She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the

Marid-envoy of Mura’ash was borne before Barkan and said to him, “O my

lord, my master hath sent me to thee to learn tidings of thee,” Barkan

replied, “Return to thy lord and say to him, ‘This is thy cousin Barkan

who is come to salute thee!’” So the messenger went back and told

Mura’ash, who said to Gharib, “Sit thou on thy throne whilst I go and

salute my cousin and return to thee.” Then he mounted and rode to the

camp of his uncle’s son. Now this was a trick[FN#36] of Barkan, to

bring Mura’ash out and seize upon him, and he said to his Marids, whom

he had stationed about him, “When ye see me embrace him,[FN#37] lay

hold of him and pinion him.” And they replied, “To hear is to obey.”

So, when King Mura’ash came up and entered Barkan’s pavilion, the owner

rose to him and threw his arms round his neck; whereat the Jann fell

upon Mura’ash and pinioned him and chained him. Mura’ash looked at

Barkan and said, “What manner of thing is this?” Quoth Barkan, “O dog

of the Jann, wilt thou leave the faith of thy fathers and grandfathers

and enter a faith thou knowest not?” Rejoined Mura’ash, “O son of my

uncle, indeed I have found the faith of Abraham the Friend to be the

True Faith and all other than it vain.” Asked Barkan, “And who told

thee of this?”; and Mura’ash answered, “Gharib, King of Irak, whom I

hold in the highest honour.” “By the right of the Fire and the Light

and the Shade and the Heat,” cried Barkan, “I will assuredly slay both

thee and him!” And he cast him into gaol. Now when Mura’ash’s henchman

saw what had befallen his lord, he fled back to the city and told the

King’s legionaries who cried out and mounted. Quoth Gharib, “What is

the matter?” And they told him all that had passed, whereupon he cried

out to Sahim, “Saddle me one of the chargers that King Mura’ash gave

me.” Said Sahim, “O my brother, wilt thou do battle with the Jinn?”

Gharib replied, “Yes, I will fight them with the sword of Japhet son of

Noah, seeking help of the Lord of Abraham the Friend (on whom be the

Peace!); for He is the Lord of all things and sole Creator!” So Sahim

saddled him a sorrel horse of the horses of the Jinn, as he were a

castle strong among castles, and he armed and mounting, rode out with

the legions of the Jinn, hauberk’d cap-à-pie. Then Barkan and his host

mounted also and the two hosts drew out in lines facing each other. The

first to open the gate of war was Gharib, who drave his steed into the

mid-field and bared the enchanted blade, whence issued a glittering

light that dazzled the eyes of all the Jinn and struck terror to their

hearts. Then he played[FN#38] with the sword till their wits were

wildered, and cried out, saying, “Allaho Akbar! I am Gharib, King of

Irak. There is no Faith save the Faith of Abraham the Friend!” Now when

Barkan heard Gharib’s words, he said, “This is he who seduced my cousin

from his religion; so, by the virtue of my faith, I will not sit down

on my throne till I have decapitated this Gharib and suppressed his

breath of life and forced my cousin and his people back to their

belief: and whoso baulketh me, him will I destroy.” Then he mounted an

elephant paper-white as he were a tower plastered with gypsum, and

goaded him with a spike of steel which ran deep into his flesh,

whereupon the elephant trumpeted and made for the battle-plain where

cut and thrust obtain; and, when he drew near Gharib, he cried out to

him, saying, “O dog of mankind, what made thee come into our land, to

debauch my cousin and his folk and pervert them from one faith to other

faith. Know that this day is the last of thy worldly days.” Gharib

replied, “Avaunt,[FN#39] O vilest of the Jann!” Therewith Barkan drew

a javelin and making it quiver[FN#40] in his hand, cast it at Gharib;

but it missed him. So he hurled a second javelin at him; but Gharib

caught it in mid-air and after poising it launched it at the elephant.

It smote him on the flank and came out on the other side, whereupon the

beast fell to the earth dead and Barkan was thrown to the ground, like

a great palm-tree. Before he could stir, Gharib smote him with the flat

of Japhet’s blade on the nape of the neck, and he fell upon the earth

in a fainting-fit; whereupon the Marids swooped down on him and

surrounding him pinioned his elbows. When Barkan’s people saw their

king a prisoner, they drove at the others, seeking to rescue him, but

Gharib and the Islamised Jinn fell upon them and gloriously done for

Gharib! indeed that day he pleased the Lord who answereth prayer and

slaked his vengeance with the talisman-sword! Whomsoever he smote, he

clove him in sunder and before his soul could depart he became a heap

of ashes in the fire; whilst the two hosts of the Jinn shot each other

with flamy meteors till the battle-field was wrapped in smoke. And

Gharib tourneyed right and left among the Kafirs who gave way before

him, till he came to King Barkan’s pavilion, with Kaylajan and Kurajan

on his either hand, and cried out to them, “Loose your lord!” So they

unbound Mura’ash and broke his fetters and——And Shahrazad perceived the

dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.

When it was the Six Hundred and Fifty-sixth Night,

She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when King

Gharib cried out to Kaylajan and Kurajan, saying, “Loose your lord!”,

they unbound Mura’ash and broke his fetters, and he said to them,

“Bring me my arms and my winged horse.” Now he had two flying steeds,

one of which he had given to Gharib and the other he had kept for

himself; and this he mounted after he had donned his battle-harness.

Then he and Gharib fell upon the enemy, flying through the air on their

winged horses, and the true-believing Jinn followed them, shouting

“Allaho Akbar—God is Most Great!”—till plains and hills, valleys and

mountains re-worded the cry. The Infidels fled before them and they

returned, after having slain more than thirty thousand Marids and

Satans, to the city of Japhet, where the two Kings sat down on their

couches of estate and sought Barkan, but found him not; for after

capturing him they were diverted from him by stress of battle, where an

Ifrit of his servants made his way to him and loosing him, carried him

to his folk, of whom he found part slain and the rest in full flight.

So he flew up with the King high in air and sat him down in the City of

Carnelian and Castle of Gold, where Barkan seated himself on the throne

of his kingship. Presently, those of his people who had survived the

affair came in to him and gave him joy of his safety; and he said, “O

folk, where is safety? My army is slain and they took me prisoner and

have rent in pieces mine honour among the tribes of the Jann.” Quoth

they, “O King, ’tis ever thus that kings still afflict and are

afflicted.” Quoth he, “There is no help but I take my wreak and wipe

out my shame, else shall I be for ever disgraced among the tribes of

the Jann.” Then he wrote letters to the Governors of his fortresses,

who came to him right loyally and, when he reviewed them, he found

three hundred and twenty thousand fierce Marids and Satans, who said to

him, “What is thy need?” And he replied, “Get ye ready to set out in

three days’ time;” whereto they rejoined “Harkening and obedience!” On

this wise it befel King Barkan; but as regards Mura’ash, when he

discovered his prisoner’s escape, it was grievous to him and he said,

“Had we set an hundred Marids to guard him, he had not fled; but

whither shall he go from us?” Then said he to Gharib, “Know, O my

brother, that Barkan is perfidious and will never rest from wreaking

blood-revenge on us, but will assuredly assemble his legions and return

to attack us; wherefore I am minded to forestall him and follow the

trail of his defeat, whilst he is yet weakened thereby.” Replied

Gharib, “This is the right rede, and will best serve our need;” and

Mura’ash, said, “Oh my brother, let the Marids bear thee back to thine

own country and leave me to fight the battles of the Faith against the

Infidels, that I may be lightened of my sin-load.” But Gharib rejoined

“By the virtue of the Clement, the Bountiful, the Veiler, I will not go

hence till I do to death all the misbelieving Jinn; and Allah hasten

their souls to the fire and dwelling-place dire; and none shall be

saved but those who worship Allah the One, the Victorious! But do thou

send Sahim back to the city of Oman, so haply he may be healed of his

ailment.” For Sahim was sick. So Mura’ash cried to the Marids, saying,

“Take ye up Sahim and these treasures and bear them to Oman city.” And

after replying, “We hear and we obey,” they took them and made for the

land of men. Then Mura’ash wrote letters to all his Governors and

Captains of fortresses and they came to him with an hundred and sixty

thousand warriors. So they made them ready and departed for the City of

Carnelian and the Castle of Gold, covering in one day a year’s journey

and halted in a valley, where they encamped and passed the night. Next

morning as they were about to set forth, behold, the vanguard of

Barkan’s army appeared, whereupon the Jinn cried out and the two hosts

met and fell each upon other in that valley. Then the engagement was

dight and there befel a sore fight as though an earthquake shook the

site and fair plight waxed foul plight. Earnest came and jest took

flight, and parley ceased ’twixt wight and wight,[FN#41] whilst long

lives were cut short in a trice and the Unbelievers fell into disgrace

and despite; for Gharib charged them, proclaiming the Unity of the

Worshipful, the All-might and shore through necks and left heads

rolling in the dust; nor did night betide before nigh seventy thousand

of the Miscreants were slain, and of the Moslemised over ten thousand

Marids had fallen. Then the kettle-drums beat the retreat, and the two

hosts drew apart,——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased

saying her permitted say.

When it was the Six Hundred and Fifty-seventh Night,

She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the two

hosts drew apart, Gharib and Mura’ash returned to their tents, after

wiping their weapons, and supper being set before them, they ate and

gave each other joy of their safety, and the loss of their Marids being

so small. As for Barkan, he returned to his tent, grieving for the

slaughter of his champions, and said to his officers, “O folk, an we

tarry here and do battle with them on this wise in three days’ time we

shall be cut off to the last wight.” Quoth they, “And how shall we do,

O King?” Quoth Barkan, “We will fall upon them under cover of night

whilst they are deep in sleep, and not one of them shall be left to

tell the tale. So take your arms and when I give the word of command,

attack and fall on your enemies as one.” Now there was amongst them a

Marid named Jandal whose heart inclined to Al-Islam; so, when he heard

the Kafirs’ plot, he stole away from them and going in to King Mura’ash

and King Gharib, told the twain what Barkan had devised; whereupon

Mura’ash turned to Gharib and said to him, “O my brother, what shall we

do?” Gharib replied, “To-night we will fall upon the Miscreants and

chase them into the wilds and the wolds if it be the will of the

Omnipotent King.” Then he summoned the Captains of the Jann and said to

them, “Arm yourselves, you and yours; and, as soon as ’tis dark, steal

out of your tents on foot, hundreds after hundreds, and lie in ambush

among the mountains; and when ye see the enemy engaged among the tents,

do ye fall upon them from all quarters. Hearten your hearts and rely on

your Lord, and ye shall certainly conquer; and behold, I am with you!”

So, as soon as it was dark Night, the Infidels attacked the camp,

invoking aid of the fire and light; but when they came among the tents,

the Moslems fell upon them, calling for help on the Lord of the Worlds

and saying, “O Most Merciful of Mercifuls, O Creator of all createds!”

till they left them like mown grass, cut down and dead. Nor did morning

dawn before the most part of the unbelievers were species without souls

and the rest made for the wastes and marshes, whilst Gharib and

Mura’ash returned triumphant and victorious; and, making prize of the

enemy’s baggage, they rested till the morrow, when they set out for the

City of Carnelian and Castle of Gold. As for Barkan, when the battle

had turned against him and most of his lieges were slain, he fled

through the dark with the remnant of his power to his capital where he

entered his palace and assembling his legionaries said to them, “O

folk, whoso hath aught of price, let him take it and follow me to the

Mountain Káf, to the Blue King, lord of the Pied Palace; for he it is

who shall avenge us.” So they took their women and children and goods

and made for the Caucasus-mountain. Presently Mura’ash and Gharib

arrived at the City of Carnelian and Castle of Gold to find the gates

open and none left to give them news; whereupon they entered and

Mura’ash led Gharib that he might show him the city, whose walls were

builded of emeralds and its gates of red carnelian, with studs of

silver, and the terrace-roofs of its houses and mansions reposed upon

beams of lign-aloes and sandal-wood. So they took their pleasure in its

streets and alleys, till they came to the Palace of Gold and entering

passed through seven vestibules, when they drew near to a building,

whose walls were of royal balass-rubies and its pavement of emerald and

jacinth. The two Kings were astounded at the goodliness of the place

and fared on from vestibule to vestibule, till they had passed through

the seventh and happened upon the inner court of the palace wherein

they saw four daïses, each different from the others, and in the midst

a jetting fount of red gold, compassed about with golden lions,[FN#42]

from whose mouths issued water. These were things to daze man’s wit.

The estrade at the upper end was hung and carpeted with brocaded silks

of various colours and thereon stood two thrones of red gold, inlaid

with pearls and jewels. So Mura’ash and Gharib sat down on Barkan’s

thrones and held high state in the Palace of Gold.— And Shahrazad

perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.

When it was the Six Hundred and Fifty-eighth Night,

She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Mura’ash and

Gharib took seat on Barkan’s thrones and held high state. Then said

Gharib to Mura’ash, “What thinkest thou to do?” And Mura’ash replied,

“O King of mankind, I have despatched an hundred horse to learn where

Barkan is, that we may pursue him.” Then they abode three days in the

palace, till the scouting Marids returned with the news that Barkan had

fled to the Mountain Kaf and craved protection of the Blue King who

granted it; whereupon quoth Mura’ash to Gharib, “What sayest thou, O

my brother?” and quoth Gharib, “Except we attack them they will attack

us.” So they bade the host make ready for departure and after three

days, they were about to set out with their troops, when the Marids,

who had carried Sahim and the presents back to Oman, returned and

kissed ground before Gharib. He questioned them of his people and they

replied, “After the last affair, thy brother Ajib, leaving Ya’arub bin

Kahtan, fled to the King of Hind and, submitting his case, sought his

protection. The King granted his prayer and writing letters to all his

governors, levied an army as it were the surging sea, having neither

beginning nor end, wherewith he purposeth to invade Al-Irak and lay

it waste.” When Gharib heard this, he said, “Perish the Misbelievers!

Verily, Allah Almighty shall give the victory to Al-Islam and I will

soon show them hew and foin.” Said Mura’ash, “O King of humans, by the

virtue of the Mighty Name, I must needs go with thee to thy kingdom

and destroy thy foes and bring thee to thy wish.” Gharib thanked him

and they rested on this resolve till the morrow, when they set out,

intending for Mount Caucasus and marched many days till they reached

the City of Alabaster and the Pied Palace. Now this city was fashioned

of alabaster and precious stones by Bárik bin Fáki’, father of the

Jinn, and he also founded the Pied Palace, which was so named because

edified with one brick of gold alternating with one of silver, nor was

there builded aught like it in all the world. When they came within

half a day’s journey of the city, they halted to take their rest, and

Mura’ash sent out to reconnoitre a scout who returned and said, “O

King, within the City of Alabaster are legions of the Jinn, for number

as the leaves of the trees or as the drops of rain.” So Mura’ash said

to Gharib, “How shall we do, O King of Mankind?” He replied, “O King,

divide your men into four bodies and encompass with them the camp of

the Infidels; then, in the middle of the Night, let them cry out,

saying, ‘God is Most Great!’ and withdraw and watch what happeneth

among the tribes of the Jinn.” So Mura’ash did as Gharib counselled

and the troops waited till midnight, when they encircled the foe and

shouted “Allaho Akbar! Ho for the Faith of Abraham the Friend, on whom

be the Peace!” The Misbelievers at this cry awoke in affright and

snatching up their arms, fell one upon other till the morning, when

most part of them were dead bodies and but few remained. Then Gharib

cried out to the True Believers, saying, “Up and at the remnant of

the Kafirs! Behold I am with you, and Allah is your helper!” So the

Moslems drave at the enemy and Gharib bared his magical blade Al-Mahik

and fell upon the foe, lopping off noses and making heads wax hoary

and whole ranks turn tail. At last he came up with Barkan and smote

him and bereft him of life and he fell down, drenched in his blood.

On like wise he did with the Blue King, and by undurn-hour not one of

the Kafirs was left alive to tell the tale. Then Gharib and Mura’ash

entered the Pied Palace and found its walls builded of alternate

courses of gold and silver, with door-sills of crystal and keystones

of greenest emerald. In its midst was a fountain adorned with bells

and pendants and figures of birds and beasts spouting forth water, and

thereby a daïs[FN#43] furnished with gold-brocaded silk, bordered or

embroidered with jewels: and they found the treasures of the palace

past count or description. Then they entered the women’s court, where

they came upon a magnificent serraglio and Gharib saw, among the Blue

King’s woman-folk a girl clad in a dress worth a thousand dinars,

never had he beheld a goodlier. About her were an hundred slave-girls,

upholding her train with golden hooks, and she was in their midst as

the moon among stars. When he saw her, his reason was confounded and

he said to one of the waiting-women, “Who may be yonder maid?” Quoth

they, “This is the Blue King’s daughter, Star o’ Morn.”——And Shahrazad

perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.

When it was the Six Hundred and Fifty-ninth Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Gharib asked

the slave-women saying, “Who may be yonder maid,” they replied, “This

is Star o’ Morn, daughter to the Blue King.” Then Gharib turned to

Mura’ash and said to him, “O King of the Jinn, I have a mind to take

yonder damsel to wife.” Replied Mura’ash, “The palace and all that

therein is, live stock and dead, are the prize of thy right hand; for,

hadst thou not devised a stratagem to destroy the Blue King and Barkan,

they had cut us off to the last one: wherefore the treasure is thy

treasure and the folk thy thralls.” Gharib thanked him for his fair

speech and going up to the girl, gazed steadfastly upon her and loved

her with exceeding love, forgetting Fakhr Taj the Princess and even

Mahdiyah. Now her mother was the Chinese King’s daughter whom the Blue

King had carried off from her palace and perforce deflowered, and she

conceived by him and bare this girl, whom he named Star o’ Morn, by

reason of her beauty and loveliness; for she was the very Princess of

the Fair. Her mother died when she was a babe of forty days, and the

nurses and eunuchs reared her, till she reached the age of seventeen;

but she hated her sire and rejoiced in his slaughter. So Gharib put his

palm to hers[FN#44] and went in unto her that night and found her a

virgin. Then he bade pull down the Pied Palace and divided the spoil

with the true-believing Jinn, and there fell to his share

one-and-twenty thousand bricks of gold and silver and money and

treasure beyond speech and count. Then Mura’ash took Gharib and showed

him the Mountain Kaf and all its marvels; after which they returned to

Barkan’s fortress and dismantled it and shared the spoil thereof. Then

they repaired to Mura’ash’s capital, where they tarried five days, when

Gharib sought to revisit his native country and Mura’ash said, “O King

of mankind, I will ride at thy stirrup and bring thee to thine own

land.” Replied Gharib, “No, by the virtue of Abraham the Friend, I will

not suffer thee to weary thyself thus, nor will I take any of the Jinn

save Kaylajan and Kurajan.” Quoth the King, “Take with thee ten

thousand horsemen of the Jinn, to serve thee;” but quoth Gharib, “I

will take only as I said to thee.” So Mura’ash bade a thousand Marids

carry him to his native land, with his share of the spoil; and he

commanded Kaylajan and Kurajan to follow him and obey him; and they

answered, “Hearkening and obedience.” Then said Gharib to the Marids,

“Do ye carry the treasure and Star o’ Morn;” for he himself thought to

ride his flying steed. But Mura’ash said to him, “This horse, O my

brother, will live only in our region, and, if it come upon man’s

earth, ’twill die: but I have in my stables a sea-horse, whose fellow

is not found in Al-Irak, no, nor in all the world is its like.” So he

caused bring forth the horse, and when Gharib saw it, it interposed

between him and his wits.[FN#45] Then they bound it and Kaylajan bore

it on his shoulders and Kurajan took what he could carry. And Mura’ash

embraced Gharib and wept for parting from him, saying, “O my brother,

if aught befal thee wherein thou art powerless, send for me and I will

come to thine aid with an army able to lay waste the whole earth and

what is thereon.” Gharib thanked him for his kindness and zeal for the

True Faith and took leave of him; whereupon the Marids set out with

Gharib and his goods; and, after traversing fifty years’ journey in two

days and a night, alighted near the city of Oman and halted to take

rest. Then Gharib sent out Kaylajan, to learn news of his people, and

he returned and said, “O King, the city is beleaguered by a host of

Infidels, as they were the surging sea, and thy people are fighting

them. The drums beat to battle and Jamrkan goeth forth as champion in

the field.” When Gharib heard this, he cried aloud, “God is Most

Great!” and said to Kaylajan, “Saddle me the steed and bring me my arms

and spear; for to-day the valiant shall be known from the coward in the

place of war and battle-stead.” So Kaylajan brought him all he sought

and Gharib armed and belting in baldrick Al-Mahik, mounted the sea

horse and made toward the hosts. Quoth Kaylajan and Kurajan to him, “Set

thy heart at rest and let us go to the Kafirs and scatter them abroad

in the wastes and wilds till, by the help of Allah, the All-powerful,

we leave not a soul alive, no, not a blower of the fire.” But Gharib

said “By the virtue of Abraham the Friend, I will not let you fight

them without me and behold, I mount!” Now the cause of the coming of

that great host was right marvellous.[FN#46]——And Shahrazad perceived

the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.

When it was the Six Hundred and Sixtieth Night,

She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Gharib

had bidden Kaylajan go and learn news of his people, the Jinn fared

forth and presently returning said, “Verily around thy city is a mighty

host!” Now the cause of its coming was that Ajib, having fled the field

after Ya’arub’s army had been put to the rout, said to his people, “O

folk, if we return to Ya’arub bin Kahtan, he will say to us, ‘But for

you, my son and my people had not been slain; and he will put us to

death, even to the last man.’ Wherefore, methinks we were better go to

Tarkanán, King of Hind, and beseech him to avenge us.” Replied they,

“Come, let us go thither; and the blessing of the Fire be upon thee!”

So they fared days and nights till they reached King Tarkanan’s capital

city and, after asking and obtaining permission to present himself,

Ajib went in to him and kissed ground before him. Then he wished him

what men use to wish to monarchy and said to him, “O King, protect me,

so may protect thee the sparkling Fire and the Night with its thick

darkness!” Tarkanan looked at Ajib and asked, “Who art thou and what

dost thou want?”; to which the other answered, “I am Ajib King of

Al-Irak; my brother hath wronged me and gotten the mastery of the land

and the subjects have submitted themselves to him. Moreover, he hath

embraced the faith of Al-Islam and he ceaseth not to chase me from

country to country; and behold, I am come to seek protection of thee

and thy power.” When Tarkanan heard Ajib’s words, he rose and sat down

and cried, “By the virtue of the Fire, I will assuredly avenge thee and

will let none serve other than my goddess the Fire!” And he called

aloud to his son, saying, “O my son, make ready to go to Al-Irak and

lay it waste and bind all who serve aught but the Fire and torment them

and make example of them; yet slay them not, but bring them to me, that

I may ply them with various tortures and make them taste the bitterness

of humiliation and leave them a warning to whoso will be warned in this

our while.” Then he chose out to accompany him eighty thousand fighting

men on horseback and the like number on giraffes,[FN#47] besides ten

thousand elephants, bearing on their backs seats[FN#48] of sandal-wood,

latticed with golden rods, plated and studded with gold and silver and

shielded with pavoises of gold and emerald; moreover he sent good store

of war-chariots, in each eight men fighting with all kinds of weapons.

Now the Prince’s name was Ra’ad Sháh,[FN#49] and he was the champion of

his time, for prowess having no peer. So he and his army equipped them

in ten days’ time, then set out, as they were a bank of clouds, and

fared on two months’ journey, till they came upon Oman city and

encompassed it, to the joy of Ajib, who thought himself assured of

victory. Jamrkan and Sa’adan and all their fighting-men sallied forth

into the field of fight whilst the kettle-drums beat to battle and the

horses neighed. At this moment up came King Gharib, who, as we have

said, had been warned by Kaylajan; and he urged on his destrier and

entered among the Infidels waiting to see who should come forth and

open the chapter of war. Then out rushed Sa’adan the Ghul and offered

combat, whereupon there issued forth to him one of the champions of

Hind; but Sa’adan scarce let him take stand in front ere he smote him

with his mace and crushed his bones and stretched him on the ground;

and so did he with a second and a third, till he had slain thirty

fighting-men. Then there dashed out at him an Indian cavalier, by name

Battásh al-Akrán,[FN#50] uncle to King Tarkanan and of his day the

doughtiest man, reckoned worth five thousand horse in battle-plain and

cried out to Sa’adan, saying, “O thief of the Arabs, hath thy daring

reached that degree that thou shouldst slay the Kings of Hind and their

champions and capture their horsemen? But this day is the last of thy

worldly days.” When Sa’adan heard these words, his eyes waxed blood-red

and he drave at Battash and aimed a stroke at him with his club; but he

evaded it and the force of the blow bore Sa’adan to the ground; and

before he could recover himself, the Indians pinioned him and haled him

off to their tents. Now when Jamrkan saw his comrade a prisoner, he

cried out, saying, “Ho for the Faith of Abraham the Friend!” and

clapping heel to his horse, ran at Battash. They wheeled about awhile,

till Battash charged Jamrkan and catching him by his jerkin[FN#51] tare

him from his saddle and cast him to the ground; whereupon the Indians

bound him and dragged him away to their tents. And Battash ceased not

to overcome all who came out to him, Captain after Captain till he had

made prisoners of four-and-twenty Chiefs of the Moslems, whereat the

True Believers were sore dismayed. When Gharib saw what had befallen

his braves, he drew from beneath his knee[FN#52] a mace of gold

weighing six-score pounds which had belonged to Barkan King of the

Jann——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her

permitted say.

When it was the Six Hundred and Sixty-first Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Gharib

beheld what had befallen his braves he drew forth a golden mace which

had belonged to Barkan King of the Jann and clapped heel to his

sea-horse, which bore him like the wind-gust into mid-field. Then he

let drive at Battash, crying out, “God is Most Great! He giveth aid and

victory and He abaseth whoso reject the Faith of Abraham the Friend!”

and smote him with the mace, whereupon he fell to the ground and

Gharib, turning to the Moslems, saw his brother Sahim and said to him,

“Pinion me this hound.” When Sahim heard his brother’s words, he ran to

Battash and bound him hard and fast and bore him off, whilst the Moslem

braves wondered who this knight could be and the Indians said one to

other, “Who is this horseman which came out from among them and hath

taken our Chief prisoner?” Meanwhile Gharib continued to offer battle

and there issued forth to him a captain of the Hindís whom he felled to

earth with his mace, and Kaylajan and Kurajan pinioned him and

delivered him over to Sahim; nor did Gharib leave to do thus, till he

had taken prisoner two-and-fifty of the doughtiest Captains of the army

of Hind. Then the day came to an end and the kettle-drums beat the

retreat; whereupon Gharib left the field and rode towards the Moslem

camp. The first to meet him was Sahim, who kissed his feet in the

stirrups and said, “May thy hand never wither, O champion of the age!

Tell us who thou art among the braves.” So Gharib raised his vizor of

mail and Sahim knew him and cried out, saying, “This is your King and

your lord Gharib, who is come back from the land of the Jann!” When the

Moslems heard Gharib’s name, they threw themselves off their horses’

backs, and, crowding about him, kissed his feet in the stirrups and

saluted him, rejoicing in his safe return. Then they carried him into

the city of Oman, where he entered his palace and sat down on the

throne of his kingship, whilst his officers stood around him in the

utmost joy. Food was set on and they ate, after which Gharib related to

them all that had betided him with the Jinn in Mount Kaf, and they

marvelled thereat with exceeding marvel and praised Allah for his

safety. Then he dismissed them to their sleeping places; so they

withdrew to their several lodgings, and when none abode with him but

Kaylajan and Kurajan, who never left him, he said to them, “Can ye

carry me to Cufa that I may take my pleasure in my Harim, and bring me

back before the end of the night?” They replied, “O our lord, this thou

askest is easy.” Now the distance between Cufa and Oman is sixty days’

journey for a diligent horseman, and Kaylajan said to Kurajan, “I will

carry him going and thou coming back.” So he took up Gharib and flew

off with him, in company with Kurajan; nor was an hour past before they

set him down at the gate of his palace, in Cufa. He went in to his

uncle Al-Damigh, who rose to him and saluted him; after which quoth

Gharib, “How is it with my wives Fakhr Taj[FN#53] and Mahdiyah?”

Al-Damigh answered, “They are both well and in good case.” Then the

eunuch went in and acquainted the women of the Harim with Gharib’s

coming, whereat they rejoiced and raised the trill of joy and gave him

the reward for good news. Presently in came King Gharib, and they rose

and saluting him, conversed with him, till Al-Damigh entered, when

Gharib related to them all that had befallen him in the land of the

Jinn, whereat they all marvelled. Then he lay with Fakhr Taj till near

daybreak, when he took leave of his wives and his uncle and mounted

Kurajan’s back, nor was the darkness dispelled before the two Marids

set him down in the city of Oman. Then he and his men armed and he bade

open the gates when, behold, up came a horseman from the host of the

Indians, with Jamrkan and Sa’adan and the rest of the captive captains

whom he had delivered, and committed them to Gharib. The Moslems,

rejoicing in their safety, donned their mails and took horse, while the

kettle-drums beat a point of war; and the Miscreants also drew up in

line.——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her

permitted say.

When it was the Six Hundred and Sixty-second Night,

She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the

Moslem host mounted and rode to the plain of cut and thrust, the first

to open the door of war was King Gharib who, drawing his sword

Al-Mahik, drove his charger between the two ranks and cried out,

saying, “Whoso knoweth me hath enough of my mischief and whoso

unknoweth me, to him I will make myself known. I am Gharib, King of

Al-Irak and Al-Yaman, brother of Ajib.” When Ra’ad Shah, son of the

King of Hind, heard this, he shouted to his captains, “Bring me Ajib.”

So they brought him and Ra’ad Shah said to him, “Thou wottest that this

quarrel is thy quarrel and thou art the cause of all this slaughter.

Now yonder standeth thy brother Gharib amiddle-most the fightfield and

stead where sword and spear we shall wield; go thou to him and bring

him to me a prisoner, that I may set him on a camel arsy-versy, and

make a show of him and carry him to the land of Hind.” Answered Ajib,

“O King, send out to him other than I, for I am in ill-health this

morning.” But Ra’ad Shah snarked and snorted and cried, “By the virtue

of the sparkling Fire and the light and the shade and the heat, unless

thou fare forth to thy brother and bring him to me in haste, I will cut

off thy head and make an end of thee.” So Ajib took heart and urging

his horse up to his brother in mid-field, said to him, “O dog of the

Arabs and vilest of all who hammer down tent pegs, wilt thou contend

with Kings? Take what to thee cometh and receive the glad tidings of

thy death.” When Gharib heard this, he said to him, “Who art thou among

the Kings?” And Ajib answered, saying, “I am thy brother, and this day

is the last of thy worldly days.” Now when Gharib was assured that he

was indeed his brother Ajib, he cried out and said, “Ho, to avenge my

father and mother!” Then giving his sword to Kaylajan,[FN#54] he drave

at Ajib and smote him with his mace a smashing blow and a swashing,

that went nigh to beat in his ribs, and seizing him by the mail-gorget

tore him from the saddle and cast him to the ground; whereupon the two

Marids pounced upon him and binding him fast, dragged him off dejected

and abject; whilst Gharib rejoiced in the capture of his enemy and

repeated these couplets of the poet,

“I have won my wish and my need have scored * Unto Thee be the praise

and the thanks, O our

Lord!

I grew up dejected and abject; poor, * But Allah vouchsafed me all

boons implored:

I have conquered countries and mastered men * But for Thee were I

naught, O thou Lord

adored!”

When Ra’ad Shah saw how evilly Ajib fared with his brother, he called

for his charger and donning his harness and habergeon, mounted and

dashed out a-field. As soon as he drew near King Gharib, he cried out

at him, saying, “O basest of Arabs and bearer of scrubs,[FN#55] who art

thou, that thou shouldest capture Kings and braves? Down from thy horse

and put elbows behind back and kiss my feet and set my warriors free

and go with me in bond of chains to my reign that I may pardon thee and

make thee a Shaykh in our own land, so mayst thou eat there a bittock

of bread.” When Gharib heard these words he laughed till he fell

backwards and answered, saying, “O mad hound and mangy wolf, soon shalt

thou see against whom the shifts of Fortune will turn!” Then he cried

out to Sahim, saying, “Bring me the prisoners;” so he brought them, and

Gharib smote off their heads; whereupon Ra’ad Shah drave at him, with

the driving of a lordly champion and the onslaught of a fierce

slaughterer and they falsed and feinted and fought till nightfall, when

the kettle-drums beat the retreat.——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of

day and ceased saying her permitted say.

When it was the Six Hundred and Sixty-third Night,

She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the

kettle-drums beat the retreat, the two Kings parted and returned, each

to his own place where his people gave him joy of his safety. And the

Moslems said to Gharib, “’Tis not thy want, O King, to prolong a

fight;” and he replied, “O folk, I have done battle with many

royalties[FN#56] and champions; but never saw I a harder hitter than

this one. Had I chosen to draw Al-Mahik upon him, I had mashed his

bones and made an end of his days: but I delayed with him, thinking to

take him prisoner and give him part enjoyment in Al-Islam.” Thus far

concerning Gharib; but as regards Ra’ad Shah, he returned to his

marquee and sat upon his throne, when his Chiefs came in to him and

asked him of his adversary, and he answered, “By the truth of the

sparkling Fire, never in my life saw I the like of yonder brave! But

to-morrow I will take him prisoner and lead him away dejected and

abject.” Then they slept till daybreak, when the battle-drums beat to

fight and the swords in baldric were dight; and war-cries were cried

amain and all mounted their horses of generous strain and drew out into

the field, filling every wide place and hill and plain. The first to

open the door of war was the rider outrageous and the lion rageous,

King Gharib, who drave his steed between the two hosts and wheeled and

careered over the field, crying, “Who is for fray, who is for fight?

Let no sluggard come out to me this day nor dullard!” Before he had

made an end of speaking, out rushed Ra’ad Shah, riding on an elephant,

as he were a vast tower, in a seat girthed with silken bands; and

between the elephant’s ears sat the driver, bearing in hand a hook,

wherewith he goaded the beast and directed him right and left. When the

elephant drew near Gharib’s horse, and the steed saw a creature it had

never before set eyes on, it took fright;[FN#57] wherefore Gharib

dismounted and gave the horse to Kaylajan. Then he drew Al-Mahik and

advanced to meet Ra’ad Shah a-foot, walking on till he faced the

elephant. Now it was Ra’ad Shah’s wont, when he found himself

overmatched by any brave, to mount an elephant, taking with him an

implement called the lasso,[FN#58] which was in the shape of a net,

wide at base and narrow at top with a running cord of silk passed

through rings along its edges. With this he would attack horsemen and

casting the meshes over them, draw the running noose and drag the rider

off his horse and make him prisoner; and thus had he conquered many

cavaliers. So, as Gharib came up to him, he raised his hand and,

despreading the net over him, pulled him on to the back of the elephant

and cried out to the beast to return to the Indian camp. But Kaylajan

and Kurajan had not left Gharib and, when they beheld what had befallen

their lord, they laid hold of the elephant, whilst Gharib strove with

the net, till he rent it in sunder. Upon this the two Marids seized

Ra’ad Shah and bound him with a cord of palm fibre. Then the two armies

drove each at other and met with a shock like two seas crashing or two

mountains together dashing, whilst the dust rose to the confines of the

sky and blinded was every eye. The battle waxed fierce and fell, the

blood ran in rills, nor did they cease to wage war with lunge of lance

and sway of sword in lustiest way, till the day darkened and the night

starkened, when the drums beat the retreat and the two hosts drew

asunder.[FN#59] Now the Moslems were evilly entreated that day by

reason of the riders on elephants and giraffes,[FN#60] and many of them

were killed and most of the rest were wounded. This was grievous to

Gharib who commanded the hurt to be medicined and turning to his Chief

Officers, asked them what they counselled. Answered they, “O King, ’tis

only the elephants and giraffes that irk us; were we but quit of them,

we should overcome the enemy.” Quoth Kaylajan and Kurajan, “We twain

will unsheath our swords and fall on them and slay the most part of

them.” But there came forward a man of Oman, who had been privy

counsellor to Jaland and said, “O King, I will be surety for the host,

an thou wilt but hearken to me and follow my counsel.” Gharib turned to

his Captains and said to them, “Whatsoever this wise man shall say to

you that do.”——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say

her permitted say.

When it was the Six Hundred and Sixty-fourth Night,

She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Gharib

said to his Captains, “Whatsoever this wise man shall say to you, that

do”; they replied, “Hearing and obeying!” So the Omani chose out ten

captains and asked them, “How many braves have ye under your hands?”;

and they answered, “Ten thousand fighting-men.” Then he carried them

into the armoury and armed five thousand of them with harquebuses and

other five thousand with cross bows and taught them to shoot with these

new weapons.[FN#61] Now as soon as it was day, the Indians came out to

the field, armed cap-à-pie, with the elephants, giraffes and champions

in their van; whereupon Gharib and his men mounted and both hosts drew

out and the big drums beat to battle. Then the man of Oman cried out to

the archers and harquebusiers to shoot, and they plied the elephants

and giraffes with shafts and leaden bullets, which entered the beasts’

flanks, whereat they roared out and turning upon their own ranks, trod

them down with their hoofs. Presently the Moslems charged the

Misbelievers and outflanked them right and left, whilst the elephants

and giraffes trampled them and drove them into the hills and wolds,

whither the Moslems followed hard upon them with the keen-edged sword

and but few of the giraffes and elephants escaped. Then King Gharib and

his folk returned, rejoicing in their victory; and on the morrow they

divided the loot and rested five days; after which King Gharib sat down

on the throne of his kingship and sending for his brother Ajib, said to

him, “O dog, why hast thou assembled the Kings against us? But He who

hath power over all things hath given us the victory over thee. So

embrace the Saving Faith and thou shalt be saved, and I will forbear to

avenge my father and mother on thee therefor, and I will make thee King

again as thou wast, placing myself under thy hand.” But Ajib said, “I

will not leave my faith.” So Gharib bade lay him in irons and appointed

an hundred stalwart slaves to guard him; after which he turned to Ra’ad

Shah and said to him, “How sayst thou of the faith of Al-Islam?”

Replied he, “O my lord, I will enter thy faith; for, were it not a true

Faith and a goodly, thou hadst not conquered us. Put forth thy hand and

I will testify that there is no god but _the_ God and that Abraham the

Friend is the Apostle of God.” At this Gharib rejoiced and said to him,

“Is thy heart indeed stablished in the sweetness of this Belief?” And

he answered, saying, “Yes, O my lord!” Then quoth Gharib, “O Ra’ad

Shah, wilt thou go to thy country and thy kingdom?” and quoth he, “O,

my lord, my father will put me to death, for that I have left his

faith.” Gharib rejoined, “I will go with thee and make thee king of the

country and constrain the folk to obey thee, by the help of Allah the

Bountiful, the Beneficent.” And Ra’ad Shah kissed his hands and feet.

Then Gharib rewarded the counsellor who had caused the rout of the foe

and gave him great wealth; after which he turned to Kaylajan and

Kurajan, and said to them, “Harkye, Chiefs of the Jinn, ’tis my will

that ye carry me, together with Ra’ad Shah and Jamrkan and Sa’adan to

the land of Hind.” “We hear and we obey,” answered they. So Kurajan

took up Jamrkan and Sa’adan, whilst Kaylajan took Gharib and Ra’ad Shah

and made for the land of Hind.——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day

and ceased saying her permitted say.

When it was the Six Hundred and Sixty-fifth Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the two

Marids had taken up Gharib and Jamrkan, Sa’adan the Ghul and Ra’ad

Shah, they flew on with them from sundown till the last of the Night,

when they set them down on the terrace of King Tarkanan’s palace at

Cashmere. Now news was brought to Tarkanan by the remnants of his host

of what had befallen his son, whereat he slept not neither took delight

in aught, and he was troubled with sore trouble. As he sat in his

Harim, pondering his case, behold, Gharib and his company descended the

stairways of the palace and came in to him; and when he saw his son and

those who were with him, he was confused and fear took him of the

Marids. Then Ra’ad Shah turned to him and said, “How long wilt thou

persist in thy frowardness, O traitor and worshipper of the Fire? Woe

to thee! Leave worshipping the Fire and serve the Magnanimous Sire,

Creator of day and night, whom attaineth no sight.” When Tarkanan heard

his son’s speech, he cast at him an iron club he had by him; but it

missed him and fell upon a buttress of the palace and smote out three

stones. Then cried the King, “O dog, thou hast destroyed mine army and

hast forsaken thy faith and comest now to make me do likewise!” With

this Gharib went up to him and dealt him a cuff on the neck which

knocked him down; whereupon the Marids bound him fast and all the

Harim-women fled. Then Gharib sat down on the throne of kingship and

said to Ra’ad Shah, “Do thou justice upon thy father.” So Ra’ad Shah

turned to him and said, “O perverse old man, become one of the saved

and thou shalt be saved from the fire and the wrath of the

All-powerful.” But Tarkanan cried, “I will not die save in my own

faith.” Whereupon Gharib drew Al-Mahik and smote him therewith and he

fell to the earth in two pieces, and Allah hurried his soul to the fire

and abiding-place dire.[FN#62] Then Gharib bade hang his body over the

palace gate and they hung one half on the right hand and the other on

the left and waited till day, when Gharib caused Ra’ad Shah don the

royal habit and sit down on his father’s throne, with himself on his

dexter hand and Jamrkan and Sa’adan and the Marids standing right and

left; and he said to Kaylajan and Kurajan, “Whoso entereth of the

Princes and Officers, seize him and bind him, and let not a single

Captain escape you.” And they answered, “Hearkening and obedience!”

Presently, the Officers made for the palace, to do their service to the

King, and the first to appear was the Chief Captain who, seeing King

Tarkanan’s dead body cut in half and hanging on either side of the

gate, was seized with terror and amazement. Then Kaylajan laid hold of

him by the collar and threw him and pinioned him; after which he dragged

him into the palace and before sunrise they had bound three hundred and

fifty Captains and set them before Gharib, who said to them, “O folk,

have you seen your King hanging at the palace gate?” Asked they, “Who

hath done this deed?”; and he answered, “I did it, by the help of Allah

Almighty; and whoso opposeth me, I will do with him likewise.” Then

quoth they, “What is thy will with us?”; and quoth he, “I am Gharib,

King of Al-Irak, he who slew your warriors; and now Ra’ad Shah hath

embraced the Faith of Salvation and is become a mighty King and ruler

over you. So do ye become True Believers and all shall be well with

you; but, if ye refuse, you shall repent it.” So they pronounced the

profession of the Faith and were enrolled among the people of felicity.

Then said Gharib, “Are your hearts indeed stablished in the sweetness

of the Belief?”; and they replied, “Yes”; whereupon he bade release

them and clad them in robes of honour, saying, “Go to your people and

expound Al-Islam to them. Whoso accepteth the Faith spare him; but if

he refuse slay him.”——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased

to say her permitted say.

When it was the Six Hundred and Sixty-sixth Night,

She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that King Gharib

said to the troops of Ra’ad Shah, “Go to your people and offer Al-Islam

to them. Whoso accepteth the Faith spare him; but if he refuse, slay

him.” So they went out and, assembling the men under their command,

explained what had taken place and expounded Al-Islam to them and they

all professed, except a few, whom they put to death; after which they

returned and told Gharib, who blessed Allah and glorified Him, saying,

“Praised be the Almighty who hath made this thing easy to us without

strife!” Then he abode in Cashmere of India forty days, till he had

ordered the affairs of the country and cast down the shrines and

temples of the Fire and built in their stead mosques and cathedrals,

whilst Ra’ad Shah made ready for him rarities and treasures beyond

count and despatched them to Al-Irak in ships. Then Gharib mounted on

Kaylajan’s back and Jamrkan and Sa’adan on that of Kurajan, after they

had taken leave of Ra’ad Shah; and journeyed through the night till

break of day, when they reached Oman city where their troops met them

and saluted them and rejoiced in them. Then they set out for Cufa where

Gharib called for his brother Ajib and commanded to hang him. So Sahim

brought hooks of iron and driving them into the tendons of Ajib’s

heels, hung him over the gate; and Gharib bade them shoot him; so they

riddled him with arrows, till he was like unto a porcupine. Then Gharib

entered his palace and sitting down on the throne of his kingship,

passed the day in ordering the affairs of the state. At nightfall he

went in to his Harim, where Star o’ Morn came to meet him and embraced

him and gave him joy, she and her women, of his safety. He spent that

day and lay that night with her and on the morrow, after he had made

the Ghusl-ablution and prayed the dawn-prayer, he sat down on his

throne and commanded preparation to be made for his marriage with

Mahdiyah. Accordingly they slaughtered three thousand head of sheep and

two thousand oxen and a thousand he goats and five hundred camels and

the like number of horses, beside four thousand fowls and great store

of geese; never was such wedding in Al-Islam to that day. Then he went

in to Mahdiyah and took her maidenhead and abode with her ten days;

after which he committed the kingdom to his uncle Al-Damigh, charging

him to rule the lieges justly, and journeyed with his women and

warriors, till he came to the ships laden with the treasures and

rarities which Ra’ad Shah had sent him, and divided the monies among

his men who from poor became rich. Then they fared on till they reached

the city of Babel, where he bestowed on Sahim Al-Layl a robe of honour

and appointed him Sultan of the city.——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn

of day and ceased saying her permitted say.

When it was the Six Hundred and Sixty-seventh Night,

She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Gharib, after

robing his brother Sahim and appointing him Sultan, abode with him ten

days, after which he set out again and journeyed nor stinted travel

till he reached the castle of Sa’adan the Ghul, where they rested five

days. Then quoth Gharib to Kaylajan and Kurajan, “Pass over to Isbánír

al-Madáin, to the palace of the Chosroe, and find what is come of Fakhr

Taj and bring me one of the King’s kinsmen, who shall acquaint me with

what hath passed.” Quoth they, “We hear and we obey,” and set out

forthright for Isbanir. As they flew between heaven and earth, behold,

they caught sight of a mighty army, as it were the surging sea, and

Kaylajan said to Kurajan, “Let us descend and determine what be this

host.” So they alighted and walking among the troops, found them

Persians and questioned the soldiers whose men they were and whither

they were bound; whereto they made answer, “We are _en route_ for

Al-Irak, to slay Gharib and all who company him.” When the Marids heard

these words, they repaired to the pavilion of the Persian general,

whose name was Rustam, and waited till the soldiers slept, when they

took up Rustam, bed and all, and made for the castle where Gharib lay.

They arrived there by midnight and going to the door of the King’s

pavilion, cried, “Permission!” which when he heard, he sat up and said,

“Come in.” So they entered and set down the couch with Rustam asleep

thereon. Gharib asked, “Who be this?” and they answered, “This be a

Persian Prince, whom we met coming with a great host, thinking to slay

thee and thine, and we have brought him to thee, that he may tell thee

what thou hast a mind to know.” “Fetch me an hundred braves!” cried

Gharib, and they fetched them; whereupon he bade them, “Draw your

swords and stand at the head of this Persian carle!” Then they awoke

him and he opened his eyes; and, finding an arch of steel over his

head, shut them again, crying, “What be this foul dream?” But Kaylajan

pricked him with his sword point and he sat up and said, “Where am I?”

Quoth Sahim, “Thou art in the presence of King Gharib, son-in-law of

the King of the Persians. What is thy name and whither goest thou?”

When Rustam heard Gharib’s name, he bethought himself and said in his

mind, “Am I asleep or awake?” Whereupon Sahim dealt him a buffet,

saying, “Why dost thou not answer?” And he raised his head and asked,

“Who brought me from my tent out of the midst of my men?” Gharib

answered, “These two Marids brought thee.” So he looked at Kaylajan and

Kurajan and skited in his bag-trousers. Then the Marids fell upon him,

baring their tusks and brandishing their blades, and said to him, “Wilt

thou not rise and kiss ground before King Gharib?” And he trembled at

them and was assured that he was not asleep; so he stood up and kissed

the ground between the hands of Gharib, saying, “The blessing of the

Fire be on thee, and long life be thy life, O King!” Gharib cried, “O

dog of the Persians, fire is not worshipful, for that it is harmful and

profiteth not save in cooking food.” Asked Rustam, “Who then is

worshipful?”; and Gharib answered, “Alone worship-worth is God, who

formed thee and fashioned thee and created the heavens and the earth.”

Quoth the Ajami, “What shall I say that I may become of the party of

this Lord and enter thy Faith?”; and quoth Gharib, “Say:—There is no

god but _the_ God, and Abraham is the Friend of God.” So Rustam

pronounced the profession of the Faith and was enrolled among the

people of felicity. Then said he to Gharib, “Know, O my lord, that thy

father-in-law, King Sabur, seeketh to slay thee; and indeed he hath

sent me with an hundred thousand men, charging me to spare none of

you.” Gharib rejoined, “Is this my reward for having delivered his

daughter from death and dishonour? Allah will requite him his ill

intent. But what is thy name?” The Persian answered, “My name is

Rustam, general of Sabur;” and Gharib, “Thou shalt have the like rank

in my army,” adding, “But tell me, O Rustam, how is it with the

Princess Fakhr Taj?” “May thy head live, O King of the age!” “What was

the cause of her death?” Rustam replied, “O my lord, no sooner hadst

thou left us than one of the Princess’s women went in to King Sabur and

said to him,:—O my master, didst thou give Gharib leave to lie with the

Princess my mistress? whereto he answered,:—No, by the virtue of the

fire! and drawing his sword, went in to his daughter and said to her,:—O

foul baggage, why didst thou suffer yonder Badawi to sleep with

thee, without dower or even wedding? She replied,:—O my papa, ’twas

thou gavest him leave to sleep with me. Then he asked,:—Did the fellow

have thee? but she was silent and hung down her head. Hereupon he

cried out to the midwives and slave-girls, saying,:—Pinion me this

harlot’s elbows behind her and look at her privy parts. So they did as

he bade them and after inspecting her slit said to him,:—O King, she

hath lost her maidenhead. Whereupon he ran at her and would have slain

her, but her mother rose up and threw herself between them crying,:—O

King, slay her not, lest thou be for ever dishonoured; but shut her in

a cell till she die. So he cast her into prison till nightfall, when

he called two of his courtiers and said to them,:—Carry her afar off

and throw her into the river Jayhun and tell none. They did his

commandment, and indeed her memory is forgotten and her time is

past.”——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her

permitted say.

When it was the Six Hundred and Sixty-eighth Night,

She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Gharib

asked news of Fakhr Taj, Rustam informed him that she had been drowned

in the river by her sire’s command. And when Gharib heard this, the

world waxed wan before his eyes and he cried, “By the virtue of Abraham

the Friend, I will assuredly go to yonder dog and overwhelm him and lay

waste his realm!” Then he sent letters to Jamrkan and to the governors

of Mosul and Mayyáfáríkín; and, turning to Rustam, said to him, “How

many men hadst thou in thine army?” He replied, “An hundred thousand

Persian horse;” and Gharib rejoined, “Take ten thousand horse and go to

thy people and occupy them with war; I will follow on thy trail.” So

Rustam mounted and taking ten thousand Arab horse made for his tribe,

saying in himself, “I will do a deed shall whiten my face with King

Gharib.” So he fared on seven days, till there remained but half a

day’s journey between him and the Persian camp; when, dividing his host

into four divisions he said to his men, “Surround the Persians on all

sides and fall upon them with the sword.” They rode on from eventide

till midnight, when they had compassed the camp of the Ajams, who were

asleep in security, and fell upon them, shouting, “God is Most Great!”

Whereupon the Persians started up from sleep and their feet slipped and

the sabre went round amongst them; for the All-knowing King was wroth

with them, and Rustam wrought amongst them as fire in dry fuel; till,

by the end of the night, the whole of the Persian host was slain or

wounded or fled, and the Moslems made prize of their tents and baggage,

horses, camels and treasure-chests. Then they alighted and rested in

the tents of the Ajams till King Gharib came up and, seeing what Rustam

had done and how he had gained by stratagem a great and complete

victory, he invested him with a robe of honour and said to him, “O

Rustam, it was thou didst put the Persians to the rout; wherefore all

the spoil is thine.” So he kissed Gharib’s hand and thanked him, and

they rested till the end of the day, when they set out for King Sabur’s

capital. Meanwhile, the fugitives of the defeated force reached Isbanir

and went in to Sabur, crying out and saying, “Alas!” and “Well-away!”

and “Woe worth the day!” Quoth he, “What hath befallen you and who with

his mischief hath smitten you?” So they told him all that had passed

and said, “Naught befel us except that thy general Rustam, fell upon us

in the darkness of the night because he had turned Moslem; nor did

Gharib come near us.” When the King heard this, he cast his crown to

the ground and said, “There is no worth left us!” Then he turned to his

son Ward Shah[FN#63] and said to him, “O my son, there is none for this

affair save thou.” Answered Ward Shah, “By thy life, O my father, I

will assuredly bring Gharib and his chiefs of the people in chains and

slay all who are with him.” Then he numbered his army and found it two

hundred and twenty thousand men. So they slept, intending to set forth

on the morrow; but, next morning, as they were about to march, behold,

a cloud of dust arose and spread till it walled the world and baffled

the sight of the farthest-seeing wight. Now Sabur had mounted to

farewell his son, and when he saw this mighty great dust, he let call a

runner and said to him, “Go find me out the cause of this dust-cloud.”

The scout went and returned, saying, “O my lord, Gharib and his braves

are upon you;” whereupon they unloaded their bât-beasts and drew out in

line of battle. When Gharib came up and saw the Persians ranged in row,

he cried out to his men, saying, “Charge with the blessing of Allah!”

So they waved the flags, and the Arabs and the Ajamis drave one at

other and folk were heaped upon folk. Blood ran like water and all

souls saw death face to face; the brave advanced and pressed forward to

assail and the coward hung back and turned tail and they ceased not

from fight and fray till ended day, when the kettle-drums beat the

retreat and the two hosts drew apart. Then Sabur commanded to pitch his

camp hard over the city-gate, and Gharib set up his pavilions in front

of theirs; and every one went to his tent.——And Shahrazad perceived the

dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.

When it was the Six Hundred and Sixty-ninth Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the two

hosts drew apart, every one went to his tent until the morning. As soon

as it was day, the two hosts mounted their strong steeds and levelled

their lances and wore their harness of war; then they raised their

slogan cries and drew out in battle-array, whilst came forth all the

lordly knights and the lions of fights. Now the first to open the gate

of battle was Rustam, who urged his charger into mid-field and cried

out, “God is most Great! I am Rustam, champion-in-chief of the Arabs

and Ajams. Who is for tilting, who is for fighting? Let no sluggard

come out to me this day or weakling!” Then there rushed forth to him a

champion of the Persians; the two charged each other and there befel

between them a sore fight, till Rustam sprang upon his adversary and

smote him with a mace he had with him, seventy pounds in weight, and

beat his head down upon his breast, and he fell to the earth, dead and

in his blood drowned. This was no light matter to Sabur and he

commanded his men to charge; so they drave at the Moslems, invoking the

aid of the light-giving Sun, whilst the True Believers called for help

upon the Magnanimous King. But the Ajams, the Miscreants, outnumbered

the Arabs, the Moslems, and made them drain the cup of death; which

when Gharib saw he drew his sword Al-Mahik and crying out his war-cry,

fell upon the Persians, with Kaylajan and Kurajan at either stirrup;

nor did he leave playing upon them with blade till he hewed his way to

the standard-bearer and smote him on the head with the flat of his

sword, whereupon he fell down in a fainting-fit and the two Marids bore

him off to their camp. When the Persians saw the standard fall, they

turned and fled and for the city-gates made; but the Moslems followed

them with the blade and they crowded together to enter the city, so

that they could not shut the gates and there died of them much people.

Then Rustam and Sa’adan, Jamrkan and Sahim, Al-Damigh, Kaylajan and

Kurajan and all the braves Mohammedan and the champions of Faith

Unitarian fell upon the misbelieving Persians in the gates, and the

blood of the Kafirs ran in the streets like a torrent till they threw

down their arms and harness and called out for quarter; whereupon the

Moslems stayed their swords from the slaughter and drove them to their

tents, as one driveth a flock of sheep. Meanwhile Gharib returned to

his pavilion, where he doffed his gear and washed himself of the blood

of the Infidels; after which he donned his royal robes and sat down on

his chair of estate. Then he called for the King of the Persians and

said to him, “O dog of the Ajams, what moved thee to deal thus with thy

daughter? How seest thou me unworthy to be her baron?” And Sabur

answered, saying, “O King, punish me not because of that deed which I

did; for I repent me and confronted thee not in fight but in my fear of

thee.”[FN#64] When Gharib heard these words he bade throw him flat and

beat him. So they bastinadoed him, till he could no longer groan, and

cast him among the prisoners. Then Gharib expounded Al-Islam to the

Persians and one hundred and twenty thousand of them embraced The

Faith, and the rest he put to the sword. Moreover all the citizens

professed Al-Islam and Gharib mounted and entered in great state the

city Isbanir Al-Madain. Then he went into the King’s palace and sitting

down on Sabur’s throne, gave robes and largesse and distributed the

booty and treasure among the Arabs and Persians, wherefore they loved

him and wished him victory and honour and endurance of days. But Fakhr

Taj’s mother remembered her daughter and raised the voice of mourning

for her, and the palace was filled with wails and cries. Gharib heard

this and entering the Harim, asked the women what ailed them, whereupon

the Princess’s mother came forward and said, “O my lord, thy presence

put me in mind of my daughter and how she would have joyed in thy

coming, had she been alive and well.” Gharib wept for her and sitting

down on his throne, called for Sabur, and they brought him stumbling in

his shackles. Quoth Gharib to him, “O dog of the Persians, what didst

thou do with thy daughter?” “I gave her to such an one and such an

one,” quoth the King, “saying,:—Drown her in the river Jayhún.” So

Gharib sent for the two men and asked them, “Is what he saith true?”

Answered they, “Yes; but, O King, we did not drown her, nay we took

pity on her and left her on the banks of the Jayhun, saying,—Save

thyself and return not to the city, lest the King slay thee and slay us

with thee. This is all we know of her.”——And Shahrazad perceived the

dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.

When it was the Six Hundred and Seventieth Night,

She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the two men

ended the tale of Fakhr Taj with these words, “And we left her upon the

bank of the river Jayhun!” Now, when Gharib heard this he bade bring

the astrologers and said to them, “Strike me a board of geomancy and

find out what is come of Fakhr Taj, and whether she is still in the

bonds of life or dead.” They did so and said, “O King of the age, it is

manifest to us that the Princess is alive and hath borne a male child;

but she is with a tribe of the Jinn, and will be parted from thee

twenty years; count, therefore, how many years thou hast been absent in

travel.” So he reckoned up the years of his absence and found them

eight years and said, “There is no Majesty and there is no Might save

in Allah, the Glorious, the Great!”[FN#65] Then he sent for all

Sabur’s Governors of towns and strongholds and they came and did him

homage. Now one day after this, as he sat in his palace, behold, a

cloud of dust appeared in the distance and spread till it walled the

whole land and darkened the horizon. So he summoned the two Marids and

bade them reconnoitre, and they went forth under the dust-cloud and

snatching up a horseman of the advancing host, returned and set him

down before Gharib, saying, “Ask this fellow, for he is of the army.”

Quoth Gharib, “Whose power is this?” and the man answered, “O King,

’tis the army of Khirad Shah,[FN#66] King of Shiras, who is come forth

to fight thee.” Now the cause of Khirad Shah’s coming was this. When

Gharib defeated Sabur’s army, as hath been related, and took him

prisoner, the King’s son fled, with a handful of his father’s force and

ceased not flying till he reached the city of Shiras, where he went

into King Khirad Shah and kissed ground before him, whilst the tears

ran down his cheeks. When the King saw him in this case, he said to

him, “Lift thy head, O youth, and tell me what maketh thee weep.” He

replied, “O King, a King of the Arabs, by name Gharib, hath fallen on

us and captured the King my sire and slain the Persians making them

drain the cup of death.” And he told him all that had passed from first

to last. Quoth Khirad Shah, “Is my wife[FN#67] well?” and quoth the

Prince, “Gharib hath taken her.” Cried the King “As my head liveth, I

will not leave a Badawi or a Moslem on the face of the earth!” So he

wrote letters to his Viceroys, who levied their troops and joined him

with an army which when reviewed numbered eighty-five thousand men.

Then he opened his armouries and distributed arms and armour to the

troops, after which he set out with them and journeyed till he came to

Isbanir, and all encamped before the city-gate. Hereupon Kaylajan and

Kurajan came in to Gharib and kissing his knee, said to him, “O our

Lord, heal our hearts and give us this host to our share.” And he said,

“Up and at them!” So the two Marids flew aloft high in the lift and

lighting down in the pavilion of the King of Shiras, found him seated

on his chair of estate, with the Prince of Persia Ward Shah son of

Sabur, sitting on his right hand, and about him his Captains, with whom

he was taking counsel for the slaughter of the Moslems. Kaylajan came

forward and caught up the Prince and Kurajan snatched up the King and

the twain flew back with them to Gharib, who caused beat them till they

fainted. Then the Marids returned to the Shirazian camp and, drawing

their swords, which no mortal man had strength to wield, fell upon the

Misbelievers and Allah hurried their souls to the Fire and

abiding-place dire, whilst they saw no one and nothing save two swords

flashing and reaping men, as a husbandman reaps corn. So they left

their tents and mounting their horses bare-backed, fled; and the

Marids pursued them two days and slew of them much people; after which

they returned and kissed Gharib’s hand. He thanked them for the deed

they had done and said to them, “The spoil of the Infidels is yours

alone: none shall share with you therein.” So they called down

blessings on him and going forth, gathered the booty together and abode

in their own homes. On this wise it fared with them; but as regards

Gharib and his lieges,——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and

ceased saying her permitted say.

When it was the Six Hundred and Seventy-first Night,

She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that after Gharib

had put to flight the host of Khirad Shah, he bade Kaylajan and Kurajan

take the spoil to their own possession nor share it with any; so they

gathered the booty and abode in their own homes. Meanwhile the remains

of the beaten force ceased not flying till they reached the city of

Shiras and there lifted up the voice of weeping and began the

ceremonial lamentations for those of them that had been slain. Now King

Khirad Shah had a brother Sírán the Sorcerer hight, than whom there

was no greater wizard in his day, and he lived apart from his brother

in a certain stronghold, called the Fortalice of Fruits,[FN#68] in a

place abounding in trees and streams and birds and blooms, half a day’s

journey from Shiras. So the fugitives betook them thither and went in

to Siran the Sorcerer, weeping and wailing aloud. Quoth he, “O folk,

what garreth you weep?” and they told him all that had happened,

especially how the two Marids had carried off his brother Khirad Shah;

whereupon the light of his eyes became night and he said, “By the

virtue of my faith, I will certainly slay Gharib and all his men and

leave not one alive to tell the tale!” Then he pronounced certain

magical words and summoned the Red King, who appeared and Siran said to

him, “Fare for Isbanir and fall on Gharib, as he sitteth upon his

throne.” Replied he, “Hearkening and obedience!” and, gathering his

troops, repaired to Isbanir and assailed Gharib, who seeing him, drew

his sword Al-Mahik and he and Kaylajan and Kurajan fell upon the army

of the Red King and slew of them five hundred and thirty and wounded

the King himself with a grevious wound; whereupon he and his people

fled and stayed not in their flight, till they reached the Fortalice of

Fruits and went into Siran, crying out and exclaiming, “Woe!” and

“Ruin!” And the Red King said to Siran, “O sage, Gharib hath with him

the enchanted sword of Japhet son of Noah, and whomsoever he smiteth

therewith he severeth him in sunder, and with him also are two Marids

from Mount Caucasus, given to him by King Mura’ash. He it is who slew

the Blue King and Barkan Lord of the Carnelian City, and did to death

much people of the Jinn.” When the Enchanter heard this, he said to the

Red King “Go,” and he went his ways; whereupon he resumed his

conjurations, and calling up a Marid, by name Zu’ázi’a gave him a

drachm of levigated Bhang and said to him, “Go thou to Isbanir and

enter King Gharib’s palace and assume the form of a sparrow. Wait till

he fall asleep and there be none with him; then put the Bhang up his

nostrils and bring him to me.” “To hear is to obey,” replied the Marid

and flew to Isbanir, where, changing himself into a sparrow, he perched

on the window of the palace and waited till all Gharib’s attendants

retired to their rooms and the King himself slept. Then he flew down

and going up to Gharib, blew the powdered Bhang into his nostrils, till

he lost his senses, whereupon he wrapped him in the bed-coverlet and

flew off with him, like the storm-wind, to the Fortalice of Fruits;

where he arrived at midnight and laid his prize before Siran. The

Sorcerer thanked him and would have put Gharib to death, as he lay

senseless under Bhang; but a man of his people withheld him saying, “O

Sage, an thou slay him, his friend King Mura’ash will fall on us with

all his Ifrits and lay waste our realm.” “How then shall we do with

him?” asked Siran, and the other answered, “Cast him into the Jayhun

while he is still in Bhang and he shall be drowned and none will know

who threw him in.” And Siran bade the Marid take Gharib and cast him

into Jayhun river.——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased

to say her permitted say.

When it was the Six Hundred and Seventy-second Night,

She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Marid took

Gharib and carried him to the Jayhun purposing to cast him therein, but

it was grievous to him to drown him, wherefore he made a raft of wood

and binding it with cords, pushed it out (and Gharib thereon) into the

current, which carried it away. Thus fared it with Gharib; but as

regards his people, when they awoke in the morning and went in to do

their service to their King, they found him not and seeing his rosary

on the throne, awaited him awhile, but he came not. So they sought out

the head Chamberlain and said to him, “Go into the Harim and look for

the King: for it is not his habit to tarry till this time.”

Accordingly, the Chamberlain entered the Serraglio and enquired for the

King, but the women said, “Since yesterday we have not seen him.”

Thereupon he returned and told the Officers, who were confounded and

said, “Let us see if he have gone to take his pleasure in the gardens.”

Then they went out and questioned the gardeners if they had seen the

King, and they answered, “No;” whereat they were sore concerned and

searched all the garths till the end of the day, when they returned in

tears. Moreover, the two Marids sought for him all round the city, but

came back after three days, without having happened on any tidings of

him. So the people donned black and made their complaint to the Lord of

all worshipping men who doth as he is fain. Meanwhile, the current bore

the raft along for five days till it brought it to the salt sea, where

the waves disported with Gharib and his stomach, being troubled, threw

up the Bhang. Then he opened his eyes and finding himself in the midst

of the main, a plaything of the billows, said, “There is no Majesty and

there is no Might save in Allah, the Glorious, the Great! Would to

Heaven I wot who hath done this deed by me!” Presently as he lay,

perplexed concerning his case, lo! he caught sight of a ship sailing by

and signalled with his sleeve to the sailors, who came to him and took

him up, saying, “Who art thou and whence comest thou?” He replied, “Do

ye feed me and give me to drink, till I recover myself, and after I

will tell you who I am.” So they brought him water and victual, and he

ate and drank and Allah restored to him his reason. Then he asked them,

“O folk, what countrymen are ye and what is your Faith?;” and they

answered, “We are from Karaj[FN#69] and we worship an idol called

Minkásh.” Cried Gharib, “Perdition to you and your idol! O dogs, none

is worthy of worship save Allah who created all things, who saith to a

thing Be! and it becometh.” When they heard this, they rose up and fell

upon him in great wrath and would have seized him. Now he was without

weapons, but whomsoever he struck, he smote down and deprived of life,

till he had felled forty men, after which they overcame him by force of

numbers and bound him fast, saying, “We will not slay him save in our

own land, that we may first show him to our King.” Then they sailed on

till they came to the city of Karaj.——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn

of day and ceased saying her permitted say.

When it was the Six Hundred and Seventy-third Night,

She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the

ship’s crew seized Gharib and bound him fast they said, “We will not

slay him save in our own land.” Then they sailed on till they came to

the city of Karaj, the builder whereof was an Amalekite, fierce and

furious; and he had set up at each gate of the city a magical figure of

copper which, whenever a stranger entered, blew a blast on a trumpet,

that all in the city heard it and fell upon the stranger and slew him,

except they embraced their creed. When Gharib entered the city, the

figure stationed at the gate blew such a horrible blast that the King

was affrighted and going into his idol, found fire and smoke issuing

from its mouth, nose and eyes. Now a Satan had entered the belly of the

idol and speaking as with its tongue, said, “O King, there is come to

thy city one hight Gharib, King of Al-Irak, who biddeth the folk quit

their belief and worship his Lord; wherefore, when they bring him

before thee, look thou spare him not.” So the King went out and sat

down on his throne; and presently, the sailors brought in Gharib and

set him before the presence, saying, “O King, we found this youth

shipwrecked in the midst of the sea, and he is a Kafir and believeth

not in our gods.” Then they told him all that had passed and the King

said, “Carry him to the house of the Great Idol and cut his throat

before him, so haply our god may look lovingly upon us.” But the Wazir

said, “O King, it befitteth not to slaughter him thus, for he would die

in a moment: better we imprison him and build a pyre of fuel and burn

him with fire.” Thereupon the King commanded to cast Gharib into gaol

and caused wood to be brought, and they made a mighty pyre and set fire

to it, and it burnt till the morning. Then the King and the people of

the city came forth and the Ruler sent to fetch Gharib; but his lieges

found him not; so they returned and told their King who said, “And how

made he his escape?” Quoth they, “We found the chains and shackles cast

down and the doors fast locked.” Whereat the King marvelled and asked,

“Hath this fellow to Heaven up flown or into the earth gone down?;” and

they answered, “We know not.” Then said the King, “I will go and

question my God, and he will inform me whither he is gone.” So he rose

and went in, to prostrate himself to his idol, but found it not and

began to rub his eyes and say, “Am I in sleep or on wake?” Then he

turned to his Wazir and said to him, “Where is my God and where is my

prisoner? By my faith, O dog of Wazirs, haddest thou not counselled me

to burn him, I had slaughtered him; for it is he who hath stolen my god

and fled; and there is no help but I take brood-wreak of him!” Then he

drew his sword and struck off the Wazir’s head. Now there was for

Gharib’s escape with the idol a strange cause and it was on this wise.

When they had shut him up in a cell adjoining the doomed shrine under

which stood the idol, he rose to pray, calling upon the name of

Almighty Allah and seeking deliverance of Him, to whom be honour and

glory! The Marid who had charge of the idol and spoke in its name,

heard him and fear got hold upon his heart and he said, “O shame upon

me! Who is this seeth me while I see him not?” So he went in to Gharib

and throwing himself at his feet, said to him, “O my Lord, what must I

say that I may become of thy company and enter thy religion?” Replied

Gharib, “Say:—There is no god but _the_ God and Abraham is the Friend of

God.” So the Marid pronounced the profession of Faith and was enrolled

among the people of felicity. Now his name was Zalzál, son of

Al-Muzalzil,[FN#70] one of the Chiefs of the Kings of the Jinn. Then he

unbound Gharib and taking him and the idol, made for the higher

air.——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her

permitted say.

When it was the Six Hundred and Seventy-fourth Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Marid took up

Gharib and the idol and made for the higher air. Such was his case; but

as regards the King, when his soldiers saw what had befallen and the

slaughter of the Wazir they renounced the worship of the idol and

drawing their swords, slew the King; after which they fell on one

another, and the sword went round amongst them three days, till there

abode alive but two men, one of whom prevailed over the other and

killed him. Then the boys attacked the survivor and slew him and fell

to fighting amongst themselves, till they were all killed; and the

women and girls fled to the hamlets and forted villages; wherefore the

city became desert and none dwelt therein but the owl. Meanwhile, the

Marid Zalzal flew with Gharib towards his own country, the Island of

Camphor and the Castle of Crystal and the Land of the Enchanted Calf,

so called because its King Al-Muzalzil, had a pied calf, which he had

clad in housings brocaded with red gold, and worshipped as a god. One

day the King and his people went in to the calf and found him

trembling; so the King said, “O my God, what hath troubled thee?”

whereupon the Satan in the calf’s belly cried out and said, “O

Muzalzil, verily thy son hath deserted to the Faith of Abraham the

Friend, at the hands of Gharib Lord of Al-Irak;” and went on to tell

him all that had passed from first to last. When the King heard the

words of his calf he was confounded and going forth, sat down upon his

throne. Then he summoned his Grandees who came in a body, and he told

them what he had heard from the idol, whereat they marvelled and said,

“What shall we do, O King?” Quoth he, “When my son cometh and ye see

him embrace him, do ye lay hold of him.” And they said, “Hearkening and

obedience!” After two days came Zalzal and Gharib, with the King’s idol

of Karaj, but no sooner had they entered the palace-gate than the Jinn

seized on them and carried them before Al-Muzalzil, who looked at his

son with eyes of ire and said to him, “O dog of the Jann, hast thou

left thy Faith and that of thy fathers and grandfathers?” Quoth Zalzal,

“I have embraced the True Faith, and on like wise do thou (Woe be to

thee!) seek salvation and thou shalt be saved from the wrath of the

King Almighty in sway, Creator of Night and Day.” Therewith his father

waxed wroth and said, “O son of adultery, dost confront me with these

words?” Then he bade clap him in prison and turning to Gharib, said to

him, “O wretch of a mortal, how hast thou abused my son’s wit and

seduced him from his Faith?” Quoth Gharib, “Indeed, I have brought him

out of wrongousness into the way of righteousness, out of Hell into

Heaven and out of unfaith to the True Faith.” Whereupon the King cried

out to a Marid called Sayyár, saying “Take this dog and cast him into

the Wady of Fire, that he may perish.” Now this valley was in the

“Waste Quarter[FN#71]” and was thus named from the excess of its heat

and the flaming of its fire, which was so fierce that none who went

down therein could live an hour, but was destroyed; and it was

compassed about by mountains high and slippery wherein was no opening.

So Sayyar took up Gharib and flew with him towards the Valley of Fire,

till he came within an hour’s journey thereof, when being weary, he

alighted in a valley full of trees and streams and fruits, and setting

down from his back Gharib chained as he was, fell asleep for fatigue.

When Gharib heard him snore, he strove with his bonds till he burst

them; then, taking up a heavy stone, he cast it down on the Marid’s

head and crushed his bones, so that he died on the spot. Then he fared

on into the valley.——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased

saying her permitted say.

When it was the Six Hundred and Seventy-fifth Night,

She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Gharib after

killing the Marid fared on into the valley and found himself in a great

island in mid-ocean, full of all fruits that lips and tongue could

desire. So he abode alone on the island, drinking of its waters and

eating of its fruits and of fish that he caught, and days and years

passed over him, till he had sojourned there in his solitude seven

years. One day, as he sat, behold, there came down on him from the air

two Marids, each carrying a man; and seeing him they said, “Who art

thou, O fellow, and of which of the tribes art thou?” Now they took him

for a Jinni, because his hair was grown long; and he replied, saying,

“I am not of the Jann,” whereupon they questioned him, and he told them

all that had befallen him. They grieved for him and one of the Ifrits

said, “Abide thou here till we bear these two lambs to our King, that

he may break his fast on the one and sup on the other, and after we

will come back and carry thee to thine own country.” He thanked them

and said, “Where be the lambs?” Quoth they, “These two mortals are the

lambs.” And Gharib said, “I take refuge with Allah _the_ God of Abraham

the Friend, the Lord of all creatures, who hath power over everything!”

Then the Marids flew away and Gharib abode awaiting them two days, when

one of them returned, bringing with him a suit of clothes wherewith he

clad him. Then he took him up and flew with him sky-high out of sight

of earth, till Gharib heard the angels glorifying God in Heaven, and a

flaming shaft issued from amongst them and made for the Marid, who fled

from it towards the earth. The meteor pursued him, till he came within

a spear’s cast of the ground, when Gharib leaped from his shoulders and

the fiery shaft overtook the Marid, who became a heap of ashes. As for

Gharib, he fell into the sea and sank two fathoms deep, after which he

rose to the surface and swam for two days and two nights, till his

strength failed him and he made certain of death. But, on the third day

as he was despairing he caught sight of an island steep and

mountainous; so he swam for it and landing, walked on inland, where he

rested a day and a night, feeding on the growth of the ground. Then he

climbed to the mountain top, and, descending the opposite slope, fared

on two days till he came in sight of a walled and bulwarked city,

abounding in trees and rills. He walked up to it; but, when he reached

the gate, the warders seized on him, and carried him to their Queen,

whose name was Ján Sháh.[FN#72] Now she was five hundred years old, and

every man who entered the city, they brought to her and she made him

sleep with her, and when he had done his work, she slew him and so had

she slain many men. When she saw Gharib, he pleased her mightily; so

she asked him, “What be thy name and Faith and whence comest thou?” and

he answered, “My name is Gharib King of Irak, and I am a Moslem.” Said

she, “Leave this Creed and enter mine and I will marry thee and make

thee King.” But he looked at her with eyes of ire and cried, “Perish

thou and thy faith!” Cried she, “Dost thou blaspheme my idol, which is

of red carnelian, set with pearls and gems?” And she called out to her

men, saying, “Imprison him in the house of the idol; haply it will

soften his heart.” So they shut him up in the domed shrine and locking

the doors upon him, went their way.——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of

day and ceased to say her permitted say.

When it was the Six Hundred and Seventy-sixth Night,

She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when they took

Gharib, they jailed him in the idol’s domed shrine; and locking the

doors upon him, went their way. As soon as they were gone, Gharib gazed

at the idol, which was of red carnelian, with collars of pearls and

precious stones about its neck, and presently he went close to it and

lifting it up, dashed it on the ground and brake it in bits; after

which he lay down and slept till daybreak. When morning morrowed, the

Queen took seat on her throne and said, “O men, bring me the prisoner.”

So they opened the temple doors and entering, found the idol broken in

pieces, whereupon they buffeted their faces till the blood ran from the

corners of their eyes. Then they made at Gharib to seize him; but he

smote one of them with his fist and slew him, and so did he with

another and yet another, till he had slain five-and-twenty of them and

the rest fled and went in to Queen Jan Shah, shrieking loudly. Quoth

she, “What is the matter?” and quoth they, “The prisoner hath broken

thine idol and slain thy men,” and told her all that had passed. When

she heard this, she cast her crown to the ground and said, “There is no

worth left in idols!” Then she mounted amid a thousand fighting-men and

rode to the temple, where she found Gharib had gotten him a sword and

come forth and was slaying men and overthrowing warriors. When she saw

his prowess, her heart was drowned in the love of him and she said to

herself, “I have no need of the idol and care for naught save this

Gharib, that he may lie in my bosom the rest of my life.” Then she

cried to her men, “Hold aloof from him and leave him to himself!”;

then, going up to him she muttered certain magical words, whereupon his

arm became benumbed, his forearm relaxed and the sword dropped from his

hand. So they seized him and pinioned him, as he stood confounded,

stupefied. Then the Queen returned to her palace, and seating herself

on her seat of estate, bade her people withdraw and leave Gharib with

her. When they were alone, she said to him, “O dog of the Arabs, wilt

thou shiver my idol and slay my people?” He replied, “O accursed woman,

had he been a god he had defended himself!” Quoth she, “Stroke me and I

will forgive thee all thou hast done.” But he replied, saying, “I will

do nought of this.” And she said, “By the virtue of my faith, I will

torture thee with grievous torture!” So she took water and conjuring

over it, sprinkled it upon him and he became an ape. And she used to

feed and water and keep him in a closet, appointing one to care for

him; and in this plight he abode two years. Then she called him to her

one day and said to him, “Wilt thou hearken to me?” And he signed to

her with his head, “Yes.” So she rejoiced and freed him from the

enchantment. Then she brought him food and he ate and toyed with her

and kissed her, so that she trusted in him. When it was night she lay

down and said to him, “Come, do thy business.” He replied, “’Tis

well;” and, mounting on her breast, seized her by the neck and brake

it, nor did he arise from her till life had left her. Then, seeing an

open cabinet, he went in and found there a sword of damascened[FN#73]

steel and a targe of Chinese iron; so he armed himself cap-à-pie and

waited till the day. As soon as it was morning, he went forth and stood

at the gate of the palace. When the Emirs came and would have gone in

to do their service to the Queen, they found Gharib standing at the

gate, clad in complete war-gear; and he said to them, “O folk, leave

the service of idols and worship the All-wise King, Creator of Night

and Day, the Lord of men, the Quickener of dry bones, for He made all

things and hath dominion over all.” When the Kafirs heard this, they

ran at him, but he fell on them like a rending lion and charged through

them again and again, slaying of them much people;——And Shahrazad

perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.

When it was the Six Hundred and Seventy-seventh Night,

She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the

Kafirs fell upon Gharib, he slew of them much people; but, when the

night came, they overcame him by dint of numbers and would have taken

him by strenuous effort, when behold, there descended upon the Infidels

a thousand Marids, under the command of Zalzal, who plied them with the

keen sabre and made them drink the cup of destruction, whilst Allah

hurried their souls to Hell-fire, till but few were left of the people

of Jan Shah to tell the tale and the rest cried out, “Quarter!

Quarter!” and believed in the Requiting King, whom no one thing

diverteth from other thing, the Destroyer of the Jabábirah[FN#74] and

Exterminator of the Akásirah, Lord of this world and of the next. Then

Zalzal saluted Gharib and gave him joy of his safety; and Gharib said

to him, “How knowest thou of my case?” and he replied, “O my lord, my

father kept me in prison two years, after sending thee to the Valley of

Fire; then he released me, and I abode with him another year, till I

was restored to favour with him, when I slew him and his troops

submitted to me. I ruled them for a year’s space till, one Night, I lay

down to sleep, having thee in thought, and saw thee in a dream,

fighting against the people of Jan Shah; wherefore I took these

thousand Marids and came to thee.” And Gharib marvelled at this happy

conjuncture. Then he seized upon Jan Shah’s treasures and those of the

slain and appointed a ruler over the city; after which the Marids took

up Gharib and the monies and he lay the same night in the Castle of

Crystal. He abode Zalzal’s guest six months, when he desired to depart;

so Zalzal gave him rich presents and despatched three thousand Marids,

who brought the spoils of Karaj-city and added them to those of Jan

Shah. Then Zalzal loaded forty thousand Marids with the treasure and

himself taking up Gharib, flew with his host towards the city of

Isbanir al-Madain where they arrived at midnight. But as Gharib glanced

around he saw the walls invested on all sides by a conquering

army,[FN#75] as it were the surging sea, so he said to Zalzal, “O my

brother, what is the cause of this siege and whence came this army?”

Then he alighted on the terrace roof of his palace and cried out,

saying, “Ho, Star o’ Morn! Ho, Mahdiyah!” Whereupon the twain started

up from sleep in amazement and said, “Who calleth us at this hour?”

Quoth he, “’Tis I, your lord, Gharib, the Marvellous One of the deeds

wondrous.” When the Princesses heard their lord’s voice, they rejoiced

and so did the women and the eunuchs. Then Gharib went down to them and

they threw themselves upon him and lullilooed with cries of joy, so

that all the palace rang again and the Captains of the army awoke and

said, “What is to do?” So they made for the palace and asked the

eunuchs, “Hath one of the King’s women given birth to a child?”; and

they answered, “No; but rejoice ye, for King Gharib hath returned to

you.” So they rejoiced, and Gharib, after salams to the women came

forth amongst his comrades, who threw themselves upon him and kissed

his hands and feet, returning thanks to Almighty Allah and praising

Him. Then he sat down on his throne, with his officers sitting about

him, and questioned them of the beleaguering army. They replied, “O

King, these troops sat down before the city three days ago and there

are amongst them Jinns as well as men; but we know not what they want,

for we have had with them neither battle nor speech.” And presently

they added, “The name of the commander of the besieging army is Murad

Shah and he hath with him an hundred thousand horse and three thousand

foot, besides two hundred tribesmen of the Jinn.” Now the manner of his

coming was wondrous.——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased

to say her permitted say.

When it was the Six Hundred and Seventy-eighth Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the cause of this

army coming upon Isbanir city was wondrous. When the two men, whom

Sabur had charged to drown his daughter Fakhr Taj, let her go, bidding

her flee for her life, she went forth distracted, unknowing whither to

turn and saying, “Where is thine eye, O Gharib, that thou mayst see my

case and the misery I am in?”; and wandered on from country to country,

and valley to valley, till she came to a Wady abounding in trees and

streams, in whose midst stood a strong-based castle and a lofty-builded

as it were one of the pavilions of Paradise. So she betook herself

thither and entering the fortalice, found it hung and carpeted with

stuffs of silk and great plenty of gold and silver vessels; and therein

were an hundred beautiful damsels. When the maidens saw Fakhr Taj, they

came up to her and saluted her, deeming her of the virgins of the Jinn,

and asked her of her case. Quoth she, “I am daughter to the Persians’

King;” and told them all that had befallen her; which when they heard,

they wept over her and condoled with her and comforted her, saying, “Be

of good cheer and keep thine eyes cool and clear, for here shalt thou

have meat and drink and raiment, and we all are thy handmaids.” She

called down blessings on them and they brought her food, of which she

ate till she was satisfied. Then quoth she to them, “Who is the owner

of this palace and lord over you girls?” and quoth they, “King Salsál,

son of Dal, is our master; he passeth a night here once in every month

and fareth in the morning to rule over the tribes of the Jann.” So

Fakhr Taj took up her abode with them and after five days she gave

birth to a male child, as he were the moon. They cut his navel cord and

kohl’d his eyes then they named him Murad Shah, and he grew up in his

mother’s lap. After a while came King Salsal, riding on a paper white

elephant, as he were a tower plastered with lime and attended by the

troops of the Jinn. He entered the palace, where the hundred damsels

met him and kissed ground before him, and amongst them Fakhr Taj. When

the King saw her, he looked at her and said to the others, “Who is

yonder damsel?”; and they replied, “She is the daughter of Sabur, King

of the Persians and Turks and Daylamites.” Quoth he, “Who brought her

hither?” So they repeated to him her story; whereat he was moved to

pity for her and said to her, “Grieve not, but take patience till thy

son be grown a man, when I will go to the land of the Ajams and strike

off thy father’s head from between his shoulders and seat thy son on

the throne in his stead.” So she rose and kissed his hands and blessed

him. Then she abode in the castle and her son grew up and was reared

with the children of the King. They used to ride forth together

a-hunting and birding and he became skilled in the chase of wild beasts

and ravening lions and ate of their flesh, till his heart became harder

than the rock. When he reached the age of fifteen, his spirit waxed big

in him and he said to Fakhr Taj, “O my mamma, who is my papa?” She

replied, “O my son, Gharib, King of Irak, is thy father and I am the

King’s daughter, of the Persians,” and she told him her story. Quoth

he, “Did my grandfather indeed give orders to slay thee and my father

Gharib?”; and quoth she, “Yes.” Whereupon he, “By the claim thou hast

on me for rearing me, I will assuredly go to thy father’s city and cut

off his head and bring it into thy presence!”——And Shahrazad perceived

the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.

When it was the Six Hundred and Seventy-ninth Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Murad Shah

son of Fakhr Taj thus bespake his mother, she rejoiced in his speech.

Now he used to go a-riding with two hundred Marids till he grew to

man’s estate, when he and they fell to making raids and cutting off the

roads and they pushed their razzias farther till one day he attacked

the city of Shiraz and took it. Then he proceeded to the palace and cut

off the King’s head, as he sat on his throne, and slew many of his

troops, whereupon the rest cried “Quarter! Quarter!” and kissed his

stirrups. Finding that they numbered ten thousand horse, he led them to

Balkh, where he slew the King of the city and put his men to the rout

and made himself master of the riches of the place. Thence he passed to

Núrayn,[FN#76] at the head of an army of thirty thousand horse, and

the Lord of Nurayn came out to him, with treasure and tribute, and did

him homage. Then he went on to Samarcand of the Persians and took the

city, and after that to Akhlát[FN#77] and took that town also; nor was

there any city he came to but he captured it. Thus Murad Shah became

the head of a mighty host, and all the booty he made and spoils in the

sundry cities he divided among his soldiery, who loved him for his

valour and munificence. At last he came to Isbanir al-Madain and sat

down before it, saying, “Let us wait till the rest of my army come up,

when I will seize on my grandfather and solace my mother’s heart by

smiting his neck in her presence.” So he sent for her, and by reason of

this, there was no battle for three days, when Gharib and Zalzal

arrived with the forty thousand Marids, laden with treasure and

presents. They asked concerning the besiegers, but none could enlighten

them beyond saying that the host had been there encamped for three days

without a fight taking place. Presently came Fakhr Taj, and her son

Murad Shah embraced her saying, “Sit in thy tent till I bring thy

father to thee.” And she sought succour for him of the Lord of the

Worlds, the Lord of the heavens and the Lord of the earths. Next

morning, as soon as it was day, Murad Shah mounted and rode forth, with

the two hundred Marids on his right hand and the Kings of men on his

left, whilst the kettle-drums beat to battle. When Gharib heard this,

he also took to horse and, calling his people to the combat, rode out,

with the Jinn on his dexter hand and the men on his sinistral. Then

came forth Murad Shah, armed cap-à-pie and drave his charger right and

left, crying, “O folk, let none come forth to me but your King. If he

conquer me, he shall be lord of both armies, and if I conquer him, I

will slay him, as I have slain others.” When Gharib heard his speech,

he said, “Avaunt, O dog of the Arabs!” And they charged at each other

and lunged with lances, till they broke, then hewed at each other with

swords, till the blades were notched; nor did they cease to advance and

retire and wheel and career, till the day was half spent and their

horses fell down under them, when they dismounted and gripped each

other. Then Murad Shah seizing Gharib lifted him up and strove to dash

him to the ground; but Gharib caught him by the ears and pulled him

with his might, till it seemed to the youth as if the heavens were

falling on the earth[FN#78] and he cried out, with his heart in his

mouth, saying, “I yield myself to thy mercy, O Knight of the Age!” So

Gharib bound him,——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to

say her permitted say.

When it was the Six Hundred and Eightieth Night,

She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Gharib

caught Murad Shah by the ears and well nigh tore them off he cried, “I

yield myself to thy mercy, O Knight of the Age!” So Gharib bound him,

and the Marids his comrades would have charged and rescued him, but

Gharib fell on them with a thousand Marids and was about to smite them

down, when they cried out “Quarter! Quarter!” and threw away their

arms. Then Gharib returned to his Shahmiyánah which was of green silk,

embroidered with red gold and set with pearls and gems; and, seating

himself on his throne, called for Murad Shah. So they brought him,

shuffling in his manacles and shackles. When the prisoner saw him, he

hung down his head for shame; and Gharib said to him, “O dog of the

Arabs, who art thou that thou shouldst ride forth and measure thyself

against kings?” Replied Murad Shah, “O my lord, reproach me not, for

indeed I have excuse.” Quoth Gharib, “What manner of excuse hast

thou?”; And quoth he, “Know, O my lord, that I came out to avenge my

mother and my father on Sabur, King of the Persians; for he would have

slain them; but my mother escaped and I know not whether he killed my

father or not.” When Gharib heard these words, he replied, “By Allah,

thou art indeed excusable! But who were thy father and mother and what

are their names?” Murad Shah said, “My sire was Gharib, King of

Al-Irak, and my mother Fakhr Taj, daughter of King Sabur of Persia.”

When Gharib heard this, he gave a great cry and fell down fainting.

They sprinkled rose-water on him, till he came to himself, when he

said to Murad Shah, “Art thou indeed Gharib’s son by Fakhr Taj?”; and

he replied, “Yes.” Cried Gharib, “Thou art a champion, the son of a

champion. Loose my child!” And Sahim and Kaylajan went up to Murad Shah

and set him free. Then Gharib embraced his son and, seating him beside

himself, said to him, “Where is thy mother?” “She is with me in my

tent,” answered Murad Shah; and Gharib said, “Bring her to me.” So

Murad Shah mounted and repaired to his camp, where his comrades met

him, rejoicing in his safety, and asked him of his case; but he

answered, “This is no time for questions.” Then he went in to his

mother and told her what had passed; whereat she was gladdened with

exceeding gladness: so he carried her to Gharib, and they two embraced

and rejoiced in each other. Then Fakhr Taj and Murad Shah islamised and

expounded The Faith to their troops, who all made profession with heart

and tongue. After this, Gharib sent for Sabur and his son Ward Shah,

and upbraided them for their evil dealing and expounded Al-Islam to

them; but they refused to profess wherefore he crucified them on the

gate of the city and the people decorated the town and held high

festival. Then Gharib crowned Murad Shah with the crown of the Chosroës

and made him King of the Persians and Turks and Medes; moreover, he

made his uncle Al-Damigh, King over Al-Irak, and all the peoples and

lands submitted themselves to Gharib. Then he abode in his kingship,

doing justice among his lieges, wherefore all the people loved him, and

he and his wives and comrades ceased not from all solace of life, till

there came to them the Destroyer of Delights and Sunderer of Societies,

and extolled be the perfection of Him whose glory endureth for ever and

aye and whose boons embrace all His creatures! This is every thing that

hath come down to us of the history of Gharib and Ajib. And Abdullah

bin Ma’amar al Kaysi hath thus related the tale of