Princess Nafarman, a noble and accomplished sorceress, was the governor of the City of Purple Poppy. She was wealthy and affluent, and a great beauty besides. When her magic birds brought news that Faulad Drug-Glutton had entered the precincts of her city on his way to the Pleasure Garden, she mounted a magic peacock and headed out to greet him bearing gifts and offerings.
As she rode out of the city, she beheld a ring of fire that stretched for miles and heard the weeping and wailing of prisoners from within. She beheld Faulad Drug-Glutton marching with his twelve magic slaves and the army of sorcerers. Princess Nafarman brought her magic peacock forward and called out, “Bravo, O warrior! A most excellent accomplishment! Pray stop a moment to have a word with me!”
At her greeting, Faulad stopped. His army halted and he cast a spell to halt the ring of fire as well. Princess Nafarman approached Faulad and said, “I would like to invite you to my fortress. Sup with me before you continue on your journey.”
Faulad decided that he could take a break as he had marched continuously without rest and the fortress offered a luxurious and safe stop. He answered, “I have rebels in my custody and must continue onwards. But as I cannot disregard your wishes, I will present myself before you shortly.” After securing his promise, Princess Nafarman returned to her city and gave orders that the city be decorated in Faulad’s honor.
The whole city was bedecked like a bride. The shops were adorned and the shopkeepers put on fine golden dresses for the occasion. Princess Nafarman made preparations for Faulad’s stay in a spring-blooming garden and allocated a heart-charming chamber and joy-bestowing hall for his entourage. A luxurious carpet was spread out in Faulad’s honor. Arrangements for a feast were made and after all the preparations were complete, Princess Nafarman came out of the city with her nobles and courtiers to welcome her guest.
Faulad left his army to guard the ring of fire and headed for the metropolis with his commanders and the twelve magic slaves. Princess Nafarman and Faulad met on the way and entered the city together.
Upon entering the City of Purple Poppy, Faulad witnessed a prosperous city populated with happy people. Taking in the sights, he finally arrived at the spring blooming garden that had been allocated for him. Praise the Lord! The loveliness of that garden surpassed any sight Faulad had ever seen. Golden spires rose from the gates surrounding the garden. They were surmounted with sunflowers carved from garnets that outshone the sun, and jewel-carved, emerald-feathered peacocks that carried pearl ornaments in their beaks. He entered through a pair of doors carved out of ivory. Inside, the walls of the garden were made of brass, decorated with red gold and exquisitely studded with jewels.
Faulad found the garden in full bloom. He saw the tastefully laid flowerbeds, the fine pathways, and the beautiful watercourses. The promenades were inlaid with rubies. The trees were laden with flowers. Vines heavy with fruit clusters and hedges of henna plants decorated the expanse. Water gurgled through the tiled watercourses, each spring shone as clear as the heart of the pure, and the courtyards were clean and spotless. Flocks of birds perched in every tree and the songs of the nightingales and the ringdoves proclaimed the arrival of spring with great fervour. Full of manycolored flowers, the sight of the garden put the House of Mani to shame.
There was a luxurious summerhouse in the heart of the garden lavishly appointed with a richly woven carpet, seats and thrones. All the accoutrements of luxury and comfort were provided and the place was brightly lit up with glass lights. Faulad entered and sat down as the twelve magic slaves and his commanders took their positions around him deferentially. At Princess Nafarman’s orders, the dance recital began. Beautiful cupbearers poured roseate Portuguese wine in bejewelled goblets. The wine worshippers importuned the cupbearers to fill desire’s cup.
Princess Nafarman presided over the arrangements and made sure all necessities for the revelry were provided. It was soon dark. The moonlit night, the breezy garden, and the noise of the singers together produced a most auspicious ambience for the evening. The revels were at their height and the garden was filled with an audience engrossed in singing and dancing. At every melodious strain of the singers, they felt shivers of ecstasy.
Now hear of the tricksters Qiran the Ethiope and Burq the Frank. They followed Faulad Drug-Glutton’s camp crying and wailing, hoping to find their chance and thinking of some way to free Mahrukh Magic-Eye’s army.
When they saw that Faulad’s army was about to stop and camp, they infiltrated it disguised as sorcerers and learned all the details of Princess Nafarman’s invitation and the feast she had arranged in Faulad’s honor. After gathering this information they followed Faulad to the gates of the city. While Faulad headed for the spring blooming garden and occupied himself there in carousing, the two tricksters stopped outside the city gates.
Qiran asked Burq to disguise himself as a laborer. Burq immediately put on a waistcloth and stood barefoot with a cloth-ring for carrying loads placed on his head. Qiran disguised himself as a cook and put on dirty clothes stained with turmeric and oil spots. He stuck vegetable knives in his waist, threw on his shoulder a cloth used for straining butter and sifting spices, and headed with Burq toward Faulad’s camp where he purchased a large quantity of greens, potatoes and yams.
With Burq carrying the vegetables on his head in a basket, the two of them headed for the city and soon arrived at its gates. The guards and sentinels barred their way and told them they would not let them pass without permission.
Qiran said to them, “We are the designated cooks for the feast. We are taking vegetables from Faulad’s camp at Princess Nafarman’s orders.” The guards said, “Wait here until we receive clearance for you to enter.” The false cook replied, “I am going back. You may yourself deliver these vegetables for the kitchen and when the meal is late you can answer for that, as well.” He threw the entire contents of the vegetable basket on the ground and turned to go.
The guards conferred and realized that if there was a delay in cooking and the supper was late Faulad would rise from the table hungry. The cook would be queried and he would blame the guards for not letting him pass. As a consequence, they would not only lose their jobs but their necks as well. They decided to let the cook pass and called out to him, “Master Cook, come back! You may enter. Nobody is stopping you.”
The false cook answered, “I have no such desire. I won’t turn back now.”
The guards ran after him and held his arm, saying, “Don’t be cross. You may freely enter.” The false cook replied, “Even should I return now I won’t be able to prepare the food in time. I was delayed because of you and you must answer for it. No, I am decided. I won’t return.”
The guards importuned the false cook but he remained adamant. Finally, all the guards made a collection and offered it to him, saying, “Master Cook, don’t be cross with us. We are also bound by orders like you. You can freely enter now. We made a mistake in recognizing you. Buy some sweets with this money.”
In the end, Qiran the false cook accepted the money. He put the vegetables back in the basket, which he gave to Burq to carry on his head. They both entered the city and saw the marketplace filled with all manner of goods and the citizens busy trading.
Qiran approached a greengrocer and said to him, “We are selling these leftover vegetables from the kitchen, given to us as our share. If you wish you may buy them at a discount.” The greengrocer offered Qiran two rupees, which he accepted and went forward.
Qiran and Burq now disguised themselves as attendants. They entered the garden where the feast in Faulad’s honor was being held and found the garden and its buildings a sight to behold. Bedding for the singers and dancers was laid out by the flowerbeds. Faulad was seated on a throne. The apparatus of revelry, the water and the wine services were placed around his throne. The saplings of the garden of beauty were gathered around him and he was completely engrossed with their singing and dancing.
Qiran said to Burq, “We must find a way to kill Faulad
before the night’s over. If the sun rises with Mahrukh’s army still imprisoned, our camp will meet its end and be slaughtered. Faulad will march straight to Afrasiyab and we will be helpless there.” Burq replied, “Master, I am unable to think of any device. Even if by some trick I were to approach him, I wouldn’t be able to kill him or make him unconscious.”
Qiran said, “Take a good look at the sorcerer sitting beside Faulad and memorize his face. I can think of a device to achieve our end if you disguise yourself as him and capture Princess Nafarman.”
Burq immediately went into a deserted corner of the garden and disguised himself as Faulad’s companion. Once he was ready, Qiran lit up a taper and led the way with the false sorcerer following him. They came out of the garden and arrived at the royal palace and inquired about Princess Nafarman. The servants told them she was overseeing the arrangements for the feast. Qiran asked them to inform her that someone had come with a message from Faulad.
When Princess Nafarman came out, she met Burq disguised as Faulad’s companion.
Nafarman said, “Why did you inconvenience yourself? You should have sent for me.” The false sorcerer said to her, “If you could spare a few moments to speak to me in private, I will fulfill the mission entrusted to me by Faulad.” Princess Nafarman assented and, leaving her servants behind, followed the false sorcerer, who led her into a deserted blind alley with Qiran following. As he was walking beside Nafarman, he made her unconscious by hitting her in the face with an egg of oblivion. The false sorcerer administered another dose of drug potion, then pulled out her tongue and stuck a needle in it so that she could not cast a spell even if she regained consciousness. He then took off Nafarman’s clothes. Qiran chose a spot and carried Nafarman into a tree where he tied her to a branch covered with thick foliage. In the meanwhile, Burq had changed his disguise to Princess Nafarman’s. Qiran now said to him, “Go to the gate of the garden and wait for me.”
The two tricksters separated and Burq headed for the garden door in Princess Nafarman’s disguise.
At the sight of their sovereign, the attendants and nobles of her court presented themselves in false Nafarman’s service. As they stood respectfully before her, a man in ragged clothes came and saluted the false princess. From the sparklers and fireworks he carried in his hands, he appeared to be a pyrotechnist.
The false Nafarman recognized Qiran in the pyrotechnist’s disguise. To learn what Qiran had in mind, she asked, “O pyrotechnist, do you have any fireworks ready, or can you prepare some?” The false pyrotechnist replied, “Your Honor, I can prepare some for you.” The false Princess asked, “How much would it cost us?” He answered, “One hundred thousand rupees.” The false Nafarman said, “This is a princely sum.” He replied, “Don’t give me the money. Just provide me with the gunpowder I require for the display. Whatever is spent will be accounted for. You may only compensate me for my labor.” She said, “How much gunpowder do you need?” He answered, “I need twenty-five drums.”
The false Nafarman ordered the captain of the armory to grant twenty-five drums of gunpowder to the pyrotechnist. Before long, the carts laden with drums of gunpowder arrived and the pyrotechnist said to the false Nafarman, “Order this gunpowder to be sent behind the garden wall and have the area cordoned off with a tent. I will prepare the fireworks myself with a secret recipe that will use up all this gunpowder in a single magnificent discharge.”
The false Nafarman now understood what the pyrotechnist intended.
As requested, a large tent was put up at the back of the garden where the gunpowder was stored and everybody was forbidden entry there.
Once he was left alone, Qiran the false pyrotechnist took a pair of daggers and tunnelled from there all the way to the summerhouse where Faulad Drug-Glutton was seated with the magic slaves and his commanders. Because Qiran the Ethiope was a puissant youth, he tunnelled from the north boundary of the garden to the south, and from the east boundary to the west before one watch had passed. He made two fuses by plaiting his mantle and filled up the tunnel by pouring all twenty-five drums of gunpowder into it. He put the fuses in the mouth of the tunnel and came out of the tent.
The false Nafarman awaited the false pyrotechnist at the garden’s door. He presented himself and said, “Your Honor, the fireworks are ready. If you accompany me, I will show how masterfully I have prepared them. But I request that you accompany me alone.” The false princess said to the nobles and attendants, “Stay here. I will send for you later.” Then she accompanied the false pyrotechnist to the back of the garden.
Qiran said to Burq, “I have made a tunnel and filled it with gunpowder. Go and untie Nafarman from the tree and make her conscious. I will light the fuses and this whole garden will blow up to the skies. Let Nafarman witness Faulad’s dreadful end and shed tears at her helplessness. As a needle is stuck in her tongue, she won’t be able to cause us any harm.”
Burq climbed the tree, untied Nafarman and restored her to consciousness. When Nafarman opened her eyes she found herself perched high in the tree in a frightful state. In the meanwhile, Qiran lit the fuses and ran away. Heaven’s mercy! When the burning fuses reached the tunnel, such a powerful explosion was heard that it seemed the heavens had burst asunder. Faulad, along with his commanders and magic slaves, was blown to bits with the summerhouse. Darkness fell over everything. Gunpowder, stones, walls and pieces of the summerhouse rained from the sky over the whole city. The shock of the explosion unlatched doors, caused fetuses to abort, and a panic-stricken populace to pour out into the streets. A great din like the Day of Judgment broke loose.
All of Princess Nafarman’s attendants ran toward the garden to find out what calamity had hit them. A rampage started. Suddenly terrible cries rent the air as the magic spirits proclaimed the sorcerers’ deaths. Above all of them rose the cry, “I was killed. Faulad Drug-Glutton was my name!” Fire and stones rained more heavily than before.
Finding the field to himself in that turmoil, Qiran lit up fire bombs and targeted the city buildings. Conflagrations started in many parts of the city. Many people were burned to death. Before those blazes could be put out, Qiran started more fires. The whole city rang out with the cries of “Help O Jamshed! Help O Sameri!” The fires engulfed the whole city and the citizens streamed out of the city gates.
Now hear of what passed outside the city walls. At the death of Faulad Drug-Glutton, his fiery cordon around Queen Mahjabeen’s army disappeared at once. Mahrukh, Shakeel, Amar and other tricksters imprisoned in magic chains and fetters were released.
When Amar heard the terrible explosion, he said to Mahrukh, “There! It’s done!” Mahrukh said, “What do you mean?” Amar answered, “I tell you the truth. The sound we just heard was that of Faulad dying. I reckon that either Qiran or Burq dispatched him to hell. Let us get out of this prison chamber. Our armies will not be far behind. We must now kill Faulad’s twelve thousand sorcerers.”
Mahrukh, Shakeel and others came out of the prison chambers, made their war cries, recited spells, and clapped. A dark dust storm rose and arrows that sent the prison guards running for cover rained from the skies.
Dil Aaram said to Queen Mahjabeen, “My lady, your grandmother, Princess Mahrukh Magic-Eye has declared war. Your army is standing as ready for battle as it was the moment the fiery cordon surrounded it. You too, must now attack Faulad’s camp.” Mahjabeen ordered her throne to be carried forward and fell upon Faulad’s army with her entire force.
Sorcerers from both sides recited spells and exchanged magic citrons and limes, magic steel balls, clusters of arrows and needles, and garlands of chillies. Lightning bolts flashed. Tridents and pentadents flew.
Prince Asad sounded his war cry and rode into the thick of the battle. Amar Ayyar attacked with Princess Mahrukh from another front. He too, shouted his war cry and, drawing his dagger, flung himself into the fray singing,
“I am a star among tricksters
In the world of cunning unique
With my a
rts, subterfuge and ruses
I bring calamities on entire tribes
From my sharp sword even the lions retreat
And seek refuge in the wilderness
My name is Amar, King of Tricksters
Angel of Death of the infidels!”
Each time he did a somersault and dove, he severed the legs of ten men. With every leap he beheaded ten infidels. As they fell dead to the ground, Amar cut off and secured their money pouches.
Prince Asad and others showed such resolute and excellent swordsmanship that not a single soul survived in the army of Faulad Drug-Glutton. The brave warriors encircled the enemy sorcerers and put each to the sword. Then they advanced on the City of Purple Poppy.
The night had ended in the meanwhile. The King of the Stars70 beat a retreat after receiving a wound from the malevolent ray dagger of the King of Noon.71 The Emperor of Planets72 now showed his might. He conquered the cities of Earth and sky and deputed his agents in every nook and corner of the heavens.
It was reported that the populace and army of the City of Purple Poppy had gathered outside the city walls. Mahrukh Magic-Eye fell upon them with her entire force. Tired after a whole night of commotion and dispirited in the absence of Princess Nafarman, the army of the infidels put up a brief fight before turning tail. The citizens asked for mercy. Mahrukh Magic-Eye ordered that general clemency be awarded and it was declared by the blaring of trumpets. Then she led the citizens back into the city.
Qiran approached Burq and said to him, “Our army has taken the city. Let us now take Nafarman before Princess Mahrukh.” They drugged Nafarman, bundled her up, and headed on their way.
Mahrukh Magic-Eye had already conducted Mahjabeen Diamond-Robe into the Hall of Audience. The criers proclaimed throughout the city that those who would disobey the new ruler would be severely punished.
Hoshruba Page 24