Dinarzade, not doubting to find as much delight in the story of the
second calender as she had in the first, failed not to call upon the
sultaness before day. If you be not asleep, sister, said she, I
would pray you to begin the story that you promised me; upon which
Scheherazade addressed her discourse to the sultan, and spoke as
follows:
Sir, the story of the first calender seemed very strange to the
whole company, but especially to the caliph; who, notwithstanding
the slaves stood by with their scimeters in their hands, could not
forbear whispering to the vizier --Many stories have I heard, but
never any thing that came near the story of the calender. Whilst he
was saying this, the second calender began, addressing his speech to
Zobeide.
Story of the Second Calender, a King’s Son.
Madam, said he, to obey your command, and to show you by what
strange accident I became blind of the right eye, I must of
necessity give you the whole account of my life.
I was scarce past my infancy, when the king my father (for you must
know, madam, I am a prince by birth) perceived that I was endowed
with a great deal of sense, and spared nothing that was proper for
improving it: he employed all the men in his dominions that excelled
in science and art, to be constantly about me.
No sooner was I able to read and write, but I learnt the Alcoran
from the beginning to the end by heart; that admirable book, which
contains the foundation, the precepts, and the rules of our
religion; and that I might be thoroughly instructed in it, I read
the works of the most approved authors, by whose commentaries it had
been explained. I added to this study that of all the traditions
collected from the mouth of our prophet, by the great men that were
contemporary with him. I was not satisfied with the knowledge of all
that had any relation to our religion, but made also a particular
search into our histories. I made myself perfect in polite learning,
in the works of poets, and versification. I applied myself to
geography, chronology, and to speak our Arabian language in its
purity; not forgetting in the mean time all such exercises as were
proper for a prince to understand. But one thing which I was fond
of, and succeeded in to admiration, was, to form the characters of
our Arabian language, wherein I surpassed all the writing masters of
our kingdom that had acquired the greatest reputation.
Fame did me more honour than I deserved, for she not only spread the
renown of my talents through all the dominions of the king my
father, but carried it as far as the Indian court, whose potent
monarch, desirous to see me, sent an ambassador with rich presents,
to demand me of my father, who was extremely glad of this embassy
for several reasons; he was persuaded that nothing could be more
commendable in a prince of my age, than to travel and visit foreign
courts; and he was very glad to gain the friendship of the Indian
sultan. I departed with the ambassador, but with no great retinue,
because of the length and difficulty of the journey.
When we had travelled about a month, we discovered at a distance a
great cloud of dust, and under that we saw very soon fifty horsemen,
well armed, that were robbers, coming towards us on full gallop.
Scheherazade perceiving day, told the sultan of it, who got up; but
desiring to know what passed between the fifty men on horseback and
the Indian ambassador, this prince was somewhat impatient till next
night came.