Dinarzade, to make amends for her neglect the night before, never
closed her eyes, and when she thought it was time, awaked the
sultaness, saying to her, My dear sister, pray give us an account of
what happened in the fine castle where you left us yesterday.
Scheherazade forthwith resumed her story, and addressing herself to
Schahriar, said, sir, the sultan perceiving nobody in the court,
entered the great halls, which were hung with silk tapestry, the
alcoves and sofas were covered with stuffs of Mecca, and the porches
with the richest stuffs of India, mixed with gold and silver. He
came afterwards into an admirable saloon, in the middle of which
there was a great fountain, with a lion of massy gold at each
corner: water issued from the mouths of the four lions, and this
water, as it fell, formed diamonds and pearls, that very well
answered a jet of water, which, springing from the middle of the
fountain, rose as high almost as the bottom of a cupola painted
after the Arabian manner.
The castle, on three sides, was encompassed by a garden, with
flower-pots, water-works, groves, and a thousand other fine things
concurring to embellish it; and to complete the beauty of the place,
an infinite number of birds filled the air with their harmonious
notes, and always stayed there, nets being spread over the trees,
and fastened to the palace to keep them in. The sultan walked a long
time from apartment to apartment, where he found every thing very
grand and magnificent. Being tired with walking, he set down in an
open closet, which had a view over the garden, and there reflecting
upon what he had already seen, and then saw, all of a sudden he
heard the voice of one complaining accompanied with lamentable
cries. He listened with attention, and heard distinctly these sad
words: “O, fortune! thou who wouldest not suffer me longer to
enjoy a happy lot, and hast made me the most unfortunate man in the
world, forbear to persecute me, and by a speedy death put an end to
my sorrows. Alas! is it possible that I am still alive, after so
many torments as I have suffered.”
The sultan, being affected with these pitiful complaints, rose up,
and made toward the place where he heard the voice; and when he came
to the gate of a great hall, he opened it, and saw a handsome young
man, richly habited, set upon a throne raised a little above the
ground. Melancholy was painted on his looks. The sultan drew near
and saluted him; the young man returned him his salute, by a low bow
with his head; but not being able to rise up, he said to the sultan,
My lord, I am very well satisfied that you deserve I should rise up
to receive you, and do you all possible honour; but I am hindered
from doing so, by a very sad reason, and therefore hope you will not
take it ill. My lord, replies the sultan, I am very much obliged to
you for having so good an opinion of me; as to the reason of your
not rising, whatever your apology be, I heartily accept it. Being
drawn hither by your complaints, and afflicted by your grief, I come
to offer you my help; would to God that it lay in my power to ease
you of your trouble; I would do my utmost to effect it. I flatter
myself that you would willingly tell me the history of your
misfortunes; but pray tell me first the meaning of the pond near the
palace, where the fishes are of four colours? what this castle is?
how you came to be here? and why you are alone?
Instead of answering these questions, the young man began to weep
bitterly. How inconstant is fortune! cried he: she takes pleasure to
pull down those she had raised up. Where are they who enjoy quietly
the happiness which they hold of her, and whose day is always clear
and serene?
The sultan, moved with compassion to see him in that condition,
prayed him forthwith to tell him the cause of his excessive grief.
Alas! my lord, replies the young man, how is it possible but I
should grieve, and my eyes be inexhaustible fountains of tears? At
these words, lifting up his gown, he shewed the sultan that he was a
man only from the head to the girdle, and that the other half of his
body was black marble. Here Scheherazade broke off and told the
sultan that day appeared.
Schahriar was so much charmed with the story, and became so much in
love with Scheherazade, that he resolved to let her live a month. He
rose, however, as usual, without acquainting her with his resolution.