 Preface to 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 The Arabian Nights Entertainment by Andrew Lang Preface The stories in the fairy books have generally been such as old women in country places tell to their grandchildren. Nobody knows how old they are or who told them first. The children of Ham, Shem and Jaffet may have listened to them in the ark on wet days. Hector's little boy may have heard them in Troy Town for it is certain that Homer knew them and that some of them were written down in Egypt about the time of Moses. People in different countries tell them differently but they are always the same stories. Really whether among little Zulus at the Cape or little Eskimo near the North Pole. The changes are only in matters of manners and customs such as wearing clothes or not meeting lions who talk in the warm countries or talking bears in the cold countries. There are plenty of kings and queens in the fairy tales just because long ago there were plenty of kings in the country. A gentleman who would be a squire now was a kind of king in Scotland in very old times and the same in other places. These old stories never forgotten were taken down and writing in different ages but mostly in this century in all sorts of languages. These ancient stories are the contents of the fairy books. Now the Arabian knights some of which but not nearly all are given in this volume are only fairy tales of the East. The people of Asia, Arabia and Persia told them in their own way not for children but for grown up people. There are no novels then nor any printed books of course but there were people whose profession it was to amuse men and women by telling tales. They dressed the fairy stories up and made the characters good Mohammedans living in Baghdad or India. The events were often supposed to happen in the reign of the great Khalif or ruler of the faithful Haroon al-Rashid who lived in Baghdad in 786 to 808 A.D. The wizard who accompanies the Khalif was also a real person of the great family of the barmasites. He was put to death by the Khalif in a very cruel way nobody ever knew why. The stories must have been told in their present shape a good long while after the Khalif died when nobody knew very exactly what had really happened. At last some storyteller thought of writing down the tales and fixing them into a kind of framework as if they had all been narrated to a cruel sultan by his wife. Probably the tales were written down about the time when Edward I was fighting Robert Bruce but changes were made in them at different times and a great deal that is very dull and stupid was put in and plenty of verses. Neither the verses nor the dull pieces are given in this book. People in France and England knew almost nothing about the Arabian knights till the reigns of Queen Anne and George I when they were translated into French by Monsieur Galan. Grown up people were then very fond of fairy tales and they thought these Arab stories the best that they had ever read. They were delighted with girls who lived among the tombs and Jeannie who seemed to be a kind of augurs and with princesses who could work magic spells and with berries who are Arab fairies. Sintbaat had adventures which perhaps came out of the odyssey of Homer. In fact all these that contributed its wonders and sent them to Europe in one parcel. Young men once made a noise at Monsieur Galan's windows in the dead of night and asked him to tell them one of his marvellous tales. Nobody talked of anything but dervishes and wizards, rocs and fairies. The stories were translated from French into all languages and only Bishop Atrebury complained that the tales were not likely to be true and had no moral. The bishop was presently banished for being on the side of Prince Charlie's father and had leisure to repent of being so solemn. In this book the Arabian knights are translated from the French version of Monsieur Galan who dropped out the poetry and a great deal of what the Arabian authors thought funny though it seems verisome to us. In this book the stories are shortened here and there and omissions are made of pieces only suitable for Arabs and old gentlemen. The translations are by the writers of the tales in the fairy books and the pictures are by Mr Ford. I can remember reading the Arabian knights when I was six years old in dirty yellow old volumes of small type with no pictures and I hope children who read them with Mr Ford's pictures will be as happy as I was then in the company of Aladdin and Sinbad the Sailor. End of preface. Recording by Ellie. In the chronicles of the ancient dynasty of the Sassanate who reigned for about 400 years from Persia to the borders of China beyond the Great River Ganges itself we read the praises of one of the kings of this race who was said to be the best monarch of his time. His subjects loved him and his neighbors feared him and when he died he left his kingdom in a more prosperous and powerful condition than any king had done before him. The two sons who survived him loved each other tenderly and it was a real grieve to the elder Shariah that the laws of the empire forbade him to share his dominions with his brother Shazman. Indeed after ten years during which this state of things had not ceased to travel him Shariah cut off the country of the Great Tatary from the Persian Empire and made his brother king. Now the sultan Shariah had a wife who loved more than all the world and his greatest happiness was to surround her with splendor and to give her the finest dresses and the most beautiful jewels. It was therefore his deepest shame and sorrow that he accidentally discovered after several years that she had deceived him completely and her whole conduct turned out to have been so bad that he felt himself obliged to carry out the law of the land and ordered a grand vassia to put her to death. The blow was so heavy that his mind almost gave way and he declared that he was quite sure that at the bottom all women were as wicked as the sultan if you could only find them out and that the fewer the world contained the better. So every evening he married the fresh wife and had her strangled the following morning before the grand vassia whose duty it was to provide this unhappy price for the sultan. The poor man fulfilled his task with reluctance but there was no escape and every day saw a girl married and the wife dead. This behavior caused the greatest horror in the town and everything was heard by cries and lamentations. In one house was a father weeping for the loss of his daughter and another perhaps a mother trembling for the fate of her child and instead of the blessings that had formally been heaped on the sultan's head the air was now full of curses. The grand vassia himself was the father of two daughters of whom the elder was called Shahrazad and the younger Dainasade. Dainasade had no particular gift to distinguish her from other girls but her sister was clever and courageous in the highest degree. Her father had given her the best master in philosophy, medicine, history and the fine arts and besides all this a beauty excelled that of any girl in the kingdom of Persia. One day when the grand vassia was talking to his eldest daughter who was his delight and pride Shahrazad said to him Father, I have a favor to ask you. Will you grant it to me? I can refuse your nothing. replied he that is just and reasonable. Listen, said Shahrazad I am determined to stop this papyrus practice of the sultan and to deliver the girls and mothers from the awful fate that hangs over them. It would be an excellent thing to do. Return the grand vassia, but how do you propose to accomplish it? My father, answered Shahrazad It is you who have to provide the sultan daily with the fresh wife and I implore you by all affection you bear for me to allow the honor to fall upon me. Have you lost your senses? cried the grand vassia starting back in horror What has put such a thing into your head you ought to know by this time what it means to be the sultan's bride. Yes, my father, I know it well, replied she and I am not afraid to think of it. If I fail, my death will be a glorious one and if I succeed, I shall have done a great service to my country. It is of no use, said the grand vassia. I shall never consent. If the sultan has to order me to plunge a dagger in your heart I should have to obey what the task for a father ah, if you do not fear death, fear at any rate the anguish you would cause me. Once again, my father, said Shahrazad, will you grant me what I ask? What? Are you still so obstinate? exclaimed the grand vassia. Why are you so resolved upon your own ruin? But the maiden absolutely refused to attend to her father's words and at length in despair the grand vassia was obliged to give way and went sadly to the palace to tell the sultan that the following evening he would bring him Shahrazad. The sultan received this news with the greatest astonishment. How have you made up your mind? He asked to sacrifice your own daughter to me. Sire answered the grand vassia. It is her own wish. Even the sad fate that awaits her could not hold her back. Let there be no mistake with her, said the sultan. Remember, you will have to take her life yourself. If you refuse, I swear that your head shall pay for fate. Sire returned the vassia whatever the cost I will obey you. So, my father, I am also your subject. So the sultan told the grand vassia that he might bring his daughter as soon as he liked. The vassia took back his news to Shahrazad who received it as if it had been the most pleasant thing in the world. She thanked her father warmly for yielding her wishes and, in seeing him still bowed down with grief, told him that she hoped he would never repent having allowed her to marry the sultan and then she went to prepare herself for the marriage and begged that his sister Dainah say it would be sent to speak to her. When they were alone, Shahrazad addressed her thus. My dear sister, I want your help in a very important affair. My father is going to take me to the palace to celebrate my marriage with the sultan. When his highness receives me, I shall back him as a last favor to let you sleep in our chamber so that I may have your company during the last night I'm alive. If, as a hope, he grants me my wish to be sure to wake me an hour before dawn and speak to me in these words. My sister, if you are not asleep, I beg you before the sun rises to tell me one of your charming stories. Then I shall begin and the hope at this means to deliver the people from the terror that reigns over them. Dainah said, replied that she would do with pleasure what her sister wished. When the usual hour arrived, the kind wessia conducted Shahrazad to the palace and left her alone with the sultan, who beat her race her veil and was amazed by her beauty. But seeing her eyes full of tears, he asked her what was the matter. Shariah replied Shahrazad, I have a sister who loves me as tenderly as I love her. Grant me the favor of allowing her to sleep this night in the same room as it is the last you shall be together. Shariah consented to Shahrazad's petition and Dainah said it was sent for. An hour before daybreak, Dainah said awoke and exclaimed as she had promised. My dear sister, if you are not asleep, tell me I pray you before the sun rises one of your charming stories. It is the last time I shall have the pleasure of hearing you. Shahrazad did not answer her sister, but turned to the sultan. Will your highness permit to do as my sister asks? She said willingly, he answered. So Shahrazad began. End of chapter 1, recording by Ali, June 2009 Chapter 2 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 Ali The Arabian Nights Entertainment by Andrew Lang Chapter 2, The Story of the Merchant and the Genius Shariah, there was once upon a time a merchant who possessed great wealth and landed merchandise as well as in ready money. He was obliged from time to time to take journeys to arrange his affairs. One day, having to go a long way from home, he mounted his horse, taking with him a small wallet in which he had put a few biscuits and dates because he had to pass through the desert where no food was to be got. He arrived without any mishap and having finished his business, set out on his return. On the first day of his journey, the heat of the sun being very great, he turned out of his road to rest under some trees. He found the food of a large walnut deer fountain of clear and running water. He dismounted, fastened his horse to a branch of the tree and set by the fountain. After having taken from his wallet some of his dates and his biscuits, when he had finished his frugal meal, he washed his face and hands in the fountain. When he was thus employed, he saw an enormous genius white with rage coming towards him with a scimitar in his hand. A rise, he cried in a terrible voice, and let me kill you as you have killed my son. As he uttered these words, he gave a frightful yell. The merchant, quite as much terrified at the hideous face of the monster as at his words answered him tremblingly. Alas, good sir, what can I have done to you to deserve this? I shall kill you, repeated the genius, as you have killed my son. But, said the merchant, how can I have killed your son? I do not know him, and I have never seen him. When you arrived here, did you not sit on the ground? Ask the genius, and did you not take some dates from your wallet? And whilst eating them, did you not throw the stones about? Yes, said the merchant, I certainly did so. Then, said the genius, I tell you, you have killed my son. For whilst you were throwing about the stones, my son passed by, and one of them struck him in the eye and killed him, so I shall kill you. As sir, forgive me, cried the merchant, I will have no mercy on you, answered the genius. But I killed your son quite unintentionally, so I implore you to spare my life. No, said the genius, I shall kill you as you killed my son. And so, saying, he seized the merchant by the arm and threw him on the ground, and lifted his saber to cut off his head. The merchant, protesting his innocence, revealed his wife and children and tried pitifully to avert his fate. The genius, with his raised symmetry, waited till he had finished, but was not in the least touched. Shahara said at this point, seeing that it was day and knowing that the sultan always arose very early to attend the council, stopped talking. Indeed, sister, said Dinah, said, This is a wonderful story. The rest is still more wonderful, replied Shahara said. And you would say so if the sultan would allow me to live another day and would give me leave to tell it to you the next night. Shariah, who had been listening to Shahara said with pleasure, said to himself, I will wait till tomorrow. I can always have her killed when I have heard the end of the story. All this time the Grand Vessia was in a terrible state of anxiety, but he was much delighted when he saw the sultan enter the council chamber without giving the terrible command that he was expecting. The next morning before the day broke, Dinah said, Said to his sister, dear sister, if you are awake, I pray you go on with your story. The sultan did not wait for Shahara said to ask his leave. Finish, he said, the story of the genius and the merchant. I am curious to hear the end. So Shahara said went on with the story. This happened every morning. The sultan had told the story and the sultan let her leave to finish it. When the merchant saw that the genius was determined to cut off his head, he said, one word more and treat you, grant me a little delay, just a short time to go home and with my wife and children farewell, and to make my will. When I have done this, I will come back here and you shall kill me. But, said the genius, if I grant you the delay you ask, I am afraid that you will not come back. I give you my word of honor, and the merchant, that I will come back without fail. How long do you require? Ask the genius. I ask you for a year's grace, replied the merchant. I promise you that tomorrow, twelve months, I shall be waiting under these trees to give myself up to you. On this, the genius left him near the fountain and disappeared. The merchant, having recovered from his fright, mounted his horse and went on his road. When he arrived home, his wife and children received him with the greatest joy. But instead of embracing them, he began to weep so bitterly that they soon guessed that something terrible was the matter. Tell us, I pray you, said his wife, what has happened? Alas, answered the husband, I have only a year to live. And he told them what had passed between him and the genius, and how he had given his word to return at the end of the year to be killed. When they heard this sad news, they were in despair and wept much. The next day, the merchant began to settle his affairs and, first of all, to pay his debts. He gave presents to his friends and large arms to the poor. He set his slaves at liberty and provided for his wife and children. The year soon passed away and he was obliged to depart. When he tried to say goodbye, he was quite overcome with grief and was difficult to throw himself away. At length he reached a place where he had first seen the genius on the very day that he had appointed. He dismounted and sat down at the edge of the fountain where he awaited the genius in terrible suspense. Whilst he was thus waiting, an old man leading a hind came towards him. He greeted one another and then the old man said to him, May I ask, brother, what brought you to this desert place where there are so many evil geniuses about? To see these beautiful trees, one would imagine it was inhabited but it is a dangerous place to stop long in. The merchant told the old man why he was obliged to come here. Listen to this astonishment. This is a marvelous affair. I should like to be witness of your interview with the genius. So saying, he sat down by the merchant. While they were talking, another old man came up followed by two black dogs. He greeted them and asked what they were doing in this place. The old man who was leading the hind told him the advantage of the merchant and the genius. The second old man had not sooner heard the story than he, two, decided to stay there to see what would happen. He sat down by the others and was talking to the third old man arrived. He asked why the merchant who was with them looked so sad. They told him the story and he was also resolved to see what would pass between the genius and the merchant. So waited with the rest. They soon saw in the distance a sick smoke like a cloud of dust. This smoke came nearer and nearer and then all at once it vanished. And they saw the genius who without speaking to them approached the merchant, soared in hand and taking him by the arm said, As you killed my son. The merchant and the three old men began to weep and groan. Then the old man leading the hind threw himself at the monster's feet and said, Oh, Prince of the Genie, I beg of you to stay your fury and to listen to me. I am going to tell you my story and that of the hind I have with me and if you find it more marvelous and that of the merchant whom you are about to kill I hope that you will do away with the third part of his punishment. The genius considered some time and then he said, Very well, I agree to this. End of chapter 2, Recording by Ellie, June 2009 Chapter 3 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 Ellie The Arabian Nights Entertainment By Andrew Lang The first old man of the hind I am now going to begin my story said the old man So please attend This hind that you see with me is my wife We have no children of our own therefore I adopted the son of a favorite slave and determined to make him my heir My wife, however, took a great dislike to both mother and child which she concealed from me till too late When my adopted son was about 10 years old I was obliged to go on a journey Before I went I entrusted to my wife's keeping both the mother and the child and begged her to take care of them during my absence which lasted a whole year During this time she started magic in order to carry out her wicked scheme and she had learned enough she took my son into a distant place and changed him into a calf then she gave him to my steward and told him to look after a calf she had bought She also changed the slave into a cow which she sent to my steward When I returned I inquired after my slave and my child Your slave is dead, she said And as for your son, I have not seen him in two months and I do not know where he is I was grieved to hear of my slave's death but as my son had only disappeared I thought I should soon find him Eight months, however, passed and still no writings of him Then the feast of the bayrim came To celebrate it I ordered my steward to bring me a very fat cow to sacrifice he did so before that he brought was my unfortunate slave I bound her but just as I was about to kill her she began to low most pityously and I saw that her eyes were streaming with tears it seemed to me most extraordinary and feeling a movement of pity I ordered the steward to lead her away and bring another my wife who was present scoffed at my compassion which made her less of no avail What are you doing, she cried Kill this cow, it is the best we have to sacrifice To please her I tried again but again the animal's lows and tears disarmed me Take her away I said to the steward and kill her, I cannot The steward killed her but on skinning her he found she was nothing but bones although she appeared so fat I was vexed Keep her for yourself I said to the steward and if you have a fat calf bring that in her stead in a short time he brought a very fat calf which although I did not know it was my son it was hard to break its cord and come to me it threw itself at my feet with its head on the ground as if it wished to excite my pity and to beg me not to take away its life I was even more surprised and touched at this action than I had been at the cow's tears I said to the steward take back this calf, take great care of it and bring me another in its place instantly as soon as my wife heard me speak this she had once cried out What are you doing husband do not sacrifice any calf but this wife I answered I will not sacrifice this calf and in spite of all her remonstrances I remained firm I had another calf killed this one was led away the next day the steward asked to speak to me in private I have come he said to tell you some news which I think you will like to hear I have a daughter who knows magic yesterday when I was leading back the calf which you refused to sacrifice I noticed that she smiled and then directly afterwards began to cry I asked her why she did so father she answered this calf is the son of our master I smiled with joy at seeing him still alive and I weeped to think of his mother who was sacrificed yesterday as a cow these changes have been wrought by our master's wife who hated the mother and son at these words of genius continued the old man I leave you to imagine my astonishment I went immediately with the steward to speak with his daughter myself to the stable to see my son and he replied in his dumb way to all my caresses when the steward's daughter came I asked her if she could change my son back to his proper shape yes I can she replied on two conditions one is that you will give him to me for a husband and the other is that you will let me punish the woman who changed him into a calf to the first condition I answered I agree with all my heart and will give you an ample dowry to the second I also agree back you to spare her life that I will do she replied I will treat her as she treated your son and then she took the vessel of water and pronounced over it some words I did not understand then on throwing the water over him he became immediately a young man once more my son my dear son I exclaimed kissing him in a transport of joy this kind maiden has rescued you from a terrible enchantment and I am sure that out of gratitude you will marry her and send it joyfully but before they were married the young girl changed my wife into a hind and it is she whom you see before you I wished her to have this form rather than a stranger one so that you could see her in the family without repugnance since then my son has become a widower and has gone traveling I am now going in search of him and not wishing to confide my wife to the care of other people I am taking her with me is this not the most marvelous tale and because of it I grant you a third part of the punishment of this merchant when the first old man had finished his story the second who was leading the two black dogs said to the genius I am going to tell you what happened to me and I am sure that you will find my story even more astonishing than the one which you have been just listening but when I have related it will you grant me also a third part of the merchant's punishment yes replied the genius provided that your story surpasses that of the hind with this agreement the second old man began in this way end of chapter 3 recording by ellie july 2009 chapter 4 of the arabian knights entertainment this is a lipovox recording all lipovox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit lipovox.org recording by ellie the arabian knights entertainment by andro lang chapter 4 the story of the second old man and of the two black dogs great prince of the genie you must know that we are three brothers these two black dogs and myself our father died leaving each of us a thousand sequins with this sum we also retook up the same profession and became merchants a short time after we had opened our shops my eldest brother one of these two black dogs resolved to travel in foreign countries for the sake of merchandise with this intention he sold all he had and bought merchandise suitable to the voyages he was about to take he set out and was away a whole year at the end of this time a beggar came to my shop good day i said good day he answered is it possible that you don't recognize me then i looked at him closely and saw he was my brother i made him come into my house and asked him how he had fared in his enterprise don't question me he replied see me you see all i have it would but renew my travel to tell you of all the misfortunes that have before me in a year and have brought me to this state i shut up my shop paid him every attention taking him to the bath giving him the most beautiful robes i examined my accounts and found that i had doubled my capital that is that i now possess two thousand sequins i gave him a brother half saying no brother you can't forget your losses he accepted his joy and we lived together as we had before sometime afterwards my second brother wished also to sell his business and travel my eldest brother and i did all we could to dissuade him but it was of no use he joined the caravan and set out he came back at the end of a year in the same state as his elder brother i took care of him and as i had a thousand sequins to spare i gave them to him and he reopened his shop one day my two brothers came to me to propose that you should take a journey and trade at first i refused to go you traveled i said and what did you gain but they came to me repeatedly and after having held out for five years i at last gave way but when they had made the preparation and they began to buy the merchandise we needed they found they had spent every piece of the thousand sequins i had given them i did not reproach them i divided my six thousand sequins with them giving a thousand to each and keeping one for myself and the other three appeared in the corner of my house we bought merchandise loaded the vessel with it and set forth with a favorable wind after two months sailing we arrived at the seaport where we disembarked and did a great trade then we bought the merchandise of the country and were just going to sail once more when i was stopped on the shore by a beautiful to poorly dressed woman she came up to me kissed my hand and implored me to marry her and take her on board at first i refused but she begged so hard and promised to be such a good wife to me but at last i consented i got her some beautiful dresses and after having married her we embarked and set sail during the voyage i discovered so many good qualities in my wife that i began to laugh her more and more but my brothers began to be chalice of my prosperity and so set to work to plot against my life one night when we were sleeping this room my wife had myself into the sea my wife forever was a fairy and she did not let me drown but transported me to an island she said to me when i saw you on the seashore i took a great fancy to you and wished to try your good nature so i presented myself in the disguise you saw now i have rewarded you by saving your life but i am very angry with your brothers and shall not rest till i have taken their lives i thanked the fairy for all that she had done for me but they begged her not to kill my brothers i appeased her rest and in the moment she transported me from the islands where we were to the roof of my house and she disappeared a moment afterwards i went down and opened the doors and dug up the three thousand segments which i had buried i went to the place where my shop was opened it and received from a fellow merchant congratulations on my return when i went home i saw two black dogs who came to meet me with sorrowful faces i was much astonished but the fairy who reappeared said to me do not be surprised to see these dogs they are your two brothers i have condemned them to remain for ten years in these shapes then having told me where i could hear news of her she vanished the ten years are nearly past and i am on the road to find her as in passing i met this merchant and the old man was behind and i stayed with them this is my history or prince of chini do you not think it is a marvelous one yes indeed, replied the genius and i will give up to you as third of the merchant's punishment then the third old man made the genius the same request as the other two had done and the genius promised him the last third of the merchant's punishment if his story surpassed both the others so he told his story to the genius but i cannot tell you what it was as i do not know but i do know that it was even more marvelous than either of the others so the genius was astonished and said to the third old man i will give up to you the third part of the merchant's punishment you ought to thank all three of you for his favor but for you he would be here no longer so saying he disappeared to the great joy of the company the merchant did not feel to thank his friends and then each went on his way the merchant returned to his wife and children and passed the rest of his days happily with them but saia at the chihara said however beautiful are the stories i have just told you they cannot compare with the story of the fisherman end of chapter 4 recording by ellie august 2009 chapter 5 of the arabian night's entertainment this is a lipovox recording all lipovox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit lipovox.org recording by ellie the arabian night's entertainment by andro leng chapter 5 the story of the fisherman saia there was once upon a time a fisherman so old and so poor that he could scarcely manage to support his wife and three children he went every day to fish very early and each day he made a hole not to throw his nets more than four times he started out one morning by moonlight and came to the seashore he undressed and threw his nets and as he was drawing them towards the bank he felt great weight he thought he had caught a large fish and felt very pleased but the moment afterwards seeing that instead of a fish he only had in his net the carcass of an ass he was much disappointed vexed was having such a bad hole when he mended his nets the carcass of the ass had broken in several pieces he threw them a second time in drawing them in he again felt a great weight so that he thought they were full of fish but he only found a large basket full of rubbish he was much annoyed of fortune he cried do not trifle tusks with me poor fisherman can hardly support his family so saying he threw away the rubbish and after having washed his nets clean of the dirt he threw them for a third time but he only threw in stones shares and mud he was almost in despair then he threw his nets for a fourth time when he thought he had a fish he threw them in with a great deal of trouble there was no fish however but he found a yellow pot which by its weight seemed full of something and he noticed that it was fast and sealed with lead with the impression of a seal he was delighted I will sell it to the founder he said with the money I shall get for it he will buy a measure of wheat he examined the jar on all sides he shook it to see if it would rattle but he heard nothing and so judging from the impression of the seal and the lead he thought there must be something precious inside to find out he took his knife and this little trouble he opened it he turned it upside down but nothing came out which surprised him very much he sat it in front of him and whilst he was looking at it attentively such a sick smoke came out that he had to step back a pace or two this smoke rose up to the clouds and stretching over the sea and the shore found a sick mist which caused the fisherman such astonishment when all the smoke was out of the jar it gathered itself together and became a sick mass in which appeared a genius twice as large is the largest giant when he saw such a terrible monster the fisherman would like to have run away but he trembled so his fright that he could not move a step great king of the genie cried the monster again disobey you at this words the fisherman took courage what is this you are saying great genius tell me your history and how you come to be shut up in that ways at this the genius looked at the fisherman heartily speak to me more civilly he said before I kill you alas why should you kill me cried the fisherman I have just freed you have you already forgotten that no and the genius but that will not prevent me from killing you and I am only to grant you one favour that is to choose the matter for your death but what have I done to you asked the fisherman I cannot treat you in any other way said the genius and if you would know why listen to my story I rebelled against the king of the genie to punish me he shut me up in this ways of copper and he put on the laden cover his seal which is enchantment enough to prevent me coming out then he had the ways thrown into the sea during the first period of my captivity evoked that if anyone should free me before a hundred years were passed I would make him rich even after his death but that century passed and no one freed me in the second century evoked that I would give all the treasures in the world to my deliverer but he never came in the third I promised to make him a king to be always near him and to grant him three wishes every day but that century passed away as the other two had done and they remained in the same blight at last I grew angry at being a captive for so long and I evoked that if anyone would release me I would kill him at once and would only allow him to choose in what manner he should die so you see as you have freed me today you choose in what way you will die the fisherman was very unhappy but in a lucky manner I am to have freed you I implore you to spare my life I have told you said the genius that it is impossible choose quickly you are wasting time the fisherman began to devise a plot since I must die he said I conjure you on your honor to tell me if you really were in that vase yes I was I said the genius I really cannot believe it said the fisherman that vase could not contain one of your feet even and how could your whole body go in I cannot believe it unless I see you do this thing then the genius began to change himself into smoke which as before I spread over the sea and the shore and which then collecting itself together began to go back into the vase slowly till there was nothing left outside then a voice came from the vase which said to the fisherman well I am believing fisherman here I am in the vase do you believe me now the fisherman instead of answering took the lid of lead and shut it down quickly on the vase now a genius he cried ask pardon of me and choose by what death you will die but no it will be better if I throw you into the sea vents I throw you out and I will build a house on the shore to one fisherman at sea against fishing up such a wicked genius as you are who vows to kill the man who frees you at these words the genius did all he could to get out but he could not because of the enchantment of the lid then he tried to get out by cunning if you will take off the cover he said I will repay you no answered the fisherman if I trust myself to you I am afraid you will treat me as a certain Greek king treated the physician to bar listen and I will tell you the story of chapter 5 recording by Ellie August 2009 Chapter 6 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 Shulif Malikim the Arabian Nights Entertainment by Andrew Lang Chapter 6 the story of the Greek king and the physician in the country of Zuma and Persia the Lyftigree king this king was leper and all his doctors had been unable to cure him when a very clever physician came to his court he was very learned in all languages and you have a great deal about herbs and medicines as soon as he was taught of the king's illness he put on his best robe and presented himself to the king Sire said he I know that no physician has been able to cure your majesty but if you will follow my instructions I will promise to cure you without any medicines or out to it application the king listened to this proposal if you are clever enough to do this he said I promise you to make you and your descendants recover the physician went to his house and made a polo club the handle of which he hollowed out and put in it the drugs he wished to use then he made a ball and with ease of things he went the next day to the king he told him that he wished him to play at polo accordingly the king mounted his horse and went into the place where he played there the physician approached him saying take this Sire and strike the ball till you feel your hand and whole body in a glow when the remedy that is in the handle of the club is warmed by your hand it will penetrate throughout your body then you must return to your palace bathe and go to sleep and when you awake tomorrow morning you will be cured the king took the club and urged his horse after the ball which he had thrown he struck it and then it was hit back by the courteous who were playing with him when he felt very hot he stopped playing and went back to the palace went into the bath and did all that the physician had said the next day when he rose he found his great joy and astonishment that he was completely cured when he entered his audience chamber all his courteous who were eager to see if the wonderful cure had been affected were overwhelmed with joy the physician Dubin entered the hall and bowed low to his crown the king seeing him called him made him sit by his side and showed him every mark of honour that evening he gave him a long and rich robe of state and presented him with two thousand seconds the following day he continued to load him with favours now the king had a grand vizier who was a voracious and envious and a very bad man he grew extremely jealous of the physician and determined to bring about his ruin in order to do this he asked to speak in private with the king saying that he had a most important communication to make what is it? asked the king Sire answered the grand vizier it is most dangerous for a monarch to confide in a man who is faithful as is not proved you do not know that this physician is not a traitor come here to assassinate you I am sure said the king that this man is the most faithful and virtuous of men if you wish to take my life why did he cure me? cease to speak against him I see what it is you are jealous of him you know it against him I remember well what a vizier said to king Simbert his master to prevent him from putting the prince his son to death what a great king said excited the vizier's curiosity and he said to him Sire I beg your majesty to have the condescension to tell me what a vizier said to king Simbert this vizier he replied told king Simbert one ought not to believe everything that a mother-in-law said and taught him this story end of chapter 6 the story of the great king and the physician Dubin chapter 7 of the Arabian night's entertainment this is LibriVox recording or LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Shulif Amaliyem the Arabian night's entertainment by Andrew Lang chapter 7 the story of the husband and the parrot a good man had a beautiful wife whom he loved passionately and never left if possible one day when he was obliged by important business to go away from her he went to a place where all kinds of birds are sold and bought a parrot this parrot not only spoke well but it had the gift of telling all that had been done before it he brought it home in a cage and asked his wife to put it in her room and take great care of it while he was away then he departed on his return he asked the parrot what had happened during his absence and the parrot taught him some things which made him scald his wife she thought she thought that one of his slaves must have been telling tales of her but they taught her it was the parrot and she resolved to revenge herself on him when her husband next went away for one day she told one slave to turn under the bird's cage a handmill another to throw water down from above the cage and a sir to take a mirror and turn it in front of its eyes from left to right by the light of a candle the slaves did this for part of the night and did it very well the next day when the husband came back he asked the parrot what he had seen the bird replied my good master the lightning, thunder and rain disturbed me so much all night long that I cannot tell you what I have suffered the husband who knew that it had neither rained nor thundered in the night was convinced that the parrot was not speaking the truth so he took him out of the cage and threw him so roughly on the ground that he killed him nevertheless he was sorry afterwards for he found that the parrot had spoken the truth when the Greek king said the fisherman to the genius had finished the story of the parrot he added to the vizier and so vizier I shall not listen to you and I shall take care of the physician in case I repent as the husband did when he had killed the parrot but the vizier was determined sire he replied the deaths of the parrot is nothing but when it is a question of the life of a king it is better to sacrifice the innocent than save the guilty it is no uncertain thing however the physician Dubon wishes to assassinate you my zeal prompt me to disclose it this to your majesty if I am wrong I deserve to be punished as a vizier was once punished what have the vizier done said the Greek king to make the punishment I will tell your majesty if you will do me the honour to listen answered the vizier end of chapter 7 the story of the husband and the parrot chapter 8 of the Arabian night's entertainments 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 Barry Eads the Arabian night's entertainments by Andrew Lang chapter 8 the story of the vizier who was punished there was once upon a time a king who had a son who was very fond of hunting and he had not allowed him to indulge in his pastime but he had ordered his grand vizier always to go with him and never to lose sight of him one day the huntsman roused a stag and the prince thinking that the vizier was behind gave chase and rode so hard that he found himself alone he stopped and having lost sight of it he turned to rejoin the vizier who had not been carefully enough to follow him but he lost his way whilst he was trying to find it he saw on the side of the road a beautiful lady who was crying bitterly he drew his horse's reign and asked her who she was and what she was doing in this place and if she needed help I am the daughter of an Indian king she answered and whilst riding in the country I fell asleep and tumbled off my horse has run away and I do not know what has become of him the young prince had pity on her and offered to take her behind him which he did as they passed by a ruined building he dismounted and went in the prince also dismounted and followed her to his great surprise he heard her saying to someone inside rejoice my children I am bringing you a nice fat youth and the other voices replied where is he mama that we may eat him at once as we are very hungry the prince at once saw the danger he was in he now knew that the lady who said she was the daughter of an Indian king was an ogreess and who by a thousand while surprised and devoured passersby he was terrified and threw himself on his horse the pretended princess appeared at this moment and seeing that she had lost her prey she said to him do not be afraid what do you want I am lost he answered and I am looking for the road keep straight on said the ogreess and you will find it the prince could hardly believe his ears and rode off as hard as he could he found his way and arrived safe and sound at his father's house where he told him of the danger he had run because of the grand vizier's carelessness the king was very angry and had him strangled immediately Sire went on the vizier to the Greek king to return to the vizition, Dubon if you do not take care you will repent of having trusted him who knows what this remedy with which he has cured you may not in time have a bad effect on you the Greek king was naturally very weak and did not perceive the wicked intention of his vizier nor was he firm enough to keep to his first resolution well vizier he said you are right perhaps he did come to take my life he might do it by the mere smell of one of these drugs I must see what can be done the best means Sire to put your life in security is to send for him at once and to cut off his head directly he comes said the vizier said the king that will be the best way he then ordered one of his ministers to fetch the physician who came at once I have had you sent for said the king in order to free myself from you by taking your life the physician was beyond measure astonished when he heard he was to die what crimes have I committed your majesty I have learned replied the king that you are a spy and intend to kill me but I will be first and kill you to an executioner who was by and rid me of this assassin at this cruel order the physician threw himself on his knees spare my life he cried and yours will be spared the fisherman stopped here to say to the genius you see what passed between the greek king and the physician has just passed between us two the greek king he went on had no mercy on him and the executioner bound his eyes all those present beg for his life the physician on his knees and bound said to the king at least let me put my affairs in order and leave my books to persons who will make good use of them there is one which I should like to present to your majesty it is very precious and ought to be kept carefully in your treasury it contains many curious things the chief being that when you cut off my head if your majesty will turn to the sixth leaf and read the third line of the left hand page my head will answer all the questions you like to ask it the king eager to see such a wonderful thing put off his execution to the next day and sent him under a strong guard to his house there the physician put his affairs in order and the next day there was a great crowd assembled in the hall to see his death and the doings after it the physician went up to the foot of the throne with a large book in his hand he carried a basin on which he spread the covering of the book and presenting it to the king said sire take this book and when my head is cut off let it be placed in the basin on the covering of this book as soon as it is there the blood will cease to flow then open the book and my head will answer your questions but sire I implore your mercy for I am innocent your prayers are useless and if it were only to hear your head speak when you are dead you should die so sane he took the book from the physician's hands and ordered the executioner to his duty the head was so cleverly cut off that it fell into the basin and directly the blood ceased to flow then to the great astonishment of the king the eyes opened and the head said your majesty open the book the king did so and finding that the first leaf stuck against the second he put his finger in his mouth to turn it more easily he did the same thing till he reached the sixth page and not seen any writing on it physician he said there is no writing turn over a few more pages answered the head and went on turning still putting his finger in his mouth till the poison in which each page had been dipped took effect his sight failed him and he fell at the foot of his throne when the physician's head saw that the poison had taken effect and that the king had only a few more minutes to live tyrant it cried see how cruelty and injustice are punished scarcely had it uttered these words then the king died and the head lost also the little life that had remained in it this is the end of the story of the greek king and now let us return to the fisherman and the genius if the greek king said the fisherman had spared the physician he would not have thus died the same thing applies to you now I am going to throw you into the sea my friend said the genius do not do such a cruel thing do not treat me as Ima treated Attica what did Ima do to Attica asked the fisherman do you think I can tell you while I am shut up in here replied the genius let me out and I will make you rich the hope of being no longer poor made the fisherman give way if you will give me your promise to do this I will open the lid I do not think you will dare to break your word the genius promised and the fisherman lifted the lid he came out at once in smoke and then having resumed his proper form the first thing he did was to kick the vase into the sea this frightened the fisherman but the genius laughed and said I only did it to frighten you and to show you that I intend to keep my word take your nets and follow me he began to walk in front of the fisherman who followed him with some misgivings they passed in front of the town and went up a mountain and then down into a great plain where there was a large lake lying between four hills when they reached the lake the genius said to the fisherman throw your nets and catch fish the fisherman did as he was told hoping for a good catch he caught plenty of fish what was his astonishment at seeing that there were four quite different kinds some white, some red, some blue and some yellow he caught four, one of each color as he had never seen any like them he admired them very much and he was very pleased to think how much money he would get for them take these fish and carry them to the sultan who will give you more money for them than you have ever had in your life you can come every day to fish in this lake but be careful not to throw your nets more than once every day otherwise some harm will happen to you if you follow my advice carefully you will find it good saying these words he struck his foot against the ground which opened and when he had disappeared it closed immediately the fisherman resolved to obey the genius exactly so he did not cast his nets a second time but walked into the town to sell his fish at the palace when the sultan saw the fish he looked at them one after the other and when he had admired them long enough take these fish he said to his first vizier and given them to the clever cook the emperor of the greek sent me I think they must be as good as they are beautiful the vizier took them himself to the cook saying here are four fish that have been brought to the sultan he wants you to cook them then he went back to the sultan who told him to give the fisherman 400 gold pieces the fisherman who had never before had a large sum of money at once could hardly believe his good fortune he at once relieved the needs of his family and made good use of it but now we must return to the kitchen which we shall find in great confusion the cook when she had cleaned the fish put them in a pan with some oil to fry them when she thought them cook enough on one side she turned them on the other but scarcely had she done so when the walls of the kitchen opened and there came out a young and beautiful damsel dressed in an egyptian dress of flowered satin and she wore earrings and a necklace of white pearls and bracelets of gold set with rubies and she held a wand of myrtle in her hand she went up to the pan to the great astonishment of the cook who stood motionless at the sight of her she struck one of the fish with her rod fish fish said she are you doing your duty the fish answered nothing and then she repeated her question all raised their heads together and answered very distinctly yes yes if you reckon we reckon if you pay your debts we pay ours if you fly we conquer and we are content when they had spoken the girl upset the pan and entered the opening in the wall which at once closed and appeared the same as before when the cook had recovered from her fright she lifted up the fish which had fallen into the ashes but she found them as black as cinders and not fit to serve up to the sultan she began to cry alas what shall I say to the sultan he will be so angry with me and I know he will not believe me whilst she was crying the grand vizier came in and asked if the fish were ready she told him all that had happened and he was much surprised he sent at once for the fisherman and when he came said to him fisherman bring me four more fish like you have brought already for an accident has happened to them so that they cannot be served up to the sultan the fisherman did not say what the genius had told him but he excused himself from bringing them that day on account of the length of the way and he promised to bring them next day in the night he went to the lake cast his nets and on drawing them in found four fish which were like the others each of a different color he went back at once and carried them to the grand vizier as he had promised he then took them to the kitchen to cook who began to cook them as she had done the four others on the previous day when she was about to turn them on the other side the wall open the damsel appeared addressed the same words to the fish received the same answer and then overturned the pan and disappeared the grand vizier was filled with astonishment I shall tell the sultan all that has happened said he and he did so the sultan was very much astounded and wished to see this marvel for himself so he sent for the fisherman and asked him to procure four more fish the fisherman asked for three days which were granted and he then cast his nets in the lake and again caught four different colored fish the sultan was delighted to see he had got them and gave him again 400 gold pieces as soon as the sultan had the fish he had them carried to his room with all that was needed to cook them then he shut himself up with the grand vizier who began to prepare them and cook them when they were done on one side he turned them over on the other then the wall of the room opened but instead of the maiden a black slave came out he was enormously tall and carried a large green stick with which he touched the fish saying in a terrible voice fish fish are you doing your duty to these words the fish lifting up their heads replied yes yes if you reckon we reckon if you pay your debts we pay ours if you fly we conquer and are content the black slave overturned the pan in the middle of the room and the fish returned to cinders then he stepped proudly back into the wall which closed around him after having seen this said the sultan I cannot rest these fish signify some mystery I must clear up he sent for the fisherman fisherman he said the fish you have brought us have caused me some anxiety where did you get them from sire he answered the lake which lies in the middle of four hills beyond yonder mountains do you know this lake as the sultan of the grand vizier no though I have hunted many times around that mountain I have never heard of it said the vizier as the fisherman said it was only three hours journey away the sultan ordered his whole court to mount and ride thither and the fisherman led them they climbed the mountain and then on the other side saw the lake as the fisherman had described the water was so clear that they could see the four kinds of fish swimming about in it they looked at them for some time and then the sultan ordered them to make a camp by the edge of the water when night came the sultan called his vizier and said to him I have resolved to clear up this mystery I am going out alone and you stay here in my tent and when my ministers come tomorrow say I am not well and cannot see them do this each day till I return the grand vizier tried to persuade the sultan not to go but in vain the sultan took off his state robe and put on his sword and when he saw all was quiet in the camp he set forth alone he climbed one of the hills and then crossed the great plain till just as the sun rose he beheld far in front of him a large building when he came near to it he saw it was a splendid palace a beautiful black polished marble covered with steel as smooth as a mirror he went to the gate which stood open and went in as nobody came when he knocked he passed through a magnificent courtyard and still saw no one though he called aloud several times he entered large halls where the carpets were of silk the lounges and sofas covered with tapestry from Mecca and the hangings of the most beautiful Indian stuffs of gold and silver then he found himself in a splendid room with a fountain supported by golden lions the water out of the lions mouse turned into diamonds and the leaping water almost touched a beautifully painted dome the palace was surrounded on three sides by magnificent gardens little lakes and woods birds sang in the trees which were netted over to keep them always there still the sultan saw no one till he heard a plaintive cry and a voice which said oh that I could die for I am too unhappy to wish to live any longer the sultan looked round to discover who it was who thus bemoaned his fate and at last saw a handsome young man richly clothed who was sitting on a throne raised slightly from the ground his face was very sad the sultan approached him and bowed to him the young man bent his head very low but did not rise sire he said to the sultan I cannot rise and do you the reverence that I am sure should be paid to your rank sir answered the sultan I am sure you have a good reason for not doing so and having heard your cry of distress I am come to offer you my help whose is this palace and why is it thus empty instead of answering the young man lifted up his robe and showed the sultan that from the waist downwards he was a block of black marble the sultan was horrified and begged the young man to tell him his story willingly I will tell you my sad story said the young man end of chapter 8 chapter 9 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 recording by Barry Eads the Arabian knights by Andrew Lang chapter 9 the story of the young king of the black isles you must know sire that my father was Mamad the king of this country the black isles so called from the four little mountains which were once islands while the capital was the place where now the great lake lies my story will tell you how these changes came about my father died when he was 66 and I succeeded him I married my cousin whom I loved tenderly and I thought she loved me too but one afternoon when I was half asleep and was being fan by two of her maids I heard one say to the other what a pity is that our mistress no longer loves our master I believe she would like to kill him if she could for she is an enchantress I soon found by watching that they were right and when I mortally wounded a favorite slave of hers for a great crime she beg that she might build a palace in the garden where she wept and bewailed him for two years at last I begged her to cease grieving for him for although he could not speak or move by her enchantments she just kept him alive she turned upon me in a rage and said over me some magic words and I instantly became as you see me now half man and half marble then this wicked enchantress changed the capital which was a very populous and flourishing city into the lake and desert plain you saw the fish of four colors which are in it are the different races who lived in the town the four hills are the four islands which gave the name to my kingdom all this the enchantress told me to add to my troubles and this is not all every day she comes and beats me with a whip of buffalo hide when the young king had finished his sad story he burst once more into tears and the sultan was much moved tell me he cried where is this wicked woman and where is the miserable object of her affection whom she just manages to keep alive where she lives I do not know answered the unhappy prince the sultan arose every day at sunrise to see if the slave can yet speak to her after she has beaten me unfortunate king said the sultan I will do what I can to avenge you so he consulted with the young king over the best way to bring this about and they agreed their plan should be put in effect the next day the sultan then rested and the young king gave himself up to happy hopes of release the next day the sultan arose and then went to the palace in the garden where the slave was he drew his sword and destroyed the little life that remained in him and then threw the body down a well he then laid down on the couch where the slave had been and waited for the enchantress she went first to the young king whom she beat with a hundred blows then she came to the room where she thought her wounded slave was but where the sultan really lay she came near his couch and said are you better today my dear slave how can I be better answered the sultan imitating the language of the Ethiopians when I can never sleep for the cries and groans of your husband what joy to hear you speak answered the queen do you wish him to regain his proper shape yes said the sultan hastened to set him at liberty so that I may no longer hear his cries the queen at once went out and took a cup of water and said over it some words that made it boil as if it were on the fire then she threw it over the prince who at once regained his own form he was filled with joy but the enchantress said hasten away from this place and never come back least I kill you so he hid himself to see the end of the sultan's plan the enchantress went back to the palace of tears and said now I have done what you wished what you have done said the sultan is not enough to cure me every day at midnight all the people whom you have changed into fish lift their heads out of the lake and cry for vengeance go quickly and give them their proper shape the enchantress hurried away and said some words over the lake the fish then became men women and children and the houses and shops were once more filled the sultan's suite who had encamped by the lake were not a little astonished to see themselves in the middle of a large and beautiful town as soon as she had disenchanted it the queen went back to the palace are you quite well now she said come near said the sultan nearer still she obeyed then he sprang up and with one blow of his sword he cut her in two then he went and found the prince rejoiced he said your cruel enemy is dead the prince thanked him again and again and now said the sultan I will go back to my capital which I am glad to find is so near yours so near mine said the king of the black isles do you know it's a whole year's journey from here? you came here in a few hours because it was enchanted but I will accompany you on your journey it will give me much pleasure if you will escort me said the sultan and as I have no children I will make you my heir the sultan and the prince sat out together the sultan laden with rich presence from the king of the black isles the day after he reached his capital the sultan assembled his court and told them all that had befallen him and told them how he intended to adopt the young king as his heir then he gave each man presence in proportion to his rank as for the fisherman as he was the first cause of the deliverance of the young prince the sultan gave him much money and made him and his family happy for the rest of their days End of Chapter 9 Chapter 10 of the Arabian Nights entertainments this is a LibriVox recording that brings around the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Steven Rushing The Arabian Nights entertainments by Andrew Lang Chapter 10 the story of the three colanders sons of kings and of five ladies of Baghdad in the reign of the caliph Haroun al-Rashid that lived in Baghdad a porter who in spite of his humble calling was an intelligent and sensible man the morning he was sitting in his usual place with his basket before him waiting to be hired when a tall young lady covered with a long muslin veil came up to him and said pick up your basket and follow me the porter who was greatly pleased by her appearance and voice jumped up at once poised his basket on his head and accompanied the lady saying to himself as he went oh happy day oh lucky meeting which she not it was opened by an old man with a long white beard to whom the lady held out money without speaking the old man who seemed to understand what she wanted vanished into the house and returned bringing a large jar of wine which the porter placed in his basket then the lady signed to him to follow and they went their way the next place she stopped was at a fruit and flower shop and here she bought a large quantity of apples, apricots, peaches other things with lilies, jasmine, and all sorts of sweet smelling plants from this shop she went to a butchers, a grocers, and a poultryers till at last the porter exclaimed in despair, my good lady if you had only told me you were going to buy enough provisions to stock a town I would have brought a horse or rather a camel the lady laughed and told him she had not finished yet but after choosing various kinds of scents and spices from a druggist's store she halted before a magnificent palace at the door of which she knocked gently the porteress who opened it was of such beauty that the eyes of the man were quite dazzled and he was the more astonished as he saw clearly that she was no slave the lady who had led him hither stood watching him with amusement till the porteress exclaimed why don't you come in my sister this poor man is so heavily weighed down that he is ready to drop when they were both inside the door was fastened and they all were surrounded by an open work gallery at one end of the court was a platform and on the platform stood an amber throne supported by four ebony columns garnished with pearls and diamonds in the middle of the court stood a marble basin filled with water from the mouth of a golden lion the porter looked about him noticing and admiring everything but his attention was especially attracted by a third lady sitting on the throne who was even more beautiful than the other two by the respect shown to her by the others she judged that she must be the eldest and in this he was right this lady's name was Zobieta the porteress was Sadié and the housekeeper was Amina at a word from Zobieta Sadié and Amina took the basket from the porter who was glad enough to be relieved from its weight and when it was emptied paid him a handsomely for its use but instead of taking up his basket he was still lingered till Zobieta inquired what he was waiting for and if he expected more money oh madame returned he you have already given me too much and I fear I may be guilty of rudeness in not taking my departure at once but if you will pardon my saying so I was lost in astonishment at seeing such beautiful ladies by themselves a company of women without men is however as dull as a company of men without women he made some stories to prove his point he ended by entreating them to let him stay and make a forth at their dinner the ladies were rather amused at the man's assurances and after some discussion it was agreed that he should be allowed to stay as his society might prove entertaining but listen friend said Zobieta if we grant you a request it is only on condition that you behave with the utmost politeness and that you keep the secret of our way of living which chance has revealed to you then they all sat down to table which had been covered by Amina with the dishes she had bought after the first few mouthfuls Amina poured some wine into a golden cup she first drank herself according to Arab custom and then filled it for her sisters when it came to the porter's turn he kissed Amina's hand and sang a song which she composed at the moment in praise of the wine the three ladies were pleased with the song and then sang themselves the merry one and lasted much longer than usual at length seeing that the sun was about to set Sadi'a said to the porter rise and go it is now time for us to separate oh madam! replied he how can you desire me to quit you in the state in which I am between the wine I have drunk and the pleasure of seeing you I should never find the way to my house let me remain here till morning and when I have recovered my senses let him stay said Amina who had before proved herself his friend it is only just as he has given us so much amusement if you wish it my sister replied Zobiede but if he does I must make a new condition porter she continued turning to him if you remain you must promise to ask no questions about anything you may see if you do you may perhaps hear what you don't like this being settled Amina brought in supper and lit up the hall with a number of sweet smelling tapers they then sat down again at the table and began with fresh appetites to eat, drink sing and recite verses in fact they were all enjoying themselves mightily when they heard a knock at the outer door which Sadi'a rose to open she soon returned saying that three colanders all blind in the right eye and all with their heads, faces and eyebrows clean shaved begged for admittance as they were newly arrived in Baghdad and night had already fallen they seemed to have pleasant manners she added but you have no idea how funny they look I'm sure we should find their company diverting Zobiede and Amina made some difficulty about admitting the newcomers and Sadi'a knew the reason for their hesitation but she urged the matter so strongly that Zobiede was at last forced to consent bring them in then said she but make them understand that they are not to make remarks about what does not concern them and be sure to make them read the inscription over the door for on the door was written in letters of gold whoso meddles in affairs that are no business of his will hear truths that will not please him the three colanders bowed low on entering and thanked the ladies for their kindness and hospitality the ladies replied with words of welcome and they were all about to seat themselves when the eyes of the colanders fell on the porter whose dress was not so very unlike their own though he still were all the hair that nature had given him this said one of them is apparently one of our Arab brothers who was rebelled against our ruler the porter although half asleep from the wine he had drunk heard the words and without moving cried angrily to the colander sit down and mind your own business did you not read the inscription over the door everybody is not obliged to live in the same way do not be so angry my good man replied the colander we should be very sorry to displease you so the quarrel was smoothed over and supper began in good earnest when the colanders had satisfied their hunger they offered to play to their hostesses if there were any instruments in the house the ladies were delighted at the idea and CDA went to see what she could find returning in a few minutes laden with two different kinds of flutes in a tambourine each colander took the one he preferred and began to play a well known air while the ladies sang the words of the song these words were the gayest and liveliest possible and every now and then the singers had to stop to indulge the laughter which almost choked them in the midst of all their noise a knock was heard at the door now early that evening the caliph secretly left the palace accompanied by his grand vizier geofar and mesrar the chief of the unix all three wearing of merchants passing down the street the caliph had been attracted by the music of instruments and the sound of laughter and had ordered his visor to go and knock at the door of the house as he wished to enter the visor replied that the ladies who lived there seemed to be entertaining their friends and he thought his master would do well not to intrude on them but the caliph had taken it into his head to see for himself and insisted on being obeyed the knock was answered by CDA with a taper in her hand and the visor who was surprised at her beauty bowed low before her and said respectfully madame we are three merchants who have lately arrived from mazul and owing to a misadventure which befell us this very night only reached our end to find that the doors were closed to us till tomorrow morning not knowing what to do we wandered in the streets till we happened to pass your house when seeing lights and hearing the sounds of voices we resolved to ask you to give us shelter till the dawn if you will grant us this favor we will with your permission to all in our power to help you spend the time pleasantly CDA answered the merchant that she must first consult her sisters and after having talked over the matter with them she returned to tell him that he and his two friends will be welcome to join their company they entered and bowed politely to the ladies and their guests then Zobieta as the mistress came forward and said gravely you are welcome here but I hope you will allow me to beg one thing of you have as many eyes as you like but no tongues and ask no questions about anything you see however strange it may appear to you madame return the visor you shall be obeyed we have quite enough to please and interest us without troubling ourselves about that with which we have no concern then they all sat down and drank to the health of the newcomers while the visor Giafair was talking to the ladies the caliph was occupied in wondering who they could be and why the three calendars had each lost his right eye he was burning to inquire the reason of it all but was silenced by Zobieta's request so he tried to rouse himself and take his part in the conversation which was very lively this subject of discussion being the many different sorts of pleasures that there were in the world after some time the calendars got up and performed some curious dances which delighted the rest of the company when they had finished, Zobieta rose from her seat and taking Amina by the hand she said to her my sister, our friends will excuse us if we seem to forget their presence and fulfill our nightly task Amina understood her sister's meaning and, collecting the dishes, glasses and musical instruments, she carried them away while Sadié swept the hall and put everything in order having done this she begged the calendars on one side of the room and the cleaf and his friends to place themselves opposite as to the porter, she requested him to come and help her and her sister shortly after, Amina entered carrying a seat which she put down in the middle of the empty space she next went over to the door of a closet and signed to the porter to follow her he did so and soon reappeared leading two black dogs by a chain which he brought into the center of the hall Zobieta then got up from her seat between the calendars and the cleaf and walked slowly across to where the porter stood with the dogs we must do our duty she said with a deep sigh pushing back her sleeves and, taking a whip from Sadié she said to the man take one of those dogs to my sister Amina and give me the other the porter did as he was bid but as he led the dog to Zobieta it uttered piercing howls and gazed up at her with looks of entreaty but Zobieta took no notice and with the dog till she was out of breath she then took the chain from the porter and, raising the dog on its hind legs they looked into each other's eyes sorrowfully till tears began to fall from both then Zobieta took her handkerchief and wiped the dog's eyes tenderly after which she kissed it then, putting the chain into the porter's hand she said take it back to the closet and bring me the other the same ceremony was gone through with the second dog and all the while the whole company looked on with astonishment the cleaf in particular could hardly contain himself and made signs to the visor to ask what it all meant but the visor pretended not to see and turned his head away Zobieta remained for some time in the middle of the room till at last Sadié went up to her and begged her to sit down she also had her part to play at these words Amina fetched a loot from a case of yellow satin and gave it to Sadié who sang several songs to its accompaniment when she was tired she said to Amina my sister I can do no more come I pray you and take my place Amina struck a few chords and then broken to a song which she sang with so much ardor that she was quite overcome and sank gasping on a pile of cushions she was wearing open her dress as she did so to give herself some air to the amazement of all present her neck instead of being as smooth and white as her face was a mass of scars the colanders and the caliphs looked at each other and whispered together unheard by Zobieta and Sadié who were tending their fainting sister what does it all mean? asked the caliph we know no more than you said the calendars to whom he had spoken what? you do not belong to this house? my lord answered all the calendars together we came here for the first time an hour before you they then turned to the porter to see if he could explain the mystery but the porter was no wiser than they were themselves at length the caliph could contain his curiosity no longer and declared that he would compel the ladies to tell them the meaning of their strange conduct the visor, foreseeing that what would happen ordered him to remember the condition their hostesses had imposed and added in a whisper that if his highness would only wait till morning he could, as caliph, summon the ladies to appear before him but the caliph who was not accustomed to being contradicted rejected this advice and it was resolved after a little more talking that the question should be put by the porter suddenly Zobieta turned around and seeing their excitement she said is the matter what are you all discussing so earnestly madame answered the porter these gentlemen entreat you to explain to them why you should first with the dogs and then cry over them and also how it happens that the fainting ladies covered with scars they have requested me madame to be their mouthpiece is it true, gentlemen, asked Zobieta drawing herself up, that you have charged this man to put me that question it is, they all replied, except Giafar, who was silent is this, continued Zobieta, growing more angry every moment is this the return you make for the hospitality I've shown you have you forgotten the one condition on which you were allowed to enter the house come quickly, she added, clapping her hands three times and the words were hardly uttered when seven black slaves each armed with a saber burst in and stood over the seven men throwing them to the ground and preparing themselves on a sign from their mistress to cut off their heads the seven culprits all thought their last hour had come and the caliph repented bitterly that he had not taken the visor's advice but they made up their minds to die bravely all except the porter who loudly inquired of Zobieta why he was to suffer for other people's faults and declared that these misfortunes would never have happened if it had not been for the colander who always brought ill luck he ended by imploring Zobieta not to confound the innocent with the guilty and to spare his life in spite of her anger there was something so comic in the groans of the porter that Zobieta could not refrain from laughing but putting him aside she addressed the others a second time saying answer me who are you unless you tell me truly you have not another moment to live I can hardly think you are men of any position whatever country you belong to if you were you would have had more consideration for us the caliph who was naturally very impatient suffered far more than either of the others at feeling that his life was at the mercy of a justly offended lady but when he heard her question he began to breathe more freely for he was convinced that she had only to learn his name and rank for all danger to be over so he whispered hastily to the visor who was next to him to reveal their secret and the visor, wiser than his master wished to conceal from the public the affront they had received and merely answered after all we have only got what we deserved meanwhile Zobieta had turned to the three calendars and inquired if as they were all blind they were brothers no madame replied one we are no blood relation at all only brothers by our mode of life and you she asked addressing another were you born blind of one eye madame returned he I became blind through a most surprising adventure such as probably has never happened to anybody after that I shaved my head and eyebrows and put on the dress in which you see me now Zobieta put the same question to the other two calendars and received the same answer but out of the third it may interest you madame to know that we are not men of low birth but are all three sons of kings and of kings too whom the world holds in high esteem at these words Zobieta's anger cooled down and she turned to her slaves and said you can give them a little more liberty but do not leave the hall those that will tell us their histories and their reasons for coming here shall be allowed to leave unhurt those who refuse and she paused but in a moment the porter who understood that he had only to relate his story to set himself free from this terrible danger immediately broke in madame you know already how I came here and what I have to say will soon be told your sister found me this morning in the place where I always stand waiting to be hired she bade me follow her to various shops and when my basket was quite full we returned to this house when you had the goodness to permit me to remain for which I shall be eternally grateful that is my story he looked anxiously to Zobieta who nodded her head and said you can go and take care we never meet again oh madame cried the porter let me stay here a little while it is not just that the others should have heard my story and that I should not hear theirs and without waiting for permission he seated himself on the end of the sofa occupied by the ladies whilst the rest crouched on the carpet and the slaves stood against the wall then one of the colanders addressing himself to Zobieta as the principal lady began his story end of chapter 10 recording by steven rushing of rushingaround.com chapter 11 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 recording by steven rushing the Arabian knights entertainments by Andrew Lang chapter 11 the story of the first colander son of a king in order madame to explain how I came to lose my right eye and to wear the dress of a colander you must first know that I am the son of a king my father's only brother reigned over the neighboring country and had two children a daughter and a son who were of the same age as myself as I grew up and was allowed more liberty I went every year to pay a visit to my uncle's court and usually stayed there about two months in this way my cousin and I became very intimate and were very much attached to each other the very last time I saw him he seemed more delighted to see me than ever and gave a great feast in my honor when we had finished eating he said to me my cousin you would never guess what I have been doing since your last visit to us directly after your departure I set a number of men to work on a building after my own design it is now completed and ready to be lived in I should like to show it to you but you must first swear two things to me and to keep my secret of course I did not dream of refusing him anything he asked and gave the promise without the least hesitation he then made me wait an instant and vanished returning in a few moments with a richly dressed lady of great beauty but as he did not tell me her name I thought it was better not to inquire we all three sat down to table and amused ourselves with talking of all sorts of indifferent things and with drinking each other's health suddenly the prince said to me cousin we have no time to lose be so kind as to conduct this lady to a certain spot where you will find a dome like tomb newly built you cannot mistake it go in both of you and wait till I come I shall not belong as I had promised I prepared to do as I was told and giving my hand to the lady I escorted her by the light of the moon to the place of which the prince had spoken we had barely reached it when he joined us himself carrying a small vessel of water a pickaxe and a little bag containing plaster with the pickaxe he at once began to destroy the empty sepulcher in the middle of the tomb one by one he took the stones and piled them in a corner when he had knocked down the whole sepulcher he proceeded to dig at the earth and beneath where the sepulcher had been I saw a trapped door he raised the door and I caught sight of the top of a spiral staircase then he said, turning to the lady Madame, this is the way that will lead you down to the spot which I told you of the lady did not answer but silently descended the staircase the prince following her at the top however he looked at me my cousin he exclaimed I do not know how to thank you for your kindness farewell what do you mean I cried I don't understand no matter he replied go back by the path that you came he would say no more and greatly puzzled I returned to my room in the palace and went to bed when I woke and considered my adventure I thought that I must have been dreaming and sent a servant to ask if the prince was dressed and could see me but on hearing that he had not slept at home I was much alarmed and hastened to the cemetery where, unluckily the tombs were also alike that I could not discover which was the one I was in search of I spent four days in looking for it you must know that all this time the king, my uncle was absent on a hunting expedition and as no one knew when he would be back I at last decided to return home leaving the ministers to make my excuses I longed to tell them what had become of the prince about whose fate they felt the most dreadful anxiety but the oath I had sworn kept me silent on my arrival at my father's capital I was astonished to find a large detachment of guards drawn up before the gate of the palace they surrounded me directly as I entered I asked the officers in command the reason of this strange behavior and was horrified to learn that the army had mutinied and put to death the king my father and had placed the grand visor on the throne further that by his orders I was placed under arrest now this rebel visor had hated me from my boyhood because once when shooting at a bird with a bow I had shot out his eye by accident of course I not only sent a servant at once to offer him my regrets and apologies but I made them in person it was all of no use he cherished an undying hatred towards me and lost no occasion of showing it having once got me in his power I felt he could show no mercy and I was right mad with triumph and fury he came to me in my prison and tore out my right eye that is how I lost it my persecutor however did not stop here he shut me up in a large case and ordered his executioner to carry me into a desert place to cut off my head and then to abandon my body to the birds of prey the case with me inside it was accordingly placed on a horse and the executioner, accompanied by another man rode into the country until I found a place suitable for the purpose but their hearts were not so hard as they seemed and my tears and prayers made them waver forsake the kingdom instantly said the executioner at last and take care never to come back for you will not only lose your head but make us lose ours I thanked him gratefully and tried to console myself for the loss of my eye by thinking of the other misfortunes I had escaped after all I'd gone through and my fear of being recognized by some enemy I could only travel very slowly and cautiously generally resting in some out-of-the-way place by day and walking as far as I was able by night but at length I arrived in the kingdom of my uncle of whose protection I was sure I found him in great trouble about the disappearance of his son who had, he said, vanished without leaving a trace but his own grief did not prevent him sharing mine we mingled our tears for the loss of one was the loss of the other and then I made up my mind that it was my duty to break the solemn oath I'd sworn to the prince I therefore lost no time in telling my uncle everything I knew and I observed that even before I had ended his sorrow appeared to be lightened a little my dear nephew he said your story gives me some hope I was aware that my son was building a tomb and I think I can find the spot but as he wished to keep the matter secret let us go alone and seek the place ourselves he then bade me disguise myself and we both slipped out of a garden door which opened on to the cemetery it did not take long for us to arrive at the scene of the prince's disappearance or to discover the tomb I had sought so vainly before we entered it and found the trap door which led to the staircase but we had great difficulty in raising it because the prince had fastened it down underneath with the plaster he had brought with him my uncle went first and I followed him when we reached the bottom of the stairs we stepped into a sort of anti-room filled with such a dense smoke that it was hardly possible to see anything however we passed through the smoke into a large chamber which at first seemed quite empty the room was brilliantly lighted and in another moment we perceived a sort of platform at one end on which were the bodies of the prince and a lady both half burned as if they had been dragged out of a fire before it had quite consumed them this horrible sight turned me faint but to my surprise my uncle did not show so much surprise as anger I knew, he said that my son was tenderly attached to this lady whom it was impossible he should ever marry I tried to turn his thoughts and presented to him the most beautiful princesses but he cared for none of them and as you see they have now been united by a horrible death in an underground tomb but as he spoke his anger melted into tears and again I wept with him when he recovered himself he drew me to him my dear nephew you have come to me to take this place and I will do my best to forget that I ever had a son who would act in so wicked a manner then he turned and went up the stairs we reached the palace without anyone having noticed our absence when, shortly after a clashing of drums and cymbals and the blare of trumpets burst upon our astonished ears at the same time a thick cloud of dust on the horizon told of the approaching of a great army my heart sank when I perceived that the commander was the visor who had dethroned my father and was come to seize the kingdom of my uncle the capital was utterly unprepared to stage a siege and seeing that resistance was useless at once opened its gates my uncle fought hard for his life but was soon overpowered and when he fell he rushed to escape through a secret passage and took refuge with an officer whom I knew I could trust persecuted by ill fortune and stricken with grief there seemed to be only one means of safety left to me I shaved my beard and my eyebrows and put on the dress of a colander in which it was easy for me to travel without being known I avoided the towns till I reached the kingdom of the famous and powerful caliph Harun al-Rashid when I had no further reason to fear my enemies I had no intention to come to Baghdad and to throw myself at the feet of his highness who would, I felt certain be touched by my sad story and would grant me besides his help and protection after a journey which lasted some months I arrived at length at the gates of the city it was sunset and I paused for a little to look about me and to decide which way to turn my steps I was still debating on the subject when I was joined by this other colander who stopped to greet me you like me appear to be a stranger I said he replied that I was right and before he could say more the third colander came up he also was newly arrived in Baghdad and being brothers in misfortune we resolved to cast in our lots together and to share whatever fate might have in store by this time it had grown late and we did not know where to spend the night but our lucky star having guided us to this door we took the liberty of asking and of asking for shelter which was given to us at once with the best grace in the world this madame is my story I am satisfied replied Zobieta you can go when you like the colander however begged leave to stay and to hear the histories of his two friends and of the three other persons of the company which he was allowed to do end of chapter 11 recording by steven rushing of rushingaround.com the arabian knights entertainments this is a libra vox recording all libra vox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit libravox.org recording by steven rushing the arabian knights entertainments by andrew lang chapter 12 the story of the second colander son of a king madame said the young man addressing Zobieta if you wish to know how I lost my right eye to the story of my whole life I was scarcely more than a baby when the king, my father finding me unusually quick and clever for my age turned his thoughts to my education I was taught first to read and write and then to learn the Quran which is the basis of our holy religion and the better to understand it I read with my tutors the ablest commentators on its teaching and committed to memory all the traditions respecting the prophet which have been gathered from the mouth of those who were his friends I also learned history and was instructed in poetry versification, geography chronology and in all the outdoor exercises in which every prince should excel but what I liked best of all was writing arabic characters and then this I soon surpassed my masters and gained a reputation in this branch of knowledge that reached as far as India itself now the sultan of the indies curious to see a young prince with such strange tastes sent an ambassador to my father laden with rich presence and a warm invitation to visit his court my father who was deeply anxious to secure the friendship of so powerful a monarch and held besides that a little travel would greatly improve my manners and opened my mind accepted gladly and in a short time I had set out for India with the ambassador attended only by a small suite on account of the length of the journey and the badness of the roads as was my duty I took with me ten camels laden with rich presence for the sultan we had been traveling for about a month when one day we saw a cloud of dust moving swiftly toward us and as soon as it came near we found that the dust concealed a band of 50 robbers our men barely numbered half and as we were also hampered by the camels there was no use fighting so we tried to overhaul them by informing them who we were and whether we were going the robbers however we left and declared that that was none of their business and without more words attacked us brutally I defended myself to the last wounded though I was but at length saying that resistance was hopeless and that the ambassador and all our followers were made prisoners I put spurs to my horse and rode away as fast as I could till the poor beast fell dead from a wound in his side I managed to jump off without any injury and looked about to see if I was pursued but for the moment I was safe for as I imagined the robbers were all engaging in quarreling over their booty I found myself in a country that was quite new to me and dared not return to the main road lest I should again fall into the hands of the robbers luckily my wound was only a slight one and after binding it up as well as I could I walked on for the rest of the day till I reached a cave at the foot of a mountain where I passed the night in peace making my supper off some fruits I had gathered on the way I wandered about for a whole month without knowing where I was going till at length I found myself on the outskirts of a beautiful city watered by winding streams which enjoyed an eternal spring my delight at the prospect of mixing once more with human beings was somewhat damped by the thought of the miserable object I must seem my face and hands had been burned nearly black my clothes were all in rags and my shoes were in such a state that I had been forced to abandon them altogether I entered the town and stopped at a tailor shop to inquire where I was the man saw I was better than my condition and begged me to sit down and in return I told him my whole story the tailor listened with attention but his reply instead of giving me consolation only increased my trouble beware of telling anyone what you have told me for the prince who governs the kingdom is your father's greatest enemy and he will be rejoiced to find you in his power I thanked the tailor for his counsel and said I would do whatever he advised then, being very hungry I gladly ate of the food he put before me and accepted his offer of a lodging in his house in a few days I had quite recovered from the hardships I had undergone and then the tailor knowing that it was the custom for the princes of our religion to learn a trade or profession so as to provide for themselves in the time of ill-fortune inquired if there was anything I could do for my living replied that I had been educated as a grammarian and a poet but that my great gift was for writing all that is of no use here said the tailor take my advice, put on a short coat and as you seem hardy and strong go into the woods and cut firewood which you will sell on the streets by this means you will earn your living and be able to wait till better times come the hatchet and the cord shall be my present this counsel was very distasteful to me but I thought I could not do otherwise so the next morning I sat out with a company of poor woodcutters to whom the tailor had introduced me even on the first day I cut enough wood to sell for a tolerable sum and very soon I became more expert and had made enough money to repay the tailor all he had lent me I had been a woodcutter for more than a year when one day I wanted further into the forest than I had ever gone before and reached a delicious green glade where I began to cut wood I was packing at the root of a tree when I beheld an iron ring fastened to a trapped door of the same metal I soon cleared away the earth and pulling up the door found a staircase which I hastily made up my mind to go down carrying my hatchet with me by way of protection when I reached the bottom I discovered that I was in a huge palace as brilliantly lighted as any palace above ground that I had ever seen with a long gallery supported by pillars of jasper ornamented with capitals of gold on this gallery a lady came to meet me of such beauty that I forgot everything else and thought only of her to save her all the trouble possible I hastened toward her and bowed low who are you who are you a man or a genius a man madam I replied I have nothing to do with genie by what accident do you come here she asked again with a sigh I have been in this place now for 5 and 20 years and you are the first man who has visited me emboldened by her beauty and gentleness I ventured to reply before madam I answer your question allow me to say how grateful I am for this meeting which is not only a consolation to me and my own heavy sorrow but may perhaps enable me to render you a lot happier and then I told her who I was and how I had come there a last prince with a deeper size than before you have rightly guessed in supposing me an unwilling prisoner in this gorgeous place I am the daughter of the king of the ebony isle of whose fame you surely have heard at my father's desire I was married to a prince who was my own cousin but on my very wedding day I was snatched up by a genius and brought here in a faint for a long while I did nothing but weep and would not suffer the genius to come near me but time teaches us submission and I have now got accustomed to his presence and if clothes and jewels could content me I have them in plenty every tenth day for five and twenty years I have received a visit from him but in case I should need his help at any other time I have only to touch a talisman that stands at the entrance of my chamber it wants still five days to his next visit and I hope that during that time you will do me the honor to be my guest I was too much dazzled by her beauty to dream of refusing her offer and accordingly the princess had me conducted to the bath and a rich dress befitting my rank was provided for me then a feast of the most delicate dishes was served in a room hung with embroidered Indian fabrics next day when we were at dinner I could maintain my patience no longer and implored the princess to break her bonds and return with me to the world which was lighted by the sun what you ask is impossible she answered but stay here with me instead and we can be happy and all you will have to do is to but take yourself to the forest every tenth day when I'm expecting my master the genius he is very jealous as you know and will not suffer a man to come near me princess I replied I see it is only fear of the genius that makes you act like this for myself I dread him so little that I mean to break his talisman in pieces awful though you think him he shall feel the weight of my arm and I herewith take a solemn vow stamp out the whole race the princess who realized the consequences of such audacity and treated me not to touch the talisman if you do it will be the ruin of both of us said she I know Jeannie much better than you but the wine I had drunk had confused my brain I gave one kick to the talisman and it fell into a thousand pieces hardly had my foot touched the talisman when the air became as dark as night a fearful noise was heard and the palace shook to its very foundations in an instant I was sobered and understood why I had done princess I cried what is happening alas she exclaimed forgetting all her own terrors and anxiety for me fly or you are lost I followed her advice and dashed up the staircase leaving my hatchet behind me but I was too late the palace opened and the genius appeared who turning angrily to the princess asked indignantly what is this matter that you have sent for me like this a pain in my heart she replied hastily obliged me to seek the aid of this little bottle feeling faint I slipped and fell against the talisman which broke that is really all you are an impudent liar cried the genius how did this hatchet and those shoes get here I never saw them before she answered and you came in such a hurry that you may have picked them up on the road without knowing it to this the genius only replied by insults and blows I could hear the streaks and groans of the princess and having by this time taken off my rich garments and put on those in which I had arrived the previous day I lifted the trap found myself once more in the forest and returned to my friend the tailor with a light load of wood and a heart full of shame and sorrow the tailor who had been uneasy at my long absence was delighted to see me but I kept silent about my adventures and as soon as possible retired to my room to lament in secret over my folly while I was thus indulging my grief my host entered and said there is an old man downstairs who has brought your hatchet and slippers which he picked up on the road and now restores to you as he found out from one of your comrades where you lived you had better come down and speak to him yourself at this speech I changed color and my legs trembled under me the tailor noticed my confusion and was just going to inquire the reason when the door of the room opened and the old man appeared carrying with him my hatchet and shoes I am a genius the son of the daughter of Iblis prince of the genie is not this hatchet yours and these shoes without waiting for an answer which indeed I could hardly have given him so great was my fright he seized hold of me and darted up into the air with the quickness of lightning and then with equal swiftness dropped down towards the earth when he touched the ground he wrapped it with his foot it opened and we found ourselves in the enchanted palace in the presence of the beautiful princess of the ebony isle but how different she looked from what she was when I had last seen her for she was lying stretched on the ground covered with blood and weeping bitterly traetress cried the genius is not this man your lover she lifted up her eyes slowly and looked sadly at me I never saw him before slowly I do not know who he is what exclaimed the genius you owe all your sufferings to him and yet you dare say he is a stranger to you but if he really is a stranger to me she replied why would I tell a lie and cause his death very well said the genius drawing his sword take this and cut off his head alas answered the princess I am too weak even to hold the saber why should I put an innocent man to death you condemn yourself by your refusal then turning to me he added and you do you not know her how should I I replied resolved to imitate the princess and her fidelity how should I when I never saw her before cut her head off then if she is a stranger to you and I shall believe you are speaking the truth and will set you at liberty certainly I answered taking the saber in my hands and making a sign to the princess to fear nothing as it was my own life that I was about to sacrifice and not hers but the look of gratitude she gave me shook my courage and I flung the saber to the earth I should not deserve to live I said to the genius if I were such a coward as to slay a lady who is not only unknown to me but who is at this moment half dead herself do with me as you will I am in your power but I refuse to obey your cruel command I see I said to the genius that you have both made up your mind to brave me but I will give you a sample of what you may expect so saying with one sweep of the saber he cut off a hand of the princess who was just able to lift the other to wave me in eternal farewell then I lost consciousness for several minutes when I came to myself I implored the genius to keep me no longer in this state of suspense but to lose no time in putting an end to my sufferings the genius however I didn't change into my prayers but said sternly that is the way in which a genius treats the woman who has betrayed him if I chose I could kill you also but I will be merciful and content myself with changing you into a dog an ass a lion or a bird whichever you prefer I caught eagerly at those words as giving me a faint hope of softening his wrath oh genius I cried as you wish to spare my life be generous and spare it all together grant my prayer and pardon my crime as the best man in the whole world forgave his neighbor who was eaten up with envy of him contrary to my hopes the genius seemed interested in my words and said he would like to hear the story of the two neighbors and as I think madame it may please you I will tell it to you also