One Thousand and One Nights

by Richard Burton

  When the old man heard this, he said, ‘Beware of her, for know that the birds upon the tree were all young men and strangers, whom she loved and enchanted and turned into birds. The black bird thou sawest was one of her officers, whom she loved with an exceeding love, till he cast his eyes upon one of her women, wherefore she changed him into a black bird; and whenas she longs after him, she transforms herself into a she-bird, that he may swive her, for she still loves him passionately. When she found that thou knewest of her case, she plotted evil against thee, for she loves thee not truly. But no harm shall betide thee from her, whilst I protect thee; so fear nothing; for I am a Muslim, by name Abdallah, and there is none in my day better skilled in magic than I; yet do I not make use of the art except upon constraint. Many a time have I put to nought the sorceries of yonder accursed witch and delivered folk from her, and I care not for her, for she can do me no hurt: nay, she fears me with an exceeding fear, as do all in the city who, like her, are magicians and serve the fire, not the Omnipotent King. So, to-morrow, come thou to me and tell me what she doth with thee; for this very night she will cast about to destroy thee, and l will tell thee how thou shalt do with her, that thou mayst save thyself from her malice.’

  Then Bedr took leave of the old man and resumed to the palace, where he found the queen seated, awaiting him. When she saw him, she rose to welcome him and making him sit down, brought him meat and drink, and they ate till they had enough and washed their hands. after which she called for wine and they drank till the night was half spent, when she plied him with wine, till he was drunken and lost sense and wit. When she saw him thus, she said to him, ‘I conjure thee by Allah and by that thou worshippest, if I ask thee a question, wilt thou answer me truly?’ And he, being drunken, answered, ‘Yes, O my lady.’ ‘O my lord and light of mine eyes,’ said she, ‘when thou awokest last night and foundest me not, thou soughtest me, till thou foundest me in the garden, in the guise of a white she-bird, and sawest a black bird leap on me and tread me. Now I will tell the truth of this matter. That black bird was one of my servants and I loved him with an exceeding love; but one day he cast his eyes on one of my women, wherefore jealousy get hold upon me and I transformed him by my spells into a black bird and the woman I put to death. Now I cannot endure without him an hour; so, whenever I lust after him, I change myself into a bird and go to him, that he may leap me and possess me, even as thou hast seen. Art thou not therefore incensed against me, because of this, albeit, by the virtue of the fire and the light and the shade and the heat, I love thee more than ever and have made thee my portion of the world?’ He answered, being drunken, ‘Thy conjecture of the cause of my anger is correct, and it had no cause other than this.’

  With this, she embraced him and kissed him and made a show of love to him; then she lay down to sleep and he by her side. Presently she rose from the bed, and Bedr was awake; but he feigned sleep and watched stealthily, to see what she would do. She took out of a red bag somewhat red, which she planted in the midst of the chamber, and it became a stream, running like the sea; after which she took a handful of barley and strewing it on the ground, watered it with water from the stream, whereupon it became corn in the ear, and she gathered it and ground it into meal. Then she laid it by and returning to bed, lay down by Bedr till morning, when he arose and washed his face and asked her leave to visit his uncle. She gave him leave and he repaired to Abdallah and told him what had passed. The old man laughed and said, ‘By Allah, the misbelieving witch plotteth mischief against thee; but reck thou never of her.’

  Then he gave him a pound of parched barley and said to him, ‘Take this with thee and know that, when she sees it, she will say to thee, “What is this and what wilt thou do with it?” Do thou answer, “Abundance of good things is good;” and eat of it. Then will she bring forth to thee parched grain of her own and bid thee eat of it; and do thou feign to her that thou eatest thereof, but eat of this instead and have a care lest thou eat of hers; for, if thou eat so much as a grain thereof, her spells will have power over thee and she will enchant thee and say to thee, “Leave this form of a man.” Whereupon thou wilt quit shine own shape for what shape she will. But, if thou eat not thereof, her enchantments will be avoided and no harm will betide thee therefrom; whereat she will be abashed to the utmost and say to thee, “I did but jest with thee.” Then will she make a show of love and affection to thee; but this will all be but hypocrisy and craft in her. And do thou also make a show of love to her and say to her, “O my lady and light of mine eyes, eat of this parched barley and see how delicious it is.” And if she eat thereof, though it be but a grain, take water in thy hand and cast it in her face, saying, “Quit this human form for—” what form soever thou wilt have her take. Then leave her and come to me and I will counsel thee what to do.’

  Bedr took leave of him and returning to the palace, went in to the queen, who said to him, ‘Welcome and fair welcome to thee!’ And she rose and kissed him, saying, ‘Thou hast tarried long from me, O my lord.’ ‘I have been with my uncle,’ answered he, ‘and he gave me to eat of this parched barley.’ Quoth she, ‘We have better than that.’ Then she laid his parched grain in one dish and hers in another and said to him, ‘Eat of this, for it is better than thine.’ So he feigned to eat of it, and when she thought he had done so, she took water in her hand and sprinkled him therewith, saying, ‘Quit this form, vile wretch that thou art, and take that of a one-eyed mule, foul of favour!’ But he changed not; which when she saw, she went up to him and kissed him between the eyes, saying, ‘O my beloved, I did but jest with thee; bear me no malice because of this.’

  ‘O my lady,’ answered he, ‘I bear thee no whit of malice; nay, I am assured that thou lovest me: but eat of this my parched barley.’ So she took a mouthful of Abdallah’s barley and ate it; but no sooner had she swallowed it than she was convulsed; and Bedr took water in his hand and cast it in her face, saying, ‘Quit this human form and take that of a dapple mule.’ No sooner had he spoken than she found herself changed into a mule, whereupon the tears rolled down her cheeks and she fell to rubbing her muzzle against his feet. Then he would have bridled her, but she would not take the bit; so he left her and going to the grocer, told him what had passed. Abdallah gave him a bridle and bade him bridle her therewith. So he returned to the palace, and when she saw him, she came up to him and he set the bit in her mouth and mounting her, rode to the grocer’s shop.

  When the old man saw her, he rose and said to her, ‘God the Most High confound thee, O accursed woman!’ Then said he to Bedr, ‘O my son, there is no more abiding for thee in this city; so ride her and fare with her whither thou wilt and beware lest thou commit the bridle to any.’ Bedr thanked him and taking leave of him, fared on three days, without ceasing, till he drew near another city and there met him an old man, gray-headed and comely, who said to him, ‘Whence comest thou, O my son?’ ‘From the city of yonder enchantress,’ answered Bedr; and the old man said, ‘Thou art my guest this night.’

  Bedr consented and went with him; but by the way they met an old woman, who wept, when she saw the mule, and said, ‘There is no god but God! Verily, this mule resembles my son’s mule, which is dead, and my heart aches for her; so, God upon thee, O my lord, do thou sell her to me!’ ‘By Allah, O my mother,’ answered he, ‘I cannot sell her.’ But she said, ‘God on thee, do not refuse me, for my son will surely die, except I buy him this mule.’ And she importuned him, till he said, ‘I will not sell her save for a thousand dinars,’ saying in himself, ‘Whence should this old woman get a thousand diners?’ Thereupon she brought out from her girdle a purse, containing a thousand diners, which when Bedr saw, he said, ‘O my mother, I did but jest with thee; I cannot sell her.’ But the old man looked at him hard said, ‘O my son, none may lie in this city, for whoso lieth they put to death’

  So Bedr lighted down from the mute and delivered her to the old woman, who drew the bit from her mouth and taking water in her hand, sprinkled the mule therewith, saying,
‘O my daughter, quit this form and return to that wherein thou wast aforetime!’ Whereupon she was straightway restored to her original shape and the two women embraced and kissed each other. So Bedr knew that the old woman was Queen Lab’s mother and that he had been tricked and would have fled; but the old woman gave a loud whistle and there appeared before her an Afrit, as he were a great mountain, whereat Bedr was affrighted and stood still. Then the old woman mounted on the Afrit’s back, taking her daughter behind her and Bedr before her, and the Afrit flew off with them; nor was it long before they were in the palace of Queen Lab, who sat down on the throne of kingship and said to Bedr, ‘Knave that thou art, now am I come hither and have attained to that I desired, and I will show thee how I will do with thee and with yonder old man the grocer! How many favours have I done him! Yet he cloth me ill; for thou hadst not attained thine end but by his intervention.’ Then she took water and sprinkled him therewith, saying, ‘Quit the form wherein thou art for that of a foul-favoured bird, the foulest of all birds!’ And immediately he became a foul-favoured bird; and she set him in a cage and cut off from him meat and drink; but one of her women took compassion on him and gave him to eat and drink, without her knowledge.

  One day, the damsel took her mistress at unawares and going forth the palace, repaired to the old grocer, to whom she told the whole case, saying, ‘The queen is purposed to make an end of thy brother’s son.’ He thanked her and said, ‘Needs must I take the city from her and make thee queen thereof in her stead.’ Then he gave a loud whistle and there came forth to him an Afrit with four wings, to whom said he, Carry this damsel to the city of Julnar of the Sea and her mother Ferasheh, for they two are the most powerful magicians on the face of the earth.’ And he said to the damsel, ‘When thou comest thither, tell them that King Bedr Basim is Queen Lab’s captive.’

  Then the Afrit took her up and flying off with her, set her down, in a little while, upon the roof of Queen Julnar’s palace. So she descended and going in to the queen, kissed the earth and told her what had befallen her son, whereupon Julnar rose to her and thanked her and entreated her with honour Then she let beat the drums in the city and acquainted her people and the grandees of her realm with the good news that King Bedr was found; after which she and her mother Ferasheh and her brother Salih assembled the tribes of the Jinn and the warriors of the sea; for the kings of the Jinn obeyed them, since the taking of King Es Semendel. Then they all Hew up into the air and lighting down on the city of the sorceress, sacked the town and the palace and slew all the misbelievers therein in the twinkling of an eye.

  Then said Julnar to the damsel, ‘Where is my son?’ And the girl brought her the cage and showing her the bird within, said, ‘This is thy son.’ So Julnar took him forth of the cage and sprinkled him with water, saying, ‘Quit this form for that wherein thou west aforetime.’ Nor had she made an end of her speech ere he shook and became a man as before; whereupon his mother embraced him and he wept sore. On like wise did his uncle Salih and his grandmother and the daughters of his uncle and fell to kissing his hands and feet. Then Julnar sent for Abdallah and thanking him for his kind dealing with her son, married him to the damsel, whom he had despatched to her with news of him, and made him king of the city. Moreover, she summoned those

  who survived of the inhabitants of the city, (and they were Muslims), and made them swear fealty to him; after which she and her company took leave of him and returned to their own city. The townsfolk came out to meet them with drums beating, and decorated the city three days and held high festival, of the greatness of their joy for the return of their king.

  After this Bedr said to his mother, ‘O my mother, there remains but that I marry and we be all united.’ ‘Thou sayst well, O my son,’ answered she; ‘but wait till we enquire who befitteth thee among the daughters of the kings.’ And his grandmother and the daughters of his uncle all said, ‘O Bedr, we will help thee to thy wish forthright.’ Then each of them arose and went forth a-questing in the lands, whilst Julnar sent out her waiting-women on the backs of Afrits, bidding them leave not a city nor a king’s palace, without noting all the handsome girls that were therein. But, when Bedr saw their endeavour in the matter, he said to Juloar, ‘O my mother leave this thing, for none will content me but Jauhereh daughter of King Es Semendel; for that she is indeed a jewel, according to her name.’ ‘I know that which thou seekest,’ replied Julnar and sent forthright to fetch King Es Semendel. As soon as he was present, she sent for Bedr and acquainted him with the king’s coming, whereupon he went in to him.

  When Es Semenael was aware of his presence, he rose to him and saluted him and bade him welcome; and Bedr demanded of him his daughter in marriage. She is shine handmaid and at thy service and disposition,’ replied the king and despatched some of his officers to fetch her. So they flew up into the air and returned, after awhile, with the princess, who, as soon as she saw her father, went up to him and embraced him. Then said he to her, ‘Know, O my daughter, that I have given thee in marriage to this magnanimous king and valiant lion, Bedr Basim, son of Queen Julnar, for that he is the goodliest and most power-ful of the folk of his day and the most exalted of them in degree and the noblest in rank; he befitteth none but thee and thou none but him.’ ‘O my father,’ answered she, ‘I may not gainsay thee; do as thou wilt, for indeed chagrin and despite are at an end and I am one of his handmaids.’

  So they summoned the Cadis and the witnesses, who drew up the marriage contract between King Bedr and the princess Jauhereh, and the townsfolk decorated the city and beat the drums in token of rejoicing. Moreover, they released all who were in the prisons, whilst the king clothed the widows and the orphans and bestowed dresses of honour upon the grandees and emirs and notables; and they made bride-feasts and held high festival night and morn ten days, at the end of which time they unveiled the bride, in nine different dresses, before Bedr, who bestowed a dress of honour upon King Es Semendel and sent him back to his country and people and kinsfolk. And they ceased not from the most delightsome of life and the most solaceful of days till there came to them the Destroyer of Delights and the Sunderer of Companies; and this is the end of their story, may God have mercy on them all!

  John Payne’s translation: detailed table of contents

  KING MOHAMMED BEN SEBAÏK AND THE MERCHANT HASSAN.

  There was once, of old days and in bygone ages and times, a king of the kings of the Persians, by name Mohammed ben Sebaïk, who ruled over the land of Khorassan and used every year to go a-raiding into the countries of the unbelievers in Hind and Sind and China and the lands beyond the river [Oxus] and other the lands of the barbarians and others. He was a just, valiant and generous king and loved table-talk and recitals and verses and anecdotes and tales and entertaining stories and traditions of the ancients. Whoso knew a rare story and related it to him, he would bestow on him a sumptuous dress of honour and clothe him from head to foot and mount him on a horse saddled and bridled and give him a thousand dinars, besides other great gifts; and the man would take all this and go his way.

  One day there came an old man before him and related to him a rare story, which pleased the king and he ordered him a magnificent present, amongst other things a thousand dinars of Khorassan and a horse with all its trappings. After this, the report of the king’s munificence was blazed abroad in all countries and there heard of him a man by name Hassan the Merchant, who was generous, open-handed and learned and an accomplished poet and scholar. Now the king had an envious vizier, a compend of ill, loving none, rich nor poor, and whoso came before the king and he gave him aught, he envied him and said, ‘This fashion wasteth wealth and ruineth the country; and this is the king’s wont.’ But this was nought but envy and despite in this vizier.

  Presently, the king heard of Hassan and sending for him, said to him, ‘O Hassan, this vizier of mine vexeth and thwarteth me concerning the money I give to poets and story-tellers and glee-men, and I would have thee tell me a goodly history and a rare story, such as
I have never heard. If it please me, I will give thee lands galore, with their strong places, in free tenure, in addition to thy fiefs; besides which I will make thee my chief vizier and put my whole kingdom in thy hands; so shalt thou sit on my right hand and rule my people. But, if thou bring me not that which I desire, I will take all that is in thy hand and banish thee my kingdom.’ ‘Hearkening and obedience [are due] to our lord the king,’ replied Hassan. ‘But thy slave beseecheth thee to have patience with him a year; then will he tell thee a story, such as thou hast never in thy life heard, neither hath other than thou heard its like nor a better than it.’ Quoth the king, ‘I grant thee a whole year’s delay.’ And he called for a splendid dress of honour, in which he clad Hassan, saying, ‘Keep thy house and mount not to horse, neither go nor come for a year’s time, till thou bring me that I seek of thee. If thou bring it, thou shalt have especial favour and mayst count on that which I have promised thee; but, an thou bring it not, thou art not of us nor we of thee.’ And Hassan kissed the ground before the king and went out from the presence.

  Then he chose out five of the best of his servants, who could all write and read and were learned, intelligent and accomplished, and gave each of them five thousand dinars, saying, ‘I reared you but against the like of this day: so do ye help me to accomplish the king’s desire and deliver me from his hand.’ ‘What wilt thou [have us] do?’ said they. ‘Our lives be thy ransom!’ Quoth he, ‘I wish you to go each to a different country and seek out diligently the learned and erudite and accomplished and the tellers of rare stories and marvellous histories and do your endeavour to procure me the story of Seif el Mulouk. If ye find it with any one, pay him what price soever he asks for it, though he seek a thousand dinars: give him what ye may and promise him the rest and bring me the story; for whoso happens on it and brings it to me, I will bestow on him a sumptuous dress of honour and largesse galore, and there shall be to me none dearer than he.’