One Thousand and One Nights

by Richard Burton

  Unto the loved ones’ stead I came, as hoping, by their sight,

  To quench the fire that burnt in me of love-longing and

  woe;

  But no beloved found I there, nor aught, indeed, I found, Save

  two ill-omened ones, an owl And eke a corby-crow.

  And quoth the tongue o’ the case to me, “Thou hast been

  tyrannous And hast two longing lovers torn, the one the

  other fro!

  Taste of the anguish, then, of love what thou hast made them

  taste And live, ‘twixt agony and tears, in sorrow evermo.”

  Then he descended, weeping, and bade the servants go forth and search the island for their mistress; so they sought for her, but found her not. As for Uns el Wujoud, when he was certified that Rose-in-bud was indeed gone, he gave a great cry and fell down in a swoon, nor came to himself for a long time, whilst the folk deemed that a ravishment from the Merciful One had taken him and that he was absorbed in contemplation of the splendour of the majesty of the Requiter of good and evil. Then, despairing of finding Uns el Wujoud and seeing that Ibrahim was distracted for the loss of his daughter, King Dirbas’s Vizier addressed himself to return to his own country, for all he had not attained the object of his journey, and said to Ibrahim? ‘I have a mind to take yonder fakir with me; it may be God, for his sake, will incline the King’s heart to me, for that he is a holy man; and after, I will send him to Ispahan, which is near our country.’ ‘Do &as thou wilt,’ answered Ibrahim.

  So they took leave of one another and departed, each for his own country, King Dirbas’s Vizier carrying with him Uns el Wujoud, who was still insensible. They bore him with them on muleback, unknowing if he were carried or not, for three days, at the end of which time he came to himself and said, ‘Where am I?’ ‘Thou art in company with King Dirbas’s Vizier,’ answered they and went and told the latter, who sent him rose-water and sherbet of sugar, of which they gave him to drink and restored him. Then they fared on till they drew near King Dirbas’s capital and the King, being advised of his Vizier’s coming, wrote to him, saying, ‘An Uns el Wujoud be not with thee, come not to me ever.’

  When the Vizier read the royal mandate, it was grievous to him, for he knew not that Rose-in-bud was with the King nor why he had sent him in quest of Uns el Wujoud, neither knew he that the fakir he had with him was Uns el Wujoud himself; and the latter in like manner knew not whither they were bound nor that the Vizier had been despatched in quest of himself. So, when he saw him thus chagrined, he said to him, ‘What ails thee?’ And he answered, ‘I was sent by the King on an errand, which I have not been able to accomplish. So, when he heard of my return, he wrote to me? saying, “Enter not my city, except thou have fulfilled my need.”’ ‘And what is the King’s need?’ asked Uns el Wujoud. So the Vizier told him the case, and he said, ‘Fear nothing, but go boldly to the King and take me with thee; and I will be surety to thee for the coming of Uns el Wujoud.’ At this the Vizier rejoiced and said, ‘Is this true that thou sayest?’ ‘Yes,’ answered he; whereupon the Vizier mounted and carried him to King Dirbas, who said to him, ‘Where is Uns el Wujoud?’ ‘O King,’ answered the young man, ‘I know where he is.’ So the King called him to him and said, ‘Where?’ ‘Near at hand, replied Uns d Wujoud. ‘Tell me what thou wouldst with him, and I will fetch him to thee.’ ‘With all my heart,’ answered the King; ‘but the case calls for privacy.’

  So he bade the folk withdraw and, carrying Uns el Wujoud into his closet, told him the whole story; whereupon quoth the youth, ‘Clothe me in rice apparel, and I will eftsoons bring Uns el Wujoud to thee.’ So they brought him a sumptuous dress, and he donned it and said, ‘I am the Delight of the World and the Mortification of the Envious.’ So saying, he transfixed ail hearts with his glances and recited the following verses:

  My loved one’s memory cheers me still in this my solitude And

  doth wanhope from me away, as I in absence brood.

  I have no helper but my tears; yet, when from out mine eyes

  They flow, they lighten my despair and ease my drearihood.

  Sore is my longing; yea, it hath no like and my affair In love

  and passion’s marvellous, beyond all likelihood.

  I lie the night long, wakeiul-eyed, — no sleep is there for

  me, — And pass, for love, from heaven to hell, according to

  my mood.

  Yea, patience fair some time I had, but have it now no more;

  And longing and chagrin increase upon me, like a flood.

  Indeed, my body’s worn to nought, for severance from her;

  Yearnings my aspect and my form to change have all

  subdued.

  Mine eyelids ulcerated are with weeping, nor can I Avail to

  stay the constant tears, wherewith they’re still bedewed.

  Indeed, I can no more; my strength, my very vitals fail. How

  many sorrows have I borne, on sorrows still renewed!

  My heart and head are grizzled grown, for loss of a princess In

  beauty, sure, the fairest maid that ever lover wooed.

  In her despite, our parting was, for no desire hath she Save to

  be joined with me and feed once more on lovers’ food.

  I wonder, will my fate to me union vouchsafe with her I

  cherish, after absence long and stress of lonelihood,

  And shut the book of severance up, that now is open wide, And

  blot out troubles from my thought with love’s supremest

  good?

  Shall my beloved, in my land, my cup-companion be And sorrow

  and affliction be by pure delight ensued?

  ‘By Allah,’ exclaimed the King, ‘ye are, indeed, a pair of true lovers and in the heaven of beauty two shining stars! Your story is marvellous and your case extraordinary.’ Then he told him all that had befallen Rose-in-bud; and Uns el Wujoud said, ‘Where is she, O King of the age?’ ‘She is with me now,’ answered Dirbas and sending for the Cadi and the witnesses, drew up the contract of marriage between her and him. Then he loaded Uns el Wujoud with favours and bounties and sent to King Shamikh, advising him of what had befallen, whereat the latter rejoiced with an exceeding joy and wrote back to him, saying, ‘Since the marriage contract hath been drawn up at thy court! it behoves that the wedding and consummation be at mine.’ And he made ready camels and horses and men and sent them in quest of the lovers.

  When the embassy reached King Dirbas, he gave the pair great store of treasure and despatched them to King Shamikh’s court with an escort of his own troops. The day of their arrival was a notable day, never was seen a greater; for the King assembled all the singers and players on instruments of music and made banquets and held high festival seven days; and on each day he gave largesse to the folk and bestowed on them sumptuous dresses of honour. Then Uns el Wujoud went in to Rose-in-bud, and they embraced and sat weeping for excess of joy and gladness, whilst she recited the following verses:

  Gladness is come, dispelling grief and putting care aside; We

  are united now and have our enviers mortified.

  The fragrant breeze of union blows fresh and sweet for us,

  Whereby our bodies, vitals, hearts are all revivified.

  The splendour of fulfilled delight in all its glory shines, And

  for glad tidings beat the drums about us far and wide.

  Think not we weep for stress Of grief or for affliction; nay,

  It is for joy our tears flow down and will not be denied.

  How many terrors have we seen, that now are past away! Yet we

  each agonizing strait did patiently abide.

  In one hour of delight have we forgotten all the woes, Whose

  stresses made us twain, whilom, grey-haired and

  hollow-eyed.

  Then they clipped each other and ceased not from their embrace, till they fell down in a swoon, for the ecstasy of reunion; and when they came to themselves, Uns d Wujoud
recited these verses:

  Ah, how peerlessly sweet are the nights of delight, When the

  loved one to me keeps the troth she did plight,

  When enjoyment enjoyment ensues and the bonds Of estrangement

  between us are sundered outright,

  And fortune is come to us, favouring and fair, After turning

  away with aversion and spite!

  Fair fortune hath set up her standards for us And we drink from

  her hand a cup pure of affright.

  United, our woes each to each we recount And the nights when in

  torments we watched for the light.

  But now, O my lady, forgotten have we Our griefs, and God

  pardon the past its upright!

  How pleasant, how lovesome, how joyous is life! Enjoyment my

  passion doth only excite.

  Then they gave themselves up anew to the pleasures of the nuptial bed and passed seven whole days thus, carousing and conversing and reciting verses and telling pleasant tales and anecdotes, in the intervals of amorous dalliance; for so drowned were they in the sea of passion, that they knew not night from day and it was to them, for very stress of joy and gladness and pleasure and delight, as if the seven days were but one day, and that without a morrow. Nor did they know the seventh day, but by the coming of the singers and players on instruments of music; whereat Rose-in-bud was beyond measure wondered and improvised the following verses:

  Despite the enviers’ rage and malice of the spy, I’ve won of

  him I love my wish to satisfy;

  Yea, we have crowned our loves with many a close embrace, On

  cushions of brocade and silken stuffs piled high

  Upon a couch full soft, of perfumed leather made And stuffed

  with down of birds of rarest kind that fly.

  Thanks to the honeyed dews of my beloved’s lips, Illustrious

  past compare, no need of wine have I.

  Yea, for the sweet excess of our fulfilled delight, The present

  from the past we know, nor far from nigh.

  A miracle indeed! Seven nights o’er us have passed, Without our

  taking note of how they flitted by;

  Till, on the seventh day, they wished us joy and said, “Your

  union God prolong to all eternity!”

  When she had finished, Uns el Wujoud kissed her, more than a hundred times, and recited the following verses:

  O day of pure delight and mutual happiness! The loved one came

  and set me free from loneliness.

  She blest me with the sweets of all her glorious charms, What

  while her converse filled my spirit with liesse.

  She plied me with the wine of amorous delight, Till all my

  senses failed, for very drunkenness.

  Yea, merry each with each we made, together lay, Then fell to

  wine and did, in song, our cheer express;

  Nor knew we, of the days that fleeted over us, The present from

  the past, for very joy’s excess.

  Fair fall all those that love of ease and twinned delight, And

  joy to them fulfil its promise none the less!

  Ne’er may they know the taste of parting’s bitter cup! God

  succour them as me He succoured in my stress!

  Then they went forth and distributed to the folk alms and largesse of money and raiment and so forth; after which Rose-in-bud bade empty the bath for her and turning to Uns el Wujoud, said to him’ ‘O solace of my eyes, I have a mind to see thee in the bath; and we will be alone together therein.’ He gladly consented to this, and she bade perfume the bath for them with all manner of scented woods and essences and light the candles. Then, of the excess of her contentment, she recited the following Verses:

  O thou aforetime of my heart that mad’st prize (And the present

  for us on the past still relies),

  Thou, the only companion I crave, for to me None other the want

  of thy presence supplies,

  To the bath, — that in midst of hell-fire we may see Even

  Paradise shining, — come, light of mine eyes!

  We will scent it with ambergris, aloes and musk, Till the

  fragrance in clouds from all quarters arise.

  Yea, Fortune we’ll pardon her sins and give thanks, For His

  grace, to the Merciful One, the All-Wise;

  And I’ll say, when I see thee therein, “O my love, All delights

  be thy lot in the earth and the skies!”

  So they went to the bath and took their pleasure there in; after which they returned to their palace and there abode in the fulness of delight, till there came to them the Destroyer of Delights and the Sunderer of Companies; and glory be to Him who changeth not neither ceaseth and in whom all things have their term!

  John Payne’s translation: detailed table of contents

  ABOU NUWAS WITH THE THREE BOYS AND THE KHALIF HAROUN ER RESHID.

  Abou Nuwas one day shut himself up and making ready a richly- furnished saloon, set out therein a banquet of meats of all kinds and colours that lips and tongue can desire. Then he went forth, to seek a minion who should befit the entertainment, saying, ‘O my God and my Master and my Lord, I beseech Thee to send me one worthy of this banquet and apt to carouse with me this day!’ Hardly had he made an end of speaking, when he espied three handsome beardless youths, as they were of the children of Paradise, differing in complexion but equal in perfection of beauty; and all hearts yearned with desire to the graceful bending of their shapes, even to what saith the poet:

  Two beardless youths I happened on one day And said “I love

  you.” “Hast thou pelf?” asked they.

  “Yes,” answered I, “and liberality.” “Then is the matter easy,”

  did they say.

  Now Abou Nuwas was on this wise given and loved to sport and make merry with the fair and cull the rose from every fresh- flowered cheek, even as saith the poet:

  Full many a graybeard is amorous and loves Fair faces and music

  and dalliance and glee:

  From Mosul, the country of pureness, he comes, Yet

  nought but Aleppo remembereth he.

  So he accosted them with the salutation, and they returned his greeting with all honour and civility and would have gone their way; but he stayed them, repeating these verses:

  To none but me your footsteps steer; For I have store of all

  good cheer;

  Wine that the heart of convent monk Would glad, so bright it is

  and clear;

  And flesh of sheep, to boot, have I And birds of land and sea

  and mere.

  Eat ye of these and drink old wine, That doth away chagrin and

  fear.

  The boys were beguiled by his verses and consented to his wishes, saying, ‘We hear and obey.’ So he carried them to his lodging, where they found all ready that he had set forth in his verses. They sat down and ate and drank and made merry awhile, after which they appealed to Abou Nuwas to decide which was the handsomest and most shapely of them. So he pointed to one of them, after having kissed him twice, and recited the following verses:

  With my life I will ransom the mole, on the cheek of the

  loveling that is; For how should I ransom it else with

  treasure or aught but my soul?

  And blessed for ever be He who fashioned his cheek without hair

  And made, of His power and His might, all beauty to dwell

  in yon mole!

  Then he pointed to another and kissing his lips, repeated these verses:

  There’s a loveling hath a mole upon his cheek, As ‘twere musk

  on virgin camphor, so to speak.

  My eyes marvel when they see it. Quoth the mole, “Heaven’s

  blessing on the Prophet look ye seek!”

  Then he pointed to the third and repeated the following verses, after kissing him half a score times:

 
; All in a silver cup he melted gold full fine, A youth whose

  hands were dyed in ruby-coloured wine,

  And with the skinkers went and handed round one cup Of wine,

  whilst other two were proffered by his eyne.

  Fairer than all the Turks, an antelope, whose waist Together

  would attract the mountains of Hunain.

  An if I were content with crooked womankind, Betwixt

  attractions twain would be this heart of mine.

  One love towards Diyarbeker drawing it, and one That

  draws it, otherguise, to the land of Jamiain.

  Now each of the youths had drunk two cups, and when it came to Abou Nuwas’s turn, he took the goblet and repeated these verses:

  Drink not of wine except it be at the hands of a loveling slim,

  Who in brightness of soul resembles it and it resembles

  him.

  The drinker of wine, in very truth, hath no delight thereof,

  Except the cheek of the fair be pure, who doth the goblet

  brim.

  Then he drank off his cup, and when it came round to Him again, joyance got the mastery of him and he repeated The following verses:

  Make thou thy boon-fellow of cups, brimmed up as full as this,

  And eke to follow cup with cup, I rede thee, do not miss,

  Poured by a damask-lipped one’s hand, a wonder-lovely fair,

  Whose mouth’s sweet water, after sleep, as musk on apple

  is.

  Drink not of wine, except it be from the hand of a gazelle,

  Whose cheek is goodlier than itself and sweeter still his

  kiss.

  Presently, the wine crept to his head, drunkenness mastered him and he knew not hand from head, so that he swayed about for mirth, inclining anon to this one, to kiss him, and anon to another. Then he fell to glorying in himself and his case and the goodliness of his entertainment and his companions, and recited these verses:

  None knoweth perfection of pleasure but he Who drinketh, with