The porter then addressed her as follows: “These gentlemen, madam,

entreat you to have the goodness to explain to them why you wept

with those dogs after having treated them so ill; and how it has

happened that the lady who fainted has her bosom covered with scars.

This, madam, is what I have been required by them to ask of you.”

At these words Zobeidè, in the most haughty and fierce manner,

turned to the caliph and the calenders. “Is it true, gentlemen,”

she asked, “that you have commissioned this man to require this

information of me?” They all answered it was, except the vizier

Giafar, who did not open his lips. Upon this she replied to them, in

a tone which showed how much she was offended; “Because we granted

you the favour you requested of us, and in order to prevent any

cause of discontent or dissatisfaction on your parts as we were

alone, we made our acquiescence subject to one positive condition,

that you should not speak about what did not concern you, lest you

should hear what would not please you. After having both received

and entertained you as well as we possibly could, you do not scruple

to break your word. This probably arises from the facility with

which we agreed to receive you; but that surely is no excuse; and

your conduct, therefore, cannot be considered as honourable.”

Having concluded her speech, she struck the floor with her foot, and

clapped her hand three times, and called out, “Enter quickly!” A

door immediately opened, and seven strong powerful black slaves

rushed in, with scimitars in their hands, and each seized one of the

company. They threw them to the ground, drew them into the middle of

the hall, and were preparing to take off their heads.

We may easily conceive what was the alarm of the caliph. He

repented, but too late, at not having followed the advice of his

vizier. In the mean time this unfortunate prince, Giafar, Mesrour,

the porter, and the three calenders, were about to pay with their

lives for their indiscreet curiosity; but before they received the

fatal stroke, one of the slaves said to Zobeidè and her sisters,

“High, powerful, and respectable mistresses, do you command us to

cut their throats?”--“Stop,” answered Zobeidè, “it is

necessary first to interrogate them.”--“Madam,” cried the

affrighted porter, “in the name of God do not make me die for the

crime of another. I am innocent, and they only are guilty. Alas!”

he continued, weeping, “we were passing the time so agreeably.

These one-eyed calenders are the cause of this misfortune; there is

not even a city that would not be ruined by men of such ill-favoured

countenances. I entreat you, madam, not to confound the first with

the last; and remember, it is much more commendable to pardon a

miserable wretch like me, deprived of all assistance, than to

overwhelm him with your power, and sacrifice him to your

resentment.”

Zobeidè, in spite of her anger, could not help laughing inwardly at

the lamentations of the porter. But without paying any attention to

him, she addressed herself again to the others. “Answer me,”

said she, “and tell me who you are, if not, you have only an

instant to live. I cannot believe that you are honourable men, or

persons of authority or distinction in whatever country you call

your own. If that had been the case, you would have paid more

attention and more respect to us.”

The caliph, being naturally impatient, suffered infinitely more than

the rest at finding his life depended upon the commands of an

offended and justly irritated woman; but he began to conceive there

were some hopes when he found, that she wished to know who they all

were; as he imagined she would by no means take away his life, when

she should be informed of his rank. It was for this reason that he

whispered to his vizier, who was near him, instantly to declare who

he was. But this wise and prudent minister, wishing to preserve the

honour of his master, and being unwilling to make public the great

affront he had brought upon himself, answered, “We suffer only

what we deserve.” When, however, in obedience to the caliph, he

wished to speak, Zobeidè would not give them time. She immediately

addressed herself to the three calenders, and observing that they

were all three blind with one eye, she asked if they were brothers.

“No, madam,” answered one of them for the rest, “we are not

brothers by blood, but only in consequence of being calenders; that

is, in pursuing and observing the same kind of life.”--“Have

you,” said she, “speaking to one of them in particular, “lost

the sight of one eye from your birth?”--“No, indeed, madam,”

he answered, “I became so through a most surprising adventure, by

the recital or perusal of which, were it written, every one must

derive advantage. After this misfortune, I shaved my beard and

eyebrows, and in taking up the habit I wear, became a calender.”

Zobeidè put the same question to the others, who returned her the

same answer as the first. But the last who spoke, added, “To

inform you, madam, that we are not common persons, and in order that

you should have some pity for us, we must tell you, that we are all

the sons of kings. Although we have never seen each other before

this evening, we have had sufficient time to become acquainted with

this circumstance; and I can assure you, that the kings who have

given us birth have made some noise in the world!”

During this speech Zobeidè became less angry, and told the slaves

to set them at liberty, but at the same time to remain where they

were. “They,” said she, “who shall recount their history to

me, and explain the motives which brought them to this house, shall

suffer no harm, but shall have permission to go where they please;

but such as shall refuse to give us that satisfaction, shall not be

spared.” The three calenders, the caliph, the grand vizier Giafar,

the eunuch Mesrour, and the porter, were all on the carpet in the

middle of the hall before the three ladies, who sat on a sofa, with

the slaves behind them, ready to execute any orders they might

receive.

The porter, understanding that he had only to relate his history in

order to be delivered from so great a danger, spoke first. “You

are already acquainted, madam,” he said, “with my history and

what brought me to your house. What I have to relate, therefore,

will soon be finished. Your sister engaged me this morning at the

place where I take my stand in quality of a porter, by which I

endeavour to gain a living. I followed her to a wine-merchant’s,

to an herbseller’s, to an orange-merchant’s, and to those who

sell almonds, nuts, and other dried fruits. We then went to a

confectioner’s, and to a druggist’s, from thence with my basket

on my head as full as it well could be, I came here, where you had

the goodness to suffer me to remain till now, a favor I shall never

forget. This is the whole of my history.”

When the porter had concluded, Zobeidè, very well satisfied with

him, said, “Save thyself and begone, nor ever let us see thee

again.”--“I beg of you, madam,” replied he, “to let me

remain a little longer. It would be unfair that I should not hear

their histories after they have had the pleasure of hearing mine.”

In saying this, he took his place at the end of the sofa, truly

delighted at finding himself free from the danger which so much

alarmed him. One of the calenders next spoke, and addressing himself

to Zobeidè, as the principal person who had commanded them to give

an account of themselves, began his history as follows.

THE HISTORY

OF THE FIRST CALENDER, THE SON OF A KING.

In order to inform you, madam, how I lost my right eye, and the

reason that I have been obliged to take the habit of a calender, I

must begin by telling you that I am the son of a king. My father had

a brother, who, like himself, was a monarch over a neighbouring

state. This brother had two children, a son and a daughter; the

former of whom was near my age.

When I had gone through all my exercises, and the king, my father,

had allowed me a proper degree of liberty, I went regularly every

year to see my uncle, and passed a month or two at his court, after

which I returned home. These visits produced between the prince, my

cousin, and myself, the most intimate friendship. The last time I

saw him he received me with demonstrations of the greatest joy and

tenderness, more so indeed than ever; and wishing one day to amuse

me by some great entertainment, he made extraordinary preparations

for it. We remained a long time at table, and after we had both

supped, “You can never, my cousin,” he said to me, “possibly

imagine what has occupied my thoughts since your last journey. Since

you were here last, I have employed a great number of workmen about

the design I meditated. I have erected a building, which is just

finished, and we shall soon be able to lodge there: you will not be

sorry to see it, but you must first take an oath that you will be

both secret and faithful: these two things I must require of you.”

The friendship and familiarity in which we lived, did not permit me

to refuse him any thing; I took, therefore, without hesitation the

oath he required. “Wait for me in this place,” he cried, “and

I will be with you in a moment,” He did not in fact detain me

long, but returned with a female in his hand, of very great beauty

and most magnificently dressed.

He did not say who she was, nor did I think it right to inquire. We

again sat down to the table with the lady, and remained there some

time, talking of different things and drinking bumpers to each

other’s health. The prince then said to me, “We have no time to

lose; oblige me by taking this lady with you, and conduct her by

such a way to a place where you will see a tomb newly erected, in

the shape of a dome. You will easily know it, as the door is open.

Enter there together and wait for me, I will return directly.”

Faithful to my oath, I did not wish to know more. I presented my

hand to the lady, and following the instructions which the prince,

my cousin, had given me, I conducted her safely by the light of the

moon without any mistake. We had scarcely got to the tomb when we

saw the prince, who had followed us with a small vessel full of

water, a hoe or spade, and a small sack, in which there was some

lime, or mortar. The spade served him to destroy the empty sepulchre

which was in the middle of the tomb; he took the stones away one by

one, and placed them in one corner. When he had taken them all away,

he made a hole in the ground, and I perceived a trapdoor under the

sepulchre. He lifted it up, and discovered the beginning of a

winding stair-ease. My cousin, then addressing himself to the lady,

said, “This is the way, madam, that leads to the place I have

mentioned to you. At these words the lady approached and descended

the stairs. The prince was just going to follow her, but first

turning to me, “I am infinitely obliged to you, my cousin,” said

he, “for the trouble you have had, receive my best thanks for it,

and farewell.”--“My dear cousin,” I cried, “what does all

this mean?”--“That is of no consequence,” he answered, “you

may return by the same way you came.”

I was unable to learn any thing more from him, and was obliged to

take my leave of him. In returning to my uncle’s palace, the

vapour of the wine I had before drunk began to affect my head. I

nevertheless reached my apartment and retired to rest. On waking the

next morning, I made many reflections on the occurrences of the

night before, and recalled all the circumstances of so singular an

adventure to my recollection. The whole appeared to me to be a

dream. I was so much persuaded of it, that I sent to know if the

prince, my cousin, was yet dressed. But when they brought me word

that he had not slept at home, nor did they know what was become of

him, and were very much distressed at it, I concluded that the

strange adventure of the tomb was too true. This afflicted me very

much, and keeping myself in private, I went secretly to the public

cemetery, or burial place, where there were a great many tombs

similar to that which I had before seen. I passed the day in

examining them all, but was unable to discover the one I searched

for. I spent four days in the same useless pursuit.

It is necessary for me to inform you, that the king, my uncle, was

absent during the whole of this time. He had been for some time on a

hunting party. I was very unwilling to wait for his coming back, and

having requested his ministers to make my excuses for going, I set

out on my return to my father’s court, from which I was not

accustomed to make so long a stay. I left my uncle’s ministers

very much distressed at not being able to discover what was become

of the prince; but as I could not violate the oath I had taken to

keep the secret, I dared not lessen their anxiety by informing them

of any part of what I knew.

I arrived at the capital of my father, and contrary to the usual

custom, I discovered at the gate of the palace a large guard, by

whom I was immediately surrounded. I demanded the reason of this;

when an officer answered, “the army, prince, has acknowledged the

grand vizier as king in the room of your father, who is dead; and I

arrest you as prisoner on behalf of the new king.” At these words

the guards seized me and conducted me before the tyrant. Judge,

madam, what was my surprise and grief.

This rebellious vizier had conceived a strong hatred against me,

which he had for a long time cherished. The cause of it was as

follows: when I was very young, I was fond of shooting with a

cross-bow. One day I took one to the top of the palace and amused

myself with it on the terrace. A bird happened to fly before me; I

shot at it, but missed; and the arrow by chance struck the vizier on

the eye and put it out, as he was taking the air on the terrace of

his own house. As soon as I was informed of this accident, I went

and made my apologies to him in person. He did not, however, fail to

preserve a strong resentment against me, of which he gave every

proof he could when any opportunity occurred. When he now found me

in his power, he evinced it in the most barbarous manner. As soon as

he saw me, he ran towards me in the utmost rage, and digging his

fingers into my right eye, he tore it himself from the socket. It

was in this way I became blind.

But the usurper did not confine his cruelty to this action alone. He

ordered me to be imprisoned in a sort of cage, and to be carried in

this manner to some distant place, where the executioner, after

cutting off my head, was to leave my body exposed to the birds of

prey. The executioner mounted his horse, accompanied by another man,

and carried me with him. He did not stop till he came to a place

proper for the execution of his order. I made, however, so good a

use of entreaties, prayers, and tears, that I excited his

compassion. “Go,” said he to me, “depart instantly out of the

kingdom, and take care never to return; if you do, you will only

encounter certain destruction, and will be the cause of mine.” I

thanked him for the favour he did me: and I was no sooner alone than

I consoled myself for the loss of my eye, by reflecting that I had

just escaped from a greater misfortune.

In the state in which I was, I could not get on very fast. During

the day, I concealed myself in unfrequented and secret places, and

travelled by night as far as my strength would permit me. At length

I arrived in the country belonging to the king, my uncle; and I

proceeded directly to the capital.

I gave a long detail of the dreadful cause of my return, and of the

miserable state in which he saw me. “Alas!” cried he, “was it

not sufficient to lose my son; but must I now learn the death of a

brother whom I dearly loved; and find you in the deplorable state to

which you are reduced?” He informed me of the distress he had

suffered from not being able to learn any tidings of his son, in

spite of all the inquiries he had made, and all the diligence he had

used. The tears ran from the eyes of this unfortunate father in

giving me this account; and he appeared to me so much afflicted,

that I could not resist his grief; nor could I keep the oath I had

pledged to my cousin. I then related to the king every thing that

had formerly passed.

He listened to me with some sort of consolation, and when I had

finished, he said, “The recital, my dear nephew, you have given

me, affords me some little hope. I well know that my son built such

a tomb, and I know very nearly on what spot. With the recollection

also, which you may have, I flatter myself we may discover it. But

since he has done all this so secretly, and required you also to

keep it unknown, I am of opinion that we two only should make the

search, in order to avoid its being generally known and talked of.

He had also another reason which he did not inform me of, for

wishing to keep this a secret. This reason, as the conclusion of my

history will show, was a very important one.

We each of us disguised ourselves and went out by a garden gate

which opened into the fields. We were fortunate enough very soon to

discover the object of our search. I immediately recognised the

tomb, and was the more rejoiced as I had before searched for it so

long to no purpose. We entered, and found the iron trap-door shut

down upon the opening to the stairs. We had great difficulty in

lifting it up, because the prince had cemented it down with the lime

and the water which I mentioned his having carried: at last,

however, we got it up. My uncle was the first who descended; and I

followed. We went down about fifty steps, when we found ourselves at

the bottom of the stairs in a sort of anti-room, which was full of a

thick smoke, very unpleasant to the smell, and which obscured the

light thrown from a very brilliant lustre.

From this anti-chamber we passed on to one much larger, the roof of

which was supported by large columns, and illuminated by many

lustres. In the middle there was a cistern, and on each side we

observed various sorts of provisions. We were much surprised at not

seeing any one. Opposite to us, there was a raised sofa, to which

they ascended by some steps, and beyond this there appeared a very

large bed, the curtains of which were drawn. The king went up, and

undrawing them, discovered the prince, his son, and the lady in bed

together, but burnt and changed into a coal, as if they had been

thrown on to an immense fire, and had been taken off before they

were consumed. What surprised me even more than this sight itself

was, that my uncle did not evince any sorrow or regret at seeing his

son in this horrid state. He spit in his face, and said in an

enraged manner, “See what is the punishment of this world, but

that of the next will be eternal.” Not satisfied with saying this,

he pulled off his slipper and gave his son a great blow on his cheek.

I cannot express the astonishment I felt at seeing the king, my

uncle, treat his son in that manner after his death. “Sire,”

said I to him, “however violent my grief may be at seeing so

heart-rending an object, yet I cannot yield to it without first

inquiring of your majesty, what crime the prince, my cousin, can

have committed to deserve such treatment of his lifeless corpse.”

The king thus replied: “Nephew, I must inform you that my son,

unworthy such a title, loved his sister from his earliest years, and

was equally beloved by her. I rather encouraged their rising

friendship, because I did not foresee the danger that was to ensue.

And who could have foreseen it? This affection increased with their

years, and reached to such a pitch, that I dreaded the consequences.

I applied the only remedy then in my power. I severely reprimanded

my son for his conduct, and represented to him the horrors that

would arise if he persisted in it; and the eternal shame that would

tarnish our family, if he indulged himself in so criminal a passion.

“I talked to his sister in the same terms, and confined her, that

she should have no further communication with her brother. But the

unhappy girl had tasted of the poison, and all the obstacles that my

prudence suggested, only irritated their passion.

“My son, well persuaded that his sister continued to love him,

prepared this subterraneous asylum, under pretence of building a

tomb, hoping some day to find an opportunity of getting access to

the object of his flame, and concealing her in this place. He chose

the moment of my absence, to force the retreat of his sister, which

is a circumstance that my honour will not allow me to publish. After

this criminal deed, he shut himself up with her in this building,

which he furnished, as you perceive, with all sorts of provisions,

to be able to enjoy for a length of time his detestable amours;

which must create horror in all who hear of them. But God would not

suffer such an abominable crime; and has justly punished each of

them.” He wept bitterly on finishing these words, and I mingled my

tears with his.

Some time after, he cast his eyes on me; “But, dear nephew,”

resumed he, embracing me, “if I lose an unworthy son, I may find

in you a happy reparation of my loss.” The reflections which arose

on the untimely end of the prince and the princess, his daughter,

again drew tears from us both.

We ascended the same staircase, and quitted this dismal abode. We

put the iron trap-door in its place, and covered it with earth and

the rubbish of the building, to conceal, as much as possible, so

dreadful an example of the anger of God.

We returned to the palace before our absence had been observed, and

shortly after, we heard a confused noise of trumpets, cymbals,

drums, and other warlike instruments. A thick dust, which obscured

the air, soon informed us what it was, and announced the arrival of

a formidable army. It was the same vizier who had dethroned my

father, and taken possession of his dominions, and who came now with

a large number of troops to seize those of my uncle.

This prince, who had only his usual guard, could not resist so many

enemies. They invested the city, and as the gates were opened to

them without resistance, they soon took possession of it. They had

not much difficulty to penetrate to the palace of the king, who

attempted to defend himself, but he was killed, after having dearly

sold his life. On my part, I fought for some time, but seeing that I

must surrender if I continued, I retired, and had the good fortune

to escape, and take refuge in the house of an officer of the king,

on whose fidelity I could depend.

Overcome with grief, and persecuted by fortune, I had recourse to a

stratagem, which was the last resource to preserve my life. I shaved

my beard and my eyebrows, and put on the habit of a calender, under

which disguise I left the city without being recognised. After that,

it was no difficult matter to quit the dominions of the king, my

uncle, by unfrequented roads. I avoided the towns, till I arrived in

the empire of the powerful sovereign of all believers, the glorious

and renowned caliph Haroun Alraschid, when I ceased to fear. I

considered what was my best plan, and I resolved to come to Bagdad,

and throw myself at the feet of this great monarch, whose generosity

is every where admired. I shall obtain compassion, thought I, by the

recital of a history so surprising as mine; he will no doubt

commisserate the fate of an unhappy prince, and I shall not implore

his assistance in vain.

At length, after a journey of several months, I arrived to-day at

the gates of the city: when the evening came on, I entered, and

having rested a little time to recover my spirits, and deliberate

which way I should turn my steps, this other calender, who is next

me, arrived also. He saluted me, and I returned the compliment;

“You appear,” said I, “a stranger like myself.”--“You are

not mistaken,” returned he. At the very moment he made this reply

the third calender, whom you see, came towards us. He saluted us,

and acquainted us, that he too was a stranger and just arrived at

Bagdad. Like brothers we united together and resolved never to

separate.

But it was late, and we did not know where to go for a lodging, in a

city where we never had been before. Our good fortune, however,

having conducted us to your door, we took the liberty of knocking;

you have received us with so much benevolence and charity that we

cannot sufficiently thank you. This, madam, is what you desired me

to relate; this was the way in which I lost my right eye; this was

the reason I have my beard and eyebrows shaved, and why I am at this

moment in your company.

“Enough,” said Zobeidè, “we thank you, and you may retire

whenever you please.” The calender excused himself, and entreated

the lady to allow him to stay and hear the history of his two

companions, whom he could not well abandon, as well as that of the

three other persons of the party.

The history of the first calender appeared very surprising to the

whole company, and particularly to the caliph. The presence of the

slaves armed with their scimitars did not prevent him from saying in

a whisper to the vizier, “As long as I can remember, I never heard

any thing to compare with this history of the calender, though I

have been all my life in the habit of hearing similar narratives.”

He had no sooner finished, than the second calender began; and

addressing himself to Zobeidè spoke as follows:

THE HISTORY

OF THE SECOND CALENDER, THE SON OF A KING.

To obey your commands, madam, and to inform you by what strange

adventure I lost my right eye, is to give you an account of my whole

life.

I was scarcely more than an infant, when the king, my father, (for I

too am a prince by birth,) observing that I possessed great

quickness of intellects, spared no pains in its cultivation. He

collected from every part of his dominions whoever was famous for

science and a knowledge of the fine arts, for the purpose of

instructing me. I no sooner knew how to read and write, than I

learnt by art the whole of the Koran, that admirable book, in which

we find the basis, precepts, and regulations of our religion. That

my knowledge might not be shallow and superficial, I perused the

works of the most approved authors who have written on the same

subject, and both explained and illustrated that book by their

commentaries. To this study I added an acquaintance with all the

traditions received from the mouth of our prophet, by those

illustrious men who were his contemporaries. Not satisfied with

possessing a deep and extensive knowledge of our religion, I made

also a particular study of our histories, and became master of

polite literature, of poetry and versification. I then applied

myself to geography and chronology, and became anxious to attain a

knowledge of our own language in its greatest purity; and all this

without neglecting those exercises which are so suited to a prince.

There was, however, one thing in which I most delighted, and at

length excelled, and that was in forming the characters of our

Arabic language; and I surpassed all the writing-masters of our

kingdom, who had acquired the greatest reputation.

Fame bestowed upon me even more honour than I deserved. She was not

satisfied with spreading a report of my talents throughout the

dominions of the king, my father, but even carried the account of

them to the court of the Indies, whose powerful monarch became so

curious to see me, that he sent an ambassador, accompanied with the

richest presents to my father, to request me of him. This embassy,

for many reasons, delighted him. He was persuaded that it was the

best possible thing for a prince of my age to travel to foreign

courts; and he was, also, very well satisfied at forming a

friendship with the sultan of India. I set out with the ambassador,

but with very few attendants and little baggage, on account of the

length and difficulties of the way.

We had been about a month on our journey, when we saw in the

distance an immense cloud of dust, and soon after we discovered

fifty horsemen, well armed. They were robbers, who approached us at

full speed. As we had ten horses laden with our baggage and the

presents which I was to make to the sultan, in my father’s name,

and as our party consisted but of very few, you may easily imagine

that the robbers attacked us without hesitation. Not being able to

repel force by force, we told them we were the ambassadors of the

sultan of India, and we hoped they would do nothing contrary to the

respect they owed to him. By this we thought we should preserve both

our equipage and our lives; but the robbers insolently answered,

“Why do you wish us to respect the sultan your master? We are not

his subjects, nor even within his realm.” Having said this, they

immediately surrounded and attacked us on all sides. I defended

myself as long as I could, but finding that I was wounded, and

seeing the ambassador and all our attendants overthrown, I took

advantage of the remaining strength of my horse, who was also

wounded, and escaped from them. I pushed him on as far as he would

carry me; he then suddenly fell under my weight, quite dead from

fatigue and the blood he had lost. I disentangled myself as fast as

possible; and observing that no one pursued me, I supposed the

robbers did not choose to neglect the plunder they had acquired.

Imagine me then, madam, alone, wounded, destitute of every help, and

in a country where I was an entire stranger. I was afraid of

regaining the great road from the dread of falling once more into

the hands of the robbers. After having bound up my wound, which was

not dangerous, I walked on the rest of the day, and in the evening I

arrived at the foot of a mountain, on one side of which I discovered

a sort of cave. I went in, and passed the night without any

disturbance, after having eaten some fruits which I had gathered as

I came along.

For some days following I continued my journey, without meeting with

any place where I could rest; but at the end of about a month I

arrived at a very large city, well inhabited, and most delightfully

and advantageously situated; as several rivers flowed round it and

caused a perpetual spring. The number of agreeable objects which

presented themselves to my eyes, excited so great a joy that it

suspended for a moment the poignant regret I felt at finding myself

in such a miserable situation. My whole face as well as my hands and

feet were of a brown tawny colour, for the sun had quite burnt me:

and my slippers were so completely worn out by walking, that I was

obliged to travel bare-foot; besides this, my clothes were all in

rags.

I entered the town in order to learn the language spoken, and thence

to find out where I was. I addressed myself to a tailor, who was at

work in his shop. On account of my youth, and a certain manner about

me, which intimated I was something better than I appeared, he made

me sit down near him. He asked me who I was, where I came from, and

what had brought me to that place. I concealed nothing from him, but

informed him of every circumstance that had happened to me, and did

not even hesitate at discovering even my name. The tailor listened

to me very attentively, but when I had finished my narration,

instead of giving me any consolation, he augmented my troubles.

“Take care,” said he to me, “that you do not place the same

confidence in any one else that you have in me, for the prince who

reigns in this kingdom is the greatest enemy of the king, your

father; and if he should be informed of your arrival in this city, I

doubt not but he will inflict some evil upon you.” I readily

believed the sincerity of the tailor, when he told me the name of

the prince; but as the enmity between my father and him has no

connection with my adventures, I shall not, madam, enter into any

detail of it.

I thanked the tailor for the advice he had given me; and told him

that I placed implicit faith in his good counsel, and should never

forget the favour I received from him. As he supposed I was not

deficient in appetite, he brought me something to eat, and offered

me even an apartment at his house, which I accepted.

Some days after my arrival, the tailor remarking that I was

tolerably recovered from the effects of my long and painful journey,

and being aware that most of the princes of our religion had the

precaution, in order to guard against any reverse of fortune, to

make themselves acquainted with some art or trade to assist them in

case of want, asked me if I knew any thing by which I could acquire

a livelihood, without being chargeable to any body. I told him, that

I was well versed in the science of laws, both human and divine,

that I was a grammarian, a poet, and above all, that I wrote

remarkably well. “With all this,” he replied, “you will not in

this country procure a morsel of bread; nothing is more useless here

than this kind of knowledge. If you wish to follow my advice,” he

added, “you will procure a short jacket, and as you are strong and

of a good constitution, you may go into the neighbouring forest and

cut wood for fuel. You may then go and expose it for sale in the

market; and I assure you, that you may acquire a sufficient small

income so as to live independently of every one. By these means you

will be enabled to wait till heaven shall become favourable to you,

and till the cloud of bad fortune which hangs over you, and obliges

you to conceal your birth, shall have blown over. I will furnish you

with a cord and hatchet.”

The fear of being known, and the necessity of supporting myself,

determined me to pursue this plan, in spite of the degradation and

pain which were attached to it.

The next day the tailor bought me a hatchet and a cord, and also a

short jacket; and recommending me to some poor people who obtained

their livelihood in the same manner, he requested them to take me

with them. They conducted me to the forest, and from this time I

regularly brought back upon my head a large bundle of wood, which I

sold for a small piece of gold money, current in that country: for

although the forest was not far off, wood was nevertheless dear in

that city, because there were few men who gave themselves the

trouble of going to cut it. I soon acquired a considerable sum, and

was enabled to repay the tailor what he had expended on my account.

I had passed more than a year in this mode of life, when having one

day gone deeper into the forest than usual, I came to a very

pleasant spot, where I began to cut my wood. In cutting up the root

of a tree, I discovered an iron ring fastened to a trap-door of the

same materials. I immediately cleared away the earth that covered

it, and on lifting it up I perceived a stair-case, by which I

descended with my hatchet in my hand. When I got to the bottom of

the stairs I found myself in a vast palace, which struck me very

much, by the great brilliancy with which it was illuminated; as much

so indeed as if it had been built on the most open spot above

ground. I went forward along a gallery supported on columns of

jasper, the bases and capitals of which were of massive gold, but

stopt suddenly on beholding a lady, who appeared to have so noble

and graceful an air, and to possess such extraordinary beauty, that

my attention was taken off from every other object, and my eyes

fixed on her alone.

To prevent this beautiful lady from having the trouble of coming to

me, I made haste towards her; and while I was making a most

respectful reverence, she said to me, “Who are you; a man or a

Genius?”--“I am a man, madam,” I answered, getting up, “nor

have I any commerce with Genii.”--“By what adventure,”

replied she, with a deep sigh, “have you come here? I have

remained here more than twenty-five years, and during the whole of

that time I have seen no other man than yourself.”

Her great beauty, which had already made a deep impression on me,

together with the mildness and good humour with which she received

me, made me bold enough to say: “Before, madam, I have the honour

of satisfying your curiosity, permit me to tell you, that I feel

highly delighted at this unexpected interview, which offers me the

means, both of consoling myself under the affliction in which I am,

and perhaps of making you happier than you now are.” I then

faithfully related to her by what strange accident she saw in me the

son of a king, why I appeared to her in that condition, and how

accident had discovered to me the entrance into the magnificent

prison in which I found her; and of which, from all appearance, she

was heartily tired. “Alas, prince,” she replied, again sighing,

“you may truly say this rich and superb prison is unpleasing and

wearisome. The most enchanting spots cannot afford delight, when we

are there against our wills. Is it possible, you have never heard

any one speak of the great Epitimarus, king of the Ebony Isle, a

place so called from the great quantity of that precious wood, which

it produces. I am the princess, his daughter.

“The king, my father, had chosen for my husband a prince, who was

my cousin; but on the very night of our nuptials, in the midst of

the rejoicings of the court and capital of the Isle of Ebony, and

before I had been given to my husband, a Genius took me away. I

fainted almost the same moment, and lost all recollection: and when

I recovered my senses, I found myself in this place. For a long time

I was inconsolable; but habit and necessity have reconciled me to

the sight and company of the Genius. Twenty-five years have passed,

as I have already told you, since I first was brought to this place,

in which I must own, that I have, even by wishing, not only every

thing necessary for life, but whatever can satisfy a princess, who

is fond of decoration and dress.

“Every ten days,” continued the princess, “the Genius comes

and passes the night here; he never sleeps here oftener, and gives

as a reason, that he is married to another, who would be jealous of

the infidelity of which he was guilty, should it come to her

knowledge. In the mean time, if I have any occasion for him, I have

only to touch a talisman, which is placed at the entrance of my

chamber, and he appears. It is now four days since he was here, and

I have therefore to wait six days more before he again makes his

appearance. You therefore may remain five with me, if it be

agreeable to you, in order to keep me company; and I will endeavour

to regale and entertain you equal to your merit and quality.”

I should have thought myself too happy to obtain so great a favour

by asking it, not to accept it after so obliging an offer. The

princess then conducted me to a bath, the most elegant, convenient,

and at the same time sumptuous you can possibly imagine. When I came

out, I found instead of my own dress, another very rich one, which I

put on, less for its magnificence than to render myself more worthy

of her notice.

We seated ourselves on a sofa, covered with superb drapery; the

cushions of which were of the richest Indian brocade; she then set

before me a variety of the most delicate and rare dishes. We eat

together, and having passed the remainder of the day very agreeably,

she received me at night in her chamber.

The next day, in order to devise every method of entertaining me,

she produced, at dinner, a flask of very old wine, the finest I ever

tasted; and to please me, she drank several glasses with me. I no

sooner found my head rather heated with this agreeable liquor, than

I said, “Beautiful princess, you have been buried here alive much

too long; follow me, and go and enjoy the brightness of the genuine

day, of which for so many years you have been deprived. Abandon this

false though brilliant light you have here.”--“Let us talk no

more, prince,” she answered, smiling, “on this subject. I value

not the most beautiful day in the world, if you will pass nine with

me here, and give up the tenth to the Genius.”--“Princess,” I

replied, “I see very well that it is the dread you have of the

Genius, which makes you hold this language. As for myself, I fear

him so little, that I am determined to break his talisman in pieces,

with the magic spell that is inscribed upon it. Let him then come; I

will wait for him; and however brave, however formidable, he may be,

I will make him feel the weight of my arm. I have taken an oath to

exterminate all the Genii in the world, and he shall be the

first.” The princess, who knew the consequence of this conduct,

conjured me not to touch the talisman. “It will be the means,”

she said, “of destroying both you and myself. I am better

acquainted with the nature of Genii than you can be.” The wine I

had drank, prevented me from acknowledging the propriety of her

reasons, I kicked down the talisman, and broke it in pieces.

This was no sooner done than the whole palace shook, as if ready to

fall to atoms, accompanied with a most dreadful noise like thunder,

and flashes of lightning, which heightened still more the

intermediate gloom. This formidable adventure in a moment dissipated

the fumes of the wine, and made me own, though too late, the fault I

had committed. “Princess,” I exclaimed, “what does all this

mean?” Without thinking of her own misfortune, and alarmed only

for me, she, in a fright, answered, “Alas, it is all over with

you, unless you save yourself by flight.”

I followed her advice; and my fear was so great, that I forgot my

hatchet and my cord. I had hardly gained the stair-case, by which I

descended, than the enchanted palace opened to afford a passage to

the Genius. “What has happened to you, and why have you called

me?” he demanded of the princess, in an angry tone. “A violent

pain,” replied the princess, “obliged me to search after the

bottle which you see; I drank two or three glasses, and

unfortunately making a false step I fell upon the talisman, which I

thus broke. There is no other cause.” At this answer the Genius,

in the utmost rage, exclaimed; “you are both impudent and

deceitful, how came this hatchet and this cord here then?” “I

have never seen them,” replied she, “till this instant. Perhaps,

in the haste and impetuosity with which you came, you have taken

them up in passing through some place, and have brought them here,

without observing them.”

The Genius replied only by reproaches, and by blows, which I could

plainly distinguish the sound of. It distressed me, beyond measure,

to hear the cries and sobbing of the princess, who was thus cruelly

used. I had already taken off the habit, which she had made me put

on, and resumed my own, which I had carried to the stair-case the

day before, after I had been in the bath. I proceeded therefore up

the stairs, as I was the more penetrated with grief and compassion

on account of having been the cause of such a misfortune: and as I

should become the most criminal and ungrateful of men in thus

sacrificing the most beautiful princess on earth to the barbarity of

an implacable Genius. “It is true,” said I to myself, “that

she has been a prisoner for five and twenty years; but, excepting

liberty, she had nothing to wish for, in order to be happy. My

conduct has put an end to her happiness, and raised the cruelty of a

merciless demon to its very summit. I then shut down the trap-door,

covered it over with the earth, and returned to the city with a load

of wood, which I collected, without even knowing what I was about,

so much was I absorbed and afflicted at what had happened.

My host, the tailor, expressed great joy at my return. “Your

absence,” said he, “has caused me much uneasiness on account of

the secret of your birth, with which you have entrusted me. I knew

not what to think, and began to fear some one might have recognized

you. God be praised that you are come back.” I thanked him much

for his zeal and affection, but did not inform him of any thing that

had happened; nor of the reason why I returned without my hatchet

and cord. I retired to my chamber, where I reproached myself a

thousand times for my great imprudence. “Nothing,” I cried,

“could have equalled the mutual happiness of the princess and

myself, if I had been satisfied, and had not broken the talisman.”

While I was abandoning myself to these afflicting thoughts, the

tailor entered my apartment, and said, that an old man, whom he did

not know, had brought my hatchet and cord, which he had found on his

way. “He has been informed by your companions,” added the

tailor, “who went to cut wood with you, that you live here. Come

and speak to him, as he wishes to deliver them into your own

hands.” At this speech, I changed colour, and trembled from head

to foot. The tailor inquired the cause, when suddenly the floor of

my chamber opened. The old man, who had not the patience to wait,

appeared, and presented himself to us with the hatchet and cord.

This was in fact the Genius, who had ravished the beautiful princess

of the Isle of Ebony, and who had thus come in disguise, after

having treated her with the greatest barbarity. “I am a Genius,”

he said to us, “a son of the daughter of Eblis, prince of the

Genii. Is not this thy hatchet?” added he, addressing me, “and

is not this thy cord?”

The Genius gave me no time to answer these questions; nor indeed

should I have been able to do so, as his dreadful presence made me

entirely forget myself. He took me by the middle of my body, and

dragging me out of the chamber, sprang into the air, and carried me

up towards heaven with so much force and celerity, that I was

sensible of the great height to which I had ascended, before I was

aware of the distance I had travelled in so short a space of time.

He then descended towards the earth; and having caused it to open,

by striking his foot against it, he sunk into it, and I instantly

found myself in the enchanted palace, and in the presence of the

beautiful princess of the Isle of Ebony. But alas! what a sight! It

pierced my very inmost heart. This princess was naked and covered

with blood, and lying along the ground more dead than alive, with

her face bathed in tears.

“Perfidious wretch,” said the Genius, showing me to her, “is

not this thy lover?” She cast her languid eyes upon me, and in a

sorrowful tone, answered, “I know him not, nor have I ever seen

him till this instant.”--“What,” cried the Genius, “dare

you affirm you do not know him, although he is the cause of your

being treated, and justly, in the manner you have been?”--“If I

am ignorant of him,” replied she, “do you wish I should utter a

falsehood, which would prove his destruction?”--“Well then,”

exclaimed the Genius, drawing his scimitar, and presenting it to the

princess, “if you have never seen him, take this scimitar and cut

off his head.” “How, alas!” she answered, “can I execute

what you require of me? My strength is so exhausted, that I cannot

lift up my arm; and even were I able, do you think I could put to

death an innocent person, whom I do not know?”--“This refusal,

then,” added the Genius, “completely proves to me your crime.”

And then turning to me, he said, “Are you too unacquainted with

her?”

I should have been the most ungrateful and most perfidious of men,

if I had not preserved the same fidelity towards her, which she had

done for me; I therefore said, “how should I know her, when this

is the first time I have ever set eyes upon her?”--“If that be

true,” he replied, “take the scimitar and cut off her head. It

is the price I set on your liberty, and the only way to convince me

you have never seen her before, as you affirm.”--“With all my

heart,” I answered, and took the scimitar in my hand. Do not,

however, imagine, that I approached the beautiful princess of the

Isle of Ebony, for the purpose of becoming the instrument of the

barbarity of the Genius. I did it only to show her by my actions, as

well as I could, that as she had the courage to sacrifice her life

from love of me, neither could I refuse to immolate myself also from

the same motive. The princess comprehended my meaning; and in spite

of her pains and sufferings, gave me to understand by her looks,

that she should willingly die, and was well satisfied with knowing

that I was equally ready. I then drew back, and throwing the

scimitar on the ground, said to the Genius, “I should be eternally

condemned by all men, if I had the cowardice to murder, I will not

say a person whom I do not know, but a lady, such as I now see, in

the state in which she is, ready to expire. You may treat me as you

please, since I am in your power, but I will never obey your

barbarous commands.”

“I am well aware,” said the Genius, “that both of you brave my

rage, and insult my jealousy; but you shall find what I am capable

of by the manner in which I shall treat you. At these words, the

monster took up the scimitar, and cut off one of the hands of the

princess, who had barely time to bid me an eternal farewell with the

other, before the great loss of blood from her other wounds, added

to what flowed from the present, extinguished her life, not two

moments after the perpetration of this last cruelty; the sight of

which made me faint.

When I returned to my senses, I complained to the Genius for

suffering me to remain in expectation of death. “Strike,” I

cried, “I am ready to receive the mortal wound, and expect it from

you as the greatest favour you can bestow.” Instead, however, of

doing so, he said, “Observe in what manner Genii treat women, whom

they suspect of infidelity. She received you here; and if I were

convinced that she had done me any farther wrong, I would this

instant annihilate you; but I shall content myself with changing you

into a dog, an ass, a lion, or a bird. Make your choice; I wish not

to control you.” These words gave me some hopes of softening him;

I said, “Moderate, O powerful Genius, your wrath, and since you

wish not to take my life, grant it me in a generous manner. If you

pardon me, I shall always remember your clemency, as one of the best

of men pardoned his neighbour, who bore him a most deadly envy.”

The Genius then asked me, what had passed between these two

neighbours, when I told him, if he would have the patience to listen

to me, I would relate the history.

THE HISTORY

OF THE ENVIOUS MAN, AND OF HIM WHO WAS ENVIED.

In a town of no inconsiderable importance, there were two men, who

lived next door to each other. One of them was so excessively

envious of the other, that the latter resolved to change his abode,

and go and reside at some distance from him; supposing, that

nearness of residence alone was the cause of his neighbour’s

animosity; for although he was continually doing him some friendly

office, he perceived that he was not the less hated. He therefore

sold his house, and the small estate he had there, and went to the

capital of the kingdom, which was at no great distance: and bought a

small piece of ground about half a league from the town, on which

there stood a very convenient house. He had also a good garden, and

a moderate court, in which there was a deep cistern, that was not

now used.

The good man having made this purchase, put on the habit of a

dervise, in order to pass his life more quietly; and made also many

cells in his house, where he soon established a small community of

dervises. The report of his virtue was soon more generally spread

abroad, and failed not to attract the attention and visits of great

numbers of the principal inhabitants, as well as common people. At

length he became honoured and noticed by almost every one. They came

from a great distance to request him to offer up his prayers for

them; and all, who remained in retirement with him, published an

account of the blessings they thought they received from Heaven

through his means.

The great reputation of this man at length reached the town from

whence he came; and the envious man was so vexed, that he left his

house and all his affairs, with the determination to go and destroy

him. For this purpose, he went to the convent of dervises, whose

chief, his former neighbour, received him with every possible mark

of friendship. The envious man told him, that he was come for the

express design of communicating an affair of great importance to

him, and which he could only inform him of in private. “In

short,” said he, “in order that no one may hear us, let us, I

beg of you, walk in your court; and when night comes on, order all

the dervises to their cells.” The chief of the dervises did as he

requested.

When the envious man found himself alone with the good man, he began

to relate to him whatever came into his thoughts, while they walked

from one end of the court to the other, till observing they were

just at the edge of the well, he gave him a push, and threw him into

it; without there being any witness of so wicked an act. Having done

this, he directly went away, got to the gate of the house, passed

out unseen, returned home well satisfied with his journey, and

highly pleased that the object of his envy was at length no more. In

this, however, he was deceived.

It was a most fortunate thing for the dervise, that this well was

inhabited by fairies and genii, who were ready to assist him. They

both caught and supported him in their arms in such a way, that he

received not the least injury. He naturally supposed there was

something very extraordinary in having had such a fall, as ought to

have cost him his life; and yet he could neither see nor perceive

any thing. He soon after, however, heard a voice say, “Do you know

any thing of this man, to whom we have been so serviceable?” when

some other voices answered, “No.” The first then replied, “I

will inform you. This man, with the most charitable and benevolent

intentions in the world, left the town where he lived, and came to

fix himself in this place, with the hopes of being able to cure one

of his neighbours of the envy and hatred he had conceived against

him. He soon became so universally esteemed, that the envious man

could not endure it, and determined, therefore, to put an end to his

existence. This design he would have executed, had it not been for

the assistance we afforded this good man, whose reputation is so

great, that the sultan, who resides in the neighbouring town, was

coming to visit him to-morrow, in order to recommend the princess,

his daughter, to his prayers.”

Another voice then asked what occasion the princess had for the

prayers of the dervise, to which the first answered; “Are you

ignorant then, that she is possessed by the power of the Genius

Maimoun, the son of Dimdim, who has fallen in love with her? But I

know how this good dervise can cure her. The thing is by no means

difficult, as I will inform you. In his monastery there is a black

cat, which has a white spot at the end of her tail, about the size

of a small piece of money. Let him only pull out seven hairs from

this while spot, and burn them; and then with the smoke perfume the

head of the princess. From that moment she will be so thoroughly

cured, and free from Maimoun, the son of Dimdim, that he will never

again be able to come near her.”

The chief of the dervises did not lose a single syllable of this

conversation between the Fairies and Genii, who, from this time,

remained silent the whole night. The next morning, as soon as the

day began to break, and the different objects became discernible,

the dervise perceived, as the wall was decayed in many places, a

hole, by which he could get out without any difficulty.

The other dervises, who were seeking after him, were delighted at

his appearance. He related to them, in a few words, the cunning and

wickedness of the guest he had entertained the day before, and then

retired to his cell. It was not long before the black cat, which had

been mentioned in the discourse of the Fairies and Genii, came to

him to be taken notice of as usual. He then took it up, and plucked

out seven hairs from the white spot in its tail, and put them aside,

in order to make use of whenever he should have occasion for them.

The sun had not long risen above the horizon, when the sultan, who

wished to neglect nothing, from which he thought there was any

chance of curing the princess, arrived at the gate. He ordered his

guards to stop, and went in with the principal officers who

accompanied him. The dervises received him with the greatest

respect. The sultan directly took the chief aside, and said to him,

“Worthy sheik, you are perhaps already acquainted with the cause

of my visit.”--“If, Sire,” the dervise modestly answered,

“I do not deceive myself, it is the malady of the princess that

has been the occasion of my seeing you; an honour of which I am

unworthy.”--“It is so,” replied the sultan, “and you will

restore almost my life to me, if, by means of your prayers, I shall

obtain the re-establishment of my daughter’s health.”--“If

your majesty,” answered the worthy man, “will have the goodness

to suffer her to come here, I flatter myself, that with the help and

favor of God she shall return in perfect health.”

The prince, transported with joy, immediately sent for his daughter,

who soon appeared, accompanied by a numerous train of females and

eunuchs; and veiled in such a manner, that her face could not be

seen. The chief of the dervises made them hold a shovel over the

head of the princess; and he no sooner threw the seven white hairs

upon some burning coals, which he had ordered to be brought in it,

than the Genius Maimoun, the son of Dimdim, uttered a violent

scream, and left the princess quite at liberty. In the mean time

nothing at all could be seen. The first thing she did was to put her

hand to the veil, which covered her face, and lift it up to see

where she was. “Where am I?” she cried; “Who has brought me

here?” At these words the sultan could not conceal his joy; he

embraced his daughter; he kissed her eyes: and then took the hand of

the dervise and kissed that. “Give me,” said he to his officers,

“your opinion; what return does he deserve, who has cured my

daughter.”--They all answered that he was worthy of her hand.

--“This is the very thing I was meditating,” he cried, “and

from this moment I claim him for my son-in-law.”

Soon after this the first vizier died, and the sultan immediately

advanced the dervise to the situation. The sultan himself afterwards

dying without any male issue, this excellent man was proclaimed

sultan by the general voice of the different religious and military

orders.

The good dervise, being thus raised to the throne of his

father-in-law, observed one day, as he was walking with his

courtiers, the envious man among the crowd, who were in the road. He

called one of his viziers, who accompanied him, told him in a

whisper to bring that man, whom he pointed out to him, and to be

sure not to alarm him. The vizier obeyed; and when the envious man

was in the presence of the sultan, the latter addressed him in these

words; “I am very happy, my friend, to see you: go,” said he,

speaking to an officer, “and count out directly from my treasury a

thousand pieces of gold. Nay more, deliver to him twenty bales of

the most valuable merchandize my magazines contain; and let a

sufficient guard escort him home.” After having given the officer

this commission, he took his leave of the envious man, and continued

his walk.

When I had told this history to the Genius, who had assassinated the

princess of the Isle of Ebony, I made the application to myself,

“O Genius,” I said to him, “you may observe how this

benevolent monarch acted towards the envious man, and was not only

satisfied in forgetting that he had attempted his life, but even

sent him back with every benefit and advantage I have mentioned.”

In short, I employed all my eloquence to persuade him to imitate so

excellent an example, and to pardon me. But to alter his resolution

was impossible.

“All that I can do for you,” he said, “is to spare your life;

yet do not flatter yourself that I shall suffer you to return safe

and well. I must at least make you feel what I can do by means of my

enchantments.” At these words he violently seized me, and carrying

me through the vaulted roof of the subterranean palace, which opened

at his approach, he elevated me so high, that the earth appeared to

me only like a small white cloud. From this height he again

descended as quick as lightning, and alighted on the top of a

mountain. On this spot he took up a handful of earth, and

pronouncing, or rather muttering, certain words, of which I could

not comprehend the meaning, threw it over me: “Quit,” he cried,

“the figure of a man, and assume that of an ape.” He immediately

disappeared, and I remained quite alone, changed into an ape,

overwhelmed with grief, in an unknown country, and ignorant whether

I was near the dominions of the king, my father.

I descended the mountain, and came to a flat level country, the

extremity of which I did not reach till I had travelled a month;

when I arrived at the sea-coast. There was at this time a profound

calm, and I perceived a vessel about half a league from the shore.

That I might not omit taking advantage of so fortunate a

circumstance, I broke off a large branch from a tree, and dragged it

after me to the sea-side. I then got astride it, with a stick in

each hand by way of oar. In this manner I rowed myself along towards

the vessel, and when I was sufficiently near to be seen, I presented

a most extraordinary sight to the sailors and passengers, who were

upon deck. They looked at me with the greatest admiration and

astonishment. In the mean time I got along-side, and taking hold of

a rope, I climbed up to the deck. But as I could not speak, I found

myself in the greatest embarrassment. And in fact, the danger I now

ran was not less imminent than what I had before experienced, when I

was in the power of the Genius.

The merchants, who were on board, were both scrupulous and

superstitious, and thought that I should be the cause of some

misfortunes happening to them during their voyage, if they received

me. “I will kill him,” cried one, “with a blow of this

handspike.”--“Let me shoot an arrow through his body,”

exclaimed another: “and then let us throw him into the sea,”

said a third. Nor would they have desisted from executing their

different threats, if I had not run to the captain, and thrown

myself prostrate at his feet. In this supplicating posture I laid

hold of the bottom of his dress; and he was so struck with this

action, as well as with the tears that fell from my eyes, that he

took me under his protection, declaring he would make any one

repent, who should offer me the least injury. He even caressed and

encouraged me. In order to make up for the loss of speech, I in

return showed him, by means of signs, how much I was obliged to him.

The wind which succeeded this calm was not a strong, but it was a

favourable one. It did not change for fifty days; and we then

happily arrived in the harbour of a large, commercial, well-built,

and populous city. Here we cast anchor. This city was of still more

considerable importance, as it was the capital of a powerful

kingdom. Our vessel was immediately surrounded with a multitude of

small boats, filled with those who came either to congratulate their

friends on their arrival, or to enquire of whom and what they had

seen in the country they had come from; or simply from mere

curiosity to see a ship which had arrived from a distance.

Among the rest some officers came on board, who desired, in the name

of the sultan, to speak to the merchants that were with us. “The

sultan, our sovereign,” said one of them to the merchants, who

immediately appeared, “has charged us to express to you how much

pleasure your arrival gives him, and entreats each of you to take

the trouble of writing upon this roll of paper a few lines. In order

to make you understand his motive for this, I must inform you, that

he had a first vizier, who, besides his great abilities in the

management of affairs, wrote in the greatest perfection. This

minister died a few days since. The sultan is very much afflicted at

it, and as he values perfection in writing beyond every thing, he

has taken a solemn oath to appoint any person to the same situation,

who shall write as well. Many have presented specimens of their

abilities, but he has not yet found any one throughout the empire

whom he has thought worthy to occupy the vizier’s place.

Each of those merchants who thought they could write well enough to

aspire to this high dignity, wrote whatever they thought proper.

When they had done, I advanced and took the paper from the hands of

him who held it. Every body, and particularly the merchants who had

written, thinking that I meant either to destroy it or throw it into

the water, instantly called out; but they were soon satisfied, when

they saw me hold the paper very properly, and make a sign, that I

also wished to write in my turn. Their fears were now changed to

astonishment. Yet as they had never seen an ape that could write,

and as they could not believe I was more skilful than others, they

wished to take the roll from my hands; but the captain still

continued to take my part. “Suffer him to try,” he said, “let

him write; if he only blots the paper, I promise you I will

instantly punish him: but if, on the contrary, he writes well, as I

hope he will, for I have never seen any ape more clever and

ingenious, nor one who seemed so well to understand every thing, I

declare that I will acknowledge him as my son. I once had one, who

did not possess half so much ability as he does.”

Finding that no one any longer opposed my design, I took the pen,

and did not leave off till I had given an example of six different

sorts of writing used in Arabia. Each specimen contained a distich,

or impromptu stanza of four lines, in praise of the sultan. My

writing not only excelled that of the merchants, but I dare say they

had never seen any so beautiful, even in that country. When I had

finished, the officers took the roll and carried it to the sultan.

The monarch paid no attention to any of the writing, except mine,

which pleased him so much, that he said to the officers, “Take the

finest and most richly caparisoned horse from my stable, and also

the most magnificent robe of brocade possible, in order to adorn the

person of him who has written these six varieties, and bring him to

me.” At this order of the sultan the officers could not forbear

laughing, which irritated him so much, that he would have punished

them, had they not said, “We entreat your majesty to pardon us;

these were not written by a man, but by an ape.”--“What do you

say?” cried the sultan, “are not these wonderful specimens of

writing from the hand of a man?”--“No sire,” answered one of

the officers, “we assure your majesty that we saw an ape write

them.” This matter appeared too wonderful to the sultan, for him

not to be desirous of seeing me. “Do as I command you,” said he

to them, “and hasten to bring me this extraordinary ape.”

The officers returned to the vessel, and showed their order to the

captain, who said the sultan should be obeyed. They immediately

dressed me in a robe of very rich brocade, and carried me on shore;

where they set me on the horse of the sultan, who was waiting in his

palace for me, with a considerable number of people belonging to the

court, whom he had assembled to do me the more honour. The march

commenced: while the gate, the streets, public buildings, windows,

and terraces of both the palaces and houses, were all filled with an

immense number of persons of every age and sex, whom curiosity had

drawn together from all quarters of the town to see me: for the

report was spread in an instant, that the sultan had chosen an ape

for his grand vizier. After having afforded so uncommon a sight to

all these people, who ceased not to express their surprise by

violent and continued shouting, I arrived at the sultan’s palace.

I found the prince seated on his throne, in the midst of the nobles

of his court; I made him three low bows, and the last time I

prostrated myself, kissed the earth by his feet. I then got up, and

seated myself exactly like an ape. No part of the assembly could

withhold their admiration; nor did they comprehend how it was

possible for an ape to be so well acquainted with the form and

respect attached to sovereigns; nor was the sultan the least

astonished. The whole ceremony of audience would have been complete,

if I had only been able to add speech to my actions; but apes never

speak; and the advantage of having once been a man, did not now

afford me that privilege.

The sultan took leave of the courtiers, and there remained with him

only the chief of his eunuchs, a little young slave, and myself. He

went from the hall of audience into his own apartment, where he

ordered some food to be served up. While he was at table, he made me

a sign to come and eat with him. As a mark of my obedience, I got

up, kissed the ground, and then seated myself at table; I eat,

however, with much modesty and forbearance.

Before they cleared the table, I perceived a writing-desk, which, by

a sign, I requested them to bring me: as soon as I had got it, I

wrote upon a large peach some lines of my own composition, which

evinced my gratitude to the sultan. His astonishment at reading

them, after I presented the peach to him, was still greater than

before. When the things were taken away, they brought a particular

sort of liquor, of which he desired them to give me a glass. I drank

it, and then wrote some fresh verses, which explained the state in

which I now found myself after so many sufferings. The sultan,

having read these also, exclaimed, “A man who should be capable of

doing thus, would be one of the greatest men that ever lived.” The

prince then ordered a chess-board to be brought, and asked me, by a

sign, if I could play, and would engage with him. I kissed the

ground, and putting my hand on my head, I shewed him I was ready to

receive that honour. He won the first game, but the second and third

were in my favour; perceiving that this gave him some little pain, I

wrote a stanza to amuse him, and presented it to him; in which I

said, that two powerful armed bodies fought the whole day with the

greatest ardour, but that they made peace in the evening, and passed

the night together very tranquilly upon the field of battle.

All these circumstances appearing to the sultan much beyond what he

had ever seen or heard of the address and ingenuity of apes, he

wished to have more witnesses of these prodigies. He had a daughter,

who was called the Queen of Beauty, he therefore desired the chief

of the eunuchs to fetch her. “Go,” said he to him, “and bring

your lady here, I wish her to partake of the pleasure I enjoy.”

The chief of the eunuchs went, and brought back the princess with

him. On entering, her face was uncovered, but she was no sooner

within the apartment, than she instantly threw her veil over her,

and said to the sultan, “Your majesty must have forgotten

yourself. I am surprised that you order me to appear before men.”

--“What is this, my daughter?” answered the sultan, “it seems

that you are the person who has forgotten herself. There is no one

here; but the little slave, the eunuch, your governor, and myself;

and we are always at liberty to see your face. Why then do you put

down your veil, and assert, that I have done wrong, in ordering you

to come here?”--“Sire,” replied the princess, “your majesty

will be convinced I am not mistaken. The ape which you see there,

although under that form, is not an ape, but a young prince, the son

of a great king. He has been changed into an ape by enchantment. A

Genius, the son of the daughter of Eblis, has been guilty of this

malicious action, after having cruelly killed the princess of the

Isle of Ebony, daughter of king Epitimarus.”

The sultan was astonished at this speech; and turning to me, asked,

but no longer by signs, whether what his daughter said was true. As

I could not speak, I put my hand upon my head to show, that she had

spoken the truth. “How came you to know, daughter,” said the

king, “that this prince had been transformed into an ape by means

of enchantment?”--“Sire,” replied the princess, “your

majesty may recollect, that when I first came from the nursery, I

had an old woman as one of my attendants. She was very well skilled

in magic; and taught me seventy rules of that science; by virtue of

which, I could instantly cause your capital to be transported to the

middle of the ocean, nay beyond mount Caucasus. By means of this

science, I know every person who is enchanted, the moment I behold

them; not only who they are, but by whom also they were enchanted.

Be not, therefore, surprised, that I have at first sight discovered

this prince, in spite of the charm, which prevented him from

appearing in your eyes such as he really is.”--“My dear

daughter,” answered the sultan, “I did not think you were so

skilful.”--“Sire,” added the princess, “these things are

curious, and worthy of being known, but I do not think it becomes me

to boast of them.”--“Since this is the case,” replied the

sultan, “you can then dissolve the enchantment of this prince.”

--“I can, sire,” said, she “and restore him to his own

form.”--“Do so then,” interrupted the sultan, “for you

cannot give me greater pleasure, as I wish to have him for my grand

vizier and bestow you upon him for a wife.”--“I am ready,

sire,” answered the princess, “to obey you in all things you

please to command.”

The Queen of Beauty then went to her apartment, and returned with a

knife which had some Hebrew characters engraved on the blade. She

desired the sultan, the chief of the eunuchs, the little slave, and

myself, to go down into a secret court of the palace; and then

leaving us under a gallery which surrounded the court, she went into

the middle of it, where she described a large circle, and traced

several words both in the ancient Arabic characters, and those which

are called the characters of Cleopatra.

When she had done this, and prepared the circle in the manner she

wished, she went and placed herself in the midst of it, where she

began making her abjurations, and repeating some verses from the

koran. By degrees the air became obscure as if night was coming on,

and the whole world was vanishing. We were seized with the greatest

fright, and this was the more increased when we saw the Genius, the

son of the daughter of Eblis, suddenly appear in the shape of a

large dreadful lion.

The princess no sooner perceived this monster than she said to it,

“Dog, instead of cringing before me, how darest thou present

thyself under this horrible form, thinking to alarm me?”--“And

how darest thou,” replied the lion, “break the treaty which we

have made and confirmed by a solemn oath not to injure each

other?”--“Ah, wretch,” added the princess, “thou art the

person I am to reproach on that account.”--“Thou shalt pay

dearly,” interrupted the lion, “for the trouble thou hast given

me of coming here.” In saying this, he opened his horrible jaws

and advanced forward to devour her. But she, being on her guard,

jumped back, and had just time to pluck out a hair, and pronouncing

two or three words, she changed it into a sharp scythe, with which

she immediately cut the lion in pieces through the middle.

The two parts of the lion directly disappeared, and the head only

remained, which changed into a large scorpion. The princess then

took the form of a serpent, and began a fierce combat with the

scorpion, which, finding itself in danger of being defeated, changed

into an eagle and flew away. But the serpent then became another

eagle, black, and more powerful, and went in pursuit of it. We now

lost sight of them for some time.

Shortly after they had disappeared, the earth opened before us, and

a black and white cat appeared, the hairs of which stood quite on

end, and which made a most horrible mewing. A black wolf directly

followed, and gave it no respite. The cat being hard pressed changed

into a worm, and finding itself near a pomegranate which had fallen

by accident from a tree that grew upon the bank of a deep but narrow

canal, instantly made a hole in it, and concealed itself there. The

pomegranate immediately began to swell, and became as large as a

gourd, which then rose up as high as the gallery, and rolled

backwards and forwards there several times; it then fell down to the

bottom of the court, and broke into many pieces.

The wolf in the mean time transformed itself into a cock, ran to the

seeds of the pomegranate, and began swallowing them one after the

other as fast as possible. When it could see no more, it came to us

with its wings extended, and making a great noise, as if to inquire

of us whether there were any more seeds. There was one lying on the

border of the canal, which the cock in going back perceived, and ran

towards it as quick as possible; but at the very instant in which

its beak was upon it, the seed rolled into the canal and changed

into a small fish. The cock then flew into the canal, and becoming a

pike, pursued the little fish. They were both two hours under water,

and we knew not what was become of them, when we heard the most

horrible cries, that made us tremble. Soon after we saw the genius

and the princess all on fire. They threw the flames against each

other with their breath, and at last came to a close attack. Then

the fire increased, and every thing about was encompassed with smoke

and flame to a great height. We were afraid, and not without reason,

that the whole palace would be burnt: but we soon had a much more

dreadful cause for terror; for the Genius having disengaged himself

from the princess, came towards the gallery where we were, and blew

his flames all over us. This would have destroyed us, if the

princess, running to our assistance, had not compelled him, by her

cries, to retreat to a distance and guard himself against her. In

spite, however, of all the haste she made, she could not prevent the

sultan from having his head singed and his face scorched; the chief

of the eunuchs, too, was stifled and consumed on the spot; and a

spark flew into my right eye and blinded me. Both the sultan and

myself expected to perish, when we suddenly heard the cry of

“Victory, victory!” and the princess immediately appeared to us

in her own form, while the Genius was reduced to a heap of ashes.

The princess approached us, and in order to lose no time, she asked

for a cupfull of water, which was brought by the young slave whom

the fire had not injured. She took it, and after pronouncing some

words over it, she threw some of the water upon me, and said, “If

thou art an ape by inchantment, change thy figure and take that of a

man which thou hadst before.” She had hardly concluded, when I

again became a man, the same as before I was changed, except with

the loss of one eye.

I was preparing to thank the princess, but she did not give me time

before she said to the sultan, her father, “I have gained, sire,

the victory over the Genius, as your majesty may see, but it is a

victory which has cost me dear. I have but a few moments to live,

and you will not have the satisfaction of completing the marriage

you intended. The fire in this dreadful combat has penetrated my

body, and I feel that it will soon consume me. This would not have

happened if I had perceived the last seed of the pomegranate when I

was in the shape of a cock, and had swallowed it as I did the

others. The Genius had fled to it as his last retreat; and on that

depended the success of the combat, which would then have been

fortunate and without danger to me. This omission obliged me to have

recourse to fire, and fight with that powerful weapon between heaven

and earth, as you saw me. In spite of this dreadful power and

experience, I convinced him that my knowledge and art were greater

than his. I have at length conquered and reduced him to ashes; but I

cannot avoid the death which I feel approaching.”

The princess had no sooner finished this account of the battle, than

the sultan, in a tone of voice which showed how much he was agitated

by this recital, answered, “You see, my daughter, the state in

which your father is. Alas! I am only astonished that I am still

alive. The eunuch, your governor, is dead; and the prince whom you

have delivered from enchantment, has lost an eye.” He could say no

more, for his tears and sobs stopped his utterance. Both his

daughter and myself were extremely affected at his sufferings, and

mingled our tears with his.

While we were each of us indulging in this excess of sorrow, the

princess suddenly exclaimed, “I burn, I burn.” She perceived

that the fire which consumed her, had at last seized her whole body,

and she did not cease calling out, “I burn,” till death put an

end to her almost insupportable sufferings. The effect of this fire

was so extraordinary, that in a few minutes she was reduced, like

the Genius, to a heap of ashes.

I need not say how much this dreadful and melancholy sight affected

us. I would rather have continued an ape or a dog my whole life,

than have seen my benefactress perish in such a horrid manner. The

sultan too, on his part, was beyond measure afflicted. It is almost

impossible to conceive what lamentable cries he uttered, beating

himself at the same time most violently on his head and breast, till

at last, yielding to despair, he fainted, and I feared even his life

would fall a sacrifice.

In the mean time the cries of the sultan brought the eunuchs and

officers to his assistance, and they found great difficulty in

recovering him. There was no occasion for either the prince or

myself giving them a very long detail of this adventure, to convince

them of the propriety of our sorrow; the two heaps of ashes to which

the princess and the Genius had been reduced, were quite sufficient.

As the sultan could scarcely support himself, he was obliged to lean

upon them in order to get to his apartment.

As soon as the knowledge of an event so tragical was spread through

the palace and the city, every one lamented the melancholy fate of

the princess, surnamed the Queen of Beauty; and joined in the grief

of the sultan. They put on mourning for seven days, and performed

many ceremonies; the ashes of the Genius they scattered in the wind,

but collected those of the princess in a costly vase, and preserved

them: this vase was then deposited in a superb mausoleum, which was

erected on the very spot where the ashes had been found.

The grief which preyed upon the sultan for the loss of his daughter,

was the origin of a disease, that confined him to his bed for a

whole month. He had not quite recovered his health when he called me

to him, and said, “Listen, prince, and attend to the order which I

am going to give you; if you fail to execute it your life will be

the forfeit.” I assured him I would obey. Resuming then the

discourse, he added, “I have always lived in a state of the

greatest happiness; nor had any unfortunate event ever occurred.

Your arrival has destroyed this enjoyment. My daughter is dead; her

governor is no more; and I have escaped with my life only by a

miracle. You are the cause of all these misfortunes, for which I am

incapable of consolation. These are the reasons which induce me to

desire you would leave me in peace: but go immediately, for, if you

remain here any longer, it will be the cause of my death also; since

I am persuaded your presence is productive only of misfortune. This

is all I have to say to you. Go, and take care you never again

appear in my kingdom; if you do, no consideration shall prevent my

making you repent of it.” I wished to speak, but he prevented me

by uttering some angry words, and I was obliged to leave his palace.

Driven about, rejected and abandoned by every one, I knew not what

was become of me. Before I left the city I went into a bath, I got

my beard and eye-brows shaved, and put on the dress of a calender. I

then began my journey, lamenting less my own miserable condition,

than the death of the two beautiful princesses which I had been the

occasion of. I travelled through many countries without making

myself known; at last I resolved to visit Bagdad, in hopes of being

able to present myself to the Commander of the Faithful, and excite

his compassion by the recital of so strange a history. I arrived

here this evening, and the first person I met was the calender, my

brother, who has already related his life. You are acquainted,

madam, with the sequel, and how I came to have the honour of being

at your house.

When the second calender had finished his history, Zobeidè, to whom

he had addressed himself, said, “You have done well, and I give

you leave to go whenever you please.” But instead of taking his

departure, he entreated her to grant him the same favour she had

done the other calender, near whom he went and took his place. Then

the third calender, knowing it was his turn to speak, addressed

himself like the others to Zobeidè, and began his history as

follows.

THE HISTORY

OF THE THIRD CALENDER, THE SON OF A KING.

What I am going to relate, most honourable lady, is of a very

different nature from what you have already heard. The two princes

who have recited their histories, have each of them lost an eye as

it were by destiny; while my loss has been the consequence of my own

fault, in searching after my misfortune, as you will find by what I

am going to mention.

I am called Agib, and am the son of a king, whose name was Cassib.

After his death I took possession of his throne, and established my

residence in the same city which he had made his capital. This city,

which is situated on the sea-coast, has a remarkable handsome and

safe harbour, with an arsenal sufficiently extensive to supply an

armament of a hundred and fifty vessels of war always lying ready

for service on any occasion; and to equip fifty merchant-men, and as

many sloops and yachts for the purpose of amusement and pleasure on

the water. My kingdom was composed of many beautiful provinces, and

also a number of considerable islands, almost all of which were

situated within sight of my capital.

The first thing I did was to visit the provinces; I then made them

arm and equip my whole fleet, and went round to all my islands in

order to conciliate the affections of my subjects, and to confirm

them in their duty and allegiance. After having been at home some

time, I went again; and these voyages, by giving me some slight

knowledge of navigation, infused such a taste for it in my mind,

that I resolved to go in search of discoveries beyond my islands.

For this purpose I equipped only ten ships; and embarking in one of

them, we set sail.

During forty days our voyage was prosperous; but on the night of the

forty-first the wind became adverse, and so violent, that we were

driven at the mercy of the tempest, and thought we should have been

lost. At break of day, however, the wind abated, the clouds

dispersed, and the sun brought fine weather back with it. We now

landed on an island, where we remained two days to take in some

provisions. Having done this, we again put to sea. After ten days

sail we began to hope to see land; for since the storm we had

encountered, I had altered my intention, and determined to return to

my kingdom, but I then discovered that my pilot knew not where we

were. In fact, a sailor on the tenth day, who was ordered to the

mast-head for the purpose of making discoveries, reported, that to

the right and left he could perceive only the sky and sea, which

bounded the horizon, but that straight before him he observed a

great blackness.

At this intelligence the pilot changed colour, and throwing his

turban on the deck with one hand, he struck his face with the other,

and then cried out, “Ah, sire, we are lost; not one of us can

possibly escape the danger in which we are; and with all my

experience, it is not in my power to ensure the safety of any

individual.” Having said this, he began to weep like one who

thought his destruction inevitable, and his despair spread an alarm

and fear through the whole vessel. I asked him what reason he had

for this despair. “Alas, sire,” he answered, “the tempest

which we have gone through, has so driven us from our track, that by

mid-day to-morrow we shall find ourselves near that blackness, which

is nothing but a black mountain, consisting entirely of a mass of

loadstone, that will soon attract our fleet, on account of the bolts

and nails in the ships. To-morrow, when we shall come within a

certain distance, the power of the loadstone will be so violent,

that all the nails will be drawn out and fasten to the mountain: our

ships will then fall in pieces and sink. As it is the property of a

loadstone to attract iron, and at the same time to increase its own

power by this attraction, the mountain towards the sea is entirely

covered with the nails that belonged to the infinite number of ships

which it has been the destruction of; and this at the same time both

preserves and augments its power or virtue.

“This mountain,” continued the pilot, “is very steep; and on

the summit there is a large dome, made of fine bronze, which is

supported upon columns of the same metal. Upon the top of the dome

there is also a bronze horse with the figure of a man upon it. A

plate of lead covers his breast, upon which there are some

talismanic characters engraven: and there is a tradition, sire,”

added he, “that this statue is the principal cause of the loss of

so many vessels and men who have been drowned in this place, and

will never cease from being destructive to all who shall have the

misfortune to approach it, until it be overthrown.” The pilot,

having finished his speech, renewed his tears, which excited those

of the whole crew. As for myself, I did not doubt that I was now

approaching the end of my days. Every individual began to think of

his own preservation, and to try every possible means condusive to

that end: and during the uncertainty of the event, they all

appointed, by a sort of will, the survivors, if any should be saved,

the heirs of the rest.

The next morning we distinctly perceived the black mountain; and the

idea we had formed of it made it appear still more dreadful and

horrid than it really was. About mid-day we found ourselves so near

it, that we began to perceive what the pilot had foretold. We saw

the nails, and every other piece of iron belonging to the vessels,

fly towards the mountain, against which, by the violence of the

magnetic attraction, they struck with a horrible noise. The vessels

then immediately fell to pieces and sunk to the bottom of the sea;

which was so deep in this place, that we could never discover the

bottom by sounding. All my people were lost; but God had pity upon

me, and suffered me to save myself by laying hold of a plank which

was driven by the wind directly to the foot of the mountain. I did

not experience the least harm, and had the good fortune to land in a

place where there were steps which led to the summit. I was much

rejoiced at sight of these steps, for there was not the least piece

of land either to the right or left, upon which I could have set my

foot to save myself. I returned thanks to God, and invoking his holy

name, began to ascend the mountain. The path was narrow, and so

steep and difficult, that had the wind been at all violent, it must

have blown me into the sea. I arrived at last at the summit without

any accident; and entering the dome, I prostrated myself on the

ground, and offered my thanks to God for the favour he had shown me.

I passed the night under this dome; and while I was asleep, a

venerable old man appeared to me, and said, “Agib, attend; when

you awake, dig up the earth under your feet, and you will find a

brazen bow with three leaden arrows, manufactured under certain

constellations, in order to deliver mankind from many evils which

continually menace them. Shoot these three arrows at the statue; the

man will then fall into the sea, and the horse at your feet, which

you must bury in the same spot from whence you take the bow and

arrows. This being finished, the sea will begin to be agitated, and

will rise as high as the foot of the dome at the top of the

mountain. When it shall have risen thus high, you will see a small

vessel come towards the shore with only one man in it, who holds an

oar in each hand. This man will be of brass, but different from the

one that was overthrown. Embark with him without pronouncing the

name of God, and let him conduct you. In ten days he will have

carried you into another sea, where you will find the means of

returning to your own country in safety; provided, as I have already

told you, you forbear from mentioning the name of God during the

whole of your voyage.”

Such was the discourse of the old man. As soon as I was awake, I got

up much consoled by this vision, and did not fail doing as the old

man had ordered me. I uncovered the bow and the arrows, and shot

them at the statue. With the third arrow I overthrew the man, who

fell into the sea, while the horse lay at my feet. I buried it in

the place where I found the bow and arrows, and while I was doing

this, the sea rose by degrees till it reached the foot of the dome

on the summit of the mountain. I perceived a vessel at a distance

coming towards me. I offered my benedictions to God at thus seeing

my dream in every respect proving a reality. The vessel at length

approached the land, and I saw in it a man made of brass as had been

described. I embarked, and took particular care not to pronounce the

name of God. I did not even utter a single word. When I had sat

down, the brazen figure began to row from the mountain. He continued

doing so without intermission till the ninth day, when I saw some

islands, which made me hope I should soon be free from every danger

that I dreaded. The excess of my joy made me forget the order that

had been given me as a security, “Blessed be God,” I cried out,

“God be praised.”

I had hardly finished these words, when both the vessel and brazen

man sunk to the bottom. I remained in the water, and swam during the

rest of the day towards the nearest island. The night, which came

on, was exceedingly dark: and as I no longer knew where I was, I

continued swimming at a venture. My strength was at last quite

exhausted, and I began to despair of being able to save myself, when

the wind having much increased, a wave as large as a mountain, threw

me upon a flat shallow place, and on retiring left me there. I

immediately made haste to get farther on land for fear another wave

should come and carry me back. The first thing I then did, was to

undress and wring the water out of my clothes, and spread them upon

the sand, which was still warm from the heat of the preceding day.

The next morning, as soon as the sun had quite dried my dress, I put

it on, and began to reconnoitre; and tried to discover where I was.

I had not walked far, before I found out I was upon a small desert

island, very pleasant, and where there were many sorts of

fruit-trees as well as others; but I observed, that it was at a

considerable distance from the main land, which rather lessened the

joy I felt at having escaped from the sea. I nevertheless trusted in

God to dispose of my fate according to his will: soon afterwards I

discovered a very small vessel, which seemed to come full sail

directly from the main land, with her prow towards the island where

I was. As I had no doubt they were coming to anchor here, and as I

knew not what sort of people they might be, whether friends or

enemies, I determined at first not to show myself. I got up

therefore, into a very thick tree, from whence I could examine their

countenances without danger. The vessel soon sailed up a small creek

or bay, where ten slaves landed with a spade and other instruments

in their bands, for the purpose of digging the earth. They went

towards the middle of the island, where I observed them stop and dig

up the earth for some time; and by their actions they appeared to me

to lift up a trap-door. They immediately returned to the vessel,

from which they landed many sorts of provisions and furniture, and

each taking a load, they carried them to the place where they had

before dug up the ground. They then seemed to descend, which made me

conjecture there was a subterraneous place. I saw them once more go

to the vessel, and come back with an old man, who brought with him a

youth, seemingly well made, and about fourteen or fifteen years old.

They all descended at the spot where the trap-door had been lifted

up. After they came out again, they shut down the door and covered

it with earth as before; and then returned to the creek where their

vessel lay; but I observed that the young man did not come back with

them, whence I concluded that he remained in the subterraneous

place. This circumstance very much excited my astonishment.

The old man and the slaves then embarked, and hoisting the sails,

made way for the main land. When I found the vessel had got so far

off that I could not be perceived by the crew, I came down from the

tree and went directly to the place where I had seen them dig away

the earth. I now did the same thing, and at last discovered a stone,

two or three feet square. I lifted it up, and found that it

concealed the entrance to a flight of stone stairs. I descended, and

at the bottom perceived that I was in a large chamber, the floor of

which was covered with a carpet, as was also a sofa and some

cushions with a rich stuff, where I saw a young man sitting down

with a fan in his hand. I distinguished all these things by the

light of two torches, as I did also the fruits and pots of flowers

which were near him. At the sight of me the young man was much

alarmed; but in order to give him courage, I said to him on

entering, “Whoever you are, fear nothing, sir: a king, and the son

of a king, as I am, is not capable of doing you any injury. On the

contrary, you may esteem it as a most fortunate circumstance that I

am come here to deliver you from this tomb, where you seem to me to

have been buried alive; but for what reasons I am unable to tell.

What, however, most embarrasses me (for I will not conceal that I

have been a witness to every thing that has passed since you landed

on this island,) and what I cannot understand is, that you seem to

have suffered yourself to have been buried here without making any

resistance.”

The young man was much encouraged by this speech, and requested in a

pleasing manner that I would take a seat near him. As soon as I was

seated he said, “I am about, prince, to inform you of a

circumstance, the singular nature of which will very much surprise

you.

“My father is a jeweller, who has acquired, by his industry and

skill in his profession, a very large fortune. He has a great number

of slaves and factors, who make many voyages for him in his own

vessels. He has also correspondents in many courts, which he

supplies with all the precious stones and jewels they have occasion

for. He had been married a long time without having any children,

when one night he dreamed that he should have a son, whose life,

however, would be but short. This dream, when he awoke, gave him

great uneasiness. Some time after this, my mother informed him that

she was with child and the very time when she thought she had

conceived, agreed exactly with my father’s dream. At the end of

nine months I was born, to the great joy of all the family. My

father having observed with the greatest exactness the moment of my

birth, consulted the astrologers, who answered, “Your son shall

live without any accident or misfortune till he is fifteen, but he

will then run a great risk of losing his life, and will not escape

from it without much difficulty. If, however, he should have the

good fortune not to perish, his life will continue many years. About

this time too,” they added, “the equestrian statue of brass

which stands on the top of the loadstone mountain will be overthrown

by prince Agib, the son of king Cassib, and fall into the sea; and

the stars also discover that fifty days afterwards your son will be

killed by that prince.

“As this prediction agreed with my father’s dream, he was very

much struck and afflicted by it. He did not, however, omit taking

the greatest care of my education till the present moment, which is

the fifteenth year of my age. He was yesterday informed that ten

days ago the brazen figure was overthrown by the prince whom I

mentioned to you: and this intelligence cost him so many tears and

alarms, that he hardly looks like the same man.