One Thousand and One Nights

by Richard Burton

  She marvelled at his story and praised God who had restored him to her in health and safety. Then she arose and examined the baggage and loads and questioned him of them. So he told her what was in them, whereat she was mightily rejoiced. Then she went up to the princess, to talk with her and bear her company; but, when her eyes fell on her, she was confounded at her loveliness and rejoiced and marvelled at her beauty and grace and symmetry: and she sat down beside her, cheering her and comforting her heart. Next morning, early, she went down into the market and bought magnificent furniture and ten suits of the richest raiment in the city, and clad the princess and adorned her with every thing costly. Then said she to Hassan, ‘O my son, we cannot abide in this city with all this wealth; for thou knowest that we are poor folk and the people will suspect us of practising alchemy. So come, let us depart to Baghdad, the Abode of Peace, where we may dwell in the Khalif’s Sanctuary, and thou shalt sit in a shop to buy and sell, in the fear of God (to whom belong might and majesty) and He shall prosper thee with this wealth.’

  Hassan fell in with her counsel and going forth straightway, sold the house and summoned the dromedaries, which he loaded with all his goods and gear, together with his mother and wife. Then he went down to the Tigris, where he hired a vessel to carry them to Baghdad and embarked therein with his mother and wife and all his possessions. They sailed up the river ten days, with a fair wind, till they came in sight of Baghdad, at which they rejoiced, and the ship landed them in the city, where Hassan hired a storehouse in one of the khans and transported his goods thither. He lodged in the khan that night and on the morrow, he changed his clothes and going down into the city, enquired for a broker. The folk directed him to one, and when the broker saw him, he asked him what he lacked. Quoth he, ‘I want a house, a handsome and spacious one.’ So the broker showed him the houses at his disposal and he chose one that belonged to one of the viziers and buying it of him for a hundred thousand dinars, gave him the price. Then he returned to the khan and removed all his goods to the house; after which he went down to the market and bought all that was needed therefor of vessels and carpets and other household stuff, besides servants and a little black slave for the house.

  He abode with his wife in all solace and delight of life three years, during which time he was vouchsafed by her two sons, one of whom he named Nasir and the other Mensour: but, at the end of this time, he bethought him of his sisters, the princesses, and called to mind all their goodness to him and how they had helped him to his desire. So he longed after them and going out to the markets of the city, bought trinkets and costly stuffs and confections such as they had never seen nor known. His mother asked him why he bought these rarities and he answered, ‘I purpose to visit my sisters, who entreated me with all kindness and to whose goodness and munificence I owe all that I at present enjoy: wherefore I will journey to them and return soon, so God please.’ Quoth she, ‘O my son, be not [long] absent from me.’

  Then said he, ‘Know, O my mother, how thou shalt do with my wife. Here is her feather-dress in a chest, buried in the earth in such a place; do thou watch over it, lest she light on it and take it, for she would fly away, she and her children, and I should never hear of them again and should die of grief; wherefore I warn thee, O my mother, that thou name this not to her. Thou must know that she is the daughter of a king of the Jinn, than whom there is not a greater among the kings of the Jinn nor a richer in troops and treasure, and she is mistress of her people and dearest to her father of all he hath. Moreover, she is exceeding high-spirited, so do thou serve her thyself and suffer her not to go forth the door neither look out of window nor over the wall, for I fear the air for her, when it blows, and if aught befell her, I should slay myself for her sake.’ ‘O my son,’ replied she, ‘God forbid that I should gainsay thee! Am I mad that thou shouldst lay this injunction on me and I disobey thee therein? Depart, O my son, with a heart at ease, and God willing, thou shalt return in safety and see her and she shall tell thee how I have dealt with her: but tarry not beyond the time to come and go.’

  Now, as fate would have it, his wife heard what he said to his mother and they knew it not. Then Hassan went without the city and beat the drum, whereupon up came the dromedaries and he loaded twenty of them with rarities of Irak; after which he returned to his mother and repeated his injunctions to her and took leave of her and his wife and children, one of whom was a yearling babe and the other two years old. Then he mounted and fared on ten days, without stopping night or day, over hills and valleys and plains and wastes, till, on the eleventh day, he reached the palace and went in to his sisters, with the presents he had brought them. The princesses rejoiced at his sight and gave him joy of his safety, whilst the youngest decorated the palace within and without. Then they took the presents and lodging him in a chamber as of old, enquired at him of his wife and mother and he told them that his wife had borne him two sons. And the youngest princess, seeing him well and in good case rejoiced with an exceeding joy and repeated the followed verse:

  For news of thee, whene’er it blew, the wind I have besought, And never any but thyself occurreth to my thought.

  Then he abode with them, an honoured guest, three months, passing his time in hunting and merrymaking and joy and delight.

  To return to his wife. She abode with his mother two days after her husband’s departure, and on the third day, she said to her, ‘Glory be to God! Have I lived with him three years and shall I never go to the bath?’ Then she wept and Hassan’s mother took pity on her and said to her, ‘O my daughter, we are strangers here and my husband is abroad. Were he at home, he would serve thee himself, but, as for me, I know no one. However, O my daughter, I will heat thee water and wash thy head in the bath that is in the house.’ ‘O my lady,’ answered the princess, ‘hadst thou spoken thus to one of the slave- girls, she had demanded to be sold in the open market and had not abode with thee. Men are excusable, for they are jealous and their reason tells them that, if a woman go forth the house, belike she will do lewdness. But, O my lady, women are not all alike and thou knowest that, if a woman have a mind to aught, whether it be the bath or what not else, none may avail against her, to guard her or keep her or debar her from her desire; and nought restraineth her but her reason and her religion.’

  Then she wept and cursed and bemoaned herself and her strangerhood, till Hassan’s mother was moved to pity for her case and knew that all she said was true and that there was nothing for it but to let her have her will. So she committed the affair to God (extolled and exalted be He!) and making ready all that they needed for the bath, took her and went with her thither. She carried her two little sons with her, and when they entered, they put off their clothes and all the women fell to gazing on the princess and glorifying God (to whom belong might and majesty) for that He had created so glorious a form. The report of her was noised abroad in Baghdad and the women of the city flocked to gaze upon her, till the bath was so crowded that there was no passing through it.

  Now, as destiny would have it, there was present that day, with the rest of the women in the bath, one of the slave-girls of the Khalif Haroun er Reshid, by name Tuhfeh the Lutanist, and she, finding the bath crowded and no passing for the multitude of women and girls, asked what was to do; and they told her of the [strange] damsel. So she went up to her and considering her straitly, was amazed at her grace and beauty and glorifed God (magnified be His majesty) for the fair forms He hath created. The sight of her diverted her from her bath, so that she went not [farther] in nor washed, but sat staring at the princess, till she had made an end of washing and coming forth [of the hot room] put on her clothes, whereupon beauty was added to her beauty. She sat down on the divan, whilst the women gazed upon her; then she looked at them and veiling herself, went out.

  Tuhfeh went out with her and followed her, till she saw where she dwelt, when she left her and returned to the Khalif’s palace. Then she went in to the lady Zubeideh and kissed the earth before her; and the princess said to h
er, ‘O Tuhfeh, why hast thou tarried in the bath?’ ‘O my lady,’ answered she, ‘I have seen a marvel, never beheld I its like amongst men or women, and this it was that distracted me and confounded my wit and amazed me, so that I forgot to wash my head.’ ‘And what was that?’ asked Zubeideh. ‘O my lady,’ replied Tuhfeh, ‘I saw a damsel in the bath, having with her two little boys like moons, never saw any her like, before nor after her, nor is there the like of her form in the whole world. By thy munificence, O my lady, if thou toldest the Commander of the Faithful of her, he would slay her husband and take her from him, for she hath not her like among women. I asked of her husband and they told me that he is a merchant called Hassan of Bassora. Moreover, I followed her from the bath to her own house and found it to be that of the vizier, with the two gates, one giving on the river and the other on the street. Indeed, O my lady, I fear lest the Khalif hear of her and break the law t and put her husband to death and take her to wife.’

  ‘Out on thee, O Tuhfeh!’ rejoined Zubeideh. ‘Is this damsel endowed with such extraordinary grace and beauty that the Commander of the Faithful should, on her account, barter his soul’s good for his worldly pleasure and transgress the law! By Allah, I must needs look on her, and if she be not as thou sayest, I will strike off thy head! O baggage, there are in the Khalif’s harem three hundred and threescore slave-girls, after the number of the days of the year, yet is there none amongst them such as thou describest!’ ‘No, by Allah, O my lady!’ answered Tuhfeh. ‘Nor is there her like in all Baghdad; no, nor amongst the Arabs or the barbarians, nor hath God (to whom belong might and majesty) created the like of her!’

  Therewith Zubeideh called for Mesrour, who came and kissed the earth before her, and she said to him, ‘O Mesrour, go to the vizier’s house, that with the two gates, one giving on the street and the other on the river, and bring me in haste the damsel who dwells there, with her two children and the old woman who is with her, and tarry not.’ ‘I hear and obey,’ answered Mesrour and repairing to Hassan’s house, knocked at the door. Quoth the old woman, ‘Who is at the door?’ ‘Mesrour,’ answered he, ‘the eunuch of the Commander of the Faithful.’ So she opened the door and he entered and saluted her; whereupon she returned his salute and asked his errand. Quoth he, ‘The lady Zubeideh, daughter of El Casim and wife of the Commander of the Faithful Haroun er Reshid, fifth of the sons of Abbas, uncle of the Prophet (whom God bless and preserve!), bids thee to her, thee and thy son’s wife and her children; for the women have told her of her and her beauty.’ ‘O Mesrour,’ answered the old woman, ‘we are strangers and my son, the girl’s husband, is abroad and hath straitly charged me not to go forth nor let her go forth, in his absence, neither show her to any of the creatures of God the Most High; and I fear me, if aught befall her and he come back, he will slay himself; wherefore I beseech thee, of thy favour, O Mesrour, require us not of that whereto we are unable.’ ‘O my lady,’ rejoined Mesrour, ‘if I knew aught to be feared for you in this, I would not require you to go; the lady Zubeideh desireth but to see her and [then] she may return. So disobey not, or thou wilt repent; and like as I take you, I will bring you both back in safety, so it please God the Most High.’

  The old woman could not gainsay him; so she went in and making the damsel ready, brought her and her children forth and followed Mesrour to the Khalif’s palace, where he carried them in and set them before the lady Zubeideh. They kissed the earth before her and called down blessings upon her; and Zubeideh said to the damsel, who was veiled, ‘Wilt thou not uncover thy face, that I may look on it?’ So she kissed the ground before her and unveiling, discovered a face that put to shame the full moon in the height of heaven. Zubeideh fixed her eyes on her and let them travel over her, whilst the palace was illuminated by the light of her countenance.

  The princess and all who were present were amazed at her beauty and all who looked on her became mad and could speak to none. As for Zubeideh, she rose and making the damsel stand up, strained her to her bosom and seated her by herself on the couch. Moreover, she commanded to decorate the palace [in her honour] and calling for a suit of the richest raiment and a necklace of the most precious jewels, put them upon her. Then said she to her, ‘O princess of fair ones, verily thou astoundest me and fillest mine eyes [with delight]. What arts knowest thou?’ ‘O my lady,’ answered she, ‘I have a dress of feathers, which if I put on before thee, thou wouldst see one of the fairest of fashions and marvel thereat, and all who saw it would talk of its goodliness, generation after generation.’ ‘And where is this dress of thine?’ asked Zubeideh. ‘It is with my husband’s mother,’ replied the damsel. ‘Do thou seek it of her for me.’

  So Zubeideh said to the old woman, ‘My life on thee, O my mother, go and fetch us her feather-dress, that we may divert ourselves by looking on what she will do, and after take it again.’ ‘O my lady,’ replied the old woman, ‘this damsel is a liar. Hast thou ever seen a woman with a dress of feathers? Indeed, this pertaineth but to birds.’ But the damsel said to Zubeideh, ‘As I live, O my lady, she hath a feather-dress of mine and it is in a chest, which is buried in such a store-closet in the house.’ So Zubeideh took from her neck a necklace of jewels, worth all the treasures of Chosroes and Caesar, and gave it to the old woman, saying, ‘O my mother, I conjure thee by my life, take this necklace and go and fetch us this dress, that we may divert ourselves with the sight thereof, and after take it again!’ But she swore to her that she had never seen the dress and knew not what the damsel meant by her speech.

  Then Zubeideh cried out at her and taking the key from her, called Mesrour and said to him, ‘Take this key and go to the house and enter such a store-closet there, amiddleward which thou wilt end a chest buried. Take it and break it open and bring me the feather-dress that is therein.’ ‘I hear and obey,’ answered he and went forth, whereupon the old woman arose and followed him, weeping and repenting her of having given ear to the damsel and gone to the bath with her, for her desire to go thither was but a trick. So she went with him to the house and opened the door of the closet, and he entered and brought out the chest. Then he took therefrom the feather- dress and wrapping it in a handkerchief, carried it to the princess Zubeideh, who took it and turned it about, marvelling at the beauty of its fashion; after which she gave it to the damsel, saying, ‘Is this thy dress of feathers?’ ‘Yes, O my lady,’ answered she, and took it joyfully. Then she examined it and rejoiced to find it whole as it was, not a feather missing. So she came down from beside the lady Zubeideh and taking her sons in her bosom, wrapped herself in the feather-dress and became a bird, by the ordinance of God (to whom belong might and majesty), whereat Zubeideh and all who were present marvelled. Then she walked with a proud and graceful gait and danced and sported and flapped her wings, whilst all eyes were axed on her and all marvelled at what she did.

  Then said she with fluent tongue, ‘Is this goodly, O my ladies?’ And they answered, ‘Yes, O princess of the fair! All that thou dost is goodly.’ ‘And this,’ said she, ‘that I am about to do is goodlier yet.’ Then she spread her wings and flying up with her children to the dome of the palace, perched on the cornice of the saloon, whilst they all looked at her, wide-eyed and said, ‘By Allah, this is indeed a rare and goodly fashion! Never saw we its like.’ Then, as she was about to take flight for her own land, she bethought her of Hassan and said, ‘Hark ye, my mistresses!’ and she recited the following verses:

  Thou that hast left these lands and tow’rds the countries, where Thy loved ones dwell, with swift and fleeting feet dost fare,

  Think’st thou that I ‘midst you abided in content And deem’st thou that my days by you untroubled were?

  When in Love’s snare I fell, Love’s self my gaol he made And did unto the place of rendezvous repair.

  He hid my vest and deemed that love had masters me And that I of the One to seek it would forbear.

  He wronged me, for my vest he to his mother gave And in a closet charged her keep it with all care:


  But I heard what they said and stored it in my mind And much therein rejoiced and hoped for fortune fair.

  My going to the bath, indeed, was but a trick. That I to wonderment might move the people there.

  The Khalif’s bride no less did marvel at my charms, When she on every side had viewed my shape and air.

  ‘O wife of Er Reshid,’ then said I, ‘thou must know, I have a, feather-dress, right splendid, rich and rare.

  Were it on me, thou shouldst see wonders such an blot Addiction from the spright and charm away despair.’

  ‘Where is it?’ deigned to ask the Khalif’s wife, and I Made answer, ‘In his house who caught me in his snare.’

  So Mesrour went in haste and brought the dress to her, And lo, its lustre lit the palace everywhere.

  I took it from his hand and opening, viewed it all, To see ’twas whole and fit to wing withal the air.

  Then, with my babes, therein I entered and my wings Spreading, up to the roof I flew and perching there,