 Section 29, Volume 2 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 Filippo Joachim. The Book of a Thousand Nights and a Night, Volume 2, Section 29. When it was the 79th night, she said, It hath reached me, O auspicious king, that the wazir done done said unto king Zawah Makhan, Thy father, who hath found mercy, glanced at the damsels, and their favor pleased him, and he said to them, Let each and every of you make me hear something of what she knoweth anunt, and of peoples long gone before. Thereupon, one of them came forward, and kissing the ground before him, spake as follows. Know, O king, that it behoves one of good-breeding, to eschew impertinence, and adorn himself with excellencies, and observe the divine injunctions, and avoid mortal sins, and to this he shall apply himself with the acidity of one, who if stray therefrom, falleth into perdition. For the foundation of good-breeding is virtuous behavior, and know that the chief cause and reason of man's existence is the endeavor after life everlasting, and the right way there too is the service of Allah. Wherefore, it behoves thee to deal beneficently with the people, and swerve not from this canon, for the mightier men are in dignity the more their need of prudence and foresight. And indeed, monarchs need this more than the many, for the general cast themselves into affairs without taking thought unto the issue thereof. Be thou prodigal of thy life, and thy good in the way of Allah, and know that if an enemy disputes with thee, thou mayst dispute with him, and refute him with proofs, and be proof against him. But as for thy friend, there is none can judge between thee and him save righteousness and fair dealing. Choose, therefore, thy friend for thyself after thou hast proved him. If he be of the brotherhood of futurity, let him be zealous in observing the externals of the holy law, and burst in its inner meaning, as far as may be. And if he be of the brotherhood of the world, let him be freeborn, sincere, neither a fool nor a perverse, for the fool man is such that even his parents might well flee from him, and a liar cannot be a true friend. Indeed, the word Sidic, friend, derives from Sidic truth, that welleth up from the bottom of the heart. And how can this be the case when falsehood is manifest upon the tongue, and know that observance of the law profiteth with him who practiceeth it? So love thy brother, if he be of this quality, and do not cast him off, even if thou see in him that with Irkut thee, for a friend is not I like a wife, whom one can divorce and remarry. Nay, his heart is like glass, once broken it may not be mended, and a law bless him who sayeth, where hath thou hurtest man with the hurt of heart, it is hard to win thee back the heart offended. For hearts indeed, when slav is alien made, like broken glass may never more be mended. The maiden continued and concluded with pointing out to us what sages say. The breast of brethren is he who is the most constant in good counsel. The best of action is that which is fairest in its consequence. And the best of praise is not that which is in the mouth of man. It is also said, it behoves not the servant to neglect thanking Allah, especially for two favours, health and reason. Again it is said, who the honours himself, his lust is a light matter to him, and he who maketh much of his small troubles, Allah afflicteth him with the greater. He who obeyeth his own inclinations neglected his duties, and he who listeneth to the slanderer loses the true friend. He who thinketh well of thee, do thou fulfill his thought of thee. He who exceedeth in contention seeneth, and he who against upright standeth not on word is not safe from the sword. Now will I tell thee somewhat of the duties of Kaziz and judges? No, O King, that no judgment serveth the cause of justice, save it be given after proof positive. And it behoves the judge to treat all people on the same level, to do intend that the great may not hunger for oppression, nor the small despair of justice. Furthermore he should extract proof from the complainant, and impose a note upon the defendant. The mediation is admissible between Muslims, except it be a compromise sanctioning the unlawful or forbidding the lawful. If thou shalt have done ought during the day of which thy reason is doubtful, but thy good intention is proved, thou, O Kaziz, shouldest revert to the right. For to do justice is a religious obligation, and to return to that which is right is better than persistence in wrong. Then, O Judge, thou shouldest study precedence and the law of the case and do equal justice between the suitors. With all fixing thine eyes upon the truth and committing thine affair to Allah, be he extolled and exalted. And require thou proof of the complainant, and if he adduce evidence, let him have due benefit of it, and if not, put the defendant to his oath. For this is the ordinance of Allah. Receive thou the testimony of competent Muslim witnesses, one against other, for Almighty Allah hath commanded judges to judge by externals, he himself taking charge of the inner and secret things. It behoves the judge also to avoid giving judge meat, whilst suffering from stress of pain or hunger, and that in his decisions between folk, he seek the face of Allah Almighty, for he whose intent is pure, and who is at peace with the himself, Allah shall guarantee him against what is between him and the people. Quoth Al-Zuri. There are three things for which, if they be found in a qazi, he should be disposed. Namely, if he honoured the base, if he loved praise, and if he feared his missile. And Omar bin Abdul Aziz, once deposed a qazi who asked him, why hath thou dismissed me? It hath reached me, and swore Omar, that thy conversing greater than thy condition. It is said also that Iskandar said to his qazi, I have invested thee with this function, and committed to thee in it my soul, and mine honour, and mine manliness. So do thou guard it with thy sense and thine understanding. To his cook he said, Thou art the Sultan of my body, so look thou tender it as thine own self. To the secretary he said, Thou art the controller of my wit, so do thou watch over me in what thou writeest for me and from me. Thereupon the first damsel backed out from the presence, and the second damsel came forward. And Sharazad perceived the dawn of day, and seized to say, her permitted say, when it was the eightieth night, she continued, it hath reached me, o auspicious king, that the wazird and dun said to Tuzau al-Makhan. Thereupon the first damsel backed out from the presence, and a second damsel came forward, and kissing the ground seven times before the king thy father, spake as follows. The sage Lukman said to his son, there be three who are known only in three several cases. The merciful man is unknown, save in time of wrath, the brave only in battle, and thy friend in time of need. It is said that the oppressor shall be depressed, though by people praised, and that the oppress is at rest, though by people blamed. Quoth Allah Almighty. Assurely, dim not that those who rejoice in what they have done, and who love to be praised for what they have not done, shall escape reckoning of punishment. Indeed, there is reserved for them a grievous penalty. And he said, on whom be salvation and salutation, works are according to intention, and to each man is attributed that which he intended. He said also, in the body is a part, which being sound the rest is sound, and which being unsound the whole is unsound. And this is the heart. Now this heart is the most marvellous of what is in man, since it is that which ordereth the whole affair. If covetized, steering it, desire destroys him. And if afflictions master it, anguish slayeth him. If anger raging it, danger is hard upon him. If it be blessed with contentment, he is saved from this content. If fear surprizes it, he is full of mourning. And if calamity overtake it, affliction betideth him. If a man gain the use of wealth, for adventure he is diverted thereby from the remembrance of his Lord. If poverty choke him, his heart is distracted by woe. Or if disquitude waste his heart, weakness causeth him to fall. Thus, in any case, nothing profiteth him, but that he be mindful of Allah and occupy himself with gaining his livelihood in this world and securing his place in the next. It is asked of a certain sage who is the most ill-conditioned of man and he answered the man whose lusts master his manhood and whose mind soareth over high so that his knowledge disbreadeth and his excused diminishes. And how excellently saith the poet freeze to my of all mankind pro meddling white who see in others her sulphuror never concise. Riches and talents are but loans to creature land. Each wears the cloak of that he bears in breasts and sprites. Take an door, a temp, an ought, thou make, thou shalt go wrong, and if the door be right, go right. Continued the maiden as for an act of devotees quote Hisham bin Bashar. I asked Omar bin Ubaid what is true piety and he answered the apostle of Allah to whom be salutation and salvation but explained it when he saith the pious is he who forgeteth not the grave nor calamity and who prefereth that which endureth to that which passeth away who counteth not the morrow as of his days but reckoneth himself among the dead and it is related that Abu Zar used to say that one is dearer to me than wealth and downhill is dearer to me than health. Quote one of the listeners may Allah have mercy on Abu Zar for my part I say whoso puteth his trust in the goodness of the election of Almighty Allah should be content with that condition which Allah has chosen for him. Quote one of the companions of the prophet once prayed with us the dawn prayer when he had done he recited both our unwrapped till he came to where Allah saith when there shall be a trumping on the trumpet and fell down dead it is said that Sabit al-Banani wept till he well nigh lost his eyes they brought him a man to medicine him who said to him I will cure thee provided thou obey my bidding asked Sabit in what matter Quote the leech in that thou leave weeping what is the worth of mine eyes rejoined Sabit if they do not weep Quote a man to Mohammed bin Abdullah exhort thou me and Sharazad perceived the dawn of day and seized to say her permitted say when it was the 81st night she continued it hath reached me of a specious king that the wazir dandan said to Zawal Makhan thus spake the second hand made to the king who hath found mercy Omar bin Al-Numan Quote a man to Mohammed bin Abdullah exhort thou me I exhort thee replied he to be a self-ruler an abstrainer in this world and in the next a greedy slave how so asked the other and Mohammed answered the abstinent man in this world conquers both the world that is and the world to come and what gauze bin Abdullah there were two brothers among the sons of Israel one of whom said to the other what be the most perilious thing thou has done replied the brother I once came upon a nest of young birds so I took out one and threw it back into the nest but among the chickens were some which drew apart from it this is the most perilious thing I ever did now what be the most perilious thing thou has ever done he rejoined when I arise for prayer I am fearful that it is only for the sake of the reward now their father heard these words and exclaimed o ala and say they sooth take them to thyself it is declared by one of the wise men verily these were of the most virtuous of children quoth Said bin Jubair I was once in company with Fusalah bin who by answer to him exhored thou me replied he bear in mind these two necessaries shun synteism and harm not any of ala's creatures and he repeated these two couplets he as thou wilt for ala still is bountious lord and care the speller dread not therefore bane and ban to two things only never draw thee in eye nor give partner to ala trouble to thy brother men and how well saith the poet and thou a pious works as store neglect and after death meet one who did collect thou shalt repent thou didst not as he nor made astray thee as he did elect then the third damsel came forward after the second had withdrawn and said of a truth the chapter of piety is exceeding wide but I will mention what occurred to me thereof concerning the pious of old quote a certain holy man I congratulate myself in death though I am not assured of rest therein save that I know death interveneth between a man and his works so I hope for the doubling of good works and the docking off of ill works and ita al salami when he had made an end of an exhortation was want to tremble and grieve and whip sore and as they asked him why he did this he answered I desire to enter upon a grave matter and it is the extending up before almighty Allah to do in accordance with my exhortation in similar guise Zain al abidin son of al Hussein was want to tremble when he rose to pray being asked the cause of this he replied no we not before whom I stand and whom I address it is said that there lived near Sufyan al Tauri a blind man when the month of Ramadhan came went out with a folk to pray but remained silent and hung back said Sufyan on the day of resurrection he shall come with the people of the Quran and they will be distinguished by increase of honor from their fellows called Sufyan where the soul established in the heart of Befitith it would fly away for joy and pining for paradise and for grief and fear of hellfire it is related also of Sufyan al Tauri that he said to look upon the face of a tyrant is a sin then the third damsel retired and came forward the fourth who said here I am to treat of sundry traditions of pious men which suggest themselves to me it is related that bishr bearfoot said I once heard Khalid say beware of secret polytheism I asked what may secret polytheism be and he answered when one of you in brain prolong his inclinations and prostrations till a cause of impurity come upon him and one of the sages said doing works of wheel expiated what is ill quote Ibrahim I supplicated bishr bearfoot to acquaint me with some theological mysteries but he said oh my son this knowledge it behoved us not to teach to everyone of every hundred five even as the legal alms upon money said Ibrahim I thought his reply excellent and approved of it and while I was praying behold bishr was also praying so I stood behind him making the prayer bow till the muah zing called his call then grows a man of tattered appearance and said oh folk beware of a truth for there is no harm in a lie bringing wheel and in time of need no choice we heed speech booteth not in the absence of good qualities even as silence hurteth not in the presence of good presently I saw bishr drop a danik so I picked it up and exchanged it for a dirham which I gave him quoth he I will not take it quoth I it is perfectly lawful change but he rejoined I cannot take in exchange the riches of the present world for those of the future world it is related also that bishr bear foot's sister once went to Ahmad bin Ahambal and Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and seized, saying her permitted say end of section 29 of the book of a thousand nights and a night, volume 2 recording by Filippo Joaquin section 30 volume 2 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 Filippo Joaquin the book of a thousand nights and a night, volume 2 section 30 when it was the 82nd night she said it had reached me, o auspicious king that there was here dandan continued to be speak Zawal Makhan in this wise and quoth the maiden to thy father bishr bear foot's sister once went to Ahmad bin Hanbal and said to him o imam of the faith we are a family that spin thread by night and work for our living by day and often times the crests of the watch of Baghdad pass by and we on the roof spinning by their light is this forbidden to us asked Ahmad who are thou who are thou I am the sister of bishr bear foot and surishi rejoin the imam o household of bishr I shall never cease to drink full drops of piety from your hearts quoth one of the sages when Allah willeth well to his servant he opened upon him the gate of action Malik bin Dinar when he passed through the bazaar and so ought he desired was wont to say o soul take patience for I will not accord to thee what thou desirest he said also Allah accept him the salvation of the soul lies in resistance to it and its domination in submission to it quoth Mansur bin Ammar I made a pilgrimage and was fearing Mecca word by way of kufa and the night was overcast when I heard a voice crying out from the deeps of the darkness saying O Allah I swear by thy greatness and thy glory I meant not through my disobedience to transgress against thee for indeed I am not ignorant of thee but my fault is one thou dist foreordain to me from eternity without beginning so do thou pardon my transgression for indeed I disobeyed thee of my ignorance when he had made an end of his prayer he recited aloud the verse O true believers save your souls save your families from the fire whose fuel is man and stones then I heard a fall but not knowing what it was I passed on when the morning marred as we went our way behold we fell in with a funeral train followed by an old woman whose strength had left her I asked her of the dead and she answered this is the funeral of a man who passed by us yesterday whilst my son was standing at prayer and after his prayer he recited a verse from the book of Allah Almighty when the man's gold bladder burst and he fell dead therewith the fourth damsel retired and the fifth came forward and said I here will also repeat what occurs to me regarding the acts of devotees in olden time mazlamah bin dinar used to say by making sound the secret thoughts since great and small are covered and when the servant of Allah is resolved to leave sinning victory cometh to him also quoth he every worldly good which does not draw one nearer to Allah is a calamity for a little of this word distracted from a meekle of the word to come and a meekle of the present maketh thee forget the whole of the future it was asked of Abu Hazim who is the most prosperous of men and he answered his life in submission to Allah the other inquired and who is the most foolish of mankind who is also left his future for the worldly goods of others replied Abu Hazim it is reported of Moses on whom be peace then when he came to the waters of median he exclaimed the need of the good which thou shalt send down to me and he asked of his lord and not of his folk there came two damsels and he drew water for them both and allowed not the shepherds to draw first when the twain returned they informed their father Shu A'ib on whom be peace who said he is hungry adding to one of them go back to him and beat him hither now when she came to Moses she bailed her face and said my father bideth thee to him that he may pay thee thy wage for having drawn water for us Moses was averse to this and was not willing to follow her now she was a woman large in the back parts and in wind blowing upon her garment covered the hindered cheeks to Moses which when Moses saw he lowered his eyes and said to her get thee behind while I walk in front so she followed him till he entered the house of Shu A'ib where supper was ready and Sharazad perceived the dawn of day and seized to say her permitted say when it was the 83rd night she said it hath reached me of a specious king that the wazir dandan continued to Zau al-Makhan now quote the fifth damsel to thy sire when Moses on whom be peace entered the home of Shu A'ib where supper was ready Shu A'ib said to him oh Moses I desire to pay thee thy wage for having drawn water for these two but Moses answered I am of the household which selleth nothing of the fashion of the next world for what is on earth of gold and silver then quote Shu A'ib oh youth nevertheless thou art my guest and it is my want and that of my forebears to honor the guest by setting food before him so Moses sat down and ate then Shu A'ib hired Moses for eight pilgrimages that is to say eight years and made his wage marriage with one of his two daughters and Moses service to him was to stand for her dowry as saith the holy writ of him verily I will give thee one of these my two daughters in marriage on condition that thou serve me for hire eight pilgrimages and if thou fulfill ten years it is in thine own breast for I seek not to impose a hardship on thee a certain man once said to one of his friends whom he had not met for many days thou hast made me desolate for that I have not seen thee this longer while quote the other I have been distracted from thee by I'ib Shu A'ib does thou know you quote his friend yes he has been my neighbor these thirty years but I have never spoken to him he replied verily thou forgettest Allah in forgetting thy neighbor if thou loves Allah thou wouldst love thy neighbor knowest thou not that a neighbor has a claim upon his neighbor even as a rite of Keith and King said Huzaifa we entered Mecca with Ibrahim bin Alham and Shaqib Al-Balki was also making a pilgrimage that year now we met whilst circumambulating the Kaaba and Ibrahim said to Shaqib what is your fashion in your country replied Shaqib when we are blessed with our daily bread we eat and when we hunger we take patience this wise said Ibrahim to the dogs of Balk but we when blessed with plenty do honor to Allah and when we hungered we thank him and Shaqib sifted himself and said to him thou art my master also said Muhammad bin Imran a man once asked of Hatim the deaf what maketh thee to trust in Allah two things answered he I know that none save myself shall eat my daily bread so my heart is at rest as to that and I know that I was not created without the knowledge of Allah and I'm abashed before him then the fifth damsel retired and the ancient day came forward and kiss in the ground before thy father nine times said thou hast heard o king what these all have spoken on the subject of piety and I will follow their example in relating what hath reached me of the famous men of past times it is said that the Imam al-Shafi' departed the night into three portions the first for study the second for sleep and the third for prayer the Imam Abu Hanifa was want also to pass half the night in prayer one day a man pointed him out to another as he walked by and remarked yonder man watches the whole night when he heard this Abu Hanifa said I was abashed before Allah to hear myself praised for what was not in me so after this he used to watch the whole night and one of the sages hath said who seeketh for prayer in the deep dives deep who on high would high robes his night of sleep al-Rabbi relates that al-Shafi' used to recite the whole Quran 70 times during the month of Ramazan and that in his daily prayers quoth al-Shafi' Allah accept him during 10 years I never ate my fill of barley bread for fullness hardness the heart and deadness the wit an induced sleep an enfeebleth one from standing up to pray it is reported of Abdullah bin Muhammad al-Sakrah that he said I was once talking with Omar and he observed to me never so I a more God fearing or eloquent man than Muhammad bin Idris al-Shafi' it so happened I went out one day with al-Haris bin-Labin al-Safar who was the disciple of al-Muzani and had a fine voice and he read the saying of the Almighty this shall be a day whereon they shall not speak to any purpose nor shall they be permitted to excuse themselves I saw al-Shafi' color change his skin shuddered with horripulation he was violent and moved and he fell down in a fainting fit when he revived he said I take refuge with Allah from the stead of the liars and the lot of the negligent O Allah before whom the hearts of the wise obeys themselves O Allah of thy beneficence accord to me the remission of my sins adore me with the curtain of thy protection and pardon me from my shortcomings by the magnanimity of thy being then I rose and went away quoth one of the pious when I entered Baghdad al-Shafi' was there so I sat down on the river bank to make the ablution before prayer and behold there passed me one who said O youth fuzhu ablution well and Allah will make it well for thee in this world and in the next I turned and though there was a man behind whom came a company of people so I hastened to finish my ablution and followed him presently he turned and asked me say does thou want ought yes answered I I desire that thou teach me somewhat of that which Allah Almighty have taught thee he said no then that huzhu believers in Allah shall be saved and huzhu jealously love his faith shall be delivered from destruction and huzhu practices abstinence in this world his eyes shall be solaced on the marrow of death shall I tell thee any more I replied assuredly and he continued be thou of the world that is heedless and of the world to come greediest be truthful in all thy dealings and thou shall be saved with the salvationists then he went on and I asked about him and was told that he was the imam al shafi' al shafi' was warned to remark I love to see for profit by this learning of mine on condition that nothing of it be attributed to me and Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and seized Sain her permitted Sain when it was the 84th night she said it hath reached me, O auspicious king that the wazir dandan continued to Zawal Makhan the old woman bespaik thy sire, Sain the imam al shafi' was warned to remark I love to see for profit by this learning of mine on condition that nothing of it be attributed to me he also said I never disputed with anyone but I would that Almighty Allah should give him the knowledge of the truth and aid him to disparade it nor did I ever dispute with anyone at all but for the showing forth and I reck not whether Allah manifest it by my tongue or by his he also said if thou fear to grow conceited by thy lore then bethink thee whose grace thou seekest and for what good thou yearnest and what punishment thou dreadest Abu Hanifa the commander of the faithful Abu Jafar al-Masur and appointed him Qazi and ordered him a salary of 10,000 dirhams but he would not accept of this and when the day came on which the money was to be paid him he prayed the dawn prayer then covered his head with his robe and spoke not when the Caliph's messenger came with the money he went in to the Imam and accosted him but he would not speak to him so the messenger said verily this money is lawfully dying I know that it is lawfully mine replied he the love of tyrants can hold upon my heart asked the other if thou go in to them canst thou not guard thyself from loving them answered Abu Hanifa can I look to enter the sea without my clothes being wet another of al-Shafi's saying Allah accepting is of mine and thou accept my read thou shalt be wealthy and of grace and tire cast off ambitious hopes and vain desires how many a death was done by vain desire among the sayings of Sufyan al-Tawri with which he admonished Ali bin al-Hasan al-Salamiy was a man of truth and where lies and treachery and hypocrisy and pride be not indebted save to him who is merciful to his debtors and let thine associate be one who shall dissociate thee from the world be ever mindful of death and be constant in craving pardon of Allah peace for what remaineth of thy life counsel every true believer when he asketh thee concerning the things of his faith and beware of betraying a believer for whoso betrayeth a believer betrayeth Allah and his apostle avoid dissensions and litigations and leave that which causeth doubt be for things which breed no doubt so shall thou be at peace and join beneficence and forbid malevolence so shall thou be loved of Allah adorn thy inner man and Allah shall adorn thine outer man accept the excuse of him who excuseth self to thee and hate not any one of the Muslims draw near unto those who withdraw from thee and excuse those that misuse thee so shall thou be the friend of the prophets let thine affairs both public and private be in a last charge and fear him with the fear of one who knoweth he is dead and who feareth towards resurrection and judgment stead between the hands of the lord of dread and remember that to one of two houses thou art sped either for heavens a turn or to the hell fires that burn thereupon the old woman sat down beside the damsels now when thy father who hath found mercy heard their discourse he knew that they were the most accomplished of the people of their time and see in their beauty and loveliness and the extent of their wisdom and lore he showed them all favors moreover he turned to the ancient day and treated her with honor and set apart for her and her damsels the palace which had lodged the princess Abrizah daughter of the king of Greece to which he bad carry all the luxuries they needed they abode with him ten days and the old woman abode with them and whenever the king visited them he found her absorbed in prayer watching by night and resting by day whereby love of her took hold upon his heart and he said to me O Wazir verily these old woman is of the pious and all of her is strong in my heart now on the eleventh day the king visited her that he might pay her the price of the damsels but she said to him O king know that the price of these maidens surpassed the competence of men indeed I seek not from them either gold or silver or jewels be it little or much now when thy father heard these words he wondered and asked her O my lady and what is their price where to she answered I will not sell them to thee save on condition that thou fast watching by night a whole month and abstaining by day all for the love of Allah almighty and if thou do this they are thy property to use in thy palace as thou please the king wondered at the perfection of her rectitude impiety and abnegation she was magnified in his eyes and he said Allah make this pious woman to profit us then he agreed with her to fast for a month as she had stipulated and she said to him I will help thee with the prayers I pray for thee and now bring me a guglet of water they brought one and she took it and recited over it and muttered spells and sat for an hour speaking in speech no one understood or knew what they are of lastly she covered it with a cloth and sealing it with her signet ring gave it to thy sire saying when thou hast fasted the first ten days break thy fast on the eleventh night with what is in this guglet for it will root out the love of the word from thine heart and fill it with light and faith as for me tomorrow I will go forth to my brethren the invisible controls for a year after them and I will return to thee when the first ten days are past thy father took the guglet and arose and set it apart in a closet in his palace then locked the door and put the key in his pocket the next day the king fasted and the old woman went her ways and the father's heart perceived the dawn of day and seized the same her permitted say end of section 30 of the book of a thousand nights and a night volume 2 recording by Philippo Joachim section 31 volume 2 of the book of a thousand nights and a night translated by Richard Burton this is a LibriVox recording or LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Lars Rolander the book of a thousand nights and a night volume 2 section 31 when it was the 85th night she said it had reached me oh auspicious king that the vassir Dandan thus continued to sell Almakam now when came the day for the sultans fast the old woman went her ways and after he had accomplished the ten days thereof on the 11th he opened the guglet and drank what was therein and found it cordial to his stomach within the second ten days of the month the old woman returned bringing sweetmeats wrapped in a green leaf like no leaf of known tree she went into the sire and saluted him and when he saw her he rose to her saying welcome oh pious lady oh king quoth she the invisible controls salute thee for I told them of thee and they rejoiced in thee and have sent thee their halva which is of the sweetmeats of the other world do thou break thy fast on it at the end of the day the king rejoiced at this with great joy and exclaimed praise be Allah who hath given me brethren of the invisible world thereupon he thanked the ancient tame and kissed her hands and he honored her and the damsels with exceeding honor she went forth for the twenty days and passed at the end of which time she came to him and said no oh king that I told the invisible controls of the love which is between me and thee and informed them how I had left the maidens with thee and they were glad that the damsels should belong to a king like thee for they were wont when they saw them to be strenuous in offering on their behalf prayers and petitions ever granted so I would feign carry them to the invisible controls that they may benefit by thy breath of their favor and per adventure they shall not return to thee without some treasure of the treasures of the earth that thou after completing thy fast mayst occupy thyself with their raiments and help thyself by the money they shall bring thee to the extent of thy desires when thy sire heard her words he thanked her for them and said except that I fear to cross thee I would not accept the treasure of ought else but when will thou set out with them replied she on the seven and twentieth night and I will bring them back to thee at the head of the month by which time thou wilt have accomplished thy fast and they will have had their courses and will be free from impurity and they shall become thine and be at thy disposal by Allah each damsel of them is worth many times thy kingdom he said I know it O pious lady then quoth the old woman there is no help but that thou send with them someone in thy palace who is dear to thee she may find solace and seek a blessing of the invisible controls quoth he I have a Greek slave called Sophia by whom I have been blessed with two children a girl and a boy but they were lost years ago take her with thee that she may get the blessing and Sharassad perceived the dawn of day when it was the 86th night she said it hath reached me O auspicious king that the vassir dandan continued to sow almarcan quoth thy sire to the ancient woman when she demanded the handmaids of him I have a Greek slave called Sophia by whom I have been blessed with two children a girl and a boy but they were lost years ago so take her with thee happily she may get the benediction and be like the invisible controls will sow alar for her that her two children may be restored to her thou hast said well replied she for that indeed was her grievous want thy sire gave not over finishing his fast till the old woman said to him O my son I am going to the invisible controls so bring me Sophia accordingly he summoned her and she came forthright and he delivered her to the old woman who mixed her up with the other damsels then she went into her chamber and bringing out a sealed cup presented it to the sultan saying on the thirties day do thou repair to thee hamam and when thou comes out enter one of the closets in thy palace and drink what is in this cup then sleep and thou shall detain what thou seeks and peace be with thee there at the king was glad and thanked her and kissed her hands quoth she I commend thee to Allah's care where at quoth he and when shall I see thee again O pious lady in very sooth I love not to part with thee then she called down blessings on him and departed with the five damsels and the queen whilst the king fasted after her departure other three days till the month ended he closed and went to the hamam and coming out shut himself up in a closet of his palace commanding that none should go in twin there after making fast the door he drank what was in the cup and lay down to sleep and we sat awaiting him till the end of the day but he did not come out and we said perhaps he's tired with the bath and with watching by night wherefore he sleepeth so we waited till next day but still he did not come for then we stood at the closet door and cried aloud so happily he might awake and ask what was the matter but nothing came of that so at last we lifted up the door and going in found him dead with his flesh torn into strips and bits of his bones broken when we saw him in this condition it was grievous to us and we took up the cup and found within his cover a piece of paper whereon was inscribed who so doth evil leaves no regrets and this to be the reward of him who plays traitor with the daughters of kings and who debauches them and we make known to all who fall upon this scroll that Sharkham when he came to our country seduced our queen Abrisah nor did that suffice him but he must needs taker from us and bring her to you then he sent her away in company of a black slave who slew her and we found her lying dead on the desert sword and thrown out to wild beasts this is no kingly deed and he who did this is requited with not but what he merited so do ye suspect none of having killed him for no one slew him but the cunning witch whose name is Sat al-Dabahi and behold I have taken the king's wife Sophia and have carried her to her father Afridun king of Constantinople moreover there is no help for it but that we wage war upon you and kill you and take your country from you and ye shall be cut off even to the last man nor shall a living soul be spared by death nor one who bloth fire with his breath save he who cross and belt worship it when we read this paper we knew that the ancient woman married us and carried out her plot against us whereupon we cried aloud and buffeted our faces and wet sore when weeping availed us not and the troops fell out as to whom they should make sultan some would have thee and others would have thy brother Sharkan and we ceased not to dispute about this for the space of a month at the end of which certain of us came together and agreed to repair to thy brother Sharkan so we set out and journeyed on till we fell in with thee and such is the manner of the death of sultan Omar bin al-Numan now when the Vasir Dandan had made an end of his story Sao al-Makan and his sister Nursat al-Saman wet and the Chamberlain who wet also Sharkan O King weeping will avail thee not nor shall ought profit thee but that thou harden thy heart and strengthen thy stress and establish thy sovereignty for verily whosoleaveth the like of thee is not dead thereupon Sao al-Makan gave over his weeping and caused his throne to be set up without the pavilion and then commanded the army to pass in review order before him and the Chamberlain sat by his side and all the armor bearers behind him whilst the Vasir Dandan and the rest of the emirs and grandies stood each in his individual steed then quoth King Sao al-Makan to the minister Dandan informed me concerning my sire's treasures and he replied I hear and I obey and gave him to know of the late King's hordes and monies and what was in the treasury of amassed wealth and jewels and acquainted him with other precious things so Sao al-Makan opened his hand to the army and gave a sumptuous robe of honor to the Vasir Dandan saying thou continues in office Dandan kissed the ground before him and wished him long life then he bestowed dresses on the emirs after which he said to the Chamberlain bring out before me the tribute of Damascus that is with thee so he was shown the chests of money and rarities and jewels when he took them and parted them all amongst the troops and Shah Rasad perceived the dawn of day saying her permitted say when it was the 87th night she said it hath reached me, O auspicious king that Sao al-Makan ordered the Chamberlain to bring out before him what he had brought of the tribute of Damascus and when he was shown the chests of money and rarities and jewels he took them and parted them all amongst the troops till nothing was left and the emirs kissed the ground before him and wished him long life saying never so we a king who gave the like of these gifts then all went away to their tents and when it was morning he gave orders for marching so they marched for three days till on the fourth day they drew near to Baghdad when they entered the city they found it decorated and Sao al-Makan, the sultan went up to his father's palace and sat down on the throne whilst the emirs of the army and the Vasir Dandan and the Chamberlain of Damascus to between his hands then he made his private secretary write a writ to his brother Sharqan acquainting him with all that had passed from first to last as soon as thou has read this letter make ready thine affair and join us with thine army that we may turn to holy war upon the infidels and take manboat for our father and wipe out the stain upon our honor then he folded the letter and sealed it with his seal ring and said to the minister Dandan none shall carry this letter but thou who with thee speak my brother fair and say to him if thou have a mind to thy father's kingdom it is thine and thy brother shall be viceroy for thee in Damascus for to this effect I am instructed by him so the Vasir went down from before him and made ready for his march then Sao al-Makan bade set apart a magnificent house for the fireman and furnished it with the best furniture and long is the tale of that fireman presently Sao al-Makan went out chasing and hunting and as he was returning to Baghdad one of the emirs presented him with blood horses and with butchers handmaids whose description the tongue evades one of the damsels pleased him so he went in unto her and knew her that night and she conceived by him forthright after a while the Vasir dandan returned from his journey bringing him news of his brother Sharkan and that he was then on his way to him and said it were fitting thou go forth to meet him so al-Makan replied I hear and I consent and riding forth with his grandies a day's journey from Baghdad he pitched his pavilions there awaiting his brother next morning appeared king Sharkan amid the army of Syria a horseman of might a lion fierce in fight a pro and daughty knight as the squadrons drew nigh and the dust clouds came hard by and the troops rode up with banners on high so al-Makan and those with him pushed forward to meet Sharkan and his men and when so al-Makan saw his brother he decided to dismount but Sharkan conjured him not to do on this wise and himself footed it and walked a few paces towards him as soon as he reached so al-Makan the new sultan threw himself upon him and Sharkan embraced him and wept with great weeping and the twain condoled with each other then they mounted and rode onward they and their troops till they reached Baghdad where they alighted and went up to the royal palace and there they passed that night and when next morning came so al-Makan went forth and they'd summon the troops from all parts and proclaimed a holy war and a Russia they then awaited the coming devils from each quarter of the kingdom and everyone who came they entreated with honour and promised him all manner of good till in so doing a full month had sped and the fighting men flocked to them in a continuous body then Sharkan said to so al-Makan oh my brother tell me thy history so he told him that he had befallen him from first to last including the benevolent dealing of the firemen with him ask Sharkan has thou requited his kindness and he answered oh my brother I have not rewarded him as yet but in Salah I will recompense him when as I return from this raid and Sarasad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say End of Section 31 of the Book of a Thousand Nights and a Night Volume 2 Read by Lars Rolander Section 32 Volume 2 of the Book of a Thousand Nights and a Night Translated by Richard Burton This is a LibriVox recording for LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Reading by Lars Rolander The Book of a Thousand Nights and a Night Volume 2 Section 32 When it was the 88th Night She said it hath reached me oh auspicious king that Sharkhan asked his brother has thou requited the fireman for his kindness and he answered oh my brother I have not rewarded him as yet but in Salah I will recompense him when as I return from this raid and find time so to do therewith Sharkhan was certified that his sister Nusat Al-Saman had told him the whole truth but he concealed what had passed between them and offered his salutation to her by her husband the Chamberlain She sent him back her greeting calling down blessings on him and inquiring after her daughter Kutsiya Fakan to which she replied that the maiden was well and in the best of health and safety whereupon she praised Almighty Allah and gave him thanks Then Sharkhan went to his brother to take counsel with him for departure and Saul Makhan said oh my brother as soon as the arm is complete and the Arabs have come in from all parts we will march forth so he bade make ready the commissariat and prepare munitions of war and went into his wife who was now five months gone and he put under her astrologers and mathematicians to whom he pointed stupents and allowances Then he set out three months after the arrival of the army of Syria and as soon as the Arabs were coming and the troops were assembled from all directions and as he fared forth he was followed by the warriors and the united host now the name of the general the Dailam army was Rustam and that of the general of the army of the Turks Bahram and Saul Makham marched in mid host and on his right was his brother Sharkham and on his left the Chamberlain his brother in law so the squadrons broke up and pushed forward and the battalions and companies filed past in battle array till the whole army was in motion They ceased not to fare on for the space of a month and each body dismounted at its own ground and there rested every week three days for the host was great and they advanced in this order till they came to the country of the Greeks then the people of the villagers and hamlets and the poor sort took fright at them and fled to Constantinople but when King Aphrodon heard the tidings he rose and betook himself to Tzat al-Tabahi the same who had contrived the strategic gem and had travelled to Baghdad and had slain King Omar bin Al-Numan and who after carrying off first slaves and Queen Sophia had returned with them and all to her native land now when she had been restored to her son the king of Greece and felt herself safe she said to King Hardub cool thine eyes for I have avenged my blood the shame of thy daughter Abrissa and have killed Omar bin Al-Numan and have brought back Sophia so now let us go to the king of Constantinople and carry to him his daughter and acquaint him with what hath happened that all of us be on guard and prepare our forces and I will fare with thee to King Aphrodon lord of Constantinople for I opine that the Muslims will not await our attack said Hardub carried out till they draw near our country that we may make us ready mean time and assemble our power accordingly they took to levying their forces and preparing for war and when the news of the Muslims advance reached them they were prepared for defense and Tzat al-Tabahi had preceded them now when she and her son arrived at Constantinople the King of Kings Aphrodon hearing of the approach of Hardub King of the Greeks came forth to meet him and asked how it was with him and the course of his visit so Hardub acquainted him with the cunning doings of his mother Tzat al-Tabahi how she had slain the Muslim king and recovered from him Queen Sophia and had said the Muslims have assembled their forces and are on their way to attack us wherefore it behoove that we two join hands in single band and meet them now King Aphrodon rejoiced in the return of his daughter and the killing of King Omar bin Al-Numan and he sent to all countries seeking succour meeting the fork with the course of slaying the Muslim king so the Nazarene troops flocked to him and three months were not passed ere the army of the Greeks was complete beside which they joined themselves to him Franks from all their lands French Germans and Ragoosons with men of Tzara Venetians Genoese and all the hosts and when the gathering was at its full earth was straightened on them by reason of their multitude then Aphrodon the great king ordered a march so they set out and seized not to defile through the city for ten days they fed on till they reached the Wadi Heis Al-Numan a broad sided veil hard by the salt sea where they halted three days and on the fourth they were about to set out again when news came that the army of Al-Islam on them press and the defenders of the faith of Muhammad of men the best so they halted in it other three days and on the eighth they inspired a dust cloud which towered till it walled the whole land nor was an hour of the day passed ere that dust began to drift and was torn to shreds in the lift and pierced through its shades the starry regions of lance and the white livy of blades presently there appeared beneath it the banners Islamitan and the ensigns Mahometan the horsemen urged forward like the letting loose of seas that surged clad in mail as they were mackerel back clouds which the moon envil where upon the two hosts clashed like two torrents on each other dashed eyes fell upon eyes to seek combat singular was the wasir dandan he and the army of syria numbering 30,000 bridles and with him were the general of the turks and the general of Dailam Rustam and Bahram amid 20,000 horse behind whom came the men from the shores of the salt sea clad in iron mail as they were full moons that passed through a night overcast then the Nazarene host called out on Jesus and Mary and the defiled cross and they heaped themselves upon the wasir dandan and those with him of the syrian host now all this was in pursuance of a stratagem devised by that ancient woman sat al-dabahi for before his departure king afridun had gone into her and asked her how shall I do and what plan I pursue it is thou has caused this great distress to us and she had answered oh great king and mighty koan I will teach thee a trick would baffle Iblis himself though he summoned to his assistance all his priestly host and Shah-Rasad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say when it was the 89th night she said it hath reached me oh auspicious king all this was a stratagem of the ancient woman for that the king before his departure had gone to her and asked how shall I do and what plan shall I pursue it is thou has caused this great distress to us and she had answered oh great king and mighty koan I will teach thee a trick would baffle Iblis himself though he summoned to his assistance all his priestly hosts it is that thou send fifty thousand men going down in ships and sailing over the sea to the mountain of smoke and there let them land and stir not till the standards of al-Islam come upon thee when do thou up and at them then bid the troops from the seaward sali out upon the Muslims and take them in rear whilst we confront them from the landward so not one of them shall escape and our sorrows shall tease and peace abide with us now the consul of this ancient woman commended itself to king afridon and he replied right is the wrecking thou wreckest oh princess of wits and resource of kings and koans wearing for their so when the army of al-Islam came upon them in chat valley before they knew it the flames began to burn up the tents and the swords in men's bodies to make rents then hurried up the army of Baghdad and Korasan who numbered one hundred and twenty thousand horse with sat al-Makhan in the front of war when the host of the infidels that lay by the sea saw them salied out against them and followed in their tracks and when saw al-Makhan despite this he cried out to his men turn back to the infidels oh people of the chosen apostle and slay those who deny and hate the authority of the compassionate the compassionate so they turned and fought with the Christians then sharkhan marched up with another corpse of the Muslim host one hundred thousand men whilst the infidels numbered nai upon a thousand and six hundred thousand men when the Muslims were united their hearts were strengthened and they cried out saying virili Allah hath promised us victory and to the infidels hath assigned defeat and they clashed together with sword and spear now sharkhan rung and row and raged among the masses of the foe fighting so fierce a fight as to make children gray grow nor did he cease turning among the infidel horde and working havoc among them with the keen edged sword shouting Allah hu Akbar Allah is most great till he drove back the host to the coast then failed the force foe and Allah gave victory to the faith of al-Islam and fork fought fork runken without strong drink till they slew of the infidels in this affair forty and five thousand while of the Muslims but three thousand and five hundred fell moreover the lion of the faith king sharkhan and his brother saw al-makhan slept not that night but occupied themselves congratulating their braves and with looking to the wounded and with assuring the army of victory and salvation and promise of reward in the world to come thus far concerning the Muslim but as regard king afridun lord of constantinople and sovereign of room and sat al-dabahi they assembled the emirs and the host and said to them verily we had worked our will and so last our hearts but our overconfidence in our numbers and that only defeated us then quothed to them the ancient one the lady of calamities in very sooth not shall profit you except ye draw you nigh unto the messiah and put your trust in the true belief for by the virtue of the messiah the whole strength of the Muslim host life in that satan king sharkham tomorrow said king afridun I have resolved to draw up in battle array and to send out against them that redoubtable cavalier luka bin shamlut for if king sharkham come forth as a champion to fight single handed our man will slay him and will slay the other muslim knights till not one is left and I propose this night to saker you all with the holy incense when the emirs heard these words they kissed the ground before him now the incense which he designated was the excrement of the chief patriarch the denier the defiler of the true and they sought for it with such instance and they so highly valued it that the high priests of the Greeks used to send it to all the countries of the christians in silken wraps after mixing it with musk and ambergris hearing of it kings would pay a thousand gold pieces for every dram and they sent for and sought it to fumigate brides with all and the chief priests and the great kings were want to use a little of it as collirium for the eyes and as a remedy in sickness and colic and the patriarchs used to mix their own skype with it for that the skype of the chief patriarch could not suffice 10 countries so as soon as dawn was seen and the morning shone with it's shine and sheen the horsemen ran to their spears full king and king aphrodon and charasad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say when it was the 90th night she said it had reached me oh auspicious king as soon as dawn was seen and the morning shone with it's shine and sheen the horsemen ran to their spears full king and king aphrodon summoned his chief knights and nobles and invested them with dresses of honor and drawing the sign of the cross on their brows incensed them with the incense which as aforesaid was the skype of the chief patriarch the coen the heresiar this incensing done he called for luka bin shamlut surnamed the sword of the messiah and after fumigating him and rubbing his palate with the holy mud caused him to snuff it and smear his cheeks and anointed his mustaches with the rest now there was no stout a champion in the land of room then this occurs luka nor any better depending of bow or sway of sword or languid lance on the day of devour but he was foul of favor for his face was as the face of an ass his shape that of an ape and his look as the look of a malignant snake his presence was grievouser than parting from the beloved make and blacker than knight was his blackness and more fetid than the lion was his breath for foulness more crooked than bow was his crookedness and grimmer than the leopard was his ugliness and he was branded with a mark of the infidels on face after this he came up to king aphrodon and kissed his feet and stood before him and the king said to him I decide I'll go out against Sharkan king of Damascus and son of Omar bin al-Numan and deliver us from this affliction quoth luka harking and obedience and the king made the sign of the cross on his forehead and felt assured of help from heaven being near hand then luka went out from the presence and the cursed one mounted a sorrel horse he was clad in a red robe and a harbork of gold set with jewels and he bore a trident spear as he were iblis the damned on the day of drawing out this war to darain then he rode forward he and his horde of infidels even as though they were driving to the fire preceded by a herald crying aloud in the arabic tongue and saying who sect of muhammad upon whom be the salutation and salvation let none of you come out by your champion Sharkan the sword of al-islam wascus in sham nor had he made an end of speaking when a rose a tumult in the plain all the people heard the strain and the whole moving bodies of the armies twain called to mind the day of complaint then the cowards trembled and all next turned toward the sound and lo it was king Sharkan son of king Omar bin al-Numan for when his brother saw that a cursed one push out on the plain and heard the pursuant he turned to Sharkan and said to him of a surety they seek for thee said he should it so be it were most pleasing to me so when they made sure of the matter and heard the herald crying in the plain let none of you come out against me safe Sharkan they knew this cursed Luca to be champion of the land in a room who had sworn to sweep the earth clean of Muslims now he was one of the greatest of villains a wretch who caused hearts to pain and the Daelamite's turks and curds dreaded his might and mane presently Sharkan craved him like a lion angry grim mounted on a coarser like a wild gazelle flying and slim and coming night to him made the spear he had to shake as it were a darting snake and recited these couplets I have a sorrel steed whose pride is feigned to bear the rain shall give thee what thou like is not and make thee feel his mane I have a handy limber spear full bright and keen of point upon whose shaft the dam of death her throney seat hath tamed I have a trenchant clave of hind and when I bear its face of scabbard veil from out its prow the race of levy rain Luca understood not the sense of his speech nor did he apprehend the vehemence of the verse but he smote his forehead with his hand in honour of the cross drawn thereon and kissed it then he couched his throes spear and ran at Sharkan but first he tossed the javelin with one hand in air to such height that it was lost to the spectator's sight and catching it with the other hand as do the jugglers hurled it at Sharkan it flew from his grasp like a shooting star and fork clamoured and feared for Sharkan but as the spear flew near him he put out his hand and caught it in full flight to the amazement of all who saw the sight and he shook it with the hand that took it till it was well nigh broken and hurled it so high into the welkin that it disappeared from view as it descended he caught it again with the other hand in less than the twinkling of an eye and cried out from his heart core saying by the truth of him who created the seven fold skies I will assuredly make this cursed white a byword for mankind to despise then threw he the throw spear at Luca who thought to do as Sharkan had done and put forth his hand to trend it in mid-flight but Sharkan prevented him and sped at him a second throw spear which smote him and the point fell on his forehead in the very centre of the sign of the cross and Allah hurried his soul to the fire and well in place dire but when the infidels saw Luca bin Shamlut fall slain they buffeted their faces and they cried alas and woe worth the day and called for aid upon the abbots of the monasteries and Sharassad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted saying end of section 32 of the book of a thousand nights volume 2 read by Lars Rolander section 33 volume 2 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 reading by Lars Rolander the book of a thousand nights and a night volume 2 section 33 when it was the 91st night she said it hath reached me oh auspicious king that when the infidels saw Luca bin Shamlut fall slain they buffeted their faces and cried alas and woe worth the day and called upon the abbots of the monasteries they cried where be the crosses so the religious offered up prayers and the Christians all drew together against Charkham and brandishing their skimitars and lances rushed forward to the attack then army met army and breasts fell under hoop while spare and sword ruled the day and forearms and wrists grew weak and the coarsers seemed created without legs nor did the herald of war cease calling to fight till arms were a weary and day took flight and night came on with darkness tight so the two hosts drew apart whilst every brave staggered like a drunken knave for that with so much cut and thrust they straved and the place was chirped with a slain fell where the wounds and the hurt knew not by whom they fell then Charkham joined his brother Sao Al-Makhan and the Chamberlain and the Vasidandan and said to them verily Allah have opened a door for the infidels to fall praised be the lord of the worlds one and all replied Sao Al-Makhan let us never cease to praise Allah for that he hath dispelled trouble from the Arab and the Ajam indeed the forked generation shall tell of thy daring do against the accursed Luka the falsifier of the evangel of thy catching the throng spare in mid-flight and how the enemy of Allah among men thou did smite and thy fame shall endure until the end of time then said Charkham Harkhi o Grand Chamberlain and Daughty Captain and he answered Sao Al-Makhan Charkham take with thee the Vasidandan and twenty thousand horse and lead them seven Parsangs towards the sea and force the march till you shall have come near the shore and there remain only two Parsangs between thee and the foe then ambush ye in the hollows of the ground till you hear the tumult of the infidels disembarking from their ships try from every side strike your air and you know that the sabers have begun labor between us and them and when so you see our troops falling back as if defeated and all the infidels following them as well those in front as those from the seaward and the tents do ye still lie in wait for them but as soon as you see the standard with the words there is no God but the God and Muhammad as God's apostle on whom be salutation and salvation then up with the green banner and do your endeavor and fall on their rear and shout Allah is most great and circled round that they may not interpose between the retreating army and the sea he replied to hear is to obey and forthright they agreed this matter and they went forth now the Chamberlain took with himself the Vasir Dandan and 20,000 men even as Sharkhan had commanded as soon as dawned the moon the troops sprung to horse when they had donned their armor gear and drawn the skimitar and slung their spear then the Christians they spread themselves over hill and dale and the ecclesiasts cried out and all heads were barred and those ships hoisted the cross at their mast heads and began making for shore from every side and landed their horses and get them ready for fight and fray whilst the sword blaze glittered bright and the javelins glanced like livy light on male shirt white and all joined fight and the green mill of death the world round and ground those who fought from horse and the ground heads from bodies flew through and eyes no vision knew skimitar strayed with utmost strain and heads flew over the battle plane gold bladders crave and wrists were shone in twain steeds flashed in pools of gore and bears were gripped right sore the host of Ali slum called out saying on the prince of mankind be blessings and peace and to the compassionate glory and praise which never shall cease for his boons which a increase and the host of the infidels shouted glory to the cross and the belt and the wine pressed juice and the wine presser and the priests and the monks and the festival of palms and the metropolitan now saw Almakan and Sharkan held back and their troops gave way and faint flight from before the enemy while the infidel array pressed hard upon them and made ready to foin and you then the many of the Muslims raised their voices reciting the first verses of the chapter of the cow whilst the dead were trampled under whose of steeds and the heralds of the Greeks cried out who servants of the Messiah who people of the true faith who followers of the primate verily divine grace upon you hopes see the hosts of Al-Islam like birds with broken wings inclined to elope so turn you not to them your backs but let your swords clave deep in their necks and hold not your hands from them else are ye outcasts from the Messiah Mary's son who spoke even when a cruddled one now Afridon king of Constantinople deemed that the infidels were victorious knowing not that this was but a clever strategy of the Muslims and sent to king hard of room congratulations on success adding that I will not leave upon the earth a single defender of Al-Islam and to the bitter end will I carry out this plan so the messenger betook himself with the address to the king hard of whilst the infidels called to one another saying take we vengeance wreck for Luca and Sharassad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say when it was the 92nd night she said it hath reached me oh auspicious king that the infidels called to one another saying take we vengeance wreck for Luca while hard of king of Greece cried aloud how to our revenge for Abrisar there upon king Saul Al-Makhan shouted who servants of the requiting king smite the children of denial and disobedience with a branch of sword and the brown of spare so the moslems returned to the infidels and plied them with a keen edged skimitar whilst their herald cried aloud up and at the foe of the faith all ye who love the prophet elect with hope of salvation on the day of fair to win favor of the bountiful the forgiving one for verily the garden of paradise is under the shadow of swords and behold Sharkhand and his men charged down upon the infidels and cut off their retreat and wheeled and tornied among the ranks when low a night of goodly presence opened a passage through the army of unbelievers and circled hither and thither amongst the deniers cutting and thrusting and covering the ground with heads and trunks so that the faithless feared him and their necks under his lung and ewe he was cut with two swords his glances and his brand and he was armed with two lances one of bamboo cane and the other his straight one like shape and his flowing hair stood him in stead of many warriors even aseth the poet Lord not long hair except it be despread in two fold locks on day of fight and fray over youth who bears his chance to explain and thigh from many a whisked cared night to win the day and as singeth another I say to him what while he slings his sword for sword shall serve those looks that sword like show says he may saber looks for those I love my sword for those so sweets of love I know you can saw me said to him I conjure thee by the Quran and the attributes of the compassionate one oh champion of the champions tell me who thou art for verily by the deeds this day thou has pleased the requiting king whom one thing distracteth not from other thing in that thou has been discomforting the children of impiety and the rebellion rebelling then cried the cavalier to him saying thou art he who mad his brother covenant with me but just a day how quickly thou has forgotten me thereupon he withdrew his mouth pale so that what was hidden of his beauty was disclosed and lo it was none other than saw Almakam then Sharkan rejoiced in his brother say that he feared for him the rush of fighting and the crush of braves as mighty and this for two reasons the first is tender age of exposure to the evil eye and the second that his safety was to the kingdom the greater of the two overshadowing wings so he said to him oh king thou riskest thy life so join thy steed to mine in very sooth I fear and better thou stint hasarding thyself forth of these squadrons that we may shoot at the enemy thine unerring shaft quoth saw Almakam I decide to even the in fray and I will not be niggered of myself before thee in the melee then the host of al-islam heaping itself upon the infidels gird them on all sides ward on them a right holy war and break the power of the children of impiety and pride and store but king afridan sighed when he saw the evil wreck that had fallen on the greek and they turned their backs from fight and address themselves to flight making for the ships when low they came out upon them from the sea coast another host led by the minister dandan spiked the dust and to lay load on them with cut and thrust nor less came forth the emir baram lord of the provinces of sham amid twenty thousand horse dowty of arm and the host of al-islam pressed them in front and on flank and brought them grievous harm then a body of the muslims turned against those who in the ships remained and perdition on them reigned and threw themselves into the main and they slew of them many slain more than a hundred thousand noblemen nor was one of their champions great or small saved from bail and bane moreover they took their ships with all the money and treasure and cargo save a score of peal and the muslims got the loot whose like was never gotten in by gone years nor was such cut and thrust and never heard of by men's heirs now amongst the booty were fifty thousand horses besides treasure and spoil past reckoning and arithmetic where at the muslims rejoiced with an exceeding joy for that Allah had given them victory and protection such was the case with them but as regards the fugitive infidels they soon reached Constantinople with the that king afridun had prevailed over the muslims so quoth the ancient time sat al-dabahi I know that my son Hardub king of room is no runnigate and that he fear not the slammity coasts but will restore the whole world to the nasserine faith then she bade the great king afridun give command that the city be decorated and the people held festival high and knew not the decrease of destiny now whilst they were in the midst of the rejoicings behold the raven of duel and downfall croaked over them and up came the twenty fugitive ships were in mosque the king of cesarea so king afridun lord of Constantinople met them on the seashore and they told him all that had befallen them from the muslim and they wept sore and groaned and rejoicing at wheel was turned into dismay for unhealed and they informed him concerning luca son of shamlut how calamity had betided him and how death had shot him with his shaft there at the horrors of doom day rose upon king afridun and he knew that there was no making straight their crook then came up from them the sound of weeping and wailing the city was full of men mourning and the keepers were keening and sighs and cries were heard from all sides and when king hadub of Greece met king afridun he told him the truth of the case and how the flight of the muslims was by way of stratagem and deceit and said to him look not to see any of the army save those who have already reached thee when king afridun heard these words he fell down in a fainting fit with his nose under his feet and as soon as he revived he exclaimed surely the messiah was wroth with him that he caused the muslims to prevail over them then came the archpatriarch sadly to the king who said to him oh our father annihilation has overtaken our army and the messiah has punished us he replied the patriarch grieve not nor feel concerned for it cannot be but that one of you have sinned against the messiah and all have been punished for his offence but now we will read prayers for you in the churches that the mohammedan hosts may be repelled from you after which the old woman sat al-dabahi came to afridun and said to him oh king verily the muslims hosts are many and we shall never overcome them say by while wherefore I propose to work upon them by guile and repair to this army of al-islam happily I may win my wish of their leader and slay their champion even as I slew his father if my stratagem succeed in this case not one of the hosts he leads will return to his native land for all are strong only because of him but I decide to have some christian dwellers of syria such as go out every month and year to sell their goods that they may help me for this they can do in carrying out my plan replied the king be so whenever thou wilt so he bade fetch and hundred men as a najran in sham and the king asked them have you not heard what hath performed the christians with the muslims yes answered they and he rejoined no ye that this woman hath devoted her life to the messiah and purposeth to go forth with you disguised as monotheists and muhammadans to work out a device which shall profit us and hinder the muslim from us say then are ye also willing to devote yourselves to the anointed and I will give you a quintal of gold he of you who escapeth shall have the money and him of you who died with the messiah reward oh king replied they we will devote our lives to the messiah and we will be thy sacrifice for the ugod woman he took all she required of aromatic roots and placed them in water which she boiled over the fire till the black essence of them was extracted she waited till the decoction was cold then dipped a corner of a long kerchief therein and stained her face therewith moreover she donned over her clothes a long gabadine with an embroidered border Afterwards went into the king Aphrodon, who knew her not, nor did any of his companions know her, till she discovered herself to them. And there was none in the assembly but who thanked and praised her for her cunning, and her son rejoiced and said, May the Messiah never fail thee! Thereupon she took with her the Syrian Christians, and set out for the army of Baghdad. And Charasad perceived the dawn of day, and ceased saying her permitted say. End of Section 33 of the Book of a Thousand Nights and a Night, Vol. 2 Read by Lars Rolander