 13 The story of the envious man and of him who was envied. In a town of moderate size two men lived in neighboring houses, but they had not been there very long before one man took such a hatred of the other and envied him so bitterly that the poor man determined to find another home, hoping that when they no longer met every day his enemy would forget all about him. So he sold his house and the little furniture it contained and moved into the capital of the country which was luckily at no great distance. About half a mile from this city he bought a nice little place with a large garden and a fair-sized court in the center of which stood an old well. In order to live a quieter life the good man put on the robe of a dervish and divided his house into a quantity of small cells where he soon established a number of other dervishes. The fame of his virtue gradually spread abroad and many people, including several of the highest quality, came to visit him and ask his prayers. Of course it was not long before his reputation reached the ears of the man who envied him and this wicked wretch resolved never to rest till he had in some way worked ill to the dervish whom he hated. So he left his house and his business to look after themselves and betook himself to the new dervish monastery where he was welcomed by the founder with all the warmth imaginable. The excuse he gave for his appearance was that he came to consult the chief of the dervishes on a private matter of great importance. "'What I have to say must not be overheard,' he whispered. "'Command,' I beg of you, that your dervishes retire into their cells as night is approaching and meet me in the court.' The dervish did as he was asked without delay and directly they were alone together the envious man began to tell a long story, edging as they walked to and fro always nearer to the well, and when they were quite close he seized the dervish and dropped him in. He then ran off triumphantly without having been seen by anyone and congratulating himself that the object of his hatred was dead and would trouble him no more. But in this he was mistaken. The old well had long been inhabited, unknown to mere human beings, by a set of fairies and genii who caught the dervish as he fell so that he received no hurt. The dervish himself could see nothing, but he took for granted that something strange had happened, or he must certainly have been dashed against the side of the well and been killed. He lay quite still, and in a moment he heard a voice saying, "'Can you guess whom this man is that we have saved from death?' "'No,' replied several other voices. And the first speaker answered, "'I will tell you, this man from pure goodness of heart forsook the town where he lived and came to dwell here, in the hope of curing one of his neighbors of the envy he felt towards him. But his character soon won him the esteem of all, and the envious man's hatred grew till he came here with the deliberate intention of causing his death. In this he would have done, without our help, the very day before the sultan has arranged to visit this holy dervish and to entreat his prayers for the princess, his daughter. "'But what is the matter with the princess that she needs the dervish's prayers?' asked another voice. "'She has fallen into the power of the genius maimam, the son of Dim-Dim,' replied the first voice. But it would be quite simple for this holy chief of the dervishes to cure her if he only knew. In his convent there is a black cat which has a tiny white tip to its tail. Now to cure the princess the dervish must pull out seven of these white hairs, burn three, and with their smoke perfume the head of the princess. This will deliver her so completely that maimam, the son of Dim-Dim, will never dare to approach her again.' The fairies and genii seized talking, but the dervish did not forget a word of all they had said, and when morning came he perceived a place in the side of the well which was broken and where he could easily climb out. The dervishes, who could not imagine what had become of him, were enchanted at his reappearance. He told them of the attempt on his life made by his guest of the previous day and then retired into his cell. He was soon joined here by the black cat of which the voice had spoken, who came as usual to say good morning to his master. He took him on his knee and seized the opportunity to pull seven white hairs out of his tail and put them on one side till they were needed. The son had not long risen before the sultan, who was anxious to leave nothing undone that might deliver the princess, arrived with a large suite at the gate of the monastery and was received by the dervishes with profound respect. The sultan lost no time in declaring the object of his visit and leading the chief of the dervishes aside he said to him, noble sheik, you have guessed perhaps what I have come to ask you. Yes, sire, answered the dervish, if I am not mistaken it is the illness of the princess which has procured me this honour. You are right, returned the sultan, and you will give me fresh life if you can buy your prayers deliver my daughter from the strange malady that has taken possession of her. Let your highness command her to come here and I will see what I can do. The sultan, full of hope, sent orders at once that the princess was to set out as soon as possible accompanied by her usual staff of attendance. When she arrived she was so thickly veiled that the dervish could not see her face, but he desired a brazier to be held over her head and laid the seven hairs on the burning coals. The instant they were consumed terrific cries were heard, but no one could tell from whom they proceeded. Only the dervish guessed that they were uttered by maimam, the son of dim-dim, who felt the princess escaping him. All this time she had seemed unconscious of what she was doing, but now she raised her hand to her veil and uncovered her face. Where am I? She said in a bewildered manner, and how did I get here? The sultan was so delighted to hear these words that he not only embraced his daughter, but kissed the hand of the dervish. Then turning to his attendants who stood round he said to them, What reward shall I give to the man who has restored me my daughter? They all replied with one accord that he deserved the hand of the princess. That is my own opinion, said he, and from this moment I declare him to be my son-in-law. Only after these events the grand vizier died, and his post was given to the dervish, but he did not hold it for long, for the sultan fell a victim to an attack of illness, and as he had no sons the soldiers and priests declared the dervish heir to the throne to the great joy of all the people. One day when the dervish, who had now become sultan, was making a royal progress with his court, he perceived the envious man standing in the crowd. He made a sign to one of his viziers, and whispered in his ear, Fetch me that man who was standing out there, but take great care not to frighten him. The vizier obeyed, and when the envious man was brought before the sultan the monarch said to him, My friend I am delighted to see you again. Then turning to an officer he added, Give him a thousand pieces of gold out of my treasury, and twenty wagon-loads of merchandise out of my private stores, and let an escort of soldiers accompany him home. He then took leave of the envious man and went on his way. Now when I had ended my story I proceeded to show the genius how to apply it to himself. O genius, I said, you see that this sultan was not content with merely forgiving the envious man for the attempt on his life. He heaped rewards and riches upon him. But the genius had made up his mind and could not be softened. Do not imagine that you are going to escape so easily, he said. All I can do is to give you bare life. You will have to learn what happens to people who interfere with me. As he spoke he seized me violently by the arm. The roof of the palace opened to make way for us, and we mounted up so high into the air that the earth looked like a little cloud. Then as before he came down with the swiftness of lightning and we touched the ground on a mountaintop. Then he stooped and gathered a handful of earth and murmured some words over it, after which he threw the earth in my face, saying as he did so, quit the form of a man and assume that of a monkey. This done he vanished, and I was in the likeness of an ape, and in a country I had never seen before. However there was no use in stopping where I was, so I came down the mountain and found myself in a flat plain which was bounded by the sea. I traveled towards it and was pleased to see a vessel moored about half a mile from shore. There were no waves, so I broke off a branch of a tree and dragging it down to the water's edge, sat across it, while using two sticks for oars, I rode myself towards the ship. The deck was full of people who watched my progress with interest, but when I seized a rope and swung myself on board, I found that I had only escaped death at the hands of the genius to perish by those of the sailors, lest I should bring ill luck to the vessel and the merchants. Throw him into the sea, cried one. Knock him on the head with a hammer, exclaimed another. Let me shoot him with an arrow, said a third, and certainly somebody would have had his way if I had not flung myself at the captain's feet and grasped tight hold of his dress. He appeared touched by my action and padded my head, and declared that he would take me under his protection and that no one should do me any harm. At the end of about fifty days we cast anchor before a large town, and the ship was immediately surrounded by a multitude of small boats filled with people who had come either to meet their friends or from simple curiosity. Among others one boat contained several officials who asked to see the merchants on board, and informed them that they had been sent by the sultan in token of welcome, and to beg them each to write a few lines on a roll of paper. In order to explain this strange request, continued the officers, it is necessary that you should know that the grand vizier, lately dead, was celebrated for his beautiful handwriting, and the sultan is anxious to find a similar talent in his successor. Hitherto the search has been a failure, but his highness has not yet given up hope. One after another the merchants set down a few lines upon the roll, and when they had all finished, I came forward and snatched the paper from the man who held it. At first they all thought I was going to throw it into the sea, but they were quieted when they saw I held it with great care, and great was their surprise when I made signs that I too wished to write something. Let him do it if he wants to, said the captain. If he only makes a mess of the paper, you may be sure I will punish him for it, but if, as I hope, he really can write, for he is the cleverest monkey I ever saw, I will adopt him as my son, the one I lost had not nearly so much sense. No more was said, and I took the pen and wrote the six sorts of writing in use among the Arabs, and each sort contained an original verse or couplet in praise of the sultan. And not only did my handwriting completely eclipse that of the merchants, but it was hardly too much to say that none so beautiful had ever before been seen in that country. When I had ended, the officials took the roll and returned to the sultan. As soon as the monarch saw my writing he did not so much as look at the samples of the merchants, but desired his officials to take the finest and most richly-comparisoned horse in his stables, together with the most magnificent dress they could procure, and to put it on the person who had written those lines and bring him to court. The officials began to laugh when they heard the sultan's command, but as soon as they could speak they said, Dane, your highness, to excuse our mirth, but those lines were not written by a man but by a monkey. A monkey, exclaimed the sultan, yes, sire, answered the officials, they were written by a monkey in our presence. Then bring me the monkey, he replied, as fast as you can. The sultan's officials returned to the ship and showed the royal order to the captain. He is the master, said the good man, and desired that I should be sent for. Then they put on me the gorgeous robe and rode me to the land, where I was placed on the horse and led to the palace. Here the sultan was awaiting me in great state surrounded by his court. All the way along the streets I had been the object of curiosity to a vast crowd, which had filled every doorway and every window, and it was amidst their shouts and cheers that I was ushered into the presence of the sultan. I approached the throne on which he was seated, and made him three low bows, then prostrated myself at his feet to the surprise of everyone who could not understand how it was possible that a monkey should be able to distinguish a sultan from other people and to pay him the respect due to his rank. However, accepting the usual speech, I omitted none of the common forms attending a royal audience. When it was over the sultan dismissed all the court, keeping with him only the chief of the eunuchs and a little slave. He then passed into another room and ordered food to be brought, making signs to me to sit at table with him and eat. I rose from my seat, kissed the ground, and took my place at the table, eating, as you may suppose, with care and in moderation. Before the dishes were removed I made signs that writing materials which stood in one corner of the room should be laid in front of me. I then took a peach and wrote on it some verses in praise of the sultan, who was speechless with astonishment, but when I did the same thing on a glass from which I had drunk, he murmured to himself, why a man who could do as much would be cleverer than any other man, and this is only a monkey. Supper being over, chessmen were brought, and the sultan signed to me to know if I would play with him. I kissed the ground and laid my hand on my head to show that I was ready to show myself worthy of the honor. He beat me the first game, but I won the second and third, and seeing that this did not quite please, I dashed off a verse by way of consolation. The sultan was so enchanted with all the talents of which I had been proof that he wished me to exhibit some of them to other people. So turning to the chief of the eunuchs, he said, go and beg my daughter, Queen of Beauty, to come here. I will show her something she has never seen before. The chief of the eunuchs bowed and left the room, ushering in a few moments later the princess, Queen of Beauty. Her face was uncovered, but the moment she set foot in the room, she threw her veil over her head. Sire, she said to her father, what can you be thinking of to summon me like this into the presence of a man? I do not understand you, replied the sultan. There is nobody here but the eunuch, who is your own servant, the little slave and myself, yet you cover yourself with your veil and reproach me for having sent for you as if I had committed a crime. Sire, answered the princess, I am right and you are wrong. This monkey is really no monkey at all, but a young prince who has been turned into a monkey by the wicked spells of a genius, son of the daughter of Eblis. As will be imagined, these words took the sultan by surprise, and he looked at me to see how I should take the statement of the princess. As I was unable to speak, I placed my hand on my head to show that it was true. But how do you know this, my daughter? Ask T. Sire, replied Queen of Beauty, the old lady who took care of me in my childhood was an accomplished magician, and she taught me seventy rules of her art by means of which I could, in the twinkling of an eye, transplant your capital into the middle of the ocean. Her art likewise teaches me to recognize at first sight all persons who are enchanted, and tells me by whom the spell was wrought. My daughter, said the sultan, I really had no idea you were so clever. Sire, replied the princess, there are many out of the way things that is as well to know, but one should never boast of them. Well, asked the sultan, can you tell me what must be done to disenchant the young prince? Certainly and I can do it. Then restore him to his former shape, cried the sultan. You could give me no greater pleasure, for I wish to make him my grand vizier and to give him to you for your husband. As your highness pleases, replied the princess, Queen of Beauty rose and went to her chamber, from which she fetched a knife with some Hebrew words engraven on the blade. She then desired the sultan, the chief of the eunuchs, the little slave and myself, to descend into a secret court of the palace, and placed us beneath a gallery which ran all round, she herself standing in the center of the court. Here she traced a large circle, and in it wrote several words in Arab characters. When the circle and the writing were finished, she stood in the middle of it and repeated some verses from the Quran. Slowly the air grew dark, and we felt as if the earth was about to crumble away, and our fright was by no means diminished at seeing the genius, son of the daughter of Eblis, suddenly appear under the form of a colossal lion. Dog, cried the princess when she first caught sight of him, you think to strike terror into me by daring to present yourself before me in this hideous shape. And you, retorted the lion, have not feared to break our treaty that engaged solemnly we should never interfere with each other. A cursed genius, exclaimed the princess, it was you by whom that treaty was first broken. I will teach you how to give me so much trouble, said the lion, and opening his huge mouth he advanced to swallow her. But the princess expected something of the sort and was on her guard. She bounded on one side, and seizing one of the hairs of his mane repeated two or three words over it, in an instant it became a sword, and with a sharp blow she cut the lion's body into two pieces. These pieces vanished, no one knew where, and only the lion's head remained, which was at once changed into a scorpion. Quick as thought, the princess assumed the form of a serpent and gave battle to the scorpion, who, finding he was getting the worst of it, turned himself into an eagle and took flight. But in a moment the serpent had become an eagle more powerful still, who soared up in the air and after him, and then we lost sight of them both. We all remained where we were quaking with anxiety when the ground opened in front of us, and a black and white cat leapt out, its hair standing on end and meowing frightfully. At its heels was a wolf who had almost seized it, and the cat changed itself into a worm, and piercing the skin of a pomegranate which had tumbled from a tree, hid itself in the fruit. The pomegranate swelled till it grew as large as a pumpkin, and raised itself onto the roof of the gallery, from which it fell into the court, and was broken into bits. While this was taking place, the wolf, who had transformed himself into a cock, began to swallow the seed of the pomegranate as fast as he could. When all were gone he flew towards us, flapping his wings as if to ask if we saw any more, when suddenly his eye fell on one which lay on the bank of a little canal that flowed through the court. He hastened towards it, but before he could touch it the seed rolled into the canal and became a fish. The cock flung himself in after the fish, and took the shape of a pike, and for two hours they chased each other up and down under the water, uttering horrible cries, but we could see nothing. At length they rose from the water in their proper forms, but darting such flames of fire from their mouths that we dreaded lest the palace should catch fire. Soon however we had much greater cause for alarm, as the genius having shaken off the princess flew towards us. Our fate would have been sealed if the princess, seeing our danger, had not attracted the attention of the genius to herself. As it was the sultan's beard was singed and his face scorched. The chief of the eunuchs was burned to a cinder, while a spark deprived me of the sight of one eye. Both eye and the sultan had given up all hope of a rescue when there was a shout of victory, victory, from the princess, and the genius lay at her feet in a great heap of ashes. Exhausted though she was, the princess at once ordered the little slave, who alone was uninjured, to bring her a cup of water which she took in her hand. First repeating some magic words over it, she dashed it into my face, saying, If you are only a monkey by enchantment, resume the form of the man you were before. In an instant I stood before her the same man I had formerly been, though having lost the sight of one eye. I was about to fall on my knees and thank the princess, but she did not give me time. Turning to the sultan her father, she said, Sire, I have gained the battle, but it has cost me dear. The fire has penetrated to my heart, and I have only a few moments to live. This would not have happened if I had only noticed the last pomegranate seed, and eaten it like the rest. It was the last struggle of the genius, and up to that time I was quite safe. But having let this chance slip, I was forced to resort to fire, and in spite of all his experience I showed the genius that I knew more than he did. He is dead in ashes, but my own death is approaching fast. My daughter, cried the sultan, how sad is my condition. I am only surprised I am alive at all. The eunuch is consumed by the flames, and the prince whom you have delivered has lost the sight of one eye. He could say no more, for sobs choked his voice, and we all wept together. Suddenly the princess shrieked, I burn, I burn, and death came to free her from her torments. I have no words, madame, to tell you of my feelings at this terrible sight. I would rather have remained a monkey all my life than let my benefactress perish in this shocking manner. As for the sultan, he was quite inconsolable, and his subjects who had dearly loved the princess shared his grief. For seven days the whole nation mourned, and then the ashes of the princess were buried with great pomp, and a superb tomb was raised over her. As soon as the sultan recovered from the severe illness which had seized him after the death of the princess, he sent for me, and plainly, though politely, informed me that my presence would always remind him of his loss, and he begged that I would instantly quit his kingdom, and on pain of death never return to it. I was, of course, bound to obey, and not knowing what was to become of me, I shaved my beard and eyebrows and put on the dress of a calendar. After wandering aimlessly through several countries, I resolved to come to Baghdad and request an audience with the commander of the Faithful. And that, madame, is my story. The other calendar then told his story. CHAPTER XIV. OF THE ARABIAN KNIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. THE ARABIAN KNIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS BY ANDRU LANG CHAPTER XIV. THE STORY OF THE THIRD CALENDAR SON OF A KING My story, said the third calendar, is quite different from those of my two friends. It was faith that deprived them of the sight of their right eyes, but mine was lost by my own folly. My name is Agib, and I am the son of a king called Kaseeb, who reigned over a large kingdom, which had for its capital one of the finest seaport towns in the world. When I succeeded to my father's throne, my first care was to visit the provinces on the mainland, and then to sail to the numerous islands which lay off the shore, in order to gain the hearts of my subjects. These voyages gave me such a taste for sailing that I soon determined to explore more distant seas, and commanded a fleet of large ships to be got ready without delay. When they were properly fitted out, I embarked on my expedition. For forty days wind and weather were all in our favor, but the next night a terrific storm arose which blew us hither and thither for ten days, till the pilot confessed that he had quite lost his bearings. Accordingly a sailor was sent up to the masthead to try to catch a sight of land, and reported that nothing was to be seen but the sea and sky, except a huge mass of blackness that lay astern. On hearing this the pilot grew white, and, beating his breast, he cried, "'Oh, sir, we are lost, lost!' till the ship's crew trembled, at they knew not what. When he had recovered himself a little, and was able to explain the cause of his terror, he replied, in answer to my question, that we had drifted far out of our course, and that the following day about noon we should come near that mass of darkness, which, said he, is nothing but the famous black mountain. This mountain is composed of adamant, which attracts to itself all the iron and nails in your ship. And as we are helplessly drawn nearer, the forces of attraction will become so great that the iron and nails will fall out of the ships and cling to the mountain, and the ships will sink to the bottom with all that are in them. This it is that causes the side of the mountain towards the sea to appear of such a dense blackness. As may be supposed, continued the pilot, the mountain sides are very rugged, but on the summit stands a brass dome supported on pillars, and bearing on top the figure of a brass horse with a rider on his back. This rider wears a breastplate of lead on which strange signs and figures are engraved, and it is said that as long as this statue remains on the dome, vessels will never cease to perish at the foot of the mountain. So saying, the pilot began to weep afresh, and the crew, fearing their last hour had come, made their wills, each one in favor of his fellow. At noon the next day, as the pilot had foretold, we were so near to the black mountain that we saw all the nails and iron fly out of the ships and dash themselves against the mountain with a horrible noise. A moment after, the vessels fell asunder and sank, the crews with them. I alone managed to grasp a floating plank, and was driven ashore by the wind without even a scratch. What was my joy on finding myself at the bottom of some steps, which led straight up the mountain, for there was not another inch to the right or the left where a man could set his foot. And indeed, even the steps themselves were so narrow and so steep, that if the slightest breeze had arisen, I should certainly have been blown into the sea. When I reached the top, I found the brass dome and the statue exactly as the pilot had described, but was too wearied with all I had gone through to do more than glance at them, and flinging myself under the dome was asleep in an instant. In my dreams an old man appeared to me and said, Hark in a geeb, as soon as thou art awake dig up the ground underfoot, and thou shalt find a bow of brass and three arrows of lead. Shoot the arrows at the statue, and the rider shall tumble into the sea, but the horse will fall down by thy side, and thou shalt bury him in the place from which thou tookest the bow and arrows. This being done, the sea will rise and cover the mountain, and on it thou wilt perceive the figure of a metal man seated in a boat, having an oar in each hand. Step on board and let him conduct thee, but if thou wouldst behold thy kingdom again, see that thou takeest not the name of Allah into thy mouth. Having uttered these words, the vision left me, and I awoke much comforted. I sprang up and drew the bow and arrows out of the ground, and with the third shot the horseman fell with a great crash into the sea, which instantly began to rise so rapidly that I had hardly time to bury the horse before the boat approached me. I stepped silently in and sat down, and the metal man pushed off, and rode without stopping for nine days, after which land appeared on the horizon. I was so overcome with joy at this sight that I forgot all the old man had told me and cried out, Allah be praised, Allah be praised. The words were scarcely out of my mouth when the boat and man sank from beneath me, and left me floating on the surface. All that day and the next night I swam and floated alternately, making as well as I could for the land which was nearest to me. At last my strength began to fail, and I gave myself up for lost when the wind suddenly arose, and a huge wave cast me on a flat shore. Then placing myself in safety, I hastily spread my clothes out to dry in the sun, and flung myself on the warm ground to rest. Next morning I dressed myself and began to look about me. There seemed to be no one but myself on the island, which was covered with fruit trees and watered with streams, but seemed a long distance from the mainland which I hoped to reach. Before however I had time to feel cast down. I saw a ship making directly for the island, and not knowing whether it would contain friends or foes, I hid myself in the thick branches of a tree. The sailors ran the ship into a creek where ten slaves landed, carrying spades and pickaxes. In the middle of the island they stopped, and after digging some time, lifted up what seemed to be a trapdoor. They then returned to the vessel two or three times for furniture and provisions, and finally were accompanied by an old man leading a handsome boy of fourteen or fifteen years of age. They all disappeared down the trapdoor, and after remaining below for a few minutes came up again, but without the boy, and let down the trapdoor covering it with earth as before. This done they entered the ship and set sail. As soon as they were out of sight I came down from my tree and went to the place where the boy had been buried. I dug up the earth till I reached a large stone with a ring in the center. This when removed disclosed a flight of stone steps which led to a large room richly furnished and lighted by tapers. On a pile of cushions covered with tapestry sat the boy. He looked up, startled and frightened at the sight of a stranger in such a place, and to soothe his fears I at once spoke. Be not alarmed, sir, whoever you may be. I am a king and the son of a king, and will do you no hurt. On the contrary, perhaps I have been sent here to deliver you out of this tomb where you have been buried alive. Hearing my words the young man recovered himself, and when I had ended he said, The reasons, prince, that have caused me to be buried in this place are so strange that they cannot but surprise you. My father is a rich merchant, owning much land in many ships, and has great dealings and precious stones, but he never ceased mourning that he had no child to inherit his wealth. At length one day he dreamed that the following year a son would be born to him, and when this actually happened he consulted all the wise men in the kingdom as to the future of the infant. One in all they said the same thing. I was to live happily till I was fifteen when a terrible danger awaited me which I should hardly escape. If, however, I should succeed in doing so I should live to a great old age, and they added, when the statue of the brass horse on the top of the mountain of Edamond is thrown into the sea by Agib, the son of Kaseeb, then beware, for fifty days later your son shall fall by his hand. This prophecy struck the heart of my father with such woe that he never got over it, but that did not prevent him from attending carefully to my education till I attained a short time ago my fifteenth birthday. It was only yesterday that the news reached him that ten days previously the statue of brass had been thrown into the sea, and he at once said about hiding me in this underground chamber, which was built for the purpose, promising to fetch me out when the forty days have passed. For myself I have no fears, as Prince Agib is not likely to come here to look for me. I listened to his story with an inward laugh as to the absurdity of my ever-wishing to cause the death of this harmless boy, whom I hastened to assure of my friendship and even of my protection, begging him in return to convey me in his father's ship to my own country. I need hardly say that I took special care not to inform him that I was the Agib whom he dreaded. The day passed in conversation on various subjects, and I found him a youth of ready wit and of some learning. I took on myself the duties of a servant, held the basin and water for him when he washed, prepared the dinner, and set it on the table. He soon grew to love me, and for thirty-nine days we spent as pleasant an existence as could be expected underground. The morning of the fortieth dawned, and the young man when he woke gave thanks in an outburst of joy that the danger had passed. My father may be here at any moment, said he, so make me I pray you a bath of hot water that I may bathe and change my clothes and be ready to receive him. So I fetched the water as he asked and washed and rubbed him, after which he lay down again and slept a little. When he opened his eyes for the second time he begged me to bring him a melon and some sugar that he might eat and refresh himself. I soon chose a fine melon out of those which remained, but could find no knife to cut it with. Look in the cornice over my head, said he, and I think you will see one. It was so high above me that I had some difficulty in reaching it, and catching my foot in the covering of the bed, I slipped and fell right upon the young man, my knife going straight into his heart. At this awful sight I shrieked aloud in my grief and pain. I threw myself on the ground and rent my clothes and tore my hair with sorrow, then fearing to be punished as his murderer by the unhappy father I raised the great stone which blocked the staircase and, quitting the underground chamber, made everything fast as before. Scarcely had I finished when, looking out to sea, I saw the vessel heading for the island, and, feeling that it would be useless for me to protest my innocence, I again concealed myself among the branches of a tree that grew nearby. The old man and his slaves pushed off in a boat directly the ship touched land, and walked quickly towards the entrance to the underground chamber. But when they were near enough to see that the earth had been disturbed, they paused and changed color. In silence they all went down and called to the youth by name. Then for a moment I heard no more. Suddenly a fearful scream rent the air, and the next instant the slaves came up the steps, carrying with them the body of the old man who had fainted from sorrow. Laying him down at the foot of the tree in which I had taken shelter they did their best to recover him, but it took a long while. When at last he revived they left him to dig a grave, and then laying the young man's body in it they threw in the earth. This ended the slaves brought up all the furniture that remained below and put it on the vessel, and breaking some boughs to weave a litter they laid the old man on it and carried him to the ship, which spread its sails and stood out to sea. So once more I was quite alone, and for the whole month I walked daily over the island seeking for some chance of escape. At length one day it struck me that my prison had grown much larger, and that the mainland seemed to be nearer. My heart beat at this thought, which was almost too good to be true. I watched a little longer, there was no doubt about it, and soon there was only a tiny stream for me to cross. Even when I was safe on the other side I had a long distance to go on the mud and sand before I reached dry ground, and very tired I was when far in front of me I caught sight of a castle of red copper, which at first sight I took to be a fire. I made all the haste I could, and after some miles of hard walking stood before it, and gazed at it in astonishment, for it seemed to me the most wonderful building I had ever be held. While I was still staring at it there came towards me a tall old man, accompanied by ten young men, all handsome, and all blind of the right eye. Now in its way the spectacle of ten men walking together, all blind of the right eye, is as uncommon as that of a copper castle, and I was turning over in my mind what could be the meaning of this strange fact when they greeted me warmly and inquired what had brought me there. I replied that my story was somewhat long, but that if they would take the trouble to sit down I should be happy to tell it them. When I had finished the young men begged that I would go with them to the castle, and I joyfully accepted their offer. We passed through what seemed to me an endless number of rooms, and came at length into a large hall furnished with ten small blue sofas for the ten young men which served as beds as well as chairs, and with another sofa in the middle for the old man. As none of the sofas could hold more than one person they bade me place myself on the carpet, and to ask no questions about anything I should see. After a little while the old man rose and brought in supper which I ate heartily, for I was very hungry. Then one of the young men begged me to repeat my story which had struck them all with astonishment, and when I had ended the old man was bitten to do his duty as it was late, and they wished to go to bed. At these words he rose and went to a closet from which he brought out ten basins all covered with blue stuff. He set one before each of the young men together with a lighted taper. When the covers were taken off the basins I saw they were filled with ashes, coal dust, and lamp-black. The young men mixed these all together and smeared the hole over their heads and faces. They then wept and beat their breasts crying, this is the fruit of idleness and of our wicked lives. This ceremony lasted nearly the whole night, and when it stopped they washed themselves carefully and put on fresh clothes and lay down to sleep. All this while I had refrained from questions, though my curiosity almost seemed to burn a hole in me, but the following day when we went out to walk I said to them, Gentlemen, I must disobey your wishes, for I can keep silence no more. You do not appear to lack wit, yet you do such actions as none but madmen would be capable of. Whatever befalls me I cannot forbear asking why you dob your faces with black and how it is you are all blind of one eye. But they only answered that such questions were none of my business and that I should do well to hold my peace. During that day we spoke of other things, but when night came and the same ceremony was repeated I implored them most earnestly to let me know the meaning of it all. It is for your own sake, replied one of the young men, that we have not granted your request and to preserve you from our unfortunate fate. If, however, you wish to share our destiny we will delay no longer. I answered that whatever might be the consequence I wished to have my curiosity satisfied and that I would take the result on my own head. He then assured me that, even when I had lost my eye, I should be unable to remain with them as their number was complete and could not be added to. But to this I replied that, though I should be grieved to part company with such honest gentlemen, I would not be turned from my resolution on that account. On hearing my determination my ten hosts then took a sheep and killed it and handed me a knife which they said I should buy and buy find useful. We must sew you into this sheepskin, said they, and then leave you. A fowl of monstrous size called a rock will appear in the air taking you to be a sheep. He will snatch you up and carry you into the sky, but be not alarmed for he will bring you safely down and lay you on top of a mountain. When you are on the ground cut the skin with the knife and throw it off. As soon as the rock sees you he will fly away from fear, but you must walk on till you come to a castle covered with plates of gold studded with jewels. Enter boldly at the gate which always stands open, but do not ask us to tell you what we saw or what befell us there, for that you will learn for yourself. This only we may say, that it cost us each our right eye and has imposed upon us our nightly penance. After the young gentleman had been at the trouble of sewing the sheepskin on me, they left me and retired to the hall. In a few minutes the rock appeared and bore me off to the top of the mountain in his huge claws as lightly as if I had been a feather, for this great white bird is so strong that he has been known to carry even an elephant to his nest in the hills. The moment my feet touched the ground I took out my knife and cut the threads that bound me and the sight of me in my proper clothes so alarmed the rock that he spread his wings and flew away. Then I set out to seek the castle. I found it after wandering about for half a day and never could I have imagined anything so glorious. The gate led to a square court into which opened a hundred doors, ninety-nine of them being of rare woods and one of gold. Through each of these doors I caught glimpses of splendid gardens or of rich storehouses. Entering one of the doors which was standing open I found myself in a vast hall where forty young ladies, magnificently dressed and of perfect beauty, were reclining. As soon as they saw me they rose in uttered words of welcome and even forced me to take possession of a seed that was higher than their own, though my proper place was at their feet. Not content with this one brought me splendid garments while another filled a basin with scented water and poured it over my hands and the rest busied themselves with preparing refreshments. After I had eaten and drunk of the most delicate food and rarest wines the ladies crowded round me and begged me to tell them all my adventures. By the time I had finished night had fallen and the ladies lighted up the castle with such a prodigious quantity of tapers that even day could hardly have been brighter. We then sat down to a supper of dried fruits and sweet meats after which some sang and others danced. I was so well amused that I did not notice how the time was passing, but at length one of the ladies approached and informed me it was midnight, and that, as I must be tired, she would conduct me to the room that had been prepared for me. Then bidding me good night I was left to sleep. I spent the next thirty-nine days in much the same way as the first, but at the close of that time the ladies appeared, as was their custom, in my room one morning to inquire how I had slept, and instead of looking cheerful and smiling they were in floods of tears. "'Prince,' said they, we must leave you, and never was it so hard to part with any of our friends. Most likely we shall never see you again, but if you have sufficient self-command perhaps we may yet look forward to a meeting.' "'Ladies,' I replied, what is the meaning of these strange words I pray you to tell me?' "'No, then,' answered one of them, that we are all princesses, each a king's daughter. We live in this castle together in the way that you have seen, but at the end of every year secret duties call us away for the space of forty days. The time has now come, but before we depart we will leave you our keys, so that you may not lack entertainment during our absence. But one thing we would ask of you, the golden door alone forbear to open, as you value your own peace and the happiness of your life. That door once unlocked we must bid you farewell forever.' Weeping I assured them of my prudence, and after embracing me tenderly they went their ways. Every day I opened two or three fresh doors, each of which contained behind it so many curious things that I had no chance of feeling dull, much as I regretted the absence of the ladies. Sometimes it was an orchard whose fruit far exceeded in bigness any that grew in my father's garden. Sometimes it was a court planted with roses, jasmine, daffodils, hyacinths, and anemones, and a thousand other flowers of which I did not know the names. Or again it would be an aviary fitted with all kinds of singing birds, or a treasury heaped up with precious stones. But whatever I might see all was perfect of its own sort. Thirty-nine days passed away more rapidly than I could have conceived possible, and the following morning the princesses were to return to the castle. But alas I had explored every corner save only the room that was shut in by the golden door, and I had no longer anything to amuse myself with. I stood before the forbidden place for some time gazing at its beauty. Then a happy inspiration struck me that because I unlocked the door it was not necessary that I should enter the chamber. It would be enough for me to stand outside and view whatever hidden wonders might be therein. Thus arguing against my own conscience I turned the key when a smell rushed out that, pleasant though it was, overcame me completely, and I fell fainting across the threshold. Instead of being warned by this accident directly I came to myself I went for a few moments into the air to shake off the effects of the perfume, and then entered boldly. I found myself in a large vaulted room, lighted by tapers, scented with aloes and ambergris, standing in golden candlesticks, whilst golden silver lamps hung from the ceiling. Though objects of rare workmanship lay heaped around me I paid them scant attention. So much was I struck by a great black horse which stood in one corner, the handsomest and best shaped animal I had ever seen. His saddle and bridle were of massive gold, curiously wrought. One side of his trough was filled with clean barley and sesame and the other with rose water. I led the animal into the open air and then jumped on his back, shaking the reins as I did so, but as he never stirred I touched him lightly with a switch I had picked up in his stable. No sooner did he feel the stroke than he spread his wings, which I had not perceived before, and flew up with me straight into the sky. When he had reached a prodigious height he next started back to earth and alighted on the terrace belonging to a castle, shaking me violently out of the saddle as he did so, and giving me such a blow with his tail that he knocked out my right eye. How stunned as I was with all that had happened to me I rose to my feet, thinking as I did so of what had befallen the ten young men and watching the horse which was soaring into the clouds. I left the terrace and wandered on till I came to a hall, which I knew to have been the one from which the rock had taken me by the ten blue sofas against the wall. The ten young men were not present when I first entered, but came in soon after, accompanied by the old man. They greeted me kindly and bewailed my misfortune, though indeed they had expected nothing less. All that has happened to you, they said, we also have undergone, and we should be enjoying the same happiness still had we not opened the golden door while the princesses were absent. You have been no wiser than we and have suffered the same punishment. We would gladly receive you among us to perform such penance as we do, but we have already told you that this is impossible. Depart therefore from hence and go to the court of Baghdad where you shall meet with him that can decide your destiny. They told me the way I was to travel and I left them. On the road I caused my beard and eyebrows to be shaved and put on a calendar's habit. I have had a long journey, but arrived this evening in the city where I met my brother-calendars at the gate being strangers like myself. We wondered much at one another to see we were all blind of the same eye, but we had no leisure to discourse at length of our common calamities. We had only so much time as to come hither to implore those favors which you have been generously pleased to grant us. He finished and it was Zobeda's turn to speak. Go wherever you please, she said, addressing all three, I pardon you all, but you must depart immediately out of this house. In the times of the Caliph Haroon al-Rajid there lived in Baghdad a poor porter named Hindbad, who on a very hot day was sent to carry a heavy load from one end of the city to the other. Before he had accomplished half the distance he was so tired that finding himself in a quiet street where the pavement was sprinkled with rose water and a cool breeze was blowing he set his burden upon the ground and sat down to rest in the shade of a grand house. Very soon he decided that he could not have chosen a pleasanter place. A delicious perfume of aloes, wood and pastiles came from the open windows and mingled with the scent of the rose water which steamed up from the hot pavement. Within the palace he heard some music as of many instruments cunningly played and the melodious warble of nightingales and other birds and the appetizing smell of many dainty dishes of which he presently became aware. He judged that feasting and merry-making were going on. He wondered who lived in this magnificent house which he had never seen before, the street in which it stood being one which he seldom had occasion to pass. To satisfy his curiosity he went up to some splendidly dressed servants who stood at the door and asked one of them the name of the master of the mansion. What, replied he, do you not live in Baghdad and do you not know that here lives the noble Sinbad the sailor, that famous traveler who sailed over every sea upon which the sun shines? The porter who had often heard people speak of the immense wealth of Sinbad could not help feeling envious of one whose lot, seemed to be as happy as his own, was miserable. Casting his eyes up to the sky he exclaimed aloud, Consider mighty creator of all things, the differences between Sinbad's life and mine. Every day I suffer a thousand hardships and misfortunes and have hard work to get even enough bad barley bread to keep myself and my family alive, while the lucky Sinbad spends his money right and left and lives upon the fat of the land. What has he done that you should have given him this pleasant life? What have I done to deserve so hard a fate? So saying he stamped upon the ground like one beside himself with misery and despair. Just at this moment a servant came out of the palace and taking him by the arm said, Come with me, the noble Sinbad, my master wishes to speak with you. Sinbad was not a little surprised at this summons and feared that his unguarded words might have drawn upon him the displeasure of Sinbad, so he tried to excuse himself upon the pretext that he could not leave the burden which had been entrusted to him in the street. However the lackey promised him that it should be taken care of and urged him to obey the call so pressingly that at last the porter was obliged to yield. He followed the servant into a vast room where a great company was seated round a table covered with all sorts of delicacies. In the place of honor sat a tall, grave man whose long white beard gave him a venerable air. Behind his chairs stood a crowd of attendants eager to minister to his wants. This was the famous Sinbad himself. The porter, more than ever alarmed at the sight of so much magnificence, tremblingly saluted the noble company. Sinbad making a sign to him to approach caused him to be seated at his right hand, and himself heaped choice morsels upon his plate and poured out for him a draught of excellent wine, and presently when the banquet drew to a close spoke to him familiarly, asking him his name and occupation. My lord, replied the porter, I am called Hinbad. I am glad to see you here, continued Sinbad, and I will answer for the rest of the company that they are equally pleased, but I wish you to tell me what it is that you said just now in the street. For Sinbad, passing by the open window before the feast began, had heard his complaint and therefore had sent for him. At this question Hinbad was covered with confusion, and hanging down his head he replied, My lord, I confess that overcome by weariness and ill-humor I uttered indiscreet words which I pray you to pardon me. Oh, replied Sinbad, do not imagine that I am so unjust as to blame you. On the contrary, I understand your situation and can pity you. Only you appear to be mistaken about me, and I wish to set you right. You doubtless imagine that I have acquired all the wealth and luxury that you see me enjoy without difficulty or danger. But this is far indeed from being the case. I have only reached this happy state after having for years suffered every possible kind of toil and danger. Yes, my noble friends, he continued addressing the company, I assure you that my adventures have been strange enough to deter even the most avaricious man from seeking wealth by traversing the seas. Since you have, perhaps, heard but confused accounts of my seven voyages and the dangers and wonders that I have met with by sea and land, I will now give you a full and true account of them which I think you will be well pleased to hear. As Sinbad was relating his adventures chiefly on account of the porter, he ordered before beginning his tale that the burden which had been left in the street should be carried by some of his own servants to the place for which Sinbad had set out at first, while he remained to listen to the story. CHAPTER XVI. I had inherited considerable wealth from my parents, and being young and foolish I at first squandered it recklessly upon every kind of pleasure, but presently finding that riches speedily take to themselves wings if managed as badly as I was managing mine, and remembering also that to be old and poor is misery indeed. I began to rethink me of how I could make the best of what still remained to me. I sold all my household goods by public auction, and joined a company of merchants who traded by sea, embarking with them at Balsora in a ship which we had fitted out between us. We set sail and took our course towards the East Indies by the Persian Gulf, having the coast of Persia upon our left hand, and upon our right the shores of Arabia Felix. I was at first much troubled by the uneasy motion of the vessel, but speedily recovered my health, and since that hour have been no more plagued by seasickness. From time to time we landed at various islands where we sold or exchanged our merchandise, and one day when the wind dropped suddenly we found ourselves becombed close to a small island like a green meadow which only rose slightly above the surface of the water. Our sails were furled, and the captain gave permission to all who wished to land for a while and amuse themselves. I was among the number, but when after strolling about for some time we lighted a fire and sat down to enjoy the repast which we had brought with us, we were startled by a sudden and violent trembling of the island, while at the same moment those left upon the ship set up an outcry bidding us come aboard for our lives, for what we had taken for an island was nothing but the sleeping back of a whale. Those who were nearest to the boat threw themselves into it, others sprang into the sea, but before I could save myself the whale plunged suddenly into the depths of the ocean, leaving me clinging to a piece of the wood which we had brought to make our fire. Meanwhile a breeze had sprung up, and in the confusion that ensued on board our vessel in hoisting the sails and taking up those who were in the boat and clinging to the sides, no one missed me, and I was left at the mercy of the waves. All that day I floated up and down, now beaten this way, now that, and when night fell I despaired for my life. But weary and spent as I was I clung to my frail support, and great was my joy when the morning light showed me that I had drifted against an island. The cliffs were high and steep, but luckily for me some tree roots protruded in places, and by their aid I climbed up at last and stretched myself upon the turf at the top, where I lay more dead than alive till the sun was high in the heavens. By that time I was very hungry, but after some searching I came upon some edible herbs and a spring of clear water, and much refreshed I set out to explore the island. Suddenly I reached a great plain where a grazing horse was tethered, and as I stood looking at it I heard voices, talking apparently underground, and in a moment a man appeared who asked me how I came upon the island. I told him my adventures, and heard in return that he was one of the grooms of Mirage, the king of the island, and that each year they came to feed their master's horses in this plain. He took me to a cave where his companions were assembled, and when I had eaten of the food they set before me they bade me think myself fortunate to have come upon them when I did, since they were going back to their master on the morrow, and without their aid I could certainly never have found my way to the inhabited part of the island. Early the next morning we accordingly set out, and when we reached the capital I was graciously received by the king, to whom I related my adventures, upon which he ordered that I should be cared for and provided with such things as I needed. Being a merchant I sought out men of my own profession, and particularly those who came from foreign countries, as I hoped in this way to hear news from Baghdad and find out some means of returning thither, for the capital was situated upon the sea shore, and visited by vessels from all parts of the world. In the meantime I heard many curious things, and answered many questions concerning my own country, for I talked willingly with all who came to me. Also to while away the time of waiting I explored the little island named Castle, which belonged to King Mirage, and which was supposed to be inhabited by a spirit named Daghile. Indeed the sailors assured me that often at night the playing of timbles could be heard upon it. However I saw nothing strange upon my voyage, saving some fish that were two hundred cubits long, but were fortunately more in dread of us than we were even of them, and fled from us if we did but strike upon a board to frighten them. Other fishes there were only a cubit long, which had heads like owls. One day after my return as I went down to the quay I saw a ship which had just cast anchor and was discharging her cargo, while the merchants to whom it belonged were busily directing the removal of it to their warehouses. Drawing nearer I presently noticed that my own name was marked upon some of the packages, and after having carefully examined them I felt sure that they were indeed those which I had put on board our ship at Balsora. I then recognized the captain of the vessel, but as I was certain that he believed me to be dead I went up to him and asked who owned the packages I was looking at. There was on board my ship, he replied, a merchant of Baghdad named Simbad. One day he and several of my other passengers landed upon what we supposed to be an island but which was really an enormous whale floating asleep upon the waves. No sooner did it feel upon its back the heat of the fire which had been kindled than it plunged into the depths of the sea. Several of the people who were upon it perished in the waters, and among others this unlucky Simbad. This merchandise is his, but I have resolved to dispose of it for the benefit of his family if I should ever chance to meet them. Captain, I said, I am that Simbad who you believe to be dead and these are my possessions. When the captain heard these words he cried out in amazement, lack a day, and what is the world coming to? In these days there is not an honest man to be met with. Did I not with my own eyes see Simbad drown, and now you have the audacity to tell me you are he? I should have taken you to be a just man, and yet for the sake of obtaining that which does not belong to you you are ready to invent this horrible falsehood. Have patience and do me the favour of hearing my story, said I. Speak then, replied the captain, I am all attention. So I told him of my escape and of the fortunate meeting with the king's grooms, and how kindly had I been received at the palace. Very soon I began to see that I had made some impression upon him, and after the arrival of some of the other merchants who showed great joy at once more seeing me alive he declared that he also recognized me. Throwing himself upon my neck he exclaimed, Heaven be praised that you have escaped from so great a danger. As to your goods I pray you take them and dispose of them as you please. I thanked him and praised his honesty, begging him to accept several bails of merchandise in token of my gratitude, but he would take nothing. Of the choicest of my goods I prepared a present for King Mirage, who was at first amazed, having known that I had lost my all. However, when I had explained to him how my bails had been miraculously restored to me, he graciously accepted my gifts, and in return gave me many valuable things. I then took leave of him and, exchanging my merchandise for sandal and aloe's wood, camphor, nutmegs, cloves, pepper, and ginger, I embarked upon the same vessel and traded so successfully upon our homeward voyage that I arrived in Belsora with about one hundred thousand sequins. My family received me with as much joy as I felt upon seeing them once more. I bought land and slaves, and built a great house in which I resolved to live happily, and in the enjoyment of all the pleasures of life to forget my past sufferings. Here Sinbad paused and commanded the musicians to play again, while the feasting continued until evening. When the time came for the porter to depart, Sinbad gave him a purse containing one hundred sequins, saying, Take this, Himbad, and go home, but to-morrow come again and you shall hear more of my adventures. The porter retired quite overcome by so much generosity, and you may imagine that he was well received at home, where his wife and children thanked their lucky stars that he had found such a benefactor. The next day Himbad dressed in his best, returned to the voyager's house, and was received with open arms. As soon as all the guests had arrived the banquet began as before, and when they had feasted long and merrily, Sinbad addressed them thus. My friends, I beg that you will give me your attention while I relate the adventures of my second voyage, which you will find even more astonishing than the first. CHAPTER 17 THE SECOND VOYAGE I had resolved, as you know, on my return from my first voyage, to spend the rest of my days quietly in Baghdad, but very soon I grew tired of such an idle life and longed once more to find myself upon the sea. I procured therefore such goods as were suitable for the places I intended to visit, and embarked for the second time in a good ship with other merchants whom I knew to be honorable men. We went from island to island, often making excellent bargains, until one day we landed at a spot which, though covered with fruit trees and abounding with springs of excellent water, appeared to possess neither houses nor people. While my companions wondered here and there, gathering flowers and fruit, I sat down in a shady place, and having heartily enjoyed the provisions and the wine I had brought with me, I fell asleep, filled by the murmur of the clear brook which flowed close by. How long I slept I know not, but when I opened my eyes and started to my feet I perceived with horror that I was alone and that the ship was gone. I rushed to and fro like one distracted, uttering cries of despair, and when from the shore I saw the vessel under full sail just disappearing upon the horizon, I wished bitterly enough that I had been content to stay at home in safety. But since wishes could do me no good, I presently took courage and looked about me for a means of escape. When I had climbed a tall tree, I first of all directed my anxious glances toward the sea, but finding nothing hopeful there, I turned landward, and my curiosity was excited by a huge dazzling white object so far off that I could not make out what it might be. Descending from the tree I hastily collected what remained of my provisions and set off as fast as I could go towards it. As I drew near it seemed to me to be a white ball of immense size and height, and when I could touch it I found it marvelously smooth and soft. As it was impossible to climb it, for it presented no foothold, I walked around it seeking some opening, but there was none. I counted, however, that it was at least fifty paces round. By this time the sun was near setting, but quite suddenly it fell dark, something like a huge black cloud came swiftly over me, and I saw with amazement that it was a bird of extraordinary size which was hovering near. Then I remembered that I had often heard the sailors speak of a wonderful bird called a rock, and it occurred to me that the white object which had puzzled me must be its egg. Sure enough the bird settled slowly down upon it, covering it with its wings to keep it warm, and I cowered close beside the egg in such a position that one of the bird's feet, which was as large as a trunk of a tree, was just in front of me. Moving off my turban I bound myself securely to it with the linen, in the hope that the rock, when it took flight next morning, would bear me away with it from the desolate island. And this was precisely what did happen. As soon as the dawn appeared the bird rose into the air, carrying me up and up till I could no longer see the earth, and then suddenly it descended so swiftly that I almost lost consciousness. When I became aware that the rock had settled and that I was once again upon solid ground, I hastily unbound my turban from its foot and freed myself, and that not a moment too soon. For the bird, pouncing upon a huge snake, killed it with a few blows from its powerful beak, and seizing it up rose into the air once more and soon disappeared from my view. When I had looked about me I began to doubt if I had gained anything by quitting the desolate island. The valley in which I found myself was deep and narrow and surrounded by mountains which towered into the clouds and were so steep and rocky that there was no way of climbing up their sides. As I wandered about, seeking anxiously for some means of escaping from this trap, I observed that the ground was strewed with diamonds, some of them of an astonishing size. This sight gave me great pleasure, but my delight was speedily damped when I saw also numbers of horrible snakes so long and so large that the smallest of them could have swallowed an elephant with ease. Fortunately for me they seemed to hide in caverns of the rocks by day and only come out by night, probably because of their enemy the rock. All day long I wandered up and down the valley and when it grew dusk I crept into a little cave and having blocked up the entrance to it with a stone I ate part of my little store of food and lay down to sleep, but all through the night the serpents crawled to and fro, hissing horribly, so that I could scarcely close my eyes for terror. I was thankful when the morning light appeared and when I judged by the silence that the serpents had retreated to their dens I came tremblingly out of my cave and wandered up and down the valley once more, kicking the diamonds contemptuously out of my path, for I felt that they were indeed vain things to a man in my situation. At last, overcome with weariness, I sat down upon a rock, but I had hardly closed my eyes when I was startled by something which fell to the ground with a thud close beside me. It was a huge piece of fresh meat and as I stared at it several more pieces rolled over the cliffs in different places. I had always thought that the stories the sailors told of the famous valley of diamonds and of the cunning way with which some of the merchants had devised for getting at the precious stones where mere traveller's tales invented to give pleasures to the hearers, but now I perceived that they were surely true. These merchants came to the valley at the time when the eagles, which kept their aries in the rocks, had hatched their young. The merchants then threw great lumps of meat into the valley. These falling with so much force upon the diamonds were sure to take some of their precious stones with them. And the eagles pounced upon the meat and carried it off to their nests to feed their hungry broods. Then the merchants, scaring away the parent birds with shouts and outcries, would secure their treasures. Until this moment I had looked upon the valley as my grave, for I had seen no possibility of getting out of it alive, but now I took courage and began to devise a means of escape. I began by picking up all the largest diamonds I could find and storing them carefully in the leather and wallet which had held my provisions. This I tied securely to my belt. I then chose the piece of meat which seemed most suited to my purpose, and with the aid of my turban bound it firmly to my back. This done I laid down upon my face and awaited the coming of the eagles. I soon heard the flapping of their mighty wings above me and had the satisfaction of feeling one of them seize upon my piece of meat and me with it and rise slowly toward his nest in which he presently dropped me. Luckily for me the merchants were on the watch and, setting up their usual outcries, they rushed to the nest scaring away the eagle. Their amazement was great when they discovered me and also their disappointment, and with one accord they fell to abusing me for having robbed them of their usual profit. Addressing myself to the one who seemed most aggrieved, I said, I am sure if you knew all that I have suffered you would show more kindness toward me, and as for diamonds I have enough here of the very best for you and me and all your company. So saying I showed them to him. The others all crowded around me, wondering at my adventures and admiring the device by which I had escaped from the valley. And when they had led me to their camp and examined my diamonds, they assured me that in all the years that they had carried on their trade they had seen no stones to be compared with them for size and beauty. I found that each merchant chose a particular nest and took his chance of what he might find in it. So I begged the one who owned the nest to which I had been carried to take as much as he would of my treasure, but he contented himself with one stone, and that by no means the largest, assuring me that with such a gem his fortune was made, and he need toil no more. I stayed with the merchants several days, and then as they were journeying homewards I gladly accompanied them. Our way lay across high mountains infested with frightful serpents, but we had the good luck to escape them and came at last to the seashore. Fence we sailed to the Isle of Rohot, where the camp for trees grow, to such a size that a hundred men could shelter under one of them with ease. The sap flows from an incision made high up in the tree into a vessel hung there to receive it, and soon hardens into the substance called campfire, but the tree itself withers up and dies when it has been so treated. In this same island we saw the rhinoceros, an animal which is smaller than an elephant and larger than a buffalo. It has one horn about a cubit long which is solid, but has a furrow from the base to the tip. On it is traced in white lines the figure of a man. The rhinoceros fights with the elephant, and transfixing him with his horn carries him off upon his head, but becoming blinded with the blood of his enemy he falls helpless to the ground, and then comes the rock, and clutches them both in his talons and takes them to feed his young. This doubtless astonishes you, but if you do not believe my tale go to Rohat and see for yourself. For fear of wearying you I pass over in silence many other wonderful things which I saw in this island. Before we left I exchanged one of my diamonds for much goodly merchandise by which I profited greatly on our homeward way. At last we reached Balsora whence I hastened to Baghdad, where my first action was to bestow large sums of money upon the poor, after which I settled down to enjoy tranquilly the riches I had gained with so much toil and pain. Having thus related the adventures of his second voyage, Sinbad again bestowed a hundred sequins upon Himbad, inviting him to come again on the following day and hear how he fared upon his third voyage. The other guests also departed to their homes, but all returned at the same hour next day, including the porter, whose former life of hard work and poverty had already begun to seem to him like a bad dream. Again after the feast was over, did Sinbad claim the attention of his guests and begin the account of his third voyage? End of Chapter 17 Chapter 18 of the Arabian Nights Entertainment 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 Nathan at anti-Bideonwriter.wordpress.com The Arabian Nights Entertainment by Andrew Lane Chapter 18 The Third Voyage After a very short time, the pleasant easy life I led made me quite forget the perils of my two voyages. Moreover, as I was still in the prime of life, it pleased me better to be up and doing. So once more, providing myself the rarest and choicest merchandise of Baghdad, I conveyed it to Balsora and set sail with other merchants of my acquaintance for distant lands. We touched at many ports and made much profit, when one day upon the open sea we were caught by a terrible wind which blew us completely out of our reckoning and lasting for several days, finally drove us into harbour on a strange island. I would rather have come to anchor anywhere than here, quaff our captain. This island and all adjoining it are inhabited by hairy savages who are certain to attack us and whatever these dwarfs may do, we dare not resist since they will swarm like locusts and if one of them is killed, the rest will fall upon us and speedily make an end of us. These words caused great consternation among all the ship's company and only too soon we were to find out that the captain spoke truly. There appeared a vast multitude of hideous savages, not more than two feet high and covered with reddish fur, throwing themselves into the waves they surrounded our vessel. Chattering meanwhile in a language we could not understand and clutching at ropes and gangways, they swarmed up the ship's side with such speed and agility that they almost seemed to fly. You may imagine the rage and terror that seized us as we watched them, neither daring to hinder them nor able to speak a word to deter them from their purpose, whatever it might be. Of this we were not left long in doubt, hoisting the sails and cutting the cable of the anchor. They sailed our vessel to an island which lay a little further off where they drove us ashore. In taking possession of her they made off to the place from which they had come, letting us helpless upon ashore, avoided with horror by all mariners for a reason which you all soon learn. Turning away from the sea we wandered miserably inland, finding as we went various herbs and fruits which we ate, feeling that we might as well live as long as possible though we had no hope of escape. Presently we saw in the far distance what seemed to us to be a splendid palace towards which we turned our weary steps, but when we reached it we saw that it was a castle, lofty and strongly built. Pushing back the heavy ebony doors we entered the courtyard but upon the threshold of the great hall beyond it we paused, frozen with horror at the sight which greeted us. On one side lay a huge pile of bones, human bones, and on the other numberless spits for roasting. Overcome with despair we sank trembling to the ground and lay there without speech or motion. The sun was setting when a loud noise aroused us. The door of the hall was violently burst open and a horrible giant entered. He was as tall as a palm tree and perfectly black and had one eye which flamed like a burning coal in the middle of his forehead. His teeth were long and sharp and grinned horribly while his lower lip hung down upon his chest and he had ears like elephants ears which covered his shoulders and nails like the claws of some fierce bird. At this terrible sight our senses left us and we lay like dead men. When at last we came to ourselves the giant sat examining us attentively with his fearful eye. Presently when he had looked at us enough he came towards us and stretching out his hands and took me by the back of the neck turning me this way and that. But feeling that I was mere skin and bone he set me down again and went on to the next him he treated in the same fashion. At last he came to the captain and finding him the fattest of us all. He took him up in one hand and stuck him upon a spit and proceeded to kindle a huge fire at which he presently roasted him. After the giant had supped he lay down to sleep snoring like the loudest thunder. While we lay shearing with horror the whole night through when day broke he awoke and went out leaving us in the castle. When we believed him to be really gone we started up bemoaning our horrible fate until the whole echoed with our despairing cries. Though we were many and our enemy was alone it did not occur to us to kill him and indeed we should have found that a hard task even if we had thought of it and no plan could we devise to deliver ourselves. So at last submitting to our sad fate we spent the day in wandering up and down the island eating such fruits as we could find and when night came we returned to the castle having sought in vain for any other place of shelter. At sunset the giant returned supped upon one of our unhappy comrades slept and snored till dawn and then left us as before. Our condition seemed to us so frightful that several of my companions thought it would be better to leap from the cliffs and perish in the waves at once rather than await so miserable an end but I had a plan of escape which I now unfold to them in which they at once agreed to attempt. Listen my brothers I added you know that plenty of driftwood lies along the shore let us make several rafts and carry them to a suitable place if our plot succeeds we can wait patiently for the chance of some passing ship which would rescue us from this fatal island if it fails we must quickly take to our rafts as frail as they are we have more chance of saving our lives with them than we have if we remain here. All agreed with me and we spent the day in building rafts each capable of carrying three persons. At nightfall we returned to the castle and very soon in came the giant and one more of our number was sacrificed but the time of our vengeance was at hand as soon as he had finished his horrible repast he lay down to sleep as before and when we heard him begin to snore I and nine of the boldest of my comrades rose softly and took each a spit which we made red hot in the fire and then at a given signal we plunged it with one accord into the giant's eye completely blinding him uttering a terrible cry he sprang to his feet clutching in all directions to try to seize one of us but we had all fled different ways as soon as the deed was done and thrown ourselves flat on the ground in corners where he was not likely to touch us with his feet after a vain search he thumbled about till he found the door and fled out of it howling frightfully as for us when he was gone we made haste to leave the fatal castle and stationing ourselves beside our rafts we waited to see what would happen our idea was that if when the sun rose we saw nothing of the giant and no longer heard his howls which still came faintly through the darkness growing more and more distant we should conclude that he was dead and that we might safely stay upon the island and need not risk our lives upon the frail rafts but alas morning light showed us our enemy approaching us supported on either hand by two giants nearly as large and fearful as himself while a crowd of others followed close upon their heels hesitating no longer we clambered upon our rafts and rode with all our might out to sea the giants seeing their prey escaping them seized up huge pieces of rock and wading into the water hurled them after us with such good aim that all the rafts except the one I was upon were swamped and their luckless crews drowned without our being able to do anything to help them indeed I and my two companions had all we could do to keep our own raft beyond the reach of the giants but by dint of hard rowing we at last gained the open sea here we were at the mercy of the winds and waves which tossed us to and fro all that day and night but the next morning we found ourselves near an island upon which we gladly landed there we found delicious fruits and having satisfied our hunger we presently lay down to rest upon the shore suddenly we were aroused by a loud rustling noise and starting up saw that it was caused by an immense snake which was gliding towards us over the sand so swiftly it came that it had seized one of my comrades before he had time to fly and in spite of his cries and struggles speedily crushed the life out of him in its mighty coils and proceeded to swallow him by this time my other companion and I were running for our lives to some place where we might hope to be safe from this new horror and seeing a tall tree we climbed up into it having first provided ourselves with a store of fruit off the surrounding bushes when night came I fell asleep but only to be awakened once more by the terrible snake which after hissing horribly round the tree at last reared itself up against it and finding my sleeping comrade who was perched just below me it swallowed him also and crawled away leaving me half dead with terror when the sun rose I crept down from the tree with hardly a hope of escaping the dreadful fate which had overtaken my comrades but life is sweet and I determined to do all I could to save myself all day long I toiled with frantic haste and collected quantities of dry brushwood reeds and thorns which I bound with faggots and making a circle of them under my tree I piled them firmly one upon another until I had a kind of tent in which I crouched like a mouse in a hole when she seized the cat coming you may imagine what a fearful night I passed but the snake returned eager to devour me and glided round and round my frail shelter seeking an entrance every moment I feared that it would succeed in pushing aside some of the faggots but happily for me they held together and when it grew light my enemy retired baffled and hungry to his den as for me I was more dead than alive shaking with fright and half suffocated by the poisonous breath of the monster I came out of my tent and crawled down to the sea feeling that it would be better to plunge from the cliffs and end my life at once than pass such another night of horror but to my joy and relief I saw a ship sailing by and by shouting wildly and waving my turban I managed to attract the attention of her crew a boat was sent to rescue me and very soon I found myself on board surrounded by a wandering crowd of sailors and merchants eager to know by what chance I found myself in that desolate island after I had told my story they regaled me with the choicest food the ship afforded and the captain, seeing that I was in rags generously bestowed upon me one of his own coats after sailing about for some time and touching at many ports we came at last to the island of Salahat where sandalwood grows in great abundance here we anchored and as I stood watching the merchants disembarking their goods and preparing to sell or exchange them the captain came to me and said I have here brother some merchandise belonging to a passenger of mine who was dead will you do me the favour to trade with it and when I meet with his heirs I shall be able to give them the money though it will be only just that you shall have a portion for your trouble I consented gladly for I did not like standing by idle whereupon he pointed the bails out to me and sent for the person whose duty it was to keep a list of the goods that were upon the ship when this man came he asked in what name the merchandise was to be registered in the name of Sinbad the sailor replied the captain at this I was greatly surprised but looking carefully at him I recognised him to be the captain of the ship upon which I had made my second voyage though it altered much since that time as for me believing me to be dead it was no wonder that he had not recognised me so captain said I the merchant who owned these bails was called Sinbad yes he replied he was so named he belonged to Baghdad and joined my ship at Balsora but by mischance he was left behind upon a desert island where we had landed to fill up our water casks and it was not until four hours later that he was missed by that time the wind had freshened and it was impossible to put back for him he supposed him to have perished then said I alas yes he answered why captain I cried look well at me I am that Sinbad who fell asleep upon the island and awoke to find himself abandoned captain stared at me in amazement but was presently convinced that I was indeed speaking the truth and rejoiced greatly at my escape I am glad to have that piece of carelessness off my conscience at any rate said he now take your goods and the profit I have made for you upon them and may you prosper in future I took them gratefully and as we went from one island to another I laid in stores of clothes, cinnamon and other spices in one place I saw a tortoise which was 20 cubits long and as many broad also a fish that was like a cow and had skin so thick that it was used to make shields another I saw that was like a camel in shape and color so by degrees we came back to Balsora and I returned to Baghdad with so much money that I could not myself count it besides treasures without end I gave largely to the poor and bought much land to add to what I already possessed and thus ended my third voyage when Sinbad had finished his story he gave another hundred sequins to Sinbad who then departed with the other guests but next day when they had all reassembled and the banquet was ended their host continued his adventures End of Chapter 18 Recording by Nathan at antipodeanwriter.wordpress.com Chapter 19 of the Arabian Nights Entertainment 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 Nathan at antipodeanwriter.wordpress.com The Arabian Nights Entertainment by Andrew Lang Chapter 19 The Fourth Voyage Rich and happy as I was after my third voyage I could not make up my mind to stay at home altogether my love of trading and the pleasure I took in anything that was new and strange made me set my affairs in order and begin my journey through some of the Persian provinces having first sent off goods of stores to await my coming in the different places I intended to visit I took ship at a distant seaport and for some time all went well but at last being caught in a violent hurricane our vessel became a total wreck in spite of all our worthy captain could do to save her and many of our company perished in the waves I with a few others had the good fortune to be washed ashore clinging to pieces of the wreck for the storm had driven us near an island and scrambling up beyond the reach of the waves we threw ourselves down quite exhausted to wait for morning at daylight we wandered inland and soon saw some huts to which we directed our steps as we drew near their black inhabitants swarmed out in great numbers and surrounded us and we were led to their houses as it were divided among our captors I with five others was taken into a hut where we were made to sit upon the ground and certain herbs were given to us which the blacks made signs to us to eat observing that they themselves did not touch them I was careful only to pretend to taste my portion with my companions being very hungry rashly ate up all that was set before them and very soon I had the horror of seeing them become perfectly mad though they chatted incessantly I could not understand a word they said nor did they heed when I spoke to them the savages now produced large bowls full of rice prepared with coconut oil of which my crazy comrades ate eagerly but only tasted a few grains understanding clearly that the object of our captors was to fatten us speedily for their own eating and this was exactly what happened my lucky companions having lost their reason felt neither anxiety nor fear and ate greedily all that was offered them so they were soon fat and there was an end to them but I grew leaner day by day for I ate but little and even that little did me no good by reason of my fear of what lay before me however as I was so far from being a tempting morsel I was allowed to wander about freely and one day when all the blacks had gone off upon some expedition leaving only an old man to guard me I managed to escape from him and plunged into the forest running faster the more he cried to me to come back until I had completely distanced him for seven days I hurried on resting only when the darkness stopped me and living chiefly upon coconuts which afforded me both meat and drink and on the eighth day I reached the seashore and saw a party of white men gathering pepper which grew abundantly all about reassured by the nature of their occupation I advanced towards them and they greeted me in Arabic asking who I was and whence I came my delight was great on hearing this familiar speech and I willingly satisfied their curiosity telling them how I had been shipwrecked and captured by the blacks these savages devour men said they how did you escape I repeated to them what I have just told you at which they were markedly astonished I stayed with them until they had collected as much pepper as they wished and then they took me back to their own country and presented me to their king by whom I was hospitably received to him also I had to relate my adventures which surprised him much and when I had finished he ordered that I should be supplied with food and raiment and treated with consideration the island on which I found myself was full of people and abounded in all sorts of desirable things and a great deal of traffic went on in the capital where I soon began to feel at home and contented moreover the king treated me with special favour and in consequence of this everyone whether at the court or in the town sought to make my life pleasant to me one thing I remarked which I thought very strange this was that from the greatest to the least all men rode their horses without bridal stirrups I one day presumed to ask his majesty why he did not use them to which he replied you speak to me of things of which I have never before heard this gave me an idea I found a clever workman and made him cut out under my direction the foundation of a subtle which I wadded and covered with choice leather adorning it with rich gold embroidery then got a locksmith to make me a bit and a pair of spurs after a pattern that I drew for him and all these things were completed I presented them to the king and showed him how to use them when I'd saddled one of his horses he mounted it and rode about quite delighted with the novelty and to show his gratitude he rewarded me with large gifts after this I had to make saddles for all the principal officers of the king's household and as they all gave me rich presence I soon became very wealthy and quite an important person in the city one day the king sent for me and said Sinbad I'm going to ask a favour of you both I and my subjects esteem you and wish you to end your days amongst us therefore I desire that you will marry a rich and beautiful lady whom I will find for you and think no more of your own country as the king's will was law I accepted the charming bride he presented to me and lived happily with her nevertheless I had every intention of escaping at the first opportunity and going back to Baghdad things were going prosperously with me when it happened that the wife of one of my neighbours with whom I had struck up quite a friendship fell ill and presently died I went to his house to offer my consolations and found in the depths of woe heaven preserve you said I and send you along life alas he replied what is the good of saying that when I have but an hour left to live come come said I surely it is not so bad as all that I trust that you may be spared to me for many years I hope answered he that your life may be long but as for me all is finished I have set my house in order and today I shall be buried with my wife this has been the law upon our island from the earliest ages the living husband goes to the grave with his dead wife and the living wife with her dead husband so did our fathers and so must we do the law changes not and all must submit to it as he spoke the friends and relations of the unhappy pair began to assemble the body decked in rich robes and sparkling with jewels was laid upon an open buyer and the process started taking its way to a high mountain at some distance from the city the wretched husband clothed from head to foot in a black mantle following mournfully when the place of interment was reached the corpse was lowered just as it was into a deep pit then the husband bidding farewell to all his friends stretched himself upon another buyer upon which were laid at several little loaves of bread and a picture of water and he also was let down down down to the depths of the horrible cavern and then a stone was laid over the opening and the melancholy company winded its way back to the city you may imagine that I was no unmoved spectator of these proceedings to all the others it was a thing to which they had been accustomed from their youth up but I was so horrified that I could not help telling the king how it struck me sire I said I am more astonished than I can express to you at the strange custom which exists in your dominions of bearing the living with the dead in all my travels I have never before met with so cruel and horrible a law what would you have sin bad he replied it is the law for everybody I myself should be buried with the queen if she were the first to die but your majesty said I dare I ask if this law applies to foreign ears also why yes replied the king smiling in what I could but consider a very heartless manner there are no exceptions to the rule if they have married in the country when I heard this I went home much cast down and from that time forward my mind was never easy if only my wife's little finger ached I fancied she was going to die and sure enough before very long she fell really ill and in a few days breathed her last my dismay was great for it seemed to me that to be buried alive was even a worst fate than to be devoured by cannibals nevertheless there was no escape the body of my wife arrayed in her richest robes and decked with all her jewels was laid upon the buyer I followed it and after me came a great procession headed by the king and all his nobles and in this order we reached the fatal mountain which was one of a lofty chain bordering the sea here I made one more frantic effort to excite the pity of the king and those who stood by hoping to save myself even at this last moment but it was of no avail no one spoke to me they even appeared to hasten over their dreadful task and I speedily found myself descending into the gloomy pit with my seven loaves and a picture of water beside me almost before I reached the bottom the stone was rolled into its place above my head and I was left to my fate a feeble ray of light shone into the cabin through some chink and when I had the courage to look about me I could see that I was in a vast vault mistruing with bones and bodies of the dead I even fancied that I heard the expiring size of those who, like myself, had come into this dismal place alive all in vain did I shriek aloud with rage and despair reproaching myself for the love of gain and adventure which had brought me to such a pass but at length growing calmer I took up my breath and water and wrapping my face in my mantle I groped my way towards the end of the cabin where the air was fresher here I lived in darkness and misery until my provisions were exhausted but just as I was nearly dead from starvation the rock was rolled away overhead and I saw that a buyer was being lowered into the cabin and that the corpse upon it was a man in a moment my mind was made up the woman who followed had nothing to expect but a lingering death I should be doing her a service if I shortened to misery therefore when she descended already insensible from terror I was ready armed with a huge bone one blow from which left her dead and I secured the bread and water which gave me a hope of life several times did I have recourse to this desperate expedient and I know not how long I had been a prisoner when one day I fancied that I heard something near me which breathed loudly turning to the place from which the sound came I dimly saw a shadowy form which flooded my movement squeezing itself through a cranny in the wall I pursued it as fast as I could and found myself in a narrow crack among the rocks along which I was just able to force my way I followed it for what seemed to me many miles and at last saw before me a glimmer of light which grew clearer every moment until I emerged upon the seashore with a joy which I cannot describe when I was sure that I was not dreaming I realised that it was doubtless some little animal which had found its way into the cabin from the sea and when disturbed it fled showing me a means of escape which I could never have discovered for myself I hastily surveyed my surroundings and saw that I was safe from all pursuit from the town The mountains sloped sheer down to the sea and there was no road across them being assured of this I returned to the cabin and amassed a rich treasure of diamonds rubies emeralds and jewels of all kinds which strewed the ground these I made up into bales and stored them into a safe place upon the beach and then waited hopefully for the passing of a ship I looked out for two days however before a single sail appeared so it was with much delight that I at last saw a vessel not very far from the shore and by waving my arms and uttering loud cries succeeded in attracting the attention of her crew A boat was sent off for me and in answer to the questions of the sailors as to how I came to be in such a plight I replied that I had been shipwrecked two days before but had managed to scramble ashore with the bales which I pointed out to them Luckily for me they believed my story and without even looking at the place where they found me took up my bundles and rode me back to the ship Once on board I soon saw that the captain was too much occupied with the difficulties of navigation to pay much heed to me though he generously made me welcome and would not even accept the duels with which I offered to pay my passage Our voyage was prosperous and after visiting many lands and collecting in each place great store of goodly merchandise I found myself at last in Baghdad once more than heard of riches of every description Again I gave large sums of money to the poor and enriched all the mosques in the city after which I gave myself up to my friends and relations with whom I passed my time in feasting and merriment Here Sinbad paused and all his hearers declared that the adventures of his fourth voyage had pleased them better than anything they had heard before then they took their leave followed by Hindbad who had once more received a hundred sequence and with the rest had been bitten to return next day for the story of the fifth voyage When the time came all were in their places and when they had eaten and drunk of all that was said before them Sinbad began his tale End of Chapter 19 Recording by Nathan at AntibodyandWriter.wordpress.com