The Arabian Nights Entertainments Volume 1
by
Anonymous
Part 11 out of 12
Camaralzaman, whose grief was beyond expression, went to the
city, which was built on the sea-side, and had a fine port. He
walked up and down the streets, without knowing where he was, or
where to stop. At last he came to the port, in as great
uncertainty as ever what he should do. Walking along the
river-side, he perceived the gate of a garden open, and an old
gardener at work in it. The good old man, looking up, saw he was
a stranger and a Mussulman; so he asked him to come in, and shut
the door after him.
Camaralzaman entered, and, as the gardener bade him shut the
door, demanded of him why he was so cautious. Because, replied
the old man, I see you are a stranger and a Mussulman newly
arrived; and this city, being inhabited for the most part by
idolaters, has a mortal aversion to us Mussulmen, and use the few
of us who are here with a great deal of barbarity. I suppose you
did not know this, and it is a miracle that you have escaped,
considering how far you have come through them; these idolaters
being very apt to fall upon the Mussulmen who are strangers, or
to draw them into a snare, unless those strangers are instructed
how to deal with and beware of them.
Camaralzaman thanked the honest gardener for his advice, and the
security he offered him in his house. He would have said more;
but the good man interrupted him, saying, Let us wave
complimenting; you are weary, and want to refresh yourself. Come
in; eat what we have, and lie down to rest; you are very welcome.
He conducted him into his little hut, which, though small, was
clean, and well defended from the injuries of the weather. He
ordered the best provisions he had to be brought forth, and
entertained the prince so heartily, that he was charmed with it,
and at his request told him how he came there.
When he had ended his story, without hiding any part of it, he
asked him which was the nearest way to his father's territories?
For it is in vain, said he, to think of finding my princess where
I left her, wandering, as I have been, eleven days from that
place. Ah, continued he, how do I know that she is alive! and,
saying this, he burst out into tears that would have melted the
most cruel and obdurate. The gardener replied, that there was no
possibility of his going thither by land, the ways were so
difficult, and the journey so long; besides, there was no manner
of convenience for his subsisting; and if there was, he must
necessarily pass through many barbarous nations; that he would
never reach his father's; that the quickest passage would be to
go to the isle of Ebene, whence he might easily transport himself
to the isles of the children of Khaledan; that there was a ship
which sailed from the port where he was every year to Ebene, and
he might take that opportunity of returning to those islands. The
ship departed, said he, but a few nays ago, and it will be almost
a year before it makes the voyage again: if you will accept of my
house for your habitation so long, you will be as welcome to it
as to your own.
Prince Camaralzaman was glad he had met with such an asylum in a
place where he had no knowledge of any man, nor any man of him,
and where nobody could think it his interest to entertain or
preserve him. He accepted the offer, and lived with the gardener
till the time that the ship was to sail to the isle of Ebene. He
spent his time all day in working in the garden, and ail night in
thinking of his dear princess Badoura, in sighs, tears, and
complaints. But we must leave him a while, and return to the
princess, whom we left asleep in her tent.
THE STORY OF THE PRINCESS BADOURA, AFTER
HER SEPARATION FROM PRINCE
CAMARALZAMAN.
The princess slept a long time, and, when she awoke, wondered
that prince Camaralzaman was not with her. She called her women,
and asked them if they knew where he was gone. They told her they
saw him enter the tent, but did not see him go out again. While
they were talking, she spied her girdle, saw it had been meddled
with, and, on examination, found the little purse open, and the
talisman gone. She did not doubt but Camaralzaman had taken it in
order to examine it, and that he would bring it back. She waited
for him impatiently till night, and could not imagine what made
him stay away so long.
When it was quite dark, and she could hear nothing of him, she
fell into a violent fit of grief: She cursed the talisman, and
him that made it; and, had she not been restrained by duty, would
have cursed her mother who gave it to her. She was the more
troubled, because she could not imagine how her talisman should
have caused the prince's separation from her. However, amidst all
her sorrow, she retained her judgment, and came to a courageous
resolution not common with persons of her sex.
She and her women only knew of the prince's being gone; for his
men were then asleep, or refreshing themselves in their tents.
The princess, fearing they would betray her if they had any
knowledge of it, first composed her mind a little, moderated her
grief, and forbade her women to say or do any thing that might
make them suspect the truth. Then she undressed herself, and put
on prince Camaralzaman's suit; being so like him in it, that the
next day, when she came abroad, his men took her for him.
She commanded them to pack up their baggage and march forward;
and when all things were ready, she ordered one of her women to
go into her sedan; she herself on horseback, riding by her side.
They travelled several months by land and sea; the princess
continuing the journey under the name of Camaralzaman. They took
the island of Ebene in their way to the isles of the Children of
Khaledan. They went to the capital of the island, where reigned a
king whose name was Armanos. The persons who first landed giving
out that they brought prince Camaralzaman, who was returning from
a long voyage towards his own country, and was forced to put in
there by a storm, the news of his arrival was presently carried
to court.
King Armanos, accompanied by most of his courtiers, went
immediately to wait on the prince, and met the princess, just as
she had landed, going to the lodgings that had been taken for
her. He received her as the son of a king who was his friend, and
with whom he had always kept a fair correspondence; and carried
her to his palace, where an apartment was prepared for her and
all her attendants; though she would fain have excused herself,
and lodged in a private house. Besides this, he was so courteous,
that doing her common honours would not content him; he
entertained her three days together with extraordinary
magnificence and royal festivals.
The days of feasting being over, and king Armanos understanding
that the princess, whom he still took for prince Camaralzaman,
talked of going aboard again to proceed on her voyage, he was so
charmed with the air and qualities of such an accomplished
prince, as he took her, that he watched his opportunity when she
was alone, and spoke in the following manner: You see, prince,
that I am old, and cannot hope to live long. It is my great
trouble that I have not a son to whom I may leave my crown.
Heaven has only blessed me with one daughter, who cannot desire
to be more happy than a prince of your virtues can make her,
whose merit is equal with your birth. Instead of going home, stay
and take her from my hand: with her I will give you my kingdom,
and retreat myself to a quiet life, free from the business and
cares of the world, having long enough had the weight of the
crown upon me; and nothing could be a greater pleasure in my
retirement, than to consider what a worthy successor sits on my
throne, and rules my happy people.
The king of the isle of Ebene's generous offer to bestow his only
daughter in marriage on the princess Badoura, who could not
accept of it because she was a woman, gave her unexpected
trouble, and she could not presently think of an expedient to
extricate herself out of it. She thought it would not become a
princess of her rank to deceive the king, and to own that she was
not prince Camaralzaman, but his wife, when she had assured him
she was he himself, whose part she had hitherto acted so well,
that her sex was not in the least suspected. She was also afraid
to refuse him; seeing him so much bent upon the conclusion of the
marriage, that there was reason to apprehend his kindness would
turn to aversion and hatred, if the honour he offered her was
rejected, and that he might attempt something even against her
life. Besides, she was not sure of finding prince Camaralzaman in
the court of king Schahzaman, his father.
These considerations, added to the prospect of obtaining a
kingdom for the prince her husband, in case she found him again,
made her resolve to do what king Armanos would have her, to marry
his daughter. So, after having stood silent some minutes, she,
with blushes which the king took for a sign of modesty, answered,
Sir, I am infinitely obliged to your majesty for your good
opinion, for the honour you do me, and the great favour you
offer, which I cannot pretend to merit, and dare not refuse.
But, sir, continued she, I cannot accept of this alliance, on any
other condition, than that your majesty will assist me with your
counsel, and that I do nothing without first having your
approbation.
The marriage treaty being thus concluded and agreed on, the
ceremony was put off till next day. In the mean time the princess
Badoura gave notice to her officers, who still took her for
prince Camaralzaman, what she was about to do, that they might
not be surprised at it, assuring them that the princess Badoura
consented to it. She talked also to her women, and charged them
to keep the secret she had intrusted them with as they valued
their lives.
The king of the isle of Ebene rejoiced that he had got a
son-in-law so much to his satisfaction. The next morning he
summoned his council, and acquainted them with his design of
marrying his daughter to prince Camaralzaman, whom he introduced
to them, and made him sit down by them, taking the princess
Badoura for him; told them he resigned the crown to him, and
required them to obey and swear fealty to him. Having said this,
he descended from his throne, and the princess Badoura, by his
order, mounted it. When she was placed, the lords of the court
did her homage, and took an oath of allegiance. As soon as the
council broke up, the new king was proclaimed through the city;
several days of rejoicing were appointed, and couriers despached
all over the kingdom, to see the same ceremonies observed with
the like demonstrations of joy.
At night there was an extraordinary feasting at the palace-royal;
and the princess Haiatalnefous* [Footnote: This is an Arabic
word, which signifies Life and Soul.], dressed like a royal
bride, was led to the princess Badoura, whom every body took for
a man. The wedding was solemnized with the utmost splendour; and
the rites being performed, they were put to bed. In the morning
the princess Badoura went to receive the compliments of the
nobility in a hail of audience, where they congratulated her on
her marriage and accession to the throne. In the mean while, king
Armanos and the queen went to the apartment of the new queen
their daughter, and asked how she had spent the night. Instead of
answering them, she held down her head, and by her looks they
perceived that she was not contented.
King Armanos, to comfort the princess Haiatalnefous, bid her not
be troubled, as prince Camaralzaman might be in haste to go to
his father's court, and had not stopped at the isle of Ebene, if
it had not been in his way thither. Though we have engaged him to
stay by arguments with which he ought to be well satisfied, yet
it is probable he grieves to be all at once deprived of the hopes
of seeing either his father or any of his family. You must wait
till those first emotions of tenderness are over, and his filial
love wears off by degrees; he will then carry himself towards you
as a good husband ought.
The princess Badoura, under the name and character of prince
Camaralzaman, not only received the congratulatory addresses of
the courtiers and the nobility of the kingdom who were in and
about the city, but reviewed the regular troops of her household,
and entered on the administration of affairs as king with so much
majesty and judgment as gained her the general applause of all
who were witnesses of her conduct.
It was evening before she returned to queen Haiatalnefous's
apartment, and perceived, by the reception she met with, that the
bride was not at all pleased with the wedding-night. She
endeavoured to make her easy by a long discourse, in which she
employed all the wit she had (and that was as much as any woman
was mistress of) to persuade her she loved her entirely; she then
gave her time to go to bed; and while she undressed, herself she
went to her devotions; but her prayers were so long, that queen
Haiatalnefous was asleep before they were ended. She then gave
over, and lay down softly by the new queen, without waking her;
and was as much afflicted at being obliged to act a part which
did not belong to her, as in the loss of her dear Camaralzaman,
for whom she ceased not to sigh. She rose as soon as it was day,
before Haiatalnefous was awake; and, dressed in her royal rotes
as king, went to council.
King Armanos, as he did the day before, came early to visit the
queen his daughter, whom he found in sighs and tears; he wanted
no more to be informed of the cause of her trouble; he began to
resent the contempt, as he thought, which was put upon his
daughter, and could not imagine the reason of it. Daughter, said
he, have patience for another night. I raised your husband to the
throne, and can pull him down again; depend upon it, I will drive
him thence with shame, unless he gives you the satisfaction that
he ought to do. His usage of you has provoked me so much, I
cannot tell to what my resentment may transport me; the affront
is as much to me as to you.
It was late again before the princess Badoura came to queen
Haiatalnefous: she talked to her as she had done the night
before, and in the same manner went to her devotions, desiring
the queen to go to bed. But Haiatalnefous would not be so served;
she held her back, and obliged her to sit down again: What, said
she, do you think to deal by me this night as you have done the
two last? Pray tell me, what can you dislike in a princess of my
youth and beauty, who not only loves but adores you, and thinks
herself the happiest of all princesses in having so amiable a
prince for her husband? Any body but me would revenge the slight,
or rather the unpardonable affront that you have put upon me, and
abandon you to your evil destiny; however, though I did not love
you as well as I do, yet, out of pure good nature and humanity,
which make me pity the misfortunes of persons for whom: I am no
ways concerned, I could not forbear telling you that the king my
father is enraged against you for your carriage towards me, and
will to-morrow exert his fury in a manner I tremble to think of,
if you still use me as you have hitherto done. Do not therefore
throw into a despair a princess, who, notwithstanding your ill
usage, cannot help loving you.
This discourse embarrassed the princess Badoura more than any
thing she had yet met with; she did not doubt the truth of what
Haiatalnefous had said. King Armanos's coldness the day before
had given her but too much reason to see that he was highly
dissatisfied with her. The only way to justify her conduct was to
communicate her sex to the princess Haiatalnefous. She had
foreseen she should be under a necessity of discovering it to
her, yet, now she was about to make such a declaration, was
afraid how she would receive it: but, considering that if
Camaralzaman was alive, he must necessarily touch at the isle of
Ebene in his way to King Schahzaman his father's kingdom, that
she ought to preserve herself for his sake; and as it was
impossible to do it, if she did not let the princess
Haiatalnefous know who and what she was, she resolved to venture,
and try to get off that way.
The princess Badoura stood as one struck dumb; and Haiatalnefous,
being impatient to hear what she could say, was about to speak to
her again, when she stopped her by these words: Lovely and too
charming princess! I own I have been in the wrong, and I condemn
myself for it; but I hope you will pardon me, and keep the secret
I am going to reveal to you for my justification.
She then opened her bosom, and, showing her naked breasts,
proceeded thus: See, princess, if a woman, and a princesss like
yourself, does not deserve to be forgiven; I believe you will be
so good at least, when you know my story, and the terrible
affliction that forced me to act the part you see.
The princess Badoura, having discovered herself entirely to the
princess of the isle of Ebene, again prayed her to keep the
secret, and to accept her as a husband till prince Camaralzaman's
arrival, which she hoped would be in a little time.
Princess, replied Haiatalnefous, your fortune is indeed strange
that a marriage, so unhappy as yours was, should be rendered
unhappy by so unaccountable an accident, your love being
reciprocal, and full of wonders. Pray Heaven you may again meet
with your husband as soon as you desire! and be assured I will
keep the secret till he arrives. It will be the greatest pleasure
to me in the world to be the only person in the vast kingdom of
the isle of Ebene who knows what and who your are, while you
continue to govern the people as happily as you have begun: I
only ask to be your friend; nothing could be more to my
satisfaction. The two princesses tenderly embraced each other,
and, after a thousand vows of mutual friendship, lay down to
rest.
According to the custom of the country, the token of the
consummation of the marriage was to be produced and shown
publicly. The two princesses concerted a method to get over that
difficulty: queen Haiatalnefous's women, though cunning and
quick-sighted, were next morning deceived themselves, and king
Armanos, his queen, and the whole court, completely beguiled.
From this time the princess Badoura grew more and more in king
Armanos's esteem and affection, governing the kingdom to his and
his people's content, peaceably and prosperously.
While these things were transacting in the court of the isle of
Ebene, prince Camaralzaman staid in the city of idolaters with
the gardener, who had offered his house for a retreat till the
ship should sail for that island.
One morning, when the prince was up early, and, as he used to do,
was preparing to work in the garden, the gardener prevented him,
saying, This day is a great festival among the idolaters; and
because they abstain from work themselves, spending their time in
abominable mysteries and public rejoicings, they will not let
Mussulman work; who, to gain their favour, generally assist at
their shows, which are worth seeing; wherefore have nothing to do
to-day; I leave you here; and the time approaching in which the
ship uses to sail for the isle of Ebene, I will go to some of my
friends, and know when it will depart, and secure you a passage
in it. The gardener put on his best clothes, and went to the
feast.
When prince Camaralzaman was alone, instead of going to take part
in the public joy of the city, the solitude he was in brought to
his mind, with more violence, the loss of his dear princess: he
walked through the garden sighing and groaning, till the noise
which two birds made on a neighbouring tree, tempted him to lift
up his head, and stop to see what was the matter.
Camaralzaman was astonished at seeing these two birds fighting
with their beaks, and that in a very little while one of them,
fell down dead at the root of a tree; the bird that was
victorious took wing again, and flew away.
In an instant, two other large birds, that had seen the fight at
a distance, came from the other side of the garden, and pitched
on the ground, one at the feet, and the other at the head of the
dead bird: they looked upon it some time, shaking their heads, as
if they were grieved at the death of their departed friend; after
which, digging a grave with their talons, they interred the
defunct.
When they filled up the grave with the earth which they had
turned up to make it, they flew away, and returned in a few
minutes, bringing with them the bird that had committed the
murder, the one holding one of its wings in its beak, and the
other one of its legs; the criminal all the while crying out in a
doleful manner, and struggling to escape. They carried it to the
grave of the bird which it had lately sacrificed to its rage, and
there they made a sacrifice of it to the manes of the dead bird;
and, striking it often with their beaks, at last they killed the
murderer. They then opened its belly, tore out its entrails, left
its body on the place unburied, and flew away.
Camaralzaman remained in great astonishment all the time he stood
beholding this sight: he drew near the tree where this scene had
been acted; and, casting his eyes on the scattered entrails of
the bird that was last killed, he observed something red hanging
out of its body; he took it up, and found it was his beloved
princess Badoura's talisman, which had cost him so much pains and
sorrow, and so many sighs, since the bird snatched it out of his
hand. Ah, cruel! said he to himself, still looking on the bird,
thou hadst delight in mischief; so I have the less reason to
complain of what thou didst to me.
It is impossible to express prince Camaralzaman's joy. Dear
princess, continued he to himself, this happy minute, which
restores a treasure that is so precious to thee, is, without
doubt, a presage of our meeting again, and perhaps sooner than I
think of! Thank Heaven, who sent me this good fortune, and gives
me hopes of the greatest felicity that my heart can desire!
Saying this, he kissed the talisman, wrapped it up in a riband,
and tied it carefully about his arm. Till now he had been almost
a stranger to rest, his troubles always keeping him awake; but
the next night he slept soundly: he rose somewhat later next
morning than he used to do, put on his working clothes, and went
to the gardener for orders what he should go about. The good man
bid him root up an old tree that stood in a place to which he
directed him, and was decaying.
Camaralzaman took an axe, and began his work: cutting off a
branch at the root, he found that his axe struck against
something which resisted the blow, and made a noise; he turned up
the earth, and discovered a broad plate of brass, under which was
a stair-case of ten steps; he went down, and at the bottom
observed a cave of above six yards square, with fifty brass urns
placed in order around it, each urn having a cover. He opened
them all, one after another; and there was not one of them which
was not full of gold dust. He came out of the cave, rejoicing
that he had found such a vast treasure: he replaced the brass
plate on the stair-case, and next rooted up the tree, previous to
the gardener's coming to see what he had done.
The gardener had learned the day before that the ship which was
bound for the isle of Ebene would sail in a few days, though the
certain time was not fixed. His friend promised to inform him the
precise day, if he called on him to-morrow or the day after, and,
while Camaralzaman was rooting up the tree, he went to have his
answer. He returned with a joyful countenance, by which the
prince guessed he brought him good news. Son, said the old man,
(so he always called him on account of the difference between
their ages,) be joyful, prepare to embark in three days; the ship
will then certainly sail: I have taken a passage for you, and
settled the price with the captain.
In the condition I am at present, replied Camaralzaman, you could
not bring me more agreeable news, and in return I have also
tidings that will be as welcome to you. Come along with me, and
you shall see what good fortune Heaven has in store for you.
The prince led the gardener to the place where he had rooted up
the tree, showed him the way into the cave, and, when there, let
him see what a treasure he had discovered; thanking Providence
for rewarding his virtue, and the pains he had been at for so
many years. How, replied the gardener, do you imagine I will take
these riches as mine which you found out? The property of them is
yours; I have no right to them. For fourscore years, (so long my
father has been dead) I have done nothing but dig in this garden,
and could not discover this treasure, which is a sign that it was
destined to you by fate, or Heaven had revealed it to me. It
agrees with your quality as a prince, and suits your age, too,
better than mine: I am old, and have one foot in the grave, and
cannot tell what to do with so much wealth. Providence has
bestowed it upon you at a time when you are returning to that
country which will one day be your own, where you may make a good
use of it for the advantage of yourself, and the people over whom
you are to reign.
Prince Camaralzaman would not be outdone in generosity by the
gardener; they had a long dispute who should refuse it, for
neither of them would have it from the other. At last the prince
solemnly protested that he would have none of it, unless the
gardener would divide it with him, and take half. The good man
consented to please the prince; so they parted it between them,
which amounted to twenty-five urns each.
Having divided it, Son, said the gardener to the prince, it is
not enough that you have got this treasure; we must now contrive
to carry it so privately on board a ship, that nobody may know
any thing of the matter, otherwise you will run the risk of
losing it. There are no olives in the isle of Ebene, and those
which are exported hence are a good commodity there: you know I
have plenty of them; take what you will; fill fifty pots, half
with the gold dust, and half with olives; which being a common
merchandise from this city to that island, none will mistrust
that there is any thing but olives in the pots.
The counsel was good, and Camaralzaman followed it. The rest of
the day was taken up by him and the old Man in packing up the
gold and the olives in the fifty pots; and the prince, fearing
the talisman should come by any ill accident again, carefully put
it up in one of the pots, distinguishing it front the others by a
particular mark. [Footnote: This incident is also much the same
with one in the romance of Peter of Provence and the Fair
Maguelona.] When they were all ready to be shipped, the prince
retired into the gardener's hut with him; and discoursing
together, related the battles of the birds, with the circumstance
of the adventure in which he had found the princess Badoura's
talisman. The gardener was equally surprised and joyful to hear
it, knowing what trouble the prince had been at for its loss.
Whether the old gardener was quite worn out with age, or had
spent himself too much that day, he had a very bad night's rest:
he grew worse next day; and on the third day, when the prince was
to embark, was so bad, that it was evident he was near the point
of death. As soon as day began to dawn, the captain of the ship
came in person, with several seamen to the gardener's; and
knocking at the garden-door, Camaralzaman opened it, They asked
him where the passenger was who was to go with them: the prince
answered, I am he; the gardener, who agreed with you for my
passage, is extremely ill, and cannot be spoken with. Come in,
and let your men carry these pots of olives, and a few other
things, on board for me: I will only take leave of the gardener,
and then follow you to the water-side. The seamen took up the
pots and the baggage; and the captain desired the prince to make
haste; the wind being fair, they staid for nothing but him.
When the captain and his men were gone, Camaralzaman went to the
gardener to take leave of him, and thank him for all his good
offices; but he found him in the agonies of death; and had
scarcely time to bid him rehearse the articles of his faith,
which all good Mussulmen do before they die. The gardener made
the best efforts he could towards it, and expired in his
presence.
The prince, being obliged to hasten his departure, was at a loss
what to do; he was afraid he should lose his voyage if he staid,
and was very unwilling to leave his dead benefactor without
paying the last duties of a friend, according to their law. He
washed him, buried him in his own garden, (for the Mahometan's
had no church-yard in the city of the idolaters, where they were
only tolerated;) and though he did it as fast as he could, having
nobody to assist him, it was almost night before he had put him
in the ground. As soon as he had done so, he ran to the
water-side, carrying with him the key of the garden; designing,
if he had time, to give it to the landlord; otherwise to deposit
it in some trusty person's hand before witnesses, that he might
have it after he was gone. When he came to the port, he was told
that the ship had sailed several hours before, and was already
out of sight. It staid three hours for him; but, the wind being
fair, the captain durst not wait longer.
It is easy to imagine that prince Camaralzaman was exceedingly
concerned on being forced to stay in that country a year longer,
where he neither had, nor was willing to have, any acquaintance.
It was a sad thing to reflect how long he had to wait for the
lost opportunity: but what gave him the greatest affliction was
his missing the princess Badoura's talisman, which he now
concluded to be entirely lost. The only course that was left for
him was to return to the garden from whence he came, to rent it
of the landlord, and to go on with his gardening, that he might
deplore his misery and misfortunes by himself. He hired a boy to
help him to do some part of the drudgery; and, that he might not
lose the other half of the treasure, which came to him by the
death of the gardener, who died without heirs, he put the gold
dust in fifty other pots of olives, to be ready against the time
of the ship's return, and making the same voyage.
While prince Camaralzaman began another year of labour, sorrow,
and impatience, the ship, having a fair wind, sailed to the isle
of Ebene, where in due time she arrived at the capital city.
The palace-royal being by the sea-side, the new king, or rather
the princess Badoura, espying the ship as she was entering the
port, asked what vessel it was: she was answered, that it came
from the city of the idolaters, from whence it used to come every
year about that time, and was generally richly laden.
The princess, who always had prince Camaralzaman in her mind,
amidst the glories of her palace and power, imagined that the
prince might be on board; on which thought, she resolved, since
it might be so, to go on board the ship and meet him; not to
discover herself to him, (for she questioned whether he would
know her again), but to observe him, and take proper measures for
their making themselves mutually known. Her pretence was, to see
what merchandise was aboard, to have the first sight of the
goods, and to choose the most valuable for herself. She commanded
a horse to be brought, which she mounted, and rode to the port,
accompanied by several officers, who were in waiting at that
time, and arrived at the port just as the captain came ashore.
She ordered him to be brought before her, and asked whence he
came, how long he had been on his voyages and what good or bad
fortune he had met with; if he had no stranger of quality on
board, and with what his ship was loaded. The captain gave a
satisfactory answer to all her demands; and, as to passengers,
assured her there were none but merchants in his ship, who came
every year, and brought rich stuffs from several parts of the
world to trade with; calicoes stained or unstained; diamonds,
musk, ambergris, camphire, civet, spices, drugs, and olives.
The princess Badoura loved olives extremely: when she heard the
captain speak of them, Land them, said she; I will take them off
your hands. As to the other goods, let the merchants bring them
to me, and let me see them before they are disposed of, or show
them to any one.
The captain, taking her for the king of the isle of Ebene,
replied, Sir, there are fifty great pots of olives; but they
belong to a merchant whom I was forced to leave behind, I gave
him notice that I staid for him; but he not coming, and the wind
presenting, I was afraid of losing it, and so set sail. The
princess answered, It is no matter: bring them ashore; we will
drive a bargain for them, however.
The captain sent his boat to the ship and in a little time
returned with the pots of olives. The princess demanded how much
the fifty pots might be worth in the isle of Ebene. Sir, said the
captain, the merchant is very poor, and your majesty will not pay
too dear if you give him a thousand pieces of silver.
To satisfy him, replied the princess, and because you tell me he
is poor, I will order you a thousand pieces of gold for him,
which do you take care to give him. The money was accordingly
paid, and the pots carried to the palace.
Night drawing on, the princess withdrew into the inner palace,
and went to the princess Haiatalnefous's apartment, ordering the
olives to be brought thither. She opened one, to let the princess
Haiatalnefous taste them, and to taste them herself. Great was
her astonishment when she found the olives were mingled with gold
dust. What can this mean? said she: it is wonderful beyond
comprehension! Her curiosity increasing by so extraordinary an
adventure, she ordered Haiatalnefous's women to open and empty
all the pots in her presence; and her wonder was still greater
when she saw that the olives in all of them were mixed with gold
dust; but when she saw her talisman drop out of that in which the
prince had put it, she was so surprised that she swooned away.
The princess Haiatalnefous and her women brought the princess
Badoura to life again by throwing cold water in her face. When
her senses were restored, she took the talisman, and kissed it
again and again; but not willing that the princess
Haiatalnefous's women should hear what passed, and it growing
late, she dismissed them.
Princess, said she to Haiatalnefous, as soon as they were gone,
you, who have heard my story, must know that it was at the sight
of the talisman that I swooned. This is the thing which was the
fatal cause of my losing my dear husband, prince Camaralzaman;
but, as it caused our separation, so I foresee it will be the
means of our sudden meeting.
Next day, as soon as it was light, she sent for the captain of
the ship, and, when he came, spoke to him thus: I want to know
something more of the merchant to whom the olives belong which I
bought of you yesterday. I think you told me you left him behind
in the city of the idolaters: can you tell me what he does there?
Yes, sir, replied the captain; I can speak on my own knowledge,
and assure your majesty what I say is truth. I agreed for his
passage with a gardener, a very old man, who told me I should
find him in his garden, where he worked under him. He showed me
the place, and I went thither to call him; where I found what the
gardener had said to be true, and for that reason I told your
majesty he was poor. I spoke to him myself, and cannot be
mistaken.
If what yeu say be true, replied the princess Badoura, you must
set sail this very day for the city of idolaters, and bring that
gardener's man, who is my debtor; otherwise I will not only
confiscate all the goods belonging to yourself and the merchants
you have brought with you, but your and their lives shall answer
for your refusal. I have ordered my seal to be put on the
warehouses which contain your merchandise; nor shall it be taken
off till that man is brought here. This is all I have to say; go,
and do as I command you.
The captain could make no reply to this order, though to obey it
would be a great loss to him and his merchants. He acquainted
them with it; and they all very wisely considering that to lose
their goods and their lives would be a much greater, hastened him
away as fast as they could. They set all hands to work to load
the ship with provisions and fresh water for the voyage back, and
were so diligent, that she was ready to sail before night.
Accordingly, the captain weighed anchor, and made for the city of
the idolaters, where he arrived in a short time, the wind and
weather favouring him during the whole of the voyage. When he was
as near the city as he thought convenient, he would not cast
anchor, but let the ship ride off-shore; and, going into his boat
with as many hands as he wanted, he landed a little way off the
port, whence he went directly to Camaralzaman's garden.
Though it was about midnight when he arrived there, the prince
was not asleep. His separation from the fair princess of China,
his wife, afflicted him in the usual manner, and he lay awake
bemoaning his ill fortune. He cursed the day in which his
curiosity tempted him to touch the fatal girdle.
Thus did he pass those hours which are devoted to rest, and was
in these mournful meditations when he heard somebody knock at the
garden-door; he ran hastily to open it, half dressed as he was;
and had no sooner done it, than the captain and his seaman took
hold of him, and carried him by force to the boat, and so on
ship-board; when they set sail immediately, and made the best of
their way to the isle of Ebene.
Hitherto Camaralzaman, the captain, and his men, had not said a
word to each other. At last the prince broke silence, and asked
the captain, whom he knew again, why they had taken him away by
force. The captain, in his turn, demanded of the prince whether
he was not a debtor to the king of Ebene? I the king of Ebene's
debtor! replied Camaralzaman, in amazement; I do not know him; I
never had anything to do with him in my life, and never set foot
in his kingdom. The captain answered, You should know that better
than me; you will soon talk to him yourself; till then, stay here
and have patience.
The captain was not long on his voyage back to the isle of Ebene.
Though it was night when he cast anchor in the port, he landed
immediately; and, taking prince Camaralzaman with him, hastened
to the palace, where he demanded to be introduced to the king.
The princess Badoura was withdrawn into the inner palace.
However, as soon as she heard of the captain's return, and
Camaralzaman's arrival, she came forth to speak to him. As soon
as she cast her eyes on the prince, she knew the man for whom so
many tears had been shed, though he was still in his gardener's
habit. As for the prince, who trembled in the presence of a king,
as he thought her, to whom he was to answer for an imaginary
debt, it did not enter his thoughts that the person, whom he so
earnestly desired to see, stood before him. If the princess had
followed the dictates of her inclination, she would have run to
him, and, by embracing, discovered herself; but she put on
herself a constraint, believing that it was for both their
interests she should act the part of a king a little longer
before making herself known. She contented herself for the
present to put him into the hands of an officer who was then in
waiting, charging him to take care of him, and use him well, till
next day.
When the princess Badoura had provided for prince Camaralaman's
entertainment, she turned to the captain, whom she was now to
gratify for the important service he had done. She commanded
another officer to go immediately and take the seal off the
warehouse where the goods belonging to him and the merchants were
deposited, whom she discharged. She also gave the master of the
vessel a jewel worth much more than the expense he had been at in
both his voyages. She bade him, besides, keep the one thousand
pieces of gold he had got for the pots of olives; telling him she
would make up the account with the merchant he had brought with
him.
This done, she retired to the princess of the isle of Ebene's
apartment, to whom she communicated her joy, praying her still to
keep the secret. She told her how she intended to manage their
discovering themselves to each other, and to the kingdom; adding,
that so vast was the distance between a gardener and a great
prince, as he was, that it might be dangerous to raise him at
once from the lowest condition of the people to the highest
degree, though it was but justice it should be done. The princess
of the isle of Ebene was so far from betraying her, that she
rejoiced, and entered into the design; assuring her she would
contribute to it all that lay in her power, and do whatever she
would desire to serve them.
Next morning the princess of China ordered prince Camaralzaman to
be conducted to the royal baths, and apparelled in the robes of
an emir or governor of a province. She then went to the council,
with the name, habit, and authority, of king of the island of
Ebene. She commanded Camaralzaman to be introduced; and his fine
mien and majestic air drew upon him the eyes of all the lords who
were present.
The princess Badoura was charmed to see him again as lovely as
she had often seen him, and that pleasure inspired her to speak
the more warmly in his praise. When she addressed herself to the
council, having ordered the prince to take his seat among the
emirs, she spoke to them thus; my lords, Camaralzaman, the man
whom I have advanced to the same dignity with yourselves, is not
unworthy of the honour that is done him. I have known enough of
him in my travels to answer for him; and I can assure you he will
make his merit known to all of you, as well by his valour, as by
a thousand other shining qualities which distinguish him from the
rest of mankind.
Camaralzaman was extremely amazed to hear the king of the isle of
Ebene, whom he was far from taking for a woman, much less for his
dear princess, name him, and declare that he knew him, who, as he
thought, was certain he had never seen him before. He was much
more surprised to hear himself praised so excessively. However,
those eulogiums, excessive as they were, did not confound him,
though they came from the mouth of a king: he received them with
sueh modesty as showed that he deserved them, and did not grow
vain upon it. He porptrated himself before the throne of the
king; and rising again, Sir, said he, I want words to express ny
gratitude to your majesty for the honour you have done me: I
shall do all that lies in my power to render myself worthy of
your royal favour.
From the council-board the prince was conducted to a palace which
the princess Badoura ordered to be fitted up for him; where he
found officers and domestics ready to receive and obey his
commands, a stable full of fine horses, and every thing suitable
to the quality of an emir. When he was in his closet, the steward
of his household brought a chest full of gold for his expenses.
The less he conceived how it came about that he met with so much
good fortune, the more he wondered at it, never once imagining it
was owing to the princess of China.
Two or three days after, the princess Badoura made him
lord-treasurer, which office was then vacant, that he might be
nearer her person. He behaved himself in this new charge with
much integrity, and was so obliging to every body, that he not
only gained the friendship of the great, but also the affections
of the people, by his uprightness and bounty.
Camaralzaman, being the reigning favourite of the king of the
isle of Ebene, and in the esteem of all his subjects, would have
been the happiest man in the world, if he had had his princess
with him. In the midst of his good fortune he never ceased
lamenting her, and grieved that he could hear no tidings of her,
especially in a country which she must necessarily have passed in
her way to his father's court, and have arrived long before, if
she had not met with some ill accident by the way: he would have
doubted something, had the princess Badoura still gone by the
name of Camaralzaman, which she took with his habit; but, on her
accession to the throne, she changed it to that of Armanos, in
honour of the old king her father-in-law. There were very few
courtiers who knew that she had ever been called Camaralzaman,
which she assumed when she arrived at the court of the isle of
Ebene; nor had Camaralzaman so much acquaintance with any of them
as yet to inform himself further of her history.
The princess, fearing he might do it in time, and desirous he
should owe the discovery to herself only, resolved to put an end
to their mutual torments, for she had observed that, as often as
she discoursed about the affairs of his office, he fetched such
deep sighs as could be applied to nobody but her. She herself
lived in such constraint, that she could endure it no longer. Add
to this the friendship of the emirs and courtiers, and the zeal
and affection of the people; in a word, every thing contributed
to her putting the crown of the isle of Ebene on his head without
any obstacle.
The princess Badoura consulted the princess Haiatalnefous in
this, as she had done in the other parts of the adventure; and
both agreeing to have it done, she one day took prince
Camaralzaman aside, saying, I must talk with you about an affair,
Camaralzaman, in which I want your advice: it will not be so
proper to do it by day-light, for our discourse may be long, and
I would not be observed. Come hither in the evening: do not let
us wait for you; I will take care to provide you a bed.
Camaralzaman came punctually to the palace at the hour appointed
by the princess: she took him into the inner apartment; and,
having told the chief eunuch, who prepared to follow her, that
she had no occasion for his service, but only keep the door shut,
she carried him into a private apartment adjoining to the
princess Haiatalnefous, where she used to lie.
When she entered the chamber, where was a bed, she shut the door;
and, taking the talisman out of her pocket, gave it to
Camaralzaman, saying, It is not long since an astrologer
presented me with this talisman: you being skilful in all things,
pray tell me for what it is good.
Camaralzanrian took the talisman, and drew near a lamp to view
it. As soon as he knew it to be the princess's, he was
transported with pleasure, and she was no less pleased to see it.
Sir, said the prince, your majesty asked me what this talisman is
good for. Oh, king! it is only good to kill me with grief and
despair, if I do not suddenly find the most charming and lovely
princess in the world, to whom it belongs; whose loss I was the
occasion of, and of a strange adventure to me, the very recital
of which will move your majesty to pity such an unfortunate
husband and lover, if you have patience to hear it.
You shall tell me that another time, replied the princess; I am
very glad I know something of it already. Stay here a little, and
I will return to you in a moment.
At these words she went into her closet, put off her royal
turban, and in a few minutes dressed herself like a woman; and,
having the girdle round her which she had on the day of their
separation, she entered the chamber.
Prince Camaralzaman immediately knew his dear princess; he ran to
her, and tenderly embraced her, crying out, Ah! how much am I
obliged to the king, who has so agreeably surprised me!--Do not
expect to See the king any more, replied the princess, with tears
in her eyes: Let us sit down, and I will explain the enigma.
They sat down, and the princess told the prince her resolution,
when in the field where they encamped the last time they were
together, as soon as she perceived she waited for him to no
purpose; how she went through with it, till she arrived at the
isle of Ebene, where she had been obliged to marry the princess
Haiatalnefous, and accept of the crown, which king Armanos
offered as one of the conditions of the marriage; how the
princess, whose merit she highly extolled, took her declaration
of her sex; how she found the talisman in the pots of olives
mingled with the gold dust; and that her finding it was the cause
of her sending for him to the city of the idolaters.
When she had finished the relation of her adventure, she obliged
the prince to tell his. He informed her how the talisman
occasioned their separation, and the rest of the story relating
to him, as already told. They then bemoaned one another's ill
fortune, and rejoiced in their good: he complained of her with
the kindest expressions love could invent, chiding her tenderly
for making him languish so long without her; and she excused
herself with the reasons already related. After which, it growing
late, they went to bed.
The princess Badoura and prince Camaralzaman rose next morning as
soon as it was light; but the princess would no more put on her
royal robes as king; she dressed herself in her natural dress,
that of a woman, and then sent the chief eunuch to king Armanos,
her father-in-law, to desire he would take the trouble to come to
her apartment.
When the king entered the chamber, he was amazed to see a lady
there who was unknown to him, and the lord-treasurer with her, to
whom it was not permitted to come within the inner palace, nor to
any of the lords of the court. He sat down, and asked where the
king was.
The princess answered, Yesterday I was king, sir; but today I am
only princess of China, wife to prince Camaralzaman, the true son
of king Schahzaman. If your majesty will have patience to hear
our histories, I hope you will not condemn me for putting an
innocent deceit upon you. The king bade her go on, and heard her
discourse from beginning to end, with astonishment. The princess
finishing, said to him, Sir, though our religion does not suffer
men to have more wives than one, without some sort of scandal,
and we women do not easily comply with the custom men have
introduced to have several, yet if your majesty will consent to
give your daughter, the princess Haiatalnefous, in marriage to
the prince Camaralzaman, I will with all my heart yield up to her
the rank and quality of queen which of right belongs to her, and
content myself with the second place. If this precedence were not
her due, I would, however, give it her, being obliged to her for
keeping the secret so faithfully. If your majesty approves of it,
I am sure she will, and will pass my word that she will obey you
with joy.
King Armanos listened to the princess with admiration, and when
she had done, turned about to prince, Camaralzaman, saying, Son,
since the princess Badoura, your wife, whom I have all along
thought to be my son-in-law through a deceit of which I do not
complain, assures me that she will divide your bed with my
daughter, I have nothing more to do but to know if you are
willing to marry her, and accept of the crown, which the princess
Badoura should deservedly wear as long as she lived, if she did
not quit it out of love to you. Sir, replied prince Camaralzaman,
though I desired nothing so earnestly as to see my father, yet
the obligations I have to your majesty and the princess
Haiatalnefous are so weighty, that I cannot deny you any thing in
my power.
Camaralzaman was proclaimed king, and married the same day with
all possible demonstrations of joy; he being very well pleased
with the princess Haiatalnefous's beauty and love for him. The
two queens lived together afterwards as friendly as they had done
before, both being contented with king Camaralzaman's equal
carriage towards them; and they were alternately taken to his
bed.
Next year each brought him a son, and the births of the two
princes were celebrated with extraordinary feastings. The first,
whom the princess Badoura was delivered of, king Camaralzaman
named Amgrad, Most Glorious; and the other, who was born of queen
Haiatalnefous, Assad, Most Happy.
THE STORY OF THE PRINCES AMGRAD AND
ASSAD.
The two princes were brought up with great care, and, when old
enough, had the same governor, and the same master for the arts
and sciences which king Camaralzaman would have them learn; and
they had the same master for each exercise. The friendship which
from their infancy they entered into, occasioned an uniformity of
manners and inclinations which increased with their years. When
they were of age to keep a separate court, they loved one another
so tenderly, that they begged king Camaralzaman to let them live
together. He consented to it; and they had the same officers, the
same domestics, the same lodging, and the same table. King
Camaralzaman had so good an opinion of their capacity and
justice, that he made no scruple of admitting them into his
council at eighteen years old, and letting them by turns preside
there, while he took the diversion of hunting, or recreated
himself with his queens at his houses of pleasure.
The two princes being equally handsome, both in infancy and when
they were grown up, the two queens loved them with incredible
tenderness; in such a manner, however, that the princess Badoura
had a greater kindness for prince Assad, queen Haiatalnefous'
son, than her own; and queen Haiatalnefous loved Amgrad, princess
Badoura's son, better than her own son Assad.
The two queens thought at first that this inclination was nothing
but a friendship that proceeded from an exeess of their own for
each other, which they still preserved; but as the two princes
advanced in years, that friendship turned to a secret love, when
the graces that appeared in their youth blinded their reason.
They knew the criminality of their passion, and did all they
could to resist it; but their efforts proved vain. They were
accustomed to be familiar with them, to admire, to praise, to
kiss and caress them from their infancy, and could not desist
when they grew up, which inflamed their desires to such a height
that they could neither eat, drink, nor sleep. It was their and
the princes' ill fortune, that the latter, being used to be so
treated by them, had not the least suspicion of their infamous
desires.
The two queens had not discovered the secret of their passion,
nor had either the boldness to mention the prince she loved, by
word of mouth, or the guilty flame with which she burnt; they at
last resolved to do it by billet, and made use of king
Camaralzaman's absence to execute their wicked design, when he
was gone a hunting, which would take him up three or four days.
Prince Amgrad presided at the council-table the day of king
Camaralzaman's departure, and heard causes till three or four
o'clock in the afternoon. When he returned to the palace from the
council-chamber, an eunuch took him aside, and gave him a billet
from queen Haiatalnefous, Amgrad took it but read with horror.
Traitor! said he to the eunuch, as soon as he had read it
through, is this the fidelity thou owest thy master and thy king?
At these words he drew his sabre, and cut off his head.
Having done this, he ran in haste to the princess Badoura his
mother, bearing his resentment still in his looks, and showing
her the billet, told her the contents of it, and from whom it
came; but, instead of hearkening to him, she fell into a passion,
and said, Son, it is all a calumny and imposture: Queen
Haiatalnefous is a very discreet princess, and you are very bold
to talk after this rate. The prince was enraged at his mother, to
hear her speak so of him. You are both bad alike, said he and had
it not been for the respect I owe my father, this day should have
been the last of Haiatalnefous's life.
Queen Badoura might have imagined, by the example of her son
Amgrad, that prince Assad, who was as virtuous as the other,
would not be pleased with such a declaration of love as had been
made to his brother: yet that did not hinder her persisting in so
abominable a design; she wrote him a billet the next day, which
she trusted with an old woman belonging to the palace to convey
to him.
The old woman watched her opportunity to give it as he was coming
from the council-chamber, where he presided that day in, his
turn: the prince took it; and, reading it, fell into such a fury,
that, without finishing it, he drew his sabre, and punished the
old woman as she deserved. He ran presently to the apartment of
his mother queen Haiatalnefous with the billet in his hand; he
would have shown it to her, but she did not give him time crying
out, I know what you would have: you are as impertinent as your
brother Amgrad, Begone! and never come into my presence again.
Assad stood as one thunderstruck at these words, of which he
could not comprehend the meaning. When he recollected himself, he
was so transported with rage, that he had like to have given very
fatal demonstrations of his anger; but he contained himself, and
withdrew without making any reply, fearing, if he staid, he might
say something unworthy the greatness of his soul. Amgrad had put
the same constraint on himself; and, guessing by his mother's
carriage that she was altogether as criminal as queen
Haiatalnefous, went to his brother, to chide him, for not
communicating that hated secret to him, and to mingle his sorrow
with Assad's.
The two queens grew desperate when they found so much virtue in
the two princes; and, instead of reforming themselves, renounced
all sentiments of mothers and of nature, and conspired together
to destroy them: they made their women believe the two princes
had attempted to ravish them: they counterfeited the matter to
the life by tears, cries, and curses, and lay in the same bed, as
if the resistance they had made had wasted them so much, that
they were almost at death's door.
When Camaralzaman returned to the palace from hunting, he was
very much surprised to find them in bed together in tears; and
the part of desponding ladies was acted so well, that he was
touched with compassion, and asked them, with earnestness, what
had happened to them.
At this question, the dissembling queens wept and groaned more
bitterly than before; and, after pressing them again and again to
tell him, queen Badoura at last answered thus: Sir, our grief is
so extraordinary, and so just, that we ought not to see the light
of the sun nor live a day, after the violence that has been
offered us by the princes your sons. Their brutality is such,
that they entered into a horrid design in your absence, and had
the boldness and insolence to make attempts upon our honour. Your
majesty will excuse us from saying more; you may guess the rest
by our affliction.
The king sent for the two princes, and would have killed them
both with his own hand, if old king Armanos, his father-in-law,
who was present, had not held his arm. Son, said he, what are you
going to do? Will you stain your hands and your palace with your
own blood? There are other ways of punishing, if they are really
guilty.
He endeavoured thus to appease him, and desired him to examine
the matter, and see whether they did indeed commit the crime of
which they were accused. It was now a hard thing for Camaralzaman
to be so much master of himself as not to butcher his own
children. He ordered them to be put under arrest, and sent for an
emir called Giendar, whom he commanded to carry them out of the
city, and put them to death, as far off and in what place he
pleased; but not to return unless he brought their clothes back,
as a token of having executed his orders.
Giendar travelled with them all night, and early the next morning
alighted, telling them, with tears in his eyes, the cruel
commands he had received. Believe me, princes, said he, it is
next to death to obey your father, who chose me to execute what
he ordered concerning you. Would to Heaven I could avoid it! The
princes replied, Do your duty; we know well you are not the cause
of our deaths, and pardon you freely.
Then they embraced, and bid each other adieu with so much
tenderness, that it was a long time before they could leave one
another's arms. Prince Assad was the first who prepared himself
for the fatal stroke. Begin with me, Giendar, said he, that I may
not have the affliction to see my clear brother Amgrad die.
Amgrad opposed him in this; and Giendar could not, without,
weeping more than before, be witness of this dispute between
them, which showed how perfect and sincere their friendship was.
They at last determined the contest by desiring Giendar to tie
them together, and put them in the most convenient posture to
kill them at one blow. Do not refuse two unfortunate brothers the
poor comfort of dying together, said the generous princes; for
all things, even our innocence, are common between us.
Giendar agreed to it, and, as they desired, tied them to each
ether, breast to breast, close; and when he had placed them so as
he thought he might strike the blow with the more surety to
answer their request, and cut off their heads at once, he asked
if they had any thing to command him before they died?
We have only one thing to desire, replied the princes; which is,
to assure our father, on your return, that we are innocent; but
do not charge him with our deaths, knowing he is not well
informed of the truth of the crime of which we are accused.
Giendar promised to do what they would have him, and drew his
sabre. His horse, being tied to a tree just by, started at the
sight of the sabre, which glittered against the sun, broke his
bridle, and ran away with all speed into the country. Giendar set
a great price upon him, being a very good horse; besides, being
richly harnessed, the emir could not well bear the loss. This
accident so troubled him, that, instead of beheading the two
princes, he threw down his sabre, and ran after his horse to
catch him.
The horse gallopped on before him, and led him several miles out
of his way into a wood. Giendar followed, and the horse's
neighing roused a lion that was asleep not far off. The lion
started up, and, instead of running after the horse, made
directly towards Giendar, who thought no more of his horse, but
how to avoid the lion, and save his life. He ran into the
thickest of the wood, the lion pursuing him. Driven to this
extremity, he said to himself, Heaven had not punished me in this
manner, but to show the innocence of the princes whom I was
commanded to put to death; and now, to add to my misfortune, I
have not my sabre to defend myself!
While Giendar was gone, the two princes were seized with a
violent thirst, occasioned by the fear of death, notwithstanding
their steadfast resolution to submit to the king their father's
cruel order.
Prince Amgrad showed his brother a fountain not far off. Ah,
brother! said Assad, we have but a short time to live, and what
need have we to quench our thirst? We can bear it a few minutes
longer.
Amgrad, taking no notice of his brother's remonstrance, unbound
himself, and his brother likewise, whether he would or not. They
went to the fountain, and, having refreshed themselves, heard the
roaring of a lion, who, in pursuit of his prey, had got to the
end of the wood near where the princes were. They also heard
Giendar's dreadful cries; on which Amgrad seized Giendar's sabre,
which lay on the ground, saying to Assad, Come, brother, let us
go and help poor Giendar; perhaps we may arrive soon enough to
deliver him from the danger in which he now is.
The two princes ran to the wood, and entered it just as the lion
was going to fall upon Giendar. The beast, seeing prince Amgrad
advancing towards him with a sabre in his hand, left his prey,
and came against him with fury. The prince met him intrepidly,
and gave him a blow so forcibly and dexterously, that it felled
him to the ground.
When Giendar saw that the two princes were the men who saved his
life, he threw himself at their feet, and thanked them for the
great obligation he had to them, in words which sufficiently
showed his gratitude. Princes, said he, rising up and kissing
their hands, with tears in his eyes, God forbid that ever I
should attempt any thing against your lives, especially after
having so humanely and bravely saved mine! It shall never be said
that the emir Giendar was guilty of such ingratitude.
The service we have done, answered the princes, ought not to
hinder you from executing the orders you have received. Let us
catch your horse, and then return to the place where you left us.
They were at no great trouble to take the horse, whose mettle was
come down a little with running. When they had restored him to
Giendar, and were near the fountain, they begged and argued with
him to do as their father had commanded; but all to no purpose. I
only take the liberty to desire you, said Giendar, and I pray you
not to deny me, that you will divide my clothes between you, and
give me yours; and go so far, that the king your father may never
hear of you more.
The princes were forced to comply. Each of them gave him his
clothes, and covered themselves with what he could spare of his.
He also gave them all the gold he had, and took his leave of
them.
When emir Giendar parted from the princes, he passed through the
wood where Amgrad had killed the lion, in whose blood he dipped
their clothes; which having done, he proceeded on his way to the
capital city of the isle of Ebene.
On his arrival, king Camaralzaman asked him if he had done what
he ordered? Giendar, replied, See, sir, the faithful witnesses of
my obedience, giving him, at the same time, the clothes of the
princes.
How did they take the punishment I commanded to be executed on
them? Giendar answered, With wonderful constancy, sir, and a holy
resignation to the decrees of Heaven; which showed how sincerely
they professed their religion. But, particularly, they behaved
themselves with great respect towards your majesty, and an entire
submission to the sentence of death. We die innocent, said they;
however, we do not murmur; we take our death as from the hand of
Heaven, and forgive our father; for we know very well he has not
been rightly informed of the truth.
Camaralzaman was sensibly touched at emir Giendar's relation,
and, putting his hand into prince Amgrad's pocket, he found an
open billet. He no sooner knew that queen Haiatalnefous wrote it,
as well by a lock of her hair which was in it, as by her
handwriting, than he froze with horror. He then, trembling, put
his hand into the pocket of Assad, and, finding there likewise
queen Badoura's billet, his surprise was so great and so lively
that he swooned away.
Never did man grieve like Camaralzaman when he was recovered from
swooning. Barbarous father as thou art! cried he, what hast thou
done? Thou hast murdered thy own children, thy innocent children!
Did not their wisdom, their modesty, their obedience, their
submission to thy will in all things, their virtue; did not these
all plead in their behalf--Blind and insensible father! dost thou
deserve to live after the execrable crime which thou hast
committed? I have brought this abomination on my own head, and
Heaven chastises me for not persevering in the aversion to women
with which I was born. And, oh ye detestable wives! I will
not--no, I will not, as ye deserve--wash off the guilt of your
sins with your blood; ye are unworthy of my rage; but perdition
seize me if ever I see you more!
King Camaralzaman was a man of too much religion to break his
vow. He commanded the two queens to be lodged in separate
apartments that very day, where they were kept under strong
guards, and never afterwards saw them.
While the king of the isle of Ebene afflicted himself for the
loss of the princes his sons, of which he thought he had been the
author by too rashly condemning them, the royal youths wandered
through deserts, endeavouring to avoid all places that were
inhabited, and the sight of any human creature. They lived on
herbs and wild fruits, and drank only stinking rainwater, which
they found in the crevices of the rocks. They slept and watched
by turns at night, for fear of wild beasts.
When they had travelled about a month, they came to the foot of a
high mountain inaccessible for its cragginess; the stones being
black, and so rugged, that it was impossible to ascend over them
to the summit of the hill. At last, they discovered a kind of
path; but it was so narrow and difficult, they durst not venture
up it. This obliged them to go along by the foot of the mountain,
in hopes of finding a more easy way to reach the top. They went
round it five days, but could see nothing like a path; so they
were obliged to return to that which they had neglected. They
still thought it would be in vain to attempt going up by it. They
deliberated on what they should do for a long time; and at last,
encouraging one another, resolved to ascend the hill.
The more they advanced, they thought it was the higher and
steeper, which made them think several times of giving up the
enterprise. When one was weary, the other stopped, and both
rested together. Sometimes they were both so tired, that they
wanted strength to go further; then, despairing of being able to
reach the top, they thought they must lie down, and die of
fatigue and weariness. When they found they had recovered a
little strength, they would animate each other, and go on.
Notwithstanding all their endeavours and their courage, they
could not get to the top that day. Night came on, and prince
Assad was so much fatigued, that he stopped, and said to prince
Amgrad, I can go no further; I am ready to die. Stay as long as
you will, replied prince Amgrad; let us rest ourselves, and have
a good heart; it is but a little way to the top, and the moon
befriends us.
They rested about half an hour, when Assad having attained more
strength, proceeded on their way to the mountain's summit, where
they at last arrived, and lay down. Amgrad rose first, and,
advancing, saw a tree at a little distance: he went to it, and
found it was a pomegranate-tree, with large fruit upon it, and a
fountain near the foot. He ran to his brother Assad to tell him
the good news, and conducted him to the tree which grew by the
side of the fountain. They both refreshed themselves there by
eating each a pomegranate; after which they fell asleep.
Next morning, when they awoke, Come, brother, said Amgrad to
Assad, let us go on; I see the mountain is easier to be travelled
over on this side than the other; all our way now is down hill.
But Assad was so fatigued with the last day's journey, that he
wanted three or four days' repose to recruit his strength.
They spent them, as they had done many before, in discoursing on
their mother's inordinate desires, and deploring their
misfortunes. But, said they, since Heaven has so visibly declared
itself in our favour, we ought to bear them with patience, and
comfort ourselves with hopes that we shall soon see an end of
them.
At the end of three days' rest, the two brothers continued their
travels, and were five days in descending the hill before they
came into the valley. Then they discovered a great city, at which
they were very joyful: Brother, said Amgrad to Assad, are not you
of my opinion, which is, that you should stay in some place out
of the city, where I may come to you again, while I go to learn
the language, and inform myself of the name of the city, and in
what country we are? and when I come back, I will bring
provisions with me. It is not convenient for us to go there
together; there may be danger in it; and so much notice will not
be taken of one stranger as of two.
Brother, replied Assad, I approve of what you say; it is prudent;
but if one of us must part from the other on that account, I
cannot suffer that it shall be you; allow me to go; for what a
trouble will it be to me if any ill accident should happen to
you!
Ah! but, brother, answered Amgrad, the same ill accident you fear
for me, I am as much afraid of for you. Pray let me go; and do
you stay here with patience.--I will never yield to it, said
Assad: if any ill should happen to me, it will be some comfort to
think that you are safe. Amgrad was forced to submit; and Assad,
going towards the city, stopped in a grove at the foot of the
mountain.
Prince Assad took the purse of money which Amgrad had in charge,
and then proceeded towards the city. He had not gone far in the
first street, before he met with a reverend old man with a cane
in his hand: he was neatly dressed; and the prince taking him for
a man of note in the place, who would not put a trick upon him,
accosted him thus: Pray, my lord, which is the way to the
market-place? The old man looked on prince Assad, smiling: Child,
said he, it is plain you are a stranger, or you would not have
asked that question.
Yes, my lord, I am a stranger, replied Assad. The old man
answered, you are welcome then; our country will be honoured by
the presence of so handsome a young man as you are: Tell me what
business you have at the market-place?
My lord, replied Assad, it is nearly two months since my brother
and I left our own country, which is a great way from hence; we
have not ceased travelling ever since, and we arrived here but
to-day. My brother, fatigued with so long a journey, waits at the
foot of the mountain; and for him and myself I am come to buy
provisions.
Son, said the old man, you could not have come in a better time,
and I am glad of it, both for your and your brother's sake. I
made a feast to-day for some friends of mine, and a great deal of
victuals is left untouched. Come along with me; you may eat as
much as you please; and, when that is done, I will give you
enough to last your brother and you several days. Do not spend
your money when there is no occasion; travellers are always in
want of it; while you are eating, I will give you an account of
our city, which nobody can do better than myself, who have borne
all the honourable offices in it. It is well for you that you
happened to meet with me; for, I must tell you, all our citizens
cannot so well help and inform you as I can. I can assure you
that some of them are wicked. Come along; you shall see the
difference between a real honest man, as I am, and such as boast
to be so, and are not.
I am infinitely obliged to you, replied Assad, for your
good-will; I put myself entirely into your hands, and am ready to
go with you wherever you please.
The old man laughed in his sleeve to think that he had got the
prince in his clutches: he walked by his side as close as he
could; and, to preserve the favourable opinion which Assad had
conceived of him, he kept talking all the way with great civility
and politeness. Among other things, he said, It must be confessed
it was your good fortune to meet with me, rather than with any
other man; for which I thank God. When you come to my house, you
will know the reason why I express so much satisfaction at
meeting you.
Arriving at the old man's house, he introduced Assad into a hall,
where were forty such old fellows as himself, who formed a circle
round a flaming fire, which they adored. The prince was not more
seized with horror at the sight of so many men adoring the
creature for the Creator, than with the fear of finding himself
betrayed, and in such an abominable place.
While Assad stood motionless with surprise, the old cheat saluted
the forty grey-headed men round the fire: Devout adorers of fire,
said he, this is a happy day for us! Where is Gazban! Call him.
He spoke these words so loud, that a negro, who waited at the
lower end of the hall, came immediately to him. This black was
Gazban, who, as soon as he saw the disconsolate Assad, imagined
for what purpose he had been called; he therefore instantly
seized him, and with amazing nimbleness tied him hand and foot.
When you have done, said the old man, carry him down, and bid my
daughters, Bostava and Cavama, give him every day the bastinado,
and allow him only a little bread morning and evening for his
subsistence, sufficient just to keep him alive till the next ship
departs for the Blue Sea and the Fiery Mountain, when he shall be
offered up an agreeable sacrifice to our divinity.
As soon as the old man gave the cruel order, Gazban bore prince
Assad into a cellar underneath the hall, from whence they
proceeded through several dark rooms, till they came to a
dungeon, the descent to which was by twenty steps, where he left
him bound in chains of prodigious weight and bigness. Gazban then
went to give notice of it to the old man's daughters; but he
might have spared himself the trouble, their father having before
sent for them, and given instructions himself how they were to
proceed. Daughters, said he, I have just now caused a young
Mussulman to be secured in the dungeon; therefore, as you well
know how to do it, go instantly and give him the bastinado; and,
as you cannot better show your zeal for our divinity, and the
fire which you adore, than by your severity to him, do not be
sparing in the punishment you are to inflict.
Bostava and Cavama, who had been bred up in their hatred to
Mussulnien, received this order with joy: they descended
immediately into the dungeon, stripped Assad, and bastinadoed him
so unmercifully, that the blood issued out of the wounds, and he
was left almost dead. After this cruel execution, they put a
piece of bread and a pot of water by him, and retired.
It was some time before Assad recovered from the state of
insensibility in which they had left him; and, in reflecting on
his melancholy condition, he burst into a flood of tears,
bitterly deploring the misery with which he was surrounded. The
pleasing reflection, however, that this misfortune had not
happened to his brother Amgrad, gave him some degree of comfort
amidst his distress.
Prince Amgrad waited for his brother till the evening with great
impatience; but when it was two, three, and four of the clock in
the morning, and Assad not returned, his sorrow was so very
violent, that he grew almost desperate. He spent the night in
that dismal condition, and, as soon as it was day, went to the
city, which, on entering, he was surprised to see but very few
Mussulmen. He accosted the first he met, and asked him the name
of the place; who told him it was the city of the magicians, so
called because of the great number of magicians therein who
adored fire, and that there were but very few Mussulmen. Amgrad
then demanded how far it was to the isle of Ebene: he was
answered, that it was four months' voyage by sea, and a year's
journey by land. The man, having satisfied the prince as to these
two questions, hastily left him, and went about his business.
Amgrad, who was about six weeks coming from the isle of Ebene
with his brother Assad, could not comprehend how they came to
this city in so short a time, unless the way across the mountain
were much shortened, and not frequented because of the difficulty
of the pass.
Proceeding further through the town, he stopped at a tailor's
shop, whom he knew to be a Mussulman by his habit, as he had
likewise known the man with whom he had just before conversed.
Having saluted him, he sat down, and told him the occasion of
troubling him.
When prince Amgrad had done speaking, the tailor replied, If your
brother has fallen into the hands of some magician, depend upon
it you will never more see him; he is irrecoverably lost: Comfort
yourself, therefore, as well as you can, and beware of falling
into the same misfortune; to avoid which, I would advise you to
stay for some time at my house, and I will acquaint you with all
the tricks of these magicians, that, when you go from hence, you
may take the more care of yourself by being guarded against them.
Amgrad, impressed with the deepest concern for the loss of his
brother, accepted the tailor's offer, and returned him a thousand
thanks for his kindness.
THE STORY OF PRINCE AMGRAD, AND A LADY OF
THE CITY OF THE MAGICIANS.
Prince Amgrad went not out of the tailor's house for a whole
month, without his host accompanying him; at last, however, he
ventured to go to the baths. Returning home through a street in
which there was nobody but himself and a lady, he was surprised
at her approaching him unveiled. The lady, seeing a handsome
young man just come out of the bath, asked him, with a smiling
air, whither he was going? casting, at the same time, such
amorous glances, that Amgrad could not possibly resist her
charms. Madam, said he, I am going to my own house or yours, as
you please.
My lord, replied the lady, with an agreeable smile, ladies of my
quality never take men to their own houses; they always go to the
men's.
At this unexpected answer of the lady, Amgrad was very much
confounded; he durst not venture to take her home to his
landlord's, fearing that he would be so highly displeased with
him as to withdraw his protection, of which, considering he was
in a place where he must always be upon his guard, he stood in
too much need. Quite unacquainted with the city, he knew not
where to carry her, and yet was unwilling to lose so happy an
opportunity. In this uncertainty he resolved to leave it to
chance, and therefore, without returning an answer, he went
forwards, the lady following him. Amgrad led her through so many
streets, lanes, and alleys, that both grew weary with walking: at
last, however, they came into a street, having a great gate at
the end of it, which, being shut, prevented their going further.
The gate, which had a seat on each side of it, belonged to a
house fronting the street. Amgrad sat himself down on one seat to
take breath, and the lady, being also much fatigued, seated
herself on the other.
She then inquired of the prince, whether the house belonged to
him. Yes, madam, said Amgrad. Why, then, do not you enter?
replied the lady. Whom do you wait for? Fair lady, answered the
prince, I have not got the key of the gate; I left it with my
slave, who, being sent on an errand, is not yet returned:
besides, having been ordered to provide something good for
dinner, I am afraid we shall be under the disagreeable necessity
of waiting a long time for him.
The prince met with so many difficulties in satisfying her
passion, that he began to repent of having undertaken it; he
therefore contrived this answer, in hopes that the lady, out of
resentment, would have left him, and gone in pursuit of another
lover; but he was mistaken.
Your slave is an impertinent fellow, said madam, to stay so long:
when he comes back, I will chastise him myself as he deserves, if
you refuse to do it. It is by no means decent to sit here alone
with a man to whom I am an entire stranger. She then rose, and,
taking up a stone, began to force open the lock of the gate,
which being only made of wood, after the country manner, was very
weak.
Amgrad did all he could to hinder her: What are you doing, madam?
said the prince. For Heaven's sake, stay a little! What are you
afraid of? replied the lady; is it not your house? The breaking
of the lock will be no great damage; a new one can be purchased
at a trifling expense. She accordingly broke it open, and entered
the house.
Amgrad, when he saw the door forced open, gave himself up as a
lost man: he reflected whether it would be more advisable to go
into the house, or to retreat as fast as he could, to avoid the
danger which he believed inevitable, and was just going to have
recourse to the latter, when the lady returned.
Seeing that he did not enter, Why do not you come into your
house? said she. Fearing we have nothing ready, answered the
prince, I am looking to see if my slave is coming. Come in, come
in, said madam; it will be more prudent to wait within doors than
without.
Amgrad, though with great reluctance, followed her into the
house. After passing through a spacious court, which had been
newly paved, they ascended by several steps into piazzas, which
led to a large, open, and well-furnished hall, where he and the
lady saw a table ready spread with all sorts of delicate dishes,
a side-board heaped with fruit, and a cistern full of bottles of
wine.
When Amgrad saw everything in such order, he doubted not that he
was undone, the quality of the owner appearing by the richness of
the feast. Poor Amgrad! said he to himself, thou wilt soon follow
thy dear brother Assad!
The lady, on the contrary, being transported at the sight, cried
out, How, my lord, did you fear there was nothing ready? Your
slaves, you see, have done more than you expected. But, if I am
not mistaken, these preparations were made for some other lady,
and not for me. No matter; let her come; I promise you I will not
be jealous: I only beg the favour of being permitted to wait on
her and you.
Amgrad, though much concerned at this accident, could not help
laughing at the lady's pleasantry. Madam, said he, thinking of
something else besides what perplexed him, there is nothing in
what you fancy; this is my common dinner, and no exraordinary
preparations, I assure you. He could not prevail on himself to
sit at a table which was not prepared for him; he therefore took
his seat on a sofa [Footnote: A Turkish bench on which mats and
cushions are put.]; but the lady still kept teasing him with her
importunities. Come, sir, said she, you must certainly be hungry
after bathing; let us eat and enjoy ourselves.
Amgrad, complying at last with her request, sat down to table.
The lady, having eaten a bit, took a bottle and glass, and poured
out some wine; then, having drunk to Amgrad, filled another and
presented it to him, who pledged her. The more the prince
reflected on this adventure, the more he was anaazed that the
master of the house did not appear, and that a house so elegant
and well furnished should be left without a servant. It will be
lucky, said he to himself, if the man of the house does not come
till I am got clear of this intrigue. While he was indulging this
and some other troublesome thoughts, the lady ate and drank
heartily, obliging him to do the same; and they were almost come
to the last course when the master of the house arrived.
It happened to be Bahader, master of the horse to the king of the
magicians, to whom this house belonged; but, generally residing
in another, he seldom visited it, unless to regale himself with
two or three chosen friends. On such occasions he always sent
provisions from his other house by some of his servants, who were
just gone as the lady and Amgrad entered.
Bahader, as usual, came in disguise, and without attendants, a
little while before the time appointed for his friends coming,
and was not a little surprised to see the door of his house
broken open: he entered without making a noise; but hearing some
persons talking and making merry in the hall, he crept along by
the side of the wall, and put his head half way within the door
to see who they were.
Perceiving a young gentleman and a young lady eating, at his
table, the victuals which he had provided for his friends and
himself, and that there was no great harm done, he resolved to
make a jest of it.
The lady, who sat with her back towards the dooi, did not see the
master of the horse; but Amgrad, who had the glass in his hand,
and was just going to drink, observed him immediately: his
countenance instantly changed at the sight of Bahader, who made a
sign not to say a word, but to come and speak with him.
Amgrad drank and rose: Where are you going? said the lady. The
prince answered, Pray, madam, stay here a little; I shall return
in a minute; a small affair obliges me to go out at present.
Bahader waited for him in the piazza, and led him into the court,
to talk to him without being heard by the lady.
When Bahader and prince Amgrad were in the court, Bahader
demanded of the prince, how the lady came into his house, and why
they broke open his door? My lord, replied Amgrad, you may very
reasonably think me guilty of a very unwarrantable action; but if
you will have patience to hear me, I hope my innocence will
appear. He then told Bahader, in few words, what had happened,
without disguising any part of the truth; and, to convince him
that he was not capable of being so criminal as he might think,
he declared himself a prince, and related the reason of his
coming to the city of the magicians.
Bahader, who naturally loved strangers, was transported with an
opportunity of obliging one of Amgrad's rank and quality; for by
his air, his actions, his handsome discourse, and his noble look,
he did not in the least doubt the truth of what he had said,
Prince, said Bahader, I am very glad I can oblige you in so
pleasant an adventure as this; and, so far from disturbing the
feast, it will be a pleasure to me to contribute to your
satisfaction in any thing. My name is Bahader; I am master of the
horse to the king of the magicians. I commonly dwell in another
house, which I have in the city, but come here sometimes to have
the more liberty with my friends, for I cannot be so free at home
among my children and domestics. As you have made this lady
believe that you have a slave, I will support your assertion by
personating the character; and, to spare your excuses, I repeat
that it shall positively be so; you will presently know my reason
for it. Go to your place, and continue to divert yourself: when I
return, and come before you in a slave's habit, chide me for
staying so long; do not be afraid even to strike me. I will wait
upon you all the while you are at table till night: you shall
sleep here, and so shall the lady; and tomorrow morning you may
send her home with honour. I shall afterwards endeavour to do you
more important services. Go, and lose no time.
Amgrad would have made an excuse, but the master of the horse
would not let him, forcing him to go to the lady. He had scarcely
entered the hall before Balmder's friends arrived. Bahader called
them to him, and apologized his not entertaining them that day,
telling them they would approve of the reason when they knew it,
which should be in due time. When they were gone, he also went
forth, and dressed himself in a slave's habit.
Prince Amgrad approached the lady in a much better humour than
when he left her, on finding that the house belonged to a man of
quality, who had received him so courteously. As he sat down to
table again, he said, Madam, I beg a thousand pardons for my
rudeness; I was vexed that my slave should tarry so long: the
rascal shall pay for it when he comes: I will teach him to use me
so another time.
Let not that trouble you, said the lady, if he is guilty of any
faults, let him pay for it; do not think of him; we can enjoy
ourselves without him, I warrant. Amgrad continued at the table
with the more pleasure, being under no apprehensions at the
consequence of the lady's indiscretion, who ought not to have
broken open the door, had it even been Amgrad's own house. They
drank and laughed, and drank again, till Bahader arrived,
disguised as a slave.
Bahader entered like one who feared his master's displeasure for
staying out when he had company with him: he fell down at his
feet, and kissed the ground, to implore his clemency; and, when
he had done, stood behind him with his hands across, in
expectation of his commands.
Sirrah! said Amgrad, with a fierce tone and a fiery look, is
there such a slave as thou in all the world? Where have you been?
What have you been doing, that you came no sooner? My lord,
replied Bahader, I ask your pardon; I was endeavouring to do as
you ordered me, and could not despatch it sooner: besides, I did
not think you would come home so early.
You are a rascal! said Amgrad; and I shall bang your sides for
you, to teach you to lie, and to fail me another time. He then
rose up, took a stick, and gave him two or three blows, but so
slightly, that he hardly felt it; after which he sat down to
table again.
The lady, not satisfied with the chastisement Amgrad had bestowed
on him, also rose, took the stick, and struck Bahader so
unmercifully, that the tears came into his eyes. Amgrad, offended
at such freedom, and knowing that the pretended slave was not a
proper object of resentment, cried out, It is enough: but she
continued her rude discipline, regardless of the prince's
intercession: Let me alone with him, said she; I will punish him
severely, and I warrant that he will be more expeditious in
future. But, repeating her blows, Amgrad rose from the table, and
forced the stick out of her hand; which, however, she did not
give up without some difficulty. When she found that she could
beat Bahader no longer, she sat down, and railed at and cursed
him.
Baliader wiped his eyes, and stood behind his fictitious master
to fill out wine. When he saw they had done eating and drinking,
he took away the cloth, and put every thing in its place; and,
night coming on, lighted up the lamps. As often as he passed the
lady, she muttered and threatened him, and gave him abusive
language, to Amgrad's great disliking, who would have hindered
her, if he could. When it was time to retire, Bahader prepared a
bed for them, and withdrew into a chamber over against that where
they were to lie, and laid himself down, and soon fell asleep,
having been fatigued with his beating. Amgrad and the lady
entertained one another a good half hour afterwards; but the lady
wanting to go forth before she went to bed, passed through the
gallery that parted Bahader's chamber from theirs; and hearing
him snore, and seeing a sabre hanging up by him, she turned back
again, and said to prince Amgrad, Pray, my lord, as you love me,
do me one favour. In what can I serve you? replied the prince.
The lady answered, Oblige me so far as to take down your sabre,
and cut off your slave's head. Amgrad was astonished at such a
proposal from a lady, and doubted not it was the wine she had
drunk that instigated her. Madam, said he, let my slave alone; he
is not worthy of your notice. I have beaten him, and you have
beaten him; it is sufficient: I am very well satisfied with him;
he is seldom guilty of such faults.
That shall not do! replied the lady in a violent fury; the rogue
shall die, if not by your hands, by mine! Saying this, she ran
and took down the sabre from the place where it hung, drew it out
of the scabbard, and was going to execute her wicked design.
Amgrad, to prevent her, took the sabre out of her hand, saying,
You shall be satisfied; madam; the slave shall die, since you
will have it so: but I shall be sorry that any one but myself
should kill him. When she had given him the sabre, Come, follow
me, said he; make no noise, lest we wake him. They went into the
chamber, where Amgrad, instead of gratifying the lady's desire,
struck at her with the weapon, and severing her head with the
blow, it fell upon Bahader.
Had not the noise of the blow which Amgrad gave the lady, in
cutting off her head, wakened Bahader, her head falling upon him
would have done it: he was amazed to see Amgrad with a sabre
covered with blood, and the body of the lady lying headless on
the ground. The prince told him what had passed; and, ending his
discourse, said, I had no other way to hinder her from killing
you, she was so transported with fury against you. My lord,
replied Bahader, full of gratitude, persons of your rank, and so
generous as you, are not capable of doing so wicked an action as
she desired of you. You are my deliverer, and I cannot enough
thank you. After embracing him, in order to show him what sense
he had of his obligations, he said, We must carry this corpse out
before it is quite day. Leave it to me; I will do it. Amgrad
would not agree to that, saying that he would carry it away
himself, since he had done the deed. Bahader replied, You are a
stranger in this city, and will not come off so well as one who
is acquainted here: I must do it, if for no other reason than
both our safeties, to prevent our being questioned for her death.
Stay you here; and if I do not come back before day, you may be
sure the watch has taken me: and, for fear of the worst, I will
by a writing give you this house and furniture for your
habitation while you stay in this city.
When he had written, signed, and delivered the paper to prince
Amgrad, he put the lady's body and head in a bag, took it on his
shoulder, and went out with it from one street to another, taking
the way to the sea-side; but he had not gone far before he was
met by one of the judges of the city, going the rounds in person,
as was usual for the chief magistrates to do there. Bahader was
stopped by the judge's followers, who, opening the bag, found the
body of a murdered lady, bundled up with the head. The judge, who
knew the master of the horse notwithstanding his disguise, took
him home to his house; and, not daring to put him to death
without telling the king, because of his quality, he conveyed him
to court as soon as it was day. As soon as the king had heard
from the judge what a foul action the master of the horse had
been guilty of, as appeared by the circumstances of the matter,
he upbraided him in these words: Is it thus, then, that you rob
and murder my subjects, and then would throw their dead bodies
into the sea to hide your villany? Let us rid the world of such a
monster; go hang him up immediately!
Innocent as Bahader was, he received his sentence of death with
perfect resignation, and said not a word to justify himself. The
judge escorted him to his house; and, while the gallows was
preparing, sent a crier to publish throughout the city, that at
noon the master of the horse was to be hanged for committing a
murder.
Prince Amgrad, who had in vain expected Bahader's return, was in
a terrible consternation when he heard the crier publish the
approaching execution of the master of the horse. If, said he to
himself, somebody must die for the death of such a wicked woman,
it is I, and not Bahader; I will never let an innocent man be
punished for the guilty: and, without deliberating any more,
hastened to the place of execution, whither the people were
running from all parts.
When Amgrad saw the judge bringing Bahader to the gibbet, he went
up to him, and said, I am come to tell you, and to assure you,
that the master of the horse, whom you are leading to execution,
is wholly innocent of the lady's death: I am guilty of the crime,
if it is one to have killed the most detestable of women, who
would have murdered Bahader. So he told him the affair as it had
happened.
The prince having informed the judge how he met her coming out of
the bath; how she was the cause of going into the master of the
horse's house of pleasure, and what had passed till the moment in
which he was forced to cut off her head to save Bahader's life;
the judge ordered the execution to be stopped, and conducted
Amgrad to the king, taking the master of the horse with them.
The king had a mind to hear the story from Amgrad himself; and
the prince, the better to prove his own and the master of the
horse's innocence, embraced that opportunity to discover his
quality, with all the accidents that had befallen him and his
brother Assad, before and after their departure from the capital
city of the isle of Ehene to that time.
The prince having done speaking, the king said, I rejoice that I
have by this means come to the knowledge of you. I not only give
you your own and my master of the horse's life, whom I commend
for his civility to you, but I restore him to his office: and as
for you, prince, I declare you my grand vizier, to make amends
for your father's unjust usage of you, though it is also
excusable; and I permit you to employ all the authority I now
give you to find out prince Assad.
Prince Amgrad having thanked the king of the city and country of
magicians for the honour he had done him, and taken possession of
his office of grand vizier, ordered the common crier to promise a
great reward to any one who should bring forth prince Assad, or
tell any tidings of him. He sent men up and down the country to
the same purpose; but, notwithstanding all his and their
diligence, they could hear nothing.
THE SEQUEL OF THE STORY OF PRINCE ASSAD.
Assad, in the mean while, continued in the dungeon in chains;
Bostava and Cavama, the cunning old conjurer's daughters,
treating him daily with the same cruelty and inhumanity as at
first.
The solemn festival of the adorers of fire approached, and a ship
was fitted out for the Fiery Mountain as usual. The captain's
name was Behram, a great bigot to that religion. He loaded it
with proper merchandise; and, when it was ready to sail, he put
Assad in a chest, half full of goods, a few crevices being left
open to admit air sufficient to keep him alive. The chest was
stowed in the bottom of the hold for greater security.
Before the ship sailed, the grand vizier Amgrad, Assad's brother,
who had been told that the adorers of fire usually sacrificed a
Mussulman every year on the Fiery Mountain, suspecting that Assad
might unhappily have fallen into their hands, and designed as a
victim at that bloody sacrifice, resolved to search the ship in
person. He ordered all the passengers and seamen to be brought
upon deck, and commanded his men to search every part of the
ship; which they did; and yet Assad could not be found, being too
artfully concealed.
When the grand vizier had done searching the vessel, she sailed;
and as soon as Behram was got out to sea, he ordered prince Assad
to be taken out of the chest and fettered, to prevent him from
throwing himself into the sea, since he knew he was going to be
sacrificed. The wind was favourable for two or three days; after
which it proved contrary, and there arose a furious storm, which
drove the vessel so far out of her course, that neither Behram
nor his pilot knew where they were. They were afraid that the
ship would be dashed against the rocks; for they discovered land
and a dreadful shore before them. Behram saw that he was driven
into the port and capital of queen Margiana, which was a great
mortification to him.
Queen Margiana was a very devout professor of the Mahomedan
religion, and a mortal enemy to the adorers of fire. She banished
all of them out of her dominions, and would not let any of their
ships touch at her ports.
The tempest increasing, Behram was forced to put into the port of
the queen's capital city, or his ship would be dashed in pieces
against the rocks that lay off the shore. In this extremity he
held a council with his pilot and seamen. My lads, said he, you
see to what a necessity we are reduced; we must choose one of two
things; either resolve to be swallowed up by the waves, or put
into queen Margiana's port, whose hatred to all persons of our
religion you know well. She will certainly seize our vessel, and
put us to death without mercy. I see but one likely way to escape
her; which is, to take the fetters off the Mussulman we have on
board, and dress him like a slave. When queen Margiana commands
me to come before her, and asks what trade I use, I will tell her
that I deal in slaves: that I have sold all except one, whom I
keep to be my clerk, because he can read and write. She will no
doubt desire to see him, and being handsome, and of her own
religion, will have pity on him; she will certainly then ask to
buy him; and I refusing, will not let us stay in the port till
the weather is fair. If I sell him, perhaps she will give us
leave to tarry, and let us be well used.
If any of you have any thing else to propose that may be more
advantageous, I am ready to hearken to it.
The pilot and seamen applauded his judgment, and agreed to follow
his advice.
Behram commanded prince Assad's chains to be taken off, and
dressed him like a slave very neatly, as became one who was to
pass for his clerk before the queen of the country. They had
scarcely time to fit every thing for their purpose, before the
ship drove into the port, and then dropped anchor.
Queen Margiana's palace was so near the sea-side, that her garden
extended down to the shore. She saw the ship sail by, and sent to
the captain to come to her as soon as he had moored his vessel.
She was walking in her garden, and gave him to understand that
she waited for him.
Behram, who knew he would be sent for, landed with prince Assad,
whom he required to confirm what he had said of his being a
slave, and his clerk. So he went to the palace garden, and was
introduced to the queen. He threw himself at her feet, and
informed her of the necessity he was under of putting into her
port; that, he dealt in slaves, and had sold them all except one,
who was Assad there present, whom he kept for his clerk.
The queen conceived an esteem for Assad as soon as she saw him,
and was extremely glad to hear that he was a slave, resolving to
buy him on any terms. She asked Assad what was his name.
Great queen, replied Assad, with tears in his eyes, does your
majesty ask what my name was formerly, or what it is now? The
queen answered, have you two names then? It is but too true, said
Assad: I was once called Assad, The Most Happy; and now my name
is Motar, Devoted to be Sacrificed.
As his condition of a slave obliged him to use mysterious
answers, Margiana did not understand his meaning; she perceived,
however, that he had a great deal of wit. Since you are clerk to
the captain, said she, no doubt you can write well; let me see
your writing.
Behram had furnished Assad with pen, ink, and paper, as a token
of his office, that the queen might take him for what he designed
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