The Adventures of Amir Hamza

by Ghalib Lakhnavi

  Dil-Aaram, who was present there, could not help but remark: “I cannot for a moment subscribe to these notions! It seems that his woman is a slovenly frump, and this poor man is an ignorant simpleton. Otherwise, he would not have fared so ill.”

  Already virulently set against women, the emperor was incensed by Dil-Aaram’s words. He said, “Her words suggest that all our wealth and riches are indebted to her good management! That we rule an empire simply because she has arranged it so! Strip her naked, and let the woodcutter have her! Drive this insolent wench from before our presence this instant!” Then and there before thousands of onlookers, Dil-Aaram was dishonored and disgraced. She declared, “I submit to whatever fate ordains!” and then said to the woodcutter, “God has shown you favor by bestowing upon you a woman such as myself. Offer thanks to the Beneficent Succor that your adverse days are now over, and hard times lie behind you. Do not worry how you shall provide for me, or that in your advanced age you are further encumbered. I shall provide for myself and a thousand others, and earn you honor and acclaim.” Upon hearing that, the old woodcutter was very well pleased and took Dil-Aaram to his house.

  When they arrived near the house, the woodcutter’s wife saw that her man had brought along a fresh blossom. And he took long strides, beside himself with joy. She came out flying like a fiend, and screamed, “Doddering fool! Have you become senile that you bring a rival on my head in my dotage?” Speaking thus she gave the old man such a powerful blow that he fell to the floor in pain, and began thrashing around like a ground-tumbler pigeon.

  Dil-Aaram said to the woman, “O houri-faced mistress of chosen virtue! I consider our relationship as that of mother and daughter! I shall not be a burden on your hearth but a support to you.” At Dil-Aaram’s words, the old woman relented, and was ashamed of herself and her behavior. She said, “My daughter! I make you the keeper of my life and domestic realm. You are now in charge of everything in this household.”

  It was the old man’s custom to sell his wood in the bazaar every day for bread. His twelve or thirteen children, who were all blind and handicapped, swarmed over him when he returned home and wolfed down the bread amongst themselves, without the food ever satisfying their hunger. Dil-Aaram saw this on the first day and kept quiet. But the second day she could no longer contain herself, and said to the woodcutter, “Dear father! Today sell the wood for wheat, and under no circumstances must you buy bread from the bazaar.” He replied, “My daughter, I shall do as you say.”

  That day the woodcutter sold the wood for grain and brought it home to Dil-Aaram. She took it to the neighbor’s to grind it and made enough bread from it to suffice them all for three days. With the money saved from two days Dil-Aaram bought wool, strung it into ropes, and gave them to the old man to sell in the bazaar. In the days that followed, it became her custom that she would barter the wheat saved from several days for wool and string it and sell the ropes. In a few days she gradually saved enough money to buy the old man a mule for carting wood from the forest.

  To cut a long story short, in a matter of just two years, Dil-Aaram bought some five or six mules and several slaves, and put together enough money from renting them out to buy an estate. By this time the circumstances of the woodcutter’s household had undergone a complete reversal and adversity had given way to prosperity.

  When it was summertime, Dil-Aaram said to the old man, “Ask your slaves not to bring wood into the city from now until the end of summer but to store it instead in some mountain cavern. During the rains and in the winter, they will fetch a better profit.” The patriarch did as Dil-Aaram had advised him. And when the rains ended and it was the outbreak of winter, there was a great demand for wood in public baths and other places.

  The weather completely changed and the winter started in earnest. One day the emperor returned to the mountainside to hunt. The following night it suddenly snowed so hard that tongues froze inside people’s mouths. The emperor’s cortege came very near to dying from frost. They began scouring the forest and plains for wood and, by chance, they happened upon Qubad’s store in the mountain cavern. Their spirits revived upon finding the wood. They made a great big fire and began warming themselves, repossessed of their senses and breathing easily.

  In the morning the emperor finished hunting and returned with his great entourage to the seat of the empire. And Qubad the woodcutter returned to remove the wood from his cavern. When he arrived there and found a great heap of coal instead of wood, he was so shocked that he collapsed on the ground clutching his sides, and began lamenting his fate and crying at his ruin.

  Once the workings of fortune were brought into play, Qubad’s lot then changed for the better. It turned out that where the wood was stored in the cavern there was a gold mine. Heated by the fire, the ore melted and gathered in one place. The old man began excavating the coal. Thinking that the scorched floor was also coal, he dug it up when underneath he found some slabs. Not knowing that he had found gold, Qubad loaded up two mules with coal, threw a few slabs in with it, and brought it all home to show Dil-Aaram and with tears coursing down his face told her the whole story.

  When Dil-Aaram scratched a slab with the point of a knife to see what it was, she discovered it to be gold, and then prostrating herself before Allah and offering thanks, she said to the woodcutter, “Return immediately with the mules and cart back all the slabs that are there!” The patriarch did as she had bid him.

  Dil-Aaram then wrote out a note to the goldwright Faisal and, after loading a mule with as many slabs as it could carry, said to Qubad, “Take the mule to Basra and hand this note and these slabs to the goldwright Faisal. Tell him that I have sent you and what I desire is written in that note. He will melt these slabs into gold pieces and give them back to you.”

  While Qubad headed for Basra, Dil-Aaram had a large, deep hole dug in the courtyard and buried the rest of the slabs there. Then she sent a slave with a message to the goldsmith Suhail, who sojourned in Ctesiphon, which read, “For several years I was in disfavor with the emperor. But God willing, I shall very soon regain prestige and acclaim at the imperial assemblage. You must immediately come here with craftsmen, masons, laborers, and carpenters. I wish you to supervise the construction of a building in the image of the royal palace. If it is built under your care and is to my liking, I shall forever remember your loyalty and diligent exertion and God willing, I shall reimburse you very soon to the last farthing.”

  As Suhail put great store in Dil-Aaram’s words, he hired skilled masons and accomplished carpenters as soon as he received her message and set to work and laid the foundation of the building at an auspicious hour.

  Thousands of masons and workmen and sculptors busied themselves with the construction. Before long a splendid building was made ready. The borders of all of its gates and walls were painted with portraits of Dil-Aaram and the emperor.

  In the meanwhile, Qubad had arrived from Basra with the gold pieces. Dil-Aaram had him sent to the baths. Then he was decked out in a stately robe. Dil-Aaram announced that from then on everyone must call him Qubad the Merchant. After a few days Dil-Aaram furnished Qubad with choice gifts and curiosities from all over the world and sent him to see Buzurjmehr.

  By and by Qubad arrived at the ministry. When Buzurjmehr was informed, he greeted him with an embrace. After the exchange of greetings and words of gratification, Qubad, in accordance with Dil-Aaram’s advice, asked permission to wait upon the emperor. Buzurjmehr said, “I shall mention you to His Imperial Highness today and arrange for an audience. Tomorrow is an auspicious day and the emperor shall also be at leisure. Present yourself in the early hours of the morning and you shall be ennobled by waiting upon His Majesty.”

  Qubad took his leave, returned home, and narrated to Dil-Aaram all that had passed with Buzurjmehr. The next day Dil-Aaram sent him for his audience with the emperor. Qubad first called on Buzurjmehr, who took him along to the royal court as he had promised.

  Dil-Aaram had explained to Qub
ad before he left how he should put his right foot forward in the court of the Shadow of God, and make seven low bows. Qubad soon forgot all about it. But when he laid eyes on the emperor, he suddenly remembered Dil-Aaram’s injunction. He collected his feet together and leapt; but slipping on the polished marble floor, landed flat on his ass.

  The emperor smiled at this caper, and the courtiers, too, grinned when they noticed their sovereign smiling. The emperor accepted Qubad’s offering, and as a mark of singular favor, conferred upon him a piece of sugar candy from his own hand. Qubad took the candy and put it in his mouth thus making his impudence and ill-breeding manifest to everyone assembled there.

  When the court adjourned Qubad went home and narrated to Dil-Aaram how the emperor had given him the sugar candy and how he bolted it down. Feeling ashamed at his folly, she felt greatly embarrassed in her heart and said to him, “The next time the emperor gives you something, make three low bows and put the gift on your head. And where making offerings is warranted, you must not be unmindful either.” Qubad committed these injunctions to memory and the next day again presented himself at the court.

  The emperor was having his meal, but as he had found Qubad’s antics amusing, when the presenter of petitions announced Qubad, the emperor ordered him to be shown in directly. Then, when Qubad presented himself, the emperor accorded him a most uncommon preference by giving him a bowl of curry. Qubad made a low bow upon receiving the bowl and, remembering Dil-Aaram’s words, poured it over his head, besmearing not only his clothes, but drenching as well his beard, whiskers, and his whole body with the gravy. The emperor said in his heart, His every deed is a marvel of folly. And then he also calls himself a great merchant! Wonders never cease!

  That day Dil-Aaram had asked Qubad to invite the emperor to a banquet, using the good offices of Buzurjmehr. Acting on Dil-Aaram’s advice, Qubad mentioned the banquet to the emperor. Buzurjmehr, who indulged Qubad, petitioned in his favor, too. The emperor, already amused with Qubad’s antics and simple ways, granted his request. Qubad returned home joyous and elated and communicated the news to Dil-Aaram, who immediately busied herself with arrangements for the banquet.

  OF THE EMPEROR’S ARRIVAL AT QUBAD’S HOUSE AND HIS RESTORING DIL-AARAM TO HONOR, AND OF HIS FEASTING AND DRINKING

  When the diligent orderlies of faultless Nature unfurled the bright spread of morn across the heavens, and with great excellence decked them with the golden dish of the world-brightening sun, the emperor, accompanied by Buzurjmehr and his viziers, arrived at the woodcutter’s palace. Qubad received him in the approved custom and made an offering.

  When the emperor looked around he saw portraits of himself and Dil-Aaram staring down at him from every wall. Remembering his courtesan, the emperor expressed great remorse at her loss.

  Then the emperor moved to the bejeweled throne in the summerhouse, where the tabla began to play and the dancers to perform. Presently the meal was ordered. The table deckers laid out the spread and the head cook started bringing out all kinds of sweet and savory delights. Qubad put choice delicacies before the emperor with his own hand. After the emperor had finished the meal, Dil-Aaram, appareled exquisitely, showed a beloved view of herself to the emperor from behind a lattice. The emperor asked Qubad, “How are you related to the woman behind the lattice and what is her name? She appears to have excellent taste, and to my mind it seems all these preparations are owing to her organization and industry!”

  Respectfully folding his arms before him, Qubad responded, “She is your slave’s daughter! And all that you see is indeed the fruit of her diligence and industry. If Your Eminence were to grant the women the charity of visiting their quarters, Your Honor’s slaves would be most exalted. Your Majesty’s slave girl, my daughter, is herself most desirous of audience and eager to wait upon Your Eminence!”

  When the emperor went into the women’s quarters, from a distance he thought his eyes were deceiving him. And when Dil-Aaram approached nearer and made an obeisance, the emperor exclaimed, “What do I see here, Dil-Aaram? Is that you?” Dil-Aaram flung herself at the emperor’s feet and began to unburden her heart by way of shedding copious tears. The emperor raised her head and embraced her.

  Dil-Aaram revealed that it was the selfsame woodcutter, Qubad, to whom she had been given away, handed over in utter disgrace. And that by virtue of His Highness’s prestige he had risen in the world to be called the Prince of Merchants and was so honored that the Emperor of the World had directed his august and distinction-bestowing feet thither to grace his house with his presence.

  The emperor was most embarrassed to hear this and, taking Dil-Aaram by her hand, brought her to the summerhouse. Praising her industry highly, he seated her near the throne.

  The emperor invested Qubad with a robe of honor and confirmed him as Prince of Merchants. Then, to show Dil-Aaram his former favor, he asked her to play on the lute. Acquiescing to his wish, Dil-Aaram began strumming on the lute and played it more wondrously than she had ever played before. Some time having passed in these regalements, the emperor invested another robe of honor on Qubad. Then, taking Dil-Aaram alongside him, he repaired to the royal palace. The emperor’s misogyny having thus changed into fondness for women, he was royally wedded to his uncle’s daughter, Mohtram Bano, before long.

  REGARDING THE BIRTH OF NAUSHERVAN AND BAKHTAK, AND BUZURJMEHR’S PREDICTIONS, AND OF NAUSHERVAN’S FALLING IN LOVE WITH MEHR-ANGEZ

  A year after the emperor’s marriage the empress showed signs of expecting a boy, and by God Almighty’s grace, when the gestation was over she went into labor. The emperor sent for Buzurjmehr, and asked him to prepare an account of his heir’s fortunes and draw the horoscope.

  By the grace of the Incomparable Progenitor, a sun of magnificence and prestige, and a luminary of grandeur and dignity, to wit, a worthy son arrived securely into the midwife’s arms under the constellation Aries at an auspicious moment. Drawing the horoscope, when Buzurjmehr matched the forms, he found the sun and the moon in Aries, and discovered Venus, Jupiter, Mercury, Saturn, and Mars also in auspicious constellations.

  Beside himself with joy, Buzurjmehr went to the emperor and announced: “This glorious child will grow up to reign over countless kingdoms and realms. He will be just and equitable, and the sovereign of a bountiful land, and shall rule for seventy years. However, from the knavery of one of his counselors he will often find himself in dire straits.” Having said this Buzurjmehr was about to propose a name, when two ayyars14 presented themselves and pronounced to the emperor: “The chosen spring for royal consumption that had dried up long ago has begun to flow of itself today, and gushes with water.” Deeming it a propitious augur, Buzurjmehr named the prince Naushervan.15 Some chroniclers have written that at the moment of the child’s birth the emperor was holding a cup of red wine, and Buzurjmehr said to him in Persian:

  Qibla aalam jam ra nosh-o-ravan ba farmayid

  Pray imbibe from the goblet, O Guide of the World!

  It is said that the emperor was so pleased at Buzurjmehr’s words that he invested him with a robe of honor, and named the prince Naushervan.

  On the eleventh day after the birth, even as the emperor was occupied with the festivities, informers brought word that a boy had been born to Alqash’s daughter. The emperor turned to Buzurjmehr and said, “It would do well to do away with Alqash’s grandson forthwith. If allowed to live, this boy would bestir great evil. However, I leave the matter to your esteemed opinion, and shall give it precedence over mine!”

  Buzurjmehr protected the infant and persuaded the emperor against murdering him. Then he took his leave of the emperor and went to Alqash’s house. And he named Bakhtiar’s son Bakhtak.

  When Naushervan reached the age of four years and four months, the emperor put him under Buzurjmehr’s care to be educated. A week later, Buzurjmehr arranged for Bakhtak to make an offering to the emperor, and used his good offices to have him appointed the beneficiary of Alqash’s estate. Then he began educating Ba
khtak alongside Naushervan.

  As Naushervan was intelligent and bright, he very soon mastered all the sciences of council and he excelled as well in martial sciences, making a name for himself in those fields, too.

  It so happened that merchants from China arrived in the city one day. After they had made their offerings to the emperor, they presented Naushervan with gifts and curiosities and lavished many delicate and wondrous marvels on him. Naushervan desired that they tell him about the emperor of China.

  Having discoursed at length about the Chinese emperor, the merchants said, “The emperor of China also has a daughter, Mehr-Angez of name, whose face is like the moon, whose forehead is bright as the sun, and whose bearing is as elegant as a flower’s, who is jasmine-bosomed, whose waist is thin as hair, and who is houri-like and fairy-limbed. The renown of her beauty has traveled the world from one end to the other.”

  These words about Mehr-Angez’s charms evoked a passionate longing in Naushervan’s heart and the flame of love kindled in the prince’s breast. Naushervan was overcome by passion’s potent spell. By degrees his verve and endurance gave way and his patience and composure took their leave. Eating and drinking became things of the past and Naushervan was struck silent. He gave up merriment and society altogether and soliloquized night and day in his heart thinking of Mehr-Angez. And sometimes, imagining himself before her, he would passionately intone love verses to proclaim his passion.

  However much Naushervan tried to disguise his condition, he was betrayed by his wan appearance, his chapped lips, and the cold sighs flowing from the well of his ailing heart. As his condition began to deteriorate with each passing day, well-wishers declared to the emperor: “We do not know what malady has befallen the prince (from the good fortune of his foes!) that he has stopped eating and drinking altogether. He neither listens to anyone nor speaks his heart and sits by himself transfixed by wonder.” Upon hearing this, the emperor became agitated and distraught, and sent Buzurjmehr to inform him of the prince’s condition.