Everyone in the camp, including Nafarman, Mahrukh, Shakeel and their other commanders were taken unawares. They had imagined that Maykhar would sound the drums of war and face them in the arena. They recited counterspells but they proved ineffective. Gusts of cold air hit them and they too, fell senseless.
They opened their eyes after a moment and asked for wine, recited verses in its praise, and swayed drunkenly. They picked up ewers and goblets and drank and indulged in horseplay, slapping each other and pulling each other’s whiskers. In their inebriation, some thought that the floor was a swelling sea and, holding their noses, attempted to dive headlong into it. After awhile, the whole camp gathered together and sang Holi songs to the accompaniment of drums, fifes and stringed instruments. The air filled with music, the loud voices of the drunkards, and the gurgle of ewers. The entire camp remained thus occupied. If someone tried to escape, a waft of cold air issued from the clouds and made him unconscious.
The three tricksters who had left the camp regarded the state of their companions from far away. They signalled with their whistles and Qiran the Ethiope joined them. They gave him a complete account of the event and Qiran retired to think of some solution. The other three tricksters went away in different directions.
After Maykhar Rhino-Head completed his spell, he ordered water-carriers to fetch him bath water to wash his blood drenched body. Qiran happened to pass by the riverside where water-carriers were filling their waterskins. He asked where they would take the water and, upon learning that it was meant for Maykhar, Qiran said to one of the water-carriers, “I have brought a message for you. I have something a friend of yours entrusted me to give you.” The water-carrier was tempted by these words and thought, Even though I do not know this man, perhaps someone sent me a gift. I should collect it from him.
Qiran took the water-carrier to a deserted place and hit him in the face with an egg of oblivion. The water-carrier fell unconscious and Qiran tied him to a tree. He put on a coarse waistcloth and slung the waterskin on his shoulders. Qiran fastened his belt and took his tools and, concealing his cleaver inside, returned to the riverside disguised as the water-carrier. There he filled up the waterskin and headed for Maykhar Rhino-Head’s camp. Seeing the water-carriers streaming into the sorcerer’s tent, the false water-carrier followed them inside.
He saw Maykhar sitting on a bench. The water-carriers came forward, poured water over him and went out to refill the waterskins. The false water-carrier stepped up behind Maykhar. He opened the mouth of the waterskin with one hand and took out his cleaver with the other. After pouring out the contents of the waterskin, he pulled it over Maykhar’s head. Bewildered, the sorcerer tried to turn around but Qiran struck, breaking Maykhar’s head with his cleaver. As Maykhar fell to the ground unconscious, Qiran speedily cut off his head.
A terrible clamour broke out. Darkness covered everything. The sorcerers ran toward Maykhar’s tent. The false water-carrier leaped out of the tent and escaped. As the sorcerers poured into their commander’s tent, they heard a terrible cry exclaiming, “I was killed. Maykhar Rhino-Head was my name!”
The sorcerers carried away his corpse amidst weeping and wailing.
The cloud that covered Mahrukh’s camp parted and dispersed. Everyone came out of their drunken trance and returned to their senses.
Princess Surkh Mu said to Nafarman, “I will leave now. I don’t know what happened here and what dispelled it.” Nafarman replied, “All of us were under Maykhar’s spell. Some trickster has killed him and the spell has been removed.”
Surkh Mu Wonder-Mane trembled with fear when she learned how quickly the tricksters had dispatched Maykhar hellward. She said, “Sister, this event has convinced me of what you stated about the tilism. What alacrity on the tricksters’ part! Bravo!” Nafarman said to her, “Don’t go anywhere. Stay and see what happens next.” Surkh Mu stayed on to witness what other marvels would unfold.
In the meanwhile, Qiran returned to the wilderness and signalled with his trickster’s whistle. Burq hurried to him and asked, “Master, why did I see flames and hear noises rising from Maykhar’s camp?” Qiran replied, “I dispatched Maykhar to hell. Hurry and bring Mahrukh Magic-Eye’s army to slay the enemy.”
Burq sped to Mahrukh’s camp and said to her, “Maykhar has been killed. Attack his army without loss of time.” Mahrukh ordered magic bugles to be sounded and the army quickly prepared. In no time, sixty thousand sorcerers fell upon Maykhar’s twelve thousand men.
Both sides deployed the use of magic. Slabs of ice dropped from the sky. A sorcerer created a river, another produced a rain of fire, yet another caused a shower of stones. Magic arrows and barbs fell in a hailstorm on the warriors. It was as if the end of the world had been proclaimed by the heavens.
Mahjabeen ordered her throne to be carried into the battlefield. Dil Aaram showered lightning bolts on the foe with her spells. As usual, Amar Ayyar went jumping and leaping around to rob, pillage and kill. He remained occupied beheading sorcerers and cutting off their legs.
Prince Asad now made his war declaration,
“Asad the renowned, the mighty lion
The favored one of the Lion of God
When I descend into the battlefield with drawn sword
From all corners rise cries of ‘Mercy’ and ‘Quarter’.”
Dark clouds had risen from all directions. Swords flashed like lightning. Heads fell like raindrops. Shakeel fought alongside Prince Asad, routing the enemy while safeguarding the prince from their magic.
Within a short time, Maykhar’s twelve thousand sorcerers were destroyed. The servants and shopkeepers accompanying them escaped toward Princess Bahar’s camp. Mahrukh and her army pillaged and ransacked the enemy’s encampment and returned to their camp. The commanders retired to their pavilions to rest. Celebrations began and offerings were made to Queen Mahjabeen on the occasion of her victory and triumph.
Princess Surkh Mu Wonder-Mane also rose from her seat and made an offering to Mahjabeen and said, “Your Excellency, if I were to return to my lands Afrasiyab would not spare my life since I was here with you when the battle started. Now, consider me one of your slave girls. I will live and die with you.” Mahrukh embraced Surkh Mu Wonder-Mane and conferred a robe of honor on her.
Surkh Mu dispatched a message to the commander of her armies, Shamshad Elephant-Body, to join her with his entire army and the treasury. She gave the letter to a sorcerer who flew away toward the City of Scarlet Locks by invoking his magic.
Now hear of Princess Bahar. She continued to advance and awaited the communiqué from Maykhar Rhino-Head that would inform her of the rebels’ arrest so that she could behead them and send their heads to Afrasiyab’s court.
Princess Bahar set up camp in a verdant forest when one day a group of sorcerers arrived crying and wailing. Hearing their cries for redress, Bahar sent for them and inquired about the reason for their distress. They told her about the destruction of their camp and how the garden of Maykhar Rhino-Head’s life was visited by a calamitous autumn. Heaven’s mercy! Bahar’s face was drained of all blood. She bit the back of her hands with fury and rage. Without loss of time, she mounted her magic peacock, a huge and towering bird comparable in size to a simurgh.
His wings and feathers were like tree branches
His legs like the legs of a throne
His beak as long as a column
And a great cavern of a mouth
Bahar left behind her entourage and headed alone for Mahrukh’s camp. When her army commanders saw Bahar marching in by herself, they quickly mounted their conveyances and beat the drums to order the army to march with her. Bahar said to them, “I will go alone, take on the enemy, and destroy them by myself. I do not wish to take the army with me because enemy tricksters mix among soldiers to stir up mischief and will be difficult to identify in a crowd. You may follow me but stop within ten miles of Mahrukh Magic-Eye’s camp. It will not take me long to capture all of them and I will return soon.” Bahar
took along a few companions and attendants and headed onwards.
In the meanwhile, a festive mood reigned in Mahrukh’s pavilion. Everyone was occupied in making merry, except Mahrukh Magic-Eye, who knew that upon learning of Maykhar’s death, Bahar would attack and cause mayhem.
Amar also learned that Maykhar Rhino-Head had preceded Bahar and now that he was dead it was only a matter of time before some calamity would visit them. He said to Mahrukh, “God will be your Protector. You must not despair and instead remain steadfast in the face of misfortune. I hear that Bahar is on her way and it will not bode well for us if I remain in the camp.” Amar left the pavilion and other tricksters also headed for the wilderness.
As Mahrukh busied herself with plans to ward off Bahar’s magic, a cold breeze like the breath of the Messiah wafted in. Mahrukh’s entire camp broke into shouts of “Spring is here! Spring has come!” Mahrukh and the commanders of her army involuntarily came out of their pavilions. They saw Bahar’s magic peacock with emerald feathers preening outside the camp and the sorceress princess in the saddle.
All the soldiers and commanders of Mahrukh’s camp came out of their tents and pavilions and gathered in one place to gaze on Princess Bahar’s resplendent face and her world-adorning beauty. Bahar recited a spell and clapped, causing clouds to rise from every direction. Mahrukh and her sorcerers recited counterspells and clapped to ward off the magic but to no avail. In the next moment, a yellow dust blew up from the ground and everyone in Mahrukh’s camp closed their eyes. When they opened them, they saw expansive, luxurious orchards wherever they looked in which the breeze wafted intoxicatingly. They beheld a yard-high crystal wall that stretched for miles on end.
After Mahrukh’s army had closed its eyes, Princess Bahar took out a paper, pen and inkwell from her sorcerer’s sack and wrote a tilism to create a garden with properties that would enchant anyone who stepped into its bounds. Since the garden was a tilism, tricksters could not enter it to rescue their companions once they stepped in it and became its prisoners.
When Mahrukh’s camp saw Princess Bahar fly on her peacock into the garden, all of them followed her inside. They beheld a luminous crystal platform that seemed to be made of light. A canopy of strung pearls rose over the platform. An ermine carpet was spread on the floor. Beautiful, moon-like cupbearers were gathered with goblets and ewers. They regarded Princess Bahar seated on a jewel-encrusted throne with lamps and bouquets placed before her. She wore a luxurious dress covered with jewels and held a jewel-enchased stick in her hand. If the rosy-cheeked beauties of the Garden of Life had beheld Bahar’s beauty they would have sacrificed their lives a thousand times for her. Even the beautiful Zulaikha had never seen such grace in her dreams. Bahar’s beauty was so astonishing that even charming fairies were fit only to be her slave girls. Her hair was a net for the birds of lovers’ souls; it entrapped the hearts of her admirers helplessly in its locks.
Her tongue was the keeper of celestial secrets
Her mouth the custodian of mysteries divine
The bright lobe of her ear made the morn of doomsday
shy away
Its dark mole the dark mark on the heart74
The swelling of her double chin was luminous like the sun
And the crease underneth an image of the crescent
The jasmine bushes bearing their bouquets
Expressed the fervour felt by the flower garden
Her soft jasmine bosom and her dainty walk
Disclosed a bold shyness, a timid audacity
Such were her shoulders, arms, wrists and hands that
The worshippers of beloveds would swear to them their
life’s allegiance
Had the connoisseurs of beauty regarded the fine sheen,
Of her breasts, and the dark knobs of her nipples
“Because her bosom is clear as the mirror
It reflects the pupils of her eyes” they’d have exclaimed
When she dewed it smelled of rose essence
Before the refulgence of her stomach the moon hid its face
The shining navel of that inestimable pearl
Was like the face of Venus on the face of Earth
Like the line of sight is hidden in the eyes
Her waist existed and yet it did not
So remarkably cast were her thighs
Even the glance of imagination could find on them no purchase
Why her shank should not rival the Light of Tur
The soles of her feet rivalled the cheeks of houris
Witnessing the garden’s bloom and Bahar’s lovely aspect, everyone, including Mahrukh Magic-Eye and all the companions and commanders of her army, cried out, “O Princess Bahar, we are your admirers and followers; we’re ready to sacrifice ourselves like moths on the burning taper of your resplendent aspect. Show us favor in our miserable condition. Admit us into your slavery, O Princess! Augment our honor by allowing us to wait upon you.”
Princess Bahar showed them not the least favor and picked a bouquet and flung it toward them. Again, all of them closed their eyes. That bouquet dispersed and every single flower petal was transformed into a garland. When Mahrukh’s companions opened their eyes they found these garlands around their wrists.
Under Bahar’s spell they all importuned her and cried, “Forgive us, O Princess, for we were led astray by Amar Ayyar the sly thief and trickster. Now pardon our trespasses and lead us before Emperor Afrasiyab.” Bahar said, “Very well, follow me. I will take you to the emperor.” With a leap, she mounted her magic peacock and headed out of the garden. Her prisoners followed her like a frenzied crowd, passionately reciting love couplets. The tilism garden disappeared after Bahar stepped out of its bounds.
The tricksters witnessed from their stations their camp marching frantically behind Princess Bahar. They signalled with their whistles and gathered together. Burq said to Amar, “Master, I ask leave to work my trickery.” Amar Ayyar said, “Bahar is a powerful sorceress and you will not prevail against her. And even if you did you would have to kill her to secure the release of our companions. I wish to capture Bahar alive and persuade her to join our cause. However, you are free to act as you please if you can achieve your end without killing her.” Burq and the other tricksters told Amar they could not secure their purpose without murdering Bahar. Amar then asked them to desist from taking any action and instead wait for him to find a solution.
Amar Ayyar put his hand on his zambil and asked Prophet Aadam for a miracle, saying, “O Aadam, change my appearance to that of a fourteen-year-old boy.” After praying, Amar took out the goblet of Prophet Ishaq and sprinkled himself with its pure and untainted heavenly water.
Immediately, a change came over him.75 He became a beautiful fourteen-year-old boy dressed in a red tunic, satin pants and richly embroidered shoes. A three-fold belt was tied around his waist and he sported an embroidered cap sewn with pearls and jewels. The thirteen charms he wore around his neck signified he had not yet reached his fourteenth year. His moon-like beauty showed innocence, yet the look in his eyes revealed a romantic disposition. His cheeks were soft as roses and he was matchless in beauty and coquettish airs.
After attaining this appearance, Amar Ayyar entered a scenic forest that lay four miles from the path taken by Princess Bahar. He stationed himself in a luxuriant grove reminiscent of the garden of paradise. Amar unfastened his tunic and took off his cap. With his eyes closed and his hands on his ears, he tearfully intoned love couplets and ghazals76 that sang of separation between lovers.
As Bahar advanced forward with her prisoners, a captivating voice reached her from a mile away and affected her profoundly. Princess Bahar was not only an expert in creating tilisms but was also equally gifted in musical arts and had a taste for the pleasures of life. Entranced by the voice, she flew on her magic peacock toward it.
When she arrived at the spot Bahar saw a charming adolescent boy singing with his eyes closed and holding a tree branch. He sported earrings, a neck
lace and armlets studded with jewels. His hands were painted with henna and his luminous aspect shone brighter than the full moon. From his luxurious clothes he appeared to be the darling of his family. He sang so exquisitely that even the birds and beasts were entranced. A bird was perched on that beloved youth’s arm, another sat atop his head, and a third had climbed onto his hand. But he sang completely oblivious to what went on around him.
Bahar approached the rosy-cheeked, false beauty and asked him, “O elegant cypress of beauty’s garden, of which happy garden are you a sapling? Indeed, your parents must have hearts of stone to let you stand here on this road that is full of peril.”
Hearing her voice, the false youth opened his eyes and turned a frightened face toward Bahar. Then he saluted her humbly and said, “I will leave. I did not know that this garden belonged to you.” His cheeks flushed with blood and Bahar realized she had frightened the innocent boy. She dismounted and came toward him. The false youth began to retreat, asking for her forgiveness with clasped hands and saying tearfully, “I made a mistake! You will never see me here again!”
Bahar thought, How terrible! He is so very innocent. God knows how he happened by here. She spoke softly to the boy, saying, “Don’t be afraid, child. I’ll be kind to you. Tell me the name of your parents.” Hearing Bahar’s words, the false youth stopped, and said affectedly, “Promise me you will not punish me. It was because my sister beat me that I ran away and came here.” Bahar was saddened to hear that fear had driven the boy from his home into the wilderness. She felt sorry for his parents and realized they must be searching for him. She said, “Have no fear. I will not punish you.” The false youth said, “Do you promise in Lord Sameri’s name?” Bahar said, “I promise in Lord Sameri’s name that I will not punish you.”
The false youth took a few hesitant steps toward Bahar but quickly retreated and his frightened look returned.
Hoshruba Page 27