One Thousand and One Nights

by Richard Burton

  So he fled forth in affright and cried out, saying, ‘ Ho, neighbours, ho, dwellers in the khan, come to me!’ Said they, ‘ What is to do with thee now?’ And he answered, ‘The Afrits in the chest say, “We are hungry.”’ Quoth the neighbours to each other, ‘It would seem Khelif is hungry let us feed him and give him of what is left from the evening meal; else he will not let us sleep to-night.’ So they brought him bread and meat and dates and radishes and gave him a basket full of all kinds of things, saying ‘Eat thy fill and go to sleep and talk not, else will we break thy ribs and beat thee to death.’ So he took the basket and entering his lodging, sat down on the chest and fell to eating of the food with both hands.

  Now it was a moonlight night and the moon shone full upon the chest and lit up the chamber. Presently Cout el Culoub spoke again and said, ‘Have pity on me, O Muslims, and open to me!’ So Khelif arose and taking a stone he had with him, broke open the chest and beheld therein a young lady as she were the shining sun, with flower-white forehead, moon-bright face, red cheeks and speech sweeter than sugar, clad in a dress worth a thousand diners and more. At this sight he was transported for joy and said, ‘By Allah, thou art of the fair!’ Quoth she, ‘What art thou, O fellow?’ and he answered, ‘I am Khelif the fisherman.’ ‘Who brought me hither?’ asked she, and he said, ‘I bought thee, and thou art my slave-girl.’ Quoth she, ‘I see on thee a gown of the raiment of the Khalif [Whence hadst thou it?]’

  So he told her all that had betided him, from first to last, and how he had bought the chest; wherefore she knew that the Lady Zubeideh had played her false; and she ceased not to talk with him till the morning, when she said to him, ‘O Khelif, look [thou get] me from some one inkhorn and pen and paper and bring them to me. So he found what she sought with one of the neighbours and brought it to her, whereupon she wrote a letter and folded it and gave it to him, saying, ‘ O Khelif, take this letter and carry it to the jewel-market, where do thou enquire for the shop of Aboulhusn the jeweller and give it to him.’ ‘O my lady,’ answered the fisherman, ‘this name is difficult to me; I cannot remember it.’ And she said, ‘Then ask for the shop of Ibn el Ucab.’ lady,’ asked he, ‘what is an ucab?’ And she said, ‘It is a bird that folk carry on their fists, with its eyes hooded.’ Quoth he, ‘O my lady, I know it.’ Then he went forth from her and fared on, repeating the name, lest it pass his memory; but, by the time he reached the jewel-market, he had forgotten it. So he accosted one of the merchants and said to him, ‘Is there any here named after a bird?’ ‘Yes,’ answered the merchant; ‘ thou meanest Ibn el Ucab.’ Quoth Khelif, ‘That’s the man I want,’ and making his way to him, gave him the letter, which when he read and knew the purport thereof, he fell to kissing it and laying it on his head; for it is said that Aboulhusn was the agent of the Lady Cout el Culoub and her intendant over all her property in lands and houses.

  Now she had written to him, saying, ‘From Her Highness the Lady Cout el Culoub to Master Aboulhusn the jeweller. As soon as this letter reacheth thee, set apart for us a saloon completely equipped with furniture and vessels and slaves and slave-girls and what not else is needful and seemly, and take the bearer hereof and carry him to the bath. Then clothe him in costly apparel and do with him thus and thus.’

  So he said, ‘I hear and obey,’ and locking up his shop, took the fisherman and carried him to the bath. where he committed him to one of the bathmen, that he might serve him, as of wont. Then he went forth to carry out the Lady Cout el Culoub’s orders. As for Khelif, he concluded, of his lack of wit, that the bath was a prison and said to the bathmen, ‘What have I done, that ye should imprison me?’ They laughed at him and made him sit on the edge of the tank, whilst the bathman took hold of his legs, that he might rub them. Khelif thought he meant to wrestle with him and said in himself, ‘This is a wrestling-place and I knew not of it.’ Then he arose and seizing the bathman’s legs, lifted him up and threw him on the ground and broke his ribs. The man cried out for help, whereupon the other bathmen fell upon Khelif and overcoming him by dint of numbers, delivered their comrade from his clutches [and tended him], till he came to himself.

  Then they knew that the fisherman was a simpleton and served him, till Aboulhusn came back with a dress of rich stuff and clad him therein; after which he brought him a handsome mule, ready saddled, and taking him by the hand, carried him forth of the bath and bade him mount. Quoth he, ‘ How shall I mount? I fear lest she throw me and break my ribs in my body.’ Nor did he mount the mule, save after much pressure and trouble, and they fared on, till they came to the place which Aboulhusn had set apart for the Lady Cout el Culoub.

  Khelif entered and found her sitting, with slaves and servants about her and the porter at the door, staff in hand. When the latter saw the fisherman, he sprang up and kissing his hand, went before him, till he brought him within the saloon, where he saw what amazed his wit, and his eyes were dazzled by that which he beheld of riches past count and slaves and servants, who kissed his hand and said, ‘[God grant thee] solace of the bath.’

  When he entered the saloon and drew near unto Cout el Culoub, she sprang up to him and taking him by the hand, seated him on a high divan. Then she brought him a vase of sherbet of sugar, mingled with rose-water, and he took it and drank it off and left not a single drop. Moreover, he passed his finger round the inside of the vessel and would have licked it, but she forbade him, saying, ‘That is ill.’ Quoth he, ‘ Hold thy peace: this is nought but good honey;’ and she laughed at him and set before him a tray of meats, whereof he ate his fill. Then they brought an ewer and basin of gold, and he washed his hands and abode in all delight of life and worship.

  Meanwhile, when the Commander of the Faithful came back from his journey and found not Cout el Culoub, he questioned the Lady Zubeideh of her and she said, ‘She is dead, may thy head live, O Commander of the Faithful!’ Now she had let dig a grave amiddleward the palace and built over it a mock tomb, of her knowledge of the love the Khalif bore to Cout el Culoub. So she said to him, ‘O Commander of the Faithful, I made her a tomb amiddleward the palace and buried her there.’ Then she donned black, leasing-wise, and feigned mourning a great while.

  Now Cout el Culoub knew that the Khalif was come back from his journey; so she turned to Khelif and said to him, ‘Arise; go to the bath and come back.’ So he arose and went to the bath, and when he returned, she clad him in a dress worth a thousand diners and taught him manners and the rules of good breeding. Then said she to him, ‘Go hence to the Khalif and say to him, “O Commander of the Faithful, it is my desire that thou be my guest this night.”’

  So Khelif arose and mounting his mule, rode, with slaves and servants before him, till he came to the palace of the Khalifate. Quoth the wise, ‘Clothe a stick with generosity [and it will become generous].’ And indeed his comeliness was manifest and the goodliness of his fashion, and the folk marvelled at this. Presently, the eunuch saw him, who had given him the hundred diners, that had been the cause of his good fortune; so he went in to the Khalif and said to him, ‘O Commander of the Faithful, Khelif the fisherman is become a king, and on him is a dress worth a thousand diners.’ The Khalif bade admit him; so he entered and said, ‘Peace be on thee, O Commander of the Faithful and Vicar of the Lord of the Worlds and Protector of the people of the Faith! May God the Most High prolong thy days and advance thy dominion and exalt thy station to the loftiest!’

  The Khalif looked at him and marvelled at him and how fortune had come to him at unawares; then he said to him, ‘O Khelif, whence hadst thou that dress that is upon thee?’ ‘O Commander of the Faithful,’ answered he, ‘it comes from my house.’ Quoth the Khalif, ‘Hast thou then a house?’ ‘Yes,’ replied Khelif, ‘ and thou, O Commander of the Faithful, art my guest this day.’ And Er Reshid said, ‘I alone, O Khelif, or I and those who are with me?’ And he answered, saying, ‘ Thou and whom thou wilt.’ So Jaafer turned to him and said, ‘We will be thy guests this night;’ whereupon he kissed the earth again and with
drawing, mounted his mule and rode off, attended by his servants, leaving the Khalif marvelling at this and saying to Jaafer, ‘Sawst thou Khelif, with his mule and dress and servants, and his dignity? But yesterday I knew him for a buffoon and a laughing-stock.’ And they marvelled at this.

  [Then they mounted and rode, till they drew] near Khelif’s house, when the latter alighted and taking a parcel from one of his attendants, opened it and pulled out therefrom a piece of tabby silk and spread it under the hoofs of the Khalif’s mule; then he brought out a piece of velvet and another of cloth of gold and a third of fine satin and did with them likewise; and thus he spread nigh a score pieces of rich stuffs, till they reached the house; when he came forward and said, ‘[Enter,] in the name of God, O Commander of the Faithful!’ Quoth Er Reshid to Jaafer, ‘I wonder to whom this house belongs,’ and he said, ‘It belongs to a man hight Ibn el Ucab, Syndic of the Jewellers.’

  So the Khalif alighted and entering, with his company, saw a high-builded saloon and a spacious, with couches raised [on daises] and carpets and divans laid. So he went up to the couch that was set for him on four pillars of ivory, plated with glittering gold and covered with seven carpets. This pleased him and behold, up came Khelif, with servants and little slaves, bearing all manner sherbets, compounded with sugar and lemon and perfumed with rose and willowflower-water and odoriferous musk.

  The fisherman advanced and drank and gave the Khalif to drink, and the cup-bearers came forward and served the rest of the company. Then Khelif brought a table spread with meats of various colours and geese and fowls and other birds, saying, ‘ In the name of God!’ So they ate their fill; after which he let remove the tables and kissing the earth three times before the Khalif, craved his leave to bring wine and music. He gave him leave for this and turning to Jaafer, said to him, ‘As my head liveth, the house and that which is therein is Khelifs; for that he is ruler over it and I am wondered at him, whence there came to him this great good fortune and exceeding affluence! However, this is no great matter to Him who saith to a thing, ‘Be!’ and it is; what I [most] wonder at is his understanding, how it hath increased, and whence he hath gotten this lordliness and dignity; but, when God willeth good unto a man, He amendeth his wit before his fortune.’

  As they were talking, up came Khelif, followed by cup-bearers like moons, girt with zones of gold, who spread a cloth of siglaton and set thereon flagons of chinaware and tall flasks of glass and cups of crystal and bottles and hanaps of all colours; and the flagons they filled with pure clear old wine, whose scent was as the fragrance of virgin musk and it was even as saith the poet:

  Ply me and ply this mate of mine With cups of the first-pressed Grecian wine.

  Daughter of nobles, they her display In raiment of goblets clear and fine.

  They girdle her round with gems, and pearls Of finest water therewith entwine;

  So by these tokens in her, I trow, “The bride” they style the juice of the vine.

  And round about these vessels were sweetmeats and flowers, such as may not be surpassed. When Er Reshid saw this from Khelif, he showed favour to him and smiled upon him and invested him [with an office]; whereupon Khelif wished him long life and abiding glory and said, ‘Will the Commander of the Faithful give me leave to bring him a singing-girl, a lutanist, never was heard her like among mortals?’ Quoth the Khalif, ‘ So be it.’

  So he kissed the earth before him and going to a closet, called Cout el Culoub, who came, shuffling in her robes and trinkets, after she had veiled herself from head to foot, and kissed the earth before the Commander of the Faithful. Then she sat down and tuning the lute, swept its strings and played upon it, till all present were transported for excess of delight; after which she improvised and sang the following verses:

  I wonder, will our time with those we love come back again? Will fate reunion and its sweets, I wonder, aye ordain

  To one who yearns for those that dwelt once in the ruined steads? Shall we find peace and will time’s shifts no longer work us bane?

  How bitter life is since their loss and ah, how dearly sweet The nights of union, when our loves one dwelling did contain!

  Draw near to me, beloved mine, vouchsafe to me the grace Of meeting; else my life, indeed, is frustrate all and vain.

  When the Khalif heard this, he could not contain him-self, but rent his clothes and fell down in a swoon; whereupon all who were present hastened to pull off their apparel and throw it over him, whilst Cout el Culoub beckoned to Khelif and said to him, ‘Go to yonder chest and bring what is therein;’ for she had made ready therein a suit of the Khalif’s apparel against the like of this time. So Khelif brought it to her and she threw it over the Commander of the Faithful who came to himself and knowing her for Cout el Culoub, said, ‘Is this the day of Resurrection and hath God called up those who are in the tombs; or am I asleep and is this an illusion of dreams?’ Quoth Cout el Culoub, ‘We are awake, not asleep, and I am alive, nor have I tasted the cup of death.’

  Then she told him all that had befallen her, and indeed, since he lost her, life had not been easy to him nor sleep sweet, and he abode now wondering, now weeping and anon afire for longing. When she had made an end of her story, the Khalif rose and took her by the hand, intending for her palace, after he had kissed her lips and strained her to his bosom; whereupon Khelif rose and said, ‘By Allah, it is good, O Commander of the Faithful! Thou hast already wronged me once, and now thou wrongest me again.’ Quoth Er Reshid, ‘Indeed’ thou sayst sooth, O Khelif,’ and bade the Vizier Jaafer give him what should content him. So he straightway gave him all he desired and assigned him a village, the yearly revenue whereof was twenty thousand diners.

  Moreover, Cout el Culoub made gift to him of the house and all that was therein of furniture and hangings and slaves and servants and slave-girls, great and small. So Khelif became possessed of this great affluence and exceeding wealth and took him a wife, and good fortune taught him gravity and dignity and prosperity overwhelmed him. The Khalif enrolled him among his boon-companions and he abode in all delight and solace of life, till he was admitted to the mercy of God.

  John Payne’s translation: detailed table of contents

  VOLUME VIII.

  John Payne’s translation: detailed table of contents

  MESROUR AND ZEIN EL MEWASIF.

  There was once, of old days and in bygone ages and times, a merchant named Mesrour, who was of the goodliest of the folk of his day, and he had wealth galore and was in easy case, but loved to take his pleasure in gardens and orchards and to divert himself with the love of fair women. One night, as he lay asleep, he dreamt that he was in a most lovely garden, wherein were four birds, and amongst them a dove, white as polished silver. The dove pleased him and an exceeding love for her grew up in his heart. Presently a great bird swooped down on him and snatched the dove from his hand, and this was grievous to him. Then he awoke and strove with his yearnings till the morning, when he said in himself, ‘Needs must I go to-day to some one who will expound to me this dream.’ So he went forth and fared right and left, till he was far from his dwelling-place, but found none to interpret the dream to him. Then he set out to return, but on his way the fancy took him to turn aside to the house of a certain rich merchant, and when he drew near to it, he heard from within a plaintive voice, reciting the following verses from a sorrowful heart:

  The East wind from her traces blows to-us-ward, fragrance-fraught, With perfume such as heals the sick and soothes the love-distraught.

  By the deserted steads I stand and question; but my tears Nought answers save the witness mute, the ruin time hath wrought.

  Breath of the breeze, I prithee tell, quoth I, shall its delight To this abiding-place return, by fairer fortune brought?

  And shall I yet a fawn enjoy, whose shape hath ravished me, Yea, and whose languor-drooping lids have wasted me to nought?

  When he heard this, he looked in at the door and saw a garden of the goodliest of gardens, and at its farther end
a curtain of red brocade, embroidered with pearls and jewels, behind which sat four damsels, and amongst them a young lady over four and under five feet in height, as she were the round of the moon and the shining full moon. She had great liquid black eyes and joined eyebrows, a mouth as it were Solomon’s seal and lips and teeth like pearls and coral; and indeed she ravished all wits with her beauty and grace and symmetry. When Mesrour saw her, he entered the garden and went on, till he came to the curtain: whereupon she raised her head and saw him. So he saluted her and she returned his greeting with dulcet speech; and when he beheld her more closely, his reason was confounded and his heart transported. Then he looked at the garden and saw that it was full of jessamine and gillyflowers and violets and roses and orange blossoms and all manner sweet-scented flowers. All the trees were laden with fruits and there ran down water from four estrades, which occupied the four angles of the garden. He looked at the first estrade and found the following verses written around it with vermilion:

  May grief ne’er enter thee nor yet dismay, O house, nor fortune e’er thy lord bewray!

  Fair fall the house that harbours every guest, When straitened upon him is place and way!

  Then he looked at the second estrade and found the following written thereon in red gold:

  The garment of fair fortune shine on thee, dwelling, still, Whilst on the garden-branches the song-birds pipe and trill!

  May fragrant odours harbour in every part of thee And lovers in thy precincts their hearts’ desire fulfil!

  In glory and in pleasance still may thy dwellers live, What while a wandering planet shines out on heaven’s hill!

  Then he looked at the third, on which he found these verses written in ultramarine: