[Illustration]
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[Illustration: لا لابرار كلّ شي تبر]
“TO THE PURE ALL THINGS ARE PURE.”
(Puris omnia pura)
—_Arab Proverb._
“Niuna corrotta mente intese mai sanamente parole.”
—“_Decameron_”—_conclusion_.
“Erubuit, posuitque meum Lucretia librum
Sed coram Bruto. Brute! recede, leget.”
—_Martial._
“Mieulx est de ris que de larmes escripre,
Pour ce que rire est le propre des hommes.”
—RABELAIS.
“The pleasure we derive from perusing the Thousand-and-One Stories makes
us regret that we possess only a comparatively small part of these truly
enchanting fictions.”
—CRICHTON’S “_History of Arabia_.”
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[Illustration]
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_A PLAIN AND LITERAL TRANSLATION OF THE ARABIAN NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS.
NOW ENTITULED_
_THE BOOK OF THE_
=Thousand Nights and a Night=
_WITH INTRODUCTION EXPLANATORY NOTES ON THE
MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OF MOSLEM MEN AND A
TERMINAL ESSAY UPON THE HISTORY OF THE
NIGHTS_
VOLUME IV.
BY
RICHARD F. BURTON
[Illustration]
PRINTED BY THE BURTON CLUB FOR PRIVATE SUBSCRIBERS ONLY
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shammar Edition
Limited to one thousand numbered sets, of which this is
Number _547_
PRINTED IN U. S. A.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
TO FOSTER FITZGERALD ARBUTHNOT.
MY DEAR ARBUTHNOT,
I have no fear that a friend, whose friendship has lasted nearly a third
of a century, will misunderstand my reasons for inscribing his name upon
these pages. You have lived long enough in the East and, as your
writings show, observantly enough to detect the pearl which lurks in the
kitchen-midden, and to note that its lustre is not dimmed nor its value
diminished by its unclean surroundings.
Ever yours sincerely,
RICHARD F. BURTON.
ATHENÆUM CLUB, _October 1, 1885_.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
CONTENTS OF THE FOURTH VOLUME.
PAGE
CONTINUATION OF THE TALE OF KAMAR AL-ZAMAN:—
NI’AMAH BIN AL-RABI’A AND NAOMI HIS SLAVE-GIRL 1
_a._ CONCLUSION OF THE TALE OF KAMAR AL-ZAMAN 23
(_Lane II., Chapt. X. Story of Neameh and Noam: p. 186._)
13. ALA AL-DIN ABU AL-SHAMAT 29
(_Lane, Chapt. XI. Story of Ala ed-Deen Abu-sh-Shámát: p. 250._)
14. HATIM OF THE TRIBE OF TAYY 94
(_Lane, Notes to Chapt. XI. Liberality of Hatim el-Táee after his
Death: p. 333_)
15. MA’AN THE SON OF ZAIDAH AND THE THREE GIRLS 96
(_Lane, Notes to Chapt. XI. Anecdote of Maan the Son of Záïdeh: p.
335_)
16. MA’AN SON OF ZAIDAH AND THE BADAWI 97
17. THE CITY OF LABTAYT 99
18. THE CALIPH HISHAM AND THE ARAB YOUTH 101
19. IBRAHIM BIN AL-MAHDI AND THE BARBER-SURGEON 103
(_Lane, Notes to Chapt. XI. Adventures of Ibráheem the Son of
El-Mahdee: p. 336._)
20. THE CITY OF MANY-COLUMNED IRAM AND ABDULLAH SON OF ABI 113
KALABAH
(_Lane, Notes to Chapt. XI. The Discovery and History of Irem Zát
el-‘Emad, the Terrestrial Paradise of Sheddad the Son of ‘Ad: p.
342._)
21. ISAAC OF MOSUL 119
(_Lane, Note to Chapt. XI. Anecdote of Ishák el-Mósilee and Khadeejeh
and El-Ma-moon: p. 347._)
22. THE SWEEP AND THE NOBLE LADY 125
23. THE MOCK CALIPH 130
(_Lane, Chapt. XIII. Story of Mohammad ‘Alee the Jeweller, or the
False Khaleefeh: p. 380._)
24. ALI THE PERSIAN 149
25. HARUN AL-RASHID AND THE SLAVE-GIRL AND THE IMAM ABU YUSUF 153
26. THE LOVER WHO FEIGNED HIMSELF A THIEF 155
(_Lane, Note to Chapt. XIII. Anecdote of a Disinterested Lover: p.
400._)
27. JA’AFAR THE BARMECIDE AND THE BEAN-SELLER 159
(_Lane, Note to Chapt. XIII. Anecdote of Jaafar el-Barmakee: p.
404._)
28. ABU MOHAMMED HIGHT LAZYBONES 162
(_Lane, Chapt. XIV. Story of Aboo Mohammad the Lazy: p. 406._)
29. GENEROUS DEALING OF YAHYA BIN KHALID THE BARMECIDE WITH 179
MANSUR
(_Lane, Notes to Chapt. XIV. Anecdote of Yahya the Son of Khalid
el-Barmakee: p. 427._)
30. GENEROUS DEALING OF YAHYA SON OF KHALID WITH A MAN WHO 181
FORGED A LETTER IN HIS NAME
(_Lane, Notes to Chapt. XIV. Another Anecdote of the Same: p. 429._)
31. CALIPH AL-MAAMUN AND THE STRANGE SCHOLAR 185
(_Lane, Notes to Chapt. XIV. Anecdote of El-Ma-moon and a Learned
Man: p. 432._)
32. ALI SHAR AND ZUMURRUD 187
(_Lane, Chapt. XV. Story of ‘Ale Shér and Zumurrud: p. 434._)
33. THE LOVES OF JUBAYR BIN UMAYR AND THE LADY BUDUR 228
(_Lane, Chapt. XVI. Story of Ibn Mansoor and the Lady Budur and
Jubeyr the Son of ‘Omeyr esh-Sheybánee: p. 477._)
34. THE MAN OF AL-YAMAN AND HIS SIX SLAVE GIRLS 245
35. HARUN AL-RASHID AND THE DAMSEL AND ABU NOWAS 261
36. THE MAN WHO STOLE THE DISH OF GOLD WHEREIN THE DOG ATE 265
(_Lane, Notes to Chapt. XVI. Instances of the Vicissitudes of
Fortune: p. 497._)
37. THE SHARPER OF ALEXANDRIA AND THE CHIEF OF POLICE 269
(_Lane, Notes to Chapt. XVI. Hosám ed-Deen the Wálee, and a Sharper:
p. 501._)
38. AL-MALIK AL-NASIR AND THE THREE CHIEFS OF POLICE 271
(_Lane, Notes to Chapt. XVI. The Three Wálees: p. 502._)
_a._ STORY OF THE CHIEF OF THE NEW CAIRO POLICE _ib._
_b._ STORY OF THE CHIEF OF THE BULAK POLICE 273
_c._ STORY OF THE CHIEF OF THE OLD CAIRO POLICE 274
39. THE THIEF AND THE SHROFF 275
(_Lane, Notes to Chapt. XVI. The Money Changer and the Sharper: p.
505._)
40. THE CHIEF OF THE KUS POLICE AND THE SHARPER 276
41. IBRAHIM BIN AL-MAHDI AND THE MERCHANT’S SISTER 278
(_Lane, Notes to Chapt. XVI. Anecdote of Ibráheem the Son of
el-Mahdee: p. 506._)
42. THE WOMAN WHOSE HANDS WERE CUT OFF FOR ALMS-GIVING 281
(_Lane, Notes to Chapt. XVI. Anecdote of a Charitable Woman: p.
508._)
43. THE DEVOUT ISRAELITE 283
(_Lane, Notes to Chapt. XVI. Anecdote of a Charitable Israelite: p.
510._)
44. ABU HASSAN AL-ZIYADI AND THE KHORASAN MAN 285
(_Lane, Notes to Chapt. XVI. Anecdote of Hassan ez-Ziyádee: p. 511._)
45. THE POOR MAN AND HIS FRIEND IN NEED 288
(_Lane, Notes to Chapt. XVI. A Friend in Need: p. 513._)
46. THE RUINED MAN WHO BECAME RICH AGAIN THROUGH A DREAM 289
(_Lane, Notes to Chapt. XVI. A Dream: p. 514._)
47. CALIPH AL-MUTAWAKKIL AND HIS CONCUBINE MAHBUBAH 291
(_Lane, Notes to Chapt. XVI. El-Mutawekkil and Mahboobeh: p. 515._)
48. WARDAN THE BUTCHER’S ADVENTURE WITH THE LADY AND THE BEAR 293
49. THE KING’S DAUGHTER AND THE APE 297
_NI’AMAH BIN AL-RABI’A AND NAOMI HIS SLAVE-GIRL._
There lived once in the city of Cufa[1] a man called Al-Rabí’a bin
Hátim, who was one of the chief men of the town, a wealthy and a
healthy, and Heaven had vouchsafed him a son, whom he named Ni’amat
Allah.[2] One day, being in the slave-brokers’ mart, he saw a woman
exposed for sale with a little maid of wonderful beauty and grace on her
arm. So he beckoned to the broker and asked him, “How much for this
woman and her daughter?” He answered “Fifty dinars.” Quoth Al-Rabi’a
“Write the contract of sale and take the money and give it to her
owner.” Then he gave the broker the price and his brokerage and taking
the woman and her child, carried them to his house. Now when the
daughter of his uncle who was his wife saw the slave, she said to her
husband, “O my cousin, what is this damsel?” He replied, “Of a truth, I
bought her for the sake of the little one on her arm; for know that,
when she groweth up, there will not be her like for beauty, either in
the land of the Arabs or the Ajams.” His wife remarked, “Right was thy
rede”; and said to the woman, “What is thy name?” She replied, “O my
lady, my name is Taufík.[3]” “And what is thy daughter’s name?” asked
she. Answered the slave, “Sa’ad, the happy.” Rejoined her mistress,
“Thou sayst sooth, thou art indeed happy, and happy is he who hath
bought thee.” Then quoth she to her husband, “O my cousin, what wilt
thou call her?”; and quoth he, “Whatso thou choosest”; so she, “Then let
us call her Naomi;” and he rejoined, “Good is thy device.” The little
Naomi was reared with Al-Rabi’a’s son Ni’amat in one cradle, so to
speak, till the twain reached the age of ten and each grew handsomer
than the other; and the boy used to address her, “O my sister!” and she,
“O my brother!”, till they came to that age when Al-Rabi’a said to
Ni’amah, “O my son, Naomi is not thy sister but thy slave. I bought her
in thy name whilst thou wast yet in the cradle; so call her no more
sister from this day forth.” Quoth Ni’amah, “If that be so, I will take
her to wife.” Then he went to his mother and told her of this, and she
said to him, “O my son, she is thy handmaid.” So he wedded and went in
unto Naomi and loved her; and two[4] years passed over them whilst in
this condition, nor was there in all Cufa a fairer girl than Naomi, or a
sweeter or a more graceful. As she grew up she learnt the Koran and read
works of science and excelled in music and playing upon all kinds of
instruments; and in the beauty of her singing she surpassed all the folk
of her time. Now one day, as she sat with her husband in the
wine-chamber, she took the lute, tightened the strings, and sang these
two couplets:—
While thou’rt my lord whose bounty’s my estate, ✿ A sword whereby my
woes to annihilate,
Recourse I never need to Amru or Zayd,[5] ✿ Nor aught save thee if way
to me grow strait!
Ni’amah was charmed with these verses and said to her, “By my life, O
Naomi, sing to us with the tambourine and other instruments!” So she
sang these couplets to a lively measure:—
By His life who holds my guiding-rein, I swear ✿ I’ll meet on
love-ground parlous foe nor care:
Good sooth I’ll vex revilers, thee obey ✿ And quit my slumbers and all
joy forswear:
And for thy love I’ll dig in vitals mine ✿ A grave, nor shall my vitals
weet ‘tis there!
And Ni’amah exclaimed, “Heaven favoured art thou, O Naomi!” But whilst
they led thus the most joyous life, behold! Al-Hajjáj,[6] the Viceroy of
Cufa said to himself, “Needs must I contrive to take this girl named
Naomi and send her to the Commander of the Faithful, Abd al-Malik bin
Marwán, for he hath not in his palace her like for beauty and sweet
singing.” So he summoned an old woman of the duennas of his wives and
said to her, “Go to the house of Al-Rabi’a and foregather with the girl
Naomi and combine means to carry her off; for her like is not to be
found on the face of the earth.” She promised to do his bidding; so next
morning she donned the woollen clothes of a devotee and hung around her
neck a rosary of beads by the thousand; and, hending in hand a staff and
a leather water-bottle of Yamani manufacture,——And Shahrazad perceived
the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
Now when it was the Two Hundred and Thirty-eighth Night,
She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the old woman
promised to do the bidding of Al-Hajjaj, and whenas it was morning she
donned the woollen clothes of a devotee[7] and hung around her neck a
rosary of beads by the thousand and hent in hand a staff and a leather
water-bottle of Yamani manufacture and fared forth crying, “Glory be to
Allah! Praised be Allah! There is no god but _the_ God! Allah is Most
Great! There is no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah, the
Glorious, the Great!” Nor did she leave off her lauds and her groaning
in prayer whilst her heart was full of guile and wiles, till she came to
the house of Ni’amah bin al-Rabi’a at the hour of noon-prayer, and
knocked at the door. The doorkeeper opened and said to her, “What dost
thou want?” Quoth she, “I am a poor pious woman, whom the time of
noon-prayer hath overtaken, and lief would I pray in this blessed
place.” Answered the porter, “O old woman, this is no mosque nor
oratory, but the house of Ni’amah son of al-Rabi’a.” She replied, “I
know there is neither cathedral-mosque nor oratory like the house of
Ni’amah bin al-Rabi’a. I am a chamberwoman of the palace of the Prince
of True Believers and am come out for worship and the visitation of Holy
Places.” But the porter rejoined, “Thou canst not enter;” and many words
passed between them, till at last she caught hold and hung to him
saying, “Shall the like of me be denied admission to the house of
Ni’amah bin al-Rabi’a, I who have free access to the houses of Emirs and
Grandees?” Anon, out came Ni’amah and, hearing their loud language,
laughed and bade the old woman enter after him. So she followed him into
the presence of Naomi, whom she saluted after the godliest and goodliest
fashion, and, when she looked on her, she was confounded at her
exceeding seemlihead and said to her, “O my lady, I commend thee to the
safeguard of Allah, who made thee and thy lord fellows in beauty and
loveliness!” Then she stood up in the prayer-niche and betook herself to
inclination and prostration and prayer, till day departed and night
darkened and starkened, when Naomi said to her, “O my mother, rest thy
legs and feet awhile.” Replied the old woman, “O my lady, whoso seeketh
the world to come let him weary him in this world, and whoso wearieth
not himself in this world shall not attain the dwellings of the just in
the world to come.” Then Naomi brought her food and said to her, “Eat of
my bread and pray Heaven to accept my penitence and to have mercy on
me.” But she cried, “O my lady, I am fasting. As for thee, thou art but
a girl and it besitteth thee to eat and drink and make merry; Allah be
indulgent to thee!; for the Almighty saith:—All shall be punished except
him who shall repent and believe and shall work a righteous work.”[8] So
Naomi continued sitting with the old woman in talk and presently said to
Ni’amah, “O my lord, conjure this ancient dame to sojourn with us
awhile, for piety and devotion are imprinted on her countenance.” Quoth
he, “Set apart for her a chamber where she may say her prayers; and
suffer no one to go in to her: peradventure, Allah (extolled and exalted
be He!) shall prosper us by the blessing of her presence and never
separate us.” So the old woman passed her night in praying and reciting
the Koran; and when Allah caused the morn to dawn, she went in to
Ni’amah and Naomi and, giving them good morning, said to them, “I pray
Allah have you in His holy keeping!” Quoth Naomi, “Whither away, O my
mother? My lord hath bidden me set apart for thee a chamber, where thou
mayst seclude thee for thy devotions.” Replied the old woman, “Allah
give him long life, and continue His favour to you both! But I would
have you charge the doorkeeper not to stay my coming in to you; and,
Inshallah! I will go the round of the Holy Places and pray for you two
at the end of my devotions every day and night.” Then she went out
(whilst Naomi wept for parting with her knowing not the cause of her
coming), and returned to Al-Hajjaj who said to her, “An thou do my
bidding soon, thou shalt have of me abundant good.” Quoth she, “I ask of
thee a full month;” and quoth he “Take the month.” Thereupon the old hag
fell to daily visiting Ni’amah’s house and frequented his slave-wife,
Naomi;——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her
permitted say.
Now when it was the Two Hundred and Thirty-ninth Night,
She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the old hag fell
to visiting daily Ni’amah’s house and frequenting his slave-wife, Naomi;
and both ceased not to honour her, and she used to go in to them morning
and evening and all in the house respected her till, one day, being
alone with Naomi, she said to her, “O my lady! by Allah, when I go to
the Holy Places, I will pray for thee; and I only wish thou wert with
me, that thou mightest look on the Elders of the Faith who resort
thither, and they should pray for thee, according to thy desire.” Naomi
cried, “I conjure thee by Allah take me with thee!”; and she replied,
“Ask leave of thy mother-in-law, and I will take thee.” So Naomi said to
her husband’s mother, “O my lady, ask my master to let us go forth, me
and thee, one day with this my old mother, to prayer and worship with
the Fakirs in the Holy Places.” Now when Ni’amah came in and sat down,
the old woman went up to him and would have kissed his hand, but he
forbade her; so she invoked blessings[9] on him and left the house. Next
day she came again, in the absence of Ni’amah, and she addressed Naomi,
saying, “We prayed for thee yesterday; but arise now and divert thyself
and return ere thy lord come home.” So Naomi said to her mother-in-law,
“I beseech thee, for Allah’s sake, give me leave to go with this pious
woman, that I may sight the saints of Allah in the Holy Places, and
return speedily ere my lord come back.” Quoth Ni’amah’s mother, “I fear
lest thy lord know;” but said the old woman, “By Allah, I will not let
her take seat on the floor; no, she shall look, standing on her feet,
and not tarry.” So she took the damsel by guile and, carrying her to
Al-Hajjaj’s palace, told him of her coming, after placing her in a
lonely chamber; whereupon he went in to her and, looking upon her, saw
her to be the loveliest of the people of the day, never had he beheld
her like. Now when Naomi caught sight of him she veiled her face from
him; but he left her not till he had called his Chamberlain, whom he
commanded to take fifty horsemen; and he bade him mount the damsel on a
swift dromedary, and bear her to Damascus and there deliver her to the
Commander of the Faithful, Abd al-Malik bin Marwan. Moreover, he gave
him a letter for the Caliph, saying, “Bear him this letter and bring me
his answer and hasten thy return to me.” So the Chamberlain, without
losing time, took the damsel (and she tearful for separation from her
lord) and, setting out with her on a dromedary, gave not over journeying
till he reached Damascus. There he sought audience of the Commander of
the Faithful and, when it was granted, the Chamberlain delivered the
damsel and reported the circumstance. The Caliph appointed her a
separate apartment and going into his Harim, said to his wife,
“Al-Hajjaj hath bought me a slave-girl of the daughters of the Kings of
Cufa[10] for ten thousand dinars, and hath sent me this letter.”——And
Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
Now when it was the Two Hundred and Fortieth Night,
She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the Caliph
acquainted his wife with the story of the slave-girl, she said to him,
“Allah increase to thee His favour!” Then the Caliph’s sister went in to
the supposed slave-girl and, when she saw her, she said, “By Allah, not
unlucky is the man who hath thee in his house, were thy cost an hundred
thousand dinars!” And Naomi replied, “O fair of face, what King’s palace
is this, and what is the city?” She answered, “This is the city of
Damascus, and this is the palace of my brother, the Commander of the
Faithful, Abd al-Malik bin Marwan.[11]” Then she resumed, “Didst thou
not know all this?” Naomi said, “By Allah, O my lady, I had no knowledge
of it!”; when the other asked, “And he who sold thee and took thy price
did he not tell thee that the Caliph had bought thee?” Now when Naomi
heard these words, she shed tears and said to herself, “Verily, I have
been tricked and the trick hath succeeded,” adding to herself, “If I
speak, none will credit me; so I will hold my peace and take patience,
for I know that the relief of Allah is near.” Then she bent her head for
shame, and indeed her cheeks were tanned by the journey and the sun. So
the Caliph’s sister left her that day and returned to her on the morrow
with clothes and necklaces of jewels, and dressed her; after which the
Caliph came in to her and sat down by her side, and his sister said to
him, “Look on this handmaid in whom Allah hath conjoined every
perfection of beauty and loveliness.” So he said to Naomi, “Draw back
the veil from thy face;” but she would not unveil, and he beheld not her
face. However, he saw her wrists and love of her entered his heart; and
he said to his sister, “I will not go in unto her for three days, till
she be cheered by thy converse.” Then he arose and left her, but Naomi
ceased not to brood over her case and sigh for her separation from her
master, Ni’amah, till she fell sick of a fever during the night and ate
not nor drank; and her favour faded and her charms were changed. They
told the Caliph of this and her condition grieved him; so he visited her
with physicians and men of skill, but none could come at a cure for her.
This how it fared with her; but as regards Ni’amah, when he returned
home he sat down on his bed and cried, “Ho, Naomi!” But she answered
not; so he rose in haste and called out, yet none came to him, as all
the women in the house had hidden themselves for fear of him. Then he
went out to his mother, whom he found sitting with her cheek on her
hand, and said to her, “O my mother, where is Naomi?” She answered, “O
my son, she is with one who is worthier than I to be trusted with her,
namely, the devout old woman; she went forth with her to visit
devotionally the Fakirs and return.” Quoth Ni’amah, “Since when hath
this been her habit and at what hour went she forth?” Quoth his mother,
“She went out early in the morning.” He asked, “And how camest thou to
give her leave for this?”; and she answered, “O my son, ‘twas she
persuaded me?” “There is no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah,
the Glorious, the Great!” exclaimed Ni’amah and, going forth from his
home in a state of distraction, he repaired to the Captain of the Watch
to whom said he, “Dost thou play tricks upon me and steal my slave-girl
away from my house? I will assuredly complain of thee to the Commander
of the Faithful.” Said the Chief of Police, “Who hath taken her?” and
Ni’amah replied, “An old woman of such and such a mien, clad in woollen
raiment and carrying a rosary of beads numbered by thousands.” Rejoined
the other, “Find me the old woman and I will get thee back thy
slave-girl.” “And who knows the old woman?” retorted Ni’amah. “And who
knows the hidden things save Allah (may He be extolled and exalted!)?”
cried the Chief, who knew her for Al-Hajjaj’s procuress. Cried Ni’amah,
“I look to thee for my slave-girl, and Al-Hajjaj shall judge between
thee and me;” and the Master of Police answered, “Go to whom thou wilt.”
So Ni’amah went to the palace of Al-Hajjaj, for his father was one of
the chief men of Cufa; and, when he arrived there, the Chamberlain went
in to the Governor and told him the case; whereupon Al-Hajjaj said,
“Hither with him!” and when he stood before him enquired, “What be thy
business?” Said Ni’amah, “Such and such things have befallen me;” and
the Governor said, “Bring me the Chief of Police, and we will command
him to seek for the old woman.” Now he knew that the Chief of Police was
acquainted with her; so, when he came, he said to him, “I wish thee to
make search for the slave-girl of Ni’amah son of Al-Rabi’a.” And he
answered, “None knoweth the hidden things save Almighty Allah.” Rejoined
Al-Hajjaj, “There is no help for it but thou send out horsemen and look
for the damsel in all the roads, and seek for her in the towns.”——And
Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
Now when it was the Two Hundred and Forty-first Night,
She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Al-Hajjaj said to
the Captain of the watch, “There is no help for it but thou send out
horsemen, and look for the damsel on all the roads and seek for her in
the towns.” Then he turned to Ni’amah and said to him, “An thy
slave-girl return not, I will give thee ten slave-girls from my house
and ten from that of the Chief of Police.” And he again bade the Captain
of the Watch, “Go and seek for the girl.” So he went out, and Ni’amah
returned home full of trouble and despairing of life; for he had now
reached the age of fourteen and there was yet no hair on his
side-cheeks. So he wept and lamented and shut himself up from his
household; and ceased not to weep and lament, he and his mother, till
the morning, when his father came in to him and said, “O my son, of a
truth, Al-Hajjaj hath put a cheat upon the damsel and hath taken her;
but from hour to hour Allah giveth relief.” However grief redoubled on
Ni’amah, so that he knew not what he said nor knew he who came in to
him, and he fell sick for three months; his charms were changed, his
father despaired of him and the physicians visited him and said, “There
is no remedy for him save the damsel.” Now as his father was sitting one
day, behold, he heard tell of a skilful Persian physician, whom the folk
gave out for perfect in medicine and astrology and geomancy. So
Al-Rabi’a sent for him and, seating him by his side, entreated him with
honour and said to him, “Look into my son’s case.” Thereupon quoth he to
Ni’amah, “Give me thy hand.” The young man gave him his hand and he felt
his pulse and his joints and looked in his face; then he laughed and,
turning to his father, said, “Thy son’s sole ailment is one of the
heart.”[12] He replied, “Thou sayest sooth, O sage, but apply thy skill
to his state and case, and acquaint me with the whole thereof and hide
naught from me of his condition.” Quoth the Persian, “Of a truth he is
enamoured of a slave-girl and this slave-girl is either in Bassorah or
Damascus; and there is no remedy for him but reunion with her.” Said
Al-Rabi’a, “An thou bring them together, thou shalt live all thy life in
wealth and delight.” Answered the Persian, “In good sooth this be an
easy matter and soon brought about;” and he turned to Ni’amah and said
to him, “No hurt shall befal thee; so be of good cheer and keep thine
eyes cool and clear.” Then quoth he to Al-Rabi’a, “Bring me out four
thousand dinars of your money;” so he gave them to him, and he added, “I
wish to carry thy son with me to Damascus; and Almighty Allah willing, I
will not return thence but with the damsel.” Then he turned to the youth
and asked, “What is thy name?”; and he answered “Ni’amah.” Quoth the
Persian, “O Ni’amah, sit up and be of good heart, for Allah will reunite
thee with the damsel.” And when he sat up the leach continued, “Be of
good cheer for we set out for Damascus this very day: put thy trust in
the Lord, and eat and drink and be cheerful so as to fortify thyself for
travel.” Upon this the Persian began making preparation of all things
needed, such as presents and rarities; and he took of Al-Rabi’a in all
the sum of ten thousand dinars, together with horses and camels and
beasts of burden and other requisites. Then Ni’amah farewelled his
father and mother and journeyed with the physician to Aleppo. They could
find no news of Naomi there, so they fared on to Damascus, where they
abode three days, after which the Persian took a shop and he adorned
even the shelves with vessels of costly porcelain, with covers of
silver, and with gildings and stuffs of price. Moreover, he set before
himself vases and flagons of glass full of all manner of ointments and
syrups, and he surrounded them with cups of crystal and, placing
astrolabe and geomantic tablet facing him, he donned a physician’s habit
and took his seat in the shop. Then he set Ni’amah standing before him
clad in a shirt and gown of silk and, girding his middle with a silken
kerchief gold-embroidered, said to him, “O Ni’amah, henceforth thou art
my son; so call me naught but sire, and I will call thee naught but
son.” And he replied, “I hear and I obey.” Thereupon the people of
Damascus flocked to the Persian’s shop that they might gaze on the
youth’s goodliness and the beauty of the shop and its contents, whilst
the physician spoke to Ni’amah in Persian and he answered him in the
same tongue, for he knew the language, after the wont of the sons of the
notables. So that Persian doctor soon became known among the townsfolk
and they began to acquaint him with their ailments, and he to prescribe
for them remedies. Moreover, they brought him the water of the sick in
phials,[13] and he would test it and say, “He, whose water this is, is
suffering from such and such a disease,” and the patient would declare,
“Verily this physician sayeth sooth.” So he continued to do the
occasions of the folk and they to flock to him, till his fame spread
throughout the city and into the houses of the great. Now, one day as he
sat in his shop, behold, there came up an old woman riding on an ass
with a stuffed saddle of brocade embroidered with jewels; and, stopping
before the Persian’s shop, drew rein and beckoned him, saying, “Take my
hand.” He took her hand, and she alighted and asked him, “Art thou the
Persian physician from Irak?” “Yes,” answered he, and she said, “Know
that I have a sick daughter.” Then she brought out to him a phial and
the Persian looked at it and said to her, “O my mistress, tell me thy
daughter’s name, that I may calculate her horoscope and learn the hour
in which it will befit her to drink medicine.” She replied, “O my
brother the Persian,[14] her name is Naomi.”——And Shahrazad perceived
the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
Now when it was the Two Hundred and Forty-second Night,
She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the Persian
heard the name of Naomi, he fell to calculating and writing on his hand
and presently said, “O my lady, I cannot prescribe a medicine for her
till I know what country woman she is, because of the difference of
climate: so tell me in what land she was brought up and what is her
age.” The old woman replied, “She is fourteen years old and she was
brought up in Cufa of Irak.” He asked, “And how long hath she sojourned
in this country?” “But a few months,” answered she. Now when Ni’amah
heard the old woman’s words and recognised the name of his slave-girl,
his heart fluttered and he was like to faint. Then said the Persian,
“Such and such medicines will suit her case;” and the old woman
rejoined, “Then make them up and give me what thou hast mentioned, with
the blessing of Almighty Allah.” So saying, she threw upon the
shop-board ten gold pieces; and he looked at Ni’amah and bade him
prepare the necessary drugs; whereupon she also looked at the youth and
exclaimed, “Allah have thee in his keeping, O my son! Verily, she
favoureth thee in age and mien.” Then said she to the physician, “O my
brother the Persian, is this thy slave or thy son?” “He is my son,”
answered he. So Ni’amah put up the medicine and, placing it in a little
box, took a piece of paper and wrote thereon these two couplets:[15]—
If Naomi bless me with a single glance, ✿ Let Su’adá sue and Juml joy to
pet:
They said, “Forget her: twenty such thou’lt find.” ✿ But none is like
her—I will _not_ forget!
He pressed the paper into the box and, sealing it up, wrote upon the
cover the following words in Cufic character, “I am Ni’amah son of
al-Rabi’a of Cufa.” Then he set it before the old woman who took it and
bade them farewell and returned to the Caliph’s palace; and when she
went up with the drugs to the damsel she placed the little box of
medicine at her feet, saying, “O my lady, know that there is lately come
to our town a Persian physician, than whom I never saw a more skilful
nor a better versed in matters of malady. I told him thy name, after
showing him the water-bottle, and forthwith he knew thine ailment and
prescribed a remedy. Then he bade his son make thee up this medicine;
and there is not in Damascus a comelier or a seemlier youth than this
lad of his, nor hath anyone a shop the like of his shop.” So Naomi took
the box and, seeing the names of her lord and his father written on the
cover, changed colour and said to herself, “Doubtless, the owner of this
shop is come in search of me.” So she said to the old woman, “Describe
to me this youth.” Answered the old woman, “His name is Ni’amah, he hath
a mole on his right eyebrow, is richly clad and is perfectly handsome.”
Cried Naomi, “Give me the medicine, whereon be the blessing and help of
Almighty Allah!” So she drank off the potion (and she laughing) and
said, “Indeed, it is a blessed medicine!” Then she sought in the box
and, finding the paper, opened it, read it, understood it and knew that
this was indeed her lord, whereat her heart was solaced and she
rejoiced. Now when the old woman saw her laughing, she exclaimed, “This
is indeed a blessed day!”; and Naomi said, “O nurse, I have a mind for
something to eat and drink.” The old woman said to the serving-women,
“Bring a tray of dainty viands for your mistress”; whereupon they set
food before her and she sat down to eat. And behold in came the Caliph
who, seeing her sitting at meat, rejoiced; and the old woman said to
him, “O Commander of the Faithful, I give thee joy of thy handmaid
Naomi’s recovery! And the cause is that there is lately come to this our
city a physician than whom I never saw a better versed in diseases and
their remedies. I fetched her medicine from him and she hath drunken of
it but once and is restored to health.” Quoth he, “Take a thousand
dinars and apply thyself to her treatment, till she be completely
recovered.” And he went away, rejoicing in the damsel’s recovery, whilst
the old woman betook herself to the Persian’s house and delivered the
thousand dinars, giving him to know that she was become the Caliph’s
slave and also handing him a letter which Naomi had written. He took it
and gave the letter to Ni’amah, who at first sight knew her hand and
fell down in a swoon. When he revived he opened the letter and found
these words written therein: “From the slave despoiled of her Ni’amah,
her delight; her whose reason hath been beguiled and who is parted from
the core of her heart. But afterwards. Of a truth thy letter hath
reached me and hath broadened my breast, and solaced my soul, even as
saith the poet:—
Thy note came: long lost fingers wrote that note, ✿ Till drop they
sweetest scents for what they wrote:
‘Twas Moses to his mother’s arms restored; ✿ ‘Twas Jacob’s eye-sight
cured by Joseph’s coat!”[16]
When Ni’amah read these verses, his eyes ran over with tears and the old
woman said to him, “What maketh thee to weep, O my son? Allah never
cause thine eye to shed tears!” Cried the Persian, “O my lady, how
should my son not weep, seeing that this is his slave-girl and he her
lord, Ni’amah son of al-Rabi’a of Cufa; and her health dependeth on her
seeing him, for naught aileth her but loving him.”——And Shahrazad
perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
Now when it was the Two Hundred and Forty-third Night,
She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Persian cried
out to the old woman, “How shall my son not weep, seeing that this is
his slave-girl and he her lord, Ni’amah son of al-Rabi’a of Cufa; and
the health of this damsel dependeth on her seeing him and naught aileth
her but loving him. So, do thou, O my lady, take these thousand dinars
to thyself and thou shalt have of me yet more than this; only look on us
with eyes of ruth; for we know not how to bring this affair to a happy
end save through thee.” Then she said to Ni’amah, “Say, art thou indeed
her lord?” He replied, “Yes,” and she rejoined, “Thou sayest sooth; for
she ceaseth not continually to name thee.” Then he told her all that had
passed from first to last, and she said, “O youth, thou shalt owe thy
reunion with her to none but myself.” So she mounted and, at once
returning to Naomi, looked in her face and laughed saying, “It is just,
O my daughter, that thou weep and fall sick for thy separation from thy
master, Ni’amah son of Al-Rabi’a of Cufa.” Quoth Naomi, “Verily, the
veil hath been withdrawn for thee and the truth revealed to thee.”
Rejoined the old woman, “Be of good cheer and take heart, for I will
assuredly bring you together, though it cost me my life.” Then she
returned to Ni’amah and said to him, “I went to thy slave-girl and
conversed with her, and I find that she longeth for thee yet more than
thou for her; for although the Commander of the Faithful is minded to
become intimate with her, she refuseth herself to him. But if thou be
stout of purpose and firm of heart, I will bring you together and
venture my life for you, and play some trick and make shift to carry
thee into the Caliph’s palace, where thou shalt meet her, for she cannot
come forth.” And Ni’amah answered, “Allah requite thee with good!” Then
she took leave of him and went back to Naomi and said, “Thy lord is
indeed dying of love for thee and would fain see thee and foregather
with thee. What sayest thou?” Naomi replied, “And I too am longing for
his sight and dying for his love.” Whereupon the old woman took a parcel
of women’s clothes and ornaments and, repairing to Ni’amah, said to him,
“Come with me into some place apart.” So he brought her into the room
behind the shop where she stained his hands and decked his wrists and
plaited his hair, after which she clad him in a slave-girl’s habit and
adorned him after the fairest fashion of woman’s adornment, till he was
as one of the Houris of the Garden of Heaven, and when she saw him thus
she exclaimed, “Blessed be Allah, best of Creators! By Allah, thou art
handsomer than the damsel.[17] Now, walk with thy left shoulder forwards
and thy right well behind, and sway thy hips from side to side.”[18] So
he walked before her, as she bade him; and, when she saw he had caught
the trick of woman’s gait, she said to him, “Expect me to-morrow night,
and Allah willing, I will take and carry thee to the palace. But when
thou seest the Chamberlains and the Eunuchs be bold, and bow thy head
and speak not with any, for I will prevent their speech; and with Allah
is success!” Accordingly, when the morning dawned, she returned and,
carrying him to the palace, entered before him and he after her step by
step. The Chamberlain would have stopped his entering, but the old woman
said to him, “O most ill-omened of slaves, this is the handmaid of
Naomi, the Caliph’s favourite. How durst thou stay her when she would
enter?” Then said she, “Come in, O damsel!”; and the old woman went in
and they ceased not faring on, till they drew near the door leading to
the inner piazza of the palace, when she said to him, “O Ni’amah,
hearten thyself and take courage and enter and turn to the left: then
count five doors and pass through the sixth, for it is that of the place
prepared for thee. Fear nothing, and if any speak to thee, answer not
neither stop.” Then she went up with him to the door, and the
Chamberlain there on guard accosted her, saying, “What damsel is
this?”——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her
permitted say.
Now when it was the Two Hundred and Forty-fourth Night,
She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the
Chamberlain accosted the old woman, saying, “What damsel is this?”;
quoth the ancient dame, “Our lady hath a mind to buy her;” and he
rejoined, “None may enter save by leave of the Commander of the
Faithful; so do thou go back with her. I cannot let her pass for thus am
I commanded.” Replied the old woman, “O Chief Chamberlain, use thy
reason. Thou knowest that Naomi, the Caliph’s slave-girl, of whom he is
enamoured, is but now restored to health and the Commander of the
Faithful hardly yet crediteth her recovery. She is minded to buy this
handmaid; so oppose thou not her entrance, lest haply it come to Naomi’s
knowledge and she be wroth with thee and suffer a relapse and this cause
thy head to be cut off.” Then said she to Ni’amah, “Enter, O damsel; pay
no heed to what he saith and tell not the Queen-consort that her
Chamberlain opposed thine entrance.” So Ni’amah bowed his head and
entered the palace, and would have turned to the left, but mistook the
direction and walked to his right; and, meaning to count five doors and
enter the sixth, he counted six and entering the seventh, found himself
in a place whose floor was carpeted with brocade and whose walls were
hung with curtains of gold-embroidered silk. And therein stood censers
of aloes-wood and ambergris and strong-scented musk, and at the upper
end was a couch bespread with cloth of gold on which he seated himself,
marvelling at the magnificence he saw and knowing not what was written
for him in the Secret Purpose. As he sat musing on his case, the
Caliph’s sister, followed by her handmaid, came in upon him; and, seeing
the youth seated there took him for a slave-girl and accosted him and
said, “Who art thou O damsel? and what is thy case and who brought thee
hither?” He made no reply, and was silent, when she continued, “O
damsel! if thou be one of my brother’s concubines and he be wroth with
thee, I will intercede with him for thee and get thee grace.” But he
answered her not a word; so she said to her slave-girl, “Stand at the
door and let none enter.” Then she went up to Ni’amah and looking at him
was amazed at his beauty and said to him, “O lady, tell me who thou art
and what is thy name and how thou camest here; for I have never seen
thee in our palace.” Still he answered not, whereat she was angered and,
putting her hand to his bosom, found no breasts and would have unveiled
him, that she might know who he was; but he said to her, “O my lady, I
am thy slave and I cast myself on thy protection: do thou protect me.”
She said, “No harm shall come to thee, but tell me who thou art and who
brought thee into this my apartment.” Answered he, “O Princess, I am
known as Ni’amah bin al-Rabi’a of Cufa and I have ventured my life for
the sake of my slave-girl Naomi, whom Al-Hajjaj took by sleight and sent
hither.” Said she, “Fear not: no harm shall befal thee;” then, calling
her maid, she said to her, “Go to Naomi’s chamber and send her to me.”
Meanwhile the old woman went to Naomi’s bedroom and said to her, “Hath
thy lord come to thee?” “No, by Allah!” answered Naomi, and the other
said, “Belike he hath gone astray and entered some chamber other than
thine and lost himself.” So Naomi cried, “There is no Majesty and there
is no Might save in Allah, the Glorious, the Great! Our last hour is
come and we are all lost.” And while they were sitting and sadly enough
pondering their case, in came the Princess’s handmaid and saluting Naomi
said to her, “My lady biddeth thee to her banquet.” “I hear and I obey,”
answered the damsel and the old woman said, “Belike thy lord is with the
Caliph’s sister and the veil of secrecy hath been rent.” So Naomi at
once sprang up and betook herself to the Princess, who said to her,
“Here is thy lord sitting with me; it seemeth he hath mistaken the
place; but, please Allah, neither thou nor he has any cause for fear.”
When Naomi heard these words, she took heart of grace and went up to
Ni’amah; and her lord when he saw her——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn
of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
Now when it was the Two Hundred and Forty-fifth Night,
She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Ni’amah saw
his handmaid Naomi, he rose to meet her and strained her to his bosom
and both fell to the ground fainting. As soon as they came to
themselves, the Caliph’s sister said to them, “Sit ye down and take we
counsel for your deliverance from this your strait.” And they answered,
“O our lady, we hear and obey; it is thine to command.” Quoth she, “By
Allah, no harm shall befal you from us!” Then she bade her handmaids
bring meat and drink which was done, and they sat down and ate till they
had enough, after which they sat drinking. Then the cup went round
amongst them and their cares ceased from them; but Ni’amah said, “Would
I knew how this will end.” The Princess asked, “O Ni’amah, dost thou
love thy slave Naomi?”; and he answered, “Of a truth it is my passion
for her which hath brought me to this state of peril for my life.” Then
said she to the damsel, “O Naomi, dost thou love thy lord Ni’amah?”; and
she replied, “O my lady, it is the love of him which hath wasted my body
and brought me to evil case.” Rejoined the Princess, “By Allah, since ye
love each other thus, may he not be who would part you! Be of good cheer
and keep your eyes cool and clear.” At this they both rejoiced and Naomi
called for a lute and, when they brought it, she took it and tuned it
and played a lively measure which enchanted the hearers, and after the
prelude sang these couplets:—
When the slanderers cared but to part us twain, ✿ We owed no blood-debt
could raise their ire;
And they poured in our ears all the din of war, ✿ And aid failed and
friends, when my want was dire:
I fought them hard with mine eyes and tears; ✿ With breath and sword,
with the stream and fire!
Then Naomi gave the lute to her master, Ni’amah, saying, “Sing thou to
us some verse.” So he took it and playing a lively measure, intoned
these couplets:—
Full Moon if unfreckled would favour thee, ✿ And Sun uneclipsed would
reflect thy blee:
I wonder (but love is of wonders full ✿ And ardour and passion and
ecstasy)
How short the way to my love I fare, ✿ Which, from her faring, so long I
see.
Now when he had made an end of his song, Naomi filled the cup and gave
it to him, and he took it and drank it off; then she filled again and
gave the cup to the Caliph’s sister who also emptied it; after which the
Princess in her turn took the lute and tightened the strings and tuned
it and sang these two couplets:—
Grief, cark and care in my heart reside, ✿ And the fires of love in my
breast abide;
My wasted form to all eyes shows clear; ✿ For Desire my body hath
mortified.
Then she filled the cup and gave it to Naomi, who drank it off and
taking the lute, sang these two couplets:—
O to whom I gave soul which thou torturest, ✿ And in vain I’d recover
from fair Unfaith,
Do grant thy favours my care to cure ✿ Ere I die, for this be my latest
breath.
And they ceased not to sing verses and drink to the sweet sound of the
strings, full of mirth and merriment and joy and jollity till behold, in
came the Commander of the Faithful. Now when they saw him, they rose and
kissed the ground before him; and he, seeing Naomi with the lute in her
hand, said to her, “O Naomi, praised be Allah who hath done away from
thee sickness and suffering!” Then he looked at Ni’amah (who was still
disguised as a woman), and said to the Princess, “O my sister, what
damsel is this by Naomi’s side?” She replied, “O Commander of the
Faithful, thou hast here a handmaid, one of thy concubines and the bosom
friend of Naomi who will neither eat nor drink without her.” And she
repeated the words of the poet:—
Two contraries, and both concur in opposite charms, ✿ And charms so
contraried by contrast lovelier show.
Quoth the Caliph, “By Allah Omnipotent, verily she is as handsome as
Naomi, and to-morrow I will appoint her a separate chamber beside that
of her friend and send her furniture and stuffs and all that befitteth
her, in honour of Naomi.” Then the Princess called for food and set it
before her brother, who ate and made himself at home in their place and
company. Then filling a cup he signed to Naomi to sing; so she took the
lute, after draining two of them and sang these two couplets:—
Since my toper-friend in my hand hath given ✿ Three cups that brim and
bubble, e’er since
I’ve trailed my skirts throughout night for pride ✿ As tho’, Prince of
the Faithful, I were thy Prince!
The Prince of True Believers was delighted and filling another cup, gave
it to Naomi and bade her sing again; so after draining the cup and
sweeping the strings, she sang as follows:—
O most noble of men in this time and stound, ✿ Of whom none may boast he
is equal found!
O matchless in greatness of soul and gifts, ✿ O thou Chief, O thou King
amongst all renowned:
Lord, who dealest large boons to the Lords of Earth, ✿ Whom thou vexest
not nor dost hold them bound;
The Lord preserve thee, and spoil thy foes, ✿ And ne’er cease thy lot
with good Fortune crowned!
Now when the Caliph heard these couplets, he exclaimed, “By Allah, good!
By Allah, excellent! Verily the Lord hath been copious[19] to thee, O
Naomi! How clever is thy tongue and how clear is thy speech!” And they
ceased not their mirth and good cheer till midnight, when the Caliph’s
sister said to him, “Give ear, O Commander of the Faithful to a tale I
have read in books of a certain man of rank.” “And what is this tale?”
quoth he. Quoth she “Know, O Prince of the Faithful that there lived
once in the city of Cufa a youth called Ni’amah, son of Al-Rabi’a, and
he had a slave-girl whom he loved and who loved him. They had been
reared in one bed; but when they grew up and mutual love gat hold of
them, Fortune smote them with her calamities and Time, the tyrant,
brought upon them his adversity and decreed separation unto them.
Thereupon designing and slanderous folk enticed her by sleight forth of
his house and, stealing her away from his home, sold her to one of the
Kings for ten thousand dinars. Now the girl loved her lord even as he
loved her; so he left kith and kin and house and home and the gifts of
fortune, and set out to search for her and when she was found he devised
means to gain access to her”——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day
and ceased to say her permitted say.
Now when it was the Two Hundred and Forty-sixth Night,