When the ensuing night was almost past, Dinarzade, impatient to know
the success of Zobeide’s voyage, called the sultaness: My dear
sister, day begins to break; for God’s sake continue the story of
yesternight, and tell us whether the prince and Zobeide arrived safe
at Bagdad. I will, said Scheherazade.
Zobeide, addressing herself to the caliph, went on thus:
Sir, said she, the young prince, my sisters, and myself, enjoyed
ourselves for some time very agreeably: but alas! this good
understanding did not last long, for my sisters grew jealous of the
friendship between the prince and me, and maliciously asked me one
day, what we should do with him when we came to Bagdad? I perceived
immediately that they put this question to me on purpose to discover
my inclinations; therefore resolving to put it off with a jest, I
answered them, I will take him for my husband; and upon that,
turning myself to the prince, Sir, I humbly beg of you to give your
consent; for as soon as we come to Bagdad, I design to offer you my
person to be your slave, to do you all the service that is in my
power, and to resign myself wholly to your commands.
The prince answered, I know not, madam, whether you be in jest or
no; but for my own part, I seriously declare, before these ladies,
your sisters, that from this moment I heartily accept your offer,
not with any intention to have you as a slave, but as my lady and
mistress; nor will I pretend to have any power over your actions. At
these words my sisters changed colour, and I could perceive
afterwards that they did not love me as formerly.
We were come into the Persian gulf, and not far from Balsora, where
I hoped, considering the fair wind, we might have arrived the day
following; but in the night, when I was asleep, my sisters watched
their time, and threw me overboard. They did the same to the prince,
who was drowned. I swam some minutes on the water; but by good
fortune, or rather miracle, I felt ground. I went towards a black
place, that, by what I could discern in the dark, seemed to be land,
and actually was a flat on the coast; which, when day came, I found
to be a desert island, lying about twenty miles from Balsora. I soon
dried my clothes in the sun; and as I walked along, I found several
sorts of fruit, and likewise fresh water, which gave me some hopes
of preserving my life.
I laid myself down in a shade, and soon after I saw a winged
serpent, very large and long, coming towards me, wriggling to the
right and to the left, and hanging out his tongue, which made me
think he had got some hurt. I arose, and saw a larger serpent
following him, holding him by the tail, and endeavouring to devour
him. I had compassion on him, and instead of flying away, I had the
boldness and courage to take up a stone that by chance lay by me,
and threw it with all my strength at the great serpent, whom I hit
on the head and killed him. The other, finding himself at liberty,
took to his wings and flew away. I looked a long while after him in
the air, as an extraordinary thing; but he flew out of sight, and I
lay down again in another place in the shade, and fell asleep.
When I awaked, judge how I was surprised to see by me a black woman,
of a lively and agreeable complexion, who held tied together in her
hand, two bitches of the same colour. I sat up and asked her who she
was. I am, said she, the serpent whom you delivered not long since
from my mortal enemy. I knew not how to acknowledge the great
kindness you did me, but by doing what I have done. I knew the
treachery of your sisters, and to avenge you on them, as soon as I
was set at liberty by your generous assistance, I called several of
my companions together, fairies like myself. We have carried into
your storehouses at Bagdad all your lading that was in your vessel,
and afterwards sunk it.
These two black bitches are your sisters, whom I have transformed
into this shape, but this punishment is not sufficient; for I will
have you treat them in such a manner as I shall direct.
At those words the fairy took me fast under one of her arms, and the
two bitches in the other, and carried me to my house in Bagdad,
where I found in my storehouses all the riches which were laden on
board my vessel. Before she left me, she delivered me the two
bitches, and told me, If you will not be changed into a bitch as
they are, I ordain you, in the name of him that governs the sea, to
give each of your sisters every night a hundred lashes with a rod,
for the punishment of the crime they have committed against your
person, and the young prince whom they drowned. I was forced to
promise that I would obey her order. Since that time I have whipped
them every night, though with regret, whereof your majesty has been
a witness, I give evidence by my tears with how much sorrow and
reluctance I must perform this cruel duty; and in this your majesty
may see I am more to be pitied than blamed. If there be any thing
else, with relation to myself, that you desire to be informed of, my
sister Amine will give you the full discovery of it, by the relation
of her story.
[Illustration: ZOBEIDE AFTER RESCUING THE FAIRY.]
After the caliph had heard Zobeide with a great deal of
astonishment, he desired his grand vizier to pray fair Amine to
acquaint him wherefore her breast was marked with so many scars.
But, sir, said Scheherazade, it is day, and I dare not detain your
majesty any longer. Schahriar being persuaded that the story which
Scheherazade was to relate would explain the former, said to
himself, I must have the pleasure of hearing this story out: upon
which he arose, and resolved that Scheherazade should live one day
longer.