The magician, at her arrival, saved the sultan the trouble to tell

her of the success of prince Ahmed’s journey, which she had heard

of before she came, and therefore was prepared with the infallible

means. This thought she communicated to the sultan, who declared it

the next day to the prince, in the midst of all his courtiers, in

these words: Son, said he, I have one thing more to ask of you,

after which, I shall expect nothing more from your obedience, nor

your interest with your wife. This request is, to bring me a man not

above a foot and a half high, and whose beard is thirty feet long,

who carries upon his shoulders a bar of iron of five hundred weight,

which he uses as a quarter-staff, and who can speak.

Prince Ahmed, who did not believe that there was such a man in the

world as his father described, would gladly have excused himself;

but the sultan persisted in his demand, and told him the fairy could

do more incredible things.

Next day the prince returned to the subterraneous kingdom of Pari

Banou, to whom he told his father’s new demand, which, he said, he

looked upon to be a thing more impossible than the two first: for,

added he, I cannot imagine there is or can be such a man in the

world: without doubt, he has a mind to try whether I am silly enough

to go about to seek it; or if there is such a man, he seeks my ruin.

In short, how can he suppose that I should lay hold of a man so

small, armed as he describes? what arms can I make use of to reduce

him to submission? If there are any means, I beg you will tell me

how I may come off with honour this time also.

Do not affright yourself prince, replied the fairy; you ran a risk

in fetching the water of the fountain of lions for your father; but

there is no danger in finding out this man. It is my brother,

Shaibar, who is so far from being like me, though we both had the

same father, that he is of so violent a nature, that nothing can

prevent his giving bloody marks of his resentment for a slight

offence; yet, on the other hand, is so good as to oblige any one in

whatever they desire. He is made exactly as the sultan your father

has described him; and has no other arms than a bar of iron of five

hundred pounds weight, without which he never stirs, and which makes

him respected. I will send for him, and you shall judge of the truth

of what I tell you; but be sure to prepare yourself not to be

frightened at his extraordinary figure when you see him. What! my

queen, replied prince Ahmed, do you say Schaibar is your brother?

Let him be ever so ugly or deformed, I shall be so far from being

frightened at the sight of him, that I shall love and honour him,

and consider him as my nearest relation.

The fairy ordered a gold chafing-dish to be set with a fire in it

under the porch of her palace, with a box of the same metal, which

was a present to her, out of which, taking some incense, and

throwing it into the fire, there arose a thick cloud of smoke.

Some moments after, the fairy said to prince Ahmed, Prince, there

comes my brother; do you see him? The prince immediately perceived

Schaibar, who was but a foot and a half high, coming gravely with

his heavy bar on his shoulder; his beard thirty feet long, which

supported itself before him, and a pair of thick mustaches in

proportion, tucked up to his ears, and almost covering his face: his

eyes were very small, like a pig’s, and deep sunk in his head,

which was of an enormous size, and on which he wore a pointed cap:

besides all this, he had a hump behind and before.

If prince Ahmed had not known that Schaibar was Pari Banou’s

brother, he would not have been able to look at him without fear;

but knowing first who he was, he waited for him with the fairy, and

received him without the least concern.

Schaibar, as he came forwards, looked at the prince with an eye that

would have chilled his soul in his body, and asked Pari Banou, when

he first accosted her, who that man was? To which she replied, He is

my husband, brother; his name is Ahmed; he is son to the sultan of

the Indies. The reason why I did not invite you to my wedding was, I

was unwilling to divert you from the expedition you were engaged in,

and from which I heard with pleasure you returned victorious; on his

account I have taken the liberty now to call for you.

At these words, Schaibar, looking on prince Ahmed with a favourable

eye, which however, diminished neither his fierceness nor savage

look, said, Is there any thing, sister, wherein I can serve him? he

has only to speak. It is enough to me that he is your husband, to

engage me to do for him whatever he desires. The sultan his father,

replied Pari Banou, has a curiosity to see you, and I desire he may

be your guide to the sultan’s court. He needs but lead me the way;

I will follow him, replied Schaibar. Brother, replied Pari Banou, it

is too late to go to-day, therefore stay till to-morrow morning; and

in the mean time, as it is fit you should know all that has passed

between the sultan of the Indies and prince Ahmed since our

marriage, I will inform you this evening.

The next morning, after Schaibar had been informed of all that was

proper for him to know, he set out with the prince Ahmed, who was to

present him to the sultan. When they arrived at the gates of the

capital, the people no sooner saw Schaibar, but they ran and hid

themselves in the shops and houses, shutting their doors; while

others, taking to their heels, communicated their fears to all they

met, who staid not to look behind them, but ran too; insomuch that

Schaibar and prince Ahmed, as they went along, found all the streets

and squares desolate, till they came to the palace, where the

porters, instead of preventing Schaibar from entering, ran away too;

so that the prince and he advanced without any obstacle to the

council-hall, where the sultan was seated on his throne and giving

audience. Here likewise the officers, at the approach of Schaibar,

abandoned their posts, and gave them free admittance.

Schaibar, carrying his head erect, went fiercely up to the throne,

without waiting to be presented by prince Ahmed, and accosted the

sultan of the Indies in these words: You have asked for me, said he:

see, here I am: what would you have with me?

The sultan, instead of answering him, clapt his hands before his

eyes, and turned away his head, to avoid the sight of so terrible an

object. Schaibar was so much provoked at this uncivil and rude

reception, after he had given him the trouble to come so far, that

he instantly lifted up his iron bar, and saying, Speak, then let it

fall on his head and killed him, before prince Ahmed could intercede

in his behalf. All that he could do was to prevent his killing the

grand vizier, who sat not far from him on his right hand,

representing to him that he had always given the sultan his father

good advice. These are they then, said Schaibar, who gave him bad;

and as he pronounced these words, he killed all the other viziers on

the right and left, flatterers and favourites of the sultan, who

were prince Ahmed’s enemies. Every time he struck, he killed some

one or other, and none escaped but they who, not rendered motionless

by fear, saved themselves by flight.

When this terrible execution was over, Schaibar came out of the

council-hall into the midst of the court-yard with the iron bar upon

his shoulder, and looking at the grand vizier, who owed his life to

prince Ahmed, he said, I know here is a certain female magician, who

is a greater enemy of the prince my brother-in-law than all those

base favourites I have chastized; let her be brought to me

presently. The grand vizier immediately sent for her, and as soon as

she was brought, Schaibar said, knocking her down with the iron bar,

Take the reward of thy pernicious counsel, and learn to feign

sickness again: he then left her dead on the spot.

After this he said, This is not yet enough; I will treat the whole

city after the same manner, if they do not immediately acknowledge

prince Ahmed my brother-in-law for their sultan, and sultan of the

Indies. Then all that were present made the air ring with the

repeated acclamations of Long life to sultan Ahmed; and immediately

after he was proclaimed through the whole town. Schaibar made him be

clothed in the royal vestments, installed him on the throne, and

after he had made all swear homage and fidelity to him, went and

fetched his sister Pari Banou, whom he brought with great pomp, and

made her to be owned sultaness of the Indies.

As for prince Ali and princess Nouronnihar, as they had no hand in

the conspiracy against prince Ahmed, who was now avenged, nor knew

of any such conspiracy, prince Ahmed assigned them a considerable

province, with its capital, where they spent the rest of their

lives. Afterwards he sent an officer to prince Houssain, to acquaint

him with the change, and make him an offer of which province he

liked best; but that prince thought himself so happy in his

solitude, that he bid the officer return the sultan his brother

thanks for the kindness he designed him, assuring him of his

submission; and that the only favour he desired of him was to give

him leave to live retired in the place he had made choice of for his

retreat.

The Story of the Sisters who envied their younger Sister.

There was a prince of Persia, named Khosrouschah, [109] who, when he

first came to his crown, in order to obtain a knowledge of the

world, took great pleasure in night adventures. He often disguised

himself, attended by a trusty minister, disguised like him, and

rambled through the whole city, and met with a great many particular

adventures, which, said Scheherazade to the sultan, I shall not at

present entertain your majesty with; but I hope you will hear with

pleasure what happened to him upon his first ramble, which was in a

little time after his accession to his father’s throne, who dying

in a good old age, left him heir to the kingdom of Persia.

After the ceremonies of his deceased father’s funeral-rites, and

his own coronation, were over, the new sultan Khosrouschah, as well

from inclination as duty, went out one evening, attended by his

grand vizier, disguised like himself, to observe what passed. As he

went through a street in that part of the town inhabited only by the

meaner sort of people, he heard some people talking very loud; and

going up close to the house, from whence the noise came, and looking

through a crack in the door, perceived a light, and three sisters

sitting on a sofa, conversing together after supper. By what the

eldest said, he presently understood the subject of their discourse

was wishes; For, said she, since we have got upon wishes, mine shall

be to have the sultan’s baker for my husband, for then I shall eat

my fill of that bread, which by way of excellence is called the

sultan’s bread: let us see if your tastes are as good as mine. For

my part, replied the second sister, I wish I was the sultan’s

chief cook’s wife; for then I should eat of the most excellent

ragouts; and as I am persuaded that the sultan’s bread is common

in the palace, I should not want any of that; therefore you see,

sister, addressing herself to her eldest sister, that I have a

better taste than you.

Then the youngest sister, who was very beautiful, and had more

charms and wit than the two eldest, spoke in her turn: For my part,

sisters, said she, I shall not limit my desires to such trifles, but

take a higher flight; and since we are upon wishing, I wish to be

the sultan’s wife. I would make him father of a prince, whose hair

should be gold on one side of his head, and silver on the other;

when he cries, the tears that fall from his eyes shall be pearl; and

when he smiles, his vermilion lips shall look like a rose-bud fresh

blown.

The three sisters’ wishes, particularly the youngest’s, seemed

so singular to the sultan Khosrouschah, that he resolved to gratify

them in their desires; and without communicating this his design to

his grand vizier, he charged him only to take notice of the house,

and bring the three sisters before him the next day.

The grand vizier, in executing the sultan’s orders, would but just

give the three sisters time to dress themselves to appear before

him, without telling them the reason. He brought them to the palace,

and presented them to the sultan, who said to them, Do you remember

the wishes you made last night, when you were all in so pleasant a

mood? Speak the truth; I must know what they were.

At these unexpected words of the sultan, the three sisters were very

much confounded. They cast down their eyes and blushed, and the

colour which rose in the cheeks of the youngest quite captivated the

sultan’s heart. Modesty, and fear lest they might have offended

the sultan by their discourse, kept them silent. The sultan

perceiving it, to encourage them, said, Fear nothing, I did not send

for you to distress you; and since I see that is the effect of the

question I ask you, without my intending it, and I know the wish of

each, I will relieve you from your fears. You, added he, that wished

to be my wife, you shall have your desire this day; and you,

continued he, addressing himself to the two eldest sisters, you

shall also be married to my chief baker and cook.

As soon as the sultan had declared his pleasure, the youngest

sister, setting the eldest an example, threw herself at the

sultan’s feet, to express her gratitude. Sir, said she, my wish,

since it has come to your majesty’s knowledge, was only by way of

conversation and amusement. I am unworthy of the honour you do me,

and ask pardon for my boldness. The two other sisters would have

excused themselves also; but the sultan interrupting them, said, No,

no; it shall be so; every one’s wish shall be fulfilled.

The nuptials were all celebrated that day, as the sultan had

resolved, but after a different manner. The youngest sister’s were

solemnized with all the rejoicings usual at the marriages of the

sultans of Persia; and those of the other two sisters according to

the quality and distinction of their husbands; the one as the

sultan’s chief baker, and the other as head cook.

The two elder sisters felt strongly the disproportion of their

marriages to that of their younger sister. This consideration made

them far from being content, though they were arrived at the utmost

height of their wishes, and much beyond their hopes. They gave

themselves up to an excess of jealousy, which not only disturbed

their joy, but was the cause of great troubles and afflictions to

the sultaness their younger sister. They had not an opportunity to

communicate their thoughts to each other upon the preference the

sultan had given her to their prejudice, but were altogether

employed in preparing themselves for the celebration of their

marriages. Some days afterwards, when they had an opportunity of

seeing each other at the public baths, the eldest sister said to the

other, Well, sister, what say you to our sister’s great fortune?

Is not she a fine person to be a sultaness! I must own, said the

other sister, I cannot conceive what charms the sultan could

discover in her, to be so bewitched by a young jade. You know in

what a state we have both seen her. Was it a reason sufficient for

him not to cast his eyes on you, because she was somewhat younger

than us? You were as worthy of his bed; and in justice he ought to

have preferred you.

Sister, said the elder, I should not have said any thing, if the

sultan had but pitched upon you; but that he should choose that

hussy, is what grieves me. But I will revenge myself; and you, I

think, are as much concerned as I; therefore I would have us

contrive measures together, that we may act in concert in a common

cause, and communicate to me what you think the likeliest way to

mortify her, while I, on my side, will inform you what my desire of

revenge shall suggest to me.

After this wicked plot, the two sisters saw each other very

frequently, and always consulted how they might disturb and

interrupt the happiness of the sultaness their younger sister. They

proposed a great many ways, but in deliberating about the manner of

executing them, they found so many difficulties, that they durst not

attempt them. In the mean time, they often went together to make her

visits with a detestable dissimulation, and every time gave her all

the marks of friendship they could imagine, to persuade her how

overjoyed they were to have a sister raised to so high a fortune.

The sultaness, on her part, always received them with all the

demonstrations of esteem and value they could expect from a sister

who was not puffed up with her high dignity, and loved them as

cordially as before.

Some months after her marriage, the sultaness found herself to be

with child. The sultan expressed great joy, which was communicated

to all the court, and spread throughout the capital of Persia. Upon

this news, the two sisters came to pay their compliments, and

entering into discourse with her sister about her lying-in, they

proffered their service to deliver her, desiring her, if she was not

provided with a midwife, to accept of them.

The sultaness said to them most obligingly, Sisters, I should desire

no better, if it was absolutely in my power to make choice of you. I

am however obliged to you for your good-will, but must submit to

what the sultan shall order on this occasion. Let your husbands

employ their friends to make interest, and get some courtier to ask

this favour of the sultan; and if he speaks to me about it, be

assured that I shall not only express the pleasure he does me, but

thank him for making choice of you.

The two husbands applied themselves to some courtiers their patrons,

and begged of them to use their interest to procure their wives the

honour they aspired to. Those patrons exerted themselves so much in

their behalf, that the sultan promised them to consider of it, and

was as good as his word; for in conversation with the sultaness, he

told her that he thought her sisters were the most proper persons to

assist her in her labour; but would not name them before he asked

her consent. The sultaness, sensible of the deference the sultan so

obligingly paid her, said to him, Sir, I was prepared to do as your

majesty shall please to command me. But since you have been so kind

as to think of my sisters, I thank you for that regard you have

shown them for my sake; and therefore I shall not dissemble, that I

had rather have them than strangers.

Then the sultan Khosrouschah named the sultaness’s two sisters to

be her midwives; and from that time they went backwards and forwards

to the palace, overjoyed at the opportunity they should have of

executing the detestable wickedness they had meditated against the

sultaness their sister.

When the sultaness’s reckoning was out, she was safely delivered

of a young prince, as bright as the day; but neither his innocence

nor beauty were capable of moving the cruel hearts of the merciless

sisters. They wrapped him up carelessly in his blankets, and put him

into a basket, which they abandoned to the stream of a small canal

which ran under the sultaness’s apartment, and declared she was

delivered of a little dead dog, which they produced. This

disagreeable news was announced to the sultan, who conceived so much

anger thereat, as might have proved fatal to the sultaness, if his

grand vizier had not represented to him that he could not, without

injustice, make her answerable for the caprices of nature.

In the mean time, the basket in which the little prince was exposed

was carried by the stream beyond a wall which bounded the prospect

of the sultaness’s apartment, and from thence floated with the

current down the gardens. By chance the intendant of the sultan’s

garden, one of the principal and most considerable officers of the

kingdom, walking in the garden by the side of this canal, and

perceiving a basket floating, called to a gardener, who was not far

off, and bid him come presently to him, and reach him that basket,

which he showed him that he might see what was in it. The gardener,

with a spade which he had in his hand, brought the basket to the

side of the canal, took it up, and gave it to him.

The intendant of the gardens was extremely surprised to see in the

basket a child, which, though he easily knew it to be but just born,

had very fine features. This officer had been married several years,

and though he had always been desirous of having children, Heaven

had never blessed him with any. This accident interrupted his walk:

he made the gardener follow him with the child; and when he came to

his own house, which was situated at the entrance into the gardens

of the palace, he went into his wife’s apartment. Wife, said he,

as we have no children of our own, God has sent us one. I recommend

him to you; provide him a nurse presently, and take as much care of

him as if he were our own son; for, from this moment, I acknowledge

him as such. The intendant’s wife received the child with great

joy, and took particular pleasure in the care of him. The intendant

himself would not inquire too narrowly whence the child came. He saw

plainly it came not far off the sultaness’s apartment; but it was

not his business to examine too closely into what had passed, nor to

create disturbances in a place where peace was so necessary.

The year after the sultaness was brought to bed of another prince,

on whom the unnatural sisters had no more compassion than on his

brother; but exposed him likewise in a basket, and set him adrift in

the canal, pretending this time that the sultaness was delivered of

a cat. It was happy also for this child that the intendant of the

gardens was walking by the canal side, who had it carried to his

wife, and charged her to take as much care of it as of the first;

which suited as well her inclination, as it was agreeable to the

intendant.

The sultan of Persia was more enraged this time against the

sultaness than before, and she had felt the effects of his anger, if

the grand vizier’s remonstrances had not prevailed.

The third time the sultaness lay in she was delivered of a princess,

which innocent babe underwent the same fate as the princes her

brothers; for the two sisters being determined not to put an end to

their detestable schemes, till they had seen the sultaness their

younger sister at least cast off, turned out, and humbled, exposed

this child also on the canal. But the princess was preserved from

certain death by the compassion and charity of the intendant of the

gardens, as well as the two princes her brothers.

To this inhumanity the two sisters added a lie and deceit as before.

They produced a piece of wood, and affirmed it to be a false birth

which the sultaness was delivered of.

The sultan Khosrouschah could no longer contain himself, when he was

informed of the new extraordinary birth. What! said he, this woman,

unworthy of my bed, will fill my palace with monsters, if I let her

live any longer! No, it shall not be, added he: she is a monster

herself, and I must rid the world of her. He pronounced this

sentence of death, and ordered the grand vizier to see it executed.

The grand vizier, and the courtiers who were present, cast

themselves at the sultan’s feet, to beg of him to revoke that

sentence. Your majesty, I hope, will give me leave, said the grand

vizier, to represent to you, that the laws which condemn persons to

death were made to punish crimes: the three extraordinary labours of

the sultaness are not crimes; for in what can she be said to have

contributed towards them? A great many other women have had, and

have the same every day, and are to be pitied; but not punished.

Your majesty may abstain from seeing her, and let her live. The

affliction in which she will spend the rest of her life after the

loss of your favour, will be a punishment great enough.

The sultan of Persia considered with himself, and found that it was

injustice in him to condemn the sultaness to death for extraordinary

births, and said, Let her live then; I will give her life; but it

shall be on this condition, that she shall desire to die more than

once every day. Let a wooden shed be built for her at the gate of

the principal mosque, with iron bars to the windows, and let her be

put into it, in the coarsest habit; and every Mussulman that shall

go into the mosque to prayers shall spit in her face. --If any one

fail, I will have him exposed to the same punishment; and that I may

be punctually obeyed, I charge you, vizier, to appoint persons to

see this done.

The sultan pronounced this last sentence in such a tone, that the

grand vizier durst not open his mouth; and it was executed, to the

great satisfaction of the two envious sisters. A shed was built, and

the sultaness, truly worthy of compassion, as soon as her month was

up, was put into it, and exposed ignominiously to the contempt of

the people; which usage, as she did not deserve, she bore with a

constancy which excited the admiration, as well as compassion, of

those who judged of things better than the vulgar.

The two princes and the princess were nursed and brought up by the

intendant of the gardens and his wife, with all the tenderness of a

father and mother; and as they advanced in age, they all showed

marks of superior greatness, (and the princess in particular, a

charming beauty,) which discovered itself every day by their

docility and good inclinations above trifles, and different from

those of common children, and by a certain air which could only

belong to princes and princesses. All this increased the affections

of the intendant and his wife, who called the eldest prince Bahman,

and the second Perviz, both of them names of the most ancient

sultans of Persia, and the princess Parizade, which name also had

been borne by several sultanesses and princesses of the kingdom.

[110]

As soon as the two princes were old enough, the intendant provided

proper masters to teach them to read and write; and the princess

their sister, who was often with them when they were learning their

lessons, showing a great desire to learn to read and write, though

much younger than they, the intendant was so much taken with that

disposition of hers, that he employed the same master to teach her

also. Her emulation, vivacity, and piercing wit, made her in a

little time as great a proficient as her brothers.

From that time, the brothers and sister had all the same masters in

all the other arts, in geography, poetry, history, even the secret

sciences; all which came so easily to them, and in a little time

they made so wonderful a progress, that their masters were amazed,

and frankly owned, that if they held on so but a little longer, they

could teach them no farther. At the hours of recreation, the

princess learned to sing, and play upon all sorts of instruments;

and when the princes were learning to ride, she would not permit

them to have that advantage over her, but went through all exercises

with them, learning to ride, bend the bow, and dart the reed or

javelin, and oftentimes outstrip them in the race.

The intendant of the gardens was so overjoyed to find his adopted

children so accomplished in all the perfections of body and mind,

and that they answered so well the charge he had been at upon their

education, that he resolved to be still at a greater expense; for

whereas he had till then been content only with his lodge at the

entrance of the garden, and kept no country-house, he purchased a

country-seat at a small distance from the city, surrounded with a

large tract of arable land, meadows, and woods. As the house was not

sufficiently handsome nor convenient, he pulled it down, and spared

no expense to make it magnificent. He went every day to hasten, by

his presence, the great number of workmen he employed; and as soon

as there was an apartment ready to receive him, he passed several

days together there, when his presence was not necessary at court;

and by the same exertions, the house was furnished in the richest

manner, answerably to the magnificence of the edifice. Afterwards he

made gardens, according to the plan drawn by himself, after the

manner of the great lords in Persia. He took in a large compass of

ground for a park, which he walled round, and stocked with fallow

deer, that the princes and princess might divert themselves with

hunting when they pleased.

When this country-seat was finished and fit for habitation, the

intendant of the gardens went and cast himself at the sultan’s

feet, and, after representing to him how long he had served him, and

the infirmities of age which he found growing upon him, he begged he

would permit him to resign his charge into his majesty’s hands,

and retire. The sultan gave him leave with the more pleasure,

because he was satisfied with his long services, both in his

father’s reign and his own; and when he granted it, he asked him

what he should do to recompense him. Sir, replied the intendant of

the gardens, I have received so many obligations from your majesty,

and the late sultan your father, of happy memory, that I desire no

more than the honour of dying in your favour.

He took his leave of the sultan Khosrouschah, and afterwards

returned to the country retreat he had built, with the two princes,

Bahman and Perviz, and the princess Parizade. His wife had been dead

some years, and he himself had not lived above six months with them,

before he was surprised by so sudden a death, that he had not time

to give them the least account of their birth, which he had resolved

to do, as necessary to oblige them to continue to live, as they had

then done, agreeably to their rank and condition, and the education

he had given them, and to their own inclination.

The princes Bahman and Perviz, and the princess Parizade, who knew

no other tether than the intendant of the sultan’s gardens,

regretted and bewailed him as such, and paid him all the honours in

his funeral obsequies which their love and filial gratitude required

of them. Content with the plentiful fortune he left them, they lived

together in the same perfect union, free from the ambition of

distinguishing themselves at court, with a view to places of honour

and dignity, which they might easily have obtained.

One day, when the two princes were hunting, and the princess

Parizade stayed at home, a religious old woman came to the gate, and

desired leave to go in to say her prayers, it being then the hour.

The servants went and asked the princess’s leave, who ordered them

to show her into the oratory, which the intendant of the sultan’s

gardens had taken care to fit up in his house, for want of a mosque

in the neighbourhood. She bade them also, after the good woman had

finished her prayers, show her the house and gardens, and then bring

her to her.

The religious old woman went into the oratory, said her prayers, and

when she came out again, two of the princess’s women, who waited

on her, invited her to see the house and gardens; which civility she

accepted of, and followed them from one apartment to another, and

observed, as a person who understood what belonged to furniture, the

nice arrangement of every thing. They conducted her also into the

garden, the disposition of which she found so new and well planned,

that she admired it, observing that the person who drew it, must

have been an excellent master of his art. Afterwards she was brought

before the princess, who waited for her in the great hall, which, in

propriety, beauty, and richness, exceeded all she had admired before

in the apartments.

As soon as the princess saw the devout woman, she said to her, My

good mother, come near and sit down by me. I am overjoyed at the

happiness of having the opportunity of profiting for some moments by

the good example and discourse of such a person as you, who has

taken the right way, by dedicating yourself to the service of God. I

wish every body were as wise.

The religious woman, instead of sitting upon a sofa, would only sit

upon the edge of it. The princess would not permit her to do so, but

rising from her seat, and taking her by the hand, obliged her to

come and sit by her. The good woman, sensible of the civility, said,

Madam, I ought not to have so much respect shown me; but since you

command me, and are mistress of your own house, I obey you. When she

had sat down, before they entered into any conversation, one of the

princess’s women brought a little low table of mother of pearl and

ebony, with a china dish full of cakes upon it, and a great many

others set round it full of fruits in season, and wet and dry

sweetmeats.

The princess took up one of the cakes, and presenting her with it,

said, Eat, good mother, and make choice of what you like best; you

had need to eat after coming so far. Madam, replied the good woman,

I am not used to eat such nice things; but will not refuse what God

has sent me by so liberal a hand as yours.

While the religious woman was eating, the princess ate something

too, to bear her company, and asked her a great many questions upon

the exercise of devotion which she practised, and how she lived; all

which questions she asked with great modesty. Talking of several

things, at last she asked her what she thought of the house, and how

she liked it.

Madam, answered the devout woman, I must certainly have very bad

taste to disapprove any thing in it, since it is beautiful, regular,

and magnificently furnished with exactness and judgment, and all its

ornaments adjusted in the best manner. Its situation is an agreeable

spot, and no garden can be more delightful; but yet if you will give

me leave to speak my mind freely, I will take the liberty to tell

you, that this house would be incomparable, if it had three things

which are wanting to it. My good mother, replied the princess

Parizade, what are those three things? I conjure you, in God’s

name, to tell me what they are: I will spare nothing to get them if

it be possible.

Madam, replied the devout woman, the first of these three things, is

the speaking bird, which is called Bulbulkezer, and is so singular a

creature that it can draw round it all the singing birds of the

neighbourhood, which come to accompany his song. The second is, the

singing tree, the leaves of which are so many mouths which form a

harmonious concert of different voices, and never cease. The third

is the yellow water of gold colour, a single drop of which being

poured in a vessel properly prepared in whatever part of the garden,

it increases so that it fills it immediately, and rises up in the

middle like a fountain, which continually plays in it, and yet the

basin never overflows.

Ah! my good mother, cried the princess, how much I am obliged to you

for the knowledge of these things! They are surprising, and I never

before heard there were such curious and wonderful things in the

world; but as I am well persuaded that you know where they are, I

expect that you should do me the favour to tell me.

Madam, replied the good woman, I should be unworthy the hospitality

you have with so much goodness shown me, if I should refuse to

satisfy your curiosity in that point; and am glad to have the honour

to tell you that these three things are to be met with in the same

spot on the confines of this kingdom towards India. The road to it

lies before your house, and whoever you send needs but to follow it

for twenty days, and on the twentieth let him but ask the first

person he meets, where the speaking bird, singing tree, and yellow

water are, and he will be informed. After these words, she rose from

her seat, took her leave, and went her way.

The princess Parizade’s thoughts were so taken up with what the

religious woman had told her of the speaking bird, singing tree, and

yellow water, that she never perceived she was gone, till she wanted

to ask her some question for her better information; for she thought

that what she had told her was not a sufficient reason for exposing

herself by undertaking a long journey possibly to no purpose.

However, she would not send after her to fetch her back, but

endeavoured to remember all she had told her; and when she thought

she had recollected every word, she took real pleasure in thinking

of the satisfaction she should have, if she could get these

wonderful things into her possession; but the difficulties she

apprehended, and the fear of not succeeding, made her very uneasy.

She was lost in these thoughts, when her brothers returned from

hunting; who, when they entered the great hall, instead of finding

her lively and gay, as she used to be, were amazed to see her so

pensive, and hang down her head as if something troubled her.

Sister, said prince Bahman, what is become of all your mirth and

gayety? Are you not well? or has some misfortune befallen you? Has

any body given you reason to be so melancholy? Tell us, that we may

know how to act, and give you some relief. If any body has affronted

you, we will resent it.

The princess Parizade remained in the same posture some time without

answering; but at last lifted up her eyes to look at her brothers,

and then held them down again, telling them nothing disturbed her.

Sister, said prince Bahman, you conceal the truth from us; there

must be something of consequence. It is impossible, for the short

time we have been absent, we could observe so sudden a change, if

nothing was the matter with you. You would not have us satisfied

with the unsatisfactory answer you have given us: do not conceal any

thing from us, unless you would have us believe that you renounce

the friendship and strict union which have hitherto subsisted

between us from our infancy.

The princess, who had not the smallest intention to break with her

brothers, would not suffer them to entertain such a thought, but

said, When I told you nothing disturbed me, I meant, nothing that

was of any great importance to you; but to me it is of some

consequence; and since you press me to tell you by our strict union

and friendship, which are so dear to me, I will. You think, and I

always believed so too, that this house, which our late father built

for us, was complete in every thing, and that nothing was wanting.

But this day I have learned that it wants three things, which would

render it so perfect, that no country-seat in the world could be

compared with it. These three things are, the speaking bird, the

singing tree, and the yellow water. After she had informed them

wherein consisted the excellency of these three rarities, A

religious woman, added she, has made this discovery to me, and told

me the place where they are to be found, and the way thither.

Perhaps you may imagine these things to be trifles, and of little

consequence to render our house complete, and that, without these

additions, it will always be thought fine enough with what it

already contains, and that we can do without them. You may think as

you please; but I cannot help telling you that I am persuaded they

are absolutely necessary, and I shall not be easy without them.

Therefore, whether you value them or not, I desire you to give me

your opinion, and consider what person you may think proper for me

to send on this conquest.

Sister, replied prince Bahman, nothing can concern you in which we

have not an equal interest. It is enough you have an earnest desire

for the things you mention, to oblige us to take the same interest;

but if you had not, we feel ourselves inclined of our own accord,

and for our own particular satisfaction. I am persuaded my brother

is of the same opinion, and therefore we ought to undertake this

conquest, as you call it; for the importance and singularity of it

deserves that name. I will take that charge upon myself; only tell

me the place, and the way to it, and I will defer my journey no

longer than till to-morrow.

Brother, said prince Perviz, it is not convenient that you, who are

the head and support of the family, should be absent so long. I

desire my sister would join with me to oblige you to abandon your

design, and allow me to undertake it. I hope to acquit myself as

well as you, and it will be a more regular proceeding. --I am

persuaded of your good-will, brother, replied prince Bahman, and

that you will acquit yourself as well as me in this journey; but I

have resolved on it, and will do it. You shall stay at home with our

sister, and I need not recommend her to you. He spent the remainder

of that day in making preparations for his journey, and informing

himself from the princess of the directions the devout woman left

her, that he might not miss his way.

The next morning early, prince Bahman mounted his horse, and prince

Perviz and the princess Parizade, who would see him set out,

embraced, and wished him a good journey. But in the midst of their

adieus, the princess recollected one thing, which she had not

thought on before. Brother, said she, I had quite forgotten the

accidents which attend travellers. Who knows whether I shall ever

see you again? Alight, I beseech you, and give up this journey. I

would rather be deprived of the sight and possession of the speaking

bird, singing-tree, and yellow water, than run the risk of never

seeing you more.

Sister, replied prince Bahman, smiling at the sudden fears of the

princess Parizade, my resolution is fixed, and was it not, I should

determine upon it now, and you must allow me to execute it. The

accidents you speak of befall only those who are unfortunate. It is

true, I may be of that number; but there are more who are not so

than who are, and I may be of the former number. But as events are

uncertain, and I may fall in this undertaking, all I can do is to

leave you this knife.

Then prince Bahman pulled a knife out of his pocket, and presenting

it in the sheath to the princess, said, Take this knife, sister, and

give yourself the trouble sometimes to pull it out of the sheath:

while you see it clean as it is now, it shall be a sign that I am

alive; but if you find it stained with blood, then you may believe

me dead, and indulge me with your prayers.

The princess Parizade could obtain nothing more of prince Bahman. He

bade adieu to her and prince Perviz for the last time, and rode away

well mounted, armed, and equipped. When he got into the road, he

never turned to the right hand nor to the left, but went directly

forwards toward India. The twentieth day he perceived on the road

side a hideous old man, who sat under a tree some small distance

from a thatched house, which was his retreat from the weather.

His eyebrows were as white as snow, and so was the hair of his head;

his whiskers covered his mouth, and his beard and hair reached down

to his feet. The nails of his hands and feet were grown to an

extensive length; his flat broad hat, like an umbrella, covered his

head. He had no clothes, but only a mat thrown round his body.

This old man was a dervise, who had for many years retired from the

world, and had neglected himself to give himself up entirely to the

service of God; so that at last he was become what we have described.

Prince Bahman, who had been all that morning very attentive to see

if he could meet with any body that could give him information of

the place he was going to, stopped when he came near the dervise, as

the first person he had met and alighted from off his horse, in

conformity to the directions the religious woman had given the

princess Parizade; and leading his horse by the bridle, advanced

towards him, and saluting him, said, God prolong your days, good

father, and grant you the accomplishment of your desires.

The dervise returned the prince’s salutation, but so

unintelligibly, that he could not understand one word he said:

prince Bahman perceiving that this difficulty proceeded from the

dervise’s whiskers hanging over his mouth, and unwilling to go any

farther without the instructions he wanted, he pulled out a pair of

scissors he had about him, and having tied his horse to a branch of

the tree, said to the dervise, Good dervise, I want to have some

talk with you; but your whiskers prevent my understanding what you

say; and if you will consent, I will cut off some part of them and

of your eyebrows, which disfigures you so much, that you look more

like a bear than a man.

The dervise did not oppose the prince, but let him do it; and when

the prince had cut off as much hair as he thought fit, he perceived

that the dervise had a good complexion, and that he did not seem so

old as he really was. Good dervise, said he, if I had a glass, I

would show you how young you look: you are now a man, but before,

nobody could tell what you were.

The kind behaviour of prince Bahman made the dervise smile, and

return his compliment. Sir, said be, whoever you are, I am

infinitely obliged to you for the good office you have done me, and

am ready to show my gratitude, by doing any thing in my power for

you. You must have alighted here upon some account or other. Tell me

what it is, and I will endeavour to serve you if I can.

Good dervise, replied prince Bahman, I have come a great way, and am

in search after the speaking bird, the singing tree, and the yellow

water; I know these three things are not far from hence, but cannot

tell exactly the place where they are to be found: if you know, I

conjure you to show me the way, that I may not mistake it, and lose

my labour after so long a journey.

The prince, while he spoke, observed that the dervise changed

countenance, held down his eyes, and looked very serious, and,

instead of making any reply, remained silent; which obliged him to

say to him again, Good father, I fancy you heard me; tell me whether

you know what I ask you, that I may not lose my time, and inform

myself somewhere else.

At last the dervise broke silence. Sir, said he to prince Bahman, I

know the way you ask of me; but the friendship which I conceived for

you the first moment I saw you, and which is grown stronger by the

service you have done me, kept me in suspense, whether I should give

you the satisfaction you desire. What motive can hinder you? replied

the prince; and what difficulties do you find in so doing? I will

tell you, replied the dervise; the danger you are going to expose

yourself to is greater than you can believe. A great number of

gentlemen, of as much bravery and courage as you can have, passed by

here, and asked me the same question you do now. When I had used all

my endeavours to persuade them to desist, they would not believe me;

at last, I have yielded to their importunities; I was compelled to

show them the way, and I can assure you they have all perished, and

I have not seen one come back again. Therefore, if you have any

regard for your life, take my advice, go no farther, return home.

Prince Bahman persisted in his resolution. I will not believe, said

he to the dervise, but that your advice is sincere. I am obliged to

you for the friendship you express for me; but whatever may be the

danger you tell me of, nothing shall make me change my intention:

whoever attacks me, I am well armed, and can say I am as brave as

any one. But they who shall attack you are not to be seen, replied

the dervise, for there are a great many of them; how will you defend

yourself against invisible persons? It is no matter, answered the

prince; all you say shall not persuade me to do any thing contrary

to my duty. Since you know the way, I conjure you once more to tell

me, and not refuse me that favour.

When the dervise found he could not prevail upon prince Bahman, and

that he was obstinately bent to pursue his journey, notwithstanding

the wholesome advice he gave him, he put his hand into a bag that

lay by him, and pulled out a bowl, which he presented to him. Since

I cannot prevail on you to hear me and take my advice, said he, take

this bowl, and when you are on horseback throw it before you, and

follow it to the foot of a mountain, where it will stop. As soon as

the bowl stops, alight, and leave your horse with the bridle over

his neck, and he will stand in the same place till you return. As

you go up the hill, you will see on your right and left hand a great

quantity of large black stones, and will hear on all sides of you a

confusion of voices, which will say a thousand injurious things to

you to discourage you, and prevent your climbing up to the top of

the hill: but take care, and be not afraid; and, above all things,

do not turn your head to look behind you; for in that instant you

will be changed into such a black stone as those you see, which are

all so many gentlemen, who have failed in this enterprise, as I told

you. If you escape the danger which I give you but a slight

description of, that you might reflect on it, and get to the top of

the mountain, you will see a cage, and in that cage is the bird you

seek: ask him where are the singing tree and the yellow water, and

he will tell you. I have nothing more to say; this is what you have

to do, and the danger you have to avoid; but if you would believe

me, you would take my advice, and not expose your life. Consider

once more while you have time, that the difficulty is almost

insuperable, and attached to a condition which may be counteracted

even by inadvertence, as you may easily comprehend.

I am very much obliged to you for your repeated advice, replied

prince Bahman, after he had received the bowl, but I cannot follow

it. However, I will endeavour to conform myself to that part of it

which bids me not to look behind me as I go up, and I hope to come

and see you again soon, and thank you more when I have got what I am

in search after. After these words, to which the dervise made no

other answer than that he should be overjoyed to see him again, and

wished that might be the case, he mounted his horse, took his leave

of the dervise with a low bow, and threw the bowl before him.

The bowl rolled away to the last with as much swiftness as when

prince Bahman first delivered it out of his hand, which obliged him

to put his horse to the same pace to follow it without losing sight

of it, and when it came to the foot of the mountain which the

dervise named, it stopped. The prince alighted from off his horse,

which never stirred from the spot, though he had the bridle on his

neck; and having first surveyed the mountain, and seen the black

stones, he began to climb up it; but he had not gone four steps,

before he heard the voices mentioned by the dervise, though he could

see nobody. Some said, Where is that fool going? where is he going?

what would he have? do not let him pass. Others, Stop him, catch

him, kill him; and others with a voice like thunder, Thief!

assassin! murderer! while some in a gibing tone, cried, No, no, do

not hurt him; let the pretty fellow pass; the cage and bird are kept

for him.

Notwithstanding all those troublesome voices, prince Bahman mounted

with courage and resolution for some time, but the voices increasing

with so loud a din so near him, both behind and before, at last he

was seized with fear, his legs trembled under him, he staggered, and

presently finding that his strength failed him, he forgot the

dervise’s advice, turned about to run down the hill, and was that

instant changed into a black stone, --a metamorphosis which had

happened to so many before him, who had attempted the same thing.

His horse likewise underwent the same change.

From the time of prince Bahman’s departure, the princess Parizade

always wore the knife and sheath in her girdle, and pulled it out

several times in a day to know whether her brother was alive. She

had the consolation to understand he was in perfect health, and to

talk of him frequently with prince Perviz, who sometimes prevented

her by asking her what news.

On the fatal day that prince Bahman was metamorphosed into a stone,

as prince Perviz and the princess were talking together in the

evening, as usual, the prince desired his sister to pull out the

knife, to know how their brother did. The princess drew out the

knife, and looking upon it, and seeing the blood run down the point,

was seized with so much horror and grief, that she threw it down.

Ah! my dear brother, cried she; I have been the cause of your death,

and shall never see you more! How unhappy am I! Why did I tell you

of the speaking bird, singing tree, and yellow water? or rather, of

what importance was it to me to know whether the religious woman

thought this house ugly or handsome, or complete or not? I wish to

heaven she had never addressed herself to me! Deceitful hypocrite!

added she, is this the return you have made me for the kind

reception I gave you? Why did you tell me of a bird, a tree, and a

water, which, imaginary as I am persuaded they are, by my dear

brother’s death, yet disturb me, by your enchantment.

Prince Perviz was as much afflicted at the death of prince Bahman as

the princess; but not to waste time in needless regret, as he knew

by the princess’s sorrow that she still passionately desired the

possession of the speaking bird, the singing tree, and the golden

water, he interrupted her, and said, Sister, our regret for our

brother Bahman is vain and useless, for our grief and lamentations

cannot restore him to life; it is the will of God, and we must

submit to it, and adore the decrees of the Almighty, without

searching into them. Why should you now doubt of the truth of what

the holy woman told you? do you think she spoke to you of three

things that were not in being? and that she invented them on purpose

to deceive you, who had given her no cause to do so, but received

her with so much goodness and civility? Let us rather believe that

our brother’s death is owing to some fault of his, or some

accident, which we cannot conceive. It ought not therefore to

prevent us from pursuing our object. I offered to go this journey,

and am in the same mind still; his example has no effect upon my

resolution; to-morrow I will go myself.

The princess did all she could to dissuade prince Perviz, conjuring

him not to expose her to the danger of losing two brothers instead

of one; but he was resolved, and all the remonstrances she could

urge had no effect upon him. Before he went, that she might know

what success he had, as she did that of his brother by the knife, he

left her a string of a hundred pearls, telling her, that if they

would not run when she told them upon the string, but remain fixed,

that should be a certain sign he had undergone the same late as his

brother; but at the same time told her, he hoped that would never

happen, but that he should have the happiness to see her again, to

their mutual satisfaction.

Prince Perviz, on the twentieth day from his setting out, met with

the same dervise in the same place his brother Bahman had done

before him. He went directly up to him, and after he had saluted

him, asked him if he could tell him where to find the speaking bird,

the singing tree, and the golden water? The dervise made the same

difficulties and remonstrances he had done to prince Bahman, telling

him, that a young gentleman, who very much resembled him, was with

him a short time before; that, overcome by his importunity and

pressing instances, he showed him the way, gave turn a guide, and

told him how he should act to succeed; but that he had not seen him

since, and doubted not but he had shared the same fate as all before

him.

Good dervise, answered prince Perviz, I know whom you speak of; he

was my elder brother, and I am informed of the certainty of his

death, but know not what it was. I can tell you, replied the

dervise: he was changed into a black stone, as all I speak of have

been; and you must expect the same change, unless you observe more

exactly than he has done the good advice I gave him, in case you

persist in your resolution, which I once more entreat you to

renounce.

Dervise, said prince Perviz, I cannot enough express how much I am

obliged to you for the care you take of my life, who am a stranger

to you, and have done nothing to deserve your kindness: but I must

tell you, I have thoroughly considered this enterprise before I

undertook it, and I cannot give it up: therefore I beg of you to do

me the same favour you have done my brother. Perhaps I may have

better success in following the directions I expect from you. Since

I cannot prevail with you, said the dervise, nor persuade you to

give up your obstinate resolution, if my age did not prevent me, and

I could stand, I would get up to reach you a bowl I have here, which

will show you the way.

Without giving the dervise time to say more, the prince alighted

from his horse, and went up to the dervise, who had taken a bowl out

of his bag, in which he had a great many others, and gave it him,

with the same directions he had given prince Bahman; and, after

warning him not to be frightened at the voices he should hear,

without seeing any body, however threatening they might be, but to

continue his way up the hill till he saw the cage and bird, he let

him go.

Prince Perviz thanked the dervise, and when he had remounted his

horse, and taken his leave, he threw the bowl before his horse, and

spurring him at the same time, followed it. When the bowl came to

the bottom of the hill, it stopped, and the prince got off his

horse, and stood some time to recollect the dervise’s directions.

He encouraged himself, and began to walk up with a resolution to

reach the top; but before he had gone above six steps, he heard a

voice, which seemed to be very near him, as of a man behind him,

say, in an insulting tone, Stay, rash youth, that I may punish you

for your boldness.

Upon this affront, the prince forgetting the dervise’s advice,

clapped his hand upon his sword and drew it, and turned about to

revenge himself; but had scarce time to see that nobody followed

him, before he and his horse were changed into black stones.

In the mean time the princess Parizade, several times a day after

her brother Perviz set out, strung over her chaplet which she

received from his hand the day he set out; and when she had nothing

else to do, she told the grains over her fingers, one after another.

She did not omit it at night, but when she went to bed put it about

her neck; and in the morning when she awoke, counted over the pearls

again to see if they would slide.

The day that prince Perviz was changed into a stone, she was pulling

over the pearls as she used to do, when all of a sudden she could

not stir them, and never doubted that it was a certain token that

the prince her brother was dead. As she had determined before what

to do, in case it should so happen, she lost no time in outward show

of grief, which she concealed as much as possible; but having

disguised herself in man’s apparel, armed and equipped, she

mounted her horse the next morning, having told her servants she

should return in two or three days, and took the same road her

brothers had done before her.

The princess, who had been used to ride on horseback in hunting,

supported the fatigue of so long a journey better than other ladies

could have done; and as she made the same days’ journeys as her

brothers, she also met with the dervise on the twentieth day. When

she came near him, she alighted off her horse, and leading him by

the bridle, went and sat down by the dervise, and after she had

saluted him, she said, Good dervise, give me leave to rest myself by

you; and do me the favour to tell me if you have not heard that

there are somewhere hereabouts a speaking bird, a singing tree, and

golden water.

Madam, answered the dervise, for so I must call you, since by your

voice I know you to be a woman disguised in man’s apparel, I thank

you for your compliment, and receive the honour you do me with great

pleasure. I know the place very well where these things you speak of

are to be found: but what makes you ask me this question?

Good dervise, replied the princess, I have had such an advantageous

relation of them given me, that I have a very great desire to

possess them. --Madam, replied the dervise, you have been told the

truth. These things are more singular and surprising than they have

been represented to you, but you have not been acquainted with the

difficulties which must be surmounted in order to obtain them. If

you had been fully informed of them, you would not have undertaken

so troublesome and dangerous an enterprise. Take my advice; go no

farther; return, and do not urge me to contribute towards your ruin.

Good father, said the princess, I have come a great way, and should

be sorry to return home without executing my design. You talk of

difficulties, and danger of my life; but you do not tell me what

those difficulties are, and wherein the danger consists. This is

what I desire to know, that I may consider of it, and judge whether

I can or cannot trust my courage and strength to undertake it.

Then the dervise repeated to the princess Parizade what he had said

to the princes Bahman and Perviz, exaggerating the difficulties of

climbing up to the top of the mountain, where she was to make

herself mistress of the bird, which would inform her of the singing

tree and golden water; the noise and din of the terrible threatening

voices which she would hear on all sides of her, without seeing any

body; and in short, the great quantity of black stones, alone

sufficient to strike terror into her and every one else. He

entreated her to reflect, that those stones were so many brave

gentlemen, so metamorphosed, for omitting to observe the principal

condition for success in that undertaking, which was, not to look

behind them before they had got possession of the cage.

When the dervise had done, the princess replied, By what I

comprehend from your discourse, the difficulty of succeeding in this

affair is, first, the getting up to the cage, without being

frightened at the terrible din of voices I shall hear; and secondly,

not to look behind me: for this last, I hope I shall be mistress

enough of myself to observe it. As to the first, I own that those

voices, such as you represent them to be, are capable of striking

terror into the most undaunted; but as in all enterprises and

dangers every one may use contrivance, I desire to know of you if I

may make use of it in one of so great importance to me? And what is

that you would make use of, said the dervise. To stop my ears with

cotton, answered the princess, that the voices, however loud and

terrible they may be, may make less impression on my imagination,

and my mind may remain free from that disturbance which might make

me lose the use of my reason.

Madam, replied the dervise, of all the persons who have addressed

themselves to me, to ask the way, I do not know that ever any one

made use of the contrivance you propose. All I know is, they all

perished. If you persist in your design, you may make the

experiment. You will be fortunate if it succeeds; but I would advise

you not to expose yourself to the danger.

My good father, replied the princess, nothing prevents my persisting

in my design. I am sure my contrivance will succeed, and am resolved

to try the experiment. Nothing remains for me but to know which way

I must go, a favour I conjure you not to refuse me. The dervise

exhorted her again, for the last time, to consider well what she was

going to do; but finding her resolute, he took out a bowl, and

presenting it to her, said, Take this bowl; mount your horse again,

and when you have thrown it before you, follow it through all its

windings, till it stops at the bottom of the mountain, and there do

you stop, light off your horse, and ascend the mountain. Go, you

know the rest; but be sure not to forget to avail yourself of what I

have told you.

After the princess Parizade had thanked the dervise, and taken her

leave of him, she mounted her horse, threw the bowl before her, and

followed it till it stopped at the foot of the mountain.

The princess alighted from her horse, stopped her ears with cotton;

and after she had well examined the way she was to keep to get up to

the top, she began with a moderate pace, and walked up with

intrepidity. She heard the voices, and perceived the great service

the cotton was to her. The higher she went, the louder and more

numerous the voices seemed; but they were not capable of making any

impression on her. She heard a great many affronting speeches, and

raillery very disagreeable to a woman, which she only laughed at. I

mind not, said she to herself, all that can be said, were it worse;

I only laugh at them, and shall pursue my way. At last she got so

high, that she began to perceive the cage and bird, which

endeavoured, with the voices, to frighten her, crying in a

thundering voice, notwithstanding the smallness of its size, Retire,

fool, and come no higher.

The princess, encouraged more by this object, redoubled her haste,

and soon saw herself just at her journey’s end; she got to the top

of the mountain, where the ground was level; and running directly to

the cage, and clapping her hand upon it, cried, Bird, I have you, in

spite of you, and you shall not escape me.

When the princess Parizade was pulling the cotton out of her ears,

the bird said to her, Brave lady, be not angry with me for joining

with those who exerted themselves to preserve my liberty. Though

kept in a cage, I was content with my condition; but since I am

destined to be a slave, I would rather be yours than any other

person’s in the world, since you have obtained me so courageously

and so worthily. From this instant I swear inviolable fidelity to

you, and an entire submission to your commands. I know who you are,

and will tell you. You do not know yourself who you are; but the

time will come when I shall do you a piece of service, which I hope

you will think yourself obliged to me for. For a proof of my

sincerity, tell me what you desire, and I am ready to obey you.

The princess’s joy was the more inexpressible, because the

conquest she had made had cost her the lives of two beloved

brothers, and given her more trouble and danger than she could have

imagined before she tried it, notwithstanding what the dervise had

represented to her. Bird, said she, it was my intention to have told

you that I wish for many things which are of the last importance to

me; and am overjoyed that you have shown your good will, and

prevented me. I have been told that there is not far off a golden

water, the property of which is very wonderful; before all things, I

ask you to tell me where it is. The bird showed her the place, which

was just by, and she went and filled a little silver flagon which

she had brought along with her. She returned to the bird, and said,

Bird, this is not enough; I want also the singing tree: tell me

where it is. Turn about, said the bird, and you will see behind you

a wood, where you will find this tree. The princess went into the

wood, and by the harmonious concert she heard, soon knew the tree

among many others, but it was very large and high. She came back to

the bird, and said to it, Bird, I have found the singing tree, but I

can neither pull it up by the roots nor carry it. The bird replied,

It is not necessary that you should take it up by the roots; it is

enough that you break off a branch, and carry it to plant in your

garden: it will take root as soon as it is put into the earth, and

in a little time will grow to as fine a tree as this you see.

When the princess Parizade had in her hand the three things which

the religious woman had told her of, and for which she had conceived

so great a desire, she said again to the bird, Bird, all you have

done for me yet is not enough. You have been the cause of the death

of my two brothers, who must be among the black stones which I saw

as I came up the hill. I wish to take them home with me.

The bird seemed reluctant to satisfy the princess in this point,

and, indeed, made some difficulty to do it. Bird, said the princess,

remember you told me that you were my slave. You are so; and your

life is at my disposal. I cannot controvert that truth, answered the

bird; but, although what you now ask of me is more difficult than

all the rest, yet I will do it for you. --Cast your eyes around,

added he, and look if you can see a little pitcher. I see it

already, said the princess. Take it, then, said he, and as you go

down the hill, spill a little of the water that is in it upon every

black stone, and that will be the way to find your brothers again.

The princess Parizade took up the pitcher, and carried with her the

cage and bird, the flagon of golden water, and the branch of the

singing tree; and as she went down the hill, spilt a little of the

water on every black stone, which was changed immediately into a

man; and as she did not miss one stone, all the horses, both of the

princes her brothers, and of the other gentlemen, resumed their

former shape. She presently knew prince Bahman and prince Perviz, as

they did her, and ran to embrace her. She returned their embraces,

and expressed her amazement. What do you here, my dear brothers?

said she. They told her they had been asleep. Yes, replied she, and

if it had not been for me, perhaps you might have slept till the day

of judgment. Do not you remember that you came here to fetch the

speaking bird, the singing tree, and the yellow water? and did not

you see, as you came along, the place covered with black stones?

Look and see if there be any now. The gentlemen you see here, and

their horses which surround us, and you yourselves, were these black

stones. If you desire to know how this wonder was performed,

continued she, showing the pitcher, which she set down at the foot

of the mountain, having no further use for it, it was done by virtue

of the water which was in this pitcher, with which I sprinkled every

stone. After I had made this speaking bird (which you see in this

cage) my slave, by his directions I found out the singing tree, a

branch of which I have now in my hand, and the yellow water, which

this flagon is filled with; but being still unwilling to return home

without taking you with me, I constrained the bird, by the power I

had over him, to afford me the means. He told me where to find this

pitcher, and the use I was to make of it.

Prince Bahman and prince Perviz knew by this discourse the

obligation they had to the princess their sister, as did all the

other gentlemen, who were collected round, and heard all that was

said; and expressed to the princes, that, far from envying her

happiness in the conquest she had made, and which they all aspired

to, they thought that they could not any otherwise acknowledge the

favour she had done them, or better express their gratitude to her

for restoring them to life again, than by declaring themselves all

her slaves, and that they were ready to obey her in whatever she

should command.

Gentlemen, replied the princess, if you had given any attention to

my discourse, you might have observed, that I had no other intention

in what I have done than to find out my brothers again; therefore,

if you have received any benefit, you have no obligation to me for

it, and I have no further share in your compliment than your

politeness towards me, and I return you my thanks, as I ought. In

other respects, I look upon each of you individually as persons

free, as you were before your misfortunes; and I rejoice with you

for the happiness which has accrued to you by my means. Let us,

however, stay no longer in a place where we have nothing to detain

us, but mount our horses, and return to our respective homes.

The princess Parizade showed them the way. She went and took her

horse, which stood in the same place where she left him. Before she

mounted, prince Bahman, who would help her, desired her to give him

the cage to carry. Brother, replied the princess, the bird is my

slave, and I will carry him myself; if you will take the pains to

carry the branch of the singing tree, there it is; only hold the

cage while I get on horseback. When she had mounted her horse, and

prince Bahman had given her the cage, she turned about, and said to

prince Perviz, I leave the flagon of golden water to your care, if

it will not be too much trouble for you to carry. Prince Perviz took

charge of it with pleasure.

When prince Bahman and prince Perviz, and all the gentlemen, had

mounted their horses, the princess Parizade waited for some of them

to lead the way. The two princes paid that compliment to the

gentlemen, and they again to the princess, who, finding that none of

them would accept of the honour, but that it was reserved for her,

addressed herself to them, and said, Gentlemen, I expect that some

of you should lead the way; to which one who was nearest to her, in

the name of the rest, replied, Madam, were we ignorant of the

respect due to your sex, yet, after what you have done for us, there

is no respect we would not willingly pay you, notwithstanding your

modesty; we entreat you no longer to deprive us of the happiness of

following you.

Gentlemen, said the princess, I do not deserve the honour you do me,

and accept it only because you desire it. At the same time, she led

the way, and the two princes and gentlemen followed her without the

least distinction.

This illustrious company called upon the dervise, as they passed by,

to thank him for his good reception and wholesome advice, which they

all found to be sincere. But he was dead; whether of old age, or

because he was no longer necessary to show the way to the obtaining

the three rarities which the princess Parizade was possessed of, did

not appear. They pursued their way, but lessened in their numbers

every day. The gentlemen, who, as we said before, had come from

different countries, after severally repeating their obligations to

the princess and her brothers, took leave of them one after another

as they approached the road by which they had come. The princess and

the two princes made the best of their way home.

As soon as the princess came home, she placed the cage in the

garden, just by the hall; and the bird no sooner began to sing, but

he was surrounded by nightingales, chaffinches, larks, linnets,

goldfinches, and a great many birds of the country. As for the

branch of the singing tree, it was no sooner set in the midst of the

parterre, a little distance from the house, but it took root, and in

a short time became a large tree; the leaves of which soon gave as

harmonious a concert as those of the tree from which it was

gathered. As to the flagon of the yellow golden water, a large basin

of beautiful marble was made in the midst of the parterre; and when

it was finished, the princess poured into it all the yellow water

that was in the flagon, which increased and swelled so much, that it

soon reached up to the edges of the basin, and afterwards formed in

the middle a fountain twenty feet high, which fell again into the

basin perpetually, without running over.

The report of these wonders was presently spread abroad in that

neighbourhood; and as the doors of the house and those of the

gardens were shut to nobody, a great number of people came to admire

them.

Some days after, when the princes Bahman and Perviz had recovered

from the fatigue of their journeys, they resumed their former way of

living; and as their usual diversion was hunting, they mounted their

horses, and went for the first time since their return, not in their

own park, but two or three leagues from their house. As they pursued

their sport, the sultan of Persia came up hunting on the same spot

of ground that they had made choice of. When they perceived by the

number of horsemen in different places that he would soon be up,

they resolved to leave off their chase, and retire to avoid meeting

him; but in the very road they took, they chanced to meet him in so

narrow a way, that they could not turn away nor retreat without

being seen. In their surprise, they had only time to alight, and

prostrate themselves before the sultan, without lifting up their

heads to look at him. The sultan, who saw they were as well mounted

and dressed as if they had belonged to his court, had the curiosity

to see their faces. He stopped, and commanded them to rise. The

princes rose up, and stood before the sultan with an easy and

graceful air, accompanied with respectful, modest countenances. The

sultan took some time to view them from head to foot, before he

spoke; and after he had admired their good air and mien, he asked

them who they were, and where they lived.

Sir, said prince Bahman, we are the sons of your majesty’s late

intendant of your gardens; and we live in a house which he built, a

little before he died, for us to live in, till we should be fit to

serve your majesty, and ask of you some employment when opportunity

offered.

By what I perceive from you, replied the sultan, you love hunting.

Sir, answered prince Bahman, it is our common exercise, and what

none of your majesty’s subjects, who intend to bear arms in your

armies, ought, according to the ancient custom of the kingdom, to

neglect. The sultan, charmed with so prudent an answer, said, Since

it is so, I should be glad to see you hunt game; make choice of what

you like.

The princes mounted their horses again, and followed the sultan; but

had not gone far before they met a great many wild beasts together.

Prince Bahman chose a lion, and prince Perviz a bear; and pursued

them with so much intrepidity, that the sultan was surprised. They

came up with their game nearly at the same time, and darted their

javelins with so much skill and address, that they pierced, the one

the lion, and the other the bear, through and through, so that the

sultan, with his own eyes, saw them fall a little time one after the

other. Immediately afterwards prince Bahman pursued another bear,

and prince Perviz another lion, and killed them in a short time, and

would have beat out for fresh game, but the sultan would not let

them, but sent to them to come to him. When they came near him, he

said, If I would have given you leave, you would soon have destroyed

all my game: but it is not that which I would preserve, but your

persons; for I am so very well assured your bravery may one time or

other be serviceable to me, that from this moment your lives will be

always dear to me.

The sultan Khosrouschah, in short, conceived so great a kindness for

the two princes, that he invited them immediately to make him a

visit; to which prince Bahman replied, Your majesty does us an

honour we do not deserve; and we beg you will excuse us.

The sultan, who could not comprehend what reason the princes could

have to refuse this token of his favour, asked and pressed them to

tell him why they excused themselves. Sir, said prince Bahman, we

have a sister younger than us, with whom we live in so perfect a

union, that we undertake and do nothing before we consult her, nor

she any thing without asking our advice. I commend your brotherly

affection, answered the sultan. Consult your sister, meet me here

to-morrow hunting, and give me an answer.

The princes went home; but not only forgot to speak of their

adventure in meeting the sultan, and hunting with him, but to tell

the princess the honour he had done them, by asking them to go home

with him; yet did not the next morning fail to meet him at the place

appointed. Well, said the sultan, have you spoken to your sister?

And has she consented to the pleasure I expect of seeing you? The

princes looked at each other and blushed. Sir, said prince Bahman,

we beg your majesty to excuse us; for both my brother and I forgot.

Then remember to-day, replied the sultan, and be sure to bring me an

answer to-morrow.

The princes were guilty of the same fault a second time, and the

sultan was so good-natured as to forgive their negligence; but to

prevent their forgetfulness the third time, he pulled three little

golden balls out of a purse, and put them into prince Bahman’s

bosom. These balls, said he, smiling, will prevent your forgetting a

third time what I wish you to do for my sake; since the noise they

will make by falling on the floor, when you undress yourself, will

remind you, if you do not recollect it before. The event happened

just as the sultan foresaw; and without these balls the princes had

not thought of speaking to their sister of this affair. For as

prince Bahman unloosed his girdle to go to bed, the balls dropped on

the floor, and thereupon he ran into prince Perviz’s chamber, and

both went to princess Parizade’s apartment before she was got into

bed, and after they had asked her pardon for coming at so

unseasonable a time, they told her all the circumstances of their

meeting the sultan.

The princess Parizade was somewhat surprised at this news. Your

meeting with the sultan, said she, is very happy and honourable, and

may in the end be very advantageous to you, but it is very

disagreeable and distressing to me. It was on my account, I know,

you refused the sultan, and I am infinitely obliged to you for it. I

know by this your friendship is perfectly consistent with mine,

since you would rather be guilty of incivility towards the sultan,

than break the brotherly union we have sworn to each other. You

judged right, that if you had once gone, you would insensibly have

been engaged to leave me, to devote yourselves to him. But do you

think it an easy matter absolutely to refuse the sultan what he

seems so earnestly to desire? Sultans will be obeyed in their

desires, and it may be dangerous to oppose them; therefore, if to

follow my inclination, I should dissuade you from showing the

complaisance he expects from you, it may expose you to his

resentment, and may render myself and you miserable. These are my

sentiments: but before we conclude on any thing, let us consult the

speaking bird, and hear what he says; he is penetrating, and has

promised his assistance in all difficulties.

The princess Parizade sent for the cage, and after she had related

the fact to the bird in the presence of her brothers, she asked him

what they should do in this perplexity. The bird answered, The

princes your brothers must conform to the sultan’s pleasure, and

in their turn invite him to come and see your house.

But, bird, replied the princess, my brothers and I love one another,

and our friendship is unparalleled: will not this step be injurious

to that friendship? Not at all, replied the bird; it will become

stronger thereby. Then, answered the princess, the sultan will see

me. The bird told her it was necessary he should see her, and that

every thing would go better afterwards.

Next morning the princes met the sultan hunting, who, at as great a

distance as he could make himself be heard, asked them, if they had

remembered to speak to their sister. Prince Bahman drew near, and

answered, Sir, your majesty may dispose of us as you please; we are

ready to obey you; for we have not only obtained our sister’s

consent with great ease, but she took it amiss that we should pay

her that deference in a matter wherein our duty to your majesty was

concerned. But she is so deserving of it, that if we have offended,

we hope you will pardon us. Do not be uneasy upon that account,

replied the sultan; so far from taking amiss what you have done, I

approve of it, and hope you will have the same deference and

attachment to my person, if I have ever so little share in your

friendship. The princes, confounded at the sultan’s goodness,

returned no other answer but by a low bow, to show the great respect

with which they received it.

The sultan, contrary to his usual custom, did not hunt long that

day. Presuming that the princes possessed wit equal to their courage

and bravery, he longed with impatience to discourse with them more

at liberty. He made them ride on each side of him, an honour which,

without speaking of the principal courtiers who accompanied him, was

envied by the grand vizier, who was very much mortified to see them

preferred before him.

When the sultan entered his capital, the eyes of the people, who

stood in crowds in the streets, were fixed only upon the two princes

Bahman and Perviz; and they were earnest to know who they might be,

whether foreigners or natives.

All, however, agreed in wishing that the sultan had been blessed

with two such handsome lovely princes, and said, he might have had

children as old, if the sultaness, who had suffered the punishment

of her misfortune, had been more fortunate in her lyings-in.

The first thing that the sultan did when he arrived at the palace,

was to carry the princes into the principal apartments; who praised,

without affectation, like persons conversant in such matters, the

beauty and symmetry of the rooms, and the richness of the furniture

and ornaments. Afterwards a magnificent repast was served up, and

the sultan made them sit at the same table with him, which they at

first refused; but finding that it was his pleasure they obeyed.

The sultan, who had himself a great deal of wit, and had made a

considerable progress in the sciences, and particularly in history,

foresaw that the princes, out of modesty and respect, would not take

the liberty of beginning any conversation. Therefore, to give them

an opportunity, he began, and furnished them with subjects all

dinner-time. But whatever he turned the discourse on, they showed so

much wit, judgment, and discernment, that he was struck with

admiration. Were these my own children said he to himself, and I had

improved their talents by suitable education, they could not have

been more ingenious or better informed. In short, he took so great

pleasure in their conversation, that after having sat at table

longer than usual, he went into his closet, where he discoursed a

long time with them, and at last said to them, I never believed that

there were, among my subjects in the country, young gentlemen so

well brought up, so lively, so capable; and I never was better

pleased in my life with any conversation than yours: but it is time

now we should regale our minds with some diversions of my court; and

as nothing is more capable of enlivening the mind than music, you

shall hear a vocal and instrumental concert, which may not be

disagreeable to you.

The sultan no sooner spoke for them, but the musicians, who had

orders to attend, entered, and answered fully the expectations the

princes had entertained of their abilities. After the concerts, an

excellent farce was acted, and the entertainment was concluded by

dancers of both sexes.

The two princes, seeing night drawing on apace, prostrated

themselves at the sultan’s feet; and having first thanked him for

the favours and honours he had heaped on them, asked his leave to

retire; which was granted them by the sultan, who, dismissing them,

said, I give you leave to go; but remember I brought you to the

palace myself only to show you the way; you will be always welcome,

and the oftener you come, you will do me the greater pleasure.

Before they went out of the sultan’s presence, prince Bahman said,

Sir, may we presume to request that your majesty will do us and our

sister the favour to pass by our house, and rest and refresh

yourself after your fatigue, the first time you take the diversion

of hunting in that neighbourhood? It is not worthy your presence;

but monarchs sometimes have vouchsafed to take shelter in a cottage.

Gentlemen, replied the sultan, your house cannot be otherwise than

beautiful, and worthy of you. I will call and see it with pleasure,

which will be the greater, to have for my hosts you and your sister,

who is already dear to me before I have seen her, from the account

you give me of the rare qualities with which she is endowed: and

this satisfaction I will defer no longer than to-morrow morning. I

will be early there to-morrow morning, at the same place where I

shall never forget that I first saw you. Meet me, and you shall be

my guides.

When the princes Bahman and Perviz went home, they gave the princess

Parizade an account of the honourable reception the sultan had given

them; and withal told her that they had invited him to do them the

honour, as he passed by, to call at their house; and that he had

appointed the next day.

If it be so, replied the princess, we must think presently of

preparing a repast fit for his majesty; and for that end, I think it

would be proper we should consult the speaking bird; he will tell

us, perhaps, what meats the sultan likes best. The princes approved

of her thought, and after they retired she consulted the bird alone.

Bird, said she, the sultan will do us the honour to-morrow to come

and see our house, and we are to entertain him; tell us what we

shall do to acquit ourselves to his satisfaction.

Good mistress, replied the bird, you have excellent cooks, let them

do the best they can; but above all things, let them prepare a dish

of cucumbers, stuffed full of pearls, which must be set before the

sultan in the first course before all other meats.

Cucumbers stuffed full of pearls! cried princess Parizade, with

amazement; surely, bird, you do not know what you say; it is an

unheard-of dish. The sultan may admire it as a piece of

magnificence, but he will sit down to table to eat, and not to

admire pearls; besides, the pearls I am worth are not enough for

such a dish.

Mistress, said the bird, do what I say, and be not uneasy at what

shall happen. Nothing but good will follow. As to the pearls, go

early to-morrow morning to the foot of the first tree on your right

hand, in the park, and dig under it, and you will find more than you

want.

That night the princess ordered a gardener to be ready to wait on

her, and the next morning early took him with her, and carried him

to the tree the bird told her of, and bade him dig at its foot. When

the gardener came to a certain depth, he found some resistance to

the spade, and presently discovered a gold box about a foot square,

which he showed the princess. This, said she, is what I brought you

for; take care not to hurt it with the spade.

When the gardener took up the box, he gave it into the princess’s

hands, who, as it was only fastened with neat little hasps, soon

opened it, and found it full of pearls of a moderate size; but equal

and fit for the use that was to be made of them. Very well satisfied

with having found this treasure, after she had shut the box again,

she put it under her arm, and went back to the house, while the

gardener threw the earth into the hole at the foot of the tree as

before.

The princes Bahman and Perviz, who, as they were dressing themselves

in their own apartments, saw the princess their sister in the garden

earlier than usual, as soon as they could get out, went to her, and

met her as she was coming back, with a gold box under her arm, which

very much surprised them. Sister, said Bahman, you carried nothing

with you when we saw you before with the gardener, and now we see

you have got a golden box: is this some treasure found by the

gardener, and did he come and tell you of it?

No, brother, answered the princess, I carried the gardener to the

place where this coffer was hid, and showed him where to dig: but

you will be more amazed when you see what it holds.

The princess opened the box, and when the princes saw it was full of

pearls, which, though small, were of great value, they asked her how

she came to the knowledge of this treasure. Brothers, said she, if

nothing more pressing calls you elsewhere, come with me, and I will

tell you. What more pressing business, said prince Perviz, can we

have than to be informed of what concerns us so much? We have

nothing to do but meet you. The princess, as they returned back to

the house, gave them an account of her consulting the bird, as they

had agreed she should, and the answer he gave her; the objection she

raised to preparing a dish of cucumbers stuffed full of pearls, and

pointed out the manner of doing it, and how he had told her where to

find this box. The princes and princess formed many conjectures to

penetrate into what the bird could mean by ordering them to prepare

such a dish; and after much conversation, though they could not by

any means guess at his reason for so doing, they nevertheless agreed

to follow his advice exactly.

As soon as the princess got into the house, she called for the head

cook; and after she had given him directions about the entertainment

for the sultan, she said to him, Besides all this you must dress an

extraordinary dish for the sultan’s own eating, which nobody else

must have any thing to do with besides yourself. This dish must be

of cucumbers stuffed with these pearls; and at the same time she

opened the box, and showed him the pearls.

The chief cook, who had never heard of such a dish, started back,

and showed by his looks his thoughts; which the princess penetrating

into, said, I see you take me to be mad to order such a dish, which

you never heard of, and which one may say with certainty was never

made. I know this as well as you; but I am not mad, and give you

these orders with the most perfect recollection. You must go and

invent and do the best you can, and bring me back what pearls are

left. The cook could make no reply, but took the box and went away

with it: and afterwards the princess gave directions to all the

servants to have every thing in order, both in the house and

gardens, to receive the sultan.

Next day the two princes went to the place appointed; and as soon as

the sultan of Persia came, the chase began, which lasted till the

heat of the sun obliged him to leave off. While prince Bahman stayed

to conduct the sultan to their house, prince Perviz rode before to

show the way, and when he came in sight of the house, spurred his

horse, to inform the princess Parizade that the sultan was coming;

but she had been told by some servants whom she placed to give

notice before, and the prince found her waiting ready to receive him.

When the sultan entered the court-yard, and alighted at the portico,

the princess Parizade came and threw herself at his feet, and the

two princes informed him she was their sister, and besought him to

accept of her respects.

The sultan stooped to help her up, and after he had gazed some time

on her beauty, and, struck with her good person, noble air, and a

_je ne scai quoi_, which seemed different from the country where she

lived, he said, The brothers are worthy of the sister, and she

worthy of them; and to judge of her understanding by her person, I

am not amazed that the brothers would do nothing without their

sister’s consent; but, added he, I hope to be better acquainted

with you, madam, after I have seen the house.

Sir, said the princess, it is only a plain country-house, fit for

such people as we are, who live retired from the great world. It is

not to be compared with houses in great cities, much less with

magnificent palaces of sultans. I cannot perfectly agree with you in

opinion, said the sultan, very obligingly, for its first appearance

makes me suspect you; however, I will not pass my judgment upon it

till I have seen it all; therefore be pleased to conduct me through

the apartments.

The princess led the sultan through all the rooms but the hall; and,

after he had considered them all very attentively, and admired their

variety, My fair one, said he to the princess Parizade, do you call

this a country-house? The finest and largest cities would soon be

deserted, if all country-houses were like yours. I am no longer

surprised that you take so much delight in it, and despise the town.

Now let me see the garden, which I doubt not is answerable to the

house.

The princess opened a door which led into the garden; and the first

object that presented itself to the sultan’s view was the golden

fountain. Surprised at so rare a sight, he asked from whence came

that wonderful water, which gave so much pleasure to behold; where

was its source? and by what art it was made to play so high, that he

thought nothing in the world was to be compared to it? He said he

would presently take a nearer view of it.

Then the princess led him to the spot where the harmonious tree was

planted; and there the sultan heard a concert, which was different

from all the concerts he had ever heard in his life: and stopping to

see where the musicians were, he could discern nobody far nor near;

but still distinctly heard the music, which ravished his senses. My

fair one, said he, to the princess Parizade, where are the musicians

whom I hear? Are they under ground, or invisible in the air? Such

excellent, charming voices, will hazard nothing by being seen; on

the contrary, they would please the more.

Sir, answered the princess smiling, it is not musicians, but the

tree your majesty sees before you, which forms this concert; and if

you will give yourself the trouble to go a little nearer to it, you

will not doubt it, and the voices will be the more distinct.

The sultan went nearer, and was so charmed with the sweet harmony,

that he would never have been tired with hearing it, but that his

desire to have a nearer view of the fountain of yellow water forced

him away. Fair one, said he, tell me, I pray you, whether this

wonderful tree was found in your garden by chance, or if it was a

present made to you, or have you procured it from some foreign

country? It must certainly have come a great way off, otherwise,

curious as I am after natural rarities, I should have heard of it.

What name do you call it by?

Sir, replied the princess, this tree has no other name than that of

the singing tree, and is not a native of this country. It will be

too long to tell you by what adventures it came here; its history is

connected with the yellow water and the speaking bird, which came to

me at the same time, and which your majesty may see after you have

taken a nearer view of the golden water. But if it be agreeable to

your majesty, after you have rested yourself, and recovered the

fatigue of hunting, which must be the greater because of the sun’s

intense heat, I will do myself the honour of relating it to you.

My fair one, replied the sultan, my fatigue is so well recompensed

by the wonderful things you have shown me, that I do not feel it in

the least. I think only of the trouble I give you. Let us finish by

seeing the yellow water. I am impatient to see and admire the

speaking bird.

When the sultan came to the yellow water, his eyes were fixed so

stedfastly upon the fountain, that he could not take them off. At

last, addressing himself to the princess, he said, As you tell me,

fair one, that this water has no spring or communication hereabouts,

by any means whatsoever, I conclude that it is foreign, as well as

the singing tree.

Sir, replied the princess, it is as your majesty says; and to let

you know that this water has no communication with any spring, I

must inform you, that the basin is one entire stone, so that the

water cannot come in at the sides or underneath. But what your

majesty will think most wonderful is, that all this water proceeded

but from one flagon, which I emptied into this basin, which

increased of itself to the quantity you see, by a property peculiar

to itself, and formed this fountain. Well, said the sultan, going

from the fountain, this is enough for one time. I promise myself the

pleasure to come and visit it very often; but now let us go and see

the speaking bird.

As he went towards the hall, the sultan perceived a prodigious

number of singing birds in the trees thereabouts, (filling the air

with their songs and warblings,) and asked why there were so many

there, and none on the other trees in the garden? The reason, sir,

answered the princess, is, because they come from all parts around

to accompany the song of the speaking bird, which your majesty may

perceive in a cage on one of the windows of the hall we are going

into; and if you attend, you will perceive that his notes are

sweeter than those of all the other birds, even the nightingale’s.

The sultan went into the hall; and as the bird continued singing,

the princess raised her voice, and said, My slave, here is the

sultan; pay your compliments to him. The bird left off singing that

instant, and all the other birds ceased alternately, and said, The

sultan is welcome here: God prosper him, and prolong his life! As

the entertainment was served on the sofa near the window where the

bird was, the sultan replied, as he was sitting down at the table,

Bird, I thank you, and I am overjoyed to find in you the sultan and

king of birds.

As soon as the sultan saw the dish of cucumbers set before him,

thinking it was stuffed in the best manner, he reached out his hand

and took one; but when he cut it, he was in an extreme surprise to

find it dressed with pearls. What novelty is this? said he; and with

what design were these cucumbers stuffed thus with pearls, since

pearls are not to be eaten? Then he looked at the two princes and

princess, to ask them the meaning of it: when the bird, interrupting

him, said, Can your majesty be in so great astonishment at cucumbers

stuffed with pearls, which you see with your own eyes, and yet could

so easily believe that the sultaness your wife was delivered of a

dog, a cat, and a piece of wood? I believed it, replied the sultan,

because the midwives assured me of it. Those midwives, sir, replied

the bird, were the sultaness’s two sisters, who, envious of her

happiness in being preferred by your majesty before them, to satisfy

their envy and revenge, have abused your majesty so easily. If you

interrogate them, they will confess their crime. The two brothers

and the sister whom you see before you, are your own children, whom

they exposed, and who were taken in by the intendant of your

gardens, who provided nurses for them, and took care of their

education.

This discourse of the bird’s presently cleared up the sultan’s

understanding. Bird, cried he, I easily believe the truth which you

discover to me. The inclination which drew me to them, and the

tenderness I have always had for them, told me but too plainly they

are my own blood. Come then, my children, come, my daughter, let me

embrace you, and give you the first marks of a father’s love and

tenderness. Then he rose up, and after having embraced the two

princes and the princess, and mingled his tears with theirs, he

said, It is not enough, my children; you must embrace each other,

not as the children of the intendant of my gardens, to whom I have

been very much obliged for preserving your lives, but as my own

children, of the royal blood of the sultans of Persia, whose glory,

I am persuaded, you will maintain.

After the two princes and princess had embraced each other mutually

with new satisfaction, the sultan sat down to table again with them,

and finished his meal in haste; and when he had done, he said, My

children, you see in me your father: tomorrow I will bring the

sultaness your mother, therefore prepare to receive her.

Afterwards the sultan mounted his horse, and returned in all haste

to his capital. The first thing he did, as soon as he alighted and

entered his palace, was to command the grand vizier to try the

sultaness’s two sisters. They were taken from their houses

separately, convicted, and condemned to be quartered; which sentence

was put into execution within an hour.

In the mean time, the sultan Khosrouschah, followed by all the lords

of his court who were then present, went on foot to the door of the

great mosque; and after he had taken the sultaness out of the strict

confinement she had languished under for so many years, embracing

her in the miserable condition she was then in, he said to her with

tears in his eyes, I come, madam, to ask your pardon for the

injustice I have done you, and to make you the reparation I ought to

do; which I have begun, by punishing the persons who put the

abominable cheat upon me; and I hope you will look upon it as

complete, when I present to you two accomplished princes, and a

charming lovely princess, our children. Come and resume your former

rank, with all the honours which are your due. All this was done and

said before great crowds of people, who flocked from all parts at

the first news of what was passing, and immediately spread the news

through the town.

Next morning early, the sultan and sultaness, whose mournful

humiliating dress was changed into magnificent robes suitable to

her, went with all their court to the house built by the intendant

of the gardens, where the sultan presented the princes Bahman and

Perviz, and the princess Parizade, to the sultaness. These, madam,

said he, are the two princes your sons, and this princess your

daughter; embrace them with the same tenderness I have done, since

they are worthy both of me and you. The tears flowed plentifully

down their cheeks at these tender embraces, especially the

sultaness’s, for the comfort and joy of having two such princes

for her sons, and such a princess for her daughter, on whose

accounts she had endured such afflictions so long.

The two princes and the princess had prepared a magnificent repast

for the sultan and sultaness, and their court. As soon as that was

over, the sultan led the sultaness into the garden, and showed her

the harmonious tree and the beautiful effect of the yellow fountain.

As for the bird, she had seen him in his cage, and the sultan had

spared no panegyric in his praise during the repast.

When there was nothing to detain the sultan any longer, he took

horse again, and with the princes Bahman and Perviz on his right and

left hand, and the sultaness and the princess at his left, preceded

and followed by all the officers of his court, according to their

rank, returned to his capital. Crowds of people came out to meet

them, and with acclamations of joy ushered them into the city, where

all eyes were fixed not only upon the sultaness, the two princes,

and the princess, but also upon the bird, which the princess carried

before her in his cage, admiring his sweet notes, which had drawn

all the other birds about him, which followed him, flying from tree

to tree in the country, and from one house-top to another in the

city. The princes Bahman and Perviz, and the princess Parizade, were

at length brought to the palace with this pomp, and nothing was to

be seen or heard all that night but illuminations and rejoicings

both in the palace and in the utmost parts of the city, which lasted

many days.

The sultan of the Indies could not but admire the prodigious and

inexhaustible memory of the sultaness his wife, who had entertained

him so many nights with so many different stories.

A thousand and one nights had passed away in those innocent

amusements, which contributed so much towards removing the

sultan’s unhappy prejudice against the fidelity of women. His

temper was softened. He was convinced of the merit and great wisdom

of the sultaness Scheherazade. He remembered with what courage she

exposed herself voluntarily to be his wife, without fearing the

death to which she knew she subjected herself, as the many

sultanesses did before her.

These considerations, and the many other good qualities he knew her

to be mistress of, induced him at last to forgive her. I see, lovely

Scheherazade, said he, that you can never be at a loss for this sort

of little stories which have so long diverted me. You have appeased

my anger. I freely renounce, in your favour, the cruel law I had

imposed on myself. I restore you completely to my favour, and will

have you be looked upon as the deliverer of the many damsels I had

resolved to have sacrificed to my unjust resentment.

The sultaness cast herself at his feet, and embraced them tenderly

with all the marks of the most lively and perfect gratitude.

The grand vizier was the first that learned this agreeable news from

the sultan’s own mouth. It presently was carried to the city,

towns, and provinces; and gained the sultan, and the lovely

Scheherazade, his consort, universal applause, and the blessings of

all the people of the large empire of the Indies.