One Thousand and One Nights

by Richard Burton

  Presently, out came an old woman, a duenna and clapped her hands and danced, whilst the girls pulled her hither and thither, till the curtain was lifted and out came Jemileh, laughing. She was clad in [costly] robes and ornaments, and on her head was a crown set with pearls and jewels. About her neck she wore a necklace of pearls and her waist was clasped with a girdle of chrysolite bugles, with tassels of rubies and pearls. The damsels kissed the earth before her, and when Ibrahim saw her, he took leave of his senses and his wit was dazed and his thought confounded for amazement at the sight of loveliness whose like is not on the face of the earth. He fell into a swoon and coming to himself weeping-eyed, recited the following verses:

  I see thee nor mine eyes I shut, lest for a space My lids should veil from me the vision of thy face;

  For, though with every glance I gazed on thee for e’er, Mine eyes might not suffice thy beauties to embrace.

  Then said the old woman to the girls, ‘Let ten of you arise and dance and sing.’ And Ibrahim said in himself, ‘I wish the lady Jemileh would dance.’ When the damsels had made an end of their dance, they came round the princess and said to her, ‘O my lady, we would have thee dance amongst us, so the measure of our joy may be filled, for never saw we a more delightful day than this.’ Quoth Ibrahim to himself, ‘Doubtless the gates of heaven are open and God hath granted my prayer.’

  Then the damsels kissed her feet and said to her, ‘By Allah, we never saw thee light of heart as to-day!’ Nor did they cease to importune her, till she put off her [outer] clothes and abode in a shift of cloth of gold, broidered with various jewels, discovering breasts that stood out like pomegranates and unveiling a face as it were the moon on the night of its full. Then she began to dance, and Ibrahim beheld motions whose like he had never in his life seen, for she showed such rare skill and wonderful invention, that she made men forget the dancing of the bubbles in the wine-cups and called to mind the inclining of the turbans from the heads; even as saith of her the poet:

  As she would, she was created, after such a wise that lo, She in beauty’s mould was fashioned, perfect, neither less nor mo’.

  ’Tis as if she had been moulded out of water of pure pearls; In each member of her beauty is a very moon, I trow.

  And as saith another:

  A dancer, like a willow-wand her shape; her movements sweet When I behold, for ravishment my soul is like to fleet.

  Nor this nor t’other foot of her rests aye, when she doth dance; ’Tis as the fire within my heart were underneath her feet.

  As he gazed upon her, she chanced to look up and saw him, whereupon her face changed and she said to her women, ‘Sing ye till I come back to you.’ Then, taking up a knife half a cubit long. she made towards him, saying, ‘There is no power and no virtue save in God the Most High, the Supreme!’

  When Ibrahim saw this, he [well-nigh] lost his wits; But, when she drew near him and her eyes fell upon his face, the knife dropped from her hand, and she exclaimed, ‘Glory to Him who turneth hearts!’ Then said she to him, ‘O youth, be of good cheer, for thou art safe from that thou fearest!’ Whereupon Ibrahim fell to weeping and she to wiping away his tears with her hand and saying, ‘O youth, tell me who thou art, and what brought thee hither.’ He kissed the earth before her and clung to her skirt; and she said, ‘No harm shall come to thee; for, by Allah, no male hath ever filled mine eyes but thyself! Tell me, then, who thou art.’

  So he told her his story from first to last, whereat she marvelled and said to him, ‘O my lord, I conjure thee by Allah, tell me if thou be Ibrahim ben el Khesib?’ ‘I am,’ answered he, and she threw herself upon him, saying, ‘O my lord, it was thou madest me averse from men; for, when I heard that there was in the land of Egypt a youth than whom there was no goodlier on the face of the earth, I fell in love with thee by report and my heart became enamoured of thee, for that which was told me of thy surpassing comeliness, so that I was, in respect of thee, even as saith the poet:

  My ear my eye prevented in loving him, trow I; For whiles the ear, it chances, doth love before the eye.

  So praised be God who hath shown me thy face! But, by Allah, had it been other than thou, I had crucified the keeper of the garden and the porter of the khan and the tailor and him who had recourse to them! But how shall I contrive for somewhat thou mayst eat, without the knowledge of my women?’ Quoth Ibrahim, ‘I have here what we may eat and drink.’ And he opened the bag before her. She took a fowl and began to feed him and he to feed her; which when he saw, it seemed to him that this was a dream. Then be brought out wine and they drank what while the damsels sang on; nor did they leave to do thus from morn to noon, when she rose and said, ‘Go now and get thee a boat and await me in such a place, till I come to thee; for I have no patience left to brook separation from thee.’ ‘O my lady,’ answered he, ‘I have with me a ship of my own, whose crew are in my hire, and they await me.’ ‘This is as we would have it,’ rejoined she and returning to her women, said to them, ‘Come, let us go back to our palace.’ ‘Why should we return now,’ asked they, ‘seeing that we used to abide here three days?’ Quoth she, ‘I feel an exceeding oppression in myself, as I were sick, and I fear lest this increase upon me.’

  So they answered, ‘We hear and obey,’ and donning their clothes, went down to the river-bank and embarked; whereupon, the keeper of the garden came up to Ibrahim and said to him, knowing not what had happened, ‘O Ibrahim, thou hast not had the luck to enjoy the sight of her, and I fear lest she have seen thee, for it is her custom to abide here three days.’ ‘She saw me not, nor I her,’ replied Ibrahim; ‘for she came not forth of the pavilion.’ ‘True, O my son,’ rejoined the keeper; ‘for, had she seen thee, we were both dead men: but tarry with me till she come again next week, and thou shalt see her and take thy fill of looking on her.’ ‘O my lord,’ replied the prince, ‘I have with me good and fear for it. Moreover, I left men behind me and I fear lest they take advantage of my absence.’ ‘O my son,’ said the keeper, ‘it is grievous to me to part with thee;’ and he embraced him and bade him farewell.

  Then Ibrahim returned to the khan where he lodged, and foregathering with the doorkeeper, took of him his good [that he had left with him]. Quoth the latter, ‘Good news, if it be the will of God!’ But Ibrahim said, ‘l found no way to my desire, and now I am minded to return to my people.’ Whereupon the porter wept; then taking up his goods, he carried them to the ship and bade him farewell. Ibrahim repaired to the place which Jemileh had appointed him and awaited her there till it grew dark, when she came up, disguised as a swash-buckler, with a round beard and her waist bound with a girdle. In one hand she held a bow and arrows and in the other a drawn sword, and she said to him, ‘Art thou Ibrahim, son of El Khesib, lord of Egypt?’ ‘I am he,’ answered the prince; and she said, ‘What good-for-nought art thou, that comest to debauch kings’ daughters? Come; speak with the Sultan.’

  Therewith he fell down in a swoon and the sailors well-nigh died in their skins for fear; but, when she saw what had betided her lover, she pulled off her beard and throwing down her sword, unbound the girdle from her waist, whereupon he knew her for the lady Jemileh and said to her, ‘By Allah, thou hast rent my heart in sunder!’ Then said he to the boatmen, ‘Hasten she vessel’s course.’ So they spread the sail and putting off, fared on with all diligence; nor was it many days before they reached Baghdad, where they saw a ship lying by the river-bank. When the sailors saw them, they cried out to the crew, saying, ‘Ho, such an one and such an one, we give you joy of your safety!’ Then they drove their ship against Ibrahim’s and he looked and beheld Aboulcasim es Sendelani in the other boat.

  When the latter saw them, he exclaimed, ‘This is what I sought,’ and he said to Ibrahim, ‘Praised be God for safety! Hast thou accomplished thine errand?’ ‘Yes,’ answered the young man. Now Aboulcasim had a flambeau before him; so he brought it near unto Ibrahim’s boat, and when Jemileh saw him, she was troubled and her colour changed: but, when he saw her, he said
, ‘Go ye in God’s safe keeping. I am bound to Bassora, on an errand to the Sultan; but the gift is for him who is present.’ Then he brought out a box of sweetmeats, wherein was henbane, and threw it into the boat: whereupon quoth Ibrahim to Jemileh, ‘O solace of mine eyes, eat of this.’ But she wept and said, ‘O Ibrahim, knowest thou who that is?’ ‘Yes,’ answered he, ‘it is such an one.’ Quoth she, ‘He is my father’s brother’s son and sought me aforetime in marriage of my father; but I would not accept of him. And now he is gone to Bassora and most like he will tell my father of us.’ ‘O my lady,’ rejoined Ibrahim, ‘he will not reach Bassora, till we are at Mosul.’ But they knew not what lurked for them in the secret purpose of God.

  Then he ate of the sweetmeat, but hardly had it reached his stomach when he smote the ground with his head. [He lay insensible till] near dawn, when he sneezed and the henbane issued from his nostrils. With this, he opened his eyes and found himself naked and cast out among ruins; so he buffeted his face and said, ‘Doubtless

  this is a trick that Es Sendelani hath played me.’ And he knew not whither he should go, for he had upon him nothing but his trousers. However, he rose and walked on a little, till he espied the prefect of police coming towards him, with a company of men with swords and staves; whereat he took fright and seeing a ruined bath, hid himself there. Presently, his foot stumbled at something; so he put his hand on it, and it became befouled with blood. He wiped his hand upon his trousers, unknowing what had befouled it, and put it out a second time, when, behold, it fell upon a dead body, and the head came up in his hand. He threw it down, saying, ‘There is no power and no virtue save in God the Most High!’ and took refuge in one of the cabinets of the bath.

  Presently, the prefect stopped at the door of the bath and said, ‘Enter this place and search.’ So ten of them entered with cressets, and Ibrahim of his fear retired behind a wall and looking upon the dead body, saw it to be that of a young lady with a face like the full moon. She was clad in costly raiment and her head lay on one side and her body on the other; and when he saw this, terror got hold upon his heart. Then the prefect of police entered and said, ‘Search the corners of the bath.’ So they entered the place where Ibrahim was, and one of them, seeing him, came up to him with a knife, half a cubit long, in his hand. When he drew near him, he said, ‘Glory be to God, the Creator of this fair face! O youth, whence art thou?’ Then he took him by the hand and said, ‘O youth, why slewest thou this woman?’ ‘By Allah,’ replied Ibrahim, ‘I slew her not, nor know I who slew her, and I entered not this place but in fear of you!’ And he told him his case, saying, ‘God on thee, do me no wrong, for I am in concern for myself!’ Then he took him and carried him to the prefect, who, seeing the marks of blood on his hands, said, ‘This needs no proof: strike off his head.’ When Ibrahim heard this, he wept sore and recited the following verses, with the tears streaming from his eyes:

  We tread the steps to us of destiny forewrit, For he to whom a way’s decreed must needs submit

  To walk therein, and he whose death is fore-ordained To be in such a land shall die in none but it.

  Then he gave a sob and fell down in a swoon; and the headsman’s heart was moved to pity for him and he exclaimed, ‘By Allah, this is no murderer’s face!’ But the prefect said, ‘Strike off his head.’ So they seated him on the carpet of blood and bound his eyes; after which the headsman drew his sword and asking leave of the prefect, was about to strike of his head, whilst he cried out, saying, ‘Alas, my strangerhood!’ when he heard a noise of horse coming up and one cried out, saying, ‘Leave him! Stay thy hand, O headsman!’

  Now there was for this a rare reason and an extraordinary cause; and it was thus. El Khesib, lord of Egypt, had sent his chamberlain to the Khalif Haroun er Reshid with presents and a letter, saying, ‘My son hath been missing this year past, and I hear that he is in Baghdad; wherefore I crave of the bounty of the Vicar of God that he make search for tidings of him and do his endeavour to and him and send him back to me by the chamberlain.’ When the Khalif read the letter, he commanded the chief of the police to search out the truth of the matter, and he accordingly proceeded to enquire after Ibrahim, till it was told him that he was at Bassora, whereupon he informed the Khalif, who wrote a letter [to the viceroy] and giving it to the Chamberlain of Egypt, bade him repair to Bassora and take with him a company of the vizier’s followers. So, of his solicitude for the son of his lord, the chamberlain set out forthright and happened [by the way] upon Ibrahim, as he sat upon the carpet of blood.

  When the prefect saw the chamberlain, he alighted to him, and the latter said, ‘What young man is that and what is his case?’ The prefect told him how the matter stood and the chamberlain said (and indeed he knew him not for the son of the Sultan, for that his charms were wasted [and his favour changed] by reason of the much terror and affliction he had suffered), ‘Verily this young man hath no murderer’s face.’ And he bade loose him and bring him to him. So they loosed him and brought him to the chamberlain, who said to him, ‘O youth, tell me thy case and how comes this slain woman with thee.’ Ibrahim looked at him and knowing him, said to him, ‘Out on thee! Dost thou not know me? Am I not Ibrahim, son of thy lord? Belike thou art come in quest of me.’

  With this the chamberlain considered him straitly and knowing him right well, threw himself at his feet; which when the prefect saw, his colour changed; and the chamberlain said to him, ‘Out on thee, O tyrant! Was it thine intent to kill the son of my master El Khesib, lord of Egypt?’ The prefect kissed his skirt, saying, ‘O my lord, how should I know him? We found him in this plight and saw the damsel lying slain by his side.’ ‘Out on thee!’ rejoined the chamberlain. ‘Thou art not fit for the prefectship. This is a lad of fifteen and he hath not killed a sparrow; so how should he be a murderer? Why didst thou not have patience with him and question him of his case?’

  Then the chamberlain and the prefect commanded to make search for the young lady’s murderer. So they re-entered the bath and finding him, brought him to the prefect who carried him to the Khalif and acquainted him with that which had happened. Er Reshid bade put the murderer to death and sending for Ibrahim, smiled in his face and said to him, ‘Tell me thy story and that which hath betided thee.’ So he told him his story from first to last, and it was grievous to the Khalif, who called Mesrour, his swordbearer, and said to him, ‘Go straightway and fall upon the house of Aboulcasim es Sendelani and bring me him and the young lady.’ So he went forth at once and breaking into the house, found Jemileh bound with her hair and nigh upon death. So he loosed her and taking the painter, carried them both to the Khalif, who marvelled at Jemileh’s beauty. Then he turned to Es Sendelani and said, ‘Take him and cut off his hands, wherewith he beat this young lady; then crucify him and deliver his goods and possessions to Ibrahim.’

  They did his bidding, and as they were thus, in came Aboulleith, governor of Bassora, the lady Jemileh’s father, seeking aid of the Khalif against Ibrahim ben el Khesib and complaining to him that the latter had taken his daughter. Quoth Er Reshid, ‘He hath been the means of delivering her from torture and death.’ Then he sent for Ibrahim, and when he came, he said to Aboulleith, ‘Wilt thou not accept of this young man, son of the Sultan of Egypt, as husband to thy daughter?’ ‘Hearkening and obedience [are due] to God and to thee, O Commander of the Faithful,’ replied Aboulleith; whereupon the Khalif summoned the Cadi and the witnesses and married the young lady to Ibrahim. Moreover, he gave him all Es Sendelani’s good and equipped him for his return to his own country, where he abode with Jemileh in the utmost of delight and the most perfect of contentment, till there came to them the Destroyer of Delights and the Sunderer of Companies; and glory be to the [Ever-]Living One who dieth not!

  John Payne’s translation: detailed table of contents

  ABOULHUSN OF KHORASSAN.

  The Khalif El Mutezid Billah was a high-spirited and noble-minded prince; he had in Baghdad six hundred viziers and no whit of the affairs of the fo
lk was hidden from him. He went forth one day, he and Ibn Hemdoun, to divert himself with observing his subjects and hearing the latest news of the folk, and being overtaken with the heats of noonday, they turned aside from the main thoroughfare into a little by-street, at the upper end whereof they saw a handsome and high-builded house, discoursing of its owner with the tongue of praise. They sat down at the gate to rest, and presently out came two servants, as they were moons on their fourteenth night. Quoth one of them to his fellow, ‘Would some guest would seek admission! My master will not eat but with guests and we are come to this hour and I have seen no one.’

  The Khalif marvelled at their speech and said, ‘This is a proof of the hospitality of the master of the house; needs must we go in to him and note his generosity, and this shall be a means of favour betiding him from us.’ So he said to the servant, ‘Ask leave of thy master for the admission of a company of strangers.’ For it was the Khalif’s wont, whenas he was minded to observe his subjects, to disguise himself in a merchant’s habit. The servant went in and told his master, who rejoiced and rising, came out to them in person. He was a comely and well-favoured man, clad in a tunic of Nishapour [silk] and a gold-laced mantle; and he dripped with scented waters and wore a ring of rubies on his hand. When he saw them, he said to them, ‘Welcome and fair welcome to the lords who do us the utmost of favour by their coming!’ So they entered the house and found it such as would make a man forget home and family, for it was as it were a piece of Paradise. Within it was a garden, full of all kinds of trees, confounding the beholder, and its dwelling-places were furnished with costly furniture. They sat down and the Khalif sat looking at the house and the furniture.

  (Quoth Ibn Hemdoun), I looked at the Khalif and saw his countenance change, and being wont to know from his face whether he was pleased or angry, said to myself, ‘I wonder what has vexed him.’ Then they brought a golden basin and we washed our hands, after which they spread a silken cloth and set thereon a table of bamboo. When the covers were taken off the dishes, we saw therein meats [costly] as the flowers of Spring in the season of their utmost scarcity, in pairs and singly, and the host said, ‘[Eat,] O my lords, in the name of God! By Allah, hunger pricks me; so favour me by eating of this food, as is the fashion of the noble.’