Dunyazad said to her, "Allah upon thee, O my sister, an thou be

other than sleepy, finish for us thy tale that we may cut short

the watching of this our latter night!" She replied, "With love

and good will!" It hath reached me, O auspicious King, the

director, the right-guiding, lord of the rede which is benefiting

and of deeds fair-seeming and worthy celebrating, that the fifty

horsemen said to the King's son, "There is no help but that we

take from thee the horse," and said he, "I have given you good

advice, and well I wot and am certified that were you two hundred

riders ye could never prevail over me whilst I am mounted on my

courser's back and indeed I have no fear of fight; but let any of

you who hath claim to knightlihood come forwards and take him and

mount him." So saying he alighted forthright and left his horse

and went to some distance from him, when one of the fifty riders

pushed forwards and designed to seize the steed by the reins and

bestride him, when suddenly the stallion raged like fire at him

and attacked him and smote him with his forehand and drove the

entrails out of his belly and the man at once fell to the ground

slain. As his party saw this they bared their brands and

assaulted the horse designing to cut him in pieces when behold, a

dust-cloud high in lift upflew and walled the view; and all

extended their glances in that direction for an hour of time

until it opened and showed some two hundred knights headed by a

King mighty of degree and majesty and over his head were flags

a-flying. The fifty horsemen, seeing him advance with his troops,

drew off and stood still to look and see whom he might be, and

when the horse sighted these banners he sniffed with nostrils

opened wide to the air, and made for them at full speed, as if

gladdened by the sight, and approached them and returned to them

a second time in like guise and at the third time he drew up hard

beside them and nearing the King fell to rubbing his cheeks upon

the stirrups whilst the ruler put forth his hand and gentled the

steed by smoothing his head and forehead. As soon as the fifty

riders saw this, they marvelled thereat, but the King's son who

had kept his ground was astounded and said to himself, "The horse

fled me and when this host drew nigh he sought me again."[FN#545]

Presently the Prince fixed his glance upon the latest comers and

behold, the King was his father, so he sprang to him and when the

sire saw him he knew his son and footed it and the twain embraced

and fell fainting to the ground for awhile. When they recovered

the suite of the Sultan came forward and salam'd to the Prince

who presently asked his sire, "What may be the cause of thy

coming to this plain?" and the ruler informed him by way of

answer that after his child's departure slumber to him brought no

rest nor was there in food aught of zest and with him longing

overflowed for the sake of his son, so that after a while of time

he and the grandees of his realm had marched forth, and he ended

by saying, "O my son, our leaving home was for the sake of thee,

but do thou tell me what befel thee after mounting the Father of

a Pigeon, and what was the cause of thy coming to this spot."

Accordingly the Prince told all that had betided him, first and

last, of his durance vile amongst the Jews and how he had devised

the killing of the Captain and the capture of the craft; and how

the steed, after being lost in the waste,[FN#546] had returned to

him in this place; also of the fifty riders who encountered him

on landing and would fain have seized him but failed and of the

death of the horseman who was slain by the horse. Hereat they

pitched the pavilions upon that spot and set up a throne for the

King who after taking seat thereon placed his son by his side and

bade summon the fifty riders who were brought into the presence--

And Shahrazad was surprised by the dawn of day and fell silent

and ceased saying her permitted say. Then quoth her sister

Dunyazad, "How sweet and tasteful is thy tale, O sister mine, and

how enjoyable and delectable!" Quoth she, "And where is this

compared with that I would relate to you on the coming night an

the Sovran suffer me to survive?" Now when it was the next night

and that was

The Eight Hundred and Eighth Night,

Dunyazad said to her, "Allah upon thee, O my sister, an thou be

other than sleepy, finish for us thy tale that we may cut short

the watching of this our latter night!" She replied, "With love

and good will!" It hath reached me, O auspicious King, the

director, the right-guiding, lord of the rede which is benefiting,

and of deeds fair-seeming and worthy celebrating, that when the

Sultan took seat upon the throne and set his son by his side he

summoned the fifty riders, who were brought into the presence and

placed between his hands. Then he questioned them of their case

and their country and the cause of their coming to that stead and

they notified to him their native land and their Sovran and the

reason of their wandering; to wit, their headlong pursuit of the

stallion which had lasted for a term of ten days. Now when the

Sultan understood their words and knew and was certified

concerning their King and their country, he robed them with

honourable robes[FN#547] and said to them, "Wall�hi! had I known

that the stallion would have submitted to you and would have

obeyed you I should have delivered him up to you, but I feared

for any that durst approach him, barring his master. Now,

however, do ye depart and salam to your Sovran and say him, 'By

Allah, if the stallion thou sawest wandering the waste befitted

the use of thee I had sent him in free gift.'" With this fair

message the men farewelled him and fared from him and they ceased

not faring until they returned to their liege lord and reported

to him all that had betided them; that is, how the owner of the

stallion had appeared and proved to be a King who (they added)

"hath sent his salam to thee saying it was his desire to despatch

the horse but none availed to manage him save himself and his

son." And when the Ruler heard these words, he returned thanks to

the Sovran for the grace of his goodness, and returned forthright

to his own land. Meanwhile the Sultan who was owner of the

stallion presented the captured ship to those who had captured

her, and taking his son turned towards his capital, and they

marched without stay or delay until they reached it. Hereupon the

Chamberlains and the Nabobs and the high Officers and the

townsfolk came forth to meet and greet their Ruler and rejoiced

in his safety and that of his son, and they adorned the city for

three days and all were in high mirth and merriment until what

time the Sultan had settled down at home. Such was his case; but

as regards the Khwajah and his daughter, when they had let load

their loads they quitted the cavern and set forth, making for

their country and patrial stead, and they ceased not forcing

their marches for a term of ten days. But on the eleventh they

encountered fiery heat beginning from mid-forenoon; and, as the

place was grassy ground and overgrown with greenery, they

alighted from their beasts and bade pitch two pavilions, one for

the daughter and the other for her father and his folk, that it

might shade them and shelter them from the excessive sultriness.

Now when it was mid-afternoon behold, the damsel was seized with

the birth-pains and the pangs of child-bearing, but Allah

Almighty made delivery right easy to her and presently she became

the mother of a man-child--Glory be to God who fashioned him and

perfected what He had fashioned in the creation of that

babe![FN#548] So his mother cut his navel-string and, rolling it

up in one of her shifts, kept careful guard over it.[FN#549] And

presently her father entered to look upon her, and finding that

she had been delivered was grieved with exceeding grief and the

world was straitened before his face, and unknowing what to do he

said to himself, "Had we reached our homes and that babe appeared

with the damsel, our honour had been smirched and men had blamed

us saying, 'The Khwajah's daughter hath brought forth in sin.' So

we cannot confront the world, and if we bear with us this infant

they will ask where is its father?" He remained perplext and

distraught, seeing no way of action, and now he would say, "Let

us slay the child," and anon, "Let us hide it;" and the while he

was in that place his nature bespake him with such promptings.

But when morning came he had determined upon abandoning the

new-born and not carrying it further, so quoth he to his

daughter, "Hearken unto whatso I shall say thee." Quoth she,

"'Tis well!" and he continued, "If we travel with this infant the

tidings of us will spread through the city and men will say, 'The

Khwajah's daughter hath been debauched and hath borne a babe in

bastardy'; and our right way (according to me) is that we leave

it in this tent under charge of the Lord and whoso shall come up

to the little one shall take it with the tent; moreover I will

place under its head two hundred dinars and any whose lot it is

shall carry off the whole." When the damsel heard these words she

found the matter grievous, but she could return no reply. "What

sayest thou?" asked he, and she answered, "Whatso is right that

do thou." Hereupon he took a purse[FN#550] of two hundred gold

pieces which he set under the child's head and left it in the

tent. Then he loaded his loads and fared forth, he and his

daughter and his pages, and they ceased not pushing their marches

until they reached their own land and native country and entered

their home, where they were met by sundry of their familiars

coming forth to greet them. They settled down in their quarters

when the damsel forgathered with her mother who threw her arms

round her neck for exceeding affection to her and asked her of

her news; so she informed her concerning the matter of the cavern

and what was therein and how great was its distance, but she told

her naught of what had befallen her nor of her pregnancy by the

Prince nor of the babe she had abandoned. The mother still

supposed that she was a clean maid, yet she noted the change in

her state and complexion. Then the damsel sought privacy in one

of the chambers and wept until her gall-bladder was like to burst

and said to herself, "Would Heaven I knew whether Allah will

re-unite me with the child and its father the Prince!" and in

this condition she remained for a while of time. On such wise it

befel the Merchant and his daughter; but as regards the son of

the Sultan, when he had settled down in the city of his sire he

remembered the Khwajah's daughter, and quoth he to his father, "O

my papa, my desire is to hunting and birding and diversion."

Quoth the King, the better that Destiny might be fulfilled, "'Tis

well, O my son, but take with thee a suite." "I desire no more

than five men in all," said the other, and gat himself ready for

travel and, having farewelled his father, set forth from the

city--And Shahrazad was surprised by the dawn of day and fell

silent and ceased to say her permitted say. Then quoth her sister

Dunyazad, "How sweet is thy story, O sister mine, and how

enjoyable and delectable!" Quoth she, "And where is this compared

with that I would relate to you on the coming night an the King

suffer me to survive?" Now when it was the next night and that

was

The Eight Hundred and Tenth Night,

Dunyazad said to her, "Allah upon thee, O my sister, an thou be

other than sleepy, finish for us thy tale that we may cut short

the watching of this our latter night!" She replied, "With love

and good will!" It hath reached me, O auspicious King, the

director, the right-guiding, lord of the rede which is benefiting

and of deeds fair-seeming and worthy celebrating, that the Prince

went forth from his father with a train of five attendants and

made for the wilderness, and he conjoined the journeys of night

and day; withal he knew not whither he was going, and he chanced

travel over the same wilds and wolds and dales and stony leas.

But as regards the Merchant and his daughter, he went in to her

one day of the days and found her weeping and wailing, so he said

to her, "What causeth thee to shed tears, O my child?" and said

she, "How shall I not weep? indeed I must wail over my lot, and

over the promise wherewith Allah promised me." Hereupon he

exclaimed, "O my daughter, be silent and Inshallah--God willing--

I will equip me for travel and will fare to the son of the King;

and look to it, for haply Allah Almighty our Lord may direct me

to a somewhat shall conduct me to the Prince's city." So saying

he bade his handmaidens and eunuchs make ready forthright a

viaticum sufficing for a full-told year himself and his following

of pages and eunuchs, and they did his bidding. After a few days

they prepared all he had required and he purposed to set out;

then, he loaded his loads and, farewelling his wife and daughter,

went forth seeking the city of the King's son. He ceased not

travelling for a space of three months, when he found a meadow

wide of sides on the margin of a sweet-water lake, so he said to

his slaves, "Alight we here in this very place that we may take

our rest." Accordingly, they dismounted and pitched a tent and

furnisht it for him, and he passed that night by the water-side,

and all enjoyed their repose. But as soon as morn 'gan show and

shone with sheeny glow, and the sun arose o'er the lands lying

low, the Khwajah designed to order a march for his slaves when

suddenly espying a dust-cloud towering in rear of them, they

waited to see what it might be, and after some two hours of the

day it cleared off and disclosed beneath it six riders and with

them a b�t-beast carrying a load of provisions. These drew near

the meadow where the Khwajah sat looking at them, and fear hereat

entered into his heart, and trembling fell upon his limbs[FN#551]

until he was assured that they were but six men. So his mind was

calmed. But when the party drew near him he fixed his glance and

made certain that the men were headed by the King's son whom he

had met on his first journey, and he marvelled indeed at the

youth making for the same place, and he strove to guess the cause

of his coming with only five followers and no more. Then he arose

and accosted him and salam'd and sat down in converse with him,

being assured the while that it was the same who had had doings

with his daughter, and that the child which she had borne in the

tent and which they abandoned was the son of this Prince, while

the youth knew not that the Khwajah was father to the damsel with

whom he had tarried in the cavern. So they fell to communing

together for a while until the Prince asked the Trader, "What is

the cause of thy coming hither?" and answered the other, "I have

come seeking thee and thy country, for I have a want which thou

must fulfil me;" presently adding, "And thou, whither art thou

intending?" Quoth the King's son, "I am making for the cavern

wherein the handmaidens showed me much honour, for indeed I gave

my word that I would return to them after I had revisited my

country and had met my folk and my friends; and here I am coming

back to keep what plight and promise were between us." Hereupon

the Merchant arose, and taking the Prince, retired with him to a

place of privacy where none could wot of them twain save Allah

Almighty. "Would Heaven I knew what may be in the thoughts of

this Khw�jah!" said the Prince in his mind; but when both had

seated themselves at ease, the Merchant addressed the King's son

in these words, "O my son, all things are foredoomed in the World

of Secrets, and from fated lot is no flight. Now the end and aim

whereto thou designest in the cavern, verily they[FN#552] left it

for their own land." When the King's son heard these words

informing him that his beloved had quitted her abode, he cried

out with a loud outcry for stress of what had betided him, and

fell a-swoon by cause that love of the damsel had mastered his

heart and his vitals hung to her. After a while he recovered and

asked the Khwajah, "Say me, be these words of thine soothfast or

false?" "Soothfast indeed," answered the father, "but, O my

child, be of good cheer and eyes clear, for that thy wish is

won"--And Shahrazad was surprised by the dawn of day and fell

silent and ceased to say her permitted say. Then quoth her sister

Dunyazad, "How sweet and tasteful is thy tale, O sister mine, and

how enjoyable and delectable!" Quoth she, "And where is this

compared with that I would relate to you on the coming night an

the Sovran suffer me to survive?" Now when it was the next night

and that was

The Eight Hundred and Twelfth Night,

Dunyazad said to her, "Allah upon thee, O my sister, an thou be

other than sleepy, finish for us thy tale that we may cut short

the watching of this our latter night!" She replied, "With love

and good will!" It hath reached me, O auspicious King, the

director, the right-guiding, lord of the rede which is benefiting

and of deeds fair-seeming and worthy celebrating, that quoth the

Khwajah to the King's son after he had revived, "O my child, be

of good cheer and eyes clear for that thy want is won and for

thee the way hath been short done and if thy heart be firm-fixed

upon thy beloved the heart of her is still firmer than thine and

I am a messenger from her who seek thee that I may unite you

twain Inshallah--an Allah please." Asked the Prince, "And who

mayest thou be to her, O my lord?" and answered the other, "I am

her father and she is my daughter and hers is a marvel-tale, I

swear by the All-might of Him who made the Heavens and the

Earth." Then he fell to recounting anent the Voice which came to

him on the night of her being conceived in her mother's womb and

all that had since befallen her, keeping concealed[FN#553] only

the matter of the babe which she had borne in the tent. But when

the Prince knew that the wayfarer was her sire who was travelling

to seek him, he rejoiced in the glad tidings of forgathering with

the damsel and on the morning of the second day all marched off

together and made for the Merchant's city. And they stinted not

wayfaring and forcing their marches until they drew near it, and

as soon as they entered it, the Merchant, before going to his

home, led the Prince with him and sought the Kazi by whose aid

the marriage-tie, after due settlement of the dowry, might be

tied between him and the damsel. This done, he conducted him to a

place of concealment and presently went in to his daughter and

her mother who saluted him and asked him the news. Hereupon he

gave them to know that he had brought the King's son and had made

ready to knot the knot of wedlock between him and her. As soon as

the damsel heard these tidings she fainted for excess of her

happiness, and when she revived her mother arose and prepared her

person and adorned her and made her don her most sumptuous of

dresses. And when night fell they led the bridegroom in

procession to her and the couple embraced and each threw arms

round the neck of other for exceeding desire and their embraces

lasted till dawn-tide.[FN#554] After that the times waxed clear

to them and the days were serene until one chance night of the

nights when the Prince was sitting beside his bride and

conversing with her concerning various matters when suddenly she

fell to weeping and wailing. He was consterned thereat and cried,

"What causeth thee cry, O dearling of my heart and light of mine

eyes?" and she, "How shall I not cry when they have parted me

from my boy, the life-blood of my liver!" "And thou, hast thou a

babe?" asked he and she answered, "Yes indeed, my child and thy

child, whom I conceived by thee while we abode in the cavern. But

when my father[FN#555] took me therefrom and was leading me home

we encountered about midway a burning heat, so we halted and

pitched two tents for myself and my sire; then, as I sat within

mine the labour-pangs came upon me and I bare a babe as the moon.

But my parent feared to carry it with us lest our honour be

smirched by tittle-tattle, so we left the little one in the tent

with two hundred gold pieces under its head, that whoso might

come upon it and take it and tend it might therewith be repaid."

In fine, she told her spouse the whole tale concerning her infant

and declared that she had no longer patience to be parted from

it. Her bridegroom consoled her and promised her with the fairest

promises that he would certainly set out and travel and make

search for the lost one amongst the lands, even though his

absence might endure through a whole year in the wilderness. And

lastly he said to her, "We will ask news and seek tidings of him

from all the wayfarers who wend by that same valley, and certify

ourselves of the information, nor will we return to thee save

with assured knowledge; for this child is the fruit of my loins

and I will never neglect him; no, never. Needs must I set forth

and fare to those parts and search for my son." Such was their

case; but as regards the babe which had been abandoned (as we

have noticed), he lay alone for the first day and yet another

when a caravan appeared passing along that same road; and, as

soon as they sighted the pavilion yet they saw none within, they

drew near to it and behold, they found a babe lying prostrate

with his fingers in his mouth and sucking thereat[FN#556] and he

was even as a slice of the moon. So they approached him and took

him up and found under his head the purse, whereupon they carried

him, not forgetting the gold, and showed him to the Shaykh of the

Cafilah[FN#557] who cried, "Wall�hi, our way is a blessed for

that we have discovered this child; and, inasmuch as I have no

offspring, I will take him and tend him and adopt him to son."

Now this caravan was from the land of Al-Yaman and they had

halted on that spot for a night's rest, so when it was morning

they loaded and left it and fared forwards and they ceased not

wayfaring until they reached their homes safe and sound. After

returning all the Cafilah folk dispersed, each to his own stead,

but the Shaykh, who was employed by government under the King of

Al-Yaman, repaired to his own house accompanied by the child

which he had carefully tended and salam'd to his wife. As soon as

she saw the babe she marvelled at his fashion and, sending for a

wet-nurse, committed him for suckling to her and set apart for

her a place; and the woman fell to tending him and cleaning him,

and the house prospered for the master and dame had charge of

it[FN#558] during the days of suckling. And when the boy was

weaned they fed him fairly[FN#559] and took sedulous charge of

him, so he became accustomed to bespeak the man with, "O my

papa," and the woman with, "O my mamma," believing the twain to

be truly his parents. This endured for some seven years when they

brought him a Divine to teach him at home, fearing lest he should

fare forth the house; nor would they at any time send him to

school. So the tutor[FN#560] took him in hand and taught him

polite letters and he became a reader and a writer and well

versed in all knowledge before he reached his tenth year. Then

his adopted father appointed for him a horse that he might learn

cavalarice and the shooting of shafts and firing of bullets at

the butt,[FN#561] and then brought for him a complete rider that

he might teach him all his art and when he came to the age of

fourteen he became a doughty knight and a prow. Now one chance

day of the days the youth purposed going to the wild that he

might hunt,--And Shahrazad was surprised by the dawn of day and

fell silent and ceased to say her permitted say. Then quoth her

sister Dunyazad, "How sweet is thy story, O sister mine, and how

enjoyable and delectable!" Quoth she, "And where is this compared

with that I would relate to you on the coming night an the King

suffer me to survive?" Now when it was the next night and that

was

The Eight Hundred and Fourteenth Night,

Dunyazad said to her, "Allah upon thee, O my sister, an thou be

other than sleepy, finish for us thy tale that we may cut short

the watching of this our latter night!" She replied, "With love

and good will!" It hath reached me, O auspicious King, the

director, the right-guiding, lord of the rede which is benefiting

and of deeds fair-seeming and worthy celebrating, that the youth

proposed going forth to the wild that he might hunt, but his

guardians feared for him so that he availed not to fare forth.

Grievous to him was it that he could not obtain his liberty to

set out a-chasing, and there befel him much concern[FN#562] and a

burning thirst; so he lay him down sore sick and troubled.

Hereupon his father and mother went in to him and, finding that

he had taken to his pillow, they mourned over him, and fearing

lest he be afflicted by some disease they asked him, "What is to

do with thee and what calamity hath befallen thee?" Answered he,

"There is no help but that I go forth a-hunting in the

wilderness." Quoth they, "O our son, we fear for thee," and quoth

he, "Fear not, for that all things be foredoomed from Eternity

and, if aught be written for me, 'twill come to pass even

although I were beside you; and the bye-word saith, 'Profiteth

not Prudence against Predestination.'" Hereat they gave him

permission, and upon the second day he rode forth to the chase,

but the wold and the wilds swallowed him up, and when he would

have returned he knew not the road, so he said to himself, "Folk

declare that affects are affected and footsteps are sped to a

life that is vile and divided daily bread.[FN#563] If aught be

written to me fain must I fulfil it." And whenever he hunted down

a gazelle, he cut its throat and broiled the meat over a fire and

nourished himself for a while of days and nights; but he was lost

in those wastes until he drew in sight of a city. This he

entered, but he had no money for food or for foraging his horse,

so he sold it willy nilly and, hiring a room in a Wak�lah, lived

by expending its price till the money was spent. Then he cried,

"There is no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah, the

Glorious, the Great! The wise man doth even as the fool, but

All-might is to Allah." So he went forth to solace himself in the

highways of the city, looking rightwards and leftwards, until he

came to the gateway of the King's Palace, and when he glanced

around he saw written over it, "Dive not into the depths unless

thou greed for thyself and thy wants."[FN#564] So he said in his

mind, "What is the meaning of these words I see here inscribed?"

Presently he repaired for aid to a man in a shop and salam'd to

him, and when his salutation was returned enquired of him, "O my

lord, what is the meaning of this writ which is written over the

Sultan's gateway?" The other replied, "O my son, whereof dost

thou ask? Verily the Sultan and all the Lords of his land are in

sore cark and care for the affair of his daughter, the Princess."

The youth rejoined, "What is the matter with her and what hath

befallen her?" and the man retorted, "O my son, verily the Sultan

hath a daughter so fair that she seemeth cast in the very mould

of beauty and none in her day can excel her, but whoso is

betrothed to her and marrieth her and goeth in unto her the dawn

never cometh without his becoming a heap of poison, and no one

wotteth the business what it may be." Hearing these words the

youth said to himself, "By Allah, the death of me were better

than this the life of me, but I have no dower to offer her." Then

he asked the man, "O my uncle, whoso lacketh money and wisheth to

marry her, how shall he act?" "O my son," answered the other,

"verily the Sultan demandeth nothing; nay, he expendeth of his

own wealth upon her." The youth arose from beside the man at that

moment and, going in to the King, found him seated on his throne;

so he salam'd to him and prayed for him and deprecated and kissed

ground before him, and when the King returned his salutation and

welcomed him he cried, "O King of the Age, 'tis my intent and

design to be connected with thee through the lady safe-guarded,

thy daughter." "By Allah, O Youth," said the Sultan, "I consent

not for thine own sake that thou wed her by cause that thou wilt

be going wilfully to thy death;" and hereupon he related to him

all that befel each and every who had married her and had gone in

unto her. Quoth the youth, "O King of the Age, indeed I rely upon

the Lord, and if I die I shall fare to Allah and His ruth and, if

I live, 'tis well, for that all things are from the Almighty."

Quoth the Sultan, "O Youth, counsel appertaineth to Allah, for

thou art her equal in beauty;" and the other rejoined, "All

things are by Fate and man's lot." Hereupon the King summoned the

Kazi and bade tie the marriage-tie between the youth and his

daughter; then he went in to his Harem and apprised thereof her

mother that she might prepare the girl's person for the coming

night. But the youth departed from the Sultan's presence perplext

of heart and distraught, unknowing what to do; and, as he walked

about, suddenly he met a man in years, clean of raiment and with

signs of probity evident; so he accosted him and said, "O my

lord, ask a blessing for me." Said the Shaykh, "O my son, may our

Lord suffice thee against all would work thee woe and may He ever

forefend thee from thy foe."[FN#565] And the youth was gladdened

by the good omen of the Shaykh's words. But when the Sultan had

sought his Harem he said, "By Allah, he who hath wedded the

damsel is a beautiful youth: oh the pity of it that he should

die! Indeed I dissuaded him, saying so-and-so shall befal thee,

but I could not deter him. Now by the rights of Him who raised

the firmament without basement, an our Lord deign preserve this

Youth and he see the morn in safety, I will assuredly gift him

and share with him all my good, for that I have no male issue to

succeed me in the sovranty; and this one, if Allah Almighty

vouchsafe prolong his days, shall become my heir apparent and

inherit after me. Indeed I deem him to be a son of the Kings who

disguiseth himself, or some Youth of high degree who is troubled

about worldly goods and who sayeth in himself, 'I will take this

damsel to wife that I may not die of want, for verily I am

ruined.' I diverted him from wedding her, but it could not be,

and the more I deterred him with words manifold only the more

grew his desire and he cried, 'I am content'; thus speaking after

the fashion of one who longeth to perish. However, let him meet

his lot--either death-doom or deliverance from evil." Now when it

was eventide the Sultan sent to summon his son-in-law and,

seating him beside the throne, fell to talking with him and

asking after his case; but he concealed his condition and said,

"Thy servant is such whereof 'tis spoken, 'I fell from Heaven and

was received by Earth.' Ask me not, O King of the Age, or of the

root or of the branch, for one of the wise and ware hath said:--

'To tell my root and my name refrain; * The root of the youth is

what good he gain:[FN#566]

A wight without father full oft shall win * And melting shall

purify drossy strain.'

And folk are equal but in different degrees."[FN#567] Now when

the Sultan heard these words, he wondered at his eloquence and

sweetness of speech; withal he marvelled that his son-in-law

would not explain to him from what land or from what folk he

came. And the two ceased not their converse until after the hour

of night prayers, when the Lords of the land had been dismissed;

whereupon the Sultan bade an eunuch take the youth and introduce

him to the Princess. So he arose from him and went with the

slave, the King exclaiming the while, "There is no Majesty and

there is no Might, save in Allah, the Glorious, the Great: verily

yonder young man wendeth wilfully to his death." Now when the

bridegroom reached the apartment of the Sultan's daughter and

entered to her--And Shahrazad was surprised by the dawn of day

and fell silent and ceased saying her permitted say. Then quoth

her sister Dunyazad, "How sweet and tasteful is thy tale, O

sister mine, and how enjoyable and delectable!" Quoth she, "And

where is this compared with that I would relate to you on the

coming night an the Sovran suffer me to survive?" Now when it was

the next night and that was

The Eight Hundred and Seventeenth Night,

Dunyazad said to her, "Allah upon thee, O my sister, an thou be

other than sleepy, finish for us thy tale that we may cut short

the watching of this our latter night!" She replied, "With love

and good will!" It hath reached me, O auspicious King, the

director, the right-guiding, lord of the rede which is benefiting

and of deeds fair-seeming and worthy celebrating, that the youth,

when entering to the Sultan's daughter, exclaimed "Bismillah--in

the name of Allah--I place my trust upon Allah, and I have

committed mine affair unto Allah!" Then he went forwards and

found his bride seated upon her bedstead, and she was as a Hoard

newly loosed from its Talisman; while she on her part rose and

met him, and looked upon him and considered him until she was

certified of his being cast in beauty's mould, nor had she ever

seen any like unto him. So she wept till the tears trickled adown

her cheeks and she said to herself, "Oh the pity of it! Never

shall my joy be fulfilled with this beautiful youth, than whom

mine eyes never fell upon one fairer." Quoth he, "What causeth

thee cry, O my lady?" and quoth she, "I cry for the loss of my

joys with thee seeing that thou art to perish this very night;

and I sue of the Almighty and supplicate Him that my life may be

thy ransom, for by Allah 'tis a pity!" When he heard these words

he presently looked around and suddenly he sighted a magical

Sword[FN#568] hanging by the belt against the wall: so he arose

and hent it and threw it across his shoulders; then, returning he

took seat upon the couch beside the Sultan's daughter, withal his

heart and his tongue never neglected to recite the Names of Allah

or to sue aidance from the Prince of the Hallows[FN#569] who

alone can reconcile with the Almighty fiat the fates and affairs

of God's servants. This lasted for an hour until the first third

of the night, when suddenly were heard the bellowings as of wind

and rumblings of thunder, and the bride, perceiving all the

portents which had occurred to others, increased in weeping and

wailing. Then lo and behold! a wall amiddlemost the chamber clave

asunder, and there issued forth the cleft a Basilisk[FN#570]

resembling a log of palm-tree, and he was blowing like the

storm-blast and his eyes were as cressets and he came on

wriggling and waving. But when the youth saw the monster he

sprang up forthright with stout heart that knew naught of

startling or affright, and cried out, "Protect me, O Chief and

Lode-star of the Hallows, for I have thrown myself upon thine

honour and am under thy safe-guard." So saying and setting hand

on brand he advanced and confronted the portent swiftlier than an

eye-glance, raising his elbow till the blackness of the armpit

appeared; and he cried out with a loud outcry whereto the whole

city re-echoed, and which was audible even to the Sultan. Then he

smote the monster upon his neck[FN#571] and caused head to fly

from body for a measure of some two spans. Hereupon the Basilisk

fell dead, but the youth was seized by a fainting-fit for the

mighty stress of his stroke, and the bride arose for the excess

of her joy and threw herself upon him and swooned away for a

full-told hour. When the couple recovered, the Princess fell to

kissing his hands and feet and wiping with her kerchief the sweat from his brow and saying to him, "O my lord, and light of

mine eyes, may none thy hand ever foreslow nor exult over thee

any foe," till he had recovered his right senses and had regained

his strength. Anon he arose, and taking the Basilisk set it upon

a large tray;[FN#572] then, letting bring a skinful of water he

cleaned away the blood. After this the youth and the King's

daughter sat down and gave each other joy of their safety and

straightway disappeared from them all traces of distress.

Presently the Bridegroom looked at his Bride and found her like a

pearl, so he caused her to laugh and disported with her and

excited her and she did on like wise and at last he threw her

upon her back and did away her maidenhead, whenas their gladness

grew and their pleasures were perfected and their joyance was

enhanced by the monster's death. They ceased not, the twain of

them, toying and enjoying themselves until it was well nigh dawn

and sleep overcame them and they slumbered. But the Sultan during

that night could relish nor lying down nor sitting up, and as

soon as he heard the shout he cried, "The Youth is indeed dead

and this world hath fled! There is no Majesty and there is no

Might save in Allah, the Glorious, the Great." About morning-tide

he prepared for him a shroud and mortuary perfumes, and all

things required, and despatched a party to dig a tomb for him who

had been slain by the side of his daughter, and he let make an

iron bier, after which he sent for the washers of the dead and

summoned them to his presence and lastly he awaited for his wife

to seek her daughter and bring him the tidings--And Shahrazad was

surprised by the dawn of day and fell silent and ceased to say

her permitted say. Then quoth her sister Dunyazad, "How sweet is

thy story, O sister mine, and how enjoyable and delectable!"

Quoth she, "And where is this compared with that I would relate

to you on the coming night an the King suffer me to survive?" Now

when it was the next night and that was

The Eight Hundred and Nineteenth Night,

Dunyazad said to her, "Allah upon thee, O my sister, an thou be

other than sleepy, finish for us thy tale, that we may cut short

the watching of this our latter night!" She replied, "With love

and good will!" It hath reached me, O auspicious King, the

director, the right-guiding, lord of the rede which is benefiting

and of deeds fair-seeming and worthy celebrating, that the Sultan

sat until morning-tide expecting his wife to bring him tidings of

the youth that he might take him and bury him. But the

Queen-mother repaired to her daughter's apartment where she found

the door locked and bolted upon the couple; so she knocked for

them whilst her eyes were tear-stained and she was wailing over

the loss of her daughter's love-liesse. Hereat the Princess awoke

and she arose and opened the door when behold, she found her

mother weeping so she asked her, "What caused thee shed tears, O

Mother mine, whilst my enjoyment hath been the completest?" Asked

she, "And what hath joyed you?" So the daughter led her to the

middlemost of the apartment where she found the Basilisk (which

was like the section of a palm-trunk) lying dead upon a huge tray

and she saw her son-in-law sleeping upon the bedstead[FN#573] and

he was like a fragment of the moon on the fourteenth night. The

mother bowed head towards him and kissed him upon the brow

saying, "Verily and indeed thou deservest safety!" Then she went

forth from him lullilooing aloud and bade all the handmaids raise

the cry of joy[FN#574] and the Palace was turned topsy-turvy with

gladness and delight. When the Sultan heard this he arose and

asked "What may be the news? Are we in grief or in gladness;" and

so saying he went forth when suddenly he was met by his wife in

the highest delight who took him and led him to the apartment of

her daughter. There he also espied the Basilisk stretched dead

upon the tray and the youth his son-in-law lying asleep upon the

bedstead, whereat from the stress of his joyance he fell to the

floor in a fainting-fit which lasted an hour or so. But when he

revived he cried, "Is this wake or rather is't sleep?" after

which he arose and bade the musicians of his band beat the

kettledrums and blow the shawms and the trumps and he commanded

adorn the city; and the citizens did all his bidding. The

decorations remained during seven days in honour of the safety of

the Sultan's son-in-law, and increased were their joys and fell

from them all annoys, and the Sultan took to distributing and

giving alms and largessing and making presents to the Fakirs and

the miserable and he robed his nobles with honourable robes and

fed the captives and the prisoners one and all;[FN#575] and the

naked he clothed, and those anhungered he feasted in honour of

his daughter. Then said the Sultan, "By Allah, this youth

deserveth naught save that I make him my partner and share with

him my good, for he hath banished from us our dule and our

dolours and eke on account of himself and his own sake." After

this he made over to him half of his realm and his riches and the

Sultan would rule one day and his son-in-law the other and their

joys endured for the space of a full-told year. Then the Sovran

was seized of a sickness, so he bequeathed to his son-in-law all

he had and everything he owned; and but a little time elapsed

before his malady increased day by day until he fared to the ruth

of Almighty Allah and the youth sat in his stead as Sovran and

Sultan. Such was his case; but as regards the matter of his sire,

the King's son of Al-'Irak, when he promised his wife that he

would certainly go forth and travel and search for their son, he

ceased not wending through the regions for a length of nights and

days until Destiny threw him into such-and-such a city; and from

the excess of what he had suffered of toil and travail he tarried

therein a time. Now the Shaykh of the Caravans (who had found the

babe in the tent and had taken him and had tended and adopted

him, and from whom the youth when grown to man's estate had

disappeared on the hunting excursion and returned not to his

parents) also set out a-seeking him and fell diligently to

searching for tidings of him and roaming from place to place.

Presently he was cast by doom of Destiny into the same city; and,

as he found none to company with, he was suddenly met on one of

the highways by the youth's true father and the twain made

acquaintance and became intimate until they nighted and morning'd

in the same stead; withal neither knew what was his companion.

But one night of the nights the two sat down in talk and the true

sire asked the adoptive father, "O my brother, tell us the cause

of thy going forth from thy country and of thy coming hither?"

Answered his comrade, "By Allah, O my brother, my tale is a

wondrous and mine adventure is a marvellous." Quoth he, "And

how?" and quoth the other, "I was Shaykh of the Cafilahs on

various trading journeys, and during one of them I passed by a

way of the ways where I found a pavilion pitched at a forking of

the roads. So I made for it and dismounted my party in that place

and I glanced at the tent but we found none therein, whereupon I

went forwards and entered it and saw a babe new-born strown upon

his back and sucking his fingers.[FN#576] So I raised him between

my hands and came upon a purse of two hundred dinars set under

his head; and I took the gold and carried it off together with

the child." But when his comrade, the true father, heard this

tale from him he said to himself, "This matter must have been

after such fashion," and he was certified that the foundling was

his son, for that he had heard the history told by the mother of

the babe with the same details essential and accidental. So he

firmly believed[FN#577] in these words and rejoiced thereat, when

his comrade continued, "And after that, O my brother, I bore off

that babe and having no offspring I gave him to my wife who

rejoiced therein and brought him a wet-nurse to suckle him for

the usual term. When he had reached his sixth year I hired a

Divine to read with him and teach him writing and the art of

penmanship;[FN#578] and, as soon as he saw ten years, I bought

him a horse of the purest blood, whereon he learnt cavalarice and

the shooting of shafts and the firing of bullets until he

attained his fifteenth year. Presently one day of the days he

asked to go a-hunting in the wilderness, but we his parents (for

he still held me to be his father and my wife his mother) forbade

him in fear of accidents; whereupon he waxed sore sorrowful and

we allowed him leave to fare forth."--And Shahrazad was surprised

by the dawn of day and fell silent and ceased saying her

permitted say. Then quoth her sister Dunyazad, "How sweet and

tasteful is thy story, O sister mine, and how enjoyable and

delectable!" Quoth she, "And where is this compared with that I

would relate to you on the coming night an the Sovran suffer me

to survive?" Now when it was the next night and that was

The Eight Hundred and Twenty-first Night,

Dunyazad said to her, "Allah upon thee, O my sister, an thou be

other than sleepy, finish for us thy tale that we may cut short

the watching of this our latter night!" She replied, "With love

and good will!" It hath reached me, O auspicious King, the

director, the right-guiding, lord of the rede which is benefiting

and of deeds fair-seeming and worthy celebrating, that the

adoptive father pursued to his comrade, "So we permitted him to

hie a-hunting, and he farewelled us and went forth from us and

left us, whereat we fell to beweeping him; and inasmuch as until

this present he hath not returned to us, I have set out to seek

him and here am I in this place searching for traces of him.

Peradventure may Allah Almighty deign unite me with him and gar

me forgather with him; for, Wall�hi! from the hour he went from

us sleep hath done us no good nor have we found relish in food."

And when the speech was ended, quoth his comrade, "O my brother,

whenas he is not the son of thy loins and he could prove himself

perverse to thee, what must be the condition in his regard of the

father who begat him and the mother who enwombed him?" He

replied, "Theirs must be cark and care and misery beyond even

mine;" and the other rejoined, "By Allah, O my brother, verily

the relation thou hast related anent this child proveth that he

is, by God, my child and of mine own seed, for in sooth his

mother gave birth to him in that stead where she left him being

unable to carry him with her; but now she beweepeth the loss of

him through the nights and the days." "O my brother," quoth the

adoptive father, "we twain, I and thou, will indeed make public

search and open inquiry for him through the lands, and Allah

Almighty shall guide us himwards." When morning came the pair

went forth together intending to journey from that city, but by

doom of the Decreer the Sultan on that very day set out to visit

the gardens; and, when the travellers heard tidings thereof, one

said to the other, "Let us stay and solace ourselves with a sight

of the royal suite and after we will wend our ways." Said his

comrade, "'Tis well." So they took their station to await the

issuing forth of the Sultan, who suddenly rode out amid his suite

as the two stood leaning beside the road and looking at the

Sultan, when behold, his glance fell upon the two men. He at once

recognised the father who had reared him, and when he gazed at

the other standing beside him his heart was opened to the love of

him albeit he weeted naught of their tie of blood nor believed

that any was his sire save the Shaykh who had adopted him.

Accordingly, after considering them he bade carry them both to

the House of Hospitality, so they led them thither and did his

bidding. Hereupon the twain said to themselves, "Wherefore hath

the Sultan made us his guests? Nor he knoweth us nor we know him

and needs must this have a cause." But after leaving them the

King rode to the gardens where he tarried the whole day, and when

it was sunset he returned to his Palace, and at suppertide

commanded the men be brought before him. They salam'd to him and

blessed him and he returned their salutations, and bade them take

seat at the trays whereat none other was present. They obeyed his

order much wondering thereat the while and musing in their minds,

"What condition is this?" They ate till they were satisfied,

after which the food-trays were removed and they washed their

hands and drank coffee and sherbets; then, by command of the

King, they sat down to converse when the Sultan addressed them

instead of the others, whereat they marvelled self-communing and

saying, "What can be the cause?" But as soon as all the

attendants had been dismissed to their quarters and no one

remained save the Sultan and his guests (three in all and no

more), and it was the first third of the night, the King asked

them, "Which of you availeth to tell a tale which shall be a

joyance to our hearts?" The first to answer him was the true

father, who said, "Wall�hi, O King of the Age, there befel me an

adventure which is one of the wonders of the world, and 'tis

this. I am son to a King of the Kings of the earth who was

wealthy of money and means, and who had the goods of life beyond

measure. He feared for my safety because he had none other save

myself, and one day of the days, when I craved leave to go

a-hunting in the wilderness, he refused me in his anxiety for my

safety." (Hereat, quoth the Sultan in himself, "By Allah, the

story of this man is like my history!") "So quoth I, 'O King,

unless I fare forth to sport, verily I will slay myself,' and

quoth my sire, 'O my son, do thou go ride to the chase, but leave

us not long for the hearts of us two, I and thy mother, will be

engrossed by thee.' Said I, 'Hearing and obeying,' and I went

down to the stable to take a steed; and finding a smaller stall

wherein was a horse chained to four posts and, on guard beside

him two slaves who could never draw near him, I approached him

and fell to smoothing his coat. He remained silent and still

whilst I took his furniture and set it upon his back, and girthed

his saddle right tight and bridled him and loosed him from the

four posts, and during all this he never started not shied at me

by reason of the Fate and Fortune writ upon my forehead from the

Secret World. Then I got him ready and mounted him and went

forth"--And Shahrazad was surprised by the dawn of day, and fell

silent and ceased to say her permitted say. Then quoth her sister

Dunyazad, "How sweet is thy story, O sister mine, and how

enjoyable and delectable!" Quoth she, "And where is this compared

with that I would relate to you on the coming night an the King

suffer me to survive?" Now when it was the next night and that

was

The Eight Hundred and Twenty-third Night,

Dunyazad said to her, "Allah upon thee, O my sister, an thou be

other than sleepy, finish for us thy tale that we may cut short

the watching of this our latter night!" She replied, "With love

and good will!" It hath reached me, O auspicious King, the

director, the right-guiding, lord of the rede which is benefiting

and of deeds fair-seeming and worthy celebrating, that the man

who was bespeaking the Sultan pursued to him, "Then I mounted him

and rode him over the gravelly ground without the city when

behold, he snorted and snarked and shook his crest and started at

speed and galloped with me and bolted, swiftly as though he were

a bird in the firmament of heaven." On this wise he fell to

recounting all that had befallen in the cave between him and the

Merchant's daughter and what had betided him by decree of Allah;

how he had left her for his own land and how had her sire come

and carried her away; also in what manner she had been delivered

of a son by him on the road and had left her babe-child in the

tent hoping that someone might find him and take him and tend

him; and, lastly, how he had married the child's mother and what

was the cause of his going forth and his coming to that place

that he might seek his son. Hereupon the Sultan turned to his

adoptive father whom hitherto he had believed to be his real

parent saying, "And thou, the other, dost thou know any tale like

that told to us by thy comrade?" So the Shaykh recounted to him

the whole history as hath before been set forth from incept to

conclusion, nor hid from him aught thereof. Then the Sultan

declared himself to his true sire, saying, "Thou art my father

and there befel such things and such," after which said his

adoptive parent, "Wall�hi, O my son, verily none is thy father

save this one from whose loins thou art sprung, for I only found

thee in the pavilion and took thee and tended thee in my home.

But this is thy very parent in very deed." Hereat all the three

fell upon one another's necks and kissed one another and the

Sultan cried, "Praise to Him who hath united us after disunion!"

and the others related to him anent his maternal grandfather how

he was a Merchant, and concerning his paternal grandsire how he

was a Monarch. Anon each of the two was ordered to revisit his

own country and convey his consort and his children; and the

twain disappeared for the space of a year and a month and at

length returned to the young King. Hereupon he set apart for them

palaces and settled them therein and they tarried with him until

such time as there came to them the Destroyer of delights and the

Severer of societies.

Story of the Youth Who Would Futter His Father's

Wives.[FN#579]

It is related that there was a man who had a grown-up son, but

the youth was a ne'er-do-well,[FN#580] and whatever wife his sire

wedded, the son would devise him a device to lie with her and

have his wicked will of her, and he so managed the matter that

his father was forced to divorce her. Now the man once married a

bride beautiful exceedingly and, charging her beware of his son,

jealously guarded her from him.--And Shahrazad was surprised by

the dawn of day and fell silent and ceased to say her permitted

say. Then quoth her sister Dunyazad, "How sweet is thy story, O

sister mine, and how enjoyable and delectable!" Quoth she, "And

where is this compared with that I would relate to you on the

coming night an the King suffer me to survive?" Now when it was

the next night, and that was

The Eight Hundred and Thirty-second Night,

Dunyazad said to her, "Allah upon thee, O my sister, an thou be

not sleeping, finish for us thy tale that we may cut short the

watching of this our latter night!" She replied, "With love and

good will!" It hath reached me, O auspicious King, the director,

the right-guiding, lord of the rede which is benefiting and of

deeds fair-seeming and worthy celebrating, that the father

applied himself to safe-guarding his wife and gave her a charge

warning her with threats against his son and saying, "Whenas I

wed ever a woman, yonder youth by his cunning manageth to have

his wicked will of her." Quoth she, "O Man, what be these words

thou speakest? This thy son is a dog, nor hath he power to do

with me aught, and I am a lady amongst women." Quoth he, "Indeed

I but charge thee to have a care of thyself.[FN#581] Haply I may

hie me forth to wayfare and he will lay some deep plot for thee

and work with thee as he wrought with others." She replied, "O

Man, hold thyself secure therefrom for an he bespeak me with a

single word I will slipper him with my papoosh;"[FN#582] and he

rejoined, "May safety be thine!" He cohabited with her for a

month till one day of the days when he was compelled to travel;

so he went in to his wife and cautioned her and was earnest with

her saying, "Have a guard of thyself from my son the debauchee

for 'tis a froward fellow, a thief, a miserable, lest he come

over thee with some wile and have his will of thee." Said she,

"What words are these? Thy son is a dog nor hath he any power

over me in aught whereof thou talkest, and if he bespeak me with

one injurious word, I will slipper him soundly with my foot-

gear."[FN#583] He rejoined, "If thou happen to need aught[FN#584]

never even mention it to him;" and she, "Hearkening and

obedience." So he farewelled her and fared forth wholly intent

upon his wayfare. Now when he was far enough from the town the

youth came to the grass-widow but would not address a single word

to her, albeit fire was lighted in his heart by reason of her

being so beautiful. Accordingly he contrived a wile. It happened

to be summer-tide so he went[FN#585] to the house and repaired to

the terrace-roof, and there he raised his clothes from his

sitting-place and exposed his backside stark naked to the cooling

breeze; then he leant forwards propped on either elbow and,

spreading his hands upon the ground, perked up[FN#586] his

bottom. His stepmother looked at him and marvelling much said in

her mind, "Would Heaven I knew of this froward youth what may be

his object!"[FN#587] However he never looked at her nor ever

turned towards her but he abode quiet in the posture he had

chosen. She stared hard at him and at last could no longer

refrain from asking him, "Wherefore dost thou on this wise?" He

answered, "And why not? I am doing that shall benefit me in the

future, but what that is I will never tell thee; no, never." She

repeated her question again and again, and at last he replied, "I

do thus when 'tis summer-tide and a something of caloric entereth

my belly through my backside and when 'tis winter the same cometh forth and warmeth my body; and in the cool season I do the same and the frigoric cometh forth in the dog-days and keepeth me in heats like these, fresh and comfortable."[FN#588] She asked, "An

I do what thou doest, shall it be the same to me?" And he

answered, "Aye." Herewith she came forward beside him and raised

her raiment from her behind till the half of her below the waist

was stark naked;--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and

fell silent and ceased saying her permitted say. Then quoth her

sister Dunyazad, "How sweet and tasteful is thy tale, O sister

mine, and how enjoyable and delectable!" Quoth she, "And where is

this compared with that I would relate to you on the coming night

an the Sovran suffer me to survive?" Now when it was the next

night and that was

The Eight Hundred and Thirty-third Night,

Dunyazad said to her, "Allah upon thee, O my sister, an thou be

other than sleepy, finish for us thy tale that we may cut short

the watching of this our latter night!" She replied, "With love

and good will!" It hath reached me, O auspicious King, the

director, the right-guiding, lord of the rede which is benefiting

and of deeds fair-seeming and worthy celebrating, that the grass-

widow came forward beside her stepson and raised her raiment from

her behind until the half of her below the waist was stark naked;

and she did even as her husband's son had done, and perked up her

buttocks, leaning heavily upon her knees and elbows. Now when she

acted on this wise the youth addressed her saying, "Thou canst

not do it aright." "How so?" "Because the wind passing in through

the postern passeth out through thy portal, thy solution of

continuity." "Then how shall I do?" "Stopper thy slit

wherethrough the air passeth." "How shall I stopper it?" "An

thou stopper it not thy toil will be in vain." "Dost thou know

how to stopper it?" "Indeed I do!" "Then rise up and stopper

it." Hearing these words he arose, because indeed he greeded for

her, and came up behind her as she rested upon her elbows and

knees and hending in hand his prickle nailed it into her coynte

and did manly devoir. And after having his will of her he said,

"Thou hast now done thy best for me and thy belly is filled full

of the warm breeze." On this wise he continued every day,

enjoying the wife of his father for some time during his wayfare,

till the traveller returned home, and on his entering the house

the bride rose and greeted him and said, "Thou hast been absent

overlong!"[FN#589] The man sat with her awhile and presently

asked of her case for that he was fearful of his son; so she

answered, "I am hale and hearty!" "Did my son ask thee of aught?"

"Nay, he asked me not, nor did he ever address me: withal, O Man,

he hath admirable and excellent expedients and indeed he is

deeply versed in natural philosophy." "What expedients and what

natural philosophy?" "He tucketh up his dress and exposeth his

backside to the breeze which now passeth into his belly and

benefiteth him throughout the cold season, and in winter he doeth

exactly what he did in summer with effect as beneficial. And I

also have done as he did." Now when the husband heard these her

words he knew that the youth had practised upon her and had

enjoyed his desire of her; so he asked her, "And what was it thou

diddest?" She answered, "I did even as he did. However the breeze

would not at first enter into my belly for whatever passed

through the back postern passed out of the front portal, and the

youth said to me, 'Stopper up thy solution of continuity.' I

asked him, 'Dost thou know how to stopper it?' and he answered,

'Indeed I do!' Then he arose and blocked it with his prickle; and

every day I continued to do likewise and he to stopper up the

peccant part with the wherewithal he hath." All this was said to

the husband who listened with his head bowed groundwards; but

presently he raised it and cried, "There is no Majesty and there

is no might save in Allah, the Glorious, the Great;" and suddenly

as they were speaking on that subject the youth came in to them--

And Shahrazad was surprised by the dawn of day and fell silent and

ceased to say her permitted say. Then quoth her sister Dunyazad,

"How sweet is thy story, O sister mine, and how enjoyable and

delectable!" Quoth she, "And where is this compared with that I

would relate to you on the coming night an the King suffer me to

survive?" Now when it was the next night and that was

The Eight Hundred and Thirty-fourth Night,

Dunyazad said to her, "Allah upon thee, O my sister, an thou be

not sleeping, finish for us thy tale, that we may cut short the

watching of this our latter night!" She replied, "With love and

good will!" It hath reached me, O auspicious King, the director,

the right-guiding, lord of the rede which is benefiting, and of

deeds fair-seeming and worth celebrating, that the youth came in

to his father and found his stepmother relating to him all they

had done whilst he was away and the man said to him, "Wherefore,

O youth, hast thou acted on such wise?" Said the son, "What harm

have I done? I only dammed the waterway that the warm air might

abide in her belly and comfort her in the cold season." So the

father knew that his son had played this trick in order to have

his will of her. Hereat he flew into a fury[FN#590] and

forthright divorced her, giving her the contingent dowry; and she

went her ways. Then the man said in his mind, "I shall never get

the better of this boy until I marry two wives and ever keep them

with each other, so that he may not cozen the twain." Now after a

couple of weeks he espoused a fair woman fairer than his former

and during the next month he wived with a second and cohabited

with the two brides. Then quoth the youth in his mind, "My papa

hath wedded two perfect beauties and here am I abiding in single

blessedness. By Allah, there is no help but that I play a prank

upon both of them!" Then he fell to seeking a contrivance but he

could not hit upon aught for that whenever he entered the house

he found his two step-mothers sitting together and thus he could

not avail to address either. But his father never fared forth

from home or returned to it without warning his wives and saying,

"Have a care of yourselves against that son of mine. He is a

whoremonger and he hath made my life distraught, for whenever I

take to myself a wife he serveth some sleight upon her; then he

laugheth at her and so manageth that I must divorce her." At such

times the two wives would cry, "Wall�hi, an he come near us and

ask us of amorous mercy we will slap him with our slippers."

Still the man would insist, saying, "Be ye on your guard against

him," and they would reply, "We are ever on our guard." Now one

day the women said to him, "O man, our wheat is finished," and

said he, "Be ye watchful while I fare to the Bazar in our market-

town which lieth hard by and fetch you the corn." So he left them

and made for the town,--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day

and fell silent and ceased saying her permitted say. Then quoth

her sister Dunyazad, "How sweet and tasteful is thy tale, O

sister mine, and how enjoyable and delectable!" Quoth she, "And

where is this compared with that I would relate to you on the

coming night an the Sovran suffer me to survive?" Now when it was

the next night and that was

The Eight Hundred and Thirty-fifth Night,

Dunyazad said to her, "Allah upon thee, O my sister, an thou be

other than sleepy, finish for us thy tale that we may cut short

the watching of this our latter night!" She replied, "With love

and good will!" It hath reached me, O auspicious King, the

director, the right-guiding, lord of the rede which is benefiting

and of deeds fair-seeming and worth celebrating, that when the

father had gone forth and was making for the market-town, his son

happened to meet him, and the two wives went up to the terrace

wishing to see if their husband be gone or not. Now by the decree

of the Decreer the man had in some carelessness forgotten his

papooshes so he turned to the youth who was following him and

said, "O my son, go back and bring me my shoes." The women still

stood looking, and the youth returned in mighty haste and hurry till he stood under the terrace, when he looked up and said, "My father hath just now charged me with a charge saying, 'Do thou go sleep with my wives, the twain of them, and have each one of them

once.' They replied, "What, O dog, O accursed, thy father bespake

thee on this wise? By Allah, indeed thou liest, O hog, O ill-

omened wight." "Wallahi," he rejoined, "I lie not!" So he walked

back till he was near his father when he shouted his loudest so

as to be heard by both parties, "O my papa, O my papa, one of

them or the two of them? One of them or the two of them?" The

father shouted in reply, "The two, the two! Allah disappoint

thee: did I say one of them or the two of them?" So the youth

returned to his father's wives and cried, "Ye have heard what my

papa said. I asked him within your hearing, 'One of them or the

two of them?' and ye heard him say, 'Both, both.'" Now the man

was speaking of his slippers, to wit, the pair; but the women

understood that his saying, "the two of them" referred to his

wives. So one turned to her sister spouse and said, "So it

is,[FN#591] our ears heard it and the youth hath in no wise lied:

let him lie with me once and once with thee even as his father

bade him." Both were satisfied herewith; but meanwhile the son

stole quietly into the house and found his father's papooshes:

then he caught him up on the road and gave them to him and the

man went his ways. Presently the youth returned to the house and

taking one of his father's wives lay with her and enjoyed her and

she also had her joy of him; and when he had done all he wanted

with her he fared forth from her to the second wife in her

chamber and stretched himself beside her and toyed with her and

futtered her. She saw in the son a something she had not seen in

the sire, so she joyed in him and he joyed in her. Now when he

had won his will of the twain and had left the house the women

foregathered and began talking and saying, "By Allah, this youth

hath given us both much amorous pleasure, far more than his

father ever did; but when our husband shall return let us keep

our secret even though he spake the words we heard: haply he may

not brook too much of this thing." So as soon as the man came

back with the wheat he asked the women saying, "What befel you?"

and they answered, "O Man, art thou not ashamed to say to thy

son, 'Go sleep with both thy father's wives?' 'Tis lucky that

thou hast escaped." Quoth he, "Never said I aught of this"; and

quoth they, "But we heard thee cry, 'The two of them.'" He

rejoined, "Allah disappoint you: I forgot my papooshes and said

to him, 'Go fetch them.' He cried out 'One of them or the two of

them?' and I replied, 'The two of them,' meaning my shoes, not

you." "And we," said they, "when he spake to us such words

slippered him and turned him out and now he never cometh near

us." "Right well have ye done," he rejoined, "'tis a fulsome

fellow." This was their case; but as regards the youth, he fell

to watching and dogging his father's path, and whenever the man

left the house and went afar from it he would go in to the women

who rejoiced in his coming. Then he would lie with one, and when

he had won his will of her he would go to the sister-wife and

tumble her. This lasted for some time, until the women said each

to other, "What need when he cometh to us for each to receive him

separately in her room? Let us both be in one chamber and when he

visiteth us let us all three, we two and he, have mutual joyance

and let him pass from one to the other." And they agreed to this

condition, unknowing the decree of Allah which was preparing to

punish the twain for their abandoned wantonness.--And Shahrazad

was surprised by the dawn of day and fell silent and ceased to

say her permitted say. Then quoth her sister Dunyazad, "How sweet

is thy story, O sister mine, and how enjoyable and delectable!"

Quoth she, "And where is this compared with that I would relate

to you on the coming night an the Sovran suffer me to survive?"

Now when it was the next night and that was

The Eight Hundred and Thirty-sixth Night,

Dunyazad said to her, "Allah upon thee, O my sister, an thou be

not sleeping, finish for us thy tale that we may cut short the

watching of this our latter night!" She replied, "With love and

good will!" It hath reached me, O auspicious King, the director,

the right-guiding, lord of the rede which is benefiting and of

deeds fair-seeming and worthy celebrating, that the two women

agreed to partnership in iniquity with the youth their stepson.

Now on the next day the man went forth and left his house for

some pressing occasion and his son followed him till he saw him

far distant: then the youth repaired to the two wives and found

them both in one chamber. So he asked them, "Why doth not each of

you go to her own apartment?" and they answered, "What use is

there in that? Let us all be together and take our joy, we and

thou." So he lay between them and began to toy with them and

tumble them; and roll over them and mount upon the bubbies of one

and thence change seat to the other's breasts and while so doing

all were plunged in the sea of enjoyment.[FN#592] But they knew

not what lurked for them in the hidden World of the Future.

Presently, lo and behold! the father returned and entered the

house when none of them expected him or was ware of him; and he

heard their play even before he went into the chamber. Here he

leant against a side-wall and privily viewed their proceedings

and the lewd state they were in; and he allowed time to drag on

and espied them at his ease, seeing his son mount the breasts of

one woman and then shift seat to the bubbies of his other wife.

After noting all this he fared quietly forth the house and sought

the Wali complaining of the case; so the Chief of Police took

horse and repaired with him to his home where, when the two went

in, they found the three at the foulest play. The Wali arrested

them one and all and carried them with elbows pinioned to his

office. Here he made the youth over to the Linkman who struck his

neck, and as for the two women he bade the executioner delay till

nightfall and then take them and strangle them and hide their

corpses underground. And lastly he commanded the public Crier go

about all the city and cry:--"This be the award of high treason." And men also relate (continued Shahrazad) the

STORY OF THE TWO LACK-TACTS OF CAIRO AND

DAMASCUS.[FN#593]

Whilome in Cairo-city there was a man famed as a Lack-tact and

another in Damascus was celebrated for the like quality. Each had

heard of his compeer and longed to forgather with him and sundry

folk said to the Syrian, "Verily the Lack-tact of Egypt is

sharper than thou and a cleverer physiognomist and more

intelligent, and more penetrating, and much better company; also

he excelleth thee in debate proving the superiority of his lack

of tact." Whereto the Damascene would reply, "No, by Allah, I am

more tasteful in my lack of tact than yon Cairene;" but his

people ceased not to bespeak him on this wise until his heart was

filled full of their words; so one day of the days he cried, "By

Allah, there is no help for it but I fare for Cairo and forgather

with her Lack-tact." Hereupon he journeyed from Damascus and

ceased not wayfaring till he reached Cairo. The time was about

set of sun and the first who met him on the road was a woman; so

he asked her concerning certain of the highways of the city and

she answered, "What a Lack-tact thou must be to put such a

question at such an hour! Whoso entereth a strange place in the

morning enquireth about its highways, but whoso entereth at

eventide asketh about its caravanserai[FN#594] wherein he may

night." "Sooth thou sayest," rejoined he, "but my lack of tact

hath weakened my wits." He then sought news of the Khans and they

showed him one whereto he repaired and passed the night; and in

the morning--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and fell

silent and ceased saying her permitted say. Then quoth her sister

Dunyazad, "How sweet and tasteful is thy tale, O sister mine, and

enjoyable and delectable!" Quoth she, "And where is this compared

with that I would relate to you on the coming night an the Sovran

suffer me to survive?" Now when it was the next night and that

was

The Eight Hundred and Thirty-seventh Night,

Dunyazad said to her, "Allah upon thee, O my sister, an thou be

other than sleepy, finish for us thy tale that we may cut short

the watching of this our latter night!" She replied, "With love

and good will!" It hath reached me, O auspicious King, the

director, the right-guiding, lord of the rede which is benefiting

and of deeds fair-seeming and worthy celebrating, that the

Lack-tact of Damascus passed the night in the Wak�lah and in the

morning he went forth and wandered about the highways of Cairo

questing her Lack-tact; and, when they informed him of his

rival's whereabouts, he forgathered with him and was received

with an honorable reception and was welcomed and kindly entreated

and comfortably seated that the twain might talk over the news of

the world. Presently quoth the Lack-tact of Damascus to the

Lack-tact of Cairo, "I would that we two test each other's

quality by playing a prank in turn; and whoso shall be preferred

by the testimony of the general, he shall lord it over his

rival." The Cairene asked, "Which of us shall begin?" and the

Damascene answered, "I," whereto the other rejoined, "Do whatso

thou willest." So the Syrian went forth and hired him an ass

which he drove out of the city to a neighbouring clump of

Ausaj-bushes[FN#595] and other thorns whereof he cut down a

donkey-load, and setting the net-full upon the beast's back

returned to the city. He then made for the B�b al-Nasr,[FN#596]

but he could not enter for the crowding of the folk frequenting

it and the Cairene was gladdened by his doings: so the man

stinted not standing there with his ass and load of thorns till

morn was near, when he lost his temper and urged his beast close

up to the gate. By so doing all the garments of the wayfarers

which were caught by the Ausaj-thorns were torn to rags and

tatters, and some of the people beat him and others buffetted him

and others shoved him about saying, "What a superior Lack-tact

thou art! Allah ruin thy natal realm! Thou hast torn folk's dress

to rags and tatters with that load of thorns." Still he drave his

donkey onwards albeit the people cried to him, "O man, withdraw

thee, the passengers are all jammed at the gate;" but he would

not retire and those present dealt him more blows and abuse.

Hereat he only cried, "Let me pass through!" and pushed on

whereby he obtained a severer beating. This lasted till

mid-afternoon, for he could on nowise enter by reason of the

crush at the B�b al-Nasr; but about sundown the crowd thinned and

so he drove on his ass and passed the gate. Then quoth to him the

Cairene, "What is this thou hast done? This is mere

horseplay[FN#597] and not lack of tact." Now on the morning of

the next day the Lack-tact of Cairo was required to play his

prank even as the Damascene had done; so he rose up and girded

his loins and tucked up his sleeves and took up a tray--And

Shahrazad was surprised by the dawn of day and fell silent and

ceased to say her permitted say. Then quoth her sister Dunyazad,

"How sweet is thy story, O sister mine, and how enjoyable and

delectable!" Quoth she, "And where is this compared with that I

would relate to you on the coming night an the Sovran suffer me

to survive?" Now when it was the next night and that was

The Eight Hundred and Thirty-eighth Night,

Dunyazad said to her, "Allah upon thee, O my sister, an thou be

not sleeping, finish for us thy tale that we may cut short the

watching of this our latter night!" She replied, "With love and

good will!" It hath reached me, O auspicious King, the director,

the right-guiding, lord of the rede which is benefiting and of

deeds fair-seeming and worthy celebrating, that the Egyptian rose

up and girded his loins and tucked up his sleeves, and taking him

a tray said to the Syrian, "Up and after me and see what I shall

do." Then he went out tray on head, and foregoing the Damascene

to a flower-garden he gathered a bundle of blooms and

sweet-scented herbs, pinks and roses and basil and

pennyroyal[FN#598] and marjoram and other such, until the tray

was filled, after which he turned to town. About noontide he

repaired to one of the Cathedral-mosques and entered the

lavatory,[FN#599] around which were some fifteen privies:[FN#600]

so he stood amiddlemost the floor considering the folk as they

entered the jakes to do their jobs in private lest the

bazar-people come upon them during their easement. And all were

sore pressed wanting to pass urine or to skite; so whenever a man

entered the place in a hurry he would draw the door to. Then the

Lack-tact of Cairo would pull the door open, and go in to him

carrying a posy of perfumed herbs, and would say, "Thy

favour![FN#601] O my brother," and the man would shout out

saying, "Allah ruin thy natal realm, are we at skite or at

feast?" whereat all standing there would laugh at him. Suddenly

one rushed into the lavatory sore pressed and hanging an

arse[FN#602] and crying aloud in his grievous distress, "O Allah,

O His Prophet, aid me!" for that he feared to let fly in his

bag-trousers. Then the Lack-tact would accost him holding in hand

his posy of perfumed herbs, and softly saying, "Bismillah-take

it, and give me thy favour;" and the man would roar at the top of

his voice, "Allah disappoint thee! what a Lack-tact thou art: I

am sore pressed; get thee out." And the further that man would

fare away from him the closer he would follow him saying, "Thy

favour! Take it! Smell it!" Now at that time all the cabinets of

easement were full of people, nor did one remain vacant, and the

distressed man stood there expecting someone to issue that he

might enter; but in his condition the delay was over-long--And

Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and fell silent and ceased

saying her permitted say. Then quoth her sister Dunyazad, "How

sweet and tasteful is thy tale, O sister mine, and enjoyable and

delectable!" Quoth she, "And where is this compared with that I

would relate to you on the coming night an the Sovran suffer me

to survive?" Now when it was the next night and that was

The Eight Hundred and Thirty-ninth Night,

Dunyazad said to her, "Allah upon thee, O my sister, an thou be

other than sleepy, finish for us thy tale that we may cut short

the watching of this our latter night!" She replied, "With love

and good will!" It hath reached me, O auspicious King, the

director, the right-guiding, lord of the rede which is benefiting

and of deeds fair-seeming and worthy celebrating, that the

Cairene Lack-tact kept bespeaking that sorely distressed man and

following him as he fled, crying out to him and saying, "Away

from me, am I not this moment about to skite or am I at a feast?"

till at last the excess of weight in his arse-gut caused him to

let fly in his bag-trousers and bewray all his behind. And during

this time none came out of the jakes, so the unhappy sat in his

unease and all the folk seeing him conskite himself fell to

laughing at him as he sat there, and the Lack-tact of Cairo

continued offering him the posy, saying, "Thy favour!" and the

other continned shouting his loudest, "Am I at skite or at a

feast?" Thereupon the Lack-tact of Damascus turned to his rival

and cried, "The F�tihah[FN#603] is in thy books, O Chief Joker of

Cairo. By Allah (and the Almighty grant thee length of life!)

thou hast excelled me in everything, and they truly say that none

can surpass or overcome the Cairene and men have agreed to

declare that the Syrian winneth his wish and gaineth only blame,

while the Egyptian winneth not his wish and gaineth thanks and

praise." And amongst other things it happened[FN#604] that a

Cairene went to borrow a donkey from another man, a Damascene,

wishing to ride it to a wedding, and when he met his friend he

saluted him and said, "Ho Such-an-one, lend me thine ass for such

a purpose." Now when the owner of the animal heard these words he

smote hand upon hand and cried, "O worshipper of Allah,[FN#605] a

little while ere thou camest to me, a man urgently asked it of me

and took it on loan: haddest thou been somewhat earlier I would

have lent it to thee. Verily I am put to shame by thee as thou

goest from me without thy need." The Egyptian said in his mind,

"By Allah, this one speaketh sooth, and had the donkey been in

his house assuredly he would have lent it to me." But the owner

of the animal said to himself, "Certainly Such-an-one begged it

of me, but the rest is a lie, for the beast is shut up in the

stable." However the Syrian who owned the beast went to his

gossip, the man who had begged a loan of it, and entering the

house salam'd to him and said, "Give me the donkey, O

Such-an-one;"--And Shahrazad was surprised by the dawn of day and

fell silent and ceased to say her permitted say. Then quoth her

sister Dunyazad, "How sweet is thy story, O sister mine, and how

enjoyable and delectable!" Quoth she, "And where is this

compared with that I would relate to you on the coming night an

the Sovran suffer me to survive?" Now when it was the next night

and that was

The Eight Hundred and Fortieth Night,

Dunyazad said to her, "Allah upon thee, O my sister, an thou be

other than sleepy, finish for us thy tale that we may cut short

the watching of this our latter night!" She replied, "With love

and good will!" It hath reached me, O auspicious King, the

director, the right-guiding, lord of the rede which is benefiting

and of deeds fair-seeming and worthy celebrating, that the Syrian

went to his gossip saying, "Give me the ass;" and when the other

heard this he showed his teeth[FN#606] and cried, "Allah

disappoint the donkey and the owner of the donkey and whoso

rideth the donkey," and flying into an exceeding fury at last

said, "Go, O my lord, and take it from the stable, and may Allah

never bring back nor thee nor the beast." So the Syrian went from

him saying in himself, "Allah disappoint this fellow, why did he

not give me the ass at first and then he had not had occasion to

abuse and curse himself and to revile me also." But they say and

say truly, "The Syrian winneth his wish, but gaineth only blame

while the Egyptian winneth not his wish and gaineth thanks and

praise!"