by Muhsin Mahdi
When he looked around, he saw a city as white as a fat dove, with high towers and beautiful buildings, built on the water, which was beating against its walls. When he saw the city, he rejoiced, for he was near death with hunger and thirst. He dismounted from the plank and tried to climb ashore to the city, but he was attacked by mules, asses, and horses, as countless as the grains of sand, which kicked him and prevented, him from climbing. So he swam around to the other side of the city, but when he came out, he was surprised to find no one there and said to himself, “I wonder to whom this city belongs and why there is no king or inhabitants and whose are these mules, asses, horses, and cattle, which prevented me from climbing.”
Then he walked aimlessly, musing on the situation, when suddenly he saw an old man.
But morning overtook Shahrazad, and she lapsed into silence.
THE TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY-EIGHTH NIGHT
The following night Shahrazad said:
I heard, O happy King, that King Badr suddenly saw an old man, a fava-bean seller, sitting in his shop. He greeted him and the old man returned the greeting and, seeing his handsome face, asked him, “Young man, where do you come from and who brought you to this city?” King Badr told him the whole story, and the old man was very much amazed and asked him, “My son, did you see anyone on the way?” King Badr replied, “Father, no, by God, I did not. Indeed, I was amazed to see the city without inhabitants.” The old man said, “Son, come up into the shop, lest you perish.” King Badr went up into the shop and sat at the upper end, and the old man rose and brought him some food, saying, “Son, stay inside the shop and eat. Glory be to Him who has saved you from that she-devil.” King Badr was frightened, but he ate his fill and washed his hands. Then he turned to the old man and asked, “My lord, what is the meaning of your words? You have made me afraid of this city and its people.” The old man replied, “Son, you should know that this city is called the City of the Magicians, and its queen is an enchantress who is as enchanting as the moon. All the beasts you saw were once men like you and me but are now enchanted, for whenever a young man like you enters the city, that blasphemous witch seizes him and enjoys him for forty days and …”
But morning overtook Shahrazad, and she lapsed into silence.
THE TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY-NINTH NIGHT
The following night Shahrazad said:
I heard, O happy King, that the old man said, “Then she casts a spell on him and turns him into a mule or an ass or one of the other beasts you saw. When any of the inhabitants of the city, who are sorcerers like her, wishes to go on an errand, he rides one of those beasts, who kicked you out of pity for you, to prevent you from climbing to the shore, lest she should cast a spell on you as she has done to them, for there is none who equals this cursed queen in the power of her magic. Her name is Lab, which means ‘the Sun.’” When King Badr heard what the old man said, he was terrified and shook like a thunderbolt, saying to himself, “Hardly did I believe that I had been delivered from sorcery, when God cast me into the den of worse sorcerers.” Then he pondered what to do. When the old man saw him trembling with fear, he said to him, “Son, go and sit at the door of the shop and see how many inhabitants there are in this city. Do not be afraid, for the queen and all the inhabitants respect me and like me and will not cause me any trouble.” When King Badr heard what the old man said, he went and sat at the door of the shop to look at the people.
But morning overtook Shahrazad, and she lapsed into silence.
THE TWO HUNDRED AND SIXTIETH NIGHT
The following night Sbahrazad said:
I heard, O happy King, that when King Badr sat at the door of the shop to look at the people, he saw numberless people pass by. When they saw him, they marveled at his beauty and, coming up to the old man, asked “Shaikh, is this your most recent captive and prey?” He replied, “No, by God, he is my brother’s son who lives far from here, and when I heard that his father was dead, I sent for him, so that I might see him and allay my grief.” They said to him, “He is a handsome young man, but we fear for him from Queen Lab, lest she should turn against you and take him from you, for she loves handsome young men.” The old man replied, “The queen will not cross me in anything, for she respects me and likes me, and when she hears that he is my nephew, she will not bother him, trouble him, or molest him.” Then King Badr lived with the old man for a full month, eating and drinking, and the old man loved him exceedingly.
One day, as King Badr sat at the door of the shop as usual, there appeared a thousand officers riding Arabian horses with gilded saddles, dressed in all kinds of uniforms, girded with jeweled girdles, and holding drawn swords. When they passed by the shop, they saluted the old man and he returned their salute. Then they were followed by a thousand Mamluks dressed in the uniforms of attendants and holding drawn gilded swords, and when they passed by the old man, they saluted him and he returned their salute. Then they were followed by a thousand girls like moons, dressed in silk and satin robes embroidered with gold, and armed with shields and spears. In their midst rode the queen on an Arabian horse with a saddle of gold set with rubies and all kinds of jewels. The girls halted before the old man and saluted him, and he returned their salute. Then the queen came up to him and saluted him, and he rose and kissed the ground before her. Then she looked at him and said, “O Abu ’Abd-Allah, is this handsome, charming, and graceful young man your captive, and when did you catch him?” The old man replied, “No by God, O Queen, he is my brother’s son, who had been long absent. When I could no longer live without seeing him, I brought him here to satisfy my longing and dispel my loneliness, for I love him very much; besides, I am an old man and his father is dead, and if he stays with me, he will help me during my lifetime and inherit my estate after my death.” The queen replied …
But morning overtook Shahrazad, and she lapsed into silence.
THE TWO HUNDRED AND SIXTY-FIRST NIGHT
The following night Shahrazad said:
I heard, O happy King, that the queen said to the old man, “Father, will you give him to me as a gift, for I love him? By the fire and the light, by the hot wind and the cool shade, I will make him my lot in life. Do not fear for him, for I may harm everyone on the face of the earth, but I will not harm him, for you know the mutual esteem you and I hold for each other.” The old man replied, “O my Queen, I can neither give him to you as a gift nor surrender him to you.” She said, “By the fire and the light, by the hot wind and the cool shade, and by my faith, I will not leave without him. I will not betray him or enchant him, and I will do only what will please him.” The old man, who did not dare cross her, fearing for himself and for King Badr, secured an oath from her that she would not harm the young man and that she would return him as she received him. Then he said to her, “When you return from the square tomorrow, I will give him to you.” She thanked him and returned to her palace.
Then the old man turned to King Badr and said, “This is the woman I had feared and worried about, but she swore by her Magian1 faith that she would not harm you or enchant you, and were it not that she respected me and liked me, she would have taken you by force, for it is the custom of this blasphemous witch and queen to do with strangers what I have already told you. May God shame her and curse her and her great malice, wickedness, and depravity.” When King Badr heard what the old man said, he replied, “My lord, by God, I am terrified of her, for I tasted enchantment for an entire month, when Princess Jauhara, the daughter of King al-Shamandal, cast a spell over me and made me a lesson to others, until the wife of one of the kings delivered me from the spell. I have tasted the most bitter torments and I know how the enchanted suffers,” and he wept. The old man felt sorry for him and said to him, “Do not be afraid, for she may hurt even her relatives, but she will not dare hurt me.”
But morning overtook Shahrazad, and she lapsed into silence.
THE TWO HUNDRED AND SIXTY-SECOND NIGHT
The following night Shahrazad said:
I heard,
O happy King, that the old man said to King Badr, “She may hurt even her relatives, but she will not dare hurt me. Have you not seen how her troops and retinue stood at my shop and saluted me? By God, son, this infidel refuses to salute even kings, yet whenever she passes by my shop, she stops to salute me and speak with me, as you have seen and heard.”
They slept that night, and when it was morning, Queen Lab came with her girls, Mamluks, and attendants, who were armed with swords and spears, stopped at the door of the shop, and saluted the old man. He rose and kissed the ground before her, returning the salute. Then she said to him, “Father, fulfill your pledge and do at once what you have promised me.” The old man replied, “Swear to me again that you will never harm him, enchant him, or do to him anything he abhors.” She swore again by her faith and unveiled a face like the moon, saying, “Father, how you procrastinate in giving me your handsome nephew! Am I not more beautiful than he?” When King Badr saw her beauty, he was bewitched and said to himself, “By God, she is more beautiful than Jauhara. If she marries me, I will leave my kingdom and stay with her, without returning to my mother; if not, I will at least enjoy her in bed for forty days and nights, and I do not care if she enchants me or kills me afterward. By God, a single night with her is worth a lifetime.” Then the old man took King Badr by the hand, saying to her, “Receive from me my nephew Badr and return him to me as you receive him. Do not harm him or take him away from me.” She swore for the third time that she would not harm him or enchant him; then she ordered for Badr a handsome, saddled horse, bedecked with gold trappings, and gave the old man a thousand dinars.
But morning overtook Shahrazad, and she lapsed into silence.
THE TWO HUNDRED AND SIXTY-THIRD NIGHT
The following night Shahrazad said:
I heard, O happy King, that the queen gave the old fava-bean seller a thousand dinars and, saying “May God give you more,” took King Badr and departed. He rode beside her, looking like the moon, and whenever the people looked at him and at his beauty, they felt sorry for him, saying “By God, such a handsome young man does not deserve to be enchanted by that cursed witch,” while he rode silently, having committed himself to the Almighty God. They rode on to the palace, and when they reached the gate, the princes and nobles and servants dismounted and stood in attendance, while she and King Badr dismounted and sat on the throne. Then she dismissed all the princes and chamberlains and notables, and they kissed the ground before her and departed.
Then she took King Badr by the hand and with her maids and male servants went into the palace. It was like a palace in Paradise, with walls adorned with gold, with storerooms full of clothes and vessels, and with a beautiful garden in the middle, with a large pond and birds singing in all kinds of voices and tongues. When King Badr saw this opulent palace, he said to himself, “Glory be to God who in His generosity and clemency blesses those who worship other than Himself.” Then Queen Lab sat at a window overlooking the garden, on a couch of ivory with high cushions, and, seating King Badr beside her, embraced him and kissed him. Then she called for food, and the maids brought a table of red gold set with jewels and pearls and spread with all kinds of food and sweets, and the queen and King Badr ate, until they were satisfied, and washed their hands. Then the maids brought the wine service, vessels of gold and silver and crystal, as well as dishes full of dried fruits and nuts, and flowers and perfumes. Then, at her order, they ushered in ten girls like moons, with all kinds of musical instruments in their hands.
Then the queen filled a cup and drank it off and filled another.
But morning overtook Shahrazad, and she lapsed into silence.
THE TWO HUNDRED AND SIXTY-FOURTH NIGHT
The following night Shahrazad said:
I heard, O happy King, that the queen gave the cup to King Badr, who took it and drank it off, and they continued to drink until they began to get drunk. Then she ordered the girls to sing, and they sang all kinds of songs until King Badr imagined that the palace danced with him in delight, and he became lightheaded and happy and forgot his separation from home, saying to himself, “By God, this queen is young and beautiful, and I will never leave her, for her kingdom is vaster than mine and she is fairer than Princess Jauhara.” He continued to drink till nightfall, when they lighted the candles and burned the incense until the banquet was as joyous as the one of which the poet said:
O what a day we spent under the trees,
Enjoying every pleasure and delight,
The shining rivulet, the myrtle blue,
The starry narcissus and roses bright,
The glittering wine and the brimming cup
And crackling incense rising in the light!
Queen Lab and King Badr continued to drink, while the singers sang, until most of the night was gone and the queen was completely drunk. Then she dismissed the singing women and, lying in bed, ordered King Badr to lie beside her. Then the maids took off all the clothes they had made him wear, except for a gold-embroidered shirt, like the one Queen Lab was left with, and the two spent the happiest of nights till the morning. Then Queen Lab rose and took King Badr to the bath inside the palace, and they washed themselves, and when they came out, the maids dressed them and brought them cups of wine, which they drank. Then she took King Badr by the hand and with her maids …
But morning overtook Shahrazad, and she lapsed into silence.
THE TWO HUNDRED AND SIXTY-FIFTH NIGHT
The following night Shahrazad said:
I heard, O happy King, that the queen took King Badr by the hand and with her maids came out of the bath and went to the banquet room, where they sat and rested for a while. Then the maids set food before them, and they ate and washed their hands. Then the maids removed the table and set the wine service and fruits and nuts and flowers before them, and they drank, while the singing women sang all kinds of melodies and songs till nightfall.
They continued to live like this, eating and drinking and kissing and playing, for forty days. Then Queen Lab asked King Badr, “Which is more enjoyable, this place or the shop of your uncle the fava-bean seller?” He replied, “O Queen, by God, this place is more enjoyable, for my uncle is a poor man.” She laughed at his reply, and the two spent the happiest of nights in bed. But when he awoke in the morning, he did not find her beside him and asked himself, “Where could she have gone?” He felt lonely without her, and when he waited for her and she did not return, he arose from bed and, putting on his clothes, searched for her, and when he did not find her, he said to himself, “She may be in the garden.” He went into the garden and came to a running stream, beside which he saw a black bird next to a white she-bird, under a large tree full of birds of various colors. He stood and watched the birds, without being seen by them, and saw the black bird leap and mount the white she-bird three times. Soon the she-bird turned into a woman, and when he looked at her closely, he saw that she was none other than Queen Lab, and he realized that the black bird was an enchanted man whom she loved and that she had turned into a she-bird so that the man could make love to her. King Badr was seized with jealousy, and he was resentful and angry with Queen Lab because of the black bird. He returned and lay down on the bed, and a little later she came to him and kissed him and joked with him, but when his anger mounted and he did not speak a single word to her, she guessed what was troubling him and was certain that he had seen the bird mount her. But she kept it to herself and said nothing.
When it was broad daylight, he said to her, “O Queen, I wish you to give me leave to go to my uncle’s shop, for I have not laid eyes on him for forty days and I long to see him.” She replied, “O Badr, go, but do not stay long, for I cannot bear to be without you or wait a single hour.” He replied, “I hear and obey,” and, mounting his horse, rode to the old man’s shop.
But morning overtook Shahrazad, and she lapsed into silence.
THE TWO HUNDRED AND SIXTY-SIXTH NIGHT
The following night Shahrazad said:
I heard, O happy
King, that King Badr rode to the shop of the old fava-bean seller, who ran to greet him, welcomed him, and embraced him. Then he asked, “How have you fared with that infidel?” King Badr replied, “I was well, healthy, and happy till last night, when I awoke and did not see her by my side. When I arose and did not find her, I put on my clothes and searched for her until I went into the garden.” Then he told him the story and how he had seen the black bird mount her. When the old man heard this, he said, “The cursed woman has started to play games. You should beware of her and should know that the birds on the tree were all young strangers whom she loved, enjoyed, then turned into birds. The black bird was one of her Mamluks, with whom she was madly in love, but when he cast his eye on one of her women, she cast a spell over him and turned him into a bird. Whenever she lusts for him, she turns herself into a she-bird and lets him mount her, for she still loves him. Now that she knows that you have found out, she will no longer be good to you, but fear nothing, since I will protect you, for there is none better skilled in magic than I, although I do not use it except when I have to. I have delivered many men from her hands, for she has no power over me and she fears me, as do the inhabitants of this city, who are fire worshippers like her. Come back to me tomorrow, and tell me what she does to you, for tonight she will prepare to destroy you. Dissemble with her till tomorrow; then come back, and I will tell you what to do.” King Badr bade the old man farewell and returned to the queen.