One Thousand and One Nights

by Richard Burton

  in its gloom a fire with longings for her sake.

  Though the snake of the sand-hills hiss, small matter is it to me

  If it sting me, so I the fair with the lips of crimson take.

  O Paradise, left perforce of the spirit, but that I hope For ease

  in the mansions of bliss, my heart would surely break!

  And these also:

  Time was when fortune was to us even as a servant is, And in the

  loveliest of lands our happy lives did kiss.

  Ah, who shall give me back the abode of my belov’d, wherein The

  Age’s Joy and Place’s Light erst dwelt in

  peace and bliss?

  Then he cried out three times and fell down senseless, and the stoker rose and covered him. When Nuzhet ez Zeman heard the first verses, she called to mind her mother and father and brother; and when she heard the second, mentioning the names of herself and her brother and their sometime home, she wept and calling the eunuch, said to him, “Out on thee! But now I heard him who recited the first time do so again, and that hard by. So, by Allah, an thou fetch him not to me, I will rouse the Chamberlain on thee, and he shall beat thee and turn thee away. But take these hundred dinars and give them to him and do him no hurt, but bring him to me gently. If he refuse, give him this purse of a thousand dinars and leave him and return to me and tell me, after thou hast informed thyself of his place and condition and what countryman he is. Return quickly and do not linger, and beware lest thou come back and say, ‘I could not find him.’” So the eunuch went out and fell to examining the people and treading amongst them, but found none awake, for the folk were all asleep for weariness, till he came to the stoker and saw him sitting up, with his head uncovered. So he drew near him and seizing him by the hand, said to him, “It was thou didst recite the verses!” The stoker was affrighted and replied, “No, by Allah, O chief of the people, it was not I!” But the eunuch said, “I will not leave thee till thou show me who it was; for I fear to return to my lady without him.” Thereupon the stoker feared for Zoulmekan and wept sore and said to the eunuch, “By Allah, it was not I, nor do I know who it was. I only heard some passer-by recite verses: so do not thou commit sin on me, for I am a stranger and come from Jerusalem, and Abraham the Friend of God be with thee!” “Come thou with me,” rejoined the eunuch, “and tell my lady this with thine own mouth, for I see none awake but thee.” Quoth the stoker, “Hast thou not seen me sitting here and dost thou not know my station? Thou knowest none can stir from his place, except the guards seize him. So go thou to thy mistress and if thou hear any one reciting again, whether it be near or far, it will be I or some one whom I shall know, and thou shalt not know of him but by me.” Then he kissed the eunuch’s head and spoke him fair, till he went away; but he made a circuit and returning secretly, came and hid himself behind the stoker, fearing to go back to his mistress empty-handed. As soon as he was gone, the stoker aroused Zoulmekan and said to him, “Awake and sit up, that I may tell thee what has happened.” So Zoulmekan sat up, and the stoker told him what had passed, and he answered, “Let me alone; I will take no heed of this and I care for none, for I am near my own country.” Quoth the stoker, “Why wilt thou obey thine own inclinations and the promptings of the devil? If thou fearest no one, I fear for thee and myself; so God on thee, recite no more verses, till thou come to thine own country! Indeed, I had not thought thee so self-willed. Dost thou not know that this lady is the wife of the Chamberlain and is minded to chide thee for disturbing her. Belike, she is ill or restless for fatigue, and this is the second time she hath sent the eunuch to look for thee.” However, Zoulmekan paid no heed to him, but cried out a third time and repeated the following verses:

  The carping tribe I needs must flee; Their railing chafes my

  misery.

  They blame and chide at me nor know They do but fan the flame in

  me.

  “She is consoled,” they say. And I, “Can one consoled for country

  be?”

  Quoth they, “How beautiful she is!” And I, “How dear-belov’d is

  she!”

  “How high her rank!” say they; and I, “How base is my humility!”

  Now God forfend I leave to love, Deep though I drink of agony!

  Nor will I heed the railing race, Who carp at me for loving thee.

  Hardly had he made an end of these verses when the eunuch, who had heard him from his hiding, came up to him; whereupon the stoker fled and stood afar off, to see what passed between them. Then said the eunuch to Zoulmekan, “Peace be on thee, O my lord!” “And on thee be peace,” replied Zoulmekan, “and the mercy of God and His blessing!” “O my lord,” continued the eunuch, “this is the third time I have sought thee this night, for my mistress bids thee to her.” Quoth Zoulmekan, “Whence comes this bitch that seeks for me? May God curse her and her husband too!” And he began to revile the eunuch, who could make him no answer, because his mistress had charged him to do Zoulmekan no violence nor bring him, save of his free will, and if he would not come, to give him the thousand dinars. So he began to speak him fair and say to him, “O my lord, take this (purse) and go with me. We will do thee no unright nor wrong thee in aught; but we would have thee bend thy gracious steps with me to my mistress, to speak with her and return in peace and safety; and thou shalt have a handsome present.” When Zoulmekan heard this, he arose and went with the eunuch, stepping over the sleeping folk, whilst the stoker followed them at a distance, saying to himself, “Alas, the pity of his youth! To-morrow they will hang him. How base it will be of him, if he say it was I who bade him recite the verses!” And he drew near to them and stood, watching them, without their knowledge, till they came to Nuzhet ez Zeman’s tent, when the eunuch went in to her and said, “O my lady, I have brought thee him whom thou soughtest, and he is a youth, fair of face and bearing the marks of gentle breeding.” When she heard this, her heart fluttered and she said, “Let him recite some verses, that I may hear him near at hand, and after ask him his name and extraction.” So the eunuch went out to Zoulmekan and said to him, “Recite what verses thou knowest, for my lady is here hard by, listening to thee, and after I will ask thee of thy name and extraction and condition.” “Willingly,” replied he; “but as for my name, it is blotted out and my trace among men is passed away and my body wasted. I have a story, the beginning of which is not known nor can the end of it be described, and behold, I am even as one who hath exceeded in drinking wine, till he hath lost the mastery of himself and is afflicted with distempers and wanders from his right mind, being perplexed about his case and drowned in the sea of melancholy.” When Nuzhet ez Zeman heard this, she broke out into loud weeping and sobbing and said to the eunuch, “Ask him if he have lost a beloved one, such as his father or mother.” The eunuch did as she bade him, and Zoulmekan replied, “Yes, I have lost all whom I loved: but the dearest of all to me was my sister, from whom Fate hath parted me.” When Nuzhet ez Zeman heard this, she exclaimed, “May God the Most High reunite him with those he loves!” Then said she to the eunuch, “Tell him to let me hear somewhat on the subject of his separation from his people and his country.” The eunuch did so, and Zoulmekan sighed heavily and repeated the following verses:

  Ah, would that I knew they were ware Of the worth of the heart

  they have won!

  Would I knew through what passes they fare, From what quarter

  they look on the sun! Are they living, I wonder, or dead?

  Can it be that their life’s race is run?

  Ah, the lover is ever distraught And his life for misgivings

  undone!

  And also these:

  I vow, if e’er the place shall bless my longing sight, Wherein my

  sister dwells, the age’s dear delight,

  I’ll take my fill of life and all the sweets of peace, Midst

  trees and flowing streams: and maidens fair and bright

  The lute’s enchanting tones shall soothe me to repose, Wh
at while

  I quaff full cups of wine like living light

  And honeyed dews of love suck from the deep-red lips Of lovelings

  sleepy-eyed, with tresses black as night.

  When he had finished, Nuzhet ez Zeman lifted up a corner of the curtain of the litter and looked at him. As soon as her eyes fell on him, she knew him for certain and cried out, “O my brother! O Zoulmekan!” He looked at her and knew her and cried out, “O my sister! O Nuzhet ez Zeman!” Then she threw herself upon him, and he received her in his arms, and they both fell down in a swoon. When the eunuch saw this, he wondered and throwing over them somewhat to cover them, waited till they should recover. After awhile, they came to themselves, and Nuzhet ez Zeman rejoiced exceedingly. Grief and anxiety left her and joys flocked upon her and she repeated the following verses:

  Fate swore ’twould never cease to plague my life and make me rue.

  Thou hast not kept thine oath, O Fate; so look thou penance

  do.

  Gladness is come and my belov’d is here to succour me; So rise

  unto the summoner of joys, and quickly too.

  I had no faith in Paradise of olden time, until I won the nectar

  of its streams from lips of damask hue.

  When Zoulmekan heard this, he pressed his sister to his breast, whilst, for the excess of his joy, the tears streamed from his eyes and he repeated the following verses:

  Long time have I bewailed the severance of our loves, With tears

  that from my lids streamed down like burning rain,

  And vowed that, if the days should reunite us two, My lips should

  never speak of severance again.

  Joy hath o’erwhelmed me so, that, for the very stress Of that

  which gladdens me, to weeping I am fain.

  Tears are become to you a habit, O my eyes, So that ye weep alike

  for gladness and for pain.

  They sat awhile at the door of the litter, conversing, till she said to him, “Come with me into the litter and tell me all that has befallen thee, and I will do the like.” So they entered and Zoulmekan said, “Do thou begin.” Accordingly, she told him all that had happened to her since their separation and said, “Praised be God who hath vouchsafed thee to me and ordained that, even as we left our father together, so we shall return to him together! Now tell me how it has fared with thee since I left thee.” So he told her all that had befallen him and how God had sent the stoker to him, and how he had journeyed with him and spent his money on him and tended him night and day. She praised the stoker for this, and Zoulmekan added, “Indeed, O my sister, the man hath dealt with me in such benevolent wise as would not a lover with his mistress or a father with his son, for that he fasted and gave me to eat, and went afoot, whilst he made me ride; and I owe my life to him.” “God willing,” said she, “we will requite him for all this, according to our power.” Then she called the eunuch, who came and kissed Zoulmekan’s hand, and she said, “Take thy reward for glad tidings, O face of good omen! It was thy hand reunited me with my brother; so the purse I gave thee and its contents are thine. But now go to thy master and bring him quickly to me.” The eunuch rejoiced and going to the Chamberlain, summoned him to his mistress. Accordingly, he came in to his wife and finding Zoulmekan with her, asked who he was. So she told him all that had befallen them, first and last, and added, “Know, O Chamberlain, that thou hast gotten no slave-girl to wife: but the daughter of King Omar ben Ennuman: for I am Nuzhet ez Zeman, and this is my brother Zoulmekan.” When the Chamberlain heard her story, he knew it for the manifest truth and was certified that he was become King Omar ben Ennuman’s son-in-law and said to himself, “I shall surely be made governor of some province.” Then he went up to Zoulmekan and gave him joy of his safety and re-union with his sister, and bade his servants forthwith make him ready a tent and one of the best of his own horses to ride. Then said Nuzhet ez Zeman, “We are now near my country and I would fain be alone with my brother, that we may enjoy one another’s company and take our fill of each other, before we reach Baghdad; for we have been long parted.” “Be it as thou wilt,” replied the Chamberlain and going forth, sent them wax candles and various kinds of sweetmeats, together with three costly suits of clothes for Zoulmekan. Then he returned to the litter, and Nuzhet ez Zeman said to him, “Bid the eunuch find the stoker and give him a horse to ride and provide him a tray of food morning and evening, and let him be forbidden to leave us.” The Chamberlain called the eunuch and charged him accordingly; so he took his pages with him and went out in search of the stoker, whom he found at the tail of the caravan, saddling his ass and preparing for flight. The tears were running down his cheeks, out of fear for himself and grief for his separation from Zoulmekan, and he was saying to himself, “Indeed, I warned him for the love of God, but he would not listen to me. O that I knew what is become of him!” Before he had done speaking, the eunuch came up and stood behind him, whilst the pages surrounded him. The stoker turned and seeing the eunuch and the pages round him, changed colour and trembled in every nerve for affright, exclaiming, “Verily, he knows not the value of the good offices I have done him! I believe he has denounced me to the eunuch and made me an accomplice in his offence.” Then the eunuch cried out at him, saying, “Who was it recited the verses? Liar that thou art, why didst thou tell me that thou knewest not who it was, when it was thy companion? But now I will not leave thee till we come to Baghdad, and what betides thy comrade shall betide thee.” Quoth the stoker, “Verily, what I feared has fallen on me.” And he repeated the following verse:

  ’Tis e’en as I feared it would be: We are God’s and to Him return we.

  Then said the eunuch to the pages, “Take him off the ass.” So they took him off the ass and setting him on a horse, carried him along with the caravan, surrounded by the pages, to whom said the eunuch, “If a hair of him be missing, it shall be the worse for you.” But he bade them privily treat him with consideration and not humiliate him. When the stoker saw himself in this case, he gave himself up for lost and turning to the eunuch, said to him, “O chief, I am neither this youth’s brother nor anywise akin to him; but I was a stoker in a bath and found him lying asleep on the fuel-heap.” Then the caravan fared on and the stoker wept and imagined a thousand things in himself, whilst the eunuch walked by his side and told him nothing, but said to him, “You disturbed our mistress by reciting verses, thou and the lad: but have no fear for thyself.” This he said, laughing at him the while in himself. When the caravan halted, they brought them food, and he and the eunuch ate from one dish. Then the eunuch let bring a gugglet of sherbet of sugar and after drinking himself, gave it to the stoker, who drank; but all the while his tears ceased not flowing, out of fear for himself and grief for his separation from Zoulmekan and for what had befallen them in their strangerhood. So they travelled on with the caravan, whilst the Chamberlain now rode by the door of his wife’s litter, in attendance on Zoulmekan and the princess, and now gave an eye to the stoker, and Nuzhet ez Zeman and her brother occupied themselves with converse and mutual condolence; and so they did till they came within three days’ journey of Baghdad. Here they alighted at eventide and rested till the morning, when they woke and were about to load the beasts, when behold, there appeared afar off a great cloud of dust, that obscured the air, till it became as dark as night. Thereupon the Chamberlain cried out to them to stay their preparations for departure, and mounting with his officers rode forward in the direction of the dust-cloud. When they drew near it, they perceived under it a numerous army, like the full flowing sea, with drums and flags and standards and horsemen and footmen. The Chamberlain marvelled at this: and when the troops saw him, there came forth from amongst them a troop of five hundred horse, who fell upon him and his suite and surrounded them, five for one; whereupon said he to them, “What is the matter and what are these troops, that ye use us thus?” “Who art thou?” asked they. “Whence comest thou and whither art thou bound?” And he answered, “I am t
he Chamberlain of the Viceroy of Damascus, King Sherkan, son of King Omar ben Ennuman, lord of Baghdad and of the land of Khorassan, and I bring tribute and presents from him to his father in Baghdad.” When the horsemen heard speak of King Omar, they let their kerchiefs fall over their faces and wept, saying, “Alas! King Omar is dead, and he died poisoned. But fare ye on, no harm shall befall you, and join his Grand Vizier Dendan.” When the Chamberlain heard this, he wept sore and exclaimed, “Alas, our disappointment in this our journey!” Then he and his suite rode on, weeping, till they reached the main body of the army and sought access to the Vizier Dendan, who called a halt and causing his pavilion to be pitched, sat down on a couch therein and commanded to admit the Chamberlain. Then he bade him be seated and questioned him; and he replied that he was the Viceroy’s Chamberlain of Damascus and was bound to King Omar with presents and the tribute of Syria. The Vizier wept at the mention of King Omar’s name and said, “King Omar is dead by poison, and the folk fell out amongst themselves as to whom they should make king after him, so that they were like to come to blows on this account; but the notables and grandees interposed and restored peace, and the people agreed to refer the matter to the decision of the four Cadis, who adjudged that we should go to Damascus and fetch thence the late king’s son Sherkan and make him king over his father’s realm. Some of them would have chosen his second son Zoulmekan, were it not that he and his sister Nuzhet ez Zeman set out five years ago for Mecca, and none knows what is become of them.” When the Chamberlain heard this, he knew that his wife had told him the truth and grieved sore for the death of King Omar, what while he was greatly rejoiced, especially at the arrival of Zoulmekan, for that he would now become King of Baghdad in his father’s room. So he turned to the Vizier and said to him, “Verily, your affair is a wonder of wonders! Know, O chief Vizier, that here, where you have encountered me, God giveth you rest from fatigue and bringeth you that you desire after the easiest of fashions, in that He restoreth to you Zoulmekan and his sister Nuzhet ez Zeman, whereby the matter is settled and made easy.” When the Vizier heard this, he rejoiced greatly and said, “O Chamberlain, tell me their story and the reason of their having been so long absent.” So he repeated to him the whole story and told him that Nuzhet ez Zeman was his wife. As soon as he had made an end of his tale, the Vizier sent for the amirs and viziers and grandees and acquainted them with the matter; whereat they rejoiced greatly and wondered at the happy chance. Then they went in to the Chamberlain and did their service to him, kissing the earth before him; and the Vizier Dendan also rose and stood before him, in token of respect. After this the Chamberlain held a great council, and he and the Vizier sat upon a throne, whilst all the amirs and officers of state took their places before them, according to their several ranks. Then they dissolved sugar in rose-water and drank, after which the amirs sat down to hold council and bade the rest mount and ride forward leisurely, till they should make an end of their deliberations and overtake them. So the officers kissed the earth before them and mounting, rode onward, preceded by the standards of war. When the amirs had finished their conference, they mounted and rejoined the troops; and the Chamberlain said to the Vizier Dendan, “I think it well to ride on before you, that I may notify Zoulmekan of your coming and choice of him as Sultan over the head of his brother Sherkan, and that I may make him ready a place befitting his dignity.” “It is well thought,” answered the Vizier. Then the Chamberlain rose and Dendan also rose, to do him honour, and brought him presents, which he conjured him to accept. On like wise did all the amirs and officers of state, calling down blessings on him and saying to him, “Mayhap thou will make mention of our case to King Zoulmekan and speak to him to continue us in our dignities.” The Chamberlain promised what they asked and the Vizier Dendan sent with him tents and bade the tent-pitchers set them up at a days journey from the city. Then the Chamberlain mounted and rode forward, full of joy and saying in himself, “How blessed is this journey!” And indeed his wife was exalted in his eyes, she and her brother Zoulmekan. They made all haste, till they reached a place distant a day’s journey from Baghdad, where he called a halt and bade his men alight and make ready a sitting place for the Sultan Zoulmekan, whilst he rode forward with his pages and alighting at a distance from Nuzhet ez Zeman’s litter, commanded the eunuchs to ask the princess’s leave to admit him. They did so and she gave leave; whereupon he went in to her and her brother and told them of the death of their father, King Omar ben Ennuman, and how the heads of the people had made Zoulmekan king over them in his stead; and he gave them joy of the kingdom. When they heard this, they both wept for their father and asked the manner of his death. “The news rests with the Vizier Dendan,” replied the Chamberlain, “who will be here to-morrow with all the troops; and it only remains for thee, O prince, to do what they counsel, since they have chosen thee King; for if thou do not this, they will crown another, and thou canst not be sure of thyself with another king. Haply he will kill thee, or discord may befall between you and the kingdom pass out of your hands.” Zoulmekan bowed his head awhile, then raised it and said, “I accept;” for indeed he saw that the Chamberlain had counselled him rightly and that there was no refusing; “but, O uncle, how shall I do with my brother Sherkan?” “O my son,” replied the Chamberlain, “thy brother will be Sultan of Damascus, and thou Sultan of Baghdad; so gird up thy resolution and prepare to do what befits thy case.” Then he presented him with a suit of royal raiment and a dagger of state, that the Vizier Dendan had brought with him, and leaving him, returned to the tent-pitchers and bade them choose out a spot of rising ground and pitch thereon a spacious and splendid pavilion, wherein the Sultan might sit to receive the amirs and grandees. Then he ordered the cooks to make ready rich food and serve it up and the water-carriers to set up the water-troughs. They did as he bade them and presently there arose a cloud of dust and spread till it obscured the horizon. After awhile, the breeze dispersed it, and there appeared under it the army of Baghdad and Khorassan, led by the Vizier Dendan, all rejoicing in the accession of Zoulmekan. Now Zoulmekan had donned the royal robes and girt himself with the sword of state: so the Chamberlain brought him a steed and he mounted, surrounded by the rest of the company on foot, and rode between the tents, till he came to the royal pavilion, where he entered and sat down, with the royal dagger across his thighs, whilst the Chamberlain stood in attendance on him and his servants stationed themselves in the vestibule of the pavilion, with drawn swords in their hands. Presently, up came the troops and sought admission to the King’s presence; so the Chamberlain went in to Zoulmekan and asked his leave, whereupon he bade admit them, ten by ten. Accordingly, the Chamberlain went out to them and acquainted them with the King’s orders, to which they replied, “We hear and obey.” Then he took ten of them and carried them, through the vestibule, into the presence of the Sultan, whom when they saw, they were awed; but he received them with the utmost kindness and promised them all good. So they gave him joy of his safe return and invoked God’s blessing upon him, after which they took the oath of fealty to him, and kissing the earth before him, withdrew. Then other ten entered and he received them in the same manner; and they ceased not to enter, ten by ten, till none was left but the Vizier Dendan. So he went in and kissed the earth before Zoulmekan, who rose to meet him, saying, “Welcome, O noble Vizier and father! Verily, thine acts are those of a precious counsellor, and judgment and foresight are in the hands of the Subtle, the All Wise.” Then he commanded the Chamberlain to go out and cause the tables to be spread at once and bid the troops thereto. So they came and ate and drank. Moreover, he bade Dendan call a ten days’ halt of the army, that he might be private with him and learn from him the manner of his father’s death. Accordingly, the Vizier went forth and transmitted the King’s wishes to the troops, who received his commands with submission and wished him eternity of glory. Moreover, he gave them leave to divert themselves and ordered that none of the lords in waiting should go in to the King for his service for the space
of three days. Then Zoulmekan waited till nightfall, when he went in to his sister Nuzhet ez Zeman and said to her, “Dost thou know the fashion of my father’s death or not?” “I have no knowledge of it,” replied she, and drew a silken curtain before herself, whilst Zoulmekan seated himself without the curtain and sending for the Vizier, bade him relate to him in detail the manner of King Omar’s death. “Know then, O King,” replied Dendan, “that King Omar ben Ennuman, when he returned to Baghdad from his hunting excursion, enquired for thee and thy sister, but could not find you and knew that you had gone on the pilgrimage, whereat he was greatly concerned and angered, and his breast was contracted. He abode thus a whole year, seeking news of you from all who came and went, but none could give him any tidings of you. At the end of this time, as we were one day in attendance upon him, there came to us an old woman, as she were a devotee, accompanied by five damsels, high-bosomed maids, like moons, endowed with such beauty and grace as the tongue fails to describe; and to crown their perfections, they knew the Koran by heart and were versed in various kinds of learning and in the histories of bygone peoples. The old woman sought an audience of the King, and he bade admit her; whereupon she entered and kissed the ground before him. Now I was then sitting by his side, and he, seeing in her the signs of devoutness and asceticism, made her draw near and sit down by him. So she sat down and said to him, ‘Know, O King, that with me are five damsels, whose like no king possesses, for they are endowed with beauty and grace and wit. They know the Koran and the traditions and are skilled in all manner of learning and in the history of bygone peoples. They are here before thee, at thy disposal; for it is by proof that folk are prized or disdained.’ Thy late father looked at the damsels and their favour pleased him; so he said to them, ‘Let each of you tell me something of what she knows of the history of bygone folk and peoples of times past.’ Thereupon one of them came forward and kissing the earth before him, spoke as follows, ‘Know, O King, that it behoves the man of good breeding to eschew impertinence and adorn himself with excellencies, observing the Divine precepts and shunning mortal sins; and to this he should apply himself with the assiduity of one who, if he stray therefrom, is lost; for the foundation of good breeding is virtuous behaviour. Know that the chief reason of existence is the endeavour after life everlasting and the right way thereto is the service of God: so it behoves thee to deal righteously with the people; and swerve not from this rubrick, for the mightier folk are in dignity, the more need they have of prudence and foresight; and indeed kings need this more than common folk, for the general cast themselves into affairs, without taking thought to the issue of them. Be thou prodigal both of thyself and thy treasure in the way of God and know that, if an enemy dispute with thee, thou mayst litigate with him and refute him with proof and ward thyself against him; but as for thy friend, there is none can judge between thee and him but righteousness and fair-dealing. Wherefore, choose thy friend for thyself, after thou hast proved him. If he be a man of religion, let him be zealous in observing the external letter of the Law and versed in its inner meaning, as far as may be: and if he be a man of the world, let him be free-born, sincere, neither ignorant nor perverse, for the ignorant man is such that even his parents might well flee from him, and a liar cannot be a true friend, for the word “friend” is derived from “truth,” that emanates from the bottom of the heart; and how can this be the case, when falsehood is manifest upon the tongue? Know, therefore, that the observance of the Law profits him who practices it: so love thy brother, if he be after this fashion, and do not cast him off, even if thou see in him that which thou mislikest; for a friend is not like a wife whom one can divorce and take again; but his heart is like glass; once broken, it cannot be mended. And God bless him who says: