One Thousand and One Nights

by Richard Burton

  would rest, so morn and eve I wend me wearily.’

  Quoth her master, ‘Sit thee down: this much sufficeth.’ So she sat down and he signed to the slender girl, who rose, as she were a willow-wand, or a rattan-frond or a stalk of sweet basil, and said: ‘Praised be Allah who created me and beautified me and made my embraces the end of all desire and likened me to the branch, whereto all hearts incline. If I rise, I rise lightly; if I sit, I sit prettily; I am nimble-witted at a jest and merrier-souled than mirth itself. Never heard I one describe his mistress, saying, ‘My beloved is the bigness of an elephant or like a mountain long and broad;’ but rather, ‘My lady hath a slender waist and a slim shape.’374 Furthermore a little food filleth me and a little water quencheth my thirst; my sport is agile and my habit active; for I am sprightlier than the sparrow and lighter-skipping than the starling. My favours are the longing of the lover and the delight of the desirer; for I am goodly of shape, sweet of smile and graceful as the bending willow-wand or the rattan-cane375 or the stalk of the basil- plant; nor is there any can compare with me in loveliness, even as saith one of me,

  ‘Thy shape with willow branch I dare compare, * And hold thy

  figure as my fortunes fair:

  I wake each morn distraught, and follow thee, * And from the

  rival’s eye in fear I fare.’

  It is for the like of me that amourists run mad and that those who desire me wax distracted. If my lover would draw me to him, I am drawn to him; and if he would have me incline to him, I incline to him and not against him. But now, as for thee, O fat of body, thine eating is the feeding of an elephant, and neither much nor little filleth thee. When thou liest with a man who is lean, he hath no ease of thee; nor can he anyways take his pleasure of thee; for the bigness of thy belly holdeth him off from going in unto thee and the fatness of thy thighs hindereth him from coming at thy slit. What goodness is there in thy grossness, and what courtesy or pleasantness in thy coarseness? Fat flesh is fit for naught but the flasher, nor is there one point therein that pleadeth for praise. If one joke with thee, thou art angry; if one sport with thee, thou art sulky; if thou sleep, thou snorest if thou walk, thou lollest out thy tongue! if thou eat, thou art never filled. Thou art heavier than mountains and fouler than corruption and crime. Thou hast in thee nor agility nor benedicite nor thinkest thou of aught save meat and sleep. When thou pissest thou swishes”; if thou turd thou gruntest like a bursten wine skin or an elephant transmogrified. If thou go to the water closet, thou needest one to wash thy gap and pluck out the hairs which overgrow it; and this is the extreme of sluggish ness and the sign, outward and visible, of stupidity376 In short, there is no good thing about thee, and indeed the poet Title of thee,

  ‘Heavy and swollen like an urine-bladder blown, * With hips and

  thighs like mountain propping piles of stone;

  Whene’er she walks in Western hemisphere, her tread * Makes the

  far Eastern world with weight to moan and groan.’

  Quoth her master, ‘Sit thee down, this sufficeth;’ so she sat down and he signed to the yellow girl, who rose to her feet and praised Allah Almighty and magnified His name, calling down peace and blessing on Mohammed the best of His creatures; after which she pointed her finger at the brunette and said to her,” And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.

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

  She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that “the yellow girl stood up and praised Almighty Allah and magnified His name; after which she pointed her finger at the brown girl and said to her: ‘I am the one praised in the Koran, and the Compassionate hath described my complexion and its excellence over all other hues in His manifest Book, where Allah saith, ‘A yellow, pure yellow, whose colour gladdeneth the beholders.’377 Wherefore my colour is a sign and portent and my grace is supreme and my beauty a term extreme; for that my tint is the tint of a ducat and the colour of the planets and moons and the hue of ripe apples. My fashion is the fashion of the fair, and the dye of saffron outvieth all other dyes; so my semblance is wondrous and my colour marvellous. I am soft of body and of high price, comprising all qualities of beauty. My colour is essentially precious as virgin gold, and how many boasts and glories cloth it not unfold! Of the like of me quoth the poet,

  ‘Her golden yellow is the sheeny sun’s; * And like gold sequins

  she delights the sight:

  Saffron small portion of her glance can show; * Nay,378 she

  outvies the moon when brightest bright.’

  And I shall at once begin in thy dispraise, O berry-brown girl! Thy tincture is that of the buffalo, and all souls shudder at thy sight. If thy colour be in any created thing, it is blamed; if it be in food, it is poisoned; for thy hue is the hue of the dung- fly; it is a mark of ugliness even in dogs; and among the colours it is one which strikes with amazement and is of the signs of mourning. Never heard I of brown gold or brown pearls or brown gems. If thou enter the privy, thy colour changeth, and when thou comest out, thou addest ugliness to ugliness. Thou art a non- descript; neither black, that thou mayst be recognised, nor white, that thou mayst be described; and in thee there is no good quality, even as saith the poet,

  ‘The hue of dusty motes is hers; that dull brown hue of hers * Is

  mouldy like the dust and mud by Cossid’s foot

  upthrown:379

  I never look upon her brow, e’en for eye-twinkling’s space, *

  But in brown study fall I and my thoughts take browner

  tone.’

  Quoth her master, ‘Sit thee down; this much sufficeth;’ so she sat down and he signed to the brunette. Now she was a model of beauty and loveliness and symmetry and perfect grace; soft of skin, slim of shape, of stature rare, and coal-black hair; with cheeks rosy-pink, eyes black rimmed by nature’s hand, face fair, and eloquent tongue; moreover slender-waisted and heavy-hipped. So she rose and said: ‘Praise be to Allah who hath created me neither leper-white nor bile-yellow nor charcoal-black, but hath made my colour to be beloved of men of wit and wisdom, for all the poets extol berry-brown maids in every tongue and exalt their colour over all other colours. To ‘brown of hue (they say) praise is due;’ and Allah bless him who singeth,

  ‘And in brunettes is mystery, could’st” thou but read it right, *

  Thy sight would never dwell on others, be they red or white:

  Free-flowing conversation, amorous coquettishness * Would teach

  Hбrut himself a mightier spell of magic might.’

  And saith another,

  ‘Give me brunettes, so limber, lissom, lithe of sway, * Brunettes

  tall, slender straight like Samhar’s nut-brown

  lance;380

  Languid of eyelids and with silky down on either cheek, * Who

  fixed in lover’s heart work to his life mischance.’

  And yet another,

  ‘Now, by my life, brown hue hath point of comeliness * Leaves

  whiteness nowhere and high o’er the Moon takes place;

  But an of whiteness aught it borrowed self to deck, * ’Twould

  change its graces and would pale for its disgrace:

  Not with his must381 I’m drunken, but his locks of musk *

  Are wine inebriating all of human race.

  His charms are jealous each of each, and all desire * To be the

  down that creepeth up his lovely face.’

  And again another,

  ‘Why not incline me to that show of silky down, * On cheeks of

  dark brunette, like bamboo spiring brown?

  Whenas high rank in beauty poets sing, they say * Brown ant-like

  specklet worn by nenuphar in crown.

  And see I sundry lovers tear out others’ eyne * For the brown

  mole beneath that jetty pupil shown,

  Then why do censors blame me for one all a mole? * Allah I pray

  demolish each molesting clown!’382

>   My form is all grace and my shape is built on heavy base; Kings desire my colour which all adore, rich and poor. I am pleasant, active, handsome, elegant, soft of skin and prized for price: eke I am perfect in seemlibead and breeding and eloquence; my aspect is comely and my tongue witty; my temper is bright and my play a pretty sight. As for thee, thou art like unto a mallow growing about the Lъk Gate;383 in hue sallow and streaked-yellow and made all of sulphur. Aroynt thee, O copper-worth of jaundiced sorrel, O rust of brass-pot, O face of owl in gloom, and fruit of the Hell-tree Zakkъm;384 whose bedfellow, for heart-break, is buried in the tomb. And there is no good thing in thee, even as saith the poet of the like of thee,

  ‘Yellowness, tincturing her tho’ nowise sick or sorry, *

  Straitens my hapless heart and makes my head sore ache;

  An thou repent not, Soul! I’ll punish thee with kissing385 *

  Her lower face that shall mine every grinder break!’

  And when she ended her lines, quoth her master, ‘Sit thee down, this much sufficeth!’” — And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.

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

  She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that “when the yellow girl ended her recitation, quoth her master, ‘Sit thee down; this much sufficeth!’ Then he made peace between them and clad them all in sumptuous robes of honour and hanselled them with precious jewels of land and sea. And never have I seen, O Commander of the Faithful, any when or any where, aught fairer than these six damsels fair.” Now when Al-Maamun heard this story from Mohammed of Bassorah, he turned to him and said, “O Mohammed, knowest thou the abiding-place of these damsels and their master, and canst thou contrive to buy them of him for us?” He answered, “O Commander of the Faithful, indeed I have heard that their lord is wrapped up in them and cannot bear to be parted from them.” Rejoined the Caliph, “Take thee ten thousand gold pieces for each girl, that is sixty thousand for the whole purchase; and carry the coin to his house and buy them of him.” So Mohammed of Bassorah took the money and, betaking himself to the Man of Al-Yaman, acquainted him with the wish of the Prince of True Believers. He consented to part with them at that price to pleasure the Caliph; and despatched them to Al-Maamun, who assigned them an elegant abode and therein used to sit with them as cup-companions; marvelling at their beauty and loveliness, at their varied colours and at the excellence of their conversation. Thus matters stood for many a day; but, after awhile, when their former owner could no longer bear to be parted from them, he sent a letter to the Commander of the Faithful complaining to him of his own ardent love-longing for them and containing, amongst other contents, these couplets,

  “Captured me six, all bright with youthful blee; * Then on all

  six be best salams from me!

  They are my hearing, seeing, very life; * My meat, my drink, my

  joy, my jollity:

  I’ll ne’er forget the favours erst so charmed * Whose loss hath

  turned my sleep to insomny:

  Alack, O longsome pining and O tears! * Would I had farewelled

  all humanity:

  Those eyes, with bowed and well arched eyebrows386 dight, *

  Like bows have struck me with their archery.”

  Now when the letter came to the hands of Al-Maamun, he robed the six damsels in rich raiment; and, giving them threescore thousand dinars, sent them back to their lord who joyed in them with exceeding joy387 (more especially for the monies they brought him), and abode with them in all the comfort and pleasance of life, till there came to them the Destroyer of delights and the Severer of societies. And men also recount the tale of

  Richard Francis Burton’s translation: detailed table of contents

  HARUN AL-RASHID AND THE DAMSEL AND ABU NOWAS.

  The Caliph, Commander of the Faithful, Harun al-Rashid, being one night exceedingly restless and thoughtful with sad thought, rose from his couch and walked about the by-ways of his palace, till he came to a chamber, over whose doorway hung a curtain. He raised that curtain and saw, at the upper end of the room, a bedstead whereon lay something black, as it were a man asleep, with a wax taper on his right hand and another on his left; and as the Caliph stood wondering at the sight, behold, he remarked a flagon full of old wine whose mouth was covered by the cup. The Caliph wondered even more at this, saying, “How came this black by such wine-service?” Then, drawing near the bedstead, he found that it was a girl lying asleep there, curtained by her hair; so he uncovered her face and saw that it was like the moon, on the night of his fulness.388 So the Caliph filled himself a cup of wine and drank it to the roses of her cheeks; and, feeling inclined to enjoy her, kissed a mole on her face, whereupon she started up from sleep, and cried out, “O Trusted of Allah,389 what may this be?” Replied he, “A guest who knocketh at thy door, hoping that thou wilt give him hospitality till the dawn;” and she answered; “Even so! I will serve him with my hearing and my sight.” So she brought forward the wine and they drank together, after which she took the lute and tuning the strings, preluded in one-and-twenty modes, then returning to the first, played a lively measure and sang these couplets,

  “The tongue of love from heart bespeaks my sprite, * Telling I

  love thee with love infinite:

  I have an eye bears witness to my pain, * And fluttering heart

  sore hurt by parting-plight.

  I cannot hide the love that harms my life; * Tears ever roll and

  growth of pine I sight:

  I knew not what love was ere loving thee; * But Allah’s destiny

  to all is dight.”

  And when her verses were ended she said, “O Commander of the Faithful, I have been wronged!” — And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.

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

  She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the damsel cried, “O Commander of the Faithful, I have been wronged!” Quoth he, “How so, and who hath wronged thee?” Quoth she “Thy son bought me awhile ago, for ten thousand dirhams, meaning to give me to thee; but thy wife, the daughter of thine uncle, sent him the said price and bade him shut me up from thee in this chamber.” Whereupon said the Caliph, “Ask a boon of me,” and she, “I ask thee to lie with me to-morrow night.” Replied the Caliph, “Inshallah!” and leaving her, went away. Now as soon as it was morning, he repaired to his sitting-room and called for Abu Nowas, but found him not and sent his chamberlain to ask after him. The chamberlain found him in a tavern, pawned and pledged for a score of a thousand dirhams, which he had spent on a certain beardless youth, and questioned him of his case. So he told him what had betided him with the comely boy and how he had spent upon him a thousand silver pieces; whereupon quoth the chamberlain, “Show him to me; and if he be worth this, thou art excused.” He answered, “Patience, and thou shalt see him presently.’ As they were talking together, up came the lad, clad in a white tunic, under which was another of red and under this yet another black. Now when Abu Nowas saw him, he sighed a loud sigh and improvised these couplets,

  “He showed himself in shirt of white, * With eyes and eyelids

  languor-digit.

  Quoth I, ‘Doss pass and greet me not? * Though were thy greeting

  a delight?

  Blest He who clothed in rose thy cheeks, * Creates what wills He

  by His might!’

  Quoth he, ‘Leave prate, forsure my Lord * Of works is wondrous

  infinite:

  My garment’s like my face and luck; * All three are white on

  white on white.’”

  When the beardless one heard these words, he doffed the white tunic and appeared in the red; and when Abu Nowas saw him he redoubled in expressions of admiration and repeated these couplets,

  “He showed in garb anemone-red, * A foeman ‘friend’ entitulиd:

  Quoth I in marvel, ‘Thou’rt full moon * Whose weed shames rose
/>
  however red:

  Hath thy cheek stained it red, or hast * Dyed it in blood by

  lovers bled?’

  Quoth he, ‘Sol gave me this for shirt * When hasting down the

  West to bed

  So garb and wine and hue of cheek * All three are red on red on

  red.’”

  And when the verses came to an end, the beardless one doffed the red tunic and stood in the black; and, when Abu Nowas saw him, he redoubled in attention to him and versified in these couplets,

  “He came in sable-huиd sacque * And shone in dark men’s heart to

  rack:

  Quoth I, ‘Doss pass and greet me not? * Joying the hateful

  envious pack?

  Thy garment’s like thy locks and like * My lot, three blacks on

  black on black.’”

  Seeing this state of things and understanding the case of Abu Nowas and his love-longing, the Chamberlain returned to the Caliph and acquainted him therewith; so he bade him pouch a thousand dirhams and go and take him out of pawn. Thereupon the Chamberlain returned to Abu Nowas and, paying his score, carried him to the Caliph, who said, “Make me some verses containing the words, O Trusted of Allah, what may this be?” Answered he, “I hear and I obey, O Commander of the Faithful.” — And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.

  When it was the Three Hundred and Fortieth Night,

  She said, it hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Abu Nowas answered, “I hear and I obey, O Commander of the Faithful!” and forthwith he improvised these couplets,

  “Long was my night for sleepless misery; * Weary of body and of

  thought ne’er free:

  I rose and in my palace walked awhile, * Then wandered thro’ the

  halls of Haremry:

  Till chanced I on a blackness, which I found * A white girl hid

  in hair for napery:

  Here to her for a moon of brightest sheen! * Like willow-wand and

  veiled in pudency:

  I quaffed a cup to her; then drew I near, * And kissed the

  beauty-spot on cheek had she:

  She woke astart, and in her sleep’s amaze, * Swayed as the