One Thousand and One Nights

by Richard Burton

  A loved one owns my heart, with whom I companied of yore: There is no creature save herself I wish or weary for.

  All that the Arabs boast of charms in her united are; She’s a gazelle, but on my heart she feedeth evermore.

  Because my patience and resource do fail for love of her, I weep, though weeping profits not to salve my secret sore.

  A fair one, seven [years of age] she hath and seven thereto, As she a moon of five nights were and five thereto and four.

  When the youngest princess saw him thus distracted for passion and love-longing and the fever of desire, she went in to her sisters, tearful-eyed and mournful-hearted, and throwing herself upon them, kissed their feet, weeping, and besought them to devise some means of bringing Hassan to the Wac Islands and effecting his reunion with his wife and children. She ceased not to conjure them to further her brother in the accomplishment of his desire and to weep before them, till she made them weep and they said to her, ‘Be of good cheer: we will do our endeavour to bring about his reunion with his family, if it be the will of God the Most High.’ And he abode with them a whole year, during which his eyes ceased never from tears.

  Now the princesses had an uncle, their father’s brother- german, whose name was Abdulcuddous, and he loved the eldest with an exceeding love and was wont to visit her once a year and do her desires. They had told him of Hassan’s adventure with the Magian and how he had availed to slay him; whereat he rejoiced and gave the eldest princess perfumes, saying, ‘O daughter of my brother, if thou be in concern for aught or stand in any need or if aught irk thee, cast of these perfumes upon fire, naming me, and I will be with thee presently and will do thy desire.’ This was said on the first day of the year that was now at an end; and the eldest princess said to her youngest sister, ‘Lo, the year is wholly past and my uncle is not come. Rise, bring me somewhat of fire and the box of perfumes.’ So the damsel arose, rejoicing, and fetching what she sought, laid it before her sister, who opened the box and taking thence a little of the perfume, cast it into the fire, naming her uncle; nor was it burnt out ere a cloud of dust appeared at the farther end of the valley and presently lifting, discovered an old man riding on an elephant, which trumpeted as it came.

  As soon as he came within sight of the princesses, he fell to making signs to them with his hands and feet; nor was it long ere he reached the castle and alighting from the elephant, came in to them, whereupon they embraced him and kissed his hands and saluted him. Then he sat down, whilst the girls talked with him and questioned him of his absence. Quoth he, ‘I was sitting but now with your aunt, when I smelt the perfumes and hastened to you on this elephant. What wouldst thou, O daughter of my brother?’ ‘O uncle,’ answered she, ‘indeed we longed for thee, for the year is past and it is not thy wont to be absent from us more than a year.’ ‘I was busy,’ answered he, ‘but I purposed to come to you to-morrow.’ Wherefore they thanked him and blessed him and sat talking with him.

  Presently the eldest said to him, ‘O my uncle, we told thee the story of Hassan of Bassora, whom Behram the Magian brought and how he slew the latter and after made prize of the Supreme King’s daughter and took her to wife and journeyed with her to his native land?’ ‘Yes,’ answered he; ‘and what befell him after that?’ ‘He was blest with two sons by her,’ said the princess; ‘but she played him false; for she took them in his absence and fled with them to her own country, saying to his mother, “When thy son returneth and asketh for me and the nights of separation are long upon him and he craveth reunion with me and meeting and the winds of love and longing agitate him, let him come to me in the Islands of Wac.”’

  When Abdulcuddous heard this, he shook his head and bit his hands; then, bowing his head, he fell a-drumming on the earth with his fingers; after which he shook his head and looked right and left and shook his head again, whilst Hassan watched him from a place where he was hidden from him. Then said the princesses to their uncle, ‘Vouchsafe us an answer, for our hearts are rent in sunder.’ But he shook his head at them, saying, ‘O my daughters, this man hath wearied himself [in vain] and cast himself into grievous stress and sore peril; for he may not win to the Wac Islands.’

  With this the princesses called Hassan, who came forth and kissed Abdulcuddous’s hand and saluted him. The old man rejoiced in him and seated him by his side; whereupon quoth the damsels, ‘O uncle, acquaint our brother Hassan with that which thou hast told us.’ So he said to Hassan, ‘O my son, put away from thee this sore torment; for thou canst never win to the Wac Islands, though the Flying Jinn and the wandering stars were with thee; for that betwixt thee and these islands are seven valleys and seven seas and seven mighty mountains. How then canst thou come at this place and who shall bring thee thither? Wherefore I conjure thee by Allah, O my son, do thou reckon them as dead and turn back forthright and weary not thy soul! Indeed, I give thee good counsel, an thou wilt but accept it.’ At these words Hassan wept till he fainted, and the princesses sat round him, weeping for his weeping, whilst the youngest rent her clothes and buffeted her face, till she swooned away.

  When the old man saw them in this transport of grief and trouble and mourning, he was moved to pity for them and bidding them be silent, said to Hassan, ‘O my son, be of good comfort and rejoice in the accomplishment of thy desire, if it be the will of God the Most High. Rise, O my son, take courage and follow me.’ So Hassan arose and followed him, rejoicing in the fulfilment of his wish, after he had taken leave of the princesses. Then the old man called the elephant and mounting, took Hassan up behind him and fared on three days and nights, like the blinding lightning, till he came to a vast blue mountain, whose stones were all blue and amiddleward which was a cavern, with a door of Chinese iron. Here he set Hassan down and alighting, dismissed the elephant. Then he went up to the door and knocked, whereupon it opened and there came out to him a black slave, hairless, as he were an Afrit, with a sword in his right hand and a target of steel in the other. When he saw Abdulcuddous, he threw his sword and buckler from his hand and coming up to him, kissed his hand.

  Abdulcuddous took Hassan by the hand and entered with him, whilst the slave shut the door after them; whereupon Hassan found himself in a vast and spacious cavern, through which ran a vaulted passage, and they fared on therein a mile’s space, till they came forth upon a great open space and made for an angle [of the mountain] wherein were two great doors of solid brass. The old man opened one of the doors and said to Hassan, ‘Sit at the door, whilst I enter and return to thee in haste, and beware lest thou open it and enter.’ Then he entered and shutting the door after him, was absent an hour, after which he returned, leading a horse saddled and bridled, which, when it ran, flew, and when it flew, the very dust overtook it not, and brought it to Hassan, saying, ‘Mount.’ So he mounted and Abdulcuddous opened the second door, beyond which appeared a vast desert.

  They passed through the door into the desert and the old man said to him, ‘O my son, take this letter and go whither this horse will carry thee. When thou seest him stop at the door of a cavern like this, dismount and throw the bridle over the saddle-bow and let him go. He will enter the cavern, which do thou not enter with him, but abide at the door five days, without losing patience. On the sixth day there will come forth to thee a black elder, clad all in black, with a long white beard, flowing down to his navel. Kiss his hands and take his skirt and lay it on thy head and weep before him, till he take compassion on thee and ask thee what thou wouldst have. Then give him the letter, which he will take and go in and leave thee, without speaking. Wait at the door other five days, without wearying, and on the sixth day expect him; and if he come out to thee himself know that thy need will be accomplished but, if one of his servants come forth to thee, know that he who cometh forth to thee purposeth to kill thee; and peace be on thee! For know, O my son, that whoso imperilleth himself is his own undoer; wherefore, if thou fear for thy life, cast it not into [peril of] destruction; but, if thou fear not, up and do thy will, for I have expound
ed the case to thee. Yet, if thou be minded to return to thy friends, let me mount thee on the elephant; it will carry thee to the daughters of my brother, who will restore thee to thy country and thy home, and [belike] God will vouchsafe thee a better than this girl, of whom thou art enamoured.’ Quoth Hassan, ‘And how shall life be sweet to me, except I attain my desire? By Allah, I will never turn back till I regain my beloved or my death overtake me!’ And he wept and recited the following verses:

  For the loss of my belovéd and the passion that for e’er On me grows, I stand proclaiming my abjection and despair.

  Of my longing for my loved one, the encampment’s dust I kiss, Though it serve but to redouble my distraction and my care.

  Allah watch o’er those who’re absent, though their memory’s in my heart! Ever present art my sorrows and my joys are fled for e’er.

  Quoth my censors to me, ‘Patience!’ But therewith they’ve fared away: Lamentation but and burning have they left me to my share.

  ’Twas her taking leave affrayed me and her saying, ‘When I’m gone, Look my memory thou forget not and our loves in mind thou bear.’

  Unto whom shall I for succour turn, in whom hope after them? For in good and evil fortune still my hope and trust they were.

  Ah, the anguish of returning, after having said farewell! How my rancorous foes exulted, when they saw me backward fare!

  O ye flaming fires of passion, still redouble on my heart! This it is against whose danger, I, alas! had fain been ware.

  If my loves are fled for ever, after them I will not live; Yet, if they return to glad me, ho for joy and fortune fair!

  Never shall mine eyes, by Allah, stint from weeping for their loss! Stream on stream, my tears shall witness to the stress of my despair.

  When Abdulcuddous heard this, he knew that he would not turn back from his desire nor would words have effect on him, and was certified that nothing would serve him but he must adventure himself, though it cost him his life. So he said to him, ‘Know, O my son, that the Islands of Wac are seven islands, wherein are great plenty of troops, all virgin girls, and the inner isles are peopled by Satans and Marids and warlocks and tribesmen of the Jinn, whose land none ever entered and returned thence. So, God on thee, return presently to thy people; for know that she whom thou seekest is the king’s daughter of all these islands; and how canst thou win to her? Hearken to me, O my son, and belike God will vouchsafe thee a better than she in her stead.’ ‘O my lord,’ answered Hassan, ‘though for the love of her I were torn limb from limb, yet should I but redouble in love and transport! Needs must I enter the Wac Islands and come to the sight of my wife and children; and God willing, I will not return save with her and them.’ ‘Then,’ said the sheikh, ‘nothing will serve thee but thou must make the journey?’ ‘Nothing,’ answered Hassan: ‘and I only ask of thee thy prayers for aid and furtherance; so haply God will presently reunite me with my wife and children.’ Then he wept for stress of longing and recited these verses:

  Ye are my wish, the fairest fair of any mortal wight; Indeed, I’ve lodged you in the stead of hearing and of sight.

  Upon my heart you’ve gotten hold; it is your dwelling-place, And after you I am become in torment day and night.

  Think not in anywise I’ve ceased from loving you; indeed, The love of you hath brought the wretch to sick and sorry plight.

  Ye went away and with you went my gladness, and for me Serenity became the worst of trouble and despite.

  Yea, ye have left me here alone, to watch the stars for pain And weep with tears that pour and pour, like rain from heaven’s height.

  O night, thou’rt long, indeed, on him who passed thee on wake, Watching the visage of the moon, a love-distracted wight.

  Wind, if thou pass the camp where they have lighted down, to them My farewell greeting bear, for life is spent and ended quite;

  And tell them somewhat of the pangs I suffer; for indeed They know not what’s to do with me nor that which ails my spright.

  Then he wept till he swooned away; and when he came to himself Abdulcuddous said to him, ‘O my son, thou hast a mother; make her not taste [the bitterness of] thy loss.’ ‘By Allah, O my lord,’ replied he, ‘I will never return except with my wife or my death overtake me.’ And he wept and lamented and recited the following verses:

  I swear by Love’s virtue, my faith tow’rds thee hath not changed for a day For absence; I am not, indeed, of those that their troth plight betray.

  Such longing is in me that, if to the folk I discovered my case, ‘Sure madness hath gotten a hold of the man,’ without doubt they would say.

  Love-longing and mourning and woe, the transport and pangs of desire, When this is the case of a wight, how fares it with him, wellaway?

  With this the old man knew that he would not turn from his purpose, though it cost him his life: so he gave him the letter and prayed for him and enjoined him how he should do, saying, ‘I have in this letter given a strait charge concerning thee to Abourruweish, son of Belkis, daughter of Muin, for he is my master and teacher, and all, men and Jinn, humble themselves to him and stand in awe of him. Now go with the blessing of God.’

  Hassan gave the horse the rein, and it flew off with him, swiftlier than lightning, and stayed not in its course ten days, when he saw before him a vast mountain, blacker than night, that walled the world from East to West. As he neared it, his horse neighed under him, whereupon there flocked to it horses in number as the drops of rain, none could tell their tale, and fell to rubbing themselves against it. Hassan was affrighted at them and rode on, surrounded by the horses, till he came to the cavern which Abdulcuddous had described to him. The steed stood still at the door and Hassan alighted and threw the rein over the saddle-bow; whereupon the horse entered the cavern, whilst he abode without, as the old man had charged him, pondering the issue of his case and knowing not what would befall him.

  He abode thus, at the mouth of the cavern, five days and nights, sleepless, mournful, distracted and perplexed, pondering his severance from home and friends and family, with tearful eye and mournful heart. Then he bethought him of his mother and of what might yet happen to him and of his separation from his wife and children and all that he had suffered and recited the following verses:

  The med’cine of my heart’s with you: indeed, my heart doth fail And from my lids’ hill-foot run tears, like rillets to the vale.

  Yearning and dole and severance, desire and strangerhood, And distance from my native land against me do prevail.

  Nought but a lover for her loss he loves distraught am I; Calamities have smitten me and made my spirit quail.

  And if my love on me have brought affliction, where is he, The noble, whom vicissitudes affect not nor assail?

  Hardly had he made an end of his verses, when out came the Sheikh Abourruweish, black and clad in black raiment, and he knew him by the description that Abdulcuddous had given him. So he threw himself at his feet and rubbed his cheeks on them and taking his skirt, laid it on his head and wept before him. Quoth the old man, ‘What wantest thou, O my son?’ Whereupon he put out his hand to him with the letter, and he took it and re- entered the cavern, without making him any answer. Hassan remained in his place other five days, whilst fear and concern redoubled on him and restlessness clave fast to him, and he abode weeping and bemoaning himself for the anguish of estrangement and much watching. And he recited the following verses:

  Glory to Him who rules the skies! The lover in affliction lies.

  Who hath not tasted passion’s food Knows not what misery can devise.

  Rivers of blood, if I restrained My tears, would ripple from mine eyes.

  How many a friend is hard of heart And us with sore affliction tries!

  An she with me would but keep faith, I’d call a truce with tears and sighs.

  I’m overthrown and ruin’s eye Hath smitten me on woful wise.

  Beasts weep to see my dreariment And everything in air that flies.

  He ceased n
ot to weep till dawn of the sixth day, when Abourruweish came forth to him, clad in white raiment, and beckoned to him to enter. So he went in, rejoicing and assured of the accomplishment of his desire, and the old man took him by the hand and leading him into the cavern, fared on with him half a day’s journey, till they came to a vaulted gateway with a door of steel. Abourruweish opened the door and they entered a vestibule vaulted with onyx stones, inlaid with arabesques of gold, which led them to a great hall, wide and lined with marble. In its midst was a garden containing all manner trees and flowers and fruits, with birds warbling on the branches and singing the praises of God, the Almighty King; and there were four estrades, each facing other, and in each estrade a fountain, at whose corners stood lions of red gold, spouting water from their mouths into the basin. On each estrade stood a chair, whereon sat an elder, with great store of books before him and censers of gold, containing fire and perfumes, and before each elder were students, who read the books to him.

  When the two entered, the elders rose and did them honour; whereupon Abourruweish signed to them to dismiss their scholars and they did so. Then the four arose and seating themselves before Abourruweish, asked him of Hassan’s case, and he said to the latter, ‘Tell the company thy story and all that hath betided thee, first and last.’ So Hassan wept sore and related to them his adventures [up to the time when Behram sewed him in the camel’s skin and caused the rocs carry him up to the mountain- top]; whereupon all the sheikhs cried out and said, ‘Is this indeed he whom the Magian caused ascend the Mountain of Clouds by means of the rocs, sewn up in the skin of a camel?’ And he said, ‘Yes.’ So they turned to the Sheikh Abourruweish and said to him, ‘O our sheikh, Behram contrived his ascent to the top of the mountain; but how did he descend thence and what wonders saw he there?’ And Abourruweish said, ‘O Hassan, tell them how thou camest down and what thou sawest of marvels.’