must be some extraordinary piece of beauty, had a longing desire to see
her; so spurring his horse forward, he rode directly up to Hagi Hassan,
who was in the very middle of the merchants. Open the door, said he, and
let me see this slave. It was never the custom to show their slaves to
any particular person, till after the merchants had seen her, and had the
refusal: but Saouy being a person of so great authority, none of them
durst dispute their right with him; and Hagi Hassan being forced to open
the door, beckoned the fair slave to come forward, that Saouy might have
a sight of her without the trouble of alighting from his horse.
The vizier was astonished at the sight of so beautiful a slave; and
knowing the courtier’s name, (having formerly dealt with him,) Hagi
Hassan, said he, is it not at four thousand pieces of gold that you cry
her? Yes, sir, answered he, it is but a moment since I cried her at that
price, and the merchants you see gathered together here are come to bid
money for her; and I question not but they will give a great deal more
than that.
If nobody offers any higher, I will give that sum, replied Saouy, looking
upon the merchants at the same time with a countenance that forbade them
to advance any more. In short, he was so universally dreaded, that nobody
durst speak a word, not so much as to complain of his encroaching upon
their privilege.
The vizier Saouy having staid some time, and finding none of the
merchants outbid him, What do you stay for? said he to Hagi Hassan: go,
look after the seller, and strike a bargain with him at four thousand
pieces of gold, or more if he demands it; not knowing yet the slave
belonged to Noureddin.
Hagi Hassan having locked the chamber-door, went to confer notes with
Noureddin: Sir, said he to him, I am very sorry to bring you the ill news
of your slave’s being just going to be sold for nothing. How so? replied
Noureddin. Why sir, said Hagi Hassan, you must know that the business at
first went on rarely; for, as soon as the merchants had seen your slave,
they ordered me to cry her at four thousand pieces of gold. Accordingly I
cried her at the price; upon which the vizier Saouy came, and his
presence has stopped the mouths of all the merchants, who seemed
inclinable to raise her, at least to the same price your deceased father
gave for her. Saouy will give no more than four thousand pieces, and it
is much against my inclination that I am come to tell you the despicable
price he offers. The slave indeed is your own; but I will not advise you
to part with her upon those terms, since you and every body else are
sensible of her being worth infinitely more: besides, he is base enough
to contrive a way to trick you out of the money.
Hagi Hassan, replied Noureddin, I am highly obliged to thee for thy
advice; but do not think I will ever sell my slave to an enemy of our
family. My necessities indeed are at present very great, but I would
sooner die in the most shameful poverty, than ever consent to the
delivering her up to his arms. I have only one thing to beg of thee, who
art skilful in all the turns and shifts of life, that thou wouldst put me
in a way to prevent the sale of her.
Sir, said Hagi Hassan, there is nothing more easy: you must pretend,
that, being in a violent passion with your slave, you swore to expose her
in the market, and for the sake of your oath you have now brought her
hither, without any manner of intention of selling her. This will satisfy
every body, and Saouy will have nothing to say against it. Come along
with me then; and just as I am presenting her to Saouy, as if it were by
your own consent, pull her to you, give her two or three blows, and send
her home. I thank thee for thy counsel, said Noureddin, and thou shalt
see I will make use of it.
Hagi Hassan went back to the chamber, and having in two words acquainted
the Fair Persian with their design, that she might not be surprised at
it, he took her by the hand, and led her to the vizier Saouy, who was
still, on horseback at the door: Sir, said he, here is the slave: she is
yours; pray take her.
These words were scarce out of Hagi Hassan’s mouth, when Noureddin,
catching hold of the Fair Persian, pulled her to him, and giving her a
box on the ear, Come hither, impertinence, said he, and get you home
again; for though your ill humour obliged me to swear I would bring you
hither, yet I never intended to sell you; I have business for you to do
yet, and it will be time enough to part with you when I have nothing else
left.
This action of Noureddin’s put the vizier Saouy into a violent passion.
Miserable debauchee, cried he, wouldst thou have me believe thou hast any
thing else left to make money of but thy slave? And at the same instant,
spurring his horse directly against him, endeavoured to have carried off
the Fair Persian. Noureddin, nettled to the quick at the affront the
vizier had put upon him, quits the Fair Persian, and, laying hold of his
horse’s bridle, made him run two or three paces backwards. Vile dotard,
said he to the vizier, I would tear thy soul out of thy body this very
moment, were it not for the crowd of people here present.
The vizier Saouy being loved by nobody, but, on the contrary, hated by
all, there was not one among them but was now pleased to see Noureddin
mortifying him a little; and, by shrewd signs, they let him understand he
might revenge himself upon him as much as he pleased, for nobody would
meddle with their quarrel.
Saouy endeavoured all he could to make Noureddin quit the bridle; but he
being a lusty vigorous man, and encouraged by those that stood by, pulled
him off his horse, in the middle of a brook, gave him a thousand blows,
and dashed his head against the stones till it was all of a gore of
blood. The slaves that waited upon the vizier would fain have drawn their
scimitars and fallen upon Noureddin, but the merchants interposing
prevented them from doing it. What do you mean? said they to them; do not
you see the one is a vizier, and the other a vizier’s son? Let them
dispute their quarrel themselves; perhaps they will be reconciled one
time or other; whereas, if you had killed Noureddin, your master, with
all his greatness, could not have been able to protect you against the
law.
Noureddin having given over beating the vizier Saouy, left him in the
middle of the brook, and taking the Fair Persian, marched home with her,
being attended by the people with shouts and acclamations for the action
he had performed.
The vizier Saouy, cruelly bruised with the strokes he had received, by
the assistance of his slaves made shift to get up, and had the
mortification to see himself besmeared all over with blood and dirt. He
leaned upon the shoulders of two slaves, and in that condition went
straight to the palace, in the sight of all the people, with so much
greater confusion because nobody pitied him. As soon as he reached the
king’s apartment, he began to cry out, and call for justice, after a
lamentable manner. The king ordered him to be admitted; and as soon as he
came, he asked him who it was that had abused and put him into that
miserable pickle. Sir, cried Saouy, your majesty ought to afford me a
large share of your favour, and to take into your royal consideration my
late abuse, since it was chiefly upon your account that I have been so
barbarously treated. Say no more of that, replied the king, but let me
hear the whole story, simply as it is, and who the offender is; and if he
is in the wrong, you may depend upon it he shall be severely punished.
Sir, said Saouy then, telling the whole matter to his own advantage,
having an occasion for a cook-maid, I went to the market of women-slaves
to buy me one. When I came thither, there was a slave just cried at four
thousand pieces of gold: I ordered them to bring the slave before me, and
I think my eyes never did, nor ever will, behold a more glorious creature
than she is. I had not time to examine her beauty thoroughly: but,
however, I immediately asked to whom she belonged; and upon inquiry I
found that Noureddin, son to the late vizier Khacan, had the disposing of
her.
Sir, you may remember that, about two or three years ago, you gave that
vizier ten thousand pieces of gold, strictly charging him to buy you a
slave with it. The money indeed was laid out upon this very slave; but
instead of bringing her to your majesty, thinking his son deserved her
better, he made him a present of her. Noureddin, since his father’s
death, having wasted his whole fortune in riot and feasting, has nothing
left but this slave, which he intended to part with, and therefore she
was to be sold in his name. I sent for him, and without mentioning any
thing of his father’s baseness, or rather treachery, to your majesty, I
very civilly said to him, Noureddin, the merchants, I perceive, have put
your slave up at four thousand pieces of gold; and I question not but, in
emulation of each other, they will raise the price considerably: let me
have her for the four thousand pieces; I am going to buy her for the
king, our lord and master: this will be a handsome opportunity of making
your court to him, and his favour will be worth a great deal more than
the merchants can propose to give you.
Instead of returning me a civil answer, as in good manners he ought to
have done, the insolent wretch beholding me with an air of fierceness,
Decrepit villain, said he, I would rather sell my slave to a Jew for
nothing than to thee for money. Noureddin, replied I, without any manner
of passion, though I had some reason to be a little warm, you do not
consider that in talking at this rate you affront the king, who has
raised your father and me to the honours we have enjoyed.
This admonition, instead of moving him to a compliance, provoked him to a
higher degree; so that, falling upon me like a madman, he pulled me off
my horse, beat me as long as he could stand over me, and has put me into
this miserable plight your majesty sees me in; and therefore I beseech
you, sir, to consider me, since it is upon your account I have been so
openly affronted. At the end of these words, he bowed his head, and
turning about, wept a plentiful shower of tears.
The abused king, highly incensed against Noureddin by this relation, full
of malice and artifice, discovered by his countenance the violence of his
anger; and, turning to the captain of his guards that stood near him,
Take forty of your soldiers, said he, and immediately go plunder
Noureddin’s house; and, having ordered it to be razed to the ground,
bring him and his slave along with you.
The captain of the guards was not gone out of the king’s presence, when a
gentleman-usher belonging to the court, who overheard the order that had
been given, got before him. His name was Sangiar, and he had been
formerly the vizier Khacan’s slave, by whose favour he was brought into
the court service, where by degrees he was advanced higher.
Sangiar, full of gratitude to his old master, and affection for
Noureddin, with whom in his infancy he had often played, and being no
stranger to Saouy’s hatred to Khacan’s family, could not hear the orders
without concern and trembling. May be, said he to himself, this action of
Noureddin’s is not altogether so black as Saouy has represented it; but,
however, the king is prejudiced against him, and will certainly put him
to death without allowing him time to justify himself.
Sangiar made so much haste to Noureddin’s house, as to get thither time
enough to acquaint him with what had passed at court, and to desire him
to provide for his own and the Fair Persian’s safety. He knocked so
violently loud at the door, that Noureddin, who had been a great while
without any servant, ran immediately to open it: My dear lord, said
Sangiar, here is no more staying for you in Balsora: if you design to
save yourself, you must lose no time, but depart hence this very moment.
Why so? replied Noureddin; what is the reason I must be gone so soon? Ah!
sir, said Sangiar, make haste away, and take your slave with you; for, in
short, Saouy has been just now acquainting the king, after his own way of
telling it, all that happened between you and him; and the captain of the
guards will be here in an instant, with forty soldiers, and seize you and
the Fair Persian. Here, sir, take these forty pieces of gold; it is all I
have about me, to assist you in finding out some other place of safety.
Excuse my not staying any longer with you: I leave you with a great deal
of unwillingness; but I do it for the good of us both. I have so much
interest with the captain of the guards, that he will take no notice of
me. Sangiar gave Noureddin but just time to thank him, and away he went.
Noureddin presently acquainted the Fair Persian with the absolute
necessity of their going that moment. She only staid to put on her veil,
and then they both stole out of the house together, and were so very
lucky, as not only to get clear of the city, without the least notice
being taken of their escape, but also safely to arrive at the mouth of
the Euphrates, where they embarked in a vessel that lay ready to weigh
anchor.
They were no sooner on ship-board than the captain came upon deck amongst
his passengers: My children, said he to them, are you all here? have any
of you any more business to do in the city? or have you left any thing
behind you? They answered him they were all there, and ready prepared; so
that he might set sail as soon as he pleased. When Noureddin came aboard,
the first question he asked was, whither the ship was bound? and being
told for Bagdad, he greatly rejoiced at it. And now the captain having
weighed anchor, set sail, and the vessel with a very favourable wind lost
sight of Balsora.
But now let us see how matters went at Balsora, in the mean time, while
Noureddin and the Fair Persian made their escape from the fury of the
enraged king.
The captain of the guards came to Noureddin’s house and knocked at the
door, but nobody coming to open it, he ordered his soldiers to break it
down, who immediately obeyed him, and in they rushed in a full body. They
searched every hole and corner of the house, but neither he nor the Fair
Persian were to be found. The captain of the guards made them inquire of
the neighbours, and he asked himself if they had seen them lately: it was
all in vain; for, though they had seen him go out of his house, so
universally beloved was Noureddin, that not one of them would have said
the least word that might be injurious to him. As soon as they had rifled
the house and levelled it to the ground, they went to acquaint the king
with the news. Look for them, said he, in some other places, for I am
resolved to have them found.
The captain of the guards made a second search after them; and the king
dismissed the vizier Saouy with a great deal of honour. Go home, said he
to him; trouble yourself no farther with Noureddin’s punishment; for with
my own hand I will revenge the insolence he has offered your person.
Without any farther delay, the king ordered the public criers to proclaim
throughout the whole city a reward of a thousand pieces of gold for any
person that should apprehend Noureddin and the Fair Persian, with a
severe punishment upon whomsoever should conceal them. But after all this
pains and trouble, there was no news to be heard of them; and the vizier
Saouy had only the comfort of seeing the king espouse his quarrel.
In the mean time, Noureddin and the Fair Persian, after a prosperous
voyage, landed safe at Bagdad. As soon as the captain came within sight
of that city, pleased that his voyage was at an end, Children, cried he
to the passengers, cheer up, and be merry! look, yonder is that great and
wonderful city, where there is perpetual concourse of people from all
parts of the world: there you shall meet with innumerable crowds every
day, and never feel the extremity of cold in winter, nor the excess of
heat in summer; but enjoy an eternal spring, always crowned with flowers,
and the delicious fruits of autumn.
When the vessel came to anchor a little below the city, the passengers
got ashore, and every body went to the place they designed to lie at that
night. Noureddin gave the captain five pieces of gold for his passage,
and went ashore also with the Fair Persian; but being a perfect stranger
in Bagdad, he was at a loss for a lodging. They rambled a considerable
time about the gardens that bordered on the Tigris; and, keeping close to
one of them that was enclosed with a very high wall, at the end of it
they turned into a street finely paved, where they perceived a garden
door, and a charming fountain near it.
The door, which was very magnificent, happened to be shut, but the porch
was open, in which there stood a sofa on each side. This is a very
convenient place for us, said Noureddin to the Fair Persian: night comes
on apace; and though we have eaten nothing since our landing, yet I
believe we must even lie here to-night, and to-morrow we shall have time
enough to get a lodging; what say ye to it, my dear? Sir, replied the
Fair Persian, you know very well I am never against what you propose;
therefore let us go no farther, since you are willing to stay here. Each
of them having drunk a draught of water at the fountain, they laid
themselves down upon one of the sofas; and, after a little chat, being
invited by the agreeable murmur of the water, they fell fast asleep.
The garden, it seems, belonged to the caliph; and in the middle of it
there was a pavilion, called the Pavilion of Pictures, because its chief
ornament was pictures, after the Persian manner, drawn by the most
celebrated limners in Persia, whom the caliph sent for on purpose. The
stately hall beneath this pavilion was adorned with fourscore windows,
and in every window a branched candlestick. The candles were never
lighted but when the caliph came thither to spend the evening, which was
never but when the weather was so very calm that not a breath of air was
stirring. Then, indeed, they made a glorious illumination, and could be
plainly discerned at a vast distance in the country on that side, and by
the greatest part of the city.
There was but one person that had the charge of this fine garden, and the
place was at this time enjoyed by a very ancient officer, named Scheich
Ibrahim, whom the caliph himself, for some important service, put into
that employment, with a strict charge not to let all sorts of people in,
but especially to suffer nobody either to sit or lie down on the sofas
that stood at the outward door, that they might always be clean and
handsome; and whenever he found any body there, to punish them severely.
Some business had obliged this officer to go abroad, and he was not as
yet returned. When he came back, there was just daylight enough for him
to discern two persons asleep upon one of the sofas, with both their
heads under a piece of linen cloth, to secure them from the gnats. Very
well, said Scheich Ibrahim to himself, here are brave people, to disobey
the caliph’s orders; but I shall take care to pay them handsomely what
they deserve. Upon this, he opens the door very softly, and a moment
after returns with a swinging cane in his hand, and his sleeve tucked up
to the elbow. He was just going to lay on them with all his force; but,
withholding his arm, he began to reason with himself after this manner:
Thou wast going to strike, without any consideration that these perhaps
are strangers, destitute of a lodging, and utterly ignorant of the
caliph’s order; for that reason, it would be advisable in thee to know
first who they are. Upon this, he gently lifts up the linen that covered
their heads, and being wonderfully astonished to see two persons so
mightily beautiful and well-shaped, waked Noureddin, with pulling him
softly by the feet.
[Illustration p45: Drawn by R. Westall R.A. Engraved by Chad Heath.]
Noureddin presently lifting up his head, and seeing an old man with a
long white beard standing at his feet, got up, and throwing himself upon
his knees, Good father, said he, Heaven preserve you! What do you want,
my son? replied Scheich Ibrahim: who are you, and from whence came you?
We are strangers newly arrived, answered Noureddin, and we would fain
tarry here till to-morrow. This is not a proper place for you, said
Scheich Ibrahim: but come in with me, and I will find one fitter for you
to sleep in than this; and I fancy the sight of the garden, which is very
fine, will please you, when you see it to-morrow by daylight. Is this
garden your own? said Noureddin. Yes, replied Scheich Ibrahim; it is an
inheritance left me by my father: pray walk in, for I am sure you will
not repent your seeing it.
Noureddin rose up to thank Scheich Ibrahim for the civility he had shown
them, and afterwards the Fair Persian and he went into the garden.
Scheich Ibrahim locked the door, and going before, led them to an
eminence, from whence at one look they might almost take a view of the
grandeur, order, and beauty of the whole garden.
Noureddin had seen very fine gardens in Balsora, but never any comparable
to this. Having satisfied his curiosity in looking upon every thing worth
taking notice of, as he was walking in one of the alleys, he turned about
to the officer that was with him, and asked what his name was. As soon as
he told him it was Scheich Ibrahim; Scheich Ibrahim, said he to him, I
must confess this is a charming garden indeed. Heaven send you long to
enjoy the pleasures of it; and we cannot sufficiently thank you for the
favour of showing us a place so worthy our seeing. However, it is but
just that we should make you some amends for your kindness: therefore,
here are two pieces of gold; take them, and get us something to eat, that
we may be merry together before we part.
At the sight of the two pieces of gold, Scheich Ibrahim, who was a great
admirer of that metal, laughed in his sleeve: he took them, and leaving
Noureddin and the Fair Persian by themselves, went to provide what he was
sent about. As soon as he was alone, said he to himself with abundance of
joy, These are generous people; I should highly have injured myself, if,
through imprudence or rashness, I had abused or driven them hence: the
tenth part of the money will treat them like princes, and the rest I will
keep for my pains and trouble.
While Scheich Ibrahim was gone to fetch something for his own supper, as
well as for his guests, Noureddin and the Fair Persian took a walk in the
garden, sometimes in one place and sometimes in another, till at last
they came to the pavilion of pictures that was in the middle of it. They
stood a pretty while to admire its wonderful structure, beauty, and
loftiness; and, after taking a full view of it on every side, they went
up a great many steps of fine white marble, to the hall door, which they
found locked.
They were but just got to the bottom of the steps as Scheich Ibrahim
returned, loaded with provisions. Scheich Ibrahim, said Noureddin in a
great surprise, did you not tell us that this was your garden? I did,
replied Scheich Ibrahim, and do so still. And does this magnificent
pavilion also belong to you? said Noureddin. Scheich Ibrahim was put to a
nonplus, and would not hearken to any more questions: For, said he to
himself, if I should say it is none of mine, he will presently ask me how
I can be the master of the garden and not the pavilion? So, being willing
to make them believe the garden was his, he said the same of the
pavilion. My son, said he, the pavilion is not distinct from the garden,
but they both belong to me. If so, said Noureddin, since you are willing
to let us be your guests to-night, do us the favour to show us the inside
of it; for, if we may judge by the outward appearance, it must certainly
be very splendid and magnificent.
It would have been a great piece of incivility in Scheich Ibrahim to have
refused Noureddin that favour, after the returns he had made him:
moreover, he considered that the caliph not having given any notice,
according to the usual custom, it was likely he would not be there that
night, and therefore resolved to treat his guests, and sup with them in
that room. He laid the provisions upon the first step, while he went to
his chamber to fetch the key. He soon returned with a light, and opened
the door.
Noureddin and the Fair Persian entered the hall; and finding it so
extravagantly surprising, could not forbear admiring the beauty and
richness of the place. Indeed, without saying anything of the pictures,
which were admirably well drawn, the sofas were very noble and costly;
and, besides the branched candlesticks that were fixed to every window,
there was a silver spring between each cross bar, with a wax candle in
it. Noureddin could not behold those glorious objects, which put him in
mind of his former greatness, without sighing.