CHAPTER VI.

On the following day the sixth Vizier, having paid his respects to the

King, represented the danger of letting an enemy live when in one’s

power, and, by many artful speeches, induced his Majesty to order the

execution of Bakhtyār, who was immediately brought from the prison. When

he came before the King, he persisted in declaring his innocence, and

advised him not to be precipitate, like King Dādīn, in putting to death

a person on the malicious accusation of an enemy. The King, desirous of

hearing the story to which Bakhtyār alluded, ordered him to relate it;

and he began as follows:

STORY OF KING DĀDĪN AND HIS TWO VIZIERS.

There was a certain King named Dādīn, who had two viziers, Kārdār and

Kāmgār; and the daughter of Kāmgār was the most lovely creature of the

age. It happened that the King, proceeding on a hunting excursion, took

along with him the father of this beautiful damsel, and left the charge

of government in the hands of Kārdār.

One day, during the warm season, Kārdār, passing near the palace of

Kāmgār, beheld this fair damsel walking in the garden, and became

enamoured of her beauty; but having reason to believe that her father

would not consent to bestow her on him, he resolved to devise some

stratagem whereby he might obtain the object of his desires. “At the

King’s return from the chase,” said he, “I’ll represent the charms of

this damsel in such glowing colours, that he will not fail to demand her

in marriage; and I’ll then contrive to excite his anger against her, in

consequence of which he shall deliver her to me for punishment; and thus

my designs shall be accomplished.”

One day after the King’s return from the hunting party, he desired

Kārdār to inform him of the principal events which had occurred during

his absence. Kārdār replied that his Majesty’s subjects had all been

solicitous for his prosperity; but that he had himself seen one of the

most astonishing objects of the universe. The King’s curiosity being

thus excited, he ordered Kārdār to describe what he had seen; and Kārdār

dwelt with such praises on the fascinating charms of Kāmgār’s daughter,

that the King became enamoured of her, and said: “But how is this damsel

to be obtained?”—Kārdār replied: “There is not any difficulty in this

business; it is not necessary to employ either money or messengers: your

Majesty needs only to acquaint her father with your wishes.”

The King approved of this counsel, and having sent for Kāmgār, mentioned

the affair to him accordingly. Kāmgār, with due submission, declared

that if he possessed a hundred daughters they should all be at his

Majesty’s command; but begged permission to retire and inform the damsel

of the honour designed for her. Having obtained leave, he hastened to

his daughter, and related to her all that had passed between the King

and him. The damsel expressed her dislike to the proposed connection;

and her father, dreading the King’s anger in case of a refusal, knew not

how to act. “Contrive some delay,” said she; “solicit leave of absence

for a few days, and let us fly from this country!” Kāmgār approved of

this advice; and having waited on the King, obtained leave to absent

himself from court for ten days, under pretence of making the

preparations necessary for a female on the eve of matrimony; and when

night came on, he fled from the city with his daughter.

Next day the King was informed of their flight; in consequence of which

he sent off two hundred servants to seek them in various directions, and

the officious Kārdār set out also in pursuit of them. After ten days

they were surprised by the side of a well, taken and bound, and brought

before the King, who, in his anger, dashed out the brains of Kāmgār;

then looking on the daughter of the unfortunate man, her beauty so much

affected him, that he sent her to his palace, and appointed servants to

attend her, besides a cook, who, at his own request, was added to her

establishment. After some time Kārdār became impatient, and enraged at

the failure of his project; but he resolved to try the success of

another scheme.

It happened that the encroachments of a powerful enemy rendered the

King’s presence necessary among the troops; and on setting out to join

the army, he committed the management of affairs and the government of

the city to Kārdār, whose mind was wholly filled with stratagems for

getting the daughter of Kāmgār into his power.

One day he was passing near the palace, and discovered her sitting alone

on the balcony; to attract her attention, he threw up a piece of brick

or tile, and on her looking down to see from whence it came she beheld

Kārdār. He addressed her with the usual salutation, which she returned.

He then began to declare his admiration of her beauty, and the violence

of his love, which deprived him of repose both day and night; and

concluded by urging her to elope with him, saying that he would take as

much money as they could possibly want; or, if she would consent, he was

ready to destroy the King by poison, and seize upon the throne himself.

The daughter of Kāmgār replied to this proposal by upbraiding Kārdār

with his baseness and perfidy. When he asked her how she could ever fix

her affections on the man who had killed her father, she answered, that

such had been the will of God, and she was resolved to submit

accordingly. Having spoken thus, she retired. Kārdār, fearing lest she

should relate to the King what had passed between them, hastened to meet

him as he returned in triumph after conquering his enemies; and whilst

walking along by the side of the King’s horse, began to inform his

Majesty of all that had happened in his absence. Having mentioned

several occurrences, he added, that one circumstance was of such a

nature that he could not prevail on himself to relate it, for it was

such as the King would be very much displeased at hearing.

The King’s curiosity being thus excited, he ordered Kārdār to relate

this occurrence; and he, declaring that it was a most ungrateful task,

informed him that it was a maxim of the wise men: “When you have killed

the serpent, you should also kill its young.” He then proceeded to

relate that, one day during the warm season, being seated near the door

of the harem, he overheard some voices, and his suspicions being

excited, he concealed himself behind the hangings, and listened

attentively, when he heard the daughter of Kāmgār express her affection

for the cook, who, in return, declared his attachment; and they spoke of

poisoning the King in revenge for his having killed her father. “I had

not patience,” added Kārdār, “to listen any longer.”—At this

intelligence the King changed colour with rage and indignation, and on

arriving at the palace, ordered the unfortunate cook to be instantly cut

in two. He then sent for the daughter of Kāmgār, and upbraided her with

the intention of destroying him by poison. She immediately perceived

that this accusation proceeded from the malevolence of Kārdār, and was

going to speak in vindication of herself, when the King ordered her to

be put to death; but being dissuaded by an attendant from killing a

woman, he revoked the sentence of death; and she was tied hands and

feet, and placed upon a camel, which was turned into a dreary

wilderness, where there was neither water nor shade, nor any trace of

cultivation.

Here she suffered from the intense heat and thirst, to such a degree

that, expecting every moment to be her last, she resigned herself to the

will of Providence, conscious of her own innocence. Just then the camel

lay down, and on that spot where they were a fountain of delicious water

sprang forth; the cords which bound her hands and feet dropped off: she

refreshed herself by a hearty draught of the water, and fervently

returned thanks to Heaven for this blessing and her wonderful

preservation. On this the most verdant and fragrant herbage appeared

around the borders of the fountain; it became a blooming and delightful

spot, and the camel placed himself so as to afford his lovely companion

a shade and shelter from the sunbeams.

It happened that one of the King’s camel-keepers was at this time in

pursuit of some camels which had wandered into the desert, and without

which he dared not return to the city. He had sought them for several

days amidst hills and forests without any success. At length on coming

to this spot he beheld the daughter of Kāmgār and the camel, which at

first he thought was one of those he sought, and the clear fountain with

the verdant banks, where neither grass nor water had ever been seen

before. Astonished at this discovery, he resolved not to interrupt the

lady, who was engaged in prayer; but when she had finished, he addressed

her, and was so charmed by her gentleness and piety, that he offered to

adopt her as his child, and expressed his belief that, through the

efficacy of her prayers, he should recover the strayed camels.

This good man’s offer she thankfully accepted; and having partaken of a

fowl and some bread which he had with him, at his request she prayed for

the recovery of his camels. As soon as she had concluded her prayer, the

camels appeared on the skirts of the wilderness, and of their own accord

approached the camel-keeper.

He then represented to the daughter of Kāmgār the danger of remaining

all night in the wilderness, which was the haunt of many wild beasts;

and proposed that she should return with him to the city, and dwell with

him in his house, where he would provide for her a retired apartment, in

which she might perform her devotions without interruption. To this

proposal she consented, and being mounted on her camel, she returned to

the city, and arrived at the house of her companion at the time of

evening prayer. Here she resided for some time, employing herself in

exercises of piety and devotion.

One day the camel-keeper, being desired by the King to relate his past

adventures, mentioned, among other circumstances, the losing of his

camels, the finding them through the efficacy of a young woman’s

prayers, the discovery of a spring where none had been before, and his

adopting the damsel as his daughter: he concluded by telling the King

that she was now at his house, and employed day and night in acts of

devotion.

The King, on hearing this, expressed an earnest wish that he might be

allowed to see this young woman, and prevail on her to intercede with

Providence in his behalf. The camel-keeper, having consented, returned

at once to his house accompanied by the King, who waited at the door of

the apartment where the daughter of Kāmgār was engaged in prayer. When

she had concluded he approached, and with astonishment recognised her.

Having tenderly embraced her, he wept, and entreated her forgiveness.

This she readily granted, but begged that he would conceal himself in

the apartment whilst she should converse with Kārdār, whom she sent for.

When he arrived, and beheld her with a thousand expressions of fondness,

he inquired the means whereby she had escaped; and he told her that on

the day when the King had banished her into the wilderness, he had sent

people to seek her, and to bring her to him. “How much better would it

have been,” added he, “had you followed my advice, and agreed to my

proposal of poisoning the King, who, I said, would endeavour to destroy

you, as he had killed your father! But you rejected my advice, and

declared yourself ready to submit to whatsoever Providence should

decree. Hereafter,” continued he, “you will pay more attention to my

words. But now let us not think of what is past: I am your slave, and

you are dearer to me than my own eyes!” So saying, he attempted to clasp

the daughter of Kāmgār in his arms, when the King, who was concealed

behind the hangings, rushed furiously on him, and put him to death.

After this he conducted the damsel to his palace, and constantly

lamented his precipitancy in having killed her father.

* * * * *

Here Bakhtyār concluded the story; and having requested a further

respite, that he might have an opportunity of proving his innocence, he

was sent back to prison by order of the King.