One Thousand and One Nights

by Richard Burton

  Meanwhile, Gherib unbound one after another of the prisoners, till he had freed the whole ninety and they were all far from the enemy. Then he sent them their arms and horses, saying to them, ‘Scatter yourselves round about the enemy and cry out, “O sons of Kehtan!” And when they awake, do ye remove from them and encircle them.’ So he waited till the last watch of the night, when he cried out, ‘O sons of Kehtan!’ and his men answered, saying, ‘O sons of Kehtan!’ as with one voice; and the mountains echoed their crying, so that it seemed to the enemy as though the whole tribe [of the Benou Kehtan] were upon them; wherefore they all snatched up their arms and fell upon one another with slaughter. Gherib and his men held aloof, and they fought with one another till daybreak, when Merdas and Gherib and their ninety warriors fell in upon them and killed some of them and put the rest to flight. Then they took the arms and horses of the dead and the fugitives and returned to the camp, whilst Merdas could hardly credit his deliverance.

  When they reached the encampment, the folk all came to meet them and rejoiced in their safe return. Then they alighted and betook them to their tents; and all the youths of the tribe flocked to Gherib’s tent and great and small saluted him and did him honour. When Merdas saw this, he was more jealous of Gherib than before and said to his kinsfolk, ‘Verily, hatred of Gherib grows on my heart, and why but because I see these flocking about him! And to-morrow he will demand Mehdiyeh of me.’ Quoth his confidant, ‘O Amir, ask of him somewhat he cannot avail unto.’ This pleased Merdas, and on the morrow, as he sat on his divan, with the Arabs about him, Gherib entered, followed by his men and surrounded by the youth of the tribe, and kissed the earth before Merdas, who rose to do him honour, making a show of joy in him and seating him beside himself.

  Then said Gherib, ‘O uncle, thou madest me a promise; do thou fulfil it.’ ‘O my son,’ answered the Amir, ‘she is thine to all time; but thou lackest good.’ ‘O uncle,’ said Gherib, ‘ask of me what thou wilt, and I will fall upon the Amirs of the Arabs in their dwellings and on the kings in their cities and bring thee wealth enough to cover the land from East to West.’ ‘O my son,’ rejoined Merdas, ‘I have sworn by all the idols that I would give Mehdiyeh to none but him who should take my wreak [of mine enemy] and do away my reproach.’ ‘O uncle,’ said Gherib, ‘tell me with which of the kings thou hast a feud, that I may go to him and break his throne over his head.’ ‘O my son,’ replied Merdas, ‘know that I once had a son, a champion of the champions, and he went forth one day to hunt with a hundred horse. They fared on from valley to valley, till they had wandered far away into the mountains and came to the Valley of Flowers and the Castle of Ham ben Shith ben Sheddad ben Kheled.

  Now in this place dwells a black giant, seventy cubits high, who uses to pluck up trees by the roots and fight with them; and he came out upon my son and his men and slew them all, save three, who escaped and bore me the news. So I assembled my braves and went forth to fight the giant, but could not avail against him; wherefore I was baulked of my revenge and swore that I would not give my daughter in marriage but to him who should avenge me of my son.’ ‘O uncle,’ said Gherib, ‘I will go to the giant and avenge thy son on him with the help of God the Most High.’ And Merdas answered, saying, ‘O Gherib, if thou get the victory over him, thou wilt gain of him such booty of wealth and treasures as fires may not devour.’ Quoth Gherib, ‘Swear to me [before witnesses] that thou wilt give me Mehdiyeh to wife, that I may go to seek my fortune with a heart at ease.’ So Merdas swore this to him and took the elders of the tribe to witness; whereupon Gherib went away, rejoicing in the [anticipated] fulfilment of his hopes, and went in to his mother, to whom he related what had passed. ‘O my son,’ said she, ‘know that Merdas hates thee and doth but send thee to this mountain, to bereave me of thee; so take me with thee and let us depart the tents of this tyrant.’ But he answered, saying, ‘O my mother, I will not depart hence till I have compassed my desire and overcome my enemy.’

  Then he slept, till the morning arose with its light and shone, and hardly had he mounted his charger when his friends, the young men, came up to him, two hundred stout cavaliers, and cried out to him, saying, ‘Take us with thee; we will help thee and keep thee company by the way.’ And he rejoiced in them and said, ‘God requite you for us with good! Come, my friends, let us go.’ So they set out and fared on for two days, till the evening of the second day, when they halted at the foot of a high scarped bill and unbridled their horses. As for Gherib, he left the rest and fared on into the mountain, till he came to a cave, whence issued a light. So he entered and found, at the upper end of the cave, an old man, three hundred and forty years old, whose eyebrows hung down over his eyes and whose moustaches hid his mouth. His aspect filled Gherib with awe and veneration, and the hermit said to him, ‘O my son, methinks thou art of the idolaters that worship stones in the stead of the All-powerful King, the Creator of Night and Day and the revolving sphere.’ When Gherib heard his words, his nerves quivered and he said, ‘O elder, where is this lord of whom thou speakest, that I may worship him and take my fill of his sight?’ ‘O my son,’ replied the old man, ‘this is the Supreme Lord, none in the world may look upon Him; He seeth and is not seen. He is the Most High of aspect and is present everywhere in His works. He it is who maketh all things to be and ordereth the march of time; He is the Creator of men and Jinn and sendeth the prophets to guide His creatures into the right way. Whoso obeyeth Him, He bringeth into Paradise, and whoso disobeyeth Him, He casteth into the fire.’

  ‘And how, O uncle,’ asked Gherib, ‘doth he say who worships this mighty Lord who hath power over all?’ ‘O my son,’ answered the old man, ‘I am of the tribe of Aad, which were transgressors in the land and believed not in God. So He sent unto them a prophet named Houd, but they believed not in him and he destroyed them by means of a deadly wind; but I believed, I and some of my tribe, and we were saved from destruction. Moreover, I was present with the tribe of Themoud and saw what befell them with their prophet Salih. After Salih, God the Most High sent a prophet called Abraham the Friend to Nimrod son of Canaan, and there befell what befell between them. Then my companions died and I continued in this cave to serve God the Most High, Who provideth me without my taking thought.’ ‘O uncle,’ quoth Gherib, ‘what shall I say, that I may become of the servants of this mighty Lord? ‘Say,’ replied the old man, ‘“There is no god but God and Abraham is the Friend of God.”’

  So Gherib embraced the faith of submission’ with heart and tongue and the old man said to him, ‘May the sweetness of submission and belief be stablished in thy heart!’ Then he taught him somewhat of the ordinances and scriptures of Islam and said to him, ‘What is thy name?’ And he answered, ‘My name is Gherib.’ ‘O Gherib,’ said the old man, ‘whither art thou bound?’ So he told him all his history, till he came to the mention of the Ghoul of the Mountain, whereupon quoth the other, ‘O Gherib, art thou mad that thou goest forth against the Ghoul of the Mountain alone?’ ‘O my lord,’ replied Gherib, ‘I have with me two hundred horse.’ ‘O Gherib,’ rejoined the hermit, ‘hadst thou ten thousand, yet shouldest thou not prevail against him, for his name is The-Ghoul-who-eats-men-we-pray-God-for-safety, and he is of the children of Ham. His father’s name was Hindi, who peopled Hind and named it, and he left this son after him, whom he called Saadan the Ghoul. Now, even in his father’s lifetime he was a cruel tyrant and an arrogant devil and had no other food than men’s flesh. His father forbade him from this, but he would not be forbidden and redoubled in his frowardness, till Hindi banished him and drove him forth of Hind, after battle and sore travail. Then he came to this country and fortified himself therein, making his dwelling in this place, whence he uses to sally forth and waylay all that come and go. Moreover, he bath begotten five stout and warlike sons, each one of whom will do battle with a thousand braves, and be hath filled the valley with his booty of horses and camels and oxen and sheep, besides other treasure and goods. Wherefore I fear for thee from him; so do thou
implore God the Most High to succour thee against him by the word of Unity , and when thou drivest at the infidels, say, “God is Most Great!” for this saying confoundeth those who misbelieve.’

  Then he gave him a mace of steel, a hundred pounds in weight, with ten rings, which clashed like thunder, when the wielder brandished it, and a sword forged of a thunder-bolt, three cubits long and three spans broad, wherewith if one smote a rock, it would cleave it in sunder. Moreover, he gave him a hauberk and target and a book [of the law] and said to him, ‘Return to thy people and expound Islam to them.’ So Gherib left him, rejoicing in his newly-gained faith, and returned to his companions, who saluted him, saying, ‘What made thee tarry thus?’ Whereupon be told them all that had befallen him and expounded to them Islam, and they all embraced the faith of submission.

  Next morning, Gherib mounted and rode to the hermit to bid him farewell, after which he set out to return to his camp. On his way, there met him a horseman armed cap-a-pie, so that only his eyes appeared, who made at him, saying, ‘Put off what is on thee, O dog of the Arabs; or I will slay thee!’ Therewith Gherib drove at him and there befell between them a battle such as would make a new-born child turn gray and melt the flinty rock with its terror; but presently the stranger did off his face-veil, and behold, it was Gherib’s half-brother Sehim el Leil.

  Now the manner of his coming thither was on this wise. When Gherib set out in quest of the Ghoul of the Mountain, Sehim was absent and on his return, not seeing his brother, he went in to his mother, whom he found weeping. So he asked the reason and she told him what had happened, whereupon, without allowing himself aught of rest, he donned his harness of war and mounting, pricked after Gherib, till he overtook him and there befell between them what befell. When, therefore, he discovered his face, Gherib knew him and saluted him, saying, ‘What moved thee to do this?’ Quoth Sehim, ‘I had a mind to measure myself with thee in the field and make trial of my force in cutting and thrusting.’ Then they rode on, till they drew near the valley, and on the way Gherib expounded Islam to Sehim, who embraced the faith.

  Meanwhile, the Ghoul espied the dust of their horses’ feet and said to his sons, ‘O my sons, mount and fetch me yonder booty.’ So the five took horse and made for the party. When Gherib saw the five giants approaching, he spurred towards them and cried out, saying, ‘Who and what are ye and what do ye want?’ Whereupon Felhoun, the eldest of the five, came out and said, ‘Dismount and bind one another and we will drive you to our father, that he may roast some of you and boil other, for it is long since he hath tasted human flesh.’ When Gherib heard this, he drove at Felhoun, shaking his mace, so that the rings resounded like the pealing thunder and the giant was confounded. Then he smote him a light blow with the mace between the shoulders, and he fell to the ground like a great palm-tree; whereupon Sehirn and some of his men fell upon him and bound him; then, putting a rope about his neck, they haled him along like a cow.

  When his brothers saw him a prisoner, they rushed upon Gherib, who took three of them captive and the fifth fled back to his father, who said to him, ‘What is behind thee and where are thy brothers?’ Quoth he, ‘A beardless youth, forty cubits high, hath taken them prisoner.’ ‘May the sun pour no blessing on you!’ replied Saadan and going down from his hold, tore up a huge tree, with which he went in quest of Gherib and his folk on foot, for that no horse might carry him, because of the bigness of his body. His son followed him and they went on till they came up with Gherib and his company, when the Ghoul fell upon them, without word said, and killed five men with his club. Then he made at Sehim and struck at him with his club, but Sehim avoided the blow and it fell harmless; whereat Saadan was wroth and throwing down the weapon, sprang upon Sehim and caught him up as the merlin catches up the sparrow.

  When Gherib saw his brother in the Ghoul’s clutches, he cried out, saying, ‘God is most Great! By the favour of Abraham the Friend, whom God bless and preserve!’ And spurred his charger at Saadan, shaking his mace, till the rings resounded. Then he cried out again, ‘God is most Great!’ and smote the Ghoul full on the ribs with his mace, whereupon he fell to the ground, insensible, and loosed his hold of Sehim; nor did he come to himself before he was bound and shackled. When his son saw this, lie turned and fled; but Gherib drove after him and smiting him with his mace between the shoulders, unhorsed him. So they bound him with his father and brothers and haltering them with ropes, haled them all six along like camels, till they reached the Ghoul’s castle, which they found full of goods and treasures and things of price; and there they found also twelve hundred Persians, bound and shackled.

  Gherib sat down on Saadan’s chair, which had aforetime belonged to Sasa ben Shith ben Sheddad ben Aad, with Sehim on his right and his companions standing on his either hand, and sending for the Ghoul of the Mountain, said to him, ‘How findest thou thyself, O accursed one?’ ‘O my lord,’ answered Saadan, ‘in the sorriest of plights for abasement and mortification; my sons and I, we are bound with ropes like camels.’ Quoth Gherib, ‘It is my will that you enter my faith, that is, the faith of Islam, and acknowledge the Unity of the All-knowing King, Creator of light and darkness and of all things, - there is no God but He, the Requiting King, - and confess the prophethood of Abraham the Friend, on whom be peace I’ So the Ghoul and his sons made profession of Islam after the goodliest fashion, and Gherib bade loose their bonds, whereupon Saadan wept and would have kissed his feet, he and his sons: but Gherib forbade them and they stood with the rest.

  Then said Gherib, ‘Harkye, Saadan!’ ‘At thy service, o my lord!’ answered he. Quoth Gherib, ‘What are these captives?’ ‘O my lord,’ replied the Ghoul, ‘these are my booty from the land of the Persians and are not the only ones.’ ‘And who is with them?’ asked Gherib. ‘O my lord,’ answered Saadan, ‘there is with them the princess Fekhr Taj, daughter of King Sabour of Persia, and a hundred damsels like moons.’ When Gherib heard this, he marvelled and said, ‘How came ye by these?’ ‘O Amir,’ replied Saadan, ‘I went forth one day with my Sons and five of my slaves in quest of booty, but finding no spoil in our way, we dispersed over deserts and plains and fared on, so haply we might happen on somewhat of prey and not return empty-handed, till we found ourselves in the land of the Persians. Presently, we espied a cloud of dust in the distance and sent one of our slaves to reconnoitre, who returned after awhile and said, “O my lord, this is the princess Fekhr Taj, daughter of Sabour, King of the Persians and Medes and Turcomans, who is on a journey, attended by two thousand horse.” Quoth I, “Mayst thou be gladdened with good news! We could have no finer purchase than this.” Then I and my sons fell upon the Persians and slew of them three hundred men and took the princess and twelve hundred cavaliers prisoners, together with all that was with her of treasure and riches, and brought them hither.’

  Quoth Gherib, ‘Hast thou offered any violence to the princess Fekhr Taj?’ ‘Not I,’ replied Saadan, ‘as thy head liveth, and by the virtue of the faith I have [but now] embraced!, ‘It was well done of thee, O Saadan,’ said Gherib; ‘for her father is king of the world and he will surely despatch troops in quest of her and lay waste the dwellings of those who took her. And whoso looks not to the issue of events, Fate is no friend to him. But where is the damsel?’ And Saadan, ‘I have set apart a pavilion for her and her damsels.’ Quoth Gherib, ‘Show me her lodging,’ and Saadan answered, ‘I hear and obey.’ So he carried him to the pavilion, where he found the princess mournful and cast down, weeping for her former estate of honour and delight. When Gherib saw her, he thought the moon was near him and magnified God the All-hearing and seeing. The princess also looked at him and saw him a princely cavalier, with valour shining from between his eyes and testifying for him and not against him; so she rose and kissed his hands, then threw herself at his feet, saying, ‘O hero of the age, I cast myself on thy mercy; protect me from this Ghoul, for I fear lest he do away my maidenhead and after devour me. So take me to serve thine handmaids.’ Quoth Gherib, ‘Thou shalt be
restored in safety to thy father and the seat of thy worship.’ Whereupon she prayed that he might live long and have advancement in rank.

  Then he caused unbind the Persians and turning to the princess, said to her, ‘What brought thee forth of thy palace to the deserts and wastes, so that the highway-robbers made prize of thee?’ ‘O my lord,’ answered she, ‘my father and all the people of his realm are Magians, who worship the fire, and not the All-powerful King. Now in our country is a monastery called the Monastery of the Fire, whither every year the daughters of the Magians and worshippers of the Fire resort at the time of their festival, after which they return to their houses. So I and my damsels set out, as of wont, attended by two thousand horse, whom my father sent with me to guard me; but by the way this Ghoul fell upon us and killed some of us and taking the rest captive, imprisoned us in this hold. This, then, is what befell me, O valiant champion, whom God guard against the shifts of fortune!’ And Gherib said, ‘Fear not; for I will bring thee to thy palace and the seat of thy worship.’ Wherefore she blessed him and kissed his hands and feet.

  Then he went out from her, after having commanded to treat her with honour, and slept till morning, when he made the ablution and prayed a two-bow prayer, after the rite of our father Abraham the Friend (on whom be peace), whilst the Ghoul and his sons and Gherib’s company did the like after him. Then he turned to the Ghoul and said to him, ‘O Saadan, wilt thou not show me the Valley of Flowers?’I will well, O my lord,’ answered he. So Gherib and his company and Fekhr Taj all rose and went forth, whilst Saadan commanded his slaves and slave-girls, (of whom he had a hundred and fifty female and a thousand male slaves, to pasture his sheep and oxen and camels) to slaughter and cook and make ready the morning-meal and bring it to them among the trees.