The Arabian Nights (New Deluxe Edition)

by Muhsin Mahdi

  But morning overtook Shahrazad, and she lapsed into silence.

  THE TWO HUNDRED AND FORTY-FOURTH NIGHT

  The following night Shahrazad said:

  I heard, O happy King, that during the first year King Badr used to go to the city square every day to play with the ball and mallet and return to sit on the throne to judge the people, doing justice to prince and beggar alike. In the second year he began to go hunting, to tour the cities and provinces under his rule, proclaiming peace and security, and to do what kings usually do. He was unique in his day in chivalry, valor, and fairness to his subjects.

  One day the old king went to the bath and caught a chill and, becoming feverish, sensed that he was going to die and go to the next world. Then he got worse, and when he was on the verge of death, he called his son and charged him to take care of his kingdom and of his mother, as well as all his chief officers. Then he summoned all the princes, lords, and prominent men and made them once more swear a binding oath of allegiance to his son. He lingered a few days and died and was admitted to the mercy of the Almighty God. His son King Badr and Jullanar and all the princes and viziers and officers of state mourned over him, and they built him a tomb and buried him.

  But morning overtook Shahrazad, and she lapsed into silence.

  THE TWO HUNDRED AND FORTY-FIFTH NIGHT

  The following night Shahrazad said:

  I heard, O happy King, that they buried him and mourned over him for a full month. Jullanar’s brother and mother and cousins arrived and offered their condolences, saying, “O Jullanar, although your husband is dead, he has left this noble young man, this fierce lion and radiant moon.” Then the lords and chief officers of state went in to Badr and said to him, “O King, mourning is unseemly, except for women. Stop distracting yourself over your father’s death and distracting us with you, for he has passed away and ‘everyone must die’; indeed, he who died and left a son like you is not dead.” Then they entreated him and took him to the bath, and when he came out, he put on a fine robe embroidered with gold and adorned with rubies and other jewels and, placing the royal crown on his head, sat on the throne and took care of the affairs of the people, judging fairly between the strong and the weak and exacting from the prince the right of the beggar, so that all the people loved him and invoked blessings upon him. He lived in this fashion for a full year, while every now and then his relatives of the sea visited him and his mother, and he led a pleasant and a happy life.

  One night his uncle came to see his sister Jullanar, and he greeted her and she rose, embraced him, and, seating him beside her, asked, “O my brother, how are you and how are my mother and cousins?” He replied, “They are fine and lack nothing save the sight of your face.” Then she called for some food, and after they had eaten and the table had been removed, they began to chat. They spoke of King Badr, his beauty and elegance, his cultivation and wisdom, and his skill in horsemanship, while Badr himself lay reclining nearby. When he heard what his mother and uncle said, he continued to listen to them, pretending to be asleep.

  Sayih said to his sister Jullanar, “Sister, your son is now sixteen years old and he is still unmarried, and I am afraid that something may happen to him before he has a son; therefore, it is my wish to marry him to one of the princesses of the sea, one who is his equal in beauty and grace.” His sister Jullanar replied, “By God, brother, you are reminding me of something in which I have been negligent. Brother, I wonder who is worthy of him from among the daughters of the kings of the sea? Name them to me, for I know them all.” Sayih proceeded to name them to her, while she kept saying, “I do not like her for my son; I will marry him only to a girl who is his equal in beauty and grace and piety and wisdom and cultivation and nobility and dominion and rank and pedigree.” Her brother said, “By God, by God, I know none other of the daughters of the kings of the sea, for I have named more than one hundred and none of them pleases you. But, sister, find out whether your son is asleep or not.” She replied, “He is asleep; why do you ask?” He said, “Sister, I have just thought of the daughter of one of the kings of the sea, one who is worthy of your son, but I am afraid to name her, lest he be awake and his heart be taken by her, for if we fail to win her easily, all of us, he and we and all the chief officers of state will have to work very hard and devote all our energies to that end, for the poet says:

  Love is at first nothing but harmless play,

  But, once entrenched, it takes your peace away.”

  When his sister heard this, she replied, “Brother, you are right, but tell me who she is and who is her father, for I know all the kings of the sea and their daughters, and if I judge her worthy of him, I will demand her for him in marriage from her father, even if I have to give all our possessions for her. Tell me who she is, for my son is asleep.” He said, “I fear that he may be awake, for the poet says:

  [I loved her when I heard them her descry],

  For sometimes the ear loves before the eye.”

  Then he added, “Sister, no girl is worthy of your son save Jauhara, the daughter of King al-Shamandal, for she is his equal in beauty, charm, and grace, and there is none on land or in the sea who is sweeter or more delightful than she, with her rosy cheeks, radiant brow, and jewel-like teeth.”

  But morning overtook Shahrazad, and she lapsed into silence.

  THE TWO HUNDRED AND FORTY-SIXTH NIGHT

  The following night Shahrazad said:

  I heard, O happy King, that Sayih said to his sister, “She has jewel-like teeth, sweet lips, black eyes, a soft body, heavy hips, and a slender waist. When she turns, she shames the deer, and when she sways, she makes jealous the willow bough.” When Jullanar heard what her brother said, she replied, “Brother, you are right, for I have seen her many times when she was my companion, when we were children, but it has been eighteen years since I last saw her. Indeed, by God, none but she is worthy of my son, and none but he is worthy of her.” King Badr, who was awake, heard what his mother and uncle said, and when he heard their description of Princess Jauhara, the daughter of King al-Shamandal, he fell in love with her at once, but he continued to pretend that he was asleep, even though his heart was on fire with love for her. Then Sayih turned to his sister Jullanar and said, “There is none among the kings of the land or sea who is more powerful, more proud, and more ill-tempered than al-Shamandal. So say nothing to your son about her until we demand her in marriage from her father. If he favors us with his assent, we will praise the Almighty God for His help, and if he refuses to give his daughter in marriage to your son, we will keep quiet and seek another girl in marriage.” When Jullanar heard this, she replied, “This is an excellent idea,” and they said no more on the subject, while the king spent the night with his heart on fire with love for Princess Jauhara. But even though he was on the burning coals of passion, he concealed his feelings and said nothing of her to his mother and uncle.

  Next morning the king and his uncle went to the bath and washed, and when they came out, the servants gave them wine to drink and set food before them, and the king and his uncle and mother ate, until they were satisfied and washed their hands. Then Sayih rose and said to the king and to his sister, “I will miss you, but I beg your leave to return to my mother, for I have been with you many days, and she is waiting and worrying about me.” King Badr bade his uncle Sayih farewell and, with his heart still on fire, rode until he came to a meadow with a thicket of trees by the banks of a running stream. When he saw the shade, he dismounted by himself—for he had no retinue or servants with him—intending to sleep, but he recalled his uncle’s description of the princess and her beauty and grace, and he wept bitterly.

  It so happened, as it was foreordained, that when he had bidden his uncle Sayih farewell and mounted his horse, his uncle looked at him and, seeing that he did not look well, feared that the young king had overheard their conversation, and he said to himself, “I will follow Badr and see what he will do.” So he followed him, and when the king dismounted at the bank
of the stream, his uncle hid himself. So now, from his safe hiding place, he heard him recite the following verses:

  Who will help me with a hard, full-hipped girl,

  Whose face is bright like the sun, nay brighter.

  My heart is her captive and willing slave,

  Lost in love for al-Shamandal’s daughter.

  I will never forget her all my life;

  I will never love anyone but her.

  When his uncle Sayih heard these verses, he wrung his hands and said, “There is no power and no strength, save in God, the Almighty, the Magnificent.” Then he came out of his hiding and said, “I have heard what you said. O my son, did you hear my conversation with your mother about Jauhara, last night?” King Badr replied, “Yes, uncle, and as soon as I heard what you said about her, I fell in love with her, and now my heart cleaves to her and I cannot give her up.” His uncle said, “O King, let us return to your mother and inform her about the situation and tell her that I will take you with me and demand the Princess Jauhara in marriage. Then we will take our leave of her and depart, having informed her, for I fear that if I take you with me without her leave and consent, she will reproach me, and indeed she will be right, for I will be the cause of her separation from you; moreover, the city will be left without a king, and your subjects will be left with none to govern them and look after them, and this will undermine your authority and cause you and your mother to lose the kingdom.” When King Badr heard what his uncle said, he replied, “Uncle, I will not return to my mother and consult her in this matter because I know that if I return to consult her, she will not let me go with you. No, I will not return to her.” And he wept before his uncle, adding, “I will go with you now without telling her, and I will return to her later.” When Sayih heard what his nephew said, he was at a loss and said, “In any case, I can only pray to the Almighty God for help.”

  When he saw …

  But morning overtook Shahrazad, and she lapsed into silence.

  THE TWO HUNDRED AND FORTY-SEVENTH NIGHT

  The following night Shahrazad said:

  I heard, O happy King, that when King Badr said to his uncle, “I must go with you,” his uncle took off of his finger a seal ring engraved with one of the names of the Almighty God and said to him, “Put this ring on your finger, and it will protect you from the whales and other beasts of the sea.” King Badr put the ring on his finger, and they plunged into the sea and fared on until they reached his uncle’s palace. When he entered, he saw his grandmother seated with her relatives, and he greeted her and kissed her hand, while she rose and, embracing him, kissed him between the eyes, saying, “O my son, blessed is your coming. How is your mother Jullanar?” He replied, “O grandmother, she is well, and she sends greetings to you and to her cousins.”

  Then Sayih informed his mother that King Badr had fallen in love with Jauhara, al-Shamandal’s daughter, as soon as he had heard of her, and told her the story from beginning to end, adding, “He has come with me, so that I may demand her for him in marriage from her father.” When King Badr’s grandmother heard what Sayih said, she was angry and upset, and she said to him, “Son, you have made a mistake in mentioning Princess Jauhara, al-Shamandal’s daughter, before your nephew, for you know that al-Shamandal is an ill-tempered tyrant who is very proud and very foolish and that all the kings have demanded his daughter in marriage but he has rejected them all and dismissed them, saying, ‘You are no match for my daughter in beauty or dominion.’ I fear that if you demand her of her father, he will respond to you as he has responded to all the others, and we, given our self-respect, will return disappointed and embarrassed.” When Sayih heard what his mother said, he asked her, “Mother, what is to be done? For King Badr fell in love with this girl when I mentioned her to my sister Jullanar, and he says, ‘I must demand her of her father in marriage, even if I have to give my whole kingdom for her,’ adding that if her father refuses to marry her to him, he will die of love and longing for her.”

  But morning overtook Shahrazad, and she lapsed into silence.

  THE TWO HUNDRED AND FORTY-EIGHTH NIGHT

  The following night Shahrazad said:

  I heard, O happy King, that Sayih said to his mother, “My nephew is superior to her, for his father was king of all the Persians and he is now their present king. Indeed, none but Jauhara is worthy of him, and none but he is worthy of her. I intend to take to her father necklaces of rubies and other jewels, a present worthy of him, and demand her in marriage. If he objects that he is a king, Badr is also a king, and a handsome king at that, with a greater kingdom, vaster dominion, and many more troops and followers. I must endeavor to fulfill his wish, even if it costs me my life, because I was the cause of his infatuation, and just as I plunged him in the ocean of love, so will I endeavor to marry him to the girl, and the Almighty God will help me in my endeavor.” His mother replied, “Do as you wish, but when you speak with al-Shamandal, beware of offending him, for you know his pride and violent temper, and I fear that he will lay hands on you, for he has no respect for anyone.” Sayih replied, “I hear and obey.”

  Then he took two bags full of precious necklaces, emerald cabochons, and rubies and diamonds, and, giving them to his servants to carry, set out for the palace of al-Shamandal. When he arrived, he asked for leave to see the king, and when leave was granted, he entered, kissed the ground before him and greeted him in the best of manners. When the king saw him, he rose to return the greeting and bade him be seated. When he was seated, the king said to him, “Blessed is your coming. I have missed you in your absence. Tell me your wish, and I will grant it.” Sayih rose and, kissing the ground once more before the king, said to him, “O King of the age, my errand is to the Almighty God and to the gallant king and valiant lion, whose fame has spread far and wide and whose praise has been sung in all the provinces and cities, for his justice, his forbearance, his mercy, his generosity, his kindness, and his graciousness.” Then he opened the two bags and, emptying out the precious necklaces, the emerald cabochons, and the rubies and diamonds before the king, said to him, “O King, I hope that you will do me a favor and make me happy by accepting my present.” King al-Shamandal replied, “There is neither reason nor explanation for such a present. What prompted you to give me this great treasure, and what do you expect in return? Explain your case and tell me your need. If it is in my power, I will grant it at once without further ado; and if I am unable to grant it, I will be excused, for ‘God asks nothing of a soul beyond its means.’” Sayih rose and, kissing the ground before the king, said, “O King, my need is within your means; it is in your possession and within your power, for I am not mad enough to ask the king for a favor he is unable to grant.”

  But morning overtook Shahrazad, and she lapsed into silence.

  THE TWO HUNDRED AND FORTY-NINTH NIGHT

  The following night Shahrazad said:

  I heard, O happy King, that Sayih said to King al-Shamandal, “The sage says, ‘If you wish to be denied, ask for what can’t be supplied,’ but my wish is one that the king is able to grant, for it is at his disposal and his to give.” The king said, “Explain your case, tell me your need, and ask your wish.” Sayih said, “O King of the age, I come to you as a suitor, seeking the unique pearl, the priceless jewel, and the glorious Princess Jauhara, daughter of our lord the king. O King, do not disappoint your suitor, but desire him who desires you.” When the king heard this, he laughed in derision until he fell on his back. Then he said, “O Sayih, I thought you an excellent and wise young man who said nothing but what was reasonable and uttered nothing but what was sensible. What has possessed you and urged you to embark on such a grave venture and dangerous adventure, to seek in marriage the daughters of kings who rule over cities and provinces and who command armies and retinues? Is your self-esteem so high and your sense so little that you dare affront me with such a demand?”

  Sayih replied, “O King, may God guide you; I do not seek your daughter for myself, and even if I did, I
am her match and more, for you know that my father was one of the kings of the sea, like you, and that our kingdom has been taken from us. I seek her for none other than King Badr, the king of Persia, whose might and fame you know. If you object that you are a great king, King Badr is a great king too, indeed greater, and if you object that your daughter possesses beauty, charm, and grace, King Badr is more beautiful, more charming, and more amiable. Indeed he has no equal in discernment, fairness, courtesy, and generosity. If you grant my request and give him your daughter in marriage, you will have done the right thing and settled the matter, as any wise and sensible man would do, but if you reject us and treat us arrogantly, you will not have treated us properly or fairly. O King, you know that Princess Jauhara, the daughter of our lord the king, must have a husband, for the sage says, ‘A girl needs a husband or a grave,’ and if you intend to marry her at all, my nephew is worthier of her than any other man, but if you dislike us and refuse to have anything to do with us, you will not find a better man.” When King al-Shamandal heard Sayih’s words, he was so furious that he almost lost his senses and his soul left his body. He said, “O dog, shall the like of you dare speak to me like this and freely mention my daughter’s name in public gatherings, saying that your nephew is a match for her? Who are you, who is your father, who is your sister, who is your nephew, and who is his dog of a father that you should speak such words to me and address me in this manner? Guards, seize this good-for-nothing and strike off his head.” The guards drew their swords and attacked Sayih, who fled to the palace gate, where he found his cousins, relatives, followers, and servants.