The Fair Persian perceiving Scheich Ibrahim, through one of the

windows, standing upon the steps without the door, told Noureddin of

it. Sir, said she, you see what an aversion he has for wine; yet I

question not in the least to make him drink some, if you will do as

I would have you. Noureddin asked her what it was. Do but say the

word, replied he, and I am ready to do what you please. Prevail with

him then only to come in, and bear us company; some time after fill

up a bumper, and give it him; if he refuses it, drink it yourself,

pretend to be asleep, and leave the rest to me.

Noureddin understood the Fair Persian’s design, and called to

Scheich Ibrahim, who came again to the door. Scheich Ibrahim, said

he, we are your guests; you have entertained us in the most obliging

manner in the world, and will you now refuse our solicitations to

honour us with your company? We do not ask you to drink, but only

the favour of seeing you.

Scheich Ibrahim being at last prevailed upon, came into the hall,

and sat down upon the edge of a sofa that stood nearest to the door.

You do not sit well there, said Noureddin, and we cannot have the

honour of seeing you; pray come nearer, and sit you down by the

lady; she will like it much. I will obey you, replied Scheich

Ibrahim; so coming forward, simpering, to think he should be seated

near so beautiful a creature, he placed himself at some distance

from the Fair Persian. Noureddin desired a song of her, in return

for the honour that Scheich Ibrahim had done them; and she sung one

that charmed him.

When the Fair Persian had ended her song, Noureddin poured out a cup

of wine, and presented it to Scheich Ibrahim, Scheich Ibrahim, said

he, I entreat you drink this to our healths. Sir, replied he,

starting back, as if he abhorred the very sight of the wine, I

beseech you to excuse me; I have already told you that I have

forsworn the use of wine these many years. Then since positively you

will not drink our healths, said Noureddin, give me leave to drink

yours.

While Noureddin was drinking, the Fair Persian cut half an apple,

and presented it to Scheich Ibrahim. Though you refused drinking,

said she, yet I believe you will not refuse tasting this apple; it

is very excellent. Scheich Ibrahim had no power to refuse it from so

fair a hand, but taking it with a very low bow, put it in his mouth.

She said a great many pleasant things upon the occasion; and

Noureddin, falling back upon the sofa, pretended to fall fast

asleep. The Fair Persian presently advanced towards Scheich Ibrahim,

and speaking in a low voice, Look at him, said she; thus, in all our

merry parties he constantly serves me; and no sooner has he drank a

cup or two, but he falls asleep, and leaves me alone; but I hope you

will have the goodness to keep me company till he awakes.

At this the Fair Persian took a cup, and filling it with wine,

offered it to Scheich Ibrahim. Here, said she, drink off this to my

health; I am going to pledge you. Scheich Ibrahim made a great many

difficulties, and begged her to excuse him from drinking: but she

pressed him so, that, overcome by her charms and entreaties, he took

the cup, and drank off every drop of the wine.

The good old man loved a cheering cup in his heart, but was ashamed

to drink among strangers. He often went to the tavern in private, as

many other people do; and he did not take the precaution Noureddin

recommended, but went directly to an inn, where he was well known

(night serving him instead of a cloak), and saved the money that

Noureddin had ordered him to give the messenger that was to have

gone for it.

While Scheich Ibrahim was eating the half apple after his draught,

the Fair Persian filled him out another, which he received with less

difficulty than the former, but made none at all at the third. In

short, a fourth was drank before Noureddin started up from his

pretended sleep; and bursting out into a violent fit of laughter,

and looking upon him, Ha! ha! said he, Scheich Ibrahim, have I

caught you at last? Did you not tell me you had forsworn wine, and

now you have drank it all up from me.

Scheich Ibrahim, not expecting to be surprised after that manner,

blushed a little; however, that did not spoil his draught; but when

he had done, Sir, said he to Noureddin, laughing, if there is any

crime in what I have done, it lies at this fair lady’s door, not

mine; for who could possibly resist so many charms?

The Fair Persian, who perfectly understood Noureddin, took Scheich

Ibrahim’s part. Let him talk, said she: Scheich Ibrahim, take no

notice of him, but let us drink on and be merry. A while after,

Noureddin filled out a cup for himself and the Fair Persian; but

when Scheich Ibrahim saw that Noureddin had forgot him in his turn,

he took his cup, and presenting it to the Fair Persian, Madam, said

he, do you pretend I cannot drink as well as you?

At these words of Scheich Ibrahim, Noureddin and the Fair Persian

were ready to split their sides with laughing. Noureddin poured him

out some wine, and they sat laughing, chatting, and drinking, till

pretty near midnight. About that hour the Fair Persian began to take

notice that there was but one candle upon the table. Scheich

Ibrahim, said she to the good old officer, you have afforded us but

one candle, when there are so many wax lights yonder; pray do us the

favour to light some of them, that we may see a little better what

we are doing.

Scheich Ibrahim, making use of the liberty that wine inspires when

it gets into the head, and not caring to be interrupted in his

discourse with Noureddin, bade the Fair Persian light them herself.

It is fitter for a young person like you to do it, said he, than for

me; but be sure not to light above five or six, for that is enough.

Up rose the Fair Persian immediately, and taking a wax candle in her

hand, lighted it with that which stood upon the table; and, without

any regard to Scheich Ibrahim’s order, lighted up the whole

fourscore.

By and by, while Scheich Ibrahim was entertaining the Fair Persian

with some other discourse, Noureddin took his turn to desire him to

light up some of the candles in the lustres, not taking notice that

all the wax lights were already in a blaze. Certainly, replied

Scheich Ibrahim, you must be very lazy, or less vigorous than I am,

that you are not able to light them yourself: get you gone, and

light them; but be sure you light no more than three. To work he

went; but instead of that number, he lighted them all, and opened

the shutters of the fourscore windows, before Scheich Ibrahim, who

was deeply engaged with the Fair Persian, knew any thing of the

matter.

The caliph Haroun Alraschid being not yet gone to bed, was in a room

at his palace by the river Tigris, from whence he could command a

view both of the garden and pavilion. He accidentally opened the

casement, and was extremely surprised at seeing the pavilion

illuminated; and at first by the greatness of the light, thought the

city was on fire. The grand vizier Giafar was still with him, who

only waited for his going to rest, and then designed to go home too.

The caliph, in a great rage, called the vizier to him. Careless

vizier, said he, come hither, come hither; look upon the pavilion of

pictures, and tell me the reason of its being illuminated at this

hour, now I am not there.

The grand vizier Giafar, upon this news, fell into a violent

trembling, fearing something else was the matter: but when he came

nearer, and with his own eyes saw the truth of what the caliph had

told him, he was more alarmed than before. Some excuse must be made

to appease the caliph’s anger. Commander of the true believers,

said he, all that I can say to your majesty about this matter is,

that some five or six days ago Scheich Ibrahim came to acquaint me,

that he had a design to assemble the ministers of his mosque, to

assist at a ceremony he was ambitious of performing in your

majesty’s auspicious reign. I asked him if I could be any way

serviceable to him in this affair; upon which he entreated me to get

leave of your majesty to perform the ceremony in the pavilion. I

sent him away with leave to hold the assembly, telling him I would

take care to acquaint your majesty with it; and I ask pardon for

having quite forgotten it Scheich Ibrahim, continued he, has

certainly made choice of this day for the ceremony; and after

treating the ministers of his mosque, he was willing to indulge them

with the sight of this illumination.

Giafar, said the caliph, with a tone that plainly showed his anger

was a little mollified, according to your own account you have

committed three faults that are unpardonable; the first, in giving

Scheich Ibrahim leave to perform this ceremony in my pavilion; for a

person in such an office as his is not worthy of so great an honour;

the second, in not acquainting me with it; and the third, in not

diving into the good old man’s intention. For my part, I am

persuaded he only did it to try if he could get any money towards

bearing the charge of it; but that never came into your head; and

sure I shall not wrong him in allowing him to revenge himself for

not having obtained the expense of the night’s illumination.

The grand vizier Giafar, overjoyed to hear the caliph put the matter

upon that footing, very willingly owned the faults he reproached him

with, and freely confessed he was to blame in not giving Scheich

Ibrahim a few pieces of gold. Since the case is so, added the

caliph, it is just that thou shouldst be punished for thy mistakes,

but thy punishment shall be light: thou shalt spend the remainder of

the night, as I mean to do, with these honest people, whose company

I shall be well pleased with; and while I am putting on a

citizen’s habit, go thou and disguise thyself with Mesrour, and

come both of you along with me. The vizier Giafar would have

persuaded him it was late, and that all the company would be gone

before he could get thither; but the caliph said he would positively

go. The vizier, who knew that not a syllable of what he had said was

true, began to be in great consternation; but there was no reply to

be made, and go he must.

The caliph, then, disguised like a citizen, with the grand vizier

Giafar and Mesrour, chief of the eunuchs, stole out of the palace

together. They rambled through the streets of Bagdad till they came

to the garden; the door, through the carelessness of Scheich

Ibrahim, was open, he having forgot to shut it when he came back

from buying the wine. The caliph was very angry at it. Giafar, said

he to the grand vizier, what excuse have you for the door being open

at this unseasonable hour? Is it possible that Scheich Ibrahim makes

a custom of leaving it thus all night? I rather believe the hurry of

the feast has been the occasion of this neglect.

The caliph went into the garden; and when he came to the pavilion,

resolving not to go into the hall till he knew what was doing there,

he consulted with the grand vizier whether it was not his best way

to climb up into one of the trees that was near it, to make a

discovery. The grand vizier, casting his eyes upon the door,

perceived it stood half open, and told the caliph. It seems Scheich

Ibrahim had left it so, when he was prevailed upon to come in and

bear Noureddin and the Fair Persian company.

The caliph, laying aside his first design, stole softly up to the

hall door, which standing half open, he could see all the company

that were within, without being discovered himself.

But how was he surprised, when he saw a lady of incomparable beauty

and a handsome young man sitting at the table, with Scheich Ibrahim

by them. Scheich Ibrahim held a cup in his hand. My fair lady, said

he to the Fair Persian, a true toper never drinks without singing a

song first: if you please to hear, I will give you one of my best

songs.

Scheich Ibrahim sung: and the caliph was the more surprised,

because, till that moment, he never knew of his drinking wine, but

always took him for a grave, solid man, as he seemed to be to

outward appearance. The caliph retired from the door with the same

caution as he made his approaches to it; and coming to the grand

vizier Giafar, who was standing upon the steps a little lower, Come

up, said he to him, and see if those within yonder are the ministers

of the mosque, as you would have made me believe.

By the tone of voice in which the caliph spoke these last words, the

vizier understood that things went ill on his side: however, he went

up the steps; but when he had peeped in at the door, and saw all the

three sitting in that condition, he trembled for fear of his life.

He went back to the caliph, but in so great confusion, that he knew

not what to say. What riotous doings are here? said the caliph to

him: who are these people that have presumed to take the liberty of

diverting themselves in my garden and pavilion? I must however

confess, I never saw two persons more beautiful or better paired in

my life; and therefore, before I discover my anger, I will inform

myself better, and know who they are, and the reason of their being

here. He went to the door again to observe them more narrowly; and

the vizier, who followed, stood behind him, while he fixed his eyes

upon them. They both plainly heard every word that Scheich Ibrahim

said to the Fair Persian. Is there any thing, my charming lady,

wanting to render the pleasure of the evening more complete? Nothing

but a lute, replied the Fair Persian; and methinks, if you could get

me one, all would be very well. Can you play upon it? said Scheich

Ibrahim. Fetch me one, replied the Fair Persian; and you shall hear

whether I can or not.

Scheich Ibrahim, without stirring very far from his place, took a

lute out of a press, and presented it to the Fair Persian, who began

to tune it. The caliph, in the mean time, turning to the grand

vizier, Giafar, said he, the young lady is going to play upon the

lute; and if she performs well, I will forgive her, and the young

man for her sake; but as for thee, I will have thee hanged.

Commander of the true believers, replied the grand vizier, if that

is your intention, I wish to God she may play ill. Why so? said the

caliph. Because, replied the grand vizier, the longer we live in

this world, the more reason we shall have to comfort ourselves with

the hopes of dying in good sociable company. The caliph, who loved a

repartee began to laugh at this; and putting his ear to the opening

of the door, he listened to hear the Fair Persian play.

The Fair Persian began in a style, that, from the moment of her

touching the lute, the caliph perceived she did it with a masterly

hand. Afterwards she began to sing an air; and accompanying the lute

with her voice, which was admirably fine, she sung and played with

so much skill and sweetness, that the caliph was quite ravished to

hear her.

As soon as the Fair Persian had finished her song, the caliph went

down the steps, and the vizier Giafar followed him. When he came to

the bottom, I never, said he, to the vizier, heard a more charming

voice, or a lute better touched in my life. Isaac, [88] whom I

thought the most skilful player in the world, does not come up to

her. I am so charmed with her music, that I will go in and hear her

play before me. We must, therefore, consider how I can do it.

Commander of the true believers, said the grand vizier, if you

should go in, and Scheich Ibrahim chance to know you, he would

infallibly die with the fright. It is that hurts me, replied the

caliph; and I should be loth to be the occasion of his death, after

so many years’ service. A thought is just come into my head, that

may succeed: stay here with Mesrour, and wait for me in the next

walk.

The neighbourhood of the Tygris had given the caliph an opportunity

of turning a sufficient quantity of water under a stately bridge

into his garden, to make a piece of water well terraced, whither the

choicest fish of the whole river used to retire. The fishermen knew

it very well, and would have given the world to fish there; but the

caliph had expressly charged Scheich Ibrahim not to suffer any of

them to come near it. However, that very night, a fisherman, passing

by the garden-door, which the caliph had left open as he found it,

made use of this opportunity, and, going in, went directly to the

canal.

The fisherman immediately fell to work with his casting nets, and

was just ready to draw them, when the caliph, fearing what would be

the effect of Scheich Ibrahim’s negligence, but willing to make

use of it to bring his design about, came to the same place. The

fisherman, in spite of his disguise, knew him, and, throwing himself

at his feet, humbly implored his pardon, and excused himself upon

the account of his poverty. Rise, said the caliph, and be not

afraid; only draw your nets, that I may see what fish you have got.

The fisherman, recovered of his fright, quickly obeyed the

caliph’s orders. He drew out five or six very large fishes; and

the caliph choosing the two biggest, tied them together by the head

with the twig of a tree. After this, said he to the fisherman, Give

me thy clothes, and here take mine. The exchange was soon made; and

the caliph being dressed like a fisherman, even to his boots and

turban, Take thy nets, said he to the fisherman, and get thee about

thy business.

When the fisherman, very well pleased with his good fortune, was

gone, the caliph, taking the two fishes in his hand, went to look

after the grand vizier Giafar and Mesrour; he stopped at the grand

vizier, who not knowing him, asked him what he wanted, and bid him

go about his business. The caliph fell a laughing; by which the

vizier finding it to be him, Commander of the true believers, said

he, is it possible it can be you? I knew you not; and I ask a

thousand pardons for my rudeness. You are so disguised, that you may

venture into the hall, without any fear of being discovered by

Scheich Ibrahim. Stay you here with Mesrour, said the caliph, while

I go yonder and play my part.

The caliph went up to the hall, and knocked at the door. Noureddin

hearing him first, told Scheich Ibrahim of it, who asked who was

there. The caliph opened the door, and stepping a little way into

the hall to show himself, Scheich Ibrahim, said he, I am the

fisherman Kerim, who, being informed of your design to treat some of

your friends, have brought you two very fine fishes, fresh caught,

to ask if you have any occasion for them.

Noureddin and the Fair Persian, mightily pleased to hear him name

fish, Pray, said she to Scheich Ibrahim, let him come in, that we

may look at them. Scheich Ibrahim, by this time, was incapable of

asking this counterfeit fisherman how or which way he came thither,

his whole thought being only to oblige the Fair Persian. With much

ado he turned his head towards the door, being quite drunk, and, in

a stammering tone, calling to the caliph, whom he took to be a

fisherman, Come hither, thou nightly thief, said he, and let us see

what thou hast got.

The caliph went forwards, and counterfeiting all the actions of a

fisherman to a nicety, presented the two fishes. These are very fine

ones indeed, said the Fair Persian; and if they were well dressed

and seasoned, I should be glad to eat some of them. The lady is in

the right on it, answered Scheich Ibraham; but what can you do with

your fish, unless it were dressed? Go dress it thyself, and bring it

to us; thou wilt find every thing necessary in my kitchen.

The caliph went back to the grand vizier, Giafar, said he, I have

been very well received; but they want the fish to be dressed. I

will take care to dress it myself, said the grand vizier, and they

shall have it in a moment. Nay, replied the caliph, so eager am I to

accomplish my design, that I will take that trouble myself; for

since I have personated the fisherman so well, sure I can play the

cook for once. In my younger days, I dealt a little in cookery, and

always came off with credit. So saying, he went directly towards

Scheich Ibrahim’s lodgings, and the grand vizier and Mesrour

followed him.

They all three fell to work; and though Scheich Ibrahim’s kitchen

was not very large, yet there was every thing in it that they

wanted. The fish was quickly cooked; and the caliph served it up,

putting to every one’s plate a lemon to squeeze in the sauce if

they thought proper. They all eat very heartily, but especially

Noureddin and the Fair Persian: and the caliph stood before them.

As soon as the repast was over, Noureddin looking upon the caliph,

Fisherman, said he, there never was better fish eaten; and you have

done us the greatest favour in the world. At the same time, putting

his hand into his bosom, and pulling out a purse of thirty pieces of

gold, the remainder of forty that Sangiar, the officer of the king

of Balsora, had given him just upon his departure, Take it, said he

to him; if I had any more, thou shouldst have it; had I known thee

in my prosperity, I would have taken care to secure thee from ever

wanting: do not refuse the small present I make thee, but accept of

it as kindly as if it was much greater.

The caliph took the purse, and thanked Noureddin; and perceiving by

the weight that it contained gold, Sir, said he to him, I cannot

enough thank you for your liberality, and I think myself very

fortunate in having to do with a person of your generosity; but

before I take my leave I have a favour to ask, which I beg you not

to deny me. Yonder is a lute, which makes me believe that the lady

understands playing upon it; and if you can prevail with her to play

but one tune, I shall go away perfectly satisfied; for a lute, sir,

is an instrument I am particularly fond of.

Fair Persian, said Noureddin, immediately addressing himself to her,

I ask that favour of you, and I hope you will not refuse me. She

took up the lute without more entreaties, and putting it presently

in tune, played and sung with such an air, as charmed the very soul

of the caliph. Afterwards she played upon the lute without singing,

but with so much strength and softness, that transported him into an

ecstacy.

When the Fair Persian had given over playing, the caliph cried out,

What a voice! what a hand! what skill! was there ever finer singing,

or better playing upon the lute? Never was there any seen or heard

like it.

Noureddin, who was accustomed to give all that belonged to him to

persons who praised him, Fisherman, said he, I find thou hast some

taste for music; since thou art so delighted with her performance,

she is thine; I make thee a present of her. At the same time he rose

up, and taking his robe, which he had laid by, was going away, and

leaving the caliph, whom he believed to be no other than a

fisherman, in possession of the Fair Persian.

The Fair Persian was extremely surprised at Noureddin’s

liberality: she took hold of him, and, looking tenderly at him,

Whither, sir, said she, are you going? Sit down in your place, I

entreat you, and hearken to what I am going to sing and play. He did

as she desired him; and then the Fair Persian, touching the lute,

and looking upon him with tears in her eyes, sung some verses that

she had made extempore, to reproach him with his indifference, and

the easiness as well as cruelty with which he resigned her to Kerim.

She only hinted without explaining herself any farther to a

fisherman as Kerim was; for she, as well as Noureddin, was ignorant

of his being the caliph. When she had done playing, she put the lute

down by her, and clapped a handkerchief to her face, to hide the

tears she could not help shedding.

Noureddin made no answer to all these reproaches, but by his silence

seemed to declare he did not repent of what he had done. The caliph,

surprised at what he had heard, Sir, said he, as far as I see, this

beautiful, rare, and accomplished lady, that so generously you have

made me a present of just now, is your slave, and you are her

master. It is very true, Kerim, replied Noureddin; and thou wouldst

be more surprised than thou art now, should I tell thee all the

misfortunes that have happened to me upon her account. Ah! I beseech

you, sir, replied the caliph, still behaving like a fisherman,

oblige me so far as to let me hear part of your story.

Noureddin, who had already obliged him in several things of more

consequence, was so complaisant as to relate the whole story to him.

He began with the vizier his father’s buying the Fair Persian for

the king of Balsora, and omitted nothing of what he had done, or

what had happened to him from that time to their arrival at Bagdad,

and to that very moment he was talking to him.

When Noureddin had ended his story And whither are you going now?

said the caliph. Where Heaven shall direct me, answered Noureddin.

If you will believe me, replied the caliph, you shall go no farther,

but, on the contrary, you must return to Balsora. I will write a

short letter, which you shall give the king in my name: you shall

see, upon the reading it, he will give you a very handsome

reception, and nobody will dare to speak against you.

Kerim, said Noureddin, what thou hast told me is very singular; I

never heard that a poor fisherman, as thou art, had any

correspondence with a king. Be not astonished at that, replied the

caliph: you must know, that we both studied together under the same

masters, and were always the best friends in the world. It is true,

fortune has not been equally favorable to us; she has made him a

king, and me but a fisherman. But this inequality has not lessened

our friendship: he has often expressed a readiness and desire to

advance my fortune, but I always refused it; and am better pleased

with the satisfaction of knowing that he will never deny me whatever

I ask for the service and advantage of my friends: let me do it, and

you shall see the success.

Noureddin consented to what the caliph had proposed; and there being

every thing necessary for writing in the hall, the caliph wrote a

letter to the king of Balsora; at the top of which, near the edge of

the paper, he placed this form, in three small characters, ‘In the

name of the most merciful God,’ to show he would be absolutely

obeyed.

The letter of Caliph Haroun Alraschid to the King of Balsora.

‘Haroun Alraschid, son of Mandi, sends this letter to Mahommed

Zinebi, his cousin. As soon as Noureddin, son to the late vizier

Khacan, the bearer, has delivered you this letter, and you have read

it, pull off the royal mantle, put it on his shoulders, and place

him in thy seat without fail. Farewell.’

The caliph folded up the letter, and sealed it; and giving it to

Noureddin, without saying any thing of what was in it, Go, said he,

embark immediately in a vessel that is ready to go off, (as there

did constantly every every day at the same hour;) you may sleep when

you are abroad.

Noureddin took the letter, and away he went, with the little money

he had about him when Sangiar gave him his purse; and the Fair

Persian, distracted with grief at his departure, retired to one of

the sofas, and fell to weeping bitterly.

Noureddin was scarce gone out of the hall, when Scheich Ibrahim, who

had been silent during the whole transaction, looking stedfastly

upon the caliph, whom he still took for the fisherman Kerim,

Hark’e, said he, Kerim, thou hast brought us two fishes that are

worth twenty pieces of copper at most, and thou hast got a purse and

a slave; but dost thou think to have it all for thyself? I here

declare, that I will go halves with thee in the slave; and as for

the purse, show me what is in the inside: if it is silver, thou

shalt have one piece for thyself; but if it is gold, I will have it

all, and give thee in exchange some pieces of copper which I have in

my purse.

For the better understanding of what follows, Scheherazade,

interrupting herself here, said, we must observe, that the caliph,

before his serving up the fish, had despatched the grand vizier

Giafar to his palace, with orders to get four slaves, with a rich

habit, and to wait on the other side of the pavilion till he gave a

signal with his finger against the window. The grand vizier

performed his commission, and he, Mesrour, and the four slaves,

waited at the appointed place, expecting the sign.

But to return to my story, said the sultaness. The caliph, still

personating the fisherman, answered Scheich Ibrahim boldly, I know

not what there is in the purse; gold or silver, you shall freely go

my halves; but as to the slave, I will have her all to myself; and

if you will not accept these conditions, you shall have nothing.

Scheich Ibrahim, enraged to the last degree at this insolence,

considering him only as a fisherman, snatched up one of the china

dishes which were on the table, and flung it at the caliph’s head.

The caliph easily avoided the blow, being thrown by a person in

liquor; but the dish striking against the wall, was dashed into a

thousand pieces. Scheich Ibrahim grew more enraged at having missed

his aim; and, catching up the candle that stood upon the table, rose

from his seat, and went staggering down a pair of back stairs to

look for a cane.

The caliph took this opportunity, and striking his hands against the

window, the grand vizier, Mesrour, and the four slaves, were with

him in a trice; the slaves quickly pulled off the fisherman’s

clothes, and put him on the habit they had brought. They had not

quite dressed the caliph, who had seated himself upon the throne

that was in the hall, but were very busy about him, when Scheich

Ibrahim, spurred on by interest, came back, with a swinging cane in

his hand, with which he designed to pay the pretended fisherman

soundly; but instead of finding him, he saw his clothes in the

middle of the hall, and the caliph upon his throne, with the grand

vizier and Mesrour on each side of him. He stood awhile gazing upon

this unexpected sight, doubting whether he was awake or asleep. The

caliph fell a laughing at his astonishment; and calling to him,

Scheich Ibrahim, said he, what dost thou want? whom dost thou look

after?

Scheich Ibrahim, no longer doubting that it was the caliph,

immediately threw himself at his feet, with his face and long beard

to the ground. Commander of the true believers, cried he, your vile

slave has offended you; but he implores your clemency, and asks a

thousand pardons for his offence. As soon as the slaves had made an

end of dressing him, he came down from his throne, and advancing

towards him, Rise, said he; I forgive thee.

The caliph then addressed himself to the Fair Persian, who had

suspended her sorrow as soon as she understood that the garden and

pavilion belonged to that prince, and not to Scheich Ibrahim, as he

had all along made her believe, and that it was he himself disguised

in the fisherman’s clothes. Fair Persian, said he, rise, and

follow me: by what you have lately seen, you ought to know who I am,

and to believe that I am above taking any advantage of the present

which Noureddin, with a generosity not to be paralleled, has made me

of your person. I have sent him to Balsora to be king there; and

when I have given him the despatches necessary for his

establishment, you shall go thither and be queen. In the mean time,

I am going to order an apartment for you in my palace, where you

shall be treated according to your desert.

This discourse encouraged the Fair Persian, and comforted her very

sensibly. The joy for the advancement of Noureddin, whom she

passionately loved, to so high an honour, made her sufficient amends

for her affliction. The caliph kept his promise, and recommended her

to the care of his lady Zobeide, whom he acquainted with the esteem

he had lately entertained for Noureddin.

Noureddin’s return to Balsora was more fortunate, and speedier by

some days, than he could have expected. Upon his arrival, without

visiting any of his friends or relations, he went directly to the

palace, where the king at that time was giving public audience. With

the letter held up in his hand, he pressed through the crowd, who

presently made way for him to come forward and deliver it. The king

took and opened it, and his colour changed in reading it: he kissed

it thrice, and was just about to obey the caliph’s orders, when he

bethought himself of shewing it to the vizier Saouy, Noureddin’s

irreconcilable enemy.

Saouy, who had discovered Noureddin, and began to conjecture, with

great uneasiness, what might be the design of his coming, was no

less surprised than the king at the order contained in the letter;

and being as much concerned in it, he thought that very moment upon

a way to evade it. He pretended not to have read the letter quite

through, and therefore, desiring a second view of it, he turned

himself a little on one side, as if he wanted a better light, and,

without being perceived by any body, dexterously tore off from the

top of it the form that showed the caliph would be absolutely

obeyed, and putting it into his mouth, swallowed it.

After this egregious piece of villany, Saouy turned to the king, and

giving him the letter, Sir, said he to him, in a low voice, what

does your majesty intend to do? What the caliph has commanded me,

replied the king. Have a care, sir, said the wicked vizier, what you

do. It is true, this is the caliph’s hand, but the form is not to

it. The king had observed that very well, but in his confusion, he

thought his eyes deceived him when he saw it was gone.

Sir, continued the vizier, we have no reason to doubt but that the

caliph, upon the complaints he has made against your majesty and me,

has granted him this letter purely to get rid of him, and not with

any intention of having the order contained in it executed. Besides,

we must consider he has sent no express with a patent; and without

that, the order is of no force. And since a king like your majesty

was never deposed without that formality, any other man as well as

Noureddin might come with a forged letter: let who will bring such a

letter as this, it ought not to be put in execution. --Your majesty

may depend upon it, that is never done; and I will take upon myself

all the consequence of disobeying this order.

King Zinebi, easily persuaded by this pernicious counsel, left

Noureddin entirely to the discretion of the vizier Saouy, who led

him to his house after a very insulting manner; where, after causing

him to be bastinadoed till he was almost dead, he ordered him to a

prison, where he commanded him to be put in the darkest and deepest

dungeon, with a strict charge to the gaoler to give him nothing but

bread and water.

When Noureddin, half dead with the strokes, came to himself, and

found what a nasty dungeon he was in, he bewailed his misfortunes in

the most pathetic manner. --Ah! fisherman, cried he, how hast thou

cheated me, and how easy have I been in believing thee! Could I,

after the civility I showed thee, expect so inhuman and barbarous

usage? However, may Heaven reward thee; for I cannot persuade myself

that thy intention was so base; and I will with patience wait the

end of my afflictions.

The poor disconsolate Noureddin remained six whole days in this

miserable condition; and Saouy did not forget that he had confined

him there: but being resolved to put him to a shameful death, and

not daring to do it by his own authority, to accomplish his

villanous design, he loaded some of his slaves with rich presents,

which he, at the head of them, went and presented to the king.

Behold, sire, said he, with the blackest malice, what the new king

has sent you upon his accession to the crown, and begs your majesty

to accept of it.

The king, taking the matter just as Saouy intended it, What! replied

he, is that wretch still living? I thought you had put him to death

already. Sire, I have no power, answered the vizier, to take any

person’s life away; that only belongs to your majesty. Go, said

the king, behead him instantly; I give you full authority. Sire,

replied the vizier Saouy, I am infinitely obliged to your majesty

for the justice you do me; but since Noureddin has publicly

affronted me, I humbly beg the favour that his execution may be

performed before the palace, and that the criers may publish in

every quarter of the city, that every body may be satisfied he has

made a sufficient reparation for the affront. The king granted his

request; and the criers, in performing their office, diffused an

universal sorrow through the whole city. The memory of his

father’s virtues being yet very fresh among them, no one could

hear without horror and indignation that the son was going to suffer

an ignominious death, through the villany and instigation of the

vizier Saouy.

Saouy went in person to the prison, accompanied with twenty slaves,

ministers of his cruelty, who took Noureddin out of the dungeon, and

put him upon a shabby horse without a saddle. When Noureddin saw

himself in the hands of his enemy, Thou triumphest now, said he, and

abusest thy power; but I trust in the truth of what is written in

one of our books, ‘You judge unjustly, and in a little time you

shall be judged yourself.’ The vizier Saouy, who really triumphed

in his heart, What, insolent! said he, darest thou insult me yet?

--but go, I pardon thee, and care not whatever happens to me, so I

have the pleasure of seeing thee lose thy head in the public view of

all Balsora. Thou oughtest also to remember what another of our

books says, ‘What signifies if one dies the next day after the

death of his enemy?’

The vizier, still implacable in his hatred and enmity, surrounded by

part of his slaves in arms, ordered Noureddin to be conducted by the

other, and went himself towards the palace. The people were ready to

fall upon him as he went along; and if any body had set the example,

they would certainly have stoned him to death. When he had brought

him to the place of suffering, which was to be in sight of the

king’s apartment, he left him in the executioner’s hands, and

went straight to the king, who was in his closet, ready to glut his

eyes with the bloody spectacle he had prepared.

The king’s guard and the vizier’s slaves, which made a circle

round Noureddin, had much ado to withstand the people, who made all

possible efforts, but in vain, to break through them, and carry him

off by force. The executioner coming up to him, Sir, said he, I hope

you will forgive me; I am but a slave, and cannot help doing my

duty. If you have no occasion for any thing more, I beseech you

prepare yourself; for the king is just going to give me orders to

strike the blow.

The poor unfortunate Noureddin, at that cruel moment, looking round

upon the people, Will no charitable body, cried he, bring me a

little water to quench my thirst? which immediately they did, and

handed it up to him upon the scaffold. The vizier Saouy, perceiving

this delay, called out to the executioner from the king’s

closet-window, where he had planted himself, Strike! what dost thou

stay for? At these barbarous and inhuman words the whole place

echoed with loud imprecations against him; and the king, jealous of

his authority, made it appear, by enjoining him to stay awhile, that

he was angry at his presumption. But there was another reason; for

the king that very moment, casting his eye to a large street that

faced him, and joining to the place of execution, saw about the

middle of it a troop of horsemen come gallopping full speed towards

the palace. Vizier, said the king immediately, look yonder; what is

the meaning of those horsemen? Saouy, who knew not what it might be,

earnestly pressed the king to give the executioner the sign. No,

replied the king; I will first know who those horsemen are. It was

the vizier Giafar, with his train, who came in person from Bagdad by

the caliph’s order.

To understand the occasion of this minister’s coming to Balsora,

we must observe, that after Noureddin’s departure with the

caliph’s letter, the caliph, the next day, nor several days after,

never thought of sending him the patent that he mentioned to the

Fair Persian. He happened one day to be in the inner palace, which

was that of the women, and passing by the apartment, he heard the

sound of a fine voice. He listened to it; and he had no sooner heard

the words of one complaining for the absence of somebody, than he

asked the officer of the eunuchs that attended him, who that woman

was that belonged to that apartment? The officer told him it was the

young stranger’s slave, whom he had sent to Balsora to be king in

the room of Mohammed Zinebi.

Ah! poor Noureddin, cried the caliph presently, I had forgot thee:

but haste, said he to the officer, and bid Giafar come to me. The

vizier was with him in an instant. As soon as he came, Giafar, said

he, I have hitherto neglected sending the patent to Noureddin, which

was to confirm him king of Balsora; but we have no time now to draw

up one; therefore immediately take post-horses, and, with some of

your servants, make what haste you can to Balsora. If Noureddin is no

longer alive, but put to death by them, order the vizier Saouy to be

hanged; but if he is living, bring him to me, with the king and the

vizier.

The grand vizier stayed no longer than just to get on horseback; and

being attended by a great train of officers belonging to his house,

he set off for Balsora, where he arrived in the manner and at the

time already mentioned. As soon as he came to the palace-yard, the

people cleared the way for him, crying out, A pardon for Noureddin!

and with his whole train he rode into the palace, even to the very

stairs, where he alighted.

The king of Balsora, knowing him to be the caliph’s chief

minister, went to meet him, and received him at the entrance of his

apartment. The first question the vizier asked, was, If Noureddin

was living? and if he was, that he might be sent for. The king made

answer he was alive, and gave orders to have him brought in.

Accordingly he soon made his appearance as he was, tied and bound

with cords. The grand vizier Giafar caused him to be untied, and

setting him at liberty, ordered the vizier Saouy to be seized, and

bound him with the same cords.

The grand vizier Giafar lay but one night in Balsora; the next day

he set out again for Bagdad; and, according to the order he had

received, carried Saouy, the king of Balsora, and Noureddin, along

with him. As soon as he came to Bagdad, he presented them all to the

caliph: and after he had given him an account of his journey, and

particularly the miserable condition he found Noureddin in, and his

ill usage by the advice and malice of Saouy, the caliph desired

Noureddin to behead the vizier himself. Commander of the true

believers, said Noureddin, notwithstanding the injury this wicked

man has done me, and the mischief he endeavoured to do my deceased

father, I should think myself the basest of mankind, if I were to

stain my hands with his blood. The caliph was extremely pleased with

his generosity, and ordered justice to be done by the

executioner’s hand.

The caliph would fain have sent Noureddin back to Balsora to have

been king there: but Noureddin humbly begged to be excused from

accepting of the offer. Commander of the true believers, said

Noureddin, the city of Balsora, after the misfortunes that have

happened to me there, will be so much my aversion, that I beseech

your majesty to give me leave to keep the oath that I have made, of

never returning thither again; and I shall think it my greatest

glory to serve near your royal person, if you are pleased to allow

me the honour. The caliph consented to it; and placing him among the

number of those courtiers who were his greatest favourites restored

the Fair Persian to him again. To all these favours he added a

plentiful fortune; and he and the Fair Persian lived together to

their dying day, with all the happiness they could desire.

As for the king of Balsora, the caliph contented himself with only

letting him see how careful he ought to be in the choice of his

viziers, and so sent him back into his kingdom.

The Story of Beder, Prince of Persia, and Giahaure, Princess of

Samandal.

Persia is a country of so vast extent, that their ancient monarchs

have, not without some colour of reason, assumed the haughty title

of King of Kings. For, not to mention those subdued by their arms,

there are kingdoms and provinces whose kings are not only tributary,

but also in as great subjection as governors in other nations are to

kings.

One of these kings, who in the beginning of his reign had signalized

himself by many glorious and successful conquests, enjoyed so

profound a peace and tranquillity, as rendered him the happiest of

monarchs. The only thing in which he thought himself unfortunate

was, that amongst all his wives, not one of them ever brought him a

son; and being now far advanced in years, he was desirous of an heir

to succeed him after his death. However, he had above a hundred

ladies, all lodged in separate apartments, after a magnificent

manner, with women-slaves to wait upon, and eunuchs to guard them;

yet, notwithstanding all his endeavours to please and gratify them

in every thing, there was not one that answered his expectation. He

had women very often brought him from the most remote countries; and

if they pleased him, he not only gave the merchants their full price

at first word, but loaded them with honours, favours, and

benedictions, in hopes that at last he might be so happy as to meet

with one by whom he might have a son. There was scarce any act of

charity but what he performed, to prevail with Heaven. He gave

immense sums to the poor, besides large donatives to the religious

of his religion; building for their use many noble colleges richly

endowed, in hopes of obtaining by their prayers what he so earnestly

desired.

One day, according to the custom of his royal predecessors, during

their residence in their capital city, he held an assembly of his

courtiers, at which all the ambassadors and strangers of quality

about the court were present; and where they not only entertained

one another with talking of news and politics, but also of the

sciences, history, poetry, literature, and whatever else was capable

of diverting the mind after the most agreeable manner. Upon that day

an eunuch came to acquaint him with the arrival of a certain

merchant from a far country, who, having brought a slave along with

him, desired leave to show her to his majesty. Give him admittance

instantly, said the king, and after the assembly is over I will talk

with him. The merchant was introduced, and seated in a convenient

place, from whence he might easily have a full view of the king, and

hear him talk familiarly to those that stood near his person. The

king observed this rule to all strangers, with a design that by

degrees they might grow acquainted with him; so that, when they saw

with what freedom and civility he addressed himself to all, they

might be encouraged to talk with him in the same manner, without

being the least surprised at the pomp and splendour of his

appearance, which was enough to deprive those of their power of

speech that were not used to it. He treated the ambassadors also

after the same manner. He eat with them, and during the repast asked

them several questions concerning their health, their journey, and

the particularities of their country. After they had been thus

encouraged, he gave them audience.

When the assembly was over, and all the company retired, the

merchant, who was the only person left, fell prostrate before the

king’s throne with his face to the earth, wishing his majesty an

accomplishment of all his desires. As soon as he rose up, the king

asked him if the news of his having brought a slave for him was

true, and whether she was handsome.

Sire, replied the merchant, I doubt not in the least but your

majesty has very beautiful women, since you search every corner of

the earth for them; but I may boldly affirm, without overvaluing my

merchandise, that you never yet saw a woman that could stand in

competition with her for shape and beauty, agreeable qualifications,

and all the perfections that she is mistress of. --Where is she?

said the king: bring her to me instantly. --Sire, replied the

merchant, I have delivered her into the hands of one of your chief

eunuchs; and your majesty may send for her at your pleasure.

The fair slave was immediately brought in; and no sooner had the

king cast his eyes on her, but he was charmed with her beautiful and

easy shape. He went presently into a closet, whither the merchant,

with a few eunuchs, followed him. The fair slave wore a red satin

veil striped with gold over her face; and when the merchant had

taken it off, the king of Persia beheld a lady that surpassed in

beauty, not only his present ladies, but all that he ever had

before. He immediately fell passionately in love with her, and bid

the merchant name his price.

Sire, said he, I gave a thousand pieces of gold to the person of

whom I bought her; and in my three years’ journey to your court, I

reckon I have spent as much; but I shall forbear setting any price

to so great a monarch; and therefore, if your majesty likes her, I

humbly beg you would accept of her as a present. I am highly obliged

to you, replied the king; but it is never my custom to treat

merchants, who come hither purely for my pleasure, after so

ungenerous a manner: I am going to order thee ten thousand pieces of

gold; will that be sufficient? Sire, answered the merchant, I should

have esteemed myself very happy in your majesty’s acceptance of

her for nothing, yet I dare not refuse so generous an offer. I shall

not fail to publish it in my own country, and in every place through

which I pass. The money was presently paid; and before he departed,

the king made him put on a rich suit of cloth of gold.

The king caused the fair slave to be lodged in the finest apartment

next his own, and gave particular orders to the matrons, and the

women-slaves appointed to attend her, that after bathing they should

dress her in the richest habit they could find, and carry her the

finest pearl necklaces, the brightest diamonds, and other the

richest precious stones, that she might choose those she liked best.

The officious matrons, whose only care was to please the king, were

astonished at her beauty; and being well versed therein, they told

his majesty, that if he would allow them but three days, they would

engage to make her so much handsomer than she was at present, that

he could scarce know her again. The king could hardly deprive

himself of the pleasure of enjoying her so long; but at last he

consented, upon condition they would be as good as their word.

The king of Persia’s capital was situated in an island: and his

palace, which was very magnificent, was built upon the seashore: his

apartment looked upon that element; and the fair slave’s, which

was pretty near it, had also the same prospect, and it was the more

agreeable, upon the account of the sea’s beating almost against

the foot of the wall.

At the three days’ end, the fair slave, magnificently dressed and

set off, was alone in her chamber, sitting upon a sofa, and leaning

against one of the windows that faced the sea, when the king, being

informed that he might visit her, came in. The slave hearing

somebody walk in the room, with an air quite different from that of

the women-slaves, who had hitherto attended her, immediately turned

her head about, to see who it was. She knew him to be the king; but

without discovering the least surprise, or so much as rising from

her seat to salute or receive him, as if he had been the most

indifferent person in the world, she put herself in the same posture

again.

The king of Persia was extremely surprised to see a slave of so

beauteous a form so very ignorant of the world. He attributed this

to the narrowness of her education, and the little care that was

taken of instructing her in the first rules of civility. He went to

her at the window, where, notwithstanding the coldness and

indifference with which she had just now received him, she suffered

herself to be admired, caressed, and embraced as much as he pleased.

In the midst of these amorous embraces and tender endearments, this

monarch paused awhile, to gaze upon, or rather to devour her with

his eyes. My goddess! my angel! my charmer! cried the king; whence

came you, and where do those happy parents live that brought into

the world so surprising a master-piece of nature as you are? Ah! how

I love you, and shall always continue to do so. Never did I feel for

a woman what I now feel for you; and though I have seen, and do see

every day, a vast number of beauties, yet never did my eyes behold

so many charms in one single person, which have so transported me

out of myself, that I shall entirely devote myself to you. My

dearest life, continued he, you neither answer, nor by any visible

token give me the least reason to believe that you are sensible of

the many demonstrations I have given you of the violence of my

passion; neither will you turn your eyes on me to afford mine the

pleasure of meeting them, and to convince you that it is impossible

to love more than I do you. Why will you still keep this obstinate

silence, which chills me? and whence proceeds the seriousness, or

rather sorrow, that torments me to the soul? Do you mourn for your

country, your friends, or your relations? Alas! is not the king of

Persia, who loves and adores you, capable of comforting, and making

you amends for the loss of every thing in the world?

What protestations of love soever the king of Persia made the fair

slave, or all he could say to oblige her to speak to him, she

continued her astonishing reserve; and keeping her eyes still fixed

upon the ground, would neither look at him nor utter a word.

The king of Persia, charmed with the purchase he had made of a slave

that pleased him so well, pressed her no farther, in hopes that by

treating her kindly, he might prevail upon her to change her mind.

He presently clapped his hands; and the women that waited in an

outward room entered: he commanded them to bring in supper. When it

was on the table, My soul, said he to the slave, come hither and sup

with me. She rose from her seat; and being seated over against the

king, his majesty helped her, before he began eating himself; and so

he did of every dish during the whole supper. The slave eat as well

as the king, but still with downcast eyes, and without speaking a

word; though he often asked her how she liked the entertainment, and

whether it was dressed according to her taste.

The king, willing to change the discourse, asked her what her name

was, how she liked the clothes and the jewels she had on, what she

thought of her apartment and the rich furniture, and whether the

prospect of the sea was not very agreeable? but to all these

questions she answered not a word; so that the king was at a loss

what to think of her silence. He imagined, at first, that perhaps

she might be dumb: but then, said he to himself, can it be possible

that Heaven should form a creature so beautiful, so perfect, and so

accomplished, yet, at the same time, with so great an imperfection?

Were it however so, I could not love her with a less passion than I

do.

When the king of Persia rose from the table, he washed his hands on

one side, while the fair slave washed hers on the other. He took

that time to ask the women that held the basin and napkin, if ever

they had heard her speak. One of them presently made answer, Sire,

we have neither seen her open her lips, nor heard her speak any more

than your majesty has just now; we have rendered her our services in

the bath; we have combed and dressed her head, put on her clothes,

and waited upon her in her chamber, but she has never opened her

lips, so much as to say, that is well, or I like this. We have often

asked her, Madam, do you want any thing? is there any thing you wish

for? Do but ask, and command us: but we have never been able to draw

a word from her. We cannot tell whether her silence proceeds from

pride, sorrow, stupidity, or dumbness; and this is all we can inform

your majesty of.

The king of Persia was more astonished at hearing this than he was

before: however, believing the slave might have some cause of

sorrow, he was willing to endeavour to divert and amuse her.

Accordingly he made a very splendid assembly, to which all the

ladies of the court came; and those who were skilful in playing upon

musical instruments performed their parts, while others sung or

danced, or did both together; at last, they played at all sorts of

games, which mightily diverted the king. The fair slave was the only

person that took no pleasure in these diversions; she never stirred

out of her place, but kept her eyes fixed on the ground with so much

indifference, that all the ladies were no less surprised than the

king. After the assembly was over, every one retired to her

apartment, and the king, who was left alone with the fair slave, lay

with her that night.

The next morning the king of Persia rose more pleased than ever he

had been with all his women he had seen before, and more enamoured

with the fair slave than he was the day before. Indeed, he soon made

it appear, by resolving henceforth to attach himself only to her;

and he performed his resolution. On the very same day he dismissed

all his other women, giving every one of them their jewels, and

other valuable things, besides a considerable fortune, with free

leave to marry whom they thought fit; and only kept the matrons and

a few other elderly women to wait upon the fair slave. However, for

a whole year together, she never afforded him the pleasure of one

single word; yet the king continued his assiduities to please her,

with all the complaisance imaginable, and to give her the most

signal proofs of a violent passion.

The year was now expired, when the king, sitting one day by his

mistress, protested to her that his love, instead of being

diminished, grew every day more violent. My queen, said he, I cannot

divine what your thoughts are: but nothing is more true, and I swear

to you, that having the happiness of possessing you, there remains

nothing for me to desire: I esteem my kingdom, great as it is, less

than an atom, when I have the pleasure of beholding you, and of

telling you a thousand times, that I adore you. I desire not that my

words alone should oblige you to believe me. Surely you can no

longer doubt it, after the vast number of women who were in my

palace, whom I have sacrificed to your beauty. You may remember it

is about a year since I sent them all away; and I repent of it as

little even now I am talking with you, as I did the first moment of

their departure; and I never shall repent. Nothing would be wanting

to complete my happiness and crown my joy, would you but speak one

single word to me, by which I might be assured that you thought

yourself at all obliged to me. But how can you speak to me if you

are dumb? and alas! I feel too fearful this is the case. How can I

doubt, since you still torment me with silence, after a whole

year’s entreating you continually to speak to me? If it is

impossible for me to obtain of you that consolation, may Heaven at

least grant me the blessing of a son by you, to succeed me after my

death. I find myself growing old every day, and I begin already to

want one to assist me in bearing the weight of my crown. Still I

cannot conceal the great desire I have of hearing you speak; for

something within me tells me you are not dumb: and I beseech, I

conjure you, dear madam, to break through this long silence, and

speak but one word to me; and after that I care not how soon I die.

At this discourse the fair slave, who, according to her usual

custom, had hearkened to the king with downcast eyes, and had given

him cause to believe not only that she was dumb, but that she had

never laughed in her life, began to smile a little. The king of

Persia perceived it with a surprise that made him break forth into

an exclamation of joy: and no longer doubting but that she was going

to speak, he waited for that happy moment with an eagerness and

attention that cannot easily be expressed.

At last the fair slave, breaking her long-kept silence, thus

addressed herself to the king: Sire, said she, I have so many things

to say to your majesty, that having once broke silence, I know not

where to begin. However, in the first place, I think myself in duty

bound to thank you for all the favours and honours you have been

pleased to confer upon me, and to implore Heaven to bless and

prosper you, to prevent the wicked designs of your enemies, and not

suffer you to die, after hearing me speak, but to grant you a long

life. After this, sire, I cannot give you a greater satisfaction

than by acquainting you that I am with child; and I wish, as you do,

it may be a son. Had it never been my fortune to have been pregnant,

I was resolved (I beg your majesty to pardon the sincerity of my

intention) never to have loved you, as well as to have kept an

eternal silence; but now I love you as I ought to do.

The king of Persia, ravished to hear the fair slave not only speak,

but tell him tidings in which he was so nearly concerned, embraced

her tenderly. Shining light of my eyes, said he, it is impossible

for me to receive a greater joy than what you have now given me: you

have spoken to me, and you have declared your being with child,

which I did not expect. After these two occasions of joy, I am

transported out of myself.

The king of Persia, in the transport of his joy, said no more to the

fair slave. He left her, but in such a manner as made her perceive

his intention was speedily to return: and being willing that the

occasion of his joys should be made public, he declared it to his

officers, and sent in all haste for the grand vizier. As soon as he

came, he ordered him to distribute a thousand pieces of gold among

the holy men of his religion, who made vows of poverty; as also

among the hospitals and the poor, by way of returning thanks to

Heaven: and his will was obeyed by the direction of that minister.

After the king of Persia had given this order, he returned to the

fair slave again. Madam, said he, pardon me for leaving you so

abruptly, since you have been the occasion of it; but I hope you

will indulge me with some conversation, since I am desirous to know

of you several things of much greater consequence. Tell me, my

dearest soul, what were the powerful reasons that induced you to

persist in that obstinate silence for a whole year together, though

every day you saw me, heard me talk to you, eat and drank with me,

and every night lay with me? I shall pass by your not speaking; but

how you could carry yourself so as that I could never discover

whether you were sensible of what I said to you or no, I confess,

surpasses my understanding; and I cannot yet comprehend how you

could contain yourself so long; therefore I must conclude the

occasion of it to be very extraordinary.

To satisfy the king of Persia’s curiosity, replied this fair

person, think whether or no to be a slave, far from my own country,

without any hopes of ever seeing it again, --to have a heart torn

with grief, for being separated for ever from my mother, my brother,

my friends, and my acquaintance, --are not these sufficient reasons

for my keeping a silence your majesty has thought so strange and

unaccountable? The love of our native country is as natural to us as

that of our parents; and the loss of liberty is insupportable to

every one who is not wholly destitute of common sense, and knows how

to set a value on it. The body indeed may be enslaved, and under the

subjection of a master, who has the power and authority in his

hands; but the will can never be conquered, but remains free and

unconfined, depending on itself alone, as your majesty has found an

instance of it in me: and it is a wonder that I have not followed

the example of abundance of unfortunate wretches, whom the loss of

liberty has reduced to the melancholy resolution of procuring their

own deaths a thousand ways, by a liberty which cannot be taken from

them.

Madam, replied the king, I am convinced of the truth of what you

say; but till this moment I was of opinion, that a person beautiful,

well-shaped, of good understanding, like yourself, whom her evil

destiny had condemned to be a slave, ought to think herself very

happy in meeting with a king for her master.

Sire, replied the fair slave, whatever the slave is, as I have

already observed to your majesty, there is no king on earth can

tyrannize over her will. But when you speak of a slave mistress of

charms enough to captivate a monarch, and induce him to love her; if

she is of a rank infinitely below him, I am of your opinion, she

ought to think herself happy in her misfortunes: but what happiness

can it be, when she considers herself only as a slave, torn from a

parent’s arms, and perhaps from those of a lover, her passion for

whom death only can extinguish? But when this very slave is in

nothing inferior to the king that bought her, your majesty shall

then judge yourself of the rigour of her destiny, her misery, and

her sorrow, and to what desperate attempts the anguish of despair

may drive her.

The king of Persia, astonished at this discourse, Madam, said he,

can it be possible that you are of royal blood, as by your words you

seem to intimate? Explain the whole secret to me, I beseech you, and

no longer augment my impatience. Let me instantly know who are the

happy parents of so great a prodigy of beauty; who are your

brothers, your sisters, and your relations; but, above all, what

your name is.

Sire, said the fair slave, my name is Gulnare [89] of the Sea; and

my father, who is now dead, was one of the most potent monarchs of

the ocean. When he died, he left his kingdom to a brother of mine,

named Saleh, [90] and to the queen my mother, who is also a

princess, the daughter of another puissant monarch of the sea. We

enjoyed a profound peace and tranquillity through the whole Kingdom,

till a neighbouring prince, envious of our happiness, invaded our

dominions with a mighty army; and penetrating as far as our capital,

made himself master of it: and we had but just time enough to save

ourselves in an impenetrable and inaccessible place, with a few

trusty officers who did not forsake us in our distress.

In this retreat, my brother was not negligent in contriving all

manner of ways to drive the unjust invader from our dominions. One

day taking me into his closet, Sister, said he, the events of the

smallest undertakings are always dubious. As for my own part, I may

fail in the attempt I design to make to recover my kingdom; and I

shall be less concerned for my own disgrace, than what may possibly

happen to you. To prevent it, and to secure you from all accident, I

would fain see you married first: but in the miserable condition of

our affairs at present, I see no probability of matching you to any

of the princes of the sea; and therefore I should be very glad if

you would concur with my opinion, and think of marrying to some of

the princes of the earth. I am ready to contribute all that lies in

my power towards it; and I am certain there is not one of them,

however powerful, but, considering the beauty you are mistress of,

would be proud of sharing his crown with you.

At this discourse of my brother’s, I fell into a violent passion.

Brother, said I, you know that I am descended, as well as you, by

both father and mother’s side, from the kings and queens of the

sea, without any mixture of alliance with those of the earth;

therefore I do not design to marry below myself, any more than they

did; and I took an oath to that effect as soon as I had

understanding to inquire into the nobleness and antiquity of our

family. The condition to which we are reduced shall never oblige me

to alter my resolution; and if you perish in the execution of your

design, I am prepared to fall with you, rather than to follow the

advice I so little expected from you.

My brother, who was still earnest for the marriage, however improper

for me, endeavoured to make me believe, that there were kings of the

earth who were nowise inferior to those of the sea. This put me into

a more violent passion, which occasioned him to say several bitter

reflecting things, that nettled me to the quick. He left me, as much

dissatisfied with myself as he could possibly be with me; and in

this peevish mood I gave a spring from the bottom of the sea, up to

the island of the moon.

Notwithstanding the violent discontent that made me cast myself upon

that island, I lived content in retirement. But in spite of all my

precautions, a person of distinction, attended by his servants,

surprised me sleeping, and carried me to his own house. He expressed

much love to me, and omitted nothing which he thought might induce

me to make a return to his passion. When he saw that fair means

would not prevail upon me, he attempted to make use of force; but I

soon made him repent of his insolence. So at last he resolved to

sell me; which he did to that very merchant who brought me hither

and sold me to your majesty. He was a very prudent, courteous,

humane person; and during the whole of the long journey, never gave

me the least reason to complain.

As for your majesty, continued the princess Gulnare, if you had not

shown me all the respect you have hitherto paid, (for which I am

extremely obliged to your goodness,) and given me such undeniable

marks of your affection, that I could no longer doubt of it; if you

had not immediately sent away your women, I hesitate not to tell you

plainly, that I should not have remained with you. I would have

thrown myself into the sea out of this very window, where you

accosted me when you first came into this apartment, and I would

have gone in search of my mother, my brother, and the rest of my

relations. I should have persisted in that design, and I would

infallibly have put it in execution, if after a certain time I had

found myself deceived in the hopes of being with child; but now, in

the condition I am in, all I could say to my mother or brother,

would never convince them that I have been a slave to a king like

your majesty. They would never believe it, but would for ever

upbraid me with the crime I have voluntarily committed against my

honour. However, sire, be it a prince or princess that I shall bring

into the world, it will be a pledge to engage me never to be parted

from your majesty; and therefore I hope you will no longer look upon

me as a slave, but as a princess worthy your alliance.

After this manner the princess Gulnare discovered herself to the

king of Persia, and finished her story. My charming, my adorable

princess, cried he, what wonders have I heard! and what ample matter

for my curiosity to ask a thousand questions concerning those

strange and unheard-of things which you have related to me! But

first, I ought to thank you for your goodness and patience in making

trial of the truth and constancy of my passion. I thought it

impossible for me to love you more than I did; but since I know you

to be so great a princess, I love you a thousand times more.

Princess! did I say? Madam, you are no longer so, but you are my

queen --the queen of Persia; and by that title you shall soon be

proclaimed throughout the whole kingdom. To-morrow the ceremony

shall be performed in my capital, with a pomp and magnificence that

was never yet beheld; which will plainly show that you are my queen

and my lawful wife. This should long ago have been done, had you

sooner convinced me of my error; for from the first moment of my

seeing you. I have been of the same opinion as now, to love you

always, and never to place my affections on any other.

But that I may satisfy myself, and pay you all the respect that is

your due, I beseech you, madam, to inform me more particularly of

the kingdom and people of the sea, which are altogether unknown to

me. I have heard much talk, indeed, of the inhabitants of the sea,

but I always looked upon it as nothing but a tale or fable; but, by

what you have told me, I am convinced there is nothing more true;

and I have a very good proof of it in your own person, who are one

of them, and are pleased to condescend to be my wife; which is an

honour no other inhabitant on the earth can boast of besides myself.

There is one thing yet which puzzles me; therefore I must beg the

favour of you to explain it; that is, I cannot comprehend how it is

possible for you to live or move in the water without being drowned.

There are very few amongst us who have the art of staying under

water; and they would surely perish, if, after a certain time,

according to their activity and strength, they did not come up again.

Sire, replied the queen Gulnare, I shall with pleasure satisfy the

king of Persia. We can walk at the bottom of the sea with as much

ease as you can upon land; and we can breathe in the water as you do

in the air; so that instead of suffocating us, as it does you, it

absolutely contributes to the preservation of our lives. What is yet

more remarkable is, that it never wets our clothes; so that when we

have a mind to visit the earth, we have no occasion to dry them. Our

common language is the same with that of the writing engraved upon

the seal of the great prophet Solomon, the son of David.

I must not forget to tell you further, that the water does not in

the least hinder us from seeing in the sea; for we can open our eyes

without any inconvenience; and as we have quick, piercing sight, we

can discern any object as clearly in the deepest part of the sea, as

upon land. We have also there a succession of day and night, the

moon affords us her light, and even the planets and the stars appear

visible to us. I have already spoken of our kingdoms; but as the sea

is much more spacious than the earth, so there are a greater number

of them, and of greater extent. They are divided into provinces; and

in each province there are several great cities, well peopled. In

short, there are an infinite number of nations, differing in manners

and customs, as well as upon the earth.

The palaces of the kings and princes are very sumptuous and

magnificent. Some of them are of marble of various colours; others

of rock-crystal, with which the sea abounds, mother-of-pearl, coral,

and of other materials more valuable; gold, silver, and all sorts of

precious stones, are more plentiful there than on earth. I say

nothing of the pearls, since the largest that ever was seen upon

earth, would not be valued amongst us; and none but the very lowest

rank of citizens would wear them.

As we have a marvellous and incredible agility to transport

ourselves whither we please in the twinkling of an eye, we have no

occasion for any carriages or riding-horses; not but the king has

his stables, and his stud of sea-horses; but they are seldom made

use of, except upon public feasts, or rejoicing days. Some, after

they have trained them, take delight in riding them, and show their

skill and dexterity in races; others put them to chariots of

mother-of-pearl, adorned with an infinite number of shells of all

sorts, of the liveliest colours. These chariots are open; and in the

middle there is a throne upon which the king sits, and shows himself

to the public view of his subjects. The horses are trained up to

draw by themselves; so that there is no occasion for a charioteer to

guide them. I pass over a thousand other curious particulars

relating to these marine countries, which would be very entertaining

to your majesty; but you must permit me to defer it to future

leisure, to speak of something of much greater consequence; which

is, that the method of delivering, and the way of managing the women

of the sea in their lying-in, is quite different from those of the

women of the earth; and I am afraid to trust myself in the hands of

the midwives of this country: therefore since my safe delivery

equally concerns us both, with your majesty’s permission, I think

it proper for greater security, to send for my mother and my

cousins, to assist at my labour; at the same time to desire the king

my brother’s company, to whom I have a great desire to be

reconciled. They will be very glad to see me again, after I have

related my story to them, and when they understand I am wife to the

mighty king of Persia. I beseech your majesty to give me leave to

send for them: I am sure they will be happy to pay their respects to

you; and I venture to say you will be extremely pleased to see them.

Madam, replied the king of Persia, you are mistress; do whatever you

please; I will endeavour to receive them with all the honours they

deserve. But I would fain know how you would acquaint them with what

you desire, and when they will arrive, that I may give orders to

make preparation for their reception, and go myself in person to

meet them. Sire, replied the queen Gulnare, there is no need of

these ceremonies; they will be here in a moment; and if your majesty

will but step into the closet, and look through the lattice, you

shall see the manner of their arrival.

As soon as the king of Persia was in the closet, queen Gulnare

ordered one of her women to bring her a fire-pan with a little fire.

After that she bid her retire and shut the door. When she was alone,

she took a piece of aloes out of a box, and put it into the

fire-pan. As soon as she saw the smoke rise, she repeated some words

unknown to the king of Persia, who observed with great attention all

that she did. She had no sooner ended, but the sea began to be

disturbed. The closet the king was in was so contrived, that looking

through the lattice on the same side with the windows that faced the

sea, he could plainly perceive it.

At length the sea opened at some distance; and presently there arose

out of it a tall, handsome young man, with whiskers of a sea-green

colour; a little behind him, a lady, advanced in years, but of a

majestic air, attended by five young ladies, nothing inferior in

beauty to the queen Gulnare.

Queen Gulnare immediately came to one of the windows, and saw the

king her brother, the queen her mother, and the rest of her

relations, who at the same time perceived her also. The company came

forward, borne, as it were, upon the surface of the waves. When they

came to the edge, they nimbly, one after another, sprung to the

window, from whence the queen Gulnare had retired to make room for

them. King Saleh, the queen her mother, and the rest of her

relations, embraced her tenderly, with tears in their eyes, on their

first entrance.

After queen Gulnare had received them with all imaginable honour,

and made them sit down upon a sofa, the queen her mother addressed

herself to her: Daughter, said she, I am overjoyed to see you again

after so long an absence; and I am confident that your brother and

your relations are no less so. Your leaving us without acquainting

any body with it, involved us in inexpressible concern; and it is

impossible to tell you how many tears we have shed upon that

account. We know of no other reason that could induce you to take

such a surprising resolution, but what your brother told us of the

conversation that passed between him and you. The advice he gave you

seemed to him at that time very advantageous for settling you

handsomely in the world, and very suitable to the then posture of

our affairs. If you had not approved of his proposal, you ought not

to have been so much alarmed; and, give me leave to tell you, you

took the thing in a quite different light from what you ought to

have done. But no more of this discourse; it serves only to renew

the occasion of our sorrow and complaint, which we and you ought to

bury for ever in oblivion: give us now an account of all that has

happened to you since we saw you last, and of your present

situation; but especially let us know if you are satisfied.

Queen Gulnare immediately threw herself at her mother’s feet; and

after rising and kissing her hand, Madam, said she, I own I have

been guilty of a very great fault, and I am indebted to your

goodness for the pardon which you are pleased to grant me. What I am

going to say, in obedience to your commands, will soon convince you,

that it is very often in vain for us to have an aversion for certain

measures, I have myself experienced, that the only thing I had an

abhorrence to, is just that to which my destiny has led me. She

related the whole of what had befallen her since she quitted the sea

in a violent passion for the earth. As soon as she had made an end,

and had acquainted them with her having been sold to the king of

Persia, in whose palace she was at present; Sister, said the king

her brother, you have been very much to blame to suffer so many

indignities, but you can blame nobody but yourself; you have it in

your power now to free yourself; and I cannot but admire your

patience, that you could endure so long a slavery. Rise, and return

with us into my kingdom, that I have reconquered from the proud

usurper who had made himself master of it.

The king of Persia, who heard these words from the closet where he

stood, was in the utmost alarm. Ah! said he to himself. I am ruined;

and if my queen, my Gulnare, hearkens to this advice, and leaves me,

I shall surely die; for it is impossible for me to live without her,

and they want to deprive me of her. Queen Gulnare soon put him out

of his fears.

Brother, said she smiling, what I have just now heard gives me a

greater proof than ever I had of the sincerity of your friendship

for me: I could not brook your proposing to me a match with a prince

of the earth; now I can scarce forbear being angry with you for

advising me to break the engagement I have made with the most

puissant and most renowned monarch in the world. I do not speak here

of any engagement between a slave and her master; it would be easy

to return the ten thousand pieces of gold that I cost him; but I

speak now of a contract between a wife and a husband, and a wife who

has not the least reason to complain. He is a religious, wise, and

temperate king, and has given me the most essential demonstrations

of his love. What can be a greater instance of the violence of his

passion, than sending away all his women (of which he had a great

number) immediately upon my arrival, and confining himself only to

me? I am now his wife, and he has lately declared me queen of

Persia, to share with him in his councils; besides, I am pregnant,

and if Heaven permits me to give him a son, that will be another

motive to engage my affections to him the more.

So that, brother, continued the queen Gulnare, instead of following

your advice, you see I have all the reason in the world, not only to

love the king of Persia as passionately as he loves me, but also to

live and die with him, more out of gratitude than duty. I hope then

neither my mother, nor you, nor any of my cousins, will disapprove

of the resolution or the alliance I have made, which will be an

equal honour to the kings of the sea and earth. Excuse me for giving

you the trouble of coming hither from the bottom of the deep, to

communicate it to you, and for the pleasure of seeing you after so

long a separation.

Sister, replied king Saleh, the proposal I made you of going back

with us into my kingdom, upon the recital of your adventures, (which

I could not hear without concern,) was only to let you see how much

we all love you, and how much I in particular honour you, and that

nothing in the world is so dear to me as your happiness. Upon the

same account then, for my own part, I cannot condemn a resolution so

reasonable and so worthy of yourself, after what you have told us of

the king of Persia, your husband, and the great obligations you have

to him; and I am persuaded that the queen our mother will be of the

same opinion.

The queen confirmed what her son had just spoken, and addressing

herself to queen Gulnare, said, I am very glad to hear you are

pleased; and I have nothing else to add to what your brother has

just said to you. I should have been the first to have condemned

you, if you had not expressed all the gratitude you owe to a monarch

that loves you so passionately, and has done such great things for

you.

As the king of Persia, who was still in the closet, had been

extremely concerned for fear of losing his beloved queen, so now he

was transported with joy at her resolution never to forsake him; and

having no room to doubt of her love after so open a declaration, he

began to love her more than ever, and resolved to express his

gratitude in every possible way.

While the king was indulging incredible pleasure, queen Gulnare

clapped her hands, and presently in came some of her slaves, whom

she had ordered to bring in a collation; as soon as it was served

up, she invited the queen her mother, the king her brother, and her

cousins, to sit down and take part of it. They began to reflect,

that without asking leave, they were got into the palace of a mighty

king, who had never seen nor heard of them, and that it would be a

great piece of rudeness to eat at his table without him. This

reflection raised a blush in their faces, and in their emotion their

eyes glowing like fire, they breathed flames at their mouths and

nostrils.

This unexpected sight put the king of Persia, who was totally

ignorant of the cause of it, into a dreadful consternation. Queen

Gulnare suspecting this, and understanding the intention of her

relations, rose from her seat, and told them she would be back in a

moment. She went directly to the closet, and by her presence

recovered the king of Persia from his surprise. Sir, said she, I

doubt not but that your majesty is well pleased with the

acknowledgment I have lately made of the many favours for which I am

indebted to you. I might have complied with the wishes of my

relations, and gone back with them into their dominions; but I am

not capable of such ingratitude, for which I should have been the

first to have condemned myself. Ah! my queen, cried the king of

Persia, speak no more of your obligations to me; you have none: I am

under so great to you, that I shall never be able to repay or

express them. I never thought it possible you could have loved me so

tenderly as you do, and as you have made appear to me in the most

expressive manner. Ah! sir, replied the queen Gulnare, could I do

less than I have done? I fear I have not done enough, considering

all the honours that your majesty has heaped upon me; and it is

impossible for me to remain insensible of your love, after so many

convincing proofs as you have given me.

But sir, continued queen Gulnare, let us drop this, and give me

leave to assure you of the sincere friendship that the queen my

mother, and the king my brother, are pleased to honour you with;

they earnestly desire to see you, and tell you so themselves; I

intended to have some conversation with them by ordering a banquet

for them, before I introduced them to your majesty, but they are

very impatient to pay their respects to you; and therefore I desire

your majesty would be pleased to walk in, and honour them with your

presence.

Madam, said the king of Persia, I should be very glad to salute

persons that have the honour to be so nearly related to you, but I

am afraid of the flames that they breathe at their mouths and

nostrils. Sir, replied the queen, laughing, you need not in the

least be afraid of those flames, which are nothing but a sign of

their unwillingness to eat in your palace, without your honouring

them with your presence, and eating with them.

The king of Persia, encouraged by these words, rose up, and went

into the chamber with his queen Gulnare. She presented him to the

queen her mother, to the king her brother, and to her other

relations, who instantly threw themselves at his feet, with their

faces to the ground. The king of Persia ran to them, and lifting

them up, embraced them one after another. After they were all

seated, king Saleh began: Sir, said he to the king of Persia, we are

at a loss for words to express our joy, to think that the queen my

sister, in her disgrace, should have the happiness of falling under

the protection of so powerful a monarch. We can assure you she is

not unworthy of the high rank you have been pleased to raise her to;

and we have always had so much love and tenderness for her, that we

could never think of parting with her to any of the puissant princes

of the sea, who have often demanded her in marriage before she came

of age. Heaven has reserved her for you, sir, and we have no better

way of returning thanks to it for the favour it has done her, than

beseeching it to grant your majesty a long and happy life with her,

and to crown you with prosperity and satisfaction.

Certainly, replied the king of Persia, Heaven reserved her purely

for me, as you observe. I love her with so tender and violent a

passion, that I am satisfied I never loved any woman till I saw her.

I cannot sufficiently thank either the queen her mother, or you,

prince, or your whole family, for the generosity with which you have

consented to receive me into an alliance so glorious to me as yours.

So saying, he invited them to take part of the collation, and he and

his queen sat down at the table with them. After the collation was

over, the king of Persia conversed with them till it was very late;

and when they thought it convenient to retire, he waited upon them

himself to the several apartments he had ordered to be prepared for

them.

The king of Persia treated his illustrious guests with continual

feasts; in which he omitted nothing that might show his grandeur and

magnificence, and insensibly prevailed with them to stay with him

till the queen was brought to bed. When the time of her lying-in

drew near, he gave particular orders that nothing should be wanting

that was necessary upon such an occasion. At night she was brought

to bed of a son, to the great joy of the queen her mother, who

assisted at the labour; and as soon as he was dressed in

swaddling-clothes, which were very magnificent, went and presented

him to the king.

The king of Persia received this present with a joy easier to be

imagined than expressed. The young prince being of a beautiful

countenance, he thought no name so proper for him as that of

_Beder_, which in the Arabian language signifies the _Full Moon_. To

return thanks to Heaven, he was very liberal in his alms to the

poor, and caused the prison doors to be set open, and gave all his

slaves of both sexes their liberty. He distributed vast sums among

the ministers and holy men of his religion. He also gave large

donations to his courtiers, besides a great deal that was thrown

amongst the people; and by proclamation ordered rejoicing for

several days to be kept through the whole city.

One day, after the queen was up again, as the king of Persia, queen

Gulnare herself, the queen her mother, king Saleh, her brother, and

the princesses their relations, were discoursing together in her

majesty’s bedchamber, the nurse came in with the young prince

Beder in her arms. King Saleh no sooner saw him, but he ran to

embrace him; and taking him in his arms, fell to kissing and

caressing him with the greatest demonstration of tenderness. He took

several turns with him about the room, dancing and tossing him

about, when all of a sudden, through a transport of joy, the window

being open, he sprung out, and plunged with him into the sea.

The king of Persia, who expected no such sight, set up a hideous

cry, verily believing he should either see the dear prince his son

no more, or else that he should see him drowned; he was like to have

died of grief and affliction. Sir, said queen Gulnare, (with a quiet

and undisturbed countenance, the better to comfort him,) let your

majesty fear nothing; the young prince is my son as well as yours,

and I do not love him less than you do. You see I am not alarmed;

neither in truth ought I to be so. He runs no risk, and you will

soon see the king his uncle appear with him again, and bring him

back safe and sound. Although he was born of your blood, he is

equally of mine, and will have the same advantage his uncle and I

have, of living equally in the sea and upon the land. The queen his

mother, and the princesses his relations, confirmed the same thing;

yet all they said had no effect on the king’s fright, from which

he could not recover till he saw prince Beder appear again before

him.

The sea at length became troubled, when immediately king Saleh arose

with the young prince in his arms, and holding him up in the air, he

re-entered at the same window he went out at. The king of Persia

being overjoyed to see prince Beder again, and astonished that he

was as calm as before he lost sight of him; king Saleh said, Sir,

was not your majesty in a great fright, when you first saw me plunge

into the sea with the prince my nephew? Alas! prince, answered the

king of Persia, I cannot express my concern. I thought him lost from

that very moment, and you now restore life to me by bringing him

again. I thought as much, replied king Saleh, though you had not the

least reason to apprehend any danger; for, before I plunged into the

sea with him, I pronounced over him certain mysterious words which

were engraven on the seal of the great Solomon, the son of David. We

practise the like in relation to all those children that are born in

the regions at the bottom of the sea, by virtue whereof they receive

the same privileges that we have over those people who inhabit the

earth. From what your majesty has observed, you may easily see what

advantage your son prince Beder has acquired by his birth on the

part of his mother, queen Gulnare my sister, for as long as he

lives, and as often as he pleases, he will be at liberty to plunge

into the sea, and traverse the vast empires it contains in its bosom.

Having so spoke, king Saleh, who had restored prince Beder to his

nurse’s arms, opened a box he had fetched from his palace in the

little time he had disappeared, which was filled with three hundred

diamonds, as large as pigeons’ eggs, a like number of rubies of

extraordinary size, as many emerald wands, each half a foot long,

and with thirty strings or necklaces of pearl, consisting each of

ten feet. Sir, said he to the king of Persia, presenting him with

this box, when I was first summoned by the queen my sister, I knew

not what part of the earth she was in, or that she had the honour to

be married to so great a monarch. This made us come empty-handed. As

we cannot express how much we have been obliged to your majesty, I

beg you to accept this small token of gratitude in acknowledgment of

the many particular favours you have been pleased to show her,

wherein we take equal interest.

It is impossible to express how greatly the king of Persia was

surprised at the sight of so much riches, inclosed in so little

compass. What! prince, cried he, do you call so inestimable a

present a small token of your gratitude, when you never have been

indebted to me? I declare once more, you have never been in the

least obliged to me, neither the queen your mother, nor you. I

esteem myself but too happy in the consent you have given to the

alliance I have contracted with you. Madam, continued he, turning to

Gulnare, the king your brother has put me into the greatest

confusion; and I would beg of him to permit me to refuse his

present, were I not afraid of disobliging him: do you therefore

endeavour to obtain his leave that I may be excused accepting it.

Sir, replied king Saleh, I am not at all surprised that your majesty

thinks this present so extraordinary. I know you are not accustomed

upon earth to see precious stones of this quality and quantity; but

if you knew, as I do, the mines whence these jewels were taken, and

that it is in my power to form a treasure greater than those of all

the kings of the earth, you would wonder we should have the boldness

to make you a present of so small a value. I beseech you, therefore,

not to regard it in that respect, but on account of the sincere

friendship which obliges us to offer it to you, and not give us the

mortification of refusing it. These engaging expressions obliged the

king of Persia to accept the present; for which he returned many

thanks both to king Saleh and the queen his mother.

A few days after, king Saleh gave the king of Persia to understand,

that the queen his mother, the princesses his relations, and

himself, could have no greater pleasure than to spend their whole

lives at his court; but that having been so long absent from their

own kingdom, where their presence was absolutely necessary, he

begged of him not to take it ill if they took leave of him and queen

Gulnare. The king of Persia assured them he was very sorry that it

was not in his power to return their visit in their own dominions;

but added, As I am verily persuaded you will not forget queen

Gulnare, but come and see her now and then, I hope I shall have the

honour to see you again more than once.

Many tears were shed on both sides upon their separation. King Saleh

departed first, but the queen his mother, and the princesses his

relations, were fain to force themselves, in a manner, from the

embraces of queen Gulnare, who could not prevail with herself to let

them go. This royal company were no sooner out of sight, but the

king of Persia said to queen Gulnare, Madam, I should have looked

upon the person that had pretended to pass those upon me for true

wonders, of which I myself have been eye-witness from the time I

have been honoured with your illustrious family at my court, as one

who would have abused my credulity. But I cannot refuse to believe

my own eyes, and shall remember it as long as I live, and never

cease to bless heaven for directing you to me, in preference to any

other prince.

Young prince Beder was brought up and educated in the palace, under

the care of the king and queen of Persia, who both saw him grow and

increase in beauty, to their great satisfaction. He gave them yet

greater pleasure as he advanced in years, by his continual

sprightliness, by his agreeable manners, and by the justness and

vivacity of his wit in whatever he said; and this satisfaction was

the more sensible, because king Saleh his uncle, the queen his

grandmother, and the princesses his relations, came from time to

time to partake of it.

He was easily taught to read and write, and was instructed with the

same facility in all the sciences that became a prince of his rank.

When he arrived at the age of fifteen, he acquitted himself in all

his exercises with infinitely better address and grace than his

masters. He was withal very wise and prudent. The king, who had

almost from his cradle discovered in him these virtues, so necessary

for a monarch, and who moreover began to perceive the infirmities of

old age coming upon himself every day, would not stay till death

gave him possession of his throne, but purposed to resign it to him.

He had no great difficulty to make his council consent to it; and

the people heard this resolution with so much the more joy, as they

conceived prince Beder worthy to govern them. In a word, as the king

had not for a long time appeared in public, they had all the

opportunity to observe he had not that disdainful, proud, and

crabbed air, which most princes have, who look upon all below them

with scorn and contempt. They saw, on the contrary, that he treated

all mankind with that goodness which invited them to approach him;

that he heard favourably all who had any thing to say to him; that

he answered every body with a goodness that was peculiar to him; and

that he refused nobody any thing that had the least appearance of

justice.

The day for the ceremony was appointed; when, in the midst of the

whole assembly, which was then more numerous than ordinary, the king

of Persia then sitting on his throne, came down from it, took the

crown from off his head, put it on that of prince Beder, and having

seated him in his place, kissed his hand, as a token that he

resigned his authority to him. After which he took his place among

the crowd of viziers and emirs below the throne.

Hereupon the viziers, emirs, and other principal officers, came

immediately and threw themselves at the new king’s feet, taking

each the oath of fidelity according to their rank. Then the grand

vizier made a report of divers important matters, on which the young

king gave judgment with that admirable prudence and sagacity, that

surprised all the council. He next turned out several governors

convicted of mal-administration, and put others in their room, with

that wonderful and just discernment, as exacted the acclamations of

every body; which were so much the more honourable, as flattery had

no share in them. He at length left the council, accompanied by the

late king his father, and went to wait on his mother, queen Gulnare,

at her apartment. The queen no sooner saw him coming with his crown

upon his head, but she ran to him, and embraced him with a great

deal of tenderness, wishing him a long and prosperous reign.

The first year of his reign king Beder acquitted himself of all his

royal functions with great assiduity. Above all, he took care to

inform himself of the state of his affairs, and all that might in

any way contribute towards the happiness of his people. Next year,

having left the administration to his council, under the direction

of the old king his father, he went out of his capital city, under

pretence of diverting himself with hunting; but his real intention

was to visit all the provinces of his kingdom, that he might reform

all abuses there, establish good order and discipline every where,

and take from all ill-minded princes, his neighbours, any

opportunities of attempting any thing against the security and

tranquillity of his subjects, by showing himself on his frontiers.

It required no less than a whole year for this young king to execute

a design so worthy of him. Soon after his return, the old king his

father fell so dangerously ill, that he knew at once he should never

recover. He waited for his last moment with great tranquillity, and

his only care was to recommend to the ministers, and other lords of

his son’s court, to persevere in the fidelity they had sworn to

him; and there was not one but willingly renewed his oath as freely

as at first. He died, at length, to the great grief of king Beder

and queen Gulnare, who caused his corpse to be borne to a stately

mausoleum, worthy of his rank and dignity.

The funeral obsequies ended, king Beder found no difficulty to

comply with that ancient custom in Persia to mourn for the dead a

whole month, and not to be seen by any body during all that time. He

had mourned the death of his father his whole life, had he hearkened

to his excessive affliction, and had it been right for a great

prince thus to abandon himself to it. During this interval, the

queen, mother to queen Gulnare, and king Saleh, together with the

princesses their relations, arrived at the Persian court, and took a

great part of their affliction, before they offered any consolation.

When the month was expired, the king could not refuse admittance to

the grand vizier and the other lords of his court, who besought him

to lay aside his mourning, to show himself to his subjects, and take

upon him the administration of affairs as before.

He showed so great reluctance to their request, that the grand

vizier was forced to take upon him to say to him, Sir, it were

needless to represent to your majesty, that it belongs only to women

to persist in perpetual mourning. We doubt not but you are fully

convinced of that, and that it is not your intention to follow their

example. Neither our tears nor yours are capable of restoring life

to the good king your father, though we should lament him all our

days. He has undergone the common law of all men, which subjects

them to pay the indispensable tribute of death. Yet we cannot say

absolutely that he is dead, since we see him in your sacred person.

He did not himself doubt, when he was dying, but he should revive in

you; and to your majesty it belongs to show that he was not deceived.

King Beder could no longer oppose such pressing instances: he laid

aside his mourning habit immediately; and, after he had resumed the

royal habit and ornaments, he began to provide for the necessities

of his kingdom and subjects with the same assiduity as before his

father’s death. He acquitted himself with universal approbation;

and as he was exact in maintaining the ordinances of his

predecessor, the people did not perceive they had changed their

sovereign.

King Saleh, who was returned to his dominions in the sea with the

queen his mother and the princesses, no sooner saw that king Beder

had resumed the government, but he, at the end of the year, came

alone to visit him; and king Beder and queen Gulnare were overjoyed

to see him. One evening, when they rose from table, they talked of

various matters.

King Saleh fell insensibly on the praises of the king his nephew,

and expressed to the queen his sister how glad he was to see him

govern so prudently, which had acquired him so great reputation, not

only among his neighbours, but more remote princes. King Beder, who

could not bear to hear himself so well spoken of, and not being

willing, through good manners, to interrupt the king his uncle,

turned on one side, and feigned to be asleep, leaning his head

against a cushion that was behind him.

From these commendations, which regarded only the wonderful conduct

and surprising genius of king Beder, king Saleh came to speak of the

perfections of his body, which he extolled as prodigies, having

nothing equal to them upon earth, or in all the kingdoms under the

waters, with which he was acquainted.

Sister, said he, in an ecstacy, he is so handsome, as you well know,

I wonder you have not thought of marrying him ere this: if I mistake

not, he is in his twentieth year; and, at that age, no prince like

him ought to be suffered to be without a wife. I will think of a

match for him myself, since you will not, and marry him to some

princess of our lower world, that may be worthy of him.

Brother, replied queen Gulnare, you call to my remembrance a thing,

which I must own I have never thought of to this very moment. As he

never discovered any inclination for marriage, I never thought of

mentioning it to him; and I am glad you have spoken of it to me. I

like your proposing one of our princesses; and I desire you to name

one so beautiful and accomplished, that the king my son may be

obliged to love her.

I know one that will suit, replied king Saleh, softly; but before I

tell you who she is, let us see if the king my nephew be asleep or

not, and I will tell you afterwards why it is necessary we should

take that precaution. Queen Gulnare turned about and looked upon her

son, and thought she had no reason to doubt but he was in a profound

sleep. King Beder, nevertheless, far from sleeping, redoubled his

attention, unwilling to lose any thing the king his uncle said with

so much secrecy. There is no necessity for your speaking so low,

said the queen to the king her brother; you may speak out with

freedom, without fear of being heard.

It is by no means proper, replied king Saleh, that the king my

nephew should as yet have any knowledge of what I am going to say.

Love, you know, sometimes enters at the ear; and it is not necessary

he should thus conceive a passion for this lady I am about to name.

Indeed I see many difficulties to be surmounted, not on the lady’s

part, as I hope, but on that of her father. --I need only mention to

you the princess Giauhara, [91] daughter of the king of Samandal.

How! brother, replied queen Gulnare, is not the princess Giauhara

yet married? I remember to have seen her a little before I left your

palace; she was then about eighteen months old, and surprisingly

beautiful, and must needs be the wonder of the world, if her charms

have increased equally with her years. The few years she is older

than the king my son ought not to prevent us from doing our utmost

to bring the match about. Let me but know the difficulties that are

to be surmounted, and we will surmount them.

Sister, replied king Saleh, the greatest difficulty is, that the

king of Samandal is insupportably vain, looking upon all others as

his inferiors; it is not likely we shall easily get him to enter

into this alliance. For my part, I will go to him in person, and

demand of him the princess his daughter; and, in case he refuses

her, we will address ourselves elsewhere, where we shall be more

favourably heard. For this reason, as you may perceive, added he, it

is as well for the king my nephew not to know any thing of our

design, till we have got the consent of the king of Samandal, lest

he should fall in love with the princess Giauhara, and we afterwards

not be able to obtain her for him. They discoursed a little longer

upon this point, and before they parted, agreed that king Saleh

should forthwith return to his own dominions, and demand the

princess Giauhara of the king of Samandal her father, for the king

of Persia his nephew.

This done, queen Gulnare and king Saleh, who verily believed king

Beder asleep, agreed to awake him before they retired; and he

dissembled so well, that he seemed to wake from a profound sleep. He

had heard every word they said, and the character they gave of the

princess Giauhara had inflamed his heart with a new passion. He had

conceived such an idea of her beauty, that the desire of possessing

her made him pass the night very uneasy, without closing his eyes.

Next day king Saleh would take leave of queen Gulnare and the king

his nephew. The young king, who knew the king his uncle would not

have departed so soon but to go and promote without loss of time his

happiness, changed colour when he heard him mention his departure.

His passion was become so violent, it would not suffer him to wait

so long time for the sight of his mistress as would be required to

accomplish the marriage. He more than once resolved to desire his

uncle to bring her away with him: but as he did not care to let the

queen his mother understand he knew any thing of what had passed, he

desired him only to stay with him one day more, that they might hunt

together, intending to take an opportunity to discover his mind to

him.

The day for hunting was set, and king Beder had many opportunities

of being alone with his uncle to declare his mind to him; but he had

not the courage to open his mouth to acquaint him with his design.

In the heat of the chase, when king Saleh was separated from him,

and not one of his officers and attendants were near him, he

alighted near a rivulet; and having tied his horse to a tree, which,

with several others growing along the banks, afforded a very

pleasing shade, he laid himself down on the grass, and gave free

course to his tears, which flowed in great abundance, accompanied

with many sighs. He remained a good while in this condition,

absorbed in thought, without speaking a word.

King Saleh, in the mean time, missing the king his nephew, began to

be much concerned to know what was become of him; but could meet no

one who could give any tidings of him. He therefore left his company

to go in search of him, and at length perceived him at a distance.

He had observed the day before, and more plainly that day, that he

was not so lively as he used to be; that he was more pensive than

ordinary; and that, if he was asked a question, he either answered

not at all, or nothing to the purpose; but he never in the least

suspected the cause of all this alteration. As soon as he saw him

lying in that disconsolate posture, he immediately guessed he had

not only heard what passed between him and queen Gulnare, but was

become passionately in love. He hereupon alighted at some distance

from him, and having tied his horse to a tree, took a compass, and

came upon him so softly, that he heard him pronounce the following

words:

Amiable princess of the kingdom of Samandal, cried he aloud, I have

no doubt had but an imperfect sketch of your incomparable beauty; I

hold you to be still more beautiful in preference to all the

princesses in the world, and to excel them as much as the sun does

the moon and stars. I would this moment go and offer you my heart,

if I knew where to find you: it belongs to you, and no princess

shall be possessor of it but you.

King Saleh would hear no more; he advanced immediately, and

discovered himself to king Beder. From what I see, nephew, said he,

you heard what the queen your mother and I said the other day of the

princess Giauhara. It was not our intention you should have known

any thing, and we thought you were asleep. My dear uncle, replied

king Beder, I heard every word, and have sufficiently experienced

the effect you foretold; which it was not in your power to prevent.

I detained you on purpose to acquaint you with my love before your

departure; but the shame to disclose to you my weakness, if it be

any to love a princess so worthy of my love, sealed up my mouth. I

beseech you, then, by the friendship you profess for a prince who

has the honour to be so nearly allied to you, that you would pity

me, and not wait to procure me the consent of the divine Giauhara,

till you have gained the consent of the king of Samandal that I may

marry his daughter, unless you had rather see me die with love for

her, before I have a sight of her.

These words of the king of Persia greatly embarrassed king Saleh. He

represented to him how difficult it was to give him the satisfaction

he desired, and that he could not well do it without carrying him

along with him; which might be of dangerous consequence, since his

presence was so absolutely necessary in his kingdom. He conjured

him, therefore, to moderate his passion, till such time as he had

put things into a train to satisfy him, assuring him he would use

his utmost diligence, and would come to acquaint him in a few days.

But these reasons were not sufficient to satisfy the king of Persia.

Cruel uncle, said he, I find you do not love me so much as you

pretended, and that you had rather see me die than grant the first

request I ever made you.

I am ready to convince your majesty, replied king Saleh, that I

would do any thing to serve you; but as for carrying you along with

me, I cannot do that till I have spoken to the queen your mother.

What would she say of you and me? If she consents, I am ready to do

all you would have me, and I will join my entreaties to yours. You

cannot be ignorant, replied the king of Persia, that the queen my

mother would never willingly part with me; and therefore, this

excuse of yours does but farther convince me of your unkindness. If

you do realty love me, as you would have me to believe you do, you

must return to your kingdom immediately, and carry me along with you.

King Saleh, finding himself obliged to yield to his nephew’s

importunity, drew from his finger a ring, on which were engraven the

same mysterious names of God that were upon Solomon’s seal, that

had wrought so many wonders by their virtue. Here, take this ring,

said he, put it upon your finger, and fear neither the waters of the

sea, nor their depth. The king of Persia took the ring, and when he

had put it on his finger, king Saleh said to him, Do as I do. At the

same time they both mounted lightly up into the air, and made

towards the sea, which was not far distant, whereinto they plunged.

The sea-king was not long getting to his palace, with the king of

Persia, whom he immediately carried to the queen’s apartment, and

presented him to her. The king of Persia kissed the queen his

grandmother’s hands, and she embraced him with great

demonstrations of joy. I do not ask you how you do, said she to him;

I see you are very well, and I am rejoiced at it; but I desire to

know how my daughter, your mother, queen Gulnare, does? The king of

Persia took great care not to let her know he came away without

taking leave of her; on the contrary, he told her the queen his

mother was in perfect health, and had enjoined him to pay her duty

to her. Then the queen presented him to the princesses; and while he

was in conversation with them, she left him and went with king Saleh

into a closet, who told her how the king of Persia had fallen in

love with the princess Giauhara, upon the bare relation of her

beauty, and contrary to his intention; that he had brought him along

with him, without being able to hinder it; and that he was going to

concert measures to procure the princess for him in marriage.