Dawn of the Day, perceiving the caliph was asleep, whispered to the
other, called Nagmatos-Sobi, signifying Morning-Star, There is great
news! The chief of the believers, our master, will be overjoyed when he
awakes and hears what I have to say to him: Fetnah is not dead; she is in
perfect health. O Heavens! cried Morning-Star, in a transport of joy, is
it possible that the beautiful, the charming, the incomparable Fetnah
should be still among the living? Morning-Star uttered these words with
such a sprightly air, and so loud, that the caliph awaked. He asked why
they had disturbed his rest. Alas! my sovereign lord, answered
Morning-Star, pardon me this indiscretion, I could not contain myself.
What then is become of her, said the caliph, if she is not dead? Chief of
the believers, replied Dawn of the Day, I this evening received a note,
not signed, from a person unknown, but written with Fetnah’s own hand,
which gives me an account of her melancholy adventures, and orders me to
acquaint you with it. I thought fit, before I fulfilled my commission, to
let you take some few moments’ rest, believing you must stand in need of
it after your fatigue. Give me that note, said the caliph, interrupting
her in a disorderly manner; you were in the wrong in deferring to deliver
it to me.
Dawn of the Day immediately delivered him the note, which he opened with
much impatience; and in it Fetnah gave a brief account of all that had
befallen her, but enlarged a little too much on the care Ganem took of
her. The caliph, who was naturally jealous, instead of being provoked at
the inhumanity of Zobeide, was only concerned for the infidelity he
fancied Fetnah had been guilty of towards him. Is it so? said he, after
reading the note; the perfidious wretch has been four months with a young
merchant, and has the impudence to boast of the respect he pays her.
Thirty days are passed since my return to Bagdad, and she now bethinks
herself of sending me this news. Ungrateful creature! while I spend the
days in bewailing her, she passes them away in betraying me. Go to, let
us take revenge of the false woman, and that bold youth who affronts me.
Having spoken these words, that prince got up, and went into a great
hall, where he used to appear in public, and to give audience to the
great men of his court. The first gate was opened, and immediately all
the courtiers, who expected him, that moment entered. The grand vizier
came in, and prostrated himself before the throne the caliph sat on. Then
rising, he stood before his master, who, in a tone which denoted he would
be instantly obeyed, said to him, Giafar, your presence is requisite for
putting in execution an important affair I am about to commit to you.
Take four hundred men out of my guards along with you, and first inquire
where a merchant of Damascus lives, whose name is Ganem, the son of Abou
Ayoub. When you have learned that, repair to his house, and cause it to
be razed down to the foundation; but first secure Ganem, and bring him
hither, with my slave Fetnah, who has lived with him these four months. I
will punish her, and make an example of that insolent man, who has
presumed to fail in respect to me.
The grand vizier having received this positive command, made a low bow to
the caliph, having his hand on his own head, as a token that he would
rather lose it than disobey him, and departed. The first thing he did,
was to send to the syndic, or head of the merchants, for some foreign
stuffs and fine silks, of the new ones brought by Ganem; with strict
orders, above all things, to inquire after the street and house he lived
in. The officer he sent with these orders brought him back word, that he
had scarce been seen for some months, and no man knew what could keep him
at home, if he was there. The same officer told Giafar where Ganem lived,
and the name of the widow who had let him the house.
Upon this information, which could not fail, that minister, without
losing any time, marched with the soldiers the caliph had ordered him to
take, went to the mayor of the city, whom he also caused to bear him
company; and being attended by a great number of carpenters and masons,
with the necessary tools for razing of a house, came to that in which
Ganem lived; and finding it stood alone, without being confined any way,
he posted his soldiers quite round it, to prevent the young merchant
making his escape.
Fetnah and Ganem had just then dined: the lady was sitting at a window
next the street; and hearing a noise, she looked out through the lattice,
when, seeing the grand vizier draw near with all his attendants, she
concluded his design was upon her as well as Ganem. She perceived her
note had been received, but had not expected such an answer, having hoped
that the caliph would have taken that business quite otherwise. She knew
not how long that prince had been come home; and though she was
acquainted with his jealous temper, yet she apprehended nothing on that
account. However, the sight of the grand vizier and the soldiers made her
quake in reality, not for herself, but for Ganem: she did not question
clearing herself, provided the caliph would but hear her. As for Ganem,
whom she was kind to rather out of gratitude than affection, she plainly
foresaw that his rival, being incensed, would see, and might be apt to
condemn him, upon account of his youth and mien. Being full of that
thought, she turned to the young merchant, and said, Alas! Ganem, we are
undone; it is you and I that are sought after. He presently looked
through the lattice, and was seized with dread when he beheld the
caliph’s guards with their naked scimitars, and the grand vizier with the
civil magistrate at the head of them. At that sight he stood motionless,
and had not power to utter one word. Ganem, said the favourite, there is
no losing of time: if you love me, put on the habit of one of your slaves
immediately, and daub your face and arms with soot; then lay some of
these dishes on your head: you may be taken for a servant belonging to
the eating-house, and they will let you pass. If they happen to ask you
where the master of the house is, answer, without any hesitation, that he
is within. Alas! madam, answered Ganem, less concerned for himself than
for Fetnah, you only take care of me; what will become of you? Let not
that trouble you, replied Fetnah, it is my part to look to that. As for
what you leave in this house, I will take care of it; and I hope it will
be one day justly restored to you, when the caliph’s anger is over: but
do you avoid his fury; for the orders he gives in heat of passion are
always fatal. The young merchant’s affliction was so great, that he knew
not what course to fix upon, and would certainly have suffered himself to
have been seized by the caliph’s soldiers, had not Fetnah pressed him to
disguise himself. He was prevailed upon by her persuasions, to put on the
habit of a slave, and daub himself with soot; and it was high time, for
they were knocking at the door; and all they could do was to embrace each
other lovingly: they were both so overwhelmed with sorrow that they could
not utter one word; and it was thus they parted. Ganem went out with some
dishes on his head: he was taken for the servant of an eating-house, and
nobody offered to stop him. On the contrary, the grand vizier, who was
the first that met him, gave him way to let him pass, being far from any
thought that he was the man he looked for. Those who were behind the
grand vizier made way as he had done, and thus favoured his escape. He
got speedily to one of the city gates, and so got clear away.
While he was making the best of his way from the grand vizier Giafar,
that minister came into the room where Fetnah was sitting on a sofa, and
where there were many chests full of Ganem’s equipage, and of the money
he had made of his goods.
As soon as Fetnah saw the grand vizier come into the room, she fell flat
on her face, and continued in that posture, as it were, ready to receive
her death. My lord, said she, I am ready to undergo the sentence passed
against me by the chief of the believers; you need only make it known to
me. Madam, answered Giafar, falling also down till she had raised
herself, God forbid any man should presume to lay his profane hands on
you. I do not design to offer you the least wrong. I have no farther
orders than to entreat you will be pleased to go with me to the palace,
and to conduct you thither with the merchant that lives in this house. My
lord, replied the favourite, let us go; I am ready to follow you. As for
the young merchant, to whom I am indebted for my life, he is not here; he
has been gone about a month since to Damascus, whither his business
called him, and he has left these chests you see under my care till he
returns. I conjure you to cause them to be secured, that I may perform
the promise I made to take all possible care of them.
You shall be obeyed, said Giafar, and immediately sent for porters, whom
he commanded to take up the chests, and carry them to Mesrour.
As soon as the porters were gone, he whispered the civil magistrate,
committing to him the care of seeing the house razed; but first to cause
diligent search to be made for Ganem, who, he suspected, might be hid,
whatever Fetnah had told of him. Then he went out, taking the young lady
with him attended by the two slaves that waited on her. As for Ganem’s
slaves, they were not regarded; they ran in among the crowd, and it was
not known what became of them.
No sooner was Giafar out of the house, than the masons and carpenters
began to raze it; and did it so effectually, that in a few hours none of
it remained. But the civil magistrate, not finding Ganem, after the
strictest search, sent to acquaint the grand vizier with it, before that
minister reached the palace. Well, said Haroun Alraschid, seeing him come
into his closet, have you executed my orders? Yes, sir, answered Giafar,
the house Ganem lived in is levelled with the ground, and I have brought
you your favourite Fetnah; she is at your closet-door, and I will call
her in if you command me. As for the young merchant, we could not find
him, though all places have been searched; and Fetnah affirms that he has
been gone this month to Damascus.
Never was any man in such a passion as the caliph, when he heard that
Ganem had made his escape. As for his favourite, being possessed that she
had been false to him, he would neither see nor speak to her. Mesrour,
said he to the chief of the eunuchs, who was there present, take the
ungrateful, the perfidious Fetnah, and go shut her up in the dark tower.
That tower was within the enclosure of the palace, and commonly served as
a prison for the favourites who any way disgusted the caliph.
Mesrour, being used to execute his sovereign’s orders, though ever so
unjust, without making any objection, obeyed this with some reluctancy.
He signified his concern to Fetnah, who was the more grieved at it,
because she had reckoned that the caliph would not refuse to speak to
her. There was no remedy but to submit to her hard fate, and to follow
Mesrour, who conducted her to the dark tower, and there left her.
In the mean time the caliph, being incensed, and only consulting his
passion, wrote the following letter, with his own hand, to the king of
Syria, his cousin and tributary, who resided at Damascus.
THE LETTER FROM THE CALIPH HAROUN ALRASCHID TO MOHAMMED ZINEBI, KING
OF SYRIA.
‘Cousin, this is to inform you, that a merchant of Damascus, whose name
is Ganem, the son of Abou Ayoub, has seduced the most amiable of my women
slaves, called Fetnah, and is fled. It is my will, that, when you have
read my letter, you cause search to be made for Ganem, and secure him.
When he is in your power, you shall cause him to be loaded with irons,
and for three days successively he shall receive fifty strokes with a
bull’s pizzle. Then let him be led through all parts of the city, with a
crier, crying, This is the smallest punishment the chief of the believers
inflicts on him that offends his lord, and debauches one of his slaves.
After that, you shall send him to me under a strong guard. It is my will
that you cause his house to be plundered; and when it shall be razed,
order the materials to be carried out of the city into the middle of the
plain. Besides, if he has father, mother, sister, wives, daughters, or
other kindred, cause them to be stripped; and when they are naked, expose
them as a spectacle during three days to the whole city, forbidding any
one, on pain of death, to afford them any shelter. I expect you will no
way delay what I enjoin.
Haroun Alraschid.’
The caliph having written this letter, sent it away by an express,
ordering him to make all possible speed, and to take pigeons along with
him, that he might the sooner hear what had been done by Mohammed Zinebi.
The pigeons of Bagdad have this particular quality, that, though they be
carried ever so far, they return to Bagdad as soon as they are turned
loose, especially when they have young ones. A letter rolled up is made
fast under their wing; and by that means, they have speedy advice from
such places as they desire.
The caliph’s express travelling night and day, as his master’s impatience
required, and being come to Damascus, went directly to king Zinebi’s
palace, who sat upon his throne to receive the caliph’s letter. The
express having delivered it, Mohammed looking upon it, and knowing the
hand, stood up to show his respect, kissed the letter, and laid it on his
head, to denote he was ready submissively to obey the orders contained in
it. He opened it, and having read it, immediately descended from his
throne, and, without losing time, mounted on horseback, with the prime
officers of his household. He also sent for the civil magistrate, who
came to him; and then he went directly to Ganem’s house, attended by all
his guards.
That young merchant’s mother had never heard or received any letter from
him since he left Damascus, but the other merchants with whom he went to
Bagdad were returned, and all of them told her they had left her son in
perfect health. However, as he did not return himself, and neglected to
write, the tender mother could not be persuaded but that he was dead, and
was so fully convinced of it in her imagination, that she went into
mourning. She bewailed Ganem as if she had seen him die, and had herself
closed his eyes: never mother expressed greater sorrow; and so far was
she from seeking any comfort, that she delighted in indulging her sorrow.
She caused a dome to be built in the middle of the court belonging to her
house, in which she placed a figure representing her son, and covered it
with black cloth. She spent the greatest part of the days and nights in
weeping under that dome, in the same manner as if her son had been buried
there. The beautiful Alcolomb, or Ravisher of Hearts, her daughter, bore
her company, and mixed her tears with hers.
It was now some time since they had thus devoted themselves to sorrow,
and since the neighbourhood, hearing their cries and lamentations, pitied
such loving relations, when king Mohammed Zinebi came to the door, which,
being opened by a slave belonging to the family, he went into the house,
inquiring for Ganem, the son of Abou Ayoub.
Though the slave had never seen king Zinebi, she easily guessed, by his
retinue, that this must be one of the prime men of Damascus. My lord,
said she, that Ganem you inquire for is dead: my mistress, his mother, is
in that monument you see there, actually lamenting the loss of him. The
king, not regarding what was said by the slave, caused all the house to
be diligently searched by his guards for Ganem. Then he advanced towards
the monument, where he saw the mother and daughter sitting on nothing but
a mat, by the figure which represented Ganem, and their faces appeared to
him bathed in tears. Those poor women immediately veiled themselves, as
soon as they beheld a man at the door of the dome; but the mother,
knowing the king of Damascus, got up, and ran to cast herself at his
feet. My good lady, said he, I was looking for your son Ganem; is he
here? Alas, sir! cried the mother, it is a long time since he has ceased
to be: would to God I had at least put him into his shroud with my own
hands, and had the comfort of having his bones in this monument! O, my
son, my dear son! She would have said more, but was oppressed with so
violent sorrow that she was not able.
Zinebi was moved; for he was a prince of a mild nature, and had much
compassion for the sufferings of the unfortunate. If Ganem alone is
guilty, thought he to himself, why should the mother and the daughters,
who are innocent, be punished? Ah! cruel Haroun Alraschid, what a
mortification do you put upon me, in making me the executioner of your
vengeance, obliging me to persecute those persons who have not offended
you!
The guards that the king ordered to search for Ganem, came and told him
they had lost their labour. He was fully convinced: the tears of these
two women would not leave him any room to doubt. It distracted him to be
obliged to execute the caliph’s order. My good lady, said he to Ganem’s
mother, come out of this monument with your daughter; it is no place of
safety for you. They went out; and he, to secure them against any insult,
took off his own robe, which was very large, and covered them both with
it, bidding them be sure to keep close to him. Then he ordered the
multitude to be admitted to plunder, which was performed with the utmost
rapaciousness, and many shouts, which terrified Ganem’s mother and sister
the more, because they knew not the reason of it. The rabble carried off
the richest goods, chests full of wealth, fine Persian and Indian
carpets, cushions made of cloth of gold and silver, fine china ware. In
short, all was taken away; nothing was left but the hard walls of the
house: and it was certainly a dismal spectacle for the unhappy ladies, to
see all their goods plundered, without knowing why they were so cruelly
treated.
When the house was plundered, Mohammed ordered the civil magistrates to
raze the house and monument; and, whilst that was doing, he carried away
Alcolomb and her mother to his palace. There it was he redoubled their
affliction, acquainting them with the caliph’s will. He commands me, said
he to them, to cause you to be stripped, and expose you naked for three
days to the view of the people. It is with the utmost reluctance that I
execute that cruel and ignominious sentence. The king delivered these
words with such an air, as plainly made it appear his heart was really
pierced with grief and compassion. Though the fear of being dethroned
obstructed his following the dictates of his pity, yet he in some measure
moderated the rigour of Haroun Alraschid’s orders, causing coarse sacks,
like smocks with sleeves, to be made of horse-hair, for Ganem’s mother,
and his sister Alcolomb, or Ravisher of Hearts.
The next day, these two victims of the caliph’s rage were stripped of
their clothes, and their horse-hair smocks put upon them; their
head-dress was also taken away, so that their dishevelled hair hung upon
their backs. Alcolomb had the finest hair in the world; and it hung down
to the ground. In that condition, they were exposed to the people. The
civil magistrate, attended by his officers, went along with them; and
they were conducted throughout all the city. A crier went before them,
who, every now and then, cried, This is the punishment due to those who
have drawn on themselves the indignation of the chief of the believers.
When they walked in this manner along the streets of Damascus, with their
arms and feet naked, clad in such a strange garment, and endeavouring to
hide their shame under their hair, with which they covered their faces,
all the people were dissolved in tears; more especially the ladies,
looking on them as innocent persons, through their lattice-windows, and
being particularly moved by Alcolomb’s youth and beauty, made the air
ring with their dreadful shrieks, as they passed before their houses. The
very children, frightened at those shrieks, and at the spectacle that
occasioned them, mixed their cries with that general lamentation, and
added new horror to it. In short, had an enemy been at Damascus, and then
putting all to fire and sword, the consternation could not have been
greater.
It was near night when that dismal scene concluded. The mother and
daughter were both conducted back to king Mohammed’s palace. Not being
used to walk barefoot, they were so spent, that they lay a long time in a
swoon. The queen of Damascus, highly afflicted at their misfortunes,
notwithstanding the caliph’s prohibition to relieve them, sent some of
her women to comfort them with all sorts of refreshments, and wine to
raise their spirits.
The queen’s women found them still in a swoon, and almost past receiving
any benefit by what they offered them. However, with much difficulty,
they were brought to themselves. Ganem’s mother immediately returned them
thanks for their courtesy. My good lady, said one of the queen’s ladies
to her, we are highly concerned at your affliction; and the queen of
Syria, our mistress, has done us a favour in employing us to assist you.
We can assure you, that princess is much afflicted at your misfortunes,
as well as the king her consort. Ganem’s mother entreated the queen’s
women to return her majesty a thousand thanks from her and her daughter
Alcolomb; and then, directing her discourse to the lady that spoke to
her, she said, Madam, the king has not told me why the chief of the
believers inflicts so many outrages on us; pray be pleased to tell us
what crimes we have been guilty of. My good lady, answered the other, the
origin of your misfortune proceeds from your son Ganem. He is not dead,
as you imagine. He is accused of having stolen the beautiful Fetnah, the
best beloved of all the king’s favourites; and he having, by timely
flight, withdrawn himself from that prince’s indignation, the punishment
is fallen on you. All mankind condemns the caliph’s resentment; but all
mankind fears him: and you see king Zinebi himself dares not contradict
his orders, for fear of incurring his displeasure. So that all we can do
is to pity and exhort you to have patience.
I know my son, answered Ganem’s mother; I have educated him very
carefully, and in that respect which is due to the commander of the
believers. He has not committed the crime he is accused of; I dare answer
for his innocency. But I will give over muttering and complaining, since
it is for him that I suffer, and he is not dead. O Ganem! added she, in a
transport of love and joy, my dear son Ganem, is it possible that you are
still alive? I no longer am concerned for the loss of my goods; and how
extravagant soever the caliph’s orders may be, I forgive him all the
severity of them, provided Heaven has saved my son. I am only concerned
for my daughter; her sufferings only afflict me; yet I believe her to be
so good a sister as to follow my example.
At the hearing of these words, Alcolomb, who till then had appeared
insensible, turned to her mother, and, clasping her arms about her neck,
Yes, dear mother, said she, I will always follow your example, whatever
extremity the love of my brother brings you to.
The mother and daughter, thus interchanging their sighs and tears,
continued a considerable time in such moving embraces. In the mean time,
the queen’s women, who were much moved at that spectacle, omitted no
persuasions to prevail with Ganem’s mother to take some sustenance. She
ate a morsel out of complaisance, and Alcolomb did the like.
The caliph having ordered that Ganem’s kindred should be exposed three
days successively to the sight of the people, in the condition as has
been said, Alcolomb and her mother afforded the same spectacle the second
time next day, from morning till night. But that day and the following,
things were not done after the same manner: the streets, which at first
had been full of people, were left quite empty. All the traders, incensed
at the ill usage of Abou Ayoub’s widow and daughter, shut up their shops,
and kept themselves close within their houses. The ladies, instead of
looking through their lattice-windows, withdrew into the back parts of
their houses. There was not one soul to be seen in the public places
those unfortunate women were carried through. It looked as if all the
inhabitants of Damascus had abandoned their city.
On the fourth day, king Mohammed Zinebi, who was resolved punctually to
obey the caliph’s orders, though he did not approve of them, sent criers
into all quarters of the city to make proclamation, strictly forbidding
all the inhabitants of Damascus, and strangers, of what condition soever,
upon pain of death, and having their bodies cast to the dogs to be
devoured, to receive Ganem’s mother and sister into their houses, or to
give them a morsel of bread or a drop of water; and, in a word, to afford
them the least support, or hold the least correspondence with them.