The Arabian Nights: Tales of 1,001 Nights: Volume 1

by Penguin; Robert Irwin; Malcolm Lyons; Ursula Lyons

  She went up and greeted ‘Ali…

  Morning now dawned and Shahrazad broke off from what she had been allowed to say. Then, when it was the hundred and sixtieth night, SHE CONTINUED:

  I have heard, O fortunate king, that the slave girl went up and greeted ‘Ali and spoke to him privately, and during the course of their conversation he kept swearing that he had not spoken a word about the matter. She then took her leave and went off.

  Abu’l-Hasan’s friend was a jeweller and when the girl had gone, he took the opportunity to speak. ‘There is no doubt,’ he said to ‘Ali, ‘that the caliph’s palace has some call on you or that you have some dealings with it.’ ‘Who told you that?’ said ‘Ali. ‘I know this girl,’ the man replied. ‘She belongs to Shams al-Nahar. Some time ago she brought me a note saying that she wanted a jewelled necklace and I sent her one of great value.’ When ‘Ali heard this, he was disturbed that his life was in danger, but, recovering his composure, he said: ‘Brother, in God’s Name, tell me how you came to know of her.’ ‘Don’t press me with questions,’ said the jeweller. ‘I shall not let you alone,’ said ‘Ali, ‘until you tell me the truth.’

  The jeweller said: ‘I’ll tell you so that you need have no suspicions of me. You should not be depressed by what I have to say, and, far from hiding my secret from you, I’ll tell you the truth of the whole affair on condition that you tell me what is really wrong with you and what is the cause of your illness.’ So ‘Ali told him his story, adding: ‘I was only led to conceal my affair from everyone except you, my brother, for fear lest people uncover the secret of a certain lady.’ ‘The only reason that I wanted to come to you,’ said the jeweller, ‘was because of my affection for you and my solicitude for you in all circumstances, together with the pity that I feel for the pain that separation has inflicted on you. It may be that I can act as a comforter for you in place of my friend Abu’l-Hasan while he is away. So take heart and console yourself.’ ‘Ali thanked him for that, reciting:

  Were I to say I could endure her loss,

  My tears and my deep sighs would prove me false.

  How am I to hide the tears that flow

  Over my cheeks because she parted from me?

  He was then silent for a time, after which he said to the jeweller: ‘Do you know what the slave girl said to me in private?’ When the jeweller said no, he went on: ‘She thought that I had advised Abu’l-Hasan to go to Basra as a trick in order to make sure that there would be no more correspondence or contact between us. I swore to her that that was not true, but she didn’t believe me. She was still suspicious as she went off to her mistress, since she had a fondness for Abu’l-Hasan and would listen to him.’ The jeweller replied: ‘I understand the girl’s position, but if God Almighty wills, I can help you to get what you want.’ ‘Who is able to do that,’ asked ‘Ali, ‘and how can you deal with her when she shies away like a wild beast of the desert?’ ‘By God,’ said the jeweller, ‘I shall have to do my best to help you and to concoct a scheme to allow you to meet her without your secret being revealed or harm being done.’ He then asked ‘Ali’s permission to leave, and ‘Ali implored him to keep his secret safe, bursting into tears while he said goodbye. The jeweller left…

  Nights 161 to 180

  Morning now dawned and Shahrazad broke off from what she had been allowed to say. Then, when it was the hundred and sixty-first night, SHE CONTINUED:

  I have heard, O fortunate king, that the jeweller said goodbye to him and left, although he had no idea of what he could do to help ‘Ali. As he walked on, thinking the matter over, he saw a piece of paper lying in the street. He picked it up, looking to see to whom it was addressed and finding it was from ‘the junior lover to the senior beloved’. After opening it up, he discovered these lines:

  The messenger came, bringing hope of union,

  But this I thought was mere illusion.

  Far from rejoicing, I became more sad,

  Knowing that he was not a man of sense.

  The note went on: ‘Know, my master, that I cannot understand why our correspondence has been broken off. If you are acting harshly, I meet this harshness with fidelity, and if you have ceased to love me, I still love you, distant as you are. My relationship to you is as the poet describes it:

  If you are haughty, I endure;

  If you are overbearing, I show patience;

  Be proud; I shall be humble;

  Turn back and I shall come;

  Speak and I listen; order and I shall obey.’

  When the jeweller had read this, he saw the slave girl coming, turning right and left. On seeing that he had the note in his hand, she told him that it was she who had dropped it, but he made no reply and walked on. The girl followed and when he came to his house and went in, she was still behind him. ‘Sir,’ she said, ‘give me back the note which I dropped.’ He turned to her, saying: ‘My good girl, don’t be afraid or sad. God is the Coverer, Who loves to cover. You can tell me the true story as I am a man who keeps secrets, but swear to me that you will not hide anything from me of your mistress’s affair. It may be that God will help me to get what she wants and through me will make easy what is now difficult.’

  When the girl heard this, she said: ‘Master, may no secret that you keep ever be revealed, and may you fail in nothing that you hope to achieve. Know that I feel drawn towards you and I will tell you about the affair, but give me back the note.’ She then told him the whole story, calling God to witness that she was speaking the truth. ‘I believe you,’ said the jeweller, ‘because I know the basic facts.’ He then told her about ‘Ali and how he had come to know his real feelings, telling her the whole story from beginning to end. The girl was pleased by what she heard and they agreed that she should take the note and give it to ‘Ali, after which she was to come back and tell him everything that had happened. He handed over the note, which she took and sealed up as it had been sealed before, saying: ‘It was sealed when my mistress Shams al-Nahar gave it to me, and when ‘Ali has read it and given me a reply, I shall bring it to you.’

  She then took her leave of him and went to ‘Ali, whom she found waiting for her. After she had given him the note and he had read it, he wrote a reply which he gave to her. She took it and brought it to the jeweller, and when she had handed it to him, he broke the seal and read it. In it he found these lines:

  ‘The messenger, who used to hide away

  Our letters, left in anger.

  Choose from your folk another trusty one,

  Who prefers truth to lies.

  I am not guilty of any treachery nor have I betrayed my trust. I have not acted with cruelty nor have I abandoned loyalty. I have broken no convenant; I have not severed the bonds of love. Sorrow has been my constant companion, and after we parted, I have met nothing but ruin. I know nothing at all about your accusations. I only love what you love and, by Him Who knows what is hidden in secret, my only goal is to meet the one I love. I do my best to conceal my love, even though I pine with sickness. This is the explanation of my state, and so, farewell.’

  When the jeweller had read this note and found out what it contained, he wept bitterly. The girl said to him: ‘Don’t leave this place until I come back to you. ‘Ali has excusably accused me of faithlessness, and I want by any possible means to arrange for a meeting between you and my mistress Shams al-Nahar. I left her in a state of collapse and she is expecting me to bring back an answer.’ The girl went off to her mistress and the jeweller spent the night in a state of agitation. In the morning, he sat waiting for the girl and she arrived cheerfully. When she came in, he asked for her news and she told him: ‘I went from you to my mistress and I passed her the note that ‘Ali had written. When she had read it and grasped its meaning, she was in a state of confusion. “My lady,” I said, “don’t fear that your relations with ‘Ali will be spoilt because of the absence of Abu’l-Hasan, as I have found a substitute for him, a better man of higher standing and someone well suited to keeping secrets.”
I told her about your dealings with Abu’l-Hasan; of how I had gone to him and of how I had dropped the note which you had then found. I then told her of the arrangement which you and I had made.’

  The jeweller was astonished at this, but the girl went on: ‘My mistress wants to hear what you have to say yourself so that you may confirm the compact that you have with ‘Ali. You must make up your mind to come with me to see her at once.’ When the jeweller heard this, he realized that this was a serious matter involving great danger into which he could not rush blindly. So he said to her: ‘Sister, I am a common man, unlike Abu’l-Hasan, who was well known as a person of high standing, and who frequently went to the caliph’s palace because of the demand for his goods there. He used to talk to me and I would shudder with fear at what he told me. If your mistress wants me to talk with her, this must be in some place other than the palace and far removed from the Commander of the Faithful, as I cannot bring myself to do what you say.’

  When he refused to go with her, the girl began to say that she could guarantee his safety and that he had no need to fear any harm. She repeated this until he was on the point of getting up to accompany her, but then his legs buckled under him and his hands trembled. ‘God forbid that I should go with you,’ he said. ‘I cannot do this.’ ‘Calm yourself,’ she told him. ‘If it is too difficult for you to go to the palace and if you can’t come with me, I shall get my mistress to come to you, so don’t go away until I bring her back.’ She then left and, after a short absence, she returned to him and said: ‘See that there is nobody here with you, either servant or slave girl.’ ‘There is only an old black slave woman who looks after me,’ he replied. The girl got up and locked the connecting door between the jeweller and this woman, sending his servants out of the house. She then went out and came back followed by a girl whom she brought in. The house was filled with the scent of perfume and the jeweller got to his feet on seeing his visitor, for whom he set out a seat with a cushion. She sat down, and he took a seat in front of her. For some time she stayed there without speaking until she was rested. Then she unveiled her face and to the jeweller it seemed that the sun had risen in his house. ‘Is this the man you told me about?’ Shams al-Nahar asked the slave girl. ‘Yes,’ said the girl, at which the other turned to the jeweller and asked him how he was. ‘I am well,’ he replied, ‘and I pray for your life and for that of the Commander of the Faithful.’ ‘You have made me come to you,’ said Shams al-Nahar, ‘and to tell you my secret.’

  She then asked him about his family and his dependants, and he gave her a full account of all his circumstances. He told her that he had another house which he used for meetings with his friends and in which there was nobody but the slave woman about whom he had told the girl. She then asked him how he had come to know the beginning of the story, how Abu’l-Hasan was involved with this and how he had left. He told her what had passed through Abu’l-Hasan’s mind, prompting him to go. She sighed at being parted from him, saying: ‘My friend, men’s souls are matched in their desires and people depend on each other. Nothing can be done without words; no goal can be achieved without effort; rest comes only after toil…’

  Morning now dawned and Shahrazad broke off from what she had been allowed to say. Then, when it was the hundred and sixty-second night, SHE CONTINUED:

  I have heard, O fortunate king, that Shams al-Nahar told the jeweller: ‘Rest comes only after toil and it is only manliness that brings success. I have told you of our affair and it lies with you whether you expose us or protect us. No more need be said, as you are a man of honour. You know that this slave girl of mine has kept my secret and because of this I value her highly and have picked her out to deal with my most important affairs. Respect no one more than her; tell her about your affairs and take heart, for you are secure from the dangers that you are afraid we may bring on you. If you find any approach blocked, she will open it up for you; she will bring you messages to pass to ‘Ali, and you will be our intermediary.’

  Shams al-Nahar then rose with difficulty and walked off, with the jeweller walking before her until she reached the house door, after which he went back and sat down on his seat. The sight of her beauty had dazzled him and he had been bewildered by what she had said, as her refined elegance had astonished him. He continued to think about her until he calmed down, after which he asked for food and ate just enough for sustenance. He then changed his clothes and left his house in order to visit ‘Ali.

  Knocking on ‘Ali’s door, he was quickly met by his servants, who walked ahead of him until they brought him to their master, whom he found stretched out on his bed. On seeing him, ‘Ali said: ‘You have been slow in coming, adding to my worries.’ He then dismissed the servants and ordered the doors to be shut, before saying: ‘By God, brother, I have not closed an eye from the time that you left me. The slave girl came to me yesterday with a sealed letter from her mistress.’

  After telling the jeweller all that had passed between them, he went on: ‘By God, I don’t know what to do and my powers of endurance are running out. Abu’l-Hasan was a friend and he was acquainted with the girl.’ The jeweller laughed on hearing this, at which ‘Ali asked him: ‘Why do you laugh at what I said? I was pleased to see you, thinking that you would help me in my misfortunes.’ He then sighed, wept and recited these lines:

  Many a man saw me and then laughed at my tears,

  But had he shared my sufferings, he would have wept.

  The only one to pity what the afflicted feel

  Is he who grieves like them in long distress.

  My passion, longing, moaning, cares and hopeless love

  Are for a beloved lodged within my heart.

  Although she never leaves at any time,

  Yet she is rarely to be met.

  I’d take no other friend as substitute

  Nor would I choose another as my love.

  When the jeweller heard what he had to say and understood the point of the poem, he burst into tears. He then told ‘Ali what had happened to him with the slave girl and her mistress after he had left him. ‘Ali listened to what he had to say and with every word his colour changed from white to red. One moment his body would be stronger and the next weaker. When the jeweller ended his account, ‘Ali wept and said: ‘Brother, I am bound to perish and I wish that my death would come soon so that I might find rest from this pain. Of your goodness I ask you to help me and befriend me in all my affairs until what God wills comes about. I shall do anything you say.’ ‘The only thing to quench this fire of yours,’ said the jeweller, ‘is for you to meet the girl you love, but this cannot be done in a dangerous place like this. The rendezvous must be in my house, where the slave girl and her mistress came, this being the place that she chose for herself. What I hope to achieve is for the two of you to meet so that you can both speak of the love pains that you have suffered.’ ‘Do as you please,’ said ‘Ali, ‘and may God reward you. Act as you think right, but don’t delay, lest I die of this distress.’

  The jeweller remained with ‘Ali that night, talking to him until morning came…

  Morning now dawned and Shahrazad broke off from what she had been allowed to say. Then, when it was the hundred and sixty-third night, SHE CONTINUED:

  I have heard, O fortunate king, that the jeweller remained with ‘Ali that night, talking to him until morning came, and then, having performed the morning prayer, he left and returned to his house. Shortly after he had settled down, the slave girl arrived and when they had exchanged greetings, he told her what had happened between him and ‘Ali. She said: ‘Know that the caliph has gone away. There is no one in our quarters and this is a better and a safer place of concealment for us.’ ‘True,’ replied the jeweller, ‘but it is not like this house of mine, which will suit us better and provide better cover.’ ‘As you wish,’ said the slave girl. ‘I shall go to my mistress to tell her what you have said and what you propose.’ She got up and went back to Shams al-Nahar, whom she told what the jeweller had said. Later
, she came back to the jeweller’s house and reported: ‘My mistress will do what you say, so get the place ready and wait for us.’

  From her pocket she took a purse full of dinars and said: ‘My mistress greets you and asks you to take this purse and to make the necessary arrangements.’ The jeweller swore that he would not take any of the money, and so the girl brought the purse back to Shams al-Nahar and told her that the man had refused to accept the cash and had handed it back to her, and Shams al-Nahar accepted this. Describing what then happened, THE JEWELLER SAID:

  After the girl had gone, I got up and went to my second house and moved to it all the paraphernalia and splendid furnishings that were needed, including china dishes, glass, silver and gold, and I prepared the food and drink that would be needed. When the slave girl came and saw what I had done, she was pleased with it and she told me to fetch ‘Ali. ‘You should fetch him,’ I said, and so she went and brought him back, perfectly turned out and looking his best.

  I met him, welcomed him and placed him on a suitable seat, setting in front of him pleasant, sweet-scented flowers in vases of china and coloured crystal, as well as a tray containing all kinds of delicacies to delight the eye. I sat talking to him and entertaining him, while the girl left and stayed away until evening. After sunset she came back with Shams al-Nahar, who was accompanied by only two maids. When she and ‘Ali saw each other, he rose to his feet and the two of them embraced, before falling to the ground in a faint which lasted for an hour. When they had recovered, they began to exchange complaints about the pains of separation, and they sat talking eloquently, sweetly and tenderly, while perfuming themselves. They thanked me for my kindness to them and I asked them whether they would like something to eat. When they said yes, I produced food for them and, after having eaten their fill, they washed their hands. I then led them to another room, where I brought them wine. They drank deeply and leaned towards one another, after which Shams al-Nahar said: ‘Sir, to complete your kindness, fetch us a lute or some other musical instrument, so as to bring our present happiness to the pitch of perfection.’ ‘Willingly,’ I replied, and I fetched a lute which Shams al-Nahar took and tuned. Then, placing it in her lap, she played on it with such expertise as both to arouse sorrow and to delight the sad, reciting these lines: