Tales of the Marvellous and News of the Strange (Hardcover Classics)

by Malcolm C (Tr Lyons

  ‘When we had been transformed, we left for the lands of men, passing by many marvellous things and seeing countless wonders that I cannot stop to explain. Our most remarkable experience, however, was when on our way we came across a formidable lion. The beast had scraped itself a hole and was sitting there on its tail, shedding a constant stream of miserable tears that had filled the hole. It would not attack any prey that it saw and if any travellers came in sight it would not look at them.

  ‘When it saw me it called to me and my companion in a melancholy voice with sighs and groans: “Dark-eyed gazelle with your face fair as the moon, your radiant brow, your diadem and red crown, I, the red lion, say that fear of doing evil has led me to endure sorrow and injury and if I did not hope that a meeting was destined I would abandon myself to gloomy fears.” I had begun to look at him, marvelling at his grief and his flooding tears, when you caught me, O king, and Mahliya, the daughter of al-Mutariq of Egypt, caught the white-footed gazelle. Alas, I don’t know what has happened to it.’

  She shed tears, and Mauhub was amazed by her story. He then collected himself and asked: ‘Was it Mahliya who caught the white-footed gazelle?’ and Haifa’ confirmed this, adding: ‘We were united in our love, and how is it with one who deceives the beloved with something distasteful in this love of theirs? This must afflict the lover with great suffering and the taste of death.’ ‘Haifa’,’ he asked, ‘who are you talking about in these terms?’ ‘Your friend Mahliya,’ she told him, ‘who promised herself to you and used cunning to meet you, calling herself Mukhadi‘ and tricking you into obedience to her.’ ‘By God, was Mahliya Mukhadi‘?’ Mauhub asked, and she said: ‘Yes, and it was she who sent you the gifts that kindled the fire of love in your heart, leaving you with sleepless nights and care-filled days.’ It disturbed Mauhub to learn that this was Mahliya. He was too preoccupied to set off and spent a wakeful night longing to find some way to let her know that he knew what she had done.

  When the lioness that had suckled Mauhub heard of the eloquence of the miserable lion whom Haifa’ had described, she said: ‘This must be my companion and the father of my cubs, for whom I have been longing ever since your father Shimrakh caught me. I have been away from him for so long that I thought he must have been hunted down and killed, but I find from what she said that he has been going through the lands in search of me, grieving at my loss, and he must now have found for certain where I am. You, Mauhub, owe me a debt, as you have been a son to me and a friend to my cubs. This is one of the great lions, as we are their rulers with dauntless followers. I should like you to do me the favour of allowing us to meet here in your courtyard and under the protection of your rule, accepting him as a prince to help you as a vizier, for he is the finest of companions and the best of helpers.’ Mauhub willingly agreed and set out at once with his followers and his slaves, carrying the lioness and her cubs in front of him. He also took Haifa’ so that she could show him where he was in the wild.

  When he got near he told his companions to do nothing to disturb the lion or injure it. It was as Haifa’ had described, and close to it he released the lioness and her cubs, at the sight of whom it prostrated itself to him, and then, when it went up to them, they joined in their complaints. The lioness then said: ‘Lord of the lions, King Mauhub, may God be his helper, has been as a son to me and he has graciously brought us together. I do not want to leave him and I have promised him on your behalf that you will be a good companion to him and act as his vizier, so go obediently in front of him.’ The lion did this, and Mauhub returned to his camp.

  After he had dismounted, he called for Haifa’, the lion, the lioness and the cubs and asked: ‘What do you think I should do about this deceptive and calamitous Mahliya?’ They said: ‘We think, Your Majesty, that you should use your search for the white-footed gazelle as an excuse to go to her, and you can tell her that you know how she deceived you before you left. You can then learn whether she feels in her heart what you feel or even more.’

  Mauhub approved of this advice and rode out immediately, most splendidly dressed, to the entrance of her tent and asked leave to enter. When this was given him, he went in, and Mahliya sat him on a couch of red gold studded with splendid jewels, while she herself sat behind a curtain that had been hung between them. After giving him a flattering greeting, she asked what had brought him to her when it was she who should have gone to him. He said: ‘Separation from you burned my heart and filled me with loneliness, so I wanted to come to you as a guest so that this might strengthen our friendship.’ She replied: ‘Welcome to the guest who follows right guidance and is a lord and chief. It was good and generous of you to come here first; you have done us a great favour, and we extend our welcome to you.’

  On her orders animals were slaughtered and food was prepared, with no mark of respect being omitted. He stayed with her all that day, enjoying the greatest luxury and pleasure in the matter of food, drink, conversation and play. When his emotions had been stirred by wine and he was settled in a mood of delight, he told one of the slave girls there to give him her lute and when she had passed it to him he sang a song of separation and burst into tears. Mahliya moaned and joined in his tears and had she not been behind the curtain she would have been shamefully exposed.

  When she recovered she told her close companions and her viziers to go, which they did, leaving Mauhub alone. He then fingered his lute again and sang a song, in which he spoke of Mahliya’s cunning deception, weeping until he collapsed unconscious. When he had regained consciousness Mahliya said: ‘One song of yours that I have heard was that of a lover consumed by love, and in the next you claimed to have been deceived. Who is it that you love, and by whom were you deceived?’ Mauhub took the lute and sang in three modes clearing away all ambiguity from what he had said. Then, filled with emotion, he drank again. Mahliya gave him no answer but turned to the wine and drank her fill, after which they spent the whole night there.

  Next morning, when the effects of the wine had worn off, she asked him who had told him that she was Mahliya after she had successfully tricked him, and he amazed her by telling her the story of Haifa’ from start to finish. She then said that, thanks to repeated letters from her father, she had made up her mind to leave, although she was consumed by love and grieved at having to part from him. Mauhub shed tears at this and made her promise solemnly not to betray him, as he would not betray her, in words, the forming of friendships, or in joy and delight. They exchanged solemn oaths, and when they parted Mauhub asked her about the white-footed gazelle. She told him that she had sent it on ahead with the baggage and the servants, but that she would return it to him without delay.

  He took leave of her in tears and went back to his tent, after she had presented him with ten horses and magnificent robes of honour, and when he got there he sent her many times more than she had given him. She left immediately, and he went at the same time, both complaining and in tears, and when they had settled back at home Mahliya wrote to him to congratulate him on his safe arrival and he replied to congratulate her in the most eloquent of terms.

  When his messenger reached her she had him brought up to her and treated him with kindness, asking him how Mauhub was. He said: ‘By God, lady, he cannot sleep at night or rest by day. The only friends with whom he talks are the lion, the lioness and Haifa’, to whom he complains and with whom he weeps.’ When Mahliya heard him mention Haifa’ she told him to describe her, and he said: ‘I cannot do this and can only say: “Glory to her Creator Who formed her!” ’ Mahliya thought about this and wrote a letter with no introduction or good wishes, which read: ‘By God, Whom we recognize as Lord of mankind, we shall not meet again nor will you ever enjoy my love, as treachery is in your nature and you are an inventor of lies.’ She sealed this with pitch and gave it to the messenger, telling him that if he brought back an answer she would inflict a painful punishment on him.

  The messenger took the letter back to Mauhub who, on seeing that it was sealed with pitch, realize
d that Mahliya was breaking with him but did not know why. He opened it, noting what was in it, and in his bewilderment he took out the gifts that she had given him so that he might remember her. He was weeping and sobbing until he came to the mirror and the carpet and when he looked in the mirror he seemed to see her sitting with him, the only thing missing being the lady herself.

  When the messenger had left Mahliya she sent an aggressive eagle with magical powers carrying a message under its wing which it was to drop on Mauhub. She told it to snatch the mirror and the carpet away from him and to hurry back, bringing no answer. In her letter she wrote: ‘Being alone with Haifa’ has taken your attention away from your solemn covenants, and your love for her has made you forget your other loves, you untrustworthy mine of treachery. It is not to be thought of that I should send you the white-footed gazelle or see you coming on foot beneath my stirrup. Goodbye.’ The eagle flew off quickly and, having dropped the letter in Mauhub’s room, it snatched up the mirror and the carpet from in front of him and soared away back to Mahliya.

  Mauhub was sure that the disaster that had struck him was caused by Haifa’, and he exiled her from his country. He stripped off his fine clothes, exchanging them for a gown of hair, and he neither ate nor drank. When his father heard of this he came and said to him: ‘My son, I have gathered wealth and men only in order to protect you and bring you what you want. So what misfortune is it that has now struck you?’ Mauhub was forced to tell him about the situation, and his father urged him to write a letter of excuse and to renew his oath, adding: ‘No fault can be found with that, and it may be that she feels uncertain and will be inclined to accept your excuse.’

  Mauhub wrote a letter shorn of the usual style of scribes, excusing himself and swearing that he had not betrayed Mahliya and would never deceive her. He sent this off with his original messenger, but when she learned that the man was near her land she sent someone to take the letter from him and she had him fastened to a cross for eleven days, before secretly letting him go. He fled as fast as he could back to Mauhub and told him what had happened, at which his sighs redoubled.

  When he told his father how Mahliya had treated his messenger, his father said: ‘My son, these treasuries are at your disposal. March against her with your men, or else spend all this money on her or tell me what you think.’ Mauhub said: ‘Father, I don’t want to attack her before I have presented my excuse to her, especially as she is lodged firmly in my heart. I think that I should write to her to try to win her over, telling her of the state I am in and confirming my solemn covenant. If she gives a favourable reply, I shall go to her to ask for her hand in marriage, but if she intends evil, then it will be for me to act.’ ‘This is a matter for you,’ his father replied.

  The letter that Mauhub wrote was as follows: ‘In the Name of the Eternal God, the Generous Protector: Queen of rulers, clearer away of doubt, I read your letter, which came close to my heart and dispelled my cares, and I understood what it was you were talking about. Since I parted from you I have not tasted sleep, nor have I taken anyone to my heart, whether legally or against the law, nor have I felt inclined to listen to anyone’s conversation. Because of you I have sat amongst the ashes and through grief for you I have dressed in mourning, depriving myself, thanks to you, of the company of God’s servants. The lands have shrunk for me through grief, and my heart is obsessed by love for you. My mind is crippled because of you, and the sword of love has slain my body. You have dealt well with me [lac.] and if you turn to me in kindness, my weakness will leave me and my sickness will be cured. This letter is both an excuse and a warning, as I have not found anything that should be concealed. It is the last reproach that I will send you as before this I sent you solemn covenants, but you turned away from them to falsehoods and lies.’

  He sealed the letter with musk and ambergris and looked for a messenger to carry it to Mahliya, but could find no one thanks to the distance to be covered and fear caused by her treatment of his first messenger. The mate of the lioness who had suckled him said that he would go and force Mauhub’s words on her. Mauhub thanked him warmly and passed over the letter, after which he took his leave and left. The lioness said to him: ‘Lion, I hold you very dear to me in my heart. You are going to Syria, where lions abound, and you will continue to look at other lionesses. I am afraid you may betray me during your journey, so swear an oath for me.’

  After doing this the lion set off across the desert wastes and when he was within a three-day journey of Egypt Mahliya was told that he was coming from Mauhub. She sent an old sorceress to trick him and take away his letter. To meet him, she sat in a lovely meadow with trees and streams, facing a tomb surrounded by reeds, wearing mourning and weeping loudly. By her side was a jar of wine, with the body of a skinned beast, and there was a lighted fire and a cup filled with what appeared to be perfume of musk and ambergris. Beside the old woman was an image of a woman covered by a robe.

  When the lion saw her he crouched down in front of her as he was both tired and ravenously hungry and he coveted the skinned beast. He was astonished by what he saw, and the old woman asked him: ‘Lord lion, what are you looking at me for? I am a tearful old woman with a sorrowful heart.’ ‘Do not be alarmed,’ he told her; ‘I am a stranger from a distant land and when I saw you sobbing and weeping by this tomb with food and wine in front of you, I wondered what you were doing and sat down to rest in this meadow.’ The old woman said: ‘I see that you have a letter,’ and the lion told her: ‘I am a merchant’s messenger carrying a bill of exchange to an Egyptian merchant so that he may get his money.’ She told him to leave her and go about his business, but he swore that he would not go until she had told him who was buried there and what connection she had with him.

  The old woman said: ‘He was my son-in-law,’ and she pointed to the image and the robe that covered it. ‘He was a good husband and a good son-in-law,’ she went on, ‘and this daughter of mine was one of the most perfectly lovely ladies of her time, the best of wives and the truest companion, as well as being the most generous and graceful. No woman has mourned her husband as sorrowfully and tearfully as she has, but because of this sorrow and these tears she has just now been overcome by sleep.’ The lion said: ‘I have never seen anyone show greater sorrow for a son-in-law than you, may God reward you. But tell me what has this perfume and the skinned beast to do with your grief.’ ‘Lion,’ she told him, ‘my son-in-law who is buried here was himself a wild lion who could transform himself into the shape of the handsomest of men. The skinned beast is his food, and what is in the cup is his perfume, for when he was alone with my daughter he used to eat this meat, drink the wine and use this perfume, after which they would sleep, enjoying the happiest of lives. As you see, he then died, and we never forget him, night or day.’

  The lion said: ‘You should know, old woman, that I myself am in mourning for a lovely and graceful woman who preferred me to her mother and father, setting me on a pinnacle and recognizing my rightful position. She died, and I have remained in solitary loneliness with no resting place in any land. Most of my time I spend here wandering aimlessly in my grief. What I used to drink and the perfume that I used were what you have here and, by God, I am of kingly stock. Would you agree to marry me to your daughter, for I can see that you are the best of mothers-in-law, and I am sure that she would be the best of wives?’

  ‘By God, my son,’ replied the old woman, ‘I can see no good in today’s husbands, who frustrate and restrict their wives. If I were sure that you would treat her as well as her first husband, whose grave this is, I would agree to your marriage, although I am not sure that she would obey me, as I know that since his death her great grief has meant that she has had no interest in men.’ ‘Mother,’ the lion told her, ‘I would be the best of husbands and companions to her and I would make her forget her first husband. Further, I am a stranger with no kin, so make me your slave.’ The old woman said: ‘Give me your solemn oath so that both I and my daughter can have confidence i
n you.’

  The lion did this and when the old woman was sure of him, she said: ‘These covenants that you have made before God and that lie between you and me mean that you will work hard to give your wife a good life without restricting her or allowing her husband’s family to gloat over her.’ When the lion had agreed warmly she told him to come forward and share in their food and drink. On hearing this, he came up and ate until he was full, as well as drinking until he had become drunk, and in this state he fell asleep. The old woman then removed the image and, taking Mauhub’s letter from the lion, she flew off with it to Mahliya.

  When Mahliya had read it she wrote a reply, which the old woman took back to the lion, substituting it for Mauhub’s letter. She then sat down, weeping and wailing, and she was doing this when the lion woke up. When he could not see the image he asked what was wrong with her and what had her daughter done. She said: ‘When she woke up I told her we had agreed that she should marry you. She looked at you and said that you were suitably noble but she would refuse you because her first husband, unlike you, had a docked tail. She was afraid that she would be blamed for having too many husbands, and if you were like him she would marry you so that people would not notice what she had done.’ ‘If this is what you would advise, then please yourself by cutting off my tail,’ the lion told her. The old woman passed him over to devils in human shape and told one of them to cut off the tail, which he did, and she then told him to cauterize the stump with the fire, which almost killed him.