THE ARABIAN NIGHTS

THEARABIAN NIGHTS

THEIR BEST-KNOWN TALES

EDITED BY

KATE DOUGLAS WIGGINANDNORA A. SMITH

ILLUSTRATED BY MAXFIELD PARRISH

NEW YORKCHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONSMCMIX

Copyright, 1909, byCHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS

Published October, 1909

PREFACE

_Little excuse is needed, perhaps, for any fresh selection from thefamous "Tales of a Thousand and One Nights, " provided it berepresentative enough, and worthy enough, to enlist a new army ofyouthful readers. Of the two hundred and sixty-four bewildering, unparalleled stories, the true lover can hardly spare one, yet theremust always be favourites, even among these. We have chosen some of themost delightful, in our opinion; some, too, that chanced to appealparticularly to the genius of the artist. If, enticed by our choice andthe beauty of the pictures, we manage to attract a few thousand moretrue lovers to the fountain-book, we shall have served our humble turn. The only real danger lies in neglecting it, in rearing a child who doesnot know it and has never fallen under its spell. _

_You remember Maimoune, in the story of Prince Camaralzaman, and what shesaid to Danhasch, the genie who had just arrived from the farthestlimits of China? "Be sure thou tellest me nothing but what is true or Ishall clip thy wings!" This is what the modern child sometimes says tothe genies of literature, and his own wings are too often clipped inconsequence. _

 _"The Empire of the Fairies is no more. Reason has banished them from ev'ry shore; Steam has outstripped their dragons and their cars, Gas has eclipsed their glow-worms and their stars. "_

_Édouard Laboulaye says in his introduction to Nouveaux Contes Bleus:"Mothers who love your children, do not set them too soon to the studyof history; let them dream while they are young. Do not close the soulto the first breath of poetry. Nothing affrights me so much as thereasonable, practical child who believes in nothing that he cannottouch. These sages of ten years are, at twenty, dullards, or what isstill worse, egoists. "_

_When a child has once read of Prince Agib, of Gulnare or Periezade, Sinbad or Codadad, in this or any other volume of its kind, the magicwill have been instilled into the blood, for the Oriental flavour in theArab tales is like nothing so much as magic. True enough they are a vaststorehouse of information concerning the manners and the customs, thespirit and the life of the Moslem East (and the youthful reader does nothave to study Lane's learned foot-notes to imbibe all this), but beyondand above the knowledge of history and geography thus gained, therecomes something finer and subtler as well as something more vital. Thescene is Indian, Egyptian, Arabian, Persian; but Bagdad and Balsora, Grand Cairo, the silver Tigris, and the blooming gardens of Damascus, though they can be found indeed on the map, live much more truly in thatenchanted realm that rises o'er "the foam of perilous seas in faerylands forlorn. " What craft can sail those perilous seas like the bookthat has been called a great three-decker to carry tired people toIslands of the Blest? "The immortal fragment, " says Sir Richard Burton, who perhaps knew the Arabian Nights as did no other European, "willnever be superseded in the infallible judgment of childhood. Themarvellous imaginativeness of the Tales produces an insensiblebrightness of mind and an increase of fancy-power, making one dream thatbehind them lies the new and unseen, the strange and unexpected--infact, all the glamour of the unknown. "_

_It would be a delightful task to any boy or girl to begin at thebeginning and read the first English version of these famous stories, made from the collection of M. Galland, Professor of Arabic in the RoyalCollege of Paris. The fact that they had passed from Arabic into Frenchand from French into English did not prevent their instantaneouspopularity. This was in 1704 or thereabouts, and the world was not sobusy as it is nowadays, or young men would not have gathered in themiddle of the night under M. Galland's window and cried: "O vous, quisavez de si jolis contes, et qui les racontez si bien, racontez nous enun!"_

_You can also read them in Scott's edition or in Lane's (both of which, but chiefly the former, we have used as the foundation of our text), while your elders--philologists or Orientalists--are studying thecomplete versions of John Payne or Sir Richard Burton. You may leave thewiseacres to wonder which were told in China or India, Arabia or Persia, and whether the first manuscript dates back to 1450 or earlier. _

_We, like many other editors, have shortened the stories here and there, omitting some of the tedious repetitions that crept in from time to timewhen Arabian story-tellers were adding to the text to suit theirpurposes. _

_Mr. Andrew Lang says amusingly that he has left out of his specialversions "all the pieces that are suitable only for Arabs and oldgentlemen, " and we have done the same; but we have taken no undueliberties. We have removed no genies nor magicians, however terrible;have cut out no base deed of Vizier nor noble deed of Sultan; havediminished the size of no roc's egg, nor omitted any single allusion tothe great and only Haroun Al-raschid, Caliph of Bagdad, Commander of theFaithful, who must have been a great inspirer of good stories. _

_Enter into this "treasure house of pleasant things, " then, and makeyourself at home in the golden palaces, the gem-studded caves, thebewildering gardens. Sit by its mysterious fountains, hear the plash ofits gleaming cascades, unearth its magic lamps and talismans, behold itsensorcelled princes and princesses. _

_Nowhere in the whole realm of literature will you find such a Marvel, such a Wonder, such a Nonesuch of a book; nowhere will you findimpossibilities so real and so convincing; nowhere but in what Henleycalls:_

 _". .. That blessed brief Of what is gallantest and best In all the full-shelved Libraries of Romance. The Book of rocs, Sandalwood, ivory, turbans, ambergris, Cream-tarts, and lettered apes, and Calenders, And ghouls, and genies--O so huge They might have overed the tall Minster Tower, Hands down, as schoolboys take a post; In truth the Book of Camaralzaman, Schemselnihar and Sinbad, Scheherezade The peerless, Bedreddin, Badroulbadour, Cairo and Serendib and Candahar, And Caspian, and the dim, terrific bulk-- Ice-ribbed, fiend-visited, isled in spells and storms-- Of Kaf . .. That centre of miracles The sole, unparalleled Arabian Nights. "_

KATE DOUGLAS WIGGIN. August, 1909. 

CONTENTS

THE TALKING BIRD, THE SINGING TREE, AND THEGOLDEN WATER 3

THE STORY OF THE FISHERMAN AND THE GENIE 52

THE HISTORY OF THE YOUNG KING OF THE BLACK ISLES 67

THE STORY OF GULNARE OF THE SEA 81

THE STORY OF ALADDIN; OR, THE WONDERFUL LAMP 97

THE STORY OF PRINCE AGIB 190

THE STORY OF THE CITY OF BRASS 205

THE STORY OF ALI BABA AND THE FORTY THIEVES 229

THE HISTORY OF CODADAD AND HIS BROTHERS 264

THE STORY OF SINBAD THE VOYAGER 290

ILLUSTRATIONS

FROM DRAWINGS IN COLORSBY MAXFIELD PARRISH

THE TALKING BIRD 32

It will be sufficient to break off a branch and carry it toplant in your garden

THE FISHERMAN AND THE GENIE 54

The smoke ascended to the clouds, and extending itself alongthe sea and upon the shore formed a great mist

THE YOUNG KING OF THE BLACK ISLES 74

When he came to this part of his narrative the young kingcould not restrain his tears

GULNARE OF THE SEA 86

And she proceeded to burn perfume and repeat spells until thesea foamed and was agitated

ALADDIN 106

At the same time the earth, trembling, opened just before themagician, and uncovered a stone, laid horizontally, with abrass ring fixed into the middle

PRINCE AGIB 194

And when the boat came to me I found in it a manof brass, with a tablet of lead upon his breast, engraven with names and talismans

PRINCE AGIB 202

At the approach of evening I opened the first closet and, enteringit, found a mansion like paradise

THE CITY OF BRASS 218

And when they had ascended that mountain they saw a city thanwhich eyes had not beheld any greater

THE STORY OF ALI BABA AND THE FORTY THIEVES 236

Cassim . .. Was so alarmed at the danger he was in that themore he endeavoured to remember the word _Sesame_ the morehis memory was confounded

THE HISTORY OF CODADAD AND HIS BROTHERS 276

As it drew near we saw ten or twelve armed pirates appear on the deck

SECOND VOYAGE OF SINBAD 300

The spot where she left me was encompassed on all sides by mountainsthat seemed to reach above the clouds, and so steep thatthere was no possibility of getting out of the valley

THIRD VOYAGE OF SINBAD 306

Having finished his repast, he returned to his porch, where he layand fell asleep, snoring louder than thunder

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS

 "When the breeze of a joyful dawn blew free In the silken sail of infancy, The tide of time flow'd back with me, The forward-flowing time of time; And many a sheeny summer morn, Adown the Tigris I was borne, By Bagdat's shrines of fretted gold, High-walled gardens green and old; True Mussulman was I and sworn, For it was in the golden prime Of good Haroun Alraschid. 

 "Anight my shallop, rustling thro' The low and bloomèd foliage, drove The fragrant, glistening deeps, and clove The citron-shadows in the blue: By garden porches on the brim, The costly doors flung open wide, Gold glittering thro' lamplight dim, And broider'd sofas on each side: In sooth it was a goodly time, For it was in the golden prime Of good Haroun Alraschid. "

ALFRED, LORD TENNYSON. 

THE TALKING BIRD, THE SINGING TREE, AND THE GOLDEN WATER

There was an emperor of Persia named Kosrouschah, who, when he firstcame to his crown, in order to obtain a knowledge of affairs, took greatpleasure in night excursions, attended by a trusty minister. He oftenwalked in disguise through the city, and met with many adventures, oneof the most remarkable of which happened to him upon his first ramble, which was not long after his accession to the throne of his father. 

After the ceremonies of his father's funeral rites and his owninauguration were over, the new sultan, as well from inclination as fromduty, went out one evening attended by his grand vizier, disguised likehimself, to observe what was transacting in the city. As he was passingthrough a street in that part of the town inhabited only by the meanersort, he heard some people talking very loud; and going close to thehouse whence the noise proceeded, and looking through a crack in thedoor, perceived a light, and three sisters sitting on a sofa, conversingtogether after supper. By what the eldest said he presently understoodthe subject of their conversation was wishes: "for, " said she, "since weare talking about wishes, mine shall be to have the sultan's baker formy husband, for then I shall eat my fill of that bread, which by way ofexcellence is called the sultan's; let us see if your tastes are as goodas mine. " "For my part, " replied the second sister, "I wish I was wifeto the sultan's chief cook, for then I should eat of the most excellentdishes; and as I am persuaded that the sultan's bread is common in thepalace, I should not want any of that; therefore you see, " addressingherself to her eldest sister, "that I have a better taste than you. " Theyoungest sister, who was very beautiful, and had more charms and witthan the two elder, spoke in her turn: "For my part, sisters, " said she, "I shall not limit my desires to such trifles, but take a higher flight;and since we are upon wishing, I wish to be the emperor's queen-consort. I would make him father of a prince, whose hair should be gold on oneside of his head, and silver on the other; when he cried, the tears fromhis eyes should be pearls; and when he smiled, his vermilion lips shouldlook like a rosebud fresh-blown. "

The three sisters' wishes, particularly that of the youngest, seemed sosingular to the sultan, that he resolved to gratify them in theirdesires; but without communicating his design to his grand vizier, hecharged him only to take notice of the house, and bring the threesisters before him the following day. 

The grand vizier, in executing the emperor's orders, would but just givethe sisters time to dress themselves to appear before his majesty, without telling them the reason. He brought them to the palace, andpresented them to the emperor, who said to them, "Do you remember thewishes you expressed last night, when you were all in so pleasant amood? Speak the truth; I must know what they were. " At these unexpectedwords of the emperor, the three sisters were much confounded. They castdown their eyes and blushed, and the colour which rose in the cheeks ofthe youngest quite captivated the emperor's heart. Modesty, and fearlest they might have offended by their conversation, kept them silent. The emperor, perceiving their confusion, said to encourage them, "Fearnothing, I did not send for you to distress you; and since I see thatwithout my intending it, this is the effect of the question I asked, asI know the wish of each, I will relieve you from your fears. You, " addedhe, "who wished to be my wife, shall have your desire this day; andyou, " continued he, addressing himself to the two elder sisters, "shallalso be married to my chief baker and cook. "

As soon as the sultan had declared his pleasure, the youngest sister, setting her elders an example, threw herself at the emperor's feet toexpress her gratitude. "Sir, " said she, "my wish, since it is come toyour majesty's knowledge, was expressed only in the way of conversationand amusement. I am unworthy of the honour you do me, and supplicateyour pardon for my presumption. " The other two sisters would haveexcused themselves also, but the emperor, interrupting them, said, "No, no; it shall be as I have declared; the wishes of all shall befulfilled. " The nuptials were all celebrated that day, as the emperorhad resolved, but in a different manner. The youngest sister's weresolemnized with all the rejoicings usual at the marriages of theemperors of Persia; and those of the other two sisters according to thequality and distinction of their husbands; the one as the sultan's chiefbaker, and the other as head cook. 

The two elder felt strongly the disproportion of their marriages to thatof their younger sister. This consideration made them far from beingcontent, though they were arrived at the utmost height of their latewishes, and much beyond their hopes. They gave themselves up to anexcess of jealousy, which not only disturbed their joy, but was thecause of great trouble and affliction to the queen-consort, theiryounger sister. They had not an opportunity to communicate theirthoughts to each other on the preference the emperor had given her, butwere altogether employed in preparing themselves for the celebration oftheir marriages. Some days afterward, when they had an opportunity ofseeing each other at the public baths, the eldest said to the other:"Well, what say you to our sister's great fortune? Is not she a fineperson to be a queen!" "I must own, " said the other sister, "I cannotconceive what charms the emperor could discover to be so bewitched byher. Was it a reason sufficient for him not to cast his eyes on you, because she was somewhat younger? You were as worthy of his throne, andin justice he ought to have preferred you. "

"Sister, " said the elder, "I should not have regretted if his majestyhad but pitched upon you; but that he should choose that littlesimpleton really grieves me. But I will revenge myself; and you, Ithink, are as much concerned as I; therefore, I propose that we shouldcontrive measures and act in concert: communicate to me what you thinkthe likeliest way to mortify her, while I, on my side, will inform youwhat my desire of revenge shall suggest to me. " After this wickedagreement, the two sisters saw each other frequently, and consulted howthey might disturb and interrupt the happiness of the queen. Theyproposed a great many ways, but in deliberating about the manner ofexecuting them, found so many difficulties that they durst not attemptthem. In the meantime, with a detestable dissimulation, they often wenttogether to make her visits, and every time showed her all the marks ofaffection they could devise, to persuade her how overjoyed they were tohave a sister raised to so high a fortune. The queen, on her part, constantly received them with all the demonstrations of esteem theycould expect from so near a relative. Some time after her marriage, theexpected birth of an heir gave great joy to the queen and emperor, whichwas communicated to all the court, and spread throughout the empire. Upon this news the two sisters came to pay their compliments, andproffered their services, desiring her, if not provided with nurses, toaccept of them. 

The queen said to them most obligingly: "Sisters, I should desirenothing more, if it were in my power to make the choice. I am, however, obliged to you for your goodwill, but must submit to what the emperorshall order on this occasion. Let your husbands employ their friends tomake interest, and get some courtier to ask this favour of his majesty, and if he speaks to me about it, be assured that I shall not onlyexpress the pleasure he does me but thank him for making choice of you. "

The two husbands applied themselves to some courtiers, their patrons, and begged of them to use their interest to procure their wives thehonour they aspired to. Those patrons exerted themselves so much intheir behalf that the emperor promised them to consider of the matter, and was as good as his word; for in conversation with the queen he toldher that he thought her sisters were the most proper persons to be abouther, but would not name them before he had asked her consent. The queen, sensible of the deference the emperor so obligingly paid her, said tohim, "Sir, I was prepared to do as your majesty might please to command. But since you have been so kind as to think of my sisters, I thank youfor the regard you have shown them for my sake, and therefore I shallnot dissemble that I had rather have them than strangers. " The emperortherefore named the queen's two sisters to be her attendants; and fromthat time they went frequently to the palace, overjoyed at theopportunity they would have of executing the detestable wickedness theyhad meditated against the queen. 

Shortly afterward a young prince, as bright as the day, was born to thequeen; but neither his innocence nor beauty could move the cruel heartsof the merciless sisters. They wrapped him up carelessly in his clothsand put him into a basket, which they abandoned to the stream of a smallcanal that ran under the queen's apartment, and declared that she hadgiven birth to a puppy. This dreadful intelligence was announced to theemperor, who became so angry at the circumstance, that he was likely tohave occasioned the queen's death, if his grand vizier had notrepresented to him that he could not, without injustice, make heranswerable for the misfortune. 

In the meantime, the basket in which the little prince was exposed wascarried by the stream beyond a wall which bounded the prospect of thequeen's apartment, and from thence floated with the current down thegardens. By chance the intendant of the emperor's gardens, one of theprincipal officers of the kingdom, was walking in the garden by the sideof this canal, and, perceiving a basket floating, called to a gardenerwho was not far off, to bring it to shore that he might see what itcontained. The gardener, with a rake which he had in his hand, drew thebasket to the side of the canal, took it up, and gave it to him. Theintendant of the gardens was extremely surprised to see in the basket achild, which, though he knew it could be but just born, had very finefeatures. This officer had been married several years, but though he hadalways been desirous of having children, Heaven had never blessed himwith any. This accident interrupted his walk: he made the gardenerfollow him with the child, and when he came to his own house, which wassituated at the entrance to the gardens of the palace, went into hiswife's apartment. "Wife, " said he, "as we have no children of our own, God has sent us one. I recommend him to you; provide him a nurse, andtake as much care of him as if he were our own son; for, from thismoment, I acknowledge him as such. " The intendant's wife received thechild with great joy, and took particular pleasure in the care of him. The intendant himself would not inquire too narrowly whence the infantcame. He saw plainly it came not far off from the queen's apartment, butit was not his business to examine too closely into what had passed, norto create disturbances in a place where peace was so necessary. 

The following year another prince was born, on whom the unnaturalsisters had no more compassion than on his brother, but exposed himlikewise in a basket and set him adrift in the canal, pretending, thistime, that the sultana had given birth to a cat. It was happy also forthis child that the intendant of the gardens was walking by the canalside, for he had it carried to his wife, and charged her to take as muchcare of it as of the former, which was as agreeable to her inclinationas it was to his own. 

The emperor of Persia was more enraged this time against the queen thanbefore, and she had felt the effects of his anger if the grand vizier'sremonstrances had not prevailed. The third year the queen gave birth toa princess, which innocent babe underwent the same fate as her brothers, for the two sisters, being determined not to desist from theirdetestable schemes till they had seen the queen cast off and humbled, claimed that a log of wood had been born and exposed this infant also onthe canal. But the princess, as well as her brothers, was preserved fromdeath by the compassion and charity of the intendant of the gardens. 

Kosrouschah could no longer contain himself, when he was informed of thenew misfortune. He pronounced sentence of death upon the wretched queenand ordered the grand vizier to see it executed. 

The grand vizier and the courtiers who were present cast themselves atthe emperor's feet, to beg of him to revoke the sentence. "Your majesty, I hope, will give me leave, " said the grand vizier, "to represent toyou, that the laws which condemn persons to death were made to punishcrimes; the three extraordinary misfortunes of the queen are not crimes, for in what can she be said to have contributed toward them? Yourmajesty may abstain from seeing her, but let her live. The affliction inwhich she will spend the rest of her life, after the loss of yourfavour, will be a punishment sufficiently distressing. "

The emperor of Persia considered with himself, and, reflecting that itwas unjust to condemn the queen to death for what had happened, said:"Let her live then; I will spare her life, but it shall be on thiscondition: that she shall desire to die more than once every day. Let awooden shed be built for her at the gate of the principal mosque, withiron bars to the windows, and let her be put into it, in the coarsesthabit; and every Mussulman that shall go into the mosque to prayersshall heap scorn upon her. If any one fail, I will have him exposed tothe same punishment; and that I may be punctually obeyed, I charge you, vizier, to appoint persons to see this done. " The emperor pronounced hissentence in such a tone that the grand vizier durst not furtherremonstrate; and it was executed, to the great satisfaction of the twoenvious sisters. A shed was built, and the queen, truly worthy ofcompassion, was put into it and exposed ignominiously to the contempt ofthe people, which usage she bore with a patient resignation that excitedthe compassion of those who were discriminating and judged of thingsbetter than the vulgar. 

The two princes and the princess were, in the meantime, nursed andbrought up by the intendant of the gardens and his wife with thetenderness of a father and mother; and as they advanced in age, they allshowed marks of superior dignity, which discovered itself every day by acertain air which could only belong to exalted birth. All this increasedthe affections of the intendant and his wife, who called the eldestprince Bahman, and the second Perviz, both of them names of the mostancient emperors of Persia, and the princess, Periezade, which name alsohad been borne by several queens and princesses of the kingdom. 

As soon as the two princes were old enough, the intendant providedproper masters to teach them to read and write; and the princess, theirsister, who was often with them, showing a great desire to learn, theintendant, pleased with her quickness, employed the same master to teachher also. Her vivacity and piercing wit made her, in a little time, asgreat a proficient as her brothers. From that time the brothers andsister had the same masters in geography, poetry, history, and even thesecret sciences, and made so wonderful a progress that their tutors wereamazed, and frankly owned that they could teach them nothing more. Atthe hours of recreation, the princess learned to sing and play upon allsorts of instruments; and when the princes were learning to ride shewould not permit them to have that advantage over her, but went throughall the exercises with them, learning to ride also, to bend the bow, anddart the reed or javelin, and oftentimes outdid them in the race andother contests of agility. 

The intendant of the gardens was so overjoyed to find his adoptedchildren so accomplished in all the perfections of body and mind, andthat they so well requited the expense he had been at in theireducation, that he resolved to be at a still greater; for, as he haduntil then been content simply with his lodge at the entrance of thegarden, and kept no country-house, he purchased a mansion at a shortdistance from the city, surrounded by a large tract of arable land, meadows, and woods. As the house was not sufficiently handsome norconvenient, he pulled it down, and spared no expense in building a moremagnificent residence. He went every day to hasten, by his presence, thegreat number of workmen he employed, and as soon as there was anapartment ready to receive him, passed several days together there whenhis presence was not necessary at court; and by the same exertions, theinterior was furnished in the richest manner, in consonance with themagnificence of the edifice. Afterward he made gardens, according to aplan drawn by himself. He took in a large extent of ground, which hewalled around, and stocked with fallow deer, that the princes andprincess might divert themselves with hunting when they chose. 

When this country seat was finished and fit for habitation, theintendant of the gardens went and cast himself at the emperor's feet, and, after representing how long he had served, and the infirmities ofage which he found growing upon him, begged that he might be permittedto resign his charge into his majesty's disposal and retire. The emperorgave him leave, with the more pleasure, because he was satisfied withhis long services, both in his father's reign and his own, and when hegranted it, asked what he should do to recompense him. "Sir, " repliedthe intendant of the gardens, "I have received so many obligations fromyour majesty and the late emperor, your father, of happy memory, that Idesire no more than the honour of dying in your favour. " He took hisleave of the emperor and retired with the two princes and the princessto the country retreat he had built. His wife had been dead some years, and he himself had not lived above six months with his charges before hewas surprised by so sudden a death that he had not time to give them theleast account of the manner in which he had discovered them. The PrincesBahman and Perviz, and the Princess Periezade, who knew no other fatherthan the intendant of the emperor's gardens, regretted and bewailed himas such, and paid all the honours in his funeral obsequies which loveand filial gratitude required of them. Satisfied with the plentifulfortune he had left them, they lived together in perfect union, freefrom the ambition of distinguishing themselves at court, or aspiring toplaces of honour and dignity, which they might easily have obtained. 

One day when the two princes were hunting, and the princess had remainedat home, a religious old woman came to the gate, and desired leave to goin to say her prayers, it being then the hour. The servants asked theprincess's permission, who ordered them to show her into the oratory, which the intendant of the emperor's gardens had taken care to fit up inhis house, for want of a mosque in the neighbourhood. She bade them, also, after the good woman had finished her prayers, to show her thehouse and gardens and then bring her to the hall. 

The old woman went into the oratory, said her prayers, and when she cameout two of the princess's women invited her to see the residence, whichcivility she accepted, followed them from one apartment to another, andobserved, like a person who understood what belonged to furniture, thenice arrangement of everything. They conducted her also into the garden, the disposition of which she found so well planned, that she admired it, observing that the person who had formed it must have been an excellentmaster of his art. Afterward she was brought before the princess, whowaited for her in the great hall, which in beauty and richness exceededall that she had admired in the other apartments. 

As soon as the princess saw the devout woman, she said to her: "My goodmother, come near and sit down by me. I am overjoyed at the happiness ofhaving the opportunity of profiting for some moments by the example andconversation of such a person as you, who have taken the right way bydedicating yourself to the service of God. I wish every one were aswise. "

The devout woman, instead of sitting on a sofa, would only sit upon theedge of one. The princess would not permit her to do so, but rising fromher seat and taking her by the hand, obliged her to come and sit by her. The good woman, sensible of the civility, said: "Madam, I ought not tohave so much respect shown me; but since you command, and are mistressof your own house, I will obey you. " When she had seated herself, beforethey entered into any conversation, one of the princess's women broughta low stand of mother-of-pearl and ebony, with a china dish full ofcakes upon it, and many others set round it full of fruits in season, and wet and dry sweetmeats. 

The princess took up one of the cakes, and presenting her with it, said:"Eat, good mother, and make choice of what you like best; you had needto eat after coming so far. " "Madam, " replied the good woman, "I am notused to eat such delicacies, but will not refuse what God has sent me byso liberal a hand as yours. "

While the devout woman was eating, the princess ate a little too, tobear her company, and asked her many questions upon the exercise ofdevotion which she practised and how she lived; all of which sheanswered with great modesty. Talking of various things, at last theprincess asked her what she thought of the house, and how she liked it. 

"Madam, " answered the devout woman, "I must certainly have very badtaste to disapprove anything in it, since it is beautiful, regular, andmagnificently furnished with exactness and judgment, and all itsornaments adjusted in the best manner. Its situation is an agreeablespot, and no garden can be more delightful; but yet, if you will give meleave to speak my mind freely, I will take the liberty to tell you thatthis house would be incomparable if it had three things which arewanting to complete it. " "My good mother, " replied the PrincessPeriezade, "what are those? I entreat you to tell me what they are; Iwill spare nothing to get them. "

"Madam, " replied the devout woman, "the first of these three things isthe Talking Bird, so singular a creature, that it draws round it all thesongsters of the neighbourhood which come to accompany its voice. Thesecond is the Singing Tree, the leaves of which are so many mouths whichform an harmonious concert of different voices and never cease. Thethird is the Golden Water, a single drop of which being poured into avessel properly prepared, it increases so as to fill it immediately, andrises up in the middle like a fountain, which continually plays, and yetthe basin never overflows. "

"Ah! my good mother, " cried the princess, "how much am I obliged to youfor the knowledge of these curiosities! I never before heard there weresuch rarities in the world; but as I am persuaded that you know, Iexpect that you should do me the favour to inform me where they are tobe found. "

"Madam, " replied the good woman, "I should be unworthy the hospitalityyou have shown me if I should refuse to satisfy your curiosity on thatpoint, and am glad to have the honour to tell you that these curiositiesare all to be met with in the same spot on the confines of this kingdom, toward India. The road lies before your house, and whoever you sendneeds but follow it for twenty days, and on the twentieth only let himask the first person he meets where the Talking Bird, the Singing Tree, and the Golden Water are, and he will be informed. " After saying this, she rose from her seat, took her leave, and went her way. 

The Princess Periezade's thoughts were so taken up with the TalkingBird, Singing Tree, and Golden Water, that she never perceived thedevout woman's departure, till she wanted to ask her some question forher better information; for she thought that what she had been told wasnot a sufficient reason for exposing herself by undertaking a longjourney. However, she would not send after her visitor, but endeavouredto remember all the directions, and when she thought she had recollectedevery word, took real pleasure in thinking of the satisfaction sheshould have if she could get these curiosities into her possession; butthe difficulties she apprehended and the fear of not succeeding made hervery uneasy. 

She was absorbed in these thoughts when her brothers returned fromhunting, who, when they entered the great hall, instead of finding herlively and gay, as she was wont to be, were amazed to see her so pensiveand hanging down her head as if something troubled her. 

"Sister, " said Prince Bahman, "what is become of all your mirth andgaiety? Are you not well? or has some misfortune befallen you? Tell us, that we may know how to act, and give you some relief. If any one hasaffronted you, we will resent his insolence. "

The princess remained in the same posture some time without answering, but at last lifted up her eyes to look at her brothers, and then heldthem down again, telling them nothing disturbed her. 

"Sister, " said Prince Bahman, "you conceal the truth from us; there mustbe something of consequence. It is impossible we could observe so suddena change if nothing was the matter with you. You would not have ussatisfied with the evasive answer you have given; do not concealanything, unless you would have us suspect that you renounce the strictunion which has hitherto subsisted between us. "

The princess, who had not the smallest intention to offend her brothers, would not suffer them to entertain such a thought, but said: "When Itold you nothing disturbed me, I meant nothing that was of importance toyou, but to me it is of some consequence; and since you press me to tellyou by our strict union and friendship, which are so dear to me, I will. You think, and I always believed so too, that this house was so completethat nothing was wanting. But this day I have learned that it lacksthree rarities which would render it so perfect that no country seat inthe world could be compared with it. These three things are the TalkingBird, the Singing Tree, and the Golden Water. " After she had informedthem wherein consisted the excellency of these rarities, "A devoutwoman, " added she, "has made this discovery to me, told me the placewhere they are to be found, and the way thither. Perhaps you may imaginethese things of little consequence; that without these additions ourhouse will always be thought sufficiently elegant, and that we can dowithout them. You may think as you please, but I cannot help telling youthat I am persuaded they are absolutely necessary, and I shall not beeasy without them. Therefore, whether you value them or not, I desireyou to consider what person you may think proper for me to send insearch of the curiosities I have mentioned. "

"Sister, " replied Prince Bahman, "nothing can concern you in which wehave not an equal interest. It is enough that you desire these things tooblige us to take the same interest; but if you had not, we feelourselves inclined of our own accord and for our own individualsatisfaction. I am persuaded my brother is of the same opinion, andtherefore we ought to undertake this conquest, for the importance andsingularity of the undertaking deserve that name. I will take the chargeupon myself; only tell me the place and the way to it, and I will defermy journey no longer than till to-morrow. "

"Brother, " said Prince Perviz, "it is not proper that you, who are thehead of our family, should be absent. I desire my sister should joinwith me to oblige you to abandon your design, and allow me to undertakeit. I hope to acquit myself as well as you, and it will be a moreregular proceeding. " "I am persuaded of your goodwill, brother, " repliedPrince Bahman, "and that you would succeed as well as myself in thisjourney; but I have resolved and will undertake it. You shall stay athome with our sister, and I need not recommend her to you. "

The next morning Bahman mounted his horse, and Perviz and the princessembraced and wished him a good journey. But in the midst of theiradieus, the princess recollected what she had not thought of before. "Brother, " said she, "I had quite forgotten the accidents which attendtravellers. Who knows whether I shall ever see you again? Alight, Ibeseech you, and give up this journey. I would rather be deprived of thesight and possession of the Talking Bird, the Singing Tree, and theGolden Water, than run the risk of never seeing you more. "

"Sister, " replied Bahman, smiling at her sudden fears, "my resolution isfixed. The accidents you speak of befall only those who are unfortunate;but there are more who are not so. However, as events are uncertain, andI may fail in this undertaking, all I can do is to leave you thisknife. "

Bahman pulling a knife from his vestband, and presenting it to theprincess in the sheath, said: "Take this knife, sister, and giveyourself the trouble sometimes to pull it out of the sheath; while yousee it clean as it is now, it will be a sign that I am alive; but if youfind it stained with blood, then you may believe me dead and indulge mewith your prayers. "

The princess could obtain nothing more of Bahman. He bade adieu to herand Prince Perviz for the last time and rode away. When he got into theroad, he never turned to the right hand nor to the left, but wentdirectly forward toward India. The twentieth day he perceived on theroadside a hideous old man, who sat under a tree near a thatched house, which was his retreat from the weather. 

His eyebrows were as white as snow, as was also the hair of his head;his whiskers covered his mouth, and his beard and hair reached down tohis feet. The nails of his hands and feet were grown to an extensivelength, while a flat, broad umbrella covered his head. He had noclothes, but only a mat thrown round his body. This old man was adervish for so many years retired from the world to give himself upentirely to the service of God that at last he had become what we havedescribed. 

Prince Bahman, who had been all that morning very attentive, to see ifhe could meet with anybody who could give him information of the placehe was in search of, stopped when he came near the dervish, alighted, inconformity to the directions which the devout woman had given thePrincess Periezade, and leading his horse by the bridle, advanced towardhim and saluting him, said: "God prolong your days, good father, andgrant you the accomplishment of your desires. "

The dervish returned the prince's salutation, but so unintelligibly thathe could not understand one word he said and Prince Bahman, perceivingthat this difficulty proceeded from the dervish's whiskers hanging overhis mouth, and unwilling to go any further without the instructions hewanted, pulled out a pair of scissors he had about him, and having tiedhis horse to a branch of the tree, said: "Good dervish, I want to havesome talk with you, but your whiskers prevent my understanding what yousay; and if you will consent, I will cut off some part of them and ofyour eyebrows, which disfigure you so much that you look more like abear than a man. "

The dervish did not oppose the offer, and when the prince had cut off asmuch hair as he thought fit, he perceived that the dervish had a goodcomplexion, and that he was not as old as he seemed. "Good dervish, "said he, "if I had a glass I would show you how young you look: you arenow a man, but before, nobody could tell what you were. "

The kind behaviour of Prince Bahman made the dervish smile and returnhis compliment. "Sir, " said he, "whoever you are, I am obliged by thegood office you have performed, and am ready to show my gratitude bydoing anything in my power for you. You must have alighted here uponsome account or other. Tell me what it is, and I will endeavour to serveyou. "

"Good dervish, " replied Prince Bahman, "I am in search of the TalkingBird, the Singing Tree, and the Golden Water; I know these threerarities are not far from hence, but cannot tell exactly the place wherethey are to be found; if you know, I conjure you to show me the way, that I may not lose my labour after so long a journey. "

The prince, while he spoke, observed that the dervish changedcountenance, held down his eyes, looked very serious, and remainedsilent, which obliged him to say to him again: "Good father, tell mewhether you know what I ask you, that I may not lose my time, but informmyself somewhere else. "

At last the dervish broke silence. "Sir, " said he to Prince Bahman, "Iknow the way you ask of me; but the regard which I conceived for you thefirst moment I saw you, and which is grown stronger by the service youhave done me, kept me in suspense as to whether I should give you thesatisfaction you desire. " "What motive can hinder you?" replied theprince; "and what difficulties do you find in so doing?" "I will tellyou, " replied the dervish; "the danger to which you are going to exposeyourself is greater than you may suppose. A number of gentlemen of asmuch bravery as you can possibly possess have passed this way, and askedme the same question. When I had used all my endeavours to persuade themto desist, they would not believe me; at last I yielded to theirimportunities; I was compelled to show them the way, and I can assureyou they have all perished, for I have not seen one come back. Therefore, if you have any regard for your life, take my advice, go nofarther, but return home. "

Prince Bahman persisted in his resolution. "I will not suppose, " said heto the dervish, "but that your advice is sincere. I am obliged to youfor the friendship you express for me; but whatever may be the danger, nothing shall make me change my intention: whoever attacks me, I am wellarmed, and can say I am as brave as any one. " "But they who will attackyou are not to be seen, " replied the dervish; "how will you defendyourself against invisible persons?" "It is no matter, " answered theprince, "all you say shall not persuade me to do anything contrary to myduty. Since you know the way, I conjure you once more to inform me. "

When the dervish found he could not prevail upon Prince Bahman, and thathe was obstinately bent to pursue his journey, notwithstanding hisfriendly remonstrance, he put his hand into a bag that lay by him andpulled out a bowl, which he presented to him. "Since I cannot prevail onyou to attend to my advice, " said he, "take this bowl and when you areon horseback throw it before you, and follow it to the foot of amountain, where it will stop. As soon as the bowl stops, alight, leaveyour horse with the bridle over his neck, and he will stand in the sameplace till you return. As you ascend you will see on your right andleft a great number of large black stones, and will hear on all sides aconfusion of voices, which will utter a thousand abuses to discourageyou, and prevent your reaching the summit of the mountain. Be notafraid; but, above all things, do not turn your head to look behind you, for in that instant you will be changed into such a black stone as thoseyou see, which are all youths who have failed in this enterprise. If youescape the danger of which I give you but a faint idea, and get to thetop of the mountain, you will see a cage, and in that cage is the birdyou seek; ask him which are the Singing Tree and the Golden Water, andhe will tell you. I have nothing more to say; this is what you have todo, and if you are prudent you will take my advice and not expose yourlife. Consider once more while you have time that the difficulties arealmost insuperable. "

"I am obliged to you for your advice, " replied Prince Bahman, after hehad received the bowl, "but cannot follow it. However, I will endeavourto conform myself to that part of it which bids me not to look behindme, and I hope to come and thank you when I have obtained what I amseeking. " After these words, to which the dervish made no other answerthan that he should be overjoyed to see him again, the prince mountedhis horse, took leave of the dervish with a respectful salute, and threwthe bowl before him. 

The bowl rolled away with as much swiftness as when Prince Bahman firsthurled it from his hand, which obliged him to put his horse to the samepace to avoid losing sight of it, and when it had reached the foot ofthe mountain it stopped. The prince alighted from his horse, laid thebridle on his neck, and having first surveyed the mountain and seen theblack stones, began to ascend, but had not gone four steps before heheard the voices mentioned by the dervish, though he could see nobody. Some said: "Where is that fool going? Where is he going? What would hehave? Do not let him pass. " Others: "Stop him, catch him, kill him:" andothers with a voice like thunder: "Thief! assassin! murderer!" whilesome in a gibing tone cried: "No, no, do not hurt him; let the prettyfellow pass, the cage and bird are kept for him. "

Notwithstanding all these troublesome voices, Prince Bahman ascendedwith resolution for some time, but the voices redoubled with so loud adin, both behind and before, that at last he was seized with dread, hislegs trembled under him, he staggered, and finding that his strengthfailed him, he forgot the dervish's advice, turned about to run down thehill, and was that instant changed into a black stone; a metamorphosiswhich had happened to many before him who had attempted the ascent. Hishorse, likewise, underwent the same change. 

From the time of Prince Bahman's departure, the Princess Periezadealways wore the knife and sheath in her girdle, and pulled it outseveral times in a day, to know whether her brother was alive. She hadthe consolation to understand he was in perfect health and to talk ofhim frequently with Prince Perviz. On the fatal day that Prince Bahmanwas transformed into a stone, as Prince Perviz and the princess weretalking together in the evening, as usual, the prince desired his sisterto pull out the knife to know how their brother did. The princessreadily complied, and seeing the blood run down the point was seizedwith so much horror that she threw it down. "Ah! my dear brother, " criedshe, "I have been the cause of your death, and shall never see you more!Why did I tell you of the Talking Bird, Singing Tree, and Golden Water;or rather, of what importance was it to me to know whether the devoutwoman thought this house ugly or handsome, or complete or not? I wishto Heaven she had never addressed herself to me!"

Prince Perviz was as much afflicted at the death of Prince Bahman as theprincess, but not to waste time in needless regret, as he knew that shestill passionately desired possession of the marvellous treasures, heinterrupted her, saying: "Sister, our regret for our brother is vain;our lamentations cannot restore him to life; it is the will of God; wemust submit and adore the decrees of the Almighty without searching intothem. Why should you now doubt of the truth of what the holy woman toldyou? Do you think she spoke to you of three things that were not inbeing, and that she invented them to deceive you who had received herwith so much goodness and civility? Let us rather believe that ourbrother's death is owing to some error on his part, or some accidentwhich we cannot conceive. It ought not therefore to prevent us frompursuing our object. I offered to go this journey, and am now moreresolved than ever; his example has no effect upon my resolution;to-morrow I will depart. "

The princess did all she could to dissuade Prince Perviz, conjuring himnot to expose her to the danger of losing two brothers; but he wasobstinate, and all the remonstrances she could urge had no effect uponhim. Before he went, that she might know what success he had, he lefther a string of a hundred pearls, telling her that if they would not runwhen she should count them upon the string, but remain fixed, that wouldbe a certain sign he had undergone the same fate as his brother; but atthe same time told her he hoped it would never happen, but that heshould have the delight of seeing her again. 

Prince Perviz, on the twentieth day after his departure, met the samedervish in the same place as his brother Bahman had done before him. Hewent directly up to him, and after he had saluted, asked him if hecould tell him where to find the Talking Bird, the Singing Tree, and theGolden Water. The dervish urged the same remonstrances as he had done toPrince Bahman, telling him that a young gentleman, who very muchresembled him, was with him a short time before; that, overcome by hisimportunity, he had shown him the way, given him a guide, and told himhow he should act to succeed, but that he had not seen him since, anddoubted not but he had shared the same fate as all other adventurers. 

"Good dervish, " answered Prince Perviz, "I know whom you speak of; hewas my elder brother, and I am informed of the certainty of his death, but know not the cause. " "I can tell you, " replied the dervish; "he waschanged into a black stone, as all I speak of have been; and you mustexpect the same transformation, unless you observe more exactly than hehas done the advice I gave him, in case you persist in your resolution, which I once more entreat you to renounce. "

"Dervish, " said Prince Perviz, "I cannot sufficiently express how much Iam obliged for the concern you take in my life, who am a stranger toyou, and have done nothing to deserve your kindness; but I thoroughlyconsidered this enterprise before I undertook it; therefore I beg of youto do me the same favour you have done my brother. Perhaps I may havebetter success in following your directions. " "Since I cannot prevailwith you, " said the dervish, "to give up your obstinate resolution, ifmy age did not prevent me, and I could stand, I would get up to reachyou a bowl I have here, which will show you the way. "

Without giving the dervish time to say more, the prince alighted fromhis horse and went to the dervish, who had taken a bowl out of his bag, in which he had a great many, and gave it him, with the same directionshe had given Prince Bahman; and after warning him not to be discouragedby the voices he should hear, however threatening they might be, but tocontinue his way up the hill till he saw the cage and bird, he let himdepart. 

Prince Perviz thanked the dervish, and when he had remounted and takenleave, threw the bowl before his horse, and spurring him at the sametime, followed it. When the bowl came to the bottom of the hill itstopped, the prince alighted, and stood some time to recollect thedervish's directions. He encouraged himself, and began to walk up with aresolution to reach the summit; but before he had gone above six steps, he heard a voice, which seemed to be near, as of a man behind him, sayin an insulting tone: "Stay, rash youth, that I may punish you for yourpresumption. "

Upon this affront the prince, forgetting the dervish's advice, clappedhis hand upon his sword, drew it, and turned about to revenge himself;but had scarcely time to see that nobody followed him before he and hishorse were changed into black stones. 

In the meantime the Princess Periezade, several times a day after herbrother's departure, counted her chaplet. She did not omit it at night, but when she went to bed put it about her neck, and in the morning whenshe awoke counted over the pearls again to see if they would slide. 

The day that Prince Perviz was transformed into a stone she was countingover the pearls as she used to do, when all at once they becameimmovably fixed, a certain token that the prince, her brother, was dead. As she had determined what to do in case it should so happen, she lostno time in outward demonstrations of grief, which she concealed as muchas possible, but having disguised herself in man's apparel, she mountedher horse the next morning, armed and equipped, having told her servantsshe should return in two or three days, and took the same road that herbrothers had done. 

The princess, who had been used to ride on horseback in hunting, supported the fatigue of so long a journey better than most ladies couldhave done; and as she made the same stages as her brothers, she also metwith the dervish on the twentieth day. When she came near him, shealighted from her horse, leading him by the bridle, went and sat down bythe dervish, and after she had saluted him, said: "Good dervish, give meleave to rest myself; and do me the favour to tell me if you have notheard that there are somewhere in this neighbourhood a Talking Bird, aSinging Tree, and Golden Water. "

"Princess, " answered the dervish, "for so I must call you, since by yourvoice I know you to be a woman disguised in man's apparel, I know theplace well where these things are to be found; but what makes you ask methis question?"

"Good dervish, " replied the princess, "I have had such a flatteringrelation of them given me, that I have a great desire to possess them. ""Madam, " replied the dervish, "you have been told the truth. Thesecuriosities are more singular than they have been represented, but youhave not been made acquainted with the difficulties which must besurmounted in order to obtain them. If you had been fully informed ofthese, you would not have undertaken so dangerous an enterprise. Take myadvice, return, and do not urge me to contribute toward your ruin. "

"Good father, " said the princess, "I have travelled a great way, andshould be sorry to return without executing my design. You talk ofdifficulties and danger of life, but you do not tell me what thosedifficulties are, and wherein the danger consists. This is what I desireto know, that I may consider and judge whether I can trust my courageand strength to brave them. "

The dervish repeated to the princess what he had said to the PrincesBahman and Perviz, exaggerating the difficulties of climbing up to thetop of the mountain, where she was to make herself mistress of the Bird, which would inform her of the Singing Tree and Golden Water. Hemagnified the din of the terrible threatening voices which she wouldhear on all sides of her, and the great number of black stones alonesufficient to strike terror. He entreated her to reflect that thosestones were so many brave gentlemen, so metamorphosed for having omittedto observe the principal condition of success in the perilousundertaking, which was not to look behind them before they had gotpossession of the cage. 

When the dervish had done, the princess replied: "By what I comprehendfrom your discourse, the difficulties of succeeding in this affair are, first, the getting up to the cage without being frightened at theterrible din of voices I shall hear; and, secondly, not to look behindme. For this last, I hope I shall be mistress enough of myself toobserve it; as to the first, I own that voices, such as you representthem to be, are capable of striking terror into the most undaunted; butas in all enterprises and dangers every one may use stratagem, I desireto know of you if I may use any in one of so great importance. " "Andwhat stratagem is it you would employ?" said the dervish. "To stop myears with cotton, " answered the princess, "that the voices, howeverterrible, may make the less impression upon my imagination, and my mindremain free from that disturbance which might cause me to lose the useof my reason. "

"Princess, " replied the dervish, "of all the persons who have addressedthemselves to me for information, I do not know that ever one made useof the contrivance you propose. All I know is that they all perished. Ifyou persist in your design, you may make the experiment. You will befortunate if it succeeds, but I would advise you not to expose yourselfto the danger. "

"My good father, " replied the princess, "I am sure my precaution willsucceed, and am resolved to try the experiment. Nothing remains for mebut to know which way I must go, and I conjure you not to deny me thatinformation. " The dervish exhorted her again to consider well what shewas going to do; but finding her resolute, he took out a bowl, andpresenting it to her, said: "Take this bowl, mount your horse again, andwhen you have thrown it before you, follow it through all its windings, till it stops at the bottom of the mountain; there alight and ascend thehill. Go, you know the rest. "

After the princess had thanked the dervish, and taken her leave of him, she mounted her horse, threw the bowl before her, and followed it tillit stopped at the foot of the mountain. 

She then alighted, stopped her ears with cotton, and after she had wellexamined the path leading to the summit began with a moderate pace andwalked up with intrepidity. She heard the voices and perceived the greatservice the cotton was to her. The higher she went, the louder and morenumerous the voices seemed, but they were not capable of making anyimpression upon her. She heard a great many affronting speeches andraillery very disagreeable to a woman, which she only laughed at. "Imind not, " said she to herself, "all that can be said, were it worse; Ionly laugh at them and shall pursue my way. " At last, she climbed sohigh that she could perceive the cage and the Bird which endeavoured, incompany with the voices, to frighten her, crying in a thundering tone, notwithstanding the smallness of its size: "Retire, fool, and approachno nearer. "

The princess, encouraged by this sight, redoubled her speed, and byeffort gained the summit of the mountain, where the ground was level;then running directly to the cage and clapping her hand upon it, cried:"Bird, I have you, and you shall not escape me. "

While Periezade was pulling the cotton out of her ears the Bird said toher: "Heroic princess, be not angry with me for joining with those whoexerted themselves to preserve my liberty. Though in a cage, I wascontent with my condition; but since I am destined to be a slave, Iwould rather be yours than any other person's, since you have obtainedme so courageously. From this instant, I swear entire submission to allyour commands. I know who you are. You do not; but the time will comewhen I shall do you essential service, for which I hope you will thinkyourself obliged to me. As a proof of my sincerity, tell me what youdesire and I am ready to obey you. "

The princess's joy was the more inexpressible, because the conquest shehad made had cost her the lives of two beloved brothers, and given hermore trouble and danger than she could have imagined. "Bird, " said she, "it was my intention to have told you that I wish for many things whichare of importance, but I am overjoyed that you have shown your goodwilland prevented me. I have been told that there is not far off a GoldenWater, the property of which is very wonderful; before all things, I askyou to tell me where it is. " The Bird showed her the place, which wasjust by, and she went and filled a little silver flagon which she hadbrought with her. She returned at once and said: "Bird, this is notenough; I want also the Singing Tree; tell me where it is. " "Turnabout, " said the Bird, "and you will see behind you a wood where youwill find the tree. " The princess went into the wood, and by theharmonious concert she heard, soon knew the tree among many others, butit was very large and high. She came back again and said: "Bird, I havefound the Singing Tree, but I can neither pull it up by the roots norcarry it. " The Bird replied: "It is not necessary that you should takeit up; it will be sufficient to break off a branch and carry it to plantin your garden; it will take root as soon as it is put into the earth, and in a little time will grow to as fine a tree as that you have seen. "

When the princess had obtained possession of the three things for whichshe had conceived so great a desire, she said again: "Bird, what youhave yet done for me is not sufficient. You have been the cause of thedeath of my two brothers, who must be among the black stones I saw as Iascended the mountain. I wish to take the princes home with me. "

The Bird seemed reluctant to satisfy the princess in this point, andindeed made some difficulty to comply. "Bird, " said the princess, "remember you told me that you were my slave. You are so; and your lifeis in my disposal. " "That I cannot deny, " answered the bird; "butalthough what you now ask is more difficult than all the rest, yet Iwill do it for you. Cast your eyes around, " added he, "and look if youcan see a little pitcher. " "I see it already, " said the princess. "Takeit then, " said he, "and as you descend the mountain, sprinkle a littleof the water that is in it upon every black stone. "

The princess took up the pitcher accordingly, carried with her the cageand Bird, the flagon of Golden Water, and the branch of the SingingTree, and as she descended the mountain, threw a little of the water onevery black stone, which was changed immediately into a man; and as shedid not miss one stone, all the horses, both of her brothers and of theother gentlemen, resumed their natural forms also. She instantlyrecognised Bahman and Perviz, as they did her, and ran to embrace her. She returned their embraces and expressed her amazement. "What do youhere, my dear brothers?" said she, and they told her they had beenasleep. "Yes, " replied she, "and if it had not been for me, perhaps youmight have slept till the day of judgment. Do not you remember that youcame to fetch the Talking Bird, the Singing Tree, and the Golden Water, and did not you see, as you came along, the place covered with blackstones? Look and see if there be any now. The gentlemen and their horseswho surround us, and you yourselves, were these black stones. If youdesire to know how this wonder was performed, " continued she, showingthe pitcher, which she set down at the foot of the mountain, "it wasdone by virtue of the water which was in this pitcher, with which Isprinkled every stone. After I had made the Talking Bird (which you seein this cage) my slave, by his directions I found out the Singing Tree, a branch of which I have now in my hand; and the Golden Water, withwhich this flagon is filled; but being still unwilling to return withouttaking you with me, I constrained the Bird, by the power I had over him, to afford me the means. He told me where to find this pitcher, and theuse I was to make of it. "

The Princes Bahman and Perviz learned by this relation the obligationthey had to their sister, as did all the other gentlemen, who expressedto her that, far from envying her happiness in the conquest she hadmade, and which they all had aspired to, they thought they could notbetter express their gratitude for restoring them to life again, than bydeclaring themselves her slaves, and that they were ready to obey her inwhatever she should command. 

"Gentlemen, " replied the princess, "if you had given any attention to mywords, you might have observed that I had no other intention in what Ihave done than to recover my brothers; therefore, if you have receivedany benefit, you owe me no obligation, and I have no further sharein your compliment than your politeness toward me, for which I returnyou my thanks. In other respects, I regard each of you as quite as freeas you were before your misfortunes, and I rejoice with you at thehappiness which has accrued to you by my means. Let us, however, stay nolonger in a place where we have nothing to detain us, but mount ourhorses and return to our respective homes. "

[Illustration]

_It will be sufficient to break off a branch and carry it to plant inyour garden. _

The princess took her horse, which stood in the place where she had lefthim. Before she mounted, Prince Bahman desired her to give him the cageto carry. "Brother, " replied the princess, "the Bird is my slave and Iwill carry him myself; if you will take the pains to carry the branch ofthe Singing Tree, there it is; only hold the cage while I get onhorseback. " When she had mounted her horse, and Prince Bahman had givenher the cage, she turned about and said to Prince Perviz: "I leave theflagon of Golden Water to your care, if it will not be too much troublefor you to carry it, " and Prince Perviz accordingly took charge of itwith pleasure. 

When Bahman, Perviz, and all the gentlemen had mounted their horses, theprincess waited for some of them to lead the way. The two princes paidthat compliment to the gentlemen, and they again to the princess, who, finding that none of them would accept the honour, but that it wasreserved for her, addressed herself to them and said: "Gentlemen, Iexpect that some of you should lead the way;" to which one who wasnearest to her, in the name of the rest, replied: "Madam, were weignorant of the respect due to your sex, yet after what you have donefor us there is no deference we would not willingly pay you, notwithstanding your modesty; we entreat you no longer to deprive us ofthe happiness of following you. "

"Gentlemen, " said the princess, "I do not deserve the honour you do me, and accept it only because you desire it. " At the same time she led theway, and the two princes and the gentlemen followed. 

This illustrious company called upon the dervish as they passed, tothank him for his reception and wholesome advice, which they had allfound to be sincere. He was dead, however; whether of old age, orbecause he was no longer necessary to show the way to obtaining thethree rarities, did not appear. They pursued their route, but lessenedin their numbers every day. The gentlemen who, as we said before, hadcome from different countries, after severally repeating theirobligations to the princess and her brothers, took leave of them oneafter another as they approached the road by which they had come. 

As soon as the princess reached home, she placed the cage in the garden, and the Bird no sooner began to warble than he was surrounded bynightingales, chaffinches, larks, linnets, goldfinches, and everyspecies of birds of the country. The branch of the Singing Tree was nosooner set in the midst of the parterre, a little distance from thehouse, than it took root and in a short time became a large tree, theleaves of which gave as harmonious a concert as those of the parent fromwhich it was gathered. A large basin of beautiful marble was placed inthe garden, and when it was finished, the princess poured into it allthe Golden Water from the flagon, which instantly increased and swelledso much that it soon reached up to the edges of the basin, and afterwardformed in the middle a fountain twenty feet high, which fell again intothe basin perpetually, without running over. 

The report of these wonders was presently spread abroad, and as thegates of the house and those of the gardens were shut to nobody, a greatnumber of people came to admire them. 

Some days after, when the Princes Bahman and Perviz had recovered fromthe fatigue of their journey, they resumed their former way of living;and as their usual diversion was hunting, they mounted their horses andwent for the first time since their return, not to their own demesne, but two or three leagues from their house. As they pursued their sport, the emperor of Persia came in pursuit of game upon the same ground. Whenthey perceived, by the number of horsemen in different places, that hewould soon be up, they resolved to discontinue their chase, and retireto avoid encountering him; but in the very road they took they chancedto meet him in so narrow a way that they could not retreat without beingseen. In their surprise they had only time to alight and prostratethemselves before the emperor, without lifting up their heads to look athim. The emperor, who saw they were as well mounted and dressed as ifthey had belonged to his court, had a curiosity to see their faces. Hestopped and commanded them to rise. The princes rose up and stood beforehim with an easy and graceful air, accompanied with modest countenances. The emperor took some time to view them before he spoke, and after hehad admired their good air and mien, asked them who they were and wherethey lived. 

"Sir, " said Prince Bahman, "we are the sons of the late intendant ofyour majesty's gardens, and live in a house which he built a littlebefore he died, till we should be fit to serve your majesty and ask ofyou some employ when opportunity offered. "

"By what I perceive, " replied the emperor, "you love hunting. " "Sir, "replied Prince Bahman, "it is our common exercise, and what none of yourmajesty's subjects who intend to bear arms in your armies, ought, according to the ancient custom of the kingdom, to neglect. " Theemperor, charmed with so prudent an answer, said: "Since it is so, Ishould be glad to see your expertness in the chase; choose your owngame. "

The princes mounted their horses again and followed the emperor, but hadnot gone far before they saw many wild beasts together. Prince Bahmanchose a lion and Prince Perviz a bear, and pursued them with so muchintrepidity that the emperor was surprised. They came up with their gamenearly at the same time, and darted their javelins with so much skilland address that they pierced the one the lion and the other the bear soeffectually that the emperor saw them fall one after the other. Immediately afterward Prince Bahman pursued another bear, and PrincePerviz another lion, and killed them in a short time, and would havebeaten out for fresh game, but the emperor would not let them, and sentto them to come to him. When they approached he said: "If I had givenyou leave, you would soon have destroyed all my game; but it is not thatwhich I would preserve, but your persons; for I am so well assured yourbravery may one time or other be serviceable to me, that from thismoment your lives will be always dear to me. "

The emperor, in short, conceived so great a kindness for the twoprinces, that he invited them immediately to make him a visit, to whichPrince Bahman replied: "Your majesty does us an honour we do notdeserve, and we beg you will excuse us. "

The emperor, who could not comprehend what reason the princes could haveto refuse this token of his favour, pressed them to tell him why theyexcused themselves. "Sir, " said Prince Bahman, "we have a sister youngerthan ourselves, with whom we live in such perfect union, that weundertake nothing before we consult her, nor she anything without askingour advice. " "I commend your brotherly affection, " answered the emperor. "Consult your sister, meet me to-morrow, and give me an answer. "

The princes went home, but neglected to speak of their adventure inmeeting the emperor and hunting with him, and also of the honour he haddone them, yet did not the next morning fail to meet him at the placeappointed. "Well, " said the emperor, "have you spoken to your sister, and has she consented to the pleasure I expect of seeing you?" The twoprinces looked at each other and blushed. "Sir, " said Prince Bahman, "webeg your majesty to excuse us, for both my brother and I forgot. " "Thenremember to-day, " replied the emperor, "and be sure to bring me ananswer to-morrow. "

The princes were guilty of the same fault a second time, and the emperorwas so good-natured as to forgive their negligence; but to prevent theirforgetfulness the third time, he pulled three little golden balls out ofa purse, and put them into Prince Bahman's bosom. "These balls, " saidhe, smiling, "will prevent your forgetting a third time what I wish youto do for my sake; since the noise they will make by falling on thefloor when you undress will remind you, if you do not recollect itbefore. " The event happened just as the emperor foresaw; and withoutthese balls the princes had not thought of speaking to their sister ofthis affair, for as Prince Bahman unloosed his girdle to go to bed theballs dropped on the floor, upon which he ran into Prince Perviz'schamber, when both went into the Princess Periezade's apartment, andafter they had asked her pardon for coming at so unseasonable a time, they told her all the circumstances of their meeting the emperor. 

The princess was somewhat surprised at this intelligence. "Your meetingwith the emperor, " said she, "is happy and honourable and may in the endbe highly advantageous to you, but it places me in an awkward position. It was on my account, I know, you refused the emperor, and I aminfinitely obliged to you for doing so. I know by this that you wouldrather be guilty of incivility toward the emperor than violate the unionwe have sworn to each other. You judge right, for if you had once goneyou would insensibly have been engaged to devote yourselves to him. Butdo you think it an easy matter absolutely to refuse the emperor what heseems so earnestly to desire? Monarchs will be obeyed in their desires, and it may be dangerous to oppose them; therefore, if to follow myinclination I should dissuade you from obeying him, it may expose you tohis resentment, and may render myself and you miserable. These are mysentiments; but before we conclude upon anything let us consult theTalking Bird and hear what he says; he is penetrating, and has promisedhis assistance in all difficulties. "

The princess sent for the cage, and after she had related thecircumstances to the Bird in the presence of her brothers, asked himwhat they should do in this perplexity. The Bird answered: "The princes, your brothers, must conform to the emperor's pleasure, and in their turninvite him to come and see your house. "

"But, Bird, " replied the princess, "my brothers and I love one another, and our friendship is yet undisturbed. Will not this step be injuriousto that friendship?" "Not at all, " replied the Bird; "it will tendrather to cement it. " "Then, " answered the princess, "the emperor willsee me. " The Bird told her it was necessary he should, and thateverything would go better afterward. 

Next morning the princes met the emperor hunting, who asked them if theyhad remembered to speak to their sister. Prince Bahman approached andanswered: "Sir, we are ready to obey you, for we have not only obtainedour sister's consent with great ease, but she took it amiss that weshould pay her that deference in a matter wherein our duty to yourmajesty was concerned. If we have offended, we hope you will pardonus. " "Do not be uneasy, " replied the emperor. "I highly approve of yourconduct, and hope you will have the same deference and attachment to myperson, if I have ever so little share in your friendship. " The princes, confounded at the emperor's goodness, returned no other answer but a lowobeisance. 

The emperor, contrary to his usual custom, did not hunt long that day. Presuming that the princes possessed wit equal to their courage andbravery, he longed with impatience to converse with them more atliberty. He made them ride on each side of him, an honour which wasenvied by the grand vizier, who was much mortified to see them preferredbefore him. 

When the emperor entered his capital, the eyes of the people, who stoodin crowds in the streets, were fixed upon the two Princes Bahman andPerviz; and they were earnest to know who they might be. 

All, however, agreed in wishing that the emperor had been blessed withtwo such handsome princes, and said that his children would have beenabout the same age, if the queen had not been so unfortunate as to losethem. 

The first thing the emperor did when he arrived at his palace was toconduct the princes into the principal apartments, who praised withoutaffectation the beauty and symmetry of the rooms, and the richness ofthe furniture and ornaments. Afterward a magnificent repast was servedup, and the emperor made them sit with him, which they at first refused;but finding it was his pleasure, they obeyed. 

The emperor, who had himself much learning, particularly in history, foresaw that the princes, out of modesty and respect, would not take theliberty of beginning any conversation. Therefore, to give them anopportunity, he furnished them with subjects all dinner-time. Butwhatever subject he introduced, they shewed so much wit, judgment, anddiscernment, that he was struck with admiration. "Were these my ownchildren, " said he to himself, "and I had improved their talents bysuitable education, they could not have been more accomplished or betterinformed. " In short, he took such great pleasure in their conversation, that, after having sat longer than usual, he led them into his closet, where he pursued his conversation with them, and at last said: "I neversupposed that there were among my subjects in the country youths so wellbrought up, so lively, so capable; and I never was better pleased withany conversation than yours; but it is time now we should relax ourminds with some diversion; and as nothing is more capable of enliveningthe mind than music, you shall hear a vocal and instrumental concertwhich may not be disagreeable to you. "

The emperor had no sooner spoken than the musicians, who had orders toattend, entered, and answered fully the expectations the princes hadbeen led to entertain of their abilities. After the concerts, anexcellent farce was acted, and the entertainment was concluded bydancers of both sexes. 

The two princes, seeing night approach, prostrated themselves at theemperor's feet; and having first thanked him for the favours and honourshe had heaped upon them, asked his permission to retire; which wasgranted by the emperor, who, in dismissing them, said: "I give you leaveto go; but remember, you will be always welcome, and the oftener youcome the greater pleasure you will do me. "

Before they went out of the emperor's presence, Prince Bahman said:"Sir, may we presume to request that your majesty will do us and oursister the honour to pass by our house, and refresh yourself after yourfatigue, the first time you take the diversion of hunting in thatneighbourhood? It is not worthy of your presence; but monarchs sometimeshave vouchsafed to take shelter in a cottage. " "My children, " repliedthe emperor, "your house cannot be otherwise than beautiful and worthyof its owners. I will call and see it with pleasure, which will be thegreater for having for my hosts you and your sister, who is already dearto me from the account you give me of the rare qualities with which sheis endowed: and this satisfaction I will defer no longer than to-morrow. Early in the morning I will be at the place where I shall never forgetthat I first saw you. Meet me, and you shall be my guides. "

When the Princes Bahman and Perviz had returned home, they gave theprincess an account of the distinguished reception the emperor had giventhem, and told her that they had invited him to do them the honour, ashe passed by, to call at their house, and that he had appointed the nextday. 

"If it be so, " replied the princess, "we must think of preparing arepast fit for his majesty; and for that purpose I think it would beproper we should consult the Talking Bird, who will tell us, perhaps, what meats the emperor likes best. " The princes approved of her plan, and after they had retired she consulted the Bird alone. "Bird, " saidshe, "the emperor will do us the honour to-morrow to come and see ourhouse, and we are to entertain him; tell us what we shall do to acquitourselves to his satisfaction. "

"Good mistress, " replied the Bird, "you have excellent cooks, let themdo the best they can; but above all things, let them prepare a dish ofcucumbers stuffed full of pearls, which must be set before the emperorin the first course before all the other dishes. "

"Cucumbers stuffed full of pearls!" cried Princess Periezade withamazement; "surely, Bird, you do not know what you say; it is an unheardof dish. The emperor may admire it as a piece of magnificence, but hewill sit down to eat, and not to admire pearls; besides, all the pearlsI possess are not enough for such a dish. "

"Mistress, " said the Bird, "do what I say, and be not uneasy about whatmay happen. Nothing but good will follow. As for the pearls, go earlyto-morrow morning to the foot of the first tree on your right hand inthe park, dig under it, and you will find more than you want. "

That night the princess ordered a gardener to be ready to attend her, and the next morning early, led him to the tree which the Bird had toldher of, and bade him dig at its foot. When the gardener came to acertain depth, he found some resistance to the spade, and presentlydiscovered a gold box about a foot square, which he showed the princess. "This, " said she, "is what I brought you for; take care not to injure itwith the spade. "

When the gardener took up the box, he gave it into the princess's hands, who, as it was only fastened with neat little hasps, soon opened it, andfound it full of pearls of a moderate size, but equal and fit for theuse that was to be made of them. Very well satisfied with having foundthis treasure, after she had shut the box again, she put it under herarm and went back to the house, while the gardener threw the earth intothe hole at the foot of the tree as it had been before. 

The Princes Bahman and Perviz, who, as they were dressing themselves intheir own apartments, saw their sister in the garden earlier than usual, as soon as they could get out went to her, and met her as she wasreturning with a gold box under her arm, which much surprised them. "Sister, " said Bahman, "you carried nothing with you when we saw youbefore with the gardener, and now we see you have a golden box; is thissome treasure found by the gardener, and did he come and tell you ofit?"

"No, brother, " answered the princess, "I took the gardener to the placewhere this casket was concealed, and showed him where to dig; but youwill be more amazed when you see what it contains. "

The princess opened the box, and when the princes saw that it was fullof pearls, which, though small, were of great value, they asked her howshe came to the knowledge of this treasure. "Brothers, " said she, "comewith me and I will tell you. " The princess, as they returned to thehouse, gave them an account of her having consulted the Bird, as theyhad agreed she should, and the answer he had given her; the objectionshe had raised to preparing a dish of cucumbers stuffed full of pearls, and how he had told her where to find this box. The sister and brothersformed many conjectures to penetrate into what the Bird could mean byordering them to prepare such a dish; but after much conversation, theyagreed to follow his advice exactly. 

As soon as the princess entered the house, she called for the head cook;and after she had given him directions about the entertainment for theemperor, said to him: "Besides all this, you must dress an extraordinarydish for the emperor's own eating, which nobody else must have anythingto do with besides yourself. This dish must be of cucumbers stuffed withthese pearls;" and at the same time she opened him the box, and showedhim the jewels. 

The chief cook, who had never heard of such a dish, started back, andshowed his thoughts by his looks; which the princess penetrating, said:"I see you take me to be mad to order such a dish, which one may saywith certainty was never made. I know this as well as you; but I am notmad, and give you these orders with the most perfect recollection. Youmust invent and do the best you can, and bring me back what pearls areleft. " The cook could make no reply, but took the box and retired; andafterward the princess gave directions to all the domestics to haveeverything in order, both in the house and gardens, to receive theemperor. 

Next day the two princes went to the place appointed, and as soon as theemperor of Persia arrived the chase began and lasted till the heat ofthe sun obliged him to leave off. While Prince Bahman stayed to conductthe emperor to their house, Prince Perviz rode before to show the way, and when he came in sight of the house, spurred his horse, to inform theprincess that the emperor was approaching; but she had been told by someservants whom she had placed to give notice, and the prince found herwaiting ready to receive him. 

When the emperor had entered the court-yard and alighted at the portico, the princess came and threw herself at his feet, and the two princesinformed him she was their sister, and besought him to accept herrespects. 

The emperor stooped to raise her, and after he had gazed some time onher beauty, struck with her fine person and dignified air, he said: "Thebrothers are worthy of the sister, and she worthy of them; since, if Imay judge of her understanding by her person, I am not amazed that thebrothers would do nothing without their sister's consent; but, " addedhe, "I hope to be better acquainted with you, my daughter, after I haveseen the house. "

"Sir, " said the princess, "it is only a plain country residence, fit forsuch people as we are, who live retired from the great world. It is notto be compared with the magnificent palaces of emperors. " "I cannotperfectly agree with you in opinion, " said the emperor very obligingly, "for its first appearance makes me suspect you; however, I will not passmy judgment upon it till I have seen it all; therefore be pleased toconduct me through the apartments. "

The princess led the emperor through all the rooms except the hall; and, after he had considered them very attentively, and admired theirvariety, "My daughter, " said he to the princess, "do you call this acountry house? The finest and largest cities would soon be deserted ifall country houses were like yours. I am no longer surprised that youdespise the town. Now let me see the garden, which I doubt not isanswerable to the house. "

The princess opened a door which led into the garden, and the firstobject which presented itself to the emperor's view was the goldenfountain. Surprised at so rare an object, he asked from whence thatwonderful water, which gave so much pleasure to behold, had beenprocured; where was its source, and by what art it was made to play sohigh. He said he would presently take a nearer view of it. 

The princess then led him to the spot where the harmonious tree wasplanted; and there the emperor heard a concert, different from all hehad ever heard before; and stopping to see where the musicians were, hecould discern nobody far or near, but still distinctly heard the musicwhich ravished his senses. "My daughter, " said he to the princess, "where are the musicians whom I hear? Are they under ground, orinvisible in the air? Such excellent performers will hazard nothing bybeing seen; on the contrary, they would please the more. "

"Sir, " answered the princess, smiling, "they are not musicians, but theleaves of the tree your majesty sees before you, which form thisconcert; and if you will give yourself the trouble to go a littlenearer, you will be convinced, and the voices will be the moredistinct. "

The emperor went nearer and was so charmed with the sweet harmony thathe would never have been tired with hearing it, but that his desire tohave a nearer view of the fountain of golden water forced him away. "Daughter, " said he, "tell me, I pray you, whether this wonderful treewas found in your garden by chance, or was a present made to you, orhave you procured it from some foreign country? It must certainly havecome from a great distance, otherwise curious as I am after naturalrarities I should have heard of it. What name do you call it by?"

"Sir, " replied the princess, "this tree has no other name than that ofthe Singing Tree, and is not a native of this country. It would atpresent take up too much time to tell your majesty by what adventures itcame here; its history is connected with the Golden Water and theTalking Bird, which came to me at the same time, and which your majestymay presently see. But if it be agreeable to your majesty, after youhave rested yourself and recovered the fatigue of hunting, which must bethe greater because of the sun's intense heat, I will do myself thehonour of relating it to you. "

"My daughter, " replied the emperor, "my fatigue is so well recompensedby the wonderful things you have shown me, that I do not feel it in theleast. Let me see the Golden Water, for I am impatient to see and admireafterward the Talking Bird. "

When the emperor came to the Golden Water, his eyes were fixed sosteadfastly upon the fountain, that he could not take them off. At last, addressing himself to the princess, he said: "As you tell me, daughter, that this water has no spring or communication, I conclude that it isforeign, as well as the Singing Tree. "

"Sir, " replied the princess, "it is as your majesty conjectures; and tolet you know that this water has no communication with any spring, Imust inform you that the basin is one entire stone, so that the watercannot come in at the sides or underneath. But what your majesty willthink most wonderful is that all this water proceeded but from one smallflagon, emptied into this basin, which increased to the quantity yousee, by a property peculiar to itself, and formed this fountain. ""Well, " said the emperor, going from the fountain, "this is enough forone time. I promise myself the pleasure to come and visit it often; butnow let us go and see the Talking Bird. "

As he went toward the hall, the emperor perceived a prodigious number ofsinging birds in the trees around, filling the air with their songs andwarblings, and asked why there were so many there and none on the othertrees in the garden. "The reason, sir, " answered the princess, "isbecause they come from all parts to accompany the song of the TalkingBird, which your majesty may see in a cage in one of the windows of thehall we are approaching; and if you attend, you will perceive that hisnotes are sweeter than those of any of the other birds, even thenightingale's. "

The emperor went into the hall; and as the Bird continued singing, theprincess raised her voice, and said, "My slave, here is the emperor, payyour compliments to him. " The Bird left off singing that instant, whenall the other birds ceased also, and said: "The emperor is welcome; Godprosper him and prolong his life!" As the entertainment was served onthe sofa near the window where the Bird was placed, the sultan replied, as he was taking his seat: "Bird, I thank you, and am overjoyed to findin you the sultan and king of birds. "

As soon as the emperor saw the dish of cucumbers set before him, thinking they were prepared in the best manner, he reached out his handand took one; but when he cut it, was in extreme surprise to find itstuffed with pearls. "What novelty is this?" said he; "and with whatdesign were these cucumbers stuffed thus with pearls, since pearls arenot to be eaten?" He looked at his hosts to ask them the meaning whenthe Bird interrupting him, said: "Can your majesty be in such greatastonishment at cucumbers stuffed with pearls, which you see with yourown eyes, and yet so easily believe that the queen, your wife, gavebirth to a dog, a cat, and a piece of wood?" "I believed those things, "replied the emperor, "because the attendants assured me of the facts. ""Those attendants, sir, " replied the Bird, "were the queen's twosisters, who, envious of her happiness in being preferred by yourmajesty before them, to satisfy their envy and revenge, have abused yourmajesty's credulity. If you interrogate them, they will confess theircrime. The two brothers and the sister whom you see before you are yourown children, whom they exposed, and who were taken in by the intendantof your gardens, who provided nurses for them, and took care of theireducation. "

This speech presently cleared up the emperor's understanding. "Bird, "cried he, "I believe the truth which you discover to me. The inclinationwhich drew me to them told me plainly they must be of my own blood. Comethen, my sons, come, my daughter, let me embrace you, and give you thefirst marks of a father's love and tenderness. " The emperor then rose, and after having embraced the two princes and the princess, and mingledhis tears with theirs, said: "It is not enough, my children; you mustembrace each other, not as the children of the intendant of my gardens, to whom I have been so much obliged for preserving your lives, but as myown children, of the royal blood of the monarchs of Persia, whoseglory, I am persuaded you will maintain. "

After the two princes and princess had embraced mutually with newsatisfaction, the emperor sat down again with them, and finished hismeal in haste; and when he had done, said: "My children, you see in meyour father; to-morrow I will bring the queen, your mother, thereforeprepare to receive her. "

The emperor afterward mounted his horse, and returned with expedition tohis capitol. The first thing he did, as soon as he had alighted andentered his palace, was to command the grand vizier to seize the queen'stwo sisters. They were taken from their houses separately, convicted, and condemned to death; which sentence was put in execution within anhour. 

In the meantime, the Emperor Kosrouschah, followed by all the lords ofhis court who were then present, went on foot to the door of the greatmosque; and after he had taken the queen out of the strict confinementshe had languished under for so many years, embracing her in themiserable condition to which she was then reduced, said to her withtears in his eyes: "I come to entreat your pardon for the injustice Ihave done you, and to make you the reparation I ought; which I havebegun, by punishing the unnatural wretches who put the abominable cheatupon me; and I hope you will look upon it as complete, when I present toyou two accomplished princes and a lovely princess, our children. Comeand resume your former rank, with all the honours which are your due. "All this was done and said before great crowds of people who flockedfrom all parts at the first news of what was passing, and immediatelyspread the joyful intelligence through the city. 

Next morning early the emperor and queen, whose mournful humiliatingdress was changed for magnificent robes, went with all their court tothe house built by the intendant of the gardens, where the emperorpresented the Princes Bahman and Perviz, and the Princess Periezade totheir enraptured mother. "These, much injured wife, " said he, "are thetwo princes your sons, and the princess your daughter; embrace them withthe same tenderness I have done, since they are worthy both of me andyou. " The tears flowed plentifully down their cheeks at these tenderembraces, especially the queen's, from the comfort and joy of having twosuch princes for her sons, and such a princess for her daughter, onwhose account she had so long endured the severest afflictions. 

The two princes and the princess had prepared a magnificent repast forthe emperor and queen and their court. As soon as that was over, theemperor led the queen into the garden, and shewed her the HarmoniousTree and the beautiful effect of the Golden Fountain. She had seen theBird in his cage, and the emperor had spared no panegyric in his praiseduring the repast. 

When there was nothing to detain the emperor any longer, he took horse, and with the Princes Bahman and Perviz on his right hand, and the queenconsort and the princess at his left, preceded and followed by all theofficers of his court, according to their rank, returned to his capital. Crowds of people came out to meet them, and with acclamations of joyushered them into the city, where all eyes were fixed not only upon thequeen, and her royal children, but also upon the Bird, which theprincess carried before her in his cage, admiring his sweet notes, whichhad drawn all the other birds about him, and followed him flying fromtree to tree in the country, and from one house top to another in thecity. The Princes Bahman and Perviz and the Princess Periezade were atlength brought to the palace with pomp, and nothing was to be seen orheard all that night but illuminations and rejoicings both in the palaceand in the utmost parts of the city, which lasted many days, and werecontinued throughout the empire of Persia, as intelligence of the joyfulevent reached the several provinces. 

THE STORY OF THE FISHERMAN AND THE GENIE

There was once an aged fisherman who was so poor that he could scarcelyearn as much as would maintain himself, his wife, and three children. Hewent every day to fish betimes in the morning, and imposed it as a lawupon himself not to cast his nets above four times a day. He went onemorning by moonlight, and coming to the seaside, undressed himself, andcast in his nets. As he drew them toward the shore, he found them veryheavy, and thought he had a good draught of fish, at which he rejoiced;but a moment after, perceiving that instead of fish his net containednothing but the carcass of an ass, he was much vexed. 

When he had mended his nets, which the carcass of the ass had broken inseveral places, he threw them in a second time; and when he drew them, found a great deal of resistance, which made him think he had takenabundance of fish; but he found nothing except a basket full of graveland slime, which grieved him extremely. "O Fortune!" cried he, with alamentable tone, "be not angry with me, nor persecute a wretch who praysthee to spare him. I came hither from my house to seek for mylivelihood, and thou pronouncest against me a sentence of death. I haveno other trade but this to subsist by, and, notwithstanding all my care, I can scarcely provide what is necessary for my family. But I am toblame to complain of thee; thou takest pleasure to persecute honestpeople, and advancest those who have no virtue to recommend them. "

Having finished this complaint, he fretfully threw away the basket, and, washing his nets from the slime, cast them a third time, but brought upnothing except stones, shells, and mud. No language can express hisdisappointment; he was almost distracted. However, when day began toappear, he did not forget to say his prayers like a good Mussulman, andhe added to them this petition: "Lord, thou knowest that I cast my netsonly four times a day; I have already drawn them three times, withoutthe least reward for my labour: I am only to cast them once more; I praythee to render the sea favourable to me, as thou didst to Moses. "

The fisherman, having finished this prayer, cast his nets the fourthtime; and when he thought it was proper, drew them as formerly withgreat difficulty; but instead of fish found nothing in them but a vesselof yellow copper, which, from its weight, seemed not to be empty; and heobserved that it was fastened and closed with lead, having theimpression of a seal upon it. This turn of fortune rejoiced him: "I willsell it, " said he, "to the founder, and with the money buy a measure ofcorn. " He examined the vessel on all sides, and shook it to see if itscontents made any noise, but heard nothing. This circumstance, with theimpression of the seal upon the cover, made him think it enclosedsomething precious. To try this, he took a knife and opened it with verylittle labour. He turned the mouth downward, but nothing came out, whichsurprised him extremely. He placed it before him, but while he viewed itattentively, there burst forth a very thick smoke, which obliged him toretire two or three paces back. 

The smoke ascended to the clouds, and, extending itself along the seaand upon the shore, formed a great mist, which filled the fishermanwith astonishment. When the smoke was all out of the vessel, itreunited, and became a solid body, of which was formed a genie twice ashigh as the greatest of giants. At the sight of such a monster thefisherman would fain have fled, but was so frightened that he could notmove. 

"Solomon, " cried the genie immediately, "Solomon, the great prophet, pardon, pardon; I will never more oppose your will, I will obey all yourcommands. "

The fisherman, when he heard these words of the genie, recovered hiscourage and said to him: "Thou proud spirit, what is it you say? It isabove eighteen hundred years since the prophet Solomon died, and we arenow at the end of time. Tell me your history, and how you came to beshut up in this vessel. "

The genie, turning to the fisherman with a fierce look, said: "Thou mustaddress me with more courtesy; thou art a presumptuous fellow to call mea proud spirit; speak to me more respectfully, or I will kill thee. ""Ah!" replied the fisherman, "why should you kill me? Did I not just nowset you at liberty, and have you already forgotten my services?"

"No, I remember it, " said the genie, "but that shall not save thy life:I have only one favour to grant thee. " "And what is that?" asked thefisherman. "It is, " answered the genie, "to give thee thy choice in whatmanner thou wouldst have me put thee to death. " "But wherein have Ioffended you?" demanded the fisherman. "Is that your reward for theservice I have rendered you?" "I cannot treat thee otherwise, " said thegenie; "and that thou mayest know the reason, hearken to my story. "

"I am one of those rebellious spirits that opposed the will of Solomon, the son of David, and to avenge himself, that monarch sent Asaph, theson of Barakhia, his chief minister, to apprehend me. Asaph seizedmy person, and brought me by force before his master's throne. 

"Solomon commanded me to acknowledge his power, and to submit to hiscommands. I bravely refused, and told him I would rather expose myselfto his resentment, than swear fealty as he required. To punish me, heshut me up in this copper vessel; and that I might not break my prison, he himself stamped upon this leaden cover his seal with the great nameof God engraven upon it. He then gave the vessel to one of the genieswho had submitted, with orders to throw me into the sea. 

"During the first hundred years of my imprisonment, I swore that if anyone should deliver me before the expiration of that period, I would makehim rich, even after his death; but that century ran out, and nobody didme the good office. During the second, I made an oath that I would openall the treasures of the earth to any one that might set me at liberty;but with no better success. In the third, I promised to make mydeliverer a potent monarch, and to grant him every day three requests, of what nature soever they might be; but this century passed as well asthe two former, and I continued in prison. At last, being angry to findmyself a prisoner so long, I swore that if afterward any one shoulddeliver me, I would kill him without mercy, and grant him no favour butto choose the manner of his death; and, therefore, since thou hastdelivered me to-day, I give thee that choice. "

[Illustration]

_The smoke ascended to the clouds, and extending itself along the seaand upon the shore formed a great mist. _

This discourse afflicted the fisherman extremely: "I am veryunfortunate, " cried he, "to come hither to do such a kindness to onethat is so ungrateful. I beg you to consider your injustice, and revokesuch an unreasonable oath; pardon me, and Heaven will pardon you; if yougrant me my life, Heaven will protect you from all attempts against yourown. " "No, thy death is resolved on, " said the genie, "only choose inwhat manner thou wilt die. " The fisherman, perceiving the genie to beresolute, was extremely grieved, not so much for himself, as on accountof his three children, and bewailed the misery they must be reduced toby his death. He endeavoured still to appease the genie, and said, "Alas! be pleased to take pity on me, in consideration of the service Ihave done you. " "I have told thee already, " replied the genie, "it isfor that very reason I must kill thee. " "That is strange, " said thefisherman, "are you resolved to reward good with evil? The proverb trulysays, 'He who does good to one who deserves it not, is always illrewarded. '" "Do not lose time, " interrupted the genie; "all thychattering shall not divert me from my purpose; make haste, and tell mewhat kind of death thou preferrest?"

Necessity is the mother of invention. The fisherman bethought himself ofa stratagem. "Since I must die then, " said he to the genie, "I submit tothe will of Heaven; but before I choose the manner of my death, Iconjure you, by the great name which was engraven upon the seal of theprophet Solomon, to answer me truly the question I am going to ask you. "

The genie finding himself obliged to a positive answer by thisadjuration, trembled, and replied to the fisherman: "Ask what thou wilt, but make haste. "

The genie having thus promised to speak the truth, the fisherman said tohim: "I wish to know if you were actually in this vessel: dare you swearit by the name of the great God?" "Yes, " replied the genie, "I do swearby His great name that I was. " "In good faith, " answered the fisherman, "I cannot believe you; the vessel is not capable of holding one of yoursize, and how should it be possible that your whole body could lie init?" "I swear to thee, notwithstanding, " replied the genie, "that I wasthere just as you see me here. Is it possible that thou dost not believeme after the solemn oath I have taken?" "Truly not I, " said thefisherman; "nor will I believe you, unless you go into the vesselagain. "

Upon this the body of the genie dissolved and changed itself into smoke, extending as before upon the seashore; and at last being collected, itbegan to re-enter the vessel, which it continued to do by a slow andequal motion, till no part remained out; when immediately a voice cameforth, which said to the fisherman: "Well, incredulous fellow, dost thounot believe me now?"

The fisherman, instead of answering the genie, took the cover of lead, and having speedily replaced it on the vessel, "Genie, " cried he, "nowit is your turn to beg my favour, and to choose which way I shall putyou to death; but it is better that I should throw you into the sea, whence I took you: and then I will build a house upon the shore, where Iwill reside and give notice to all fishermen who come to throw in theirnets, to beware of such a wicked genie as you are, who have made an oathto kill him that shall set you at liberty. "

The genie, enraged at these expressions, struggled to free himself; butit was impossible, for the impression of Solomon's seal prevented him. Perceiving that the fisherman had the advantage of him, he thought fitto dissemble his anger; "Fisherman, " said he, "take heed you do not whatyou threaten; for what I spoke to you was only by way of jest. " "Ogenie!" replied the fisherman, "thou who wast but a moment ago thegreatest of all genies, and now art the least of them, thy craftydiscourse will signify nothing, to the sea thou shalt return. If thouhast been there already so long as thou hast told me, thou mayest verywell stay there till the day of judgment. I begged of thee, in God'sname, not to take away my life, and thou didst reject my prayers; I amobliged to treat thee in the same manner. "

The genie omitted nothing that he thought likely to prevail with thefisherman: "Open the vessel, " said he, "give me my liberty, and Ipromise to satisfy you to your own content. " "Thou art a traitor, "replied the fisherman, "I should deserve to lose my life, if I were sucha fool as to trust thee. "

"My good fisherman, " replied the genie, "I conjure you once more not tobe guilty of such cruelty; consider that it is not good to avenge one'sself, and that, on the other hand, it is commendable to do good forevil; do not treat me as Imama formerly treated Ateca. " "And what didImama to Ateca?" inquired the fisherman. "Ho!" cried the genie, "if youhave a mind to be informed, open the vessel: do you think that I can bein a humour to relate stories in so strait a prison? I will tell you asmany as you please, when you have let me out. " "No, " said the fisherman, "I will not let thee out; it is in vain to talk of it; I am just goingto throw thee into the bottom of the sea. " "Hear me one word more, "cried the genie; "I promise to do you no hurt; nay, far from that, Iwill show you a way to become exceedingly rich. "

The hope of delivering himself from poverty prevailed with thefisherman. "I could listen to thee, " said he, "were there any credit tobe given to thy word; swear to me, by the great name of God, that thouwilt faithfully perform what thou promisest, and I will open the vessel;I do not believe thou wilt dare to break such an oath. "

The genie swore to him, upon which the fisherman immediately took offthe covering of the vessel. At that instant the smoke ascended, and thegenie, having resumed his form, the first thing he did was to kick thevessel into the sea. This action alarmed the fisherman. "Genie, " saidhe, "will not you keep the oath you just now made?"

The genie laughed at his fear, and answered: "Fisherman, be not afraid, I only did it to divert myself, and to see if you would be alarmed atit; but to convince you that I am in earnest, take your nets and followme. " As he spoke these words, he walked before the fisherman, who havingtaken up his nets, followed him, but with some distrust. They passed bythe town, and came to the top of a mountain, from whence they descendedinto a vast plain, which brought them to a lake that lay betwixt fourhills. 

When they reached the side of the lake, the genie said to the fisherman:"Cast in your nets and catch fish. " The fisherman did not doubt oftaking some, because he saw a great number in the water; but he wasextremely surprised when he found they were of four colours; white, red, blue, and yellow. He threw in his nets and brought out one of eachcolour. Having never seen the like before, he could not but admire them, and, judging that he might get a considerable sum for them, he was veryjoyful. "Carry those fish, " said the genie to him, "and present them toyour sultan; he will give you more money for them. You may come daily tofish in this lake; but I give you warning not to throw in your netsabove once a day, otherwise you will repent. " Having spoken thus, hestruck his foot upon the ground, which opened, and after it hadswallowed him up, closed again. 

The fisherman, being resolved to follow the genie's advice, forborecasting in his nets a second time, and returned to the town very wellsatisfied, and making a thousand reflections upon his adventure. He wentimmediately to the sultan's palace to offer his fish, and his majestywas much surprised when he saw the wonders which the fishermanpresented. He took them up one after another, and viewed them withattention; and after having admired them a long time, "Take those fish, "said he to his vizier, "and carry them to the cook whom the emperor ofthe Greeks has sent me. I cannot imagine but that they must be as goodas they are beautiful. "

The vizier carried them as he was directed, and delivering them to thecook, said: "Here are four fish just brought to the sultan; he ordersyou to dress them. " He then returned to the sultan, who commanded him togive the fisherman four hundred pieces of gold, which he didaccordingly. 

The fisherman, who had never seen so much money, could scarcely believehis good fortune, but thought the whole must be a dream, until he foundit otherwise, by being able to provide necessaries for his family withthe produce of his nets. 

As soon as the sultan's cook had cleaned the fish, she put them upon thefire in a frying-pan, with oil, and when she thought them fried enoughon one side, she turned them upon the other; but, O monstrous prodigy!scarcely were they turned, when the wall of the kitchen divided, and ayoung lady of wonderful beauty entered from the opening. She held a rodin her hand and was clad in flowered satin, with pendants in her ears, anecklace of large pearls, and bracelets of gold set with rubies. Shemoved toward the frying-pan, to the great amazement of the cook, andstriking one of the fish with the end of the rod, said: "Fish, fish, areyou in your duty?" The fish having answered nothing, she repeated thesewords, and then the four fish lifted up their heads, and replied: "Yes, yes: if you reckon, we reckon; if you pay your debts, we pay ours; ifyou fly, we overcome, and are content. " As soon as they had finishedthese words, the lady overturned the frying-pan, and returned into theopen part of the wall, which closed immediately, and became as it wasbefore. 

The cook was greatly frightened at what had happened, and coming alittle to herself went to take up the fish that had fallen on thehearth, but found them blacker than coal and not fit to be carried tothe sultan. This grievously troubled her, and she fell to weeping mostbitterly. "Alas!" said she, "what will become of me? If I tell thesultan what I have seen, I am sure he will not believe me, but will beenraged against me. "

While she was thus bewailing herself, the grand vizier entered, andasked her if the fish were ready. She told him all that had occurred, which we may easily imagine astonished him; but without speaking a wordof it to the sultan he invented an excuse that satisfied him, andsending immediately for the fisherman bid him bring four more such fish, for a misfortune had befallen the others, so that they were not fit tobe carried to the royal table. The fisherman, without saying anything ofwhat the genie had told him, told the vizier he had a great way to gofor them, in order to excuse himself from bringing them that day, butsaid that he would certainly bring them on the morrow. 

Accordingly the fisherman went away by night, and coming to the lake, threw in his nets betimes next morning, took four fish like the former, and brought them to the vizier at the hour appointed. The minister tookthem himself, carried them to the kitchen, and shutting himself up withthe cook, she cleaned them and put them on the fire. When they werefried on one side, and she had turned them upon the other, the kitchenwall again opened, and the same lady came in with the rod in her hand, struck one of the fish, spoke to it as before, and all four gave her thesame answer. 

After they had spoken to the young lady, she overturned the frying-panwith her rod, and retired into the wall. The grand vizier being witnessto what had passed, "This is too wonderful and extraordinary, " said he, "to be concealed from the sultan; I will inform him of this prodigy. "

The sultan, being much surprised, sent immediately for the fisherman, and said to him: "Friend, cannot you bring me four more such fish?" Thefisherman replied: "If your majesty will be pleased to allow me threedays, I will do it. " Having obtained his time, he went to the lakeimmediately, and at the first throwing in of his net he caught fourfish, and brought them directly to the sultan, who was so much the morerejoiced, as he did not expect them so soon, and ordered him fourhundred pieces of gold. As soon as the sultan had the fish, he orderedthem to be carried into his closet, with all that was necessary forfrying them; and having shut himself up with the vizier, the ministercleaned them, put them into the pan, and when they were fried on oneside, turned them upon the other; then the wall of the closet opened, but instead of the young lady, there came out a black, in the habit of aslave, and of a gigantic stature, with a great green staff in his hand. He advanced toward the pan, and touching one of the fish with his staff, said, with a terrible voice: "Fish, are you in your duty?" At thesewords the fish raised up their heads, and answered: "Yes, yes; we are;if you reckon, we reckon; if you pay your debts, we pay ours; if youfly, we overcome and are content. "

The fish had no sooner finished these words, than the black threw thepan into the middle of the closet, and reduced them to a coal. Havingdone this, he retired fiercely, and entering again into the aperture, itclosed, and the wall appeared just as it did before. 

"After what I have seen, " said the sultan to the vizier, "it will not bepossible for me to be easy; these fish, without doubt, signify somethingextraordinary. " He sent for the fisherman, and when he came, said tohim: "Fisherman, the fish you have brought us make me very uneasy; wheredid you catch them?" "Sir, " answered he, "I fished for them in a lakesituated betwixt four hills, beyond the mountain that we see fromhence. " "Know'st thou not that lake?" said the sultan to the vizier. "No, " replied the vizier, "I never so much as heard of it, although Ihave for sixty years hunted beyond that mountain. " The sultan asked thefisherman how far the lake might be from the palace. The fishermananswered it was not above three hours' journey; upon this assurance thesultan commanded all his court to take horse, and the fisherman servedthem for a guide. They all ascended the mountain, and at the foot of itthey saw, to their great surprise, a vast plain that nobody had observedtill then, and at last they came to the lake, which they found to besituated betwixt four hills, as the fisherman had described. The waterwas so transparent that they observed all the fish to be like thosewhich the fisherman had brought to the palace. 

The sultan stood upon the bank of the lake, and after beholding the fishwith admiration, demanded of his courtiers if it were possible they hadnever seen this lake which was within so short a distance of the town. They all answered that they had never so much as heard of it. 

"Since you all agree that you never heard of it, " said the sultan, "andas I am no less astonished than you are at this novelty, I am resolvednot to return to my palace till I learn how this lake came here, and whyall the fish in it are of four colours. " Having spoken thus, he orderedhis court to encamp; and immediately his pavilion and the tents of hishousehold were planted upon the banks of the lake. 

When night came the sultan retired under his pavilion, and spoke to thegrand vizier thus: "Vizier, my mind is uneasy; this lake transportedhither, the black that appeared to us in my closet, and the fish that weheard speak; all these things so much excite my curiosity that I cannotresist my impatient desire to have it satisfied. To this end I amresolved to withdraw alone from the camp, and I order you to keep myabsence secret: stay in my pavilion, and to-morrow morning, when theemirs and courtiers come to attend my levee, send them away and tellthem that I am somewhat indisposed and wish to be alone; and thefollowing days tell them the same thing, till I return. "

The grand vizier endeavoured to divert the sultan from this design; herepresented to him the danger to which he might be exposed, and that allhis labour might perhaps be in vain; but it was to no purpose; thesultan was resolved. He put on a suit fit for walking and took hiscimeter; and as soon as he found that all was quiet in the camp, wentout alone, and passed over one of the hills without much difficulty; hefound the descent still more easy, and when he came to the plain, walkedon till the sun arose, and then he saw before him, at a considerabledistance, a vast building. He rejoiced at the sight, in hopes ofreceiving there the information he sought. When he drew near, he foundit was a magnificent palace, or rather a strong castle, of blackpolished marble, and covered with fine steel, as smooth as glass. Beinghighly pleased that he had so speedily met with something worthy hiscuriosity, he stopped before the front of the castle, and considered itwith attention. 

He then advanced toward the gate, which had two leaves, one of themopen; though he might immediately have entered, yet he thought it bestto knock. This he did at first softly, and waited for some time; butseeing no one, and supposing he had not been heard, he knocked harderthe second time, and after that he knocked again and again, but no oneyet appearing, he was exceedingly surprised; for he could not thinkthat a castle in such repair was without inhabitants. "If there be noone in it, " said he to himself, "I have nothing to fear; and if it beinhabited, I have wherewith to defend myself. "

At last he entered, and when he came within the porch, he cried: "Isthere no one here to receive a stranger who comes in for somerefreshment as he passes by?" He repeated the same words two or threetimes; but though he spoke very loud, he was not answered. The silenceincreased his astonishment: he came into a spacious court, and looked onevery side for inhabitants, but discovered none. 

Perceiving nobody in the court, he entered the grand halls, which werehung with silk tapestry, the alcoves and sofas covered with stuffs ofMecca, and the porches with the richest stuffs of India. He cameafterward into a superb saloon, in the middle of which was a fountain, with a lion of massy gold at each angle: water issued from the mouths ofthe four lions, and as it fell, formed diamonds and pearls resembling ajet d'eau, which, springing from the middle of the fountain, rose nearlyto the top of a cupola painted in Arabesque. 

The castle, on three sides, was encompassed by a garden, with parterresof flowers and shrubbery; and to complete the beauty of the place, aninfinite number of birds filled the air with their harmonious notes, andalways remained there, nets being spread over the garden, and fastenedto the palace to confine them. The sultan walked from apartment toapartment, where he found everything rich and magnificent. Being tiredwith walking, he sat down in a veranda, which had a view over thegarden, reflecting upon what he had seen, when suddenly he heard thevoice of one complaining, in lamentable tones. He listened withattention, and heard distinctly these words: "O fortune! thou whowouldst not suffer me longer to enjoy a happy lot, forbear to persecuteme, and by a speedy death put an end to my sorrows. Alas! is it possiblethat I am still alive, after so many torments as I have suffered!"

The sultan rose up, advanced toward the place whence he heard the voice, and coming to the door of a great hall, opened it, and saw a handsomeyoung man, richly habited, seated upon a throne raised a little abovethe ground. Melancholy was painted on his countenance. The sultan drewnear and saluted him; the young man returned his salutation, by aninclination of his head, not being able to rise, at the same timesaying: "My lord, I should rise to receive you, but am hindered by sadnecessity, and therefore hope you will not be offended. " "My lord, "replied the sultan, "I am much obliged to you for having so good anopinion of me: as to the reason of your not rising, whatever yourapology be, I heartily accept it. Being drawn hither by your complaints, and afflicted by your grief, I come to offer you my help. I flattermyself that you will relate to me the history of your misfortunes; butinform me first of the meaning of the lake near the palace, where thefish are of four colours; whose castle is this; how you came to be here;and why you are alone. "

Instead of answering these questions, the young man began to weepbitterly. "How inconstant is fortune!" cried he; "she takes pleasure topull down those she has raised. Where are they who enjoy quietly thehappiness which they hold of her, and whose day is always clear andserene?"

The sultan, moved with compassion to see him in such a condition, prayedhim to relate the cause of his excessive grief. "Alas! my lord, " repliedthe young man, "how is it possible but I should grieve, and my eyes beinexhaustible fountains of tears?" At these words, lifting up his robe, he showed the sultan that he was a man only from the head to the girdle, and that the other half of his body was black marble. 

The sultan was much surprised when he saw the deplorable condition ofthe young man. "That which you show me, " said he, "while it fills mewith horror, excites my curiosity, so that I am impatient to hear yourhistory, which, no doubt, must be extraordinary, and I am persuaded thatthe lake and the fish make some part of it; therefore I conjure you torelate it. You will find some comfort in so doing, since it is certainthat the unfortunate find relief in making known their distress. " "Iwill not refuse your request, " replied the young man, "though I cannotcomply without renewing my grief. But I give you notice beforehand, toprepare your ears, your mind, and even your eyes, for things whichsurpass all that the imagination can conceive. "

THE HISTORY OF THE YOUNG KING OF THE BLACK ISLES

"You must know, my lord, " said the wretched prisoner, "that my father, named Mahmoud, was monarch of this country. This is the kingdom of theBlack Isles, which takes its name from the four small neighbouringmountains; for those mountains were formerly isles, and the capitalwhere the king, my father, resided was situated on the spot now occupiedby the lake you have seen. The sequel of my history will inform you ofthe reason for those changes. 

"The king, my father, died when he was seventy years of age; I had nosooner succeeded him than I married, and the lady I chose to share theroyal dignity with me was my cousin. I had so much reason to besatisfied with her affection, and, on my part, loved her with so muchtenderness, that nothing could surpass the harmony of our union. Thislasted five years, at the end of which time I perceived the queen ceasedto delight in my attentions. 

"One day, after dinner, while she was at the bath, I found myselfinclined to repose, and lay down upon a sofa. Two of her ladies, whowere then in my chamber, came and sat down, one at my head and the otherat my feet, with fans in their hands to moderate the heat, and toprevent the flies from disturbing me. They thought I was asleep, andspoke in whispers; but as I only closed my eyes, I heard all theirconversation. 

"One of them said to the other, 'Is not the queen wrong, not to love soamiable a prince?' 'Certainly, ' replied her companion; 'I do notunderstand the reason, neither can I conceive why she goes out everynight, and leaves him alone! Is it possible that he does not perceiveit?' 'Alas!' said the first, 'how should he? She mixes every evening inhis liquor the juice of a certain herb, which makes him sleep so soundall night that she has time to go where she pleases, and as day beginsto appear she comes and wakes him by the smell of something she putsunder his nostrils. '

"You may guess, my lord, how much I was surprised at this conversation, and with what sentiments it inspired me; yet whatever emotion it excitedI had sufficient self-command to dissemble, and feigned to awake withouthaving heard a word. 

"The queen returned from the bath, we supped together, and she presentedme with a cup full of such liquid as I was accustomed to drink; butinstead of putting it to my mouth, I went to a window that was open, threw out the water so quickly that she did not perceive it, andreturned. 

"Soon after, believing that I was asleep, she arose with so littleprecaution, that she whispered loud enough for me to hear herdistinctly, 'Sleep on, and may you never wake again!' and so saying, shedressed herself, and went out of the chamber. 

"As soon as the queen, my wife, was gone, I arose in haste, took mycimeter, and followed her so quickly that I soon heard the sound of herfeet before me, and then walked softly after her. She passed throughseveral gates, which opened upon her pronouncing some magical words, andthe last she opened was that of the garden, which she entered. I stoppedat this gate, that she might not perceive me as she passed along aparterre; then looking after her as far as the darkness of the nightpermitted, I saw her enter a little wood, whose walks were guarded bythick palisadoes. I went thither by another way, and concealing myself, I saw her walking there with a man. 

"I did not fail to lend the most attentive ear to their discourse, andheard her address herself thus to her gallant: 'I do not deserve, ' shesaid, 'to be reproached by you for want of diligence. You well know thereason; but if all the proofs of affection I have already given you benot sufficient to convince you of my sincerity, I am ready to give youothers more decisive: you need but command me, you know my power; Iwill, if you desire it, before sunrise convert this great city, and thissuperb palace, into frightful ruins, inhabited only by wolves, owls, andravens. If you would have me transport all the stones of those walls sosolidly built, beyond Mount Caucasus, the bounds of the habitable world, speak but the word, and all shall be changed. '

"As the queen finished this speech she and her companion came to the endof the walk, turned to enter another, and passed before me. I hadalready drawn my cimeter, and the man being next me, I struck him on theneck, and brought him to the ground. I concluded I had killed him, andtherefore retired speedily without making myself known to the queen, whom I chose to spare, because she was my kinswoman. 

"The wound I had given her companion was mortal; but by her enchantmentsshe preserved him in an existence in which he could not be said to beeither dead or alive. As I crossed the garden to return to the palace, Iheard the queen loudly lamenting, and judging by her cries how much shewas grieved, I was pleased that I had spared her life. 

"As soon as I had reached my apartment, I went to bed, and beingsatisfied with having punished the villain who had injured me, fellasleep. 

"Next morning I arose, went to my closet, and dressed myself. Iafterward held my council. At my return, the queen, clad in mourning, her hair dishevelled, and part of it torn off, presented herself beforeme, and said: 'I come to beg your majesty not to be surprised to see mein this condition. My heavy affliction is occasioned by intelligence ofthree distressing events which I have just received. ' 'Alas! what arethey, madam?' said I. 'The death of the queen, my dear mother, ' shereplied, 'that of the king, my father, killed in battle, and of one ofmy brothers, who has fallen down a precipice. '

"I was not displeased that she used these pretexts to conceal the truecause of her grief. 'Madam, ' said I, 'so far from blaming, I assure youI heartily commiserate your sorrow. I should feel surprise if you wereinsensible to such heavy calamities: weep on; your tears are so manyproofs of your tenderness; but I hope that time and reflection willmoderate your grief. '

"She retired into her apartment, where, giving herself wholly up tosorrow, she spent a whole year in mourning and lamentation. At the endof that period, she begged permission to erect a burying-place forherself, within the bounds of the palace, where she would continue, shetold me, to the end of her days: I consented, and she built a statelyedifice, and called it the Palace of Tears. When it was finished, shecaused the object of her care to be conveyed thither; she had hithertoprevented his dying, by potions which she had administered to him; andshe continued to convey them to him herself every day after he came tothe Palace of Tears. 

"Yet, with all her enchantments, she could not cure the wretch; he wasnot only unable to walk or support himself, but had also lost the use ofhis speech, and exhibited no sign of life except in his looks. 

"Every day the queen made him two long visits. I was well apprised ofthis, but pretended ignorance. One day my curiosity induced me to go tothe Palace of Tears, to observe how my consort employed herself, andfrom a place where she could not see me, I heard her thus address thewounded ruffian: 'I am afflicted to the highest degree to behold you inthis condition, ' she cried, 'I am as sensible as yourself of thetormenting pain you endure; but, dear soul, I am continually speaking toyou, and you do not answer me: how long will you remain silent? Speakonly one word: alas! the sweetest moments of my life are these I spendhere in partaking of your grief. '

"At these words, which were several times interrupted by her sighs, Ilost all patience: and discovering myself, came up to her, and said, 'Madam, you have wept enough, it is time to give over this sorrow, whichdishonours us both; you have too much forgotten what you owe to me andto yourself. ' 'Sire, ' said she, 'if you have any kindness or compassionfor me left, I beseech you to put no restraint upon me; allow me toindulge my grief, which it is impossible for time to assuage. '

"When I perceived that my remonstrance, instead of restoring her to asense of duty, served only to increase her anguish, I ceased speakingand retired. She continued every day to visit her charge, and for twowhole years abandoned herself to grief and despair. 

"I went a second time to the Palace of Tears, while she was there. Iconcealed myself again, and heard her thus cry out: 'It is now threeyears since you spoke one word to me; you answer not the proofs I giveyou of my devotion by my sighs and lamentations. Is it frominsensibility, or contempt? O tomb! tell me by what miracle thoubecamest the depository of the rarest treasure the world evercontained. '

"I must confess, my lord, I was enraged at these expressions; for, intruth, this adored mortal was by no means what you would imagine him tohave been. He was a black Indian, one of the original natives of thiscountry. I was so enraged at the language addressed to him, that Idiscovered myself, and apostrophising the tomb in my turn, I cried, 'Otomb! why dost thou not swallow up that monster so revolting to humannature, or rather why dost thou not swallow up this pair of monsters?'

"I had scarcely uttered these words, when the queen, who sat by theblack, rose up like a fury: 'Miscreant!' said she, 'thou art the causeof my grief; do not think I am ignorant of this, I have dissembled toolong. It was thy barbarous hand that brought the object of my fondnessinto this lamentable condition; and thou hast the cruelty to come andinsult me. ' 'Yes, ' said I, in a rage, 'it was I who chastised thatmonster, according to his desert; I ought to have treated thee in thesame manner; I now repent that I did not; thou hast too long abused mygoodness. ' As I spoke these words, I drew out my cimeter, and lifted upmy hand to punish her; but regarding me steadfastly, she said with ajeering smile, 'Moderate thine anger. ' At the same time she pronouncedwords I did not understand; and afterward added, 'By virtue of myenchantments, I command thee to become half marble and half man. 'Immediately, my lord, I became what you see, a dead man among theliving, and a living man among the dead. After this cruel sorceress, unworthy of the name of queen, had metamorphosed me thus, and brought meinto this hall, by another enchantment she destroyed my capital, whichwas very flourishing and populous; she annihilated the houses, thepublic places and markets, and reduced the site of the whole to the lakeand desert plain you have seen; the fishes of four colours in the watersare the four kinds of inhabitants, of different religions, which thecity contained. The white are the Mussulmans; the red, the Persians, whoworship fire; the blue, the Christians; and the yellow, the Jews. Thefour little hills were the four islands that gave name to this kingdom. I learned all this from the enchantress, who, to add to my affliction, related to me these effects of her rage. But this is not all; herrevenge not being satisfied with the destruction of my dominions, andthe metamorphosis of my person, she comes every day, and gives me overmy naked shoulders a hundred lashes with a whip until I am covered withblood. When she has finished this part of my punishment, she throws overme a coarse stuff of goat's hair, and over that this robe of brocade, not to honour, but to mock me. "

When he came to this part of his narrative, the young king could notrestrain his tears; and the sultan was himself so affected by therelation, that he could not find utterance for any words of consolation. Shortly after, the young king, lifting up his eyes to heaven, exclaimed, "Mighty creator of all things, I submit myself to Thy judgments, and tothe decrees of Thy providence: I endure my calamities with patience, since it is Thy will that things should be as they are; but I hope thatThy infinite goodness will ultimately reward me. "

The sultan, greatly moved by the recital of this affecting story, andanxious to avenge the sufferings of the unfortunate prince, said to him:"Inform me whither this perfidious sorceress retires, and where may befound the vile wretch, who is entombed before his death. " "My lord, "replied the prince, "the Indian, as I have already told you, is lodgedin the Palace of Tears, in a superb tomb constructed in the form of adome: this palace joins the castle on the side in which the gate isplaced. As to the queen, I cannot tell you precisely whither sheretires, but every day at sunrise she goes to visit her charge, afterhaving executed her bloody vengeance upon me; and you see I am not in acondition to defend myself. She carries to him the potion with which shehas hitherto prevented his dying, and always complains of his neverhaving spoken to her since he was wounded. "

"Prince, " said the sultan, "your condition can never be sufficientlydeplored: no one can be more sensibly affected by your misfortune than Iam. Never did anything so extraordinary befall any man! One thing onlyis wanting; the revenge to which you are entitled, and I will omitnothing in my power to effect it. "

In his subsequent conversation with the young prince the sultan told himwho he was, and for what purpose he had entered the castle; andafterward informed him of a mode of revenge which he had devised. Theyagreed upon the measures they were to take for accomplishing theirdesign, but deferred the execution of it till the following day. In themeantime, the night being far spent, the sultan took some rest; but theyoung prince passed the night as usual, without sleep, never havingslept since he was enchanted. 

[Illustration]

_When he came to this part of his narrative the young king could notrestrain his tears. _

Next morning the sultan arose with the dawn, and prepared to execute hisdesign, by proceeding to the Palace of Tears. He found it lighted upwith an infinite number of flambeaux of white wax, and perfumed by adelicious scent issuing from several censers of fine gold of admirableworkmanship. As soon as he perceived the bed where the Indian lay, hedrew his cimeter and deprived him of his wretched life, dragged hiscorpse into the court of the castle, and threw it into a well. Afterthis he went and lay down in the black's bed, placed his cimeter underthe covering, and waited to complete his design. 

The queen arrived shortly after. She first went into the chamber of herhusband, the king of the Black Islands, stripped him, and withunexampled barbarity gave him a hundred stripes. The unfortunate princefilled the palace with his lamentations, and conjured her in the mostaffecting tone to take pity on him; but the cruel wretch ceased not tillshe had given the usual number of blows. "You had no compassion, " saidshe, "and you are to expect none from me. "

After the enchantress had given her husband a hundred blows with thewhip, she put on again his covering of goat's hair, and his brocade gownover all; she went afterward to the Palace of Tears, and as she enteredrenewed her tears and lamentations; then approaching the bed, where shethought the Indian lay: "Alas!" said she, addressing herself to thesultan, conceiving him to be the black, "My sun, my life, will youalways be silent? Are you resolved to let me die without affording methe comfort of hearing your voice?"

The sultan, as if he had awaked out of a deep sleep, and counterfeitingthe pronunciation of the blacks, answered the queen with a grave tone:"There is no strength or power but in God alone, who is almighty. " Atthese words the enchantress, who did not expect them, uttered a loudexclamation of joy. "My dear lord, " cried she, "do I not deceive myself;is it certain that I hear you, and that you speak to me?" "Unhappywoman, " said the sultan, "art thou worthy that I should answer thee?""Alas!" replied the queen, "why do you reproach me thus?" "The cries, "returned the sultan, "the groans and tears of thy husband, whom thoutreatest every day with so much indignity and barbarity, prevent mysleeping night or day. Hadst thou disenchanted him, I should long sincehave been cured, and have recovered the use of my speech. This is thecause of my silence, of which you complain. " "Well, " said theenchantress, "to pacify you, I am ready to execute your commands; wouldyou have me restore him?" "Yes, " replied the sultan; "make haste to sethim at liberty, that I be no longer disturbed by his lamentations. " Theenchantress went immediately out of the Palace of Tears; she took a cupof water, and pronounced some words over it, which caused it to boil, asif it had been on the fire. She afterward proceeded to the young king, and threw the water upon him, saying: "If the Creator of all things didform thee as thou art at present, or if He be angry with thee, do notchange; but if thou art in that condition merely by virtue of myenchantments, resume thy natural shape, and become what thou wastbefore. " She had scarcely spoken these words when the prince, findinghimself restored to his former condition, rose up and returned thanks toGod. The enchantress then said to him, "Get thee from this castle, andnever return on pain of death. " The young king, yielding to necessity, went away without replying a word, and retired to a remote place, wherehe patiently awaited the event of the design which the sultan had sohappily begun. Meanwhile the enchantress returned to the Palace ofTears, and supposing that she still spoke to the black, said, "Dearlove, I have done what you required; nothing now prevents your risingand giving me the satisfaction of which I have so long been deprived. "

The sultan, still counterfeiting the pronunciation of the black, said:"What you have now done is by no means sufficient for my cure; you haveonly removed a part of the evil; you must cut it up by the root. " "Mylovely black, " resumed the queen, "what do you mean by the root?""Wretched woman, " replied the sultan, "understand you not that I alludeto the town and its inhabitants, and the four islands, destroyed by thyenchantments? The fish every night at midnight raise their heads out ofthe lake, and cry for vengeance against thee and me. This is the truecause of the delay of my cure. Go speedily, restore things to theirformer state, and at thy return I will give thee my hand, and thou shalthelp me to arise. "

The enchantress, inspired with hope from these words, cried out in atransport of joy, "My heart, my soul, you shall soon be restored to yourhealth, for I will immediately do as you command me. " Accordingly shewent that instant, and when she came to the brink of the lake she took alittle water in her hand, and sprinkling it, she pronounced some wordsover the fish and the lake, and the city was immediately restored. Thefish became men, women, and children; Mohammedans, Christians, Persians, or Jews; freemen or slaves, as they were before: every one havingrecovered his natural form. The houses and shops were immediately filledwith their inhabitants, who found all things as they were before theenchantment. The sultan's numerous retinue, who found themselvesencamped in the largest square, were astonished to see themselves in aninstant in the middle of a large, handsome, well-peopled city. 

To return to the enchantress: As soon as she had effected this wonderfulchange, she returned with all expedition to the Palace of Tears, thatshe might receive her reward. "My dear lord, " cried she, as she entered, "I have done all that you required of me, then pray rise and give meyour hand. " "Come near, " said the sultan, still counterfeiting thepronunciation of the black. She did so. "You are not near enough, " hecontinued; "approach nearer. " She obeyed. He then rose up, and seizingher by the arm so suddenly that she had not time to discover him, hewith a blow of his cimeter cut her in two, so that one half fell one wayand the other another. This done, he left the body on the spot, andgoing out of the Palace of Tears, went to seek the young king of theBlack Isles, who waited for him with great impatience. When he foundhim, "Prince, " said he, embracing him, "rejoice; you have now nothing tofear; your cruel enemy is dead. "

The young prince returned thanks to the sultan in a manner thatsufficiently evinced his gratitude, and in return wished him long lifeand happiness. "You may henceforward, " said the sultan, "dwell peaceablyin your capital, unless you will accompany me to mine, which is near:you shall there be welcome, and have as much honour shown you as if youwere in your own kingdom. " "Potent monarch, to whom I am so muchindebted, " replied the king, "you think, then, that you are near yourcapital. " "Yes, " said the sultan, "I know it is not above four or fivehours' journey. " "It will take you a whole year to return, " said theprince. "I do indeed believe that you came hither from your capital inthe time you mention, because mine was enchanted; but since theenchantment is taken off, things are changed: however, this shall notprevent my following you, were it to the utmost corners of the earth. You are my deliverer, and that I may give you proofs of myacknowledgment of this during my whole life, I am willing to accompanyyou, and to leave my kingdom without regret. "

The sultan was extremely surprised to understand that he was so far fromhis dominions, and could not imagine how it could be, but the young kingof the Black Islands convinced him beyond a possibility of doubt. Thenthe sultan replied: "It is no matter; the trouble of returning to my owncountry is sufficiently recompensed by the satisfaction of havingobliged you, and by acquiring you for a son; for since you will do methe honour to accompany me, as I have no child, I look upon you as such, and from this moment appoint you my heir and successor. "

The young prince then employed himself in making preparations for hisjourney, which were finished in three weeks, to the great regret of hiscourt and subjects, who agreed to receive at his hands one of hisnearest kindred for their monarch. 

At length the sultan and the young prince began their journey, with ahundred camels laden with inestimable riches from the treasury, followedby fifty handsome gentlemen on horseback, perfectly well mounted anddressed. They had a pleasant journey; and when the sultan, who had sentcouriers to give advice of his delay, and of the adventure which hadoccasioned it, approached his capital, the principal officers came toreceive him, and to assure him that his long absence had occasioned noalteration in his empire. The inhabitants also came out in great crowds, received him with acclamations, and made public rejoicings for severaldays. 

The day after his arrival the sultan acquainted his courtiers with hisadoption of the king of the Four Black Islands, who was willing to leavea great kingdom to accompany and live with him; and in reward for theirloyalty, he made each of them presents according to their rank. 

As for the fisherman, as he was the first cause of the deliverance ofthe young prince, the sultan gave him a plentiful fortune, which madehim and his family happy the rest of his days. 

THE STORY OF GULNARE OF THE SEA

There was, in olden time, and in an ancient age and period, in the landof the Persians, a king named Shahzeman, and the place of his residencewas Khorassan. He had not been blest, during his whole life, with a malechild nor a female; and he reflected upon this, one day, and lamentedthat the greater portion of his life had passed, and he had no heir totake the kingdom after him as he had inherited it from his fathers andforefathers. So the utmost grief befell him on this account. 

Now while he was sitting one day, one of his mamelukes came in to him, and said to him: "O my lord, at the door is a slave-girl with amerchant: none more beautiful than she hath been seen. " And he replied:"Bring to me the merchant and the slave-girl. " The merchant and theslave-girl therefore came to him; and when he saw her, he found her toresemble the lance in straightness and slenderness. She was wrapped in agarment of silk embroidered with gold, and the merchant uncovered herface, whereupon the place was illuminated by her beauty, and there hungdown from her forehead seven locks of hair reaching to her anklets. TheKing, therefore, wondered at the sight of her, and at her beauty, andher stature and justness of form; and he said to the merchant: "Osheikh, for how much is this damsel to be sold?" The merchant answered:"O my lord, I purchased her for two thousand pieces of gold of themerchant who owned her before me, and I have been for three yearstravelling with her, and she hath cost, to the period of her arrival atthis place, three thousand pieces of gold; and she is a present from meunto thee. " Upon this, the king conferred upon him a magnificent robe ofhonour, and gave orders to present him with ten thousand pieces of gold. So he took them, and kissed the hands of the king, thanking him for hisbeneficence, and departed. Then the king committed the damsel to thetirewomen, saying to them: "Amend the state of this damsel, and deckher, and furnish for her a private chamber, and take her into it. " Healso gave orders to his chamberlains that everything which she requiredshould be conveyed to her. The seat of government where he resided wason the shore of the sea, and his city was called the White City. Andthey conducted the damsel into a private chamber, which chamber hadwindows overlooking the sea; and the king commanded his chamberlains toclose all the doors upon her after taking to her all that she required. 

The king then went in to visit the damsel; but she rose not to him, nortook any notice of him. So the king said: "It seemeth that she hath beenwith people who have not taught her good manners. " And looking at thedamsel, he saw her to be a person surpassing in loveliness, her face waslike the disk of the moon at the full, or the shining sun in the clearsky; and he wondered at her beauty, extolling the perfection of God, theCreator: then the king advanced to the damsel, and seated himself by herside, pressed her to his bosom, and kissed her lips, which he found tobe sweeter than honey. After this, he gave orders to bring tables of therichest viands, comprising dishes of every kind; and he ate, and putmorsels into her mouth until she was satisfied; but she spoke not asingle word. The king talked to her, and inquired of her her name; butshe was silent, not uttering a word, nor returning him an answer, ceasing not to hang down her head toward the ground; and what protectedher from the anger of the king was her beauty, and her tenderness ofmanner. So the king said within himself: "Extolled be the perfection ofGod, the Creator of this damsel! How elegant is she, saving that shedoth not speak!"--Then the king asked the female slaves whether she hadspoken; and they answered him: "From the time of her arrival to thepresent moment she hath not spoken one word, and we have not heard hertalk. " The king therefore caused some of them to come, and sing to her, and make merry with her, thinking that then she might perhaps speak. Accordingly the female slaves played before her with all kinds ofmusical instruments, and enacted sports and other performances, and theysang so that every one who was present was moved with delight, exceptthe damsel, who looked at them and was silent, neither laughing norspeaking. So the heart of the king was contracted. He however inclinedto her entirely, paying no regard to others, but relinquishing all therest of his favourites. 

He remained with her a whole year, which seemed as one day, and stillshe spoke not; and he said to her one day, when his passion wasexcessive: "O desire of souls, verily the love that I have for thee isgreat, and I have relinquished for thy sake all my worldly portion, andbeen patient with thee a whole year. I beg God that He will, in Hisgrace, soften thy heart toward me, and that thou mayest speak to me. Or, if thou be dumb, inform me by a sign, that I may give up hope of thyspeaking. I also beg of God that He will bless thee with a son that mayinherit my kingdom after me; for I am solitary, having none to be myheir, and my age hath become great. I conjure thee, then, by Allah, ifthou love me, that thou return me a reply. " And upon this, the damselhung her head toward the ground, meditating. Then she raised her head, and smiled in the face of the king, whereat it appeared to the king thatlightning filled the private chamber; and she said: "O magnanimous King, God hath answered thy prayer; for I am about to bring thee a child, andthe time is almost come. And were it not that I knew this thing, I hadnot spoken to thee one word. " And when the king heard what she said, hisface brightened up with happiness, and he kissed her hands by reason ofthe violence of his joy, and said: "Praise be to God who hath favouredme with things that I desired; the first, thy speaking; and the second, thy information that thou art about to bring me a child. " Then the kingarose and went forth from her, and seated himself upon the throne of hiskingdom in a state of exceeding happiness; and he ordered the vizier togive out to the poor and the needy a hundred thousand pieces of gold asa thank-offering to God. So the vizier did as the king had commandedhim. And after that, the king went in to the damsel, and embraced her, saying to her: "O my mistress, wherefore hath been this silence, seeingthat thou hast been with me a whole year, awake and asleep, yet hast notspoken to me, except on this day?"

The damsel answered: "Hear, O King of the age, and know that I am a poorperson, a stranger, broken-hearted: I have become separated from mymother, and my family, and my brother. " And when the king heard herwords, he knew her desire, and he replied: "As to thy saying that thouart poor, there is no occasion for such an assertion; for all my kingdomand possessions are at thy service, and as to thy saying, 'I have becomeseparated from my mother and my family and my brother'--inform me inwhat place they are, and I will send to them, and bring them to thee. "So she said to him: "Know, O King, that my name is Gulnare (_PomegranateFlower_) of the Sea. My father was one of the Kings of the Sea, and hedied, and left to us the kingdom; but while we were enjoying it, anotherof the kings came upon us, and took the kingdom from our hands. I havealso a brother named Saleh, and my mother is of the women of the sea;and I quarrelled with my brother, and swore that I would throw myselfinto the hands of a man of the inhabitants of the land. Accordingly Icame forth from the sea, and sat upon the shore of an island in themoonlight, and there passed by a man who took me and sold me to this manfrom whom thou tookest me, and he was an excellent, virtuous man, aperson of religion and fidelity and kindness. But had not thy heartloved me, and hadst thou not preferred me above all thy wives, I had notremained with thee one hour; for I should have cast myself into the seafrom this window, and gone to my mother and my people. I was ashamed, however, to go to them; for they would imagine evil of me, and would notbelieve me, even though I should swear to them, were I to tell them thata king had purchased me with his money, and chosen me in preference tohis other wives and all that his right hand possessed. This is my story, and peace be on thee!" And when he heard her words, he thanked her, andkissed her between the eyes, and said to her: "By Allah, O my mistress, and light of my eyes, I cannot endure separation from thee for one hour;and if thou quit me, I shall die instantly. How then shall the affairbe?" She answered: "O my master, the time of the birth is near, and myfamily must come. " "And how, " said the king, "do they walk in the seawithout being wetted?" She answered: "We walk in the sea as ye walk uponthe land, through the influence of the names engraved upon the seal ofSolomon, the son of David, upon both of whom be peace! But, O King, when my family and my brethren come, I will inform them that thouboughtest me with thy money, and hast treated me with beneficence, andit will be meet that thou confirm my assertion to them. They will alsosee thy state with their eyes, and will know that thou art a king, theson of a king. " And thereupon the king said: "O my mistress, do whatseemeth fit to thee, and what thou wishest; for I will comply with thydesire in all that thou wilt do. " And the damsel said: "Know, O King ofthe age, that we walk in the sea with our eyes open, and see what is init, and we see the sun, and the moon, and the stars, and the sky as onthe face of the earth, and this hurteth us not. Know also, that in thesea are many peoples and various forms of all the kinds that are on theland; and know, moreover, that all that is on the land, in comparisonwith what is in the sea, is a very small matter. " And the king wonderedat her words. 

Then the damsel took a bit of aloes-wood and, having lighted a fire in aperfuming-vessel, threw into it that bit, and she proceeded to speakwords which no one understood; whereupon a great smoke arose, while theking looked on. After this, she said to the king: "O my lord, arise andconceal thyself in a closet, that I may shew thee my brother and mymother and my family without their seeing thee; for I desire to bringthem, and thou shalt see in this place, at this time, a wonder, andshalt marvel at the various shapes and strange forms that God hathcreated. " So the king arose immediately, and entered a closet, andlooked to see what she would do. And she proceeded to burn perfume andrepeat spells until the sea foamed and was agitated, and there cameforth from it a young man of comely form, of beautiful countenance, likethe moon at the full, with shining forehead, and red cheeks, and hairresembling pearls and jewels; he was, of all the creation, the mostlike to his sister, and the tongue of the case itself seemed to recitein his praise these verses:--

 The moon becometh perfect once in each month; but the loveliness of thy face is perfect every day. Its abode is in the heart of one sign at a time; but thine abode is in all hearts at once. 

[Illustration]

_And she proceeded to burn perfume and repeat spells until the seafoamed and was agitated. _

Afterward, there came forth from the sea a grizzly-haired old woman, andwith her five damsels, resembling moons and bearing a likeness to thedamsel whose name was Gulnare. Then the king saw the young man and theold woman and the damsels walk upon the surface of the water until theycame to Gulnare; and when they drew near to the window, and she beheldthem, she rose to them and met them with joy. On their seeing her, theyknew her, and they went in to her and embraced her, weeping violently;and they said to her: "O Gulnare, how is it that thou leavest us forfour years, and we know not the place in which thou art? By Allah, wehad no delight in food nor in drink a single day, weeping night and dayon account of the excess of our longing to see thee. " Then the damselbegan to kiss the hand of her brother, and the hand of her mother, andso also the hands of the daughters of her uncle, and they sat with herawhile, asking her respecting her state, and the things that hadhappened to her, and her present condition. 

So she said to them: "Know ye, that when I quitted you, and came forthfrom the sea, I sat upon the shore of an island, and a man took me, andsold me to a merchant, and the merchant brought me to this city, andsold me to its king for ten thousand pieces of gold. Then he treated mewith attention, and forsook all his favourites for my sake, and wasdiverted by his regard for me from everything that he possessed and whatwas in his city. " And when her brother heard her words, he said:"Praise be to God who hath reunited us! But it is my desire, O mysister, that thou wouldst arise and go with us to our country and ourfamily. " So when the king heard the words of her brother, his reasonfled in consequence of his fear lest the damsel should accept theproposal of her kindred, and he could not prevent her, though he wasinflamed with love of her; wherefore he became perplexed in violent fearof her separation. But as to the damsel Gulnare, on hearing the words ofher brother she said: "By Allah, O my brother, the man who purchased meis the king of this city, and he is a great king, and a man of wisdom, generous, of the utmost liberality. He hath treated me with honour, andhe is a person of kindness, and of great wealth, but hath no male childnor a female. He hath shewn me favour too, and acted well to me in everyrespect; and from the day when I came to him to the present time, I havenot heard from him a word to grieve my heart; but he hath not ceased totreat me with courtesy, and I am living with him in the most perfect ofenjoyments. Moreover, if I quitted him, he would perish: for he cannever endure my separation even for a single hour. I also, if I quittedhim, should die of my love for him in consequence of his kindness to meduring the period of my residence with him; for if my father wereliving, my condition with him would not be like my condition with thisgreat, glorious king. God (whose name be exalted!) afflicted me not, butcompensated me well; and as the king hath not a male child nor a female, I beg God to bless me with a son that may inherit of this great kingthese palaces and possessions. " And when her brother, and the daughtersof her uncle, heard her words, their eyes became cheerful thereat, andthey said to her: "O Gulnare, thou art acquainted with our affection forthee, and thou art assured that thou art the dearest of all persons tous, and art certain that we desire for thee comfort, without trouble ortoil. Therefore if thou be not in a state of comfort, arise andaccompany us to our country and our family; but if thou be comfortablehere, in honour and happiness, this is our desire and wish. " And Gulnarereplied: "By Allah, I am in a state of the utmost enjoyment, in honourand desirable happiness. " So when the king heard these words from her, he rejoiced, and he thanked her for them; his love for her penetrated tohis heart's core, and he knew that she loved him as he loved her, andthat she desired to remain with him to see his child which she was tobring to him. 

Then the damsel Gulnare of the Sea gave orders to the female slaves tobring forward viands of all kinds; and Gulnare herself was the personwho superintended the preparation of the viands in the kitchen. So thefemale slaves brought to them the viands, and the sweetmeats, and thefruits; and she ate with her family. But afterward they said to her: "OGulnare, thy master is a man who is a stranger to us, and we haveentered his abode without his permission, and thou praisest to us hisexcellence, and hast also brought to us his food, and we have eaten, buthave not seen him, nor hath he seen us, nor come into our presence, noreaten with us, that the bond of bread and salt might be establishedbetween us. " And they all desisted from eating, and were enraged at her, and fire began to issue from their mouths as from cressets. So when theking beheld this, his reason fled, in consequence of the violence of hisfear of them. Then Gulnare rose to them, and soothed their hearts; afterwhich she walked along until she entered the closet in which was theking her master; and she said to him: "O my master, didst thou see, anddidst thou hear my thanks to thee, and my praise of thee in the presenceof my family; and didst thou hear what they said to me, that theydesired to take me with them to our family and our country?" The kinganswered her: "I heard and saw. May God recompense thee! By Allah, Iknew not the extent of the love that thou feelest for me until thisblessed hour. " She replied: "O my master, is the recompense ofbeneficence aught but beneficence? How then could my heart be happy toquit thee, and to depart from thee? Now I desire of thy goodness thatthou come and salute my family, that they may see thee, and thatpleasure and mutual friendship may ensue. For know, O King, that mybrother and my mother and the daughters of my uncle have conceived agreat love for thee in consequence of my praising thee to them, and theyhave said, 'We will not depart from thee to our country until we have aninterview with the king, and salute him. '" And the king said to her: "Ihear and obey; for this is what I desire. " He then rose from his place, and went to them, and saluted them with the best salutation; and theyhastened to rise to him; they met him in the most polite manner, and hesat with them in the pavilion, ate with them at the table, and remainedwith them for a period of thirty days. Then they desired to return totheir country and abode. So they took leave of the king and QueenGulnare of the Sea, and departed from them, after the king had treatedthem with the utmost honour. 

After this, Gulnare gave birth to a boy, resembling the moon at thefull, whereat the king experienced the utmost happiness, because he hadnot before been blessed with a son nor a daughter during his life. Theycontinued the rejoicings, and the decoration of the city, for a periodof seven days, in the utmost happiness and enjoyment; and on the seventhday, the mother of Gulnare, and her brother, and the daughters of heruncle, all came, when they knew that she had given birth to her child. The king met them, rejoicing at their arrival, and said to them: "I saidthat I would not name my son until ye should come, and that ye shouldname him according to your knowledge. " And they named him Bedr Basim(_Smiling Full Moon_), all of them agreeing as to this name. They thenpresented the boy to his maternal uncle, Saleh, who took him upon hishands, and, rising with him from among them, walked about the palace tothe right and left; after which he went forth with him from the palace, descended with him to the sea, and walked on until he became concealedfrom the eye of the king. So when the king saw that he had taken hisson, and disappeared from him at the bottom of the sea, he despaired ofhim, and began to weep and wail. But Gulnare, seeing him in this state, said to him, "O King of the age, fear not nor grieve for thy son; for Ilove my child more than thou, and my child is with my brother; thereforefear not his being drowned. If my brother knew that any injury wouldbetide the little one, he had not done what he hath done; and presentlyhe will bring thee thy son safe, if it be the will of God, whose name beexalted!" And but a short time had elapsed when the sea was agitated, and the uncle of the little one came forth from it, having with him theking's son safe, and he flew from the sea until he came to them, withthe little one in his arms, silent, and his face resembling the moon inthe night of its fulness. Then the uncle of the little one looked towardthe king, and said to him: "Perhaps thou fearedst some injury to thy sonwhen I descended into the sea, having him with me. " So he replied: "Yes, O my master, I feared for him, and I did not imagine that he would evercome forth from it safe. " And Saleh said to him: "O King of the Land, weapplied to his eyes a lotion that we know, and repeated over him thenames engraved upon the seal of Solomon, the son of David; for when achild is born among us, we do to him as I have told thee. Fear nottherefore, on his account, drowning, nor suffocation, nor all the seasif he descend into them. Like as ye walk upon the land, we walk in thesea. "

He then took forth from his pocket a case, written upon, and sealed; andhe broke its seal, and scattered its contents, whereupon there fell fromit strung jewels, consisting of all kinds of jacinths and other gems, together with three hundred oblong emeralds, and three hundred oblonglarge jewels, of the size of the eggs of the ostrich, the light of whichwas more resplendent than the light of the sun and the moon. And hesaid: "O King of the age, these jewels and jacinths are a present fromme unto thee; for we never brought thee a present, because we knew notthe place of Gulnare's abode. So when we saw thee to have become unitedto her, and that we all had become one, we brought thee this present;and after every period of a few days, we will bring thee the like of it. For these jewels and jacinths with us are more plentiful than the gravelupon the land, and we know the excellent among them, and the bad, andthe places where they are found, and they are easy of access tous. "--And when the king looked at those jewels, his reason wasconfounded and his mind was bewildered, and he said: "By Allah, one ofthese jewels is worth my kingdom!" Then the king thanked Saleh of theSea for his generosity, and looking toward the Queen Gulnare said toher: "I am abashed at thy brother; for he hath shewn favour to me, andpresented me with this magnificent present, which the people of theearth would fail to procure. " So Gulnare thanked her brother for thatwhich he had done; but her brother said: "O King of the age, to thankthee hath been incumbent on us; for thou hast treated my sister withbeneficence, and we have entered thine abode, and eaten of thyprovision. " Then Saleh said: "If we stood serving thee, O King of theage, a thousand years, regarding nothing else, we could not requitethee, and our doing so would be but a small thing in comparison with thydesert. " And Saleh remained with the king, he and his mother and thedaughters of his uncle, forty days; after which he arose and kissed theground before the king, the husband of his sister. So the king said tohim: "What dost thou desire, O Saleh?" And he answered: "O King of theage, we desire of thy goodness that thou wouldst give us permission todepart; for we have become desirous of seeing again our family and ourcountry and our relations and our homes. We will not, however, relinquish the service of thee, nor that of my sister nor the son of mysister; and by Allah, O King of the age, to quit you is not pleasant tomy heart; but how can we act, when we have been reared in the sea, andthe land is not agreeable to us?" So when the king heard his words, herose upon his feet, and bade farewell to Saleh of the Sea and his motherand the daughters of his uncle, and they wept together on account of theseparation. Then they said to the king: "We will never relinquish you, but after every period of a few days we will visit you. " And after this, they flew toward the sea, and descended into it, and disappeared. 

The king treated Gulnare with beneficence, and honoured her exceedingly, and the little one grew up well; and his maternal uncle, with hisgrandmother and the daughters of his uncle, after every period of a fewdays used to come to the residence of the king, and to remain with him amonth, and then return to their places. The boy ceased not to increasein beauty and loveliness until his age became fifteen years; and he wasincomparable in his perfect beauty, and his stature and his justness ofform. He had learned writing and reading, and history and grammar andphilology, and archery; and he learned to play with the spear; and healso learned horsemanship, and all that the sons of the kings required. There was not one of the children of the inhabitants of the city, menand women, that talked not of the charms of that young man; for he wasof surpassing loveliness and perfection; and the king loved him greatly. Then the king summoned the vizier and the emeers, and the lords of theempire, and the great men of the kingdom, and made them swear by bindingoaths that they would make Bedr Basim king over them after his father;so they swore to him by binding oaths, and rejoiced thereat; and theking himself was beneficent to the people, courteous in speech and ofauspicious aspect. And on the following day, the king mounted, togetherwith the lords of the empire and all the emeers, and all the soldiers, and they ceased not to proceed until they arrived at the vestibule ofthe palace; the king's son riding. Thereupon he alighted, and his fatherembraced him, he and the emeers, and they seated him upon the throne ofthe kingdom, while his father stood, as also did the emeers, before him. Then Bedr Basim judged the people, displaced the tyrannical and investedthe just, and continued to give judgment until near midday, when he rosefrom the throne of the kingdom, and went in to his mother, Gulnare ofthe Sea, having upon his head the crown, and resembling the moon. Sowhen his mother saw him, and the king before him, she rose to him andkissed him, and congratulated him on his elevation to the dignity ofsultan; and she offered up a prayer in favour of him and his father forlength of life, and victory over their enemies. He then sat with hismother and rested; and when the time of afternoon-prayers arrived, herode with the emeers before him until he came to the horse-course, wherehe played with arms till the time of nightfall, together with hisfather and the lords of his empire; after which he returned to thepalace, with all the people before him. Every day he used to ride to thehorse-course; and when he returned, he sat to judge the people, andadministered justice between the emeer and the poor man. He ceased notto do thus for a whole year; and after that, he used to ride to thechase, and go about through the cities and provinces that were under hisrule making proclamation of safety and security, and doing as do thekings; and he was incomparable among the people of his age in glory andcourage, and in justice to the people. 

Now it came to pass that the old king, the father of Bedr Basim, fellsick one day, whereupon his heart throbbed, and he felt that he wasabout to be removed to the mansion of eternity. Then his maladyincreased so that he was at the point of death. He therefore summonedhis son, and charged him to take care of his subjects and his mother andall the lords of his empire and all the dependants. He also made themswear, and covenanted with them a second time, that they would obey hisson; and he confided in their oaths. And after this he remained a fewdays, and was admitted to the mercy of God, whose name be exalted! Hisson Bedr Basim, and his wife Gulnare and the emeers and viziers and thelords of the empire, mourned over him; and they made for him a tomb, andburied him in it, and continued the ceremonies of mourning for him awhole month. Saleh, the brother of Gulnare, and her mother, and thedaughters of her uncle, also came, and consoled them for the loss of theking; and they said: "O Gulnare, if the king hath died, he hath leftthis ingenuous youth, and he who hath left such as he is hath not died. This is he who hath not an equal, the crushing lion, and the splendidmoon. " Then the lords of the empire, and the grandees, went in to theKing Bedr Basim, and said to him: "O King, there is no harm in mourningfor the king; but mourning becometh not any save women; thereforetrouble not thy heart and ours by mourning for thy father; for he hathdied and left thee, and he who hath left such as thou art hath notdied. " They proceeded to address him with soft words, and to consolehim, and after that they conducted him into the bath; and when he cameforth from the bath, he put on a magnificent suit woven of gold, adornedwith jewels and jacinths, and he put the royal crown upon his head, seated himself upon the throne of his kingdom, and performed the affairsof the people, deciding equitably between the strong and the weak, andexacting for the poor man his due from the emeer; wherefore the peopleloved him exceedingly. Thus he continued to do for the space of a wholeyear; and after every short period, his family of the sea visited him;so his life was pleasant, and his eye was cheerful: and he ceased not tolive in this state until he was visited by the terminator of delightsand the separator of companions. This is the end of their story. Themercy of God be on them all!

THE STORY OF ALADDIN; OR, THE WONDERFUL LAMP

In the capital of one of the large and rich provinces of the kingdom ofChina there lived a tailor, named Mustapha, who was so poor that hecould hardly, by his daily labour, maintain himself and his family, which consisted of a wife and son. 

His son, who was called Aladdin, had been brought up in a very carelessand idle manner, and by that means had contracted many vicious habits. He was obstinate, and disobedient to his father and mother, who, when hegrew up, could not keep him within doors. He was in the habit of goingout early in the morning, and would stay out all day, playing in thestreets with idle children of his own age. 

When he was old enough to learn a trade, his father, not being able toput him out to any other, took him into his own shop, and taught him howto use his needle: but neither fair words nor the fear of chastisementwere capable of fixing his lively genius. All his father's endeavours tokeep him to his work were in vain; for no sooner was his back turned, than he was gone for that day. Mustapha chastised him, but Aladdin wasincorrigible, and his father, to his great grief, was forced to abandonhim to his idleness: and was so much troubled at not being able toreclaim him, that it threw him into a fit of sickness, of which he diedin a few months. 

The mother, finding that her son would not follow his father's business, shut up the shop, sold off the implements of trade, and with the moneyshe received for them, and what she could get by spinning cotton, thought to maintain herself and her son. 

Aladdin, who was now no longer restrained by the fear of a father, andwho cared so little for his mother that whenever she chid him he wouldabuse her, gave himself entirely over to his idle habits, and was neverout of the streets from his companions. This course he followed till hewas fifteen years old, without giving his mind to any useful pursuit, orthe least reflection on what would become of him. In this situation, ashe was one day playing with his vagabond associates, a stranger passingby stood to observe him. 

This stranger was a sorcerer, called the African magician; as he was anative of Africa, and had been but two days arrived from thence. 

The African magician, who was a good physiognomist, observing inAladdin's countenance something absolutely necessary for the executionof the design he was engaged in, inquired artfully about his family, whohe was, and what were his inclinations; and when he had learned all hedesired to know, went up to him, and taking him aside from his comrades, said: "Child, was not your father called Mustapha, the tailor?" "Yes, sir, " answered the boy; "but he has been dead a long time. "

At these words, the African magician threw his arms about Aladdin'sneck, and kissed him several times with tears in his eyes. Aladdin, whoobserved his tears, asked him what made him weep. "Alas! my son, " criedthe African magician with a sigh, "how can I forbear? I am your uncle;your worthy father was my own brother. I have been many years abroad, and now I am come home with the hopes of seeing him, you tell me he isdead. But it is some relief to my affliction, that I knew you at firstsight, you are so like him. " Then he asked Aladdin, putting his handinto his purse, where his mother lived, and as soon as he had informedhim, gave him a handful of small money, saying: "Go, my son, to yourmother, give my love to her, and tell her that I will visit herto-morrow, that I may have the satisfaction of seeing where my goodbrother lived so long. "

As soon as the African magician left his newly-adopted nephew, Aladdinran to his mother, overjoyed at the money his uncle had given him. "Mother, " said he, "have I an uncle?" "No, child, " replied his mother, "you have no uncle by your father's side, or mine. " "I am just nowcome, " said Aladdin, "from a man who says he is my uncle on my father'sside. He cried and kissed me when I told him my father was dead; and toshow you that what I tell you is truth, " added he, pulling out themoney, "see what he has given me; he charged me to give his love to you, and to tell you that to-morrow he will come and pay you a visit, that hemay see the house my father lived and died in. " "Indeed, child, " repliedthe mother, "your father had a brother, but he has been dead a longtime, and I never heard of another. "

The mother and son talked no more then of the African magician; but thenext day Aladdin's uncle found him playing in another part of the townwith other youths, and embracing him as before, put two pieces of goldinto his hand, and said to him: "Carry this, child, to your mother, tellher that I will come and see her to-night, and bid her get us somethingfor supper; but first show me the house where you live. "

After Aladdin had showed the African magician the house, he carried thetwo pieces of gold to his mother, and when he had told her of hisuncle's intention, she went out and bought provisions. She spent thewhole day in preparing the supper; and at night, when it was ready, saidto her son: "Perhaps your uncle knows not how to find our house; go andbring him if you meet with him. "

Though Aladdin had showed the magician the house, he was ready to go, when somebody knocked at the door, which he immediately opened; and themagician came in loaded with wine, and all sorts of fruits, which hebrought for a dessert. 

After the African magician had given what he brought into Aladdin'shands, he saluted his mother, and desired her to shew him the placewhere his brother Mustapha used to sit on the sofa; and when she had sodone, he fell down and kissed it several times, crying out with tears inhis eyes: "My poor brother! how unhappy am I, not to have come soonenough to give you one last embrace. " Aladdin's mother desired him tosit down in the same place, but he declined. "No, " said he, "but give meleave to sit opposite, that although I am deprived of the satisfactionof seeing one so dear to me, I may at least have the pleasure ofbeholding the place where he used to sit. "

When the magician had sat down, he began to enter into discourse withAladdin's mother: "My good sister, " said he, "do not be surprised atyour never having seen me all the time you were married to my brotherMustapha. I have been forty years absent from this country, which is mynative place, as well as my late brother's; and during that time havetravelled into the Indies, Persia, Arabia, Syria, and Egypt; haveresided in the finest towns of those countries; and afterward crossedover into Africa, where I made a longer stay. At last, as it is naturalfor a man to remember his native country, I was desirous to see mineagain, and to embrace my dear brother; and finding I had strength enoughto undertake so long a journey, I immediately made the necessarypreparations, and set out. I will not tell you the length of time ittook me, all the obstacles I met with, and what fatigues I have enduredto come hither; but nothing ever afflicted me so much, as hearing of mybrother's death. I observed his features in the face of my nephew, yourson, and distinguished him among a number of lads with whom he was atplay; he can tell you how I received the most melancholy news that everreached my ears. But God be praised for all things! it is a comfort forme to find, as it were, my brother in a son, who has his most remarkablefeatures. "

The African magician, perceiving that the widow began to weep at theremembrance of her husband, changed the conversation, and turning towardher son, asked him his name. "I am called Aladdin, " said he. "Well, Aladdin, " replied the magician, "what business do you follow? Are you ofany trade?"

At this question the youth hung down his head, and was not a littleabashed when his mother answered: "Aladdin is an idle fellow; hisfather, when alive, strove all he could to teach him his trade, butcould not succeed; and since his death he does nothing but idle away histime in the streets, as you saw him, without considering he is no longera child; and if you do not make him ashamed of it, I despair of his evercoming to any good. He knows that his father left him no fortune, andsees me endeavour to get bread by spinning cotton; for my part, I amresolved one of these days to turn him out of doors, and let him providefor himself. "

After these words, Aladdin's mother burst into tears; and the magiciansaid: "This is not well, nephew; you must think of getting yourlivelihood. There are many sorts of trades, consider if you have not aninclination to some of them; perhaps you did not like your father's andwould prefer another; come, do not disguise your sentiments from me; Iwill endeavour to help you. " But finding that Aladdin returned noanswer, "If you have no mind, " continued he, "to learn any handicraft, Iwill take a shop for you, furnish it with all sorts of fine stuffs andlinens; and with the money you make of them lay in fresh goods, and thenyou will live in an honourable way. Consult your inclination, and tellme freely what you think of my proposal. "

This plan greatly flattered Aladdin, who hated work but had sense enoughto know that such shops were much frequented and the owners respected. He told the magician he had a greater inclination to that business thanto any other, and that he should be much obliged to him for hiskindness. "Since this profession is agreeable to you, " said the Africanmagician, "I will carry you with me to-morrow, clothe you as handsomelyas the best merchants in the city, and afterward we will think ofopening a shop as I mentioned. "

The widow, who never till then could believe that the magician was herhusband's brother, no longer doubted after his promises of kindness toher son. She thanked him for his good intentions; and after havingexhorted Aladdin to render himself worthy of his uncle's favour by goodbehaviour, served up supper, at which they talked of several indifferentmatters; and then the magician, who saw that the night was pretty faradvanced, took his leave, and retired. 

He came again the next day, as he had promised, and took Aladdin withhim to a merchant, who sold all sorts of clothes for different ages andranks ready made, and a variety of fine stuffs. He asked to see somethat suited Aladdin in size; and Aladdin, charmed with the liberality ofhis new uncle, made choice of one, and the magician immediately paid forit. 

When the boy found himself so handsomely equipped, he returned his unclethanks; who promised never to forsake him, but always to take him alongwith him; which he did to the most frequented places in the city, andparticularly where the principal merchants kept their shops. When hebrought him into the street where they sold the richest stuffs andfinest linens, he said to Aladdin: "As you are soon to be a merchant, itis proper you should frequent these shops, and be acquainted with them. "He then showed him the largest and finest mosques, carried him to thekhans or inns where the merchants and travellers lodged, and afterwardto the sultan's palace, where he had free access; and at last broughthim to his own khan, where, meeting with some merchants he had becomeacquainted with since his arrival, he gave them a treat, to bring themand his pretended nephew acquainted. 

This entertainment lasted till night, when Aladdin would have takenleave of his uncle to go home, but the magician would not let him go byhimself, but conducted him to his mother, who, as soon as she saw him sowell dressed, was transported with joy, and bestowed a thousandblessings upon the magician, for being at so great an expense for herchild. "Generous relation!" said she, "I know not how to thank you foryour liberality! I wish you may live long enough to witness my son'sgratitude, which he cannot better shew than by regulating his conduct byyour good advice. "

"Aladdin, " replied the magician, "is a good boy, and I believe we shalldo very well; but I am sorry for one thing, which is, that I cannotperform to-morrow what I promised, because, as it is Friday, the shopswill be shut up, and therefore we cannot hire or furnish one tillSaturday. I will, however, call on him to-morrow and take him to walk inthe gardens, where people of the best fashion generally resort. Perhapshe has never seen these amusements, he has only hitherto been amongchildren; but now he must see men. " The African magician then took hisleave of the mother and the son, and retired. 

Aladdin rose early the next morning, dressed himself to be ready, andafter he had waited some time began to be impatient and stood watchingat the door; but as soon as he perceived his uncle coming, he told hismother, took his leave of her, and ran to meet him. 

The magician caressed Aladdin, and said: "Come, my dear child, and Iwill shew you fine things. " He then led him out at one of the gates ofthe city, to some magnificent palaces, to each of which belongedbeautiful gardens, into which anybody might enter. At every building hecame to, he asked Aladdin if he did not think it fine; and the youth wasready to answer when any one presented itself, crying out: "Here is afiner house, uncle, than any we have seen yet. " By this artifice, thecunning magician led Aladdin some way into the country; and as he meantto carry him farther, pretending to be tired, he took an opportunity tosit down in one of the gardens on the brink of a fountain of clearwater, which discharged itself by a lion's mouth of bronze into a basin:"Come, nephew, " said he, "you must be weary as well as I; let us restourselves, and we shall be better able to pursue our walk. "

After they had sat down, the magician pulled from his girdle ahandkerchief with cakes and fruit, which he had provided, and laid themon the edge of the basin. He broke a cake in two, gave one half toAladdin and ate the other himself; and in regard to the fruit, left himat liberty to take which sort he liked best. During this short repast, he exhorted his nephew to leave off keeping company with vagabonds, andseek that of wise and prudent men, to improve by their conversation;"For, " said he, "you will soon be at man's estate, and you cannot tooearly begin to imitate their example. " When they had eaten as much asthey liked, they pursued their walk through gardens separated from oneanother only by small ditches, which marked out the limits withoutinterrupting the communication; so great was the confidence theinhabitants reposed in each other. By this means, the African magiciandrew Aladdin insensibly beyond the gardens, and crossed the country, till they nearly reached the mountains. 

Aladdin, who had never been so far before, began to find himself muchtired, and said to the magician: "Where are we going, uncle? We haveleft the gardens a great way behind us, and I see nothing but mountains;if we go much farther, I do not know whether I shall be able to reachthe town again!" "Never fear, nephew, " said the false uncle; "I willshew you another garden which surpasses all we have yet seen; and whenwe come there, you will say that you would have been sorry to have beenso nigh, and not seen it. " Aladdin was soon persuaded; and the magician, to make the way seem shorter and less fatiguing, told him a great manystories. 

At last they arrived between two mountains of moderate height, and equalsize, divided by a narrow valley, which was the place where the magicianintended to execute the design that had brought him from Africa toChina. "We will go no farther now, " said he to Aladdin: "I will shew youhere some extraordinary things, which, when you have seen, you willthank me for: but while I strike a light, gather up all the loose drysticks you can see, to kindle a fire with. "

Aladdin collected a great heap and the magician presently set them onfire, and when they were in a blaze, threw in some incense which raiseda cloud of smoke. This he dispersed on each side, by pronouncing severalmagical words which the lad did not understand. 

At the same time the earth, trembling, opened just before the magician, and uncovered a stone, laid horizontally, with a brass ring fixed intothe middle. Aladdin was so frightened at what he saw, that he would haverun away; but the magician caught hold of him, abused him, and gave himsuch a box on the ear that he knocked him down. Aladdin got uptrembling, and with tears in his eyes, said to the magician: "What haveI done, uncle, to be treated in this severe manner?" "I have myreasons, " answered the magician; "I am your uncle, I supply the place ofyour father, and you ought to make no reply. But, child, " added he, softening, "do not be afraid; for I shall not ask anything of you, butthat you obey me punctually, if you would reap the advantages which Iintend you. " These fair promises calmed Aladdin's fears and resentment;and when the magician saw that he was appeased, he said to him: "You seewhat I have done by virtue of my incense, and the words I pronounced. Know then, that under this stone there is hidden a treasure, destined tobe yours, and which will make you richer than the greatest monarch inthe world: no person but yourself is permitted to lift this stone, orenter the cave; so you must punctually execute what I may command, forit is a matter of great consequence both to you and me. "

Aladdin, amazed at all he saw and heard the magician say of the treasurewhich was to make him happy forevermore, forgot what was past, andrising, said: "Well, uncle, what is to be done? Command me, I am readyto obey. " "I am overjoyed, child, " said the African magician, embracinghim; "take hold of the ring, and lift up that stone. " "Indeed, uncle, "replied Aladdin, "I am not strong enough; you must help me. " "You haveno occasion for my assistance, " answered the magician; "if I help you, we shall be able to do nothing; take hold of the ring, pronouncethe names of your father and grandfather, then lift it up, and you willfind it will come easily. " Aladdin did as the magician bade him, raisedthe stone with ease, and laid it on one side. 

[Illustration]

_At the same time the earth, trembling, opened just before the magician, and uncovered a stone, laid horizontally, with a brass ring fixed intothe middle. _

When the stone was pulled up, there appeared a cavity of about three orfour feet deep, with a little door, and steps to go down lower. "Observe, my son, " said the African magician, "what I direct. Descendinto the cave, and when you are at the bottom of those steps you willfind a door which will lead you into a spacious vault, divided intothree great halls, in each of which you will see four large brasscisterns placed on each side, full of gold and silver; but take care youdo not meddle with them. Before you enter the first hall, be sure totuck up your vest, wrap it about you, and then pass through the secondinto the third without stopping. Above all, have a care that you do nottouch the walls; for if you do, you will die instantly. At the end ofthe third hall, you will find a door which opens into a garden plantedwith fine trees loaded with fruit; walk directly across the garden by apath which will lead you to five steps that will bring you upon aterrace, where you will see a niche before you, and in that niche alighted lamp. Take the lamp down, and extinguish it: when you havethrown away the wick, and poured out the liquor, put it in your vestbandand bring it to me. Do not be afraid that the liquor will spoil yourclothes, for it is not oil; and the lamp will be dry as soon as it isthrown out. If you should wish for any of the fruit of the garden, youmay gather as much as you please. "

After these words, the magician drew a ring off his finger, and put iton one of Aladdin's, telling him that it was a preservative against allevil, while he should observe what he had prescribed to him. After thisinstruction he said: "Go down boldly, child, and we shall both be richall our lives. "

Aladdin jumped into the cave, descended the steps, and found the threehalls just as the African magician had described. He went through themwith all the precaution the fear of death could inspire; crossed thegarden without stopping, took down the lamp from the niche, threw outthe wick and the liquor, and, as the magician had desired, put it in hisvestband. But as he came down from the terrace, he stopped in the gardento observe the fruit, which he only had a glimpse of in crossing it. Allthe trees were loaded with extraordinary fruit, of different colours oneach tree. Some bore fruit entirely white, and some clear andtransparent as crystal; some pale red, and others deeper; some green, blue, and purple, and others yellow: in short, there was fruit of allcolours. The white were pearls; the clear and transparent, diamonds; thedeep red, rubies; the green, emeralds; the blue, turquoises; the purple, amethysts; and those that were of yellow cast, sapphires. Aladdin wasaltogether ignorant of their worth, and would have preferred figs andgrapes, or any other fruits. But though he took them only for colouredglass of little value, yet he was so pleased with the variety of thecolours, and the beauty and extraordinary size of the seeming fruit, that he resolved to gather some of every sort; and accordingly filledthe two new purses his uncle had bought for him with his clothes. Somehe wrapped up in the skirts of his vest, which was of silk, large andfull, and he crammed his bosom as full as it could hold. 

Aladdin, having thus loaded himself with riches, returned through thethree halls with the same precaution, made all the haste he could, thathe might not make his uncle wait, and soon arrived at the mouth of thecave, where the African magician expected him with the utmostimpatience. As soon as Aladdin saw him, he cried out: "Pray, uncle, lendme your hand, to help me out. " "Give me the lamp first, " replied themagician; "it will be troublesome to you. " "Indeed, uncle, " answeredAladdin, "I cannot now; it is not troublesome to me: but I will as soonas I am up. " The African magician was so obstinate, that he would havethe lamp before he would help him up; and Aladdin, who had encumberedhimself so much with his fruit that he could not well get at it, refusedto give it to him till he was out of the cave. The African magician, provoked at this obstinate refusal, flew into a passion, threw a littleof his incense into the fire, which he had taken care to keep in, and nosooner pronounced two magical words, than the stone which had closed themouth of the cave moved into its place, with the earth over it in thesame manner as it lay at the arrival of the magician and Aladdin. 

This action of the African magician's plainly shewed him to be neitherAladdin's uncle, nor Mustapha the tailor's brother; but a true African. Africa is a country whose inhabitants delight most in magic of any inthe whole world, and he had applied himself to it from his youth. Afterforty years' experience in enchantments and reading of magic books, hehad found out that there was in the world a wonderful lamp, thepossession of which would render him more powerful than any monarch; andby a late operation of geomancy, he had discovered that this lamp layconcealed in a subterranean place in the midst of China. Fully persuadedof the truth of this discovery, he set out from the farthest part ofAfrica; and after a long and fatiguing journey came to the town nearestto this treasure. But though he had a certain knowledge of the placewhere the lamp was, he was not permitted to take it himself, nor toenter the subterranean place, but must receive it from the hands ofanother person. For this reason he had addressed himself to Aladdin, whom he looked upon as a lad fit to serve his purpose, resolving, assoon as he should get the lamp into his hands, to sacrifice him to hisavarice and wickedness, by making the fumigation mentioned before, andrepeating two magical words, the effect of which would remove the stoneinto its place, so that no witness would remain of the transaction. 

The blow he had given Aladdin was intended to make him obey the morereadily, and give him the lamp as soon as he should ask for it. But histoo great precipitation, and his fear lest somebody should come that wayand discover what he wished to keep secret, produced an effect quitecontrary to what he had proposed. 

When the African magician saw that all his hopes were frustratedforever, he returned the same day for Africa; but went quite round thetown, and at some distance from it, lest some persons who had observedhim walk out with the boy, on seeing him come back without him, shouldentertain suspicions, and stop him. 

According to all appearances, there was no prospect of Aladdin beingheard of any more. But the magician, when he had contrived his death, forgot the ring he had put upon his finger, which preserved him, thoughhe knew not its virtue. It may seem astonishing that the loss of that, together with the lamp, did not drive the magician to despair; butmagicians are so much used to misfortunes that they do not lay them toheart, but still feed themselves, to the end of life, with unsubstantialnotions and chimeras. 

The surprise of Aladdin, who had never suspected this treachery from hispretended uncle, is more easily to be imagined than expressed. When hefound himself buried alive, he cried, and called out to his uncle, totell him he was ready to give him the lamp; but in vain, since his criescould not be heard. He descended to the bottom of the steps, with adesign to get into the garden, but the door, which was opened before byenchantment, was now shut by the same means. He then redoubled hiscries, sat down on the steps, without any hopes of ever seeing lightagain, and in a melancholy certainty of passing from the presentdarkness into that of a speedy death. 

Aladdin remained in this state two days, without eating or drinking, andon the third looked upon death as inevitable. Clasping his hands withresignation to the will of God, he said: "There is no strength or powerbut in the great and high God. " In joining his hands he rubbed the ringwhich the magician had put on his finger, and of which he knew not yetthe virtue. Immediately a genie of enormous size and frightful aspectrose out of the earth, his head reaching the roof of the vault, and saidto him: "What wouldst thou have? I am ready to obey thee as the slave ofall who may possess the ring on thy finger; I, and the other slaves ofthat ring. "

At another time, Aladdin, who had not been used to such appearances, would have been so frightened at the sight of so extraordinary a figurethat he would not have been able to speak; but the danger he was in madehim answer without hesitation: "Whoever thou art, deliver me from thisplace, if thou art able. " He had no sooner spoken these words, than hefound himself on the very spot where the magician had caused the earthto open. 

It was some time before his eyes could bear the light, after being solong in total darkness: but after he had endeavoured by degrees tosupport it, and began to look about him, he was much surprised not tofind the earth open, and could not comprehend how he had got so soon outof its bowels. There was nothing to be seen but the place where the firehad been, by which he could nearly judge the situation of the cave. Thenturning himself toward the town, he perceived it at a distance in themidst of the gardens that surrounded it, and saw the way by which themagician had brought him. Returning God thanks to find himself once morein the world, he made the best of his way home. When he got within hismother's door, the joy of seeing her and his weakness for want of foodfor three days made him faint, and he remained for a long time as dead. His mother, who had given him over for lost, seeing him in thiscondition, omitted nothing to bring him to himself. As soon as herecovered, the first words he spoke were: "Pray, mother, give mesomething to eat, for I have not put a morsel of anything into my mouththese three days. " His mother brought what she had, and set it beforehim. "My son, " said she, "be not too eager, for it is dangerous; eat butlittle at a time, and take care of yourself. Besides, I would not haveyou talk; you will have time enough to tell me what has happened to youwhen you are recovered. It is a great comfort to me to see you again, after the affliction I have been in since Friday, and the pains I havetaken to learn what was become of you. "

Aladdin took his mother's advice, and ate and drank moderately. When hehad done, "Mother, " said he to her, "I cannot help complaining of you, for abandoning me so easily to the discretion of a man who had a designto kill me, and who at this very moment thinks my death certain. Youbelieved he was my uncle, as well as I; and what other thoughts could weentertain of a man who was so kind to me? but I must tell you, mother, he is a rogue and a cheat, and only made me those promises to accomplishmy death; but for what reason neither you nor I can guess. You shalljudge yourself, when you have heard all that passed from the time I leftyou, till he came to the execution of his wicked design. "

Aladdin then related to his mother all that had happened to him, fromthe Friday when the magician took him to see the palaces and gardensabout the town, till they came to the place between the two mountainswhere the great deed was to be performed; how, with incense which themagician threw into the fire, and some magical words which hepronounced, the earth opened, and discovered a cave, which led to aninestimable treasure. He did not forget the blow the magician had givenhim, and in what manner he softened again, and engaged him by greatpromises, and putting a ring on his finger, to go down into the cave. Hedid not omit the least circumstance of what he saw in crossing the threehalls and the garden, and his taking the lamp, which he pulled out ofhis bosom and shewed to his mother: as well as the transparent fruit ofdifferent colours, which he had gathered in the garden as he returned. But, though these fruits were precious stones, brilliant as the sun, shewas as ignorant of their worth as her son. She had been bred in a lowrank of life, and her husband's poverty prevented his being possessed ofjewels, nor had she, her relations, or neighbours ever seen any; so thatwe must not wonder that she regarded them as things of no value. 

Aladdin put them behind one of the cushions of the sofa, and continuedhis story. When he had come to an end, Aladdin said to his mother: "Ineed say no more! this is my adventure, and the dangers I have beenexposed to since you saw me. "

His mother heard with much interest this surprising relation, notwithstanding it could be no small affliction to a mother who lovedher son tenderly; but yet in the most moving part, which discovered theperfidy of the African magician, she could not help showing, by marks ofthe greatest indignation, how much she detested him; and when her sonhad finished his story, she broke out into a thousand reproaches againstthat vile impostor. She called him perfidious traitor, barbarian, assassin, deceiver, magician, and an enemy and destroyer of mankind. "Without doubt, child, " added she, "he is a magician, and they areplagues to the world, and by their enchantments and sorceries havecommerce with the devil. Bless God for preserving you from his wickeddesigns; for your death would have been inevitable, if you had notcalled upon Him, and implored His assistance. " She said a great dealmore against the magician's treachery; but finding that whilst shetalked, Aladdin began to doze, she left him to his repose, and retired. 

Aladdin, who had not closed his eyes while he was in the subterraneanabode, slept very soundly till late the next morning; when the firstthing he said to his mother was, that he wanted something to eat, andthat she could not do him a greater kindness than to give him hisbreakfast. "Alas! child, " said she, "I have not a bit of bread to giveyou, you ate up all the provisions I had in the house yesterday; buthave a little patience, and it shall not be long before I will bring yousome: I have a little cotton, which I have spun; I will go and sell it, buy bread, and something for our dinner. " "Mother, " replied Aladdin, "keep your cotton for another time, and give me the lamp I brought homewith me yesterday; I will go and sell it, and the money I shall get forit will serve both for breakfast and dinner, and perhaps supper too. "

Aladdin's mother took the lamp, and said to her son: "Here it is, but itis very dirty; if it was a little cleaner I believe it would bringsomething more. " She took some fine sand and water to clean it; but hadno sooner begun to rub it, than in an instant a hideous genie ofgigantic size appeared before her, and said to her in a voice likethunder: "What wouldst thou have? I am ready to obey thee as thy slave, and the slave of all those who have that lamp in their hands; I and theother slaves of the lamp. "

Aladdin's mother, terrified at the sight of the genie, fainted; when thelad, who had seen such another phantom in the cavern, snatched the lampout of his mother's hand, and said to the genie boldly: "I am hungry, bring me something to eat. " The genie disappeared immediately, and in aninstant returned with a large silver tray, holding twelve covered dishesof the same metal, which contained the most delicious viands; six largewhite bread-cakes on two plates, two flagons of wine, and two silvercups. All these he placed upon a carpet, and disappeared: this was donebefore Aladdin's mother recovered from her swoon. 

Aladdin fetched some water, and sprinkled it in her face, to recoverher: whether that or the smell of the meat brought her to life again, itwas not long before she came to herself. "Mother, " said Aladdin, "do notmind this; here is what will put you in heart, and at the same timesatisfy my extreme hunger: do not let such delicious meat get cold. "

His mother was much surprised to see the great tray, twelve dishes, sixloaves, the two flagons and cups, and to smell the savoury odour whichexhaled from the dishes. "Child, " said she, "to whom are we obliged forthis great plenty and liberality; has the sultan been made acquaintedwith our poverty, and had compassion on us?" "It is no matter, mother, "said Aladdin; "let us sit down and eat, for you have almost as much needof breakfast as myself; when we have done, I will tell you. "Accordingly, both mother and son sat down, and ate with the betterrelish as the table was so well furnished. But all the time Aladdin'smother could not forbear looking at and admiring the dishes, though shecould not judge whether they were silver or any other metal, and thenovelty more than the value attracted her attention. 

The mother and son sat at breakfast till it was dinner-time, and thenthey thought it would be best to put the two meals together; yet afterthis they found they should have enough left for supper, and two mealsfor the next day. 

When Aladdin's mother had taken away what was left, she went and sat byher son on the sofa, saying: "I expect now that you should satisfy myimpatience, and tell me exactly what passed between the genie and youwhile I was in a swoon;" which he readily complied with. 

She was in as great amazement at what her son told her, as at theappearance of the genie; and said to him: "But, son, what have we to dowith genies? I never heard that any of my acquaintance had ever seenone. How came that vile genie to address himself to me, and not to you, to whom he had appeared before in the cave?" "Mother, " answered Aladdin, "the genie you saw is not the one who appeared to me, though heresembles him in size; no, they had quite different persons and habits;they belong to different masters. If you remember, he that I first sawcalled himself the slave of the ring on my finger; and this you saw, called himself the slave of the lamp you had in your hand: but I believeyou did not hear him, for I think you fainted as soon as he began tospeak. "

"What!" cried the mother, "was your lamp then the occasion of thatcursed genie's addressing himself rather to me than to you? Ah! my son, take it out of my sight, and put it where you please. I will never touchit. I had rather you would sell it, than run the hazard of beingfrightened to death again by touching it: and if you would take myadvice, you would part also with the ring, and not have anything to dowith genies, who, as our prophet has told us, are only devils. "

"With your leave, mother, " replied Aladdin, "I shall take care how Isell a lamp which may be so serviceable both to you and me. Have you notbeen an eye-witness of what it has procured us? and it shall stillcontinue to furnish us with subsistence. My false and wicked uncle wouldnot have taken so much pains, and undertaken so long a journey, if ithad not been to get into his possession this wonderful lamp, which hepreferred before all the gold and silver which he knew was in the halls. He knew too well the worth of this lamp, not to prefer it to so great atreasure; and since chance hath discovered the virtue of it to us, letus make a profitable use of it, without making any great show, andexciting the envy and jealousy of our neighbours. However, since thegenies frighten you so much, I will take it out of your sight, and putit where I may find it when I want it. The ring I cannot resolve to partwith; for without that you had never seen me again; and though I amalive now, perhaps, if it was gone, I might not be so some momentshence; therefore I hope you will give me leave to keep it, and to wearit always on my finger. Who knows what dangers you and I may be exposedto, which neither of us can foresee, and from which it may deliver us?"As Aladdin's arguments were just, his mother had nothing to say againstthem; she only replied, that he might do what he pleased; for her part, she would have nothing to do with genies, but would wash her hands ofthem. 

By the next night they had eaten all the provisions the genie hadbrought: and the next day Aladdin, who could not bear the thought ofhunger, putting one of the silver dishes under his vest, went out earlyto sell it, and addressing himself to a Jew whom he met in the streets, took him aside, and pulling out the plate, asked him if he would buy it. The cunning Jew took the dish, examined it, and as soon as he found thatit was good silver, asked Aladdin at how much he valued it. Aladdin, whoknew not its value, and never had been used to such traffic, told him hewould trust to his judgment and honour. The Jew was somewhat confoundedat this plain dealing; and doubting whether Aladdin understood thematerial or the full value of what he offered to sell, took a piece ofgold out of his purse and gave it to him, though it was but the sixtiethpart of the worth of the plate. Aladdin, taking the money very eagerly, retired with so much haste, that the Jew, not content with theexorbitancy of his profit, was vexed he had not penetrated into hisignorance, and was going to run after him, to endeavour to get somechange out of the piece of gold; but the lad ran so fast, and had got sofar, that it would have been impossible for him to overtake him. 

Before Aladdin went home, he called at a baker's, bought some cakes ofbread, changed his money, and on his return gave the rest to his mother, who went and purchased provisions enough to last them some time. Afterthis manner they lived, till Aladdin had sold the twelve dishes singly, as necessity pressed, to the Jew, for the same money; who, after thefirst time, durst not offer him less, for fear of losing so good abargain. When he had sold the last dish, he had recourse to the tray, which weighed ten times as much as the dishes, and would have carried itto his old purchaser, but that it was too large and cumbersome;therefore he was obliged to bring him home with him to his mother's, where, after the Jew had examined the weight of the tray, he laid downten pieces of gold, with which Aladdin was very well satisfied. 

They lived on these ten pieces in a frugal manner, for Aladdin, thoughformerly used to an idle life, had left off playing with young lads ofhis own age ever since his adventure with the African magician. He spenthis time in walking about, and conversing with decent people, with whomhe gradually got acquainted. Sometimes he would stop at the principalmerchants' shops, where people of distinction met, and listen to theirdiscourse, by which he gained some little knowledge of the world. 

When all the money was spent, Aladdin had recourse again to the lamp. Hetook it in his hand, looked for the part where his mother had rubbed itwith the sand, and rubbed it also, when the genie immediately appeared, and said: "What wouldst thou have? I am ready to obey thee as thy slave, and the slave of all those who have that lamp in their hands; I, and theother slaves of the lamp. " "I am hungry, " said Aladdin; "bring mesomething to eat. " The genie disappeared, and presently returned with atray, and the same number of covered dishes as before, set them down, and vanished. 

Aladdin's mother, knowing what her son was going to do, went out aboutsome business, on purpose to avoid being in the way when the genie came;and when she returned, was almost as much surprised as before at theprodigious effect of the lamp. However, she sat down with her son, andwhen they had eaten as much as they liked, she set enough by to lastthem two or three days. 

As soon as Aladdin found that their provisions were expended, he tookone of the dishes, and went to look for his Jew again; but passing bythe shop of a goldsmith, who had the character of a very fair and honestman, the goldsmith perceiving him, called to him, and said: "My lad, Ihave often observed you go by, loaded as you are at present, and talkwith such a Jew, and then come back again empty-handed. I imagine thatyou carry something which you sell to him; but perhaps you do not knowthat he is the greatest rogue even among the Jews, and that nobody ofprudence will have anything to do with him. If you will shew me what younow carry, and it is to be sold, I will give you the full worth of it;or I will direct you to other merchants who will not cheat you. "

The hopes of getting more money for his plate induced Aladdin to pull itfrom under his vest, and shew it to the goldsmith, who at first sightsaw that it was made of the finest silver and asked him if he had soldsuch as that to the Jew, when Aladdin told him that he had sold himtwelve such, for a piece of gold each. "What a villain!" cried thegoldsmith; "but, " added he, "my son, what is past cannot be recalled. Byshewing you the value of this plate, which is of the finest silver weuse in our shops, I will let you see how much the Jew has cheated you. "

The goldsmith took a pair of scales, weighed the dish, and after he hadmentioned how much an ounce of fine silver was worth, assured him thathis plate would fetch by weight sixty pieces of gold, which he offeredto pay down immediately. "If you dispute my honesty, " said he, "you maygo to any other of our trade, and if he gives you more, I will be boundto forfeit twice as much!"

Aladdin thanked him for his fair dealing, so greatly to his advantage, took the gold, and never after went to any other person, but sold himall his dishes and the tray. 

Though Aladdin and his mother had an inexhaustible treasure in theirlamp, and might have had whatever they wished for, yet they lived withthe same frugality as before, except that Aladdin dressed better; as forhis mother, she wore no clothes but what she earned by spinning cotton. After their manner of living, it may easily be supposed that the moneyfor which Aladdin had sold the dishes and tray was sufficient tomaintain them for some time. 

During this interval, Aladdin frequented the shops of the principalmerchants, where they sold cloth of gold and silver, linens, silkstuffs, and jewelry, and oftentimes joining in their conversation, acquired a knowledge of the world, and respectable demeanour. By hisacquaintance among the jewellers, he came to know that the fruits whichhe had gathered when he took the lamp were, instead of coloured glass, stones of inestimable value; but he had the prudence not to mention thisto any one, not even to his mother. 

One day as Aladdin was walking about the town, he heard an orderproclaimed, commanding the people to shut up their shops and houses, andkeep within doors, while the Princess Badroulboudour, the sultan'sdaughter, went to the baths and returned. 

This proclamation inspired Aladdin with eager curiosity to see theprincess's face, which he could not do without admission into the houseof some acquaintance, and then only through a window; but to gratify hiscuriosity, he presently thought of a scheme, which succeeded; it was toplace himself behind the door of the bath, which was so situated that hecould not fail of seeing her face. 

Aladdin had not waited long before the princess came, and he could seeher plainly through a chink of the door without being discovered. Shewas attended by a great crowd of ladies, slaves, and eunuchs, who walkedon each side, and behind her. When she came within three or four pacesof the door of the baths, she took off her veil, and gave Aladdin anopportunity of a full view. 

As soon as Aladdin had seen the princess, his heart could not withstandthose inclinations so charming an object always inspires. She was themost beautiful brunette in the world; her eyes were large, lively, andsparkling; her looks sweet and modest; her nose was of a just proportionand without a fault, her mouth small, her lips of a vermilion red; in aword, all the features of her face were perfectly regular. It is nottherefore surprising that Aladdin, who had never before seen such ablaze of charms, was dazzled, and his senses ravished by such anassemblage. With all these perfections the princess had so majestic anair, that the sight of her was sufficient to inspire love andadmiration. 

After the princess had passed by, and entered the baths, Aladdinremained some time astonished and in a kind of ecstasy, retracing andimprinting the idea of so charming an object deeply in his mind, but atlast, he resolved to quit his hiding-place and go home. He could not sofar conceal his uneasiness but that his mother perceived it, wassurprised to see him so much more thoughtful than usual; and asked if hewere ill? He returned her no answer, but sat carelessly down on thesofa, and remained silently musing on the image of the charmingBadroulboudour. 

After supper, his mother asked him again why he was so melancholy, butcould get no information, and he determined to go to bed rather thangive her the least satisfaction. As he sat next day on the sofa, opposite his mother, however, as she was spinning cotton, he spoke toher in these words: "I perceive, mother, that my silence yesterday hasmuch troubled you; I was not, nor am I ill; but I assure you, that whatI felt then, and now endure, is worse than any disease. 

"It was not proclaimed in this quarter of the town, and therefore youcould know nothing of it, that the sultan's daughter was yesterday to goto the baths. I had a great curiosity to see her face; and as itoccurred to me that when she came nigh the bath, she would pull her veiloff, I resolved to conceal myself behind the door. She did so and I hadthe happiness of seeing her lovely face with the greatest security. This, mother, was the cause of my silence yesterday; I love the princesswith more violence than I can express; and as my passion increases everymoment, I am resolved to ask her in marriage of the sultan, herfather. "

Aladdin's mother listened with interest to what her son told her; butwhen he talked of asking the princess in marriage, she could not helpbursting out into a loud laugh. He would have gone on with his rhapsody, but she interrupted him: "Alas! child, " said she, "what are you thinkingof? you must be mad to talk thus. "

"I assure you, mother, " replied Aladdin, "that I am not mad, but in myright senses; I foresaw that you would reproach me with folly andextravagance; but I must tell you once more, that I am resolved todemand the princess in marriage!"

"Indeed, son, " replied the mother seriously, "I cannot help telling youthat you have forgotten yourself, and I do not see who will venture tomake the proposal for you. " "You yourself, " replied he immediately. "Igo to the sultan!" answered the mother, amazed. "I shall be cautious howI engage in such an errand. Why, who are you, son, " continued she, "thatyou can have the assurance to think of your sultan's daughter? Have youforgotten that your father was one of the poorest tailors in thecapital, and that I am of no better extraction; and do not you know thatsultans never marry their daughters but to sons of sovereigns likethemselves?"

"Mother, " answered Aladdin, "I foresaw all that you have said, or cansay: and tell you that neither your discourse nor your remonstrancesshall make me change my mind. I have told you that you must ask theprincess in marriage for me. I beg of you not to refuse, unless youwould rather see me in my grave, than by your compliance give me newlife. "

The good old woman was much embarrassed, when she found Aladdinpersisting in so wild a design. "My son, " said she again, "I am yourmother, and there is nothing that is reasonable but I would readily dofor you. If I were to go and treat about your marriage with someneighbour's daughter, I would do it with all my heart; and even thenthey would expect you should have some little estate, or be of sometrade. When such poor folks as we are wish to marry, the first thingthey ought to think of, is how to live. But without reflecting on themeanness of your birth, and the little fortune you have to recommendyou, you aim at the highest pitch of exaltation; and your pretensionsare no less than to demand in marriage the daughter of your sovereign, who with one single word can crush you to pieces. How could soextraordinary a thought come into your head, as that I should go to thesultan and ask him to give his daughter in marriage to you? Suppose Ihad the impudence to present myself before the sultan, to whom should Iaddress myself to be introduced to his majesty? Do you not think thefirst person I should speak to would take me for a mad woman, andchastise me as I should deserve? I know there is no difficulty to thosewho go to petition for justice, which the sultan distributes equallyamong his subjects; I know, too, that to those who ask a favour hegrants it with pleasure when he sees it is deserved. But do you thinkyou have merited the honour you would have me ask? What have you done toclaim such a favour, either for your prince or country? How can I openmy mouth to make the proposal to the sultan? His majestic presence andthe lustre of his court would absolutely confound me. There is anotherreason, my son, which you do not think of, which is that nobody evergoes to ask a favour of the sultan without a present. But what presentshave you to make? and what proportion could they bear to the favour youwould ask? Therefore, reflect well, and consider that you aspire to anobject which it is impossible for you to obtain. "

Aladdin heard very calmly all that his mother could say to dissuade himfrom his design, and after he had weighed her representations replied:"I own, mother, it is great rashness in me to presume to carry mypretensions so far; and a great want of consideration to ask you to goand make the proposal to the sultan, without first taking propermeasures to procure a favourable reception, and I therefore beg yourpardon. But be not surprised that I did not at first see every measurenecessary to procure me the happiness I seek. I love the princess, andshall always persevere in my design of marrying her. I am obliged to youfor the hint you have given me, and look upon it as the first step Iought to take to procure the happy issue I promise myself. 

"You say it is not customary to go to the sultan without a present, andthat I have nothing worthy of his acceptance. Do not you think, mother, that what I brought home with me the day on which I was delivered fromdeath may be an acceptable present? I mean those things that you and Iboth took for coloured glass: but now I can tell you that they arejewels of inestimable value. I know the worth of them by frequenting theshops; and you may take my word that all the precious stones which I sawin the jewellers' shops were not to be compared to those we have, eitherfor size or beauty; I am persuaded that they will be received veryfavourably by the sultan: you have a large porcelain dish fit to holdthem; fetch it, and let us see how they will look, when we have arrangedthem according to their different colours. "

Aladdin's mother brought the china dish, when he took the jewels out ofthe two purses in which he had kept them, and placed them in orderaccording to his fancy. But the brightness and lustre they emitted inthe daytime so dazzled the eyes both of mother and son, that they wereastonished beyond measure; for they had only seen them by the light of alamp; and though the latter had beheld them pendent on the trees likefruit beautiful to the eye, yet as he was then but a boy, he looked onthem only as glittering playthings. 

After they had admired the beauty of the jewels some time, Aladdin saidto his mother: "Now you cannot excuse yourself from going to the sultan, under pretext of not having a present to make him, since here is onewhich will gain you a favourable reception. "

Though the good widow did not believe the precious stones so valuable asher son estimated them, she thought such a present might nevertheless beagreeable to the sultan, but she still hesitated. "My son, " said she, "Icannot conceive that the sultan will look upon me with a favourable eye;I am sure, that if I attempt to deliver your strange message, I shallhave no power to open my mouth; therefore I shall not only lose mylabour, but the present, which you say is so valuable, and shall returnhome again in confusion, to tell you that your hopes are frustrated. But, " added she, "I will do my best to please you, though certainly thesultan will either laugh at me, or be in so great a rage, as to make usboth the victims of his fury. "

She used many other arguments to endeavour to make Aladdin change hismind; but he persisted in importuning his mother to execute hisresolution, and she, out of tenderness, complied with his request. 

As it was now late, and the time for admission to the palace was passed, the visit was put off till the next day. The mother and son talked ofdifferent matters the remaining hours; and Aladdin strove to encourageher in the task she had undertaken; while she could not persuade herselfshe should succeed; and it must be confessed she had reason enough todoubt. "Child, " said she to Aladdin, "if the sultan should hear myproposal with calmness, and after this should think of asking me wherelie your riches and your estate, what answer would you have me returnhim?"

"Let us not be uneasy, mother, " replied Aladdin, "about what may neverhappen. First, let us see how the sultan receives, and what answer hegives you. If he desires to be informed of what you mention, I amconfident that the lamp will not fail me in time of need. "

The tailor's widow reflected that the lamp might be capable of doinggreater wonders than just providing victuals for them, and this removedall the difficulties which might have prevented her from undertaking theservice she had promised. Aladdin, who penetrated into his mother'sthoughts, said to her: "Above all things, mother, be sure to keep secretour possession of the lamp, for thereon depends the success we have toexpect;" and after this caution they parted to go to rest. Aladdin rosebefore daybreak, awakened his mother, pressing her to get herselfdressed to go to the sultan's palace, and to get admittance, ifpossible, before the great officers of state went in to take their seatsin the divan, where the sultan always assisted in person. 

Aladdin's mother took the china dish, in which they had put the jewelsthe day before, wrapped in two napkins, one finer than the other, whichwas tied at the four corners for more easy carriage, and set out for thepalace. When she came to the gates, the grand vizier, the other viziers, and most distinguished lords of the court, were just gone in; but, notwithstanding the great crowd of people who had business there, shegot into the divan, a spacious hall, the entrance into which was verymagnificent. She placed herself just before the sultan, grand vizier, and the great lords, who sat in council, on his right and left hand. Several causes were called, according to their order, pleaded andadjudged, until the time the divan generally broke up, when the sultanrising, returned to his apartment, attended by the grand vizier; theother viziers and ministers of state then retired, as also did all thosewhose business had called them thither; some pleased with gaining theircauses, others dissatisfied at the sentences pronounced against them, and some in expectation of being heard the next sitting. 

Aladdin's mother, seeing the sultan retire, and all the people depart, judged rightly that he would not sit again that day, and resolved to gohome. When Aladdin saw her return with the present, he knew not what tothink, and in fear lest she should bring him some ill news, had notcourage to ask her any questions; but she, who had never set foot intothe sultan's palace before, and knew not what was every day practisedthere, freed him from his embarrassment, and said to him: "Son, I haveseen the sultan, and am very well persuaded he has seen me too; for Iplaced myself just before him; but he was so much taken up with thosewho attended on all sides of him, that I pitied him, and wondered at hispatience. At last I believe he was heartily tired, for he rose upsuddenly, and would not hear a great many who were ready prepared tospeak to him, but went away, at which I was well pleased, for indeed Ibegan to lose all patience, and was extremely fatigued with staying solong. But there is no harm done; I will go again to-morrow; perhaps thesultan may not be so busy. "

Though his passion was very violent, Aladdin was forced to be satisfied, and to fortify himself with patience. He had at least the satisfactionto find that his mother had got over the greatest difficulty, which wasto procure access to the sultan, and hoped that the example of those shesaw speak to him would embolden her to acquit herself better of hercommission when a favourable opportunity might offer. 

The next morning she repaired to the sultan's palace with the present, as early as the day before, but when she came there, she found the gatesof the divan shut, and understood that the council sat but every otherday, therefore she must come again the next. This news she carried toher son, whose only relief was to guard himself with patience. She wentsix times afterward on the days appointed and placed herself alwaysdirectly before the sultan, but with as little success as the firstmorning, and might have perhaps come a thousand times to as littlepurpose, if luckily the sultan himself had not taken particular noticeof her. 

On the sixth day, after the divan was broken up, when the sultanreturned to his own apartment, he said to his grand vizier: "I have forsome time observed a certain woman, who attends constantly every daythat I give audience, with something wrapped up in a napkin: she alwaysstands up from the beginning to the breaking up of the audience, andaffects to place herself just before me. Do you know what she wants?"

"Sir, " replied the grand vizier, who knew no more than the sultan whatshe wanted, but did not wish to seem uninformed, "your majesty knowsthat women often make complaints on trifles; perhaps she may come tocomplain that somebody has sold her some bad flour, or some suchtrifling matter. " The sultan was not satisfied with this answer, butreplied: "If this woman comes to our next audience, do not fail to callher, that I may hear what she has to say. " The grand vizier made answerby lowering his hand, and then lifting it up above his head, signifyinghis willingness to lose it if he failed. 

By this time, the tailor's widow was so much used to go to audience, andstand before the sultan, that she did not think it any trouble, if shecould but satisfy her son that she neglected nothing that lay in herpower to please him: so the next audience-day she went to the divan andplaced herself in front of the sultan as usual; and before the grandvizier had made his report of business, the sultan perceived her, andcompassionating her for having waited so long, said to the vizier:"Before you enter upon any business, remember the woman I spoke to youabout; bid her come near, and let us despatch her business first. " Thegrand vizier immediately called the chief of the mace-bearers, andpointing to her, bade him tell her to come before the sultan. 

The chief of the officers went to Aladdin's mother, and at a sign hegave her, she followed him to the foot of the sultan's throne, where heleft her, and retired to his place by the grand vizier. The old womanbowed her head down to the carpet, which covered the platform of thethrone, and remained in that posture till the sultan bade her rise, whenhe said to her: "Good woman, I have observed you to stand from thebeginning to the rising of the divan; what business brings you here?"

After these words, Aladdin's mother prostrated herself a second time;and when she arose, said: "Monarch of monarchs, before I tell yourmajesty the extraordinary and incredible business which brings me beforeyour high throne, I beg of you to pardon the boldness of the demand I amgoing to make, which is so uncommon, that I tremble, and am ashamed topropose it to my sovereign. " In order to give her the more freedom toexplain herself, the sultan ordered all to quit the divan but the grandvizier, and then told her she might speak without restraint. 

Aladdin's mother, not content with this favour of the sultan's to saveher the confusion of speaking before so many people, was, notwithstanding, a little apprehensive; therefore, resuming herdiscourse, she said: "I beg of your majesty, if you should think mydemand the least offensive, to assure me first of your forgiveness. ""Well, " replied the sultan, "I will forgive you, be it what it may, andno hurt shall come to you: speak boldly. "

When Aladdin's mother had taken all these precautions, she told himfaithfully how Aladdin had seen the Princess Badroulboudour, the violentlove that fatal sight had inspired him with, the declaration he had madeto her when he came home, and what she had said to dissuade him. "But, "continued she, "my son, instead of taking my advice and reflecting onhis presumption, was so obstinate as to persevere, and to threaten mewith some desperate act, if I refused to come and ask the princess inmarriage of your majesty; and it was not without the greatest reluctancethat I was led to accede to his request, for which I beg your majestyonce more to pardon not only me, but also Aladdin my son, forentertaining so rash a project. "

The sultan hearkened to this discourse without shewing the least anger;but before he gave her any answer, asked her what she had brought tiedup in the napkin? She took the china dish, which she had set down at thefoot of the throne before she prostrated herself before him, untied it, and presented it to the sultan. 

The monarch's amazement and surprise were inexpressible, when he saw somany large, beautiful, and valuable jewels collected in the dish. Heremained for some time motionless with admiration. At last, when he hadrecovered himself, he received the present, crying out in a transport ofjoy: "How rich, how beautiful!" After he had admired and handled all thejewels, one after another, he turned to his grand vizier, and shewinghim the dish, said: "Behold, admire, wonder, and confess that your eyesnever beheld jewels so rich and beautiful before. " The vizier wascharmed. "Well, " continued the sultan, "what sayest thou to such apresent? Is it not worthy of the princess, my daughter? And ought I notto bestow her on one who values her at so great price?"

These words put the grand vizier into extreme agitation. The sultan hadsome time before signified to him his intention of bestowing theprincess on a son of his; therefore he was afraid, and not withoutgrounds, that the present might change his majesty's mind. Thereforegoing to him, and whispering him in the ear, he said: "I cannot but ownthat the present is worthy of the princess; but I beg of your majesty togrant me three months before you come to a final resolution. I hope, before that time, my son, on whom you have had the goodness to look witha favourable eye, will be able to make a nobler present than Aladdin, who is an entire stranger to your majesty. "

The sultan, though he was fully persuaded that it was not possible forthe vizier to provide so considerable a present for his son, yethearkened to him, and granted his request. Turning therefore to the oldwidow, he said to her: "Good woman, go home, and tell your son that Iagree to the proposal you have made me; but I cannot marry the princess, my daughter, till the paraphernalia I design for her be got ready, whichcannot be finished these three months; but at the expiration of thattime, come again. "

The widow returned home much more gratified than she had expected, sinceshe had met with a favourable answer. 

Aladdin thought himself the most happy of all men at hearing this news, and thanked his mother for the pains she had taken in the affair, thegood success of which was of so great importance to his peace. 

When two of the three months were passed, his mother one evening goingto light the lamp, and finding no oil in the house, went out to buysome, and when she came into the city, found a general rejoicing. Theshops were open, dressed with foliage, silks, and carpeting, every onestriving to shew their zeal in the most distinguished manner accordingto their ability. The streets were crowded with officers in habits ofceremony, mounted on horses richly caparisoned, each attended by a greatmany footmen. Aladdin's mother asked the oil-merchant what was themeaning of all this preparation of public festivity? "Whence come you, good woman, " said he, "that you do not know that the grand vizier's sonis to marry the Princess Badroulboudour, the sultan's daughter, to-night? She will presently return from the baths; and these officerswhom you see are to assist at the cavalcade to the palace, where theceremony is to be solemnised. "

This was news enough for Aladdin's mother. She ran till she was quiteout of breath home to her son, who little suspected any such event. "Child, " cried she, "you are undone! you depend upon the sultan's finepromises, but they will come to nothing. " Aladdin was alarmed at thesewords. "Mother, " replied he, "how do you know the sultan has been guiltyof a breach of promise?" "This night, " answered the mother, "the grandvizier's son is to marry the Princess Badroulboudour. " She then relatedhow she had heard it; so that he had no reason to doubt the truth ofwhat she said. 

At this account, Aladdin was thunderstruck. Any other man would havesunk under the shock; but a sudden hope of disappointing his rival soonroused his spirits, and he bethought himself of the lamp, which had inevery emergency been so useful to him; and without venting his rage inempty words against the sultan, the vizier, or his son, he only said:"Perhaps, mother, the vizier's son may not be so happy to-night as hepromises himself: while I go into my chamber a moment, do you getsupper ready. " She accordingly went about it, but guessed that her sonwas going to make use of the lamp, to prevent, if possible, theconsummation of the marriage. 

When Aladdin had got into his chamber, he took the lamp, rubbed it inthe same place as before, when immediately the genie appeared, and saidto him: "What wouldst thou have? I am ready to obey thee as thy slave, and the slave of all those who have that lamp in their possession; I andthe other slaves of the lamp. " "Hear me, " said Aladdin; "thou hasthitherto brought me whatever I wanted as to provisions; but now I havebusiness of the greatest importance for thee to execute. I have demandedthe Princess Badroulboudour in marriage of the sultan, her father; hepromised her to me, only requiring three months' delay; but instead ofkeeping that promise, has this night planned to marry her to the grandvizier's son. What I ask of you is, that as soon as the two are madeone, you bring them both hither to me. " "Master, " replied the genie, "Iwill obey you. Have you any other commands?" "None at present, " answeredAladdin, and then the genie disappeared. 

Aladdin having left his chamber, supped with his mother, with the sametranquillity of mind as usual; and after supper talked of the princess'smarriage as of an affair wherein he had not the least concern; he thenretired to his own chamber again, but sat up waiting the execution ofhis orders to the genie. 

In the meantime, everything was prepared with the greatest magnificencein the sultan's palace to celebrate the princess's nuptials; and theevening was spent with all the usual ceremonies and great rejoicings. 

No sooner had the bride and bridegroom slipped away from the company, however, than the genie, as the faithful slave of the lamp, and punctualin executing the command of those who possessed it, to the greatamazement of them both, took them up and transported them in an instantto Aladdin's chamber, where he set them down. 

Aladdin had waited impatiently for this moment. "Take this new-marriedman, " said he to the genie, "shut him up in the house of office, andcome again to-morrow morning before daybreak. " The genie instantlycarried the vizier's son whither Aladdin had commanded him; and after hehad breathed upon him, which prevented his stirring, left him there. 

Passionate as was Aladdin's love for the princess, he did not talk muchto her when they were alone; but only said with a respectful air: "Fearnothing, adorable princess; you are here in safety. If I have beenforced to come to this extremity, it is to prevent an unjust rival'spossessing you, contrary to your father's promise in favour of myself. "

The princess, who knew nothing of these particulars, gave very littleattention to what Aladdin could say. The fright and amazement of sosurprising an adventure had alarmed her so much that he could not getone word from her. Badroulboudour never passed a night so ill in herlife; and if we consider the condition in which the genie left the grandvizier's son, we may imagine that the new bridegroom spent it muchworse. 

Aladdin had no occasion the next morning to rub the lamp to call thegenie; who appeared at the hour appointed, and said to him: "I am here, master; what are your commands?" "Go, " said Aladdin, "fetch the vizier'sson out of the place where you left him, and carry the pair to thesultan's palace, from whence you brought them. " The genie presentlyreturned with the vizier's son, and in an instant they were transportedinto the same chamber of the palace from whence they had been brought. But we must observe, that all this time the genie never was visibleeither to the princess or the grand vizier's son. His hideous form wouldhave made them die with fear. Neither did they hear anything of thediscourse between Aladdin and him; they only perceived the motionthrough the air, and their transportation from one place to another;which we may well imagine was enough to alarm them. 

The sultan went to the room of the princess next morning and kissed herbetween the eyes, according to custom, wishing her a good morrow, butwas extremely surprised to see her so melancholy. She only cast at him asorrowful look, expressive of great affliction. He said a few words toher; but finding that he could not get an answer, was forced to retire. Nevertheless, he suspected that there was something extraordinary inthis silence, and thereupon went immediately to the sultaness'sapartment, told her in what a state he had found the princess, and howshe had received him. "Sir, " said the sultaness, "I will go and see her;I am much deceived if she receives me in the same manner. "

As soon as the sultaness was dressed, she went to the princess'sapartment, who was still in bed. She undrew the curtain, wished her goodmorrow, and kissed her. But how great was her surprise when she returnedno answer; and looking more attentively at her, she perceived her to bemuch dejected, which made her judge that something had happened, whichshe did not understand. "How comes it, child, " said the sultaness, "thatyou do not return my caresses? Ought you to treat your mother after thismanner? I am induced to believe something extraordinary has happened;come, tell me freely, and leave me no longer in a painful suspense. "

At last the princess broke silence with a deep sigh, and said: "Alas!most honoured mother, forgive me if I have failed in the respect I oweyou. My mind is so full of the extraordinary circumstances which havebefallen me that I have not yet recovered from my amazement and alarm. "She then related her surprising adventures, which the sultaness heardvery patiently, but could scarcely believe. "You did well, child, " saidshe, "not to speak of this to your father: take care not to mention itto anybody; for you will certainly be thought mad if you talk in thismanner. " "Madam, " replied the princess, "I can assure you I am in myright senses; ask my husband and he will tell you the samecircumstances. " "I will, " said the sultaness; "but if he should talk inthe same manner, I shall not be better persuaded of the truth. Come, rise, and throw off this idle fancy; it will be strange if all thefeasts and rejoicings in the kingdom should be interrupted by such avision. Do not you hear the trumpets of congratulation, and concerts ofthe finest music? Cannot these inspire you with joy and make you forgetthe fancies of a dream?" At the same time the sultaness called theprincess's women, and after she had seen her get up, went to thesultan's apartment, told him that her daughter had got some odd notionsin her head, but that there was nothing in them but idle phantasy. 

She then sent for the vizier's son, to know of him something of what theprincess had told her; but he, thinking himself highly honoured to beallied to the sultan, and not willing to lose the princess, denied whathad happened. "That is enough, " answered the sultaness; "I ask no more. I see you are wiser than my daughter. "

The rejoicings lasted all that day in the palace, and the sultaness, whonever left the princess, forgot nothing to divert her, and induce her totake part in the various diversions and shows; but she was so struckwith the idea of what had happened to her in the night, that it was easyto see her thoughts were entirely taken up with it. Neither was thegrand vizier's son in less tribulation, though his ambition made himdisguise his feelings so well, that nobody doubted of his being a happybridegroom. 

Aladdin, who was well acquainted with what passed in the palace, wasresolved that the troublesome adventure of the night before should againdisturb the unhappy pair, and therefore had recourse to his lamp, andwhen the genie appeared and offered his service, he said to him: "Bringthe grand vizier's son and the Princess Badroulboudour hither to-night, as thou didst yesterday. "

The genie obeyed as faithfully and exactly as the day before; the grandvizier's son passed the night as coldly and disagreeably, and theprincess had the same alarm and mortification. The genie, according toorders, came the next morning, and returned the new-married couple againto the palace. 

The sultan, after the reception the princess had given him, was veryanxious to know how she had passed the second night, and therefore wentinto her chamber as early as the morning before. After the same caresseshe had given her the former morning, he bade her good-morrow. "Well, daughter, " said he, "are you in a better humour than yesterday?" Stillthe princess was silent, and the sultan, perceiving her to be in greaterconfusion than before, doubted not that something very extraordinary wasthe cause; but provoked that his daughter should conceal it, he said toher in a rage, with his sabre in his hand: "Daughter, tell me what isthe matter, or I will cut off your head immediately. "

The princess, more frightened at the tone of the enraged sultan than atthe sight of the drawn sabre, at last broke silence, and said with tearsin her eyes: "My dear father and sultan, I ask your majesty's pardon ifI have offended you, and hope that out of your goodness you will havecompassion on me. "

After this preamble, which appeased the sultan, she told him what hadhappened to her in so moving a manner, that he, who loved her tenderly, was most sensibly grieved. She added: "If your majesty doubts the truthof this account, you may inform yourself from my husband, who will tellyou the same thing. "

The sultan immediately felt all the uneasiness so surprising anadventure must have given the princess. "Daughter, " said he, "you aremuch to blame for not telling me this yesterday, since it concerns me asmuch as yourself. I did not marry you to make you miserable, but thatyou might enjoy all the happiness you might hope for from a husband, whoto me seemed agreeable to you. Efface all these troublesome ideas fromyour memory; I will take care that you shall have no more suchdisagreeable experiences. "

As soon as the sultan had returned to his own apartment, he sent for thegrand vizier: "Vizier, " said he, "have you seen your son, and has hetold you anything?" The vizier replied: "No. " The sultan related all thecircumstances of which the princess had informed him, and afterwardsaid: "I do not doubt but that my daughter has told me the truth; butnevertheless I should be glad to have it confirmed by your son, therefore go and ask him how it was. "

The grand vizier went immediately to his son, communicated what thesultan had told him, and enjoined him to conceal nothing, but to relatethe whole truth. "I will disguise nothing from you, father, " replied theson, "for indeed all that the princess has stated is true. Yet I musttell you, that all these experiences do not in the least lessen thosesentiments of love and gratitude I entertain for her; but I mustconfess, that notwithstanding all the honour that attends marrying mysovereign's daughter, I would much rather die than continue in soexalted an alliance, if I must undergo much longer what I have alreadyendured. I do not doubt but that the princess entertains the samesentiments, and that she will readily agree to a separation which is sonecessary both for her repose and mine. Therefore, father, I beg, by thesame tenderness which led you to procure me so great an honour, toobtain the sultan's consent that our marriage may be declared null andvoid. "

Notwithstanding the grand vizier's ambition to have his son allied tothe sultan, the firm resolution he saw he had formed to be separatedfrom the princess caused the father to give his majesty a full accountof what had passed, begging him finally to give his son leave to retirefrom the palace, alleging it was not just that the princess should be amoment longer exposed to so terrible a persecution upon his son'saccount. 

The grand vizier found no great difficulty to obtain what he asked, asthe sultan had determined upon it already; orders were given to put astop to all rejoicings in the palace and town, and expresses despatchedto all parts of his dominions to countermand his first orders; and in ashort time, all merry-making ceased. 

This sudden change gave rise both in the city and kingdom to variousspeculations and inquiries; but no other account could be given of it, except that both the vizier and his son went out of the palace muchdejected. Nobody but Aladdin knew the secret, who rejoiced at the happysuccess procured by his lamp. Neither the sultan nor the grand vizier, who had forgotten Aladdin and his request, had the least thought that hehad any concern in the enchantment which caused the dissolution of themarriage. 

Aladdin waited till the three months were completed, which the sultanhad appointed for the consummation of the marriage between the PrincessBadroulboudour and himself; and the next day sent his mother to thepalace, to remind the sultan of his promise. 

The widow went to the palace, and stood in the same place as before inthe hall of audience. The sultan no sooner cast his eyes upon her thanhe knew her again, remembered her business, and how long he had put heroff: therefore, when the grand vizier was beginning to make his report, the sultan interrupted him, and said: "Vizier, I see the good woman whomade me the present of jewels some months ago; forbear your report, tillI have heard what she has to say. " The vizier, looking about the divan, perceived the tailor's widow, and sent the chief of the mace-bearers toconduct her to the sultan. 

Aladdin's mother came to the foot of the throne, prostrated herself asusual, and when she rose, the sultan asked her what she would have. "Sir, " said she, "I come to represent to your majesty, in the name of myson, Aladdin, that the three months, at the end of which you ordered meto come again, are expired; and to beg you to remember your promise. "

The sultan, when he had fixed a time to answer the request of this goodwoman, little thought of hearing any more of a marriage, which heimagined would be very disagreeable to the princess; so this summons forhim to fulfil his promise was somewhat embarrassing; he declined givingan answer till he had consulted his vizier, and signified to him thelittle inclination he had to conclude a match for his daughter with astranger, whose rank he supposed to be very mean. 

The grand vizier freely told the sultan his thoughts, and said to him:"In my opinion, sir, there is an infallible way for your majesty toavoid a match so disproportionate, without giving Aladdin, were he knownto your majesty, any cause of complaint; which is, to set so high aprice upon the princess that, however rich he may be, he cannot complywith it. This is the only way to make him desist from so bold anundertaking. "

The sultan, approving of the grand vizier's advice, turned to thetailor's widow and said to her: "Good woman, it is true sultans ought toabide by their words, and I am ready to keep mine, by making your sonhappy in marriage with the princess, my daughter. But as I cannot marryher without some further valuable consideration from your son, you maytell him, I will fulfil my promise as soon as he shall send me fortytrays of massy gold, full of the same sort of jewels you have alreadymade me a present of, and carried by the like number of black slaves, who shall be led by as many young and handsome white slaves, all dressedmagnificently. On these conditions I am ready to bestow the princess, mydaughter, upon him; therefore, good woman, go and tell him so, and Iwill wait till you bring me his answer. "

Aladdin's mother prostrated herself a second time before the sultan'sthrone, and retired. On her way home, she laughed within herself at herson's foolish imagination. "Where, " said she, "can he get so many largegold trays, and such precious stones to fill them? Must he go again tothat subterranean abode and gather them off the trees? and where will heget so many such slaves as the sultan requires? It is altogether out ofhis power, and I believe he will not be much pleased with my embassythis time. " When she came home, full of these thoughts, she said to herson: "Indeed, child, I would not have you think any farther of yourmarriage with the princess. The sultan received me very kindly, and Ibelieve he was well inclined to you; but if I am not much deceived thegrand vizier has made him change his mind. " She then gave her son anexact account of what the sultan had said to her, and the conditions onwhich he consented to the match. Afterward she said to him: "The sultanexpects your answer immediately; but, " continued she, laughing, "Ibelieve he may wait long enough. "

"Not so long, mother, as you imagine, " replied Aladdin; "the sultan ismistaken, if he thinks by this exorbitant demand to prevent myentertaining thoughts of the princess. I expected that he would have seta higher price upon her incomparable charms. His demand is but a trifleto what I could have done for her. But while I think of satisfying hisrequest, go and get something for our dinner, and leave the rest to me. "

As soon as his mother was gone out, Aladdin took the lamp, and rubbingit, the genie appeared, and offered his service as usual. "The sultan, "said Aladdin to him, "gives me the princess his daughter in marriage;but demands first, forty large trays of massy gold, full of the fruitsof the garden from whence I took this lamp; and these he expects to havecarried by as many black slaves, each preceded by a young handsome whiteslave, richly clothed. Go, and fetch me this present as soon aspossible, that I may send it to him before the divan breaks up. " Thegenie told him his command should be immediately obeyed, anddisappeared. 

In a little time afterward the genie returned with forty black slaves, each bearing on his head a heavy tray of pure gold, full of pearls, diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and every sort of precious stones, alllarger and more beautiful than those formerly presented to the sultan. Each tray was covered with silver tissue, embroidered with flowers ofgold: these, together with the white slaves, quite filled the house, which was but a small one, the little court before it, and a smallgarden behind. The genie asked if he had any other commands, and Aladdintelling him that he wanted nothing further, he disappeared. 

When Aladdin's mother came from market, she was much surprised to see somany people and such vast riches. As soon as she had laid down herprovisions, she was going to pull off her veil; but her son preventedher, and said: "Mother, let us lose no time; before the sultan and thedivan rise, I would have you return to the palace with this present asthe dowry demanded for the princess, that he may judge by my diligenceof the ardent desire I have to procure myself the honour of thisalliance. " Without waiting for his mother's reply, Aladdin opened thestreet-door, and made the slaves walk out; each white slave followed bya black with a tray upon his head. When they were all out, the motherfollowed the last black slave; he shut the door, and then retired to hischamber, full of hopes that the sultan, after this present, which wassuch as he required, would receive him as his son-in-law. 

The first white slave who went out made all the people who were going bystop; and before they were all clear of the house, the streets werecrowded with spectators, who ran to see so extraordinary and magnificenta procession. The dress of each slave was so rich, both for the stuffand the jewels, that those who were dealers in them valued each at noless than a million of money; besides, the neatness and propriety of thedress, the noble air, fine shape and proportion of each slave wereunparalleled; their grave walk at an equal distance from each other, thelustre of the jewels, curiously set in their girdles of gold, and theegrets of precious stones in their turbans, put the spectators into suchgreat admiration, that they could not avoid following them with theireyes as far as possible. As soon as the first of these slaves arrived atthe palace gate, the porters formed themselves into order, taking himfor a prince from the magnificence of his habit, and were going to kissthe hem of his garment; but the slave, who was instructed by the genie, prevented them, and said: "We are only slaves, our master will appear ata proper time. "

The first slave, followed by the rest, advanced into the second court, which was very spacious, and in which the sultan's household was rangedduring the sitting of the divan. The magnificence of the officers, whostood at the head of their troops, was considerably eclipsed by theslaves who bore Aladdin's present, of which they themselves made a part. 

As the sultan, who had been informed of their approach to the palace, had given orders for them to be admitted, they went into the divan inregular order, one part filing to the right, and the other to the left. After they were all entered, and had formed a semicircle before thesultan's throne, the black slaves laid the golden trays on the carpet, prostrating themselves, and at the same time the white slaves did thesame. When they rose, the black slaves uncovered the trays, and then allstood with their arms crossed over their breasts. 

In the meantime Aladdin's mother advanced to the foot of the throne, andhaving paid her respects, said to the sultan: "Sir, my son is sensiblethat this present, which he has sent your majesty, is much below thePrincess Badroulboudour's worth; but hopes, nevertheless, that yourmajesty will accept of it. "

The sultan was not able to give the least attention to this compliment. The moment he cast his eyes on the forty trays, full of the mostprecious and beautiful jewels he had ever seen, and the fourscoreslaves, who appeared by the elegance of their persons, and themagnificence of their dress, like so many princes, he was overwhelmed. Instead of answering the compliment of Aladdin's mother, he addressedhimself to the grand vizier, who could not any more than the sultancomprehend from whence such a profusion of richness could come. "Well, vizier, " said he aloud, "who do you think it can be that has sent me soextraordinary a present? Do you think him worthy of the PrincessBadroulboudour, my daughter?"

The vizier, notwithstanding his envy and grief at seeing a strangerpreferred to his son, durst not disguise his sentiments. It was toovisible that Aladdin's present was more than sufficient to merit hisbeing received into royal alliance; therefore, consulting his master'sfeelings, he returned this answer: "I am so far from having any thoughtsthat the person who has made your majesty so noble a present is unworthyof the honour you would do him, that I should say he deserved much more, if I were not persuaded that the greatest treasure in the world oughtnot to be put in competition with the princess, your majesty'sdaughter. "

The sultan made no longer hesitation, nor thought of informing himselfwhether Aladdin was endowed with all the qualifications requisite in onewho aspired to be his son-in-law. The sight alone of such immenseriches, and Aladdin's quickness in satisfying his demand, withoutstarting the least difficulty at the exorbitant conditions he hadimposed, easily persuaded him that he could want nothing to render himaccomplished, and such as he desired. Therefore, to send Aladdin'smother back with all the satisfaction she could desire, he said to her:"My good lady, go and tell your son that I wait with open arms toembrace him, and the more haste he makes to come and receive theprincess, my daughter, from my hands, the greater pleasure he will dome. "

As soon as the tailor's widow had retired, overjoyed to see her sonraised to such exalted fortune, the sultan put an end to the audience;and rising from his throne, ordered that the princess's eunuchs shouldcome and carry the trays into their mistress's apartment, whither hewent himself to examine them with her at his leisure. The fourscoreslaves were conducted into the palace; and the sultan, telling theprincess of their magnificent appearance, ordered them to be broughtbefore her apartment, that she might see through the lattices that hehad not exaggerated in his account of them. 

In the meantime, Aladdin's mother got home, and shewed in hercountenance the good news she brought her son. "My son, " said she tohim, "you have now all the reason in the world to be pleased. Thesultan, with the approbation of the whole court, has declared that youare worthy to possess the Princess Badroulboudour, and waits to embraceyou, and conclude your marriage; therefore, you must think of makingpreparations for your interview, which may answer the high opinion hehas formed of your person. "

Aladdin, enraptured with this news, made little reply, but retired tohis chamber. There, after he had rubbed the lamp, which had never failedhim, the obedient genie appeared. "Genie, " said Aladdin, "I want tobathe immediately, and you must afterward provide me the richest andmost magnificent habit ever worn by a monarch. " No sooner were the wordsout of his mouth than the genie rendered him invisible, and transportedhim into a bath of the finest marble, where he was undressed, withoutseeing by whom, in a magnificent and spacious hall. From the hall he wasled to the bath, which was of a moderate heat, and he was there rubbedwith various scented waters. After he had passed through several degreesof heat, he came out quite a different man from what he was before. Hisskin was clear white and red, his body lightsome and free; and when hereturned into the hall, he found, instead of his own, a suit themagnificence of which astonished him. The genie helped him to dress, andwhen he had done, transported him back to his own chamber, where heasked him if he had any other commands? "Yes, " answered Aladdin, "Iexpect you to bring me as soon as possible a charger that surpasses inbeauty and goodness the best in the sultan's stables, with a saddle, bridle, and other caparisons worth a million of money. I want alsotwenty slaves, as richly clothed as those who carried the present to thesultan, to walk by my side, and twenty more to go before me in tworanks. Besides these, bring my mother six women slaves to attend her, asrichly dressed at least as any of the Princess Badroulboudour's, eachcarrying a complete dress fit for any sultaness. I want also tenthousand pieces of gold in ten purses; go, and make haste. "

As soon as Aladdin had given these orders, the genie disappeared, butpresently returned with the horse, the forty slaves, ten of whom carriedeach a purse containing ten thousand pieces of gold, and six womenslaves, each carrying on her head a different dress for Aladdin'smother, wrapped up in a piece of silver tissue. 

Of the ten purses Aladdin took four, which he gave to his mother, telling her, those were to supply her with necessaries; the other six heleft in the hands of the slaves who brought them, with an order to throwthem by handfuls among the people as they went to the sultan's palace. The six slaves who carried the purses he ordered likewise to marchbefore him, three on the right hand and three on the left. Afterward hepresented the six women slaves to his mother, telling her that they wereher slaves, and that the dresses they had brought were for her use. 

When Aladdin had thus settled matters, he told the genie he would callfor him when he wanted him, and thereupon the genie disappeared. Aladdin's thoughts now were only upon answering, as soon as possible, the desire the sultan had shewn to see him. He despatched one of theforty slaves to the palace, with an order to address himself to thechief of the porters, to know when he might have the honour to come andthrow himself at the sultan's feet. The slave soon acquitted himself ofhis commission, and brought for answer that the sultan waited for himwith impatience. 

Aladdin immediately mounted his charger, and though he never was onhorseback before, appeared with such extraordinary grace, that the mostexperienced horseman would not have taken him for a novice. The streetsthrough which he was to pass were almost instantly filled with aninnumerable concourse of people, who made the air echo with theiracclamations, especially every time the six slaves who carried thepurses threw handfuls of gold among the populace. Neither did theseshouts of joy come from those alone who scrambled for the money, butfrom a superior rank of people, who could not forbear applaudingAladdin's generosity. Not only those who knew him when he played in thestreets like a vagabond did not recollect him, but those who saw him buta little while before hardly recognised him, so much were his featuresaltered: such were the effects of the lamp, as to procure by degrees tothose who possessed it perfections suitable to the rank to which theright use of it advanced them. Much more attention was paid to Aladdin'sperson than to the pomp and magnificence of his attendants, as a similarshow had been seen the day before, when the slaves walked in processionwith the present to the sultan. Nevertheless, the horse was much admiredby good judges, who knew how to discern his beauties, without beingdazzled by the jewels and richness of his furniture. When the report waseverywhere spread that the sultan was going to give the princess inmarriage to Aladdin, nobody regarded his birth, nor envied his goodfortune, so worthy he seemed of it in the public opinion. 

When he arrived at the palace, everything was prepared for hisreception; and when he came to the gate of the second court, he wouldhave alighted from his horse, agreeably to the custom observed by thegrand vizier, the commander-in-chief of the empire, and governors ofprovinces of the first rank; but the chief of the mace-bearers, whowaited on him by the sultan's order, prevented him, and attended him tothe grand hall of audience, where he helped him to dismount. Theofficers formed themselves into two ranks at the entrance of the hall. The chief put Aladdin on his right hand, and through the midst of themled him to the sultan's throne. 

As soon as the sultan perceived Aladdin, he was no less surprised to seehim more richly and magnificently habited than ever he had been himself, than struck at his good mien, fine shape, and a certain air ofunexpected dignity, very different from the meanness of his mother'slate appearance. 

But, notwithstanding, his amazement and surprise did not hinder him fromrising off his throne, and descending two or three steps, quickly enoughto prevent Aladdin's throwing himself at his feet. He embraced him withall possible demonstrations of joy at his arrival. After this civilityAladdin would have thrown himself at his feet again; but he held himfast by the hand, and obliged him to sit close to the throne. 

Aladdin then addressed the sultan, saying: "I receive the honour whichyour majesty out of your great condescension is pleased to confer; butpermit me to assure you that I know the greatness of your power, andthat I am not insensible how much my birth is below the lustre of thehigh rank to which I am raised. I ask your majesty's pardon for myrashness, but I cannot dissemble that I should die with grief were I tolose my hopes of seeing myself united to the divine princess who is theobject of my wishes. "

"My son, " answered the sultan, embracing him a second time, "you wouldwrong me to doubt for a moment of my sincerity: your life from thismoment is too dear to me not to preserve it, by presenting you with theremedy which is at my disposal. "

After these words, the sultan gave a signal, and immediately the airechoed with the sound of trumpets, hautboys, and other musicalinstruments: and at the same time he led Aladdin into a magnificenthall, where was laid out a most splendid collation. The sultan andAladdin ate by themselves, while the grand vizier and the great lords ofthe court, according to their dignity and rank, sat at different tables. The conversation turned on different subjects; but all the while thesultan took so much pleasure in looking at his intended son-in-law, thathe hardly ever took his eyes off him; and throughout the whole of theirconversation Aladdin shewed so much good sense, as confirmed the sultanin the high opinion he had formed of him. 

After the feast, the sultan sent for the chief judge of his capital, andordered him to draw up immediately a contract of marriage between thePrincess Badroulboudour, his daughter, and Aladdin. 

When the judge had drawn up the contract in all the requisite forms, thesultan asked Aladdin if he would stay in the palace, and solemnise theceremonies of marriage that day; to which he answered: "Sir, thoughgreat is my impatience to enjoy your majesty's goodness, yet I beg ofyou to give me leave to defer it till I have built a palace fit toreceive the princess; therefore I petition you to grant me a convenientspot of ground near your abode, that I may the more frequently pay myrespects, and I will take care to have it finished with all diligence. ""Son, " said the sultan, "take what ground you think proper, there isspace enough on every quarter round my palace; but consider, I cannotsee you too soon united with my daughter, which alone is wanting tocomplete my happiness. " After these words he embraced Aladdin again, whotook his leave with as much politeness as if he had been bred up and hadalways lived at court. 

Aladdin returned home in the order he had come, amidst the acclamationsof the people, who wished him all happiness and prosperity. As soon ashe dismounted, he retired to his own chamber, took the lamp, and calledthe genie as before, who in the usual manner made him a tender of hisservice. "Genie, " said Aladdin, "I have every reason to commend yourexactness in executing hitherto punctually whatever I have demanded; butnow, if you have any regard for the lamp, your protector, you must shew, if possible, more zeal and diligence than ever. I would have you buildme, as soon as you can, a palace opposite, but at a proper distancefrom, the sultan's, fit to receive my spouse, the PrincessBadroulboudour. I leave the choice of the materials to you, that is tosay, porphyry, jasper, agate, lapis lazuli, or the finest marble ofvarious colours, and also the architecture of the building. But I expectthat on the terraced roof of this palace you will build me a large hallcrowned with a dome, and having four equal fronts; and that instead oflayers of bricks, the walls be formed of massy gold and silver, laidalternately: that each front shall contain six windows, the lattices ofall of which (except one, which must be left unfinished) shall be soenriched in the most tasteful workmanship, with diamonds, rubies, andemeralds, that they shall exceed anything of the kind ever seen in theworld. I would have an inner and outer court in front of the palace, anda spacious garden; but above all things, take care that there be laid ina place which you shall point out to me, a treasure of gold and silvercoin. Besides, the edifice must be well provided with kitchens andoffices, storehouses, and rooms to keep choice furniture in, for everyseason of the year. I must have stables full of the finest horses, withtheir equerries and grooms, and hunting equipage. There must be officersto attend the kitchens and offices, and women slaves to wait on theprincess. You understand what I mean; therefore go about it, and comeand tell me when all is finished. "

By the time Aladdin had instructed the genie respecting the building ofhis palace, the sun was set. The next morning, before break of day, ourbridegroom, whose love for the princess would not let him sleep, was up, when the genie presented himself and said: "Sir, your palace isfinished; come and see how you like it. " Aladdin had no sooner signifiedhis consent, than the genie transported him thither in an instant, andhe found it so much beyond his expectation, that he could not enoughadmire it. The genie led him through all the apartments, where he metwith nothing but what was rich and magnificent, with officers and slavesall habited according to their rank and the services to which they wereappointed. The genie then shewed him the treasury, which was opened by atreasurer, where Aladdin saw heaps of purses, of different sizes, piledup to the top of the ceiling, and disposed in most excellent order. Thegenie assured him of the treasurer's fidelity, and thence led him to thestables, where he shewed him some of the finest horses in the world, andthe grooms busy in dressing them; from thence they went to thestorehouses, which were filled with all things necessary, both for foodand ornament. 

When Aladdin had examined the palace from top to bottom, andparticularly the hall with the four and twenty windows, and found itmuch beyond whatever he could have imagined, he said: "Genie, no one canbe better satisfied than I am; and indeed I should be much to blame if Ifound any fault. There is only one thing wanting which I forgot tomention; that is, to lay from the sultan's palace to the door of theapartment designed for the princess, a carpet of fine velvet for her towalk upon. " The genie immediately disappeared, and Aladdin saw what hedesired executed in an instant. The genie then returned, and carried himhome before the gates of the sultan's palace were opened. 

When the porters, who had always been used to an open prospect, came toopen the gates, they were amazed to find it obstructed, and to see acarpet of velvet spread from the grand entrance. They did notimmediately look how far it extended, but when they could discernAladdin's palace distinctly, their surprise was increased. The news ofso extraordinary a wonder was presently spread through the palace. Thegrand vizier, who arrived soon after the gates were open, being no lessamazed than others at this novelty, ran and acquainted the sultan, butendeavoured to make him believe it to be all enchantment. "Vizier, "replied the sultan, "why will you have it to be enchantment? You know aswell as I that it must be Aladdin's palace, which I gave him leave tobuild, for the reception of my daughter. After the proof we have had ofhis riches, can we think it strange that he should raise a palace in soshort a time? He wished to surprise us, and let us see what wonders areto be done with money in only one night. Confess sincerely that theenchantment you talk of proceeds from a little envy on account of yourson's disappointment. "

When Aladdin had been conveyed home, and had dismissed the genie, hefound his mother up, and dressing herself in one of those suits whichhad been brought her. By the time the sultan rose from the council, Aladdin had prepared his mother to go to the palace with her slaves, anddesired her, if she saw the sultan, to tell him she should do herselfthe honour toward evening to attend the princess to her palace. Accordingly she went; but though she and the women slaves who followedher were all dressed like sultanesses, yet the crowd was not near sogreat as the preceding day, because they were all veiled, and each hadon an upper garment agreeable to the richness and magnificence of theirhabits. Aladdin, taking care not to forget his wonderful lamp, mountedhis horse, left his paternal home forever, and went to the palace in thesame pomp as the day before. 

As soon as the porters of the sultan's palace saw Aladdin's mother, theywent and informed the sultan, who immediately ordered the bands oftrumpets, cymbals, drums, fifes, and hautboys, placed in different partsof the palace, to play, so that the air resounded with concerts whichinspired the whole city with joy: the merchants began to adorn theirshops and houses with fine carpets and silks, and to prepareilluminations against night. The artisans of every description lefttheir work, and the populace repaired to the great space between theroyal palace and that of Aladdin; which last drew all their attention, not only because it was new to them, but because there was no comparisonbetween the two buildings. But their amazement was to comprehend by whatunheard-of miracle so magnificent a palace could have been so soonerected, it being apparent to all that there were no prepared materials, or any foundations laid the day before. 

Aladdin's mother was received in the palace with honour, and introducedinto the Princess Badroulboudour's apartment by the chief of theeunuchs. As soon as the princess saw her, she rose, saluted, and desiredher to sit down on a sofa; and while her women finished dressing, andadorning her with the jewels which Aladdin had presented to her, acollation was served up. At the same time the sultan, who wished to beas much with his daughter as possible before he parted with her, came inand paid the old lady great respect. Aladdin's mother had talked to thesultan in public, but he had never seen her with her veil off, as shewas then; and though she was somewhat advanced in years, she had theremains of a good face, which showed what she had been in her youth. Thesultan, who had always seen her dressed very meanly, not to say poorly, was surprised to find her as richly and magnificently attired as theprincess, his daughter. This made him think Aladdin equally prudent andwise in whatever he undertook. 

When it was night, the princess left her own apartment for Aladdin'spalace, with his mother on her left hand carried in a superb litter, followed by a hundred women slaves, dressed with surprisingmagnificence. All the bands of music, which had played from the timeAladdin's mother arrived, being joined together, led the procession, followed by a hundred state ushers, and the like number of blackeunuchs, in two files, with their officers at their head. Four hundredof the sultan's young pages carried flambeaux on each side, which, together with the illuminations of the sultan's and Aladdin's palaces, made it as light as day. 

At length the princess arrived at the new palace and Aladdin ran withall imaginable joy to receive her at the grand entrance. His mother hadtaken care to point him out to the princess, in the midst of theofficers who surrounded him, and she was charmed with his person. "Adorable princess, " said Aladdin, accosting her, and saluting herrespectfully, as soon as she had entered her apartment, "if I have themisfortune to have displeased you by my boldness in aspiring to thepossession of so lovely a creature, I must tell you, that you ought toblame your bright eyes and charms, not me. " "Prince, " answered theprincess, "I am obedient to the will of my father; and it is enough forme to have seen you, to tell you that I obey without reluctance. "

Aladdin, charmed with so agreeable an answer, would not keep theprincess standing; but took her by the hand, which he kissed with thegreatest demonstration of joy, and led her into a large hall, illuminated with an infinite number of wax candles; where, by the careof the genie, a noble feast was served up. The dishes were of massygold, and contained the most delicate viands, and all the otherornaments and embellishments of the hall were answerable to thisdisplay. The princess, dazzled to see so much riches, said to Aladdin:"I thought, prince, that nothing in the world was so beautiful as thesultan my father's palace, but the sight of this hall alone issufficient to shew I was deceived. "

Then Aladdin led the princess to the place appointed for her, and assoon as she and his mother were seated, a band of the most harmoniousinstruments, accompanied with the voices of beautiful ladies, began aconcert, which lasted without intermission to the end of the repast. Theprincess was so charmed, that she declared she had never heard anythinglike it in the sultan her father's court; but she knew not that thesemusicians were fairies chosen by the genie, the slave of the lamp. 

When the supper was ended, there entered a company of female dancers, who performed, according to the custom of the country, several figuredances, singing at the same time verses in praise of the bride andbridegroom. About midnight the happy pair retired to their apartmentsand the nuptial ceremonies were at an end. 

The next morning, when Aladdin arose, his attendants presentedthemselves to dress him, and brought him another habit as magnificent asthat worn the day before. He then ordered one of the horses appointedfor his use to be got ready, mounted him, and went in the midst of alarge troop of slaves to the sultan's palace. The sultan received himwith the same honours as before, embraced him, placed him on the thronenear him, and ordered a collation. Aladdin said: "I beg your majestywill dispense with my eating with you to-day; I came to entreat you totake a repast in the princess's palace, attended by your grand vizier, and all the lords of your court. " The sultan consented with pleasure, rose up immediately, and, preceded by the principal officers of hispalace, and followed by all the great lords of his court, accompaniedAladdin. 

The nearer the sultan approached Aladdin's palace, the more he wasstruck with its beauty, but was much more amazed when he entered it; andcould not forbear breaking out into exclamations of approbation. Butwhen he came into the hall, and cast his eyes on the windows, enrichedwith diamonds, rubies, emeralds, all large perfect stones, he was somuch surprised, that he remained some time motionless. After herecovered himself, he said to his vizier; "Is it possible that thereshould be such a stately palace so near my own, and I be an utterstranger to it till now?" "Sir, " replied the grand vizier, "your majestymay remember that the day before yesterday you gave Aladdin, whom youaccepted for a son-in-law, leave to build a palace opposite your own, and that very day at sunset there was no palace on this spot, butyesterday I had the honour first to tell you that the palace was builtand finished. " "I remember, " replied the sultan, "but never imaginedthat the palace was one of the wonders of the world; for where in allthe world besides shall we find walls built of massy gold and silver, instead of brick, stone, or marble; and diamonds, rubies, and emeraldscomposing the windows!"

The sultan would examine and admire the beauty of all the windows, andcounting them, found that there were but three and twenty so richlyadorned, and he was greatly astonished that the twenty-fourth was leftimperfect. "Vizier, " said he, for that minister made a point of neverleaving him, "I am surprised that a hall of this magnificence should beleft thus imperfect. " "Sir, " replied the grand vizier, "without doubtAladdin only wanted time to finish this window like the rest; for it isnot to be supposed but that he has sufficient jewels for the purpose, orthat he will not complete it at the first opportunity. "

Aladdin, who had left the sultan to go and give some orders, returnedjust as the vizier had finished his remark. "Son, " said the sultan tohim, "this hall is the most worthy of admiration of any in the world;there is only one thing that surprises me, which is, to find one of thewindows unfinished. Is it from the forgetfulness or negligence of theworkmen, or want of time, that they have not put the finishing stroke toso beautiful a piece of architecture?" "Sir, " answered Aladdin, "it wasfor none of these reasons that your majesty sees it in this state. Theomission was by design; it was by my orders that the workmen left itthus, since I wished that your majesty should have the glory offinishing this hall. " "If you did it with this intention, " replied thesultan, "I take it kindly, and will give orders about it immediately. "He accordingly sent for the most considerable jewellers and goldsmithsin his capital. 

Aladdin then conducted the sultan into the saloon where he had regaledhis bride the preceding night. The princess entered immediatelyafterward, and received her father with an air that shewed how much shewas satisfied with her marriage. Two tables were immediately spread withthe most delicious meats, all served up in gold dishes. The sultan wasmuch pleased with the cookery, and owned he had never eaten anythingmore excellent. He said the same of the wines, which were delicious; butwhat he most of all admired were four large buffets, profusely furnishedwith large flagons, basins, and cups, all of massy gold, set withjewels. 

When the sultan rose from table, he was informed that the jewellers andgoldsmiths attended; upon which he returned to the hall, and shewed themthe window which was unfinished: "I sent for you, " said he, "to fit upthis window in as great perfection as the rest; examine well, and makeall the despatch you can. "

The jewellers and goldsmiths examined the three and twenty windows withgreat attention, and after they had consulted together they returned andpresented themselves before the sultan, when the principal jeweller, undertaking to speak for the rest, said: "Sir, we are all willing toexert our utmost care and industry to obey your majesty; but among usall we cannot furnish jewels enough for so great a work. " "I have morethan are necessary, " said the sultan; "come to my palace, and you shallchoose what may answer your purpose. "

When the sultan returned to his palace, he ordered his jewels to bebrought out, and the jewellers took a great quantity, particularly thoseAladdin had made him a present of, which they soon used, without makingany great advance in their work. They came again several times for more, and in a month's time had not finished half their work. In short, theyused all the jewels the sultan had, and borrowed of the vizier, but yetthe work was not half done. 

Aladdin, who knew that all the sultan's endeavours to make this windowlike the rest were in vain, sent for the jewellers and goldsmiths, andnot only commanded them to desist from their work, but ordered them toundo what they had begun, and to carry all their jewels back to thesultan and to the vizier. They undid in a few hours what they had beensix weeks about, and retired, leaving Aladdin alone in the hall. He tookthe lamp, which he carried about him, rubbed it, and presently the genieappeared. "Genie, " said Aladdin, "I ordered thee to leave one of thefour and twenty windows of this hall imperfect and thou hast executed mycommands punctually; now I would have thee make it like the rest. " Thegenie immediately disappeared. Aladdin went out of the hall, andreturning soon after, found the window like the others. 

In the meantime, the jewellers and goldsmiths repaired to the palace, and were introduced into the sultan's presence; where the chiefjeweller, presenting the precious stones which he had brought back, said, in the name of all the rest: "Your majesty knows how long we havebeen upon the work you were pleased to set us about, in which we usedall imaginable industry. It was far advanced, when Prince Aladdincommanded us not only to leave off, but to undo what we had alreadybegun, and bring your majesty your jewels back. " The sultan asked themif Aladdin had given them any reason for so doing, and they answeringthat he had given them none, he ordered a horse to be brought, which hemounted, and rode to his son-in-law's palace, with some few attendantson foot. When he came there, he alighted at the staircase, which led tothe hall with the twenty-four windows, and went directly up to it, without giving previous notice to Aladdin; but it happened that at thatvery juncture Aladdin was opportunely there, and had just time toreceive him at the door. 

The sultan, without giving Aladdin time to complain obligingly of hisnot having given notice, that he might have acquitted himself with themore becoming respect, said to him: "Son, I come myself to know thereason why you commanded the jewellers to desist from work, and take topieces what they had done. "

Aladdin disguised the true reason, which was, that the sultan was notrich enough in jewels to be at so great an expense, but said: "I beg ofyou now to see if anything is wanting. "

The sultan went directly to the window which was left imperfect, andwhen he found it like the rest, fancied that he was mistaken, examinedthe two windows on each side, and afterward all the four and twenty; butwhen he was convinced that the window which several workmen had been solong about was finished in so short a time, he embraced Aladdin, andkissed him between his eyes. "My son, " said he, "what a man you are todo such surprising things always in the twinkling of an eye: there isnot your fellow in the world; the more I know, the more I admire you. "

Aladdin received these praises from the sultan with modesty, and repliedin these words: "Sir, it is a great honour to me to deserve yourmajesty's goodwill and approbation, and I assure you, I shall study todeserve them more. "

The sultan returned to his palace, but would not let Aladdin attend him. When he came there, he found his grand vizier waiting, to whom herelated the wonder he had witnessed with the utmost admiration, and insuch terms as left the minister no room to doubt but that the fact wasas the sultan related it; though he was the more confirmed in hisbelief that Aladdin's palace was the effect of enchantment, as he hadtold the sultan the first moment he saw it. He was going to repeat theobservation, but the sultan interrupted him, and said: "You told me soonce before; I see, vizier, you have not forgotten your son's espousalsto my daughter. " The grand vizier plainly saw how much the sultan wasprepossessed, therefore avoided disputes, and let him remain in his ownopinion. The sultan as soon as he rose every morning went into thecloset, to look at Aladdin's palace, and would go many times in a day tocontemplate and admire it. 

Aladdin did not confine himself in his palace; but took care to showhimself once or twice a week in the town, by going sometimes to onemosque, and sometimes to another, to prayers; or to visit the grandvizier, who affected to pay his court to him on certain days; or to dothe principal lords of the court the honour to return their visits afterhe had regaled them at his palace. Every time he went out, he caused twoslaves, who walked by the side of his horse, to throw handfuls of moneyamong the people as he passed through the streets and squares, whichwere generally on these occasions crowded. Besides, no one came to hispalace gates to ask alms but returned satisfied with his liberality. Inshort, he so divided his time, that not a week passed but he went eitheronce or twice a-hunting, sometimes in the environs of the city, sometimes farther off; at which time the villages through which hepassed felt the effects of his generosity, which gained him the love andblessings of the people; and it was common for them to swear by hishead. With all these good qualities he showed a zeal for the public goodwhich could not be sufficiently applauded. He gave sufficient proofs ofboth in a revolt on the borders of the kingdom; for he no soonerunderstood that the sultan was levying an army to disperse the rebelsthan he begged the command of it, which he found not difficult toobtain. As soon as he was empowered, he marched with so much expedition, that the sultan heard of the defeat of the rebels before he had receivedan account of his son-in-law's arrival in the army. 

Aladdin had conducted himself in this manner several years, when theAfrican magician, who undesignedly had been the instrument of raisinghim to so high a pitch of prosperity, recalled him to his recollectionin Africa, whither, after his expedition, he had returned. And though hewas almost persuaded that Aladdin must have died miserably in thesubterranean abode where he had left him, yet he had the curiosity toinform himself about his end with certainty; and as he was a greatgeomancer, he took out of a cupboard a square, covered box, which heused in his geomantic observations. After he had prepared and levelledthe sand which was in it with an intention to discover whether or notAladdin had died, he cast the points, drew the figures, and formed ahoroscope, by which, when he came to examine it, he found that insteadof dying in the cave, his victim had made his escape, lived splendidly, was in possession of the wonderful lamp, had married a princess, and wasmuch honoured and respected. 

The magician no sooner understood, by the rules of his diabolical art, that Aladdin had arrived to this height of good fortune, than his facebecame inflamed with anger, and he cried out in a rage: "This sorrytailor's son has discovered the secret and virtue of the lamp! Ibelieved his death to be certain; but find that he enjoys the fruit ofmy labour and study! I will, however, prevent his enjoying it long, orperish in the attempt. " He was not a great while deliberating on what heshould do, but the next morning mounted a barb, set forward, and neverstopped but to refresh himself and his horse, till he arrived at thecapital of China. He alighted, took up his lodging in a khan, and stayedthere the remainder of the day and the night. 

The next day, his first object was to inquire what people said ofAladdin; and, taking a walk through the town, he went to the most publicand frequented places, where persons of the best distinction met todrink a certain warm liquor, which he had drunk often during his formervisit. As soon as he had seated himself, he was presented with a cup ofit, which he took; but listening at the same time to the discourse ofthe company on each side of him, he heard them talking of Aladdin'spalace. When he had drunk off his liquor, he joined them, and takingthis opportunity, inquired particularly of what palace they spoke withso much commendation. "From whence come you?" said the person to whom headdressed himself; "you must certainly be a stranger not to have seen orheard talk of Prince Aladdin's palace. I do not say, " continued the man, "that it is one of the wonders of the world, but that it is the onlywonder of the world; since nothing so grand, rich, and magnificent wasever beheld. Go and see it, and then judge whether I have told you morethan the truth. " "Forgive my ignorance, " replied the African magician;"I arrived here but yesterday from the farthest part of Africa, wherethe fame of this palace had not reached when I came away. The businesswhich brought me hither was so urgent, that my sole object was to arriveas soon as I could, without stopping anywhere, or making anyacquaintance. But I will not fail to go and see it, if you will do methe favour to show me the way thither. "

The person to whom the African magician addressed himself took apleasure in showing him the way to Aladdin's palace, and he got up andwent thither instantly. When he came to the palace, and had examined iton all sides, he doubted not but that Aladdin had made use of the lampto build it. Without attending to the inability of a poor tailor's son, he knew that none but the genies, the slaves of the lamp, could haveperformed such wonders; and piqued to the quick at Aladdin's happinessand splendour, he returned to the khan where he lodged. 

The next point was to ascertain where the lamp was; whether Aladdincarried it about with him, or where he kept it; and this he was todiscover by an operation of geomancy. As soon as he entered his lodging, he took his square box of sand, which he always carried with him when hetravelled, and after he had performed some operations, he found that thelamp was in Aladdin's palace, and so great was his joy at the discoverythat he could hardly contain himself. "Well, " said he, "I shall have thelamp, and I defy Aladdin to prevent my carrying it off, thus making himsink to his original meanness, from which he has taken so high aflight. "

It was Aladdin's misfortune at that time to be absent in the chase foreight days, and only three were expired, which the magician came toknow. After he had performed the magical operation he went to thesuperintendent of the khan, entered into conversation with him onindifferent subjects, and among the rest, told him he had been to seeAladdin's palace; and after exaggerating on all that he had seen mostworthy of observation, added: "But my curiosity leads me further, and Ishall not be satisfied till I have seen the person to whom thiswonderful edifice belongs. " "That will be no difficult matter, " repliedthe master of the khan; "there is not a day passes but he gives anopportunity when he is in town, but at present he has been gone thesethree days on a hunting-match, which will last eight. "

The magician wanted to know no more; he took his leave of thesuperintendent of the khan, and returning to his own chamber, said tohimself: "This is an opportunity I ought by no means to neglect. " Tothat end, he went to a coppersmith and asked for a dozen copper lamps:the master of the shop told him he had not so many by him, but if hewould have patience till the next day, he would have them ready. Themagician appointed his time, and desired him to take care that theyshould be handsome and well polished. After promising to pay him well, he returned to his inn. 

The next day the magician called for the twelve lamps, paid the man hisfull price, put them into a basket which he bought on purpose, and withthe basket hanging on his arm, went directly to Aladdin's palace; as heapproached beginning to cry: "Who will change old lamps for new ones?"As he went along, a crowd of children collected, who hooted, and thoughthim, as did all who chanced to be passing by, a madman or a fool. 

The African magician regarded not their scoffs, hootings, or all theycould say to him, but still continued crying: "Who will change old lampsfor new?" He repeated this so often, walking backward and forward infront of the palace, that the princess, who was then in the hall withthe four and twenty windows, hearing a man cry something and not beingable to distinguish his words, owing to the hooting of the children, andincreasing mob about him, sent one of her women slaves to know what hecried. 

The slave was not long before she returned, and ran into the hall, laughing so heartily that the princess could not forbear herself. "Well, giggler, " said the princess, "will you tell me what you laugh at?""Madam, " answered the slave, laughing still, "who can forbear laughing, to see a fool with a basket on his arm, full of fine new lamps, ask tochange them for old ones?"

Another female slave hearing this, said: "Now you speak of lamps, I knownot whether the princess may have observed it, but there is an old oneupon a shelf of the prince's robing-room. If the princess chooses, shemay have the pleasure of trying if this fool is so silly as to give anew lamp for an old one, without taking anything for the exchange. "

The lamp this slave spoke of was the wonderful lamp, which Aladdin hadlaid upon the shelf before he departed for the chase: this he had doneseveral times before; but neither the princess, the slaves, nor theeunuchs had ever taken notice of it. At all other times except whenhunting he carried it about his person. 

The princess, who knew not the value of this lamp, and the interest thatAladdin, not to mention herself, had to keep it safe, entered into thepleasantry, and commanded a eunuch to take it and make the exchange. Theeunuch obeyed, went out of the hall, and no sooner got to the palacegates than he saw the African magician, called to him, and showing himthe old lamp, said: "Give me a new lamp for this?"

The magician never doubted but this was the lamp he wanted. There couldbe no other such in the palace, where every utensil was gold or silver. He snatched it eagerly out of the eunuch's hand, and thrusting it as faras he could into his breast, offered him his basket, and bade him choosewhich he liked best. The eunuch picked out one, and carried it to theprincess; but the exchange was no sooner made than the place rang withthe shouts of the children, deriding the magician's folly. 

The African magician gave everybody leave to laugh as much as theypleased; he stayed not long near the palace, but made the best of hisway, without crying any longer; "New lamps for old ones. " His end wasanswered, and by his silence he got rid of the children and the mob. 

As soon as he was out of the square between the two palaces, he hasteneddown the streets which were the least frequented; and having no moreoccasion for his lamps or basket, set all down in an alley where nobodysaw him: then going down another street or two, he walked till he cameto one of the city gates, and pursuing his way through the suburbs, which were very extensive, at length reached a lonely spot, where hestopped for a time to execute the design he had in contemplation, nevercaring for his horse which he had left at the khan; but thinking himselfperfectly compensated by the treasure he had acquired. 

In this place the African magician passed the remainder of the day, tillthe darkest time of night, when he pulled the lamp out of his breast andrubbed it. At that summons the genie appeared, and said: "What wouldstthou have? I am ready to obey thee as thy slave, and the slave of allthose who have that lamp in their hands; both I and the other slaves ofthe lamp. " "I command thee, " replied the magician, "to transport meimmediately and the palace which thou and the other slaves of the lamphave built in this city, with all the people in it, to Africa. " Thegenie made no reply, but with the assistance of the other genies, theslaves of the lamp immediately transported him, and the palace entire, to the spot whither he was desired to convey it. 

As soon as the sultan rose the next morning, according to custom, hewent into his closet, to have the pleasure of contemplating and admiringAladdin's palace; but when he first looked that way, and instead of apalace saw an empty space such as it was before the palace was built, hethought he was mistaken, and rubbed his eyes; but when he looked again, he still saw nothing more the second time than the first, though theweather was fine, the sky clear, and the dawn advancing had made allobjects very distinct. He looked again in front, to the right and left, but beheld nothing more than he had formerly been used to see from hiswindow. His amazement was so great, that he stood for some time turninghis eyes to the spot where the palace had stood, but where it was nolonger to be seen. He could not comprehend how so large a palace asAladdin's, which he had seen plainly every day for some years, and butthe day before, should vanish so soon, and not leave the least remainsbehind. 

"Certainly, " said he to himself, "I am not mistaken; it stood there: ifit had fallen, the materials would have lain in heaps; and if it hadbeen swallowed up by an earthquake, there would be some mark left. " Atlast he retired to his apartment, not without looking behind him beforehe quitted the spot, ordered the grand vizier to be sent for withexpedition, and in the meantime sat down, his mind agitated by so manydifferent conjectures that he knew not what to resolve. 

The grand vizier did not make the sultan wait long for him, but camewith so much precipitation, that neither he nor his attendants, as theypassed, missed Aladdin's palace; neither did the porters, when theyopened the palace gates, observe any alteration. 

When he came into the sultan's presence, he said to him: "The haste inwhich your majesty sent for me makes me believe something extraordinaryhas happened, since you know this is a day of public audience, and Ishould not have failed of attending at the usual time. " "Indeed, " saidthe sultan, "it is something very extraordinary, as you say, and youwill allow it to be so: tell me what is become of Aladdin's palace?""His palace!" replied the grand vizier in amazement; "I thought as Ipassed it stood in its usual place. " "Go into my closet, " said thesultan, "and tell me if you can see it. "

The grand vizier went into the closet, where he was struck with no lessamazement than the sultan had been. When he was well assured that therewas not the least appearance of the palace, he returned to the sultan. "Well, " said the sultan, "have you seen Aladdin's palace?" "No, "answered the vizier, "but your majesty may remember, that I had thehonour to tell you, that the edifice, which was the subject of youradmiration, was only the work of magic and a magician; but your majestywould not pay the least attention to what I said. " The sultan, who couldnot deny what the grand vizier had represented to him, flew into thegreater passion: "Where is that impostor, that wicked wretch, " said he, "that I may have his head taken off immediately?" "Sir, " replied thegrand vizier, "it is some days since he came to take his leave of yourmajesty, on pretence of hunting; he ought to be sent for, to know whatis become of his palace, since he cannot be ignorant of what has beentransacted. " "To send for him would be too great an indulgence, " repliedthe sultan: "command a detachment of horse to bring him to me loadedwith chains. " The grand vizier gave orders for a detachment, andinstructed the officer who commanded the men how they were to act, thatAladdin might not escape. The detachment pursued its orders; and aboutfive or six leagues from the town met him returning from the chase. Theofficer advanced respectfully, and informed him the sultan was soimpatient to see him, that he had sent his party to accompany him home. 

Aladdin had not the least suspicion of the true reason of their meetinghim; but when he came within half a league of the city, the detachmentsurrounded him, when the officer addressed himself to him, and said;"Prince, it is with great regret that I declare to you the sultan'sorder to arrest you, and to carry you before him as a criminal: I begof you not to take it ill that we acquit ourselves of our duty, and toforgive us. " Aladdin, who felt himself innocent, was much surprised atthis declaration, and asked the officer if he knew what crime he wasaccused of; who replied, he did not. Then Aladdin, finding that hisretinue was much inferior to this detachment, alighted from his horse, and said to the officers: "Execute your orders; I am not conscious thatI have committed any offence against the sultan's person or government. "A heavy chain was immediately put about his neck, and fastened round hisbody, so that both his arms were pinioned down; the officer then puthimself at the head of the detachment, and one of the troopers takinghold of the end of the chain and proceeding after the officer, ledAladdin, who was obliged to follow him on foot, into the city. 

When this detachment entered the suburbs, the people, who saw Aladdinthus led as a state criminal, never doubted but that his head was to becut off; and as he was generally beloved, some took sabres and otherarms; and those who had none gathered stones, and followed the escort. Their numbers presently increased so much, that the soldiery began tothink it would be well if they could get into the sultan's palace beforeAladdin was rescued; to prevent which, according to the different extentof the streets, they took care to cover the ground by extending orclosing. In this manner they with much difficulty arrived at the palacesquare, and there drew up in a line, till their officer and trooperswith Aladdin had got within the gates, which were immediately shut. 

Aladdin was carried before the sultan, who waited for him, attended bythe grand vizier; and as soon as he saw him he ordered the executioner, who waited there for the purpose, to strike off his head without hearinghim, or giving him leave to clear himself. As soon as the executionerhad taken off the chain that was fastened about Aladdin's neck and body, he made the supposed criminal kneel down, and tied a bandage over hiseyes. Then drawing his sabre, he took his aim by flourishing it threetimes in the air, waiting for the sultan's giving the signal to strike. 

At that instant the grand vizier perceiving that the populace hadcrowded the great square before the palace, and were scaling the wallsin several places, said to the sultan, before he gave the signal: "I begof your majesty to consider what you are going to do, since you willhazard your palace being destroyed; and who knows what fatal consequencemay follow?" "My palace forced!" replied the sultan; "who can have thataudacity?" "Sir, " answered the grand vizier, "if your majesty will butcast your eyes toward the great square, and on the palace walls, youwill perceive the truth of what I say. "

The sultan was so much alarmed when he saw so great a crowd, and howenraged they were, that he ordered the executioner to put his sabreimmediately into the scabbard, to unbind Aladdin, and at the same timecommanded the porters to declare to the people that the sultan hadpardoned him, and that they might retire. Those who had already got uponthe walls abandoned their design and got quickly down, overjoyed thatthey had saved the life of a man they dearly loved, and published thenews amongst the rest, which was presently confirmed by the mace-bearersfrom the top of the terraces. The justice which the sultan had done toAladdin soon disarmed the populace of their rage; the tumult abated andthe mob dispersed. 

When Aladdin found himself at liberty, he turned toward the balcony, andperceiving the sultan, raised his voice, and said to him in a movingmanner: "I beg of your majesty to add one favour more to that which Ihave already received, which is, to let me know my crime?" "Yourcrime, " answered the sultan; "perfidious wretch! Do you not know it?Come hither, and I will show it you. " Aladdin went up, when the sultan, going before him without looking at him, said: "Follow me;" and then ledhim into his closet. When he came to the door, he said: "Go in; youought to know whereabouts your palace stood: look round and tell me whatis become of it?"

Aladdin looked, but saw nothing. He perceived the spot upon which hispalace had stood; but not being able to divine how it had disappeared, was thrown into such great confusion and amazement that he could notreturn one word of answer. The sultan, growing impatient, demanded ofhim again: "Where is your palace, and what is become of my daughter?"Aladdin, breaking silence, replied: "Sir, I perceive and own that thepalace which I have built is not in its place, but is vanished; neithercan I tell your majesty where it may be, but can assure you I had noconcern in its removal. "

"I am not so much concerned about your palace, " replied the sultan; "Ivalue my daughter ten thousand times more, and would have you find herout, otherwise I will cause your head to be struck off, and noconsideration shall divert me from my purpose. "

"I beg of your majesty, " answered Aladdin, "to grant me forty days tomake my inquiries; and if in that time I have not the success I wish, Iwill offer my head at the foot of your throne, to be disposed of at yourpleasure. " "I give you the forty days you ask, " said the sultan; "butthink not to escape my resentment if you fail; for I will find you outin whatsoever part of the world you may conceal yourself. "

Aladdin went out of the sultan's presence with great humiliation, and ina condition worthy of pity. He crossed the courts of the palace, hanging down his head, and in such great confusion that he durst notlift up his eyes. The principal officers of the court, who had allprofessed themselves his friends, instead of going up to him to comforthim, turned their backs to avoid seeing him. But had they accosted himwith an offer of service, they would have no more known Aladdin. He didnot know himself, and was no longer in his senses, as plainly appearedby his asking everybody he met, and at every house, if they had seen hispalace, or could tell him any news of it. These questions made thegenerality believe that Aladdin was mad. Some laughed at him, but peopleof sense and humanity, particularly those who had had any connection ofbusiness or friendship with him, really pitied him. For three days herambled about the city in this manner, without coming to any resolutionor eating anything but what some compassionate people forced him to takeout of charity. At last he took the road to the country; and after hehad traversed several fields in wild uncertainty, at the approach ofnight came to the bank of a river. There, possessed by his despair, hesaid to himself: "Where shall I seek my palace? In what province, country, or part of the world, shall I find that and my dear princess? Ishall never succeed; I would better free myself at once from fruitlessendeavours, and such bitter grief as preys upon me. " He was just goingto throw himself into the river, but, as a good Mussulman, true to hisreligion, he thought he should not do it without first saying hisprayers. Going to prepare himself, he went to the river's brink, inorder to perform the usual ablutions. The place being steep andslippery, he slid down, and had certainly fallen into the river, but fora little rock, which projected about two feet out of the earth. Happilyalso for him, he still had on the ring which the African magician hadput on his finger before he went down into the subterranean abode tofetch the precious lamp. In slipping down the bank he rubbed the ring sohard by holding on the rock, that immediately the same genie appearedwhom he had seen in the cave where the magician had left him. "Whatwouldst thou have?" said the genie. "I am ready to obey thee as thyslave, and the slave of all those that have that ring on their finger;both I and the other slaves of the ring. "

Aladdin, agreeably surprised at an apparition he so little expected inhis present calamity, replied; "Save my life, genie, a second time, either by showing me to the place where the palace I caused to be builtnow stands, or immediately transporting it back where it first stood. ""What you command me, " answered the genie, "is not wholly in my power; Iam only the slave of the ring; you must address yourself to the slave ofthe lamp. " "If that be the case, " replied Aladdin, "I command thee, bythe power of the ring, to transport me to the spot where my palacestands, in what part of the world soever it may be, and set me downunder the window of the Princess Badroulboudour. " These words were nosooner out of his mouth than the genie transported him into Africa, tothe midst of a large plain, where his palace stood, and placing himexactly under the window of the princess's apartment, left him. All thiswas done almost in an instant. Aladdin, notwithstanding the darkness ofthe night, knew his palace again; but as the night was far advanced andall was quiet, he retired to some distance, and sat down at the foot ofa large tree. There, full of hopes, and reflecting on his happiness, forwhich he was indebted to chance, he found himself in a much morecomfortable situation than when he was arrested and carried before thesultan, being now delivered from the immediate danger of losing hislife. He amused himself for some time with these agreeable thoughts; butnot having slept for two days, was unable to resist the drowsinesswhich came upon him, but fell fast asleep. 

The next morning, as soon as day appeared, Aladdin was agreeablyawakened by the singing not only of the birds which had roosted in thetree under which he had passed the night, but also of those whichfrequented the thick groves of the palace garden. When he cast his eyeson that wonderful edifice, he felt inexpressible joy at thinking hemight soon be master of it again, and once more greet his dear PrincessBadroulboudour. Pleased with these hopes, he immediately arose, wenttoward the princess's apartment, and walked some time under her windowin expectation of her rising, that he might see her. During thisexpectation, he began to consider with himself whence the cause of hismisfortune had proceeded; and after mature reflection, no longer doubtedthat it was owing to having trusted the lamp out of his sight. Heaccused himself of negligence in letting it be a moment away from him. But what puzzled him most was, that he could not imagine who had been soenvious of his happiness. He would soon have guessed this, if he hadknown that both he and his palace were now in Africa, the very name ofwhich would soon have made him remember the magician, his declaredenemy; but the genie, the slave of the ring, had not made mention of thename of the country, nor had Aladdin inquired. 

The princess rose earlier that morning than she had done since hertransportation into Africa by the magician, whose presence she wasforced to support once a day, because he was master of the palace;though she had always treated him so harshly that he dared not reside init. As she was dressing, one of the women looking through the windowperceived Aladdin, and instantly told her mistress. The princess, whocould not believe the joyful tidings, hastened herself to the window, and seeing Aladdin, immediately opened it. The noise of opening thewindow made Aladdin turn his head that way, and perceiving the princesshe saluted her with joy. "To lose no time, " said she to him, "I havesent to have the private door opened for you; enter, and come up. " Theprivate door, which was just under the princess's apartment, was soonopened, and Aladdin conducted up into the chamber. It is impossible toexpress the joy of both at seeing each other, after so cruel aseparation. After embracing and shedding tears of joy, they sat down, and Aladdin said: "I beg of you, princess, in Heaven's name, before wetalk of anything else, to tell me, both for your own sake, the sultanyour father's, and mine, what is become of an old lamp which I left upona shelf in my robing-chamber, when I departed for the chase. "

"Alas! dear husband, " answered the princess, "I was afraid ourmisfortune might be owing to that lamp: and what grieves me most is, that I have been the cause of it. " "Princess, " replied Aladdin, "do notblame yourself, for I ought to have taken more care of it. But let usnow think only of repairing the loss; tell me what has happened, andinto whose hands it has fallen. " The princess then related how she hadchanged the old lamp for a new one, and how the next morning she foundherself in the unknown country they were then in, which she was told wasAfrica, by the traitor who had transported her thither by his magic art. 

"Princess, " said Aladdin, interrupting her, "you have informed me whothe traitor is, by telling me we are in Africa. He is the mostperfidious of men; but this is neither a time nor place to give you afull account of his villainies. I desire you only to tell me what he hasdone with the lamp, and where he has put it. " "He carries it carefullywrapt up in his bosom, " said the princess; "and this I can assure you, because he pulled it out before me, and showed it to me in triumph. "

"Princess, " said Aladdin, "do not be displeased that I trouble you withso many questions, since they are equally important to us both. But tocome to what most particularly concerns me: tell me, I conjure you, howso wicked and perfidious a man treats you?" "Since I have been here, "replied the princess, "he repairs once every day to see me; and I ampersuaded the little satisfaction he receives from his visits makes himcome no oftener. All his addresses tend to persuade me to break thatfaith I have pledged to you, and to take him for my husband; giving meto understand I need not entertain hopes of ever seeing you again, forthat you were dead, having had your head struck off by my father'sorder. He added, to justify himself, that you were an ungrateful wretch;that your good fortune was owing to him, and a great many other thingsof that nature which I forbear to repeat: but as he received no otheranswer from me but grievous complaints and tears, he was always forcedto retire with as little satisfaction as he came. I doubt not hisintention is to allow me time to overcome my grief, in hopes thatafterward I may change my sentiments. But my dear husband's presenceremoves all my apprehensions. "

"I am confident my attempts to punish the magician will not be in vain, "replied Aladdin, "since my princess's fears are removed, and I think Ihave found the means to deliver you from both your enemy and mine; toexecute this design, it is necessary for me to go to the town. I shallreturn by noon, will then communicate my design, and what must be doneby you to ensure success. But that you may not be surprised, I think itproper to acquaint you that I shall change my apparel, and beg of youto give orders that I may not wait long at the private door, but that itmay be opened at the first knock. "

When Aladdin was out of the palace, he looked round him on all sides, and perceiving a peasant going into the country, hastened after him; andwhen he had overtaken him, made a proposal to him to change habits, which the man agreed to. When they had made the exchange, the countrymanwent about his business, and Aladdin to the city. After traversingseveral streets, he came to that part of the town where all descriptionsof merchants had their particular streets, according to their trades. Hewent into that of the druggists; and going into one of the largest andbest-furnished shops, asked the druggist if he had a certain powderwhich he named. The druggist, judging Aladdin by his habit to be verypoor, and that he had not money enough to pay for it, told him he hadit, but that it was very dear; upon which Aladdin penetrating histhoughts, pulled out his purse, and showing him some gold, asked forhalf a drachm of the powder; which the druggist weighed, wrapped up inpaper, and gave him, telling him the price was a piece of gold. Aladdinput the money into his hand, and returned to the palace, where he waitednot long at the private door. When he came into the princess'sapartment, he said to her: "Princess, perhaps the aversion you tell meyou have for your captor may be an objection to your executing what I amgoing to propose; but permit me to say it is proper that you shoulddissemble a little, and do violence to your inclinations, if you woulddeliver yourself from him. 

"If you will take my advice, " continued he, "dress yourself this momentin one of your richest habits, and when the African magician comes, makeno difficulty to give him the best reception; so that he may imaginetime has removed your disgust at his addresses. In your conversation lethim understand that you strive to forget me; and that he may be themore fully convinced, invite him to sup with you, and tell him youshould be glad to taste of some of the best wines of his country. Hewill presently go to fetch you some. During his absence, put into one ofthe cups which you are accustomed to drink of, this powder, and settingit by, charge the slave you may order that night to attend you, on asignal you shall agree upon, to bring that cup to you. When the magicianand you have eaten and drunk as much as you choose, let her bring youthe cup, and then change cups with him. He will esteem it so great afavour that he will not refuse, but eagerly quaff it off; but no soonerwill he have drunk, than you will see him fall backward. "

When Aladdin had finished, "I own, " answered the princess, "I shall domyself violence in consenting to make the magician such advances; butwhat cannot one resolve to do against a cruel enemy? I will thereforefollow your advice, since both my repose and yours depend upon it. "After the princess had agreed to the measures proposed by Aladdin, hetook his leave and went and spent the rest of the day in theneighbourhood of the palace till it was night, and he might safelyreturn to the private door. 

The princess, who had remained inconsolable at being parted from herhusband, had, ever since their cruel separation, lived in great neglectof her person. She had almost forgotten the neatness so becoming personsof her sex and quality, particularly after the first time the magicianpaid her a visit and she had understood by some of the women, who knewhim again, that it was he who had taken the old lamp in exchange for anew one. However, the opportunity of taking the revenge he deserved madeher resolve to gratify Aladdin. As soon, therefore, as he was gone, shesat down to dress, and was attired by her women to the best advantagein the richest habit of her wardrobe. Her girdle was of the finest andlargest diamonds set in gold, her necklace of pearls, six on a side, sowell proportioned to that in the middle, which was the largest everseen, that the greatest sultanesses would have been proud to have beenadorned with only two of the smallest. Her bracelets, which were ofdiamonds and rubies intermixed, corresponded admirably to the richnessof the girdle and necklace. 

When the Princess Badroulboudour was completely dressed, she consultedher glass and women upon her adjustment; and when she found she wantedno charms to flatter the foolish passion of the African magician, shesat down on a sofa expecting his arrival. The magician came at the usualhour, and as soon as he entered the great hall where the princess waitedto receive him, she rose with an enchanting grace and smile, and pointedwith her hand to the most honourable place, waiting till he sat down, that she might sit at the same time, which was a civility she had nevershown him before. 

The African magician, dazzled more with the lustre of the princess'seyes than the glittering of her jewels, was much surprised. The smilingair with which she received him, so opposite to her former behaviour, quite fascinated his heart. When he was seated, the princess, to freehim from his embarrassment, broke silence first, looking at him all thetime in such a manner as to make him believe that he was not so odiousto her as she had given him to understand hitherto, and said; "You aredoubtless amazed to find me so much altered to-day; but your surprisewill not be so great when I acquaint you, that I am naturally of adisposition so opposite to melancholy and grief, that I always strive toput them as far away as possible when I find the subject of them ispast. I have reflected on what you told me of Aladdin's fate, and knowmy father's temper so well that I am persuaded, with you, he could notescape the terrible effects of the sultan's rage: therefore, should Icontinue to lament him all my life, my tears cannot recall him. For thisreason, since I have paid all the duties decency requires of me to hismemory, now he is in the grave I think I ought to endeavour to comfortmyself. These are the motives of the change you see in me; I am resolvedto banish melancholy entirely; and persuaded that you will bear mecompany to-night, I have ordered a supper to be prepared; but as I haveno wines but those of China, I have a great desire to taste of theproduce of Africa, and doubt not your procuring some of the best. "

The African magician, who had looked upon the happiness of getting sosoon and so easily into the Princess Badroulboudour's good graces asimpossible, could not think of words expressive enough to testify howsensible he was of her favours: but to put an end the sooner to aconversation which would have embarrassed him, if he had engaged fartherin it, he turned it upon the wines of Africa, and said: "Of all theadvantages Africa can boast, that of producing the most excellent winesis one of the principal. I have a vessel of seven years old, which hasnever been broached; and it is indeed not praising it too much to say itis the finest wine in the world. If my princess, " added he, "will giveme leave, I will go and fetch two bottles, and return againimmediately. " "I should be sorry to give you that trouble, " replied theprincess; "you had better send for them. " "It is necessary I should gomyself, " answered the African magician, "for nobody but myself knowswhere the key of the cellar is laid, or has the secret to unlock thedoor. " "If it be so, " said the princess, "make haste back; for thelonger you stay the greater will be my impatience, and we shall sit downto supper as soon as you return. " The African magician, full of hopesof his expected happiness, rather flew than ran, and returned quicklywith the wine. The princess, not doubting but he would make haste, putwith her own hand the powder Aladdin had given her into the cup setapart for that purpose. They sat down at the table opposite to eachother, the magician's back toward the buffet. The princess presented himwith the best at the table, and said to him: "If you please, I willentertain you with a concert of vocal and instrumental music; but as weare only two, I think conversation may be more agreeable. " This themagician took as a new favour. After they had eaten some time, theprincess called for some wine, drank the magician's health, andafterward said to him: "Indeed you had a full right to commend yourwine, since I never tasted any so delicious. " "Charming princess, " saidhe, holding in his hand the cup which had been presented to him, "mywine becomes more exquisite by your approbation. " "Then drink myhealth, " replied the princess: "you will find I understand wines. " Hedrank the princess's health, and returning the cup said; "I think myselffortunate, princess, that I reserved this wine for so happy an occasion;and own I never before drank any in every respect so excellent. " Whenthey had each drunk two or three cups more, the princess, who hadcompletely charmed the African magician by her obliging behaviour, gavethe signal to the slave who served them with wine, bidding her bring thecup which had been filled for herself, and at the same time bring themagician a full goblet. When they both had their cups in their hands, she said to him: "I know not how you express your loves in these partswhen drinking together. With us in China lovers reciprocally exchangecups, and drink each other's health:" at the same time she presented tohim the cup which was in her hand, and held out her hand to receive his. He hastened to make the exchange with the more pleasure, because helooked upon this favour as a token of conquest over the princess, whichraised his rapture to the highest pitch. Before he drank, he said toher, with the cup in his hand: "Indeed, princess, we Africans are not sorefined in the art of love as you Chinese: and your instructing me in alesson I was ignorant of, informs me how sensible I ought to be of thefavour done me. I shall never, lovely princess, forget my recovering, bydrinking out of your cup, that life, which your cruelty, had itcontinued, must have made me despair of. "

The princess, who began to be tired with his declarations, interruptedhim and said: "Let us drink first, and then say what you willafterward:" at the same time she set the cup to her lips, while theAfrican magician, who was eager to get his wine off first, drank up thevery last drop. In finishing it, he leaned his head back to show hiseagerness, and remained some time in that state. The princess kept thecup at her lips till she saw his eyes turn in his head, when he fellbackward lifeless on the sofa. The princess had no occasion to order theprivate door to be opened to Aladdin; for her women were so disposedfrom the great hall to the foot of the staircase, that the word was nosooner given that the magician was fallen, than the door was immediatelyopened. As soon as Aladdin entered the hall, he saw the magicianstretched backward on the sofa. The princess rose from her seat, and ranoverjoyed to embrace him; but he stopped her and said: "Princess, it isnot yet time; let me be left alone a moment, while I endeavour totransport you back to China as speedily as you were brought fromthence. " When the princess, her women and eunuchs, were gone out of thehall, Aladdin shut the door, and, going directly to the dead body of themagician, opened his vest, took out the lamp which was carefullywrapped up, as the princess had told him, and unfolding and rubbing it, the genie immediately appeared. "Genie, " said Aladdin, "I have called tocommand thee, on the part of thy good mistress, this lamp, to transportthis palace instantly into China, to the place from whence it wasbrought hither. " The genie bowed his head in token of obedience, anddisappeared. Immediately the palace was transported into China, and itsremoval was only felt by two little shocks, the one when it was liftedup, the other when it was set down, and both in a very short interval oftime. 

From the time of the transportation of Aladdin's palace, the princess'sfather had been inconsolable for the loss of her. Before the disaster heused to go every morning into his closet to please himself with viewingthe palace; he went now many times in the day to renew his tears, andplunge himself into the deepest melancholy, by reflecting how he hadlost what was most dear to him in this world. 

The very morning of the return to the palace, the sultan went into hiscloset to indulge his sorrows. Absorbed in himself, and in a pensivemood, he cast his eyes toward the spot, expecting only to see an openspace; but perceiving the vacancy filled up, he at first imagined theappearance to be the effect of a fog; looking more attentively, he wasconvinced beyond the power of doubt that it was his son-in-law's palace. Joy and gladness succeeded to sorrow and grief. He returned immediatelyinto his apartment, and ordered a horse to be saddled and brought to himwithout delay, which he mounted that instant, thinking he could not makehaste enough to the palace. 

Aladdin, who foresaw what would happen, rose that morning by daybreak, put on one of the most magnificent habits his wardrobe afforded, andwent up into the hall of twenty-four windows, from whence he perceivedthe sultan approaching, and got down soon enough to receive him at thefoot of the great staircase. "Aladdin, " said the sultan, "I cannot speakto you till I have seen and embraced my daughter. " The happy father wasthen led to the princess's apartment and embraced her with his facebathed in tears of joy. The sultan was some time before he could openhis lips, so great was his surprise and joy to find his daughter again, after he had given her up for lost; and the princess, upon seeing herfather, let fall tears of rapture and affection. 

At last the sultan broke silence, and said: "I would believe, daughter, your joy to see me makes you seem as little changed as if no misfortunehad befallen you; yet I cannot be persuaded but that you have sufferedmuch alarm; for a large palace cannot be so suddenly transported asyours has been, without causing great fright and apprehension. I wouldhave you tell me all that has happened, and conceal nothing from me. "

The princess, who took great pleasure in giving the sultan thesatisfaction he demanded, said: "If I appear so little altered, I beg ofyour majesty to consider that I received new life yesterday morning bythe presence of my dear husband and deliverer, Aladdin, whom I lookedupon and bewailed as lost to me. My greatest suffering was to findmyself forced not only from your majesty, but from my dear husband; notonly from the love I bore him, but from the uneasiness I laboured underthrough fear that he, though innocent, might feel the effects of youranger. As to what relates to my transportation, I was myself theinnocent cause of it. " To persuade the sultan of the truth of what shesaid, she gave him a full account of how the African magician haddisguised himself, and offered to change new lamps for old ones; how shehad amused herself in making that exchange; how the palace and herselfwere carried away and transported into Africa, with the magician, whowas recognised by two of her women and the eunuch who made the exchangeof the lamp, when he had the audacity, after the success of his daringenterprise, to propose himself for her husband; how he persecuted hertill Aladdin's arrival; how they had concerted measures to get the lampfrom him again, and the success they had fortunately met with by herdissimulation in inviting him to supper, and giving him the cup with thepowder prepared for him. "For the rest, " added she, "I leave it toAladdin to recount. "

Aladdin had not much to tell the sultan, but only said: "When theprivate door was opened I went up into the great hall, where I found themagician lying dead on the sofa; and as I thought it not proper for theprincess to stay there any longer, I desired her to go down into her ownapartment, with her women and eunuchs. As soon as I was alone, and hadtaken the lamp out of the magician's breast, I made use of the samesecret he had done, to remove the palace, and carry off the princess;and by that means the palace was reconveyed to the place where it stoodbefore; and I have the happiness to restore the princess to yourmajesty. But that your majesty may not think that I impose upon you, ifyou will give yourself the trouble to go up into the hall, you may seethe magician punished as he deserved. "

The sultan rose instantly and went into the hall, where, when he saw theAfrican magician dead, and his face already livid by the strength of thepoison, he embraced Aladdin with great tenderness, and said: "My son, benot displeased at my proceedings against you; they arose from mypaternal love; and therefore you ought to forgive the excesses to whichit hurried me. " "Sir, " replied Aladdin, "I have not the least reason tocomplain of your majesty's conduct, since you did nothing but what yourduty required. This infamous magician, the basest of men, was the solecause of my misfortune. When your majesty has leisure, I will give youan account of another villainous action he was guilty of toward me, which was no less black and base than this. " "I will take anopportunity, and that very shortly, " replied the sultan, "to hear it;but in the meantime let us think only of rejoicing. "

The sultan then commanded the drums, trumpets, cymbals, and otherinstruments of music to announce his joy to the public, and a festivalof ten days to be proclaimed for the return of the princess and Aladdin. 

Within a few years afterward, the sultan died in a good old age, and ashe left no male children, the Princess Badroulboudour, as lawful heir ofthe throne, succeeded him, and communicating the power to Aladdin, theyreigned together many years, and left a numerous and illustriousprogeny. 

THE STORY OF PRINCE AGIB

I was a king, and the son of a king; and when my father died, Isucceeded to his throne, and governed my subjects with justice andbeneficence. I took pleasure in sea-voyages; and my capital was on theshore of an extensive sea, interspersed with fortified and garrisonedislands, which I desired, for my amusement, to visit; I thereforeembarked with a fleet of ten ships, and took with me provisionssufficient for a whole month. I proceeded twenty days, after which therearose against us a contrary wind; but at daybreak it ceased, and the seabecame calm, and we arrived at an island, where we landed, and cookedsome provisions and ate; after which we remained there two days. We thencontinued our voyage; and when twenty days more had passed, we foundourselves in strange waters, unknown to the captain, and desired thewatch to look out from the mast head: so he went aloft, and when he hadcome down he said to the captain: "I saw, on my right hand, fishfloating upon the surface of the water; and looking toward the midst ofthe sea, I perceived something looming in the distance, sometimes black, and sometimes white. "

When the captain heard this report of the watch, he threw his turban onthe deck, and plucked his beard, and said to those who were with him:"Receive warning of our destruction, which will befall all of us: notone will escape!" So saying, he began to weep; and all of us in likemanner bewailed our lot. I desired him to inform us of that which thewatch had seen. "O my lord, " he replied, "know that we have wanderedfrom our course since the commencement of the contrary wind that wasfollowed in the morning by a calm, in consequence of which we remainedstationary two days: from that period we have deviated from our coursefor twenty-one days, and we have no wind to carry us back from the fatewhich awaits us after this day. To-morrow we shall arrive at a mountainof black stone, called loadstone: the current is now bearing usviolently toward it, and the ships will fall in pieces, and every nailin them will fly to the mountain, and adhere to it; for God hath givento the loadstone a secret property by virtue of which everything of ironis attracted toward it. On that mountain is such a quantity of iron asno one knoweth but God, whose name be exalted; for from times of oldgreat numbers of ships have been destroyed by the influence of thatmountain. There is, upon the summit of the mountain, a cupola of brasssupported by ten columns, and upon the top of this is a horseman upon ahorse of brass, having in his hand a brazen spear, and upon his breastsuspended a tablet of lead, upon which are engraved mysterious names andtalismans: and as long, O King, as this horseman remains upon the horse, so long will every ship that approaches be destroyed, with every personon board, and all the iron contained in it will cleave to the mountain:no one will be safe until the horseman shall have fallen from thehorse. " The captain then wept bitterly; and we felt assured that ourdestruction was inevitable, and every one of us bade adieu to hisfriend. 

On the following morning we drew near to the mountain; the currentcarried us toward it with violence, and when the ships were almost closeto it, they fell asunder, and all the nails, and everything else thatwas of iron, flew from them toward the loadstone. It was near the closeof day when the ships fell in pieces. Some of us were drowned, and someescaped; but the greater number were drowned, and of those who savedtheir lives none know what became of the others, so stupefied were theyby the waves and the boisterous wind. As for myself, God, whose name beexalted, spared me on account of the trouble and torment and afflictionthat He had predestined to befall me. I placed myself upon a plank, andthe wind and waves cast it upon the mountain; and when I had landed, Ifound a practicable way to the summit, resembling steps cut in the rock:so I exclaimed: "In the name of God!" and offered up a prayer, andattempted the ascent, holding fast by the notches; and presently Godstilled the wind, so that I arrived in safety at the summit. Rejoicinggreatly in my escape, I immediately entered the cupola, and performedprayers in gratitude to God for my preservation; after which I sleptbeneath the cupola, and heard a voice saying to me: "O son of Khasib, when thou awakest, dig beneath thy feet, and thou wilt find a bow ofbrass, and three arrows of lead, whereon are engraved talismans: thentake the bow and arrows and shoot at the horseman that is upon the topof the cupola, and relieve mankind from this great affliction; for whenthou hast shot at the horseman he will fall into the sea; the bow willalso fall, and do thou bury it in its place; and as soon as thou hastdone this, the sea will swell and rise until it attains the summit ofthe mountain; and there will appear upon it a boat bearing a man, different from him whom thou shalt have cast down, and he will come tothee, having an oar in his hand: then do thou embark with him; but utternot the name of God; and he will convey thee in ten days to a safe sea, where, on thy arrival, thou wilt find one who will take thee to thycity. All this shall be done if thou utter not the name of God. "

Awaking from my sleep, I sprang up, and did as the voice had directed. Ishot at the horseman, and he fell into the sea; and the bow havingfallen from my hand, I buried it: the sea then became troubled, and roseto the summit of the mountain, and when I had stood waiting there alittle while, I beheld a boat in the midst of the sea, approaching me. Ipraised God, whose name be exalted, and when the boat came to me, Ifound in it a man of brass, with a tablet of lead upon his breast, engraven with names and talismans. Without uttering a word, I embarkedin the boat, and the man rowed me ten successive days, after which Ibeheld the islands of security, whereupon, in the excess of my joy, Iexclaimed: "There is no deity but God! God is most great!"--and as soonas I had done this, the man cast me out of the boat, and sank in thesea. 

Being able to swim, I swam until night, when my arms and shoulders weretired, and, in this perilous situation, I repeated the profession of thefaith, and gave myself up as lost; but the sea rose with the violence ofthe wind, and a wave like a vast castle threw me upon the land, in orderto the accomplishment of the purpose of God. I ascended the shore, andafter I had wrung out my clothes, and spread them upon the ground todry, I slept; and in the morning I put on my clothes again, and, lookingabout to see which way I should go, I found a tract covered with trees;and when I had walked round it, I found that I was upon a small islandin the midst of the sea; upon which I said within myself: "Every timethat I escape from one calamity I fall into another that is worse:" butwhile I was reflecting upon my unfortunate case, and wishing for death, I beheld a vessel bearing a number of men. I arose immediately, andclimbed into a tree; and lo, the vessel came to the shore, and therelanded from it ten black slaves bearing axes. They proceeded to themiddle of the island, and, digging up the earth, uncovered and lifted upa trap-door, after which they returned to the vessel, and brought fromit bread and flour, and clarified butter and honey, and sheep andeverything that the wants of an inhabitant would require, continuing topass backward and forward between the vessel and the trap-door, bringingloads from the former, and entering the latter, until they had removedall the stores from the ship. They then came out of the vessel withvarious clothes of the most beautiful description, and in the midst ofthem was an old sheikh, enfeebled and wasted by extreme age, leading bythe hand a young man cast in the mould of graceful symmetry, andinvested with such perfect beauty as deserved to be a subject forproverbs. He was like a fresh and slender twig, enchanting andcaptivating every heart by his elegant form. The party proceeded to thetrap-door, and, entering it, became concealed from my eyes. 

They remained beneath about two hours, or more; after which, the sheikhand the slaves came out; but the youth came not with them; and theyreplaced the earth, and embarked and set sail. Soon after, I descendedfrom the tree, and went to the excavation. I removed the earth, and, entering the aperture, saw a flight of wooden steps, which I descended;and, at the bottom, I beheld a handsome dwelling-place, furnished with avariety of silken carpets; and there was the youth, sitting upon a highmattress, with sweet-smelling flowers and fruits placed before him. Onseeing me, his countenance became pale; but I saluted him, and said:"Let thy mind be composed, O my master: thou hast nothing to fear; for Iam a man, and the son of a king, like thyself: fate hath impelled me tothee, that I may cheer thee in thy solitude. " The youth, when he heardme thus address him, and was convinced that I was one of his ownspecies, rejoiced exceedingly at my arrival, his colour returned, and, desiring me to approach him, he said: "O my brother, my story iswonderful: my father is a jeweller; he had slaves who made voyagesby his orders, for the purposes of commerce, and he had dealings withkings; but he had never been blest with a son; and he dreamt that he wassoon to have a son, but one whose life would be short; and he awokesorrowful. Shortly after, in accordance with the decrees of God, mymother gave birth to me; and my father was greatly rejoiced: theastrologers, however, came to him, and said: Thy son will live fifteenyears: his fate is intimated by the fact that there is in the sea amountain called the Mountain of Loadstone, whereon is a horseman on ahorse of brass, on the former of which is a tablet of lead suspended tohis neck; and when the horseman shall be thrown down from his horse, thyson will be slain: the person who is to slay him is he who will throwdown the horseman, and his name is King Agib, the son of King Khasib. Myfather was greatly afflicted at this announcement; and when he hadreared me until I had nearly attained the age of fifteen years, theastrologers came again, and informed him that the horseman had falleninto the sea, and that it had been thrown down by King Agib, the son ofKing Khasib; on hearing which, he prepared for me this dwelling, andhere left me to remain until the completion of the term, of which therenow remain ten days. All this he did from fear lest King Agib shouldkill me. "

[Illustration]

_And when the boat came to me I found in it a man of brass, with atablet of lead upon his breast, engraven with names and talismans. _

When I heard this, I was filled with wonder, and said within myself: "Iam King Agib, the son of King Khasib, and it was I who threw down thehorseman; but, by Allah, I will neither kill him nor do him any injury. "Then said I to the youth: "Far from thee be both destruction and harm, if it be the will of God: thou hast nothing to fear: I will remain withthee to serve thee, and will go forth with thee to thy father, and begof him to send me back to my country, for the which he will obtain areward. " The youth rejoiced at my words, and I sat and conversed withhim until night, when I spread his bed for him, and covered him, andslept near to his side. And in the morning I brought him water, and hewashed his face, and said to me: "May God requite thee for me with everyblessing. If I escape from King Agib, I will make my father reward theewith abundant favours. " "Never, " I replied, "may the day arrive thatwould bring thee misfortune!" I then placed before him somerefreshments, and after we had eaten together, we passed the dayconversing with the utmost cheerfulness. 

I continued to serve him for nine days; and on the tenth day the youthrejoiced at finding himself in safety, and said to me: "O my brother, Iwish that thou wouldst in thy kindness warm for me some water, that Imay wash myself and change my clothes; for I have smelt the odour ofescape from death, in consequence of thy assistance. " "With pleasure, " Ireplied; and I arose, and warmed the water; after which, he entered aplace concealed from my view, and, having washed himself and changed hisclothes, laid himself upon the mattress to rest after his bath. He thensaid to me: "Cut up for me, O my brother, a water-melon, and mix itsjuice with some sugar:" so I arose, and, taking a melon, brought it upona plate, and said to him; "Knowest thou, O my master, where is theknife?" "See, here it is, " he answered, "upon the shelf over my head. " Isprang up hastily, and took it from its sheath, and as I was drawingback, my foot slipped, as God had decreed, and I fell upon the youth, grasping in my hand the knife, which entered his body, and he diedinstantly. When I perceived that he was dead, and that I had killed him, I uttered a loud shriek, and beat my face, and rent my clothes: saying:"This is, indeed, a calamity! O my Lord, I implore thy pardon, anddeclare to Thee my innocence of his death! Would that I had died beforehim!"

With these reflections I ascended the steps, and, having replaced thetrap-door, returned to my first station, and looked over the sea, whereI saw the vessel that had come before, approaching, and cleaving thewaves in its rapid course. Upon this I said within myself: "Now will themen come forth from the vessel, and find the youth slain, and they willslay me also:" so I climbed into a tree, and concealed myself among itsleaves, and sat there till the vessel arrived and cast anchor, when theslaves landed with the old sheikh, the father of the youth, and went tothe place, and removed the earth. They were surprised at finding itmoist, and, when they had descended the steps, they discovered the youthlying on his back, exhibiting a face beaming with beauty, though dead, and clad in white and clean clothing, with the knife remaining in hisbody. They all wept at the sight, and the father fell down in a swoon, which lasted so long that the slaves thought he was dead. At length, however, he recovered, and came out with the slaves, who had wrapped thebody of the youth in his clothes. They then took back all that was inthe subterranean dwelling to the vessel, and departed. 

I remained, by day hiding myself in a tree, and at night walking aboutthe open part of the island. Thus I continued for the space of twomonths; and I perceived that, on the western side of the island, thewater of the sea every day retired, until, after three months, the landthat had been beneath it became dry. Rejoicing at this, and feelingconfident now in my escape, I traversed this dry tract, and arrived atan expanse of sand; whereupon I emboldened myself, and crossed it. Ithen saw in the distance an appearance of fire, and, advancing towardit, found it to be a palace, overlaid with plates of red copper, which, reflecting the rays of the sun, seemed from a distance to be fire: andwhen I drew near to it, reflecting upon this sight, there approached mean old sheikh, accompanied by ten young men who were all blind of oneeye, at which I was extremely surprised. As soon as they saw me, theysaluted me, and asked me my story, which I related to them from first tolast; and they were filled with wonder. They then conducted me into thepalace, where I saw ten benches, upon each of which was a mattresscovered with a blue stuff; and each of the young men seated himself uponone of these benches, while the sheikh took his place upon a smallerone; after which they said to me: "Sit down, O young man, and ask noquestion respecting our condition, nor respecting our being blind of oneeye. " Then the sheikh arose, and brought to each of them some food, andthe same to me also; and next he brought to each of us some wine: andafter we had eaten, we sat drinking together until the time for sleep, when the young men said to the sheikh: "Bring to us our accustomedsupply"--upon which the sheikh arose, and entered a closet, from whichhe brought, upon his head, ten covered trays. Placing these upon thefloor, he lighted ten candles, and stuck one of them upon each tray;and, having done this, he removed the covers, and there appeared beneaththem ashes mixed with pounded charcoal. The young men then tucked uptheir sleeves above the elbow, and blackened their faces, and slappedtheir cheeks, exclaiming: "We were reposing at our ease, and ourimpertinent curiosity suffered us not to remain so!" Thus they did untilthe morning, when the sheikh brought them some hot water, and theywashed their faces, and put on other clothes. 

On witnessing this conduct, my reason was confounded, my heart was sotroubled that I forgot my own misfortunes, and I asked them the cause oftheir strange behaviour; upon which they looked toward me, and said: "Oyoung man, ask not respecting that which doth not concern thee; but besilent; for in silence is security from error. " I remained with them awhole month, during which, every night they did the same, and at lengthI said to them: "I conjure you by Allah to remove this disquiet from mymind, and to inform me of the cause of your acting in this manner, andof your exclaiming; 'We were reposing at our ease, and our impertinentcuriosity suffered us not to remain so!' if ye inform me not, I willleave you, and go my way. " On hearing these words, they replied: "Wehave not concealed this affair from thee but in our concern for thywelfare, lest thou shouldst become like us, and the same affliction thathath befallen us happen also to thee. " I said, however: "Ye mustpositively inform me of this matter. " "We give thee good advice, " saidthey, "and do thou receive it, and ask us not respecting our case;otherwise thou wilt become blind of one eye, like us"--but I stillpersisted in my request; whereupon they said: "O young man, if thisbefall thee, know that thou wilt be banished from our company. " Theythen all arose, and, taking a ram, slaughtered and skinned it, and saidto me: "Take this knife with thee, and introduce thyself into the skinof the ram, and we will sew thee up in it, and go away; whereupon a birdcalled the roc will come to thee, and, taking thee up by its talons, will fly away with thee, and set thee down upon a mountain: then cutopen the skin with this knife, and get out, and the bird will fly away. Thou must arise, as soon as it hath gone, and journey for half a day, and thou wilt see before thee a lofty palace, encased with red gold, setwith various precious stones such as emeralds and rubies; and if thouenter it thy case will be as ours; for our entrance into that palace wasthe cause of our being blind of one eye; and if one of us would relateto thee all that hath befallen him, his story would be too long for theeto hear. "

They then sewed me up in the skin, and entered their palace; and soonafter, there came an enormous white bird, which seized me, and flew awaywith me, and set me down upon the mountain; whereupon I cut open theskin, and got out; and the bird, as soon as it saw me, flew away. I roseup quickly, and proceeded toward the palace, which I found to be as theyhad described it to me; and when I had entered it, I beheld, at theupper end of a saloon, forty young damsels, beautiful as so many moons, and magnificently attired, who, as soon as they saw me, exclaimed:"Welcome! Welcome! O our master and our lord! We have been for a monthexpecting thee. Praise be to God who hath blessed us with one who isworthy of us, and one of whom we are worthy!" After having thus greetedme, they seated me upon a mattress, and said; "Thou art from this dayour master and prince, and we are thy handmaids, and entirely under thyauthority. " They then brought to me some refreshments, and, when I hadeaten and drunk, they sat and conversed with me, full of joy andhappiness. So lovely were these ladies, that even a devotee, if he sawthem, would gladly consent to be their servant, and to comply with allthat they would desire. At the approach of night they all assembledaround me, and placed before me a table of fresh and dried fruits, withother delicacies that the tongue cannot describe, and wine; and onebegan to sing, while another played upon the lute. The wine-cupscirculated among us, and joy overcame me to such a degree as toobliterate from my mind every earthly care, and make me exclaim: "Thisis indeed a delightful life!" I passed a night of such enjoyment as Ihad never before experienced; and on the morrow I entered the bath; and, after I had washed myself, they brought me a suit of the richestclothing, and we again sat down to a repast. 

In this manner I lived with them a whole year; but on the first day ofthe new year, they seated themselves around me, and began to weep, andbade me farewell, clinging to my skirts. "What calamity hath befallenyou?" said I. "Ye are breaking my heart. " They answered: "Would that wehad never known thee; for we have associated with many men, but haveseen none like thee. May God, therefore, not deprive us of thy company. "And they wept afresh. I said to them: "I wish that you would acquaint mewith the cause of this weeping. " "Thou, " they replied, "art the cause;yet now, if thou wilt attend to what we tell thee, we shall never beparted; but if thou act contrary to it, we are separated from this time;and our hearts whisper to us that thou wilt not regard our warning. ""Inform me, " said I, "and I will attend to your directions. " And theyreplied: "If then thou wouldst inquire respecting our history, know thatwe are the daughters of kings: for many years it hath been our custom toassemble here, and every year we absent ourselves during a period offorty days; then returning, we indulge ourselves for a year in feastingand drinking. This is our usual practice; and now we fear that thou wiltdisregard our directions when we are absent from thee. We deliver tothee the keys of the palace, which are a hundred in number, belonging toa hundred closets. Open each of these, and amuse thyself, and eat anddrink, and refresh thyself, excepting the closet that hath a door of redgold; for if thou open this, the consequence will be a separationbetween us and thee. We conjure thee, therefore, to observe ourdirection, and to be patient during this period. " Upon hearing this, Iswore to them that I would never open the closet to which they alluded;and they departed, urging me to be faithful to my promise. 

I remained alone in the palace, and at the approach of evening I openedthe first closet, and, entering it, found a mansion like paradise, witha garden containing green trees loaded with ripe fruits, abounding withsinging birds, and watered by copious streams. My heart was soothed bythe sight, and I wandered among the trees, scenting the fragrance of theflowers, and listening to the warbling of the birds as they sang thepraises of the One, the Almighty. After admiring the mingled colours ofthe apple resembling the hue upon the cheek of the beloved maid and thesallow countenance of the perplexed and timid lover, the sweet-smellingquince diffusing an odour like musk and ambergris, and the plum shiningas the ruby, I retired from this place, and, having locked the door, opened that of the next closet, within which I beheld a spacious tractplanted with numerous palm-trees, and watered by a river flowing amongrose-trees, and jasmine, and marjoram, and eglantine, and narcissus, andgilliflower, the odours of which, diffused in every direction by thewind, inspired me with the utmost delight. I locked again the door ofthe second closet, and opened that of the third. Within this I found alarge saloon, paved with marbles of various colours, and with costlyminerals and precious gems, and containing cages constructed of sandaland aloes-wood with singing birds within them, and others upon thebranches of trees which were planted there. My heart was charmed, mytrouble was dissipated, and I slept there until the morning. I thenopened the door of the fourth closet, and within this door I found agreat building in which were forty closets with open doors; and enteringthese, I beheld pearls, and rubies, and chrysolites, and emeralds, andother precious jewels such as the tongue cannot describe. I wasastonished at the sight, and said: "Such things as these, I imagine, arenot found in the treasury of any king. I am now the King of my age, andall these treasures, through the goodness of God, are mine. "

[Illustration]

_At the approach of evening I opened the first closet and, entering it, found a mansion like paradise. _

Thus I continued to amuse myself, passing from one place to another, until thirty-nine days had elapsed, and I had opened the doors of allthe closets excepting that which they had forbidden me to open. My heartwas then disturbed by curiosity respecting this hundredth closet, andthe Devil, in order to plunge me into misery, induced me to open it. Ihad not patience to abstain, though there remained of the appointedperiod only one day: so I approached the closet, and opened the door;and when I had entered, I perceived a fragrant odour, such as I hadnever before smelt, which intoxicated me so that I fell down insensible, and remained some time in this state: but at length recovering, Ifortified my heart, and proceeded. I found the floor overspread withsaffron, and the place illuminated by golden lamps and by candles, whichdiffused the odours of musk and ambergris. I saw also a black horse, ofthe hue of the darkest night, before which was a manger of white crystalfilled with cleansed sesame, and another, similar to it, containingrose-water infused with musk: he was saddled and bridled, and his saddlewas of red gold. Wondering at the sight of him, I said within myself:"This must be an animal of extraordinary qualities;" and, seduced by theDevil, I led him out, and mounted him; but he moved not from his place. I kicked him with my heel; but still he moved not: so I took a switchand struck him with it; and as soon as he felt the blow he uttered asound like thunder, and, expanding a pair of wings, soared with me to animmense height through the air, and then alighted upon the roof ofanother palace, where he threw me from his back, and, by a violent blowwith his tail upon my face, struck out my eye, and left me. 

Thus it was I became blind of one eye. I then recollected thepredictions of the ten young men. The horse again took wing, and soondisappeared. I got up much vexed at the misfortune I had brought uponmyself. I walked upon the terrace, covering my eye with one of my hands, for it pained me exceedingly, and then descended, and entered into ahall. I soon discovered by the ten benches in a circle, and the eleventhin the middle, smaller than the rest, that I was in the castle whence Ihad been carried by the roc. 

The ten young men were not in the hall when I entered; but came in soonafter, attended by the sheikh. They seemed not at all surprised to seeme, nor at the loss of my eye; but said: "We are sorry that we cannotcongratulate you on your return, as we could wish; but we are not thecause of your misfortune. " "I should do you wrong, " I replied, "to layit to your charge; I have only myself to accuse. " "If, " said they, "itbe a subject of consolation to the afflicted to know that others sharetheir sufferings, you have in us this alleviation of your misfortune. All that has happened to you we have also endured; we each of us tastedthe same pleasures during a year; and we had still continued to enjoythem, had we not opened the golden door, when the princesses wereabsent. You have been no wiser than we, and have incurred the samepunishment. We would gladly receive you into our company, to join withus in the penance to which we are bound, and the duration of which weknow not. But we have already stated to you the reasons that render thisimpossible: depart, therefore, and proceed to the court of Bagdad, whereyou will meet with the person who is to decide your destiny. " After theyhad explained to me the road I was to travel, I departed from them, withmournful heart and weeping eye, and, God having decreed me a safejourney hither, I arrived at Bagdad, after I had shaved my beard, andbecome a mendicant. Praise be to God, whose name be exalted, and whosepurposes concerning me are as yet hid in darkness. 

THE STORY OF THE CITY OF BRASS

There was, in olden time, in Damascus of Syria, a king, namedAbd-El-Melik the son of Marwan; and he was sitting, one day, having withhim the great men of his empire, consisting of kings and sultans, when adiscussion took place among them, respecting the traditions of formernations. They called to mind the stories of Solomon, son of David, andthe dominion which God had bestowed upon him over mankind, and thegenies, and the birds, and the wild beasts, and they said: "We haveheard from those who were before us, that God bestowed not upon any onethe power which He bestowed upon Solomon, so that he used to imprisonthe genies and the devils in bottles of brass, and pour molten lead overthem, and seal a cover over them with his signet. "

Then Talib, one of the sultans, related, that a man once embarked in aship with a company of others, and they voyaged to the island of Sicilyand ceased not in their course until there arose against them a windwhich bore them away to an unknown land. This happened during the blackdarkness of night, and when the day shone forth, there came out to them, from caves in that land, people of black complexion and with nakedbodies, like wild beasts, not understanding speech. They had a king oftheir own race, and none of them knew Arabic save their king. So whenthey saw the ship and those who were in her, he came forth to themattended by a party of his companions, and saluted them and welcomedthem: They acquainted him with their state; and he said to them, "Noharm shall befall you; there hath not come to us any one of the sons ofAdam before you. " And he entertained them with a banquet of the flesh ofbirds and of wild beasts and of fish. And after this, the people of theship went down to divert themselves in the city, and they found one ofthe fishermen who had cast his net in the sea to catch fish, and he drewit up, and, lo, in it was a bottle of brass stopped with lead, which wassealed with the signet of Solomon the son of David. And the fishermancame forth and broke it; whereupon there proceeded from it a blue smoke, which united with the clouds of heaven; and they heard a horrible voice, saying: "Repentance! repentance! O Prophet of God!" Then, of that smokethere was formed a person of terrible aspect, of terrific make, whosehead would reach as high as a mountain; and he disappeared from beforetheir eyes. As to the people of the ship, their hearts were almosteradicated; but the blacks thought nothing of the event. And a manreturned to the king, and asked him respecting this; and the kinganswered him: "Know that this is one of the genies whom Solomon, the sonof David, when he was incensed against them, imprisoned in thesebottles, and he poured lead over them, and threw them into the sea. Whenthe fisherman casteth his net, it generally bringeth up these bottles;and when they are broken, there cometh forth from them a genie, whoimagineth that Solomon is still living; wherefore he repenteth, andsaith: 'Repentance! O Prophet of God!'"

And the Prince of the Faithful, Abd-El-Melik, wondered at these words, and said: "By Allah, I desire to see some of these bottles!" So Talibreplied: "O Prince of the Faithful, thou art able to do so, and yetremain in thy country. Send to thy brother Abd-El-Azeez, that he maywrite orders to the Emeer Moosa to journey from the Western Country tothis mountain which we have mentioned, and to bring thee what thoudesirest of these bottles; for the furthest tract of his province isadjacent to this mountain. " And the Prince of the Faithful approved ofhis advice, and said: "O Talib, thou hast spoken truth and I desire thatthou be my messenger to Moosa for this purpose. " To this, Talib replied:"Most willingly, O Prince of the Faithful. " And the king said to him:"Go in dependence on the blessing of God, and his aid. " Then he gaveorders that they should write for him a letter to his brotherAbd-El-Azeez, his viceroy in Egypt, and another letter to Moosa, hisviceroy in the Western Country, commanding him to journey, himself, insearch of the bottles of Solomon. He sealed the two letters, anddelivered them to Talib, commanding him to hasten, and he gave himriches and riders and footmen to aid him in his way. 

So Talib went forth on his way to Egypt, and when the Emeer Moosa knewof his approach, he went forth to him and met him, and rejoiced at hisarrival; and Talib handed to him the letter. So he took it and read it, and understood its meaning; and he put it upon his head, saying: "I hearand obey the command of the Prince of the Faithful. " He determined tosummon his great men; and they presented themselves; and he inquired ofthem respecting that which had been made known to him by the letter;whereupon they said: "O Emeer, if thou desire him who will guide thee tothat place, have recourse to the Sheikh Abd-Es-Samad; for he is aknowing man, and hath travelled much, and he is acquainted with thedeserts and wastes and the seas, and their inhabitants and theirwonders, and the countries and their districts. Have recourse thereforeto him, and he will direct thee to the object of thy desire. "Accordingly he gave orders to bring him, and he came before him; and, lo, he was a very old man, whom the vicissitudes of years and times hadrendered decrepit. The Emeer Moosa saluted him, and said to him: "OSheikh Abd-Es-Samad, our lord, the Prince of the Faithful, hathcommanded us thus and thus, and I possess little knowledge of that land, and it hath been told me that thou art acquainted with that country andthe routes. Hast thou then a wish to accomplish the affair of the Princeof the Faithful?" The sheikh replied: "Know, O Emeer, that this route isdifficult, far extending, with few tracks. " The emeer said to him: "Howlong a period doth it require?" He answered: "It is a journey of twoyears and some months going, and the like returning; and on the way aredifficulties and horrors, and extraordinary and wonderful things. But, "he said, "God will assuredly make this affair easy to us through theblessing attendant upon thee, O Viceroy of the Prince of the Faithful. "

After this they departed, and they continued their journey until theyarrived at a palace; whereupon the sheikh said: "Advance with us to thispalace, which presenteth a lesson to him who will be admonished. " So theEmeer Moosa advanced thither, together with the Sheikh Abd-Es-Samad andhis chief companions, till they came to its entrance. And they found itopen, and having lofty angles, and steps, among which were two widesteps of coloured marbles, the like of which hath not been seen: theceilings and walls were decorated with gold and silver and minerals, andover the entrance was a slab, whereon was an inscription in ancientGreek; and the Sheikh Abd-Es-Samad said: "Shall I read it, O Emeer?" Theemeer answered; "Advance and read. " So he read it; and, lo, it waspoetry; and it was this:

 Here was a people whom, after their works, thou shalt see wept over for their lost dominion; And in this palace is the last information respecting lords collected in the dust. 

 Death hath destroyed them and disunited them, and in the dust they have lost what they amassed; As though they had only put down their loads to rest a while: quickly have they departed!

And the Emeer Moosa wept and said: "There is no deity but God, theLiving, the Enduring without failure!"

Then they attentively viewed the palace; and, lo, it was devoid ofinhabitants, destitute of household and occupants: its courts weredesolate, and its apartments were deserted; and in the midst of it was achamber covered with a lofty dome, rising high into the air, aroundwhich were four hundred tombs. 

And the Emeer Moosa drew near to the dome-crowned chamber, and, lo, ithad eight doors of sandalwood, with nails of gold, ornamented with starsof silver set with various jewels, and he beheld in it a long tomb, ofterrible appearance, whereon was a tablet of iron of China; and theSheikh Abd-Es-Samad drew near to it, and read its inscription; and, lo, on it was written:

 Shouldst thou think upon me after the length of my age, and the vicissitudes of days and circumstances, I am the son of Sheddad, who held dominion over mankind and each tract of the whole earth. All the stubborn troops became abject unto me, and Esh-Sham from Misr unto Adnan. In glory I reigned, abasing their kings, the people of the earth fearing my dominion; And I beheld the tribes and armies in my power, and saw the countries and their inhabitants dread me. When I mounted, I beheld my army comprising a million bridles upon neighing steeds; And I possessed wealth that could not be calculated, which I treasured up against misfortunes, Determining to devote the whole of my property for the purpose of extending the term of my life. 

 But the Deity would nought save the execution of his purpose; and thus I became separated from my brethren. Death, the disuniter of mankind, came to me, and I was removed from grandeur to the mansion of contempt; And I found the recompense of all my past actions, for which I am pledged: for I was sinful! Then raise thyself, lest thou be upon a brink; and beware of calamities! Mayest thou be led aright!

And again the Emeer Moosa wept, in considering the fates of the people;after which, as they were going about through the different apartmentsof the palace, and viewing attentively its chambers and its places ofdiversion, they came to a table upon four legs of alabaster, whereon wasinscribed:

 Upon this table have eaten a thousand one-eyed kings, and a thousand kings each sound in both eyes. All of them have quitted the world, and taken up their abode in the burial-grounds and the graves. 

And the Emeer Moosa wrote down all this. Then he went forth, and tooknot with him from the palace aught save the table. 

The soldiers proceeded, with the Sheikh Abd-Es-Samad before them shewingthem the way, until all the first day had passed, and the second, andthe third. They then came to a high hill, at which they looked, and, lo, upon it was a horseman of brass, on the top of whose spear was a wideand glistening head that almost deprived the beholder of sight, and onit was inscribed:

 O thou who comest unto me, if thou know not the way that leadeth to the City of Brass, rub the hand of the horseman, and he will turn, and then will stop, and in whatsoever direction he stoppeth, thither proceed, without fear and without difficulty; for it will lead thee to the City of Brass. 

And when the Emeer Moosa had rubbed the hand of the horseman, it turnedlike the blinding lightning, and faced a different direction from thatin which they were travelling. 

The party therefore turned thither and journeyed on, and it was theright way. They took that route, and continued their course the same dayand the next night until they had traversed a wide tract of country. Andas they were proceeding, one day, they came to a pillar of black stone, wherein was a person sunk to his arm-pits, and he had two huge wings, and four arms; two of them like those of the sons of Adam, and two likethe fore-legs of lions, with claws. He had hair upon his head like thetails of horses, and two eyes like two burning coals, and he had a thirdeye, in his forehead, like the eye of the lynx, from which thereappeared sparks of fire. He was black and tall; and he was crying out:"Extolled be the perfection of my Lord, who hath appointed me thissevere affliction and painful torture until the day of resurrection!"When the party beheld him, their reason fled from them, and they werestupefied at the sight of his form, and retreated in flight; and theEmeer Moosa said to the Sheikh Abd-Es-Samad: "What is this?" Heanswered: "I know not what he is. " And the emeer said: "Draw near tohim, and investigate his case: perhaps he will discover it, and perhapsthou wilt learn his history. " So the Sheikh Abd-Es-Samad drew near tohim, and said to him: "O thou person, what is thy name, and what is thynature, and what hath placed thee here in this manner?" And the personanswered him: "As to me, I am an efreet of the genies, and my name isDahish, and I am restrained here by the majesty of God. " Then the EmeerMoosa said: "O Sheikh Abd-Es-Samad, ask him what is the cause of hisconfinement in this pillar. " He therefore asked respecting that, and theefreet answered him: "Verily my story is wonderful; and it is this:

"There belonged to one of the sons of Iblees an idol of red carnelian, of which I was made guardian; and there used to worship it one of theKings of the Sea, of great glory, leading, among his troops of thegenies, a million warriors who smote with swords before him, and whoanswered his prayer in cases of difficulty. These genies who obeyed himwere under my command and authority, following my words when I orderedthem: all of them were in rebellion against Solomon, the son of David;and I used to enter the body of the idol, and command them and forbidthem. Now the daughter of that king was a frequent adorer of the idol, assiduous in the worship of it, and she was the handsomest of the peopleof her age, endowed with beauty and loveliness, and elegance andperfection; and I described her to Solomon, on whom be peace! So he sentto her father, saying to him: 'Marry to me thy daughter, and break thycarnelian-idol, and bear witness that there is no deity but God, andthat Solomon is the Prophet of God. But if thou refuse, I will come tothee with forces that shall leave thee like yesterday that hath passed. 'And when the messenger of Solomon came to him, the King of the Sea wasinsolent, and magnified himself and was proud. Then he said to hisviziers: 'What say ye respecting the affair of Solomon? For he hath sentdemanding my daughter, and commanding me to break my carnelian-idol, andto adopt his faith. ' And they replied: 'O great King, can Solomon doaught unto thee, when thou art in the midst of this vast sea? He cannotprevail against thee; since the genies will fight on thy side; and thoushalt seek aid against him of thine idol that thou worshippest. Theright opinion is, that thou consult thy red carnelian-idol, and hearwhat will be his reply: if he counsel thee to fight him, fight him; butotherwise, do not. ' And upon this the king went immediately, and, goingin to his idol, after he had offered a sacrifice and slain victims, felldown before it prostrate, and began to weep, and to seek counsel. 

"Thereupon I entered the body of the idol, by reason of my ignorance, and my solicitude respecting the affair of Solomon, and recited thiscouplet:

 'As for me, I am not in fear of him; for I am acquainted with everything. If he wish to wage war with me, I will go forth, and I will snatch his soul from him. '

So when the king heard my reply to him, his heart was strengthened, andhe determined to wage war with Solomon the Prophet of God and to fightagainst him. Accordingly, when the messenger of Solomon came, heinflicted upon him a painful beating, and returned him a shameful reply;and he sent to threaten Solomon, saying to him, by the messenger: 'Dostthou threaten me with false words? Either come thou to me, or I will goto thee. '

"Then the messenger returned to Solomon, and acquainted him with allthat had occurred. And when the Prophet of God heard that, hisresolution was roused, and he prepared his forces, consisting of geniesand men, and wild beasts, and birds and reptiles. He commanded hisvizier, Ed-Dimiryat, the king of the genies, to collect them from everyplace: so he collected for him, of the devils, six hundred millions. Healso commanded Asaf, his vizier of men, to collect his soldiers ofmankind; and their number was one million, or more. He made ready theaccoutrements and weapons, and mounted, with his forces, upon the magiccarpet, with the birds flying over his head, and the wild beasts beneaththe carpet marching, until he alighted upon his enemy's coast, andsurrounded his island, having filled the land with the forces. He thensent to our king, saying to him: 'Behold, I have arrived: thereforesubmit thyself to my authority, and acknowledge my mission, and breakthine idol, and worship the One, the Adored God, and marry to me thydaughter according to law, and say thou, and those who are with thee, Itestify that there is no deity but God, and I testify that Solomon isthe Prophet of God. If thou say that, peace and safety shall be thy lot. But if thou refuse, thy defending thyself from me in this island shallnot prevent thee: for God hath commanded the wind to obey me, and I willorder it to convey me unto thee on the carpet, and will make thee anexample to restrain others. ' So the messenger came to him, andcommunicated to him the message of the Prophet! But the king said tohim: 'There is no way for the accomplishment of this thing that herequireth: therefore inform him that I am coming forth unto him. 'Accordingly the messenger returned to Solomon, and gave him the reply. The king then sent to the people of his country, and collected forhimself, of the genies that were under his authority, a million; and tothese he added others, of the devils that were in the islands and on themountains; after which he made ready his forces, and opened thearmouries, and distributed to them the weapons. And as to the Prophet ofGod, he disposed his troops, commanding the wild beasts to formthemselves into two divisions, on the right of the people and on theirleft, and commanding the birds to be upon the islands. He ordered themalso when the assault should be made, to tear out the eyes of theirantagonists with their beaks, and to beat their faces with their wings;and he ordered the wild beasts to tear in pieces their horses; and theyreplied: 'We hear and obey God and thee, O Prophet of God!' Then Solomonset for himself a couch of alabaster adorned with jewels, and platedwith plates of red gold, and he placed his vizier Asaf on the rightside, and his vizier, Ed-Dimiryat, on the left side, and the kings ofmankind on his right, and the kings of the genies on his left, and thewild beasts and the vipers and serpents before him. 

"After this, they came upon us all together, and we contended with himin a wide tract for a period of two days; and calamity befell us on thethird day, and the decree of God was executed among us. The first whocharged upon Solomon were I and my troops; and I said to my companions:'Keep in your places in the battle-field while I go forth to them andchallenge Ed-Dimiryat. ' And, lo, he came forth, like a great mountain, his fires flaming, and his smoke ascending; and he approached, andsmote me with a flaming fire; and his arrow prevailed over my fire. Hecried out at me with a prodigious cry, so that I imagined the heaven hadfallen, and the mountains shook at his voice. Then he commanded hiscompanions, and they charged upon us all together: we also charged uponthem: the fires rose and the smoke ascended, the hearts of thecombatants were almost cleft asunder, and the battle raged. The birdsfought in the air; and the wild beasts in the dust; and I contended withEd-Dimiryat until he wearied me and I wearied him; after which mycompanions and troops were enervated, and my tribes were routed. I flewfrom before Ed-Dimiryat; but he followed me a journey of three months, until he overtook me. I had fallen down through fatigue, and he rushedupon me, and made me a prisoner. So I said to him: 'By Him who hathexalted thee and abased me, pity me, and take me before Solomon. ' Butwhen I came before Solomon, he met me in a most evil manner: he causedthis pillar to be brought, and hollowed it, and put me in it, and sealedme with his signet; after which, he chained me, and Ed-Dimiryat conveyedme to this place, where he set me down as thou seest me; and this pillaris my prison until the day of resurrection. "

The party therefore wondered at him, and at the horrible nature of hisform; and the Emeer Moosa said: "There is no deity but God!" And theSheikh Abd-Es-Samad said to the efreet: "O thou, I ask thee concerning athing of which do thou inform us. " The efreet replied: "Ask concerningwhat thou wilt. " And the sheikh said: "Are there in this place any ofthe efreets confined in bottles of brass from the time of Solomon?" Heanswered: "Yes, in the Sea of El-Karkar, where are a people of thedescendants of Noah, whose country the deluge reached not, and they areseparated there from the rest of the sons of Adam. " "And where, " saidthe sheikh, "is the way to the City of Brass, and the place wherein arethe bottles? What distance is there between us and it?" The efreetanswered: "It is near. " So the party left him, and proceeded; and thereappeared to them in the distance a great black object, with two firescorresponding with each other in position; whereupon the Emeer Moosasaid to the sheikh: "What is this great black object, and these twocorresponding fires?" The guide answered him: "Be rejoiced, O Emeer; forthis is the City of Brass, and this is the appearance of it that I finddescribed in the Book of Hidden Treasures; that its wall is of blackstones, and it hath two towers of brass, which the beholder seethresembling two corresponding fires; and thence it is named the City ofBrass. " They ceased not to proceed until they arrived at it; and, lo, itwas lofty, strongly fortified, rising high into the air, impenetrable:the height of its walls was eighty cubits, and it had five and twentygates, none of which would open but by means of some artifice. Theystopped before it, and endeavoured to discover one of its gates; butthey could not; and the Emeer Moosa said to the Sheikh Abd-Es-Samad: "Osheikh, I see not to this city any gate. " The sheikh replied: "O Emeer, thus do I find it described in the Book of Hidden Treasures; that ithath five and twenty gates, and that none of its gates may be opened butfrom within the city. " "And how, " said the emeer, "can we contrive toenter it, and divert ourselves with a view of its wonders?"

Then the Emeer Moosa ordered one of his young men to mount a camel, andride round the city, in the hope that he might discover a trace of agate. So one of his young men mounted, and proceeded around it for twodays with their nights, prosecuting his journey with diligence, and notresting; and when the third day arrived, he came in sight of hiscompanions, and he was astounded at that which he beheld of the extentof the city, and its height. Then he said: "O Emeer, the easiest placein it is this place at which ye have alighted. " And thereupon the EmeerMoosa took Talib and the Sheikh Abd-Es-Samad, and they ascended amountain opposite the city, and overlooking it; and when they hadascended that mountain, they saw a city than which eyes had not beheldany greater. Its pavilions were lofty, and its domes were shining; itsrivers were running, its trees were fruitful, and its gardens bore ripeproduce. It was a city with impenetrable gates, empty, still, without avoice but the owl hooting in its quarters, and the raven croaking in itsthoroughfare-streets, and bewailing those who had been in it. 

And the Emeer Moosa fainted with sorrow; his tears ran down upon hischeeks, and he said: "By Allah, indifference to the world is the mostappropriate and the most sure course!"

And when they came back to the troops, they passed the day devisingmeans of entering the city; and the Emeer Moosa said to those of hischief officers who were around him: "How shall we contrive to enter thecity, that we may see its wonders? Perhaps we shall find in it somethingby which we may ingratiate ourselves with the Prince of the Faithful. "Talib replied: "Let us make a ladder, and mount upon it, and perhaps weshall gain access to the gate from within. " And the emeer said: "This iswhat occurred to my mind, and excellent is the advice. " Then he calledto the carpenters and blacksmiths, and ordered them to make straightsome pieces of wood, and to construct a ladder covered with plates ofiron. And they did so, and made it strong. They employed themselves inconstructing it a whole month, and many men were occupied in making it. And they set it up and fixed it against the wall, and it proved to beequal to the wall in height, as though it had been made for it beforethat day. So the Emeer Moosa wondered at it, and said: "God bless you!It seemeth, from the excellence of your work, as though ye had adaptedit by measurement to the wall. " He then said to the people: "Which ofyou will ascend this ladder, and mount upon the wall, and walk along it, and contrive means of descending into the city, that he may see how thecase is, and then inform us of the mode of opening the gate?" And one ofthem answered: "I will ascend it, O Emeer, and descend and open thegate. " The emeer therefore replied: "Mount. God bless thee!"Accordingly, the man ascended the ladder until he reached the top of it;when he stood, and fixed his eyes toward the city, clapped his hands, and cried out with his loudest voice, saying: "Thou art beautiful!" Thenhe cast himself down into the city, and was destroyed. So the EmeerMoosa said: "If we do thus with all our companions, there will notremain of them one; and we shall be unable to accomplish our affair, andthe affair of the Prince of the Faithful. Depart ye; for we have noconcern with this city. " But one of them said: "Perhaps another thanthis may be more steady than he. " And a second ascended, and a third, and a fourth, and a fifth; and they ceased not to ascend by that ladderto the top of the wall, one after another, until twelve men of them hadgone, acting as acted the first. Therefore the Sheikh Abd-Es-Samad said:"There is none for this affair but myself, and the experienced is notlike the inexperienced. " But the Emeer Moosa said to him: "Thou shaltnot do that, nor will I allow thee to ascend to the top of this wall;for shouldst thou die, thou wouldst be the cause of the death of us all, and there would not remain of us one; since thou art the guide of theparty. " The sheikh, however, replied: "Perhaps the object will beaccomplished by my means, through the will of God, whose name beexalted!" And thereupon all the people agreed to his ascending. 

[Illustration]

_And when they had ascended that mountain they saw a city than whicheyes had not beheld any greater. _

Then Abd-Es-Samad arose, and, having said: "In the name of God, theCompassionate, the Merciful!"--he ascended the ladder, repeating thepraises of God, and reciting the Verses of Safety, until he reached thetop of the wall; when he clapped his hands, and fixed his eyes. Thepeople therefore all called out to him, and said: "O SheikhAbd-Es-Samad, do not cast thyself down! If Abd-Es-Samad fall, we allperish!" Then Abd-Es-Samad sat a long time repeating the praises of God, and reciting the Verses of Safety; after which he rose with energy, andcalled out with his loudest voice: "O Emeer, no harm shall befall you;for God hath averted from me the effect of the artifice of the Devil. "So the emeer said to him: "What hast thou seen, O Sheikh?" He answered:"When I reached the top of the wall I beheld ten damsels, like moons, who made a sign with their hands, as though they would say: 'Come tous!' And it seemed to me that beneath me was a sea of water; whereupon Idesired to cast myself down, as our companions did: but I beheld themdead; so I withheld myself from them, and recited some words of the bookof God, whereupon He averted from me the influence of those damsels, andthey departed; therefore I cast not myself down. There is no doubt thatthis is an enchantment which the people of this city contrived in orderto repel from it every one who should wish to obtain access to it. "

He then walked along the wall till he came to the two towers of brass, when he saw that they had gates of gold, without any sign of the meansof opening them. Therefore the sheikh, looking attentively, saw in themiddle of one of the gates a figure of a horseman of brass, having onehand extended, as though he were pointing with it, and on it was aninscription, which the sheikh read, and, lo, it contained these words:

 Turn the pin that is in the middle of the front of the horseman's body twelve times, and then the gate will open. 

So he turned the pin twelve times; whereupon the gate openedimmediately, with a noise like thunder; and the sheikh entered. He was alearned man, acquainted with all languages and characters. And he walkedon until he entered a long passage, whence he descended some steps, andhe found a place with handsome wooden benches, on which were peopledead, and over their heads were elegant shields, and keen swords, andstrung bows, and notched arrows. And behind the next gate were a bar ofiron, and barricades of wood, and locks of delicate fabric, and strongapparatus. Upon this, the sheikh said within himself: "Perhaps the keysare with these people. " Then he looked, and, lo, there was a sheikh whoappeared to be the oldest of them, and he was upon a high wooden benchamong the dead men. So Abd-Es-Samad said: "May not the keys of the citybe with this sheikh! Perhaps he was the gate-keeper of the city, andthese were under his authority. " He therefore drew near to him, andlifted up his garments, and, lo, the keys were hung to his waist. At thesight of them, Abd-Es-Samad rejoiced exceedingly; and he took the keys, opened the locks, and pulled the gate and the barricades and otherapparatus, which opened and the gate also opened, with a noise likethunder. Upon this the sheikh exclaimed: "God is most great!" and thepeople made the same exclamation with him, rejoicing at the event. TheEmeer Moosa also rejoiced at the safety of Abd-Es-Samad, and at theopening of the gate of the city; the people thanked him for that whichhe had done, and all the troops hastened to enter the gate. But theEmeer Moosa cried out to them, saying to them: "O people, if all of usenter, we shall not be secure from accident. Half shall enter, and halfshall remain behind. "

The Emeer Moosa then entered the gate, and with him half of the people, who bore their weapons of war. And the party saw their companions lyingdead: so they buried them. They saw also the gate-keepers and servantsand chamberlains and lieutenants lying upon beds of silk, all of themdead. And they entered the market of the city, and beheld that the shopswere open, and the scales hung up, and the utensils of brass ranged inorder, and the stores were full of all kinds of goods. And they saw themerchants dead in their shops: their skins were dried, and they hadbecome examples to him who would be admonished. And they left thisplace, and passed on to the silk-market, in which were silks andbrocades interwoven with red gold and white silver upon various colours, and the owners were dead, lying upon skins, and appearing almost asthough they would speak. Leaving these, they went on to the market ofjewels and pearls and jacinths; and they left it, and passed on to themarket of the money-changers, whom they found dead, with varieties ofsilks beneath them, and their shops were filled with gold and silver. These they left, and they proceeded to the markets of the perfumers;and, lo, their shops were filled with varieties of perfumes, and bags ofmusk, and ambergris, and aloes-wood, and camphor; and the owners wereall dead, not having with them any food. And when they went forth fromthe market of the perfumers, they found near unto it a palace, decorated, and strongly constructed; and they entered it, and foundbanners unfurled, and drawn swords, and strung bows and shields hung upby chains of gold and silver, and helmets gilded with red gold. And inthe passages of that palace were benches of ivory, ornamented withplates of brilliant gold, and with silk, on which were men whose skinshad dried upon the bones; the ignorant would imagine them to besleeping; but, from the want of food, they had died, and tastedmortality. 

And the Emeer Moosa went on into the interior of the palace. There hebeheld a great hall, and four large and lofty chambers, each onefronting another, wide, decorated with gold and silver and with variouscolours. In the midst of the hall was a great fountain of alabaster, over which was a canopy of brocade; and in those chambers were fountainslined with marble; and channels of water flowed along the floors ofthose chambers, the four streams meeting in a great tank lined withmarbles of various colours. The Emeer Moosa then said to the SheikhAbd-Es-Samad: "Enter these chambers with us. " So they entered the firstchamber; and they found it filled with gold and with white silver, andpearls and jewels, and jacinths and precious minerals. They found in italso chests full of red and yellow and white brocades. And they wentthence to the second chamber, and opened a closet in it, and, lo, it wasfilled with arms and weapons of war, consisting of gilded helmets, andcoats of mail, and swords, and lances, and maces, and other instrumentsof war and battle. Then they passed thence to the third chamber, inwhich they found closets having upon their doors closed locks, and overthem were curtains worked with various kinds of embroidery. They openedone of these closets, and found it filled with weapons decorated withvarieties of gold and silver and jewels. And they went thence to thefourth chamber, where also they found closets, one of which they opened, and they found it full of utensils for food and drink, consisting ofvarious vessels of gold and silver, and saucers of crystal, and cups setwith brilliant pearls and cups of carnelian, and other things. So theybegan to take what suited them of those things, and each of the soldierscarried off what he could. And when they determined to go forth fromthose chambers, they saw there a door inlaid with ivory and ebony, andadorned with plates of brilliant gold. Over it was hung a curtain ofsilk worked with various kinds of embroidery, and upon it were locks ofwhite silver, to be opened by artifice, without a key. The SheikhAbd-Es-Samad therefore advanced to those locks, and he opened them byhis knowledge and excellent skill. And the party entered a passage pavedwith marble, upon the sides of which were curtains whereon were figuredvarious wild beasts and birds, all these being worked with red gold andwhite silver, and their eyes were of pearls and jacinths: whosoeverbeheld them was confounded. 

They then passed on, and found a saloon constructed of polished marbleadorned with jewels. The beholder imagined that upon its floor wasrunning water, and if any one walked upon it he would slip. The EmeerMoosa therefore ordered the Sheikh Abd-Es-Samad to throw upon itsomething that they might be enabled to walk on it; and he did this, andcontrived so that they passed on. And they found in it a great domeconstructed of stones gilded with red gold. The party had not beheld, inall that they had seen, anything more beautiful than it. And in themidst of that dome was a great dome-crowned structure of alabaster, around which were lattice windows, decorated, and adorned with oblongemeralds, such as none of the kings could procure. In it was a pavilionof brocade, raised upon columns of red gold, and within this were birds, the feet of which were of emeralds; beneath each bird was a net ofbrilliant pearls, spread over a fountain; and by the brink of thefountain was placed a couch adorned with pearls and jewels and jacinths, whereon was a damsel resembling the shining sun. Eyes had not beheldone more beautiful. Upon her was a garment of brilliant pearls, on herhead was a crown of red gold, with a fillet of jewels, on her neck was anecklace of jewels in the middle of which were refulgent gems, and uponher forehead were two jewels the light of which was like that of thesun; and she seemed as though she were looking at the people, andobserving them to the right and left. When the Emeer Moosa beheld thisdamsel, he wondered extremely at her loveliness, and was confounded byher beauty and the redness of her cheeks and the blackness of her hair. Any beholder would imagine that she was alive, and not dead. And theysaid to her: "Peace be on thee, O damsel!" But Talib said to the emeer:"May God amend thy state! Know that this damsel is dead. There is nolife in her. How then can she return the salutation?" And he added: "OEmeer, she is skilfully embalmed; and her eyes have been taken out afterher death, and quicksilver hath been put beneath them, after which theyhave been restored to their places; so they gleam; and whenever the airputteth them in motion, the beholder imagineth that she twinkleth hereyes, though she is dead. "

And as to the couch upon which was the damsel, it had steps, and uponthe steps were two slaves, one of them white and the other black; and inthe hand of one of them was a weapon of steel, and in the hand of theother a jewelled sword that blinded the eyes; and before the two slaveswas a tablet of gold, whereon was read an inscription, which was this:

 In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful. Praise be to God, the Creator of Man; and He is the Lord of lords, and the Cause of causes. O thou, if thou know me not, I will acquaint thee with my name and my descent. I am Tedmur, the daughter of the King of the Amalekites. I possessed what none of the kings possessed, and ruled with justice, and acted impartially toward my subjects: I gave and bestowed, and I lived a long time in the enjoyment of happiness and an easy life, and possessing emancipated female and male slaves. Thus I did until the summoner of death came to my abode, and disasters occurred before me. And the case was this: Seven years in succession came upon us, during which no water descended on us from heaven, nor did any grass grow for us on the face of the earth. So we ate what food we had in our dwellings, and after that, we fell upon the beasts and ate them, and there remained nothing. Upon this, therefore, I caused the wealth to be brought, and meted it with a measure, and sent it by trusty men, who went about with it through all the districts, not leaving unvisited a single large city, to seek for some food. But they found it not; and they returned to us with the wealth, after a long absence. So thereupon we exposed to view our riches and our treasures, locked the gates of the fortresses in our city, and submitted ourselves to the decree of our Lord, committing our case to our Master; and thus we all died, as thou beholdest, and left what we had built and what we had treasured. This is our story: Whoso arriveth at our city, and entereth it, let him take of the wealth what he can, but not touch anything that is on my body; for it is the covering of my person. Therefore let him fear God, and not seize aught of it; for he would destroy himself. Peace be on you! I beg God, moreover, to save you from the evil of trials and sickness. 

The Emeer Moosa, when he heard these words, again wept and wasadmonished by what he witnessed. He then said to his companions: "Bringthe sacks, and fill them with part of these riches and these vessels andrarities and jewels. " And thereupon, Talib, the son of Sahl, said to theEmeer Moosa: "O Emeer, shall we leave this damsel with the things thatare upon her? They are things that have no equal, nor is the like ofthem at any time found, and they are more than the riches thou hasttaken, and will be the best present by which thou mayest ingratiatethyself with the Prince of the Faithful. " But the emeer replied:"Heardest thou not that which the damsel hath given as a charge, in theinscription upon this tablet? Moreover, and especially, she hath givenit as a charge offered in confidence, and we are not of the people oftreachery. " The Vizier Talib, however, said: "And on account of thesewords wilt thou leave these riches and these jewels, when she is dead?What then should she do with these things, which are the ornaments ofthe world, and the decoration of the living? With a garment of cottonmight this damsel be covered, and we are more worthy of the things thanshe. " Then he drew near to the steps, and ascended them until he reachedthe spot between the two slaves, when, lo, one of these two smote himupon his back, and the other smote him with the sword that was in hishand, and struck off his head, and he fell down dead. So the Emeer Moosasaid: "May God not regard with mercy thy resting-place! There was, inthese riches, a sufficiency; and covetousness doth dishonour the personin whom it existeth!" He thereupon gave orders for the entry of thetroops, who accordingly entered, and they loaded the camels with part ofthose riches and minerals; after which the Emeer Moosa commanded them toclose the gate as it was before. 

They then proceeded along the sea-coast until they came in sight of ahigh mountain overlooking the sea. In it were many caves, and, lo, inthese was a people of the blacks, clad in hides, and with burnouses ofhides upon their heads, whose language was not known. And when they sawthe troops, they ran away from them, and fled, while their women andtheir children stood at the entrances of the caves. So the Emeer Moosasaid: "O Sheikh Abd-Es-Samad, what are these people?" And he answered:"These are the objects of the inquiry of the Prince of the Faithful. "They therefore alighted, and the tents were pitched, and the riches wereput down; and they had not rested when the king of the blacks came downfrom the mountain, and drew near to the troops. He was acquainted withthe Arabic language; wherefore, when he came to the Emeer Moosa, hesaluted him; and the emeer returned his salutation, and treated him withhonour. Then the king of the blacks said to the emeer: "Are ye ofmankind, or of the genies?" The emeer answered: "As to us, we are ofmankind; and as to you, there is no doubt but that ye are of thegenies, because of your seclusion in this mountain that is separatedfrom the world, and because of the greatness of your make. " But the kingof the blacks replied: "Nay, we are a people of the race of Adam, of thesons of Ham, the son of Noah, on whom be peace! And as to this sea, itis known by the name of El-Karkar. "

The Emeer Moosa then said to him: "We are the associates of the King ofEl-Islam, Abd-El-Melik the son of Marwan; and we have come on account ofthe bottles of brass that are here in your sea, and wherein are thedevils imprisoned from the time of Solomon, the son of David. He hathcommanded us to bring him some of them, that he may see them, and diverthimself by the view of them. " And the king of the blacks replied: "Mostwillingly. " Then he feasted him with fish, and ordered the divers tobring up from the sea some of the bottles of Solomon; and they broughtup for them twelve bottles; wherewith the Emeer Moosa was delighted, andthe Sheikh Abd-Es-Samad also, and the soldiers, on account of theaccomplishment of the affair of the Prince of the Faithful. The EmeerMoosa thereupon presented to the king of the blacks many presents, andgave him large gifts. In like manner, too, the king of the blacks gaveto the Emeer Moosa a present consisting of wonders of the sea. 

Then they bade him farewell, and they journeyed back until they came tothe land of Syria, and went in to the Prince of the Faithful; whereuponthe Emeer Moosa acquainted him with all that he had seen, and all thathad occurred to him with respect to the verses and histories andadmonitions, and told him of the case of Talib the son of Sahl. And thePrince of the Faithful said to him: "Would that I had been with you, that I might have beheld what ye beheld!" He then took the bottles, andproceeded to open one after another, and the devils came forth fromthem, saying: "Repentance, O Prophet of God! We will not return to thelike conduct ever!" And Abd-El-Melik the son of Marwan wondered at this. After this, the Prince of the Faithful caused the riches to be broughtbefore him, and divided them among the people. And he said: "God hathnot bestowed upon any one the like of what He bestowed upon Solomon theson of David. "

This is the end of that which hath come down to us, of the history ofthe City of Brass, entire. And God is all-knowing. 

THE STORY OF ALI BABA AND THE FORTY THIEVES

In a town in Persia, there lived two brothers, one named Cassim, theother Ali Baba. Their father left them scarcely anything; but as he haddivided his little property equally between them, it would seem thattheir fortune ought to have been equal; but chance determined otherwise. 

Cassim married a wife, who soon after became heiress to a large sum, andto a warehouse full of rich goods; so that he all at once became one ofthe richest and most considerable merchants, and lived at his ease. AliBaba, on the other hand, who had married a woman as poor as himself, lived in a very wretched habitation, and had no other means to maintainhis wife and children but his daily labour of cutting wood, and bringingit to town to sell, upon three asses, which were his whole substance. 

One day, when Ali Baba was in the forest, and had just cut wood enoughto load his asses, he saw at a distance a great cloud of dust, whichseemed to be driven toward him: he observed it very attentively, anddistinguished soon after a body of horse. Though there had been norumour of robbers in that country, Ali Baba began to think that theymight prove such, and without considering what might become of hisasses, was resolved to save himself. He climbed up a large, thick tree, whose branches, at a little distance from the ground, were so close toone another that there was but little space between them. He placedhimself in the middle, from whence he could see all that passed withoutbeing discovered; and the tree stood at the base of a single rock, sosteep and craggy that nobody could climb up it. 

The troop, who were all well mounted and armed, came to the foot of thisrock, and there dismounted. Ali Baba counted forty of them, and, fromtheir looks and equipage, was assured that they were robbers. Nor was hemistaken in his opinion; for they were a troop of banditti, who, withoutdoing any harm to the neighbourhood, robbed at a distance, and made thatplace their rendezvous; but what confirmed him in his opinion was, thatevery man unbridled his horse, tied him to some shrub, and hung abouthis neck a bag of corn which they brought behind them. Then each of themtook his saddle wallet, which seemed to Ali Baba to be full of gold andsilver from its weight. One, who was the most personable amongst them, and whom he took to be their captain, came with his wallet on his backunder the tree in which Ali Baba was concealed, and making his waythrough some shrubs, pronounced these words so distinctly: "_Open, Sesame_, " that Ali Baba heard him. As soon as the captain of the robbershad uttered these words, a door opened in the rock; and after he hadmade all his troop enter before him, he followed them, when the doorshut again of itself. The robbers stayed some time within the rock, andAli Baba, who feared that some one, or all of them together, might comeout and catch him, if he should endeavour to make his escape, wasobliged to sit patiently in the tree. He was nevertheless tempted to getdown, mount one of their horses, and lead another, driving his assesbefore him with all the haste he could to town; but the uncertainty ofthe event made him choose the safest course. 

At last the door opened again, and the forty robbers came out. As thecaptain went in last, he came out first, and stood to see them all passby him, when Ali Baba heard him make the door close by pronouncing thesewords: "_Shut, Sesame_. " Every man went and bridled his horse, fastenedhis wallet, and mounted again; and when the captain saw them all ready, he put himself at their head, and they returned the way they had come. Ali Baba did not immediately quit his tree; for, said he to himself, they may have forgotten something and may come back again, and then Ishall be taken. He followed them with his eyes as far as he could seethem; and afterward stayed a considerable time before he descended. Remembering the words the captain of the robbers used to cause the doorto open and shut, he had the curiosity to try if his pronouncing themwould have the same effect. Accordingly, he went among the shrubs, andperceiving the door concealed behind them, stood before it, and said:"_Open, Sesame!"_ The door instantly flew wide open. Ali Baba, whoexpected a dark dismal cavern, was surprised to see it well lighted andspacious, in the form of a vault, which received the light from anopening at the top of the rock. He saw all sorts of provisions, richbales of silk stuff, brocade, and valuable carpeting, piled upon oneanother; gold and silver ingots in great heaps, and money in bags. Thesight of all these riches made him suppose that this cave must have beenoccupied for ages by robbers, who had succeeded one another. Ali Babadid not stand long to consider what he should do, but went immediatelyinto the cave, and as soon as he had entered, the door shut of itself, but this did not disturb him, because he knew the secret to open itagain. He never regarded the silver, but made the best use of his timein carrying out as much of the gold coin as he thought his three assescould carry. He collected his asses, which were dispersed, and when hehad loaded them with the bags, laid wood over in such a manner that theycould not be seen. When he had done he stood before the door, andpronouncing the words: "_Shut, Sesame!"_ the door closed after him, forit had shut of itself while he was within, but remained open while hewas out. He then made the best of his way to town. 

When Ali Baba got home, he drove his asses into a little yard, shut thegates very carefully, threw off the wood that covered the bags, carriedthem into his house, and ranged them in order before his wife, who saton a sofa. His wife handled the bags, and finding them full of money, suspected that her husband had been robbing, insomuch that she could nothelp saying: "Ali Baba, have you been so unhappy as to----" "Be quiet, wife, " interrupted Ali Baba, "do not frighten yourself; I am no robber, unless he may be one who steals from robbers. You will no longerentertain an ill opinion of me, when I shall tell you my good fortune. "He then emptied the bags, which raised such a great heap of gold asdazzled his wife's eyes; and when he had done, told her the wholeadventure from beginning to end; and, above all, recommended her to keepit secret. The wife, cured of her fears, rejoiced with her husband attheir good fortune, and would count all the gold piece by piece. "Wife, "replied Ali Baba, "you do not know what you undertake, when you pretendto count the money; you will never have done. I will dig a hole, andbury it; there is no time to be lost. " "You are in the right, husband, "replied she; "but let us know, as nigh as possible, how much we have. Iwill borrow a small measure in the neighbourhood, and measure it, whileyou dig the hole. " "What you are going to do is to no purpose, wife, "said Ali Baba; "if you would take my advice, you had better let italone; but keep the secret, and do what you please. " Away the wife ranto her brother-in-law Cassim, who lived just by, but was not then athome; and addressing herself to his wife, desired her to lend her ameasure for a little while. Her sister-in-law asked her, whether shewould have a great or a small one. The wife asked for a small one. Thesister-in-law agreed to lend one, but as she knew Ali Baba's poverty, she was curious to know what sort of grain his wife wanted to measure, and artfully putting some suet at the bottom of the measure, brought itto her with an excuse, that she was sorry that she had made her stay solong, but that she could not find it sooner. Ali Baba's wife went home, set the measure upon the heap of gold, filled it and emptied it oftenupon the sofa, till she had done: when she was very well satisfied tofind the number of measures amounted to so many as they did, and went totell her husband, who had almost finished digging the hole. While AliBaba was burying the gold, his wife, to show her exactness and diligenceto her sister-in-law, carried the measure back again, but without takingnotice that a piece of gold had stuck to the bottom. "Sister, " said she, giving it to her again, "you see that I have not kept your measure long;I am obliged to you for it, and return it with thanks. "

As soon as her sister-in-law was gone, Cassim's wife looked at thebottom of the measure, and was inexpressibly surprised to find a pieceof gold stuck to it. Envy immediately possessed her breast. "What!" saidshe, "has Ali Baba gold so plentiful as to measure it? Where has thatpoor wretch got all this wealth?" Cassim, her husband, was not at home, but at his counting-house, which he left always in the evening. His wifewaited for him, and thought the time an age; so great was her impatienceto tell him the circumstance, at which she guessed he would be as muchsurprised as herself. 

When Cassim came home, his wife said to him: "Cassim, I know you thinkyourself rich, but you are much mistaken; Ali Baba is infinitely richerthan you; he does not count his money, but measures it. " Cassim desiredher to explain the riddle, which she did, by telling him the stratagemshe had used to make the discovery, and showed him the piece of money, which was so old that they could not tell in what prince's reign it wascoined. Cassim, instead of being pleased, conceived a base envy at hisbrother's prosperity; he could not sleep all that night, and went to himin the morning before sunrise, although after he had married the richwidow, he had never treated him as a brother, but neglected him. "AliBaba, " said he, accosting him, "you are very reserved in your affairs;you pretend to be miserably poor, and yet you measure gold. " "How, brother?" replied Ali Baba; "I do not know what you mean: explainyourself. " "Do not pretend ignorance, " replied Cassim, showing him thepiece of gold his wife had given him. "How many of these pieces, " addedhe, "have you? My wife found this at the bottom of the measure youborrowed yesterday. "

By this discourse, Ali Baba perceived that Cassim and his wife, throughhis own wife's folly, knew what they had so much reason to conceal; butwhat was done could not be recalled; therefore, without shewing theleast surprise or trouble, he confessed all, told his brother by whatchance he had discovered this retreat of the thieves, in what place itwas; and offered him part of his treasure to keep the secret. "I expectas much, " replied Cassim haughtily; "but I must know exactly where thistreasure is, and how I may visit it myself when I choose; otherwise Iwill go and inform against you, and then you will not only get no more, but will lose all you have, and I shall have a share for myinformation. "

Ali Baba, more out of his natural good temper, than frightened by themenaces of his unnatural brother, told him all he desired, and even thevery words he was to use to gain admission into the cave. 

Cassim, who wanted no more of Ali Baba, left him, resolving to bebeforehand with him, and hoping to get all the treasure to himself. Herose the next morning long before the sun, and set out for the forestwith ten mules bearing great chests, which he designed to fill; andfollowed the road which Ali Baba had pointed out to him. He was not longbefore he reached the rock, and found out the place by the tree, andother marks, which his brother had given him. When he reached theentrance of the cavern, he pronounced the words: "_Open, Sesame!_" andthe door immediately opened, and when he was in, closed upon him. Inexamining the cave, he was in great admiration to find much more richesthan he had apprehended from Ali Baba's account. He was so covetous, andgreedy of wealth, that he could have spent the whole day in feasting hiseyes with so much treasure, if the thought that he came to carry someaway had not hindered him. He laid as many bags of gold as he couldcarry at the door of the cavern, but his thoughts were so full of thegreat riches he should possess, that he could not think of the necessaryword to make it open, but instead of "_Sesame_, " said: "_Open, Barley!_"and was much amazed to find that the door remained fast shut. He namedseveral sorts of grain, but still the door would not open. Cassim hadnever expected such an incident, and was so alarmed at the danger he wasin, that the more he endeavoured to remember the word "_Sesame_, " themore his memory was confounded, and he had as much forgotten it as if hehad never heard it mentioned. He threw down the bags he had loadedhimself with and walked distractedly up and down the cave, withouthaving the least regard to the riches that were round him. About noonthe robbers chanced to visit their cave, and at some distance from itsaw Cassim's mules straggling about the rock, with great chests on theirbacks. Alarmed at this novelty, they galloped full speed to the cave. They drove away the mules, which Cassim had neglected to fasten, andthey strayed through the forest so far, that they were soon out ofsight. The robbers never gave themselves the trouble to pursue them, being more concerned to know to whom they belonged, and while some ofthem searched about the rock, the captain and the rest went directly tothe door, with their naked sabres in their hands, and pronouncing theproper words, it opened. 

Cassim, who heard the noise of the horses' feet from the middle of thecave, never doubted of the arrival of the robbers, and his approachingdeath; but was resolved to make one effort to escape from them. To thisend he rushed to the door, and no sooner heard the word _Sesame_, whichhe had forgotten, and saw the door open, than he ran out and threw theleader down, but could not escape the other robbers, who with theirsabres soon deprived him of life. The first care of the robbers afterthis was to examine the cave. They found all the bags which Cassim hadbrought to the door, to be ready to load his mules, and carried themagain to their places, without missing what Ali Baba had taken awaybefore. Then holding a council, and deliberating upon this occurrence, they guessed that Cassim, when he was in, could not get out again; butcould not imagine how he had entered. It came into their heads that hemight have got down by the top of the cave; but the aperture by which itreceived light was so high, and the rocks so inaccessible without, thatthey gave up this conjecture. That he came in at the door they could notbelieve, however, unless he had the secret of making it open. In short, none of them could imagine which way he had entered; for they were allpersuaded nobody knew their secret, little imagining that Ali Baba hadwatched them. It was a matter of the greatest importance to them tosecure their riches. They agreed therefore to cut Cassim's bodyinto quarters, to hang two on one side and two on the other, within thedoor of the cave, to terrify any person who should attempt again toenter. They had no sooner taken this resolution than they put it inexecution, and when they had nothing more to detain them, left the placeof their hoards well closed. They then mounted their horses, went tobeat the roads again, and to attack the caravans they might meet. 

[Illustration]

_Cassim . .. Was so alarmed at the danger he was in that the more heendeavoured to remember the word Sesame the more his memory wasconfounded. _

In the meantime, Cassim's wife was very uneasy when night came, and herhusband was not returned. She ran to Ali Baba in alarm, and said: "Ibelieve, brother-in-law, that you know Cassim, your brother, is gone tothe forest, and upon what account; it is now night, and he is notreturned; I am afraid some misfortune has happened to him. " Ali Baba, who had expected that his brother, after what he had said, would go tothe forest, had declined going himself that day, for fear of giving himany umbrage; therefore told her, without any reflection upon herhusband's unhandsome behaviour, that she need not frighten herself, forthat certainly Cassim would not think it proper to come into the towntill the night should be pretty far advanced. 

Cassim's wife, considering how much it concerned her husband to keep thebusiness secret, was the more easily persuaded to believe herbrother-in-law. She went home again, and waited patiently till midnight. She repented of her foolish curiosity, and cursed her desire ofpenetrating into the affairs of her brother and sister-in-law. She spentall the night in weeping; and as soon as it was day, went to them, telling them, by her tears, the cause of her coming. Ali Baba did notwait for his sister-in-law to desire him to go and see what was becomeof Cassim, but departed immediately with his three asses, begging of herfirst to moderate her affliction. He went to the forest, and when hecame near the rock, having seen neither his brother nor the mules in hisway, was seriously alarmed at finding some blood spilt near the door, which he took for an ill omen; but when he had pronounced the word, andthe door had opened, he was struck with horror at the dismal sight ofhis brother's body. Without adverting to the little fraternal affectionhis brother had shewn for him, Ali Baba went into the cave to findsomething to enshroud his remains, and having loaded one of his asseswith them, covered them over with wood. The other two asses he loadedwith bags of gold, covering them with wood also as before; and thenbidding the door shut, came away; but was so cautious as to stop sometime at the end of the forest, that he might not go into the town beforenight. When he came home, he drove the two asses loaded with gold intohis little yard, and left the care of unloading them to his wife, whilehe led the other to his sister-in-law's house. 

Ali Baba knocked at the door, which was opened by Morgiana, anintelligent slave, fruitful in inventions to insure success in the mostdifficult undertakings: and Ali Baba knew her to be such. When he cameinto the court, he unloaded the ass, and taking Morgiana aside, said toher: "The first thing I ask of you is an inviolable secrecy, both foryour mistress's sake and mine. Your master's body is contained in thesetwo bundles, and our business is, to bury him as if he had died anatural death. Go, tell your mistress I want to speak with her; and mindwhat I have said to you. "

Morgiana went to her mistress, and Ali Baba followed her. "Well, brother, " said she, with impatience, "what news do you bring me of myhusband? I perceive no comfort in your countenance. " "Sister, " answeredAli Baba, "I cannot satisfy your inquiries unless you hear my storywithout speaking a word; for it is of as great importance to you as tome to keep what has happened secret. " "Alas!" said she, "this preamblelets me know that my husband is not to be found; but at the same time Iknow the necessity of secrecy, and I must constrain myself: say on, Iwill hear you. "

Ali Baba then detailed the incidents of his journey, till he came to thefinding of Cassim's body. "Now, " said he, "sister, I have something torelate which will afflict you the more, because it is what you so littleexpect; but it cannot now be remedied; if my endeavours can comfort you, I offer to put that which God hath sent me to what you have, and marryyou: assuring you that my wife will not be jealous, and that we shalllive happily together. If this proposal is agreeable to you, we mustthink of acting so that my brother should appear to have died a naturaldeath. I think you may leave the management of the business to Morgiana, and I will contribute all that lies in my power to your consolation. "What could Cassim's widow do better than accept of this proposal? forthough her first husband had left behind him a plentiful substance, hisbrother was now much richer, and by the discovery of this treasure mightbe still more so. Instead, therefore, of rejecting the offer, sheregarded it as the sure means of comfort; and drying up her tears, whichhad begun to flow abundantly, and suppressing the outcries usual withwomen who have lost their husbands, showed Ali Baba that she approved ofhis proposal. Ali Baba left the widow, recommended to Morgiana to acther part well, and then returned home with his ass. 

Morgiana went out at the same time to an apothecary, and asked for asort of lozenges which he prepared, and were very efficacious in themost dangerous disorders. The apothecary inquired who was ill at hermaster's? She replied with a sigh, her good master Cassim himself: thatthey knew not what his disorder was, but that he could neither eat norspeak. After these words, Morgiana carried the lozenges home with her, and the next morning went to the same apothecary's again, and with tearsin her eyes, asked for an essence which they used to give to sick peopleonly when at the last extremity. "Alas!" said she, taking it from theapothecary, "I am afraid that this remedy will have no better effectthan the lozenges; and that I shall lose my good master. " On the otherhand, as Ali Baba and his wife were often seen to go between Cassim'sand their own house all that day, and to seem melancholy, nobody wassurprised in the evening to hear the lamentable shrieks and cries ofCassim's wife and Morgiana, who gave out everywhere that her master wasdead. The next morning, soon after day appeared, Morgiana, who knew acertain old cobbler that opened his stall early, before other people, went to him, and bidding him good morrow, put a piece of gold into hishand. "Well, " said Baba Mustapha, which was his name, and who was amerry old fellow, looking at the gold, "this is good hansel: what must Ido for it? I am ready. "

"Baba Mustapha, " said Morgiana, "you must take with you your sewingtackle, and go with me; but I must tell you, I shall blindfold you whenyou come to such a place. " Baba Mustapha seemed to hesitate a little atthese words. "Oh! oh!" replied he, "you would have me do somethingagainst my conscience or against my honour?" "God forbid!" saidMorgiana, putting another piece of gold into his hand, "that I shouldask anything that is contrary to your honour; only come along with me, and fear nothing. "

Baba Mustapha went with Morgiana, who, after she had bound his eyes witha handkerchief, conveyed him to her deceased master's house, and neverunloosed his eyes till he had entered the room where she had put thecorpse together. "Baba Mustapha, " said she, "you must make haste and sewthese quarters together; and when you have done, I will give you anotherpiece of gold. " After Baba Mustapha had finished his task, sheblindfolded him again, gave him the third piece of gold as she hadpromised, and recommending secrecy to him, carried him back to the placewhere she first bound his eyes, pulled off the bandage, and let him gohome, but watched him that he returned toward his stall, till he wasquite out of sight, for fear he should have the curiosity to return andtrack her. 

By the time Morgiana had warmed some water to wash the body, Ali Babacame with incense to embalm it, after which it was sewn up in awinding-sheet. Not long after, the joiner, according to Ali Baba'sorders, brought the bier, which Morgiana received at the door, andhelped Ali Baba to put the body into it; when she went to the mosque toinform the imaum that they were ready. The people of the mosque, whosebusiness it was to wash the dead, offered to perform their duty, but shetold them that it was done already. Morgiana had scarcely got homebefore the imaum and the other ministers of the mosque arrived. Fourneighbours carried the corpse on their shoulders to the burying-ground, following the imaum, who recited some prayers. Morgiana, as a slave tothe deceased, followed the corpse, weeping, beating her breast, andtearing her hair; and Ali Baba came after with some neighbours, whooften relieved the others in carrying the corpse to the burying-ground. Cassim's wife stayed at home mourning, uttering lamentable cries withthe women of the neighbourhood, who came according to custom during thefuneral, and joining their lamentations with hers, filled the quarterfar and near with sorrow. In this manner Cassim's melancholy death wasconcealed and hushed up between Ali Baba, his wife, Cassim's widow, andMorgiana, with so much contrivance, that nobody in the city had theleast knowledge or suspicion of the cause of it. 

Three or four days after the funeral, Ali Baba removed his few goodsopenly to the widow's house; but the money he had taken from the robbershe conveyed thither by night: soon after the marriage with hissister-in-law was published, and as these marriages are common in theMussulman religion, nobody was surprised. As for Cassim's warehouse, AliBaba gave it to his own eldest son, promising that if he managed itwell, he would soon give him a fortune to marry very advantageouslyaccording to his situation. 

Let us now leave Ali Baba to enjoy the beginning of his good fortune, and return to the forty robbers. They came again at the appointed timeto visit their retreat in the forest; but great was their surprise tofind Cassim's body taken away, with some of their bags of gold. "We arecertainly discovered, " said the captain, "and if we do not speedilyapply some remedy, shall gradually lose all the riches which we have, with so much pains and danger, been so many years amassing together. Allthat we can think of the loss which we have sustained is, that the thiefwhom we surprised had the secret of opening the door, and we arrivedluckily as he was coming out: but his body being removed, and with itsome of our money, plainly shows that he had an accomplice; and as it islikely that there were but two who had discovered our secret, and onehas been caught, we must look narrowly after the other. What say you, mylads?" All the robbers thought the captain's proposal so advisable, thatthey unanimously approved of it, and agreed that they must lay all otherenterprises aside, to follow this closely, and not give it up till theyhad succeeded. 

"I expected no less, " said the captain, "from your fidelity: but, firstof all, one of you who is artful, and enterprising, must go into thetown disguised as a traveller, to try if he can hear any talk of thestrange death of the man whom we have killed, as he deserved; andendeavour to find out who he was, and where he lived. This is a matterof the first importance for us to ascertain, that we may do nothingwhich we may have reason to repent of, by discovering ourselves in acountry where we have lived so long unknown. But to warn him who shalltake upon himself this commission, and to prevent our being deceived byhis giving us a false report, I ask you all, if you do not think that incase of treachery, or even error of judgment, he should suffer death?"Without waiting for the suffrages of his companions, one of the robbersstarted up, and said: "I submit to this condition, and think it anhonour to expose my life, by taking the commission upon me; butremember, at least, if I do not succeed, that I neither wanted couragenor good will to serve the troop. " After this robber had received greatcommendations from the captain, he disguised himself, and taking hisleave of the troop that night, went into the town just at daybreak; andwalked up and down, till accidentally he came to Baba Mustapha's stall, which was always open before any of the shops. 

Baba Mustapha was seated with an awl in his hand, just going to work. The robber saluted him, bidding him good morrow; and perceiving that hewas old, said: "Honest man, you begin to work very early: is it possiblethat one of your age can see so well? I question, even if it weresomewhat lighter, whether you could see to stitch. "

"Certainly, " replied Baba Mustapha, "you must be a stranger, and do notknow me; for old as I am, I have extraordinarily good eyes; and you willnot doubt it when I tell you that I sewed a dead body together in aplace where I had not so much light as I have now. " The robber wasoverjoyed to think that he had addressed himself, at his first cominginto the town, to a man who in all probability could give him theintelligence he wanted. "A dead body!" replied he with affectedamazement. "What could you sew up a dead body for? You mean you sewed uphis winding-sheet. " "No, no, " answered Baba Mustapha, "I perceive yourmeaning; you want to have me speak out, but you shall know no more. " Therobber wanted no farther assurance to be persuaded that he haddiscovered what he sought. He pulled out a piece of gold, and putting itinto Baba Mustapha's hand, said to him: "I do not want to learn yoursecret, though I can assure you I would not divulge it, if you trustedme with it; the only thing which I desire of you is, to do me the favourto shew me the house where you stitched up the dead body. "

"If I were disposed to do you that favour, " replied Baba Mustapha, holding the money in his hand, ready to return it, "I assure you Icannot. I was taken to a certain place, where I was blinded, I was thenled to the house, and afterward brought back again in the same manner;you see, therefore, the impossibility of my doing what you desire. "

"Well, " replied the robber, "you may, however, remember a little of theway that you were led blindfolded. Come, let me blind your eyes at thesame place. We will walk together; perhaps you may recognise some part;and as everybody ought to be paid for his trouble, there is anotherpiece of gold for you; gratify me in what I ask you. " So saying, he putanother piece of gold into his hand. 

The two pieces of gold were great temptations to Baba Mustapha. Helooked at them a long time in his hand, without saying a word, thinkingwith himself what he should do; but at last he pulled out his purse, and put them in. "I cannot assure you, " said he to the robber, "that Ican remember the way exactly; but since you desire, I will try what Ican do. " At these words Baba Mustapha rose up, to the great joy of therobber, and without shutting his shop, where he had nothing valuable tolose, he led the robber to the place where Morgiana had bound his eyes. "It was here, " said Baba Mustapha, "I was blindfolded; and I turned asyou see me. " The robber, who had his handkerchief ready, tied it overhis eyes, walked by him till he stopped, partly leading, and partlyguided by him. "I think, " said Baba Mustapha, "I went no farther, " andhe had now stopped directly at Cassim's house, where Ali Baba thenlived. The thief, before he pulled off the band, marked the door with apiece of chalk, which he had ready in his hand; and then asked him if heknew whose house that was; to which Baba Mustapha replied, that as hedid not live in that neighbourhood he could not tell. The robber, finding he could discover no more from Baba Mustapha, thanked him forthe trouble he had taken, and left him to go back to his stall, while hereturned to the forest, persuaded that he should be very well received. A little after the robber and Baba Mustapha had parted, Morgiana wentout of Ali Baba's house upon some errand, and upon her return, seeingthe mark the robber had made, stopped to observe it. "What can be themeaning of this mark?" said she to herself. "Somebody intends my masterno good: however, with whatever intention it was done, it is advisableto guard against the worst. " Accordingly, she fetched a piece of chalk, and marked two or three doors on each side in the same manner, withoutsaying a word to her master or mistress. 

In the meantime the thief rejoined his troop in the forest, andrecounted to them his success. All the robbers listened to him with theutmost satisfaction; when the captain, after commending his diligence, addressing himself to them all, said: "Comrades, we have no time tolose: let us set off well armed; but that we may not excite anysuspicion, let only one or two go into the town together, and join atour rendezvous, which shall be the great square. In the meantime, ourcomrade who brought us the good news, and I, will go and find out thehouse, that we may consult what had best be done. "

This plan was approved of by all, and they were soon ready. They filedoff in parties of two each, and got into the town without being in theleast suspected. The captain, and he who had visited the town in themorning as spy, came in the last. He led the captain into the streetwhere he had marked Ali Baba's residence; and when they came to thefirst of the houses which Morgiana had marked, he pointed it out. Butthe captain observed that the next door was chalked in the same manner:and shewing it to his guide, asked him which house it was, that, or thefirst? The guide was so confounded, that he knew not what answer tomake; but still more puzzled, when he saw five or six houses similarlymarked. He assured the captain, with an oath, that he had marked butone, and could not tell who had chalked the rest so that he could notdistinguish the house which the cobbler had stopped at. 

The captain, finding that their design had proved abortive, wentdirectly to the place of rendezvous, and told the first of his troopwhom he met that they had lost their labour, and must return to theircave. When the troop was all got together, the captain told them thereason of their returning; and presently the conductor was declared byall worthy of death. He condemned himself, acknowledging that he oughtto have taken better precaution, and prepared to receive the stroke fromhim who was appointed to cut off his head. Another of the gang, whopromised himself that he should succeed better, immediately presentedhimself, and his offer being accepted, he went and corrupted BabaMustapha, as the other had done; and being shewn the house, marked it ina place more remote from sight, with red chalk. 

Not long after, Morgiana, whose eyes nothing could escape, went out, andseeing the red chalk, and arguing with herself as she had done before, marked the other neighbours' houses in the same place and manner. Therobber, at his return to his company, valued himself much on theprecaution he had taken, which he looked upon as an infallible way ofdistinguishing Ali Baba's house from the others; and the captain and allof them thought it must succeed. They conveyed themselves into the townwith the same precaution as before; but when the robber and his captaincame to the street, they found the same difficulty: at which the captainwas enraged, and the robber in as great confusion as his predecessor. Thus the captain and his troop were forced to retire a second time, andmuch more dissatisfied; while the unfortunate robber, who had been theauthor of the mistake, underwent the same punishment; which he willinglysubmitted to. 

The captain, having lost two brave fellows of his troop, was afraid ofdiminishing it too much by pursuing this plan to get information of theresidence of their plunderer. He found by their example that their headswere not so good as their hands on such occasions; and thereforeresolved to take upon himself the important commission. Accordingly, hewent and addressed himself to Baba Mustapha, who did him the sameservice he had done to the other robbers. He did not set any particularmark on the house, but examined and observed it so carefully, bypassing often by it, that it was impossible for him to mistake it. 

The captain, well satisfied with his attempt, and informed of what hewanted to know, returned to the forest; and when he came into the cave, where the troop waited for him, said: "Now, comrades, nothing canprevent our full revenge, as I am certain of the house, and in my wayhither I have thought how to put it into execution, but if any one canform a better expedient, let him communicate it. " He then told them hiscontrivance; and as they approved of it, ordered them to go into thevillages about, and buy nineteen mules, with thirty-eight large leatherjars, one full of oil, and the others empty. In two or three days' timethe robbers had purchased the mules and jars, and as the mouths of thejars were rather too narrow for his purpose, the captain caused them tobe widened; and after having put one of his men into each, with theweapons which he thought fit, leaving open the seam which had beenundone to leave them room to breathe, he rubbed the jars on the outsidewith oil from the full vessel. Things being thus prepared, when thenineteen mules were loaded with thirty-seven robbers in jars, and thejar of oil, the captain, as their driver, set out with them, and reachedthe town by the dusk of the evening, as he had intended. He led themthrough the streets till he came to Ali Baba's, at whose door hedesigned to have knocked; but was prevented by his sitting there aftersupper to take a little fresh air. He stopped his mules, addressedhimself to him, and said: "I have brought some oil a great way, to sellat to-morrow's market; and it is now so late that I do not know where tolodge. If I should not be troublesome to you, do me the favour to let mepass the night with you, and I shall be very much obliged by yourhospitality. "

Though Ali Baba had seen the captain of the robbers in the forest, andhad heard him speak, it was hardly possible to know him in the disguiseof an oil-merchant. He told him he should be welcome, and immediatelyopened his gates for the mules to go into the yard. At the same time hecalled to a slave, and ordered him, when the mules were unloaded, to putthem into the stable, and give them fodder; and then went to Morgiana, to bid her get a good supper. He did more. When he saw the captain hadunloaded his mules, and that they were put into the stables as he hadordered, and he was looking for a place to pass the night in the air, hebrought him into the hall where he received his company, telling him hewould not suffer him to be in the court. The captain excused himself onpretence of not being troublesome; but really to have room to executehis design, and it was not till after the most pressing importunity thathe yielded. Ali Baba, not content to keep company, till supper wasready, with the man who had a design on his life, continued talking withhim till it was ended, and repeating his offer of service. The captainrose up at the same time with his host; and while Ali Baba went to speakto Morgiana he withdrew into the yard, under pretence of looking at hismules. Ali Baba, after charging Morgiana afresh to take care of hisguest, said to her: "To-morrow morning I design to go to the bath beforeday; take care my bathing linens be ready, give them to Abdoollah, "which was the slave's name, "and make me some good broth against Ireturn. " After this he went to bed. 

In the meantime, the captain went from the stable to give his peopleorders what to do; and beginning at the first jar, and so on to thelast, said to each man: "As soon as I throw some stones out of thechamber window where I lie, do not fail to cut the jar open with theknife you have about you for the purpose, and come out, and I willimmediately join you. " After this he returned into the house, whenMorgiana, taking up a light, conducted him to his chamber, where sheleft him; and he, to avoid any suspicion, put the light out soon after, and laid himself down in his clothes, that he might be the more ready torise. 

Morgiana, remembering Ali Baba's orders, got his bathing linens ready, and ordered Abdoollah to set on the pot for the broth; but while she waspreparing it, the lamp went out, and there was no more oil in the house, nor any candles. What to do she did not know, for the broth must bemade. Abdoollah seeing her very uneasy, said: "Do not fret and teaseyourself, but go into the yard, and take some oil out of one of thejars. " Morgiana thanked Abdoollah for his advice, took the oil-pot, andwent into the yard; when as she came nigh the first jar, the robberwithin said softly: "Is it time?" Though the robber spoke low, Morgianawas struck with the voice the more, because the captain, when heunloaded the mules, had taken the lids off this and all the other jarsto give air to his men, who were ill enough at their ease, almostwanting room to breathe. As much surprised as Morgiana naturally was atfinding a man in a jar, instead of the oil she wanted, many would havemade such an outcry as to have given an alarm; whereas Morgianacomprehending immediately the importance of keeping silence, and thenecessity of applying a speedy remedy without noise, conceived at oncethe means, and collecting herself without shewing the least emotion, answered: "Not yet, but presently. " She went in this manner to all thejars, giving the same answer, till she came to the jar of oil. 

By this means, Morgiana found that her master Ali Baba, who thought thathe had entertained an oil merchant, had admitted thirty-eight robbersinto his house, regarding this pretended merchant as their captain. Shemade what haste she could to fill her oil-pot, and returned into herkitchen; where, as soon as she had lighted her lamp, she took a greatkettle, went again to the oil-jar, filled the kettle, set it on a largewood-fire, and as soon as it boiled went and poured enough into everyjar to stifle and destroy the robber within. 

When this action, worthy of the courage of Morgiana, was executedwithout any noise, she returned into the kitchen with the empty kettle;and having put out the great fire she had made to boil the oil, andleaving just enough to make the broth, put out the lamp also, andremained silent; resolving not to go to rest till she had observed whatmight follow through a window of the kitchen, which opened into theyard. 

She had not waited long before the captain of the robbers got up, openedthe window, and finding no light, and hearing no noise, or any onestirring in the house, gave the appointed signal, by throwing littlestones, several of which hit the jars, as he doubted not by the soundthey gave. He then listened, but not hearing or perceiving anythingwhereby he could judge that his companions stirred, he began to growvery uneasy, threw stones again a second and also a third time, andcould not comprehend the reason that none of them should answer hissignal. Much alarmed, he went softly down into the yard, and going tothe first jar, whilst asking the robber, whom he thought alive, if hewas in readiness, smelt the hot boiled oil, which sent forth a steam outof the jar. Hence he suspected that his plot to murder Ali Baba andplunder his house was discovered. Examining all the jars one afteranother, he found that all the members of his gang were dead; and by theoil he missed out of the last jar guessed the means and manner of theirdeath. Enraged to despair at having failed in his design, he forced thelock of a door that led from the yard to the garden, and climbing overthe walls, made his escape. 

When Morgiana heard no noise, and found, after waiting some time, thatthe captain did not return, she concluded that he had chosen rather tomake his escape by the garden than the street door, which wasdouble-locked. Satisfied and pleased to have succeeded so well, insaving her master and family, she went to bed. 

Ali Baba rose before day, and, followed by his slave, went to the baths, entirely ignorant of the important event which had happened at home; forMorgiana had not thought it safe to wake him before, for fear of losingher opportunity; and after her successful exploit she thought itneedless to disturb him. 

When he returned from the baths, the sun was risen; he was very muchsurprised to see the oil jars and that the merchant was not gone withthe mules. He asked Morgiana, who opened the door, and had let allthings stand as they were, that he might see them, the reason of it. "Mygood master, " answered she, "God preserve you and all your family; youwill be better informed of what you wish to know when you have seen whatI have to show you, if you will but give yourself the trouble to followme. "

As soon as Morgiana had shut the door, Ali Baba followed her; when sherequested him to look into the first jar and see if there was any oil. Ali Baba did so, and seeing a man, started back in alarm, and cried out. "Do not be afraid, " said Morgiana; "the man you see there can neither doyou nor anybody else any harm. He is dead. " "Ah, Morgiana!" said AliBaba, "what is it you show me? Explain yourself. " "I will, " repliedMorgiana; "moderate your astonishment, and do not excite the curiosityof your neighbours. Look into all the other jars. "

Ali Baba examined all the other jars, and when he came to that which hadthe oil in, found it prodigiously sunk, and stood for some timemotionless, sometimes looking at the jars, and sometimes at Morgiana, without saying a word, so great was his surprise: at last, when he hadrecovered himself, he said: "And what is become of the merchant?"

"Merchant!" answered she, "he is as much one as I am; I will tell youwho he is, and what is become of him: but you had better hear the storyin your own chamber; for it is time for your health that you had yourbroth after your bathing. "

While Ali Baba retired to his chamber, Morgiana went into the kitchen tofetch the broth, but before he would drink it, he first entreated her tosatisfy his impatience, and tell him what had happened, with all thecircumstances; and she obeyed him. 

"This, " she said, when she had completed her story, "is the account youasked of me; and I am convinced it is the consequence of what I observedsome days ago, but did not think fit to acquaint you with; for when Icame in one morning early I found our street door marked with whitechalk, and the next morning with red; upon which, both times withoutknowing what was the intention of those chalks, I marked two or threeneighbours' doors on each side in the same manner. If you reflect onthis, and what has since happened, you will find it to be a plot of therobbers of the forest, of whose gang there are two wanting, and now theyare reduced to three: all this shows that they had sworn yourdestruction, and it is proper you should be upon your guard, while thereis one of them alive: for my part, I shall neglect nothing necessary toyour preservation, as I am in duty bound. "

When Morgiana had left off speaking, Ali Baba was so sensible of thegreat service she had done him, that he said to her: "I will not diewithout rewarding you as you deserve; I owe my life to you, and for thefirst token of my acknowledgment, give you your liberty from thismoment, till I can complete your recompense as I intend. I am persuadedwith you, that the forty robbers have laid snares for my destruction. God, by your means, has delivered me from them as yet, and I hope willcontinue to preserve me from their wicked designs, and deliver the worldfrom their persecution. All that we have to do is to bury the bodies ofthese pests of mankind immediately, and with all the secrecy imaginable, that nobody may suspect what is become of them. But that labourAbdoollah and I will undertake. "

Ali Baba's garden was very long, and shaded at the farther end by agreat number of large trees. Under these he and the slave dug a trench, long and wide enough to hold all the robbers. Afterward they lifted thebodies out of the jars, took away their weapons, carried them to the endof the garden, laid them in the trench, and levelled the ground again. When this was done, Ali Baba hid the jars and weapons; and as he had nooccasion for the mules, he sent them at different times to be sold inthe market by his slave. 

While Ali Baba took these measures to prevent the public from knowinghow he came by his riches in so short a time, the captain of the fortyrobbers returned to the forest with inconceivable mortification; and inhis confusion at his ill success, so contrary to what he had promisedhimself, entered the cave, not being able, all the way from the town, tocome to any resolution how to revenge himself of Ali Baba. 

The loneliness of the gloomy cavern became frightful to him. "Where areyou, my brave lads, " cried he, "old companions of my watchings, inroads, and labour? What can I do without you? Did I collect you only to loseyou by so base a fate, and so unworthy of your courage! Had you diedwith your sabres in your hands, like brave men, my regret had been less!When shall I enlist so gallant a troop again? And if I could, can Iundertake it without exposing so much gold and treasure to him who hathalready enriched himself out of it? I cannot, I ought not to think ofit, before I have taken away his life. I will undertake that alone, which I could not accomplish with your powerful assistance; and when Ihave taken measures to secure this treasure from being pillaged, I willprovide for it new masters and successors after me, who shall preserveand augment it to all posterity. " This resolution being taken, he wasnot at a loss how to execute his purpose; but full of hopes, slept allthat night very quietly. 

When he awoke early next morning, he dressed himself, agreeably to theproject he had formed, went to the town, and took a lodging in a khan. As he expected what had happened at Ali Baba's might make a great noise, he asked his host what news there was in the city? Upon which theinnkeeper told him a great many circumstances, which did not concern himin the least. He judged by this, that the reason why Ali Baba kept hisaffairs so secret, was for fear people should know where the treasurelay; and because he knew his life would be sought on account of it. Thisurged him the more to neglect nothing to rid himself of so cautious anenemy. 

The captain now assumed the character of a merchant, and conveyedgradually a great many sorts of rich stuffs and fine linen to hislodging from the cavern, but with all the necessary precautionsimaginable to conceal the place whence he brought them. In order todispose of the merchandise, when he had amassed them together, he took awarehouse, which happened to be opposite to Cassim's, which Ali Baba'sson had occupied since the death of his uncle. 

He took the name of Khaujeh Houssain, and as a newcomer, was, accordingto custom, extremely civil and complaisant to all the merchants hisneighbours. Ali Baba's son was from his vicinity one of the first toconverse with Khaujeh Houssain, who strove to cultivate his friendshipmore particularly when, two or three days after he was settled, herecognised Ali Baba, who came to see his son, and stopped to talk withhim as he was accustomed to do. When he was gone, the impostor learntfrom his son who he was. He increased his assiduities, caressed him inthe most engaging manner, made him some small presents, and often askedhim to dine and sup with him. 

Ali Baba's son did not choose to lie under such obligation to KhaujehHoussain, without making the like return; but was so much straitened forwant of room in his house, that he could not entertain him so well as hewished; he therefore acquainted his father Ali Baba with his intention, and told him that it did not look well for him to receive such favoursfrom Khaujeh Houssain without inviting him in return. 

Ali Baba, with great pleasure, took the treat upon himself. "Son, " saidhe, "to-morrow being Friday, which is a day that the shops of such greatmerchants as Khaujeh Houssain and yourself are shut, get him to take awalk with you, and as you come back, pass by my door and call in. Itwill look better to have it happen accidentally, than if you gave him aformal invitation. I will go and order Morgiana to provide a supper. "

The next day Ali Baba's son and Khaujeh Houssain met by appointment, took their walk, and as they returned, Ali Baba's son led KhaujehHoussain through the street where his father lived; and when they cameto the house, stopped and knocked at the door. "This, sir, " said he, "ismy father's house; who, from the account I have given him of yourfriendship, charged me to procure him the honour of your acquaintance. "

Though it was the sole aim of Khaujeh Houssain to introduce himself intoAli Baba's house, that he might kill him without hazarding his own lifeor making any noise; yet he excused himself, and offered to take hisleave. But a slave having opened the door, Ali Baba's son took himobligingly by the hand, and in a manner forced him in. 

Ali Baba received Khaujeh Houssain with a smiling countenance, and inthe most obliging manner. He thanked him for all the favours he had donehis son; adding withal, the obligation was the greater, as he was ayoung man not much acquainted with the world. 

Khaujeh Houssain returned the compliment, by assuring Ali Baba, thatthough his son might not have acquired the experience of older men, hehad good sense equal to the knowledge of many others. After a littlemore conversation on different subjects, he offered again to take hisleave; when Ali Baba, stopping him, said: "Where are you going, sir, inso much haste? I beg you would do me the honour to sup with me, thoughwhat I have to give you is not worth your acceptance; but such as it is, I hope you will accept it as heartily as I give it. " "Sir, " repliedKhaujeh Houssain, "I am thoroughly persuaded of your good will; and if Iask the favour of you not to take it ill that I do not accept yourobliging invitation, I beg of you to believe that it does not proceedfrom any slight or intention to affront, but from a reason which youwould approve if you knew it. 

"And what may that reason be, sir, " replied Ali Baba, "if I may be sobold as to ask you?" "It is, " answered Khaujeh Houssain, "that I can eatno victuals that have any salt in them; therefore judge how I shouldfeel at your table. " "If that is the only reason, " said Ali Baba, "itought not to deprive me of the honour of your company at supper; for, inthe first place, there is no salt ever put into my bread, and as to themeat we shall have to-night, I promise you there shall be none in that. Therefore you must do me the favour to stay. I will return immediately. "

Ali Baba went into the kitchen, and ordered Morgiana to put no salt tothe meat that was to be dressed that night; and to make quickly two orthree ragouts besides what he had ordered, but be sure to put no salt inthem. 

Morgiana, who was always ready to obey her master, could not helpseeming somewhat dissatisfied at his strange order. "Who is thisdifficult man, " said she, "who eats no salt with his meat? Your supperwill be spoiled, if I keep it back so long. " "Do not be angry, Morgiana, " replied Ali Baba; "he is an honest man; therefore do as I bidyou. "

Morgiana obeyed, though with no little reluctance, and had a curiosityto see this man who ate no salt. To this end, when she had finished whatshe had to do in the kitchen, she helped Abdoollah to carry up thedishes; and looking at Khaujeh Houssain, knew him at first sight, notwithstanding his disguise, to be the captain of the robbers, andexamining him very carefully, perceived that he had a dagger under hisgarment. "I am not in the least amazed, " said she to herself, "that thiswicked wretch, who is my master's greatest enemy, would eat no salt withhim, since he intends to assassinate him; but I will prevent him. "

Morgiana, while they were eating, made the necessary preparations forexecuting one of the boldest acts ever meditated, and had justdetermined, when Abdoollah came for the dessert of fruit, which shecarried up, and as soon as he had taken the meat away, set upon thetable; after that, she placed three glasses by Ali Baba, and going out, took Abdoollah with her to sup, and to give Ali Baba the more liberty ofconversation with his guest. 

Khaujeh Houssain, or rather the captain of the robbers, thought he hadnow a favourable opportunity of being revenged on Ali Baba. "I will, "said he to himself, "make the father and son both drunk: the son, whoselife I intend to spare, will not be able to prevent my stabbing hisfather to the heart; and while the slaves are at supper, or asleep inthe kitchen, I can make my escape over the gardens as before. "

Instead of going to supper, Morgiana, who had penetrated the intentionsof the counterfeit Khaujeh Houssain, would not give him time to put hisvillainous design into execution, but dressed herself neatly with asuitable head-dress like a dancer, girded her waist with a silver-giltgirdle, to which there hung a poniard with a hilt and guard of the samemetal, and put a handsome mask on her face. When she had thus disguisedherself, she said to Abdoollah: "Take your tabor, and let us go anddivert our master and his son's guest, as we do sometimes when he isalone. "

Abdoollah took his tabor and played all the way into the hall beforeMorgiana, who when she came to the door made a low obeisance, with adeliberate air, in order to draw attention, and by way of asking leaveto exhibit her skill. Abdoollah, seeing that his master had a mind tosay something, left off playing. "Come in, Morgiana, " said Ali Baba, "and let Khaujeh Houssain see what you can do, that he may tell us whathe thinks of you. But, sir, " said he, turning toward his guest, "do notthink that I put myself to any expense to give you this diversion, sincethese are my slave and my cook and housekeeper; and I hope you will notfind the entertainment they give us disagreeable. "

Khaujeh Houssain, who did not expect this diversion after supper, beganto fear he should not be able to improve the opportunity he thought hehad found: but hoped, if he now missed his aim, to secure it anothertime, by keeping up a friendly correspondence with the father and son;therefore, though he could have wished Ali Baba would have declined thedance, he had the complaisance to express his satisfaction at what hesaw pleased his host. 

As soon as Abdoollah saw that Ali Baba and Khaujeh Houssain had donetalking, he began to play on the tabor, and accompanied it with an air;to which Morgiana, who was an excellent performer, danced in such amanner as would have created admiration in any other company besidesthat before which she now exhibited, among whom, perhaps, none but thefalse Khaujeh Houssain was in the least attentive to her, the resthaving seen her so frequently. 

After she had danced several dances with equal propriety and grace, shedrew the poniard, and holding it in her hand, began a dance, in whichshe outdid herself, by the many different figures, light movements, andthe surprising leaps and wonderful exertions with which she accompaniedit. Sometimes she presented the poniard to one person's breast, sometimes to another's, and oftentimes seemed to strike her own. Atlast, as if she was out of breath, she snatched the tabor from Abdoollahwith her left hand, and holding the dagger in her right, presented theother side of the tabor, after the manner of those who get a livelihoodby dancing, and solicit the liberality of the spectators. 

Ali Baba put a piece of gold into the tabor, as did also his son: andKhaujeh Houssain, seeing that she was coming to him, had pulled hispurse out of his bosom to make her a present; but while he was puttinghis hand into it, Morgiana, with a courage and resolution worthy ofherself, plunged the poniard into his heart. Ali Baba and his son, shocked at this action, cried out aloud. "Unhappy wretch!" exclaimed AliBaba, "what have you done to ruin me and my family?" "It was topreserve, not to ruin you, " answered Morgiana; "for see here, " continuedshe (opening the pretended Khaujeh Houssain's garment, and showing thedagger), "what an enemy you had entertained! Look well at him, and youwill find him to be both the fictitious oil-merchant, and the captain ofthe gang of forty robbers. Remember, too, that he would eat no salt withyou; and what would you have more to persuade you of his wicked design?Before I saw him, I suspected him as soon as you told me you had such aguest. I knew him, and you now find that my suspicion was notgroundless. "

Ali Baba, who immediately felt the new obligation he had to Morgiana forsaving his life a second time, embraced her: "Morgiana, " said he, "Igave you your liberty, and then promised you that my gratitude shouldnot stop there, but that I would soon give you higher proofs of itssincerity, which I now do by making you my daughter-in-law. " Thenaddressing himself to his son, he said: "I believe you, son, to be sodutiful a child, that you will not refuse Morgiana for your wife. Yousee that Khaujeh Houssain sought your friendship with a treacherousdesign to take away my life; and, if he had succeeded, there is no doubtbut he would have sacrificed you also to his revenge. Consider, that bymarrying Morgiana you marry the preserver of my family and your own. "

The son, far from showing any dislike, readily consented to themarriage; not only because he would not disobey his father, but alsobecause it was agreeable to his inclination. 

After this, they thought of burying the captain of the robbers with hiscomrades, and did it so privately that nobody discovered their bonestill many years after, when no one had any concern in the publication ofthis remarkable history. 

A few days afterward, Ali Baba celebrated the nuptials of his son andMorgiana with great solemnity, a sumptuous feast, and the usual dancingand spectacles; and had the satisfaction to see that his friends andneighbours, whom he invited, had no knowledge of the true motives of themarriage; but that those who were not unacquainted with Morgiana's goodqualities commended his generosity and goodness of heart. 

Ali Baba forbore, after this marriage, from going again to the robbers'cave, as he had done, for fear of being surprised, from the time he hadbrought away his brother Cassim's mangled remains. He had kept awayafter the death of the thirty-seven robbers and their captain, supposingthe other two, whom he could get no account of, might be alive. 

At the year's end, when he found that they had not made any attempt todisturb him, he had the curiosity to make another journey, taking thenecessary precautions for his safety. He mounted his horse, and when hecame to the cave, and saw no footsteps of men or beasts, looked upon itas a good sign. He alighted, tied his horse to a tree, then approachingthe entrance and pronouncing the words, _Open, Sesame!_ the door opened. He entered the cavern, and by the condition he found things in, judgedthat nobody had been there since the false Khaujeh Houssain, when he hadfetched the goods for his shop; that the gang of forty robbers wascompletely destroyed, and no longer doubted that he was the only personin the world who had the secret of opening the cave, so that all thetreasure was at his sole disposal. Having brought with him a wallet, heput into it as much gold as his horse would carry, and returned to town. 

Afterward Ali Baba carried his son to the cave, and taught him thesecret, which they handed down to their posterity, who, using their goodfortune with moderation, lived in great honour and splendour. 

THE HISTORY OF CODADAD AND HIS BROTHERS

There formerly reigned in the city of Harran a most magnificent andpotent sultan, who loved his subjects, and was equally beloved by them. He was endued with all virtues, and wanted nothing to complete hishappiness but an heir. He continually prayed to Heaven for a child; andone night in his sleep, a prophet appeared to him and said: "Yourprayers are heard; you have obtained what you have desired; rise as soonas you awake, go to your prayers, and make two genuflexions; then walkinto the garden of your palace, call your gardener, and bid him bringyou a pomegranate; eat as many of the seeds as you please, and yourwishes shall be accomplished. "

The sultan calling to mind his dream when he awoke, returned thanks toHeaven, got up, prayed, made two genuflexions, and then went into hisgarden, where he took fifty pomegranate seeds, which he counted, andate. Some time afterward forty-nine of his wives presented him withsons, each one as vigorous as a young palm-tree, but Pirouzè, thefiftieth wife, remained childless. The sultan, therefore, took anaversion to this lady and would have had her put to death had not hisvizier prevented him, advising rather that she be sent to Samaria, toher brother, Sultan Samer, with orders that she be well treated. 

Not long after Pirouzè had been retired to her brother's country, a mostbeautiful prince was born to her. The prince of Samaria wroteimmediately to the sultan of Harran, to acquaint him with the birth of ason, and to congratulate him on the occasion. The sultan was muchrejoiced at this intelligence, and answered Prince Samer as follows:"Cousin, all my other wives have each presented me with a prince. Idesire you to educate the child of Pirouzè, to give him the name ofCodadad, and to send him to me when I may apply for him. "

The prince of Samaria spared nothing that might improve the education ofhis nephew. He taught him to ride, draw the bow, and all otheraccomplishments becoming the son of a sovereign; so that Codadad, ateighteen years of age, was looked upon as a prodigy. The young prince, being inspired with a courage worthy his birth, said one day to hismother: "Madam, I begin to grow weary of Samaria; I feel a passion forglory; give me leave to seek it amidst the perils of war. My father thesultan of Harran has many enemies. Why does he not call me to hisassistance? Must I spend my life in sloth, when all my brothers have thehappiness to be fighting by his side?" "My son, " answered Pirouzè, "I amno less impatient to have your name become famous; I could wish you hadalready signalised yourself against your father's enemies; but we mustwait till he requires it. " "No, madam, " replied Codadad, "I have alreadywaited too long. I burn to see the sultan, and am tempted to offer himmy service, as a young stranger: no doubt but he will accept of it, andI will not discover myself till I have performed some glorious actions. "Pirouzè approved of his generous resolutions, and Codadad departed fromSamaria, as if he had been going to the chase, without acquaintingPrince Samer, lest he should thwart his design. 

He was mounted on a white charger, who had a bit and shoes of gold, hishousing was of blue satin embroidered with pearls; the hilt of hiscimeter was of one single diamond, and the scabbard of sandalwood, adorned with emeralds and rubies, and on his shoulder he carried his bowand quiver. In this equipage, which greatly set off his handsomeperson, he arrived at the city of Harran, and soon found means to offerhis service to the sultan; who being charmed with his beauty, andperhaps indeed by natural sympathy, gave him a favourable reception, andasked his name and quality. "Sir, " answered Codadad, "I am son to anemir of Grand Cairo; an inclination to travel has made me quit mycountry, and understanding that you were engaged in war, I am come toyour court to offer your majesty my service. " The sultan, upon hearingthis, shewed him extraordinary kindness, and gave him a command in hisarmy. 

The young prince soon gained the esteem of the officers, and was admiredby the soldiers. Having no less wit than courage, he so far advancedhimself in the sultan's esteem, as to become his favourite. All theministers and other courtiers daily resorted to Codadad, and were soeager to purchase his friendship, that they neglected the sultan's sons. The princes could not but resent this conduct, and all conceived animplacable hatred against him; but the sultan's affection dailyincreasing, he was never weary of giving him fresh testimonies of hisregard. He always would have him near his person; and to shew his highopinion of his wisdom and prudence, committed to his care the otherprinces, though he was of the same age as they; so that Codadad was madegovernor of his brothers. 

This only served to heighten their hatred. "Is it come to this, " saidthey, "that the sultan, not satisfied with loving a stranger more thanus, will have him to be our governor, and not allow us to act withouthis leave? This is not to be endured. We must rid ourselves of thisforeigner. " "Let us go together, " said one of them, "and despatch him. ""No, no, " answered another; "we had better be cautious how we sacrificeourselves. His death would render us odious to the sultan. Let usdestroy him by some stratagem. We will ask his permission to hunt, and, when at a distance from the palace, proceed to some other city and staythere some time. The sultan will wonder at our absence, and perceivingwe do not return, perhaps put the stranger to death, or at least willbanish him from court, for suffering us to leave the palace. "

All the princes applauded this artifice. They went together to Codadad, and desired him to allow them to take the diversion of hunting, promising to return the same day. Pirouzè's son was taken in the snare, and granted the permission his brothers desired. They set out, but neverreturned. They had been three days absent, when the sultan asked Codadadwhere the princes were, for it was long since he had seen them. "Sir, "answered Codadad, after making a profound reverence, "they have beenhunting these three days, but they promised me they would returnsooner. " The sultan grew uneasy, and his uneasiness increased when heperceived the princes did not return the next day. He could not checkhis anger: "Indiscreet stranger, " said he to Codadad, "why did you letmy sons go without bearing them company? Go, seek them immediately, andbring them to me, or your life shall be forfeited. "

These words chilled with alarm Pirouzè's unfortunate son. He armedhimself, departed from the city, and like a shepherd who had lost hisflock, searched the country for his brothers, inquiring at every villagewhether they had been seen; but hearing no news of them, abandonedhimself to the most lively grief. He was inconsolable for having giventhe princes permission to hunt, or for not having borne them company. 

After some days spent in fruitless search, he came to a plain ofprodigious extent, in the midst whereof was a palace built of blackmarble. He drew near, and at one of the windows beheld a most beautifullady; but set off with no other ornament than her own charms; for herhair was dishevelled, her garments torn, and on her countenance appearedall the marks of affliction. As soon as she saw Codadad, and judged hemight hear her, she directed her discourse to him, saying: "Young man, depart from this fatal place, or you will soon fall into the hands ofthe monster that inhabits it: a black, who feeds only on human blood, resides in this palace; he seizes all persons whom their ill fateconducts to this plain, and shuts them up in his dungeons, whence theyare never released, but to be devoured by him. "

"Madam, " answered Codadad, "tell me who you are, and be not concernedfor myself. " "I am a lady of quality of Grand Cairo, " replied thecaptive; "I was passing by this castle yesterday, on my way to Bagdad, and met with the black, who killed all my attendants, and brought mehither. I beg of you, " she cried, "to make your escape: the black willsoon return; he is gone out to pursue some travellers he espied at adistance on the plain. Lose no time, but fly. "

She had scarcely done speaking before the black appeared. He was ofmonstrous bulk, and of a dreadful aspect, mounted on a large Tartarhorse, and bore a heavy cimeter, that none but himself could wield. Theprince seeing him, was amazed at his gigantic stature, directed hisprayers to Heaven to assist him, then drew his own cimeter, and firmlyawaited his approach. The monster, despising so inconsiderable an enemy, called to him to submit without fighting. Codadad by his conduct shewedthat he was resolved to defend his life; for rushing upon the black, hewounded him on the knee. The monster, feeling himself wounded, utteredsuch a dreadful yell as made all the plain resound. He grew furious andfoamed with rage, and raising himself on his stirrups, made at Codadadwith his dreadful cimeter. The blow was so violent, that it would haveput an end to the young prince, had not he avoided it by a suddenspring. The cimeter made a horrible hissing in the air: but, before theblack could have time to make a second blow, Codadad struck him on hisright arm with such force that he cut it off. The dreadful cimeter fellwith the hand that held it, and the black, yielding under the violenceof the stroke, lost his stirrups, and made the earth shake with theweight of his fall. The prince alighted at the same time, and cut offhis enemy's head. Just then the lady, who had been a spectator of thecombat, and was still offering up her earnest prayers to Heaven for theyoung hero, uttered a shriek of joy, and said to Codadad: "Prince andDeliverer, finish the work you have begun; the black has the keys ofthis castle, take them and deliver me out of prison. "

The prince searched the wretch as he lay stretched on the ground, andfound several keys. He opened the first door, and entered a court, wherehe saw the lady coming to meet him; she would have cast herself at hisfeet, the better to express her gratitude, but he would not permit her. She commended his valour, and extolled him above all the heroes in theworld. He returned her compliments; and she appeared still more lovelyto him near, than she had done at a distance. I know not whether shefelt more joy at being delivered from the desperate danger she had beenin, than he for having done so considerable a service to so beautiful aperson. 

Their conversation was interrupted by dismal cries and groans. "What doI hear?" said Codadad; "whence come these miserable lamentations, whichpierce my ears?" "My lord, " said the lady, pointing to a little door inthe court, "they come from thence. There are I know not how manywretched persons whom fate has thrown into the hands of the black. Theyare all chained, and the monster drew out one every day to devour. "

"It is an addition to my joy, " answered the young prince, "to understandthat my victory will save the lives of those unfortunate beings. Comewith me, madam, to partake in the satisfaction of giving them theirliberty. " Having so said, they advanced toward the door of the dungeon, where Codadad, pitying them, and impatient to put an end to theirsufferings, presently put one of the keys into the lock. The noise madeall the unfortunate captives, who concluded it was the black coming, according to custom, to seize one of them to devour, redouble theircries and groans. 

In the meantime, the prince had opened the door; he went down a steepstaircase into a deep vault, which received some feeble light from alittle window, and in which there were above a hundred persons, bound tostakes. "Unfortunate travellers, " said he to them, "who only expectedthe moment of an approaching death, give thanks to Heaven which has thisday delivered you by my means. I have slain the black by whom you wereto be devoured, and am come to knock off your chains. " The prisonershearing these words, gave a shout of mingled joy and surprise. Codadadand the lady began to unbind them; and as soon as any of them wereloose, they helped to take off the fetters from the rest; so that in ashort time they were all at liberty. 

They then kneeled down, and having returned thanks to Codadad for whathe had done for them, went out of the dungeon; but when they were comeinto the court, how was the prince surprised to see among the prisonersthose he was in search of, and almost without hopes to find! "Princes, "cried he, "is it you whom I behold? May I flatter myself that it is inmy power to restore you to the sultan your father, who is inconsolablefor the loss of you? Are you all here alive? Alas! the death of one ofyou will suffice to damp the joy I feel for having delivered you. "

The forty-nine princes all made themselves known to Codadad, whoembraced them one after another, and told them how uneasy their fatherwas on account of their absence. They gave their deliverer all thecommendations he deserved, as did the other prisoners, who could notfind words expressive enough to declare their gratitude. Codadad, withthem, searched the whole castle, where was immense wealth: curioussilks, gold brocades, Persian carpets, China satins, and an infinitequantity of other goods, which the black had taken from the caravans hehad plundered, a considerable part whereof belonged to the prisonersCodadad had then liberated. Every man knew and claimed his property. Theprince restored them their own, and divided the rest of the merchandiseamong them. Then he said to them: "How will you carry away your goods?We are here in a desert place, and there is no likelihood of yourgetting horses. " "My lord, " answered one of the prisoners, "the blackrobbed us of our camels, as well as of our goods, and perhaps they maybe in the stables of this castle. " "That is not unlikely, " repliedCodadad; "let us examine. " Accordingly they went to the stables, wherethey not only found the camels, but also the horses belonging to thesultan of Harran's sons. All the merchants, overjoyed that they hadrecovered their goods and camels, together with their liberty, thoughtof nothing but prosecuting their journey; but first repeated theirthanks to their deliverer. 

When they were gone, Codadad, directing his discourse to the lady, said:"What place, madam, do you desire to go to? I intend to bear you companyto the spot you shall choose for your retreat, and I question not butthat all these princes will do the same. " The sultan of Harran's sonsprotested to the lady, that they would not leave her till she wasrestored to her friends. 

"Princes, " said she, "I am of a country too remote from here; and, besides that, it would be abusing your generosity to oblige you totravel so far. I must confess that I have left my native country forever. I told you that I was a lady of Grand Cairo; but since you haveshewn me so much favour, I should be much in the wrong in concealing thetruth from you: I am a sultan's daughter. A usurper has possessedhimself of my father's throne, after having murdered him, and I havebeen forced to fly to save my life. "

Codadad and his brothers requested the princess to tell them her story, and after thanking them for their repeated protestations of readiness toserve her, she could not refuse to satisfy their curiosity, and beganthe recital of her adventures in the following manner. 

"There was in a certain island, " said the princess, "a great city calledDeryabar, governed by a magnificent and virtuous sultan, who had nochildren, which was the only blessing wanting to make him happy. Hecontinually addressed his prayers to Heaven, but Heaven only partiallygranted his requests, for the queen his wife, after a long expectation, brought forth a daughter. 

"I am that unfortunate princess; my father was rather grieved thanpleased at my birth; but he submitted to the will of God, and caused meto be educated with all possible care, being resolved, since he had noson, to teach me the art of ruling, that I might supply his place afterhis death. 

"There was, at the court of Deryabar, an orphan youth of good birth whomthe sultan, my father, had befriended and educated according to hisrank. He was very handsome, and, not wanting ability, found means toplease my father, who conceived a great friendship for him. All thecourtiers perceived it, and guessed that the young man might in the endbe my husband. In this idea, and looking on him already as heir to thecrown, they made their court to him, and every one endeavoured to gainhis favour. He soon saw into their designs, and forgetting the distancethere was between our conditions, flattered himself with the hopes thatmy father was fond enough of him to prefer him before all the princes inthe world. He went farther; for the sultan not offering me to him assoon as he could have wished, he had the boldness to ask me of him. Whatever punishment his insolence deserved, my father was satisfied withtelling him he had other thoughts in relation to me. The youth wasincensed at this refusal; he resented the contempt, as if he had askedsome maid of ordinary extraction, or as if his birth had been equal tomine. Nor did he stop here, but resolved to be revenged on the sultan, and with unparalleled ingratitude conspired against him. In short, hemurdered him, and caused himself to be proclaimed sovereign of Deryabar. The grand vizier, however, while the usurper was butchering my fathercame to carry me away from the palace, and secured me in a friend'shouse, till a vessel he had provided was ready to sail. I then left theisland, attended only by a governess and that generous minister, whochose rather to follow his master's daughter than to submit to a tyrant. 

"The grand vizier designed to carry me to the courts of the neighbouringsultans, to implore their assistance, and excite them to revenge myfather's death; but Heaven did not concur in a resolution we thought sojust. When we had been but a few days at sea, there arose such a furiousstorm, that our vessel, carried away by the violence of the winds andwaves, was dashed in pieces against a rock. My governess, the grandvizier, and all that attended me, were swallowed up by the sea. I lostmy senses; and whether I was thrown upon the coast, or whether Heavenwrought a miracle for my deliverance, I found myself on shore when mysenses returned. 

"In my despair and horror I was on the point of casting myself into thesea again; when I heard behind me a great noise of men and horses. Ilooked about to see what it might be, and espied several armed horsemen, among whom was one mounted on an Arabian charger. He had on a garmentembroidered with silver, a girdle set with precious stones, and a crownof gold on his head. Though his habit had not convinced me that he waschief of the company, I should have judged it by the air of grandeurwhich appeared in his person. He was a young man extraordinarily wellshaped, and perfectly beautiful. Surprised to see a young lady alone inthat place, he sent some of his officers to ask who I was. I answeredonly by weeping. The shore being covered with the wreck of our ship, they concluded that I was certainly some person who had escaped from thevessel. This conjecture excited the curiosity of the officers, who beganto ask me a thousand questions, with assurances that their master was agenerous prince, and that I should receive protection at his court. 

"The sultan, impatient to know who I was, grew weary of waiting thereturn of his officers, and drew near to me. He gazed on me veryearnestly, and observing that I did not cease weeping, without beingable to return an answer to their questions, he forbade them troublingme any more; and directing his discourse to me: 'Madam, ' said he, 'Iconjure you to moderate your excessive affliction. I dare assure youthat, if your misfortunes are capable of receiving any relief, you shallfind it in my dominions. You shall live with the queen my mother, whowill endeavour by her kindness to ease your affliction. I know not yetwho you are, but I find I already take an interest in your welfare. '

"I thanked the young sultan for his goodness to me, accepted hisobliging offer; and to convince him that I was not unworthy of them, told him my condition. When I had done speaking, the prince assured methat he was deeply concerned at my misfortunes. He then conducted me tohis palace, and presented me to the queen his mother, to whom I wasobliged again to repeat my misfortunes. The queen seemed very sensibleof my trouble, and conceived extreme affection for me. On the otherhand, the sultan her son fell desperately in love with me, and soonoffered me his hand and his crown. I was so taken up with the thoughtsof my calamities, that the prince, though so lovely a person, did notmake so great an impression on me as he might have done at another time. However, gratitude prevailing, I did not refuse to make him happy, andour nuptials were concluded with all imaginable splendour. 

"While the people were taken up with the celebration of theirsovereign's nuptials, a neighbouring prince, his enemy, made a descentby night on the island with a great number of troops and surprised andcut to pieces my husband's subjects. We escaped very narrowly, for hehad already entered the palace with some of his followers; but we foundmeans to slip away and to get to the sea-coast, where we threw ourselvesinto a fishing-boat which we had the good fortune to meet with. Two dayswe were driven about by the winds, without knowing what would become ofus. The third day we espied a vessel making toward us under sail. Werejoiced at first, believing it had been a merchant-ship which mighttake us aboard; but what was our consternation, when, as it drew near, we saw ten or twelve armed pirates appear on the deck. Having boarded, five or six of them leaped into our boat, seized us, bound the prince, and conveyed us into their ship, where they immediately took off myveil. My youth and features touched them, and they all declared how muchthey were charmed at the sight of me. Instead of casting lots, each ofthem claimed the preference, and me as his right. The dispute grew warm, they came to blows, and fought like madmen. The deck was soon coveredwith dead bodies, and they were all killed but one, who, being left solepossessor of me, said: 'You are mine. I will carry you to Grand Cairo, to deliver you to a friend of mine, to whom I have promised a beautifulslave. But who, ' added he, looking upon the sultan, my husband, 'is thatman? What relation does he bear to you? Are you allied by blood orlove?' 'Sir, ' answered I, 'he is my husband. ' 'If so, ' replied thepirate, 'in pity I must rid myself of him: it would be too great anaffliction to him to see you disposed of to another. ' Having spokenthese words, he took up the unhappy prince, who was bound, and threw himinto the sea, notwithstanding all my endeavours to prevent him. 

"I shrieked in a dreadful manner at the sight of what he had done, andhad certainly cast myself into the sea also, but that the pirate heldme. He saw my design, and therefore bound me with cords to themain-mast, then hoisting sail, made toward the land, and got ashore. Heunbound me and led me to a little town, where he bought camels, tents, and slaves, and then set out for Grand Cairo, designing, as he stillsaid, to present me to his friend, according to his promise. 

"We had been several days upon the road, when, as we were crossing thisplain yesterday, we descried the black who inhabited this castle. At adistance we took him for a tower, and when near us, could scarcelybelieve him to be a man. He drew his huge cimeter, and summoned thepirate to yield himself prisoner, with all his slaves and the lady hewas conducting. You know the end of this dreadful adventure and canforesee what would have been my fate had you, generous prince, not cometo my deliverance. "

[Illustration]

_As it drew near we saw ten or twelve armed pirates appear on the deck. _

As soon as the princess had finished the recital of her adventures, Codadad declared to her that he was deeply concerned at her misfortunes. "But, madam, " added he, "it shall be your own fault if you do not liveat ease for the future. The sultan of Harran's sons offer you a saferetreat in the court of their father; be pleased to accept of it, and ifyou do not disdain the affection of your deliverer, permit me to assureyou of it, and to espouse you before all these princes; let them bewitnesses to our contract. " The princess consented, and the marriage wasconcluded that very day in the castle, where they found all sorts ofprovisions, with an abundance of delicious wine and other liquors. 

They all sat down at table; and after having eaten and drunkplentifully, took with them the rest of the provisions, and set out forthe sultan of Harran's court. They travelled several days, encamping inthe pleasantest places they could find, and were within one day'sjourney of Harran, when Codadad, directing his discourse to all hiscompany, said: "Princes, I have too long concealed from you who I am. Behold your brother Codadad! I, as well as you, received my being fromthe sultan of Harran, the prince of Samaria brought me up, and thePrincess Pirouzè is my mother. Madam, " added he, addressing himself tothe princess of Deryabar, "do you also forgive me for having concealedmy birth from you? Perhaps, by discovering it sooner, I might haveprevented some disagreeable reflections, which may have been occasionedby a match you may have thought unequal. " "No, sir, " answered theprincess "the opinion I at first conceived of you heightened everymoment and you did not stand in need of the extraction you now discoverto make me happy. "

The princes congratulated Codadad on his birth, and expressed muchsatisfaction at being made acquainted with it. But in reality, insteadof rejoicing, their hatred of so amiable a brother was increased. Theymet together at night, and forgetting that had it not been for the braveson of Pirouzè they must have been devoured by the black, agreed amongthemselves to murder him. "We have no other course to choose, " said oneof them, "for the moment our father shall come to understand that thisstranger, of whom he is already so fond, is our brother, he will declarehim his heir, and we shall all be obliged to obey and fall down beforehim. " He added much more, which made such an impression on theirunnatural minds, that they immediately repaired to Codadad, then asleep, stabbed him repeatedly, and leaving him for dead in the arms of theprincess of Deryabar, proceeded on their journey to the city of Harran, where they arrived the next day. 

The sultan their father conceived the greater joy at their return, because he had despaired of ever seeing them again: he asked what hadbeen the occasion of their stay. But they took care not to acquaint himwith it, making no mention either of the black or of Codadad; and onlysaid, that being curious to see different countries, they had spent sometime in the neighbouring cities. 

In the meantime Codadad lay in his tent weltering in his blood andlittle differing from a dead man, with the princess his wife, who seemedto be in not much better condition than himself. She rent the air withher dismal shrieks, tore her hair, and bathing her husband's body withher tears, "Alas! Codadad, my dear Codadad, " cried she, "is it you whomI behold just departing this life? Can I believe these are your brotherswho have treated you so unmercifully, those brothers whom thy valour hadsaved? O Heaven! which has condemned me to lead a life of calamities, ifyou will not permit me to have a consort, why did you permit me to findone? Behold, you have now robbed me of two, just as I began to beattached to them. "

By these and other moving expressions the afflicted princess of Deryabarvented her sorrow, fixing her eyes on the unfortunate Codadad, who couldnot hear her; but he was not dead, and his consort, observing that hestill breathed, ran to a large town she espied in the plain, to inquirefor a surgeon. She was directed to one, who went immediately with her;but when they came to the tent, they could not find Codadad, which madethem conclude he had been dragged away by some wild beast to bedevoured. The princess renewed her complaints and lamentations in a mostaffecting manner. The surgeon was moved, and being unwilling to leaveher in so distressed a condition, proposed to her to return to the town, offering her his house and service. 

She suffered herself to be prevailed upon. The surgeon conducted her tohis house, and without knowing, as yet, who she was, treated her withall imaginable courtesy and respect. He used all his endeavours tocomfort her, but it was vain to think of removing her sorrow. "Madam, "said he to her one day, "be pleased to recount to me your misfortunes;tell me your country and your condition. Perhaps I may give you somegood advice, when I am acquainted with all the circumstances of yourcalamity. "

The surgeon's words were so efficacious, that they wrought on theprincess, who recounted to him all her adventures; and when she haddone, the surgeon directed his discourse to her: "Madam, " said he, "youought not thus to give way to your sorrow; you ought rather to armyourself with resolution, and perform what the duty of a wife requiresof you. You are bound to avenge your husband. If you please, I will waiton you as your attendant. Let us go to the sultan of Harran's court; heis a good and a just prince. You need only represent to him in livelycolours, how Prince Codadad has been treated by his brothers. I ampersuaded he will do you justice. " "I submit to your reasoning, "answered the princess; "it is my duty to endeavour to avenge Codadad;and since you are so generous as to offer to attend me, I am ready toset out. " No sooner had she fixed this resolution, than the surgeonordered two camels to be made ready, on which the princess and hemounted, and repaired to Harran. 

They alighted at the first caravanserai they found, and inquired of thehost the news at court. "Deryabar, " said he, "is in very greatperplexity. The sultan had a son, who lived long with him as a stranger, and none can tell what is become of the young prince. One of thesultan's wives, named Pirouzè, is his mother; she has made all possibleinquiry, but to no purpose. The sultan has forty-nine other sons, all bydifferent mothers, but not one of them has virtue enough to comfort himfor the death of Codadad; I say, his death, because it is impossible heshould be still alive, since no intelligence has been heard of him, notwithstanding so much search has been made. "

The surgeon, having heard this account from the host, concluded that thebest course the princess of Deryabar could take was to wait uponPirouzè; but that step required much precaution: for it was to be fearedthat if the sultan of Harran's sons should happen to hear of the arrivalof their sister-in-law and her design, they might cause her to beconveyed away before she could discover herself. The surgeon weighed allthese circumstances, and therefore, that he might manage matters withdiscretion, desired the princess to remain in the caravanserai, whilsthe repaired to the palace, to observe which might be the safest way toconduct her to Pirouzè. 

He went accordingly into the city, and was walking toward the palace, when he beheld a lady mounted on a mule richly accoutred. She wasfollowed by several ladies mounted also on mules, with a great number ofguards and black slaves. All the people formed a lane to see her passalong, and saluted her by prostrating themselves on the ground. Thesurgeon paid her the same respect, and then asked a calendar, whohappened to stand by him, whether that lady was one of the sultan'swives. "Yes, brother, " answered the calendar, "she is, and the mosthonoured and beloved by the people, because she is the mother of PrinceCodadad, of whom you must have heard. "

The surgeon asked no more questions, but followed Pirouzè to a mosque, into which she went to distribute alms, and assist at the public prayerswhich the sultan had ordered to be offered up for the safe return ofCodadad. The surgeon broke through the throng and advanced to Pirouzè'sguards. He waited the conclusion of the prayers, and when the princesswent out, stepped up to one of her slaves, and whispered him in the ear:"Brother, I have a secret of moment to impart to the Princess Pirouzè:may not I be introduced into her apartment?" "If that secret, " answeredthe slave, "relates to Prince Codadad I dare promise you shall haveaudience of her; but if it concern not him, it is needless for you to beintroduced; for her thoughts are all engrossed by her son. " "It is onlyabout that dear son, " replied the surgeon, "that I wish to speak toher. " "If so, " said the slave, "you need but follow us to the palace, and you shall soon have the opportunity. "

Accordingly, as soon as Pirouzè was returned to her apartment, the slaveacquainted her that a person unknown had some important information tocommunicate to her, and that it related to Prince Codadad. No sooner hadhe uttered these words, than Pirouzè expressed her impatience to see thestranger. The slave immediately conducted him into the princess's closetwho ordered all her women to withdraw, except two, from whom sheconcealed nothing. As soon as she saw the surgeon, she asked him eagerlywhat news he had to tell her of Codadad. "Madam, " answered the surgeon, after having prostrated himself on the ground, "I have a long account togive you, and such as will surprise you. " He then related all theparticulars of what had passed between Codadad and his brothers, whichshe listened to with eager attention; but when he came to speak of themurder, the tender mother fainted away on her sofa, as if she hadherself been stabbed like her son. Her two women soon brought her toherself and the surgeon continued his relation; and when he hadconcluded, Pirouzè said to him: "Go back to the princess of Deryabar, and assure her from me that the sultan shall soon own her for hisdaughter-in-law; and as for yourself, your services shall be rewarded asliberally as they deserve. "

When the surgeon was gone, Pirouzè remained on the sofa in such a stateof affliction as may easily be imagined; and yielding to her tendernessat the recollection of Codadad, "O my son!" said she, "I must never thenexpect to see you more! Unfortunate Codadad, why did you leave me?"While she uttered these words, she wept bitterly, and her twoattendants, moved by her grief, mingled their tears with hers. 

Whilst they were all three in this manner vying in affliction, thesultan came into the closet, and seeing them in this condition, askedPirouzè whether she had received any bad news concerning Codadad. "Alas!sir, " said she, "all is over, my son has lost his life, and to add to mysorrow, I cannot pay him the funeral rites; for, in all probability, wild beasts have devoured him. " She then told him all she had heard fromthe surgeon, and did not fail to enlarge on the inhuman manner in whichCodadad had been murdered by his brothers. 

The sultan did not give Pirouzè time to finish her relation, buttransported with anger, and giving way to his passion, "Madam, " said heto the princess, "those perfidious wretches who cause you to shed thesetears, and are the occasion of mortal grief to their father, shall soonfeel the punishment due to their guilt. " The sultan, having spoken thesewords, with indignation in his countenance, went directly to thepresence-chamber, where all his courtiers attended, and such of thepeople as had petitions to present to him. They were alarmed to see himin passion, and thought his anger had been kindled against them. Heascended the throne, and causing his grand vizier to approach, "Hassan, "said he, "go immediately, take a thousand of my guards, and seize allthe princes, my sons; shut them up in the tower used as a prison formurderers, and let this be done in a moment. " All who were presenttrembled at this extraordinary command; and the grand vizier, withoututtering a word, laid his hand on his head, to express his obedience, and hastened from the hall to execute his orders. In the meantime thesultan dismissed those who attended for audience, and declared he wouldnot hear of any business for a month to come. He was still in the hallwhen the vizier returned. "Are all my sons, " demanded he, "in thetower?" "They are, sir, " answered the vizier; "I have obeyed yourorders. " "This is not all, " replied the sultan, "I have farther commandsfor you:" and so saying he went out of the hall of audience, andreturned to Pirouzè's apartment, the vizier following him. He asked theprincess where Codadad's widow had taken up her lodging. Pirouzè's womentold him, for the surgeon had not forgotten that in his relation. Thesultan then turning to his minister, "Go, " said he, "to thiscaravanserai, and conduct a young princess who lodges there, with allthe respect due to her quality, to my palace. "

The vizier was not long in performing what he was ordered. He mounted onhorseback with all the emirs and courtiers, and repaired to thecaravanserai, where the princess of Deryabar was lodged, whom heacquainted with his orders; and presented her, from the sultan, with afine white mule, whose saddle and bridle were adorned with gold, rubies, and diamonds. She mounted, and proceeded to the palace. The surgeonattended her, mounted on a beautiful Tartar horse which the vizier hadprovided for him. All the people were at their windows, or in thestreets, to see the cavalcade; and it being given out that the princess, whom they conducted in such state to court, was Codadad's wife, the cityresounded with acclamations, the air rung with shouts of joy, whichwould have been turned into lamentations had that prince's fataladventure been known, so much was he beloved by all. 

The princess of Deryabar found the sultan at the palace gate waiting toreceive her: he took her by the hand and led her to Pirouzè's apartment, where a very moving scene took place. Codadad's wife found heraffliction redouble at the sight of her husband's father and mother; as, on the other hand, those parents could not look on their son's wifewithout being much affected. She cast herself at the sultan's feet, andhaving bathed them with tears, was so overcome with grief that she wasnot able to speak. Pirouzè was in no better state, and the sultan, movedby these affecting objects, gave way to his own feelings and wept. Atlength the princess of Deryabar, being somewhat recovered, recounted theadventure of the castle and Codadad's disaster. Then she demandedjustice for the treachery of the princes. "Yes, madam, " said the sultan, "those ungrateful wretches shall perish; but Codadad's death must befirst made public, that the punishment of his brothers may not cause mysubjects to rebel; and though we have not my son's body, we will notomit paying him the last duties. " This said, he directed his discourseto the vizier, and ordered him to cause to be erected a dome of whitemarble, in a delightful plain, in the midst of which the city of Harranstands. Then he appointed the princess of Deryabar a suitable apartmentin his palace, acknowledging her for his daughter-in-law. 

Hassan caused the work to be carried on with such diligence, andemployed so many workmen, that the dome was soon finished. Within it waserected a tomb, which was covered with gold brocade. When all wascompleted, the sultan ordered prayers to be said, and appointed a dayfor the obsequies of his son. 

On that day all the inhabitants of the city went out upon the plain tosee the ceremony performed. The gate of the dome was then closed, andall the people returned to the city. Next day there were public prayersin all the mosques, and the same was continued for eight dayssuccessively. On the ninth the king resolved to cause the princes hissons to be beheaded. The people, incensed at their cruelty towardCodadad, impatiently expected to see them executed. The scaffolds wereerecting, but the execution was respited, because, on a sudden, intelligence was brought that the neighbouring princes who had beforemade war on the sultan of Harran, were advancing with more numerousforces than on the first invasion, and were then not far from the city. This news gave new cause to lament the loss of Codadad, who hadsignalised himself in the former war against the same enemies. Thesultan, nothing dismayed, formed a considerable army, and being toobrave to await the enemies' attack within his walls, marched out to meetthem. They, on their side, being informed that the sultan of Harran wasmarching to engage them, halted in the plain, and formed their army. 

As soon as the sultan discovered them, he also drew up his forces, andranged them in order of battle. The signal was given, and he attackedthem with extraordinary vigour; nor was the opposition inferior. Muchblood was shed on both sides, and the victory long remained dubious; butat length it seemed to incline to the sultan of Harran's enemies, who, being more numerous, were upon the point of surrounding him, when agreat body of cavalry appeared on the plain, and approached the twoarmies. The sight of this fresh party daunted both sides, neitherknowing what to think of them; but their doubts were soon cleared; forthey fell upon the flank of the sultan of Harran's enemies with such afurious charge, that they soon broke and routed them. Nor did they stophere; they pursued them, and cut most of them in pieces. 

The sultan of Harran, who had attentively observed all that passed, admired the bravery of this strange body of cavalry, whose unexpectedarrival had given the victory to his army. But, above all, he wascharmed with their chief, whom he had seen fighting with a more thanordinary valour. He longed to know the name of the generous hero. Impatient to see and thank him, he advanced toward him, but perceived hewas coming to prevent him. The two princes drew near, and the sultan ofHarran, discovering Codadad in the brave warrior who had just defeatedhis enemies, became motionless with joy and surprise. "Father, " saidCodadad to him, "you have sufficient cause to be astonished at thesudden appearance of a man whom perhaps you concluded to be dead. Ishould have been so, had not Heaven preserved me still to serve youagainst your enemies. " "O my son, " cried the sultan, "is it possiblethat you are restored to me? Alas! I despaired of seeing you more. " Sosaying, he stretched out his arms to the young prince, who flew to sucha tender embrace. 

"I know all, my son, " said the sultan again, after having long held himin his arms. "I know what return your brothers have made you fordelivering them out of the hands of the black; but you shall be revengedto-morrow. Let us now go to the palace where your mother, who has shedso many tears on your account, expects to rejoice with us on the defeatof our enemies. What a joy will it be to her to be informed that myvictory is your work!" "Sir, " said Codadad, "give me leave to ask howyou could know the adventure of the castle? Have any of my brothers, repenting, owned it to you?" "No, " answered the sultan; "the princess ofDeryabar has given us an account of everything, for she is in my palace, and came thither to demand justice against your brothers. " Codadad wastransported with joy, to learn that the princess his wife was at thecourt. "Let us go, sir, " cried he to his father in rapture, "let us goto my mother, who waits for us. I am impatient to dry her tears, as wellas those of the princess of Deryabar. "

The sultan immediately returned to the city with his army, andre-entered his palace victorious, amidst the acclamations of the people, who followed him in crowds, praying to Heaven to prolong his life, andextolling Codadad to the skies. They found Pirouzè and herdaughter-in-law waiting to congratulate the sultan; but words cannotexpress the transports of joy they felt when they saw the young princewith him: their embraces were mingled with tears of a very differentkind from those they had before shed for him. When they had sufficientlyyielded to all the emotions that the ties of blood and love inspired, they asked Codadad by what miracle he came to be still alive. 

He answered that a peasant mounted on a mule happening accidentally tocome into the tent where he lay senseless, and perceiving him alone andstabbed in several places, had made him fast on his mule, and carriedhim to his house, where he applied to his wounds certain herbs, whichrecovered him. "When I found myself well, " added he, "I returned thanksto the peasant, and gave him all the diamonds I had. I then made for thecity of Harran; but being informed by the way that some neighbouringprinces had gathered forces, and were on their march against thesultan's subjects, I made myself known to the villagers, and stirredthem up to undertake his defence. I armed a great number of young men, and heading them, happened to arrive at the time when the two armieswere engaged. "

When he had done speaking, the sultan said: "Let us return thanks to Godfor having preserved Codadad; but it is requisite that the traitors whowould have destroyed him should perish. " "Sir, " answered the generousprince, "though they are wicked and ungrateful, consider they are yourown flesh and blood: they are my brothers; I forgive their offence, andbeg you to pardon them. " This generosity drew tears from the sultan, whocaused the people to be assembled, and declared Codadad his heir. Hethen ordered the princes, who were prisoners, to be brought out loadedwith irons. Pirouzè's son struck off their chains, and embraced themall successively with as much sincerity and affection as he had done inthe black's castle. The people were charmed with Codadad's generosity, and loaded him with applause. The surgeon was next nobly rewarded inrequital of the services he had done the princess of Deryabar and thecourt of Harran remained thereafter in perfect joy and felicity. 

THE STORY OF SINBAD THE VOYAGER

In the reign of the Caliph Haroun-al-Raschid, there lived at Bagdad apoor porter called Hindbad. One day, when the weather was excessivelyhot, he was employed to carry a heavy burden from one end of the town tothe other. Having still a great way to go, he came into a street where arefreshing breeze blew on his face, and the pavement was sprinkled withrose water. As he could not desire a better place to rest, he took offhis load, and sat upon it, near a large mansion. 

He was much pleased that he stopped in this place; for the agreeablesmell of wood of aloes, and of pastils, that came from the house, mixingwith the scent of the rose-water, completely perfumed the air. Besides, he heard from within a concert of instrumental music, accompanied withthe harmonious notes of nightingales. This charming melody, and thesmell of savoury dishes, made the porter conclude there was a feastwithin. His business seldom leading him that way, he knew not to whomthe mansion belonged; but to satisfy his curiosity he went to some ofthe servants, whom he saw standing at the gate in magnificent apparel, and asked the name of the proprietor. "How, " replied one of them, "doyou live in Bagdad, and know not that this is the house of Sinbad thesailor, that famous voyager, who has sailed round the world?" Theporter, who had heard of this Sinbad's riches, lifted up his eyes toHeaven, and said, loud enough to be heard: "Almighty creator of allthings, consider the difference between Sinbad and me! I am every dayexposed to fatigues and calamities, and can scarcely get barley-breadfor myself and my family, whilst happy Sinbad expends immense riches andleads a life of pleasure. What has he done to obtain a lot so agreeable?And what have I done to deserve one so wretched?"

Whilst the porter was thus indulging his melancholy, a servant came outof the house, and taking him by the arm, bade him follow him, forSinbad, his master, wanted to speak to him. 

The servants brought him into a great hall, where a number of people satround a table, covered with all sorts of savoury dishes. At the upperend sat a venerable gentleman, with a long white beard, and behind himstood a number of officers and domestics, all ready to attend hispleasure. This personage was Sinbad. The porter, whose fear wasincreased at the sight of so many people, and of a banquet so sumptuous, saluted the company trembling. Sinbad bade him draw near, and seatinghim at his right hand, served him himself, and gave him a cup ofexcellent wine. 

When the repast was over, Sinbad addressed his conversation to Hindbad, and inquired his name and employment. "My lord, " answered he, "my nameis Hindbad. " "I am very glad to see you, " replied Sinbad; "but I wish tohear from your own mouth what it was you lately said in the street. "Sinbad had himself heard the porter complain through the window, andthis it was that induced him to have him brought in. 

At this request, Hindbad hung down his head in confusion, and replied:"My lord, I confess that my fatigue put me out of humour, and occasionedme to utter some indiscreet words, which I beg you to pardon. " "Do notthink I am so unjust, " resumed Sinbad, "as to resent such a complaint, but I must rectify your error concerning myself. You think, no doubt, that I have acquired, without labour and trouble, the ease which I nowenjoy. But do not mistake; I did not attain to this happy condition, without enduring for several years more trouble of body and mind thancan well be imagined. Yes, gentlemen, " he added, speaking to the wholecompany, "I can assure you my troubles were so extraordinary, that theywere calculated to discourage the most covetous from undertaking suchvoyages as I did, to acquire riches. Perhaps you have never heard adistinct account of my wonderful adventures; and since I have thisopportunity, I will give you a faithful account of them, not doubtingbut it will be acceptable. "

THE FIRST VOYAGE

"I inherited from my father considerable property, the greater part ofwhich I squandered in my youth in dissipation; but I perceived my error, and reflected that riches were perishable, and quickly consumed by suchill managers as myself, I further considered, that by my irregular wayof living I wretchedly misspent my time; which is, of all things, themost valuable. Struck with these reflections, I collected the remains ofmy fortune, and sold all my effects by public auction. I then enteredinto a contract with some merchants, who traded by sea. I took theadvice of such as I thought most capable, and resolving to improve whatmoney I had, I embarked with several merchants on board a ship which wehad jointly fitted out. 

"We set sail, and steered our course toward the Indies through thePersian Gulf, which is formed by the coasts of Arabia Felix on theright, and by those of Persia on the left. At first I was troubled withsea-sickness, but speedily recovered my health, and was not afterwardsubject to that complaint. 

"In our voyage we touched at several islands, where we sold or exchangedour goods. One day, whilst under sail, we were becalmed near a smallisland, but little elevated above the level of the water, and resemblinga green meadow. The captain ordered his sails to be furled, andpermitted such persons as were so inclined to land; of which number Iwas one. 

"But while we were enjoying ourselves in eating and drinking, andrecovering ourselves from the fatigue of the sea, the island on a suddentrembled, and shook us terribly. 

"The motion was perceived on board the ship, and we were called upon tore-embark speedily, or we should all be lost; for what we took for anisland proved to be the back of a sea monster. The nimblest got into thesloop, others betook themselves to swimming; but for myself, I was stillupon the back of the creature when he dived into the sea, and I had timeonly to catch hold of a piece of wood that we had brought out of theship. Meanwhile, the captain, having received those on board who were inthe sloop, and taken up some of those that swam, resolved to improve thefavourable gale that had just risen, and hoisting his sails, pursued hisvoyage, so that it was impossible for me to recover the ship. 

"Thus was I exposed to the mercy of the waves all the rest of the dayand the following night. By this time I found my strength gone, anddespaired of saving my life, when happily a wave threw me against anisland. The bank was high and rugged; so that I could scarcely have gotup, had it not been for some roots of trees, which chance placed withinreach. Having gained the land, I lay down upon the ground half dead, until the sun appeared. Then, though I was very feeble, both from hardlabour and want of food, I crept along to find some herbs fit to eat, and had the good luck not only to procure some, but likewise to discovera spring of excellent water, which contributed much to recover me. Afterthis I advanced farther into the island, and at last reached a fineplain, where at a great distance I perceived some horses feeding. I wenttoward them, and as I approached heard the voice of a man, whoimmediately appeared, and asked me who I was. I related to him myadventure, after which, taking me by the hand, he led me into a cave, where there were several other people, no less amazed to see me than Iwas to see them. 

"I partook of some provisions which they offered me. I then asked themwhat they did in such a desert place, to which they answered, that theywere grooms belonging to the Maha-raja, sovereign of the island, andthat every year, at the same season they brought thither the king'shorses for pasturage. They added, that they were to return home on themorrow, and had I been one day later, I must have perished, because theinhabited part of the island was at a great distance, and it would havebeen impossible for me to have got thither without a guide. 

"Next morning they returned to the capital of the island, took me withthem, and presented me to the Maha-raja. He asked me who I was, and bywhat adventure I had come into his dominions. After I had satisfied him, he told me he was much concerned for my misfortune, and at the same timeordered that I should want nothing; which commands his officers were sogenerous as to see exactly fulfilled. 

"Being a merchant, I frequented men of my own profession, andparticularly inquired for those who were strangers, that perchance Imight hear news from Bagdad, or find an opportunity to return. They puta thousand questions respecting my country; and I, being willing toinform myself as to their laws and customs, asked them concerningeverything which I thought worth knowing. 

"There belongs to this king an island named Cassel. They assured me thatevery night a noise of drums was heard there, whence the marinersfancied that it was the residence of Degial. I determined to visit thiswonderful place, and in my way thither saw fishes of one hundred and twohundred cubits long, that occasion more fear than hurt, for they are sotimorous, that they will fly upon the rattling of two sticks or boards. I saw likewise other fish about a cubit in length, that had heads likeowls. 

"As I was one day at the port after my return, a ship arrived, and assoon as she cast anchor, they began to unload her, and the merchants onboard ordered their goods to be carried into the custom-house. As I castmy eye upon some bales, and looked to the name, I found my own, andperceived the bales to be the same that I had embarked at Bussorah. Ialso knew the captain; but being persuaded that he believed me to bedrowned, I went, and asked him whose bales these were. He replied thatthey belonged to a merchant of Bagdad, called Sinbad, who came to seawith him; but had unfortunately perished on the voyage, and that he hadresolved to trade with the bales, until he met with some of his family, to whom he might return the profit. 'I am that Sinbad, ' said I, 'whomyou thought to be dead, and those bales are mine. '

"When the captain heard me speak thus, 'Heavens!' he exclaimed, 'whomcan we trust in these times? There is no faith left among men. I sawSinbad perish with my own eyes, as did also the passengers on board, andyet you tell me you are that Sinbad. What impudence is this? You tell ahorrible falsehood, in order to possess yourself of what does notbelong to you. ' 'Have patience, ' replied I; 'do me the favour to hearwhat I have to say. ' Then I told him how I had escaped, and by whatadventure I met with the grooms of the Maha-raja, who had brought me tohis court. 

"The captain was at length persuaded that I was no cheat; for there camepeople from his ship who knew me, and expressed much joy at seeing mealive. At last he recollected me himself, and embracing me, 'Heaven bepraised, ' said he, 'for your happy escape. I cannot express the joy itaffords me; there are your goods, take and do with them as you please. 'I thanked him, acknowledged his probity, and offered him part of mygoods as a present, which he generously refused. 

"I took out what was most valuable in my bales, and presented them tothe Maha-raja, who, knowing my misfortune, asked me how I came by suchrarities. I acquainted him with the circumstance of their recovery. Hewas pleased at my good luck, accepted my present, and in return gave meone much more considerable. Upon this, I took leave of him, and wentaboard the same ship, after I had exchanged my goods for the commoditiesof that country. I carried with me wood of aloes, sandal, camphire, nutmegs, cloves, pepper, and ginger. We passed by several islands, andat last arrived at Bussorah, from whence I came to this city, with thevalue of one hundred thousand sequins. My family and I received oneanother with sincere affection. I bought slaves and a landed estate, andbuilt a magnificent house. Thus I settled myself, resolving to forgetthe miseries I had suffered, and to enjoy the pleasures of life. "

Sinbad stopped here, and ordered the musicians to proceed with theirconcert, which the story had interrupted. The company continued enjoyingthemselves till the evening, when Sinbad sent for a purse of a hundredsequins, and giving it to the porter, said: "Take this, Hindbad, returnto your home, and come back to-morrow to hear more of my adventures. "The porter went away, astonished at the honour done, and the presentmade him. The account of this adventure proved very agreeable to hiswife and children, who did not fail to return thanks to God for whatprovidence had sent them by the hand of Sinbad. 

Hindbad put on his best apparel next day, and returned to the bountifultraveller, who welcomed him heartily. When all the guests had arrived, dinner was served. When it was ended, Sinbad, addressing himself to thecompany, said, "Gentlemen, be pleased to listen to the adventures of mysecond voyage; they deserve your attention even more than those of thefirst. " Upon this every one held his peace, and Sinbad proceeded. 

THE SECOND VOYAGE

"I designed, after my first voyage, to spend the rest of my days atBagdad, but it was not long ere I grew weary of an indolent life. Myinclination to trade revived. I bought goods proper for the commerce Iintended, and put to sea a second time with merchants of known probity. We embarked on board a good ship, and after recommending ourselves toGod, set sail. We traded from island to island, and exchangedcommodities with great profit. One day we landed on an island coveredwith several sorts of fruit-trees, but we could see neither man noranimal. We went to take a little fresh air in the meadows, along thestreams that watered them. Whilst some diverted themselves withgathering flowers, and others fruits, I took my wine and provisions, andsat down near a stream betwixt two high trees which formed a thickshade. I made a good meal, and afterward fell asleep. I cannot tell howlong I slept, but when I awoke the ship was gone. 

"I got up and looked around me, but could not see one of the merchantswho landed with me. I perceived the ship under sail, but at such adistance, that I lost sight of her in a short time. 

"In this sad condition, I was ready to die with grief. I cried out inagony, and threw myself upon the ground, where I lay some time indespair. I upbraided myself a hundred times for not being content withthe produce of my first voyage, that might have sufficed me all my life. But all this was in vain, and my repentance came too late. 

"At last I resigned myself to the will of God. Not knowing what to do, Iclimbed up to the top of a lofty tree, from whence I looked about on allsides, to see if I could discover anything that could give me hopes. When I gazed toward the sea I could see nothing but sky and water; butlooking over the land I beheld something white; and coming down, I tookwhat provision I had left, and went toward it, the distance being sogreat that I could not distinguish what it was. 

"As I approached, I thought it to be a white dome, of a prodigiousheight and extent; and when I came up to it, I touched it, and found itto be very smooth. I went round to see if it was open on any side, butsaw that it was not, and that there was no climbing up to the top, as itwas so smooth. It was at least fifty paces round. 

"By this time the sun was about to set, and all of a sudden the skybecame as dark as if it had been covered with a thick cloud. I was muchastonished at this sudden darkness, but much more when I found itoccasioned by a bird of a monstrous size, that came flying toward me. Iremembered that I had often heard mariners speak of a miraculous birdcalled the roc, and conceived that the great dome which I so muchadmired must be its egg. As I perceived the roc coming, I crept close tothe egg, so that I had before me one of the bird's legs, which was asbig as the trunk of a tree. I tied myself strongly to it with my turban, in hopes that next morning she would carry me with her out of thisdesert island. After having passed the night in this condition, the birdflew away as soon as it was daylight, and carried me so high, that Icould not discern the earth; she afterward descended with so muchrapidity that I lost my senses. But when I found myself on the ground, Ispeedily untied the knot, and had scarcely done so, when the roc, havingtaken up a serpent of a monstrous length in her bill, flew away. 

"The spot where she left me was encompassed on all sides by mountains, that seemed to reach above the clouds, and so steep that there was nopossibility of getting out of the valley. This was a new perplexity: sothat when I compared this place with the desert island from which theroc had brought me I found that I had gained nothing by the change. 

"As I walked through this valley, I perceived it was strewed withdiamonds, some of which were of a surprising bigness. I took pleasure inlooking upon them; but shortly saw at a distance such objects as greatlydiminished my satisfaction, namely, a great number of serpents, somonstrous, that the least of them was capable of swallowing an elephant. They retired in the daytime to their dens, where they hid themselvesfrom the roc, their enemy, and came out only in the night. 

"I spent the day in walking about in the valley, resting myself at timesin such places as I thought most convenient. When night came on, I wentinto a cave, where I thought I might repose in safety. I secured theentrance with a great stone to preserve me from the serpents; but not sofar as to exclude the light. I supped on part of my provisions, but theserpents, which began hissing round me, put me into such extreme fear, that I could not sleep. When day appeared, the serpents retired, and Icame out of the cave trembling. I can justly say, that I walked upondiamonds, without feeling any inclination to touch them. At last I satdown, and notwithstanding my apprehensions, not having closed my eyesduring the night, fell asleep, after having eaten a little more of myprovision. But I had scarcely shut my eyes, when something that fell byme with a great noise awaked me. This was a large piece of raw meat; andat the same time I saw several others fall down from the rocks indifferent places. 

"I had always regarded as fabulous what I had heard sailors and othersrelate of the valley of diamonds, and of the stratagems employed bymerchants to obtain jewels from thence; but now I found that they hadstated nothing but truth. For the fact is, that the merchants come tothe neighbourhood of this valley when the eagles have young ones; and, throwing great joints of meat into the valley, the diamonds upon whosepoints they fall stick to them; the eagles, which are stronger in thiscountry than anywhere else, pounce with great force upon those pieces ofmeat, and carry them to their nests on the rocks to feed their young;the merchants at this time run to the nests, drive off the eagles bytheir shouts, and take away the diamonds that stick to the meat. 

"Until I perceived the device I had concluded it to be impossible for meto leave this abyss, which I regarded as my grave; but now I changed myopinion, and began to think upon the means of my deliverance. I began tocollect the largest diamonds I could find, and put them into the leatherbag in which I used to carry my provisions. I afterward took thelargest of the pieces of meat, tied it close round me with the cloth ofmy turban, and then laid myself upon the ground with my face downward, the bag of diamonds being made fast to my girdle. 

"I had scarcely placed myself in this posture when the eagles came. Eachof them seized a piece of meat, and one of the strongest having taken meup, with the piece of meat to which I was fastened, carried me to hisnest on the top of the mountain. The merchants immediately began theirshouting to frighten the eagles; and when they had obliged them to quittheir prey, one of them came to the nest where I was. He was muchalarmed when he saw me; but recovering himself, instead of inquiring howI came thither, began to quarrel with me, and asked, why I stole hisgoods. 'You will treat me, ' replied I, 'with more civility when you knowme better. Do not be uneasy, I have diamonds enough for you and myself, more than all the other merchants together. What ever they have, theyowe to chance, but I selected for myself in the bottom of the valleythose which you see in this bag. ' I had scarcely done speaking, when theother merchants came crowding about us, much astonished to see me; butthey were much more surprised when I told them my story. 

"They conducted me to their encampment, and there having opened my bag, they were surprised at the largeness of my diamonds, and confessed thatin all the courts which they had visited they had never seen any of suchsize and perfection. I prayed the merchant who owned the nest to which Ihad been carried (for every merchant had his own), to take as many forhis share as he pleased. He contented himself with one, and that theleast of them; and when I pressed him to take more, 'No, ' said he, 'I amvery well satisfied with this, which is valuable enough to save me thetrouble of making any more voyages, and will raise as great a fortune asI desire. '

"I spent the night with the merchants, to whom I related my story asecond time, for the satisfaction of those who had not heard it. I couldnot moderate my joy when I found myself delivered from the danger I havementioned. I thought myself in a dream, and could scarcely believemyself out of danger. 

"The merchants had thrown their pieces of meat into the valley forseveral days, and each of them being satisfied with the diamonds thathad fallen to his lot, we left the place the next morning and travellednear high mountains, where there were serpents of a prodigious length, which we had the good fortune to escape. We took shipping at the firstport we reached, and touched at the isle of Roha, where the trees growthat yield camphire. This tree is so large, and its branches so thick, that one hundred men may easily sit under its shade. The juice of whichthe camphire is made exudes from a hole bored in the upper part of thetree, is received in a vessel, where it thickens to a consistency, andbecomes what we call camphire; after the juice is thus drawn out, thetree withers and dies. 

"In this island is also found the rhinoceros, an animal less than theelephant, but larger than the buffalo. It has a horn upon its nose, about a cubit in length; this horn is solid, and cleft through themiddle. The rhinoceros fights with the elephant, runs his horn into hisbelly, and carries him off upon his head; but the blood and the fat ofthe elephant running into his eyes, and making him blind, he falls tothe ground; and then, strange to relate! the roc comes and carries themboth away in her claws, for food for her young ones. 

"In this island I exchanged some of my diamonds for merchandise. Fromhence we went to other ports, and at last, having touched at severaltrading towns of the continent, we landed at Bussorah, from whence Iproceeded to Bagdad. There I immediately gave large presents to thepoor, and lived honourably upon the vast riches I had gained with somuch fatigue. "

[Illustration]

_The spot where she left me was encompassed on all sides by mountainsthat seemed to reach above the clouds, and so steep that there was nopossibility of getting out of the valley. _

Thus Sinbad ended his relation, gave Hindbad another hundred sequins, and invited him to come the next day to hear the account of the thirdvoyage. 

THE THIRD VOYAGE

"I soon lost the remembrance of the perils I had encountered in my twoformer voyages, " said Sinbad, "and being in the flower of my age, I grewweary of living without business, and went from Bagdad to Bussorah withthe richest commodities of the country. There I embarked again with somemerchants. We made a long voyage and touched at several ports, where wecarried on a considerable trade. One day, being out in the main ocean, we were overtaken by a dreadful tempest, which drove us from our course. The tempest continued several days, and brought us before the port of anisland, which the captain was very unwilling to enter, but we wereobliged to cast anchor. When we had furled our sails, the captain toldus that this, and some other neighbouring islands, were inhabited byhairy savages, who would speedily attack us; and, though they were butdwarfs, yet we must make no resistance, for they were more in numberthan the locusts; and if we happened to kill one of them they would allfall upon us and destroy us. 

"We soon found that what he had told us was but too true; an innumerablemultitude of frightful savages, about two feet high, covered all overwith red hair, came swimming towards us, and encompassed our ship. Theyspoke to us as they came near, but we understood not their language andthey climbed up the sides of the ship with such agility as surprised us. They took down our sails, cut the cables, and hauling to the shore, madeus all get out, and afterward carried the ship into another island, fromwhence they had come. 

"We went forward into the island, where we gathered some fruits andherbs to prolong our lives as long as we could; but we expected nothingbut death. As we advanced, we perceived at a distance a vast pile ofbuildings, and made toward it. We found it to be a palace, elegantlybuilt, and very lofty, with a gate of ebony, which we forced open. Weentered the court, where we saw before us a large apartment, with aporch, having on one side a heap of human bones, and on the other a vastnumber of roasting spits. We trembled at this spectacle, and beingfatigued with travelling, fell to the ground, seized with deadlyapprehension, and lay a long time motionless. 

"The sun set, the gate of the apartment opened with a loud crash, andthere came out the horrible figure of a black man, as tall as a loftypalm-tree. He had but one eye, and that in the middle of his forehead, where it looked as red as a burning coal. His fore-teeth were very longand sharp, and stood out of his mouth, which was as deep as that of ahorse. His upper lip hung down upon his breast. His ears resembled thoseof an elephant, and covered his shoulders; and his nails were as longand crooked as the talons of the greatest birds. At the sight of sofrightful a giant we became insensible, and lay like dead men. 

"At last we came to ourselves, and saw him sitting in the porch lookingat us. When he had considered us well, he advanced toward us, and layinghis hand upon me, took me up by the nape of my neck, and turned me roundas a butcher would do a sheep's head. After having examined me, andperceiving me to be so lean that I had nothing but skin and bone, he letme go. He took up all the rest one by one, and viewed them in the samemanner. The captain being the fattest, he held him with one hand, as Iwould do a sparrow, and thrust a spit through him; he then kindled agreat fire, roasted, and ate him in his apartment for his supper. Havingfinished his repast, he returned to his porch, where he lay and fellasleep, snoring louder than thunder. He slept thus till morning. As toourselves, it was not possible for us to enjoy any rest, so that wepassed the night in the most painful apprehension that can be imagined. When day appeared the giant awoke, got up, went out, and left us in thepalace. 

"When we thought him at a distance, we broke the melancholy silence wehad preserved the whole of the night, and filled the palace with ourlamentations and groans. 

"We spent the day in traversing the island, supporting ourselves withfruits and herbs as we had done the day before. In the evening we soughtfor some place of shelter, but found none; so that we were forced, whether we would or not, to go back to the palace. 

"The giant failed not to return, and supped once more upon one of ourcompanions, after which he slept and snored till day, and then went outand left us as before. Our situation appeared to us so dreadful thatseveral of my comrades designed to throw themselves into the sea, ratherthan die so painful a death, upon which one of the company answered thatit would be much more reasonable to devise some method to rid ourselvesof the monster. 

"Having thought of a project for this purpose, I communicated it to mycomrades, who approved it. 'Brethren, ' said I, 'you know there is muchtimber floating upon the coast; if you will be advised by me, let usmake several rafts capable of bearing us. In the meantime, we willcarry out the design I proposed to you for our deliverance from thegiant, and if it succeed, we may remain here patiently awaiting thearrival of some ship; but if it happen to miscarry, we will take to ourrafts and put to sea. ' My advice was approved, and we made rafts capableof carrying three persons on each. 

"We returned to the palace toward the evening, and the giant arrivedshortly after. We were forced to submit to seeing another of ourcomrades roasted, but at last we revenged ourselves on the brutish giantin the following manner. After he had finished his supper he lay down onhis back and fell asleep. As soon as we heard him snore, according tohis custom, nine of the boldest among us, and myself, took each of us aspit, and putting the points of them into the fire till they wereburning hot, we thrust them into his eye all at once and blinded him. The pain made him break out into a frightful yell: he started up, andstretched out his hands, in order to sacrifice some of us to his rage:but we ran to such places as he could not reach; and after having soughtfor us in vain, he groped for the gate and went out, howling in agony. 

"We quitted the palace after the giant and came to the shore, where wehad left our rafts, and put them immediately to sea. We waited till day, in order to get upon them in case the giant should come toward us withany guide of his own species; but we hoped if he did not appear bysunrise, and gave over his howling, which we still heard, that he wouldprove to be dead; and if that happened, we resolved to stay in thatisland, and not to risk our lives upon the rafts. But day had scarcelyappeared when we perceived our cruel enemy, accompanied with two othersalmost of the same size, leading him; and a great number more comingbefore him at a quick pace. 

"We did not hesitate to take to our rafts, and put to sea with all thespeed we could. The giants, who perceived this, took up great stones, and running to the shore, entered the water up to the middle, and threwso exactly that they sunk all the rafts but that I was upon; and all mycompanions, except the two with me, were drowned. We rowed with all ourmight, and escaped the giants, but when we got out to sea we wereexposed to the mercy of the waves and winds, and spent that night andthe following day under the most painful uncertainty as to our fate; butnext morning we had the good fortune to be thrown upon an island, wherewe landed with much joy. We found excellent fruit, which afforded usgreat relief and recruited our strength. 

"At night we went to sleep on the sea shore; but were awakened by thenoise of a serpent of surprising length and thickness, whose scales madea rustling noise as he wound himself along. It swallowed up one of mycomrades, notwithstanding his loud cries, and the efforts he made toextricate himself from it; dashing him several times against the ground, it crushed him, and we could hear it gnaw and tear the poor wretch'sbones, though we had fled to a considerable distance. 

"As we walked about, when day returned, we saw a tall tree, upon whichwe designed to pass the following night, for our security; and havingsatisfied our hunger with fruit, we mounted it before the dusk hadfallen. Shortly after, the serpent came hissing to the foot of the tree;raised itself up against the trunk of it, and meeting with my comrade, who sat lower than I, swallowed him at once, and went off. 

"I remained upon the tree till it was day, and then came down, more likea dead man than one alive, expecting the same fate as my two companions. This filled me with horror, and I advanced some steps to throw myselfinto the sea; but I withstood this dictate of despair, and submittedmyself to the will of God. 

"In the meantime I collected a great quantity of small wood, brambles, and dry thorns, and making them up into faggots, made a wide circle withthem round the tree, and also tied some of them to the branches over myhead. Having done this, when the evening came I shut myself up withinthis circle, feeling that I had neglected nothing which could preserveme from the cruel destiny with which I was threatened. The serpentfailed not to come at the usual hour, and went round the tree, seekingfor an opportunity to devour me, but was prevented by the rampart I hadmade; so that he lay till day, like a cat watching in vain for a mousethat has fortunately reached a place of safety. When day appeared heretired, but I dared not to leave my fort until the sun arose. 

"I felt so much fatigued by the labour to which it had put me, andsuffered so much from the serpent's poisonous breath, that death seemedmore eligible to me than the horrors of such a state. I came down fromthe tree, and was going to throw myself into the sea, when God tookcompassion on me and I perceived a ship at a considerable distance. Icalled as loud as I could, and taking the linen from my turban, displayed it, that they might observe me. This had the desired effect;the crew perceived me, and the captain sent his boat for me. As soon asI came on board, the merchants and seamen flocked about me, to know howI came into that desert island; and after I had related to them all thathad befallen me, the oldest among them said that they had often heard ofthe giants that dwelt in that island, that they were cannibals; and asto the serpents, they added, that there were abundance of them that hidthemselves by day, and came abroad by night. After having testifiedtheir joy at my escaping so many dangers, they brought me the best oftheir provisions; and the captain, seeing that I was in rags, was sogenerous as to give me one of his own suits. We continued at sea forsome time, touched at several islands, and at last landed at that ofSalabat, where sandal wood is obtained, which is of great use inmedicine. We entered the port, and came to anchor. The merchants beganto unload their goods, in order to sell or exchange them. In themeantime, the captain came to me and said: 'Brother, I have here somegoods that belonged to a merchant, who sailed some time on board thisship, and he being dead, I design to dispose of them for the benefit ofhis heirs. ' The bales he spoke of lay on the deck, and showing them tome, he said: 'There are the goods; I hope you will take care to sellthem, and you shall have factorage. ' I thanked him for thus affording mean opportunity of employing myself, because I hated to be idle. 

"The clerk of the ship took an account of all the bales, with the namesof the merchants to whom they belonged, and when he asked the captain inwhose name he should enter those he had given me the charge of, 'Enterthem, ' said the captain, 'in the name of Sinbad. ' I could not hearmyself named without some emotion; and looking steadfastly on thecaptain, I knew him to be the person who, in my second voyage, had leftme in the island where I fell asleep. 

"I was not surprised that he, believing me to be dead, did not recogniseme. 'Captain, ' said I, 'was the merchant's name, to whom those balesbelonged, Sinbad?' 'Yes, ' replied he, 'that was his name; he came fromBagdad, and embarked on board my ship at Bussorah. ' 'You believe him, then, to be dead?' said I. 'Certainly, ' answered he. 'No, captain, 'resumed I; 'look at me, and you may know that I am Sinbad. '

"The captain, having considered me attentively, recognised me. 'God bepraised, ' said he, embracing me, 'I rejoice that fortune has rectifiedmy fault. There are your goods, which I always took care to preserve. ' Itook them from him, and made him the acknowledgments to which he wasentitled. 

"From the isle of Salabat, we went to another, where I furnished myselfwith cloves, cinnamon, and other spices. As we sailed from this island, we saw a tortoise twenty cubits in length and breadth. We observed alsoan amphibious animal like a cow, which gave milk; its skin is so hard, that they usually make bucklers of it. 

"In short, after a long voyage I arrived at Bussorah, and from thencereturned to Bagdad, with so much wealth that I knew not its extent. Igave a great deal to the poor, and bought another considerable estate inaddition to what I had already. "

[Illustration]

_Having finished his repast, he returned to his porch, where he lay andfell asleep, snoring louder than thunder. _

Thus Sinbad finished the history of his third voyage; gave anotherhundred sequins to Hindbad, and invited him to dinner again the next dayto hear the story of his fourth series of adventures. 

THE FOURTH VOYAGE

"The pleasures which I enjoyed after my third voyage had not charmssufficient to divert me from another. My passion for trade, and my loveof novelty, again prevailed. I therefore settled my affairs, and havingprovided a stock of goods fit for the traffic I designed to engage in, Iset out on my journey. I took the route of Persia, travelled overseveral provinces, and then arrived at a port, where I embarked. Wehoisted our sails, and touched at several ports of the continent, andthen put out to sea; when we were overtaken by such a sudden gust ofwind, as obliged the captain to lower his yards, and take all othernecessary precautions to prevent the danger that threatened us. But allwas in vain; our endeavours had no effect, the sails were split in athousand pieces, and the ship was stranded; several of the merchants andseamen were drowned, and the cargo was lost. 

"I had the good fortune, with several of the merchants and mariners, toget upon some planks, and we were carried by the current to an islandwhich lay before us. There we found fruit and spring water, whichpreserved our lives. We stayed all night near the place where we hadbeen cast ashore and next morning, as soon as the sun was up, advancinginto the island, saw some houses, which we approached. As soon as wedrew near, we were encompassed by a great number of negroes, who seizedus and carried us to their respective habitations. 

"I, and five of my comrades, were carried to one place; here they madeus sit down, and gave us a certain herb, which they made signs to us toeat. My comrades, not taking notice that the blacks ate none of itthemselves, thought only of satisfying their hunger, and ate withgreediness. But I, suspecting some trick, would not so much as taste it, which happened well for me; for in a little time after, I perceived mycompanions had lost their senses, and that when they spoke to me, theyknew not what they said. 

"The negroes fed us afterward with rice, prepared with oil ofcocoa-nuts; and my comrades, who had lost their reason, ate of itgreedily. I also partook of it, but very sparingly. They gave us thatherb at first on purpose to deprive us of our senses, that we might notbe aware of the sad destiny prepared for us; and they supplied us withrice to fatten us; for, being cannibals, their design was to eat us assoon as we grew fat. This accordingly happened, for they devoured mycomrades, who were not sensible of their condition; but my senses beingentire, you may easily guess that instead of growing fat I grew leanerevery day. The fear of death under which I laboured caused me to fallinto a languishing distemper, which proved my safety; for the negroes, having eaten my companions, seeing me to be withered, and sick, deferredmy death. 

"Meanwhile I had much liberty, so that scarcely any notice was taken ofwhat I did, and this gave me an opportunity one day to get at a distancefrom the houses and to make my escape. An old man, who saw me andsuspected my design, called to me as loud as he could to return; but Iredoubled my speed, and quickly got out of sight. At that time there wasnone but the old man about the houses, the rest being abroad, and not toreturn till night, which was usual with them. Therefore, being sure thatthey could not arrive in time enough to pursue me, I went on till night, when I stopped to rest a little, and to eat some of the provisions I hadsecured; but I speedily set forward again, and travelled seven days, avoiding those places which seemed to be inhabited, and lived for themost part upon cocoa-nuts, which served me both for meat and drink. Onthe eighth day I came near the sea, and saw some white people likemyself, gathering pepper, of which there was great plenty in that place. This I took to be a good omen, and went to them without any scruple. They came to meet me as soon as they saw me, and asked me in Arabic whoI was, and whence I came. I was overjoyed to hear them speak in my ownlanguage, and satisfied their curiosity by giving them an account of myshipwreck, and how I fell into the hands of the negroes. 'Thosenegroes, ' replied they, 'eat men, and by what miracle did you escapetheir cruelty?' I related to them the circumstances I have justmentioned, at which they were wonderfully surprised. 

"I stayed with them till they had gathered their quantity of pepper, andthen sailed with them to the island from whence they had come. Theypresented me to their king, who was a good prince. He had the patienceto hear the relation of my adventures; and he afterward gave me clothes, and commanded care to be taken of me. 

"The island was very well peopled, plentiful in everything, and thecapital a place of great trade. This agreeable retreat was verycomfortable to me, after my misfortunes, and the kindness of thisgenerous prince completed my satisfaction. In a word, there was not aperson more in favour with him than myself; and consequently every manin court and city sought to oblige me; so that in a very little time Iwas looked upon rather as a native than a stranger. 

"I observed one thing which to me appeared very extraordinary. All thepeople, the king himself not excepted, rode their horses without bridleor stirrups. This made me one day take the liberty to ask the king howit came to pass. His Majesty answered, that I talked to him of thingswhich nobody knew the use of in his dominions. 

"I went immediately to a workman, and gave him a model for making thestock of a saddle. When that was done, I covered it myself with velvetand leather, and embroidered it with gold. I afterward went to a smith, who made me a bit, according to the pattern I showed him, and also somestirrups. When I had all things completed, I presented them to the king, and put them upon one of his horses. His Majesty mounted immediately, and was so pleased with them, that he testified his satisfaction bylarge presents. 

"As I paid my court very constantly to the king, he said to me one day:'Sinbad, I love thee and I have one thing to demand of thee, which thoumust grant. ' 'Sir, ' answered I, 'there is nothing but I will do, as amark of my obedience to your Majesty. ' 'I have a mind thou shouldstmarry, ' replied he, 'that so thou mayest stay in my dominions, and thinkno more of thy own country. ' I durst not resist the prince's will, andhe gave me one of the ladies of his court, noble, beautiful, and rich. The ceremonies of marriage being over, I went and dwelt with my wife, and for some time we lived together in perfect harmony. I was not, however, satisfied with my banishment, therefore designed to make myescape the first opportunity, and to return to Bagdad. 

"At this time the wife of one of my neighbours fell sick, and died. Iwent to see and comfort him in his affliction, and finding him absorbedin sorrow, I said to him as soon as I saw him: 'God preserve you andgrant you a long life. ' 'Alas!' replied he, 'how do you think I shouldobtain the favour you wish me? I have not above an hour to live. ''Pray, ' said I, 'do not entertain such a melancholy thought; I hope Ishall enjoy your company many years. ' 'I wish you, ' he replied, 'a longlife; but my days are at an end, for I must be buried this day with mywife. This is a law which our ancestors established in this island, andit is always observed. The living husband is interred with the deadwife, and the living wife with the dead husband. Nothing can save me;every one must submit to this law. '

"While he was giving me an account of this barbarous custom, the veryrelation of which chilled my blood, his kindred, friends, and neighbourscame in a body to assist at the funeral. They dressed the corpse of thewoman in her richest apparel, and all her jewels, as if it had been herwedding day; then they placed her in an open coffin, and began theirmarch to the place of burial, the husband walking at the head of thecompany. They proceeded to a high mountain, and when they had reachedthe place of their destination, they took up a large stone, whichcovered the mouth of a deep pit, and let down the corpse with all itsapparel and jewels. Then the husband embracing his kindred and friends, suffered himself, without resistance, to be put into another open coffinwith a pot of water, and seven small loaves, and was let down in thesame manner. The ceremony being over, the aperture was again coveredwith the stone, and the company returned. 

"It is needless for me to tell you that I was a melancholy spectator ofthis funeral, while the rest were scarcely moved, the custom was to themso familiar. I could not forbear communicating to the king my sentimentrespecting the practice: 'Sir, ' I said, 'I cannot but feel astonished atthe strange usage observed in this country, of burying the living withthe dead. I have been a great traveller, and seen many countries, butnever heard of so cruel a law. ' 'What do you mean, Sinbad?' replied theking: 'it is a common law. I shall be interred with the queen, my wife, if she die first. ' 'But, sir, ' said I, 'may I presume to ask yourMajesty, if strangers be obliged to observe this law?' 'Without doubt, 'returned the king; 'they are not exempted, if they be married in thisisland. '

"I returned home much depressed by this answer; for the fear of mywife's dying first and that I should be interred alive with her, occasioned me very uneasy reflections. But there was no remedy; I musthave patience, and submit to the will of God. I trembled, however, atevery little indisposition of my wife, and, alas! in a little time myfears were realised, for she fell sick and died. 

"The king and all his court expressed their wish to honour the funeralwith their presence, and the most considerable people of the city didthe same. When all was ready for the ceremony, the corpse was put into acoffin with all her jewels and her most magnificent apparel. Theprocession began, and as second actor in this doleful tragedy, I wentnext the corpse, with my eyes full of tears, bewailing my deplorablefate. Before we reached the mountain, I made an attempt to affect theminds of the spectators: I addressed myself to the king first, and thento all those that were round me; bowing before them to the earth, andkissing the border of their garments, I prayed them to have compassionupon me. 'Consider, ' said I, 'that I am a stranger, and ought not to besubject to this rigorous law, and that I have another wife and childrenin my own country. ' Although I spoke in the most pathetic manner, no onewas moved by my address; on the contrary, they ridiculed my dread ofdeath as cowardly, made haste to let my wife's corpse into the pit, andlowered me down the next moment in an open coffin with a vessel full ofwater and seven loaves. 

"As I approached the bottom, I discovered by the aid of the little lightthat came from above the nature of this subterranean place; it seemed anendless cavern, and might be about fifty fathoms deep. 

"Instead of losing my courage and calling death to my assistance in thatmiserable condition, however, I felt still an inclination to live, andto do all I could to prolong my days. I went groping about, for thebread and water that was in my coffin, and took some of it. Though thedarkness of the cave was so great that I could not distinguish day andnight, yet I always found my coffin again, and the cave seemed to bemore spacious than it had appeared to be at first. I lived for some daysupon my bread and water, which being all spent, I at last prepared fordeath. 

"I was offering up my last devotions when I heard something tread, andbreathing or panting as it walked. I advanced toward that side fromwhence I heard the noise, and on my approach the creature puffed andblew harder, as if running away from me. I followed the noise, and thething seemed to stop sometimes, but always fled and blew as Iapproached. I pursued it for a considerable time, till at last Iperceived a light, resembling a star; I went on, sometimes lost sight ofit, but always found it again, and at last discovered that it camethrough a hole in the rock, large enough to admit a man. 

"Upon this, I stopped some time to rest, being much fatigued with therapidity of my progress: afterward coming up to the hole, I got through, and found myself upon the seashore. I leave you to guess the excess ofmy joy: it was such that I could scarcely persuade myself that the wholewas not a dream. 

"But when I was recovered from my surprise, and convinced of the realityof my escape, I perceived what I had followed to be a creature whichcame out of the sea, and was accustomed to enter the cavern when thetides were high. 

"I examined the mountain, and found it to be situated betwixt the seaand the town, but without any passage to or communication with thelatter; the rocks on the sea side being high and perpendicularly steep. I prostrated myself on the shore to thank God for this mercy, andafterward entered the cave again to fetch bread and water, which I ateby daylight with a better appetite than I had done since my interment inthe dark cavern. 

"I returned thither a second time, and groped among the coffins for allthe diamonds, rubies, pearls, gold bracelets, and rich stuffs I couldfind; these I brought to the shore, and tying them up neatly intobales, I laid them together upon the beach, waiting till some ship mightappear. 

"After two or three days, I perceived a ship just come out of theharbour, making for the place where I was. I made a sign with the linenof my turban, and called to the crew as loud as I could. They heard me, and sent a boat to bring me on board, when they asked by what misfortuneI came thither; I told them that I had suffered shipwreck two daysbefore, and made shift to get ashore with the goods they saw. It wasfortunate for me that these people did not consider the place where Iwas, nor inquire into the probability of what I told them; but withouthesitation took me on board. When I came to the ship, the captain was sowell pleased to have saved me, and so much taken up with his ownaffairs, that he also took the story of my pretended shipwreck upontrust, and generously refused some jewels which I offered him. 

"We passed by several islands, and among others that called the isle ofBells, about ten days' sail from Serendib, and six from that of Kela, where we landed. This island produces lead mines, Indian canes, andexcellent camphire. 

"The King of the isle of Kela is very rich and powerful, and the isle ofBells, which is about two days' journey in extent, is also subject tohim. The inhabitants are so barbarous that they still eat human flesh. After we had finished our traffic in that island, we put to sea again, and touched at several other ports; at last I arrived happily at Bagdadwith infinite riches. Out of gratitude to God for His mercies, Icontributed liberally toward the support of several mosques, and thesubsistence of the poor, and gave myself up to the society of my kindredand friends, enjoying myself with them in festivities and amusements. "

Here Sinbad finished the relation of his fourth voyage. He made a newpresent of one hundred sequins to Hindbad, whom he requested to returnwith the rest next day at the same hour to dine with him, and hear thestory of his fifth voyage. Hindbad and the other guests took their leaveand retired. Next morning when they all met, they sat down at table, andwhen dinner was over, Sinbad began the relation of his fifth voyage asfollows:

THE FIFTH VOYAGE

"All the troubles and calamities I had undergone, " said he, "could notcure me of my inclination to make new voyages. I therefore bought goods, departed with them for the best seaport; and that I might not be obligedto depend upon a captain, but have a ship at my own command, I remainedthere till one was built on purpose. When the ship was ready, I went onboard with my goods: but not having enough to load her, I agreed to takewith me several merchants of different nations with their merchandise. 

"We sailed with the first fair wind, and after a long navigation, thefirst place we touched at was a desert island, where we found an egg ofa roc, equal in size to that I formerly mentioned. There was a young rocin it just ready to be hatched, and its bill had begun to appear. Themerchants whom I had taken on board, and who landed with me, broke theegg with hatchets, pulled out the young roc, piecemeal, and roasted it. I had earnestly entreated them not to meddle with the egg, but theywould not listen to me. 

"Scarcely had they finished their repast, when there appeared in the airat a considerable distance from us two great clouds. The captain whom Ihad hired to navigate my ship, said they were the male and female rocthat belonged to the young one and pressed us to re-embark with allspeed, to prevent the misfortune which he saw would otherwise befall us. We hastened on board, and set sail with all possible expedition. 

"In the meantime, the two rocs approached with a frightful noise, whichthey redoubled when they saw the egg broken, and their young one gone. They flew back in the direction they had come, and disappeared for sometime, while we made all the sail we could to endeavour to prevent thatwhich unhappily befell us. 

"They soon returned, and we observed that each of them carried betweenits talons rocks of a monstrous size. When they came directly over myship, they hovered, and one of them let fall a stone, but by thedexterity of the steersman it missed us. The other roc, to ourmisfortune, threw his burden so exactly upon the middle of the ship, asto split it into a thousand pieces. The mariners and passengers were allcrushed to death, or sank. I myself was of the number of the latter; butas I came up again, I fortunately caught hold of a piece of the wreck, and swimming sometimes with one hand, and sometimes with the other, Icame to an island, and got safely ashore. 

"I sat down upon the grass, to recover myself from my fatigue, afterwhich I went into the island to explore it. I found trees everywhere, some of them bearing green, and others ripe fruits, and streams of freshpure water. I ate of the fruits, which I found excellent; and drank ofthe water, which was very good. 

"When I was a little advanced into the island, I saw an old man, whoappeared very weak and infirm. He was sitting on the bank of a stream, and at first I took him to be one who had been shipwrecked like myself. I went toward him and saluted him, but he only slightly bowed his head. I asked him why he sat so still, but instead of answering me, he made asign for me to take him upon my back, and carry him over the brook, signifying that it was to gather fruit. 

"I believed him really to stand in need of my assistance, took him uponmy back, and having carried him over, bade him get down, and for thatend stooped, that he might get off with ease; but instead of doing so(which I laugh at every time I think of it) the old man, who to meappeared quite decrepit, clasped his legs nimbly about my neck. He satastride upon my shoulders, and held my throat so tight, that I thoughthe would have strangled me, the apprehension of which made me swoon andfall down. 

"Notwithstanding my fainting, the ill-natured old fellow kept fast aboutmy neck, but opened his legs a little to give me time to recover mybreath. When I had done so, he thrust one of his feet against mystomach, and struck me so rudely on the side with the other that heforced me to rise up against my will. Having arisen, he made me walkunder the trees, and forced me now and then to stop, to gather and eatfruit. He never left me all day, and when I lay down to rest at night, laid himself down with me, holding always fast about my neck. Everymorning he pushed me to make me awake, and afterward obliged me to getup and walk, and pressed me with his feet. 

"One day I found in my way several dry calabashes that had fallen from atree. I took a large one, and after cleaning it, pressed into it somejuice of grapes, which abounded in the island; having filled thecalabash, I put it by in a convenient place, and going thither againsome days after, I tasted it, and found the wine so good, that it soonmade me forget my sorrow, gave me new vigour, and so exhilarated myspirits, that I began to sing and dance as I walked along. 

"The old man, perceiving the effect which this liquor had upon me, andthat I carried him with more ease than before, made me a sign to givehim some of it. I handed him the calabash, and the liquor pleasing hispalate, he drank it all off. There being a considerable quantity of it, he became intoxicated, and the fumes getting up into his head, he beganto sing after his manner, and to dance, thus loosening his legs fromabout me by degrees. Finding that he did not press me as before, I threwhim upon the ground, where he lay without motion; I then took up a greatstone, and crushed him. 

"I was extremely glad to be thus freed forever from this troublesomefellow. I now walked toward the beach, where I met the crew of a shipthat had cast anchor, to take in water. They were surprised to see me, but more so at hearing the particulars of my adventures. 'You fell, 'said they, 'into the hands of the Old Man of the Sea, and are the firstwho ever escaped strangling by his malicious tricks. He never quitsthose he has once made himself master of till he has destroyed them, andhe has made this island notorious by the number of men he has slain. '

"After having informed me of these things, they carried me with them tothe ship, and the captain received me with great kindness, when theytold him what had befallen me. He put out again to sea, and after somedays' sail, we arrived at the harbour of a great city. 

"One of the merchants who had taken me into his friendship invited me togo along with him, and carried me to a place appointed for theaccommodation of foreign merchants. He gave me a large bag, and havingrecommended me to some people of the town, who used to gathercocoa-nuts, desired them to take me with them. 'Go, ' said he, 'followthem, and act as you see them do, but do not separate from them, otherwise you may endanger your life. ' Having thus spoken, he gave meprovisions for the journey, and I went with them. 

"We came to a thick forest of cocoa-trees, very lofty, with trunks sosmooth that it was not possible to climb to the branches that bore thefruit. When we entered the forest we saw a great number of apes ofseveral sizes, who fled as soon as they perceived us, and climbed up tothe top of the trees with surprising swiftness. 

"The merchants with whom I was, gathered stones and threw them at theapes on the trees. I did the same, and the apes out of revenge threwcocoa-nuts at us so fast, and with such gestures, as sufficientlytestified their anger and resentment. We gathered up the cocoa-nuts, andfrom time to time threw stones to provoke the apes; so that by thisstratagem we filled our bags with cocoa-nuts, which it had beenimpossible otherwise to have done. 

"When we had gathered our number, we returned to the city, where themerchant who had sent me to the forest gave me the value of the cocoas Ibrought: 'Go on, ' said he, 'and do the like every day, until you havegot money enough to carry you home. ' I thanked him for his advice, andgradually collected as many cocoa-nuts as produced me a considerablesum. 

"The vessel in which I had come sailed with some merchants who loadedher with cocoa-nuts. I embarked in her all the nuts I had, and when shewas ready to sail took leave of the merchant who had been so kind to me. 

"We sailed toward the islands, where pepper grows in great plenty. Fromthence we went to the isle of Comari, where the best species of wood ofaloes grows. I exchanged my cocoa in those two islands for pepper andwood of aloes, and went with other merchants a pearl-fishing. I hireddivers, who brought me up some that were very large and pure. I embarkedin a vessel that happily arrived at Bussorah; from thence I returned toBagdad, where I made vast sums from my pepper, wood of aloes, andpearls. I gave the tenth of my gains in alms, as I had done upon myreturn from my other voyages, and endeavoured to dissipate my fatiguesby amusements of different kinds. "

When Sinbad had finished his story, he ordered one hundred sequins to begiven to Hindbad, who retired with the other guests; but next morningthe same company returned to dine; when Sinbad requested theirattention, and gave the following account of his sixth voyage:

THE SIXTH VOYAGE

"You long without doubt to know, " said he, "how, after having beenshipwrecked five times, and escaped so many dangers, I could resolveagain to tempt fortune, and expose myself to new hardships. I am, myself, astonished at my conduct when I reflect upon it, and mustcertainly have been actuated by my destiny. But be that as it may, aftera year's rest I prepared for a sixth voyage, notwithstanding theentreaties of my kindred, who did all in their power to dissuade me. 

"Instead of taking my way by the Persian Gulf, I travelled once morethrough several provinces of Persia and the Indies, and arrived at aseaport, where I embarked in a ship, the captain of which was bound on along voyage. It was long indeed, for the captain and pilot lost theircourse. They, however, at last discovered where they were, but we had noreason to rejoice at the circumstance. Suddenly we saw the captain quithis post, uttering loud lamentations. He threw off his turban, pulledhis beard, and beat his head like a madman. We asked him the reason, and he answered, that he was in the most dangerous place in all theocean. 'A rapid current carries the ship along with it, ' said he, 'andwe shall all perish in less than a quarter of an hour. Pray to God todeliver us from this peril; we cannot escape, if He do not take pity onus. ' At these words he ordered the sails to be lowered; but all theropes broke, and the ship was carried by the current to the foot of aninaccessible mountain, where she struck and went to pieces, yet in sucha manner that we saved our lives, our provisions, and the best of ourgoods. 

"This being over, the captain said to us: 'God has done what pleasedHim. Each of us may dig his grave, and bid the world adieu; for we areall in so fatal a place, that none shipwrecked here ever returned totheir homes. ' His discourse afflicted us sensibly, and we embraced eachother, bewailing our deplorable lot. 

"The mountain at the foot of which we were wrecked formed part of thecoast of a very large island. It was covered with wrecks, with humanbones, and with a vast quantity of goods and riches. In all otherplaces, rivers run from their channels into the sea, but here a river offresh water runs out of the sea into a dark cavern, whose entrance isvery high and spacious. What is most remarkable in this place is, thatthe stones of the mountain are of crystal, rubies, or other preciousstones. Here is also a sort of fountain of pitch or bitumen, that runsinto the sea, which the fish swallow, and turn into ambergris: and thisthe waves throw up on the beach in great quantities. Trees also growhere, most of which are wood of aloes, equal in goodness to those ofComari. 

"To finish the description of this place, which may well be called agulf, since nothing ever returns from it, it is not possible for shipsto get off when once they approach within a certain distance. If theybe driven thither by a wind from the sea, the wind and the current impelthem; and if they come into it when a land-wind blows, the height of themountain stops the wind, and occasions a calm, so that the force of thecurrent carries them ashore: and what completes the misfortune is, thatthere is no possibility of ascending the mountain, or of escaping bysea. 

"We continued upon the shore in a state of despair, and expected deathevery day. At first we divided our provisions as equally as we could, and thus every one lived a longer or shorter time, according to histemperance, and the use he made of his provisions. 

"I survived all my companions, yet when I buried the last, I had solittle provision remaining that I thought I could not long endure and Idug a grave, resolving to lie down in it because there was no one leftto inter me. 

"But it pleased God once more to take compassion on me, and put it in mymind to go to the bank of the river which ran into the great cavern. Considering its probable course with great attention, I said to myself:'This river, which runs thus under ground, must somewhere have an issue. If I make a raft, and leave myself to the current, it will convey me tosome inhabited country, or I shall perish. If I be drowned, I losenothing, but only change one kind of death for another. '

"I immediately went to work upon large pieces of timber and cables, forI had choice of them, and tied them together so strongly that I soonmade a very solid raft. When I had finished, I loaded it with rubies, emeralds, ambergris, rock-crystal, and bales of rich stuffs. Havingbalanced my cargo exactly, and fastened it well to the raft, I went onboard with two oars that I had made, and leaving it to the course of theriver, resigned myself to the will of God. 

"As soon as I entered the cavern I lost all light, and the streamcarried me I knew not whither. Thus I floated some days in perfectdarkness, and once found the arch so low, that it very nearly touched myhead, which made me cautious afterward to avoid the like danger. Allthis while I ate nothing but what was just necessary to support nature;yet, notwithstanding my frugality, all my provisions were spent. Then apleasing stupor seized upon me. I cannot tell how long it continued; butwhen I revived, I was surprised to find myself in an extensive plain onthe brink of a river, where my raft was tied, amidst a great number ofnegroes. I got up as soon as I saw them, and saluted them. They spoke tome, but I did not understand their language. I was so transported withjoy, that I knew not whether I was asleep or awake; but being persuadedthat I was not asleep, I recited aloud the following words in Arabic:'Call upon the Almighty, He will help thee; thou needest not perplexthyself about anything else: shut thy eyes, and while thou art asleep, God will change thy bad fortune into good. '

"One of the blacks, who understood Arabic, hearing me speak thus, cametoward me and said: 'Brother, be not surprised to see us; we areinhabitants of this country, and came hither to-day to water our fields. We observed something floating upon the water, and, perceiving yourraft, one of us swam into the river and brought it hither, where wefastened it, as you see, until you should awake. Pray tell us yourhistory, for it must be extraordinary; how did you venture yourself intothis river, and whence did you come?' I begged of them first to give mesomething to eat, and then I would satisfy their curiosity. They gave meseveral sorts of food, and when I had satisfied my hunger, I related allthat had befallen me, which they listened to with attentive surprise. Assoon as I had finished, they told me, by the person who spoke Arabicand interpreted to them what I said, that it was one of the mostwonderful stories they had ever heard, and that I must go along withthem, and tell it to their king myself; it being too extraordinary to berelated by any other than the person to whom the events had happened. 

"They immediately sent for a horse, which was brought in a little time;and having helped me to mount, some of them walked before to shew theway, while the rest took my raft and cargo and followed. 

"We marched till we came to the capital of Serendib, for it was in thatisland I had landed. The blacks presented me to their king; I approachedhis throne, and saluted him as I used to do the Kings of the Indies;that is to say, I prostrated myself at his feet. The prince ordered meto rise, received me with an obliging air, and made me sit down nearhim. 

"I related to the king all that I have told you, and his majesty was sosurprised and pleased, that he commanded my adventures to be written inletters of gold, and laid up in the archives of his kingdom. At last myraft was brought in, and the bales opened in his presence: he admiredthe quantity of wood of aloes and ambergris; but, above all, the rubiesand emeralds, for he had none in his treasury that equalled them. 

"Observing that he looked on my jewels with pleasure, I fell prostrateat his feet, and took the liberty to say to him: 'Sir, not only myperson is at your majesty's service, but the cargo of the raft, and Iwould beg of you to dispose of it as your own. ' He answered me with asmile: 'Sinbad, I will take care not to covet anything of yours, or totake anything from you that God has given you; far from lessening yourwealth, I design to augment it, and will not let you quit my dominionswithout marks of my liberality. ' He then charged one of his officers totake care of me, and ordered people to serve me at his own expense. Theofficer was very faithful in the execution of his commission, and causedall the goods to be carried to the lodgings provided for me. 

"I went every day at a set hour to make my court to the king, and spentthe rest of my time in viewing the city, and what was most worthy ofnotice. 

"The capital of Serendib stands at the end of a fine valley, in themiddle of the island, encompassed by mountains the highest in the world. Rubies and several sorts of minerals abound, and the rocks are for themost part composed of a metalline stone made use of to cut and polishother precious stones. All kinds of rare plants and trees grow there, especially cedars and cocoa-nut. There is also a pearl-fishing in themouth of its principal river; and in some of its valleys are founddiamonds. I made, by way of devotion, a pilgrimage to the place whereAdam was confined after his banishment from Paradise, and had thecuriosity to go to the top of the mountain. 

"When I returned to the city, I prayed the king to allow me to return tomy own country, and he granted me permission in the most honourablemanner. He would needs force a rich present upon me; and when I went totake my leave of him, he gave me one much more considerable, and at thesame time charged me with a letter for the Commander of the Faithful, our sovereign, saying to me: 'I pray you give this present from me, andthis letter, to the Caliph, and assure him of my friendship. ' I took thepresent and letter and promised his majesty punctually to execute thecommission with which he was pleased to honour me. 

"The letter from the King of Serendib was written on the skin of acertain animal of great value, because of its being so scarce, and of ayellowish colour. The characters of this letter were of azure, and thecontents as follows:

 "'The King of the Indies, before whom march one hundred elephants, who lives in a palace that shines with one hundred thousand rubies, and who has in his treasury twenty thousand crowns enriched with diamonds, to Caliph Haroun-al-Raschid:--

 "'Though the present we send you be inconsiderable, receive it, however, as a brother, in consideration of the hearty friendship which we bear for you, and of which we are willing to give you proof. We desire the same part in your friendship, considering that we believe it to be our merit, being of the same dignity with yourself. We conjure you this in quality of a brother. Adieu. '

"The present consisted, first, of one single ruby made into a cup, abouthalf a foot high, an inch thick, and filled with round pearls of half adrachm each. 2. The skin of a serpent, whose scales were as large as anordinary piece of gold, and had the virtue to preserve from sicknessthose who lay upon it. 3. Fifty thousand drachms of the best wood ofaloes, with thirty grains of camphire as big as pistachios. And, 4. Afemale slave of ravishing beauty, whose apparel was all covered overwith jewels. 

"The ship set sail, and after a very successful navigation we landed atBussorah, and from thence I went to Bagdad, where the first thing I didwas to acquit myself of my commission. 

"I took the king of Serendib's letter and went to present myself at thegate of the Commander of the Faithful, followed by the beautiful slave, and such of my own family as carried the gifts. I stated the reason ofmy coming, and was immediately conducted to the throne of the caliph. Imade my reverence, and, after a short speech, gave him the letter andpresent. When he had read what the king of Serendib wrote to him, heasked me if the prince were really so rich and potent as he representedhimself in his letter. I prostrated myself a second time, and risingagain, said: 'Commander of the Faithful, I can assure your majesty hedoth not exceed the truth. Nothing is more worthy of admiration than themagnificence of his palace. When the prince appears in public he has athrone fixed on the back of an elephant, and marches betwixt two ranksof his ministers, favourites, and other people of his court; before him, upon the same elephant, an officer carries a golden lance in his hand;and behind the throne there is another, who stands upright, with acolumn of gold, on the top of which is an emerald half a foot long andan inch thick; before him march a guard of one thousand men, clad incloth of gold and silk, and mounted on elephants richly caparisoned. 

"While the king is on his march, the officer who is before him on thesame elephant cries from time to time, with a loud voice: 'Behold thegreat monarch, the potent and redoubtable Sultan of the Indies, whosepalace is covered with one hundred thousand rubies, and who possessestwenty thousand crowns of diamonds. Behold the monarch greater thanSolomon, and the powerful Maha-raja. ' After he has pronounced thosewords, the officer behind the throne cries in his turn: 'This monarch, so great and so powerful, must die, must die, must die. ' And the officerbefore replies: 'Praise be to him who liveth for ever. '

"Furthermore, the King of Serendib is so just that there are no judgesin his dominions. His people have no need of them. They understand andobserve justice rigidly of themselves. '

"The caliph was much pleased with my account. 'The wisdom of that king, 'said he, 'appears in his letter, and after what you tell me, I mustconfess, that his wisdom is worthy of his people, and his people deserveso wise a prince. ' Having spoken thus, he dismissed me, and sent me homewith a rich present. "

Sinbad left off, and his company retired, Hindbad having first receivedone hundred sequins; and next day they returned to hear the relation ofhis seventh and last voyage. 

THE SEVENTH AND LAST VOYAGE

"Being returned from my sixth voyage, " said Sinbad, "I absolutely laidaside all thoughts of travelling; for, besides that my age now requiredrest, I was resolved no more to expose myself to such risks as I hadencountered; so that I thought of nothing but to pass the rest of mydays in tranquillity. One day, however, as I was treating my friends, one of my servants came and told me that an officer of the caliph'sinquired for me. I rose from table, and went to him. 'The caliph, ' saidhe, 'has sent me to tell you that he must speak with you. ' I followedthe officer to the palace, where, being presented to the caliph, Isaluted him by prostrating myself at his feet. 'Sinbad, ' said he to me, 'I stand in need of your service; you must carry my answer and presentto the King of Serendib. It is but just I should return his civility. '

"This command of the caliph was to me like a clap of thunder. 'Commanderof the Faithful, ' I replied, 'I am ready to do whatever your majestyshall think fit to command; but I beseech you most humbly to considerwhat I have undergone. I have also made a vow never to go out ofBagdad. ' Hence I took occasion to give him a full and particular accountof all my adventures, which he had the patience to hear out. 

"As soon as I had finished, 'I confess, ' said he, 'that the things youtell me are very extraordinary, yet you must for my sake undertake thisvoyage which I propose to you. You will only have to go to the isle ofSerendib, and deliver the commission which I give you, for you know itwould not comport with my dignity to be indebted to the king of thatisland. ' Perceiving that the caliph insisted upon my compliance, Isubmitted, and told him that I was willing to obey. He was very wellpleased, and ordered me one thousand sequins for the expenses of myjourney. 

"I prepared for my departure in a few days, and as soon as the caliph'sletter and present were delivered to me, I went to Bussorah, where Iembarked, and had a very happy voyage. Having arrived at the isle ofSerendib, I acquainted the king's ministers with my commission, andprayed them to get me speedy audience. They did so, and I was conductedto the palace, where I saluted the king by prostration, according tocustom. That prince knew me immediately, and testified very great joy atseeing me, 'Sinbad, ' said he, 'you are welcome; I have many timesthought of you since you departed; I bless the day on which we see oneanother once more. ' I made my compliments to him, and after havingthanked him for his kindness, delivered the caliph's letter and present, which he received with all imaginable satisfaction. 

"The caliph's present was a complete suit of cloth of gold, valued atone thousand sequins; fifty robes of rich stuff, a hundred of whitecloth, the finest of Cairo, Suez, and Alexandria; a vessel of agatebroader than deep, an inch thick, and half a foot wide, the bottom ofwhich represented in bas-relief a man with one knee on the ground, whoheld a bow and an arrow, ready to discharge at a lion. He sent him alsoa rich tablet, which, according to tradition, belonged to the greatSolomon. The caliph's letter was as follows:

 "'Greeting, in the name of the sovereign guide of the right way, from the dependant on God, Haroun-al-Raschid, whom God hath set in the place of vicegerent to his prophet, after his ancestors of happy memory, to the potent and esteemed Raja of Serendib:--

 'We received your letter with joy, and send you this from our imperial residence, the garden of superior wits. We hope when you look upon it, you will perceive our good intention and be pleased with it. Adieu. '

"The King of Serendib was highly gratified that the caliph answered hisfriendship. A little time after this audience, I solicited leave todepart, and had much difficulty to obtain it. I procured it, however, atlast, and the king, when he dismissed me, made me a very considerablepresent. I embarked immediately to return to Bagdad, but had not thegood fortune to arrive there so speedily as I had hoped. God ordered itotherwise. 

"Three or four days after my departure, we were attacked by corsairs, who easily seized upon our ship, because it was no vessel of force. Someof the crew offered resistance, which cost them their lives. But formyself and the rest, who were not so imprudent, the corsairs saved us onpurpose to make slaves of us. 

"We were all stripped, and instead of our own clothes, they gave ussorry rags, and carried us into a remote island, where they sold us. 

"I fell into the hands of a rich merchant, who, as soon as he bought me, carried me to his house, treated me well, and clad me handsomely for aslave. Some days after, not knowing who I was, he asked me if Iunderstood any trade. I answered, that I was no mechanic, but amerchant, and that the corsairs who sold me, had robbed me of all Ipossessed. 'But tell me, ' replied he, 'can you shoot with a bow?' Ianswered, that the bow was one of my exercises in my youth. He gave me abow and arrows, and, taking me behind him upon an elephant, carried meto a thick forest some leagues from the town. We penetrated a great wayinto the wood, and he bade me alight; then, shewing me a great tree, 'Climb up that, ' said he, 'and shoot at the elephants as you see thempass by, for there is a prodigious number of them in this forest, and ifany of them fall, come and give me notice. ' Having spoken this, he leftme victuals, and returned to the town, and I continued upon the tree allnight. 

"I saw no elephant during the night, but next morning, as soon as thesun was up, I perceived a great number. I shot several arrows amongthem, and at last one of the elephants fell, when the rest retiredimmediately, and left me at liberty to go and acquaint my patron with mybooty. When I had informed him, he gave me a good meal, commended mydexterity, and caressed me highly. We went afterwards together to theforest, where we dug a hole for the elephant; my patron designing toreturn when it had fallen to pieces and take its teeth to trade with. 

"I continued this employment for two months, and killed an elephantevery day, getting sometimes upon one tree, and sometimes upon another. One morning, as I looked for the elephants, I perceived with extremeamazement that, instead of passing by me across the forest as usual, they stopped, and came to me with a horrible noise, in such number thatthe plain was covered, and shook under them. They encompassed the treein which I was concealed, with their trunks extended, and all fixedtheir eyes upon me. At this alarming spectacle I continued immovable, and was so much terrified, that my bow and arrows fell out of my hand. 

"My fears were not without cause; for after the elephants had staredupon me some time, one of the largest of them put his trunk round thefoot of the tree, plucked it up, and threw it on the ground. I fell withthe tree; and the elephant, taking me up with his trunk, laid me on hisback, where I sat more like one dead than alive, with my quiver on myshoulder. He put himself afterward at the head of the rest, who followedhim in troops, carried me a considerable way, then laid me down on theground, and retired with all his companions. After having lain sometime, and seeing the elephants gone, I got up, and found I was upon along and broad hill, almost covered with the bones and teeth ofelephants. I confess to you, that this object furnished me withabundance of reflections. I admired the instinct of those animals; Idoubted not but that was their burying-place, and that they carried methither on purpose to tell me that I should forbear to persecute them, since I did it only for their teeth. I did not stay on the hill, butturned toward the city, and, after having travelled a day and a night, Icame to my patron. 

"As soon as he saw me, 'Ah, poor Sinbad, ' exclaimed he, 'I was in greattrouble to know what was become of you. I have been at the forest, whereI found a tree newly pulled up, and a bow and arrows on the ground, andI despaired of ever seeing you more. Pray tell me what befell you, andby what good chance you are still alive. ' I satisfied his curiosity, andgoing both of us next morning to the hill, he found to his great joythat what I had told him was true. We loaded the elephant which hadcarried us with as many teeth as he could bear; and when we werereturned, 'Brother, ' said my patron, 'for I will treat you no more as myslave, after having made such a discovery as will enrich me, God blessyou with all happiness and prosperity. I declare before Him, that I giveyou your liberty. I concealed from you what I am now going to tell you. 

"'The elephants of our forest have every year killed a great manyslaves, whom we sent to seek ivory. God has delivered you from theirfury, and has bestowed that favour upon you only. It is a sign that Heloves you, and has some use for your service in the world. You haveprocured me incredible wealth. Formerly we could not procure ivory butby exposing the lives of our slaves, and now our whole city is enrichedby your means. I could engage all our inhabitants to contribute towardmaking your fortune, but I will have the glory of doing it myself. '

"To this obliging declaration I replied: 'Patron, God preserve you. Yourgiving me my liberty is enough to discharge what you owe me, and Idesire no other reward for the service I had the good fortune to do toyou, and your city, but leave to return to my own country. ' 'Very well, 'said he, 'the monsoon will in a little time bring ships for ivory. Iwill then send you home, and give you wherewith to bear your charges. ' Ithanked him again for my liberty and his good intentions toward me. Istayed with him expecting the monsoon; and during that time, we made somany journeys to the hill that we filled all our warehouses with ivory. The other merchants, who traded in it, did the same, for it could not belong concealed from them. 

"The ships arrived at last, and my patron, himself having made choice ofthe ship wherein I was to embark, loaded half of it with ivory on myaccount, laid in provisions in abundance for my passage, and besidesobliged me to accept a present of some curiosities of the country ofgreat value. After I had returned him a thousand thanks for all hisfavours, I went aboard. We set sail, and as the adventure which procuredme this liberty was very extraordinary, I had it continually in mythoughts. 

"We stopped at some islands to take in fresh provisions. Our vesselbeing come to a port on the main land in the Indies, we touched there, and not being willing to venture by sea to Bussorah, I landed myproportion of the ivory, resolving to proceed on my journey by land. Imade vast sums by my ivory, bought several rarities for presents, andwhen my equipage was ready, set out in company with a large caravan ofmerchants. I was a long time on the way, and suffered much, but enduredall with patience, when I considered that I had nothing to fear from theseas, from pirates, from serpents, or from the other perils to which Ihad been exposed. 

"All these fatigues ended at last, and I arrived safe at Bagdad. I wentimmediately to wait upon the caliph, and gave him an account of myembassy. That prince said he had been uneasy as I was so long inreturning, but that he always hoped God would preserve me. When I toldhim the adventure of the elephants, he seemed much surprised, and wouldnever have given any credit to it had he not known my veracity. Hedeemed this story, and the other relations I had given him, to be socurious, that he ordered one of his secretaries to write them incharacters of gold, and lay them up in his treasury. I retired wellsatisfied with the honours I received, and the presents which he gaveme; and ever since I have devoted myself wholly to my family, kindredand friends. "

Sinbad here finished the relation of his seventh and last voyage, andthen, addressing himself to Hindbad, "Well, friend, " said he, "did youever hear of any person that suffered so much as I have done, or of anymortal that has gone through so many vicissitudes? Is it not reasonablethat, after all this, I should enjoy a quiet and pleasant life?" As hesaid this, Hindbad drew near to him, and kissing his hand, said, "I mustacknowledge sir, that you have gone through many imminent dangers; mytroubles are not comparable to yours; if they afflict me for a time, Icomfort myself with the thoughts of the profit I get by them. You notonly deserve a quiet life, but are worthy of all the riches you enjoy, because you make of them such a good and generous use. May you thereforecontinue to live in happiness till the day of your death!" Sinbad thengave him one hundred sequins more, received him into the number of hisfriends and desired him to quit his porter's employment, and come anddine every day with him, that he might have ample reason to rememberSinbad the voyager and his adventures.