 Section 28, Vol. 3 of the Book of a Thousand Nights and a Night. Translated by Richard Burton. This is a LibriVox recording. Our 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, Vol. 3, Section 28. When it was the one hundred and eighty-fourth night, she said, It hath reached me, O specious king, that Kamar al-Saman said to himself, By Allah, when I see dawn I will say to my sire, Marry me to her that I may enjoy her. Nor will I let half the day pass ere I possess her, And take my fill of her beauty and loveliness. Then he bent over Buddha to buzz her, Where at the Jinnah Imaimuna trembled and was abashed, And darnished the ifrit was like to fly for joy. But as Kamar al-Saman was about to kiss her upon the mouth, He was ashamed before Allah, and turned away his head, And averted his face, saying to his heart, Have patience. Then he took thought a while and said, I will be patient. Happily my father, when he was wroth with me, And sent me to this jail, may have wroth my young lady, And made her lie by my side to try me with her, And may have charged her not to be readily awakened When I would arouse her, and may have said to her, What everything Kamar al-Saman do to thee, Make me wear thereof, or be like my sire, Standeth hidden in some stead, whence, Being himself unseen, he can see all I do with this young lady. And tomorrow he will scold me and cry, How cometh it that thou sayest, I have no mind to marry, And yet thou didst kiss and embrace John the damsel. So I will withhold myself lest I be ashamed before my sire, And the right and proper thing to do is not to touch her at this present, Nor even to look upon her, except to take from her somewhat Which shall serve as a token to me, and a memorial of her, That some sign endure between me and her. Then Kamar al-Saman raised the young lady's hand, And took from her little finger a seal ring, Worth an immense amount of money, For that it be sealed was a precious jewel, And around it were graven these couplets. Count not that I your promises forgot, Despite the length of your delinquences, Be generous, O my lord, to me inclining, Happily your mouth and cheeks these lips may kiss, By Allah never will I relinquish you, Albeit you will transgress love's boundaries. Then Kamar al-Saman took the seal ring from the little finger Of Queen Buddha and set it on his own, Then turning his back to her went to sleep. When Maimuna the genie I saw this she was glad And said to Dhanash and Kashkash, So ye how my beloved Kamar al-Saman bore himself Chastly towards this young lady, Verily this was of the perfection of his good gifts, For observed you twain how he looked on her, And noted her beauty and loveliness, Yet embraced her not, neither kissed her, Nor put his hand to her, but turned his back and slept. Answered they, even so. Thereupon Maimuna changed herself into a flea, And entering into the raiment of Buddha, The love of Dhanash crept up her calf And came upon her thigh, and reaching a place Some four carats below her navel there bit her. Thereupon she opened her eyes, and sitting up in bed, Saw a youth lying beside her, and breathing heavily in his sleep, The loveliest of all mighty Allah's creatures, With eyes that put to shame the fairest hoarse of heaven, And a mouth like Solomon's seal, whose water was sweeter To the taste and more effaceous than Theria, And lips the color of coral stone, And cheeks like the blood-red anemone, Even a set one describing him in these couplets. My minds withdrawn from Sainab and Nawar, By rosy cheeks that growth of Myrtelbeer, I love a fawn a tunic-vested boy, And leave the love of bracelet wearing fair, My mate in hall and closet is unlike, Her that I play with as at home we pair. O thou who blames my flight from Hind and Sainab, The course is clear as dawn, uplighting air, Wouldst have me fairer slave, the thrull of thrull, Cribbed, penned, confined behind the bar and wall. Now when Prince Buddha saw him, She was seized by transport of passion, And journeying and love-longing, And Charasad perceived the dawn of day, And ceased saying her permitted say. When it was the one hundred and eighty-fifth night, She said, it hath reached me, O auspicious king, That when Princess Buddha saw Kamar al-Saman, She was forthwith seized with the transport of passion, And journeying and love-longing, And she said to herself, Alas, my shame! This is a strange youth, and I know him not. How cometh he to be lying by my side on one bed? Then she looked at him a second time, And noting his beauty and loveliness said, By Allah, he is indeed a comely youth, And my heart is well night-torn in sundar, With longing for him. But Alas, how am I shamed by him? By the Almighty had I known it was this youth Who sought me in marriage of my father, I had not rejected him, But I had wived with him and enjoyed his loveliness. Then she gazed in his face and said, O my lord and light of my eyes, Awake from sleep and take thy pleasure In my beauty and grace. And she moved him with her hand, But Maimuna the Jinnah let down sleep upon him As it were a curtain, And pressed heavily on his head with her wings, So that Kamar al-Saman awoke not. Then Princess Buddha shook him with her hands and said, My life on thee harkened to me, Awake and up from thy sleep and look on the Narcissus And the tender down thereon, And enjoy the sight of naked waist and navel, And tussle me and tumble me from this moment Till break of day. Allah upon thee, O my lord, Sit up and prop thee against the pillow And slumber not. Still Kamar al-Saman made her no reply, But breathed hard in his sleep. Continued she, Allah's, Allah's, Thou art insolent in thy beauty and comeliness And grace and loving looks. But if thou art handsome, so am I handsome. What then is this thou dust? Have they taught thee to float me, Or hath my father the wretched old fellow Made thee swear not to speak to me tonight? But Kamar al-Saman opened not his mouth neither aboak, Whereet her passion for him redoubled, And Allah inflamed her heart with love of him. She stole one glance of ice That cost her a thousand sighs, Her heart fluttered, And her vitals throbbed, And her hands and feet quivered. And she said to Kamar al-Saman, Talk to me, O my lord, Speak to me, O my friend, Answer me, O my beloved, And tell me thy name, For indeed thou hast ravished my wit. And during all this time he abode drowned in sleep And answered her not a word. And Princess Buddha sighed and said, Allah's, Allah's, Why art thou so proud and self-satisfied? Then she shook him and turning his hand over, Saw her seal ring on his little finger, Whereet she cried a loud cry, And followed it with a sigh of passion and said, Allah, Allah, By Allah thou art my beloved, And thou lovest me, Yet thou seems to turn thee away from me Out of cockatry. For all, O my darling, Thou camest to me, Whilst I was asleep and knew not What thou didst with me, Focused my seal ring, And yet I will not pull it off thy finger. So, saying, she opened the bosom of his shirt And bent over him and kissed him And put forth her hand to him, Seeking somewhat that she might take as a token, But found nothing. Then she thrust her hand into his breast, And because of the smoothness of his body It slipped down to his waist And thence to his navel, And thence to his yard, Upon her heart ached and her vitals quivered, And lust was sore upon her, For that the desire of women is fiercer Than the desire of men. And she was ashamed of her own shamelessness. Then she plucked his seal ring from his finger, And put it on her own instead of the ring he had taken, And boosted his inner lips and hands. Nor did she leave any part of him unkissed, After which she took him to her breast And embraced him, and laying one over hands under his neck, And the other under his armpit nestled close to him, And fell asleep by his side. And Charasal perceived the dawn of day And ceased to say her permitted say. When it was the one hundred and eighty-sixth night She said, It hath reached me, o auspicious king, That when Princess Buddha fell asleep By the side of Kamaralsaman, After doing that which she did, Quoth Maimuna to Danish. Night thou overcursed, How proudly and coquettishly My beloved bore himself, And how hotly and passionately Thy mistress showed herself to my dearling. There can be no doubt that My beloved is handsomer than thine. Nevertheless I pardon thee. Then she wrote him a document Of manumission, and turned to Kashkash And said, Go help Danish to take up his mistress And aid him to carry her back to her own place For the night waineth apace And there is but little left of it. I hear and I obey, answered Kashkash. So the two ifrits went forward to Princess Buddha And upracing her flew away with her. Then bearing her back to her own place They laid her on her bed Was Maimuna abode alone with Kamaralsaman Gazing upon him as he slept Till the night was all but spent When she went her way. As soon as morning morrowed The prince awoke from sleep And turned right and left But found not the maiden by him And said in his mind, What is this business? It is as if my father would incline me to marriage With a damsel who was with me And have now taken her away by stealth To the intent that my desire for wedlock may redouble. Then he called out to the eunuch Who slept at the door saying, Woe to thee, O damned one! Arise at once! So the eunuch rose bemused with sleep And brought him basin and ewer Whereupon Kamaralsaman entered the water-closet And did his need. Then, coming out, made the wussur ablution And prayed the dawn prayer After which he sat telling on his beats The ninety and nine names of Almighty Allah. Then he looked up and seeing The eunuch standing in service upon him said, Out on thee, O Savab! Who was it came hither And took away the young lady from my side And I still sleeping? Asked the eunuch, O my lord, what manner of young lady! The young lady who lay with me last night Replied Kamaralsaman. The eunuch was startled at his words And said to him, By Allah there hath been with thee Neither young lady nor other How should young lady have come into thee When I was sleeping in the doorway And the door was locked? By Allah, O my lord, Neither male nor female hath come into thee! Exclaimed the prince, Thou lyest! Thou pestilent slave! Is it of thy competence also To hoodwink me and refuse to tell me What is become of the young lady Who lay with me last night And declined to inform me Who took her away? Replied the eunuch, And he was affrighted at him, By Allah, O my lord, I have seen neither young lady Nor young lord. His words only angered Kamaralsaman The more and he said to him, O accursed one! My father has indeed taught thee deceit! Come hither! So the eunuch came up to him And the prince took him by the collar And dashed him to the ground Whereupon he let fly a loud fart And Kamaralsaman kneeling upon him Kicked him and throttled him Till he fainted away. Then he dragged him forth And tied him to the well-rope And let him down like a bucket into the well And plunged him into the water And drew him up and lowered him down again. Now it was hard winter weather And Kamaralsaman ceased not to plunge The eunuch into the water And pull him up again And doze him and haul him Whilst he screamed and called for help. And the prince kept on saying, By Allah, O damned one! I will not draw thee up out of this well Till thou tell me and fully acquaint me With the story of the young lady And who it was took her away Whilst I slept. And Charasad perceived the dawn of day And ceased saying her permitted say. When it was the one hundred and eighty seventh night She said, It hath reached me, O spicious king, That Kamaralsaman said to the eunuch, By Allah, I will not draw thee up out of this well Until thou tell me the story of the young lady And who it was took her away whilst I slept. Answered the eunuch after he had seen death Staring him in the face. O my lord, let me go, And I will relay to thee the truth And the whole tale. So Kamaralsaman pulled him up out of the well All but dead for suffering What with cold and the pain of dipping and dosing Drubbing and dreed of drowning. He shook lacane in hurricanes, His teeth were clenched as by cramp, And his clothes were drenched and his body befouled And torn by the rough sides of the well. Briefly he was in a sad pickle. Now when Kamaralsaman saw him in this sorry plight He was concerned for him. But as soon as the eunuch found himself On the floor he said to him, O my lord, let me go and doff my clothes And wring them out and spread them in the sun to dry And on others, after which I will return to thee Forthwith and tell thee the truth of the matter. Answered the prince, O rascal slave, Hadst thou not seen death face to face Never hadst thou confessed to fact Nor told me a word, but go now and do thy will And then come back to me at once And tell me the truth. Thereupon the eunuch went out, Hardly crediting his escape, And ceased not running, Stumbling and rising in his haste Till he came into King Shariman, Whom he found sitting at talk With his vassir of Kamaralsaman's case. The king was saying to the minister, I slept not last night For anxiety concerning my son Kamaralsaman, And indeed I fearlessed some harm Befall him in that old tower. What good was there in imprisoning him? Answered the vassir, Had no care for him, By Allah no harm will befall him, None at all, leave him in prison For a month till his temper yield, And his spirit be broken, And he return to his senses. As the two spoke, Behold, uprushed the eunuch In the aforesaid plight, Making to the king who was Troubled at sight of him, And he cried, O our Lord the Sultan, Verily thy sons which are fled, And he hath gone mad. He hath dealt with me thus and thus, So that I am come as thou ceased me. And he kept saying, A young lady lay with me this night, And stole away secretly whilst I slept. Where is she? And he insisted on my letting him know Where she is, And on my telling him who took her away. But I have seen neither girl nor boy. The door was locked all through the night, For I slept before it with the key under my head, And I opened to him in the morning with my own hand. When King Shariman heard this, He cried out, saying, Allah is my son! And he was enraged with sore rage Against the vassir, Who had been the cause of all this case, And said to him, Go up, bring me news of my son, And see what hath befallen his mind. So the vassir rose, And stumbling over his long skirts In his fear of the king's wrath, Hastened with a slave to the tower. Now the son had risen, And when the minister came in To Kamar al-Saman, He found him sitting on the couch, Reciting the Quran. So he saluted him, And seated himself by his side, And said to him, The wretched eunuch brought us tidings, Which troubled and alarmed us, And which incensed the king. Asked Kamar al-Saman, And what hath he told you of me To trouble my father? In good sooth he hath troubled none but me. Answered the vassir, He came to us in fulsome state, And told us of thee a thing Which heaven forfend. And the slave added a lie Which it befitted not to repeat. Allah preserve thy youth And sound sense and tongue of eloquence And forbid to come from the alt of offence. Quoth the prince, O vassir, and what thing Did this pestilent slave say of me? The minister replied, He told us that thy wits Had taken leave of thee, And thou wouldst have it That a young lady lay with thee last night, And thou west instant with him To tell thee whither she went, And thou didst torture him to that end. But when Kamar al-Saman heard these words, He was enraged with sore rage, And he said to the vassir, This manifest to me in very deed That you people taught the unit to do as he did. And Sharassad perceived the dawn of day And ceased to say her permitted say. End of section 28 of the Book of a Thousand Nights and a Night, Volume 3. Read by Losch Rolander. Section 29, 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 Ethan Rampton. The Book of a Thousand Nights and a Night, Volume 3, Section 29. When it was the one hundred and eighty-eighth night, She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious king, That when Kamar al-Saman heard the words of the vassir, He was enraged with sore rage, And said to him, This manifest to me in very deed That you people taught the unit to do as he did, And forbade him to tell me what became He who lay with me last night. But thou, O wasir, are cleverer than the eunuch, So do thou tell me, without stay or delay, Wither went the young lady who slept on my bosom last night. For it was you who sent her, And bade her steep in my embrace, And we lay together till dawn. But when I awoke, I found her not. So where is she now? Said the wasir, O my Lord Kamar al-Saman, Allah's name encompass thee about. By the Almighty we sent none to thee last night, But thou layest alone, With the door locked on thee, And the eunuch sleeping behind it. Nor did there come to the young lady or any other. Regain thy reason, O my Lord, And establish thy senses, And occupy not thy mind with vanities. Rejoined Kamar al-Saman, Who was incensed at his words, O wasir, The young lady in question is my beloved, The fair one with the black eyes and rosy cheeks, Whom I held in my arms all last night. So the minister wondered at his words And asked him, Didst thou see this damsel last night With thine own eyes on wake or in sleep? Answered Kamar al-Saman, O ill-olm and old man, Dost thou fancy I saw her with my ears? Indeed I saw her with my very eyes and awake, And I touched her with my hand, And I watched by her full half the night, Feeding my vision on her beauty and loveliness And grace and tempting looks. But you had schooled her, And charged her to speak no word to me. So she feigned sleep, And I lay by her side till dawn, When I awoke and found her gone. Rejoined the wasir, O my lord Kamar al-Saman, Happily thou sawest this in thy sleep. It must have been a delusion of dreams, Or a deception caused by eating various kinds of food, Or a suggestion of the accursed devils. Cried the prince, O pestilent old man, Will thou too make a mock of me And tell me this was happily a delusion of dreams? When that unit confessed to the young lady saying, At once I will return to thee And tell thee all about her. With these words he sprang up and rushed at the wasir, And gripped hold of his beard, Which was long, And after gripping it he twisted his hand in it, And hailing him off the couch, Threw him on the floor. It seemed to the minister as though his soul Departed his body For the violent plucking at his beard, And Kamar al-Saman ceased not kicking the wasir And basting his breast and ribs And cuffing him with open hand on the nape of his neck, Till he had well nigh beaten him to death. Then said the old man in his mind, Just as the eunuch slave saved his life From this lunatic youth by telling him a lie, Thus it is even fitter that I do likewise, Else he will destroy me. So now for my lie to save myself, He being mad beyond a doubt. Then he turned to Kamar al-Saman And said, O my lord, pardon me, For indeed thy father charged me To conceal from thee this affair of the young lady, But now I am weak and weary And wounded with funding. For I am an old man and lack strength And bottom to endure blows. Have, therefore, a little patience with me, And I will tell thee all And acquaint thee with the story of the young woman. When the prince heard this, He left off rubbing him and said, Wherefore couldst thou not tell me the tale Until after shame and blows? Rise now, unlucky old man, that thou art, And tell me her story. Quote the wasir, say, Thus thou ask of the young lady With the fair face and perfect form. Quote Kamar al-Saman, even so. Tell me, O wasir, Who it was that led her to me And laid her by my side. And who was it that took her away from me by night? And let me know forthright Whither she is gone, But I myself may go to her at once. If my father did this deed to me That he might try me by means Of that beautiful girl, With a view to our marriage, I consent to web her and free myself Of this trouble. But now I consent, and I say again, I consent to matrimony. So tell this to my father, O wasir, And advise him to marry me to that young lady, For I will have none other, And my heart-loved nun save her alone. Now rise up at once, and haste thee to my father, And counsel him to hurry on our wedding, And bring me his answer within this very hour. Rejoin the wasir, tis well, And went forth from him, Hardly believing himself out of his hands. Then he set off from the tower, Walking and tripping up as he was, For excess of fright and agitation, And he ceased not hurrying till he came in To King Shariman, and Sharazad perceived The dawn of day, and ceased saying Her permitted say. When it was the one hundred and eighty-ninth Night, she said, It hath reached me, O auspicious king, That the wasir fared forth from the tower, And ceased not running till he came Into King Shariman, who said to him As he cited him, O thou wasir, What man hath brought thee to grief, O thou wasir, O thou wasir, What man hath brought thee to grief, And whose mischief hath treated thee In way unleaf. How happeneth it that I see thee dumbfounded And come to me thus astounded? Replied the wasir, O king, I bring thee good news. And what is it, quote Shariman, And quote the wasir, know that thy son Kamar al-Zaman's wits are clean gone And that he hath become stark mad? Now when the king heard these words Of the minister, light became darkness In his sight, and he said, O wasir, Make clear to me the nature of his madness. Answered the wasir, O my lord, I hear and I obey. Then he told him that such and such Had passed, and acquainted him With all that his son had done. Whereupon the king said to him, Here, O wasir, the good tidings Which I give thee in return for this Thy fair news of my son's insanity And it shall be the cutting off Of thy head, and the forfeiture Of my favor, almost ill omen of wasirs And foulest of emirs. For I feel that thou hast caused My son's disorder by the wicked advice And the sinister counsel thou hast Given me first and last. By Allah, if ought of mischief From madness have befallen my son, I will most assuredly nail thee Upon the palace dome, and make thee Drain the bitterest draught of death. Then he sprang up, and taking The wasir with him, fared straight For the tower, and entered it. And when Kamar al-Zaman saw the two, He rose to his father in haste Whereon he sat, and kissing his hands Drew back and hung down his head And stood before him with his arms behind him And thus remained for a full hour. Then he raised his head towards his sire, The tears gushed from his eyes And streamed down his cheeks, And he began repeating, Forgive the sin neath which my limbs Are trembling, for the slave Seeks for mercy from his master. I have done a fault which calls For free confession, where shall I call for mercy and forgiveness. When the king heard this, He arose and embraced his son, And kissing him between the eyes Made him sit by his side on the couch. Then he turned to the wasir, And looking on him with eyes of wrath, Said, O dog of wasirs, How didst thou say of my son Such and such things, And make my heart quake for him? Then he turned to the prince, And said, O my son, what is today called? He answered, O my father, This day is the Sabbath, And tomorrow is first day. Then comes second day, third, Fourth, fifth, and lastly Friday. Exclaimed the king, O my son, O Kamar al-Zaman, Praise be Allah For the preservation of thy reason. What is the present month called In our Arabic? Zul Qadah answered Kamar al-Zaman, And it is followed by Zul Hijjah. Then comeeth Muharram, Then Safar, Then Rabi'ah the first, and Rabi'ah the Second, the two Jamathas, Rajab, Shahaban, Ramazan, and Shawwal. At this the king rejoiced exceedingly, And spat in the wasir's face, Saying, O wicked old man, How canst thou say that my son is mad, And now none is mad but thou? Whereupon the minister shook his head, And would have spoken, But we thought himself to wait a while, And see what might next befall. Then the king said to his child, O my son, what words be these That leadest to the eunuch and the wasir, Declaring, I was sleeping with a fair damsel this night. What damsel is this of whom thou speakest? Then Kamar al-Zaman laughed at his father's words, And replied, O my father, Know that I can bear no more jesting, So add me not another mock, Or even a single word on the matter, For my temper hath waxed short By that you have done with me. And know, O my father, with assured knowledge, That I consent to marry, But on condition that thou give me to wife By my side this night. For I am certain it was thou sentest her to me, And madeest me in love with her, And then dispatched the message to her Before the dawn, and took her away from beside me. Rejoined the king, The name of Allah encompassed the about, O my son, and be thy wit preserved From witlessness. And Sharazad perceived the dawn of day, And ceased to say her permitted say. When it was the one hundred and ninetyth night, She said, it hath reached me, O auspicious king, For I am unto his son Kamar al-Zaman, The name of Allah encompassed the about, O my son, and be thy wit preserved From witlessness. What thing be this young lady, Whom I fanciest I sent to thee last night, And then again that I sent to withdraw her From thee before dawn. By the Lord, O my son, I know nothing of this affair, And Allah upon thee tell me If it be a delusion of dreaming Or deception caused by indisposition. For verily thou layest down to sleep In marriage, and troubled with the talk of it, Allah damned marriage in the hour When I spake of it, and cursium who counseled it. And without doubt or diffidence I can say the Dean moved in mind By the mention of wedlock, Thou dreamest that a handsome young lady Embrace thee, and did fancy Thou sawest her when awake. But all this, O my son, Is but an embryo of dreams. Replied Kamar al-Zaman, Leave this talk, and swear to me by Allah, The all-creator, the omniscient, The killer of the tyrant-ceasers, And the destroyer of the chosros, That thou knowest not of the young lady Nor of her welling place. Quote the King, by the might of Allah almighty, The God of Moses and Abraham, I know not of all this, And never even heard of it. It is assuredly a delusion of dreams Thou hast seen in sleep. Then the Prince replied to his sire, I will give thee a self-evident proof That it happened to me when on wake. And Sharazad perceived the dawn of day Saying her permitted say. When it was the one hundred and ninety-first Night, she said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, That Kamar al-Zaman said to his sire, I will give thee a self-evident proof That this happened to me when on wake. Now let me ask thee, Did it ever befall any man to dream That he was battling a sore battle, And after to awake from sleep And find in his hand a sore blade Besmeared with blood? Answer the King, know by Allah, Rejoin Kamar al-Zaman, I will tell thee what happened to me And it was this. Me seemed I awoke from sleep In the middle of the past night And found a girl lying by my side Whose form was like mine And whose favor was as mine. I embraced her and turned her about With my hand, and took her seal-ring Which I put on my finger, And she pulled off my ring And put it on hers. Then I went to sleep by her side, Deeming that thou hast sent her to me, Intending to tempt me with her And incline me to marriage, Unsuspecting thee to be hidden somewhere Whence thou couldst see what I did with her. And I was ashamed even to kiss her On the mouth for thy account, Thinking over this temptation to wedlock. And when I awoke at point of day, I found no trace of her, Nor could I come at any news of her, And there befell me what thou knowest of With the eunuch and with the wazir. How, then, can this case have been The ring is a reality? Say, for her ring on my finger I should indeed have deemed it a dream. But here is the ring on my little finger. Look at it, O King, And see what is its worth. So, saying, he handed the ring to his father, Who examined it and turned it over, Then looked to his son and said, Verily, there is in this ring Some mighty mystery and some strange secret. What befell thee last night with the girl Is indeed a hard nut to crack, And I know not how intruded upon us this intruder. None is the cause of all this Poshers save the wazir. But allow upon thee, O my son, Take patience, so happily the lord May turn to gladness this thy grief And to thy sadness bring complete relief. As, quote one of the poets, Happily shall fortune draw her reign And bring fair chance, for she Is changeful, jealous, vain. Still I may womb I want And wishes win, and see on Heels of care unfair the fain. And now, O my son, I am certified at this hour That thou art not mad, but by case Is a strange one which none can clear up For thee save the Almighty. Cried the prince by Allah, O my father, Deal kindly with me and seek out This young lady, and hasten her coming To me, else I shall die of woe And of my death shall no one know. Then he betrayed the ardour of his Passion, and turned towards His father, and repeated these Two couplets. If your promise of Personal call prove untrue, In division to grant me an interview, Quote they how can phantom appear To the sight of a youth whose sight Is foredone, perdue. Then after ending his poetry, Kamar al-Zaman again turned to His father, with submission And despondency, and shedding tears And flood, began repeating these Lines, and Sharazad perceived The dawn of day, and ceased To say her permitted say. When it was the one hundred and Ninety-second night, she said To the suspicious king, that when Kamar al-Zaman had repeated to His father these verses, he wept And complained, and groaned from A wounded heart, and added these Lines. Beware that I glance Which hath magic might. Wherever turn those orbs it Bars our flight, nor be deceived By low sweet voice that breeds A fever festering in the heart And spright. So soft that silky Skin were rose to touch it, She'd cry and tear-dropped And fright. Did Zephyr Ean and sleep pass o'er her land Centred he chose to dwell in Centred sight. Her necklets vie With twinkling of her belt, her wrists Strike either wristlet dumb with Spite. When upon her bangles Bust those rings in ear, upon The lover's eye in high mysteries Light. I'm blamed for love Of her, nor pardon claim. Eyes are not profiting which lack Forsight. Heaven strip thee, blame Of mine, unjust art thou. For this fallen must every eye Low bow. After which he said By Allah, O my father, I Cannot endure to be parted from her Even for an hour. The king smote Hand upon hand and exclaimed, There is no majesty and there is no Might-saving Allah, the glorious, the Great. No cunning contrivance Can profit us in this affair. Then he took his son by the hand And carried him to the palace Where Kamar al-Zaman lay down On the bed of Langer, and the king And mourning over him, and leaving him Not night or day, till at last The wazir came into him and said, O king of the age and the time, How long will thou remain shut up With thy son, and hide thyself From thy troops? Happily the order Of thy realm may be deranged, by Reason of thine absence from thy grand Ease and officers of state. He Beholdeth the man of understanding, If he have various wounds in his body To apply him first to medicine The most dangerous. So it is my That thou remove thy son from this place To the pavilion which is in the palace Overlooking the sea, and shut thyself Up with him there, setting apart in Every week two days, Thursday and Monday, for state receptions and Progresses and reviews. On these Days let's shine in mirrors and wazirs And chamberlains and viceroy's And high officials and grandees Of the realm, and the rest of the Levies and alleges have access to Thee, and submit their affairs to Thee. And do thou their needs, and judge And give, and take with them, and bid And forbid. And the rest of the week Thou shalt pass with thy son, Camaral Zaman, and cease not thus doing till Alar shall vouchsafe relief to you Twain. Think not, O king, that thou Art safe from the shifts of time And the strokes of change which Come like a traveller in the night For the wise man is ever on his Guard, and how well set the poet Thou dimest well of time when Days went well, and fear it's Not what ills might bring thee The nights so fair and restful Cozindy, for peaceful nights bring Woes of heavy weight, on children Of mankind whom time befriends Beware of time's deceits, or soon Or late. When the sultan heard his wazirs Words, he saw that they were right And deemed his counsel wise, and It had effect upon him, for he feared Lest the order of the state be deranged So he rose at once, and bade transport His son from his sick room to the Pavilion in the palace overlooking Now this palace was goat-round by the Waters, and was approached by a Causeway, twenty cubits wide. It had windows on all sides commanding An ocean view. His floor was paved With party-colored marbles, and Its ceiling was painted in the Richest pigments, and figured with Gold and lapis lazuli. They Furnished it for Camaral's Amon with splendid upholstery, Embroidered rugs and carpets of The richest silk, and they clothed The walls with choice brocades, And items of price. In the midst They set him a couch of juniper wood Inlaid with pearls and jewels, and Camaral's Amon sat down thereon, But the excess of his concern and Passion for the young lady had Wasted his charms, and emaciated His body. He could neither eat, nor Drink, nor sleep, and he was Like a man who had been sick twenty Years of sore sickness. His father Seated himself at his head, Grieving for him with the deepest Grief, and every Monday and Thursday In the mirrors and chamberlands and Viceroy's, and lords of the realm And levies, and the rest of his Leages leave to come up to him in That pavilion. So they entered and Did their several service and duties, And abode with him till the end of The day, when they went their ways, And the king returned to his son in The pavilion, whom he left not Night nor day. And he ceased Not doing on this wise for many Days and nights. Such was the Case with Camaral's Amon, son Princess Badua, daughter of King Gayur, lord of the Isles and the Seven palaces. When the two Jins bore her up and laid her on her Bed, she slept till daybreak, when She awoke and sitting upright looked Right and left, but saw not the Youth who had lain in her bosom. At this her vitals fluttered, her Reason fled, and she shrieked a Loud shriek which awoke all her Sleighgirls and nurses and Duenas. They flocked into her, and The chief of them came forward Lady. Answered the princess, oh Wretched old woman, where is my Beloved, the handsome youth who Lay last night in my bosom. Tell me whether he is gone. Now when the duena heard this, the Light stockened in her sight, and She feared from her mischief with Sorefright, and said to her, oh My Lady Badua, what unseemly Words are these? cried the Princess, woe to thee, pestilent Crone that thou art. I ask thee Again, where is my beloved, the And the slender form, the jetty eyes And the joined eyebrows, who lay With me last night from suppertide Until near daybreak. She rejoined By Allah, oh my Lady, I have Seen no young man nor any Other. I conjure thee, carry Not this unseemly just too far Lest we all lose our lives, for Perhaps the joke may come to Thy father's ears, and who Shall then deliver us from his Hand. And Sharazad perceived the Dawn of day, and ceased to Lest we all lose our lives. When it was the one hundred and Ninety-third night she said, it Hath reached me, oh auspicious king, That the Dwana bespake the Lady Badua in these words. Allah Upon me, oh my Lady, carry Not this unseemly just too far, For perhaps it may come to Thy father's ears, and who Shall then deliver us from his Hand. The Princess rejoined. In very sooth a youth lay With me last night, one of The fairest face of men, exclaimed The Dwana, heaven preserve thy Reason indeed, no one lay With thee last night. There Upon the Princess looked at her Hand, and finding Kamar Al-Zaman Seal ring on her finger instead Of her own, said to her, woe To thee thou accursed, thou Traitress, wilt thou lie to Me, and tell me that none lay With me last night, and swear To me a falsehood in the name Of the Lord? Replied the Dwana, by Allah I do not Censed by her words, and drawing A sword she had by her, she smote The old woman with it, and slew Her. Whereupon the eunuch and the Waiting women and the concubines Cried out at her, and ran To her father, and without Stay or delay acquainted him With her case. So the king went To her, and asked her, oh My daughter, what ale At thee? And she answered, oh My father, where is the youth Who lay with me last night? Then her reason fled from her And she cast her eyes right and left And rent her raiment even to the skirt. When her sire saw this he Bade the women lay hands on her So they seized her and manacled her Then putting a chain of iron about her Neck made her fast to one of the palace Windows, and there left her. Thus far concerning Princess Boudour, but as regards her father King Gaior, the world was Straightened upon him when he saw What had befallen his daughter, for That he loved her and her case was Nervous to him. So he summoned On it the doctors and astrologers And men skilled in talisman writing And said to them, whoso Healeth my daughter of what ills she Hath, I will marry him to her And give him half of my kingdom. But whoso cometh to her and cureth Her not, I will strike off his head And hang it over her palace gate. Accordingly all who went into her But failed to heal her he beheaded And hung their heads over the palace gates. Till he had beheaded on her account Of forty doctors and crucified forty Astrologers, wherefore The general held the loop from her All the physicians having failed To medicine her malady, and her case Was a puzzle to the men of science And the adepts and cabalistic characters. And as her longing and passion Redoubled and love and distraction Were sore upon her, she poured For tears and repeated these Couplets, my fondness, oh My moon, for thee my fomen is And to thy comradeship The knights my thought compel And glue my bide with fire That flames below my ribs Whose low I may comparison With heat of hell. I'm plagued with the sores Stress of pine and ecstasy Nor clearest noontide Can that horrid pain dispel. Then she sighed And repeated these also Salams from me to friends And every stead Indeed to all dear friends And incline Salams, but not salams that bid At you, salams that growth Of good for you design. I love you dear indeed, Nor lest your land, but bide I far from every need of mine. And when the lady Boudours ceased repeating her poetry She wept till her eyes Wacked sore and her cheeks Changed form and hue, and in This condition she continued three years. Now she had a foster brother By name Marzawan, who was traveling In far lands and absent from her The whole of this time. He loved her with an exceeding love, Passing the love of brothers. So when he came back he went into his mother And asked for his sister the princess Boudours. She answered him, Oh, my son, Thy sister hath been smitten with madness And hath passed these three years With a chain of iron about her neck. And all the physicians and men of Science have failed of healing her. When Marzawan heard these words he said, I must needs go into her. Per adventure I may discover what she hath And be able to medicine her. And his mother replied, Needs must thou visit her, But wait till tomorrow that I may contrive Something to suit thy case. Then she went afoot to the palace Of the lady Boudours, and accosting The eunuch in charge of the gates, Made him a present and said to him, I have a daughter who was brought up With thy mistress, and since then I have waited her. And when that befell the princess Which befell her she became troubled And sore concerned. And I desire of thy favour that my Daughter may go into her for an hour And look on her, and then return When she came so shall none know of it. Quote the eunuch, this may not Be except by night after the king Have visited his child and gone away. Then come thou and thy daughter. So she kissed the eunuch's hand And returning home waited till tomorrow All, and when it was time she arose And sought her son Marzawan And attired him in women's apparel Then taking his hand in hers led Him toward the palace, and ceased Not walking with him till she came Upon the eunuch after the sultan Had ended his visit to the princess. Now when the eunuch saw her He rose to her and said, Enter, but do not prolong thy stay. So they went in, and when Marzawan beheld the lady Boudours In the aforesaid plight, he saluted After his mother had docked his woman's garb. Then he took out of their satchel Books he had brought with him, And lighting a wax candle he began To recite certain conjurations. Thereupon the princess looked at him, And recognizing him said, Oh, my brother, thou has been absent On thy travels, and thy news Have been cut off from us. He replied, True, but Allah Have brought me back safe and sound And I am now minded to set out Again, nor hath ought delayed Me but the news I hear of thee. Wherefore my heart burned for thee And I came to thee, so happily I may free thee of thy malady. She rejoined, Oh, my brother, Thinkest thou it as madness Aileth me? Yes, answered he. And she said, Not so, by Allah Tis even a saith the poet Quote they, thou rave'st On him thou lovest. Quote I, the sweets Of love are only for the Insane. Love never Makeeth time his friend be friend. Only the gin struck white Such boon can gain. Well, yes, I'm mad. Bring him who maddened me, And if he cure my madness, Blame restraint. Then she let Marzawan know That she was loved apt. And he said, Tell me concerning Thy tale and what befell thee Happily there may be in my hand Something which shall be a means And Shahzad perceived the dawn Of day, and ceased saying Her permitted say. When it was the one hundred And ninety-fourth night she said It hath reached me, O auspicious king, That Marzawan thus addressed Princess Boudour. Tell me concerning thy tale and what Befell thee, happily Allah May inspire me with a means of Deliverance for thee. Quote she, Oh, my brother, Hear my story which is this One night I awoke from sleep In the last third of the night And sitting up, saw by my side The handsomest of youths that be And tongue faileth to describe him For he was as a willow wand Or an Indian retan cane. So me thought it was my father Who had done on this wise, In order to thereby try me For that he had consulted me concerning Wedlock when the king sought me Of him to wife, and I had refused. It was this, though, which held me Browsing him, for I feared that If I did ought of embraced him He would per-adventure inform My father of my doings. But in the morning I found on my finger His seal ring in place of my own Which he had taken. And, O my brother, my heart was Seized with love of him at first sight And for the violence of my passion And longing I have never savored The taste of sleep, and have No occupation saved weeping away And repeating verses night and day. And this, O my brother, is my story And the cause of my madness. Then she poured forth tears And repeated these couplets. Now love had banished All the bread delight With that heart nibbling fawn My joys took flight. Lightest of trifles lovers' blood To him who wastes the vitals Of the hapless white. For him I'm jealous of my sight And thought. My heart expires upon my thought Those long-lashed eyelids Rain on me their shafts Guileful, destroying hearts Where ere they light. Now, O my portion in the world And yours shall I behold him ere I quit world sight. What bear I for his sake I'd hide But tears betray my feelings To the spies despite. When near our union Seemeth ever far When far my thoughts To him I nearest are. And presently she continued, See then, O my brother, How thou mayest aid me in mine affliction. So Marzawan bowed his head Groundwards a while, wondering And not knowing what to do. Then he raised it and said to her, All thou hast spoken to me I hold to be true, Though the case of the young man Pass my understanding. But I will go round about all lands And will seek for what may heal thee. Happily a law shall appoint thy healing To be at my hand. Meanwhile, take patience And be not disquieted. Thereupon Marzawan farewell'd her, Praying that she might be constant And left her repeating these couplets. Thine image ever companies my sprite For all thou art distant From the pilgrim's sight. My heart wishes ere attract thee near. What is the lightning speed To thought swift flight? Then go not thou, my very light of eyes, Which, when thou art gone, Lack all the coal of light. Then Marzawan returned to his mother's house Where he passed the night. And when the morrow dawned, Having equipped himself for his journey, He fared forth, and ceased not Faring from city to city And from island to island for a whole month, Till he came to a town named Altairab. There he went about Sending news of the townsfolk, So happily he might light on a cure For the princess's malady. For in every capital he entered Or passed by, it was reported That Queen Boudour, daughter Of King Gayour, had lost her wits. But arriving at Altairab city, He heard that Kamar Al-Zaman, Son of King Shahriman, Was fallen sick and afflicted With melancholy madness. So Marzawan asked the name Of the princess's capital, and they said to him, It is on the islands of Khalidan, And it lieth distant from our city A whole month's journey by sea. But by land it is six months' march. So he went down to the sea in a ship Which was bound for the Khalidan Isles. And she sailed with a favouring breeze For a whole month till they came Inside of the capital. And they remained for them but to make land, When, behold, there came out on them A tempestuous wind which carried away The mass and rent the canvas So that the sails fell into the sea And the ship capsized with all on board. And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day And ceased to say her permitted say. When it was the one hundred and ninety-fifth night She said, it hath reached me, O auspicious king, That when the ship capsized with all on board Each sought his own safety, And as for Marzawan the set of the sea Carried him under the king's palace, Wherein was Kamar Al-Zaman. And by the decree of destiny It so happened that this was the day On which King Shahiman gave audience To his grandees and high officers. And he was sitting with his son's head on his lap Whilst a eunuch fanned away the flies. And the prince had not spoken, Neither had he eaten nor drunk for two days. And he was grown thinner than a spindle. Now the wazir was standing respectfully a foot Near the lattice window giving on the sea And raising his eyes saw Marzawan Being beaten by the billows And at his last gasp. Whereupon his heart was moved to pity for him So he drew near to the king And moving his head toward him said, I crave thy leave, O king, To go down to the court of the pavilion And open the water gate That I may rescue a man who is at the point Of drowning in the sea And bring him forth of danger into deliverance. Per adventure on this account Allah may free thy son of what he hath. The king replied, O that wazir, Enough is that which hath befallen Through thee and on thine account. Happily if thou rescue this drowning man He will come to know our affairs And look on my son who is in this state And exalt over me. But I swear by Allah That if this half-drowned wretch Come hither and learn of our condition And look upon my son, And then fare forth and speak of our secrets To any, I will assuredly strike Off thy head before his. For thou, O my minister, Art the cause of all that hath Be tited us first and last. Now do as thou wilt. Thereupon the wazir sprang up And opening the private pasture In which gave upon the sea Descended to the causeway, Then walked on twenty steps And came to the water where he saw Marzawan nigh unto death. So he put out his hand to him And catching him by his hair Drew him ashore in a state of insensibility With belly full of water And eyes half out of his head. The wazir waited till he came to himself When he pulled off his wet clothes And clad him in a fresh suit Covering his head with one of his servant's turbans. After which he said to him Know that I have been the means Of saving thee from drowning. Do not thou requite me by causing My death and thine own. And Shahzad perceived the dawn of day And ceased saying her permitted say. When it was the one hundred and ninety-sixth The night she said, He reached me, O auspicious king, That when the wazir did to Marzawan What he did, he thus addressed him, Know that I have been the cause Of saving thee from drowning. So requite me not by causing My death and thine own. Asked Marzawan, And how so? And the wazir answered, Thou art at this hour About to go up and pass among Amirs and wazirs all of them Silent and none speaking Now when Marzawan heard The name of Kamar al-Zaman He knew that this was he whom He had heard spoken of in sundry cities And of whom he had come in search But he feigned ignorance And asked the wazir, And who is Kamar al-Zaman? Answered the minister, He is the son of Sultan Shahriman And he is sore sick And lieth strone on his couch Restless all way. Eating not nor drinking, Not nor day. Indeed he is nigh upon death And we have lost hope of his living And are certain that he is dying. Beware lest thou look too long on him Or thou look on any other than That where thou setest thy feet. Helps thou art a lost man And I also. He replied, Allah upon thee o wazir I implore thee of thy favour Acquaint me touching this youth, Thou describedest. He is. The wazir replied, I know none, save that three years ago His father required him to wed But he refused, Where at the king was wroth And imprisoned him. And when he awoke on the morrow He fancied that during the night He had been roused from sleep And had seen by his side A young lady of passing loveliness Whose charms tongue can never express And he assured us that he had Done likewise. But we know not the secret of all this business So by Allah o my son When thou comest up with me into the palace Look not on the prince But go thy way For the sultan's heart is full of wrath Against me. So said Marzawan to himself By Allah this is the one I sought Then he followed the wazir up to the palace Where the minister seated himself At the prince's feet. But Marzawan found forsooth Up to Kamar al-Zaman And stand before him at gaze Upon this the wazir Died of a fright in his skin And kept looking at Marzawan And signalling him to wind his way But he feigned not to see him And gave not over-gazing upon Kamar al-Zaman till he was well assured That it was indeed he whom he was seeking And Shah Hassan perceived the dawn of day And ceased to say her permitted say End of section 30 Of the book of a thousand nights And a night, volume 3 Section 31 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 Rebecca Case The book of a thousand nights And a night, volume 3 Section 31 When it was the 197th night She said It hath reached me, O auspicious king That when Marzawan looked upon Kamar al-Zaman And knew that it was indeed he Whom he was seeking He cried, Exalted be Allah Who hath made his shape Even as her shape And his complexion as her complexion And his cheek as her cheek Upon this Kamar al-Zaman opened his eyes And gave earnest ear to his speech And When Marzawan saw him inclining to hear He repeated these couplets I see thee full of song And plaint and love's own ecstasy Delighting in describing All the charms of loveliness Art smit by stroke of love Or hath shaft shot wounded thee None save the wounded Ever show such signals of distress Ho thou Crown the wine cup And sing me singular Praises to Salema Al-Rabab Tanum addressed Go round the grapevine sun Which for mansion hath a jar Whose east the cup-boy is And hear my mouth That opes for west I'm jealous of the very clothes That dare her sides enroll When she veils her dainty body The delicatest grace I envy every goblet of her lips That taketh toll When she sets the kissing cup On that sweetest kissing place But deem not By the keen-edged cimetar I'm slain, the hurts and harms I drear are from arrows Of her eyes I found her fingertips As I met her once again Deep reddened With the juice of the wood That ruddy dies And cried, Thy palms thou stainedest When far away was I And this is how thou Payest one distracted by his pine Quoth she And kindled in my heart A flame that burned high Speaking as one who cannot hide Of longing love the sign By thy life this is no die Used for dying So forbear thy blame Nor in charging me with falsing love Persist But when upon our parting day I saw these haste to fare The while were bared My hand and my elbow And my wrist I shed a flood of blood-red tears And with fingers brushed away Hence blood-redden Were the tips and still Blood-red they remain Had I wept before she wept To my longing love a prey Before repentance came I had quit my soul of pain But she wept before I wept And I wept to see her care And I said All the merit to precedent Blame me not for loving her Nor on self of love I swear For her sake For her only These pains my soul torment She hath all the lair of Lukman And Yusef's beauty leaf Sweet singer David's voice And Miriam's chastity While I've all Jacob's morning And Jonah's prison grief And the sufferings of Job And old Adam's history Yet kill her not Albeit of my love for her I die But ask her why my blood To her was lawful Ask her why? When Marzawan recited this ode The words fell upon Kamar al-Zaman's heart As freshness after fever And returning health And he sighed, and Turning his tongue in his mouth Said to his sire, Oh, my father, let this youth Come and sit by my side And Sheherazad perceived Marzawan of the day And ceased to say Her permitted say When it was the 198th night She said, it hath reached me O auspicious king That Kamar al-Zaman said to his sire Oh, my father, allow this youth To come and sit by my side Now when the king heard These words from his son He rejoiced with exceeding joy Though at the first His heart had been set against Marzawan The stranger's head Needs must be stricken off But when he heard Kamar al-Zaman speak His anger left him And he arose and drawing Marzawan to him Seated him by his son And turning to him said Praised be Allah for thy safety He replied, Allah preserve thee And preserve thy son to thee And call down blessings On the king Then the king asked From what country art thou? From the islands of the inland sea The kingdom of King Gahayur Lord of the isles And the seas and the seven palaces Quote King Shaharaman Maybe thy coming shall be Blessed to my son And all of out safe to heal What is in him Quote Marzawan Inshallah Not shall be save what shall be Well Then turning to Kamar al-Zaman He said to him in his ear Unheard of the king and his court O my lord, be of good cheer And hearten thy heart And let thine eyes be cool and clear And with respect to her For whose sake thou art thus Ask not of her case On thine account But thou keepest thy secret and fell sick While she told her secret And they said she had gone mad So she is now in prison With an iron chain about her neck In most piteous plight But Allah willing The healing of both of you shall come From my hand Now when Kamar al-Zaman heard these words His life returned to him And he took heart and felt a thrill of joy And signed to his father To help him sit up And the king was like to fly for gladness And rose hastily and lifted him up Presently Of his fear for his son He shook the kerchief of dismissal And all the Imars And Wazir's withdrew Then he set two pillows For his son to lean upon After which he bathed in perfume the palace With saffron and decorate the city Saying to Marzawan By Allah, O my son Of a truth thine aspect be a lucky And a blessed And he made as much of him as he might And called for food And when they brought it Marzawan came up to the prince Eat with me So he obeyed him and ate with him And all the while the king invoked blessings On Marzawan and said How auspicious is thy coming, O my son! And when the father saw his boy eat His joy and gladness redoubled And he went out And told the prince's mother And all the household Then he spread throughout the palace The good news of the prince's recovery And the king commanded the decoration Of the city and it was a day Of high festival Marzawan passed that night With Qamar al-Zaman And the king also slept with them In joy and delight for his son's recovery And Sheherazad perceived the dawn of day And ceased saying Her permitted say When it was the 199th night She said It hath reached me, O auspicious king That King Sheheraman Also passed that night with them In the excess of his joy And when the next morning dawned And the king had gone away And the two young men were left alone Qamar al-Zaman told his story From beginning to end To Marzawan who said In very sooth I know her With whom thou didst foregather Her name is the princess Boudour And she is daughter to King Qahayur Then he related to him All that had passed with the princess From first to last And equated him with the excessive love She bore him saying All that befell thee with thy father Hath be fallen her with hers And thou art without doubt her beloved Even as she is thine So brace up thy resolution And take heart For I will bring thee to her And unite you both anon And deal with you even as sayeth the poet I'll bade to lover at verse Be his love And show aversion how so May he care Yet will I manage That their persons meet Even as the pivot of a scissors pair And he ceased not to comfort and solace And encouraged Qamar al-Zaman And urged him to eat and drink Till he ate food And drank wine And life returned to him And he was saved from his ill case And Marzawan cheered him And diverted him with talk And songs and stories And he became free of his disorder And stood up And sought to go to the Hamam So Marzawan took him by the hand And both went to the bath Where they washed their bodies And made them clean And Sheherazad perceived the dawn of day And ceased to say Her permitted say When it was the two hundredth night She said It hath reached me, O waspicious king That when Qamar al-Zaman Of King Sheheraman Went to the Haman His father in his joy at this event Freed the prisoners And presented splendid dresses To his grandees And bestowed large alms gifts upon the poor And they decorate the city seven days Then quote Marzawan To Qamar al-Zaman No, oh my lord That I came not from the Lady Boudour Saved for this purpose And the object of my journey Was the present case And it remained for us only to devise How we may get to her Since thy father cannot brook the thought Of parting from thee So it is my counsel That tomorrow thou askest leave To go abroad hunting Then do thou take with thee A pair of saddlebags full of money And mount a swift steed And lead a spare horse And I will do the like And say to thy sire Myself with hunting the desert And to see the open country And there to pass one night Suffer not any servant to follow us For as soon as we reach the open country We will go our ways Qamar al-Zaman rejoiced in this plan With great joy and cried It is good Then he stiffened his back And, going into his father Saw his leave And spoke as he had been taught And the king consented To his going forth hunting And said, O my son Blessed be the day That restores thee to health I will not gain say in this But pass not more than one night In the desert And return to me on the morrow For thou knowest that life is not good To me without thee And indeed I can hardly believe thee To be wholly recovered from what thou haddest Because thou art to me As he of whom quote the poet Albeit by me I had through day and night Solomon's carpet And the crossaurus mite Both were in value less Than wing of nat Unless these iron could hold The eye in sight Then the king equipped his son Qamar al-Zaman And Marzawan for the excursion Bidding make ready for them Four horses together With a dromedary To carry the money And a camel to bear the water And belly timber And Qamar al-Zaman forbade Any of his attendants to follow him His father farewelled him And pressed him to his breast And kissed him saying I ask thee in the name of Allah Be not absent from me more than one night Wherein sleep will be Unlawful to me For I am even as sayeth the poet Thou present In the heaven of heavens I dwell Bearing my absence is of hell's My hell Pledged be for thee my soul If love for thee be crime My crime is of the fellest fell Does love lull burn thy heart As burns it mine Doom night And day go henna fire to smell Answered Qamar al-Zaman O my father Inshallah I will lie abroad but one night Then he took leave of him And he and Marzawan mounted And leading the spare horses The drum and dairy with the money And the camel with the water and victual Turned their faces towards the open country And Shahrazad perceived the dawning day And ceased saying her permitted say When it was the two hundred and first night She said It hath reached me O auspicious king That Qamar al-Zaman And Marzawan farried forth And turned their faces toward the open country And they traveled from the first of the day Till nightfall When they halted and ate and drank And fed their beasts and rested a while After which they again took horse And ceased not journeying for three days And on the fourth they came To a spacious tract Wherein was a thicket They alighted in it and Marzawan Taking the camel and one of the horses Slaughtered them and cut off their flesh And stripped their bones Then he doffed from Qamar al-Zaman His shirt and trousers Which he smeared with the horse's blood And he took the prince's coat Which he tore to shreds And befouled with gore And he cast them down In the fork of the road Then they ate and drank And mounting set forward again And when Qamar al-Zaman Asked why this was done And said What is this, O my brother? And how shall it profit us? Marzawan replied Know that thy father When we have outstayed the second night After the night from which we had his leave And yet we return not Will mount and follow in our track Till he come hither And when he happeneth upon this blood Which I have spilled And he seeeth thy shirt and trousers Rent and gore fouled He will fancy that some accident Be fell thee from bandits or wild beasts And he will give up hope of thee And return to his city And by this device We shall win our wishes Quote Qamar al-Zaman By Allah this be indeed A rare device Thou hast done right well Then the two fared on Days and nights And all that while Qamar al-Zaman Did not but complain When he found himself alone And he ceased not weeping Till they drew near their journey's end When he rejoiced And repeated these verses Will tyrant play With truest friend Who thinks of thee each hour And after showing love desire Betray indifference May I forfeit every favor If in love I false thee If thee I left Abandon me by way of recompense But I have been guilty But I have been guilty of no crime Such harshness to deserve And if I ought offended thee I bring my penitence A fortune wonders One it is thou has to bended me But fortune never weary Of showing wonderments When he had made an end Of his verses Marzawan said to him Look, these be King Qahayyur's islands Where at Qamar al-Zaman Joy with exceeding joy And thanked him for what he had done And kissed him between the eyes And strained him And Shaharasad perceived the dawn of day And ceased saying her permitted say. When it was the two hundred And second night She said, it hath reached me O auspicious king That when Marzawan said, look These be the islands of King Qahayyur Qamar al-Zaman Joyed with exceeding joy And thanked him for what he had done And kissed him between the eyes And strained him to his bosom And after reaching the islands And entering the city They took up their lodging in a Qahan Where they rested three days From the fatigues of their wayfare After which Marzawan carried Qamar al-Zaman To the bath and Clothing him in merchant's gear Provided him with a geometric Tablet of gold With a set of astrological instruments The astrolabe of silver Plated with gold Then he said to him, Arise, O my lord And take thy stand under the walls Of the king's palace and cry out I am the ready-reckoner I am the scriveneer I am he who wheateth The sought and the seeker I am the finished man of science I am the astrologer Accomplished in experience Where then is he That seeketh Then is the king here at this He will send after thee And carry thee into his daughter Thy lover But when about going into her Do thou say to him Grant me three days to lay And if she recover Give her to me to wife And if not Deal with me as thou dealest With those who forwent me He will assuredly agree to this So as soon as thou art alone Then do thou give her to eat And drink And her father rejoicing in her Recovery Will marry thee to her And share his kingdom with thee For he hath imposed on himself This condition And so peace be upon thee Now when Qamar al-Zaman Heard these words he exclaimed May I never lack thy benefits For I am the ready maker For I am the ready maker May I never lack thy benefits And, taking the set of instruments For, said, Sallied forth from the caravan Seri in the dress of his order He walked on till he stood under The walls of King Qahayyur's palace Where he began to cry out Saying, I am the scribe I am the ready reckoner I am he who knoweth the sought And the seeker I am he who openeth the volume And summeth up the sums Who dreams can expound Whereby the sought is found Where, then, is the seeker? Now when the city people heard this They flocked to him For it was long since They had seen scribe or astrologer And they stood round him and Looking upon him They saw one in the prime of beauty And grace and perfect elegance And they marveled at his loveliness And his fine stature and symmetry Presently One of them accosted him and said Allah upon thee O thou fair and young With the eloquent tongue Encour not this affray Nor throw thy life away In thine ambition to marry the Princess Badour Only cast thine eyes upon yonder Heads hung up All their owners have lost their lives In this same venture Yet Qamar al-Zaman Paid no heed to them At the top of his voice saying I am the doctor, the scriveneer I am the astrologer, the calculator And all the townsfolk Forbade him from this But he regarded them not at all Saying in his mind None knoweth desire Save whoso suffereth it Then he began to again To cry his loudest shouting I am the scriveneer I am the astrologer And Shaharazad perceived the dawn of day And ceased to say Her permitted say End of section 31 Of the book of a thousand nights And a night, volume 3 When it was the 203rd night She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious king That Qamar al-Zaman In no wise heeded the words of the citizens But continued to cry out I am the calculator I am the astrologer And Shaharazad said I am the astrologer And Shaharazad said I am the astrologer And Shaharazad said I am the astrologer I am the astrologer Thereupon all the townsfolk Were wroth with him And said to him Thou art nothing but an imbecile Silly self-willed lad Have pity on thine own youth And tender years And beauty and loveliness But he cried all the more I am the astrologer I am the calculator Is there anyone that seeketh As he was thus crying The people forbidding him Behold, King Ghayur heard his voice And the clamor of the lijas And said to his wazir Go down and bring me Yonastrologer So the wazir went down in haste And, taking Qamar al-Zaman From the midst of the crowd Led him up to the king And went in the presence He kissed the ground And began versifying Eight glories meet All, all conjoined in thee Whereby may fortune I thy servant be Lair lordliness Grace generosity Plain words deep meaning Honor victory When the king looked upon him He seated him by his side And said to him By Allah my son On thou be not an astrologer Venture not thy life Nor comply with my condition For I have bound myself That whoso goeth into my daughter And healeth her not Of that which heth befallen her I will strike off his head But whoso healeth her Him I will marry to her So let not thy beauty And loveliness delude thee For by Allah And again by Allah If thou cure her not I will assuredly Cut off thy head And Qamar al-Zaman replied This is thy right And I consent For I want of this air Came I hither Then King Gaior took the Kazis To witness against him And delivered him to the eunuch Saying, carry this one To the lady Boudour So the eunuch took him by the hand And led him along the passage But Qamar al-Zaman outstripped him And pushed on before Wills to the eunuch ran after him Saying, woe to thee! Hasten not to thine own ruin Never yet saw I astrology So eager for his proper destruction But thou weetest not What calamities are before thee Thereupon Qamar al-Zaman Turned away his face From the eunuch And Shah Razed perceived The dawn of day And ceased saying her permitted say When it was the two hundred and fourth night She said, it hath reached me O auspicious king That when the eunuch thus addressed Qamar al-Zaman Patience and no indecent hurry The prince turned away his face And began repeating these couplets A sage I feel a fool Before thy charms Distraught I wot not What the words I say If I say son Away thou dost not pass From eyes of me While sons go down with day Thou hast completed beauty In whose praise Speech-makers fail And talkers lose their way Then the eunuch stationed Qamar al-Zaman Behind the curtain of the princess's door And the prince said to him Which of the two ways will please thee more Treat and cure thy lady from here Or go in and heal her Within the curtain The eunuch marveled at his words And answered, On thou heal her from here It were better proof of thy skill. Upon this Qamar al-Zaman sat down Behind the curtain, and Taking out ink case, pen, and paper Wrote the following This is the writ Of one whom passions swayeth And whom longing way laeth And wakeful misery slayeth One who despaireth of living And looketh for naught but dying With whose morning heart Nor comforter nor helper Takeeth part One whose sleepless eyes None succoreth from anxieties Whose day is passed in fire And his night in torturing desire Whose body is wasted For much emaciation And no messenger from his beloved Bringeth him consolation And after this He indicted the following couplets I write with heart To vote for thee I write with heart Devoted to thy thought And eyelids chafed by tears Of blood they bled And body clad By loving pine and pain In shirt of leanness And worn down to thread To thee complain I Of love's tormentory Which ousted hapless patients From her stead At toi show favour And some mercy dain My vital shred And beneath his lines He wrote these cadenced sentences The heart's pain is removed By union with the beloved And whom so his lover paineth Only Allah assaineth If we or you have wrought deceit May the deceiver win defeat There is not goodlier Than a lover who keeps faith With the beloved Who works him scave Then, by way of subscription He wrote King Al-Gayur Know thou that by night I am sleepless And by day in distress Consumed with increasing Wasting and pain And longing and love unfain Abounding in size With tear-flooded eyes By passion captive tain Of desire the slain With heart seared By the parting of us twain The debtor of longing bane The sickness-cup companion I am the sleepless one Who never clotheseth I The slave of love Whose tears run never dry For the fire of my heart Is still burning And never hidden Is the flame of my yearning Then on the margin Kamar Al-Zaman Wrote this admired verse Salem from graces Horted by my Lord Who holds my heart and soul In horde And also these Pray grant me some words From your lips be like Such mercy may comfort and cool These iron From the stress of my love And my pine for you I make light of what makes me Despise it in dine Allah, God of folk Whose abode was far And whose secret I kept And in kindness hath favoured me Throne on the threshold Dust of this love of mine By me bedded I looked on Boudour Whose sun, the moon of my fortunes Hath made to shine Then, having affixed his seal ring To the missive, he wrote these Couplets in the place of address Ask of my writ What wrote my pen in dole And hear my tale of misery From this scroll My hand is writing while my tears down flow And to the paper Plains my longing soul My tears cease not To roll upon this sheet And if they stopped I'd cause blood-gouts to roll And at the end he added this other verse I've sent the ring off From thy finger bore I, when we met Now dain my ring restore Then Kamar al-Zaman Set the Lady Boudour's ring Inside the letter And sealed it And gave it to the eunuch Who took it and went in with it To his mistress And Shah-Razad perceived the dawn of day And ceased to say Her permitted say When it was the two hundred and fifth night She said It hath reached me, O auspicious king That Kamar al-Zaman After setting the seal ring Inside the epistle She took it and went in with it To his mistress And when the Lady Boudour opened it She found therein her own very ring Then she read the paper And when she understood It's purport And knew that it was from her beloved And that he in person stood Behind the curtain Her reason began to fly And her breasts swelled for joy And rose high And she repeated these couplets And wailed the severance of our loves With tears that from my lids Streamed down like burning rain And vowed that If the days day and reunite us too My lips should never speak Of severance again Joy hath overwhelmed me so That for the very stress Of that which gladdens me To weeping I am fain Tears are become to you A habit, O my eyes So that ye weep as well For gladness as for pain And having finished her verse The Lady Boudour stood up forthwith And firmly setting her feet to the wall Strained with all her might Upon the collar of iron Till she break it from her neck And snapped the chains Then going forth from behind the curtain She threw herself on Kamar al-Zaman And kissed him on the mouth Like a pigeon feeding its young And raised him With all the stress of her love and longing And said to him, O my Lord, do I wake or sleep And hath the Almighty indeed Voutsafe us reunion after disunion Laud be to Allah Who hath our loves repaired Even after we despaired Now when the eunuch saw her In this case He went off running to King Ghaior And kissing the ground before him Said, O my Lord, know that this astrologer Is indeed the shake of all astrologers Who are fools to him, all of them For verily He hath cured thy daughter While standing behind the curtain And without going into her Quote the King Look well to it Is this news true? Answered the eunuch O my Lord, rise and come And see for thyself how she hath found strength To break the iron chains And is come forth to the astrologer Kissing and embracing him Thereupon the King arose And went into his daughter Who, when she saw him Stood up in haste And covered her head And recited these two couplets The tooth-stick, love I not For when I say, see walk I miss thee, for it sounds See walk ha The capertree I love For when I say, Arak It sounds I look on thee Arakha Thereupon the King was so Transported for joy at her recovery That he felt like to fly And kissed her between the eyes For he loved her with dearest love Then, turning to Kamar al-Zaman He asked him who he was And said, What countrymen aren't thou? So the Prince told him His name and rank And informed him that he was King Shah-Riman And pleasantly related to him The whole story from beginning to end And acquainted him with what happened Between himself and the Lady Boudre And how he had taken her seal ring From her finger and had placed it on his own Where at Guyour marveled And said, Verily Your story deserved Within books to be chronicled And when you are dead and gone Age after age to be read Then he summoned Masies and witnesses forthright And married the Lady Boudre To Prince Kamar al-Zaman After which he bade decorate The city seven days long So they spread the tables With all manner of meats Whilst the drums beat And the criers announced glad tidings And all the troops dawned their Richest clothes And they illuminated the city And held high festival Then Kamar al-Zaman And the King rejoiced in her recovery And in her marriage And praised Allah For that he had made her to fall in love With a goodly youth of the Sons of Kings So they unveiled her And displayed the bride Before the bridegroom And both with a living likeness of each other In beauty and comeliness And grace and love allurement Then Kamar al-Zaman Lay with her that night And took his will of her And her fulfilled her desire of him And enjoyed his charms and grace And they slept in each other's arms Till the morning On the morrow the King made a wedding feast To which he gathered all comers From the islands of the inner and outer seas And he spread the tables With choicest beyonds Nor ceased the banqueting for a whole month Now when Kamar al-Zaman Had thus fulfilled his will And attained his inmost desire And when as he had Been a while with the Princess Boudre He bethought him of his father King Shariman And saw him in a dream Saying, oh my son Is it thus thou dealest with me? And recited in the vision These two couplets Indeed to watch the darkness moon He blighted me And to stargaze through long some night He plighted me Easy my heart, for happily He'll unite with thee With what so ill's he Dite to thee Now after seeing his father in the dream And hearing his repreaches Kamar al-Zaman woke in the morning Afflicted and troubled Whereupon the Lady Boudre questioned him And he told her what he had seen And Sharizad Perceived the dawn of day And ceased saying her permitted say When it was the 206th night She said And hath reached me, O auspicious king That when Kamar al-Zaman Acquainted the Lady Boudre With what he had seen in his dream She and he went into her sire And, telling him what had passed Be sought his leave to travel He gave the Prince the permission he sought But the Princess said Oh my father, I cannot bear To be parted from him Quoth the Gayur, her sire Then go thou with him And gave her leave to be absent A whole twelve month And afterwards to visit him In every year once So she kissed his hand And Kamar al-Zaman did the like Thereupon King Gayur proceeded to equip His daughter and her bridegroom For the journey And furnished them with outfit And appointments for the march And brought out of his stables Horses marked with his own brand Blood-dromedaries which can journey Ten days without water And his daughter Besides loading mules and camels With vixual Moreover, he gave them slaves and eunuchs To serve them and all manner of traveling gear And on the day of departure When King Gayur took leave Of Kamar al-Zaman He bestowed on him ten splendid suits Of cloth, of gold Embroidered with stones of price Together with ten riding horses And ten she-camels And a treasury of money They charged him to love And cherish his daughter, the Lady Boudour Then the King accompanied them To the farthest limits of his islands Where, going into his daughter Boudour in the litter He kissed her and strained her To his bosom, weeping and repeating O thou who willest severance Easy fare For love embraced belongs To lover friend Fair softly, fortune's nature Falsehood is, and parting Shall loves every meeting end Then, leaving his daughter He went to her husband And bade him farewell and kissed him After which he parted from them and Giving the order for the march He returned to his capital with the troops The Prince and Princess And their suite fared on without stopping Through the first day and the second And the third and the fourth Nor did they cease faring for a whole month Till they came to a spacious champagne Abounding in pastureage Where they pitched their tents And they ate and drank and rested And the Princess Boudour laid down to sleep Presently Kamar Al-Zaman went into her And found her lying asleep Clad in a shift of apricot-coloured silk That showed all and everything And on her head Was a quaff of gold cloth Embroided with pearls and jewels The breeze raised her shift Which laid bare her navel And showed her breasts Like whiter than snow Each one of whose dimples would contain An ounce of benzoan ointment At this site his love and longing redoubled And he began repeating On words asked me When, by hellfire burnt When flames of heart My vitals hold and hem Which wouldst thou chose Say, wouldst thou rather them Or drink sweet Cooling draught I'd answer them Then he put his hand to the band Of her petticoat trousers And drew it and loosed it For his soul lusted after her When he saw a jewel Red as dyewood Made fast to the band He untied it and examined it And, seeing two lines of writing Graven thereon In a character not to be read Marvelled and said in his mind Were not this Bezel something to her Very dear And I found it to her trousers band Nor hidden it in the most privy And precious place about her person That she might not be parted from it Would I knew what she clothed with this And what is the secret that is in it So saying he took it And went outside the tent To look at it in the light And Charizard perceived the dawn of day And ceased to say Her permitted say End of section 32 Of the book Of a thousand nights in a night Volume 3 Recording by Catherine Hong Kong March 2010