The Arabian Nights (New Deluxe Edition)
Page 55
But morning overtook Shahrazad, and she lapsed into silence.
THE TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH NIGHT
The following night Shahrazad said:
I heard, O happy King, that the young man fled to the palace gate, where he found more than a thousand of his cousins, relatives, members of his entourage, followers, and servants, whom his mother had sent to his aid, armed to the teeth, with coats of mail and spears. When they saw him running, they asked him, “What is the matter?” and he told them what had happened. When they heard what he said, they realized that al-Shamandal was an ill-tempered, arrogant man. They dismounted and, drawing their swords, went in with him to al-Shamandal, whom they found seated on his throne, still raging against Sayih, unaware of their coming and surrounded by his guards, attendants, and servants, who were unprepared for battle. When he saw Sayih’s men enter with drawn swords, he cried out to his men, “Damn you, away with the heads of these dogs!” but before long his men were routed and he was seized and bound. When his daughter Jauhara heard that her father had been taken captive and his men and followers had been killed, she fled from the palace to one of the islands and, climbing a tree, hid herself there.
Earlier, when the two clans were still fighting, it happened that some of Sayih’s servants came to his mother and told her of the battle, and when King Badr heard about it, he ran away in fear, saying to himself, “All this turmoil is on my account, and none is to answer for it but I.” So he ran away, not knowing where to go, until, as it had been foreordained, he came to the same island where Jauhara had taken refuge and, being tired, stopped to rest at the very tree in which she was hiding. He threw himself down, like a dead man, and as he lay on his back to rest, he chanced to look up and saw Princess Jauhara, who looked like the shining moon. He said to himself, “Glory be to God who created this wonderful form! Unless I am wrong, she must be Princess Jauhara. I think that when she heard of the battle between her father and my uncle, she fled to this island and hid in this tree. If she is not Princess Jauhara herself, then she is one who is even more beautiful.” He pondered for a while, then said to himself, “I will seize her and question her, and if she is indeed Jauhara, I will ask her to marry me and I will attain my wish.” Then he spoke to her, saying, “O end of all desire, who are you and who brought you here?” She looked at him and, seeing that he was a young man as beautiful as the full moon, with a slender figure and a sweet smile, said to him, “O fair young man, I am Princess Jauhara, the daughter of King al-Shamandal. I took refuge in this place because Sayih and his men fought my father, killed most of his men, and bound him and took him prisoner. I fled, fearing for my life.”
But morning overtook Shahrazad, and she lapsed into silence.
THE TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY-FIRST NIGHT
The following night Shahrazad said:
I heard, O happy King, that Princess Jauhara said to King Badr, “Young man, I feared for my life and fled to this island.” When Badr heard this, he marveled at this strange coincidence and said to himself, “There is no doubt now that my uncle Sayih has defeated King al-Shamandal,” and he felt very happy, adding, “and there is no doubt that I have attained my aim and fulfilled my wish by the capture of her father.” Then he looked at her and said to her, “O my lady, come down to me, for I am captured my your eyes and slain by your love. It was on your account and mine that these turmoils and broils took place, for I am Badr, king of Persia, and Sayih is my uncle, who came to your father to demand you in marriage for me. I have left my kingdom and my mother and relatives; I have parted from my friends and companions, and I have come far away from my country for your sake. Our meeting here is a rare coincidence. Come down to me and I will take you to your father’s palace, ask my uncle Sayih to release him, and make you my lawful wife.”
When Jauhara heard this, she said to herself, “Then it was on the account of this vile good-for-nothing and depraved coward that my father’s army has been routed, his men have been killed, and he has been taken prisoner, and on his account that I have been driven far away from home to seek refuge on this island. If I do not find a way to foil him, this worthless fellow will overpower me and have his will of me, for he is in love, and the lover is not blamed for anything he does.” So she deceived him with sweet words, acted coquettishly, and made eyes at him, saying, “O my lord, O my darling, are you indeed King Badr, the son of Jullanar of the Sea?” He replied, “Yes, my lady, I am.” She said, “May God cut off my father’s hand and take his kingdom from him and may He never grant him consolation or return from exile! How could he desire anyone more handsome, more elegant, or more suitable than you? By God, he has little sense or judgment,” adding, “O King, if you love me a span, I love you two cubits, for I have fallen in the snares of your love and I am one of your victims. Your love for me has transferred itself to me, and what I feel for you now is manyfold greater than what you feel for me.” Then she came down from the tree and, coming up to him, embraced him and kissed him, and his love and desire for her grew even greater. He did not doubt that she loved him and he trusted her and embraced her and kissed her, saying to himself, “By God, my uncle has not done justice to a fortieth part of her charm or a carat of her beauty.”
But morning overtook Shahrazad, and she lapsed into silence.
THE TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY-SECOND NIGHT
The following night Shahrazad said:
I heard, O happy King, that King Badr said to himself, “Or a carat of her beauty.” Suddenly Jauhara pressed him to her bosom and, uttering words he could not understand, spat in his face and said, “Leave your human form, you vile good-for-nothing, and turn into a bird, the prettiest of birds, with white feathers and red bill and feet.” Hardly had she spoken, when King Badr was suddenly transformed into the prettiest of birds, which shook itself and stood looking at Princess Jauhara.
It happened that Princess Jauhara had with her one of her maids, who was also hiding in the tree, and she said to her, “By God, if I did not fear for my father, who is his uncle’s prisoner, I would kill him. May God never bless him or grant him good health! How unlucky was his coming to us, for all this trouble is due to him. Listen, girl, take him and carry him to the Island of Thirst; then leave him there and come back to me quickly.” The girl took him in the form of a bird, carried him to the Island of Thirst, and was about to leave him there and return, when she said to herself, “By God, a young man of such beauty and grace does not deserve to die of thirst.” So she took him to a large, green island, abounding in trees and fruits and streams and, leaving him there, returned to her mistress and told her that she had left him behind.
Meanwhile, when Sayih, King Badr’s uncle, killed King al-Shamandal’s guards and followers and took him prisoner, he searched for his daughter Jauhara but could not find her. Then he returned to his palace, or rather his mother’s palace, and asked her, “Mother, where is my nephew King Badr?” She replied, “By God, son, I know nothing of him or his whereabouts, for when he heard that you had fought a battle with al-Shamandal, he feared for himself and ran away.” When Sayih heard what his mother said, he grieved sorely for his nephew and said, “Mother, by God, this was all for nothing. You were negligent with King Badr, and I fear that he may perish or that one of King al-Shamandal’s guards or his daughter Jauhara may catch him and kill him, and we may then have an unfortunate situation with his mother, for I took him with me without her permission.” Then he dispatched officers and soldiers to search for King Badr throughout the sea, but they found no trace and heard no news of him, and they returned and told Sayih, compounding his worry and grief. So Sayih sat on al-Shamandal’s throne and kept al-Shamandal prisoner but continued to grieve for King Badr.
But morning overtook Shahrazad, and she lapsed into silence.
THE TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY-THIRD NIGHT
The following night Shahrazad said:
I heard, O happy King, that meanwhile Queen Jullanar waited for her son, after he had departed with his uncle, but when she waite
d for many days, without seeing him or hearing any news of him, she rose one day and, going down into the sea, headed to her mother’s palace. When her mother saw her, she rose to greet her, embraced her, and kissed her, as did her cousins. Then she asked them whether her son King Badr had come down with his uncle Sayih. Her mother replied, “He came with his uncle, who took rubies and other jewels and, presenting them to al-Shamandal, demanded his daughter in marriage for your son, but al-Shamandal refused and attacked your brother with abusive words, and there ensued a battle between al-Shamandal and your brother, to whom I had sent a thousand horsemen, fully armed. Your brother defeated al-Shamandal, killing his officers and soldiers and taking him prisoner. When your son heard of the battle, before finding out that his uncle had won, he feared for himself, as it would seem, and ran away from here without my leave, and since then we have had no news of him.” Then Jullanar asked about her brother Sayih, and her mother replied, “He is sitting on al-Shamandal’s throne, and he has sent men in every direction to search for your son and Princess Jauhara.
When Jullanar heard her mother’s reply, she grieved sorely for her son and wept, and she was furious against her brother Sayih for having taken her son down to the sea without her leave. Then she said to her mother, “O mother, I am worried about our kingdom, for I came to you without letting anyone know, and I fear that if I tarry, someone may maneuver against us and take the kingdom from us. I have no choice but to go back soon and manage the affairs there until the Almighty God resolves the matter. But do not forget my son Badr, or neglect his case, because if he dies, I will certainly die too, for I cannot live or enjoy life without him.” Her mother replied, “With all my heart! O my daughter, do not ask how much I have suffered because of his absence and loss.” Then she too sent men to look for King Badr.
But morning overtook Shahrazad, and she lapsed into silence.
THE TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY-FOURTH NIGHT
The following night Shahrazad said:
I heard, O happy King, that Jullanar’s mother sent men to search for King Badr, while his mother returned to her kingdom in tears, feeling sad and depressed.
As for Badr, when the maid took him to the island and left him there, as I have mentioned, he stayed there several days in the form of a bird, eating of its fruits and drinking of its waters, not knowing how to fly or where to go. One day, as he perched on a tree branch, there came a bird catcher to the island, looking for game. When he drew close to King Badr and saw him in the form of a bird with white feathers and red bill and feet, which dazzled the eyes and bewildered the mind, he marveled at him and said to himself, “This is a lovely bird, the like of which in color and beauty I have never seen.” Then he cast his net, caught it, and took it to the city, saying to himself, “I will sell it.” Then he took it down to the market, where a man came by and asked him, “O catcher, how much is this bird?” The catcher asked him, “If you buy it, what will you do with it?” The man replied, “I will kill it and eat it.” The catcher said, “Who could have the heart to kill this bird and eat it?” The man said, “You fool, what else is it good for?” The catcher said, “I intend to present it to the king, who will give me much more for it than its value and price and will divert himself by gazing on its beauty, while the most you would give me for it is a dirham; by God, I will not sell it to you even for a dinar.”
Then the catcher went to the king’s palace and waited there with the bird until the king saw him and, noticing the bird’s white feathers and red bill and feet, was taken by its beauty and said to one of his servants, “If that bird is for sale, buy it.” The servant came to the catcher and asked, “Will you sell this bird?” The catcher replied, “It is a gift from me to the king.” The servant took the bird and brought it to the king, telling him what the catcher had said. The king said, “Go to him and give him ten dinars,” and the catcher took the money, kissed the ground, and went away. Then the servant carried the bird to the king’s palace and, placing it in a handsome cage, left with it food and water and hung it up.
When the king rode back and dismounted, he asked the servant, “Where is the bird? Bring it and let me look at it, for, by God, it is beautiful.” The servant brought the bird and set it before the king.
But morning overtook Shahrazad, and she lapsed into silence.
THE TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY-FIFTH NIGHT
The following night Shahrazad said:
I heard, O happy King, that the servant brought the cage and set it before the king and, seeing the food untouched, said, “O my lord, I left it this food, but it did not touch it, and I don’t know what it will eat, so that I may feed it.” But the king continued to gaze on the bird and marvel at its beauty. Then he called for food, and they laid the table before him, and he began to eat. When the bird saw the food and meat, it flew down from the cage and, perching on the table, ate of all that was before the king of bread, meat, sweets, and fruits. When the king saw what the bird ate, he and everyone present were surprised and taken aback, and he said to his attending officers and servants, “Never in all my life have I seen a bird eat like this one.” Then he called for his wife to come and see the bird, and a servant went to her and said, “O my lady, the king wishes you to come and divert yourself with the sight of a bird he has bought, for when we brought the food, it flew down from its cage and, perching on the table, ate of all the dishes. O my lady, come and look at it, for it is a beauty and a wonder.”
When the queen heard what the servant said, she came in a hurry, but when she saw the bird, she veiled her face and turned to go away. When the king saw his wife veil her face and turn to go away, he rose and said to her, “Why do you veil your face and turn away, when there is none here but the servants and your maids?” She replied, “O King, this is not a bird but a man.” When the king heard what his wife said, he replied, “You are lying; how can a bird be a man? O how much my wife likes to joke!” She replied, “By God, I am not joking but telling you the truth. This bird is King Badr, the king of Persia and the son of Jullanar of the Sea.”
But morning overtook Shahrazad, and she lapsed into silence. Then Dinarzad said to her sister, “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 TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY-SIXTH NIGHT
The following night Shahrazad said:
I heard, O happy King, that the queen told the king that that bird was King Badr, the king of Persia, that his mother was Jullanar of the Sea, his uncle Sayih, and his grandmother Farasha, and that he had been cast under a spell by Princess Jauhara, the daughter of King al-Shamandal. Then she told him the story from beginning to end, how he had demanded Jauhara in marriage from her father, how her father had refused, and how his uncle Sayih had fought al-Shamandal, defeated him, and taken him prisoner. When the king heard the story, he was amazed and said to his wife, who was the greatest sorceress of her day, “For my sake, deliver him from the spell and do not leave him to suffer in this condition. May God cut off the hand of that harlot Jauhara! How little is her mercy and how great is her perfidy!” His wife said, “O King, say to him, ‘King Badr, enter that room,’” and when the bird heard the king’s words, it entered the room. Then the queen covered herself with a cloak, veiled her face, and taking in her hand a bowl of water, entered the room. Then she pronounced over the water certain words that none understood and sprinkled the bird with it, saying, “By the power of these mighty names and solemn and holy oaths and by the Almighty God, Creator of haven and earth, who allocates livelihood, allots the days of life, and resurrects the dead, leave your form as a bird and return to that in which God created you.” Hardly had she finished, when the bird shook violently and became a man, and the king saw before him a handsome young man, than whom there was none lovelier on the face of the earth.
When Badr looked at himself, he said, “Glory be to God, the Creator of all creatures and the Master of their destiny!”
Then he kissed the king’s hands and feet and said to him, “May God reward you for this!” and the king kissed his head and said to him, “King Badr, tell me your story from beginning to end.” Then King Badr told him his entire story, concealing nothing, and the king was very much amazed. Then he said to King Badr, “King Badr, what do you intend to do now?” He replied, “O King of the age, I ask of your bounty a ship with a company of servants and other necessities to convey me to my home and kingdom, for I have been long absent from my mother and relatives and subjects, and I fear that if I tarry much longer, I will lose my kingdom; besides, I fear that my mother is either already dead because of my absence or in all likelihood dying of grief for me, not knowing where I am or whether I am alive or dead. My lord the king has kindly …”
But morning overtook Shahrazad, and she lapsed into silence.
THE TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY-SEVENTH NIGHT
The following night Shahrazad said:
I heard, O happy King, that King Badr begged the king and queen to grant him one more favor and equip him for the journey. The king was moved by his beauty and eloquence and, feeling affection for him, said, “I hear and obey.” Then he fitted out a ship for him, furnished it with all the necessities, and manned it with a company of his own servants.
King Badr bade him farewell, embarked, and set sail. He sailed before a fair wind for ten continuous days, but on the eleventh the wind began to blow harder, the sea raged, and the ship rose and fell so helplessly that the sailors were unable to control her. They drifted at the mercy of the waves until the ship hit a rock and broke up. Some men drowned and some escaped, while King Badr rode on one of the planks of the ship, after having almost drowned. For three days and nights he continued to rise and fall with the waves and to drift helplessly with the wind, not knowing in which direction he was going or where he was heading, until on the fourth day the waves cast him on the shore.