The Arabian Nights: Tales of 1,001 Nights

by vol 02 (tr Malcolm C

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

  I have heard, O fortunate king, that Sabur, king of the Persians, told his nobles to bear witness to the fact that he had given his daughter, Fakhr al-Taj, in marriage to his ‘son’ Gharib. He then shook Gharib by the hand and the princess became his wife.

  Gharib now said: ‘Set a bride price for me to bring you, for in the castle of Sasa I have more wealth and treasures than can be counted.’ ‘My son,’ Sabur replied, ‘I want neither money nor treasures from you, and the only bride price that I shall accept is the head of al-Jamraqan, the king of al-Dasht and ruler of al-Ahwaz.’ Gharib replied: ‘I shall go to fetch my men and then I shall march against this enemy and ravage his lands.’ ‘May you receive a good reward,’ said Sabur, after which the people dispersed, high and low alike, while Sabur thought that if Gharib set out against al-Jamraqan he would never come back again.

  In the morning both he and Gharib rode out and the troops were ordered to mount and ride to the exercise ground, where they were ordered to entertain the king by jousting. When the Persian champions had ridden against one another, Gharib told the king that he wanted to join in with them on one condition. When Sabur asked what this was, he said: ‘That I wear a thin shirt and use a lance with no point on whose tip I shall place a rag soaked with saffron. All your champions can attack me using lances with points and if they get the better of me, then my life is theirs as a gift, but if I win, then they must carry my mark from the field.’ Sabur ordered the army commander to bring forward the Persian champions from whom he picked out twelve hundred kings and men of valour, telling them in Persian that whichever of them killed the Bedouin would be welcome to have whatever he wanted. They vied with each other to be first in riding against Gharib, but when they attacked him, truth was clearly separated from falsehood and the serious from the frivolous, as Gharib called out: ‘My trust is in the Lord, the God of Abraham His Friend, the Omnipotent from Whom nothing is hidden, the One, the All-Powerful, Whom no eye can see.’

  A giant Persian champion rode out against him, but Gharib allowed him no time to resist before he had marked his whole chest with saffron. Then, when he turned back, Gharib struck him on the nape of his neck with his lance and laid him out on the ground. His servants carried him off, after which he was followed by a second, a third, a fourth and a fifth. One after the other the champions came out until Gharib had put his mark on all of them, and when Almighty God had given him victory over them, they left the field. Food was then brought, followed by wine, and they ate and drank. Gharib drank until he was befuddled and then, after he had gone out to relieve himself, he could not find his way back and went into the palace of Fakhr Taj. She was overjoyed to see him and called to her maids to go to their own rooms. When they had gone off on their separate ways, she kissed Gharib’s hand and said: ‘Welcome to my lord, who freed me from the ghul. I am for ever your servant.’ She then pulled him to her bed and embraced him, inflaming his passion so that he deflowered her and then stayed with her until morning.

  So much for them, but as for Sabur, he had thought that Gharib must have left, and when he came into his presence in the morning, he rose to greet him and seated him at his side. The other kings then entered and, after kissing the ground, they ranged themselves on the right and the left and started to talk of Gharib’s bravery, praising God, Who had granted him such courage in spite of his youth. While they were talking, they caught sight of the dust of approaching horses through the palace windows and the king ordered his couriers to let him know what this was. One of them rode out to investigate and on his return he said: ‘Your majesty, under the dust I found a hundred riders with an emir called Sahim al-Lail.’ When Gharib heard this, he said: ‘Master, this is my brother, whom I had sent off on an errand, and I shall go to meet him.’ He then rode off with his hundred Qahtanids, together with a thousand Persians in a great procession, though true greatness belongs only to God, until he reached Sahim. The two dismounted to embrace each other before remounting, and Gharib then asked his brother whether he had brought his clan to the castle of Sasa and the Valley of Flowers. Sahim told him: ‘When that treacherous dog, Mirdas, heard that you had taken the castle of the ghul he became more and more angry and said: “Unless I leave these parts, Gharib will come and take my daughter Mahdiya without any bride price.” He then removed his daughter, his clan, his family and his possessions, made for Iraq and entered Kufa, where he asked protection from King ‘Ajib, who is asking for Mahdiya’s hand.’

  When Gharib heard what Sahim had to say, he almost expired of grief and exclaimed: ‘By the truth of the religion of Abraham, the Friend of God, and by the truth of the Almighty God Himself, I shall go to the land of Iraq and make war there.’ He went back to the city, where he and his brother entered the palace and kissed the ground. Sabur rose for Gharib and greeted Sahim, after which Gharib told him what had happened. Sabur gave orders that he was to be reinforced by ten commanders, each with ten thousand men chosen from the bravest of the Arabs and the Persians. They took three days to make their preparations, after which Gharib set out for the castle of Sasa. Sa‘dan the ghul came out with his sons to meet him and kissed his feet in his stirrups. Then, when he had been told what had happened, Sa‘dan said: ‘Master, sit here in your castle and I shall go to Iraq with my sons and my men and lay waste to the city, bringing back all its defenders tightly bound before you.’ Gharib thanked him but told him that they would all go together. On Gharib’s orders Sa‘dan made his preparations and they all set off for Iraq, leaving a garrison of a thousand riders to guard the castle.

  So much for Gharib, but as for Mirdas, when he took his people to Iraq, he had with him a splendid gift, which he brought to Kufa and presented to ‘Ajib. He kissed the ground and called down blessings suitable for kings on ‘Ajib before asking for his protection.

  Nights 635 to 654

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

  I have heard, O fortunate king, that when Mirdas appeared before King ‘Ajib, he asked him for his protection.

  ‘Tell me who has wronged you so that I may protect you against him, even if he is Sabur, king of the Persians, the Turks and the Dailamis,’ said ‘Ajib. Mirdas complained: ‘King of the age, it is a youth whom I brought up in my own household who has wronged me. I found him in a valley, held in his mother’s lap, and I then married his mother, from whom I had a child. I named my son Sahim al-Lail, while his half-brother was called Gharib. He grew up in my household and turned out to be a fiery thunderbolt and a terrible calamity. He killed al-Hamal, chief of the Banu Nabhan, and he is a man-slayer who has overthrown champions. I have a daughter who would suit no husband other than you, but he asked me for her hand, in return for which I told him to fetch me the head of the ghul of the mountain. Gharib went to challenge him and captured him, after which he took him into his own service. I hear that he has become a Muslim and is calling on people to convert to his religion. He freed Sabur’s daughter from the ghul and has taken possession of the castle of Sasa, son of Shith, which contains the treasure hoards of the ancients and the moderns alike. He left to escort Sabur’s daughter, and is sure to bring with him the wealth of Persia when he comes back.’

  When ‘Ajib heard what Mirdas had to say, his appearance altered and he turned pale, as he was sure that he was facing death. He asked Mirdas: ‘Is Gharib’s mother with him or with you?’ to which he replied that she was with him in his tents. ‘What is her name?’ ‘Ajib asked, and when ‘Ajib told him that it was Nusra, he exclaimed: ‘That is the woman! Send for her.’ When he looked at her, he recognized her and said: ‘You damned woman, where are the two slaves whom I sent off with you?’ She told him that they had killed each other because of her, and he then drew his sword and cut her in two. Her body was dragged
off and thrown out, but ‘Ajib was filled with uneasiness and said to Mirdas: ‘Marry me to your daughter.’ ‘She is one of your servants and I have given her to you in marriage as I am your slave,’ Mirdas replied. ‘Ajib then said: ‘I would like to set eyes on that son of a whore, Gharib, and kill him after having inflicted tortures of all kinds on him.’ He then ordered Mirdas to be given thirty thousand dinars as a bride price, together with a hundred pieces of silk brocade embroidered with gold, a hundred others with ornamented borders, as well as kerchiefs and golden necklaces. Mirdas went off with this huge bride price and exerted himself to make preparations for Mahdiya’s wedding.

  So much for them, but as for Gharib, he travelled to the strong and well-fortified city of al-Jazira, which marks the start of Iraqi territory. He ordered his men to prepare to attack it, and when its inhabitants saw what was happening, they closed their gates, strengthened their walls and alerted their king. He looked out from his palace battlements and saw a large Persian army. ‘What do these Persians want?’ he asked his people, but they could only say: ‘We don’t know.’ This king was called al-Damigh because he used to brain his opponents in battle, and among his servants was a wily fellow like a spark of fire, called Sabu‘ al-Qifar. It was this man whom the king summoned and told to go to investigate the Persians and find out what they wanted, before coming back as fast as he could. He went off like the wind, and when he approached Gharib’s tents a number of Arabs got up and asked him who he was and what he wanted. He told them: ‘I am a messenger from the king of the city to your leader.’ They took him and led him between tents, pavilions and banners, until they brought him to the pavilion of Gharib, and after entering they told Gharib that a messenger had arrived. ‘Bring him to me,’ Gharib said, and when the messenger came in he kissed the ground and called down on him the blessings of a long life and continued glory. Gharib asked him what his errand was and he said: ‘I am a messenger from the king of the city of al-Jazira, al-Damigh, the brother of Kundamir, lord of Kufa and of the land of Iraq.’ When he heard this, tears streamed from Gharib’s eyes and, looking at the messenger, he asked him his name. ‘Sabu‘ al-Qifar,’ the man replied, and Gharib then told him: ‘Go to your master and tell him that the leader of this force is Gharib, the son of Kundamir, lord of Kufa, who was killed by his son, ‘Ajib, and that I am here to take vengeance on him, treacherous dog that he is.’

  Sabu‘ al-Qifar went off and returned joyfully to al-Damigh. He kissed the ground and when al-Damigh asked him what he had discovered, he told him that the leader of the force was his nephew and then explained the whole story to him. Al-Damigh thought that he must be dreaming, and he asked Sabu‘ al-Qifar whether he was telling the truth. ‘Yes, your majesty,’ the other replied, ‘I swear it by your life.’ Al-Damigh then ordered the leaders of his people to mount, and he rode out with them to Gharib’s camp. Gharib, on hearing that the king had come, went out to meet him and the two of them greeted each other and embraced, before Gharib took his uncle into the camp and sat with him in the place of honour. Al-Damigh was delighted to have met his nephew, and turning to him he said: ‘I am sad at heart that I did not avenge your father, but I had not the power to face that dog, your brother, for he has a large army while mine is small.’ ‘It is this that I have come to do, uncle,’ Gharib told him, ‘and I shall remove this shame and rid the lands of him.’ ‘There is a double vengeance for you to take,’ al-Damigh told him, ‘one for your father and another for your mother.’ ‘What has happened to my mother?’ Gharib asked, and al-Damigh told him: ‘Your brother ‘Ajib killed her.’

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

  I have heard, O fortunate king, that when Gharib heard his uncle tell him that his brother ‘Ajib had killed his mother, Gharib asked why and al-Damigh told him what happened and how Mirdas had given ‘Ajib his daughter in marriage, which he was about to consummate.

  When Gharib heard this, he went out of his mind and he lay fainting until he was almost dead, but when he had recovered, he shouted an order to his army to mount and ride. Al-Damigh asked him to wait until he could get ready to bring his men to go with him, but he said: ‘I cannot bear to wait, uncle, so make your preparations and meet me in Kufa.’ He then rode off to Babel, whose inhabitants were filled with alarm. They had a king named Jamak, who had a force of twenty thousand riders, and this was joined by another fifty thousand from the nearby towns, who camped in front of the city. Gharib wrote a letter to Jamak, and when his messenger reached the city he called out: ‘I am an envoy.’ The gatekeeper went to the king, who, when he had been told that a messenger had come, gave orders that he should be brought to him. The gatekeeper went out and fetched the man, who kissed the ground and handed Jamak the letter. Jamak opened it and read the following message: ‘Praise be to the Lord of creation, the Master of all things, Who sustains all life, the Omnipotent. This letter is sent from Gharib, the son of Kundamir, king of Iraq and the lands of Kufa, to Jamak. As soon as you receive it, you are to break your idols and acknowledge the unity of the Omniscient God, Who created light and darkness and all other things and Who has power over everything. If you fail to do what I say, I shall see to it that this will be the most disastrous of days for you. Peace be on those who follow right guidance and fear the destruction that is to come, obeying the Most High God, Lord of the latter and the former things, Who says to something “be” and it is.’

  When Jamak read this, he showed the whites of his eyes; his face turned pale and he shouted at the messenger: ‘Go to your master and tell him to come out to fight tomorrow morning, when it will be seen who is the true chief.’ The messenger returned to give the news to Gharib, who ordered his men to arm themselves for battle. Meanwhile Jamak had his tents pitched in front of those of Gharib, and his men poured out like a flood tide, spending the night with the intention of fighting next day. Then, in the morning, both sides rode out and formed up in ranks, with drums beating and spears raised, as horses pawed the ground, and the wide plain was filled with men as the champions advanced.

  The first to come out to challenge was Sa‘dan, the ghul of the mountain, carrying a huge tree on his shoulder. He advanced between the armies and shouted: ‘I am Sa‘dan the ghul! Does anyone dare to come out to fight? Let him be no idle weakling.’ Then he called to his sons: ‘Bring me wood and make a fire, for I am hungry,’ and they, in turn, summoned the slaves, who collected firewood and lit a fire in the middle of the battlefield. There then came out to meet him a haughty giant from among the unbelievers, who was carrying on his shoulder a mace as big as a ship’s mast. He advanced on the ghul, calling out: ‘Woe to you, Sa‘dan,’ and when Sa‘dan heard this, his mood darkened and he whirled his tree around until it whistled through the air. His opponent met the blow with his mace, but the weight of the tree drove the mace back, crushing his skull so that he fell to the ground like a lofty palm tree. Sa‘dan called to his slaves: ‘Drag off this fatted calf and roast him quickly.’ They hurried to skin and roast the man, before presenting him to Sa‘dan, who ate him, crunching his bones. When the infidels saw this, shudders ran right through their bodies. They lost heart, changed colour and told one another that whoever went out to face the ghul would never feel the wind’s breath again, as he would be eaten and his bones gnawed through. In their fear of him and his sons, they stopped fighting and fled back to the city.

  Gharib now shouted to his men to attack the fugitives, and his Arabs and Persians attacked Jamak and his people, putting them to the sword until twenty thousand or more of them had been killed. Many fell among the crowd jamming the city gate, which could not be closed, and during the assault Sa‘dan seized a mace from a dead man and, brandishing it in the face of his foes, he made his way to the city square. He then attacked Jamak’s palace, confronted him and struck him down unconscious with a mace blow, before annihilating the palace guards. At that, the rest of Jamak’s men
shouted for quarter.

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

  I have heard, O fortunate king, that when Sa‘dan the ghul attacked the palace and annihilated its defenders, they asked for quarter. ‘Tie up your king,’ Sa‘dan told them, and when they had done this and picked him up, Sa‘dan drove them ahead of him like sheep and brought them before Gharib, after most of the other citizens had been killed by his men. When Jamak recovered consciousness, he found himself in bonds, with Sa‘dan saying: ‘Tonight I shall have this king for my supper.’ On hearing this, Jamak looked towards Gharib and said: ‘I am under your protection.’ ‘If you accept Islam,’ Gharib told him, ‘you will be safe from the ghul and from the punishment of the Living and Eternal God.’ At that, Jamak accepted Islam with both his heart and his tongue, and when he had been released on Gharib’s orders, he offered conversion to his people, who all accepted it and entered Gharib’s service. Jamak went back to the city and sent out food and drink to Gharib’s men, who spent the night at Babel before being ordered by Gharib to move off in the morning.

  They next came to Mayyafariqin, which they found to be deserted, as its inhabitants, hearing what had happened to Babel, had left it and gone to Kufa, where they told ‘Ajib what had happened. ‘Ajib was violently disturbed; he collected his paladins, told them of Gharib’s advance and ordered them to prepare for battle. He held a muster of his army, which numbered thirty thousand horse and ten thousand foot. He sent for more men and collected another fifty thousand horse and foot, after which he rode out with this huge force. After five days, he found Gharib’s army camped at Mosul and had his tents pitched in front of theirs.