by Muhsin Mahdi
Have pity on a man
Who, hopeless, mourns alone,
Who keeps love in his heart
And moans with love’s sad moan.’”
But morning overtook Shahrazad, and she lapsed into silence. Then Dinarzad said to her sister, “What a strange and entertaining story!” Shahrazad replied, “What is this compared with what I shall tell you tomorrow night if I stay alive!”
THE ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY-FIFTH NIGHT
The following night Shahrazad said:
I heard, O happy King, that Abu al-Hasan said, “The damsel sang the verses that the young man asked her to sing, in a sweet melody, and when she finished, Shams al-Nahar turned to another damsel and said, ‘Sing on my behalf these lines:
I sigh for one who, had he shared my love
And felt the pain I feel, would have gone mad.
I raise my voice to God, not to a man
Who knows no mercy, whose hard heart is bad.
If men or demons felt the love I feel,
Both men and demons would such love anneal.’
She sang a tender melody and sang it so well that the young man turned to another damsel and said, ‘Sing on my behalf these lines:
By your eyes smitten, for your love he yearns
And without patience he does sigh and moan.
You are his only wish in all the world,
For which he suffers and pines, you alone,
You who possess a soft body that bends
Tenderly boughlike and a heart of stone.’
The damsel sang with tenderness and delicacy, and when she finished, Shams al-Nahar sighed deeply and said to the damsel nearest to her, ‘Sing another song,’ and the damsel sang these lines:
If you remain deaf to my moans,
Nor can you to me mercy show,
I will not with patience endure,
For how much patience to allow?
My cheerless and slow-burning heart
But for you would have burst aglow.
The damsel sang, while the two lovers, flushed with passion, heaved with ecstasy and trembled with delight. Then, Ali ibn-Bakkar turned to a damsel near him and said, ‘Sing on my behalf these lines:
The time of union is too brief
For such coquettish air,
For you are fair and such delay
Does not befit the fair.’
And while the damsel sang, Nur al-Din Ali followed up her song with tears and moans.
“When Shams al-Nahar heard Ali ibn-Bakkar’s words and saw his actions, she rose at last and headed for the room. He too rose and with hands outstretched met her at the door, and they embraced. Never in my life have I beheld two lovelier lovers, for never before have I seen a sun embrace a moon. Suddenly they felt weak and began to swoon, while the damsels rushed to them and carried them to the far end of the room. Then they brought rosewater scented with powdered musk and sprinkled them with it until they revived and regained consciousness.” Then Shams al-Nahar looked to the right and left and, not finding the druggist, who had hidden himself behind a couch, asked, “Where is Abu al-Hasan?” The druggist came out from hiding, and when she saw him, she greeted him and welcomed him, saying …
But morning overtook Shahrazad, and she lapsed into silence. Then Dinarzad said to her sister, “What a strange and entertaining story!” Shahrazad replied, “What is this compared with what I shall tell you tomorrow night if I live!”
THE ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY-SIXTH NIGHT
The following night Shahrazad said:
I heard, O happy King, that Shams al-Nahar thanked the druggist, Abu al-Hasan ibn-Tahir, saying, “My gratitude prompts me to reward you for your exceeding kindness, for the bow of your generosity has hit every mark and left no favor untouched.” Abu al-Hasan bowed his head shyly and invoked blessings upon her. Then turning to young ibn-Bakkar, she said, “May you overcome all obstacles to love and attain all your heart’s desires. Place your trust in God alone, submit to His will and decree, and bear your burden patiently.” He replied, “My lady, being with you and looking at you neither consoles me nor extinguishes the fire of my heart, and I declare that I will never stop loving you until the day I die; for your love, which has mastered my soul, will never die, as long as my heart continues to beat.” Then he wept and made her weep with him, and their tears, like unstrung pearls, ran down their cheeks, which flushed like twin roses wet in the rain. Abu al-Hasan al-’Attar exclaimed, “Your case is marvelous, and your condition is strange and interesting. If this is what you do while you are together, what will you do when you part? Enjoy yourselves and forget trouble and pain, for the moments of love are furtive and short-lived.”
The two stopped weeping, and Shams al-Nahar made a signal to the first girl, who departed hurriedly and returned with two maids bearing a silver tray. They set the tray before the guests, and Shams al-Nahar turned to them and said, “There is nothing more fitting after conversation and fun than enjoying a meal together. Please, help yourselves.” They began to eat, and Shams al-Nahar and Nur al-Din Ali fed each other until they were satisfied. Then the maid removed the tray and set a basin of silver and a ewer of gold before them, and after they washed their hands, they returned to their places.
Then Shams al-Nahar made a signal to the girl, who disappeared briefly and returned with three maids bearing three gold trays, each bearing a different kind of wine in a flagon of cut crystal, which they set before Shams al-Nahar and the guests. Then Shams al-Nahar ordered ten maids to stand in attendance and ten singing girls to join them and dismissed the rest. She took a cup and, filling it, turned to one of the girls and said, “Sing a song,” and the girl sang these verses:
My life for him who greeted back with smiles,
Turning despair into a happy hope.
When he appeared, I could no longer hide
My secret love from my critic nor cope.
My tears of passion pressed between us twain,
As if for him they too felt lovers’ pain.
Shams al-Nahar drank off the cup and, taking another, kissed it and gave it to her beloved Ali ibn-Bakkar, who took it and kissed it too. Then she said to another girl, “Sing a song,” and the girl sang these verses:
My flowing tears resembled the red wine,
And my eyes brimmed e’en as the brimming cup.
By God, I know not whether ’tis wine they shed,
Or whether it is on my tears I sup.
The young man drank off the cup; then Shams al-Nahar took another and, filling it, kissed it and gave it to Abu al-Hasan ibn-Tahir, who took it from her hand and kissed it. Then she reached out and snatched a lute from one of the girls, saying, “Abu al-Hasan, none but myself shall sing over this cup, for you deserve much more than this tribute.” Then she sang these verses:
Oddly, his flowing tears course down his cheeks,
And painful passion burns within his heart,
Fearing to lose her; thus he always weeps
Whether they are together or apart.
The two men were stricken with wonder and transported with delight, and as he listened to her excellent voice, which blended with the sound of the strings, and to her perfect art, the young man felt as if a bird had stolen his wings and had left him helplessly swaying with the music from side to side.
While they were enjoying themselves, up came a girl, flying like a bee and shaking like a palm tree, and said, “O my lady, ‘Afif and Masrur and Wasif and others of the Commander of the Faithful’s eunuchs are at the door.” Fearing that they had been discovered, the two guests nearly collapsed with anxiety and alarm and almost died of fright and terror. The moon of their delight had set, and the stars of their happiness had vanished. But Shams al-Nahar laughed …
But morning overtook Shahrazad, and she lapsed into silence. Then Dinarzad said to her sister, “What a strange and entertaining story!” Shahrazad replied, “What is this compared with what I shall tell you tomorrow night if the king spares me and lets me live!”
/> THE ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY-SEVENTH NIGHT
The following night Shahrazad said:
I heard, O happy King, that when Ali ibn-Bakkar and his friend Abu al-Hasan al-’Attar heard what the girl said, they were terrified. But Shams al-Nahar laughed and said to the girl, “Stall them while we cover our tracks.” Abu al-Hasan related later what happened next: “Still looking at the young man, Shams al-Nahar forced herself to rise and, bidding the doors of the alcove be shut and the drapes be drawn upon us, she closed the doors of the hall behind her and went out into the garden. Then she bade the other couches be removed, seated herself on her couch, and bade one of her damsels sit and rub her feet. Then she said to one of the maids, ‘Give them permission to come in.’ The three chief eunuchs came in with twenty other eunuchs, all dressed in elegant and beautiful uniforms, girdled with golden belts and girded with swords. They saluted in the best of manners, and Shams al-Nahar saluted back and received them with respect and good cheer. Then turning to Masrur, she asked, ‘What is your wish?’ He replied, ‘The Commander of the Faithful salutes you and inquires after your health. He longs to see you and sends me to inform you that this has been such a joyous day that he wishes to culminate his joy by seeing you and spending the night with you in your quarters. Adorn your apartment and make yourself ready to receive him.’ She kissed the ground before him and said, ‘I hear and obey the command of God and the Commander of the Faithful.’ Then she turned to the damsel and bid her bring the housekeepers, who came and busied themselves around the garden and the apartment, for although the apartment was perfectly ready with carpets, drapes, and everything else, Shams al-Nahar wanted to make a show of her compliance with the command. Then she said to the eunuchs, ‘Go with God’s protection and care and tell the Commander of the Faithful what you have seen, so that he may wait a while until I arrange the furniture and make the place ready.’”
The eunuchs left hurriedly, and Shams al-Nahar rose and went to her beloved and his friend, who looked like startled birds. She embraced Nur al-Din Ali, pressing him hard to her breast, and wept bitterly. He said to her, “O my lady, this separation will lead to my destruction and death. May God grant me patience until I see you again, and may He grant me another opportunity to be with you.” She replied, “You yourself will leave safely; your passion will remain concealed, your love will be safeguarded, and no one will know how you feel. I, however, will face doom and destruction, for the caliph expects what he is used to from me, something in which I can no longer satisfy him because of my great love for you and my grief at parting from you. With what voice shall I sing for him and with what heart shall I face him and take care of him? With what strength shall I serve him, with what mind shall I speak with those who will come with him, and with what wit shall I exceed them in gaining his favor?” Abu al-Hasan al-’Attar said to her, “I implore you to steel yourself and be as patient as you can tonight, and may the Beneficent God unite you again.”
He related later, “While we were conversing, up came a damsel who said, ‘The eunuchs are approaching, while you are still standing here.’ Shams al-Nahar replied, ‘Listen you, hurry and take them upstairs to the gallery overlooking the garden, and when it gets dark, help them go home graciously.’ The damsel replied, ‘I hear and obey.’” Then Shams al-Nahar bade them good-bye and left, hardly able to walk, while her maid took the two men to the upstairs gallery, which had many chambers, with one side overlooking the garden and another overlooking the Tigris River. She seated them and, closing the door on them, left them until it was dark.
But morning overtook Shahrazad, and she lapsed into silence. Then Dinarzad said to her sister, “What a strange and entertaining story!” Shahrazad replied, “What is this compared with what I shall tell you tomorrow night if the king spares me and lets me live!”
THE ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY-EIGHTH NIGHT
The following night Dinarzad said to her sister Shahrazad, “Tell us the rest of the story.” Shahrazad replied, “Very well”:
I heard, O happy King, that the girl seated them in the gallery and went away, and they remained seated until it was dark, not knowing what to do or how to get away. Suddenly, as they were looking, into the garden came more than a hundred eunuchs who looked like bridegrooms dressed with colorful costumes, girdled with gold belts, and girded with swords. With them came more than one hundred pages, each bearing a camphor candle, and with them came the Caliph Harun al-Rashid, swaying between Masrur and Wasif, intoxicated. He was followed by twenty girls as lovely as the sun, wearing the finest clothes and adorned with jewels that glittered around their necks and on their heads. They were met under the trees by Shams al-Nahar, followed by girls bearing musical instruments. When she kissed the ground before the caliph, he said to her, “Welcome, my joy, my life’s bliss, and my heart’s delight.” Then he leaned on her arm and walked with her until he reached the silver couch, where he seated himself. Then they set the other couches before him by the sides of the ponds, and he bade the girls who came with him be seated, and each of them sat in her proper place, while Shams al-Nahar sat on a chair beside him.
After he enjoyed the sights of the garden for a while, he bade the drapes of the alcove be drawn open and bade the candles be placed to his right and left, so that the dark became light and the night day, while the pages began to bring in the wine service. Abu al-Hasan related later: “I saw jewels the likes of which had never before graced my eyes or even my imagination, dazzling my mind and making my heart beat with excitement, until I thought that I was in a dream, while Ali ibn-Bakkar, feeling weak and dejected, lay prostrate on the ground, loath to see what I saw and depressed to think what I thought. I said to him, ‘Do you see the caliph?’ and he replied, ‘He is the cause of our misfortune, and I am certain to perish, but I will be undone only by what has overcome me, love and the separation after union, the danger of the situation and the impossibility of escape, as well as my own fear and helplessness. May God the Deliverer deliver me from my predicament.’ I replied, ‘There is no recourse but to be patient until the Almighty God sends you relief.’ Then he turned to look at the scene again.
“When everything was readied before the Caliph Harun al-Rashid, he turned to one of the damsels who had come with him and said, ‘Sweetheart, sing me a song.’ The damsel played the lute and sang the following verses:
If water can turn cheeks into green fields,
My tears might have covered my cheeks with green,
Reflecting the same tincture in their flow,
Turning my face into a verdant scene,
Except that I have shed nothing but tears
When my departing soul bade me adieu
And, finding no relief but death, I said,
‘Welcome, O death,’ when the hour nearer drew.”
The two men looked and saw that Shams al-Nahar was so agitated that she slumped and fell off the chair to the ground, while the girls rushed to her and lifted her up. Abu al-Hasan kept looking at her, and when he turned to her beloved, he found him unconscious, lying on his face motionless. He said to himself, “Fate has proved kind to them both, by treating them equally.” But, aware of the grave danger, he was overwhelmed with alarm. Presently, the girl came and said, “Rise, for we do not have much leeway, and I fear that all hell will break loose tonight.” The druggist asked her, “Who can arouse this young man in his condition?” The girl sprinkled Nur al-Din Ali’s face with rosewater and rubbed his hands until he came to himself. His friend the druggist said to him, “Wake up at once or you will destroy us with you.” Then they carried him and went down with him from the gallery, and the girl, opening a small iron gate, brought them out to a jetty on the river. She clapped her hands softly, and a rowboat appeared with a boatman, who rowed until the boat touched the jetty. Abu al-Hasan related later, “As we entered the boat, the young lover, stretching one hand toward the palace and the young lady’s apartment and placing the other on his heart, recited in a faint voice the following verses:
&
nbsp; I stretched one feeble hand to bid adieu
And placed the other on my burning heart.
But let this nourishment be not my last,
Nor this parting keep us always apart.
“The boatman rowed us away, together with the damsel.”
But morning overtook Shahrazad, and she lapsed into silence. Then Dinarzad said to her sister, “What a strange and entertaining story!” Shahrazad replied, “What is this compared with what I shall tell you tomorrow night if the king spares me and lets me live! It will be even stranger and more amazing.”
THE ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY-NINTH NIGHT
The following night Shahrazad said:
I heard, O happy King, that the young man recited the verses, and the boatman rowed until they crossed the river and reached the opposite side. The two men disembarked, but the girl took leave of them, saying “I cannot go with you beyond this point.” Then she departed, leaving Nur al-Din Ali prostrate on the ground before Abu al-Hasan, unable to stand on his feet. Abu al-Hasan said to him, “My lord, our lives are not safe here, for I fear that we may be prey to robbers,” and he kept reproaching him and remonstrating with him until he rose at last and proceeded with him, hardly able to walk.
It happened that Abu al-Hasan al-’Attar had some friends who lived on that side of the city; so he went to the house of one of them, whom he trusted and with whom he felt intimate, and knocked at the door. The friend came out quickly, and when he saw Abu al-Hasan, he was extremely pleased. Abu al-Hasan related later: “He brought us into his house, and when we were seated, he asked, ‘Where have you been, my lord?’ I replied, ‘I had a business deal with a certain individual, and when I heard that he had designs on my money as well as that of other people, I went to him tonight in the company of this gentleman,’ pointing to Ali ibn-Bakkar and adding, ‘I took him with me for fear that the man would get wind of my intention and hide from me. But in spite of my efforts, I was unable to catch him or find out where he was; so I returned and, feeling sorry for this exhausted gentleman, not knowing where else to go, and looking forward to the pleasure of your company, I took the liberty of coming to you.’” The host treated them with the utmost attention and generosity, and they stayed with him the rest of the night.