One Thousand and One Nights

by Richard Burton

  “A night whose stars refused to run their course, *

  A night of those which never seem outworn:

  Like Resurrection-day, of longsome length334 *

  To him that watched and waited for the morn.”

  Now at this moment, the captain knocked at the garden-gate, and Kamar al-Zaman opened and went out to him, whereupon the crew seized him and went down with him on board the ship and set sail forthright; and they ceased not voyaging days and nights, whilst Kamar al-Zaman knew not why they dealt thus with him; but when he questioned them they replied, “Thou hast offended against the Lord of the Ebony Islands, the son-in-law of King Armanus, and thou hast stolen his monies, miserable that thou art!” Said he, “By Allah! I never entered that country nor do I know where it is!” However, they fared on with him, till they made the Ebony Islands and landing, carried him up to the Lady Budur, who knew him at sight and said, “Leave him with the eunuchs, that they may take him to the bath.” Then she relieved the merchants of the embargo and gave the captain a robe of honour worth ten thousand pieces of gold; and, after returning to the palace, she went in that night to the Princess Hayat al-Nufus and told her what had passed, saying, “Keep thou my counsel, till I accomplish my purpose, and do a deed which shall be recorded and shall be read by Kings and commoners after we be dead and gone.” And when she gave orders that they bear Kamar al-Zaman to the bath, they did so and clad him in a royal habit so that, when he came forth, he resembled a willow-bough or a star which shamed the greater and lesser light335 and its glow, and his life and soul returned to his frame. Then he repaired to the palace and went in to the Princess Budur; and when she saw him she schooled her heart to patience, till she should have accomplished her purpose; and she bestowed on him Mamelukes and eunuchs, camels and mules. Moreover, she gave him a treasury of money and she ceased not advancing him from dignity to dignity, till she made him Lord High Treasurer and committed to his charge all the treasures of the state; and she admitted him to familiar favour and acquainted the Emirs with his rank and dignity. And all loved him, for Queen Budur did not cease day by day to increase his allowances. As for Kamar al-Zaman, he was at a loss anent the reason of her thus honouring him; and he gave gifts and largesse out of the abundance of the wealth; and he devoted himself to the service of King Armanus; so that the King and all the Emirs and people, great and small, adored him and were wont to swear by his life. Nevertheless, he ever marvelled at the honour and favour shown him by Queen Budur and said to himself, “By Allah, there needs must be a reason for this affection! Peradventure, this King favoureth me not with these immoderate favours save for some ill purpose and, therefore, there is no help but that I crave leave of him to depart his realm.” So he went in to Queen Budur and said to her, “O King, thou hast overwhelmed me with favours, but it will fulfil the measure of thy bounties if thou take from me all thou hast been pleased to bestow upon me, and permit me to depart.” She smiled and asked, “What maketh thee seek to depart and plunge into new perils, whenas thou art in the enjoyment of the highest favour and greatest prosperity?” Answered Kamar al- Zaman, “O King, verily this favour, if there be no reason for it, is indeed a wonder of wonders, more by token that thou hast advanced me to dignities such as befit men of age and experience, albeit I am as it were a young child.” And Queen Budur rejoined, “The reason is that I love thee for shine exceeding loveliness and thy surpassing beauty; and if thou wilt but grant me my desire of thy body, I will advance thee yet farther in honour and favour and largesse; and I will make thee Wazir, for all thy tender age even as the folk made me Sultan over them and I no older than thou; so that nowadays there is nothing strange when children take the head and by Allah, he was a gifted man who said,

  ‘It seems as though of Lot’s tribe were our days, *

  And crave with love to advance the young in years.’”336

  When Kamar al-Zaman heard these words, he was abashed and his cheeks flushed till they seemed a-flame; and he said, “I need not these favours which lead to the commission of sin; I will live poor in wealth but wealthy in virtue and honour.” Quoth she, “I am not to be duped by thy scruples, arising from prudery and coquettish ways; and Allah bless him who saith,

  ‘To him I spake of coupling, but he said to me, *

  How long this noyous long persistency?’

  But when gold piece I showed him, he cried, *

  ‘Who from the Almighty Sovereign e’er shall flee?’”

  Now when Kamar al-Zaman, heard these words and understood her verses and their import, he said, “O King, I have not the habit of these doings, nor have I strength to bear these heavy burthens for which elder than I have proved unable; then how will it be with my tender age?” But she smiled at his speech and retorted, “Indeed, it is a matter right marvellous how error springeth from the disorder of man’s intendiment!! Since thou art a boy, why standest thou in fear of sin or the doing of things forbidden, seeing that thou art not yet come to years of canonical responsibility; and the offences of a child incur neither punishment nor reproof? Verily, thou hast committed thyself to a quibble for the sake of contention, and it is thy duty to bow before a proposal of fruition, so henceforward cease from denial and coyness, for the commandment of Allah is a decree foreordained:337 indeed, I have more reason than thou to fear falling and by sin to be misled; and well inspired was he who said,

  ‘My prickle is big and the little one said, *

  ‘Thrust boldly in vitals with lion-like stroke!

  Then I, ‘ ’Tis a sin!; and he, ‘No sin to me! *

  So I had him at once with a counterfeit poke.”338

  When Kamar al-Zaman heard these words, the light became darkness in his sight and he said, “O King, thou hast in thy household fair women and female slaves, who have not their like in this age: shall not these suffice thee without me? Do thy will with them and let me go!” She replied, “Thou sayest sooth, but it is not with them that one who loveth thee can heal himself of torment and can abate his fever; for, when tastes and inclinations are corrupted by vice, they hear and obey other than good advice. So leave arguing and listen to what the poet saith,

  ‘Seest not the bazar with its fruit in rows? *

  These men are for figs and for sycamore339 those!’

  And what another saith,

  ‘Many whose anklet rings are dumb have tinkling belts, *

  And this hath all content while that for want must wail:

  Thou bidd’st me be a fool and quit thee for her charms; *

  Allah forfend I leave The Faith, turn Infidel!

  Nay, by thy rights of side-beard mocking all her curls, *

  Nor mott nor maid340 from thee my heart shall spell.’

  And yet another,

  ‘O beauty’s Union! love for thee’s my creed, *

  Free choice of Faith and eke my best desire:

  Women I have forsworn for thee; so may *

  Deem me all men this day a shaveling friar.’341

  And yet another,

  ‘Even not beardless one with girl, nor heed *

  The spy who saith to thee ‘’Tis an amiss!’

  Far different is the girl whose feet one kisses *

  And that gazelle whose feet the earth must kiss.’

  And yet another,

  ‘A boy of twice ten is fit for a King!’

  And yet another,

  ‘The penis smooth and round was made with anus best to match it, * Had it been made for cunnus’ sake it had been formed like hatchet!’

  And yet another said,

  ‘My soul thy sacrifice! I chose thee out *

  Who art not menstruous nor oviparous:

  Did I with woman mell, I should beget *

  Brats till the wide wide world grew strait for us.’

  And yet another,

  ‘She saith (sore hurt in sense the most acute *

  For she had proffered what did not besuit),

  ‘Unless thou stroke as man should swive his wife *

  B
lame not when horns thy brow shall incornůte!

  Thy wand seems waxen, to a limpo grown, *

  And more I palm it, softer grows the brute!’

  And yet another,

  ‘Quoth she (for I to lie with her forbore), *

  ‘O folly-following fool, O fool to core:

  If thou my coynte for Kiblah342 to thy coigne *

  Reject, we’ll shall please thee more.’343

  And yet another,

  ‘She proffered me a tender coynte *

  Quoth I ‘I will not roger thee!’

  She drew back, saying, ‘From the Faith *

  He turns, who’s turned by Heaven’s decree!344

  And front wise fluttering, in one day, *

  Is obsolete persistency!’

  Then swung she round and shining rump *

  Like silvern lump she showed me!

  I cried: ‘Well done, O mistress mine! *

  No more am I in pain for thee;

  O thou of all that Allah oped345 *

  Showest me fairest victory!’

  And yet another,

  ‘Men craving pardon will uplift their hands; *

  Women pray pardon with their legs on high:

  Out on it for a pious, prayerful work! *

  The Lord shall raise it in the depths to lie.’”346

  When Kamar al-Zaman heard her quote this poetry, and was certified that there was no escaping compliance with what willed she, he said, “O King of the age, if thou must needs have it so, make covenant with me that thou wilt do this thing with me but once, though it avail not to correct thy depraved appetite, and that thou wilt never again require this thing of me to the end of time; so perchance shall Allah purge me of the sin.” She replied “I promise thee this thing, hoping that Allah of His favour will relent towards us and blot out our mortal offence; for the girdle of heaven’s forgiveness is not indeed so strait, but it may compass us around and absolve us of the excess of our heinous sins and bring us to the light of salvation out of the darkness of error; and indeed excellently well saith the poet,

  ‘Of evil thing the folk suspect us twain; *

  And to this thought their hearts and souls are bent:

  Come, dear! let’s justify and free their souls *

  That wrong us; one good bout and then — repent!’’’347

  Thereupon she made him an agreement and a covenant and swore a solemn oath by Him who is Self-existent, that this thing should befal betwixt them but once and never again for all time, and that the desire of him was driving her to death and perdition. So he rose up with her, on this condition, and went with her to her own boudoir, that she might quench the lowe of her lust, saying, “There is no Majesty, and there is no Might save in Allah, the Glorious, the Great! This is the fated decree of the All- powerful, the All-wise!”; and he doffed his bag-trousers, shamefull and abashed, with the tears running from his eyes for stress of affright. Thereat she smiled and making him mount upon a couch with her, said to him, “After this night, thou shalt see naught that will offend thee.” Then she turned to him bussing and bosoming him and bending calf over calf, and said to him, “Put thy hand between my thighs to the accustomed place; so haply it may stand up to prayer after prostration.” He wept and cried, “I am not good at aught of this,” but she said, “By my life, an thou do as I bid thee, it shall profit thee!” So he put out his hand, with vitals a-fire for confusion, and found her thighs cooler than cream and softer than silk. The touching of them pleasured him and he moved his hand hither and thither, till it came to a dome abounding in good gifts and movements and shifts, and said in himself, “Perhaps this King is a hermaphrodite,348 neither man nor woman quite;” so he said to her, “O King, I cannot find that thou hast a tool like the tools of men; what then moved thee to do this deed?” Then loudly laughed Queen Budur till she fell on her back,349 and said, “O my dearling, how quickly thou hast forgotten the nights we have lain together!” Then she made herself known to him, and he knew her for his wife, the Lady Budur, daughter of King al-Ghayur, Lord of the Isles and the Seas. So he embraced her and she embraced him, and he kissed her and she kissed him; then they lay down on the bed of pleasure voluptuous, repeating the words of the poet,

  “When his softly bending shape bid him close to my embrace *

  Which clips him all about like the tendrils of the vine

  And shed a flood of softness on the hardness of his heart, *

  He yielded though at first he was minded to decline;

  And dreading lest the railer’s eye should light upon his form, *

  Came armoured with caution to baffle his design:

  His waist makes moan of hinder cheeks that weigh upon his feet *

  Like heavy load of merchandise upon young camel li’en;

  Girt with his glances scymitar which seemed athirst for blood, *

  And clad in mail of dusky curls that show the sheeniest

  shine,

  His fragrance wafted happy news of footstep coming nigh, *

  And to him like a bird uncaged I flew in straightest line:

  I spread my cheek upon his path, beneath his sandal-shoon, *

  And lo! the stibium350 of their dust healed all my hurt

  of eyne.

  With one embrace again I bound the banner of our loves351 *

  And loosed the knot of my delight that bound in bonds

  malign:

  Then bade I make high festival, and straight came flocking in *

  Pure joys that know not grizzled age352 nor aught of

  pain and pine:

  The full moon dotted with the stars the lips and pearly teeth *

  That dance right joyously upon the bubbling face of wine:

  So in the prayer-niche of their joys I yielded me to what *

  Would make the humblest penitent of sinner most indign.

  I swear by all the signs353 of those glories in his face *

  I’ll ne’er forget the Chapter entituled Al-Ikhlas.”354

  Then Queen Budur told Kamar al-Zaman all that had befallen her from beginning to end and he did likewise; after which he began to upbraid her, saying, “What moved thee to deal with me as thou hast done this night?” She replied, “Pardon me! for I did this by way of jest, and that pleasure and gladness might be increased.” And when dawned the morn and day arose with its sheen and shone, she sent to King Armanus, sire of the Lady Hayat al-Nufus, and acquainted him with the truth of the case and that she was wife to Kamar al-Zaman. Moreover, she told him their tale and the cause of their separation, and how his daughter was a virgin, pure as when she was born. He marvelled at their story with exceeding marvel and bade them chronicle it in letters of gold. Then he turned to Kamar al-Zaman and said, “O King’s son, art thou minded to become my son-in-law by marrying my daughter?” Replied he, “I must consult the Queen Budur, as she hath a claim upon me for benefits without stint.” And when he took counsel with her, she said, “Right is thy recking; marry her and I will be her handmaid; for I am her debtor for kindness and favour and good offices, and obligations manifold, especially as we are here in her place and as the King her father hath whelmed us with benefits.”355 Now when he saw that she inclined to this and was not jealous of Hayat al-Nufus, he agreed with her upon this matter. — And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.

  When it was the Two Hundred and Seventeenth Night,

  She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Kamar al- Zaman agreed with his wife, Queen Budur, upon this matter and told King Armanus what she had said; whereat he rejoiced with great joy. Then he went out and, seating himself upon his chair of estate, assembled all the Wazirs, Emirs, Chamberlains and Grandees, to whom he related the whole story of Kamar al-Zaman and his wife, Queen Budur, from first to last; and acquainted them with his desire to marry his daughter Hayat al-Nufus to the Prince and make him King in the stead of Queen Budur. Whereupon said they all, “Since he is the husband of Queen Budur, who hath been our King till now, whi
lst we deemed her son-in-law to King Armanus, we are all content to have him to Sultan over us; and we will be his servants, nor will we swerve from his allegiance.” So Armanus rejoiced hereat and, summoning Kazis and witnesses and the chief officers of state, bade draw up the contract of marriage between Kamar al-Zaman and his daughter, the Princess Hayat al-Nufus. Then he held high festival, giving sumptuous marriage-feasts and bestowing costly dresses of honour upon all the Emirs and Captains of the host; moreover he distributed alms to the poor and needy and set free all the prisoners. The whole world rejoiced in the coming of Kamar al-Zaman to the throne, blessing him and wishing him endurance of glory and prosperity, renown and felicity; and, as soon as he became King, he remitted the customs-dues and released all men who remained in gaol. Thus he abode a long while, ordering himself worthily towards his lieges; and he lived with his two wives in peace, happiness, constancy and content, lying the night with each of them in turn. He ceased not after this fashion during many years, for indeed all his troubles and afflictions were blotted out from him and he forgot his father King Shahriman and his former estate of honour and favour with him. After a while Almighty Allah blessed him with two boy children, as they were two shining moons, through his two wives; the elder whose name was Prince Amjad,356 by Queen Budur, and the younger whose name was Prince As’ad by Queen Hayat al-Nufus; and this one was comelier than his brother. They were reared in splendour and tender affection, in respectful bearing and in the perfection of training; and they were instructed in penmanship and science and the arts of government and horsemanship, till they attained the extreme accomplishments and the utmost limit of beauty and loveliness; both men and women being ravished by their charms. They grew up side by side till they reached the age of seventeen, eating and drinking together and sleeping in one bed, nor ever parting at any time or tide; wherefore all the people envied them. Now when they came to man’s estate and were endowed with every perfection, their father was wont, as often as he went on a journey, to make them sit in his stead by turns in the hall of judgement; and each did justice among the folk one day at a time. But it came to pass, by confirmed fate and determined lot, that love for As’ad (son of Queen Hayat al-Nufus) rose in the heart of Queen Budur, and that affection for Amjad (son of Queen Budur) rose in the heart of Queen Hayat al-Nufus.357 Hence it was that each of the women used to sport and play with the son of her sister-wife, kissing him and straining him to her bosom, whilst each mother thought that the other’s behaviour arose but from maternal affection. On this wise passion got the mastery of the two women’s hearts and they became madly in love with the two youths, so that when the other’s son came in to either of them, she would press him to her breast and long for him never to be parted from her; till, at last, when waiting grew longsome to them and they found no path to enjoyment, they refused meat and drink and banished the solace of sleep. Presently, the King fared forth to course and chase, bidding his two sons sit to do justice in his stead, each one day in turn as was their wont. — And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.