One Thousand and One Nights

by Richard Burton

  That furmeaty, which mashed by hands of snow,

  A light reflection bore,

  Of the bright bracelets that those fair hands wore;

  Again remembrance glads my sense

  With visions of its excellence!

  Again I see the cloth unrolled

  Rich worked in many a varied fold!

  Be patient, oh! my soul, they say

  Fortune rules all that’s new and strange,

  And though she pinches us to day,

  To-morrow brings full rations, and a change!’337

  Then said Jubayr, ‘Put forth thy hand to our food and ease our heart by eating of our victual.’ Answered I, ‘By Allah, I will not eat a mouthful, till thou grant me my desire.’ He asked, ‘What is thy desire?’; so I brought out the letter and gave it to him; but, when he had read it and mastered its contents, he tore it in pieces and throwing it on the floor, said to me, ‘O Ibn Mansur, I will grant thee whatever thou askest save thy desire which concerneth the writer of this letter, for I have no answer to her.’ At this I rose in anger; but he caught hold of my skirts, saying, ‘O Ibn Mansur, I will tell thee what she said to thee, albeit I was not present with you.’ I asked, ‘And what did she say to me?’; and he answered, ‘Did not the writer of this letter say to thee, If thou bring me back an answer, thou shalt have of me five hundred ducats; and if not, an hundred for thy pains?’ ‘Yes,’ replied I; and he rejoined, ‘Abide with me this day and eat and drink and enjoy thyself and make merry, and thou shalt have thy five hundred ducats.’ So I sat with him and ate and drank and made merry and enjoyed myself and entertained him with talk deep in to the night;338 after which I said to him, ‘O my master, is there no music in thy house.’ He answered, ‘Verily for many a day we have drunk without music.’ Then he called out, saying, ‘Ho, Shajarat al-Durr?’ Whereupon a slave- girl answered him from her chamber and came in to us, with a lute of Hindu make, wrapped in a silken bag. And she sat down and, laying the lute in her lap, preluded in one and twenty modes; then, returning to the first, she sang to a lively measure these couplets,

  ‘We have ne’er tasted of Love’s sweets and bitter draught, * No

  difference kens ‘twixt presence-bliss and absence-stress;

  And so, who hath declined from Love’s true road, * No diference

  kens ‘twixt smooth and ruggedness:

  I ceased not to oppose the votaries of love, * Till I had tried

  its sweets and bitters not the less:

  How many a night my pretty friend conversed with me * And sipped

  I from his lips honey of love liesse:

  Now have I drunk its cup of bitterness, until * To bondman and to

  freedman I have proved me base.

  How short-aged was the night together we enjoyed, * When seemed

  it daybreak came on nightfall’s heel to press!

  But Fate had vowed to disunite us lovers twain, * And she too

  well hath kept her vow, that votaress.

  Fate so decreed it! None her sentence can withstand: * Where is

  the wight who dares oppose his Lord’s command?’

  Hardly had she finished her verses, when her lord cried out with a great cry and fell down in a fit; whereupon exclaimed the damsel, ‘May Allah not punish thee, O old man! This long time have we drunk without music, for fear the like of this falling sickness befal our lord. But now go thou to yonder chamber and there sleep.’ So I went to the chamber which she showed me and slept till the morning, when behold, a page brought me a purse of five hundred dinars and said to me, ‘This is what my master promised thee; but return thou not to the damsel who sent thee, god let it be as though neither thou nor we had ever heard of this matter.’ ‘Hearkening and obedience,’ answered I and taking the purse, went my way. Still I said to myself, ‘The lady must have expected me since yesterday; and by Allah there is no help but I return to her and tell her what passed between me and him: otherwise she will revile me and revile all who come from my country.’ So I went to her and found her standing behind the door; and when she saw me she said, ‘O Ibn Mansur, thou hast done nothing for me?’ I asked, ‘Who told thee of this?’; and she answered, ‘O Ibn Mansur, yet another thing hath been revealed to me;339 and it is that, when thou handedst him the letter, he tore it in pieces. and throwing it on the floor, said to thee: ‘O Ibn Mansur, I will grant thee whatever thou askest save thy desire which concerneth the writer of this letter; for I have no answer to her missive.’ Then didst thou rise from beside him in anger; but he laid hold of thy skirts, saying: ‘O son of Mansur, abide with me to day, for thou art my guest, and eat and drink and make merry; and thou shalt have thy five hundred ducats.’ So thou didst sit with him, eating and drinking and making merry, and entertainedst him with talk deep into the night and a slave- girl sang such an air and such verses, whereupon he fell down in a fit.’ So, O Commander of the Faithful, I asked her ‘West thou then with us?’; and she answered, ‘O Ibn Mansur, hast thou not heard the saying of the poet,

  ‘The hearts of lovers have eyes I ken, * Which see the unseen by vulgar men.’

  However, O Ibn Mansur, the night and day shift not upon anything but they bring to it change.’ — And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.

  When it was the Three Hundred and Thirty-first Night,

  She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the lady exclaimed, ‘O Ibn Mansur, the night and the day shift not upon anything but they bring to it change!’ Then she raised her glance to heaven and said, ‘O my God and my Leader and my Lord, like as Thou hast afflicted me with love of Jubayr bin Umayr, even so do Thou afflict him with love of me, and transfer the passion from my heart to his heart!’340 Then she gave me an hundred sequins for my trouble in going and coming and I took it and returned to the palace, where I found the Sultan come home from the chase; so I got my pension of him and fared back to Baghdad. And when next year came, I repaired to Bassorah, as usual, to seek my pension, and the Sultan paid it to me; but, as I was about to return to Baghdad, I bethought me of the Lady Budur and said to myself, ‘By Allah, I must needs go to her and see what hath befallen between her and her lover!’ So I went to her house and finding the street before her door swept and sprinkled and eunuchs and servants and pages standing before the entrance, said to myself, ‘Most like grief hath broken the lady’s heart and she is dead, and some Emir or other hath taken up his abode in her house.’ So I left it and went on to the house of Jubayr, son of Umayr the Shaybani, where I found the benches of the porch broken down and ne’er a page at the door, as of wont and said to myself, ‘Haply he too is dead.’ Then I stood still before the door of his house and with my eyes running over with tears, bemoaned it in these couplets,

  ‘O Lords of me, who fared but whom my heart e’er followeth, *

  Return and so my festal-days with you shall be renewed!

  I stand before the home of you, bewailing your abode; * Quiver

  mine eyelids and my eyes with tears are ever dewed:

  I ask the house and its remains that seem to weep and wail, *

  ‘Where is the man who whilom wont to lavish goods and

  good?’’

  It saith, ‘Go, wend thy way; those friends like travellers have

  fared * From Springtide-camp, and buried lie of earth and

  worms the food!’

  Allah ne’er desolate us so we lose their virtues’ light * In

  length and breadth, but ever be the light in spirit viewed!’

  As I, O Prince of True Believers, was thus keening over the folk of the house,341 behold, out came a black slave therefrom and said to me, ‘Hold thy peace, O Shaykh! May thy mother be reft of thee! Why do I see thee bemoaning the house in this wise?’ Quoth I, ‘I frequented it of yore, when it belonged to a good friend of mine.’ Asked the slave, ‘What was his name?’; and I answered, ‘Jubayr bin Umayr the Shaybani.’ Rejoined he, And what hath befallen him? Praised be Allah, he is yet here with us in the e
njoyment of property and rank and prosperity, except that Allah hath stricken him with love of a damsel called the Lady Budur;, and he is so whelmed by his love of her and his longing for her, that he is like a great rock cumbering the ground. If he hunger, he saith not, ‘Give me meat;’ nor, if he thirst, doth he say, ‘Give me drink.’ Quoth I, ‘Ask leave for me to go in to him.’ Said the slave, ‘O my lord, wilt thou go in to one who understandeth or to one who understandeth not?’; and I said ‘There is no help for it but I see him whatever be the case.’ Accordingly he went in to ask and presently returned with permission for me to enter, whereupon I went in to Jubayr and found him like a rock that cumbereth the ground, understanding neither sign nor speech; and when I spoke to him he answered me not. Then said one of his servants, ‘O my lord, if thou remember aught of verse, repeat it and raise thy voice; and he will be aroused by this and speak with thee.’ So I versified in these two couplets,

  ‘Hast quit the love of Moons342 or dost persist? * Dost wake

  o’ nights or close in sleep thine eyes?

  If aye thy tears in torrents flow, then learn * Eternal-thou

  shalt dwell in Paradise.’343

  When he heard these verses he opened his eyes and said; ‘Welcome, O son of Mansur! Verily, the jest is become earnest.’ Quoth I, ‘O my lord, is there aught thou wouldst have me do for thee?’ Answered he, ‘Yes, I would fain write her a letter and send it to her by thee. If thou bring me back her answer, thou shalt have of me a thousand dinars; and if not, two hundred for thy pains.’ So I said, ‘Do what seemeth good to thee;’ — And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.

  When it was the Three Hundred and Thirty-second Night,

  She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Ibn Mansur continued: “So I said, ‘Do what seemeth good to thee;’ whereupon he called to one of his slave-girls, ‘Bring me ink case and paper;’ and wrote these couplets,

  ‘I pray in Allah’s name, O Princess mine, be light * On me, for

  Love hath robbed me of my reason’s sight’

  ‘Slaved me this longing and enthralled me love of you; * And clad

  in sickness garb, a poor and abject wight.

  I wont ere this to think small things of Love and hold, * O

  Princess mine, ’twas silly thing and over-slight.

  But when it showed me swelling surges of its sea, * To Allah’s

  hest I bowed and pitied lover’s plight.

  An will you, pity show and deign a meeting grant, * An will you

  kill me still forget not good requite.’344

  Then he sealed the letter and gave it to me. So I took it and, repairing to Budur’s house, raised the door-curtain little by little, as before, and looking in behold, I saw ten damsels, high-bosomed virgins, like moons, and the Lady Budur as she were the full moon among the stars, sitting in their midst, or the sun, when it is clear of clouds and mist; nor was there on her any trace of pain or care. And as I looked and marvelled at her case, she turned her glance upon me and, seeing me standing at the door, said to me, ‘Well come, and welcome and all hail to thee, O Ibn Mansur! Come in.’ So I entered and saluting her gave her the letter; and she read it and when she understood it, she said laughingly to me, ‘O Ibn Mansur, the poet lied not when he sang,

  ‘Indeed I’ll bear my love for thee with firmest soul, * Until from thee to me shall come a messenger.

  ‘Look’ye, O Ibn Mansur, I will write thee an answer, that he may give thee what he promised thee.’ And I answered, ‘Allah requite thee with good!’ So she called out to a handmaid, ‘Bring inkcase and paper,’ and wrote these couplets,

  ‘How comes it I fulfilled my vow the while that vow broke you? *

  And, seen me lean to equity, iniquity wrought you?

  ’Twas you initiated wrongous dealing and despite: * You were the

  treachetour and treason came from only you!

  I never ceased to cherish mid the sons of men my troth, * And

  keep your honour brightest bright and swear by name of you

  Until I saw with eyes of me what evil you had done; * Until I

  heard with ears of me what foul report spread you.

  Shall I bring low my proper worth while raising yours so high? *

  By Allah had you me eke I had honoured you!

  But now uprooting severance I will fain console my heart, * And

  wring my fingers clean of you for evermore to part!’

  Quoth I, ‘By Allah, O my lady, between him and death there is but the reading of this letter!’ So I tore it in pieces and said to her, ‘Write him other than these lines.’ ‘I hear and obey answered she and wrote the following couplets,

  ‘Indeed I am consolиd now and sleep without a tear, * And all

  that happened slandering tongues have whispered in mine ear:

  My heart obeyed my hest and soon forgot thy memory, * And learnt

  mine eyelids ’twas the best to live in severance sheer:

  He lied who said that severance is a bitterer thing than gall: *

  It never disappointed me, like wine I find it cheer:

  I learnt to hate all news of thee, e’en mention of thy name, *

  And turn away and look thereon with loathing pure and mere:

  Lookye! I cast thee out of heart and far from vitals mine; * Then

  let the slanderer wot this truth and see I am sincere.’

  Quoth I, ‘By Allah, O my lady, when he shall read these verses, his soul will depart his body!’ Quoth she, ‘O Ibn Mansur, is passion indeed come to such a pass with him that thou sayest this saying?’ Quoth I, ‘Had I said more than this verily it were but the truth: but mercy is of the nature of the noble.’ Now when she heard this her eyes brimmed over with tears and she wrote him a note, I swear by Allah, O Commander of the Faithful, there is none in thy Chancery could write the like of it; and therein were these couplets,

  ‘How long shall I thy coyness and thy great aversion see? * Thou

  hast satisfied my censurers and pleased their enmity:

  I did amiss and wot it not; so deign to tell me now * Whatso they

  told thee, haply ’twas the merest calumny.

  I wish to welcome thee, dear love, even as welcome I * Sleep to

  these eyes and eyelids in the place of sleep to be.

  And since ’tis thou hast made me drain th’ unmixиd cup of love, *

  If me thou see with wine bemused heap not thy blame on me!’

  And when she had written the missive, — And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.

  When it was the Three Hundred and Thirty-third Night,

  She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Budur had written the missive, she sealed it and gave it to me; and I said, ‘O my lady, in good sooth this thy letter will make the sick man whole and ease the thirsting soul.’ Then I took it and went from her, when she called me back and said to me, ‘O son of Mansur, say to him: ‘She will be thy guest this night.’ At this I joyed with exceeding great joy and carried the letter to Jubayr, whom I found with his eyes fixed intently on the door, expecting the reply and as soon as I gave him the letter and he opened and read it and understood it, he uttered a great cry and fell down in a fainting fit. When he came to himself, he said to me, ‘O Ibn Mansur, did she indeed write this note with her hand and feel it with her fingers?’ Answered I, ‘O my lord, do folk write with their feet?’ And by Allah, O Commander of the Faithful, I had not done speaking these words, when we heard the tinkle-tinkle of her anklets in the vestibule and she entered. And seeing her he sprang to his feet as though nothing pained or ailed him and embraced her like the letter L embraceth the letter A;345 and the infirmity, that erst would not depart at once left him.346 Then he sat down, but she abode standing and I said to her, ‘O my lady, why dost thou not sit?’ Said she, ‘O Ibn Mansur, save on a condition that is between us, I will not sit.’ I asked, ‘And what is that?’; and she answered, ‘None may kn
ow lovers’ secrets,’ and putting her mouth to Jubayr’s ear whispered to him; where upon he replied, ‘I hear and I obey.’ Then he rose and said somewhat in a whisper to one of his slaves, who went out and returned in a little while with a Kazi and two witnesses. Thereupon Jubayr stood up and taking a bag containing an hundred thousand dinars, said, O Kazi, marry me to this young lady and write this sum to her marriage-settlement.’ Quoth the Kazi to her, ‘Say thou, I consent to this.’ ‘I consent to this,’ quoth she, whereupon he drew up the contract of marriage and she opened the bag; and, taking out a handful of gold, gave it to the Kazi and the witnesses and handed the rest to Jubayr. Thereupon the Kazi and the witnesses withdrew, and I sat with them, in mirth and merriment, till the most part of the night was past, when I said in my mind, ‘These are lovers and they have been this long while separated. I will now arise and go sleep in some place afar from them and leave them to their privacy, one with other.’ So I rose, but she caught hold of my skirts, saying, ‘What thinkest thou to do?’ ‘Nothing but so and so,’ answered I; upon which she rejoined, ‘Sit thee down; and when we would be rid of thee, we will send thee away.’ So I sat down with them till near daybreak, when she said to me, ‘O Ibn Mansur, go to yonder chamber; for we have furnished it for thee and it is thy sleeping-place.’ Thereupon I arose and went thither and slept till morning, when a page brought me basin and ewer, and I made the ablution and prayed the dawn-prayer. Then I sat down and presently, behold, Jubayr and his beloved came out of the bath in the house, and I saw them both wringing their locks.347 So I wished them good morning and gave them joy of their safety and reunion, saying to Jubayr, ‘That which began with constraint and conditions hath ended in cordial-contentment.’ He answered, ‘Thou sayest well, and indeed thou deservest thy honorarium;’ and he called his treasurer, and said, ‘Bring hither three thousand dinars.’ So he brought a purse containing the gold pieces and Jubayr gave it to me, saying, ‘Favour us by accepting this.’ But I replied, ‘I will not accept it till thou tell me the manner of the transfer of love from her to thee, after so huge an aversion.’ Quoth he, ‘Hearkening and obedience! Know that we have a festival-called New Year’s day,348 when all the people fare forth and take boat and go a-pleasuring on the river. So I went out with my comrades, and saw a skiff, wherein were ten damsels like moons and amongst them, the Lady Budur lute in hand. She preluded in eleven modes, then, returning to the first, sang these two couplets,