So he did away her maidenhead and abode with her seven years in all delight and solace of life, till, one day, he bethought himself of the forbidden door and said in himself; “Except there were therein treasures greater and finer than any I have seen, she had not forbidden me therefrom.” So he rose and opened the door, when, lo, behind it was the very bird that had brought him to the island, and it said to him, “An ill welcome to a face that shall never prosper!,’ When he saw it and heard what it said, he fled from it; but it followed him and seizing him in its talons, flew with him an hour’s journey betwixt heaven and earth, till it set him down in the place whence it had first carried him off and flew away. When he came to his senses, he called to mind his late great and glorious estate and all the honour and fair fortune he had lost and fell to weeping and wailing.
He abode two months on the sea-shore, where the bird had set him down, hoping yet to return to his wife, till, as he sat one night wakeful, mourning and musing, he heard one speaking and saying, “How great were the delights! Far, far from thee is the return of that which is past!” When he heard this, he redoubled in his regrets and despaired of recovering his wife and his late fair estate; so he returned, weary and broken-hearted, to the house where he had dwelt with the old men and knew that they had fared even as he and that this was the cause of their weeping and mourning; wherefore he held them excused. Then, being overcome with chagrin and regret, he took to his chamber and gave himself up to mourning and lamentation; and he ceased not to weep and lament and left eating and drinking and pleasant scents and laughter, till he died and they buried him beside the old men. See, then, O King,’ continued the Vizier, ‘what cometh of haste; verily, it is unpraiseworthy and begetteth repentance; and in this I give thee true and loyal counsel.’
When the King heard the Vizier’s story, he turned from slaying his son; but, on the sixth day, the favourite came in to him with a naked knife in her hand and said to him,’Know, O my lord, that, except thou hearken to my complaint and protect thy right and thine honour against these thy viziers, who are banded together against me, to do me wrong, I will kill myself with this knife, [and my blood will testify against thee on the Day of Judgment]. Indeed, they pretend that women are full of tricks and malice and perfidy and design by this to defeat me of my right and hinder the King from doing me justice; but, behold, I will prove to thee that men are more perfidious than women by the story of a king of the kings and how he gained access to the wife of a certain merchant.’ ‘And what passed between them?’ asked the King. ‘I have heard tell, O august King,’ replied she, ‘that
John Payne’s translation: detailed table of contents
The King’s Son and the Merchant’s Wife.
A certain jealous merchant had a beautiful wife; and of the excess of his fearfulness and jealousy of her, he would not abide with her in any town, but built her a pavilion without the city, apart from all other buildings, and fortified it with high walls and strong doors, secured with curious locks; and when he had occasion to go into the city, he locked the doors and hung the keys about his neck. One day, when the merchant was abroad, the king’s son of the city came forth, to take his pleasure in the open country without the walls, and coming to the solitary pavilion, stood still to examine it. Presently, he caught sight of a lovely lady looking out of one of the windows and being smitten with amazement at her grace and beauty, cast about for a means of getting to her, but could find none. So he called to one of his attendants, who brought him pen and paper anti inkhorn, and wrote her a letter, setting forth his case for love of her. Then he set it on the point of an arrow and shot it at the pavilion, and it fell in the garden, where the lady was then walking with her maidens. She bade one of the latter hasten and bring her the letter, for she could read writing; and when she had read it and saw what he said in it of his love and passion and longing, she wrote him a reply, to the effect that she was smitten with a yet fiercer passion for him and threw the letter down to him from one of the windows of the pavilion. When he saw her, he picked up the reply and after reading it, came under the window and said to her, “Let me down a string, that I may send thee this key, which do thou take and keep by thee.” So she let down a string and he tied the key to it.
Then he went away and repairing to one of his father’s viziers, complained to him of his passion for the lady and that he could not live without her; and the vizier said, “And how dost thou bid me contrive?” Quoth the prince, “I would have thee lay me in a chest and commit it to the merchant, feigning to him that it is thine and desiring him to keep it for thee in his country-house some days, that I may have my will of her; then do thou demand it back from him.” The vizier answered, “With all my heart.” So the prince returned to his palace and fixing the padlock, the key whereof he had given the lady, on a chest he had by him, entered the latter, whereupon the vizier locked it upon him and setting it on a mule, carried it to the pavilion of the merchant. The latter, seeing the vizier, came forth to him and kissed his hands, saying, “Belike our lord the vizier hath some need or business which we may have the pleasure of accomplishing for him?” “Yes,” answered the vizier; “I would have thee set this chest in the priviest place in thy house and keep it till I seek it of thee.” So the merchant made the porter carry it in and set it down in one of his store-houses, after which he went out upon some occasion of his. As soon as he was gone, his wife went up to the chest and unlocked it with the key the prince had given her, whereupon there came forth a youth like the moon. When she saw him, she donned her richest apparel and carried him to her sitting-chamber, where they abode seven days, eating and drinking and making merry; and as often as her husband came home, she put the prince back into the chest and locked it upon him.
One day, the king asked for his son and the vizier hurried off to the merchant’s [town] house and sought of him the chest. The merchant accordingly repaired in haste to his pavilion, at a time other than of his wont, and knocked at the door. When his wife was ware of him, she hurried the prince back into the chest, but, in her confusion, forgot to lock it. The merchant bade the porters take it up and carry it to his house in the town. So they took up the box by the lid, whereupon it flew open and discovered the prince lying within. When the merchant saw him and knew him for the king’s son, he went out to the vizier and said to him, “Go in, thou, and take the King’s son; for none of us may lay hands on him.” So the vizier went in and taking the prince, went away with him. As soon as they were gone, the merchant put away his wife and swore that he would never marry again. And I have heard tell also, O King,’ continued the damsel, ‘that
John Payne’s translation: detailed table of contents
The Page Who Feigned to Know the Speech of Birds.
A certain man of condition once entered the slave-market and saw a page put up for sale; so he bought him and carrying him home, gave him in charge to his wife, with whom he abode awhile. One day the man said to his wife, “Go forth to-morrow to the garden and take thy pleasure therein.” And she replied, “With all my heart.” When the page heard this, he made ready in secret meat and drink and fruits and dessert and sallied forth with them privily that night to the garden, where he laid the meat under one tree, the drink under another and the fruits and conserves under a third, in the way his mistress should pass. Next morning, the husband bade him accompany the lady to the garden; so she took horse and riding thither with him, dismounted and entered.
Presently, as they were walking about, a crow croaked, and the page said, “Thou sayst truly,” whereupon his mistress said to him, “Dost thou know what the crow said?” “Yes, O my lady,” answered he; “he said, ‘Under yonder tree is meat; go and eat it.’” So she went up to the tree and finding a dish of meat ready dressed, was assured that the youth understood the speech of birds and marvelled exceedingly. They ate of the meat and walked about awhile, taking their pleasure in the garden, till the crow croaked a second time, and the page again replied, “Thou sayst well.” “What said he?�
� asked the lady, and the page, “O my lady, he says that under such a tree is a pitcher of old wine and a gugglet of water flavoured with musk.” So she went up to the tree and finding the wine and water there, redoubled in wonderment and the page was magnified in her eyes. They sat down and drank, then arose and walked in another part of the garden. Presently, the crow croaked again and the page said, “ Right.” Quoth the lady, “What says he now?” and the page, “He says that under yonder tree are fruits and confections.” So they went thither and found all as he said and sat down and ate. Then they walked about again till the crow croaked a fourth time, whereupon the page took up a stone and cast it at him. Quoth she, “What said he, that thou shouldst stone him?” ‘ O my lady,” answered he, “he said what I cannot tell thee.” “Say on,” rejoined she, “and be not abashed, for there is nought between me and thee.” But he ceased not to say, “No,” and she to press him to speak, till at last she conjured him to tell her, and he answered, “The crow said to me, ‘Do with thy mistress even as doth her husband.”’
When she heard this, she laughed till she fell backward and said, “This is a light matter, and I may not cross thee therein.” So saying, she went up to a tree and spreading the carpet under it, [lay down and] called to him to come and do her need, when, behold, her husband, who had followed them unawares and saw this, called out to the page, saying, “Harkye, boy! What ails thy mistress to lie there, weeping?” “O my lord,” answered the page, “she fell off the tree and was [all but] killed; and none but God (may He be exalted and glorified!) restored her to thee. Wherefore she lay down awhile to recover herself” When the lady saw her husband standing by her, she rose and made a show of weakness and pain, saying, “O my back! O my sides! Come to my help, O my friends! I shall never survive this.” So her husband was deceived and sending the page for the horse, set her thereon and carried her home, the boy holding one stirrup and the man the other and saying, “God vouchsafe thee ease and recovery!”
These then, O King,’ said the damsel, ‘are some instances of the craft and perfidy of men; wherefore let not thy viziers turn thee from succouring me and doing me justice. Then she wept, and when the King saw her weeping, (for she was the dearest to him of all his slave-girls,) he once more commanded to put his son to death; but the sixth vizier entered and kissing the earth before him, said, ‘May God the Most High advance the King! Verily I am a loyal counsellor to thee, in that I counsel thee to deal deliberately in the matter of thy son; for falsehood is as smoke and truth is a strongly stablished [fortress]; yea, and the light thereof dispels the darkness of falsehood. Know that the perfidy of women is great, even as saith God the Most High in His Holy Book, “Verily, the malice of you [women] is great.” And indeed I have heard tell of a certain woman who befooled the chiefs of the state on such wise as never did any before her.’ ‘And how was that?’ asked the King. ‘I have heard tell, O King,’ answered the vizier, ‘that
John Payne’s translation: detailed table of contents
The Lady and Her Five Suitors.
A certain woman of the daughters of the merchants was married to a man who was a great traveller. It chanced once that he set out for a far country and was absent so long that his wife, for pure weariness, fell in love with a handsome young man of the sons of the merchants, who returned her passion, and they loved each other with an exceeding love. One day, the youth fell out with another man, who lodged a complaint against him with the chief of the police, and he cast him into prison. When the news came to his mistress, she well-nigh lost her wits and rising, donned her richest clothes and repaired to the house of the chief of the police, whom she saluted and presented with a petition to the effect that the prisoner was her brother, who had been unjustly accused and condemned on false witness, and that she had none other to come in to her nor to provide for her support and beseeching him of his grace to release him. When the magistrate had read the petition, he cast his eyes on her and fell in love with her; so he said to her, “Go into the house, till I bring him before me; then will I send for thee and thou shalt take him.” “O my lord,” answered she, “I have none save God the Most High. Indeed, I am a stranger and may not enter any one’s house.” Quoth the chief of the police, “I will not let him go, except thou enter my house and I take my will of thee.” “If it must be so,” rejoined she, “thou must come to my house and sit and sleep and rest the whole day there.” “And where is thy house?” asked he. “In such a place,” answered she and appointed him for such a time.
Then she went out from him, leaving his heart taken with love of her, and repaired to the Cadi of the city, to whom said she, “O my lord the Cadi, look into my case, and thy reward be with God the Most High!” Quoth he, “Who hath wronged thee?” and she answered, saying, “O my lord, I have a brother and I have none but him, and it is on his account that I come to thee; for that the chief of the police hath imprisoned him for a wrong-doer, on the evidence of false witnesses. [Indeed, he is wronged] and I beseech thee to intercede for him with the chief of the police.” When the Cadi looked on her, he fell in love with her and said to her, “Enter the house and rest awhile with my women, whilst I send to the chief of the police to release thy brother. If I knew the forfeit that is upon him, I would pay it out of my own monies, so I may have my desire of thee, for thou pleasest me with thy sweet speech.” Quoth she, “If thou, O my lord, do thus, we must not blame others.” But the Cadi answered, saying, “An thou wilt not come in, go thy ways.” Then said she, “If thou wilt have it so, O my lord, it will be safer and better in my house than in thine, for here are slave-girls and servants and goers-in and corners-out, and indeed I am a woman who knows nought of this fashion; but necessity compels.” “And where is thy house?” asked the Cadi. “In such a place,” answered she and appointed him for the same time as the chief of the police.
Then she went to the Vizier, to whom she preferred her petition for the release of her [pretended] brother from prison: but he also required her of herself, saying, “ Suffer me to have my desire of thee and I will set thy brother free.” Quoth she, “If thou wilt have it so, be it in my House, for there it will be safer both for me and for thee. It is not far distant and thou knowest that which behoveth us [women] of cleanliness and elegance.” “Where is thy house?” asked he. “In such a place,” answered she and appointed him for the same time as the two others.
Then she went out from him to the King of the city and told him her story and sought of him her brother’s release. “Who imprisoned him?” asked he; and she replied, “The chief of the police.” When the King heard her speech, it transfixed his heart with the arrows of love and he bade her enter the palace with him, that he might send to the Cadi and release her brother. “O King,” answered she, “this thing is easy to thee, whether I will or not; and if the King will indeed have this of me, it is of my good fortune; but, if he will come to my house, he will do me the more honour, even as saith the poet:
Friends, have ye seen or heard o’ the visit of a wight Whose virtues are indeed illustrious in my sight?”
Quoth the King, “We will not cross thee in this.” So she told him where her house was and appointed him for the same time as the three others.
Then she left him and betaking herself to a carpenter, said to him, “I would have thee make me a cabinet with four compartments, one above another, each with its door to lock up. Let me know thy hire and I will give it thee.” “My hire will be four dinars,” replied the man; “but, O noble lady, if thou wilt vouchsafe me thy favours, I will ask nothing else of thee.” “If thou wilt have it so,” rejoined she, “then make the cabinet with five compartments, each to lock up.” “It is well,” said he; “sit down, O my lady, and I will make it for thee forthright, and after I will come to thee at my leisure.” So she sat down, whilst he fell to work on the cabinet, and when he had made an end of it, she carried it home and set it up in the sitting-chamber. Then she took four gowns and carried them to the dyer, who dyed them each of a different colour; a
fter which she busied herself in making ready meat and drink and fruits and flowers and perfumes.
When it was the appointed time, she donned her costliest apparel and scented and adorned herself, then spread the room with various kinds of rich carpets and sat down to await who should come. The Cadi was the first to appear, and when she saw him, she rose and kissed the earth before him, then made him sit down by her on the couch and fell to jesting and toying with him. By and by, he would have her do his desire, but she said, “O my lord, put off thy clothes and turban and don this yellow cassock and this kerchief, whilst I bring thee meat and drink; and after thou shalt do thy desire.” So saying, she took his clothes and turban and clad him in the yellow cassock and the kerchief; but hardly had she done this, when there came a knocking at the door. Quoth he, “Who is that at the door?” And she answered, “My husband.” “What to be done?” said the Cadi; “and where shall I go?” “Fear nothing,” replied she; “I will hide thee in this cabinet.” Quoth he,”Do as seemeth good to thee.” So she took him by the hand and pushing him into the lowest compartment, locked the door on him.
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