One Thousand and One Nights

by Richard Burton

  Then she went out and presently returning with some of her maids’ clothes, clad me therein and bade me follow her. So I followed her till she came to her apartment and bade me enter. I went in and she brought me to a couch, whereon was a splendid carpet, and said, “Sit down here: no harm shall befall thee. Art thou not Aboulhusn el Khurasani, the money-changer?” And I answered, “Yes.” “May God spare thy blood,” rejoined she, “an thou speak truth! If thou be a thief, thou art a lost man, more by token that thou art dressed in the Khalif’s habit and perfumed with his scents. But, if thou be indeed Aboulhusn, thou art safe and no hurt shall come to thee, for that thou art the lover of Shejeret ed Durr, who is my sister and stinteth never to name thee and tell us how she took of thee money, yet wast thou not chagrined, and how thou didst follow her to the river-bank and madest as thou wouldst kiss the ground in her honour; and her heart is yet more aflame for thee than thine for her. But how camest thou hither? Was it by her order or without? [If she hath bidden thee unto this,] she hath imperilled thy life. But what seekest thou in foregathering with her?”

  “By Allah, O my lady,” replied I, “it is I who have ventured my own life, and my desire in foregathering with her is but to look on her and hear her speech.” And she said, “Thou hast spoken well.” “O my lady,” added I, “God is my witness that my soul prompteth me to no transgression against her honour.” Quoth she, “In this intent may God deliver thee! Indeed compassion for thee hath taken hold upon my heart.” Then she called her maid and said to her, “Go to Shejeret ed Durr and say to her, ‘Thy sister salutes thee and bids thee to her; so favour her by coming to her this night, according to thy wont, for her breast is straitened.’” So the maid went out and presently returning, told her mistress that Shejeret ed Durr said, “May God bless me with thy long life and make me thy ransom! By Allah, hadst thou bidden me to other than this, I had not hesitated; but the Khalif’s meagrims constrain me and thou knowest my rank with him.’ But the other said to her maid, “Return to her and say, ‘Nothing will serve but thou must come to my mistress, upon a privy matter between her and thee.’”

  So the maid went out again and presently returned with the lady, whose face shone like the full moon. Her sister met her and embraced her; then said she, “Ho, Aboulhusn, come forth to her and kiss her hands.” Now I was in a closet within the apartment; so I came out; and when my mistress saw me, she threw herself upon me and strained me to her bosom, saying, “How camest thou in the Khalif’s clothes and his ornaments and perfumes? Tell me what hath befallen thee.” So I related to her all that had befallen me and what I had suffered for fright and so forth; and she said, “What thou hast endured for my sake is grievous to me, and praised be God who hath appointed the issue to be safety, and the fulfilment of safety is in thy entering my lodging and that of my sister.” Then she carried me to her own apartment, saying to her sister, “I have made a covenant with him that I will not foregather with him unlawfully; but, as he hath ventured himself and incurred this great peril, I will be even as earth for his treading and as dust to his shoes.” “In this intent may God deliver him!” replied her sister. “Thou shalt see,” added my mistress, “how I will do, so I may foregather with him in the way of law, and needs must I lavish my heart’s blood to contrive this.”

  As we were in talk, we heard a great noise and turning, saw the Khalif making for her lodging, of the greatness of the store he set by her; whereupon she hid me in an underground chamber and shut down the trap-door upon me. Then she went out to meet the Khalif, who entered and sat down, whilst she stood before him, to serve him, and commanded to bring wine. Now the Khalif loved a damsel by name Benjeh, who was the mother of El Mutezz Billah; but they had fallen out and in the pride of her beauty and grace, she would not [offer to] make peace with him, nor, for the dignity of the Khalifate and the Kingship, would he [offer to] make peace with her nor humble himself to her, albeit his heart was aflame with passion for her, but sought to divert his mind from her with her mates among the slave-girls and with going in to them in their chambers. Now he loved Shejeret ed Durr’s singing: so he bade her sing. Accordingly she took the lute and tuning it, sang the following verses:

  I marvel at the ruthless stress of fate against us two And how it stinted, having wrought our union to undo.

  I held aloof from thee, till, “Love he knoweth not,” ’twas said And did thee visit, till ’twas said, “He lacks of patience due.”

  Add to my transport, love of her, each night, and solacement Of loves, the Resurrection be thy day of rendezvous!

  She hath a skin like very silk and a soft speech and sweet: Gracious to all, her words are nor too many nor too few.

  Two eyes she hath, quoth God Most High, “Be,” and forthright they were: Even with the reason as doth wine, so with the hearts they do.

  When the Khalif heard these verses, he was moved to exceeding delight, and I also was moved to delight in my hiding-place, and but for the bounty of God the Most High, I had cried out and we had been discovered. Then she sang these also:

  I clip him close and still my soul doth yearn for him full fain: Can aught of straiter union be than clips for lovers twain?

  I kiss his mouth, to do away my heat; but every kiss, Alack! doth only aggravate the transport of my pain;

  As ‘twere, indeed, until my heart our souls commingled saw, Nought could it of its thirst for him on anywise assain.

  The Khalif was delighted and said, “O Shejeret ed Durr, ask a boon of me.” “O Commander of the Faithful,” answered she, “I ask of thee my freedom, for the sake of the reward that is therein.” “Thou art free for the love of God,” said he; whereupon she kissed the earth before him. Quoth he, “Take the lute and sing me somewhat on the subject of my slave-girl, of whom I am enamoured: the folk seek my approof and I seek hers.” So she took the lute and sang as follows:

  Lady of beauty, that hast done away my piety, I cannot brook, whate’er betide, to live withouten thee;

  So, or with humbleness, that best befitteth love, I’ll gain Thy favours, or with might, that best befitteth kings like me.

  The Khalif was charmed with these verses and said, “Now sing me somewhat setting out my case with three damsels, who hold the reins of my heart and hinder my repose; and they are thyself and this froward one and another I will not name, who hath not like her.” So she took the lute and playing a lively measure, sang the following verses:

  There are three lovely maidens, the reins of me that sway: Within my heart’s high places they lord it night and day.

  There’s none in all creation can bow me to his will; Yet I obey these maidens and they my will gainsay.

  This is of Love’s dominion, whereby they overcome A prouder than my empire and force it still obey.

  The Khalif marvelled exceedingly at the aptness of these verses to his case and the delight [to which they moved him] inclined him to reconciliation with the refractory damsel. So he went forth and made for her lodging, whither a slave-girl forewent him and acquainted her with the Khalif’s coming. She came to meet him and kissed the earth before him; then she kissed his feet and he was reconciled to her and she to him.

  Meanwhile Shejeret ed Durr came to me, rejoicing, and said, “I am become free by thy blessed coming! Surely God will help me in that which I shall contrive, so I may foregather with thee in the way of law.” And I said, “Praised be God!” As we were talking, in came her servant, to whom we related that which had passed, and he said, “Praised be God who hath made the affair to end well, and we implore Him to crown His favours with thy safe going-out hence!” Presently, in came my mistress’s sister, whose name was Fatir, and Shejeret ed Durr said to her, “O my sister, how shall we do to bring him out of the palace in safety? For God hath vouchsafed me emancipation and by the blessing of his coming, I am become a free woman.” Quoth Fatir, “I see nothing for it but to dress him in a woman’s habit.” So she brought me a suit of women’s clothes and clad me therein; and I went out forthwith; but, when I c
ame to the midst of the palace, I found the Khalif seated there, with the eunuchs in attendance upon him.

  When he saw me, he misdoubted of me exceedingly and said to his attendants, “Hasten and bring me yonder damsel.” So they brought me back to him and raised the veil from my face, which when he saw, he knew me and questioned me of my case. I told him the whole truth, hiding nought, and when he heard my story, he bethought himself awhile, then rose and going into Shejeret ed Durr’s chamber, said to her, “How couldst thou prefer one of the sons of the merchants before me?” She kissed the earth before him and told him her story from first to last, in accordance with the truth; wherewith he had compassion upon her and his heart relented to her and he excused her by reason of love and its conditions. Then he went away and her servant came in to her and said, “Be of good cheer; for, when thy lover came before the Khalif, he questioned him and he told him that which thou toldest him, word by word.”

  Presently the Khalif returned and calling me before him, said to me, “What made thee dare to violate the palace of the Khalifate?” “O Commander of the Faithful,” answered I, “it was my ignorance and passion and my confidence in thy clemency and generosity that led me to this.” And I wept and kissed the earth before him. Then said he, “I pardon you both,” and bade me be seated. So I sat down and he sent for the Cadi Ahmed ibn Abi Dawud and married me to her. Then he commanded to make over to me all that was hers and they brought her to me in bridal procession in her lodging. After three days, I went forth and transported all her goods and gear to my own house; so all that thou hast seen, O Commander of the Faithful, in my house and whereof thou misdoubtest is of her marriage-equipage.

  After this, she said to me, one day, “Know that El Mutawekkil is a generous man and I fear lest he bethink him of us, or that some one of the envious remind him of us; wherefore I have it in mind to do somewhat that may ensure us against this.” “And what is that?” asked I. Quoth she, “I mean to ask his leave to go the pilgrimage and renounce singing.” “This is well thought,” answered I; but, as we were talking, in came a messenger from the Khalif to seek her, for that El Mutawekkil loved her singing. So she went with the officer and did her service to the Khalif, who said to her, “Sever not thyself from us.” And she answered, “I hear and obey.”

  One day, after this, she went to him, he having sent for her, according to his wont; but, before I knew, she came back, with her clothes torn and her eyes full of tears. At this I was alarmed, misdoubting me that he had commanded to seize upon us, and said, “We are God’s and to Him we return! Is El Mutawekkil wroth with us?” “Where is El Mutawekkil?” answered she. “Verily, El Mutawekkil’s rule is ended and his trace is blotted out!” Quoth I, “Tell me what hath happened.” And she said, “He was seated behind the curtain, drinking, with El Feth ben Khacan and Sedekeh ben Sedekeh, when his son El Muntesir fell upon him, with a company of the Turks, and slew him; and mirth was turned to misery and fair fortune to weeping and lamentation. So I fled, I and the maid, and God saved us.” When I heard this, O Commander of the Faithful, I arose forthright and went down to Bassora, where the news reached me of the falling out of war between El Muntesir and El Mustain; wherefore I was affrighted and transported my wife and all my good to Bassora. This, then, is my story, O Commander of the Faithful, nor have I added to nor diminished the truth by a syllable. So all that thou seest in my house, bearing the name of thy grandfather El Mutawekkil, is of his bounty to us, and the source of our fortune is from thy noble ancestors; for indeed ye are people of munificence and a mine of generosity.’

  The Khalif marvelled at his story and rejoiced therein with an exceeding joy: and Aboulhusn brought forth to him the lady and the children she had borne him, and they kissed the earth before the Khalif, who marvelled at their beauty. Then he called for inkhorn and paper and wrote Aboulhusn a patent of exemption from taxes on his lands and houses for twenty years. Moreover, he rejoiced in him and made him his boon-companion, till time sundered them and they took up their abode in the tombs, after having dwelt in palaces; and glory be to God, the Most Merciful King!

  John Payne’s translation: detailed table of contents

  KEMEREZZEMAN AND THE JEWELLER’S WIFE.

  There was once, of old time, a merchant called Abdurrehman, whom God had blessed with a son and daughter, and for their much beauty and grace, he named the girl Kaukeb a Sebah and the boy Kemerezzeman . When he saw what God had vouchsafed them of beauty and grace and brightness and symmetry, he feared for them from the eyes of the beholders and the tongues of the envious and the craft of the crafty and the wiles of the profligate and shut them up from the folk in a house for the space of fourteen years, during which time none saw them save their parents and a slave-girl who waited on them. Now their father recited the Koran, even as God sent it down, as also did their mother, wherefore she taught her daughter to read and recite it and he his son, till they had both gotten it by heart. Moreover, they both learned from their parents writing and reckoning and all manner of knowledge and accomplishment and needed no master.

  When Kemerezzeman came to years of manhood, his mother said to her husband, ‘How long wilt thou keep thy son Kemerezzeman sequestered from the eyes of the folk? Is he a boy or a girl?’ And he answered, ‘A boy.’ ‘If he be a boy,’ rejoined she, ‘why dost thou not carry him to the bazaar and seat him in thy shop, that he may know the folk and they him, to the intent that it may become notorious among them that he is thy son, and do thou teach him to buy and sell. Belike somewhat may betide thee; so shall the folk know him for thy son and he shall lay his hand on thy leavings. But, if thou die, as the case now is, and he say to the folk, “I am the son of the merchant Abdurrehman,” they will not believe him, but will say, “We have never seen thee and knew not that he had a son;” wherefore the magistrates will take thy goods and thy son will be despoiled. In like manner, I mean to make my daughter known among the folk, so haply some one of her own condition may demand her in marriage and we will marry her to him and rejoice in her.’ Quoth he, ‘[I did thus] of my fear for them of the of the eyes of the folk and because I love them and love is exceeding jealous, and well saith he who made the following verses:

  I’m jealous of myself and of my sight for thee And of thy self and place and time and Fate’s decree.

  Though in mine eye for aye I set thee, ne’er, I trow, Of union strait and close should I aweary be.

  Ay, if with me thou wert united every hour Until the Judgment Day, ’twould scarce suffice to me.’

  ‘Put thy trust in God,’ said his wife, ‘for no harm betideth him whom He protecteth, and carry him with thee this very day to the shop.’

  Then she clad the boy in the richest of clothes and he became a ravishment to all who looked on him and an affliction to the hearts of lovers His father took him and carried him to the market, whilst all who saw him were ravished with him and accosted him, kissing his hand and saluting him. Quoth one, ‘The sun hath risen in such a place and shineth in the market,’ and another, ‘The place of rising of the full moon is in such a quarter ;’ and a third, ‘The new moon of the Festival [of the breaking of the fast of Ramazan] hath appeared to the creatures of God.’ And they went on to allude to the boy in talk and call down blessings upon him.

  Abdurrehman rated the folk for following the boy, to gaze upon him, for they crowded upon him, behind and before; and he was abashed at their talk, but could not hinder them from talking; so he fell to reviling the boy’s mother and cursing her for that she had been the cause of his bringing him out. Then he walked on till he reached his shop and opening it, sat down and seated his son before him: after which he looked out and saw the thoroughfare blocked with people, for all the passers- by, going and coming, stopped before the shop, to gaze on that fair-faced one, and could not leave him and all the men and women crowded about him, applying, to them- selves the words of him who saith:

  Thou didst beauty create a temptation to us And saidst, ‘O my servants fear [Me and abstain].’
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  Behold, Thou art lovely and loveliness lov’st: How, then, shall Thy creatures from loving refrain?

  When Abdurrehman saw the folk thus crowding about him and standing in rows, men and women, to gaze upon his son, he was sore abashed and confounded and knew not what to do; but presently there came up from the end of the bazaar a man of the wandering dervishes, clad in haircloth garments, [the apparel] of the pious servants of God and seeing Kemerezzeman sitting there as he were a willow wand springing from a mound of saffron, wept copiously and recited the following verses:

  I saw a sapling on a sand-hill grow, As ‘twere a moon at full and all aglow.

  ‘Thy name?’ I questioned, and he said, ‘A pearl’ Quoth I, ‘Mine! Mine!’ but he replied, ‘No! No!’

  Then he fell to walking, now drawing near and now moving away, and wiping his gray hairs with his right hand, whilst the heart of the crowd was cloven asunder for reverence of him. When he looked upon the boy, his eyes were dazzled and his wit confounded, and the saying of the poet was exemplified in him:

  What while yon fair-faced loveling was in a certain place And the new moon of Shawwal shone glittering from his face,

  There came a reverend elder, who walked with leisure pace: His steps a staff supported and in his looks the trace