that there formerly reigned a most magnificent king in the city of
Harran, who loved his subjects, and was equally beloved by them. He was
endued with all virtues, and wanted nothing to complete his happiness but
an heir. Though he had the finest women in the world in his seraglio, yet
he was destitute of children. He continually prayed to Heaven for them;
and one night, in his sleep, a comely person, or rather a prophet,
appeared to him, and said, Your prayers are heard; you have obtained what
you desired: rise as soon as you awake, go to your prayers, and make two
genuflections: then walk into the garden of your palace, call your
gardener, and bid him bring you a pomegranate; eat as many of the seeds
as you think fit, and your wishes shall be accomplished.
The king, calling to mind his dream when he awaked, returned thanks to
Heaven, got up, and fell to his prayers, made two genuflections, and then
went down into his garden, where he took fifty pomegranate-seeds, which
he counted, and ate them. He had fifty wives who shared in his bed; they
all proved with child; but there was one called Pirouze, who did not
appear to be big-bellied. He took an aversion to that lady, and would
have her put to death. Her barrenness, said he, is a certain token that
Heaven does not judge Pirouze worthy to bear a prince; it is my duty to
deliver the world from an object that is odious to the Lord. He had taken
this cruel resolution, but his vizier diverted him from putting it in
execution; representing to him, that all women were not of the same
constitution, and that it was not impossible but that Pirouze might be
with child, though it did not appear. Well, answered the king, let her
live; but let her depart my court, for I cannot endure her. Your majesty,
replied the vizier, may send her to prince Samer, your cousin. The king
approved of his advice: he sent Pirouze to Samaria with a letter, in
which he ordered his cousin to treat her well; and, in case she proved
with child, to give him notice of her being brought to bed.
No sooner was Pirouze arrived in that country, than it appeared that she
was with child; and at length she was delivered of a most beautiful
prince. The prince of Samaria wrote immediately to the king of Harran, to
acquaint him with the birth of that son, and to congratulate him on that
occasion. The king was much rejoiced at it, and answered prince Samer as
follows: ‘Cousin, all my other wives have also been delivered of each a
prince; so that we have a great number of children here. I desire you to
breed up that of Pirouze, to give him the name of Codadad, and to send
him to me when I shall give you notice.’
The prince of Samaria spared nothing that might improve the education of
his nephew. He taught him to ride, shoot with a bow, and all the other
things becoming the son of a king; so that Codadad, at eighteen years of
age, was looked upon as a prodigy. This young prince, being inspired with
a courage worthy his birth, said one day to his mother, Madam, I begin to
grow weary of Samaria: I find myself inclined to gain renown; give me
leave to go seek it amidst the perils of war. My father, the king of
Harran, has many enemies. Some neighbouring princes make it their
business to disturb him. Why does he not call me to his assistance? Why
does he leave me here so long, like an infant? Must I spend my life here
in sloth, when all my brothers have the good fortune to be fighting by
his side? My son, answered Pirouze, I am no less impatient to have your
name become famous; I could wish you had already signalized yourself
against your father’s enemies; but we must wait till he requires it. No,
madam, replied Codadad, I have already waited but too long. I long to see
the king, and am tempted to go to offer him my service as a young
gentleman unknown. No doubt but he will accept of it, and I will not
discover myself till I have performed a thousand glorious actions: I
design to merit his esteem before he knows who I am. Pirouze approved of
his generous resolution; and Codadad one day departed from Samaria, as if
he had been going a-hunting, without acquainting prince Samer, for fear
he should thwart his design.
He was mounted on a white horse, who had a gold bit and shoes; his
housing was of blue satin, embroidered with pearls; the hilt of his
scimitar was of one entire diamond; and the scabbard of sandal-wood, all
adorned with emeralds and rubies; and on his shoulder hung his bow and
quiver. In this equipage, which added much to his good mien, he arrived
at the city of Harran, and soon found means to offer his service to the
king; who, being charmed with his beauty and lovely presence, and perhaps
inspired by natural sympathy, gave him a favourable reception, and asked
his name and quality. Sir, answered Codadad, I am son to an emir of Grand
Cairo: an inclination to travel has made me quit my country; and,
understanding, in my passage through your dominions, that you were
engaged in war with some of your neighbours, I am come to your court to
offer your majesty my service. The king showed him extraordinary
kindness, and employed him in his troops.
That young prince soon signalized his bravery. He gained the esteem of
the officers, and was admired by the soldiers; and, having no less wit
than courage, he so far advanced himself in the king’s affection as to
become his favourite. All the ministers and other courtiers daily
resorted to Codadad, and were so eager to purchase his friendship that
they neglected the king’s other sons. Those princes could not but resent
it; and, imputing it to the stranger, they all conceived an implacable
hatred against him; but the king’s affection daily increasing, he was
never weary of giving him fresh testimonies of it. He always desired he
should be near him: he admired his discourse, ever full of wit and
discretion; and, to show how much he was satisfied with his wisdom, he
gave him the tuition of the other princes, though he was of the same age
as they. Thus Codadad was made governor of his brothers; which only
served to heighten their hatred. Is it come to this, said they, that the
king, not satisfied with loving a stranger more than us, will have him to
be our tutor, and not allow us to do any thing without his leave? This is
not to be endured: we must rid ourselves of this stranger. Let us go
together, said one of them, and dispatch him. No, no, answered another;
we had better be cautious how we sacrifice ourselves: his death would
render us odious to the king, who, in return would declare us all unfit
to reign. Let us destroy the stranger artfully. We will ask leave to go
a-hunting; and, when far from the palace, we will proceed to some other
city, and stay there some time. The king will wonder at our absence; and,
perceiving we do not return, he may perhaps put the stranger to death, or
at least will turn him out of the court, for suffering us to leave the
palace.
All the princes applauded this artifice, went together to Codadad, and
desired him to give them leave to go and take the diversion of hunting,
promising to return the same day. Pirouze’s son was taken in the snare,
and granted the leave his brothers desired. They went, but returned not.
They had been three days absent, when the king asked Codadad where the
princes were, for it was long since he had seen them. Sir, answered
Codadad, they have been gone a-hunting these three days; but they
promised me they would return sooner. The king grew uneasy, and much more
when he perceived the princes did not return the next day. This provoked
his passion: Indiscreet stranger, said he to Codadad, why did you let my
sons go without bearing them company? Is it thus you discharge the trust
I have reposed in you? Go seek them immediately, or you are a dead man.
These words pierced Pirouze’s unfortunate son to the heart. He armed
himself, went out of the city, and, like a shepherd who had lost his
flock, searched all the country for his brothers, inquiring at every
village whether they had been seen; and, hearing no news of them, was
grieved to the heart. Alas! my brothers, said he, what is become of you?
Are you perhaps fallen into the hands of our enemies? Am I come to the
court of Harran to be the occasion of giving the king so much trouble? He
was altogether comfortless for having given the princes leave to go
a-hunting, or for not having borne them company.
After some days spent in a fruitless search, he arrived in a plain of
prodigious extent, in the midst whereof was a palace all of black marble.
He drew near, and at one of the windows spied a most beautiful lady, but
set off with no other ornament than her own beauty; for her hair was
dishevelled, her garments ragged, and on her countenance appeared all the
tokens of the greatest affliction. As soon as she saw Codadad, and judged
he might hear her, she directed her discourse to him, saying, Alas! young
man, get away from this fatal place, or else you will soon fall into the
hands of the monster that inhabits it. A black who feeds only on human
blood, resides in this palace. He seizes all persons whom their ill fate
conducts to this plain, and shuts them up in his dark dungeons, whence
they are never released but to be devoured by him.
Madam, answered Codadad, tell me who you are, and be not concerned for
any more. I am a maid of quality, of Grand Cairo, replied the lady: I was
passing by this castle yesterday, in my way to Bagdad, and met with the
black, who killed all my servants, and brought me hither. I wish I had
nothing but death to fear; but, to add to my calamity, this monster would
persuade me to love him; and, in case I do not yield to-morrow to his
brutality, I must expect the utmost violence. I tell you once more, added
she, make your escape: the black will soon return: he is gone out to
pursue some travellers he spied at a distance on the plain. Lose no time;
nay, I know not whether a speedy flight will deliver you from him.
She had scarce done speaking these words before the black appeared. He
was a man of a monstrous bulk, and of a dreadful aspect, mounted on a
mighty Tartar horse, and wore such a large and heavy scimitar, that none
but he could make use of it. The prince, seeing him, was amazed at his
monstrous mien, directed his prayers to Heaven to assist him, then drew
his scimitar, and stood still to expect the black; who, despising so
inconsiderable an enemy, called to him to yield himself with engaging
words; but Codadad, by his behaviour, gave him to understand that he was
resolved to defend his life; for he drew near, and gave him a great cut
on the knee. The black, feeling himself wounded, gave such a dreadful
shriek as made all the plain resound. He grew enraged, foamed at the
mouth, and raising himself on his stirrups, made at Codadad with his
dreadful scimitar. The stroke was so violent, that no more would have
been required to put an end to the prince, had not he, by a sudden spring
he made his horse take, avoided it. The scimitar made a mighty hissing in
the air; but, before the black could have leisure to second the blow,
Codadad let fall one on his right arm with such fury, that he cut it off.
The dreadful scimitar fell, with the hand that held it; and the black,
yielding under the violence of the stroke, lost his stirrups, and made
the earth quake with his mighty fall. The prince alighted at the same
time, and chopped off his enemy’s head. Just then the lady, who had been
a spectator of the combat, and was still offering up her vows to Heaven
for that young hero whom she admired, gave a shriek for joy, and said to
Codadad, Prince, (for the mighty victory you have obtained convinces me
that you are of no ordinary extraction,) finish the work you have begun:
the black has the keys of this castle: take them, and deliver me out of
prison. The prince searched the wretch’s pockets, as he lay stretched out
on the ground, and found several keys.
He opened the first door, and went into a court, where he met the lady
coming to meet him. She would have cast herself at his feet, in token of
her gratitude; but he would not permit her. She commended his valour, and
extolled him above all the heroes in the world. He returned her
compliments; and she appearing still more lovely to him near at hand than
at a distance, I know not whether she was more joyful to be delivered
from the desperate danger she had been in, than he for having done so
considerable a service to so beautiful a person.
Their discourse was interrupted by dismal cries and groans. What is this
I hear? said Codadad: whence come those miserable cries which pierce our
ears? Sir, said the lady to him, pointing to a little door there was in
the court, they come from thence. There are I know not how many wretched
persons, whom fate has made to fall into the hands of the black. They are
all chained; and that monster drew out one every day to be devoured.
It is an addition to my joy, answered the young prince, to understand
that my victory will save the lives of those unfortunate persons. Come
along with me, madam, to partake in the satisfaction of giving them their
liberty. You may guess by yourself how welcome we shall be to them.
Having so said, they advanced towards the door of the dungeon; and the
nearer they drew, the more distinctly they heard the complaints of the
prisoners. Codadad pitying them, and impatient to put an end to their
sufferings, put one of the keys into the key-hole, which proved not to be
the right one at first, and therefore he took another; at which noise all
those unfortunate creatures, concluding it was the black, who came,
according to custom, to bring them some meat, and at the same time to
seize one of them to eat himself, redoubled their cries and groans.
Lamentable voices were heard, which sounded as if they had come from the
centre of the earth.
In the mean time, the prince had opened the door, and went down a very
steep stair-case into a large and deep vault, which received some small
light from a little window, and in which there were above a hundred
persons bound to stakes, and their hands tied. Unfortunate travellers,
said he to them, wretched victims, who only expected the moment of an
approaching cruel death, give thanks to Heaven, which has this day
delivered you by my means. I have slain the black by whom you were to be
devoured, and am come to knock off your irons. The prisoners hearing
these words, all together gave a shout, occasioned by joy and surprise.
Codadad and the lady began to unbind them; and, as soon as any of them
were loose, they helped to take off the fetters from the rest; so that in
a short time they were all at liberty.
They then kneeled down, and, having returned thanks to Codadad for what
he had done for them, went out of the dungeon; and when they were come
into the court, how surprising it was for the prince to see among the
prisoners those he was in search of, and almost out of hopes to find!
Princes, cried he, am I not deceived? is it not you I behold? May I
flatter myself that it will be in my power to restore you to the king
your father, who is inconsolable for the loss of you? But will he not
have some one to lament? Are you all here alive? Alas! the death of one
of you will suffice to damp all the joy I conceive for having delivered
you.
The forty-nine princes all made themselves known to Codadad, who embraced
them one after another, and told them how uneasy their father was on
account of their absence. They gave their deliverer all the commendations
he deserved, as did the other prisoners, who could not find words
expressive enough to declare the gratitude they were sensible of. Next,
Codadad, with them, took a view of the whole castle, where there was
immense wealth; curious silks, gold brocades, Persian carpets, China
satins, and an infinite quantity of other goods, which the black had
taken from the caravans he had plundered, a considerable part whereof
belonged to the prisoners Codadad had then set free. Every man knew and
reclaimed what belonged to him. The prince restored them their own, and
divided the rest of the merchandise among them. Then he said to them, How
will you do to carry away your goods? we are here in a desert place, and
there is no likelihood of getting your horses. Sir, answered one of the
prisoners, the black robbed us of our camels as well as our goods, and
perhaps they may be in the stables of this castle. That is not unlikely,
replied Codadad; let us see after it. Accordingly they went to the
stables, where they not only found the camels, but also the horses
belonging to the king of Harran’s sons. There were some black slaves in
the stables; who, seeing all the prisoners released, and guessing thereby
that their master had been killed, fled through by-ways well known to
them. Nobody minded to pursue them. All the merchants, overjoyed that
they had recovered their goods and camels, together with their liberty,
thought of nothing but prosecuting their journey; but first repeated
their thanks to their deliverer.
When they were gone, Codadad, directing his discourse to the lady, said,
To what place, madam, do you desire to go? whither did you design when
you were seized by the black? I intend to bear you company to the place
you shall appoint, and I do not question but that all these princes will
do the same. The king of Harran’s sons protested to the lady they would
not leave her till she was restored to her friends.
Princes, said she, I am of a country too remote from hence: and, besides
that it would be an imposition on your generosity to oblige you to travel
so far, I must own to you that I am come from my native country for ever.
I told you a while ago that I was a lady of Grand Cairo; but since you
have shown me so much favour, and I am so highly obliged to you, added
she, looking upon Codadad, I should be much in the wrong in concealing
the truth from you. I am a king’s daughter; an usurper has possessed
himself of my father’s throne after having murdered him, and I have been
forced to fly to save my life.
Then Codadad and his brothers desired the princess to tell them her
story, assuring her they were highly concerned at her misfortunes, and
fully disposed to spare for nothing that might contribute towards
rendering her more happy. After thanks returned for their fresh
protestations of readiness to serve her, she could not refuse satisfying
their curiosity, and began the recital of her adventures in the following
manner.
STORY OF THE PRINCESS OF DERYABAR.
There is, in a certain island, a great city called Deryabar. It has been
long governed by a potent, magnificent, and virtuous king. That prince
had no children, which was the only thing wanting to make him happy. He
continually addressed his prayers to Heaven; but Heaven granted his
requests by halves; for the queen his wife, after a long expectation,
brought forth a daughter.
I am the unfortunate princess. My father was rather troubled than pleased
at my birth; but he submitted to the will of God, and caused me to be
educated with all possible care, being resolved, since he had no son, to
teach me the art of ruling, that I might supply his place after his
death.
One day, when he was taking the diversion of hunting, he spied a wild
ass, which he chased, lost his company, and was carried away so far in
that heat, as to ride on till night, without reflecting that he was quite
out of the way. He then alighted, and sat down at the edge of a wood,
into which he had observed the ass had taken. No sooner was the day shut
in, than he discovered a light among the trees, which made him conclude
that he was not far from some village: he rejoiced at it, hoping that he
might pass the night there, and find some person to send to his followers
to acquaint them where he was; and accordingly he got up and walked
towards the light, which served to guide him.
He soon found he had been deceived, that light being no other than a fire
lighted in a hut: however, he drew near, and with amazement beheld a
great black, or rather a dreadful giant, sitting on a sofa. Before the
monster was a great pitcher of wine, and he was roasting a bullock he had
newly killed. Sometimes he drank out of the pitcher, and then cut slices
off the bullock and ate them. But that which most drew the king my
father’s attention was a beautiful woman he saw in the hut. She seemed to
be overwhelmed with grief; her hands were bound, and at her feet was a
small child, about two or three years old, who, as if he was sensible of
his mother’s misfortunes, continually wept, and rent the air with cries.
My father being moved with that object of pity, thought at first to have
gone into the hut and attack the giant; but considering it would be an
unequal combat, he stopped, and resolved, since he had not strength
enough to prevail by open force, to use art.
In the mean time the giant, having emptied the pitcher and devoured above
half the bullock, turned to the woman, and said, Beautiful princess, why
do you oblige me by your obstinacy to treat you with severity? It is in
your own power to be happy. You need only to resolve to love and be true
to me, and I shall express my affection to you. Thou hideous satyr,
answered the lady, never expect that time should wear away the aversion I
have for you. Thou wilt ever be a monster in my eyes. To these words she
added so many reproaches, that the giant grew enraged. This is too much,
cried he, in a furious tone; my love undervalued is turned into rage.
Your hatred has at last caused mine; I find it prevails above my desires,
and that I now wish your death rather than enjoyment. Having spoken these
words, he took that wretched lady by the hair, held her up with one hand
in the air, and drawing his scimitar with the other, was just going to
strike off her head, when the king my father let fly an arrow, which
pierced the giant’s breast, so that he staggered and dropped down dead.
My father entered the hut, unbound the lady’s hands, asked her who she
was, and how she came thither. Sir, said she, there are some families of
Saracens along the sea-coast, who live under a prince who is my husband;
this giant you have killed was one of his principal officers. The wretch
fell desperately in love with me, but took special care to conceal it,
till he could put in execution the designs he had laid of stealing me
away. Fortune oftener favours wicked designs than the virtuous. The giant
one day surprised me and my child in a by-place. He seized us both; and,
to disappoint the search he well knew my husband would cause to be made
on account of this rape, he removed far from the country inhabited by
those Saracens, and brought us into this wood, where he has kept me some
days. As deplorable as my condition is, it is still a great satisfaction
to me to think that the giant, though so brutal and amorous, never used
force to obtain that which I always refused to his entreaties: not but
that he has threatened me a hundred times that he would have recourse to
the worst of extremities, in case he could not otherwise prevail upon me;
and, I must confess to you, that a while ago, when I provoked his anger
by my words, I was less concerned for my life than for my honour.
This, sir, said the prince of the Saracens’ wife, is the faithful account
of my misfortunes, and I do not question but that you will think me
worthy enough of your compassion, not to repent your having so generously
relieved me. Madam, answered my father, be assured your troubles have
moved me, and I will do all that shall be in my power to make you happy
again. To-morrow, as soon as the day appears, we will go out of this
wood, and endeavour to fall into the road which leads to the great city
of Deryabar, of which I am sovereign; and, if you think fit, you shall be
entertained in my palace, till the prince your husband shall come to
reclaim you.
The Saracen lady accepted the offer, and the next day followed the king
my father, who found all his retinue upon the skirts of the wood, they
having spent the night in searching after, and being very uneasy for that
they could not find him. They were no less joyful to meet their king,
than amazed to see him with a lady whose beauty surprised them. He told
them how he had found her, and the danger he had run in drawing near to
the hut, where he must certainly have lost his life had the giant espied
him. One of his servants took up the lady behind him, and another carried
the child.