Tales of Secret Egypt
Page 12
VI
POMEGRANATE FLOWER
I
There are not so many _Antereeyeh_ (story-tellers) in Cairo now (saidmy acquaintance, Hassan of the Scent Bazaar, staring, reflectively, attwo American ladies paying fabulous prices for the goods of hismendacious neighbor on the left). They have adopted other, and morelucrative, professions; but in my father's time, it was an excellentbusiness.
For one thing, the stories which you call the _Arabian Nights_ areno longer recited, because they are said to be unlucky. This hasconsiderably reduced the story-teller's stock-in-trade; for unlessa man is blessed with much originality, he cannot well refrain fromusing in his narratives some part of the thousand and one tales.
To this day, however, there is in the city of Cairo a tale-teller ofmuch repute. With his tale-telling he combines the profession of abarber; and like the famous barber of the _Arabian Nights_ bears thenickname Es-Samit (the Silent). An old man is this Es-Samit, who nomore will know his ninetieth year, of dark countenance, and whitebeard and eyebrows, with small ears like the ears of a gazelle, anda long nose like that of a camel, and a haughty aspect. This barberenjoys every comfort in his declining years by reason of his amusingmanner, and because his ridiculous stories and disclosures respectinghis six brothers (for in all things he resembles, or claims toresemble, his famous namesake) divert all who hear them, causing himwhose bosom is contracted with woe to swoon with excessive laughter,and filling the saddest heart with joy; such is the absurd loquacityand impertinence of the barber called Es-Samit, the Silent.
It chanced one day that I found myself at the wedding festivities of aprosperous merchant distantly related to me; and for the entertainmentof his guests, this wealthy man, in addition to the usual dances andsongs, had engaged Es-Samit to divert us with one of his untruthfulstories. In order to refresh the _Anteree's_ mendacity, the host thusaddressed the barber--
"O Es-Samit, thou silent one! it hath come to my ears that in thineexceeding paucity of speech thou hast omitted, hitherto, to relate thestory of thy seventh brother. Since thou hast a seventh brother, letnot thy love of silence (in thee even greater than in thy famousancestor) deprive us of a knowledge of his depravity, but acquaint uswith his case."
"O Merchant Prince!" replied the barber, "to none other thanthyself--so handsome, so liberal, and of such excellentmorality--would I break my vow, to speak of that wretched villain,that malevolent mule, that vilest of the vile, my twin brotherAhzab."
My cousin, feigning astonishment at the manner of his speech, said--
"Thy twin brother, O Es-Samit, was not, like thee, a man of rectitude,of exalted mind, and of enlightened intelligence?"
"Alas!" replied the barber, "he was a dog of the most mongrel kind. Mybosom is pierced when I utter his accursed name! At the hands ofAhzab, my twin brother, I met with every indignity, and with penaltiesof a most unfortunate description."
When the host heard this, he laughed exceedingly, saying--
"Acquaint us, O Es-Samit, with his shameless misdeeds."
The barber, sighing as though his soul sought rest from all earthlyafflictions, proceeded as follows:
* * * * *
Know, O light of my eyes! that my other brother, Ahzab, was born inthe city of Cairo, and his birth was unattended by a darkening of thesun and other unpleasant calamities only by reason of the fact that_I_ was born in the same hour!
My twin brother, Ahzab, was blessed with handsome stature, an elegantshape, a perfect figure, with cheeks like roses, with eyebrows meetingabove an aquiline nose brightly shining. In short, this shame of mymother was endowed with all those perfections which Allah (whose namebe exalted) had also bestowed upon me; but his heart was the heart ofa serpent, and he lacked the nobility of mind which thou hastobserved in thy servant, O Paragon, of wisdom!
When we were yet in the bloom and blossom of handsome youth, a disputearose between us, and for many moons I saw not Ahzab, but pursued myoccupation as a barber and teller of wonderful stories in a distantpart of the city. In this way it befell that I knew of his state onlyby report, until one day as I sat before my shop observing if theascendent of the hour were favorable to one who waited to be shaved,there came to me a negro most handsomely dressed, who said:
"My Master, Ahzab the Merchant, desires that you repair as soon aspossible to his magazine. He hath urgent need of thee."
Upon hearing these words, and observing the richness of the negro'sapparel, I perceived that those reports which had come to me,respecting Ahzab's wealth, were no more than true; and I spoke thus tomyself:
"Within the vilest heart may bloom the flower of brotherly affection.Ahzab desires to share with me, the most enlightened of his family,this good fortune which hath befallen him."
Accordingly, I shut up my shop, dismissing the one who waited to beshaved, and followed the black to the Khan Khalil, where were theshops of the wealthy silk merchants. My brother received meaffectionately, embracing me and saying:
"O Es-Samit, ever have I loved thee. Lo! Thou growest more like myselfeach year. Save that thou art more dignified and noble. Enter intothis private apartment with me, for it is important that no one shallsee thee."
Much surprised at his words, I followed him to an elegant apartmentabove the shop, and there he ordered the servants to roast a lamb andto bring to us fruit and wine; and while we thus pleasantly employedourselves, he unfolded to me his case.
"Know, O my brother, that I have accumulated great wealth; and thisI have done by observing those wise precepts of conduct laid down bythee. By the charm of my speech, which I have fashioned upon thine,and the elegance of my manner, in which I have, though poorly,imitated thine own, and by the dignity and the modesty of my conduct,I have endeared all hearts and am esteemed above all the othermerchants in Cairo.
"It is necessary that I repair to Damascus, and during my absence Iwish nothing better than that thou shouldst take my place here. Thiswill be favorable to both of us; for I will reward thy services withfive hundred piastres and an interest in my affairs, and thou wiltpass for me; for all will say, 'Lo! Ahzab the Merchant waxes morehandsome each day; such is the benign influence of righteousprosperity and conscious rectitude!' My affairs stand thus and thus,and my steward, who will be in our confidences, will acquaint theewith all matters necessary. Thou wilt wear my costly garments, and sitin my shop. Each evening thou wilt secretly repair to thine ownabode."
Upon hearing those words, my bosom swelled with joy; for I observedthat Ahzab had not failed to perceive my exalted qualities. We satfar into the night in conversation respecting our plans; and on thefollowing day, Ahzab having departed secretly for Damascus, I repairedto his shop, as arranged, and took my seat there.
But the number of the persons who saluted me, and by the manner oftheir speech, I perceived, more and more, the great prosperity ofmy brother; and being of a thoughtful mind, I passed the days verypleasantly in contemplation of my good fortune.
Upon the fourth day after the departure of my brother, as I sat in hisshop, there came past a damsel accompanied by female attendants. Thisdamsel was riding upon a mule with a richly embroidered saddle, withstirrups of gold, and she was covered with an _izar_ of exquisitefabric; and about her slender waist was a girdle of gold-embroideredsilk. I was stricken speechless with the beauty and elegance of herform; and when she alighted and came into the shop, the odors of sweetperfumes were diffused from her, and she captivated my reason by herloveliness.
Seating herself beside me, she raised her _izar_, and I beheld herblack eyes. And they surpassed in beauty the eyes of all human beings,and were like the eyes of the gazelle. She had a mouth like the Sealof Suleyman, and hair blacker than the night of affliction; a foreheadlike the new moon of Ramadan, and cheeks like anemones, with lipsfresher than rose petals, teeth like pearls from the sea ofdistraction, and a neck surpassing in whiteness molten silver, abovea form that put to shame the willow branch.
She spoke to me, saying:
At the sound of her voice, by Allah (whose name be exalted!) I wasentangled in the snare of her love; fire was burning up my heart onher account; a consuming flame increased within my bosom, and myreason was drowned in the sea of my desire.
Perceiving my state, she quickly lowered her veil in pretendeddispleasure, and desired to look at some pieces of silk. While shethus employed herself, she surpassed the branches in the beauty ofher bending motions, and my eyes could not remove themselves fromher. I thus communed with myself:
"O Es-Samit, thou didst contract with thy brother to do this and that,and to render unto him a proper account of thy dealings. But thoughhe hath made thee no mention of his affair with this damsel--it isimportant that thou conductest this matter as he would have done, sothat he cannot reproach thee with negligence!" For I was ever a justas well as a discreet and silent man.
Accordingly I spoke as follows:
"O my mistress, who art the most lovely person God has created, rendnot my heart with thy displeasure, but take pity upon me. Know thatlove is difficult, and the concealment of it melteth iron andoccasioneth disease and infirmity. Thou hast returned as thou didstpromise; therefore I conjure thee, conceal not thy face from thyslave!"
The damsel thereupon raised her head and put aside her veil, castinga glance upon me and looked sideways at the attendants, and placed onefinger upon her lips; so that I knew her to be as discreet as she waslovely. She laughed in my face, and said:
"I will take this piece of embroidered silk that I have chosen. Whatis the price?"
And I answered:
"One hundred piasters; but I pray thee let it be thine, and a giftfrom Ahzab!"
Upon this, she looked into my eyes and the sight of her face drew fromme a thousand sighs, and took the silk, saying:
"O my master, leave me not desolate!"
So she departed, while I continued sitting in the market-street untilpast the hour of afternoon prayer, with disturbed mind enslaved by herbeauty and loveliness. I returned to my house and supper was placedbefore me, but reflecting upon the damsel, I could eat nothing. I laidmyself down to rest, but passed the whole night sleepless, communingwith myself how I could best carry out this affair and obtainpossession of the damsel ... for my brother, Ahzab!
II
Scarcely had daybreak appeared when I arose and repaired to themarket-place and put on a suit of my brother's clothing, richer andmore magnificent than that I had worn the day before; and having drunka cup of wine, I sat in the shop. But all that day she came not, northe next, but upon the third day she came again, attended only by oneattendant, and she saluted me and said in a speech never surpassed insoftness and sweetness:
"O my master, reproach me not that I thus reveal the interest I havein thee, but I could not speak to thee when my women were in hearing;and this one is in my confidence. I have told thee that my father willnever give me to thee because of my rank, but thou hast wounded myheart, and more and more do I love thee each day--for each day thougrowest more beautiful and elegant. Forever I must be desolate. Alas!I have placed thy letter in the box thou didst give me, and no daypasses that it is not wet with my tears. Farewell! O my beloved!"
On hearing this, my love and passion grew so violent that I almostbecame insensible. The damsel rose to leave the shop, and the one whowas with her spoke softly in her ear; but she shook her head,expressing displeasure, and went away.
When I perceived that indeed she was gone, verily the tears descendedupon my cheek like rain, and my soul had all but departed. My heartclung to her--I followed in the direction of her steps through themarket-place, and lo! the attendant came running back to me, and said:
"Here is the message of my mistress: 'Know that my love is greaterthan thine, and on Friday next my servant will come to thee and tellthee how thou mayest see me for a short interview before my fathercomes back from prayers.'"
When I heard these words of the girl, the anguish of my heart ceased,and I was intoxicated with love and rapture, and in my joy andlonging, I omitted to ask the girl the abode of her mistress--neitherdid I know the name of my beloved; but reflecting upon these matters,I returned to my brother's shop, and sat there until late, and then Irepaired secretly to my abode.
I paused in a quiet street, and seated myself upon a _mastabah_ toscent the coolness of the air, and to abandon myself to exquisitereflections.
But no sooner had I thus seated myself than a negro of giganticstature, and most hideous aspect, suddenly appeared from the shadowof a door, and threw himself upon me, exclaiming:
"This is thine end, as it was written, O Ahzab the Merchant!"
By Allah! (whose name be exalted) I thought it was even as he said;and none but myself had fallen into sudden dissolution, but thateverything slippery is not a pancake, and the jar that is struck mayyet escape unbroken.
So it befell that by great good fortune and by the exercise of myagility and intelligence, I tripped the negro and his head came incontact with the _mastabah_, and before he could recover himself, Iheld to his ebony throat the blade of a razor which, by the mercy ofGod, and because it was a custom of my profession, I carried in my_kamar_.
"O thou dog!" I exclaimed, "prepare to depart to that utter darknessand perdition that awaits assassins! For assuredly I am about to slaythee!"
But he humbled himself to the ground before me, and embraced my feet,crying:
"Have mercy, O my master! I but obeyed the commands!"
"Of whom, thou vile and unnamable vermin?" I asked of him.
"Of whom else but Abu-el-Hassan, the son of the Kadi! For hath he notrevealed to thee that for what has passed with Jullanar (PomegranateFlower), the daughter of the Wali, he will slay thee?"
"He hath revealed this to me?" I asked of him, astonished at hiswords.
And he replied: "Thou knowest, master, it was by my hand that themessage was borne."
Whereupon I praised Allah (whose name be exalted) and spurned theslave with my foot, saying:
"Depart, O thou black son of filth, and report that I am dead. I givethee thy wretched life; depart!"
But when he had gone, I again lifted up my voice in thanksgiving. Andhaving come to my abode, I performed the preparatory ablution, andrecited the prayer of night-fall; after which I recited the chapters"Ya-Sin" (The Cow) and "Two Preventatives." For I perceived that thiswas the true purport of my brother's absence, and that in his loveand affection he had resigned to me this affair, well knowing that Ishould perish!
It was by the mercy of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful, that mycase was not as he had foreseen. The damsel called Jullanar, daughterof the Wali, was famed from Cairo to the uttermost islands of Chinafor her elegance and loveliness, and I knew that my beloved could benone other than she, and that Abu-el-Hassan, son of the Kadi, could benone other than the betrothed chosen of her father the Wali.
I slept not that night, but passed the hours until sunrise reflectingupon this matter, and upon the dangers which awaited my father'shandsome son on Friday. And I went not to the market on the next day,but sent a message to my brother's steward saying that I was smittenwith sickness and enjoining him to acquaint the girl, who presentlywould come, where I was to be found.
Thus it befell that at noon on Friday the same girl that had been withJullanar came to me, sent thither from the shop of Ahzab by thesteward, saying:
"O my master, answer the summons of my mistress. This is the plan thatI have proposed to her: Conceal thyself within one of the large cheststhat are in thy shop, and hire a porter to carry thee to the house ofthe Wali. I will cause the _bowwab_ to admit the chest to theapartment of the Lady Jullanar. She doth trust her honor to thydiscretion, by reason of her love for thee, and because she will dieif she see thee not to bid thee farewell. I will arrange for thee tobe secretly conveyed from the house, ere the Wali returns."
And at her words I was like to have swooned with ecstasy; and Iforgot, in the transport of love and de
light, the black assassin andthe threatened vengeance of Abu-el-Hassan. I set at naught my fears attrusting my father's favorite son within the walls of the Wali'shouse. I thought only of Jullanar of the slender waist and heavy hips,of the dewy lips, more intoxicating than wine, and the eyes of mybeloved like wells of temptation to swallow up the souls of men.
I shaved and went to the bath, and repaired to the shop of Ahzab. Mybrother's steward was not there, whereat I rejoiced, and arrayedmyself in the most splendid suit that I could find, and havingperfumed myself with essences and sweet scents, I summoned a boy andsaid:
"Go thou and bring here a porter. Order him to carry yon large chestto the house of the Wali, near the Mosque of Ibn-Mizheh, and ask forthe lady Jullanar who hath purchased this box and a number of thingswhich are in it. See that he be a strong man, for the box is veryheavy."
The boy replied, "On the head," and departed on his errand.
Thereupon I commended my soul to Allah, and entered the box, closingthe lid upon me. Scarcely had I concealed myself, when the porterentered and lifted the chest. The boy assisted him to take it uponhis back, and he bore it out into the market-street.
"Now by the beard of the Prophet (on whom be peace)," I exclaimed tomyself, "it is well that I am named Es-Samit, the Silent; for had itbeen otherwise, I must have lifted up my voice against this son ofperdition who carries me with my soles raised to heaven!"
The porter conveyed me for some distance, panting beneath the weightof the box, and, presently, coming to a _mastabah_, dropped one endof the box upon it, whilst he rested himself.
"Now as Allah is great, and Mohammed his only prophet," I said in mybeard, "I am fortunate in that I have acquired a paucity of diction.There is no other in Cairo, but the joy of my mother, that couldrefrain from speech when dropped upon his skull on a stone bench!"
After a while, the porter raised the chest again, and resumed hisjourney, presently coming to the house of the Wali, and dropping thebox into the courtyard.
"Allah be praised!" I said. "For if this porter, whose name beaccursed, did but carry me a quinary further, my silence would becomeeven more surprising than it is; for my affair would finish, and Ishould speak no more to any man!"
The _bowwab_ now cried out:
"What is in this chest?"
"Purchases of the lady Jullanar," said the girl, whom I recognizedby her voice. "Permit the porter to carry it to her apartments."
"I must obey the orders of the Wali my master," replied thedoor-keeper. "The box must be opened."
I was bereft of the power to control myself, and seized with a colicfrom excess of fear; I almost died from the violent spasms of mylimbs.
"O Es-Samit!" I said, "this is the reward of him whom love leads tothe house of the Wali!"
I felt certain that my destruction approached. The intoxication oflove now ceased in me, and reflection came in its place. I repentedof what I had done, and prayed a happy solution of my dangerous case.
Whether as a result of my prayers, I know not, but some arrangementwas come to, and the porter once more raised the chest, and, strikingmy head upon the end of it at each step, bore me up to the apartmentsof Jullanar, which I thus entered feet first.
He deposited the box, lid downward, upon the soft mattress of a_diwan_, so that I found myself upon all fours, like a mule with myface between my hands! Ere I could break my habitual silence, helifted some heavy piece of furniture--I know not what--and placed iton top of the box!
A voice sweeter than the songs of the Daood spoke:
"Slave! what art thou doing!"
"I _am_ thy slave!" spoke another voice, at the accursed sound whereofI almost died of spleen. "Knowest thou me not, my beloved? I havedevised a new stratagem and come to thee in the guise of a porter!But lo! beneath my uncomely garments, I am Ahzab, thy lover!"
III
As a man who sleeps ill after a protracted feast, I heard her answer,saying:
"Is it true thou hast come to me, or is this a dream?"
"Verily, it is true!" answered the accursed, the vile, the unspeakableAhzab, my brother--for it was he. "From the time when I first sawthee, neither sleep hath been sweet to me, nor hath wine possessed theslightest flavor! I have come to thee thus, fragrant bloom of thepomegranate, because I would not have thee see me in a posture soundignified as that of one crouched in a box! So that thy people mightbe compelled to give me access to thine apartments, I have put amendicant in my place, rendering the chest heavy!"
And she said, "Thou art welcome!" and embraced him.
By Allah (whose name be exalted), I gnawed my beard until I choked!
"Thou art changed, beloved!" she said to him; "thou art alwaysbeautiful, but to-day thou seemest less rosy-cheeked to mine eyes!"
The accursed Ahzab, like an enraged mule, kicked the box whereinI dissolved in flames of wrath.
"I am burnt up with love and longing for thee!" he replied. "O mylove! how beautiful thou art!"
Whereat my command of silence forsook me! As Allah is the one god,and Mohammed his only Prophet, I became as one possessed of a devil!
"Robber!" I cried; and my words lost themselves within the box."Cheat! accursed disgrace of my father! infamy of my race! O dog!O unutterable dirt!"
Jullanar cried out in fear, but my accursed brother took her in hisbosom, soothing her with soft words.
"Fear not, O my beloved!" he said. "I gave the mendicant wine thathis heart might warm to his lowly task, but I fear he has becomeintoxicated!"
"O thou liar!" I cried. "O malevolent scoundrel! O son of a disease!"And with all my strength I sought to raise the weight that bore medown; but to no purpose.
"Know, my beloved," continued my thrice-accursed brother, "what I havesuffered on thy account. But three days since I was attacked by fourgigantic negro assassins despatched by Abu-el-Hassan to slay me! But Ivanquished them, killing one and maiming a second, whilst the othersescaped and ran back to their wretched master."
"O unutterable liar!" I groaned. For I was near to hastening mypredestined end both from suffocation and consuming rage. "Thou didstfly, thou jackal! from that peril, and reapest the fruits of mycourage and dexterity! O, mud! O, stench!"
"Lest he should despatch a number too great for me to combat, I havelurked in hiding, delight of souls! in a most filthy hovel belongingto a barber!"
"May thy tongue turn into a scorpion and bite thee!" I cried. "Myabode is as clean as the palace of the Khedive! Thou hast neverentered it, O thou gnat's egg! Thou hast hidden in I know not whathole, like the unclean insect thou art, until thy steward (may hisbeard grow backward and smother him!) informed thee of this! O Allah!(to whom be ascribed all might and glory) give me strength to movethis accursed box that I may crush him!"
Scarce had I uttered the last word, when a girl came running into theapartment, crying: "Fly, my master! O my mistress! The Wali! theWali!"
Upon hearing these words, my rage departed from me and in its placecame excessive fear. My breath left my body, and my heart ceased tobeat.
"He that falleth in the dirt be trodden on by camels," I reflected."It is not enough, O Es-Samit, that thou hast suffered the attack ofthe assassin; that thou hast all but died of fear at the door of theWali's house; that thou hast been torn from the arms of the loveliestcreature God hath created; thou are destined, now, O most unfortunateof men, to be detected by the Wali in his daughter's apartments,concealed in a box!"
And I pronounced the _Takbir_, crying, "O Allah! thy ways areinscrutable!"
"Fly, my beloved!" cried Jullanar to Ahzab. "My women will concealthee!" Wherewith she swooned and fell upon the floor senseless.
"Quick! follow me closely, O my master!" cried the girl, and I heardmy perfidious brother depart from the room by one door, as the Walientered by another.
"Ah!" cried the Wali, clapping his hands. "Slaves! what is this?"
And people came running to his command; some carrying out the ladyJullanar to her sleeping apartment, and sprinkling rose-water up
onher, and some remaining.
"What is in this box upon the _diwan_!" demanded the Wali. "Bring ithither and open it!"
At that I knew that I was lost, and my soul as good as departed, andI bade farewell to life and invoked Mohammed (whom may God preserve)to intercede for me that I might die an easy death.
The chest was dragged into the middle of the floor and thrown open.
"Name of my mother!" exclaimed the Wali. "It is Ahzab the Merchant! Itis the villain who hath presumed to make love to my daughter! O Allah!my daughter hath disgraced me! By the beard of the Prophet, I can nomore hold up my head among honest men!"
And he slapped his face and plucked his beard, and fell insensibleupon the floor. As he did so, I leaped from the box and would haveescaped, but two blacks seized me; and the noise, or the refreshingquality of the rose-water with which the women were sprinkling him,revived the Wali, who recovered, fixing upon me a terrible gaze.
"O thou dog!" he said; "thou who hast wrought my disgrace! As thoudidst enter my house in yonder box, in yonder box shalt thou quit theworld! Cast him back again, fasten the box with ropes, and throw itinto the Nile at nightfall!"
IV
Now were my powers of silence most surprisingly displayed. For I spokeno word, but dumb as a tongueless man, I allowed myself to be knockedbackward into the box. The lid closed upon me, ropes bound about thebox, and the seal of the Wali affixed to it. Negroes carried it out,and threw it into some cellar to await nightfall.
"O Es-Samit!" I said, "this is the end that was appointed to thyfather's wisest son! To this pass thy silence and wisdom have broughtthee! O Allah (to whom be all glory), grant that one of the fishesthat eat me in the Nile shall be served up to Ahzab, my twin brother,and choke him!"
And then my thoughts turned to Jullanar, and I sighed and groaned;and the torments I suffered through lying drawn up in the box weredelights to the agonies that my reflections respecting her caseoccasioned in me; so that, with the excess of my woe and misery,I became insensible. How long I remained so I know not, but I wasawakened by a knocking at the lid of the box, and the voice of theWali spoke, saying:
"Prepare to die, O wretch! for my servants are about to convey theeto the river and cast thee in! Thou dog! who didst presume to raisethine eyes to my daughter!--know that this is the reward of suchmalefactors; for assuredly if thou escapest alive, thou shalt wedJullanar!"
Whereat he laughed until he almost swooned and kicked the box untilI thought he had burst it. Blacks raised me, and I was borne down along flight of steps and onward in I know not what direction.
"From here?" said one of them, and through a crack in the lid, I sawthe light of a torch, and the whispering of the river came to my ears.
"Yes!" replied another.
And I commended my soul to Allah as the box was swung to and fro andhurled through the air. With a sound in my ears as of the shriekingof ten thousand _efreets_, I was plunged into the water!
Far under the surface I went and knew all the agonies of dissolution;but the box was strongly and cunningly made and rose again; then itbegan to fill and sink once more, and again I tasted of the finalpangs. Throughout all this time, a strong current was bearing the boxalong, and presently, as, for the fiftieth occasion, I was seeking todie and to end my misery, I heard voices.
The most miserable life is sweet to him who feels it slipping from hisgrasp, and I summoned sufficient strength to raise a feeble cry.
"O Allah!" I cried, "if it be thy will, grant that these persons whosevoices I hear take pity upon my unfortunate condition, and draw meforth."
Even as I spoke, something stayed the onward progress of the box. Itwas a fisherman's net! And the fishermen began to draw me into theboat, I praising Allah the while.
But when they had the box upon the edge of the boat, and heard myvoice proceeding from within, and saw the Wali's seal upon thelid--"By the beard of the Prophet!" cried one, "this is some evil_ginn_ or magician whom the Wali hath imprisoned in this chest! Allahavert the omen! Cast him back, comrades!"
Alas! I could find no words wherewith to entreat them to take pity;never had paucity of speech served me so ill! A great groan issuedfrom my bosom as I was consigned again to the Nile!
Allah is great, and it was not written that I should perish in thatmanner. For another current now seized upon the box, and just as I wason the point of dissolution, cast it upon a projecting bank, where itwas perceived by a band of four robbers, who derived a livelihood fromplundering such vessels as lay unprotected in the river.
These waded out and dragged the box ashore. I was too near my end tohave spoken had I desired to speak, but from my unfortunate adventurewith the fishermen, I had learned that silence was wisdom, now asalways. Thus I lay in the box like a dog that has been all butdrowned, and listened to the words of my rescuers.
These were arguing respecting the contents and value of the box, oneholding this opinion and another that. One, who seemed to be theirleader, was about to unfasten the ropes, but another claimed thatthis was his due. So, from angry words, they came to blows, and by thegrace of God (whose name be exalted) they drew their knives, and threeof the four were slain. The fourth removed the ropes and opened thebox, thinking to enjoy, alone, the treasures which he supposed it tocontain.
Whereupon I uprose and looked up to where Canopus shone, and said:
"There is no God but God! Praise be to Allah who has preserved mefrom an unfortunate and unseemly end!"
At that, the robber, with wild cries of fear, turned and ran, and Isaw him no more. Such, O bountiful patron, is the disgraceful storyof the dog Ahzab, my seventh and twin brother. But all that which Iendured happened by Fate and Destiny, and from that which is writtenthere is no escape nor flight.
* * * * *
Our worthy host (concluded Hassan) laughed heartily at this story,saying:
"O Es-Samit, it is evident to me that thy paucity of speech alonepreserved thee from drowning! But acquaint us, I beg, with the fateof thy dog of a brother, and of thy beautiful Pomegranate Flower."
"O glory of beholders!" replied the barber, "by the mouth of the girlwho was in Jullanar's confidence--Ahzab, that shame of mules, learned,whilst in hiding, how the Wali had said in the presence of manywitnesses: 'Assuredly if thou escapest alive, thou shalt wedJullanar.'"
"Tellest thou me that he had the effrontery to demand the fulfilmentof a pledge so spoken, O Es-Samit?"
"Alas!" replied the barber, with tears pouring like rain down thewrinkles of his aged cheek, "he lived with her the most joyous, andmost agreeable, and most comfortable, and most pleasant life, untilthey were visited by the terminator of delights, and the separatorof companions!"
THE END.
* * * * * * * * *
Transcriber's Note:
The following printer's errors have been corrected in the text:
Page 16, passsd amended to passed (passed through the finger ring) Page 16, instrinsic amended to intrinsic (Its intrinsic value) Page 20, whcih amended to which (for which I would gladly) Page 26, wordly amended to worldly (terminated my worldly affairs) Page 42, remakable amended to remarkable (taciturnity was remarkable) Page 42, dsitinguished amended to distinguished (behavior was distinguished) Page 46, exhausing amended to exhausting (journey had been most exhausting) Page 87, Suit amended to Suite (Harem Suite is occupied) Page 89, releived amended to relieved (relieved by a small snowy turban) Page 98, bougainvillia replaced with bougainvillea (bougainvillea blossom) Page 104, veiled amended to Veiled (features of the Veiled Prophet) Page 112, Chundermyer amended to Chundermeyer (Mr. Chundermeyer gagged) Page 115, partciular compositoin amended to particular composition (particular composition of the perfume) Page 130, oportunity ammended to opportunity (the seeming opportunity) Page 130, cheecks amended to cheeks (my cheeks were burning) Page 149, Abi ammended to Abu (Abu Tabah assured me) Page 149, alhtough amended to altho
ugh (although she who is) Page 152, folowing amended to following (on the following morning) Page 158, met amended to me (invited me to visit) Page 160, acess amended to access (door giving access to) Page 175, pantomine amended to pantomime (grotesque kind of pantomime) Page 222, tesitfy amended to testify (as I can testify) Page 243, cresent amended to crescent (crescent of Islam) Page 250, menioned amended to mentioned (which I have mentioned) Page 275, severly amended to severely (The features were severely) Page 280, incliniation amended to inclination (I felt little inclination) Page 301, sumons amended to summons (summons of my mistress) Page 306, dexerity amended to dexterity (my courage and dexterity) Page 311, bossom amended to bosom (groan issued from my bosom)