One Thousand and One Nights

by Richard Burton

  One day, as he was thus employed, he saw some slaves enter the garden, leading mules laden with carpets and vessels, and asked them the meaning of this, to which they replied that the princess was minded to take her pleasure. When he heard this, he hastened to his lodging and fetching some of the jewels and raiment he had brought with him from Persia, sat down in the garden and spread them out before him, shaking and trembling, as if for decrepitude, and making a show of extreme old age. Presently a company of damsels and eunuchs entered, with the princess in their midst, as she were the moon among stars, and dispersed about the garden, plucking the fruits and diverting themselves. By and by they espied the prince sitting under one of the trees and making towards him, found him, [as it seemed,] a very old man, whose hands and feet trembled for decrepitude, and before him store of precious jewels and splendid ornaments. So they marvelled at his case and asked him what he did there with the jewels. Quoth he, “I would fain buy me one of you to wife therewith.” They laughed at him and said, “If one of us marry thee, what wilt thou do with her?” “I will give her one kiss,” answered he, “and let her go.” Then said the princess, “I give thee this damsel to wife.” So he rose and coming up to her, trembling and staggering and leaning on a staff; kissed her and gave her the jewels and ornaments; whereat she rejoiced and they went away, laughing at him. Next day, they came again to the garden and finding him seated in the same place, with more jewels and ornaments than before, said to him, “O old man, what wilt thou do with these jewels?” And he answered, saying, “I wish to take one of you to wife with them, even as yesterday.” So the princess said, “I marry thee to this damsel ;” and he came up to her and kissed her and gave her the jewels, and they went away.

  But the princess said in herself; “I have more right to all these fine things than my waiting-women, and no harm can betide me.” So, on the morrow, she went down privily into the garden, in the habit of one of her damsels, and presenting herself before the prince, said to him, “O old man, the king’s daughter hath sent me to thee, that thou mayst marry me.” He looked at her and knew her; so he answered, “With all my heart,” and gave her jewels and ornaments of the costliest. Then he rose to kiss her, and she off her guard and fearing nothing; but, when he came up to her, he suddenly laid hold of her with a strong hand and throwing her down, did away her maidenhead. Then he pulled the beard from his face and said to her, “Dost thou not know me?” “Who art thou?” asked she, and he answered, “I am Behram, the king’s son of Persia, who have changed my favour and am become a stranger to my people and estate for thy sake and have lavished my treasures for thy love.”

  So she rose from under him in silence and spoke not a word of reply to him, being dazed for what had befallen her and seeing nothing for it but to be silent, for fear of disgrace; and she bethought herself and said “If I kill him, it will profit me nothing, and nought will serve me but that I flee with him to his own country.” Then she gathered together her wealth and treasures and sent to him, acquainting him with her resolve, to the intent that he also might equip himself; and they agreed upon a night on which to depart. So, at the appointed time, they mounted swift horses and set out under cover of the night, nor did day break till they had traversed a great distance; and they fared on till they drew near his father’s capital in the land of the Persians. When the king heard of his son s coming, he came out to meet him with his troops and rejoiced in him with an exceeding joy. Then, after a few days, he sent the princess’s father a splendid present, with a letter to the effect that his daughter was with him and demanding her wedding equipage. Ed Detma’s father received the messengers with exceeding joy, (for that he had deemed his daughter lost and had grieved sore for her loss,) and invested them with robes of honour; after which he made bride-feasts and summoning the Cadi and the witnesses, let draw up the marriage contract between his daughter and the prince of Persia. Then he made ready her equipage and despatched it to her, and Prince Behram abode with her till death sundered them.

  See, therefore, O King,’ continued the favourite, ‘the malice of men in their dealing with women. As for me, I will not go back from my due till I die.’ So the King once more commanded to put his son to death; but the seventh vizier came in to him and kissing the earth before him, said, ‘O King, have patience with me whilst I speak words of good counsel to thee; for he who is patient and acteth deliberately attaineth unto his hope aud enjoyeth his desire, but whoso acteth hastily, repentance overtaketh him. Now I have seen how this damsel hath profligately striven to abuse the King and incite him to unnatural cruelties; but I his slave, whom he hath overwhelmed with his favours and bounties, do proffer him true and loyal counsel; for that I, O King, know of the malice of women that which none knoweth but myself; and [in particular] there hath come to my knowledge, on this subject, the story of the old woman and the son of the merchant.’ ‘And what fell out between them, O vizier?’ asked the King. ‘I have heard tell, O King,’ answered the seventh vizier, ‘that

  John Payne’s translation: detailed table of contents

  The House with the Belvedere.

  There was once a wealthy merchant, who had a son who was very dear to him, and the latter said to him one day, “O my father, I have a boon to ask of thee.” Quoth the merchant, “O my son, what is it, that I may give it thee and bring thee to thy desire, though it were the light of mine eyes.” “Give me money,” rejoined the youth, “that I may journey with the merchants to the city of Baghdad and see its sights and look upon the palace of the Khalifs; for the sons of the merchants have described these things to me and I long to see them for myself.” “O my child, O my little son,” answered his father, “how can I endure to part from thee?” But the youth said, “I have said my say and needs must I journey to Baghdad with or without thy consent; for such a longing for its sight hath fallen upon me as can only be assuaged by the going thither.”

  When the merchant saw that there was no help for it, he provided his son with goods to the value of thirty thousand dinars and gave him in charge to certain merchants in whom he trusted. Then he took leave of the youth, who journeyed with his friends the merchants till they reached Baghdad, the Abode of Peace, where he entered the market and wishing to hire a house, was shown one so handsome and spacious and elegant that he well-nigh lost his wits for admiration; for therein were gardens and fountains and running waters and pavilions facing one another, with floors of coloured marbles and ceilings inlaid with gold and lapis lazuli, and its gardens were full of warbling birds. So he asked the porter what was its rent, and he replied, “Ten dinars a month.” Quoth the young man, “Speakest thou truly or dost thou jest with me?” “By Allah,” answered the porter, “I speak nought but the truth, for none who taketh up his abode in this house lodgeth in it more than a week or two.” “And how is that?” asked the other. “O my son,” replied the porter, “whoso taketh this house cometh not forth of it, except sick or dead, wherefore it is known among the folk of Baghdad, so that none offereth to take it, and thus cometh it that its rent is fallen so low.” At this the young merchant marvelled exceedingly, saying, “Needs must there be some reason for this.” However, after considering awhile and seeking refuge with God from Satan the Stoned, he rented the house and took up his abode there. Then he put away apprehension from his thought and busied himself with selling and buying; and some time passed over him without any ill case befalling him.

  One day, as he sat at the door, there came up a grizzled old woman, as she were a speckled snake, calling aloud on the name of God and magnifying Him at a great rate and at the same time putting away the stones and other obstacles from the path. Seeing the youth sitting there, she looked at him and marvelled at his case; whereupon quoth he to her, “O old woman, dost thou know me or am I like any thou knowest?” When she heard him speak, she hastened up to him and saluting him, said, “How long hast thou dwelt in this house?” “Two months, O my mother,” answered he. And she said, “O my son, it was at this that I marvelled; for I kn
ow thee not, neither dost thou know me, nor yet are thou like unto any one I know; but I marvelled for that none other than thou hath taken up his abode in this house but hath gone forth from it, dead or sick, saving thee alone. Doubtless thou hast not gone up to the upper story neither looked out from the belvedere there.” So saying, she went her way and he fell a-pondering her words and said, “I have not gone up to the top of the house; nor did I know that there was a belvedere there.”

  Then he arose forthright and going in, searched the house, till he espied, in a corner among the trees, a narrow door, over which the spider had spun its webs, and said in himself “Belike the spider hath not spread its web over the door, but because death is within.” However, he heartened himself with the saying of God the Most High, “Say, nought shall befall us save what God hath prescribed unto us;” and opening the door, ascended a narrow flight of stairs, till he came to the top, where he found a belvedere, in which he sat down to rest and enjoy the view. Presently, he caught sight of an elegant house hard by, surmounted by a lofty belvedere, overlooking the whole of Baghdad, in which sat a damsel fair as a houri. No sooner had he set eyes on her, than her beauty took possession of his whole heart and made away with his reason, afflicting him with the pains of Job and the grief of Jacob. Fire was lighted in his entrails and he said, “They say that whoever takes up his abode in this house dies or falls sick. If this be so, this damsel is assuredly the cause. Would I knew how I shall win free of this affair, for my senses are gone!”

  Then he descended from the turret, pondering his case, and sat down in the house, but could not rest. So, after awhile, he went out and sat at the door, absorbed in melancholy thought, and presently up came the old woman, praising and magnifying God [aloud], as she went. When he saw her, he rose and accosting her courteously, said to her, “O my mother, I was in health and well-being, till thou madest mention to me of the belvedere; so I found the door and ascending to the top of the house, saw thence what took away my senses; and now methinks I am a lost man, and I know no physician for me but thyself.” When she heard this, she laughed and said, “No harm shall befall thee, so God please.” Whereupon he went into the house and coming back with a hundred dinars in his sleeve, said to her, “Take this, O my mother, and deal with me as lords with slaves and succour me quickly; for, if I die, my blood will be laid to thy charge at the Day of Resurrection.” “With all my heart,” answered she; “but, O my son, thou must lend me thine aid in some small matter, whereby hangs the accomplishment of thy desire.” Quoth he, “What would thou have me do, O my mother?” “Go to the silk-market,” said she, “and enquire for the shop of Aboul Feth ben Caidam. Sit down by him and salute him and say to him, ‘Give me the face-veil thou hast by thee, figured with gold:’ for he hath none handsomer in his shop. Then buy it of him at his own price and keep it till I come to thee to-morrow, God willing.” So saying, she went away and he passed the night [as] upon coals of tamarisk wood.

  Next morning, he took a thousand dinars in his pocket and repairing to the silk-market, sought cut the shop of Aboul Feth, whom he found a man of dignified aspect, surrounded by servants and attendants; for he was a merchant of great wealth and consideration, and of the goods that God the Most High had bestowed upon him was the damsel who had ravished the young man’s heart. She was his wife and had not her match for beauty, nor was her like to be found with any of the sons of the kings. So he saluted him and Aboul Feth returned his salute and bade him be seated. Accordingly, he sat down by him and said to him, “O merchant, I wish to look at such a face-veil.” So he bade his servants bring him a parcel of silk from the inner shop and opening it, brought out a number of veils, whose beauty amazed the youth. Among them was the veil he sought; so he bought it for fifty dinars and bore it home, well pleased.

  Hardly had he reached his house when up came the old woman, to whom he gave the veil. She bade him bring a live coal, with which she burnt one of the corners of the veil, then folded it up as before and repairing to Aboul Feth’s house, knocked at the door. Quoth the damsel, “Who is there?” And she answered, “I, such an one.” Now the damsel knew her for a friend of her mother, so, when she heard her voice, she came out and opening the door to her, said, “What dost thou want, O my mother? My mother has left me and gone to her own house.” “O my daughter,” answered the old woman, “I know thy mother is not with thee, for I have been with her in her house, and I come not to thee, but because I fear to miss the hour of prayer; wherefore I desire to make my ablutions with thee, for I know thou art clean and thy house pure.” The damsel admitted her and she saluted her and called down blessings upon her. Then she took the ewer and went into the lavatory, where she made her ablutions and prayed in a place there. Presently, she came out again and said to the damsel, “O my daughter, I doubt thy servants have been in yonder place and defiled it; so do thou show me another place where I may pray, for the prayer I have prayed I account void.” Thereupon the damsel took her by the hand and said to he; “ O my mother, come and pray on my carpet, where my husband sits.” So she stood there and prayed and worshipped and bowed and prostrated herself; and presently, she took the damsel unawares and made shift to slip the veil under the cushion, unseen of her. Then she prayed for her and went away.

  At nightfall, Aboul Feth came home and sat down upon the carpet, whilst his wife brought him food and he ate what sufficed him and washed his hands; after which he leant back upon the cushion. Presently, he caught sight of a corner of the veil protruding from under the cushion; so he pulled it out and knowing it for that he had sold to the young man, at once suspected his wife of unchastity. So he called her and said, “Whence hadst thou this veil?” And she swore an oath to him [that she knew not whence it came,] saying, “None hath come to me but thou.” Then he was silent for fear of scandal, and said in himself; “If I open up this chapter, I shall be put to shame before all Baghdad;” for he was one of the intimates of the Khalif and had nothing for it but to hold his peace. So he asked no questions, but said to his wife, whose name was Muhziyeh, “I hear that thy mother lies ill of heart-ache and all the women are with her, weeping over her; so do thou go to her.” Accordingly, she repaired to her mother’s house and found her well, ailing nothing; and the latter said to her, “What brings thee here at this hour?” So she told her what her husband had said and sat with her awhile; but, presently, up came porters, who brought all her clothes and paraphernalia and what not else belonged to her of goods and vessels from her husband’s house and deposited them in that of her mother. When the latter saw this, she said to her daughter, “Tell me what hath passed between thee and thy husband, to bring about this.” But she swore to her that she knew not the cause thereof and that there had befallen nothing between them, to call for this conduct. Quoth her mother, “Needs must there be a cause for this.” And she answered, saying, “I know of none, and after this, with God the Most High be it to make provision!”, Whereupon her mother fell a-weeping and lamented her daughter’s separation from the like of this man, by reason of his sufficiency and fortune and the greatness of his rank and estate.

  On this wise, things abode some days, after which the old woman paid a visit to Muhziyeh in her mother’s house and saluted her affectionately, saying, “What ails thee, O my daughter, O my beloved one? Indeed, thou hast troubled my mind.” Then she went in to her mother and said to her, “O my sister, what is this about thy daughter and her husband? I hear he has put her away. What hath she done to call for this?” Quoth the mother, “Peradventure her husband will return to her by the virtue of thy prayers; so do thou pray for her, for thou art a constant faster and a stander up by night to pray.” Then the three women fell to talking and the old woman said to the damsel, “O my daughter, have no care, for, God willing, I will make peace between thee and thy husband before many days.” Then she left them and going to the young merchant, said to him, “Make ready a handsome entertainment for us, for I will bring her to thee this very night.” So he rose and provided all that was f
itting of meat and drink and so forth and sat down to await them; whilst the old woman returned to the girl’s mother and said to her, “O my sister, we make a splendid bride-feast to-night; so let thy daughter go with me, that she may divert herself and make merry with us and forget her troubles; and I will bring her back to thee even as I took her away.” So the mother dressed her daughter in her finest clothes and jewels and accompanied her to the door, where she commended her to the old woman’s care, saying, “Look thou let none of the creatures of God the Most High see her, for thou knowest her husband’s rank with the Khalif; and do not tarry, but bring her back to me as soon as possible.”

  The old woman carried the girl to the young man’s house, and she entered, thinking it the place where the wedding was to be held: but, when she came into the saloon, the youth sprang up to her and embraced her and kissed her hands and feet. She was confounded at his beauty, as well as at the elegance of the place and the profusion of meat and drink and flowers and perfumes that she saw therein, and deemed all this but a dream. When the old woman saw her amazement, she said to her, “The name of God be upon thee, O my daughter! Fear not; I am here with thee and will not leave thee for a moment. Thou art worthy of him and he of thee.” So the damsel sat down, in great confusion; but the young man jested and toyed with her and entertained her with stories and verses, till her breast dilated and she became at her ease. Then she ate and drank and growing warm with wine, took the lute and sang and inclined to the youth’s beauty. When he saw this, he was drunken without wine and his life was a light matter to him [compared with her love].