returned from her mother to her own realm, her breast was straitened and
she was in ill-case. So fared it with her; but as regards King Badr
Basim, after Princess Jauharah had ensorcelled him and had sent him with
her handmaid to the Thirsty Island, saying, “Leave him there to die of
thirst,” and Marsinah had set him down in a green islet, he abode days
and nights in the semblance of a bird eating of its fruits and drinking
of its waters and knowing not whither to go nor how to fly; till, one
day, there came a certain fowler to the island to catch somewhat
wherewithal to get his living. He espied King Badr Basim in his form of
a white-robed bird, with red bill and legs, captivating the sight and
bewildering the thought; and, looking thereat, said in himself, “Verily,
yonder is a beautiful bird: never saw I its like in fairness or form.”
So he cast his net over Badr and taking him, carried him to the town,
mentally resolved to sell him for a high price. On his way one of the
townsfolk accosted him and said, “For how much this fowl, O fowler?”
Quoth the fowler, “What wilt thou do with him an thou buy him?” Answered
the other, “I will cut his throat and eat him;” whereupon said the
birder, “Who could have the heart to kill this bird and eat him? Verily,
I mean to present him to our King, who will give me more than thou
wouldest give me and will not kill him, but will divert himself by
gazing upon his beauty and grace, for in all my life, since I have been
a fowler, I never saw his like among land game or water fowl. The utmost
thou wouldst give me for him, however much thou covet him, would be a
dirham, and, by Allah Almighty, I will not sell him!” Then he carried
the bird up to the King’s palace and when the King saw it, its beauty
and grace pleased him and the red colour of its beak and legs. So he
sent an eunuch to buy it, who accosted the fowler and said to him, “Wilt
thou sell this bird?” Answered he, “Nay, ’tis a gift from me to the
King”[333] So the eunuch carried the bird to the King and told him what
the man had said; and he took it and gave the fowler ten dinars,
whereupon he kissed ground and fared forth. Then the eunuch carried the
bird to the palace and placing him in a fine cage, hung him up after
setting meat and drink by him. When the King came down from the Divan,
he said to the eunuch, “Where is the bird? Bring it to me, that I may
look upon it; for, by Allah, ’tis beautiful!” So the eunuch brought the
cage and set it between the hands of the King, who looked and seeing the
food untouched, said, “By Allah, I wis not what it will eat, that I may
nourish it!” Then he called for food and they laid the tables and the
King ate. Now when the bird saw the flesh and meats and fruits and
sweetmeats, he ate of all that was upon the trays before the King,
whereat the Sovran and all the bystanders marvelled and the King said to
his attendants, eunuchs and Mamelukes, “In all my life I never saw a
bird eat as doth this bird!” Then he sent an eunuch to fetch his wife
that she might enjoy looking upon the bird, and he went in to summon her
and said, “O my lady, the King desireth thy presence, that thou mayst
divert thyself with the sight of a bird he hath bought. When we set on
the food, it flew down from its cage and perching on the table, ate of
all that was thereon. So arise, O my lady, and solace thee with the
sight for it is goodly of aspect and is a wonder of the wonders of the
age.” Hearing these words she came in haste; but, when she noted the
bird, she veiled her face and turned to fare away. The King rose up and
looking at her, asked, “Why dost thou veil thy face when there is none
in presence save the women and eunuchs who wait on thee and thy
husband?” Answered she, “O King, this bird is no bird, but a man like
thyself.” He rejoined, “Thou liest, this is too much of a jest. How
should he be other than a bird?”; and she “O King, by Allah, I do not
jest with thee nor do I tell thee aught but the truth; for verily this
bird is King Badr Basim, son of King Shahriman, Lord of the land of the
Persians, and his mother is Julnar the Sea-born.”——And Shahrazad
perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
Now when it was the Seven Hundred and Fifty-first Night,
She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the
King’s wife said to the King, “Verily, this is no bird but a man like
thyself: he is King Badr Basim son of King Shariman and his mother is
Julnar the Sea-born,” quoth the King, “And how came he in this shape?”;
and quoth she, “Princess Jauharah, daughter of King Al-Samandal, hath
enchanted him:” and told him all that had passed with King Badr Basim
from first to last.[334] The King marvelled exceedingly at his wife’s
words and conjured her, on his life, to free Badr from his enchantment
(for she was the notablest enchantress of her age), and not leave him in
torment, saying, “May Almighty Allah cut off Jauharah’s hand, for a foul
witch as she is! How little is her faith and how great her craft and
perfidy!” Said the Queen, “Do thou say to him:—O Badr Basim, enter
yonder closet!” So the King bade him enter the closet and he went in
obediently. Then the Queen veiled her face and taking in her hand a cup
of water,[335] entered the closet, where she pronounced over the water
certain incomprehensible words ending with, “By the virtue of these
mighty names and holy verses and by the majesty of Allah Almighty,
Creator of heaven and earth, the Quickener of the dead and Appointer of
the means of daily bread and the terms determined, quit this thy form
wherein thou art and return to the shape in which the Lord created
thee!” Hardly had she made an end of her words, when the bird trembled
once and became a man; and the King saw before him a handsome youth,
than whom on earth’s face was none goodlier. But when King Badr Basim
found himself thus restored to his own form he cried, “There is no god
but _the_ God and Mohammed is the Apostle of God! Glory be to the
Creator of all creatures and Provider of their provision, and Ordainer
of their life-terms preordained!” Then he kissed the King’s hand and
wished him long life, and the King kissed his head and said to him, “O
Badr Basim, tell me thy history from commencement to conclusion.” So he
told him his whole tale, concealing naught; and the King marvelled
thereat and said to him, “O Badr Basim, Allah hath saved thee from the
spell: but what hath thy judgment decided and what thinkest thou to do?”
Replied he, “O King of the Age, I desire of thy bounty that thou equip
me a ship with a company of thy servants and all that is needful; for
’tis long since I have been absent and I dread lest the kingdom depart
from me. And I misdoubt me my mother is dead of grief for my loss; and
this doubt is the stronger for that she knoweth not what is come of me
nor whether I am alive or dead. Wherefore, I beseech thee, O King, to
crown thy favours to me by granting me what I seek.” The King, after
beholding the beauty and grace of Badr Basim and listening to his sweet
speech, said, “I hear and obey.” So he fitted him out a ship, to which
he transported all that was needful and which he manned with a company
of his servants; and Badr Basim set sail in it, after having taken leave
of the King. They sailed over the sea ten successive days with a
favouring wind; but, on the eleventh day, the ocean became troubled with
exceeding trouble, the ship rose and fell and the sailors were powerless
to govern her. So they drifted at the mercy of the waves, till the craft
neared a rock in mid-sea which fell upon her[336] and broke her up and
all on board were drowned, save King Badr Basim who got astride one of
the planks of the vessel, after having been nigh upon destruction. The
plank ceased not to be borne by the set of the sea, whilst he knew not
whither he went and had no means of directing its motion, as the wind
and waves wrought for three whole days. But on the fourth the plank
grounded with him on the sea-shore where he sighted a white city, as it
were a dove passing white, builded upon a tongue of land that jutted out
into the deep and it was goodly of ordinance, with high towers and lofty
walls against which the waves beat. When Badr Basim saw this, he
rejoiced with exceeding joy, for he was well-nigh dead of hunger and
thirst, and dismounting from the plank, would have gone up the beach to
the city; but there came down to him mules and asses and horses, in
number as the sea-sands and fell to striking at him and staying him from
landing. So he swam round to the back of the city, where he waded to
shore and entering the place, found none therein and marvelled at this,
saying, “Would I knew to whom doth this city belong, wherein is no lord
nor any liege, and whence came these mules and asses and horses that
hindered me from landing?” And he mused over his case. Then he walked on
at hazard till he espied an old man, a grocer.[337] So he saluted him
and the other returned his salam and seeing him to be a handsome young
man, said to him, “O youth, whence comest thou and what brought thee to
this city?” Badr told him his story; at which the old man marvelled and
said, “O my son, didst thou see any on thy way?” He replied, “Indeed, O
my father, I wondered in good sooth to sight a city void of folk.” Quoth
the Shaykh, “O my son, come up into the shop, lest thou perish.” So Badr
Basim went up into the shop and sat down; whereupon the old man set
before him somewhat of food, saying, “O my son, enter the inner shop;
glory be to Him who hath preserved thee from yonder she-Sathanas!” King
Badr Basim was sore affrighted at the grocer’s words; but he ate his
fill and washed his hands; then glanced at his host and said to him, “O
my lord, what is the meaning of these words? Verily thou hast made me
fearful of this city and its folk.” Replied the old man, “Know, O my
son, that this is the City of the Magicians and its Queen is as she were
a she-Satan, a sorceress and a mighty enchantress, passing crafty and
perfidious exceedingly. All thou sawest of horses and mules and asses
were once sons of Adam like thee and me; they were also strangers, for
whoever entereth this city, being a young man like thyself, this
miscreant witch taketh him and hometh him for forty days, after which
she enchanteth him, and he becometh a mule or a horse or an ass, of
those animals thou sawest on the sea-shore.”——And Shahrazad perceived
the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
Now when it was the Seven Hundred and Fifty-second Night,
She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the old grocer
related to King Badr Basim the history of the enchantress ending with,
“All these people hath she spelled; and, when it was thy intent to land
they feared lest thou be transmewed like themselves; so they counselled
thee by signs that said:—Land not, of their solicitude for thee, fearing
that haply she should do with thee like as she had done with them. She
possessed herself of this city and seized it from its citizens by
sorcery and her name is Queen Láb, which being interpreted, meaneth in
Arabic ’Almanac of the Sun.’”[338] When Badr Basim heard what the old
man said, he was affrighted with sore affright and trembled like reed in
wind saying in himself, “Hardly do I feel me free from the affliction
wherein I was by reason of sorcery, when Destiny casteth me into yet
sorrier case!” And he fell a-musing over his condition and that which
had betided him. When the Shaykh looked at him and saw the violence of
his terror, he said to him, “O my son, come, sit at the threshold of the
shop and look upon yonder creatures and upon their dress and complexion
and that wherein they are by reason of gramarye and dread not; for the
Queen and all in the city love and tender me and will not vex my heart
or trouble my mind.” So King Badr Basim came out and sat at the
shop-door, looking out upon the folk; and there passed by him a world of
creatures without number. But when the people saw him, they accosted the
grocer and said to him, “O elder, is this thy captive and thy prey
gotten in these days?” The old man replied, “He is my brother’s son, I
heard that his father was dead; so I sent for him and brought him here
that I might quench with him the fire of my home-sickness.” Quoth they,
“Verily, he is a comely youth; but we fear for him from Queen Lab, lest
she turn on thee with treachery and take him from thee, for she loveth
handsome young men.” Quoth the Shaykh, “The Queen will not gainsay my
commandment, for she loveth and tendereth me; and when she shall know
that he is my brother’s son, she will not molest him or afflict me in
him neither trouble my heart on his account.” Then King Badr Basim abode
some months with the grocer, eating and drinking, and the old man loved
him with exceeding love. One day, as he sat in the shop according to his
custom, behold, there came up a thousand eunuchs, with drawn swords and
clad in various kinds of raiment and girt with jewelled girdles: all
rode Arabian steeds and bore in baldrick Indian blades. They saluted the
grocer, as they passed his shop and were followed by a thousand damsels
like moons, clad in various raiments of silks and satins fringed with
gold and embroidered with jewels of sorts, and spears were slung to
their shoulders. In their midst rode a damsel mounted on a Rabite mare,
saddled with a saddle of gold set with various kinds of jewels and
jacinths; and they reached in a body the Shaykh’s shop. The damsels
saluted him and passed on, till, lo and behold! up came Queen Lab, in
great state, and seeing King Badr Basim sitting in the shop, as he were
the moon at its full, was amazed at his beauty and loveliness and became
passionately enamoured of him, and distraught with desire of him. So she
alighted and sitting down by King Badr Basim said to the old man,
“Whence hadst thou this handsome one?”; and the Shaykh replied, “He is
my brother’s son, and is lately come to me.” Quoth Lab, “Let him be with
me this night, that I may talk with him;” and quoth the old man, “Wilt
thou take him from me and not enchant him?” Said she, “Yes,” and said
he, “Swear to me.” So she sware to him that she would not do him any
hurt or ensorcell him, and bidding bring him a fine horse, saddled and
bridled with a golden bridle and decked with trappings all of gold set
with jewels, gave the old man a thousand dinars, saying, “Use
this.”[339] Then she took Badr Basim and carried him off, as he were the
full moon on its fourteenth night, whilst all the folk, seeing his
beauty, were grieved for him and said, “By Allah, verily, this youth
deserveth not to be bewitched by yonder sorceress, the accursed!” Now
King Badr Basim heard all they said, but was silent, committing his case
to Allah Almighty, till they came to——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn
of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
Now when it was the Seven Hundred and Fifty-third Night,
She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that King Badr Basim
ceased not faring with Queen Lab and her suite till they came to her
palace-gate, where the Emirs and eunuchs and Lords of the realm took
foot and she bade the Chamberlains dismiss her Officers and Grandees,
who kissed ground and went away, whilst she entered the palace with Badr
Basim and her eunuchs and women. Here he found a place, whose like he
had never seen at all, for it was builded of gold and in its midst was a
great basin brimfull of water midmost a vast flower-garden. He looked at
the garden and saw it abounding in birds of various kinds and colours,
warbling in all manner tongues and voices, pleasurable and plaintive.
And everywhere he beheld great state and dominion and said, “Glory be to
God, who of His bounty and long-suffering provideth those who serve
other than Himself!” The Queen sat down at a latticed window overlooking
the garden on a couch of ivory, whereon was a high bed, and King Badr
Basim seated himself by her side. She kissed him and pressing him to her
breast, bade her women bring a tray of food. So they brought a tray of
red gold, inlaid with pearls and jewels and spread with all manner of
viands and he and she ate, till they were satisfied, and washed their
hands; after which the waiting-women set on flagons of gold and silver
and glass, together with all kinds of flowers and dishes of dried
fruits. Then the Queen summoned the singing-women and there came ten
maidens, as they were moons, hending all manner of musical instruments.
Queen Lab crowned a cup and drinking it off, filled another and passed
it to King Badr Basim, who took it and drank; and they ceased not to
drink till they had their sufficiency. Then she bade the damsels sing,
and they sang all manner modes till it seemed to Badr Basim as if the
palace danced with him for joy. His sense was ecstasied and his breast
broadened, and he forgot his strangerhood and said in himself, “Verily,
this Queen is young and beautiful[340] and I will never leave her; for
her kingdom is vaster than my kingdom and she is fairer than Princess
Jauharah.” So he ceased not to drink with her till eventide came, when
they lighted the lamps and waxen candles and diffused censer-perfumes;
nor did they leave drinking, till they were both drunken, and the
singing-women sang the while. Then Queen Lab, being in liquor, rose from
her seat and lay down on a bed and dismissing her women called to Badr
Basim to come and sleep by her side. So he lay with her, in all delight
of life till the morning.——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and
ceased to say her permitted say.
Now when it was the Seven Hundred and Fifty-fourth Night,
She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the Queen
awoke she repaired to the Hammam-bath in the palace, King Badr Basim
being with her, and they bathed and were purified; after which she clad
him in the finest of raiment and called for the service of wine. So the
waiting women brought the drinking-gear and they drank. Presently, the
Queen arose and taking Badr Basim by the hand, sat down with him on
chairs and bade bring food, whereof they ate, and washed their hands.
Then the damsels fetched the drinking-gear and fruits and flowers and
confections, and they ceased not to eat and drink,[341] whilst the
singing-girls sang various airs till the evening. They gave not over
eating and drinking and merry-making for a space of forty days, when the
Queen said to him, “O Badr Basim, say me whether is the more pleasant,
this place or the shop of thine uncle the grocer?” He replied, “By
Allah, O Queen, this is the pleasanter, for my uncle is but a beggarly
man, who vendeth pot-herbs.” She laughed at his words and the twain lay
together in the pleasantest of case till the morning, when King Badr
Basim awoke from sleep and found not Queen Lab by his side, so he said,
“Would Heaven I knew where can she have gone!” And indeed he was
troubled at her absence and perplexed about the case, for she stayed
away from him a great while and did not return; so he donned his dress
and went seeking her but not finding her, and he said to himself,
“Haply, she is gone to the flower-garden.” Thereupon he went out into
the garden and came to a running rill beside which he saw a white
she-bird and on the stream-bank a tree full of birds of various colours,
and he stood and watched the birds without their seeing him. And behold,
a black bird flew down upon that white she-bird and fell to billing her
pigeon-fashion, then he leapt on her and trod her three consecutive
times, after which the bird changed and became a woman. Badr looked at
her and lo! it was Queen Lab. So he knew that the black bird was a man
transmewed and that she was enamoured of him and had transformed herself
into a bird, that he might enjoy her; wherefore jealousy got hold upon
him and he was wroth with the Queen because of the black bird. Then he
returned to his place and lay down on the carpet-bed and after an hour
or so she came back to him and fell to kissing him and jesting with him;
but being sore incensed against her he answered her not a word. She saw
what was to do with him and was assured that he had witnessed what befel
her when she was a white bird and was trodden by the black bird; yet she
discovered naught to him but concealed what ailed her. When he had done
her need, he said to her, “O Queen, I would have thee give me leave to
go to my uncle’s shop, for I long after him and have not seen him these
forty days.” She replied, “Go to him but tarry not from me, for I cannot
brook to be parted from thee, nor can I endure without thee an hour.” He
said, “I hear and I obey,” and mounting, rode to the shop of the Shaykh,
the grocer, who welcomed him and rose to him and embracing him said to
him, “How hast thou fared with yonder idolatress?” He replied, “I was
well in health and happiness till this last night,” and told him what
had passed in the garden with the black bird.[342] Now when the old man
heard his words, he said, “Beware of her, for know that the birds upon
the trees were all young men and strangers, whom she loved and enchanted
and turned into birds. That black bird thou sawest was one of her
Mamelukes whom she loved with exceeding love, till he cast his eyes upon
one of her women. Wherefore she changed him into a black bird;”——And
Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
Now when it was the Seven Hundred and Fifty-fifth Night,