The twelfth night was far advanced, when Dinarzade called, and says,
sister, you owe us the continuation of the agreeable history of the
Grecian king and the physician Douban. I am very willing to pay my
debt, replied Scheherazade, and resumed the story as follows:
Sir, the fisherman, speaking always to the genie, whom he kept shut
up in the vessel, went on thus. The physician Douban rose up, and
after a profound reverence, says to the king, he judged it meet that
his majesty should take horse, and go to the place where he used to
play at mall. [1] The king did so, and when he arrived there, the
physician came to him with the mall, and says to him, Sir, exercise
yourself with this mall, and strike the ball with it until you find
your hands and your body in a sweat. When the medicine I have put up
in the handle of the mall, is heated with your hand, it will
penetrate your whole body; and as soon as you shall sweat, you may
leave off the exercise, for then the medicine will have had its
effect. As soon as you are returned to your palace, go into the
bath, and cause yourself to be well washed and rubbed; then go to
bed, and when you rise to-morrow you will find yourself cured.
The king took the mall, and struck the ball, which was returned by
his officers that played with him; he struck it again, and played so
long, that his hand and his whole body were in a sweat, and then the
medicine shut up in the handle of the mall had its operation, as the
physician said. Upon this the king left off play, returned to his
palace, entered the bath, and observed very exactly what his
physician had prescribed him.
He was very well after it, and next morning, when he arose, he
perceived, with equal wonder and joy, that his leprosy was cured,
and his body as clean as if he had never been attacked with that
distemper. As soon as he was dressed, he came into the hall of
audience, where he ascended his throne, and showed himself to his
courtiers, who, eager to know the success of the new medicine, came
thither betimes; and, when they saw the king perfectly cured, did
all express great joy. The physician Douban entered the hall, and
bowed himself before the throne, with his face to the ground. The
king, perceiving him, called him, made him sit down by his side,
showed him to the assembly, and gave him all the commendation he
deserved. His majesty did not stop here; but, as he treated all his
court that day, he made him eat at his table alone with him. At
these words, Scheherazade, perceiving day, broke off her story.
Sister, says Dinarzade, I know not what the conclusion of this story
will be, but I find the beginning admirable. That which is to come
is yet better, answered the sultaness; and I am certain you will not
deny it, if the sultan gives me leave to make an end of it to-morrow
night. Schahriar consented, and rose very well satisfied with what
he had heard.