Caliph Charid, of Bagdad, was reclining on his divan one pleasant
afternoon, smoking his long pipe and sipping coffee from a handsome
dish which a slave was holding for him, when his Grand Vizier, Mansor,
entered and told him of a peddler in the court below whose wares might
interest him. The Caliph, being in an affable state of mind, summoned
the peddler, who, delighted with the opportunity, displayed all the
treasures of his pack. There were pearls, rings, silks, and many other
rich things. The Caliph selected something for himself, a handsome
present for the Vizier, and another for the Vizier's wife.
Just as the peddler was putting the things back into his box, the
Caliph noticed a small drawer and asked what it contained.
"Only something of no value, which I picked up in a street of Mecca,"
the peddler replied. He thereupon opened the drawer and showed the
Caliph a small box, containing a black powder and a scroll written in
characters which neither the Caliph nor his Grand Vizier could make
out. The Caliph immediately decided that he wanted this strange
scroll, and the peddler was persuaded to part with it for a trifle.
Then the Vizier was asked to find some one to decipher its meaning.
Near the mosque lived a man called Selim, who was so learned that
he knew every language in the world. When the Vizier brought him to
interpret the scroll, the Caliph said to him:
"They tell me that you are a scholar and can read all languages. If
you can decipher what is written here, I shall know that it is true,
and will give you a robe of honor; but if you fail, I shall have you
punished with many strokes, because you are falsely named."
Selim prostrated himself at the feet of the Caliph, and then took the
scroll. He had not looked at it long when he exclaimed:
"My lord and master, I hope to die if this is not Latin."
"Well, if so, let us hear what it says," the Caliph impatiently
answered. Selim at once began:
"Let him who finds this box praise Allah. If he snuffs the powder it
contains, at the same time pronouncing the word 'Matabor,' he will be
transformed into any creature that he desires, and will understand the
language of all animals. When he wishes to return to his own form,
let him bow to the east three times, repeating the word 'Matabor.'
But remember if, while he is bird or beast, he should laugh, the magic
word would be forgotten, and the enchantment would be on him forever."
The Caliph was delighted with the knowledge of Selim. He made him
a splendid present, and told him to keep the secret. When he had
dismissed the learned man, he turned to the Grand Vizier, and
expressed a wish to try the powder.
"Come to-morrow morning early," said he, "and we will go together to
the country and learn what the animals are talking about."
The Vizier came as he was ordered, and they left the palace without
attendants. Beyond the town was a large pond where some handsome
storks were often seen, and to this place they presently came. A grave
and stately stork was hunting for frogs, while another flew about and
kept him company.
"Most gracious lord," said the Vizier, "what think you of these
dignified long legs, and how would you like to know their chatter?"
The Caliph replied that the stork had always interested him, and he
would very much like a more intimate acquaintance. Taking the box from
his girdle, he helped himself to a pinch of snuff and offered it to
the Vizier, who followed his example.
Together they cried "Matabor," and instantly their beards disappeared,
and feathers covered their bodies; their necks stretched out long and
slender, and their legs shriveled into red and shapeless sticks. The
Caliph lifted up his foot to stroke his beard in astonishment, but
found a long bill in its place.
"By the beard of the Prophet, since I have not one of my own to swear
by, but we are a pretty pair of birds, Mansor!"
"If I may say so, your Highness, you are equally handsome as a
stork as when you were a Caliph," replied the Vizier. "I see our two
relations are conversing over there; shall we join them?"
When they came near to where the storks were smoothing their
feathers and touching bills in the most friendly manner, this was the
conversation they overheard, "Will you have some of my frog's legs for
breakfast, Dame Yellowlegs?" "No, thank you; I am obliged to practise
a dance for my father's guests, and cannot eat." Thereupon Dame
Yellowlegs stepped out, and began to pose most gracefully. The Caliph
and the Vizier watched her, until she stood on one foot and spread
her wings; then they both, at the same time, burst into such peals of
laughter that the two storks flew away.
Suddenly, however, the Vizier ceased his mirth, and commenced bowing
to the east. The Caliph recovered himself and did the same, but
neither could think of the magic word.
"Mansor, just recall that unholy word, and I will become Caliph once
more, and you my Grand Vizier. I have had enough of being a bird for
one day."
"Most gracious lord, that dancing stork has undone us, for, since
laughing at her antics, I cannot remember the word that will restore
us to human shape."
So at last, in despair, the two unhappy birds wandered through the
meadows. They appeased their hunger with fruits, for they could not
bring themselves to eat frogs and lizards. As they dared not return to
Bagdad and tell the people their chagrin, they flew over the city, and
had the satisfaction of seeing signs of mourning and confusion. In a
few days, however, while sitting on the roof of a house, they saw a
splendid procession coming up the street, and the people welcoming the
new ruler. "Hail! Hail Mirza, ruler of Bagdad!" they shouted.
The procession came nearer. At the head of it the Caliph saw a man
dressed in scarlet and gold, riding a handsome horse. He at once
recognized the new ruler as the son of his worst enemy.
"Behold," said he, "the explanation of our enchantment! This is
the son of Kaschnur, the magician, who is my great enemy, who seeks
revenge. Let us not lose hope, but fly to the sacred grave of the
Prophet and pray to be released from the spell."
They at once spread their wings and soared away toward Medina, but not
being accustomed to such long flights, they soon became fatigued and
descended to a ruin which stood in a valley below. The two enchanted
birds decided to remain there for the night; then wandered through
the deserted rooms and corridors, which gave of evidence of former
splendor. Suddenly the Vizier stopped and remarked that if it were not
ridiculous for a stork to be afraid of ghosts, he would feel decidedly
nervous. The Caliph listened, and heard a low moaning and sobbing,
which seemed to come from a room down the passage. He started to rush
toward it, but the Vizier held him fast by a wing. He had retained the
brave heart that he had possessed when a Caliph, however, and freeing
himself from the Vizier's bill, he hurried to the room whence came the
pitiful sounds. The moon shone through a barred window and showed him
a screech owl sitting on the floor of the ruined chamber, lamenting in
a hoarse voice. The Vizier had cautiously stolen up beside the Caliph;
and at sight of the two storks, the screech owl uttered a cry of
pleasure. To their astonishment it addressed them in Arabic, in the
following words:
"I have abandoned myself to despair, but I believe my deliverance is
near, for it was prophesied in my youth that a stork would bring me
good fortune."
The Caliph, thus appealed to, arched his neck most gracefully and
replied:
"Alas! Screech Owl, I fear we are unable to aid you, as you will
understand when you have heard our miserable story."
He then related how the magician, Kaschnur, had changed them into
storks and made his own son ruler of Bagdad. The screech owl became
very much excited and exclaimed:
"How strange that misfortune should have come to us through the
same man. I am Tusa, the daughter of the King of the Indies. The
magician, Kaschnur, came one day to my father, to ask my hand in
marriage for his son Mirza. My father ordered him thrown down
stairs, and in revenge he managed to have me given a powder which
changed me into this hideous shape. He then conveyed me to this
lonely castle, and swore I should remain here until some one asked
me to be his wife, and so freed me from the enchantment."
At the conclusion of her story, the screech owl wept anew and would
not be consoled. Suddenly, however, she wiped her eyes on her wing and
said:
"I have an idea that may lead to our deliverance. Once every month the
magician, Kaschnur, and his companions meet in a large hall at this
castle, where they feast and relate their evil deeds. We will listen
outside the door, and perhaps you may hear the forgotten word. Then,
when you have resumed human form, one of you can ask to marry me, that
I too may be freed from this wretched enchantment; and the prophecy
that a stork would bring me happiness would be fulfilled."
The Caliph and the Vizier withdrew and consulted over the situation.
"It is unfortunate," said the Caliph, "but if we are to meet again, I
think you will have to ask the screech owl to marry you."
"Not so, your Highness, I already have a wife, and would rather remain
a stork forever than take another; besides, I am an old man, while
you are young and unmarried, and much better suited to a beautiful
Princess."
"That is it," said the Caliph. "How do I know that she will not prove
to be some old fright?" As the Vizier was firm, the Caliph at last
said he would take the chances and do as the screech owl required.
That very night it so happened that the magicians met at the ruined
castle. The screech owl led the two storks through difficult passages
till they came to a hole in the wall, through which they could plainly
see all that transpired in the lighted hall. Handsomely carved pillars
adorned the room, and a table was spread with many dishes. About the
table sat eight men, among whom was their enemy, the magician. He
entertained the company with many stories, and at last came to his
latest--that of turning the Caliph and Vizier into storks--in relating
which he pronounced the magic word. The storks did not wait to hear
more, but ran to the door of the castle. The screech owl followed as
fast as she could, and when the Caliph saw her he exclaimed:
"To prove my gratitude, O our deliverer! I beg you to take me for your
husband."
Then the two storks faced the rising sun, and bowed their long necks
three times. "Matabor!" they solemnly cried, together; and in an
instant they were no longer storks, but stood before each other in
their natural forms. In their joy they fell on each other's necks
and forgot all about the screech owl, until they heard a sweet voice
beside them, and turning beheld a beautiful Princess. When the Caliph
recovered from his astonishment he said that he was now, indeed,
enchanted and hoped to remain so always.
They then started at once for the gate of Bagdad; and when they
arrived, the people were overjoyed, for they had believed their ruler
dead. The magician was taken to the ruined castle and hanged, and his
son was given the choice of the black powder or death. Choosing
the powder, he was changed into a stork, and was kept in the palace
gardens.
Caliph Charid and the Princess were married; and when their children
grew old enough, the Caliph often amused them with imitations of
the Grand Vizier when he was a stork,--while Mansor sat smiling and
pulling his long beard.
* * * * *