My father was a wealthy merchant and Allah had vouchsafed him no other child
than myself; but I had a cousin, Azízah hight, daughter of my paternal uncle
and we twain were brought up in one house; for her father was dead and before
his death, he had agreed with my father that I should marry her. So when I
reached man's estate and she reached womanhood, they did not separate her from
me or me from her, till at last my father spoke to my mother and said, "This
very year we will draw up the contract of marriage between Aziz and Azizah." So
having agreed upon this he betook himself to preparing provision for the
wedding feast. Still we ceased not to sleep on the same carpet knowing naught
of the case, albeit she was more thoughtful, more intelligent and quicker
witted than I. Now when my father had made an end of his preparations, and
naught remained for him but to write out the contract and for me but to
consummate the marriage with my cousin, he appointed the wedding for a certain
Friday, after public prayers; and, going round to his intimates among the mer
chants and others, he acquainted them with that, whilst my mother went forth
and invited her women friends and summoned her kith and kin. When the Friday
came, they cleaned the saloon and prepared for the guests and washed the marble
floor; then they spread tapestry about our house and set out thereon what was
needful, after they had hung its walls with cloth of gold. Now the folk had
agreed to come to us after the Friday prayers; so my father went out and bade
them make sweetmeats and sugared dishes, and there remained nothing to do but
to draw up the contract. Then my mother sent me to the bath and sent after me a
suit of new clothes of the richest; and, when I came out of the Hammam, I
donned those habits which were so perfumed that as I went along, there exhaled
from them a delicious fragrance scenting the wayside. I had designed to repair
to the Cathedral mosque when I bethought me of one of my friends and returned
in quest of him that he might be present at the writing of the contract; and
quoth I to myself, "This matter will occupy me till near the time of
congregational prayer." So I went on and entered a by street which I had never
before entered, perspiring profusely from the effects of the bath and the new
clothes on my body; and the sweat streamed down whilst the scents of my dress
were wafted abroad: I therefore sat me at the upper end of the street resting
on a stone bench, after spreading under me an embroidered kerchief I had with
me. The heat oppressed me more and more, making my forehead perspire and the
drops trickled along my cheeks; but I could not wipe my face with my kerchief
because it was dispread under me. I was about to take the skirt of my robe and
wipe my cheeks with it, when unexpectedly there fell on me from above a white
kerchief, softer to the touch than the morning breeze and pleasanter to the
sight than healing to the diseased. I hent it in hand and raised my head to
see whence it had fallen, when my eyes met the eyes of the lady who owned these
gazelles.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her
permitted say
When it was the One Hundred and Thirteenth Night,
She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the youth continued to
Taj al-Muluk: "So I raised my head to see whence this kerchief had fallen, when
my eyes met those of the lady who owned these gazelles. And lo! she was
looking out of a wicket in a lattice of brass and never saw my eyes a fairer
than she, and in fine my tongue faileth to describe her beauty. When she
caught sight of me looking at her, she put her forefinger into her mouth, then
joined her middle finger and her witness finger[FN#483] and laid them on her
bosom, between her breasts; after which she drew in her head and closed the
wicket shutter and went her ways. Thereupon fire broke out in and was heaped
upon my heart, and greater grew my smart; the one sight cost me a thousand
sighs and I abode perplexed, for that I heard no word by her spoken, nor
understood the meaning of her token. I looked at the window a second time, but
found it shut and waited patiently till sundown, but sensed no sound and saw no
one in view. So when I despaired of seeing her again, I rose from my place and
taking up the handkerchief, opened it, when there breathed from it a scent of
musk which caused me so great delight I became as one in Paradise.[FN#484] Then
I spread it before me and out dropped from it a delicate little scroll;
whereupon I opened the paper which was perfumed with a delicious perfume, and
therein were writ these couplets,
"I sent to him a scroll that bore my plaint of love, * Writ in fine delicate hand; for writing proves man's skill:
Then quoth to me my friend, 'Why is thy writing thus; * So fine, so thin drawn 'tis to read unsuitable?'
Quoth I, 'for that I'm fine-drawn wasted, waxed thin, * Thus lovers' writ Should be, for so Love wills his will.
And after casting my eyes on the beauty of the kerchief,[FN#485] I saw upon one
of its two borders the following couplets worked in with the needle,
"His cheek down writeth (O fair fall the goodly scribe!) * Two lines on table of his face in Rayhán-hand:[FN#486]
O the wild marvel of the Moon when comes he forth! * And when he bends, O shame to every Willow-wand!"
And on the opposite border these two couplets were traced,
"His cheek down writeth on his cheek with ambergris on pearl * Two lines, like jet on apple li'en, the goodliest design:
Slaughter is in those languid eyne whene'er a glance they deal, * And drunkenness in either cheek and not in any wine."
When I read the poetry on the handkerchief the flames of love darted into my
heart, and yearning and pining redoubled their smart. So I took the kerchief
and the scroll and went home, knowing no means to win my wish, for that I was
incapable of conducting love affairs and inexperienced in interpreting hints
and tokens. Nor did I reach my home ere the night was far spent and I found
the daughter of my uncle sitting in tears. But as soon as she saw me she wiped
away the drops and came up to me, and took off my walking dress and asked me
the reason of my absence, saying, "All the folk, Emirs and notables and
merchants and others, assembled in our house; and the Kazi and the witnesses
were also present at the appointed time. They ate and tarried awhile sitting
to await thine appearance for the writing of the contract; and, when they
despaired of thy presence, they dispersed and went their ways. "And indeed,"
she added, "thy father raged with exceeding wrath by reason of this, and swore
that he would not celebrate our marriage save during the coming year, for that
he hath spent on these festivities great store of money." And she ended by
asking, "What hath befallen thee this day to make thee delay till now?; and why
hast thou allowed that to happen which happened because of thine absence?"
Answered I, "O daughter of mine uncle, question me not concerning what hath
befallen me."[FN#487] Then I told her all that had passed from beginning to
end, and showed her the handkerchief. She took the scroll and read what was
written therein; and tears ran down her cheeks and she repeated these
cinquains,
"Who saith that Love at first of free will came, * Say him: Thou liest! Love be grief and grame:
Yet shall such grame and grief entail no shame; * All annals teach us one thing and the same
Good current coin clips coin we may not crepe!
An please thou, say there's pleasure in thy pain, * Find Fortune's playful gambols glad and fain:
Or happy blessings in th' unhappy's bane, * That joy or grieve, with equal might and main:
Twixt phrase and antiphrase I'm all a heap!
But he, withal, whose days are summer bright, * Whom maids e'er greet with smiling lips' delight;
Whom spicey breezes fan in every site * And wins whate'er he wills, that happy wight
White blooded coward heart should never keep!"
Then she asked me, "What said she, and what signs made she to thee?" I
answered, "She uttered not a word, but put her fore finger in her mouth, then
joining it to her middle finger, laid both fingers on her bosom and pointed to
the ground. Thereupon she withdrew her head and shut the wicket; and after
that I saw her no more. However, she took my heart with her, so I sat till sun
down, expecting her again to look out of the window; but she did it not; and,
when I despaired of her, I rose from my seat and came home. This is my history
and I beg thee to help me in this my sore calamity." Upon this she raised her
face to me and said, "O son of mine uncle, if thou soughtest my eye, I would
tear it for thee from its eyelids, and perforce I cannot but aid thee to thy
desire and aid her also to her desire; for she is whelmed in passion for thee
even as thou for her." Asked I, "And what is the interpretation of her signs?";
and Azizah answered, "As for the putting her finger in her mouth,[FN#488] it
showed that thou art to her as her soul to her body and that she would bite
into union with thee with her wisdom teeth. As for the kerchief, it betokeneth
that her breath of life is bound up in thee. As for the placing her two
fingers on her bosom between her breasts, its explanation is that she saith;
'The sight of thee may dispel my grief.' For know, O my cousin, that she loveth
thee and she trusteth in thee. This is my interpretation of her signs and,
could I come and go at Will, I would bring thee and her together in shortest
time, and curtain you both with my skirt." Hearing these words I thanked her
(continued the young merchant) for speaking thus, and said to myself, "I will
wait two days." So I abode two days in the house, neither going out nor coming
in; neither eating nor drinking but I laid my head on my cousin's lap, whilst
she comforted me and said to me, "Be resolute and of good heart and hope for
the best!"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her
permitted say,
When it was the One Hundred and Fourteenth Night,
She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the youth pursued to Taj
al-Muluk:—"And when the two days were past she said to me, "Be of good cheer
and clear thine eyes of tears and take courage to dress thyself and go to her,
according to thy tryst." Then she rose and changed my clothes and perfumed me
with incense smoke. So I braced myself up and heartened my heart and went out
and walked on till I came to the by-street, where I sat down on the bench
awhile. And behold, the wicket suddenly opened and I looked up and seeing her,
fell down in a swoon. When I revived, I called up resolution and took courage
and gazed again at her and again became insensible to the world around me.
Then I came to myself and looking at her, saw that she held in hand a mirror
and a red kerchief. Now when she caught my glance, she bared her forearms and
opened her five fingers and smote her breast with palm and digits; and after
this she raised her hands and, holding the mirror outside the wicket, she took
the red kerchief and retired into the room with it, but presently returned and
putting out her hand with the kerchief, let it down towards the lane three
several times, dipping it and raising it as often. Then she wrung it out and
folded it in her hands, bending down her head the while; after which she drew
it in from the lattice and, shutting the wicket shutter, went away without a
single word; nay, she left me confounded and knowing not what signified her
signs.[FN#489]. I tarried sitting there till supper-time and did not return
home till near midnight; and there I found the daughter of my uncle with her
cheek props in her hand and her eyelids pouring forth tears; and she was
repeating these couplets,
"Woe's me! why should the blamer gar thee blaming bow? * How be consoled for thee that art so tender bough?
Bright being! on my vitals dost thou prey, and drive * My heart before platonic passion's[FN#490] force to bow.
Thy Turk like[FN#491] glances havoc deal in core of me, * As furbished sword thin ground at curve could never show:
Thou weigh's" me down with weight of care, while I have not * Strength e'en to bear my shift, so weakness lays me low:
Indeed I weep blood tears to hear the blamer say; * 'The lashes of thy lover's eyne shall pierce thee through!'
Thou hast, my prince of loveliness! an Overseer,[FN#492] * Who wrongs me, and a Groom[FN#493] who beats me down with brow.
He foully lies who says all loveliness belonged * To Joseph, in thy loveliness is many a Joe:
I force myself to turn from thee, in deadly fright * Of spies; and what the force that turns away my sight!"
When I heard her verse, cark increased and care redoubled on me and I fell down
in a corner of our house; whereupon she arose in haste and, coming to me lifted
me up and took off my outer clothes and wiped my face with her sleeve. Then
she asked me what had befallen me, and I described all that had happened from
her. Quoth she, "O my cousin, as for her sign to thee with her palm and five
fingers its interpretation is, Return after five days; and the putting forth of
her head out of the window, and her gestures with the mirror and the letting
down and raising up and wringing out of the red kerchief,[FN#494] signify, Sit
in the dyer's shop till my messenger come to thee." When I heard her words fire
flamed up in my heart and I exclaimed, "O daughter of my uncle, thou sayest
sooth in this thine interpretation; for I saw in the street the shop of a Jew
dyer." Then I wept, and she said, "Be of good cheer and strong heart: of a
truth others are occupied with love for years and endure with constancy the
ardour of passion, whilst thou hast but a week to wait; why then this
impatience?" Thereupon she went on cheering me with comfortable talk and
brought me food: so I took a mouthful and tried to eat but could not; and I
abstained from meat and drink and estranged myself from the solace of sleep,
till my colour waxed yellow and I lost my good looks; for I had never been in
love before nor had I ever savoured the ardour of passion save this time. So I
fell sick and my cousin also sickened on my account; but she would relate to
me, by way of consolation, stories of love and lovers every night till I fell
asleep; and when ever I awoke, I found her wakeful for my sake with tears
running down her cheeks. This ceased not till the five days were past, when my
cousin rose and warmed some water and bathed me with it. Then she dressed me
in my best and said to me, "Repair to her and Allah fulfil thy wish and bring
thee to thy desire of thy beloved!" So I went out and ceased not walking on
till I came to the upper end of the by street. As it was the Sabbath[FN#495] I
found the dyer's shop locked and sat before it, till I heard the call to mid-afternoon
prayer. Then the sun yellowed and the Mu'ezzins[FN#496] chanted the
call to sundown prayer and the night came; but I saw no sign nor heard one
word, nor knew any news of her. So I feared for my life sitting there alone;
and at last I arose and walked home reeling like a drunken man. When I reached
the house, I found my cousin Azizah standing, with one hand grasping a peg
driven into the wall and the other on her breast; and she was sighing and
groaning and repeating these couplets,
"The longing of an Arab lass forlorn of kith and kin * (Who to Hijazian Willow-wand and myrtle[FN#497] doth incline,
And who, when meeting caravan, shall with love-lowe set light * To bivouac fire, and bang for conk her tears of pain and pine)
Exceeds not mine for him nor more devotion shows, but he * Seeing my heart is wholly his spurns love as sin indign."
Now when she had finished her verse she turned to me and, seeing me, wiped away
her tears and my tears with her sleeve. Then she smiled in my face and said,
"O my cousin, Allah grant thee enjoyment of that which He hath given thee! Why
didst thou not pass the night by the side of thy beloved and why hast thou not
fulfilled thy desire of her?" When I heard her words, I gave her a kick in the
breast and she fell down in the saloon and her brow struck upon the edge of the
raised pavement and hit against a wooden peg therein. I looked at her and saw
that her forehead was cut open and the blood running,—And Shahrazad perceived
the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
When it was the One Hundred and Fifteenth Night,
She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the young merchant
continued to Taj al-Muluk: "Now when I kicked the daughter of my uncle in the
breast she fell on the edge of the raised pavement in the saloon and her brow
struck upon a wooden peg. Thereby her forehead was cut open and the blood ran
down, but she was silent and did not utter a single sound.[FN#498] Presently
she rose up, and made some tinder of rags, then staunching with it the bleeding
wound, bound her forehead with a bandage; after which she wiped up the blood
that had fallen on the carpet, and it was as if nothing had been. Presently
she came up to me and smiling in my face, said with gentle voice, "By Allah, O
son of my uncle, I spake not these words to mock at thee or at her! But I was
troubled with an ache in my head and was minded to be blooded, but now thou
hast eased my head and lightened my brow; so tell me what hath befallen thee to
day." Thereupon I told her all that had passed between me and her that day; and
she wept as she heard my words and said, "O son of my uncle, rejoice at the
good tidings of thy desire being fulfilled and thine aim being attained. Of a
truth this is a sign of acceptance; for that she stayed away only because she
wisheth to try thee and know if thou be patient or not, and sincere in thy love
for her or otherwise. To-morrow, repair to her at the old place and see what
sign she maketh to thee; for indeed thy gladness is near and the end of thy
sadness is at hand." And she went on to comfort me; but my cark and care ceased
not to increase on me. Presently she brought me food which I kicked away with
my foot so that the contents of every saucer were scattered in all directions,
and I said, "Every lover is a madman; he inclineth not to food neither enjoyeth
he sleep." And my cousin Azizah rejoined, "By Allah, O son of my uncle, these
be in very deed the signs of love!" And the tears streamed down her cheeks
whenas she gathered the fragments of the saucers and wiped up the food; then
she took seat and talked to me, whilst I prayed Allah to hasten the dawn. At
last, when morning arose with its sheen and shine, I went out to seek her and
hastening to her by street sat down on that bench, when lo! the wicket opened
and she put out her head laughing. Then she disappeared within and returned
with a mirror, a bag; and a pot full of green plants and she held in hand a
lamp. The first thing she did was to take the mirror and, putting it into the
bag, tie it up and throw it back into the room; then she let down her hair over
her face and set the lamp on the pot of flowers during the twinkling of an eye;
then she took up all the things and went away shutting the window without
saying a word. My heart was riven by this state of the case, and by her secret
signals, her mysterious secrets and her utter silence; and thereby my longing
waxed more violent and my passion and distraction redoubled on me. So I
retraced my steps, tearful-eyed and heavy hearted, and returned home, where I
found the daughter of my uncle sitting with her face to the wall; for her heart
was burning with grief and galling jealousy; albeit her affection forbade her
to acquaint me with what she suffered of passion and pining when she saw the
excess of my longing and distraction. Then I looked at her and saw on her head
two bandages, one on account of the accident to her forehead and the other over
her eye in consequence of the pain she endured for stress of weeping; and she
was in miserable plight shedding tears and repeating these couplets,
"I number nights; indeed I count night after night; * Yet lived I long ere learnt so sore accompt to see, ah!
Dear friend, I compass not what Allah pleased to doom * For Laylá, nor what Allah destined for me, ah!
To other giving her and unto me her love, * What loss but Layla's loss would He I ever dree, ah!"
And when she had finished her reciting, she looked towards me and seeing me
through her tears, wiped them away and came up to me hastily, but could not
speak for excess of love. So she remained silent for some while and then said,
"O my cousin, tell me what befel thee with her this time." I told her all that
had passed and she said, "Be patient, for the time of thy union is come and
thou hast attained the object of thy hopes. As for her signal to thee with the
mirror which she put in the bag, it said to thee, When the sun is set; and the
letting down of her hair over her face signified, When night is near and
letteth fall the blackness of the dark and hath starkened the daylight, come
hither. As for her gesture with the pot of green plants it meant, When thou
comest, enter the flower-garden which is behind the street; and as for her sign
with the lamp it denoted, When thou enterest the flower-garden walk down it and
make for the place where thou seest the lamp shining; and seat thyself beneath
it and await me; for the love of thee is killing me." When I heard these words
from my cousin, I cried out from excess of passion and said, "How long wilt
thou promise me and I go to her, but get not my will nor find any true sense in
thine interpreting." Upon this she laughed and replied, "It remaineth for thee
but to have patience during the rest of this day till the light darken and the
night starker and thou shalt enjoy union and accomplish thy hopes; and indeed
all my words be without leasing." Then she repeated these two couplets,
"Let days their folds and plies deploy, * And shun the house that deals annoy!
Full oft when joy seems farthest far * Thou nighmost art to hour of joy."'
Then she drew near to me and began to comfort me with soothing speech, but
dared not bring me aught of food, fearing lest I be angry with her and hoping I
might incline to her; so when coming to me she only took off my upper garment
and said to me, "Sit O my cousin, that I may divert thee with talk till the end
of the day and, Almighty Allah willing, as soon as it is night thou shalt be
with thy beloved." But I paid no heed to her and ceased not looking for the
approach of darkness, saying, "O Lord, hasten the coming of the night!" And
when night set in, the daughter of my uncle wept with sore weeping and gave me
a crumb of pure musk, and said to me, "O my cousin, put this crumb in thy
mouth, and when thou hast won union with thy beloved and hast taken thy will of
her and she hath granted thee thy desire, repeat to her this couplet,
'Ho, lovers all! by Allah say me sooth * What shall he do when love sore
vexeth youth?'"[FN#499]
And she kissed me and swore me not to repeat this couplet till I should be
about to leave my lover and I said, "Hearing is obeying!" And when it was
supper-tide I went out and ceased not walking on till I came to the flower
garden whose door I found open. So I entered and, seeing a light in the
distance, made towards it and reaching it, came to a great pavilion vaulted
over with a dome of ivory and ebony, and the lamp hung from the midst of the
dome. The floor was spread with silken carpets embroidered in gold and silver,
and under the lamp stood a great candle, burning in a candelabrum of gold. In
mid pavilion was a fountain adorned with all manner of figures;[FN#500] and by
its side stood a table covered with a silken napkin, and on its edge a great
porcelain bottle full of wine, with a cup of crystal inlaid with gold. Near
all these was a large tray of silver covered over, and when I uncovered it I
found therein fruits of every kind, figs and pomegranates, grapes and oranges,
citrons and shaddocks[FN#501] disposed amongst an infinite variety of sweet
scented flowers, such as rose, jasmine, myrtle, eglantine, narcissus and all
sorts of sweet smelling herbs. I was charmed with the place and I joyed with
exceeding joy, albeit I found not there a living soul and my grief and anxiety
ceased from me.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day, and ceased to say her
permitted say.
When it was the One Hundred and Sixteenth Night,
She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the young merchant
continued to Taj al-Muluk: "I was charmed with the place and joyed with great
joy albeit there I found not a living soul of Almighty Allah's creatures, and
saw nor slave nor handmaid to oversee these things or to watch and ward these
properties. So I sat down in the pavilion to await the coming of the beloved
of my heart; but the first hour of the night passed by, and the second hour,
and the third hour, and still she came not. Then hunger grew sore upon me, for
that it was long since I had tasted food by reason of the violence of my love:
but when I found the place even as my cousin had told me, and saw the truth of
her in terpretation of my beloved's signs, my mind was set at rest and I felt
the pangs of hunger; moreover, the odour of the viands on the table excited me
to eat. So making sure of attaining my desire, and being famished for food I
went up to the table and raised the cover and found in the middle a china dish
containing four chickens reddened with roasting and seasoned with spices, round
the which were four saucers, one containing sweetmeats, another conserve of
pomegranate seeds, a third almond pastry[FN#502] and a fourth honey fritters;
and the contents of these saucers were part sweet and part sour. So I ate of
the fritters and a piece of meat, then went on to the almond cakes and ate what
I could; after which I fell upon the sweetmeats, whereof I swallowed a spoonful
or two or three or four, ending with part of a chicken and a mouthful of
something beside. Upon this my stomach became full and my joints loose and I
waxed too drowsy to keep awake; so I laid my head on a cushion, after having
washed my hands, and sleep over came me; I knew not what happened to me after
this, and I awoke not till the sun's heat scorched me, for that I had never
once tasted sleep for days past. When I awoke I found on my stomach a piece of
salt and a bit of charcoal; so I stood up and shook my clothes and turned to
look right and left, but could see no one; and discovered that I had been
sleeping on the marble pavement without bedding beneath me. I was perplexed
thereat and afflicted with great affliction; the tears ran down my cheeks and I
mourned for myself. Then I returned home, and when I entered, I found my
cousin beating her hand on her bosom and weeping tears like rain shedding
clouds; and she versified with these couplets,
"Blows from my lover's land a Zephyr cooly sweet, * And with its every breath makes olden love new glow:
O Zephyr of the morning hour, come show to us * Each lover hath his lot, his share of joy and woe:
Could I but win one dearest wish, we had embraced * With what embrace and clip of breast fond lovers know.
Allah forbids, while bides unseen my cousin's face, * All joys the World can give or hand of Time bestow.
Would Heaven I knew his heart were like this heart of me, * Melted by passion-flame and charged with longing owe."
When she saw me, she rose in haste and wiped away her tears and addressed me
with her soft speech, saying, "O son of my uncle, verily Allah hath been
gracious to thee in thy love, for that she whom thou lovest loveth thee, whilst
I pass my time in weeping and bewailing my severance from thee who blamest me
and chidest me; but may Allah not punish thee for my sake!" Thereupon she
smiled in my face a smile of reproach and caressed me; then taking off my
walking clothes, she spread them out and said, "By Allah, this is not the scent
of one who hath enjoyed his lover! So tell me what hath befallen thee, O my
cousin." I told her all that had passed, and she smiled again a smile of
reproach and said, "Verily, my heart is full of pain; but may he not live who
would hurt thy heart! Indeed, this woman maketh herself inordinately dear and
difficult to thee, and by Allah, O son of my uncle, I fear for thee from
her.[FN#503] Know, O my cousin, that the meaning of the salt is thou west
drowned in sleep like insipid food, disgustful to the taste; and it is as
though she said to thee; 'It behoveth thou be salted lest the stomach eject
thee; for thou professes to be of the lovers noble and true; but sleep is
unlawful and to a lover undue; therefore is thy love but a lie.' However, it is
her love for thee that lieth; for she saw thee asleep yet aroused thee not and
were her love for thee true, she had indeed awoken thee. As for the charcoal,
it means 'Allah blacken thy face'[FN#504] for thou makest a lying presence of
love, whereas thou art naught but a child and hast no object in life other than
eating and drinking and sleeping! such is the interpretation of her signs, and
may Allah Almighty deliver thee from her!" When I heard my cousin's words, I
beat my hand upon my breast and cried out, "By Allah, this is the very truth,
for I slept and lovers sleep not! Indeed I have sinned against myself, for
what could have wrought me more hurt than eating and sleeping? Now what shall
I do?" Then I wept sore and said to the daughter of my uncle, "Tell me how to
act and have pity on me, so may Allah have pity on thee: else I shall die." As
my cousin loved me with very great love,—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of
day and ceased saying her permitted say.
When it was the One Hundred and Seventeenth Night,
She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the young merchant
continued his tale to Taj al-Muluk: "Thereupon quoth I to the daughter of my
uncle, "Tell me what to do and have pity on me, so may Allah have pity on
thee!" As the daughter of my uncle loved me with great love, she replied, "On
my head and eyes! But, O my cousin, I repeat what I have told thee oftentimes,
if I could go in and out at will, I would at once bring you two together and
cover you both with my skirt: nor would I do this but hoping to win thy favour.
Inshallah, I will do my utmost endeavour to unite you; but hear my words and
do my bidding. Go thou to the very same place and sit down where thou sattest
before and at supper-tide look thou eat not, for eating induceth sleep; and
have a care-thou slumber not, for she will not come to thee till a fourth part
of the night be passed. And the Almighty avert her mischief from thee!" Now
when I heard these words I rejoiced and besought Allah to hasten the night;
and, as soon as it was dark, I was minded to go, and my cousin said to me,
"When thou shalt have met her, repeat to her the couplet I taught thee before,
at the time of thy leave taking." Replied I, "On my head and eyes!" and went
out and repaired to the garden, where I found all made ready in the same state
as on the previous night, with every requisite of meat and drink, dried fruits,
sweet scented flowers and so forth. I went up into the pavilion and smelt the
odour of the viands and my spirit lusted after them; but I possessed my soul in
patience for a while, till at last I could no longer withstand temptation. So
I arose from my seat and went up to the table and, raising its cover, found a
dish of fowls, surrounded by four saucers containing four several meats. I ate
a mouthful of each kind and as much as I would of the sweetmeats and a piece of
meat: then I drank from the saucer a sauce yellowed with saffron[FN#505] and as
it pleased me, I supped it up by the spoonful till I was satisfied and my
stomach was full. Upon this, my eyelids drooped; so I took a cushion and set it
under my head, saying, "Haply I can recline upon it without going to sleep."
Then I closed my eyes and slept, nor did I wake till the sun had risen, when I
found on my stomach a cube of bone,[FN#506] a single tip-cat stick,[FN#507] the
stone of a green date[FN#508] and a carob pod. There was no furniture nor
aught else in the place, and it was as if there had been nothing there
yesterday. So I rose and shaking all these things off me, fared forth in fury;
and, going home, found my cousin groaning and versifying with these couplets,
"A wasted body, heart enpierced to core, * And tears that down my poor cheeks pour and pour:
And lover cure of access; but, but still * Naught save what's fair can come from fairest flow'r:
O cousin mine thou fill'st my soul with pate, * And from these tears mine eyelids ache full sore!"
I chid the daughter of my uncle and abused her, whereat she wept; then, wiping
away her tears, she came up to me and kissed me and began pressing me to her
bosom, whilst I held back from her blaming myself. Then said she to me, "O my
cousin, it seemeth thou sleptest again this night?" Replied I, "Yes; and when I
awoke, I found on my stomach a cube of bone, a single tip-cat stick, a stone of
a green date and a carob pod, and I know not why she did this." Then I wept and
went up to her and said, "Expound to me her meaning in so doing and tell me how
shall I act and aid me in my sore strait." She answered, "On my head and eyes!
By the single tip cat stick and the cube of bone which she placed upon thy
stomach she saith to thee 'Thy body is present but thy heart is absent'; and
she meaneth, 'Love is not thus: so do not reckon thyself among lovers.' As for
the date stone, it is as if she said to thee, 'An thou wert in love thy heart
would be burning with passion and thou wouldst not taste the delight of sleep;
for the sweet of love is like a green date[FN#509] which kindleth a coal of
fire in the vitals.' As for the carob pod[FN#510] it signifieth to thee, 'The
lover's heart is wearied'; and thereby she saith, 'Be patient under our
separation with the patience of Job.' " When I heard this interpretation, fires
darted into my vitals like a dart and grief redoubled upon my heart and I cried
out, saying, "Allah decreed sleep to me for my ill fortune." Then I said to
her, "O my cousin, by my life, devise me some device whereby I may win my will
of her!" She wept and answered, "O Aziz, O son of my uncle, verily my heart is
full of sad thought which I cannot speak: but go thou again to night to the
same place and beware thou sleep not, and thou shalt surely attain thy desire.
This is my counsel and peace be with thee!" Quoth I, "If Allah please I will
not sleep, but will do as thou biddest me." Then my cousin rose, and brought me
food, saying, "Eat now what may suffice thee, that nothing may divert thy
heart." So I ate my fill and, when night came, my cousin rose and bringing me a
sumptuous suit of clothes clad me therein. Then she made me swear I would
repeat to my lover the verse aforesaid and bade me beware of sleeping. So I
left her and repaired to the garden and went up into that same pavilion where I
occupied myself in holding my eyelids open with my fingers and nodding my head
as the night darkened on me."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and
ceased to say her permitted say.
When it was the One Hundred and Eighteenth Night,
She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the young merchant
continued to Taj al Muluk: "So I repaired to the garden and went up into that
same pavilion and occupied myself in gazing upon the flower beds and in holding
my eyelids open with my fingers and nodding my head as the night darkened on
me. And presently I grew hungry with watching and the smell of the meats being
wafted towards me, my appetite increased: so I went up to the table and took
off the cover and ate a mouthful of every dish and a bit of meat; after which I
turned to the flagon of wine, saying to myself, I will drink one cup. I drank
it, and then I drank a second and a third, till I had drunk full ten, when the
cool air smote me and I fell to the earth like a felled man. I ceased not to
lie thus till day arose, when I awoke and found myself out side the garden, and
on my stomach were a butcher's knife and a dram-weight of iron.[FN#511]
Thereat I trembled and, taking them with me, went home, where I found my cousin
saying, "Verily, I am in this house wretched and sorrowful, having no helper
but weeping." Now when I entered, I fell down at full length and throwing the
knife and the dram weight from my hand, I fainted clean away. As soon as I
came to myself, I told her what had befallen me and said, Indeed, I shall never
enjoy my desire." But when she saw my tears and my passion, they redoubled her
distress on my account, and she cried, "Verily, I am helpless! I warned thee
against sleeping; but thou wouldst not hearken to my warning, nor did my words
profit thee aught." I rejoined, "By Allah, I conjure thee to explain to me the
meaning of the knife and the iron dram-weight." "By the dram weight," replied
my cousin, "she alludeth to her right eye,[FN#512] and she sweareth by it and
saith, 'By the Lord of all creatures and by my right eye! if thou come here
again and sleep, I will cut thy throat with this very knife.' And indeed I fear
for thee, O my cousin, from her malice; my heart is full of anguish for thee
and I cannot speak. Nevertheless, if thou can be sure of thyself not to sleep
when thou returnest to her, return to her and beware of sleeping and thou shalt
attain thy desire; but if when returning to her thou wilt sleep, as is thy
wont, she will surely slaughter thee." Asked I, "What shall I do, O daughter of
my uncle: I beg thee, by Allah, to help me in this my calamity." Answered she,
"On my head and eyes! if thou wilt hearken to my words and do my bidding, thou
shalt have thy will." Quoth I, "I will indeed hearken to thy words and do thy
bidding;" and quoth she, "When it is time for thee to go, I will tell thee."
Then she pressed me to her bosom and laying me on the bed, shampoo'd my feet,
till drowsiness overcame me and I was drowned in sleep, then she took a fan and
seated herself at my head with the fan in her hand and she was weeping till her
clothes were wet with tears. Now when she saw that I was awake, she wiped away
the drops and fetched me some food and set it before me. I refused it, but she
said to me, "Did I not tell thee that thou must do my bidding? Eat!" So I ate
and thwarted her not and she proceeded to put the food into my mouth and I to
masticate it, till I was full. Then she made me drink jujube sherbet[FN#513]
and sugar and washed my hands and dried them with a kerchief; after which she
sprinkled me with rose-water, and I sat with her awhile in the best of spirits.
When the darkness had closed in, she dressed me and said to me, "O son of my
uncle, watch through the whole night and sleep not; for she will not come to
thee this tide till the last of the dark hours and, Allah willing, thou shalt
be at one with her this night; but forget not my charge." Then, she wept, and
my heart was pained for her by reason of her over much weeping, and I asked,
"What is the charge thou gayest me?" She answered, "When thou takest leave of
her repeat to her the verse before mentioned." So, full of joy I left her and
repairing to the garden, went up into the pavilion where, being satiated with
food, I sat down and watched till a fourth part of the dark hours was past.
That night seemed longsome to me as it were a year: but I remained awake till
it was three quarters spent and the cocks crew and I was famished for long
watching. Accordingly I went up to the table and ate my fill, whereupon my
head grew heavy and I wanted to sleep, when behold, a light appeared making
towards me from afar. I sprang up and washed my hands and mouth and roused
myself; and before long she came with ten damsels, in whose midst she was like
the full moon among the stars. She was clad in a dress of green satin purfled
with red gold, and she was as saith the poet,
"She lords it o'er our hearts in grass green gown, * With buttons[FN#514] loose and locks long flowing down.
Quoth I, 'What is thy name?' Quoth she, 'I'm she, * Who burns the lover-heart live coals upon:'
I made my plaint to her of loving lowe; * Laughed she, 'To stone thou moanest useless moan!'
Quoth I, 'An be of hardest stone thy heart, * Allah drew sweetest spring from hardest stone.' "
When she saw me she laughed and said, "How is it that thou art awake and that
sleep overcame thee not? Forasmuch as thou hast watched through the night, I
know that thou art a lover; for night watching is the mark of lovers displaying
brave endurance of their desires." Then she turned to her women and signed to
them; and they went away from her, whereupon she came up to me and strained me
to her breast and kissed me, whilst I kissed her, and she sucked my upper lip
whilst I sucked her lower lip. I put my hand to her waist and pressed it and
we came not to the ground save at the same moment. Then she undid her
petticoat-trousers which slipped down to her anklets, and we fell to clasping
and embracing and toying and speaking softly and biting and inter twining of
legs and going round about the Holy House and the corners thereof,[FN#515] till
her joints became relaxed for love delight and she swooned away. I entered the
sanctuary, and indeed that night was a joy to the sprite and a solace to the
sight even as saith the poet,
"Sweetest of nights the world can show to me, that night * When cups went round and round as fed by ceaseless spring:
There utter severance made I 'twixt mine eyes and sleep, * And joined, re joined mine ear drop with the anklet ring."[FN#516]
We lay together in close embrace till the morning when I would have gone away,
but she stopped me and said, "Stay till I tell thee something"—And Shahrazad
perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
When it was the One Hundred and Nineteenth Night,
She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the young merchant
continued his recital to Taj al Muluk: "When I would have gone away, she
stopped me and said, "Stay, till I tell thee something and charge thee with a
charge." So I stayed whilst she unfolded a kerchief and drew out this piece of
linen and spread it open before me. I found worked on it these two figures of
gazelles and admired it with great admiration. Then I took the piece of linen
and went away, joyful, after we had agreed that I should visit her every night
in the garden; but in my joy I forgot to repeat to her the verse my cousin had
taught me. For when giving me the piece of linen with the gazelles she had
said to me, "Keep this carefully, as it is my sister's handiwork." I asked her,
"What is thy sister's name?"; and she answered, "Her name is Núr al-Hudá." When
I went to my cousin, I found her lying down; but as soon as she saw me, she
rose, with the tears running from her eyes, and came up to me, and kissed me on
the breast and said, "Didst thou do as I enjoined thee? and repeat the verse
to her?" "I forgot it," replied I; "and nothing drove it out of my mind but
these two figured gazelles." And I threw the piece of linen on the floor before
her. She rose and sat down again, but was unable to contain herself for
impatience, and her eyes ran over with tears, whilst she repeated these two
couplets,
"O thou who seekest parting, softly fare! * Let not the Pair delude with cunning art:
Pare softly, Fortune's nature is to 'guile, * And end of every meeting is to part."
And when she ended her recitation she said, "O my cousin, give me this piece of
linen." So I gave it to her and she took it and unfolding it, saw what was
therein. When the tryst time came for my going to my lover, the daughter of my
uncle said to me, "Go, and peace attend thee; and when thou art about to leave
her, recite to her the verse I taught thee long ago and which thou didst
forget." Quoth I, "Tell it me again"; and she repeated it. Then I went to the
garden and entered the pavilion, where I found the young lad, awaiting me.
When she saw me, she rose and kissed me and made me sit in her lap; and we ate
and drank and did our desire as before. In the morning, I repeated to her my
cousin's verse which was this,
"Ho, lovers all! by Allah say me sooth * What shall he do when Love sor' vexeth youth?"
When she heard this, her eyes filled with tears and she answered and said,
"Strive he to cure his case, to hide the truth, * Patiently humble self and sue for rush!"
I committed it to memory and returned home rejoicing at having done my cousin's
bidding. When I entered the house I found her lying down and my mother at her
head weeping over her case; but as soon as I went in to her my mother said to
me, "A foul plague on such a cousin! How couldst thou leave the daughter of
thy uncle ailing and not ask what ailed her?" But when my cousin saw me she
raised her head and sat up and asked me, "O Aziz, didst thou repeat to her the
couplet I taught thee?" I answered, "Yes, and when she heard it she wept and
recited in answer another couplet which I committed to memory." Quoth my
cousin, "Tell it me." I did so; and when she heard it she wept with much
weeping and repeated the following verses,
'How shall youth cure the care his life undo'th, * And every day his heart in pieces hew'th?
In sooth he would be patient, but he findeth * Naught save a heart which love with pains imbu'th."
Then added my cousin, "When thou goest to her as of wont, repeat to her also
these two couplets which thou hast heard." I replied, "Hearkening and
obedience!" and I went at the wonted time, to the garden, where there passed
between my mistress and myself what tongue faileth to describe. When I was
about to leave her, I repeated to her those two couplets of my cousin's;
whereupon the tears streamed from her eyes and she replied,
"If he of patience fail the truth to hide * For him no cure save Death my vision view'th!"
I committed them to memory and returned home, and when I went in to my cousin I
found her fallen into a fit and my mother sitting at her head. When she heard
my voice, she opened her eyes and asked, "O Aziz! didst thou repeat the two
couplets to her?" whereto I answered, "Yes; but she wept on hearing them; and
she replied with this couplet beginning, If he of patience fail, to the end."
And I repeated it; whereupon my cousin swooned again, and when she came to
herself, she recited these two couplets,
"Hearkening, obeying, with my dying mouth * I greet who joy of union ne'er allow'th:
Pair fall all happy loves, and fair befal * The hapless lover dying in his drowth!"
Again when it was night, I repaired to the garden as usual where I found the
young lady awaiting me. We sat down and ate and drank, after which we did all
we wanted and slept till the morning; and, as I was going away, I repeated to
her the saying of my cousin. When she heard the couplet she cried out with a
loud cry and was greatly moved and exclaimed, "Awáh! Awáh![FN#517] By Allah,
she who spake these lines is dead!" Then she wept and said to me, "Woe to thee!
How is she who spoke thus related to thee?" Replied I, "She is the daughter of
my father's brother." "Thou liest," rejoined she; "by Allah, were she thy
cousin, thou hadst borne her the same love as she bore thee! It is thou who
hast slain her and may the Almighty kill thee as thou killedst her! By Allah,
hadst thou told me thou hadst a cousin, I would not have admitted thee to my
favours!" Quoth I, "Verily it was she who interpreted to me the signs thou
madest and it was she who taught me how to come to thee and how I should deal
with thee; and, but for her, I should never have been united to thee." She then
asked me, "Did thy cousin then know of us?"; and I answered, "Yes;" whereupon
she exclaimed, "Allah give thee sorrow of thy youth, even as thou hast sorrowed
her youth!" Then she cried to me, "Go now and see after her." So I went away
troubled at heart, and ceased not walking till I reached our street, when I
heard sounds of wailing, and asking about it, was answered, "Azizah, we found
her dead behind the door." I entered the house, and when my mother saw me, she
said, "Her death lieth heavy on thy neck and may Allah not acquit thee of her
blood!"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted
say.
When it was the One Hundred and Twentieth Night,
She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the young merchant
continued to Taj al-Muluk: "So I entered the house and when my mother saw me
she said, "Her death lieth heavy on thy neck and may Allah not acquit thee of
her blood! A plague on such a cousin!" Then came my father, and we laid her
out and get ready her bier and buried her; and we had recitations of the whole
Koran over her tomb and we abode by her grave three days, after which we
returned to our home, and I grieving for her grievously. Then my mother came
to me and said, "I would fain know what thou didst to her, to break her
heart[FN#518] for, O my son, I questioned her at all times of the cause of her
complaint, but she would tell me nothing nor let me know aught of it. So Allah
upon thee, tell me what thou hast been doing to her that she died." Quoth I, "I
did nothing." Quoth my mother, "Allah avenge her on thee! Verily she told me
naught, but kept her secret till she died of her love-longings for thee; but
when she died I was with her and she opened her eyes and said to me; 'O wife of
my uncle may Allah hold thy son guiltless of my blood and punish him not for
what he hath done by me! And now Allah transporteth me from the house of the
world which is perishable to the house of the other world which is eternal.'
Said I, 'O my daughter, Allah preserve thee and preserve thy youth!' And as I
questioned her of the cause of her illness, she made me no answer; but she
smiled and said, 'O wife of my uncle, bid thy son, whenever he would go whither
he goeth every day, repeat these two saws at his going away; 'Faith is fair!
Unfaith is foul!' For this is of my tender affection to him, that I am
solicitous concerning him during my lifetime and after my death.' Then she gave
me somewhat for thee and sware me that I would not give it until I see thee
weeping for her and lamenting her death. The thing is with me; and, when I have
seen thy case as I have said, I will make it over to thee." "Show it me," cried
I: but she would not. Then I gave myself up to love delights and thought no
more of my cousin's death: for my mind was unsettled and fain would I have been
with my lover the livelong day and night.[FN#519] So hardly had I perceived
the darkness fall when I betook myself to the garden, where I found the young
lady sitting on coals of fire for much impatience. As soon as she was sure
that she saw me, she ran to me and throwing her arms about my neck, enquired of
the daughter of my uncle. I replied, "Sooth to say she is dead, and we have
caused Zikr- litanies and recitations of the Koran to be performed for her; and
it is now four nights and this be the fifth since she is gone." When she heard
that, she shrieked aloud and wept and said, "Did I not tell thee that thou hast
slain her? Hadst thou let me know of her before her death, I would have
requited her the kindness she did me, in that she served me and united thee to
me; for without her, we had never foregathered, we twain, and I fear lest some
calamity befal thee because of thy sin against her." Quoth I, "She acquitted me
of offence ere she died;" and I repeated to her what my mother had told me.
Quoth she, "Allah upon thee! when thou returnest to thy mother, learn what
thing she keepeth for thee." I rejoined, "My mother also said to me; 'Before
the daughter of thy uncle died, she laid a charge upon me, saying, Whenever thy
son would go whither he is wont to go, teach him these two saws, 'Faith is
fair; Unfaith is foul!' " When my lady heard this she exclaimed, "The mercy of
Almighty Allah be upon her! Indeed, she hath delivered thee from me, for I
minded to do thee a mischief, but now I will not harm thee nor trouble thee." I
wondered at this and asked her, "What then west thou minded to do with me in
time past and we two being in bond of love?" Answered she, "Thou art infatuated
with me; for thou art young in life and a raw laddie; thy heart is void of
guile and thou weetest not our malice and deceit. Were she yet alive, she
would protect thee; for she is the cause of thy preservation and she hath
delivered thee from destruction. And now I charge thee speak not with any
woman, neither accost one of our sex, be she young or be she old; and again I
say Beware! for thou art simple and raw and knowest not the wiles of women and
their malice, and she who interpreted the signs to thee is dead. And indeed I
fear for thee, lest thou fall into some disgrace and find none to deliver thee
from it, now that the daughter of thy uncle is no more."—And Shahrazad
perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
When it was the One Hundred and Twenty-first Night,
She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the young merchant
continued to Taj al-Muluk: "Then the young lady said to me, "I fear for thee
lest thou fall into some disgrace and find none to deliver thee from it. Alas
for thy cousin and ah, the pity of her! Would I had known her before her
death, that I might have requited by waiting upon her the fair service she did
me. The mercy of Allah Almighty be upon her, for she kept her secret and
revealed not what she suffered, and but for her thou hadst never foregathered
with me; no, never! But there is one thing I desire of thee." I asked, "What
is it?"; and she answered, "It is that thou bring me to her grave, that I may
visit her in the tomb wherein she is and write some couplets thereon." I
rejoined, "To morrow, if Allah please!"[FN#520] I slept with her that night,
and she ceased not saying after every hour, "Would thou hadst told me of thy
cousin before her death!" And I asked her, "What is the meaning of the two saws
she taught me? 'Faith is fair! Unfaith is foul!'" But she made no answer. As
soon as it was day she rose and, taking a purse of gold pieces, said to me,
"Come, show me her tomb, that I may visit it and grave some verses thereon and
build a dome over it and commend her to Allah's mercy and bestow these dinars
in alms for her soul." I replied, "To hear is to obey!"; and walked on before
her, whilst she followed me, giving alms as she went and saying to all upon
whom she lavisht bounty, "This is an alms for the soul of Azizah, who kept her
counsel till she drank the cup of death and never told the secret of her love."
And she stinted not thus to give alms and say, "for Azizah's soul," till the
purse was empty and we came to the grave. And when she looked at the tomb, she
wept and threw herself on it; then, pulling out a chisel of steel and a light
hammer, she graved therewith upon the head stone in fine small characters these
couplets,
"I past by a broken tomb amid a garth right sheen, * Whereon seven blooms of Nu'uman[FN#521] glowed with cramoisie;
Quoth I, 'Who sleepeth in this tomb?' Quoth answering Earth * 'Before a lover Hades-tombed[FN#522] bend reverently!'
Quoth I, 'May Allah help thee, O thou slain of Love, * And grant thee home in Heaven and Paradise height to see!'
Hapless are lovers all e'en tombed in their tombs, * Where amid living folk the dust weighs heavily!
Pain would I plant a garden blooming round thy grave, * And water every flower with tear drops flowing free!"
Then she turned away in tears and I with her and returned to the garden where
she said to me, "By Allah! I conjure thee never leave me!" "To hear is to
obey," replied I. Then I gave myself wholly up to her and paid her frequent
visits: she was good and generous to me; and as often as I passed the night
with her, she would make much of me and would ask me of the two saws my cousin
Azizah told my mother and I would repeat them to her. And matters ceased not
to be on this wise and I continued for a whole year eating and drinking and
enjoying dalliance and wearing change of rich raiment until I waxed gross and
fat, so that I lost all thought of sorrowing and mourning, and I clean forgot
my cousin Azizah. And on New Year's day I went to the bath, where I refreshed
myself and put on a suit of sumptuous clothes; then coming out I drank a cup of
wine and smelt the scent of my new gear which was perfumed with various
essences; and my breast was broadened thereby, for I knew not the tricks of
Pate nor the changing ways of Time. When the hour of night prayer came, I was
minded to repair to my lover; but, being the worse for wine, I knew not when
going to her whither I went, so my drunkenness turned me into a by street
called Syndic Street;[FN#523] and the while I walked up that street behold, I
caught sight of an old woman faring with a lighted taper in one hand, and in
the other a folded letter.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased
saying her permitted say.
When it was the One Hundred and Twenty-second Night,
She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the young merchant, whose
name was Aziz, continued to Taj al-Muluk:—And when I entered the street called
Syndic Street behold, I caught sight of an old woman walking with a lighted
taper in one hand and in the other a folded letter and I drew near her and lo!
she was weeping and repeating these couplets,
"O glad news bearer well come! Welcome! Hail! * How sweet thy speech to me, what treat thy tale:
O messenger from him whose weal I love, * God bless thee long as breathes soft morning-gale!"
Now when she saw me she asked, "O my son! canst thou read?"; and I answered, of
my officiousness, "Yes, old naunty!" Rejoined she, "Then take this letter and
read it to me." And when she handed it to me, I took it and unfolding it read
it to her and behold it was from an absent man to his friends and lovers whom
he greeted; and, when she heard its purport, she rejoiced at the good tidings
and blessed me, saying, "Allah dispel thine anxiety, even as thou hast
dispelled mine!" Then she took the letter and walked on. Meanwhile, I was urged
by a call of nature and sat down on my heels to make water.[FN#524] When I had
ended I stood up and wiped the orifice with a pebble and then, letting down my
clothes, I was about to wend my way, when suddenly the old woman came up to me
again and, bending down over my hand, kissed it and said, "O my master! the
Lord give thee joy of thy youth! I entreat thee to walk with me a few steps as
far as yonder door, for I told them what thou didst read to me of the letter,
and they believe me not, so come with me two steps and read them the letter
from behind the door and accept the prayers of a righteous woman." I enquired,
"What is the history of this letter?", and she replied, "O my son, this letter
is from my son, who hath been absent for a term of ten years. He set out with
a stock of merchandise and tarried long in foreign parts, till we lost hope of
him and supposed him to be dead. Now after all that delay cometh this letter
from him, and he hath a sister who weepeth for him night and day; so I said to
her, 'He is well and all right.' But she will not believe me and declares,
'There is no help but thou bring me one who will read this letter in my
presence, that my heart may be at rest and my mind at ease.' Thou knowest, O my
son, that all who love are wont to think evil: so be good enough to go with me
and read to her this letter, standing behind the curtain, whilst I call his
sister to listen within the door, so shalt thou dispel our heed and fulfil our
need. Verily quoth the Apostle of Allah (whom Allah bless and preserve!),
'Whoso easeth the troubled of one of the troubles of this troublous world,
Allah will ease him of an hundred troubles'; and according to another
tradition, 'Whoso easeth his brother of one of the troubles of this troublous
world, Allah shall relieve him of seventy and two troubles on the Day of
Resurrection.' And I have betaken myself to thee; so disappoint me not."
Replied I, "To hear is to obey: do thou go before me!" So she walked on
devancing me and I followed her a little way, till she came to the gate of a
large and handsome mansion whose door was plated with copper.[FN#525] I stood
behind the door, whilst the old woman cried out in Persian, and ere I knew it a
damsel ran up with light and nimble step. She had tucked up her trousers to
her knees, so that I saw a pair of calves that confounded thinker and lighter,
and the maid herself was as saith the poet describing her,
"O thou who barest leg calf, better to suggest * For passion madded amourist better things above!
Towards its lover doth the bowl go round and run; * Cup[FN#526] and cup bearer only drive us daft with love."[FN#527]
Now these legs were like two pillars of alabaster adorned with anklets of gold,
wherein were set stones of price. And the damsel had tucked up the end of her
gown under her arm pit and had rolled up her sleeves to the elbow, so that I
could see her white wrists whereon were two pairs of bracelets with clasps of
great pearls; and round her neck was a collar of costly gems. Her ears were
adorned with pendants of pearls and on her head she wore a kerchief[FN#528] of
brocade, brand new and broidered with jewels of price. And she had thrust the
skirt of her shift into her trousers string being busy with some household
business. So when I saw her in this undress, I was confounded at her beauty,
for she was like a shining sun. Then she said, with soft, choice speech, never
heard I sweeter, "O my mother! is this he who cometh to read the letter?" "It
is," replied the old woman; and she put out her hand to me with the letter.
Now between her and the door was a distance of about half a rod[FN#529]; so I
stretched forth my hand to take the letter from her and thrust head and
shoulders within the door, thinking to draw near her and read the letter when,
before I knew what her design was, the old woman butted her head against my
back and pushed me forwards with the letter in my hand, so that ere I could
take thought I found myself in the middle of the hall far beyond the vestibule.
Then she entered, faster than a flash of blinding leven, and had naught to do
but to shut the door. And Shahrazed perceived the dawn of day and ceased to
say her permitted say.
When it was the One Hundred and Twenty-third Night,
She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the youth Aziz pursued to
Taj al Muluk: "When the old woman pushed me forwards I found myself, ere I
could think, inside the vestibule; and the old woman entered faster than a
flash of blinding leven and had naught to do but to shut the door. When the
girl saw me in the vestibule, she came up to me and strained me to her bosom,
and threw me to the floor; then she sat astraddle upon my breast and kneaded my
belly with her fingers, till I well-nigh lost my senses. Thereupon she took me
by the hand and led me, unable to resist for the violence of her pressure,
through seven vestibules, whilst the old woman forewent us with the lighted
candle, till we came to a great saloon with four estrades whereon a horseman
might play Polo.[FN#530] Here she released me, saying, "Open thine eyes." So I
opened them still giddy for the excess of her embracing and pressing, and saw
that the whole saloon was built of the finest marbles and alabasters, and all
its furniture was of silk and brocade even to the cushions and mattresses.
Therein also were two benches of yellow brass and a couch of red gold, set with
pearls and precious stones, befitting none save Kings like thyself. And off
the saloon were smaller sitting rooms; and the whole place was redolent of
wealth. Then she asked, "O Aziz, which is liefer to thee life or death?"
"Life," answered I; and she said, "If life be liefer to thee, marry me." Quoth
I, "Indeed I should hate to marry the like of thee." Quoth she, "If thou marry
me thou wilt at least be safe from the daughter of Dalílah the Wily
One."[FN#531] I asked, "And who be that daughter of the Wily One?" Whereupon
she laughed and replied, " 'Tis she who hath companied with thee this day for a
year and four months (may the Almighty destroy and afflict her with one worse
than herself!) By Allah, there liveth not a more perfidious than she. How many
men hath she not slain before thee and what deeds hath she not done. Nor can I
understand how thou hast been all the time in her company, yet she hath not
killed thee nor done thee a mischief." When I heard her words, I marvelled with
exceeding marvel and said, "O my lady, who made thee to know her?" Said she,
"I know her as the age knoweth its calamities; but now I would fain have thee
tell me all that hath passed between you two, that I may ken the cause of thy
deliverance from her." So I told her all that had happened between us,
including the story of my cousin Azizah. She expressed her pity when she heard
of the death, and her eyes ran over with tears and she claps hand on hand and
cried out, Her youth was lost on Allah's way,[FN#532] and may the Lord bless
thee for her good works! By Allah, O Aziz, she who died for thee was the cause
of thy preservation from the daughter of Dalia the Wily; and, but for her, thou
hadst been lost. And now she is dead I fear for thee from the Crafty One's
perfidy and mischief; but my throat is choking and I cannot speak." Quoth I Ay,
by Allah: all this happened even as thou sayest." And she shook her head and
cried, "There liveth not this day the like of Azizah. I continued, "And on her
death bed she bade me repeat to my lover these two saws, 'Faith is fair!
Unfaith is foul'" When she heard me say this, she exclaimed, "O Aziz, by Allah
those same words saved thee from dying by her hand; and now my heart is at ease
for thee from her, for she will never kill thee and the daughter of thy uncle
preserved thee during her lifetime and after her death. By Allah, I have
desired thee day after day but could not get at thee till this time when I
tricked thee and outwitted thee; for thou art a raw youth[FN#533] and knowest
not the wiles of young women nor the deadly guile of old women." Rejoined I,
No, by Allah!" Then said she to me, "Be of good cheer and eyes clear; the dead
hath found Allah's grace, and the live shall be in good case. Thou art a
handsome youth and I do not desire thee but according to the ordinance of Allah
and His Apostle (on whom be salutation and salvation!). Whatever thou
requirest of money and stuff, thou shalt have forthright without stint, and I
will not impose any toil on thee, no, never!, for there is with me always bread
baked hot and water in pot. All I need of thee is that thou do with me even as
the cock doth." I asked "And what doth the cock?" Upon this she laughed and
clapped her hands and fell over on her back for excess of merriment then she
sat up and smiled and said, "O light of my eyes, really dost thou not know what
cock's duty is?" "No, by Allah!" replied I, and she, "The cock's duty is to eat
and drink and tread.' I was abashed at her words and asked, "Is that the cock's
duty? Yes, answered she; "and all I ask of thee now is to gird thy loins and
strengthen thy will and futter thy best." Then she clapped her hands and cried
out, saying, "O my mother, bring forward those who are with thee." And behold,
in came the old woman accompanied by four lawful witnesses, and carrying a veil
of silk. Then she lighted four candles, whilst the witnesses saluted me and
sat down; and the girl veiled herself with the veil and deputed one of them to
execute the contract on her behalf. So they wrote out the marriage bond and
she testified to have received the whole sum settled upon her, both the half in
advance and the half in arrears; and that she was indebted to me in the sum of
ten thousand dirhams.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying
her permitted say.
When it was the One Hundred and Twenty-fourth Night,
She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the young merchant
continued to Taj al-Muluk: When they wrote out the marriage-contract, she
testified to having received the whole sum settled upon her, the half in
advance and the half in arrears and that she was indebted to me in the sum of
ten thousand dirhams. She paid the witnesses their wage and they withdrew
whence they came. Thereupon she arose and cast off her clothes and stood in a
chemise of fine silk edged with gold lace, after which she took off her
trousers and seized my hand and led me up to the couch, saying, "There is no
sin in a lawful put in." She lay down on the couch outspread upon her back;
and, drawing me on to her breast, heaved a sigh and followed it up with a
wriggle by way of being coy. Then she pulled up the shift above her breasts,
and when I saw her in this pose, I could not withhold myself from thrusting it
into her, after I had sucked her lips, whilst she whimpered and shammed shame
and wept when no tears came, and then said she, "O my beloved, do it, and do
thy best!" Indeed the case reminded me of his saying, who said,
"When I drew up her shift from the roof of her coynte, * I found it as strait* as my mind and my money:
So I drove it half-way, and she sighed a loud sigh * Quoth I, 'Why this sigh?': 'For the rest of it, honey!'"
And she repeated, "O my beloved, let the finish be made for I am thine
handmaid. My life on thee, up with it! give it me, all of it! that I may
take it in my hand and thrust it into my very vitals!" And she ceased not to
excite me with sobs and sighs and amorous cries in the intervals of kissing and
clasping until amid our murmurs of pleasure we attained the supreme delight and
the term we had in sight. We slept together till the morning, when I would
have gone out; but lo! she came up to me, laughing, and said, "So! So!
thinkest thou that going into the Hammam is the same as going out?[FN#534]
Dost thou deem me to be the like of the daughter of Dalilah the Wily One?
Beware of such a thought, for thou art my husband by contract and according to
law. If thou be drunken return to thy right mind, and know that the house
wherein thou art openeth but one day in every year. Go down and look at the
great door." So I arose and went down and found the door locked and nailed up
and returned and told her of the locking and nailing. "O Aziz," said she, "We
have in this house flour, grain, fruits and pomegranates; sugar, meat, sheep,
poultry and so forth enough for many years; and the door will not be opened
till after the lapse of a whole twelvemonth and well I weet thou shalt not find
thyself without this house till then." Quoth I "There is no Majesty, and there
is no Might save in Allah, the Glorious, the Great!" "And how can this harm
thee," rejoined she; "seeing thou knowest cock's duty, whereof I told thee?"
Then she laughed and I laughed too, and I conformed to what she said and abode
with her, doing cock's duty and eating and drinking and futtering for a year of
full twelve months, during which time she conceived by me, and I was blessed
with a babe by her. On the New Year's day I heard the door opened and behold,
men came in with cakes and flour and sugar. Upon this, I would have gone out
but my wife said, "Wait till supper-tide and go out even as thou camest in." So
I waited till the hour of night prayer and was about to go forth in fear and
trembling, when she stopped me, saying, "By Allah, I will not let thee go until
thou swear to come back this night before the closing of the door." I agreed to
this, and she swore me a solemn oath on Blade and Book,[FN#535] and the oath of
divorce to boot, that I would return to her. Then I left her and going
straight to the garden, found the door open as usual; where at I was angry and
said to myself, "I have been absent this whole year and come here unawares and
find the place open as of wont! I wonder is the damsel still here as before?
I needs must enter and see before I go to my mother, more by reason that it is
now nightfall." So I entered the flower-garden,—And Shahrazad perceived the
dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
End of Vol. 2.