One Thousand and One Nights

by Richard Burton

  Then he fell to tearing fowls apart and laying them before us, laughing the while and repeating verses and telling stories and talking gaily with quaint and pleasant sayings such as sorted with the entertainment. We ate and drank, then removed to another room, which confounded the beholder with its beauty and which reeked with exquisite perfumes. Here they brought us a tray of freshly-gathered fruits and delicious sweetmeats, whereat our joys redoubled and our cares ceased. But withal the Khalif ceased not to wear a frowning face and smiled not at that which gladdened the soul, albeit it was his wont to love mirth and merriment and the putting away of cares, and I knew that he was free from envy and no oppressor. So I said to myself, ‘I wonder what is the cause of his moroseness and ill-humour.’

  Presently they brought the wine-tray, the uniter of friends, and clarified wine in flagons of gold and crystal and silver, and the host smote with a wand of bamboo on the door of an inner chamber, whereupon it opened and out came three damsels, high-bosomed maids, with faces like the sun at the fourth [hour] of the day, one a lute-player, another a harpist and the third a dancer. Then he set before us fruits and confections and drew between us and the damsels a curtain of brocade, with tassels of silk and rings of gold. The Khalif paid no heed to all this, but said to the host, who knew not who was in his company, ‘Art thou noble?’ ‘No, my lord,’ answered he; ‘I am but a man of the sons of the merchants and am known among the folk as Aboulhusn Ali, son of Ahmed of Khorassan.’

  Quoth the Khalif, ‘Dost thou know me, O man?’ ‘By Allah, O my lord,’ answered he, ‘I have no knowledge of either of your worships!’ Then said I to him, ‘O man, this is the Commander of the Faithful El Mutezid Billah, grandson of El Mutawekkil ala Allah.’ Whereupon he rose and kissed the ground before the Khalif, trembling for fear of him. Then said he, ‘O Commander of the Faithful, I conjure thee by the virtue of thy pious ancestors, if thou have seen in me any shortcoming or lack of good manners in thy presence, do thou forgive me!’ ‘As for that which thou hast done with us of hospitality,’ replied the Khalif, ‘nothing could have exceeded it; and as for that wherewith I have to reproach thee here, if thou tell me the truth respecting it and it commend itself to my reason, thou shalt be saved from me; but, if thou tell me not the truth, I will take thee with manifest proof and punish thee as I have never yet punished any.’

  ‘God forbid that I should tell thee a lie!’ answered the host. ‘But what is it that thou reproachest to me, O Commander of the Faithful?’ Quoth the Khalif, ‘Since I entered thy house and looked upon its goodliness, I have noted the furniture and vessels therein, nay, even to thy clothes, and behold, on all of them is the name of my grandfather, El Mutawekkil ala Allah.’ ‘Yes,’ answered Aboulhusn. ‘O Commander of the Faithful (may God protect thee), truth is thine inner and sincerity thine outer garment and none may speak other than truly in thy presence.’ The Khalif bade him be seated and said, ‘Tell us.’ So he sat down and said, ‘Know, O Commander of the Faithful, whom God stablish with His aid and encompass with His bounties, that there is not a richer in Baghdad than am I nor than was my father: but do thou grant me thine ears and eyes and understanding, whilst I expound to thee the cause of that which thou reproachest to me.’ Quoth the Khalif, ‘Say thy say.’

  ‘Know then, O Commander of the Faithful,’ began Aboulhusn, ‘that my father belonged to the markets of the money-changers and druggists and linendrapers and had in each a shop and an agent and all kinds of goods. Moreover, behind the money-changer’s shop he had an apartment, where he might be private, appointing the shop for buying and selling. His wealth was beyond count and limit, but he had no child other than myself, and he loved me and was tenderly solicitous over me. When his last hour was at hand, he called me to him and commended my mother to my care and charged me to fear God the Most High. Then he died, may God have mercy upon him and continue the Commander of the Faithful [on life!] And I gave myself up to pleasure and eating and drinking and took to myself friends and comrades and boon-companions. My mother used to forbid me from this and to blame me for it, but I would not hear a word from her, till my money was all gone, when I sold my lands and houses and nought was left me save the house in which I now dwell, and it is a goodly house, O Commander of the Faithful.

  So I said to my mother, “I wish to sell the house.” “O my son,” answered she, “if thou sell it, thou wilt be dishonoured and wilt have no place wherein to take shelter.” Quoth I, “It is worth five thousand dinars, and with one thousand thereof I will buy me another house and trade with the rest.” “Wilt thou sell it to me at that price?” asked she; and I replied, “Yes.” Whereupon she went to a coffer and opening it, took out a porcelain vessel, wherein were five thousand dinars. When I saw this, meseemed the house was all gold and she said to me, “O my son, think not that this is of thy father’s good. By Allah, it was of my own father’s money and I have treasured it up against a time of need; for, in thy father’s time, I had no need of it.”

  I took the money from her and fell again to feasting and merry-making with my friends, without heeding my mother’s words and admonitions, till the five thousand dinars came to an end, when I said to her, “I wish to sell the house.” “O my son,” answered she, “I forbade thee from selling it before, of my knowledge that thou hadst need of it; so how wilt thou sell it a second time?” Quoth I, “Do not multiply words upon me, for I must and will sell it.” “Then sell it to me for fifteen thousand dinars,” said she, “on condition that I take charge of thine affairs.” So I sold her the house at that price and gave up my affairs into her charge, whereupon she sought out my father’s factors and gave each of them a thousand dinars, keeping the rest in her own hands and ordering the outgoings and the incomings. Moreover she gave me money to trade withal and said to me, “Sit thou in thy father’s shop.” So I took up my abode in the chamber behind the shop in the market of the money-changers, and my friends came and bought of me and I sold to them; whereby I profited well and my wealth increased. When my mother saw me in this fair way, she discovered to me that which she had treasured up of jewels and pearls and gold, and I bought back my houses and lands that I had wasted and my wealth became great as before. I abode thus for some time, and the factors of my father came to me and I gave them goods, and I built me a second chamber behind the shop.

  One day, as I sat in my shop, according to my wont, there came up to me a damsel, never saw eyes a fairer than she of favour, and said, “Is this the shop of Aboulhusn Ali ibn Ahmed el Khurasani?” “Yes,” answered I. “Where is he?” asked she. “I am he,” said I, and indeed my wit was dazed at the excess of her loveliness. She sat down and said to me, “Bid thy servant count me out three hundred dinars.” So I bade him give her that sum and he counted it out to her and she took it and went away, leaving me stupefied. Quoth my clerk to me, “Dost thou know her?” And I answered, “No, by Allah!” “Then why,” asked he, “didst thou bid me give her the money?” “By Allah,” replied I, “I knew not what I said, of my amazement at her beauty and grace!” Then he rose and followed her, without my knowledge, but presently returned, weeping and with the mark of a blow on his face. I asked him what ailed him, and he said, “I followed the damsel, to see whither she went; but, when she was aware of me, she turned and dealt me this blow and all but put out my eye.”

  After this, a month passed, without my seeing her, and I abode bewildered for love of her; but, at the end of this time, she came again and saluted me, whereat I was like to fly for joy. She asked me how I did and said to me, “Belike thou saidst to thyself, ‘What manner of trickstress is this, who hath taken my money and made off?”’ “By Allah, O my lady,” answered I, “my money and my life are all at thy service!” With this she unveiled herself and sat down to rest, with the jewels and ornaments playing over her face and bosom. Presently, she said to me, “Give me three hundred dinars.” “I hear and obey,” answered I and counted out to her the money. She took it and went away and I said to my servant, “Follow her.” So he followed
her, but returned mumchance, and some time passed without my seeing her. But, as I was sitting one day, she came up to me and after talking awhile, said to me, “Give me five hundred dinars, for I have occasion for them.” I would have said to her, “Why should I give thee my money?” But excess of passion hindered me from speaking; for, whenever I saw her, I trembled in every limb and my colour paled and I forgot what I would have said and became even as saith the poet:

  I may not chance to look on her on unexpected wise, But so amazed am I, I scarce can answer, for surprise.

  So I counted her out the five hundred dinars and she took them and went away; whereupon I arose and followed her myself, till she came to the jewel-market, where she stopped at a man’s shop and took of him a necklace. Then she turned and seeing me, said, “Pay [him] five hundred dinars for me.” When the jeweller saw me, he rose to me and made much of me, and I said to him, “Give her the necklace and be the price at my charge.” “I hear and obey,” replied he, and she took it and went away. I followed her, till she came to the Tigris and took boat there, whereupon I signed to the ground, as who should say, “I kiss it before thee.” She went off, laughing, and I stood, watching her, till I saw her land and enter a palace, which when I considered, I knew it for the palace of the Khalif El Mutawekkil. So I turned back, with all the trouble in the world fallen on my heart, for she had had of me three thousand dinars, and I said in myself, “She hath taken my money and ravished my wit, and belike I shall lose my life for love of her.”

  Then I returned home and told my mother all that had befallen me, and she said, “O my son, beware how thou have to do with her after this, or thou art a lost man.” When I went to my shop, my factor in the drug-market, who was a very old man, came to me and said, “O my lord, how is it that I see thee in ill case and with marks of chagrin upon thee? Tell me what ails thee.” So I told him all that had befallen me with her and he said, “O my son, this is one of the women of the palace of the Commander of the Faithful and indeed she is the Khalif’s favourite: so do thou reckon the money [expended] for the sake of God the Most High and occupy thyself no more with her. If she come again, beware lest she have to do with thee and tell me of this, that I may contrive thee somewhat, lest perdition betide thee.” Then he went away and left me with a flame of fire in my heart.

  At the end of the month she came again and I rejoiced in her with an exceeding joy. Quoth she, “What ailed thee to follow me?” And I said, “Excess of passion that is in my heart urged me to this,” and I wept before her. She wept out of pity for me and said, “By Allah, there is not in thy heart aught of passion, but in mine is more! But how shall I do? By Allah, I have no resource but to see thee thus once a month.” Then she gave me a bill, saying, “Carry this to such an one, who is my factor, and take of him what is named therein.” But I replied, “I have no need of money; be my money and my life thy sacrifice!” Quoth she, “I will assuredly contrive thee a means of access to me, whatever trouble it cost me.” Then she took leave of me and went away; whilst I repaired to the old druggist and told him what had passed. He went with me to the Khalif’s palace, which I knew for that which the lady had entered; and he was at a loss for a device.

  Presently he espied a tailor sitting with his journeymen at work in his shop, opposite the lattice giving upon the river-bank, and said to me, “Yonder is one by whom thou shalt come to thy desire; but first tear thy pocket and go to him and bid him sew it up. When he hath done this, give him ten dinars.” “I hear and obey,” answered I and taking two pieces of Greek brocade, went to the tailor and bade him make of them four suits, two with surcoats and two without. When he had made an end of cutting them out and sewing them, I gave him to his hire much more than of wont, and he put out his hand to me with the clothes; but I said, “Take them for thyself and those who are with thee.” And I fell to sitting with him and sitting long. Moreover, I bespoke of him other clothes and bade him hang them out in front of his shop, that the folk might see them and buy them. He did as I bade him, and whoso came forth of the palace and aught of the clothes pleased him, I made him a present thereof, even to the doorkeeper.

  One day, the tailor said to me, “O my son, I would have thee tell me the truth of thy case; for thou hast bespoken of me a hundred costly suits, each worth much money, and hast given the most of them to the folk. This is no merchant’s fashion, for a merchant calleth an account for [every] dirhem, and what can be the sum of thy capital and what thy gain every year, that thou givest these gifts? Tell me then the truth of thy case, that I may further thee to thy desire.” Then, “I conjure thee by God,” added he, “[tell me,] art thou not in love?” “Yes,” answered I; and he said, “With whom?” Quoth I, “With one of the women of the Khalif’s palace.” And he exclaimed, “May God put them to shame! How long shall they seduce the folk? Knowest thou her name?” “No,” answered I; and he said, “Describe her to me.” So I described her to him and he said, “Out on it! This is the favourite lutanist of the Khalif El Mutawekkil. But she hath a servant, and do thou clap up a friendship with him; it may be he shall be the means of thy having access to her.”

  As we were talking, out came the servant in question from the palace, as he were the moon on its fourteenth night. Now I had before me the clothes that the tailor had made me, and they were of brocade of all colours. He began to look at them and examine them; then he came up to me and I rose and saluted him. “Who art thou?” asked he; and I answered, “I am a man of the merchants.” Quoth he, “Wilt thou sell these clothes?” “Yes,” replied I. So he chose out five of them and said to me, “How much these five?” Quoth I, “They are a present from me to thee, in earnest of friendship between us.” At this he rejoiced and I went home and fetching a suit embroidered with jewels and jacinths, worth three thousand dinars, gave it to him.

  He accepted it and carrying me into a room within the palace, said to me, “What is thy name among the merchants?” Quoth I, “I am a man of them.” “Verily,” rejoined he, “I misdoubt me of thine affair.” “Why so?” asked I. “Because,” answered he, “thou hast bestowed on me a great matter and won my heart therewith, and I doubt not but thou art Aboulhusn of Khorassan the money-changer.” With this I fell aweeping and he said to me, “Why dost thou weep? By Allah, she for whom thou weepest is yet more passionately in love with thee than thou with her! And indeed her case with thee is notorious among all the women of the palace. But what wouldst thou have?” Quoth I, “I would have thee succour me in my affliction.” So he appointed me for the morrow and I returned home.

  Next morning, I betook myself to him and waited in his chamber till he came, when he said to me, “Know that, when she returned to her apartment yesternight, after having made an end of her service about the Khalif’s person, I related to her all that passed between me and thee and she is minded to foregather with thee. So abide thou with me till the end of the day.” Accordingly I abode with him till dark, when he brought me a shirt of gold-inwoven stuff and a suit of the Khalif’s apparel and clothing me therein, incensed me and I became most like the Khalif. Then he brought me to a gallery with rows of doors on each side and said to me, “These are the lodgings of the chief of the slave-girls; and when thou passest along the gallery, do thou lay a bean at each door, — for it is the Khalif’s wont to do this every night, — till thou come to the second passage on thy right hand, when thou wilt see a door with a threshold of alabaster. Touch it with thy hand; or, if thou wilt, count the doors, so many, and enter the one whose marks are thus and thus. There thy mistress will see thee and take thee in with her. As for thy coming forth, God will make it easy to me, though I carry thee out in a chest.”

  Then he left me and returned, whilst I went on, counting the doors and laying at each a bean. When I had reached the middle of the gallery, I heard a great noise and saw the light of flambeaux coming towards me. As the light drew near me, I looked at it and behold the Khalif himself, surrounded by the slave-girls carrying flambeaux, and I heard one of the women [by whos
e door I had passed] say to another, “O my sister, have we two Khalifs? Verily, the Khalif hath already passed by my chamber and laid the bean at my door, as is his wont, and I smelt the perfumes and essences on him, and now I see the light of his flambeaux, and here he comes with them.” “Indeed this is a strange thing,” replied the other; “for none would dare disguise himself in the Khalif’s habit.”

  Then the light drew near me, whilst I trembled in every limb; and up came an eunuch, crying out to the women and saying, “Hither!” Whereupon they turned aside to one of the chambers and entered. Then they came out again and went on till they came to the chamber of my mistress and I heard the Khalif say, “Whose chamber is this?” They answered, “This is the chamber of Shejeret ed Durr.” And he said, “Call her.” So they called her and she came out and kissed the feet of the Khalif, who said to her, “Wilt thou drink to-night?” Quoth she, “But for thy presence and the looking on thy face, I would not drink, for I have no mind to wine this night.” Then said the Khalif to the eunuch, “Bid the treasurer give her such a necklace.” And he commanded to enter her chamber. So the torches entered before him and he followed them into the apartment.

  At the same moment, there came up to me a damsel, the lustre of whose face outshone that of the flambeau in her hand, and said, “Who is this?” Then she laid hold of me and carrying me into one of the chambers, said to me, “Who art thou?” I kissed the earth before her, saying, “I implore thee by Allah, O my lady, spare my blood and have pity on me and commend thyself unto God by saving my life!” And I wept for fear of death. Quoth she, “Doubtless, thou art a thief.” “No, by Allah,” answered I, “I am no thief. Seest thou on me the signs of thieves?” “Tell me the truth of thy case,” said she, “and I will put thee in safety.” So I said, “I am a silly, ignorant lover, whom passion and my ignorance have moved to do as thou seest, so that I am fallen into this peril.” Quoth she, “Abide here till I come back to thee.”