Basim heard the words of his uncle Salih and his mother Julnar, praising
the daughter of King Al-Samandal, a flame of fire burnt in his heart
full sore and he was drowned in a sea which hath nor bottom nor shore.
Then Salih, looking at his sister, exclaimed, “By Allah, O my sister,
there is no greater fool among the Kings of the sea than her father nor
one more violent of temper than he! So name thou not the girl to thy
son, till we demand her in marriage of her father. If he favour us with
his assent, we will praise Allah Almighty; and if he refuse us and will
not give her to thy son to wife, we will say no more about it and seek
another match.” Answered Julnar, “Right is thy rede;” and they parleyed
no more; but Badr passed the night with a heart on fire with passion for
Princess Jauharah. However he concealed his case and spake not of her to
his mother or his uncle, albeit he was on coals of fire for love of her.
Now when it was morning, the King and his uncle went to the Hammam-bath
and washed, after which they came forth and drank wine and the servants
set food before them, whereof they and Julnar ate their sufficiency, and
washed their hands. Then Salih rose and said to his nephew and sister,
“With your leave, I would fain go to my mother and my folk for I have
been with you some days and their hearts are troubled with awaiting me.”
But Badr Basim said to him, “Tarry with us this day;” and he consented.
Then quoth the King, “Come, O my uncle, let us go forth to the garden.”
So they sallied forth and promenaded about the pastures and took their
solace awhile, after which King Badr lay down under a shady tree,
thinking to rest and sleep; but he remembered his uncle’s description of
the maiden and her beauty and loveliness and shed railing tears,
reciting these two couplets[323]:—
Were it said to me while the flame is burning within me, ✿ And the fire
blazing in my heart and bowels,
Wouldst thou rather that thou shouldest behold them ✿ Or a draught of
pure water?—I would answer, Them.
Then he sighed and wept and lamented, reciting these verses also:—
Who shall save me from love of a lovely gazelle, ✿ Brighter browed than
the sunshine, my bonnibel!
My heart, erst free from her love, now burns ✿ With fire for the maid of
Al-Samandal.
When Salih heard what his nephew said, he smote hand upon hand and said,
“There is no god but _the_ God! Mohammed is the Apostle of God and there
is no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah, the Glorious, the
Great!” adding, “O my son, heardest thou what passed between me and thy
mother respecting Princess Jauharah?” Replied Badr Basim, “Yes, O my
uncle, and I fell in love with her by hearsay through what I heard you
say. Indeed, my heart cleaveth to her and I cannot live without her.”
Rejoined his uncle, “O King, let us return to thy mother and tell her
how the case standeth and crave her leave that I may take thee with me
and seek the Princess in marriage of her sire; after which we will
farewell her and I and thou will return. Indeed, I fear to take thee and
go without her leave, lest she be wroth with me; and verily the right
would be on her side, for I should be the cause of her separation from
us. Moreover, the city would be left without king and there would be
none to govern the citizens and look to their affairs; so should the
realm be disordered against thee and the kingship depart from thy
hands.” But Badr Basim, hearing these words, cried, “O my uncle, if I
return to my mother and consult her on such matter, she will not suffer
me to do this; wherefore I will not return to my mother nor consult
her.” And he wept before him and presently added, “I will go with thee
and tell her not and after will return.” When Salih heard what his
nephew said, he was confused anent his case and said, “I crave help of
the Almighty in any event.” Then, seeing that Badr Basim was resolved to
go with him, whether his mother would let him or no, he drew from his
finger a seal-ring, whereon were graven certain of the names of Allah
the Most High, and gave it to him, saying, “Put this on thy finger, and
thou shalt be safe from drowning and other perils and from the mischief
of sea-beasts and great fishes.” So King Badr Basim took the ring and
set it on his finger. Then they drove into the deep——And Shahrazad
perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
Now when it was the Seven Hundred and Forty-sixth Night,
She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Badr Basim and his
uncle, after diving into the deep, fared on till they came to Salih’s
palace, where they found Badr Basim’s grandmother, the mother of his
mother, seated with her kinsfolk; and, going in to them, kissed their
hands. When the old Queen saw Badr, she rose to him and embracing him,
kissed him between the eyes and said to him, “A blessed coming, O my
son! How didst thou leave thy mother Julnar?” He replied, “She is well
in health and fortune, and saluteth thee and her uncle’s daughters.”
Then Salih related to his mother what had occurred between him and his
sister and how King Badr Basim had fallen in love with the Princess
Jauharah daughter of Al-Samandal by report and told her the whole tale
from beginning to end adding, “He hath not come save to demand her in
wedlock of her sire;” which when the old Queen heard, she was wroth
against her son with exceeding wrath and sore troubled and concerned and
said, “O Salih, O my son, in very sooth thou diddest wrong to name the
Princess before thy nephew, knowing, as thou dost, that her father is
stupid and violent, little of wit and tyrannical of temper, grudging his
daughter to every suitor; for all the Monarchs of the Main have sought
her hand, but he rejected them all; nay, he would none of them,
saying:—Ye are no match for her in beauty or in loveliness or in aught
else. Wherefore we fear to demand her in wedlock of him, lest he reject
us, even as he hath rejected others; and we are a folk of high spirit
and should return broken-hearted.” Hearing these words Salih answered,
“O my mother, what is to do? For King Badr Basim saith:—There is no help
but that I seek her in marriage of her sire, though I expend my whole
kingdom; and he avoucheth that, an he take her not to wife, he will die
of love for her and longing.” And Salih continued, “He is handsomer and
goodlier than she; his father was King of all the Persians, whose King
he now is, and none is worthy of Jauharah save Badr Basim. Wherefore I
purpose to carry her father a gift of jacinths and jewels befitting his
dignity, and demand her of him in marriage. An he object to us that he
is a King, behold, our man also is a King and the son of a King; or, if
he object to us her beauty, behold our man is more beautiful than she;
or, again, if he object to us the vastness of his dominion, behold our
man’s dominion is vaster than hers and her father’s and numbereth more
troops and guards, for that his kingdom is greater than that of
Al-Samandal. Needs must I do my endeavour to further the desire of my
sister’s son, though it relieve me of my life; because I was the cause
of whatso hath betided; and, even as I plunged him into the ocean of her
love, so will I go about to marry him to her, and may Almighty Allah
help me thereto!” Rejoined his mother, “Do as thou wilt, but beware of
giving her father rough words, whenas thou speakest with him; for thou
knowest his stupidity and violence and I fear lest he do thee a
mischief, for he knoweth not respect for any.” And Salih answered,
“Hearkening and obedience.” Then he sprang up and taking two bags full
of gems such as rubies and bugles of emerald, noble ores and all manner
jewels gave them to his servants to carry and set out with his nephew
for the palace of Al-Samandal. When they came thither, he sought
audience of the King and being admitted to his presence, kissed ground
before him and saluted him with the goodliest Salam. The King rose to
him and honouring him with the utmost honour, bade him be seated. So he
sat down and presently the King said to him, “A blessed coming: indeed
thou has desolated us, O Salih! But what bringeth thee to us? Tell me
thine errand that we may fulfil it to thee.” Whereupon Salih arose and,
kissing the ground a second time, said, “O King of the age, my errand is
to Allah and the magnanimous liege lord and the valiant lion, the report
of whose good qualities the caravans far and near have dispread and
whose renown for benefits and beneficence and clemency and graciousness
and liberality to all climes and countries hath sped.” Thereupon he
opened the two bags and, displaying their contents before Al-Samandal,
said to him, “O King of the Age, haply wilt thou accept my gift and by
showing favour to me heal my heart.”——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn
of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
Now when it was the Seven Hundred and Forty-seventh Night,
She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Salih
offered his gift to the King, saying, “My aim and end is that the Sovran
show favour to me and heal my heart by accepting my present,” King
Al-Samandal asked, “With what object dost thou gift me with this gift?
Tell me thy tale and acquaint me with thy requirement. An its
accomplishment be in my power I will straightway accomplish it to thee
and spare thee toil and trouble; and if I be unable thereunto, Allah
compelleth not any soul aught beyond its power.”[324] So Salih rose and
kissing ground three times, said, “O King of the Age, that which I
desire thou art indeed able to do; it is in thy power and thou art
master thereof; and I impose not on the King a difficulty, nor am I
Jinn-demented, that I should crave of the King a thing whereto he
availeth not; for one of the sages saith:—An thou wouldst be complied
with ask that which can be readily supplied. Wherefore, that of which I
am come in quest, the King (whom Allah preserve!) is able to grant.” The
King replied, “Ask what thou wouldst have, and state thy case and seek
thy need.” Then said Salih,[325] “O King of the Age, know that I come as
a suitor, seeking the unique pearl and the hoarded jewel, the Princess
Jauharah, daughter of our lord the King; wherefore, O King disappoint
thou not thy suitor.” Now when the King heard this, he laughed till he
fell backwards, in mockery of him and said, “O Salih, I had thought thee
a man of worth and a youth of sense, seeking naught save what was
reasonable and speaking not save advisedly. What then hath befallen thy
reason and urged thee to this monstrous matter and mighty hazard, that
thou seekest in marriage daughters of Kings, lords of cities and
climates? Say me, art thou of a rank to aspire to this great eminence
and hath thy wit failed thee to this extreme pass that thou affrontest
me with this demand?” Replied Salih, “Allah amend the King! I seek her
not for myself (albeit, an I did, I am her match and more than her
match, for thou knowest that my father was King of the Kings of the sea,
for all thou art this day our King), but I seek her for King Badr Basim,
lord of the lands of the Persians and son of King Shahriman, whose
puissance thou knowest. An thou object that thou art a mighty great
King, King Badr is a greater; and if thou object thy daughter’s beauty,
King Badr is more beautiful than she and fairer of form and more
excellent of rank and lineage; and he is the champion of the people of
his day. Wherefore, if thou grant my request, O King of the Age thou
wilt have set the thing in its stead; but, if thou deal arrogantly with
us, thou wilt not use us justly nor travel with us the ’road which is
straight[326].’ Moreover, O King, thou knowest that the Princess
Jauharah, the daughter of our lord the King, must needs be wedded and
bedded, for the sage saith, a girl’s lot is either grace of marriage or
the grave.[327] Wherefore, an thou mean to marry her, my sister’s son is
worthier of her than any other man.” Now when King Al-Samandal heard
Salih’s words, he was wroth with exceeding wrath; his reason well nigh
fled and his soul was like to depart his body for rage, and he cried, “O
dog, shall the like of thee dare to bespeak me thus and name my daughter
in the assemblies,[328] saying that the son of thy sister Julnar is a
match for her? Who art thou and who is this sister of thine and who is
her son and who was his father,[329] that thou durst say to me such say
and address me with such address? What are ye all, in comparison with my
daughter, but dogs?” And he cried out to his pages, saying, “Take yonder
gallows-bird’s head?” So they drew their swords and made for Salih, but
he fled and for the palace-gate sped; and reaching the entrance, he
found of his cousins and kinsfolk and servants, more than a thousand
horse armed cap-à-pie in iron and close knitted mail-coats, hending in
hand spears and naked swords glittering white. And these when they saw
Salih come running out of the palace (they having been sent by his
mother to his succour,) questioned him and he told them what was to do;
whereupon they knew that the King was a fool and violent-tempered to
boot. So they dismounted and baring their blades, went in to the King
Al-Samandal, whom they found seated upon the throne of his Kingship,
unaware of their coming and enraged against Salih with furious rage; and
they beheld his eunuchs and pages and officers unprepared. When the King
saw them enter, drawn brand in hand, he cried out to his people, saying
“Woe to you! Take me the heads of these hounds!” But ere an hour had
sped Al-Samandal’s party were put to the rout and relied upon flight,
and Salih and his kinsfolk seized upon the King and pinioned him.——And
Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
Now when it was the Seven Hundred and Forty-eighth Night,
She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Salih and
his king-folk pinioned the King, Princess Jauharah awoke and knew that
her father was a captive and his guards slain. So she fled forth the
palace to a certain island, and climbing up into a high tree, hid
herself in its summit. Now when the two parties came to blows, some of
King Al-Samandal’s pages fled and Badr Basim meeting them, questioned
them of their case and they told him what had happened. But when he
heard that the King was a prisoner, Badr feared for himself and fled,
saying in his heart, “Verily, all this turmoil is on my account and none
is wanted but I.” So he sought safety in flight, security to sight,
knowing not whither he went; but destiny from Eternity fore-ordained
drave him to the very island where the Princess had taken refuge, and he
came to the very tree whereon she sat and threw himself down, like a
dead man, thinking to lie and repose himself and knowing not there is no
rest for the pursued, for none knoweth what Fate hideth for him in the
future. As he lay down, he raised his eyes to the tree and they met the
eyes of the Princess. So he looked at her and seeing her to be like the
moon rising in the East, cried, “Glory to Him who fashioned yonder
perfect form, Him who is the Creator of all things and who over all
things is Almighty! Glory to the Great God, the Maker, the Shaper and
Fashioner! By Allah, if my presentiments be true, this is Jauharah,
daughter of King Al-Samandal! Methinks that, when she heard of our
coming to blows with her father, she fled to this island and, happening
upon this tree, hid herself on its head; but, if this be not the
Princess herself, ’tis one yet goodlier than she.” Then he bethought
himself of her case and said in himself, “I will arise and lay hands on
her and question her of her condition; and, if she be indeed the she, I
will demand her in wedlock of herself and so win my wish.” So he stood
up and said to her, “O end of all desire, who art thou and who brought
thee hither?” She looked at Badr Basim and seeing him to be as the full
moon,[330] when it shineth from under the black cloud, slender of shape
and sweet of smile, answered, “O fair of fashion, I am Princess
Jauharah, daughter of King Al-Samandal, and I took refuge in this place,
because Salih and his host came to blows with my sire and slew his
troops and took him prisoner, with some of his men; wherefore I fled,
fearing for my very life,” presently adding, “And I weet not what
fortune hath done with my father.” When King Badr Basim heard these
words he marvelled with exceeding marvel at this strange chance and
thought. “Doubtless I have won my wish by the capture of her sire.” Then
he looked at Jauharah and said to her, “Come down, O my lady; for I am
slain for love of thee and thine eyes have captivated me. On my account
and thine are all these broils and battles; for thou must know that I am
King Badr Basim, Lord of the Persians and Salih is my mother’s brother
and he it is who came to thy sire to demand thee of him in marriage. As
for me, I have quitted my kingdom for thy sake, and our meeting here is
the rarest coincidence. So come down to me and let us twain fare for thy
father’s palace, that I may beseech uncle Salih to release him and I may
make thee my lawful wife.” When Jauharah heard his words, she said in
herself, “’Twas on this miserable gallows bird’s account, then, that all
this hath befallen and that my father hath fallen prisoner and his
chamberlains and suite have been slain and I have been departed from my
palace, a miserable exile and have fled for refuge to this island. But,
an I devise not against him some device to defend myself from him, he
will possess himself of me and take his will of me; for he is in love
and for aught that he doeth a lover is not blamed.” Then she beguiled
him with winning words and soft speeches, whilst he knew not the perfidy
against him she purposed, and asked him, “O my lord and light of my
eyes, say me, art thou indeed King Badr Basim, son of Queen Julnar?” And
he answered, “Yes, O my lady.”——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day
and ceased saying her permitted say.
Now when it was the Seven Hundred and Forty-ninth Night,
She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Jauharah,
daughter of King Al-Samandal, asked the youth, “Art thou in very soth
King Badr Basim, son of Queen Julnar?” And he answered, “Yes, O my
lady!” Then she, “May Allah cut off my father and gar his kingdom cease
from him and heal not his heart neither avert from him strangerhood, if
he could desire a comelier than thou or aught goodlier than these fair
qualities of thine! By Allah, he is of little wit and judgment!”
presently adding, “But, O King of the Age, punish him not for that he
hath done; more by token that an thou love me a span, verily I love thee
a cubit. Indeed, I have fallen into the net of thy love and am become of
the number of thy slain. The love that was with thee hath transferred
itself to me and there is left thereof with thee but a tithe of that
which is with me.” So saying, she came down from the tree and drawing
near him strained him to her bosom and fell to kissing him; whereat
passion and desire for her redoubled on him and doubting not but she
loved him, he trusted in her, and returned her kisses and caresses.
Presently he said to her, “By Allah, O Princess, my uncle Salih set
forth to me not a fortieth part of thy charms; no, nor a
quarter-carat[331] of the four-and-twenty.” Then Jauharah pressed him to
her bosom and pronounced some unintelligible words; then spat on his
face, saying, “Quit this form of man and take shape of bird, the
handsomest of birds, white of robe, with red bill and legs.” Hardly had
she spoken, when King Badr Basim found himself transformed into a bird,
the handsomest of birds, who shook himself and stood looking at her. Now
Jauharah had with her one of her slave-girls, by name Marsínah;[332] so
she called her and said to her, “By Allah, but that I fear for the life
of my father, who is his uncle’s prisoner, I would kill him! Allah never
requite him with good! How unlucky was his coming to us; for all this
trouble is due to his hard-headedness! But do thou, O slave-girl, bear
him to the Thirsty Island and leave him there to die of thirst.” So
Marsinah carried him to the island in question and would have returned
and left him there; but she said in herself, “By Allah, the lord of such
beauty and loveliness deserveth not to die of thirst!” So she went forth
from that island and brought him to another abounding in trees and
fruits and rills and, setting him down there, returned to her mistress
and told her, “I have left him on the Thirsty Island.” Such was the case
with Badr Basim; but as regards King Salih, he sought for Jauharah after
capturing the King and killing his folk; but, finding her not, returned
to his palace and said to his mother, “Where is my sister’s son, King
Badr Basim?” “By Allah, O my son,” replied she, “I know nothing of him!
For when it reached him that you and King Al-Samandal had come to blows
and that strife and slaughter had betided between you, he was affrighted
and fled.” When Salih heard this, he grieved for his nephew and said, “O
my mother, by Allah, we have dealt negligently by King Badr and I fear
lest he perish or lest one of King Al-Samandal’s soldiers or his
daughter Jauharah fall in with him. So should we come to shame with his
mother and no good betide us from her, for that I took him without her
leave.” Then he despatched guards and scouts throughout the sea and
elsewhere to seek for Badr; but they could learn no tidings of him; so
they returned and told King Salih, wherefore cark and care redoubled on
him and his breast was straitened for King Badr Basim. So far concerning
nephew and uncle, but as for Julnar the Sea-born, after their departure
she abode in expectation of them, but her son returned not and she heard
no report of him. So when many days of fruitless waiting had gone by,
she arose and going down into the sea, repaired to her mother, who
sighting her rose to her and kissed her and embraced her, as did the
Mermaids her cousins. Then she questioned her mother of King Badr Basim,
and she answered, saying, “O my daughter, of a truth he came hither with
his uncle, who took jacinths and jewels and carrying them to King
Al-Samandal, demanded his daughter in marriage for thy son; but he
consented not and was violent against thy brother in words. Now I had
sent Salih nigh upon a thousand horse and a battle befel between him and
King Al-Samandal; but Allah aided thy brother against him, and he slew
his guards and troops and took himself prisoner. Meanwhile, tidings of
this reached thy son, and it would seem as if he feared for himself;
wherefore he fled forth from us, without our will, and returned not to
us, nor have we heard any news of him.” Then Julnar enquired for King
Salih, and his mother said, “He is seated on the throne of his kingship,
in the stead of King Al-Samandal, and hath sent in all directions to
seek thy son and Princess Jauharah.” When Julnar heard the maternal
words, she mourned for her son with sad mourning and was highly incensed
against her brother Salih for that he had taken him and gone down with
him into the sea without her leave; and she said, “O my mother, I fear
for our realm; as I came to thee without letting any know; and I dread
tarrying with thee, lest the state fall into disorder and the kingdom
pass from our hands. Wherefore I deem best to return and govern the
reign till it please Allah to order our son’s affair for us. But look ye
forget him not neither neglect his case; for should he come to any harm,
it would infallibly kill me, since I see not the world save in him and
delight but in his life.” She replied, “With love and gladness, O my
daughter. Ask not what we suffer by reason of his loss and absence.”
Then she sent to seek for her grandson, whilst Julnar returned to her
kingdom, weeping-eyed and heavy-hearted, and indeed the gladness of the
world was straitened upon her.——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day
and ceased to say her permitted say.
Now when it was the Seven Hundred and Fiftieth Night,