A dance recital was underway at the Hall of Audience and the nobles of the city were making offerings to Mahjabeen when Qiran and Burq arrived with Princess Nafarman. Mahrukh embraced both tricksters and seated them on golden thrones. When she asked them about their adventure, Qiran told them how he had dug the tunnel and blown it up with gunpowder. The whole court laughed upon hearing of his ingenious trick.
Mahjabeen conferred sumptuous robes of honor on both Qiran and Burq. They presented their rewards to Amar Ayyar, who stowed them away in his zambil and then took out a kerchief made of a coarse, thick cloth and put it on Qiran’s shoulder like a robe of honor. Qiran said, “Oh my! Today my honor is redoubled. No one before me was conferred such a reward by my lord and master.” Burq said to Amar, “Master, I participated equally in this mission with Qiran. Please confer a similar reward on me, too.” Amar answered, “You are not worthy of such rewards as yet. Qiran saved my life. You must not compare yourself with him. It is indeed his privilege alone to receive this honor.” Burq replied, “You will not have long to wait. I shall perform such a marvellous piece of trickery that you will be forced to confer a like reward on me.”
Then Qiran the Ethiope and Burq the Frank tied Princess Nafarman to a column in the Hall of Audience and restored her to consciousness. The last time Nafarman had opened her eyes she had witnessed the tunnel exploding and her city burning. Now, when she opened them she saw another marvel: Queen Mahjabeen sitting on her throne with Prince Asad.
Imagining that she was having a nightmare, Princess Nafarman closed her eyes. Amar Ayyar called out to her, “O Princess Nafarman, this is not the realm of dreams but of consciousness. The one for whom you threw a feast was blown to bits and killed. Your lands have fallen to the servants of Queen Mahjabeen Diamond-Robe. You will be forgiven if you submit your allegiance; otherwise you must die.”
As Nafarman was a wise and powerful sorceress, she realized the unravelling of the tilism had begun and that Prince Asad was, indeed, the Conqueror of the Tilism. She signalled that she was willing to submit allegiance. Amar now got up and removed the needle from her tongue and unfastened her.
Princess Nafarman kissed the throne of Queen Mahjabeen, who conferred a robe of honor on her and said, “When the tilism is finally conquered you will receive the lordship of many other kingdoms besides your own.” It was announced in the city that any of Princess Nafarman’s army commanders who wished to remain faithful to her should present themselves.
The dispersed army of the City of Purple Poppy started arriving from the desert and mountain passes. All of them were asked for their allegiance and, upon submitting it, were restored to their previous ranks. An additional army of twenty-five thousand sorcerers was thus gathered. After these victories, Amar said to Princess Mahrukh, “We must no longer remain in this fortress. It is a short journey from here to Afrasiyab’s court; if he attacks we will not be able to put up much resistance. His armies will surround us and we will be caught here like mice in a trap. We must return to our old camping grounds. If some powerful sorcerer takes us prisoner there our tricksters will kill him when he camps on the return journey.”
Mahrukh immediately acted on Amar’s advice and ordered the army to march. Princess Nafarman said to her, “I will accompany you now. When Afrasiyab hears of my conversion he will not spare my life.”
In short order, the camp prepared for marching and the tricksters and commanders, along with Princess Nafarman, set out on the journey riding magical birds and beasts.
They returned and camped near the City of Manycolors where they had first fought Faulad Drug-Glutton. The stately royal pavilion – as majestic as the firmament – was raised and Mahjabeen sat on the throne. Dancers performed and the imbibing of wine started. With the camp happily settled and occupied with these amusements, Qiran the Ethiope returned to his station in the wilderness.
Emperor Afrasiyab awaited Faulad Drug-Glutton’s arrival in the Pleasure Garden and whiled away his time in pleasure-seeking. The scaffolds were ready and the executioners were on hand.
The following day, some refugees from the City of Purple Poppy arrived near the Pleasure Garden crying for redress. Afrasiyab ordered them to be produced in his court. When the plaintiffs were conducted inside, Afrasiyab asked them to relate their woes. They cried out that the Fortress of the City of Purple Poppy was destroyed and gave a detailed account of Faulad Drug-Glutton’s death. Afrasiyab slapped his thigh in amazement and Heyrat broke into tears.
SORCERER ARZHANG OF THE STONE FIGURINE
Afrasiyab comforted Heyrat on the news of Faulad Drug-Glutton’s death and the fall of the City of Purple Poppy, saying, “O Heyrat, had I but wished I could have ordered a monster from the Grotto of the Seven Monsters to gobble up Mahrukh’s entire camp. But I indulge these rebels still because I have fostered and nurtured them for so many years. How can I kill them all of a sudden? I wish to chastise them in a manner that will convince them to give up their rebellion and bring me Asad and others as prisoners.”
Heyrat said, “Your Excellency, a person must act himself to guard his own interests. Pray give me leave to advance on them and accompany the army of the tilism with me. I will confront the foe and bring all of them prisoner before you.” Afrasiyab answered, “O Heyrat, did you not see how the tricksters killed Faulad by blowing up the tunnel? How can I send you with an easy mind against such bloodthirsty insurgents? Now, I too, shall remain hidden in the region of Zulmat and will not appear in Zahir.”
Heyrat asked, “Your Excellency, how would I receive orders from you?” Afrasiyab replied, “You may come to Zulmat yourself. I will appear to you but remain enclosed in the Magic Mirror. You will see and hear me but it will be my magic double. The sorcerer who is dispatched next against Mahrukh must take every precaution. He must turn his camp grounds to stone by magic so that the tricksters cannot tunnel underneath it.”
Sorcerer Arzhang was present in the court, fanning the emperor with a kerchief. He was Afrasiyab’s disciple in sorcery and a grand sorcerer himself. As Afrasiyab spoke these words, he came forward and humbly said, “Your Excellency, it was for such a day that you enlisted me in your service. Order me to go and put an end to their mischief and bring the rebels before you as prisoners. The tricksters would neither be able to approach me nor blow me up with a tunnel.”
Afrasiyab asked, “What magic would you employ?” Arzhang answered, “Whenever anyone approaches me I will recite a spell. If he is a trickster the spell will remove his disguise and I will arrest him. Nobody will be able to tunnel under my tent because I will turn the ground to stone.” Afrasiyab said, “Very well, then! Mahrukh must still be in the environs of the City of Purple Poppy. Arrest her, but be extra cautious when dealing with the tricksters.”
Arzhang immediately headed out of the Pleasure Garden and sounded the magic bugle. Renowned sorcerers gathered at his call and Arzhang said to them, “Ten thousand sorcerers must accompany me to destroy the enemy.” The sorcerers readied themselves and, mounting magic lions, tigers and dragons, set out with Arzhang.
After completing the journey, Arzhang and his armies arrived with great fanfare near the City of Purple Poppy. They saw the city lying in ruin and destruction with its buildings burned, its army absconded, and its citizens in panic as refugees in their own city. Arzhang camped there and wrote a letter to Mahrukh, which read:
“All praise is due lords Jamshed, Sameri and Laqa. O band of rebels, learn that I am Arzhang. There is no repelling my magic. None in the entire tilism has ever dared to challenge my might. None who has confronted me has prevailed. I will wipe out all traces of your existence in a trice. I will send all of you to your graves. O Mahrukh, you will come to a bad end if you do not present yourself immediately upon receiving this letter. End of Message. Compliments!”
After writing the letter, Arzhang took out a stone figurine from his sorcerer’s bag and said, “O magic slave girl, take this letter to Mahrukh.” That magic slave girl took the letter and dove into
the ground.
Mahrukh was watching a dance performance in her court amidst all the paraphernalia of revelry when the magic slave girl emerged from the ground and jumped into her lap. She delivered the letter and demanded a reply. Mahrukh became anxious after reading the message.
Noticing the look of distress on her face, Amar asked, “Is anything the matter?” Mahrukh replied, “One of Afrasiyab’s disciples, Arzhang, has come to fight us. He was trained by the emperor himself and brought up as his own son. Now there’s nothing left for us but to die, since we do not have the wherewithal to fight him.” Amar said, “Put your trust in God as you answer his challenge. All those who came to fight us before were as vainglorious as the pharaoh. But you must remember that for every pharaoh there’s a Moses. You saw how the tricksters killed all of them. The eyes of bitter longing and pining shed tears at their sad and terrible fate; crows and kites dined on their corpses; even a grave was denied them.”
At Amar’s advice, Mahrukh wrote out a reply to Arzhang’s letter.
First she wrote the name of God
For with His name it is obligatory to begin
Then she wrote the praise of the Prophet
The one worthy of all devotion
Then she wrote the following reply:
“I wait for you like a sword.
The commander of my valiant army
Is the stalwart warrior, Prince Asad of happy fortune.
Do you not regard the telltale signs of your downfall,
Have you not paused to consider, O sinner,
How the mighty sorcerers were dispatched hellward
In just a trice, by the hand of Amar Ayyar
You too are marked for destruction by the heavens
Unless you repent and give up all thoughts of battle
We have every desire to spare your life. But if not,
No quarter would be asked or given, you must remember.”
After writing this sharp reply, Mahrukh handed it to the magic slave girl, who dove into the ground, returned to Arzhang, and handed him the letter.
After reading it, Arzhang prepared to march to the battlefield. Mahrukh also ordered her army to be ready for battle.
Princess Nafarman said to her, “Your Excellency, I beg leave to return to my city and to write to Arzhang that I found it expedient to falsely swear allegiance to you and Amar because I had been captured by the tricksters and your armies had overrun my lands. I would invite him to my city for a feast and tell him that I will join forces with him to exact my long-planned revenge on your camp and avenge myself by killing the rebels. When he arrives I will kill or overpower him and take him prisoner.”
Mahrukh replied, “I will not let you face all these risks alone. What if he took you captive first?”
Burq interjected and said to Mahrukh, “Let Princess Nafarman depart with her army. In the process of receiving her message and replying to it, Arzhang will halt his march. I will find the opportunity to put him to death. Do not inconvenience yourself by leading your army into battle just yet.”
In the end, Mahrukh gave Princess Nafarman leave to return to her city. However, she secretly dispatched her son Shakeel with fifteen thousand sorcerers to lie in wait near Arzhang’s camp. Shakeel departed and the tricksters Burq, Zargham and Jansoz accompanied him. After arriving near their destination, they positioned themselves near the enemy and bided their time for an opportune moment.
After Princess Nafarman returned to her fortress, she penned a letter to Arzhang importuning him and offering excuses for her inaction. She wrote:
“O protégé of Emperor Afrasiyab, this slave girl was overtaken by calamities. I had no friend or aid in the evil hour that befell me. There were no options left for me and no way out but to submit my allegiance to Mahrukh Magic-Eye. It is my good fortune that you have arrived in these parts. Please increase my honor by visiting my humble abode. I will avenge myself on these recalcitrant rebels and join hands with you in making war on them.”
A high-ranking sorcerer brought Nafarman’s letter before Arzhang, who read it and decided to check the truth of its contents. He recited a spell and struck his hands together whereupon a magic slave emerged from the ground carrying a piece of paper and presented it to Arzhang. It read:
“Nafarman has written this note to trap you by deception. She has joined Amar Ayyar and plans to kill you by deceit after inviting you to her palace. Beware, do not be fooled by her tricks.”
Arzhang returned the paper to the magic slave who sank into the ground. Then Arzhang wrote a reply to Princess Nafarman’s letter, which read:
“O ungrateful wretch, I am well aware of your devices. Do you think you can fool me with your words? I am the mighty Arzhang, not some ordinary sorcerer. I will capture you and your accomplices in a moment and put you to a painful death. Now you must count your days. After arresting Mahrukh Magic-Eye I will capture you, too. There is nowhere in this tilism you can run to or hide where my hand cannot reach. Before long, you will receive due punishment for your devious conduct.”
Arzhang gave the reply to a messenger who departed to deliver it.
Now hear of the tricksters. After Shakeel’s army camped they went out in disguises and started making rounds of Arzhang’s pavilion. Zargham made himself into an attendant and positioned himself inside the pavilion while Jansoz waited at the entrance in a sorcerer’s disguise. After a while, when Arzhang looked up and saw the false attendant, he felt uneasy. He immediately recited a spell that made all the paint and lotion evaporate and Zargham’s real face appeared. Arzhang gave him a paper and said, “Take this letter to Princess Nafarman!” Unaware of the loss of his disguise, Zargham came forward and extended his hand to take the paper. Arzhang caught his hand and said, “How dare you think you could trick me, O wretch?” Zargham tried to draw his dagger but Arzhang recited a spell that made him lose the use of his limbs.
Arzhang called out, “Is there anyone on duty?” The false sorcerer, who was Jansoz, rushed in answer to his call. Arzhang said to him, “The tricksters have begun to attack. I have arrested one. Take him to the prison.” The false sorcerer answered, “Release him from your spell so that I may imprison him in mine.” Arzhang did as he requested and the false attendant led Zargham away. Suddenly, Arzhang grew suspicious, and he recited a spell. The two tricksters had not yet reached the entrance of the tent when the real face of Jansoz was revealed. Realizing that he too, was a trickster, Arzhang captured him. Then he recited another spell, which sank both Zargham and Jansoz up to their waists in the ground.
The day ended in the meanwhile, and the Painter of Nature painted the shapes of planets and stars on the page of the sky and the Artist of Creation lifted the curtain on the beautiful and shapely moon.
In the evening, Burq secretly went to Princess Nafarman and said, “O Princess, whenever a trickster goes near Arzhang his disguise is revealed. I have decided not to go near him and I request that you provide me with a pavilion, a jewel-encrusted bed and a luxurious carpet.” Nafarman answered, “They are at your disposal. They will be provided for you when you want them.” Burq loaded all those things onto a cart and headed out of the city. He chose a flower-lined pasture near Arzhang’s pavilion that was abundant with springs and pools. Burq sent the cart back to the fortress and set up his pavilion in that scenic and pleasant spot. He encircled it with flowers to give it the appearance of a large bouquet. Then he covered it with garlands steeped in a perfume drug and, after proofing his own senses with an antidote, sprinkled the perfume drug in large quantities both inside and outside the pavilion.
Burq set the bed, covered it with a sheet, arranged cushions and pillows, and rubbed the perfume drug all over the furniture. He put a seat under the bed and pulled up the panels of the pavilion that opened onto a verdant grassland that refreshed the soul.
A carpet of moonbeams spread over the whole expanse. The grains of sand sparkled like the stars in the heavens. Springs burbled all around on their banks; deer, buffalo, hog dee
r and axis deer frolicked in the moonlight.
Burq disguised himself as a fakir by smearing his face with ash and plaiting and coating his hair with clay. He put hoops and earrings in his ears, wore bead necklaces and bracelets of crystal beads and placed a gold cloth-ring on his head. He spread a deerskin at the entrance of his pavilion and sat there playing a tambourine and singing a devotional song in Sameri’s praise.
Meanwhile, Arzhang secured the boundaries of his pavilion after imprisoning both tricksters inside so that neither friend nor foe could enter. He also sent away his attendants and cast a spell that turned the ground to adamantine so that no one could tunnel in from underneath.
Arzhang settled down after making all these preparations and heard the captivating notes of someone singing Sameri’s adulation. He discovered the music originated from the forest at the back of his pavilion. He headed out and arrived near Burq’s tent. Moonlight bathed the entire grassland. Seeing Arzhang approach, Burq got up and ran and hid himself in the bushes beside a spring. When Arzhang reached the pavilion, he noticed the deerskin spread there and beheld a fully appointed pavilion lying empty. The place was now all quiet.
When he entered the pavilion, Arzhang found it a most lavish abode, redolent with a fragrance that perfumed the very core of his soul. As he sat down on the bed, he suddenly wondered if it might be a trickster’s dwelling. He recited a spell whereupon a magic slave girl of stone emerged from the ground carrying a piece of paper. Arzhang took the paper from her hands and read the following written on it:
“This is the pavilion of the trickster Burq the Frank. He has already killed you. Now you are dead.”
Even as Arzhang was reading it, the perfume drug had worked on his senses and overpowered him. He sneezed and fell unconscious. Burq, who had stealthily come out of the bushes where he was hiding and closed on Arzhang, entered the pavilion and instantly beheaded him.
Hoshruba Page 25