Once upon a time a Fairy, who had somehow or other got into mischief,
was condemned by the High Court of Fairyland to live for several years
under the form of some creature, and at the moment of resuming her
natural appearance once again to make the fortune of two men. It was
left to her to choose what form she would take, and because she loved
yellow she transformed herself into a lovely bird with shining golden
feathers such as no one had ever seen before. When the time of her
punishment was at an end the beautiful yellow bird flew to Bagdad,
and let herself be caught by a Fowler at the precise moment when
Badi-al-Zaman was walking up and down outside his magnificent summer
palace. This Badi-al-Zaman--whose name means ‘Wonder-of-the-World’--was
looked upon in Bagdad as the most fortunate creature under the sun,
because of his vast wealth. But really, what with anxiety about his
riches and being weary of everything, and always desiring something he
had not, he never knew a moment’s real happiness. Even now he had come
out of his palace, which was large and splendid enough for fifty kings,
weary and cross because he could find nothing new to amuse him. The
Fowler thought that this would be a favourable opportunity for offering
him the marvellous bird, which he felt certain he would buy the instant
he saw it. And he was not mistaken, for when Badi-al-Zaman took the
lovely prisoner into his own hands, he saw written under its right wing
the words, ‘He who eats my head will become a king,’ and under its left
wing, ‘He who eats my heart will find a hundred gold pieces under his
pillow every morning.’ In spite of all his wealth he at once began to
desire the promised gold, and the bargain was soon completed. Then the
difficulty arose as to how the bird was to be cooked; for among all his
army of servants not one could Badi-al-Zaman trust. At last he asked the
Fowler if he were married, and on hearing that he was he bade him take
the bird home with him and tell his wife to cook it.
‘Perhaps,’ said he, ‘this will give me an appetite, which I have not had
for many a long day, and if so your wife shall have a hundred pieces of
silver.’
The Fowler with great joy ran home to his wife, who speedily made a
savoury stew of the Yellow Bird. But when Badi-al-Zaman reached the
cottage and began eagerly to search in the dish for its head and its
heart he could not find either of them, and turned to the Fowler’s wife
in a furious rage. She was so terrified that she fell upon her knees
before him and confessed that her two children had come in just before
he arrived, and had so teased her for some of the dish she was preparing
that she had presently given the head to one and the heart to the other,
since these morsels are not generally much esteemed; and Badi-al-Zaman
rushed from the cottage vowing vengeance against the whole family. The
wrath of a rich man is generally to be feared, so the Fowler and his
wife resolved to send their children out of harm’s way; but the wife, to
console her husband, confided to him that she had purposely given them
the head and heart of the bird because she had been able to read
what was written under its wings. So, believing that their children’s
fortunes were made, they embraced them and sent them forth, bidding them
get as far away as possible, to take different roads, and to send news
of their welfare. For themselves, they remained hidden and disguised
in the town, which was really rather clever of them; but very soon
afterwards Badi-al-Zaman died of vexation and annoyance at the loss of
the promised treasure, and then they went back to their cottage to wait
for news of their children. The younger, who had eaten the heart of
the Yellow Bird, very soon found out what it had done for him, for each
morning when he awoke he found a purse containing a hundred gold
pieces under his pillow. But, as all poor people may remember for their
consolation, nothing in the world causes so much trouble or requires so
much care as a great treasure. Consequently, the Fowler’s son, who spent
with reckless profusion and was supposed to be possessed of a great
hoard of gold, was before very long attacked by robbers, and in trying
to defend himself was so badly wounded that he died.
The elder brother, who had eaten the Yellow Bird’s head, travelled a
long way without meeting with any particular adventure, until at last
he reached a large city in Asia, which was all in an uproar over the
choosing of a new Emir. All the principal citizens had formed themselves
into two parties, and it was not until after a prolonged squabble that
they agreed that the person to whom the most singular thing happened
should be Emir. Our young traveller entered the town at this juncture,
with his agreeable face and jaunty air, and all at once felt something
alight upon his head, which proved to be a snow-white pigeon. Thereupon
all the people began to stare, and to run after him, so that he
presently reached the palace with the pigeon upon his head and all the
inhabitants of the city at his heels, and before he knew where he was
they made him Emir, to his great astonishment.
As there is nothing more agreeable than to command, and nothing to which
people get accustomed more quickly, the young Emir soon felt quite at
his ease in his new position; but this did not prevent him from making
every kind of mistake, and so misgoverning the kingdom that at last the
whole city rose in revolt and deprived him at once of his authority and
his life--a punishment which he richly deserved, for in the days of his
prosperity he disowned the Fowler and his wife, and allowed them to die
in poverty.
‘I have told you this story, my dear Sylvain and Jocosa,’ added the
Fairy, ‘to prove to you that this little cottage and all that belongs
to it is a gift more likely to bring you happiness and contentment than
many things that would at first seem grander and more desirable. If you
will faithfully promise me to till your fields and feed your flocks,
and will keep your word better than you did before, I will see that you
never lack anything that is really for your good.’
Sylvain and Jocosa gave their faithful promise, and as they kept it
they always enjoyed peace and prosperity. The Fairy had asked all their
friends and neighbours to their wedding, which took place at once with
great festivities and rejoicings, and they lived to a good old age,
always loving one another with all their hearts.
By the Comte de Caylus.