Arabian Nights

by abc

  only one night should be spent out for fear of too great fatigue

  after such a long illness.

  Next morning Prince Camaralzaman and Marzavan were off betimes,

  attended by two grooms leading the two extra horses. They hunted

  a little by the way, but took care to get as far from the towns

  as possible. At night-fall they reached an inn, where they supped

  and slept till midnight. Then Marzavan awoke and roused the prince

  without disturbing anyone else. He begged the prince to give him

  the coat he had been wearing and to put on another which they had

  brought with them. They mounted their second horses, and Marzavan

  led one of the grooms' horses by the bridle.

  By daybreak our travellers found themselves where four cross roads

  met in the middle of the forest. Here Marzavan begged the prince

  to wait for him, and leading the groom's horse into a dense part

  of the wood he cut its throat, dipped the prince's coat in its blood,

  and having rejoined the prince threw the coat on the ground where

  the roads parted.

  In answer to Camaralzaman's inquiries as to the reason for this,

  Marzavan replied that the only chance they had of continuing their journey

  was to divert attention by creating the idea of the prince's death.

  "Your father will doubtless be plunged in the deepest grief,"

  he went on, "but his joy at your return will be all the greater."

  The prince and his companion now continued their journey by land

  and sea, and as they had brought plenty of money to defray their

  expenses they met with no needless delays. At length they reached

  the capital of China, where they spent three days in a suitable

  lodging to recover from their fatigues.

  During this time Marzavan had an astrologer's dress

  prepared for the prince. They then went to the baths,

  after which the prince put on the astrologer's robe and was

  conducted within sight of the king's palace by Marzavan,

  who left him there and went to consult his mother, the princess's nurse.

  Meantime the prince, according to Marzavan's instructions,

  advanced close to the palace gates and there proclaimed aloud:

  "I am an astrologer and I come to restore health to

  the Princess Badoura, daughter of the high and mighty

  King of China, on the conditions laid down by His

  Majesty of marrying her should I succeed, or of losing my life if I fail."

  It was some little time since anyone had presented himself to run

  the terrible risk involved in attempting to cure the princess,

  and a crowd soon gathered round the prince. On perceiving his youth,

  good looks, and distinguished bearing, everyone felt pity for him.

  "What are you thinking of, sir," exclaimed some; "why expose yourself

  to certain death? Are not the heads you see exposed on the town

  wall sufficient warning? For mercy's sake give up this mad idea

  and retire whilst you can."

  But the prince remained firm, and only repeated his cry with

  greater assurance, to the horror of the crowd.

  "He is resolved to die!" they cried; "may heaven have pity on him!"

  Camaralzaman now called out for the third time, and at last

  the grand-vizir himself came out and fetched him in.

  The prime minister led the prince to the king, who was much struck

  by the noble air of this new adventurer, and felt such pity for

  the fate so evidently in store for him, that he tried to persuade

  the young man to renounce his project.

  But Camaralzaman politely yet firmly persisted in his intentions,

  and at length the king desired the eunuch who had the guard of the

  princess's apartments to conduct the astrologer to her presence.

  The eunuch led the way through long passages, and Camaralzaman

  followed rapidly, in haste to reach the object of his desires.

  At last they came to a large hall which was the ante-room to the

  princess's chamber, and here Camaralzaman said to the eunuch:

  "Now you shall choose. Shall I cure the princess in her own presence,

  or shall I do it from here without seeing her?"

  The eunuch, who had expressed many contemptuous doubts as they came

  along of the newcomer's powers, was much surprised and said:

  "If you really can cure, it is immaterial when you do it.

  Your fame will be equally great."

  "Very well," replied the prince: "then, impatient though I am

  to see the princess, I will effect the cure where I stand,

  the better to convince you of my power." He accordingly drew

  out his writing case and wrote as follows--"Adorable princess!

  The enamoured Camaralzaman has never forgotten the moment when,

  contemplating your sleeping beauty, he gave you his heart.

  As he was at that time deprived of the happiness of conversing

  with you, he ventured to give you his ring as a token of his love,

  and to take yours in exchange, which he now encloses in this letter.

  Should you deign to return it to him he will be the happiest

  of mortals, if not he will cheerfully resign himself to death,

  seeing he does so for love of you. He awaits your reply in your

  ante-room."

  Having finished this note the prince carefully enclosed the ring in it

  without letting the eunuch see it, and gave him the letter, saying:

  "Take this to your mistress, my friend, and if on reading it

  and seeing its contents she is not instantly cured, you may call

  me an impudent impostor."

  The eunuch at once passed into the princess's room, and handing

  her the letter said:

  "Madam, a new astrologer has arrived, who declares that you will be

  cured as soon as you have read this letter and seen what it contains."

  The princess took the note and opened it with languid indifference.

  But no sooner did she see her ring than, barely glancing at the writing,

  she rose hastily and with one bound reached the doorway and pushed

  back the hangings. Here she and the prince recognised each other,

  and in a moment they were locked in each other's arms, where they

  tenderly embraced, wondering how they came to meet at last after

  so long a separation. The nurse, who had hastened after her charge,

  drew them back to the inner room, where the princess restored her ring

  to Camaralzaman.

  "Take it back," she said, "I could not keep it without returning

  yours to you, and I am resolved to wear that as long as I live."

  Meantime the eunuch had hastened back to the king. "Sire," he cried,

  "all the former doctors and astrologers were mere quacks.

  This man has cured the princess without even seeing her."

  He then told all to the king, who, overjoyed, hastened to his

  daughter's apartments, where, after embracing her, he placed

  her hand in that of the prince, saying:

  "Happy stranger, I keep my promise, and give you my daughter to wife,

  be you who you may. But, if I am not much mistaken, your condition

  is above what you appear to be."

  The prince thanked the king in the warmest and most respectful terms,

  and added: "As regards my person, your Majesty has rightly guessed

  that I am not an astrologer. It is but a disguise which I assumed

  in order to merit your illustrious al
liance. I am myself a prince,

  my name is Camaralzaman, and my father is Schahzaman, King of the

  Isles of the Children of Khaledan." He then told his whole history,

  including the extraordinary manner of his first seeing and loving

  the Princess Badoura.

  When he had finished the king exclaimed: "So remarkable a story must

  not be lost to posterity. It shall be inscribed in the archives

  of my kingdom and published everywhere abroad."

  The wedding took place next day amidst great pomp and rejoicings.

  Marzavan was not forgotten, but was given a lucrative post at court,

  with a promise of further advancement.

  The prince and princess were now entirely happy, and months slipped

  by unconsciously in the enjoyment of each other's society.

  One night, however, Prince Camaralzaman dreamt that he saw his

  father lying at the point of death, and saying: "Alas! my son whom

  I loved so tenderly, has deserted me and is now causing my death."

  The prince woke with such a groan as to startle the princess,

  who asked what was the matter.

  "Ah!" cried the prince, "at this very moment my father is perhaps

  no more!" and he told his dream.

  The princess said but little at the time, but next morning she went

  to the king, and kissing his hand said:

  "I have a favour to ask of your Majesty, and I beg you to believe

  that it is in no way prompted by my husband. It is that you will

  allow us both to visit my father-in-law King Schahzaman."

  Sorry though the king felt at the idea of parting with his daughter,

  he felt her request to be so reasonable that he could not refuse it,

  and made but one condition, which was that she should only spend

  one year at the court of King Schahzaman, suggesting that in future

  the young couple should visit their respective parents alternately.

  The princess brought this good news to her husband, who thanked

  her tenderly for this fresh proof of her affection.

  All preparations for the journey were now pressed forwards, and when

  all was ready the king accompanied the travellers for some days,

  after which he took an affectionate leave of his daughter, and charging

  the prince to take every care of her, returned to his capital.

  The prince and princess journeyed on, and at the end of a month

  reached a huge meadow interspersed with clumps of big trees which cast

  a most pleasant shade. As the heat was great, Camaralzaman thought it

  well to encamp in this cool spot. Accordingly the tents were pitched,

  and the princess entering hers whilst the prince was giving his

  further orders, removed her girdle, which she placed beside her,

  and desiring her women to leave her, lay down and was soon asleep.

  When the camp was all in order the prince entered the tent and,

  seeing the princess asleep, he sat down near her without speaking.

  His eyes fell on the girdle which, he took up, and whilst inspecting

  the precious stones set in it he noticed a little pouch sewn

  to the girdle and fastened by a loop. He touched it and felt

  something hard within. Curious as to what this might be, he opened

  the pouch and found a cornelian engraved with various figures

  and strange characters.

  "This cornelian must be something very precious," thought he,

  "or my wife would not wear it on her person with so much care."

  In truth it was a talisman which the Queen of China had given

  her daughter, telling her it would ensure her happiness as long

  as she carried it about her.

  The better to examine the stone the prince stepped to the open

  doorway of the tent. As he stood there holding it in the open

  palm of his hand, a bird suddenly swooped down, picked the stone

  up in its beak and flew away with it.

  Imagine the prince's dismay at losing a thing by which his wife

  evidently set such store!

  The bird having secured its prey flew off some yards and

  alighted on the ground, holding the talisman it its beak.

  Prince Camaralzaman advanced, hoping the bird would drop it, but as

  soon as he approached the thief fluttered on a little further still.

  He continued his pursuit till the bird suddenly swallowed the stone

  and took a longer flight than before. The prince then hoped to kill

  it with a stone, but the more hotly he pursued the further flew the bird.

  In this fashion he was led on by hill and dale through the entire day,

  and when night came the tiresome creature roosted on the top

  of a very high tree where it could rest in safety.

  The prince in despair at all his useless trouble began to think

  whether he had better return to the camp. "But," thought he,

  "how shall I find my way back? Must I go up hill or down?

  I should certainly lose my way in the dark, even if my strength

  held out." Overwhelmed by hunger, thirst, fatigue and sleep,

  he ended by spending the night at the foot of the tree.

  Next morning Camaralzaman woke up before the bird left its perch,

  and no sooner did it take flight than he followed it again

  with as little success as the previous day, only stopping to eat

  some herbs and fruit he found by the way. In this fashion he

  spent ten days, following the bird all day and spending the night

  at the foot of a tree, whilst it roosted on the topmost bough.

  On the eleventh day the bird and the prince reached a large town,

  and as soon as they were close to its walls the bird took a sudden

  and higher flight and was shortly completely out of sight,

  whilst Camaralzaman felt in despair at having to give up all hopes

  of ever recovering the talisman of the Princess Badoura.

  Much cast down, he entered the town, which was built near the sea

  and had a fine harbour. He walked about the streets for a long time,

  not knowing where to go, but at length as he walked near the seashore

  he found a garden door open and walked in.

  The gardener, a good old man, who was at work, happened to look up,

  and, seeing a stranger, whom he recognised by his dress as a Mussulman,

  he told him to come in at once and to shut the door.

  Camaralzaman did as he was bid, and inquired why this precaution

  was taken.

  "Because," said the gardener, "I see that you are a stranger and

  a Mussulman, and this town is almost entirely inhabited by idolaters,

  who hate and persecute all of our faith. It seems almost a miracle

  that has led you to this house, and I am indeed glad that you

  have found a place of safety."

  Camaralzaman warmly thanked the kind old man for offering him shelter,

  and was about to say more, but the gardener interrupted him with:

  "Leave compliments alone. You are weary and must be hungry.

  Come in, eat, and rest." So saying he led the prince into his cottage,

  and after satisfying his hunger begged to learn the cause of

  his arrival.

  Camaralzaman told him all without disguise, and ended by inquiring

  the shortest way to his father's capital. "For," added he,

  "if I tried to rejoin the princess, how should I find her after

  eleven days' separation. Perhaps, indeed, she may be no longer alive!"

  At this terrible thought he burst into tears
.

  The gardener informed Camaralzaman that they were quite a year's land

  journey to any Mahomedan country, but that there was a much shorter

  route by sea to the Ebony Island, from whence the Isles of the Children

  of Khaledan could be easily reached, and that a ship sailed once

  a year for the Ebony Island by which he might get so far as his very home.

  "If only you had arrived a few days sooner," he said, "you might

  have embarked at once. As it is you must now wait till next year,

  but if you care to stay with me I offer you my house, such as it is,

  with all my heart."

  Prince Camaralzaman thought himself lucky to find some place of refuge,

  and gladly accepted the gardener's offer. He spent his days working in

  the garden, and his nights thinking of and sighing for his beloved wife.

  Let us now see what had become during this time of the Princess Badoura.

  On first waking she was much surprised not to find the prince

  near her. She called her women and asked if they knew where he was,

  and whilst they were telling her that they had seen him enter

  the tent, but had not noticed his leaving it, she took up her belt

  and perceived that the little pouch was open and the talisman gone.

  She at once concluded that her husband had taken it and would shortly

  bring it back. She waited for him till evening rather impatiently,

  and wondering what could have kept him from her so long. When night

  came without him she felt in despair and abused the talisman

  and its maker roundly. In spite of her grief and anxiety however,