"Madam," answered the devout woman, "I must certainly have very

bad taste to disapprove any thing in it, since it is beautiful,

regular, and magnificently furnished with exactness and judgment,

and all its ornaments adjusted in the best manner. Its situation

is an agreeable spot, and no garden can be more delightful; but

yet if you will give me leave to speak my mind freely, I will

take the liberty to tell you, that this house would be

incomparable if it had three things which are wanting to complete

it." "My good mother," replied the princess Perie-zadeh, "what are

those? I conjure you, in God's name, to tell me what they are: I

will spare nothing to get them, if it be possible."

"Madam," replied the devout woman, "the first of these three

things is the speaking bird, so singular a creature, that it

draws round it all the singing birds of the neighbourhood, which

come to accompany his song. The second is the singing tree, the

leaves of which are so many mouths, which form an harmonious

concert of different voices, and never cease. The third is the

yellow water of a gold colour, a single drop of which being

poured into a vessel properly prepared, it increases so as to

fill it immediately, and rises up in the middle like a fountain,

which continually plays, and yet the basin never overflows."

"Ah! my good mother," cried the princess, "how much am I obliged

to you for the knowledge of these curiosities! They are

surprising, and I never before heard there were such wonderful

rarities in the world; but as I am persuaded that you know, I

expect that you should do me the favour to inform me where they

are to be found."

"Madam," replied the good woman, "I should be unworthy the

hospitality you have with so much goodness shewn me, if I should

refuse to satisfy your curiosity in that point; and am glad to

have the honour to tell you, that these curiosities are all to be

met with in the same spot on the confines of this kingdom,

towards India. The road to it lies before your house, and whoever

you send needs but follow it for twenty days, and on the

twentieth let him only ask the first person he meets where the

speaking bird, singing tree, and yellow water are, and he will be

informed." After saying this, she rose from her seat, took her

leave, and went her way.

The princess Perie-zadeh's thoughts were so taken up with what

the devout woman had told her of the speaking bird, singing tree,

and yellow water, that she never perceived her departure, till

she wanted to ask her some question for her better information;

for she thought that what she had told her was not a sufficient

reason for exposing herself by undertaking a long journey,

possibly to no purpose. However, she would not send after her,

but endeavoured to remember all she had told her; and when she

thought she had recollected every word, took real pleasure in

thinking of the satisfaction she should have if she could get

these wonderful curiosities into her possession; but the

difficulties she apprehended, and the fear of not succeeding,

made her very uneasy.

She was absorbed in these thoughts when her brothers returned

from hunting; who, when they entered the great hall, instead of

finding her lively and gay, as she used to be be, were amazed to

see her so pensive, and hanging down her head as if something

troubled her.

"Sister," said prince Bahman, "what is become of all your mirth

and gaiety? Are you not well? or has some misfortune befallen

you? Has any body given you reason to be so melancholy? Tell us,

that we may know how to act, and give you some relief. If any one

has affronted you, we will resent his insolence."

The princess remained in the same posture some time without

answering; but at last lifted up her eyes to look at her

brothers, and then held them down again, telling them nothing

disturbed her.

"Sister," said prince Bahman, "you conceal the truth from us;

there must be something of consequence. It is impossible we could

observe so sudden a change if nothing was the matter with you.

You would not have us satisfied with the evasive answer you have

given: do not conceal any thing, unless you would have us suspect

that you renounce the strict union which has hitherto subsisted

between us from our infancy."

The princess, who had not the smallest intention to offend her

brothers, would not suffer them to entertain such a thought, but

said, "When I told you nothing disturbed me, I meant nothing that

was of importance to you; but to me it is of some consequence;

and since you press me to tell you by our strict union and

friendship, which are so dear to me, I will. You think, and I

always believed so too, that this house was so complete that

nothing was wanting. But this day I have learned that it wants

three rarities, which would render it so perfect that no country

seat in the world could be compared with it. These three things

are, the speaking bird, the singing tree, and the yellow water."

After she had informed them wherein consisted the excellency of

these rarities, "A devout woman," added she, "has made this

discovery to me, told me the place where they are to be found,

and the way thither. Perhaps you may imagine these things to be

trifles, and of little consequence to render our house complete,

that without these additions it will always be thought

sufficiently elegant with what it already contains, and that we

can do without them. You may think as you please; but I cannot

help telling you that I am persuaded they are absolutely

necessary, and I shall not be easy without them. Therefore,

whether you value them or not, I desire you to consider what

person you may think proper for me to send in search of the

curiosities I have mentioned."

"Sister," replied prince Bahman, "nothing can concern you in

which we have not an equal interest. It is enough that you have

an earnest desire for the things you mention to oblige us to take

the same interest; but if you had not, we feel ourselves inclined

of our own accord and for our own individual satisfaction. I am

persuaded my brother is of the same opinion, and therefore we

ought to undertake this conquest; for the importance and

singularity of the undertaking deserve that name. I will take

that charge upon myself; only tell me the place, and the way to

it, and I will defer my journey no longer than till to-morrow."

"Brother," said prince Perviz, "it is not proper that you, who

are the head and director of our family, should be absent. I

desire my sister would join with me to oblige you to abandon your

design, and allow me to undertake it. I hope to acquit myself as

well as you, and it will be a more regular proceeding." "I am

persuaded of your good-will, brother," replied prince Bahman,

"and that you would succeed as well as myself in this journey;

but I have resolved, and will undertake it. You shall stay at

home with our sister, and I need not recommend her to you." He

spent the remainder of the day in making preparations for his

journey, and informing himself from the princess of the

directions which the devout woman had left her.

The next morning Bahman mounted his horse, and Perviz and the

princess embraced, and wished him a good journey. But in the

midst of their adieus, the princess recollected what she had not

thought of before. "Brother," said she, "I had quite forgotten

the accidents which attend travellers. Who knows whether I shall

ever see you again? Alight, I beseech you, and give up this

journey. I would rather be deprived of the sight and possession

of the speaking bird, singing tree, and yellow water, than run

the risk of never seeing you more."

"Sister," replied Bahman, smiling at the sudden fears of the

princess, "my resolution is fixed, but were it not, I should

determine upon it now, and you must allow me to execute it. The

accidents you speak of befall only those who are unfortunate; but

there are more who are not so. However, as events are uncertain,

and I may fail in this undertaking, all I can do is to leave you

this knife."

Bahman, pulling a knife from his vestband, and presenting it in

the sheath to the princess, said, "Take this knife, sister, and

give yourself the trouble sometimes to pull it out of the sheath:

while you see it clean as it is now, it will be a sign that I am

alive; but if you find it stained with blood, then you may

believe me dead, and indulge me with your prayers."

The princess could obtain nothing more of Bahman. He bade adieu

to her and prince Perviz for the last time, and rode away. When

he got into the road he never turned to the right hand nor to the

left, but went directly forward towards India. The twentieth day

he perceived on the road side a hideous old man, who sat under a

tree some small distance from a thatched house, which was his

retreat from the weather.

His eye-brows were as white as snow, as was also the hair of his

head; his whiskers covered his mouth, and his beard and hair

reached down to his feet. The nails of his hands and feet were

grown to an extensive length; a flat broad umbrella covered his

head. He had no clothes, but only a mat thrown round his body.

This old man was a dervish, for many years retired from the

world, to give himself up entirely to the service of God; so that

at last he became what we have described.

Prince Bahman, who had been all that morning very attentive to

see if he could meet with any body who could give him information

of the place he was in search of, stopped when he came near the

dervish, alighted, in conformity to the directions which the

devout woman had given the princess Perie-zadeh, and leading his

horse by the bridle, advanced towards him, and saluting him,

said, "God prolong your days, good father, and grant you the

accomplishment of your desires."

The dervish returned the prince's salutation, but so

unintelligibly that he could not understand one word he said:

prince Bahman perceiving that this difficulty proceeded from the

dervish's whiskers hanging over his mouth, and unwilling to go

any farther without the instructions he wanted, pulled out a pair

of scissors he had about him, and having tied his horse to a

branch of the tree, said, "Good dervish, I want to have some talk

with you: but your whiskers prevent my understanding what you

say: and if you will consent, I will cut off some part of them

and of your eye-brows, which disfigure you so much that you look

more like a bear than a man."

The dervish did not oppose the offer; and when the prince had cut

off as much hair as he thought fit, he perceived that the dervish

had a good complexion, and that he did not seem so old as he

really was. "Good dervish," said he, "if I had a glass I would

shew you how young you look: you are now a man, but before nobody

could tell what you were."

The kind behaviour of prince Bahman made the dervish smile, and

return his compliment. "Sir," said he, "whoever you are, I am

obliged by the good office you have performed, and am ready to

shew my gratitude by doing any thing in my power for you. You

must have alighted here upon some account or other. Tell me what

it is, and I will endeavour to serve you."

"Good dervish," replied prince Bahman, "I am in search of the

speaking bird, the singing tree, and the yellow water; I know

these three rarities are not far from hence, but cannot tell

exactly the place where they are to be found; if you know, I

conjure you to shew me the way, that I may not lose my labour

after so long a journey."

The prince, while he spoke, observed that the dervish changed

countenance, held down his eyes, looked very serious, and instead

of making any reply, remained silent; which obliged him to say to

him again, "Good father, I fancy you heard me; tell me whether

you know what I ask you, that I may not lose my time, but inform

myself somewhere else."

At last the dervish broke silence. "Sir," said he to prince

Bahman, "I know the way you ask of me; but the regard which I

conceived for you the first moment I saw you, and which is grown

stronger by the service you have done me, kept me in suspense,

whether I should give you the satisfaction you desire." "What

motive can hinder you?" replied the prince; "and what

difficulties do you find in so doing?" "I will tell you," replied

the dervish; "the danger you are going to expose yourself to is

greater than you may suppose. A number of gentlemen of as much

bravery and courage as you can possibly possess have passed this

way, and asked me the same question. When I had used all my

endeavours to persuade them to desist, they would not believe me;

at last, I yielded, to their importunities; I was compelled to

shew them the way, and I can assure you they have all perished,

for I have not seen one come back. Therefore, if you have any

regard for your life, take my advice, go no farther, but return

home."

Prince Bahman persisted in his resolution. "I will not suppose,"

said he to the dervish, "but that your advice is sincere. I am

obliged to you for the friendship you express for me; but

whatever may be the danger, nothing shall make me change my

intention: whoever attacks me, I am well armed, and can say I am

as brave as any one." "But they who will attack you are not to be

seen," replied the dervish; "how will you defend yourself against

invisible persons?" "It is no matter," answered the prince; "all

you say shall not persuade me to do any thing contrary to my

duty. Since you know the way, I conjure you once more to inform

me."

When the dervish found he could not prevail upon prince Bahman,

and that he was obstinately bent to pursue his journey

notwithstanding his friendly remonstrance, he put his hand into a

bag that lay by him and pulled out a bowl, which he presented to

him. "Since I cannot prevail on you to attend to my advice," said

he, "take this bowl; when you are on horseback throw it before

you, and follow it to the foot of a mountain, where it will stop.

As soon as the bowl stops, alight, leave your horse with the

bridle over his neck, and he will stand in the same place till

you return. As you ascend you will see on your right and left a

great number of large black stones, and will hear on all sides a

confusion of voices, which will utter a thousand injurious abuses

to discourage you, and prevent your reaching the summit of the

mountain. Be not afraid; but above all things, do not turn your

head to look behind you; for in that instant you will be changed

into such a black stone as those you see, which are all youths

who have failed in this enterprise. If you escape the danger of

which I give you but a faint idea, and get to the top of the

mountain, you will see a cage, and in that cage is the bird you

seek; ask him which are the singing tree and the yellow water,

and he will tell you. I have nothing more to say; this is what

you have to do, and the danger you have to avoid; but if you are

prudent, you will take my advice, and not expose your life.

Consider once more while you have time that the difficulty is

almost insuperable."

"I am obliged to you for your repeated advice," replied prince

Bahman, after he had received the bowl, "but cannot follow it.

However, I will endeavour to conform myself to that part of it

which bids me not look behind me as I shall ascend the mountain,

and I hope to come and see you again soon, and thank you when I

have obtained what I am seeking." After these words, to which the

dervish made no other answer than that he should be overjoyed to

see him again, the prince mounted his horse, took his leave of

the dervish with a respectful salute, and threw the bowl before

him.

The bowl rolled away unceasingly with as much swiftness as when

prince Bahman first hurled it from his hand, which obliged him to

put his horse to the same pace to avoid losing sight of it, and

when it had reached the foot of the mountain it stopped. The

prince alighted from his horse, laid the bridle on his neck; and

having first surveyed the mountain, and seen the black stones,

began to ascend; but had not gone four steps, before he heard the

voices mentioned by the dervish, though he could see nobody. Some

said, "Where is that fool going? where is he going? what would he

have? do not let him pass." Others, "Stop him, catch him, kill

him;" and others with a voice like thunder, "Thief! assassin!

murderer!" while some in a gibing tone cried, "No, no, do not

hurt him; let the pretty fellow pass, the cage and bird are kept

for him."

Notwithstanding all these troublesome voices, prince Bahman

ascended with courage and resolution for some time, but the

voices redoubled with so loud a din near him, both behind and

before, that at last he was seized with dread, his legs trembled

under him, he staggered, and finding that his strength failed

him, he forgot the dervish's advice, turned about to run down the

hill, and was that instant changed into a black stone; a

metamorphosis which had happened to many before him, who had

attempted the ascent. His horse likewise underwent the same

change.

From the time of prince Bahman's departure, the princess Perie-zadeh

always wore the knife and sheath in her girdle, and pulled it out

several times in a day, to know whether her brother was alive. She had

the consolation to understand he was in perfect health, and to talk of

him frequently with prince Perviz, who sometimes prevented her by

asking her what news.

On the fatal day that prince Bahman was transformed into a stone,

as prince Perviz and the princess were talking together in the

evening, as usual, the prince desired his sister to pull out the

knife to know how their brother did. The princess readily

complied, and seeing the blood run down the point was seized with

so much horror that she threw it down. "Ah! my dear brother,"

cried she, "I have been the cause of your death, and shall never

see you more! Why did I tell you of the speaking bird, singing

tree, and yellow water; or rather, of what importance was it to

me to know whether the devout woman thought this house ugly or

handsome, or complete or not? I wish to Heaven she had never

addressed herself to me? Deceitful hypocrite!" added she, "is

this the return you have made for the kind reception I gave you?

Why did you tell me of a bird, a tree, and a water, which,

imaginary as I am persuaded they are, by my dear brother's death,

yet disturb me by your enchantment?"

Prince Perviz was as much afflicted at the death of prince Bahman

as the princess; but not to waste time in needless regret, as he

knew that she still passionately desired possession of the

speaking bird, the singing tree, and the golden water, he

interrupted her, saying, "Sister, our regret for our brother is

vain and useless; our grief and lamentations cannot restore him

to life; it is the will of God, we must submit to it, and adore

the decrees of the Almighty without searching into them. Why

should you now doubt of the truth of what the holy woman told

you? do you think she spoke to you of three things that were not

in being? and that she invented them on purpose to deceive you,

who had given her no cause to do so, but received her with so

much goodness and civility? Let us rather believe that our

brother's death is owing to some error on his part, or some

accident which we cannot conceive. It ought not therefore to

prevent us from pursuing our object. I offered to go this

journey, and am now more resolved than ever; his example has no

effect upon my resolution; to-morrow I will depart."

The princess did all she could to dissuade prince Perviz,

conjuring him not to expose her to the danger of losing two

brothers; but he was obstinate, and all the remonstrances she

could urge had no effect upon him. Before he went, that she might

know what success he had, he left her a string of a hundred

pearls, telling her, that if they would not run when she should

count them upon the string, but remain fixed, that would be a

certain sign he had undergone the same fate as his brother; but

at the same time told her he hoped it would never happen, but

that he should have the happiness to see her again to their

mutual satisfaction.

Prince Perviz, on the twentieth day after his departure, met the

same dervish in the same place as his brother Bahman had done

before him. He went directly up to him, and after he had saluted,

asked him, if he could tell him where to find the speaking bird,

the singing tree, and the golden water? The dervish urged the

same difficulties and remonstrances as he had done to prince

Bahman, telling him, that a young gentleman, who very much

resembled him, was with him a short time before; that, overcome

by his importunity and pressing instances, he had shewn him the

way, given him a guide, and told him how he should act to

succeed; but that he had not seen him since, and doubted not but

he had shared the same fate as all other adventurers.

"Good dervish," answered prince Perviz, "I know whom you speak

of; he was my elder brother, and I am informed of the certainty

of his death, but know not the cause." "I can tell you," replied

the dervish; "he was changed into a black stone, as all I speak

of have been; and you must expect the same transformation, unless

you observe more exactly than he has done the advice I gave him,

in case you persist in your resolution, which I once more entreat

you to renounce."

"Dervish," said prince Perviz, "I cannot sufficiently express how

much I am obliged for the concern you take in my life, who am a

stranger to you, and have done nothing to deserve your kindness:

but I thoroughly considered this enterprise before I undertook

it, and I cannot now relinquish it: therefore I beg of you to do

me the same favour you have done my brother. Perhaps I may have

better success in following your directions." "Since I cannot

prevail with you," said the dervish, "to give up your obstinate

resolution, if my age did not prevent me, and I could stand, I

would get up to reach you a bowl I have here, which will shew you

the way."

Without giving the dervish time to say more, the prince alighted

from his horse and went to the dervish, who had taken a bowl out

of his bag, in which he had a great many, and gave it him, with

the same directions he had given prince Bahman; and after warning

him not to be discouraged by the voices he should hear without

seeing any body, however threatening they might be, but to

continue his way up the hill till he saw the cage and bird, he

let him depart.

Prince Perviz thanked the dervish, and when he had remounted, and

taken leave, threw the bowl before his horse, and spurring him at

the same time, followed it. When the bowl came to the bottom of

the hill it stopped, the prince alighted, and stood some time to

recollect the dervish's directions. He encouraged himself, and

began to walk up with a resolution to reach the summit; but

before he had gone above six steps, he heard a voice, which

seemed to be near, as of a man behind him, say in an insulting

tone, "Stay, rash youth, that I may punish you for your

presumption."

Upon this affront the prince, forgetting the dervish's advice,

clapped his hand upon his sword, drew it, and turned about to

revenge himself; but had scarcely time to see that nobody

followed him before he and his horse were changed into black

stones.

In the mean time the princess Perie-zadeh, several times a day

after her brother's departure, counted her chaplet. She did not

omit it at night, but when she went to bed put it about her neck;

and in the morning when she awoke counted over the pearls again

to see if they would slide.

The day that prince Perviz was transformed into a stone, she was

counting over the pearls as she used to do, when all at once they

became immoveably fixed, a certain token that the prince her

brother was dead. As she had determined what to do in case it

should so happen, she lost no time in outward demonstrations of

grief, which she concealed as much as possible; but having

disguised herself in man's apparel, armed and equipped, she

mounted her horse the next morning, having told her servants she

should return in two or three days, and took the same road her

brothers had done.

The princess, who had been used to ride on horseback in hunting,

supported the fatigue of so long a journey better than most

ladies could have done; and as she made the same stages as her

brothers, she also met with the dervish on the twentieth day.

When she came near him, she alighted off her horse, leading him

by the bridle, went and sat down by the dervish, and after she

had saluted him, said, "Good dervish, give me leave to rest

myself; and do me the favour to tell me if you have not heard

that there are somewhere in this neighbourhood a speaking bird, a

singing tree, and golden water."

"Princess," answered the dervish, "for so I must call you, since

by your voice I know you to be a woman disguised in man's

apparel, I thank you for your compliment, and receive the honour

you do me with great pleasure. I know the place well where these

things are to be found: but what makes you ask me this question?"

"Good dervish," replied the princess, "I have had such a

flattering relation of them given me, that I have a great desire

to possess them." "Madam," replied the dervish, "you have been

told the truth. These curiosities are more singular and

surprising than they have been represented to you: but you have

not been made acquainted with the difficulties which must be

surmounted in order to obtain them. If you had been fully

informed of these, you would not have undertaken so troublesome

and dangerous an enterprise. Take my advice, go no farther,

return, and do not urge me to contribute towards your ruin."

"Good father," said the princess, "I have travelled a great way,

and should be sorry to return without executing my design. You

talk of difficulties, and danger of life; but you do not tell me

what those difficulties are, and wherein the danger consists.

This is what I desire to know, that I may consider and judge

whether I can trust my courage and strength to brave them."

The dervish repeated to the princess what he had said to the

princes Bahman and Perviz, exaggerating the difficulties of

climbing up to the top of the mountain, where she was to make

herself mistress of the bird, which would inform her of the

singing tree and golden water. He magnified the noise and din of

the terrible threatening voices which she would hear on all sides

of her, without seeing any body, and the great number of black

stones, alone sufficient to strike terror. He entreated her to

reflect that those stones were so many brave gentlemen, so

metamorphosed for having omitted to observe the principal

condition of success in the perilous undertaking, which was not

to look behind them before they had got possession of the cage.

When the dervish had done, the princess replied, "By what I

comprehend from your discourse, the difficulties of succeeding in

this affair are, first, the getting up to the cage without being

frightened at the terrible din of voices I shall hear; and

secondly, not to look behind me: for this last, I hope I shall be

mistress enough of myself to observe it. As to the first, I own

that those voices, such as you represent them to be, are capable

of striking terror into the most undaunted; but as in all

enterprises and dangers every one may use stratagem, I desire to

know of you if I may use any in one of so great importance." "And

what stratagem is it you would employ?" said the dervish. "To

stop my ears with cotton," answered the princess, "that the

voices, however loud and terrible, may make the less impression

upon my imagination, and my mind remain free from that

disturbance which might cause me to lose the use of my reason."

"Princess," replied the dervish, "of all the persons who have

addressed themselves to me for information, I do not know that

ever one made use of the contrivance you propose. All I know is,

that they all perished. If you persist in your design, you may

make the experiment. You will be fortunate if it succeeds; but I

would advise you not to expose yourself to the danger."

"My good father," replied the princess, "nothing can hinder my

persisting in my design. I am sure my precaution will succeed,

and am resolved to try the experiment. Nothing remains for me but

to know which way I must go; I conjure you not to deny me the

favour of that information." The dervish exhorted her again, for

the last time, to consider well what she was going to do; but

finding her resolute, he took out a bowl, and presenting it to

her, said, "Take this bowl; mount your horse again, and when you

have thrown it before you, follow it through all its windings,

till it stops at the bottom of the mountain, there alight, and

ascend the hill. Go; you know the rest."

After the princess had thanked the dervish, and taken her leave

of him, she mounted her horse, threw the bowl before her, and

followed it till it stopped at the foot of the mountain.

The princess alighted, stopped her ears with cotton; and after

she had well examined the path leading to the summit, began with

a moderate pace, and walked up with intrepidity. She heard the

voices, and perceived the great service the cotton was to her.

The higher she went, the louder and more numerous the voices

seemed; but they were not capable of making any impression upon

her. She heard a great many affronting speeches and raillery very

disagreeable to a woman, which she only laughed at. "I mind not,"

said she to herself, "all that can be said, were it worse; I only

laugh at them, and shall pursue my way." At last she got so high,

that she could perceive the cage and the bird, which endeavoured,

with the voices, to frighten her, crying in a thundering tone,

notwithstanding the smallness of its size, "Retire, fool, and

approach no nearer."

The princess, encouraged by this object, redoubled her speed, and

by effort gained the summit of the mountain, where the ground was

level; then running directly to the cage, and clapping her hand

upon it, cried, "Bird, I have you, and you shall not escape me."

While Perie-zadeh was pulling the cotton out of her ears, the

bird said to her, "Heroic princess, be not angry with me for

joining with those who exerted themselves to preserve my liberty.

Though in a cage, I was content with my condition; but since I am

destined to be a slave, I would rather be yours than any other

person's, since you have obtained me so courageously. From this

instant, I swear inviolable fidelity, and an entire submission to

all your commands. I know who you are; you do not: but the time

will come when I shall do you essential service, which I hope you

will think yourself obliged to me for. As a proof of my

sincerity, tell me what you desire, and I am ready to obey you."

The princess's joy was the more inexpressible, because the

conquest she had made had cost her the lives of two beloved

brothers, and given her more trouble and danger than she could

have imagined, notwithstanding what the dervish had represented

to her. "Bird," said she, "it was my intention to have told you

that I wish for many things which are of importance; but I am

overjoyed that you have shewn your good-will and prevented me. I

have been told that there is not far off a golden water, the

property of which is very wonderful; before all things, I ask you

to tell me where it is." The bird shewed her the place, which was

just by, and she went and filled a little silver flagon which she

had brought with her. She returned to the bird and said, "Bird,

this is not enough; I want also the singing tree; tell me where

it is." "Turn about," said the bird, "and you will see behind you

a wood, where you will find this tree." The princess went into

the wood, and by the harmonious concert she heard soon knew the

tree among many others, but it was very large and high. She came

back to the bird, and said to it, "Bird, I have found the singing

tree, but I can neither pull it up by the roots, nor carry it."

The bird replied, "It is not necessary that you should take it up

by the roots; it will be sufficient to break off a branch, and

carry it to plant in your garden; it will take root as soon as it

is put into the earth, and in a little time will grow to as fine

a tree as that you have seen."

When the princess had obtained possession of the three things

which the devout woman had told her of, and for which she had

conceived so great a desire, she said again to the bird, "Bird,

what you have yet done for me is not sufficient. You have been

the cause of the death of my two brothers, who must be among the

black stones which I saw as I ascended the mountain. I wish to

take them home with me."

The bird seemed reluctant to satisfy the princess in this point,

and indeed made some difficulty to comply. "Bird," said the

princess, "remember you told me that you were my slave. You are

so; and your life is in my disposal." "That I cannot deny,"

answered the bird; "but although what you now ask is more

difficult than all the rest, yet I will do it for you. Cast your

eyes around," added he, "and look if you can see a little

pitcher." "I see it already," said the princess. "Take it then,"

said he, "and as you descend the mountain, sprinkle a little of

the water that is in it upon every black stone."

The princess took up the pitcher accordingly, carried with her

the cage and bird, the flagon of golden water, and the branch of

the singing tree, and as she descended the mountain, threw a

little of the water on every black stone, which was changed

immediately into a man; and as she did not miss one stone, all

the horses, both of the princes her brothers, and of the other

gentlemen, resumed their natural forms. She instantly recognized

Bahman and Perviz, as they did her, and ran to embrace her. She

returned their embraces, and expressed her amazement. "What do

you here, my dear brothers?" said she; they told her they had

been asleep. "Yes," replied she, "and if it had not been for me,

perhaps you might have slept till the day of judgment. Do not you

remember that you came to fetch the speaking bird, the singing

tree, and the yellow water? and did not you see, as you came

along, the place covered with black stones? Look and see if there

be any now. The gentlemen and their horses who surround us, and

you yourselves, were these black stones. If you desire to know

how this wonder was performed," continued she, shewing the

pitcher, which she set down at the foot of the mountain, having

no further use for it, "it was done by virtue of the water which

was in this pitcher, with which I sprinkled every stone. After I

had made the speaking bird (which you see in this cage) my slave,

by his directions I found out the singing tree, a branch of which

I have now in my hand; and the yellow water, which this flagon is

filled with; but being still unwilling to return without taking

you with me, I constrained the bird, by the power I had over him,

to afford me the means. He told me where to find this pitcher,

and the use I was to make of it."

The princes Bahman and Perviz learnt by this relation the

obligation they had to the princess their sister; as did all the

other gentlemen, who were collected round, and expressed to the

princess, that, far from envying her happiness in the conquest

she had made, and which they all had aspired to, they thought

they could not any otherwise acknowledge the favour she had done

them, or better express their gratitude to her for restoring them

to life again, than by declaring themselves all her slaves, and

that they were ready to obey her in whatever she should command.

"Gentlemen," replied the princess, "if you had given any

attention to my words you might have observed that I had no other

intention in what I have done than to recover my brothers;

therefore, if you have received any benefit, you owe me no

obligation, and I have no further share in your compliment than

your politeness towards me, for which I return you my thanks. In

other respects, I regard each of you individually as free as you

were before your misfortunes, and I rejoice with you at the

happiness which has accrued to you by my means. Let us however

stay no longer in a place where we have nothing to detain us; but

mount our horses, and return to our respective homes."

The princess took her horse, which stood in the place where she

had left him.--Before she mounted, prince Bahman desired her to

give him the cage to carry. "Brother," replied the princess, "the

bird is my slave, and I will carry him myself; if you will take

the pains to carry the branch of the singing tree, there it is;

only hold the cage while I get on horseback." When she had

mounted her horse; and prince Bahman had given her the cage, she

turned about and said to prince Perviz, "I leave the flagon of

golden water to your care, if it will not be too much trouble for

you to carry it." Prince Perviz took charge of it with pleasure.

When Bahman, Perviz, and all the gentlemen had mounted their

horses, the princess waited for some of them to lead the way. The

two princes paid that compliment to the gentlemen, and they again

to the princess, who, finding that none of them would accept of

the honour, but that it was reserved for her, addressed herself

to them and said, "Gentlemen, I expect that some of you should

lead the way;" to which one who was nearest to her, in the name

of the rest, replied, "Madam, were we ignorant of the respect due

to your sex, yet after what you have done for us there is no

deference we would not willingly pay you, notwithstanding your

modesty; we entreat you no longer to deprive us of the happiness

of following you."

"Gentlemen," said the princess, "I do not deserve the honour you

do me, and accept it only because you desire it." At the same

time she led the way, and the two princes and the gentlemen

followed.

This illustrious company called upon the dervish as they passed,

to thank him for his reception and wholesome advice, which they

had all found to be sincere. But he was dead: whether of old age,

or because he was no longer necessary to shew the way to the

obtaining the three rarities which the princess Perie-zadeh had

secured, did not appear. They pursued their route, but lessened

in their numbers every day. The gentlemen who, as we said before,

had come from different countries, after severally repeating

their obligations to the princess and her brothers, took leave of

them one after another as they approached the road they had come.

As soon as the princess reached home, she placed the cage in the

garden; and the bird no sooner began to warble than he was

surrounded by nightingales, chaffinches, larks, linnets,

goldfinches, and every species of birds of the country. And the

branch of the singing tree was no sooner set in the midst of the

parterre, a little distance from the house, than it took root,

and in a short time became a large tree, the leaves of which gave

as harmonious a concert as those of the tree from which it was

gathered. A large basin of beautiful marble was placed in the

garden; and when it was finished, the princess poured into it all

the yellow water from the flagon, which instantly increased and

swelled so much that it soon reached up to the edges of the

basin, and afterwards formed in the middle a fountain twenty feet

high, which fell again into the basin perpetually without running

over.

The report of these wonders was presently spread abroad, and as

the gates of the house and those of the gardens were shut to

nobody, a great number of people came to admire them.

Some days after, when the princes Bahman and Perviz had recovered

from the fatigue of their journey, they resumed their former way

of living; and as their usual diversion was hunting, they mounted

their horses and went for the first time since their return, not

to their own demesne, but two or three leagues from their house.

As they pursued their sport, the emperor of Persia came in

pursuit of game upon the same ground. When they perceived by the

number of horsemen in different places that he would soon be up,

they resolved to discontinue their chase, and retire to avoid

encountering him; but in the very road they took they chanced to

meet him in so narrow a way that they could not retreat without

being seen. In their surprise they had only time to alight, and

prostrate themselves before the emperor, without lifting up their

heads to look at him. The emperor, who saw they were as well

mounted and dressed as if they had belonged to his court, had the

curiosity to see their faces. He stopped, and commanded them to

rise. The princes rose up, and stood before him with an easy and

graceful air, accompanied with respectful modest countenances.

The emperor took some time to view them before he spoke: and

after he had admired their good air and mien, asked them who they

were, and where they lived.

"Sir," said prince Bahman, "we are the sons of the late intendant

of your majesty's gardens: and live in a house which he built a

little before he died, till we should be fit to serve your

majesty, and ask of you some employ when opportunity offered."

"By what I perceive," replied the emperor, "you love hunting."

"Sir," replied prince Bahman, "it is our common exercise, and

what none of your majesty's subjects who intend to bear arms in

your armies ought, according to the ancient custom of the

kingdom, to neglect." The emperor, charmed with so prudent an

answer, said, "Since it is so, I should be glad to see your

expertness in the chase; choose your own game."

The princes mounted their horses again, and followed the emperor;

but had not gone far before they saw many wild beasts together.

Prince Bahman chose a lion, and prince Perviz a bear; and pursued

them with so much intrepidity, that the emperor was surprised.

They came up with their game nearly at the same time, and darted

their javelins with so much skill and address, that they pierced,

the one the lion, and the other the bear, so effectually, that

the emperor saw them fall one after the other. Immediately

afterwards prince Bahman pursued another bear, and prince Perviz

another lion, and killed them in a short time, and would have

beaten out for fresh game, but the emperor would not let them,

and sent to them to come to him. When they approached he said,

"If I would have given you leave, you would soon have destroyed

all my game: but it is not that which I would preserve, but your

persons; for I am so well assured your bravery may one time or

other be serviceable to me, that from this moment your lives will

be always dear to me."

The emperor, in short, conceived so great a kindness for the two

princes, that he invited them immediately to make him a visit: to

which prince Bahman replied, "Your majesty does us an honour we

do not deserve; and we beg you will excuse us."

The emperor, who could not comprehend what reason the princes

could have to refuse this token of his favour, pressed them to

tell him why they excused themselves. "Sir," said prince Bahman,

"we have a sister younger than ourselves, with whom we live in

such perfect union, that we undertake nothing before we consult

her, nor she any thing without asking our advice." "I commend

your brotherly affection," answered the emperor. "Consult your

sister, meet me here tomorrow, and give me an answer."

The princes went home, but neglected to speak of their adventure

in meeting the emperor, and hunting with him, and also of the

honour he had done them, by asking them to go home with him; yet

did not the next morning fail to meet him at the place appointed.

"Well," said the emperor, "have you spoken to your sister? And

has she consented to the pleasure I expect of seeing you?" The

two princes looked at each other and blushed. "Sir," said prince

Bahman, "we beg your majesty to excuse us: for both my brother

and I forgot." "Then remember to-day," replied the emperor, "and

be sure to bring me an answer to-morrow."

The princes were guilty of the same fault a second time, and the

emperor was so good-natured as to forgive their negligence; but

to prevent their forgetfulness the third time, he pulled three

little golden balls out of a purse, and put them into prince

Bahman's bosom. "These balls," said he, smiling, "will prevent

your forgetting a third time what I wish you to do for my sake;

since the noise they will make by falling on the floor, when you

undress, will remind you, if you do not recollect it before." The

event happened just as the emperor foresaw; and without these

balls the princes had not thought of speaking to their sister of

this affair. For as prince Bahman unloosed his girdle to go to

bed the balls dropped on the floor, upon which he ran into prince

Perviz's chamber, when both went into the princess Perie-zadeh's

apartment, and after they had asked her pardon for coming at so

unseasonable a time, they told her all the circumstances of their

meeting the emperor.

The princess was somewhat surprised at this intelligence. "Your

meeting with the emperor," said she, "is happy and honourable,

and may in the end be highly advantageous to you, but it is very

disagreeable and distrustful to me. It was on my account, I know,

you refused the emperor, and I am infinitely obliged to you for

doing so. I know by this your affection is equal to my own, since

you would rather be guilty of incivility towards the emperor than

violate the brotherly union we have sworn to each other. You

judge right, for if you had once gone you would insensibly have

been engaged to leave me, to devote yourselves to him. But do you

think it an easy matter absolutely to refuse the emperor what he

seems so earnestly to desire? Monarchs will be obeyed in their

desires, and it may be dangerous to oppose them; therefore, if to

follow my inclination I should dissuade you from shewing the

complaisance he expects from you, it may expose you to his

resentment, and may render myself and you miserable. These are my

sentiments: but before we conclude upon any thing let us consult

the speaking bird, and hear what he says; he is penetrating, and

has promised his assistance in all difficulties."

The princess sent for the cage, and after she had related the

circumstances to the bird in the presence of her brothers, asked

him what they should do in this perplexity? The bird answered,

"The princes your brothers must conform to the emperor's

pleasure, and in their turn invite him to come and see your

house."

"But, bird," replied the princess, "my brothers and I love one

another, and our friendship is yet undisturbed. Will not this

step be injurious to that friendship?" "Not at all," replied the

bird; "it will tend rather to cement it." "Then," answered the

princess, "the emperor will see me." The bird told her it was

necessary he should, and that everything would go better

afterwards.

Next morning the princes met the emperor hunting, who, at as

great a distance as he could make himself be heard, asked them if

they had remembered to speak to their sister? Prince Bahman

approached, and answered, "Sir, your majesty may dispose of us as

you please; we are ready to obey you; for we have not only

obtained our sister's consent with great ease, but she took it

amiss that we should pay her that deference in a matter wherein

our duty to your majesty was concerned. But if we have offended,

we hope you will pardon us." "Do not be uneasy on that account,"

replied the emperor; "so far from taking amiss what you have

done, I highly approve of your conduct, and hope you will have

the same deference and attachment to my person, if I have ever so

little share in your friendship." The princes, confounded at the

emperor's goodness, returned no other answer but a low obeisance,

to shew the great respect with which they received it.

The emperor, contrary to his usual custom, did not hunt long that

day. Presuming that the princes possessed wit equal to their

courage and bravery, he longed with impatience to converse with

them more at liberty. He made them ride on each side of him, an

honour which, without speaking of the principal courtiers who

accompanied him, was envied by the grand vizier, who was much

mortified to see them preferred before him.

When the emperor entered his capital, the eyes of the people, who

stood in crowds in the streets, were fixed upon the two princes

Bahman and Perviz; and they were earnest to know who they might

be, whether foreigners or natives.

All, however, agreed in wishing that the emperor had been blessed

with two such handsome princes, and said, "He might have had

children as old, if the queen, who had suffered the punishment of

her misfortune, had been more fortunate in her lyings-in."

The first thing that the emperor did when he arrived at his

palace was to conduct the princes into the principal apartments;

who praised without affectation, like persons conversant in such

matters, the beauty and symmetry of the rooms, and the richness

of the furniture and ornaments. Afterwards a magnificent repast

was served up, and the emperor made them sit with him, which they

at first refused; but finding it was his pleasure, they obeyed.

The emperor, who had himself much learning, particularly in

history, foresaw that the princes, out of modesty and respect,

would not take the liberty of beginning any conversation.

Therefore, to give them an opportunity, he furnished them with

subjects all dinner-time. But whatever subject he introduced,

they shewed so much wit, judgment, and discernment, that he was

struck with admiration. "Were these my own children," said he to

himself, "and I had improved their talents by suitable education,

they could not have been more accomplished or better informed."

In short, he took such great pleasure in their conversation, that

after having sat longer than usual he led them into his closet,

where he pursued his conversation with them, and at last said, "I

never supposed that there were among my subjects in the country

youths so well brought up, so lively, so capable; and I never was

better pleased with any conversation than yours: but it is time

now we should relax our minds with some diversion; and as nothing

is more capable of enlivening the mind than music, you shall hear

a vocal and instrumental concert which may not be disagreeable to

you."

The emperor had no sooner spoken for them than the musicians, who

had orders to attend, entered, and answered fully the

expectations the princes had been led to entertain of their

abilities. After the concerts, an excellent farce was acted, and

the entertainment was concluded by dancers of both sexes.

The two princes seeing night approach, prostrated themselves at

the emperor's feet; and having first thanked him for the favours

and honours he had heaped upon them, asked his permission to

retire; which was granted by the emperor, who, in dismissing

them, said, "I give you leave to go; but remember I brought you

to the palace myself only to shew you the way; you will be always

welcome, and the oftener you come the greater pleasure you will

do me."

Before they went out of the emperor's presence, prince Bahman

said, "Sir, may we presume to request that your majesty will do

us and our sister the honour to pass by our house, and rest and

refresh yourself after your fatigue, the first time you take the

diversion of hunting in that neighbourhood? It is not worthy your

presence; but monarchs sometimes have vouchsafed to take shelter

in a cottage." "My children," replied the emperor; "your house

cannot be otherwise than beautiful, and worthy of its owners. I

will call and see it with pleasure, which will be the greater for

having for my hosts you and your sister, who is already dear to

me from the account you give me of the rare qualities with which

she is endowed; and this satisfaction I will defer no longer than

to-morrow. Early in the morning I will be at the place where I

shall never forget that I first saw you. Meet me, and you shall

be my guides."

When the princes Bahman and Perviz had returned home, they gave

the princess an account of the distinguished reception the

emperor had given them; and told her that they had invited him to

do them the honour, as he passed by, to call at their house; and

that he had appointed the next day.

"If it be so," replied the princess, "we must think of preparing

a repast fit for his majesty; and for that purpose I think it

would be proper we should consult the speaking bird, he will tell

us perhaps what meats the emperor likes best." The princes

approved of her plan, and after they had retired she consulted

the bird alone. "Bird," said she, "the emperor will do us the

honour to-morrow to come and see our house, and we are to

entertain him; tell us what we shall do to acquit ourselves to

his satisfaction."

"Good mistress," replied the bird, "you have excellent cooks, let

them do the best they can; but above all things, let them prepare

a dish of cucumbers stuffed full of pearls, which must be set

before the emperor in the first course before all the other

dishes."

"Cucumbers stuffed full of pearls!" cried princess Perie-zadeh,

with amazement; "surely, bird, you do not know what you say; it

is an unheard-of dish. The emperor may admire it as a piece of

magnificence, but he will sit down to eat, and not to admire

pearls; besides, all the pearls I possess are not enough for such

a dish."

"Mistress," said the bird, "do what I say, and be not uneasy

about what may happen. Nothing but good will follow. As for the

pearls, go early to-morrow morning to the foot of the first tree

on your right hand in the park, dig under it, and you will find

more than you want."

That night the princess ordered a gardener to be ready to attend

her, and the next morning early led him to the tree which the

bird had told her of, and bade him dig at its foot. When the

gardener came to a certain depth, he found some resistance to the

spade, and presently discovered a gold box about a foot square,

which he shewed the princess. "This," said she, "is what I

brought you for; take care not to injure it with the spade."

When the gardener took up the box, he gave it into the princess's

hands, who, as it was only fastened with neat little hasps, soon

opened it, and found it full of pearls of a moderate size, but

equal, and fit for the use that was to be made of them. Very well

satisfied with having found this treasure, after she had shut the

box again she put it under her arm, and went back to the house,

while the gardener threw the earth into the hole at the foot of

the tree as it had been before.

The princes Bahman and Perviz, who, as they were dressing

themselves in their own apartments, saw the princess their sister

in the garden earlier than usual, as soon as they could get out

went to her, and met her as she was returning, with a gold box

under her arm, which much surprised them. "Sister," said Bahman,

"you carried nothing with you when we saw you before with the

gardener, and now we see you have a golden box: is this some

treasure found by the gardener, and did he come and tell you of

it?"

"No, brother," answered the princess; "I took the gardener to the

place where this casket was concealed, and shewed him where to

dig: but you will be more amazed when you see what it contains."

The princess opened the box, and when the princes saw that it was

full of pearls, which, though small, were of great value; they

asked her how she came to the knowledge of this treasure?

"Brothers," said she, "if nothing more pressing calls you

elsewhere, come with me, and I will tell you." "What more

pressing business," said prince Perviz, "can we have than to be

informed of what concerns us so much? We have nothing to do to

prevent our attending you." The princess, as they returned to the

house, gave them an account of her having consulted the bird, as

they had agreed she should, and the answer he had given her; the

objection she had raised to preparing a dish of cucumbers stuffed

full of pearls, and how he had told her where to find this box.

The princes and princess formed many conjectures to penetrate

into what the bird could mean by ordering them to prepare such a

dish; and after much conversation, though they could not by any

means guess at his reason, they nevertheless agreed to follow his

advice exactly.

As soon as the princess entered the house, she called for the

head cook; and after she had given him directions about the

entertainment for the emperor, said to him, "Besides all this,

you must dress an extraordinary dish for the emperor's own

eating, which nobody else must have any thing to do with besides

yourself. This dish must be of cucumbers stuffed with these

pearls;" and at the same time she opened him the box, and shewed

him the pearls.

The chief cook, who had never heard of such a dish, started back,

and shewed his thoughts by his looks; which the princess

penetrating, said, "I see you take me to be mad to order such a

dish, which you never heard of, and which one may say with

certainty was never made. I know this as well as you; but I am

not mad, and give you these orders with the most perfect

recollection. You must invent and do the best you can, and bring

me back what pearls are left." The cook could make no reply, but

took the box and retired: and afterwards the princess gave

directions to all the domestics to have every thing in order,

both in the house and gardens, to receive the emperor.

Next day the two princes went to the place appointed; and as soon

as the emperor of Persia arrived the chase began, which lasted

till the heat of the sun obliged him to leave off. While prince

Bahman stayed to conduit the emperor to their house, prince

Perviz rode before to shew the way, and when he came in sight of

the house, spurred his horse, to inform the princess Perie-zadeh

that the emperor was approaching; but she had been told by some

servants whom she had placed to give notice, and the prince found

her waiting ready to receive him.

When the emperor had entered the court-yard, and alighted at the

portico, the princess came and threw herself at his feet, and the

two princes informed him she was their sister, and besought him

to accept her respects.

The emperor stooped to raise her, and after he had gazed some

time on her beauty, struck with her fine person and dignified

air, he said, "The brothers are worthy of the sister, and she

worthy of them; since, if I may judge of her understanding by her

person, I am not amazed that the brothers would do nothing

without their sister's consent; but," added he, "I hope to be

better acquainted with you, my daughter, after I have seen the

house."

"Sir," said the princess, "it is only a plain country residence,

fit for such people as we are, who live retired from the great

world. It is not to be compared with houses in great cities, much

less with the magnificent palaces of emperors." "I cannot

perfectly agree with you in opinion," said the emperor very

obligingly, "for its first appearance makes me suspect you;

however, I will not pass my judgment upon it till I have seen it

all; therefore be pleased to conduct me through the apartments."

The princess led the emperor through all the rooms except the

hall; and, after he had considered them very attentively and

admired their variety, "My daughter," said he to the princess,

"do you call this a country house? The finest and largest cities

would soon be deserted, if all country houses were like yours. I

am no longer surprised that you take so much delight in it, and

despise the town. Now let me see the garden, which I doubt not is

answerable to the house."

The princess opened a door which led into the garden; and the

first object which presented itself to the emperor's view was the

golden fountain. Surprised at so rare an object, he asked from

whence that wonderful water, which gave so much pleasure to

behold, had been procured; where was its source; and by what art

it was made to play so high, that he thought nothing in the world

was to be compared to it? He said he would presently take a

nearer view of it.

The princess then led him to the spot where the harmonious tree

was planted; and there the emperor heard a concert, different

from all he had ever heard before; and stopping to see where the

musicians were, he could discern nobody far or near; but still

distinctly heard the music, which ravished his senses. "My

daughter," said he to the princess, "where are the musicians whom

I hear? Are they under ground, or invisible in the air? Such

excellent performers will hazard nothing by being seen; on the

contrary, they would please the more."

"Sir," answered the princess smiling, "they are not musicians,

but the leaves of the trees your majesty sees before you, which

form this concert; and if you will give yourself the trouble to

go a little nearer, you will be convinced, and the voices will be

the more distinct."

The emperor went nearer, and was so charmed with the sweet

harmony, that he would never have been tired with hearing it, but

that his desire to have a nearer view of the fountain of yellow

water forced him away. "Daughter," said he, "tell me, I pray you,

whether this wonderful tree was found in your garden by chance,

or was a present made to you, or have you procured it from some

foreign country? It must certainly have come from a great

distance, otherwise, curious as I am after natural rarities, I

should have heard of it. What name do you call it by?"

"Sir," replied the princess, "this tree has no other name than

that of the singing tree, and is not a native of this country. It

would at present take up too much time to tell your majesty by

what adventures it came here; its history is connected with the

yellow water, and the speaking bird, which came to me at the same

time, and which your majesty may see after you have taken a

nearer view of the golden water. But if it be agreeable to your

majesty, after you have rested yourself, and recovered the

fatigue of hunting, which must be the greater because of the

sun's intense heat, I will do myself the honour of relating it to

you."

"My daughter," replied the emperor, "my fatigue is so well

recompensed by the wonderful things you have shewn me, that I do

not feel it the least. I think only of the trouble I give you.

Let us finish by seeing the yellow water. I am impatient to see

and admire the speaking bird."

When the emperor came to the yellow water, his eyes were fixed so

steadfastly upon the fountain, that he could not take them off.

At last, addressing himself to the princess, he said, "As you

tell me, daughter, that this water has no spring or

communication, I conclude that it is foreign, as well as the

singing tree."

"Sir," replied the princess, "it is as your majesty conjectures;

and to let you know that this water has no communication with any

spring, I must inform you that the basin is one entire stone, so

that the water cannot come in at the sides or underneath. But

what your majesty will think most wonderful is, that all this

water proceeded but from one small flagon, emptied into this

basin, which increased to the quantity you see, by a property

peculiar to itself, and formed this fountain." "Well," said the

emperor, going from the fountain, "this is enough for one time. I

promise myself the pleasure to come and visit it often; but now

let us go and see the speaking bird."

As he went towards the hall, the emperor perceived a prodigious

number of singing birds in the trees around, filling the air with

their songs and warblings, and asked, why there were so many

there, and none on the other trees in the garden? "The reason,

sir," answered the princess, "is, because they come from all

parts to accompany the song of the speaking bird, which your

majesty may see in a cage in one of the windows of the hall we

are approaching; and if you attend, you will perceive that his

notes are sweeter than those of any of the other birds, even the

nightingale."

The emperor went into the hall; and as the bird continued

singing, the princess raised her voice, and said, "My slave, here

is the emperor, pay your compliments to him." The bird left off

singing that instant, when all the other birds ceased also, and

it said, "The emperor is welcome; God prosper him, and prolong

his life." As the entertainment was served on the sofa near the

window where the bird was placed, the sultan replied, as he was

taking his seat, "Bird, I thank you, and am overjoyed to find in

you the sultan and king of birds."

As soon as the emperor saw the dish of cucumbers set before him,

thinking it was stuffed in the best manner, he reached out his

hand and took one; but when he cut it, was in extreme surprise to

find it stuffed with pearls. "What novelty is this?" said he "and

with what design were these cucumbers stuffed thus with pearls,

since pearls are not to be eaten?" He looked at the two princes

and princess to ask them the meaning: when the bird interrupting

him, said, "Can your majesty be in such great astonishment at

cucumbers stuffed with pearls, which you see with your own eyes,

and yet so easily believe that the queen your wife was delivered

of a dog, a cat, and a piece of wood?" "I believed these things,"

replied the emperor, "because the midwives assured me of the

facts." "Those midwives, sir," replied the bird, "were the

queen's two sisters, who, envious of her happiness in being

preferred by your majesty before them, to satisfy their envy and

revenge, have abused your majesty's credulity. If you interrogate

them, they will confess their crime. The two brothers and the

sister whom you see before you are your own children, whom they

exposed, and who were taken in by the intendant of your gardens,

who provided nurses for them, and took care of their education."

This speech of the bird's presently cleared up the emperor's

understanding. "Bird," cried he, "I believe the truth which you

discover to me. The inclination which drew me to them told me

plainly they must be my own blood. Come then, my sons, come, my

daughter, let me embrace you, and give you the first marks of a

father's love and tenderness." The emperor then rose, and after

having embraced the two princes and the princess, and mingled his

tears with theirs, said, "It is not enough, my children; you must

embrace each other, not as the children of the intendant of my

gardens, to whom I have been so much obliged for preserving your

lives, but as my own children, of the royal blood of the monarchs

of Persia, whose glory, I am persuaded, you will maintain."

After the two princes and princess had embraced mutually with new

satisfaction, the emperor sat down again with them, and finished

his meal in haste; and when he had done, said, "My children, you

see in me your father; to-morrow I will bring the queen your

mother, therefore prepare to receive her."

The emperor afterwards mounted his horse, and returned with

expedition to his capital. The first thing he did, as soon as he

had alighted and entered his palace, was to command the grand

vizier to seize the queen's two sisters. They were taken from

their houses separately, convicted, and condemned to be

quartered; which sentence was put in execution within an hour.

In the mean time the emperor Khoosroo Shaw, followed by all the

lords of his court who were then present, went on foot to the

door of the great mosque; and after he had taken the queen out of

the strict confinement she had languished under for so many

years, embracing her in the miserable condition to which she was

then reduced, said to her with tears in his eyes, "I come to

entreat your pardon for the injustice I have done you, and to

make you the reparation I ought; which I have begun, by punishing

the unnatural wretches who put the abominable cheat upon me; and

I hope you will look upon it as complete, when I present to you

two accomplished princes, and a lovely princess, our children.

Come and resume your former rank, with all the honours which are

your due." All this was done and said before great crowds of

people, who flocked from all parts at the first news of what was

passing, and immediately spread the joyful intelligence through

the city.

Next morning early the emperor and queen, whose mournful

humiliating dress was changed for magnificent robes, went with

all their court to the house built by the intendant of the

gardens, where the emperor presented the princes Bahman and

Perviz, and the princess Perie-zadeh, to their enraptured mother.

"These, much injured wife," said he, "are the two princes your

sons, and this princess your daughter; embrace them with the same

tenderness I have done, since they are worthy both of me and

you." The tears flowed plentifully down their cheeks at these

tender embraces, especially the queen's, from the comfort and joy

of having two such princes for her sons, and such a princess for

her daughter, on whose account she had so long endured the

severest afflictions.

The two princes and the princess had prepared a magnificent

repast for the emperor and queen, and their court. As soon as

that was over, the emperor led the queen into the garden, and

shewed her the harmonious tree and the beautiful effect of the

yellow fountain. She had seen the bird in his cage, and the

emperor had spared no panegyric in his praise during the repast.

When there was nothing to detain the emperor any longer, he took

horse, and with the princes Bahman and Perviz on his right hand,

and the queen consort and the princess at his left, preceded and

followed by all the officers of his court, according to their

rank, returned to his capital. Crowds of people came out to meet

them, and with acclamations of joy ushered them into the city,

where all eyes were fixed not only upon the queen, the two

princes, and the princess, but also upon the bird, which the

princess carried before her in his cage, admiring his sweet

notes, which had drawn all the other birds about him, which

followed him, flying from tree to tree in the country, and from

one house-top to another in the city. The princes Bahman and

Perviz, and the princess Perie-zadeh, where at length brought to

the palace with this pomp, and nothing was to be seen or heard

all that night but illuminations and rejoicings both in the

palace and in the utmost parts of the city, which lasted many

days, and were continued throughout the empire of Persia, as

intelligence of the joyful event reached the several provinces.

STORY OF THE SULTAN OF YEMEN AND HIS THREE

SONS.

There was in the land of Yemen (Arabia Felix) a sultan, under

whom were three tributary princes. He had four children, three

sons and a daughter. He possessed greater treasures than could be

estimated, as well as innumerable camels, horses, and flocks of

sheep; and was held in awe by all contemporary sovereigns.

After a long and prosperous reign, age brought with it infirmity,

and he at length became incapable of appearing in his hall of

audience; upon which he commanded his sons to his presence, and

said to them, "My wish is to divide among you, before my death,

all my possessions, that you may be satisfied, and live in

unanimity and brotherly affection with each other, and in

obedience to my dying commands." They exclaimed, "To hear is to

obey."

The sultan then said, "My will is, that the eldest be sovereign

in my room; that the second possess my treasures; and the third

every description of animals. Let no, one encroach upon another,

but all assist each other." He then caused them to sign an

agreement to abide by his bequests, and shortly afterwards was

received into the mercy of the Almighty; upon which his sons

prepared what was suitable to his dignity for his funeral. They

washed the corpse, enshrouded it, prayed over it, and having

committed it to the earth, returned to their palaces; where the

viziers, officers of state, and inhabitants of the metropolis,

high and low, rich and poor, attended to console with them on the

loss of their father. The news of the death of the sultan was

soon spread abroad into all the provinces, and deputations from

every city came to condole with the princes.

After these ceremonies, the eldest prince demanded that he should

be inaugurated sultan in the room of the deceased monarch,

agreeably to his will; but this was not possible, as each of the

other brothers was ambitious of being sovereign. Contention and

disputes now arose between them for the government, till at

length the elder brother, wishing to avoid civil war, said, "Let

us go and submit to the arbitration of one of the tributary

sultans, and to let him whom he adjudges the kingdom peaceably

enjoy it." To this they assented, as did also the viziers; and

they departed, unattended, towards the capital of one of the

tributary sultans.

When the princes had proceeded about half way on their journey,

they reached a verdant spot, abounding in herbage and flowers,

with a clear rivulet running through it, the convenience of which

made them halt to refresh themselves. They sat down and were

eating, when one of the brothers casting his eyes on the grass,

said, "A camel has lately passed this way loaded, half with

sweetmeats and half with grain." "True," cried another, "and he

was blind of one eye." "Yes," exclaimed the third, "and he had

lost his tail." They had scarcely concluded their remarks, when

the owner of the camel came up to them (for he had heard what

they had said, and was convinced, as they had described the beast

and his load, that they must have stopped him), crying out, that

they had stolen his camel. "We have not seen him," answered the

princes, "nor touched him." "By Allah!" replied he, "none but you

can have taken him; and if you will not deliver him up, I will

complain of you to the sultan." They rejoined, "It is well; let

us go to the sultan."

When all four had reached the palace, information was given of

the arrival of the princes, and they were admitted to an

audience, the owner of the camel following, who bawled out,

"These men, my lord, by their own confession, have stolen my

property, for they described him and the load he carried."

The man then related what each of the princes, had said; upon

which the sultan demanded if it was true. They answered, "My

lord, we have not seen the camel; but we chanced, as we were

sitting on the grass taking some refreshment, to observe that

part of the pasture had been grazed; upon which we supposed that

the camel must have been blind of an eye, as the grass was only

eaten on one side. We then observed the dung of a camel in one

heap on the ground, which made us agree that its tail must have

been cut off, as it is the custom for camels to shake their

tails, and scatter it abroad. On the grass where the camel had

lain down, we saw on one side flies collected in great numbers,

but none on the other: this made us conclude that one of the

panniers must have contained sweets, and the other only grain."

Upon hearing the above, the sultan said to the complainant,

"Friend, go and look for thy camel, for these observations do not

prove the theft on the accused, but only the strength of their

understandings and penetration."

The sultan now ordered apartments for the princes, and directed

that they should be entertained in a manner befitting their rank;

after which he left them to their repose. In the evening, when

the usual meal was brought in, the elder prince having taken up a

cake of bread, said, "This bread, I am sure, was made by a sick

woman." The second, on tasting some kid, exclaimed, "This kid was

suckled by a bitch:" and the third cried out, "Certainly this

sultan must be illegitimate." At this instant the sultan, who had

been listening, entered hastily, and exclaimed, "Wherefore utter

ye these affronting speeches?" "Inquire," replied the princes,

"into what you have heard, and you will find all true."

The sultan now retired to his haram, and on inquiry, found that

the woman who had kneaded the bread was sick. He then sent for

the shepherd, who owned that the dam of the kid having died, he

had suckled it upon a bitch. Next, in a violent passion, he

proceeded to the apartments of the sultana mother, and

brandishing his cimeter--threatened her with death, unless she

confessed whether he was son to the late sultan or not.

The sultana was alarmed, and said, "To preserve my life, I must

speak truth. Know then that thou art the son of a cook. Thy

father had no male offspring, at which he was uneasy: on the same

day myself and the wife of the cook lay in, I of a daughter and

she of a son. I was fearful of the coolness of the sultan, and

imposed upon him the son of the cook for his own: that son art

thou, who now enjoyest an empire."

The spurious sultan left the sultana in astonishment at the

penetration of the brothers, whom he summoned to his presence,

and inquired of them on what grounds they had founded their just

suspicions respecting the bread, the kid, and himself. "My

lord," replied the elder prince, "when I broke the cake, the

flour fell out in lumps; and hence I guessed that she who made it

had not strength to knead it sufficiently, and must have been

unwell." "It is as thou hast said," replied the sultan. "The fat

of the kid," continued the second brother, "was all next the

bone, and the flesh of every other animal but the dog has it next

the skin. Hence my surmise that it must have been suckled by a

bitch." "Thou wert right," answered the sultan; "but now for

myself."

"My reason for supposing thee illegitimate," said the youngest

prince, "was, because thou didst not associate with us, who are

of the same rank with thyself. Every man has properties which he

inherits from his father, his grandfather, or his mother. From

his father, generosity, or avarice; from his grandfather, valour

or cowardice; from his mother, bashfulness or impudence." "Thou

hast spoken justly," replied the sultan; "but why came ye to ask

judgment of me, since ye are so much better able to decide

difficult questions than myself? Return home, and agree among

yourselves." The princes did so; and obeyed the will of their

father.

STORY OF THE THREE SHARPERS AND THE

SULTAN.

Three very ingenious sharpers who associated together, being much

distressed, agreed, in hopes of obtaining immediate relief, that

they would go to the sultan, and pretend each to superior ability

in some occupation. Accordingly they proceeded to the metropolis,

but found admission to the presence difficult; the sultan being

at a garden palace surrounded by guards, who would not let them

approach. Upon this they consulted, and agreed to feign a

quarrel, in hopes that their clamour would draw the notice of the

sultan. It did so: he commanded them to be brought before him,

inquired who they were, and the cause of their dispute. "We were

disputing," said they, "concerning the superiority of our

professions; for each of us possesses complete skill in his own."

"What are your professions?" replied the sultan. "I am," said

one, "O sovereign, a lapidary of wonderful skill." "I fear thou

art an astonishing rascal," exclaimed the sultan.

"I am," said the second sharper, "a genealogist of horses." "And

I," continued the third, "a genealogist of mankind, knowing every

one's true descent; an art much more wonderful than that of

either of my companions, for no one possesses it but myself, nor

ever did before me." The sultan was astonished, but gave little

credit to their pretensions: yet he said to himself, "If these

men speak truth, they are worthy of encouragement. I will keep

them near me till I have occasion to try them; when, if they

prove their abilities, I will promote them; but if not, I will

put them to death." He then allotted them an apartment, with an

allowance of three cakes of bread and a mess of pottage daily;

but placed spies over them, fearing lest they might escape.

Not long after this, a present of rarities was brought to the

sultan, among which were two precious stones; one of them

remarkably clear in its water, and the other with a flaw. The

sultan now bethought himself of the lapidary, and sent for him to

his presence, when he gave him the clear jewel to examine, and

demanded what he thought it was worth.

The sharper took the stone, and with much gravity turned it

backwards and forwards in his hands, examining it with minute

attention on every part; after which he said, "My lord, this

jewel has a flaw in the very centre of it." When the sultan heard

this, he was enraged against the sharper, and gave orders to

strike off his head; saying, "This stone is free from blemish,

and yet thou pretendest it hath a flaw." The executioner now

advanced, laid hold of the sharper, bound him, and was going to

strike, when the vizier entered, and seeing the sultan enraged,

and the sharper under the cimeter, inquired the cause. Being

informed, he advanced towards the sultan, and said, "My lord, act

not thus, but first break the stone: should a flaw appear in it,

the words of this man are true; but if it be found free from

blemish, put him to death." The sultan replied, "Thy advice is

just:" and broke it in two with his mace. In the middle he found

a flaw, at which he was astonished, and exclaimed to the sharper,

"By what means couldst thou discover the blemish?" He replied,

"By the acuteness of my sight." The sultan then released him, and

said, "Take him back to his companions, allow him a mess of

pottage to himself, and two cakes of bread."

Some time after this a tribute came from one of the provinces,

part of which consisted of a beautiful black colt, in colour

resembling the hue of the darkest night. The sultan was delighted

with the animal, and spent whole days in admiring him. At length

he bethought himself of the sharper who had pretended to be a

genealogist of horses, and commanded him to his presence. When he

appeared, the sultan said, "Art thou a judge of horses?" He

replied, "Yes, my lord," upon which the sultan exclaimed, "It is

well! but I swear by him who appointed me guardian of his

subjects, and said to the universe, Be! and it was, that should I

find untruth in thy declaration, I will strike off thy head." The

man replied, "To hear is to submit." After this they brought out

the colt, that he might examine him.

The sharper desired the groom to mount the colt and pace him

before him, which he did backwards and forwards, the fiery animal

all the while plunging and rearing. At length the genealogist

said, "It is enough:" and turning to the sultan exclaimed, "My

lord, this colt is singularly beautiful, of true blood by his

sire, his paces exquisite and proportions just; but in him there

is one blemish; could that be done away, he would be all

perfection; nor would there be upon the face of the earth his

equal among all the various breeds of horses." "What can that

blemish be?" said the sultan. "His sire," rejoined the

genealogist, "was of true blood, but his dam of another species

of animal; and, if commanded, I will inform you." "Speak," said

the sultan. "The dam of this beautiful colt," continued the

genealogist, "was a buffalo."

When the sultan heard this he flew into a rage, and commanded an

executioner to strike off the head of the sharper; exclaiming,

"Thou accursed dog! how could a buffalo bring forth a colt?" "My

lord," replied the sharper, "the executioner is in attendance;

but send for the person who presented the colt, and inquire of

him the truth. If my words prove just, my skill will be

ascertained; but if what I have said be false, then let my head

pay the forfeit for my tongue." Upon this the sultan sent for the

master of the colt to attend his presence.

When the master of the colt appeared before him, the sultan

inquired whether it was purchased of another person, or had been

bred by himself? To which the man replied, "My lord, I will

relate nothing but the truth. The production of this colt is

surprising. His sire belonged to me, and was of the true breed of

sea-horses: he was always kept in an enclosure by himself, as I

was fearful of his being injured; but it happened one day in the

spring, that the groom took him for air into the country, and

picqueted him in the plain. By chance a cow-buffalo coming near

the spot, the stallion became outrageous, broke his heel-ropes,

joined the buffalo, which after the usual period of gestation,

produced this colt, to our great astonishment."

The sultan was surprised at this relation. He commanded the

genealogist to be sent for, and upon his arrival said, "Thy words

have proved true, and thy wonderful skill in the breed of horses

is ascertained; but by what mark couldst thou know that the dam

of this colt was a buffalo?" The man replied, "My lord, the mark

is visible in the colt itself. It is not unknown to any person of

observation, that the hoof of a horse is nearly round, but the

hoof of a buffalo thick and longish, like this colt's: hence I

judged that the dam must certainly have been a buffalo." The

sultan now dismissed him graciously, and commanded that he should

be allowed daily a mess of pottage, and two cakes of bread.

Not long after this the sultan bethought himself of the third

sharper, who pretended that he was the genealogist of man, and

sent for him to the presence. On his appearance he said, "Thou

canst trace the descent of man?" "Yes, my lord," replied the

genealogist. Upon this the sultan commanded an eunuch to take him

into his haram, that he might examine the descent of his

favourite mistress. Upon his introduction, he looked at the lady

on this side and on that, through her veil, till he was

satisfied, when he came out; and the sultan exclaimed, "Well,

what hast thou discovered in my mistress?" He replied, "My lord,

she is all perfect in elegance, beauty, grace, stature, bloom,

modesty, accomplishments, and knowledge, so that every thing

desirable centres in herself; but still there is one point that

disgraces her, from which if she was free, it is not possible she

could be excelled in anything among the whole of the fair sex."

When the sultan had heard this, he rose up angrily, and drawing

his cimeter, ran towards the genealogist, intending to strike off

his head.

Just as he was going to strike, some of the attendants said, "My

lord, put not the man to death before thou art convinced of his

falsehood." Upon which the sultan exclaimed, "What fault appeared

to thee in my mistress?" "O sultan," replied the man, "she is, as

to herself, all perfect; but her mother was a rope-dancer." Upon

this the sultan immediately sent for the father of the lady, and

said, "Inform me truly who was the mother of thy daughter, or I

will put thee to death." "Mighty prince," replied the father,

"there is no safety for man but in the truth. Her mother was a

rope-dancer, whom I took when very young from a company of

strolling mummers, and educated. She grew up most beautiful and

accomplished: I married her, and she produced me the girl whom

thou hast chosen."

When the sultan heard this, his rage cooled, but he was filled with

astonishment; and said to the genealogist, "Inform me what could shew

thee that my mistress was the daughter of a rope-dancer?" "My lord,"

replied the man, "this cast of people have always their eyes very

black, and their eyebrows bushy; such are hers: and from them I

guessed her descent." The sultan was now convinced of his skill,

dismissed him graciously, and commanded that he should be allowed a

mess of pottage and three cakes of bread daily, which was done

accordingly.

Some time after this the sultan reflected on the three sharpers,

and said to himself, "These men have proved their skill in

whatever I have tried them. The lapidary was singularly excellent

in his art, the horse genealogist in his, and the last has proved

his upon my mistress. I have an inclination to know my own

descent beyond a doubt." He then ordered the genealogist into his

presence, and said, "Dost thou think thou canst prove my

descent?" "Yes, my lord," replied the man, "but on condition that

you spare my life after I shall have informed you; for the

proverb says, 'When the sultan is present, beware of his anger,

as there is no delay when he commands to strike.'" "There shall

be safety for thee," exclaimed the sultan, "in my promise, an

obligation that can never be forfeited."

"O sultan," continued the genealogist, "when I shall inform thee

of thy parentage and descent, let not there be any present who

may hear me." "Wherefore?" replied the sultan. "My lord,"

answered the sharper, "you know the attributes of the Deity

should be veiled in mystery." The sultan now commanded all his

attendants to retire, and when they were alone, the genealogist

advanced and said, "Mighty prince, thou art illegitimate, and the

son of an adulteress."

As soon as the sultan heard this, his colour changed, he turned

pale, and fainted away. When he was recovered, he remained some

time in deep contemplation, after which he exclaimed, "By him who

constituted me the guardian of his people, I swear that if thy

assertion be found true I will abdicate my kingdom, and resign it

to thee, for royalty cannot longer become me; but should thy

words prove void of foundation, I will put thee to instant

death." "To hear is to assent," replied the sharper.

The sultan now arose, entered the haram, and bursting into his

mother's apartment with his cimeter drawn, exclaimed, "By him who

divided the heavens from the earth, shouldst thou not answer

faithfully to what I shall inquire, I will cut thee to pieces

with this cimeter." The queen, trembling with alarm, said, "What

dost thou ask of me?" "Inform me," replied the sultan, "of whom

am I the son?" "Since truth only can save me," cried the

princess, "know that thou art the offspring of a cook. My husband

had no children either male or female, on which account he became

sad, and lost his health and appetite. In a court of the haram we

had several sorts of birds, and one day the sultan fancying he

should relish one of them, ordered the cook to kill and dress it.

I happened then to be in the bath alone.

"As I was in the bath," continued the sultana, "I saw the cook

endeavouring to catch the birds. At that instant it occurred to

my mind from the instigation of Satan, that if I bore not a son,

after the death of the sultan my influence would be lost. I

tempted the man, and thou art the produce of my crime. The signs

of my pregnancy soon appeared; and when the sultan was informed

of them, he recovered his health, and rejoiced exceedingly, and

conferred favours and presents on his ministers and courtiers

daily, till the time of my delivery. On that day he chanced to be

upon a hunting excursion at a country palace; but when

intelligence was brought him of the birth of a son, he instantly

returned to me, and issued orders for the city to be decorated,

which was done for forty days together, out of respect to the

sultan. Such was my crime, and such was thy birth."

The sultan now returned to the adventurer, and commanded him to

pull off his clothes, which he did; when the sultan, disrobing

himself, habited him in the royal vestments, after which he said,

"Inform me whence thou judgest that I was a bastard?"

"My lord," replied the adventurer, "when each of us shewed our

skill in what was demanded, you ordered him only an allowance of

a mess of pottage and three cakes of bread. Hence I judged you to

be the offspring of a cook, for it is the custom of princes to

reward the deserving with wealth and honours, but you only

gratified us with victuals from your kitchen." The sultan

replied, "Thou hast spoken truly." He then made him put on the

rest of the royal robes and ornaments, and seated him upon the

throne; after which he disguised himself in the habit of a

dervish, and wandered from his abdicated dominions. When the

lucky adventurer found himself in possession of the throne, he

sent for his companions; and finding they did not recognize him

in his royal habiliments, dismissed them with liberal presents,

but commanded them to quit his territories with the utmost

expedition, lest they should discover him. After this, with a

satisfied mind, he fulfilled the duties of his new station with a

liberality and dignity that made the inhabitants of the

metropolis and all the provinces bless him, and pray for the

prolongation of his reign.

The Adventures of the Abdicated Sultan.

The abdicated prince, disguised as a dervish, did not cease

travelling in a solitary mood till he came to the city of Cairo,

which he perceived to be in repose and security, and well

regulated. Here he amused himself with walking through several

streets, till he had reached the royal palace, and was admiring

its magnificent architecture and extent, and the crowds passing

in and out, when the sultan with his train appeared in sight

returning from a hunting excursion, upon which he retired to one

side of the road. The sultan observing his dignified demeanour,

commanded one of his attendants to invite him to the palace, and

entertain him till he should inquire after him.

When the sultan had reposed himself from the fatigue of his

exercise, he sent for the supposed dervish to his presence, and

said, "From what kingdom art thou arrived?" He answered, "I am,

my lord, a wandering dervish." "Well," replied the sultan, "but

inform me on what account thou art come here." On which he said,

"My lord, this cannot be done but in privacy." "Let it be so,"

rejoined the sultan; and rising up, led him into a retired

apartment of the palace. The supposed dervish then related what

had befallen him, the cause of his having abdicated his kingdom,

and taken upon himself the character of a religious. The sultan

was astonished at his self-denial, and exclaimed, "Blessed be his

holy name, who exalteth and humbleth whom he will by his almighty

power; but my history is more surprising than thine. I will

relate it to thee, and conceal nothing."

History of Mahummud, Sultan of Cairo.

At my first outset in the world I was an indigent man, and

possessed none of the conveniences of life, till at length I

became possessed of ten pieces of silver, which I resolved to

expend in amusing myself. With this intention, I one day walked

into the principal market, intending first to purchase somewhat

delicate to feast upon. While I was looking about me, a man

passed by, with a great crowd following and laughing at him, for

he led in an iron chain a monstrous baboon, which he cried for

sale at the price of ten pieces of silver. Something

instinctively impelled me to purchase the creature, so I paid him

the money, and took my bargain to my lodging; but on my arrival,

was at a loss how to procure a meal for myself or the baboon.

While I was considering what I should do, the baboon having made

several springs, became suddenly transformed into a handsome

young man, beautiful as the moon at the fourteenth night of its

appearance, and addressed me, saying, "Shekh Mahummud, thou hast

purchased me for ten pieces of silver, being all thou hadst, and

art now thinking how thou canst procure food for me and thyself."

"That is true," replied I; "but in the name of Allah, from whence

dost thou come?" "Ask no questions," replied my companion, "but

take this piece of gold, and purchase us somewhat to eat and

drink." I took the gold, did as he had desired, and we spent the

evening merrily together in feasting and conversation, till it

was time to repose.

In the morning the young man said, "My friend, this lodging is

not fitting for us; go, and hire a better." "To hear is to obey,"

replied I, and departed to the principal serai, where I hired an

upper apartment, to which we removed. He then gave me ten

deenars, with orders to purchase carpets and cushions, which I

did, and on my return found before him a package, containing

princely vestments. These he gave to me, desiring that I would go

to the bath, and, after bathing, put them on. I obeyed his

commands, dressed myself, and found in each pocket a hundred

deenars. I was not a little proud of my improved appearance in

the rich robes. On my return, he praised my figure, and seated me

by him, when we refreshed ourselves, and chatted on various

subjects. At length he gave me a bundle, desiring that I would

present it to the sultan, and at the same time demand his

daughter in marriage for myself, assuring me that my request

would meet a ready compliance.

The young man commanded a slave he had bought to attend me, who

carried the bundle, and I set out for the palace; near which I

found a great crowd of grandees, officers, and guards, who seeing

me so richly habited, inquired respectfully what I wanted. Upon

my replying that my business was with the sultan, they informed

the ushers, who introduced me to the presence. I made the

customary obeisance, and the sultan returned my salute; after

which I presented the bundle before him, saying, "Will my lord

accept this trifle, becoming my humble situation to offer, but

certainly not worthy the royal dignity to receive?" The sultan

commanded the package to be opened; when, lo! it contained a

complete dress of royal apparel, richer than had ever been before

seen, at which the sultan was astonished, and exclaimed,

"Heavens! I have nothing like this, nor ever possessed so

magnificent a suit; it shall be accepted: but inform me, Shekh,

what thou requirest in return for so valuable an offering."

"Mighty sovereign," replied I, "my wish is to become thy relation

by espousing that precious gem of the casket of beauty, thy

incomparable daughter."

When the sultan had heard this request, he turned towards his

vizier and said, "Advise me how I should act in this affair."

Upon which the minister replied, "Shew him, my lord, your most

valuable diamond, and inquire if he has any one equally precious

to match it as a marriage present for your daughter." The sultan

did so; when I said, "If I present two, will you give me your

daughter?" To which he assented, and I took my leave, carrying

with me the diamond, to shew the young man as a model. Upon my

arrival at our serai, I informed him of what passed, when he

examined the diamond, and said, "The day is now far spent, but

tomorrow I will procure ten like it, which thou shalt present to

the sultan." Accordingly in the morning he walked out, and in the

space of an hour returned with ten diamonds, which he gave me,

and I hastened with them to the sultan. When he beheld the

precious stones he was enraptured at their brilliancy, and again

consulted his vizier how he should act in this business. "My

lord," replied the minister, "you only required one diamond of

the Shekh, and he has presented you with ten: it is therefore

incumbent upon you to give him your daughter."

The sultan now sent for the cauzees and effendis, who drew up the

deed of espousals, which they gave me, when I returned to our

serai, and shewed it to the young man, who said, "It is well; go

and complete thy marriage; but I entreat that thou wilt not

consummate thy nuptials till I shall give thee permission." "To

hear is to obey," replied I. When it was night I entered the

princess's apartment, but sat down at a distance from her, and

did not speak till morning, when I bade her farewell, and took my

leave for the day. I observed the same conduct the second night

and the third, upon which, offended at my coldness, she

complained to her mother, who informed the sultan of my

affronting behaviour.

The sultan sent for me to his presence, and with much anger

threatened, if I should continue my coldness to the princess

another evening, that he would put me to death. Upon this I

hastened to inform my friend at the serai, who commanded, that

when I should next be alone with my wife I should demand of her a

bracelet which she wore upon her right arm, and bring it to him,

after which I might consummate my nuptials. I replied, "To hear

is to obey;" and the next evening, when I entered the apartment,

said to my wife, "If thou desirest that we should live happily

together, give me the bracelet on thy right arm." She did so

immediately, when I carried it to the young man, and, returning

to the palace, slept, as I supposed, with the princess till

morning. Guess, however, what was my surprise, when on awaking I

found myself lying in my first humble lodging, stripped of my

rich vestments, and saw on the ground my former mean attire;

namely, an old vest, a pair of tattered drawers, and a ragged

turban, as full of holes as a sieve. When I had somewhat

recovered my senses, I put them on and walked out in a melancholy

mood, regretting my lost happiness, and not knowing what I should

do to recover it. As I strolled towards the palace, I beheld

sitting in the street a fortune-teller, who had some written

papers before him, and was casting omens for the bystanders. I

advanced, and made him a salute, which he returned kindly; and

after looking attentively in my face, exclaimed, "What! has that

accursed wretch betrayed thee, and torn thee from thy wife?" I

replied, "Yes." Upon this he desired me to wait a little, and

seated me by him. When his employers were departed, he said, "My

friend, the ape which you purchased for ten pieces of silver, and

who soon after was transformed into a young man, is not of human

race, but a genie deeply in love with the princess whom you

married. However, he could not approach her while she wore the

bracelet, containing a powerful charm, upon her right arm, and

therefore made use of thee to obtain it. He is now with her, but

I will soon effect his destruction, that genii and men may be

secure from his wickedness, for he is one of the rebellious and

accursed spirits who disobeyed our lord Solomon, son of David."