visited Hayat al-Nufus in her palace, the twain embraced and she
improvised some happy couplets beseeming the occasion. And when she had
ended her extempore lines she said, “Is it indeed true that I see thee
in my abode and that thou art my cup-mate and my familiar?” Then passion
grew on her and love was grievous to her, so that her reason well-nigh
fled for joy and she improvised these couplets:—
With all my soul I’ll ransom him who came to me in gloom ✿ Of night,
whilst I had waited long to see his figure loom;
And naught aroused me save his weeping voice of tender tone ✿ And
whispered I, “Fair fall thy foot and welcome and well come!”
His cheek I kissed a thousand times, and yet a thousand more; ✿ Then
clipt and clung about his breast enveiled in darkling room.
And cried, “Now verily I’ve won the aim of every wish ✿ So praise and
prayers to Allah for this grace now best become.”
Then slept we even as we would the goodliest of nights ✿ Till morning
came to end our night and light up earth with bloom.
As soon as it was day, she made him enter a place in her apartment
unknown to any and he abode there till nightfall, when she brought him
out and they sat in converse and carouse. Presently he said to her, “I
wish to return to my own country and tell my father what hath passed
between us, that he may equip his Wazir to demand thee in marriage of
thy sire.” She replied, “O my love, I fear, an thou return to thy
country and kingdom, thou wilt be distracted from me and forget the love
of me; or that thy father will not further thy wishes in this matter and
I shall die. Meseems the better rede were that thou abide with me and in
my hand-grasp, I looking on thy face, and thou on mine, till I devise
some plan, whereby we may escape together some night and flee to thy
country; for I have cut off my hopes from my own people and I despair of
them.” He rejoined, “I hear and obey;” and they fell again to their
carousal and conversing. He tarried with her thus for some time till,
one night, the wine was pleasant to them and they lay not down nor did
they sleep till break of day. Now it chanced that one of the Kings sent
her father a present, and amongst other things, a necklace of union
jewels, nine-and-twenty grains, to whose price a King’s treasures might
not suffice. Quoth Abd-al-Kadir, “This rivière beseemeth none but my
daughter Hayat al-Nufus;” and, turning to an eunuch, whose jaw-teeth the
Princess had knocked out for reasons best known to herself,[296] he
called to him and said, “Carry the necklace to thy lady and say to
her:—One of the Kings hath sent thy father this, as a present, and its
price may not be paid with money; put it on thy neck.” The slave took
the necklace, saying in himself, “Allah Almighty make it the last thing
she shall put on in this world, for that she deprived me of the benefit
of my grinder-teeth!”; and repairing to the Princess’s apartment, found
the door locked and the old woman asleep before the threshold. He shook
her, and she awoke in affright and asked, “What dost thou want?”; to
which he answered, “The King hath sent me on an errand to his daughter.”
Quoth the nurse, “The key is not here, go away, whilst I fetch it;” but
quoth he, “I cannot go back to the King without having done his
commandment.” So she went away, as if to fetch the key; but fear
overtook her and she sought safety in flight. Then the eunuch awaited
her awhile; then, finding she did not return, he feared that the King
would be angry at his delay; so he rattled at the door and shook it,
whereupon the bolt gave way and the leaf opened. He entered and passed
on, till he came to the seventh door and walking in to the Princess’s
chamber found the place splendidly furnished and saw candles and flagons
there. At this spectacle he marvelled and going close up to the bed,
which was curtained by a hanging of silk, embroidered with a net-work of
jewels, drew back the curtain from before the Princess and saw her
sleeping with her arms about the neck of a young man handsomer than
herself; whereat he magnified Allah Almighty, who had created such a
youth of vile water, and said, “How goodly be this fashion for one who
hateth men! How came she by this fellow? Methinks ’twas on his account
that she knocked out my back teeth!” Then he drew the curtain and made
for the door; but the King’s daughter awoke in affright and seeing the
eunuch, whose name was Káfúr, called to him. He made her no answer: so
she came down from the bed on the estrade; and catching hold of his
skirt laid it on her head and kissed his feet, saying, “Veil what Allah
veileth!” Quoth he, “May Allah not veil thee nor him who would veil
thee! Thou didst knock out my grinders and saidst to me:—Let none make
mention to me aught of men and their ways!” So saying, he disengaged
himself from her grasp and running out, locked the door on them and set
another eunuch to guard it. Then he went in to the King who said to him?
“Hast thou given the necklace to Hayat al-Nufus?” The eunuch replied,
“By Allah, thou deservest altogether a better fate;” and the King asked,
“What hath happened? Tell me quickly;” whereto he answered, “I will not
tell thee, save in private and between our eyes,” but the King retorted,
saying, “Tell me at once and in public.” Cried the eunuch, “Then grant
me immunity.” So the King threw him the kerchief of immunity and he
said, “O King, I went into the Princess Hayat al-Nufus and found her
asleep in a carpeted chamber and on her bosom was a young man. So I
locked the door upon the two and came back to thee.” When the King heard
these words he started up and taking a sword in his hand, cried out to
the Rais of the eunuchs, saying, “Take thy lads and go to the Princess’s
chamber and bring me her and him who is with her as they twain lie on
the bed; but cover them both up.”——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of
day and ceased saying her permitted say.
Now when it was the Seven Hundred and Thirty-fifth Night,
She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the King
commanded the head eunuch to take his lads and to fetch and set before
him Hayat al-Nufus and him who was with her, the chief and his men
entered the Princess’s apartment where he found her standing up,
dissolved in railing tears, and the Prince by her side; so he said to
them, “Lie down on the bed, as thou wast and let him do likewise.” The
King’s daughter feared for her lover[297] and said to him, “This is no
time for resistance.” So they both lay down and the eunuchs covered them
up and carried the twain into the King’s presence. Thereupon Abd
al-Kadir pulled off the coverings and the Princess sprang to her feet.
He looked at her and would have smitten her neck: but the Prince threw
himself on the father’s breast, saying, “The fault was not hers but mine
only: kill me before thou killest her.” The King made at him, to cut him
down, but Hayat al-Nufus cast herself on her father and said, “Kill me
not him; for he is the son of a great King, lord of all the land in its
length and breadth.” When the King heard this, he turned to the Chief
Wazir, who was a gathering-place of all that is evil, and said to him,
“What sayst thou of this matter, O Minister?” Quoth his Wazir, “What I
say is that all who find themselves in such case as this have need of
lying, and there is nothing for it but to cut off both their heads,
after torturing them with all manner of tortures.” Hereupon the King
called his sworder of vengeance, who came with his lads, and said to
him, “Take this gallows bird and strike off his head and after do the
like with this harlot and burn their bodies, and consult me not about
them a second time.” So the headsmen put his hand to her back, to take
her; but the King cried out at him and cast at him somewhat he hent in
hand, which had well-nigh killed him, saying, “O dog, how durst thou
show ruth to those with whom I am wroth? Put thy hand to her hair and
drag her along by it, so that she may fall on her face.” Accordingly he
haled her by her hair and the Prince in like manner to the place of
blood, where he tore off a piece of his skirt and therewith bound the
Prince’s eyes putting the Princess last, in the hope that some one would
intercede for her. Then, having made ready the Prince he swung his sharp
sword three times (whilst all the troops wept and prayed Allah to send
them deliverance by some intercessor), and raised his hand to cut off
Ardashir’s head when, behold, there arose a cloud of dust, that spread
and flew till it veiled the view. Now the cause thereof was that when
the young Prince had delayed beyond measure, the King, his sire, had
levied a mighty host and had marched with it in person to get tidings of
his son. Such was his case; but as regards King Abd al-Kadir, when he
saw this, he said, “O wights, what is the meaning of yonder dust that
dimmeth sights?” The Grand Wazir sprang up and went out to reconnoitre
and found behind the cloud men like locusts, of whom no count could be
made nor aught avail of aid, filling the hills and plains and valleys.
So he returned with the report to the King, who said to him, “Go down
and learn for us what may be this host and the cause of its marching
upon our country. Ask also of their commander and salute him for me and
enquire the reason of his coming. An he came in quest of aught, we will
aid him, and if he have a blood-feud with one of the Kings, we will ride
with him; or, if he desire a gift, we will handsel him; for this is
indeed a numerous host and a power uttermost, and we fear for our land
from its mischief.” So the Minister went forth and walked among the
tents and troopers and body-guards, and ceased not faring on from the
first of the day till near sundown, when he came to the warders with
gilded swords in tents star-studded. Passing these, he made his way
through Emirs and Wazirs and Nabobs and Chamberlains, to the pavilion of
the Sultan, and found him a mighty King. When the King’s officers saw
him, they cried out to him, saying, “Kiss ground! Kiss ground!”[298] He
did so and would have risen, but they cried out at him a second and a
third time. So he kissed the earth again and again and raised his head
and would have stood up, but fell down at full length for excess of awe.
When at last he was set between the hands of the King he said to him,
“Allah prolong thy days and increase thy sovranty and exalt thy rank, O
thou auspicious King! And furthermore, of a truth, King Abd al-Kadir
saluteth thee and kisseth the earth before thee and asketh on what
weighty business thou art come. An thou seek to avenge thee for blood on
any King, he will take horse in thy service; or, an thou come in quest
of aught, wherein it is in his power to help thee, he standeth up at thy
service on account thereof.” So Ardashir’s father replied to the Wazir,
saying, “O messenger, return to thy lord and tell him that the most
mighty King Sayf al-A’azam Shah, Lord of Shiraz, had a son who hath been
long absent from him and news of him have not come and all traces of him
have been cut off. An he be in this city, he will take him and depart
from you; but, if aught have befallen him or any mischief have ensued to
him from you, his father will lay waste your land and make spoil of your
goods and slay your men and seize your women. Return, therefore, to thy
lord in haste and tell him this, ere evil befal him.” Answered the
Minister, “To hear is to obey!” and turned to go away, when the
Chamberlains cried out to him, saying, “Kiss ground! Kiss ground!” So he
kissed the ground a score of times and rose not till his life-breath was
in his nostrils.[299] Then he left the King’s high court and returned to
the city, full of anxious thought concerning the affair of this King and
the multitude of his troops, and going in to King Abd al-Kadir, pale
with fear and trembling in his side-muscles, acquainted him with that
had befallen him;——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to
say her permitted say.
Now when it was the Seven Hundred and Thirty-sixth Night,
She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Wazir returned
from the court of the Great King, pale with fear and with side-muscles
quivering for dread exceeding; and acquainted his lord with that had
befallen him. Hereat disquietude and terror for himself and for his
people laid hold upon him and he said to the Minister, “O Wazir, and who
is this King’s son?” Replied the other, “’Tis even he whom thou badest
put to death, but praised be Allah who hastened not his slaughter! Else
had his father wasted our lands and spoiled our good.” Quoth the King,
“See now thy corrupt judgment, in that thou didst counsel us to slay
him! Where is the young man, the son of yonder magnanimous King?” And
quoth the Wazir, “O mighty King, thou didst command him be put to
death.” When the King heard this, he was clean distraught and cried out
from his heart’s core and in-most of head, saying, “Woe to you! Fetch me
the Headsman forthright, lest death fall on him!” So they fetched the
Sworder and he said, “O King of the Age, I have smitten off his head
even as thou badest me.” Cried Abd al-Kadir, “O dog, an this be true, I
will assuredly send thee after him.” The Headsman replied, “O King, thou
didst command me to slay him without consulting thee a second time.”
Said the King, “I was in my wrath; but speak the truth, ere thou lose
thy life;” and said the Sworder, “O King, he is yet in the chains of
life.” At this Abd al-Kadir rejoiced and his heart was set at rest; then
he called for Ardashir, and when he came, he stood up to receive him and
kissed his mouth, saying, “O my son, I ask pardon of Allah Almighty for
the wrong I have done thee, and say thou not aught that may lower my
credit with thy sire, the Great King.” The Prince asked “O King of the
Age, and where is my father?” and the other answered, “He is come hither
on thine account.” Thereupon quoth Ardashir, “By thy worship, I will not
stir from before thee till I have cleared my honour and the honour of
thy daughter from that which thou laidest to our charge; for she is a
pure virgin. Send for the midwives and let them examine her before thee.
An they find her maidenhead gone, I give thee leave to shed my blood;
and if they find her a clean maid, her innocence of dishonour and mine
also will be made manifest.” So he summoned the midwives, who examined
the Princess and found her a pure virgin and so told the King, seeking
largesse of him. He gave them what they sought, putting off his royal
robes to bestow on them, and in like manner he was bountiful to all who
were in the Harim. And they brought forth the scent-cups and perfumed
all the Lords of estate and Grandees; and not one but rejoiced with
exceeding joy. Then the King threw his arms about Ardashir’s neck and
entreated him with all worship and honour, bidding his chief eunuchs
bear him to the bath. When he came out, he cast over his shoulders a
costly robe and crowned him with a coronet of jewels; he also girt him
with a girdle of silk, purfled with red gold and set with pearls and
gems, and mounted him on one of his noblest mares, with selle and
trappings of gold inlaid with pearls and jewels. Then he bade his
Grandees and Captains mount on his service and escort him to his
father’s presence; and charged him tell his sire that King Abd al-Kadir
was at his disposal, hearkening to and obeying him in whatso he should
bid or forbid. “I will not fail of this,” answered Ardashir and
farewelling him, repaired to his father who, at sight of him, was
transported for delight and springing up, advanced to meet him and
embraced him, whilst joy and gladness spread among all the host of the
Great King. Then came the Wazirs and Chamberlains and Captains and
guards and kissed the ground before the Prince and rejoiced in his
coming: and it was a great day with them for enjoyment, for the King’s
son gave leave to those of King Abd al-Kadir’s officers who had
accompanied him and others of the townsfolk, to view the ordinance of
his father’s host, without let or stay, so they might know the multitude
of the Great King’s troops and the might of his empire. And all who had
seen him selling stuffs in the linendrapers’ bazar marvelled how his
soul could have consented thereto, considering the nobility of his
spirit and the loftiness of his dignity; but it was his love and
inclination to the King’s daughter that to this had constrained him.
Meanwhile, news of the multitude of her lover’s troops came to Hayat
al-Nufus, who was still jailed by her sire’s commandment, till they knew
what he should order respecting her, whether pardon and release or death
and burning; and she looked down from the terrace-roof of the palace
and, turning towards the mountains, saw even these covered with armed
men. When she beheld all those warriors and knew that they were the army
of Ardashir’s father, she feared lest he should be diverted from her by
his sire and forget her and depart from her, whereupon her father would
slay her. So she called a handmaid that was with her in her apartment by
way of service, and said to her, “Go to Ardashir, son of the Great King,
and fear not. When thou comest into his presence, kiss the ground before
him and tell him what thou art and say to him:—My lady saluteth thee and
would have thee to know that she is a prisoner in her father’s palace,
awaiting his sentence, whether he be minded to pardon her or put her to
death, and she beseecheth thee not to forget her or forsake her; for
to-day thou art all-powerful; and, in whatso thou commandest, no man
dare cross thee. Wherefore, an it seem good to thee to rescue her from
her sire and take her with thee, it were of thy bounty, for indeed she
endureth all these trials for thy sake. But, an this seem not good to
thee, for that thy desire of her is at an end, still speak to thy sire,
so haply he may intercede for her with her father and he depart not,
till he have made him set her free and taken surety from and made
covenant with him, that he will not go about to put her to death nor
work her aught of harm. This is her last word to thee, may Allah not
desolate her of thee, and so The Peace!”[300]——And Shahrazad perceived
the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
Now when it was the Seven Hundred and Thirty-seventh Night,
She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the bondmaid
sent by Hayat al-Nufus made her way to Ardashir and delivered him her
lady’s message, which when he heard, he wept with sore weeping and said
to her, “Know that Hayat al-Nufus is my mistress and that I am her slave
and the captive of her love. I have not forgotten what was between us
nor the bitterness of the parting day; so do thou say to her, after thou
hast kissed her feet, that I will speak with my father of her, and he
shall send his Wazir, who sought her aforetime in marriage for me, to
demand her hand once more of her sire, for he dare not refuse. So, if he
send to her to consult her, let her make no opposition; for I will not
return to my country without her.” Then the handmaid returned to Hayat
al-Nufus; and, kissing her hands, delivered to her the message, which
when she heard, she wept for very joy and returned thanks to Almighty
Allah. Such was her case; but as regards Ardashir, he was alone with his
father that night and the Great King questioned him of his case,
whereupon he told him all that had befallen him, first and last. Then
quoth the King, “What wilt thou have me do for thee, O my son? An thou
desire Abd al-Kadir’s ruin, I will lay waste his lands and spoil his
hoards and dishonour his house.” Replied Ardashir, “I do not desire
that, O my father, for he hath done nothing to me deserving thereof; but
I wish for union with her; wherefore I beseech thee of thy favour to
make ready a present for her father, (but let it be a magnificent gift!)
and send it to him by thy Minister, the man of just judgment.” Quoth the
King, “I hear and consent;” and sending for the treasures he had laid up
from time past, brought out all manner precious things and showed them
to his son, who was pleased with them. Then he called his Wazir and bade
him bear the present with him[301] to King Abd al-Kadir and demand his
daughter in marriage for Ardashir, saying, “Accept the present and
return him a reply.” Now from the time of Ardashir’s departure, King Abd
al-Kadir had been troubled and ceased not to be heavy at heart, fearing
the laying waste of his reign and the spoiling of his realm; when
behold, the Wazir came in to him and saluting him, kissed ground before
him. He rose up standing and received him with honour; but the Minister
made haste to fall at his feet and kissing them cried, “Pardon, O King
of the Age! The like of thee should not rise to the like of me, for I am
the least of servants’ slaves. Know, O King, that Prince Ardashir hath
acquainted his father with some of the favours and kindnesses thou hast
done him, wherefore he thanketh thee and sendeth thee in company of thy
servant who standeth before thee, a present, saluting thee and wishing
thee especial blessings and prosperities.” Abd al-Kadir could not
believe what he heard of the excess of his fear, till the Wazir laid the
present before him, when he saw it to be such gift as no money could
purchase nor could one of the Kings of the earth avail to the like
thereof; wherefore he was belittled in his own eyes and springing to his
feet, praised Almighty Allah and glorified Him and thanked the Prince.
Then said the Minister to him, “O noble King, give ear to my word and
know that the Great King sendeth to thee, desiring thine alliance, and I
come to thee seeking and craving the hand of thy daughter, the chaste
dame and treasured gem Hayat al-Nufus, in wedlock for his son Ardashir,
wherefore, if thou consent to this proposal and accept of him, do thou
agree with me for her marriage-portion.” Abd al-Kadir hearing these
words replied, “I hear and obey. For my part, I make no objection, and
nothing can be more pleasurable to me; but the girl is of full age and
reason and her affair is in her own hand. So be assured that I will
refer it to her and she shall chose for herself.” Then he turned to the
chief eunuch and bade him go and acquaint the Princess with the event.
So he repaired to the Harim and, kissing the Princess’s hands,
acquainted her with the Great King’s offer adding, “What sayest thou in
answer?” “I hear and I obey,” replied she.——And Shahrazad perceived the
dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
Now when it was the Seven Hundred and Thirty-eighth Night,