part company with such honest gentlemen, I would not be turned from my

resolution on that account.

On hearing my determination my ten hosts then took a sheep and killed

it, and handed me a knife, which they said I should by-and-by find

useful. "We must sew you into this sheep-skin," said they, "and then

leave you. A fowl of monstrous size, called a roc, will appear in the

air, taking you to be a sheep. He will snatch you up and carry you

into the sky, but be not alarmed, for he will bring you safely down and

lay you on the top of a mountain. When you are on the ground cut the

skin with the knife and throw it off. As soon as the roc sees you he

will fly away from fear, but you must walk on till you come to a castle

covered with plates of gold, studded with jewels. Enter boldly at the

gate, which always stands open, but do not ask us to tell you what we

saw or what befel us there, for that you will learn for yourself. This

only we may say, that it cost us each our right eye, and has imposed

upon us our nightly penance."

After the young gentlemen had been at the trouble of sewing the

sheep-skin on me they left me, and retired to the hall. In a few

minutes the roc appeared, and bore me off to the top of the mountain in

his huge claws as lightly as if I had been a feather, for this great

white bird is so strong that he has been known to carry even an

elephant to his nest in the hills.

The moment my feet touched the ground I took out my knife and cut the

threads that bound me, and the sight of me in my proper clothes so

alarmed the roc that he spread his wings and flew away. Then I set out

to seek the castle.

I found it after wandering about for half a day, and never could I have

imagined anything so glorious. The gate led into a square court, into

which opened a hundred doors, ninety-nine of them being of rare woods

and one of gold. Through each of these doors I caught glimpses of

splendid gardens or of rich storehouses.

Entering one of the doors which was standing open I found myself in a

vast hall where forty young ladies, magnificently dressed, and of

perfect beauty, were reclining. As soon as they saw me they rose and

uttered words of welcome, and even forced me to take possession of a

seat that was higher than their own, though my proper place was at

their feet. Not content with this, one brought me splendid garments,

while another filled a basin with scented water and poured it over my

hands, and the rest busied themselves with preparing refreshments.

After I had eaten and drunk of the most delicate food and rarest wines,

the ladies crowded round me and begged me to tell them all my

adventures.

By the time I had finished night had fallen, and the ladies lighted up

the castle with such a prodigious quantity of tapers that even day

could hardly have been brighter. We then sat down to a supper of dried

fruits and sweetmeats, after which some sang and others danced. I was

so well amused that I did not notice how the time was passing, but at

length one of the ladies approached and informed me it was midnight,

and that, as I must be tired, she would conduct me to the room that had

been prepared for me. Then, bidding me good-night, I was left to sleep.

I spent the next thirty-nine days in much the same way as the first,

but at the close of that time the ladies appeared (as was their custom)

in my room one morning to inquire how I had slept, and instead of

looking cheerful and smiling they were in floods of tears. "Prince,"

said they, "we must leave you, and never was it so hard to part from

any of our friends. Most likely we shall never see you again, but if

you have sufficient self-command perhaps we may yet look forward to a

meeting."

"Ladies," I replied, "what is the meaning of these strange words--I

pray you to tell me?"

"Know then," answered one of them, "that we are all princesses--each a

king's daughter. We live in this castle together, in the way that you

have seen, but at the end of every year secret duties call us away for

the space of forty days. The time has now come; but before we depart,

we will leave you our keys, so that you may not lack entertainment

during our absence. But one thing we would ask of you. The Golden

Door, alone, forbear to open, as you value your own peace, and the

happiness of your life. That door once unlocked, we must bid you

farewell for ever."

Weeping, I assured them of my prudence, and after embracing me

tenderly, they went their ways.

Every day I opened two or three fresh doors, each of which contained

behind it so many curious things that I had no chance of feeling dull,

much as I regretted the absence of the ladies. Sometimes it was an

orchard, whose fruit far exceeded in bigness any that grew in my

father's garden. Sometimes it was a court planted with roses,

jessamine, dafeodils, hyacinths and anemones, and a thousand other

flowers of which I did not know the names. Or again, it would be an

aviary, fitted with all kinds of singing birds, or a treasury heaped up

with precious stones; but whatever I might see, all was perfect of its

own sort.

Thirty-nine days passed away more rapidly than I could have conceived

possible, and the following morning the princesses were to return to

the castle. But alas! I had explored every corner, save only the room

that was shut in by the Golden Door, and I had no longer anything to

amuse myself with. I stood before the forbidden place for some time,

gazing at its beauty; then a happy inspiration struck me, that because

I unlocked the door it was not necessary that I should enter the

chamber. It would be enough for me to stand outside and view whatever

hidden wonders might be therein.

Thus arguing against my own conscience, I turned the key, when a smell

rushed out that, pleasant though it was, overcame me completely, and I

fell fainting across the threshold. Instead of being warned by this

accident, directly I came to myself I went for a few moments into the

air to shake of the effects of the perfume, and then entered boldly. I

found myself in a large, vaulted room, lighted by tapers, scented with

aloes and ambergris, standing in golden candle-sticks, whilst gold and

silver lamps hung from the ceiling.

Though objects of rare workmanship lay heaped around me, I paid them

scant attention, so much was I struck by a great black horse which

stood in one corner, the handsomest and best-shaped animal I had ever

seen. His saddle and bridle were of massive gold, curiously wrought;

one side of his trough was filled with clean barley and sesame, and the

other with rose water. I led the animal into the open air, and then

jumped on his back, shaking the reins as I did so, but as he never

stirred, I touched him lightly with a switch I had picked up in his

stable. No sooner did he feel the stroke, than he spread his wings

(which I had not perceived before), and flew up with me straight into

the sky. When he had reached a prodigious height, he next darted back

to earth, and alighted on the terrace belonging to a castle, shaking me

violently out of the saddle as he did so, and giving me such a blow

with his tail, that he knocked out my right eye.

Half-stunned as I was with all that had happened to me, I rose to my

feet, thinking as I did so of what had befallen the ten young men, and

watching the horse which was soaring into the clouds. I left the

terrace and wandered on till I came to a hall, which I knew to have

been the one from which the roc had taken me, by the ten blue sofas

against the wall.

The ten young men were not present when I first entered, but came in

soon after, accompanied by the old man. They greeted me kindly, and

bewailed my misfortune, though, indeed, they had expected nothing less.

"All that has happened to you," they said, "we also have undergone, and

we should be enjoying the same happiness still, had we not opened the

Golden Door while the princesses were absent. You have been no wiser

than we, and have suffered the same punishment. We would gladly

receive you among us, to perform such penance as we do, but we have

already told you that this is impossible. Depart, therefore, from

hence and go to the Court of Bagdad, where you shall meet with him that

can decide your destiny." They told me the way I was to travel, and I

left them.

On the road I caused my beard and eyebrows to be shaved, and put on a

Calender's habit. I have had a long journey, but arrived this evening

in the city, where I met my brother Calenders at the gate, being

strangers like myself. We wondered much at one another, to see we were

all blind of the same eye, but we had no leisure to discourse at length

of our common calamities. We had only so much time as to come hither

to implore those favours which you have been generously pleased to

grant us.

He finished, and it was Zobeida's turn to speak: "Go wherever you

please," she said, addressing all three. "I pardon you all, but you

must depart immediately out of this house."

The Seven Voyages of Sindbad the Sailor

In the times of the Caliph Haroun-al-Raschid there lived in Bagdad a

poor porter named Hindbad, who on a very hot day was sent to carry a

heavy load from one end of the city to the other. Before he had

accomplished half the distance he was so tired that, finding himself in

a quiet street where the pavement was sprinkled with rose water, and a

cool breeze was blowing, he set his burden upon the ground, and sat

down to rest in the shade of a grand house. Very soon he decided that

he could not have chosen a pleasanter place; a delicious perfume of

aloes wood and pastilles came from the open windows and mingled with

the scent of the rose water which steamed up from the hot pavement.

Within the palace he heard some music, as of many instruments cunningly

played, and the melodious warble of nightingales and other birds, and

by this, and the appetising smell of many dainty dishes of which he

presently became aware, he judged that feasting and merry making were

going on. He wondered who lived in this magnificent house which he had

never seen before, the street in which it stood being one which he

seldom had occasion to pass. To satisfy his curiosity he went up to

some splendidly dressed servants who stood at the door, and asked one

of them the name of the master of the mansion.

"What," replied he, "do you live in Bagdad, and not know that here

lives the noble Sindbad the Sailor, that famous traveller who sailed

over every sea upon which the sun shines?"

The porter, who had often heard people speak of the immense wealth of

Sindbad, could not help feeling envious of one whose lot seemed to be

as happy as his own was miserable. Casting his eyes up to the sky he

exclaimed aloud,

"Consider, Mighty Creator of all things, the differences between

Sindbad's life and mine. Every day I suffer a thousand hardships and

misfortunes, and have hard work to get even enough bad barley bread to

keep myself and my family alive, while the lucky Sindbad spends money

right and left and lives upon the fat of the land! What has he done

that you should give him this pleasant life--what have I done to

deserve so hard a fate?"

So saying he stamped upon the ground like one beside himself with

misery and despair. Just at this moment a servant came out of the

palace, and taking him by the arm said, "Come with me, the noble

Sindbad, my master, wishes to speak to you."

Hindbad was not a little surprised at this summons, and feared that his

unguarded words might have drawn upon him the displeasure of Sindbad,

so he tried to excuse himself upon the pretext that he could not leave

the burden which had been entrusted to him in the street. However the

lackey promised him that it should be taken care of, and urged him to

obey the call so pressingly that at last the porter was obliged to

yield.

He followed the servant into a vast room, where a great company was

seated round a table covered with all sorts of delicacies. In the

place of honour sat a tall, grave man whose long white beard gave him a

venerable air. Behind his chair stood a crowd of attendants eager to

minister to his wants. This was the famous Sindbad himself. The

porter, more than ever alarmed at the sight of so much magnificence,

tremblingly saluted the noble company. Sindbad, making a sign to him

to approach, caused him to be seated at his right hand, and himself

heaped choice morsels upon his plate, and poured out for him a draught

of excellent wine, and presently, when the banquet drew to a close,

spoke to him familiarly, asking his name and occupation.

"My lord," replied the porter, "I am called Hindbad."

"I am glad to see you here," continued Sindbad. "And I will answer for

the rest of the company that they are equally pleased, but I wish you

to tell me what it was that you said just now in the street." For

Sindbad, passing by the open window before the feast began, had heard

his complaint and therefore had sent for him.

At this question Hindbad was covered with confusion, and hanging down

his head, replied, "My lord, I confess that, overcome by weariness and

ill-humour, I uttered indiscreet words, which I pray you to pardon me."

"Oh!" replied Sindbad, "do not imagine that I am so unjust as to blame

you. On the contrary, I understand your situation and can pity you.

Only you appear to be mistaken about me, and I wish to set you right.

You doubtless imagine that I have acquired all the wealth and luxury

that you see me enjoy without difficulty or danger, but this is far

indeed from being the case. I have only reached this happy state after

having for years suffered every possible kind of toil and danger.

"Yes, my noble friends," he continued, addressing the company, "I

assure you that my adventures have been strange enough to deter even

the most avaricious men from seeking wealth by traversing the seas.

Since you have, perhaps, heard but confused accounts of my seven

voyages, and the dangers and wonders that I have met with by sea and

land, I will now give you a full and true account of them, which I

think you will be well pleased to hear."

As Sindbad was relating his adventures chiefly on account of the

porter, he ordered, before beginning his tale, that the burden which

had been left in the street should be carried by some of his own

servants to the place for which Hindbad had set out at first, while he

remained to listen to the story.

First Voyage

I had inherited considerable wealth from my parents, and being young

and foolish I at first squandered it recklessly upon every kind of

pleasure, but presently, finding that riches speedily take to

themselves wings if managed as badly as I was managing mine, and

remembering also that to be old and poor is misery indeed, I began to

bethink me of how I could make the best of what still remained to me.

I sold all my household goods by public auction, and joined a company

of merchants who traded by sea, embarking with them at Balsora in a

ship which we had fitted out between us.

We set sail and took our course towards the East Indies by the Persian

Gulf, having the coast of Persia upon our left hand and upon our right

the shores of Arabia Felix. I was at first much troubled by the uneasy

motion of the vessel, but speedily recovered my health, and since that

hour have been no more plagued by sea-sickness.

From time to time we landed at various islands, where we sold or

exchanged our merchandise, and one day, when the wind dropped suddenly,

we found ourselves becalmed close to a small island like a green

meadow, which only rose slightly above the surface of the water. Our

sails were furled, and the captain gave permission to all who wished to

land for a while and amuse themselves. I was among the number, but

when after strolling about for some time we lighted a fire and sat down

to enjoy the repast which we had brought with us, we were startled by a

sudden and violent trembling of the island, while at the same moment

those left upon the ship set up an outcry bidding us come on board for

our lives, since what we had taken for an island was nothing but the

back of a sleeping whale. Those who were nearest to the boat threw

themselves into it, others sprang into the sea, but before I could save

myself the whale plunged suddenly into the depths of the ocean, leaving

me clinging to a piece of the wood which we had brought to make our

fire. Meanwhile a breeze had sprung up, and in the confusion that

ensued on board our vessel in hoisting the sails and taking up those

who were in the boat and clinging to its sides, no one missed me and I

was left at the mercy of the waves. All that day I floated up and

down, now beaten this way, now that, and when night fell I despaired

for my life; but, weary and spent as I was, I clung to my frail

support, and great was my joy when the morning light showed me that I

had drifted against an island.

The cliffs were high and steep, but luckily for me some tree-roots

protruded in places, and by their aid I climbed up at last, and

stretched myself upon the turf at the top, where I lay, more dead than

alive, till the sun was high in the heavens. By that time I was very

hungry, but after some searching I came upon some eatable herbs, and a

spring of clear water, and much refreshed I set out to explore the

island. Presently I reached a great plain where a grazing horse was

tethered, and as I stood looking at it I heard voices talking

apparently underground, and in a moment a man appeared who asked me how

I came upon the island. I told him my adventures, and heard in return

that he was one of the grooms of Mihrage, the king of the island, and

that each year they came to feed their master's horses in this plain.

He took me to a cave where his companions were assembled, and when I

had eaten of the food they set before me, they bade me think myself

fortunate to have come upon them when I did, since they were going back

to their master on the morrow, and without their aid I could certainly

never have found my way to the inhabited part of the island.

Early the next morning we accordingly set out, and when we reached the

capital I was graciously received by the king, to whom I related my

adventures, upon which he ordered that I should be well cared for and

provided with such things as I needed. Being a merchant I sought out

men of my own profession, and particularly those who came from foreign

countries, as I hoped in this way to hear news from Bagdad, and find

out some means of returning thither, for the capital was situated upon

the sea-shore, and visited by vessels from all parts of the world. In

the meantime I heard many curious things, and answered many questions

concerning my own country, for I talked willingly with all who came to

me. Also to while away the time of waiting I explored a little island

named Cassel, which belonged to King Mihrage, and which was supposed to

be inhabited by a spirit named Deggial. Indeed, the sailors assured me

that often at night the playing of timbals could be heard upon it.

However, I saw nothing strange upon my voyage, saving some fish that

were full two hundred cubits long, but were fortunately more in dread

of us than even we were of them, and fled from us if we did but strike

upon a board to frighten them. Other fishes there were only a cubit

long which had heads like owls.

One day after my return, as I went down to the quay, I saw a ship which

had just cast anchor, and was discharging her cargo, while the

merchants to whom it belonged were busily directing the removal of it

to their warehouses. Drawing nearer I presently noticed that my own

name was marked upon some of the packages, and after having carefully

examined them, I felt sure that they were indeed those which I had put

on board our ship at Balsora. I then recognised the captain of the

vessel, but as I was certain that he believed me to be dead, I went up

to him and asked who owned the packages that I was looking at.

"There was on board my ship," he replied, "a merchant of Bagdad named

Sindbad. One day he and several of my other passengers landed upon

what we supposed to be an island, but which was really an enormous

whale floating asleep upon the waves. No sooner did it feel upon its

back the heat of the fire which had been kindled, than it plunged into

the depths of the sea. Several of the people who were upon it perished

in the waters, and among others this unlucky Sindbad. This merchandise

is his, but I have resolved to dispose of it for the benefit of his

family if I should ever chance to meet with them."

"Captain," said I, "I am that Sindbad whom you believe to be dead, and

these are my possessions!"

When the captain heard these words he cried out in amazement,

"Lackaday! and what is the world coming to? In these days there is not

an honest man to be met with. Did I not with my own eyes see Sindbad

drown, and now you have the audacity to tell me that you are he! I

should have taken you to be a just man, and yet for the sake of

obtaining that which does not belong to you, you are ready to invent

this horrible falsehood."

"Have patience, and do me the favour to hear my story," said I.

"Speak then," replied the captain, "I'm all attention."

So I told him of my escape and of my fortunate meeting with the king's

grooms, and how kindly I had been received at the palace. Very soon I

began to see that I had made some impression upon him, and after the

arrival of some of the other merchants, who showed great joy at once

more seeing me alive, he declared that he also recognised me.

Throwing himself upon my neck he exclaimed, "Heaven be praised that you

have escaped from so great a danger. As to your goods, I pray you take

them, and dispose of them as you please." I thanked him, and praised

his honesty, begging him to accept several bales of merchandise in

token of my gratitude, but he would take nothing. Of the choicest of

my goods I prepared a present for King Mihrage, who was at first

amazed, having known that I had lost my all. However, when I had

explained to him how my bales had been miraculously restored to me, he

graciously accepted my gifts, and in return gave me many valuable

things. I then took leave of him, and exchanging my merchandise for

sandal and aloes wood, camphor, nutmegs, cloves, pepper, and ginger, I

embarked upon the same vessel and traded so successfully upon our

homeward voyage that I arrived in Balsora with about one hundred

thousand sequins. My family received me with as much joy as I felt

upon seeing them once more. I bought land and slaves, and built a

great house in which I resolved to live happily, and in the enjoyment

of all the pleasures of life to forget my past sufferings.

Here Sindbad paused, and commanded the musicians to play again, while

the feasting continued until evening. When the time came for the

porter to depart, Sindbad gave him a purse containing one hundred

sequins, saying, "Take this, Hindbad, and go home, but to-morrow come

again and you shall hear more of my adventures."

The porter retired quite overcome by so much generosity, and you may

imagine that he was well received at home, where his wife and children

thanked their lucky stars that he had found such a benefactor.

The next day Hindbad, dressed in his best, returned to the voyager's

house, and was received with open arms. As soon as all the guests had

arrived the banquet began as before, and when they had feasted long and

merrily, Sindbad addressed them thus:

"My friends, I beg that you will give me your attention while I relate

the adventures of my second voyage, which you will find even more

astonishing than the first."

Second Voyage

I had resolved, as you know, on my return from my first voyage, to

spend the rest of my days quietly in Bagdad, but very soon I grew tired

of such an idle life and longed once more to find myself upon the sea.

I procured, therefore, such goods as were suitable for the places I

intended to visit, and embarked for the second time in a good ship with

other merchants whom I knew to be honourable men. We went from island

to island, often making excellent bargains, until one day we landed at

a spot which, though covered with fruit trees and abounding in springs

of excellent water, appeared to possess neither houses nor people.

While my companions wandered here and there gathering flowers and fruit

I sat down in a shady place, and, having heartily enjoyed the

provisions and the wine I had brought with me, I fell asleep, lulled by

the murmur of a clear brook which flowed close by.

How long I slept I know not, but when I opened my eyes and started to

my feet I perceived with horror that I was alone and that the ship was

gone. I rushed to and fro like one distracted, uttering cries of

despair, and when from the shore I saw the vessel under full sail just

disappearing upon the horizon, I wished bitterly enough that I had been

content to stay at home in safety. But since wishes could do me no

good, I presently took courage and looked about me for a means of

escape. When I had climbed a tall tree I first of all directed my

anxious glances towards the sea; but, finding nothing hopeful there, I

turned landward, and my curiosity was excited by a huge dazzling white

object, so far off that I could not make out what it might be.

Descending from the tree I hastily collected what remained of my

provisions and set off as fast as I could go towards it. As I drew

near it seemed to me to be a white ball of immense size and height, and

when I could touch it, I found it marvellously smooth and soft. As it

was impossible to climb it--for it presented no foot-hold--I walked

round about it seeking some opening, but there was none. I counted,

however, that it was at least fifty paces round. By this time the sun

was near setting, but quite suddenly it fell dark, something like a

huge black cloud came swiftly over me, and I saw with amazement that it

was a bird of extraordinary size which was hovering near. Then I

remembered that I had often heard the sailors speak of a wonderful bird

called a roc, and it occurred to me that the white object which had so

puzzled me must be its egg.

Sure enough the bird settled slowly down upon it, covering it with its

wings to keep it warm, and I cowered close beside the egg in such a

position that one of the bird's feet, which was as large as the trunk

of a tree, was just in front of me. Taking off my turban I bound

myself securely to it with the linen in the hope that the roc, when it

took flight next morning, would bear me away with it from the desolate

island. And this was precisely what did happen. As soon as the dawn

appeared the bird rose into the air carrying me up and up till I could

no longer see the earth, and then suddenly it descended so swiftly that

I almost lost consciousness. When I became aware that the roc had

settled and that I was once again upon solid ground, I hastily unbound

my turban from its foot and freed myself, and that not a moment too

soon; for the bird, pouncing upon a huge snake, killed it with a few

blows from its powerful beak, and seizing it up rose into the air once

more and soon disappeared from my view. When I had looked about me I

began to doubt if I had gained anything by quitting the desolate island.

The valley in which I found myself was deep and narrow, and surrounded

by mountains which towered into the clouds, and were so steep and rocky

that there was no way of climbing up their sides. As I wandered about,

seeking anxiously for some means of escaping from this trap, I observed

that the ground was strewed with diamonds, some of them of an

astonishing size. This sight gave me great pleasure, but my delight

was speedily damped when I saw also numbers of horrible snakes so long

and so large that the smallest of them could have swallowed an elephant

with ease. Fortunately for me they seemed to hide in caverns of the

rocks by day, and only came out by night, probably because of their

enemy the roc.

All day long I wandered up and down the valley, and when it grew dusk I

crept into a little cave, and having blocked up the entrance to it with

a stone, I ate part of my little store of food and lay down to sleep,

but all through the night the serpents crawled to and fro, hissing

horribly, so that I could scarcely close my eyes for terror. I was

thankful when the morning light appeared, and when I judged by the

silence that the serpents had retreated to their dens I came

tremblingly out of my cave and wandered up and down the valley once

more, kicking the diamonds contemptuously out of my path, for I felt

that they were indeed vain things to a man in my situation. At last,

overcome with weariness, I sat down upon a rock, but I had hardly

closed my eyes when I was startled by something which fell to the

ground with a thud close beside me.

It was a huge piece of fresh meat, and as I stared at it several more

pieces rolled over the cliffs in different places. I had always

thought that the stories the sailors told of the famous valley of

diamonds, and of the cunning way which some merchants had devised for

getting at the precious stones, were mere travellers' tales invented to

give pleasure to the hearers, but now I perceived that they were surely

true. These merchants came to the valley at the time when the eagles,

which keep their eyries in the rocks, had hatched their young. The

merchants then threw great lumps of meat into the valley. These,

falling with so much force upon the diamonds, were sure to take up some

of the precious stones with them, when the eagles pounced upon the meat

and carried it off to their nests to feed their hungry broods. Then

the merchants, scaring away the parent birds with shouts and outcries,

would secure their treasures. Until this moment I had looked upon the

valley as my grave, for I had seen no possibility of getting out of it

alive, but now I took courage and began to devise a means of escape. I

began by picking up all the largest diamonds I could find and storing

them carefully in the leathern wallet which had held my provisions;

this I tied securely to my belt. I then chose the piece of meat which

seemed most suited to my purpose, and with the aid of my turban bound

it firmly to my back; this done I laid down upon my face and awaited

the coming of the eagles. I soon heard the flapping of their mighty

wings above me, and had the satisfaction of feeling one of them seize

upon my piece of meat, and me with it, and rise slowly towards his

nest, into which he presently dropped me. Luckily for me the merchants

were on the watch, and setting up their usual outcries they rushed to

the nest scaring away the eagle. Their amazement was great when they

discovered me, and also their disappointment, and with one accord they

fell to abusing me for having robbed them of their usual profit.

Addressing myself to the one who seemed most aggrieved, I said: "I am

sure, if you knew all that I have suffered, you would show more

kindness towards me, and as for diamonds, I have enough here of the

very best for you and me and all your company." So saying I showed

them to him. The others all crowded round me, wondering at my

adventures and admiring the device by which I had escaped from the

valley, and when they had led me to their camp and examined my

diamonds, they assured me that in all the years that they had carried

on their trade they had seen no stones to be compared with them for

size and beauty.

I found that each merchant chose a particular nest, and took his chance

of what he might find in it. So I begged the one who owned the nest to

which I had been carried to take as much as he would of my treasure,

but he contented himself with one stone, and that by no means the

largest, assuring me that with such a gem his fortune was made, and he

need toil no more. I stayed with the merchants several days, and then

as they were journeying homewards I gladly accompanied them. Our way

lay across high mountains infested with frightful serpents, but we had

the good luck to escape them and came at last to the seashore. Thence

we sailed to the isle of Rohat where the camphor trees grow to such a

size that a hundred men could shelter under one of them with ease. The

sap flows from an incision made high up in the tree into a vessel hung

there to receive it, and soon hardens into the substance called

camphor, but the tree itself withers up and dies when it has been so

treated.

In this same island we saw the rhinoceros, an animal which is smaller

than the elephant and larger than the buffalo. It has one horn about a

cubit long which is solid, but has a furrow from the base to the tip.

Upon it is traced in white lines the figure of a man. The rhinoceros

fights with the elephant, and transfixing him with his horn carries him

off upon his head, but becoming blinded with the blood of his enemy, he

falls helpless to the ground, and then comes the roc, and clutches them

both up in his talons and takes them to feed his young. This doubtless

astonishes you, but if you do not believe my tale go to Rohat and see

for yourself. For fear of wearying you I pass over in silence many

other wonderful things which we saw in this island. Before we left I

exchanged one of my diamonds for much goodly merchandise by which I

profited greatly on our homeward way. At last we reached Balsora,

whence I hastened to Bagdad, where my first action was to bestow large

sums of money upon the poor, after which I settled down to enjoy

tranquilly the riches I had gained with so much toil and pain.

Having thus related the adventures of his second voyage, Sindbad again

bestowed a hundred sequins upon Hindbad, inviting him to come again on

the following day and hear how he fared upon his third voyage. The

other guests also departed to their homes, but all returned at the same

hour next day, including the porter, whose former life of hard work and

poverty had already begun to seem to him like a bad dream. Again after

the feast was over did Sindbad claim the attention of his guests and

began the account of his third voyage.

Third Voyage

After a very short time the pleasant easy life I led made me quite

forget the perils of my two voyages. Moreover, as I was still in the

prime of life, it pleased me better to be up and doing. So once more

providing myself with the rarest and choicest merchandise of Bagdad, I

conveyed it to Balsora, and set sail with other merchants of my

acquaintance for distant lands. We had touched at many ports and made

much profit, when one day upon the open sea we were caught by a

terrible wind which blew us completely out of our reckoning, and

lasting for several days finally drove us into harbour on a strange

island.

"I would rather have come to anchor anywhere than here," quoth our

captain. "This island and all adjoining it are inhabited by hairy

savages, who are certain to attack us, and whatever these dwarfs may do

we dare not resist, since they swarm like locusts, and if one of them

is killed the rest will fall upon us, and speedily make an end of us."

These words caused great consternation among all the ship's company,

and only too soon we were to find out that the captain spoke truly.

There appeared a vast multitude of hideous savages, not more than two

feet high and covered with reddish fur. Throwing themselves into the

waves they surrounded our vessel. Chattering meanwhile in a language

we could not understand, and clutching at ropes and gangways, they

swarmed up the ship's side with such speed and agility that they almost

seemed to fly.

You may imagine the rage and terror that seized us as we watched them,

neither daring to hinder them nor able to speak a word to deter them

from their purpose, whatever it might be. Of this we were not left

long in doubt. Hoisting the sails, and cutting the cable of the

anchor, they sailed our vessel to an island which lay a little further

off, where they drove us ashore; then taking possession of her, they

made off to the place from which they had come, leaving us helpless

upon a shore avoided with horror by all mariners for a reason which you

will soon learn.

Turning away from the sea we wandered miserably inland, finding as we

went various herbs and fruits which we ate, feeling that we might as

well live as long as possible though we had no hope of escape.

Presently we saw in the far distance what seemed to us to be a splendid

palace, towards which we turned our weary steps, but when we reached it

we saw that it was a castle, lofty, and strongly built. Pushing back

the heavy ebony doors we entered the courtyard, but upon the threshold

of the great hall beyond it we paused, frozen with horror, at the sight

which greeted us. On one side lay a huge pile of bones--human bones,

and on the other numberless spits for roasting! Overcome with despair

we sank trembling to the ground, and lay there without speech or

motion. The sun was setting when a loud noise aroused us, the door of

the hall was violently burst open and a horrible giant entered. He was

as tall as a palm tree, and perfectly black, and had one eye, which

flamed like a burning coal in the middle of his forehead. His teeth

were long and sharp and grinned horribly, while his lower lip hung down

upon his chest, and he had ears like elephant's ears, which covered his

shoulders, and nails like the claws of some fierce bird.

At this terrible sight our senses left us and we lay like dead men.

When at last we came to ourselves the giant sat examining us

attentively with his fearful eye. Presently when he had looked at us

enough he came towards us, and stretching out his hand took me by the

back of the neck, turning me this way and that, but feeling that I was

mere skin and bone he set me down again and went on to the next, whom

he treated in the same fashion; at last he came to the captain, and

finding him the fattest of us all, he took him up in one hand and stuck

him upon a spit and proceeded to kindle a huge fire at which he

presently roasted him. After the giant had supped he lay down to

sleep, snoring like the loudest thunder, while we lay shivering with

horror the whole night through, and when day broke he awoke and went

out, leaving us in the castle.

When we believed him to be really gone we started up bemoaning our

horrible fate, until the hall echoed with our despairing cries. Though

we were many and our enemy was alone it did not occur to us to kill

him, and indeed we should have found that a hard task, even if we had

thought of it, and no plan could we devise to deliver ourselves. So at

last, submitting to our sad fate, we spent the day in wandering up and

down the island eating such fruits as we could find, and when night

came we returned to the castle, having sought in vain for any other

place of shelter. At sunset the giant returned, supped upon one of our

unhappy comrades, slept and snored till dawn, and then left us as

before. Our condition seemed to us so frightful that several of my

companions thought it would be better to leap from the cliffs and

perish in the waves at once, rather than await so miserable an end; but

I had a plan of escape which I now unfolded to them, and which they at

once agreed to attempt.

"Listen, my brothers," I added. "You know that plenty of driftwood

lies along the shore. Let us make several rafts, and carry them to a

suitable place. If our plot succeeds, we can wait patiently for the

chance of some passing ship which would rescue us from this fatal

island. If it fails, we must quickly take to our rafts; frail as they

are, we have more chance of saving our lives with them than we have if

we remain here."

All agreed with me, and we spent the day in building rafts, each

capable of carrying three persons. At nightfall we returned to the

castle, and very soon in came the giant, and one more of our number was

sacrificed. But the time of our vengeance was at hand! As soon as he

had finished his horrible repast he lay down to sleep as before, and

when we heard him begin to snore I, and nine of the boldest of my

comrades, rose softly, and took each a spit, which we made red-hot in

the fire, and then at a given signal we plunged it with one accord into

the giant's eye, completely blinding him. Uttering a terrible cry, he

sprang to his feet clutching in all directions to try to seize one of

us, but we had all fled different ways as soon as the deed was done,

and thrown ourselves flat upon the ground in corners where he was not

likely to touch us with his feet.

After a vain search he fumbled about till he found the door, and fled

out of it howling frightfully. As for us, when he was gone we made

haste to leave the fatal castle, and, stationing ourselves beside our

rafts, we waited to see what would happen. Our idea was that if, when

the sun rose, we saw nothing of the giant, and no longer heard his

howls, which still came faintly through the darkness, growing more and

more distant, we should conclude that he was dead, and that we might

safely stay upon the island and need not risk our lives upon the frail

rafts. But alas! morning light showed us our enemy approaching us,

supported on either hand by two giants nearly as large and fearful as

himself, while a crowd of others followed close upon their heels.

Hesitating no longer we clambered upon our rafts and rowed with all our

might out to sea. The giants, seeing their prey escaping them, seized

up huge pieces of rock, and wading into the water hurled them after us

with such good aim that all the rafts except the one I was upon were

swamped, and their luckless crews drowned, without our being able to do

anything to help them. Indeed I and my two companions had all we could

do to keep our own raft beyond the reach of the giants, but by dint of

hard rowing we at last gained the open sea. Here we were at the mercy

of the winds and waves, which tossed us to and fro all that day and

night, but the next morning we found ourselves near an island, upon

which we gladly landed.

There we found delicious fruits, and having satisfied our hunger we

presently lay down to rest upon the shore. Suddenly we were aroused by

a loud rustling noise, and starting up, saw that it was caused by an

immense snake which was gliding towards us over the sand. So swiftly

it came that it had seized one of my comrades before he had time to

fly, and in spite of his cries and struggles speedily crushed the life

out of him in its mighty coils and proceeded to swallow him. By this

time my other companion and I were running for our lives to some place

where we might hope to be safe from this new horror, and seeing a tall

tree we climbed up into it, having first provided ourselves with a

store of fruit off the surrounding bushes. When night came I fell

asleep, but only to be awakened once more by the terrible snake, which

after hissing horribly round the tree at last reared itself up against

it, and finding my sleeping comrade who was perched just below me, it

swallowed him also, and crawled away leaving me half dead with terror.

When the sun rose I crept down from the tree with hardly a hope of

escaping the dreadful fate which had over-taken my comrades; but life

is sweet, and I determined to do all I could to save myself. All day

long I toiled with frantic haste and collected quantities of dry

brushwood, reeds and thorns, which I bound with faggots, and making a

circle of them under my tree I piled them firmly one upon another until

I had a kind of tent in which I crouched like a mouse in a hole when

she sees the cat coming. You may imagine what a fearful night I

passed, for the snake returned eager to devour me, and glided round and

round my frail shelter seeking an entrance. Every moment I feared that

it would succeed in pushing aside some of the faggots, but happily for

me they held together, and when it grew light my enemy retired, baffled

and hungry, to his den. As for me I was more dead than alive! Shaking

with fright and half suffocated by the poisonous breath of the monster,

I came out of my tent and crawled down to the sea, feeling that it

would be better to plunge from the cliffs and end my life at once than

pass such another night of horror. But to my joy and relief I saw a

ship sailing by, and by shouting wildly and waving my turban I managed

to attract the attention of her crew.

A boat was sent to rescue me, and very soon I found myself on board

surrounded by a wondering crowd of sailors and merchants eager to know

by what chance I found myself in that desolate island. After I had

told my story they regaled me with the choicest food the ship afforded,

and the captain, seeing that I was in rags, generously bestowed upon me

one of his own coats. After sailing about for some time and touching

at many ports we came at last to the island of Salahat, where sandal

wood grows in great abundance. Here we anchored, and as I stood

watching the merchants disembarking their goods and preparing to sell

or exchange them, the captain came up to me and said,

"I have here, brother, some merchandise belonging to a passenger of

mine who is dead. Will you do me the favour to trade with it, and when

I meet with his heirs I shall be able to give them the money, though it

will be only just that you shall have a portion for your trouble."

I consented gladly, for I did not like standing by idle. Whereupon he

pointed the bales out to me, and sent for the person whose duty it was

to keep a list of the goods that were upon the ship. When this man

came he asked in what name the merchandise was to be registered.

"In the name of Sindbad the Sailor," replied the captain.

At this I was greatly surprised, but looking carefully at him I

recognised him to be the captain of the ship upon which I had made my

second voyage, though he had altered much since that time. As for him,

believing me to be dead it was no wonder that he had not recognised me.

"So, captain," said I, "the merchant who owned those bales was called

Sindbad?"

"Yes," he replied. "He was so named. He belonged to Bagdad, and

joined my ship at Balsora, but by mischance he was left behind upon a

desert island where we had landed to fill up our water-casks, and it

was not until four hours later that he was missed. By that time the

wind had freshened, and it was impossible to put back for him."

"You suppose him to have perished then?" said I.

"Alas! yes," he answered.

"Why, captain!" I cried, "look well at me. I am that Sindbad who fell

asleep upon the island and awoke to find himself abandoned!"

The captain stared at me in amazement, but was presently convinced that

I was indeed speaking the truth, and rejoiced greatly at my escape.

"I am glad to have that piece of carelessness off my conscience at any

rate," said he. "Now take your goods, and the profit I have made for

you upon them, and may you prosper in future."

I took them gratefully, and as we went from one island to another I

laid in stores of cloves, cinnamon, and other spices. In one place I

saw a tortoise which was twenty cubits long and as many broad, also a

fish that was like a cow and had skin so thick that it was used to make

shields. Another I saw that was like a camel in shape and colour. So

by degrees we came back to Balsora, and I returned to Bagdad with so

much money that I could not myself count it, besides treasures without

end. I gave largely to the poor, and bought much land to add to what I

already possessed, and thus ended my third voyage.

When Sindbad had finished his story he gave another hundred sequins to

Hindbad, who then departed with the other guests, but next day when

they had all reassembled, and the banquet was ended, their host

continued his adventures.

Fourth Voyage

Rich and happy as I was after my third voyage, I could not make up my

mind to stay at home altogether. My love of trading, and the pleasure

I took in anything that was new and strange, made me set my affairs in

order, and begin my journey through some of the Persian provinces,

having first sent off stores of goods to await my coming in the

different places I intended to visit. I took ship at a distant

seaport, and for some time all went well, but at last, being caught in

a violent hurricane, our vessel became a total wreck in spite of all

our worthy captain could do to save her, and many of our company

perished in the waves. I, with a few others, had the good fortune to

be washed ashore clinging to pieces of the wreck, for the storm had

driven us near an island, and scrambling up beyond the reach of the

waves we threw ourselves down quite exhausted, to wait for morning.

At daylight we wandered inland, and soon saw some huts, to which we

directed our steps. As we drew near their black inhabitants swarmed

out in great numbers and surrounded us, and we were led to their

houses, and as it were divided among our captors. I with five others

was taken into a hut, where we were made to sit upon the ground, and

certain herbs were given to us, which the blacks made signs to us to

eat. Observing that they themselves did not touch them, I was careful

only to pretend to taste my portion; but my companions, being very

hungry, rashly ate up all that was set before them, and very soon I had

the horror of seeing them become perfectly mad. Though they chattered

incessantly I could not understand a word they said, nor did they heed

when I spoke to them. The savages now produced large bowls full of

rice prepared with cocoanut oil, of which my crazy comrades ate

eagerly, but I only tasted a few grains, understanding clearly that the

object of our captors was to fatten us speedily for their own eating,

and this was exactly what happened. My unlucky companions having lost

their reason, felt neither anxiety nor fear, and ate greedily all that

was offered them. So they were soon fat and there was an end of them,

but I grew leaner day by day, for I ate but little, and even that

little did me no good by reason of my fear of what lay before me.

However, as I was so far from being a tempting morsel, I was allowed to

wander about freely, and one day, when all the blacks had gone off upon

some expedition leaving only an old man to guard me, I managed to

escape from him and plunged into the forest, running faster the more he

cried to me to come back, until I had completely distanced him.

For seven days I hurried on, resting only when the darkness stopped me,

and living chiefly upon cocoanuts, which afforded me both meat and

drink, and on the eighth day I reached the seashore and saw a party of

white men gathering pepper, which grew abundantly all about. Reassured

by the nature of their occupation, I advanced towards them and they

greeted me in Arabic, asking who I was and whence I came. My delight

was great on hearing this familiar speech, and I willingly satisfied

their curiosity, telling them how I had been shipwrecked, and captured

by the blacks. "But these savages devour men!" said they. "How did

you escape?" I repeated to them what I have just told you, at which

they were mightily astonished. I stayed with them until they had

collected as much pepper as they wished, and then they took me back to

their own country and presented me to their king, by whom I was

hospitably received. To him also I had to relate my adventures, which

surprised him much, and when I had finished he ordered that I should be

supplied with food and raiment and treated with consideration.

The island on which I found myself was full of people, and abounded in

all sorts of desirable things, and a great deal of traffic went on in

the capital, where I soon began to feel at home and contented.

Moreover, the king treated me with special favour, and in consequence

of this everyone, whether at the court or in the town, sought to make

life pleasant to me. One thing I remarked which I thought very

strange; this was that, from the greatest to the least, all men rode

their horses without bridle or stirrups. I one day presumed to ask his

majesty why he did not use them, to which he replied, "You speak to me

of things of which I have never before heard!" This gave me an idea.

I found a clever workman, and made him cut out under my direction the

foundation of a saddle, which I wadded and covered with choice leather,

adorning it with rich gold embroidery. I then got a lock-smith to make

me a bit and a pair of spurs after a pattern that I drew for him, and

when all these things were completed I presented them to the king and

showed him how to use them. When I had saddled one of his horses he

mounted it and rode about quite delighted with the novelty, and to show

his gratitude he rewarded me with large gifts. After this I had to

make saddles for all the principal officers of the king's household,

and as they all gave me rich presents I soon became very wealthy and

quite an important person in the city.

One day the king sent for me and said, "Sindbad, I am going to ask a

favour of you. Both I and my subjects esteem you, and wish you to end

your days amongst us. Therefore I desire that you will marry a rich

and beautiful lady whom I will find for you, and think no more of your

own country."

As the king's will was law I accepted the charming bride he presented

to me, and lived happily with her. Nevertheless I had every intention

of escaping at the first opportunity, and going back to Bagdad. Things

were thus going prosperously with me when it happened that the wife of

one of my neighbours, with whom I had struck up quite a friendship,

fell ill, and presently died. I went to his house to offer my

consolations, and found him in the depths of woe.

"Heaven preserve you," said I, "and send you a long life!"

"Alas!" he replied, "what is the good of saying that when I have but an

hour left to live!"

"Come, come!" said I, "surely it is not so bad as all that. I trust

that you may be spared to me for many years."

"I hope," answered he, "that your life may be long, but as for me, all

is finished. I have set my house in order, and to-day I shall be

buried with my wife. This has been the law upon our island from the

earliest ages--the living husband goes to the grave with his dead wife,

the living wife with her dead husband. So did our fathers, and so must

we do. The law changes not, and all must submit to it!"

As he spoke the friends and relations of the unhappy pair began to

assemble. The body, decked in rich robes and sparkling with jewels,

was laid upon an open bier, and the procession started, taking its way

to a high mountain at some distance from the city, the wretched

husband, clothed from head to foot in a black mantle, following

mournfully.

When the place of interment was reached the corpse was lowered, just as

it was, into a deep pit. Then the husband, bidding farewell to all his

friends, stretched himself upon another bier, upon which were laid

seven little loaves of bread and a pitcher of water, and he also was

let down-down-down to the depths of the horrible cavern, and then a

stone was laid over the opening, and the melancholy company wended its

way back to the city.

You may imagine that I was no unmoved spectator of these proceedings;

to all the others it was a thing to which they had been accustomed from

their youth up; but I was so horrified that I could not help telling

the king how it struck me.

"Sire," I said, "I am more astonished than I can express to you at the

strange custom which exists in your dominions of burying the living

with the dead. In all my travels I have never before met with so cruel

and horrible a law."

"What would you have, Sindbad?" he replied. "It is the law for

everybody. I myself should be buried with the Queen if she were the

first to die."

"But, your Majesty," said I, "dare I ask if this law applies to

foreigners also?"

"Why, yes," replied the king smiling, in what I could but consider a

very heartless manner, "they are no exception to the rule if they have

married in the country."

When I heard this I went home much cast down, and from that time

forward my mind was never easy. If only my wife's little finger ached

I fancied she was going to die, and sure enough before very long she

fell really ill and in a few days breathed her last. My dismay was

great, for it seemed to me that to be buried alive was even a worse

fate than to be devoured by cannibals, nevertheless there was no

escape. The body of my wife, arrayed in her richest robes and decked

with all her jewels, was laid upon the bier. I followed it, and after

me came a great procession, headed by the king and all his nobles, and

in this order we reached the fatal mountain, which was one of a lofty

chain bordering the sea.

Here I made one more frantic effort to excite the pity of the king and

those who stood by, hoping to save myself even at this last moment, but

it was of no avail. No one spoke to me, they even appeared to hasten

over their dreadful task, and I speedily found myself descending into

the gloomy pit, with my seven loaves and pitcher of water beside me.

Almost before I reached the bottom the stone was rolled into its place

above my head, and I was left to my fate. A feeble ray of light shone

into the cavern through some chink, and when I had the courage to look

about me I could see that I was in a vast vault, bestrewn with bones

and bodies of the dead. I even fancied that I heard the expiring sighs

of those who, like myself, had come into this dismal place alive. All

in vain did I shriek aloud with rage and despair, reproaching myself

for the love of gain and adventure which had brought me to such a pass,

but at length, growing calmer, I took up my bread and water, and

wrapping my face in my mantle I groped my way towards the end of the

cavern, where the air was fresher.

Here I lived in darkness and misery until my provisions were exhausted,

but just as I was nearly dead from starvation the rock was rolled away

overhead and I saw that a bier was being lowered into the cavern, and

that the corpse upon it was a man. In a moment my mind was made up,

the woman who followed had nothing to expect but a lingering death; I

should be doing her a service if I shortened her misery. Therefore

when she descended, already insensible from terror, I was ready armed

with a huge bone, one blow from which left her dead, and I secured the

bread and water which gave me a hope of life. Several times did I have

recourse to this desperate expedient, and I know not how long I had

been a prisoner when one day I fancied that I heard something near me,

which breathed loudly. Turning to the place from which the sound came

I dimly saw a shadowy form which fled at my movement, squeezing itself

through a cranny in the wall. I pursued it as fast as I could, and

found myself in a narrow crack among the rocks, along which I was just

able to force my way. I followed it for what seemed to me many miles,

and at last saw before me a glimmer of light which grew clearer every

moment until I emerged upon the sea shore with a joy which I cannot

describe. When I was sure that I was not dreaming, I realised that it

was doubtless some little animal which had found its way into the

cavern from the sea, and when disturbed had fled, showing me a means of

escape which I could never have discovered for myself. I hastily

surveyed my surroundings, and saw that I was safe from all pursuit from

the town.

The mountains sloped sheer down to the sea, and there was no road

across them. Being assured of this I returned to the cavern, and

amassed a rich treasure of diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and jewels of

all kinds which strewed the ground. These I made up into bales, and

stored them into a safe place upon the beach, and then waited hopefully

for the passing of a ship. I had looked out for two days, however,

before a single sail appeared, so it was with much delight that I at

last saw a vessel not very far from the shore, and by waving my arms

and uttering loud cries succeeded in attracting the attention of her

crew. A boat was sent off to me, and in answer to the questions of the

sailors as to how I came to be in such a plight, I replied that I had

been shipwrecked two days before, but had managed to scramble ashore

with the bales which I pointed out to them. Luckily for me they

believed my story, and without even looking at the place where they

found me, took up my bundles, and rowed me back to the ship. Once on

board, I soon saw that the captain was too much occupied with the

difficulties of navigation to pay much heed to me, though he generously

made me welcome, and would not even accept the jewels with which I

offered to pay my passage. Our voyage was prosperous, and after

visiting many lands, and collecting in each place great store of goodly

merchandise, I found myself at last in Bagdad once more with unheard of

riches of every description. Again I gave large sums of money to the

poor, and enriched all the mosques in the city, after which I gave

myself up to my friends and relations, with whom I passed my time in

feasting and merriment.

Here Sindbad paused, and all his hearers declared that the adventures

of his fourth voyage had pleased them better than anything they had

heard before. They then took their leave, followed by Hindbad, who had

once more received a hundred sequins, and with the rest had been bidden

to return next day for the story of the fifth voyage.

When the time came all were in their places, and when they had eaten

and drunk of all that was set before them Sindbad began his tale.

Fifth Voyage

Not even all that I had gone through could make me contented with a

quiet life. I soon wearied of its pleasures, and longed for change and

adventure. Therefore I set out once more, but this time in a ship of

my own, which I built and fitted out at the nearest seaport. I wished

to be able to call at whatever port I chose, taking my own time; but as

I did not intend carrying enough goods for a full cargo, I invited

several merchants of different nations to join me. We set sail with

the first favourable wind, and after a long voyage upon the open seas

we landed upon an unknown island which proved to be uninhabited. We

determined, however, to explore it, but had not gone far when we found

a roc's egg, as large as the one I had seen before and evidently very

nearly hatched, for the beak of the young bird had already pierced the

shell. In spite of all I could say to deter them, the merchants who

were with me fell upon it with their hatchets, breaking the shell, and

killing the young roc. Then lighting a fire upon the ground they

hacked morsels from the bird, and proceeded to roast them while I stood

by aghast.

Scarcely had they finished their ill-omened repast, when the air above

us was darkened by two mighty shadows. The captain of my ship, knowing

by experience what this meant, cried out to us that the parent birds

were coming, and urged us to get on board with all speed. This we did,

and the sails were hoisted, but before we had made any way the rocs

reached their despoiled nest and hovered about it, uttering frightful

cries when they discovered the mangled remains of their young one. For

a moment we lost sight of them, and were flattering ourselves that we

had escaped, when they reappeared and soared into the air directly over

our vessel, and we saw that each held in its claws an immense rock

ready to crush us. There was a moment of breathless suspense, then one

bird loosed its hold and the huge block of stone hurtled through the

air, but thanks to the presence of mind of the helmsman, who turned our

ship violently in another direction, it fell into the sea close beside

us, cleaving it asunder till we could nearly see the bottom. We had

hardly time to draw a breath of relief before the other rock fell with

a mighty crash right in the midst of our luckless vessel, smashing it

into a thousand fragments, and crushing, or hurling into the sea,

passengers and crew. I myself went down with the rest, but had the

good fortune to rise unhurt, and by holding on to a piece of driftwood

with one hand and swimming with the other I kept myself afloat and was

presently washed up by the tide on to an island. Its shores were steep

and rocky, but I scrambled up safely and threw myself down to rest upon

the green turf.

When I had somewhat recovered I began to examine the spot in which I

found myself, and truly it seemed to me that I had reached a garden of

delights. There were trees everywhere, and they were laden with

flowers and fruit, while a crystal stream wandered in and out under

their shadow. When night came I slept sweetly in a cosy nook, though

the remembrance that I was alone in a strange land made me sometimes

start up and look around me in alarm, and then I wished heartily that I

had stayed at home at ease. However, the morning sunlight restored my

courage, and I once more wandered among the trees, but always with some

anxiety as to what I might see next. I had penetrated some distance

into the island when I saw an old man bent and feeble sitting upon the

river bank, and at first I took him to be some ship-wrecked mariner

like myself. Going up to him I greeted him in a friendly way, but he

only nodded his head at me in reply. I then asked what he did there,

and he made signs to me that he wished to get across the river to

gather some fruit, and seemed to beg me to carry him on my back.

Pitying his age and feebleness, I took him up, and wading across the

stream I bent down that he might more easily reach the bank, and bade

him get down. But instead of allowing himself to be set upon his feet

(even now it makes me laugh to think of it!), this creature who had

seemed to me so decrepit leaped nimbly upon my shoulders, and hooking

his legs round my neck gripped me so tightly that I was well-nigh

choked, and so overcome with terror that I fell insensible to the

ground. When I recovered my enemy was still in his place, though he

had released his hold enough to allow me breathing space, and seeing me

revive he prodded me adroitly first with one foot and then with the

other, until I was forced to get up and stagger about with him under

the trees while he gathered and ate the choicest fruits. This went on

all day, and even at night, when I threw myself down half dead with

weariness, the terrible old man held on tight to my neck, nor did he

fail to greet the first glimmer of morning light by drumming upon me

with his heels, until I perforce awoke and resumed my dreary march with

rage and bitterness in my heart.

It happened one day that I passed a tree under which lay several dry

gourds, and catching one up I amused myself with scooping out its

contents and pressing into it the juice of several bunches of grapes

which hung from every bush. When it was full I left it propped in the

fork of a tree, and a few days later, carrying the hateful old man that

way, I snatched at my gourd as I passed it and had the satisfaction of

a draught of excellent wine so good and refreshing that I even forgot

my detestable burden, and began to sing and caper.

The old monster was not slow to perceive the effect which my draught

had produced and that I carried him more lightly than usual, so he

stretched out his skinny hand and seizing the gourd first tasted its

contents cautiously, then drained them to the very last drop. The wine

was strong and the gourd capacious, so he also began to sing after a

fashion, and soon I had the delight of feeling the iron grip of his

goblin legs unclasp, and with one vigorous effort I threw him to the

ground, from which he never moved again. I was so rejoiced to have at

last got rid of this uncanny old man that I ran leaping and bounding

down to the sea shore, where, by the greatest good luck, I met with

some mariners who had anchored off the island to enjoy the delicious

fruits, and to renew their supply of water.

They heard the story of my escape with amazement, saying, "You fell

into the hands of the Old Man of the Sea, and it is a mercy that he did

not strangle you as he has everyone else upon whose shoulders he has

managed to perch himself. This island is well known as the scene of

his evil deeds, and no merchant or sailor who lands upon it cares to

stray far away from his comrades." After we had talked for a while

they took me back with them on board their ship, where the captain

received me kindly, and we soon set sail, and after several days

reached a large and prosperous-looking town where all the houses were

built of stone. Here we anchored, and one of the merchants, who had

been very friendly to me on the way, took me ashore with him and showed

me a lodging set apart for strange merchants. He then provided me with

a large sack, and pointed out to me a party of others equipped in like

manner.

"Go with them," said he, "and do as they do, but beware of losing sight

of them, for if you strayed your life would be in danger."

With that he supplied me with provisions, and bade me farewell, and I

set out with my new companions. I soon learnt that the object of our

expedition was to fill our sacks with cocoanuts, but when at length I

saw the trees and noted their immense height and the slippery

smoothness of their slender trunks, I did not at all understand how we

were to do it. The crowns of the cocoa-palms were all alive with

monkeys, big and little, which skipped from one to the other with

surprising agility, seeming to be curious about us and disturbed at our

appearance, and I was at first surprised when my companions after

collecting stones began to throw them at the lively creatures, which

seemed to me quite harmless. But very soon I saw the reason of it and

joined them heartily, for the monkeys, annoyed and wishing to pay us

back in our own coin, began to tear the nuts from the trees and cast

them at us with angry and spiteful gestures, so that after very little

labour our sacks were filled with the fruit which we could not

otherwise have obtained.

As soon as we had as many as we could carry we went back to the town,

where my friend bought my share and advised me to continue the same

occupation until I had earned money enough to carry me to my own

country. This I did, and before long had amassed a considerable sum.

Just then I heard that there was a trading ship ready to sail, and

taking leave of my friend I went on board, carrying with me a goodly

store of cocoanuts; and we sailed first to the islands where pepper

grows, then to Comari where the best aloes wood is found, and where men

drink no wine by an unalterable law. Here I exchanged my nuts for

pepper and good aloes wood, and went a-fishing for pearls with some of

the other merchants, and my divers were so lucky that very soon I had

an immense number, and those very large and perfect. With all these

treasures I came joyfully back to Bagdad, where I disposed of them for

large sums of money, of which I did not fail as before to give the

tenth part to the poor, and after that I rested from my labours and

comforted myself with all the pleasures that my riches could give me.

Having thus ended his story, Sindbad ordered that one hundred sequins

should be given to Hindbad, and the guests then withdrew; but after the

next day's feast he began the account of his sixth voyage as follows.

Sixth Voyage

It must be a marvel to you how, after having five times met with

shipwreck and unheard of perils, I could again tempt fortune and risk

fresh trouble. I am even surprised myself when I look back, but

evidently it was my fate to rove, and after a year of repose I prepared

to make a sixth voyage, regardless of the entreaties of my friends and

relations, who did all they could to keep me at home. Instead of going

by the Persian Gulf, I travelled a considerable way overland, and

finally embarked from a distant Indian port with a captain who meant to

make a long voyage. And truly he did so, for we fell in with stormy

weather which drove us completely out of our course, so that for many

days neither captain nor pilot knew where we were, nor where we were

going. When they did at last discover our position we had small ground

for rejoicing, for the captain, casting his turban upon the deck and

tearing his beard, declared that we were in the most dangerous spot

upon the whole wide sea, and had been caught by a current which was at

that minute sweeping us to destruction. It was too true! In spite of

all the sailors could do we were driven with frightful rapidity towards

the foot of a mountain, which rose sheer out of the sea, and our vessel

was dashed to pieces upon the rocks at its base, not, however, until we

had managed to scramble on shore, carrying with us the most precious of

our possessions. When we had done this the captain said to us:

"Now we are here we may as well begin to dig our graves at once, since

from this fatal spot no shipwrecked mariner has ever returned."

This speech discouraged us much, and we began to lament over our sad

fate.

The mountain formed the seaward boundary of a large island, and the

narrow strip of rocky shore upon which we stood was strewn with the

wreckage of a thousand gallant ships, while the bones of the luckless

mariners shone white in the sunshine, and we shuddered to think how

soon our own would be added to the heap. All around, too, lay vast

quantities of the costliest merchandise, and treasures were heaped in

every cranny of the rocks, but all these things only added to the

desolation of the scene. It struck me as a very strange thing that a

river of clear fresh water, which gushed out from the mountain not far

from where we stood, instead of flowing into the sea as rivers

generally do, turned off sharply, and flowed out of sight under a

natural archway of rock, and when I went to examine it more closely I

found that inside the cave the walls were thick with diamonds, and

rubies, and masses of crystal, and the floor was strewn with ambergris.

Here, then, upon this desolate shore we abandoned ourselves to our

fate, for there was no possibility of scaling the mountain, and if a

ship had appeared it could only have shared our doom. The first thing

our captain did was to divide equally amongst us all the food we

possessed, and then the length of each man's life depended on the time

he could make his portion last. I myself could live upon very little.

Nevertheless, by the time I had buried the last of my companions my

stock of provisions was so small that I hardly thought I should live

long enough to dig my own grave, which I set about doing, while I

regretted bitterly the roving disposition which was always bringing me

into such straits, and thought longingly of all the comfort and luxury

that I had left. But luckily for me the fancy took me to stand once

more beside the river where it plunged out of sight in the depths of

the cavern, and as I did so an idea struck me. This river which hid

itself underground doubtless emerged again at some distant spot. Why

should I not build a raft and trust myself to its swiftly flowing

waters? If I perished before I could reach the light of day once more

I should be no worse off than I was now, for death stared me in the

face, while there was always the possibility that, as I was born under

a lucky star, I might find myself safe and sound in some desirable

land. I decided at any rate to risk it, and speedily built myself a

stout raft of drift-wood with strong cords, of which enough and to

spare lay strewn upon the beach. I then made up many packages of

rubies, emeralds, rock crystal, ambergris, and precious stuffs, and

bound them upon my raft, being careful to preserve the balance, and

then I seated myself upon it, having two small oars that I had

fashioned laid ready to my hand, and loosed the cord which held it to

the bank. Once out in the current my raft flew swiftly under the

gloomy archway, and I found myself in total darkness, carried smoothly

forward by the rapid river. On I went as it seemed to me for many

nights and days. Once the channel became so small that I had a narrow

escape of being crushed against the rocky roof, and after that I took

the precaution of lying flat upon my precious bales. Though I only ate

what was absolutely necessary to keep myself alive, the inevitable

moment came when, after swallowing my last morsel of food, I began to

wonder if I must after all die of hunger. Then, worn out with anxiety

and fatigue, I fell into a deep sleep, and when I again opened my eyes

I was once more in the light of day; a beautiful country lay before me,

and my raft, which was tied to the river bank, was surrounded by

friendly looking black men. I rose and saluted them, and they spoke to

me in return, but I could not understand a word of their language.

Feeling perfectly bewildered by my sudden return to life and light, I

murmured to myself in Arabic, "Close thine eyes, and while thou

sleepest Heaven will change thy fortune from evil to good."

One of the natives, who understood this tongue, then came forward

saying:

"My brother, be not surprised to see us; this is our land, and as we

came to get water from the river we noticed your raft floating down it,

and one of us swam out and brought you to the shore. We have waited

for your awakening; tell us now whence you come and where you were

going by that dangerous way?"

I replied that nothing would please me better than to tell them, but

that I was starving, and would fain eat something first. I was soon

supplied with all I needed, and having satisfied my hunger I told them

faithfully all that had befallen me. They were lost in wonder at my

tale when it was interpreted to them, and said that adventures so

surprising must be related to their king only by the man to whom they

had happened. So, procuring a horse, they mounted me upon it, and we

set out, followed by several strong men carrying my raft just as it was

upon their shoulders. In this order we marched into the city of

Serendib, where the natives presented me to their king, whom I saluted

in the Indian fashion, prostrating myself at his feet and kissing the

ground; but the monarch bade me rise and sit beside him, asking first

what was my name.

"I am Sindbad," I replied, "whom men call `the Sailor,' for I have

voyaged much upon many seas."

"And how come you here?" asked the king.

I told my story, concealing nothing, and his surprise and delight were

so great that he ordered my adventures to be written in letters of gold

and laid up in the archives of his kingdom.

Presently my raft was brought in and the bales opened in his presence,

and the king declared that in all his treasury there were no such

rubies and emeralds as those which lay in great heaps before him.

Seeing that he looked at them with interest, I ventured to say that I

myself and all that I had were at his disposal, but he answered me

smiling:

"Nay, Sindbad. Heaven forbid that I should covet your riches; I will

rather add to them, for I desire that you shall not leave my kingdom

without some tokens of my good will." He then commanded his officers

to provide me with a suitable lodging at his expense, and sent slaves

to wait upon me and carry my raft and my bales to my new dwelling

place. You may imagine that I praised his generosity and gave him

grateful thanks, nor did I fail to present myself daily in his audience

chamber, and for the rest of my time I amused myself in seeing all that

was most worthy of attention in the city. The island of Serendib being

situated on the equinoctial line, the days and nights there are of

equal length. The chief city is placed at the end of a beautiful

valley, formed by the highest mountain in the world, which is in the

middle of the island. I had the curiosity to ascend to its very

summit, for this was the place to which Adam was banished out of

Paradise. Here are found rubies and many precious things, and rare

plants grow abundantly, with cedar trees and cocoa palms. On the

seashore and at the mouths of the rivers the divers seek for pearls,

and in some valleys diamonds are plentiful. After many days I

petitioned the king that I might return to my own country, to which he

graciously consented. Moreover, he loaded me with rich gifts, and when

I went to take leave of him he entrusted me with a royal present and a

letter to the Commander of the Faithful, our sovereign lord, saying, "I

pray you give these to the Caliph Haroun al Raschid, and assure him of

my friendship."

I accepted the charge respectfully, and soon embarked upon the vessel

which the king himself had chosen for me. The king's letter was

written in blue characters upon a rare and precious skin of yellowish

colour, and these were the words of it: "The King of the Indies, before

whom walk a thousand elephants, who lives in a palace, of which the

roof blazes with a hundred thousand rubies, and whose treasure house

contains twenty thousand diamond crowns, to the Caliph Haroun al

Raschid sends greeting. Though the offering we present to you is

unworthy of your notice, we pray you to accept it as a mark of the

esteem and friendship which we cherish for you, and of which we gladly

send you this token, and we ask of you a like regard if you deem us

worthy of it. Adieu, brother."

The present consisted of a vase carved from a single ruby, six inches

high and as thick as my finger; this was filled with the choicest

pearls, large, and of perfect shape and lustre; secondly, a huge snake

skin, with scales as large as a sequin, which would preserve from

sickness those who slept upon it. Then quantities of aloes wood,

camphor, and pistachio-nuts; and lastly, a beautiful slave girl, whose

robes glittered with precious stones.

After a long and prosperous voyage we landed at Balsora, and I made

haste to reach Bagdad, and taking the king's letter I presented myself

at the palace gate, followed by the beautiful slave, and various

members of my own family, bearing the treasure.

As soon as I had declared my errand I was conducted into the presence

of the Caliph, to whom, after I had made my obeisance, I gave the

letter and the king's gift, and when he had examined them he demanded

of me whether the Prince of Serendib was really as rich and powerful as

he claimed to be.

"Commander of the Faithful," I replied, again bowing humbly before him,

"I can assure your Majesty that he has in no way exaggerated his wealth

and grandeur. Nothing can equal the magnificence of his palace. When

he goes abroad his throne is prepared upon the back of an elephant, and

on either side of him ride his ministers, his favourites, and

courtiers. On his elephant's neck sits an officer, his golden lance in

his hand, and behind him stands another bearing a pillar of gold, at

the top of which is an emerald as long as my hand. A thousand men in

cloth of gold, mounted upon richly caparisoned elephants, go before

him, and as the procession moves onward the officer who guides his

elephant cries aloud, `Behold the mighty monarch, the powerful and

valiant Sultan of the Indies, whose palace is covered with a hundred

thousand rubies, who possesses twenty thousand diamond crowns. Behold

a monarch greater than Solomon and Mihrage in all their glory!'"

"Then the one who stands behind the throne answers: 'This king, so

great and powerful, must die, must die, must die!'"

"And the first takes up the chant again, `All praise to Him who lives

for evermore.'"

"Further, my lord, in Serendib no judge is needed, for to the king

himself his people come for justice."

The Caliph was well satisfied with my report.

"From the king's letter," said he, "I judged that he was a wise man.

It seems that he is worthy of his people, and his people of him."

So saying he dismissed me with rich presents, and I returned in peace

to my own house.

When Sindbad had done speaking his guests withdrew, Hindbad having

first received a hundred sequins, but all returned next day to hear the

story of the seventh voyage, Sindbad thus began.

Seventh and Last Voyage

After my sixth voyage I was quite determined that I would go to sea no

more. I was now of an age to appreciate a quiet life, and I had run

risks enough. I only wished to end my days in peace. One day,

however, when I was entertaining a number of my friends, I was told

that an officer of the Caliph wished to speak to me, and when he was

admitted he bade me follow him into the presence of Haroun al Raschid,

which I accordingly did. After I had saluted him, the Caliph said:

"I have sent for you, Sindbad, because I need your services. I have

chosen you to bear a letter and a gift to the King of Serendib in

return for his message of friendship."

The Caliph's commandment fell upon me like a thunderbolt.

"Commander of the Faithful," I answered, "I am ready to do all that

your Majesty commands, but I humbly pray you to remember that I am

utterly disheartened by the unheard of sufferings I have undergone.

Indeed, I have made a vow never again to leave Bagdad."

With this I gave him a long account of some of my strangest adventures,

to which he listened patiently.

"I admit," said he, "that you have indeed had some extraordinary

experiences, but I do not see why they should hinder you from doing as

I wish. You have only to go straight to Serendib and give my message,

then you are free to come back and do as you will. But go you must; my

honour and dignity demand it."

Seeing that there was no help for it, I declared myself willing to

obey; and the Caliph, delighted at having got his own way, gave me a

thousand sequins for the expenses of the voyage. I was soon ready to

start, and taking the letter and the present I embarked at Balsora, and

sailed quickly and safely to Serendib. Here, when I had disclosed my

errand, I was well received, and brought into the presence of the king,

who greeted me with joy.

"Welcome, Sindbad," he cried. "I have thought of you often, and

rejoice to see you once more."

After thanking him for the honour that he did me, I displayed the

Caliph's gifts. First a bed with complete hangings all cloth of gold,

which cost a thousand sequins, and another like to it of crimson stuff.

Fifty robes of rich embroidery, a hundred of the finest white linen

from Cairo, Suez, Cufa, and Alexandria. Then more beds of different

fashion, and an agate vase carved with the figure of a man aiming an

arrow at a lion, and finally a costly table, which had once belonged to

King Solomon. The King of Serendib received with satisfaction the

assurance of the Caliph's friendliness toward him, and now my task

being accomplished I was anxious to depart, but it was some time before

the king would think of letting me go. At last, however, he dismissed

me with many presents, and I lost no time in going on board a ship,

which sailed at once, and for four days all went well. On the fifth

day we had the misfortune to fall in with pirates, who seized our

vessel, killing all who resisted, and making prisoners of those who

were prudent enough to submit at once, of whom I was one. When they

had despoiled us of all we possessed, they forced us to put on vile

raiment, and sailing to a distant island there sold us for slaves. I

fell into the hands of a rich merchant, who took me home with him, and

clothed and fed me well, and after some days sent for me and questioned

me as to what I could do.

I answered that I was a rich merchant who had been captured by pirates,

and therefore I knew no trade.

"Tell me," said he, "can you shoot with a bow?"

I replied that this had been one of the pastimes of my youth, and that

doubtless with practice my skill would come back to me.

Upon this he provided me with a bow and arrows, and mounting me with

him upon his own elephant took the way to a vast forest which lay far

from the town. When we had reached the wildest part of it we stopped,

and my master said to me: "This forest swarms with elephants. Hide

yourself in this great tree, and shoot at all that pass you. When you

have succeeded in killing one come and tell me."

So saying he gave me a supply of food, and returned to the town, and I

perched myself high up in the tree and kept watch. That night I saw

nothing, but just after sunrise the next morning a large herd of

elephants came crashing and trampling by. I lost no time in letting

fly several arrows, and at last one of the great animals fell to the

ground dead, and the others retreated, leaving me free to come down

from my hiding place and run back to tell my master of my success, for

which I was praised and regaled with good things. Then we went back to

the forest together and dug a mighty trench in which we buried the

elephant I had killed, in order that when it became a skeleton my

master might return and secure its tusks.

For two months I hunted thus, and no day passed without my securing, an

elephant. Of course I did not always station myself in the same tree,

but sometimes in one place, sometimes in another. One morning as I

watched the coming of the elephants I was surprised to see that,

instead of passing the tree I was in, as they usually did, they paused,

and completely surrounded it, trumpeting horribly, and shaking the very

ground with their heavy tread, and when I saw that their eyes were

fixed upon me I was terrified, and my arrows dropped from my trembling

hand. I had indeed good reason for my terror when, an instant later,

the largest of the animals wound his trunk round the stem of my tree,

and with one mighty effort tore it up by the roots, bringing me to the

ground entangled in its branches. I thought now that my last hour was

surely come; but the huge creature, picking me up gently enough, set me

upon its back, where I clung more dead than alive, and followed by the

whole herd turned and crashed off into the dense forest. It seemed to

me a long time before I was once more set upon my feet by the elephant,

and I stood as if in a dream watching the herd, which turned and

trampled off in another direction, and were soon hidden in the dense

underwood. Then, recovering myself, I looked about me, and found that

I was standing upon the side of a great hill, strewn as far as I could

see on either hand with bones and tusks of elephants. "This then must

be the elephants' burying place," I said to myself, "and they must have

brought me here that I might cease to persecute them, seeing that I

want nothing but their tusks, and here lie more than I could carry away

in a lifetime."

Whereupon I turned and made for the city as fast as I could go, not

seeing a single elephant by the way, which convinced me that they had

retired deeper into the forest to leave the way open to the Ivory Hill,

and I did not know how sufficiently to admire their sagacity. After a

day and a night I reached my master's house, and was received by him

with joyful surprise.

"Ah! poor Sindbad," he cried, "I was wondering what could have become

of you. When I went to the forest I found the tree newly uprooted, and

the arrows lying beside it, and I feared I should never see you again.

Pray tell me how you escaped death."

I soon satisfied his curiosity, and the next day we went together to

the Ivory Hill, and he was overjoyed to find that I had told him

nothing but the truth. When we had loaded our elephant with as many

tusks as it could carry and were on our way back to the city, he said:

"My brother--since I can no longer treat as a slave one who has

enriched me thus--take your liberty and may Heaven prosper you. I will

no longer conceal from you that these wild elephants have killed

numbers of our slaves every year. No matter what good advice we gave

them, they were caught sooner or later. You alone have escaped the

wiles of these animals, therefore you must be under the special

protection of Heaven. Now through you the whole town will be enriched

without further loss of life, therefore you shall not only receive your

liberty, but I will also bestow a fortune upon you."

To which I replied, "Master, I thank you, and wish you all prosperity.

For myself I only ask liberty to return to my own country."

"It is well," he answered, "the monsoon will soon bring the ivory ships

hither, then I will send you on your way with somewhat to pay your

passage."

So I stayed with him till the time of the monsoon, and every day we

added to our store of ivory till all his ware-houses were overflowing

with it. By this time the other merchants knew the secret, but there

was enough and to spare for all. When the ships at last arrived my

master himself chose the one in which I was to sail, and put on board

for me a great store of choice provisions, also ivory in abundance, and

all the costliest curiosities of the country, for which I could not

thank him enough, and so we parted. I left the ship at the first port

we came to, not feeling at ease upon the sea after all that had

happened to me by reason of it, and having disposed of my ivory for

much gold, and bought many rare and costly presents, I loaded my pack

animals, and joined a caravan of merchants. Our journey was long and

tedious, but I bore it patiently, reflecting that at least I had not to

fear tempests, nor pirates, nor serpents, nor any of the other perils

from which I had suffered before, and at length we reached Bagdad. My

first care was to present myself before the Caliph, and give him an

account of my embassy. He assured me that my long absence had

disquieted him much, but he had nevertheless hoped for the best. As to

my adventure among the elephants he heard it with amazement, declaring

that he could not have believed it had not my truthfulness been well

known to him.

By his orders this story and the others I had told him were written by

his scribes in letters of gold, and laid up among his treasures. I

took my leave of him, well satisfied with the honours and rewards he

bestowed upon me; and since that time I have rested from my labours,

and given myself up wholly to my family and my friends.

Thus Sindbad ended the story of his seventh and last voyage, and

turning to Hindbad he added:

"Well, my friend, and what do you think now? Have you ever heard of

anyone who has suffered more, or had more narrow escapes than I have?

Is it not just that I should now enjoy a life of ease and tranquillity?"

Hindbad drew near, and kissing his hand respectfully, replied, "Sir,

you have indeed known fearful perils; my troubles have been nothing

compared to yours. Moreover, the generous use you make of your wealth

proves that you deserve it. May you live long and happily in the

enjoyment in it."

Sindbad then gave him a hundred sequins, and hence-forward counted him

among his friends; also he caused him to give up his profession as a

porter, and to eat daily at his table that he might all his life

remember Sindbad the Sailor.

The Little Hunchback

In the kingdom of Kashgar, which is, as everybody knows, situated on

the frontiers of Great Tartary, there lived long ago a tailor and his

wife who loved each other very much. One day, when the tailor was hard

at work, a little hunchback came and sat at the entrance of the shop,

and began to sing and play his tambourine. The tailor was amused with

the antics of the fellow, and thought he would take him home to divert

his wife. The hunchback having agreed to his proposal, the tailor

closed his shop and they set off together.

When they reached the house they found the table ready laid for supper,

and in a very few minutes all three were sitting before a beautiful

fish which the tailor's wife had cooked with her own hands. But

unluckily, the hunchback happened to swallow a large bone, and, in

spite of all the tailor and his wife could do to help him, died of

suffocation in an instant. Besides being very sorry for the poor man,

the tailor and his wife were very much frightened on their own account,

for if the police came to hear of it the worthy couple ran the risk of

being thrown into prison for wilful murder. In order to prevent this

dreadful calamity they both set about inventing some plan which would

throw suspicion on some one else, and at last they made up their minds

that they could do no better than select a Jewish doctor who lived

close by as the author of the crime. So the tailor picked up the

hunchback by his head while his wife took his feet and carried him to

the doctor's house. Then they knocked at the door, which opened

straight on to a steep staircase. A servant soon appeared, feeling her

way down the dark staircase and inquired what they wanted.

"Tell your master," said the tailor, "that we have brought a very sick

man for him to cure; and," he added, holding out some money, "give him

this in advance, so that he may not feel he is wasting his time." The

servant remounted the stairs to give the message to the doctor, and the

moment she was out of sight the tailor and his wife carried the body

swiftly after her, propped it up at the top of the staircase, and ran

home as fast as their legs could carry them.

Now the doctor was so delighted at the news of a patient (for he was

young, and had not many of them), that he was transported with joy.

"Get a light," he called to the servant, "and follow me as fast as you

can!" and rushing out of his room he ran towards the staircase. There

he nearly fell over the body of the hunchback, and without knowing what

it was gave it such a kick that it rolled right to the bottom, and very

nearly dragged the doctor after it. "A light! a light!" he cried

again, and when it was brought and he saw what he had done he was

almost beside himself with terror.

"Holy Moses!" he exclaimed, "why did I not wait for the light? I have

killed the sick man whom they brought me; and if the sacred Ass of

Esdras does not come to my aid I am lost! It will not be long before I

am led to jail as a murderer."

Agitated though he was, and with reason, the doctor did not forget to

shut the house door, lest some passers-by might chance to see what had

happened. He then took up the corpse and carried it into his wife's

room, nearly driving her crazy with fright.

"It is all over with us!" she wailed, "if we cannot find some means of

getting the body out of the house. Once let the sun rise and we can

hide it no longer! How were you driven to commit such a terrible

crime?"

"Never mind that," returned the doctor, "the thing is to find a way out

of it."

For a long while the doctor and his wife continued to turn over in

their minds a way of escape, but could not find any that seemed good

enough. At last the doctor gave it up altogether and resigned himself

to bear the penalty of his misfortune.

But his wife, who had twice his brains, suddenly exclaimed, "I have

thought of something! Let us carry the body on the roof of the house

and lower it down the chimney of our neighbour the Mussulman." Now this

Mussulman was employed by the Sultan, and furnished his table with oil

and butter. Part of his house was occupied by a great storeroom, where

rats and mice held high revel.

The doctor jumped at his wife's plan, and they took up the hunchback,

and passing cords under his armpits they let him down into the

purveyor's bed-room so gently that he really seemed to be leaning

against the wall. When they felt he was touching the ground they drew

up the cords and left him.

Scarcely had they got back to their own house when the purveyor entered

his room. He had spent the evening at a wedding feast, and had a

lantern in his hand. In the dim light it cast he was astonished to see

a man standing in his chimney, but being naturally courageous he seized

a stick and made straight for the supposed thief. "Ah!" he cried, "so

it is you, and not the rats and mice, who steal my butter. I'll take

care that you don't want to come back!"

So saying he struck him several hard blows. The corpse fell on the

floor, but the man only redoubled his blows, till at length it occurred

to him it was odd that the thief should lie so still and make no

resistance. Then, finding he was quite dead, a cold fear took

possession of him. "Wretch that I am," said he, "I have murdered a

man. Ah, my revenge has gone too far. Without the help of Allah I am

undone! Cursed be the goods which have led me to my ruin." And already

he felt the rope round his neck.

But when he had got over the first shock he began to think of some way

out of the difficulty, and seizing the hunchback in his arms he carried

him out into the street, and leaning him against the wall of a shop he

stole back to his own house, without once looking behind him.

A few minutes before the sun rose, a rich Christian merchant, who

supplied the palace with all sorts of necessaries, left his house,

after a night of feasting, to go to the bath. Though he was very

drunk, he was yet sober enough to know that the dawn was at hand, and

that all good Mussulmen would shortly be going to prayer. So he

hastened his steps lest he should meet some one on his way to the

mosque, who, seeing his condition, would send him to prison as a

drunkard. In his haste he jostled against the hunchback, who fell

heavily upon him, and the merchant, thinking he was being attacked by a

thief, knocked him down with one blow of his fist. He then called

loudly for help, beating the fallen man all the while.

The chief policeman of the quarter came running up, and found a

Christian ill-treating a Mussulman. "What are you doing?" he asked

indignantly.

"He tried to rob me," replied the merchant, "and very nearly choked me."

"Well, you have had your revenge," said the man, catching hold of his

arm. "Come, be off with you!"

As he spoke he held out his hand to the hunchback to help him up, but

the hunchback never moved. "Oho!" he went on, looking closer, "so this

is the way a Christian has the impudence to treat a Mussulman!" and

seizing the merchant in a firm grasp he took him to the inspector of

police, who threw him into prison till the judge should be out of bed

and ready to attend to his case. All this brought the merchant to his

senses, but the more he thought of it the less he could understand how

the hunchback could have died merely from the blows he had received.

The merchant was still pondering on this subject when he was summoned

before the chief of police and questioned about his crime, which he

could not deny. As the hunchback was one of the Sultan's private

jesters, the chief of police resolved to defer sentence of death until

he had consulted his master. He went to the palace to demand an

audience, and told his story to the Sultan, who only answered,

"There is no pardon for a Christian who kills a Mussulman. Do your

duty."

So the chief of police ordered a gallows to be erected, and sent criers

to proclaim in every street in the city that a Christian was to be

hanged that day for having killed a Mussulman.

When all was ready the merchant was brought from prison and led to the

foot of the gallows. The executioner knotted the cord firmly round the

unfortunate man's neck and was just about to swing him into the air,

when the Sultan's purveyor dashed through the crowd, and cried,

panting, to the hangman,

"Stop, stop, don't be in such a hurry. It was not he who did the

murder, it was I."

The chief of police, who was present to see that everything was in

order, put several questions to the purveyor, who told him the whole

story of the death of the hunchback, and how he had carried the body to

the place where it had been found by the Christian merchant.

"You are going," he said to the chief of police, "to kill an innocent

man, for it is impossible that he should have murdered a creature who

was dead already. It is bad enough for me to have slain a Mussulman

without having it on my conscience that a Christian who is guiltless

should suffer through my fault."

Now the purveyor's speech had been made in a loud voice, and was heard

by all the crowd, and even if he had wished it, the chief of police

could not have escaped setting the merchant free.

"Loose the cords from the Christian's neck," he commanded, turning to

the executioner, "and hang this man in his place, seeing that by his

own confession he is the murderer."

The hangman did as he was bid, and was tying the cord firmly, when he

was stopped by the voice of the Jewish doctor beseeching him to pause,

for he had something very important to say. When he had fought his way

through the crowd and reached the chief of police,

"Worshipful sir," he began, "this Mussulman whom you desire to hang is

unworthy of death; I alone am guilty. Last night a man and a woman who

were strangers to me knocked at my door, bringing with them a patient

for me to cure. The servant opened it, but having no light was hardly

able to make out their faces, though she readily agreed to wake me and

to hand me the fee for my services. While she was telling me her story

they seem to have carried the sick man to the top of the staircase and

then left him there. I jumped up in a hurry without waiting for a

lantern, and in the darkness I fell against something, which tumbled

headlong down the stairs and never stopped till it reached the bottom.

When I examined the body I found it was quite dead, and the corpse was

that of a hunchback Mussulman. Terrified at what we had done, my wife

and I took the body on the roof and let it down the chimney of our

neighbour the purveyor, whom you were just about to hang. The

purveyor, finding him in his room, naturally thought he was a thief,

and struck him such a blow that the man fell down and lay motionless on

the floor. Stooping to examine him, and finding him stone dead, the

purveyor supposed that the man had died from the blow he had received;

but of course this was a mistake, as you will see from my account, and

I only am the murderer; and although I am innocent of any wish to

commit a crime, I must suffer for it all the same, or else have the

blood of two Musselmans on my conscience. Therefore send away this

man, I pray you, and let me take his place, as it is I who am guilty."

On hearing the declaration of the Jewish doctor, the chief of police

commanded that he should be led to the gallows, and the Sultan's

purveyor go free. The cord was placed round the Jew's neck, and his

feet had already ceased to touch the ground when the voice of the

tailor was heard beseeching the executioner to pause one moment and to

listen to what he had to say.

"Oh, my lord," he cried, turning to the chief of police, "how nearly

have you caused the death of three innocent people! But if you will

only have the patience to listen to my tale, you shall know who is the

real culprit. If some one has to suffer, it must be me! Yesterday, at

dusk, I was working in my shop with a light heart when the little

hunchback, who was more than half drunk, came and sat in the doorway.

He sang me several songs, and then I invited him to finish the evening

at my house. He accepted my invitation, and we went away together. At

supper I helped him to a slice of fish, but in eating it a bone stuck

in his throat, and in spite of all we could do he died in a few

minutes. We felt deeply sorry for his death, but fearing lest we

should be held responsible, we carried the corpse to the house of the

Jewish doctor. I knocked, and desired the servant to beg her master to

come down as fast as possible and see a sick man whom we had brought

for him to cure; and in order to hasten his movements I placed a piece

of money in her hand as the doctor's fee. Directly she had disappeared

I dragged the body to the top of the stairs, and then hurried away with

my wife back to our house. In descending the stairs the doctor

accidentally knocked over the corpse, and finding him dead believed

that he himself was the murderer. But now you know the truth set him

free, and let me die in his stead."

The chief of police and the crowd of spectators were lost in

astonishment at the strange events to which the death of the hunchback

had given rise.

"Loosen the Jewish doctor," said he to the hangman, "and string up the

tailor instead, since he has made confession of his crime. Really, one

cannot deny that this is a very singular story, and it deserves to be

written in letters of gold."

The executioner speedily untied the knots which confined the doctor,

and was passing the cord round the neck of the tailor, when the Sultan

of Kashgar, who had missed his jester, happened to make inquiry of his

officers as to what had become of him.

"Sire," replied they, "the hunchback having drunk more than was good

for him, escaped from the palace and was seen wandering about the town,

where this morning he was found dead. A man was arrested for having

caused his death, and held in custody till a gallows was erected. At

the moment that he was about to suffer punishment, first one man

arrived, and then another, each accusing themselves of the murder, and

this went on for a long time, and at the present instant the chief of

police is engaged in questioning a man who declares that he alone is

the true assassin."

The Sultan of Kashgar no sooner heard these words than he ordered an

usher to go to the chief of police and to bring all the persons

concerned in the hunchback's death, together with the corpse, that he

wished to see once again. The usher hastened on his errand, but was

only just in time, for the tailor was positively swinging in the air,

when his voice fell upon the silence of the crowd, commanding the

hangman to cut down the body. The hangman, recognising the usher as

one of the king's servants, cut down the tailor, and the usher, seeing

the man was safe, sought the chief of police and gave him the Sultan's

message. Accordingly, the chief of police at once set out for the

palace, taking with him the tailor, the doctor, the purveyor, and the

merchant, who bore the dead hunchback on their shoulders.

When the procession reached the palace the chief of police prostrated

himself at the feet of the Sultan, and related all that he knew of the

matter. The Sultan was so much struck by the circumstances that he

ordered his private historian to write down an exact account of what

had passed, so that in the years to come the miraculous escape of the

four men who had thought themselves murderers might never be forgotten.

The Sultan asked everybody concerned in the hunchback's affair to tell

him their stories. Among others was a prating barber, whose tale of

one of his brothers follows.

The Story of the Barber's Fifth Brother

As long as our father lived Alnaschar was very idle. Instead of

working for his bread he was not ashamed to ask for it every evening,

and to support himself next day on what he had received the night

before. When our father died, worn out by age, he only left seven

hundred silver drachmas to be divided amongst us, which made one

hundred for each son. Alnaschar, who had never possessed so much money

in his life, was quite puzzled to know what to do with it. After

reflecting upon the matter for some time he decided to lay it out on

glasses, bottles, and things of that sort, which he would buy from a

wholesale merchant. Having bought his stock he next proceeded to look

out for a small shop in a good position, where he sat down at the open

door, his wares being piled up in an uncovered basket in front of him,

waiting for a customer among the passers-by.

In this attitude he remained seated, his eyes fixed on the basket, but

his thoughts far away. Unknown to himself he began to talk out loud,

and a tailor, whose shop was next door to his, heard quite plainly what

he was saying.

"This basket," said Alnaschar to himself, "has cost me a hundred

drachmas--all that I possess in the world. Now in selling the

contents piece by piece I shall turn two hundred, and these hundreds I

shall again lay out in glass, which will produce four hundred. By this

means I shall in course of time make four thousand drachmas, which will

easily double themselves. When I have got ten thousand I will give up

the glass trade and become a jeweller, and devote all my time to

trading in pearls, diamonds, and other precious stones. At last,

having all the wealth that heart can desire, I will buy a beautiful

country house, with horses and slaves, and then I will lead a merry

life and entertain my friends. At my feasts I will send for musicians

and dancers from the neighbouring town to amuse my guests. In spite of

my riches I shall not, however, give up trade till I have amassed a

capital of a hundred thousand drachmas, when, having become a man of

much consideration, I shall request the hand of the grand-vizir's

daughter, taking care to inform the worthy father that I have heard

favourable reports of her beauty and wit, and that I will pay down on

our wedding day 3 thousand gold pieces. Should the vizir refuse my

proposal, which after all is hardly to be expected, I will seize him by

the beard and drag him to my house."

When I shall have married his daughter I will give her ten of the best

eunuchs that can be found for her service. Then I shall put on my most

gorgeous robes, and mounted on a horse with a saddle of fine gold, and

its trappings blazing with diamonds, followed by a train of slaves, I

shall present myself at the house of the grand-vizir, the people

casting down their eyes and bowing low as I pass along. At the foot of

the grand-vizir's staircase I shall dismount, and while my servants

stand in a row to right and left I shall ascend the stairs, at the head

of which the grand-vizir will be waiting to receive me. He will then

embrace me as his son-in-law, and giving me his seat will place himself

below me. This being done (as I have every reason to expect), two of

my servants will enter, each bearing a purse containing a thousand

pieces of gold. One of these I shall present to him saying, "Here are

the thousand gold pieces that I offered for your daughter's hand, and

here," I shall continue, holding out the second purse, "are another

thousand to show you that I am a man who is better than his word."

After hearing of such generosity the world will talk of nothing else.

I shall return home with the same pomp as I set out, and my wife will

send an officer to compliment me on my visit to her father, and I shall

confer on the officer the honour of a rich dress and a handsome gift.

Should she send one to me I shall refuse it and dismiss the bearer. I

shall never allow my wife to leave her rooms on any pretext whatever

without my permission, and my visits to her will be marked by all the

ceremony calculated to inspire respect. No establishment will be

better ordered than mine, and I shall take care always to be dressed in

a manner suitable to my position. In the evening, when we retire to

our apartments, I shall sit in the place of honour, where I shall

assume a grand demeanour and speak little, gazing straight before me,

and when my wife, lovely as the full moon, stands humbly in front of my

chair I shall pretend not to see her. Then her women will say to me,

"Respected lord and master, your wife and slave is before you waiting

to be noticed. She is mortified that you never deign to look her way;

she is tired of standing so long. Beg her, we pray you, to be seated."

Of course I shall give no signs of even hearing this speech, which will

vex them mightily. They will throw themselves at my feet with

lamentations, and at length I will raise my head and throw a careless

glance at her, then I shall go back to my former attitude. The women

will think that I am displeased at my wife's dress and will lead her

away to put on a finer one, and I on my side shall replace the one I am

wearing with another yet more splendid. They will then return to the

charge, but this time it will take much longer before they persuade me

even to look at my wife. It is as well to begin on my wedding-day as I

mean to go on for the rest of our lives.

The next day she will complain to her mother of the way she has been

treated, which will fill my heart with joy. Her mother will come to

seek me, and, kissing my hands with respect, will say, "My lord" (for

she could not dare to risk my anger by using the familiar title of

"son-in-law"), "My lord, do not, I implore you, refuse to look upon my

daughter or to approach her. She only lives to please you, and loves

you with all her soul." But I shall pay no more heed to my

mother-in-law's words than I did to those of the women. Again she will

beseech me to listen to her entreaties, throwing herself this time at

my feet, but all to no purpose. Then, putting a glass of wine into my

wife's hand, she will say to her, "There, present that to him yourself,

he cannot have the cruelty to reject anything offered by so beautiful a

hand," and my wife will take it and offer it to me tremblingly with

tears in her eyes, but I shall look in the other direction. This will

cause her to weep still more, and she will hold out the glass crying,

"Adorable husband, never shall I cease my prayers till you have done me

the favour to drink." Sick of her importunities, these words will goad

me to fury. I shall dart an angry look at her and give her a sharp

blow on the cheek, at the same time giving her a kick so violent that

she will stagger across the room and fall on to the sofa.

"My brother," pursued the barber, "was so much absorbed in his dreams

that he actually did give a kick with his foot, which unluckily hit the

basket of glass. It fell into the street and was instantly broken into

a thousand pieces."

His neighbour the tailor, who had been listening to his visions, broke

into a loud fit of laughter as he saw this sight.

"Wretched man!" he cried, "you ought to die of shame at behaving so to

a young wife who has done nothing to you. You must be a brute for her

tears and prayers not to touch your heart. If I were the grand-vizir I

would order you a hundred blows from a bullock whip, and would have you

led round the town accompanied by a herald who should proclaim your

crimes."

The accident, so fatal to all his profits, had restored my brother to

his senses, and seeing that the mischief had been caused by his own

insufferable pride, he rent his clothes and tore his hair, and lamented

himself so loudly that the passers-by stopped to listen. It was a

Friday, so these were more numerous than usual. Some pitied Alnaschar,

others only laughed at him, but the vanity which had gone to his head

had disappeared with his basket of glass, and he was loudly bewailing

his folly when a lady, evidently a person of consideration, rode by on

a mule. She stopped and inquired what was the matter, and why the man

wept. They told her that he was a poor man who had laid out all his

money on this basket of glass, which was now broken. On hearing the

cause of these loud wails the lady turned to her attendant and said to

him, "Give him whatever you have got with you." The man obeyed, and

placed in my brother's hands a purse containing five hundred pieces of

gold. Alnaschar almost died of joy on receiving it. He blessed the

lady a thousand times, and, shutting up his shop where he had no longer

anything to do, he returned home.

He was still absorbed in contemplating his good fortune, when a knock

came to his door, and on opening it he found an old woman standing

outside.

"My son," she said, "I have a favour to ask of you. It is the hour of

prayer and I have not yet washed myself. Let me, I beg you, enter your

house, and give me water."

My brother, although the old woman was a stranger to him, did not

hesitate to do as she wished. He gave her a vessel of water and then

went back to his place and his thoughts, and with his mind busy over

his last adventure, he put his gold into a long and narrow purse, which

he could easily carry in his belt. During this time the old woman was

busy over her prayers, and when she had finished she came and

prostrated herself twice before my brother, and then rising called down

endless blessings on his head. Observing her shabby clothes, my

brother thought that her gratitude was in reality a hint that he should

give her some money to buy some new ones, so he held out two pieces of

gold. The old woman started back in surprise as if she had received an

insult. "Good heavens!" she exclaimed, "what is the meaning of this?

Is it possible that you take me, my lord, for one of those miserable

creatures who force their way into houses to beg for alms? Take back

your money. I am thankful to say I do not need it, for I belong to a

beautiful lady who is very rich and gives me everything I want."

My brother was not clever enough to detect that the old woman had

merely refused the two pieces of money he had offered her in order to

get more, but he inquired if she could procure him the pleasure of

seeing this lady.

"Willingly," she replied; "and she will be charmed to marry you, and to

make you the master of all her wealth. So pick up your money and

follow me."

Delighted at the thought that he had found so easily both a fortune and

a beautiful wife, my brother asked no more questions, but concealing

his purse, with the money the lady had given him, in the folds of his

dress, he set out joyfully with his guide.

They walked for some distance till the old woman stopped at a large

house, where she knocked. The door was opened by a young Greek slave,

and the old woman led my brother across a well-paved court into a

well-furnished hall. Here she left him to inform her mistress of his

presence, and as the day was hot he flung himself on a pile of cushions

and took off his heavy turban. In a few minutes there entered a lady,

and my brother perceived at the first glance that she was even more

beautiful and more richly dressed than he had expected. He rose from

his seat, but the lady signed to him to sit down again and placed

herself beside him. After the usual compliments had passed between

them she said, "We are not comfortable here, let us go into another

room," and passing into a smaller chamber, apparently communicating

with no other, she continued to talk to him for some time. Then rising

hastily she left him, saying, "Stay where you are, I will come back in

a moment."

He waited as he was told, but instead of the lady there entered a huge

black slave with a sword in his hand. Approaching my brother with an

angry countenance he exclaimed, "What business have you here?" His

voice and manner were so terrific that Alnaschar had not strength to

reply, and allowed his gold to be taken from him, and even sabre cuts

to be inflicted on him without making any resistance. As soon as he

was let go, he sank on the ground powerless to move, though he still

had possession of his senses. Thinking he was dead, the black ordered

the Greek slave to bring him some salt, and between them they rubbed it

into his wounds, thus giving him acute agony, though he had the

presence of mind to give no sign of life. They then left him, and

their place was taken by the old woman, who dragged him to a trapdoor

and threw him down into a vault filled with the bodies of murdered men.

At first the violence of his fall caused him to lose consciousness, but

luckily the salt which had been rubbed into his wounds had by its

smarting preserved his life, and little by little he regained his

strength. At the end of two days he lifted the trapdoor during the

night and hid himself in the courtyard till daybreak, when he saw the

old woman leave the house in search of more prey. Luckily she did not

observe him, and when she was out of sight he stole from this nest of

assassins and took refuge in my house.

I dressed his wounds and tended him carefully, and when a month had

passed he was as well as ever. His one thought was how to be revenged

on that wicked old hag, and for this purpose he had a purse made large

enough to contain five hundred gold pieces, but filled it instead with

bits of glass. This he tied round him with his sash, and, disguising

himself as an old woman, he took a sabre, which he hid under his dress.

One morning as he was hobbling through the streets he met his old enemy

prowling to see if she could find anyone to decoy. He went up to her

and, imitating the voice of a woman, he said, "Do you happen to have a

pair of scales you could lend me? I have just come from Persia and

have brought with me five hundred gold pieces, and I am anxious to see

if they are the proper weight."

"Good woman," replied the old hag, "you could not have asked anyone

better. My son is a money-changer, and if you will follow me he will

weigh them for you himself. Only we must be quick or he will have gone

to his shop." So saying she led the way to the same house as before,

and the door was opened by the same Greek slave.

Again my brother was left in the hall, and the pretended son appeared

under the form of the black slave. "Miserable crone," he said to my

brother, "get up and come with me," and turned to lead the way to the

place of murder. Alnaschar rose too, and drawing the sabre from under

his dress dealt the black such a blow on his neck that his head was

severed from his body. My brother picked up the head with one hand,

and seizing the body with the other dragged it to the vault, when he

threw it in and sent the head after it. The Greek slave, supposing

that all had passed as usual, shortly arrived with the basin of salt,

but when she beheld Alnaschar with the sabre in his hand she let the

basin fall and turned to fly. My brother, however, was too quick for

her, and in another instant her head was rolling from her shoulders.

The noise brought the old woman running to see what was the matter, and

he seized her before she had time to escape. "Wretch!" he cried, "do

you know me?"

"Who are you, my lord?" she replied trembling all over. "I have never

seen you before."

"I am he whose house you entered to offer your hypocritical prayers.

Don't you remember now?"

She flung herself on her knees to implore mercy, but he cut her in four

pieces.

There remained only the lady, who was quite ignorant of all that was

taking place around her. He sought her through the house, and when at

last he found her, she nearly fainted with terror at the sight of him.

She begged hard for life, which he was generous enough to give her, but

he bade her to tell him how she had got into partnership with the

abominable creatures he had just put to death.

"I was once," replied she, "the wife of an honest merchant, and that

old woman, whose wickedness I did not know, used occasionally to visit

me. 'Madam,' she said to me one day, 'we have a grand wedding at our

house to-day. If you would do us the honour to be present, I am sure

you would enjoy yourself.' I allowed myself to be persuaded, put on my

richest dress, and took a purse with a hundred pieces of gold. Once

inside the doors I was kept by force by that dreadful black, and it is

now three years that I have been here, to my great grief."

"That horrible black must have amassed great wealth," remarked my

brother.

"Such wealth," returned she, "that if you succeed in carrying it all

away it will make you rich for ever. Come and let us see how much

there is."

She led Alnaschar into a chamber filled with coffers packed with gold,

which he gazed at with an admiration he was powerless to conceal.

"Go," she said, "and bring men to carry them away."

My brother did not wait to be told twice, and hurried out into the

streets, where he soon collected ten men. They all came back to the

house, but what was his surprise to find the door open, and the room

with the chests of gold quite empty. The lady had been cleverer than

himself, and had made the best use of her time. However, he tried to

console himself by removing all the beautiful furniture, which more

than made up for the five hundred gold pieces he had lost.

Unluckily, on leaving the house, he forgot to lock the door, and the

neighbours, finding the place empty, informed the police, who next

morning arrested Alnaschar as a thief. My brother tried to bribe them

to let him off, but far from listening to him they tied his hands, and

forced him to walk between them to the presence of the judge. When

they had explained to the official the cause of complaint, he asked

Alnaschar where he had obtained all the furniture that he had taken to

his house the day before.

"Sir," replied Alnaschar, "I am ready to tell you the whole story, but

give, I pray you, your word, that I shall run no risk of punishment."

"That I promise," said the judge. So my brother began at the beginning

and related all his adventures, and how he had avenged himself on those

who had betrayed him. As to the furniture, he entreated the judge at

least to allow him to keep part to make up for the five hundred pieces

of gold which had been stolen from him.

The judge, however, would say nothing about this, and lost no time in

sending men to fetch away all that Alnaschar had taken from the house.

When everything had been moved and placed under his roof he ordered my

brother to leave the town and never more to enter it on peril of his

life, fearing that if he returned he might seek justice from the

Caliph. Alnaschar obeyed, and was on his way to a neighbouring city

when he fell in with a band of robbers, who stripped him of his clothes

and left him naked by the roadside. Hearing of his plight, I hurried

after him to console him for his misfortunes, and to dress him in my

best robe. I then brought him back disguised, under cover of night, to

my house, where I have since given him all the care I bestow on my

other brothers.

The Story of the Barber's Sixth Brother

There now remains for me to relate to you the story of my sixth

brother, whose name was Schacabac. Like the rest of us, he inherited a

hundred silver drachmas from our father, which he thought was a large

fortune, but through ill-luck, he soon lost it all, and was driven to

beg. As he had a smooth tongue and good manners, he really did very

well in his new profession, and he devoted himself specially to making

friends with the servants in big houses, so as to gain access to their

masters.

One day he was passing a splendid mansion, with a crowd of servants

lounging in the courtyard. He thought that from the appearance of the

house it might yield him a rich harvest, so he entered and inquired to

whom it belonged.

"My good man, where do you come from?" replied the servant. "Can't you

see for yourself that it can belong to nobody but a Barmecide?" for the

Barmecides were famed for their liberality and generosity. My brother,

hearing this, asked the porters, of whom there were several, if they

would give him alms. They did not refuse, but told him politely to go

in, and speak to the master himself.

My brother thanked them for their courtesy and entered the building,

which was so large that it took him some time to reach the apartments

of the Barmecide. At last, in a room richly decorated with paintings,

he saw an old man with a long white beard, sitting on a sofa, who

received him with such kindness that my brother was emboldened to make

his petition.

"My lord," he said, "you behold in me a poor man who only lives by the

help of persons as rich and as generous as you."

Before he could proceed further, he was stopped by the astonishment

shown by the Barmecide. "Is it possible," he cried, "that while I am

in Bagdad, a man like you should be starving? That is a state of

things that must at once be put an end to! Never shall it be said that

I have abandoned you, and I am sure that you, on your part, will never

abandon me."

"My lord," answered my brother, "I swear that I have not broken my fast

this whole day."

"What, you are dying of hunger?" exclaimed the Barmecide. "Here,

slave; bring water, that we may wash our hands before meat!" No slave

appeared, but my brother remarked that the Barmecide did not fail to

rub his hands as if the water had been poured over them.

Then he said to my brother, "Why don't you wash your hands too?" and

Schacabac, supposing that it was a joke on the part of the Barmecide

(though he could see none himself), drew near, and imitated his motion.

When the Barmecide had done rubbing his hands, he raised his voice, and

cried, "Set food before us at once, we are very hungry." No food was

brought, but the Barmecide pretended to help himself from a dish, and

carry a morsel to his mouth, saying as he did so, "Eat, my friend, eat,

I entreat. Help yourself as freely as if you were at home! For a

starving man, you seem to have a very small appetite."

"Excuse me, my lord," replied Schacabac, imitating his gestures as

before, "I really am not losing time, and I do full justice to the

repast."

"How do you like this bread?" asked the Barmecide. "I find it

particularly good myself."

"Oh, my lord," answered my brother, who beheld neither meat nor bread,

"never have I tasted anything so delicious."

"Eat as much as you want," said the Barmecide. "I bought the woman who

makes it for five hundred pieces of gold, so that I might never be

without it."

After ordering a variety of dishes (which never came) to be placed on

the table, and discussing the merits of each one, the Barmecide

declared that having dined so well, they would now proceed to take

their wine. To this my brother at first objected, declaring that it

was forbidden; but on the Barmecide insisting that it was out of the

question that he should drink by himself, he consented to take a

little. The Barmecide, however, pretended to fill their glasses so

often, that my brother feigned that the wine had gone into his head,

and struck the Barmecide such a blow on the head, that he fell to the

ground. Indeed, he raised his hand to strike him a second time, when

the Barmecide cried out that he was mad, upon which my brother

controlled himself, and apologised and protested that it was all the

fault of the wine he had drunk. At this the Barmecide, instead of

being angry, began to laugh, and embraced him heartily. "I have long

been seeking," he exclaimed, "a man of your description, and henceforth

my house shall be yours. You have had the good grace to fall in with

my humour, and to pretend to eat and to drink when nothing was there.

Now you shall be rewarded by a really good supper."

Then he clapped his hands, and all the dishes were brought that they

had tasted in imagination before and during the repast, slaves sang and

played on various instruments. All the while Schacabac was treated by

the Barmecide as a familiar friend, and dressed in a garment out of his

own wardrobe.

Twenty years passed by, and my brother was still living with the

Barmecide, looking after his house, and managing his affairs. At the

end of that time his generous benefactor died without heirs, so all his

possessions went to the prince. They even despoiled my brother of

those that rightly belonged to him, and he, now as poor as he had ever

been in his life, decided to cast in his lot with a caravan of pilgrims

who were on their way to Mecca. Unluckily, the caravan was attacked

and pillaged by the Bedouins, and the pilgrims were taken prisoners.

My brother became the slave of a man who beat him daily, hoping to

drive him to offer a ransom, although, as Schacabac pointed out, it was

quite useless trouble, as his relations were as poor as himself. At

length the Bedouin grew tired of tormenting, and sent him on a camel to

the top of a high barren mountain, where he left him to take his

chance. A passing caravan, on its way to Bagdad, told me where he was

to be found, and I hurried to his rescue, and brought him in a

deplorable condition back to the town.

"This,"--continued the barber,--"is the tale I related to the Caliph,

who, when I had finished, burst into fits of laughter.

"Well were you called `the Silent,'" said he; "no name was ever better

deserved. But for reasons of my own, which it is not necessary to

mention, I desire you to leave the town, and never to come back."

"I had of course no choice but to obey, and travelled about for several

years until I heard of the death of the Caliph, when I hastily returned

to Bagdad, only to find that all my brothers were dead. It was at this

time that I rendered to the young cripple the important service of

which you have heard, and for which, as you know, he showed such

profound ingratitude, that he preferred rather to leave Bagdad than to

run the risk of seeing me. I sought him long from place to place, but

it was only to-day, when I expected it least, that I came across him,

as much irritated with me as ever"-- So saying the tailor went on to

relate the story of the lame man and the barber, which has already been

told.

"When the barber," he continued, "had finished his tale, we came to the

conclusion that the young man had been right, when he had accused him

of being a great chatter-box. However, we wished to keep him with us,

and share our feast, and we remained at table till the hour of

afternoon prayer. Then the company broke up, and I went back to work

in my shop.

"It was during this interval that the little hunchback, half drunk

already, presented himself before me, singing and playing on his drum.

I took him home, to amuse my wife, and she invited him to supper.

While eating some fish, a bone got into his throat, and in spite of all

we could do, he died shortly. It was all so sudden that we lost our

heads, and in order to divert suspicion from ourselves, we carried the

body to the house of a Jewish physician. He placed it in the chamber

of the purveyor, and the purveyor propped it up in the street, where it

was thought to have been killed by the merchant.

"This, Sire, is the story which I was obliged to tell to satisfy your

highness. It is now for you to say if we deserve mercy or punishment;

life or death?"

The Sultan of Kashgar listened with an air of pleasure which filled the

tailor and his friends with hope. "I must confess," he exclaimed,

"that I am much more interested in the stories of the barber and his

brothers, and of the lame man, than in that of my own jester. But

before I allow you all four to return to your own homes, and have the

corpse of the hunchback properly buried, I should like to see this

barber who has earned your pardon. And as he is in this town, let an

usher go with you at once in search of him."

The usher and the tailor soon returned, bringing with them an old man

who must have been at least ninety years of age. "O Silent One," said

the Sultan, "I am told that you know many strange stories. Will you

tell some of them to me?"

"Never mind my stories for the present," replied the barber, "but will

your Highness graciously be pleased to explain why this Jew, this

Christian, and this Mussulman, as well as this dead body, are all here?"

"What business is that of yours?" asked the Sultan with a smile; but

seeing that the barber had some reasons for his question, he commanded

that the tale of the hunchback should be told him.

"It is certainly most surprising," cried he, when he had heard it all,

"but I should like to examine the body." He then knelt down, and took

the head on his knees, looking at it attentively. Suddenly he burst

into such loud laughter that he fell right backwards, and when he had

recovered himself enough to speak, he turned to the Sultan. "The man

is no more dead than I am," he said; "watch me." As he spoke he drew a

small case of medicines from his pocket and rubbed the neck of the

hunchback with some ointment made of balsam. Next he opened the dead

man's mouth, and by the help of a pair of pincers drew the bone from

his throat. At this the hunchback sneezed, stretched himself and

opened his eyes.

The Sultan and all those who saw this operation did not know which to

admire most, the constitution of the hunchback who had apparently been

dead for a whole night and most of one day, or the skill of the barber,

whom everyone now began to look upon as a great man. His Highness

desired that the history of the hunchback should be written down, and

placed in the archives beside that of the barber, so that they might be

associated in people's minds to the end of time. And he did not stop

there; for in order to wipe out the memory of what they had undergone,

he commanded that the tailor, the doctor, the purveyor and the

merchant, should each be clothed in his presence with a robe from his

own wardrobe before they returned home. As for the barber, he bestowed

on him a large pension, and kept him near his own person.

The Adventures of Prince Camaralzaman and the Princess Badoura

Some twenty days' sail from the coast of Persia lies the isle of the

children of Khaledan. The island is divided into several provinces, in

each of which are large flourishing towns, and the whole forms an

important kingdom. It was governed in former days by a king named

Schahzaman, who, with good right, considered himself one of the most

peaceful, prosperous, and fortunate monarchs on the earth. In fact, he

had but one grievance, which was that none of his four wives had given

him an heir.

This distressed him so greatly that one day he confided his grief to

the grand-vizir, who, being a wise counsellor, said: "Such matters are

indeed beyond human aid. Allah alone can grant your desire, and I

should advise you, sire, to send large gifts to those holy men who

spend their lives in prayer, and to beg for their intercessions. Who

knows whether their petitions may not be answered!"

The king took his vizir's advice, and the result of so many prayers for

an heir to the throne was that a son was born to him the following year.

Schahzaman sent noble gifts as thank offerings to all the mosques and

religious houses, and great rejoicings were celebrated in honour of the

birth of the little prince, who was so beautiful that he was named

Camaralzaman, or "Moon of the Century."

Prince Camaralzaman was brought up with extreme care by an excellent

governor and all the cleverest teachers, and he did such credit to them

that when he was grown up, a more charming and accomplished young man

was not to be found. Whilst he was still a youth the king, his father,

who loved him dearly, had some thoughts of abdicating in his favour.

As usual he talked over his plans with his grand-vizir, who, though he

did not approve the idea, would not state all his objections.

"Sire," he replied, "the prince is still very young for the cares of

state. Your Majesty fears his growing idle and careless, and doubtless

you are right. But how would it be if he were first to marry? This

would attach him to his home, and your Majesty might give him a share

in your counsels, so that he might gradually learn how to wear a crown,

which you can give up to him whenever you find him capable of wearing

it."

The vizir's advice once more struck the king as being good, and he sent

for his son, who lost no time in obeying the summons, and standing

respectfully with downcast eyes before the king asked for his commands.

"I have sent for you," said the king, "to say that I wish you to marry.

What do you think about it?"

The prince was so much overcome by these words that he remained silent

for some time. At length he said: "Sire, I beg you to pardon me if I

am unable to reply as you might wish. I certainly did not expect such

a proposal as I am still so young, and I confess that the idea of

marrying is very distasteful to me. Possibly I may not always be in

this mind, but I certainly feel that it will require some time to

induce me to take the step which your Majesty desires."

This answer greatly distressed the king, who was sincerely grieved by

his objection to marriage. However he would not have recourse to

extreme measures, so he said: "I do not wish to force you; I will give

you time to reflect, but remember that such a step is necessary, for a

prince such as you who will some day be called to rule over a great

kingdom."

From this time Prince Camaralzaman was admitted to the royal council,

and the king showed him every mark of favour.

At the end of a year the king took his son aside, and said: "Well, my

son, have you changed your mind on the subject of marriage, or do you

still refuse to obey my wish?"

The prince was less surprised but no less firm than on the former

occasion, and begged his father not to press the subject, adding that

it was quite useless to urge him any longer.

This answer much distressed the king, who again confided his trouble to

his vizir.

"I have followed your advice," he said; "but Camaralzaman declines to

marry, and is more obstinate than ever."

"Sire," replied the vizir, "much is gained by patience, and your

Majesty might regret any violence. Why not wait another year and then

inform the Prince in the midst of the assembled council that the good

of the state demands his marriage? He cannot possibly refuse again

before so distinguished an assemblage, and in our immediate presence."

The Sultan ardently desired to see his son married at once, but he

yielded to the vizir's arguments and decided to wait. He then visited

the prince's mother, and after telling her of his disappointment and of

the further respite he had given his son, he added: "I know that

Camaralzaman confides more in you than he does in me. Pray speak very

seriously to him on this subject, and make him realize that he will

most seriously displease me if he remains obstinate, and that he will

certainly regret the measures I shall be obliged to take to enforce my

will."

So the first time the Sultana Fatima saw her son she told him she had

heard of his refusal to marry, adding how distressed she felt that he

should have vexed his father so much. She asked what reasons he could

have for his objections to obey.

"Madam," replied the prince, "I make no doubt that there are as many

good, virtuous, sweet, and amiable women as there are others very much

the reverse. Would that all were like you! But what revolts me is the

idea of marrying a woman without knowing anything at all about her. My

father will ask the hand of the daughter of some neighbouring

sovereign, who will give his consent to our union. Be she fair or

frightful, clever or stupid, good or bad, I must marry her, and am left

no choice in the matter. How am I to know that she will not be proud,

passionate, contemptuous, and recklessly extravagant, or that her

disposition will in any way suit mine?"

"But, my son," urged Fatima, "you surely do not wish to be the last of

a race which has reigned so long and so gloriously over this kingdom?"

"Madam," said the prince, "I have no wish to survive the king, my

father, but should I do so I will try to reign in such a manner as may

be considered worthy of my predecessors."

These and similar conversations proved to the Sultan how useless it was

to argue with his son, and the year elapsed without bringing any change

in the prince's ideas.

At length a day came when the Sultan summoned him before the council,

and there informed him that not only his own wishes but the good of the

empire demanded his marriage, and desired him to give his answer before

the assembled ministers.

At this Camaralzaman grew so angry and spoke with so much heat that the

king, naturally irritated at being opposed by his son in full council,

ordered the prince to be arrested and locked up in an old tower, where

he had nothing but a very little furniture, a few books, and a single

slave to wait on him.

Camaralzaman, pleased to be free to enjoy his books, showed himself

very indifferent to his sentence.

When night came he washed himself, performed his devotions, and, having

read some pages of the Koran, lay down on a couch, without putting out

the light near him, and was soon asleep.

Now there was a deep well in the tower in which Prince Camaralzaman was

imprisoned, and this well was a favourite resort of the fairy Maimoune,

daughter of Damriat, chief of a legion of genii. Towards midnight

Maimoune floated lightly up from the well, intending, according to her

usual habit, to roam about the upper world as curiosity or accident

might prompt.

The light in the prince's room surprised her, and without disturbing

the slave, who slept across the threshold, she entered the room, and

approaching the bed was still more astonished to find it occupied.

The prince lay with his face half hidden by the coverlet. Maimoune

lifted it a little and beheld the most beautiful youth she had ever

seen.

"What a marvel of beauty he must be when his eyes are open!" she

thought. "What can he have done to deserve to be treated like this?"

She could not weary gazing at Camaralzaman, but at length, having

softly kissed his brow and each cheek, she replaced the coverlet and

resumed her flight through the air.

As she entered the middle region she heard the sound of great wings

coming towards her, and shortly met one of the race of bad genii. This

genie, whose name was Danhasch, recognised Maimoune with terror, for he

knew the supremacy which her goodness gave her over him. He would

gladly have avoided her altogether, but they were so near that he must

either be prepared to fight or yield to her, so he at once addressed

her in a conciliatory tone:

"Good Maimoune, swear to me by Allah to do me no harm, and on my side I

will promise not to injure you."

"Accursed genie!" replied Maimoune, "what harm can you do me? But I

will grant your power and give the promise you ask. And now tell me

what you have seen and done to-night."

"Fair lady," said Danhasch, "you meet me at the right moment to hear

something really interesting. I must tell you that I come from the

furthest end of China, which is one of the largest and most powerful

kingdoms in the world. The present king has one only daughter, who is

so perfectly lovely that neither you, nor I, nor any other creature

could find adequate terms in which to describe her marvellous charms.

You must therefore picture to yourself the most perfect features,

joined to a brilliant and delicate complexion, and an enchanting

expression, and even then imagination will fall short of the reality.

"The king, her father, has carefully shielded this treasure from the

vulgar gaze, and has taken every precaution to keep her from the sight

of everyone except the happy mortal he may choose to be her husband.

But in order to give her variety in her confinement he has built her

seven palaces such as have never been seen before. The first palace is

entirely composed of rock crystal, the second of bronze, the third of

fine steel, the fourth of another and more precious species of bronze,

the fifth of touchstone, the sixth of silver, and the seventh of solid

gold. They are all most sumptuously furnished, whilst the gardens

surrounding them are laid out with exquisite taste. In fact, neither

trouble nor cost has been spared to make this retreat agreeable to the

princess. The report of her wonderful beauty has spread far and wide,

and many powerful kings have sent embassies to ask her hand in

marriage. The king has always received these embassies graciously, but

says that he will never oblige the princess to marry against her will,

and as she regularly declines each fresh proposal, the envoys have had

to leave as disappointed in the result of their missions as they were

gratified by their magnificent receptions."

"Sire," said the princess to her father, "you wish me to marry, and I

know you desire to please me, for which I am very grateful. But,

indeed, I have no inclination to change my state, for where could I

find so happy a life amidst so many beautiful and delightful

surroundings? I feel that I could never be as happy with any husband

as I am here, and I beg you not to press one on me."

"At last an embassy came from a king so rich and powerful that the King

of China felt constrained to urge this suit on his daughter. He told

her how important such an alliance would be, and pressed her to

consent. In fact, he pressed her so persistingly that the princess at

length lost her temper and quite forgot the respect due to her father.

"Sire," cried she angrily, "do not speak further of this or any other

marriage or I will plunge this dagger in my breast and so escape from

all these importunities."

"The king of China was extremely indignant with his daughter and

replied: "You have lost your senses and you must be treated

accordingly." So he had her shut in one set of rooms in one of her

palaces, and only allowed her ten old women, of whom her nurse was the

head, to wait on her and keep her company. He next sent letters to all

the kings who had sued for the princess's hand, begging they would

think of her no longer, as she was quite insane, and he desired his

various envoys to make it known that anyone who could cure her should

have her to wife.

"Fair Maimoune," continued Danhasch, "this is the present state of

affairs. I never pass a day without going to gaze on this incomparable

beauty, and I am sure that if you would only accompany me you would

think the sight well worth the trouble, and own that you never saw such

loveliness before."

The fairy only answered with a peal of laughter, and when at length she

had control of her voice she cried, "Oh, come, you are making game of

me! I thought you had something really interesting to tell me instead

of raving about some unknown damsel. What would you say if you could

see the prince I have just been looking at and whose beauty is really

transcendent? That is something worth talking about, you would

certainly quite lose your head."

"Charming Maimoune," asked Danhasch, "may I inquire who and what is the

prince of whom you speak?"

"Know," replied Maimoune, "that he is in much the same case as your

princess. The king, his father, wanted to force him to marry, and on

the prince's refusal to obey he has been imprisoned in an old tower

where I have just seen him."

"I don't like to contradict a lady," said Danhasch, "but you must

really permit me to doubt any mortal being as beautiful as my princess."

"Hold your tongue," cried Maimoune. "I repeat that is impossible."

"Well, I don't wish to seem obstinate," replied Danhasch, "the best

plan to test the truth of what I say will be for you to let me take you

to see the princess for yourself."

"There is no need for that," retorted Maimoune; "we can satisfy

ourselves in another way. Bring your princess here and lay her down

beside my prince. We can then compare them at leisure, and decide

which is in the right."

Danhasch readily consented, and after having the tower where the prince

was confined pointed out to him, and making a wager with Maimoune as to

the result of the comparison, he flew off to China to fetch the

princess.

In an incredibly short time Danhasch returned, bearing the sleeping

princess. Maimoune led him to the prince's room, and the rival beauty

was placed beside him.

When the prince and princess lay thus side by side, an animated dispute

as to their respective charms arose between the fairy and the genius.

Danhasch began by saying:

"Now you see that my princess is more beautiful than your prince. Can

you doubt any longer?"

"Doubt! Of course I do!" exclaimed Maimoune. "Why, you must be blind

not to see how much my prince excels your princess. I do not deny that

your princess is very handsome, but only look and you must own that I

am in the right."

"There is no need for me to look longer," said Danhasch, "my first

impression will remain the same; but of course, charming Maimoune, I am

ready to yield to you if you insist on it."

"By no means," replied Maimoune. "I have no idea of being under any

obligation to an accursed genius like you. I refer the matter to an

umpire, and shall expect you to submit to his verdict."

Danhasch readily agreed, and on Maimoune striking the floor with her

foot it opened, and a hideous, hump-backed, lame, squinting genius,

with six horns on his head, hands like claws, emerged. As soon as he

beheld Maimoune he threw himself at her feet and asked her commands.

"Rise, Caschcasch," said she. "I summoned you to judge between me and

Danhasch. Glance at that couch, and say without any partiality whether

you think the youth or the maiden lying there the more beautiful."

Caschcasch looked at the prince and princess with every token of

surprise and admiration. At length, having gazed long without being

able to come to a decision, he said

"Madam, I must confess that I should deceive you were I to declare one

to be handsomer than the other. There seems to me only one way in

which to decide the matter, and that is to wake one after the other and

judge which of them expresses the greater admiration for the other."

This advice pleased Maimoune and Danhasch, and the fairy at once

transformed herself into the shape of a gnat and settling on

Camaralzaman's throat stung him so sharply that he awoke. As he did so

his eyes fell on the Princess of China. Surprised at finding a lady so

near him, he raised himself on one arm to look at her. The youth and

beauty of the princess at once awoke a feeling to which his heart had

as yet been a stranger, and he could not restrain his delight.

"What loveliness! What charms! Oh, my heart, my soul!" he exclaimed,

as he kissed her forehead, her eyes and mouth in a way which would

certainly have roused her had not the genie's enchantments kept her

asleep.

"How, fair lady!" he cried, "you do not wake at the signs of

Camaralzaman's love? Be you who you may, he is not unworthy of you."

It then suddenly occurred to him, that perhaps this was the bride his

father had destined for him, and that the King had probably had her

placed in this room in order to see how far Camaralzaman's aversion to

marriage would withstand her charms.

"At all events," he thought, "I will take this ring as a remembrance of

her."

So saying he drew off a fine ring which the princess wore on her

finger, and replaced it by one of his own. After which he lay down

again and was soon fast asleep.

Then Danhasch, in his turn, took the form of a gnat and bit the

princess on her lip.

She started up, and was not a little amazed at seeing a young man

beside her. From surprise she soon passed to admiration, and then to

delight on perceiving how handsome and fascinating he was.

"Why," cried she, "was it you my father wished me to marry? How

unlucky that I did not know sooner! I should not have made him so

angry. But wake up! wake up! for I know I shall love you with all my

heart."

So saying she shook Camaralzaman so violently that nothing but the

spells of Maimoune could have prevented his waking.

"Oh!" cried the princess. "Why are you so drowsy?" So saying she took

his hand and noticed her own ring on his finger, which made her wonder

still more. But as he still remained in a profound slumber she pressed

a kiss on his cheek and soon fell fast asleep too.

Then Maimoune turning to the genie said: "Well, are you satisfied that

my prince surpasses your princess? Another time pray believe me when I

assert anything."

Then turning to Caschcasch: "My thanks to you, and now do you and

Danhasch bear the princess back to her own home."

The two genii hastened to obey, and Maimoune returned to her well.

On waking next morning the first thing Prince Camaralzaman did was to

look round for the lovely lady he had seen at night, and the next to

question the slave who waited on him about her. But the slave

persisted so strongly that he knew nothing of any lady, and still less

of how she got into the tower, that the prince lost all patience, and

after giving him a good beating tied a rope round him and ducked him in

the well till the unfortunate man cried out that he would tell

everything. Then the prince drew him up all dripping wet, but the

slave begged leave to change his clothes first, and as soon as the

prince consented hurried off just as he was to the palace. Here he

found the king talking to the grand-vizir of all the anxiety his son

had caused him. The slave was admitted at once and cried:

"Alas, Sire! I bring sad news to your Majesty. There can be no doubt

that the prince has completely lost his senses. He declares that he

saw a lady sleeping on his couch last night, and the state you see me

in proves how violent contradiction makes him." He then gave a minute

account of all the prince had said and done.

The king, much moved, begged the vizir to examine into this new

misfortune, and the latter at once went to the tower, where he found

the prince quietly reading a book. After the first exchange of

greetings the vizir said:

"I feel really very angry with your slave for alarming his Majesty by

the news he brought him."

"What news?" asked the prince.

"Ah!" replied the vizir, "something absurd, I feel sure, seeing how I

find you."

"Most likely," said the prince; "but now that you are here I am glad of

the opportunity to ask you where is the lady who slept in this room

last night?"

The grand-vizir felt beside himself at this question.

"Prince!" he exclaimed, "how would it be possible for any man, much

less a woman, to enter this room at night without walking over your

slave on the threshold? Pray consider the matter, and you will realise

that you have been deeply impressed by some dream."

But the prince angrily insisted on knowing who and where the lady was,

and was not to be persuaded by all the vizir's protestations to the

contrary that the plot had not been one of his making. At last, losing

patience, he seized the vizir by the beard and loaded him with blows.

"Stop, Prince," cried the unhappy vizir, "stay and hear what I have to

say."

The prince, whose arm was getting tired, paused.

"I confess, Prince," said the vizir, "that there is some foundation for

what you say. But you know well that a minister has to carry out his

master's orders. Allow me to go and to take to the king any message

you may choose to send."

"Very well," said the prince; "then go and tell him that I consent to

marry the lady whom he sent or brought here last night. Be quick and

bring me back his answer."

The vizir bowed to the ground and hastened to leave the room and tower.

"Well," asked the king as soon as he appeared, "and how did you find my

son?"

"Alas, sire," was the reply, "the slave's report is only too true!"

He then gave an exact account of his interview with Camaralzaman and of

the prince's fury when told that it was not possible for any lady to

have entered his room, and of the treatment he himself had received.

The king, much distressed, determined to clear up the matter himself,

and, ordering the vizir to follow him, set out to visit his son.

The prince received his father with profound respect, and the king,

making him sit beside him, asked him several questions, to which

Camaralzaman replied with much good sense. At last the king said: "My

son, pray tell me about the lady who, it is said, was in your room last

night."

"Sire," replied the prince, "pray do not increase my distress in this

matter, but rather make me happy by giving her to me in marriage.

However much I may have objected to matrimony formerly, the sight of

this lovely girl has overcome all my prejudices, and I will gratefully

receive her from your hands."

The king was almost speechless on hearing his son, but after a time

assured him most solemnly that he knew nothing whatever about the lady

in question, and had not connived at her appearance. He then desired

the prince to relate the whole story to him.

Camaralzaman did so at great length, showed the ring, and implored his

father to help to find the bride he so ardently desired.

"After all you tell me," remarked the king, "I can no longer doubt your

word; but how and whence the lady came, or why she should have stayed

so short a time I cannot imagine. The whole affair is indeed

mysterious. Come, my dear son, let us wait together for happier days."

So saying the king took Camaralzaman by the hand and led him back to

the palace, where the prince took to his bed and gave himself up to

despair, and the king shutting himself up with his son entirely

neglected the affairs of state.

The prime minister, who was the only person admitted, felt it his duty

at last to tell the king how much the court and all the people

complained of his seclusion, and how bad it was for the nation. He

urged the sultan to remove with the prince to a lovely little island

close by, whence he could easily attend public audiences, and where the

charming scenery and fine air would do the invalid so much good as to

enable him to bear his father's occasional absence.

The king approved the plan, and as soon as the castle on the island

could be prepared for their reception he and the prince arrived there,

Schahzaman never leaving his son except for the prescribed public

audiences twice a week.

Whilst all this was happening in the capital of Schahzaman the two

genii had carefully borne the Princess of China back to her own palace

and replaced her in bed. On waking next morning she first turned from

one side to another and then, finding herself alone, called loudly for

her women.

"Tell me," she cried, "where is the young man I love so dearly, and who

slept near me last night?"

"Princess," exclaimed the nurse, "we cannot tell what you allude to

without more explanation."

"Why," continued the princess, "the most charming and beautiful young

man lay sleeping beside me last night. I did my utmost to wake him,

but in vain."

"Your Royal Highness wishes to make game of us," said the nurse. "Is

it your pleasure to rise?"

"I am quite in earnest," persisted the princess, "and I want to know

where he is."

"But, Princess," expostulated the nurse, "we left you quite alone last

night, and we have seen no one enter your room since then."

At this the princess lost all patience, and taking the nurse by her

hair she boxed her ears soundly, crying out: "You shall tell me, you

old witch, or I'll kill you."

The nurse had no little trouble in escaping, and hurried off to the

queen, to whom she related the whole story with tears in her eyes.

"You see, madam," she concluded, "that the princess must be out of her

mind. If only you will come and see her, you will be able to judge for

yourself."

The queen hurried to her daughter's apartments, and after tenderly

embracing her, asked her why she had treated her nurse so badly.

"Madam," said the princess, "I perceive that your Majesty wishes to

make game of me, but I can assure you that I will never marry anyone

except the charming young man whom I saw last night. You must know

where he is, so pray send for him."

The queen was much surprised by these words, but when she declared that

she knew nothing whatever of the matter the princess lost all respect,

and answered that if she were not allowed to marry as she wished she

should kill herself, and it was in vain that the queen tried to pacify

her and bring her to reason.

The king himself came to hear the rights of the matter, but the

princess only persisted in her story, and as a proof showed the ring on

her finger. The king hardly knew what to make of it all, but ended by

thinking that his daughter was more crazy than ever, and without

further argument he had her placed in still closer confinement, with

only her nurse to wait on her and a powerful guard to keep the door.

Then he assembled his council, and having told them the sad state of

things, added: "If any of you can succeed in curing the princess, I

will give her to him in marriage, and he shall be my heir."

An elderly emir present, fired with the desire to possess a young and

lovely wife and to rule over a great kingdom, offered to try the magic

arts with which he was acquainted.

"You are welcome to try," said the king, "but I make one condition,

which is, that should you fail you will lose your life."

The emir accepted the condition, and the king led him to the princess,

who, veiling her face, remarked, "I am surprised, sire, that you should

bring an unknown man into my presence."

"You need not be shocked," said the king; "this is one of my emirs who

asks your hand in marriage."

"Sire," replied the princess, "this is not the one you gave me before

and whose ring I wear. Permit me to say that I can accept no other."

The emir, who had expected to hear the princess talk nonsense, finding

how calm and reasonable she was, assured the king that he could not

venture to undertake a cure, but placed his head at his Majesty's

disposal, on which the justly irritated monarch promptly had it cut off.

This was the first of many suitors for the princess whose inability to

cure her cost them their lives.

Now it happened that after things had been going on in this way for

some time the nurse's son Marzavan returned from his travels. He had

been in many countries and learnt many things, including astrology.

Needless to say that one of the first things his mother told him was

the sad condition of the princess, his foster-sister. Marzavan asked if

she could not manage to let him see the princess without the king's

knowledge.

After some consideration his mother consented, and even persuaded the

eunuch on guard to make no objection to Marzavan's entering the royal

apartment.

The princess was delighted to see her foster-brother again, and after

some conversation she confided to him all her history and the cause of

her imprisonment.

Marzavan listened with downcast eyes and the utmost attention. When

she had finished speaking he said,

"If what you tell me, Princess, is indeed the case, I do not despair of

finding comfort for you. Take patience yet a little longer. I will

set out at once to explore other countries, and when you hear of my

return be sure that he for whom you sigh is not far off." So saying, he

took his leave and started next morning on his travels.

Marzavan journeyed from city to city and from one island and province

to another, and wherever he went he heard people talk of the strange

story of the Princess Badoura, as the Princess of China was named.

After four months he reached a large populous seaport town named Torf,

and here he heard no more of the Princess Badoura but a great deal of

Prince Camaralzaman, who was reported ill, and whose story sounded very

similar to that of the Princess Badoura.

Marzavan was rejoiced, and set out at once for Prince Camaralzaman's

residence. The ship on which he embarked had a prosperous voyage till

she got within sight of the capital of King Schahzaman, but when just

about to enter the harbour she suddenly struck on a rock, and foundered

within sight of the palace where the prince was living with his father

and the grand-vizir.

Marzavan, who swam well, threw himself into the sea and managed to land

close to the palace, where he was kindly received, and after having a

change of clothing given him was brought before the grand-vizir. The

vizir was at once attracted by the young man's superior air and

intelligent conversation, and perceiving that he had gained much

experience in the course of his travels, he said, "Ah, how I wish you

had learnt some secret which might enable you to cure a malady which

has plunged this court into affliction for some time past!"

Marzavan replied that if he knew what the illness was he might possibly

be able to suggest a remedy, on which the vizir related to him the

whole history of Prince Camaralzaman.

On hearing this Marzavan rejoiced inwardly, for he felt sure that he

had at last discovered the object of the Princess Badoura's

infatuation. However, he said nothing, but begged to be allowed to see

the prince.

On entering the royal apartment the first thing which struck him was

the prince himself, who lay stretched out on his bed with his eyes

closed. The king sat near him, but, without paying any regard to his

presence, Marzavan exclaimed, "Heavens! what a striking likeness!"

And, indeed, there was a good deal of resemblance between the features

of Camaralzaman and those of the Princess of China.

These words caused the prince to open his eyes with languid curiosity,

and Marzavan seized this moment to pay him his compliments, contriving

at the same time to express the condition of the Princess of China in

terms unintelligible, indeed, to the Sultan and his vizir, but which

left the prince in no doubt that his visitor could give him some

welcome information.

The prince begged his father to allow him the favour of a private

interview with Marzavan, and the king was only too pleased to find his

son taking an interest in anyone or anything. As soon as they were

left alone Marzavan told the prince the story of the Princess Badoura

and her sufferings, adding, "I am convinced that you alone can cure

her; but before starting on so long a journey you must be well and

strong, so do your best to recover as quickly as may be."

These words produced a great effect on the prince, who was so much

cheered by the hopes held out that he declared he felt able to get up

and be dressed. The king was overjoyed at the result of Marzavan's

interview, and ordered public rejoicings in honour of the prince's

recovery.

Before long the prince was quite restored to his original state of

health, and as soon as he felt himself really strong he took Marzavan

aside and said:

"Now is the time to perform your promise. I am so impatient to see my

beloved princess once more that I am sure I shall fall ill again if we

do not start soon. The one obstacle is my father's tender care of me,

for, as you may have noticed, he cannot bear me out of his sight."

"Prince," replied Marzavan, "I have already thought over the matter,

and this is what seems to me the best plan. You have not been out of

doors since my arrival. Ask the king's permission to go with me for

two or three days' hunting, and when he has given leave order two good

horses to be held ready for each of us. Leave all the rest to me."

Next day the prince seized a favourable opportunity for making his

request, and the king gladly granted it on condition that only one

night should be spent out for fear of too great fatigue after such a

long illness.

Next morning Prince Camaralzaman and Marzavan were off betimes,

attended by two grooms leading the two extra horses. They hunted a

little by the way, but took care to get as far from the towns as

possible. At night-fall they reached an inn, where they supped and

slept till midnight. Then Marzavan awoke and roused the prince without

disturbing anyone else. He begged the prince to give him the coat he

had been wearing and to put on another which they had brought with

them. They mounted their second horses, and Marzavan led one of the

grooms' horses by the bridle.

By daybreak our travellers found themselves where four cross roads met

in the middle of the forest. Here Marzavan begged the prince to wait

for him, and leading the groom's horse into a dense part of the wood he

cut its throat, dipped the prince's coat in its blood, and having

rejoined the prince threw the coat on the ground where the roads parted.

In answer to Camaralzaman's inquiries as to the reason for this,

Marzavan replied that the only chance they had of continuing their

journey was to divert attention by creating the idea of the prince's

death. "Your father will doubtless be plunged in the deepest grief,"

he went on, "but his joy at your return will be all the greater."

The prince and his companion now continued their journey by land and

sea, and as they had brought plenty of money to defray their expenses

they met with no needless delays. At length they reached the capital

of China, where they spent three days in a suitable lodging to recover

from their fatigues.

During this time Marzavan had an astrologer's dress prepared for the

prince. They then went to the baths, after which the prince put on the

astrologer's robe and was conducted within sight of the king's palace

by Marzavan, who left him there and went to consult his mother, the

princess's nurse.

Meantime the prince, according to Marzavan's instructions, advanced

close to the palace gates and there proclaimed aloud:

"I am an astrologer and I come to restore health to the Princess

Badoura, daughter of the high and mighty King of China, on the

conditions laid down by His Majesty of marrying her should I succeed,

or of losing my life if I fail."

It was some little time since anyone had presented himself to run the

terrible risk involved in attempting to cure the princess, and a crowd

soon gathered round the prince. On perceiving his youth, good looks,

and distinguished bearing, everyone felt pity for him.

"What are you thinking of, sir," exclaimed some; "why expose yourself

to certain death? Are not the heads you see exposed on the town wall

sufficient warning? For mercy's sake give up this mad idea and retire

whilst you can."

But the prince remained firm, and only repeated his cry with greater

assurance, to the horror of the crowd.

"He is resolved to die!" they cried; "may heaven have pity on him!"

Camaralzaman now called out for the third time, and at last the

grand-vizir himself came out and fetched him in.

The prime minister led the prince to the king, who was much struck by

the noble air of this new adventurer, and felt such pity for the fate

so evidently in store for him, that he tried to persuade the young man

to renounce his project.

But Camaralzaman politely yet firmly persisted in his intentions, and

at length the king desired the eunuch who had the guard of the

princess's apartments to conduct the astrologer to her presence.

The eunuch led the way through long passages, and Camaralzaman followed

rapidly, in haste to reach the object of his desires. At last they

came to a large hall which was the ante-room to the princess's chamber,

and here Camaralzaman said to the eunuch:

"Now you shall choose. Shall I cure the princess in her own presence,

or shall I do it from here without seeing her?"

The eunuch, who had expressed many contemptuous doubts as they came

along of the newcomer's powers, was much surprised and said:

"If you really can cure, it is immaterial when you do it. Your fame

will be equally great."

"Very well," replied the prince: "then, impatient though I am to see

the princess, I will effect the cure where I stand, the better to

convince you of my power." He accordingly drew out his writing case

and wrote as follows--"Adorable princess! The enamoured Camaralzaman

has never forgotten the moment when, contemplating your sleeping

beauty, he gave you his heart. As he was at that time deprived of the

happiness of conversing with you, he ventured to give you his ring as a

token of his love, and to take yours in exchange, which he now encloses

in this letter. Should you deign to return it to him he will be the

happiest of mortals, if not he will cheerfully resign himself to death,

seeing he does so for love of you. He awaits your reply in your

ante-room."

Having finished this note the prince carefully enclosed the ring in it

without letting the eunuch see it, and gave him the letter, saying:

"Take this to your mistress, my friend, and if on reading it and seeing

its contents she is not instantly cured, you may call me an impudent

impostor."

The eunuch at once passed into the princess's room, and handing her the

letter said:

"Madam, a new astrologer has arrived, who declares that you will be

cured as soon as you have read this letter and seen what it contains."

The princess took the note and opened it with languid indifference.

But no sooner did she see her ring than, barely glancing at the

writing, she rose hastily and with one bound reached the doorway and

pushed back the hangings. Here she and the prince recognised each

other, and in a moment they were locked in each other's arms, where

they tenderly embraced, wondering how they came to meet at last after

so long a separation. The nurse, who had hastened after her charge,

drew them back to the inner room, where the princess restored her ring

to Camaralzaman.

"Take it back," she said, "I could not keep it without returning yours

to you, and I am resolved to wear that as long as I live."

Meantime the eunuch had hastened back to the king. "Sire," he cried,

"all the former doctors and astrologers were mere quacks. This man has

cured the princess without even seeing her." He then told all to the

king, who, overjoyed, hastened to his daughter's apartments, where,

after embracing her, he placed her hand in that of the prince, saying:

"Happy stranger, I keep my promise, and give you my daughter to wife,

be you who you may. But, if I am not much mistaken, your condition is

above what you appear to be."

The prince thanked the king in the warmest and most respectful terms,

and added: "As regards my person, your Majesty has rightly guessed

that I am not an astrologer. It is but a disguise which I assumed in

order to merit your illustrious alliance. I am myself a prince, my

name is Camaralzaman, and my father is Schahzaman, King of the Isles of

the Children of Khaledan." He then told his whole history, including

the extraordinary manner of his first seeing and loving the Princess

Badoura.

When he had finished the king exclaimed: "So remarkable a story must

not be lost to posterity. It shall be inscribed in the archives of my

kingdom and published everywhere abroad."

The wedding took place next day amidst great pomp and rejoicings.

Marzavan was not forgotten, but was given a lucrative post at court,

with a promise of further advancement.

The prince and princess were now entirely happy, and months slipped by

unconsciously in the enjoyment of each other's society.

One night, however, Prince Camaralzaman dreamt that he saw his father

lying at the point of death, and saying: "Alas! my son whom I loved so

tenderly, has deserted me and is now causing my death."

The prince woke with such a groan as to startle the princess, who asked

what was the matter.

"Ah!" cried the prince, "at this very moment my father is perhaps no

more!" and he told his dream.

The princess said but little at the time, but next morning she went to

the king, and kissing his hand said:

"I have a favour to ask of your Majesty, and I beg you to believe that

it is in no way prompted by my husband. It is that you will allow us

both to visit my father-in-law King Schahzaman."

Sorry though the king felt at the idea of parting with his daughter, he

felt her request to be so reasonable that he could not refuse it, and

made but one condition, which was that she should only spend one year

at the court of King Schahzaman, suggesting that in future the young

couple should visit their respective parents alternately.

The princess brought this good news to her husband, who thanked her

tenderly for this fresh proof of her affection.

All preparations for the journey were now pressed forwards, and when

all was ready the king accompanied the travellers for some days, after

which he took an affectionate leave of his daughter, and charging the

prince to take every care of her, returned to his capital.

The prince and princess journeyed on, and at the end of a month reached

a huge meadow interspersed with clumps of big trees which cast a most

pleasant shade. As the heat was great, Camaralzaman thought it well to

encamp in this cool spot. Accordingly the tents were pitched, and the

princess entering hers whilst the prince was giving his further orders,

removed her girdle, which she placed beside her, and desiring her women

to leave her, lay down and was soon asleep.

When the camp was all in order the prince entered the tent and, seeing

the princess asleep, he sat down near her without speaking. His eyes

fell on the girdle which, he took up, and whilst inspecting the

precious stones set in it he noticed a little pouch sewn to the girdle

and fastened by a loop. He touched it and felt something hard within.

Curious as to what this might be, he opened the pouch and found a

cornelian engraved with various figures and strange characters.

"This cornelian must be something very precious," thought he, "or my

wife would not wear it on her person with so much care."

In truth it was a talisman which the Queen of China had given her

daughter, telling her it would ensure her happiness as long as she

carried it about her.

The better to examine the stone the prince stepped to the open doorway

of the tent. As he stood there holding it in the open palm of his

hand, a bird suddenly swooped down, picked the stone up in its beak and

flew away with it.

Imagine the prince's dismay at losing a thing by which his wife

evidently set such store!

The bird having secured its prey flew off some yards and alighted on

the ground, holding the talisman it its beak. Prince Camaralzaman

advanced, hoping the bird would drop it, but as soon as he approached

the thief fluttered on a little further still. He continued his

pursuit till the bird suddenly swallowed the stone and took a longer

flight than before. The prince then hoped to kill it with a stone, but

the more hotly he pursued the further flew the bird.

In this fashion he was led on by hill and dale through the entire day,

and when night came the tiresome creature roosted on the top of a very

high tree where it could rest in safety.

The prince in despair at all his useless trouble began to think whether

he had better return to the camp. "But," thought he, "how shall I find

my way back? Must I go up hill or down? I should certainly lose my

way in the dark, even if my strength held out." Overwhelmed by hunger,

thirst, fatigue and sleep, he ended by spending the night at the foot

of the tree.

Next morning Camaralzaman woke up before the bird left its perch, and

no sooner did it take flight than he followed it again with as little

success as the previous day, only stopping to eat some herbs and fruit

he found by the way. In this fashion he spent ten days, following the

bird all day and spending the night at the foot of a tree, whilst it

roosted on the topmost bough. On the eleventh day the bird and the

prince reached a large town, and as soon as they were close to its

walls the bird took a sudden and higher flight and was shortly

completely out of sight, whilst Camaralzaman felt in despair at having

to give up all hopes of ever recovering the talisman of the Princess

Badoura.

Much cast down, he entered the town, which was built near the sea and

had a fine harbour. He walked about the streets for a long time, not

knowing where to go, but at length as he walked near the seashore he

found a garden door open and walked in.

The gardener, a good old man, who was at work, happened to look up,

and, seeing a stranger, whom he recognised by his dress as a Mussulman,

he told him to come in at once and to shut the door.

Camaralzaman did as he was bid, and inquired why this precaution was

taken.

"Because," said the gardener, "I see that you are a stranger and a

Mussulman, and this town is almost entirely inhabited by idolaters, who

hate and persecute all of our faith. It seems almost a miracle that

has led you to this house, and I am indeed glad that you have found a

place of safety."

Camaralzaman warmly thanked the kind old man for offering him shelter,

and was about to say more, but the gardener interrupted him with:

"Leave compliments alone. You are weary and must be hungry. Come in,

eat, and rest." So saying he led the prince into his cottage, and

after satisfying his hunger begged to learn the cause of his arrival.

Camaralzaman told him all without disguise, and ended by inquiring the

shortest way to his father's capital. "For," added he, "if I tried to

rejoin the princess, how should I find her after eleven days'

separation. Perhaps, indeed, she may be no longer alive!" At this

terrible thought he burst into tears.

The gardener informed Camaralzaman that they were quite a year's land

journey to any Mahomedan country, but that there was a much shorter

route by sea to the Ebony Island, from whence the Isles of the Children

of Khaledan could be easily reached, and that a ship sailed once a year

for the Ebony Island by which he might get so far as his very home.

"If only you had arrived a few days sooner," he said, "you might have

embarked at once. As it is you must now wait till next year, but if

you care to stay with me I offer you my house, such as it is, with all

my heart."

Prince Camaralzaman thought himself lucky to find some place of refuge,

and gladly accepted the gardener's offer. He spent his days working in

the garden, and his nights thinking of and sighing for his beloved wife.

Let us now see what had become during this time of the Princess Badoura.

On first waking she was much surprised not to find the prince near her.

She called her women and asked if they knew where he was, and whilst

they were telling her that they had seen him enter the tent, but had

not noticed his leaving it, she took up her belt and perceived that the

little pouch was open and the talisman gone.

She at once concluded that her husband had taken it and would shortly

bring it back. She waited for him till evening rather impatiently, and

wondering what could have kept him from her so long. When night came

without him she felt in despair and abused the talisman and its maker

roundly. In spite of her grief and anxiety however, she did not lose

her presence of mind, but decided on a courageous, though very unusual

step.

Only the princess and her women knew of Camaralzaman's disappearance,

for the rest of the party were sleeping or resting in their tents.

Fearing some treason should the truth be known, she ordered her women

not to say a word which would give rise to any suspicion, and proceeded

to change her dress for one of her husband's, to whom, as has been

already said, she bore a strong likeness.

In this disguise she looked so like the prince that when she gave

orders next morning to break up the camp and continue the journey no

one suspected the change. She made one of her women enter her litter,

whilst she herself mounted on horseback and the march began.

After a protracted journey by land and sea the princess, still under

the name and disguise of Prince Camaralzaman, arrived at the capital of

the Ebony Island whose king was named Armanos.

No sooner did the king hear that the ship which was just in port had on

board the son of his old friend and ally than he hurried to meet the

supposed prince, and had him and his retinue brought to the palace,

where they were lodged and entertained sumptuously.

After three days, finding that his guest, to whom he had taken a great

fancy, talked of continuing his journey, King Armanos said to him:

"Prince, I am now an old man, and unfortunately I have no son to whom

to leave my kingdom. It has pleased Heaven to give me only one

daughter, who possesses such great beauty and charm that I could only

give her to a prince as highly born and as accomplished as yourself.

Instead, therefore, of returning to your own country, take my daughter

and my crown and stay with us. I shall feel that I have a worthy

successor, and shall cheerfully retire from the fatigues of government."

The king's offer was naturally rather embarrassing to the Princess

Badoura. She felt that it was equally impossible to confess that she

had deceived him, or to refuse the marriage on which he had set his

heart; a refusal which might turn all his kindness to hatred and

persecution.

All things considered, she decided to accept, and after a few moments

silence said with a blush, which the king attributed to modesty:

"Sire, I feel so great an obligation for the good opinion your Majesty

has expressed for my person and of the honour you do me, that, though I

am quite unworthy of it, I dare not refuse. But, sire, I can only

accept such an alliance if you give me your promise to assist me with

your counsels."

The marriage being thus arranged, the ceremony was fixed for the

following day, and the princess employed the intervening time in

informing the officers of her suite of what had happened, assuring them

that the Princess Badoura had given her full consent to the marriage.

She also told her women, and bade them keep her secret well.

King Armanos, delighted with the success of his plans, lost no time in

assembling his court and council, to whom he presented his successor,

and placing his future son-in-law on the throne made everyone do homage

and take oaths of allegiance to the new king.

At night the whole town was filled with rejoicings, and with much pomp

the Princess Haiatelnefous (this was the name of the king's daughter)

was conducted to the palace of the Princess Badoura.

Now Badoura had thought much of the difficulties of her first interview

with King Armanos' daughter, and she felt the only thing to do was at

once to take her into her confidence.

Accordingly, as soon as they were alone she took Haiatelnefous by the

hand and said:

"Princess, I have a secret to tell you, and must throw myself on your

mercy. I am not Prince Camaralzaman, but a princess like yourself and

his wife, and I beg you to listen to my story, then I am sure you will

forgive my imposture, in consideration of my sufferings."

She then related her whole history, and at its close Haiatelnefous

embraced her warmly, and assured her of her entire sympathy and

affection.

The two princesses now planned out their future action, and agreed to

combine to keep up the deception and to let Badoura continue to play a

man's part until such time as there might be news of the real

Camaralzaman.

Whilst these things were passing in the Ebony Island Prince

Camaralzaman continued to find shelter in the gardeners cottage in the

town of the idolaters.

Early one morning the gardener said to the prince:

"To-day is a public holiday, and the people of the town not only do not

work themselves but forbid others to do so. You had better therefore

take a good rest whilst I go to see some friends, and as the time is

near for the arrival of the ship of which I told you I will make

inquiries about it, and try to bespeak a passage for you." He then put

on his best clothes and went out, leaving the prince, who strolled into

the garden and was soon lost in thoughts of his dear wife and their sad

separation.

As he walked up and down he was suddenly disturbed in his reverie by

the noise two large birds were making in a tree.

Camaralzaman stood still and looked up, and saw that the birds were

fighting so savagely with beaks and claws that before long one fell

dead to the ground, whilst the conqueror spread his wings and flew

away. Almost immediately two other larger birds, who had been watching

the duel, flew up and alighted, one at the head and the other at the

feet of the dead bird. They stood there some time sadly shaking their

heads, and then dug up a grave with their claws in which they buried

him.

As soon as they had filled in the grave the two flew off, and ere long

returned, bringing with them the murderer, whom they held, one by a

wing and the other by a leg, with their beaks, screaming and struggling

with rage and terror. But they held tight, and having brought him to

his victim's grave, they proceeded to kill him, after which they tore

open his body, scattered the inside and once more flew away.

The prince, who had watched the whole scene with much interest, now

drew near the spot where it happened, and glancing at the dead bird he

noticed something red lying near which had evidently fallen out of its

inside. He picked it up, and what was his surprise when he recognised

the Princess Badoura's talisman which had been the cause of many

misfortunes. It would be impossible to describe his joy; he kissed the

talisman repeatedly, wrapped it up, and carefully tied it round his

arm. For the first time since his separation from the princess he had

a good night, and next morning he was up at day-break and went

cheerfully to ask what work he should do.

The gardener told him to cut down an old fruit tree which had quite

died away, and Camaralzaman took an axe and fell to vigorously. As he

was hacking at one of the roots the axe struck on something hard. On

pushing away the earth he discovered a large slab of bronze, under

which was disclosed a staircase with ten steps. He went down them and

found himself in a roomy kind of cave in which stood fifty large bronze

jars, each with a cover on it. The prince uncovered one after another,

and found them all filled with gold dust. Delighted with his discovery

he left the cave, replaced the slab, and having finished cutting down

the tree waited for the gardener's return.

The gardener had heard the night before that the ship about which he

was inquiring would start ere long, but the exact date not being yet

known he had been told to return next day for further information. He

had gone therefore to inquire, and came back with good news beaming in

his face.

"My son," said he, "rejoice and hold yourself ready to start in three

days' time. The ship is to set sail, and I have arranged all about

your passage with the captain.

"You could not bring me better news," replied Camaralzaman, "and in

return I have something pleasant to tell you. Follow me and see the

good fortune which has befallen you."

He then led the gardener to the cave, and having shown him the treasure

stored up there, said how happy it made him that Heaven should in this

way reward his kind host's many virtues and compensate him for the

privations of many years.

"What do you mean?" asked the gardener. "Do you imagine that I should

appropriate this treasure? It is yours, and I have no right whatever

to it. For the last eighty years I have dug up the ground here without

discovering anything. It is clear that these riches are intended for

you, and they are much more needed by a prince like yourself than by an

old man like me, who am near my end and require nothing. This treasure

comes just at the right time, when you are about to return to your own

country, where you will make good use of it."

But the prince would not hear of this suggestion, and finally after

much discussion they agreed to divide the gold. When this was done the

gardener said:

"My son, the great thing now is to arrange how you can best carry off

this treasure as secretly as possible for fear of losing it. There are

no olives in the Ebony Island, and those imported from here fetch a

high price. As you know, I have a good stock of the olives which grew

in this garden. Now you must take fifty jars, fill each half full of

gold dust and fill them up with the olives. We will then have them

taken on board ship when you embark."

The prince took this advice, and spent the rest of the day filling the

fifty jars, and fearing lest the precious talisman might slip from his

arm and be lost again, he took the precaution of putting it in one of

the jars, on which he made a mark so as to be able to recognise it.

When night came the jars were all ready, and the prince and his host

went to bed.

Whether in consequence of his great age, or of the fatigues and

excitement of the previous day, I do not know, but the gardener passed

a very bad night. He was worse next day, and by the morning of the

third day was dangerously ill. At daybreak the ship's captain and some

of his sailors knocked at the garden door and asked for the passenger

who was to embark.

"I am he," said Camaralzaman, who had opened the door. "The gardener

who took my passage is ill and cannot see you, but please come in and

take these jars of olives and my bag, and I will follow as soon as I

have taken leave of him."

The sailors did as he asked, and the captain before leaving charged

Camaralzaman to lose no time, as the wind was fair, and he wished to

set sail at once.

As soon as they were gone the prince returned to the cottage to bid

farewell to his old friend, and to thank him once more for all his

kindness. But the old man was at his last gasp, and had barely

murmured his confession of faith when he expired.

Camaralzaman was obliged to stay and pay him the last offices, so

having dug a grave in the garden he wrapped the kind old man up and

buried him. He then locked the door, gave up the key to the owner of

the garden, and hurried to the quay only to hear that the ship had

sailed long ago, after waiting three hours for him.

It may well be believed that the prince felt in despair at this fresh

misfortune, which obliged him to spend another year in a strange and

distasteful country. Moreover, he had once more lost the Princess

Badoura's talisman, which he feared he might never see again. There

was nothing left for him but to hire the garden as the old man had

done, and to live on in the cottage. As he could not well cultivate

the garden by himself, he engaged a lad to help him, and to secure the

rest of the treasure he put the remaining gold dust into fifty more

jars, filling them up with olives so as to have them ready for

transport.

Whilst the prince was settling down to this second year of toil and

privation, the ship made a rapid voyage and arrived safely at the Ebony

Island.

As the palace of the new king, or rather of the Princess Badoura,

overlooked the harbour, she saw the ship entering it and asked what

vessel it was coming in so gaily decked with flags, and was told that

it was a ship from the Island of the Idolaters which yearly brought

rich merchandise.

The princess, ever on the look out for any chance of news of her

beloved husband, went down to the harbour attended by some officers of

the court, and arrived just as the captain was landing. She sent for

him and asked many questions as to his country, voyage, what passengers

he had, and what his vessel was laden with. The captain answered all

her questions, and said that his passengers consisted entirely of

traders who brought rich stuffs from various countries, fine muslins,

precious stones, musk, amber, spices, drugs, olives, and many other

things.

As soon as he mentioned olives, the princess, who was very partial to

them, exclaimed:

"I will take all you have on board. Have them unloaded and we will

make our bargain at once, and tell the other merchants to let me see

all their best wares before showing them to other people."

"Sire," replied the captain, "I have on board fifty very large pots of

olives. They belong to a merchant who was left behind, as in spite of

waiting for him he delayed so long that I was obliged to set sail

without him."

"Never mind," said the princess, "unload them all the same, and we will

arrange the price."

The captain accordingly sent his boat off to the ship and it soon

returned laden with the fifty pots of olives. The princess asked what

they might be worth.

"Sire," replied the captain, "the merchant is very poor. Your Majesty

will not overpay him if you give him a thousand pieces of silver."

"In order to satisfy him and as he is so poor," said the princess, "I

will order a thousand pieces of gold to be given you, which you will be

sure to remit to him."

So saying she gave orders for the payment and returned to the palace,

having the jars carried before her. When evening came the Princess

Badoura retired to the inner part of the palace, and going to the

apartments of the Princess Haiatelnefous she had the fifty jars of

olives brought to her. She opened one to let her friend taste the

olives and to taste them herself, but great was her surprise when, on

pouring some into a dish, she found them all powdered with gold dust.

"What an adventure! how extraordinary!" she cried. Then she had the

other jars opened, and was more and more surprised to find the olives

in each jar mixed with gold dust.

But when at length her talisman was discovered in one of the jars her

emotion was so great that she fainted away. The Princess Haiatelnefous

and her women hastened to restore her, and as soon as she recovered

consciousness she covered the precious talisman with kisses.

Then, dismissing the attendants, she said to her friend:

"You will have guessed, my dear, that it was the sight of this talisman

which has moved me so deeply. This was the cause of my separation from

my dear husband, and now, I am convinced, it will be the means of our

reunion."

As soon as it was light next day the Princess Badoura sent for the

captain, and made further inquiries about the merchant who owned the

olive jars she had bought.

In reply the captain told her all he knew of the place where the young

man lived, and how, after engaging his passage, he came to be left

behind.

"If that is the case," said the princess, "you must set sail at once

and go back for him. He is a debtor of mine and must be brought here

at once, or I will confiscate all your merchandise. I shall now give

orders to have all the warehouses where your cargo is placed under the

royal seal, and they will only be opened when you have brought me the

man I ask for. Go at once and obey my orders."

The captain had no choice but to do as he was bid, so hastily

provisioning his ship he started that same evening on his return voyage.

When, after a rapid passage, he gained sight of the Island of

Idolaters, he judged it better not to enter the harbour, but casting

anchor at some distance he embarked at night in a small boat with six

active sailors and landed near Camaralzaman's cottage.

The prince was not asleep, and as he lay awake moaning over all the sad

events which had separated him from his wife, he thought he heard a

knock at the garden door. He went to open it, and was immediately

seized by the captain and sailors, who without a word of explanation

forcibly bore him off to the boat, which took them back to the ship

without loss of time. No sooner were they on board than they weighed

anchor and set sail.

Camaralzaman, who had kept silence till then, now asked the captain

(whom he had recognised) the reason for this abduction.

"Are you not a debtor of the King of the Ebony Island?" asked the

captain.

"I? Why, I never even heard of him before, and never set foot in his

kingdom!" was the answer.

"Well, you must know better than I," said the captain. "You will soon

see him now, and meantime be content where you are and have patience."

The return voyage was as prosperous as the former one, and though it

was night when the ship entered the harbour, the captain lost no time

in landing with his passenger, whom he conducted to the palace, where

he begged an audience with the king.

Directly the Princess Badoura saw the prince she recognised him in

spite of his shabby clothes. She longed to throw herself on his neck,

but restrained herself, feeling it was better for them both that she

should play her part a little longer. She therefore desired one of her

officers to take care of him and to treat him well. Next she ordered

another officer to remove the seals from the warehouse, whilst she

presented the captain with a costly diamond, and told him to keep the

thousand pieces of gold paid for the olives, as she would arrange

matters with the merchant himself.

She then returned to her private apartments, where she told the

Princess Haiatelnefous all that had happened, as well as her plans for

the future, and begged her assistance, which her friend readily

promised.

Next morning she ordered the prince to be taken to the bath and clothed

in a manner suitable to an emir or governor of a province. He was then

introduced to the council, where his good looks and grand air drew the

attention of all on him.

Princess Badoura, delighted to see him looking himself once more,

turned to the other emirs, saying:

"My lords, I introduce to you a new colleague, Camaralzaman, whom I

have known on my travels and who, I can assure you, you will find well

deserves your regard and admiration."

Camaralzaman was much surprised at hearing the king--whom he never

suspected of being a woman in disguise--asserting their acquaintance,

for he felt sure he had never seen her before. However he received all

the praises bestowed on him with becoming modesty, and prostrating

himself, said:

"Sire, I cannot find words in which to thank your Majesty for the great

honour conferred on me. I can but assure you that I will do all in my

power to prove myself worthy of it."

On leaving the council the prince was conducted to a splendid house

which had been prepared for him, where he found a full establishment

and well-filled stables at his orders. On entering his study his

steward presented him with a coffer filled with gold pieces for his

current expenses. He felt more and more puzzled by such good fortune,

and little guessed that the Princess of China was the cause of it.

After a few days the Princess Badoura promoted Camaralzaman to the post

of grand treasurer, an office which he filled with so much integrity

and benevolence as to win universal esteem.

He would now have thought himself the happiest of men had it not been

for that separation which he never ceased to bewail. He had no clue to

the mystery of his present position, for the princess, out of

compliment to the old king, had taken his name, and was generally known

as King Armanos the younger, few people remembering that on her first

arrival she went by another name.

At length the princess felt that the time had come to put an end to her

own and the prince's suspense, and having arranged all her plans with

the Princess Haiatelnefous, she informed Camaralzaman that she wished

his advice on some important business, and, to avoid being disturbed,

desired him to come to the palace that evening.

The prince was punctual, and was received in the private apartment,

when, having ordered her attendants to withdraw, the princess took from

a small box the talisman, and, handing it to Camaralzaman, said: "Not

long ago an astrologer gave me this talisman. As you are universally

well informed, you can perhaps tell me what is its use."

Camaralzaman took the talisman and, holding it to the light, cried with

surprise, "Sire, you ask me the use of this talisman. Alas! hitherto

it has been only a source of misfortune to me, being the cause of my

separation from the one I love best on earth. The story is so sad and

strange that I am sure your Majesty will be touched by it if you will

permit me to tell it you."

"I will hear it some other time," replied the princess. "Meanwhile I

fancy it is not quite unknown to me. Wait here for me. I will return

shortly."

So saying she retired to another room, where she hastily changed her

masculine attire for that of a woman, and, after putting on the girdle

she wore the day they parted, returned to Camaralzaman.

The prince recognised her at once, and, embracing her with the utmost

tenderness, cried, "Ah, how can I thank the king for this delightful

surprise?"

"Do not expect ever to see the king again," said the princess, as she

wiped the tears of joy from her eyes, "in me you see the king. Let us

sit down, and I will tell you all about it."

She then gave a full account of all her adventures since their parting,

and dwelt much on the charms and noble disposition of the Princess

Haiatelnefous, to whose friendly assistance she owed so much. When she

had done she asked to hear the prince's story, and in this manner they

spent most of the night.

Next morning the princess resumed her woman's clothes, and as soon as

she was ready she desired the chief eunuch to beg King Armanos to come

to her apartments.

When the king arrived great was his surprise at finding a strange lady

in company of the grand treasurer who had no actual right to enter the

private apartment. Seating himself he asked for the king.

"Sire," said the princess, "yesterday I was the king, to-day I am only

the Princess of China and wife to the real Prince Camaralzaman, son of

King Schahzaman, and I trust that when your Majesty shall have heard

our story you will not condemn the innocent deception I have been

obliged to practise."

The king consented to listen, and did so with marked surprise.

At the close of her narrative the princess said, "Sire, as our religion

allows a man to have more than one wife, I would beg your Majesty to

give your daughter, the Princess Haiatelnefous, in marriage to Prince

Camaralzaman. I gladly yield to her the precedence and title of Queen

in recognition of the debt of gratitude which I owe her."

King Armanos heard the princess with surprise and admiration, then,

turning to Camaralzaman, he said, "My son, as your wife, the Princess

Badoura (whom I have hitherto looked on as my son-in-law), consents to

share your hand and affections with my daughter, I have only to ask if

this marriage is agreeable to you, and if you will consent to accept

the crown which the Princess Badoura deserves to wear all her life, but

which she prefers to resign for love of you."

"Sire," replied Camaralzaman, "I can refuse your Majesty nothing."

Accordingly Camaralzaman was duly proclaimed king, and as duly married

with all pomp to the Princess Haiatelnefous, with whose beauty,

talents, and affections he had every reason to be pleased.

The two queens lived in true sisterly harmony together, and after a

time each presented King Camaralzaman with a son, whose births were

celebrated throughout the kingdom with the utmost rejoicing.

Noureddin and the Fair Persian

Balsora was the capital of a kingdom long tributary to the caliph.

During the time of the Caliph Haroun-al-Raschid the king of Balsora,

who was his cousin, was called Zinebi. Not thinking one vizir enough

for the administration of his estates he had two, named Khacan and

Saouy.

Khacan was kind, generous, and liberal, and took pleasure in obliging,

as far as in him lay, those who had business with him. Throughout the

entire kingdom there was no one who did not esteem and praise him as he

deserved.

Saouy was quite a different character, and repelled everyone with whom

he came in contact; he was always gloomy, and, in spite of his great

riches, so miserly that he denied himself even the necessaries of life.

What made him particularly detested was the great aversion he had to

Khacan, of whom he never ceased to speak evil to the king.

One day, while the king amused himself talking with his two vizirs and

other members of the council, the conversation turned on female slaves.

While some declared that it sufficed for a slave to be beautiful,

others, and Khacan was among the number, maintained that beauty alone

was not enough, but that it must be accompanied by wit, wisdom,

modesty, and, if possible, knowledge.

The king not only declared himself to be of this opinion, but charged

Khacan to procure him a slave who should fulfil all these conditions.

Saouy, who had been of the opposite side, and was jealous of the honour

done to Khacan, said, "Sire, it will be very difficult to find a slave

as accomplished as your Majesty desires, and, if she is to be found,

she will be cheap if she cost less than 10,000 gold pieces."

"Saouy," answered the king, "you seem to find that a very great sum.

For you it may be so, but not for me."

And forthwith he ordered his grand treasurer, who was present, to send

10,000 gold pieces to Khacan for the purchase of the slave.

As soon, then, as Khacan returned home he sent for the dealers in

female slaves, and charged them directly they had found such a one as

he described to inform him. They promised to do their utmost, and no

day passed that they did not bring a slave for his inspection but none

was found without some defect.

At length, early one morning, while Khacan was on his way to the king's

palace, a dealer, throwing himself in his way, announced eagerly that a

Persian merchant, arrived late the previous evening, had a slave to

sell whose wit and wisdom were equal to her incomparable beauty.

Khacan, overjoyed at this news, gave orders that the slave should be

brought for his inspection on his return from the palace. The dealer

appearing at the appointed hour, Khacan found the slave beautiful

beyond his expectations, and immediately gave her the name of "The Fair

Persian."

Being a man of great wisdom and learning, he perceived in the short

conversation he had with her that he would seek in vain another slave

to surpass her in any of the qualities required by the king, and

therefore asked the dealer what price the merchant put upon her.

"Sir," was the answer, "for less than 10,000 gold pieces he will not

let her go; he declares that, what with masters for her instruction,

and for bodily exercises, not to speak of clothing and nourishment, he

has already spent that sum upon her. She is in every way fit to be the

slave of a king; she plays every musical instrument, she sings, she

dances, she makes verses, in fact there is no accomplishment in which

she does not excel."

Khacan, who was better able to judge of her merits than the dealer,

wishing to bring the matter to a conclusion, sent for the merchant, and

said to him, "It is not for myself that I wish to buy your slave, but

for the king. Her price, however, is too high."

"Sir," replied the merchant, "I should esteem it an honour to present

her to his Majesty, did it become a merchant to do such a thing. I ask

no more than the sum it has cost me to make her such as she is."

Khacan, not wishing to bargain, immediately had the sum counted out,

and given to the merchant, who before withdrawing said:

"Sir, as she is destined for the king, I would have you observe that

she is extremely tired with the long journey, and before presenting her

to his Majesty you would do well to keep her a fortnight in your own

house, and to see that a little care is bestowed upon her. The sun has

tanned her complexion, but when she has been two or three times to the

bath, and is fittingly dressed, you will see how much her beauty will

be increased."

Khacan thanked the merchant for his advice, and determined to follow

it. He gave the beautiful Persian an apartment near to that of his

wife, whom he charged to treat her as befitting a lady destined for the

king, and to order for her the most magnificent garments.

Before bidding adieu to the fair Persian, he said to her: "No happiness

can be greater than what I have procured for you; judge for yourself,

you now belong to the king. I have, however, to warn you of one thing.

I have a son, who, though not wanting in sense, is young, foolish, and

headstrong, and I charge you to keep him at a distance."

The Persian thanked him for his advice, and promised to profit by it.

Noureddin--for so the vizir's son was named--went freely in and out of

his mother's apartments. He was young, well-made and agreeable, and

had the gift of charming all with whom he came in contact. As soon as

he saw the beautiful Persian, though aware that she was destined for

the king, he let himself be carried away by her charms, and determined

at once to use every means in his power to retain her for himself. The

Persian was equally captivated by Noureddin, and said to herself: "The

vizir does me too great honour in buying me for the king. I should

esteem myself very happy if he would give me to his son."

Noureddin availed himself of every opportunity to gaze upon her beauty,

to talk and laugh with her, and never would have left her side if his

mother had not forced him.

Some time having elapsed, on account of the long journey, since the

beautiful Persian had been to the bath, five or six days after her

purchase the vizir's wife gave orders that the bath should be heated

for her, and that her own female slaves should attend her there, and

after-wards should array her in a magnificent dress that had been

prepared for her.

Her toilet completed, the beautiful Persian came to present herself to

the vizir's wife, who hardly recognised her, so greatly was her beauty

increased. Kissing her hand, the beautiful slave said: "Madam, I do

not know how you find me in this dress that you have had prepared for

me; your women assure me that it suits me so well that they hardly knew

me. If it is the truth they tell me, and not flattery, it is to you I

owe the transformation."

"My daughter," answered the vizir's wife, "they do not flatter you. I

myself hardly recognised you. The improvement is not due to the dress

alone, but largely to the beautifying effects of the bath. I am so

struck by its results, that I would try it on myself."

Acting forthwith on this decision she ordered two little slaves during

her absence to watch over the beautiful Persian, and not to allow

Noureddin to enter should he come.

She had no sooner gone than he arrived, and not finding his mother in

her apartment, would have sought her in that of the Persian. The two

little slaves barred the entrance, saying that his mother had given

orders that he was not to be admitted. Taking each by an arm, he put

them out of the anteroom, and shut the door. Then they rushed to the

bath, informing their mistress with shrieks and tears that Noureddin

had driven them away by force and gone in.

This news caused great consternation to the lady, who, dressing herself

as quickly as possible, hastened to the apartment of the fair Persian,

to find that Noureddin had already gone out. Much astonished to see

the vizir's wife enter in tears, the Persian asked what misfortune had

happened.

"What!" exclaimed the lady, "you ask me that, knowing that my son

Noureddin has been alone with you?"

"But, madam," inquired the Persian, "what harm is there in that?"

"How! Has my husband not told you that you are destined for the king?"

"Certainly, but Noureddin has just been to tell me that his father has

changed his mind and has bestowed me upon him. I believed him, and so

great is my affection for Noureddin that I would willingly pass my life

with him."

"Would to heaven," exclaimed the wife of the vizir, "that what you say

were true; but Noureddin has deceived you, and his father will

sacrifice him in vengeance for the wrong he has done."

So saying, she wept bitterly, and all her slaves wept with her.

Khacan, entering shortly after this, was much astonished to find his

wife and her slaves in tears, and the beautiful Persian greatly

perturbed. He inquired the cause, but for some time no answer was

forthcoming. When his wife was at length sufficiently calm to inform

him of what had happened, his rage and mortification knew no bounds.

Wringing his hands and rending his beard, he exclaimed:

"Wretched son! thou destroyest not only thyself but thy father. The

king will shed not only thy blood but mine." His wife tried to console

him, saying: "Do not torment thyself. With the sale of my jewels I

will obtain 10,000 gold pieces, and with this sum you will buy another

slave."

"Do not suppose," replied her husband, "that it is the loss of the

money that affects me. My honour is at stake, and that is more

precious to me than all my wealth. You know that Saouy is my mortal

enemy. He will relate all this to the king, and you will see the

consequences that will ensue."

"My lord," said his wife, "I am quite aware of Saouy's baseness, and

that he is capable of playing you this malicious trick. But how can he

or any one else know what takes place in this house? Even if you are

suspected and the king accuses you, you have only to say that, after

examining the slave, you did not find her worthy of his Majesty.

Reassure yourself, and send to the dealers, saying that you are not

satisfied, and wish them to find you another slave."

This advice appearing reasonable, Khacan decided to follow it, but his

wrath against his son did not abate. Noureddin dared not appear all

that day, and fearing to take refuge with his usual associates in case

his father should seek him there, he spent the day in a secluded garden

where he was not known. He did not return home till after his father

had gone to bed, and went out early next morning before the vizir

awoke, and these precautions he kept up during an entire month.

His mother, though knowing very well that he returned to the house

every evening, dare not ask her husband to pardon him. At length she

took courage and said:

"My lord, I know that a son could not act more basely towards his

father than Noureddin has done towards you, but after all will you now

pardon him? Do you not consider the harm you may be doing yourself,

and fear that malicious people, seeking the cause of your estrangement,

may guess the real one?"

"Madam," replied the vizir, "what you say is very just, but I cannot

pardon Noureddin before I have mortified him as he deserves."

"He will be sufficiently punished," answered the lady, "if you do as I

suggest. In the evening, when he returns home, lie in wait for him and

pretend that you will slay him. I will come to his aid, and while

pointing out that you only yield his life at my supplications, you can

force him to take the beautiful Persian on any conditions you please."

Khacan agreed to follow this plan, and everything took place as

arranged. On Noureddin's return Khacan pretended to be about to slay

him, but yielding to his wife's intercession, said to his son:

"You owe your life to your mother. I pardon you on her intercession,

and on the conditions that you take the beautiful Persian for your

wife, and not your slave, that you never sell her, nor put her away."

Noureddin, not hoping for so great indulgence, thanked his father, and

vowed to do as he desired. Khacan was at great pains frequently to

speak to the king of the difficulties attending the commission he had

given him, but some whispers of what had actually taken place did reach

Saouy's ears.

More than a year after these events the minister took a chill, leaving

the bath while still heated to go out on important business. This

resulted in inflammation of the lungs, which rapidly increased. The

vizir, feeling that his end was at hand, sent for Noureddin, and

charged him with his dying breath never to part with the beautiful

Persian.

Shortly afterwards he expired, leaving universal regret throughout the

kingdom; rich and poor alike followed him to the grave. Noureddin

showed every mark of the deepest grief at his father's death, and for

long refused to see any one. At length a day came when, one of his

friends being admitted, urged him strongly to be consoled, and to

resume his former place in society. This advice Noureddin was not slow

to follow, and soon he formed little society of ten young men all about

his own age, with whom he spent all his time in continual feasting and

merry-making.

Sometimes the fair Persian consented to appear at these festivities,

but she disapproved of this lavish expenditure, and did not scruple to

warn Noureddin of the probable consequences. He, however, only laughed

at her advice, saying, that his father had always kept him in too great

constraint, and that now he rejoiced at his new-found liberty.

What added to the confusion in his affairs was that he refused to look

into his accounts with his steward, sending him away every time he

appeared with his book.

"See only that I live well," he said, "and do not disturb me about

anything else."

Not only did Noureddin's friends constantly partake of his hospitality,

but in every way they took advantage of his generosity; everything of

his that they admired, whether land, houses, baths, or any other source

of his revenue, he immediately bestowed on them. In vain the Persian

protested against the wrong he did himself; he continued to scatter

with the same lavish hand.

Throughout one entire year Noureddin did nothing but amuse himself, and

dissipate the wealth his father had taken such pains to acquire. The

year had barely elapsed, when one day, as they sat at table, there came

a knock at the door. The slaves having been sent away, Noureddin went

to open it himself. One of his friends had risen at the same time, but

Noureddin was before him, and finding the intruder to be the steward,

he went out and closed the door. The friend, curious to hear what

passed between them, hid himself behind the hangings, and heard the

following words:

"My lord," said the steward, "I beg a thousand pardons for interrupting

you, but what I have long foreseen has taken place. Nothing remains of

the sums you gave me for your expenses, and all other sources of income

are also at end, having been transferred by you to others. If you wish

me to remain in your service, furnish me with the necessary funds, else

I must withdraw."

So great was Noureddin's consternation that he had not a word to say in

reply.

The friend, who had been listening behind the curtain, immediately

hastened to communicate the news to the rest of the company.

"If this is so," they said, "we must cease to come here."

Noureddin re-entering at that moment, they plainly saw, in spite of his

efforts to dissemble, that what they had heard was the truth. One by

one they rose, and each with a different excuse left the room, till

presently he found himself alone, though little suspecting the

resolution his friends had taken. Then, seeing the beautiful Persian,

he confided to her the statement of the steward, with many expressions

of regret for his own carelessness.

"Had I but followed your advice, beautiful Persian," he said, "all this

would not have happened, but at least I have this consolation, that I

have spent my fortune in the company of friends who will not desert me

in an hour of need. To-morrow I will go to them, and amongst them they

will lend me a sum sufficient to start in some business."

Accordingly next morning early Noureddin went to seek his ten friends,

who all lived in the same street. Knocking at the door of the first

and chief, the slave who opened it left him to wait in a hall while he

announced his visit to his master. "Noureddin!" he heard him exclaim

quite audibly. "Tell him, every time he calls, that I am not at home."

The same thing happened at the second door, and also at the third, and

so on with all the ten. Noureddin, much mortified, recognised too late

that he had confided in false friends, who abandoned him in his hour of

need. Overwhelmed with grief, he sought consolation from the beautiful

Persian.

"Alas, my lord," she said, "at last you are convinced of the truth of

what I foretold. There is now no other resource left but to sell your

slaves and your furniture."

First then he sold the slaves, and subsisted for a time on the

proceeds, after that the furniture was sold, and as much of it was

valuable it sufficed for some time. Finally this resource also came to

an end, and again he sought counsel from the beautiful Persian.

"My lord," she said, "I know that the late vizir, your father, bought

me for 10,000 gold pieces, and though I have diminished in value since,

I should still fetch a large sum. Do not therefore hesitate to sell

me, and with the money you obtain go and establish yourself in business

in some distant town."

"Charming Persian," answered Noureddin, "how could I be guilty of such

baseness? I would die rather than part from you whom I love better

than my life."

"My lord," she replied, "I am well aware of your love for me, which is

only equalled by mine for you, but a cruel necessity obliges us to seek

the only remedy."

Noureddin, convinced at length of the truth of her words, yielded, and

reluctantly led her to the slave market, where, showing her to a dealer

named Hagi Hassan, he inquired her value.

Taking them into a room apart, Hagi Hassan exclaimed as soon as she had

unveiled, "My lord, is not this the slave your father bought for 10,000

pieces?"

On learning that it was so, he promised to obtain the highest possible

price for her. Leaving the beautiful Persian shut up in the room

alone, he went out to seek the slave merchants, announcing to them that

he had found the pearl among slaves, and asking them to come and put a

value upon her. As soon as they saw her they agreed that less than

4,000 gold pieces could not be asked. Hagi Hassan, then closing the

door upon her, began to offer her for sale--calling out: "Who will bid

4,000 gold pieces for the Persian slave?"

Before any of the merchants had bid, Saouy happened to pass that way,

and judging that it must be a slave of extraordinary beauty, rode up to

Hagi Hassan and desired to see her. Now it was not the custom to show

a slave to a private bidder, but as no one dared to disobey the vizir

his request was granted.

As soon as Saouy saw the Persian he was so struck by her beauty, that

he immediately wished to possess her, and not knowing that she belonged

to Noureddin, he desired Hagi Hassan to send for the owner and to

conclude the bargain at once.

Hagi Hassan then sought Noureddin, and told him that his slave was

going far below her value, and that if Saouy bought her he was capable

of not paying the money. "What you must do," he said, "is to pretend

that you had no real intention of selling your slave, and only swore

you would in a fit of anger against her. When I present her to Saouy

as if with your consent you must step in, and with blows begin to lead

her away."

Noureddin did as Hagi Hassan advised, to the great wrath of Saouy, who

riding straight at him endeavoured to take the beautiful Persian from

him by force. Noureddin letting her go, seized Saouy's horse by the

bridle, and, encouraged by the applause of the bystanders, dragged him

to the ground, beat him severely, and left him in the gutter streaming

with blood. Then, taking the beautiful Persian, he returned home

amidst the acclamations of the people, who detested Saouy so much that

they would neither interfere in his behalf nor allow his slaves to

protect him.

Covered from head to foot with mire and streaming with blood he rose,

and leaning on two of his slaves went straight to the palace, where he

demanded an audience of the king, to whom he related what had taken

place in these words:

"May it please your Majesty, I had gone to the slave market to buy

myself a cook. While there I heard a slave being offered for 4,000

pieces. Asking to see her, I found she was of incomparable beauty, and

was being sold by Noureddin, the son of your late vizir, to whom your

Majesty will remember giving a sum of 10,000 gold pieces for the

purchase of a slave. This is the identical slave, whom instead of

bringing to your Majesty he gave to his own son. Since the death of

his father this Noureddin has run through his entire fortune, has sold

all his possessions, and is now reduced to selling the slave. Calling

him to me, I said: "Noureddin, I will give you 10,000 gold pieces for

your slave, whom I will present to the king. I will interest him at

the same time in your behalf, and this will be worth much more to you

than what extra money you might obtain from the merchants." "Bad old

man," he exclaimed, "rather than sell my slave to you I would give her

to a Jew." "But, Noureddin," I remonstrated, "you do not consider that

in speaking thus you wrong the king, to whom your father owed

everything." This remonstrance only irritated him the more. Throwing

himself on me like a madman, he tore me from my horse, beat me to his

heart's content, and left me in the state your Majesty sees."

So saying Saouy turned aside his head and wept bitterly.

The king's wrath was kindled against Noureddin. He ordered the captain

of the guard to take with him forty men, to pillage Noureddin's house,

to rase it to the ground, and to bring Noureddin and the slave to him.

A doorkeeper, named Sangiar, who had been a slave of Khacan's, hearing

this order given, slipped out of the king's apartment, and hastened to

warn Noureddin to take flight instantly with the beautiful Persian.

Then, presenting him with forty gold pieces, he disappeared before

Noureddin had time to thank him.

As soon, then, as the fair Persian had put on her veil they fled

together, and had the good fortune to get out of the town without being

observed. At the mouth of the Euphrates they found a ship just about

to start for Bagdad. They embarked, and immediately the anchor was

raised and they set sail.

When the captain of the guard reached Noureddin's house he caused his

soldiers to burst open the door and to enter by force, but no trace was

to be found of Noureddin and his slave, nor could the neighbours give

any information about them. When the king heard that they had escaped,

he issued a proclamation that a reward of 1,000 gold pieces would be

given to whoever would bring him Noureddin and the slave, but that, on

the contrary, whoever hid them would be severely punished. Meanwhile

Noureddin and the fair Persian had safely reached Bagdad. When the

vessel had come to an anchor they paid five gold pieces for their

passage and went ashore. Never having been in Bagdad before, they did

not know where to seek a lodging. Wandering along the banks of the

Tigris, they skirted a garden enclosed by a high wall. The gate was

shut, but in front of it was an open vestibule with a sofa on either

side. "Here," said Noureddin, "let us pass the night," and reclining

on the sofas they soon fell asleep.

Now this garden belonged to the Caliph. In the middle of it was a vast

pavilion, whose superb saloon had eighty windows, each window having a

lustre, lit solely when the Caliph spent the evening there. Only the

door-keeper lived there, an old soldier named Scheih Ibrahim, who had

strict orders to be very careful whom he admitted, and never to allow

any one to sit on the sofas by the door. It happened that evening that

he had gone out on an errand. When he came back and saw two persons

asleep on the sofas he was about to drive them out with blows, but

drawing nearer he perceived that they were a handsome young man and

beautiful young woman, and decided to awake them by gentler means.

Noureddin, on being awoke, told the old man that they were strangers,

and merely wished to pass the night there. "Come with me," said Scheih

Ibrahim, "I will lodge you better, and will show you a magnificent

garden belonging to me." So saying the doorkeeper led the way into the

Caliph's garden, the beauties of which filled them with wonder and

amazement. Noureddin took out two gold pieces, and giving them to

Scheih Ibrahim said,

"I beg you to get us something to eat that we may make merry together."

Being very avaricious, Scheih Ibrahim determined to spend only the

tenth part of the money and to keep the rest to himself. While he was

gone Noureddin and the Persian wandered through the gardens and went up

the white marble staircase of the pavilion as far as the locked door of

the saloon. On the return of Scheih Ibrahim they begged him to open

it, and to allow them to enter and admire the magnificence within.

Consenting, he brought not only the key, but a light, and immediately

unlocked the door. Noureddin and the Persian entering, were dazzled

with the magnificence they beheld. The paintings and furniture were of

astonishing beauty, and between each window was a silver arm holding a

candle.

Scheih Ibrahim spread the table in front of a sofa, and all three ate

together. When they had finished eating Noureddin asked the old man to

bring them a bottle of wine.

"Heaven forbid," said Scheih Ibrahim, "that I should come in contact

with wine! I who have four times made the pilgrimage to Mecca, and

have renounced wine for ever."

"You would, however, do us a great service in procuring us some," said

Noureddin. "You need not touch it yourself. Take the ass which is

tied to the gate, lead it to the nearest wine-shop, and ask some

passer-by to order two jars of wine; have them put in the ass's

panniers, and drive him before you. Here are two pieces of gold for

the expenses."

At sight of the gold, Scheih Ibrahim set off at once to execute the

commission. On his return, Noureddin said: "We have still need of

cups to drink from, and of fruit, if you can procure us some." Scheih

Ibrahim disappeared again, and soon returned with a table spread with

cups of gold and silver, and every sort of beautiful fruit. Then he

withdrew, in spite of repeated invitations to remain.

Noureddin and the beautiful Persian, finding the wine excellent, drank

of it freely, and while drinking they sang. Both had fine voices, and

Scheih Ibrahim listened to them with great pleasure--first from a

distance, then he drew nearer, and finally put his head in at the door.

Noureddin, seeing him, called to him to come in and keep them company.

At first the old man declined, but was persuaded to enter the room, to

sit down on the edge of the sofa nearest the door, and at last to draw

closer and to seat himself by the beautiful Persian, who urged him so

persistently to drink her health that at length he yielded, and took

the cup she offered.

Now the old man only made a pretence of renouncing wine; he frequented

wine-shops like other people, and had taken none of the precautions

Noureddin had proposed. Having once yielded, he was easily persuaded

to take a second cup, and a third, and so on till he no longer knew

what he was doing. Till near midnight they continued drinking,

laughing, and singing together.

About that time the Persian, perceiving that the room was lit by only

one miserable tallow candle, asked Scheih Ibrahim to light some of the

beautiful candles in the silver arms.

"Light them yourself," answered the old man; "you are younger than I,

but let five or six be enough."

She did not stop, however, till she had lit all the eighty, but Scheih

Ibrahim was not conscious of this, and when, soon after that, Noureddin

proposed to have some of the lustres lit, he answered:

"You are more capable of lighting them than I, but not more than three."

Noureddin, far from contenting himself with three, lit all, and opened

all the eighty windows.

The Caliph Haroun-al-Raschid, chancing at that moment to open a window

in the saloon of his palace looking on the garden, was surprised to see

the pavilion brilliantly illuminated. Calling the grand-vizir, Giafar,

he said to him:

"Negligent vizir, look at the pavilion, and tell me why it is lit up

when I am not there."

When the vizir saw that it was as the Caliph said, he trembled with

fear, and immediately invented an excuse.

"Commander of the Faithful," he said, "I must tell you that four or

five days ago Scheih Ibrahim told me that he wished to have an assembly

of the ministers of his mosque, and asked permission to hold it in the

pavilion. I granted his request, but forgot since to mention it to

your Majesty."

"Giafar," replied the Caliph, "you have committed three faults--first,

in giving the permission; second, in not mentioning it to me; and

third, in not investigating the matter more closely. For punishment I

condemn you to spend the rest of the night with me in company of these

worthy people. While I dress myself as a citizen, go and disguise

yourself, and then come with me."

When they reached the garden gate they found it open, to the great

indignation of the Caliph. The door of the pavilion being also open,

he went softly upstairs, and looked in at the half-closed door of the

saloon. Great was his surprise to see Scheih Ibrahim, whose sobriety

he had never doubted, drinking and singing with a young man and a

beautiful lady. The Caliph, before giving way to his anger, determined

to watch and see who the people were and what they did.

Presently Scheih Ibrahim asked the beautiful Persian if anything were

wanting to complete her enjoyment of the evening.

"If only," she said, "I had an instrument upon which I might play."

Scheih Ibrahim immediately took a lute from a cup-board and gave it to

the Persian, who began to play on it, singing the while with such skill

and taste that the Caliph was enchanted. When she ceased he went

softly downstairs and said to the vizir:

"Never have I heard a finer voice, nor the lute better played. I am

determined to go in and make her play to me."

"Commander of the Faithful," said the vizir, "if Scheih Ibrahim

recognises you he will die of fright."

"I should be sorry for that," answered the Caliph, "and I am going to

take steps to prevent it. Wait here till I return."

Now the Caliph had caused a bend in the river to form a lake in his

garden. There the finest fish in the Tigris were to be found, but

fishing was strictly forbidden. It happened that night, however, that

a fisherman had taken advantage of the gate being open to go in and

cast his nets. He was just about to draw them when he saw the Caliph

approaching. Recognising him at once in spite of his disguise, he

threw himself at his feet imploring forgiveness.

"Fear nothing," said the Caliph, "only rise up and draw thy nets."

The fisherman did as he was told, and produced five or six fine fish,

of which the Caliph took the two largest. Then he desired the

fisherman to change clothes with him, and in a few minutes the Caliph

was transformed into a fisherman, even to the shoes and the turban.

Taking the two fish in his hand, he returned to the vizir, who, not

recognising him, would have sent him about his business. Leaving the

vizir at the foot of the stairs, the Caliph went up and knocked at the

door of the saloon. Noureddin opened it, and the Caliph, standing on

the threshold, said:

"Scheih Ibrahim, I am the fisher Kerim. Seeing that you are feasting

with your friends, I bring you these fish."

Noureddin and the Persian said that when the fishes were properly

cooked and dressed they would gladly eat of them. The Caliph then

returned to the vizir, and they set to work in Scheih Ibrahim's house

to cook the fish, of which they made so tempting a dish that Noureddin

and the fair Persian ate of it with great relish. When they had

finished Noureddin took thirty gold pieces (all that remained of what

Sangiar had given him) and presented them to the Caliph, who, thanking

him, asked as a further favour if the lady would play him one piece on

the lute. The Persian gladly consented, and sang and played so as to

delight the Caliph.

Noureddin, in the habit of giving to others whatever they admired,

said, "Fisherman, as she pleases you so much, take her; she is yours."

The fair Persian, astounded that he should wish to part from her, took

her lute, and with tears in her eyes sang her reproaches to its music.

The Caliph (still in the character of fisherman) said to him, "Sir, I

perceive that this fair lady is your slave. Oblige me, I beg you, by

relating your history."

Noureddin willingly granted this request, and recounted everything from

the purchase of the slave down to the present moment.

"And where do you go now?" asked the Caliph.

"Wherever the hand of Allah leads me," said Noureddin.

"Then, if you will listen to me," said the Caliph, "you will

immediately return to Balsora. I will give you a letter to the king,

which will ensure you a good reception from him."

"It is an unheard-of thing," said Noureddin, "that a fisherman should

be in correspondence with a king."

"Let not that astonish you," answered the Caliph; "we studied together,

and have always remained the best of friends, though fortune, while

making him a king, left me a humble fisherman."

The Caliph then took a sheet of paper, and wrote the following letter,

at the top of which he put in very small characters this formula to

show that he must be implicitly obeyed:--"In the name of the Most

Merciful God.

"Letter of the Caliph Haroun-al-Raschid to the King of Balsora.

"Haroun-al-Raschid, son of Mahdi, sends this letter to Mohammed Zinebi,

his cousin. As soon as Noureddin, son of the Vizir Khacan, bearer of

this letter, has given it to thee, and thou hast read it, take off thy

royal mantle, put it on his shoulders, and seat him in thy place

without fail. Farewell."

The Caliph then gave this letter to Noureddin, who immediately set off,

with only what little money he possessed when Sangiar came to his

assistance. The beautiful Persian, inconsolable at his departure, sank

on a sofa bathed in tears.

When Noureddin had left the room, Scheih Ibrahim, who had hitherto kept

silence, said: "Kerim, for two miserable fish thou hast received a

purse and a slave. I tell thee I will take the slave, and as to the

purse, if it contains silver thou mayst keep one piece, if gold then I

will take all and give thee what copper pieces I have in my purse."

Now here it must be related that when the Caliph went upstairs with the

plate of fish he ordered the vizir to hasten to the palace and bring

back four slaves bearing a change of raiment, who should wait outside

the pavilion till the Caliph should clap his hands.

Still personating the fisherman, the Caliph answered: "Scheih Ibrahim,

whatever is in the purse I will share equally with you, but as to the

slave I will keep her for myself. If you do not agree to these

conditions you shall have nothing."

The old man, furious at this insolence as he considered it, took a cup

and threw it at the Caliph, who easily avoided a missile from the hand

of a drunken man. It hit against the wall, and broke into a thousand

pieces. Scheih Ibrahim, still more enraged, then went out to fetch a

stick. The Caliph at that moment clapped his hands, and the vizir and

the four slaves entering took off the fisherman's dress and put on him

that which they had brought.

When Scheih Ibrahim returned, a thick stick in his hand, the Caliph was

seated on his throne, and nothing remained of the fisherman but his

clothes in the middle of the room. Throwing himself on the ground at

the Caliph's feet, he said: "Commander of the Faithful, your miserable

slave has offended you, and craves forgiveness."

The Caliph came down from his throne, and said: "Rise, I forgive

thee." Then turning to the Persian he said: "Fair lady, now you know

who I am; learn also that I have sent Noureddin to Balsora to be king,

and as soon as all necessary preparations are made I will send you

there to be queen. Meanwhile I will give you an apartment in my

palace, where you will be treated with all honour."

At this the beautiful Persian took courage, and the Caliph was as good

as his word, recommending her to the care of his wife Zobeida.

Noureddin made all haste on his journey to Balsora, and on his arrival

there went straight to the palace of the king, of whom he demanded an

audience. It was immediately granted, and holding the letter high

above his head he forced his way through the crowd. While the king

read the letter he changed colour. He would instantly have executed

the Caliph's order, but first he showed the letter to Saouy, whose

interests were equally at stake with his own. Pretending that he

wished to read it a second time, Saouy turned aside as if to seek a

better light; unperceived by anyone he tore off the formula from the

top of the letter, put it to his mouth, and swallowed it. Then,

turning to the king, he said:

"Your majesty has no need to obey this letter. The writing is indeed

that of the Caliph, but the formula is absent. Besides, he has not

sent an express with the patent, without which the letter is useless.

Leave all to me, and I will take the consequences."

The king not only listened to the persuasions of Saouy, but gave

Noureddin into his hands. Such a severe bastinado was first

administered to him, that he was left more dead than alive; then Saouy

threw him into the darkest and deepest dungeon, and fed him only on

bread and water. After ten days Saouy determined to put an end to

Noureddin's life, but dared not without the king's authority. To gain

this end, he loaded several of his own slaves with rich gifts, and

presented himself at their head to the king, saying that they were from

the new king on his coronation.

"What!" said the king; "is that wretch still alive? Go and behead him

at once. I authorise you."

"Sire," said Saouy, "I thank your Majesty for the justice you do me. I

would further beg, as Noureddin publicly affronted me, that the

execution might be in front of the palace, and that it might be

proclaimed throughout the city, so that no one may be ignorant of it."

The king granted these requests, and the announcement caused universal

grief, for the memory of Noureddin's father was still fresh in the

hearts of his people. Saouy, accompanied by twenty of his own slaves,

went to the prison to fetch Noureddin, whom he mounted on a wretched

horse without a saddle. Arrived at the palace, Saouy went in to the

king, leaving Noureddin in the square, hemmed in not only by Saouy's

slaves but by the royal guard, who had great difficulty in preventing

the people from rushing in and rescuing Noureddin. So great was the

indignation against Saouy that if anyone had set the example he would

have been stoned on his way through the streets. Saouy, who witnessed

the agitation of the people from the windows of the king's privy

chambers, called to the executioner to strike at once. The king,

however, ordered him to delay; not only was he jealous of Saouy's

interference, but he had another reason. A troop of horsemen was seen

at that moment riding at full gallop towards the square. Saouy

suspected who they might be, and urged the king to give the signal for

the execution without delay, but this the king refused to do till he

knew who the horsemen were.

Now, they were the vizir Giafar and his suite arriving at full speed

from Bagdad. For several days after Noureddin's departure with the

letter the Caliph had forgotten to send the express with the patent,

without which the letter was useless. Hearing a beautiful voice one

day in the women's part of the palace uttering lamentations, he was

informed that it was the voice of the fair Persian, and suddenly

calling to mind the patent, he sent for Giafar, and ordered him to make

for Balsora with the utmost speed--if Noureddin were dead, to hang

Saouy; if he were still alive, to bring him at once to Bagdad along

with the king and Saouy.

Giafar rode at full speed through the square, and alighted at the steps

of the palace, where the king came to greet him. The vizir's first

question was whether Noureddin were still alive. The king replied that

he was, and he was immediately led forth, though bound hand and foot.

By the vizir's orders his bonds were immediately undone, and Saouy was

tied with the same cords. Next day Giafar returned to Bagdad, bearing

with him the king, Saouy, and Noureddin.

When the Caliph heard what treatment Noureddin had received, he

authorised him to behead Saouy with his own hands, but he declined to

shed the blood of his enemy, who was forthwith handed over to the

executioner. The Caliph also desired Noureddin to reign over Balsora,

but this, too, he declined, saying that after what had passed there he

preferred never to return, but to enter the service of the Caliph. He

became one of his most intimate courtiers, and lived long in great

happiness with the fair Persian. As to the king, the Caliph contented

himself with sending him back to Balsora, with the recommendation to be

more careful in future in the choice of his vizir.

Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp

There once lived a poor tailor, who had a son called Aladdin, a

careless, idle boy who would do nothing but play all day long in the

streets with little idle boys like himself. This so grieved the father

that he died; yet, in spite of his mother's tears and prayers, Aladdin

did not mend his ways. One day, when he was playing in the streets as

usual, a stranger asked him his age, and if he were not the son of

Mustapha the tailor.

"I am, sir," replied Aladdin; "but he died a long while ago."

On this the stranger, who was a famous African magician, fell on his

neck and kissed him, saying: "I am your uncle, and knew you from your

likeness to my brother. Go to your mother and tell her I am coming."

Aladdin ran home, and told his mother of his newly found uncle.

"Indeed, child," she said, "your father had a brother, but I always

thought he was dead."

However, she prepared supper, and bade Aladdin seek his uncle, who came

laden with wine and fruit. He presently fell down and kissed the place

where Mustapha used to sit, bidding Aladdin's mother not to be

surprised at not having seen him before, as he had been forty years out

of the country. He then turned to Aladdin, and asked him his trade, at

which the boy hung his head, while his mother burst into tears. On

learning that Aladdin was idle and would learn no trade, he offered to

take a shop for him and stock it with merchandise. Next day he bought

Aladdin a fine suit of clothes, and took him all over the city, showing

him the sights, and brought him home at nightfall to his mother, who

was overjoyed to see her son so fine.

Next day the magician led Aladdin into some beautiful gardens a long

way outside the city gates. They sat down by a fountain, and the

magician pulled a cake from his girdle, which he divided between them.

They then journeyed onwards till they almost reached the mountains.

Aladdin was so tired that he begged to go back, but the magician

beguiled him with pleasant stories, and led him on in spite of himself.

At last they came to two mountains divided by a narrow valley.

"We will go no farther," said the false uncle. "I will show you

something wonderful; only do you gather up sticks while I kindle a

fire."

When it was lit the magician threw on it a powder he had about him, at

the same time saying some magical words. The earth trembled a little

and opened in front of them, disclosing a square flat stone with a

brass ring in the middle to raise it by. Aladdin tried to run away,

but the magician caught him and gave him a blow that knocked him down.

"What have I done, uncle?" he said piteously; whereupon the magician

said more kindly: "Fear nothing, but obey me. Beneath this stone lies

a treasure which is to be yours, and no one else may touch it, so you

must do exactly as I tell you."

At the word treasure, Aladdin forgot his fears, and grasped the ring as

he was told, saying the names of his father and grandfather. The stone

came up quite easily and some steps appeared.

"Go down," said the magician; "at the foot of those steps you will find

an open door leading into three large halls. Tuck up your gown and go

through them without touching anything, or you will die instantly.

These halls lead into a garden of fine fruit trees. Walk on till you

come to a niche in a terrace where stands a lighted lamp. Pour out the

oil it contains and bring it to me."

He drew a ring from his finger and gave it to Aladdin, bidding him

prosper.

Aladdin found everything as the magician had said, gathered some fruit

off the trees, and, having got the lamp, arrived at the mouth of the

cave. The magician cried out in a great hurry:

"Make haste and give me the lamp." This Aladdin refused to do until he

was out of the cave. The magician flew into a terrible passion, and

throwing some more powder on the fire, he said something, and the stone

rolled back into its place.

The magician left Persia for ever, which plainly showed that he was no

uncle of Aladdin's, but a cunning magician who had read in his magic

books of a wonderful lamp, which would make him the most powerful man

in the world. Though he alone knew where to find it, he could only

receive it from the hand of another. He had picked out the foolish

Aladdin for this purpose, intending to get the lamp and kill him

afterwards.

For two days Aladdin remained in the dark, crying and lamenting. At

last he clasped his hands in prayer, and in so doing rubbed the ring,

which the magician had forgotten to take from him. Immediately an

enormous and frightful genie rose out of the earth, saying:

"What wouldst thou with me? I am the Slave of the Ring, and will obey

thee in all things."

Aladdin fearlessly replied: "Deliver me from this place!" whereupon

the earth opened, and he found himself outside. As soon as his eyes

could bear the light he went home, but fainted on the threshold. When

he came to himself he told his mother what had passed, and showed her

the lamp and the fruits he had gathered in the garden, which were in

reality precious stones. He then asked for some food.

"Alas! child," she said, "I have nothing in the house, but I have spun

a little cotton and will go and sell it."

Aladdin bade her keep her cotton, for he would sell the lamp instead.

As it was very dirty she began to rub it, that it might fetch a higher

price. Instantly a hideous genie appeared, and asked what she would

have. She fainted away, but Aladdin, snatching the lamp, said boldly:

"Fetch me something to eat!"

The genie returned with a silver bowl, twelve silver plates containing

rich meats, two silver cups, and two bottles of wine. Aladdin's

mother, when she came to herself, said:

"Whence comes this splendid feast?"

"Ask not, but eat," replied Aladdin.

So they sat at breakfast till it was dinner-time, and Aladdin told his

mother about the lamp. She begged him to sell it, and have nothing to

do with devils.

"No," said Aladdin, "since chance has made us aware of its virtues, we

will use it and the ring likewise, which I shall always wear on my

finger." When they had eaten all the genie had brought, Aladdin sold

one of the silver plates, and so on till none were left. He then had

recourse to the genie, who gave him another set of plates, and thus

they lived for many years.

One day Aladdin heard an order from the Sultan proclaimed that everyone

was to stay at home and close his shutters while the princess, his

daughter, went to and from the bath. Aladdin was seized by a desire to

see her face, which was very difficult, as she always went veiled. He

hid himself behind the door of the bath, and peeped through a chink.

The princess lifted her veil as she went in, and looked so beautiful

that Aladdin fell in love with her at first sight. He went home so

changed that his mother was frightened. He told her he loved the

princess so deeply that he could not live without her, and meant to ask

her in marriage of her father. His mother, on hearing this, burst out

laughing, but Aladdin at last prevailed upon her to go before the

Sultan and carry his request. She fetched a napkin and laid in it the

magic fruits from the enchanted garden, which sparkled and shone like

the most beautiful jewels. She took these with her to please the

Sultan, and set out, trusting in the lamp. The grand-vizir and the

lords of council had just gone in as she entered the hall and placed

herself in front of the Sultan. He, however, took no notice of her.

She went every day for a week, and stood in the same place.

When the council broke up on the sixth day the Sultan said to his

vizir: "I see a certain woman in the audience-chamber every day

carrying something in a napkin. Call her next time, that I may find

out what she wants."

Next day, at a sign from the vizir, she went up to the foot of the

throne, and remained kneeling till the Sultan said to her: "Rise, good

woman, and tell me what you want."

She hesitated, so the Sultan sent away all but the vizir, and bade her

speak freely, promising to forgive her beforehand for anything she

might say. She then told him of her son's violent love for the

princess.

"I prayed him to forget her," she said, "but in vain; he threatened to

do some desperate deed if I refused to go and ask your Majesty for the

hand of the princess. Now I pray you to forgive not me alone, but my

son Aladdin."

The Sultan asked her kindly what she had in the napkin, whereupon she

unfolded the jewels and presented them.

He was thunderstruck, and turning to the vizir said: "What sayest

thou? Ought I not to bestow the princess on one who values her at such

a price?"

The vizir, who wanted her for his own son, begged the Sultan to

withhold her for three months, in the course of which he hoped his son

would contrive to make him a richer present. The Sultan granted this,

and told Aladdin's mother that, though he consented to the marriage,

she must not appear before him again for three months.

Aladdin waited patiently for nearly three months, but after two had

elapsed his mother, going into the city to buy oil, found everyone

rejoicing, and asked what was going on.

"Do you not know," was the answer, "that the son of the grand-vizir is

to marry the Sultan's daughter to-night?"

Breathless, she ran and told Aladdin, who was overwhelmed at first, but

presently bethought him of the lamp. He rubbed it, and the genie

appeared, saying: "What is thy will?"

Aladdin replied: "The Sultan, as thou knowest, has broken his promise

to me, and the vizir's son is to have the princess. My command is that

to-night you bring hither the bride and bridegroom."

"Master, I obey," said the genie.

Aladdin then went to his chamber, where, sure enough at midnight the

genie transported the bed containing the vizir's son and the princess.

"Take this new-married man," he said, "and put him outside in the cold,

and return at daybreak."

Whereupon the genie took the vizir's son out of bed, leaving Aladdin

with the princess.

"Fear nothing," Aladdin said to her; "you are my wife, promised to me

by your unjust father, and no harm shall come to you."

The princess was too frightened to speak, and passed the most miserable

night of her life, while Aladdin lay down beside her and slept soundly.

At the appointed hour the genie fetched in the shivering bridegroom,

laid him in his place, and transported the bed back to the palace.

Presently the Sultan came to wish his daughter good-morning. The

unhappy vizir's son jumped up and hid himself, while the princess would

not say a word, and was very sorrowful.

The Sultan sent her mother to her, who said: "How comes it, child,

that you will not speak to your father? What has happened?"

The princess sighed deeply, and at last told her mother how, during the

night, the bed had been carried into some strange house, and what had

passed there. Her mother did not believe her in the least, but bade

her rise and consider it an idle dream.

The following night exactly the same thing happened, and next morning,

on the princess's refusing to speak, the Sultan threatened to cut off

her head. She then confessed all, bidding him ask the vizir's son if

it were not so. The Sultan told the vizir to ask his son, who owned

the truth, adding that, dearly as he loved the princess, he had rather

die than go through another such fearful night, and wished to be

separated from her. His wish was granted, and there was an end of

feasting and rejoicing.

When the three months were over, Aladdin sent his mother to remind the

Sultan of his promise. She stood in the same place as before, and the

Sultan, who had forgotten Aladdin, at once remembered him, and sent for

her. On seeing her poverty the Sultan felt less inclined than ever to

keep his word, and asked the vizir's advice, who counselled him to set

so high a value on the princess that no man living could come up to it.

The Sultan then turned to Aladdin's mother, saying: "Good woman, a

Sultan must remember his promises, and I will remember mine, but your

son must first send me forty basins of gold brimful of jewels, carried

by forty black slaves, led by as many white ones, splendidly dressed.

Tell him that I await his answer." The mother of Aladdin bowed low and

went home, thinking all was lost.

She gave Aladdin the message, adding: "He may wait long enough for

your answer!"

"Not so long, mother, as you think," her son replied "I would do a

great deal more than that for the princess."

He summoned the genie, and in a few moments the eighty slaves arrived,

and filled up the small house and garden.

Aladdin made them set out to the palace, two and two, followed by his

mother. They were so richly dressed, with such splendid jewels in

their girdles, that everyone crowded to see them and the basins of gold

they carried on their heads.

They entered the palace, and, after kneeling before the Sultan, stood

in a half-circle round the throne with their arms crossed, while

Aladdin's mother presented them to the Sultan.

He hesitated no longer, but said: "Good woman, return and tell your

son that I wait for him with open arms."

She lost no time in telling Aladdin, bidding him make haste. But

Aladdin first called the genie.

"I want a scented bath," he said, "a richly embroidered habit, a horse

surpassing the Sultan's, and twenty slaves to attend me. Besides this,

six slaves, beautifully dressed, to wait on my mother; and lastly, ten

thousand pieces of gold in ten purses."

No sooner said than done. Aladdin mounted his horse and passed through

the streets, the slaves strewing gold as they went. Those who had

played with him in his childhood knew him not, he had grown so handsome.

When the Sultan saw him he came down from his throne, embraced him, and

led him into a hall where a feast was spread, intending to marry him to

the princess that very day.

But Aladdin refused, saying, "I must build a palace fit for her," and

took his leave.

Once home he said to the genie: "Build me a palace of the finest

marble, set with jasper, agate, and other precious stones. In the

middle you shall build me a large hall with a dome, its four walls of

massy gold and silver, each side having six windows, whose lattices,

all except one, which is to be left unfinished, must be set with

diamonds and rubies. There must be stables and horses and grooms and

slaves; go and see about it!"

The palace was finished by next day, and the genie carried him there

and showed him all his orders faithfully carried out, even to the

laying of a velvet carpet from Aladdin's palace to the Sultan's.

Aladdin's mother then dressed herself carefully, and walked to the

palace with her slaves, while he followed her on horseback. The Sultan

sent musicians with trumpets and cymbals to meet them, so that the air

resounded with music and cheers. She was taken to the princess, who

saluted her and treated her with great honour. At night the princess

said good-bye to her father, and set out on the carpet for Aladdin's

palace, with his mother at her side, and followed by the hundred

slaves. She was charmed at the sight of Aladdin, who ran to receive

her.

"Princess," he said, "blame your beauty for my boldness if I have

displeased you."

She told him that, having seen him, she willingly obeyed her father in

this matter. After the wedding had taken place Aladdin led her into

the hall, where a feast was spread, and she supped with him, after

which they danced till midnight.

Next day Aladdin invited the Sultan to see the palace. On entering the

hall with the four-and-twenty windows, with their rubies, diamonds, and

emeralds, he cried:

"It is a world's wonder! There is only one thing that surprises me.

Was it by accident that one window was left unfinished?"

"No, sir, by design," returned Aladdin. "I wished your Majesty to have

the glory of finishing this palace."

The Sultan was pleased, and sent for the best jewelers in the city. He

showed them the unfinished window, and bade them fit it up like the

others.

"Sir," replied their spokesman, "we cannot find jewels enough."

The Sultan had his own fetched, which they soon used, but to no

purpose, for in a month's time the work was not half done. Aladdin,

knowing that their task was vain, bade them undo their work and carry

the jewels back, and the genie finished the window at his command. The

Sultan was surprised to receive his jewels again and visited Aladdin,

who showed him the window finished. The Sultan embraced him, the

envious vizir meanwhile hinting that it was the work of enchantment.

Aladdin had won the hearts of the people by his gentle bearing. He was

made captain of the Sultan's armies, and won several battles for him,

but remained modest and courteous as before, and lived thus in peace

and content for several years.

But far away in Africa the magician remembered Aladdin, and by his

magic arts discovered that Aladdin, instead of perishing miserably in

the cave, had escaped, and had married a princess, with whom he was

living in great honour and wealth. He knew that the poor tailor's son

could only have accomplished this by means of the lamp, and travelled

night and day till he reached the capital of China, bent on Aladdin's

ruin. As he passed through the town he heard people talking everywhere

about a marvellous palace.

"Forgive my ignorance," he asked, "what is this palace you speak of?"

"Have you not heard of Prince Aladdin's palace," was the reply, "the

greatest wonder of the world? I will direct you if you have a mind to

see it."

The magician thanked him who spoke, and having seen the palace knew

that it had been raised by the genie of the lamp, and became half mad

with rage. He determined to get hold of the lamp, and again plunge

Aladdin into the deepest poverty.

Unluckily, Aladdin had gone a-hunting for eight days, which gave the

magician plenty of time. He bought a dozen copper lamps, put them into

a basket, and went to the palace, crying: "New lamps for old!"

followed by a jeering crowd.

The princess, sitting in the hall of four-and-twenty windows, sent a

slave to find out what the noise was about, who came back laughing, so

that the princess scolded her.

"Madam," replied the slave, "who can help laughing to see an old fool

offering to exchange fine new lamps for old ones?"

Another slave, hearing this, said: "There is an old one on the cornice

there which he can have."

Now this was the magic lamp, which Aladdin had left there, as he could

not take it out hunting with him. The princess, not knowing its value,

laughingly bade the slave take it and make the exchange.

She went and said to the magician: "Give me a new lamp for this."

He snatched it and bade the slave take her choice, amid the jeers of

the crowd. Little he cared, but left off crying his lamps, and went

out of the city gates to a lonely place, where he remained till

nightfall, when he pulled out the lamp and rubbed it. The genie

appeared, and at the magician's command carried him, together with the

palace and the princess in it, to a lonely place in Africa.

Next morning the Sultan looked out of the window towards Aladdin's

palace and rubbed his eyes, for it was gone. He sent for the vizir,

and asked what had become of the palace. The vizir looked out too, and

was lost in astonishment. He again put it down to enchantment, and

this time the Sultan believed him, and sent thirty men on horseback to

fetch Aladdin in chains. They met him riding home, bound him, and

forced him to go with them on foot. The people, however, who loved

him, followed, armed, to see that he came to no harm. He was carried

before the Sultan, who ordered the executioner to cut off his head.

The executioner made Aladdin kneel down, bandaged his eyes, and raised

his scimitar to strike.

At that instant the vizir, who saw that the crowd had forced their way

into the courtyard and were scaling the walls to rescue Aladdin, called

to the executioner to stay his hand. The people, indeed, looked so

threatening that the Sultan gave way and ordered Aladdin to be unbound,

and pardoned him in the sight of the crowd.

Aladdin now begged to know what he had done.

"False wretch!" said the Sultan, "come hither," and showed him from the

window the place where his palace had stood.

Aladdin was so amazed that he could not say a word.

"Where is my palace and my daughter?" demanded the Sultan. "For the

first I am not so deeply concerned, but my daughter I must have, and

you must find her or lose your head."

Aladdin begged for forty days in which to find her, promising if he

failed to return and suffer death at the Sultan's pleasure. His prayer

was granted, and he went forth sadly from the Sultan's presence. For

three days he wandered about like a madman, asking everyone what had

become of his palace, but they only laughed and pitied him. He came to

the banks of a river, and knelt down to say his prayers before throwing

himself in. In so doing he rubbed the magic ring he still wore.

The genie he had seen in the cave appeared, and asked his will.

"Save my life, genie," said Aladdin, "and bring my palace back."

"That is not in my power," said the genie; "I am only the slave of the

ring; you must ask the slave of the lamp."

"Even so," said Aladdin "but thou canst take me to the palace, and set

me down under my dear wife's window." He at once found himself in

Africa, under the window of the princess, and fell asleep out of sheer

weariness.

He was awakened by the singing of the birds, and his heart was lighter.

He saw plainly that all his misfortunes were owing to the loss of the

lamp, and vainly wondered who had robbed him of it.

That morning the princess rose earlier than she had done since she had

been carried into Africa by the magician, whose company she was forced

to endure once a day. She, however, treated him so harshly that he

dared not live there altogether. As she was dressing, one of her women

looked out and saw Aladdin. The princess ran and opened the window,

and at the noise she made Aladdin looked up. She called to him to come

to her, and great was the joy of these lovers at seeing each other

again.

After he had kissed her Aladdin said: "I beg of you, Princess, in

God's name, before we speak of anything else, for your own sake and

mine, tell me what has become of an old lamp I left on the cornice in

the hall of four-and-twenty windows, when I went a-hunting."

"Alas!" she said "I am the innocent cause of our sorrows," and told him

of the exchange of the lamp.

"Now I know," cried Aladdin, "that we have to thank the African

magician for this! Where is the lamp?"

"He carries it about with him," said the princess, "I know, for he

pulled it out of his breast to show me. He wishes me to break my faith

with you and marry him, saying that you were beheaded by my father's

command. He is forever speaking ill of you, but I only reply by my

tears. If I persist, I doubt not that he will use violence."

Aladdin comforted her, and left her for a while. He changed clothes

with the first person he met in the town, and having bought a certain

powder returned to the princess, who let him in by a little side door.

"Put on your most beautiful dress," he said to her, "and receive the

magician with smiles, leading him to believe that you have forgotten

me. Invite him to sup with you, and say you wish to taste the wine of

his country. He will go for some, and while he is gone I will tell you

what to do."

She listened carefully to Aladdin, and when he left her arrayed herself

gaily for the first time since she left China. She put on a girdle and

head-dress of diamonds, and seeing in a glass that she looked more

beautiful than ever, received the magician, saying to his great

amazement: "I have made up my mind that Aladdin is dead, and that all

my tears will not bring him back to me, so I am resolved to mourn no

more, and have therefore invited you to sup with me; but I am tired of

the wines of China, and would fain taste those of Africa."

The magician flew to his cellar, and the princess put the powder

Aladdin had given her in her cup. When he returned she asked him to

drink her health in the wine of Africa, handing him her cup in exchange

for his as a sign she was reconciled to him.

Before drinking the magician made her a speech in praise of her beauty,

but the princess cut him short saying:

"Let me drink first, and you shall say what you will afterwards." She

set her cup to her lips and kept it there, while the magician drained

his to the dregs and fell back lifeless.

The princess then opened the door to Aladdin, and flung her arms round

his neck, but Aladdin put her away, bidding her to leave him, as he had

more to do. He then went to the dead magician, took the lamp out of

his vest, and bade the genie carry the palace and all in it back to

China. This was done, and the princess in her chamber only felt two

little shocks, and little thought she was at home again.

The Sultan, who was sitting in his closet, mourning for his lost

daughter, happened to look up, and rubbed his eyes, for there stood the

palace as before! He hastened thither, and Aladdin received him in the

hall of the four-and-twenty windows, with the princess at his side.

Aladdin told him what had happened, and showed him the dead body of the

magician, that he might believe. A ten days' feast was proclaimed, and

it seemed as if Aladdin might now live the rest of his life in peace;

but it was not to be.

The African magician had a younger brother, who was, if possible, more

wicked and more cunning than himself. He travelled to China to avenge

his brother's death, and went to visit a pious woman called Fatima,

thinking she might be of use to him. He entered her cell and clapped a

dagger to her breast, telling her to rise and do his bidding on pain of

death. He changed clothes with her, coloured his face like hers, put

on her veil and murdered her, that she might tell no tales. Then he

went towards the palace of Aladdin, and all the people thinking he was

the holy woman, gathered round him, kissing his hands and begging his

blessing. When he got to the palace there was such a noise going on

round him that the princess bade her slave look out of the window and

ask what was the matter. The slave said it was the holy woman, curing

people by her touch of their ailments, whereupon the princess, who had

long desired to see Fatima, sent for her. On coming to the princess

the magician offered up a prayer for her health and prosperity. When

he had done the princess made him sit by her, and begged him to stay

with her always. The false Fatima, who wished for nothing better,

consented, but kept his veil down for fear of discovery. The princess

showed him the hall, and asked him what he thought of it.

"It is truly beautiful," said the false Fatima. "In my mind it wants

but one thing."

"And what is that?" said the princess.

"If only a roc's egg," replied he, "were hung up from the middle of

this dome, it would be the wonder of the world."

After this the princess could think of nothing but a roc's egg, and

when Aladdin returned from hunting he found her in a very ill humour.

He begged to know what was amiss, and she told him that all her

pleasure in the hall was spoilt for the want of a roc's egg hanging

from the dome.

"It that is all," replied Aladdin, "you shall soon be happy."

He left her and rubbed the lamp, and when the genie appeared commanded

him to bring a roc's egg. The genie gave such a loud and terrible

shriek that the hall shook.

"Wretch!" he cried, "is it not enough that I have done everything for

you, but you must command me to bring my master and hang him up in the

midst of this dome? You and your wife and your palace deserve to be

burnt to ashes; but this request does not come from you, but from the

brother of the African magician whom you destroyed. He is now in your

palace disguised as the holy woman--whom he murdered. He it was who

put that wish into your wife's head. Take care of yourself, for he

means to kill you." So saying the genie disappeared.

Aladdin went back to the princess, saying his head ached, and

requesting that the holy Fatima should be fetched to lay her hands on

it. But when the magician came near, Aladdin, seizing his dagger,

pierced him to the heart.

"What have you done?" cried the princess. "You have killed the holy

woman!"

"Not so," replied Aladdin, "but a wicked magician," and told her of how

she had been deceived.

After this Aladdin and his wife lived in peace. He succeeded the

Sultan when he died, and reigned for many years, leaving behind him a

long line of kings.

The Adventures of Haroun-al-Raschid, Caliph of Bagdad

The Caliph Haroun-al-Raschid sat in his palace, wondering if there was

anything left in the world that could possibly give him a few hours'

amusement, when Giafar the grand-vizir, his old and tried friend,

suddenly appeared before him. Bowing low, he waited, as was his duty,

till his master spoke, but Haroun-al-Raschid merely turned his head and

looked at him, and sank back into his former weary posture.

Now Giafar had something of importance to say to the Caliph, and had no

intention of being put off by mere silence, so with another low bow in

front of the throne, he began to speak.

"Commander of the Faithful," said he, "I have taken on myself to remind

your Highness that you have undertaken secretly to observe for yourself

the manner in which justice is done and order is kept throughout the

city. This is the day you have set apart to devote to this object, and

perhaps in fulfilling this duty you may find some distraction from the

melancholy to which, as I see to my sorrow, you are a prey."

"You are right," returned the Caliph, "I had forgotten all about it.

Go and change your coat, and I will change mine."

A few moments later they both re-entered the hall, disguised as foreign

merchants, and passed through a secret door, out into the open country.

Here they turned towards the Euphrates, and crossing the river in a

small boat, walked through that part of the town which lay along the

further bank, without seeing anything to call for their interference.

Much pleased with the peace and good order of the city, the Caliph and

his vizir made their way to a bridge, which led straight back to the

palace, and had already crossed it, when they were stopped by an old

and blind man, who begged for alms.

The Caliph gave him a piece of money, and was passing on, but the blind

man seized his hand, and held him fast.

"Charitable person," he said, "whoever you may be grant me yet another

prayer. Strike me, I beg of you, one blow. I have deserved it richly,

and even a more severe penalty."

The Caliph, much surprised at this request, replied gently: "My good

man, that which you ask is impossible. Of what use would my alms be if

I treated you so ill?" And as he spoke he tried to loosen the grasp of

the blind beggar.

"My lord," answered the man, "pardon my boldness and my persistence.

Take back your money, or give me the blow which I crave. I have sworn

a solemn oath that I will receive nothing without receiving

chastisement, and if you knew all, you would feel that the punishment

is not a tenth part of what I deserve."

Moved by these words, and perhaps still more by the fact that he had

other business to attend to, the Caliph yielded, and struck him lightly

on the shoulder. Then he continued his road, followed by the blessing

of the blind man. When they were out of earshot, he said to the vizir,

"There must be something very odd to make that man act so--I should

like to find out what is the reason. Go back to him; tell him who I

am, and order him to come without fail to the palace to-morrow, after

the hour of evening prayer."

So the grand-vizir went back to the bridge; gave the blind beggar first

a piece of money and then a blow, delivered the Caliph's message, and

rejoined his master.

They passed on towards the palace, but walking through a square, they

came upon a crowd watching a young and well-dressed man who was urging

a horse at full speed round the open space, using at the same time his

spurs and whip so unmercifully that the animal was all covered with

foam and blood. The Caliph, astonished at this proceeding, inquired of

a passer-by what it all meant, but no one could tell him anything,

except that every day at the same hour the same thing took place.

Still wondering, he passed on, and for the moment had to content

himself with telling the vizir to command the horseman also to appear

before him at the same time as the blind man.

The next day, after evening prayer, the Caliph entered the hall, and

was followed by the vizir bringing with him the two men of whom we have

spoken, and a third, with whom we have nothing to do. They all bowed

themselves low before the throne and then the Caliph bade them rise,

and ask the blind man his name.

"Baba-Abdalla, your Highness," said he.

"Baba-Abdalla," returned the Caliph, "your way of asking alms yesterday

seemed to me so strange, that I almost commanded you then and there to

cease from causing such a public scandal. But I have sent for you to

inquire what was your motive in making such a curious vow. When I know

the reason I shall be able to judge whether you can be permitted to

continue to practise it, for I cannot help thinking that it sets a very

bad example to others. Tell me therefore the whole truth, and conceal

nothing."

These words troubled the heart of Baba-Abdalla, who prostrated himself

at the feet of the Caliph. Then rising, he answered: "Commander of the

Faithful, I crave your pardon humbly, for my persistence in beseeching

your Highness to do an action which appears on the face of it to be

without any meaning. No doubt, in the eyes of men, it has none; but I

look on it as a slight expiation for a fearful sin of which I have been

guilty, and if your Highness will deign to listen to my tale, you will

see that no punishment could atone for the crime."

The Story of the Blind Baba-Abdalla

I was born, Commander of the Faithful, in Bagdad, and was left an

orphan while I was yet a very young man, for my parents died within a

few days of each other. I had inherited from them a small fortune,

which I worked hard night and day to increase, till at last I found

myself the owner of eighty camels. These I hired out to travelling

merchants, whom I frequently accompanied on their various journeys, and

always returned with large profits.

One day I was coming back from Balsora, whither I had taken a supply of

goods, intended for India, and halted at noon in a lonely place, which

promised rich pasture for my camels. I was resting in the shade under

a tree, when a dervish, going on foot towards Balsora, sat down by my

side, and I inquired whence he had come and to what place he was going.

We soon made friends, and after we had asked each other the usual

questions, we produced the food we had with us, and satisfied our

hunger.

While we were eating, the dervish happened to mention that in a spot

only a little way off from where we were sitting, there was hidden a

treasure so great that if my eighty camels were loaded till they could

carry no more, the hiding place would seem as full as if it had never

been touched.

At this news I became almost beside myself with joy and greed, and I

flung my arms round the neck of the dervish, exclaiming: "Good

dervish, I see plainly that the riches of this world are nothing to

you, therefore of what use is the knowledge of this treasure to you?

Alone and on foot, you could carry away a mere handful. But tell me

where it is, and I will load my eighty camels with it, and give you one

of them as a token of my gratitude."

Certainly my offer does not sound very magnificent, but it was great to

me, for at his words a wave of covetousness had swept over my heart,

and I almost felt as if the seventy-nine camels that were left were

nothing in comparison.

The dervish saw quite well what was passing in my mind, but he did not

show what he thought of my proposal.

"My brother," he answered quietly, "you know as well as I do, that you

are behaving unjustly. It was open to me to keep my secret, and to

reserve the treasure for myself. But the fact that I have told you of

its existence shows that I had confidence in you, and that I hoped to

earn your gratitude for ever, by making your fortune as well as mine.

But before I reveal to you the secret of the treasure, you must swear

that, after we have loaded the camels with as much as they can carry,

you will give half to me, and let us go our own ways. I think you will

see that this is fair, for if you present me with forty camels, I on my

side will give you the means of buying a thousand more."

I could not of course deny that what the dervish said was perfectly

reasonable, but, in spite of that, the thought that the dervish would

be as rich as I was unbearable to me. Still there was no use in

discussing the matter, and I had to accept his conditions or bewail to

the end of my life the loss of immense wealth. So I collected my

camels and we set out together under the guidance of the dervish.

After walking some time, we reached what looked like a valley, but with

such a narrow entrance that my camels could only pass one by one. The

little valley, or open space, was shut up by two mountains, whose sides

were formed of straight cliffs, which no human being could climb.

When we were exactly between these mountains the dervish stopped.

"Make your camels lie down in this open space," he said, "so that we

can easily load them; then we will go to the treasure."

I did what I was bid, and rejoined the dervish, whom I found trying to

kindle a fire out of some dry wood. As soon as it was alight, he threw

on it a handful of perfumes, and pronounced a few words that I did not

understand, and immediately a thick column of smoke rose high into the

air. He separated the smoke into two columns, and then I saw a rock,

which stood like a pillar between the two mountains, slowly open, and a

splendid palace appear within.

But, Commander of the Faithful, the love of gold had taken such

possession of my heart, that I could not even stop to examine the

riches, but fell upon the first pile of gold within my reach and began

to heap it into a sack that I had brought with me.

The dervish likewise set to work, but I soon noticed that he confined

himself to collecting precious stones, and I felt I should be wise to

follow his example. At length the camels were loaded with as much as

they could carry, and nothing remained but to seal up the treasure, and

go our ways.

Before, however, this was done, the dervish went up to a great golden

vase, beautifully chased, and took from it a small wooden box, which he

hid in the bosom of his dress, merely saying that it contained a

special kind of ointment. Then he once more kindled the fire, threw on

the perfume, and murmured the unknown spell, and the rock closed, and

stood whole as before.

The next thing was to divide the camels, and to charge them with the

treasure, after which we each took command of our own and marched out

of the valley, till we reached the place in the high road where the

routes diverge, and then we parted, the dervish going towards Balsora,

and I to Bagdad. We embraced each other tenderly, and I poured out my

gratitude for the honour he had done me, in singling me out for this

great wealth, and having said a hearty farewell we turned our backs,

and hastened after our camels.

I had hardly come up with mine when the demon of envy filled my soul.

"What does a dervish want with riches like that?" I said to myself.

"He alone has the secret of the treasure, and can always get as much as

he wants," and I halted my camels by the roadside, and ran back after

him.

I was a quick runner, and it did not take me very long to come up with

him. "My brother," I exclaimed, as soon as I could speak, "almost at

the moment of our leave-taking, a reflection occurred to me, which is

perhaps new to you. You are a dervish by profession, and live a very

quiet life, only caring to do good, and careless of the things of this

world. You do not realise the burden that you lay upon yourself, when

you gather into your hands such great wealth, besides the fact that no

one, who is not accustomed to camels from his birth, can ever manage

the stubborn beasts. If you are wise, you will not encumber yourself

with more than thirty, and you will find those trouble enough."

"You are right," replied the dervish, who understood me quite well, but

did not wish to fight the matter. "I confess I had not thought about

it. Choose any ten you like, and drive them before you."

I selected ten of the best camels, and we proceeded along the road, to

rejoin those I had left behind. I had got what I wanted, but I had

found the dervish so easy to deal with, that I rather regretted I had

not asked for ten more. I looked back. He had only gone a few paces,

and I called after him.

"My brother," I said, "I am unwilling to part from you without pointing

out what I think you scarcely grasp, that large experience of

camel-driving is necessary to anybody who intends to keep together a

troop of thirty. In your own interest, I feel sure you would be much

happier if you entrusted ten more of them to me, for with my practice

it is all one to me if I take two or a hundred."

As before, the dervish made no difficulties, and I drove off my ten

camels in triumph, only leaving him with twenty for his share. I had

now sixty, and anyone might have imagined that I should be content.

But, Commander of the Faithful, there is a proverb that says, "the more

one has, the more one wants." So it was with me. I could not rest as

long as one solitary camel remained to the dervish; and returning to

him I redoubled my prayers and embraces, and promises of eternal

gratitude, till the last twenty were in my hands.

"Make a good use of them, my brother," said the holy man. "Remember

riches sometimes have wings if we keep them for ourselves, and the poor

are at our gates expressly that we may help them."

My eyes were so blinded by gold, that I paid no heed to his wise

counsel, and only looked about for something else to grasp. Suddenly I

remembered the little box of ointment that the dervish had hidden, and

which most likely contained a treasure more precious than all the rest.

Giving him one last embrace, I observed accidentally, "What are you

going to do with that little box of ointment? It seems hardly worth

taking with you; you might as well let me have it. And really, a

dervish who has given up the world has no need of ointment!"

Oh, if he had only refused my request! But then, supposing he had, I

should have got possession of it by force, so great was the madness

that had laid hold upon me. However, far from refusing it, the dervish

at once held it out, saying gracefully, "Take it, my friend, and if

there is anything else I can do to make you happy you must let me know."

Directly the box was in my hands I wrenched off the cover. "As you are

so kind," I said, "tell me, I pray you, what are the virtues of this

ointment?"

"They are most curious and interesting," replied the dervish. "If you

apply a little of it to your left eye you will behold in an instant all

the treasures hidden in the bowels of the earth. But beware lest you

touch your right eye with it, or your sight will be destroyed for ever."

His words excited my curiosity to the highest pitch. "Make trial on

me, I implore you," I cried, holding out the box to the dervish. "You

will know how to do it better than I! I am burning with impatience to

test its charms."

The dervish took the box I had extended to him, and, bidding me shut my

left eye, touched it gently with the ointment. When I opened it again

I saw spread out, as it were before me, treasures of every kind and

without number. But as all this time I had been obliged to keep my

right eye closed, which was very fatiguing, I begged the dervish to

apply the ointment to that eye also.

"If you insist upon it I will do it," answered the dervish, "but you

must remember what I told you just now--that if it touches your right

eye you will become blind on the spot."

Unluckily, in spite of my having proved the truth of the dervish's

words in so many instances, I was firmly convinced that he was now

keeping concealed from me some hidden and precious virtue of the

ointment. So I turned a deaf ear to all he said.

"My brother," I replied smiling, "I see you are joking. It is not

natural that the same ointment should have two such exactly opposite

effects."

"It is true all the same," answered the dervish, "and it would be well

for you if you believed my word."

But I would not believe, and, dazzled by the greed of avarice, I

thought that if one eye could show me riches, the other might teach me

how to get possession of them. And I continued to press the dervish to

anoint my right eye, but this he resolutely declined to do.

"After having conferred such benefits on you," said he, "I am loth

indeed to work you such evil. Think what it is to be blind, and do not

force me to do what you will repent as long as you live."

It was of no use. "My brother," I said firmly, "pray say no more, but

do what I ask. You have most generously responded to my wishes up to

this time, do not spoil my recollection of you for a thing of such

little consequence. Let what will happen I take it on my own head, and

will never reproach you."

"Since you are determined upon it," he answered with a sigh, "there is

no use talking," and taking the ointment he laid some on my right eye,

which was tight shut. When I tried to open it heavy clouds of darkness

floated before me. I was as blind as you see me now!

"Miserable dervish!" I shrieked, "so it is true after all! Into what

a bottomless pit has my lust after gold plunged me. Ah, now that my

eyes are closed they are really opened. I know that all my sufferings

are caused by myself alone! But, good brother, you, who are so kind

and charitable, and know the secrets of such vast learning, have you

nothing that will give me back my sight?"

"Unhappy man," replied the dervish, "it is not my fault that this has

befallen you, but it is a just chastisement. The blindness of your

heart has wrought the blindness of your body. Yes, I have secrets;

that you have seen in the short time that we have known each other.

But I have none that will give you back your sight. You have proved

yourself unworthy of the riches that were given you. Now they have

passed into my hands, whence they will flow into the hands of others

less greedy and ungrateful than you."

The dervish said no more and left me, speechless with shame and

confusion, and so wretched that I stood rooted to the spot, while he

collected the eighty camels and proceeded on his way to Balsora. It

was in vain that I entreated him not to leave me, but at least to take

me within reach of the first passing caravan. He was deaf to my

prayers and cries, and I should soon have been dead of hunger and

misery if some merchants had not come along the track the following day

and kindly brought me back to Bagdad.

From a rich man I had in one moment become a beggar; and up to this

time I have lived solely on the alms that have been bestowed on me.

But, in order to expiate the sin of avarice, which was my undoing, I

oblige each passer-by to give me a blow.

This, Commander of the Faithful, is my story.

When the blind man had ended the Caliph addressed him: "Baba-Abdalla,

truly your sin is great, but you have suffered enough. Henceforth

repent in private, for I will see that enough money is given you day by

day for all your wants."

At these words Baba-Abdalla flung himself at the Caliph's feet, and

prayed that honour and happiness might be his portion for ever.

The Story of Sidi-Nouman

The Caliph, Haroun-al-Raschid, was much pleased with the tale of the

blind man and the dervish, and when it was finished he turned to the

young man who had ill-treated his horse, and inquired his name also.

The young man replied that he was called Sidi-Nouman.

"Sidi-Nouman," observed the Caliph, "I have seen horses broken all my

life long, and have even broken them myself, but I have never seen any

horse broken in such a barbarous manner as by you yesterday. Every one

who looked on was indignant, and blamed you loudly. As for myself, I

was so angry that I was very nearly disclosing who I was, and putting a

stop to it at once. Still, you have not the air of a cruel man, and I

would gladly believe that you did not act in this way without some

reason. As I am told that it was not the first time, and indeed that

every day you are to be seen flogging and spurring your horse, I wish

to come to the bottom of the matter. But tell me the whole truth, and

conceal nothing."

Sidi-Nouman changed colour as he heard these words, and his manner grew

confused; but he saw plainly that there was no help for it. So he

prostrated himself before the throne of the Caliph and tried to obey,

but the words stuck in his throat, and he remained silent.

The Caliph, accustomed though he was to instant obedience, guessed

something of what was passing in the young man's mind, and sought to

put him at his ease. "Sidi-Nouman," he said, "do not think of me as

the Caliph, but merely as a friend who would like to hear your story.

If there is anything in it that you are afraid may offend me, take

courage, for I pardon you beforehand. Speak then openly and without

fear, as to one who knows and loves you."

Reassured by the kindness of the Caliph, Sidi-Nouman at length began

his tale.

"Commander of the Faithful," said he, "dazzled though I am by the

lustre of your Highness' presence, I will do my best to satisfy your

wishes. I am by no means perfect, but I am not naturally cruel,

neither do I take pleasure in breaking the law. I admit that the

treatment of my horse is calculated to give your Highness a bad opinion

of me, and to set an evil example to others; yet I have not chastised

it without reason, and I have hopes that I shall be judged more worthy

of pity than punishment."

Commander of the Faithful, I will not trouble to describe my birth; it

is not of sufficient distinction to deserve your Highness' attention.

My ancestors were careful people, and I inherited enough money to

enable me to live comfortably, though without show.

Having therefore a modest fortune, the only thing wanting to my

happiness was a wife who could return my affection, but this blessing I

was not destined to get; for on the very day after my marriage, my

bride began to try my patience in every way that was most hard to bear.

Now, seeing that the customs of our land oblige us to marry without

ever beholding the person with whom we are to pass our lives, a man has

of course no right to complain as long as his wife is not absolutely

repulsive, or is not positively deformed. And whatever defects her

body may have, pleasant ways and good behaviour will go far to remedy

them.

The first time I saw my wife unveiled, when she had been brought to my

house with the usual ceremonies, I was enchanted to find that I had not

been deceived in regard to the account that had been given me of her

beauty. I began my married life in high spirits, and the best hopes of

happiness.

The following day a grand dinner was served to us but as my wife did

not appear, I ordered a servant to call her. Still she did not come,

and I waited impatiently for some time. At last she entered the room,

and she took our places at the table, and plates of rice were set

before us.

I ate mine, as was natural, with a spoon, but great was my surprise to

notice that my wife, instead of doing the same, drew from her pocket a

little case, from which she selected a long pin, and by the help of

this pin conveyed her rice grain by grain to her mouth.

"Amina," I exclaimed in astonishment, "is that the way you eat rice at

home? And did you do it because your appetite was so small, or did you

wish to count the grains so that you might never eat more than a

certain number? If it was from economy, and you are anxious to teach

me not to be wasteful, you have no cause for alarm. We shall never

ruin ourselves in that way! Our fortune is large enough for all our

needs, therefore, dear Amina, do not seek to check yourself, but eat as

much as you desire, as I do!"

In reply to my affectionate words, I expected a cheerful answer; yet

Amina said nothing at all, but continued to pick her rice as before,

only at longer and longer intervals. And, instead of trying the other

dishes, all she did was to put every now and then a crumb, of bread

into her mouth, that would not have made a meal for a sparrow.

I felt provoked by her obstinacy, but to excuse her to myself as far as

I could, I suggested that perhaps she had never been used to eat in the

company of men, and that her family might have taught her that she

ought to behave prudently and discreetly in the presence of her

husband. Likewise that she might either have dined already or intend

to do so in her own apartments. So I took no further notice, and when

I had finished left the room, secretly much vexed at her strange

conduct.

The same thing occurred at supper, and all through the next day,

whenever we ate together. It was quite clear that no woman could live

upon two or three bread-crumbs and a few grains of rice, and I

determined to find out how and when she got food. I pretended not to

pay attention to anything she did, in the hope that little by little

she would get accustomed to me, and become more friendly; but I soon

saw that my expectations were quite vain.

One night I was lying with my eyes closed, and to, all appearance sound

asleep, when Amina arose softly, and dressed herself without making the

slightest sound. I could not imagine what she was going to do, and as

my curiosity was great I made up my mind to follow her. When she was

fully dressed, she stole quietly from the room.

The instant she had let the curtain fall behind her, I flung a garment

on my shoulders and a pair of slippers on my feet. Looking from a

lattice which opened into the court, I saw her in the act of passing

through the street door, which she carefully left open.

It was bright moonlight, so I easily managed to keep her in sight, till

she entered a cemetery not far from the house. There I hid myself

under the shadow of the wall, and crouched down cautiously; and hardly

was I concealed, when I saw my wife approaching in company with a

ghoul--one of those demons which, as your Highness is aware, wander

about the country making their lairs in deserted buildings and

springing out upon unwary travellers whose flesh they eat. If no live

being goes their way, they then betake themselves to the cemeteries,

and feed upon the dead bodies.

I was nearly struck dumb with horror on seeing my wife with this

hideous female ghoul. They passed by me without noticing me, began to

dig up a corpse which had been buried that day, and then sat down on

the edge of the grave, to enjoy their frightful repast, talking quietly

and cheerfully all the while, though I was too far off to hear what

they said. When they had finished, they threw back the body into the

grave, and heaped back the earth upon it. I made no effort to disturb

them, and returned quickly to the house, when I took care to leave the

door open, as I had previously found it. Then I got back into bed, and

pretended to sleep soundly.

A short time after Amina entered as quietly as she had gone out. She

undressed and stole into bed, congratulating herself apparently on the

cleverness with which she had managed her expedition.

As may be guessed, after such a scene it was long before I could close

my eyes, and at the first sound which called the faithful to prayer, I

put on my clothes and went to the mosque. But even prayer did not

restore peace to my troubled spirit, and I could not face my wife until

I had made up my mind what future course I should pursue in regard to

her. I therefore spent the morning roaming about from one garden to

another, turning over various plans for compelling my wife to give up

her horrible ways; I thought of using violence to make her submit, but

felt reluctant to be unkind to her. Besides, I had an instinct that

gentle means had the best chance of success; so, a little soothed, I

turned towards home, which I reached about the hour of dinner.

As soon as I appeared, Amina ordered dinner to be served, and we sat

down together. As usual, she persisted in only picking a few grains of

rice, and I resolved to speak to her at once of what lay so heavily on

my heart.

"Amina," I said, as quietly as possible, "you must have guessed the

surprise I felt, when the day after our marriage you declined to eat

anything but a few morsels of rice, and altogether behaved in such a

manner that most husbands would have been deeply wounded. However I

had patience with you, and only tried to tempt your appetite by the

choicest dishes I could invent, but all to no purpose. Still, Amina,

it seems to me that there be some among them as sweet to the taste as

the flesh of a corpse?"

I had no sooner uttered these words than Amina, who instantly

understood that I had followed her to the grave-yard, was seized with a

passion beyond any that I have ever witnessed. Her face became purple,

her eyes looked as if they would start from her head, and she

positively foamed with rage.

I watched her with terror, wondering what would happen next, but little

thinking what would be the end of her fury. She seized a vessel of

water that stood at hand, and plunging her hand in it, murmured some

words I failed to catch. Then, sprinkling it on my face, she cried

madly:

"Wretch, receive the reward of your prying, and become a dog."

The words were not out of her mouth when, without feeling conscious

that any change was passing over me, I suddenly knew that I had ceased

to be a man. In the greatness of the shock and surprise--for I had no

idea that Amina was a magician--I never dreamed of running away, and

stood rooted to the spot, while Amina grasped a stick and began to beat

me. Indeed her blows were so heavy, that I only wonder they did not

kill me at once. However they succeeded in rousing me from my stupor,

and I dashed into the court-yard, followed closely by Amina, who made

frantic dives at me, which I was not quick enough to dodge. At last

she got tired of pursuing me, or else a new trick entered into her

head, which would give me speedy and painful death; she opened the gate

leading into the street, intending to crush me as I passed through.

Dog though I was, I saw through her design, and stung into presence of

mind by the greatness of the danger, I timed my movements so well that

I contrived to rush through, and only the tip of my tail received a

squeeze as she banged the gate.

I was safe, but my tail hurt me horribly, and I yelped and howled so

loud all along the streets, that the other dogs came and attacked me,

which made matters no better. In order to avoid them, I took refuge in

a cookshop, where tongues and sheep's heads were sold.

At first the owner showed me great kindness, and drove away the other

dogs that were still at my heels, while I crept into the darkest

corner. But though I was safe for the moment, I was not destined to

remain long under his protection, for he was one of those who hold all

dogs to be unclean, and that all the washing in the world will hardly

purify you from their contact. So after my enemies had gone to seek

other prey, he tried to lure me from my corner in order to force me

into the street. But I refused to come out of my hole, and spent the

night in sleep, which I sorely needed, after the pain inflicted on me

by Amina.

I have no wish to weary your Highness by dwelling on the sad thoughts

which accompanied my change of shape, but it may interest you to hear

that the next morning my host went out early to do his marketing, and

returned laden with the sheep's heads, and tongues and trotters that

formed his stock in trade for the day. The smell of meat attracted

various hungry dogs in the neighbourhood, and they gathered round the

door begging for some bits. I stole out of my corner, and stood with

them.

In spite of his objection to dogs, as unclean animals, my protector was

a kind-hearted man, and knowing I had eaten nothing since yesterday, he

threw me bigger and better bits than those which fell to the share of

the other dogs. When I had finished, I tried to go back into the shop,

but this he would not allow, and stood so firmly at the entrance with a

stout stick, that I was forced to give it up, and seek some other home.

A few paces further on was a baker's shop, which seemed to have a gay

and merry man for a master. At that moment he was having his

breakfast, and though I gave no signs of hunger, he at once threw me a

piece of bread. Before gobbling it up, as most dogs are in the habit

of doing, I bowed my head and wagged my tail, in token of thanks, and

he understood, and smiled pleasantly. I really did not want the bread

at all, but felt it would be ungracious to refuse, so I ate it slowly,

in order that he might see that I only did it out of politeness. He

understood this also, and seemed quite willing to let me stay in his

shop, so I sat down, with my face to the door, to show that I only

asked his protection. This he gave me, and indeed encouraged me to

come into the house itself, giving me a corner where I might sleep,

without being in anybody's way.

The kindness heaped on me by this excellent man was far greater than I

could ever have expected. He was always affectionate in his manner of

treating me, and I shared his breakfast, dinner and supper, while, on

my side, I gave him all the gratitude and attachment to which he had a

right.

I sat with my eyes fixed on him, and he never left the house without

having me at his heels; and if it ever happened that when he was

preparing to go out I was asleep, and did not notice, he would call

"Rufus, Rufus," for that was the name he gave me.

Some weeks passed in this way, when one day a woman came in to buy

bread. In paying for it, she laid down several pieces of money, one of

which was bad. The baker perceived this, and declined to take it,

demanding another in its place. The woman, for her part, refused to

take it back, declaring it was perfectly good, but the baker would have

nothing to do with it. "It is really such a bad imitation," he

exclaimed at last, "that even my dog would not be taken in. Here

Rufus! Rufus!" and hearing his voice, I jumped on to the counter. The

baker threw down the money before me, and said, "Find out if there is a

bad coin." I looked at each in turn, and then laid my paw on the false

one, glancing at the same time at my master, so as to point it out.

The baker, who had of course been only in joke, was exceedingly

surprised at my cleverness, and the woman, who was at last convinced

that the man spoke the truth, produced another piece of money in its

place. When she had gone, my master was so pleased that he told all

the neighbours what I had done, and made a great deal more of it than

there really was.

The neighbours, very naturally, declined to believe his story, and

tried me several times with all the bad money they could collect

together, but I never failed to stand the test triumphantly.

Soon, the shop was filled from morning till night, with people who on

the pretence of buying bread came to see if I was as clever as I was

reported to be. The baker drove a roaring trade, and admitted that I

was worth my weight in gold to him.

Of course there were plenty who envied him his large custom, and many

was the pitfall set for me, so that he never dared to let me out of his

sight. One day a woman, who had not been in the shop before, came to

ask for bread, like the rest. As usual, I was lying on the counter,

and she threw down six coins before me, one of which was false. I

detected it at once, and put my paw on it, looking as I did so at the

woman. "Yes," she said, nodding her head. "You are quite right, that

is the one." She stood gazing at me attentively for some time, then

paid for the bread, and left the shop, making a sign for me to follow

her secretly.

Now my thoughts were always running on some means of shaking off the

spell laid on me, and noticing the way in which this woman had looked

at me, the idea entered my head that perhaps she might have guessed

what had happened, and in this I was not deceived. However I let her

go on a little way, and merely stood at the door watching her. She

turned, and seeing that I was quite still, she again beckoned to me.

The baker all this while was busy with his oven, and had forgotten all

about me, so I stole out softly, and ran after the woman.

When we came to her house, which was some distance off, she opened the

door and then said to me, "Come in, come in; you will never be sorry

that you followed me." When I had entered she fastened the door, and

took me into a large room, where a beautiful girl was working at a

piece of embroidery. "My daughter," exclaimed my guide, "I have

brought you the famous dog belonging to the baker which can tell good

money from bad. You know that when I first heard of him, I told you I

was sure he must be really a man, changed into a dog by magic. To-day

I went to the baker's, to prove for myself the truth of the story, and

persuaded the dog to follow me here. Now what do you say?"

"You are right, mother," replied the girl, and rising she dipped her

hand into a vessel of water. Then sprinkling it over me she said, "If

you were born dog, remain dog; but if you were born man, by virtue of

this water resume your proper form." In one moment the spell was

broken. The dog's shape vanished as if it had never been, and it was a

man who stood before her.

Overcome with gratitude at my deliverance, I flung myself at her feet,

and kissed the hem of her garment. "How can I thank you for your

goodness towards a stranger, and for what you have done? Henceforth I

am your slave. Deal with me as you will!"

Then, in order to explain how I came to be changed into a dog, I told

her my whole story, and finished with rendering the mother the thanks

due to her for the happiness she had brought me.

"Sidi-Nouman," returned the daughter, "say no more about the obligation

you are under to us. The knowledge that we have been of service to you

is ample payment. Let us speak of Amina, your wife, with whom I was

acquainted before her marriage. I was aware that she was a magician,

and she knew too that I had studied the same art, under the same

mistress. We met often going to the same baths, but we did not like

each other, and never sought to become friends. As to what concerns

you, it is not enough to have broken your spell, she must be punished

for her wickedness. Remain for a moment with my mother, I beg," she

added hastily, "I will return shortly."

Left alone with the mother, I again expressed the gratitude I felt, to

her as well as to her daughter.

"My daughter," she answered, "is, as you see, as accomplished a

magician as Amina herself, but you would be astonished at the amount of

good she does by her knowledge. That is why I have never interfered,

otherwise I should have put a stop to it long ago." As she spoke, her

daughter entered with a small bottle in her hand.

"Sidi-Nouman," she said, "the books I have just consulted tell me that

Amina is not home at present, but she should return at any moment. I

have likewise found out by their means, that she pretends before the

servants great uneasiness as to your absence. She has circulated a

story that, while at dinner with her, you remembered some important

business that had to be done at once, and left the house without

shutting the door. By this means a dog had strayed in, which she was

forced to get rid of by a stick. Go home then without delay, and await

Amina's return in your room. When she comes in, go down to meet her,

and in her surprise, she will try to run away. Then have this bottle

ready, and dash the water it contains over her, saying boldly, "Receive

the reward of your crimes." That is all I have to tell you."

Everything happened exactly as the young magician had foretold. I had

not been in my house many minutes before Amina returned, and as she

approached I stepped in front of her, with the water in my hand. She

gave one loud cry, and turned to the door, but she was too late. I had

already dashed the water in her face and spoken the magic words. Amina

disappeared, and in her place stood the horse you saw me beating

yesterday.

This, Commander of the Faithful, is my story, and may I venture to hope

that, now you have heard the reason of my conduct, your Highness will

not think this wicked woman too harshly treated?

"Sidi-Nouman," replied the Caliph, "your story is indeed a strange one,

and there is no excuse to be offered for your wife. But, without

condemning your treatment of her, I wish you to reflect how much she

must suffer from being changed into an animal, and I hope you will let

that punishment be enough. I do not order you to insist upon the young

magician finding the means to restore your wife to her human shape,

because I know that when once women such as she begin to work evil they

never leave off, and I should only bring down on your head a vengeance

far worse than the one you have undergone already."

The Story of Ali Colia, Merchant of Bagdad

In the reign of Haroun-al-Raschid, there lived in Bagdad a merchant

named Ali Cogia, who, having neither wife nor child, contented himself

with the modest profits produced by his trade. He had spent some years

quite happily in the house his father had left him, when three nights

running he dreamed that an old man had appeared to him, and reproached

him for having neglected the duty of a good Mussulman, in delaying so

long his pilgrimage to Mecca.

Ali Cogia was much troubled by this dream, as he was unwilling to give

up his shop, and lose all his customers. He had shut his eyes for some

time to the necessity of performing this pilgrimage, and tried to atone

to his conscience by an extra number of good works, but the dream

seemed to him a direct warning, and he resolved to put the journey off

no longer.

The first thing he did was to sell his furniture and the wares he had

in his shop, only reserving to himself such goods as he might trade

with on the road. The shop itself he sold also, and easily found a

tenant for his private house. The only matter he could not settle

satisfactorily was the safe custody of a thousand pieces of gold which

he wished to leave behind him.

After some thought, Ali Cogia hit upon a plan which seemed a safe one.

He took a large vase, and placing the money in the bottom of it, filled

up the rest with olives. After corking the vase tightly down, he

carried it to one of his friends, a merchant like himself, and said to

him:

"My brother, you have probably heard that I am staffing with a caravan

in a few days for Mecca. I have come to ask whether you would do me

the favour to keep this vase of olives for me till I come back?"

The merchant replied readily, "Look, this is the key of my shop: take

it, and put the vase wherever you like. I promise that you shall find

it in the same place on your return."

A few days later, Ali Cogia mounted the camel that he had laden with

merchandise, joined the caravan, and arrived in due time at Mecca.

Like the other pilgrims he visited the sacred Mosque, and after all his

religious duties were performed, he set out his goods to the best

advantage, hoping to gain some customers among the passers-by.

Very soon two merchants stopped before the pile, and when they had

turned it over, one said to the other:

"If this man was wise he would take these things to Cairo, where he

would get a much better price than he is likely to do here."

Ali Cogia heard the words, and lost no time in following the advice.

He packed up his wares, and instead of returning to Bagdad, joined a

caravan that was going to Cairo. The results of the journey gladdened

his heart. He sold off everything almost directly, and bought a stock

of Egyptian curiosities, which he intended selling at Damascus; but as

the caravan with which he would have to travel would not be starting

for another six weeks, he took advantage of the delay to visit the

Pyramids, and some of the cities along the banks of the Nile.

Now the attractions of Damascus so fascinated the worthy Ali, that he

could hardly tear himself away, but at length he remembered that he had

a home in Bagdad, meaning to return by way of Aleppo, and after he had

crossed the Euphrates, to follow the course of the Tigris.

But when he reached Mossoul, Ali had made such friends with some

Persian merchants, that they persuaded him to accompany them to their

native land, and even as far as India, and so it came to pass that

seven years had slipped by since he had left Bagdad, and during all

that time the friend with whom he had left the vase of olives had never

once thought of him or of it. In fact, it was only a month before Ali

Cogia's actual return that the affair came into his head at all, owing

to his wife's remarking one day, that it was a long time since she had

eaten any olives, and would like some.

"That reminds me," said the husband, "that before Ali Cogia went to

Mecca seven years ago, he left a vase of olives in my care. But really

by this time he must be dead, and there is no reason we should not eat

the olives if we like. Give me a light, and I will fetch them and see

how they taste."

"My husband," answered the wife, "beware, I pray, of your doing

anything so base! Supposing seven years have passed without news of

Ali Cogia, he need not be dead for all that, and may come back any day.

How shameful it would be to have to confess that you had betrayed your

trust and broken the seal of the vase! Pay no attention to my idle

words, I really have no desire for olives now. And probably after all

this while they are no longer good. I have a presentiment that Ali

Cogia will return, and what will he think of you? Give it up, I

entreat."

The merchant, however, refused to listen to her advice, sensible though

it was. He took a light and a dish and went into his shop.

"If you will be so obstinate," said his wife, "I cannot help it; but do

not blame me if it turns out ill."

When the merchant opened the vase he found the topmost olives were

rotten, and in order to see if the under ones were in better condition

he shook some out into the dish. As they fell out a few of the gold

pieces fell out too.

The sight of the money roused all the merchant's greed. He looked into

the vase, and saw that all the bottom was filled with gold. He then

replaced the olives and returned to his wife.

"My wife," he said, as he entered the room, "you were quite right; the

olives are rotten, and I have recorked the vase so well that Ali Cogia

will never know it has been touched."

"You would have done better to believe me," replied the wife. "I trust

that no harm will come of it."

These words made no more impression on the merchant than the others had

done; and he spent the whole night in wondering how he could manage to

keep the gold if Ali Cogia should come back and claim his vase. Very

early next morning he went out and bought fresh new olives; he then

threw away the old ones, took out the gold and hid it, and filled up

the vase with the olives he had bought. This done he recorked the vase

and put it in the same place where it had been left by Ali Cogia.

A month later Ali Cogia re-entered Bagdad, and as his house was still

let he went to an inn; and the following day set out to see his friend

the merchant, who received him with open arms and many expressions of

surprise. After a few moments given to inquiries Ali Cogia begged the

merchant to hand him over the vase that he had taken care of for so

long.

"Oh certainly," said he, "I am only glad I could be of use to you in

the matter. Here is the key of my shop; you will find the vase in the

place where you put it."

Ali Cogia fetched his vase and carried it to his room at the inn, where

he opened it. He thrust down his hand but could feel no money, but

still was persuaded it must be there. So he got some plates and

vessels from his travelling kit and emptied out the olives. To no

purpose. The gold was not there. The poor man was dumb with horror,

then, lifting up his hands, he exclaimed, "Can my old friend really

have committed such a crime?"

In great haste he went back to the house of the merchant. "My friend,"

he cried, "you will be astonished to see me again, but I can find

nowhere in this vase a thousand pieces of gold that I placed in the

bottom under the olives. Perhaps you may have taken a loan of them for

your business purposes; if that is so you are most welcome. I will

only ask you to give me a receipt, and you can pay the money at your

leisure."

The merchant, who had expected something of the sort, had his reply all

ready. "Ali Cogia," he said, "when you brought me the vase of olives

did I ever touch it?"

"I gave you the key of my shop and you put it yourself where you liked,

and did you not find it in exactly the same spot and in the same state?

If you placed any gold in it, it must be there still. I know nothing

about that; you only told me there were olives. You can believe me or

not, but I have not laid a finger on the vase."

Ali Cogia still tried every means to persuade the merchant to admit the

truth. "I love peace," he said, "and shall deeply regret having to

resort to harsh measures. Once more, think of your reputation. I

shall be in despair if you oblige me to call in the aid of the law."

"Ali Cogia," answered the merchant, "you allow that it was a vase of

olives you placed in my charge. You fetched it and removed it

yourself, and now you tell me it contained a thousand pieces of gold,

and that I must restore them to you! Did you ever say anything about

them before? Why, I did not even know that the vase had olives in it!

You never showed them to me. I wonder you have not demanded pearls or

diamonds. Retire, I pray you, lest a crowd should gather in front of

my shop."

By this time not only the casual passers-by, but also the neighbouring

merchants, were standing round, listening to the dispute, and trying

every now and then to smooth matters between them. But at the

merchant's last words Ali Cogia resolved to lay the cause of the

quarrel before them, and told them the whole story. They heard him to

the end, and inquired of the merchant what he had to say.

The accused man admitted that he had kept Ali Cogia's vase in his shop;

but he denied having touched it, and swore that as to what it contained

he only knew what Ali Cogia had told him, and called them all to

witness the insult that had been put upon him.

"You have brought it on yourself," said Ali Cogia, taking him by the

arm, "and as you appeal to the law, the law you shall have! Let us see

if you will dare to repeat your story before the Cadi."

Now as a good Mussulman the merchant was forbidden to refuse this

choice of a judge, so he accepted the test, and said to Ali Cogia,

"Very well; I should like nothing better. We shall soon see which of

us is in the right."

So the two men presented themselves before the Cadi, and Ali Cogia

again repeated his tale. The Cadi asked what witnesses he had. Ali

Cogia replied that he had not taken this precaution, as he had

considered the man his friend, and up to that time had always found him

honest.

The merchant, on his side, stuck to his story, and offered to swear

solemnly that not only had he never stolen the thousand gold pieces,

but that he did not even know they were there. The Cadi allowed him to

take the oath, and pronounced him innocent.

Ali Cogia, furious at having to suffer such a loss, protested against

the verdict, declaring that he would appeal to the Caliph,

Haroun-al-Raschid, himself. But the Cadi paid no attention to his

threats, and was quite satisfied that he had done what was right.

Judgment being given the merchant returned home triumphant, and Ali

Cogia went back to his inn to draw up a petition to the Caliph. The

next morning he placed himself on the road along which the Caliph must

pass after mid-day prayer, and stretched out his petition to the

officer who walked before the Caliph, whose duty it was to collect such

things, and on entering the palace to hand them to his master. There

Haroun-al-Raschid studied them carefully.

Knowing this custom, Ali Cogia followed the Caliph into the public hall

of the palace, and waited the result. After some time the officer

appeared, and told him that the Caliph had read his petition, and had

appointed an hour the next morning to give him audience. He then

inquired the merchant's address, so that he might be summoned to attend

also.

That very evening, the Caliph, with his grand-vizir Giafar, and

Mesrour, chief of the eunuchs, all three disguised, as was their habit,

went out to take a stroll through the town.

Going down one street, the Caliph's attention was attracted by a noise,

and looking through a door which opened into a court he perceived ten

or twelve children playing in the moonlight. He hid himself in a dark

corner, and watched them.

"Let us play at being the Cadi," said the brightest and quickest of

them all; "I will be the Cadi. Bring before me Ali Cogia, and the

merchant who robbed him of the thousand pieces of gold."

The boy's words recalled to the Caliph the petition he had read that

morning, and he waited with interest to see what the children would do.

The proposal was hailed with joy by the other children, who had heard a

great deal of talk about the matter, and they quickly settled the part

each one was to play. The Cadi took his seat gravely, and an officer

introduced first Ali Cogia, the plaintiff, and then the merchant who

was the defendant.

Ali Cogia made a low bow, and pleaded his cause point by point;

concluding by imploring the Cadi not to inflict on him such a heavy

loss.

The Cadi having heard his case, turned to the merchant, and inquired

why he had not repaid Ali Cogia the sum in question.

The false merchant repeated the reasons that the real merchant had

given to the Cadi of Bagdad, and also offered to swear that he had told

the truth.

"Stop a moment!" said the little Cadi, "before we come to oaths, I

should like to examine the vase with the olives. Ali Cogia," he added,

"have you got the vase with you?" and finding he had not, the Cadi

continued, "Go and get it, and bring it to me."

So Ali Cogia disappeared for an instant, and then pretended to lay a

vase at the feet of the Cadi, declaring it was his vase, which he had

given to the accused for safe custody; and in order to be quite

correct, the Cadi asked the merchant if he recognised it as the same

vase. By his silence the merchant admitted the fact, and the Cadi then

commanded to have the vase opened. Ali Cogia made a movement as if he

was taking off the lid, and the little Cadi on his part made a pretence

of peering into a vase.

"What beautiful olives!" he said, "I should like to taste one," and

pretending to put one in his mouth, he added, "they are really

excellent!

"But," he went on, "it seems to me odd that olives seven years old

should be as good as that! Send for some dealers in olives, and let us

hear what they say!"

Two children were presented to him as olive merchants, and the Cadi

addressed them. "Tell me," he said, "how long can olives be kept so as

to be pleasant eating?"

"My lord," replied the merchants, "however much care is taken to

preserve them, they never last beyond the third year. They lose both

taste and colour, and are only fit to be thrown away."

"If that is so," answered the little Cadi, "examine this vase, and tell

me how long the olives have been in it."

The olive merchants pretended to examine the olives and taste them;

then reported to the Cadi that they were fresh and good.

"You are mistaken," said he, "Ali Cogia declares he put them in that

vase seven years ago."

"My lord," returned the olive merchants, "we can assure you that the

olives are those of the present year. And if you consult all the

merchants in Bagdad you will not find one to give a contrary opinion."

The accused merchant opened his mouth as if to protest, but the Cadi

gave him no time. "Be silent," he said, "you are a thief. Take him

away and hang him." So the game ended, the children clapping their

hands in applause, and leading the criminal away to be hanged.

Haroun-al-Raschid was lost in astonishment at the wisdom of the child,

who had given so wise a verdict on the case which he himself was to

hear on the morrow. "Is there any other verdict possible?" he asked

the grand-vizir, who was as much impressed as himself. "I can imagine

no better judgment."

"If the circumstances are really such as we have heard," replied the

grand-vizir, "it seems to me your Highness could only follow the

example of this boy, in the method of reasoning, and also in your

conclusions."

"Then take careful note of this house," said the Caliph, "and bring me

the boy to-morrow, so that the affair may be tried by him in my

presence. Summon also the Cadi, to learn his duty from the mouth of a

child. Bid Ali Cogia bring his vase of olives, and see that two

dealers in olives are present." So saying the Caliph returned to the

palace.

The next morning early, the grand-vizir went back to the house where

they had seen the children playing, and asked for the mistress and her

children. Three boys appeared, and the grand-vizir inquired which had

represented the Cadi in their game of the previous evening. The eldest

and tallest, changing colour, confessed that it was he, and to his

mother's great alarm, the grand-vizir said that he had strict orders to

bring him into the presence of the Caliph.

"Does he want to take my son from me?" cried the poor woman; but the

grand-vizir hastened to calm her, by assuring her that she should have

the boy again in an hour, and she would be quite satisfied when she

knew the reason of the summons. So she dressed the boy in his best

clothes, and the two left the house.

When the grand-vizir presented the child to the Caliph, he was a little

awed and confused, and the Caliph proceeded to explain why he had sent

for him. "Approach, my son," he said kindly. "I think it was you who

judged the case of Ali Cogia and the merchant last night? I overheard

you by chance, and was very pleased with the way you conducted it.

To-day you will see the real Ali Cogia and the real merchant. Seat

yourself at once next to me."

The Caliph being seated on his throne with the boy next him, the

parties to the suit were ushered in. One by one they prostrated

themselves, and touched the carpet at the foot of the throne with their

foreheads. When they rose up, the Caliph said: "Now speak. This

child will give you justice, and if more should be wanted I will see to

it myself."

Ali Cogia and the merchant pleaded one after the other, but when the

merchant offered to swear the same oath that he had taken before the

Cadi, he was stopped by the child, who said that before this was done

he must first see the vase of olives.

At these words, Ali Cogia presented the vase to the Caliph, and

uncovered it. The Caliph took one of the olives, tasted it, and

ordered the expert merchants to do the same. They pronounced the

olives good, and fresh that year. The boy informed them that Ali Cogia

declared it was seven years since he had placed them in the vase; to

which they returned the same answer as the children had done.

The accused merchant saw by this time that his condemnation was

certain, and tried to allege something in his defence. The boy had too

much sense to order him to be hanged, and looked at the Caliph, saying,

"Commander of the Faithful, this is not a game now; it is for your

Highness to condemn him to death and not for me."

Then the Caliph, convinced that the man was a thief, bade them take him

away and hang him, which was done, but not before he had confessed his

guilt and the place in which he had hidden Ali Cogia's money. The

Caliph ordered the Cadi to learn how to deal out justice from the mouth

of a child, and sent the boy home, with a purse containing a hundred

pieces of gold as a mark of his favour.

The Enchanted Horse

It was the Feast of the New Year, the oldest and most splendid of all

the feasts in the Kingdom of Persia, and the day had been spent by the

king in the city of Schiraz, taking part in the magnificent spectacles

prepared by his subjects to do honour to the festival. The sun was

setting, and the monarch was about to give his court the signal to

retire, when suddenly an Indian appeared before his throne, leading a

horse richly harnessed, and looking in every respect exactly like a

real one.

"Sire," said he, prostrating himself as he spoke, "although I make my

appearance so late before your Highness, I can confidently assure you

that none of the wonders you have seen during the day can be compared

to this horse, if you will deign to cast your eyes upon him."

"I see nothing in it," replied the king, "except a clever imitation of

a real one; and any skilled workman might do as much."

"Sire," returned the Indian, "it is not of his outward form that I

would speak, but of the use that I can make of him. I have only to

mount him, and to wish myself in some special place, and no matter how

distant it may be, in a very few moments I shall find myself there. It

is this, Sire, that makes the horse so marvellous, and if your Highness

will allow me, you can prove it for yourself."

The King of Persia, who was interested in every thing out of the

common, and had never before come across a horse with such qualities,

bade the Indian mount the animal, and show what he could do. In an

instant the man had vaulted on his back, and inquired where the monarch

wished to send him.

"Do you see that mountain?" asked the king, pointing to a huge mass

that towered into the sky about three leagues from Schiraz; "go and

bring me the leaf of a palm that grows at the foot."

The words were hardly out of the king's mouth when the Indian turned a

screw placed in the horse's neck, close to the saddle, and the animal

bounded like lightning up into the air, and was soon beyond the sight

even of the sharpest eyes. In a quarter of an hour the Indian was seen

returning, bearing in his hand the palm, and, guiding his horse to the

foot of the throne, he dismounted, and laid the leaf before the king.

Now the monarch had no sooner proved the astonishing speed of which the

horse was capable than he longed to possess it himself, and indeed, so

sure was he that the Indian would be quite ready to sell it, that he

looked upon it as his own already.

"I never guessed from his mere outside how valuable an animal he was,"

he remarked to the Indian, "and I am grateful to you for having shown

me my error," said he. "If you will sell it, name your own price."

"Sire," replied the Indian, "I never doubted that a sovereign so wise

and accomplished as your Highness would do justice to my horse, when he

once knew its power; and I even went so far as to think it probable

that you might wish to possess it. Greatly as I prize it, I will yield

it up to your Highness on one condition. The horse was not constructed

by me, but it was given me by the inventor, in exchange for my only

daughter, who made me take a solemn oath that I would never part with

it, except for some object of equal value."

"Name anything you like," cried the monarch, interrupting him. "My

kingdom is large, and filled with fair cities. You have only to choose

which you would prefer, to become its ruler to the end of your life."

"Sire," answered the Indian, to whom the proposal did not seem nearly

so generous as it appeared to the king, "I am most grateful to your

Highness for your princely offer, and beseech you not to be offended

with me if I say that I can only deliver up my horse in exchange for

the hand of the princess your daughter."

A shout of laughter burst from the courtiers as they heard these words,

and Prince Firouz Schah, the heir apparent, was filled with anger at

the Indian's presumption. The king, however, thought that it would not

cost him much to part from the princess in order to gain such a

delightful toy, and while he was hesitating as to his answer the prince

broke in.

"Sire," he said, "it is not possible that you can doubt for an instant

what reply you should give to such an insolent bargain. Consider what

you owe to yourself, and to the blood of your ancestors."

"My son," replied the king, "you speak nobly, but you do not realise

either the value of the horse, or the fact that if I reject the

proposal of the Indian, he will only make the same to some other

monarch, and I should be filled with despair at the thought that anyone

but myself should own this Seventh Wonder of the World. Of course I do

not say that I shall accept his conditions, and perhaps he may be

brought to reason, but meanwhile I should like you to examine the

horse, and, with the owner's permission, to make trial of its powers."

The Indian, who had overheard the king's speech, thought that he saw in

it signs of yielding to his proposal, so he joyfully agreed to the

monarch's wishes, and came forward to help the prince to mount the

horse, and show him how to guide it: but, before he had finished, the

young man turned the screw, and was soon out of sight.

They waited some time, expecting that every moment he might be seen

returning in the distance, but at length the Indian grew frightened,

and prostrating himself before the throne, he said to the king, "Sire,

your Highness must have noticed that the prince, in his impatience, did

not allow me to tell him what it was necessary to do in order to return

to the place from which he started. I implore you not to punish me for

what was not my fault, and not to visit on me any misfortune that may

occur."

"But why," cried the king in a burst of fear and anger, "why did you

not call him back when you saw him disappearing?"

"Sire," replied the Indian, "the rapidity of his movements took me so

by surprise that he was out of hearing before I recovered my speech.

But we must hope that he will perceive and turn a second screw, which

will have the effect of bringing the horse back to earth."

"But supposing he does!" answered the king, "what is to hinder the

horse from descending straight into the sea, or dashing him to pieces

on the rocks?"

"Have no fears, your Highness," said the Indian; "the horse has the

gift of passing over seas, and of carrying his rider wherever he wishes

to go."

"Well, your head shall answer for it," returned the monarch, "and if in

three months he is not safe back with me, or at any rate does not send

me news of his safety, your life shall pay the penalty." So saying, he

ordered his guards to seize the Indian and throw him into prison.

Meanwhile, Prince Firouz Schah had gone gaily up into the air, and for

the space of an hour continued to ascend higher and higher, till the

very mountains were not distinguishable from the plains. Then he began

to think it was time to come down, and took for granted that, in order

to do this, it was only needful to turn the screw the reverse way; but,

to his surprise and horror, he found that, turn as he might, he did not

make the smallest impression. He then remembered that he had never

waited to ask how he was to get back to earth again, and understood the

danger in which he stood. Luckily, he did not lose his head, and set

about examining the horse's neck with great care, till at last, to his

intense joy, he discovered a tiny little peg, much smaller than the

other, close to the right ear. This he turned, and found him-self

dropping to the earth, though more slowly than he had left it.

It was now dark, and as the prince could see nothing, he was obliged,

not without some feeling of disquiet, to allow the horse to direct his

own course, and midnight was already passed before Prince Firouz Schah

again touched the ground, faint and weary from his long ride, and from

the fact that he had eaten nothing since early morning.

The first thing he did on dismounting was to try to find out where he

was, and, as far as he could discover in the thick darkness, he found

himself on the terraced roof of a huge palace, with a balustrade of

marble running round. In one corner of the terrace stood a small door,

opening on to a staircase which led down into the palace.

Some people might have hesitated before exploring further, but not so

the prince. "I am doing no harm," he said, "and whoever the owner may

be, he will not touch me when he sees I am unarmed," and in dread of

making a false step, he went cautiously down the staircase. On a

landing, he noticed an open door, beyond which was a faintly lighted

hall.

Before entering, the prince paused and listened, but he heard nothing

except the sound of men snoring. By the light of a lantern suspended

from the roof, he perceived a row of black guards sleeping, each with a

naked sword lying by him, and he understood that the hall must form the

ante-room to the chamber of some queen or princess.

Standing quite still, Prince Firouz Schah looked about him, till his

eyes grew accustomed to the gloom, and he noticed a bright light

shining through a curtain in one corner. He then made his way softly

towards it, and, drawing aside its folds, passed into a magnificent

chamber full of sleeping women, all lying on low couches, except one,

who was on a sofa; and this one, he knew, must be the princess.

Gently stealing up to the side of her bed he looked at her, and saw

that she was more beautiful than any woman he had ever beheld. But,

fascinated though he was, he was well aware of the danger of his

position, as one cry of surprise would awake the guards, and cause his

certain death.

So sinking quietly on his knees, he took hold of the sleeve of the

princess and drew her arm lightly towards him. The princess opened her

eyes, and seeing before her a handsome well-dressed man, she remained

speechless with astonishment.

This favourable moment was seized by the prince, who bowing low while

he knelt, thus addressed her:

"You behold, madame, a prince in distress, son to the King of Persia,

who, owing to an adventure so strange that you will scarcely believe

it, finds himself here, a suppliant for your protection. But

yesterday, I was in my father's court, engaged in the celebration of

our most solemn festival; to-day, I am in an unknown land, in danger of

my life."

Now the princess whose mercy Prince Firouz Schah implored was the

eldest daughter of the King of Bengal, who was enjoying rest and change

in the palace her father had built her, at a little distance from the

capital. She listened kindly to what he had to say, and then answered:

"Prince, be not uneasy; hospitality and humanity are practised as

widely in Bengal as they are in Persia. The protection you ask will be

given you by all. You have my word for it." And as the prince was

about to thank her for her goodness, she added quickly, "However great

may be my curiosity to learn by what means you have travelled here so

speedily, I know that you must be faint for want of food, so I shall

give orders to my women to take you to one of my chambers, where you

will be provided with supper, and left to repose."

By this time the princess's attendants were all awake, and listening to

the conversation. At a sign from their mistress they rose, dressed

themselves hastily, and snatching up some of the tapers which lighted

the room, conducted the prince to a large and lofty room, where two of

the number prepared his bed, and the rest went down to the kitchen,

from which they soon returned with all sorts of dishes. Then, showing

him cupboards filled with dresses and linen, they quitted the room.

During their absence the Princess of Bengal, who had been greatly

struck by the beauty of the prince, tried in vain to go to sleep again.

It was of no use: she felt broad awake, and when her women entered the

room, she inquired eagerly if the prince had all he wanted, and what

they thought of him.

"Madame," they replied, "it is of course impossible for us to tell what

impression this young man has made on you. For ourselves, we think you

would be fortunate if the king your father should allow you to marry

anyone so amiable. Certainly there is no one in the Court of Bengal

who can be compared with him."

These flattering observations were by no means displeasing to the

princess, but as she did not wish to betray her own feelings she merely

said, "You are all a set of chatterboxes; go back to bed, and let me

sleep."

When she dressed the following morning, her maids noticed that,

contrary to her usual habit, the princess was very particular about her

toilette, and insisted on her hair being dressed two or three times

over. "For," she said to herself, "if my appearance was not

displeasing to the prince when he saw me in the condition I was, how

much more will he be struck with me when he beholds me with all my

charms."

Then she placed in her hair the largest and most brilliant diamonds she

could find, with a necklace, bracelets and girdle, all of precious

stones. And over her shoulders her ladies put a robe of the richest

stuff in all the Indies, that no one was allowed to wear except members

of the royal family. When she was fully dressed according to her

wishes, she sent to know if the Prince of Persia was awake and ready to

receive her, as she desired to present herself before him.

When the princess's messenger entered his room, Prince Firouz Schah was

in the act of leaving it, to inquire if he might be allowed to pay his

homage to her mistress: but on hearing the princess's wishes, he at

once gave way. "Her will is my law," he said, "I am only here to obey

her orders."

In a few moments the princess herself appeared, and after the usual

compliments had passed between them, the princess sat down on a sofa,

and began to explain to the prince her reasons for not giving him an

audience in her own apartments. "Had I done so," she said, "we might

have been interrupted at any hour by the chief of the eunuchs, who has

the right to enter whenever it pleases him, whereas this is forbidden

ground. I am all impatience to learn the wonderful accident which has

procured the pleasure of your arrival, and that is why I have come to

you here, where no one can intrude upon us. Begin then, I entreat you,

without delay."

So the prince began at the beginning, and told all the story of the

festival of Nedrouz held yearly in Persia, and of the splendid

spectacles celebrated in its honour. But when he came to the enchanted

horse, the princess declared that she could never have imagined

anything half so surprising. "Well then," continued the prince, "you

can easily understand how the King my father, who has a passion for all

curious things, was seized with a violent desire to possess this horse,

and asked the Indian what sum he would take for it.

"The man's answer was absolutely absurd, as you will agree, when I tell

you that it was nothing less than the hand of the princess my sister;

but though all the bystanders laughed and mocked, and I was beside

myself with rage, I saw to my despair that my father could not make up

his mind to treat the insolent proposal as it deserved. I tried to

argue with him, but in vain. He only begged me to examine the horse

with a view (as I quite understood) of making me more sensible of its

value."

"To please my father, I mounted the horse, and, without waiting for any

instructions from the Indian, turned the peg as I had seen him do. In

an instant I was soaring upwards, much quicker than an arrow could fly,

and I felt as if I must be getting so near the sky that I should soon

hit my head against it! I could see nothing beneath me, and for some

time was so confused that I did not even know in what direction I was

travelling. At last, when it was growing dark, I found another screw,

and on turning it, the horse began slowly to sink towards the earth. I

was forced to trust to chance, and to see what fate had in store, and

it was already past midnight when I found myself on the roof of this

palace. I crept down the little staircase, and made directly for a

light which I perceived through an open door--I peeped cautiously in,

and saw, as you will guess, the eunuchs lying asleep on the floor. I

knew the risks I ran, but my need was so great that I paid no attention

to them, and stole safely past your guards, to the curtain which

concealed your doorway.

"The rest, Princess, you know; and it only remains for me to thank you

for the kindness you have shown me, and to assure you of my gratitude.

By the law of nations, I am already your slave, and I have only my

heart, that is my own, to offer you. But what am I saying? My own?

Alas, madame, it was yours from the first moment I beheld you!"

The air with which he said these words could have left no doubt on the

mind of the princess as to the effect of her charms, and the blush

which mounted to her face only increased her beauty.

"Prince," returned she as soon as her confusion permitted her to speak,

"you have given me the greatest pleasure, and I have followed you

closely in all your adventures, and though you are positively sitting

before me, I even trembled at your danger in the upper regions of the

air! Let me say what a debt I owe to the chance that has led you to my

house; you could have entered none which would have given you a warmer

welcome. As to your being a slave, of course that is merely a joke,

and my reception must itself have assured you that you are as free here

as at your father's court. As to your heart," continued she in tones

of encouragement, "I am quite sure that must have been disposed of long

ago, to some princess who is well worthy of it, and I could not think

of being the cause of your unfaithfulness to her."

Prince Firouz Schah was about to protest that there was no lady with

any prior claims, but he was stopped by the entrance of one of the

princess's attendants, who announced that dinner was served, and, after

all, neither was sorry for the interruption.

Dinner was laid in a magnificent apartment, and the table was covered

with delicious fruits; while during the repast richly dressed girls

sang softly and sweetly to stringed instruments. After the prince and

princess had finished, they passed into a small room hung with blue and

gold, looking out into a garden stocked with flowers and arbutus trees,

quite different from any that were to be found in Persia.

"Princess," observed the young man, "till now I had always believed

that Persia could boast finer palaces and more lovely gardens than any

kingdom upon earth. But my eyes have been opened, and I begin to

perceive that, wherever there is a great king he will surround himself

with buildings worthy of him."

"Prince," replied the Princess of Bengal, "I have no idea what a

Persian palace is like, so I am unable to make comparisons. I do not

wish to depreciate my own palace, but I can assure you that it is very

poor beside that of the King my father, as you will agree when you have

been there to greet him, as I hope you will shortly do."

Now the princess hoped that, by bringing about a meeting between the

prince and her father, the King would be so struck with the young man's

distinguished air and fine manners, that he would offer him his

daughter to wife. But the reply of the Prince of Persia to her

suggestion was not quite what she wished.

"Madame," he said, "by taking advantage of your proposal to visit the

palace of the King of Bengal, I should satisfy not merely my curiosity,

but also the sentiments of respect with which I regard him. But,

Princess, I am persuaded that you will feel with me, that I cannot

possibly present myself before so great a sovereign without the

attendants suitable to my rank. He would think me an adventurer."

"If that is all," she answered, "you can get as many attendants here as

you please. There are plenty of Persian merchants, and as for money,

my treasury is always open to you. Take what you please."

Prince Firouz Schah guessed what prompted so much kindness on the part

of the princess, and was much touched by it. Still his passion, which

increased every moment, did not make him forget his duty. So he

replied without hesitation:

"I do not know, Princess, how to express my gratitude for your obliging

offer, which I would accept at once if it were not for the recollection

of all the uneasiness the King my father must be suffering on my

account. I should be unworthy indeed of all the love he showers upon

me, if I did not return to him at the first possible moment. For,

while I am enjoying the society of the most amiable of all princesses,

he is, I am quite convinced, plunged in the deepest grief, having lost

all hope of seeing me again. I am sure you will understand my

position, and will feel that to remain away one instant longer than is

necessary would not only be ungrateful on my part, but perhaps even a

crime, for how do I know if my absence may not break his heart?

"But," continued the prince, "having obeyed the voice of my conscience,

I shall count the moments when, with your gracious permission, I may

present myself before the King of Bengal, not as a wanderer, but as a

prince, to implore the favour of your hand. My father has always

informed me that in my marriage I shall be left quite free, but I am

persuaded that I have only to describe your generosity, for my wishes

to become his own."

The Princess of Bengal was too reasonable not to accept the explanation

offered by Prince Firouz Schah, but she was much disturbed at his

intention of departing at once, for she feared that, no sooner had he

left her, than the impression she had made on him would fade away. So

she made one more effort to keep him, and after assuring him that she

entirely approved of his anxiety to see his father, begged him to give

her a day or two more of his company.

In common politeness the prince could hardly refuse this request, and

the princess set about inventing every kind of amusement for him, and

succeeded so well that two months slipped by almost unnoticed, in

balls, spectacles and in hunting, of which, when unattended by danger,

the princess was passionately fond. But at last, one day, he declared

seriously that he could neglect his duty no longer, and entreated her

to put no further obstacles in his way, promising at the same time to

return, as soon as he could, with all the magnificence due both to her

and to himself.

"Princess," he added, "it may be that in your heart you class me with

those false lovers whose devotion cannot stand the test of absence. If

you do, you wrong me; and were it not for fear of offending you, I

would beseech you to come with me, for my life can only be happy when

passed with you. As for your reception at the Persian Court, it will

be as warm as your merits deserve; and as for what concerns the King of

Bengal, he must be much more indifferent to your welfare than you have

led me to believe if he does not give his consent to our marriage."

The princess could not find words in which to reply to the arguments of

the Prince of Persia, but her silence and her downcast eyes spoke for

her, and declared that she had no objection to accompanying him on his

travels.

The only difficulty that occurred to her was that Prince Firouz Schah

did not know how to manage the horse, and she dreaded lest they might

find themselves in the same plight as before. But the prince soothed

her fears so successfully, that she soon had no other thought than to

arrange for their flight so secretly, that no one in the palace should

suspect it.

This was done, and early the following morning, when the whole palace

was wrapped in sleep, she stole up on to the roof, where the prince was

already awaiting her, with his horse's head towards Persia. He mounted

first and helped the princess up behind; then, when she was firmly

seated, with her hands holding tightly to his belt, he touched the

screw, and the horse began to leave the earth quickly behind him.

He travelled with his accustomed speed, and Prince Firouz Schah guided

him so well that in two hours and a half from the time of starting, he

saw the capital of Persia lying beneath him. He determined to alight

neither in the great square from which he had started, nor in the

Sultan's palace, but in a country house at a little distance from the

town. Here he showed the princess a beautiful suite of rooms, and

begged her to rest, while he informed his father of their arrival, and

prepared a public reception worthy of her rank. Then he ordered a

horse to be saddled, and set out.

All the way through the streets he was welcomed with shouts of joy by

the people, who had long lost all hope of seeing him again. On

reaching the palace, he found the Sultan surrounded by his ministers,

all clad in the deepest mourning, and his father almost went out of his

mind with surprise and delight at the mere sound of his son's voice.

When he had calmed down a little, he begged the prince to relate his

adventures.

The prince at once seized the opening thus given him, and told the

whole story of his treatment by the Princess of Bengal, not even

concealing the fact that she had fallen in love with him. "And, Sire,"

ended the prince, "having given my royal word that you would not refuse

your consent to our marriage, I persuaded her to return with me on the

Indian's horse. I have left her in one of your Highness's country

houses, where she is waiting anxiously to be assured that I have not

promised in vain."

As he said this the prince was about to throw himself at the feet of

the Sultan, but his father prevented him, and embracing him again, said

eagerly:

"My son, not only do I gladly consent to your marriage with the

Princess of Bengal, but I will hasten to pay my respects to her, and to

thank her in my own person for the benefits she has conferred on you.

I will then bring her back with me, and make all arrangements for the

wedding to be celebrated to-day."

So the Sultan gave orders that the habits of mourning worn by the

people should be thrown off and that there should be a concert of

drums, trumpets and cymbals. Also that the Indian should be taken from

prison, and brought before him.

His commands were obeyed, and the Indian was led into his presence,

surrounded by guards. "I have kept you locked up," said the Sultan,

"so that in case my son was lost, your life should pay the penalty. He

has now returned; so take your horse, and begone for ever."

The Indian hastily quitted the presence of the Sultan, and when he was

outside, he inquired of the man who had taken him out of prison where

the prince had really been all this time, and what he had been doing.

They told him the whole story, and how the Princess of Bengal was even

then awaiting in the country palace the consent of the Sultan, which at

once put into the Indian's head a plan of revenge for the treatment he

had experienced. Going straight to the country house, he informed the

doorkeeper who was left in charge that he had been sent by the Sultan

and by the Prince of Persia to fetch the princess on the enchanted

horse, and to bring her to the palace.

The doorkeeper knew the Indian by sight, and was of course aware that

nearly three months before he had been thrown into prison by the

Sultan; and seeing him at liberty, the man took for granted that he was

speaking the truth, and made no difficulty about leading him before the

Princess of Bengal; while on her side, hearing that he had come from

the prince, the lady gladly consented to do what he wished.

The Indian, delighted with the success of his scheme, mounted the

horse, assisted the princess to mount behind him, and turned the peg at

the very moment that the prince was leaving the palace in Schiraz for

the country house, followed closely by the Sultan and all the court.

Knowing this, the Indian deliberately steered the horse right above the

city, in order that his revenge for his unjust imprisonment might be

all the quicker and sweeter.

When the Sultan of Persia saw the horse and its riders, he stopped

short with astonishment and horror, and broke out into oaths and

curses, which the Indian heard quite unmoved, knowing that he was

perfectly safe from pursuit. But mortified and furious as the Sultan

was, his feelings were nothing to those of Prince Firouz Schah, when he

saw the object of his passionate devotion being borne rapidly away.

And while he was struck speechless with grief and remorse at not having

guarded her better, she vanished swiftly out of his sight. What was he

to do? Should he follow his father into the palace, and there give

reins to his despair? Both his love and his courage alike forbade it;

and he continued his way to the palace.

The sight of the prince showed the doorkeeper of what folly he had been

guilty, and flinging himself at his master's feet, implored his pardon.

"Rise," said the prince, "I am the cause of this misfortune, and not

you. Go and find me the dress of a dervish, but beware of saying it is

for me."

At a short distance from the country house, a convent of dervishes was

situated, and the superior, or scheih, was the doorkeeper's friend. So

by means of a false story made up on the spur of the moment, it was

easy enough to get hold of a dervish's dress, which the prince at once

put on, instead of his own. Disguised like this and concealing about

him a box of pearls and diamonds he had intended as a present to the

princess, he left the house at nightfall, uncertain where he should go,

but firmly resolved not to return without her.

Meanwhile the Indian had turned the horse in such a direction that,

before many hours had passed, it had entered a wood close to the

capital of the kingdom of Cashmere. Feeling very hungry, and supposing

that the princess also might be in want of food, he brought his steed

down to the earth, and left the princess in a shady place, on the banks

of a clear stream.

At first, when the princess had found herself alone, the idea had

occurred to her of trying to escape and hide herself. But as she had

eaten scarcely anything since she had left Bengal, she felt she was too

weak to venture far, and was obliged to abandon her design. On the

return of the Indian with meats of various kinds, she began to eat

voraciously, and soon had regained sufficient courage to reply with

spirit to his insolent remarks. Goaded by his threats she sprang to

her feet, calling loudly for help, and luckily her cries were heard by

a troop of horsemen, who rode up to inquire what was the matter.

Now the leader of these horsemen was the Sultan of Cashmere, returning

from the chase, and he instantly turned to the Indian to inquire who he

was, and whom he had with him. The Indian rudely answered that it was

his wife, and there was no occasion for anyone else to interfere

between them.

The princess, who, of course, was ignorant of the rank of her

deliverer, denied altogether the Indian's story. "My lord," she cried,

"whoever you may be, put no faith in this impostor. He is an

abominable magician, who has this day torn me from the Prince of

Persia, my destined husband, and has brought me here on this enchanted

horse." She would have continued, but her tears choked her, and the

Sultan of Cashmere, convinced by her beauty and her distinguished air

of the truth of her tale, ordered his followers to cut off the Indian's

head, which was done immediately.

But rescued though she was from one peril, it seemed as if she had only

fallen into another. The Sultan commanded a horse to be given her, and

conducted her to his own palace, where he led her to a beautiful

apartment, and selected female slaves to wait on her, and eunuchs to be

her guard. Then, without allowing her time to thank him for all he had

done, he bade her repose, saying she should tell him her adventures on

the following day.

The princess fell asleep, flattering herself that she had only to

relate her story for the Sultan to be touched by compassion, and to

restore her to the prince without delay. But a few hours were to

undeceive her.

When the King of Cashmere had quitted her presence the evening before,

he had resolved that the sun should not set again without the princess

becoming his wife, and at daybreak proclamation of his intention was

made throughout the town, by the sound of drums, trumpets, cymbals, and

other instruments calculated to fill the heart with joy. The Princess

of Bengal was early awakened by the noise, but she did not for one

moment imagine that it had anything to do with her, till the Sultan,

arriving as soon as she was dressed to inquire after her health,

informed her that the trumpet blasts she heard were part of the solemn

marriage ceremonies, for which he begged her to prepare. This

unexpected announcement caused the princess such terror that she sank

down in a dead faint.

The slaves that were in waiting ran to her aid, and the Sultan himself

did his best to bring her back to consciousness, but for a long while

it was all to no purpose. At length her senses began slowly to come

back to her, and then, rather than break faith with the Prince of

Persia by consenting to such a marriage, she determined to feign

madness. So she began by saying all sorts of absurdities, and using

all kinds of strange gestures, while the Sultan stood watching her with

sorrow and surprise. But as this sudden seizure showed no sign of

abating, he left her to her women, ordering them to take the greatest

care of her. Still, as the day went on, the malady seemed to become

worse, and by night it was almost violent.

Days passed in this manner, till at last the Sultan of Cashmere decided

to summon all the doctors of his court to consult together over her sad

state. Their answer was that madness is of so many different kinds

that it was impossible to give an opinion on the case without seeing

the princess, so the Sultan gave orders that they were to be introduced

into her chamber, one by one, every man according to his rank.

This decision had been foreseen by the princess, who knew quite well

that if once she allowed the physicians to feel her pulse, the most

ignorant of them would discover that she was in perfectly good health,

and that her madness was feigned, so as each man approached, she broke

out into such violent paroxysms, that not one dared to lay a finger on

her. A few, who pretended to be cleverer than the rest, declared that

they could diagnose sick people only from sight, ordered her certain

potions, which she made no difficulty about taking, as she was

persuaded they were all harmless.

When the Sultan of Cashmere saw that the court doctors could do nothing

towards curing the princess, he called in those of the city, who fared

no better. Then he had recourse to the most celebrated physicians in

the other large towns, but finding that the task was beyond their

science, he finally sent messengers into the other neighbouring states,

with a memorandum containing full particulars of the princess's

madness, offering at the same time to pay the expenses of any physician

who would come and see for himself, and a handsome reward to the one

who should cure her. In answer to this proclamation many foreign

professors flocked into Cashmere, but they naturally were not more

successful than the rest had been, as the cure depended neither on them

nor their skill, but only on the princess herself.

It was during this time that Prince Firouz Schah, wandering sadly and

hopelessly from place to place, arrived in a large city of India, where

he heard a great deal of talk about the Princess of Bengal who had gone

out of her senses, on the very day that she was to have been married to

the Sultan of Cashmere. This was quite enough to induce him to take

the road to Cashmere, and to inquire at the first inn at which he

lodged in the capital the full particulars of the story. When he knew

that he had at last found the princess whom he had so long lost, he set

about devising a plan for her rescue.

The first thing he did was to procure a doctor's robe, so that his

dress, added to the long beard he had allowed to grow on his travels,

might unmistakably proclaim his profession. He then lost no time in

going to the palace, where he obtained an audience of the chief usher,

and while apologising for his boldness in presuming to think that he

could cure the princess, where so many others had failed, declared that

he had the secret of certain remedies, which had hitherto never failed

of their effect.

The chief usher assured him that he was heartily welcome, and that the

Sultan would receive him with pleasure; and in case of success, he

would gain a magnificent reward.

When the Prince of Persia, in the disguise of a physician, was brought

before him, the Sultan wasted no time in talking, beyond remarking that

the mere sight of a doctor threw the princess into transports of rage.

He then led the prince up to a room under the roof, which had an

opening through which he might observe the princess, without himself

being seen.

The prince looked, and beheld the princess reclining on a sofa with

tears in her eyes, singing softly to herself a song bewailing her sad

destiny, which had deprived her, perhaps for ever, of a being she so

tenderly loved. The young man's heart beat fast as he listened, for he

needed no further proof that her madness was feigned, and that it was

love of him which had caused her to resort to this species of trick.

He softly left his hiding-place, and returned to the Sultan, to whom he

reported that he was sure from certain signs that the princess's malady

was not incurable, but that he must see her and speak with her alone.

The Sultan made no difficulty in consenting to this, and commanded that

he should be ushered in to the princess's apartment. The moment she

caught sight of his physician's robe, she sprang from her seat in a

fury, and heaped insults upon him. The prince took no notice of her

behaviour, and approaching quite close, so that his words might be

heard by her alone, he said in a low whisper, "Look at me, princess,

and you will see that I am no doctor, but the Prince of Persia, who has

come to set you free."

At the sound of his voice, the Princess of Bengal suddenly grew calm,

and an expression of joy overspread her face, such as only comes when

what we wish for most and expect the least suddenly happens to us. For

some time she was too enchanted to speak, and Prince Firouz Schah took

advantage of her silence to explain to her all that had occurred, his

despair at watching her disappear before his very eyes, the oath he had

sworn to follow her over the world, and his rapture at finally

discovering her in the palace at Cashmere. When he had finished, he

begged in his turn that the princess would tell him how she had come

there, so that he might the better devise some means of rescuing her

from the tyranny of the Sultan.

It needed but a few words from the princess to make him acquainted with

the whole situation, and how she had been forced to play the part of a

mad woman in order to escape from a marriage with the Sultan, who had

not had sufficient politeness even to ask her consent. If necessary,

she added, she had resolved to die sooner than permit herself to be

forced into such a union, and break faith with a prince whom she loved.

The prince then inquired if she knew what had become of the enchanted

horse since the Indian's death, but the princess could only reply that

she had heard nothing about it. Still she did not suppose that the

horse could have been forgotten by the Sultan, after all she had told

him of its value.

To this the prince agreed, and they consulted together over a plan by

which she might be able to make her escape and return with him into

Persia. And as the first step, she was to dress herself with care, and

receive the Sultan with civility when he visited her next morning.

The Sultan was transported with delight on learning the result of the

interview, and his opinion of the doctor's skill was raised still

higher when, on the following day, the princess behaved towards him in

such a way as to persuade him that her complete cure would not be long

delayed. However he contented himself with assuring her how happy he

was to see her health so much improved, and exhorted her to make every

use of so clever a physician, and to repose entire confidence in him.

Then he retired, without awaiting any reply from the princess.

The Prince of Persia left the room at the same time, and asked if he

might be allowed humbly to inquire by what means the Princess of Bengal

had reached Cashmere, which was so far distant from her father's

kingdom, and how she came to be there alone. The Sultan thought the

question very natural, and told him the same story that the Princess of

Bengal had done, adding that he had ordered the enchanted horse to be

taken to his treasury as a curiosity, though he was quite ignorant how

it could be used.

"Sire," replied the physician, "your Highness's tale has supplied me

with the clue I needed to complete the recovery of the princess.

During her voyage hither on an enchanted horse, a portion of its

enchantment has by some means been communicated to her person, and it

can only be dissipated by certain perfumes of which I possess the

secret. If your Highness will deign to consent, and to give the court

and the people one of the most astonishing spectacles they have ever

witnessed, command the horse to be brought into the big square outside

the palace, and leave the rest to me. I promise that in a very few

moments, in presence of all the assembled multitude, you shall see the

princess as healthy both in mind and body as ever she was in her life.

And in order to make the spectacle as impressive as possible, I would

suggest that she should be richly dressed and covered with the noblest

jewels of the crown."

The Sultan readily agreed to all that the prince proposed, and the

following morning he desired that the enchanted horse should be taken

from the treasury, and brought into the great square of the palace.

Soon the rumour began to spread through the town, that something

extraordinary was about to happen, and such a crowd began to collect

that the guards had to be called out to keep order, and to make a way

for the enchanted horse.

When all was ready, the Sultan appeared, and took his place on a

platform, surrounded by the chief nobles and officers of his court.

When they were seated, the Princess of Bengal was seen leaving the

palace, accompanied by the ladies who had been assigned to her by the

Sultan. She slowly approached the enchanted horse, and with the help

of her ladies, she mounted on its back. Directly she was in the

saddle, with her feet in the stirrups and the bridle in her hand, the

physician placed around the horse some large braziers full of burning

coals, into each of which he threw a perfume composed of all sorts of

delicious scents. Then he crossed his hands over his breast, and with

lowered eyes walked three times round the horse, muttering the while

certain words. Soon there arose from the burning braziers a thick

smoke which almost concealed both the horse and princess, and this was

the moment for which he had been waiting. Springing lightly up behind

the lady, he leaned forward and turned the peg, and as the horse darted

up into the air, he cried aloud so that his words were heard by all

present, "Sultan of Cashmere, when you wish to marry princesses who

have sought your protection, learn first to gain their consent."

It was in this way that the Prince of Persia rescued the Princess of

Bengal, and returned with her to Persia, where they descended this time

before the palace of the King himself. The marriage was only delayed

just long enough to make the ceremony as brilliant as possible, and, as

soon as the rejoicings were over, an ambassador was sent to the King of

Bengal, to inform him of what had passed, and to ask his approbation of

the alliance between the two countries, which he heartily gave.

The Story of Two Sisters Who Were Jealous of Their Younger Sister

Once upon a time there reigned over Persia a Sultan named Kosrouschah,

who from his boyhood had been fond of putting on a disguise and seeking

adventures in all parts of the city, accompanied by one of his

officers, disguised like himself. And no sooner was his father buried

and the ceremonies over that marked his accession to the throne, than

the young man hastened to throw off his robes of state, and calling to

his vizir to make ready likewise, stole out in the simple dress of a

private citizen into the less known streets of the capital.

Passing down a lonely street, the Sultan heard women's voices in loud

discussion; and peeping through a crack in the door, he saw three

sisters, sitting on a sofa in a large hall, talking in a very lively

and earnest manner. Judging from the few words that reached his ear,

they were each explaining what sort of men they wished to marry.

"I ask nothing better," cried the eldest, "than to have the Sultan's

baker for a husband. Think of being able to eat as much as one wanted,

of that delicious bread that is baked for his Highness alone! Let us

see if your wish is as good as mine."

"I," replied the second sister, "should be quite content with the

Sultan's head cook. What delicate stews I should feast upon! And, as

I am persuaded that the Sultan's bread is used all through the palace,

I should have that into the bargain. You see, my dear sister, my taste

is as good as yours."

It was now the turn of the youngest sister, who was by far the most

beautiful of the three, and had, besides, more sense than the other

two. "As for me," she said, "I should take a higher flight; and if we

are to wish for husbands, nothing less than the Sultan himself will do

for me."

The Sultan was so much amused by the conversation he had overheard,

that he made up his mind to gratify their wishes, and turning to the

grand-vizir, he bade him note the house, and on the following morning

to bring the ladies into his presence.

The grand-vizir fulfilled his commission, and hardly giving them time

to change their dresses, desired the three sisters to follow him to the

palace. Here they were presented one by one, and when they had bowed

before the Sultan, the sovereign abruptly put the question to them:

"Tell me, do you remember what you wished for last night, when you were

making merry? Fear nothing, but answer me the truth."

These words, which were so unexpected, threw the sisters into great

confusion, their eyes fell, and the blushes of the youngest did not

fail to make an impression on the heart of the Sultan. All three

remained silent, and he hastened to continue: "Do not be afraid, I

have not the slightest intention of giving you pain, and let me tell

you at once, that I know the wishes formed by each one. You," he said,

turning to the youngest, "who desired to have me for an husband, shall

be satisfied this very day. And you," he added, addressing himself to

the other two, "shall be married at the same moment to my baker and to

my chief cook."

When the Sultan had finished speaking the three sisters flung

themselves at his feet, and the youngest faltered out, "Oh, sire, since

you know my foolish words, believe, I pray you, that they were only

said in joke. I am unworthy of the honour you propose to do me, and I

can only ask pardon for my boldness."

The other sisters also tried to excuse themselves, but the Sultan would

hear nothing.

"No, no," he said, "my mind is made up. Your wishes shall be

accomplished."

So the three weddings were celebrated that same day, but with a great

difference. That of the youngest was marked by all the magnificence

that was customary at the marriage of the Shah of Persia, while the

festivities attending the nuptials of the Sultan's baker and his chief

cook were only such as were suitable to their conditions.

This, though quite natural, was highly displeasing to the elder

sisters, who fell into a passion of jealousy, which in the end caused a

great deal of trouble and pain to several people. And the first time

that they had the opportunity of speaking to each other, which was not

till several days later at a public bath, they did not attempt to

disguise their feelings.

"Can you possibly understand what the Sultan saw in that little cat,"

said one to the other, "for him to be so fascinated by her?"

"He must be quite blind," returned the wife of the chief cook. "As for

her looking a little younger than we do, what does that matter? You

would have made a far better Sultana than she."

"Oh, I say nothing of myself," replied the elder, "and if the Sultan

had chosen you it would have been all very well; but it really grieves

me that he should have selected a wretched little creature like that.

However, I will be revenged on her somehow, and I beg you will give me

your help in the matter, and to tell me anything that you can think of

that is likely to mortify her."

In order to carry out their wicked scheme the two sisters met

constantly to talk over their ideas, though all the while they

pretended to be as friendly as ever towards the Sultana, who, on her

part, invariably treated them with kindness. For a long time no plan

occurred to the two plotters that seemed in the least likely to meet

with success, but at length the expected birth of an heir gave them the

chance for which they had been hoping.

They obtained permission of the Sultan to take up their abode in the

palace for some weeks, and never left their sister night or day. When

at last a little boy, beautiful as the sun, was born, they laid him in

his cradle and carried it down to a canal which passed through the

grounds of the palace. Then, leaving it to its fate, they informed the

Sultan that instead of the son he had so fondly desired the Sultana had

given birth to a puppy. At this dreadful news the Sultan was so

overcome with rage and grief that it was with great difficulty that the

grand-vizir managed to save the Sultana from his wrath.

Meanwhile the cradle continued to float peacefully along the canal

till, on the outskirts of the royal gardens, it was suddenly perceived

by the intendant, one of the highest and most respected officials in

the kingdom.

"Go," he said to a gardener who was working near, "and get that cradle

out for me."

The gardener did as he was bid, and soon placed the cradle in the hands

of the intendant.

The official was much astonished to see that the cradle, which he had

supposed to be empty, contained a baby, which, young though it was,

already gave promise of great beauty. Having no children himself,

although he had been married some years, it at once occurred to him

that here was a child which he could take and bring up as his own.

And, bidding the man pick up the cradle and follow him, he turned

towards home.

"My wife," he exclaimed as he entered the room, "heaven has denied us

any children, but here is one that has been sent in their place. Send

for a nurse, and I will do what is needful publicly to recognise it as

my son."

The wife accepted the baby with joy, and though the intendant saw quite

well that it must have come from the royal palace, he did not think it

was his business to inquire further into the mystery.

The following year another prince was born and sent adrift, but happily

for the baby, the intendant of the gardens again was walking by the

canal, and carried it home as before.

The Sultan, naturally enough, was still more furious the second time

than the first, but when the same curious accident was repeated in the

third year he could control himself no longer, and, to the great joy of

the jealous sisters, commanded that the Sultana should be executed.

But the poor lady was so much beloved at Court that not even the dread

of sharing her fate could prevent the grand-vizir and the courtiers

from throwing themselves at the Sultan's feet and imploring him not to

inflict so cruel a punishment for what, after all, was not her fault.

"Let her live," entreated the grand-vizir, "and banish her from your

presence for the rest of her days. That in itself will be punishment

enough."

His first passion spent, the Sultan had regained his self-command.

"Let her live then," he said, "since you have it so much at heart. But

if I grant her life it shall only be on one condition, which shall make

her daily pray for death. Let a box be built for her at the door of

the principal mosque, and let the window of the box be always open.

There she shall sit, in the coarsest clothes, and every Mussulman who

enters the mosque shall spit in her face in passing. Anyone that

refuses to obey shall be exposed to the same punishment himself. You,

vizir, will see that my orders are carried out."

The grand-vizir saw that it was useless to say more, and, full of

triumph, the sisters watched the building of the box, and then listened

to the jeers of the people at the helpless Sultana sitting inside. But

the poor lady bore herself with so much dignity and meekness that it

was not long before she had won the sympathy of those that were best

among the crowd.

But it is now time to return to the fate of the third baby, this time a

princess. Like its brothers, it was found by the intendant of the

gardens, and adopted by him and his wife, and all three were brought up

with the greatest care and tenderness.

As the children grew older their beauty and air of distinction became

more and more marked, and their manners had all the grace and ease that

is proper to people of high birth. The princes had been named by their

foster-father Bahman and Perviz, after two of the ancient kings of

Persia, while the princess was called Parizade, or the child of the

genii.

The intendant was careful to bring them up as befitted their real rank,

and soon appointed a tutor to teach the young princes how to read and

write. And the princess, determined not to be left behind, showed

herself so anxious to learn with her brothers, that the intendant

consented to her joining in their lessons, and it was not long before

she knew as much as they did.

From that time all their studies were done in common. They had the

best masters for the fine arts, geography, poetry, history and science,

and even for sciences which are learned by few, and every branch seemed

so easy to them, that their teachers were astonished at the progress

they made. The princess had a passion for music, and could sing and

play upon all sorts of instruments she could also ride and drive as

well as her brothers, shoot with a bow and arrow, and throw a javelin

with the same skill as they, and sometimes even better.

In order to set off these accomplishments, the intendant resolved that

his foster children should not be pent up any longer in the narrow

borders of the palace gardens, where he had always lived, so he bought

a splendid country house a few miles from the capital, surrounded by an

immense park. This park he filled with wild beasts of various sorts,

so that the princes and princess might hunt as much as they pleased.

When everything was ready, the intendant threw himself at the Sultan's

feet, and after referring to his age and his long services, begged his

Highness's permission to resign his post. This was granted by the

Sultan in a few gracious words, and he then inquired what reward he

could give to his faithful servant. But the intendant declared that he

wished for nothing except the continuance of his Highness's favour, and

prostrating himself once more, he retired from the Sultan's presence.

Five or six months passed away in the pleasures of the country, when

death attacked the intendant so suddenly that he had no time to reveal

the secret of their birth to his adopted children, and as his wife had

long been dead also, it seemed as if the princes and the princess would

never know that they had been born to a higher station than the one

they filled. Their sorrow for their father was very deep, and they

lived quietly on in their new home, without feeling any desire to leave

it for court gaieties or intrigues.

One day the princes as usual went out to hunt, but their sister

remained alone in her apartments. While they were gone an old

Mussulman devotee appeared at the door, and asked leave to enter, as it

was the hour of prayer. The princess sent orders at once that the old

woman was to be taken to the private oratory in the grounds, and when

she had finished her prayers was to be shown the house and gardens, and

then to be brought before her.

Although the old woman was very pious, she was not at all indifferent

to the magnificence of all around her, which she seemed to understand

as well as to admire, and when she had seen it all she was led by the

servants before the princess, who was seated in a room which surpassed

in splendour all the rest.

"My good woman," said the princess pointing to a sofa, "come and sit

beside me. I am delighted at the opportunity of speaking for a few

moments with so holy a person." The old woman made some objections to

so much honour being done her, but the princess refused to listen, and

insisted that her guest should take the best seat, and as she thought

she must be tired ordered refreshments.

While the old woman was eating, the princess put several questions to

her as to her mode of life, and the pious exercises she practiced, and

then inquired what she thought of the house now that she had seen it.

"Madam," replied the pilgrim, "one must be hard indeed to please to

find any fault. It is beautiful, comfortable and well ordered, and it

is impossible to imagine anything more lovely than the garden. But

since you ask me, I must confess that it lacks three things to make it

absolutely perfect."

"And what can they be?" cried the princess. "Only tell me, and I will

lose no time in getting them."

"The three things, madam," replied the old woman, "are, first, the

Talking Bird, whose voice draws all other singing birds to it, to join

in chorus. And second, the Singing Tree, where every leaf is a song

that is never silent. And lastly the Golden Water, of which it is only

needful to pour a single drop into a basin for it to shoot up into a

fountain, which will never be exhausted, nor will the basin ever

overflow."

"Oh, how can I thank you," cried the princess, "for telling me of such

treasures! But add, I pray you, to your goodness by further informing

me where I can find them."

"Madam," replied the pilgrim, "I should ill repay the hospitality you

have shown me if I refused to answer your question. The three things

of which I have spoken are all to be found in one place, on the borders

of this kingdom, towards India. Your messenger has only to follow the

road that passes by your house, for twenty days, and at the end of that

time, he is to ask the first person he meets for the Talking Bird, the

Singing Tree, and the Golden Water." She then rose, and bidding

farewell to the princess, went her way.

The old woman had taken her departure so abruptly that the Princess

Parizade did not perceive till she was really gone that the directions

were hardly clear enough to enable the search to be successful. And

she was still thinking of the subject, and how delightful it would be

to possess such rarities, when the princes, her brothers, returned from

the chase.

"What is the matter, my sister?" asked Prince Bahman; "why are you so

grave? Are you ill? Or has anything happened?"

Princess Parizade did not answer directly, but at length she raised her

eyes, and replied that there was nothing wrong.

"But there must be something," persisted Prince Bahman, "for you to

have changed so much during the short time we have been absent. Hide

nothing from us, I beseech you, unless you wish us to believe that the

confidence we have always had in one another is now to cease."

"When I said that it was nothing," said the princess, moved by his

words, "I meant that it was nothing that affected you, although I admit

that it is certainly of some importance to me. Like myself, you have

always thought this house that our father built for us was perfect in

every respect, but only to-day I have learned that three things are

still lacking to complete it. These are the Talking Bird, the Singing

Tree, and the Golden Water." After explaining the peculiar qualities

of each, the princess continued: "It was a Mussulman devotee who told

me all this, and where they might all be found. Perhaps you will think

that the house is beautiful enough as it is, and that we can do quite

well without them; but in this I cannot agree with you, and I shall

never be content until I have got them. So counsel me, I pray, whom to

send on the undertaking."

"My dear sister," replied Prince Bahman, "that you should care about

the matter is quite enough, even if we took no interest in it

ourselves. But we both feel with you, and I claim, as the elder, the

right to make the first attempt, if you will tell me where I am to go,

and what steps I am to take."

Prince Perviz at first objected that, being the head of the family, his

brother ought not to be allowed to expose himself to danger; but Prince

Bahman would hear nothing, and retired to make the needful preparations

for his journey.

The next morning Prince Bahman got up very early, and after bidding

farewell to his brother and sister, mounted his horse. But just as he

was about to touch it with his whip, he was stopped by a cry from the

princess.

"Oh, perhaps after all you may never come back; one never can tell what

accidents may happen. Give it up, I implore you, for I would a

thousand times rather lose the Talking Bird, and the Singing Tree and

the Golden Water, than that you should run into danger."

"My dear sister," answered the prince, "accidents only happen to

unlucky people, and I hope that I am not one of them. But as

everything is uncertain, I promise you to be very careful. Take this

knife," he continued, handing her one that hung sheathed from his belt,

"and every now and then draw it out and look at it. As long as it

keeps bright and clean as it is to-day, you will know that I am living;

but if the blade is spotted with blood, it will be a sign that I am

dead, and you shall weep for me."

So saying, Prince Bahman bade them farewell once more, and started on

the high road, well mounted and fully armed. For twenty days he rode

straight on, turning neither to the right hand nor to the left, till he

found himself drawing near the frontiers of Persia. Seated under a

tree by the wayside he noticed a hideous old man, with a long white

moustache, and beard that almost fell to his feet. His nails had grown

to an enormous length, and on his head he wore a huge hat, which served

him for an umbrella.

Prince Bahman, who, remembering the directions of the old woman, had

been since sunrise on the look-out for some one, recognised the old man

at once to be a dervish. He dismounted from his horse, and bowed low

before the holy man, saying by way of greeting, "My father, may your

days be long in the land, and may all your wishes be fulfilled!"

The dervish did his best to reply, but his moustache was so thick that

his words were hardly intelligible, and the prince, perceiving what was

the matter, took a pair of scissors from his saddle pockets, and

requested permission to cut off some of the moustache, as he had a

question of great importance to ask the dervish. The dervish made a

sign that he might do as he liked, and when a few inches of his hair

and beard had been pruned all round the prince assured the holy man

that he would hardly believe how much younger he looked. The dervish

smiled at his compliments, and thanked him for what he had done.

"Let me," he said, "show you my gratitude for making me more

comfortable by telling me what I can do for you."

"Gentle dervish," replied Prince Bahman, "I come from far, and I seek

the Talking Bird, the Singing Tree, and the Golden Water. I know that

they are to be found somewhere in these parts, but I am ignorant of the

exact spot. Tell me, I pray you, if you can, so that I may not have

travelled on a useless quest." While he was speaking, the prince

observed a change in the countenance of the dervish, who waited for

some time before he made reply.

"My lord," he said at last, "I do know the road for which you ask, but

your kindness and the friendship I have conceived for you make me loth

to point it out."

"But why not?" inquired the prince. "What danger can there be?"

"The very greatest danger," answered the dervish. "Other men, as brave

as you, have ridden down this road, and have put me that question. I

did my best to turn them also from their purpose, but it was of no use.

Not one of them would listen to my words, and not one of them came

back. Be warned in time, and seek to go no further."

"I am grateful to you for your interest in me," said Prince Bahman,

"and for the advice you have given, though I cannot follow it. But

what dangers can there be in the adventure which courage and a good

sword cannot meet?"

"And suppose," answered the dervish, "that your enemies are invisible,

how then?"

"Nothing will make me give it up," replied the prince, "and for the

last time I ask you to tell me where I am to go."

When the dervish saw that the prince's mind was made up, he drew a ball

from a bag that lay near him, and held it out. "If it must be so," he

said, with a sigh, "take this, and when you have mounted your horse

throw the ball in front of you. It will roll on till it reaches the

foot of a mountain, and when it stops you will stop also. You will

then throw the bridle on your horse's neck without any fear of his

straying, and will dismount. On each side you will see vast heaps of

big black stones, and will hear a multitude of insulting voices, but

pay no heed to them, and, above all, beware of ever turning your head.

If you do, you will instantly become a black stone like the rest. For

those stones are in reality men like yourself, who have been on the

same quest, and have failed, as I fear that you may fail also. If you

manage to avoid this pitfall, and to reach the top of the mountain, you

will find there the Talking Bird in a splendid cage, and you can ask of

him where you are to seek the Singing Tree and the Golden Water. That

is all I have to say. You know what you have to do, and what to avoid,

but if you are wise you will think of it no more, but return whence you

have come."

The prince smilingly shook his head, and thanking the dervish once

more, he sprang on his horse and threw the ball before him.

The ball rolled along the road so fast that Prince Bahman had much

difficulty in keeping up with it, and it never relaxed its speed till

the foot of the mountain was reached. Then it came to a sudden halt,

and the prince at once got down and flung the bridle on his horse's

neck. He paused for a moment and looked round him at the masses of

black stones with which the sides of the mountain were covered, and

then began resolutely to ascend. He had hardly gone four steps when he

heard the sound of voices around him, although not another creature was

in sight.

"Who is this imbecile?" cried some, "stop him at once." "Kill him,"

shrieked others, "Help! robbers! murderers! help! help!" "Oh, let him

alone," sneered another, and this was the most trying of all, "he is

such a beautiful young man; I am sure the bird and the cage must have

been kept for him."

At first the prince took no heed to all this clamour, but continued to

press forward on his way. Unfortunately this conduct, instead of

silencing the voices, only seemed to irritate them the more, and they

arose with redoubled fury, in front as well as behind. After some time

he grew bewildered, his knees began to tremble, and finding himself in

the act of falling, he forgot altogether the advice of the dervish. He

turned to fly down the mountain, and in one moment became a black stone.

As may be imagined, Prince Perviz and his sister were all this time in

the greatest anxiety, and consulted the magic knife, not once but many

times a day. Hitherto the blade had remained bright and spotless, but

on the fatal hour on which Prince Bahman and his horse were changed

into black stones, large drops of blood appeared on the surface. "Ah!

my beloved brother," cried the princess in horror, throwing the knife

from her, "I shall never see you again, and it is I who have killed

you. Fool that I was to listen to the voice of that temptress, who

probably was not speaking the truth. What are the Talking Bird and the

Singing Tree to me in comparison with you, passionately though I long

for them!"

Prince Perviz's grief at his brother's loss was not less than that of

Princess Parizade, but he did not waste his time on useless

lamentations.

"My sister," he said, "why should you think the old woman was deceiving

you about these treasures, and what would have been her object in doing

so! No, no, our brother must have met his death by some accident, or

want of precaution, and to-morrow I will start on the same quest."

Terrified at the thought that she might lose her only remaining

brother, the princess entreated him to give up his project, but he

remained firm. Before setting out, however, he gave her a chaplet of a

hundred pearls, and said, "When I am absent, tell this over daily for

me. But if you should find that the beads stick, so that they will not

slip one after the other, you will know that my brother's fate has

befallen me. Still, we must hope for better luck."

Then he departed, and on the twentieth day of his journey fell in with

the dervish on the same spot as Prince Bahman had met him, and began to

question him as to the place where the Talking Bird, the Singing Tree

and the Golden Water were to be found. As in the case of his brother,

the dervish tried to make him give up his project, and even told him

that only a few weeks since a young man, bearing a strong resemblance

to himself, had passed that way, but had never come back again.

"That, holy dervish," replied Prince Perviz, "was my elder brother, who

is now dead, though how he died I cannot say."

"He is changed into a black stone," answered the dervish, "like all the

rest who have gone on the same errand, and you will become one likewise

if you are not more careful in following my directions." Then he

charged the prince, as he valued his life, to take no heed of the

clamour of voices that would pursue him up the mountain, and handing

him a ball from the bag, which still seemed to be half full, he sent

him on his way.

When Prince Perviz reached the foot of the mountain he jumped from his

horse, and paused for a moment to recall the instructions the dervish

had given him. Then he strode boldly on, but had scarcely gone five or

six paces when he was startled by a man's voice that seemed close to

his ear, exclaiming: "Stop, rash fellow, and let me punish your

audacity." This outrage entirely put the dervish's advice out of the

prince's head. He drew his sword, and turned to avenge himself, but

almost before he had realised that there was nobody there, he and his

horse were two black stones.

Not a morning had passed since Prince Perviz had ridden away without

Princess Parizade telling her beads, and at night she even hung them

round her neck, so that if she woke she could assure herself at once of

her brother's safety. She was in the very act of moving them through

her fingers at the moment that the prince fell a victim to his

impatience, and her heart sank when the first pearl remained fixed in

its place. However she had long made up her mind what she would do in

such a case, and the following morning the princess, disguised as a

man, set out for the mountain.

As she had been accustomed to riding from her childhood, she managed to

travel as many miles daily as her brothers had done, and it was, as

before, on the twentieth day that she arrived at the place where the

dervish was sitting. "Good dervish," she said politely, "will you

allow me to rest by you for a few moments, and perhaps you will be so

kind as to tell me if you have ever heard of a Talking Bird, a Singing

Tree, and some Golden Water that are to be found somewhere near this?"

"Madam," replied the dervish, "for in spite of your manly dress your

voice betrays you, I shall be proud to serve you in any way I can. But

may I ask the purpose of your question?"

"Good dervish," answered the princess, "I have heard such glowing

descriptions of these three things, that I cannot rest till I possess

them."

"Madam," said the dervish, "they are far more beautiful than any

description, but you seem ignorant of all the difficulties that stand

in your way, or you would hardly have undertaken such an adventure.

Give it up, I pray you, and return home, and do not ask me to help you

to a cruel death."

"Holy father," answered the princess, "I come from far, and I should be

in despair if I turned back without having attained my object. You

have spoken of difficulties; tell me, I entreat you, what they are, so

that I may know if I can overcome them, or see if they are beyond my

strength."

So the dervish repeated his tale, and dwelt more firmly than before on

the clamour of the voices, the horrors of the black stones, which were

once living men, and the difficulties of climbing the mountain; and

pointed out that the chief means of success was never to look behind

till you had the cage in your grasp.

"As far as I can see," said the princess, "the first thing is not to

mind the tumult of the voices that follow you till you reach the cage,

and then never to look behind. As to this, I think I have enough

self-control to look straight before me; but as it is quite possible

that I might be frightened by the voices, as even the boldest men have

been, I will stop up my ears with cotton, so that, let them make as

much noise as they like, I shall hear nothing."

"Madam," cried the dervish, "out of all the number who have asked me

the way to the mountain, you are the first who has ever suggested such

a means of escaping the danger! It is possible that you may succeed,

but all the same, the risk is great."

"Good dervish," answered the princess, "I feel in my heart that I shall

succeed, and it only remains for me to ask you the way I am to go."

Then the dervish said that it was useless to say more, and he gave her

the ball, which she flung before her.

The first thing the princess did on arriving at the mountain was to

stop her ears with cotton, and then, making up her mind which was the

best way to go, she began her ascent. In spite of the cotton, some

echoes of the voices reached her ears, but not so as to trouble her.

Indeed, though they grew louder and more insulting the higher she

climbed, the princess only laughed, and said to herself that she

certainly would not let a few rough words stand between her and the

goal. At last she perceived in the distance the cage and the bird,

whose voice joined itself in tones of thunder to those of the rest:

"Return, return! never dare to come near me."

At the sight of the bird, the princess hastened her steps, and without

vexing herself at the noise which by this time had grown deafening, she

walked straight up to the cage, and seizing it, she said: "Now, my

bird, I have got you, and I shall take good care that you do not

escape." As she spoke she took the cotton from her ears, for it was

needed no longer.

"Brave lady," answered the bird, "do not blame me for having joined my

voice to those who did their best to preserve my freedom. Although

confined in a cage, I was content with my lot, but if I must become a

slave, I could not wish for a nobler mistress than one who has shown so

much constancy, and from this moment I swear to serve you faithfully.

Some day you will put me to the proof, for I know who you are better

than you do yourself. Meanwhile, tell me what I can do, and I will

obey you."

"Bird," replied the princess, who was filled with a joy that seemed

strange to herself when she thought that the bird had cost her the

lives of both her brothers, "bird, let me first thank you for your good

will, and then let me ask you where the Golden Water is to be found."

The bird described the place, which was not far distant, and the

princess filled a small silver flask that she had brought with her for

the purpose. She then returned to the cage, and said: "Bird, there is

still something else, where shall I find the Singing Tree?"

"Behind you, in that wood," replied the bird, and the princess wandered

through the wood, till a sound of the sweetest voices told her she had

found what she sought. But the tree was tall and strong, and it was

hopeless to think of uprooting it.

"You need not do that," said the bird, when she had returned to ask

counsel. "Break off a twig, and plant it in your garden, and it will

take root, and grow into a magnificent tree."

When the Princess Parizade held in her hands the three wonders promised

her by the old woman, she said to the bird: "All that is not enough.

It was owing to you that my brothers became black stones. I cannot

tell them from the mass of others, but you must know, and point them

out to me, I beg you, for I wish to carry them away."

For some reason that the princess could not guess these words seemed to

displease the bird, and he did not answer. The princess waited a

moment, and then continued in severe tones, "Have you forgotten that

you yourself said that you are my slave to do my bidding, and also that

your life is in my power?"

"No, I have not forgotten," replied the bird, "but what you ask is very

difficult. However, I will do my best. If you look round," he went

on, "you will see a pitcher standing near. Take it, and, as you go

down the mountain, scatter a little of the water it contains over every

black stone and you will soon find your two brothers."

Princess Parizade took the pitcher, and, carrying with her besides the

cage the twig and the flask, returned down the mountain side. At every

black stone she stopped and sprinkled it with water, and as the water

touched it the stone instantly became a man. When she suddenly saw her

brothers before her her delight was mixed with astonishment.

"Why, what are you doing here?" she cried.

"We have been asleep," they said.

"Yes," returned the princess, "but without me your sleep would probably

have lasted till the day of judgment. Have you forgotten that you came

here in search of the Talking Bird, the Singing Tree, and the Golden

Water, and the black stones that were heaped up along the road? Look

round and see if there is one left. These gentlemen, and yourselves,

and all your horses were changed into these stones, and I have

delivered you by sprinkling you with the water from this pitcher. As I

could not return home without you, even though I had gained the prizes

on which I had set my heart, I forced the Talking Bird to tell me how

to break the spell."

On hearing these words Prince Bahman and Prince Perviz understood all

they owed their sister, and the knights who stood by declared

themselves her slaves and ready to carry out her wishes. But the

princess, while thanking them for their politeness, explained that she

wished for no company but that of her brothers, and that the rest were

free to go where they would.

So saying the princess mounted her horse, and, declining to allow even

Prince Bahman to carry the cage with the Talking Bird, she entrusted

him with the branch of the Singing Tree, while Prince Perviz took care

of the flask containing the Golden Water.

Then they rode away, followed by the knights and gentlemen, who begged

to be permitted to escort them.

It had been the intention of the party to stop and tell their

adventures to the dervish, but they found to their sorrow that he was

dead, whether from old age, or whether from the feeling that his task

was done, they never knew.

As they continued their road their numbers grew daily smaller, for the

knights turned off one by one to their own homes, and only the brothers

and sister finally drew up at the gate of the palace.

The princess carried the cage straight into the garden, and, as soon as

the bird began to sing, nightingales, larks, thrushes, finches, and all

sorts of other birds mingled their voices in chorus. The branch she

planted in a corner near the house, and in a few days it had grown into

a great tree. As for the Golden Water it was poured into a great

marble basin specially prepared for it, and it swelled and bubbled and

then shot up into the air in a fountain twenty feet high.

The fame of these wonders soon spread abroad, and people came from far

and near to see and admire.

After a few days Prince Bahman and Prince Perviz fell back into their

ordinary way of life, and passed most of their time hunting. One day

it happened that the Sultan of Persia was also hunting in the same

direction, and, not wishing to interfere with his sport, the young men,

on hearing the noise of the hunt approaching, prepared to retire, but,

as luck would have it, they turned into the very path down which the

Sultan was coming. They threw themselves from their horses and

prostrated themselves to the earth, but the Sultan was curious to see

their faces, and commanded them to rise.

The princes stood up respectfully, but quite at their ease, and the

Sultan looked at them for a few moments without speaking, then he asked

who they were and where they lived.

"Sire," replied Prince Bahman, "we are sons of your Highness's late

intendant of the gardens, and we live in a house that he built a short

time before his death, waiting till an occasion should offer itself to

serve your Highness."

"You seem fond of hunting," answered the Sultan.

"Sire," replied Prince Bahman, "it is our usual exercise, and one that

should be neglected by no man who expects to comply with the ancient

customs of the kingdom and bear arms."

The Sultan was delighted with this remark, and said at once, "In that

case I shall take great pleasure in watching you. Come, choose what

sort of beasts you would like to hunt."

The princes jumped on their horses and followed the Sultan at a little

distance. They had not gone very far before they saw a number of wild

animals appear at once, and Prince Bahman started to give chase to a

lion and Prince Perviz to a bear. Both used their javelins with such

skill that, directly they arrived within striking range, the lion and

the bear fell, pierced through and through. Then Prince Perviz pursued

a lion and Prince Bahman a bear, and in a very few minutes they, too,

lay dead. As they were making ready for a third assault the Sultan

interfered, and, sending one of his officials to summon them, he said

smiling, "If I let you go on, there will soon be no beasts left to

hunt. Besides, your courage and manners have so won my heart that I

will not have you expose yourselves to further danger. I am convinced

that some day or other I shall find you useful as well as agreeable."

He then gave them a warm invitation to stay with him altogether, but

with many thanks for the honour done them, they begged to be excused,

and to be suffered to remain at home.

The Sultan who was not accustomed to see his offers rejected inquired

their reasons, and Prince Bahman explained that they did not wish to

leave their sister, and were accustomed to do nothing without

consulting all three together.

"Ask her advice, then," replied the Sultan, "and to-morrow come and

hunt with me, and give me your answer."

The two princes returned home, but their adventure made so little

impression on them that they quite forgot to speak to their sister on

the subject. The next morning when they went to hunt they met the

Sultan in the same place, and he inquired what advice their sister had

given. The young men looked at each other and blushed. At last Prince

Bahman said, "Sire, we must throw ourselves on your Highness's mercy.

Neither my brother nor myself remembered anything about it."

"Then be sure you do not forget to-day," answered the Sultan, "and

bring me back your reply to-morrow."

When, however, the same thing happened a second time, they feared that

the Sultan might be angry with them for their carelessness. But he

took it in good part, and, drawing three little golden balls from his

purse, he held them out to Prince Bahman, saying, "Put these in your

bosom and you will not forget a third time, for when you remove your

girdle to-night the noise they will make in falling will remind you of

my wishes."

It all happened as the Sultan had foreseen, and the two brothers

appeared in their sister's apartments just as she was in the act of

stepping into bed, and told their tale.

The Princess Parizade was much disturbed at the news, and did not

conceal her feelings. "Your meeting with the Sultan is very honourable

to you," she said, "and will, I dare say, be of service to you, but it

places me in a very awkward position. It is on my account, I know,

that you have resisted the Sultan's wishes, and I am very grateful to

you for it. But kings do not like to have their offers refused, and in

time he would bear a grudge against you, which would render me very

unhappy. Consult the Talking Bird, who is wise and far-seeing, and let

me hear what he says."

So the bird was sent for and the case laid before him.

"The princes must on no account refuse the Sultan's proposal," said he,

"and they must even invite him to come and see your house."

"But, bird," objected the princess, "you know how dearly we love each

other; will not all this spoil our friendship?"

"Not at all," replied the bird, "it will make it all the closer."

"Then the Sultan will have to see me," said the princess.

The bird answered that it was necessary that he should see her, and

everything would turn out for the best.

The following morning, when the Sultan inquired if they had spoken to

their sister and what advice she had given them, Prince Bahman replied

that they were ready to agree to his Highness's wishes, and that their

sister had reproved them for their hesitation about the matter. The

Sultan received their excuses with great kindness, and told them that

he was sure they would be equally faithful to him, and kept them by his

side for the rest of the day, to the vexation of the grand-vizir and

the rest of the court.

When the procession entered in this order the gates of the capital, the

eyes of the people who crowded the streets were fixed on the two young

men, strangers to every one.

"Oh, if only the Sultan had had sons like that!" they murmured, "they

look so distinguished and are about the same age that his sons would

have been!"

The Sultan commanded that splendid apartments should be prepared for

the two brothers, and even insisted that they should sit at table with

him. During dinner he led the conversation to various scientific

subjects, and also to history, of which he was especially fond, but

whatever topic they might be discussing he found that the views of the

young men were always worth listening to. "If they were my own sons,"

he said to himself, "they could not be better educated!" and aloud he

complimented them on their learning and taste for knowledge.

At the end of the evening the princes once more prostrated themselves

before the throne and asked leave to return home; and then, encouraged

by the gracious words of farewell uttered by the Sultan, Prince Bahman

said: "Sire, may we dare to take the liberty of asking whether you

would do us and our sister the honour of resting for a few minutes at

our house the first time the hunt passes that way?"

"With the utmost pleasure," replied the Sultan; "and as I am all

impatience to see the sister of such accomplished young men you may

expect me the day after to-morrow."

The princess was of course most anxious to entertain the Sultan in a

fitting way, but as she had no experience in court customs she ran to

the Talking Bird, and begged he would advise her as to what dishes

should be served.

"My dear mistress," replied the bird, "your cooks are very good and you

can safely leave all to them, except that you must be careful to have a

dish of cucumbers, stuffed with pearl sauce, served with the first

course."

"Cucumbers stuffed with pearls!" exclaimed the princess. "Why, bird,

who ever heard of such a dish? The Sultan will expect a dinner he can

eat, and not one he can only admire! Besides, if I were to use all the

pearls I possess, they would not be half enough."

"Mistress," replied the bird, "do what I tell you and nothing but good

will come of it. And as to the pearls, if you go at dawn to-morrow and

dig at the foot of the first tree in the park, on the right hand, you

will find as many as you want."

The princess had faith in the bird, who generally proved to be right,

and taking the gardener with her early next morning followed out his

directions carefully. After digging for some time they came upon a

golden box fastened with little clasps.

These were easily undone, and the box was found to be full of pearls,

not very large ones, but well-shaped and of a good colour. So leaving

the gardener to fill up the hole he had made under the tree, the

princess took up the box and returned to the house.

The two princes had seen her go out, and had wondered what could have

made her rise so early. Full of curiosity they got up and dressed, and

met their sister as she was returning with the box under her arm.

"What have you been doing?" they asked, "and did the gardener come to

tell you he had found a treasure?"

"On the contrary," replied the princess, "it is I who have found one,"

and opening the box she showed her astonished brothers the pearls

inside. Then, on the way back to the palace, she told them of her

consultation with the bird, and the advice it had given her. All three

tried to guess the meaning of the singular counsel, but they were

forced at last to admit the explanation was beyond them, and they must

be content blindly to obey.

The first thing the princess did on entering the palace was to send for

the head cook and to order the repast for the Sultan When she had

finished she suddenly added, "Besides the dishes I have mentioned there

is one that you must prepare expressly for the Sultan, and that no one

must touch but yourself. It consists of a stuffed cucumber, and the

stuffing is to be made of these pearls."

The head cook, who had never in all his experience heard of such a

dish, stepped back in amazement.

"You think I am mad," answered the princess, who perceived what was in

his mind. "But I know quite well what I am doing. Go, and do your

best, and take the pearls with you."

The next morning the princes started for the forest, and were soon

joined by the Sultan. The hunt began and continued till mid-day, when

the heat became so great that they were obliged to leave off. Then, as

arranged, they turned their horses' heads towards the palace, and while

Prince Bahman remained by the side of the Sultan, Prince Perviz rode on

to warn his sister of their approach.

The moment his Highness entered the courtyard, the princess flung

herself at his feet, but he bent and raised her, and gazed at her for

some time, struck with her grace and beauty, and also with the

indefinable air of courts that seemed to hang round this country girl.

"They are all worthy one of the other," he said to himself, "and I am

not surprised that they think so much of her opinions. I must know

more of them."

By this time the princess had recovered from the first embarrassment of

meeting, and proceeded to make her speech of welcome.

"This is only a simple country house, sire," she said, "suitable to

people like ourselves, who live a quiet life. It cannot compare with

the great city mansions, much less, of course, with the smallest of the

Sultan's palaces."

"I cannot quite agree with you," he replied; "even the little that I

have seen I admire greatly, and I will reserve my judgment until you

have shown me the whole."

The princess then led the way from room to room, and the Sultan

examined everything carefully. "Do you call this a simple country

house?" he said at last. "Why, if every country house was like this,

the towns would soon be deserted. I am no longer astonished that you

do not wish to leave it. Let us go into the gardens, which I am sure

are no less beautiful than the rooms."

A small door opened straight into the garden, and the first object that

met the Sultan's eyes was the Golden Water.

"What lovely coloured water!" he exclaimed; "where is the spring, and

how do you make the fountain rise so high? I do not believe there is

anything like it in the world." He went forward to examine it, and

when he had satisfied his curiosity, the princess conducted him towards

the Singing Tree.

As they drew near, the Sultan was startled by the sound of strange

voices, but could see nothing. "Where have you hidden your musicians?"

he asked the princess; "are they up in the air, or under the earth?

Surely the owners of such charming voices ought not to conceal

themselves!"

"Sire," answered the princess, "the voices all come from the tree which

is straight in front of us; and if you will deign to advance a few

steps, you will see that they become clearer."

The Sultan did as he was told, and was so wrapt in delight at what he

heard that he stood some time in silence.

"Tell me, madam, I pray you," he said at last, "how this marvellous

tree came into your garden? It must have been brought from a great

distance, or else, fond as I am of all curiosities, I could not have

missed hearing of it! What is its name?"

"The only name it has, sire," replied she, "is the Singing Tree, and it

is not a native of this country. Its history is mixed up with those of

the Golden Water and the Talking Bird, which you have not yet seen. If

your Highness wishes I will tell you the whole story, when you have

recovered from your fatigue."

"Indeed, madam," returned he, "you show me so many wonders that it is

impossible to feel any fatigue. Let us go once more and look at the

Golden Water; and I am dying to see the Talking Bird."

The Sultan could hardly tear himself away from the Golden Water, which

puzzled him more and more. "You say," he observed to the princess,

"that this water does not come from any spring, neither is brought by

pipes. All I understand is, that neither it nor the Singing Tree is a

native of this country."

"It is as you say, sire," answered the princess, "and if you examine

the basin, you will see that it is all in one piece, and therefore the

water could not have been brought through it. What is more astonishing

is, that I only emptied a small flaskful into the basin, and it

increased to the quantity you now see."

"Well, I will look at it no more to-day," said the Sultan. "Take me to

the Talking Bird."

On approaching the house, the Sultan noticed a vast quantity of birds,

whose voices filled the air, and he inquired why they were so much more

numerous here than in any other part of the garden.

"Sire," answered the princess, "do you see that cage hanging in one of

the windows of the saloon? that is the Talking Bird, whose voice you

can hear above them all, even above that of the nightingale. And the

birds crowd to this spot, to add their songs to his."

The Sultan stepped through the window, but the bird took no notice,

continuing his song as before.

"My slave," said the princess, "this is the Sultan; make him a pretty

speech."

The bird stopped singing at once, and all the other birds stopped too.

"The Sultan is welcome," he said. "I wish him long life and all

prosperity."

"I thank you, good bird," answered the Sultan, seating himself before

the repast, which was spread at a table near the window, "and I am

enchanted to see in you the Sultan and King of the Birds."

The Sultan, noticing that his favourite dish of cucumber was placed

before him, proceeded to help himself to it, and was amazed to and that

the stuffing was of pearls. "A novelty, indeed!" cried he, "but I do

not understand the reason of it; one cannot eat pearls!"

"Sire," replied the bird, before either the princes or the princess

could speak, "surely your Highness cannot be so surprised at beholding

a cucumber stuffed with pearls, when you believed without any

difficulty that the Sultana had presented you, instead of children,

with a dog, a cat, and a log of wood."

"I believed it," answered the Sultan, "because the women attending on

her told me so."

"The women, sire," said the bird, "were the sisters of the Sultana, who

were devoured with jealousy at the honour you had done her, and in

order to revenge themselves invented this story. Have them examined,

and they will confess their crime. These are your children, who were

saved from death by the intendant of your gardens, and brought up by

him as if they were his own."

Like a flash the truth came to the mind of the Sultan. "Bird," he

cried, "my heart tells me that what you say is true. My children," he

added, "let me embrace you, and embrace each other, not only as

brothers and sister, but as having in you the blood royal of Persia

which could flow in no nobler veins."

When the first moments of emotion were over, the Sultan hastened to

finish his repast, and then turning to his children he exclaimed:

"To-day you have made acquaintance with your father. To-morrow I will

bring you the Sultana your mother. Be ready to receive her."

The Sultan then mounted his horse and rode quickly back to the capital.

Without an instant's delay he sent for the grand-vizir, and ordered him

to seize and question the Sultana's sisters that very day. This was

done. They were confronted with each other and proved guilty, and were

executed in less than an hour.

But the Sultan did not wait to hear that his orders had been carried

out before going on foot, followed by his whole court to the door of

the great mosque, and drawing the Sultana with his own hand out of the

narrow prison where she had spent so many years, "Madam," he cried,

embracing her with tears in his eyes, "I have come to ask your pardon

for the injustice I have done you, and to repair it as far as I may. I

have already begun by punishing the authors of this abominable crime,

and I hope you will forgive me when I introduce you to our children,

who are the most charming and accomplished creatures in the whole

world. Come with me, and take back your position and all the honour

that is due to you."

This speech was delivered in the presence of a vast multitude of

people, who had gathered from all parts on the first hint of what was

happening, and the news was passed from mouth to mouth in a few seconds.

Early next day the Sultan and Sultana, dressed in robes of state and

followed by all the court, set out for the country house of their

children. Here the Sultan presented them to the Sultana one by one,

and for some time there was nothing but embraces and tears and tender

words. Then they ate of the magnificent dinner which had been prepared

for them, and after they were all refreshed they went into the garden,

where the Sultan pointed out to his wife the Golden Water and the

Singing Tree. As to the Talking Bird, she had already made

acquaintance with him.

In the evening they rode together back to the capital, the princes on

each side of their father, and the princess with her mother. Long

before they reached the gates the way was lined with people, and the

air filled with shouts of welcome, with which were mingled the songs of

the Talking Bird, sitting in its cage on the lap of the princess, and

of the birds who followed it.

And in this manner they came back to their father's palace.

End of Project Gutenberg's The Arabian Nights Entertainments, by Andrew Lang.