Continued the maiden, 'As for anecdotes of devotees, quoth Hisham bin Bashar,

'I asked Omar bin Ubayd, What is true piety?'; and he answered, 'The Apostle of

Allah (to whom be salutation and salvation!) hath explained it when he sayeth,

The pious is he who forgetteth not the grave nor calamity and who preferreth

that which endureth to that which passeth away; who counteth not the morrow as

of his days but reckoneth himself among the dead.' And it is related that Abu

Zarr[FN#339] used to say, Want is dearer to me than wealth, and unheal is

dearer to me than health.' Quoth one of the listeners, 'May Allah have mercy on

Abu Zarr!'. For my part, I say, 'Whoso putteth his trust in the goodness of

the election of Almighty Allah should be content with that condition which

Allah hath chosen for him.' Quoth one of the Companions of the Prophet, 'Ibn

Abi Aufa[FN#340] once prayed with us the dawn-prayer. When he had done, he

recited, 'O Thou Enwrapped!'[FN#341] till he came to where Allah saith, 'When

there shall be a trumping on the trumpet,' and fell down dead. It is said that

Sabit al-Banani wept till he well-nigh lost his eyes. They brought him a man

to medicine him who said to him, 'I will cure thee, provided thou obey my

bidding' Asked Sabit, 'In what matter?' Quoth the leach, 'In that thou leave

weeping!' 'What is the worth of mine eyes?', rejoined Sabit, 'if they do not

weep?' Quoth a man to Mohammed bin Abdillah, 'Exhort thou me!'"—And Shahrazad

perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.

When it was the Eighty-first Night,

She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Wazir Dandan

said to Zau al-Makan, "Thus spake the second handmaid to the King who hath

found mercy, Omar bin al-Nu'uman. 'Quoth a man to Mohammed bin Abdillah, Exhort

thou me!' 'I exhort thee,' replied he, 'to be a self ruler, an abstainer in

this world, and in the next a greedy slave.' 'How so?' asked the other and

Mohammed answered, 'The abstinent man in this world conquereth both the world

that is and the world to come.' And quoth Ghaus bin Abdillah, 'There were two

brothers among the sons of Israel, one of whom said to the other, 'What be the

most perilous[FN#342] thing thou hast done?' Replied the brother, 'I once came

upon a nest of young birds; so I took out one and threw it back into the nest;

but among the chickens were some which drew apart from it. This is the most

perilous thing I ever did; now what be the most perilous thing thou hast ever

done?' He rejoined, 'When I arise for prayer I am fearful that it is only for

the sake of the reward.' Now their father heard these words and exclaimed, 'O

Allah, an say they sooth take them to Thyself!' It was declared by one of the

wise men, 'Verily, these were of the most virtuous of children.' Quoth Sa'íd

bin Jubayr,[FN#343] 'I was once in company with Fuzalah bin 'Ubaydand said to

him, 'Exhort thou me!, Replied he, 'Bear in mind these two necessaries, Shun

syntheism[FN#344] and harm not any of Allah's creatures.' And he repeated these

two couplets,

'Be as thou wilt, for Allah still is bounteous Lord, * And care dispeller dread not therefore bane and ban

To two things only never draw thee nigh, nor give * Partner to Allah trouble to thy brother man.'

And how well saith the poet,

'An thou of pious works a store neglect * And after death meet one who did collect,

Thou shalt repent thou diddest not as he, * Nor madest ready as he did elect.'

Then the third damsel came forward, after the second had with drawn, and said,

'Of a truth, the chapter of piety is exceeding wide; but I will mention what

occurreth to me thereof, concerning the pious of old. Quoth a certain holy

man, 'I congratulate myself in death, though I am not assured of rest therein,

save that I know death interveneth between a man and his works; so I hope for

the doubling of good works and the docking off of ill works.' And Ita'a al

Salami, when he had made an end of an exhortation, was wont to tremble and

grieve and weep sore; and as they asked him why he did this he answered, 'I

desire to enter upon a grave matter, and it is the standing up before Almighty

Allah to do in accordance with my exhortation.' In similar guise Zayn

al-Abidín,[FN#345] son of Al-Husayn, was wont to tremble when he rose to pray.

Being asked the cause of this, he replied, 'Know ye not before whom I stand and

whom I address?' It is said that there lived near Sufyán al-Thauri[FN#346] a

blind man who, when the month of Ramazan came, went out with the folk to

pray,[FN#347] but remained silent and hung back. Said Sufyan, 'On the Day of

Resurrection he shall come with the people of the Koran and they will be

distinguished by increase of honour from their fellows.' Quoth Sufyan, 'Were

the soul established in the heart as befitteth, it would fly away for joy and

pining for Paradise, and for grief and fear of hell-fire.' It is related also

of Sufyan Al-Thauri that he said, 'To look upon the face of a tyrant is a sin.'

Then the third damsel retired and came for ward the fourth, who said, 'Here am

I to treat of sundry traditions of pious men which suggest themselves to me.

It is related that Bishr Barefoot[FN#348] said, 'I once heard Khálid say,

'Beware of secret polytheism.' I asked, 'What may secret polytheism be?'; and

he answered, 'When one of you in praying prolong his inclinations and

prostrations till a cause of impurity[FN#349] come upon him.' And one of the

sages said, 'Doing works of weal expiateth what is ill.' Quoth Ibrahim,[FN#350]

'I supplicated Bishr Barefoot to acquaint me with some theological mysteries;

but he said, 'O my son, this knowledge it behoveth us not to teach to every

one; of every hundred five, even as the legal alms upon money.' Said Ibrahim,

'I thought his reply excellent and approved of it and while I was praying

behold, Bishr was also praying: so I stood behind him[FN#351] making the prayer

bow till the Mu'ezzin called his call. Then rose a man of tattered appearance

and said, O folk, beware of a truth which bringeth unweal, for there is no harm

in a lie bringing weal,[FN#352] and in time of need no choice we heed: speech

booteth not in the absence of good qualities even as silence hurteth not in the

presence of good. Presently I saw Bishr drop a danik,[FN#353] so I picked it

up and exchanged it for a dirham which I gave him. Quoth he, 'I will not take

it.' Quoth I, 'It is perfectly lawful change'; but he rejoined 'I cannot take

in exchange the riches of the present world for those of the future world.' It

is related also that Bishr Barefoot's sister once went to Ahmad bin

Hanbal"[FN#354]—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her

permitted say.

When it was the Eighty-second Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Wazir Dandan

continued to bespeak Zau al-Makan on this wise, "And quoth the maiden to thy

father, 'Bishr Barefoot's sister once went to Ahmad bin Hanbal and said to him,

'O Imam of the Faith, we are a family that spin thread by night and work for

our living by day; and oftentimes the cressets of the watch of Baghdad pass by

and we on the roof spinning by their light. Is this forbidden to us?' Asked

Ahmad:'Who are thou?' 'I am the sister of Bishr Barefoot,' answered she.

Rejoined the Iman, 'O household of Bishr, I shall never cease to drink full

draughts of piety from your hearts.' Quoth one of the sages, 'When Allah

willeth well to His servant He openeth upon him the gate of action.' Málik bin

Dinár,[FN#355] when he passed through the bazar and saw aught he desired, was

wont to say, 'O soul, take patience, for I will not accord to thee what thou

desirest.' He said also (Allah accept him!), 'The salvation of the soul lies in

resistance to it and its damnation in submission to it.' Quoth Mansúr bin

Ammár,[FN#356] 'I made a pilgrimage and was faring Meccahwards by way of Cufa,

and the night was overcast, when I heard a voice crying out from the deeps of

the darkness saying, 'O Allah, I swear by Thy Greatness and Thy Glory, I meant

not through my disobedience to transgress against Thee; for indeed I am not

ignorant of Thee; but my fault is one Thou didst foreordain to me from eternity

without beginning;[FN#357] so do Thou pardon my transgression, for indeed I

disobeyed Thee of my ignorance!' When he had made an end of his prayer he

recited aloud the verse, 'O true believers, save your souls and those of your

families from the fire whose fuel is men and stones.'[FN#358] Then I heard a

fall, but not knowing what it was I passed on. When the morning morrowed, as

we went our way, behold, we fell in with a funeral train, followed by an old

woman whose strength had left her. I asked her of the dead, and she answered,

'This is the funeral of a man who passed by us yesterday whilst my son was

standing at prayer and after his prayers he recited a verse from the Book of

Allah Almighty when the man's gall bladder burst and he fell dead.' Therewith

the fourth damsel retired and the fifth came forward and said, 'I here will

also repeat what occurreth to me regarding the acts of devotees in olden time.

Maslamah bin Dinár used to say, 'By making sound the secret thoughts, sins

great and small are covered'; and, 'when the servant of Allah is resolved to

leave sinning, victory cometh to him.' Also quoth he, 'Every worldly good which

doth not draw one nearer to Allah is a calamity, for a little of this world

distracteth from a mickle of the world to come and a mickle of the present

maketh thee forget the whole of the future.' It was asked of Abú Házim,[FN#359]

'Who is the most prosperous of men?'; and he answered, 'Whoso spendeth his life

in submission to Allah.' The other enquired, 'And who is the most foolish of

mankind?' 'Whoso selleth his future for the worldly goods of others,' replied

Abu Hazim. It is reported of Moses[FN#360] (on whom be peace!) that when he

came to the waters of Midian he exclaimed, 'O Lord, verily I stand in need of

the good which thou shalt send down to me.'[FN#361] And he asked of his Lord

and not of his folk. There came two damsels and he drew water for them both

and allowed not the shepherds to draw first. When the twain returned, they

informed their father Shu'ayb (on whom be peace!) who said, 'Haply, he is

hungry,' adding to one of them, 'Go back to him and bid him hither.' Now when

she came to Moses, she veiled her face and said, 'My father biddeth thee to him

that he may pay thee thy wage for having drawn water for us.' Moses was averse

to this and was not willing to follow her. Now she was a woman large in the

back parts, and the wind blowing upon her garment[FN#362] covered the hinder

cheeks to Moses; which when Moses saw, he lowered his eyes and said to her,

'Get thee behind while I walk in front.' So she followed him till he entered

the house of Shu'ayb where supper was ready."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn

of day and ceased to say her permitted say.

When it was the Eighty-third Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Wazir Dandan

continued to Zau al-Makan, "Now, quoth the fifth damsel to thy sire, 'When

Moses (on whom be peace!) entered the home of Shu'ayb where supper was ready,

Shu'ayb said to him, 'O Moses, I desire to pay thee thy wage for having drawn

water for these two.' But Moses answered, 'I am of a household which selleth

nothing of the fashion of the next world[FN#363] for what is on earth of gold

and silver.' Then quoth Shu'ayb, 'O youth! nevertheless thou art my guest, and

it is my wont and that of my forbears to honour the guest by setting food

before him.' So Moses sat down and ate. Then Shu'ayb hired Moses for eight

pilgrimages, that is to say, eight years, and made his wage marriage with one

of his two daughters, and Moses' service to him was to stand for her dowry. As

saith the Holy Writ of him, 'Verily I will give thee one of these my two

daughters in marriage, on condition that thou serve me for hire eight

pilgrimages: and if thou fulfil ten years, it is in thine own breast; for I

seek not to impose a hardship on thee.'[FN#364] A certain man once said to one

of his friends whom he had not met for many days, 'Thou hast made me desolate,

for that I have not seen thee this long while.' Quoth the other, 'I have been

distracted from thee by Ibn Shiháb: dost thou know him?' Quoth his friend,

'Yes, he hath been my neighbour these thirty years, but I have never spoken to

him.' He replied, 'Verily thou forgettest Allah in forgetting—thy neighbour! If

thou lovedst Allah thou wouldst love thy neighbour. Knowest thou not that a

neighbour hath a claim upon his neighbour,[FN#365] even as the right of kith

and kin?' Said Huzayfah, 'We entered Meccah with Ibráhím bin Adham, and Shakík

al-Balkhí was also making a pilgrimage that year. Now we met whilst

circumambulating the Ka'abah and Ibrahim said to Shakik, 'What is your fashion

in your country?' Replied Shakik, 'When we are blest with our daily bread we

eat, and when we hunger we take patience.' 'This wise,' said Ibrahim, 'do the

dogs of Balkh; but we, when blest with plenty, do honour to Allah and when an

hungered we thank Him.' And Shakik seated himself before Ibrahim and said to

him, 'Thou art my master.' Also said Mohammed bin Imrán, 'A man once asked of

Hátim the Deaf[FN#366] 'What maketh thee to trust in Allah?' 'Two things,'

answered he, 'I know that none save myself shall eat my daily bread, so my

heart is at rest as to that; and I know that I was not created without the

knowledge of Allah, and am abashed before Him.' Then the fifth damsel retired

and the ancient dame came forward and, kissing the ground before thy father

nine times, said, 'Thou hast heard, O King, what these all have spoken on the

subject of piety; and I will follow their example in relating what hath reached

me of the famous men of past times. It is said that the Imam al-Sháfi'í

departed the night into three portions, the first for study, the second for

sleep and the third for prayer. The Imam Abú Hanífah[FN#367] was wont also to

pass half the night in prayer. One day a man pointed him out to another, as he

walked by and remarked, 'Yonder man watcheth the whole night.' When he heard

this Abu Hanifah said, 'I was abashed before Allah to hear myself praised for

what was not in me'; so after this he used to watch the whole night. And one of

the Sages hath said,

'Who seeketh for pearl in the Deep dives deep; * Who on high would hie robs his

night of sleep.'

Al-Rabí a relates that Al-Shafi'i used to recite the whole Koran seventy times

during the month of Ramazan, and that in his daily prayers. Quoth Al-Shafi'i

(Allah accept him!), 'During ten years I never ate my fill of barley bread, for

fullness hardeneth the heart and deadeneth the wit and induceth sleep and

enfeebleth one from standing up to pray.'[FN#368] It is reported of Abdullah

bin Mohammed al-Sakrá that he said, 'I was once talking with Omar and he

observed to me, 'Never saw I a more God fearing or eloquent man than Mohammed

bin Idris al-Shafi'i.' It so happened I went out one day with Al-Háris bin

Labíb al-Saffár, who was a disciple of Al-Muzani[FN#369] and had a fine voice

and he read the saying of the Almighty, 'This shall be a day whereon they shall

not speak to any purpose, nor shall they be permitted to excuse

themselves.'[FN#370] I saw Al-Shafi'i's colour change; his skin shuddered with

horripilation, he was violently moved and he fell down in a fainting-fit When

he revived he said, 'I take refuge with Allah from the stead of the liars and

the lot of the negligent! O Allah, before whom the hearts of the wise abase

themselves, O Allah, of Thy bene ficence accord to me the remission of my sins,

adorn me with the curtain of Thy protection and pardon me my shortcomings, by

the magnanimity of Thy Being!' Then I rose and went away. Quoth one of the

pious, 'When I entered Baghdad, Al-Shafi'i was there. So I sat down on the

river bank to make the ablution before prayer; and behold, there passed me one

who said, 'O youth, make thy Wuzu-ablution well and Allah will make it well for

thee in this world and in the next.' I turned and lo! there was a man behind

whom came a company of people. So I hastened to finish my ablution and

followed him. Presently, he turned and asked me, 'Say, dost thou want aught?'

'Yes,' answered I, 'I desire that thou teach me somewhat of that which Allah

Almighty hath taught thee.' He said, 'Know then that whoso believeth in Allah

shall be saved, and whoso jealously loveth his faith shall be delivered from

destruction, and whoso practiseth abstinence in this world, his eyes shall be

solaced on the morrow of death. Shall I tell thee any more?' I replied,

'Assuredly;' and he continued, 'Be thou of the world that is, heedless; and of

the world to come, greediest. Be truthful in all thy dealings, and thou shalt

be saved with the Salvationists.' Then he went on and I asked about him and was

told that he was the Imam Al-Shafi'i. Al-Shafi'i was wont to remark, 'I love

to see folk profit by this learning of mine, on condition that nothing of it be

attributed to me."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying

her permitted say.

When it was the Eighty-fourth Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Wazir Dandan

continued to Zau al-Makan, "The old woman bespake thy sire, saying, 'The Imam

Al-Shafi'i was wont to remark, I love to see folk profit by this learning of

mine on condition that nothing of it be attributed to me.' He also said, 'I

never disputed with any one, but I would that Almighty Allah should give him

the knowledge of the Truth and aid him to dispread it: nor did I ever dispute

with anyone at all but for the showing forth of the Truth, and I reck not

whether Allah manifest it by my tongue or by His.' He said also (whom Allah

accept!), 'If thou fear to grow conceited of thy lore, then bethink thee Whose

grace thou seekest and for what good thou yearnest and what punishment thou

dreadest.' It was told to Abu Hanífah that the Commander of the Faithful, Abú

Ja'afar al-Mansúr, had appointed him Kazi and ordered him a salary of ten

thousand dirhams; but he would not accept of this; and, when the day came on

which the money was to be paid him, he prayed the dawn-prayer, then covered his

head with his robe—and spoke not. When the Caliph's messenger came with the

money, he went in to the Imam and accosted him, but he would not speak to him.

So the messenger said, 'Verily this money is lawfully thine.' 'I know that it

is lawfully mine,' replied he: 'but I abhor that the love of tyrants get a hold

upon my heart.'[FN#371] Asked the other, 'If thou go in to them canst thou not

guard thyself from loving them?' Answered Abu Hanifah, 'Can I look to enter the

sea without my clothes being wet?' Another of Al-Shafi'i's sayings (Allah

accept him!) is,

'Oh soul of me, an thou accept my rede, * Thou shalt be wealthy and of grace entire:

Cast off ambitious hopes and vain desires, * How many a death was done by vain desire!'

Among the sayings of Sufyán al-Thaurí, with which he admonished Ali bin

al-Hasan al-Salami was, 'Be thou a man of truth and 'ware lies and treachery

and hypocrisy and pride. Be not indebted save to Him who is merciful to His

debtors; and let thine associate be one who shall dissociate thee from the

world. Be ever mindful of death and be constant in craving pardon of Allah and

in beseeching of Allah peace for what remaineth of thy life. Counsel every True

Believer, when he asketh thee concerning the things of his faith; and beware of

betraying a Believer, for whoso betrayeth a Believer, betrayeth Allah and His

Apostle. Avoid dissensions and litigation; and leave that which causeth doubt

in thee for things which breed no doubt:[FN#372] so shalt thou be at peace.

Enjoin beneficence and forbid malevolence: so shalt thou be loved of Allah.

Adorn thine inner man and Allah shall adorn thine outer man. Accept the excuse

of him who excuseth self to thee and hate not any one of the Moslems. Draw

near unto those who withdraw from thee and excuse those that misuse thee: so

shalt thou be the friend of the Prophets. Let thine affairs, both public and

private, be in Allah's charge, and fear Him with the fear of one who knoweth he

is dead and who fareth towards Resurrection and Judgement stead between the

hands of the Lord of Dread; and remember that to one of two houses thou art

sped, either for Heavens eterne or to the Hell fires that burn.' Thereupon the

old woman sat down beside the damsels. Now when thy father, who hath found

mercy, heard their discourse, he knew that they were the most accomplished of

the people of their time; and, seeing their beauty and loveliness and the

extent of their wisdom and lore, he showed them all favour. Moreover, he

turned to the ancient dame and treated her with honour, and set apart for her

and her damsels the palace which had lodged Princess Abrizah, daughter of the

King of Greece, to which he bade carry all the luxuries they needed. They

abode with him ten days and the old woman abode with them; and, whenever the

King visited them, he found her absorbed in prayer, watching by night and

fasting by day; whereby love of her took hold upon his heart and he said to me,

'O Wazir, verily this old woman is of the pious, and awe of her is strong in my

heart.' Now on the eleventh day, the King visited her, that he might pay her

the price of the damsels; but she said to him, 'O King, know that the price of

these maidens surpasseth the competence of men; indeed I seek not for them

either gold or silver or jewels, be it little or much.' Now when thy father

heard these words he wondered and asked her, 'O my lady and what is their

price?'; whereto she answered, 'I will not sill them to thee save on condition

that thou fast, watching by night a whole month, and abstaining by day, all for

the love of Allah Almighty; and, if thou do this, they are thy property to use

in thy palace as thou please.' So the King wondered at the perfection of her

rectitude and piety and abnegation; she was magnified in his eyes and he said,

'Allah make this pious woman to profit us!' Then he agreed with her to fast for

a month as she had stipulated, and she said to him, 'I will help thee with the

prayers I pray for thee and now bring me a gugglet of water.' They brought one

and she took it and recited over it and muttered spells, and sat for an hour

speaking in speech no one understood or knew aught thereof. Lastly she covered

it with a cloth and, sealing it with her signet ring, gave it to thy sire,

saying, 'When thou hast fasted the first ten days, break thy fast on the

eleventh night with what is in this gugglet, for it will root out the love of

the world from thy heart and fill it with light and faith. As for me, To-morrow

I will go forth to my brethren, the Invisible[FN#373] Controuls, for I yearn

after them, and I will return to thee when the first ten days are past. Thy

father took the gugglet and arose and set it apart in a closet of his palace,

then locked the door and put the key in his pocket. Next day the King fasted

and the old woman went her ways."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and

ceased saying her permitted say.

When it was the Eighty-fifth Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Wazir Dandan thus

continued to Zau al-Makan, "Now when came the day for the Sultan's fast, the

old woman went her ways. And after he had accomplished the ten days thereof,

on the eleventh he opened the gugglet and drank what was therein and found it

cordial to his stomach. Within the second ten days of the month the old woman

returned, bringing sweetmeats wrapped in a green leaf, like no leaf of known

tree. She went in to thy sire and saluted him; and, when he saw her, he rose

to her saying, 'Welcome, O pious lady!' 'O King,' quoth she, 'the Invisible

Controuls salute thee, for I told them of thee, and they rejoiced in thee and

have sent thee their Halwá,[FN#374] which is of the sweetmeats of the other

world. Do thou break thy fast on it at the end of the day.' The King rejoiced

at this with great joy, and exclaimed, 'Praised be Allah, who hath given me

brethren of the Invisible World!' Thereupon he thanked the ancient dame and

kissed her hands; and he honoured her and the damsels with exceeding honour.

She went forth for the twenty days of thy father's fast at the end of which

time she came to him and said, 'Know, O King, that I told the Invisible

Controuls of the love which is between me and thee, and informed them how I had

left the maidens with thee, and they were glad that the damsels should belong

to a King like thee; for they were wont, when they saw them, to be strenuous in

offering on their behalf prayers and petitions ever granted. So I would fain

carry them to the Invisible Controuls that they may benefit by the breath of

their favour, and peradventure, they shall not return to thee without some

treasure of the treasures of the earth, that thou, after completing thy fast,

mayst occupy thyself with their raiment and help thyself by the money they

shall bring thee, to the extent of thy desires.' When thy sire heard her words,

he thanked her for them; and said, 'Except that I fear to cross thee, I would

not accept the treasure or aught else; but when wilt thou set out with them?'

Replied she, 'On the seven and twentieth night; and I will bring them back to

thee at the head of the month, by which time thou wilt have accomplished thy

fast and they will have had their courses and be free from impurity; and they

shall become thine and be at thy disposal. By Allah, each damsel of them is

worth many times thy kingdom!' He said, 'I know it, O pious lady!' Then quoth

the old woman, 'There is no help but that thou send with them someone in thy

palace who is dear to thee, that she may find solace and seek a blessing of the

Invisible Controuls.' Quoth he, 'I have a Greek slave called Sophia, by whom I

have been blessed with two children, a girl and a boy; but they were lost;

years ago. Take her with thee that she may get the blessing'"—And Shahrazad

perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.

When it was the Eighty-sixth Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Wazir Dandan

continued to Zau al-Makan, "Quoth thy sire to the ancient woman when she

demanded the handmaids of him, 'I have a Greek slave called Sophia, by whom I

have been blest with two children, a girl and a boy, but they were lost years

ago; so take her with thee, haply she may get the benediction and, belike, the

Invisible Controuls will sue Allah for her that her two children may be

restored to her.' 'Thou hast said well,' replied she; 'for that indeed was her

grievousest want.' Thy sire gave not over finishing his fast till the old

woman said to him, 'O my son, I am going to the Invisible Controuls; so bring

me Sophia.' Accordingly, he summoned her and she came forthright, and he

delivered her to the old woman who mixed her up with the other damsels. Then

she went in to her chamber and bringing out a sealed cup, presented it to the

Sultan saying, 'On the thirtieth day, do thou repair to the Hammam and when

thou comest out, enter one of the closets in thy palace and drink what is in

this cup. Then sleep, and thou shalt attain what thou seekest, and peace be

with thee'! Thereat the King was glad and thanked her and kissed her hands.

Quoth she, 'I commend thee to Allah's care;' whereat quoth he, 'And when shall

I see thee again, O pious lady? In very sooth I love not to part with thee.'

Then she called down blessings on him and departed with the five damsels and

the Queen; whilst the King fasted after her departure other three days, till

the month ended, when he arose and went to the Hammam and coming out shut

himself up in a closet of his palace, commanding that none should go in to

him. There, after making fast the door, he drank what was in the cup and lay

down to sleep; and we sat awaiting him till the end of the day, but he did not

come out and we said, 'Perchance he is tired with the bath and with watching

by night and fasting by day; wherefore he sleepeth.' So we waited till next

day; but still he did not come forth. Then we stood at the closet door and

cried aloud so haply he might awake and ask what was the matter. But nothing

came of that; so at last we lifted up the door;[FN#375] and, going in, found

him dead, with his flesh torn into strips and bits and his bones

broken.[FN#376] When we saw him in this condition it was grievous to us, and

we took up the cup and found within its cover a piece of paper whereon was

inscribed, 'Whoso doeth evil leaveth no regrets, and this be the reward of him

who playeth traitor with the daughters of Kings and who debaucheth them; and

we make known to all who fall upon this scroll that Sharrkan, when he came to

our country, seduced our Queen Abrizah; nor did that suffice him but he must

needs take her from us and bring her to you. Then he[FN#377] sent her away in

company of a black slave who slew her, and we found her lying dead on the

desert sward and thrown out to wild beasts. This be no kingly deed, and he

who did this is requited with naught but what he merited. So do ye suspect

none of having killed him, for no one slew him but the cunning witch, whose

name is Zat al-Dawahi. And behold, I have taken the King's wife, Sophia, and

have carried her to her father, Afridun King of Constantinople. Moreover,

there is no help for it but that we wage war upon you and kill you and take

your country from you, and ye shall be cut off even to the last man, nor shall

a living soul be spared by Death nor one who bloweth fire with his breath,

save he who Cross and Belt[FN#378] worshippeth.' When we read this paper, we

knew that the ancient woman had beguiled us and carried out her plot against

us: whereupon we cried aloud and buffeted our faces and wept sore when weeping

availed us naught. And the troops fell out as to whom they should make

Sultan; some would have thee, and others would have thy brother Sharrkan; and

we ceased not to dispute about this for the space of a month, at the end of

which certain of us drew together and agreed to repair to thy brother

Sharrkan: so we set out and journeyed on till we fell in with thee. And such

is the manner of the death of Sultan Omar bin al-Nu'uman!" Now when the Wazir

Dandan had made an end of his story, Zau al- Makan and his sister, Nuzhat

al-Zaman wept; and the Chamberlain, who wept also, said to Zau al-Makan, "O

King, weeping will avail thee naught; nor shall aught profit thee but that

thou harden thy heart and strengthen thy stress and establish thy sovranty;

for verily whoso leaveth the like of thee is not dead." Thereupon Zau al-Makan

gave over his weeping and caused his throne to be set up without the pavilion,

and then commanded the army to pass in review order before him. And the

Chamberlain sat by his side and all the armour-bearers[FN#379] behind him,

whilst the Wazir Dandan and the rest of the Emirs and Grandees stood each in

his individual stead. Then quoth King Zau al-Makan to the Minister Dandan,

"Inform me concerning my sire's treasures;" and he replied, "I hear and I

obey;" and gave him to know of the late King's hoards and monies, and what was

in the treasury of amassed wealth and jewels, and acquainted him with other

precious things. So Zau al-Makan opened his hand to the army, and gave a

sumptuous robe of honour to the Wazir Dandan, saying, "Thou continues" in

office. Whereupon Dandan kissed the ground before him and wished him long

life. Then he bestowed dresses on the Emirs, after which he said to the

Chamberlain, "Bring out before me the tribute of Damascus that is with thee."

So he was shown the chests of money and rarities and jewels, when he took them

and parted them all amongst the troops,—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of

day and ceased saying her permitted say.

When it was the Eighty-seventh Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Zau al- Makan ordered the

Chamberlain to bring out before him what he had brought of the tribute of

Damascus; and, when he was shown the chests of money and rarities and jewels,

he took them; and parted them all amongst the troops, till nothing was left.

And the Emirs kissed the ground before him and wished him long life, saying,

"Never saw we a King, who gave the like of these gifts." Then all went away to

their tents and when it was morning he gave orders for marching. So they

marched for three days, till, on the fourth day, they drew near to Baghdad.

When they entered the city, they found it decorated, and Zau al-Makan, the

Sultan, went up to his father's palace and sat down on the throne, whilst the

Emirs of the army and the Wazir Dandan and the Chamberlain of Damascus stood

between his hands. Then he bade his private secretary write a writ to his

brother Sharrkan, acquainting him with all that had passed, from first to last,

and he concluded, "As soon as thou hast read this letter, make ready thine

affair and join us with thine army, that we may turn to Holy War upon the

Infidels and take man-bote for our father and wipe out the stain upon our

honour." Then he folded the letter and sealed it with his seal ring and said to

the Minister Dandan, "None shall carry this letter but thou; and it behoveth

thee speak my brother fair and say to him, 'If thou have a mind to thy father's

kingdom, it is thine, and thy brother shall be Viceroy for thee in Damascus;

for to this effect am I instructed by him.'" So the Wazir went down from before

him and made ready for his march. Then Zau al-Makan bade set apart a

magnificent house for the Fireman and furnished it with the best of furniture

and long is the tale of that Fireman.[FN#380] Presently Zau al-Makan went out

chasing and hunting and, as he was returning to Baghdad, one of the Emirs

presented him with blood horses and with beauteous handmaids whose description

the tongue evades. One of the damsels pleased him: so he went in unto her and

knew her that night, and she conceived by him forthright. After a while, the

Wazir Dandan returned from his journey, bringing him news of his brother

Sharrkan and that he was then on his way to him, and said, "It were fitting

thou go forth to meet him." Zau al- Makan replied, "I hear and I consent;" and

riding forth with his Grandees a day's journey from Baghdad, he pitched his

pavilions there awaiting his brother. Next morning appeared King Sharrkan amid

the army of Syria, a horseman of might, a lion fierce in fight, a prow and

doughty knight. As the squadrons drew nigh and the dust clouds came hard by

and the troops rode up with banners on high, Zau al-Makan and those with him

pushed forward to meet Sharrkan and his men; and when Zau al-Makan saw his

brother, he desired to dismount, but Sharrkan conjured him not to do on this

wise, and himself footed it, and walked a few paces towards him.[FN#381] As

soon as he reached Zau al-Makan, the new Sultan threw himself upon him, and

Sharrkan embraced him and wept with great weeping and the twain condoled with

each other. Then they mounted and rode onward, they and their troops, till

they reached Baghdad, where they alighted and went up to the royal palace and

there they passed that night, and when next morning came, Zau al- Makan went

forth and bade summon the troops from all parts, and proclaimed a Holy War and

a Razzia.[FN#382] They then awaited the coming of the levies from each quarter

of the kingdom, and every one who came they entreated with honour and promised

him all manner of good; till in so doing a full month had sped, and the

fighting men flocked to them in a continuous body. Then Sharrkan said to Zau

al-Makan, "O my brother, tell me thy history." So he told him all that had

befallen him from first to last, including the benevolent dealing of the

Fireman with him. Asked Sharrkan, 'Hast thou requited his kindness?"; and he

answered, "O my brother! I have not rewarded him as yet, but Inshallah! I

will recompense him whenas I return from this raid"—And Shahrazad perceived the

dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.

When it was the Eighty-eighth Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Sharrkan asked his

brother Zau al-Makan, "Hast thou requited the Fireman for his kindness?"; and

he answered, "O my brother, I have not rewarded him as yet, but Inshallah! I

will recompense him whenas I return from this raid and find time so to do."

Therewith Sharrkan was certified that his sister, Nuzhat al-Zaman, had told him

the whole truth; but he concealed what had passed between them; and offered his

salutation to her by her husband the Chamberlain. She sent him back her

greeting, calling down blessings on him and enquiring after her daughter

Kuzia-Fakan, to which he replied that the maiden was well and in the best of

health and safety. whereupon she praised Almighty Allah and gave him thanks.

Then Sharrkan went to his brother to take counsel with him for departure; and

Zau al-Makan said, "O my brother, as soon as the army is complete and the Arabs

have come in from all parts, we will march forth." So he bade make ready the

commissariat and prepare munitions of war and went in to his wife, who was now

five months gone with child; and he put under her astrologers and

mathematicians, to whom he appointed stipends and allowances. Then he set out

three months after the arrival of the army of Syria, and as soon as the Arabs

were come in and the troops were assembled from all directions; and, as he

fared forth, he was followed by the warriors and the united host. Now the name

of the General of the Daylam army was Rustam and that of the General of the

army of the Turks[FN#383] Bahram. And Zau al- Makan marched in mid host and on

his right was his brother Sharrkan, and on his left the Chamberlain his

brother-in-law. So the squadrons broke up and pushed forward and the

battalions and companies filed past in battle-array, till the whole army was in

motion. They ceased not to fare on for the space of a month, and each body

dismounted at its own ground and there rested every week three days (for the

host was great); and they advanced in this order till they came to the country

of the Greeks. Then the people of the villages and hamlets and the poorer sort

took fright at them; and fled to Constantinople. But when King Afridun heard

the tidings he arose and betook himself to Zat al-Dawahi, the same who had

contrived the stratagem, and had travelled to Baghdad and had slain King Omar

bin Al-Nu'uman; and who after carrying off her slaves and Queen Sophia, had

returned with them all to her native land. Now when she had been restored to

her son, the King of Greece, and felt herself safe, she said to King Hardub,

"Cool thine eyes; for I have avenged by blood the shame of thy daughter

Abrizah, and have killed Omar bin al-Nu'uman and have brought back Sophia. So

now let us go to the King of Constantinople and carry to him his daughter and

acquaint him with what hath happened, that all of us be on guard and prepare

our forces; and I will fare with thee to King Afridun, Lord of Constantinople,

for I opine that the Moslems will not await our attack." Said Hardub, "Tarry

thou till they draw near our country, that we may make us ready meantime and

assemble our power." Accordingly they took to levying their forces and

preparing for war, and, when the news of the Moslems' advance reached them,

they were prepared for defence; and Zat al Dawahi had preceded them. Now when

she and her son arrived at Constantinople, the King of Kings, Afridun, hearing

of the approach of Hardub, King of the Greeks, came forth to meet him and asked

how it was with him and the cause of his visit. So Hardub acquainted him with

the cunning doings of his mother, Zat al-Dawahi, how she had slain the Moslem

King and recovered from him Queen Sophia, and had said, "The Moslems have

assembled their forces and are on their way to attack us, wherefore it behoveth

that we two join hands in single band and meet them." Now King Afridun rejoiced

in the return of his daughter and the killing of King Omar bin al-Nu'uman; and

he sent to all countries seeking succour and acquainting the folk with the

cause of slaying the Moslem King. So the Nazarene troops flocked to him and

three months were not past ere the army of the Greeks was complete, besides

which there joined themselves to him Franks from all their lands, French,

Germans[FN#384] and Ragusans,[FN#385] with men of Zara,[FN#386] Venetians,

Genoese, and all the hosts of the Yellow Faces[FN#387]; and, when the gathering

was at its full, earth was straitened on them by reason of their multitude.

Then Afridun, the Great King, ordered a march; so they set out and ceased not

to defile through the city for ten days. They fared on till they reached the

Wady hight Al-Nu'uman, a broad sided vale hard by the Salt Sea, where they

halted three days; and on the fourth they were about to set out again, when

news came that the army of Al-Islam on them press, and the defenders of the

faith of Mohammed, of Men the Best. So they halted in it other three days, and

on the eighth they espied a dust cloud which towered till it walled the whole

land; nor was an hour of the day past ere that dust began to drift and was torn

to shreds in the lift, and pierced through its shades the starry radiance of

lance and the white leven of blades. Presently there appeared beneath it the

banners Islamitan and the ensigns Mahometan; the horsemen urged forward, like

the letting loose of seas that surged, clad in mail, as they were mackerel-back

clouds which the moon enveil; whereupon the two hosts clashed, like two

torrents on each other dashed. Eyes fell upon eyes; and the first to seek

combat singular was the Wazir Dandan, he and the army of Syria, numbering

thirty thousand bridles, and with him were the General of the Turks, and the

General of Daylam, Rustam and Bahram, amid twenty thousand horse, behind whom

came the men from the shores of the Salt Sea, clad in iron mail, as they were

full moons that past through a night o'ercast. Then the Nazarene host called

out on Jesus and Mary, and the defiled[FN#388] Cross and they heaped themselves

upon the Wazir Dandan and those with him of the Syrian host. Now all this was

in pursuance of a stratagem devised by that ancient woman Zat al-Dawahi; for,

before his departure, King Afridun had gone in to her and asked her, "How shall

I do and what plan shall I pursue?; it is thou hast caused this great distress

to us;" and she had answered, "O great King and mighty Cohen![FN#389] I will

teach thee a trick would baffle Iblis himself, though he summon to his

assistance all his grisly hosts."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and

ceased to say her permitted say.

When it was the Eighty-ninth Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, all this was a stratagem of

the ancient woman, for that the King before his departure had gone to her and

asked, "How shall I do and what plan shall I pursue? it is thou hast caused

this great distress to us!" And she had answered, "O great King and mighty

Cohen, I will teach thee a trick would baffle the Devil himself though he

summon to his assistance all his grisly hosts. It is that thou send fifty

thousand men going down in ships, and sailing over the sea to the Mountain of

Smoke; and there let them land and stir not till {he standards of Al-Islam come

upon thee, when do thou up and at them. Then bid the troops from the seaward

sally out upon the Moslems and take them in rear, whilst we confront them from

the landward. So not one of them shall escape, and our sorrows shall tease and

peace abide with us." Now the counsel of this ancient woman commended itself to

King Afridun, and he replied, "Right is the recking thou reckest, O Princess of

wits and recourse of Kings and Cohens warring for their blood-wit!" So when the

army of Al-Islam came upon them in chat valley, before they knew of it the

flames began to burn up the tents and the swords in men's bodies to make rents.

Then hurried up the army of Baghdad and Khorasan who numbered one hundred and

twenty thousand horse, with Zau al-Makan in the front of war. When the host of

the Infidels that lay by the sea saw them, they sallied out against them; and

followed in their tracks; and when Zau al- Makan espied this he cried out to

his men, "Turn back to the Infidels, O People of the Chosen Apostle, and slay

those who deny and hate the authority of the Compassionating, the

Compassionate!" So they turned and fought with the Christians. Then Sharrkan

marched up with another corps of the Moslem host, some hundred thousand men,

whilst the Infidels numbered nigh upon a thousand and six hundred thousand men.

When the Moslems were united, their hearts were strengthened and they cried

out, saying, "Verily Allah hath pro mised us victory, and to the Infidels hath

assigned defeat." And they clashed together with sword and spear. Now Sharrkan

tare through rank and row and raged among the masses of the foe, fighting so

fierce a fight as to make children grey grow; nor did he cease tourneying among

the infidel horde and working havoc among them with the keen edged sword,

shouting "Allaho Akbar!" (Allah is Most Great) till he drove back the host to

the coast. Then failed the force of the foe and Allah gave victory to the

faith of Al-Islam, and folk fought folk, drunken without strong drink till they

slew of the Infidels in this affair forty and five thousand, while of the

Moslems but three thousand and five hundred fell. Moreover, the Lion of the

Faith, King Sharrkan, and his brother, Zau al-Makan, slept not that night, but

occupied themselves with congratulating their braves and with looking to the

wounded and with assuring the army of victory and salvation and promise of

reward in the world to come. Thus far concerning the Moslem; but as regards

King Afridun, Lord of Constantinople and Sovran of Roum, and Zat Al-Dawahi,

they assembled the Emirs of the host and said to them, "Verily, we had worked

our will and solaced our hearts, but our over confidence in our numbers, and

that only, defeated us." Then quoth to them the ancient one, the Lady of

Calamities, "In very sooth nought shall profit you, except ye draw you nigh

unto the Messiah and put your trust in the True Belief, for, by the virtue of

the Messiah, the whole strength of the Moslem host lieth in that Satan, King

Sharrkan." "To-morrow," said King Afridun, "I have resolved to draw up in battle

array and to send out against them that redoubtable cavalier, Lúká bin Shamlút;

for if King Sharrkan come forth as a champion to fight single-handed, our man

will slay him and will slay the other Moslem Knights, till not one is left.

And I purpose this night to sacre you all with the Holy Incense." When the

Emirs heard these words they kissed the ground before him. Now the incense

which he designated was the excrement of the Chief Patriarch, the denier, the

defiler of the Truth, and they sought for it with such instance, and they so

highly valued it that the high priests of the Greeks used to send it to all the

countries of the Christians in silken wraps after mixing it with musk and

ambergris. Hearing of it Kings would pay a thousand gold pieces for every dram

and they sent for and sought it to fumigate brides withal; and the Chief

Priests and the great Kings were wont to use a little of it as collyrium for

the eyes and as a remedy in sickness and colic; and the Patriarchs used to mix

their own skite[FN#390] with it, for that the skite of the Chief Patriarch

could not suffice for ten countries.[FN#391] So, as soon as dawn was seen and

the morning shone with its shine and sheen, the horsemen ran to their spears

full keen, and King Afridun,—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased

saying her permitted say.

When it was the Ninetieth Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, as soon as dawn was seen and

the morning shone with its shine and sheen, the horsemen ran to their spears

full keen and King Afridun summoned his chief Knights and Nobles and invested

them with dresses of honour; and, drawing the sign of the cross on their

brows, incensed them with the incense which as aforesaid was the skite of the

Chief Patriarch, the Cohen, the Heresiarch. This incensing done, he called

for Luka bin Shamlut, surnamed the Sword of the Messiah; and, after fumigating

him and rubbing his palate with the Holy Merde, caused him to snuff it and

smeared his cheeks and anointed his moustaches with the rest. Now there was

no stouter champion in the land of Roum than this accursed Luka, nor any

better at bending of bow or sway of sword or lunge with lance on the day of

devoir; but he was foul of favour, for his face was as the face of an ass, his

shape that of an ape and his look as the look of a malignant snake: his

presence was grievouser than parting from the beloved make; and blacker than

night was his blackness and more fetid than the lion was his breath for

foulness; more crooked than a bow was his crookedness and grimmer than the

leopard was his ugliness, and he was branded with the mark of the Infidels on

face.[FN#392] After this he came up to King Afridun and kissed his feet and

stood before him; and the King said to him, "I desire thou go out against

Sharrkan, King of Damascus, son of Omar bin al-Nu'uman, and deliver us from

this affliction." Quoth Luka, "Hearkening and obedience;" and the King made

the sign of the cross on his forehead and felt assured of help from Heaven

being near hand. Then Luka went out from the presence and the accursed one

mounted a sorrel horse; he was clad in a red robe and a hauberk of gold set

with jewels, and he bore a trident spear, as he were Iblis the damned on the

day of drewing out his hosts war to darraign. Then he rode forward, he and

his horde of Infidels, even as though they were driving to the Fire, preceded

by a herald, crying aloud in the Arabic tongue and saying, "Ho, sect of

Mohammed (upon whom be salutation and salvation!), let none of you come out

but your champion Sharrkan, the Sword of Al-Islam, Lord of Damascus in

Shám[FN#393]!" Nor had he made an end of speaking, when arose a tumult in the

plain; all the people heard the strain and the whole moving bodies of the

armies twain called to mind the Day of Complain. Then the cowards trembled

and all necks turned towards the sound, and lo! it was King Sharrkan, son of

King Omar bin al-Nu'uman. For when his brother, Zau al-Makan, saw that

accursed one push out on the plain, and heard the pursuivant, he turned to

Sharrkan and said to him, "Of a surety they seek for thee." Said he, "Should

it so be, 'twere most pleasing to me." So when they made sure of the matter

and heard the herald crying in the plain, "Let none of you come out against me

save Sharrkan," they knew this cursed Luka to be champion of the land of Roum

who had sworn to sweep the earth clean of Moslems. Now he was one of the

greatest of villains, a wretch who caused hearts to pain; and the DayIamites,

Turks and Kurds dreaded his might and main. Presently Sharrkan drave at him

like a lion angry grim, mounted on a courser like a wild gazelle flying snell

and slim; and coming nigh to him made the spear he hent to shake as it were a

darting snake, and recited these couplets,

"I have a sorrel steed, whose pride is fain to bear the rein, * Shall give thee what thou likest not and make thee feel his main:

I have a handy limber spear full bright and keen of point, * Upon whose shaft the dam of Death her throny seat hath ta'en:

I have a trenchant glaive of Hind; and, when I bare its face * Of scabbard" veil, from out its brow the rays of leven rain."

Luka understood not the sense of his speech nor did he apprehend the vehemence

of the verse; but he smote his forehead with his hand, in honour of the Cross

drawn thereon and kissed it; then he couched his throw spear and ran at

Sharrkan. But first he tossed the javelin with one hand in air to such height

that it was lost to the spectators' sight; and, catching it with the other hand

as do the jugglers, hurled it at Sharrkan. It flew from his grasp like a

shooting star and folk clamoured and feared for Sharrkan; but, as the spear

flew near him, he put out his hand and caught it in full flight to the

amazement of all who saw the sight. Then he shook it with the hand that took it

till it was well-nigh broken, and hurled it so high into the welkin that it

disappeared from view. As it descended, he caught it again with the other

hand, in less than the twinkling of an eye, and cried out from his heart core,

saying, "By the truth of Him who created the sevenfold skies, I will assuredly

make this cursed wight a byword for mankind to despise!" Then threw he the

throw spear at Luka, who thought to do as Sharrkan had done and put forth his

hand to trend it in mid flight; but Sharrkan prevented him, and sped at him a

second throw spear which smote him and the point fell on his forehead, in the

very centre of the sign of the Cross, and Allah hurried his soul to the Fire

and Dwelling place dire.[FN#394] But when the Infidels saw Luka bin Shamlut

fall slain, they buffeted their faces and they cried, "Alas!" and "Woe worth

the day!" and called for aid upon the Abbots of the monasteries,—And Shahrazad

perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.

When it was the Ninety-first Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the Infidels saw

Luka bin Shamlut fall slain, they buffeted their faces and cried, "Alas!" and

"Woe worth the day!" and called upon the Abbots of the monasteries and cried,

"Where be the crosses?" So the Religious offered up prayers and the Christians

all drew together against Sharrkan; and, brandishing their scymitars and

lances, rushed forward to the attack. Then army met army and breasts fell

under hoof, whilst spear and sword ruled the day and forearms and wrists grew

weak and the coursers seemed created without legs;[FN#395] nor did the herald

of-war cease calling to fight, till arms were aweary and day took flight and

night came on with darkness dight. So the two hosts drew apart, whilst every

brave staggered like a drunken knave, for that with so much cut and thrust they

strave; and the place was choked with the slain; fell were the wounds and the

hurt knew not by whom they fell. Then Sharrkan joined his brother, Zau

al-Makan, and the Chamberlain and the Wazir Dandan, and said to them, "Verily

Allah hath opened a door for the Infidels to fall, praised be the Lord of the

Worlds one and all!" Replied Zau al-Makan, "Let us never cease to praise Allah,

for that He hath dispelled trouble from the Arab and the Ajam. Indeed the

folk, generation after generation, shall tell of thy derring-do against the

accursed Luka, the falsifier of the Evangel;[FN#396] of thy catching the throng

spear in mid-flight, and how the enemy of Allah among men thou didst smite; and

thy fame shall endure until the end of time." Then said Sharrkan, "Harkye, O

grand Chamberlain and doughty Capitayne!" and he answered, "Adsum!"[FN#397]

Quoth Sharrkan, "Take with thee the Wazir Dandan and twenty thousand horse, and

lead them seven parasangs towards the sea, and force the march till ye shall

have come near the shore, and there remain only two parasangs between thee and

the foe. Then ambush ye in the hollows of the ground till ye hear the tumult

of the Infidels disembarking from their ships; and the war cry from every side

strike your ear and ye know that the sabres have begun labour between us and

them; and, whenso ye see our troops falling back, as if defeated, and all the

Infidels following them, as well those in front as those from the seaward and

the tents, do ye still lie in wait for them: but as soon as ye see the standard

with the words, There is no god but the God, and Mohammed is God's Apostle (on

whom be salutation and salvation!), then up with the green banner, and do your

endeavour and fall on their rear and shout, 'Alla ho Akbar! Allah is most

Great!' and circle round that they may not interpose between the retreating

army and the sea." He replied, "To hear is to obey!"; and forthright they

agreed upon this matter and they went forth. Now the Chamberlain took with

himself the Wazir Dandan and twenty thousand men even as Sharrkan had

commanded. As soon as dawned the morn, the troops sprung to horse when they

had donned their armour gear and drawn the scymitar and slung the spear. Then

the Christians dispread themselves over hill and dale and the

Ecclesiasts[FN#398] cried out and all heads were bared, and those in the ships

hoisted the Cross at their mast heads and began making for shore from every

side, and landed their horses and get them ready for fight and fray, whilst the

sword blades glittered bright and the javelins glanced like leven-light on mail

shirt white; and all joined fight and the grind mill of Death whirled round and

ground those who fought from horse and aground: heads from bodies flew end

tongues mute grew and eyes no vision knew. Scymitars strave with utmost strain

and heads flew over the battle-plain; gall bladders clave and wrists were shorn

in twain; steeds plashed in pools of gore and beards were gripped right sore;

the host of Al-Islam called out, saying, "On the Prince of Mankind be blessings

and peace, and to the Compassionate glory and praise, which ne'er shall cease,

for His boons which aye increase;" and the host of the Infidels shouted, "Glory

to the Cross and the Belt and the vine press juice, and the wine presser and

the Priests and the Monks and the Festival of Palms and the Metropolitan!" Now

Zau al-Makan and Sharrkan held back and their troops gave way and feigned

flight from before the enemy, while the Infidel array pressed hard upon them

deeming them in rout, and made ready to foin and hew. Then the meiny of the

Moslems raised their voices, reciting the first verses of the Chapter of the

Cow,[FN#399] whilst the dead were trampled under hoofs of steeds, and the

heralds of the Greeks cried out, "Ho, servants of the Messiah! Ho, people of

the True Faith! Ho, followers of the Primate![FN#400] Verily Divine grace upon

you opes; for see, the hosts of Al Islam like birds with broken wings incline

to elope! So turn ye not to them your backs, but let your swords cleave deep in

their necks and hold not your hands from them, else are ye outcasts from the

Messiah, Mary's son, who spoke even when a cradled one!"[FN#401] Now Afridun,

King of Constantinople, deemed that the Infidels were victorious, knowing not

that this was but a clever stratagem of the Moslems, and sent to King Hardub of

Roum congratulations on success, adding, "Availed us naught but the Holy Merde

of the Arch Patriarch, whose fragrance exhaled from the beards and mustachios

of the slaves of the Cross near and far; and I swear, by the Miracles of the

Messiah; and by thy daughter Abrizah, the Nazarene, the Mariolater; and by the

Waters of Baptism, that I will not leave upon the earth a single defender of

Al- Islam! And to the bitter end will I carry out this plan." So the messenger

betook himself with the address to King Hardub, whilst the Infidels called to

one another saying, "Take we vengeance wreak for Luka!"—And Shahrazad perceived

the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.

When it was the Ninety-second Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Infidels called to

one another, saying, "Take we vengeance wreak for Luka!" while Hardub King of

Greece cried aloud, "Ho, to our revenge for Abrizah!" Thereupon King Zau

al-Makan shouted "Ho, servants of the Requiting King!: smite the children of

denial and disobedience with the blanch of sword and the brown of spear!" So

the Moslems returned to the Infidels and plied them with the keen edged

scymitar, whilst their herald cried aloud, "Up, and at the foes of the Faith,

all ye who love the Prophet Elect, with hope of salvation on the Day of Fear,

to win favour of the Bountiful, the Forgiving One; for verily the Garden of

Paradise is under the shadow of swords!" And behold, Sharrkan and his men

charged down upon the Infidels and cut off their retreat and wheeled and

tourneyed among the ranks; when lo! a knight of goodly presence opened a

passage through the army of Unbelievers and circled hither and thither amongst

the Deniers, cutting and thrusting and covering the ground with heads and

trunks, so that the Faithless feared him and their necks bent under his lunge

and hew. He was girt with two swords, his glances and his brand, and he was

armed with two lances, one of bamboo cane and the other his straight wand like

shape; and his flowing hair stood him in stead of many warriors, even as saith

the poet,

"Laud not long hair,[FN#402] except it be dispread * In two fold locks, on day of fight and fray,

O'er youth who bears his lance 'twixt flank and thigh, * From many a whis kered knight to win the day."

And as singeth another,

"I say to him, what while he slings his sword, * 'For sword shall serve those looks that sword like show!'

Says he, 'My sabre looks for those I love, * My sword for those who sweets of love unknow!'"

When Sharrkan saw him, he said to him, "I conjure thee by the Koran and the

attributes of the Compassionate One, O Champion of the Champions! tell me who

thou art: for verily by thy deeds this day thou hast pleased the Requiting

King, whom one thing distracteth not from other thing; in that thou hast been

discomforting the children of impiety and in rebellion revelling." Then cried

the Cavalier to him saying, "Thou art he who madest brother covenant with me

but yesterday: how quickly thou hast forgotten me!" Thereupon he withdrew his

mouth veil,[FN#403] so that what was hidden of his beauty was disclosed, and

lo! it was none other than Zau al-Makan. Then Sharrkan rejoiced in his

brother, save that he feared for him the rush of fighting and the crush of

braves a smiting; and this for two reasons, the first, his tender age and

exposure to the evil eye, and the second, that his safety was to the kingdom

the greater of the two overshadowing wings. So he said to him, "O King! thou

riskest thy life, so join thy steed to mine; in very sooth I fear for thee from

the foe; and better thou stint hazarding thyself forth of these squadrons, that

we may shoot at the enemy thine unerring shaft." Quoth Zau al-Makan, "I desire

to even thee in fray and I will not be niggard of myself before thee in the

melay." Then the host of Al-Islam, heaping itself upon the Infidels, girt them

on all sides, warred on them a right Holy War, and brake the power of the

children of impiety and pride and stowre. But King Afridun sighed when he saw

the evil wreak that had fallen on the Greek, and they turned their backs from

fight and addressed themselves to flight, making for the ships, when lo! there

came out upon them from the seacoast another host, led by the Minister Dandan,

the champion who was wont to make champions bite the dust, and to lay load on

them with cut and thrust. Nor less came forth the Emir Bahram, Lord of the

Provinces of Sham, amid twenty thousand horse doughty of arm; and the host of

Al-Islam pressed them in front and on flank and wrought them grievous harm.

Then a body of the Moslems turned against those who in the ships remained, and

perdition on them rained, till they threw themselves into the main, and they

slew of them many slain, more than a hundred thousand noblemen, nor was one of

their champions, great or small, saved from bale and bane. Moreover, they took

their ships, with all the money and treasure and cargo, save a score of keel,

and the Moslems got that loot whose like was never gotten in by gone years; nor

was such cut and thrust ever heard of by men's ears.[FN#404] Now amongst the

booty were fifty thousand horses, besides treasure and spoil past reckoning and

arithmetic, whereat the Moslems rejoiced with an exceeding joy for that Allah

had given them victory and protection. Such was the case with them; but as

regards the fugitive Infidels they soon reached Constantinople, whither the

tidings preceded them that King Afridun had prevailed over the Moslems; so

quoth the ancient dame, Zat al-Dawahi, "I know that my son Hardub, King of

Roum, is no runagate and that he feareth not the Islamitic hosts, but will

restore the whole world to the Nazarene faith." Then she bade the Great King,

Afridun, give command that the city be decorated, and the people held festival

high and drank their wines drunkenly and knew not the decrees of Destiny. Now

whilst they were in the midst of their rejoicings, behold, the raven of dule

and downfall croaked over them, and up came the twenty fugitive ships wherein

was the King of Cæsarea. So King Afridun, Lord of Constantinople, met them on

the sea shore, and they told him all that had befallen them from the Moslem,

and they wept sore and groaned and moaned; and rejoicing at weal was turned

into dismay for unheal; and they informed him concerning Luka son of Shamlut,

how calamity had betided him and how Death had shot him with his shaft.

Thereat the horrors of Doomday rose upon King Afridun,[FN#405] and he knew that

there was no making straight their crook. Then came up from them the sound of

weeping and wailing; the city was full of men mourning and the keepers were

keening, and sighs and cries were heard from all sides. And when King Hardub

of Greece met King Afridun he told him the truth of the case and how the flight

of the Moslems was by way of stratagem and deceit, and said to him, "Look not

to see any of the army, save those who have already reached thee." When King

Afridun heard these words he fell down in a fainting-fit, with his nose under

his feet; and, as soon as he revived, he exclaimed, "Surely the Messiah was

wroth with them that he caused the Moslems to prevail over them!" Then came the

Arch Patriarch sadly to the King who said to him, "O our father, annihilation

hath overtaken our army and the Messiah hath punished us!" Replied the

Patriarch, "Grieve not nor feel concerned, for it cannot be but that one of you

have sinned against the Messiah, and all have been punished for his offence;

but now we will read prayers for you in the churches, that the Mohammeden hosts

may be repelled from you." After which the old woman, Zat al-Dawahi, came to

Afridun and said to him, "O King, verily the Moslem hosts are many, and we

shall never overcome them save by wile: wherefore I purpose to work upon them

by guile and repair to this army of Al-Islam, haply I may win my wish of their

leader and slay their champion, even as I slew his father. If my stratagem

succeed in his case, not one of the host he leads shall return to his native

land, for all are strong only because of him; but I desire to have some

Christian dwellers of Syria, such as go out every month and year to sell their

goods, that they may help me (for this they can do) in carrying out my plan."

Replied the King, "Be it so whenever thou wilt." So she bade fetch an hundred

men, natives of Najrán,[FN#406] in Sham, and the King asked them, "Have ye not

heard what hath befallen the Christians with the Moslems?" "Yes," answered

they; and he rejoined, "Know ye that this woman hath devoted her life to the

Messiah and purposeth to go forth with you, disguised as Monotheists and

Mohammedans, to work out a device which shall profit us and hinder the Moslem

from us: say, then, are ye also willing to devote yourselves to the Anointed

and I will give you a quintal of gold?[FN#407] He of you who escapeth shall

have the money, and him of you who dieth will the Messiah reward." "O King,"

replied they, "we will devote our lives to the Messiah, and we will be thy

sacrifice." Thereupon the old woman took all she required of aromatic roots and

placed them in water which she boiled over the fire till the black essence of

them was extracted. She waited till the decoction was cold, then dipped the

corner of a long kerchief therein and stained her face therewith. Moreover,

she donned over her clothes a long gaberdine with an embroidered border and

took in her hand a rosary, and afterwards went in to King Afridun, who knew her

not, nor did any of his companions know her, till she discovered herself to

them: and there was none in the assembly but who thanked and praised her for

her cunning; and her son rejoiced and said, "May the Messiah never fail thee!"

Thereupon she took with her the Syrian Christians, and set out for the army of

Baghdad.— And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her

permitted say.

When it was the Ninety-third Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when King Afridun heard

these words, he fell into a fainting-fit with his nose under his feet; and, as

soon as he revived, fear fluttered the scrotum[FN#408] below his belly and he

complained to the ancient dame, Zat al-Dawahi. Now this accursed old woman was

a witch of the witches, past mistress in sorcery and deception; wanton and

wily, deboshed and deceptious; with foul breath, red eyelids, yellow cheeks,

dull brown face, eyes bleared, mangy body, hair grizzled, back humped, skin

withered and wan and nostrils which ever ran. But she had studied the

scriptures of Al-Islam and had made the Pilgrimage to the Holy House of Meccah

and all this that she might come to the knowledge of the Mohammedan ordinances

and the miraculous versets of the Koran; and she had professed Judaïsm in the

Holy City of Jerusalem[FN#409] for two years' space, that she might master the

magic of men and demons; so that she was a plague of plagues and a pest of

pests, wrong-headed as to belief and to no religion fief. Now the chief reason

of her sojourn with her son, King Hardub of Greece, was on account of the slave

virgins at his court: for she was given to tribadism[FN#410] and could not

exist without sapphism or she went mad: so if any damsel pleased her, she was

wont to teach her the art of rubbing clitoris against clitoris and would anoint

her with saffron[FN#411] till she fainted away for excess of volupty. Whoso

obeyed her she was wont to favour and make her son incline towards her; but

whoso repelled her she would contrive to destroy; and so she abode for a length

of time. This was known to Marjanah and Rayhánah and Utrijah, the handmaids of

Abrizah, and their Princess loathed the old woman and abhorred to lie with her,

because of the rank smell from her armpits, the stench of her fizzles more

fetid than carrion, and the roughness of her hide coarser than palm fibre. She

was wont to bribe those who rubbed parts with her by means of jewels and

instructions; but Abrizah held aloof from her and sought refuge with the

Omnipotent, the Omniscient; for, by Allah, right well quoth the poet,

"Ho thou who grovellest low before the great * Nor over fording lesser men dost blench

Who gildest dross by dirham gathering, * No otter scent disguises carrion stench!

And now to return to the story of her stratagem and the woes of her working.

Presently she departed, taking the chief Nazarenes with their hosts, and turned

towards the army of the Moslems. Whereupon King Hardub went in to King Afridun

and said to him, "O King, we have no need of the Chief Patriarch nor of his

prayers, but will consult my mother's counsel and observe what she will do with

her craft unending against the Moslem hosts; for these are marching with all

their power, they will soon be upon us and they will encircle us on all sides."

When King Afridun heard this, terror took hold upon his heart and he wrote

letters, without stay or delay, to all the nations of the Nazarenes, saying,

"It behoveth none of the Messiahites or Cross knights to hold back, especially

the folk of the strongholds and forts: but let them all come to us, foot and

horse, women and children, for the Moslem hosts already tread our soil. So

haste! haste ye! ere what we fear to us here appear." Thus much concerning

them; but regarding the work of the old woman, Zat al-Dawahi; when she went

forth from the city with her suite, she clad them in the clothing of Moslem

merchants, having provided herself with an hundred mules carrying stuffs of

Antioch, such as goldwoven satins and royal brocades and so forth. And she had

taken a letter from King Afridun to the following effect: "These be merchantmen

from the land of Sham who have been with us: so it besitteth none to do them

harm or hindrance, nor take tax and tithe of them, till they reach their homes

and safe places, for by merchants a country flourisheth, and these are no men

of war nor of ill faith." Then quoth the accursed Zat al-Dawahi to those with

her, "Verily I wish to work out a plot for the destruction of the Moslem."

Replied they, "O Queen, command us whatso thou wilt; we are at thy disposal and

may the Messiah never disappoint thy dealings!" Then she donned a gown of fine

white wool and rubbed her forehead, till she made a great mark as of a scar and

anointed it with an ointment of her own fashion, so that it shone with

prodigious sheen. Now the old hag was lean bodied and hollow eyed, and she

bound her legs tightly round with cords[FN#412] just above her feet, till she

drew near the Moslem camp, when she unwound them, leaving their marks deeply

embedded in her ankles. Then she anointed the wheels with dragon's blood and

bade her companions beat her with a severe beating, and set her in a chest and,

quoth she, "Cry abroad the Refrain of Unity,[FN#413] nor fear from it aught of

damage!" Replied they, "How can we beat thee, who be our sovereign lady, Zat

al-Dawahi, mother of the King we glory in?" Then said she, "We blame not nor

deal reproach to him who goeth to the jakes, and in need evil becometh good

deed. When ye have set me in the chest, take it and make it one of the bales

and place it on mule back and fare forth with it and the other goods through

the Moslem camp, and fear ye no blame. And if any of the Moslems hinder you,

give up the mules and their lading and be take yourselves to their King, Zau

al-Makan, and implore his protection saying, 'We were in the land of the

Infidels and they took nothing from us, but wrote us a passport, that none

shall do us hindrance or work our mischance.' If he ask you, 'What profit had

ye of your property in the land of Roum?' answer him, 'We profited in the

deliverance of a pious man, who had been bound down in an underground cell nigh

fifteen years, crying out for help yet none helped him. Nay, the Infidels

tortured him night and day. We knew not this; but, after we had tarried in

Constantinople for some time, having sold our goods and bought others in their

stead, we determined on and made ready for a return to our native land. We

spent that night conversing about our journey and when day broke, we saw

figured upon the wall a human form and as we drew nigh it, behold, it moved and

said, 'O Moslems, is there amongst you one who is minded to woo the favour of

the Lord of the three Worlds?'[FN#414] 'How so?' asked we; and the figure

answered, 'Know that Allah hath made me speak to you, to the intent that your

faith be fortified, and that your belief embolden you and that you may go forth

of the country of the Infidels and repair to the Moslem host; for with them

wones the Sword of the Com passionate One, of our Age the Champion, King

Sharrkan, by whom He shall conquer Constantinople town and destroy the sect of

the Nazarene. And when ye shall have journeyed three days, you will find an

hermitage known as the Hermitage of the ascetic Matruhina[FN#415] and

containing a cell; visit it with pure intent and contrive to arrive there by

force of will, for therein is a Religious from the Holy City, Jerusalem, by

name Abdullah, and he is one of the devoutest of mankind, endowed with the

power of working saintly miracles[FN#416] such as dispel doubts and obscurity.

Certain of the monks seized him by fraud and shut him up in a souterrain where

he hath lain a long time. By his deliverance you will please the Lord of

Faithful Men, for such release is better than fighting for the Faith.'" Now

when the ancient dame and those with her had agreed upon such words, she said,

"As soon as that which I impart shall reach the ears of King Sharrkan, say him

further, 'Hearing this from that image we knew that the holy man'"—And

Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.

When it was the Ninety-fourth Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the old woman, Zat

al-Dawahi, and those with her had agreed upon such words, she said, "Now as

soon as that which I impart shall reach the ears of King Sharrkan say him

further, 'Hearing these words from that image we knew that the holy man was

indeed of the chiefest devotees and Allah's servants of purest qualities; so we

made three days' march till we came in sight of that hermitage, and then we

went up to it and passed the day in buying and selling, as is the wont of

merchants. As soon as day had departed our sight and night was come to darken

light, we repaired to the cell wherein was the dungeon, and we heard the holy

man, after chanting some verses of the Koran, repeat the following couplets,

'My heart disheartened is, my breast is strait, * And sinks my soul in sea of bale and bate

Unless escape be near I soon shall die; * And Death were better than this doleful strait:

O Lightning an thou light my home and folk, * An their still brighter charms thy shine abate,

Say, what my path to meet them, being barred * By wars, and barricado'd succour's gate?'

"When once ye have brought me into the Moslem camp, and I mix with them you

shall see," the old woman continued, "how I will make shift to beguile them; and

slay them all, even to the last man." The Nazarenes hearing whet she said,

kissed her hands and set her in the chest, after they had beaten her with a

grievous beating in obedience to her commands, for they saw it was incumbent on

them to do her bidding in this; then they all made for the Moslem host as hath

erst been said. Such was the case with the damned hag, Zat al-Dawahi and her

companions; but as regards the Mohammeden army, they indeed, after Allah had

given them victory over their enemies and they had plundered everything in the

ships of money and hoards, all sat down to converse with one another and Zau

al-Makan said to his brother Sharrkan, "Verily, Allah hath granted us to

prevail because of our just dealing and discipline and concord amongst

ourselves; wherefore continue, O Sharrkan, to obey my commandment, in

submission to Allah (be He exalted and extolled!), for I mean to slay ten Kings

in blood-revenge for my sire, to cut the throat of fifty thousand Greeks and to

enter Constantinople." Replied Sharrkan, "My life be thy ransom against death!

Needs must I follow out the Holy War, though I wone many a year in their

country. But I have, O my brother, in Damascus a daughter, named Kuzia Fakan,

whom I love heartily for she is one of the marvels of the time and she will

soon be of age.' Said Zau al-Makan, "And I also have left my wife with child

and near her time, nor do I know what Allah will vouchsafe me by her. But

promise me, O my brother, that if Allah bless me with a son, thou wilt grant me

thy daughter for wife to him, and make covenant with me and pledge me thy faith

thereon." "With love and good will, replied Sharrkan; and, stretching out his

hand to his brother, he said, If she bring thee a son, I will give him my

daughter Kuzia Fakan, to wife." At this Zau al-Makan rejoiced, and they fell to

congratulating each other on the victory over the enemy. And the Wazir Dandan

also congratulated the two brothers and said to them, "Know, O ye Kings, that

Allah hath given us the victory, for that we have devoted our lives to Him (be

He exalted and ex tolled!); and we have left our homes and households; and it

is my counsel that we follow up the foe and press upon him and harass him, so

haply Allah shall enable us to win our wishes, and we shall destroy our

enemies, branch and root. If it please you, do ye go down in these ships and

sail over the sea, whilst we fare forward by land and bear the brunt of battle

and the thrust of fight." And the Minister Dandan ceased not to urge them to

combat and repeated his words who said,

"To slay my foes is chiefest bliss I wist, * And on the courser's back be borne a list;

Comes promising tryst a messenger from friend * Full oft, when comes the friend withouten tryst."

And these words of another,

"War for my mother (an I live) I'll take; * Spear for my brother; scymitar for sire

With every shag haired brave who meets his death * Smiling, till won from Doom his dear desire!"

And when the Wazir ended his verses, he said, "Praise be to Him who aided us

dear victory to uphold and who hath given us spoil of silver and fine gold!"

Then Zau al-Makan commanded the army to depart; and they fared on forcing their

marches for Constantinople, till they came to a wide and spacious champaign,

full of all things fair and fain, with wild cattle frisking and gazelles pacing

to and fro across the plain. Now they had traversed great deserts and drink

had been six days cut off from them, when they drew near this meadow and saw

therein waters founting and ripe fruits daunting and that land as it were

Paradise; for it had donned its adornments and decked itself.[FN#417] Gently

waved the branches of its trees drunken with the new wine of the dew, and

combined with the nectar of Tasnim the soft breathings of the morning breeze.

Mind and gazer were confounded by its beauty, even as saith the poet,

"Behold this lovely garden! 'tis as though * Spring o'er its frame her greeny cloak had spread.

Looking with fleshly eyne, thou shalt but sight * A lake whose waters balance in their bed,

But look with spirit eyes and lo! shalt see * Glory in every leaf o'erwaves thy head."

And as another saith,

"The stream's a cheek by sunlight rosy dyed, * Whose down[FN#418] is creeping shade of tamarisk stems

Round legs of tree trunks waveless roll in rings * Silvern, and blossoms are the diadems."

When Zau al-Makan saw this champaign, with its trees bowing and its flowers

blooming and its birds warbling, he called to his brother Sharrkan and said, "O

my brother, verily in Damascus is naught the like of this place. We will not

march from it save after three days, that we may take rest ourselves and that

the army of Al-Islam may regain strength and their souls be fortified to

encounter the blamed Infidels." So they halted therein and while camping

behold, they heard a noise of voices from afar, and Zau al-Makan asked the

cause thereof, and was answered that a caravan of merchants from the Land of

Syria had halted there to rest and that the Moslem troops had come on them; and

had haply seized something of the goods which they had brought from the country

of the Infidels. After a while up came the merchants, crying out and appealing

to the King for aidance. When Zau al- Makan saw this, he bade them be brought

before him and, when in presence they said to him, "O King, we have been in the

country of the Infidels and they plundered us of nothing: why then do our

brothers the Moslems despoil our goods, and we in their own land? Of a truth

when we saw your troops, we went up to them; and they robbed us of what we had

with us and we have now reported to thee all that hath befallen us." Thereupon

they brought out to him the letter of the King of Constantinople, and Sharrkan

read it and said, "We will presently restore to you what hath been taken from

you; but yet it behoveth you not to carry merchandise to the country of the

Infidels." Replied they, "O our Lord, in very sooth Allah despatched us thither

that we might win what Gházi[FN#419] never won the like of, not even thou in

all thy razzias." Asked Sharrkan, "What was it ye won?" "O King," answered

they, "we will not tell thee save in private; for if this matter be noised

among the folk, haply it may come to the ears of some,[FN#420] and this will be

the cause of our ruin and of the ruin of all Moslems who resort to the land of

the Greeks." Now they had hidden the chest wherein was the damned Zat al-

Dawahi. So Zau al-Makan and his brother brought them to a private place, where

they laid bare to both of them the story of the devotee, and wept till they

made the two Kings weep.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased

saying her permitted say.

When it was the Ninety-fifth Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Nazarenes who wore

merchants' weed, when brought to a private place by Zau al-Makan and his

brother Sharrkan, laid bare to both of them the story of the devotee and wept

till they made the two Kings weep and repeated to them all which had been

taught by the old witch Zat al-Dawahi. Thereupon Sharrkan's heart yearned to

the devotee and he was moved to ruth for him and was fired with zeal for the

service of Almighty Allah. So quoth he to them, "Did ye rescue this holy man

or is he still in the hermitage?" Quoth they, "We delivered him and slew the

hermit, fearing for our lives; after which we made haste to fly for dread of

death; but a trusty man told us that in this hermitage are quintals of gold and

silver and stones of price." Then they fetched the chest and brought out the

accursed old woman, as she were a cassia pod[FN#421] for excess of blackness

and leanness, and she was laden with the same fetters and shackles. When Zau

al-Makan and the bystanders saw her, they took her for a man of the best of

Allah's devotees and surpassing in pious qualities, more especially because of

the shining of her forehead for the ointment wherewith she had anointed her

face. So Zau al-Makan and Sharrkan wept sore; then they rose up in honour and

kissed her hands and feet, sobbing aloud: but she signed to them; and said,

"Cease this weeping and hear my words. Hereat they dried their tears in

obedience to her bidding, and she said, "Know ye both that I was content to

accept what my Lord did unto me, for I kenned that the affliction which befel

me was a trial from Him (be He exalted and extolled!); and whoso hath not

patience under calamity and tribulation, for him there is no coming to the

delights of Paradise. I had indeed supplicated Him that I might return to my

native land, not as a compensation for the sufferings decreed to me, but that I

might die under the horse hoofs of warriors fighting for the Faith who, being

slain in fray, live again without suffering death."[FN#422] Then she repeated

the following couplets,

"Our Fort is Tor,[FN#423] and flames the fire of fight: * Moses art thou and this is time for aid:

Cast down thy rod, 'twill swallow all they wrought, * Nor dread for men their ropes be vipers made.[FN#424]

For Chapters read on fight day lines of foes, * And on their necks 'grave versets[FN#425] wi' thy blade!"

When the old woman had ended her verse, her eyes overflowed with tears and her

forehead under the unguent shone like gleaming light, and Sharrkan rose and

kissed her hand and caused food be brought before her: but she refused it,

saying, "I have not broken my fast by day for fifteen years; and how should I

break it at such a time when my Lord hath been bountiful to me in delivering me

from the captivity of the Infidels and removing from me that which was more

grievous to me than torment of fire? I will wait till sun down." So when it was

nightfall, Sharrkan and Zau al-Makan came and served her with food and said,

"Eat, O ascetic!" But she said, "This is no time for eating; it is the time for

worshipping the Requiting King." Then she stood up in the prayer niche and

remained praying till the night was spent; and she ceased not to do after this

fashion for three days and nights, sitting not but at the time of the Salám or

salutation[FN#426] ending with several prayers. When Zau al- Makan saw her on

this wise, firm belief in her get hold of his heart and he said to Sharrkan,

"Cause a tent of perfumed leather to be pitched for this Religious, and appoint

a body servant to wait upon him." On the fourth day she called for food; so

they brought her all kinds of meats that could seduce the sense or delight the

sight; but of all this she would eat only a scone with salt. Then she again

turned to her fast and, as the night came, she rose anew to pray; when Sharrkan

said to Zau al-Makan, "Verily, this man carrieth renunciation of the world to

the extreme of renouncing, and, were it not for this Holy War, I would join

myself to him and worship Allah in his service, till I came before His

presence. And now I desire to enter his tent and talk with him for an hour."

Quoth Zau al-Makan, "And I also: To-morrow we sally forth to fight against

Constantinople, and we shall find no time like the present." Said the Wazir

Dandan, "And I no less desire to see this ascetic; haply he will pray for me

that I find death in this Holy War and come to the presence of my Lord, for I

am aweary of the world." So as soon as night had darkened, they repaired to the

tent of that witch, Zat al-Dawahi; and, seeing her standing to pray, they drew

near her and fell a weeping for pity of her; but she paid no heed to them till

midnight was past, when she ended her orisons by pronouncing the salutation.

Then she turned to them; and after wishing them long life, asked them "Wherefore

come ye?", whereto they answered, "O thou holy man! diddest thou not hear us

weep around thee?" She rejoined, "To him who standeth in the presence of Allah,

remaineth no existence in time, either for hearing any or for seeing aught

about him." Quoth they, "We would have thee recount to us the cause of thy

captivity and pray for us this night, for that will profit us more than the

possession of Constantinople." Now when she heard their words she said, "By

Allah, were ye not the Emirs of the Moslems, I would not relate to you aught of

this at any time; for I complain not but to Allah alone. However, to you I

will relate the circumstances of my captivity. Know, then, that I was in the

saintly City of Jerusalem with certain ecstatics and inspired men, and did not

magnify myself among them, for that Allah (be He exalted and extolled!) had

endowed me with humility and abnegation, till I chanced to go down to the sea

one night and walked upon the water. Then entered into me pride; whence I know

not, and I said to myself, 'Who like me can walk the water?' And my heart from

that time hardened and Allah afflicted me with the love of travel. So I

journeyed to Roum land and visited every part for a whole year, and left no

place but therein I worshiped Allah. When I came to this spot,[FN#427] I clomb

the mountain and saw there an hermitage, inhabited by a monk called Matrubina,

who, when he sighted me, came out and kissed my hands and feet and said,

'Verily, I have seen thee since thou enteredst the land of the Greeks, and thou

hast filled me with longing for the land of Al-Islam.' Then he took my hand and

carried me into that hermitage, and brought me to a dark room; and, when I

entered it unawares, he locked the door on me and left me there forty days,

without meat or drink; for it was his intent to kill me by delay. It chanced

one day, that a Knight called Dakianús[FN#428] came to the hermitage,

accompanied by ten squires and his daughter Tamásil, a girl whose beauty was

incom parable. When they entered that hermitage, the monk Matruhina told them

of me, and the Knight said, 'Bring him out, for surely there is not on him a

bird's meal of meat.' So they opened the door of the dark room and found me

standing in the niche, praying and reciting the Koran and glorifying Allah and

humbling myself before the Almighty. When they saw me in this state Matrohina

exclaimed, 'This man is indeed a sorcerer of the sorcerers!'; and hearing his

words, they all came in on me, Dakianus and his company withal, and they beat

me with a grievous beating, till I desired death and reproached myself, saying,

'This is his reward who exalteth himself and who prideth himself on that which

Allah hath vouchsafed to him, beyond his own competence! And thou, O my soul,

verily self esteem and arrogance have crept into thee. Dost thou not know that

pride angereth the Lord and hardeneth the heart and bringeth men to the Fire?'

Then they laid me in fetters and returned me to my place which was the dungeon

under ground. Every three days, they threw me down a scone of barley bread and

a draught of water; and every month or two the Knight came to the hermitage.

Now his daughter Tamasil had grown up, for she was nine years old when I first

saw her, and fifteen years passed over me in captivity, so that she had reached

her four and twentieth year. There is not in our land nor in the land of the

Greeks a fairer than she, and her father feared lest the King take her from

him; for she had vowed herself to the Messiah and rode with Dakianus in the

habit of a cavalier, so that albeit none might compare with her in loveliness,

no one who saw her knew her for a woman. And her father had laid up his monies

in this hermitage, every one who had aught of price or treasured hoard being

wont to deposit it therein; and I saw there all manner of gold and silver and

jewels and precious vessels and rarities, none may keep count of them save

Almighty Allah. Now ye are worthier of these riches than those Infidels; so

lay hands on that which is in the hermitage and divide it among the Moslems and

especially on fighters in the Holy War. When these merchants came to

Constantinople and sold their merchandise, that image which is on the wall

spoke to them, by grace of a marvel which Allah granted to me; so they made for

that hermitage and slew Matruhina, after torturing him with most grievous

torments, and dragging him by the beard, till he showed them the place where I

was; when they took me and found no path but flight for dread of death. Now

To-morrow night Tamasil will visit that hermitage as is her habit, and her

father and his squires will come after her, as he feareth for her; so, if ye

would witness these things, take me with you and I will deliver to you the

monies and the riches of the Knight Dakianus which be in that mountain; for I

saw them bring out vessels of gold and silver to drink therefrom, and I heard a

damsel of their company sing to them in Arabic and well-away! that so sweet a

voice should not be busied in chaunting the Koran. If, then, ye will; enter

into that hermitage and hide there against the coming of Dakianus and his

daughter; and take her, for she is fit only for the King of the Age, Sharrkan,

or King Zau al-Makan." Thereat they all rejoiced with the exception of the

Wazir Dandan, who put scant faith in her story, for her words took no hold on

his reason, and signs of doubt in her and disbelief showed in his face.[FN#429]

Yet he was confounded at her discourse, but he feared to speak with her for

awe of the King. Then quoth the ancient dame, Zat al-Dawahi, "Verily, I fear

lest the Knight come and, seeing these troops encamped in the meadow, be afraid

to enter the hermitage." So Zau al-Makan ordered the army to march upon

Constantinople and said, "I have resolved to take with me an hundred horse and

many mules and make for that mountain, where we will load the beasts with the

monies which be in the hermitage." Then he sent at once for the Chief

Chamberlain whom they brought into the presence; and he summoned likewise the

leaders of the Turks and Daylamites and said, "As soon as it is dawn, do ye set

forth for Constantinople; and thou, O Chamberlain, shalt take my place in

council and contrivance, while thou, O Rustam, shalt be my brother's deputy in

battle. But let none know that we are not with you and after three days we

will rejoin you." Then he chose out an hundred of the doughtiest riders, and he

and Sharrkan and the Minister Dandan set out for the hermitage, and the hundred

horsemen led the mules with chests for transporting the treasure.—And Shahrazad

perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.

When it was the Ninety-sixth Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Sharrkan and his brother,

Zau al-Makan and the Wazir Dandan set off with an hundred horse for the

hermitage described to them by that accursed Zat al-Dawahi, and they took with

them mules and chests for transporting the treasure. Now as soon as dawned the

morn, the Chamberlain signalled to the host an order for departure, and they

set out thinking that the two Kings and the Wazir were with them; knowing not

that the three had made for the monastery. Such was the case with the host, but

as regards the two Kings and the Minister, they tarried in their place till the

end of that day. Now the Infidels who were with Zat al-Dawahi took their

departure privily, after they had gone in to her and kissed her hands and feet

and obtained her leave to march. So she not only gave them permission but also

taught them all she minded of wile and guile. And when it was dark night, she

arose and went in to Zau al-Makan and his companions and said to them, "Come,

let us set out for the mountain, and take with you a few men at arms." They

obeyed her and left five horsemen at the foot of the mountain, whilst the rest

rode on before Zat al-Dawahi, who gained new strength for excess of joy, so

that Zau al-Makan said, "Glory be to Him who sustaineth this holy man, whose

like we never saw!" Now the witch had written a letter to the King of

Constantinople and despatched it on the wings of a bird,[FN#430] acquainting

him with what had passed and ending, "I wish thee to send me ten thousand

horsemen of the bravest of the Greeks and let them steal along the foot of the

mountains with caution, lest the host of Al-Islam get sight of them; and, when

they reach the hermitage, let them ambush themselves there, till I come to them

with the Moslem King and his brother, for I shall inveigle them; and will bring

them thither, together with the Wazir and an hundred horse and no more, that I

may presently deliver to them the crosses which be in the hermitage. I am

resolved to slay the Monk Matruhina, since my scheme cannot be carried out but

by taking his life. If my plot work well, not one of the Moslems shall return

to his own country; no, not a living wight nor one who blows the fire alight;

and Matruhina shall be a sacrifice for the followers of the Nazarene faith and

the servants of the Cross, and praise be to the Messiah, first and last." When

this letter reached Constantinople, the keeper of the carrier pigeons carried

it to King Afridun, who read it and forthwith inspected his host and equipped

ten thousand cavaliers with horses and dromedaries and mules and provaunt and

bade them repair to that hermitage and, after reaching the tower, to hide

therein. Thus far concerning them; but as regards King Zau al-Makan and his

brother Sharrkan and the Wazir Dandan and the escort, when they reached the

hermitage they entered and met the Monk Matruhina, who came out to see who and

what they were; whereupon quoth that pious man Zat al-Dawahi, "Slay this damned

fellow."[FN#431] So they smote him with their swords and made him drink the cup

of death. Then the accursed old woman carried them to the place of offerings

and ex votos, and brought out to them treasures and precious things more than

she had described to them; and after gathering the whole together, they set the

booty in chests and loaded the mules therewith. As for Tamasil, she came not,

she or her father, for fear of the Moslems; so Zau al-Makan tarried there,

awaiting her all that day and the next and a third, till Sharrkan said to him,

"By Allah, I am troubled anent the army of Al-Islam, for I know not what is

become of them." His brother replied, "And I also am concerned for them: we

have come by this great treasure and I do not believe that Tamasil or any one

else will approach the hermitage, after that befel which hath befallen the host

of the Christians. It behoveth us, then, to content ourselves with what Allah

hath given us and depart; so haply He will help us conquer Constantinople."

Accordingly they came down from the mountain, while Zat al-Dawahi was impotent

to oppose their march for fear of betraying her deceit; and they fared forwards

till they reached the head of a defile, where the old woman had laid an ambush

for them with the ten thousand horse. As soon as these saw the Moslems they

encircled them from all sides, couching lance and baring the white sabre blade;

and the Infidels shouted the watch word of their faithless Faith and set the

shafts of their mischief astring. When Zau al-Makan and his brother Sharrkan

and the Minister Dandan looked upon this host, they saw that it was a numerous

army and said, "Who can have given these troops information of us?" Replied

Sharrkan, "O my brother, this be no time for talk; this is the time for smiting

with swords and shooting with shafts) so gird up your courage and hearten your

hearts, for this strait is like a street with two gates; though, by the virtue

of the Lord of Arabs and Ajams, were not the place so narrow I would bring them

to naught, even though they were an hundred thousand men!" Said Zau al-Makan,

"Had we wotted this we would have brought with us five thousand horse;" and the

Wazir Dandan continued, "If we had ten thousand horse they had availed us

naught in these narrows; but Allah will succour us against them. I know this

defile and its straitness, and I know there be many places of refuge in it; for

I have been here on razzia with King Omar bin al-Nu'uman, what while we

besieged Constantinople. We abode in this place, and here is water colder than

snow. So come, let us push out of this defile ere the Infidel host increase on

us and get the start of us to the mountain top, whence they will hurl down

rocks upon us, and we powerless to come at them." So they began hurrying on to

get out of those narrows; but the pious man, Zat al-Dawahi, looked at them; and

said, "What is it ye fear, ye who have vowed yourselves to the Lord, and to

working His will? By Allah, I abode imprisoned underground for fifteen years,

yet never gainsaid the Almighty in aught he did with me! Fight ye in Allah's

way; so whoever of you is slain Paradise shall be his abode, and whoso slayeth,

his striving shall be to his honour." When they heard from the ascetic these

words, their care and anxiety ceased from them; and they stood firm till the

Infidels charged down from all sides, whilst the swords played upon their necks

and the cup of death went round amongst them. The Moslems fought for the

service of Allah a right good fight, and wrought upon His foes with sway of

sword and lunge of lance; whilst Zau al-Makan smote upon the men and garred the

knights bite the dust and their heads from their bodies take flight, five by

five and ten by ten, till he had done to death a number of them past numbering

and an accompt beyond counting. Now while so doing, he looked at the accursed

old woman who was waving her sword and heartening them, and all who feared fled

to her for shelter; but she was also signing the Infidels to slay Sharrkan. So

troop after troop rushed on him with design to do him die; but each troop that

charged, he charged and drove back; and when another troop attacked him he

repelled the assault with the sword in their backs; for he thought it was the

devotee's blessing that gave him the vic tory, and he said in himself, "Verily

on this holy men Allah looketh with eyes of His favour and strengtheneth my

prowess against the Infidels with the purity of his pious intent: for I see

that they fear me and cannot prevail against me, but every one who assaileth me

turneth tail and taketh flight." So they battled the rest of the day and, when

night fell, the Moslems took refuge in a cave of that defile being weary with

stress of war and cast of stone: and that day were slain of them five and

forty. And when they were gathered together, they sought the devotee, but

could find no trace of him; and this was grievous to them; and they said,

"Belike, he hath died a martyr." Quoth Sharrkan, "I saw him heartening the

horsemen with divine instances and using as talisman verses of Holy Writ." Now

while they were talking, behold, the accursed old woman, Zat al-Dawahi, stood

before them, hending in hand the head of the Chief Captain of the ten thousand

horse, a noble knight, a champion fierce in fight and a Satan for blight. One

of the Turks had slain him with an arrow, and Allah hurried his soul to the

fire; and when the Infidels saw what that Moslem had done with their leader,

they all fell on him and wrought his bane and hewed him in pieces with their

swords, and Allah hurried his soul to Heaven. Then the accursed old woman cut

off that Knight's head and brought it and threw it at the feet of Sharrkan and

Zau al-Makan and the Wazir Dandan. Now when Sharrkan sew her, he sprang up

hastily before her and exclaimed, "Praised be Allah for thy safety and for our

sighting thee, O holy man and devout champion of the Religion!" Replied she, O

my son, I have sought martyrdom this day, and have thrown my life away amid the

Infidel array, but they feared me with dismay. When ye dispersed, I waxed

jealous for your honour; so I rushed on the Chief Knight their leader, albeit

he was a match for a thousand horse, and I smote him till I severed head from

trunk. Not one of the Infidels could near me; so I brought his head to

you,"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted

say.

When it was the Ninety-seventh Night,