One Thousand and One Nights

by Richard Burton

  Meanwhile, Behram, the night being come, cried out to the sailors to spread sail and depart. ‘We hear and obey,’ answered they; ‘but give us time to fill our water-skins.’ Then they landed with their water-skins and coasting the palace, found nothing but walls: so they climbed over into the garden and followed the track of feet, that led them to the fountain, where they found Asaad lying on his back, asleep. They knew him and taking him up, climbed the wall again with him, after they had filled their skins, and carried him back in haste to Behram, to whom said they, ‘Beat thy drums and sound thy pipes; for we have found thy prisoner, whom Queen Merjaneh took from thee by force, and have brought him back to thee.’ And they threw Asaad down before him. When Behram saw him, his heart leapt for joy and his breast dilated with gladness. Then he bestowed largesse on the sailors and bade them weigh anchor in haste. So they set sail forthright, intending for the Mountain of Fire, and stayed not their course till the morning.

  As for Queen Merjaneh, she abode awhile, awaiting Asaad’s return; and when she saw that he came not, she rose and sought him, but found no trace of him. Then she bade her women light flambeaux and search for him, whilst she herself went forth and seeing the garden-door open, knew that he had gone thither. So she went out and finding his slippers lying by the fountain, searched the garden in every part, but found no sign of him. Nevertheless, she gave not over the search till morning, when she enquired for the Magian’s ship and was told that it had set sail in the first watch of the night; wherefore she knew that they had taken Asaad with them and this was grievous to her and she was angry. So she bade equip ten great ships forthwith and arming herself, embarked in one of them, with her guards and women and troops, richly accoutred and armed for war. They spread the sails and she said to the captain, ‘If you overtake the Magian’s ship, ye shall have of me dresses of honour and largesse; but if ye let it escape, I will kill you all.’ Whereat fear and great hope fell upon the seamen, and they sailed three days and nights, till, on the fourth day, they sighted Behram’s ship. Ere ended day, they came up with it and surrounded it on all sides, even as Behram had taken Asaad forth of the chest and was beating and torturing him, whilst the prince cried out for succour and relief, but found neither helper nor deliverer; and indeed he was sorely tormented with much beating. Presently Behram chanced to look up and seeing himself encompassed by the queen’s ships, as the white of the eye encompasses the black, gave himself up for lost and groaned and said to Asaad, ‘Out on thee, O Asaad! This is all thy doing; but, by Allah, I will kill thee ere I die myself.’ Then he bade the sailors throw him overboard; so they took him by the hands and feet and cast him into the sea and he sank. But God (may He be exalted and glorified!) willed that his life should be saved and that his last day should be deferred; so He caused him to rise again and he struck out with his hands and feet, till the Almighty gave him ease and relief and the waves bore him far from the Magian’s ship and threw him ashore. He landed, scarce crediting his escape, and putting off his clothes, wrung them and spread them out to dry, whilst he sat, naked and weeping over his misfortunes and desolate and forlorn condition and repeating the following verses:

  My fortitude fails me for travail and pain; My patience is spent,

  my endeavour in vain;

  My sinews are sundered; O Lord of all lords, To whom but his Lord

  shall the wretched complain?

  Then, rising, he donned his clothes and set out at a venture, knowing not whither he went. He fared on day and night, eating of the herbs of the earth and the fruits of the trees and drinking of the streams, till he came in sight of a city; whereupon he rejoiced and hurried on; but before he reached it, the night overtook him and the gates were shut. Now, as chance would have it, this was the very city in which he had been a prisoner and to whose king his brother Amjed was vizier. When he saw the gate was shut, he turned back and made for the burial-ground, where finding a tomb without a door, he entered and lay down and fell asleep, with his face in his sleeve.

  Meanwhile, Queen Merjaneh, coming up with Behram’s ship, questioned him of Asaad; but he swore to her that he was not with him and that he knew nothing of him. She searched the ship, but found no trace of Asaad, so took Behram and carrying him back to her castle, would have put him to death; but he ransomed himself from her with all his good and his ship and she released him and his men. They went forth from her, hardly believing in their escape, and fared on ten days’ journey, till they came to their own city and found the gate shut, it being eventide. So they made for the burial-ground, thinking to lie the night there, and going round about the tombs, as fate would have it, saw that, in which Asaad lay, open; whereat Behram marvelled and said,’ I must look into this tomb.’ Then he entered and found Asaad lying asleep, with his head on his sleeve; so he raised his head and looking in his face, knew him for him on whose account he had lost his goods and his ship, and said, ‘Art thou yet alive?’ Then he bound him and gagged him, without further parley, and carried him to his house, where he clapped heavy shackles on his feet and lowered him into the underground dungeon aforesaid, affected to the tormenting of Muslims, bidding a daughter of his, by name Bustan, torture him night and day, till the next year, when they would again visit the Mountain of Fire and offer him up as a sacrifice there. Then he beat him grievously and locking the dungeon door upon him, gave the keys to his daughter. By and by, she opened the door and went down to beat him, but finding him a comely sweet-faced youth, with arched brows and melting black eyes, fell in love with him and said to him, ‘What is thy name?’ ‘My name is Assad,’ answered he. ‘Mayst thou indeed be happy,’ exclaimed she, ‘and happy be thy days! Thou deservest not torture and blows, and I see thou hast been unjustly entreated.’ And she comforted him with kind words and loosed his bonds. Then she questioned him of the faith of Islam, and he told her that it was the true and orthodox faith and that our lord Mohammed had approved himself by surpassing miracles and manifest signs and that the [worship of] fire was not profitable, but harmful; and he went on to expound to her the tenets of Islam, till she was persuaded and the love of the True Faith entered her heart. Then (for God the Most High had filled her with love of Asaad), she made profession of the faith and became of the people of felicity. After this, she brought him meat and drink and talked with him and they prayed together: moreover, she made him chicken-broths and fed him therewith, till he regained strength and his sickness left him and he was restored to health. One day, as she stood at the door of the house, she heard the crier proclaiming aloud and saying, ‘Whoso hath with him a handsome young man, whose favour is thus and thus, and bringeth him forth, shall have all he seeketh of wealth; but if any have him and discover it not, he shall be hanged over his own door and his goods shall be confiscated and his blood go for nought.’ Now Asaad had acquainted her with his whole history: so, when she heard the crier, she knew that it was he who was sought for and going down to him, told him the news. Then she went forth with him to the palace of the Vizier, whom when Asaad saw, he exclaimed, ‘By Allah, this is my brother Amjed!’ And threw himself upon him; whereupon Amjed also knew him and they embraced each other and lay awhile insensible, whilst the Vizier’s officers stood round them. When they came to themselves, Amjed took his brother and carried him to the Sultan, to whom he related the whole story, and the Sultan charged him to plunder Behram’s house and take himself. So Amjed despatched thither a company of men, who sacked the house and took Behram and brought his daughter to the Vizier, who received her with all honour, for Asaad had told his brother all the torments he had suffered and the kindness that she had done him. Moreover, Amjed, in his turn, related to Asaad all that had passed between the lady and himself and how he had escaped hanging and become Vizier; and they made moan, each to the other, of the anguish they had suffered for separation. Then the Sultan sent for Behram and bade strike off his head; but he said, ‘O most mighty King, art thou indeed resolved to put me to death?’ ‘Yes,’ replied the King, ‘except thou save thyself by
becoming a Muslim.’ And Behram said, ‘O King, have patience with me a little.’ Then he bowed his head awhile and presently raising it again, made profession of the faith and avowed himself a Muslim at the hands of the Sultan. They all rejoiced at his conversion and Amjed and Asaad told him all that had befallen them, whereat he wondered and said, ‘O my lords, make ready for the journey and I will depart with you and carry you back to your father’s court in a ship.’ At this they rejoiced and wept sore; but he said, ‘O my lords, weep not for your departure, for ye shall be re-united [with those you love], even as were Nimeh and Num.’ ‘And what befell Nimeh and Num?’ asked they. ‘It is told,’ replied Behram, ‘(but God alone is all-knowing), that

  Story of Nimeh Ben Er Rebya and Num His Slave-girl

  There lived once in the city of Cufa a man called Er Rebya ben Hatim, who was one of the chief men of the town, rich in goods and prosperous, and God had vouchsafed him a son, whom he named Nimet Allah. One day, being in the slave-dealers’ mart, he saw a female slave exposed for sale, with a little girl of wonderful beauty and grace in her hand. So he beckoned to the broker and said to him, “What is the price of this woman and her child?” “Fifty dinars,” answered he. “Write the contract of sale,” said Er Rebya, “and take the money and give it to her owner.” Then he gave the broker the price and his brokerage and taking the woman and her child, carried them to his house. When his wife saw the slave, she said to her husband (who was the son of her father’s brother), “O my cousin, what is this damsel?” Quoth he, “I bought her for the sake of the little one on her arm, for know that, when she grows up, there will not be her like for beauty, either in the land of the Arabs or elsewhere.” “It was well seen of thee,” answered his wife. Then said she to the woman, “What is thy name?” “O my lady,” replied she, “my name is Taufic.” “And what is thy daughter’s name?” asked she. “Saad,” answered the slave. “Thou sayst sooth,” rejoined her mistress. “Thou art indeed happy, and happy is he who hath bought thee.” Then said she to her husband, “O my cousin, what wilt thou call her?” “What thou choosest,” answered he. “Then let us call her Num,” quoth she, and he said, “Good.” The little Num was reared with Er Rebya’s son Nimeh in one cradle and each grew up handsomer than the other. They were wont to call each other brother and sister, till they came to the age of ten, when Er Rebya said to Nimeh, “O my son, Num is not thy sister, but thy slave. I bought her in thy name, whilst thou wast yet in the cradle; so call her no more ‘sister’ from this day forth.” “If that be so,” quoth Nimeh, “I will take her to wife.” Then he went to his mother and told her of this, and she said to him, “O my son, she is thy handmaid.” So he went in to Num and loved her and two years passed over them, whilst Num grew up, nor was there in all Cufa a fairer or sweeter or more graceful girl than she. She learnt the Koran and all manner of knowledge and excelled in music and singing and playing upon all kinds of instruments, so that she surpassed all the folk of her time. One day, as she sat with her husband in the wine-chamber, she took the lute and tuning it, sang the following verses:

  Since thou’rt my lord, by whose good grace I live in fair estate,

  A sword wherewith I smite in twain the neck of adverse fate,

  No need is mine to have recourse to Amr or to Zeid,

  Nor any but thyself, an if the ways on me grow strait.

  Nimeh was charmed with these verses and said to her, “I conjure thee, by my life, O Num, sing to us with the tambourine and other instruments!” So she sang the following verses to a lively air:

  By him whose hand possesses the reins of my affair, On passion’s

  score, I swear it, my enviers I’ll dare.

  Yea, I will vex my censors and thee alone obey And sleep and ease

  and solace, for thy sweet sake, forswear

  And dig midmost my entrails, to hold the love of thee, A grave,

  of which not even my heart shall be aware.

  And Nimeh exclaimed, “Gifted of God art thou, O Num!”

  But whilst they led thus the most delightsome life, El Hejjaj, [the governor of Cufa, heard of Num and] said in himself, “Needs must I make shift to take this girl Num and send her to the Commander of the Faithful Abdulmelik ben Merwan, for he hath not in his palace her like for beauty and sweet singing.” Then, calling an old woman, one of his body-servants, he said to her, “Go to Er Rebya’s house and foregather with the girl Num and cast about to steal her away, for her like is not to be found on the face of the earth.” She promised to do his bidding; so next morning she donned clothes of wool and threw round her neck a rosary of thousands of beads; then, taking in her hand a staff and water-bottle of Yemen make, went forth, exclaiming, “Glory be to God! Praised be God! There is no god but God! God is most great! There is no power and no virtue but in God the Most High, the Supreme!” Nor did she leave making devout ejaculations, whilst her heart was full of craft and fraud, till she came to Nimeh’s house, at the hour of noonday-prayer, and knocked at the door. The doorkeeper opened and said to her, “What dost thou want?” Quoth she, “I am a poor pious woman, whom the time of noonday-prayer hath overtaken, and I would fain pray in this blessed place.” “O old woman,” answered the porter, “this is no mosque nor oratory, but the house of Nimeh ben er Rebya.” “I know there is neither mosque nor oratory like the house of Nimeh ben er Rebya,” rejoined she. “I am a chamberwoman of the palace of the Commander of the Faithful and am come out upon a pilgrimage of devotion.” But the porter replied, “Thou canst not enter;” and many words passed between them, till at last she caught hold of him, saying, “Shall the like of me, who have free access to the houses of Amirs and grandees, be denied admission to the house of Nimeh ben er Rebya?” Presently, out came Nimeh and hearing their dispute, laughed and bade the old woman enter. So she followed him into the presence of Num, whom she saluted after the goodliest fashion; and when she looked on her, she was confounded at her exceeding beauty and said to her, “O my lady, I commend thee to the safeguard of God, who made thee and thy lord to accord in beauty and grace!” Then she stood up in the prayer-niche and betook herself to inclination and prostration and prayer, till the day departed and the night came with the darkness, when Num said to her, “O my mother, rest thy feet awhile.” “O my lady,” answered the old woman, “whoso seeketh the world to come must weary himself in this world, and whoso wearieth not himself in this world shall not attain the dwellings of the just in the world to come.” Then Num brought her food and said to her, “O my mother, eat of my victual and pray that God may relent towards me and have mercy on me.” But she replied, “O my lady, I am fasting. As for thee, thou art but a girl and it befits thee to eat and drink and make merry. May God be indulgent to thee! Quoth the Most High, ‘(None shall be saved) except those that repent and believe and work the works of righteousness.’” Num sat awhile, conversing with the old woman, and presently said to Nimeh, “O my lord, conjure this old woman to sojourn with us awhile, for piety is imprinted on her face.” Quoth he, “Set apart for her a chamber, where she may do her devotions, and let none go in to her: peradventure God (glorified and exalted be He!) shall prosper us by the blessing of her presence and part us not.” The old woman passed the night in prayer and recitation, till daybreak, when she went in to Nimeh and Num and giving them good morning, said to them, “I pray God to have you in His holy keeping!” “Whither away, O my mother?” said Num. “My lord hath bidden me set apart for thee a chamber, where thou mayst retire for thy devotions.” “God give him long life,” replied the old woman, “and continue His favour to you both! I would have you charge the doorkeeper not to stay my coming in to you, and (God willing) I will go the round of the Holy Places and pray for you at the end of my devotions every day and night.” Then she went out (whilst Num wept for parting with her, knowing not the purpose of her coming) and returned to El Hejjaj, who said to her, “What news?” She answered, “I have seen the girl, and indeed never bore woman of her day a lovelier than she.” And El Hejjaj said to h
er, “So thou do my bidding, thou shalt have of me abundant good.” Quoth she, “I ask of thee a month’s time.” And he replied, “It is well.” Then she fell to paying frequent visits to Nimeh and Num, who redoubled in honour and kindness to her, and she used to go in to them morning and evening, and all in the house welcomed her, till, one day, being alone with Num, she said to her, “By Allah, O my lady, when I go to the Holy Places, I will pray for thee; but I should love thee to go thither with me, that thou mightest look on the Elders of the Faith that resort thither, and they should pray for thee, according to thy desire.” “O my mother,” said Num, “I conjure thee by Allah, take me with thee!” “Ask leave of thy mother-in-law,” replied the old woman, “and I will take thee.” So Num said to her mother-in-law, “O my lady, ask my master to let us go, thee and me, one day, with this my old mother, to pray and worship with the fakirs in the Holy Places.” Presently, Nimeh came in and sat down, whereupon the old woman went up to him and would have kissed his hand, but he forbade her; so she called down blessings on him and left the house. Next day, she came again, in the absence of Nimeh, and said to Num, “We prayed for thee yesterday; but arise now and divert thyself and return ere thy lord come home.” So Num said to her mother-in-law, “I beseech thee, for God’s sake, let me go with this pious woman, that I may look upon the friends of God in the Holy Places and return speedily, ere my lord come.” Quoth Nimeh’s mother, “I fear lest thy lord know.” “By Allah,” said the old woman, “I will not let her sit down; but she shall look, standing on her feet, and not tarry.” So on this wise she took the damsel by guile and carrying her to El Hejjaj’s palace, bestowed her in a privy chamber and told him of her coming; whereupon he went in to her and looking upon her, saw her to be the loveliest of the people of the day, never had he beheld her like. When Num saw him, she veiled her face from him; but he left her not till he had called his chamberlain, whom he commanded to take fifty horsemen and mounting the damsel on a swift dromedary, carry her to Damascus and there deliver her to the Commander of the Faithful, Abdulmelik ben Merwan. Moreover, he gave him a letter for the Khalif, saying, “Bear him this letter and bring me his answer in all haste.” So the chamberlain took the damsel, all tearful for separation from her lord, and setting out with her for Syria, gave not over journeying till he reached Damascus and sought an audience of the Commander of the Faithful, to whom he delivered the damsel and the letter. The Khalif appointed her a separate apartment and going into his harem, said to his wife, “El Hejjaj has bought me a female slave of the daughters (descendants) of the (ancient) Kings of Cufa, for ten thousand dinars, and has sent her to me with this letter.” “May God increase thee of his favour!” answered she. Then the Khalif’s sister went into Num and when she saw her, she said, “By Allah, happy the man who hath thee in his house, were thy cost a hundred thousand dinars!” “O fair-faced one,” said Num, “what King’s palace is this?” “This is the city of Damascus,” answered the princess, “and the palace of my brother, the Commander of the Faithful, Abdulmelik ben Merwan. Didst thou not know this?” “By Allah, O my lady,” said Num, “I had no knowledge of this!” “And he who sold thee and took thy price,” asked the princess, “did he not tell thee that the Khalif had bought thee?” When Num heard this, she wept and said in herself, “I have been cozened; but, if I speak, none will credit me; so I will hold my peace and take patience, knowing that the relief of God is near.” Then she bent her head for shame, and indeed her cheeks were tanned with the journey and the sun. So the Khalif’s sister left her that day and returned to her on the morrow with clothes and necklaces of jewels and dressed her; after which the Khalif came in to her and sat down by her side, and his sister said to him, “Look on this damsel, in whom God hath united every perfection of beauty and grace.” So he said to Num, “Draw back the veil from thy face;” but she would not unveil, and he beheld not her face. However, he saw her wrists and love of her entered his heart; and he said to his sister, “I will not go in to her for three days, till she be cheered by thy converse.” Then he left her, but Num ceased not to brood over her case and sigh for her separation from Nimeh, till, at eventide, she fell sick of a fever and ate not nor drank; and her face grew pale and her charms faded. They told the Khalif of this, and it grieved him; so he visited her with physicians and men of skill, but none could come at a cure for her.