 Section 23, Volume 2 of the Book of a Thousand Nights and a Night, translated by Richard Burton. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Ashwath Kineshan. The Book of a Thousand Nights and a Night, Volume 2, Section 23. When it was the sixty-third night, she said, It hath reached me, O auspicious king, that Nusat al-Zaman continued. No, O king, that Muaykib was intendant of the public treasury during the caliphate of Omar bin al-Katab. And it so befell him that he saw Omar's son and gave him a diram out of the treasury, thereupon Quoth Muaykib. I returned to my own house, and while I was sitting there, behold, a messenger came to me from Omar, and I was afraid, and went to him. And when I came into his presence, in his hand was the diram I had given his son. He said to me, Woe to thee, Muaykib, I have found somewhat concerning thy soul. I asked, And what is that? And he answered, It is that thou hast shown thyself a foe to the followers of Muhammad, on whom be peace and salvation, in the matter of this diram, and thou wilt have to account for it on Resurrection Day. And Omar also wrote a letter to Abu Musa al-Ashari, as follows, When these presence reach thee, give the people what is theirs, and remit to me the rest. And he did so. Now, when Othman succeeded to the Caliphate, he wrote a like letter to Abu Musa, who did this bidding, and sent him the tribute accordingly, and with it came Ziyad. And when Ziyad laid the tribute before Othman, the Caliph's son came in and took a diram, whereupon Ziyad shed tears. Othman asked, Why weepest thou? And Ziyad answered, I once brought Omar bin Al-Katab the like of this, and his son took a diram, whereupon Omar bade snatch it from his hand. Now, thy son hath taken of the tribute, yet I have seen none say ought to him, or snatch the money from him. Then Othman cried, And where wilt thou find the like of Omar? Again, Zaid bin Aslam relates of his father that he said, I went out one night with Omar, till we approached a blazing fire. Quoth Omar, O Aslam, I think these must be travelers who are suffering from the cold. Come, let us join them. So we walked on till we came to them, and behold, we found a woman who had lighted a fire under a cauldron, and by her side were two children both availing. Zaid Omar, Peace be with you, O folk of light, for it was repugnant to him to say folk of fire. What aileth you? Zaid she, the cold and the night trouble us. He asked, What aileth these little people that they weep? And she answered, They are hungry. He inquired, And what is in this cauldron? And she replied, It is what I quiet them with all, and Allah will question Omar bin Al-Katab of them on the day of doom. He said, And what should Omar know of their case? Why then, rejoined she, Should he manage people's affairs and yet be unmindful of them? Thereupon Omar turned to me, continued Aslam, and cried, Come with us! So we set off running till we reached the pay department of his treasury, where he took out a sack containing flour and a pot holding fat, and said to me, Load these on my back! Quoth I, O commander of the faithful, I will carry them for thee! He rejoined, Wilt thou bear my load for me on the day of resurrection? So I put the things on his back and we set off running, till we threw down the sack hard by her. Then he took out some of the flour and put it in the cauldron, and saying to the woman, Leave it to me! He began blowing the fire under the cauldron. Now he was a long bearded man, and I saw the smoke issuing from between the hairs of his beard till the flour was cooked, when he took some of the fat and threw it in and said to the woman, Bed them while I cool it for them! So they fell to eating till they had eaten their fill, and he left the rest with her. Then he turned to me and said, Oh Aslam! I see it was indeed hunger made them weep, and I am glad I did not go away, ere I found out the cause of the light I saw, and Charazad perceived the dawn of day, and ceased to say her permitted say. When it was the sixty-fourth night, she said, It hath reached me, O auspicious king, that Nuzad al-Zaman continued. It is related that Omar passed by a flock of sheep kept by a mamalook, and asked him to sell him a sheep. He answered, They are not mine. Thou art the man I sought, said Omar, and bought him and freed him, whereupon the slave exclaimed, Oh Allah! As thou hast bestowed upon me the lesser emancipation, so vouchsafe me the greater. It is also said that Omar bin al-Katab was want to give his servant sweet milk, and himself eat coarse fare, and to clothe them softly, and himself wear rough garments. He rendered unto all men their due, and exceeded in his giving to them. He once gave a man four thousand dirhams, and added there two a thousand. Wherefore it was said to him, Why dost thou not increase to thy son, as thou increases to this man? He answered, This man's father stood firm at the battle of Ohad. Al-Hasan relates that Omar once came back from Foray with much money, and that Hafsa approached him and said, O Commander of the Faithful, the due of kinship. O Hafsa replied he, Verily Allah hath enjoined us to satisfy the dues of kinship, but not with the monies of the true believers. Indeed, thou pleasest thy family, but thou anguish thy father. And she went away trailing her skirts. The son of Omar said, I implored the Lord to show me my father one year after his death, till at last I saw him wiping the sweat from his brow, and asked him, How is it with thee, O my father? He answered, But for my Lord's mercy, thy father surely had perished. Then said Nuzad Al-Zaman, Here are auspicious king, the second division of the first chapter of the instances of the followers of the apostle and other holy men. Sayyid al-Hasan al-Basri, not a soul of the sons of Adam goeth forth of the world without regretting three things. Failure to enjoy what he hath amassed. Failure to compass what he had hoped. Failure to provide himself with sufficient viadicum for that, here too, he goeth. It was said of Sufyan, Can a man be a religious and yet possess well? He replied, Yes. So he be patient when grieved and be thankful when he hath received. Abdullah bin Shadad, being about to die, sent for his son, Muhammad, and admonished him, saying, O my son, I see the summoner of death summoning me, and so I charge thee to fear Allah, both in public and in private, to praise Allah, and to be sooth fast in thy speech, for such praise bringeth increase of prosperity, and piety in itself is the best of provision for the next world. Even as saith one of the poets, I see not happiness lies in gathering gold. The man most pious is man happiest. In truth, the fear of God is best of stores, and God shall make the pious choicelessly blessed. Then, quote Nuzrat al-Saman, Let the king also give ear to these notes from the second section of the first chapter. He asked her, What be they? And she answered, When Umar bin Abd al-Aziz succeeded to the caliphate, he went to his household, and laying hands on all that was in their hold, put it into the public treasury. So the Banu Umayyah flew for aid to his father's sister, Fatima, daughter of Marwan, and she sent to him, saying, I must need speak to thee. So she came to him by night, and when he had made her all right from her beast and sit down, he said to her, O aunt, it is for thee to speak first, since thou hast something to ask. Tell me, then, what thou wouldst with me? Replied she, O commander of the faithful, it is thine to speak first, for thy judgment perceive it that which is hidden from the intelligence of others. Then said Umar, Of a verity Allah Almighty sent Muhammad as a blessing to some and a bane to others, and he elected for him those with him, and commissioned him as his apostle, and took him to himself, and Sharazad perceived the dawn of day, and ceased saying her permitted say. When it was the sixty-fifth night, she said, It hath reached me, O auspicious king, that Nuzat al-Zaman continued thus. Said Umar, Verily Allah commissioned as his apostle Muhammad upon whom be the benediction of Allah and his salvation, for a blessing to some and a bane to others, and he elected for him those with him, and took him to himself, leaving the people as stream whereof they might drink. After him, Abubakar, the truth teller, became Khalif, and he left the river as it was, doing what was pleasing to Allah. Then arose Umar, and worked to work, and strove in holy war and strife whereof none might do the like. But when Othman arose to power, he diverted a streamlet from the stream, and Mu Yaviyah, in his turn, diverted from it several streamlets, and without ceasing in like manner, Yazid and the Banu Marwan, such as Abud al-Malik and Valid and Suleiman, drew away water from the stream, and the main course dried up till rule devolved upon me, and now I am minded to restore the stream to its normal condition. When Fatima heard this, she said, I came wishing only to speak and confer with thee, but if this be thy word, I have nothing to say to thee. Then she returned to the Omiyadis, and said to them, Now take ye the consequences of your act when ye allied yourselves by marriage with Omar bin al-Katab. And it is also said that when Omar was about to die, he gathered his children round him, and Maslama bin Abud al-Malik said to him, O Prince of the Faithful, how wilt thou leave thy children paupers, and thou their protector? None can hinder thee in thy lifetime from giving them what will suffice them out of the treasury, and this indeed were better than leaving the good work to him who shall rule after thee. Omar looked at him with a look of wrath and wonder and presently replied, O Maslama, I have defended them from this sin all the days of my life, and shall I make them miserable after my death? Over truth, my sons are like other men, either obedient to Almighty Allah who will prosper them, or disobedient, and I will not help them in their disobedience. No, O Maslama, that I was present, even as thou, when such and one of the sons of Marwanas was buried. And I fell asleep by him and saw him in a dream given over to one of the punishments of Allah to whom belong honor and glory. This terrified me and made me tremble, and I vowed to Allah that if ever I came to power I would not do such deeds as the dead man had done. I have striven to fulfill this vow all the length of my life, and I hope to die in the mercy of my Lord. Koth Maslama, a certain man died and I was present at his burial, and when all was over I fell asleep, and I saw him as a sleeper, and he had a dream walking in a garden of flowing waters clad in white clothes. He came up to me and said, O Maslama, it is for the like of this that rulers should rule. Many are the instances of this kind, and koth one of the men of authority. I used to milk the ewes in the caliphate of Omar bin Abid al-Aziz, and one day I met a shepherd among whose sheep I saw a wolf, or wolves. I thought them to be dogs, or I had never before seen wolves. So I asked, What does thou with these dogs? They are not dogs, but wolves, answered the shepherd. Koth I, can wolves be with sheep and not hurt them? Koth he, when the head is whole, the body is whole. Omar bin Abid al-Aziz once preached from a pulpit of clay, and after praising and glorifying Allah Almighty said three words as follows. O folk, make clean your inmost hearts, that your outward lives may be deemed to your brethren, and abstain ye from the things of the world. Know that between us and Adam there is no one man alive among the dead. Dead are Abid al-Malik and those who forwent him, and Omar also shall die, and those who forwent him. Asked Maslamah, O commander of the faithful, and we set a pillow behind thee, will thou lean upon it a little while? But Omar answered, I fear lest it be a fault about my neck on Resurrection Day. Then he grasped with the death-rattle and fell back in a faint, whereupon Fatima cried out, saying, Ho, Maryam, Ho, Muzahim, Ho, such a one look to this man. And she began to pour water on him, weeping, till he revived from his swoon, and seeing her in tears said to her, What causeth thee to weep, O Fatima? She replied, O commander of the faithful, I saw thee lying prostrate before us and thought of thy prostration in death before Almighty Allah, of thy departure from this world and of thy separation from us. This is what made me weep. Answered he, Enough, O Fatima, for indeed thou exceedest. Then he would have risen, but fell down, and Fatima strained him to her and said, Thou art to me as my father and my mother, O commander of the faithful. We cannot speak to thee, all of us. Then, Quoth Nuzath Al-Zaman to her brother, Sharkan, and the four Kazis. Here ended the second section of the first chapter. And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of the day and ceased to say, her permitted say. End of section 23 of the Book of a Thousand Nights and a Night translated by Richard Burton. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Kalinda. The Book of a Thousand Nights and a Night, volume 2, section 24. When it was the day when the dawn of the day and the night began, section 24. When it was the 66th night, she said, It hath reached me, O auspicious king, that Nuzath Al-Zaman said to her brother, Sharkan, and the four Kazis. Here ended the second section of the first chapter. And it so happened that Omar bin Abid al-Aziz wrote to the people of the festival at Mecca as follows, I call Allah to witness in this holy month, in the holy city and on the day of the greater pilgrimage that I am innocent of your oppression and of his wrongs that doth wrong you, in that I have neither commanded this nor purposed it, neither hath any report of ought thereof hitherto reached me, nor have I compassed any knowledge thereof. And I trust that a cause for pardon will be found in that none hath authority from me to oppress any man, for I shall assuredly be questioned concerning everyone oppressed. And if any of my officers swerve from the right and act otherwise than the holy book and the traditions of the apostle do authorise, obey him not, so that he may return to the way of righteousness. He said also, Allah accept of him, I do not wish to be relieved from death because it is the supreme thing for which the true believer is rewarded. Quote one of authority, I went to the Prince of the Faithful Omar bin Abid al-Aziz who was in Caliph and saw before him twelve dearhams which he ordered for deposit in the public treasury. So I said to him, O Commander of the Faithful, thou impoverishest thy children and reducest them to beggary, having nothing whereon to live on. And thou wouldst appoint somewhat by will to them and to those who are poor of the people of thy house, if were well. Draw near to me, answered he. So I drew near to him and he said, Now as for thy saying, thou beggarest thy children, provide for them and for the poor of thy household, it is without reason, for Allah of a truth will replace me to my children and to the poor of my house and he will be their guardian. Verily, they are like other men, he who fearth Allah, right soon will Allah provide for him a happy issue and he that is addicted to sins, I will not hold him in his sin against Allah. Then he summoned his sons who numbered twelve and when he beheld them his eyes dropped tears and presently he said to them, your father is between two things either ye will be well to do and your parent will enter the fire or ye will be poor and your parent will enter paradise and your father's entry into paradise is leaper to him than that ye should be well to do. So arise and go, Allah be your helper for to him I commit your affairs. Yusuf bin Omar accompanied me to Hisham bin Abed Al-Malik and as I met him he was coming forth with his kinsmen and attendants. He alighted and a tent was pitched for him. When the people had taken their seats I came up to the side of the carpet whereon he sat reclining and looked at him and waiting till my eyes met his eyes bespoke him thus. May Allah fulfill his bounty to thee O commander of the faithful I have an admonition for thee which hath come down to us from the history of the kings proceeding thee. At this he sat up when as he had been reclining and said to me bring what thou hast, O son of Safwan. Quoth I O commander of the faithful one of the kings before thee went forth in a time before this thay time to this very country and said hid to his companions saw ye ever any state like mine and say me hath such case been given to any man even as it hath been given unto me? Now there was with him a man of those who survived to bear testimony to truth upholders of the right and wayfarers in its highway and he said to him O king thou askest of a grave matter wilt thou give me leave to answer? Yes replied the king and the other said dost thou judge thy present state to be short lasting or everlasting? It is temporary replied the king How then rejoined the man do I see thee exulting in that which thou wilt enjoy but a little while whereof thou wilt be questioned for a long while and for the rendering an account whereof thou shall be as a pledge which is pawned? Quoth the king whither shall I flee and what must I seek for me? that thou abide in thy kingship replied the other or else robe thee in rags and apply thyself to obey almighty Allah, thy lord until thine appointed hour I will come to thee again at daybreak Khalid bin Safwan further relates that the man knocked at the door at dawn and behold the king had put off his crown and resolved to become an anchorite for the stress of his exhortation When Hisham bin Abid Al-Mali heard this he wept till his beard was wet and bidding his rich apparel be put off shut himself up in his palace Then the grandees and dependents came to Khalid and said what is this thou hast done with the commander of the faithful thou hast troubled his pleasure and disturbed his life Then, quoth Nujat al-Zaman addressing herself to Sharqan How many instances of admonition are there not in this chapter? Of a truth I cannot report all appertaining to this head in a single sitting and Shaharizad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say When it was the sixty-seventh night she said It hath reached me, O auspicious king that Nujat al-Zaman continued speaking to Sharqan No, O king, that in this chapter be so many instances of admonition that of a truth I cannot report all appertaining to this head in a single sitting but with length of days O king of the age all will be well There said the Qazis O king, of a truth this damsel is the wonder of the world and of our age the unique pearl Never heard we her like in the length of time or in the length of our lives and they called down blessings on the king and went away Then Shaharqan turned to his attendants and said Begin ye to prepare the marriage festival and make ready food of all kinds So they forthright did his bidding as regards the vayans and he commanded the wives of the Amirs and Wazirs and Grandes depart not until the time of the wedding banquet and of the unveiling of the bride Hardly came the period of afternoon prayer when the tables were spread with what so heart can desire or eye can delight in of roast meats and geese and fowls and the subjects ate till they were satisfied Moreover Shaharqan had sent for all the singing women of Damascus and they were present together with every slave girl of the king and of the notables who knew how to sing and they went up to the palace in one body When the evening came and darkness starkened they lighted candles right and left from the gate of the citadel to that of the palace and the Amirs and Wazirs and Grandes marched past before King Shaharqan whilst the singers and the tire woman took the damble to dress and adorn her but found she needed no adornment Meantime, King Shaharqan went to the Haman and coming out sat down on his seat of estate whilst they paraded the bride before him in seven different dresses after which they eased her of the weight of her raiment and ornaments of her junctions as are enjoined upon virgins on their wedding nights Then Shaharqan went in unto her and took her maiden head and she had once conceived by him and when she announced it he rejoiced with exceeding joy and commanded the savants to record the date of her conception On the morrow he went forth and seated himself on his throne and the high officers came into him and gave him joy Then he called his private secretary and bade him write a letter to his father King Omar bin Al-Nu'uman saying that he had bought him a damsel who excels in learning and good breeding and who is mistress of all kinds of knowledge Moreover he wrote There is no help but that I send her to Baghdad to visit my brother Zau Al-Makhan and my sister Nujat Al-Zaman I have set her free and married her and she hath conceived by me And he went on to praise her wit and salute his brother and sister together with the Wazir Dandan and all the Amirs Then he sealed the letter and dispatched it to his father by a post courier who was absent a whole month after which time he returned with the answer and presented it in the presence Sharqan took it and read as follows After the usual Bismillah this is from the afflicted distracted man from him who hath lost his children and home by bane and ban King Omar bin Al-Nu'uman to his son Sharqan Know that since I departure from me the place has become contracted upon me so that no longer I have power of patience nor can I keep my secret and the cause thereof is as follows A chance that when I went forth to hunt and course Zau Al-Makhan sought my leave to fair Hijaz wards But I, fearing for him the shifts of fortune, forbad him therefrom until the next year or the year after My absence while sporting and hunting endured for a whole month and Shahrazad perceived the dawn of the day and ceased saying her permitted say When it was the sixty-eighth night she said It hath reached me, O auspicious king that King Omar bin Al-Nu'uman wrote in his letter By absence while sporting and hunting endured for a whole month and when I returned I found that thy brother and sister had taken somewhat of money and had set out with the pilgrim caravan for pilgrimage by stealth When I knew this the world narrowed on me, O my son but I awaited the return of the caravan hoping that happily they would come back with it Accordingly when the polymers appeared I asked concerning the twain but they could give me no news of them so I dawned mourning for them being heavy at heart and in sleep I have no part and I am drowned in the tears of my eyes Then he wrote in verse that pair and image quits me not one single hour whom in my heart's most honorable place I keep sans hope of their return I would not live one hour without my dreams of them I narrow would stretch me in sleep The letter went on and after the usual salutations to thee and thine I command thee neglect no manner of seeking news of them for indeed this is a shame to us When Sharkhan read the letter he felt grief for his father and joy for the loss of his brother and sister Then he took the missive and went in with it to Nuzhat al-Zaman who knew not that he was her brother nor he that she was his sister albeit he often visited her both by night and by day till the months were accomplished and she sat down on the stool of delivery Allah made the child birth easy to her and she bear a daughter whereupon she sent for Sharkhan and seeing him she said to him this is thy daughter name her as thou wilt Quotee Then he bent over the child to kiss it and he saw, hung about its neck a jewel which he knew at once for one of those which Princess Abraza had brought from the land of the Greeks Now when he saw the jewel hanging from his babe's neck he recognized it right well his senses fled and wrath seized on him his eyes rolled in rage and he looked at Nuzhat al-Zaman and said to her whence hadst thou this jewel, oh slave girl When she heard this from Sharkhan she replied I am thy lady and the lady of all in thy palace art thou not ashamed to say to me slave girl, I am queen daughter of King Omar bin Al-Anouman Hearing this he was seized with trembling and hung his head earthwards and Shahar-Azad perceived the dawn of the day and ceased to say her permitted say End of section 24 of the Book of a Thousand Nights and a Night Volume 2 Recording by Kalinda in Lüneburg, Germany on February 20th, 2009 Section 25 Volume 2 of the Book of a Thousand Nights and a Night translated by Richard Burton This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Kalinda The Book of a Thousand Nights and a Night Volume 2 Section 25 When it was the 69th night she said It hath reached me, O auspicious King that when Shahar-Khan heard these words his heart fluttered and his color waxed yellow and he was seized with trembling and he hung his head earthwards for he knew that she was his sister by the same father Then he lost his senses and when he revived he abode in amazement but did not discover his identity to her and asked O my lady, say Art thou ensuth the daughter of King Omar bin Al-Nu'uman? Yes, answered she and he continued Tell me the cause of thy leaving thy sire and of thy being sold for a slave So she related to him all that had befallen her from beginning to end how she had left her brother sick in a sanctified city, Jerusalem and how the Badawi had kidnapped her and had sold her to the trader When Shahar-Khan heard this he was certified of her being his sister on the sword side and said to himself How can I have my sister to wife? By Allah, needs must I marry her to one of my chamberlands and if the thing get wind I will declare that I divorced her before consummation and married her to my chief chamberlain He raised his head and sighing said O Nuzhat Al-Zaman thou art my very sister and I cry I take refuge with Allah from this sin wherein to we have fallen for I am Shahar-Khan son of Omar bin Al-Nu'uman She looked at him and knew he spoke the truth and becoming as one demented she wept and buffeted her face exclaiming there is no majesty and there is no might save in Allah Verily have we fallen into mortal sin What shall I do and what shall I say to my father and my mother when they ask me whenst hadst thou thy daughter Quote Shahar-Khan It were meest that I marry thee to my chamberlain and let thee bring up my daughter in his house that none may know thou be my sister This hath befallen us from almighty Allah for a purpose of his own and nothing shall cover us but thy marriage with this chamberlain ere any know He fell to comforting her and kissing her head and she asked him What wilt thou call the girl Call her Kuzia Fakan answered he Then he gave the mother in marriage to the chief chamberlain and transferred her to his house with the child which they reared on the laps of slave girls and fed with milk and dosed with powders Now all this occurred whilst the brother Zau Al-Makhan still tarried with the firemen at Damascus One day there came to King Shahar-Khan a courier from his father with a letter which he took and read and found therein After the Bismillah know O beloved king that I am afflicted with sore affliction from the loss of my children sleep ever faileth me and wakefulness ever assaileth me I send thee this letter that as soon as thou receivest it thou make ready the monies in the tribute and send them to us I have thus bought and taken to wife for I long to see her and hear her discourse more especially because there hath come to us from Romeland an old woman of saintly bearing and with her be five damsels high bosomed virgins endowed with knowledge and good breeding and all arts and sciences befitting mortals to know and indeed tongue faileth me to describe this old woman and these who with her went for of a truth they are compendiums of perfections in learning and accomplishments as soon as I saw them I loved them and I wished to have them in my palace and in the compass of my hand for none of the kings owneth the like of them so I asked the old woman their price and she answered I will not sell them but for the tribute of Damascus and I by Allah did not hold this price exorbitant indeed it is but little for each one of them is worth the whole evaluation and took them into my palace and they remain in my possession wherefore do thou forward the tribute to us that the woman may return to her own country and send to us the damsel to the end that she may dispute with them before the doctors and if she prevail over them I will return her to thee accompanied by the tribute of Baghdad and Shaharazad perceived the dawn of the day and ceased to say her permitted say when it was the 70th night she said to me O auspicious king that king Omar son of Al Nuhulman said in his letter and send to us the damsel to the end that she may dispute with them before the doctors and if she prevail over them I will return her to thee accompanied by the tribute of Baghdad as soon as Shaharazad knew the contents he went to his brother-in-law and said to him bring the damsel to whom I married thee and when she came he showed her the letter and said as thou advised me makes of this letter replied she seek advice from myself and presently added for she yearned after her people and her native land send me together with my husband the chamberlain to Baghdad that I may tell my father my table and let him know what so befell me with the Badawi who sold me to the merchant and that I also inform him how thou boughtest me of the trader and gaveest me in marriage to the chamberlain after setting me free and so replied Shaharazad then Shaharazad took his daughter Kuzia Fakan and committed her to the charge of the wet nurses and the eunuchs and he made ready the tribute in haste bidding the chamberlain travel with the princess and the treasure to Baghdad he also furnished him two travelling litters one for himself and the other for his wife and the chamberlain replied to hear is to obey moreover Shaharazad collected camels and mules and wrote a letter to his father and committed it to the chamberlain then he bade farewell to his sister after he had taken the jewel from her and hung it round his daughter's neck by a chain of pure gold and she and her husband set out for Baghdad the same night now it so happened that Zau Almakan and his friend the firemen had come forth from the hut in which they were to see the spectacle and they beheld camels and bhukti dramataries and bat mules and he enters a light and Zau Almakan inquired about the loads and their owner and was told that it was the tribute of Damascus going to king Omar bin al-Nuulman lord of the city of Baghdad he then asked who be the leader of the caravan and they answered the head chamberlain who hath married the damsel so famous for learning and science thereupon Zau Almakan wept with bitter weeping and was minded of his mother and his father and his native land and he said to the stoker I will join this caravan and little by little will journey homewards quote the firemen I would not suffer thee to travel single-handedly from the holy city to Damascus then how shall I be sure of thy safety when thou farest for Baghdad but I will go with thee and care for thee till thou effectest thine object with joy and good will answered Zau Almakan then the firemen get him ready for the journey and hired an ass and threw saddlebags over it and put therein something of Provant and when all was prepared he awaited the passage of the caravan and presently the chamberlain came by on a dromedary and his footmen about him then Zau Almakan mounted the ass and said to his companion do thou mount with me but he replied not so I will be thy servant quote Zau Almakan there is no help for it I will ride awhile tis well quote the stoker I will ride when I grow tired then said Zau Almakan oh my brother soon shall thou see how I will deal with thee when I come to my own folk so they fared on till the sun rose and when it was the hour of the noon day's sleep the chamberlain called a halt and they alighted and reposed and watered their camels then he gave the signal for departure and after five days they came to the city where they sat down and made a three days halt and Scheherazade perceived the dawn of the day and ceased saying her permitted say when it was the seventy first night she said it hath reached me O auspicious king that they halted in the city of Hama three days they then fared forwards and ceased not travelling till they reached another city here also they halted three days and thence they travelled till they entered the province D. R. Bakker here blew on them the breezes of Baghdad and Zau Almakan bethought him of his father and his mother and native land and how he was returning to his sire without his sister so he wept inside and complained and his regrets grew on him and he began improvising these couplets sweetheart how long must I await by so long suffering teed nor cometh messenger to tell me where thou dost abide ah me in very sooth our meeting time was shorter now would heaven shorter prove to me the present parting tide now trend my hand and open my robe and thou within shall sight how wasted are the limbs of me and yet the waste I hide when say they comfort take for loss of love I but reply by Allah till the day of doom no comfort shall betide thereupon said to him the fireman leave this weeping and wailing in the chamberland's tent quoth Zau Almakan needs must I recite somewhat of verse happily it may quench the fire of my heart Allah upon thee cried the other cease this lamentation till thou come to thine own country then do what thou wilt and I will be with thee wherever thou art replied Zau Almakan by Allah I cannot forbear from this then he turned his face towards Baghdad and the moon was shining brightly and shedding her light on the place and Nujad Al-Zaman could not sleep that night but was restless and called to mind her brother and wept and while she was in tears she heard Zau Almakan weeping and improvising the following districts Al-Yaman's leaven gleam I see and sore despair despaireth me for friend who heirs to bode with me crowning my cup with gladdest grief it minds me of one who jilted me to mourn my bitter liberty say sooth thou fair sheet lightning shall bless more and joy angly oh blamer spare me to thy blame my lord hath sent this duel to dre of friend who left me feigned to flee of time that breeds calamity all bliss hath fled the heart of me since fortune proved mine enemy he brimmed a bowl of mirrors pine and made me drain the dregs did he I see my sweetheart dead and gone ere I again shall gaze on thee time prithee bring my childhood back restore our happy infancy when joy and safety joyed we from shafts that now they shoot at me who aids the hapless stranger white that knights in fright and misery that wastes his days in lonely grief for time's delight no more must be doomed us despite our will to bear the hands of base bores carc and care when he ended his verse he cried out and fell down in a fainting fit this is how it fared with him alzaman when she heard that voice in the night her heart was at rest and she rose and in her joy she called the chief eunuch who said to her what is thy will quote she arise and bring me him who resided verses but now replied he of a truth I did not hear him and sheharazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say end of section 25 of the book of a thousand nights and a night volume 2 recording by kalinda in luna borg germany on february 22 2009 section 26 volume 2 of the book of a thousand nights and a night translated by Richard Burton this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information on how to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by filippo joaquin the book of a thousand nights and a night volume 2 section 26 when it was the 72nd night she said it had reached me of a specious king that when nuthat alzaman heard her brother reciting she called the chief eunuch and said to him go fetch me the man who is repeating this poetry replied he of a truth I heard the voice of a truth I heard him not and I watched him not and folks are all sleeping but she said whosoever thou ceased a wake he is the reciter so he went yet found none on wake saved the stalker for zawal makan was still insensible and when his companions saw the eunuch standing by his head he was afraid of him then said the eunuch are thou he who repeated poetry but now and my lady heard him the stalker fancied that the dame was wroth with the reciter and being afraid he replied by Allah it was not I rejoined the eunuch who then was the reciter point him out to me thou must know who it was seeing that thou art awake the fireman feared for zawal makan and said in himself happily the eunuch will do him some hurt so he answered by Allah I know not who it was said the eunuch by Allah thou liest for there is none on wake here but thou so needs must thou know him by Allah replied the fireman I tell thee the truth some passerby must have recited the verses and disturbed me and kept me awake Allah required him what the eunuch if thou happen upon him point him out to me and I will lay hands on him and bring him to the door of our lady's litter or do thou take him with thine own hand said the fireman go thou back and I will bring him to thee so the eunuch left him and went his way and going into his mistress told her all this and said to her none knoweth who it was it must have been some passerby some way fairer and she was silent meanwhile zawal makan came to himself and saw that the moon was reached the middle heavens the breath of the dawn breathed upon him and his heart was moved to longing and sadness so he cleared his throat and was about to recite verses when the fireman asked him what will thou do and said zawal makan I have a mind to repeat somewhat of poetry but I may quench therewith the fire of my heart got the other thou knowest not what befell me whilst thou was effamed and how I escaped death only by beguilling the eunuch tell me what happened got zawal makan replied the stalker while thou was the soon there came up to me but now an eunuch with the long stab of almond tree wood in his hand who took to looking in all the people's faces as they lay asleep and asked me who it was recited the verse finding none awake but myself I told him in reply it was some passerby some way fairer so he went away and Allah delivered me from him else had he killed me but first he said to me if thou hear him again bring him to us when zawal makan heard this he wept and said who is it would forbid me to recite I will surely recite befall me what may for I am near my own land and care for none rejoin the firemen thou design is not saved to lose thy life and zawal makan retorted needs must I recite verses verily said the stalker needs must there be a parting between me and thee in this place I'll bait I had intended not to leave thee till I had brought thee to thy native city and united thee with thy mother and father thou hast now tarried with me a year and a half I have never harmed thee in ought what else did then that thou must needs recite verses seeing that we are tired out with walking and watching and all the folk are asleep for they require sleep to rest them of their fatigue but zawal makan answered I will not be turned away from my purpose then grief moved him and he threw off concealment and began repeating these couplets stand thou by the homes and hail the lords of the ruin stead cry thou for an answer be like reply to thee shall be sped if the night and absence irk thy spirit kindle a torch we repine and illuminate the gloom with a gleaming greed if the snake of the sand dunes his I shall marvel not at all let him bite so I bite those beauty's lips of the luscious red oh Eden my soul hath fled in the spite of the maid I love had I lost hope on heaven my heart in despair were dead and he also improvised the two following these stitches we were and were the days enthralled to all our wills dwelling in union's sweet and home'd in fairest sight who shall restore the home of the beloved were showed light of the place for I conjoined the time's delight and as he seized his verses he shrieked three shrieks and fell senseless to the ground and the firemen rose and covered him and Usad al-Zaman heard the first improvisation she called to mine her father and her mother and her brother and their willown home then she wept and cried to the eunuch and said to him woe to thee he who recited the first time hath recited the second time and I heard him hard by by Allah and thou fetch him not to me and inwardly rouse the chamberlain on thee and he shall beat thee and cast thee out but take these hundred dinners and give them to the singer and bring him to me gently and do him no hurt if you refuse hand to him this purse of a thousand dinners then leave him and return to me and tell me after thou hast informed thyself of his place and his calling and what countrymen he is return quickly and linger not and Sharazad perceived the dawn of day and seized the say in her permitted say when it was the 73rd night she said it hath reached me, O auspicious king that Usad al-Zaman send the eunuch to make enquiries concerning the singer and said how thou come back to me and report I could not find him so the eunuch went out and laid about the people and trod in their tents but found none awake all be in a sleep for weariness till he came to the stalker and saw him sitting up with his head uncovered so he drew near and seizing him by the hand said to him how didst he recite the verses the fireman was feared for his life and replied no, by Allah, O chief of the people it was not I but the eunuch said I will not leave thee till thou show me who it was that recited the verses for I dread return into my lady without him now when the fireman heard these words he feared and wept with exceeding weeping and said to the eunuch by Allah it was not I and I know him not I only heard some passer by some way fairer recite verses so do not thou commit sin on me for I am a stranger and come from the holy city of Jerusalem and Abraham the friend of Allah be with you all rise up and fear with me rejoin the eunuch and tell my lady this with thine own mouth for I have seen none away save thyself God the stalker has thou not come and seen me sitting in the place where I am now and thus thou not know my station thou wattest none can steer from his place except the watchman sees him now to thy station and if thou again meet anyone after this hour reciting aught of poetry whether he be near or far it will be I or someone I know and thou shalt not learn of him but by me then he kissed the eunuch's head and spake him fair till he went away but the castrato fetched the around and returning secretly and stood behind the fireman fearing to go back to his mistress without tidings as soon as he was gone the stalker arose and aroused Zawal Makhan and said to him come sit up that I may tell thee what had happened so Zawal Makhan set up and his companion told him what had passed and he answered let me alone I will take no heed of this and I care for none for I am my own country what the stalker why will thou obey thy flesh and the devil if thou fear no one I fear for thee and for my life so Allah upon thee recite nothing more of verses till thou come to thine own land indeed I had not deemed thee so ill conditioned thus thou not know that this lady is the wife of the chamberlain and is minding to chastise thee for disturbing her be like she is ill or restless for fatigue of the journey and the distance of the place from her home and this is the second time she has sent the eunuch to look for thee however he paid no heed to the firemen's words but cried out a third time and began versifying with these couplets I fly the carpers' injury whose carpings sorely waxed me he chides and taunts me watching not he burns me but more grievously the blamer cries he is consoled I say they ask why be that land so dear I say it taught me in love to be they ask what raised its dignity I say whatever the bitter cup I drain far be from me thy land to flee nor will I bow to those who blame and for such love would deal me shame hardly had he made an end of his verses and come to a conclusion when the eunuch who had heard him from his hiding place at his head came up to him whereupon the firemen flee and stood afar off to see what passed between them then said the eunuch to Zawal Makhan peace be with thee O my lord and on thee be peace replied Zawal Makhan and the mercy of Allah and his blessings O my lord continued the eunuch and Sharazad perceived the dawn of day and seized to say her permitted say when it was the 74th night she said it had reached me O auspicious king that the eunuch said to Zawal Makhan O my lord I have sought thee these several times this night for my mistress be death day to her both Zawal Makhan and who be this bitch that seeketh for me Allah curse her and curse her husband with her and he began to rebel the eunuch who could make him no answer because his mistress had charged him to do Zawal Makhan no hurt nor bring him safe of his own special free will and if he would not accompany him to give him the thousand dinners so the castrato began to speak him fair and say to him O my lord take this purse and go with me we will do thee no upright O my son nor wrong thee eunuch but our object is that thou bend digrecious steps with me to my mistress to receive her answer and returning wheel and safety and thou shalt have a handsome present as one who bringeth good news when Zawal Makhan heard this he arose and went with the eunuch and walked among a sleeping folk stepping over them whilst the firemen followed after them from afar and kept his eye upon him and said to himself alas the pity of his youth tomorrow they will hang him and he sees not following them still he approached their station without any of serving him then he stood still and said how base it will be of him if he say it was I who bad him recite the verses this was the case of the stalker but as regards what befell Zawal Makhan he sees not walking with the eunuch till he reached this station and the castrato went in and said oh my lady I have brought thee him whom thou saltest and he is a youth fearing face and bearing the marks of wealth and gentle breathing when she heard this her heart fluttered and she cried let him recite some verses that I may hear him near hand and after ask him his name and his native land then the eunuch went out to Zawal Makhan and said to him recite what verses thou knowest for my lady is here hard by listening to thee and after I will ask thee of thy name and thy native country and thy condition replied he with love and gladness but and thou ask my name and it is erased and my trace is unplaced and my body a waste I have a story the beginning of which is not known nor can the end of it be shown and behold I am even as one who hath exceeded in wine drinking and who hath not spared himself one who is afflicted with these tempers and who wandereth from his right mind without his case and drowned in the sea of thought when Nuzat Al-Zaman heard this she broke out into excessive weeping and sobbing and said to the eunuch ask him if he hath parted from one elaveth even as his mother or father the castrato asked as she bed him and Zawal Makhan replied yes I have parted from one elaveth but my dearest of all to me was my sister from whom fate hath parted me when Nuzat Al-Zaman heard this she exclaimed Allah Almighty reunite him with what he loveth and Shahrzad perceived the dawn of day and seized saying her permitted say end of section 26 of A Thousand Nights and a Night Volume 2 Recording by Filippo Joaquin Section 27 Volume 2 of the Book of A Thousand Nights and a Night Translated by Richard Burton This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Filippo Joaquin The Book of A Thousand Nights and a Night Volume 2 Section 27 When it was the 75th night she said it hath reached me, O auspicious king that when Nuzat Al-Zaman heard his words she said Allah reunite him with what he loveth Then quotes she to the eunuch tell him to let me hear somewhat anund his separation from his countrymen and his country The eunuch did so and Zawa Makhan sighed heavily and began repeating these couplets Is not her law of a pledge by all mankind confessed the house that homes Hinda be forever blessed her law of all levels men can wreck of not beside not or before or after can for men have zest tis though the veil is paved with musk and ambergris that day when Hinda's footstep on its face is pressed hail to the beauty of our camp the pride of Polk the dearling who enslave all hearts by her behest Allah on times delight send large dropped clouds that team with ginia rain but bear no thunder in their breast and also these I vow to Allah if at home I sighed my sister Nusat al-Zamani I'll pass the days in joyance and delight made bashful minions maidens soft and white to sound of harps in various modes they smite draining the bowl while eyes rain lively light neat half closed lids a seeping lips red bright by stream bank flowing through my garden site when he had finished his verse Nusat al-Zaman lift up a skirt of the litter curtain and looked at him as soon as her eyes fell on his face she knew him for certain and cried out oh my brother he also looked at her and knew her and cried out oh my sister Nusat al-Zaman then she threw herself upon him and he gathered her to his bosom and the twain fell down in a fainting fit when the eunuch saw this case he wandered at them and throwing over them somewhat to cover them waited till they should recover after a while they came to themselves and Nusat al-Zaman with exceeding joy oppression and depression left her and gladness took the mastery of her and she repeated these verses time swear my life should fare in woeful waste for so earn our time expiate thy sin in haste comes wheel and comes a welcome friend to aid to him who brings good news rise, gird thy waste I spurned old world tales of Eden bliss till came my kausar on those lips when Zawal Makhan heard this he pressed his sister to his breast tears streamed from his eyes for excess of joy and he repeated these couplets long I lamented that we fell apart while tears repentant railed from thine eye and swear if time unite us to aid in once more severance shall never sound from tongue of mine joy had so overwhelmed me that excess of pleasure from mine eyes draws gouts of brine tears o' mine eyes have now become your wand ye weep for pleasure and ye weep for pine they sat a while at the litter door till she said to him come with me into the litter and tell me all that hath befallen thee and I will tell thee what happened to me so they entered and Zawal Makhan said do thou begin thy tale accordingly she told him all that had come to her since their separation at the Khan and what had happened to her with the Badawi how the merchant had bought her of him and had taken her to her brother Sharkhan and had sold her to him how he had freed her at the time of buying how he had made her marriage contract with her and had gone into her and how the king their sire had sent and asked for her from Sharkhan then quote she praised be Allah who hath vouchsafed thee to me that even as we left our father together so together shall we return to him and she added over truth my brother Sharkhan gave me in marriage to this Chamberlain that he might carry me to my father and this is what we fell me from first to last so now tell me how it hath fared with thee since I left thee there upon he told her all that hath happened to him from beginning to end and how Allah vouchsafed to send the fireman to him and how he had journeyed with him and spent his money on him and had served him night and day she praised the stalker for this and Zawul Makhan added of a truth of my sister this fireman hath dealt with me in such benevolent wise as would not love her with less nor sire with son for that he fasted and gave it me to eat and he walked whilst he made me ride and I owe my life to him said she Allah willing we will requite him for all this according to our power then she called the eunuch who came and kissed Zawul Makhan's hand and she said take the reward for glad tidings of face of good omen it was thy hand reunited me with my brother so the purse I gave thee and all in it are thine but now go to thy master and bring him quickly to me the castrato rejoiced and going into the chamber led him to his mistress accordingly he came to his wife and find in Zawul Makhan with her asked who he was so she told him all that had befallen them both first to last and added no o chamberlain that thou hast married no slave girl far from it thou hast taken to wife the daughter of king Omar bin al-numan al-zaman and this is my brother Zawul Makhan when the chamberlain heard this story he knew it to be soothed and it's manifest truth appear to him as he was certified that he was become king Omar bin al-numan's son in law so he said to himself it will be my fate to be made visroy of some province then he went up to Zawul Makhan and gave him joy of his safety reunion with his sister and bad his servants forthwith make him ready attend and one of the best of his own horses to ride thereupon said noosat al-zaman we are now near our country and I would be left alone with my brother that we may enjoy each other's company and take our feel of it here we reach Baghdad for we have been parted a long long time be it as thou biddest replied the chamberlain and going forth from them sent them wax candles and various kinds of sweetmeats to gather with three suits of the costliest for Zawul Makhan then he returned to the litter and related the good he had done and noosat al-zaman said to him bid the eunuch bring him in the firemen and gave him a horse to ride and rationed him with a tray of food morning and evening and let him be forbidden to leave us the chamberlain called the castrato and charged him to do accordingly so he replied I hear and I obey and he took his pages and went out in search of the stalker till he found him in the rear of the caravan guarding his ass and preparing for flight the tears were running down his cheeks out of fear for his life and grief for his separation from Zawul Makhan and he was saying to himself indeed I warned him for the love of Allah he would not listen to me or would I knew what is become of him here he had done speaking the eunuch was standing by his head whilst the pages surrounded him the firemen turned and seeing the eunuch and the pages gathered around him became yellow with fear and Sharazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say it was the 76th night she said it had reached me, oh auspicious king that when the stalker guarded his ass for flight and bespayed himself saying oh would I knew what is become of him here he had done speaking the castrato was standing by his head and his side muscles quivered for fear and he lifted up his voice and cried it was not the value of the good offices I have done him I believe he had denounced me to the eunuch hence these pages about me and he had made me an accomplice in his crime then the effeminate one cried at him saying who was it recited the verses oh liar why did thou say I never repeated these couplets nor do I know who repeated them when it was thy companion but now I will not leave thee between this place and Baghdad and what betideth thy comrade shall betide thee quote the fireman what I feared had befallen me and he repeated these couplets it was as I feared the coming eels discerning but unto Allah we are all returning then the eunuch cried upon the pages saying take him off the ass so they carried him along with the caravan surrounded by the pages as the white contains the black of the eye and the castrato said to them if a hair of him be lost you will be lost with it and he bed them privilly treat him with honor and not humiliate him and the stalker saw himself beset by the pages he dispaired of his life and turned into the eunuch said to him oh chief I am neither this youth's brother nor am I akin to him nor is he seeped to me but I was a fireman in the hamam and found him cast out in his sickness on the dung heap then the caravan feared on and the stalker wept and imagined in himself a thousand things whilst the eunuch walked by his side and told him nothing but said to him thou disturbests are mistresses by reciting verses thou and this youth but fear nothing for thyself and kept laughing at him the while to himself whenever the caravan halted they served him with food and he and the castrato ate from one dish then the eunuch bade his lads bring a guglet of sugared sherbet and after drinking himself gave it to the fireman who drank but all the while his tears never dried out of fear for his life and grief for his separation from Zawal Makhan and for what had befallen them in their strangerhood so they both traveled on with the caravan whilst the chamberlain now rode by the door of his wife's litter in attendance of Zawal Makhan and his sister and now gave an eye to the fireman and Uzat al-Zaman and her brother occupied themselves with converse and mutual condolence and they seized knot after this fashion till they came within three days journey from Baghdad here they alighted at eventide and rested till the morning marred and as they awoke and they were about to load the beasts behold there appeared afar off a great cloud of dust that darkened the firmament till it became black as gloomiest night there upon the chamberlain cried out to them stay loading delay then, mounted with his mamalooks rode forward in the direction of the dust cloud when they drew near suddenly appeared under it a numerous conquering host like the full tide sea with flags and standards drums and kettle drums horsemen and footmen the chamberlain marveled at this and when the troops saw him their detached itself from amongst them a plump of 500 cavaliers who fell upon him and his suit and surrounded them five or one whereupon said he to them what is the matter and what are these troops that he do this with us as they who are thou and when come as thou and wither are thou bound and he answered the chamberlain of the emir of Damascus King Sharkhan song of Omar bin al-Numan lord of Baghdad and of the land of Khorasan and I bring tribute and presents from him to his father in Baghdad when the horsemen heard these words they let their head kerchiefs fall over their faces and wept saying in very soon king Omar is dead and he is dead not but of poison so fair he forwards no harm shall befall you till you join his grand vizier Dandan now when the chamberlain heard this he wept sore and exclaimed oh for our disappointment in this our journey then he and all his suit wept till they had come up to the host and sought access to the vizier Dandan who granted an interview and called a halt and causing his pavilion to be pitched sat down on a couch therein and commanded to amit the chamberlain then he bet him be seated and questioned him and he replied that he was chamberlain to the emir of Damascus and was bound to king Omar with presents and the tribute of Syria the vizier hearing the mention of king Omar's name wept and said king Omar is dead by poison and upon his dying the folk fell out amongst themselves as to who should succeed him until they were like to slay one another on his account but the notables and grandees and the four causes interposed and all the people agreed to refer the matter to the decision of the four judges and none should gain say them so it was agreed that we go to Damascus and fetch thence the king's son Sharkhan and make him sultan over his father's realm and amongst them were some who would have chosen the cadet Zawal Makhan for quoth they his name be light of the place and he hath a sister Nusat al-Zaman haiz the delight of the time but they set out five years ago for al-Hijaz and none whateth what is become of them when the chamberlain heard this he knew that his wife had told him the truth of her adventures and he grieved with sore grief for the death of king Omar obeyed he joyed with exceeding joy especially at the arrival of Zawal Makhan for that he would now become sultan of Baghdad in his father's stead and Sharazad perceived the dawn of day and seized saying her permitted say end of section 27 of the book of a thousand nights and a night volume 2 recording by Filippo Joachim section 28 volume 2 of the book of a thousand nights and a night translated by Richard Burton this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Filippo Joachim the book of a thousand nights and a night volume 2 section 28 when it was the 77th night she said it hath reached me who was vicious king that when Sharkan's chamberlain heard of the death of king Omar being al-Numan he mourned because of his wife and her brother Zawal Makhan who would become sultan of Baghdad in his father's stead so he turned to the wazir dandan and said to him verily your tale is a wonder of wonders no, O chief wazir that here where you have encountered me Allah hath given you rest from fatigue and bringeth you your desire after the easiest of fashions for that his almighty will restore it to you Zawal Makhan and his sister Nusat al-Zaman whereby we will settle the matter as we easily can when the minister heard these words he rejoiced with great joy and said O chamberlain, tell me the tale of the twain and what befell them and the cause of their long absence so he repeated to him the whole story and told him that Nusat al-Zaman was his wife and related to him the adventures of Zawal Makhan from first to last as soon as he had ended his tale the wazir sent for the emirs and wazirs and chief officers and acquainted them with the matter where at they rejoiced with great joy and wondered at the happy chance then they gathered in a body and went in to the chamberlain and did their service to him kissing the ground between his hands and the wazir then done also rose and went out to meet him and stood before him in honor after this the chamberlain held on that day a divan council and he and the wazir sat upon a throne whilst all the emirs and grandees and officers of state took their places before them according to their several ranks then they melted sugar in rose water and drank after which the emirs sat down and hold council and permitted the rest of the host to mount and ride forward leisurely till they should make an end of their debate and overtake them so the officers kissed the ground between their hands and mounting rode onwards preceded by the standarts of war when the grandees had finished their conference they took horse and rejoined the host and the chamberlain approached the wazir done done and said I deem it well to ride on before you and precede you and we get ready a place for the sultan and notify him of your coming and of your choosing him as sultan over the head of his brother sharkhan Aright thou rackest and swered the wazir then the chamberlain rose up in haste and done done also stood up to do him honor and brought him presents which he conjured him to accept similar guys did all the emirs and grandees and officers of state bringing him gifts and calling down blessings on him and saying to him happily thou wilt mention our case to sultan zawal makhan and speak to him to continue us in our dignities the chamberlain promised all they required and bade his pages be ready to march whereupon the wazir done done sent with him tents and bade the tent pictures set them up at the day's journey from the city and they did his bidding then the chamberlain mounted and rode forward full of joy and said to himself how blessed is this gurney and indeed his wife was exalted in his eyes she and her brother zawal makhan they made all haste over their wayfair till they reached the place distant at day's journey from Baghdad where the chamberlain called a halt for rest and bade his men a light and make ready a sitting place for the sultan zawal makhan son of king Omar bin al-nu'uman while he rode forward with his mamluks riding at a distance from Nuzad al-Zaman's litter commanding the eunuchs to ask leave of admission to the presence they did so and she gave permission whereupon he went in to her and conversed with her and her brother and told them of the death of their father and of zawal makhan how the heads of the people had made him king over them and he gave them joy of the kingdom they both wept for their father and asked the manner of his being killed but the chamberlain answered the news rests with wazir dun-dun who will be here tomorrow leading all the host and it only remaineth for thee o king to do what they counsel since they have unanimously chosen the sultan for if thou do not this they will choose someone else and thou canst not be sure of thy life with another sultan happily he will kill thee or this court may befall between you two and the kingdom pass out of the hands of both zawal makhan bowed his head awhile and then said I accept the position for indeed there was no refusing and he was certified that the chamberlain had counseled him well and wisely and set him on the right way then he added oh my uncle how shall I do with my brother sharkhan oh my son replied the chamberlain thy brother will be sultan of Damascus and thou sultan of Baghdad thou take heart of grace and get ready thy case zawal makhan accepted this and the chamberlain presented him with a suit of royal rainment and a dagger of state which the wazirdan done had brought with him then leaving him he bet the tent pitchers choose a spot of rising ground and set up their own a spacious pavilion wherein the sultan might sit to receive the emirs and grandees moreover he ordered the kitcheners to cook rich vines and serve them and he commanded the water carriers to dispose the water troughs they did as he bet them and presently arose a cloud of dust from the ground and spread till it walled the horizon around after awhile the dust dispersed and air appeared under it the army of Baghdad and Khorasan a conquering host like the pool-tide sea and Charazade perceived the dawn of day and seized to say her permitted say when it was the 78th night she said it had reached me, o auspicious king that when the chamberlain bet the tent pitchers set up a pavilion which was spacious enough to receive the subjects talking to their sultan they planted a splendid Shamiana befitting kings and as they ended their labor behold a dust cloud spired a loft and the breeze made it lift and beneath it showed a conquering host and presently it appeared that this was the army of Baghdad created by the Wazir Dandan and in it all rejoiced at the accession of the light of the place now Zawa Makhan had donned robes of royal state and girt himself with a sword of state so the chamberlain brought him a steed and he mounted surrounded by Mamluks and all the company from the tents on foot and he rode on until he came to the great pavilion where he sat down and he laid the royal dagger across his tides whilst the chamberlain stood in attendance on him and his armed slaves stationed themselves under the entrance owning of the Shamiana with drone swords in their hands presently up came the troops and the host and craved admission so the chamberlain went into Zawa Makhan and asked his leave whereupon he bad admit them ten by ten the chamberlain acquainted them with the king's commands to which they replied we hear and we obey and all drew up before the pavilion entrance then he took ten of them and carried them through the vestibule into the presence of Sultan Zawa Makhan whom when they saw they were out but he received them with most gracious kindness and promised them all good so they gave him joy of his safe return and invoked Allah's blessings upon him after which they took the oath of fealty to gain say him in oath and they kissed ground before him and withdrew then other ten entered and he entreated them as he had entreated the others and they seized an oath to enter ten by ten till none was left but it was here done done lastly the minister went in and kissed the ground before Zawa Makhan who rose to meet him saying welcome O Wazeer and Sire's son Spear verily thine acts are those of a consular right dear and judgment and foreseeing clear are in the hands of the subtle of Lear then bet him the chamberlain forthwith go out and cause the tables to be spread and order all the troops there to so they came and ate and drank moreover the Sultan commanded his Wazeer than done call at ten days halt of the army that he might be private with him and learn from him how and wherefore his father had been slain the Wazeer obeyed the commands of the Sultan with a submission and wished him eternity of glory and said this needs must be he then repaired to the heart of the encampment and ordered the host to halt ten days they did as he bet them and moreover he gave them leave to divert themselves and ordered that none of the lords in waiting to attend upon the king for service during the space of three days then the Wazeer went to the Sultan and reported all to him and Zawa Makan waited until nightfall when he went into his sister Nusaat al-Zaman and asked her does thou know the cause of my father's murder or not I have no knowledge of the cause she answered and drew a silken curtain before herself whilst Zawa Makan seated himself without the curtain and commanded the Wazeer to the presence and when he came said to him I desire thou relate to me in detail the cause of the killing of my sire King of Mar bin Al-Numan no then o king replied undone that King Omar bin Al-Numan when he returned from Baghdad from his chasing and hunting and entered the city inquired for thee and thy sister but could not find you and knew that you two ain't had gone on the pilgrimage where at he was greatly grieved and much angered his breast was straightened and he abode thus half a year seeking news of you from all who came and went but none could give him any tidings now while we were in attendance upon him one day after a whole year had sped since he were lost to his sight there came to us an ancient dame with signs and devotees accompanied by five damsels high bosomed virgins like moons endowed with such beauty and loveliness as tongue faileth to describe and to crown their perfections and comeliness they could read the Quran and were versed in various kinds of learning and in the histories of bygone peoples then a woman sought audience of the king and he bad admit her whereupon she entered the presence and kissed the ground between his hands I was then sitting by his side and he seeing in her the sign of asceticism and devoutness made her drone here and take seat hard by him and when she had sat down she addressed him and said no woe king that with me are five damsels whose like no king among the kings possesseth for they are endowed with wit and beauty and loveliness and perfection they read the Quran and the traditions and are skilled in all manner of learning and in the history of bygone races they stand here between thy hands to do the service of king of the age and it is by trial that folk are prized or despised thy father who hath found mercy looked at the damsels and their favor pleased him so he said to them let each and every of you make me hear something of what she knoweth and unto the history of the folk of yore and of peoples long gone before and Charazad perceived the dawn of day and seized saying her permitted say end of section 28 of the book of a thousand nights and a night volume 2 recording by Filippo Joachim