One Thousand and One Nights

by Richard Burton

  One day, as he walked about the streets, as of wont, he heard a man crying aloud and saying, ‘Who will earn a thousand dinars and a slave-girl of surpassing beauty and grace, at the price of half a day’s labour?’ But none answered him and Janshah said in himself, ‘Were not the work perilous and difficult, he would not offer such a price for half a day’s labour.’ Then he accosted the crier and said to him, ‘I will do the work.’ So the man took him by the hand and carried him to a lofty and splendid house, where they found a Jew merchant seated on a chair of ebony, to whom said the crier, ‘O merchant, I have cried [for thee] every day these three months, and none hath answered, save this young man.’ The Jew bade Janshah welcome and taking him by the hand, carried him into a magnificent saloon and called for food. So the servants spread the table and set on all manner meats, of which the merchant and Janshah ate and washed their hands. Then wine was set on and they drank; after which the Jew rose and bringing Janshah a purse of a thousand dinars and a slave-girl of ravishing beauty, said to him, ‘Take the girl and money to thy hire. The work thou shalt do to-morrow.’ So saying, he withdrew and Janshah lay with the damsel that night.

  On the morrow, the merchant bade his slaves carry him to the bath and clothe him in a costly suit of silk, whenas he came out. So they did as he bade them and brought him back to the house, whereupon the merchant called for wine and harp and lute, and they drank and played and made merry till the half of the night was past, when the Jew retired to his harem and Janshah lay with the fair slave till the morning. Then he went to the bath and on his return, the merchant came to him and said, ‘Now must thou do the work for me.’ ‘I hear and obey,’ replied Janshah. So the merchant let bring two mules and setting Janshah on one, mounted the other himself. Then they [rode forth the city and] fared on from morn till noon, when they came to a lofty mountain, to whose height there was no limit. Here the Jew halted and alighting, bade Janshah do the same. The latter obeyed and the merchant gave him a knife and a cord, saying, ‘I desire that thou slaughter this [thy] mule.’ So Janshah tucked up his sleeves and skirts and going up to the mule, bound her legs with the cord, then threw her down and cut her throat; after which he skinned her and lopped off her head and legs and she became a [shapeless] heap of flesh. Then said the Jew, ‘Slit open the mule’s belly and enter it and I will sew it up on thee. There must thou abide awhile and whatsoever thou seest in her belly, acquaint me therewith.’ So Janshah slit the mule’s belly and crept into it, whereupon the merchant sewed it up on him and withdrawing to a distance, hid himself in the skirts of the mountain.

  Presently a huge bird swooped down on the dead mule and snatching it up, flew up with it to the top of the mountain, where it set it down and would have eaten it; but Janshah, being ware of this, slit the mule’s belly and came forth. When the bird saw him, it took fright at him and flew away; whereupon he stood up and looking right and left, saw nothing but the carcases of dead men, dried in the sun, and exclaimed, ‘There is no power and no virtue save in God the Most High, the Supreme!’ Then he looked down and saw the merchant standing at the mountain-foot, looking for him. As soon as the Jew caught sight of him, he called out to him, saying, ‘Throw me down of the stones that are about thee, that I may direct thee to a way by which thou mayst descend.’ So Janshah threw him down nigh upon two hundred of the stones, with which the summit was strewn and which were all rubies and chrysolites and other precious stones; after which he called out to him, saying, ‘Show me the way down and I will throw thee some more.’ The Jew made him no answer, but gathered up the stones and binding them on the back of his mule, went his way, leaving Janshah alone on the mountain-top.

  When the latter found himself deserted, he began to weep and implore help, and thus he abode three days, after which he rose and fared on over the mountain two months’ space, feeding upon herbs, till he came to its skirts and espied afar off a valley, full of trees and streams and birds singing the praises of God, the One, the Victorious. At this sight he rejoiced greatly and stayed not his steps till he came to a cleft in the rocks, through which [in the season of the rains] a torrent fell down into the valley. He made his way down [the dry bed of the water-course] into the valley and walked on therein, gazing right and left, until he came in sight of a great castle, rising high into the air. As he drew near, he saw an old man of comely aspect and face shining with light standing at the gate, with a staff of cornelian in his hand, and going up to him, saluted him. The old man returned his greeting and bade him welcome, saying, ‘Sit down, O my son.’ So he sat down at the door of the castle and the other said to him, ‘How camest thou to this land, that no son of Adam hath trodden before thee, and whither art thou bound?’ When Janshah heard his words, he wept sore at the memory of all he had suffered and his tears choked his speech. ‘O my son,’ said the old man, ‘leave weeping; for indeed thou makest my heart ache.’ So saying, he rose and set food before him and bade him eat. He ate and praised God the Most High, after which the old man besought him to tell him his history.

  So Janshah related to him all that had befallen him, from first to last, at which he marvelled exceedingly. Then said the prince, ‘I prithee, tell me who is the lord of this valley and to whom doth this great castle belong?’ ‘O my son,’ answered the old man, ‘this valley and castle and all that is therein belong to the lord Solomon, son of David, on whom be peace! As for me, my name is Sheikh Nesr, king of the birds; for thou must know that the lord Solomon committed this castle to my charge and taught me the language of birds and made me king over all the birds that be in the world; wherefore they all come hither once in every year, and I pass them in review. Then they depart; and this is why I dwell here.’ When Janshah heard this, he wept sore and said to the Sheikh, ‘O my father, how shall I do to win to my native land?’ ‘Know, o my son,’ replied Sheikh Nesr, ‘that thou art near the Mountain Caf; and there is no departing for thee from this place; but tarry with me here and eat and drink and divert thyself with viewing the apartments of this castle, till the birds come, when I will give thee in charge to one of them, and he will bring thee to thy native country.’

  So Janshah abode with Sheikh Nesr in all delight of life, taking his pleasance in the valley and eating of its fruits and laughing and making merry with the old man, till the day appointed for the coming of the birds, when the Sheikh gave him the keys of the castle, bidding him amuse himself with exploring all its apartments and viewing what was therein, but charging him straitly not to open such a door, else he would never again know fair fortune. Then he went forth to meet the birds, which came up, kind by kind, and kissed his hands; and he said to them, ‘With me is a youth, whom destiny hath brought hither from a far land, and I desire of you that you take him up and carry him to his own country.’ And they answered, ‘We hear and obey.’

  Meanwhile, Janshah went round about the castle, opening the various doors and viewing the apartments into which they led, till he came to the door which Sheikh Nesr had warned him not to enter. Its fashion pleased him, for it had on it a lock of gold, and he said in himself, ‘This door is goodlier than all the others; I wonder what is behind it, that Sheikh Nesr should forbid me to open it. Come what may, needs must I enter and see what is in this apartment; for that which is decreed unto the creature, he must perforce fulfil.’ So he unlocked the door and entering, found himself in a vast garden, full of streams and trees, laden with fruits, both hard and soft of skin, whose branches swayed gracefully, whenas the zephyr blew upon them. Midmost the garden was a great lake, the gravel of whose bed was gems and jewels and precious stones; and hard by the lake stood a little pavilion, builded all of gold and silver and crystal, with lattice-windows of jacinth. The floor of this pavilion was paved with green beryl and balass rubies and emeralds and other jewels, set mosaic-fashion, and in its midst was a golden basin, full of water and compassed about with figures of birds and beasts, wroughten of gold and silver and casting water from their mouths. When the zephyr blew on them, it entered their ears [and
passed through pipes hidden in their bodies,] and therewith the figures sang out, each in its own tongue. Beside the fountain was a great estrade, and thereon stood a vast throne of cornelian, inlaid with pearls and jewels, over which was a tent of green silk set up, fifty cubits in compass and embroidered with jewels and precious metals. Within this tent was a closet containing the [magical] carpet of the lord Solomon (on whom be peace), and the pavilion was compassed about with beds of roses and basil and eglantine and all manner sweet-smelling herbs and flowers.

  Janshah explored the marvels of the place, till he was weary of wonder, when he returned to the pavilion and mounting the throne, fell asleep under the tent set up thereon. He slept there awhile and presently awaking, went forth and sat down on a stool before the door. As he sat, marvelling at the goodliness of the place, there flew up three birds like doves [but as big as vultures] and lighted on the brink of the lake, where they sported awhile. Then they put off their feathers and became three maidens, as they were moons, that had not their like in the world. They plunged into the lake and swam about and toyed and laughed, while Janshah marvelled at their beauty and grace and the justness of their shapes.

  Presently, they came up out of the water and fell to walking about and taking their pleasure in the garden; whereat Janshah’s reason was like to depart from him and he rose and followed them. When he overtook them, he saluted them and they returned his salute; after which quoth he, ‘Who are ye, O illustrious ladies, and whence come ye?’ ‘We are from the invisible world of God the Most High,’ replied the youngest damsel, ‘and come hither to divert ourselves. And he marvelled at their beauty and said to the youngest, ‘Have compassion on me and incline unto me and take pity on my case and on all that has befallen me in my life.’ ‘Leave this talk,’ rejoined she, ‘and go thy ways;’ whereat the tears streamed from his eyes, and he sighed heavily and repeated the following verses.

  She shone out in the garden in garments all of green, With open vest and collars and flowing hair beseen.

  “What is thy name?” I asked her, and she replied, “I’m she Who roasts the hearts of lovers on coals of love and teen.”

  Of passion and its anguish to her I made my moan; “Upon a rock,” she answered, “thy plaints are wasted clean.”

  “Even if thy heart,” I told her, “be rock in very deed, Yet hath God made fair water well from the rock, I ween.”

  When the maidens heard his verses, they laughed and played and sang and made merry. Then he brought them somewhat of fruit, and they ate and drank and lay with him till the morning, when they donned their feather-vests and becoming doves once more, flew away and disappeared from his sight. His reason well-nigh fled with them, and he gave a great cry and fell down in a swoon, in which he lay all that day.

  Meanwhile, Sheikh Nesr returned from the assembly of the birds and sought for Janshah, that he might send him with the latter to his native land, but found him not and knew that he had entered the forbidden door. So he went thither and seeing it open, entered and found the prince lying aswoon under a tree. He fetched scented waters and sprinkled them on his face, whereupon he revived and turned right and left, but seeing none by him, save the old man, sighed heavily and repeated the following verses:

  Like the full moon she shines, upon a night of fortune fair, Slender of shape and charming all with her seductive air.

  She hath an eye, whose sorcery enchanteth every wit, A mouth, as agates, set a-row midst roses red, it were.

  The night-black torrent of her locks falls down unto her hips; Beware the serpents of her curls, I counsel thee beware!

  Indeed, her glance, her sides are soft, but harder is her heart Than rock to him who loveth her; there is no softness there.

  The arrows of her looks she darts from out her eyebrows’ bow; They hit and never miss the mark, though from afar they fare.

  Alas, her beauty! it outdoes all other loveliness; No maid of mortal mould there is that can with her compare.

  When the Sheikh heard this, he said, ‘O my son, did I not warn thee not to open the door? But now tell me what hath befallen thee.’ So Janshah told him all that had passed between him and the three maidens, and Sheikh Nesr said, ‘Know, O my son, that these three maidens are of the daughters of the Jinn and come hither every year [for a day], to divert themselves and make merry until mid-afternoon, when they return to their own country.’ ‘And where is their country?’ asked Janshah. ‘By Allah, O my son,’ answered the old man, ‘I know not: but now take heart and put away this love from thee and come with me, that I may send thee to thine own land with the birds.’ When Janshah heard this, he gave a great cry and fell down in a swoon; and presently, coming to himself, said, ‘O my father, I care not to return to my native land. I conjure thee by Allah, let me abide with thee, that I may again foregather with the maidens and look upon the face of her I love, though it be but once a year. And know, O my father, that I will never again name my people, though I die before thee.’ And he sighed and repeated the following verses:

  Would that the phantom never came to mock the lover’s pain Anights, and would this love were not created for men’s bane!

  Except my heart were all afire with memories of thee, The tears adown my wasted cheeks would not in torrents rain.

  My soul to patience I exhort forever, day and night, Whilst still my body is consumed with fires of love in vain.

  So saying, he fell at Sheikh Nesr’s feet and kissed them and wept sore. ‘Have compassion on me,’ exclaimed he, ‘so God take pity on thee!’ ‘By Allah, O my son,’ replied the old man, ‘I know nothing of the maidens nor of their country; but, if thy heart be indeed set on one of them, abide with me till this time next year, and when the day of their coming arrives, hide thyself under a tree in the garden. As soon as they have alighted and laid aside their feather-garments and plunged into the lake and are swimming about at a distance from their clothes, run up and seize the vest of her to whom thou hast a mind. When they see thee, they will come ashore and she, whose vest thou hast taken, will accost thee and say to thee with the sweetest of speech and the most bewitching smiles, “Give me my clothes, O my brother, that I may don them and cover my nakedness withal.” But be not thou persuaded; for, if thou yield to her wishes and give her back the vest, she will don it and fly away and thou wilt never see her again; but, when thou hast gotten the vest, put it under thine armpit and hold it fast, till I return from the assembly of the birds, when I will make accord between you and send thee back to thy native land, and the maiden with thee. And this, O my son, is all I can do for thee.’ When Janshah heard this, his heart was solaced and he abode with Sheikh Nesr yet another year, counting the hours until the day of the coming of the birds.

  At last the appointed time arrived and the old man said to him, ‘Do as I enjoined thee with the maidens, for I go to meet the birds.’ So saying, he departed, whilst Janshah repaired to the garden and hid himself under a tree, where none could see him. Here he abode a first day and a second and a third, but the maidens came not; whereat he was sore troubled and wept and groaned without ceasing, till he swooned away. When he came to himself, he sat, looking now at the lake and now at the sky, and anon at the earth and anon at the open country, whilst his heart fluttered for stress of love and longing. As he was in this case, behold, the three doves appeared in the distance and flew till they reached the garden and lighted down beside the lake. They turned right and left, but saw no one; so they put off their feathers and became three naked maidens, as they were ingots of virgin silver. Then they plunged into the lake and swam about, laughing and frolicking. Quoth the eldest, ‘O my sister, I fear lest there be some one lying in wait for us in the pavilion.’ ‘O sister, answered the second, ‘since the days of King Solomon, none hath entered the pavilion, be he man or genie. ‘By Allah, O my sisters,’ added the youngest, laughing, ‘if there be any hidden there, he will assuredly take none but me.’

  Then they swam out to the middle of the lake, and when Janshah, who was watchi
ng them, with a heart fluttering for stress of passion, saw them at a distance from their clothes, he sprang to his feet and running like the darting lightning [to the brink of the lake,] snatched up the feather-vest of the youngest damsel, her on whom his heart was set and whose name was Snemseh. At this, the girls turned and seeing him, were affrighted and veiled themselves from him with the water. Then they swam towards the shore and looking on him, saw that he was bright of face as the moon at her full and said to him, ‘Who art thou and how comest thou hither and why hast thou taken the clothes of the lady Shemseh?’ ‘Come hither to me,’ replied he, ‘and I will tell you my story.’ Quoth Shemseh, ‘Why hast thou taken my clothes, rather than those of my sisters?’ ‘O light of mine eyes,’ answered he. ‘come forth of the water, and I will tell thee my case and why I chose thee out.’ ‘O my lord and solace of my eyes and fruit of my heart,’ rejoined she, ‘give me my clothes, that I may put them on and cover my nakedness withal; then will I come forth to thee.’ But he replied, saying, ‘O princess of fair ones, how can I give thee back thy clothes and slay myself for love-longing? Verily, I will not give them to thee, till Sheikh Nesr, the king of the birds, returns.’ ‘If thou wilt not give me my clothes,’ quoth she, ‘withdraw a little apart from us, that my sisters may come forth and dress themselves and give me somewhat wherewith to cover myself.’ ‘I hear and obey,’ answered he and retired into the pavilion, whereupon the two eldest princesses came out and donning their clothes, gave Shemseh somewhat thereof, not enough to fly withal, and she put it on and came forth of the water, as she were the moon at her full or a browsing gazelle.