Arabian Nights

by abc

  remembered the little box of ointment that the dervish had hidden,

  and which most likely contained a treasure more precious than all

  the rest. Giving him one last embrace, I observed accidentally,

  "What are you going to do with that little box of ointment? It seems

  hardly worth taking with you; you might as well let me have it.

  And really, a dervish who has given up the world has no need

  of ointment!"

  Oh, if he had only refused my request! But then, supposing he had,

  I should have got possession of it by force, so great was the

  madness that had laid hold upon me. However, far from refusing it,

  the dervish at once held it out, saying gracefully, "Take it,

  my friend, and if there is anything else I can do to make you happy

  you must let me know."

  Directly the box was in my hands I wrenched off the cover.

  "As you are so kind," I said, "tell me, I pray you, what are the

  virtues of this ointment?"

  "They are most curious and interesting," replied the dervish.

  "If you apply a little of it to your left eye you will behold

  in an instant all the treasures hidden in the bowels of the earth.

  But beware lest you touch your right eye with it, or your sight will

  be destroyed for ever."

  His words excited my curiosity to the highest pitch. "Make trial

  on me, I implore you," I cried, holding out the box to the dervish.

  "You will know how to do it better than I! I am burning with

  impatience to test its charms."

  The dervish took the box I had extended to him, and, bidding me

  shut my left eye, touched it gently with the ointment. When I

  opened it again I saw spread out, as it were before me, treasures of

  every kind and without number. But as all this time I had been

  obliged to keep my right eye closed, which was very fatiguing,

  I begged the dervish to apply the ointment to that eye also.

  "If you insist upon it I will do it," answered the dervish,

  "but you must remember what I told you just now--that if it touches

  your right eye you will become blind on the spot."

  Unluckily, in spite of my having proved the truth of the dervish's words

  in so many instances, I was firmly convinced that he was now keeping

  concealed from me some hidden and precious virtue of the ointment.

  So I turned a deaf ear to all he said.

  "My brother," I replied smiling, "I see you are joking. It is

  not natural that the same ointment should have two such exactly

  opposite effects."

  "It is true all the same," answered the dervish, "and it would

  be well for you if you believed my word."

  But I would not believe, and, dazzled by the greed of avarice,

  I thought that if one eye could show me riches, the other might

  teach me how to get possession of them. And I continued to press

  the dervish to anoint my right eye, but this he resolutely declined

  to do.

  "After having conferred such benefits on you," said he, "I am

  loth indeed to work you such evil. Think what it is to be blind,

  and do not force me to do what you will repent as long as you live."

  It was of no use. "My brother," I said firmly, "pray say no more,

  but do what I ask. You have most generously responded to my wishes

  up to this time, do not spoil my recollection of you for a thing

  of such little consequence. Let what will happen I take it on my

  own head, and will never reproach you."

  "Since you are determined upon it," he answered with a sigh,

  "there is no use talking," and taking the ointment he laid some

  on my right eye, which was tight shut. When I tried to open it

  heavy clouds of darkness floated before me. I was as blind as you

  see me now!

  "Miserable dervish!" I shrieked, "so it is true after all!

  Into what a bottomless pit has my lust after gold plunged me.

  Ah, now that my eyes are closed they are really opened. I know that

  all my sufferings are caused by myself alone! But, good brother,

  you, who are so kind and charitable, and know the secrets of such

  vast learning, have you nothing that will give me back my sight?"

  "Unhappy man," replied the dervish, "it is not my fault that this has

  befallen you, but it is a just chastisement. The blindness of your

  heart has wrought the blindness of your body. Yes, I have secrets;

  that you have seen in the short time that we have known each other.

  But I have none that will give you back your sight. You have proved

  yourself unworthy of the riches that were given you. Now they have

  passed into my hands, whence they will flow into the hands of others

  less greedy and ungrateful than you."

  The dervish said no more and left me, speechless with shame

  and confusion, and so wretched that I stood rooted to the spot,

  while he collected the eighty camels and proceeded on his way

  to Balsora. It was in vain that I entreated him not to leave me,

  but at least to take me within reach of the first passing caravan.

  He was deaf to my prayers and cries, and I should soon have been dead

  of hunger and misery if some merchants had not come along the track

  the following day and kindly brought me back to Bagdad.

  From a rich man I had in one moment become a beggar; and up to this

  time I have lived solely on the alms that have been bestowed on me.

  But, in order to expiate the sin of avarice, which was my undoing,

  I oblige each passer-by to give me a blow.

  This, Commander of the Faithful, is my story.

  When the blind man had ended the Caliph addressed him:

  "Baba-Abdalla, truly your sin is great, but you have suffered enough.

  Henceforth repent in private, for I will see that enough money

  is given you day by day for all your wants."

  At these words Baba-Abdalla flung himself at the Caliph's feet,

  and prayed that honour and happiness might be his portion for ever.

  The Story of Sidi-Nouman

  The Caliph, Haroun-al-Raschid, was much pleased with the tale of

  the blind man and the dervish, and when it was finished he turned

  to the young man who had ill-treated his horse, and inquired

  his name also. The young man replied that he was called Sidi-Nouman.

  "Sidi-Nouman," observed the Caliph, "I have seen horses broken all my

  life long, and have even broken them myself, but I have never seen

  any horse broken in such a barbarous manner as by you yesterday.

  Every one who looked on was indignant, and blamed you loudly.

  As for myself, I was so angry that I was very nearly disclosing

  who I was, and putting a stop to it at once. Still, you have not

  the air of a cruel man, and I would gladly believe that you did not

  act in this way without some reason. As I am told that it was not

  the first time, and indeed that every day you are to be seen flogging

  and spurring your horse, I wish to come to the bottom of the matter.

  But tell me the whole truth, and conceal nothing."

  Sidi-Nouman changed colour as he heard these words, and his manner

  grew confused; but he saw plainly that there was no help for it.

  So he prostrated himself before the throne of the Caliph and tried

  to obey, but the words stuck in his throat, and he remai
ned silent.

  The Caliph, accustomed though he was to instant obedience,

  guessed something of what was passing in the young man's mind,

  and sought to put him at his ease. "Sidi-Nouman," he said,

  "do not think of me as the Caliph, but merely as a friend who would

  like to hear your story. If there is anything in it that you are

  afraid may offend me, take courage, for I pardon you beforehand.

  Speak then openly and without fear, as to one who knows and loves you."

  Reassured by the kindness of the Caliph, Sidi-Nouman at length

  began his tale.

  "Commander of the Faithful," said he, "dazzled though I am

  by the lustre of your Highness' presence, I will do my best

  to satisfy your wishes. I am by no means perfect, but I am not

  naturally cruel, neither do I take pleasure in breaking the law.

  I admit that the treatment of my horse is calculated to give your

  Highness a bad opinion of me, and to set an evil example to others;

  yet I have not chastised it without reason, and I have hopes

  that I shall be judged more worthy of pity than punishment."

  Commander of the Faithful, I will not trouble to describe my birth;

  it is not of sufficient distinction to deserve your Highness'

  attention. My ancestors were careful people, and I inherited

  enough money to enable me to live comfortably, though without show.

  Having therefore a modest fortune, the only thing wanting to my

  happiness was a wife who could return my affection, but this blessing

  I was not destined to get; for on the very day after my marriage,

  my bride began to try my patience in every way that was most hard

  to bear.

  Now, seeing that the customs of our land oblige us to marry without

  ever beholding the person with whom we are to pass our lives,

  a man has of course no right to complain as long as his wife

  is not absolutely repulsive, or is not positively deformed.

  And whatever defects her body may have, pleasant ways and good

  behaviour will go far to remedy them.

  The first time I saw my wife unveiled, when she had been brought

  to my house with the usual ceremonies, I was enchanted to find

  that I had not been deceived in regard to the account that had been

  given me of her beauty. I began my married life in high spirits,

  and the best hopes of happiness.

  The following day a grand dinner was served to us but as my wife did

  not appear, I ordered a servant to call her. Still she did not come,

  and I waited impatiently for some time. At last she entered the room,

  and she took our places at the table, and plates of rice were set

  before us.

  I ate mine, as was natural, with a spoon, but great was my surprise

  to notice that my wife, instead of doing the same, drew from her

  pocket a little case, from which she selected a long pin, and by

  the help of this pin conveyed her rice grain by grain to her mouth.

  "Amina," I exclaimed in astonishment, "is that the way you eat rice

  at home? And did you do it because your appetite was so small,

  or did you wish to count the grains so that you might never eat

  more than a certain number? If it was from economy, and you are

  anxious to teach me not to be wasteful, you have no cause for alarm.

  We shall never ruin ourselves in that way! Our fortune is large

  enough for all our needs, therefore, dear Amina, do not seek to

  check yourself, but eat as much as you desire, as I do!"

  In reply to my affectionate words, I expected a cheerful answer;

  yet Amina said nothing at all, but continued to pick her rice

  as before, only at longer and longer intervals. And, instead of

  trying the other dishes, all she did was to put every now and then

  a crumb, of bread into her mouth, that would not have made a meal

  for a sparrow.

  I felt provoked by her obstinacy, but to excuse her to myself

  as far as I could, I suggested that perhaps she had never been

  used to eat in the company of men, and that her family might have

  taught her that she ought to behave prudently and discreetly

  in the presence of her husband. Likewise that she might either

  have dined already or intend to do so in her own apartments.

  So I took no further notice, and when I had finished left the room,

  secretly much vexed at her strange conduct.

  The same thing occurred at supper, and all through the next day,

  whenever we ate together. It was quite clear that no woman could

  live upon two or three bread-crumbs and a few grains of rice,

  and I determined to find out how and when she got food. I pretended

  not to pay attention to anything she did, in the hope that little

  by little she would get accustomed to me, and become more friendly;

  but I soon saw that my expectations were quite vain.

  One night I was lying with my eyes closed, and to, all appearance

  sound asleep, when Amina arose softly, and dressed herself without

  making the slightest sound. I could not imagine what she was going

  to do, and as my curiosity was great I made up my mind to follow her.

  When she was fully dressed, she stole quietly from the room.

  The instant she had let the curtain fall behind her, I flung

  a garment on my shoulders and a pair of slippers on my feet.

  Looking from a lattice which opened into the court, I saw her in

  the act of passing through the street door, which she carefully

  left open.

  It was bright moonlight, so I easily managed to keep her in sight,

  till she entered a cemetery not far from the house. There I hid

  myself under the shadow of the wall, and crouched down cautiously;

  and hardly was I concealed, when I saw my wife approaching in company

  with a ghoul--one of those demons which, as your Highness is aware,

  wander about the country making their lairs in deserted buildings

  and springing out upon unwary travellers whose flesh they eat.

  If no live being goes their way, they then betake themselves to

  the cemeteries, and feed upon the dead bodies.

  I was nearly struck dumb with horror on seeing my wife with this

  hideous female ghoul. They passed by me without noticing me,

  began to dig up a corpse which had been buried that day, and then

  sat down on the edge of the grave, to enjoy their frightful repast,

  talking quietly and cheerfully all the while, though I was too far

  off to hear what they said. When they had finished, they threw

  back the body into the grave, and heaped back the earth upon it.

  I made no effort to disturb them, and returned quickly to the house,

  when I took care to leave the door open, as I had previously found it.

  Then I got back into bed, and pretended to sleep soundly.

  A short time after Amina entered as quietly as she had gone out.

  She undressed and stole into bed, congratulating herself apparently

  on the cleverness with which she had managed her expedition.

  As may be guessed, after such a scene it was long before I could

  close my eyes, and at the first sound which called the faithful

  to prayer, I put on my clothes and went to the mosque. But even

  prayer did not restore peace to my troubled spirit, and I could

  not face my wife until I had made up
my mind what future course

  I should pursue in regard to her. I therefore spent the morning

  roaming about from one garden to another, turning over various

  plans for compelling my wife to give up her horrible ways;

  I thought of using violence to make her submit, but felt reluctant

  to be unkind to her. Besides, I had an instinct that gentle

  means had the best chance of success; so, a little soothed,

  I turned towards home, which I reached about the hour of dinner.

  As soon as I appeared, Amina ordered dinner to be served, and we

  sat down together. As usual, she persisted in only picking a few

  grains of rice, and I resolved to speak to her at once of what lay

  so heavily on my heart.

  "Amina," I said, as quietly as possible, "you must have guessed

  the surprise I felt, when the day after our marriage you declined

  to eat anything but a few morsels of rice, and altogether behaved

  in such a manner that most husbands would have been deeply wounded.

  However I had patience with you, and only tried to tempt your appetite

  by the choicest dishes I could invent, but all to no purpose.

  Still, Amina, it seems to me that there be some among them as sweet

  to the taste as the flesh of a corpse?"

  I had no sooner uttered these words than Amina, who instantly

  understood that I had followed her to the grave-yard, was seized

  with a passion beyond any that I have ever witnessed. Her face

  became purple, her eyes looked as if they would start from her head,

  and she positively foamed with rage.

  I watched her with terror, wondering what would happen next,

  but little thinking what would be the end of her fury. She seized

  a vessel of water that stood at hand, and plunging her hand in it,

  murmured some words I failed to catch. Then, sprinkling it on my face,