One Thousand and One Nights

by Richard Burton

  At this moment up came Kemer and kissing the earth before the Khalif, informed him that she was the Jew’s daughter and that she had become a Muslim. Then she renewed her profession before the Commander of the Faithful and said to him, ‘Be thou my intercessor with Quicksilver Ali that he take me to wife.’ [So Er Reshid interceded with Ali] and she appointed him her guardian to consent to her marriage with the sharper, to whom he gave the Jew’s palace and all its contents, saying, ‘Ask a boon of me.’ Quoth Ali, ‘I beg of thee to let me stand on thy carpet and eat of thy table.’ And the Khalif said, ‘O Ali, hast thou any lads?’ ‘Yes,’ answered he, ‘I have forty lads; but they are in Cairo.’ ‘Send to Cairo,’ said the Khalif’ and fetch them hither. But hast thou a lodging for them?’ ‘No,’ replied Ali; and Hassan Shouman said, ‘O Commander of the Faithful, I make him a present of my barrack, with all that is therein.’ But the Khalif answered, saying, ‘O Hassan, thy lodging is thine own.’ And bade his treasurer give the court architect ten thousand dinars, that he might build Ali a hall with four estrades and forty sleeping-closets for his lads. Then said he, ‘O Ali, hast thou any further wish, that we may order its fulfilment?’ ‘O King of the age,’ answered Ali, ‘be thou my intercessor with Delileh the Crafty that she give me her daughter Zeyneb to wife and take the Jew’s robe and gear in lieu of dower.’ Delileh accepted the Khalif’s intercession and took the robe and dish and what not, and they drew up the marriage contracts between Ali and Zeyneb and Kemer, the Jew’s daughter and the broker’s daughter and the maid. Moreover, the Khalif assigned him stipends and gratuities and a table morning and evening, together with allowances for fodder and what not.

  Then Ali fell to making ready for the wedding festivities and after thirty days, he wrote a letter to his comrades in Cairo, wherein he gave them to know of the favours that the Khalif had bestowed upon him and said, ‘I have married four girls and needs must ye come to the wedding.’ So, after awhile, the forty lads arrived and they held high festival. Moreover, he lodged them in his barrack and entreated them with the utmost honour and presented them to the Khalif, who bestowed on them dresses of honour and largesse. Then the tiring-women displayed Zeyneb before Ali in the robe of the Jew’s daughter, and he went in to her and found her an unpierced pearl and a filly that none but he had ridden. Then he went in to the three other girls and found them accomplished in beauty and grace.

  After this, it befell that Ali was one night on guard by the Khalif and the latter said to him, ‘O Ali, I wish thee to tell me all that has befallen thee from first to last.’ So Ali related to him all his adventures and the Khalif bade record them and lay them up in the royal treasuries. So they wrote down all that had befallen him and laid it up with other histories for the people of the Best of Men. And Ali and his wives and comrades abode in all delight and solace of life, till there came to them the Destroyer of Delights and Sunderer of Companies; and blessed and exalted be Allah, for He [alone] is All-knowing!

  John Payne’s translation: detailed table of contents

  ARDESHIR AND HEYAT EN NUFOUS.

  There was once in the city of Shiraz a mighty king called Seif el Aazem Shah, who had grown old, without being blessed with a son. So he summoned the doctors and sages and said to them, ‘I am grown old and ye know my case and the state and ordinance of the kingdom, and I fear for my subjects after me, for that up to now God hath not vouchsafed me a son.’ ‘We will compound thee drugs,’ answered they, ‘wherein, if it please God the Most High, there shall be efficacy.’ So they mixed him drugs, which he used and lay with his wife, and she conceived by leave of God the Most High, who saith to a thing, ‘Be,’ and it is. When her months were accomplished, she gave birth to a son like the moon, whom his father named Ardeshir, and he grew up and throve and applied himself to the study of science and polite letters, till he attained the age of fifteen.

  Now there was in Irak a king called Abdulcadir, who had a daughter, by name Heyat en Nufous, and she was like the rising full moon; but she had an aversion to men and the folk scarce dared name them in her presence. The kings of the Chosroes had sought her in marriage of her father; but, when he spoke with her thereof, she said, ‘Never will I do this thing; and if thou force me, I will slay myself.’ Ardeshir heard of her and fell in love with her and told his father, who, seeing his case, took pity on him and promised him that he should marry her. So he despatched his Vizier to demand her in marriage of King Abdulcadir; but he refused, and when the Vizier returned to King Seif el Aazem and acquainted him with the failure of his mission, he was exceeding wroth and said, ‘Shall the like of me send to one of the kings on an occasion and he accomplish it not?’ Then he let make proclamation to his troops, bidding them get out the tents and equip them for war with all diligence, though they should borrow money for the necessary expenses; and he said, ‘I will not turn back, till I have laid waste King Abdulcadir’s dominions and slain his men and plundered his treasures and blotted out his traces!’

  When the report of this reached Ardeshir, he rose from his bed and going in to his father, kissed the earth before him and said, ‘O mighty King, burden not thyself with this thing and levy not thy troops neither spend thy money. Thou art stronger than King Abdulcadir, and if thou loose upon him this thy host, thou wilt lay waste his dominions and spoil his good and slay his men and himself; but, when his daughter comes to know what hath befallen her father and his people on her account, she will kill herself, and I shall die for love of her; for I can never live after her.’ ‘And what then thinkest thou to do, O my son?’ asked the King. ‘I will don a merchant’s habit and cast about how I may win to the princess and compass my desire of her.’ Quoth Seif al Aazem, ‘Art thou determined upon this?’ And the prince said, ‘Yes, O my father;’ whereupon the King called his Vizier and said to him, ‘Do thou journey with my son, the darling of my heart, and help him to his desire and watch over him and guide him with thy sound judgment and stand to him in my stead.’ ‘I hear and obey,’ answered the Vizier; and the King gave his son three hundred thousand dinars in gold and great store of jewels and precious stones and goldsmiths’ ware and stuffs and other things of price. Then Ardeshir went in to his mother and kissed her hands and asked her blessing. She blessed him and opening her treasuries, brought out to him necklaces and trinkets and apparel and all manner of other precious things laid up from the time of the bygone kings, whose price might not be evened with money. Moreover, he took with him of his servants and slaves and cattle all that he needed for the road and clad himself and the Vizier and their company in merchants’ habits.

  Then he bade his parents and kinsfolk and friends farewell and setting out, fared on over deserts and wastes all tides of the day and watches of the night; and whenas the way was long with him, he recited the following verses:

  Passion and longing and unease are heavy on my spright, Nor is there one to succour me ‘gainst destiny’s unright.

  Arcturus and the Pleiades I watch, as ‘twere for love A servant of the stars I’d grown; yea, all the tides of night

  Still for the morning-star I look, till, when at last it comes, I’m yearning, maddened and my pain redouble for its sight.

  From the religion of thy love I have not strayed, I swear; Nay, wakeful-lidded aye am I, a love distracted wight.

  Though that I hope be hard to win and languor waste me sore And patience after thee to live and helpers fail me quite,

  Yet will I constantly await till God our loves unite And mortify the foe and bring to nought the enviers’ spite.

  Then he swooned away and the Vizier sprinkled rose- water on him, till he came to himself, when he said to him, ‘O king’s son, possess thy soul in patience; for the issue of patience is solace, and behold, thou art on the way to that thou desirest.’ And he ceased not to speak him fair and comfort him, till his trouble subsided and they continued their journey with all diligence. Presently, the prince again became impatient of the length of the way and bethought him of his beloved and recited these verses
:

  Absence is long and restlessness and care upon me weigh; Yea, and my heart in flames of fire consumeth night and day.

  Mine eyes stream still with floods of tears and for the burning stress Of longing that afflicteth me, my very head’s grown gray.

  O thou my hope, my wishes’ term, I swear by Him who made Both branch and leaf and every thing and moulded man of clay,

  A load of passion for thy sake, O my desire, I bear; None else amongst the folk of love to bear it might essay.

  Question the night of me and it will tell thee if therein, Through all the watches of the dark, my lids in sleep close aye.

  Then he wept sore and complained of that which he suffered for stress of passion and love-longing; but the Vizier comforted him and spoke him fair, promising him the attainment of his desire; after which they fared on again, till, in a few days, they came in sight of the White City, [the capital of King Abdulcadir,] soon after sunrise. Then said the Vizier to the prince, ‘Rejoice, O king’s son, in all good; for see, yonder is the White City, that which thou seekest.’ Whereat the prince rejoiced with an exceeding joy and recited the following verses:

  Friends, I am longing-hearted, distraught with love and dole: Desire abides and yearning cleaves fast unto my soul.

  Even as a mourning mother, who wakes for woe, I moan, When night falls down. None pities nor doth with me condole.

  Yet, when from out thy country the winds breathe fresh and sweet, Meseems as if refreshment upon my spirit stole.

  My lids, like clouds rain-laden, pour ever, and my heart Swims in their tears’ salt ocean, that never leaves to roll.

  Then they entered the White City and took up their lodging at the Khan of the Merchants, where they hired three magazines and laid up therein all their goods and gear. They abode in the khan till they were rested, when the Vizier applied himself to devise a plan of conduct for the prince, and said to him, ‘I have bethought me of somewhat, wherein methinks will be advantage for thee, so it please God the Most High.’ ‘O Vizier of good counsel,’ replied Ardeshir, ‘do what cometh to thy mind, and may God direct thy wit aright!’ Quoth the Vizier, ‘I purpose to hire thee a shop in the bazaar of the stuff- sellers and set thee therein; for all that, great and small, have occasion to the bazaar, and methinks, when the folk see thee sitting in the shop, their hearts will incline to thee and thou wilt thus be able to attain that thou seekest, for thou art fair of favour and souls incline to thee and eyes rejoice in thee.’ ‘Do what seemeth good to thee,’ answered Ardeshir.

  So the Vizier clad the prince and himself in their richest raiment and putting a purse of a thousand dinars in his pocket, went forth and walked about the city, whilst all who saw them marvelled at the prince’s beauty, saying, ‘Glory be to Him who created this youth of vile water! Blessed be God, the most excellent of Creators!’ Great was the talk of him and some said, ‘This is no mortal, but a noble angel;’ and others, ‘Hath Rizwan, the door- keeper of Paradise, left the gate unguarded, that this youth hath come forth?’ The people followed them to the stuff-market, where they entered and stood, till there came up to them an old man of venerable appearance, who saluted them, and they returned his salute. Then said he to them, ‘O my lords, have ye any need, that we may have the honour of accomplishing?’ Quoth the Vizier, ‘Who art thou, O elder?’ And he answered, ‘I am the overseer of the market.’ ‘Know then, O elder,’ said the Vizier, ‘that this youth is my son and I wish to take him a shop in the bazaar, that he may sit therein and learn to buy and sell and give and take and come to know the ways and habits of merchants.’ ‘I hear and obey,’ replied the overseer and straightway brought them the key of a shop, which he caused the brokers sweep and clean. Then the Vizier sent for a high divan, stuffed with ostrich-down, and set it up in the shop, together with a small prayer-carpet, fringed with broidery of red gold, and a cushion: and he transported thither so much of the goods and stuff that he had brought with him as filled the shop.

  Next morning, the prince came and opening the shop, seated himself on the divan, and stationed two white slaves, clad in the richest of raiment, before him and two black slaves of the goodliest of the Abyssinians without the shop. The Vizier enjoined him to keep his secret from the folk, so thereby he might find assistance in the accomplishment of his wishes; then, charging him to acquaint him with what befell him in the shop, day by day, he left him and returned to the khan. The prince sat in the shop all day, as he were the moon at its full, whilst the folk, hearing tell of his beauty, flocked to the place, without errand, to gaze on his beauty and grace and symmetry and glorify God who created and shaped him, till none could pass through the bazaar for the crowding of the folk about him. Ardeshir turned right and left, abashed at the throng of people that stared at him, hoping to make acquaintance with some one about the court, of whom he might get news of the princess, but found no way to this, wherefore his breast was straitened.

  On this wise the case abode some time, whilst the Vizier daily promised him the attainment of his desire, till, one day, as he sat in the shop, there came up an old woman of venerable and respectable appearance, clad in raiment of [white wool, such as is worn of] devotees and followed by two slave-girls like moons. She stopped before the shop and considered the prince awhile, after which, ‘Glory be to God,’ said she, ‘who fashioned that face and wrought that handiwork to perfection!’ Then she saluted him and he returned her greeting and seated her by his side. Quoth she, ‘Whence comest thou, O fair of face?’ ‘From the parts of Hind, O my mother,’ answered he; ‘and I have come to his city to see the world and look about me.’ ‘Honour to thee for a visitor!’ rejoined she. ‘What goods and stuffs hast thou? Show me something handsome, fit for kings.’ Quoth he, ‘If thou wish for handsome stuffs, I will show them to thee; for I have wares that beseem persons of every condition.’ ‘O my son,’ answered he, ‘I want somewhat costly and fair of fashion; brief, the best thou hast.’ Said he, ‘Thou must needs tell me for whom thou seekest it, that I may show thee goods according to the rank of the person in question.’ ‘Thou sayst sooth, O my son,’ replied she. ‘I want somewhat for my mistress Heyat en Nufous, daughter of Abdulcadir, lord of this land and king of this country.’

  When Ardeshir heard his mistress’s name, his reason fled for joy and his heart fluttered and he gave no order to slave or servant, but, putting his hand behind him, pulled out a purse of a hundred dinars and gave it to the old woman, saying, ‘This is for the washing of thy clothes.’ Then he brought out of a wrapper a dress worth ten thousand dinars or more and said to her, ‘This is of that which I have brought hither.’ When the old woman saw it, it pleased her and she said, ‘What is the price of this dress, O perfect in beauty?’ ‘I will take no price for it,’ answered he; whereupon she thanked him and repeated her question; but he said, ‘By Allah, I will take no price for it! If the princess will not accept it, I make thee a present of it and it is a guess-gift from me to thee. Praised be God who hath brought us together, so that, if one day I have a want, I shall find thee a helper to me in its accomplishment!’ She marvelled at the goodliness of his speech and the excess of his generosity and courtesy, and said to him, ‘What is thy name, O my lord?’ ‘My name is Ardeshir,’ answered he; and she said, ‘By Allah, this is a rare name! Therewith are kings’ sons named, and thou art in the guise of the sons of the merchants.’ Quoth he, ‘Of the love my father bore me, he gave me this name, but a name signifies nothing.’ And she wondered at him and said, ‘O my son, take the price of thy goods.’ But he swore that he would take nothing.

  Then said she to him, ‘O my son, truth is the greatest of all things and thou hadst not dealt thus generously by me but for a special reason: so tell me thy case and thy secret thought; belike thou hast some need to the accomplishment of which I may help thee.’ Thereupon he laid his hand in hers and swearing her to secrecy, told her the whole story of his passion for the princess and his sufferings by reason thereof. The old woman shook her head and said, ‘True, O my son; bu
t the wise say, in the current adage, “If thou wouldst be obeyed, abstain from ordering that which may not be;” and thou, my son, thy name is “Merchant,” and though thou hadst the keys of the hidden treasures, yet wouldst thou be called nought but “Merchant.” If thou have a find to advance thyself in rank according to thy station, seek the hand of a Cadi’s daughter or an emir’s; but why, O my son, aspirest thou to none but the daughter of the King of the age and the time, and she a clean maid, who knows nought of the things of the world and has never in her life seen aught but her palace in which she dwells? Yet, for all her tender age, she is intelligent, shrewd, vivacious and quick-witted, well-advised and prudent in action. Her father hath no other child than her and she is dearer to him than his life. Every morning he comes to her and gives her good-morrow, and all who dwell in the palace stand in awe of her. Think not, O my son, that any dare bespeak her with aught of these words; as for me, there is no way for me thereto. By Allah, O my son, my heart and bowels love thee and were it in my power to give thee access to her, I would assuredly do it; but I will tell thee somewhat, wherein Allah may haply appoint the healing of thy heart, and will venture my life and my goods for thee, till I accomplish thy desire for thee.’ ‘And what is that, O my mother?’ asked he. ‘Seek of me the daughter of a Vizier or an Amir,’ answered she, ‘and I will grant thy request; but it may not be that one should mount from earth to heaven at one bound.’