THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS
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Illustrated by Edmund Dulac
Edmund Dulac
(born Edmond Dulac, October 22, 1882 – May 25, 1953)
was a French book illustrator prominent during the so called "Golden Age
of Illustration"
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THE ARABIAN NIGHTS
Sir Richard Burton, translator
1850
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THE EBONY HORSE
THERE was once in times of yore and ages long gone before, a great
and puissant King, of the kings of the Persians, Sabur by name, who was
the richest of all the kings in store of wealth and dominion and
surpassed each and every in wit and wisdom. He was generous, openhanded
and beneficent, and he gave to those who sought him and repelled not
those who resorted to him, and he comforted the brokenhearted and
honorably entreated those who fled to him for refuge. Moreover, he loved
the poor and was hospitable to strangers and did the oppressed justice
upon the oppressor. He had three daughters, like full moons of shining
light or flower gardens blooming bright, and a son as he were the moon.
And it was his wont to keep two festivals in the twelvemonth, those of
the Nau-Roz, or New Year, and Mihrgan, the Autumnal Equinox, on which
occasions he threw open his palaces and gave largess and made
proclamation of safety and security and promoted his chamberlains and
viceroys. And the people of his realm came in to him and saluted him and
gave him joy of the holy day, bringing him gifts and servants and
eunuchs.
Now he loved science and geometry, and one festival day as he sat on
his kingly throne there came in to him three wise men, cunning
artificers and past masters in all manner of craft and inventions,
skilled in making things curious and rare, such as confound the wit, and
versed in the knowledge of occult truths and perfect in mysteries and
subtleties. And they were of three different tongues and countries: the
first a Hindi or Indian, the second a Roumi or Greek, and the third a
Farsi or Persian. The Indian came forward and, prostrating himself
before the King, wished him joy of the festival and laid before him a
present befitting his dignity; that is to say, a man of gold, set with
precious gems and jewels of price and hending in hand a golden trumpet.
When Sabur saw this, he asked, "O sage, what is the virtue of this
figure?" and the Indian answered: "O my lord, if this figure be set at
the gate of thy city, it will be a guardian over it; for if an enemy
enter the place, it will blow this clarion against him and he will be
seized with a palsy and drop down dead." Much the King marveled at this
and cried, "By Allah, O sage, an this thy word be true, I will grant
thee thy wish and thy desire."
Then came forward the Greek and, prostrating himself before the King,
presented him with a basin of silver in whose midst was a peacock of
gold, surrounded by four and twenty chicks of the same metal. Sabur
looked at them and turning to the Greek, said to him, "O sage, what is
the virtue of this peacock?" "O my lord," answered he, "as often as an
hour of the day or night passeth, it pecketh one of its young and crieth
out and flappeth its wing, till the four and twenty hours are
accomplished. And when the month cometh to an end, it will open its
mouth and thou shalt see the crescent therein." And the King said, "An
thou speak sooth, I will bring thee to thy wish and thy desire."
Then came forward the Persian sage and, prostrating himself before
the King, presented him with a horse of the blackest ebony wood inlaid
with gold and jewels, and ready harnessed with saddle, bridle, and
stirrups such as befit kings, which when Sabur saw, he marveled with
exceeding marvel and was confounded at the beauty of its form and the
ingenuity of its fashion. So he asked, "What is the use of this horse of
wood, and what is its virtue and what the secret of its movement?" and
the Persian answered, "O my lord, the virtue of this horse is that if
one mount him, it will carry him whither he will and fare with its rider
through the air and cover the space of a year in a single day."
The King marveled and was amazed at these three wonders, following
thus hard upon one another on the same day, and turning to the sage,
said to him: "By Allah the Omnipotent, and our Lord the Beneficent, who
created all creatures and feedeth them with meat and drink, an thy
speech be veritable and the virtue of thy contrivance appear, I will
assuredly give thee whatsoever thou lustest for and will bring thee to
thy desire and thy wish!" Then he entertained the sages three days, that
he might make trial of their gifts, after which they brought the figures
before him and each took the creature he had wroughten and showed him
the mystery of its movement. The trumpeter blew the trump, the peacock
pecked its chicks, and the Persian sage mounted the ebony horse,
whereupon it soared with him high in air and descended again. When King
Sabur saw all this, he was amazed and perplexed and felt like to fly for
joy and said to the three sages: "Now I am certified of the truth of
your words and it behooveth me to quit me of my promise. Ask ye,
therefore, what ye will, and I will give you that same."
Now the report of the King's daughters had reached the sages, so they
answered: "If the King be content with us and accept of our gifts and
allow us to prefer a request to him, we crave of him that he give us his
three daughters in marriage, that we may be his sons-inlaw, for that the
stability of kings may not be gainsaid." Quoth the King, "I grant you
that which you wish and you desire," and bade summon the kazi
forthright, that he might marry each of the sages to one of his
daughters. Now it fortuned that the Princesses were behind a curtain,
looking on, and when they heard this, the youngest considered her
husband-to-be and behold, he was an old man, a hundred years of age,
with hair frosted, forehead drooping, eyebrows mangy, ears slitten,
beard and mustachios stained and dyed, eyes red and goggle, cheeks
bleached and hollow, flabby nose like a brinjall or eggplant, face like
a cobblees apron, teeth overlapping and lips like camel's kidneys, loose
and pendulous- in brief, a terror, a horror, a monster, for he was of
the folk of his time the unsightliest and of his age the frightfulest.
Sundry of his grinders had been knocked out and his eyeteeth were like
the tusks of the Jinni who frighteneth poultry in henhouses.
Now the girl was the fairest and most graceful of her time, more
elegant than the gazelle, however tender, than the gentlest zephyr
blander, and brighter than the moon at her full, for amorous fray right
suitable, confounding in graceful sway the waving bough and outdoing in
swimming gait the pacing roe,- in fine, she was fairer and sweeter by
far than all her sisters. So when she saw her suitor, she went to her
chamber and strewed dust on her head and tore her clothes and fell to
buffeting her face and weeping and walling. Now the Prince, her brother,
Kamar al-Akmar, or the Moon of Moons hight, was then newly returned from
a journey and, hearing her weeping and crying, came in to her (for he
loved her with fond affection, more than his other sisters) and asked
her: "What aileth thee? What hath befallen thee? Tell me, and conceal
naught from me." So she smote her breast and answered: "O my brother and
my dear one, I have nothing to hide. If the palace be straitened upon
thy father, I will go out, and if he be resolved upon a foul thing, I
will separate myself from him, though he consent not to make provision
for me, and my Lord will provide." Quoth he, "Tell me what meaneth this
talk and what hath straitened thy breast and troubled thy temper." "O my
brother and my dear one," answered the Princess, "know that my father
hath promised me in marriage to a wicked magician who brought him as a
gift a horse of black wood, and hath bewitched him with his craft and
his egromancy. But as for me, I will none of him, and would, because of
him, I had never come into this world!"
Her brother soothed her and solaced her, then fared to his sire and
said: "What be this wizard to whom thou hast given my youngest sister in
marriage, and what is this present which he hast brought thee, so that
thou hast killed my sister with chagrin? It is not right that this
should be." Now the Persian was standing by, and when he heard the
Prince's words, he was mortified and filled with fury, and the King
said, "O my son, an thou sawest this horse, thy wit would be confounded
and thou wouldst be amated with amazement." Then he bade the slaves
bring the horse before him and they did so, and, when the Prince saw it,
it pleased him. So (being an accomplished cavalier) he mounted it
forthright and struck its sides with the shovelshaped stirrup irons. But
it stirred not, and the King said to the sage, "Go show him its
movement, that he also may help thee to win thy wish."
Now the Persian bore the Prince a grudge because he willed not he
should have his sister, so he showed him the pin of ascent on the right
side of the horse and saying to him, "Trill this," left him. Thereupon
the Prince trilled the pin and lo! the horse forthwith soared with him
high in ether, as it were a bird, and gave not over flying till it
disappeared from men's espying, whereat the King was troubled and
perplexed about his case and said to the Persian, "O Sage, look how thou
mayst make him descend." But he replied, "O my lord, I can do nothing,
and thou wilt never see him again till Resurrection Day, for he, of his
ignorance and pride, asked me not of the pin of descent, and I forgot to
acquaint him therewith." When the King heard this, he was enraged with
sore rage, and bade bastinado the sorcerer and clap him in jail, whilst
he himself cast the crown from his head and beat his face and smote his
breast. Moreover, he shut the doors of his palaces and gave himself up
to weeping and keening, he and his wife and daughters and all the folk
of the city, and thus their joy was turned to annoy and their gladness
changed into sore affliction and sadness.
Thus far concerning them, but as regards the Prince, the horse gave
not over soaring with him till he drew near the sun, whereat he gave
himself up for lost and saw death in the sides, and was confounded at
his case, repenting him of having mounted the horse and saying to
himself: "Verily, this was a device of the sage to destroy me on account
of my youngest sister. But there is no Majesty and there is no Might
save in Allah, the Glorious, the Great! I am lost without recourse, but
I wonder, did not he who made the ascent pin make also a descent pin?"
Now he was a man of wit and knowledge and intelligence, so he fell to
feeling all the parts of the horse, but saw nothing save a screw like a
cock's head on its right shoulder and the like on the left, when quoth
he to himself, "I see no sip save these things like button."
Presently he turned the right-hand pin, whereupon the horse flew
heavenward with increased speed. So he left it, and looking at the
sinister shoulder and finding another pin, he wound it up and
immediately the steed's upward motion slowed and ceased and it began to
descend, little by little, toward the face of the earth, while the rider
became yet more cautious and careful of his life. And when he saw this
and knew the uses of the horse, his heart was filled with joy and
gladness and he thanked Almighty Allah for that He had deigned deliver
him from destruction. Then he began to turn the horse's head
whithersoever he would, making it rise and fall at pleasure, till he had
gotten complete mastery over its every movement. He ceased not to
descend the whole of that day, for that the steed's ascending flight had
borne him afar from the earth, and as he descended, he diverted himself
with viewing the various cities and countries over which he passed and
which he knew not, never having seen them in his life.
Amongst the rest, he decried a city ordered after the fairest fashion
in the midst of a verdant and riant land, rich in trees and streams,
with gazelles pacing daintily over the plains, whereat he fell a-musing
and said to himself, "Would I knew the name of yon town and in what land
it is!" And he took to circling about it and observing it right and
left. By this time, the day began to decline and the sun drew near to
its downing, and he said in his mind, "Verily I find no goodlier place
to night in than this city, so I will lodge here, and early on the
morrow I will return to my kith and kin and my kingdom and tell my
father and family what hath passed and acquaint him with what mine eyes
have seen.
Then he addressed himself to seeking a place wherein he might safely
bestow himself and his horse and where none should descry him, and
presently, behold, he espied a-middlemost of the city a palace rising
high in upper air surrounded by a great wall with lofty crenelles and
battlements, guarded by forty black slaves clad in complete mail and
armed with spears and swords, bows and arrows. Quoth he, "This is a
goodly place," and turned the descent pin, whereupon the horse sank down
with him like a weary bird, and alighted gently on the terrace roof of
the palace. So the Prince dismounted and ejaculating "Alhamdolillah-
praise be to Allah," he began to go round about the horse and examine
it, saying: "By Allah, he who fashioned thee with these perfections was
a cunning craftsman, and if the Almighty extend the term of my life and
restore me to my country and kinsfolk in safety and reunite me with my
father, I will assuredly bestow upon him all manner bounties and benefit
him with the utmost beneficence."
By this time night had overtaken him and he sat on the roof till he
was assured that all in the palace slept, and indeed hunger and thirst
were sore upon him for that he had not tasted food nor drunk water since
he parted from his sire. So he said within himself, "Surely the like of
this palace will not lack of victual," and, leaving the horse above,
went down in search of somewhat to eat. Presently he came to a staircase
and, descending it to the bottom, found himself in a court paved with
white marble and alabaster, which shone in the light of the moon. He
marveled at the place and the goodliness of its fashion, but sensed no
sound of speaker and saw no living soul and stood in perplexed surprise,
looking right and left and knowing not whither he should wend. Then said
he to himself, "I may not do better than return to where I left my horse
and pass the night by it, and as soon as day shall dawn I will mount and
ride away."
However, as he tarried talking to himself, he espied a light within
the palace, and making toward it, found that it came from a candle that
stood before a door of the harem, at the head of a sleeping eunuch, as
he were one of the Ifrits of Solomon or a tribesman of the Jinn, longer
than lumber and broader than a bench. He lay before the door, with the
pommel of his sword gleaming in the flame of the candle, and at his head
was a bag of leather hanging from a column of granite. When the Prince
saw this, he was affrighted and said, "I crave help from Allah the
Supreme! O mine Holy One, even as Thou hast already delivered me from
destruction, so vouchsafe me strength to quit myself of the adventure of
this palace!" So saying, he put out his hand to the budget and taking
it, carried it aside and opened it and found in it food of the best.
He ate his fill and refreshed himself and drank water, after which he
hung up the provision bag in its place and drawing the eunuch's sword
from its sheath, took it, whilst the slave slept on, knowing not whence
Destiny should come to him. Then the Prince fared forward into the
palace and ceased not till he came to a second door, with a curtain
drawn before it. So he raised the curtain and, behold, on entering he
saw a couch of the whitest ivory inlaid with pearls and jacinths and
jewels, and four slave girls sleeping about it. He went up to the couch,
to see what was thereon, and found a young lady lying asleep, chemised
with her hair as she were the full moon rising over the eastern horizon,
with flower-white brow and shining hair parting and cheeks like
blood-red anemones, and dainty moles thereon. He was amazed at her as
she lay in her beauty and loveliness, her symmetry and grace, and he
recked no more of death.
So he went up to her, trembling in every nerve, and, shuddering with
pleasure, kissed her on the right cheek, whereupon she awoke forthright
and opened her eyes, and seeing the Prince standing at her head, said to
him, "Who art thou, and whence comest thou?" Quoth he, "I am thy slave
and thy lover." Asked she, "And who brought thee hither?" and he
answered, "My Lord and my fortune." Then said Shams al-Nahar (for such
was her name) "Haply thou art he who demanded me yesterday of my father
in marriage and he rejected thee, pretending that thou wast foul of
favor. By Allah, my sire lied in his throat when he spoke this thing,
for thou art not other than beautiful." Now the son of the King of Hind
had sought her in marriage, but her father had rejected him for that he
was ugly and uncouth, and she thought the Prince was he. So when she saw
his beauty and grace (for indeed he was like the radiant moon) the
syntheism of love gat hold of her heart as it were a flaming fire, and
they fell to talk and converse.
Suddenly, her waiting women awoke and, seeing the Prince with their
mistress, said to her, "O my lady, who is this with thee?" Quoth she: "I
know not. I found him sitting by me when I woke up. Haply 'tis he who
seeketh me in marriage of my sire." Quoth they, "O my lady, by Allah the
All-Father, this is not he who seeketh thee in marriage, for he is
hideous and this man is handsome and of high degree. Indeed, the other
is not fit to be his servant." Then the handmaidens went out to the
eunuch, and finding him slumbering, awoke him, and he started up in
alarm. Said they, "How happeth it that thou art on guard at the palace
and yet men come in to us whilst we are asleep?" When the black heard
this, he sprang in haste to his sword, but found it not, and fear took
him, and trembling. Then he went in, confounded, to his mistress and
seeing the Prince sitting at talk with her, said to him, "O my lord, art
thou man or Jinni?" Replied the Prince: "Woe to thee, O unluckiest of
slaves. How darest thou even the sons of the royal Chosroes with one of
the unbelieving Satans?" And he was as a raging lion.
Then he took the sword in his hand and said to the slave, "I am the
King's son-in-law, and he hath married me to his daughter and bidden me
go in to her." And when the eunuch heard these words he replied, "O my
lord, if thou be indeed of kind a man as thou avouchest, she is fit for
none but for thee, and thou art worthier of her than any other."
Thereupon the eunuch ran to the King, shrieking loud and rending his
raiment and heaving dust upon his head. And when the King heard his
outcry, he said to him: "What hath befallen thee? Speak quickly and be
brief, for thou hast fluttered my heart." Answered the eunuch, "O King,
come to thy daughter's succor, for a devil of the Jinn, in the likeness
of a King's son hath got possession of her, so up and at him!"
When the King heard this, he thought to kill him and said, "How
camest thou to be careless of my daughter and let this demon come at
her?" Then he betook himself to the Princess's palace, where he found
her slave women standing to await him, and asked them, "What is come to
my daughter?" "O King," answered they, "slumber overcame us and when we
awoke, we found a young man sitting upon her couch in talk with her, as
he were the full moon. Never saw we aught fairer of favor than he. So we
questioned him of his case and he declared that thou hadst given him thy
daughter in marriage. More than this we know not, nor do we know if he
be a man or a Jinni, but he is modest and well-bred, and doth nothing
unseemly or which leadeth to disgrace."
Now when the King heard these words, his wrath cooled, and he raised
the curtain little by little and looking in, saw sitting at talk with
his daughter a Prince of the goodliest, with a face like the full moon
for sheen. At this sight he could not contain himself, of his jealousy
for his daughter's honor, and putting aside the curtain, rushed in upon
them drawn sword in hand like a furious Ghul. Now when the Prince saw
him he asked the Princess, "Is this thy sire?" and she answered, "Yes."
Whereupon he sprang, to his feet and, seizing his sword, cried out at
the King with so terrible a cry that he was confounded. Then the youth
would have fallen on him with the sword, but the King, seeing that the
Prince was doughtier than he, sheathed his scimitar and stood till the
young man came up to him, when he accosted him courteously and said to
him, "O youth, art thou a man or a Jinni?" Quoth the Prince: "Did I not
respect thy right as mine host and thy daughter's honor, I would spill
thy blood! How darest thou fellow me with devils, me that am a Prince of
the sons of the royal Chosroes, who, had they wished to take thy
kingdom, could shake thee like an earthquake from thy glory and thy
dominions, and spoil thee of all thy possessions?"
Now when the King heard his words, he was confounded with awe and
bodily fear of him and rejoined: "If thou indeed be of the sons of the
Kings, as thou pretendest, how cometh it that thou enterest my palace
without my permission, and smirchest mine honor, making thy way to my
daughter and feigning that thou art her husband and claiming that I have
given her to thee to wife, I that have slain kings and king's sons who
sought her of me in marriage? And now who shall save thee from my might
and majesty when, if I cried out to my slaves and servants and bade them
put thee to the vilest of deaths, they would slay thee forthright? Who
shall deliver thee out of my hand?"
When the Prince heard this speech of the King, he answered: "Verily,
I wonder at thee and at the shortness and denseness of thy wit! Say me,
canst covet for thy daughter a mate comelier than myself, and hast ever
seen a stouter-hearted man or one better fitted for a Sultan or a more
glorious in rank and dominion than I?" Rejoined the King: "Nay, by
Allah! But I would have had thee, O youth, act after the custom of kings
and demand her from me to wife before witnesses, that I might have
married her to thee publicly. And now, even were I to marry her to thee
privily, yet hast thou dishonored me in her person." Rejoined the
Prince: "Thou sayest sooth, O King, but if thou summon thy slaves and
thy soldiers and they fall upon me and slay me, as thou pretendest, thou
wouldst but publish thine own disgrace, and the folk would be divided
between belief in thee and disbelief in thee. Wherefore, O King, thou
wilt do well, meseemeth, to turn from this thought to that which I shall
counsel thee." Quoth the King, "Let me hear what thou hast to advise,"
and quoth the Prince:
"What I have to propose to thee is this: Either do thou meet me in
combat singular, I and thou, and he who slayeth his adversary shall be
held the worthier and having a better title to the kingdom; or else let
me be this night, and whenas dawns the morn, draw out against me thy
horsemen and footmen and servants, but first tell me their number." Said
the King, "They are forty thousand horse, besides my own slaves and
their followers, who are the like of them in number." Thereupon said the
Prince: "When the day shall break, do thou array them against me and say
to them: 'This man is a suitor to me for my daughter's hand, on
condition that he shall do battle singlehanded against you all; for he
pretendeth that he will overcome you and put you to the rout, and indeed
that ye cannot prevail against him.' After which, leave me to do battle
with them. If they slay me, then is thy secret the surer guarded and
thine honor the better warded, and if I overcome them and see their
backs, then is it the like of me a king should covet to his son-in-law."
So the King approved of his opinion and accepted his proposition,
despite his awe at the boldness of his speech and amaze at the
pretensions of the Prince to meet in fight his whole host, such as he
had described it to him, being at heart assured that he would perish in
the fray and so he should be quit of him and freed from the fear of
dishonor. Thereupon he called the eunuch and bade him go to his Wazir
without stay and delay and command him to assemble the whole of the army
and cause them don their arms and armor and mount their steeds. So the
eunuch carried the King's order to the Minister, who straightway
summoned the captains of the host and the lords of the realm and bade
them don their harness of derring-do and mount horse and sally forth in
battle array.
Such was their case, but as regards the King, he sat a long while
conversing with the young Prince, being pleased with his wise speech and
good sense and fine breeding. And when it was daybreak, he returned to
his palace and, seating himself on his throne, commanded his merry men
to mount, and bade them saddle one of the best of the royal steeds with
handsome selle and housings and trappings and bring it to the Prince.
But the youth said, "O King, I will not mount horse till I come in view
of the troops and review them." "Be it as thou wilt," replied the King.
Then the two repaired to the parade ground where the troops were drawn
up, and the young Prince looked upon them and noted their great number.
After which the King cried out to them, saying: "Ho, all ye men, there
is come to me a youth who seeketh my daughter in marriage, and in very
sooth never have I seen a goodlier than he- no, nor a stouter of heart
nor a doughtier of arm, for he pretendeth that he can overcome you
singlehanded, and force you to flight and that, were ye a hundred
thousand in number, yet for him would ye be but few. Now when he
chargeth down on you, do ye receive him upon point of pike and sharp of
saber, for indeed he hath undertaken a mighty matter."
Then quoth the King to the Prince, "Up, O my son, and do thy devoir
on them." Answered he: "O King, thou dealest not justly and fairly by
me. How shall I go forth against them, seeing that I am afoot and the
men be mounted?" The King retorted, "I bade thee mount, and thou
refusedst, but choose thou which of my horses thou wilt." Then he said,
"Not one of thy horses pleaseth me, and I will ride none but that on
which I came." Asked the King, "And where is thy horse?" "Atop of thy
palace." "In what part of my palace?" "On the roof." Now when the King
heard these words, he cried: "Out on thee! This is the first sip thou
hast given of madness. How can the horse be on the roof.? But we shall
at once see if thou speak truth or lies." Then he turned to one of his
chief officers and said to him, "Go to my palace and bring me what thou
findest on the roof." So all the people marveled at the young Prince's
words, saying one to other, "How can a horse come down the steps from
the roof.? Verily this is a thing whose like we never heard."
In the meantime the King's messenger repaired to the palace and,
mounting to the roof, found the horse standing there, and never had he
looked on a handsomer. But when he drew near and examined it, he saw
that it was made of ebony and ivory. Now the officer was accompanied by
other high officers, who also looked on, and they laughed to one
another, saying: "Was it of the like of this horse that the youth spake?
We cannot deem him other than mad. However, we shall soon see the truth
of his case. Peradventure herein is some mighty matter, and he is a man
of high degree." Then they lifted up the horse bodily, carrying it to
the King, set it down before him. And all the lieges flocked round to
look at it, marveling at the beauty of its proportions and the richness
of its saddle and bridle. The King also admired it, and wondered at it
with extreme wonder, and he asked the Prince, "O youth, is this thy
horse?" He answered, "Yes, O King, this is my horse, and thou shalt soon
see the marvel it showeth." Rejoined the King, "Then take and mount it,"
and the Prince retorted, "I will not mount till the troops withdraw afar
from it."
So the King bade them retire a bowshot from the horse, whereupon
quoth its owner: "O King, see thou, I am about to mount my horse and
charge upon thy host and scatter them right and left and split their
hearts asunder." Said the King, "Do as thou wilt, and spare not their
lives, for they will not spare thine." Then the Prince mounted, whilst
the troops ranged themselves in ranks before him, and one said to
another, "When the youth cometh between the ranks, we will take him on
the points of our pikes and the sharps of our sabers." Quoth another:
"By Allah, this is a mere misfortune. How shall we slay a youth so
comely of face and shapely of form?" And a third continued: "Ye will
have hard work to get the better of him, for the youth had not done this
but for what he knew of his own prowess and pre-eminence of valor."
Meanwhile, having settled himself in his saddle, the Prince turned
the pin of ascent whilst an eyes were strained to see what he would do,
whereupon the horse began to heave and rock and sway to and fro and make
the strangest of movements steed ever made, till its belly was filled
with air and it took flight with its rider and soared high into the sky.
When the King saw this, he cried out to his men, saying: "Woe to you!
Catch him, catch him, ere he 'scape you!" But his Wazirs and viceroys
said to him: "O King, can a man overtake the flying bird? This is surely
none but some mighty magician or Marid of the, Jinn, or devil, and Allah
save thee from him! So praise thou the Almighty for deliverance of thee
and of all thy host from his hand."
Then the King returned to his palace after seeing the feat of the
Prince, and going in to his daughter, acquainted her with what had
befallen them both on the parade ground. He found her grievously
afflicted for the Prince and bewailing her separation from him,
wherefore she fell sick with violent sickness and took to her pillow.
Now when her father saw her on this wise, he pressed her to his breast
and kissing her between the eyes, said to her: "O my daughter, praise
Allah Almighty and thank Him for that He hath delivered us from this
crafty enchanter, this villian, this low fellow, this thief who thought
only of seducing thee!" And he repeated to her the story of the Prince
and how he had disappeared in the firmament, and he abused him and
cursed him, knowing not how dearly his daughter loved him. But she paid
no heed to his words and did but redouble in her tears and wails, saying
to herself, "By Allah, I will neither eat meat nor drain drink till
Allah reunite me with him!" Her father was greatly concerned for her
case and mourned much over her plight, but for all he could do to soothe
her, love longing only increased on her.
Thus far concerning the King and Princess Shams al-Nahar, but as
regards Prince Kamar al-Akmar, when he had risen high in air, he turned
his horse's head toward his native land, and being alone, mused upon the
beauty of the Princess and her loveliness. Now he had inquired of the
King's people the name of the city and of its King and his daughter, and
men had told him that it was the city of Sana'a. So he journeyed with
all speed till he drew near his father's capital and, making an airy
circuit about the city, alighted on the roof of the King's palace, where
he left his horse whilst he descended into the palace, and seeing its
threshold strewn with ashes, thought that one of his family was dead.
Then he entered, as of wont, and found his father and mother and sisters
clad in mourning raiment of black, all pale of faces and lean of frames.
When his sire descried him and was assured that it was indeed his son,
he cried out with a great cry and fell down in a fit, but after a time,
coming to himself, threw himself upon him and embraced him, clipping him
to his bosom and rejoicing in him with exceeding joy and extreme
gladness. His mother and sisters heard this, so they came in, and seeing
the Prince, fell upon him, kissing him and weeping and joying with
exceeding joyance.
Then they questioned him of his case, so he told them all that had
past from first to last, and his father said to him, "Praised be Allah
for thy safety, O coolth of my eyes and core of my heart!" Then the King
bade hold high festival, and the glad tidings flew through the city. So
they beat drums and cymbals and, doffing the weed of mourning, they
donned the gay garb of gladness and decorated the streets and markets,
whilst the folk vied with one another who should be the first to give
the King joy, and the King proclaimed a general pardon, and opening the
prisons, released those who were therein prisoned. Moreover, he made
banquets for the people, with great abundance of eating and drinking,
for seven days and nights, and all creatures were gladsomest. And he
took horse with his son and rode out with him, that the folk might see
him and rejoice.
After a while the Prince asked about the maker of the horse, saying,
"O my father, what hath fortune done with him?" and the King answered:
"Allah never bless him nor the hour wherein I set eyes on him! For he
was the cause of thy separation from us, O my son, and he hath lain in
jail since the day of thy disappearance." Then the King bade release him
from prison and, sending for him, invested him in a dress of
satisfaction and entreated him with the utmost favor and munificence,
save that he would not give him his daughter to wife. Whereat the sage
raged with sore rage and repented of that which he had done, knowing
that the Prince had secured the secret of the steed and the manner of
its motion. Moreover, the King said to his son: "I reck thou wilt do
well not to go near the horse henceforth, and more especially not to
mount it after this day; for thou knowest not its properties, and belike
thou art in error about it."
Now the Prince had told his father of his adventure with the King of
Sana'a and his daughter, and he said, "Had the King intended to kill
thee, he had done so, but thine hour was not yet come." When the
rejoicings were at an end, the people returned to their places and the
King and his son to the palace, where they sat down and fell to eating,
drinking, and making merry. Now the King had a handsome handmaiden who
was skilled in playing the lute, so she took it and began to sweep the
strings and sing thereto before the King and his son of separation of
lovers, and she chanted the following verses:
"Deem not that absence breeds in me aught of forgetfulness.
What should remember I did you fro' my remembrance wane?
Time dies but never dies the fondest love for you we bear,
And in your love I'll die and in your love I'll arise again."
When the Prince heard these verses, the fires of longing flamed up in
his heart, and pine and passion redoubled upon him. Grief and regret
were sore upon him and his bowels yeamed in him for love of the King's
daughter of Sana'a. So he rose forthright and, escaping his father's
notice, went forth the palace to the horse and mounting it, turned the
pin of ascent, whereupon birdlike it flew with him high in air and
soared toward the upper regions of the sky. In early morning his father
missed him, and going up to the pinnacle of the palace in great concern,
saw his son rising into the firmament, whereat he was sore afflicted and
repented in all penitence that he had not taken the horse and hidden it.
And he said to himself, "By Allah, if but my son returned to me, I will
destroy the horse, that my heart may be at rest concerning my son." And
he fell again to weeping and bewailing himself.
Such was his case, but as regards the Prince, he ceased not flying on
through air till he came to the city of Sana'a and alighted on the roof
as before. Then he crept down stealthily and, finding the eunuch asleep,
as of wont, raised the curtain and went on little by little till he came
to the door of the Princess's alcove chamber and stopped to listen, when
lo! he heard her shedding plenteous tears and reciting verses, whilst
her women slept round her. Presently, overhearing her weeping and
wailing, quoth they, "O our mistress, why wilt thou mourn for one who
mourneth not for thee?" Quoth she, "O ye little of wit, is he for whom I
mourn of those who forget or who are forgotten?" And she fell again to
wailing and weeping, till sleep overcame her.
Hereat the Prince's heart melted for her and his gall bladder was
like to burst, so he entered and, seeing her lying asleep without
covering, touched her with his hand, whereupon she opened her eyes and
espied him standing by her. Said he, "Why all this crying and mourning?"
And when she knew him, she threw herself upon him and took him around
the neck and kissed him and answered, "For thy sake and because of my
separation from thee." Said he, "O my lady, I have been made desolate by
thee all this long time!" But she replied, "'Tis thou who hast desolated
me, and hadst thou tarried longer, I had surely died!" Rejoined he: "O
my lady, what thinkest thou of my case with thy father, and how he dealt
with me? Were it not for my love of thee, O temptation and seduction of
the Three Worlds, I had certainly slain him and made him a warning to
all beholders, but even as I love thee, so I love him for thy sake."
Quoth she: "How couldst thou leave me? Can my life be sweet to me after
thee?" Quoth he: "Let what hath happened suffice. I am now hungry, and
thirsty." So she bade her maidens make ready meat and drink, and they
sat eating and drinking and conversing till night was well-nigh ended;
and when day broke he rose to take leave of her and depart ere the
eunuch should awake.
Shams al-Nahar asked him, "Whither goest thou?" and he answered, "To
my father' house, and I plight thee my troth that I will come to thee
once in every week." But she wept and said: "I conjure thee, by Allah
the Almighty, take me with thee whereso thou wendest and make me not
taste anew the bitter gourd of separation from thee." Quoth he, "Wilt
thou indeed go with me?" and quoth she, "Yes." "Then," said he, "arise,
that we depart." So she rose forthright and going to a chest, affayed
herself in what was richest and dearest to her of her trinkets of gold
and jewels of price, and she fared forth, her handmaids recking naught.
So he carried her up to the roof of the palace and, mounting the ebony
horse, took her up behind him and made her fast to himself, binding her
with strong bonds. After which he turned the shoulder pin of ascent and
the horse rose with him high in air.
When her slave women saw this, they shrieked aloud and told her
father and mother, who in hot haste ran to the palace roof and looking
up, saw the magical horse flying away with the Prince and Princess. At
this the King was troubled with ever-increasing trouble and cried out,
saying, "O King's son, I conjure thee, by Allah, have ruth on me and my
wife and bereave us not of our daughter!" The Prince made him no reply,
but, thinking in himself that the maiden repented of leaving father and
mother, asked her, "O ravishment of the age, say me, wilt thou that I
restore thee to thy mother and father?" Whereupon she answered: "By
Allah, O my lord, that is not my desire. My only wish is to be with
thee, wherever thou art, for I am distracted by the love of thee from
all else, even from my father and mother." Hearing these words, the
Prince joyed with great joy, and made the horse fly and fare softly with
them, so as not to disquiet her. Nor did they stay their flight till
they came in sight of a green meadow, wherein was a spring of running
water. Here they alighted and ate and drank, after which the Prince took
horse again and set her behind him, binding her in his fear for her
safety, after which they fared on till they came in sight of his
father's capital.
At this, the Prince was filled with joy and bethought himself to show
his beloved the seat of his dominion and his father's power and dignity
and give her to know that it was greater than that of her sire. So he
set her down in one of his father's gardens without the city where his
parent was wont to take his pleasure, and carrying her into a domed
summerhouse prepared there for the King, left the ebony horse at the
door and charged the damsel keep watch over it, saying, "Sit here till
my messenger come to thee, for I go now to my father to make ready a
palace for thee and show thee my royal estate." She was delighted when
she heard these words and said to him, "Do as thou wilt," for she
thereby understood that she should not enter the city but with due honor
and worship, as became her rank.
Then the Prince left her and betook himself to the palace of the King
his father, who rejoiced in his return and met him and welcomed him, and
the Prince said to him: "Know that I have brought with me the King's
daughter of whom I told thee, and have left her without the city in such
a garden and come to tell thee, that thou mayest make ready the
procession of estate and go forth to meet her and show her the royal
dignity and troops and guards." Answered the King, "With joy and
gladness," and straightway bade decorate the town with the goodliest
adornment. Then he took horse and rode out in all magnificence and
majesty, he and his host, high officers, and household, with drums and
kettledrums, fifes and clarions and all manner instruments, whilst the
Prince drew forth of his treasuries jewelry and apparel and what else of
the things which kings hoard and made a rare display of wealth-and
splendor. Moreover he got ready for the Princess a canopied litter of
brocades, green, red, and yellow, wherein he set Indian and Greek and
Abyssinian slave girls. Then he left the litter and those who were
therein and preceded them to the pavilion where he had set her down, and
searched but found naught, neither Princess nor horse.
When he saw this, he beat his face and rent his raiment and began to
wander round about the garden as he had lost his wits, after which he
came to his senses and said to himself: "How could she have come at the
secret of this horse, seeing I told her nothing of it? Maybe the Persian
sage who made the horse hath chanced upon her and stolen her away, in
revenge for my father's treatment of him." Then he sought the guardians
of the garden and asked them if they had seen any pass the precincts,
and said: "Hath anyone come in here? Tell me the truth and the whole
truth, or I will at once strike off your heads." They were terrified by
his threats, but they answered with one voice, "We have seen no man
enter save the Persian sage, who came to gather healing herbs." So the
Prince was certified that it was indeed he that had taken away the
maiden, and abode confounded and perplexed concerning his case. And he
was abashed before the folk and, turning to his sire, told him what had
happened and said to him: "Take the troops and march them back to the
city. As for me, I will never return till I have cleared up this
affair."
When the King heard this, he wept and beat his breast and said to
him: "O my son, calm thy choler and master thy chagrin and come home
with us and look what Idng's daughter thou wouldst fain have, that I may
marry thee to her." But the Prince paid no heed to his words and
farewelling him, departed, whilst the King returned to the city, and
their joy was changed into sore annoy. Now, as Destiny issued her
decree, when the Prince left the Princess in the garden house and betook
himself to his father's palace for the ordering of his affair, the
Persian entered the garden to pluck certain simples and, scenting the
sweet savor of musk and perfumes that exhaled from the Princess and
impregnated the whole place, followed it till he came to the pavilion
and saw standing at the door the horse which he had made with his own
hands. His heart was filled with joy and gladness, for he had bemourned
its loss much since it had gone out of his hand. So he went up to it
and, examining its every part, found it whole and sound, whereupon he
was about to mount and ride away when he bethought himself and said,
"Needs must I first look what the Prince hath brought and left here with
the horse." So he entered the pavilion and seeing the Princess sitting
there, as she were the sun shining sheen in the sky serene, knew her at
the first glance to be some highborn lady, and doubted not but the
Prince had brought her thither on the horse and left her in the pavilion
whilst he went to the city to make ready for her entry in state
procession with all splendor.
Then he went up to her and kissed the earth between her hands,
whereupon she raised her eyes to him and, finding him exceedingly foul
of face and favor, asked, "Who art thou?", and he answered, "O my lady,
I am a messenger sent by the Prince, who hath bidden me bring thee to
another pleasance nearer the city, for that my lady the Queen cannot
walk so far and is unwilling, of her joy in thee, that another should
forestall her with thee." Quoth she, "Where is the Prince?" and quoth
the Persian, "He is in the city, with his sire, and forthwith he shall
come for thee in great state." Said she: "O thou! Say me, could he find
none handsomer to send to me?" Whereat loud laughed the sage and said:
"Yea verily, he hath not a Mameluke as ugly as I am, but, O my lady, let
not the ill favor of my face and the foulness of my form deceive thee.
Hadst thou profited of me as hath the Prince, verily thou wouldst praise
my affair. Indeed, he chose me as his messenger to thee because of my
uncomeliness and loathsomeness in his jealous love of thee. Else hath he
Mamelukes and Negro slaves, pages, eunuchs, and attendants out of
number, each goodlier than other."
Whenas she heard this, it commended itself to her reason and she
believed him, so she rose forthright and, putting her hand in his, said,
"O my father, what hast thou brought me to ride?" He replied, "O my lady
thou shalt ride the horse thou camest on," and she, "I cannot ride it by
myself." Whereupon he smiled and knew that he was her master and said,
"I will ride with thee myself." So he mounted and, taking her up behind
him, bound her to himself with firm bonds, while she knew not what he
would with her. Then he turned the ascent pin, whereupon the belly of
the horse became full of wind and it swayed to and fro like a wave of
the sea, and rose with them high in air, nor slackened in its flight
till it was out of sight of the city. Now when Shams al-Nahar saw this,
she asked him: "Ho, thou! What is become of that thou toldest me of my
Prince, making me believe that he sent thee to me?" Answered the
Persian, "Allah damn the Prince! He is a mean and skinflint knave." She
cried: "Woe to thee! How darest thou disobey thy lord's commandment?"
Whereto the Persian replied: "He is no lord of mine. Knowest thou who I
am?" Rejoined the Princess, "I know nothing of thee save what thou
toldest me," and retorted he: "What I told thee was a trick of mine
against thee and the King's son. I have long lamented the loss of this
horse which is under us, for I constructed it and made myself master of
it. But now I have gotten firm hold of it and of thee too, and I will
burn his heart even as he hath burnt mine, nor shall he ever have the
horse again- no, never! So be of good cheer and keep thine eyes cool and
clear, for I can be of more use to thee than he. And I am generous as I
am wealthy. My servants and slaves shall obey thee as their mistress. I
will robe thee in finest raiment and thine every wish shall be at thy
will."
When she heard this, she buffeted her face and cried out, saying:
"Ah, wellaway! I have not won my beloved and I have lost my father and
mother!" And she wept bitter tears over what had befallen her, whilst
the sage fared on with her, without ceasing, till he came to the land of
the Greeks and alighted in a verdant mead, abounding in streams and
trees. Now this meadow lay near a city wherein was a King of high
puissance, and it chanced that he went forth that day to hunt and divert
himself. As he passed by the meadow, he saw the Persian standing there,
with the damsel and the horse by his side, and before the sage was ware,
the King's slaves fell upon him and carried him and the lady and the
horse to their master, who, noting the foulness of the man's favor and
his loathsomeness and the beauty of the girl and her loveliness, said,
"O my lady, what kin is this oldster to thee?" The Persian made haste to
reply, saying, "She is my wife and the daughter of my father's brother."
But the lady at once gave him the lie and said: "O King, by Allah, I
know him not, nor is he my husband. Nay, he is a wicked magician who
hath stolen me away by force and fraud." Thereupon the King bade
bastinado the Persian, and they beat him till he was well-nigh dead,
after which the King commanded to carry him to the city and cast him
into jail; and, taking from him the damsel and the ebony horse (though
he knew not its properties nor the secret of its motion), set the girl
in his seraglio and the horse amongst his hoards.
Such was the case with the sage and the lady, but as regards Prince
Kamar al-Akmar, he garbed himself in traveling gear and taking what he
needed of money, set out tracking their trail in very sorry plight, and
journeyed from the country to country and city to city seeking the
Princess and inquiring after the ebony horse, whilst all who heard him
marveled at him and deemed his talk extravagant. Thus he continued doing
a long while, but for all his inquiry and quest, he could hit on no news
of her. At last he came to her father's city of Sana'a and there asked
for her, but could get no tidings of her and found her father mourning
her loss. So he turned back and made for the land of the Greeks,
continuing to inquire concerning the twain as he went till, as chance
would have it, he alighted at a certain khan and saw a company of
merchants sitting at talk. So he sat down near them and heard one say,
"O my friends, I lately witnessed a wonder of wonders." They asked,
"What was that?" and he answered: "I was visiting such a district in
such a city (naming the city wherein was the Princess), and I heard its
people chatting of a strange thing which had lately befallen. It was
that their King went out one day hunting and coursing with a company of
his courtiers and the lords of his realm, and issuing from the city,
they came to a green meadow where they espied an old man standing, with
a woman sitting hard by a horse of ebony. The man was foulest foul of
face and loathly of form, but the woman was a marvel of beauty and
loveliness and elegance and perfect grace, and as for the wooden horse,
it was a miracle- never saw eyes aught goodlier than it nor more
gracious than its make." Asked the others, "And what did the King with
them?" and the merchant answered; "As for the man, the King seized him
and questioned him of the damsel and he pretended that she was his wife
and the daughter of his paternal uncle, but she gave him the lie
forthright and declared that he was a sorcerer and a villian. So the
King took her from the old man and bade beat him and cast him into the
trunk house. As for the ebony horse, I know not what became of it."
When the Prince heard these words, he drew near to the merchant and
began questioning him discreetly and courteously touching the name of
the city and of its King, which when he knew, he passed the night full
of joy. And as soon as dawned the day he set out and traveled sans
surcease till he reached that city. But when he would have entered, the
gatekeepers laid hands on him, that they might bring him before the King
to question him of his condition and the craft in which he skilled and
the cause of his coming thither- such being the usage and custom of
their ruler. Now it was suppertime when he entered the city, and it was
then impossible to go in to the King or take counsel with him respecting
the stranger. So the guards carried him to the jail, thinking to lay him
by the heels there for the night. But when the warders saw his beauty
and loveliness, they could not find it in their hearts to imprison him.
They made him sit with them without the walls, and when food came to
them, he ate with them what sufficed him.
As soon as they had made an end of eating, they turned to the Prince
and said, "What countryman art thou?" "I come from Fars," answered he,
"the land of the Chosroes." When they heard this, they laughed and one
of them said: "O Chosroan, I have heard the talk of men and their
histories and I have looked into their conditions, but never saw I or
heard I a bigger liar than the Chosroan which is with us in the jail."
Quoth another, "And never did I see aught fouler than his favor or more
hideous than his visnomy." Asked the Prince, "What have ye seen of his
lying?" and they answered: "He pretendeth that he is one of the wise!
Now the King came upon him as he went a-hunting, and found with him a
most beautiful woman and a horse of the blackest ebony- never saw I a
handsomer. As for the damsel, she is with the King, who is enamored of
her and would fain marry her. But she is mad, and were this man a leech,
as he claimeth to be, he would have healed her, for the King doth his
utmost to discover a cure for her case and a remedy for her disease, and
this whole year past hath he spent treasures upon physicians and
astrologers on her account, but none can avail to cure her. As for the
horse, it is in the royal hoard house, and the ugly man is here with us
in prison, and as soon as night falleth, he weepeth and bemoaneth
himself and will not let us sleep."
When the warders had recounted the case of the Persian egromancer
they held in prison and his weeping and wailing, the Prince at once
devised a device whereby he might compass his desire, and presently the
guards of the gate, being minded to sleep, led him into the jail and
locked the door. So he overheard the Persian weeping and bemoaning
himself in his own tongue, and saying: "Alack, and alas for my sin, that
I sinned against myself and against the King's son, in that which I did
with the damsel, for I neither left her nor won my will of her! All this
cometh of my lack of sense, in that I sought for myself that which I
deserved not and which befitted not the like of me. For whoso seeketh
what suiteth him not at all, falleth with the like of my fall." Now when
the King's son heard this, he accosted him in Persian, saying: "How long
will this weeping and wailing last? Say me, thinkest thou that hath
befallen thee that which never befell other than thou?"
Now when the Persian heard this, he made friends with him and began
to complain to him of his case and misfortunes. And as soon as the
morning morrowed, the warders took the Prince and carried him before
their King, informing him that he had entered the city on the previous
night, at a time when audience was impossible. Quoth the King to the
Prince, "Whence comest thou, and what is thy name and trade, and why
hast thou traveled hither?" He replied: "As to my name, I am called in
Persian Harjah. As to my country, I come from the land of Fars, and I am
of the men of art and especially of the art of medicine and healing the
sick and those whom the Jinns drive mad. For this I go round about all
countries and cities, to profit by adding knowledge to my knowledge, and
whenever I see a patient I heal him, and this is my craft." Now when the
King heard this, he rejoiced with exceeding joy and said, "O excellent
sage, thou hast indeed come to us at a time when we need thee." Then he
acquainted him with the case of the Princess, adding, "If thou cure her
and recover her from her madness, thou shalt have of me everything thou
seekest." Replied the Prince, "Allah save and favor the King. Describe
to me all thou hast seen of her insanity, and tell me how long it is
since the access attacked her, also how thou camest by her and the horse
and the sage."
So the King told him the whole story, from first to last, adding,
"The sage is in jail." Quoth the Prince, "O auspicious King, and what
hast thou done with the horse?" Quoth the King, "O youth, it is with me
yet, laid up in one of my treasure chambers." Whereupon said the Prince
within himself: "The best thing I can do is first to see the horse and
assure myself of its condition. If it be whole and sound, all will be
well and end well. But if its motor works be destroyed, I must find some
other way of delivering my beloved." Thereupon he turned to the King and
said to him: "O King, I must see the horse in question. Haply I may find
in it somewhat that will serve me for the recovery of the damsel." "With
all my heart," replied the King, and taking him by the hand, showed him
into the place where the horse was. The Prince went round about it,
examining its condition, and found it whole and sound, whereat he
rejoiced greatly and said to the King: "Allah save and exalt the King! I
would fain go in to the damsel, that I may see how it is with her, for I
hope in Allah to heal her by my healing hand through means of the
horse." Then he bade them take care of the horse and the King carried
him to the Princess's apartment, where her lover found her wringing her
hands and writhing and beating herself against the ground, and tearing
her garments to tatters as was her wont. But there was no madness of
Jinn in her, and she did this but that none might approach her.
When the Prince saw her thus, he said to her, "No harm shall betide
thee, O ravishment of the Three Worlds," and went on to soothe her and
speak her fair, till he managed to whisper, "I am Kamar al-Akmar,"
whereupon she cried out with a loud cry and fell down fainting for
excess of joy. But the King thought this was epilepsy brought on by her
fear of him, and by her suddenly being startled. Then the Prince put his
mouth to her ear and said to her: "O Shams al-Nahar, O seduction of the
universe, have a care for thy life and mine and be patient and constant;
for this our position needeth sufferance and skillful contrivance to
make shift for our delivery from this tyrannical King. My first move
will be now to go out to him and tell him that thou art possessed of a
Jinn and hence thy madness, but that I will engage to heal thee and
drive away the evil spirit if he will at once unbind thy bonds. So when
he cometh in to thee, do thou speak him smooth words, that he may think
I have cured thee, and all will be done for us as we desire." Quoth she,
"Hearkening and obedience," and he went out to the King in joy and
gladness, and said to him: "O august King, I have, by thy good fortune,
discovered her disease and its remedy, and have cured her for thee. So
now do thou go in to and speak her softly and treat her kindly, and
promise her what thou desirest of her be accomplished to thee."
Thereupon the King went in to her, and when she saw him, she rose and
kissing the ground before him, bade him welcome and said, "I admire how
thou hast come to visit thy handmaid this day." Whereat he was ready to
fly for joy and bade the waiting women and the eunuchs attend her and
carry her to the hammam and make ready for her dresses and adornment. So
they went in to her and saluted her, and she returned their salaams with
the goodliest language and after the pleasantest fashion. Whereupon they
clad her in royal apparel and, clasping a collar of jewels about her
neck, carried her to the bath and served her there. Then they brought
her forth as she were the full moon, and when she came into the King's
presence, she saluted him and kissed ground before him. Whereupon he
joyed in her with joy exceeding and said to the Prince: "O Sage, O
Philosopher, all this is of thy blessing. Allah increase to us the
benefit of thy healing breath!" The Prince replied: "O King, for the
completion of her cure it behooveth that thou go forth, thou and all thy
troops and guards, to the place where thou foundest her, not forgetting
the beast of black wood which was with her. For therein is a devil, and
unless I exorcise him, he will return to her and afflict her at the head
of every month." "With love and gladness," cried the King, "O thou
Prince of all philosophers and most learned of all who see the light of
day."
Then he brought out the ebony horse to the meadow in question and
rode thither with all his troops and the Princess, little weeting the
purpose of the Prince. Now when they came to the appointed place, the
Prince, still habited as a leech, bade them set the Princess and the
steed as far as eye could reach from the King and his troops, and said
to him: "With thy leave, and at thy word, I will now proceed to the
fumigations and conjurations, and here imprison the adversary of
mankind, that he may never more return to her. After this, I shall mount
this wooden horse, which seemeth to be made of ebony, and take the
damsel up behind me, whereupon it will shake and sway to and fro and
fare forward till it come to thee, when the affair will be at an end.
And after this thou mayest do with her as thou wilt." When the King
heard his words, he rejoiced with extreme joy, so the Prince mounted the
horse, and taking the damsel up behind him, whilst the King and his
troops watched him, bound her fast to him. Then he turned the ascending
pin and the horse took flight and soared with them high in air, till
they disappeared from every eye.
After this the King abode half the day expecting their return, but
they returned not. So when he despaired of them, repenting him greatly
of that which he had done and grieving sore for the loss of the damsel,
he went back to the city with his troops. He then sent for the Persian
who was in prison and said to him: "O thou traitor, O thou villain, why
didst thou hide from me the mystery of the ebony horse? And now a
sharper hath come to me and hath carried it off, together with a slave
girl whose ornaments are worth a mint of money, and I shall never see
anyone or anything of them again!" So the Persian related to him all his
past, first and last, and the King was seized with a fit of by which
well-nigh ended his life. He shut himself up in his palace for a while,
mourning and afflicted. But at last his Wazirs came in to him and
applied themselves to comfort him, saying: "Verily, he who took the
damsel is an enchanter, and praised be Allah who hath delivered thee
from his craft and sorcery!" And they ceased not from him till he was
comforted for her loss.
Thus far concerning the the King, but as for the Prince, he continued
his career toward his father's capital in joy and cheer, and stayed not
till he alighted on his own palace, where he set the lady in safety.
After which he went in to his father and mother and saluted them and
acquainted them with her coming, whereat they were filled with solace
and gladness. Then he spread great banquets for the townsfolk and they
held high festival a whole month, at the end of which time he went in to
the Princess and they took their joy of each other with exceeding joy.
But his father brake the ebony horse in pieces and destroyed its
mechanism for flight.
Moreover, the Prince wrote a letter to the Princess's father,
advising him of all that had befallen her and informing him how she was
now married to him and in all health and happiness, and sent it by a
messenger, together with costly presents and curious rarities. And when
the messenger arrived at the city which was Sana'a and delivered the
letter and the presents to the King, he read the missive and rejoiced
greatly thereat and accepted the presents, honoring and rewarding the
bearer handsomely. Moreover, he forwarded rich gifts to his son-in-law
by the same messenger, who returned to his master and acquainted him
with what had passed, whereat he was much cheered. And after this the
Prince wrote a letter every year to his father-in-law and sent him
presents till, in course of time, his sire King Sabur deceased and he
reigned in his stead, ruling justly over his lieges and conducting
himself well and righteously toward them, so that the land submitted to
him and his subjects did him loyal service. And Kamar al-Akmar and his
wife Shams al-Nahar abode in the enjoyment of all satisfaction and
solace of life till there came to them the Destroyer of delights and
Sunderer of societies, the Plunderer of palaces, the Caterer for
cemeteries, and the Garnerer of graves. And now glory be to the Living
One who dieth not and in whose hand is the dominion of the worlds
visible and invisible!
Moreover I have heard tell the tale of
|
THE ANGEL OF DEATH WITH THE PROUD AND THE DEVOUT MAN
IT is related, O auspicious King, that one of the olden monarchs was
once minded to ride out in state with the officers of his realm and the
grandees of his retinue and display to the folk the marvels of his
magnificence. So he ordered his lords and emirs equip them therefor and
commanded his keeper of the wardrobe to bring him of the richest of
raiment, such as befitted the King in his state, and he bade them bring
his steeds of the finest breeds and pedigrees every man heeds. Which
being done, he chose out of the raiment what rejoiced him most and of
the horses that which he deemed best, and donning the clothes, together
with a collar set with margarites and rubies and all manner jewels,
mounted and set forth in state, making his destrier prance and curvet
among his troops and glorying in his pride and despotic power.
And Iblis came to him and, laying his hand upon his nose, blew into
his nostrils the breath of hauteur and conceit, so that he magnified and
glorified himself and said in his heart, "Who among men is like unto
me?" And he became so pulled up with arrogance and self-sufficiency, and
so taken up with the thought of his own splendor and magnificence, that
he would not vouchsafe a glance to any man. Presently there stood before
him one clad in tattered clothes and saluted him, but he returned not
his salaam, whereupon the stranger laid hold of his horse's bridle.
"Lift thy hand!" cried the King. "Thou knowest not whose bridle rein it
is whereof thou takest hold." Quoth the other, "I have a need of thee."
Quoth the King, "Wait till I alight, and then name thy need." Rejoined
the stranger, "It is a secret and I will not tell it but in thine ear."
So the King bowed his head to him and he said, "I am the Angel of Death
and I purpose to take thy soul." Replied the King, "Have patience with
me a little, whilst I return to my house and take leave of my people and
children and neighbors and wife." "By no means so," answered the Angel.
"Thou shalt never return nor look on them again, for the fated term of
thy life is past."
So saying, he took the soul of the King (who fell off his horse's
back dead) and departed thence. Presently the Death Angel met a devout
man, of whom Almighty Allah had accepted, and saluted him. He returned
the salute, and the Angel said to him, "O pious man, I have a need of
thee which must be kept secret." "Tell it in my ear," quoth the devotee,
and quoth the other, "I am the Angel of Death." Replied the man:
"Welcome to thee! And praised be Allah for thy coming! I am aweary of
awaiting thine arrival, for indeed long hath been thine absence from the
lover which longeth for thee." Said the Angel, "If thou have any
business, make an end of it," but the other answered, saying, "There is
nothing so urgent to me as the meeting with my Lord, to whom be honor
and glory!" And the Angel said, "How wouldst thou fain have me take thy
soul? I am bidden to take it as thou willest and choosest." He replied,
"Tarry till I make the wuzu ablution and pray, and when I prostrate
myself, then take my soul while my body is on the ground." Quoth the
Angel, "Verily, my Lord (be He extolled and exalted!) commanded me not
to take thy soul but with thy consent and as thou shouldst wish, so I
will do thy will." Then the devout man made the minor ablution and
prayed, and the Angel of Death took his soul in the act of prostration
and Almighty Allah transported it to the place of mercy and acceptance
and forgiveness.
And they tell another tale of the adventures of
SINDBAD THE SEAMAN AND SINDBAD THE LANDSMAN
THERE lived in the city of Baghdad during the reign of the Commander of
the Faithful, Harun al-Rashid, a man named Sindbad the Hammal, one in
poor case who bore burdens on his head for hire. It happened to him one
day of great heat that whilst he was carrying a heavy load, he became
exceeding weary and sweated profusely, the heat and the weight alike
oppressing him. Presently, as he was passing the gate of a merchant's
house before which the ground was swept and watered, and there the air
was temperate, he sighted a broad bench beside the door, so he set his
load thereon, to take rest and smell the air. He sat down on the edge of
the bench, and at once heard from within the melodious sound of lutes
and other stringed instruments, and mirth-exciting voices singing and
reciting, together with the song of birds warbling and glorifying
Almighty Allah in various tunes and tonguess- turtles, mocking birds,
merles, nightingales, cushats, and stone curlews- whereat he marveled in
himself and was moved to mighty joy and solace.
Then he went up to the gate and saw within a great flower garden
wherein were pages and black slaves and such a train of servants and
attendants and so forth as is found only with kings and sultans. And his
nostrils were greeted with the savory odours of an manner meats rich and
delicate, and delicious and generous wines. So he raised his eyes
heavenward and said, "Glory to Thee, O Lord, O Creator and Provider, Who
providest whomso Thou wilt without count or stint! O mine Holy One, I
cry Thee pardon for an sins and turn to Thee repenting of all offenses!
"How many by my labors, that evermore endure,
All goods of life enjoy and in cooly shade recline?
Each morn that dawns I wake in travail and in woe,
And strange is my condition and my burden gars me pine.
Many others are in luck and from miseries are free,
And Fortune never load them with loads the like o' mine.
They live their happy days in all solace and delight,
Eat, drink, and dwell in honor 'mid the noble and the digne.
All living things were made of a little drop of sperm,
Thine origin is mine and my provenance is thine,
Yet the difference and distance 'twixt the twain of us are far
As the difference of savor 'twixt vinegar and wine.
But at Thee, O God All-wise! I venture not to rail,
Whose ordinance is just and whose justice cannot fail."
When Sindbad the Porter had made an end of reciting his verses, he
bore up his burden and was about to fare on when there came forth to him
from the gate a little foot page, fair of face and shapely of shape and
dainty of dress, who caught him by the hand saying, "Come in and speak
with my lord, for he calleth for thee." The porter would have excused
himself to the page, but the lad would take no refusal, so he left his
load with the doorkeeper in the vestibule and followed the boy into the
house, which he found to be a goodly mansion, radiant and full of
majesty, till he brought him to a grand sitting room wherein he saw a
company of nobles and great lords seated at tables garnished with all
manner of flowers and sweet-scented herbs, besides great plenty of
dainty viands and fruits dried and fresh and confections and wines of
the choicest vintages. There also were instruments of music and mirth
and lovely slave girls playing and singing. All the company was ranged
according to rank, and in the highest place sat a man of worshipful and
noble aspect whose beard sides hoariness had stricken, and he was
stately of stature and fair of favor, agreeable of aspect and full of
gravity and dignity and majesty. So Sindbad the Porter was confounded at
that which he beheld and said in himself, "By Allah, this must be either
a piece of Paradise or some king's palace!"
Then he saluted the company with much respect, praying for their
prosperity, and kissing the ground before them, stood with his head
bowed down in humble attitude. The master of the house bade him draw
near and be seated and bespoke him kindly, bidding him welcome. Then he
set before him various kinds of viands, rich and delicate and delicious,
and the porter, after saying his Bismillah, fell to and ate his fill,
after which he exclaimed, "Praised be Allah, whatso be our case!" and,
washing his hands, returned thanks to the company for his entertainment.
Quoth the host: "Thou art welcome, and thy day is a blessed. But what
thy name and calling?" Quoth the other, "O my lord, my name is Sindbad
the Hammal, and I carry folk's goods on my head for hire." The
housemaster smiled and rejoined: "Know, O Porter, that thy name is even
as mine, for I am Sindbad the Seaman. And now, O Porter, I would have
thee let me hear the couplets thou recitedst at the gate anon.' The
porter was abashed and replied: "Allah upon thee! Excuse me, for toil
and travail and lack of luck when the hand is empty teach a man ill
manners and boorish ways." Said the host: "Be not ashamed. Thou art
become my brother. But repeat to me the verses, for they pleased me
whenas I heard thee recite them at the gate."
Hereupon the Porter repeated the couplets and they delighted the
merchant, who said to him: "Know, O Hammal, that my story is a wonderful
one, and thou shalt hear all that befell me and all I underwent ere I
rose to this state of prosperity and became the lord of this place
wherein thou seest me. For I came not to this high estate save after
travail sore and perils galore, and how much toil and trouble have I not
suffered in days of yore! I have made seven voyages, by each of which
hangeth a marvelous tale, such as confoundeth the reason, and all this
came to pass by doom of Fortune and Fate. For from what Destiny doth
write there is neither refuge nor flight. Know, then, good my lords,"
continued he, "that I am about to relate the
|
FIRST VOYAGE OF SINDBAD HIGHT THE SEAMAN
MY father was a merchant, one of the notables of my native place, a
moneyed man and ample of means, who died whilst I was yet a child,
leaving me much wealth in money and lands and farmhouses. When I grew
up, I laid hands on the whole and ate of the best and drank freely and
wore rich clothes and lived lavishly, companioning and consorting with
youths of my own age, and considering that this course of life would
continue forever and ken no change. Thus did I for a long time, but at
last I awoke from my heedlessness and, returning to my senses, I found
my wealth had become unwealth and my condition ill-conditioned, and all
I once hent had left my hand. And recovering my reason, I was stricken
with dismay and confusion and bethought me of a saying of our lord
Solomon, son of David (on whom be peace!), which I had heard aforetime
from my father: things are better than other three. The day of death is
better than the day of birth, a live dog is better than a dead lion, and
the grave is better than want." Then I got together my remains of
estates and property and sold all, even my clothes, for three thousand
dirhams, with which I resolved to travel to foreign parts, remembering
the saying of the poet:
By means of toil man shall scale the height,
Who to fame aspires mustn't sleep o' night.
Who seeketh pearl in the deep must dive,
Winning weal and wealth by his main and might.
And who seeketh Fame without toil and strife
Th' impossible seeketh and wasteth life.
So, taking heart, I bought me goods, merchandise and all needed for a
voyage, and impatient to be at sea, I embarked, with a company of
merchants, on board a ship bound for Bassorah. There we again embarked
and sailed many days and nights, and we passed from isle to isle and sea
to sea and shore to shore, buying and selling and bartering everywhere
the ship touched, and continued our course till we came to an island as
it were a garth of the gardens of Paradise. Here the captain cast anchor
and, making fast to the shore, put out the landing planks. So all on
board landed and made furnaces, and lighting fires therein, busied
themselves in various ways, some cooking and some washing, whilst other
some walked about the island for solace, and the crew fell to eating and
drinking and playing and sporting. I was one of the walkers, but as we
were thus engaged, behold the master, who was standing on the gunwale,
cried out to us at the top of his voice, saying: "Ho there! Passengers,
run for your lives and hasten back to the ship and leave your gear and
save yourselves from destruction, Allah preserve you!. For this island
whereon ye stand is no true island, but a great fish stationary
a-middlemost of the sea, whereon the sand hath settled and trees have
sprung up of old time, so that it is become like unto an island. But
when ye lighted fires on it, it felt the heat and moved, and in a moment
it will sink with you into the sea and ye will all be drowned. So leave
your gear and seek your safety ere ye die!"
All who heard him left gear and goods, clothes washed and unwashed,
fire pots and brass cooking pots, and fled back to the ship for their
lives, and some reached it while others (amongst whom was I) did not,
for suddenly the island shook and sank into the abysses of the deep,
with all that were thereon, and the dashing sea surged over it with
clashing waves. I sank with the others down, down into the deep, but
Almighty Allah preserved me from drowning and threw in my way a great
wooden tub of those that had served the ship's company for tubbing. I
gripped it for the sweetness of life and, bestriding it like one riding,
paddled with my feet like oars, whilst the waves tossed me as in sport
right and left. Meanwhile the captain made sail and departed with those
who had reached the ship, regardless of the drowning and the drowned.
And I ceased not following the vessel with my eyes till she was hid from
sight and I made sure of death.
Darkness closed in upon me while in this plight, and the winds and
waves bore me on all that night and the next day, till the tub brought
to with me under the lee of a lofty island with trees overhanging the
tide. I caught hold of a branch and by its aid clambered up onto the
land, after coming nigh upon death. But when I reached the shore, I
found my legs cramped and numbed and my feet bore traces of the nibbling
of fish upon their soles, withal I had felt nothing for excess of
anguish and fatigue. I threw myself down on the island ground like a
dead man, and drowned in desolation, swooned away, nor did I return to
my senses till next morning, when the sun rose and revived me. But I
found my feet swollen, so made shift to move by shuffling on my breech
and crawling on my knees, for in that island were found store of fruits
and springs of sweet water. I ate of the fruits, which strengthened me.
And thus I abode days and nights till my life seemed to return and my
spirits began to revive and I was better able to move about. So, after
due consideration, I fell to exploring the island and diverting myself
with gazing upon all things that Allah Almighty had created there, and
rested under the trees, from one of which I cut me a staff to lean upon.
One day as I walked along the marge I caught sight of some object in
the distance and thought it a wild beast or one of the monster creatures
of the sea, but as I drew near it, looking hard the while, saw that it
was a noble mare, tethered on the beach. Presently I went up to her, but
she cried out against me with a great cry, so that I trembled for fear
and turned to go away, when there came forth man from under the earth
and followed me, crying out and saying, "Who and whence art thou, and
what caused thee to come hither?" "O my lord," answered I, "I am in very
sooth a waif, a stranger, and was left to drown with sundry others by
the ship we voyaged in. But Allah graciously sent me a wodden tub, so I
saved myself thereon and it floated with me, till the waves cast me up
on this island." When he heard this, he took my hand and saying, "Come
with me," carried me into a great sardab, or underground chamber, which
was spacious as a saloon.
He made me sit down at its upper end, then he brought me somewhat of
food and, being a-hungered, I ate till I was satisfied and refreshed.
And when he had put me at mine ease, he questioned me of myself, and I
told him all that had befallen me from first to last. And as he wondered
at my adventure, I said: "By Allah, O my lord, excuse me, I have told
thee the truth of my case and the accident which betided me, and now I
desire that thou tell me who thou art and why thou abidest here under
the earth and why thou hast tethered yonder mare on the brink of the
sea." Answered he: "Know that I am one of the several who are, stationed
in different parts of this island, and we are of the grooms of King
Mihrjan, and under our hand are all his horses. Every month about
new-moon tide we bring hither our best mares which have never been
covered, and picket them on the seashore and hide ourselves in this
place under the ground, so that none may espy us. Presently the
stallions of the sea scent the mares and come up out of the water and,
seeing no one, leap the mares and do their will of them. When they have
covered them, they try to drag them away with them, but cannot, by
reason of the leg ropes. So they cry out at them and butt at them and
kick them, which we hearing, know that the stallions have dismounted, so
we run out and shout at them, whereupon they are startled and return in
fear to the sea. Then the mares conceive by them and bear colts and
fillies worth a mint of money, nor is their like to be found on earth's
face.
This is the time of the coming forth of the sea stallions, and
Inshallah! I will bear thee to King Mihrjan and show thee our country.
And know that hadst thou not happened on us, thou hadst perished
miserably and none had known of thee. But I will be the means of the
saving of thy life and of thy return to thine own land." I called down
blessings on him and thanked him for his kindness and courtesy. And
while we were yet talking, behold, the stallion came up out of the sea,
and giving a great cry, sprang upon the mare and covered her. When he
had done his will of her, he dismounted and would have carried her away
with him, but could not by reason of the tether. She kicked and cried
out at him, whereupon the groom took a sword and target and ran out of
the underground saloon, smiting the buckler with the blade and calling
to his company, who came up shouting and brandishing spears. And the
stallion took fright at them and plunging into the sea like a buffalo,
disappeared under the waves.
After this we sat awhile till the rest of the grooms came up, each
leading a mare, and seeing me with their fellow syce, questioned me of
my case, and I repeated my story to them. Thereupon they drew near me
and spreading the table, ate and invited me to eat. So I ate with them,
after which they took horse and mounting me on one of the mares, set out
with me and fared on without ceasing till we came to the capital city of
King Mihrjan, and going in to him, acquainted him with my story. Then he
sent for me, and when they set me before him and salaams had been
exchanged, he gave me a cordial welcome and wishing me long life, bade
me tell him my tale. So I related to him all that I had seen and all
that had befallen me from first to last, whereat he marveled and said to
me: "By Allah, O my son, thou hast indeed been miraculously preserved!
Were not the term of thy life a long one, thou hadst not escaped from
these straits. But praised be Allah for safety!" Then he spoke cheerily
to me and entreated me with kindness and consideration. Moreover, he
made me his agent for the port and registrar of all ships that entered
the harbor. I attended him regularly, to receive his commandments, and
he favored me and did me all manner of kindness and invested me with
costly and splendid robes. Indeed, I was high in credit with him as an
intercessor for the folk and an intermediary between them and him when
they wanted aught of him.
I abode thus a great while, and as often as I passed through the city
to the port, I questioned the merchants and travelers and sailors of the
city of Baghdad, so haply I might hear of an occasion to return to my
native land, but could find none who knew it or knew any who resorted
thither. At this I was chagrined, for I was weary of long strangerhood,
and my disappointment endured for a time till one day, going in to King
Mihrjan, I found with him a company of Indians. I saluted them and they
returned my salaam, and politely welcomed me and asked me of my country.
When they asked me of my country, I questioned them of theirs and they
told me that they were of various castes, some being called shakiriyah,
who are the noblest of their casts and neither oppress nor offer
violence to any, and others Brahmans, a folk who abstain from wine but
live in delight and solace and merriment and own camels and horses and
cattle. Moreover, they told me that the people of India are divided into
two and seventy castes, and I marveled at this with exceeding marvel.
Amongst other things that I saw in King Mihrijan's dominions was an
island called Kasil, wherein all night is heard the beating of drums and
tabrets, but we were told by the neighboring islanders and by travelers
that the inhabitants are people of diligence and judgment. In this sea I
saw also a fish two hundred cubits long and the fishermen fear it, so
they strike together pieces of wood and put it to flight. I also saw
another fish with a head like that of an owl, besides many other wonders
and rarities, which it would be tedious to recount. I occupied myself
thus in visiting the islands till one day as I stood in the port with a
staff in my hand, according to my custom, behold, a great ship, wherein
were many merchants, came sailing for the harbor. When it reached the
small inner port where ships anchor under the city, the master furled
his sails and making fast to the shore, put out the landing planks,
whereupon the crew fell to breaking bulk and landing cargo whilst I
stood by, taking written note of them.
They were long in bringing the goods ashore, so I asked the master,
"Is there aught left in thy ship?" and he answered: "O my lord, there
are divers bales of merchandise in the hold, whose owner was drowned
from amongst us at one of the islands on our course; so his goods
remained in our charge by way of trust, and we purpose to sell them and
note their price, that we may convey it to his people in the city of
Baghdad, the Home of Peace." "What was the merchant's name?" quoth I,
and quoth he, "Sindbad the Seaman," whereupon I straitly considered him
and knowing him, cried out to him with a great cry, saying: "O Captain,
I am that Sindbad the Seaman who traveled with other merchants, and when
the fish heaved and thou calledst to us, some saved themselves and
others sank, I being one of them. But Allah Almighty threw in my way a
great tub of wood, of those the crew had used to wash withal, and the
winds and waves carried me to this island, where by Allah's grace I fell
in with King Mihrjan's grooms and they brought me hither to the King
their master. When I told him my story, he entreated me with favor and
made me his harbor-master, and I have prospered in his service and found
acceptance with him. These bales therefore are mine, the goods which God
hath given me."
The other exclaimed: "There is no Majesty and there is no Mihgt save
in Allah, the Glorious, the Great! Verily, there is neither conscience
nor good faith left among men!" Said I, "O Rais, what mean these words,
seeing that I have told thee my case?" And he answered, "Because thou
heardest me say that I had with me goods whose owner was drowned, thou
thinkest to take them without right. But this is forbidden by law to
thee, for we saw him drown before our eyes, together with many other
passengers, nor was one of them saved. So how canst thou pretend that
thou art the owner of the goods?" "O Captain," said I, "listen to my
story and give heed to my words, and my truth will be manifest to thee,
for lying and leasing are the letter marks of the hypocrites." Then I
recounted to him all that had befallen me since I sailed from Baghdad
with him to the time when we came to the fish island where we were
nearly drowned, and I reminded him of certain matters which had passed
between us. Whereupon both he and the merchants were certified of the
truth of my story and recognized me and gave me joy of my deliverance,
saying: "By Allah, we thought not that thou hadst escaped drowning! But
the Lord hath granted thee new life."
Then they delivered my bales to me, and I found my name written
thereon, nor was aught thereof lacking. So I opened them and making up a
present for King Mihrjan of the finest and costliest of the contents,
caused the sailors carry it up to the palace, where I went in to the
King and laid my present at his feet, acquainting him with what had
happened, especially concerning the ship and my goods, whereat he
wondered with exceeding wonder, and the truth of an that I had told him
was made manifest to him. His affection for me redoubled after that and
he showed me exceeding honor and bestowed on me a great present in
return for mine. Then I sold my bales and what other matters I owned,
making a great profit on them, and bought me other goods and gear of the
growth and fashion of the island city.
When the merchants were about to start on their homeward voyage, I
embarked on board the ship all that I possessed, and going in to the
King, thanked him for all his favors and friendship and craved his leave
to return to my own land and friends. He farewelled me and bestowed on
me great store of the country stuffs and produce, and I took leave of
him and embarked. Then we set sail and fared on nights and days, by the
permission of Allah Almighty, and Fortune served us and Fate favored us,
so that we arrived in safety at Bassorah city, where I landed rejoiced
at my safe return to my natal soil. After a short stay, I set out for
Baghdad, the House of Peace, with store of goods and commodities of
great price. Reaching the city in due time, I went straight to my own
quarter and entered my house, where all my friends and kinsfolk came to
greet me.
Then I bought me eunuchs and concubines, servants and Negro slaves,
till I had a large establishment, and I bought me houses, and lands and
gardens, till I was richer and in better case than before, and returned
to enjoy the society of my friends and familiars more assiduously than
ever, forgetting all I had suffered of fatigue and hardship and
strangerhood and every peril of travel. And I applied myself to all
manner joys and solaces and delights, eating the daintiest viands and
drinking the deliciousest wines, and my wealth allowed this state of
things to endure.
This, then, is the story of my first voyage, and tomorrow, Inshallah!
I will tell you the tale of the second of my seven voyages. (Saith he
who telleth the tale): Then Sindbad the Seaman made Sindbad the Landsman
sup with him and bade give him a hundred gold pieces, saying, "Thou hast
cheered us with thy company this day." The porter thanked him and,
taking the gift, went his way, pondering that which he had heard and
marveling mightily at what things betide mankind. He passed the night in
his own place and with early morning repaired to the abode of Sindbad
the Seaman, who received him with honor and seated him by his side. As
soon as the rest of the company was assembled, he set meat and drink
before them, and when they had well eaten and drunken and were merry and
in cheerful case, he took up his discourse and recounted to them in
these words the narrative of
|
THE SECOND VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SEAMAN
KNOW, O my brother, that I was living a most comfortable and
enjoyable life, in all solace and delight, as I told you yesterday,
until one day my mind became possessed with the thought of traveling
about the world of men and seeing their cities and islands, and a
longing seized me to traffic and to make money by trade. Upon this
resolve I took a great store of cash and buying goods and gear fit for
travel, bound them up in bales. Then I went down to the riverbank, where
I found a noble ship and brand-new about to sail equipped with sails of
fine cloth and well manned and provided. So I took passage in her, with
a number of other merchants, and after embarking our goods, we weighed
anchor the same day. Right fair was our voyage, and we sailed from place
to place and from isle to isle, and whenever we anchored we met a crowd
of merchants and notables and customers, and we took to buying and
selling and bartering.
At last Destiny brought us to an island, fair and verdant, in trees
abundant, with yellow-ripe fruits luxuriant, and flowers fragrant and
birds warbling soft descant, and streams crystalline and radiant. But no
sign of man showed to the descrier- no, not a blower of the fire. The
captain made fast with us to this island, and the merchants and sailors
landed and walked about, enjoying the shade of the trees and the song of
the birds, that chanted the praises of the One, the Victorious, and
marveling at the works of the Omnipotent King. I landed with the rest,
and, sitting down by a spring of sweet water that welled up among the
trees, took out some vivers I had with me and ate of that which Allah
Almighty had allotted unto me. And so sweet was the zephyr and so
fragrant were the flowers that presently I waxed drowsy and, lying down
in that place, was soon drowned in sleep.
When I awoke, I found myself alone, for the ship had sailed and left
me behind, nor had one of the merchants or sailors bethought himself of
me. I searched the island right and left, but found neither man nor
Jinn, whereat I was beyond measure troubled, and my gall was like to
burst for stress of chagrin and anguish and concern, because I was left
quite alone, without aught of worldly gear or meat or drink, weary and
heartbroken. So I gave myself up for lost and said: "Not always doth the
crock escape the shock. I was saved the first time by finding one who
brought me from the desert island to an inhabited place, but now there
is no hope for me." Then I fell to weeping and wailing and gave myself
up to an access of rage, blaming myself for having again ventured upon
the perils and hardships of voyage, whenas I was at my ease in mine own
house in mine own land, taking my pleasure with good meat and good drink
and good clothes and lacking nothing, neither money nor goods. And I
repented me of having left Baghdad, and this the more after all the
travails and dangers I had undergone in my first voyage, wherein I had
so narrowly escaped destruction, and exclaimed, "Verily we are, Allah's,
and unto Him we are returning!"
I was indeed even as one mad and Jinn-struck, and presently I rose
and walked about the island, right and left and every whither, unable
for trouble to sit or tarry in ay one place. Then I climbed a tall tree
and looked in all directions, but saw nothing save sky and sea and trees
and birds and isles and sands. However, after a while my eager glances
fell upon some great white thing, afar off in the interior of the
island. So I came down from the tree and made for that which I had seen,
and behold, it was a huge white dome rising high in air and of vast
compass. I walked all around it, but found no door thereto, nor could I
muster strength or nimbleness by reason of its exceeding smoothness and
slipperiness. So I marked the spot where I stood and went round about
the dome to measure its circumference, which I found fifty good paces.
And as I stood casting about how to gain an entrance, the day being near
its fall and the sun being near the horizon, behold, the sun was
suddenly hidden from me and the air became dull and dar! Methought a
cloud had come over the sun, but it was the season of summer, so I
marveled at this and, lifting my head, looked steadfastly at the sky,
when I saw that the cloud was none other than an enormous bird, of
gigantic girth and inordinately wide of wing, which as it flew through
the air veiled the sun and hid it from the island.
At this sight my wonder redoubled and I remembered a story I had
heard aforetime of pilgrims and travelers, how in a certain island
dwelleth a huge bird, called the "roc," which feedeth its young on
elephants, and I was certified that the dome which caught my sight was
none other than a roc's egg. As I looked and wondered at the marvelous
works of the Almighty, the bird alighted on the dome and brooded over it
with its wings covering it and its legs stretched out behind it on the
ground, and in this posture it fell asleep, glory be to Him who sleepeth
not! When I saw this, I arose and, unwinding my turban from my head,
doubled it and twisted it into a rope, with which I girt my middle and
bound my waist fast to the legs of the roc, saying in myself,
"Peradventure this bird may carry me to a land of cities and
inhabitants, and that will be better than abiding in this desert
island." I passed the night watching and fearing to sleep, lest the bird
should fly away with me unawares, and as soon as the dawn broke and morn
shone, the roc rose off its egg and spreading its wings with a great
cry, flew up into the air dragging me with it, nor ceased it to soar and
to tower till I thought it had reached the limit of the firmament. After
which it descended earthward, little by little, till it lighted on the
top of a high hill.
As soon as I found myself on the hard ground, I made haste to unbind
myself, quaking for fear of the bird, though it took no heed of me nor
even felt me, and loosing my turban from its feet, I made off with my
best speed. Presently I saw it catch up in its huge claws something from
the earth and rise with it high in air, and observing it narrowly, I saw
it to be a serpent big of bulk and gigantic of girth, wherewith it flew
away clean out of sight. I marveled at this, and faring forward, found
myself on a peak overlooking a valley, exceeding great and wide and deep
and bounded by vast mountains that spired high in air. None could descry
their summits for the excess of their height, nor was any able to climb
up thereto. When I saw this, I blamed myself for that which I had done
and said: "Would Heaven I had tarried in the island! It was better than
this wild desert, for there I had at least fruits to eat and water to
drink, and here are neither trees nor fruits nor streams. But there is
no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah, the Glorious, the Great!
Verily, as often as I am quit of one peril I fall into a worse danger
and a more grievous."
However, I took courage and walking along the wady, found that its
soil was of diamond, the stone wherewith they pierce minerals and
precious stones and porcelain and onyx, for that it is a dense stone and
a dure, whereon neither iron nor hardhed hath effect, neither can we cut
off aught therefrom nor break it, save by means of loadstone. Moreover,
the valley swarmed with snakes and vipers, each big as a palm tree, that
would have made but one gulp of an elephant. And they came out by night,
hiding during the day lest the rocs and eagles pounce on them and tear
them to pieces, as was their wont, why I wot not. And I repented of what
I had done and Allah, I have made haste to bring destruction upon
myself!" The day began to wane as I went along, and I looked about for a
place where I might pass the night, being in fear of the serpents, ace
for my and I took no thought of meat and drink in my concern for my
life. Presently, I caught sight of a cave near-hand, with a narrow
doorway, so I entered, and seeing a great stone close to the mouth, I
rolled it up and stopped the entrance, saying to myself, "I am safe here
for the night, and as soon as it is day, I will go forth and see what
Destiny will do." Then I looked within the cave and saw at the upper end
a great serpent brooding on her eggs, at which my flesh quaked and my
hair stood on end, but I raised my eyes to Heaven and, committing my
case to fate and lot, abode all that night without sleep till daybreak,
when I rolled back the stone from the mouth of the cave and went forth,
staggering like a drunken man and giddy with watching and fear and
hunger.
As in this sore case I walked along the valley, behold, there fell
down before me a slaughtered beast. But I saw no one, whereat I marveled
with great marvel and presently remembered a story I had heard aforetime
of traders and pilgrims and travelers- how the mountains where are the
diamonds are full of perils and terrors, nor can any fare through them,
but the merchants who traffic in diamonds have a device by which they
obtain them; that is to say, they take a sheep and slaughter and skin it
and cut it in pieces and cast them down from the mountaintops into the
valley sole, where, the meat being fresh and sticky with blood, some of
the gems cleave to it. Then they leave it till midday, when the eagles
and vultures swoop down upon it and carry it in their claws to the
mountain summits, whereupon the merchants come and shout at them and
scare them away from the meat. Then they come, and taking the diamonds
which they find sticking to it, go their ways with them and leave the
meat to the birds and beasts, nor can any come at the diamonds but by
this device.
So when I saw the slaughtered beast fall (he pursued) and bethought
me of the story, I went up to it and filled my pockets and shawl girdle
and turban and the folds of my clothes with the choicest diamonds, and
as I was thus engaged, down fell before me another great piece of meat.
Then with my unrolled turban and lying on my back, I set the bit on my
breast so that I was hidden by the meat, which was thus raised above the
ground. Hardly had I gripped it when an eagle swooped down upon the
flesh and, seizing it with his talons, flew up with it high in air and
me clinging thereto, and ceased not its flight till it alighted on the
head of one of the mountains, where, dropping the carcass he fell to
rending it. But, behold, there arose behind him a great noise of
shouting and clattering of wood, whereat the bird took fright and flew
away. Then I loosed off myself the meat, with clothes daubed with blood
therefrom, and stood up by its side. Whereupon up came the merchant who
had cried out at the eagle, and seeing me standing there, bespoke me
not, but was affrighted at me and shook with fear.
However, he went up to the carcass and, turning it over, found no
diamonds sticking to it, whereat he gave a great cry and exclaimed:
"Harrow, my disappointment! There is no Majesty and there is no Might
save in Allah with Whom we seek refuge from Satan the stoned!" And he
bemoaned himself and beat hand upon hand, saying: "Alas, the pity of it!
How cometh this?" Then I went up-to him and he said to me, "Who art
thou, and what causeth thee to come hither?" And I: "Fear not, I am a
man and a good man and a merchant. My story is a wondrous and my
adventures marvelous and the manner of my coming hither is prodigious.
So be of good cheer. Thou shalt receive of me what shall rejoice thee,
for I have with me great plenty of diamonds and I will give thee thereof
what shall suffice thee, for each is better than aught thou couldst get
otherwise. So fear nothing." The man rejoiced thereat and thanked and
blessed me. Then we talked together till the other merchants, hearing me
in discourse with their fellow, came up and saluted me, for each of them
had thrown down his piece of meat.
And as I went off with them and told them my whole story, how I had
suffered hardships at sea and the fashion of my reaching the valley. But
I gave the owner of the meat a number of the stones I had by me, so they
all wished me joy of my escape, saying: "By Allah, a new life hath been
decreed to thee, for none ever reached yonder valley and came off thence
alive before thee, but praised be Allah for thy safety!" We passed the
night together in a safe and pleasant place, beyond measure rejoiced at
my deliverance from the valley of Serpents and my arrival in an
inhabited land. And on the morrow we set out and journeyed over the
mighty range of mountains, seeing many serpents in the valley, till we
came to a fair great island wherein was a garden of huge champhor trees
under each of which a hundred men might take shelter. When the folk have
a mind to get camphor, they bore into the upper part of the bole with a
long iron, whereupon the liquid camphor, which is the sap of the tree,
floweth out and they catch it in vessels, where it concreteth like gum;
but after this the tree dieth and becometh firewood.
Moreover, there is in this island a kind of wild beast, called
rhinoceros, that pastureth as do steers and buffaloes with us; but it is
a huge brute, bigger of body than the camel, and like it feedeth upon
the leaves and twigs of trees. It is a remarkable animal with a great
and thick horn, ten cubits long, a-middleward its head, wherein, when
cleft in twain, is the likeness of a man. Voyagers and pilgrims and
travelers declare that this beast called karkadan will carry off a great
elephant on its horn and graze about the island and the seacoast
therewith and take no heed of it till the elephant dieth and its fat,
melting in the sun, runneth down into the rhinoceros's eyes and blindeth
him, so that he lieth down on the shore. Then comes the bird roc and
carrieth off both the rhinoceros and that which is on its horn, to feed
its young withal. Moreover, I saw in this island many kinds of oxen and
buffaloes, whose like are not found in our country.
Here I sold some of the diamonds which I had by me for gold dinars
and silver dirhams and bartered others for the produce of the country,
and loading them upon beasts of burden, fared on with the merchants from
valley to valley and town to town, buying and selling and viewing
foreign countries and the works and creatures of Allah till we came to
Bassorah city, where we abode a few days, after which I continued my
journey to Baghdad. I arrived at home with great store of diamonds and
money and goods, and forgathered with my friends and relations and gave
alms and largess and bestowed curious gifts and made presents to all my
friends and companions. Then I betook myself to eating well and drinking
well and wearing fine clothes and making merry with my fellows, and
forgot all my sufferings in the pleasures of return to the solace and
delight of life, with light heart and broadened breast. And everyone who
heard of my return came and questioned me of my adventures and of
foreign countries, and I related to them all that had befallen me, and
the much I had suffered, whereat they wondered and gave me joy of my
safe return.
This, then, is the end of the story of my second voyage, and
tomorrow, Inshallah! I will tell you what befell me in my third voyage.
The company marveled at his story and supped with him, after which he
ordered a hundred dinars of gold to be given to the porter, who took the
sum with many thanks and blessings (which he stinted not even when he
reached home) and went his way, wondering at what he had heard. Next
morning as soon as day came in its sheen and shone, he rose and, praying
the dawn prayer, repaired to the house of Sindbad the Seaman, even as he
had bidden him, and went in and gave him good morrow. The merchant
welcomed him and made him sit with him till the rest of the company
arrived, and when they had well eaten and drunken and were merry with
joy and jollity, their host began by saying: Hearken, O my brothers, to
what I am about to tell you, for it is even more wondrous than what you
have already heard. But Allah alone kenneth what things His Omniscience
concealed from man! And listen to
|
THE THIRD VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SEAMAN
AS I told you yesterday, I returned from my second voyage overjoyed
at my safety and with great increase of wealth, Allah having requited me
all that I had wasted and lost, and I abode awhile in Baghdad city
savoring the utmost ease and prosperity and comfort and happiness, till
the carnal man was once more seized with longing for travel and
diversion and adventure, and yearned after traffic and lucre and
emolument, for that the human heart is naturally prone to evil. So,
making up my mind, I laid in great plenty of goods suitable for a sea
voyage and repairing to Bassorah, went down to the shore and found there
a fine ship ready to sail, with a full crew and a numerous company of
merchants, men of worth and substance, faith, piety, and consideration.
I embarked with them and we set sail on the blessing of Allah Almighty
and on His aidance and His favor to bring our voyage to a safe and
prosperous issue, and already we congratulated one another on our good
fortune and boon voyage.
We fared on from sea to sea and from island to island and city to
city, in all delight and contentment, buying and selling wherever we
touched, and taking our solace and our pleasure, till one day when as we
sailed athwart the dashing sea swollen with clashing billows, behold,
the master (who stood on the gunwale examining the ocean in all
directions) cried out with a great cry, and buffeted his face and pluckt
out his beard and rent his raiment, and bade furl the sail and cast the
anchors. So we said to him, "O Rais, what is the matter?" "Know, O my
brethren (Allah preserve you!) that the wind hath gotten the better of
us and hath driven us out of our course into midocean, and Destiny, for
our ill luck, hath brought us to the Mountain of the Zughb, a hairy folk
like apes, among whom no man ever fell and came forth alive. And my
heart presageth that we all be dead men."
Hardly had the master made an end of his speech when the apes were
upon us. They surrounded the ship on all sides, swarming like locusts
and crowding the shore. They were the most frightful of wild creatures,
covered with black hair like felt, foul of favor and small of stature,
being but four spans high, yellow-eyed and black-faced. None knoweth
their language nor what they are, and they shun the company of men. We
feared to slay them or strike them or drive them away, because of their
inconceivable multitude, lest if we hurt one, the rest fall on us and
slay us, for numbers prevail over courage. So we let them do their will,
albeit we feared they would plunder our goods and gear. They swarmed up
the cables and gnawed them asunder, and on like wise they did with all
the ropes of the ship, so that if fell off from the wind and stranded
upon their mountainous coast. Then they laid hands on all the merchants
and crew, and landing us on the island, made off with the ship and its
cargo and went their ways, we wot not whither.
We were thus left on the island, eating of its fruits and potherbs
and drinking of its streams till one day we espied in its midst what
seemed an inhabited house. So we made for it as fast as our feet could
carry us and, behold, it was a castle strong and tall, compassed about
with a lofty wall, and having a two-leaved gate of ebony wood, both of
which leaves open stood. We entered and found within a space wide and
bare like a great square, round which stood many high doors open thrown,
and at the farther end a long bench of stone and braziers, with cooking
gear hanging thereon and about it great Plenty of bones. But we saw no
one and marveled thereat with exceeding wonder. Then we sat down in the
courtyard a little while, and presently falling asleep, slept from the
forenoon till sundown, when lo! the earth trembled under our feet and
the air rumbled with a terrible tone.
Then there came down upon us, from the top of the castle, a huge
creature in the likeness of a man, black of color, tall and big of bulk,
as he were a great date tree, with eyes like coals of fire and eyeteeth
like boar's tusks and a vast big gape like the mouth of a well.
Moreover, he had long loose lips like camel's hanging down upon his
breast, and ears like two jarms falling over his shoulder blades, and
the nails of his hands were like the claws of a lion. When we saw this
frightful giant, we were like to faint and every moment increased our
fear and terror, and we became as dead men for excess of horror and
affright. And after trampling upon the earth, he sat awhile on the
bench. Then he arose and coming to us, seized me by the arm, choosing me
out from among my comrades the merchants. He took me up in his hand and
turning me over, felt me as a butcher feeleth a sheep he is about to
slaughter, and I but a little mouthful in his hands. But finding me lean
and fleshless for stress of toil and trouble and weariness, let me go
and took up another, whom in like manner he turned over and felt and let
go. Nor did he cease to feel and turn over the rest of us, one after
another, till he came to the master of the ship.
Now he was a sturdy, stout, broad-shouldered wight, fat and in full
vigor, so he pleased the giant, who seized him as a butcher seizeth a
beast, and throwing him down, set his foot on his neck and brake it,
after which he fetched a long spit and thrusting it up his backside,
brought it forth of the crown of his head. Then, lighting a fierce fire,
he set over it the spit with the rais thereon, and turned it over the
coals till the flesh was roasted, when he took the spit off the fire and
set it like a kobab stick before him. Then he tare the body, limb from
limb, as one jointeth a chicken and, rending the fresh with his nails,
fell to eating of it and gnawing the bones, till there was nothing left
but some of these, which he threw on one side of the wall. This done, he
sat for a while, then he lay down on the stone bench and fell asleep,
snarking and snoring like the gurgling of a lamb or a cow with its
throat cut, nor did he awake till morning, when he rose and fared forth
and went his ways.
As soon as we were certified that he was gone, we began to talk with
one another, weeping and bemoaning ourselves for the risk we ran, and
saying: "Would Heaven we had been drowned in the sea or that the apes
had eaten us! That were better than to be roasted over the coals. By
Allah, this is a vile, foul death! But whatso the Lord willeth must
come-to pass, and there is no Majesty and there is no Might save in Him,
the Glorious, the Great! We shall assuredly perish miserably and none
will know of us, as there is no escape for us from this place." Then we
arose and roamed about the island, hoping that haply we might find a
place to hide us in or a means of flight, for indeed death was a light
matter to us, provided we were not roasted over the fire and eaten.
However, we could find no hiding place, and the evening overtook us, so,
of the excess of our terror, we returned to the castle and sat down
awhile.
Presently, the earth trembled under our feet and the black ogre came
up to us and turning us over, felt one after other till he found a man
to his liking, whom he took and served as he had done the captain,
killing and roasting and eating him. After which he lay down on the
bench and slept and night, snarling and snoring like a beast with its
throat cut, till daybreak, when he arose and went out as before. Then we
drew together and conversed and add one to other, "By Allah, we had
better throw ourselves into the sea and be drowned than die roasted for
this is an abominable death!" Quoth one of us: "Hear ye my words! Let us
cast about to kill him, and be at peace from the grief of him and rid
the Moslems of his barbarity and tyranny." Then said I: "Hear me, O my
brothers. If there is nothing for it but to slay him, let us carry some
of this firewood and planks down to the seashore and make us a boat
wherein, if we succeed in slaughtering him, we may either embark and let
the waters carry us whither Allah willeth, or else abide here till some
ship pass, when we will take passage in it. If we fail to kill him, we
will embark in the boat and put out to sea. And if we be drowned, we
shall at least escape being roasted over a kitchen fire with sliced
weasands, whilst if we escape, we escape, and if we be drowned, we die
martyrs." "By Allah," said they all, "this rede is a right," and we
agreed upon this, and set about carrying it out. So we haled down to the
beach the pieces of wood which lay about the bench, and making a boat,
moored it to the strand, after which we stowed therein somewhat of
victual and returned to the castle.
As soon as evening fell the earth trembled under our feet and in came
the blackamoor upon us, snarling like a dog about to bite. He came up to
us, and feeling us and turning us over one by one, took one of us and
did with him as he had done before and ate him, after which he lay down
on the bench and snored and snorted like thunder. As soon as we were
assured that he slept, we arose and taking two iron spits of those
standing there, heated them in the fiercest of the fire till they were
red-hot, like burning coals, when we gripped fast hold of them, and
going up to the giant as he lay snoring on the bench, thrust them into
his eyes and pressed upon them, all of us, with our united might, so
that his eyeballs burst and he became stone-blind. Thereupon he cried
with a great cry, whereat our hearts trembled, and springing up from the
bench, he fell a-groping after us, blindfold. We fled from him right and
left and he saw us not, for his sight was altogether blent, but we were
in terrible fear of him and made sure we were dead men despairing of
escape. Then he found the door, feeling for it with his hands, and went
out roaring aloud, and behold, the earth shook under us for the noise of
his roaring, and we quaked for fear. As he quitted the castle we
followed him and betook ourselves to the place where we had moored our
boat, saying to one another: "If this accursed abide absent till the
going down of the sun and come not to the castle, we shall know that he
is dead; and if he come back, we will embark in the boat and paddle till
we escape, committing our affair to Allah."
But as we spoke, behold, up came the blackamoor with other two as
they were Ghuls, fouler and more frightful than he, with eyes like
red-hot coals, which when we saw, we hurried into the boat and casting
off the moorings, paddled away, and pushed out to sea. As soon as the
ogres caught sight of us, they cried out at us, and running down to the
seashore, fell a-pelting us with rocks, whereof some fell amongst us and
others fell into the sea. We paddled with all our might till we were
beyond their reach, but the most part of us were slain by the
rock-throwing, and the winds and waves sported with us and carried us
into the midst of the dashing sea, swollen with billows clashing. We
knew not whither we went, and my fellows died one after another till
there remained but three, myself and two others, for as often as one
died, we threw him into the sea. We were sore exhausted for stress of
hunger, but we took courage and heartened one another and worked for
dear life, and paddled with main and might till the winds cast us upon
an island, as we were dead men for fatigue and fear and famine.
We landed on the island and walked about it for a while, finding that
it abounded in trees and streams and birds, and we ate of the fruits and
rejoiced in our escape from the black and our deliverance from the
perils of the sea. And thus we did till nightfall, when we lay down and
fell asleep for excess of fatigue. But we had hardly closed our eyes
before we were aroused by a hissing sound, like the sough of wind, and
awakening, saw a serpent like a dragon, a seldseen sight, of monstrous
make and belly of enormous bulk, which lay in a circle around us.
Presently it reared its head, and seizing one of my companions,
swallowed him up to his shoulders. Then it gulped down the rest of him,
and we heard his ribs crack in its belly. Presently it went its way, and
we abode in sore amazement and grief for our comrade and mortal fear for
ourselves, saying: "By Allah, this is a marvelous thing! Each kind of
death that threateneth us is more terrible than the last We were
rejoicing in our escape from the black ogre and our deliverance from the
perils of the sea, but now we have fallen into that which is worse.
There is no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah! By the
Almighty, we have escaped from the blackamoor and from drowning, but how
shall we escape from this abominable and viperish monster?" Then we
walked about the island, eating of its fruits and drinking of its
streams till dusk, when we climbed up into a high tree and went to sleep
there, I being on the topmost bough.
As soon as it was dark night, up came the serpent, looking right and
left, and making for the tree whereon we were, climbed up to my comrade
and swallowed him down to his shoulders. Then it coiled about the bole
with him, whilst I, who could not take my eyes off the sight, heard his
bones crack in its belly, and it swallowed him whole, after which it
slid down from the tree. When the day broke and the light showed me that
the serpent was gone, I came down, as I were a dead man for stress of
fear and anguish, and thought to cast myself into the sea and be at rest
from the woes of the world, but could not bring myself to this, for
verily life is dear. So I took five pieces of wood, broad and long, and
bound one crosswise to the soles of my feet and others in like fashion
on my right and left sides and over my breast, and the broadest and
largest I bound across my head and made them fast with ropes. Then I lay
down on the ground on my back, so that I was completely fenced in by the
pieces of wood, which enclosed me like a bier.
So as soon as it was dark, up came the serpent as usual, and made
toward me, but could not get at me to swallow me for the wood that
fenced me in. So it wriggled round me on every side whilst I looked on
like one dead by reason of my terror, and every now and then it would
glide away, and come back. But as often as it tried to come at me, it
was hindered by the pieces of wood wherewith I had bound myself on every
side. It ceased not to beset me thus from sundown till dawn, but when
the light of day shone upon the beast it made off, in the utmost fury
and extreme disappointment. Then I put out my hand and unbound myself,
well-nigh down among the dead men for fear and suffering, and went down
to the island shore, whence a ship afar off in the midst of the waves
suddenly struck my sight. So I tore off a great branch of a tree and
made signs with it to the crew, shouting out the while, which when the
ship's company saw they said to one another: "We must stand in and see
what this is. Peradventure 'tis a man." So they made for the island and
presently heard my cries, whereupon they took me on board and questioned
me of my case. I told them all my adventures from first to last, whereat
they marveled mightily and covered my shame with some of their clothes.
Moreover, they set before me somewhat of food and I ate my fill and I
drank cold sweet water and was mightily refreshed, and Allah Almighty
quickened me after I was virtually dead. So I praised the Most Highest
and thanked Him for His favors and exceeding mercies, and my heart
revived in me after utter despair, till meseemed as if all I had
suffered were but a dream I had dreamed.
We sailed on with a fair wind the Almighty sent us till we came to an
island called Al-Salahitah, which aboundeth in sandalwood, when the
captain cast anchor. And when we had cast anchor, the merchants and the
sailors landed with their goods to sell and to buy. Then the captain
turned to me and said: "Hark'ee, thou art a stranger and a pauper and
tellest us that thou hast undergone frightful hardships, wherefore I
have a mind to benefit thee with somewhat that may further thee to thy
native land, so thou wilt ever bless me and pray for me." "So be it,"
answered I. "Thou shalt have my prayers." Quoth he: "Know then that
there was with us a man, a traveler, whom we lost, and we know not if he
be alive or dead, for we had no news of him. So I purpose to commit his
bales of goods to thy charge, that thou mayst sell them in this island.
A part of the proceeds we will give thee as an equivalent for thy pains
and service, and the rest we will keep till we return to Baghdad, where
we will inquire for his family and deliver it to them, together with the
unsold goods. Say me then, wilt thou undertake the charge and land and
sell them as other merchants do?" I replied, "Hearkening and obedience
to thee, O my lord, and great is thy kindness to me," and thanked him.
Whereupon he bade the sailors and porters bear the bales in question
ashore, and commit them to my charge.
The ship's scribe asked him, "O master, what bales are these, and
what merchant's name shall I write upon them?" and he answered: "Write
on them the name of Sindbad the Seaman, him who was with us in the ship
and whom we lost at the roc's island, and of whom we have no tidings.
For we mean this stranger to sell them, and we will give him a part of
the price for his pains and keep the rest till we return to Baghdad,
where if we find the owner we will make it over to him, and if not, to
his family." And the clerk said, "Thy words are apposite and thy rede is
right." Now when I heard the captain give orders for the bales to be
inscribed with my name, I said to myself, "By Allah, I am Sindbad the
Seaman!" So I armed myself with courage and patience and waited till all
the merchants had landed and were gathered together, talking and
chattering about buying and selling. Then I went up to the captain and
asked him, "O my lord, knowest thou what manner of man was this Sindbad
whose goods thou hast committed to me for sale?" and he answered, "I
know of him naught save that he was a man from Baghdad city, Sindbad
hight the Seaman, who was drowned with many others when we lay anchored
at such an island, and I have heard nothing of him since then."
At this I cried out with a great cry and said: "O Captain, whom Allah
keep! know that I am that Sindbad the Seaman and that I was not drowned,
but when thou castest anchor at the island, I landed with the rest of
the merchants and crew. And I sat down in a pleasant place by myself and
ate somewhat of food I had with me and enjoyed myself till I became
drowsy and was drowned in sleep. And when I awoke, I found no ship, and
none near me. These goods are my goods and these bales are my bales, and
all the merchants who fetch jewels from the Valley of Diamonds saw me
there and will bear me witness that I am the very Sindbad the Seaman;
for I related to them everything that had befallen me and told them how
you forgot me and left me sleeping on the island, and that betided me
which betided me." When the passengers and crew heard my words, they
gathered about me and some of them believed me and others disbelieved,
but presently, behold, one of the merchants, hearing me mention the
Valley of Diamonds, came up to me and said to them: "Hear what I say,
good people! When I related to you the most wonderful things in my
travels, and I told you that at the time we cast down our slaughtered
animals into the Valley of Serpents (I casting with the rest as was my
wont), there came up a man hanging to mine, ye believed me not and live
me the lie." "Yes," quoth they, "thou didst tell us some such tale, but
we had no call to credit thee." He resumed: "Now this is the very man,
by token that he gave me diamonds of great value and high price whose
like are not to be found, requiting me more than would have come up
sticking to my quarter of meat. And I companied with him to Bassorah
city, where he took leave of us and went on to his native stead whilst
we returned to our own land. This is he, and he told us his name,
Sindbad the Seaman, and how the ship left him on the desert island. And
know ye that Allah hath sent him hither, so might the truth of my story
be made manifest to you. Moreover, these are his goods, for when he
first forgathered with us, he told us of them; and the truth of his
words is patent."
Hearing the merchant's speech, the captain came up to me and
considered me straitly awhile, after which he said, "What was the mark
on thy bales?" "Thus and thus," answered I, and reminded him of somewhat
that had passed between him and me when I shipped with him from
Bassorah. Thereupon he was convinced that I was indeed Sindbad the
Seaman and took me round the neck and gave me joy of my safety, saying:
"By Allah, O my lord, thy case is indeed wondrous and thy tale
marvelous. But lauded be Allah Who hath brought thee and me together
again, and Who hath restored to thee thy goods and gear!" Then I
disposed of my merchandise to the best of my skill, and profited largely
on them, whereat I rejoiced with exceeding joy and congratulated myself
on my safety and the recovery of my goods. We ceased not to buy and sell
at the several islands till we came to the land of Hind, where we bought
cloves and ginger and all manner spices. And thence we fared on to the
land of Sind, where also we bought and sold.
In these Indian seas I saw wonders without number or count, amongst
others a fish like a cow which bringeth forth its young and suckleth
them like human beings, and of its skin bucklers are made. There were
eke fishes like asses and camels and tortoises twenty cubits wide. And I
saw also a bird that cometh out of a sea shell and layeth eggs and
hatcheth her chicks on the surface of the water, never coming up from
the sea to the land. Then we set sail again with a fair wind and the
blessing of Almighty Allah, and after a prosperous voyage, arrived safe
and sound at Bassorah. Here I abode a few days, and presently returned
to Baghdad, where I went at once to my quarter and my house and saluted
my family and familiars and friends. I had gained on this voyage what
was beyond count and reckoning, so I gave alms and largess and clad the
widow and orphan, by way of thanksgiving for my happy return, and fell
to feasting and making merry with my companions and intimates and forgot
while eating well and drinking well and dressing well everything that
had befallen me and all the perils and hardships I had suffered.
These, then, are the most admirable things I sighted on my third
voyage, and tomorrow, an it be the will of Allah, you shall come to me
and I will relate the adventures of my fourth voyage, which is still
more wonderful than those you have already heard. (Saith he who telleth
the tale): Then Sindbad the Seaman bade give Sindbad the Landsman a
hundred golden dinars as of wont, and called for food. So they spread
the tables and the company ate the night meal and went their ways,
marveling at the tale they had heard. The porter after taking his gold
passed the night in his own house, also wondering at what his namesake
the seaman had told him, and as soon as day broke and the morning showed
with its sheen and shone, he rose and praying the dawn prayer, betook
himself to Sindbad the Seaman, who returned his salute and received him
with an open breast and cheerful favor and made him sit with him till
the rest of the company arrived, when he caused set on food and they ate
and drank and made merry. Then Sindbad the Seaman bespake them and
related to them the narrative of
|
THE FOURTH VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SEAMAN
KNOW, O my brethren, that after my return from my third voyage and
forgathering with my friends, and forgetting all my perils and hardships
in the enjoyment of ease and comfort and repose, I was visited one day
by a company of merchants who sat down with me and talked of foreign
travel and traffic till the old bad man within me yearned to go with
them and enjoy the sight of strange countries, and I longed for the
society of the various races of mankind and for traffic and profit. So I
resolved to travel with them and, buying the necessaries for a long
voyage and great store of costly goods, more than ever before,
transported them from Baghdad to Bassorah, where I took ship with the
merchants in question, who were of the chief of the town. We set out,
trusting in the blessing of Almighty Allah, and with a favoring breeze
and the best conditions we salled from island to island and sea to sea
till one day there arose against us a contrary wind and the captain cast
out his anchors and brought the ship to a standstill, fearing lest she
should founder in midocean.
Then we all fell to prayer and humbling ourselves before the Most
High, but as we were thus engaged there smote us a furious squall which
tore the sails to rags and tatters. The anchor cable parted and, the
ship foundering, we were cast into the sea, goods and all. I kept myself
afloat by swimming half the day till, when I had given myself up for
lost, the Almighty threw in my way one of the planks of the ship,
whereon I and some others of the merchants scrambled and, mounting it as
we would a horse, paddled with our feet in the sea. We abode thus a day
and a night, the wind and waves helping us on, and on the second day
shortly before the midtime between sunrise and noon the breeze freshened
and the sea wrought and the rising waves cast us upon an island,
well-nigh dead bodies for weariness and want of sleep, cold and hunger
and fear and thirst. We walked about the shore and found abundance of
herbs, whereof we ate enough to keep breath in body and to stay our
failing spirits, then lay down and slept till morning hard by the sea.
And when morning came with its sheen and shone, we arose and walked
about the island to the right and left till we came in sight of an
inhabited house afar off. So we made toward it, and ceased not walking
till we reached the door thereof when lo! a number of naked men issued
from it, and without saluting us or a word said, laid hold of us
masterfully and carried us to their King, who signed us to sit. So we
sat down and they set food before us such as we knew not and whose like
we had never seen in all our lives. My companions ate of it, for stress
of hunger, but my stomach revolted from it and I would not eat, and my
refraining from it was, by Allah's favor, the cause of my being alive
till now. For no sooner had my comrades tasted of it than their reason
fled and their condition changed and they began to devour it like madmen
possessed of an evil spirit. Then the savages give them to drink of
coconut oil and anointed them therewith, and straightway after drinking
thereof their eyes turned into their heads and they fell to eating
greedily, against their wont.
When I saw this, I was confounded, and concerned for them, nor was I
less anxious about myself, for fear of the naked folk. So I watched them
narrowly, and it was not long before I discovered them to be a tribe of
Magian cannibals whose King was a Ghul. All who came to their country or
whoso they caught in their valleys or on their roads they brought to
this King and fed them upon that food and anointed them with that oil,
whereupon their stomachs dilated that they might eat largely, wilst
their reason fled and they lost the power of thought and became idiots.
Then they stuffed them with coconut oil and the aforesaid food till they
became fat and gross, when they slaughtered them by cutting their
throats and roasted them for the King's eating, but as for the savages
themselves, they ate human flesh raw. When I saw this, I was sore
dismayed for myself and my comrades, who were now become so stupefied
that they knew not what was done with them. And the naked folk committed
them to one who used every day to lead them out and pasture them on the
island like cattle. And they wandered amongst the trees and rested at
will, thus waxing very fat.
As for me, I wasted away and became sickly for fear and hunger and my
flesh shriveled on my bones, which when the savages saw, they left me
alone and took no thought of me and so far forgot me that one day I gave
them the slip and walking out of their place, made for the beach, which
was distant, and there espied a very old man seated on a high place girt
by the waters. I looked at him and knew him for the herdsman who had
charge of pasturing my fellows, and with him were many others in like
case. As soon as he saw me, he knew me to be in possession of my reason
and not afflicted like the rest whom he was pasturing, so signed to me
from afar, as who should say, "Turn back and take the right-hand road,
for that will lead thee into the King's highway." So I turned back, as
he bade me, and followed the right-hand road, now running for fear and
then walking leisurely to rest me, till I was out of the old man's
sight. By this time the sun had gone down and the darkness set in, so I
sat down to rest and would have slept, but sleep came not to me that
night for stress of fear and famine and fatigue.
When the night was half spent, I rose and walked on till the day
broke in all its beauty and the sun rose over the heads of the lofty
hills and athwart the low gravelly plains. Now I was weary and hungry
and thirsty, so I ate my fill of herbs and grasses that grew in the
island and kept life in body and stayed my stomach, after which I set
out again and fared on all that day and the next night, staying my greed
with roots and herbs. Nor did I cease walking for seven days and their
nights, till the morn of the eighth day, when I caught sight of a faint
object in the distance. So I made toward it, though my heart quaked for
all I had suffered first and last, and, behold, it was a company of men
gathering pepper grains. As soon as they saw me, they hastened up to me
and surrounding me on all sides, said to me, "Who art thou, and whence
come?" I replied, "Know, O folk, that I am a poor stranger," and
acquainted them with my case and all the hardships and perils I had
suffered, whereat they marveled and gave me joy of my safety, saying:
"By Allah, this is wonderful! But how didst thou escape from these
blacks who swarm in the island and devour all who fall in with them, nor
is any safe from them, nor can any get out of their clutches?"
And after I had told them the fate of my companions, they made me sit
by them till they got quit of their work, and fetched me somewhat of
good food, which I ate, for I was hungry, and rested awhile. After which
they took ship with me and carrying me to their island home, brought me
before their King, who returned my salute and received me honorably and
questioned me of my case. I told him all that had befallen me from the
day of my leaving Baghdad city, whereupon he wondered with great wonder
at my adventures, he and his courtiers, and bade me sit by him. Then he
called for food and I ate with him what sufficed me and washed my hands
and returned thanks to Almighty Allah for all His favors, praising Him
and glorifying Him. Then I left the King and walked for solace about the
city, which I found wealthy and populous, abounding in market streets
well stocked with food and merchandise and full of buyers and sellers.
So I rejoiced at having reached so pleasant a place and took my ease
there after my fatigues, and I made friends with the townsfolk, nor was
it long before I became more in honor and favor with them and their King
than any of the chief men of the realm.
Now I saw that all the citizens, great and small, rode fine horses,
high-priced and thoroughbred, without saddles or housings, whereat I
wondered and said to the King: "Wherefore, O my lord, dost thou not ride
with a saddle? Therein is ease for the rider and increase of power."
"What is a saddle?" asked he. "I never saw nor used such a thing in all
my life." And I answered, "With thy permission I will make thee a
saddle, that thou mayst ride on it and see the comfort thereof." And
quoth he, "Do so." So quoth I to him, "Furnish me with some woods."
which being brought, I sought me a clever carpenter and sitting by him,
showed him how to make the saddletree, portraying for him the fashion
thereof in ink on the wood. Then I took wool and teased it and made felt
of it, and, covering the saddletree with leather, stuffed it, and
polished it, and attached the girth and stirrup leathers. After which I
fetched a blacksmith and described to him the fashion of the stirrups
and bridle bit. So he forged a fine pair of stirrups and a bit, and
filed them smooth and tinned them. Moreover, I made fast to them fringes
of silk and fitted bridle leathers to the bit. Then I fetched one of the
best of the royal horses and saddling and bridling him, hung the
stirrups to the saddle and led him to the King. The thing took his fancy
and he thanked me, then he mounted and rejoiced greatly in the saddle
and rewarded me handsomely for my work.
When the King's Wazir saw the saddle, he asked of me one like it, and
I made it for him. Furthermore, all the grandees and officers of state
came for saddles to me, so I fell to making saddles (having taught the
craft to the carpenter and blacksmith) and selling them to all who
sought, till I amassed great wealth and became in high honor and great
favor with the King and his household and grandees. I abode thus till
one day, as I was sitting with the King in all respect and contentment,
he said to me: "Know thou, O such a one, thou art become one of us, dear
as a brother, and we hold thee in such regard and affection that we
cannot part with thee nor suffer thee to leave our city. Wherefore I
desire of thee obedience in a certain matter, and I will not have thee
gainsay me." Answered I: "O King, what is it thou desirest of me? Far be
it from me to gainsay thee in aught, for I am indebted to thee for many
favors and bounties and much kindness, and (praised be Allah!) I am
become one of thy servants." Quoth he: "I have a mind to marry thee to a
fair, clever, and agreeable wife who is wealthy as she is beautiful, so
thou mayest be naturalized and domiciled with us. I will lodge thee with
me in my palace, wherefore oppose me not neither cross me in this." When
I heard these words I was ashamed and held my peace nor could make him
any answer, by reason of my much bashfulness before him. Asked he, "Why
dost thou not reply to me, O my son?" and I answered, saying, "O my
master, it is thine to command, O King of the Age!" So he summoned the
kazi and the witnesses and married me straightway to a lady of a noble
tree and high pedigree, wealthy in moneys and means, the flower of an
ancient race, of surpassing beauty and grace, and the owner of farms and
estates and many a dwelling place.
Now after the King my master had married me to this choice wife, he
also gave me a great and goodly house standing alone, together with
slaves and officers, and assigned me pay and allowances. So I became in
all ease and contentment and delight and forgot everything which had
befallen me of weariness and trouble and hardship. For I loved my wife
with fondest love and she loved me no less, and we were as one, and
abode in the utmost comfort of life and in its happiness. And I said in
myself, "When I return to my native land, I will carry her with me." But
whatso is predestined to a man, that needs must be, and none knoweth
what shall befall him. We lived thus a great while, till Almighty Allah
bereft one of my neighbors of his wife. Now he was a gossip of mine, so
hearing the cry of the keeners, I went in to condole him on his loss and
found him in very ill plight, full of trouble and weary of soul and
mind. I condoled with him and comforted him, saying: "Mourn not for thy
wife, who hath now found the mercy of Allah. The Lord will surely give
thee a better in her stead, and thy name shall be great and thy life
shall be long in the land, Inshallah!"
But he wept bitter tears and replied: "O my friend, how can I marry
another wife, and how shall Allah replace her to me with a better than
she, whenas I have but one day left to live?" "O my brother," said I,
"return to thy senses and announce not glad tidings of thine own death,
for thou art well, sound, and in good case." "By thy life, O my friend,"
rejoined he, "tomorrow thou wilt lose me, and wilt never see me again
till the Day of Resurrection." I asked, "How so?" and he answered: "This
very day they bury my wife, and they bury me with her in one tomb. For
it is the custom with us, if the wife die first, to bury the husband
alive with her, and in like manner the wife if the husband die first, so
that neither may enjoy life after losing his or her mate." "By Allah,"
cried I, "this is a most vile, lewd custom, and not to be endured of
any!" Meanwhile, behold, the most part of the townsfolk came in and fell
to condoling with my gossip for his wife and for himself.
Presently they laid the dead woman out, as was their wont, and
setting her on a bier, carried her and her husband without the city till
they came to a place in the side of a mountain at the end of the island
by the sea. And here they raised a great rock and discovered the mouth
of a stone-riveted pit or well, leading down into a vast underground
cavern that ran beneath the mountain. Into this pit they threw the
corpse, then, tying a rope of palm fibers under the husband's armpits,
they let him down into the cavern, and with him a great pitcher of fresh
water and seven scones by way of viaticum. When he came to the bottom,
he loosed himself from the rope and they drew it up, and stopping the
mouth of the pit with the great stone, they returned to the city,
leaving my friend in the cavern with his dead wife. When I saw this, I
said to myself, "By Allah, this fashion of death is more grievous than
the first!" And I went in to the King and said to him, "O my lord, why
do ye bury the quick with the dead?" Quoth he: "It hath been the custom,
thou must know, of our forebears and our olden kings from time
immemorial, if the husband die first, to bury his wife with him, and the
like with the wife, so we may not sever them, alive or dead." I asked,
"O King of the Age, if the wife of a foreigner like myself die among
you, deal ye with him as with yonder man?" and he answered, "Assuredly
we do with him even as thou hast seen." When I heard this, my gall
bladder was like to burst, for the violence of my dismay and concern for
myself. My wit became dazed, I felt as if in a vile dungeon, and hated
their society, for I went about in fear lest my wife should die before
me and they bury me alive with her. However, after a while I comforted
myself, saying, "Haply I shall predecease her, or shall have returned to
my own land before she die, for none knoweth which shall go first and
which shall go last."
Then I applied myself to diverting my mind from this thought with
various occupations, but it was not long before my wife sickened and
complained and took to her pillow and fared after a few days to the
mercy of Allah. And the King and the rest of the folk came, as was their
wont, to condole with me and her family and to console us for her loss,
and not less to condole with me for myself. Then the women washed her,
and arraying her in her richest raiment and golden ornaments, necklaces,
and jewelry, laid her on the bier and bore her to the mountain
aforesaid, where they lifted the cover of the pit and cast her in. After
which all my intimates and acquaintances and my wife's kith and kin came
round me, to farewell me in my lifetime and console me for my own death,
whilst I cried out among them, saying: "Almighty Allah never made it
lawful to bury the quick with the dead! I am a stranger, not one of your
kind, and I cannot abear your custom, and had I known it I never would
have wedded among you!" They heard me not and paid no heed to my words,
but laying hold of me, bound me by force and let me down. into the
cavern, with a large gugglet of sweet water and seven cakes of bread,
according to their custom. When I came to the bottom, they called out to
me to cast myself loose from the cords, but I refused to do so, so they
threw them down on me and, closing the mouth of the pit with the stones
aforesaid, went their ways.
I looked about me and found myself in a vast cave full of dead bodies
that exhaled a fulsome and loathsome smell, and the air was heavy with
the groans of the dying. Thereupon I fell to blaming myself for what I
had done, saying: "By Allah, I deserve all that hath befallen me and all
that shall befall me! What curse was upon me to take a wife in this
city? There is no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah, the
Glorious, the Great! As often as I say I have escaped from one calamity,
I fall into a worse. By Allah, this is an abominable death to die! Would
Heaven I had died a decent death and been washed and shrouded like a man
and a Moslem. Would I had been drowned at sea, or perished in the
mountains! It were better than to die this miserable death!" And on such
wise I kept blaming my own folly and greed of gain in that black hole,
knowing not night from day, and I ceased not to ban the Foul Fiend and
to bless the Almighty Friend. Then I threw myself down on the bones of
the dead and lay there, imploring Allah's help, and in the violence of
my despair invoking death, which came not to me, till the fire of hunger
burned my stomach and thirst set my throat aflame, when I sat up and
feeling for the bread, ate a morsel and upon it swallowed a mouthful of
water.
After this, the worst night I ever knew, I arose, and exploring the,
cavern, found that it extended a long way with hollows in its sides, and
its floor was strewn with dead bodies and rotten bones that had lain
there from olden time. So I made myself a place in a cavity of the
cavern, afar from the corpses lately thrown down, and there slept. I
abode thus a long while, till my provision was like to give out, and yet
I ate not save once every day or second day, nor did I drink more than
an occasional draught, for fear my victual should fail me before my
death. And I said to myself: "Eat little and drink little. Belike the
Lord shall vouchsafe deliverance to thee!" One day as I sat thus,
pondering my case and bethinking me how I should do when my bread and
water should be exhausted, behold, the stone that covered the opening
was suddenly rolled away and the light streamed down upon me. Quoth I:
"I wonder what is the matter. Haply they have brought another corpse."
Then I espied folk standing about the mouth of the pit, who presently
let down a dead man and a live woman, weeping and bemoaning herself, and
with her an ampler supply of bread and water than usual. I saw her and
she was a beautiful woman, but she saw me not. And they closed up the
opening and went away. Then I took the leg bone of a dead man and, going
up to the woman, smote her on the crown of the head, and she cried one
cry and fell down in a swoon. I smote her a second and a third time,
till she was dead, when I laid hands on her bread and water and found on
her great plenty of ornaments and rich apparel, necklaces, jewels and
gold trinkets, for it was their custom to bury women in all their
finery. I carried the vivers to my sleeping place in the cavern side and
ate and drank of them sparingly, no more than sufficed to keep the life
in me, lest the provaunt come speedily to an end and I perish of hunger
and thirst.
Yet did I never wholly lose hope in Almighty Allah. I abode thus a
great while, killing all the live folk they let down into the cavern and
taking their provisions of meat and drink, till one day, as I slept, I
was awakened by something scratching and burrowing among the bodies in a
corner of the cave and said, "What can this be?" fearing wolves or
hyenas. So I sprang up, and seizing the leg bone aforesaid, made for the
noise. As soon as the thing was ware of me, it fled from me into the
inward of the cavern, and lo! it was a wild beast. However, I followed
it to the further end, till I saw afar off a point of light not bigger
than a star, now appearing and then disappearing. So I made for it, and
as I drew near, it grew larger and brighter, till I was certified that
it was a crevice in the rock, leading to the open country, and I said to
myself: "There must be some reason for this opening. Either it is the
mouth of a second pit such as that by which they let me down, or else it
is a natural fissure in the stonery." So I bethought me awhile, and
nearing the light, found that it came from a breach in the back side of
the mountain, which the wild beasts had enlarged by burrowing, that they
might enter and devour the dead and freely go to and from. When I saw
this, my spirits revived and hope came back to me and I made sure of
life, after having died a death. So I went on, as in a dream, and making
shift to scramble through the breach, found myself on the slope of a
high mountain overlooking the salt sea and cutting off all access
thereto from the island, so that none could come at that part of the
beach from the city. I praised my Lord and thanked Him, rejoicing
greatly and heartening myself with the prospect of deliverance.
Then I returned through the crack to the cavern and brought out all
the food and water I had saved up, and donned some of the dead folk's
clothes over my own. After which I gathered together all the collars and
necklaces of pearls and jewels and trinkets of gold and silver set with
precious stones and other ornaments and valuables I could find upon the
corpses, and making them into bundles with the graveclothes and raiment
of the dead, carried them out to the back of the mountain facing the
seashore, where I established myself, purposing to wait there till it
should please Almighty Allah to send me relief by means of some passing
ship. I visited the cavern daily, and as often as I found folk buried
alive there, I killed them all indifferently, men and women, and took
their victual and valuables and transported them to my seat on the
seashore.
Thus I abode a long while till one day I caught sight of a ship
passing in the midst of the clashing sea swollen with dashing billows.
So I took a piece of a white shroud I had with me, and tying it to a
staff, ran along the seashore making signals therewith and calling to
the people in the ship, till they espied me, and hearing my shouts, sent
a boat to fetch me off. When it drew near, the crew called out to me,
saying, "Who art thou, and how camest thou to be on this mountain,
whereon never saw we any in our born days?" I answered: "I am a
gentleman and a merchant who hath been wrecked and saved myself on one
of the planks of the ship, with some of my goods. And by the blessing of
the Almighty and the decrees of Destiny and my own strength and skill,
after much toil and moil I have landed with my gear in this place, where
I awaited some passing ship to take me off." So they took me in their
boat, together with the bundles I had made of the jewels and valuables
from the cavern, tied up in clothes and shrouds, and rowed back with me
to the ship, where the captain said to me: "How camest thou, O man, to
yonder place on yonder mountain behind which lieth a great city? All my
life I have sailed these seas and passed to and fro hard by these
heights, yet never saw I here any living thing save wild beasts and
birds." I repeated to him the story I had told the sailors, but
acquainted him with nothing of that which had befallen me in the city
and the cavern, lest there should be any of the islandry in the ship.
Then I took out some of the best pearls I had with me and offered
them to the captain, saying: "O my lord, thou hast been the means of
saving me off this mountain. I have no ready money, but take this from
me in requital of thy kindness and good offices.-But he refused to
accept it of me, saying: "When we find a shipwrecked man on the seashore
or on an island, we take him up and give him meat and drink, and if he
be naked we clothe him, nor take we aught from him- nay, when we reach a
port of safety, we set him ashore with a present of our own money and
entreat him kindly and charitably, for the love of Allah the Most High."
So I prayed that his life be long in the land and rejoiced in my escape,
trusting to be delivered from my stress and to forget my past mishaps,
for every time I remembered being let down into the cave with my dead
wife I shuddered in horror.
Then we pursued our voyage and sailed from island to island and sea
to sea till we arrived at the Island of the Bell which containeth a city
two days' journey in extent, whence after a six days' ran we reached the
Island Kala, hard by the land of Hind. This place is govemed by a potent
and puissant King, and it produceth excellent camphor and an abundance
of the Indian rattan. Here also is a lead mine. At last by the decree of
Allah we arrived in safety at Bassorah town, where I tarried a few days,
then went on to Baghdad city, and finding my quarter, entered my house
with lively pleasure. There I forgathered with my family and friends,
who rejoiced in my happy return and give me joy of my safety. I laid up
in my storehouses all the goods I had brought with me, and gave alms and
largess to fakirs and beggars and clothed the widow and the orphan. Then
I gave myself up to pleasure and enjoyment, returning to my old merry
mode of rife.
Such, then, be the most marvelous adventures of my fourth voyage, but
tomorrow, if you will kindly come to me, I will tell you that which
befell me in my fifth voyage, which was yet rarer and more marvelous
than those which forewent it. And thou, O my brother Sindbad the
Landsman, shalt sup with me as thou art wont. (Saith he who telleth the
tale): When Sindbad the Seaman had made an end of his story, he called
for supper, so they spread the table and the guests ate the evening
meal, after which he gave the porter a hundred dinars as usual, and he
and the rest of the company went their ways, glad at heart and marveling
at the tales they had heard, for that each story was more extraordinary
than that which forewent it. The porter Sindbad passed the night in his
own house, in all joy and cheer and wonderment, and as soon as morning
came with its sheen and shone, he prayed the dawn prayer and repaired to
the house of Sindbad the Seaman, who welcomed him and bade him sit with
him till the rest of the company arrived, when they ate and drank and
made merry and the talk went round amongst them. Presently, their host
began the narrative of
|
THE FIFTH VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SEAMAN
KNOW, O my brothers, that when I had been awhile on shore after my
fourth voyage, and when, in my comfort and pleasures and merrymakings
and in my rejoicing over my large gains and profits, I had forgotten all
I had endured of perils and sufferings, the carnal man was again seized
with the longing to travel and to see foreign countries and islands.
Accordingly I bought costly merchandise suited to my purpose and, making
it up into bales, repaired to Bassorah, where I walked about the river
quay till I found a fine tall ship, newly builded, with gear unused and
fitted ready for sea. She pleased me, so I bought her and, embarking my
goods in her, hired a master and crew, over whom I set certain of my
slaves and servants as inspectors. A number of merchants also brought
their outfits and paid me freight and passage money. Then, after
reciting the fatihah, we set sail over Allah's pool in all joy and
cheer, promising ourselves a prosperous voyage and much profit.
We sailed from city to city and from island to island and from sea to
sea viewing the cities and countries by which we passed, and selling and
buying in not a few, till one day we came to a great uninhabited island,
deserted and desolate, whereon was a white dome of biggest bulk half
buried in the sands. The merchants landed to examine this dome, leaving
me in the ship, and when they drew near, behold, it was a huge roc's
egg. They fell a-beating it with stones, knowing not what it was, and
presently broke it open, whereupon much water ran out of it and the
young roc appeared within. So they pulled it forth of the shell and cut
its throat and took of it great store of meat. Now I was in the ship and
knew not what they did, but presently one of the passengers came up to
me and said, "O my lord, come and look at the egg that we thought to be
a dome." So I looked, and seeing the merchants beating it with stones,
called out to them: "Stop, stop! Do not meddle with that egg, or the
bird roc will come out and break our ship and destroy us." But they paid
no heed to me and gave not over smiting upon the egg, when behold, the
day grew dark and dun and the sun was hidden from us, as if some great
cloud had passed over the firmament. So we raised our eyes and saw that
what we took for a cloud was the roc poised between us and the sun, and
it was his wings that darkened the day. When he came and saw his egg
broken, he cried a loud cry, whereupon his mate came flying up and they
both began circling about the ship, crying out at us with voices louder
than thunder. I called to the rais and crew, "Put out to sea and seek
safety in flight, before we be all destroyed!" So the merchants came on
board and we cast off and made haste from the island to gain the open
sea.
When the rocs saw this, they flew off, and we crowded all sail on the
ship, thinking to get out of their country, but presently the two
reappeared and flew after us and stood over us, each carrying in its
claws a huge boulder which it had brought from the mountains. As soon as
the he-roc came up with us, he let fall upon us the rock he held in his
pounces, but the master put about ship, so that the rock missed her by
some small matter and plunged into the waves with such violence that the
ship pitched high and then sank into the trough of the sea, and the
bottom the ocean appeared to us. Then the she-roc let fall her rock,
which was bigger than that of her mate, and as Destiny had decreed, it
fell on the poop of the ship and crushed it, the rudder flying into
twenty pieces. Whereupon the vessel foundered and all and everything on
board were cast into the main. As for me, I struggled for sweet life
till Almighty Allah threw in my way one of the planks of the ship, to
which I clung and bestriding it, fell a-paddling with my feet.
Now the ship had gone down hard by an island in the midst of the
main, and the winds and waves bore me on till, by permission of the Most
High, they cast me up on the shore of the island, at the last gasp for
toil and distress and half-dead with hunger and thirst. So I landed more
like a corpse than a live man, and throwing myself down on the beach,
lay there awhile till I began to revive and recover spirits, when I
walked about the island, and found it as it were one of the garths and
gardens of Paradise. Its trees, in abundance dight, bore ripe-yellow
fruit for freight, its streams ran clear and bright, its flowers were
fair to scent and to sight, and its birds warbled with delight the
praises of Him to whom belong Permanence and All-might. So I ate my fill
of the fruits and slaked my thirst with the water of the streams till I
could no more, and I returned thanks to the Most High and glorified Him,
after which I sat till nightfall hearing no voice and seeing none
inhabitant. Then I lay down, well-nigh dead for travail and trouble and
terror, and slept without surcease till morning, when I arose and walked
about under the trees till I came to the channel of a draw well fed by a
spring of running water, by which well sat an old man of venerable
aspect, girt about with a waistcloth made of the fiber of palm fronds.
Quoth I to myself. "Haply this Sheikh is of those who were wrecked in
the ship and hath made his way to this island."
So I drew near to him and saluted him, and he returned my salaam by
signs, but spoke not, and I said to him, "O nuncle mine, what causeth
thee to sit here?" He shook his head and moaned and signed to me with
his hand as who should say, "Take me on thy shoulders and carry me to
the other side of the well channel." And quoth I in my mind: "I will
deal kindly with him and do what he desireth. It may be I shall win me a
reward in Heaven, for he may be a paralytic." So I took him on my back,
and carrying him to the place whereat he pointed, said to him, "Dismount
at thy leisure." But he would not get off my back, and wound his legs
about my neck. I looked at them, and seeing that they were like a
buffalo's hide for blackness and roughness, was affrighted and would
have cast him off, but he clung to me and gripped my neck with his legs
till I was well-nigh choked, the world grew black in my sight and I fell
senseless to the ground like one dead.
But he still kept his seat and raising his legs, drummed with his
heels and beat harder than palm rods my back and shoulders, till he
forced me to rise for excess of pain. Then he signed to me with his hand
to carry him hither and thither among the trees which bore the best
fruits, and if ever I refused to do his bidding or loitered or took my
leisure, he beat me with his feet more grievously than if I had been
beaten with whips. He ceased not to signal with his hand wherever he was
minded to go, so I carried him about the island, like a captive slave,
and he dismounted not night or day. And whenas he wished to sleep, he
wound his legs about my neck and leaned back and slept awhile, then
arose and beat me, whereupon I sprang up in haste, unable to gainsay him
because of the pain he inflicted on me. And indeed I blamed myself and
sore repented me of having taken compassion on him, and continued in
this condition, suffering fatigue not to be described, till I said to
myself: "I wrought him a weal and he requited me with my ill. By Allah,
never more will I do any man a service so long as I live!" And again and
again I besought the Most High that I might die, for stress of weariness
and misery.
And thus I abode a long while till one day I came with him to a place
wherein was abundance of gourds, many of them dry. So I took a great dry
gourd and cutting open the head, scooped out the inside and cleaned it,
after which I gathered grapes from a vine which grew hard by and
squeezed them into the gourd till it was full of the juice. Then I
stopped up the mouth and set it in the sun, where I left it for some
days until it became strong wine, and every day I used to drink of it,
to comfort and sustain me under my fatigues with that froward and
obstinate fiend. And as often as I drank myself drunk, I forgot my
troubles and took new heart. One day he saw me and signed to me with his
hand, as who should say, "What is that?" Quoth I, "It is an excellent
cordial, which cheereth the heart and reviveth the spirits." Then, being
heated with wine, I ran and danced with him among the trees, clapping my
hands and singing and making merry, and I staggered under him by design.
When he saw this, he signed to me to give him the gourd that he might
drink, and I feared him and gave it him. So he took it, and draining it
to the dregs, cast it on the ground, whereupon he grew frolicsome and
began to clap hands and jig to and fro on my shoulders, and he made
water upon me so copiously that all my dress was drenched. But
presently, the fumes of the wine rising to his head, he became
helplessly drunk and his side muscles and limbs relaxed and he swayed to
and fro on my back. When I saw that he had lost his senses for
drunkenness, I put my hand to his legs and, loosing them from my neck,
stooped down well-nigh to the ground and threw him at full length. Then
I took up a great stone from among the trees and coming up to him, smote
him therewith on the head with all my might and crushed in his skull as
he lay dead-drunk. Thereupon his flesh and fat and blood being in a
pulp, he died and went to his deserts, The Fire, no mercy of Allah be
upon him!
I then returned, with a heart at ease, to my former station on the
seashore, and abode in that island many days, eating of its fruits and
drinking of its waters and keeping a lookout for passing ships, till one
day, as I sat on the beach recalling all that had befallen me and
saying, "I wonder if Allah will save me alive and restore me to my home
and family and friends!" behold, a ship was making for the island
through the dashing sea and clashing waves. Presently it cast anchor and
the passengers landed, so I made for them, and when they saw me all
hastened up to me and gathering round me, questioned me of my case and
how I came thither. I told them all that had betided me, whereat they
marveled with exceeding marvel and said: "He who rode on thy shoulder is
called the Sheikh-al-Bahr or Old Man of the Sea, and none ever felt his
legs on neck and came off alive but thou, and those who die under him he
eateth. So praised be Allah for thy safety!" Then they set somewhat of
food before me, whereof I ate my fill, and gave me somewhat of clothes,
wherewith I clad myself anew and covered my nakedness. After which they
took me up into the ship and we sailed days and nights till Fate brought
us to a place called the City of Apes, builded with lofty houses, all of
which gave upon the sea, and it had a single gate studded and
strengthened with iron nails.
Now every night as soon as it is dusk the dwellers in this city used
to come forth of the gates and, putting out to sea in boats and ships,
pass the night upon the waters in their fear lest the apes should come
down on them from the mountains. Hearing this, I was sore troubled,
remembering what I had before suffered from the ape kind. Presently I
landed to solace myself in the city, but meanwhile the ship set sail
without me, and I repented of having gone ashore, and calling to mind my
companions and what had befallen me with the apes, first and after, sat
down and fell aweeping and lamenting. Presently one of the townsfolk
accosted me and said to me, "O my lord, meseemeth thou art a stranger to
these parts?" "Yes," answered I, "I am indeed a stranger and a poor one,
who came hither in a ship which cast anchor here, and I landed to visit
the town. But when I would have gone on board again, I found they had
sailed without me." Quoth he, "Come and embark with us, for if thou lie
the night in the city, the apes will destroy thee." "Hearkening and
obedience," replied I, and rising, straightway embarked with him in one
of the boats, whereupon they pushed off from shore, and anchoring a mile
or so from the land, there passed the night. At daybreak they rowed back
to the city, and landing, went each about his business. Thus they did
every night, for if any tarried in the town by night the apes came down
on him and slew him. As soon as it was day, the apes left the place and
ate of the fruits of the gardens, then went back to the mountains and
slept there till nightfall, when they again came down upon the city.
Now this place was in the farthest part of the country of the blacks,
and one of the strangest things that befell me during my sojourn in the
city was on this wise. One of the company with whom I passed the night
in the boat asked me: "O my lord, thou art apparently a stranger in
these parts. Hast thou any craft whereat thou canst work?" and I
answered: "By Allah, O my brother, I have no trade nor know I any
handicraft, for I was a merchant and a man of money and substance and
had a ship of my own, laden with great store of goods and merchandise.
But it foundered at sea and all were drowned excepting me, who saved
myself on a piece of plank which Allah vouchsafed to me of His favor."
Upon this he brought me a cotton bag and giving it to me, said: "Take
this bag and fill it with pebbles from the beach and go forth with a
company of the townsfolk to whom I will give a charge respecting thee.
Do as they do and belike thou shalt gain what may further thy return
voyage to thy native land." Then he carried me to the beach, where I
filled my bag with pebbles large and small, and presently we saw a
company of folk issue from the town, each bearing a bag like mine,
filled with pebbles. To these he committed me, commending me to their
care, and saying: "This man is a stranger, so take him with you and
teach him how to gather, that he may get his daily bread, and you will
earn your reward and recompense in Heaven." "On our head and eyes be
it!" answered they, and bidding me welcome, fared on with me till we
came to a spacious wady, full of lofty trees with trunks so smooth that
none might climb them.
Now sleeping under these trees were many apes, which when they saw us
rose and fled from us and swarmed up among the branches, whereupon my
companions began to pelt them with what they had in their bags, and the
apes fell to plucking of the fruit of the trees and casting them at the
folk. I looked at the fruits they cast at us and found them to be Indian
or coconuts, so I chose out a great tree full of apes, and going up to
it, began to pelt them with stones, and they in return pelted me with
nuts, which I collected, as did the rest. So that even before I had made
an end of my bagful of pebbles, I had gotten great plenty of nuts. And
as soon as my companions had in like manner gotten as many nuts as they
could carry, we returned to the city, where we arrived at the fag end of
day. Then I went in to the kindly man who had brought me in company with
the nut-gatherers and gave him all I had gotten, thanking him for his
kindness, but he would not accept them, saying, "Sell them and make
profit by the price," and presently he added (giving me the key of a
closet in his house): "Store thy nuts in this safe place and go thou
forth every morning and gather them as thou hast done today, and choose
out the worst for sale and supplying thyself; but lay up the rest here,
so haply thou mayst collect enough to serve thee for thy return home."
"Allah requite thee!" answered I, and did as he advised me, going out
daily with the coconut gatherers, who commended me to one another and
showed me the best-stocked trees. Thus did I for some time, till I had
laid up great store of excellent nuts, besides a large sum of money, the
price of those I had sold. I became thus at my ease and bought all I saw
and had a mind to, and passed my time pleasantly, greatly enjoying my
stay in the city, till as I stood on the beach one day a great ship
steering through the heart of the sea presently cast anchor by the shore
and landed a company of merchants, who proceeded to sell and buy and
barter their goods for coconuts and other commodities.
Then I went to my friend and told him of the coming of the ship and
how I had a mind to return to my own country, and he said, " 'Tis for
thee to decide." So I thanked him for his bounties and took leave of
him. Then, going to the captain of the ship, I agreed with him for my
passage and embarked my coconuts and what else I possessed. We weighed
anchor the same day and sailed from island to island and sea to sea, and
whenever we stopped, I sold and traded with my coconuts, and the Lord
requited me more than I erst had and lost.
Amongst other places, we came to an island abounding in cloves and
cinnamon and pepper, and the country people told me that by the side of
each pepper bunch groweth a great leaf which shadeth it from the sun and
casteth the water off it in the wet season; but when the rain ceaseth,
the leaf turneth over and droopeth down by the side of the bunch. Here I
took in great store of pepper and cloves and cinnamon, in exchange for
coconuts, and we passed thence to the Island of Al-Usirat, whence cometh
the Comorin aloes wood, and thence to another island, five days' journey
in length, where grows the Chinese lign aloes, which is better than the
Comorin. But the people of this island are fouler of condition and
religion than those of the other, for that they love fornication and
wine bibbing, and know not prayer nor call to prayer.
Thence we came to the pearl fisheries, and I gave the divers some of
my coconuts and said to them, "Dive for my luck and lot!" They did so
and brought up from the deep bright great store of large and priceless
pearls, and they said to me, "By Allah, O my master, thy luck is a
lucky!" Then we sailed on, with the blessing of Allah (Whose name be
exalted!), and ceased not sailing till we arrived safely at Bassorah.
There I abode a little and then went on to Baghdad, where I entered my
quarter and found my house and forgathered with my family and saluted my
friends, who gave me joy of my safe return, and I laid up all my goods
and valuables in my storehouses. Then I distributed alms and largess and
clothed the widow and the orphan and made presents to my relations and
comrades, for the Lord had requited me fourfold that I had lost. After
which I returned to my old merry way of life and forgot all I had
suffered in the great profit and gain I had made.
Such, then, is the history of my fifth voyage and its wonderments,
and now to supper, and tomorrow, come again and I will tell you what
befell me in my sixth voyage, for it was still more wonderful than this.
(Saith he who telleth the tale): Then he called for food, and the
servants spread the table, and when they had eaten the evening meal, he
bade give Sindbad the Porter a hundred golden dinars and the landsman
returned home and lay him down to sleep, much marveling at all he had
heard. Next morning, as soon as it was light, he prayed the dawn prayer,
and, after blessing Mohammed the Cream of all creatures, betook himself
to the house of Sindbad the Seaman and wished him a good day. The
merchant bade him sit, and talked with him till the rest of the company
arrived. Then the servants spread the table, and when they had well
eaten and drunken and were mirthful and merry, Sindbad the Seaman began
in these words the narrative of
|
THE SIXTH VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SEAMAN
KNOW, O my brothers and friends and companions all, that I abode
some time, after my return from my fifth voyage, in great solace and
satisfaction and mirth and merriment, joyance and enjoyment, and I
forgot what I had suffered, seeing the great gain and profit I had made,
till one day as I sat making merry and enjoying myself with my friends,
there came in to me a company of merchants whose case told tales of
travel, and talked with me of voyage and adventure and greatness of pelf
and lucre. Hereupon I remembered the days of my return abroad, and my
joy at once more seeing my native land and forgathering with my family
and friends, and my soul yearned for travel and traffic. So, compelled
by Fate and Fortune, I resolved to undertake another voyage, and, buying
me fine and costly merchandise meet for foreign trade, made it up into
bales, with which I journeyed from Baghdad to Bassorah.
Here I found a great ship ready for sea and full of merchants and
notables, who had with them goods of price, so I embarked my bales
therein. And we left Bassorah in safety and good spirits under the
safeguard of the King, the Preserver, and continued our voyage from
place to place and from city to city, buying and selling and profiting
and diverting ourselves with the sight of countries where strange folk
dwell. And Fortune and the voyage smiled upon us till one day, as we
went along, behold, the captain suddenly cried with a great cry and cast
his turban on the deck. Then he buffeted his face like a woman and
plucked out his beard and fell down in the waist of the ship well-nigh
fainting for stress of grief and rage, and crying, "Oh, and alas for the
ruin of my house and the orphanship of my poor children!" So all the
merchants and sailors came round about him and asked him, "O master,
what is the matter?" For the light had become night before, their sight.
And he answered, saying: "Know, O folk, that we have wandered from our
course and left the sea whose ways we wot, and come into a sea whose
ways I know not, and unless Allah vouchsafe us a means of escape, we are
all dead men. Wherefore pray ye to the Most High that He deliver us from
this strait. Haply amongst you is one righteous whose prayers the Lord
will accept." Then he arose and clomb the mast to see an there were any
escape from that strait. And he would have loosed the sails, but the
wind redoubled upon the ship and whirled her round thrice and drave her
backward, whereupon her rudder brake and she fell off toward a high
mountain.
With this the captain came down from the mast, saying: "There is no
Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah, the Glorious, the Great,
nor can man prevent that which is foreordained of Fate! By Allah, we are
fallen on a place of sure destruction, and there is no way of escape for
us, nor can any of us be saved!" Then we all fill a-weeping over
ourselves and bidding one another farewell for that our days were come
to an end, and we had lost an hopes of life. Presently the ship struck
the mountain and broke up, and all and everything on board of her were
plunged into the sea. Some of the merchants were drowned and others made
shift to reach the shore and save themselves upon the mountain, I
amongst the number. And when we got ashore, we found a great island, or
rather peninsula, whose base was strewn with wreckage and crafts and
goods and gear cast up by the sea from broken ships whose passengers had
been drowned, and the quantity confounded count and calculation. So I
climbed the cliffs into the inward of the isle and walked on inland till
I came to a stream of sweet water that welled up at the nearest foot of
the mountains and disappeared in the earth under the range of hills on
the opposite side. But all the other passengers went over the mountains
to the inner tracts, and, dispersing hither and thither, were confounded
at what they saw and became like madmen at the sight of the wealth and
treasures wherewith the shores were strewn.
As for me, I looked into the bed of the stream aforesaid and saw
therein great plenty of rubies, and great royal pearls and all kinds of
jewels and precious stones, which were as gravel in the bed of the
rivulets that ran through the fields, and the sands sparkled and
glittered with gems and precious ores. Moreover, we found in the island
abundance of the finest lign aloes, both Chinese and Comorin. And there
also is a spring of crude ambergris, which floweth like wax or gum over
the stream banks, for the great heat of the sun, and runneth down to the
seashore, where the monsters of the deep come up and, swallowing it,
return into the sea. But it burneth in their bellies, so they cast it up
again and it congealeth on the surface of the water, whereby its color
and quantities are changed, and at last the waves cast it ashore, and
the travelers and merchants who know it collect it and sell it. But as
to the raw ambergris which is not swallowed, it floweth over the channel
and congealeth on the banks, and when the sun shineth on it, it melteth
and scenteth the whole valley with a musk-like fragrance. Then when the
sun ceaseth from it, it congealeth again. But none can get to this place
where is the crude ambergris, because of the mountains which enclose the
island on all sides and which foot of man cannot ascend.
We continued thus to explore the island, marveling at the wonderful
works of Allah and the riches we found there, but sore troubled for our
own case, and dismayed at our prospects. Now we had picked up on the
beach some small matter of victual from the wreck and husbanded it
carefully eating but once every day or two, in our fear lest it should
fail us and we die miserably of famine and affright. Moreover, we were
weak for colic brought on by seasickness and low diet, and my companions
deceased, one after other, till there was but a small company of us
left. Each that died we washed and shrouded in some of the clothes and
linen cast ashore by the tides, and after a little, the rest of my
fellows perished one by one, till I had buried the last of the party and
abode alone on the island, with but a little provision left, I who was
wont to have so much. And I wept over myself, saying: "Would Heaven I
had died before my companions and they had washed me and buried me! It
had been better than I should perish and none wash me and shroud me and
bury me. But there is no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah,
the glorious, the Great!" Now after I had buried the last of my party
and abode alone on the island, I arose and dug me a deep grave on the
seashore, saying to myself: "Whenas I grow weak and know that death
cometh to me, I will cast myself into the grave and die there, so the
wind may drift the sand over me and cover me and I be buried therein."
Then I fell to reproaching myself for my little wit in leaving my
native land and betaking me again to travel after all I had suffered
during my first five voyages, and when I had not made a single one
without suffering more horrible perils and more terrible hardships than
in its forerunners, and having no hope of escape from my present stress.
And I repented me of my folly and bemoaned myself, especially as I had
no need of money, seeing that I had enough and could not spend what I
had- no, nor a half of it in all my life. However, after a while Allah
sent me a thought, and I said to myself: "By God, needs must this stream
have an end as well as a beginning, ergo an issue somewhere, and belike
its course may lead to some inhabited place. So my best plan is to make
me a little boat big enough to sit in, and carry it and, launching it on
the river, embark therein and drop down the stream. If I escape, I
escape, by God's leave, and if I perish, better die in the river than
here." Then, sighing for myself, I set to work collecting a number of
pieces of Chinese and Comorin aloes wood and I bound them together with
ropes from the wreckage. Then I chose out from the broken-up ships
straight planks of even size and fixed them firmly upon the aloes wood,
making me a boat raft a little narrower than the channel of the stream,
and I tied it tightly and firmly as though it were nailed. Then I loaded
it with the goods, precious ores and jewels, and the union pearls which
were like gravel, and the best of the ambergris crude and pure, together
with what I had collected on the island and what was left me of victual
and wild herbs. Lastly I lashed a piece of wood on either side, to serve
me as oars, and launched it, and embarking, did according to the saying
of the poet:
Fly, fly with life whenas evils threat,
Leave the house to tell of its builder's fate!
Land after land shalt thou seek and find,
But no other life on thy wish shall wait.
Fret not thy soul in thy thoughts o' night,
All woes shall end or sooner or late.
Whoso is born in one land to die,
There and only there shall gang his pit.
Nor trust great things to another wight,
Soul hath only soul for confederate.
My boat raft drifted with the stream, I pondering the issue of my
affair, and the drifting ceased not till I came to the place where it
disappeared beneath the mountain. I rowed my conveyance into the place,
which was intensely dark, and the current carried the raft with it down
the underground channel. The thin stream bore me on through a narrow
tunnel where the raft touched either side and my head rubbed against the
roof, return therefrom being impossible. Then I blamed myself for having
thus risked my life, and said, "If this passage grow any straiter, the
raft will hardly pass, and I cannot turn back, so I shall inevitably
perish miserably in this place." And I threw myself down upon my face on
the raft, by reason of the narrowness of the channel, whilst the stream
ceased not to carry me along, knowing not night from day for the excess
of the gloom which encompassed me about and my terror and concern for
myself lest I should perish. And in such condition my course continued
down the channel, which now grew wider and then straiter. Sore a-weary
by reason of the darkness which could be felt, I feel asleep as I lay
prone on the craft, and I slept knowing not an the time were long or
short.
When I awoke at last, I found myself in the light of Heaven and
opening my eyes, I saw myself in a broad of the stream and the raft
moored to an island in the midst of a number of Indians and Abyssinians.
As soon as these blackamoors saw that I was awake, they came up to me
and bespoke me in their speech. But I understood not what they said and
thought that this was a dream and a vision which had betided me for
stress of concern and chagrin. But I was delighted at my escape from the
river. When they saw I understood them not and made them no answer, one
of them came forward and said to me in Arabic: "Peace be with thee, O my
brother! Who art thou, and whence faredst thou hither? How camest thou
into this river, and what manner of land lies behind yonder mountains,
for never knew we anyone make his way thence to us?" Quoth I: "And upon
thee be peace and the ruth of Allah and His blessing! Who are ye, and
what country is this?" "O my brother," answered he, "we are husbandmen
and tillers of the soil, who came out to water our fields and
plantations, and finding thee asleep on this raft, laid hold of it and
made it fast by us, against thou shouldst awake at thy leisure. So tell
us how thou camest hither." I answered, "For Allah's sake, O my lord,
ere I speak give me somewhat to eat, for I am starving, and after ask me
what thou wilt."
So he hastened to fetch me food and I ate my fill, till I was
refreshed and my fear was calmed by a good bellyful and my life returned
to me. Then I rendered thanks to the Most High for mercies great and
small, glad to be out of the river and rejoicing to be amongst them, and
I told them all my adventures from first to last, especially my troubles
in the narrow channel. They consulted among themselves and said to one
another, "There is no help for it but we carry him with us and present
him to our King, that he may acquaint him with his adventures." So they
took me, together with raft boat and its lading of moneys and
merchandise, jewels, minerals, and golden gear, and brought me to their
King, who was King of Sarandib, telling him what had happened. Whereupon
he saluted me and bade me welcome. Then he questioned me of my condition
and adventures through the man who had spoken Arabic, and I repeated to
him my story from beginning to end, whereat he marveled exceedingly and
gave me joy of my deliverance. After which I arose and fetched from the
raft great store of precious ores and jewels and ambergris and lip aloes
and presented them to the King, who accepted them and entreated me with
the utmost honor, appointing me a lodging in his own palace. So I
consorted with the chief of the islanders, and they paid me the utmost
respect. And I quitted not the royal palace.
Now the Island Sarandib lieth under the equinoctial line, its night
and day both numbering twelve hours. It measureth eighty leagues long by
a breadth of thirty and its width is bounded by a lofty mountain and a
deep valley. The mountain is conspicuous from a distance of three days,
and it containeth many kinds of, rubies and other minerals, and spice
trees of all sorts. The surface is covered with emery, wherewith gems
are cut and fashioned; diamonds are in its rivers and pearls are in its
valleys. I ascended that mountain and solaced myself with a view of its
marvels, which are indescribable, and afterward I returned to the King.
Thereupon all the travelers and merchants who came to the place
questioned me of the affairs of my native land and of the Caliph Harun
al-Rashid and his rule, and I told them of him and of that wherefor he
was renowned, and they praised him because of this, whilst I in turn
questioned them of the manners and customs of their own countries and
got the knowledge I desired.
One day the King himself asked me of the fashions and form of
government of my country, and I acquainted him with the circumstance of
the Caliph's sway in the city of Baghdad and the justice of his rule.
The King marveled at my account of his appointments and said: "By Allah,
the Caliph's ordinances are indeed wise and his fashions of praiseworthy
guise, and thou hast made me love him by what thou tellest me. Wherefore
I have a mind to make him a present and send it by thee." Quoth I:
"Hearkening and obedience, O my lord. I will bear thy gift to him and
inform him that thou art his sincere lover and true friend." Then I
abode with the King in great honor and regard and consideration for a
long while till one day, as I sat in his palace, I heard news of a
company of merchants that were fitting out ship for Bassorah, and said
to myself, "I cannot do better than voyage with these men." So I rose
without stay or delay and kissed the King's hand and acquainted him with
my longing to set out with the merchants, for that I pined after my
people and mine own land. Quoth he, "Thou art thine own master, yet if
it be thy will to abide with us, on our head and eyes be it, for thou
gladdenest us with thy company." "By Allah, O my lord," answered I,
"thou hast indeed overwhelmed me with thy favors and well-doings, but I
weary for a sight of my friends and family and native country."
When he heard this, he summoned the merchants in question and
commended me to their care, paying my freight and passage money. Then he
bestowed on me great riches from his treasuries and charged me with a
magnificent present for the Caliph Harun al-Rashid. Moreover, he gave me
a sealed letter, saying, "Carry this with thine own hand to the
Commander of the Faithful, and give him many salutations from us!"
"Hearing and obedience," I replied. The missive was written on the skin
of the khawi (which is finer than lamb parchment and of yellow color),
with ink of ultramarine, and the contents were as follows: "Peace be
with thee from the King of Al-Hind, before whom are a thousand elephants
and upon whose palace crenelles are a thousand jewels. But after (laud
to the Lord and praises to His Prophet!) we send thee a trifling gift,
which be thou pleased to accept. Thou art to us a brother and a sincere
friend, and great is the love we bear for thee in heart. Favor us
therefore with a reply. The gift besitteth not thy dignity, but we beg
of thee, O our brother, graciously to accept it, and peace be with
thee." And the present was a cup of ruby a span high, the inside of
which was adorned with precious pearls; and a bed covered with the skin
of the serpent which swalloweth the elephant, which skin hath spots each
like a dinar and whoso sitteth upon it never sickeneth; and a hundred
thousand miskals of Indian lign aloes and a slave girl like a shining
moon.
Then I took leave of him and of all my intimates and acquaintances in
the island, and embarked with the merchants aforesaid. We sailed with a
fair wind, committing ourselves to the care of Allah (be He extolled and
exalted!), and by His permission arrived at Bassorah, where I passed a
few days and nights equipping myself and packing up my bales. Then I
went on to Baghdad city, the House of Peace, where I sought an audience
of the Caliph and laid the King's presents before him. He asked me
whence they came, and I said to him, "By Allah, O Commander of the
Faithful, I know not the name of the city nor the way thither!" He then
asked me, "O Sindbad, is this true which the King writeth?" and I
answered, after kissing the ground: "O my lord, I saw in his kingdom
much more than he hath written in his letter. For state processions a
throne is set for him upon a huge elephant eleven cubits high, and upon
this he sitteth having his great lords and officers and guests standing
in two ranks, on his right hand and on his left. At his head is a man
hending in hand a golden javelin and behind him another with a great
mace of gold whose head is an emerald a span long and as thick as a
man's thumb. And when he mounteth horse there mount with him a thousand
horsemen clad in gold brocade and silk, and as the King proceedeth a man
precedeth him, crying, 'This is the King of great dignity, of high
authority!' And he continueth to repeat his praises in words I remember
not, saying at the end of his panegyric, 'This is the King owning the
crown whose like nor Solomon nor the Mihraj ever possessed.' Then he is
silent and one behind him proclaimeth, saying, 'He will die! Again I say
he will die!' and the other addeth, 'Extolled be the perfection of the
Living who dieth not!' Moreover, by reason of his justice and ordinance
and intelligence, there is no kazi in his city, and all his lieges
distinguish between truth and falsehood." Quoth the Caliph: "How great
is this King! His letter hath shown me this, and as for the mightiness
of his dominion thou hast told us what thou hast eyewitnessed. By Allah,
he hath been endowed with wisdom, as with wide rule."
Then I related to the Commander of the Faithful all that had befallen
me in my last voyage, at which he wondered exceedingly and bade his
historians record my story and store it up in his treasuries, for the
edification of all who might see it. Then he conferred on me exceeding
great favors, and I repaired to my quarter and entered my home, where I
warehoused all my goods and possessions. Presently my friends came to me
and I distributed presents among my family and gave alms and largess,
after which I yielded myself to joyance and enjoyment, mirth and
merrymaking, and forgot all that I had suffered.
Such, then, O my brothers, is the history of what befell me in my
sixth voyage, and tomorrow, Inshallah! I will tell you the story of my
seventh and last voyage, which is still more wondrous and marvelous than
that of the first six. (Saith he who telleth the tale): Then be bade lay
the table, and the company supped with him, after which he gave the
porter a hundred dinars, as of wont, and they all went their ways,
marveling beyond measure at that which they had heard. Sindbad the
Landsman went home and slept as of wont. Next day he rose and prayed the
dawn prayer and repaired to his namesake's house, where, after the
company was all assembled, the host began to relate
|
THE SEVENTH VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SEAMAN
KNOW, O company, that after my return from my sixth voyage, which
brought me abundant profit, I resumed my former life in all possible
joyance and enjoyment and mirth and making merry day and night. And I
tarried sometime in this solace and satisfaction, till my soul began
once more to long to sail the seas and see foreign countries and company
with merchants and hear new things. So, having made up my mind, I packed
up in bales a quantity of precious stuffs suited for sea trade and
repaired with them from Baghdad city to Bassorah town, where I found a
ship ready for sea, and in her a company of considerable merchants. I
shipped with them and, becoming friends, we set forth on our venture in
health and safety, and sailed with a wind till we came to a city called
Madinat-al-Sin.
But after we had left it, as we fared on in all cheer and confidence,
devising of traffic and travel, behold, there sprang up a violent head
wind and a tempest of rain fell on us and drenched us and our goods. So
we covered the bales with our cloaks and garments and drugget and
canvas, lest they be spoiled by the rain, and betook ourselves to prayer
and supplication to Almighty Allah, and humbled ourselves before Him for
deliverance from the peril that was upon us. But the captain arose and,
tightening his girdle, tucked up his skirts, and after taking refuge
with Allah from Satan the Stoned, clomb to the masthead, whence he
looked out right and left, and gazing at the passengers and crew, fell
to buffeting his face and plucking out his beard. So we cried to him, "O
Rais, what is the matter?" and he replied, saying: "Seek ye deliverance
of the Most High from the strait into which we have fallen, and bemoan
yourselves and take leave of one another. For know that the wind hath
gotten the mastery of us, and hath driven us into the uttermost of the
seas world." Then he came down from the masthead and opening his sea
chest, pulled but a bag of blue cotton, from which he took a powder like
ashes. This he set in a saucer wetted with a little water, and after
waiting a short time, smelt and tasted it. And then he took out of the
chest a booklet, wherein he read awhile, and said, weeping:
"Know, O ye passengers, that in this book is a marvelous matter,
denoting that whoso cometh hither shall surely die, without hope of
escape. For that this ocean is called the Sea of the Clime of the King,
wherein is the sepulcher of our lord Solomon, son of David (on both be
peace!), and therein are serpents of vast bulk and fearsome aspect. And
what ship soever cometh to these climes, there riseth to her a great
fish out of the sea and swalloweth her up with all and everything on
board her." Hearing these words from the captain, great was our wonder,
but hardly had he made an end of speaking when the ship was lifted out
of the water and let fall again, and we applied to praying the death
prayer and committing our souls to Allah.
Presently we heard a terrible great cry like the loud-pealing thunder
whereat we were terror-struck and became as dead men, giving ourselves
up for lost. Then, behold, there came up to us a huge fish, as big as a
tall mountain, at whose sight we became wild for affright and, weeping
sore, made ready for death, marveling at its vast size and gruesome
semblance. When lo! a second fish made its appearance, than which we had
seen naught more monstrous. So we bemoaned ourselves of our lives and
farewelled one another. But suddenly up came a third fish bigger than
the two first, whereupon we lost the power of thought and reason and
were stupefied for the excess of our fear and horror. Then the three
fish began circling round about the ship and the third and biggest
opened his mouth to swallow it, and we looked into its mouth and,
behold, it was wider than the gate of a city and its throat was like a
long valley. So we besought the Almighty and called for succor upon His
Apostle (on whom be blessing and peace!), when suddenly a violent squall
of wind arose and smote the ship, which rose out of the water and
settled upon a great reef, the haunt of sea monsters, where it broke up
and fell asunder into planks, and all and everything on board were
plunged into the sea.
As for me, I tore off all my clothes but my gown, and swam a little
way, till I happened upon one of the ship's planks, whereto I clung and
bestrode it like a horse, whilst the winds and the waters sported with
me and the waves carried me up and cast me down. And I was in most
piteous plight for fear and distress and hunger and thirst. Then I
reproached myself for what I had done and my soul was weary after a life
of ease and comfort, and I said to myself: "O Sindbad, O Seaman, thou
repentest not and yet thou art ever suffering hardships and travails,
yet wilt thou not renounce sea travel, or an thou say, 'I renounce,'
thou liest in thy renouncement. Endure then with patience that which
thou sufferest, for verily thou deservest all that betideth thee!" And I
ceased not to humble myself before Almighty Allah and weep and bewail
myself, recalling my former estate of solace and satisfaction and mirth
and merriment and joyance. And thus I abode two days, at the end of
which time I came to a great island abounding in trees and streams.
There I landed and ate of the fruits of the island and drank of its
waters, till I was refreshed and my life returned to me and my strength
and spirits were restored and I recited:
"Oft when thy case shows knotty and tangled skein,
Fate downs from Heaven and straightens every ply.
In patience keep thy soul till clear thy lot,
For He who ties the knot can eke untie."
Then I walked about till I found on the further side a great river of
sweet water, running with a strong current, whereupon I called to mind
the boat raft I had made aforetime and said to myself: "Needs must I
make another. Haply I may free me from this strait. If I escape, I have
my desire and I vow to Allah Almighty to foreswear travel. And if I
perish, I shall be at peace and shall rest from toil and moil." So I
rose up and gathered together great store of pieces of wood from the
trees (which were all of the finest sandalwood, whose like is not albe'
I knew it not), and made shift to twist creepers and tree twigs into a
kind of rope, with which I bound the billets together and so contrived a
raft. Then saying, "An I be saved, 'tis of God's grace," I embarked
thereon and committed myself to the current, and it bore me on for the
first day and the second and the third after leaving the island whilst I
lay in the raft, eating not and drinking, when I was athirst, of the
water of the river, till I was weak and giddy as a chicken for stress of
fatigue and famine and fear.
At the end of this time I came to a high mountain, whereunder ran the
river, which when I saw, I feared for my life by reason of the
straitness I had suffered in my former journey, and I would fain have
stayed the raft and landed on the mountainside. But the current
overpowered me and drew it into the subterranean passage like an
archway, whereupon I gave myself up for lost and said, "There is no
Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah, the Glorious, the Great!"
However, after a little the raft glided into open air and I saw before
me a wide valley, whereinto the river fell with a noise like the rolling
of thunder and a swiftness as the rushing of the wind. I held onto the
raft, for fear of falling off it, whilst the waves tossed me right and
left, and the craft continued to descend with the current, nor could I
avail to stop it nor turn it shoreward till it stopped me at a great and
goodly city, grandly edified and containing much people. And when the
townsfolk saw me on the raft, dropping down with the current, they threw
me out ropes, which I had not strength enough to hold. Then they tossed
a net over the craft and drew it ashore with me, whereupon I fell to the
ground amidst them, as I were a dead man, for stress of fear and hunger
and lack of sleep.
After a while, there came up to me out of the crowd an old man of
reverend aspect, well stricken in years, who welcomed me and threw over
me abundance of handsome clothes, wherewith I covered my nakedness. Then
he carried me to the hammam bath and brought me cordial sherbets and
delicious perfumes. Moreover, when I came out, he bore me to his house,
where his people made much of me and, seating me in a pleasant place,
set rich food before me, whereof I ate my fill and returned thanks to
God the Most High for my deliverance. Thereupon his pages fetched me hot
water, and I washed my hands, and his handmaids brought me silken
napkins, with which I dried them and wiped my mouth. Also the Sheikh set
apart for me an apartment in a part of his house, and charged his pages
and slave girls to wait upon me and do my will and supply my wants. They
were assiduous in my service, and I abode with him in the guest chamber
three days, taking my ease of good eating and good drinking and good
scents till life returned to me and my terrors subsided and my heart was
calmed and my mind was eased.
On the fourth day the Sheikh, my host, came in to me and said: "Thou
cheerest us with thy company, O my son, and praised be Allah for thy
safety! Say, wilt thou now come down with me to the beach and the bazaar
and sell thy goods and take their price? Belike thou mayest buy thee
wherewithal to traffic. I have ordered my servants to remove thy stock
in trade from the sea, and they have piled it on the shore." I was
silent awhile and said to myself, "What mean these words, and what goods
have I?" Then said he: "O my son, be not troubled nor careful, but come
with me to the market, and if any offer for thy goods what price
contenteth thee, take it. But an thou be not satisfied, I lay em up for
thee in my warehouse, against a fitting occasion for sale." So I
bethought me of my case and said to myself, "Do his bidding and see what
are these goods!" and I said to him: "O my nuncle the Sheikh I hear and
obey. I may not gainsay thee in aught, for Allah's blessing is on all
thou dost."
Accordingly he guided me to the market street, where I found that he
had taken in pieces the raft which carried me and which was of
sandalwood, and I heard the broker crying it for sale. Then the
merchants came and opened the gate of bidding for the wood and bid
against one another till its price reached a thousand dinars, when they
left bidding and my host said to me: "Hear, O my son, this is the
current price of thy goods in hard times like these. Wilt thou sell them
for this, or shall I lay them up for thee in my storehouses till such
time as prices rise?" "O my lord," answered I, "the business is in thy
hands. Do as thou wilt." Then asked he: "Wilt thou sell the wood to me,
O my son, for a hundred gold pieces over and above what the merchants
have bidden for it?" and I answered, "Yes, I have sold it to thee for
monies received." So he bade his servants transport the wood to his
storehouses, and, carrying me back to his house, seated me, and counted
out to me the purchase money. After which he laid it in bags and,
setting them in a privy place, locked them up with an iron padlock and
gave me its key.
Some days after this the Sheikh said to me, "O my son, I have
somewhat to propose to thee, wherein I trust thou wilt do my bidding."
Quoth I, "What is it?" Quoth he: "I am a very old man, and have no son,
but I have a daughter who is young in years and fair of favor and
endowed with abounding wealth and beauty. Now I have a mind to marry her
to thee, that thou mayest abide with her in this our country. And I will
make, thee master of all I have in hand, for I am an old man and thou
shalt stand in my stead." I was silent for shame and made him no answer,
whereupon he continued: "Do my desire in this, O my son, for I wish but
thy weal. And if thou wilt but as I say, thou shalt have her at once and
be as my son, and all that is under my hand or that cometh to me shall
be thine. If thou have a mind to traffic and travel to thy native land,
none shall hinder thee, and thy property will be at thy sole disposal.
So do as thou wilt." "By Allah, O my uncle," replied I, "thou art become
to me even as my father, and I am a stranger and have undergone many
hardships, while for stress of that which I have suffered naught of
judgment or knowledge is left to me. It is for thee, therefore, to
decide what I shall do."
Hereupon he sent his servants for the kazi and the witnesses and
married me to his daughter, making for us a noble marriage feast and
high festival. When I went in to her, I found her perfect in beauty and
loveliness and symmetry and grace, clad in rich raiment and covered with
a profusion of ornaments and necklaces and other trinkets of gold and
silver and precious stones, worth a mint of money, a price none could
pay. She pleased me, and we loved each other, and I abode with her in
all solace and delight of life till her father was taken to the mercy of
Allah Almighty. So we shrouded him and buried him, and I laid hands on
the whole of his property and all his servants and slaves became mine.
Moreover, the merchants installed me in his office, for he was their
sheikh and their chief, and none of them purchased aught but with his
knowledge and by his leave. And now his rank passed on to me.
When I became acquainted with the townsfolk, I found that at the
beginning of each month they were transformed, in that their faces
changed and they became like unto birds and they put forth wings
wherewith they flew unto the upper regions of the firmament; and none
remained in the city save the women and children. And I said in my mind,
"When the first of the month cometh, I will ask one of them to carry me
with them, whither they go." So when the time came and their complexion
changed and their forms altered, I went in to one of the townsfolk and
said to him: "Allah upon thee! Carry me with thee, that I might divert
myself with the rest and return with you." "This may not be," answered
he. But I ceased not to solicit him, and I importuned him till he
consented. Then I went out in his company, without telling any of my
family or servants or friends, and he took me on his back and flew up
with me so high in air that I heard the angels glorifying God in the
heavenly dome, whereat I wondered and exclaimed: "Praised be Allah!
Extolled be the perfection of Allah!"
Hardly had I made an end of pronouncing the tasbih- praised be
Allah!- when there came out a fire from Heaven and all but consumed the
company. Whereupon they fied from it and descended with curses upon me
and, casting me down on a high mountain, went away exceeding wroth with
me, and left me there alone. As I found myself in this plight, I
repented of what I had done and reproached myself for having undertaken
that for which I was unable, saying: "There is no Majesty and there is
no Might save in Allah, the Glorious, the Great! No sooner am I
delivered from one affliction than I fall into a worse." And I continued
in this case, knowing not whither I should go, when lo! there came up
two young men, as they were moons, each using as a staff a rod of red
gold. So I approached them and saluted them; and when they returned my
salaam, I said to them: Allah upon you twain. Who are ye, and what are
ye?" Quoth they, "We are of the servants of the Most High Allah, abiding
in this mountain," and giving me a rod of red gold they had with them,
went their ways and left me.
I walked on along the mountain ridge, staying my steps with the staff
and pondering the case of the two youths, when behold, a serpent came
forth from under the mountain, with a man in her jaws whom she had
swallowed even to below his navel, and he was crying out and saying,
"Whoso delivereth me, Allah will deliver him from all adversity!" So I
went up to the the serpent and smote her on the head with the golden
staff, whereupon she cast the man forth of her mouth. Then I smote her a
second time, and she turned and fled, whereupon he came up to me and
said, "Since my deliverance from yonder serpent hath been at thy hands I
will never leave thee, and thou shalt be my comrade on this mountain."
"And welcome," answered I. So we fared on along the mountain till we
fell in with a company of folk, and I looked and saw amongst them the
very man who had carried me and cast me down there. I went up to him and
spake him fair, excusing to him and saying, "O my comrade, it is not
thus that friend should deal with friend." Quoth he, "It was thou who
well-nigh destroyed us by thy tasbih and thy glorifying God on my back."
Quoth I, "Pardon me, for I had no knowledge of this matter, but if thou
wilt take me with thee, I swear not to say a word."
So he relented and consented to carry me with him, but he made an
express condition that so long as I abode on his back, I should abstain
from pronouncing the tasbih or otherwise glorifying God. Then I gave the
wand of gold to him whom I had delivered from the serpent and bade him
farewell, and my friend took me on his back and flew with me as before,
till he brought me to the city and set me down in my own house. My wife
came to meet me and, saluting me, gave me joy of my safety and then
said: "Beware of going forth hereafter with yonder folk, neither consort
with them, for they are brethren of the devils, and know not how to
mention the name of Allah Almighty, neither worship they Him." "And how
did thy father with them?" asked I, and she answered: "My father was not
of them, neither did he as they. And as now he is dead, methinks thou
hadst better sell all we have and with the price buy merchandise and
journey to thine own country and people, and I with thee; for I care not
to tarry in this city, my father and my mother being dead." So I sold
all the Sheikh's property piecemeal, and looked for one who should be
journeying thence to Bassorah that I might join myself to him.
And while thus doing I heard of a company of townsfolk who had a mind
to make the voyage but could not find them a ship, so they bought wood
and built them a great ship, wherein I took passage with them, and paid
them all the hire. Then we embarked, I and my wife, with all our
movables, leaving our houses and domains and so forth, and set sail, and
ceased not sailing from island to island and from sea to sea, with a
fair wind and a favoring, till we arrived at Bassorah safe and sound. I
made no stay there, but freighted another vessel and, transferring my
goods to her, set out forthright for Baghdad city, where I arrived in
safety, and entering my quarter and repairing to my house, forgathered
with my family and friends and familiars and laid up my goods in my
warehouses.
When my people, who, reckoning the period of my absence on this my
seventh voyage, had found it to be seven and twenty years and had given
up all hope of me, heard of my return, they came to welcome me and to
give me joy of my safety. And I related to them all that had befallen
me, whereat they marveled with exceeding marvel. Then I foreswore travel
and vowed to Allah the Most High I would venture no more by land or sea,
for that this seventh and last voyage had surfeited me of travel and
adventure, and I thanked the Lord (be He praised and glorified!), and
blessed Him for having restored me to my kith and kin and country and
home. "Consider, therefore, O Sindbad, O Landsman," continued Sindbad
the Seaman, "what sufferings I have undergone and what perils and
hardships I have endured before coming to my present state." "Allah upon
thee, O my Lord!" answered Sindbad the, Landsman. "Pardon me the wrong I
did thee." And they ceased not from friendship and fellowship, abiding
in all cheer and pleasures and solace of life till there came to them
the Destroyer of delights and the Sunderer of Societies, and the
Shatterer of palaces and the Caterer for Cemeteries; to wit, the Cup of
Death, and glory be to the Living One who dieth not! And there is a tale
touching
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THE LADY AND HER FIVE SUITORS
A WOMAN of the daughters of the merchants was married to a man who
was a great traveler. It chanced once that he set out for a far country
and was absent so long that his wife, for pure ennui, fell in love with
a handsome young man of the sons of the merchants, and they loved each
other with exceeding love. One day the youth quarreled with another man,
who lodged a complaint against him with the Chief of Police, and he cast
into prison. When the news came to the merchant's wife his mistress, she
well-nigh lost her wits. Then she arose and donning her richest clothes,
repaired to the house of the Chief of Police. She saluted him and
presented a written petition to this purport: "He thou hast clapped in
jail is my brother Such-and-such, who fell out with Such-a-one, and
those who testified against him bore false witness. He hath been
wrongfully imprisoned, and I have none other to come in to me nor to
provide for my support, therefore I beseech thee of thy grace to release
him." When the magistrate had read the paper, he cast his eyes on her
and fell in love with her forthright, so he said to her: "Go into the
houses till I bring him before me. Then I will send for thee and thou
shalt take him." "O my lord," replied she, "I have none to protect me
save Almighty Allah! I am a stranger and may not enter any man's abode."
Quoth the Wali, "I will not let him go except thou come to my home and I
take my will of thee." Rejoined she, "If it must be so, thou must needs
come to my lodging and sit and sleep the siesta and rest thewhole day
there." "And where is thy abode?" asked he, and she answered, "In such a
place," and appointed him for such a time.
Then she went out from him, leaving his heart taken with love of her,
and she repaired to the Kazi of the city, to whom she said, "O our lord
the Kazi!" He exclaimed, "Yes!" and she continued, "Look into my case,
and thy reward be with Allah the Most High!" Quoth he, "Who hath wronged
thee?" and quoth she, "O my lord, I have a brother and I have none but
that one, and it is on his account that I come to thee, because the Wali
hath imprisoned him for a criminal and men have borne false witness
against him that he is a wrongdoer, and I beseech thee to intercede for
him with the Chief of Police."
When the Kazi looked on her, he fell in love with her forthright and
said to her: "Enter the house and rest awhile with my handmaids whilst I
send to the Wali to release thy brother. If I knew the money fine which
is upon him, I would pay it out of my own purse, so I may have my desire
of thee, for thou pleaseth me with thy sweet speech." Quoth she, "If
thou, O my lord, do thus, we must not blame others." Quoth he, "An thou
wilt not come in, wend thy ways." Then said she, "An thou wilt have it
so, O our lord, it will be privier and better in my place than in thine,
for here are slave girls and eunuchs and goers-in and comers-out, and
indeed I am a woman who wotteth naught of this fashion, but need
compelleth." Asked the Kazi, "And where is thy house?" and she answered,
"In such a place," and appointed him for the same day and time as the
Chief of Police.
Then she went out from him to the Wazir, to whom she preferred her
petition for the release from prison of her brother, who was absolutely
necessary to her. But he also required her of herself, saying, "Suffer
me to have my will of thee and I will set thy brother free." Quoth she:
"An thou wilt have it so, be it in my house, for there it will be
privier both for me and for thee. It is not far distant, and thou
knowest that which behooveth us women of cleanliness and adornment."
Asked he, "Where is thy house?" "In such a place," answered she, and
appointed him for the same time as the two others.
Then she went out from him to the King of the city and told him her
story and sought of him her brother's release. "Who imprisoned him?"
enquired he, and she replied, "'Twas thy Chief of Police." When the King
heard her speech, it transpierced his heart with the arrows of love and
he bade her enter the palace with him, that he might send to the Kazi
and release her brother. Quoth she: "O King, this thing is easy to thee,
whether I will or nill, and if the King will indeed have this of me, it
is of my good fortune. But if he come to my house, he will do me the
more honor by setting step therein, even as saith the poet:
"O my friends, have ye seen or have ye heard
Of his visit whose virtues I hold so high?"
Quoth the King, "We will not cross thee in this." So she appointed
him for the same time as the three others, and told him where her house
was.
Then she left him, and betaking herself to man which was a carpenter,
said to him: "I would have thee make me a cabinet with four compartments
one above other, each with its door for locking up. Let me know thy hire
and I will give it thee." Replied he: "My price will be four dinars.
But, O noble lady and well-protected, if thou wilt vouchsafe me thy
favors, I will ask nothing of thee. Rejoined she, "An there be no help
but that thou have it so, then make thou five compartments with their
padlocks." And she appointed him to bring it exactly on the day
required. Said he, "It is well. Sit down, O my lady, and I will make it
for thee forthright, and after I will come to thee at my leisure." So
she sat down by him whilst he fell to work on the cabinet, and when he
had made an end of it, she chose to see it at once carried home and set
up in the sitting chamber. Then she took four gowns and carried them to
the dyer, who dyed them each of a different color, after which she
applied herself to making ready meat and drink, fruits, flowers, and
perfumes.
Now when the appointed trysting day came, she donned her costliest
dress and adorned herself and scented herself, then spread the sitting
room with various kinds of rich carpets, and sat down to await who
should come. And behold, the Kazi was the first to appear, devancing
rest, and when she saw him, she rose to her feet and kissed the ground
before him, then, taking him by the hand, made him sit down by her on
the couch and lay with him and fell to jesting and toying with him. By
and by he would have her do his desire, but she said, "O my lord, doff
thy clothes and turban and assume this yellow cassock and this
headkerchief, whilst I bring thee meat and drink, and after thou shalt
win thy will." So saying, she took his clothes and turban and clad him
in the cassock and the kerchief. But hardly she done this when lo! there
came a knocking at the door. Asked he, "Who is that rapping at the
door?" and she answered, "My husband." Quoth the Kazi, "What is to be
done, and where shall I go?" Quoth she, "Fear nothing. I will hide thee
in this cabinet," and he, "Do as seemeth good to thee."
So she took him by the hand and pushing him into the lowest
compartment, locked the door upon him. Then she went to the house door,
where she found the Wali, so she bussed ground before him and taking his
hand, brought him into the saloon, where, she made him sit down and said
to him: "O my lord, this house is thy house, this place is thy place,
and I am thy handmaid. Thou shalt pass all this day with me, wherefore
do thou doff thy clothes and don this red gown, for it is a sleeping
gown." So she took away his clothes and made him assume the red gown and
set on his head an old patched rag she had by her. After which she sat
by him on the divan and she sported with him while he toyed with her
awhile, till he put out his hand to her. Whereupon she said to him: "O
our lord, this day is thy day and none shall share in it with thee. But
first, of thy favor and benevolence, write me an order for my brother's
release from gaol, that my heart may be at ease." Quoth he, "Hearkening
and obedience. On my head and eyes be it!" and wrote a letter to his
treasurer, saying: "As soon as this communication shall reach thee, do
thou set Such-a-one, free, without stay or delay, neither answer the
bearer a word." Then he sealed it and she took it from him, after which
she began to toy again with him on the divan when, behold, someone
knocked at the door. He asked, "Who is that?" and she answered, "My
husband." "What shall I do?" said he, and she, "Enter this cabinet, till
I send him away and return to thee." So she clapped him into the second
compartment from the bottom and padlocked the door on him, and meanwhile
the Kazi heard all they said.
Then she went to the house door and opened it, whereupon lo! the
Wazir entered. She bussed the ground before him and received him with
all honor and worship, saying: "O my lord, thou exaltest us by thy
coming to our house. Allah never deprive us of the light of thy
countenance!" Then she seated him on the divan and said to him, "O my
lord, doff thy heavy dress and turban and don these lighter vestments."
So he put off his clothes and turban and she clad him in a blue cassock
and a tall red bonnet, and said to him: "Erst thy garb was that of the
wazirate, so leave it to its own time and don this light gown, which is
better fitted for carousing and making merry and sleep." Thereupon she
began to play with him and he with her, and he would have done his
desire of her, but she put him off, saying, "O my lord, this shall not
fail us." As they were talking there came a knocking at the door, and
the Wazir asked her, "Who is that?" to which she answered, "My husband."
Quoth he, "What is to be done?" Qhoth she, "Enter this cabinet, till I
get rid of him and come back to thee, and fear thou nothing."
So she put him in the third compartment and locked the door on after
which she went out and opened the house door when lo and behold! in came
the King. As soon as she saw him she kissed ground before him, and
taking him by the hand, led him into the saloon and seated him on the
divan at the upper end. Then said she to him, "Verily, O King, thou dost
us high honor, and if we brought thee to gift the world and all that
therein is, it would not be worth a single one of thy steps usward." And
when he had taken his seat upon the divan she said, "Give me leave to
speak one word." "Say what thou wilt." answered he, and she said, "O my
lord, take thine ease and doff thy dress and turban." Now his clothes
were worth a thousand dinars, and when he put them off she clad him in a
patched gown, worth at the very most ten dirhams, and fell to talking
and jesting with him, all this while the folk in the cabinet hearing
everything that passed, but not daring to say a word. Presently the King
put his hand to her neck and sought to do his design of her, when she
said, "This thing shall not fail us, but I had first promised myself to
entertain thee in this sitting chamber, and I have that which shall
content thee." Now as they were speaking, someone knocked at the door
and he asked her, "Who is that?" "My husband," answered she, and he,
"Make him go away of his own goodwill, or I will fare forth to him and
send him away perforce." Replied she, "Nay, O my lord, have patience
till I send him away by my skillful contrivance." "And I, how shall I
do!" inquired the King. Whereupon she took him by the hand and making
him enter the fourth compartment of the cabinet, locked it upon him.
Then she went out and opened the house door, when behold, the
carpenter entered and saluted her. Quoth she, "What manner of thing is
this cabinet thou hast made me?" "What aileth it, O my lady?" asked he,
and she answered, "The top compartment is too strait." Rejoined he, "Not
so," and she, "Go in thyself and see. It is not wide enough for thee."
Quoth he, "It is wide enough for four." and entered the fifth
compartment, whereupon she locked the door on him. Then she took the
letter of the Chief of Police and carried it to the Treasurer, who,
having read and understood it, kissed it and delivered her lover to her.
She told him all she had done and he said, "And how shall we act now?"
She answered, "We will remove hence to another city, for after this work
there is no tarrying for us here."
So the twain packed up what goods they had and, loading them on
camels, set out forthright for another city. Meanwhile, the five abode
each in his compartment of the cabinet without eating or drinking three
whole days, during which time they held their water until at last the
carpenter could retain his no longer, so he staled on the King's head,
and the King urined on the Wazir's head, and the Wazir piddled on the
Wall, and the Wali pissed on the head of the Kazi. Whereupon the Judge
cried out and said: "What nastiness is this? Doth not what strait we are
in suffice us, but you must make water upon us?" The Chief of Police
recognized the Kazi's voice and answered, saying aloud, "Allah increase
thy reward, O Kazi!" And when the Kazi heard him he knew him for the
Wali. Then the Chief of Police lifted up his voice and said, "What means
this nastiness?" and the Wazir answered, saying, "Allah increase thy
reward, O Wali!" whereupon he knew him to be the Minister. Then the
Wazir lifted up his voice and said, "What means this nastiness?" But
when the King heard and recognized his Minister's voice, he held his
peace and concealed his affair.
Then said the Wazir: "May Allah damn this woman for her dealing with
us! She hath brought hither all the chief officers of the state, except
the King. Quoth the King, "Hold your peace, for I was the first to fall
into the toils of this lewd strumpet." Whereat cried the carpenter: "And
I, what have I done? I made her a cabinet for four gold pieces, and when
I came to seek my hire, she tricked me into entering this compartment
and locked the door on me." And they fell to talking with one another,
diverting the King and doing away his chagrin. Presently the neighbors
came up to the house and, seeing it deserted, said one to other: "But
yesterday our neighbor, the wife of Such-a-one, was in it, but now no
sound is to be heard therein nor is soul to be seen. Let us break open
the doors and see how the case stands, lest it come to the ears of the
Wali or the King and we be cast into prison and regret not doing this
thing before."
So they broke open the doors and entered the saloon, where they saw a
large wooden cabinet and heard men within groaning for hunger and
thirst. Then said one of them, "Is there a Jinni in this cabinet?-and
his fellow, "Let us heap fuel about it and burn it with fire." When the
Kazi heard this, he bawled out to them, "Do it not!" And they said to
one another, " Verily the Jinn make believe to be mortals and speak with
men's voices." Thereupon the Kazi repeated somewhat of the Sublime Koran
and said to the neighbors, "Draw near to the cabinet wherein we are." So
they drew near, and he said, "I am So-and-so the Kazi, and ye are
Such-a-one and Such-a-one, and we are here a company." Quoth the
neighbors, "Who brought you here?" And he told them the whole case from
beginning to end. Then they fetched a carpenter, who opened the five
doors and let out Kazi, Wazir, Wali, King, and carpenter in their queer
disguises; and each, when he saw how the others were accoutered, fell
a-laughing at them. Now she had taken away all their clothes, so every
one of them sent to his people for fresh clothes and put them on and
went out, covering himself therewith from the sight of the folk.
Consider, therefore, what a trick this woman played off upon the folk!
And I have heard tell also a tale of
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