continued his recital to Taj al-Muluk:—When I would have gone away, she
stopped me and said, "Stay, till I tell thee something and charge thee
with a charge." So I stayed whilst she unfolded a kerchief and drew out
this piece of linen and spread it open before me. I found worked on it
these two figures of gazelles and admired it with great admiration. Then
I took the piece of linen and went away, joyful, after we had agreed
that I should visit her every night in the garden; but in my joy I
forgot to repeat to her the verse my cousin had taught me. For when
giving me the piece of linen with the gazelles she had said to me, "Keep
this carefully, as it is my sister's handiwork." I asked her, "What is
thy sister's name?"; and she answered, "Her name is Núr al-Hudà." When I
went to my cousin, I found her lying down; but as soon as she saw me,
she rose, with the tears running from her eyes, and came up to me, and
kissed me on the breast and said, "Didst thou do as I enjoined thee? and
repeat the verse to her?" "I forgot it," replied I; "and nothing drove
it out of my mind but these two figured gazelles." And I threw the piece
of linen on the floor before her. She rose and sat down again, but was
unable to contain herself for impatience, and her eyes ran over with
tears, whilst she repeated these two couplets:—
O thou who seekest parting, softly fare! ✿ Let not the Fair delude
with cunning art:
Fare softly, Fortune's nature is to 'guile, ✿ And end of every
meeting is to part.
And when she ended her recitation she said, "O my cousin, give me this
piece of linen." So I gave it to her and she took it and unfolding it,
saw what was therein. When the tryst-time came for my going to my lover,
the daughter of my uncle said to me, "Go, and peace attend thee; and
when thou art about to leave her, recite to her the verse I taught thee
long ago and which thou didst forget." Quoth I, "Tell it me again"; and
she repeated it. Then I went to the garden and entered the pavilion,
where I found the young lady awaiting me. When she saw me, she rose and
kissed me and made me sit in her lap; and we ate and drank and did our
desire as before. In the morning, I repeated to her my cousin's verse
which was this:—
Ho, lovers all! by Allah say me sooth ✿ What shall he do when Love
sore vexeth youth?
When she heard this, her eyes filled with tears and she answered and
said:—
Strive he to cure his case, to hide the truth; ✿ Patiently humble
self and sue for ruth!
I committed it to memory and returned home rejoicing at having done my
cousin's bidding. When I entered the house I found her lying down and my
mother at her head weeping over her case; but as soon as I went in to
her my mother said to me, "A foul plague on such a cousin! How couldst
thou leave the daughter of thy uncle ailing and not ask what ailed her?"
But when my cousin saw me she raised her head and sat up and asked me,
"O Aziz, didst thou repeat to her the couplet I taught thee?" I
answered, "Yes, and when she heard it she wept and recited in answer
another couplet which I committed to memory." Quoth my cousin, "Tell it
me." I did so; and when she heard it she wept with much weeping and
repeated the following verses:—
How shall youth cure the care his life undo'th, ✿ And every day
his heart in pieces hew'th?
In sooth he would be patient, but he findeth ✿ Naught save a
heart which love with pains imbu'th.
Then added my cousin, "When thou goest to her as of wont, repeat to her
also these two couplets which thou hast heard." I replied, "Hearkening
and obedience!" and I went at the wonted time, to the garden, where
there passed between my mistress and myself what tongue faileth to
describe. When I was about to leave her, I repeated to her those two
couplets of my cousin's; whereupon the tears streamed from her eyes and
she replied:—
If he of patience fail the truth to hide ✿ For him no cure save
Death my vision view'th!
I committed them to memory and returned home, and when I went in to my
cousin I found her fallen into a fit and my mother sitting at her head.
When she heard my voice, she opened her eyes and asked, "O Aziz! didst
thou repeat the two couplets to her?" whereto I answered, "Yes; but she
wept on hearing them and she replied with this couplet beginning, If he
of patience fail, to the end." And I repeated it; whereupon my cousin
swooned again, and when she came to herself, she recited these two
couplets:—
Hearkening, obeying, with my dying mouth ✿ I greet who joy of
union ne'er allow'th:
Fair fall all happy loves, and fair befal ✿ The hapless lover dying
in his drowth!
Again when it was night, I repaired to the garden as usual where I found
the young lady awaiting me. We sat down and ate and drank, after which
we did all we wanted and slept till the morning; and, as I was going
away, I repeated to her the saying of my cousin. When she heard the
couplet she cried out with a loud cry and was greatly moved and
exclaimed, "Awáh! Awáh![517] By Allah, she who spake these lines is
dead!" Then she wept and said to me, "Woe to thee! How is she who spoke
thus related to thee?" Replied I, "She is the daughter of my father's
brother." "Thou liest," rejoined she; "by Allah, were she thy cousin,
thou hadst borne her the same love as she bore thee! It is thou who hast
slain her and may the Almighty kill thee as thou killedst her! By Allah,
hadst thou told me thou hadst a cousin, I would not have admitted thee
to my favours!" Quoth I, "Verily it was she who interpreted to me the
signs thou madest and it was she who taught me how to come to thee and
how I should deal with thee; and, but for her, I should never have been
united to thee." She then asked me, "Did thy cousin then know of us?";
and I answered, "Yes;" whereupon she exclaimed, "Allah give thee sorrow
of thy youth, even as thou hast sorrowed her youth!" Then she cried to
me, "Go now and see after her." So I went away troubled at heart, and
ceased not walking till I reached our street, when I heard sounds of
wailing, and asking about it, was answered, "Azizah, we found her dead
behind the door." I entered the house, and when my mother saw me, she
said, "Her death lieth heavy on thy neck and may Allah not acquit thee
of her blood!"——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased
saying her permitted say.
Now when it was the Hundred-and-twentieth Night,
She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the young merchant
continued to Taj al-Muluk:—So I entered the house and when my mother saw
me she said, "Her death lieth heavy on thy neck and may Allah not acquit
thee of her blood! A plague on such a cousin!" Then came my father, and
we laid her out and gat ready her bier and buried her; and we had
recitations of the whole Koran over her tomb and we abode by her grave
three days, after which we returned to our home, and I grieving for her
grievously. Then my mother came to me and said, "I would fain know what
thou didst to her, to break her heart[518] for, O my son, I questioned
her at all times of the cause of her complaint, but she would tell me
nothing nor let me know aught of it. So Allah upon thee, tell me what
thou hast been doing to her that she died." Quoth I, "I did nothing."
Quoth my mother, "Allah avenge her on thee! Verily she told me naught,
but kept her secret till she died of her love-longings for thee; but
when she died I was with her and she opened her eyes and said to me:—O
wife of my uncle, may Allah hold thy son guiltless of my blood and
punish him not for what he hath done by me! And now Allah transporteth
me from the house of the world which is perishable to the house of the
other world which is eternal. Said I, O my daughter, Allah preserve thee
and preserve thy youth! And as I questioned her of the cause of her
illness, she made me no answer; but she smiled and said, O wife of my
uncle, bid thy son, whenever he would go whither he goeth every day,
repeat these two saws at his going away:—Faith is fair! Unfaith is foul!
For this is of my tender affection to him, that I am solicitous
concerning him during my lifetime and after my death. Then she gave me
somewhat for thee and sware me that I would not give it until I see thee
weeping for her and lamenting her death. The thing is with me; and, when
I have seen thy case as I have said, I will make it over to thee." "Show
it me," cried I: but she would not. Then I gave myself up to
love-delights and thought no more of my cousin's death: for my mind was
unsettled and fain would I have been with my lover the livelong day and
night.[519] So hardly had I perceived the darkness fall when I betook
myself to the garden, where I found the young lady sitting on coals of
fire for much impatience. As soon as she was sure that she saw me, she
ran to me and throwing her arms about my neck, enquired of the daughter
of my uncle. I replied, "Sooth to say she is dead, and we have caused
Zikr-litanies and recitations of the Koran to be performed for her; and
it is now four nights and this be the fifth since she is gone." When she
heard that, she shrieked aloud and wept and said, "Did I not tell thee
that thou hast slain her? Hadst thou let me know of her before her
death, I would have requited her the kindness she did me, in that she
served me and united thee to me; for without her, we had never
foregathered, we twain, and I fear lest some calamity befal thee because
of thy sin against her." Quoth I, "She acquitted me of offence ere she
died;" and I repeated to her what my mother had told me. Quoth she,
"Allah upon thee! when thou returnest to thy mother, learn what thing
she keepeth for thee." I rejoined, "My mother also said to me:—Before
the daughter of thy uncle died, she laid a charge upon me, saying,
Whenever thy son would go whither he is wont to go, teach him these two
saws, Faith is fair; Unfaith is foul!" When my lady heard this she
exclaimed, "The mercy of Almighty Allah be upon her! Indeed, she hath
delivered thee from me, for I minded to do thee a mischief, but now I
will not harm thee nor trouble thee." I wondered at this and asked her,
"What then wast thou minded to do with me in time past and we two being
in bond of love?" Answered she, "Thou art infatuated with me; for thou
art young in life and a raw laddie; thy heart is void of guile and thou
weetest not our malice and deceit. Were she yet alive, she would protect
thee; for she is the cause of thy preservation and she hath delivered
thee from destruction. And now I charge thee speak not with any woman,
neither accost one of our sex, be she young or be she old; and again I
say Beware! for thou art simple and raw and knowest not the wiles of
women and their malice, and she who interpreted the signs to thee is
dead. And indeed I fear for thee, lest thou fall into some disgrace and
find none to deliver thee from it, now that the daughter of thy uncle is
no more."——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her
permitted say.
Now when it was the Hundred and Twenty-first Night,
She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the young merchant
continued to Taj al-Muluk:—Then the young lady said to me, "I fear for
thee lest thou fall into some disgrace and find none to deliver thee
from it. Alas for thy cousin and ah, the pity of her! Would I had known
her before her death, that I might have requited by waiting upon her the
fair service she did me. The mercy of Allah Almighty be upon her, for
she kept her secret and revealed not what she suffered, and but for her
thou hadst never foregathered with me; no, never! But there is one thing
I desire of thee." I asked, "What is it?"; and she answered, "It is that
thou bring me to her grave, that I may visit her in the tomb wherein she
is and write some couplets thereon." I rejoined, "To-morrow, if Allah
please!"[520] I slept with her that night, and she ceased not saying
after every hour, "Would thou hadst told me of thy cousin before her
death!" And I asked her, "What is the meaning of the two saws she taught
me? Faith is fair! Unfaith is foul?" But she made no answer. As soon as
it was day she rose and, taking a purse of gold pieces, said to me,
"Come, show me her tomb, that I may visit it and grave some verses
thereon and build a dome over it and commend her to Allah's mercy and
bestow these dinars in alms for her soul." I replied, "To hear is to
obey!"; and walked on before her, whilst she followed me, giving alms as
she went and saying to all upon whom she lavisht bounty, "This is an
alms for the soul of Azizah, who kept her counsel till she drank the cup
of death and never told the secret of her love." And she stinted not
thus to give alms and say, "For Azizah's soul," till the purse was empty
and we came to the grave. And when she looked at the tomb, she wept and
threw herself on it; then, pulling out a chisel of steel and a light
hammer, she graved therewith upon the head-stone in fine small
characters these couplets:—
I past by a broken tomb amid a garth right sheen, ✿ Whereon
seven blooms of Nu'uman[521] glowed with cramoisie;
Quoth I, "Who sleepeth in this tomb?" Quoth answering Earth ✿ "Before
a lover Hades-tombed[522] bend reverently!"
Quoth I, "May Allah help thee, O thou slain of Love, ✿ And grant
thee home in Heaven and Paradise-height to see!"
Hapless are lovers all e'en tombèd in their tombs, ✿ Where amid
living folk the dust weighs heavily!
Fain would I plant a garden blooming round thy grave, ✿ And water
every flower with tear-drops flowing free!
Then she turned away in tears and I with her and returned to the garden
where she said to me, "By Allah! I conjure thee never leave me!" "To
hear is to obey," replied I. Then I gave myself wholly up to her and
paid her frequent visits: she was good and generous to me; and as often
as I passed the night with her, she would make much of me and would ask
me of the two saws my cousin Azizah told my mother and I would repeat
them to her. And matters ceased not to be on this wise and I continued
for a whole year eating and drinking and enjoying dalliance and wearing
change of rich raiment until I waxed gross and fat, so that I lost all
thought of sorrowing and mourning, and I clean forgot my cousin Azizah.
And on New Year's day I went to the bath, where I refreshed myself and
put on a suit of sumptuous clothes; then coming out I drank a cup of
wine and smelt the scent of my new gear which was perfumed with various
essences; and my breast was broadened thereby, for I knew not the tricks
of Fate nor the changing ways of Time. When the hour of night-prayer
came, I was minded to repair to my lover; but, being the worse for wine,
I knew not when going to her whither I went, so my drunkenness turned me
into a by-street called Syndic Street;[523] and the while I walked up
that street behold, I caught sight of an old woman faring with a lighted
taper in one hand, and in the other a folded letter.——And Shahrazad
perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say
Now when it was the Hundred and Twenty-second Night,
She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the young
merchant, whose name was Aziz, continued to Taj al-Muluk:—And when I
entered the street called Syndic Street behold, I caught sight of an old
woman walking with a lighted taper in one hand and in the other a folded
letter and I drew near her and lo! she was weeping and repeating these
couplets:—
O glad-news bearer well come! Welcome! Hail! ✿ How sweet thy speech
to me, what treat thy tale:
O messenger from him whose weal I love, ✿ God bless thee long
as breathes soft morning-gale!
Now when she saw me she asked, "O my son! canst thou read?"; and I
answered, of my officiousness, "Yes, old naunty!" Rejoined she, "Then
take this letter and read it to me." And when she handed it to me, I
took it and unfolding it read it to her and behold it was from an absent
man to his friends and lovers whom he greeted; and, when she heard its
purport, she rejoiced at the good tidings and blessed me, saying, "Allah
dispel thine anxiety, even as thou hast dispelled mine!" Then she took
the letter and walked on. Meanwhile, I was urged by a call of nature and
sat down on my heels to make water.[524] When I had ended I stood up and
wiped the orifice with a pebble and then, letting down my clothes, I was
about to wend my way, when suddenly the old woman came up to me again
and, bending down over my hand, kissed it and said, "O my master! the
Lord give thee joy of thy youth! I entreat thee to walk with me a few
steps as far as yonder door, for I told them what thou didst read to me
of the letter, and they believe me not; so come with me two steps and
read them the letter from behind the door and accept the prayers of a
righteous woman." I enquired, "What is the history of this letter?", and
she replied, "O my son, this letter is from my son, who hath been absent
for a term of ten years. He set out with a stock of merchandise and
tarried long in foreign parts, till we lost hope of him and supposed him
to be dead. Now after all that delay cometh this letter from him, and he
hath a sister who weepeth for him night and day; so I said to her, He is
well and all right. But she will not believe me and declares, There is
no help but thou bring me one who will read this letter in my presence,
that my heart may be at rest and my mind at ease. Thou knowest, O my
son, that all who love are wont to think evil: so be good enough to go
with me and read to her this letter, standing behind the curtain, whilst
I call his sister to listen within the door, so shalt thou dispel our
heed and fulfil our need. Verily quoth the Apostle of Allah (whom Allah
bless and preserve!):—Whoso easeth the troubled of one of the troubles
of this troublous world, Allah will ease him of an hundred troubles; and
according to another tradition:—Whoso easeth his brother of one of the
troubles of this troublous world, Allah shall relieve him of
seventy-and-two troubles on the Day of Resurrection. And I have betaken
myself to thee; so disappoint me not." Replied I, "To hear is to obey;
do thou go before me!" So she walked on devancing me and I followed her
a little way, till she came to the gate of a large and handsome mansion
whose door was plated with copper.[525] I stood behind the door, whilst
the old woman cried out in Persian, and ere I knew it a damsel ran up
with light and nimble step. She had tucked up her trousers to her knees,
so that I saw a pair of calves that confounded thinker and sighter, and
the maid herself was as saith the poet describing her:—
[Illustration]
O thou who barest leg-calf, better to suggest ✿ For
passion-madded amourist better things above!
Towards its lover doth the bowl go round and run; ✿ Cup[526]
and cup-bearer only drive us daft with love.[527]
Now these legs were like two pillars of alabaster adorned with anklets
of gold, wherein were set stones of price. And the damsel had tucked up
the end of her gown under her arm-pit and had rolled up her sleeves to
the elbow, so that I could see her white wrists whereon were two pairs
of bracelets with clasps of great pearls; and round her neck was a
collar of costly gems. Her ears were adorned with pendants of pearls and
on her head she wore a kerchief[528] of brocade, brand-new and broidered
with jewels of price. And she had thrust the skirt of her shift into her
trousers-string being busy with some household business. So when I saw
her in this undress, I was confounded at her beauty, for she was like a
shining sun. Then she said, with soft, choice speech, never heard I
sweeter, "O my mother! is this he who cometh to read the letter?" "It
is," replied the old woman; and she put out her hand to me with the
letter. Now between her and the door was a distance of about half a
rod[529]; so I stretched forth my hand to take the letter from her and
thrust head and shoulders within the door, thinking to draw near her and
read the letter when, before I knew what her design was, the old woman
butted her head against my back and pushed me forwards with the letter
in my hand, so that ere I could take thought I found myself in the
middle of the hall far beyond the vestibule. Then she entered, faster
than a flash of blinding leven, and had naught to do but to shut the
door.——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her
permitted say.
Now when it was the Hundred and Twenty-third Night,
She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the youth Aziz
pursued to Taj al-Muluk:—When the old woman pushed me forwards I found
myself, ere I could think, inside the vestibule; and the old woman
entered faster than a flash of blinding leven and had naught to do but
to shut the door. When the girl saw me in the vestibule, she came up to
me and strained me to her bosom, and threw me to the floor; then she sat
astraddle upon my breast and kneaded my belly with her fingers, till I
well-nigh lost my senses. Thereupon she took me by the hand and led me,
unable to resist for the violence of her pressure, through seven
vestibules, whilst the old woman forewent us with the lighted candle,
till we came to a great saloon with four estrades whereon a horseman
might play Polo.[530] Here she released me, saying, "Open thine eyes."
So I opened them still giddy for the excess of her embracing and
pressing, and saw that the whole saloon was built of the finest marbles
and alabasters, and all its furniture was of silk and brocade even to
the cushions and mattrasses. Therein also were two benches of yellow
brass and a couch of red gold, set with pearls and precious stones,
befitting none save Kings like thyself. And off the saloon were smaller
sitting rooms; and the whole place was redolent of wealth. Then she
asked, "O Aziz, which is liefer to thee life or death?" "Life," answered
I; and she said, "If life be liefer to thee, marry me." Quoth I, "Indeed
I should hate to marry the like of thee." Quoth she, "If thou marry me
thou wilt at least be safe from the daughter of Dalílah the Wily
One."[531] I asked, "And who be that daughter of the Wily One?"
Whereupon she laughed and replied, "'Tis she who hath companied with
thee this day for a year and four months (may the Almighty destroy and
afflict her with one worse than herself!). By Allah, there liveth not a
more perfidious than she. How many men hath she not slain before thee
and what deeds hath she not done. Nor can I understand how thou hast
been all the time in her company, yet she hath not killed thee nor done
thee a mischief." When I heard her words, I marvelled with exceeding
marvel and said, "O my lady, who made thee to know her?" Said she, "I
know her as the age knoweth its calamities; but now I would fain have
thee tell me all that hath passed between you two, that I may ken the
cause of thy deliverance from her." So I told her all that had happened
between us, including the story of my cousin Azizah. She expressed her
pity when she heard of the death, and her eyes ran over with tears and
she clapt hand on hand and cried out, "Her youth was lost on Allah's
way,[532] and may the Lord bless thee for her good works! By Allah, O
Aziz, she who died for thee was the cause of thy preservation from the
daughter of Dalilah the Wily; and, but for her, thou hadst been lost.
And now she is dead I fear for thee from the Crafty One's perfidy and
mischief; but my throat is choking and I cannot speak." Quoth I, "Ay, by
Allah: all this happened even as thou sayest." And she shook her head
and cried, "There liveth not this day the like of Azizah." I continued,
"And on her death bed she bade me repeat to my lover these two
saws:—Faith is fair! Unfaith is foul!" When she heard me say this, she
exclaimed, "O Aziz, by Allah, those same words saved thee from dying by
her hand; and now my heart is at ease for thee from her, for she will
never kill thee; and the daughter of thy uncle preserved thee during her
lifetime and after her death. By Allah, I have desired thee day after
day, but could not get at thee till this time when I tricked thee and
outwitted thee; for thou art a raw youth[533] and knowest not the wiles
of young women nor the deadly guile of old women." Rejoined I, "No, by
Allah!" Then said she to me, "Be of good cheer and eyes clear; the dead
hath found Allah's grace, and the live shall be in good case. Thou art a
handsome youth and I do not desire thee but according to the ordinance
of Allah and His Apostle (on whom be salutation and salvation!).
Whatever thou requirest of money and stuff, thou shalt have forthright
without stint, and I will not impose any toil on thee, no, never!; for
there is with me always bread baked hot and water in pot. All I need of
thee is that thou do with me even as the cock doth." I asked, "And what
doth the cock?" Upon this she laughed and clapped her hands and fell
over on her back for excess of merriment: then she sat up and smiled and
said, "O light of my eyes, really dost thou not know what cock's duty
is?" "No, by Allah!" replied I, and she, "The cock's duty is to eat and
drink and tread." I was abashed at her words and asked, "Is that the
cock's duty?" "Yes," answered she; "and all I ask of thee now is to gird
thy loins and strengthen thy will and futter thy best." Then she clapped
her hands and cried out, saying, "O my mother, bring forward those who
are with thee." And behold, in came the old woman accompanied by four
lawful witnesses, and carrying a veil of silk. Then she lighted four
candles, whilst the witnesses saluted me and sat down; and the girl
veiled herself with the veil and deputed one of them to execute the
contract on her behalf. So they wrote out the marriage-bond and she
testified to have received the whole sum settled upon her, both the half
in advance and the half in arrears; and that she was indebted to me in
the sum of ten thousand dirhams.——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of
day and ceased saying her permitted say.
Now when it was the Hundred and Twenty-fourth Night,