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

by Penguin; Robert Irwin; Malcolm Lyons; Ursula Lyons

  The pupils of his eyes, darkened while his cheeks grew red.

  If censurers claim he has a match in loveliness,

  Do you, my heart, tell them to produce him.

  At the sight of him, Maimuna glorified God, saying: ‘Blessed is God, the best of creators,’ for she was one of the believing jinn. She stayed for a while looking at his face and reciting the formula: ‘There is no god but God,’ lost in appreciation of his beauty. ‘I shall not injure him,’ she said to herself, ‘nor shall I allow any harm to come to him. This beautiful face deserves to be stared at so that those who look may glorify God. But how could his family have brought themselves to put him in so desolate a place? If a marid came now, he would kill him.’ She bent over Qamar al-Zaman, kissed him between the eyes and, pulling the sheet back over his face, she covered him with it. Then, unfolding her wings, she soared up above the hall and continued to fly on upwards through the air until she had nearly reached the lowest heaven.

  At that point, she heard the noise of wings beating in the air. She flew towards the source of the sound and when she got near she found that this was an ‘ifrit named Dahnash. She swooped down on him like a hawk and when he felt her grasp and recognized that she was Maimuna, daughter of the king of the jinn, he trembled with fear and appealed to her for protection, saying: ‘By the greatest Name of God, to which honour is due, and by the noblest talisman engraved on the ring of Solomon, I call on you to treat me gently and to do me no harm.’ When she heard this, she felt sympathy for him and said: ‘This is a great oath with which you have conjured me, you accursed creature, but I shall not let you go until you tell me where you have come from just now.’ ‘Lady,’ Dahnash replied, ‘I have come from the farthest region of China, from within the islands. I shall tell you of a wonder that I have seen tonight, and if you find that I am telling the truth, then let me go on my way and write me a note in your own hand saying that I am your freed slave. That would mean that no one from among the races of the jinn could obstruct me, whether they fly, live on land or dive under the sea.’ ‘What was it you saw tonight, you damned liar?’ asked Maimuna. ‘Tell me the truth, for you are trying to escape from me by lying. I swear by what is engraved on the stone of the seal of Solomon, son of David, on both of whom be peace, that if you don’t speak the truth, I shall tear out your feathers with my own hands, rip your skin to shreds and break your bones.’

  The ‘ifrit agreed to this condition…

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

  I have heard, O fortunate king, that the ‘ifrit accepted the condition and said: ‘Know, lady, that I went out tonight from the Chinese islands, the lands of King al-Ghayur, the ruler of the islands, the seas and the seven castles. I caught sight of a daughter of his, who is more beautiful than any other creature created by God in this age. I cannot describe her for you, as my tongue is incapable of finding the right words, but I can just about tell you of some of her qualities. Her hair is black like the days of parting and separation, and her face is radiant as the days of union. She is as the poet has well described:

  One night she spread three tresses of her hair,

  And there were then four nights that could be seen.

  She turned to look up at the heavenly moon,

  Letting me see two moons at the same time.

  She has a nose like a polished sword blade, cheekbones like purple wine over cheeks like red anemones and lips like coral and carnelian. Her saliva is sweeter than wine and its taste would quench the torture of hellfire. Her tongue is controlled by ample intelligence and is prompt to answer. Her bosom is a seduction for those who see it – glory be to the One Who created and formed it! Attached to it are two smoothly rounded arms, as the lovesick poet has described:

  Were these arms not held in place by bracelets,

  They would flow from her sleeves like streams.

  She has two breasts like caskets of ivory, from which the sun and the moon draw light. Her stomach with its folded wrinkles is like a roll of embroidered Egyptian linen, with folds like a rolled-up scroll, ending in a waist that is more slender than imagination can dream of. This is set on buttocks like sand dunes that hinder her when she wants to get up and keep her awake when she wants to sleep. As the poet has said:

  Her buttocks are joined to a delicate waist;

  They play the tyrant over me and over her.

  The thought of them can bring me to a halt;

  They force her to sit back when she wants to get up.

  They are supported by two smooth thighs and two legs like columns of pearl, all carried on two dainty feet, pointed like spearheads, the work of the Watcher, the Judge. I wondered how, being so small, they could carry what was above them. I will cut short my description of her for fear of going on too long.’

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

  I have heard, O fortunate king, that the ‘ifrit told Maimuna: ‘I will cut short my description of her for fear of going on too long.’ Maimuna was astonished to hear what he had to say about the girl’s beauty and grace. The ‘ifrit went on: ‘The girl’s father is a powerful king, a daring rider who is ready to plunge into battle by night or by day, fearless of death. He is an oppressive tyrant with irresistible force, the master of armies, provinces, islands, cities and lands. His name is King al-Ghayur, the lord of the islands, the seas and the seven castles. He is exceedingly fond of his daughter, the girl whom I have described to you, and because of his love for her he collected money from the other kings and used it to build her seven castles, each of a different kind. The first is of crystal, the second of marble, the third of Chinese iron, the fourth of precious stones and jewels, the fifth of bricks, coloured stones and gems, the sixth of silver and the seventh of gold. All seven are filled with splendid furnishings of silk, vessels of gold and silver and every kind of utensil that kings might need. Al-Ghayur told his daughter to live in each one of these castles for a certain period each year, before moving to another. Her name is Princess Budur, and when news of her beauty spread among the lands, all the kings sent to her father to ask for her hand. He consulted her and tried to tempt her to marry, but she disliked the idea and told him: “I have no intention of marrying. As a princess, I am a mistress of power and authority, ruling over the people, and I have no wish for a man to rule over me.”

  ‘The more she rejected marriage, the more eager her suitors became. So it was that all the kings of the inner islands of China sent her father gifts and presents, together with letters asking for her hand. He consulted her again and again about this, but she would not listen to him and, losing her temper, she said angrily: “Father, if you mention marriage to me once more, I shall go to my room, take a sword and fix its hilt in the ground. Then I shall put its point into my stomach and lean against it until it comes out from my back, so killing me.”

  ‘When her father heard this, the light became darkness in his eyes and he was consumed with anxiety for her as he was afraid lest she kill herself. He could not think what to do about her or about the kings who were her suitors and so he told her: “If you insist on refusing to marry, you must stop going to and fro.” The princess was brought to a room and kept in seclusion there in the charge of ten elderly duennas. She was not allowed to go to her seven castles, as her father had made it plain that he was angry with her. He sent letters to all the kings telling them that she had been struck by madness and had been kept in seclusion for a year.’

  Dahnash went on to add: ‘I go to look at her every night, lady, so as to enjoy the sight of her face, and while she is asleep, I kiss her between the eyes, but such is my love for her that I do her no harm or injury, nor do I mount her. She has the charm of youth as well as radiant beauty, so that everyone who sees her is prepared to guard her jealously. I entreat you, lady, to come
back with me and to look at her beauty and grace and the symmetry of her figure. Then, if you want, you can punish me or keep me captive, for you have authority over me.’ He then lowered his head towards the ground and folded his wings.

  Maimuna laughed at his words and spat in his face. ‘What is this girl you talk about? She’s nothing but a urine scraper. Bah! I thought that you had something wonderful or remarkable to tell, you damned ‘ifrit. What would you say if you saw my own darling? If, even in a dream, you saw the man I saw tonight, you would become paralysed and start to drool.’ ‘What is the story of this young man?’ asked Dahnash. ‘The same thing happened to him as happened to the girl you’ve been talking about,’ Maimuna answered. ‘His father told him many times to marry but he refused. His father then became angry at his disobedience and imprisoned him in the tower in which I live, and when I came out tonight I saw him.’ ‘Show him to me, lady,’ said Dahnash, ‘so that I can see whether his beauty is greater than that of my darling, Princess Budur, or not, as I don’t believe that there is anyone to match her in this age.’ ‘You are lying, you damned creature, you foulest of marids and most despicable of devils!’ exclaimed Maimuna. ‘I am sure that my own darling has no equal in these lands…’

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

  I have heard, O fortunate king, that Maimuna said to the ‘ifrit: ‘I am sure that my darling has no equal in these lands. Are you mad that you try to compare yours to mine?’ ‘For God’s sake, lady,’ said Dahnash, ‘come with me and look at mine and then I shall go back with you and look at yours.’ ‘That is what we must do, you accursed creature,’ said Maimuna, ‘as you are a deceitful devil, but we shall only go with each other for a bet or on a condition. If it turns out that this girl whom you love and eulogize is lovelier than the youth I mentioned, whom I for my part love and praise, then you will have won, but if my darling is lovelier, then you will have lost the bet to me.’

  Dahnash accepted the proposal and asked Maimuna to go with him to the islands. ‘No,’ she said. ‘The place where my darling is is nearer. It is here beneath us, so come down with me to look at him and we can then go to see your princess.’ ‘To hear is to obey,’ said Dahnash. They both then flew down and went into the hall in the tower. Maimuna made Dahnash stand beside the couch and then, stretching out her hand, she lifted the silk sheet from the face of Prince Qamar al-Zaman. The radiance of his face shone and gleamed brightly, and after looking at him, Maimuna immediately turned to Dahnash and said: ‘Look, you damned creature, and don’t be the foulest of madmen. This youth holds a fascination for women.’ Dahnash looked and kept staring for some time, but then he shook his head and said: ‘Lady, you are to be excused, but there is one point to be made against you and that is that the female is not like the male. By God’s truth, however, this darling of yours most closely resembles mine in beauty and grace, splendour and perfection, so much so that it is as though they have both been cast in the same mould of loveliness.’

  When Maimuna heard what he said, the light in her eyes became dark and she struck him on the head with her wing, giving him a blow so violent that it almost killed him. ‘Damned creature,’ she said, ‘I swear by the radiance of his glorious face that you are to go at once and lift up the girl whom you love and bring her here quickly so that we can put the two together and look at them as they sleep next to each other. We can then see which is the more beautiful. If you don’t do what I tell you this instant, I’ll burn you with my fire, shoot you with my sparks, tear you to pieces and throw you into the desert as a lesson for all mankind.’ ‘I shall do that for you, lady,’ said Dahnash, ‘as I know that my beloved is sweeter and more beautiful.’

  He flew off immediately and Maimuna went with him to watch over him. They were away for some time and when they came back they were carrying the girl. She was wearing an exquisite Venetian chemise with a double border of gold wonderfully embroidered. At the ends of the sleeves, these lines could be read:

  Three things have kept her from visiting us,

  Fearing, as she does, the watcher and those choked with envy:

  The radiance of her forehead, her clinking ornaments,

  And the scent of ambergris left clinging to her cloak.

  She could hide her forehead with the end of her sleeve,

  And take off ornaments, but what about the scent?

  The two carried her in and put her down, stretching her out beside Qamar al-Zaman…

  Nights 181 to 200

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

  I have heard, O fortunate king, that the two carried her in and put her down, stretching her out beside Qamar al-Zaman on the couch. They uncovered both their faces and found that there was so great a resemblance between them that it looked as though they were twins or full brother and sister. They were a seduction even for the pious, as the poet has clearly expressed:

  Heart, do not fall in love with a single lovely one;

  Coquetry will bewilder you, and forced humility.

  Rather, love them all, and you will find,

  If one turns back, another will come on.

  Another poet has written:

  I saw two sleeping on the ground:

  I would have loved them even if it were on my eyelids that they lay.

  Dahnash and Maimuna looked at the pair. ‘Good!’ exclaimed Dahnash. ‘By God, lady, my beloved is the fairer.’ ‘No, mine is,’ said Maimuna. ‘Damn you, Dahnash, are you blind in both eye and heart that you can’t distinguish between lean and fat? Are you trying to hide the truth? Don’t you see his beauty and the symmetry of his form? Listen to what I have to say about my beloved and if you truly love yours, then produce its match.’ She then planted a number of kisses between Qamar al-Zaman’s eyes, reciting this poem:

  Why am I so harshly abused because of you?

  How can I forget you, who are a slender branch?

  Your kohl-dark eye spreads magic;

  There is no way of escape from ‘Udhri love.

  Your Turkish glances wound my inner parts

  As no sharp polished sword could do.

  A load of passion for you weighs me down,

  While in my weakness even my shirt is now too heavy.

  You know my passion for you and my lovesickness

  Is natural; to love another would be by constraint.

  If my heart were like yours, I would not find myself

  With a body that is now thin as your waist.

  Alas for a moon among mankind,

  With all the attributes of grace and loveliness!

  Those who find fault with love may ask:

  ‘Who is it who has caused you your distress?’

  ‘Find a description,’ is what I reply.

  Harsh heart, learn from this figure how to bend;

  You may then turn to pity and compassion.

  My prince, you may be grateful but your eye

  Assaults me and your eyebrow knows no justice.

  They lie who say all loveliness was found

  In Joseph; how many Josephs does your beauty hold?

  The jinn fear to confront me, but when I

  Meet you, it is my heart that trembles.

  In fear, I try to turn away from you;

  The more I try, the greater grows my love.

  Your hair is black, your forehead radiant;

  Your eyes are dark; you have a slender form.

  When Dahnash heard Maimuna’s poem about her beloved, he was delighted and filled with admiration.

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

  I have heard, O fortunate king, that when Dahnash heard Maimuna’s poem about her beloved, he was moved to delight and said: ‘How excellen
tly you have described your beloved in these lines. I myself must do my very best to say something about mine.’ He went up to Princess Budur and kissed her between the eyes and then, looking at both her and at Maimuna, although he lacked poetic sensitivity, he recited the following poem:

  They harshly blame my love for the lovely one,

  But in their ignorance they are unjust.

  Be generous; grant union to the slave of love,

  Who perishes if you hold back from him.

  I am afflicted by a tearful love,

  And blood-red tears flow from my eyes.

  It is no wonder I am moved by love;

  The wonder is that, after you have gone,

  My body then can still be recognized.

  May I be kept from union if I have suspected you,

  Or if my heart has tired of love, acting reluctantly.

  He added other lines:

  My food is the sight of their camping grounds at the waste’s edge;

  I lie here slain; the wadi is far away.

  The wine of passion has made me drunk;

  My tears dance to the camel driver’s song.

  I seek the happiness of union and for me

  Happiness must be found in the full moons of Su‘ad.

  I do not know of which of these three to complain –

  I have counted them up, so listen to my counting –

  Her glance that is like a sword, her figure like a lance,

  Or the locks covering her temples that are chain mail.

  I asked townsfolk and nomads where she was. She said:

  ‘I am here in your heart; look there and you will see.’

  But I replied: ‘Where is my heart?’

  ‘Well done, Dahnash,’ said Maimuna when she had heard this, ‘but which is the lovelier of the two?’ ‘My beloved Budur is more beautiful than yours,’ said Dahnash. ‘That is a lie, damn you,’ said Maimuna. ‘Mine is lovelier than yours.’ ‘No, mine is lovelier,’ retorted Dahnash, and they did not stop quarrelling with one another, until Maimuna shouted at Dahnash and was about to attack him. At that, he humbled himself before her, softened his language and said: ‘You must not find the truth hard to bear. Put aside both our claims, for each of us bears witness that our own beloved is lovelier. Let us turn from this and look for someone who can settle the point between us and on whose word we can rely.’