 Section 33, Volume 3 of the Book of a Thousand Nights and a Night, translated by Richard Burton. When it was the two hundred and seventh night, she said, it has reached Mio, auspicious king, that when he took the bezel to look at it in the light, that while he was holding it, behold, a bird swooped down on him, and snatching the same from his hand, flew off with it, and then lighted on the ground. Thereupon, Kama al-Zaman, fearing to lose the jewel, ran after the bird. But it flew on before him, keeping just out of his reach, and ceased not to draw him on from dale to dale, and from hill to hill, till the night starkened, and the firmament darkened, when it roosted on a high tree. So Kama al-Zaman stopped under the tree, confounded in thought, and faint for famine and fatigue, and giving himself up for lost, would have turned back, but knew not the way whereby he came, for that darkness had overtaken him. Then he exclaimed, There is no majesty, and there is no might save in Allah the glorious, the great. And laying him down under the tree whereon was the bird, slept till the morning, when he awoke, and saw the bird also wake up and fly away. He arose and walked after it, and it flew on little by little before him, after the measure of his fearing. At which he smiled and said, By Allah, a strange thing! Yesterday this bird flew before me as fast as I could run. And today, knowing that I have awoke tired and cannot run, he flies after the measure of my fearing. By Allah, this is wonderful! But I must need follow this bird whether it lead me to death or to life, and I will go wherever it goeth, for at all events it will not abide save in some inhabited land. So he continued to follow the bird, which roosted every night upon a tree. And he ceased not pursuing it for a space of ten days, feeding on the fruits of the earth, and drinking of its waters. At the end of this time he came in sight of an inhabited city, whereupon the bird darted off like the glance of the eye, and entering the town disappeared from Qamar al-Zaman, who knew not what it meant or whether it was gone. So he marveled at this, and exclaimed, Praise be to Allah, who hath brought me in safety to this city! Then he sat down by a stream, and washed his hands and feet and face, and rested a while. And recalling his late easy and pleasant life of union with his beloved, and contrasting it with his present plight of trouble and fatigue and distress, and strangerhood and famine and severance, the tears streamed from his eyes, and he began repeating these synchanes. Fain had I hid thy handwork, but it showed. Changed sleep for wake, and wake with me abode. When thou didst burn my heart I cried aloud, Fate, hold thy hand, and cease to gird and goad, in dole and danger I my sprite I spied. And but the Lord of love were just to me, sleep from my eyelids now were forced to flee. Pity my lady, one for love thee, from his tribe's darling, brought to low degree. Love came, and doomed wealth, begger death to die. The railers chide at thee, I ne'er gained say, But stop my ears, and dumbly sign them nay. Thou lovest a slender may, say they. I say, I've picked her out, and cast the rest away. Enough! When Fate descends, she blinds man's eye. And as soon as he had finished his poetry, and had taken his rest, he rose and walked on little by little till he entered the city. And Charizard perceived the dawn of day, and ceased saying her permitted say. Now, when it was the two hundred and eighth night, she said, It hath reached me, O auspicious king, that as soon as Kamar Al-Zaman had finished his poetry, and had taken his rest, he rose and entered the city gate, not knowing whether he should wend. He crossed the city from end to end, entering by the land gate, and ceased not fairing on till he came out at the sea gate, for the city stood on the seashore. Yet he met not a single one of its citizens. And after issuing from the land gate, he fared forwards, and ceased not fairing, till he found himself among the orchards and gardens of the place. And passing among the trees, presently came to a garden, and he stopped before its door, whereupon the keeper came out to him and saluted him. The prince returned his greeting, and the gardener bad him welcome, saying, Praised be Allah, that thou hast come off safe from the dwellers of this city. Quick, come into the garth, ere any of the townfolk see thee. Thereupon Kamar Al-Zaman entered that garden, wondering in mind, and asked the keeper, What may be the history of the people of this city, and who may they be? The other answered, Know that the people of this city are all magens, but Allah upon thee. Tell me how thou cameest to this city, and what caused thy coming to our capital? Accordingly Kamar Al-Zaman told the gardener all that had befallen him from beginning to end, whereat he marvelled with great marvel, and said, No, O my son, that the cities of Al-Islam lie far from us, and between us and them is a four months voyage by sea, and a whole twelve months journey by land. We have a ship which saileth every year with merchandise to the nearest Muslim country, and which entereth the seas of the ebony islands, and thence maketh the Caledon Islands the dominions of King Shariman. Thereupon Kamar Al-Zaman considered a while, and concluded that he could not do better than abide in the garden with the gardener, and become his assistant, receiving for pay one-fourth of the produce. So he said to him, Will thou take me into thy service to help thee in this garden? Answered the gardener, To hear is to consent, and began teaching him to lead the water to the roots of the trees. So Kamar Al-Zaman abode with him, watering the trees, and hoeing up the weeds, and wearing a short blue frock which reached to his knees. And he wept floods of tears, for he had no rest day or night by reason of his strangerhood, and he ceased not to repeat verses upon his beloved, amongst others the following couplets. He promised us, and will you not keep plight? He said a say, and shall not deed bedight. We wake for passion, while ye slumber and sleep. Watchers and wakers claim not equal right. We vowed to keep our loves in secrecy, but spake the meddler, and you spoke forth right. O friend in pain and pleasure, joy and grief, in all case you, you only claim my sprite. Midfolk is one who holds my prisoned heart. Would he but show some Ruth for me to cite? Not every eye like mine is wounded sore. Not every heart like mine love pinings blight. Ye wronged me, saying love is wrongest, I. Yay, ye were right. Events have proved that quite. Forget they one love thralled, whose faith the world robs not, though burn the fires in heart alight. If an mindful man shall become my judge, whom shall I sue to remedy his despite? Had not I need of love, nor love had sought, my heart for sure were not thus love distraught. Such was the case with Kamar Al-Zaman. But as regards his wife, the Lady Budur, when she awoke, she sought her husband and found him not. Then she saw her petticoat trousers undone, for the band had been loosed and the bezel lost, whereupon she said to herself, By Allah this is strange, where is my husband? It would seem as if he had taken the talisman and gone away, knowing not the secret which is in it. Wood to heaven I knew wither can he have wended. But it must needs have been some extraordinary matter that drew him away, for he cannot brook to leave me a moment. Allah cursed the stone, and damn it's hour. Then she considered a while, and said in her mind, If I go out and tell the violets, and let them learn that my husband is lost, they will lust after me. There is no help for it, but that I use stratagem. So she rose and donned some of her husband's clothes and riding boots, and a turban like his, drawing one corner of it across her face for a mouth veil. Then, setting a slave-girl in her litter, she went forth from the tent, and called to the pages who brought her kamar al-zaman's steed. And she mounted, and bade them load the beasts and resume the march. So they bound on the burdens and departed. And she concealed her trick, none doubting but she was kamar al-zaman, for she favoured him in face and form. Nor did she cease journeying, she and her suite, days and nights, till they came in sight of a city overlooking the salt sea, where they pitched their tents without the walls, and halted to rest. The princess asked the name of the town, and was told, It is called the city of ebony. Its king is named Armanuz, and he hath a daughter Hayat al-Nufus' height. And Charizard perceived the dawn of day, and ceased saying her permitted say. Now, when it was the 209th night, she said, It hath reached me, oh auspicious king, that when the Lady Boudour halted within sight of the ebony city to take her rest, King Armanuz sent a messenger to learn what king it was who had encamped without his capital. So the messenger, coming to the tents, made inquiry and ent their king, and was told that she was a king's son who had lost the way, being bound for the Calidan Islands, whereupon he returned to King Armanuz with the tidings, and when the king heard them, he straightway rode out with the lords of his land to greet the stranger on arrival. As he drew near the tents, the Lady Boudour came to meet him on foot, whereupon the king alighted, and they saluted each other. Then he took her to the city, and, bringing her up to the palace, Baddum spread the tables and trays of food, and commanded them to transport her company and baggage to the guesthouse. So they abode there three days, at the end of which time the king came in to the Lady Boudour. Now she had that day gone to the Hamam, and her face shone as the moon at its full, a seduction to the world, and a rending of the veil of shame to mankind. And Armanuz found her clad in a suit of silk, embroidered with gold and jewels. So he said to her, O my son, know that I am a very old man, decrepit with all, and Allah hath blessed me with no child save one daughter, who resembled thee in beauty and grace. And I am now waxed unfit for the conduct of the state. She is thine, O my son, and if this my land please thee, and thou be willing to abide and make thy home here, I will marry thee to her, and give thee my kingdom, and so be at rest. When Princess Boudour heard this, she bowed her head, and her forehead sweated for shame. And she said to herself, How shall I do, and I a woman? If I refuse and depart from him, I cannot be safe, but that happily he send after me troops to slay me. And if I consent, be like, I shall be put to shame. I have lost my beloved Qamar al-Zaman, and know not what is become of him, nor can I escape from this scrape safe by holding my peace, and consenting and abiding here till Allah bring about what is to be. So she raised her head, and made submission to King Armanus, saying, harkening and obedience. Whereat he rejoiced, and bade the herald make proclamation throughout the ebony islands, to hold high festival, and decorate the houses. Then he assembled his chamberlains, and nebobs, and emirs, and wazirs, and his offices of state, and the carsees of the city, and formally abdicating his sultanate, endowed Boudour therewith, and invested her in all the vestments of royalty. The emirs and grandees went into her and did her homage, nothing doubting but that she was a young man, and all who looked on her bepissed their bag trousers for the excess of her beauty and loveliness. Then after the lady Boudour had been made sultan, and the drums had been beaten in announcement of the glad event, and she had been ceremoniously enthroned. King Armanus proceeded to equip his daughter Hayat al-Nufus for marriage, and in a few days they brought the lady Boudour into her, when they seemed as it were two moons risen at one time, or two suns in conjunction. So they entered the bridal chamber, and the doors were shut, and the curtains let down upon them after the attendants had lighted the wax candles, and spread for them the carpet-bed. When Boudour found herself alone with the Princess Hayat al-Nufus, she called to mind her beloved Qamar al-Zaman, and grief was sore upon her. So she wept for his absence and distrangement, and she began repeating, O ye who fled and left my heart in pain lowly, and no breath of life is found within this frame of mine. I have an eye which air complains of wake, but lo, tears occupy it, would that wake content these I'm. After ye marched forth the lover bowed behind, question of him what pains your absence could design, but for the floods of tears mine eyelids rail and rain, my fires would flame on high, and every land calcine. To Allah make I moan of loft ones lost for I, who for my pain and pain no more shall pain and pine. I never wronged them, saves that overlove I nursed, but love departs us lovers into blessed and cursed. And when she had finished her repeating, the Lady Boudour sat down beside the Princess Hyat al-Nufus, and kissed her on the mouth. After which, rising abruptly, she made the minor ablution, and betook herself to her devotion. Nor did she leave praying till Hyat al-Nufus fell asleep, when she slipped into bed and lay with her back to her till morning. And when day had broken, the king and queen came into their daughter, and asked her how she did, whereupon she told them what she had seen, and repeated to them the verses she had heard. Thus far concerning Hyat al-Nufus and her father, but as regards Queen Boudour, she went forth and seated herself upon the royal throne, and all the amirs and captains and officers of state came up to her, and wished her joy of the kingship, kissing earth before her, and calling down blessings upon her. And she accosted them with smiling face, and clad them in robes of honour, augmenting the feats of the high officials, and giving largesse to the levies, wherefore all the people loved her, and offered up prayers for the long endurance of her reign, doubting not but that she was a man. And she ceased not sitting all day in the hall of audience, bidding and forbidding, dispensing justice, releasing prisoners, and remitting the customer's dues till nightfall, when she withdrew to the apartment prepared for her. Here she found Hyat al-Nufus seated, so she sat down by her side, and clapping her on the back, coaxed and caressed her, and kissed her between the eyes, and fell to versifying in these couplets. What secret kept I these my tears have told, and my waste body must my love unfold, though hid my pine, my plight on parting day, to every envious eye my secret sold. O ye who broke up camp, you've left behind, my spirit weary, and my heart a-cold. In my heart's core ye dwell, and now these iron-roll blood drops with the tears they whileum rolled. The absent will I ransom with my soul, all can my yearning for their sight behold. I have an eye whose babe, for love of thee, rejected sleep, nor hath its tears controlled. The foe-man bids me patient bear his loss, ne'er may my ears accept the roof he doled. I tricked their deem of me, and won my wish, of Kamar al-Zaman's joys manifold. He joins all perfect gifts, like none before, boasted such might and may no king of old. Seeing his gifts, Bin Zahidah's largesse, forget we, and Muayua mildest souls. Were verse not feeble, and o'er short the time, I had in lord of him used all of rhyme. Then Queen Baudour stood up, and wiped away her tears, and making the lesser ablution, applied her to pray. Nor did she give over praying till drowsiness overcame the Lady Hayat al-Nufus, and she slept, whereupon the Lady Baudour came and lay by her till the morning. At daybreak she arose, and prayed the dawn prayer, and presently seated herself on the royal throne, and passed the day in ordering and counter-ordering, and giving laws, and administering justice. This is how it fared with her. But as regards King Armanus, he went into his daughter, and asked her how she did. So she told him all that had befallen her, and repeated to him the verses which Queen Baudour had recited, adding, O my father, never saw I one more abounding in sound sense and modesty than my husband. Save that he doth nothing but weep and sigh. He answered, O my daughter, have patience with him yet this third night, and if he go not in unto thee, and do away thy maiden-head, we shall know how to proceed with him, and oust him from the throne, and banish him the country. And on this wise he agreed with his daughter what course he would take, and Charazade perceived the dawn of day, and ceased saying her permitted say. Ender Section 33 Section 34, 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 Leonard Wilson. The Book of a Thousand Nights and a Night, Volume 3, Section 34. When it was the 210th night, she said, It hath reached me, O auspicious king, that when King Armanus had agreed with his daughter on this wise, and had determined what course he would take, and night came on, Queen Boudre arose from the throne of her kingdom, and, betaking herself to the palace, entered the apartment prepared for her. There she found the wax candles lighted, and the Princess Hyat al-Nufus seated and awaiting her. Whereupon she betought her of her husband, and what had betided them both of sorrow and severance in so short a space. She wept inside and groaned, groan upon groan, and began improvising these couplets. News of my love fill all the land I swear, as suns on Gaza wold rain heat and glare, speaketh his jest but hard its sense to say, thus never cease to grow my carc and care. I hate fair patience, since I love thee. Air-sauced lover hate for love to bear. A glance that dealt love sickness dealt me death. Glances are deadliest things with torments rare. He shook his love-locks down and bared his chin, whereby I spied his beauties dark and fair. My care, my cure, are in his hands, and he who caused their doler can their dole repair. His belt went daft for softness of his waist, his hips for envy to uprise for bear. His brow curl diademed his murky night. Unveil it, and lo, bright morn shows the brightest light. When she had finished her versifying, she would have risen to pray, but lo and behold, Hyat al-Nufus caught her by the skirt, and clung to her, saying, O my lord, art thou not ashamed before my father, after all his favor, to neglect me at such a time as this. When Queen Boudor heard her words, she sat down in the same place and said, O my beloved, what is this thou sayest? She replied, What I say is that I never saw any so proud of himself as thou, is every fair one so disdainful. I say not this to incline thee to me. I say it only of my fear for thee from King Armanus, because he purposeth, unless thou go in unto me this very night, and do away my maiden head, to strip thee of the kingship on the morrow, and banish thee his kingdom, and per adventure his excessive anger may lead him to slay thee. But I, O my lord, have Ruth on thee, and give thee fair warning, and it is thy right to wreck. Now when Queen Boudor heard her speak these words, she bowed her head groundwards a while and sore perplexity, and said in herself, If I refuse, I'm lost, and if I obey, I'm shamed. But I am now queen of all the Ebony Islands, and they are under my rule, nor shall I ever again meet my Kamar al-Zaman, save in this place, for there is no way for him to his native land, but through the Ebony Islands. Verily I know not what to do in my present case, but I commit my care to Allah, who directed all for the best, for I am no man that I should arise and open this virgin girl. Then both Queen Boudor to Hyat al-Nufus, O my beloved, that I have neglected thee, and abstained from thee, is in my own despite. And she told her her whole story from beginning to end, and showed her person to her, saying, I conjure thee by Allah to keep my counsel, for I have concealed my case only that Allah may reunite me with my beloved Kamar al-Zaman, and then come what may. And Sharazad perceived the dawn of day, and ceased to say her permitted say. When it was the two hundred and eleventh night, she said, It hath reached me, O auspicious king, that when the Lady Boudor acquainted Hyat al-Nufus with her history, and better keep it secret, the princess heard her with extreme wonderment, and was moved to pity, and prayed Allah to reunite her with her beloved, saying, Fear nothing, O my sister, but have patience till Allah bring to pass that which must come to pass. And she began repeating, None but the men of worth a secret keep, with worthy men a secret hidden deep, as in a room so secrets lie with me, whose door is sealed, locked, shot, and lost the key. And when Hyat al-Nufus said into her verses, she said, O my sister, verily the breasts of the noble and brave are of secrets the grave, and I will not discover thine. Then they toyed, and embraced, and kissed, and slept till near the muassans' call to dawn prayer. When Hyat al-Nufus arose, and took a pigeon bolt, and cut its throat over her smock, and besmeared herself with its blood, then she pulled off her petticoat trousers, and cried aloud, whereupon her people hastened to her, and raised the usual lulley looing, and out cries of joy and gladness. Presently her mother came into her, and asked her how she did, and busied herself about her, and abode with her till evening, whilst the Lady Badour arose with the dawn, and repaired to the bath, and after washing herself pure proceeded to the hall of audience, where she sat down on her throne, and dispensed justice among the folk. Now when King Armanus heard the loud cries of joy, he asked what was the matter, and was informed of the consummation of his daughter's marriage, whereat he rejoiced, and his breath swelled with gladness, and he made a great marriage-feast, whereof the merry-making lasted a long time. Such was their case, but as regards King Charaman, it was on this wise. After his son had fared forth to the chase, accompanied by Marzawan, as before related, he tarried, patiently awaiting their return at nightfall. But when his son did not appear, he passed a sleepless night, and the dark hours were long sum up on him. His restlessness was excessive, his excitement grew up on him, and he thought the morning would never dawn. But when day broke he sat expecting his son, and waited till noon. But he came not. Where at his heart forbode separation, and was fired with fears for Kamar al-Zaman, and he cried, Alas, my son! And he wept till his clothes were drenched with tears, and repeated with a beating heart. Love's votaries I ceased not to oppose, till doomed to taste love's bitter and love's sweet. I drained his rigor cup to very dregs, self-humbled at its slaves and freemen's feet. Fortune had sworn to part the loves of us. She capped her word how truly, well, I wheat. And when he ended his verse, he wiped away his tears, and bade his troops make ready for a march, and prepare for a long expedition. So they all mounted and set forth, headed by the sultan, whose heart burnt with grief, and was fired with anxiety for his son, Kamar al-Zaman. And they advanced by forced marches. Now the king divided his host into six divisions, a right wing and a left wing, a vanguard and a rearguard, and bade them rendezvous for the marrow at the crossroads. Accordingly they separated and scoured the country all the rest of that day till night, and they marched through the night, and at noon of the ensuing day they joined company at the place where four roads met. But they knew not which the prince followed, till they saw the sign of torn clothes, incited shreds of flesh, and beheld blood still sprinkled by the way, and they noted every piece of the clothes and fragment of mangled flesh scattered on all sides. Now when King Charlemagne saw this, he cried from his heart core a loud cry, saying, Allas, my son! And buffeted his face and plucked his beard and rent his raiment, doubting not, but his son was dead. Then he gave himself up to excessive weeping and wailing, and the troops also wept for his weeping, all being assured that Prince Camar Al-Zaman had perished. They threw dust on their heads, and the knights surprised them shedding tears and lamenting till they were like to die. Then the king, with a heart on fire and with burning sighs, spoke these couplets. Chide not the mourner for be-morning woe, enough is yearning every ill to show. He weeps for stress of sorrow and of pain, and these to thee best evidence his lo. Happy of whom love sickness swore that ne'er should cease his eyelids, loving tears to flow, he mourns the loss of fairest, fullest moon, shining o'er all his peers in glorious glow. But death made drink a brimming cup, what day he fared from natal country feigned to go. His home left he, and went from us, to grief, nor to his brethren could he say adieu. Yea, his loss wounded me with parting pangs, and separation cost me many a throw. He fared, farewelling, as he fared our eyes, when as his lord vouchsafed him paradise. And when King Chariman had ended his verses, he returned with the troops to his capital, and Charizard perceived the dawn of day, and ceased saying her permitted say. When it was the two hundred and twelfth night, she said, It hath reached me, O auspicious king, that when King Chariman had ended his verses, he returned with the troops to his capital, giving up his son for lost, and deeming that wild beast of Banditi had set upon him, and torn him to pieces, and made proclamation that all in the Caledon Islands should dawn black in mourning for him. Moreover, he built in his memory a pavilion, naming it House of Lamentations, and on Mondays and Thursdays he devoted himself to the business of the state, and ordering the affairs of his levies and leeches, and the rest of the week he was wont to spend in the House of Lamentations mourning for his son, and bewailing him with the legic verses of which the following are sung. My day of bliss is that when thou appearest, My day of bale is that when thou farest. Though through the night I quake in dread of death, Union with thee is of all bliss the dearest. And again he said, My soul be sacrificed for one whose going afflicted hearts with suffering soar and dread, Let joy her widowed term fulfill, for I divorced joy with the divorce, Thrice said. Such was the case with King Chariman. But as regards Queen Boudour, daughter of King Gaior, she abode as ruler in the Abany Islands, whilst the folk would point to her with their fingers, and say, Yander is the son-in-law of King Armanus. And every night she lay with Hayat Al-Nufus, to whom she lamented her desolate state, and longing for her husband Kamar Al-Zaman, weeping and describing to her his beauty and loveliness, and yearning to enjoy him, though but in a dream. And at times she would repeat, Well, Allah, what's that since my severance from thee, I wept till forced to borrow tears at usury. Patience, by blamer cried, heart sees right soon shall see. Quote I say, blamer, where may home of patience be? This is how it fared with Queen Boudour. But as regards Kamar Al-Zaman, he abode with the gardener in the garden for no short time, weeping night and day, and repeating verses bewailing the past time of enjoyment and delight, whilst the gardener kept comforting him and assuring him that the ship would set sail for the land of the Muslims at the end of the year. And in this condition he continued, till one day he saw the folk crowding together and wondered at this. But the gardener came into him and said, O my son, give over work for this day, nor lead water to the trees, for it is a festival day, whereon folk visit one another. So take thy rest and only keep thine eye on the garden, whilst I go look after the ship for thee, for yet but a little while, and I send thee to the land of the Muslims. Upon this he went forth from the garden, leaving to himself Kamar Al-Zaman, who fell to music upon his case till his heart was like to break and the tears streamed from his eyes. So he wept with excessive weeping till he swooned away, and when he recovered he rose and walked about the garden, pondering what time had done with him and bewailing the long endurance of his estrangement and separation from those he loved. As he was thus absorbed in melancholy thought, his foot stumbled and he fell on his face, his forehead striking against the projecting root of a tree, and the blow cut it open, and his blood ran down and mingled with his tears. Then he rose and wiping away the blood, dried his tears, and bound his brow with a piece of rag, then continued his walk about the garden, engrossed by sad reverie. Presently he looked up at a tree and saw two birds quarreling thereon, and one of them rose up and smote the other with its beak on the neck and severed from its body its head, wherewith it flew away whilst the slain bird fell to the ground before Kamar al-Saman. As it lay, behold, two great birds swooped down upon it, alighting one at the head and the other at the tail, and both rooped their wings and bowed their bills over it, and extending their necks towards it wept. Kamar al-Saman also wept when seeing the birds thus bewail their mate, and called to mind his wife and father. And Sharazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. When it was the two hundred and thirteenth night, she said, it hath reached me, O auspicious king, that Kamar al-Saman wept and lamented his separation from spouse and sire, when he beheld those two birds weeping over their mate. Then he looked at the twain and saw them dig a grave and therein bury the slain bird, after which they flew away far into the firmament and disappeared for a while. But presently they returned with the murderer bird and alighting on the grave of the murdered stamp on the slayer till they had done him to death. Then they rent his belly and tearing out his entrails poured the blood on the grave of the slain. Moreover they stripped off his skin and tear his flesh and pieces, pulling out the rest of the bowels, and scattering them hither and thither. All this while Kamar al-Saman was watching them wonderingly, but presently, chanceing to look at the place where the two birds had slain the third, he saw therein something gleaming, so he drew near to it and noted that it was the crop of the dead bird, whereupon he took it and opened it and found the talisman which had been the cause of his separation from his wife. But when he saw it and knew it he fell to the ground of fainting for joy, and when he revived he said, praise be Allah, this is a foretaste of good and a presage of reunion with my beloved. Then he examined the jewel and passed it over his eyes, after which he bound it to his forearm, rejoicing and coming wheel, and walked about till nightfall, awaiting the gardener's return. And when he came not, he lay down and slept in his wanted place. At daybreak he rose to his work, and girding his middle with a cord of palm fiber, took hatchet and basket, and walked down the length of the garden till he came to a carob tree, and struck the axe into its roots. The blow rang and resounded, so he cleared away the soil from the place, and discovered a trapdoor, and raised it. And Charizard perceived the dawn of day, and ceased saying her permitted say. When it was the two hundred and fourteenth night, she said, It hath reached me, O auspicious king, that when Kamar Al-Saman raised the trapdoor, he found a winding stair, which he descended, and came to an ancient vault of the time of Ad and Thamud, hewn out of the rock. Round the vault stood many brazen vessels of the bigness of a great oil jar, which he found full of gleaming red gold, whereupon he said to himself, Verily, sorrow is gone, and solace is come. Then he mounted from the suitorain to the garden, and replacing the trapdoors as it was before, busied himself in conducting water to the trees, till the last of the day. When the gardener came back and said to him, O my son, rejoice that the good tidings of a speedy return to thy native land. The merchants are ready equipped for the voyage, and the ship in three days' time will set sail for the city of Ebene, which is the first of the cities of the Muslims, and after making it, thou must travel by land a six months march, till thou come to the islands of Caledon, the dominions of King Shariman. At this, Kamar Al-Zaman rejoiced and began repeating, Part not from one whose want is not to part from you, nor with your cruel taunts and innocent mortify, and other so long parted had tain heart from you, and had his whole condition changed, but not so I. Then he kissed the gardener's hand and said, O my father, even as thou hast brought me glad tidings, so I also have great good news for thee. And told him, on entice discovery of the vault, where at the gardener rejoiced and said, O my son, four score years have I dwelt in this garden, and have never hit on ought, while thou, who has not sojourned with me a year, has discovered this thing, wherefore it is heaven's gift to thee, which shall in thy crosses and aid thee to rejoin thy folk, and foregather with her thou lovest. Quoth Kamar Al-Zaman, there is no help, but it must be shared between me and thee. Then he carried him to the underground chamber, and showed him the gold, which was in twenty jars. He took ten, and the gardener ten, and the old man said to him, O my son, fill thyself leather bottles with the sparrow olives, which grow in this garden, for they are not found except in our land, and the merchants carry them to all parts. Lay the gold in the bottles, and strew it over with olives, then stop them and cover them, and take them with thee in the ship. So Kamar Al-Zaman arose without stay or delay, and took fifty leather bottles, and stored in each somewhat of the gold, and closed each one after placing a layer of olives over the gold, and at the bottom of one of the bottles, he laid the talisman. Then sat he down to talk with the gardener, confident of speedy reunion with his own people, and saying to himself, When I come to the Ebony Islands, I will journey thence to my father's country, and inquire for my beloved Boudre. Wood to heaven, I knew whether she return to her own land, or journeyed on to my father's country, or whether there be felt her any accident by the way. And he began versifying, Love in my breast they lit and fared away, and far the land wherein my love is spent. Far lies the camp, and those who camp therein. Far is her tent shrine, where I near shall tent. Patience far deaf me when from me they fled. Sleep failed mine eyes, endurance was for spent. They left and with them left my every joy, Winding with them, nor find I peace that went. They made these eyes roll down, Love tears in flood, And lacking them, design with tears are drent. When my taste spends once again would see them, When pine and expectation but augment, In my heart's core their counterfeit sight trace, With love and yearning, to behold their grace. Then, while he awaited the end of the term of days, He told the gardener the tale of the birds, And what had passed between them, Where at the hearer wondered. And they both lay down and slept till the morning. The gardener awoke sick, and abode thus two days. But on the third day his sickness increased on him till they despaired of his life, And Kamar al-Zaman grieved with sore grief for him. Meanwhile, behold, the master and his crew came and inquired for the gardener, And when Kamar al-Zaman told him that he was sick, they asked, Where be the youth who was minded to go with us to the Ebony Islands? He is your servant and standeth before you, answered the prince, And bade them carry the bottles of olives to the ship. So they transported them, saying, Make haste, thou, for the wind is fair. And he replied, I hear and obey. Then he carried his provont on board, And returning to bid the gardener farewell, Found him in the agonies of death. So he sat down at his head, and closed his eyes, And his soul departed his body. Whereupon he laid him out, and committed him to the earth, Unto the mercy of Allah Almighty. Then he made for the ship, but found that she had already weighed anchor and set sail, Nor did she cease to cleave the seas till she disappeared from his sight. So he went back to whence he came heavy-hearted with whirling head, And neither would he address a soul nor return a reply, And reaching the garden and sitting down in carc and care, He threw dust on his head, and buffeted his cheeks. And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day, And ceased saying her permitted say. End of Section 34 of the Book of a Thousand Nights and a Night, Volume 3, Recording by Leonard Wilson, Springfield, Ohio. The Book of a Thousand Nights and a Night, Volume 3, Section 35 When it was the two hundred and fifteenth night she said, It hath reached me, O auspicious king, That when the ship sped on her course, Kamar al-Zaman returned to the garden in carc and care. But anon he rent the place of its owner, And hired a man to help him in irrigating the trees. Moreover he repaired the trap door, And he went to the underground chamber, And bringing the rest of the gold to grass, Stowed it in other fifty bottles which he filled up with a layer of olives. Then he inquired of the ship, And they told him that it sailed but once a year, At which his trouble of mind redoubled, And he cried soar for that which had betided him. Above all for the loss of the Princess Boudre's talisman, And he spent his nights and days weeping and repeating verses. Such was his case, but as regards the ship, She sailed with a favouring wind till she reached the ebony islands. Now by decree of destiny Queen Boudre was sitting at a lattice window overlooking the sea, And saw the galley cast anchor upon the strand. At this sight her heart throbbed, And she took horse with the chamberlands and nabobs, And riding down to the shore halted by the ship, Whilst the sailors broke bulk and bore the bales to the storehouses. After which she called the captain to her presence and asked what he had with him. He answered, Oh, King, I have with me in this ship aromatic drugs and cosmetics and healing powders and ointments and plasters and precious metals and rich stuffs and rugs of Yemen leather, Not to be born of mule or camel, and all manner of otters and spices and perfumes, Civet and ambergris and camphor and Sumatra aloe's wood and tamarinds, And sparrow olives to boot, such as are rare to find in this country. When she heard talk of sparrow olives her heart longed for them, And she said to the shipmaster, How much of olives hast thou? He replied, Fifty bottles full, but their owner is not with us, So the king shall take what he will of them. Quoth she, bring them ashore that I may see them. Thereupon he called to the sailors who brought her the fifty bottles, And she opened one, and looking at the olives said to the captain, I will take the whole fifty and pay you their value, what so it be. He answered, By Allah, oh my lord, they have no value in our country. Moreover, their shipper tarried behind us, and he is a poor man. Asked she, And what are they worth here? And he answered, A thousand dirhams. I will take them at a thousand, she said, And bade them carry the fifty bottles to the palace. When it was night she called for a bottle of olives and opened it, There being none in the room but herself in the princess Hayat al-Nufus. Then, placing a dish before her she turned into it the contents of the jar. When there fell out into the dish with the olives a heap of red gold, And she said to the lady Hayat al-Nufus, This is not but gold. So she sent for the rest of the bottles and found them all full of precious metal, And scarce enough olives to fill a single jar. Moreover, she sought among the gold, And found therein the talisman, Which she took and examined, and behold, It was that which Kamar al-Zaman had taken from off the band of her petticoat trousers. Thereupon she cried out for joy and slipped down in a swoon. And Shahzad perceived the dawn of day, And ceased to say her permitted say. When it was the two hundred and sixteenth night she said, It hath reached me, O auspicious king, That when King Boudour saw the talisman, She cried out for joy and slipped down in a swoon. And when she recovered she said to herself, Verily, this talisman was the cause of my separation from my beloved Kamar al-Zaman, But now it is an omen of good. Then she showed it to Hayat al-Nufus and said to her, This was the cause of disunion, And now, please Allah, it shall be the cause of reunion. As soon as the day dawned she seated herself on the royal throne And sent for the shipmaster, Who came into the presence and kissed the ground before her. Quote she, Where didst thou leave the owner of these olives? Quote he, O king of the age, We left him in the land of the Magians, And he is a gardener there. She rejoined, Except thou bring him to me, Thou knowest not the harm which awaiteth thee and thy ship. Then she bade them seal up the magazines of the merchants, And she said to them, Verily, the owner of these olives hath borrowed of me, And I have a claim upon him for debt, And unless ye bring him to me, I will without fail do ye all die and seize your goods. So they went to the captain and promised him the hire of the ship, If he would go and return a second time, Saying, Deliver us from this masterful tyrant. Accordingly the skipper embarked and set sail, And a law decreed him a prosperous voyage, Till he came to the island of the Magians, And lighting by night went up to the garden. Now the night was long upon Kamar Al-Zaman, And he sat, befinking him of his beloved, And bewailing what had befallen him, And versifying. A knight, who stars refused to run their course. A knight of those which never seem outworn. Like Resurrection Day, of longsome length, To him that watched and waited for the morn. Now at this moment the captain knocked at the garden gate, And Kamar Al-Zaman opened and went out to him, Whereupon the crew seized him, And went down with him on board the ship, And set sail forthright. And they ceased not voyaging days and nights, Whilst Kamar Al-Zaman knew not why they dealt thus with him. But when he questioned them they replied, Thou hast defended against the Lord of the Ebony Islands, The son-in-law of King Armanus, And thou hast stolen his money's miserable that thou art. Said he, By Allah! I never entered that country, Nor do I know where it is. However, they fared on with him till they made the Ebony Islands, And landing carried him up to the Lady Boudour, Who knew him at sight, and said, Leave him with the eunuchs, That they may take him to the bath. Then she relieved the merchants of the embargo, And gave the captain a robe of honour, Worth ten thousand pieces of gold. And after returning to the palace, She went in that night to the Princess Hayat al-Nufus, And told her what had passed, saying, Keep thou my counsel, till I accomplish my purpose, And do a deed which shall be recorded, And shall be read by kings and commoners After we be dead and gone. And when she gave orders that they bear Kamar Al-Zaman to the bath, They did so, and clad him in a royal habit, So that, when he came forth, he resembled a willow-bow, Or a star which shamed the greater and lesser light, And its glow and his life and soul returned to his frame. Then he repaired to the palace, And went into the Princess Boudour. And when she saw him, she schooled her heart to patience, Till she should have accomplished her purpose. And she bestowed on him Mamalukes and eunuchs, Camels and mules. Moreover, she gave him a treasury of money, And she ceased not advancing him from dignity to dignity, Till she made him Lord High Treasurer, And committed to his charge all the treasures of the State, And she admitted him to familiar favor, And acquainted the Amirs with his rank and dignity. And all loved him, for Queen Boudour did not cease Day by day to increase his allowances. As for Kamar Al-Zaman, he was at a loss, Anent to the reason of her thus honoring him, And he gave gifts of largesse out of the abundance of the wealth, And he devoted himself to the service of King Armanus, So that the King and all the Amirs and people great and small adored him, And were want to swear by his life. Nevertheless, he ever marveled that the honor and favor Shown him by Queen Boudour, And said to himself, By Allah, their needs must be a reason for this affection. Peradventure this King favoreth me not with these Immoderate favors saved for some ill purpose, And therefore there is no help but that I crave leave Of him to depart his realm. So he went into Queen Boudour and said to her, O King, thou hast overwhelmed me with favors, But it will fulfill the measure of thy bounties If thou take from me all thou hast been pleased To bestow upon me, and permit me to depart. She smiled and asked, What make it thee seek to depart and plunge into new perils, Whereas thou art in the enjoyment of the highest favor In greatest prosperity? Answered Kamar Al-Zaman, O King, verily this favor, if there be no reason for it, Is indeed a wonder of wonders, More by token that thou hast advanced me to dignities Such as befit men of age and experience, Albeit I am as it were a young child. And Queen Boudour rejoined, The reason is that I love thee for thine exceeding loveliness And thy surpassing beauty. And if thou wilt but grant me my desire of thy body, I will advance thee yet farther in honor and favor and largesse, And I will make thee wazir for all thy tender age, Even as the folk made me sultan over them, And I no older than thou. So that nowadays there is nothing strange When children take the head, And by Allah he was a gifted man who said, It seems as though of Lot's tribe were our days, And crave with love to advance the young in years. When Kamar Al-Zaman heard these words, He was abashed, And his cheeks flushed till they seemed to flame, And he said, I need not these favors which lead to the commission of sin. I will live poor in wealth, but wealthy in virtue and honor. Quote she, I am not to be duped by thy scruples, Arising from prudery and coquettish ways. And Allah bless him who saith, To him I spake of coupling, But he said to me, How long this noyous long persistency? But when gold peace I showed him, He cried, Who from the almighty sovereign air shall flee? Now when Kamar Al-Zaman heard these words And understood her verses and their import, He said, O king, I have not the habit of these doings, Nor have I the strength to bear these heavy burdens For which elder than I have proved unable. Then how will it be with my tender age? But she smiled at his speech and retorted, Indeed it is a matter right marvellous how error springeth From the disorder of man's intendement. Since thou art a boy, Why standest thou in fear of sin, Or the doing of things forbidden, Seeing that thou art not yet come To years of canonical responsibility, And the offenses of a child incur In neither punishment nor reproof? Verily thou hast committed thyself To a quibble for the sake of contention, And it is thy duty to bow before a proposal of fruition, So henceforward cease from denial and coyness, For the commandment of Allah is a decree foreordained. Indeed I have more reason than thou to fear falling, And by sin to be misled, And well inspired was he who said, My prickle is big and the little one said, Thrust boldly in vitals with lion-like stroke, Than I to the sin and he no sin to me, So I had him at once with a counterfeit poke. When Kamar al-Zaman heard these words, The light became darkness in his sight, And he said, O king, thou hast in thy household Fair women and female slaves Who have not their like in this age. Shall not these suffice thee without me? Do thy will with them and let me go? She replied, Thou say a soothe, But it is not with them that one who loveth thee Can heal himself of torment, And can abate his fever. For when taste and inclinations are corrupted by vice, They hear and obey other than good advice. So leave arguing and listen to what the poet saith. See is not the bazaar with its fruit in rows, These men are for figs and for sycamore those. And what another saith? Many whose anglet rings are dumb have tinkling belts, And this hath all content while that from want must wail. Thou bidest me be a fool and quit thee for her charms. Allah for fend I leave the faith, turn infidel. Nay, by rites of side-bearded mocking all her curls, Nor mott nor maid from thee my heart shall spell. And yet another? O beauty's union, love for thee's my creed. Free choice of faith and eek my best desire. Women I have foresworn for thee, So may deem me all men this day a shaviling friar. And yet another? Even not beardless one with girl, Nor heed the spy who saith to thee, Tis in amiss, far different as the girl whose feet one kisses, And that gazelle whose feet the earth must kiss. And yet another? A boy of twice ten is fit for a king. And yet another? The penis smooth and round was made with anus best to match it. Had it been made for cunnus's sake, It had been formed like a hatchet. And yet another said, My soul, thy sacrifice, I chose thee out. Who art thou not menstruous, nor oviporous, Did I with women mel? I should beget brats till the wide, wide world grew straight for us. And yet another? She saith, sore hurt in the sense most acute, For she had proffered what did not besuit. Unless thou stroke as man should swive his wife, Blame not when horns thy brow shall incornute. Thy wand seems waxin' to a limpo groan, And more I palmit, softer grows the brute. And yet another? Quote she, for I to lie with her for bore, O folly following fool, O fool to the core, If thou my cointa for kibla to thy quenya reject, We'll shall please thee more. And yet another? She proffered me her tender cointy, Quote I, I will not roger thee. She drew back, saying, from the faith he turns, Who's turned by heaven's decree, And frontwise fluttering in one day Is obsolete persistency. Then she swung round in shining rump, Like silver lump she showed me. I cried, well done, O mistress mine, No more am I in pain for thee. O thou of all that Allah opid, Show me fairest victory. And yet another? Men craving pardon will uplift their hands, Women pray pardon with their legs on high, Out on it for a pious prayerful work, The Lord shall raise it in the depths to lie. When Kamar Al-Zaman heard this poetry, And was certified that there was no escaping Compliance with what will she, He said, O king of the age, If thou must needs have it so, Make covenant with me that thou will do this thing with me but once, Though it avail not to correct thy depraved appetite, And thou will never again require this thing of me to the end of time. So perchance Allah may purge me of the sin. She replied, I promise thee this thing, Hoping that Allah of his favour Will relent toward us both and blot out our mortal offence. For the girdle of heaven's forgiveness Is not indeed so straight, But it may compass us around And absolve us of the excess of our heinous sins, And bring us to the light of salvation Out of the darkness of error, And indeed excellently well sayeth the poet, Of evil thing the folks suspect us twain, And to this thought their hearts and souls are bent. Come, dear, let's justify and free their souls that wrong us. One good bout, and then repent. Thereupon she made him a solid agreement and a covenant, And swore a solemn oath by him who is self-existent, That this thing should befall betwixt them but once, And never again for all time, And that the desire of him was driving her to death and perdition. So he rose up with her on this condition, And went with her to her own boudoir, That she might quench the low of her lust, Saying, There is no majesty, and there is no might save in Allah, The glorious, the great. This is the fated decree of Allah powerful, Allah wise, And he doffed his bag-trousers, shameful and abashed, With the tears running from his eyes for stress of a fright. There at she smiled, and making him mount upon a couch With her said to him, After this night thou shalt see not that will offend thee. Then she turned to him, bussing and bussaming, And bending calf over calf, and said to him, Put thy hand between my thighs to the accustomed place, So happily it may stand up to prayer after prostration. He wept and cried, I am not good at odd of this. But she said, But my life and thou do as I bid thee, It shall profit thee. So he put out his hand with vitals of fire for confusion, And found her thighs cooler than cream and softer than silk. The touching of them pleasureed him, And he moved his hand hither and thither, Till it came to a dome abounding in good gifts, And movements and shifts, and said in himself, Perhaps this king is a hermaphrodite, Neither man nor woman quite. So he said to her, Oh king, I cannot find that thou hast a tool like the tools of men. What then moved thee to do this deed? Then loudly laughed the queen Boudour till she fell on her back and said, Oh my dearling, how quickly thou hast forgotten the nights we have lain together. Then she made herself known to him, And he knew her for his wife the lady Boudour, Daughter of King Algayur, Lord of the Isles in the seas. So he embraced her and she embraced him, And he kissed her and she kissed him. Then they lay down on the bed of pleasure voluptuous, Repeating the words of the poet. When his softly bending shape bit him close to my embrace, Which clips him all about like tendrils of the vine, And shed a flood of softness on the hardness of his heart, He yielded though at first he was minded to decline, And dreading lest the railers' eyes should light upon his form, Came armored with caution to baffle his design. His waist makes moan of hindered cheeks that weigh upon his feet, Like heavy load of merchandise upon young camel lion. Girt with his glances, scimitar which seemed a thirst for blood, And clad in mail of dusky curls that show the shiniest shine, His fragrance wafted happy news of footstep coming nigh, And to him like a bird uncaged I flew in the straightest line. I spread my cheek upon his path beneath his sandal shewn, And lo the stybium of their dust healed all my hurt vine. With one embrace again I bound the banner of our loves, And loosed the knot of my delight that bound in bonds malign. Then bait I make high festival and straight come flocking in, Pure joys no knot of grizzled age nor ought of pain and pine. The full moon dotted with the stars, the lips and pearly teeth, That dance right joyously upon the bubbling face of wine. So in the prayer-niche of their joys I yielded me to what would Make the humblest penitent of sinners most in dine. I swear by all the signs of those glories in his face, I'll never forget the chapter entitled Aliclas. Then Queen Boudour told Kamar al-Zaman all that had befallen her from beginning to end, and he did likewise. After which he began to upbraid her, saying, What move thee to deal with me as thou hast done this night? She replied, Pardon me, for I did this by way of jest, And that pleasure and gladness might be increased. And when dawned the morn and day arose with its sheen and shone, She went to King Armanus, sire of the Lady Hayat al-Nufus, And acquainted him with the truth of the case, And that she was wife to Kamar al-Zaman. Moreover she told him their tale and the cause of their separation, And how his daughter was a virgin pure as when she was born. He marveled at their story with exceeding marvel, And bade them chronicle it in letters of gold. Then he turned to Kamar al-Zaman and said, O King's son, art thou minded to become my son-in-law By marrying my daughter? Replied he, I must consult the Queen Boudour, As she hath the claim upon me for benefits without stint. And when he took counsel with her she said, Right is thy reckoning, marry her, and I will be her handmaid, For I am her debtor for kindness and favour and good offices, And obligations manifold, especially as we are here in her place, And as the King her father hath wellmed us with benefits. Now when he saw that she inclined to this And was not jealous of Hayat al-Nufus, He agreed with her upon this matter, And Shahasad perceived the dawn of day, And ceased saying her permitted say. End of Section 35 of the Book of a Thousand Nights and a Night, Volume 3. Section 36, 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 Linda Moreau. The Book of a Thousand Nights and a Night, Volume 3, Section 36. When it was the two hundred and seventeenth night she said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, That Kamar al-Zaman agreed with his wife Queen Boudour upon this matter, And told King Armanus what she had said, Whereot he rejoiced with great joy. Then he went out, and seating himself upon his chair of estate, Assembled all the wazirs, amirs, chamberlains, and grandees, To whom he related the whole story of Kamar al-Zaman and his wife Queen Boudour from first to last, And acquainted them with his desire to marry his daughter Hayat al-Nufus To the Prince and make him King instead of Queen Boudour, Whereupon said they all, Since he is the husband of Queen Boudour, Who hath been our King till now whilst we deemed her son-in-law to King Armanus, We are all content to have him to sultan over us, And we will be his servants, nor will we swerve from his allegiance. So Armanus rejoiced here at, and summoning Kazis and witnesses And the chief officers of state, They dropped the contract of marriage between Kamar al-Zaman And his daughter, the Princess Hayat al-Nufus. Then he held high festival, giving sumptuous marriage-feasts, And bestowing costly dresses of honour upon all the amirs and captains of the host. Moreover he distributed alms to the poor and needy, And set free all the prisoners. The whole world rejoiced in the coming of Kamar al-Zaman to the throne, Blessing him and wishing him endurance of glory and prosperity, Renown and felicity. And as soon as he became King, He remitted the customs dues and released all men who remained in jail. Thus he abode a long while, ordering himself worthily toward his leges. And he lived with his two wives in peace, happiness, Constancy and content, lying the night with each of them in turn. He ceased not after this fashion during many years, For indeed all his troubles and afflictions were blotted out from him, And he forgot his father, King Shahriman, In his former estate of honour in favour with him. After a while Almighty Allah blessed him with two boy-children, As they were two shining moons, through his two wives, The elder whose name was Prince Amjad by Queen Budur, And the younger whose name was Prince Asad by Queen Hayat al-Nufus. And this one was comlier than his brother. They were reared in splendour and tender affection, In respectful bearing and in the perfection of training, And they were instructed in penmanship and science, And the arts of government and horsemanship, Till they attained the extreme accomplishments At the utmost limit of beauty and loveliness, Both men and women being ravished by their charms. They grew up side by side till they reached the age of seventeen, Eating and drinking together and sleeping in one bed, Nor ever parting at any time or tide, Wherefore all the people envied them. Now when they came to a man's estate And were endowed with every perfection, Their father was wont, as often he went on a journey, To make them sit in his stead by turns in the hall of judgment, And each did justice among the folk one day at a time. But it came to pass by confirmed fate and determined lot, That love for Asad, son of Queen Hayat al-Nufus, Rose in the heart of Queen Budur, And that affection for Amjad, son of Queen Budur, Rose in the heart of Queen Hayat al-Nufus. Hence it was that each of the women used to sport And play with the son of her sister-wife, Kissing him and straining him to her bosom, While each mother thought that the other's behaviour Rose from maternal affection. On this wise passion got the mastery Of the two young women's hearts, And they became madly in love with the two youths, So that when the other son came into either of them She would press him to her breast, And long for him never to be parted from her. Till at last when waiting grew lonesome to them, And they found no path to enjoyment, They refused meat and drink, And banished the solace of sleep. Presently the king fared forth to course and chase, Bidding his two sons sit to do justice in his stead, Each one day in his turn as was their want. And Shah-Hasad perceived the dawn of day, And ceased to say her permitted say. When it was the two hundred and eighteenth night she said, It hath reached me, O auspicious king, That the king fared forth to sport and hunt, Bidding his two sons sit to do justice in his stead, Each one day by turn as was their want. Now Prince Amjad sat in judgment the first day, Bidding and forbidding, appointing and deposing, Giving and refusing, And Queen Hayat Al-Nufus, the mother of Asad, Wrote to him a letter, Sewing for his favour and discovering to him Her passion and devotion. All together put Tiny off the mask, And giving him to know that she desired to enjoy him. So she took a scroll, And thereon indicted these cadences, From the love deranged, The sorrowful and estranged, Whose torment is prolonged for the longing of thee. Were I to recount to thee the extent of my care And what of sadness I bear, The passion which my heart clothed ere, And all that I endure for weeping and unrest In the rending of my sorrowful breast, My unremitting grief and my woe without relief, And all my suffering for severance of thee, And sadness and love's ardency? No letter could contain it, Nor calculation could compass it. Indeed, earth and heaven upon me are straight, And I have no hope and no trust, But what from thee I await? Upon death I am come nigh, And the horrors of dissolution I abide, Burning upon me is sore, With parting pangs and estrangement galore. Were I to set forth the yearnings That possess me more and more, No scrolls would suffice to hold such store, And of the excess of my pain and pine, I have made the following lines. Were I to dwell on heart-consuming heat, Unease and transports in my spins meet? Nothing were left of ink and reed and pen, Nor odd of paper. No, not Ian a sheet. Then Queen Hayat Alnufus wrapped up her letter In a niece of costly silk, Scented with musk and amber grease, And folded it up with her silk and hair strings, Whose costs swallowed down treasures, Layed it in a hanker-chief and gave it to a eunuch Bitting him barret to Prince Amjad. And Shahzad perceived the dawn of day, And ceased saying her permitted say. When it was the two hundred and nineteenth night she said, It hath reached me, O auspicious king, That she gave her missive to the eunuch in waiting, And bade him barret to Prince Amjad, And that eunuch went forth ignoring what the future hid for him, For the omniscient order at the events even as he willeth, And going into the Prince, Kissed the ground between his hands, And handed him the letter. On receiving the kerchief he opened it, And reading the epistle and recognizing its gist, He was aware that his father's wife was essentially an adulteress, And a traetress at heart to her husband, King Kamar al-Zaman. So he waxed wroth with exceeding wrath, And railed at women in their works, Saying, Allah curse women, The traetress, the imperfect in reason and religion. Then he drew his sword and said to the eunuch, Out on thee thou wicked slave, Dost thou carry messages of disloyalty for thy lord's wife? By Allah there is no good in thee, O black of hue and heart, O foul of face and nature's forming. So he smote him on the neck and severed his head from his body. Then folding the kerchief over its contents, He thrust it into his breast pocket, And went into his own mother and told her what had passed, Reviling and reproaching her, And saying each one of you is vileer than the other, And by Allah the great and glorious, Did I not fear ill-manneredly to transgress against the rights of my father, Kamar al-Zaman, And my brother Prince Assad, I would assuredly go into her and cut off her head, Even as I cut off that of her eunuch. Then he went forth from his mother in a mighty rage, And when the news reached Queen Hayat al-Nufus Of what he had done to her eunuch, She abused him and cursed him and plotted perfidy against him. He passed the night sick with rage, wrath and concern, Nor found he pleasure and meat, drink or sleep. And when the next morning dawn Prince Assad fared forth in his turn To rule the folk in his father's stead, Whilst his mother Hayat al-Nufus awoke in feeble plight Because of what she had heard from Prince Amjad Concerning the slaughter of her eunuch. So Prince Assad sat in the audience chamber that day, Judging and administering justice, Appointing and deposing, bidding and forbidding, Giving and bestowing. And he ceased not thus till near the time of afternoon prayer, When Queen Boudour sent forth a crafty old woman, And discovering to her what was in her heart, Wrote a letter to Prince Assad complaining of the excess Of her affection and desire for him in these cadenced lines. From her who perisheth for passion and love for lawn, To him who in nature and culture is goodliest born, To him who is conceited of his own loveliness, And glories in his amorous grace, Who from those that seek to enjoy him averteth his face, And refuseeth to show favour unto the self of basing and base, Him who is cruel and of disdainful mood. From the lover despairing of good, To Prince Assad with passing beauty endowed, And of excelling grace proud of the face moon bright, And the browflower white and dazzling splendid light. This is my letter to him whose love melteth my body, And rendeth my skin and bones. Know that my patience faileth me quite, And I am perplexed in my plight, longing and restless weary me, And sleep and patience deny themselves to me. But mourning and watching stick fast to me, And desire and passion torment me, And the extremes of languor and sickness have sheet me. Yet may my life be a ransom for thee, Albeit thy pleasure be to slay her who loveth thee, And will opera long the life of thee, And preserve thee from all infirmity. And after these cadences she wrote these couplets, Fate hath commanded I become thy fear, O shining like full moon when clear is clear, All beauty dust embrace, all eloquence, Brighter than ought within our worldly sphere. Content am I my torturer thou be, Happily shealt alms me with one lovely leer, Happy her death who dyeth for thy love, No good in her who holdeth thee unclear. And also the following couplets, Unto thee Assad, I of passion pangs complain, Have Ruth on slave of love so burnt with flaming pain, How long, I ask, shall hands of love Disport with me, with longings, Dolor, sleeplessness, and bale and bane, Anon I plain of sea and heart, anon of fire, In vitals, o strange case, dear wish, my fairest feign. O blamer, cease thy blame, And seek thyself to fly from love, Which makes design a reel of tears to reign. How oft I cry for absence and desire, Ah, grief, but all my crying, Not of gain for me shall gain. Thy rigors dealt me sickness passing power to bear, Thou art my only leech, assain me in thou dain. O chider, chide me not in caution, For I doubt that plaguey love to thee shall also deal about. Then Queen Boudour perfumed the letter paper With a perfusion of odiferous musk, And winding it in her hair-strings, Which were of Iraqi silk, With pendants of oblong emeralds, Set with pearls and stones of price, Delivered it to the old woman, Bitting her cariat to Prince Assad. She did so in order to pleasure her, And going into the prince straightway and without stay, Found him in his own rooms and delivered to him The letter in privacy, After which she stood waiting for an hour or so for an answer. When Assad had read the paper and knew its purport, He wrapped it up again in the ribbons And put it in his bosom pocket. Then he, for he was wrath beyond all measure of wrath, He cursed false women and sprang up And drawing his sword, Smote the old trot on the neck and cut off her fate. Thereupon he went into his mother, Queen Hayat al-Nufus, Whom he found lying on her bed in feeble case, For that which hath betided her with Prince Amjad, And railed at her and cursed her, After which he left her and foregathered with his brother, To whom he related all that had befallen him With Queen Boudour, adding, By Allah, O my brother, But that I was ashamed before thee, I had gone into her forthright And had smitten her head off her shoulders. Replied Prince Amjad, By Allah, O my brother, Yesterday when I was sitting upon the seat of judgment, The like of what hath befallen thee, This day befell me also with thy mother, Who sent me a letter of similar purport. And he told him all that had passed, adding, By Allah, O my brother, Not but respect for thee, Withheld me from going into her And dealing with her even as I dealt with the eunuch. They passed the rest of the night Conversing and cursing womankind, And agreed to keep the matter secret, Lest their father should hear of it And kill the two women. Yet they ceased not to suffer trouble And foresee affliction. And when the morrow dawned, The king returned with his sweet from hunting And sat awhile in his chair of estate, After which he sent the amirs about their business And went up to his palace, Where he found his two wives lying abed, And both exceeding sick and weak. Now they had made a plot against their two sons And concerted to do away with their lives, For that they had exposed themselves before them And feared to be at their mercy And depended upon their forbearance. When Kamar al-Zaman saw them on this wise, He said to them, What aileth you? Whereupon they rose to him And kissing his hands answered, Perverting the case and saying, No, O king, That thy two sons who have been reared in thy bounty Have played thee false And have dishonored thee in the persons of thy wives. Know that when he heard this The light became darkness in his sight, And he raged with such wrath that his reason fled, Then he said to them, Explain me this matter. Replied Queen Boudour, O king of the age, Know that these many days past Thy son Assad has been in the persistent habit Of sending me letters and messages To solicit me to lewdness and adultery, While I still forbade him from this, But he would not be forbidden, And when thou wentest forth to hunt He rushed in on me, Drunk and with a drawn sword in his hand, And smiting my eunuch slew him. Then he mounted on my breast, Still holding the sword, And I feared lest he should slay me If I gain shade him, Even as he had slain my eunuch. So he took his wicked will of me by force, And now, if thou do me not justice on him, O king, I will slay him myself with my own hand, For I have no need of life In the world after this foul deed. And Queen Hayat al-Nufus, Choking with tears, Told him respecting Prince Amjad, A story like that of her sister-wife. And Shahazad perceived the dawn of day, And ceased to say her permitted say. When it was the two hundred and twentyth night she said, It hath reached me, O auspicious king, That Queen Hayat al-Nufus told her husband, King Kamar al-Zaman, A story like that of her sister in wedlock, Boudour, and quoth she, The same thing befell me with thy son, Amjad, After which she took to weeping and wailing and said, Except thou do me justice on him, I will tell my father, King Armanus. Then both women wept with sore weeping before King Kamar al-Zaman, Who, when he saw their tears and heard their words, Concluded that their story was true, And waxing wroth beyond measure of wrath, Went forth thinking to fall upon his two sons And put them to death. On his way he met his father-in-law, King Armanus, Who, hearing of his return from the chase, Had come to salute him at that very hour, And seeing him with naked brand in hand, And blood dripping from his nostrils, For excess of rage, asked what ailed him. So Kamar al-Zaman told him all that his sons Amjad and Asad had done and added, And here I am now going into them to slay them In the foulest way, And make of them the most shameful of examples. Quoth King Armanus, And indeed he too was wroth with them, Thou dost well, O my son, And may Allah not bless them, Nor any sons that do such deed against their father's honour. But, O my son, The sayer of the old saw saith, Whoso looketh not to the end hath not fortune to friend. In any case, they are thy sons, And it befiteth not that thou kill them with thine own hand, Lest thou drink of their death agony, And a non-repent of having slain them, When as repentance availeth thee not. Rather do thou send them with one of thy Mamalukes Into the desert, And let him kill them there out of thy sight, For as saith the adage, Out of sight of my friend is better and pleasanter. And when Kamar al-Zaman heard his father-in-law's words, He knew them to be just, So he sheathed his sword, And turning back sat down upon the throne of his realm. There he summoned his treasurer, A very old man, Burst in affairs and unfortunate vicissitudes, To whom he said, Go into my sons, Amjad and Asad, Bind their hands behind them with strong bonds, Lay them in two chests, And load them upon a mule. Then take horse thou, And carry them into mid-desert, Where do thou kill them both, And fill two vials with their blood, And bring the same to me in haste? Replied the treasurer, I hear and I obey. And he rose up hurriedly, And went out forthright to seek the princes. And on his road he met them Coming out of the palace vestibule, For they had donned their best clothes, And their richest, And they were on their way to salute their sire, And give him joy of safe return From his going forth to hunt. Now when he saw them, He laid hands on them, saying, O my sons, Know ye that I am but a slave commanded, And that your father hath laid a commandment on me. Will ye obey his commandment? They said yes, Whereupon he went to them, And after pinioning their arms, Layed them in the chests, Which he loaded on the back of a mule He had taken from the city. And he ceased not carrying them Into open country till near noon, When he halted in a waste and desolate place, And dismounting from his mare, Let down the two chests from the mules back. Then he opened them and took out Amjad and Asad. And when he looked upon them, He wept sore for their beauty and loveliness. Then drawing his sword he said to them, By Allah, O my lords, Indeed it is hard for me to deal So evilly by you. But I am to be excused in this matter, Being but a slave commanded, For that your father, King Kamar al-Zaman, Hath bitten me strike off your heads. They replied, O Amir, Do the king's bidding, For we bear with patience that which Allah, To whom be honour might in glory, Hath decreed to us, And thou art quit of our blood. Then they embraced and bade each other farewell, And Asad said to the treasurer, Allah upon thee, O uncle, Spare me this sight of my brother's death agony, And make me not drink of his anguish, But kill me first, For that were easier for me. And Amjad said the like, And entreated the treasurer to kill him before Asad, Saying, My brother is younger than I, So make me not taste of his anguish. And they both wept bitter tears, Whilst the treasurer wept for their weeping. And Shahzad perceived the dawn of day, And ceased saying her permitted say. End of Section 36 of the Book of a Thousand Nights and a Night, Volume 3 Section 37, 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 Linda Moreau The Book of a Thousand Nights and a Night, Volume 3, Section 37 When it was the 221st night, she said, It hath reached me, O auspicious king, That the treasurer wept for their weeping. Then the two brothers embraced and bade farewell, And one said to the other, All this cometh of the malice of those traitorses, My mother and thy mother, And this is the reward of my forbearance toward thy mother, And of thy forbearance toward my mother. But there is no might, and there is no majesty, Save in Allah, the glorious, the great. Barely, we are Allah's, and unto Him we are returning. And Assad embraced his brother, Sobbing and repeating these couplets, O thou to whom sad, trembling whites in fear complain, O ever ready, what so cometh to sustain, The sole resource for me is at thy door to knock, And whose door knock, and thou to open wilt not dain? O thou whose grace is treasured in the one word, Be, favor me, I beseech, and thee all wheels contain. Now when Amjad heard his brother's weeping he wept also, And pressing him to his bosom repeated these two couplets, O thou whose boons to me are more than one, Whose gifts and favors have nor count nor bound, No stroke of all fate's strokes ere fell on me, But thee to take me by the hand I found. Then said Amjad to the treasurer, I conjure thee by the one omnipotent, the Lord of mercy, the beneficent, Slay me before my brother Assad, So happily shall the fire be quenched in my heart's core, And in this life burn no more. But Assad wept and exclaimed, Not so, I will die first, whereupon, quote Amjad, It were best that I embrace thee, and thou embrace me, So the sword may fall upon us, and slay us both at a single stroke. Thereupon they embraced, face to face, And clung to each other straightly, Whilst the treasurer tied up the twain, And bound them fast with cords, weeping the while. Then he drew his blade, and said to them, By Allah, O my lords, it is indeed hard to me to slay you. But have ye no last wishes that I may fulfill, Or charges which I may carry out, Or messages which I may deliver? Replied, Amjad, we have no wish, And my only charge to thee is that thou set My brother below, and me above him, That the blow may fall on me first. And when thou hast killed us and returned us to the king, And he asketh thee, what hurtest thou from them Before their death? Do thou answer? Barely, thy son salute thee and say to thee, Thou newest not, if we were innocent or guilty, Yet hast thou put us to death, And hast not certified thyself of our sin Nor looked into our case. Then do thou repeat to him these two couplets? Women are satans made for woe men, I fly to Allah from their devilish save, Source of whatever bail befell our kind In worldly matters and in things of faith. Continued, Amjad, we desire of thee not, But that thou repeat to our sire these two couplets, And Shadhazad perceived the dawn of day, And ceased to say her permitted say. When it was the two hundred and twenty second night, She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious king, That Amjad added, speaking to the treasurer, We desire of thee not, but that thou repeat to our sire These two couplets which thou hast just now heard, And I conjure thee by Allah to have patience with us, Whilst I cite to my brother this other pair of couplets. Then he wept with sore weeping and began. The kings who fared before us Showed of instances full many a show, Of great and small and high and low, How many this one road have trod. Now when the treasurer heard these words from Amjad, He wept till his beard was wet, Whilst Asad's eyes brimmed with tears, And he in turn repeated these couplets. Fate frights us when the thing is past and gone, Weeping is not for form or face alone. What ails the knights? Allah blot out our sin, And be the knights by other hand undone. Air this Zubayir's son felt their spiteful hate, Who fled for refuge to the house and stone. Would that when Karija was for Amrusslain, They had ransomed Ali with all men they own. Then with cheeks stained by tears down-railing, He recited also these verses. In Sooth the nights and days are charactered By traitor falsehood, and as knaves they lie, The desert reek recalls their teeth that shine. All horrid blackness is their K of I. My sin anent the world which I abhor, In sin of sword when sorters fighting high. Then his sobs waxed louder, and he said, O thou who woest a world unworthy, Learn, to his house of evils, to his perditions net, A house where whoso laughs this day shall weep the next, Then perish house of fume and fret, Endless its frays and forries, And its thralls are ne'er redeemed, While endless risks be set. How many gloried in its pumps and prides, Till proud and pompous did all bounce forget. Then showing back of shield she made them swill full draught, And claimed all her vengeance debt. For know her strokes fall swift and sure, Although long she bide and foreslow the course of fate. So look thou on the days lest life go by idly, And meet thou more than thou hast met, And cut all chains of world love and desire, And save thy soul and rise to secret tire. Now when Assad made an end of these verses, He strained his brother Amjad in his arms, Till they twain were one body, And the treasurer, drawing his sword, Was about to strike them when behold, His steed took fright at the wind of his upraised hand, And breaking its tether fled into the desert. Now the horse had cost a thousand gold pieces, And on its back was a splendid saddle worth much money, So the treasurer threw down his sword and ran after the beast, And Shahzad perceived the dawn of day, And ceased saying her permitted say. When it was the two hundred and twenty third night she said, It hath reached me, O auspicious king, That when his horse ran away the treasurer ran after it In huge concern, and ceased not running to catch the runaway Till it entered a thicket. He followed it whilst it dashed through the woods, Smiting the earth with its hoofs till it raised a dust cloud Which towered high in the air, And snorting and puffing and naying and waxing fierce and furious. Now there happened to be in this thicket a lion of terrible might, Hideous to sight with eyes sparkling light. His look was grim and his aspects Druck fright into man's sprite. Presently the treasurer turned and saw the lion Making toward him, but found no way of escape Nor had he his sword with him. So he said to himself, There is no majesty and there is no might save in Allah, The glorious, the great. This straight has come upon me for no other cause But because of amjad and asad. And indeed this journey was unblessed from the first. Meanwhile the two princes were grievously oppressed by the heat And grew sore at thirst, so that their tongues hung out And they cried for succor. But none came to their relief and they said, Would to heaven we had been slain And were at peace from this pain. But we know not whether the horse hath fled That the treasurer is gone And hath left us thus pinioned. If he would but come back and do us die It were easier to us than this torture to abide. Said Assad, O my brother, be patient, and the relief of Allah Extold and exalted be he, shall assuredly come to us. For the horse started not away save of his favor toward us And not irketh us but the thirst. Upon this he stretched and shook himself And straightened right and left, till he burst his pinion bonds. Then he rose and unbound his brother, And catching up the Amir sword said, By Allah we will not go hence till we look after him And learn what has become of him. Then they took to following on the trail till it led them To the thicket, and they said to each other, Of a surety the horse and the treasurer Have not passed out of this wood. Quote Assad, Stay thou here whilst I enter the thicket and search it. And Amjad replied, I will not let thee go in alone, Nor will we enter it but together. So if we escape we shall escape together, And if we perish we shall perish together. Accordingly both entered and found that the lion Had sprang upon the treasurer, Who lay like a sparrow in his grip, Calling upon Allah for aid, And signing up with his hands to heaven. Now when Amjad saw this, He took the sword and rushing upon the lion, Smote him between the eyes, And laid him dead upon the ground. The Amir sprang up, marvelling at this escape, And seeing Amjad and Assad, his master's son, Standing there, cast himself at their feet and exclaimed, By Allah, O my lords, it were intolerable Wrong in me to do you to death. May the man never be who would kill you. Indeed with my very life I will ransom you. And Shahzad perceived the dawn of day, And ceased to say her permitted say. When it was the two hundred and twenty-fourth night She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious king, That quoth the treasurer to Amjad and Assad, With my life I will ransom you both. Then he hastily rose, and at once embracing them, Inquired how they had loosed their bonds and come thither. Whereupon they told him how the bonds Of one of them had fallen loose, And he had unbound the other. Where to they were helped by the purity of their intentions, And how they had tracked his trail till they came upon him. So he thanked them for their deed, And went with them forth of the thicket. And when they were in the open country they said to him, O uncle, do our father's bidding. He replied, Allot forbid that I should draw near to you with hurt. But know ye that I mean to take your clothes and clothe you with mine. Then I will fill two vials with the lion's blood, And go back to the king, and tell him I have out you to death. But as for you two, fair ye forth into the lands, For Allah's earth is wide, and know, O my lords, That it paineth me to part from you. At this they all fell a weeping. Then the two youths put off their clothes, And the treasurer habited them with his own. Moreover he made two parcels of their dress, And filling two vials with the lion's blood, Set the parcels before him on his horse's back. Presently he took leave of them, And making his way to the city, Sees not faring till he went into King Kamar al-Zaman, And kissed the ground between his hands. The king saw him changed in face and troubled. Which arose from his adventure with the lion. And deeming this came from the slaughter of his two sons, Rejoiced and said to him, Hast thou done the work? Yes, O our lord, replied the treasurer, And gave him the two parcels of clothes, And the two vials full of blood. Asked the king, What didst thou observe in them, And did they give thee any charge? Answered the treasurer. I found them patient and resigned To do what came down upon them, And they said to me, Verily our father is excusable. Bear him our salutation and say to him, Thou art quit of our killing, But we charge thee repeat to him these couplets. Verily women are devils created for us. We seek refuge with God from the artifice of the devils. They are the source of all the misfortunes That have appeared among mankind In the affairs of the world and of religion. When the king heard these words of the treasurer, He bowed his head earthward a long while, And knew his son's words to mean That they had been wrongfully put to death. Then he bethought himself of the perfidy of women And the calamity is brought about by them. And he took the two parcels and opened them And fell to turning over his son's clothes and weeping. And Shadhazad perceived the dawn of day And ceased saying her permitted say. When it was the two hundred and twenty-fifth night she said, It hath reached me, O auspicious king, That when King Kamar al-Zaman opened the two bundles And fell to turning over his son's clothes and weeping, It so came to pass that he found in the pocket Of his son Asad's raiment a letter in the hand Of his wife enclosing her hair-strings. So he opened it and read it, and understanding the contents Knew that the prince had been falsely accused and wronglessly. Then he searched Amjad's parcel of dress And found in his pocket a letter in the handwriting Of Queen Hayat al-Nufus enclosing also her hair-strings. So he opened it and read it, And knew that Amjad too had been wronged. Whereupon he beat hand upon hand and exclaimed, There is no majesty and there is no might save in Allah, The glorious, the great, I have slain my sons unjustly. And he buffeted his face, crying out, Alas my sons, alas my long grief! Then he bade them build two tombs in one house, Which he styled House of Lamentations. And had graved thereupon his son's names, And threw himself on Amjad's tomb, Weeping and groaning and lamenting, And improvised these couplets. O moon, forever set this earth below, Whose loss bewail the stars which stub the sky. O wand which broken, nair with bend and wave, Shall fascinate the ravished gazer's eyes. These I'm for jealousy I repte of thee, Nor shall they till next life thy sight describe. I'm drowned in sea of tears for insomnie, Wherefore indeed, in Sahira's stead I lie. Then he threw himself on Amjad's tomb, Groaning and weeping, lamenting and versifying, With these couplets. Indeed I longed to share un-wheel with thee, But Allah than my will willed otherwise. My grief all blackens, twixed mine eyes and space, Yet whitens all the blackness from mine eyes. Of tears they weep, design run never dry, And ulcerous flow, in vitals never dries. Right sore it irks me seeing thee instead, Where slave with sovereign for once leveled lies. And his weeping and wailing redoubled, And after he had ended his lamentations and his verse, He forsook his friends and intimates, And denying himself to his women and his family, Cut himself off from the world and the house of lamentations, Where he passed his time and weeping for his sons. Such was his case. But as regards Amjad and Assad, They fared on into the desert, Eating of the fruits of the earth, And drinking of the remnants of the rain for a full month, Till their travel brought them to a mountain of black flint, Whose further end was unknown. And here the road forked, One line lying along the midway height, And the other leading to its head. They took the way trending to the top, And gave not over following it five days, But saw no end to it, And they were overcome with weariness, Being unused to walking upon the mountains or elsewhere. At last, despairing of coming to the last of the road, They retraced their steps, And taking the other that led over the midway heights, And Shahzad perceived the dawn of day, And ceased to say her permitted say. When it was the two hundred and twenty-sixth night, She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious king, That princes Amjad and Assad returned from the path Leading to the mountain head, And took that which ran along the midway heights, And walked through all that day till nightfall, When Assad, weary with much travel, said to Amjad, O my brother, I can walk no farther, For I am exceeding weak, replied Amjad, O my brother, take courage, Maybe Allah will send us relief. So they walked on part of the night, Till the darkness closed in upon them, When Assad became weary beyond measure of weariness, And cried out, O my brother, I am worn out, And spent with walking, And threw himself upon the ground, and wept. Amjad took him in his arms and walked on with him, By time sitting down to rest till break of day, When they came to the mountaintop, And found there a stream of running water, And by it a pomegranate tree and a prayer-niche. They could hardly believe their eyes when they saw it, But sitting down by that spring, Drank of its water and ate of the fruit of that granado tree, After which they lay on the ground and slept till sunrise, When they washed and bathed in the spring, And eating of the pomegranate slept again Till the time of mid-afternoon prayer. Then they thought to continue their journey, But Assad could not walk, for both his feet were swollen, So they abode there three days till they were rested, After which they set out again and fared over the mountain days and nights, Tortured by and like to die of thirst, Till they sighted a city gleaming afar off, At which they rejoiced and made toward it. When they drew near it they thanked Allah, Be his name exalted, and Amjad said to Assad, O my brother, sit here whilst I go to yonder city, And see what it is and whose it is, And where we are in Allah's wide world, That we may know through what lands we have passed In crossing this mountain, whose skirts had we followed, We had not reached this city in a whole year. So praise be Allah for safety, replied Assad, By Allah, O my brother, none shall go down into that city, Save myself, and may I be thy ransom. If thou leave me alone, be it only for an hour, I shall imagine a thousand things, And be drowned in a torrent of anxiety on thine account, For I cannot brook thine absence from me. Amjad rejoined, go then, and tarry not. So Assad took some gold pieces, And leaving his brother to await him, Descended the mountain, and ceased not fairing on Till he entered the city. As he threaded the streets, he was met by an old man, Aged decrepit, whose beard flowed down upon his breast, And forked in twain. He bore a walking staff in his hand, And was richly clad, with a great red turban on his head. When Assad saw him, he wondered at his dress and his mane. Nevertheless, he went up to him and saluting him, said, Where be the way to the market, O my master? Hearing these words, the sheikh smiled in his face, And replied, O my son, me seemest thou art a stranger? Assad rejoined, Yes, I am a stranger. Inshad, Assad perceived the dawn of day, And ceased saying her permitted say. End of Section 37 of the Book of a Thousand Nights and a Night, Volume 3