Arabian Nights
Author: Anonymous
Date: 1920-01-01T05:00:00+00:00
Keywords: Fantasy; Folklore; Adventure
Description: Feeling the urge to get away from it all? No need to leave your easy chair — slip into this book, and visit other lands and other times. Presented here, six of the best-loved tales from The Thousand and One Nights: “The Merchant and the Genie”, “The Caliph Haroun al Raschid”, “Aladdin”, “Ali Baba”, and “Sindbad the Sailor”. The latter three have almost become part of Western folklore, though these were added to the collection only in the 18th century in European adaptations. This book is beautifully illustrated with 16 color plates and 20 B&W drawings; plus chapter decorations. Sterrett’s exqu
Publisher: MobileRead.com
Rights: This book is in public domain where copyright is “Life+70” or less, and in the USA.

CONTENTS

… Cover

… Titlepage

… List of Illustrations

… About This eBook

… Foreword

… Endpaper Image: Left

… Endpaper Image: Right

ARABIAN NIGHTS

ARABIAN NIGHTS

Scheherazade

THE MERCHANT AND THE GENIE

The Story of the Merchant and the Genie

The History of the First Old Man and the Hind

The History of the Second Old Man
and the Two Black Dogs

THE THREE CALENDERS

The Three Calenders
The History of the First Calender
The History of the Second Calender
The History of the Envious Man
The History of the Third Calender
The History of Zobeide
The History of Amina

ALADDIN

The Story of Aladdin

THE CALIPH HAROUN AL RASCHID

The Adventures of the Caliph Haroun al Raschid

The Story of Baba Abdalla

ALI BABA

The History of Ali Baba,
and of the Forty Robbers

SINDBAD THE SAILOR

Sindbad the Sailor
The First Voyage of Sindbad the Sailor
The Second Voyage of Sindbad the Sailor
The Third Voyage of Sindbad the Sailor
The Fourth Voyage of Sindbad the Sailor
The Fifth Voyage of Sindbad the Sailor
The Sixth Voyage of Sindbad the Sailor

The Seventh and Last Voyage of Sindbad the Sailor

ILLUSTRATIONS:

…… Cover

…… Endpaper Left

…… Endpaper Right

- Schah-Zenan Took Leave of the Queen

- She Held Conversation with a Man
[COLOR]

- Scheherazade Went on with Her Story
[COLOR]

- There Appeared an Old Man Leading a Hind

- “My Son! My Son!”
[COLOR]

- The Porter Followed the Lady

- Amina Brought Out a Case

- The Princess Had Great Beauty
[COLOR]

- They Carried Him to the Bottom

- I Got Up into a Thick Tree

- They Danced Before Me
[COLOR]

- I Found a Large Aviary

- He Flew Up with Me into the Air

- The Serpent Flew Away
[COLOR]

- The Chief Cadi Wrote the Contracts

- They Pursued Their Walk Through the Gardens

- “Deliver Me from This Place”
[COLOR]

- The Genie Disappeared Immediately

- The Sultan Directed His Vizier
to Have Her Brought Before Him.

- The Sultan and Aladdin at Table
[COLOR]

- They Proceeded to the Palace
[COLOR]

- “Give Me a New Lamp for This”

- Aladdin Saluted Her with Joy
[COLOR]

- The Caliph Put a Piece of Gold into His Hand

- Presently a Thick Cloud Arose
[COLOR]

- He Emptied the Bags of Gold

- The Robber Disguised Himself
[COLOR]

- Ali Baba Examined All the Jars

- Morgiana Danced with Much Grace
[COLOR]

- Surrounded by Mountains

- The Sky Became Dark
[COLOR]

- We Stayed All Night

- We Found a Gate of Ebony
[COLOR]

- He Gathered and Ate Fruit
[COLOR]

- The Stream Carried Me in Darkness

- He Carried Me to a Forest

About This eBook

A R A B I A N    N I G H T S

EDITED BY
Hildegarde Hawthorne
(1871 – 1952)

TRANSLATED BY
Uncredited

ILLUSTRATED BY
Virginia Frances Sterrett
(1900 – 1931)

Feeling the urge to get away from it all? No need to leave your easy chair — slip into this book, and visit other lands and other times.

Presented here, six of the best-loved tales from The Thousand and One Nights: “The Merchant and the Genie”, “The Caliph Haroun al Raschid”, “Aladdin”, “Ali Baba”, and “Sindbad the Sailor”. The latter three have almost become part of Western folklore, though these were added to the collection only in the 18th century in European adaptations.

This book is beautifully illustrated with 16 color plates and 20 B&W drawings; plus chapter decorations. Sterrett’s exquisite pictures transport us to magical landscapes.

Hildegarde Hawthorne (September 25, 1871 – December 10, 1952) was an American writer of supernatural and ghost stories, a poet, and biographer. Continuing the lineage of a literary family, she was the granddaughter of Nathaniel Hawthorne and eldest child of Julian Hawthorne.

The translator of this collection is not credited. However, the text appears to be based on the 1860 publication Arabian Nights’ Entertainments, a New Edition, Revised, with Notes by the Rev. Geo. Fyler Townsend, M.A. [1814 – 1900], which in turn is “mostly founded on the [1811] version of Dr. Jonathan Scott [1754 – 1829].”

Virginia Frances Sterrett was an American artist and illustrator who worked in the Art Nouveau tradition. Her work is fanciful, detailed and often compared to that of Kay Nielsen. Old French Fairy Tales was her first commission, swiftly followed by Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Tanglewood Tales (1921). In failing health, she was able to complete just one further commission prior to her death — her best-known work, considered to be her masterpiece, the suite of illustrations for Arabian Nights (1928).

This book was first published in 1928. This ebook is in the public domain where copyright is “Life+70” or less, and in the USA.

FOREWORD

A good story belongs to the whole world. At that point East and West meet, no matter how different they may be in training, government, religion or habit of living.

The stories known as the Thousand and One Nights are very old. They are known to have existed in their present form as early as the Thirteenth Century, and many of them were told, quite possibly, as early as the Ninth. They followed naturally upon the half-spoken, half-chanted poems celebrating heroic deeds and reciting gallant adventures which the Arabs were accustomed to listen to from one of their number as they rested in the evening about their camp fire in the desert. They were handed down from one to another, since there were no books and both history and romance must live in man’s memory or else die. That man who had a genius for memorizing and for improvising was a great man in his tribe, and people would come from far away to hear one of these orators.

After the spoken word came the written word, as always. And so the Thousand and One Nights came finally to be written in the beautiful Arabic scrip, on fine pieces of parchment. Men still recited them, but they were usually readers then, who had memorized them. They altered them somewhat, and other collections were written, but on the whole the stories kept their form and it was always Scheherazade, or Shirazad as it is often spelled, who told them to save her life from the unjust decree of the sultan whom she had married. The stories originally numbered about 250, split up into the thousand and one parts in which the sultaness told them, but since that first definite collection other tales have been added and there have been some changes, not very important.

Europe first came to know the stories in 1704–1712, when Antoine Galland, a Frenchman, published a translation in twelve volumes. They had a great success among the rather restricted public who could get hold of the books, and gradually their fame spread. In 1811 a certain Jonathan Scott brought out a partial translation in English, which did not become generally known, and in 1840 E. W. Lane, the scholar and writer, brought out his edition, not complete, as he omitted parts of many stories and some entire tales, but still a careful and accurate work. From then on the Arabian Nights kept increasing in popularity. Since then it has gone into more countries and is known more generally the whole world over than any other book except the Bible, and the stories have become part of the literature of every land that has one. Aladdin’s palace, and its unfinished window, the magic words “Open Sesame,” Ali Baba himself, these are as familiar to you as they are to a merchant of Bagdad or an Arab of the desert, as they are to a child in Italy or France. Scheherazade is as well known as the Sleeping Beauty and more so, and so is Sindbad the Sailor.

When you read the stories you must remember that they were told by a race and in a time far removed from our own. They come from a different world than any we know, with manners and beliefs quite removed from any we possess.

The people who told them believed quite simply that besides the human beings and animals and birds of the natural world there were other and magic creatures who mixed themselves up in the affairs of men, helping or hindering as they chose. They also believed in charms and talismen, in sorcerers and magicians. The genii were usually wicked and dangerous, the peris always kind and good, and there were good and bad fairies. These fairies are quite different from those of Western fancy, however, not tiny creatures but persons with the appearance of men and women, capable of vanishing and of changing themselves into what form they chose. The genii might be controlled if you found the proper charm or talisman, but the fairies and the peris were too clever for that. All these strange beings, with talking birds and animals, are to be found in the tales.

Justice and good government as we think of them did not exist. The caliph was a tyrant with unlimited power, the officials under him ruled by graft and fear, if they were bad, and they usually were. A good vizier or imam could not depend upon being safe because he was good. His caliph could have him executed for a whim no matter how good he might be. So the main business was to please the caliph.

The beggars were legion. Some of them were religious brotherhoods, like the dervishes and the calenders, others just plain beggars. The people were cruel, and used to seeing death and torture. Beatings were a popular form of punishment, executions were public. Hands were cut off for trifling offenses, and heads for those not much more serious. All these things are reflected in the stories. Everything was in extremes, there was the most marvelous luxury side by side with the most terrible poverty, slaves were common, pirates and robbers abounded. It was a wild world, where any adventure might be waiting around the corner. The women were kept secluded, but they managed to get out more or less, or to circumvent their masters in one way or another, and some of them had a quite amazing amount of freedom, if they were rich and widowed, or powerful in their connections.

Of course very little was known of the outside world, and so all sorts of things were imagined about it. Valleys strewn with diamonds, islands where queer people and queerer animals were found, fantastic birds and serpents, giants, dwarfs and what not, lay in wait for the bold traveler who left Bagdad and set out to see for himself. It was a highly colored life, and it lost nothing in the tales men told of it.

Only a very few of the stories are contained in this book, but they are among the most famous. You will find the English a little quaint, not just what is used to tell a story today, but not enough so to be a bother. As you read you must fancy that it is Scheherazade who is speaking, in her low and musical voice, while her slave girl lies at her feet and the sultan sits beside her on the rich couch with its Eastern hangings. Remember that she is telling each story to save her life, and the lives of the many maidens who would follow her to death if she should fail to hold the interest of her husband. She breaks off as day comes, and always she tries to do this at a point that will make him anxious to hear more. It is she who invented the continued story. Through the tall, narrow windows, with their arched tops, veiled with silken curtains, the sun at length pierces, and at that signal she must stop—safe, she hopes, for another day.

And now I will stop, and let you get to the tales themselves.

HILDEGARDE HAWTHORNE

SCHEHERAZADE

SCHEHERAZADE

It is written in the chronicles of the Sassanian monarchs that there once lived an illustrious prince, beloved by his own subjects for his wisdom and prudence, and feared by his enemies for his courage, and for the hardy and well-disciplined army of which he was the leader. This prince had two sons, the elder called Schah-riar, and the younger Schah-zenan, both equally good and deserving of praise.

The old king died at the end of a long and glorious reign, and Schah-riar, his eldest son, ascended the throne and reigned in his stead. A friendly contest quickly arose between the two brothers as to which could best promote the happiness of the other. The younger, Schah-zenan, did all he could to show his loyalty and affection, while the new sultan loaded his brother with all possible honors, and in order that he might in some degree share his own power and wealth, bestowed on him the kingdom of Great Tartary. Schah-zenan left to take possession of the empire allotted him, and fixed his residence at Samarcand, the chief city.

After a separation of ten years Schah-riar ardently desired to see his brother, and sent his first vizier, with a splendid embassy, to invite him to revisit his court. Schah-zenan being informed of the approach of the vizier, went out to meet him with all his ministers, magnificently dressed for the occasion, and urgently inquired after the health of the sultan, his brother. Having replied to these affectionate inquiries, the vizier unfolded the more especial purpose of his coming. Schah-zenan, much affected at the kindness of his brother, then addressed the vizier in these words: “Sage vizier, the sultan, my brother, does me too much honor. It is impossible that his wish to see me can exceed my anxious desire of again beholding him. You have come at an opportune moment. My kingdom is tranquil, and in ten days’ time I will be ready to depart with you. In the meanwhile pitch your tents on this spot. I will order every refreshment and accommodation for you and your whole train.”

At the end of ten days everything was ready. Schah-zenan took a tender leave of the queen, his consort, and accompanied by such officers as he had appointed to attend him, left Samarcand in the evening, to be near the tents of his brother’s ambassador, with the intention of proceeding on his journey early on the following morning. Wishing, however, once more to see his queen, whom he tenderly loved, and whom he believed to return his love with an equal affection, he returned privately to the palace, and went directly to her apartment, when, to his extreme grief, he found that she loved a slave better than himself. The unfortunate monarch, yielding to the first outburst of his indignation, drew his scimitar, and with one rapid stroke slew them both. After that he threw their bodies into the foss or great ditch that surrounded the palace.

Having thus satisfied his revenge, he left the city as privately as he had entered it, and returned to his pavilion. On his arrival, he did not mention to any one what had happened, but ordered the tents to be struck, and began his journey. It was scarcely daylight when they commenced their march to the sound of drums and other instruments. The whole train was filled with joy, except the king, who could think of nothing but his queen’s treachery, and became a prey to the deepest grief and melancholy.

When he approached the capital of Persia, he perceived the Sultan Schah-riar and all his court coming out to greet him. As soon as they met the two brothers alighted and embraced each other; after a thousand expressions of regard, they remounted and entered the city amid the acclamations of the multitude. The sultan conducted the king, his brother, to a palace which had been prepared for him. It communicated by a garden with his own and was even more magnificent.

Schah-riar left the King of Tartary, in order that he might have time to bathe and change his dress after the fatigues of the journey; on his return from the bath he went to him again. They seated themselves and conversed with each other at their ease, after so long an absence; and seemed even more united by affection than blood. They dined together and after their repast they again conversed, till Schah-riar, perceiving the night far advanced, left his brother to repose.

The unfortunate Schah-zenan retired to his couch; but if the presence of the sultan had for a while suspended his grief, it now returned with redoubled force. Every circumstance of the queen’s wickedness lived in his mind and kept him awake, impressing such a look of sorrow on his countenance that the sultan next morning could not fail to remark it. Conscious that he had done all in his power to testify to his continued love and affection, he sought diligently to amuse his brother, but the most splendid entertainments and the gayest fêtes only served to increase his melancholy.

Schah-riar having one morning given orders for a grand hunting party, at the distance of two days’ journey from the city, Schah-zenan requested permission to remain in his palace, excusing himself on account of a slight indisposition. The sultan wishing to please him, gave his consent and went with all his court to partake of the sport.

The King of Tartary was no sooner alone than he shut himself up in his apartment, and gave way to sorrowful recollection of the calamity which had befallen him. As he sat thus grieving at the open window looking out upon the beautiful garden of the palace, he suddenly saw the sultana, the beloved wife of his brother, meet in the garden and hold secret conversation with a man. Upon witnessing this, Schah-zenan determined within himself that he would no longer give way to inconsolable grief for a misfortune which came to other husbands as well as to himself. He ordered supper to be brought, and ate with a better appetite than he had before done since his departure from Samarcand, and even enjoyed the fine concert performed while he sat at table.

Schah-riar, on his return from hunting at the close of the second day, was delighted at the change which he found had taken place in his brother, and urgently pressed him to explain both the cause of his former deep depression, and of its sudden disappearance. The King of Tartary being thus pressed, related to his brother the narrative of his wife’s misconduct, and of the severe punishment which he had visited on the offenders. Schah-riar expressed his full approval. “I own,” he said, “had I been in your place, I should have been less easily satisfied. I should not have been contented with taking away the life of one woman, but would have sacrificed a thousand to my resentment. Since, however, it has pleased God to afford you consolation, and as I am sure it is as well founded as the cause of your grief, inform me I beg of that also and make me acquainted with the whole.”

The reluctance of Schah-zenan to relate what he had seen yielded at last to the urgent entreaties of his brother, and he revealed to him the faithlessness of his own queen. On hearing these dreadful and unexpected tidings, the rage and grief of Schah-riar knew no bounds. He far exceeded his brother in his fury. He immediately sentenced to death his unhappy sultana and the unworthy accomplice of her guilt; and not content with this, he bound himself by a solemn vow, that to prevent the possibility of such misconduct in future, he would marry a new wife every night, and command her to be strangled in the morning. Having imposed this cruel law upon himself, he swore to observe it immediately on the departure of the king his brother, who soon after had a solemn audience of leave, and returned to his own kingdom, laden with the most magnificent presents.

When Schah-zenan was gone, the Sultan began to put into execution his terrible oath. He married every night the daughter of some one of his subjects, who, the next morning, was ordered out to execution, and thus every evening was a maiden married and every morning a wife sacrificed. However repugnant these commands were to the benevolent grand vizier, he was obliged to submit at the peril of the loss of his own head. The report of this unexampled inhumanity spread a panic of universal consternation through the city. In one place a wretched father was in tears for the loss of his daughter; in another, the air resounded with the groans of tender mothers, who dreaded lest the same fate should attend their offspring. And, instead of the praises and blessings with which his subjects had loaded their monarch, they now poured out imprecations on his head.

The grand vizier, who, as has been mentioned, was the unwilling agent of this horrid injustice, had a daughter called Scheherazade. Scheherazade was possessed of a degree of courage beyond her sex. She had read much, and had so great a memory, that she never forgot anything once learned; her beauty was only equaled by her virtuous disposition.

The vizier was passionately fond of so deserving a daughter.

As they were together one day, she begged, to his great astonishment, that she might have the honor of becoming the sultan’s bride. The grand vizier endeavored to dissuade his daughter from her intention by pointing out the fearful penalty of the immediate death attached to the favor which she sought. Scheherazade, however, persisted in her request, telling her father that she had in mind a plan, which she thought might be successful in putting a stop to the dreadful cruelty exercised by the Sultan toward his subjects. “Yes, my father,” said this heroic woman, “I am aware of the danger I run, but it does not deter me from my purpose. If I die, my death will be glorious; and if I succeed, I shall render my country a great service.” The vizier was most reluctant to allow his beloved child to enter on so dangerous an enterprise, and endeavored to dissuade her from her purpose but all in vain.

“Do not, sir,” pleaded Scheherazade, “think ill of me if I still persist in my sentiments. Pardon me, too, if I add, that your opposition will be useless; for if your paternal tenderness should refuse the request I make, I will present myself alone to the sultan.” At length the vizier, overcome by his daughter’s firmness, yielded to her entreaties; and although he was in despair at not being able to conquer her resolution, he immediately went to Schah-riar, and announced to him that Scheherazade herself would be his bride on the following night.

The sultan was much astonished at the sacrifice.

“Is it possible,” said he, “that you can give up your own child?” “Sire,” replied the vizier, “she has herself made the offer. The dreadful fate that hangs over her does not alarm her; and she resigns her life for the honor of being the consort of your majesty, though it be but for one night.” “Vizier,” said the sultan, “do not deceive yourself with any hopes; for be assured that, in returning Scheherazade to your charge tomorrow, it will be with an order for her death; if you disobey, your own head as well as hers will be the forfeit.” “Although,” answered the vizier, “I am her father, I will answer for the fidelity of this arm in fulfilling your commands.”

When the grand vizier returned to Scheherazade, she thanked her father; and observing him to be much afflicted, consoled him slightly by saying that she hoped he would be so far from repenting her marriage with the sultan, that it would become a subject of joy to him for the remainder of his life.

Before Scheherazade went to the palace, she called her favorite slave girl Dinarzade, aside, and said, “As soon as I shall have presented myself before the sultan, I will entreat him to suffer you to sleep in the bridal chamber, that I may enjoy for the last time your company. If I obtain this favor, as I expect, remember to awaken me tomorrow morning an hour before daybreak, and say, ‘If you are not asleep, my mistress, I beg of you, till the morning appears, to recount to me one of those delightful stories you know.’ I will immediately begin to tell one; and I flatter myself that by these means I shall free the kingdom from the terror in which it is.” Dinarzade promised to do what was required.

Within a short time Scheherazade was conducted by her father to the palace, and was admitted to the presence of the sultan. They were no sooner alone than the sultan ordered her to take off her veil. He was charmed with her beauty; but perceiving that she wept, he demanded the cause. “Sire,” answered Scheherazade, “I have a slave girl whom I love—I earnestly wish that she might be permitted to pass the night in this apartment, that we may again see each other, and once more take a tender farewell. Will you allow me the consolation of giving her this last proof of my affection?” Schah-riar having agreed to it, they sent for Dinarzade, who came directly. The sultan passed the night with Scheherazade on an elevated couch, as was the custom among the eastern monarchs, and Dinarzade slept at the foot of it on a mattress, prepared for the purpose.

Dinarzade, having waked about an hour before day, did what her mistress had ordered her. “My dear lady,” she said, “if you are not asleep, I entreat you, as it will soon be light, to relate to me one of those delightful tales you know. It will, alas, be the last time I shall hear one.”

Instead of returning any answer to her slave, Scheherazade addressed these words to the sultan: “Will your majesty permit me to indulge my slave in her request?” “Freely,” replied he. Scheherazade began as follows:

THE STORY OF THE MERCHANT
AND THE GENIE

THE MERCHANT
AND THE GENIE

There was formerly a merchant, who was possessed of great wealth, in land, merchandise, and ready money. Having one day an affair of great importance to settle at a considerable distance from home, he mounted his horse, and with only a sort of cloak-bag behind him, in which he had put a few biscuits and dates, he began his journey. He arrived without any accident at the place of his destination; and having finished his business, set out on his return.

On the fourth day of his journey, he felt himself so incommoded by the heat of the sun, that he turned out of his road, in order to rest under some trees, by which there was a fountain. He alighted, and tying his horse to a branch of the tree, sat down on the bank of the pool to eat some biscuits and dates from his little store. When he had satisfied his hunger, he amused himself with throwing about the stones of the fruit with considerable force. Finally he washed his hands, his face, and his feet, and repeated a prayer, like a good Mussulman.

He was still on his knees, when he saw a genie, white with age, and of enormous stature, advancing toward him with a scimitar in his hand. As soon as he was close he cried in a terrible tone: “Get up, that I may kill thee with this scimitar, as thou hast caused the death of my son.” He accompanied these words with a dreadful yell. The merchant, alarmed by the horrible figure of this genie, as well as the words he heard, replied in trembling accents: “How can I have slain him? I do not know him, nor have I ever seen him.” “Didst thou not,” replied the genie, “on thine arrival here, sit down, and take some dates from thy wallet; and after eating them, didst thou not throw the stones about on all sides?” “This is all true,” replied the merchant; “I do not deny it.” “Well, then,” said the other, “I tell thee thou hast killed my son; for while thou wast throwing about the stones, my son passed by invisible; one of them struck him in the eye, causing his death and thus hast thou slain my son.” “Ah, sire, forgive me,” cried the merchant. “I have neither forgiveness nor mercy,” added the genie; “and is it not just that he who has inflicted death should suffer it?” “I grant that; but I have done so innocently, and therefore I entreat you to pardon me, and suffer me to live.” “No, no,” cried the genie, “I must destroy thee, as thou hast done my son.” At these words, he took the merchant in his arms, and having thrown him with his face on the ground, he lifted up his scimitar, in order to strike off his head.

•   •   •   •   •

Scheherazade, at this instant, perceiving it was day, broke off. “What a wonderful story,” said Dinarzade. “The conclusion,” answered Scheherazade, “is still more surprising, as you would confess if the Sultan would suffer me to live another day, and in the morning permit me to continue the relation.” Schah-riar, who had listened with interest to the narration, told her he would wait till tomorrow to order her execution, that she might finish her story. He arose, and having prayed, went to the council.

The grand vizier, in the meantime, was in a state of cruel suspense. Unable to sleep, he passed the night in lamenting the approaching fate of his daughter, whose executioner he was compelled to be. Dreading to meet the sultan, how great was his surprise in seeing him enter the council chamber without giving him the horrible order he expected!

The sultan spent the day, as usual, in regulating the affairs of his kingdom, and on the approach of night, retired with Scheherazade to his apartment, Dinarzade again sleeping at the foot of the couch.

The next morning, the sultan did not wait for Scheherazade to ask permission to continue her story, but said, “Finish the tale of the genie and the merchant: I am curious to hear the end of it.” Scheherazade immediately went on as follows:

•   •   •   •   •

When the merchant, sire, perceived that the genie was about to execute his purpose, he cried aloud: “One word more, I entreat you; have the goodness to grant me a little delay; give me only one year to go and take leave of my dear wife and children, and I promise to return to this spot, and submit myself entirely to your pleasure.” “Take Allah to witness of the promise thou hast made me,” said the other. “Again I swear,” replied he, “and you may rely on my oath.” On this the genie immediately disappeared.

The merchant, on reaching home, related faithfully all that had happened to him. On hearing the sad news, his wife uttered the most lamentable groans, tearing her hair and beating her breast; and his children made the house resound with their grief; while the father mingled his tears with theirs. The year quickly passed away. The good merchant having settled his affairs, paid his just debts, given alms to the poor, and made provision to the best of his ability for his wife and family, tore himself away amid the most frantic expressions of grief; and mindful of his oath, arrived at the destined spot on the very day he had promised.

While he was waiting for the arrival of the genie, there suddenly appeared an old man leading a hind, who, after a respectful salutation, inquired what brought him to that desert place. The merchant informed him of the dreadful reason, on which the old man expressed a wish to witness the interview with the genie. He had scarcely finished saying so when another old man, accompanied by two black dogs, came in sight, and having heard the tale of the merchant, determined also to remain to see the event.

Soon they perceived coming toward the plain a thick vapor or smoke, like a column of dust raised by the wind. This vapor approached them, and then suddenly disappearing, they saw the genie, who, without noticing the newcomers, went toward the merchant, with his scimitar in his hand; and taking him by the arm, “Get up,” said he, “that I may kill thee, as thou hast slain my son.” Both the merchant and the two old men, struck with terror, began to weep and fill the air with their lamentations. When the old man who conducted the hind saw the genie lay hold of the merchant, and about to murder him without mercy, he threw himself at the monster’s feet, and, kissing them, said, “Lord Genie, I humbly entreat you to suspend your rage, and hear my history, and that of the hind, which you see; and if you find it more wonderful and surprising than the adventure of this merchant, whose life you wish to take, may I not hope that you will at least grant me one half of the blood of this unfortunate man?” After meditating some time, the genie answered, “Very well, I agree.”

THE HISTORY OF
THE FIRST OLD MAN
AND THE HIND

The hind, whom you, Lord Genie, see here, is my wife. I married her when she was twelve years old, and we lived together thirty years, without having any children. At the end of that time I adopted into my family a son, whom a slave had borne. This act of mine excited the hatred and jealousy of my wife against the mother and her child. She took the opportunity during my absence on a journey, by her knowledge of magic, to change the slave and my adopted son into a cow and a calf, and sent them to my farm to be fed and taken care of by the steward.

Immediately on my return, I inquired after my child and his mother. “Your slave is dead,” said she, “and it is now more than two months since I have beheld your son; nor do I know what is become of him.” I was deeply affected at the death of the slave; but as my son had only disappeared, I flattered myself that he would soon be found. Eight months, however, passed and he did not return; nor could I learn any tidings of him.

In order to celebrate the festival of the great Bairam, which was approaching, I ordered my bailiff to bring me the fattest cow I possessed, for a sacrifice. He obeyed my commands. Having bound the cow, I was about to make the sacrifice, when at the very instant she lowed most sorrowfully, and the tears even fell from her eyes. This seemed to me so extraordinary, that I could not but feel compassion for her, and was unable to give the fatal blow. I therefore ordered her to be taken away, and another brought.

My wife, who was present, seemed very angry at my compassion, and opposed my order.

I then said to my steward, “Make the sacrifice yourself; the lamentations and tears of the animal have overcome me.”

The steward was less compassionate, and sacrificed her. On taking the skin off we found hardly anything but bones, though she appeared very fat. “Take her away,” said I to the steward, truly chagrined, “and if you have a fat calf, bring it in her place.” He returned with a remarkably fine calf, who, as soon as he perceived me, made so great an effort to come to me, that he broke his cord. He lay down at my feet, with his head on the ground, as if he endeavored to excite my compassion, and to entreat me not to have the cruelty to take away his life.

“Wife,” said I, “I will not sacrifice this calf, I wish to keep him; do not you, therefore, oppose it.” She, however, did not agree to my proposal; and continued to demand his sacrifice so obstinately, that I was compelled to yield. I bound the calf, and took the fatal knife to bury it in his throat, when he turned his eyes, filled with tears, so persuasively upon me, that I had no power to execute my intention. The knife fell from my hand, and I told my wife I was determined to have another calf. She tried every means to induce me to alter my mind; I continued firm, however, in my resolution, in spite of all she could say; promising, for the sake of appeasing her, to sacrifice this calf at the feast of Bairam on the following year.

The next morning my steward desired to speak with me in private. He informed me that his daughter, who had some knowledge of magic, wished to speak with me. On being admitted to my presence, she informed me how during my absence, my wife had turned the slave and my son into a cow and calf, that I had already sacrificed the cow, but that she could restore my son to his own shape, if I would give him to her for her husband, and allow her to visit my wife with the punishment her cruelty had deserved. To these proposals I gave my consent.

The damsel then took a vessel full of water, and pronouncing over it some words I did not understand, she threw the water over the calf, which instantly regained my son’s form.

“My son! my son!” I exclaimed, and embraced him with transport; “this damsel has destroyed the horrible charm under which you suffered. I am sure your gratitude will induce you to marry her, as I have already promised for you.” He joyfully consented; but before they were united the damsel changed my wife into this hind, which you see here.

Since this, my son has become a widower, and is now traveling. Many years have passed since I have heard anything of him; I have, therefore, now set out with a view to find him; and as I did not like to trust my wife to the care of any one during my search, I thought proper to carry her along with me. This is the history of myself and this hind; can anything be more wonderful?

“I agree with you,” said the genie, “and in consequence, I grant to you a half of the blood of this merchant.”

As soon as the first old man had finished, the second, who led the two black dogs, made the same request to the genie for a half of the merchant’s blood, on the condition that his tale exceeded in interest the one that had just been related. On the genie signifying his assent, the old man began.

THE HISTORY OF
THE SECOND OLD MAN
AND THE TWO BLACK DOGS

Great Prince of the genii, you must know that these two black dogs and myself are three brothers. Our father, when he died, left us one thousand sequins each. With this sum we all embarked in business as merchants. My two brothers determined to travel, that they might trade in foreign parts. They were both unfortunate, and returned at the end of two years in a state of abject poverty, having lost their all. I had in the meanwhile prospered, and I gladly received them, gave them one thousand sequins each, and again set them up as merchants.

My brothers frequently proposed to me that I should make a voyage with them for the purpose of traffic. Knowing their former want of success, I refused to join them, until at the end of five years I at length yielded to their repeated solicitations. Consulting on the merchandise to be bought for the voyage, I discovered that nothing remained of the thousand sequins I had given to each. I did not reproach them; on the contrary, as my capital was increased to six thousand sequins, I gave them each another one thousand sequins, kept a like sum myself, and concealed the other three thousand in a corner of my house, in order that if our voyage proved unsuccessful, we might be able to console ourselves and begin again. We purchased our goods, embarked in a vessel, which we ourselves freighted, and set sail with a favorable wind. After sailing about a month, we arrived at a port, where we landed, and had a most advantageous sale for our merchandise. I, in particular, sold mine so well, that I gained ten for one.

About the time that we were ready to embark on our return, I accidentally met on the seashore a female of great beauty, but very poorly dressed. She accosted me by kissing my hand, and entreated me most earnestly to permit her to be my wife. I made many difficulties to such a plan; but at length she said so much to persuade me that I ought not to regard her poverty, and that I should be well satisfied with her conduct, that I was won to consent. I procured proper dresses for her, and after marrying her in due form, she embarked with me, and we set sail.

During our voyage, I found my wife possessed of so many good qualities, that I loved her every day more and more. In the mean time my two brothers, who had not traded so advantageously as myself, and who were jealous of my prosperity, began to feel exceedingly envious. At last they went so far as to conspire against my life; and one night, while my wife and I were asleep, they threw us into the sea. I had hardly, however, fallen into the water, before my wife took me up and transported me to an island. As soon as it was day she thus addressed me: “You must know that I am a fairy, and being upon the shore when you were about to sail, I wished to try the goodness of your heart, and for this purpose I presented myself before you in the disguise you saw. You acted most generously, and I am therefore delighted to find an occasion of showing my gratitude, and I trust, my husband, that in saving your life, I have not ill rewarded the good you did me. But I am enraged against your brothers, nor shall I be satisfied till I have taken their lives.”

I listened with astonishment to the discourse of the fairy, and thanked her, as well as I was able, for the great service she had done me. “But, madam,” said I to her, “I must entreat you to pardon my brothers.” I related to her what I had done for each of them, but my account only increased her anger. “I must instantly fly after these ungrateful wretches,” cried she, “and bring them to a just punishment; I will sink their vessel, and precipitate them to the bottom of the sea.” “No, beautiful lady,” replied I, “for heaven’s sake, moderate your indignation, and do not execute so dreadful an intention; remember they are still my brothers, and that we are bound to return good for evil.”

No sooner had I pronounced these words, than I was transported in an instant from the island, where we were, to the top of my own house. I descended, opened the doors, and dug up the three thousand sequins which I had hidden. I afterward went to my shop, opened it, and received the congratulations of the merchants in the neighborhood on my arrival. When I returned home, I perceived these two black dogs, which came toward me with a submissive air. I could not imagine what this meant, but the fairy, who soon appeared, satisfied my curiosity. “My dear husband,” said she, “be not surprised at seeing these two dogs in your house; they are your brothers.” My blood ran cold on hearing this, and I inquired by what power they had been transformed into that state. “It is I,” replied the fairy, “who have done it, and I have sunk their ship; for the loss of the merchandise it contained, I shall recompense you. As to your brothers, I have condemned them to remain under this form for ten years, as a punishment for their perfidy.” Then informing me where I might hear of her, she disappeared.

“The ten years are now completed, and I am traveling in search of her. This, O Lord Genie, is my history; does it not appear to you of a most extraordinary nature?” “Yes,” replied the genie, “I confess it is most wonderful, and therefore I grant you the other half of this merchant’s blood,” and having said this, the genie disappeared, to the great joy of the merchant and of the two old men.

The merchant did not omit to bestow many thanks upon his liberators, who, bidding him adieu, proceeded on their travels. He remounted his horse, and returned home to his wife and children, and spent the remainder of his days with them in tranquility.

•   •   •   •   •

Scheherazade, perceiving that day had not yet come, asked the sultan whether he would care to hear another of her stories, since there was still time. He assured her that nothing would give him greater pleasure, and she forthwith began the strange story of the three Calenders in these words:

THE THREE CALENDERS,
SONS OF KINGS,
AND FIVE LADIES OF BAGDAD

THE THREE CALENDERS

In the reign of Caliph Haroun al Raschid, there was at Bagdad a porter, a fellow of wit and humor. One morning as he was at the place where he usually waited for employment, with his great basket before him, a lady, covered with a muslin veil, accosted him, and said with a pleasant air, “Hark you, porter, take your basket and follow me.” The delighted porter took his basket immediately, set it on his head, and followed the lady, exclaiming, “Oh, happy day, oh, day of good luck!”

In a short time the lady stopped before a gate and knocked: a Christian, with a venerable long white beard, opened it, and she put money into his hand without speaking; but the Christian, who knew what she wanted, went in, and shortly after brought out a large jar of excellent wine. “Take this jar,” said the lady to the porter, “and put it into the basket.” This being done, she walked on; the porter still exclaiming, “Oh, day of happiness! Oh, day of agreeable surprise and joy!”

The lady stopped at a fruit shop, where she bought some apples, apricots, peaches, lemons, citrons, oranges, myrtles, sweet basil, lilies, jessamine, and some other plants. She told the porter to put all those things into his basket and follow her. Passing by a butcher’s shop, she ordered five and twenty pounds of his finest meat to be weighed, which was also put into the porter’s basket.

At another shop she bought capers, small cucumbers, parsley, and other herbs; at another, some pistachios, walnuts, hazelnuts, almonds, kernels of the pine, and other similar fruits; at a third, she purchased all sorts of almond patties. The porter, in putting all these things into his basket, said, “My good lady, you should have told me that you intended buying so many things, and I would have provided a camel, for if you buy ever so little more, I shall not be able to carry it.” The lady laughed and ordered him to follow her home. They walked till they came to a magnificent house, whose front was adorned with fine columns, and had a gate of ivory. There they stopped and the lady knocked softly. Another lady soon came to open the gate, and the three, after passing through a handsome vestibule, entered a spacious court, surrounded by an open gallery, which communicated with many magnificent apartments, all on the same floor. At the end of this court there was a dais richly furnished, with a couch in the middle, supported by four columns of ebony, enriched with diamonds and pearls of an extraordinary size, and covered with red satin, relieved by a bordering of Indian gold. In the middle of the court was a large basin lined with white marble, and full of the clearest water, which rushed from the mouth of a lion of gilt bronze.

But what principally attracted the attention of the porter, was a third beautiful lady, who was seated on the couch before mentioned. This lady was called Zobeide, she who opened the door was called Safie, and the name of the one who had been for the provisions was Amina. Zobeide, accosting the other two, said “Sisters, do not you see that this honest man is ready to sink under his burden, why do not you ease him of it?” Then Amina and Safie took the basket, the one before and the other behind; Zobeide also assisted, and all three together set it on the ground, then emptied it; and when they had done, the beautiful Amina took out money, and paid the porter liberally.

The porter was well satisfied, but when he ought to have departed, he was chained to the spot by the pleasure of beholding three such beauties, who appeared to him equally charming; for Amina having now laid aside her veil, proved to be as handsome as either of the others.

“Madam,” said he, addressing Zobeide, “I am sensible that I act rudely in staying longer than I ought, but I hope you will have the goodness to pardon me, when I tell you that I am astonished not to see a man with three ladies of such extraordinary beauty; and you know that a company of women without men is as melancholy as a company of men without women.” To this he added some pleasantries in proof of what he advanced, and did not forget the Bagdad proverb, “That the table is not completely furnished, except there be four in company;” so concluded, that since they were but three, they wanted another.

The ladies fell a-laughing at the porter’s reasoning; after which Zobeide gravely addressed him, “Friend, you presume rather too much; but though you do not deserve it, I have no objection to inform you that we are three sisters, who transact our affairs with so much secrecy that no one knows anything of them. A good author says, ‘Keep thy own secret, and do not reveal it to anyone. He that makes his secret known is no longer its master. If thy own breast cannot keep thy counsel, how canst thou expect the breast of another to be more faithful?’ ”

The porter was about to retire in confusion, when Amina took his part, saying to Zobeide and Safie, “My dear sisters, I conjure you to let him remain; he will amuse us. Were I to repeat to you all the amusing things he addressed to me by the way, you would not feel surprised at my taking his part.”

At these words of Amina, the porter fell on his knees, kissed the ground at her feet, and raising himself up, said, “Most beautiful lady, you began my good fortune today, and now you complete it by this generous conduct; I cannot adequately express my acknowledgments. As to the rest, ladies,” said he, addressing himself to all three sisters, “since you do me so great an honor, I shall always look upon myself as one of your most humble slaves.” When he had spoken these words he would have returned the money he had received, but Zobeide ordered him to keep it. “What we have once given,” said she, “we never take back. We are willing to allow you to stay on one condition, that you keep secret and do not ask the reason for anything you may see us do. To show you,” said Zobeide, with a serious countenance, “that what we demand of you is not a new thing among us, read what is written over our gate on the inside.”

The porter read these words, written in large characters of gold: “He who speaks of things that do not concern him, shall hear things that will not please him.” “Ladies,” said he, “I swear to you that you shall never hear me utter a word respecting what does not relate to me, or wherein you may have any concern.”

These preliminaries being settled, Amina brought in supper, and after she had lighted up the room with tapers made of aloe-wood and ambergris, which yield a most agreeable perfume as well as a delicate light, she sat down with her sisters and the porter. They began to eat and drink, to sing and repeat verses. When they were all as merry as possible, they suddenly heard a knocking at the gate. Safie, whose office it was, went to the porch, and quickly returning, told them thus: “There are three calenders at the door, all blind of the right eye, and have their heads, beards, and eyebrows shaved. They say that they are only just arrived at Bagdad, where they have never been before; and, as it is dark, and they know not where to lodge, they knocked at our door by chance; and pray us to show compassion, and to take them in. They care not where we put them, provided they obtain shelter. They are young and handsome; but I cannot, without laughing, think of their exact likeness to each other. My dear sisters, pray permit them to come in; they will amuse us and put us to little charge, because they desire shelter only for this night, and promise to leave us as soon as day appears.”

•   •   •   •   •

The sun having now risen, Scheherazade stopped her story at this point, with a sigh.

“Shall we then never hear the end of these surprising adventures?” asked her slave girl. But the sultan interposed:

“We will put off your unhappy execution for another day,” said he. “Tomorrow you must relate the rest of the tale you have so well begun.”

Accordingly, the following morning, Scheherazade took up the story where she had ended the day before.

•   •   •   •   •

“Go then,” said Zobeide, “and bring them in, but make them read what is written over the gate.” Safie ran out with joy, and in a little time after returned with the three calenders.

At their entrance they made a profound obeisance to the ladies, who rose up to receive them, told them courteously that they were welcome, that they were glad of the opportunity to oblige them and to contribute toward relieving the fatigues of their journey, and invited them to sit down with them. When the calenders were seated, the ladies served them with meat; and Safie, being highly pleased with them, did not let them want for wine.

When the calenders had finished their repast, they said they wished to entertain the party with a concert if they had any instruments in the house, and would cause them to be brought; the ladies willingly accepted the proposal, and Safie went to fetch them. Each man took the instrument he liked and all three together began to play a tune. The ladies, who knew the words of a merry song that suited the air, joined with their voices; but the words of the song made them now and then stop, and fall into excessive laughter. While their amusement was at its height, there was a knock of unwonted loudness at their gate.

Now, it was the custom of the sultan Haroun al Raschid, to go sometimes during the night through the city, in disguise, in order to discover whether everything was quiet. On this evening he set out from his palace, accompanied by Giafar, his grand vizier, and Mesrour, chief of the household, all three disguised as merchants; and he it was, who, in passing through the street, and attracted by the noise of the music and of the peals of laughter, had desired his grand vizier to knock at the gate, and to demand admittance for three strangers who knew not where to seek shelter for the night. Safie, who had opened the door, came back and obtained permission of her sisters to admit the newly arrived strangers.

The caliph and his attendants, upon their entrance, most courteously made obeisance to the ladies and to the calenders. All returned their salutations, supposing them to be merchants. Zobeide, as the chief, addressed them with serious countenance, and said, “You are welcome. But while you are here, you must have eyes, but no tongues; you must not ask the reason of anything you may see, nor speak of anything that does not concern you, lest you hear and see what will by no means please you.”

“Madam,” replied the vizier, “you shall be obeyed. It is enough for us to attend to our business, without meddling with what does not concern us.” After this, each seated himself, and the conversation became general.

The caliph ceased not from admiring the beauty, elegance, and lively disposition of the ladies; while the appearance of the three calenders, all blind of the right eye, surprised him very much. He wished to learn the cause of this singularity, but the conditions that had been imposed upon him and his companions prevented any inquiry.

The guests continued their conversation, when, after an interval, Zobeide rose up, and taking Amina by the hand, said to her, “Come, sister, the company shall not prevent us from doing as we have always been accustomed.” Amina at once got up, and took away the dishes, tables, bottles, glasses, and also the instruments on which the calenders had played. Nor did Safie remain idle; she snuffed the candles, and added more aloe-wood and ambergris. Having done this, she requested the three calenders to sit on a sofa on one side, and the caliph and his company on the other. “Get up,” said she then to the porter, “and be ready to assist in whatever we want you.” Amina next came in with a seat, which she placed in the middle of the room. She then went to the door of a closet, and having opened it, she made a sign to the porter to approach. “Come and assist me,” she cried. He did so, and went in with her, and returned a moment after, followed by two black dogs, each of them secured by a collar and chain, and brought them into the middle of the court.

Zobeide, rising from her seat between the calenders and the caliph, moved sadly toward the porter. “Come,” said she, heaving a deep sigh, “let us perform our duty.” She then tucked up her sleeves above her elbows, and receiving a rod from Safie, “Porter,” said she, “deliver one of the dogs to my sister Amina, and bring the other to me.”

The porter did as he was commanded. Upon this the dog that he held in his hand began to howl, and turning toward Zobeide, held her head up in a supplicating posture; but Zobeide, having no regard to the sad countenance of the animal, nor to its cries that resounded through the house, whipped her with the rod till she was out of breath; and having spent her strength, threw down the rod, and taking the chain from the porter, lifted up the dog by her paws, and looking upon her with a sad and pitiful countenance, they both wept; after which, Zobeide, with her handkerchief, wiped the tears from the dog’s eyes, kissed her, returned the chain to the porter, desired him to carry her to the place whence he took her, and to bring the other. Then taking the whip, she served this in the same manner; she then wept with it, dried its tears, kissed it, and returned it to the porter.

The three calenders, with the caliph and his companions, were extremely surprised at this exhibition, and could not comprehend why Zobeide, after having beaten the two dogs, should weep with them, wipe off their tears, and kiss them. They muttered among themselves; and the caliph, being more impatient than the rest, could not forbear making signs to the vizier to ask the question. The vizier turned his head another way; but being pressed by repeated signs, he answered by others, that it was not yet time for the caliph to satisfy his curiosity.

Zobeide sat still some time in the middle of the room, where she had whipped the two dogs, to recover herself of her emotion; and Safie called to her, “Dear sister, will you not be pleased to return to your place, that I may also act my part?” “Yes, sister,” replied Zobeide; and then went and sat down upon the sofa, having the caliph, Giafar, and Mesrour, on her right hand, and the three calenders, with the porter, on her left.

The whole company remained silent for some time.

At last Amina rose, and went into another closet near to that where the dogs were, and brought out a case covered with yellow satin, richly embroidered with gold and green silk. She went toward Safie and opened the case, from whence she took a lute, and presented it to her; and after some time spent in tuning it, Safie began to play, and, accompanying the instrument with her voice, sang a song about the torments that absence creates to lovers. Having sung with much passion and sweetness, she said to Amina, “Pray take it, sister, for my voice fails me; oblige the company with a tune and a song in my stead.” “Very willingly,” replied Amina, and taking the lute from her sister Safie, sat down in her place. Having sung most delightfully, the caliph expressed his admiration. While he was doing so, Amina fainted away; and on opening her robe to give her air, they discovered that her breast was covered with fearful scars.

While Zobeide and Safie ran to assist their sister, the caliph asked a calender, “Can you inform me about these two black dogs, and this lady, who appears to have been so ill-treated?” “Sir,” said the calender, “we never were in this house before now, and entered it only a few minutes sooner than you did.” This increased the astonishment of the caliph. “Perhaps,” said he, “the man who is with you can give you some information?” The calender made signs to the porter to draw near, and asked him if he knew why the black dogs had been beaten, and why the bosom of Amina was so scarred. “Sir,” replied the porter, “if you know nothing of the matter, I know as little as you do. I never was in the house until now; and if you are surprised to see me here, I am as much so to find myself in your company.”

The caliph, more and more perplexed at all he heard, determined that he would have the explanation of these mysterious proceedings. But the question was, who should make the inquiry? The caliph endeavored to persuade the calenders to speak first, but they excused themselves. At last they all agreed that the porter should be the man. While they were consulting how to put the question, Zobeide herself, as Amina had recovered from her fainting, approached them, and said, “What are you talking of?—what is your dispute about?”

The porter then addressed her as follows: “These gentlemen, madam, entreat you to explain why you wept with those dogs, after having treated them so ill, and how it has happened that the lady who fainted has her bosom covered with scars?”

At these words Zobeide put on a stern look, and turning toward the caliph and the rest of the company: “Is it true, gentlemen,” said she, “that you desired him to ask me these questions?” All of them, except the vizier Giafar, who spoke not a word, answered, “Yes.” On which she exclaimed, in a tone of resentment: “Before we granted you the favor of receiving you into our house we imposed the condition that you should not speak of anything that did not concern you, lest you might hear that which would not please you; and yet, after having accepted our entertainment, you make no scruple to break your promise. Our easy compliance with your wishes may have occasioned this, but that shall not excuse your rudeness.” As she spoke these words, she gave three stamps with her foot, and clapping her hands as often together, cried, “Come quickly!” Upon this a door flew open, and seven black slaves rushed in; each one seized a man, threw him on the ground, and dragged him into the middle of the room, brandishing a scimitar over his head.

We may easily conceive the alarm of the caliph. He repented, too late, that he had not taken the advice of his vizier, who, with Mesrour, the calenders, and porter, were, from his ill-timed curiosity, on the point of forfeiting their lives. Before they gave the fatal stroke, one of the slaves said to Zobeide and her sisters, “Would it not be right to interrogate them first?” On which Zobeide said, “Answer me, and say who you are, otherwise you shall not live one moment longer. I cannot believe you to be honest men, or persons of authority or distinction in your own countries; for, if you were, you would have kept the promise made us.”

The caliph, naturally, was infinitely more indignant than the rest to find his life depending upon the command of a woman: but he began to conceive some hopes, when he found she wished to know who they all were; for he imagined that she would by no means take away his life, when she should be informed of his rank. He whispered to his vizier, who was near him, instantly to declare who he was. But this wise vizier, being more prudent, resolved to save his master’s honor, and not let the world know the affront he had brought upon himself by his own imprudence; and therefore answered, “We have what we deserve.”

Zobeide, meanwhile, having turned to the calenders, and seeing them all blind with one eye, asked if they were brothers. One of them answered, “No, madam, not otherwise than as we are calenders; that is to say, as we observe the same rules.” “Were you born blind of the right eye?” continued she. “No madam,” answered he; “I lost my eye in such a surprising adventure, that it would be instructive to every one to hear it.” Zobeide put the same question to the others in their turn, when the last she addressed replied, “Pray, madam, show some pity on us, for we are all the sons of kings. Although we have never seen each other before this evening, we have had sufficient time to become acquainted with this circumstance; and I can assure you that the kings our fathers, have made some noise in the world!”

During this speech Zobeide became less angry, and said to the slaves, “Give them their liberty a while, but remain where you are. Those who tell us their history, and the occasion of their coming, do them no hurt, let them go where they please; but do not spare those who refuse to give us that satisfaction.”

The three calenders, the caliph, the grand vizier Giafar, the captain of his guard, and the porter were placed in the middle of the hall, seated upon a carpet before the three ladies, who reclined upon a sofa, while the slaves stood ready to do whatever their mistresses should command.

The porter spoke first, and briefly related the adventures of the morning with Amina, and the kind favors to him of herself and her fair sisters in the evening, which he declared to be the whole of his history.

When the porter had concluded, Zobeide said, “Save thyself and begone, nor ever let us see thee again.” “I beg of you, madam,” replied he, “to let me remain a little longer. It would be unfair that I should not hear their histories, after they have had the pleasure of hearing mine.” Saying this he took his place at the end of the sofa, truly delighted at finding himself free from the danger which so much alarmed him. One of the calenders, addressing himself to Zobeide, next spoke.

THE HISTORY OF
THE FIRST CALENDER

Madam, I am the son of a sultan. My father had a brother, who reigned over a neighboring kingdom. His son, my cousin, and I were nearly of the same age. I went regularly every year to see my uncle, at whose court I amused myself for a month or two, and then returned home. On one occasion I arrived at my father’s capital, where, contrary to custom, I found a numerous guard at the gate of the palace. They surrounded me as I entered. The commanding officer said, “Prince, the army has proclaimed the grand vizier sultan, instead of your father, who is dead, and I take you prisoner in the name of the new sultan.”

This rebel vizier had long entertained a mortal hatred against me. When I was a boy I loved to shoot with a cross bow; and being one day upon the terrace of the palace, a bird happening to come by, I shot at but missed him, and the bolt by misfortune hit the vizier, who was taking the air upon the terrace of his own house, and put out one of his eyes. He never forgave me, and, as opportunity offered, made me sensible of his resentment. But now that he had me in his power, he came to me like a madman, and thrusting his finger into my right eye, pulled it out, and thus I became blind of one eye.

His cruelty did not stop here; he commanded the executioner to cut off my head, and leave me to be devoured by birds of prey. The executioner conveyed me to the place of execution to complete this barbarous sentence; but by my prayers and tears, I moved the man’s compassion: “Go,” said he to me, “get you speedily out of the kingdom, and never return, or you will destroy yourself and me.” I thanked him, and as soon as I was left alone, comforted myself for the loss of my eye, by considering that I had very narrowly escaped a much greater evil.

Being thus surrounded with sorrows and persecuted by fortune, I had recourse to a stratagem, which was the only means left me to save my life: I caused my beard and eyebrows to be shaved, and putting on a calender’s habit, I passed, unknown by any, out of the city. I avoided the towns till I arrived in the empire of the commander of the faithful, the renowned caliph Haroun al Raschid, when I ceased to fear. I resolved to come to Bagdad and throw myself at the feet of this great monarch. I shall move him to compassion, said I to myself, by the relation of my misfortunes, and without doubt he will take pity on a persecuted prince, and not suffer me to implore his assistance in vain.

In short, after a journey of several months, I arrived yesterday at the gate of this city, into which I entered at dusk: and as I entered, another calender came up; he saluted me, and I him. “You appear,” said I, “to be a stranger, as I am.” “You are not mistaken,” replied he. He had no sooner returned this answer, than a third calender overtook us. He saluted us, and told us he was a stranger newly come to Bagdad; so that as brethren we joined together, resolving not to separate from one another.

It was now late, and we knew not where to seek a lodging in the city, where we had never been before. But good fortune having brought us to your gate, we made bold to knock, when you received us with so much kindness, that we are incapable of rendering suitable thanks. This, madam, is in obedience to your commands, the account I was to give how I lost my right eye, wherefore my beard and eyebrows are shaved, and how I came to be with you at this time.

“It is enough,” said Zobeide; “you may retire to what place you think fit.” The calender begged the ladies’ permission to stay till he had heard the relations of his two comrades, “whom I cannot,” said he, “leave with honor;” and that he might also hear those of the three other persons in company.

He had no sooner finished than the second calender began, and addressing himself to Zobeide, spoke as follows:

THE HISTORY OF
THE SECOND CALENDER

Madam, to obey your commands, and to show you by what strange accident I became blind of the right eye, I must give you the account of my life. I was yet a youth, when the sultan, my father, perceived that I was endowed with good natural ability, and spared nothing proper for improving it. No sooner was I able to read and write, but I learned the Koran from beginning to end by heart, all the traditions collected from the mouth of our prophet, and the works of poets. I applied myself to geography, chronology, and to speak the Arabian language in its purity; not forgetting in the mean time all such exercises as were proper for a prince to understand. But the thing which I was most fond of, and best succeeded in, was penmanship: wherein I surpassed all the celebrated scribes of our kingdom.

The fame of my learning reached the Emperor of Hindustan, who sent an embassy with rich presents to my father and invited me to his court. I departed with the ambassador.

We had been about a month on our journey, when we saw in the distance an immense cloud of dust, and soon after we discovered fifty fierce horsemen, sons of the desert, well armed.

Not being able to repel force by force, we told them we were the ambassadors of the sultan of India; but the sons of the desert insolently answered, “Why do you wish us to respect the sultan, your master! We are not his subjects, nor even within his realm.” They attacked us on all sides. I defended myself as long as I could, but finding that I was wounded, and that the ambassador and all our attendants were overthrown, I took advantage of the remaining strength of my horse, and escaped. My horse was wounded and suddenly fell dead under me. Alone, wounded, and a stranger, I bound up my hurt and walked on the rest of the day, arriving at the foot of a mountain, where I perceived a cave; I stayed there that night, after I had eaten some fruits that I gathered by the way. I continued my journey for many days without finding any place of abode; but after a month’s time I came to a large town, well inhabited—it was surrounded by several streams, so that it seemed to enjoy perpetual spring.

My face, hands, and feet were black and sunburnt; for by my long journey, my boots were quite worn out, so that I was forced to walk barefoot; and my clothes were all in rags. I entered the town and addressed myself to a tailor that was at work in his shop; who made me sit down by him, and asked me who I was, whence I came, and what had brought me thither. I did not conceal anything that had befallen me, nor made I any scruple to reveal my rank. The tailor listened to me with attention; and brought me something to eat, and offered me an apartment at his house, which I accepted.

Some days after my arrival, the tailor asked me if I knew anything by which I could acquire a livelihood. I told him that I was well versed in the science of laws, both human and divine; that I was a grammarian, a poet, and, above all, that I wrote remarkably well. “None of these things will avail you here. If you will follow my advice,” he added, “you will procure a short jacket, and as you are strong and in good health, you may go into the neighboring forest, and cut wood for fuel. You may then expose it for sale in the market. By these means, you will be able to wait till the cloud which hangs over you, and obliges you to conceal your birth, shall have blown over. I will furnish you with a cord and hatchet.”

The next day the tailor brought me a rope, a hatchet, and a short jacket, and recommended me to people who gained their bread after the same manner, that they might take me into their company. They conducted me to the wood, and the first day I brought in as much upon my head as procured me half a piece of gold of the money of that country; for though the wood was not far distant from the town, yet few would be at the trouble of fetching it for themselves. I gained a good sum of money in a short time, and repaid my tailor what he had lent me.

I continued this way of living for a whole year. One day, having by chance penetrated farther into the wood than usual, I happened to light on a pleasant spot, where I began to cut; and in pulling up the root of a tree I espied an iron ring, fastened to a trap door of the same metal. I took away the earth that covered it, and having lifted it up, discovered a flight of stairs, which I descended with my ax in my hand.

When I reached the bottom, I found myself in a palace, as well lighted as if it had been above ground. I went forward along a gallery supported by pillars of jasper, the base and capitals being of massy gold; suddenly I saw a lady of a noble and graceful air, and extremely beautiful, coming toward me. I hastened to meet her; and as I was making a low obeisance, she asked me, “Are you a man, or a genie?” “A man, madam,” said I. “By what adventure, said she, fetching a deep sigh, “are you come hither? I have lived here twenty-five years, and you are the first man I have beheld in that time.”

Her great beauty, and the sweetness and civility wherewith she received me, emboldened me to reply. “Madam, before I satisfy your curiosity, give me leave to say that I am infinitely gratified with this unexpected meeting which offers me an occasion of consolation in the midst of my affliction; and perhaps it may give me an opportunity of making you also more happy than you are.” I then related my story to her from beginning to end. “Alas! prince,” she replied, sighing, “the most enchanting spots cannot afford delight when we are there against our wills. But hear now my history. I am a princess, the daughter of a sultan, king of the Ebony Island, so called because of the precious wood found in it.

“The king, my father, had chosen for my husband a prince, who was my cousin; but on the very night of the bridal festivities, in the midst of the rejoicings of the court, a genie took me away. I fainted with alarm, and when I recovered I found myself in this place. I was long inconsolable; but time and necessity have reconciled me. Twenty-five years I have passed in this place, in which I have everything necessary for life and splendor.

“Every ten days,” continued the princess, “the genie visits me. In the mean time, if I have any occasion for him, I have only to touch a talisman, and he appears. It is now four days since he was here, and I have therefore to wait six days more before he again makes his appearance. You, therefore, may remain five with me, if it be agreeable to you, in order to keep me company; and I will endeavor to regale and entertain you as befits your merit and dignity.”

The princess then conducted me to a bath, the most commodious and sumptuous imaginable; and when I came forth, instead of my own clothes I found waiting a costly robe. We sat down to a table with several dishes of delicate meats. We ate, and passed the remaining part of the day, as also the evening very pleasantly together.

The next day I said to her, “Fair princess, you have been too long buried alive in this subterranean palace; come—follow me and enjoy the light of day, of which you have been deprived so many years.” “Prince,” replied she, with a smile, “if you out of ten days will grant me nine, and resign the tenth to the genie, the light of day would be nothing to me.” “Princess,” said I, “the fear of the genie makes you speak thus; for my part I regard him so little, that I will break in pieces his talisman, with the spell that is written about it. Let him come; and however brave or powerful he be, I will defy him.” On saying this I gave the talisman a kick with my foot, and broke it in pieces.

The talisman was no sooner broken than the whole palace shook as if ready to fall to atoms, and the walls opened to give entrance to the genie. I had no sooner felt the shock than, at the earnest request of the princess, I took to flight. Having hastily put on my own robe, I ascended the stairs leading to the forest, and reached the town in safety. My landlord, the tailor, was very glad to see me. I had, however, in my haste, left my hatchet and cord in the princess’s chamber. Shortly after my return, while I was brooding over this loss, and lamenting the cruel treatment to which the princess would be exposed, the tailor came in and said, “An old man, whom I do not know, brings your hatchet and cord, and wishes to speak to you, for he will deliver them to none but yourself.”

At these words I changed color, and fell a-trembling. While the tailor was asking me the reason, my chamber door opened, and the old man appeared with my hatchet and cord. “I am a genie,” said he, speaking to me, “a grandson of Eblis, prince of genii. Is not this your hatchet and are not these your cords?”

After the genie had put these questions to me he gave me no time to answer. He grasped me by the middle, dragged me out of the chamber, and mounting into the air carried me up to the skies with extraordinary swiftness. He descended again in like manner to the earth, which on a sudden he caused to open with a stroke of his foot, when I found myself in the enchanted palace, before the fair princess of the Isle of Ebony. But, alas! what a spectacle was there! I saw what pierced me to the heart; the poor princess lay dead.

I fainted at the sight. When I was come to myself again, I cried, “Strike, for I am ready to die, and await death as the greatest favor you can show me.” But instead of killing me, he said, “Behold how genii revenge themselves on those who offend them. Thou art the least to blame, and I will content myself with transforming thee into a dog, ape, lion, or bird; take thy choice of any of these, I will leave it to thyself.” These words gave me some hopes of being able to appease him. “O genie,” said I, “restrain your rage, and since you will not take away my life, pardon me freely, as a good dervish pardoned one who envied him.” “And how was that?” said he. I answered as follows:

•   •   •   •   •

But with these words Scheherazade ceased, and turning to the sultan, said sadly:

“Sire, I perceive that the day has surprised us before I have related the whole story of the Calenders and the Ladies of Bagdad. If you could once more postpone the date of my execution, I can tomorrow morning continue the relation, which grows ever more surprising.”

To this the sultan made no objection. The grand vizier, waiting in terror for the fatal command, was once again made happy by hearing that his beloved daughter was to live for yet another day.

The next morning, an hour before day, Scheherazade, not waiting for her slave to speak to her, began where she had previously left off.

•   •   •   •   •

THE HISTORY OF
THE ENVIOUS MAN
AND OF HIM
WHO WAS ENVIED

In a certain town there were two men who lived next door to each other. One of them was so excessively envious of the other that the latter resolved to change his abode. He therefore sold his house, and went to another city at no great distance, and bought a convenient house. It had a good garden and a moderate court, in which there was a deep well, that was not now used.

The good man having made this purchase, put on the habit of a dervish, and in a short time he established a numerous society of dervishes. He soon came to be known by his virtues through which he acquired the esteem of many and was much honored and courted by all ranks. People came from afar to recommend themselves to his prayers; and all who visited him, spoke in praise of the blessings they received through his means.

The reputation of this honest man having spread to the town from whence he had come, it touched the envious man so much to the quick, that he left his own house and affairs with a resolution to ruin him. With this intent he went to the new convent of dervishes, of which his former neighbor was the head, who received him with all imaginable tokens of friendship. The envious man told him that he was come to communicate a business of importance, which he could not do but in private; “and that nobody may hear us,” he said, “let us take a walk in your court; and seeing night begins to draw on, command your dervishes to retire to their cells.” The chief of the dervishes did as he was requested.

When the envious man saw that he was alone with the good man, he began to tell him a pretended errand, walking side by side in the court, till he saw his opportunity; and getting the good man near the brink of the well, he gave him a thrust, and pushed him into it.

Now the old well was inhabited by peris and genii, which happened luckily for the head of the convent; for they received and supported him, and carried him to the bottom, so that he got no hurt. He perceived that there was something extraordinary in his fall, which must otherwise have cost him his life; but he neither saw nor felt anything. He presently heard a voice, however, which said, “Do you know what honest man this is, to whom we have done this piece of service?” Another voice answered, “No.” To which the first replied, “Then I will tell you. This man, out of charity, left the town he lived in, and established himself in this place, in hopes to cure one of his neighbors of the envy he had conceived against him; he acquired such a general esteem, that the envious man, not able to endure it, came hither on purpose to kill him; and he would have accomplished this design, had it not been for the assistance we have given this honest man, whose reputation is so great that the sultan, who keeps his residence in the neighboring city, was to pay him a visit tomorrow, to recommend the princess his daughter to his prayers.”

Another voice asked, “What need had the princess of the dervish’s prayers?” To which the first answered, “She is possessed by a genie. But I know how this good dervish may cure her. He has a black cat in his convent, with a white spot at the end of her tail, about the bigness of a small piece of Arabian money; let him only pull seven hairs out of the white spot, burn them, and smoke the princess’s head with the fumes, and she will not only be immediately cured, but be so safely delivered from the genie, that he will never dare to approach her again.”

The head of the dervishes remembered every word of the conversation between the fairies and the genii, who remained silent the remainder of the night. The next morning, as soon as daylight appeared, the well being broken down in several places, he saw a hole, by which he crept out with ease.

The other dervishes, who had been seeking for him, were rejoiced to see him; he gave them a brief account of the wickedness of the man to whom he had given so kind a reception the day before, and retired into his cell. Shortly after, the black cat, which the fairies and genii had mentioned, came to fawn upon her master, as she was accustomed to do; he took her up, and pulled seven hairs from the white spot that was upon her tail, and laid them aside for his use when occasion should serve.

Soon after sunrise, the sultan, who would leave no means untried that might restore the princess to health, arrived at the gate of the convent. He commanded his guards to halt, while he with his principal officers went in. The dervishes received him with profound respect.

The sultan called their chief aside, and said, “Good Sheik, you may know the cause of my visit.” “Yes, Sire,” he answered gravely, “if I do not mistake, it is the disease of the princess which procures me this unmerited honor.” “That is the case,” replied the sultan. “You will give me new life if your prayers restore my daughter’s health.” “Sire,” said the good man, “if your majesty will be pleased to let her come hither, I am in hopes, through God’s assistance and favor, that she will be effectually cured.”

The prince sent immediately for his daughter, who soon appeared with a numerous train of ladies and attendants, veiled, so that her face was not seen. The chief of the dervishes placed a lighted brazier before the princess and caused a carpet to be held over her head, and he had no sooner thrown the seven hairs upon the burning coals, than the genie uttered a great cry and, without being seen, left the princess at liberty; upon which she took the veil from her face, and rose up to see where she was, saying, “Where am I, and who brought me hither?” At these words, the sultan, overcome with excess of joy, embraced his daughter and kissed her eyes; he also kissed the sheik’s hands, and said to his officers, “What reward does he deserve that has thus cured my daughter?” They all cried, “He deserves her in marriage.” “That is what I had in my thoughts,” said the sultan; “and I make him my son-in-law from this moment.” Some time after, the grand vizier died, and the sultan conferred the place on the dervish. The sultan himself also died without male heirs; upon which the religious orders and the army consulted together, and the good man was acknowledged sultan by general consent.

As the new sultan was one day in the midst of his courtiers on a march, he espied the envious man among the crowd that stood as he passed along; and calling one of the viziers that attended him, whispered in his ear, “Go bring me that man you see there; but take care you do not frighten him.” The vizier obeyed, and when the envious man was brought into his presence, the sultan said, “Friend, I am extremely glad to see you.” Upon which he called an officer. “Go immediately,” said he, “and cause to be paid to this man out of my treasury, one hundred pieces of gold; let him have also twenty loads of the richest merchandise in my storehouses, and a sufficient guard to conduct him to his house.” After he had given this charge to the officer he bade the envious man farewell, and proceeded on his way.

When I had finished the recital of this story to the genie, I employed all my eloquence to persuade him to imitate so good an example, and to grant me pardon; but it was impossible to move his compassion.

“All that I can do for thee,” said he, “is to grant thee thy life, but I must place thee under enchantments.” So saying, he seized me violently, and carried me through the arched roof of the subterraneous palace, which opened to give him passage. He ascended with me into the air to such a height, that the earth appeared like a little white cloud. He then descended again like lightning, and alighted upon the summit of a mountain.

Here he took up a handful of earth, and, muttering some words which I did not understand, threw it upon me. “Quit,” said he, “the form of a man and take that of an ape.” He instantly disappeared, and left me alone, transformed into an ape, in a strange country, not knowing whether I was near or far from my father’s dominions.

I descended the mountain, and entered a level country, which took me a month to travel over, and then I came to the sea. It happened at the time to be perfectly calm, and I espied a vessel about a half league from the shore. Unwilling to lose so good an opportunity, I broke off a large branch from a tree, carried it into the sea, and got astride upon it, with a stick in each hand, to serve me for oars.

I launched out on this frail bark, and rowed toward the ship. When I had approached sufficiently near to be seen, the seamen and passengers on the deck regarded me with astonishment. In the mean time I got on board, and laying hold of a rope, jumped upon the deck, but having lost my speech, I found myself in great perplexity; and indeed the risk I ran was not less than when I was at the mercy of the genie.

The merchants, being superstitious, thought if they received me on board I might be the occasion of some misfortune to them during their voyage. On this account they said, “Let us throw him into the sea.” Some one of them would not have failed to carry this threat into execution, had I not gone to the captain, thrown myself at his feet, and taken hold of his robe in a supplicating posture. This action together with the tears which he saw gush from my eyes, moved his compassion. He took me under his protection, and loaded me with a thousand caresses. On my part, though I had not power to speak, I showed by my gestures every mark of gratitude in my power.

The wind that succeeded the calm continued to blow in the same direction for fifty days, and brought us safe to the port of a city, well peopled, and of great trade, where we cast anchor.

Our vessel was instantly surrounded with multitudes of boats full of people. Among the rest, some officers of the sultan came on board, and said, “Our master rejoices in your safe arrival, and he beseeches each of you to write a few lines upon this roll. The grand vizier, who, besides possessing great abilities for the management of public affairs, could write in the highest perfection, died a few days since, and the sultan has made a solemn vow not to give the place to anyone who cannot write equally well. No one in the empire has been judged worthy to supply the vizier’s place.”

Those of the merchants who thought they could write well enough to aspire to this high dignity wrote one after another what they thought fit. After they had done, I advanced and took the roll, but all the people cried out that I would tear it or throw it into the sea, till they saw how properly I held the roll, and made a sign that I would write in my turn. Their apprehensions then changed into wonder. However, as they had never seen an ape that could write, and could not be persuaded that I was cleverer than others of my kind, they wished to take the roll out of my hand; but the captain took my part once more. “Let him alone,” said he; “allow him to write.” I then took the pen, and wrote six sorts of hands used among the Arabians, each specimen containing an extemporary quatrain in praise of the sultan. When I had done, the officers took the roll, and carried it to the sultan.

The sultan took little notice of any of the writings except mine, which pleased him so much that he said to the officers, “Take the finest horse in my stable, with the richest trappings, and a robe of the most sumptuous brocade to put on the person who wrote the six hands, and bring him hither.” At this command the officers could not forbear laughing. The sultan was incensed at their rudeness, and would have punished them, had they not explained. “Sire,” said they, “we humbly beg your majesty’s pardon. These hands were not written by a man, but by an ape.” “What do you say?” exclaimed the sultan. “Those admirable characters, are they not written by a man?” “No, Sire,” replied the officers; “we assure your majesty that it was an ape, who wrote them in our presence.” The sultan was too much surprised not to desire a sight of me, and therefore said, “Do what I command you, and bring me speedily that wonderful ape.”

The officers returned to the vessel, and showed the captain their order, who answered, “The sultan’s command must be obeyed.” Whereupon they clothed me with the rich brocade robe, and carried me ashore, where they set me on horseback, while the sultan waited for me at his palace with a great number of courtiers.

The procession commenced; the harbor, the streets, the public places, windows, terraces, palaces, and houses were filled with an infinite number of people of all ranks, who flocked from every part of the city to see me; for the rumor was spread in a moment that the sultan had chosen an ape to be his grand vizier; and after having served as a spectacle to the people, who could not forbear to express their surprise by shouts, I arrived at the sultan’s palace.

I found the prince on his throne in the midst of the grandees; I made my obeisance three times very low, and at last kneeled and kissed the ground before him, and afterward took my seat in the posture of an ape. The whole assembly viewed me with admiration, and could not comprehend how it was possible that an ape should so well understand how to pay the sultan his due respect; and he himself was more astonished than any.

The sultan dismissed his courtiers, and went from his chamber of audience into his own apartment, where he ordered dinner to be brought. As he sat at table, he made me a sign to approach and eat with him; to show my obedience, I kissed the ground, arose, placed myself at the table, and ate.

Before the table was cleared, I espied a fruit stand which I made a sign to have brought me; having got it, I wrote upon a large peach some verses expressive of my acknowledgment to the sultan; who, having read them, after I had presented the peach to him, was still more astonished. When the table was cleared they brought him a particular wine of which he caused them to give me a glass. I drank, and wrote upon the glass some new verses, which explained the state of happiness I was now in, after many sufferings. The sultan read these likewise, and said, “A man capable of composing such poetry would rank among the greatest.”

The sultan commanded the attendants to bring him a chessboard, and asked me by a sign if I understood that game, and would play with him. I kissed the ground; and laying my hand upon my head, signified that I was ready to play. He won the first game; but I won the second and third.

So many circumstances appearing to the sultan beyond what had ever either been seen or known of apes, he determined not to be the only witness of these prodigies himself, but having a daughter, called the Lady of Beauty, sent for her, that she should share his pleasure.

The princess, who had her face unveiled, no sooner came into the room than she put on her veil, and said to the sultan, “Sire, I am surprised that you have sent for me to appear before a man. That seeming ape is a young prince, son of a powerful sultan, and has been metamorphosed into an ape by enchantment. When I was just out of the nursery, an old lady who waited on me was a most expert magician, and taught me seventy rules of magic. By this science I know all enchanted persons at first sight: I know who they are, and by whom they have been enchanted; therefore do not be surprised if I should forthwith restore this prince, in spite of the enchantments, to his own form.” “Do so, then,” interrupted the sultan, “for you cannot give me greater pleasure, as I wish to have him for my grand vizier, and bestow you upon him for a wife.” “I am ready. Sire,” answered the princess, “to obey you in all things you please to command.”

The princess, the Lady of Beauty, went into her apartment, and brought thence a knife, which had some Hebrew words engraven on the blade: she made the sultan, a little slave, and myself, descend into a private court of the palace, and there left us under a gallery that went round it. She placed herself in the middle of the court, where she made a great circle, and within it she wrote several words in ancient Arabian characters.

When she had finished, she placed herself in the center of the circle, where she began incantations, and repeated verses of the Koran. The air grew dark, as if it had been night; we found ourselves struck with consternation, and our fear increased when we saw the genie appear suddenly in the shape of a lion of gigantic size.

“Thou shalt pay dearly,” said the lion, “for the trouble thou hast given me in coming here.” In saying this, he opened his horrible jaws, and advanced forward to devour her; but she, being on her guard, jumped back, and had just time to pluck out a hair; and pronouncing two or three words, she changed it into a sharp scythe, with which she immediately cut the lion in two pieces, through the middle.

The two parts of the lion disappeared, and in their place we saw a large scorpion. The princess then took the form of a serpent, and fought the scorpion, which, finding itself defeated, changed into an eagle, and flew away. But the serpent then became another eagle, black, and very large, and went in pursuit of it. We now lost sight of them for some time.

Shortly after they had disappeared, the earth opened before us, and a black and white cat appeared, the hairs of which stood quite on end, and which made a most horrible mewing. A black wolf directly followed after her, and gave her no time to rest. The cat, being thus hard pressed, changed into a worm, and hid itself in a pomegranate which lay by accident on the ground; but the pomegranate swelled immediately, becoming as big as a gourd, which rose to the roof of the gallery, rolled there for some time backward and forward and then fell down again into the court, where it broke into several pieces.

The wolf had in the meanwhile transformed itself into a cock, and now fell to picking up the seeds of the pomegranate one after another; but finding no more, he came toward us with his wings spread, making a great noise, as if he would ask us whether there were any more seeds. There was one lying on the brink of the fountain, which the cock perceiving as he went back, ran toward; but just as he was going to pick it up the seed rolled into the water and turned into a little fish.

The cock flying toward the fountain, turned into a pike, and pursued the small fish; they continued both under water above two hours, and we knew not what was become of them; but suddenly we heard terrible cries, which made us tremble, and a little while after we saw the genie and princess rise from the water in flames. They threw flashes of fire out of their mouths at each other, till they came to close combat; then the two fires increased, with a thick, burning smoke, which mounted so high that we had reason to apprehend it would set the palace on fire. But we very soon had a more pressing occasion of fear, for the genie having got loose from the princess, came to the gallery where we stood, and blew flames of fire upon us. We must have perished had not the princess, running to our assistance, forced him to retire, and defend himself against her; yet, notwithstanding all her exertions, she could not hinder the sultan’s beard from being burned, and his face scorched, nor a spark from entering my right eye, and making it blind. The sultan and I looked for nothing but death, when we heard a cry of “Victory, victory!” and instantly the princess appeared in her natural shape; but the genie was reduced to a heap of ashes.

The princess approached us and hastily called for a cupful of water, which the young slave, who had received no hurt, brought her. She took it, and after pronouncing some words over it, threw it upon me saying, “If thou art become an ape by enchantment, change thy shape, and take that of a man, which thou hadst before.” These words were hardly uttered, when I again became a man in every respect as I was before my transformation, except for the loss of my eye.

I wished to express to the princess my thanks, but she prevented me by saying to her father: “Sire, I have gained the victory over the genie; but it is a victory that costs me dear. I have but a few minutes to live; the fire has pierced me during the terrible combat, and I find it is gradually consuming me. This would not have happened, had I perceived the last of the pomegranate seeds, and swallowed it, as I did the others when I was changed into a cock; the genie had fled thither as to his last intrenchment, and upon that the success of the combat depended. This oversight obliged me to have recourse to fire, and to fight with it as I did, between heaven and earth, in your presence; in spite of all, I made the genie know that I understood more than he; I have conquered and reduced him to ashes, but I cannot escape death, which is approaching.”

Suddenly the princess exclaimed, “I burn, I burn!” She found that the fire had at last seized upon her vital parts, which made her still cry, “I burn;” until death had put an end to her intolerable pains. The effect of the fire was so powerful, that in a few moments she too was wholly reduced to ashes.

I cannot tell you, madam, how much I was grieved at so dismal a spectacle; I had rather all my life have continued an ape or a dog, than to have seen my benefactress thus miserably perish. The sultan cried piteously, and beat himself on his head and breast, until, being quite overcome with grief, he fainted away. In the mean time, the attendants and officers came running at the sultan’s lamentations, and with much difficulty brought him to himself.

When the knowledge of the death of the princess had spread through the palace and the city, all the people greatly bewailed her loss. Public mourning was observed for seven days. The ashes of the genie were thrown into the air; but those of the princess were collected into a precious urn, to be preserved; and the urn was deposited in a superb mausoleum constructed for that purpose on the spot where the princess had been consumed.

The grief of the sultan for the loss of his daughter confined him to his chamber for a whole month. Before he had fully recovered his strength, he sent for me and said, “You are the cause of all these misfortunes; depart hence therefore in peace, but without further delay, and take care never to appear again in my dominions on penalty of death.”

I was obliged to quit the palace, again an outcast from the world. Before I left the city, I went into a bagnio, where I caused my beard and eyebrows to be shaved, and put on a calender’s robe. I passed through many countries without making myself known; at last I resolved to visit Bagdad, in hopes of meeting with the Commander of the Faithful, to move his compassion by relating to him my unfortunate adventures. I arrived this evening; and the first man I met was this calender, our brother, who spoke before me. You know the remaining part, madam, and the cause of my having the honor to be here.

When the second calender had concluded his story, Zobeide, to whom he had addressed his speech, said, “It is well; you are at liberty:” but instead of departing he also petitioned the lady to show him the same favor vouchsafed to the first calender, and went and sat down by him.

Then the third calender, knowing it was his turn to speak, addressed himself, like the others, to Zobeide, and began his history as follows:

•   •   •   •   •

Dawn had come as Scheherazade reached the conclusion of the second calender’s story, but the sultan, not waiting for her to ask, remarked that as it was time now for him to arise, they would put off hearing the story of the third calender until the following day, at which time Scheherazade began with these words:

THE HISTORY OF
THE THIRD CALENDER

My story, O honorable lady, differs from those you have already heard. The two princes who have spoken before me have each lost an eye by events beyond their own control; but I lost mine through my own fault.

My name is Agib. I am the son of a sultan. After his death I took possession of his dominions, and continued in the city where he had resided. My kingdom is composed of several fine provinces upon the mainland, besides a number of valuable islands. My first object was to visit the provinces: I afterward caused my whole fleet to be fitted out, and went to my islands to gain the hearts of my subjects by my presence, and to confirm them in their loyalty. These voyages gave me some taste for navigation, in which I took so much pleasure that I resolved to make some discoveries beyond my own territories; to which end I caused ten ships to be fitted out, embarked, and set sail.

Our voyage was very pleasant for forty days successively: but on the forty-first night the wind became contrary, and so boisterous that we were nearly lost. I gave orders to steer back to my own coast; but I found that my pilot knew not where we were. Upon the tenth day, a seaman being sent to look out for land from the masthead, gave notice that right ahead he perceived a great blackness.

The pilot changed color at this account, and throwing his turban on the deck with one hand, and beating his breast with the other, cried, “O sir, we are all lost; not one of us can escape; and with all my skill it is not in my power to effect our deliverance.” I asked him what reason he had thus to despair. He exclaimed, “The tempest has brought us so far out of our course, that tomorrow about noon we shall be near the black mountain, or mine of lodestone which at this very minute draws all your fleet toward it by virtue of the iron in your ships; and when we approach within a certain distance, the attraction of the lodestone will have such force, that all the nails will be drawn out of the sides and bottoms of the ships, and fasten to the mountain, so that your vessels will fall to pieces and sink. This mountain,” continued the pilot, “is almost inaccessible. On the summit there is a dome of fine brass, supported by pillars of the same metal, and on the top of that dome stands a horse, likewise of brass, with a rider on his back, who has a plate of lead fixed to his breast, upon which some talismanic characters are engraven. Sir, the tradition is, that this statue is the chief cause why so many ships and men have been lost and sunk in this place, and that it will ever continue to be fatal to all those who have the misfortune to approach, until it shall be thrown down.”

The pilot having finished his discourse, began to weep afresh, and all the rest of the ship’s company did the same, while they took farewell of each other.

The next morning we distinctly perceived the black mountain. About noon we were so near, that we found what the pilot had foretold to be true; for all the nails and iron in the ships flew toward the mountain, where they fixed, by the violence of the attraction, with a horrible noise; the ships split asunder, and their cargoes sank into the sea. All my people were drowned, but God had mercy on me, and permitted me to save myself by means of a plank, which the wind drove ashore just at the foot of the mountain. I did not receive the least hurt; and my good fortune brought me to a landing-place, where there were steps that led up to the summit of the mountain.

At last I reached the top without accident. I went into the dome and kneeling on the ground, gave God thanks for His mercies.

I passed the night under the dome. In my sleep an old man appeared to me, and said, “Hearken, Agib; as soon as thou art awake dig up the ground under thy feet: thou wilt find a bow of brass, and three arrows of lead. Shoot the three arrows at the statue, and the rider and his horse will fall into the sea; this being done, the sea will swell and rise to the foot of the dome. When it has come so high, thou wilt perceive a boat with one man holding an oar in each hand; this man is also of metal. Step on board, but without mentioning the name of God, and let him conduct thee. He will in ten days’ time bring thee into another sea, where thou shalt find an opportunity to return to thy country, provided, as I have told thee, thou dost not mention the name of God during the whole voyage.”

When I awoke I felt much comforted by the vision, and did not fail to observe everything that the old man had commanded me. I took the bow and arrows out of the ground, shot at the horseman, and with the third arrow I overthrew him and the horse. In the mean time, the sea rose up by degrees. When it came as high as the foot of the dome upon the top of the mountain, I saw, afar off, a boat rowing toward me, and I returned God thanks.

When the boat made land, I stepped aboard, taking great heed not to pronounce the name of God, neither spoke I one word. I sat down, and the man of metal began to row off from the mountain. He rowed without ceasing till the ninth day, when I saw islands, which gave me hopes that I should reach safety. The excess of my joy made me forget what I was forbidden: “God is great, God be praised!” said I.

I had no sooner spoken than the boat and man sank, casting me upon the sea. I swam until night, when, as my strength began to fail, a wave vast as a mountain threw me on the land. The first thing I did was to strip, and to dry my clothes.

The next morning, I set forth to discover what sort of country I was in. I had not walked far before I found I was upon a deserted though a very pleasant island, abounding with trees and wild shrubs bearing fruit. I recommended myself to God, and prayed Him to dispose of me according to His will. Immediately after, I saw a vessel coming from the mainland, before the wind, directly toward the island.

I got up into a thick tree, from whence, though unseen, I might safely view what should occur. The vessel came into a little creek, where ten slaves landed, carrying a spade and other instruments for digging up the ground. They went toward the middle of the island, where they dug for a considerable time, after which they lifted up a trap-door. They returned again to the vessel and unloaded several sorts of provisions and furniture, which they carried to the place where they had been digging; they then descended into a subterranean dwelling.

I saw them once more go to the ship, to return soon after with an old man, who led a handsome lad of about fifteen years of age. They all descended when the trap-door had been opened. After they had again come up, they let down the trap-door, covered it over with earth, and returned to the creek where the ship lay; but I saw not the young man in their company. Evidently he had stayed behind in the subterranean cavern.

The old man and the slaves returned on board, and steered their course toward the mainland. When they had proceeded to such a distance that I could not be seen by them, I came down from the tree, and went to the place where I had seen the ground broken. I removed the earth by degrees, till I came to a stone two or three feet square. I lifted it up, and found that it covered the head of a flight of stairs, also of stone. I descended, and at the bottom found myself in a large room, brilliantly lighted, and furnished with a carpet, a couch covered with tapestry, and cushions of rich stuff, upon which the young man sat reading. He, when he perceived me, was considerably alarmed; but I made a low obeisance, and said to him, “Sir, do not fear. I am a king, and I will do you no harm. On the contrary, it is probable that your good destiny may have brought me hither to deliver you out of this tomb, where it seems you have been buried alive. But what surprises me (for you must know that I have seen all that passed since your coming to this island) is, that you suffered yourself to be entombed in this place without any resistance.”

The youth, much assured at these words, with a smiling countenance requested me to sit myself by him. As soon as I was seated, he said, “Prince, my story will surprise you. My father is a jeweler. He had been long married without having issue when he dreamt that he should have a son, though his life would be but short. Some time after, I was born, which occasioned great joy in the family. My father, who had observed the very moment of my birth, consulted astrologers about my nativity, and was answered, ‘Your son shall live happily till the age of fifteen, when his life will be exposed to a danger, which he will hardly be able to escape. But if his good destiny preserve him beyond that time, he will live to a great age. It will be,’ said they, ‘when the statue of brass, that stands upon the summit of the mountain of lodestone, shall be thrown into the sea by Prince Agib, that, as the stars prognosticate, your son will be killed fifty days afterward by that prince.’

“My father took all imaginable care of my education until this year, which is the fifteenth of my age. He had notice given him yesterday that the statue of brass had been thrown into the sea about ten days ago. This news alarmed him much; and, in consequence of the prediction of the astrologers, he took the precaution to form this subterranean habitation to hide me in during the fifty days after the throwing down of the statue; and therefore, as it is ten days since this happened, he came hastily hither to conceal me, and promised at the end of forty days to return and fetch me away. For my own part, I am sanguine in my hopes, and cannot believe that Prince Agib will seek for me in a place under ground, in the midst of a desert island.”

He had scarcely done speaking, when I told him, with great joy, “Dear sir, trust in the goodness of God, and fear nothing. I will not leave you till the forty days have expired, of which the foolish astrologers have made you apprehensive; and in the meanwhile I will do you all the service in my power; after which, with leave of your father and yourself, I shall have the benefit of getting to the mainland in your vessel; and when I am returned into my kingdom, I will remember the obligations I owe you, and endeavor to demonstrate my gratitude by suitable acknowledgments.”

These words encouraged the jeweler’s son, and inspired him with confidence. I took care not to inform him I was the very Agib whom he dreaded, lest I should awaken his fears. I found the young man of ready wit, and partook with him of his provisions, of which he had enough to have lasted beyond the forty days, though he had had more guests than myself. In short, madam, we spent, thirty-nine days in the pleasantest manner possible, in this subterranean abode.

The fortieth day appeared; and in the morning, when the young man awoke, he said to me, with a joy that he could not restrain, “Prince, this is the fortieth day, and I am not dead, thanks to God and your good company. My father will not fail to make you, very shortly, every acknowledgment of his gratitude for your attentions, and will furnish you with every necessity for your return to your kingdom. But,” continued he, “while we are waiting his arrival, dear prince, let us refresh ourselves with a melon.”

Out of the several melons that remained he took the best, and laid it on a plate; and as I could not find a knife to cut it with, I asked the young man if he knew where there was one. “There is one,” said he, “upon the cornice over my head.” I accordingly saw it there, and made so much haste to reach it, that, while I had it in my hand, my foot being entangled in the carpet, I fell most unhappily upon the young man, and the knife pierced his heart.

At this spectacle I cried out with agony. I beat my head, my face, and breast; I tore my clothes; I threw myself on the ground with unspeakable sorrow and grief. Nevertheless, considering that all my tears and sorrows would not restore the young man to life, and, the forty days being expired, I might be surprised by his father, I quitted the subterranean dwelling, laid down the great stone upon the entrance, and covered it with earth. I again ascended into the tree which had previously sheltered me, and soon I saw the expected vessel approaching the shore.

The old man with his slaves landed immediately, and advanced toward the subterranean dwelling, with a countenance that showed some hope; but when they saw the earth had been newly removed, they changed color, particularly the old man. They lifted up the stone, and descended the stairs. They called the young man by his name, but no answer was returned. Their fears redoubled. They searched and at last found him stretched on his couch, with the knife through his heart, for I had not had the courage to draw it out. On seeing this, they uttered such lamentable cries that my tears flowed afresh. The unfortunate father continued a long while insensible, and made them more than once despair of his life: but at last he came to himself. The slaves then brought up his son’s body, dressed in his best apparel, and when they had made a grave they buried it. The old man, supported by two slaves, and his face covered with tears, threw the first earth upon the body, after which the slaves filled up the grave.

This being done, all the furniture was brought up, and, with the remaining provisions, put on board the vessel. The old man, overcome with sorrow, was carried upon a litter to the ship, which stood out to sea, and in a short time was out of sight.

After the old man and his slaves were gone, I was left alone upon the island. I lay that night in the subterranean dwelling, which they had not cared to shut up, and when the day came, I walked round the island.

I led this wearisome life for a whole month. Then to my amazement I perceived that the sea had sunk so low, that there remained between me and the continent but a small stream, which I crossed, and the water did not reach above the middle of my leg. At last I got upon more firm ground; and when I had proceeded some distance from the sea, I saw a good way before me something that resembled a great fire, which gave me some comfort; for I said to myself, I shall here find some persons, it not being possible that this fire should kindle of itself. As I drew nearer, however, I found my error, and discovered that what I had taken for a fire was a castle of red copper, which the beams of the sun made to appear at a distance like flames. As I wondered at this magnificent building, I saw ten handsome young men coming along; but what surprised me was that they were all blind of the right eye. They were accompanied by an old man, very tall, and of a venerable aspect.

As I was conjecturing by what adventure these men could come together, they approached, and seemed glad to see me. After we had made our salutations, they inquired what had brought me thither. I told them my story, which filled them with great astonishment.

After I had concluded my account, the young men prayed me to accompany them into the palace, and brought me into a spacious hall, where there were ten small blue seats set round, separate from one another. In the middle of this circle stood an eleventh seat, not so high as the rest, but of the same color, upon which the old man before mentioned sat down, and the young men occupied the other ten. But as each seat could only contain one man, one of the young men said to me, “Sit down, friend, upon that carpet in the middle of the room, and do not inquire into anything that concerns us, nor the reason why we are all blind of the right eye.”

The old man, having sat a short time, arose, and went out; but he returned in a minute or two, brought in supper, distributed to each man separately his portion, and likewise brought me mine, which I ate apart, as the rest did; and when supper was almost ended, he presented to each of us a cup of wine.

One of the young men observing that it was late, said to the old man, “You do not bring us that with which we may acquit ourselves of our duty.” At these words the old man arose, and went into the closet, and brought out thence upon his head ten basins, one after another, all covered with black stuff; he placed one before every gentleman, together with a light.

They uncovered their basins, which contained ashes and powdered charcoal; they mixed this together, and rubbed and bedaubed their faces with it; and having thus blackened themselves, they wept and lamented, beating their heads and breasts, and crying continually, “This is the fruit of our idleness and curiosity.”

They continued this strange employment nearly the whole of the night. I wished a thousand times to break the silence which had been imposed upon me, and to ask the reason for their strange proceedings. The next day, soon after we had arisen, we went out to walk, and then I said to them, “I cannot forbear asking why you bedaubed your faces with black, and how it has happened that each of you has but one eye. I conjure you to satisfy my curiosity.”

One of the young men answered on behalf of the rest, “Once more we advise you to restrain your curiosity; it will cost you the loss of your right eye.” “No matter,” I replied; “be assured that if such a misfortune befall me, I will not impute it to you, but to myself.”

He further represented to me, that when I had lost an eye, I must not hope to remain with them, if I were so disposed, because their number was complete, and no addition could be made to it. I begged them, let it cost what it would, to grant my request.

The ten young men, perceiving that I was fixed in my resolution, took a sheep, killed it, and after they had taken off the skin, presented me with a knife, telling me it would be useful to me later, as they would explain. “We must sew you in this skin,” said they, “and then leave you; upon which a bird of a monstrous size, called a roc, will appear in the air, and, taking you for a sheep, will pounce upon you, and soar with you to the sky. But let not that alarm you; he will descend with you again, and lay you on the top of a mountain. When you find yourself on the ground, cut the skin with your knife, and throw it off. As soon as the roc sees you, he will fly away. Do not stay, but walk on till you come to a spacious palace, covered with plates of gold, large emeralds, and other precious stones. Go up to the gate, which always stands open, and walk in. We have each of us been in that castle, but will tell you nothing of what we saw, or what befell us there; you will learn by your own experience. All that we can inform you is, that it has cost each of us our right eye; and the penance which you have been witness to, is what we are obliged to observe in consequence of having been there; but we cannot explain ourselves further.”

When the young man had thus spoken, I wrapt myself in the sheep’s skin, held fast the knife which was given me; and after the young men had been at the trouble to sew the skin about me, they retired into the hall, and left me alone. The roc they spoke of soon arrived; he pounced upon me, took me in his talons and carried me up to the summit of the mountain.

As soon as I found myself on the ground, I cut the skin with the knife, and throwing it off, the roc at the sight of me flew away. This roc is a white bird of a monstrous size; his strength is such that he can lift up elephants from the plains, and carry them to the tops of mountains, where he feeds upon them.

Being impatient to reach the palace, I lost no time, but made so much haste that I got thither in half a day’s journey; and I must say that I found it surpassed the description they had given me of its magnificence.

•   •   •   •   •

Once again the coming day surprised Scheherazade in the midst of her story. But the sultan indicated that he would have the rest of it on the morning following. When he had departed the two women smiled at each other.

“How long,” inquired Dinarzade, “can you continue these wonderful tales?”

“For a thousand and one nights,” returned Scheherazade, “and then it is but the beginning of all I have heard and remembered.” And the next morning she continued where she had broken off.

•   •   •   •   •

The gate being open, I entered a square court, so large that there were round it ninety-nine gates of wood of sandal and aloes, and one of gold, without reckoning those of several superb staircases, that led to apartments above, besides many more which I could not see.

I saw a door standing open just before me, through which I entered into a large hall. Here I found forty young women, of such perfect beauty as imagination could not surpass, all most exquisitely clad. As soon as they saw me they arose, and without waiting my salutations, said to me, with tones of joy, “Welcome! welcome! We have long expected you. You are our lord, master, and judge, and we are your slaves, ready to obey your commands.”

After these words were spoken, the damsels vied with each other in their eager solicitude to do me all possible service. One brought hot water to wash my feet; a second poured sweet-scented essences on my hands; others brought me with all kinds of necessaries and change of apparel; others again brought in a magnificent collation; and the rest came, with jugs in their hands, to fill me delicious wines in the most charming manner possible.

Some of the damsels brought in musical instruments, and sang most delightful songs; while others danced before me, two and two, with admirable grace. In short, honored madam, I must tell you that I passed a whole year of happy life with these forty damsels. At the end of that time, I was greatly surprised to see these damsels show sorrow and to hear them say, “Adieu, dear prince, adieu! for we must leave you. We are princesses, daughters of kings. We live here together in the manner you have seen; but at the end of every year we are obliged to be absent forty days, for reasons we are not permitted to reveal; afterward we return again to this palace. Before we depart we will leave you the keys of everything, especially those of the hundred doors, where you will find enough to satisfy your curiosity, and to relieve your solitude during our absence. But we entreat you to forbear opening the golden door; for if you do, we shall never see you again; and this is the cause of our grief.” We separated and I remained alone in the castle.

I determined not to forget the advice they had given me not to open the golden door; but as I was permitted to satisfy my curiosity in everything else, I took the first of the keys of the other doors, which were hung in regular order.

I opened the first door, and entered an orchard, which I believe the universe could not equal. The admirable order of the trees, the abundance and diversity of unknown fruits, their freshness and beauty, delighted me. Small channels carried water to the roots of the trees whose fruit far exceeded in size the ordinary fruits in our gardens. I shut the door, and opened the next.

Instead of an orchard, I found here a flower-garden, which was no less extraordinary in its kind. The roses, jessamines, violets, daffodils, hyacinths, anemones, tulips, pinks, lilies, and an infinite number of flowers, which do not grow in other places but at certain times, were there flourishing all at once; and nothing could be more delicious than the fragrance they emitted.

I opened the third door, and found a large aviary, paved with marble of several fine and uncommon colors. The trellis-work was made of sandalwood and wood of aloes. It contained a vast number of nightingales, goldfinches, canary-birds, larks, and other singing birds, and the vessels that held their seed were of the most sparkling jasper or agate. The sun went down, and I retired, charmed with the notes of the multitude of birds, who then began to perch upon such places as suited them for repose during the night. I went to my chamber, resolving on the following days to open all the rest of the doors, excepting that of gold.

The next day I opened the fourth door. I entered a large court, surrounded with forty gates, all open, and through each of them was an entrance into a treasury. The first was stored with heaps of pearls. In the second treasury, were diamonds, carbuncles, and rubies; in the third, emeralds; in the fourth, ingots of gold; in the fifth, objects of carven ivory; in the sixth, ingots of silver; and in the two following, money. The rest contained amethysts, chrysolites, topazes, opals, turquoises, agate, jasper, cornelian, and coral, of which there was a storehouse filled, not only with branches, but whole trees.

Thus, day by day, I went through these various wonders. Thirty-nine days afforded me but just as much time as was necessary to open ninety-nine doors, and to admire all that presented itself to my view, so that there was only the hundredth door left, which I was forbidden to open.

The fortieth day after the departure of the princesses arrived, and had I but retained the self-command I ought to have had, I should have been this day the happiest of all mankind, whereas now I am the most unfortunate. But through my weakness, which I shall ever repent, I opened that fatal door! Before I had moved my foot to enter, a smell, pleasant enough, but too powerful for my senses, made me faint away. However, I soon recovered; instead of taking warning from this incident to close the door and restrain my curiosity, I entered, and found myself in a spacious vaulted apartment, illuminated by several large tapers placed in candlesticks of solid gold.

Among the many objects that attracted my attention was a black horse, of the most perfect symmetry and beauty. I approached in order the better to observe him, and found he had on a saddle and bridle of massive gold, curiously wrought. One part of his manger was filled with clean barley, and the other with rose water. I laid hold of his bridle, and led him out to view him by daylight. I mounted, and endeavored to make him move; but finding he did not stir, I struck him with a switch I had taken up in his magnificent stable.

He had no sooner felt the whip, than he began to neigh in a most horrible manner, and extending wings, which I had not before perceived, flew up with me into the air. My thoughts were fully occupied in keeping my seat; and considering the fear that had seized me, I sat well. At length he directed his course toward the earth, and lighting upon the terrace of a palace, without giving me time to dismount, shook me out of the saddle with such force as to throw me behind him, and with the end of his tail struck out my eye.

Thus it was I became blind of one eye. I then recollected the predictions of the ten young gentlemen. The horse again took wing, and soon disappeared. I got up, sorrowing at the misfortune I had brought upon myself. For a while I walked upon the terrace, covering my eye with one of my hands, for it pained me exceedingly, and then descended, and entered into a hall. I soon discovered by the ten seats in a circle and the eleventh in the middle, lower than the rest, that I was in the castle whence I had been carried by the roc.

The ten young men seemed not at all surprised to see me, nor at the loss of my eye; but said, “We are sorry that we cannot congratulate you on your return, as we could wish; but we are not the cause of your misfortune.” “I should do you wrong,” I replied, “to lay it to your charge; I have only myself to accuse.” “If,” said they, “it be a subject of consolation to know that others share your sufferings, you have in us this alleviation of your misfortune. All that has happened to you we have endured; we each of us tasted the same pleasures during a year; and we would enjoy them yet, had we not opened the golden door, when the princesses were absent. You have been no wiser than we, and have incurred the same punishment. We would gladly receive you into our company, to join us in the penance to which we are bound, and the duration of which we know not. But we have already told you the reasons that render this impossible; depart, therefore, and proceed to the court of Bagdad, where you will meet with the person who is to decide your destiny.” After they had explained to me the road I was to travel, I departed.

On the road I caused my beard and eyebrows to be shaven, and assumed a calender’s habit. I have had a long journey, but at last I arrived this evening, and met these, my brother calenders, at the gate. We were mutually surprised to see that we were all blind of the same eye; but we had not leisure to converse long on the subject of our misfortunes.

The third calender having finished the relation of his adventures, Zobeide addressed him and his fellow-calenders thus: “Go wherever you think proper; you are at liberty.” But one of them answered, “Madam, we beg you to pardon our curiosity, and permit us to hear the stories of your other guests who have not yet spoken.” Then the lady turned to the caliph, the vizier Giafar, and Mesrour, and said to them, “It is now your turn to speak.”

The grand vizier answered Zobeide: “Madam, we need only repeat what we have already said to the fair lady who opened the door. We are merchants come to Bagdad to sell our merchandise, which lies in the khan where we lodge. We dined today with several other persons of our condition, at a merchant’s house of this city; who after he had treated us with choice dainties and excellent wines, sent for men and women dancers and musicians. The great noise we made brought in the watch, who arrested some of the company, but we had the good fortune to escape; it being already late, and the door of our khan shut up, we knew not whither to go. We chanced, as we passed along this street, to hear music at your house, which made us determine to knock at your gate. This is all the account that we can give you, in obedience to your commands.”

“Well, then,” said Zobeide, “you shall all be equally obliged to me: I pardon you all, provided you immediately depart.”

Zobeide having given this command, the caliph, the vizier, Mesrour, the three calenders, and the porter, departed; for the presence of the seven slaves with their weapons awed them into silence. As soon as they had quitted the house, and the gate was closed after them, the caliph said to the calenders without making himself known, “You, gentlemen, who are newly come to town, which way do you design to go, since it is not yet day?” “It is this,” they replied, “that perplexes us.” “Follow us,” resumed the caliph, “and we will convey you out of danger.” He then whispered to the vizier: “Take them along with you, and tomorrow morning bring them to me.”

The vizier Giafar took the three calenders along with him; the porter went to his quarters, and the caliph and Mesrour returned to the palace.

On the following morning, as the day dawned, the Sultan Haroun al Raschid arose, went to his council-chamber, and sat upon his throne. The grand vizier entered soon after, and made his obeisance. “Vizier,” said the caliph, “go, bring those ladies and the calenders; make haste, and remember that I impatiently expect your return.”

The vizier, who knew his master’s quick and fiery temper, hastened to obey.

When they had arrived, the caliph turned toward the ladies and said, “I was last night in your house, disguised in a merchant’s habit; but I am Haroun al Raschid, the fifth caliph of the glorious house of Abbas, and hold the place of our great prophet. I have sent for you to know who you are, and to ask for what reason one of you, after severely whipping the two black dogs, wept with them. And I am no less curious to know why another of you has her bosom scarred.”

Upon hearing these words, Zobeide thus related her story.

THE HISTORY OF
ZOBEIDE

Commander of the Faithful, my story is truly wonderful.

The two black dogs and myself are sisters by the same father and mother. The two ladies who are now here are also my sisters, but by another mother. After our father’s death, the property that he left was equally divided among us. My two half sisters left me, that they might live with their mother. My two sisters and myself remained with our own mother. At her death she left us three thousand sequins each. Shortly after my sisters had received their portions, they married; but their husbands, having spent all their fortunes, found some pretext for divorcing them, and put them away. I received them into my house, and gave them a share of all my goods. At the end of a twelvemonth, my sisters again resolved to marry, and did so. After some months were passed, they returned again in the same sad condition; I admitted them to live with me as before, and we dwelt together for the space of a year. After this I determined to engage in a commercial speculation. For this purpose I went with my two sisters to Bussorah, where I bought a ship ready fitted for sea, and loaded her with merchandise I had carried with me from Bagdad. We set sail with a fair wind and the twentieth day saw land. It was a high mountain, at the bottom of which we perceived a great town; having a fresh gale, we soon reached the harbor, and cast anchor.

I had not patience to wait till my sisters were dressed to go along with me, but went ashore alone in the boat. Making directly to the gate of the town, I saw there a great number of men upon guard, some sitting, and others standing with weapons in their hands; and they had all such dreadful countenances that I was greatly alarmed; but perceiving they remained stationary, and did not so much as move their eyes, I took courage, and went nearer, when I found they were all turned into stone. I entered the town and passed through several streets, where at different intervals stood men in various attitudes, but all motionless and petrified. In the quarter inhabited by the merchants I found most of the shops open; there I likewise found the people petrified.

Having reached a vast square, in the heart of the city, I perceived a large folding gate, covered with plates of gold, which stood open; a curtain of silk stuff was drawn before it; a lamp hung over the entrance. After I had surveyed the building, I made no doubt but it was the palace of the prince who reigned over that country; and being much astonished that I had not met with one living creature, I approached in hopes to find some. I lifted up the curtain, and was surprised at beholding no one but the guards in the vestibule, all petrified.

I came to a large court. I went from thence into a room richly furnished, where I found a lady also turned into a statue of stone. The crown of gold on her head, and a necklace of pearls about her neck, each of them as large as a nut, proclaimed her to be the queen. I quitted the chamber where the petrified queen was, and passed through several other apartments richly furnished, and at last came into a large room, where there was a throne of massy gold, raised several steps above the floor, and enriched with large inchased emeralds. What surprised me most was a sparkling which came from above the throne. Being curious, I ascended the steps, and saw a diamond as large as the egg of an ostrich; it was so pure that I could not find the least blemish in it, and it sparkled with so much brilliancy, that I could not endure its luster.

The doors being all open, I surveyed some other apartments, that were as beautiful as those I had already seen. In the mean time night came on, and I tried to return by the way I had entered, but I could not find it; I lost myself among the apartments; and perceiving I was come again to the large room, where the throne stood, I resolved to take my night’s lodging there, and to depart the next morning early, to get aboard my ship. I laid myself down upon a beautiful couch, not without some dread to be alone in a desolate place; and this fear hindered my sleep.

About midnight I heard a man reading the Koran, in the same tone as it is read in our mosques. I immediately arose, going toward the sound of the voice until I found myself in an oratory. It had, as we have in our mosques, a niche, to direct us whither we are to turn to say our prayers: there were also lamps hung up, and two candlesticks with large tapers of white wax burning.

I saw a comely young man sitting on a carpet reading with great devotion the Koran, which lay before him on a desk. I wondered how it came to pass that he should be the only living creature in a town where all the people were turned into stone, and I did not doubt but there was something in the circumstance very extraordinary.

I exclaimed, “Bismillah! Praise be to God.” The young man turned toward me, and, having saluted me, inquired what had brought me to this desolate city. I told him in a few words my history, and I prayed him to tell me why he alone was left alive in the midst of such terrible desolation. At these words he shut the Koran, put it into a rich case, and laid it in the niche, and thus addressed me: “Know that this city was the metropolis of a mighty kingdom, over which the sultan, who was my father, reigned. That prince, his whole court, the inhabitants of the city, and all his other subjects, were magi, worshipers of fire instead of God.

“But though I was born of an idolatrous father and mother, I had the good fortune in my youth to have a nurse who was a good Mussulman, believing in God and in His prophet. ‘Dear prince,’ would she oftentimes say, ‘there is but one true God; take heed that you do not acknowledge and adore any other.’ She died, but not before she had perfectly instructed me in the Mussulman religion. After her death, I persisted in worshiping according to its directions; and I abhor the adoration of fire.

“About three years and some months ago, a thundering voice sounded so distinctly through the whole city, that nobody could miss hearing it. The words were these: ‘Inhabitants, abandon the worship of fire, and worship the only God who shows mercy.’ This voice was heard three years successively, but no one was converted. On the last day of that year, at the break of day, all the inhabitants were changed in an instant into stone, every one in the condition and posture he happened to be in. The sultan, my father, and the queen, my mother, shared the same fate.

“I am the only person who did not suffer under that heavy judgment, and ever since I have continued to serve God with more fervency than before. I am persuaded, dear lady, that He has sent you hither for my comfort, for which I render Him infinite thanks, for I must own that I have become weary of this solitary life.”

On hearing these words, I said, “Prince, who can doubt that Providence has brought me into your port, to afford you an opportunity of withdrawing from this dismal place. I am a lady of Bagdad, where I have considerable property; and I dare engage to promise you sanctuary there, until the mighty Commander of the Faithful, caliph of our prophet, whom you acknowledge, shows you the honor that is due your merit. Stay no longer in a city where you can only renew your grief; my vessel is at your service, where you may absolutely command as you shall think fit.” He accepted the offer, and as soon as it was day we left the palace, and went aboard my ship, where we found my sisters, the captain, and the slaves, all much troubled at my absence. After I had presented my sisters to the prince, I told them what had hindered my return the day before, how I had met with the young prince, his story, and the cause of the desolation of so fine a city.

The seamen were taken up several days in unlading the merchandise I brought with me, and embarking in its stead many of the precious things in the palace, especially jewels, gold, and money.

After we had laden the vessel with what we thought most desirable, we took such provisions and water aboard as were necessary for our voyage; at last we set sail with a favorable wind.

The young prince, my sisters, and myself passed our time very agreeably. But, alas! this good understanding did not last long, for my sisters grew jealous of the friendship between the prince and myself, and maliciously asked me one day, what we should do with him when we came to Bagdad. Resolving to put this question off with a joke, I answered, “I will take him for my husband;” and upon that, turning myself to the prince, said, “Sir, I humbly beg of you to give your consent, for as soon as we come to Bagdad I design to offer you my person to be your slave, to do you all the service that is in my power, and to resign myself wholly to your commands.”

The prince replied, “I know not, madam, whether you be in jest or no; but for my part, I seriously declare before these ladies, your sisters, that from this moment I heartily accept your offer, not with any intention to have you as a slave, but as my lady and wife.” At these words my sisters changed color, and I could perceive afterward that they did not love me as before.

We entered the Persian Gulf, and had come within a short distance of Bussorah when, in the night, while I was asleep, my sisters watched their opportunity and threw me overboard. They did the same to the prince, who was drowned. I floated some minutes on the water, and by good fortune, or rather miracle, I felt ground. I went toward a dark spot that seemed to be land, and which, when day appeared, I found to be a deserted island, lying about twenty miles from Bussorah. I soon dried my clothes in the sun, and as I walked along I found several kinds of fruit, and likewise fresh water, which gave me some hopes of preserving my life.

I had just laid myself down to rest in the shade, when I perceived a very large winged serpent coming toward me, with an irregular waving movement, and hanging out its tongue, which induced me to conclude it had received some injury. I instantly arose and perceived that it was pursued by a larger serpent which had hold of its tail and was endeavoring to devour it. This excited my pity; instead of retreating, I took up a stone that lay near me, and threw it with all my strength at its pursuer, whom I hit upon the head and killed.

The other, finding itself at liberty, took wing and flew away. I looked after it for some time till it disappeared. I then sought another shady spot for repose, and fell asleep.

Judge what was my surprise when I awoke, to see standing by me a black woman of lively and agreeable features, who held in her hand two dogs of the same color fastened together. I sat up, and asked her who she was. “I am,” said she, “the serpent whom you lately delivered from my mortal enemy, and I wish to requite the important service you have rendered me. These two black dogs are your sisters, whom I have transformed into this shape. But this punishment will not suffice; and my will is that you treat them hereafter in the way I shall direct.”

As soon as she had spoken the fairy took me under one of her arms, and the two black dogs under the other, and conveyed us to my house in Bagdad, where I found in my storehouses all the riches with which my vessel had been laden. Before she left me, she delivered to me the two dogs, and said, “If you would not be changed into a similar form, I command you to give each of your sisters every night one hundred lashes with a rod, as the punishment of the crime they have committed against yourself and the young prince, whom they have drowned.” I was forced to promise obedience. Since that time I have whipped them every night, though with regret, whereof your majesty has been a witness.

After the caliph had heard Zobeide with much astonishment, he desired his grand vizier to request Amina to tell him wherefore her breast was disfigured with so many scars.

•   •   •   •   •

The sun rose and shone into the chamber as Scheherazade concluded the story of Zobeide. But the sultan, who was anxious to hear that of Amina, bade her be ready to continue her narrative on the following morning. This she was quite content to do.

THE HISTORY OF
AMINA

Commander of the Faithful, that I may not repeat the things which your majesty has heard from my sister, I will only mention, that my mother, having taken a house to pass her widowhood in private, first bestowed me in marriage on the heir of one of the richest men in this city.

I had not been married quite a year before my husband died. I thus came into possession of all his property, which amounted to above ninety thousand sequins.

One day, when I had been a widow more than a year a lady desired to speak to me. I gave orders that she should be admitted. She was a very old woman. She saluted me by kissing the ground, and said to me, kneeling, “Dear lady, the confidence I have in your charity makes me thus bold. I have a daughter, whose wedding is on this night. She and I are both strangers, and have no acquaintance in this town. Therefore, most beautiful lady, if you would vouchsafe to honor the wedding with your presence, we shall be infinitely obliged, because the family with whom we shall be allied will then know that we are not regarded here as unworthy and despised persons. But, alas, madam, if you refuse this request, how great will be our mortification!—we know not where else to apply.”

The poor woman’s address, which she spoke with tears, moved my compassion. “Good woman,” said I, “do not afflict yourself; I will grant you the favor you desire. Tell me whither I must go, and I will meet you as soon as I am dressed.” The old woman was so transported with joy at my answer, that she kissed my feet before I had time to prevent her. “Compassionate lady,” said she, rising, “God will reward the kindness you have showed to your servants, and make your heart as joyful as you have made theirs. You need not at present trouble yourself; I will call for you in the evening.”

As soon as she was gone, I selected the garment I liked best, with a necklace of large pearls, bracelets, pendants for my ears, and rings set with the finest and most sparkling diamonds, and prepared to attend the ceremony.

When the night closed in, the old woman called upon me and said, “Dear lady, the relations of my son-in-law, who are the principal ladies of the city, are now met together. You may come when you please; I am ready to conduct you.” We immediately set out; she walked before me, and I was followed by a number of my women and slaves, richly robed for the occasion. We stopped in a wide street, newly swept and watered, at a spacious gate with a lamp, by the light of which I read this inscription, in golden letters, over the entrance: “This is the continual abode of pleasure and joy.” The old woman knocked, and the gate was opened immediately.

I was conducted into a large hall, where I was received by a young lady of exceeding beauty. She drew near, and after having embraced me, made me sit down by her upon a daïs, on which was raised a throne of precious wood set with diamonds. “Madam,” said she, “you are brought hither to assist at a wedding; but I hope it will be a different wedding from what you expected. I have a brother, one of the handsomest men in the world; his fate depends wholly upon you, and he will be the unhappiest of men if you do not take pity on him. If my prayers, madam, can prevail, I shall join them with his, and humbly beg you will not refuse the proposal of being his wife.”

After the death of my husband, I had not thought of marrying again; but I had no power to refuse the solicitation of so charming a lady. As soon as I had given consent by my silence, accompanied with a blush, the young lady clapped her hands, and immediately a curtain was withdrawn, from behind which came a young man of so majestic an air, and so handsome a countenance, that I thought myself happy to have made such a conquest. He sat down by me, and I found from his conversation that his merits far exceeded the account of him given by his sister.

When she perceived that we were satisfied with one another, she clapped her hands a second time, and a cadi, with four witnesses, entered, who wrote and signed our contract of marriage.

There was only one condition that my new husband imposed upon me, that I should not be seen by nor speak to any other man but himself; and he vowed to me that, if I complied in this respect, I should have no reason to complain of him.

About a month after our marriage, having occasion for some stuffs, I asked my husband’s permission to go out to buy them, which he granted; and I took with me the old woman of whom I spoke before, she being one of the family, and two of my own female slaves.

When we came to the street where the merchants reside, the old woman said, “Dear mistress, since you want silk stuffs, I must take you to a young merchant of my acquaintance, who has a great variety; I can assure you that you will find in his shop what no other can furnish.” I was easily persuaded, and we entered the shop belonging to the young merchant. I sat down, and bade the old woman desire him to show me the finest silk stuffs he had. The woman wanted me to speak myself; but I told her it was one of the articles of my marriage-contract not to speak to any man but my husband.

The merchant showed me several stuffs, of which one pleased me better than the rest; and I bade her ask the price. He answered the old woman: “I will not sell it for gold or money; but I will make her a present of it, if she will give me leave to kiss her cheek.” I ordered the old woman to tell him that he was very rude to propose such a freedom. But instead of obeying me, she said, “What the merchant desires of you is no such great matter; you need not speak, but only present him your cheek.” The stuff pleased me so much, that I was foolish enough to take her advice. The old woman and my slaves stood up, that nobody might see, and I put up my veil; but instead of kissing me, the merchant bit me so violently as to draw blood.

The pain and my surprise were so great, that I fell down in a swoon, and continued insensible so long, that the merchant had time to escape. When I came to myself, I found my cheek covered with blood. The old woman and my slaves took care to cover it with my veil, and the people who came about us could not perceive it, but supposed I had only had a fainting fit.

The old woman who accompanied me being extremely troubled at this accident, endeavored to comfort me. “My dear mistress,” said she, “I beg your pardon, for I am the cause of this misfortune, having brought you to this merchant, because he is my countryman; but I never thought he would be guilty of such a villainous action. But do not grieve; let us hasten home, I will apply a remedy that shall in three days so perfectly cure you, that not the least mark shall be visible.”

The fit had made me so weak that I was scarcely able to walk. But at last I got home, where I again fainted, as I went into my chamber. Meanwhile, the old woman applied her remedy. I came to myself, and went to bed.

My husband came to me at night, and seeing my head bound up, asked me the reason. I told him I had the headache, which I hoped would have satisfied him; but he took a candle, and saw my cheek was hurt. “How comes this wound?” he said. Though I did not consider myself as guilty of any great offense, yet I could not think of owning the truth. I therefore said, “As I was going, under your permission, to purchase a silk stuff, a camel, carrying a load of wood, came so near to me in a narrow street, that one of the sticks grazed my cheek, but has not done me much hurt.” “If that is the case,” said my husband, “tomorrow morning, before sunrise, the grand vizier Giafar shall be informed of this insolence, and cause all the camel drivers to be put to death.” “Pray, sir,” said I, “let me beg of you to pardon them, for they are not guilty.” “How, madam,” he demanded, “what, then, am I to believe? Speak; for I am resolved to know the truth from your own mouth.” “Sir,” I replied, “I was taken with a giddiness, and fell down, and that is the whole matter.”

At these words my husband lost all patience. “I have,” said he, “too long listened to your tales.” As he spoke, he clapped his hands, and in came three slaves. “Strike,” said he; “cut her in two, and then throw her into the Tigris. This is the punishment I inflict on those to whom I have given my heart, when they falsify their promise.”

I had recourse to entreaties and prayers; but I supplicated in vain, when the old woman, who had been his nurse, coming in just at that moment, fell down upon her knees, and endeavored to appease his wrath. “My son,” said she, “since I have been your nurse, and brought you up, let me beg you to consider, ‘he who kills shall be killed,’ and that you will stain your reputation and forfeit the esteem of mankind.” She spoke these words in such an affecting manner, accompanied with tears, that she prevailed upon him at last to abandon his purpose.

“Well, then,” said he to his nurse, “for your sake I will spare her life; but she shall bear about her person some marks to make her remember her offense.” When he had thus spoken, one of the slaves, by his order, gave me upon my sides and breast so many blows with a little cane, that he threw me into a swoon. In this state my husband caused the same slaves, the executioners of his will, to carry me back to bed, and the old woman took care of me. I kept my bed for four months. At last I recovered. The scars which, contrary to my wish, you saw yesterday, have remained ever since.

As soon as I was able to walk and go abroad, I resolved to retire to the house which was left me by my first husband, but I could not find the site whereon it stood, as my second husband had caused it to be leveled with the ground.

Being thus left destitute and helpless, I went to my dear sister Zobeide. She received me with her accustomed goodness, and advised me to bear with patience my affliction, from which, she said, none are free. In confirmation of her remark, she gave me an account of the loss of the young prince occasioned by the jealousy of her two sisters. She told me also how they were transformed into dogs; and in the last place, after a thousand testimonials of her love toward me, she introduced me to my youngest sister, who had likewise taken sanctuary with her after the death of her mother; and we have continued to live together in the house in which we received the guests whom your highness found assembled on your visit last night.

The caliph expressed his admiration of what he had heard, and inquired of Zobeide, “Madam, did not this fairy whom you delivered, and who imposed such a rigorous command upon you, tell you where her place of abode was or that she would ever restore your sisters to their natural shape?”

“Commander of the Faithful,” answered Zobeide, “the fairy did leave with me a bundle of hair, saying that her presence would one day be of use to me; and then, if I only burned two tufts of this hair, she would be with me in a moment.” “Madam,” demanded the caliph, “where is the bundle of hair?” She answered, “Ever since that time I have been so careful of it, that I always carry it about me.” Upon which she pulled it out of the case which contained it, and showed it to him. “Well, then,” said the caliph, “let us bring the fairy hither; you could not call her at a better time, for I long to see her.”

Zobeide having consented, fire was brought in, and she threw the whole bundle of hair into it. The palace at that instant began to shake, and the fairy appeared before the caliph in the form of a lady very richly dressed.

“Commander of the Faithful,” said she to the prince, “you see I am ready to receive your commands. At your wish I will not only restore these two sisters to their former shape, but I will also cure this lady of her scars, and tell you who it was that abused her.”

The caliph sent for the two dogs from Zobeide’s house, and when they came a glass of water was brought to the fairy by her desire. She pronounced over it some words, which nobody understood; then throwing some part of it upon Amina, and the rest upon the dogs, the latter became two ladies of surprising beauty, and the scars that were upon Amina disappeared. After which the fairy said to the caliph, “Commander of the Faithful, I must now discover to you the unknown husband you inquire after. He is Prince Amin, your eldest son, who by stratagem brought this lady to his house, where he married her. As to the blows he caused to be given her, he is in some measure excusable; for this lady, his spouse, by the excuses she made, led him to believe she was more faulty than she really was.” At these words she saluted the caliph, and vanished.

The caliph, much satisfied with the changes that had happened through his means, acted in such a manner as will perpetuate his memory to all ages. First, he sent for his son Amin, told him that he was informed of his secret marriage, and how he had ill-treated Amina upon a very slight cause. Upon this, the prince, at his father’s command, received her again immediately.

After which Haroun al Raschid declared that he would give his own heart and hand to Zobeide, and offered the other three sisters to the calenders, sons of sultans, who accepted them for their brides with much joy. The caliph assigned each of them a magnificent palace in the city of Bagdad, promoted them to the highest dignities of his empire, and admitted them to his councils.

The chief cadi of Bagdad being called, with witnesses, wrote the contracts of marriage; and the caliph, in promoting by his patronage the happiness of many persons who had suffered such incredible calamities, drew a thousand blessings upon himself.

•   •   •   •   •

“I had hoped,” said Scheherazade, “to tell your majesty the astonishing story of the wonderful lamp of Aladdin, but I perceive that it is so near day that there will not be opportunity. Although the story which I have just brought to so happy an ending is full of surprises and enchantments, yet this one, too, has some singular incidents—”

“We will hear it tomorrow,” the sultan declared, rising. “I should not like to miss hearing a story you recommend so highly.”

Accordingly, next morning, the sultaness began the story which follows.

THE STORY OF ALADDIN;
OR, THE WONDERFUL LAMP

THE STORY OF ALADDIN

In one of the large and rich cities of China, there once lived a tailor named Mustapha. He was very poor. He could hardly, by his daily labor, maintain himself and his family, which consisted only of his wife and a son.

His son, who was called Aladdin, was a very careless and idle fellow. He was disobedient to his father and mother, and would go out early in the morning and stay all day, playing in the streets and public places with idle children of his own age.

When he was old enough to learn a trade his father took him into his own shop and taught him how to use his needle; but all his father’s endeavors to keep him to his work were vain, for no sooner was his back turned, than the boy was gone for that day. Mustapha chastised him, but Aladdin was incorrigible, and his father was forced to abandon him to his idleness; which so much troubled him, that he fell sick and died in a few months.

Aladdin, now no longer restrained by the fear of a father, gave himself entirely over to his idle habits, and was always in the streets with his companions. This course he followed till he was fifteen years old, without giving his mind to any useful pursuit, or the least reflection on what would become of him.

As he was one day playing with his evil associates, a stranger passing by stood to observe him.

This stranger was a sorcerer, known as the African magician, but two days arrived from Africa, his native country.

The African magician, observing in Aladdin something which assured him that he was a fit boy for his purpose, inquired his name and history of one of his companions, and when he had learned all he desired to know, went up to him, and taking him aside from his comrades, said, “Child, was not your father called Mustapha the tailor?” “Yes, sir,” answered the boy, “but he has been dead a long time.”

At these words the African magician threw his arms about Aladdin’s neck, and kissed him several times, with tears in his eyes, saying, “I am your uncle. Your worthy father was my own brother. I knew you at first sight, you are so like him.” Then he gave Aladdin a handful of small money, saying, “Go, my son, to your mother, give my love to her, and tell her that I will visit her tomorrow, that I may see where my good brother lived so long, and ended his days.”

Aladdin ran to his mother, overjoyed at the money his uncle had given him. “Mother,” said he, “have I an uncle?” “No, child,” replied his mother, “you have no uncle either by your father’s side or mine.” “I am just now come,” said Aladdin, “from a man who says he is my uncle and my father’s brother. He cried and kissed me when I told him my father was dead, and gave me money, sending his love to you, and promising to come and pay you a visit, that he may see the house my father lived and died in.” “Indeed, child,” replied the mother, “your father had no brother, nor have you an uncle.”

The next day the magician found Aladdin playing in another part of the town, and embracing him as before, put two pieces of gold into his hand, and said to him, “Carry this, child, to your mother; tell her that I will come and see her tonight, and bid her get us something for supper; but first show me the house where you live.”

Aladdin showed the African magician the house, and carried the two pieces of gold to his mother, who went out and bought provisions. She spent the whole day in preparing the supper; and at night, when it was ready, said to her son, “Perhaps the stranger knows not how to find our house; go and bring him, if you meet with him.”

Aladdin was just ready to go, when the magician knocked at the door, and came in loaded with wine and all sorts of fruits, which he brought for a dessert. After he had given what he brought into Aladdin’s hands, he saluted his mother, and desired her to show him the place where his brother Mustapha used to sit; and when she had so done, he cried out, with tears in his eyes, “My poor brother! how unhappy am I, not to have come soon enough to give you one last embrace.” Aladdin’s mother desired him to sit down in the same place, but he declined. “No,” said he, “I shall not do that; but give me leave to sit opposite to it, that although I see not the master of a family so dear to me, I may at least behold the place where he used to sit.”

When the magician had sat down, he began to enter into discourse with Aladdin’s mother. “My good sister,” said he, “do not be surprised at your never having seen me all the time you have been married to my brother Mustapha of happy memory. I have been forty years absent from this country, and during that time have traveled into the Indies, Persia, Arabia, Syria, and Egypt, and afterwards crossed over into Africa, where I took up my abode. At last, as is natural, I was desirous to see my native country again, and to embrace my dear brother; and finding I had strength enough to undertake so long a journey, I made the necessary preparations, and set out. Nothing ever afflicted me so much as hearing of my brother’s death. But God be praised for all things! It is a comfort for me to find, as it were, my brother in a son, who has his features.”

The African magician perceiving that the widow wept at the remembrance of her husband, changed the conversation, and turning toward her son, asked him, “What business do you follow? Are you of any trade?”

At this question the youth hung down his head, and was not a little abashed when his mother answered, “Aladdin is an idle fellow. His father, when alive, strove all he could to teach him his trade, but could not succeed; and since his death, notwithstanding all I can say to him, he does nothing but idle away his time in the streets, as you saw him, without considering he is no longer a child; and if you do not make him ashamed of it, I despair of his ever coming to any good. For my part I am resolved, one of these days, to turn him out of doors, and let him provide for himself.”

After these words, Aladdin’s mother burst into tears; and the magician said, “This is not well, nephew; you must think of helping yourself, and getting your livelihood. There are many trades; perhaps you do not like your father’s, and would prefer another; I will help you. If you have no mind to learn any handicraft, I will take a shop for you, furnish it with all sorts of fine stuffs and linens; and then with the money you make of them you can lay in fresh goods, and live in an honorable way. Tell me freely what you think of my proposal; you will always find me ready to keep my word.”

This plan suited Aladdin, who hated manual work. He told the magician he had a greater inclination to that business than to any other, and that he would be much obliged to him for his kindness. “Well then,” said the African magician, “I will carry you with me tomorrow, clothe you as handsomely as the best merchants in the city, and afterward we will open a shop as I mentioned.”

The widow, after his promises of kindness to her son, no longer doubted that the magician was her husband’s brother. She thanked him for his good intentions; and after having exhorted Aladdin to render himself worthy of his uncle’s favor, served up supper, at which they talked of indifferent matters; then the magician took his leave.

He came the next day, as he had promised, and took Aladdin with him to a merchant, who sold all sorts of clothes and bade Aladdin choose those he preferred, which he paid for.

When Aladdin found himself so handsomely equipped, he returned his uncle thanks, who answered him: “As you are soon to be a merchant, it is proper you should frequent these shops, and be acquainted with them.” He then showed him the largest and finest mosques, carried him to the khans or inns where the merchants and travelers lodged, and afterward to the sultan’s palace, where he had free access; and at last brought him to his own khan, where, meeting with some merchants he had become acquainted with since his arrival, he gave them a feast, to bring them and his pretended nephew together.

This entertainment lasted till night, when Aladdin would have taken leave of his uncle to go home; the magician would not let him go by himself, but conducted him to his mother who bestowed a thousand blessings upon the magician.

Early the next morning, the magician called again for Aladdin, and said he would take him to spend that day in the country, and on the next he would purchase the shop. He led him out at one of the gates of the city, to some magnificent palaces, to each of which belonged beautiful gardens, into which anybody might enter. At every building he came to, he asked Aladdin if he did not think it fine; the youth agreed crying out at each new one they saw, “Here is a finer house, uncle, than any we have yet seen.” By this artifice, the cunning magician led Aladdin some way into the country.

The magician next pulled from his girdle a package of cakes and fruit, and during this short repast he exhorted his nephew to leave off bad company, and to seek that of wise and prudent men, to improve by their conversation; “For,” said he, “you will soon be at man’s estate, and you cannot too early begin to imitate their example.”

When they had eaten as much as they liked, they got up, and pursued their walk through gardens separated from one another only by small ditches, which marked out the limits without interrupting the communication; so great was the confidence the inhabitants reposed in each other.

At last they arrived between two mountains of moderate height and equal size, divided by a narrow valley, which was the place where the magician intended to execute the design that had brought him from Africa to China. “We will go no farther now,” said he to Aladdin; “I will show you here some extraordinary things, which, when you have seen them, you will thank me for: but gather up all the loose dry sticks you can see, to kindle a fire with.”

Aladdin found so many dried sticks, that he soon collected a great heap. The magician presently set them on fire; and when they were in a blaze, threw in some incense, pronouncing several magical words, which Aladdin did not understand.

He had scarcely done so when the earth opened just before the magician, and discovered a stone with a brass ring fixed in it. Aladdin was so frightened that he would have run away, but the magician caught hold of him, and gave him such a box on the ear that he knocked him down. Aladdin got up trembling, and with tears in his eyes said to the magician, “What have I done, uncle, to be treated in this severe manner?” “I am your uncle,” answered the magician; “I supply the place of your father, and you ought not to question my acts. But, child,” added he, softening, “do not be afraid; for I shall not ask anything of you, but that you obey me punctually, if you would reap the benefits which I intend to give you. Know, then, that under this stone there is hidden a treasure, destined to be yours, and which will make you richer than the greatest monarch in the world. No person but yourself is permitted to lift this stone, or enter the cave; so you must punctually execute what I command, for it is a matter of great consequence both to you and me.”

Aladdin, amazed at all he saw and heard, forgot what was past, and rising said, “Well, uncle, what is to be done? Command me, I am ready to obey.” “I am overjoyed, child,” said the African magician, embracing him. “Take hold of the ring, and lift up that stone.” “Indeed, uncle,” replied Aladdin, “I am not strong enough; you must help me.” “You have no occasion for my assistance,” answered the magician; “if I help you, we shall be able to do nothing. Take hold of the ring, and lift it up; you will find it will come easily.” Aladdin did as the magician bade him, raised the stone with ease, and laid it on one side.

When the stone was pulled up, there appeared a staircase about three or four feet deep, leading to a door. “Descend, my son,” said the African magician, “and open that door. It will lead you into a palace, divided into three great halls. In each of these you will see four large brass cisterns placed on each side, full of gold and silver; but take care you do not meddle with them. Before you enter the first hall, be sure to tuck up your robe, wrap it about you, and then pass through the second into the third without stopping. Above all things, have a care that you do not touch the walls so much as with your clothes; for if you do, you will die instantly. At the end of the third hall, you will find a door which opens into a garden, planted with fine trees loaded with fruit. Walk directly across the garden to a terrace, where you will see a niche before you, and in that niche a lighted lamp. Take the lamp down and put it out. When you have thrown away the wick and poured out the liquor, put it in your waistband and bring it to me. Do not be afraid that the liquor will spoil your clothes, for it is not oil, and the lamp will be dry as soon as it is thrown out.”

After these words the magician drew a ring off his finger, and put it on one of Aladdin’s, saying, “It is a talisman against all evil, so long as you obey me. Go, therefore, boldly, and we shall both be rich all our lives.”

Aladdin descended the steps, and, opening the door, found the three halls just as the African magician had described. He went through them with all the precaution the fear of death could inspire, crossed the garden without stopping, took down the lamp from the niche, threw out the wick and the liquor, and, as the magician had desired, put it in his waistband. But as he came down from the terrace he stopped in the garden to observe the trees, which were loaded with extraordinary fruit of different colors. The white were pearls; the clear and transparent, diamonds; the deep red, rubies; the paler, ballas rubies; the green, emeralds; the blue, turquoises; and the purple, amethysts. Aladdin, ignorant of their value, would have preferred figs, or grapes, or pomegranates; but he resolved to gather some of every sort. Having filled the two new purses his uncle had bought for him with his clothes, he wrapped more up in the skirts of his vest, and crammed his bosom as full as it could hold.

Aladdin, having thus loaded himself with riches of which he knew not the value, returned through the three halls with the utmost precaution, and soon arrived at the mouth of the cave, where the African magician awaited him with impatience. As soon as Aladdin saw him, he cried, “Pray, uncle, lend me your hand, to help me out.” “Give me the lamp first,” replied the magician; “it will be troublesome to you.” “Indeed, uncle,” answered Aladdin, “I cannot now, but I will as soon as I am up.” The African magician was determined that he would have the lamp before he would help him up; and Aladdin, who had encumbered himself so much with his fruit that he could not well get at it, refused to give it to him till he was out of the cave. The African magician, provoked at this obstinate refusal, flew into a passion, threw a little of his incense into the fire, and pronounced two magical words, when the stone which had closed the mouth of the staircase moved into its place, with the earth over it in the same manner as it lay at the arrival of the magician and Aladdin.

This action revealed to Aladdin that the magician was no uncle of his, but one who designed him evil. The truth was that he had learnt from his magic books the secret and the value of this wonderful lamp, the owner of which would be made richer than any earthly ruler, and hence his journey to China. His art had also told him that he was not permitted to take it himself, but must receive it as a voluntary gift from the hands of another person. Hence he employed young Aladdin, and hoped by a mixture of kindness and authority to make him obedient to his word and will. When he found that this attempt had failed, he set out to return to Africa, but avoided the town, lest any person who had seen him leave in company with Aladdin should make inquiries after the youth.

Aladdin being suddenly enveloped in darkness, cried and called to his uncle to tell him he was ready to give him the lamp; but in vain, since his cries could not heard. He descended to the bottom of the steps, with a design to get into the palace, but the door, which was opened before by enchantment, was now shut by the same means. He then redoubled his cries and tears until, exhausted, he sat down on the steps without any hope of seeing light again, in expectation of passing from the present darkness to a speedy death. In this great emergency he said, “There is no strength or power but in the great and high God;” and in joining his hands to pray he rubbed the ring which the magician had put on his finger. Immediately a genie of frightful aspect appeared, and said, “What wouldst thou have? I am ready to obey thee. I serve him who possesses the ring on thy finger; I, and the other slaves of that ring.”

At another time Aladdin would have been frightened at the sight of so extraordinary a figure, but the danger he was in made him answer without hesitation, “Whoever thou art, deliver me from this place.” He had no sooner spoken these words, than he found himself on the very spot where the magician had last left him, and no sign of cave or opening, nor disturbance of the earth. Returning God thanks to find himself once more in the world, he made the best of his way home. When he got within his mother’s door, the joy of seeing her and his weakness for want of sustenance made him so faint that he remained for a long time as dead. As soon as he recovered, he related to his mother all that had happened to him, and they were both vehement in their complaints of the cruel magician. Aladdin slept soundly till late the next morning, when the first thing he said to his mother was that he wished she would give him his breakfast. “Alas! child,” said she, “I have not a bit of bread to give you; you ate up all the provisions I had in the house yesterday; but I have a little cotton which I have spun; I will go and sell it, and buy bread and something for our dinner.” “Mother,” replied Aladdin, “keep your cotton for another time, and give me the lamp I brought home with me yesterday; I will go and sell it, and the money I get for it will serve both for breakfast and dinner, and perhaps supper too.”

Aladdin’s mother took the lamp and said to her son, “Here it is, but it is very dirty; if it were a little cleaner I believe it would bring something more.” She took some fine sand and water to clean it; but had no sooner begun to rub it, than in an instant a hideous genie of gigantic size appeared and said in a voice of thunder, “What wouldst thou have? I am ready to obey thee as thy slave, and the slave of all those who have that lamp in their hands; I and the other slaves of the lamp.”

•   •   •   •   •

Day had already come some time when Scheherazade broke off.

“It is time your majesty went to the council,” she said, “and time for me to cease talking.”

“But you must begin again tomorrow,” said her husband, “and finish what you have so well told today.” This she accordingly promised to do, and took up, on the following night, at the point where she had ended.

•   •   •   •   •

Aladdin’s mother, terrified at the sight of the genie, fainted; but Aladdin, having seen such a phantom in the cavern, snatched the lamp out of his mother’s hand, and said to the genie boldly, “I am hungry, bring me something to eat.”

The genie disappeared immediately, and in an instant returned with a large silver tray, holding twelve covered dishes of the same metal, which contained the most delicious viands; six large white bread cakes on two plates, two flagons of wine, and two silver cups. All these he placed upon a carpet and disappeared before Aladdin’s mother recovered from her swoon.

Aladdin fetched some water, and sprinkled it in her face to recover her. Whether that or the smell of the meat affected her cure, it was not long before she came to herself. “Mother,” said Aladdin, “be not afraid: get up and eat; here is what will put you in heart, and at the same time satisfy my extreme hunger.”

His mother was much surprised to see the great tray, twelve dishes, six loaves, the two flagons and cups, and to smell the savory odor which exhaled from the dishes. “Child,” said she, “to whom are we obliged for this great plenty and liberality? Has the sultan been made acquainted with our poverty, and had compassion on us?” “It is no matter, mother,” said Aladdin, “let us sit down and eat; for you have almost as much need of a good breakfast as myself; when we have done, I will tell you.” Accordingly, both mother and son sat down and ate with the better relish as the table was so well furnished. But all the time Aladdin’s mother could not forbear looking at and admiring the tray and dishes, though she could not judge whether they were silver or any other metal, and the novelty more than the value attracted her attention.

The mother and son sat at breakfast till it was dinnertime, and then they thought it would be best to put the two meals together; yet, after this they found they had enough left for supper, and two meals for the next day.

When Aladdin’s mother had taken away and set by what was left, she sat down by her son on the sofa, saying, “I expect now that you will tell me exactly what passed between the genie and you while I was in a swoon;” which he readily complied with.

She was in as great amazement at what her son told her, as at the appearance of the genie; and said to him, “But, son, what have we to do with genii? I never heard that any of my acquaintance had ever seen one. How came that vile genie to address himself to me, and not to you, to whom he had appeared before in the cave?” “Mother,” answered Aladdin, “the genie you saw is not the one who appeared to me. If you remember, he that I first saw called himself the slave of the ring on my finger; and this you saw, called himself the slave of the lamp you had in your hand; but I believe you did not hear him, for I think you fainted as soon as he began to speak.”

“What!” cried the mother, “was your lamp then the occasion of that cursed genie’s addressing himself rather to me than to you? Ah! my son, take it out of my sight, and put it where you please. I had rather you would sell it than run the hazard of being frightened to death again by touching it; and if you take my advice, you will also part with the ring, and not have anything to do with genii, who, as our prophet has told us, are only devils.”

“With your leave, mother,” replied Aladdin, “I shall take care how I sell a lamp which may be so serviceable both to you and me. That false and wicked magician would not have undertaken so long a journey to secure this wonderful lamp if he had not known its value to exceed that of gold and silver. And since we have honestly come by it, let us make a profitable use of it, without making any great show, and exciting the envy and jealousy of our neighbors. However, since the genii frighten you so much, I will take it out of your sight, and put it where I may find it when I want it. The ring I cannot resolve to part with; for without that you had never seen me again; and though I am alive now, perhaps, if it were gone, I might not be so some moments hence; therefore, I hope you will give me leave to keep it, and to wear it always on my finger.” Aladdin’s mother replied that he might do what he pleased; for her part, she would have nothing to do with genii, and never say anything more about them.

By the next night they had eaten all the provisions the genie had brought; and the next day Aladdin, who could not bear the thought of hunger, putting one of the silver dishes under his vest, went out early to sell it, and addressing himself to a Jew whom he met in the streets, took him aside, and pulling out the plate, asked him if he would buy it. The Jew took the dish, examined it, and as soon as he found that it was good silver, asked Aladdin at how much he valued it. Aladdin, who had never been used to such traffic, told him he would trust to his judgment and honor. The Jew was somewhat confounded at this plain dealing; and doubting whether Aladdin understood the material or the full value of what he offered to sell, took a piece of gold out of his purse and gave it him, though it was but the sixtieth part of the worth of the plate. Aladdin, taking the money eagerly, made off with so much haste, that the Jew, not content with the exorbitancy of his profit, was vexed he had not penetrated into his ignorance, and was going to run after him, to endeavor to get some change out of the piece of gold; but Aladdin ran so fast, and had got far, that it would have been impossible for the Jew to overtake him.

Before Aladdin went home, he called at a baker’s, bought some bread, changed his money, and on his return gave the rest to his mother, who went and purchased provisions enough to last them some time. After this manner they lived, till Aladdin had sold the twelve dishes singly, as necessity pressed, to the Jew, for the same money; who, after the first time, durst not offer him less, for fear of losing so good a bargain. When he had sold the last dish, he had recourse to the tray, which weighed ten times as much as the dishes, and would have carried it to his old purchaser, but that it was too large and heavy; therefore he was obliged to bring him to his mother’s, where, after the Jew had exclaimed at the weight of the tray, he laid down ten pieces of gold, with which Aladdin was very well satisfied.

When all the money was spent, Aladdin had recourse again to the lamp. He took it, looked for the part where his mother had rubbed it with the sand, and rubbed it also, when the genie immediately appeared, and said, “What wouldst thou have? I am ready to obey thee as thy slave, I and the other slaves of the lamp.” “I am hungry,” said Aladdin, “bring me something to eat.” The genie disappeared, and presently returned with a tray, the same number of covered dishes as before, set them down, and vanished.

As soon as Aladdin found that their provisions were again expended, he took one of the dishes, and went to look for his Jew chapman; but passing by a goldsmith’s shop, the goldsmith called to him and said, “My lad, I imagine that you have something to sell to the Jew, whom I often see you visit; but perhaps you do not know that he is the greatest of rogues. I will give you the full worth of what you have to sell, or I will direct you to other merchants who will not cheat you.”

This offer induced Aladdin to pull his plate from under his vest and show it to the goldsmith; who at first sight saw that it was made of the finest silver, and asked him if he had sold such as that to the Jew. Aladdin told him that he had sold him twelve such, for a piece of gold each. “What a villain!” cried the goldsmith. “But, what is past cannot be recalled. By showing you the value of this plate, which is of the finest silver we use in our shops, I will let you see how much the Jew has cheated you.”

The goldsmith took a pair of scales, weighed the dish, and assured him that his plate would fetch by weight sixty pieces of gold, which he offered to pay down immediately.

Aladdin thanked him for his fair dealing, and never after went to any other person.

Aladdin now frequented the shops of the principal merchants, where they sold cloth of gold and silver, linens, silk stuffs, and jewelry, oftentimes joining in their conversation, and so acquired a knowledge of the world, and a desire to improve himself. By his acquaintance among the jewelers, he came to know that the fruits which he had gathered when he took the lamp were, instead of colored glass, stones of inestimable value; but he had the prudence not to mention this to any one, not even to his mother.

One day as Aladdin was walking about the town, he heard an order proclaimed, commanding the people to shut up their shops and houses, and keep within doors while the Princess Buddir al Buddoor, the sultan’s daughter, went to the bath and returned.

This proclamation inspired Aladdin with eager desire to see the princess, which he determined to gratify, by placing himself behind the door of the bath, so that he could not fail to see her face.

Aladdin had not long concealed himself before the princess came. She was attended by a great crowd of ladies, slaves, and mutes, who walked on each side and behind her. When she came within three or four paces of the door of the bath, she took off her veil, and gave Aladdin an opportunity of a full view of her face.

The princess was a noted beauty: her eyes were large, lively, and sparkling; her smile bewitching; her nose faultless; her mouth small; her lips vermilion. It is not therefore surprising that Aladdin, who had never before seen such a blaze of charms, was dazzled and enchanted.

After the princess had passed by and entered the bath, Aladdin quitted his hiding-place, and went home. His mother perceived him to be thoughtful and melancholy and asked what had happened to make him so, or if he was ill. He then told his mother his adventure, and concluded by declaring, “I love the princess more than I can express, and am resolved that I will ask her in marriage of the sultan.”

Aladdin’s mother laughed aloud. “Alas! child,” said she, “what are you thinking of? You must be mad to talk thus.”

“I assure you, mother,” replied Aladdin, “that I am not mad, but in my right senses. I foresaw that you would reproach me with folly and extravagance; but I must tell you once more, that I am resolved to demand the princess of the sultan in marriage; nor do I despair of success. I have the slaves of the lamp and of the ring to help me, and you know how powerful their aid is. And I have another secret to tell you: those pieces of glass, which I got from the trees in the garden of the subterranean palace are jewels of inestimable value, fit for the greatest monarchs. All the precious stones the jewelers have in Bagdad are not to be compared to mine for size or beauty; and I am sure that the offer of them will secure the favor of the sultan. You have a large porcelain dish fit to hold them; fetch it, and let us see how they will look, when we have arranged them according to their different colors.”

Aladdin’s mother having brought the china dish, he took the jewels out of the two purses in which he had kept them, and placed them in order, according to his fancy. But the brightness and luster they emitted in the daytime, and the variety of the colors, so dazzled the eyes both of mother and son, that they were astonished beyond measure. Aladdin’s mother, emboldened by the sight of these rich jewels, complied with his request, and promised to go early the next morning to the palace of the sultan. Aladdin rose before daybreak, awakened his mother, pressing her to go to the sultan’s palace, and to get admittance, if possible, before the grand vizier, the other viziers, and the great officers of state went in to take their seats in the divan, where the sultan always attended in person.

Aladdin’s mother took the china dish in which they had put the jewels, wrapped it in two fine napkins, and set forward for the sultan’s palace. When she came to the gates, the grand vizier, the other viziers, and most distinguished lords of the court were just gone in; but notwithstanding the crowd of people was great, she got into the divan, a spacious hall, the entrance into which was magnificent. She placed herself just before the sultan, who was seated with the grand vizier, and the great lords, who sat in council, on his right and left hand. Several cases were called, according to their order, pleaded and adjudged, until the time the divan generally broke up, when the sultan, rising, returned to his apartment, attended by the grand vizier; the other viziers and ministers of state then retired, as also did all those whose business had called them thither.

Aladdin’s mother, seeing the sultan and all the people depart, judged rightly that he would not sit again that day, and resolved to go home; and on her arrival said, with much simplicity, “Son, I have seen the sultan, and am very well persuaded he has seen me, too, for I placed myself just before him; but he was so much taken up with those who attended on all sides of him that I pitied him, and wondered at his patience. At last I believe he was heartily tired, for he rose up suddenly, and would not hear a great many who were prepared to speak to him, but went away, at which I was well pleased, for indeed I began to lose all patience, and was extremely fatigued with staying so long. But there is no harm done; I will go again tomorrow; perhaps the sultan may not be so busy.”

The next morning she repaired to the sultan’s palace with the present, as early as the day before; but when she came there, she found the gates of the divan shut, it being held only on alternate days. She went six times afterward on the days appointed, placing herself always directly before the sultan, but with as little success as the first morning.

On the sixth divan, however, after the sultan returned to his own apartment he said to his grand vizier: “I have for some time observed a certain woman, who attends constantly every day that I give audience, with something wrapped up in a napkin; she always stands up from the beginning to the breaking up of the audience, and takes care to place herself just before me. If this woman comes to our next audience, do not fail to call her, that I may hear what she has to say.” The grand vizier made answer by lowering his hand, and then lifting it up above his head, signifying his willingness to lose it if he failed.

On the next audience day, when Aladdin’s mother went to the divan, and placed herself in front of the sultan as usual, the grand vizier immediately called the chief of the mace-bearers, and pointing to her bade him bring her before the sultan. The old woman at once followed the mace-bearer, and when she reached the sultan bowed her head down to the carpet which covered the platform of the throne, and remained in that posture until he bade her rise, which she had no sooner done than he said to her, “Good woman, I have observed you to stand many days from the beginning to the rising of the divan; what business brings you here?”

Aladdin’s mother prostrated herself a second time; and when she arose, said, “Monarch of monarchs, I beg of you to pardon the boldness of my petition, and to assure me of your forgiveness.” “Well,” replied the sultan, “I will forgive you, be it what it may, and no hurt shall come to you; speak boldly.”

When Aladdin’s mother had taken these precautions, for fear of the sultan’s anger, she told him faithfully the errand on which her son had sent her, and the event which led to his making so bold a request in spite of all her remonstrances.

The sultan hearkened to this discourse without showing the least anger; but before he gave her any answer, asked her what she had brought tied up in the napkin. She took the china dish which she had set down at the foot of the throne, untied it, and presented it to the sultan.

The sultan’s amazement was inexpressible, when he saw so many large, beautiful, and valuable jewels collected in the dish. He remained for some time lost in admiration. At last, when he had recovered himself he received the present saying, “How rich, how beautiful!” After he had admired and handled all the jewels one after another, he turned to his grand vizier, and said, “Behold, admire, wonder! and confess that your eyes never beheld jewels so rich and beautiful before.” The vizier was charmed. “Well,” continued the sultan, “what sayest thou to such a present? Is it not worthy of the princess my daughter? And ought I not to bestow her on one who values her at so great a price?” “I cannot but own,” replied the grand vizier, “that the present is worthy of the princess; but I beg of your majesty to grant me three months before you come to a final resolution. I hope, before that time, my son, whom you have regarded with favor, will be able to make a nobler present than this Aladdin, who is an entire stranger to your majesty.”

The sultan granted his request, and said to the old woman, “Good woman, go home, and tell your son that I agree to the proposal you have made me; but I cannot marry the princess my daughter for three months; at the expiration of that time come again.”

Aladdin’s mother returned home more gratified than she had expected, and told her son with much joy the condescending answer she had received from the sultan’s own mouth; and that she was to come to the divan that day three months.

Aladdin thought himself the most happy of all men at hearing this news, and thanked his mother for the pains she had taken in the affair. He counted every day, week, and even hour as it passed. When two of the three months were gone, his mother one evening, having no oil in the house, went out to buy some, and found a general rejoicing—the houses dressed with foliage, silks, and carpeting, and all the people striving to show their joy according to their ability. The streets were crowded with officers in habits of ceremony, mounted on horses richly caparisoned, each attended by a great many footmen. Aladdin’s mother asked the oil merchant what was the meaning of all this public festivity. “Whence came you, good woman,” said he, “that you know not that the grand vizier’s son is to marry the Princess Buddir al Buddoor, the sultan’s daughter, tonight? She will presently return from the bath; and these officers whom you see are to assist at the cavalcade to the palace, where the ceremony is to be solemnized.”

Aladdin’s mother, on hearing this ran home very quickly. “Child,” cried she, “you are undone! The sultan’s fine promises will come to naught. This night the grand vizier’s son is to marry the Princess Buddir al Buddoor.”

Aladdin was thunderstruck. However, he bethought himself of the lamp, and of the genie who had promised to obey him; and without indulging in idle words against the sultan, the vizier, or his son, he determined, if possible, to prevent the marriage.

He went into his chamber, took the lamp, rubbed it in the same place as before, when immediately the genie appeared, and said to him, “What wouldst thou have? I am ready to obey thee as thy slave; I, and the other slaves of the lamp.” “Hear me,” said Aladdin; “thou hast hitherto obeyed me, but now I am about to impose on thee a harder task. The sultan’s daughter, who was promised me as my bride, is this night married to the son of the grand vizier. Bring them both hither to me immediately they retire to their bedchamber.”

“Master,” replied the genie, “I obey thee.”

Aladdin supped with his mother as was their wont, and then went to his own room, and sat up to await the return of the genie.

In the mean time the festivities in honor of the princess’s marriage were conducted in the sultan’s palace with great magnificence. The ceremonies were at last brought to a conclusion, and the princess and the son of the vizier retired to the bedchamber prepared for them. No sooner had they entered it and dismissed their attendants than the genie, the faithful slave of the lamp, to the great amazement and alarm of the bride and bridegroom, took up the bed, and transported it in an instant into Aladdin’s chamber, where he set it down. “Remove the bridegroom,” said Aladdin to the genie, “and keep him a prisoner till tomorrow dawn, and then return with him here.” Aladdin being left alone with the princess, endeavored to assuage her fears, and explained to her the treachery practiced upon him by the sultan her father. He then laid himself down beside her, putting a drawn scimitar between them, to show that he was determined to secure her safety, and to treat her with the utmost possible respect. At break of day, the genie appeared at the appointed hour, bringing back the bridegroom, whom by breathing upon he had left motionless and entranced at the door of Aladdin’s chamber during the night, and at Aladdin’s command transported the couch with the bride and bridegroom on it, by the same invisible agency, into the palace of the sultan.

At the instant that the genie had set down the couch with the bride and bridegroom in their own chamber, the sultan came to the door to offer his good wishes to his daughter. The grand vizier’s son, who was almost perished with cold because of standing in his thin undergarment all night, no sooner heard the knocking at the door than he got out of bed and ran into the robing-chamber where he had undressed himself the night before.

The sultan having opened the door, went to the bedside and kissed the princess on the forehead, but was extremely surprised to see her look so melancholy. He questioned her, but she only cast him a sorrowful look, expressive of great affliction. He suspected there was something extraordinary in this silence, and went immediately to the sultaness’s apartment, told her in what a state he found the princess, and how she had received him. “Sire,” said the sultaness, “I will go and see her; she will not receive me in the same manner.”

The princess met her mother with sighs and tears, and signs of deep dejection. At last, her mother pressing on her the duty of telling her all her thoughts, she gave to the sultaness a precise description of what had happened to her during the night; on which the sultaness enjoined on her the necessity of silence and discretion, as no one would give credence to so strange a tale. The grand vizier’s son, elated with the honor of being the sultan’s son-in-law, kept silence on his part, and the events of the night were not allowed to cast the least gloom on the festivities on the following day, in continued celebration of the royal marriage.

When night came, the bride and bridegroom were again attended to their chamber with the same ceremonies as on the preceding evening. Aladdin, knowing that this would be so, had already given his commands to the genie of the lamp; and no sooner were they alone than their bed was removed in the same mysterious manner as on the preceding evening; and having passed the night in the same unpleasant way, they were in the morning conveyed to the palace of the sultan. Scarcely had they been replaced in their apartment, when the sultan came to make his compliments to his daughter. The princess could no longer conceal from him the unhappy treatment she had been subject to, and told him all that had happened as she had already related it to her mother. The sultan, on hearing these strange tidings, consulted with the grand vizier; and finding from him that his son had been subjected to even worse treatment by an invisible agency, he determined to declare the marriage canceled, and the festivities, which were yet to last for several days, to be terminated.

This sudden change in the mind of the sultan gave rise to various speculations and reports. Nobody but Aladdin knew the secret, and he kept it with the most scrupulous silence; and neither the sultan nor the grand vizier, who had forgotten Aladdin and his request, had the least thought that he had any hand in the strange adventures that befell the bride and bridegroom.

On the very day that the three months contained in the sultan’s promise expired, the mother of Aladdin went to the palace, and stood in the same place in the divan.

The sultan knew her again, and directed his vizier to have her brought before him.

After having prostrated herself, she made answer, in reply to the sultan: “Sire, I come at the end of three months to ask of you the fulfillment of the promise you made to my son.” The sultan who had no mind to marry his daughter to the son of a poor woman took counsel with his vizier, who suggested that the sultan should attach such conditions to the marriage as no one of the humble condition of Aladdin could possibly fulfill. The sultan therefore replied to the mother of Aladdin: “Good woman, it is true sultans ought to abide by their word, and I am ready to keep mine, by making your son happy in marriage with the princess my daughter. But as I cannot marry her without some further proof of your son being able to support her in royal state, you may tell him, I will fulfill my promise as soon as he shall send me forty trays of massy gold, full of the same sort of jewels you have already made me a present of, and carried by the like number of black slaves, who shall be led by as many young and handsome white slaves, all dressed magnificently. On these conditions I am ready to bestow the princess my daughter upon him; therefore, good woman, go and tell him so, and I will wait till you bring me his answer.”

Aladdin’s mother prostrated herself a second time before the sultan’s throne, and retired. On her way home, she laughed within herself at her son’s foolish imagination. “Where,” said she, “can he get so many large gold trays, and such precious stones to fill them? It is altogether out of his power, and I believe he will not be much pleased with my embassy this time.” When she came home, full of these thoughts, she told Aladdin of her interview with the sultan, and the conditions on which he consented to the marriage. “The sultan expects your answer immediately,” said she; and then added, laughing, “I believe he may wait long enough!”

“Not so long, mother, as you imagine,” replied Aladdin. “This demand is a mere trifle, and will prove no bar to my marriage with the princess. I will at once satisfy the sultan’s request.”

Aladdin, as soon as he was alone, summoned the genie of the lamp, and required him to present the gift, before the sultan closed his morning audience. The genie professed his obedience to the owner of the lamp, and disappeared. Within a short time, a train of forty black slaves, led by the same number of white slaves, appeared opposite the house in which Aladdin lived. Each black slave carried on his head a tray of massy gold, full of pearls, diamonds, rubies, and emeralds. Aladdin then called to his mother: “Madam, pray lose no time; before the sultan and the divan rise, I would have you return to the palace with this present as the dowry demanded for the princess, that he may judge by my diligence and exactness of the ardent and sincere desire I have to procure myself the honor of this alliance.”

As soon as this magnificent procession, with Aladdin’s mother at its head, had begun to march from Aladdin’s house, the streets were filled with crowds of people desirous to see so grand a sight. The graceful bearing, elegant form, and wonderful likeness of each slave; their grave walk at an equal distance from each other, the luster of their jeweled girdles, and the brilliancy of the aigrettes of precious stones in their turbans, excited the greatest admiration in the spectators. As they had to pass through several streets to the palace, the whole length of the way was lined with files of people. Nothing, indeed, was ever seen so beautiful and brilliant in the sultan’s palace, and the richest robes of the emirs of his court were not to be compared to the costly dresses of these slaves, whom the crowd supposed to be kings.

As the sultan, who had been informed of their approach, had given orders for them to be admitted, they met with no obstacle, but went into the divan in regular order, one part turning to the right, and the other to the left. After they were all entered, and had formed a semicircle before the sultan’s throne, the black slaves laid the golden trays on the carpet, prostrated themselves, touching the carpet with their foreheads, and at the same time the white slaves did likewise. When they rose, the black slaves uncovered the trays, and then all stood with their arms crossed over their breasts.

In the mean time, Aladdin’s mother advanced to the foot of the throne, and having prostrated herself, said to the sultan, “Sire, my son knows this present is much below the notice of Princess Buddir al Buddoor; he hopes, nevertheless, that your majesty will accept it, and make it agreeable to the princess, and with the greater confidence since he has endeavored to conform to the conditions you were pleased to impose.”

The sultan, overpowered at the sight of such more than royal magnificence, replied without hesitation to the words of Aladdin’s mother: “Go and tell your son that I wait with open arms to embrace him; and the more haste he makes to come and receive the princess my daughter from my hands, the greater pleasure he will do me.” As soon as Aladdin’s mother had retired, the sultan put an end to the audience; and rising from his throne ordered that the princess’s attendants should come and carry the trays into their mistress’s apartment, whither he went himself to examine them with her at his leisure. The fourscore slaves were conducted into the palace; and the sultan, telling the princess of their magnificent apparel, ordered them to be brought before her apartment, that she might see through the lattices how he had not exaggerated in his account of them.

In the mean time Aladdin’s mother reached home, and showed in her air and countenance the good news she brought to her son. “My son,” said she, “you are arrived at the height of your desires. The sultan has declared that you shall marry the Princess Buddir al Buddoor. He waits for you with impatience.”

Aladdin, enraptured with this news, hastened to his chamber. There he rubbed his lamp, and the obedient genie appeared. “Genie,” said Aladdin, “convey me at once to a bath, and supply me with the richest and most magnificent robes ever worn by a monarch.” No sooner were the words out of his mouth than the genie transported him into a bath of the finest marble of all sorts of colors; where he was undressed, without seeing by whom, in a magnificent and spacious hall. He was then well rubbed and washed with various scented waters. After he had passed through several degrees of heat, he came out quite a different man from what he was before. His skin was clear as that of a child, his body lightsome and free; and when he returned into the hall, he found, instead of his own poor raiment, garments the magnificence of which astonished him. The genie helped him to dress, and when he was done, transported him back to his own chamber, where he asked him if he had any other commands. “Yes,” answered Aladdin, “bring me a charger that surpasses in beauty and goodness the best in the sultan’s stables; with a saddle, bridle, and other caparisons to correspond with his value. Furnish also twenty slaves, as richly clothed as those who carried the present to the sultan, to walk by my side and follow me, and twenty more to go before me in two ranks. Besides these, bring my mother six women slaves to attend her, as richly dressed as any of the Princess Buddir al Buddoor’s, each carrying a complete dress fit for any sultaness. I want also ten thousand pieces of gold in ten purses; go, and make haste.”

•   •   •   •   •

“Behold, Sire, day has returned,” said Scheherazade, “and I must cease my tale at this point. This is unfortunate, as the better part remains to be told.”

“Then we will hear it tomorrow,” the sultan replied.

And it was as he had said.

•   •   •   •   •

As soon as Aladdin had given these orders, the genie disappeared, but presently returned with the horse, the forty slaves, ten of whom carried each a purse containing ten thousand pieces of gold, and six women slaves, each carrying on her head a splendid dress for Aladdin’s mother, wrapt up in a piece of silver tissue.

Aladdin presented the six women slaves to his mother, telling her they were her slaves, and that the dresses they had brought were for her use. Of the ten purses Aladdin gave four to his mother, telling her they were to supply her with necessaries; the other six he left in the hands of the slaves who brought them, with an order to throw the money by handfuls among the people as they went to the sultan’s palace. The six slaves who carried the purses he ordered likewise to march beside him, three on the right hand and three on the left.

When Aladdin had thus prepared himself for his first interview with the sultan, he dismissed the genie and immediately mounting his charger, began his march, and though he never was on horseback before, appeared with a grace the most experienced horseman might envy. The innumerable concourse of people through whom he passed made the air echo with their acclamations, especially every time the six slaves who carried the purses threw handfuls of gold among the populace.

On Aladdin’s arrival at the palace, the sultan was surprised to find him more richly and magnificently robed than he had ever been himself, and was impressed with his good looks and dignity of manner, which were so different from what he expected in the son of one so humble as Aladdin’s mother. He embraced him with demonstrations of joy, and when Aladdin would have fallen at his feet, held him by the hand, and made him sit near his throne. He shortly after led him amidst the sounds of trumpets, and hautboys to a magnificent entertainment, at which

the sultan and Aladdin ate at a table by themselves, and the great lords of the court, according to their rank and dignity, sat at different tables. After the feast, the sultan sent for the chief cadi, and commanded him to draw up a contract of marriage between the Princess Buddir al Buddoor and Aladdin. While the contract was being drawn, the sultan asked Aladdin if he would stay in the palace and complete the ceremonies of the marriage that day. “Sire,” said Aladdin, “though great is my impatience to enter on the honor granted me by your majesty, yet I beg you to permit me first to build a palace worthy to receive the princess your daughter. I pray you to grant me sufficient ground near your palace, and I will have it completed with the utmost expedition.” The sultan granted Aladdin his request, and again embraced him. After which Aladdin took his leave with as much politeness as if he had been bred at court.

Aladdin returned home in the order he had come, amidst the acclamations of the people, who wished him all happiness and prosperity. As soon as he dismounted, he went to his room, took the lamp, and summoned the genie.

“Genie,” said Aladdin, “build me a palace fit to receive the Princess Buddir al Buddoor. Let its materials be made of nothing less than porphyry, jasper, agate, lapis lazuli, and the finest marble. Let its walls be massive gold and silver bricks laid alternately. Let each front contain six windows, and let the lattices of these (except one, which must be left unfinished) be enriched with diamonds, rubies, and emeralds, so that they shall exceed everything of the kind ever seen in the world. Let there be an inner and outer court and a spacious garden; but above all things, provide a safe treasure-house, and fill it with gold and silver. Let there be also kitchens and storehouses, stables full of the finest horses, with their equerries and grooms, and hunting equipage, officers, attendants, and slaves, both men and women, to form a retinue for the princess and myself. Go and execute my wishes.”

When Aladdin gave these commands to the genie, the sun was set. The next morning at daybreak the genie presented himself, and, having obtained Aladdin’s consent, transported him in a moment to the palace he had made. The genie led him through all the apartments, where he found officers and slaves, habited according to their rank and the services to which they were appointed. The genie then showed him the treasury, which was opened by a treasurer, where Aladdin saw large vases of different sizes, piled up to the top with money, ranged all round the chamber. The genie thence led him to the stables, where were some of the finest Arabian horses in the world, and the grooms with them; from thence they went to the storehouses, which were filled with all things necessary, both for food and ornament.

When Aladdin had examined every portion of the palace, and particularly the hall with the four-and-twenty windows, and found it exceeded his expectations, he said, “Genie, there is one thing wanting, a fine carpet for the princess to walk upon from the sultan’s palace to mine. Lay one down immediately.” The genie disappeared, and Aladdin saw what he desired executed in an instant. The genie then returned, and carried him back to his own home.

When the sultan’s porters came early that morning to open the gates, they were amazed to find what had been an unoccupied square filled with a magnificent palace, and a splendid carpet extending to it all the way from the sultan’s palace gates. They told the strange tidings to the grand vizier, who informed the sultan, who exclaimed, “It must be Aladdin’s palace, which I gave him leave to build for my daughter. He has wished to surprise us, and let us see what wonders can be done in a single night.”

Aladdin, after returning to his own home, requested his mother to go to the Princess Buddir al Buddoor, and tell her that the palace would be ready for her reception that evening. She went, attended by her women slaves, in the same order as on the preceding day. Shortly after her arrival at the princess’s apartment, the sultan himself came in, and was surprised to find her, whom he knew as a suppliant at his divan in such humble guise, to be now more richly and sumptuously attired than his own daughter.

Shortly after his mother’s departure, Aladdin, mounting his horse, attended by his retinue of magnificent retainers, left his paternal home forever, and went to the palace in the same pomp as on the day before. Nor did he forget to take with him the Wonderful Lamp, to which he owed all his good fortune, nor to wear the Ring which was given him as a talisman. The sultan entertained Aladdin with the utmost magnificence, and at night, on the conclusion of the marriage ceremonies, the princess took leave of the sultan her father. Bands of music led the procession, followed by a hundred state ushers, and the like number of black mutes, in two files, with their officers at their head. Four hundred of the sultan’s young pages carried flambeaux on each side, which, together with the illuminations of the sultan’s and Aladdin’s palaces, made it as light as day.

In this order the princess, in her litter and accompanied by Aladdin’s mother, also in a superb litter and attended by her women slaves, proceeded on the carpet which was spread from the sultan’s palace to that of Aladdin.

Aladdin received her at the entrance, and led her into a large hall, illuminated with an infinite number of wax candles, where a noble feast was served. The dishes were of massy gold, and contained the most delicate viands. The princess, dazzled to see so much riches collected in one place, said to Aladdin, “I thought, prince, that nothing in the world was so beautiful as my father’s palace, but the sight of this hall alone is sufficient to show I was mistaken.”

When the supper was ended, there entered a company of Nautch girls who performed, according to the custom of the country, singing at the same time verses in praise of the bride and bridegroom. About midnight Aladdin’s mother conducted the bride to the nuptial apartment, where he soon followed her.

The next morning the attendants of Aladdin presented themselves to dress him, and brought him another habit, as rich and magnificent as that worn the day before. He then ordered one of the horses to be got ready, mounted him, and went in the midst of a large troop of slaves to the sultan to entreat him to take a repast in the new palace, attended by his grand vizier and all the lords of his court. The sultan consented with pleasure, rose up immediately, and preceded by all the great lords of his court, accompanied Aladdin.

The nearer the sultan approached Aladdin’s palace, the more he was struck with its beauty; but when he entered it, came into the hall, and saw the windows, enriched with diamonds, rubies, emeralds, all large perfect stones, he was completely surprised, and said to his son-in-law, “This palace is one of the wonders of the world; for where besides shall we find walls built of massy gold and silver, and diamonds, rubies, and emeralds decorating the windows? But it amazes me that a hall of this magnificence should be left with one of its windows incomplete and unfinished.” “Sire,” answered Aladdin, “the omission was by design, since I wished that you should have the glory of finishing this hall.” “I take your intention kindly,” said the sultan, “and will give orders about it immediately.”

After the sultan had enjoyed the magnificent entertainment, provided for him and for his court by Aladdin, he was informed that the jewelers and goldsmiths had arrived; upon which he returned to the hall, and showed them the unfinished window.

“I sent for you,” said he, “to adorn this window in as great perfection as the rest. Examine them well, and make all the dispatch you can.”

The jewelers and goldsmiths examined the three-and-twenty windows with great attention, and after they had consulted together, to know what each could furnish, they returned, and presented themselves before the sultan, whose principal jeweler, undertaking to speak for the rest, said, “Sire, we are all willing to exert our utmost care and industry to obey you; but among us all we cannot furnish jewels enough for so great a work.” “I have more than are necessary,” said the sultan; “come to my palace, and you shall choose what may answer your purpose.”

When the sultan returned to his palace, he ordered his jewels to be brought out, and the jewelers took a great quantity, particularly those Aladdin had made him a present of, which they soon used, without making any great advance in their work. They came again several times for more, and in a month’s time had not finished half their work. In short, they used all the jewels the sultan had, and borrowed of the vizier, yet the work was not half done.

Aladdin, who knew that all the sultan’s endeavors to make this window like the rest were in vain, sent for the jewelers and goldsmiths, and not only commanded them to desist from their work, but ordered them to undo what they had begun, and to carry all their jewels back to the sultan and to the vizier. They undid in a few hours what they had been six weeks making, and retired, leaving Aladdin alone in the hall. He took the lamp, rubbed it, and the genie appeared. “Genie,” said Aladdin, “I ordered thee to leave one of the four-and-twenty windows of this hall imperfect, and thou hast executed my commands punctually; now I would have thee make it like the rest.” The genie immediately disappeared. Aladdin went out of the hall, and returning soon after, found the window like the others.

In the mean time, the jewelers and goldsmiths repaired to the palace, and were introduced into the sultan’s presence; where the chief jeweler presented the precious stones which he had brought back. The sultan asked them if Aladdin had given them any reason for so commanding, and they answering that he had given them none, he ordered a horse to be brought, which he mounted, and rode to his son-in-law’s palace, with some few attendants on foot, to inquire why he had ordered the completion of the window to be stopped. Aladdin met him at the gate, and without giving any reply to his inquiries conducted him to the hall, where the sultan, to his great surprise, found the window exactly like the others. He fancied at first that he was mistaken, and examined the two windows on each side, and afterward all the four-and-twenty; but when he was convinced that the window which several workmen had been so long about had now been finished in so short a time, he embraced Aladdin and kissed him between his eyes. “My son,” said he, “what a man you are to do such surprising things always in the twinkling of an eye! There is not your fellow in the world; the more I know you, the more I admire you.”

Aladdin, while he paid all respect to the sultan, won by his affable behavior and liberality the affections of the people. Several years passed thus in happiness, when the African magician, who had dismissed Aladdin from his mind, determined at last to inform himself with certainty whether the boy had perished in the subterranean cave or not. He resorted to a long course of magic ceremonies, and cast a horoscope by which to ascertain Aladdin’s fate. What was his surprise to find the appearances declare that Aladdin, instead of dying in the cave, had made his escape, and was living in royal splendor, by the aid of the genie of the wonderful lamp!

On the very next day, the magician set out and traveled with the utmost haste to the capital of China, where, on his arrival, he took up his lodgings in a khan.

He quickly learned about the wealth, charities, happiness, and splendid palace of Prince Aladdin. Directly he saw the wonderful fabric, he knew that none but the genii, the slaves of the lamp, could have performed such wonders, and, enraged at Aladdin’s good fortune, he returned to the khan.

On his return he had recourse to an operation of geomancy to find out where the lamp was—whether Aladdin carried it about with him, or where he left it. The result of his consultation informed him, to his great joy, that the lamp was in the palace. “Well,” said he, rubbing his hands in glee, “I shall have the lamp, and I shall make Aladdin suffer for stealing it.”

The next day the magician learnt, from the chief superintendent of the khan where he lodged, that Aladdin had gone on a hunting expedition, which was to last for eight days, of which only three had expired. The magician wanted to know no more. He resolved at once on his plans. He went to a coppersmith, and asked for a dozen copper lamps to be ready the next day, and desired the smith to take care that they should be handsome and well polished.

The next day the magician called for the twelve lamps, put them into a basket hanging on his arm, and went directly to Aladdin’s palace. As he approached, he began crying, “New lamps for old!” As he went along, a crowd of children collected, who hooted, and thought him, as did all who chanced to be passing by, a madman or a fool, to offer to change new lamps for old ones.

The African magician regarded not their scoffs, but still continued crying, “New lamps for old!” He repeated this so often, walking backward and forward in front of the palace, that the princess, who was then in the hall with the four-and-twenty windows, hearing a man cry something, and seeing a great mob crowding about him, sent one of her women slaves to know what he cried.

The slave returned, laughing so heartily that the princess rebuked her. “Madam,” answered the slave, still laughing, “who can forbear being amused to see an old man with a basket on his arm, full of fine new lamps, asking to change them for old ones? The children and mob crowding about him, so that he can hardly stir, make all the noise they can in derision of him.”

Another female slave hearing this, said, “Now you speak of lamps, I know not whether the princess may have observed it, but there is a shabby old one upon a shelf of the Prince Aladdin’s robing room. If the princess chooses, she may have the pleasure of trying if this old man is so silly as to give a new lamp for an old one, without taking anything for the exchange.”

The princess, who knew not the magic value of this lamp, entered into the pleasantry, and commanded a slave to take it and make the exchange. The slave obeyed, went out of the hall, and no sooner got to the palace gates than she saw the African magician, called to him, and showing him the old lamp, said, “Give me a new lamp for this.”

The magician knew at once that this was the lamp he wanted. There could be no other such in this palace, where every utensil was gold or silver. He snatched it eagerly out of the slave’s hand, and thrusting it as far as he could into his breast, offered her his basket, and bade her choose which she liked best. The slave picked out one and carried it to the princess; the change was no sooner made than the place rang with the shouts of the children, deriding the magician’s folly.

The African magician stayed no longer near the palace, nor cried any more, “New lamps for old,” but made the best of his way to his khan.

As soon as he was out of sight of the two palaces, he hastened down the least-frequented streets; and having no more occasion for his lamps or basket, set all down in a spot where nobody saw him and pursuing his way at length reached a lonely spot, where he stopped till the night.

When it became quite dark, he pulled the lamp out of his breast and rubbed it. At that summons the genie appeared, and said, “What wouldst thou have? I am ready to obey thee as thy slave, and the slave of all those who have that lamp in their hands; both I and the other slaves of the lamp.” “I command thee,” replied the magician, “to transport me immediately, and the palace which thou and the other slaves of the lamp have built in this city, with all the people in it, to Africa.” The genie made no reply, but with the assistance of the other genii, the slaves of the lamp, immediately transported the magician and the palace, entire, to a spot in Africa.

Early the next morning, when the sultan, according to custom, went to contemplate and admire Aladdin’s palace, his amazement was unbounded to find that it could nowhere be seen. He could not understand how a palace which he had seen plainly every day for some years, could vanish so soon, and not leave the least trace behind. In his perplexity he ordered the grand vizier to be sent for with haste.

The grand vizier, who, in secret, bore no good will to Aladdin, intimated his suspicion that the palace was built by magic, and that Aladdin had made his hunting excursion an excuse for the removal of his palace with the same suddenness with which it had been erected. He induced the sultan to send a detachment of his guard, and to have Aladdin seized as a prisoner of state.

This being done and his son-in-law brought before him, the sultan would not hear a word from him, but ordered him to be put to death. But the decree caused so much discontent among the people, whose affection Aladdin had secured by his largesses and charities, that the sultan, fearful of an insurrection, was obliged to grant him his life. When Aladdin found himself at liberty, he begged to be allowed to see the sultan and the interview being granted, he spoke in these words: “Sire, I pray you let me know the crime by which I have thus lost the favor of thy countenance.” “Your crime!” answered the sultan, “wretched man! do you not know it? Follow me, and I will show you.” The sultan then took Aladdin into the apartment from whence he was wont to look at and admire the palace, and said, “You ought to know where your palace stood; look, and tell me what has become of it.” Aladdin did so, and being utterly amazed at the loss of his palace, was speechless. At last recovering himself, he said, “It is true, I do not see the palace. It is vanished; but I had no concern in its removal. I beg you to give me forty days, and if in that time I cannot restore it, I will offer my head to be disposed of at your pleasure.” To this the sultan consented.

Aladdin went out of the sultan’s palace in a condition of frantic despair. The lords who had courted him in the days of his splendor, now declined to have any communication with him. For three days he wandered about the city, exciting the wonder and compassion of the multitude by asking everybody he met if they had seen his palace, or could tell him anything of it. On the third day he wandered into the country, and as he was approaching the river, he fell down the bank with so much violence that he rubbed the ring which the magician had given him by holding on the rock to save himself. Immediately the same genie appeared whom he had seen in the cave where the magician had left him. “What wouldst thou have?” said the genie. “I am ready to obey thee as thy slave, and the slave of all those that have that ring on their finger; both I and the other slaves of the ring.”

Aladdin, who had quite forgotten the ring and its magic power, agreeably surprised at an offer of help so little expected, replied, “Genie, show me where the palace I caused to be built now stands, or transport it back where it first stood.” “Your command,” answered the genie, “is not in my power; I am only the slave of the ring, and not of the lamp.” “I command thee, then,” replied Aladdin, “by the power of the ring, to transport me to the spot where my palace stands, in what part of the world soever it may be.” These words were no sooner out of his mouth, than the genie transported him into Africa, to the midst of a large plain, where his palace stood, at no great distance from a city, and placing him exactly under the window of the princess’s apartment, left him.

•   •   •   •   •

But at this instant the sun rose, upon which the sultaness stopped her story. The sultan got up immediately, but before leaving the apartment he said to his consort:

“Let me hear the rest of this strange adventure of Aladdin and the Lamp tomorrow night.”

Accordingly, long before the dawn, Scheherazade began again:

•   •   •   •   •

Aladdin had stood there but a moment when one of the attendants of the Princess Buddir al Buddoor, looking through the window, perceived him and instantly told her mistress. The princess, who could not believe the joyful tidings, hastened to the window, and seeing Aladdin, immediately opened it.

The noise of opening the window made Aladdin look up, and seeing the princess, he saluted her with an air that expressed his joy. “To lose no time,” said she to him, “I have sent to have the private door opened for you; enter and come up.”

The private door, which was just under the princess’s apartment, was soon opened, and Aladdin conducted up into the chamber. It is impossible to express the joy of both at seeing each other, after so cruel a separation. After embracing and shedding tears of joy, they sat down, and Aladdin said, “I beg of you, beloved, tell me what is become of an old lamp which stood upon a shelf in my robing-chamber.”

“Alas!” answered the princess, “I was afraid our misfortune might be owing to that lamp; and what grieves me most is, that I have been the cause of it. I was foolish enough to change the old lamp for a new one, and the next morning I found myself in this unknown country, which I am told is Africa.”

“Princess,” said Aladdin, interrupting her, “you have explained all by telling me we are in Africa. I desire you only to tell me if you know where the old lamp now is.” “The magician carries it carefully wrapt up in his bosom,” said the princess; “and this I can assure you, because he pulled it out before me, and showed it to me in triumph.”

“Princess,” said Aladdin, “I think I have found the means to deliver you and to regain possession of the lamp, on which all my prosperity depends; to execute this design, it is necessary for me to go to the town. I shall return by noon, and will then tell you what must be done by you to help insure success. In the mean time, I shall disguise myself, and I beg that the private door may be opened at the first knock.”

When Aladdin was out of the palace, he looked round and perceiving a peasant going into the country, hastened after him; and when he had overtaken him, made a proposal to him to change clothes, to which the man agreed. When they had made the exchange, the countryman went about his business, and Aladdin entered the neighboring city. After traversing several streets, he came to that part of the town where the merchants and artisans had their particular streets according to their trades. He went into that of the druggists; and entering one of the largest and best furnished shops, asked the druggist for a certain powder.

The druggist, judging Aladdin by his habit to be very poor, told him he had it, but that it was dear; upon which Aladdin pulled out his purse, and showing him some gold, asked for half a dram of the powder; which the druggist weighed and gave him, telling him the price was a piece of gold. Aladdin put the money into his hand, and hastened to the palace, which he entered at once by the private door. When he came into the princess’s apartment, he said to her, “Princess, you must take your part in the scheme which I propose for our deliverance. You must overcome your aversion to the magician, and assume a friendly manner toward him, and ask him to oblige you by partaking of a supper in your apartments. Before he leaves, ask him to exchange cups with you, which he, gratified at the honor, will gladly do, when you must give him the cup containing this powder. On drinking it he will instantly fall asleep, and we will obtain the lamp, whose slaves will do all our bidding, and restore us and the palace to the capital of China.”

The princess obeyed her husband’s instructions. She assumed a look of pleasure on the next visit of the magician, and asked him to sup with her which he did most willingly. At the close of the evening, during which the princess had tried all she could to please him, she asked him to exchange cups with her, and giving the signal, had the drugged cup brought to her, which she gave to the magician. He drank it out of compliment to the princess to the very last drop, when with a cry, he fell backward lifeless on the sofa.

The princess had so placed her women from the entrance of the great hall to the foot of the staircase, that the word was no sooner given that the African magician was fallen backward, than the door was opened, and Aladdin admitted to the hall. The princess rose from her seat, and ran, overjoyed, to embrace him; but he stopped her, and said, “Princess, retire to your apartment; and let me be left alone, while I endeavor to transport you back to China as speedily as you were brought here.”

When the princess, her women, and slaves were gone out of the hall, Aladdin shut the door, and going directly to the dead body of the magician, opened his vest, took out the lamp which was carefully wrapped up, and rubbing it, the genie immediately appeared. “Genie,” said Aladdin, “I command thee to transport this palace instantly to the place from whence it was brought.” The genie bowed his head in token of obedience, and disappeared. Immediately the palace was transported into China, and its removal was only felt by two little shocks, the one when it was lifted up, the other when it was set down, and both in a very short interval of time.

On the morning after the restoration of Aladdin’s palace, the sultan was looking out of his window, and mourning over the fate of his daughter, when he thought that he saw the vacancy created by the disappearance of the palace to be again filled up.

Rubbing his eyes he looked again and was convinced beyond the power of doubt that it was his son-in-law’s palace. Joy and gladness succeeded to sorrow and grief. He at once ordered a horse to be saddled, which he mounted that instant, and with a half dozen attendants rode over to the palace.

Aladdin rose that morning by daybreak, put on one of the most magnificent habits his wardrobe afforded, and went up into the hall of twenty-four windows, where he waited till he saw the sultan approaching, receiving him at the entrance to the court, and helping him to dismount.

He led the sultan into the princess’s apartment. The happy father embraced her with tears of joy. After a short interval, devoted to mutual explanations of all that had happened, the sultan restored Aladdin to his favor, and expressed his regret for the harshness with which he had treated him. “My son,” said he, “be not displeased at my proceedings against you; they arose from my paternal love, and therefore you ought to forgive the excesses to which it hurried me.” “Sire,” replied Aladdin, “I have not the least reason to complain of your conduct, since you did nothing but what your duty required. This infamous magician, the basest of men, was the sole cause of my misfortune.”

Thus was Aladdin delivered from the persecution of the wicked magician. When a few years afterward, the sultan died in a good old age, the Princess Buddir al Buddoor succeeded him, and she and Aladdin reigned together many years, and left a numerous and illustrious posterity.

•   •   •   •   •

Day not yet having come, Dinarzade begged for another story, and the Sultan signifying his consent, Scheherazade, after a short space for thought, began as follows:

THE ADVENTURES OF
THE CALIPH HAROUN
AL RASCHID

THE CALIPH
HAROUN AL RASCHID

The Caliph Haroun al Raschid was accustomed to visit the city of Bagdad in disguise, that he might see into the condition of the people, and hear their reports of his court and government. On one such occasion, he and his grand vizier Giafar disguised themselves as foreign merchants, and went their way through the different parts of the city. As they entered on a bridge which connected together the two parts of the city of Bagdad, divided by the river Euphrates, they met an old blind man, who asked alms.

The caliph put a piece of gold into his hand, on which the blind man caught hold of his hand, and stopped him, saying, “Sir, pray forgive me; I desire you would either give me a box on the ear, or take your alms back again, for I cannot receive it but on that condition, without breaking a solemn oath which I have sworn to God; and if you knew the reason, you would agree with me that the punishment is very slight.”

The caliph, unwilling to be detained any longer, yielded to the importunity of the blind man, and gave him a very slight blow; whereupon the beggar thanked and blessed him.

The next day, the caliph called the grand vizier. “I must see that unfortunate beggar,” said he. “Go and tell him to come to my palace.”

When afternoon prayers were over, the blind man accordingly prostrated himself before the throne, and when he rose up, the caliph asked him his name. He answered that it was Baba Abdalla.

“Baba Abdalla,” explained the caliph, “I ordered you to come hither, to know from yourself why you made the indiscreet oath of which you told me. Tell me freely, for I will know the truth.”

Baba Abdalla cast himself a second time at the foot of the caliph’s throne, with his face to the ground, and when he rose up said, “Commander of the Faithful, I must humbly ask your pardon for my presumption in requiring you to box my ear. As to the extravagance of my action, I own that it must seem strange; it is however a slight penance for an enormous crime of which I have been guilty, and for which, if all the people in the world were each to give me a box on the ear, it would not be a sufficient atonement.”

THE STORY OF
BABA ABDALLA

Commander of the Faithful, continued Baba Abdalla, I was born at Bagdad. My father and mother died while I was yet a youth, and I inherited from them an ample estate. Although young, I neglected no opportunity to increase it by my industry. I soon became rich enough to purchase fourscore camels, which I let out to merchants, who hired them, at a considerable profit to me, to carry their merchandise from one country to another.

As I was returning one day with my unloaded camels from Bussorah, whither I had carried some bales that were to be embarked for the Indies, I met a dervish, who was walking to Bussorah. I asked him whence he came and where he was going; he put the same questions to me; and when we had satisfied each other’s curiosity, we produced our provisions and ate together.

During our repast, the dervish told me of a spot not far from where we sat, in which such immense riches were collected that if all my fourscore camels were loaded with the gold and jewels that might be taken from it, they would not be missed.

I was overjoyed at this intelligence.

“You say,” continued the dervish, “that you have fourscore camels. I am ready to conduct you to the place where the treasure lies, and we will load them with as much jewels and gold as they can carry, on condition that when they are so loaded, you will let me have one-half, and you be contented with the other; after which we will separate, and take our camels where we may think fit. There is nothing but what is strictly equitable in this division; for if you give me forty camels, you will procure by my means wherewithal to purchase thousands.”

I assented to his proposal, at once collected all my camels, and set out with the dervish. After we had traveled some time, we came to a pass, so narrow that two camels could not go abreast. The two mountains which bounded this valley were so high and steep that there was no fear of our being seen by anybody.

When we came into the valley between these two mountains, the dervish bade me stop the camels. He proceeded to gather some sticks and light a fire: he then cast some incense into it, pronouncing certain words which I did not understand,

and presently a thick cloud arose. This soon dispersed, when the rock worming the side of the valley opened, and exposed to view a magnificent palace in the hollow of the mountain.

So eager was I for the treasures which displayed themselves to my view, that, like an eagle seizing her prey, I fell upon the first heap of golden coin that was near me. My sacks were all large, and I would have filled them all, but I was obliged to proportion my burden to the strength of my camels. The dervish paid more attention to the jewels than the gold, and I soon followed his example, so that we took away more jewels than gold. After we had filled our sacks, and loaded our camels, the dervish used the same incantations to shut the treasury as he had done to open it, when the doors closed, and the rock seemed as solid and entire as it was before. I observed, however, that the dervish, before he went away, took a small bottle out of the cave and put it into his breast, first showing me that it contained only a glutinous sort of ointment.

We now divided our camels. I put myself at the head of the forty which I had reserved for myself, and the dervish placed himself at the head of those which I had given him. We came out of the valley by the way we had entered, and traveled together till we came to the great road, where we were to part; the dervish to go to Bussorah, and I to Bagdad. To thank him for so great a kindness, I made use of the most expressive terms, testifying my gratitude for the preference he had given me before all other men in letting me have a share of such riches. We embraced each other with joy and taking our leave pursued our different routes.

I had not gone far, following my camels, which paced quietly on in the track I had put them into, before the demon of ingratitude and envy took possession of my heart, and I deplored not only the loss of my other forty, but the riches wherewith they were loaded. “The dervish,” said I to myself, “has no occasion for all this wealth, since he is master of the treasure, and may have as much as he pleases;” so I determined immediately to take the camels with their loading from him.

To execute this design I ran after the dervish, calling to him to stop, which he accordingly did.

When I came up to him, I said, “Brother, I had no sooner parted from you, but a thought came into my head, which neither of us had reflected on before. You are a recluse dervish, used to live in tranquility, disengaged from all the cares of the world, and intent only upon serving God. You know not, perhaps, what trouble you have taken upon yourself to take care of so many camels. If you would take my advice you would keep but thirty; you will find them sufficiently troublesome to manage. Take my word; I have had experience.”

“I believe you are right,” replied the dervish; “choose which ten you please, and take them, and go on in God’s keeping.”

I chose ten and put them in the road to follow my others. I had not imagined that the dervish would be so easily persuaded to part with his camels and I began to think that it would be no hard matter to get ten more: wherefore, instead of thanking him, I said to him again, “Brother, I cannot part from you without desiring you to consider once more how difficult a thing it is to govern thirty loaded camels, especially for you who are not used to such work; you will find it much better to return me as many more as you have done already.”

The dervish gave me, without any hesitation, the other ten camels; so that he had but twenty left, and I was master of sixty, and might boast of greater riches than any sovereign prince. Any one would have thought I would now be content, but the more we have, the more we want; and I became yet more greedy and desirous of the other twenty camels.

I redoubled my solicitations and importunities to make the dervish grant me ten of the twenty, which he did with a good grace: and as to the other ten he had left, I embraced him, kissed his feet, caressed and entreated him, so that he gave me these also. “Make a good use of them, brother,” said the dervish, “and remember that God can take away riches as well as give them.”

I was not yet content, though I had my forty camels again, and knew they were loaded with treasure. A thought came into my head, that the little box of ointment which the dervish showed me contained something of inestimable value, and I determined to obtain it. I had bade him adieu, when I again returned, and said, “That little box of ointment seems such a trifle, it is not worth your carrying away. I entreat you to make me a present of it. What occasion has a dervish, who has renounced the vanities of the world, for perfumes, or scented unguents?”

The dervish pulled it out of his bosom, and presenting it to me, said, “Here, take it, brother, and be content; if I can do more for you, you need but to ask me—I shall be ready to satisfy you.”

When I had the box in my hand, I opened it, and looking at the unguent, said, “Since you are so good, I am sure you will not refuse to tell me the use of this ointment.”

“The use is very surprising and wonderful,” replied the dervish. “If you apply a little of it upon the lid of the left eye, you will see all the treasures contained in the bosom of the earth; but if you apply it to the right eyelid, it will make you blind.”

“Take the box,” said I to the dervish, “and apply some to my left eyelid; you understand how to do it better than I.” The dervish had no sooner done so, than I saw immense treasures and such prodigious riches, that it is impossible for me to give an account of them; but as I was obliged to keep my right eye shut, I desired the dervish to apply some of the pomatum to that eye.

“I am ready to do it,” said the dervish; “but you must remember what I told you, that if you put any of it upon your right eye, you will go blind; such is the virtue of the ointment.”

Far from being persuaded of the truth of what the dervish said, I imagined, on the contrary, that there was some new mystery, which he meant to hide from me. “Brother,” replied I, smiling, “I see plainly you wish to mislead me; it is not natural that this ointment should have two such contrary effects.”

“The matter is as I tell you,” replied the dervish. “You ought to believe me, for I tell the truth.”

The dervish made all the resistance possible; but seeing that I would take no refusal, he took a little of the ointment, and applied it to my right eyelid. Alas! I ceased at once to distinguish anything with either eye, and became blind as you see me now.

“Ah, dervish!” I exclaimed, in agony, “what you forewarned has proved true. I am now sensible what a misfortune I have brought upon myself by my insatiable desire of riches; but you, dear brother,” cried I, addressing myself to the dervish, “who are so charitable and good, among the many wonderful secrets you are acquainted with, have you not one to restore to me my sight again?”

“Miserable man!” answered the dervish, “you might have avoided this misfortune, but you have your deserts. The blindness of your mind was the cause of the loss of your eyes. I have no power to restore to you your sight. Pray to God, therefore; it is he alone that can restore it to you. He gave you riches, of which you were unworthy; and on that account He takes them from you again, and will by my hands give them to a man not so ungrateful as yourself.”

The dervish said no more, but left me to myself, overwhelmed with confusion and grief. He then collected my camels, and drove them away to Bussorah.

I cried out loudly as he was departing, and entreated him not to leave me in that miserable condition, but to conduct me at least to the first caravanserai; but he was deaf to entreaties. Thus deprived of sight and of all I had in the world, I should have died with affliction and hunger, if the next day a caravan returning from Bussorah had not received me charitably, and brought me back to Bagdad.

I was thus reduced, without remedy, from a condition of great wealth to a state of poverty. I had no other way to subsist but by asking charity, which I have done till now. But to expiate my offense against God, I enjoined on myself, by way of penance, a box on the ear from every charitable person who should commiserate my condition and give me alms.

This, Commander of the Faithful, is the motive which caused me to make so strange a request to you. I ask your pardon once more as your slave, and submit to receive the chastisement I deserve.

“Baba Abdalla,” the caliph said, “your sin has been great; but, God be praised, your self-inflicted penance proves your sorrow. That you may forgo your daily asking of alms, I give you henceforth four silver dirhems a day, which my grand vizier shall present to you daily with the penance you have imposed on yourself.”

At these words, Baba Abdalla prostrated himself before the caliph’s throne, returned him thanks, and wished him all happiness and prosperity.

•   •   •   •   •

“But I see that dawn has come,” Scheherazade concluded. “There is, however, a tale of forty thieves which has been considered by some to be fully as entertaining as any of the stories I have yet related.”

“I should not like to miss that story,” answered the sultan, “and therefore, at the same time tomorrow you may continue.” With these words he departed. Scheherazade, going later to see her father, told him to be of good heart, for he could see that it was not unlikely that she would win in her plan to make the sultan forego his unhappy resolution. The next night she began the story as follows:

The History of Ali Baba,
and of the Forty Robbers
Killed by One Slave

THE HISTORY OF ALI BABA

There once lived in a town of Persia two brothers, one named Cassim and the other Ali Baba. Their father divided a small inheritance equally between them. Cassim married a rich wife, and became a wealthy merchant. Ali Baba, who married a woman as poor as himself, lived by cutting wood, and bringing it upon three asses into the town to sell.

One day, when Ali Baba was in the forest, cutting wood enough to load his asses, he saw at a distance a great cloud of dust, which seemed to approach him. He observed it with attention, and distinguished a body of horsemen, who he suspected might be robbers. He determined to hide his asses and to save himself. He climbed a large tree, planted on a high rock, whose branches were thick enough to conceal him, and yet enabled him to see all that passed without being discovered.

The troop, who numbered forty, all well mounted and armed, came to the foot of the rock on which the tree stood, and there dismounted. Every man unbridled his horse, tied him to some shrub, and hung about his neck a bag of corn which had been brought with them. Then each took off his saddlebag, which seemed to Ali Baba to be full of gold and silver. One, whom he took to be their captain, came under the tree in which Ali Baba was concealed; and making his way through some shrubs, pronounced these words: “Open, Sesame!” As soon as the captain of the robbers had thus spoken, a door opened in the rock; and after he had made all his troop enter before him, he followed them, when the door shut again of itself.

The robbers stayed some time within the rock, during which Ali Baba, fearful of being caught, remained in the tree.

At last the door opened again, and as the captain went in last, so he came out first, and stood aside to see them all pass by him; when Ali Baba heard him make the door close by pronouncing these words, “Shut, Sesame!” Every man at once bridled his horse, fastened his saddlebag, and mounted again. When the captain saw them all ready, he put himself at their head, and they returned the way they had come.

Ali Baba followed them with his eyes as far as he could see them; remaining in the tree a considerable time before he descended. Remembering the words the captain of the robbers used to cause the door to open and shut, he had the curiosity to try if his pronouncing them would have the same effect. Accordingly, he went among the shrubs, and perceiving the door concealed behind them, stood before it, and said, “Open, Sesame!” The door instantly flew wide open.

Ali Baba, who expected a dark, dismal cavern, was surprised to see a well-lighted and spacious chamber, which received the light from an opening at the top of the rock, and in which were all sorts of fine merchandise, rich bales of silk, stuff, brocade, and valuable carpeting, piled upon one another; gold and silver ingots in great heaps, and money in bags. The sight of all these riches made him suppose that this cave must have been occupied for ages by robbers, who had succeeded one another.

Ali Baba went boldly into the cave, and collected as much of the gold coin, which was in bags, as he thought his three asses could carry. When he had loaded them with the bags, he laid wood over them in such a manner that they could not be seen. When he had finished he stood before the door, and pronouncing the words, “Shut, Sesame!” the door closed of itself. He then made the best of his way to town.

When Ali Baba got home, he drove his asses into a little yard, shut the gates very carefully, threw off the wood that covered the panniers, carried the bags into his house, and ranged them in order before his wife.

He then emptied the bags, which raised such a great heap of gold as dazzled his wife’s eyes, and then he told her the whole adventure from beginning to end, and, above all, recommended her to keep it secret.

The wife rejoiced greatly at their good fortune, and would count all the gold piece by piece. “Wife,” replied Ali Baba, “you do not know what you undertake, when you pretend to count the money; you will never have done. I will dig a hole, and bury it. There is no time to be lost.” “You are in the right, husband,” replied she, “but let us know, as nigh as possible, how much we have. I will borrow a small measure, and measure it, while you dig the hole.”

Away the wife ran to her brother-in-law who lived just by, and addressing herself to Cassim’s wife, asked her to lend her a measure. Her sister-in-law inquired whether she would have a great or a small one. The other asked for a small one.

The sister-in-law, as she knew Ali Baba’s poverty, was curious to know what sort of grain his wife wanted to measure, and artfully putting some suet at the bottom brought it to her, with an excuse that she was sorry that she had made her wait so long, but that she could not find it sooner.

Ali Baba’s wife went home, set the measure by the heap of gold, filled it and emptied it till she had done, when she was very well satisfied to find the number of measures amounted to so many as they did, and went to tell her husband, who had almost finished digging the hole. While Ali Baba was burying the gold, his wife, to show her diligence to her sister-in-law, carried the measure back again, but without taking notice that a piece of gold had stuck to the bottom. “Sister,” said she, “you see that I have not kept your measure long. I am obliged to you for it, and return it with thanks.”

As soon as Ali Baba’s wife was gone, Cassim’s wife looked at the bottom of the measure, and was inexpressibly surprised to find a piece of gold sticking to it. Envy immediately possessed her breast. “What!” said she, “has Ali Baba gold so plentiful as to measure it? Whence has he all this wealth?”

Cassim, her husband, was at his counting-house. When he came home, his wife said to him, “Cassim, I know you think yourself rich, but Ali Baba is infinitely richer than you. He does not count his money, but measures it.” Cassim desired her to explain, which she did, showing him the piece of money, which was so old that they could not tell in what prince’s reign it was coined.

Cassim, after he had married the rich widow, had never treated Ali Baba as a brother and now, instead of being pleased, he conceived a base envy at his brother’s prosperity. He could not sleep all that night, and went to him in the morning before sunrise. “Ali Baba,” said he, “I am surprised at you; you pretend to be miserably poor, and yet you measure gold. My wife found this at the bottom of the measure you borrowed yesterday.”

By this, Ali Baba perceived that Cassim and his wife, through his own wife’s folly, knew what he had so much reason to conceal; but what was done could not be undone. Therefore, without showing the least surprise or trouble, he confessed all, and offered his brother part of his treasure to keep the secret.

“I expect as much,” replied Cassim haughtily; “but I must know exactly where this treasure is, and how I may visit it myself when I choose; otherwise, I will go and inform against you, and then you will not only get no more, but will lose all you have, and I shall have a share for my information.”

Ali Baba told him all, even to the words he must use to gain admission into the cave.

Cassim rose the next morning long before the sun, and set out for the forest with ten mules bearing great chests, which he designed to fill. It was not long before he reached the rock, and found out the place, by the tree and other marks which his brother had given him. When he reached the entrance of the cavern, he pronounced the words, “Open, Sesame!” The door immediately opened, and, when he was in, closed upon him. In examining the cave, he was greatly excited to find more riches than he had expected from Ali Baba’s story. He quickly laid as many bags of gold as he could carry at the door of the cavern; but his thoughts were so full of the great riches he would possess, that he could not remember the necessary word to make it open, and instead of “Sesame,” said, “Open, Barley!” He was much amazed to find that the door remained fast shut. He named several sorts of grain, but still the door would not open.

Cassim had never expected such an incident, and was so alarmed at the danger he was in, that the more he endeavored to remember the word “Sesame,” the more his memory failed and he forgot it as completely as if he had never heard it. He threw down the bags he had loaded himself with, and walked distractedly up and down the cave, without having the least regard to the riches that were around him.

About noon the robbers visited their cave. At some distance they saw Cassim’s mules straggling about the rock, with great chests on their backs. Alarmed at this, they galloped full speed to the cave. They drove away the mules, who strayed through the forest and were soon out of sight, and went directly, with their naked sabers in their hands, to the door, which, on their captain pronouncing the proper words, immediately opened.

Cassim, who heard the noise of the horses’ feet, at once guessed the arrival of the robbers, and resolved to make one effort for his life. He rushed to the door, ran out and threw the leader down, but could not escape the other robbers, who slew him with their scimitars.

The first care of the robbers after this was to examine the cave. They found all the bags Cassim had brought to the door, ready to load his mules, and carried them again to their places, but they did not miss what Ali Baba had taken away before. Then holding a council they guessed that Cassim, when he was in, could not get out again, but could not imagine how he had learned the secret words by which alone he could enter.

To terrify any person or accomplice who should attempt the same thing, they agreed to cut Cassim’s body into four quarters—to hang two on one side, and two on the other, within the door of the cave. They had no sooner taken this resolution than they put it in execution; and when they had nothing more to detain them, left the place, mounted their horses, and went to beat the roads again, and to attack the caravans they might meet.

In the mean time, Cassim’s wife was very uneasy when night came, and her husband had not returned. She ran to Ali Baba in great alarm, and said, “Brother-in-law, you know Cassim is gone to the forest, and upon what account; it is now night, and he has not returned; I am afraid some misfortune has happened to him.” Ali Baba told her that she need not frighten herself, for that certainly Cassim would not think it proper to come into the town till the night was pretty far advanced.

Cassim’s wife realizing how much it concerned her husband to keep the business secret, was persuaded to believe her brother-in-law. She went home again, and waited patiently till midnight. Then her fear redoubled. She repented her foolish curiosity, and cursed her desire of prying into the affairs of her brother and sister-in-law. She spent all the night in weeping; and as soon as it was day went to them, telling them, by her tears, the cause of her coming.

Ali Baba did not wait for his sister-in-law to desire him to go to see what was become of Cassim, but departed immediately with his three asses, begging her first to moderate her affliction. When he came near the rock, having seen neither his brother nor the mules in his way, he was seriously alarmed at finding some blood spilt near the door, which he took for an ill omen; but when he had pronounced the word, and the door had opened, he was struck with horror at the dismal sight of his brother’s body.

He went into the cave, to find something to enshroud the remains; and having loaded one of his asses with them, covered them over with wood. The other two asses he loaded with bags of gold, covering them also with wood; and then bidding the door shut, came away; but was careful to stop some time at the end of the forest, that he might not go into the town before night. When he came home, he drove the two asses loaded with gold into his little yard, and left the care of unloading them to his wife, while he led the other to his sister-in-law’s house.

Ali Baba knocked at the door, which was opened by Morgiana, a clever, intelligent slave. Once in the court, he unloaded the ass, and taking Morgiana aside, said to her, “You must observe an inviolable secrecy. Your master’s body is contained in these two panniers. We must bury him as if he had died a natural death. Go now and tell your mistress. I leave the matter to your wit and skillful devices.”

Ali Baba helped to place the body in Cassim’s house, again recommended Morgiana to act her part well, and then left with his ass.

•   •   •   •   •

The sultan could not conceal his impatience when the coming of day brought Scheherazade to a conclusion. He told her that he would wait as usual until a like hour on the night to come for what remained of her story, and took an affectionate leave of her.

The next night she began in these words:

•   •   •   •   •

Morgiana went out early the next morning to a druggist, and asked for a sort of lozenge which was considered efficacious in the most dangerous disorders. The apothecary inquired who was ill. She replied, with a sigh, her good master Cassim himself: and that he could neither eat nor speak. In the evening Morgiana went to the same druggist’s again, and with tears in her eyes, asked for an essence which they used to give to sick people only when at the last extremity. “Alas!” said she, taking it from the apothecary, “I am afraid that this remedy will have no better effect than the lozenges; and that I shall lose my good master.”

As Ali Baba and his wife were often seen to go between Cassim’s and their own house all that day, and to seem melancholy, nobody was surprised in the evening to hear the lamentable shrieks and cries of Cassim’s wife and Morgiana, who gave out everywhere that her master was dead. The next morning at daybreak, Morgiana went to an old cobbler whom she knew to be always early at his stall, and bidding him good-morrow, put a piece of gold into his hand, saying, “Baba Mustapha, you must bring with you your sewing tackle, and come with me; but I must tell you, I shall blindfold you when you have come part way.”

Baba Mustapha hesitated a little at these words. “Oh! oh! you would have me do something against my conscience, or against my honor?” “God forbid,” said Morgiana, putting another piece of gold into his hand, “that I should ask anything that is contrary to your honor! Only come along with me and fear nothing.”

Baba Mustapha went with Morgiana, who, after she had bound his eyes with a handkerchief at the place she had mentioned, led him to her deceased master’s house, and never unloosed his eyes till he had entered the room where she had put the corpse together. “Baba Mustapha,” said she, “you must make haste and sew the parts of this body together; and when you have done, I will give you another piece of gold.”

After Baba Mustapha had finished his task, she blindfolded him again, gave him the third piece of gold as she had promised, and recommending secrecy to him carried him back to the place where she first bound his eyes, pulled off the bandage, and let him go home, but watched him till he was quite out of sight, for fear he should have the curiosity to dodge her; she then went home.

Morgiana, on her return, warmed some water to wash the body, and then Ali Baba perfumed it with incense, and wrapped it in the burying clothes with the accustomed ceremonies. Not long after the proper officer brought the bier, and when the attendants of the mosque, whose business it was to wash the dead, offered to perform their duty, she told them that it was done already. Shortly after this the imam and the other ministers of the mosque arrived. Four neighbors carried the corpse to the burying-ground, following the imaun, who recited some prayers. Ali Baba came after with some neighbors, who often relieved the others in carrying the bier to the burying-ground. Morgiana, as a slave to the deceased, followed in the procession, weeping, beating her breast, and tearing her hair. Cassim’s wife stayed at home mourning, uttering lamentable cries with the women of the neighborhood, who came, according to custom and joining their lamentations with hers filled the quarter far and near with sounds of sorrow.

In this manner Cassim’s murder was hushed up by Ali Baba, his widow, and Morgiana, his slave, with so much cleverness that nobody in the city had the least knowledge or suspicion of it. Three or four days after the funeral, Ali Baba removed his few goods openly to his sister-in-law’s house, in which it was agreed that he should in future live; but the money he had taken from the robbers he conveyed thither by night. As for Cassim’s warehouse, he intrusted it entirely to the management of his own son.

While these things were being done, the forty robbers again visited their retreat in the forest. Great was their surprise to find Cassim’s body taken away, with some of their bags of gold. “We are certainly discovered,” said the captain. “The removal of the body, and the loss of some of our money, plainly shows that the man whom we killed had an accomplice: and for our own lives’ sake we must try and find him. What say you, my lads?”

All the robbers unanimously approved of the captain’s proposal.

“Well,” said the captain, “one of you must go into town, disguised as a traveler and a stranger, to try if he can hear any talk of the man whom we have killed, and endeavor to find out who he was, and where he lived. This is a matter of the first importance, and for fear of any treachery, I propose that whoever undertakes this business without success, even though the failure arises only from an error of judgment, shall suffer death.”

Without waiting for the sentiments of his companions, one of the robbers started up, and said, “I submit to this condition, and think it an honor to expose my life to serve the troop.”

After this robber had received great commendations from the captain and his comrades, he disguised himself so that nobody would discover him for what he was; and taking his leave of the troop that night, went into the town just at daybreak. He walked up and down, till accidentally he came to Baba Mustapha’s stall, which was always open before any of the shops.

Baba Mustapha was seated with an awl in his hand, just beginning work. The robber saluted him, bidding him good-morrow; and perceiving that he was old, said, “Honest man, you begin to work very early: is it possible that one of your age can see so well? I question, even if it were somewhat lighter, whether you could see to stitch.”

“You do not know me,” replied Baba Mustapha; “for old as I am, I have extraordinary eyes; and you will not doubt it when I tell you that I sewed the body of a dead man together in a place where I had not so much light as I have now.”

“A dead body!” exclaimed the robber, with affected amazement. “Yes, yes,” answered Baba Mustapha, “I see you want to have me speak out, but you shall know no more.”

The robber felt sure that he had discovered what he sought. He pulled out a piece of gold, and putting it into Baba Mustapha’s hand, said to him, “I do not want to learn your secret, though I can assure you you might safely trust me with it. The only thing I desire of you is to show me the house where you stitched up the dead body.”

“I cannot do you that favor,” replied Baba Mustapha, “I was taken to a certain place, whence I was led blindfolded to the house, and afterward brought back again in the same manner; you see, therefore, the impossibility of my doing what you desire.”

“Well,” replied the robber, “you may remember a little of the way that you were led blindfolded. Come, let me bind your eyes at the same place. We will walk together; and as everybody ought to be paid for their trouble, there is another piece of gold for you; gratify me in what I ask you.” So saying, he put another piece of gold into the old man’s hand.

The two pieces of gold were a great temptation to Baba Mustapha. He looked at them a long time without saying a word, but at last he pulled out his purse and put them in. “I cannot promise,” said he to the robber, “that I can remember the way; but since you desire, I will try what I can do.” At these words Baba Mustapha rose up, to the great joy of the robber, and led him to the place where Morgiana had bound his eyes. “It was here,” said Baba Mustapha, “I was blindfolded; and I turned this way.” The robber tied his handkerchief over his eyes, and walked by him till he stopped directly at Cassim’s house, where Ali Baba then lived. The thief before he pulled off the band, marked the door with a piece of chalk, which he had ready in his hand, and then asked him if he knew whose house that was; to which Baba Mustapha replied, that as he did not live in that neighborhood, he could not tell.

The robber, finding he could discover no more from Baba Mustapha, thanked him for the trouble he had taken, and left him to go back to his stall, while he returned to the forest, sure that he should be very well received.

A little after the robber and Baba Mustapha had parted, Morgiana went out of Ali Baba’s house upon some errand, and upon her return, seeing the mark the robber had made, stopped to observe it. “What can be the meaning of this mark?” said she to herself; “somebody intends my master no good: however, with whatever intention it was done, it is advisable to guard against the worst.” Accordingly, she fetched a piece of chalk, and marked two or three doors on each side in the same manner, without saying a word to her new master or mistress.

In the mean time, the robber rejoined his troop in the forest, and recounted to them his success, expatiating upon his good fortune in meeting so soon with the only person who could have told him what he wanted to know. All the robbers listened to him with the utmost satisfaction; and the captain, after commending him, addressing himself to them all, said, “Comrades, we have no time to lose: let us set off well armed, but that we may not excite any suspicion, let only one or two go into the town together, and join at our rendezvous, which shall be the great square. In the mean time, our comrade who brought us the good news and I will go and observe the house, that we may consult what had best be done.”

This plan was approved by all, and they were soon ready. They filed off in parties of two each, and got into the town without being suspected. The captain and the robber who had visited the town in the morning as spy, came in last. He led the captain into the street where he had marked Ali Baba’s residence; and when they came to the first of the houses which Morgiana had marked, he pointed it out. But the captain observed that the next door was chalked in the same manner, and in the same place; and showing it to his guide, asked him which house it was, that, or the first. The guide was so confounded that he knew not what answer to make; and was still more puzzled, when he and the captain saw five or six houses similarly marked. He assured the captain, with an oath, that he had marked but one, and could not tell who had chalked the rest, so that he could not distinguish the house at which the cobbler had stopped.

The captain, finding that their plan had failed, went directly to the place of rendezvous, and told his troop that they had lost their labor, and must return to their cave. He himself set the example, and they all returned as they had come.

When the troop was all got together, the captain told them the reason of their returning; whereupon the conductor was declared by all worthy of death. He agreed, acknowledging that he ought to have taken better precaution, and willingly received the stroke from him who was appointed to cut off his head.

But as the safety of the troop required the discovery of the second intruder into the cave, another of the gang presented himself, and his offer being accepted, he went to Baba Mustapha, as the first had done; and being shown the house, marked it in a place more remote from sight, with red chalk.

Not long after, Morgiana, whose eyes nothing could escape, went out, and seeing the red chalk, and arguing with herself as she had done before, marked the other neighbors’ houses in the same place and manner.

The robber, on his return to his company, boasted of the precaution he had taken, which he looked upon as an infallible way of distinguishing Ali Baba’s house from the others; and the captain and all of them thought with him. They entered the town with the same precaution as before; but when the robber and his captain came to the street, they were met by the same difficulty; at which the captain was enraged, and the robber in as great confusion as his predecessor.

Thus the captain and his troop were forced to retire a second time, and much more dissatisfied; while the robber who had been the author of the mistake underwent the same punishment, which he willingly submitted to.

The captain, having lost two brave fellows of his troop, was afraid of diminishing it too much by pursuing this plan to find the residence of their plunderer. He therefore resolved to take upon himself the important commission.

Accordingly, he went to Baba Mustapha, who did him the same service he had done the other robbers. But the captain set no particular mark on the house, examining it instead so carefully that it was impossible for him to mistake it.

Well satisfied with his attempt, and informed of what he wanted to know, he came to the cave, where the troop waited for him, and said, “Now, comrades, nothing can prevent our full revenge, as I am certain of the house; and I have thought how to put it into execution, but if any one can form a better expedient, let him communicate it.” He then told them his contrivance; and as they approved of it, ordered them to go into the villages about, and buy nineteen mules, with thirty-eight large leather jars, one full of oil, and the others empty.

In two or three days’ time the robbers had purchased the mules and jars, and as the mouths of the jars were rather too narrow for his purpose, the captain caused them to be widened, and after having put one of his men into each, with the weapons which he thought fit, leaving open the seam which had been undone to give them room to breathe, he rubbed the jars on the outside with oil from the full vessel.

Things being thus prepared, when the nineteen mules were loaded with thirty-seven robbers in jars, and the jar of oil, the captain, as their driver, set out with them, and reached the town by the dusk of the evening, as he had intended. He led them through the streets, till he came to Ali Baba’s house whom he found sitting at the door after supper to take a little fresh air. He stopped his mules, saying, “I have brought some oil a great way, to sell at tomorrow’s market; and it is now so late that I do not know where to lodge. If I should not be troublesome to you, do me the favor to let me pass the night with you, and I shall be very much obliged for your hospitality.”

Though Ali Baba had seen the captain of the robbers in the forest, and had heard him speak, it was impossible to know him in the disguise of an oil merchant. He told him he was welcome, and immediately opened his gates for the mules to go into the yard. At the same time he called to a slave, and ordered him, when the mules were unloaded, to put them into the stable, and to feed them; and then went to Morgiana, to bid her get a supper for his guest. After they had finished supper, Ali Baba, charging Morgiana afresh to take care of his guest, said to her, “Tomorrow morning I am going to the bath before day; take care my bathing linen be ready, give it to Abdalla (which was the slave’s name), and make me some good broth against I return.” After this he went to bed.

In the mean time the captain of the robbers went into the yard, lifted the lid of each jar, and gave his men orders what to do. Beginning at the first jar, and so on to the last, he said to each man: “As soon as I throw some stones out of my chamber window, do not fail to come out, and I will immediately join you.” After this he returned to the house, when Morgiana, taking up a light, conducted him to his chamber, where she left him; and he, to avoid any suspicion, put the light out soon after, and laid himself down in his clothes, that he might be the more ready to rise.

Morgiana, remembering Ali Baba’s orders, got his bathing linen ready, and ordered Abdalla to set on the pot for the broth; but while she was preparing it the lamp went out, and there was no more oil in the house, nor any candles. What to do she did not know, for the broth must be made. Abdalla, seeing her very uneasy, said, “Do not fret yourself, but go into the yard, and take some oil out of one of the jars.”

Morgiana thanked Abdalla for his advice, took the oil-pot, and went into the yard; when she came nigh the first jar, the robber within said softly, “Is it time?”

Though naturally much surprised at finding a man in the jar instead of the oil she wanted, she immediately felt the importance of keeping silence, feeling sure that Ali Baba, his family, and herself were in great danger. Collecting herself, without showing the least emotion, she answered, “Not yet, but presently.” She went quietly in this manner to all the jars, giving the same answer, till she came to the jar of oil.

By this means Morgiana found that her master Ali Baba had admitted thirty-eight robbers into his house, and that the pretended oil merchant was their captain. She made what haste she could to fill her oil-pot, and returned into her kitchen, where as soon as she had lighted her lamp, she took a great kettle, went again to the oil-jar, filled the kettle, set it on a large wood fire and as soon as it boiled, went and poured enough of the boiling oil into every jar to destroy the robber within.

When this action, worthy of the courage of Morgiana, was executed, she returned into the kitchen with the empty kettle; and having put out the great fire she had made to boil the oil, and leaving just enough to make the broth, put out the lamp also, and remained silent, resolving not to go to rest till she had observed what might follow through a window of the kitchen, which opened into the yard.

She had not waited long before the captain of the robbers got up, opened the window, and finding no light, and hearing no noise, or any one stirring in the house, gave the appointed signal, by throwing little stones, several of which hit the jars, as he could tell by the sound they gave. He listened, but not hearing or perceiving anything whereby he could judge that his companions stirred, he began to grow uneasy, threw stones a second and also a third time, and could not understand why none of them answered his signal. Much alarmed, he went softly down into the yard, and going to the first jar smelt the hot boiled oil, which sent forth a steam out of the jar. Examining all the jars, one after another, he found that all his gang was dead; and, enraged to despair at having failed in his design, he forced the lock of a door that led from the yard to the garden, and climbing over the walls made his escape.

When Morgiana saw him depart, she went to bed, pleased to have succeeded so well in saving her master and family.

•   •   •   •   •

“I am sorry not to have been able to finish the story of Ali Baba,” Scheherazade interrupted herself to say at this moment, “but you perceive, my lord, that day has come.”

“We must then wait until the coming night for the remainder,” the sultan replied, and smiling at his wife, he departed.

She, therefore, began again as follows, once the time had come:

•   •   •   •   •

When Ali Baba returned from the baths, he was very much surprised to see the oil-jars, and that the merchant was not gone with the mules. He asked Morgiana, who opened the door, the reason of it. “My good master,” answered she, “God preserve you and all your family. You will be better informed of what you wish to know when you have seen what I have to show you, if you will follow me.”

As soon as Morgiana had shut the door, Ali Baba followed her, when she requested him to look into the first jar, and see if there was any oil.

Ali Baba did so, and seeing a man, started back in alarm, and cried out. “Do not be afraid,” said Morgiana, “the man you see there can neither do you nor anybody else any harm. He is dead.” “Ah, Morgiana,” said Ali Baba, “what is it you show me? Explain yourself.” “I will,” replied Morgiana. “Moderate your astonishment, and do not excite the curiosity of your neighbors; for it is of great importance to keep this affair secret. Look into all the other jars.”

Ali Baba examined all the other jars, one after another; and when he came to that which had the oil in, found it prodigiously sunk, and stood for some time motionless, sometimes looking at the jars, and sometimes at Morgiana, without saying a word, so great was his surprise. At last, when he had recovered himself, he said, “And what is become of the merchant?”

“Merchant!” answered she; “he is as much one as I am. I will tell you who he is, and what is become of him; but you would better hear the story in your own chamber; for it is time for your health that you had your broth after your bathing.”

Morgiana then told him all she had done, after first observing the mark upon the house, to the destruction of the robbers, and the flight of their captain.

On hearing of these brave deeds from the lips of Morgiana, Ali Baba said to her—“God, by your means, has delivered me from the snares these robbers laid for my destruction. I owe, therefore, my life to you; and, for the first token of my acknowledgment, give you your liberty from this moment, till I can complete your recompense as I intend.”

Ali Baba’s garden was long, and shaded at the further end by large trees. Near these he and the slave Abdalla dug a trench, long and wide enough to hold the bodies of the robbers; and as the earth was light, they were not long in doing it. When this was done, Ali Baba buried the dead men, hid the jars and weapons and as he had no occasion for the mules, sent them at different times to be sold in the market by his slave.

While Ali Baba took these measures, the captain of the forty robbers returned to the forest with inconceivable mortification. He did not stay long; the loneliness of the gloomy cavern became frightful to him. He determined, however, to avenge the fate of his companions, and to accomplish the death of Ali Baba. For this purpose he returned to the town, took a lodging in a khan, and disguised himself as a merchant in silks. Under this assumed character, he gradually conveyed a great many sorts of rich stuffs and fine linen to his lodging from the cavern. In order to dispose of the merchandise, when he had thus amassed it together, he took a warehouse, which happened to be opposite Cassim’s counting-house, which Ali Baba’s son had occupied since the death of his uncle.

He took the name of Cogia Houssain, and as a newcomer was, according to custom, extremely civil and complaisant to all the merchants his neighbors. Ali Baba’s son was one of the first to converse with Cogia Houssain, who strove to cultivate his friendship more particularly.

Two or three days after the false merchant was settled, Ali Baba came to see his son, and the captain of the robbers recognized him at once, and soon learned who he was. After this he increased his assiduities toward the son, made him some small presents, and often asked him to dine and sup with him, when he treated him very handsomely.

Ali Baba’s son did not choose to lie under such obligation to Cogia Houssain; but for want of room in his house, he could not entertain him there. He therefore acquainted his father, Ali Baba, with his wish to return the newcomer’s civilities.

Ali Baba with great pleasure took the treat upon himself. “Son,” said he, “tomorrow being Friday, which is a day that the shops of such great merchants as Cogia Houssain and yourself are shut, get him to accompany you hither. I will order Morgiana to provide a supper.”

The next day Ali Baba’s son and Cogia Houssain met by appointment, took their walk, and as they returned Ali Baba’s son led Cogia Houssain through the street where his father lived, and when they came to the house, stopped and knocked at the door. “This, sir,” said he, “is my father’s house, who, from the account I have given him of your friendship, charged me to procure him the honor of your acquaintance; and I desire you to add this pleasure to those for which I am already indebted to you.”

Though it was the sole aim of Cogia Houssain to introduce himself into Ali Baba’s house, that he might kill him without hazarding his own life, yet he excused himself, and offered to take his leave; but a slave having opened the door, Ali Baba’s son took him by the hand, and politely forced him in.

Ali Baba received Cogia Houssain with a smiling countenance, and in the most obliging manner he could wish. He thanked him for all the favors he had done his son; adding withal, the obligation was the greater as he was a young man, not much acquainted with the world.

Cogia Houssain returned the compliment by assuring Ali Baba, that though his son might not have acquired the experience of older men, he had good sense equal to the experience of many others. After a little more conversation on different subjects, he offered again to take his leave, when Ali Baba, stopping him, said, “Where are you going, sir, in so much haste? I beg you do me the honor to sup with me, though my entertainment may not be worthy of your acceptance; such as it is, I heartily offer it.” “Sir,” replied Cogia Houssain, “I am thoroughly persuaded of your good-will; but the truth is, I can eat no victuals that have any salt in them; therefore judge how I should feel at your table.” “If that is the only reason,” said Ali Baba, “it ought not to deprive me of the honor of your company; for, in the first place, there is no salt ever put into my bread, and as to the meat we shall have tonight, I promise you there shall be none in that. Therefore you must do me the favor to stay. I will return immediately.”

Ali Baba went into the kitchen, and ordered Morgiana to put no salt to the meat that was to be cooked that night; and to make quickly two or three dishes besides what he had ordered, but to be sure to put no salt in them.

Morgiana, who was always ready to obey her master, could not help being surprised at his order. “Who is this man,” said she, “who eats no salt with his meat? Your supper will be spoiled, if I keep it back so long.” “Do not be angry, Morgiana,” replied Ali Baba; “he is an honest man, therefore do as I bid you.”

Morgiana obeyed, though with no little reluctance, and had a curiosity to see this man who ate no salt. To this end, when she had finished what she had to do in the kitchen, she helped Abdalla to carry up the dishes; and looking at Cogia Houssain, knew him at first sight, notwithstanding his disguise, to be the captain of the robbers, and examining him very carefully, perceived that he had a dagger under his garment. “I am not in the least amazed,” said she to herself, “that this wicked man, who is my master’s greatest enemy, would eat no salt with him, since he intends to assassinate him; but I will see as to that!”

Morgiana, while they were at supper, determined to execute one of the boldest acts ever meditated. When Abdalla came for the dessert of fruit, and had put it with the wine and glasses before Ali Baba, Morgiana retired, dressed herself beautifully, with a suitable head-dress like a dancer, girded her waist with a silver-gilt girdle, to which there hung a poniard with a hilt and guard of the same metal, and put a handsome mask on her face. When she had thus disguised herself, she said to Abdalla, “Take your tabor, and let us go and divert our master and his son’s friend, as we do sometimes when he is alone.”

Abdalla took his tabor and played all the way into the hall before Morgiana, who, when she came to the door, made a low obeisance by way of asking leave to exhibit her skill, while Abdalla left off playing. “Come in, Morgiana,” said Ali Baba, “and let Cogia Houssain see what you can do, that he may tell us what he thinks of your performance.”

Cogia Houssain, who did not expect this diversion after supper, began to fear he would not to be able to take advantage of the opportunity he had found; but hoped, if he now missed his aim, to secure it another time, by keeping up a friendly correspondence with the father and son; therefore, though he could have wished Ali Baba would have declined the dance, he pretended to be obliged to him for it, and had the tact to express his satisfaction at what he saw, which pleased his host.

As soon as Abdalla saw that Ali Baba and Cogia Houssain had done talking, he began to play on the tabor, and to sing an air, to which Morgiana, who was an excellent performer, danced in such a manner as would have created admiration in any company.

After she had danced several dances with much grace, she drew the poniard, and holding it in her hand, began to dance, in which she outdid herself. Sometimes she figured to strike at one of the company, sometimes at another, and oftentimes at herself. At last, she snatched the tabor from Abdalla with her left hand and holding the dagger in her right presented the reverse side of the tabor, after the manner of those who get a livelihood by dancing, and solicit the liberality of the spectators.

Ali Baba put a piece of gold into the tabor, as did also his son; and Cogia Houssain seeing that she was coming to him, pulled his purse out of his bosom to make her a present; but while he was doing this, Morgiana, with a courage and resolution worthy of herself, plunged the poniard into his heart.

Ali Baba and his son, shocked at this action, cried out aloud. “Unhappy woman!” exclaimed Ali Baba, “what have you done to ruin me and my family?” “It was to preserve, not to ruin you,” answered Morgiana; “for see here,” continued she, opening the pretended Cogia Houssain’s garment, and showing the dagger, “what an enemy you had entertained? Look well at him, and you will find him to be both the fictitious oil merchant, and the captain of the gang of forty robbers. Remember, too, that he would eat no salt with you; and what do you need more to convince you of his wicked design? I suspected him as soon as you told me you had such a guest. You now find that my suspicion was not groundless.”

Ali Baba, who immediately felt the new obligation he had to Morgiana for saving his life a second time, embraced her. “Morgiana,” said he, “I gave you your liberty and then promised you that my gratitude should not stop there, but that I would soon give you higher proofs of its sincerity, which I now do by making you my daughter-in-law.” Then addressing himself to his son, he said, “I believe you, son, to be so dutiful a child, that you will not refuse Morgiana for your wife. You see that Cogia Houssain sought your friendship with a treacherous design to take away my life; and if he had succeeded, there is no doubt but he would have sacrificed you also to his revenge. Consider, by marrying Morgiana you marry the preserver of my family and of your own life.”

The son, far from showing any dislike, readily consented to the marriage; not only because he would not disobey his father, but also because it was agreeable to his inclination. After this they decided to bury the captain of the robbers with his comrades, and did it so privately that nobody discovered their bones till many years after, when no one had any concern in the publication of this remarkable history. A few days afterward, Ali Baba celebrated the nuptials of his son and Morgiana with great solemnity, a sumptuous feast, and the usual dancing and spectacles; and had the satisfaction to see that his friends and neighbors, who were not unacquainted with Morgiana’s good qualities commended his generosity and goodness of heart.

Ali Baba did not visit the robbers’ cave for a whole year, fearing that the two robbers of whom he could get no account might be alive. At the year’s end, when he found they had not made any attempt to disturb him, he had the curiosity to make another journey. When he came to the cave he alighted, tied his horse to a tree, approaching the entrance, and pronouncing the words, “Open, Sesame!” when the door opened. He entered the cavern, and by the condition he found things in, judged that nobody had been there since the captain had fetched the goods for his shop. He believed he was the only person in the world who had the secret of opening the cave, and that all the treasure was at his sole disposal. Putting as much gold into his saddlebag as his horse would carry, he returned to town. Some years later he carried his son to the cave and taught him the secret, which he handed down to his posterity, who, using their good fortune with moderation, lived in great honor and splendor.

•   •   •   •   •

Since day had not come, Scheherazade, without waiting for permission, began at once on the following story.

THE STORY OF
SINDBAD THE SAILOR

SINDBAD THE SAILOR

In the reign of the same caliph, Haroun al Raschid, of whom we have already heard, there lived at Bagdad a poor porter, called Hindbad. One day, when the weather was excessively hot, he was employed to carry a heavy burden from one end of the town to the other. Being much fatigued, he took off his load, and sat upon it, near a large mansion.

He was happy, sitting there; for the agreeable smell of wood of aloes [agarwood] and of pastils [incense] that came from the house, mixing with the scent of the rosewater, completely perfumed and embalmed the air. Besides, he heard from within a concert of instrumental music, accompanied with the harmonious notes of nightingales and other birds. This charming melody, and the smell of several sorts of savory dishes, made the porter conclude there was a feast, with great rejoicings within. His business seldom leading him that way, he knew not to whom the mansion belonged; but he went to some of the servants, whom he saw standing at the gate in magnificent apparel, and asked the name of the proprietor. “How,” replied one of them, “do you live in Bagdad, and know not that this is the house of Sindbad the sailor, that famous voyager, who has sailed round the world?” The porter lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, loud enough to be heard, “Almighty Creater of all things, consider the difference between Sindbad and me! I am every day exposed to fatigues and calamities, and can scarcely get coarse barley-bread for myself and my family, while happy Sindbad profusely expends immense riches, and leads a life of continual pleasure. What has he done to obtain from Thee a lot so agreeable? And what have I done to deserve one so wretched?”

While the porter was thus indulging his sentiments, a servant came out of the house, and taking him by the arm, bade him come along, for Sindbad, his master, wanted to speak to him.

The servants brought him into a great hall, where a number of people sat round a table, covered with all sorts of savory dishes. At the upper end sat a comely, venerable gentleman, with a long white beard, and behind him stood a number of officers and domestics, all ready to attend his pleasure. This person was Sindbad. Hindbad, embarrassed at the sight of so many people, and of a banquet so sumptuous, saluted the company, trembling. Sindbad bade him draw near, and seating him at his right hand, served him himself, and gave him excellent wine, of which there was abundance upon the sideboard.

Now, Sindbad had heard the porter complain, and this it was that induced him to have him brought in. When the repast was over, Sindbad addressed Hindbad, and inquired his name and employment, and said, “I wish to hear again what it was you lately said in the street.”

At this request, Hindbad hung down his head in confusion, and replied, “My lord, I confess that my fatigue put me out of humor and made me utter some indiscreet words, which I beg you to pardon.” “Do not think I am so unjust,” said Sindbad, “as to resent such a complaint. But I must rectify your error concerning myself. You think, no doubt, that I have acquired without labor and trouble the ease and indulgence which I now enjoy. But do not mistake; I did not attain to this happy condition without enduring for several years more trouble of body and mind than can well be imagined. Yes, gentlemen,” he added, speaking to the whole company, “I assure you that my sufferings and adventures have been of an extravagant nature; and as an opportunity now offers, I will, with your leave, relate the dangers I have encountered, for I think they will not be uninteresting to you.”

THE FIRST VOYAGE
OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR

My father was a wealthy merchant of much repute. He bequeathed me a large estate, which I wasted in riotous living. I finally perceived my error, and realized that I was misspending my time, which is of all things the most valuable. I remembered the saying of the great Solomon, which I had frequently heard from my father, “A good name is better than precious ointment,” and again, “Wisdom is good with an inheritance.” Struck with these reflections, I resolved to walk in my father’s ways, and entered into a contract with some merchants, embarking with them on board a ship we had jointly fitted out.

We set sail, and steered our course toward the Indies, through the Persian Gulf, touching at several islands, where we sold or exchanged our goods. One day, while under sail, we were becalmed near a small island, but little elevated above the level of the water, and resembling a green meadow. The captain ordered his sails to be furled, and permitted such persons as were so inclined to land; of this number I was one.

But while we were enjoying ourselves and recovering ourselves from the fatigue of the sea, the island on a sudden trembled terribly.

The trembling of the island was perceived on board the ship, and we were called upon to re-embark speedily, or we should all be lost; for what we took for an island proved to be the back of a sea monster. The nimblest got into the sloop, others betook themselves to swimming; but as for myself, I was still upon the island when it disappeared into the sea, and I had only time to catch hold of a piece of wood that we had brought out of the ship to make a fire. Meanwhile the captain, having received those on board who were in the sloop, and taken up those that swam, failed to see me and hoisting his sails pursued his voyage, so that it was impossible for me to recover the ship.

Thus was I exposed to the mercy of the waves all the rest of the day and the following night. By this time I found my strength gone, and despaired of saving my life, when happily a wave threw me against an island. The bank was high and rugged, so that I could scarcely have got up had it not been for some roots of trees which I found within reach. When the sun arose, though I was very feeble, both from exposure and want of food, I crept along to find some herbs fit to eat, and had the good luck not only to procure some, but likewise to discover a spring of excellent water, which contributed much to my recovery. After this I walked farther and at last reached a fine plain, where I perceived some horses feeding. I went toward them, when I heard the voice of a man, who immediately appeared, and asked me who I was. I related to him my adventure, after which he led me into a cave, where there were several other people, no less amazed to see me than I to see them.

I partook of some provisions which they offered me. I then asked them what they did in such a desert place; to which they answered, that they were grooms belonging to the maharaja, sovereign of the island, and that every year they brought thither the king’s horses for pasturage. They added that they were to return home on the morrow, and had I been one day later I must have perished, because the inhabited part of the island was a great distance off, and it would have been impossible for me to have reached it without a guide.

Next morning they returned to the capital of the island, took me with them, and presented me to the maharaja. He asked me who I was, and by what adventure I had come into his dominions. After I had explained he told me he was sorry for my misfortune, and at the same time ordered that I should want for nothing; which command his officers were careful to see exactly fulfilled.

Being a merchant, I frequented men of my own profession, and particularly inquired for those who were strangers, that perchance I might hear news from Bagdad, or find an opportunity to return. For the maharaja’s capital is situated on the seacoast, and has a fine harbor, where ships arrive daily from the different quarters of the world.

As I was one day at the port, the ship arrived in which I had embarked at Bussorah. I at once knew the captain, and went and asked him for my bales. “I am Sindbad,” said I, “and those bales marked with his name are mine.”

When the captain heard me speak thus, “Heavens!” he exclaimed, “whom can we trust in these times! I saw Sindbad perish with my own eyes, as did also the passengers on board, and yet you tell me you are that Sindbad. What impudence is this! and what a false tale to tell, in order to possess yourself of what does not belong to you!” “Have patience,” replied I; “do me the favor to hear what I have to say.” The captain was at length persuaded that I was no cheat; for there came people from his ship who knew me, and expressed much joy at seeing me alive. At last he recollected me himself, and embracing me, “Heaven be praised,” said he, “for your happy escape! I cannot express the joy it affords me. There are your goods; take and do with them as you please.”

I took out what was most valuable in my bales, and presented these to the maharaja, who asked me how I came by such valuables. He was pleased to hear of my good luck, accepted my present, and in return gave me one much more considerable. Upon this I took leave of him, and went aboard the same ship after I had exchanged my goods for the commodities of that country. I carried with me wood of aloes, sandalwood, nutmegs, cloves, pepper, and ginger. We passed by several islands, and at last arrived at Bussorah, from whence I came to this city, with one hundred thousand sequins as the result of my venture.

Sindbad stopped here, and ordered the musicians to proceed with their concert. When evening came, Sindbad sent for a purse of one hundred sequins, and giving it to the porter, said, “Take this, Hindbad, return to your home, and come back tomorrow to hear more of my adventures.” The porter went away, astonished at the honor done him. The account of his adventure proved very agreeable to his wife and children, who did not fail to return thanks for what Providence had sent them by the hand of Sindbad.

Hindbad put on his best robe next day, and returned to the bountiful traveler, who received him with a pleasant air. When all the guests had arrived, dinner was served, and when it was ended, Sindbad, addressing himself to the company, said, “Gentlemen, be pleased to listen to the adventures of my second voyage. They deserve your attention even more than those of the first.”

•   •   •   •   •

“The day is here,” said Scheherazade, “and I must stop. But I will not conceal from your majesty that the following voyages of Sindbad are infinitely more marvelous than this his first.”

“We do not doubt it,” returned her lord, “and we intend that you shall tell us of all these voyages.”

Accordingly, the following night, Scheherazade took up the tale at the point where she had left off.

THE SECOND VOYAGE
OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR

I intended, after my first voyage, to spend the rest of my days at Bagdad, but it was not long ere I grew weary of an indolent life, and I put to sea a second time, with merchants of known probity. We embarked on board a good ship, and, after recommending ourselves to God, set sail. We traded from island to island, and exchanged commodities with great profit. One day we landed on an island covered with several sorts of fruit trees, but we could see neither man nor animal. We walked in the meadows, along the streams that watered them. While some diverted themselves with gathering flowers, and others fruits, I sat down near a stream betwixt two high trees, which formed a thick shade. I made a good meal of the wine and provisions I had brought from the ship and afterward fell asleep. I cannot tell how long I slept, but when I awoke the ship was gone.

Not knowing what to do, I climbed up to the top of a lofty tree, from whence I looked about on all sides, to see if I could discover anything that would give me hopes. When I gazed toward the sea I could see nothing but sky and water; but looking over the land, I beheld afar off something white; and coming down, I took what food I had left and went toward it, the distance being so great that I could not distinguish what it was.

As I approached, I thought it to be a white dome, of a prodigious height and extent; and when I came up to it, I touched it, and found it to be very smooth. I went round to see if it was open on any side, but saw it was not, and that there was no climbing up to the top, as it was so smooth. It was at least fifty paces round.

All of a sudden the sky became as dark as if it had been covered with a thick cloud. I was much astonished at this sudden darkness, but much more when I found it was occasioned by a bird of monstrous size, that came flying toward me. I remembered that I had often heard mariners speak of a miraculous bird called the roc, and conceived that the great dome which I so much admired must be its egg. In short, the bird alighted, and sat over the egg. As I perceived her coming, I crept close to the egg, so that I had before me one of the legs of the bird, which was as big as the trunk of a tree. I tied myself strongly to it with my turban, in hopes that the roc next morning would carry me with her out of this desert island. Sure enough the bird flew away as soon as it was daylight, and carried me so high, that I could not see the earth; she afterward descended with so much rapidity that I almost lost my senses. But finding myself on the ground, I speedily released myself, and had scarcely done so, when the roc, having taken up a serpent of a monstrous length in her bill, flew away.

The spot where the roc left me was surrounded by mountains, that seemed to reach above the clouds, and were so steep that there was no possibility of getting out of the valley. So that when I compared this place with the desert island from which the roc had brought me, I found that I had gained nothing by the change.

As I walked through this valley, I perceived it was strewed with diamonds, some of which were of surprising bigness. I also saw a great number of serpents, so monstrous that the least of them was capable of swallowing an elephant. They retired in the daytime to their dens, where they hid themselves from the roc, their enemy, and came out only in the night.

I spent the day in walking about in the valley. When night came on I went into a cave, where I thought I might repose in safety. I secured the entrance, which was low and narrow, with a great stone, to preserve me from the serpents; but not so as to exclude the air. I supped on part of my provisions, but the serpents, which began hissing round me, put me into such extreme fear that I did not sleep. When day appeared the serpents crawled off, and I came out of the cave trembling. I can justly say that I walked upon diamonds without feeling any inclination to touch them. At last I sat down, and notwithstanding my apprehensions, not having closed my eyes during the night, fell asleep, after having eaten a little more of my diminishing food. But I had scarcely shut my eyes when something that fell by me with a great noise awakened me. This was a large piece of raw meat; and at the same time I saw several others fall down from the rocks in different places.

I had always regarded as fabulous what I had heard sailors and others relate of the Valley of Diamonds, and of the stratagem employed by merchants to obtain them. But now I found that they had told nothing but the truth. For the fact is that the merchants come to the heights above this valley, when the eagles have young ones, and throw great joints of meat into the valley, to which some diamonds stick; the eagles, which are stronger in this country than anywhere else, pounce with great force upon the pieces of meat and carry them to their nests on the precipices to feed their young: the merchants run to the nests, drive off the eagles by their shouts, and take away the diamonds that stick to the meat.

I perceived in this device the means of my deliverance.

Having collected together the largest diamonds I could find, and put them into the leather bag in which I used to carry my provisions, I took the largest of the pieces of meat, tied it close round me with the cloth of my turban, and then laid myself upon the ground, with my face downward, the bag of diamonds being made fast to my girdle.

I had scarcely placed myself in this posture when one of the eagles, having taken me up with the piece of meat to which I was fastened, carried me to his nest on the top of the mountain. The merchants immediately began their shouting to frighten the eagles; and when they had obliged them to quit their nests, one of them came to that where I was. He was much alarmed when he saw me; but recovering himself, instead of inquiring how I came thither, began to quarrel with me, and asked why I stole his goods. “Do not be uneasy,” I told him; “I have diamonds enough for you and myself, more than all the other merchants together. Whatever they have they owe to chance; but I selected for myself, in the bottom of the valley, those which you see in this bag.” I had scarcely done speaking, when the other merchants came crowding about us, much astonished to see me; but they were much more surprised when I told them my story.

They conducted me to their encampment; and there having opened my bag, they were surprised at the largeness of my diamonds, and confessed that they had never seen any of such size and perfection. I prayed the merchant who owned the nest to which I had been carried (for every merchant had his own) to take as many for his share as he pleased. He contented himself with one, and that, too, the least of them; and when I pressed him to take more, without fear of doing me any injury, “No,” said he, “I am very well satisfied with this, which is valuable enough to save me the trouble of making more voyages, and will raise as great a fortune as I desire.”

I spent the night with the merchants, to whom I related my story a second time, for the satisfaction of those who had not heard it. I could not moderate my joy when I found myself delivered. I thought myself in a dream, and could scarcely believe myself safe.

The merchants had thrown their pieces of meat into the valley for several days; and each of them being satisfied with the diamonds that had fallen to his lot, we left the place the next morning, and traveled through high mountains, where there were serpents of a prodigious length, which we had the good fortune to escape. We took shipping at the first port we reached, and touched at the isle of Roha, where grow trees that yield camphor. This tree is so large, and its branches so thick, that one hundred men may easily sit under its shade. The juice of which the camphor is made exudes from a hole bored in the upper part of the tree, and is received in a vessel, where it thickens and becomes what we call camphor. After the juice is thus drawn out, the tree withers and dies.

I pass over many other things peculiar to this island, lest I should weary you. Here I exchanged some of my diamonds for merchandise. We went to other islands, and at last, having touched at several trading towns of the continent, we landed at Bussorah and I returned to Bagdad. There I immediately gave large presents to the poor, and lived honorably upon the vast riches I had brought back gained with so much fatigue.

Thus Sindbad ended the relation of the second voyage, gave Hindbad another hundred sequins, and invited him to come the next day to hear the account of the third voyage. This he gladly did and was received as before, and, dinner over, Sindbad took up the tale of his adventures as follows.

THE THIRD VOYAGE
OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR

I soon again grew weary of living a life of idleness, and, hardening myself against the thought of any danger, I embarked with some merchants on another long voyage. We touched at several ports, where we traded. One day we were overtaken by a dreadful tempest, which drove us from our course. The storm continued for several days, and brought us before the port of an island, which the captain was unwilling to enter but was obliged to in order to cast anchor. When we had furled our sails, the captain told us that this and some other neighboring islands were inhabited by hairy savages, who would speedily attack us; and though they were but dwarfs, yet that we must make no resistance, for they were more in number than the locusts; and if we happened to kill one, they would all fall upon us and destroy us.

We soon found that what the captain had told us was but too true. An innumerable multitude of frightful savages, about two feet high, covered all over with red hair, came swimming toward our ship. They chattered as they came near, but we understood not their language. They climbed up the sides of the ship with an agility that surprised us. They took down our sails, cut the cable, and hauling our ship to the shore, made us all get out, and took the ship to another island, from which they had come.

As we advanced, we perceived at a distance a vast building, and made toward it. We found it to be a palace, elegantly built, and very lofty, with a gate of ebony, which we opened.

Entering, we saw before us a large apartment, with a porch, having on one side a heap of human bones, and on the other a vast number of roasting spits. We trembled at this spectacle, and were seized with deadly apprehension, when suddenly a door of the apartment opened with a loud crash, and there appeared the horrible figure of a black man, as tall as a palm tree. He had but one eye, and that in the middle of his forehead, where it blazed bright as a burning coal. His fore-teeth were very long and sharp, and stood out of his mouth, which was as deep as that of a horse. His upper lip hung down upon his breast. His ears resembled those of an elephant, and covered his shoulders; and his nails were as long and crooked as the talons of the greatest bird. At the sight of so frightful a creature, we become insensible and lay like dead men.

At last we came to ourselves, and saw him sitting on the porch looking at us. Next he advanced toward us, and laying his hand upon me, took me up by the nape of my neck, and turned me around, as a butcher would do a sheep’s head. After having examined me, and perceiving me to be so lean that I was nothing but skin and bone, he let me go. He took up the rest one by one, and viewed them in the same manner. The captain being the fattest, he held him with one hand, as I would do a sparrow, and thrust a spit through him; he then kindled a great fire, roasted, and ate him for his supper. Having finished his repast, he returned to his porch, where he fell asleep, snoring louder than thunder. He slept thus till morning. As to ourselves, it was not possible for us to enjoy any rest, and we passed the night in the most painful apprehension that can be imagined. When day appeared the giant awoke, got up, went out, and left us in the palace.

We determined to revenge ourselves on the brutish giant, and did so in the following manner. That night after he had again made his frightful supper on another of our seamen, he lay down on his back, and fell asleep. As soon as we heard him snore according to his custom, nine of the boldest among us, with myself, took each of us a spit, and putting the points of them into the fire till they were red hot, we thrust them into his eye all at once, and blinded him. The pain made him break out into a frightful yell: he started up, and stretched out his hands in order to sacrifice some of us to his rage; but we ran to such places as he could not reach; and after having sought for us in vain, he groped for the gate, and went out, howling in agony.

We immediately left the palace, and made for the shore, where we built rafts with timber that lay about in great quantities, each large enough to carry three men. We waited till day in order to get upon them, for we hoped if the giant did not appear by sunrise and should stop his howling, which we still heard, that he would prove to be dead; and if that happened to be the case, we resolved to stay on the island, and not to risk our lives upon the rafts. But day had scarcely appeared, when we perceived our cruel enemy, accompanied by two others, almost of the same size, leading him; and a great number more coming at a quick pace.

We hurried to take to our rafts, and put to sea with all the speed we could. The giants, on seeing this, took up great stones, and running to the shore, entered the water up to the middle, and threw so exactly that they sunk all the rafts but that I was upon; and all my companions, except the two with me, were drowned. We rowed with all our might, and at last got out of reach of the giants. But out at sea we were exposed to the mercy of the waves and winds, and spent that day and the following night under the most painful conditions. But next morning we had the good fortune to be thrown upon an island, where we landed with much joy. Here we found excellent fruit, which recruited our strength.

At night we went to sleep on the seashore; but we were awakened by the noise of a serpent of surprising length and thickness, whose scales made a rustling noise as he wound himself along. It swallowed up one of my comrades, notwithstanding his loud cries, and the efforts he made to escape; dashing him several times against the ground, it crushed him, and we could hear it gnaw and tear the poor fellow’s bones, though we had fled to a considerable distance.

The following day, as we walked about, we saw a tall tree, upon which we decided to pass the night; and having satisfied our hunger with fruit, we mounted it accordingly. Shortly after, the serpent came hissing to the foot of the tree, raised itself up against the trunk of it, and reaching my comrade, who sat lower than I, swallowed him at once, and went off.

I remained upon the tree till it was day, and then came down, more like a dead man than one alive, expecting the fate of my two companions. This filled me with such horror, that I advanced some steps to throw myself into the sea; but I withstood this dictate of despair, and submitted myself to the will of God, who disposes of our lives at His pleasure.

During the day I collected together a great quantity of small wood, brambles, and dry thorns, and making them up into faggots, made a wide circle with them round the tree, and also tied some of them to the branches. Having done this, when the evening came I shut myself up within this circle. The serpent failed not to come at the usual hour, and went round the tree, seeking for an opportunity to devour me, but was prevented by the rampart I had made; so that he lay till day, like a cat watching in vain for a mouse that has fortunately reached a place of safety. When day appeared, he retired, but I dared not to leave my fort until the sun rose.

God took compassion on my hopeless state; for just as I was going, finally in desperation, to throw myself into the sea, I perceived a ship in the distance. I called as loud as I could, and unfolding the linen of my turban, displayed it, that they might observe me. This had the desired effect; the crew perceived me, and the captain sent his boat for me. As soon as I came on board, the merchants and seamen flocked about me, to know how I came to that desert island. After I had related to them all that had befallen me, the oldest among them said they had several times heard of the giants that dwelt on that island, and that they were cannibals and also of the serpents. After having expressed their joy at my escape from so many dangers, they brought me the best of their provisions and took me before the captain, who, seeing that I was in rags, gave me one of his own suits. Looking steadfastly upon him, I knew him to be the person who, in my second voyage, had left me in the island where I fell asleep, without sending to seek for me.

I was not surprised that he, believing me to be dead, did not recognize me. “Captain,” said I, “look at me, and you may know that I am Sindbad, whom you left on that desert island.”

The captain, having considered me attentively, recognized me. “God be praised!” said he, embracing me; “I rejoice that fortune has rectified my fault. There are your goods, which I always took care to preserve.” I took them from him, and made him my acknowledgments for his care of them.

We continued at sea for some time, touched at several is lands, and at last landed at that of Salabat, where sandalwood is obtained, which is much used in medicine.

From the isle of Salabat we went to another, where I furnished myself with cloves, cinnamon, and other spices.

In short, after a long voyage, I arrived at Bussorah, and returned to Bagdad with so much wealth that I knew not its extent. I gave a great deal to the poor, and bought another considerable estate in addition to what I had already.

Thus Sindbad finished the history of his third voyage. He gave another hundred sequins to Hindbad and invited him to dinner again the next day, to hear:

THE FOURTH VOYAGE
OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR

After I had rested from the dangers of my third voyage, my passion for trade and my love of novelty again prevailed. I therefore settled my affairs, and provided a stock of goods fit for the traffic I meant to engage in. I took the route to Persia, traveled over several provinces, and arrived at a port, where I embarked. On putting out to sea, we were overtaken by a sudden tempest that obliged the captain to lower his yards, and take all necessary precautions to prevent being wrecked. But in vain! The sails were split in a thousand pieces, and the ship was stranded; some of the merchants and seamen were drowned, and the cargo was lost.

I had the good fortune, with several of the merchants and mariners, to get upon some planks, and we were carried by the current to an island which lay before us.

There we found fruit and spring water, which preserved our lives. We stayed all night near the place where we had been cast ashore.

Next morning, as soon as the sun was up, we explored the island, and saw some houses, which we approached. As soon as we drew near, we were encompassed by a great number of negroes, who seized us, shared us among them, and carried us to their respective habitations.

I and five of my comrades were carried to one place; here our captors made us sit down, and gave us a certain herb, which they made signs to us to eat. My comrades not noticing that the blacks ate none of it themselves, thought only of satisfying their hunger, and ate with greediness. But I, suspecting some trick, would not so much as taste it, which happened well for me; for in a little time I perceived my companions had lost their senses, and that when they spoke to me they knew not what they said.

The negroes fed us afterward with rice, prepared with oil of cocoanuts; and my comrades, who had lost their reason, ate of it freely. I also partook of it, but very sparingly. They gave us that herb at first to deprive us of our senses, that we might not be aware of the destiny prepared for us; and they gave us rice to fatten us; for, being cannibals, their design was to eat us as soon as we grew fat. This accordingly happened, and they gradually devoured my comrades, who were not sensible of their condition; but my senses being entire, you may easily guess that instead of growing fat, as the rest did, I grew leaner every day. The fear of death under which I labored, turned all my food into poison. I fell into a languishing illness, which proved my safety; for the negroes, having killed and eaten my companions, finding me to be withered, lean, and sick, deferred my death.

Meanwhile I had much liberty, so that scarcely any notice was taken of what I did, and this gave me an opportunity one day to get to a distance from the huts, and to make my escape. An old man who saw me, and suspected my design, called to me as loud as he could to return; but instead of obeying him, I redoubled my speed, and quickly got out of sight. At that time there was none but the old man about the village, the rest being abroad, and not to return till night, which was usual with them. Therefore, being sure that they could not arrive in time to pursue me, I went on till night, when I stopped to rest a little, and to eat some of the provisions I had taken along; but I speedily set forward again and traveled seven days, avoiding those places which seemed to be inhabited, and lived for the most part upon cocoanuts, which served me both for meat and drink. On the eighth day I came near the sea, and saw some white people, like myself, gathering pepper, of which there was great plenty in that place.

The people who gathered pepper came to meet me as soon as they saw me, and asked me in Arabic who I was and whence I came. I was overjoyed to hear them speak in my own language, and satisfied their curiosity by giving them an account of my shipwreck, and how I fell into the hands of the negroes. “Those negroes,” replied they, “eat men; by what miracle did you escape their cruelty?” I related to them the circumstances I have just mentioned, at which they were greatly surprised.

I stayed with them till they had gathered their pepper, and then sailed with them to the island from whence they had come. They presented me to their king, who was a good prince. He had the patience to hear the relation of my adventures, which surprised him; and he afterward gave me clothes, and commanded care to be taken of me.

The island was well peopled, plentiful in everything and the capital a place of great trade. This agreeable retreat was very comfortable to me after my misfortunes, and the kindness of the generous prince completed my satisfaction. In a word, there was not a person more in favor with him than myself, and consequently every man in court and city sought to oblige me; so that in a very little time I was looked upon rather as a native than a stranger.

As I paid my court very constantly to the king, he said to me one day, “Sindbad, I love thee. I have one thing to demand of thee, which thou must grant. I have in mind thou shouldst marry, that so thou mayst stay in my dominions, and think no more of thy own country.” I durst not resist the prince’s will, and he gave me one of the ladies of his court, noble, beautiful, and rich. The ceremonies of marriage being over, I dwelt with my wife, and for some time we lived together in perfect harmony. I was not, however, content with my banishment, but wished to return to Bagdad, which my present life, how advantageous soever, could not make me forget.

At this time the wife of one of my neighbors, with whom I had contracted a friendship, fell sick and died. I went to see and comfort him in his affliction, and finding him absorbed in sorrow, I said to him as soon as I saw him, “God preserve you and grant you a long life.” “Alas!” replied he, “how do you think that could happen? I have not above an hour to live, for I must be buried this day with my wife. This is the law. The living husband is interred with the dead wife, and the living wife with the dead husband.”

While he was giving me an account of this barbarous custom, the very relation of which chilled my blood, his kindred, friends, and neighbors came to assist at the funeral. They dressed the corpse of the woman in her richest apparel and all her jewels, as if it had been her wedding-day; then they placed her on an open bier, and began their march to the place of burial. The husband walked first, next to the dead body. They went to a high mountain, and when they reached it, they took up a large stone which formed the mouth of a deep pit, and let down the body with all its apparel and jewels. Then the husband, embracing his kindred and friends, suffered himself to be placed on another bier, with a pot of water, and seven small loaves, and was let down in the same manner. The ceremony being over, the mouth of the pit was again covered with the stone, and the company returned.

I mention this ceremony the more particularly, because I was in a few weeks’ time to be the principal actor on a similar occasion. Alas! my own wife fell sick and died. I made every remonstrance I could to the king not to expose me, a foreigner, to this inhuman law. I appealed in vain. The king and all his court, with the most considerable persons of the city, sought merely to soften my sorrow by honoring the funeral ceremony with their presence; and at the termination of the ceremony I was lowered into the pit with a vessel full of water, and seven loaves. As I approached the bottom I discovered, by the aid of the little light that came from above, the nature of this subterranean place; it seemed an endless cavern, and might be about fifty fathoms deep. I lived for some time in this awful place upon my bread and water, when, one day, as it was about gone I heard something tread, and breathing or panting as it moved. I followed the sound. The animal seemed to stop sometimes, but always fled and breathed hard as I approached. I pursued it for a considerable time, till at last I perceived a light, resembling a star; I went on, sometimes losing sight of it, but always finding it again, and at last discovered that it came through a hole in the rock, which I got through, and found myself upon the seashore, at which I felt exceeding joy. I prostrated myself on the shore to thank God for this mercy, and shortly afterward I perceived a ship making for the place where I was. I made a sign with the linen of my turban, and called to the crew as loud as I could. They noticed me, and sent a boat to bring me on board. We put to sea again, and touched at several other ports; but at last I arrived happily at Bagdad.

Here Sindbad made a new present of one hundred sequins to Hindbad, whom he requested to return with the rest of the guests next day at the same hour, to dine with him and hear the story of his fifth voyage.

•   •   •   •   •

“You will see that day has come, my lord,” the sultaness broke off to say, “and that I cannot now tell you the surprising adventures of Sindbad’s fifth voyage. But tomorrow, if it pleases you, I am ready to go on.”

And the next night she did go on, relating the further adventures of Sindbad.

THE FIFTH VOYAGE
OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR

All the troubles and calamities I had undergone could not cure me of my inclination to make new voyages. I therefore bought goods, departed with them for the best seaport, and there, that I might not be obliged to depend upon a captain, but have a ship at my own command, I had one built on purpose, at my own charge. When the ship was ready I went on board with my goods; but not having enough to load her, I agreed to take with me several merchants of different nations, with their merchandise.

We sailed with the first fair wind, and the first place we touched at was a desert island, where we found the egg of a roc, equal in size to that I had formerly seen. There was a young roc in it, just ready to be hatched, and its beak had begun to break the egg.

The merchants who landed with me broke the egg with hatchets, pulled out the young roc and roasted it. I in vain entreated them not to meddle with the egg.

Scarcely had they finished their feast, when there appeared in the air, at a considerable distance, two great clouds. The captain of my ship, knowing by experience what they meant, said they were the male and female parents of the roc, and pressed us to re-embark with all speed, to prevent if possible the misfortune which would otherwise befall us.

The two rocs approached with a frightful noise, which they redoubled when they saw the egg broken, and their young one gone. They flew over us with horrid cries and then back in the direction they had come, and disappeared for some time, while we made all the sail we could to endeavor to escape that which unhappily befell us.

They soon returned, and we observed that each of them carried between its talons an enormous rock. When they came directly over my ship, they hovered, and one of them let go his rock; but by the dexterity of the steersman it missed us and fell into the sea. The other, however, so exactly hit the middle of the ship as to split it into pieces. The mariners and passengers were all crushed to death or fell into the sea. I myself was among the latter; but, as I came up again, I fortunately caught hold of a piece of the wreck, and swimming, sometimes with one hand and sometimes with the other, but always holding fast to the plank, the wind and the tide favoring me, I came to an island, and got safely ashore.

I sat down upon the grass, to recover myself from my fatigue, after which I went into the island to explore it. It seemed to be a delicious garden. I found trees everywhere, some of them bearing green and others ripe fruits, and streams of fresh pure water. I ate of the fruits, which I found excellent; and drank of the water, which was good.

When I had gone some way I saw an old man, who appeared very weak and infirm. He was sitting on the bank of a stream, and at first I took him to be one who had been shipwrecked like myself. I went toward him and saluted him, but he only slightly bowed his head. I asked him why he sat so still; but instead of answering me, he made a sign for me to take him upon my back, and carry him over the brook.

Believing him to stand in need of my assistance, I took him upon my back, and having carried him over, bade him get down, and for that end stopped, that he might get off with ease; but instead of doing so, the old man, who to me appeared quite decrepit, threw his legs nimbly about my neck. He sat astride upon my shoulders, and held my throat so tight that I thought he would have strangled me, and I fainted away.

Notwithstanding my fainting, the ill-natured old fellow still kept his seat upon my neck. When I had recovered he thrust one of his feet against my side, and struck me so rudely that he forced me to rise up, against my will.

Having arisen, he made me carry him under the trees, and forced me now and then to stop, that he might gather and eat fruit. He never left his seat all day; and when I laid down to rest at night, he laid himself down with me, holding still fast about my neck. Every morning he pinched me to make me awake, and afterward obliged me to get up and walk, and spurred me with his feet. By degrees I became weak and feared I must die.

One day I found several dry calabashes that had fallen from a tree. I took a large one, and after cleaning it, pressed into it the juice of grapes, which abounded in the island; having filled the calabash, I put it by in a convenient place, and going thither again some days after, I tasted it, and found the wine so good, that it gave me new vigor, and so exhilarated my spirits, that I began to sing and dance as I carried my burden.

The old man, perceiving the effect the juice had upon me, and that I carried him with more ease than before, made me a sign to give him some of it. I handed him the calabash, and the liquor pleasing his palate, he drank it off. There being a considerable quantity of it, he soon began to sing, and to move about from side to side in his seat upon my shoulders, and by degrees to loosen his legs from about me. Finding at length that he did not press me as before, I threw him upon the ground, where he lay without motion; I then took up a great stone and slew him.

I was extremely glad to be thus freed forever from this terrible burden. I now walked toward the beach, where I met the crew of a ship that had cast anchor, to take in water; they were surprised to see me, but more so at hearing the particulars of my adventures. “You fell,” said they, “into the hands of the old man of the sea, and are the first who ever escaped strangling by his malicious embraces. He never quitted those he had once made himself master of, till he had destroyed them, and he had made this island notorious by the number of men he has slain.” They took me with them to the captain, who received me with great kindness. He put out again to sea, and after some days’ sail, we arrived at the harbor of a great city, the houses of which overhung the water.

One of the merchants who had become my friend invited me to go ashore with him. He gave me a large sack, and having recommended me to some people of the town desired them to take me with them. “Go,” said he, “follow them, and act as you see them do; but do not separate from them, otherwise you may endanger your life.” Having thus spoken, he gave me provisions for the journey, and I went with them.

We came to a thick forest of cocoa trees, very lofty, with trunks so smooth that it was not possible to climb to the branches that bore the fruit. But as soon as we entered the forest we saw a great number of apes of several sizes, who fled when they perceived us, and climbed to the tops of the trees with amazing swiftness.

The merchants with whom I was gathered stones, and threw them at the apes on the trees. I did the same; and the apes, out of revenge, threw cocoanuts at us with great fury. We gathered up the cocoanuts, and from time to time threw more stones to provoke the apes; so that by this stratagem we filled our bags with cocoanuts. I thus gradually collected enough cocoanuts to bring me a considerable sum.

Having laden our vessel with nuts, we set sail, and passed by the islands where pepper grows in great plenty. From thence we went to the Isle of Comari, where the best species of wood of aloes grows. I exchanged my nuts in those two islands for pepper and wood of aloes, and went with other merchants pearl-fishing. I hired divers, who brought me up some pearls that were very large and pure. I then embarked in a vessel that happily arrived at Bussorah and returned to Bagdad, where I realized vast sums from my pepper, wood of aloes, and pearls. I gave the tenth of my gains in alms, as I had done upon my return from my other voyages, and rested from my fatigues.

Sindbad here ordered one hundred sequins to be given to Hindbad, and requested him and the other guests to dine with him the next day, to hear the account of his sixth voyage.

THE SIXTH VOYAGE
OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR

I know, my friends, that you will wish to hear how, after having been shipwrecked five times, and escaped so many dangers, I could resolve again to tempt fortune, and expose myself to new hardships. I am myself astonished at my conduct when I reflect upon it, and must have been ruled by my destiny, from which none can escape. Be that as it may, after a year’s rest I prepared for a sixth voyage, notwithstanding the entreaties of my kindred and friends, who did all in their power to dissuade me.

Instead of taking my way by the Persian Gulf, I traveled once more through several provinces of Persia and the Indies, and arrived at a seaport, where I embarked in a ship, the captain of which was bound on a long voyage.

Suddenly after we had been many days at sea, the captain began uttering loud lamentations. He threw off his turban, pulled his beard, and beat his head like a madman. We asked him the reason; he answered that we were in the most dangerous place in all the ocean. “A rapid current carries the ship along with it, and we shall all perish in less than a quarter of an hour. Pray to God to deliver us from this peril; we cannot escape, if He does not take pity on us.” At these words he ordered the sails to be lowered; but all the ropes broke, and the ship was carried by the current to the foot of an inaccessible mountain, where she struck and went to pieces; yet in such a manner that we saved our lives, our provisions, and the best of our goods.

The mountain at the foot of which we found ourselves was covered with wrecks, with a vast number of human bones, and with an incredible quantity of goods and riches of all kinds.

In all other places it is usual for rivers to run from their channels into the sea; but here a river of fresh water runs from the sea into a dark cavern, whose entrance is high and spacious. What is most remarkable in this place is, that the rocks of the mountain are of crystal, rubies, or other precious stones. There is also a sort of fountain of pitch or bitumen, that runs into the sea, which the fish swallow, and evacuate soon afterward, turned into ambergris; and this the waves throw up on the beach in great quantities. Trees also grow here, most of which are of wood of aloes, equal in goodness to those of Comari.

To finish the description of this place, it is not possible for ships to get off when once they approach within a certain distance. If they be driven thither by a wind from the sea, the wind and the current impel them toward the island; and they come to it when a land wind blows, which might seem to favor their getting out again, but the height of the mountain suddenly cuts off the wind, and occasions a calm, so that the force of the current carries them ashore; and what completes the misfortune is, that there is no possibility of ascending the mountain.

We continued upon the shore, at the foot of the mountain, in a state of despair, death coming closer every day. On our first landing we had divided our provisions as equally as we could, and thus everyone lived a longer or a shorter time, according to his temperance, and the use he made of his provisions.

I survived all my companions; and when I buried the last I had so little food remaining that I thought I could not long survive, and I dug a grave, resolving to lie down in it because there was no one left to pay me the last offices of respect. But it pleased God once more to take compassion on me, and put it in my mind to go to the bank of the river which ran into the great cavern. Considering its probable course with great attention, I said to myself, “This river, which runs thus underground, must somewhere have an issue. If I make a raft, and leave myself to the current, it will convey me to some inhabited country, or I shall perish. If I be drowned, I lose nothing, but only change one kind of death for another.”

I immediately went to work upon large pieces of timber and cables, for I had a choice of them from the wrecks, and tied them together so strongly that I soon made a very solid raft. When I finished, I loaded it with some chests of rubies, emeralds, ambergris, rock-crystal, and bales of rich stuffs. Having balanced my cargo exactly, and fastened it well to the raft, I went on board with two oars that I had made, and leaving it to the course of the river, resigned myself to the will of God.

As soon as I entered the cavern I lost all light, and the stream carried me I knew not whither. Thus I floated on in perfect darkness, and once found the arch so low, that it very nearly touched my head, which made me cautious afterward to avoid the like danger. All this while I ate nothing but what was just necessary to support nature; yet, notwithstanding my frugality, my provisions were finally spent. Then I became insensible. I cannot tell how long I continued so; but when I revived, I was surprised to find myself on the brink of a river, where my raft was tied, amidst a great number of negroes. I got up as soon as I saw them, and saluted them. They spoke to me, but I did not understand their language. I was so transported with joy, that I cried aloud, “Call upon the Almighty, He will help thee; thou needest not perplex thyself about anything else: shut thy eyes, and while thou art asleep, God will change thy bad fortune into good.”

One of the negroes, who understood Arabic, hearing me speak thus, came toward me, and said, “Brother, be not surprised to see us; we are inhabitants of this country, and water our fields from this river, which comes out of the neighboring mountain. We saw your raft, and one of us swam into the river, and brought it hither, where we fastened it, as you see, until you should awake. Pray tell us your history. Whence did you come?” I begged of them first to give me something to eat. They gave me several sorts of food, and when I had satisfied my hunger, I related all that had befallen me, to which they listened to with attentive surprise. As soon as I had finished, they told me, by the one who spoke Arabic and interpreted to the rest what I said, that I must go along with them, and tell my story to their king myself; it being too extraordinary to be related by any other than the person to whom the events had happened.

They immediately got a horse, and having helped me to mount, some of them walked before to show the way, while the rest took my raft and cargo and followed.

We marched till we came to the capital of Serendib, for it was on that island I had landed. The negroes presented me to their king; I approached his throne, and saluted him as I used to do the kings of the Indies; that is to say, I prostrated myself at his feet. The prince ordered me to rise, received me with an obliging air, and made me sit down near him.

I concealed nothing from the king; but related to him all that I have told you. At last my raft was brought in, and the bales opened in his presence: he admired the quantity of wood of aloes and ambergris; but, above all, the emeralds, for he had none in his treasury that equaled them.

Observing that he looked on my jewels with pleasure, and handled the most remarkable among them, one after another, I fell prostrate at his feet, and took the liberty to say to him, “Sire, not only my person is at your majesty’s service, but the cargo of the raft, and I would beg of you to dispose of it as your own.” He answered me with a smile, “Sindbad, I will take nothing of yours; far from lessening your wealth, I design to augment it, and will not let you quit my dominions without marks of my liberality.” He then charged one of his officers to take care of me, and ordered people to serve me at his own expense. The officer was faithful in the execution of his commission, and caused all the goods to be carried to the lodgings provided for me.

I prayed the king to allow me to return to my own country, and he granted me permission in the most obliging and honorable manner. He forced a rich present upon me; and at the same time charged me with a letter and present for the Commander of the Faithful, our sovereign, saying to me, “I pray you give this present for me, and this letter, to the Caliph Haroun al Raschid, and assure him of my friendship.”

The letter from the King of Serendib was written on the skin of a certain animal of great value, very scarce, and of a yellowish color. The characters of this letter were of azure, and the contents as follows:

“The King of Serendib, before whom march one hundred elephants, who lives in a palace that shines with one hundred thousand rubies, and who has in his treasury twenty thousand crowns enriched with diamonds, to Caliph Haroun al Raschid.

“Though the present we send you be inconsiderable, receive it, however, as a brother and a friend, in consideration of the hearty friendship which we bear for you, and of which we are willing to give you proof. We desire the same part in your friendship, considering that we believe it to be our merit, as we are both kings. We send you this letter as from one brother to another. Farewell.”

The present consisted (1) of one single ruby made into a cup, about half a foot high, an inch thick, and filled with round pearls of half a drachm each. (2) The skin of a serpent, whose scales were as bright as gold, and had the virtue to preserve from sickness those who lay upon it. (3) Fifty thousand drachms of the best wood of aloes, with thirty grains of camphor as big as pistachios. And (4) a female slave of great beauty, whose robe was covered over with jewels.

The ship set sail, and after a successful voyage we landed at Bussorah, and I went to the city of Bagdad, where the first thing I did was to acquit myself of my commission.

I took the King of Serendib’s letter, with the presents to the gate of the palace of the Commander of the Faithful, and was immediately conducted to the throne of the caliph. I made my obeisance, and presented the letter and gifts. When he had read what the King of Serendib wrote to him, he asked me if that prince were really so rich and potent as he represented himself in his letter. I prostrated myself a second time, and rising again, said, “Commander of the Faithful, I can assure your majesty he doth not exceed the truth. I bear him witness. Nothing is more worthy of admiration than the magnificence of his palace. When the prince appears in public, he has a throne fixed on the back of an elephant, and rides betwixt two ranks of his ministers, favorites, and other people of his court. Before him, seated upon the same elephant, an officer carries a golden lance, in his hand; and behind him there is another, who stands with a rod of gold, on the top of which is an emerald, half a foot long and an inch thick. He is also attended by a guard of one thousand men, clad in cloth of gold and silk, and mounted on elephants richly caparisoned. The officer who is before him on the same elephant, cries from time to time, with a loud voice, ‘Behold the great monarch, the potent and redoubtable Sultan of Serendib, the monarch greater than Solomon, and the powerful Maharaja.’ After he has pronounced those words, the officer behind the throne cries, in his turn, ‘This monarch, so great and so powerful, must die, must die, must die.’ And the officer before replies, ‘Praise alone be to Him who liveth for ever and ever.’”

The caliph was much pleased with my account, and sent me home with a rich present.

Here Sindbad commanded another hundred sequins to be paid to Hindbad, and begged his return on the morrow to hear his seventh and last voyage.

•   •   •   •   •

“There is still one more voyage of Sindbad’s to narrate to your highness,” said Scheherazade, at this point. “Do you desire that I shall do so tomorrow?”

And on the following night she continued her tale as follows:

THE SEVENTH
AND LAST VOYAGE
OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR

On my return home from my sixth voyage, I entirely gave up all thoughts of again going to sea; for, besides that my age now required rest, I was resolved no more to expose myself to such risks as I had encountered. One day, however, an officer of the caliph’s inquired for me. “The caliph,” said he, “has sent me to tell you that he must speak with you.” I followed the officer to the palace, where, being presented to the caliph, I saluted him by prostrating myself at his feet. “Sindbad,” said he to me, “I stand in need of your service; you must carry my answer and present to the King of Serendib.”

This command of the caliph was to me like a clap of thunder. “Commander of the Faithful,” I replied, “I am ready to do whatever your majesty shall think fit to command; but I beseech you most humbly to consider what I have undergone. I have also made a vow never again to leave Bagdad.”

But the caliph insisted upon my compliance, until I submitted, and told him that I was willing to obey. He was very well pleased, and ordered me one thousand sequins for the expenses of my journey.

I prepared for my departure in a few days. As soon as the caliph’s letter and present were delivered to me, I went to Bussorah, where I embarked, and had a prosperous voyage. Having arrived at the Isle of Serendib, I was conducted to the palace with much pomp, where I prostrated myself before the king. “Sindbad,” said the king, “you are welcome; I have many times thought of you; I bless the day on which I see you once more.” I made my compliments to him, and thanked him for his kindness, and delivered the gifts from my august master.

The caliph’s letter was as follows:

“Greeting, in the name of the Sovereign Guide of the Right Way, from the servant of God, Haroun al Raschid, whom God hath set in the place of vice-regent to His Prophet, after his ancestors of happy memory, to the potent and esteemed Raja of Serendib.

“We received your letter with joy, and send you this from our imperial residence, the garden of superior wits. We hope, when you look upon it, you will perceive our good intention, and be pleased with it. Farewell.”

The caliph’s present was a complete suit of cloth of gold, valued at one thousand sequins; fifty robes of rich stuff, a hundred of white cloth, the finest of Cairo, Suez, and Alexandria; a vessel of agate, more broad than deep, an inch thick, and half a foot wide, the bottom of which represented in bas-relief a man with one knee on the ground, who held a bow and an arrow, ready to discharge at a lion. He sent him also a tablet, which, according to tradition, belonged to the great Solomon.

The King of Serendib was highly gratified at the caliph’s acknowledgment of his friendship. A little time after this audience, I solicited leave to depart, and with difficulty obtained it. The king, when he dismissed me, made me a very considerable present. I embarked immediately to return to Bagdad, but had not the good fortune to arrive there so speedily as I had hoped. God ordered it otherwise.

Three or four days after my departure, we were attacked by pirates, who easily seized upon our ship, because it was not a vessel of war. Some of the crew offered resistance, which cost them their lives. But for myself and the rest, who were not so imprudent, the pirates saved us, and carried us into a remote island, where they sold us.

I fell into the hands of a rich merchant, who, as soon as he bought me, took me to his house, treated me well, and clad me handsomely as a slave. Some days after, he asked me if I understood any trade. I answered that I was no mechanic, but a merchant, and that the pirates who sold me had also robbed me.

“Tell me,” he asked, after consoling with me, “can you shoot with a bow?” I answered that the bow was one of my exercises in my youth.

He gave me a bow and arrows, and taking me behind him on an elephant, carried me to a thick forest some leagues from the town. We penetrated a great way into the wood, and when he thought fit to stop, he bade me alight and, showing me a great tree, “Climb up that,” said he, “and shoot at the elephants as you see them pass by, for there are many of them in this forest, and if any of them fall, come and give me notice.” Having spoken thus, he left me victuals, and returned to the town, and I sat in the tree all night, seeing no elephants till break of day, when I perceived a great number. I shot several arrows among them; and at last one of the elephants fell. The rest retired immediately, leaving me at liberty to go and report my success. We went afterward together to the forest, where we dug a hole for the elephant; my patron meaning to return when it was rotten, and take the tusks to trade with.

I continued this work for two months. One morning, as I looked for the elephants, I perceived with extreme amazement that, instead of passing by as usual, they stopped, and came toward me with a horrible noise, in such numbers that the ground shook under them. They surrounded the tree in which I was concealed, with their trunks uplifted, and all fixed their eyes upon me. At this alarming spectacle I was so much terrified, that my bow and arrows fell out of my hand.

My fear was not without cause; for after the elephants had stared upon me some time, one of the largest of them put his trunk round the foot of the tree, plucked it up, and threw it on the ground. I fell with the tree, and the elephant, taking me up with his trunk, threw me on his back, where I lay more like one dead than alive, with my quiver on my shoulder. He put himself at the head of the rest, who followed him in line, one after the other, for a considerable way, then laid me down on the ground, and went off with all his companions. After having lain some time, and seeing the elephants gone, I got up, and found I was upon a long and broad hill, almost covered with the bones and tusks of elephants. I doubted not but that this was the burial-place of the elephants, and that they had carried me there on purpose to tell me that I should forbear to kill them, as now I knew where to get their ivory without inflicting injury on them. I did not stay on the hill, but turned toward the city; and after having traveled a day and a night, I came to my patron.

As soon as my patron saw me, “Ah, poor Sindbad,” exclaimed he, “I was in great trouble to know what had become of you. I have been to the forest, where I found a tree newly pulled up, and your bow and arrows on the ground, and I despaired of ever seeing you more. Tell me what befell you.” I satisfied his curiosity, and we both of us set out next morning to the hill. We loaded the elephant which had brought us with as many tusks as he could carry; and when we had returned, my master said: “Hear now what I shall tell you. The elephants of our forest have every year killed a great many slaves, whom we sent to seek ivory. In spite of all precautions the crafty animals destroyed them one time or another. God has delivered you from their fury, and has bestowed that favor upon you only. It is a sign that He loves you, and has some use for your service in the world. You have procured me incredible wealth; and now our whole city is enriched by your means, without any need of exposing the lives of our slaves. After such a discovery, I can treat you no more as a slave, but only as a brother. God bless you with all happiness and prosperity. I henceforth give you your liberty; I will also give you riches.”

To this I replied, “Master, God preserve you. I desire no other reward for the service I had the good fortune to do to you and your city, but leave to return to my own country.”

“Very well,” said he, “the monsoon will in a little time bring ships for ivory. I will then send you home.”

I stayed with him while waiting for the monsoon; and during that time we made so many journeys to the hill, that we filled all his warehouses with ivory. The other merchants who traded in it did the same; for my master made them partakers of his good fortune.

The ships arrived at last, and my master himself having made choice of the ship wherein I was to embark, loaded half of it with ivory on my account, laid in provisions in abundance for my passage, and besides obliged me to accept a present of some curiosities of the country of great value. After I had returned him a thousand thanks for all his favors, I went aboard.

I at last arrived safe at Bagdad, and immediately waited upon the caliph, to give him an account of my embassy. He loaded me with honors and rich presents, and I have ever since devoted myself to my family, kindred, and friends.

Sindbad here finished the relation of his seventh and last voyage, and then addressing himself to Hindbad, “Well, friend,” said he, “have you ever heard of any person that suffered so much as I have done? Is it not reasonable that, after all this, I should enjoy a quiet and pleasant life?” As he said these words, Hindbad kissed his hand, and said, “Sir, my afflictions are not to be compared with yours. You not only deserve a quiet life, but are worthy of all the riches you possess, since you make so good a use of them. May you live happily for a long time.” Sindbad ordered him to be paid another hundred sequins, and told him to give up carrying burdens as a porter, and to eat henceforth at his table, for he wished that he should all his life have reason to remember that he henceforth had a friend in Sindbad the sailor.

•   •   •   •   •

In this manner Scheherazade continued for one thousand and one nights to entertain the sultan her husband with her stories. The more she told, the more she seemed to have to tell.

At the end of that time he had learned to value her rare virtue, her cheerfulness and good courage, quite as much as her prodigious memory and the excellent manner of her narration. He had long since resolved to abjure his wicked vow, and one morning he told her so.

“Lovely princess,” said he, “not only do I free you from the sentence of death imposed upon you through your marriage with me, but I will proclaim throughout my entire kingdom and the whole world that it is you, and you alone, who have saved countless damsels from the fate that has hung over them. I realize the rashness of my vow, and refuse any longer to be bound by it. I trust that we shall have many long years yet to live together in happiness, and that I shall hear many more relations from you, when you are moved to tell me of your stories.”

It is easy to imagine the joy of the grand vizier at these tidings. The news was received throughout the kingdom with the wildest rejoicing, and the blessings of the entire people were showered upon Scheherazade, whose wit, courage and devotion had saved not only her own life, but that of many other young women.