Merchant Ali asked the cause of the decorations, they told him
the truth of the case; so he blessed Merchant Ma’aruf and cried,
“May Allah Almighty veil his fame and not bring him to public
shame!” And all the merchants rejoiced and were glad for that
they would get their monies. Then the King assembled his troops
and rode forth, whilst Abú al-Sa’ádát returned to Ma’aruf and
acquainted him with the delivering of the letter. Quoth Ma’aruf,
“Bind on the loads;” and when they had done so, he donned the
treasure-suit and mounting the litter became a thousand times
greater and more majestic than the King. Then he set forward;
but, when he had gone half-way, behold, the King met him with the
troops, and seeing him riding in the Takhtrawan and clad in the
dress aforesaid, threw himself upon him and saluted him, and
giving him joy of his safety, greeted him with the greeting of
peace. Then all the Lords of the land saluted him and it was made
manifest that he had spoken the truth and that in him there was
no lie. Presently he entered the city in such state procession as
would have caused the gall-bladder of the lion to burst[FN#72]
for envy and the traders pressed up to him and kissed his hands,
whilst Merchant Ali said to him, “Thou hast played off this trick
and it hath prospered to thy hand, O Shaykh of Impostors! But
thou deservest it and may Allah the Most High increase thee of
His bounty!”; whereupon Ma’aruf laughed. Then he entered the
palace and sitting down on the throne said, “Carry the loads of
gold into the treasury of my uncle the King and bring me the
bales of cloth.” So they brought them to him and opened them
before him, bale after bale, till they had unpacked the seven
hundred loads, whereof he chose out the best and said, “Bear
these to Princess Dunyá that she may distribute them among her
slavegirls; and carry her also this coffer of jewels, that she
may divide them among her handmaids and eunuchs.” Then he
proceeded to make over to the merchants in whose debt he was
stuffs by way of payment for their arrears, giving him whose due
was a thousand, stuffs worth two thousand or more; after which he
fell to distributing to the poor and needy, whilst the King
looked on with greedy eyes and could not hinder him; nor did he
cease largesse till he had made an end of the seven hundred
loads, when he turned to the troops and proceeded to apportion
amongst them emeralds and rubies and pearls and coral and other
jewels by handsful, without count, till the King said to him,
“Enough of this giving, O my son! There is but little left of the
baggage.” But he said, “I have plenty.” Then indeed, his good
faith was become manifest and none could give him the lie; and he
had come to reck not of giving, for that the Slave of the
Seal-ring brought him whatsoever he sought. Presently, the
treasurer came in to the King and said, “O King of the age, the
treasury is full indeed and will not hold the rest of the loads.
Where shall we lay that which is left of the gold and jewels?”
And he assigned to him another place. As for the Princess Dunya
when she saw this, her joy redoubled and she marvelled and said
in herself, “Would I wot how came he by all this wealth!” In like
manner the traders rejoiced in that which he had given them and
blessed him; whilst Merchant Ali marvelled and said to himself,
“I wonder how he hath lied and swindled, that he hath gotten him
all these treasures[FN#73]? Had they come from the King’s
daughter, he had not wasted them on this wise! But how excellent
is his saying who said:—
When the Kings’ King giveth, in reverence pause * And venture not
to enquire the cause:
Allah gives His gifts unto whom He will, * So respect and abide
by His Holy Laws!”
So far concerning him; but as regards the King, he also marvelled
with passing marvel at that which he saw of Ma’aruf’s generosity
and open-handedness in the largesse of wealth. Then the Merchant
went in to his wife, who met him, smiling and laughing-lipped and
kissed his hand, saying, “Didst thou mock me or hadst thou a mind
to prove me with thy saying:—I am a poor man and a fugitive from
my wife? Praised be Allah for that I failed not of my duty to
thee! For thou art my beloved and there is none dearer to me than
thou, whether thou be rich or poor. But I would have thee tell me
what didst thou design by these words.” Said Ma’aruf, “I wished
to prove thee and see whether thy love were sincere or for the
sake of wealth and the greed of worldly good. But now ’tis become
manifest to me that thine affection is sincere and as thou art a
true woman, so welcome to thee! I know thy worth.” Then he went
apart into a place by himself and rubbed the seal-ring, whereupon
Abu al-Sa’adat presented himself and said to him, “Adsum, at thy
service! Ask what thou wilt.” Quoth Ma’aruf, “I want a
treasure-suit and treasure-trinkets for my wife, including a
necklace of forty unique jewels.” Quoth the Jinni, “To hear is to
obey,” and brought him what he sought, whereupon Ma’aruf
dismissed him and carrying the dress and ornaments in to his
wife, laid them before her and said, “Take these and put them on
and welcome!” When she saw this, her wits fled for joy, and she
found among the ornaments a pair of anklets of gold set with
jewels of the handiwork of the magicians, and bracelets and
earrings and a belt[FN#74] such as no money could buy. So she
donned the dress and ornaments and said to Ma’aruf, “O my lord, I
will treasure these up for holidays and festivals.” But he
answered, “Wear them always, for I have others in plenty.” And
when she put them on and her women beheld her, they rejoiced and
bussed his hands. Then he left them and going apart by himself,
rubbed the seal-ring whereupon its slave appeared and he said to
him, “Bring me an hundred suits of apparel, with their ornaments
of gold.” “Hearing and obeying,” answered Abu al-Sa’adat and
brought him the hundred suits, each with its ornaments wrapped up
within it. Ma’aruf took them and called aloud to the slave-girls,
who came to him and he gave them each a suit: so they donned them
and became like the black-eyed girls of Paradise, whilst the
Princess Dunya shone amongst them as the moon among the stars.
One of the handmaids told the King of this and he came in to his
daughter and saw her and her women dazzling all who beheld them;
whereat he wondered with passing wonderment. Then he went out and
calling his Wazir, said to him, “O Wazir, such and such things
have happened; what sayst thou now of this affair?” Said he, “O
King of the age, this be no merchant’s fashion; for a merchant
keepeth a piece of linen by him for years and selleth it not but
at a profit. How should a merchant have generosity such as this
generosity, and whence should he get the like of these monies and
jewels, of which but a slight matter is found with the Kings? So
how should loads thereof be found with merchants? Needs must
there be a cause for this; but, an thou wilt hearken to me, I
will make the truth of the case manifest to thee.” Answered the
King, “O Wazir, I will do thy bidding.” Rejoined the Minister,
“Do thou foregather with thy son-in-law and make a show of affect
to him and talk with him and say:—O my son-in-law, I have a mind
to go, I and thou and the Wazir but no more, to a flower-garden
that we may take our pleasure there. When we come to the garden,
we will set on the table wine, and I will ply him therewith and
compel him to drink; for, when he shall have drunken, he will
lose his reason and his judgment will forsake him. Then we will
question him of the truth of his case and he will discover to us
his secrets, for wine is a traitor and Allah-gifted is he who
said:—
When we drank the wine, and it crept its way * To the place of
Secrets, I cried, “O stay!”
In my fear lest its influence stint my wits * And my friends spy
matters that hidden lay.
When he hath told us the truth we shall ken his case and may deal
with him as we will; because I fear for thee the consequences of
this his present fashion: haply he will covet the kingship and
win over the troops by generosity and lavishing money and so
depose thee and take the kingdom from thee.” “True,” answered the
King.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say
her permitted say.
When it was the Nine Hundred and Ninety-eighth Night,
She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the
Wazir devised this device the King said to him, “Thou hast spoken
sooth!”; and they passed the night on this agreement. And when
morning morrowed the King went forth and sat in the
guest-chamber, when lo, and behold! the grooms and serving-men
came in to him in dismay. Quoth he, “What hath befallen you?”;
and quoth they, “O King of the age, the Syces curried the horses
and foddered them and the he-mules which brought the baggage;
but, when we arose in the morning, we found that thy son-in-law’s
Mamelukes had stolen the horses and mules. We searched the
stables, but found neither horse nor mule; so we entered the
lodging of the Mamelukes and found none there, nor know we how
they fled.” The King marvelled at this, unknowing that the horses
and Mamelukes were all Ifrits, the subjects of the Slave of the
Spell, and asked the grooms, “O accursed how could a thousand
beasts and five hundred slaves and servants flee without your
knowledge?” Answered they, “We know not how it happened,” and he
cried, “Go, and when your lord cometh forth of the Harim, tell
him the case.” So they went out from before the King and sat down
bewildered, till Ma’aruf came out and, seeing them chagrined
enquired of them, “What may be the matter?” They told him all
that had happened and he said, “What is their worth that ye
should be concerned for them? Wend your ways.” And he sat
laughing and was neither angry nor grieved concerning the case;
whereupon the King looked in the Wazir’s face and said to him,
“What manner of man is this, with whom wealth is of no worth?
Needs must there be a reason for this?” Then they talked with him
awhile and the King said to him, “O my son-in-law, I have a mind
to go, I, thou and the Wazir, to a garden, where we may divert
ourselves.” “No harm in that,” said Ma’aruf. So they went forth
to a flower-garden, wherein every sort of fruit was of kinds
twain and its waters were flowing and its trees towering and its
birds carolling. There they entered a pavilion, whose sight did
away sorrow from the soul, and sat talking, whilst the Minister
entertained them with rare tales and quoted merry quips and
mirth-provoking sayings and Ma’aruf attentively listened, till
the time of dinner came, when they set on a tray of meats and a
flagon of wine. When they had eaten and washed hands, the Wazir
filled the cup and gave it to the King, who drank it off; then he
filled a second and handed it to Ma’aruf, saying, “Take the cup
of the drink to which Reason boweth neck in reverence.” Quoth
Ma’aruf, “What is this, O Wazir?”; and quoth he, “This is the
grizzled[FN#75] virgin and the old maid long kept at home,[FN#76]
the giver of joy to hearts, whereof saith the poet:—
The feet of sturdy Miscreants[FN#77] went trampling heavy tread,
* And she hath ta’en a vengeance dire on every Arab’s head.
A Káfir youth like fullest moon in darkness hands her round *
Whose eyne are strongest cause of sin by him inspiritèd.”
And Allah-gifted is he who said:—
’Tis as if wine and he who bears the bowl, * Rising to show her
charms for man to see,[FN#78]
Were dancing undurn-Sun whose face the moon * Of night adorned
with stars of Gemini.
So subtle is her essence it would seem * Through every limb like
course of soul runs she.
And how excellent is the saying of the poet:—
Slept in mine arms full Moon of brightest blee * Nor did that sun
eclipse in goblet see:
I nighted spying fire whereto bow down * Magians, which bowed
from ewer’s lip to me.
And that of another:—
It runs through every joint of them as runs * The surge of health
returning to the sick.
And yet another:—
I marvel at its pressers, how they died * And left us aqua vitae—lymph
of life!
And yet goodlier is the saying of Abu Nowas:—
Cease then to blame me, for thy blame doth anger bring * And with
the draught that maddened me come med’cining:
A yellow girl[FN#79] whose court cures every carking care; * Did
a stone touch it would with joy and glee upspring:
She riseth in her ewer during darkest night * The house with
brightest, sheeniest light illumining:
And going round of youths to whom the world inclines[FN#80] *
Ne’er, save in whatso way they please, their hearts shall
wring.
From hand of coynted[FN#81] lass begarbed like yarded lad,[FN#82]
* Wencher and Tribe of Lot alike enamouring,
She comes: and say to him who dares claim lore of love *
Something hast learnt but still there’s many another thing.
But best of all is the saying of Ibn al-Mu’tazz[FN#83]:—
On the shady woody island[FN#84] His showers Allah deign * Shed
on Convent hight Abdún[FN#85] drop and drip of railing rain:
Oft the breezes of the morning have awakened me therein * When
the Dawn shows her blaze,[FN#86] ere the bird of flight was
fain;
And the voices of the monks that with chants awoke the walls *
Black-frocked shavelings ever wont the cup amorn to
drain.[FN#87]
’Mid the throng how many fair with languour-kohl’d eyes[FN#88] *
And lids enfolding lovely orbs where black on white was
lain,
In secret came to see me by shirt of night disguised * In terror
and in caution a-hurrying amain!
Then I rose and spread my cheek like a carpet on his path * In
homage, and with skirts wiped his trail from off the plain.
But threatening disgrace rose the Crescent in the sky * Like the
paring of a nail yet the light would never wane:
Then happened whatso happened: I disdain to kiss and tell * So
deem of us thy best and with queries never mell.
And gifted of God is he who saith:—
In the morn I am richest of men * And in joy at good news I start
up
For I look on the liquid gold[FN#89] * And I measure it out by
the cup.
And how goodly is the saying of the poet:—
By Allah, this is th’ only alchemy * All said of other science
false we see!
Carat of wine on hundredweight of woe * Transmuteth gloomiest
grief to joy and glee.
And that of another:—
The glasses are heavy when empty brought * Till we charge them
all with unmixèd wine.
Then so light are they that to fly they’re fain * As bodies
lightened by soul divine.
And yet another:—
Wine-cup and ruby-wine high worship claim; * Dishonour ’twere to
see their honour waste:
Bury me, when I’m dead, by side of vine * Whose veins shall
moisten bones in clay misplaced;
Nor bury me in wold and wild, for I * Dread only after death no
wine to taste.”[FN#90]
And he ceased not to egg him on to the drink, naming to him such
of the virtues of wine as he thought well and reciting to him
what occurred to him of poetry and pleasantries on the subject,
till Ma’aruf addressed himself to sucking the cup-lips and cared
no longer for aught else. The Wazir ceased not to fill for him
and he to drink and enjoy himself and make merry, till his wits
wandered and he could not distinguish right from wrong. When the
Minister saw that drunkenness had attained in him to utterest and
the bounds transgressed, he said to him, “By Allah, O Merchant
Ma’aruf, I admire whence thou gottest these jewels whose like the
Kings of the Chosroës possess not! In all our lives never saw we
a merchant that had heaped up riches like unto thine or more
generous than thou, for thy doings are the doings of Kings and
not merchants’ doings. Wherefore, Allah upon thee, do thou
acquaint me with this, that I may know thy rank and condition.”
And he went on to test him with questions and cajole him, till
Ma’aruf, being reft of reason, said to him, “I’m neither merchant
nor King,” and told him his whole story from first to last. Then
said the Wazir, “I conjure thee by Allah, O my lord Ma’aruf, show
us the ring, that we may see its make.” So, in his drunkenness,
he pulled off the ring and said, “Take it and look upon it.” The
Minister took it and turning it over, said, “If I rub it, will
its slave appear?” Replied Ma’aruf, “Yes. Rub it and he will
appear to thee, and do thou divert thyself with the sight of
him.” Thereupon the Wazir rubbed the ring and behold forthright
appeared the Jinni and said, “Adsum, at thy service, O my lord!
Ask and it shall be given to thee. Wilt thou ruin a city or raise
a capital or kill a king? Whatso thou seekest, I will do for
thee, sans fail.” The Wazir pointed to Ma’aruf and said, “Take up
yonder wretch and cast him down in the most desolate of desert
lands, where he shall find nothing to eat nor drink, so he may
die of hunger and perish miserably, and none know of him.”
Accordingly, the Jinni snatched him up and flew with him betwixt
heaven and earth, which when Ma’aruf saw, he made sure of
destruction and wept and said, “O Abu al-Sa’adat, whither goest
thou with me?” Replied the Jinni, “I go to cast thee down in the
Desert Quarter,[FN#91] O ill-bred wight of gross wits. Shall one
have the like of this talisman and give it to the folk to gaze
at? Verily, thou deservest that which hath befallen thee; and but
that I fear Allah, I would let thee fall from a height of a
thousand fathoms, nor shouldst thou reach the earth, till the
winds had torn thee to shreds.” Ma’aruf was silent[FN#92] and did
not again bespeak him till he reached the Desert Quarter and
casting him down there, went away and left him in that horrible
place.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying
her permitted say.
When it was the Nine Hundred and Ninety-ninth Night,
She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Slave
of the Seal-ring took up Ma’aruf and cast him down in the Desert
Quarter where he left him and went his ways. So much concerning
him; but returning to the Wazir who was now in possession of the
talisman, he said to the King, “How deemest thou now? Did I not
tell thee that this fellow was a liar, an impostor, but thou
wouldst not credit me?” Replied the King, “Thou wast in the
right, O my Wazir, Allah grant thee weal! But give me the ring,
that I may solace myself with the sight.” The Minister looked at
him angrily and spat in his face, saying, “O lack-wits, how shall
I give it to thee and abide thy servant, after I am become thy
master? But I will spare thee no more on life.” Then he rubbed
the seal-ring and said to the Slave, “Take up this ill-mannered
churl and cast him down by his son-in-law the swindler-man.” So
the Jinni took him up and flew off with him, whereupon quoth the
King to him, “O creature of my Lord, what is my crime?” Abu
al-Sa’adat replied, “That wot I not, but my master hath commanded
me and I cannot cross whoso hath compassed the enchanted ring.”
Then he flew on with him, till he came to the Desert Quarter and,
casting him down where he had cast Ma’aruf left him and returned.
The King hearing Ma’aruf weeping, went up to him and acquainted
him with his case; and they sat weeping over that which had
befallen them and found neither meat nor drink. Meanwhile the
Minister, after driving father-in-law and son-in-law from the
country, went forth from the garden and summoning all the troops
held a Divan, and told them what he had done with the King and
Ma’aruf and acquainted them with the affair of the talisman,
adding, “Unless ye make me Sultan over you, I will bid the Slave
of the Seal-ring take you up one and all and cast you down in the
Desert Quarter where you shall die of hunger and thirst.” They
replied, “Do us no damage, for we accept thee as Sultan over us
and will not anywise gainsay thy bidding.” So they agreed, in
their own despite, to his being Sultan over them, and he bestowed
on them robes of honour, seeking all he had a mind to of Abu
al-Sa’adat, who brought it to him forthwith. Then he sat down on
the throne and the troops did homage to him; and he sent to
Princess Dunya, the King’s daughter, saying, “Make thee ready,
for I mean to come in unto thee this night, because I long for
thee with love.” When she heard this, she wept, for the case of
her husband and father was grievous to her, and sent to him
saying, “Have patience with me till my period of widowhood[FN#93]
be ended: then draw up thy contract of marriage with me and go in
to me according to law.” But he sent back to say to her, “I know
neither period of widowhood nor to delay have I a mood; and I
need not a contract nor know I lawful from unlawful; but needs
must I go in unto thee this night.” She answered him saying, “So
be it, then, and welcome to thee!”; but this was a trick on her
part. When the answer reached the Wazir, he rejoiced and his
breast was broadened, for that he was passionately in love with
her. He bade set food before all the folk, saying, “Eat; this is
my bride-feast; for I purpose to go in to the Princess Dunya this
night.” Quoth the Shaykh al-Islam, “It is not lawful for thee to
go in unto her till her days of widowhood be ended and thou have
drawn up thy contract of marriage with her.” But he answered, “I
know neither days of widowhood nor other period; so multiply not
words on me.” The Shaykh al-Islam was silent,[FN#94] fearing his
mischief, and said to the troops, “Verily, this man is a Kafir, a
Miscreant, and hath neither creed nor religious conduct.” As soon
as it was evenfall, he went in to her and found her robed in her
richest raiment and decked with her goodliest adornments. When
she saw him, she came to meet him, laughing and said, “A blessed
night! But hadst thou slain my father and my husband, it had been
more to my mind.” And he said, “There is no help but I slay
them.” Then she made him sit down and began to jest with him and
make show of love caressing him and smiling in his face so that
his reason fled; but she cajoled him with her coaxing and cunning
only that she might get possession of the ring and change his joy
into calamity on the mother of his forehead:[FN#95] nor did she
deal thus with him but after the rede of him who said[FN#96]:—
I attained by my wits * What no sword had obtained,
And return wi’ the spoils * Whose sweet pluckings I gained.
When he saw her caress him and smile upon him, desire surged up
in him and he besought her of carnal knowledge; but, when he
approached her, she drew away from him and burst into tears,
saying, “O my lord, seest thou not the man looking at us? I
conjure thee by Allah, screen me from his eyes! How canst thou
know me what while he looketh on us?” When he heard this, he was
angry and asked, “Where is the man?”; and answered she, “There he
is, in the bezel of the ring! putting out his head and staring at
us.” He thought that the Jinni was looking at them and said
laughing, “Fear not; this is the Slave of the Seal-ring, and he
is subject to me.” Quoth she, “I am afraid of Ifrits; pull it off
and throw it afar from me.” So he plucked it off and laying it on
the cushion, drew near to her, but she dealt him a kick, her foot
striking him full in the stomach[FN#97], and he fell over on his
back senseless; whereupon she cried out to her attendants, who
came to her in haste, and said to them, “Seize him!” So forty
slavegirls laid hold on him, whilst she hurriedly snatched up the
ring from the cushion and rubbed it; whereupon Abu al-Sa’adat
presented himself, saying, “Adsum, at thy service O my mistress.”
Cried she, “Take up yonder Infidel and clap him in jail and
shackle him heavily.” So he took him and throwing him into the
Prison of Wrath[FN#98] returned and reported, “I have laid him in
limbo.” Quoth she, “Whither wentest thou with my father and my
husband?”; and quoth he, “I cast them down in the Desert
Quarter.” Then cried she, “I command thee to fetch them to me
forthwith.” He replied, “I hear and I obey,” and taking flight at
once, stayed not till he reached the Desert Quarter, where he
lighted down upon them and found them sitting weeping and
complaining each to other. Quoth he, “Fear not, for relief is
come to you”; and he told them what the Wazir had done, adding,
“Indeed I imprisoned him with my own hands in obedience to her,
and she hath bidden me bear you back.” And they rejoiced in his
news. Then he took them both up and flew home with them; nor was
it more than an hour before he brought them in to Princess Dunya,
who rose and saluted sire and spouse. Then she made them sit down
and brought them food and sweetmeats, and they passed the rest of
the night with her. On the next day she clad them in rich
clothing and said to the King, “O my papa, sit thou upon thy
throne and be King as before and make my husband thy Wazir of the
Right and tell thy troops that which hath happened. Then send for
the Minister out of prison and do him die, and after burn him,
for that he is a Miscreant, and would have gone in unto me in the
way of lewdness, without the rites of wedlock and he hath
testified against himself that he is an Infidel and believeth in
no religion. And do tenderly by thy son-in-law, whom thou makest
thy Wazir of the Right.” He replied, “Hearing and obeying, O my
daughter. But do thou give me the ring or give it to thy
husband.” Quoth she, “It behoveth not that either thou or he have
the ring. I will keep the ring myself, and belike I shall be more
careful of it than you. Whatso ye wish seek it of me and I will
demand it for you of the Slave of the Seal-ring. So fear no harm
so long as I live and after my death, do what ye twain will with
the ring.” Quoth the King, “This is the right rede, O my
daughter,” and taking his son-in-law went forth to the Divan. Now
the troops had passed the night in sore chagrin for Princess
Dunya and that which the Wazir had done with her, in going in to
her after the way of lewdness, without marriage-rites, and for
his ill-usage of the King and Ma’aruf, and they feared lest the
law of Al-Islam be dishonoured, because it was manifest to them
that he was a Kafir. So they assembled in the Divan and fell to
reproaching the Shaykh al-Islam, saying, “Why didst thou not
forbid him from going in to the Princess in the way of lewdness?”
Said he, “O folk, the man is a Miscreant and hath gotten
possession of the ring and I and you may not prevail against him.
But Almighty Allah will requite him his deed, and be ye silent,
lest he slay you.” And as the host was thus engaged in talk,
behold the King and Ma’aruf entered the Divan.—And Shahrazad
perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
When it was the Thousandth Night,