The Arabian Nights: Tales of 1,001 Nights: Volume 2

by Penguin; Robert Irwin; Malcolm Lyons; Ursula Lyons

  After taking the letter from him she went back home, where she and her children started to weep. A number of her neighbours heard this, and when they asked what was wrong they were told that the woman had just got a letter to say that her husband was dead. ‘That’s not true,’ said one of them, ‘because he sent me a letter yesterday to tell me that all was well with him; he was in good health and would be back with his wife in ten days.’ This man then got up immediately and went to the woman. ‘Where is the letter that came to you?’ he asked, and when she fetched it he took it from her and read it. What it said was this: ‘All is well with me; I am in good health and I shall be back with you after ten days. I have sent you a blanket and a brazier cover.’

  The woman took the letter and went back to the teacher and said: ‘What made you do what you did to me?’ and she told him what her neighbour had said, that her husband was safe and well and that he had sent her a blanket and a brazier cover. ‘You are right, woman,’ he said, ‘but you must forgive me as I was angry and preoccupied at the time…’

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

  I have heard, O fortunate king, that when the woman asked the teacher what had led him to do what he had done, he said: ‘I was angry and preoccupied at the time, and when I saw the cover wrapped in the blanket I thought that your husband was dead and had been wrapped in a shroud.’ The woman did not see that he was tricking her and so she accepted his excuse and went off with her letter.

  A story is told that a certain king went out in disguise to investigate the affairs of his subjects. He came to a large village, which he entered alone, and as he was thirsty he stopped at the door of one of its houses to ask for a drink. A pretty woman came out with a jug of water which she gave to him and which he drank. When he looked at her, however, he was tempted and tried to seduce her. She recognized who he was and took him into her house, where she sat him down and gave him a book. ‘Look at this,’ she said, ‘while I get myself ready, and then I’ll come back to you.’ The king sat down and looked at the book, which contained an admonition against fornication and an account of the tortures prepared by God for fornicators. This made his flesh creep; he repented to Almighty God and, calling out to the woman, he returned the book to her and went off.

  When the woman’s husband, who had been away, returned, she told him what had happened. He was taken aback, saying to himself: ‘I am afraid that the king may have his eyes on her,’ and he did not then dare to sleep with her. Things went on like that for some time and when the woman told her relatives what had happened to her husband, they took him up to the king. When they appeared before him, they said: ‘May God ennoble the king; this man rented from us a field for tilling, but after tilling it for a time, he has left it fallow and he neither abandons it so that we can rent it to someone who will work on it, nor does it himself. This harms the land, and we are afraid that it may be spoiled if left unworked, for this is what happens to such fields.’ The king asked the husband: ‘What keeps you from tilling your land?’ He said: ‘May God ennoble the king; I heard that a lion had come there and, as I was afraid and fearful of it, I did not dare approach the field, knowing that I could not stand against the lion.’ The king grasped the point and said: ‘Man, the lion did not tread on your field. It is good land for tilling, so till it and may God bless it for you, as the lion will not attack it.’ He then ordered the man and his wife to be given a handsome gift and he sent everyone off.

  A story is told that there was a man from the Maghrib who had travelled widely, crossing deserts and seas. Fate led him to an island where he stayed for a long time, and when he went back home, he took with him the quill of a wing-feather of a young rukh which could hold the contents of a water skin. It is said that the wing of a young rukh, when it hatches, is a thousand fathoms long, and the sight of that quill used to fill people with amazement.

  The man’s name was ‘Abd al-Rahman al-Maghribi, and he was known as ‘the Chinaman’ because of how long he had lived there. He used to tell marvellous stories, and among them was that he was sailing in the China seas…

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

  I have heard, O fortunate king, that he used to tell marvellous stories, and among them was that he was sailing in the China seas with a group of others when in the distance they saw an island. They anchored there and, as it was a very large place, they all disembarked, including ‘Abd al-Rahman, to fetch water and wood, taking with them axes, ropes and water skins. On the island they saw a huge gleaming white dome, a hundred cubits in length. They went towards it and when they got near they found that this was a rukh’s egg. They started to hack at it with axes, stones and pieces of wood until it split to reveal a baby rukh as big as a firmly based mountain. They tried to pull a feather from its wing, but in spite of the fact that the baby’s feathers were not fully formed, they all had to help each other to do this. They took as much of the flesh as they could, carrying it away with them, and they cut the root of the feather from its attachment to the quill. Then they set sail and travelled all night until sunrise, helped by a favourable wind, but as they sailed on, suddenly the rukh itself appeared, like a great cloud, carrying in its talons an enormous rock, larger than the ship itself. When it flew over the ship, it dropped the rock on it and its crew. The ship’s speed, however, took it clear and the rock fell into the sea, causing panic as it did so, but God had decreed that the crew should be saved and He rescued them from destruction.

  They cooked and ate the baby rukh’s flesh. Among them were some white-bearded old men and the next morning they found that their beards were black, nor did anyone who had eaten that flesh ever turn grey. Some said that the reason for the recovery of their youth and for the fact that their hair never changed colour was that they had used a spoon made of arrow wood to stir the cooking pot, while others said that it was the flesh itself. This is one of the greatest wonders.

  A story is told that al-Nu‘man ibn al-Mundhir, the king of the Arabs, had a daughter named Hind. One Easter Day, this being a Christian feast day, she went out to Communion in the White Church when she was eleven years old and one of the most beautiful women of her age. It happened that on the same day ‘Adi ibn Zaid had come to al-Hira from Chosroe, bringing a gift to al-Nu‘man, and he too went to the White Church to take Communion. He was a tall man, sweet-natured, with fine eyes and smooth cheeks. With him were a number of his own clansmen, while Hind had with her a slave girl named Maria. This Maria had been in love with ‘Adi but had not been able to get to him. When she saw him in the church she said to Hind: ‘Look at that young man; by God, he is the most handsome man to be seen.’ ‘Who is he?’ asked Hind. ‘ ‘Adi ibn Zaid,’ Maria told her. Hind then said: ‘I’m afraid that he may recognize me if I go up to take a closer look at him,’ but Maria said: ‘How could he, when he’s never seen you before?’

  Hind went closer to him as he was joking with his young companions, whom he outshone in beauty and eloquence of speech, as well as in the splendour of his clothes. When she looked at him, she fell under his spell and was so taken aback that she changed colour. Maria, seeing how attracted she was to him, told her to speak to him, which she did and she then left. When ‘Adi looked at her and heard her speak, he too was fascinated and so taken aback that his heart fluttered and his colour changed, to the disapproval of his companions. He whispered to one of them to follow the girl and find out who she was, and, having done this, this man returned to tell him that she was al-Nu‘man’s daughter, Hind. ‘Adi left the church without knowing where he was going, such was the intensity of his love, and he recited these lines:

  My two companions, do me another favour

  And journey to the land of the Biqa‘.

  Turn me aside towards the dwelling of Hind;

  Then go, and
carry news of me.

  After having finished his poem, he went home and spent a sleepless night in a state of agitation.

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

  I have heard, O fortunate king, that after having finished his poem, he went home and spent a sleepless night in a state of agitation.

  The next morning he was met by Maria and, although before that he had not been in the habit of paying any attention to her, he smiled at her and asked her what she wanted. ‘There is something that I need from you,’ she said. ‘Tell me what it is,’ he replied, ‘for, by God, I will give you whatever you ask.’ She then told him that she loved him and wanted to be alone with him, and he agreed to that on condition that she find some way of bringing him together with Hind. He then took her into a wine seller’s shop in one of the streets of al-Hira, where he lay with her. When she left she went to Hind and said: ‘Don’t you want to see ‘Adi?’ ‘How can I?’ asked Hind, adding: ‘I am distracted by longing for him and since yesterday I’ve not been able to rest.’ Maria told her that she would get him to come to a certain place, where Hind would be able to look at him from the palace. ‘Do what you want,’ Hind told her, and the two of them agreed on the place.

  When ‘Adi came and Hind looked down at him, she almost fell from the castle roof and she said: ‘Maria, if you don’t bring him in to me tonight I shall die.’ She then collapsed in a faint and her maids had to carry her into the palace. Maria went to al-Nu‘man and gave him a true account of the affair, telling him that Hind was desperately in love with ‘Adi and saying that unless he married her to him, she would be put to shame and die of love, something that the Arabs would hold against him as a disgrace. The only solution, she told him, was to have her married to ‘Adi. Al-Nu‘man looked down thoughtfully for a time, and recited the formula ‘We belong to God and to Him do we return’ a number of times. He then asked Maria how the matter could be arranged, saying: ‘I don’t want to be the first to raise it with him.’ She said: ‘He is even more deeply and passionately in love with her, and I shall contrive things so that he doesn’t find out that you know about it and you will not be put to shame.’

  Maria now went to ‘Adi and told him the news. ‘Invite the king to a meal,’ she said, ‘and when he is in his cups, ask him for his daughter’s hand, for he is not going to refuse you.’ ‘I’m afraid that that might anger him,’ said ‘Adi, ‘and lead us to become enemies.’ ‘I settled the matter with him before coming to you,’ Maria assured him, and she went back to al-Nu‘man and told him to ask ‘Adi to invite him to his house. ‘There can be no harm in that,’ the king replied, and three days later he asked ‘Adi to invite him and his companions to a meal in his house. ‘Adi agreed to this and al-Nu‘man went to him. When the wine was having an effect on him, ‘Adi got up and asked him for his daughter’s hand, a proposal which he accepted. He arranged for the marriage and after three days he had Hind brought to her bridegroom, with whom she stayed for three years, as the two of them enjoyed the pleasantest and happiest of lives…

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

  I have heard, O fortunate king, that ‘Adi stayed with Hind for three years as they enjoyed the pleasantest and happiest of lives until al-Nu‘man killed ‘Adi in a fit of anger. Hind mourned deeply for him and then built herself a convent outside al-Hira where she became a nun, weeping for him and lamenting until she died. Her convent is well known to this day on the outskirts of al-Hira.

  It is told that DI‘BIL AL-KHUZA‘ISAID:

  I was sitting by the gate of al-Karkh when the loveliest girl with the best figure I had ever seen went past, swaying as she walked and captivating all those who watched her doing so. When my eyes fell on her she fascinated me and my heart fluttered so wildly that I thought it must have taken flight from my breast. I went up to her reciting this line:

  Tears pour from my eyes and sleep is shut away from my eyelids.

  She looked at me, turned her face and quickly answered me with this line:

  That is little enough for one whom languorous eyes summon with a glance.

  The speed of her reply astonished me, together with her eloquence, and so I recited a second line:

  Does the heart of my lady feel sympathy for the lover whose tears rain down?

  Without pausing, she replied quickly:

  If you wish for my love, know that love between us is a loan.

  I had never heard sweeter speech or seen a more beautiful face, and in order to test her I changed the rhyme out of admiration for her skill with words, and I recited:

  Will Time, do you think, grant us a happy meeting, uniting longing lovers?

  She smiled, showing me the loveliest and sweetest of mouths, and replied quickly and unhesitatingly:

  You are Time, so gladden me with a meeting.

  I got up in a hurry and started to kiss her hands, saying: ‘I did not think that Time would grant me an opportunity like this. If you follow me, it will be not because you are ordered or forced to do this against your will, but as an act of grace and favour.’ I then turned back, and she followed after me. At that time I had no house which I thought suitable for a girl like that, but Muslim ibn al-Walid was a friend of mine, and as he had a fine house I made my way to him. When I knocked on the door he came out and I greeted him and said: ‘It is for times like these that one treasures friends.’ He welcomed us graciously and invited us in, but we found that he was short of money and so he gave me a kerchief and told me to go to the market, sell it and buy food and whatever else I needed. I went off there in a hurry, sold the kerchief and bought what we needed, but when I got back I discovered that Muslim had gone down alone with the girl into an underground room.

  When he heard me come in, he jumped out to meet me and said: ‘God reward and repay you, Abu ‘Ali, for the favour that you have done me, and may this be added to the list of your good deeds, to be rewarded at the Day of Judgement.’ He took the food and the drink and then shut the door in my face. I was annoyed by his words but I did not know what to do and he stood behind the door shaking with laughter. Seeing my annoyance, he asked me to tell him who was the author of the lines:

  I spent the night within her shift while my friend spent his

  Impure in heart, but undefiled in body.

  I grew even angrier and I said: ‘Its author was the man who said:

  One within whose belt are a thousand cuckold horns,

  Taller than the idol of Manaf.’*

  Then I started to hurl insults at him and to abuse him for his foul act and his lack of chivalry. To start with he was silent and said nothing, but when my tirade was finished, he smiled and said: ‘Damn you for a fool! You came into my house, sold my kerchief and spent my money, so with whom are you angry, you pander?’ He left me and went back to the girl. I said: ‘You’re right to count me a fool and a pimp,’ and I turned away from his door in a state of distress which has still left its effects on me today. I never had my way with the girl and I never heard of her again.

  It is told that ISHAQ AL-MAUSILI SAID:

  I grew tired of constantly having to be in attendance on the caliph in his palace and so early one day I mounted and rode out, intending to go on a trip through the countryside, and I had told my servants that if a messenger came from the caliph or from anyone else they were to say that I had gone off early on some important business of my own, but they did not know where. I then set out alone and went through the city, but when it got hot I stopped in a street called al-Haram…

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

  I have heard, O fortunate king, that ISHAQ SAID:

  When it got hot I stopped in a street called al-Haram to shelter from the sun. T
here was a house there which had an extensive projection jutting out over the street. Before I had been there long, a black eunuch turned up leading a donkey which I could see was being ridden by a girl whose saddle cloth was studded with gems and who was wearing a dress of unsurpassable splendour. She was marked by gracefulness and had a lovely figure and languorous eyes. I asked a passer-by about her and was told that she was a singer.

  As soon as I saw her I fell in love with her, so much so that I could not keep my seat on my saddle. She went into the house at whose door I had halted, and I started to think of how I could get to her. While I was there, two handsome young men came up and asked permission to enter the house. Its owner allowed them in and I went with them, as they thought that he must have invited me. After we had sat for a time, food was brought and when we had eaten, wine was placed before us. Then the girl came out with a lute in her hand and, as we drank, she sang. I got up to relieve myself and the owner of the house then asked the two men about me, at which they said that they didn’t know me. ‘He must be a parasite,’ the owner said, ‘but he is a witty fellow, so treat him well.’