'amah, said to him, "Come with me into some place apart." So he
brought her into the room behind the shop where she stained his hands
and decked his wrists and plaited his hair, after which she clad him in
a slave-girl's habit and adorned him after the fairest fashion of
woman's adornment, till he was as one of the Houris of the Garden of
Heaven, and when she saw him thus she exclaimed, "Blessed be Allah,
best of Creators! By Allah, thou art handsomer than the damsel.[FN#17]
Now, walk with thy left shoulder forwards and thy right well behind,
and sway thy hips from side to side."[FN#18] So he walked before her,
as she bade him; and, when she saw he had caught the trick of woman's
gait, she said to him, "Expect me tomorrow night, and Allah willing, I
will take and carry thee to the palace. But when thou seest the
Chamberlains and the Eunuchs be bold, and bow thy head and speak not
with any, for I will prevent their speech; and with Allah is success!"
Accordingly, when the morning dawned, she returned and, carrying him to
the palace, entered before him and he after her step by step. The
Chamberlain would have stopped his entering, but the old woman said to
him, "O most ill omened of slaves, this is the handmaid of Naomi, the
Caliph's favourite. How durst thou stay her when she would enter?" Then
said she, "Come in, O damsel!"; and the old woman went in and they
ceased not faring on, till they drew near the door leading to the inner
piazza of the palace, when she said to him, "O Ni'amah, hearten thyself
and take courage and enter and turn to the left: then count five doors
and pass through the sixth, for it is that of the place prepared for
thee. Fear nothing, and if any speak to thee, answer not, neither
stop." Then she went up with him to the door, and the Chamberlain there
on guard accosted her, saying "What damsel is this?"—And Shahrazad
perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
When it was the Two Hundred and Forty-fourth Night,
She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the
Chamberlain accosted the old woman, saying, "What damsel is this?";
quoth the ancient dame, "Our lady hath a mind to buy her;" and he
rejoined, "None may enter save by leave of the Commander of the
Faithful; so do thou go back with her. I can not let her pass for thus
am I commanded." Replied the old woman, "O Chief Chamberlain, use thy
reason. Thou knowest that Naomi, the Caliph's slave-girl, of whom he is
enamoured, is but now restored to health and the Commander of the
Faithful hardly yet crediteth her recovery. She is minded to buy this
hand maid; so oppose thou not her entrance, lest haply it come to
Naomi's knowledge and she be wroth with thee and suffer a relapse and
this cause thy head to be cut off." Then said she to Ni'amah, "Enter, O
damsel; pay no heed to what he saith and tell not the Queen-consort
that her Chamberlain opposed thine entrance." So Ni'amah bowed his head
and entered the palace, and would have turned to the left, but mistook
the direction and walked to his right; and, meaning to count five doors
and enter the sixth, he counted six and entering the seventh, found
himself in a place whose floor was carpeted with brocade and whose
walls were hung with curtains of gold- embroidered silk. And therein
stood censers of aloes-wood and ambergris and strong-scented musk, and
at the upper end was a couch bespread with cloth of gold on which he
seated himself, marvelling at the magnificence he saw and knowing not
what was written for him in the Secret Purpose. As he sat musing on his
case, the Caliph's sister, followed by her handmaid, came in upon him;
and, seeing the youth seated there took him for a slave-girl and
accosted him and said, "Who art thou O damsel? and what is thy case and
who brought thee hither?" He made no reply, and was silent, when she
continued, "O damsel! if thou be one of my brother's concubines and he
be wroth with thee, I will intercede with him for thee and get thee
grace." But he answered her not a word; so she said to her slave-girl,
"Stand at the door and let none enter." Then she went up to Ni'amah and
looking at him was amazed at his beauty and said to him, "O lady, tell
me who thou art and what is thy name and how thou camest here; for I
have never seen thee in our palace." Still he answered not, whereat she
was angered and, putting her hand to his bosom, found no breasts and
would have unveiled him, that she might know who he was; but he said to
her, "O my lady, I am thy slave and I cast myself on thy protection: do
thou protect me." She said, "No harm shall come to thee, but tell me
who thou art and who brought thee into this my apartment." Answered he,
"O Princess, I am known as Ni'amah bin al-Rabi'a of Cufa and I have
ventured my life for the sake of my slave-girl, Naomi, whom Al-Hajjaj
took by sleight and sent hither." Said she, "Fear not: no harm shall
befall thee;" then, calling her maid, she said to her, "Go to Naomi's
chamber and send her to me." Meanwhile the old woman went to Naomi's
bedroom and said to her, "Hath thy lord come to thee?" "No, by Allah!"
answered Naomi, and the other said, "Belike he hath gone astray and
entered some chamber other than thine and lost himself." So Naomi
cried, "There is no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah, the
Glorious, the Great! Our last hour is come and we are all lost." And
while they were sitting and sadly enough pondering their case, in came
the Princess's handmaid and saluting Naomi said to her, "My lady
biddeth thee to her banquet." "I hear and I obey," answered the damsel
and the old woman said, "Belike thy lord is with the Caliph's sister
and the veil of secrecy hath been rent." So Naomi at once sprang up and
betook herself to the Princess, who said to her, "Here is thy lord
sitting with me; it seemeth he hath mistaken the place; but, please
Allah, neither thou nor he has any cause for fear." When Naomi heard
these words, she took heart of grace and went up to Ni'amah; and her
lord when he saw her.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and
ceased to say her permitted say.
When it was the Two Hundred and Forty-fifth Night,
She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Ni'amah saw
his handmaid Naomi, he rose to meet her and strained her to his bosom
and both fell to the ground fainting. As soon as they came to
themselves, the Caliph's sister said to them, "Sit ye down and take we
counsel for your deliverance from this your strait." And they answered,
"O our lady, we hear and obey: it is thine to command." Quoth she, "By
Allah, no harm shall befall you from us!" Then she bade her handmaids
bring meat and drink which was done, and they sat down and ate till
they had enough, after which they sat drinking. Then the cup went round
amongst them and their cares ceased from them; but Ni'amah said, "Would
I knew how this will end." The Princess asked, "O Ni'amah, dost thou
love thy slave Naomi?"; and he answered, "Of a truth it is my passion
for her which hath brought me to this state of peril for my life." Then
said she to the damsel, "O Naomi, dost thou love thy lord Ni'amah?";
and she replied, "O my lady, it is the love of him which hath wasted my
body and brought me to evil case." Rejoined the Princess, "By Allah,
since ye love each other thus, may he not be who would part you! Be of
good cheer and keep your eyes cool and clear." At this they both
rejoiced and Naomi called for a lute and, when they brought it, she
took it and tuned it and played a lively measure which enchanted the
hearers, and after the prelude sang these couplets,
"When the slanderers cared but to part us twain, * We owed no
blood-debt could raise their ire
And they poured in our ears all the din of war, * And aid failed
and friends, when my want was dire:
I fought them hard with mine eyes and tears; * With breath and
sword, with the stream and fire!"
Then Naomi gave the lute to her master, Ni'amah, saying, "Sing thou to
us some verse." So he took it and playing a lively measure, intoned
these couplets,
"Full Moon if unfreckled would favour thee, * And Sun uneclipsed
would reflect thy blee:
I wonder (but love is of wonders full * And ardour and passion
and ecstasy)
How short the way to my love I fare, * Which, from her faring, so
long I see."
Now when he had made an end of his song, Naomi filled the cup and gave
it to him, and he took it and drank it off; then she filled again and
gave the cup to the Caliph's sister who also emptied it; after which
the Princess in her turn took the lute and tightened the strings and
tuned it and sang these two couplets,
"Grief, cark and care in my heart reside, * And the fires of love
in my breast
My wasted form to all eyes shows clear; * For Desire my body hath
mortified."
Then she filled the cup and gave it to Naomi, who drank it off and
taking the lute, sang these two couplets,
"O to whom I gave soul which thou tortures", * And in vain I'd
recover from fair Unfaith
Do grant thy favours my care to cure * Ere I die, for this be my
latest breath."
And they ceased not to sing verses and drink to the sweet sound of the
strings, full of mirth and merriment and joy and jollity till behold!
in came the Commander of the Faithful. Now when they saw him, they rose
and kissed the ground before him; and he, seeing Naomi with the lute in
her hand, said to her, "O Naomi, praised be Allah who hath done away
from thee sickness and suffering!" Then he looked at Ni'amah (who was
still disguised as a woman), and said to the Princess, "O my sister,
what damsel is this by Naomi's side?" She replied, "O Commander of the
Faithful, thou hast here a handmaid, one of thy concubines and the
bosom friend of Naomi who will neither eat nor drink without her." And
she repeated the words of the poet,
"Two contraries, and both concur in opposite charms, * And charms so
contraried by contrast lovelier show."
Quoth the Caliph, "By Allah Omnipotent, verily she is as handsome as
Naomi, and to-morrow I will appoint her a separate chamber beside that
of her friend and send her furniture and stuffs and all that befitteth
her, in honour of Naomi." Then the Princess called for food and set it
before her brother, who ate and made himself at home in their place and
company. Then filling a cup he signed to Naomi to sing; so she took the
lute, after draining two of them and sang these two couplets,
"Since my toper-friend in my hand hath given * Three cups that
brim and bubble, e'er since
I've trailed my skirts throughout night for pride * As tho',
Prince of the Faithful, I were thy Prince!"
The Prince of True Believers was delighted and filling another cup,
gave it to Naomi and bade her sing again; so after draining the cup and
sweeping the strings, she sang as follows:—
"O most noble of men in this time and stound, * Of whom none may
boast he is equal-found!
O matchless in greatness of soul and gifts, * O thou Chief, O
thou King amongst all renowned:
Lord, who dealest large boons to the Lords of Earth, * Whom thou
vexest not nor dost hold them bound
The Lord preserve thee, and spoil thy foes, * And ne'er cease thy
lot with good Fortune crowned!"
Now when the Caliph heard these couplets, he exclaimed, "By Allah,
good! By Allah, excellent! Verily the Lord hath been copious[FN#19] to
thee, O Naomi! How clever is thy tongue and how dear is thy speech!"
And they ceased not their mirth and good cheer till midnight, when the
Caliph's sister said to him, "Give ear, O Commander of the Faithful to
a tale I have read in books of a certain man of rank." "And what is
this tale?" quoth he. Quoth she "Know, O Prince of the Faithful that
there lived once in the city of Cufa a youth called Ni'amah, son of
Al-Rabi'a, and he had a slave-girl whom he loved and who loved him.
They had been reared in one bed; but when they grew up and mutual-love
get hold of them, Fortune smote them with her calamities and Time, the
tyrant, brought upon them his adversity and decreed separation unto
them. Thereupon designing and slanderous folk enticed her by sleight
forth of his house and, stealing her away from his home, sold her to
one of the Kings for ten thousand dinars. Now the girl loved her lord
even as he loved her, so he left kith and kin and house and home and
the gifts of fortune, and set out to search for her and when she was
found he devised means to gain access to her".—And Shahrazad perceived
the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
When it was the Two Hundred and Forty-sixth Night,
She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Caliph's
sister said, "And Ni'amah ceased not absenting himself from his kith
and kin and patrial-stead, that he might gain access to his handmaid,
and he incurred every peril and lavished his life till he gained access
to her, and her name was Naomi, like this slave-girl. But the interview
was short; they had not been long in company when in came the King, who
had bought her of her kidnapper, and hastily ordered them to be slain,
without doing justice by his own soul and delaying to enquire into the
matter before the command was carried out. Now what sayest thou, O
Commander of the Faithful, of this King's wrongous conduct?" Answered
the Caliph; "This was indeed a strange thing: it behoved that King to
pardon when he had the power to punish; and he ought to have regarded
three things in their favour. The first was that they loved each other;
the second that they were in his house and in his grasp; and the third
that it befitteth a King to be deliberate in judging and ordering
between folk, and how much more so in cases where he himself is
concerned! Wherefore this King thus did an unkingly deed." Then said
his sister, "O my brother, by the King of the heavens and the earth, I
conjure thee, bid Naomi sing and hearken to that she shall sing!" So he
said "O Naomi, sing to me;" whereupon she played a lively measure and
sang these couplets,
"Beguiled us Fortune who her guile displays, * Smiting the heart,
bequeathing thoughts that craze
And parting lovers whom she made to meet, * Till tears in torrent
either cheek displays:
They were and I was and my life was glad, * While Fortune often
joyed to join our ways;
I will pour tear flood, will rain gouts of blood, * Thy loss
bemoaning through the nights and days!"