 Section 38, Volume 3 of the Book of a Thousand Nights and a Night, translated by Richard Burton. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by D. Wycoff. The Book of a Thousand Nights and a Night, Volume 3, Section 38. When it was the 227th night, she said, It hath reached me, O auspicious king, that the shake who met Assad smiled in his face and said to him, O my son, me seemeth there art a stranger. And Assad replied, Yes, I am a stranger. Then rejoined the old man, verily thou gladnest our country with thy presence, O my son, and desolatest thine own land by reason of thine absence. What wantest thou of the market? Quoth Assad, O uncle, I have a brother with whom I have come from afar land and with whom I have journeyed these three months. And when we sighted this city, I left him, who is my elder brother, upon the mountain, and came hither, purposing to buy a victual and what else, and returned therewith to him that we might feed thereon. Said the old man, Rejoice in all good, O my son, and know thou that today I give a marriage feast to which I have bidden many guests, and I have made ready plenty of meats, the best and most delicious that heart can desire. So if thou wilt come with me to my place, I will give thee freely all thou lackest without asking thee a price or ought else. Moreover I will teach thee the ways of this city, and praise be Allah, O my son, that I and none other have happened upon thee, as thou wilt answer to Assad. Do as thou art disposed, that make haste, for indeed my brother awaiteth me, and his whole heart is with me. The old man took Assad by the hand, and carried him to a narrow lane, smiling in his face, and saying, Glory be to him who hath delivered thee from the people of this city. And he ceased not walking till he entered his spacious house, wherein was a saloon, and behold, in the middle of it were forty old men, well stricken in years, collected together, and forming a single ring as they sat round about a lighted fire, to which they were doing worship and prostrating themselves. When Assad saw this, he was confounded, and the hair of his body stood on end, though he knew not what they were. And the shake said to them, O elders of the fire, how blessed this day! Then he called aloud, saying, Hello, Gaspin! Whereupon there came out to him a tall black slave of frightful aspect, grim visaged and flat-nosed as an ape, who in the old man made a sign to him, bent Assad's arms behind his back, and penioned them, after which the shake said to him, Let him down into the vault under the earth, and there leave him, and say to my slave girl such and one, Torture him night and day, and give him a cake of bread to eat morning and evening, against the time come of the voyage to the blue sea in the mountain of fire, whereon we will slaughter him as a sacrifice. So the black carried him out at another door, and raising a flag in the floor, discovered a flight of twenty steps leading to a chamber under the earth, into which he descended with him, and laying his feet in irons, gave him over to the slave girl and went away. Meanwhile the old men said to one another, On the day of the festival of the fire cometh we will sacrifice him on the mountain as a propitiatory offering whereby we shall pleasure the fire. Presently the damsel went down to him and beat him aggrievous beating, till streams of blood flowed from his sides, and he fainted, after which he sat at his head, a scone of bread and a cruise of brackish water, and went away and left him. In the middle of the night he revived, and found himself bound and beaten and sore with beating, so he wept bitter tears, and recalling his former condition of honor and prosperity, lordship and dominion, and his separation from his sire and his exile from his native land. And Scheherazade perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. When it was the two hundred and twenty-eighth night she said to him, It hath reached me, O auspicious king, that when Assad found himself bound and beaten and sore with beating he recalled his violent condition of honor and prosperity and dominion and lordship, and he wept and groaned aloud and recited these couplets. Stand by the ruinstead and ask of us, nor deem we dwell there as was state of us. The world that parted her hath departed us, yet soothed not hateful hearts the fate of us. With whips a cursed slave girl scourges us, and teams her breast with rancorous hate of us. Alice shall happily deem to unpart our lives, chastise our foes and end this straight of us. And when Assad had spoken his poetry he put out his hands towards his head and finding there the crust and the cruise full of brackish water he ate a bit of, just enough to keep life in him, and drank a little water that could get no sleep till morning for the swarms of bugs and lice. As soon as it was day the slave girl came down to him and changed his clothes, which were drenched with blood and stuck to him so that his skin came off with the shirt. Wherefore he shrieked aloud and cried, alas, and said, O my God, if this is thy pleasure, increase it upon me. O Lord, verily thou art not unmindful of him that oppresseth me. Do thou then avenge me upon him? And he groaned and repeated the following verses. Patience, O Allah, to thy destiny, I bow, suffice me, what thou dined Cree. Patient to bear thy will, O Lord of me, patient to burn on coals of Gaza Tree. Thay wrong me, visit me with hurt and harm. Happily thy grace from them shall set me free. Far be, O Lord, from thee to spare the wronger, O Lord of destiny, my hopes in thee. And what another saith? Be think thee not of worldly state, leave everything to course of fate, for oft a thing that urketh thee shall incontent eventuate, and oft what straight is shall expand, and what expand is waxed straight. Allah will do what wills his will, so be not thou importinate. But joy the view of coming wheel shall make forget past bale and bait. And when he had ended his verse the slave girl came down upon him with blows till he fainted again, and throwing him a flap of bread and a gugglet of saltish water, went away and left him sad and lonely, bound in chains of iron with the blood streaming from his sides and far from those he loved. So he wept and called to mind his brother and the honors he erst-enjoyed. And Shaharazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. When it was the two hundred and twenty ninth night, she said, It hath reached me, O auspicious king, that the side called to mind his brother and the honors he erst-enjoyed. So he wept and groaned and complained and poured forth tears and floods and improvised these keplets. Easy, O fate, how long this rung, this injury, robbing each mourn and eve my brotherhood from me. It's not time now thou deem this length sufficiency of woes to owe thy heart of rock show clemency. My friends thou rungst when thou matst each enemy, mock and exult me for thy rungs thy tyranny. My foeman's heart is solaced by the things he saw in me of strangerhood and lonely misery. Suffice thee not what came upon my head of dull, friends lost forevermore, eyes waned in pale of blee, but must in prison cast so narrow there is not, save hand to bite with bitten hand for company, and tears that tempest down like goodly gift of cloud, and longing thirst whose fires wheat no satiety. Regretful yearnings, singles, and in ceasing size, repine, remembrance, and pains very ecstasy, desire I suffer soar and melancholy deep, and I must buy to pray to endless frenesy. I find me nearer a friend who looks with piteous eye and seeks my presence to allay misery. Say liveth any intimate with trusty love, who for mine ills will groan my sleepless malady, to whom moan I can make, and pair adventure he shall pity eyes that sight of sleep can never see. The flea and bug suck up my blood, as white that drinks wine from the proffering hand of fair virginity. Amid the lice my body ay remindeth me of orphans good in Kazi's claw of villainy. My home's a spulker that measures cubits three, where I pass I mourn and eave in chained agony. My wines are tears, my clank of chains take music's stead, cares my dessert of fruit, and sorrows are my bed. And when he had versed his verse and prosed his prose, he again groaned and complained, and remembered he had been and how he had been parted from his brother, thus far concerning him. But as regards his brother Amad, he awaited Assad till midday yet he had not returned to him, whereupon Amad's vitals fluttered the pangs of parting were sore upon him, and he poured forth abundant tears. And Scheherazade perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. When it was the two hundred and thirtieth night, she said, It hath reached me, O auspicious king, that when Amad awaited his brother Assad till midday, and he returned not to him, Amad's vitals fluttered. The pangs of parting were sore upon him, and he poured forth abundant tears, exclaiming, Alas, my brother, Alas, my friend, Alas, my grief, how I feared me we should be separated. Then he descended from the mountaintop, with the tears running down his cheeks, and entering the city ceased not walking till he made the market. He asked the folk the name of the place, and concerning its people, and they said, This is called the city of the Magians, and its citizens are mostly given to fire worshipping in lieu of the omnipotent king. Then he inquired of the city of Ebene and the answered, Of the truth it is a year's journey tethered by land and six months by sea. It was governed urged by a king called Armanus, but he tipped the son-in-law, and made king, in his stead, a prince called Qamar Al-Zaman, distinguished for justice and munificence, equity and benevolence. When Amad heard tell of his father, he groaned and wept, for a minute, and knew not whether to go. However, he bought a something of food, and carried it to a retired spot, where he sat down, thinking to eat. But, recalling his brother, he fell a weeping and swallowed a bit of morsel to keep breath and body together, and that against his will. Then he rose and walked about the city, seeking news of his father, till he saw a Muslim tailor sitting in his shop. So he sat down by him and told him his story, whereupon quoth the tailor, if he have fallen into the hands of the Magians, thou shalt hardly see him again, yet it may be Allah will reunite you twain. But thou, O my brother, he continued, will thou lodge with me? Amad answered, yes, and the tailor rejoiced at this. So he abode with him many days, what while the tailor comforted him, and exhorted him to patience, and taught him tailoring, till he became expert in the craft. Now one day he went forth to the seashore and washed his clothes, after which he entered the bath and put on clean raiment. Then he walked about the city to divert himself with its sights, and presently there met him on the way, a woman of passing beauty and loveliness, without peer for grace and comeliness. When she saw him she raised her face veil and signed to him by moving her eyebrows and her eyes with luring glances, and versified these couplets. I drooped my glance when seen thee on the way, as thou, O slim waist, felled by Saul's hot ray. Thou art the fairest fairer that era appeared, fairer today than fairer of yesterday, where beauty parted at a fifth part of it. With Joseph, or a part of fifth, would stay, the rest would fly to thee, shine on a stone, be every soul thy sacrifice, I pray. When a maud heard these her words, they glend his heart, which inclined to her, and his bowels yearned towards her, and the hands of love sported with him. So he sighed to her in reply, and spoke these couplets. Above the rose of cheek is thorn of lance, who dareth pluck it, rascious chievence. Stretch not thy hand towards it for night long. Those lances marred because we snatched at glance. Say her, who tyrant is, and temper too, though justice might her tempting power enhance. Thy face would add to errors where it veiled, and veiled I see its guard hath best of chance. I cannot look upon Saul's neck at face, that can when mist cloud dims his countenance. The honey hive is held by Honey Bee, ask the tribe guards what wants their vigilance, and they would slay me, let them in their ire, rancorous, and grant us freely to advance. They're not more murderous, and charge the whole, than charging glance of her who wears them all. And hearing these lines from a maud, she sighed with the deepest sighs, and signed to him again, repeated these keplets. Tis thou hast trodden coinous path, not I. Grant me thy favors for the time draws nigh. O thou who makest mourn with light of brow, and with loosed brow locks night in lift to stye, thine idle aspect made of me thy slave, tempting as temptest me in days gone by. Tis just my liver fry with hottest love, who worshipped fire, for God must fire a by. Thou sellest like of me for worthless price. If thou must sell, ask high of those who buy. When a maud heard these her words, he said to her, Will thou come to my lodging, or shall I go with thee to thine? So she hung her head in shame to the ground, and repeated the words of him whose name be exalted. Men shall have the preeminence above women, because of those advantages, wherein all I hath caused the one of them to excel the other. Upon this a maud took the hint, and Scheherazade perceived the dawn of day, and ceased saying her permitted day, when it was the two hundred and thirty first night. She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious king, that a maud took the woman's hint, and understood that she wished to go with him whether he was going. He felt himself bounder to find a place wherein to receive her, but was ashamed to carry her to the house of his host, the tailor. So he walked on, and she walked after him, and the two ceased not walking from street to street, and place to place, till she was tired, and said to him, O my lord, where is thy house? Answered he, before us a little way. Then he turned aside into a handsome by-street, followed by the young woman, and walked on till he came to the end, when he found it was no thoroughfare, and exclaimed, There is no Majesty, and there is no might save in Allah the glorious the great. Then, raising his eyes, he saw, at the upper end of the lane, a great door with two stone benches, but it was locked. So a maud sat down on one of the benches, and she on the other, and she said to him, O my lord, where for waitest thou? He bowed his head awhile to the ground, and then raised it and answered, I am waiting my Mamalook who hath the key, for I bade him make me ready meat and drink and flowers to deck the wine-service against my return from the bath. But he said to himself, Happily the time will be tedious to her, and she will go about her business leaving me here, when I will end my own way. However, as soon as she was in the area of the long waiting, she said, O my lord, thy Mamalook delayeth, and here we are sitting in the street, and she arose and took a stone and went up to the lock, said a maud, be not in haste, but have patience till the servant come home. However, she hearkened not to him, but smote the wooden bolt with the stone and broke it in half, whereupon the door opened. See, what possessed thee to do this deed? Quoth she, Poo-Poo, my lord, what matter it? Is not the house thy house in thy place? He said there was no need to break the bolt. Then the damsel entered to the confusion of a maud, who knew not what to do for fear of the people of the house. But she said to him, Why dost thou not enter, O light of mine eyes and core of my heart? Replied he, I hear and obey, but my servant tarryeth long, and I know not if he have done odd of what I bait him, and specially enjoined upon him or not. Hereupon he entered, sore in fear of the people of the house, and found himself in a handsome saloon with four dazed recesses, each facing each other, and containing closets and raised seats, all bespread with stuffs of silk and brocade, and in the midst was a jetting fountain of costly fashion, on whose margin rested a covered tray of meats, with a leather tablecloth hanging up, and gem encrusted dishes, full of fruits and sweet-scented flowers. Hard by stood drinking vessels and a candlestick with a single wax candle therein, and the place was full of precious stuffs, and was ranged with chests and stools, and on each seat lay a parcel of clothes, upon which was a purse full of moneys, gold and silver. The floor was paved with marble, and the house bore witness in every part to its owner's fortune. When a mod saw this, he was confused at his case with himself, I am a lost man. Rarely we are allas, and to Allah we are returning. As for the damsel, when she sighted the place, she rejoiced, indeed, with a joy nothing could exceed, and said to him, By Allah, O my Lord, I serve and hath not failed of his duty, for, see, he hath swept the place, and cooked the meat, and set on the fruit, and indeed I come at the best of times. But he paid no heed to her, his heart being taken up with fear of the housefolk, and she said, Fi, O my Lord, O my heart, what aileth thee to stand thus? Then she sighed, and, giving him a bus, which sounded like the cracking of a walnut, said, O my Lord, and thou have made an appointment with other than thee, I will gird my middle and serve her in thee. Amod laughed from a heart full of rage and wrath, and came forward, and sat down, panting, and sang to himself, Alak, mine ill death and doom, when the owner of the place shall return. Then she seated herself by him, and fell to toying and laughing, whilst Amod set careful and frowning, thinking a thousand thoughts, and communing with himself. Assuredly the master of the house had not become, and then what shall I say to him? He needs must kill me, and my life will be lost thus foolishly. Presently she rose, and, tucking up her sleeves, took a tray of food on which she laid the cloth, and then set it before Amod, and began to eat, saying, O my Lord, so he came forward and ate, but the food was not pleasant to him. Then, in a hurry, he ceased not to look towards the door, till the damsel had eaten her fill. Then she took away the tray of the meats, and, sitting on the dessert, fell to eating of the dried fruits. Then she brought the wine service, and, opening the jar, filled a cup, and handed it to Amod, who took it from her hand, saying to himself, Ah, and well away, when the master of the house and he kept his eyes fixed on the threshold, even with the cup in hand. While he was in this case, lo, in came the master of the house, who was a white slave, one of the chief men of the city, being master of the horse to the king. He had fitted up this saloon for his pleasures that he might make merry therein, and be private with whom he would. And he had that day the youth whom he loved, and had made this entertainment for him. Now the name of this slave is Bahadur, and he was open of hand, generous, munificent, and feign of almsgiving, and charitable works. And she heard his odd perceive the dawn of the day, and ceased to say her permitted say. End of Section 38 of the Book of a Thousand Nights Volume 3 Recording by D. U. I. Koff. Section 39 Volume 3 of the Book of a Thousand Nights and a Night translated by Richard Burton. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Christian Plasberg The Book of a Thousand Nights Volume 3 Section 39 When it was the 232nd night she said, It hath reached me, O auspicious king, that when Bahadur, the master of the horse and the owner of the house, came to the door of the saloon and found it open, he entered slowly and softly, and looking in, with head advanced and outstretched neck, saw Amjad and the girl sitting before the dish of fruit and the wine jar in front of them. Now Amjad at that moment had the cup in his hand and his face turned to the door. And when his glance met Bahadur's eyes his hue turned pale yellow and his side muscles quivered. So seeing his trouble, Bahadur signed to him with his finger on his lips as much as to say, Be silent and come hither to me. Whereupon he set down the cup and rose and the damsel cried, wither away, he shook his head and signing to her that he wished to make water went out into the passage barefoot. Now when he saw Bahadur before the master of the house, so he hastened to him and kissing his hand said to him, Allah upon thee, O Lord, ere thou do me a hurt, hear what I have to say. Then he told him who he was from first to last and acquainted him with what caused him to quit his native land and royal state and how he had not entered his house of his free will but that it was the girl who had broken the lockbolt and done all this. When Bahadur heard his story and knew that he was a king's son, he felt for him and taking compassion on him said, Hark into me, O Amjad, and do what I bid thee and I will guarantee thy safety from that thou theorist. But if thou cross me, I will kill thee. Amjad replied, command thee as thou wilt. I will not gain say thee in ought. No, never, for I am the freedman of thy bounty. Rejoin, Bahadur. Then go back forthwith into the saloon, sit down in thy place and be at peace and find ease. I will presently come into thee and when thou seest me, remember, my name is Bahadur, do thou revile me and rail at me, saying what made thee tarry till so late and accept no excuse from me, nay, so far from it, rise and beat me and if thou spare me, I will do away thy life. Enter now and make merry and whatsoever thou seekest of me at this time I will bring thee forthwith and do thou spend this night in thy way. This I do in honor of the Strangerhood, for I love the Stranger and hold myself bounder to do him duvoir. So Amjad kissed his hand and returning to the saloon with his face clad in its natural white and red at once said to the damsel, O my mistress, thy presence hath gladdened this shine-own place and ours is indeed a blessed night. Quoth the girl, verily I see a wonderful change in thee that thou now welcomeest me so cordially. So Amjad answered, By Allah, O my lady, me thought my servant Badour had robbed me of some necklaces of jewels worth ten thousand diners each. However, when I went out but now in concern for this, I sought for them and found them in their place. I know not why the slave tarry hath so long and needs must I punish him for it. She was satisfied with his answer and they sported and drank and made merry and ceased not to be so till near down. When Badour came into them, having changed his clothes and girt his middle and put on shoes, shoes as are worn of Marmaluk's, he saluted and kissed the ground, then held his hands behind him and stood, with his head hanging down, as one who confesseth to a fault. So Amjad looked at him with angry eyes and asked, Why hath thou tarried till now, O most pestilent of slaves? Answered Badour, O my lord, close and knew not of thy being there, for our appointed time was nightfall and not daytide. But Amjad cried out of him, saying, Thou liest, O vileest of slaves! By Allah I must needs beat thee. So he rose and throwing Badour prone on the ground, took a stick and beat him gently. But the damsel sprang up and snatching the stick from his hand came down upon Badour so lustily, that in extreme pain the tears ran from his eyes and he ground his teeth together and called out for a succor. Whilst Amjad cried out to the girl, Don't! and she cried out, Let me satisfy my anger upon him. Till at last he pulled the stick out of her hand and pushed her away. So Badour rose and wiping away his tears from his cheeks, waited upon them the while after which he swept the hall and lighted the lamps. But as often as he went in and out the lady abused him and cursed him till Amjad was wroth with her and said, For all mighty Allah's sake, leave my Mamalook. He is not used to this. Then they sat and ceased not eating and drinking and Badour waiting upon them till midnight when, being weary with service and beating, he fell asleep in the midst of the hall and snored and snorted, whereupon the damsel who was drunk with wine, said to Amjad, Arise! Take the sword hanging yonder and cut me off the slave's head, and if thou do it not, I will be the death of thee. What possesseth thee to slay my slave? asked Amjad. And she answered, Our joyance will not be complete but by his death. If thou wilt not kill him, I will do it myself. By Allah's rights to thee do not this thing. Quote she, it must perforce be, and taking down the sword drew it and made it by Badour to kill him. But Amjad said in his mind, This man hath entreated us courteously and sheltered us and done us kindness and made himself a slave. Shall we requite him by slaughtering him? This shall never be. Then he said to the woman, If my Mamalook must be killed, better I should kill him than thou. So saying, he took the sword from her and, raising his hand, smote her on the neck and made her head fly from her body. It fell upon Badour who awoke and sat up and opened his eyes when he saw Amjad standing by him and in his hand the sword died with blood and the damsel lying down. He inquired what had passed and Amjad told him all she had said adding, Nothing would satisfy her, but she must slay thee and this is her reward. Then Badour arose and kissing the Prince's hand said to him, Would to heaven thou hath spared her, but now there is nothing for it but to rid us of her without stay or delay before the day break. Then he girded his loins and took the body, wrapped it in an abba cloak and laying it in a large basket of palm leaves saying, Thou art a stranger here and knowest no one, so sit thou in this place and await my return till day break. If I come back to thee, I will assuredly do the great good service and use my endeavours to have news of thy brother. But if by sunrise I return not, know that all is over with me, in peace beyond thee and the house in all it containeth of stuffs and money are shine. Then he fared forth from the saloon bearing the basket and riding the streets he made for the salt sea, thinking to throw it therein. But as he drew near the shore he turned and saw that the chief of police and his officers had ranged themselves around him, and on recognizing him they wandered and opened the basket wherein they found the slain woman. So they seized him and laid him in Bilbo's all that night till the morning, when they carried him and the basket as it was, to the king and reported the case. The king was sore enraged slain and said to Badur, woe to thee, thou art always so doing, thou killest folk and castest them into the sea and takest their goods. How many murders hast thou done ere this? Thereupon Badur hung his head, and Scheherazade perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. When it was the 233rd night, she said, it hath reached me, oh auspicious king, that Badur hung down his head downwards before the king, who cried out at him saying, woe to thee, who killed this girl? He replied, oh my lord, I killed her, and there is no majesty and there is no might save in Allah, the glorious, the great. So the king in his anger commanded to hang him, and the hangman went down with him by the king's commandment, and the chief of police accompanied him with a crier who called upon all the folk to witness the execution and on this wise they paraded him through the main streets and the market streets. This is how it fared with Badur, but as regards Amjad, he waited his host's return till the day broke, and the sun rose when he saw that he came not, he exclaimed, there is no majesty and there is no might save in Allah, the glorious, the great. Would I knew what this has become of him? And as he sat and using behold he heard the crier proclaiming there is sentence and bidding the people to see the spectacle of his hanging in midday, where at he wept and exclaimed, thereily we are Allah's, and to him we are returning, he meaneth to sacrifice himself unjustly for my sake, when I it was who slew her. By Allah this shall never be. Then he went from the saloon and shutting the door after him, hurriedly threaded the streets till he overtook Badur, when he stood before the chief of police O my lord, put not Badur to death, for he is innocent. By Allah none killed her, but I. Now when the captain of police heard these words, he took them both and carrying them before the king acquainted him with what Amjad had said, whereupon he looked at the prince and asked him, didst thou kill the damsel? He answered yes, and the king said tell me why thou killedst her and speak the truth. Replied Amjad, O king it is indeed a marvelous event and a wondrous matter that hath befallen me, were it graven with needles on the eye corners it would serve as a warner to whoso would be warned. Then he told him his whole story and informed him of all that had befallen him and his brother, first and last, where at the king was much startled and surprised and said to him, know that now I find thee to be excusable, but list, O youth, wilt thou be my wazere? Harkening and obedience answered Amjad, whereupon the king bestowed magnificent dresses of honor on him and Badour and gave him a handsome house with eunuchs and officers and all things needful, appointing him stipends and allowances and bidding him make search for his brother Assad. So Amjad sat down invested and deposed and took and gave. Moreover he sent out a crier to cry his brother throughout the city, and for many days made proclamation in the main streets and market streets, but heard no news of Assad nor happened on any trace of him. Such was his case, but as regards his brother, the magi ceased not to torture Assad night and day and even mourn for a whole year's space till their festival drew near when the old man Buram made ready for the voyage and fitted out a ship for himself, and Scheherazade perceived of day and ceased to say her permitted say. When it was the 234th night she said, it hath reached me, O auspicious king, that Buram, the magi, having fitted out a ship for the voyage, took Assad and put him in a chest which he locked and had it transported on board. Now it so came to pass that, at the very time of shipping it, Amjad was standing to divert himself by looking upon the sea, and when he saw the men carrying the gear and shipping it, his heart throbbed and he called to his pages to bring him his beast. Then mounting with a company of his officers, he rode down to the seaside and halted before the magian ship which he commended his men to board and search. They did his bidding, and boarded the vessel and rummaged in every part, but found nothing. So they returned and told Amjad, who mounted again and rode back. But he felt troubled in mind, and when he reached his place and entered his palace, he cast his eyes on the wall and saw written thereon two lines which were these couplets. My friends, if ye are banished from mine eyes, from heart and mine ye near go wandering, but ye have left me in my woe and rob, rest from my eyelids while ye are slumbering. And seeing them, Amjad thought of his brother and wept. Such was his case, but as for the magian, he embarked and shouted and bawled to his crew to make sail in all haste. So they shook out the sails and departed and ceased not to fare on many days and nights, and every other day Baram took out Assad and gave him a bit of bread and made him drink a sup of water till they drew near the mountain of fire. Then there came out on them a storm wind and the sea rose against them so that the ship was driven out of her course till she shook a wrong and fell into strange waters, and at last they came inside of a city builded upon the shore with a castle whose windows overlooked the main. Now the ruler of this city was a queen called Marjana and the captain said to Baram O my lord we have strayed from our course and come to the island of Queen Marjana who is a devout Muslima, and if she knew that we are Magians she will take our ship and slay us to the last man. What needs must we put in here to rest and refit? Baram, right is thy wrecking what sell thou seeest fit that I will do? said the shipmaster if the queen summon us and question us how shall we answer her? And Baram replied let us clothe this Muslim we have with us in a Mamaluk's habit and carry him ashore with us so that when the queen sees him she will suppose and say this is a slave. As for me I will tell her that I am a slave dealer who buys and sells white slaves and that I had with me many but have sold all save this one whom I retain to keep my accounts for he can read and write. And the captain said this device should serve presently they reach the city and slack and sail and cast the anchors and the ship lay still when behold Queen Marjana came down to them attended by her guards and halting before the vessel called out to the captain who landed the ground before her. Quoth she what is the lading of this thy ship and who has thou with thee? Quoth he O queen of the age I have with me a merchant who dealeth in slaves. And she said hither with him to me whereupon Baram came ashore to her and with Asad walking behind him in a slaves habit and kissed the earth before her. She asked what is thy condition? And he answered I am a dealer and chattels. Then she looked at Asad and taking him for a mamalook asked him what is thy name O youth? He answered doth thou ask my present or my former name hast thou then two names inquired she and he replied and indeed his voice was choked with tears. Yes my name of foretime was Al-Asad the most happy but now it is Al-Mutar Miserimus her heart inclined to him and she said canst thou write? Yes answered he and she gave him in case and read pen and paper and said to him write somewhat that I may see it so he wrote these two couplets What can the slave do when pursued by fate? O justice judge whatever be his state whom throws hand bound into the depths and says beware lest water should thy body wet. Now when she read these lines she had wroth upon him and said to Baram sell me this slave he replied oh my lady I cannot sell him for I have parted with all the rest and none is left with me but he quoth the queen I must need have him of thee either by sale or way of gift Baram I will neither sell him nor give him where at she was wroth and taking Assad by the hand carried him up to the castle and sent to Baram saying except thou set sail and depart our city this very night I will seize all thy goods and break up by ship. Now when the message reached the Magian he grieved with sore grief and cried verily this voyages on no wise to be commended then he arose and made ready all he needed and awaited the coming of the night to resume his voyage saying to the sailors provide yourselves with your things and fill your water skins that we may set sail at the last of the night so the sailors did their business and awaited the coming of darkness such was their case but as regards queen Marjana when she had brought Assad into the castle she opened the casements overlooking the sea and bade her handmaids bring food they set food before Assad and herself and both ate after which the queen called for wine and Sheherazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say end of section 39 of the book of a thousand nights and a night volume 3 recording by Christian Plasberg of Winchester, Virginia and ChristianPlasberg.com section 40 volume 3 of the book of a thousand nights and a night translated by Richard Burton this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Nicholas James Bridgewater the book of a thousand nights and a night volume 3 section 40 when it was the 235th night she said it hath reached me oh auspicious king that when Queen Marjana bade her handmaids bring wine and they set it before her she fell to drinking with Assad now Allah be he extolled and exalted filled her heart with love for the prince and she kept filling his cup and handing it to him till his reason and presently he rose and left the hall to satisfy a call of nature as he passed out of the saloon he saw an open door through which he went and walked on till his walk brought him to a vast garden full of all manner of fruits and flowers and sitting down under a tree he did his occasion then he rose and went up to a jetting fountain in the garden and made the lesser ablution and washed his hands and face after which he would have risen to go away but the air smote him and he fell back with his clothes undone and slept and night overcame him thus so far concerning him but as concerns Bahram the night being come he cried out to his crew saying set sail set us away and they answered we hear and obey but wait till we fill our water skins and then we will set sail so they landed with their water skins and went round about the castle and found nothing but garden walls whereupon they climbed over into the garden and followed the track of feet which led them to the fountain and there they found Asaid lying on his back and were glad to find him and after filling their water skins they bore him off and climbed the wall again with him and carried him back in haste to Bahram to whom they said hear the good tidings of thy winning thy wish and gladden thy heart and beat thy drums and sound thy pipes for thy prisoner whom Queen Marjana took from thee and brought back to thee and they threw Asaid down before him when Bahram saw him his heart leapt for joy and his breasts swelled with gladness then he bestowed largesse on the sailors and bad them set sail in haste so they sailed forth right intending to make the mountain of fire and stayed not their course till the morning this is how it fared with them but as regards Queen Marjana she abode a while after Asaid went down from her awaiting his return in vain for he came not thereupon she rose and sought him yet found no trace of him then she bade her women light flambos and look for him whilst she went forth in person and seeing the garden door open knew that he had gone with her so she went out into the garden and finding his sandals lying by the fountain searched the place in every part but came upon no sign of him and yet she gave not over the search till morning then she inquired for the ship and they told her the vessel set sail in the first watch of the night wherefore she knew that they had taken Asaid with them and this was grievous to her and she was sore and angered she bade equipped ten great ships for width and making ready for fight embarked in one of the ten with her mamalooks and slave women and men at arms all splendidly occluded and wept for war they spread the sails and she said to the captains if you overtake the mage and ship ye shall have of me dresses of honour and largesse of money but if you fail so to do I will slay you to the last man where at fear and great hope animated the cruise and they sailed all that day and the night and the second day and the third day till on the fourth they sighted the ship of Bahram the magian and before evening fell the queen's squadron had surrounded it on all sides just as Bahram had taken Asaid fourth of the chest and was beating and torturing him whilst the prince cried out for help and deliverance but found neither helper nor deliverer and the grievous bastinado sorely tormented him now whilst so occupied Bahram chanced to look up and seeing himself encompassed by the queen's ships as the white of the eye encompassed the black he gave himself up for lost and groaned and said woe to thee O Asaid this is all out of thy head then taking him by the hand he bade his men throw him overboard and cried by Allah I will slay thee before I die myself so they carried him along by the hands and feet and cast him into the sea and he sank but Allah be he extolled and exalted willed that his life be saved and that his doom be deferred so he caused him to sink and rise again and he struck out with his hands and feet till the almighty gave him relief and sent him deliverance and the waves bore him far from the magian ship and threw him ashore he landed scarce crediting his escape and once more on land he doffed his clothes and wrung them and spread them out to dry whilst he sat naked and weeping over his condition and bewailing his calamities and mortal dangers and captivity and strangerhood and presently he repeated these two couplets Allah my patience fails I have no ward my breast is straightened and clean cut my cord to whom shall wretched slave of case complain save to his lord oh thou of lords the lord having ended his verse he rose and donned his clothes but he knew not whether to go or whence to come so he fed on the herbs of the earth and the fruits of the trees and he drank of the streams and fared on night and day till he came in sight of a city whereupon he rejoiced and hastened his pace but when he reached it and Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say when it was the 236th night she said it hath reached me oh auspicious king that when he reached the city the shades of evening closed around him and the gates were shut now by the decrees of fate and man's lot this was the very city wherein he had been a prisoner and to whose king his brother Amjad was minister when Asad saw the gate was locked he turned back and made for the burial ground where finding a tomb without a door he entered therein and lay down and fell asleep with his face covered by his long sleeve meanwhile queen Marjana coming up with Bahram ship questioned him of Asad now the magian when queen Marjana overtook him with her ships baffled her by his artifice and grammary swearing to her that he was not with him and that he knew nothing of him she searched the ship but found no trace of her friend so she took Bahram and carrying him back to her castle would have him put to death but he ransomed himself from her with all his good and his ship and she released him and his men they went forth from her slowly believing in their deliverance and fared on 10 days journey till they came to their own city and found the gate shut it being even tied so they made for the burial ground thinking to lie the night there and going round about the tombs as fate and fortune would have it saw the building where in Asad lay wide open where at Bahram marvelled and said I must look into this sepulcher then he entered and found Asad lying in a corner fast asleep with his head covered by his sleeve so he raised his head and looking in his face knew him for the man on whose account he had lost his good and his ship and cried what art thou yet alive then he bound him and gagged him without further parley and carried him to his house where he clapped heavy shackles on his feet lowered him into the underground dungeon afore said prepared for the tormenting of muslims and he bade his daughter by name Bustan torture him night and day till the next year when they would again visit the mountain of fire and there offer him up as a sacrifice then he beat him grievously and locking the dungeon door upon him gave the keys to his daughter by and by Bustan opened the door and went down to beat him but finding him a comely youth and a sweet face with arched brows and eyes black with nature's call she fell in love with him and asked him what is thy name my name is Asad and said he where at she cried mayest thou indeed be happy as thy name and happy be thy days how does service not torture and blows and I see thou has been injuriously entreated and she comforted him with kind words and loosed his bonds then she questioned him of the religion of al-islam and he told her that it was the true and right faith and that our lord muhammad had approved himself by surpassing miracles and signs manifest worship is harmful and not profitable and he went on to expound to her the tenets of al-islam till she was persuaded and the love of the true faith entered her heart then as almighty Allah had mixed up with her being a fond affection for Asad she pronounced the two testimonies of the faith and became of the people of felicity and he met and drank and talked with him and they prayed together moreover she made him chicken stews and fed him therewith till he regained strength and his sickness left him and he was restored to his former health such things befell him with the daughter of bahram the magian and so it happened that one day she left him and stood at the house door when behold crying aloud and saying who so hath with him a handsome young man whose favor is thus and thus and bringeth him forth shall have all he seeketh of money but if any have him and deny it he shall be hanged over his own door and his property shall be plundered and his blood go for naught now Asad had acquainted bostan bint bahram with his whole history so when she heard the cryer she knew it was he who was sought for and going down to him told him the news then he fared forth and made for the mansion of the wazir whom when Asad saw exclaimed by Allah this minister is my brother Amjad then he went up and the damsel walking behind him to the palace where he again saw his brother and threw himself upon him where upon Amjad also knew him and fell upon his neck and they embraced each other whilst the wazir's mamalooks dismounted and stood round them they lay a while insensible and when they came to themselves Amjad took his brother and carried him to the Sultan to whom he related the whole story and the Sultan charged him to plunder Bahram's house and Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say when it was the 237th night she said it hath reached me O auspicious king that the Sultan ordered Amjad to plunder Bahram's house and to hang its owner so Amjad dispatched nither for that purpose a company of men who sacked the house and took Bahram and brought his daughter to the wazir by whom she was received with all honour for Asad had told his brother the torments he had suffered and the kindness she had done him there upon Amjad related in his turn to Asad all that had passed between himself and the damsel and how he had escaped hanging and had become wazir and they made moan each to other of the anguish they had suffered for separation then the Sultan summoned Bahram and bad strike off his head but he said O most mighty king art thou indeed resolved to put me to death replied the king yes except thou save thyself by becoming a muslim quoth Bahram O king bear with me a little while then he bowed his head groundwards and presently raising it again made profession of the faith and islamized at the hands of the Sultan they all rejoiced at his conversion and Amjad and Asad told him all that had befallen them whereat he wondered and said O my lords make ready for the journey and I will depart with you and carry you back to your father's court in a ship at this they rejoiced and wept with sore weeping but he said O my lords make ready for your departure for it shall reunite you with those you love even as were Ni'ma and Naomi and what befell Ni'ma and Naomi asked they they tell replied Bahram but Allah alone is all knowing the following tale end of volume 3 end of section 40 of the book of a thousand nights and a night volume 3 recording by Nicholas James in British water recorded in London, England