AND WHAT befell THEM OF THINGS SELD SEEN AND PEREGRINE.

The King he asked, "And what was their story?" and she answered:— there was in the City of Safety, Baghdad, before the Caliphate of Abd al-Malik bin Marwán, a King, Omar bin al-Nu'umán called, who was of the mighty giants and had subjected the Chosröes of Persia and the Kaysars of Eastern Rome; for none could warm himself at his fire; nor could any avail to meet him in the field of foray and fray; and, when he was an angered, there came forth from his nostrils sparks of flame. He had made himself King over all quarters, and Allah had subjected to him all His creatures; his word went forth to all great cities and his hosts had harried the farthest lands. East and West had come under his command with whatever regions lay interspersed between them, Hind and Sind and Sin, the Holy Land, al-Hijaz, the rich mountains of al-Yaman and the archipelagos of India and China. Moreover, he reigned supreme over the north country and Diyar Bakr, or Mesopotamia, and over Sudan, the Eastern Negro land and the Islands of the Ocean, and all the far famed rivers of the earth, Sayhun and Jayhun, Nile and Euphrates. He sent envoys and ambassadors to capitals the most remote, to provide him with true report; and they would bring back tidings of justice and peace, with assurance of loyalty and obedience and of prayers in the pulpits for King Omar bin al-Nu'uman; for he was, O Ruler of the Age, a right noble King; and there came to him presents of rarities and toll and tribute from all lands of his governing. This mighty monarch had a son yclept Sharrkan, who was like of all men to his father and who proved himself one of the prodigies of his time for subduing the brave and bringing his contemporaries to bane and ban. For this his father loved him with love so great none could be greater, and made him heir to the kingdom after himself. This Prince grew up till he reached man's estate and was twenty years old, and Allah subjected His servants to him, by reason of his great might and prowess in battle.

Now his father, King Omar, had four wives legally married, but Allah had vouchsafed him no son by them, save Sharrkan, whom he had begotten upon one of them, and the rest were barren. Moreover he had three hundred and sixty concubines, after the number of days in the Coptic year, who were of all nations; and he had furnished for each and every a private chamber within his own palace. For he had built twelve pavilions, after the number of the months, each containing thirty private chambers, which thus numbered three hundred and three score, in which he lodged his handmaids: and he appointed according to law for each one her night, when he lay with her and came not again to her for a full year; and in this way he abode for a length of time. Meanwhile his son Sharrkan was making himself renowned in all quarters of the world and his father was proud of him and his might grew and grew mightier; so that he passed all bounds and bore himself masterfully and took by storm castles and cities.

King Omar Bin Al-Nu'uman And His Sons. 79

Presently, by decree of the Decreer, a handmaid among the handmaids of Omar bin Nu'uman became pregnant; and, her pregnancy being announced to the Harim, the King was informed of it; whereupon he rejoiced with exceeding joy and said, "Perhaps 't will be a son, and so all my offspring will be males!" Then he documented the date of her conception and entreated her with all kinds of kindness. But when the tidings came to Sharrkan, he was troubled and the matter seemed to him a sore one and a grievous; and he said, "truly one comes who shall dispute with me the sovereignty:" so he said to himself, "If this concubine bear a male child I will kill it:" but he kept that intention hidden in his heart. Such was the case with Sharrkan; but what happened in the matter of the damsel was as follows. She was a Roumiyah, a Greek girl, by name Sofiyah or Sophia, whom the King of Roum and Lord of Caesarea had sent to King Omar as a present, together with great store of gifts and of rarities: she was the fairest of favour and loveliest of all his handmaids and the most regardful of her honour; and she was gifted with a wit as penetrating as her presence was fascinating. Now she had served the King on the night of his sleeping with her, saying to him, "O King! I desire of the God of the Heavens that he bless you this night with a male child by me, so I may bring him up with the best of rearing, and enable him to reach man's estate perfect in intelligence, good manners and prudent bearing" a speech which much pleased the King. During her pregnancy she was instant in prayer, fervently supplicating the Lord to bless her with a goodly male child and make his birth easy to her;

and Allah heard her petition so that after her months were accomplished she sat safely upon the birth stool. Now the King had deputed a eunuch to let him know if the child she should bring forth were male or female; and in like way his son Sharrkan had sent one to bring him tidings of the same. In due time Sophia was delivered of a child, which the midwives examined and found to be a girl with a face sheenier than the moon. So they announced this to all present in the room, whereupon the King's messenger carried the news to him; and Sharrkan's eunuch did the like with his master, who rejoiced with exceeding joy. But, after the two had departed, Sophia to the midwives, said, "Wait with me awhile, for I feel as if there were still somewhat in my womb." Then she cried out and the pains of child bed again took her; and Allah made it easy to her and she gave birth to a second child. The wise women looked at it and found it a boy like the full moon, with forehead flower white, and cheek ruddy bright with rosy light; whereupon the mother rejoiced, as did the eunuchs and attendants and all the company; and Sophia was delivered of the after birth whilst all in the palace sent forth the trill of joy. The rest of the concubines heard it and envied her lot;

and the tidings reached Omar son of al-Nu'uman, who was glad and rejoiced at the excellent news. Then he rose and went to her and kissed her head, after which he looked at the boy; and, bending over him, kissed him, whilst the damsels struck the tabors and played on instruments of music; and the King gave order that the boy should be named Zau al-Makan and his sister Nuzhat al-Zaman. They answered, "Hearing and obedience," and did his bidding; so he appointed wet nurses and dry nurses and eunuchs and attendants to serve them; and assigned them rations of sugar and diet drinks and unguents and else beside, beyond the power of tongue to rehearse. Moreover the people of Baghdad, hearing that Allah had blessed their King with issue, decorated the city and made proclamation of the glad tidings with drum and tom tom; and the Emirs and Wazirs and high dignitaries came to the palace and wished King Omar bin al-Nu'uman joy of his son, Zau al-Makan, and of his daughter Nuzhat al-Zaman, wherefor he thanked them and bestowed on them dresses of honour and further favoured them with gifts, and dealt largesse to all, gentle and simple, who were present. in this way he did for four days full told, and he lavished upon Sophia raiment and ornaments and great store of wealth; and, every few days he would send a messenger to ask after her and the new borns.

And when four years had gone by, he provided her with the wherewithal to rear the two children carefully and educate them with the best of instructions. All this while his son Sharrkan knew not that a male child had been born to his father, Omar son of al-Nu'uman, having news only that he had been blessed with the birth of Nuzhat al-Zaman; and they hid the intelligence from him, until days and years had sped by, whilst he was busied in battling with the brave and fighting single handed against the knights. One day, as King Omar was sitting in his palace, his Chamberlains came in to him and, kissing the ground before him, said, "O King there be come Ambassadors from the King of Roum, Lord of Constantinople the Great, and they desire admission to you and submission to your decree: if the King command us to introduce them we will so do; and, if not, there is no disputing his behest." He bade them enter and, when they came in, he turned to them and, courteously receiving them, asked them of their case, and what was the cause of their coming. They kissed the ground before him and said, "O King glorious and strong! O lord of the arm that is long! Know that he who despatched us to you is King Afridún, Lord of Ionia land and of the Nazarene armies, the sovereign who is firmly established in the empery of Constantinople, to acquaint you that he is now waging fierce war and fell with a tyrant and a rebel, the Prince of Caesarea; and the cause of this war is as follows. One of the Kings of the Arabs in past time, during certain of his conquests, chanced upon a hoard of the time of Alexander, from where he removed wealth past compute; and, amongst other things, three round jewels, big as ostrich eggs, from a my of pure white gems whose like was never seen by man. Upon each were graven characts in Ionian characters, and they have many virtues and properties, amongst the rest that if one of these jewels be hung round the neck of a new born child, no evil shall befall him and he shall neither wail, nor shall fever ail him as long as the jewel remain without fail.

When the Arab King laid hands upon them and learned their secrets, he sent to King Afridun presents of certain rarities and amongst them the three jewels afore mentioned; and he equipped for the mission two ships, one bearing the treasure and the other men of might to guard it from any who might offer hindrance on the high seas, albeit well assured that none would dare waylay his vessels, for that he was King of the Arabs, and more by token that their course lay over waters subject to the King of Constantinople and they were bound to his port; nor were there on the shores of that sea any save the subjects of the Great King, Afridun. The two ships set out and voyaged till they drew near our city, when there sallied out on them certain corsairs from that country and amongst them troops from the Prince of Caesarea, who took all the treasures and rarities in the ships, together with the three jewels, and slew the crews. When our King heard of this, he sent an army against them, but they routed it; then he marched a second and a stronger but they put this also to flight, whereupon the King grew wroth and swore that

King Omar Bin Al-Nu'uman And His Sons. 83 he would not go forth against them save in his own person at the head of his whole army; nor would he turn back from them till he had left Caesarea of Armenia in ruins and had laid waste all the lands and cities over which her Prince held sway. So he sent us to the Lord of the age and the time, Sultan Omar bin al-Nu'uman, King of Baghdad and of Khorasan, desiring that he aid us with an army, so may honour and glory accrue to him; and he has also forwarded by us something of various kinds of presents, and of the King's grace he beggs their acceptance and the friendly boon of furtherance." Then the Ambassadors kissed the ground before him,—

When it was the Forty sixth night

The King, pleased by the Wazir's words and approving his advice, gave him a dress of honour and said to him, "Of the like of you should Kings ask counsel, and it seems fit that you should conduct the van of our army and our son Sharrkan command the main battle." Then he sent for his son who came and kissed ground before him and sat down; and he expounded to him the matter, telling him what the Ambassadors and the Wazir Dandan had said, and he charged him to take arms and equip himself for the campaign, enjoining him not to gainsay Dandan in anything he should do. Moreover, he ordered him to pick out of his army ten thousand horsemen, armed cap a pie and inured to onset and stress of war. Accordingly, Sharrkan arose on the instant, and chose out a myriad of horsemen, after which he entered his palace and mustered his host and distributed largesse to them, saying, "You have delay of three days." They kissed the earth before him in obedience to his commands and began at once to lay in munitions, and provide provisions for the occasion; whilst Sharrkan repaired to the armouries and took from it whatever he required of arms and armour, and thence to the stable where he chose horses of choice blood and others.

When the appointed three days were ended, the army drew out to the suburbs of Baghdad city; and King Omar came forth to take leave of his son who kissed the ground before him and received from the King seven parcels of money. Then he turned to Dandan and commended to his care the army of his son; and the Wazir kissed the ground before him and answered, "I hear and I obey;" and lastly he charged Sharrkan that he should consult the Wazir on all occasions, which he promised to do. After this, the King returned to his city and Sharrkan ordered the officers to muster their troops in battle array. So they mustered them and their number was ten thousand horsemen, besides footmen and camp followers. Then they loaded their baggage on their beasts and the war drums beat

King Omar Bin Al-Nu'uman And His Sons. 85 and the trumpets blared and the bannerols and standards were unfurled, whilst Sharrkan mounted horse, with the Wazir Dandan by his side, and the colours fluttering over their heads. So the host fared forth and did not stop faring, with the ambassadors preceding them, till day departed and night drew near, when they alighted and encamped for the night. And as soon as Allah caused the morn to morrow, they mounted and went on, guided by the Ambassadors, for a space of twenty days; and by the night of the twenty first they came to a fine and spacious Wady well grown with trees and shrubbery. Here Sharrkan ordered them to alight and commanded a three days' halt, so they dismounted and pitched their tents, spreading their camp over the right and the left slopes of the extensive valley, whilst the Wazir Dandan and the Ambassadors of King Afridun pitched in the sole of the Wady. As for Sharrkan, he tarried behind them for awhile till all had dismounted and had dispersed themselves over the valley sides; he then slacked the reins of his steed, being minded to explore the Wady and to mount guard in his own person, because of his father's charge and owing to the fact that they were on the frontier of Greecia land and in the enemy's country.

So he rode out alone after ordering his armed slaves and his body guard to camp near the Wazir Dandan, and he fared on along the side of the valley till a fourth part of the night was passed, when he felt tired and drowsiness overcame him, so that he could no longer urge horse with heel. Now he was accustomed to take rest on horseback; so when slumber overpowered him, he slept and the steed did not stop going on with him till half the night was spent and entered one of the thickets which was dense with growth; but Sharrkan awoke not until his horse stumbled over wooded ground. Then he started from sleep and found himself among the trees; and the moon arose and shone brightly over the two horizons, Eastern and Western. He was startled when he found himself alone in this place and said the say which never yet shamed its sayer, "There is no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah, the Glorious, the Great!" But as he rode on, in fear of wild beasts, behold, the moon spread her glad light over a meadow as if 'twere of the meads of Paradise; and he heard pleasant voices and a loud noise of talk and laughter captivating the senses of men.

So King Sharrkan alighted and, tying his steed to one of the trees, went over a little way till he came upon a stream and heard a woman talking in Arabic and saying, "Now by the truth of the Messiah, this is not well of you! But whoever utters a word, I will throw her and truss her up with her own girdle!" He kept walking in the direction of the sound and when he reached the further side he looked and behold, a stream was gushing and flowing, and antelopes at large were frisking and roving, and wild cattle amid the pasture moving, and birds expressed joy and gladness in their divers tongues, and that place was purfled with all manner flowers and green herbs, even as a poet described it in these couplets,

"Most beautiful is earth in budding bloom, When lucid waters course through plain and wood: No work but His th' All great, th' All glorious, Giver of all gifts, Giver of all good!"

And as Sharrkan considered the place, he saw in it a Christian Monastery within whose enceinte a castle towered high in air catching the light of the moon. Through the midst of the convent passed a stream, the water flowing amongst its gardens; and upon the bank sat the woman whose voice he had heard, while before her stood ten handmaids like moons and wearing various sorts of raiment and ornaments that dazed and dazzled the beholder, high bosomed virgins, as says of them the poet in these couplets,

"The mead is bright with what is on't Of merry maidens debonair: Double its beauty and its grace Those trooping damsels slender fair: Virgins of graceful swimming gait Ready with eye and lip to ensnare; And like the tendril'd vine they loose The rich profusion of their hair: Shooting their shafts and arrows from Beautiful eyes beyond compare; Overpowering and transpiercing Every froward adversaire."

Sharrkan gazed upon the ten girls and saw in their midst a lady like the moon at fullest, with ringleted hair and forehead sheeny white, and eyes wondrous wide and black and bright, and temple locks like the scorpion's tail; and she was perfect in essence and attributes, as the poet said of her in these couplets,

"She beamed on my sight with a wondrous glance, And her straight slender stature enshamed the lance: She burst on my sight with cheeks rosy red, Where all manner of beauties have habitance: And the locks on her forehead were lowering as night from where issues a dawn tide of happiest chance."

Then Sharrkan heard her say to the handmaids, "Come you on, that I may wrestle with you and gravel you, before the moon set and the dawn break!" So each came up to her in turn and she grounded them directly, and pinioned them with their girdles, and did not stop wrestling and pitching them until she had overthrown one and all. Then there turned to her an old woman who was before her, and the beldam said as in wrath, "O strumpet, do you glory in grounding these girls? Behold I am an old woman, yet have I thrown them forty times! So what have you to boast of? But if you have the strength to wrestle with me, stand up that I may grip you and set your head between your heels!" The young lady smiled at her words, but she was filled with inward wrath, and she jumped up and asked, "O my lady Zat al-Dawahi, by the truth of the Messiah, will you wrestle with me in very deed, or do you jest with me?"; and she answered, "Yea,"—

When it was the Forty seventh night

, and she answered, "Yea, I will wrestle with you in very deed" (Sharrkan looking on the while), the damsel cried, "Rise up for the fall If you have spunk so to do." When the old woman heard this, she raged with exceeding rage, and her body hair stood on end like the bristles of a fretful hedgehog. Then she sprang to her feet, whilst the damsel stood up to her, and said, "Now by the truth of the Messiah, I will not wrestle with you unless I be naked, Mistress whore!" So she loosed her petticoat trousers and, putting her hand under her clothes, tore them off her body; then twisted up a silken kerchief into cord shape, girt it round her middle and became as she were a scald head Ifritah or a spotted snake. With this she inclined towards the damsel and said, "Do you as I have done." All this time, Sharrkan was gazing at the twain, and laughing at the beldam's loathly semblance. So the damsel leisurely rose and, taking a sash of Yamani stuff, passed it twice round her waist, then she tucked up her trousers and displayed two calves of alabaster carrying a mound of crystal, smooth and rounded, and a stomach which exhaled musk from its dimples, as it were a bed of Nu'uman's anemones; and breasts like double pomegranates.

Then the old woman leant towards her, and the two laid hold either of each, while Sharrkan raised his head Heavenwards and prayed Allah that the belle might beat the beldam. Presently, the young woman gat beneath the old woman; and, gripping her waist cloth with the left and circling her neck with the right hand, hoisted her off the ground with both; whereupon the old woman strove to free herself and, in so doing fell on her back arsiversy, with her legs high in air and her hairy bush between them showed manifest in the moonshine; furthermore she let fly two great farts one of which blew up the dust from the earth's face and the other steamed up to the gate of Heaven. Sharrkan laughed till he fell back upon the ground. Then he arose and, baring his brand looked right and left, but he saw no one save the old woman sprawling on her back, and said to himself, "He lied not who named you Lady of Calamities! Truly you knew her prowess by her performance upon the others." So he drew near them to hear what should pass between them. Then the young lady went up to the old one and, throwing a wrapper of thin silk upon her nakedness, helped her to don her clothes and made excuses saying, "O my lady Zat al-Dawahi, I intended only to throw you and not all this, but you triedst to twist out of my hands; so laud to Allah for safety!"

She returned her no answer, but rose in her shame and walked away till out of sight, leaving the handmaids prostrate and pinioned, with the fair damsel standing amongst them. Sharrkan said to himself, "Every luck has its cause. Sleep did not fall upon me nor the war horse bear me here save for my good fortune; for doubtless this maid and what is with her shall become booty to me." So he made towards his steed and mounted and heeled him on, when he sped as the shaft speeds from the bow, and in his hand he still seized his brand bare of sheath, which he brandished shouting the while his war cry, "Allah is All mighty!" When the damsel saw him she sprang to her feet and, taking firm stand on the bank of the stream, whose breadth was six ells, the normal cubits, made one bound and landed clear on the farther side, where she turned and cried out with a loud voice, "Who are you, O you fellow, that break in upon our privacy and pastime, and that too hanger in hand as if charging a host? from where came you and where are you going? Speak truth, for truth will stand you in good stead, and lie not, for lies come of villein breed. Doubtless you have wandered this night from your way, that you chancedst upon this place from where escape were the greatest of mercies; for you are now in an open plain and, did we shout but a single shout, would come to our rescue four thousand knights.

So tell me what you want; and if you would only have us set you on the right road, we will do so." When Sharrkan heard her words he replied, "I am a stranger of the Moslems, who fared forth this night single handed, seeking for spoil; nor could this moonlight show me a fairer booty than these ten maidens; so I shall seize them and rejoin my comrades with them." she said, "I would have you know that as for the booty you have not come at it; and, as for the handmaids, By God, they shall never be your spoil. Have I not told you that to lie is villein vile?" He said, "The wise man is he who takes warning by others." Thereupon she said, "By the truth of the Messiah, did I not fear that your death would be on my hands, I would shout a shout should fill the mead for you with war steeds and with men of might, but I take pity upon the stranger. So, if you seek booty, I require of you that you alight from your steed and swear to me, by your faith, that you will not advance against me anything like arms in hand, and we will wrestle, I and you. If you throw me, set me on your steed and take all of us to your booty; but if I throw you, you will become under my command. Swear this to me, for I fear your treachery: indeed it has become a common saw, 'Where Perfidy is innate there Trust is a weakly mate.'

Now If you will swear I will return and draw near to you and tackle you." Answered Sharrkan (and indeed he lusted to seize her and said in his soul, "Truly she knows not that I am a champion of champions"); "Swear me by what oath you will and by what you think most binding, and I will not approach you with anything till you have made your preparation and say, 'Draw near that I wrestle with you.' If you throw me, I have money where as well to ransom myself; and if I throw you, 'twill be booty and booty enough for me!" Rejoined the damsel, "I am content herewith!" And Sharrkan was astounded at her words and said, "And by the truth of the Apostle (whom Allah bless and keep!) I too am content on the other part!" Then she said, "Swear to me by Him who sprite in body dressed and dealt laws to rule man kind aright, that you will not offer me anything of violence save by way of wrestling; else may you die without the pale of al-Islam." Sharrkan replied, "By God! Were a Kazi to swear me, even though he were a Kazi of the Kazis, he would not impose upon me such an oath as this!" Then he sware to her by all she named and tied his steed to a tree; but he was drowned in the sea of thought, saying in himself,

King Omar Bin Al-Nu'uman And His Sons. 91

"Praise be to Him who fashioned her from dirty water!" Then he girt himself and made ready for wrestling, and said to her, "Cross the stream to me;" but she replied, "It is not for me to come over to you: if you will, pass you over here to me." "I cannot do that," He said, and she said, "O boy, I will come across to you." So she tucked up her skirts and, leaping, landed on the other side of the stream by his side; whereupon he drew near to her and bent him forwards and clapped palms. But he was confounded by her beauty and loveliness; for he saw a shape which the Hand of Power had tanned with the dye leaves of the Jann, which had been fostered by the Hand of Beneficence and fanned by the Zephyrs of fair fortune and whose birth a propitious ascendant had greeted. Then she called out to him, "O Moslem, come on and let us wrestle before the break of morning," and tucked up her sleeves from a forearm like fresh curd, which illumined the whole place with its whiteness, and Sharrkan was dazzled by it. Then he bent forwards and clapped his palms by way of challenge, she doing the like, and caught hold of her, and the two grappled and gripped and interlocked hands and arms. Presently, he shifted his hands to her slender waist, when his finger tips sank into the soft folds of her middle, breeding languishment, and he fell a trembling like the Persian reed in the roaring gale.

So she lifted him up and, throwing him to the ground, sat upon his breast with hips and hinder cheeks like mounds of sand, for his soul had lost mastery over his senses. Then she asked him, "O Moslem! The slaying of Nazarenes is lawful to you folk; what then have you to say about being slain yourself?"; and he answered, "O my lady, your speech as regards slaying me is not other than unlawful; for our prophet Mohammed (whom Allah bless and preserve!) prohibited the slaying of women and children, old men and monks!" "As it was thus revealed to your Prophet," she replied, "it behoves us to render the equivalent of his mercy, so rise. I give you your life, for generosity is never lost upon the generous." Then she got off his breast and he rose and stood shaking the dust from his head against the owners of the curved rib, even women; and she said to him, "Be not ashamed; but truly one who enters the land of Roum in quest of booty, and comes to assist Kings against Kings, how happens it that he has not strength enough to defend himself from one made out of the curved rib?" "'Twas not for lack of strength in me," he answered; "nor did you throw me by your force; it was your loveliness overthrew me; so if you will grant me another bout, it will be of your courtesy."

She laughed and said, "I grant you your request: but these handmaids have long been pinioned and their arms and sides are weary, and it were only right I should loose them, for Perhaps this next wrestling bout will be long." Then she went to the slave girls and, unbinding them, said to them in the tongue of Greece, "Get you to some safe place, till I foil this Moslem's lust and longing for you." So they went away, whilst Sharrkan kept gazing at them and they kept turning to look at the two. Then each approached the adversary and he set his breast against hers, but when he felt waist touch waist, his strength failed him; and she, waxing ware of this, lifted him with her hands swiftlier than the blinding leven flash, and threw him to the ground. He fell on his back, and then she said to him, "Rise: I give you your life a second time. I spared you in the first count because of your Prophet, for that he made unlawful the slaying of women; and I do so on the second count because of your weakliness and the greenness of yours years and your strangerhood; but I charge you, if there be in the Moslem army sent by Omar bin al-Nu'uman to succour the King of Constantinople, a stronger than you, send him here and tell him of me: for in wrestling there are shifts

King Omar Bin Al-Nu'uman And His Sons. 93 and trips, catches and holds, such as the feint or falsing and the snap or first grip, the hug, the feet catch, the thigh bite, the jostle and the leg lock." "By God, O my lady," Sharrkan said,(and indeed he was highly incensed against her), "had I been Master al-Safdi, Master Mohammed Kimal or Ibn al-Saddi, as they were in their prime, I had kept no note of these shifts you mentionest; for O my mistress, By God, you have not grassed me by your strength, but by the blandishments of your back parts; for we men of Mesopotamia so love a full formed thigh that nor sense was left me nor foresight. But now, If you wish, you will try a third fall with me while my wits are about me, and this last match is allowed me by the laws of the game which says the best of three: moreover I have regained my presence of mind." When she heard his words she said to him, "Have you not had a belly full of this wrestling, O vanquished one? However come on, If you will; but know that this must be the last round."

Then she bent forward and challenged him and Sharrkan did likewise, setting to it in real earnest and being right cautious about the throw: so the two strove awhile and the damsel found in him a strength such as she had not observed before and said to him, "O Moslem, you are now on your mettle." "Yes," he replied, "you know that there remains to me but this one round, after which each of us will go a different way." She laughed and he laughed too; then she overreached at his thigh and caught firm hold of it unawares, which made him greet the ground and fall full on his back. She laughed at him and said, "Are you an eater of bran? You are like a Badawi's bonnet which falls off with every touch or else the Father of Winds that dropps before a puff of air. Fie upon you, O you poor thing!" Adding, "Get you back to the Moslem army and send us other than yourself, for you fail of thews; and proclaim for us, among the Arabs and Persians, the Turks and Daylamites, whoever has might in him, let him come to us." Then she made a spring and landed on the other side of the stream and said to Sharrkan, laughing, "Parting with you is right grievous to me, O my lord; but get you to your mates before dawn, lest the Knights come upon you and pick you up on their lance points. You have no strength to defend you against a woman, so how could you hold yours own amongst men of might and Knights?"

Sharrkan was confounded and called to her (as she turned from him making towards the convent), "O my lady, will you go away and leave the miserable stranger, the broken hearted slave of love?" So she turned to him laughing and said, "What is your want? I will grant you your prayer." "Have I set foot in your country and tasted the sweetness of your courtesy," he replied, "and shall I return without eating of your victual and tasting your hospitality; I who have become one of your servitors!" "None baulk kindliness save the base," she rejoined, "honour us in Allah's name, on my head and eyes be it! Mount your steed and ride along the brink of the stream over against me, for now you are my guest." At this Sharrkan was glad and, hastening back to his horse, mounted and walked him abreast of her, and she kept faring on till they came to a drawbridge built of beams of the white poplar, hung by pullies and steel chains and made fast with hooks and padlocks. When Sharrkan looked, he saw awaiting her upon the bridge the same ten handmaids whom she had thrown in the wrestling bouts; and, as she came up to them, she said to one in the Greek tongue, "Arise and take the reins of his horse and conduct him across into the convent."

So she went up to Sharrkan and led him over, much puzzled and perturbed with what he saw, and saying to himself, "O would that the Wazir Dandan were here with me that his eyes might look upon these fairest of favours." Then he turned to the young lady and said to her, "O marvel of loveliness, now I have two claims upon you; first the claim of good fellowship, and secondly for that you have carried me to your home and offered me your hospitality. I am now under your commandance and your guidance; so do me one last favour by accompanying me to the lands of al-Islam; where you will look upon many a lion hearted warrior and you will learn who I am." When she heard this she was angered and said to him, "By the truth of the Messiah, you have proved yourself with me a man of keen wit; but now I see what mischief there is in your heart, and how you can permit yourself a speech which provs your traitorous intent. How should I do as you say, when I know that if I came to that King of yours, Omar bin al-Nu'uman, I should never get free from him? For truly he has not the like of me or behind his city walls or within his palace halls, Lord of Baghdad and of Khorasan though he be, who has built for himself twelve pavilions, in number as the months of the year, and in each a concubine after the number of the days; and if I come to him he would not prove shy of me, for your folk believe I am lawful to have and to hold as is said in your writ, 'Or those women whom your right hand shall possess as slaves.'

So how can you speak thus to me? As for your saying, 'You will look upon the braves of the Moslems,' by the truth of the Messiah, you say that which is not true, for I saw your army when it reached our land, these two days ago; and I did not see that your ordinance was the ordinance of Kings, but I beheld only a rabble of tribesmen gathered together. And as to your words, 'You will know who I am,' I did not do you kindness because of your dignity but out of pride in myself; and the like of you should not talk thus to the like of me, even were you Sharrkan, Omar bin al-Nu'uman's son, the prowest name in these days!" "Know you Sharrkan?" he asked; and she answered, "Yes! And I know of his coming with an army numbering ten thousand horsemen; also that he was sent by his sire with this force to gain prevalence for the King of Constantinople." "O my lady," said Sharrkan, "I adjure you by your religion, tell me the cause of all this, that truth may appear to me clear of untruth, and with whom the fault lies." "Now by the virtue of your faith," she re plied, "did I not fear lest the news of me be bruited abroad that I am of the daughters of Roum, I would adventure myself and sally forth single handed against the ten thousand horsemen and slay their leader, the Wazir Dandan and vanquish their champion Sharrkan. Nor would anything of shame accrue to me by that, for I have read books and studied the rules of good breeding in the language of the Arabs. But I have no need to vaunt my own prowess to you, more by token as you have proved in your proper person my skill and strength in wrestling; and you have learnt my superiority over other women. Nor, indeed, had Sharrkan himself been here this night and it were said to him, 'Clear this stream,' could he have done it; and I only long and lust that the Messiah would throw him into my hands in this very convent, that I might go forth to him in the habit of a man and drag him from his saddle seat and make him my captive and lay him in bilboes."—

When it was the Forty eighth night

pride and passion and knightly jealousy took possession of him and he desired to discover and declare himself and to lay on load; but her loveliness restrained him and he began repeating,

"An faulty of one fault the Beauty prove, Her charms a thousand advocates shall move."

So she went up and Sharrkan after her; and, when he saw the maiden's back and hinder cheeks that dashed against each other, like rollers in the rolling sea, he extemporised these couplets:—

King Omar Bin Al-Nu'uman And His Sons. 97

"For her sins is a pleader that brow, And all hearts its fair pleading must trow: When I saw it I cried, "To night The moon at its fullest does show Tho' Balkis' own Ifrit try a bout, Spite his force she would deal him a throw "

The two fared on till they reached a gate over which rose a marble archway. This she opened and ushered Sharrkan into a long vestibule, vaulted with ten connected arches, from each of which hung a crystal lamp glistening like a spark of fire. The handmaids met her at the further end bearing grow candles of goodly perfume, and wearing on their heads golden fillets crusted with all manner bezel gems, and went on before her (Sharrkan still following), till they reached the inner convent. There the Moslem saw couches and sofas ranged all around, one opposite the other and all over hung with curtains flowered in gold. The monastery floor was paved with every kind of vari-coloured marbles and mosaic work, and in the midst stood a basin that held four and twenty jetting fountains of gold, from where the water ran like molten silver; whilst at the upper end stood a throne spread with silks fit only for Kings. Then said the damsel, "Ascend, O my lord, this throne." So he went up to it and sat down and she withdrew to remain absent for some time. Sharrkan asked of her from one of the servants who answered him, "She has gone to her dormitory; but we will serve you even as she ordered." So they set before him viands of rare varieties, and he ate his sufficiency, when they brought him a basin of gold and an ewer of silver, and he washed his hands. Then his thoughts reverted to his army, knowing not what had befallen it in his absence and calling to mind also how he had forgotten his father's injunctions: so he was troubled about his case, repenting of what he had done till the dawn broke and the day appeared;

when he lamented and sighed and became drowned in the sea of sadness and repeated,

"I am not lost to prudence, but indeed Here I'm bewildered, what shall be my advice? Would any aid me in my ails of love, By my own might and sleight would I be free'd: But ah! my heart is lost and passion shent: To none save Allah can I trust my need!"

When he ended his verse behold, there came up to him a rare show and a fair, more than twenty maidens like crescents encompassing the young lady, who shone in their midst as the full moon among the constellations guarding and girding her. She was clad in brocades befitting Kings; her breasts were like twin pomegranates, a woven zone set with all kinds of jewels tightly clasped her waist which expanded below into jutting hips; and her hinder cheeks stood out as a mound of crystal supporting a silvern shaft. When Sharrkan looked at her his wits went near to fly away from him with delight; and he forgot army and Wazir as he gazed on her fair head decked and dressed with a net work of pearls set off by divers sorts of gems. Handmaids on her right and handmaids on her left bore her train, as she paced with dainty graceful gait in all the pride of seemlihead. He sprang to his feet seeing such beauty and loveliness, and cried aloud, "Beware and beware of that zone rarely fair!" And broke out into these couplets,

"With heavy back parts, high breasts delicate, And lissome form that sways with swimming gait, She deftly hides love longing in her breast; But I may never hide its ban and bate: While hosts of followers her steps precede, Like pearls now necklaced and now separate."

She gazed upon him for a long time and considered him till she was assured of him, when she came up to him and said, "In very truth the place is honoured and illumined by you, O Sharrkan! How sped your night, O hero, after we went away and left you?"; adding, "truly lying is a vile thing and a shameful, especially in great Kings! And you are Crown Prince Sharrkan, son and heir of King Omar bin al-Nu'uman; so henceforth make no secret of your rank and condition, nor let me hear anything from you but the truth; for leasing bequeaths hate and despite. And as you are pierced by the shaft of Fate, be resignation yours and abide content to wait." When he heard her words he saw that artifice availed him nothing and he acknowledged the truth, saying, "I am Sharrkan, bin Omar bin al-Nu'uman, whom fortune has afflicted and cast into this place; so whatever you willest, do it in my case!" She hung her head groundwards a long while, then turned to him and said, "Be of good cheer and let yours eyes be cool and clear; for you are the guest of my hospitality, and bread and salt has made a tie between me and you; Why you are in my ward and under my safeguard. Have no fear for, by the truth of the Messiah, if all on earth sought to do you hurt they should not come at you, till life had left my body for your sake: indeed you are now under the charge of the Messiah and of me." at this she sat her down by his side and fell to playing with him, till his alarm subsided and he knew that had she desired to slay him, she would have done so during the past night. Presently, she bespoke in the Grecian tongue one of her slave girls, who went away and soon came back bringing a beaker and a tray of food; but Sharrkan abstained from eating and said to himself, "Perhaps she has put somewhat in this meat."

She knew what was in his thought; so she turned to him and said, "By the truth of the Messiah, the case is not on such wise, nor is there anything in this meat of what you suspectest! Had my mind been set on slaying you, I had slain you before now." Then she walked up to the tray and ate of every dish a mouthful; where upon Sharrkan came forward and ate too. She was pleased at this and both ate till they were satisfied. They washed their hands and after that she rose and ordered a handmaid to bring perfumes and herbs of sweet savour, wines of all colours and kinds and a wine service with vessels of gold, silver and crystal. She filled a first goblet and drank it off before offering it to him, even as she had done with the food: then she crowned a second and handed it to him.

He drank and she said to him, "O Moslem, see how you are here in all solace and delight of life!" And she did not stop to drink and ply him with drink, till he took leave of his wits,—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day, and ceased saying her permitted say.

When it was the Forty ninth night

"I hear and I obey," said the hand maid and going out, returned in the twinkling of an eye with a Damascus lute, a Persian harp, a Tartar pipe, and an Egyptian dulcimer. The young lady took the lute and, after tuning each several string, began in gentle undersong to sing, softer than zephyr's wing and sweeter than Tasmin spring, with heart safe and secure from everything the couplets following,

"Allah assain those eyne! What streams of blood they shed! How many an arrowy glance those lids of yours have sped. I love all lovers who to lovers show them dure; 'Twere wrong to rue the love in wrong head born and bred: Perhaps fall hapless eye for you no sleeping kens! Heaven help the hapless heart by force of you misled! You doomest me to death who art my king, and I Ransom with life the deemster who would doom me dead."

Thereupon each and every of the maidens rose up and taking an instrument, played and recited couplets in the Roumi tongue; then their mistress sang also and seeing Sharrkan in ecstasies asked him, "O Moslem, do you

King Omar Bin Al-Nu'uman And His Sons. 101 understand what I say?"; and he answered, "Nay, my ecstasy comes from the beauty of your fingertips." She laughed and continued, "If I sing to you in Arabic what would you do?" "I should no longer," He said, "be master of my senses." Then she took an instrument and, changing the measure, began singing these verses,

"The smack of parting's myrrh to me, How, then, bear patience' aloe? I'm girt by ills in trinity Severance, distance, cruelty! My freedom stole that fairest she, And parting irks me bitterly."

When she ended her verse, she looked at Sharrkan and found him lost to existence, and he lay for a while stretched at full length and prone among the maidens. Then he revived and, remembering the songs, again inclined to mirth and merriment; and the twain returned to their wine and wassail, and continued their playing and toying, their pastime and pleasure till day ceased illuminating and night drooped her wing. Then the damsel went off to her dormitory and when Sharrkan asked after her they answered, "She is gone to her sleeping chamber," whereto he rejoined, "Under Allah's ward and His good guard!" As soon as it was morning, a handmaid came to him and said to him, "My mistress bids you to her." So he rose and followed her and, as he drew near her lodging, the damsels welcomed him with smitten tabrets and songs of greeting, and led him through a great door of ivory studded with pearls and jewels. Thence they passed with him into a tall and spacious hall, at the upper end of which was a wide dais carpeted with all kinds of silks, and round it open lattices commanding a view of trees and streams. About the saloon were figures carved in human form, and fashioned on such wise that the air passed through them and set in motion musical instruments within, so that the beholder would fancy they spoke. Here sat the young lady, looking at the figures; but when she saw Sharrkan, she sprang to her feet and, taking him by the hand, made him sit down by her side, and asked him how he had passed the night. He blessed her and the two sat talking awhile till she asked him,

"Know you anything touching lovers and slaves of love?"; and he answered, "Yes! I know somewhat in verse on that matter." "Let me hear it," she said, so he began quoting,

"Pleasure and health, good cheer, good appetite To Azzah, freest with our name and fame! By God! would I near her off she flies At tangent, granting less the more I claim: I dote on Azzah, but when clear I off My rivals, clears me too that dearest dame; Like wandering people that chose for shade a cloud Which, before siesta done, thin air became."

When she heard this she said, "truly al-Kuthayyir was conspicuous for sweet speech and chaste, and he was superlative in his praise of Azzah when he sang" (and she began to recite),

"Did Azzah deal behest to Sun o' noon, The judge had 'judged her beauty's bestest boon And girls who come to me and carp at her, God make their rosy cheeks her sandal shoon!

And indeed," she said, "'twas said that Azzah boasted exceeding beauty and loveliness." Then she asked Sharrkan saying, "O Prince, do you know anything of Jamíl's verses to Buthaynah? if so repeat to us something of them;" and he answered, "Yes, I know them better than any;" whereupon he began repeating these couplets,

"Jamíl, in Holy war go fight!" to me they say: What war save fight for fair ones would I ever essay? To me their every word and work are mere delight, And martyrs clepe I all they slay in fight and fray: An ask I, 'O Buthaynah! what's this love, I pray, Which eats my heart?' she said,' 'Twill stay for ever and aye!' And when I cry, 'Of wits return some small display For daily use,' she said, 'Far, far 'tis fled away! You seekst my death; nothing else your will can satisfy While I no goal espy save you and you alway.' "

"You have spoken right well," she said, "O King's son, and Jamil also spoke excellently well. But what would Buthaynah have done with him that he says in his hemistich,

'You seekst my death; nothing else your will can satisfy?' "

"O my lady," Sharrkan, said, "she willed to do him what you willest to do with me, and even that will not satisfy you." She laughed at his opportune reply and they did not stop carousing till Day put out her light and Night came in darkness dressed. Then she rose and went to her dormitory and slept, while Sharrkan slept in his place till morning dawned. As soon as he awoke, the handmaids came to him with tabrets and other instruments of mirth and merriment, as wont; and, kissing the ground between his hands, said to him, "Bismillah! In Allah's name—be so kind as to come: our mistress bids you to her presence!" So he rose and accompanied the slave girls who surrounded him, playing on tabrets and other instruments of music, till they passed from that saloon into another and a yet more spacious hall, decorated with pictured likenesses and figures of birds and beasts, passing all description. Sharrkan marvelled at the art and artifice of the place and began reciting,

"He pluckt fruits of her necklace in rivalry, And her breast pearls that bedded in gold mine lie. Pure water on silvern bars is her brow, And her cheeks show roses with rubies vie: Meseems in her eyne that the violet's hue Lies purpling set in the Ithmid's dye."

When the lady saw Sharrkan, she stood up to him in honour and, taking his hand, seated him by her side and asked, "O son of King Omar bin al-Nu'uman, have you any cunning in the game of chess?" "Yes," he answered, "but do not you with me as said the poet,

'I speak and longing love upties me and unties me; Till with her honey dew of inner lip she plies me: I brought the chess board and my liefest lover plays me With white and black, but black cum white never satisfies me: 'Twas as if King for Castle I were glad to place me Till wilful loss of game atwixt two queens surprise me: And if I seek to read intent in eyes that eye me Oh man! that glance askance with hint of wish defies me.' "

Then she brought the chessboard and played with him; but Sharrkan, instead of looking at her moves, kept gazing at her fair mouth, and putting knight in place of elephant and elephant instead of knight. She laughed and said to him, "If your play be in this way, you know nothing of the game." "This is only our first," he replied, "judge not by this bout." When she beat him he replaced the pieces in position and played again with her; but she beat him a second time, a third, a fourth and a fifth. So she turned to him and said, "You are beaten in everything;" and he replied, "O my lady, how should one playing with the like of you avoid being beaten?" Then she bade bring food, and they ate and washed their hands; after which the wine was set before them and they drank. Presently, she took the dulcimer, for her hand was cunning in smiting it, and she began repeating to an accompaniment these couplets,

"Twixt the close tied and open wide no medium Fortune knows; Now ebb and flow then flow and ebb this wise her likeness shows: Then drink her wine the syne she's yours and smiling you do find her; soon she'll fall and fare away when all your good forth goes."

They did not stop to carouse till nightfall and this day was pleasanter even than the first. When darkness set in, the lady betook her to her dormitory, leaving him alone with the hand maids; so he threw himself on the ground and slept till dawn, when the damsels came to him with tambourines and other instruments according to custom. Seeing them he roused him hastily and sat up; and they carried him to their mistress, who came to meet him and, taking him by the hand, seated him by her side. Then she asked him how he had passed his night, at which he prayed that her life be prolonged; and she took the lute and sang to it these verses which she improvised,

"never incline you to part Which embitters the heart even the Sun when he sets Shall in pallor depart."

While they were solacing themselves in this way, behold, there arose a great and sudden clamour, and a confused crowd of knights and men rushed in, holding drawn swords that glittered and gleamed in their hands, and cried aloud in the Grecian tongue, "You have fallen into our hands, O Sharrkan, so make you sure of death!" When he heard this, he said to himself, "By God, she has entrapped me and held me in play, till her men should come. These are the Knights with whom she threatened me; but 'tis I who have thrown myself into this strait." Then he turned towards the young lady to reproach her, but saw that she had changed colour and her face was pale; and she sprang to her feet and asked the crowd, "Who are you?" "O most gracious Princess and peerless union pearl," answered the leading Knight, "do you weet who is that man by your side?" "Not I," she replied, "who may he be?" the Patrician, said, "This is of towns the highwayman! This is he who rides in the horseman's van! This is Sharrkan, son of King Omar bin al-Nu'uman! This is he that forces fortalice and penetrats every impregnable place! The news of him reached King Hardub, your father, by report of the ancient dame Zat al-Dawahi; and your sire, our sovereign, has made sure that you have rendered good service to the army of the Greeks by taking captive this ominous lion."

When she heard this, she looked at the Knight and asked him, "What be your name?" and he answered, "I am Másúrah, son of your slave Mausúrah bin Káshardah, Knight of Knights." "And how?" she said, "durst you enter my presence without leave?" He said, "O my lady, when I came to the gate, none forbade me, neither chamberlain nor porter, but all the door keepers rose and forewent us as of wont; although, when others come, they leave them standing at the gate while they ask permission to admit them. But this is not a time for long talking, when the King is expecting our return with this Prince, the scorpion sting of the Islamitic host, that he may kill him and drive back his men where they came, without the bane of battling with them." "These words be ill words," rejoined the Princess, "and Dame Zat al-Dawahi lied, avouching an idle thing and a vain, whereof she weets not the truth; for by the virtue of the Messiah, this man who is with me is not Sharrkan, nor is he a captive, but a stranger who came to us seeking our hospitality, and I made him my guest.

So even were we assured that this be Sharrkan and were it proved to us that it is he beyond a doubt, I say it would ill befit mine honour that I should deliver into your hands one who has entered under my protection. So make me not a traitor to my guest and a disgrace among men; but return to the King, my father, and kiss the ground before him, and inform him that the case is contrariwise to the report of the Lady Zat al-Dawahi." "O Abrizah," replied Masurah, the Knight, "I cannot return to the King's majesty without his debtor and enemy." she said,(and indeed she had grew very wroth), "Out on you! Return to him with my answer, and no blame shall befall you!" Masurah, said, "I will not return without him." Thereupon her colour changed and she exclaimed, "Exceed not in talk and vain words; for truly this man had not come in to us, were he not assured that he could of himself and single handed make head against an hundred riders; and if I said to him, 'You are Sharrkan, son of King Omar bin al-Nu'uman,' he would answer, 'Yes.' But 'tis not of your competence to let or hinder him; for if you do so, he will not turn back from you till he has slain all that are in this place. Behold, here he is by my side, and I will bring him before you sword and targe in hand." "Albeit I were safe from your wrath,"

King Omar Bin Al-Nu'uman And His Sons. 107 answered Masurah the Knight, "I am not safe from that of your father, and when I see him, I shall sign to the Knights to take him captive, and we will carry him to the King bound and in abject sort." When she heard this, she said, "The matter shall not pass thus, for 'twould be blazoning mere folly. This man is but one and you are an hundred Knights: so if you would attack him come out against him, one after one, that it may appear to the King which is the valiant amongst you."——

When it was the Fifties night

Masurah, said, the Knight, "By the truth of the Messiah, you say truth, and none but I shall sally out against him first." she said, "Wait till I go to him and acquaint him with the case and hear what answer he will make. If he consent, 'tis well; but if he refuse, you shall on no wise come to him, for I and my hand maids and whoever is in the convent will be his ransom." So she went to Sharrkan and told him the news, at which he smiled and knew that she had not informed any of the Emirs; but that tidings of him had been bruited and blazed abroad, till the report reached the King, against her wish and intent. So he again began reproaching himself and said, "How came I to adventure and play with my life by coming to the country of the Greeks?" But hearing the young lady's proposal he said to her, "Indeed their onset, one after one, would be overburdensome to them. Will they not come out against me, ten by ten?" "That would be villeiny," said she; "Let one have at one." When he heard this, he sprang to his feet and made for them with his sword and battle gear; and Masurah, the Knight, also sprang up and bore down upon him. Sharrkan met him like a lion and delivered a shoulder cut which clove him to the middle, and the blade came out gleaming and glittering from his back and bowels.

When the lady beheld that swashing blow, Sharrkan's might was magnified in her sight and she knew that when she overthrew him in the wrestle it was not by her strength but by her beauty and loveliness. So she turned to the Knights and said, "Take wreak for your chief!" Thereupon out came the slain man's brother, a fierce and furious Knight, and rushed upon Sharrkan, who delayed not, but smote him also with the shoulder cut and the sword came out glittering from his vitals. Then cried the Princess, "O you servants of the Messiah, avenge your comrade!" So they did not stop charging down upon him, one after one; and Sharrkan also did not stop playing upon them with the blade, till he had slain fifty Knights, the lady looking on the while. And Allah cast a panic into the hearts of the survivors, so that they held back and dared not meet him in the duello, but fell upon him in a body; and he laid on load with heart firmer than a rock, and smote them and trod them down like straw under the threshing sled, till he had driven sense and soul out of them.

Then the Princess called aloud to her damsels, saying, "Who is left in the convent?"; and they replied, "None but the gate keepers;" whereupon she went up to Sharrkan and took him to her bosom, he doing the same, and they returned to the palace, after he had made an end of the melee. Now there remained a few of the Knights hiding from him in the cells of the monastery, and when the Princess saw this she rose from Sharrkan's side and left him for a while, but presently came back clad in closely meshed coat of ring mail and holding in her hand a fine Indian scimitar. And she said, "Now by the truth of the Messiah, I will not be a niggard of myself for my guest; nor will I abandon him though for this I abide a reproach and a by word in the land of the Greeks." Then she took reckoning of the dead and found that he had slain fourscore of the Knights, and other twenty had taken to flight. When she saw what work

King Omar Bin Al-Nu'uman And His Sons. 109 he had made with them she said to him, "Allah bless you, O Sharrkan! The Cavaliers may well glory in the like of you." Then he rose and wiping his blade clean of the blood of the slain began reciting these couplets,

"How oft in the mellay I've cleft the array, And given their bravest to lions a prey: Ask of me and of them when I proved me prow over creation, on days of the foray and fray: When I left in the onslaught their lions to lie On the sands of the low lands in fieriest day."

When he ended his verse, the Princess came up to him with smiles and kissed his hand; then she doffed her hauberk and he said to her, "O lady mine, Why did you don that coat of mail and bare your brand?" "To guard you against these caitiffs," she replied. Then she summoned the gate keepers and asked them, "How came you to admit the King's Knights into my dwelling without leave of me?"; and they answered, "O Princess, it is not our custom to ask leave of you for the King's messengers, and especially for the chief of his Knights." she said, "I think you were minded only to disgrace me and murder my guest;" and bade Sharrkan smite their necks. He did so and she cried to the rest of her servants, "Of a truth, they deserved even more than that!" Then turning to Sharrkan, she said to him, "Now that there has become manifest to you what was concealed, you will be made acquainted with my history. Know, then, that I am the daughter of King Hardub of Roum; my name is Abrizah and the ancient dame, yclept Zat al-Dawahi, is my grandmother by the sword side. She it certainly is who told my father of you, and as surely she will compass a sleight to slay me, more by token as you have slain my father's chivalry and it is noised abroad that I have separated myself from the Nazarenes and have become no better than I should be with the Moslems. Why it were wiser that I leave this dwelling while Zat al-Dawahi is on my track; but I require of you the like kindness and courtesy I have shown you, for enmity will presently befall between me and my father on yours account.

So do not you neglect to do anything that I shall say to you, remembering all this happened me not save by reason of you." Hearing her words, Sharrkan joyed greatly; his breast broadened and his wits flew from him for delight, and he said, "By God, none shall come at you, while life is in my bosom! But have you patience to bear parting from your parents and your people?" "Even so," she answered; and Sharrkan swore to her and the two plighted their troth. Then she said, "Now is my heart at ease; but there remains one other condition for you." "What is it?" he asked and she answered, "It is that you return with your host to yours own country." He said, "O lady mine, my father, King Omar bin al-Nu'uman, sent me to wage war upon your sire, on account of the treasure he plundered from the King of Constantinople, and amongst the rest three great jewels, noted givers of good fortune." she said, "Cheer your heart and clear yours eyes: I will tell you the whole of the tale and the cause of our feud with the King of Constantinople. Know that we have a yearly festival, called the Convent Feast, at which Kings from all quarters and the noblest women are wont to congregate; there also come merchants and traders with their wives and families, and the visitors abide there seven days. I was wont to be one of them; but, when there befell enmity between us, my father forbade me to be present at the festival for the space of seven years. One year, it chanced that amongst the daughters of the great who resorted to the patron, as was their custom, came a daughter of the King of Constantinople, a beautiful girl called Sophia. They tarried at the monastery six days and on the seventh the folk went their ways; but Sophia said, 'I will not return to Constantinople save by water.'

So they equipped for her a ship in which she embarked with her suite; and making sail they put out to sea; but as they were voyaging behold, a contrary wind caught them and drove the vessel from her course till, as Fate and Fortune would have it, she fell in with a Nazarene craft from the Camphor Island carrying a crew of five hundred armed Franks, who had been cruising about a long time. When they sighted the sails of the ship, in which Sophia and her women were, they gave chase in all haste and in less than an hour

King Omar Bin Al-Nu'uman And His Sons. 111 they came up with her, when they laid the grappling irons aboard her and captured her. Then taking her in tow they made all sail for their own island and were but a little distant from it when the wind veered round and, splitting their sails, drove them on to a shoal which lies off our coast. Thereupon we sallied forth and, looking on them as spoil driven to us by Fate, boarded and took them; and, slaying the men, made prize of the wreck, in which we found the treasures and rarities in question and forty maidens, amongst whom was the King's daughter, Sophia. After the capture we carried the Princess and her women to my father, not knowing her to be a daughter of King Afridun of Constantinople; and he chose out for himself ten including her; and divided the rest among his dependants. Presently, he set apart five damsels, amongst whom was the King's daughter, and sent them to your father, King Omar bin al-Nu'uman, together with other gifts, such as broadcloth and woollen stuffs and Grecian silks. Your father accepted them and chose out from amongst the five girls Sophia, daughter of King Afridun; nor did we hear more of her till the beginning of this year, when her father wrote to my father in words unfitting for me to repeat, rebuking him with menaces and saying to him:— 'Two years ago, you plundered a ship of ours which had been seized by a band of Frankish pirates in which was my daughter Sophia, attended by her maidens numbering some threescore. Yet you informed me not of it by messenger or otherwise; nor could I make the matter public, lest reproach befall me amongst the Kings, by reason of my daughter's honour.

So I concealed my case till this year, when I wrote to certain Frankish corsairs and sought news of my daughter from the Kings of the Isles. They replied, 'By God we carried her not forth of your realm; but we have heard that King Hardub rescued her from certain pirates. And they told me the whole tale.' Then he added in the writing which he writ to my father:—'Except you wish to be at feud with me and design to disgrace me and dishonour my daughter, you will, the instant my letter reaches you, send my daughter back to me. But if you slight my letter and disobey my commandment, I will assuredly make you full return for your foul dealing and the baseness of your practices.' When my father read this letter and understood the contents, it vexed him and he regretted not having known that Sophia, King Afridun's daughter, was among the captured damsels, that he might have sent her back to her sire, and he was perplexed about the case because, after so long a time, he could not send to King Omar bin al-Nu'uman and demand her back from him, especially as he had lately heard that Heaven had granted him boon of babe by this Sophia.

So when we pondered that truth, we knew that this letter was none other than a grievous calamity; and my father found nothing for it but to write an answer to King Afridun, making his excuses and swearing to him by strong oaths that he knew not his daughter to be among the bevy of damsels in the ship and setting forth how he had sent her to King Omar bin al-Nu'uman, who had gotten the blessing of issue by her. When my father's reply reached King Afridun he rose up and sat down, and roared and foamed at the mouth crying:—'What! Shall he take captive my daughter and even her with slave girls and pass her on from hand to hand sending her for a gift to Kings, and they lie with her without marriage contract? By the Messiah and the true Faith,' he said, 'I will not desist till I have taken my blood vengeance for this and have wiped out my shame; and indeed I will do a deed which the chroniclers shall chronicle after me!' So he bided his time till he devised a device and laid notable toils and snares, when he sent an embassy to your father, King Omar, to tell him that which you have heard: accordingly your father equipped you and an army with you and sent you to King Afridun, whose object is to seize you and yours army to boot.

As for the three jewels whereof he told your father when asking his aid, there was not one truthful word in that matter, for they were with Sophia, his daughter; and my father took them from her, when he got possession of her and of her maidens, and gave them to me in free gift, and they are now with me. So go you to your host and turn them back before they be led deep into, and shut in by, the land of the Franks and the country

King Omar Bin Al-Nu'uman And His Sons. 113 of the Greeks; for as soon as you have come far enough into their interior, they will stop the roads upon you and there will be no escape for you till the Day of retribution and retaliation. I know that your troops are still halting where you leftest them, because you did order a three days' rest; as well they have missed you all this time and they know not what to do." When Sharrkan heard her words, he was absent awhile in thought; then he kissed Princess Abrizah's hand and said, "Praise be to Allah who has bestowed you on me and appointed you to be the cause of my salvation and the salvation of whoever is with me! But 'tis grievous to me to part from you and I know not what will become of you after my departure." "Go now to yours army," she replied, "and turn them back, while you are yet near your own country. If the envoys be still with them, lay hands on them and keep them, that the case may be made manifest to you; and, after three days, I will be with you all and we will enter Baghdad together." As he turned to depart she said, "Forget not the compact which is between me and you;" then she rose to bid him farewell and embrace him and quench the fire of desire, so she took leave of him and, throwing her arms round his neck, wept with exceeding weeping, and repeated these verses,

"I bade adieu, my right hand wiped my tears away, The while my left hand held her in a close embrace: 'Fearest you nothing,' she said, 'of shame?' I answered 'Nay, The lover's parting day is lover's worst disgrace.'"

Then Sharrkan left her and walked down from the convent. They brought his steed, so he mounted and rode down stream to the drawbridge which he crossed and presently threaded the wood land paths and passed into the open meadow. As soon as he was clear of the trees he was aware of horsemen which made him stand on the alert, and he bared his brand and rode cautiously, but as they drew near and exchanged curious looks he recognised them and behold, it was the Wazir Dandan and two of his Emirs. When they saw him and knew him, they dismounted and saluting him, asked the reason of his absence; whereupon he told them all that had passed between him and Princess Abrizah from beginning to end.

The Wazir returned thanks to Almighty Allah for his safety and said, "Let us at once leave these lands; for the envoys who came with us are gone to inform the King of our approach, and Perhaps he will hasten to fall on us and take us prisoners." So Sharrkan cried to his men to saddle and mount, which they did and, setting out at once, they did not stop faring till they reached the sole of the valley in which the host lay. The Ambassadors meanwhile had reported Sharrkan's approach to their King, who directly equipped a host to lay hold of him and those with him. But Sharrkan, escorted by the Wazir Dandan and the two Emirs, had no sooner sighted the army, than he raised the cry "March! March!" They took horse on the instant and fared through the first day and second and third day, nor did they cease faring for five days; at the end of which time they alighted in a well wooded valley, where they rested awhile. Then they again set out and stayed not riding for five and twenty days which placed them on the frontiers of their own country. Here, deeming themselves safe, they halted to rest; and the country people came out to them with guest gifts for the men and provisions and forage for the beasts. They tarried there two days after which, as all would be making for their homes, Sharrkan put the Wazir Dandan in command, bidding him lead the host back to Baghdad.

But he himself remained behind with an hundred riders, till the rest of the army had made one day's march: then he called, "To horse!" And mounted with his hundred men. They rode on two parasangs' space till they arrived at a gorge between two mountains and lo! there arose before them a dark cloud of sand and dust. So they checked their steeds awhile till the dust opened and lifted, discovering beneath it an hundred cavaliers, lion faced and in mail coats cased. As soon as they drew within earshot of Sharrkan and his meiny they cried out to them, saying, "By the virtue of John and Mary, we have won to our wish!

We have been following you by forced marches, night and day, till we forewent you to this place. So dismount and lay down your arms and yield yourselves, that we may grant you your lives." When Sharrkan heard this, his eyes stood out from his head and his cheeks flushed red and he said, 'How is it, O Nazarene dogs, you dare enter our country and overmarch our land? And does not this suffice you, but you must adventure your selves and address us in such unseemly speech? Do you think to escape out of our hands and return to your country?" Then he shouted to his hundred horsemen, "Up and at these hounds, for they even you in number!" So saying, he bared his sabre and bore down on them, he and his, but the Franks met them with hearts firmer than rocks, and people dashed against people, and knight dashed upon knight, and hot grew the fight, and sore was the affright, and nor parley nor cries of quarter helped their plight and they did not stop to charge and to smite, right hand meeting right, nor to hack and hew with blades bright white, till day turned to night and gloom oppressed the sight.

Then they drew apart and Sharrkan mustered his men and found none wounded save four only, who showed hurts but not death hurts. he said to them, "By God, my life long have I waded in the clashing sea of fight and I have met many a gallant sprite, but none so unfrightened of the sword that smites and the shock of men that affrights like these valiant Knights!" "Know, O King," they said, "that there is among them a Frankish cavalier who is their leader and, indeed, he is a man of valour and fatal is his spear thrust: but, By God, he spares us great and small; for whoever falls into his hands he lets him go and forbears to slay him. By God, had he willed he had killed us all." Sharrkan was astounded when he heard what the Knight had done and such high report of him, so he said, "When the morn shall morrow, we will draw out and defy them, for we are an hundred to their hundred; and we will seek aid against them from the Lord of the Heavens." So they rested that night in such intent; whilst the Franks gathered round their Captain and said, "truly this day we did not win our will of these;" and he replied, "At early dawn when the morrow shall mom, we will draw out and challenge them, one after one." They also rested in that mind, and both camps kept guard until Almighty Allah sent the light of day dawn. Thereupon King Sharrkan and his hundred riders took horse and rode forth to the plain, where they found the Franks ranged in line of battle;

and Sharrkan said to his followers, "Our foes have determined like ourselves to do their devoir; so up and at them and lay on load." Then came forth an Herald of the Franks and cried out, saying, "Let there be no general engagement betwixt us this day, save by the duello, a champion of yours against a champion of ours." Whereupon one of Sharrkan's riders dashed out from the ranks and drave between the two lines crying, "Ho! Who is for smiting? Let no dastard engage me this day nor niderling!" Hardly had he made an end of his vaunt, when there sallied forth to him a Frankish cavalier, armed cap a pie and clad in a surcoat of gold stuff, riding on a grey white steed, and he had no hair on his cheeks. He urged his charger on to the midst of the battle plain and the two fell to derring do of cut and thrust, but it was not long before the Frank foined the Moslem with the lance point; and, toppling him from his steed, took him prisoner and led him off crestfallen. His folk rejoiced in their comrade and, forbidding him to go out again to the field, sent forth another, to whom sallied out another Moslem, brother to the captive, and offered him battle. The two fell to, either against other, and fought for a little while, till the Frank bore down upon the Moslem and, falsing him with a feint, tumbled him by a thrust of the lance heel from his destrier and took him prisoner. in this way the Moslems did not stop dashing forwards, one after one, and the Franks to unhorse them and take them captive, till day departed and the night with darkness upstarted.

Now they had captured of the Moslems twenty cavaliers, and when Sharrkan saw this, it was grievous to him and he mustered his men and said to them, "What is this thing that has befallen us? To morrow, I myself will go forth to the field and offer singular combat to their chief and learn what is the cause of his entering our land and warn him against doing battle with our band. If he persist, we will punish him with death, and if he prove peaceable we will make peace with him." They nighted in this way till Allah Almighty caused the morn to dawn, when mounted the twain and drew up for battle glad; and Sharrkan was going forth to the plain, but behold, more than one half of the Franks dismounted and remained on foot before one of them who was mounted, till they reached the midst of the battle plain. Sharrkan looked at that horseman and lo! he was their chief. He was clad in a surcoat of blue satin and a close ringed mail shirt; his face was as the moon when it rises and no hair was upon his cheeks.

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He seized in hand an Indian scimitar and he rode a sable steed with a white blaze on brow, like a dirham; and he smote the horse with heel till he stood almost in the midst of the field when, signing to the Moslems, he cried out in fluent Arab speech, "Ho, Sharrkan! Ho, son of Omar bin al-Nu'uman! Ho, you who forcest fortalice and overthrowest cities and countries! Up and out to battle bout, and blade single handed wield with one who halves with you the field! You are Prince of your people and I am Prince of mine; and whoever overcomes his adversary, him let the other's men obey and come under his sway." Hardly had he ended his speech, when out came Sharrkan with a heart full of fury, and urging his steed into the midst of the field, dosed like a raging lion with the Frank who encountered him with wariness and steadfastness and met him with the meeting of warriors. Then they fell to foining and hewing, and they did not stop of onset and offset, and give and take, as they were two mountains clashing together or two seas together dashing; nor did they cease fighting until day darkened and night starkened.

Then they drew apart and each returned to his own party; but as soon as Sharrkan foregathered with his comrades, he said, "Never looked I on the like of this cavalier: he has one quality I have not yet seen in any and this it is that, when his foemen uncovers a place for the death blow, he reverses his weapon and smits with the lance heel! In very deed I know not what will be the issue 'twixt him and me; but 'tis my wish that we had in our host his like and the like of his men." Then he went to his rest for the night and, when morning dawned, the Frank came forth and rode down to the mid field, where Sharrkan met him; and they fell to fighting and to wheeling, left and right; and necks were stretched out to see the sight, nor did they stint from strife and sword play and lunge of lance with main and might, till the day turned to night and darkness overwhelmed the light. Then the twain drew asunder and returned each to his own camp, where both related to their comrades what had befallen them in the duello; and at last the Frank said to his men, "To morrow shall decide the matter!" So they both passed that night restfully till dawn; and, as soon as it was day, they mounted and each bore down on other and did not stop to fight till half the day was done. Then the Frank bethought him of a ruse; first urging his steed with heel and then checking him with the rein, so that he stumbled and fell with his rider;

thereupon Sharrkan threw him self on the foe, and would have smitten him with the sword fearing lest the strife be prolonged, when the Frank cried out to him, "O Sharrkan, champions are not wont to do thus! This is the act of a man accustomed to be beaten by a woman." When Sharrkan heard this, he raised his eyes to the Frank's face and gazing steadfastly at him, recognised in him Princess Abrizah with whom that pleasant adventure had befallen him in the convent; whereupon he cast brand from hand and, kissing the earth before her, he asked, "What moved you to a deed like this?"; and she answered, "I desired to prove your prowess afield and test your doughtiness in tilting and jousting. These that are with me are my handmaids, and they are all clean maids; yet they have vanquished your horsemen in fair press and stress of plain; and had not my steed stumbled with me, you should have seen my might and prowess in combat." Sharrkan smiled at her speech and said, "Praise be to Allah for safety and for my reunion with you, O Queen of the age!" Then she cried out to her damsels to loose the twenty captives of Sharrkan's troop and dismount. They did as she bade and came and kissed the earth before her and Sharrkan who said to them, "It is the like of you that Kings keep in store for the need hour." Then he signed to his comrades to salute the Princess; so all alighted and kissed the earth before her, for they knew the story. After this, the whole two hundred took horse, and fared on night and day for six days' space, till they drew near to Baghdad, when they halted and Sharrkan bade Abrizah and her handmaids doff the Frankish garb that was on them,—

When it was the One Hundred and Fifty first night

he said to his father, "the King of Constantinople has plotted to do us a mischief, because of his daughter Sophia, for that the King of Greece had made known to him her story and the cause of her being given to you; and he (the Grecian King) not knowing her to be daughter of King Afridun, Lord of Constantinople; and, had he known that, he would not have bestowed her upon you, but he would have restored her to her parent. And of a verity," he continued, "we were saved from these perils only by the Lady Abrizah, and never saw we a more valiant than she." And he went on to tell his father all that had passed from beginning to end of the wrestling and the single fighting. When King Omar heard the story of Sharrkan, Abrizah was exalted in his eyes, and he longed to see her and question her. Thereupon Sharrkan went out to her and said, "The King calls for you;" she replied, "I hear and I obey;" and he took her and brought her in to his father, who was seated on his throne and who, having dismissed his high officers, was attended only by his eunuchs. The Princess entered and kissing the ground between his hands, saluted him in choice terms. He was amazed at her eloquent speech and thanked her for her dealing with his son Sharrkan and bade her be seated.

So she sat down and unveiled her face; and, when the King saw her beauty, his reason fled his head and he made her draw near and showed her favour, appointing her an especial palace for herself and her damsels, and assigning them solde and allowances. Then began he to ask her of the three jewels aforesaid, and she answered, "Here be they with me,!" So saying, she rose and going to her lodging, unpacked her baggage and from it brought out a box and from the box a casket of gold. She opened the casket and taking out those three jewels, kissed them and gave them to the King. Then she went away bearing his heart with her. After her going the King sent for his son Sharrkan and gave him one jewel of the three, and when he enquired of the other two replied, "O my son! I mean to give one to your brother Zau al-Makan, and the other to your sister Nuzhat al-Zaman." But when Sharrkan heard that he had a brother (for to that time he knew only of his sister) he turned to his sire and said to him, "O King, have you a son other than myself?"

He answered, "Yes, and he is now six years old;" adding that his name was Zau al-Makan and that he and Nuzhat al-Zaman were twins, born at a birth. This news was grievous to Sharrkan, but he kept his secret and said, "The blessing of Allah Most High be upon them!"; and he cast the jewel from his hand and shook the dust off his clothes. the King, said, "How do I see you change your manner when hearing of this, considering that after me you becomest heir of the kingdom. Of a truth the troops have sworn to you and the Emirs and Grandees have taken the oath of succession to you; and this one of the three jewels is yours." Sharrkan bowed his head to the ground and was ashamed to bandy words with his parent so he accepted the jewel and went away, knowing not what to do for exceeding wrath, and stayed not walking till he had entered Abrizah's palace. As he approached she stood up to meet him and thanked him for what he had done and prayed for blessings on him and his sire. Then she sat down and seated him by her side; but when he had taken his place she saw rage in his face and questioned him, whereupon he told her that Allah had blessed his father with two children by Sophia, a boy and a girl, and that he had named the boy Zau al-Makan and the girl Nuzhat al-Zaman; adding, "He has kept the other two jewels for them and has given me one of yours, so I left it behind; I knew nothing of Zau al-Makan's birth till this day, and the twain are now six years old.

So when I learnt this, wrath possessed me; and I tell you the reason of my rage and hide nothing from you. But now I fear lest my father take you to wife, for he loves you and I saw in him signs of desire for you: so what will you say, if he wish this?" she said, "Know, O Sharrkan, that your father has no dominion over me, nor can he have me without my consent; and if he prevail over me by force, I will take my own life.

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As for the three jewels, it was not my intent that he should give any of them to either of his children and I had no thought but that he would lay them up in his treasury with his things of price; but now I desire of your favour that you make me a present of the jewel which he gave you, if you have accepted it." "I hear and I obey," replied Sharrkan, and gave it to her. Then she said, "Fear nothing," and talked with him awhile and continued, "I fear lest my father hear that I am with you and sit not patiently under my loss, but do his endeavours to find me; and to that end he may ally himself with King Afridun, on account of his daughter Sophia, and both come on you with armies and so there befall great turmoil." When Sharrkan heard these words, he said to her, "O my lady, if it please you to sojourn with us, take no thought of them; though there gather together against us all that be on land and on sea." " 'Tis well," rejoined she; "if you entreat me fair, I will tarry with you, and if you deal evilly by me, I will depart from you."

Then she bade her slave maidens bring food; so they set the tables, and Sharrkan ate a little and went away to his own house, disturbed and perturbed. Such was his case; but regarding the affairs of his father, Omar bin al-Nu'uman, after dismissing his son Sharrkan he arose and, taking the other two jewels, betook himself to the Lady Sophia, who stood up when she saw him and remained standing till he was seated. Presently, his two children, Zau al-Makan and Nuzhat al-Zaman, came to him and he kissed them and hung a jewel round each one's neck, at which they rejoiced and kissed his hands. Then they went to their mother, who joyed in their joy and wished the King long life; so he asked, "Why have you not informed me all this time that you are the daughter of King Afridun, Lord of Constantinople, that I might have honoured you still more and enlarged you in dignity and raised your rank?" "O King," answered Sophia, "and what could I desire greater or higher than this my standing with you, overwhelmed as I am with your favours and your benefits? And, furthermore, Allah has blessed me with two children by you, a son and a daughter."

Her reply pleased the King and after leaving her, he set apart for her and her children a wondrous fine palace. Moreover, he appointed for them eunuchs and attendants and doctors of law and doctors of philosophy and astrologers and physicians and surgeons to do them service; and in every way he redoubled his favour and entreated them with the best of treatment. And presently he returned to the palace of his dominion and to his Court where he distributed justice among the subjects. So far concerning him and Sophia and her children; but in the matter of Abrizah the King was greatly occupied with love of her and burnt with desire of her night and day; and every night, he would go in to her and converse with her and pay his court to her, but she gave him no answer, only saying, "! I have no desire for men at this present." When he saw her withdraw from him, his passion grew hotter and his longing and pining increased until, when weary of this, he summoned his Wazir Dandan and, opening his very heart to him, told him of his love for Princess Abrizah, daughter of Hardub, and informed him how she refused to yield to his wishes and how desire for her was doing him to die, for that he could get no grace of her. The Wazir, hearing these words, said to the King, "As soon as it is dark night, take you a piece of Bhang the measure of a miskal, about an ounce, and go in to her and drink something of wine with her.

When the hour of ending the carousal shall draw near, fill her a last cup and dropping within it the Bhang, give it to her to drink, and she will not reach her sleeping chamber before the drug take effect on her. Then do you go in to her and take your will of her; and such is my advice." "your advice is aright," the King, said, and seeking his treasury, he took thence a piece of concentrated Bhang, if an elephant smelt 'it he would sleep from year to year. This he put in his bosom pocket and waited till some little of the night went by, when he betook himself to the palace of Princess Abrizah, who seeing him stood up to receive him; but he bade her sit down. So she sat down, and he sat by her, and he began to talk with her of wine and wassail, whereupon she furnished the carousing table and placed it before him. Then she set on the drinking vessels and lighted the candles and ordered to bring dried fruits and sweet meats and all that pertains to drinking. So they fell to tippling and the King did not stop to pledge her till drunkenness crept into her head; and seeing this he took out the bit of Bhang from his pocket and, holding it between his fingers, filled a cup

King Omar Bin Al-Nu'uman And His Sons. 123 with his own hand and drank it off. Then filling a second he said, "To your companionship!"; and dropped the drug into her cup, she knowing nothing of it. She took it and drank it off; then she rose and went to her sleeping chamber. He waited for less than an hour till he was assured that the dose had taken effect on her and had robbed her of her senses, when he went in to her and found her thrown on her back: and she had doffed her petticoat trousers and the air raised the skirt of her shift and discovered what was between her thighs. When the King saw the state of things and found a lighted candle at her head and another at her feet, shining upon what her thighs enshrined he took leave of his five senses for lust and Satan seduced him and he could not master himself, but put off his trousers and fell upon her and abated her maiden head. Then he rose off her and went to one of her women, by name Marjanah, and said, "Go in to your lady and speak with her."

So she went in to her mistress and found her lying on her back insensible, with the blood running down to the calves of her legs, whereupon she took a kerchief and wiped away the blood and lay by her that night. As soon as Almighty Allah brought the dawn, the handmaid Marjanah washed her mistress's hands and feet and brought rose water and bathed her face and mouth with it, where upon she sneezed and yawned and cast up from her inside that bit of Bhang like a bolus. Then she revived and washed her hands and mouth and said to Marjanah, "Tell me what has befallen me." So she told her what had passed and how she had found her, lying on her back, with the blood running down, Why she knew that King Omar bin al-Nu'uman had lain with her and had undone her and taken his will of her. At this she grieved with exceeding grief and retired into privacy, saying to her damsels, "Deny me to whoever would come in to me and say to him that I am ill, till I see what Allah will do with me." Presently, the news of her sickness came to the King; so he sent her sherbets and sugar electuaries. Some months she thus passed in solitude, during which time the King's flame cooled and his desire for her was quenched, so that he abstained from her.

Now she had conceived by him, and when the months of child breeding had gone by, her pregnancy appeared and her belly swelled, and the world was straitened upon her, so she said to her handmaid Marjanah, "Know that it is not the folk who have wronged me, but I who sinned against my own self in that I left my father and mother and country. Indeed, I abhor life, for my spirit is broken and neither courage nor strength is left me. I used, when I mounted my steed, to have the mastery of him, but now I am unable to ride. If I be brought to bed among them I shall be dishonoured before my hand women and every one in the palace will know that he has taken my maidenhead in the way of shame; and if I return to my father, with what face shall I meet him or with what face shall I have recourse to him? How well the poet, said,

'Say, what shall solace one who has nor home nor stable stead Nor cup companion, nor a cup, nor place to house his head?' "

Marjanah answered her, "It is yours to command; I will obey;" and Abrizah said, "I desire at once to leave this place secretly, so that none shall know of me but you; and return to my father and my mother, for when flesh stinks, there is nothing for it but its own folk and Allah shall do with me even as He will." "O Princess," Marjanah replied, "what you would do is well." Then she made matters ready and kept her secret and waited for some days till the King went out to chase and hunt, and his son Sharrkan betook himself to certain of the fortresses to sojourn there awhile. Then she said to Marjanah, "I wish to set out this night, but how shall I do against my destiny? For already I feel the pangs of labour and child birth, and if I abide other four or five days, I shall be brought to bed here, and I shall be unable to travel to my country. But this is what was written on my forehead." Then she considered awhile, and said to Marjanah, "Look us out a man who will go with us and serve us by the way, for I have no strength to bear arms." "By God, O my lady," replied Marjanah, "I know none but a black slave

King Omar Bin Al-Nu'uman And His Sons. 125 called Al-Ghazban, who is one of the slaves of King Omar bin al-Nu'uman; he is a valiant people, and he keeps guard at our palace gate. The King appointed him to attend us, and indeed we have overwhelmed him with our favours; so, lookye, I will go out and speak with him of this matter, and promise him some monies and tell him that, if he have a mind to tarry with us, I will marry him to whom he will. He told me before to day that he had been a highwayman; so if he consent to us we shall win our wish and reach to our own land." She rejoined, "Call him, that I may talk with him;" whereupon Marjanah fared forth and said to the slave, "O Ghazban, Allah prosper you, so you fall in with what my lady says to you!" Then she took him by the hand and brought him to the Princess, whose hands he kissed, but as she beheld him, her heart took fright at him. "However," she said to herself, "of a truth, Need gives the law;" and she approached to speak with him, yet her heart started away from him. Presently, she said, "O Ghazban, say me, will you help me against the perfidies of Fortune and conceal my secret if I discover it to you?"

When the slave saw her, his heart was taken by storm and he fell in love with her directly and could not but reply, "O my mistress, whatever you bid me do, I will not depart from it." she said, "I would have you take me at this hour and take this my handmaid and saddle us two camels and two of the King's horses and set on each horse a saddle bag of goods and something of provisions, and go with us to our own country; where, if you desire to abide with us, I will marry you to her you will choose of my handmaidens; or, if you prefer return to yours own land, we will marry you and give you whatever you desire after you have taken of money what shall satisfy you." When al-Ghazban heard this, he rejoiced with great joy and replied, "O my lady, I will serve both of you with my eyes and will go at once and saddle the horses." Then he went away gladsome and saying to himself, "I shall get my will of them; and if they will not yield to me, I will kill them both and take their riches."

But he kept this his intent to himself, and presently returned with two camels and three head of horses, one of which he rode, and Princess Abrizah made Marjanah mount the second, she mounting the third, albeit she was in labour pains and possessed not her soul for anguish. And the slave did not stop travelling with them night and day through the passes of the mountains, till there remained but a single march between them and their own country; when the travail pangs came upon Abrizah and she could no longer resist; so she said to al-Ghazban, "Set me down, for the pains of labour are upon me;" and cried to Marjanah, "Do you alight and sit by me and deliver me." Then Marjanah dismounted from her horse, and al-Ghazban did in like sort, and they made fast the bridles and helped the Princess to dismount, for she was aswoon from excess of anguish. When al-Ghazban saw her on the ground, Satan entered into him and he drew his falchion and brandishing it in her face, said, "O my lady, vouchsafe me your favours." Hearing these words she turned to him and said, "It remains for me only that I yield me to negro slaves, after having refused Kings and Braves!"—

When it was the One Hundred and Fifty second night

And she was wroth with him and cried, "Woe to you! What words are these you say? Out on you, and talk not thus in my presence and know that I will never consent to what you say, though I drink the cup of death. Wait till I have cast my burden and am delivered of the after birth, and then, if you be able thereto, do with me as you will; but, If you leave not lewd talk at this time assuredly I will slay myself with my own hand and quit the world and be at peace from all this." And she began reciting extempore,

"O spare me, you Ghazban, indeed enow for me Are heavy strokes of time, mischance and misery! Whoredom my Lord forfends to all humanity, He, said, 'Who breaks my bidding Hell for home shall see!

King Omar Bin Al-Nu'uman And His Sons. 127

And if you leave not suing me to whoredom's way Against th' Almighty's choicest gift, my chastity, Upon my tribesmen I with might and main will call And gather all however far or near they be And with Yamani blade were I in pieces hewn, never shall he sight my face who makes for villeiny The face of free born come of noble folk and brave; What then can be to me the seed of whoreson slave?"

When Ghazban heard these lines he was wroth exceedingly; his eyes reddened with blood and his face became a dusty grey; his nostrils swelled, his lips protruded and the repulsiveness of his aspect redoubled. And he repeated these couplets,

"Ho you, Abrizah, mercy! leave me not for I Of your love and Yamani glance the victim lie My heart is cut to pieces by your cruelty, My body wasted and my patience done to die: From glances ravishing all healts with witchery Reason far flies, the while desire to you draws near Though at your call should armies fill the face of earth even now I'd win my wish and worlds in arms defy!"

When Abrizah heard these words, she wept with sore weeping and said to him, "Woe to you, O Ghazban! How dars the like of you to address me such demand, O base born and obscene bred? Do you deem all folk are alike?" When the vile slave heard this from her, he waxt more enraged and his eyes grew redder: and he came up to her and smiting her with the sword on her neck wounded her to the death. Then he drove her horse before him with the treasure and made off with himself to the mountains. Such was the case with al-Ghazban; but as regards Abrizah, she gave birth to a son, like the moon, and Marjanah took the babe and did him the necessary offices and laid him by his mother's side; and lo and behold! the child fastened to its mother's breast and she dying. When Marjanah saw this, she cried out with a grievous cry and rent her raiment and cast dust on her head and buffeted her cheeks till blood flowed, saying, "Alas, my mistress! Alas, the pity of it! You are dead by the hand of a worthless black slave, after all your knightly prowess!"

And she did not stop weeping when suddenly a great cloud of dust arose and walled the horizon; but, after awhile, it lifted and discovered a numerous conquering host. Now this was the army of King Hardub, Princess Abrizah's father, and the cause of his coming was that when he heard of his daughter and her handmaids having fled to Baghdad, and that they were with King Omar bin al-Nu'uman, he had come forth, leading those with him, to seek tidings of her from travellers who might have seen her with the King. When he had gone a single day's march from his capital, he espied three horse men afar off and made towards them, intending to ask from where they came and seek news of his daughter. Now these three whom he saw at a distance were his daughter and Marjanah and the slave al-Ghazban; and he made for them to push inquiry. Seeing this the villain blackamoor feared for himself; so he killed Abrizah and fled for his life. When they came up, King Hardub saw his daughter lying dead and Marjanah weeping over her, and he threw himself from his steed and fell fainting to the ground. All the riders of his company, the Emirs and Wazirs, took foot and forth right pitched their tents on the mountain and set up for the King a great pavilion, domed and circular, without which stood the grandees of the realm. When Marjanah saw her master, she at once recognised him and her tears redoubled; and, when he came to himself, he questioned her and she told him all that had passed and said, "Of a truth he that has slain your daughter is a black slave belonging to King Omar bin al-Nu'uman, and she informed him how Sharrkan's father had dealt

King Omar Bin Al-Nu'uman And His Sons. 129 with the Princess. When King Hardub heard this, the world grew black in his sight and he wept with sore weeping. Then he called for a litter and, within it laying his dead daughter, returned to Cæsarea and carried her into the palace, where he went in to his mother, Zat al-Dawahi, and said to that Lady of Calamities, "Shall the Moslems deal thus with my girl? truly King Omar bin al-Nu'uman despoiled her of her honour by force, and after this, one of his black slaves slew her. By the truth of the Messiah, I will assuredly take blood revenge for my daughter and clear away from mine honour the stain of shame; else will I kill myself with my own hand!" And he wept passing sore. his mother, said, "None other than Marjanah killed your daughter, for she hated her in secret;" and she continued to her son, "Fret not for taking the blood wit of your daughter, for, by the truth of the Messiah, I will not turn back from King Omar bin al-Nu'uman till I have slain him and his sons; and of a very truth I will do with him a deed, passing the power of Sage and Knight, whereof the chroniclers shall tell chronicles in all countries and in every place: but needs must you do my bidding in all I shall direct, for whoever be firmly set on the object of his desire shall surely compass his desire." "By the virtue of the Messiah," he replied, "I will not cross you in anything you will say."

Then she said, "Bring me a number of hand maids, high bosomed virgins, and summon the wise men of the age and let them teach them philosophy and the rules of behaviour before Kings, and the art of conversation and making verses; and let them talk with them of all kinds science and edifying know ledge. And the sages must be Moslems, that they may teach them the language and traditions of the Arabs, together with the history of the Caliphs and the ancient annals of the Kings of al-Islam; and if we persevere in this for four years' space, we shall gain our case. So possess your soul in patience and wait; for one of the Arabs says, 'If we take man bote after years forty the time were short to you.' When we have taught the girls these things, we shall be able to work our will with our foe, for he dots on women and he has three hundred and sixty concubines, whereto are now added an hundred of the flowers of your handmaidens who were with your daughter, she that has found mercy. As soon as I have made an end of their education, as described to you, I will take them and set out with them in person."

When King Hardub heard his mother's words, he rejoiced and arose and kissed her head; and at once despatched messengers and couriers to lands sundry and manifold to fetch him Moslem sages. They obeyed his commands and fared to far countries and thence brought him the sages and the doctors he sought. When these came into presence, he honoured them with notable honours and bestowed dresses on them and appointed to them stipends and allowances and promised them much money whenas they should have taught the damsels. Then he committed the handmaidens to their hands—

When it was the One Hundred and Fifty third night

And he was sore vexed and his breast was straitened for the loss of Princess Abrizah. Hereupon behold, his son Sharrkan returned from his journey; and the father told him what had happened, and informed him how the lady had fled, whilst he was chasing and hunting, at which he grieved with exceeding grief. Then King Omar took to visiting his children every day and making much of them and brought them learned men and doctors to teach them, appointing for them stipends. When Sharrkan saw this, he raged with exceeding rage and envied thereupon his brother and sister till the signs of chagrin appeared in his face and he did not stop to languish by reason of this matter: so one day his father said to him, "Why do I see you grown weak in body and yellow of face?" "O my father," replied Sharrkan, "every time I see you fondle my brother and sister and make much of them, jealousy seizes on me, and I fear lest it grow on me till I slay them and you slay me in return. And this is the reason

King Omar Bin Al-Nu'uman And His Sons. 131 of my weakness of body and change of complexion. But now I crave of your favour that you give me one of your castles outlying the rest, that I may abide there the remnant of my life, for as the sayer of bywords says, 'Absence from my friend is better and fitter for me'; and, 'whatever eye does not perceive, that garrs not heart to grieve.' " And he bowed his head towards the ground. When King Omar bin al-Nu'uman heard his words and knew the cause of his ailment and of his being broken down, he soothed his heart and said to him, "O my son, I grant you this and I have not in my reign a greater than the Castle of Damascus, and the government of it is yours from this time." Thereupon he directly summoned his secretaries of state and bade them write Sharrkan's patent of investiture to the viceroyalty of Damascus of Syria. And when they had written it, he equipped him and sent with him the Wazir Dandan, and invested him with the rule and government and gave him instructions as to policy and regulations; and took leave of him, and the grandees and officers of state did likewise, and he set out with his host.

When he arrived at Damascus, the townspeople beat the drums and blew the trumpets and decorated the city and came out to meet him in great state; whilst all the notables and grandees paced in procession, and those who stood to the right of the throne walked on his right flank, and the others to the left. Thus far concerning Sharrkan; but as regards his father, Omar bin al-Nu'uman, soon after the departure of his son, the children's tutors and governors presented themselves before him and said to him, "O our lord, your children have now learnt knowledge and they are completely versed in the rules of manners and the etiquette of ceremony." The King rejoiced at that with exceeding joy and conferred bountiful largesse upon the learned men, seeing Zau al-Makan grown up and flourishing and skilled in horsemanship. The Prince had reached the age of fourteen and he occupied himself with piety and prayers, loving the poor, the Olema and the Koran students, so that all the people of Baghdad loved him, men and women. One day, the procession of the Mahmil of Irak passed round Baghdad before its departure for the pilgrimage to Meccah and visitation of the tomb of the Prophet (whom Allah bless and preserve!).

When Zau al-Makan saw the Mahmil procession he was seized with longing desire to become a pilgrim, so he went in to his sire and said, "I come to ask your leave to make the pilgrimage." But his father forbade him saying, "Wait till next year and I will go and you too." When the Prince saw that the matter was postponed, he betook himself to his sister Nuzhat al-Zaman, whom he found standing at prayer. As soon as she had ended her devotions he said to her, "I am dying with desire of pilgrimage to the Holy House of Allah at Meccah and to visit the tomb of the Prophet, upon whom be peace! I asked my father's leave, but he forbade me that, so I mean to take privily something of money and set out on the pilgrimage without his knowledge." "in God's name," exclaimed she, "take me with you and deprive me not of visitation to the tomb of the Prophet, whom Allah bless and keep!" And he answered, "As soon as it is dark night, do you come forth from this place, without telling any." Accordingly, when it was the middle of the night she arose and took something of money and donned a man's habit; and she did not stop walking to the palace gate, where she found Zau al-Makan with camels ready for marching.

So he mounted and mounted her; and the two fared on till they were in the midst of the Iraki pilgrim party, and they did not stop marching and Allah wrote safety for them, till they entered Meccah the Holy and stood upon Arafat and performed the pilgrimage rites. Then they made a visitation to the tomb of the Prophet (whom Allah bless and assain!) and thought to return with the pilgrims to their native land. But Zau al-Makan said to his sister, "O my sister, it is in my mind to visit the Holy House, Jerusalem, and Abraham the Friend of Allah (on whom be peace!) " "I also desire so to do," she replied. So they agreed upon this and he fared forth and took passage for himself and her and they made ready and set out in the ship with a company of Jerusalem palmers.

King Omar Bin Al-Nu'uman And His Sons. 133

That very night the sister fell sick of an aguish chill, and was grievously ill but presently recovered, after which the brother also sickened. She tended him during his malady and they did not stop wayfaring till they arrived at Jerusalem, but the fever increased on him and he grew weaker and weaker. They alighted at a Khan and there hired a lodging; but Zau al-Makan's sickness did not stop to increase on him, till he was wasted with leanness and became delirious At this, his sister was greatly afflicted and exclaimed, There is no majesty and there is no might save in Allah, the Glorious, the Great! This is the decree of Allah!" They sojourned in that place awhile, his weakness ever increasing and she attending him and buying necessaries for him and for herself, till all the money she had was expended and she became so poor that she had not so much as a dirham left. Then she sent a servant of the Khan to the bazar with some of her clothes, and he sold them and she spent the price upon her brother; then sold she something more and she did not stop selling all she had, piece by piece, till nothing was left but an old rug. Whereupon she wept and exclaimed, "truly is Allah the Orderer of the past and the future!"

Presently, her brother said to her, "O my sister, I feel recovery drawing near and my heart longs for a little roast meat." "By God! O my brother," she replied, "I have no face to beg; but to morrow I will enter some rich man's house and serve him and earn somewhat for our living." Then she bethought herself awhile and said, "Of a truth 'tis hard for me to leave you and you in this state, but I must despite myself!" He rejoined, "Allah forbid! You will be put to shame; but there is no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah!" And he wept and she wept too. Then she said, O my brother, we are strangers who have dwelt here a full year, but none has yet knocked at our door. Shall we then die of hunger? I know no resource but that I go out and do service and earn something to keep us alive, till you recover from your sickness, when we will travel back to our native land." She sat weeping awhile and he wept too, propped upon his elbow. Then Nuzhat al-Zaman arose and, veiling her head with a bit of camlet, which had been of the cameleer's clothes and which the owner had forgotten and left with them; she kissed the head of her brother and embraced him and went forth from him, weeping and knowing not where she should go.

And she did not stop going and her brother Zau al-Makan awaiting her return till the supper time; but she came not, and he watched for her till the morning morrowed but still she returned not; and this endured till two days went by. He was greatly troubled at that and his heart fluttered for her, and hunger was sore upon him. At last he left the chamber and, calling the servant of the caravanserai, said, "I wish you to bear me to the bazar." So he carried him to the market street and laid him down there; and the people of Jerusalem gathered round him and were moved to tears seeing his condition. He signed to them begging for something to eat; so they brought him some money from certain of the merchants who were in the bazar, and bought food and fed him therewith; after which they carried him to a shop, where they spread him a mat of palm leaves and set an ewer of water at his head. When night fell, all the folk went away, sore concerned for him and, in the middle of the night, he called to mind his sister and his sickness redoubled on him, so that he abstained from eating and drinking and became insensible to the world around him.

Then the bazar people arose and took for him from the merchants thirty seven dirhams, and hiring a camel, said to the driver, "Carry this sick man to Damascus and leave him in the hospital; Perhaps he may be cured and recover health." "On my head be it!" replied the camel man; but he said to himself, "How shall I take this sick man to Damascus, and he almost death?" So he carried him away to a place and hid with him till the night, when he threw him down on the ash heap near the fire hole of a Hammam and went his way. When morning dawned the Stoker of the bath came to his work and, finding Zau al-Makan cast on his back, exclaimed, "Why did they not throw their dead body any where but here?" So saying, he gave him a kick and he moved; whereupon the Fireman, said, "Some one of you who has eaten a bit of Hashish and has thrown himself down in whatever place it be!" Then he looked at his face and saw his hairless cheeks and his grace and comeliness; so he took pity on him and knew that he was sick and a stranger in the land.

And he cried, "There is no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah! Truly, I have sinned against this youth, for indeed the Prophet (whom Allah bless and keep!) enjoins honour to the stranger, more especially when the stranger is sick." Then he carried him home and went in with him to his wife and bade her tend him. So she spread him a sleeping rug and set a cushion under his head, then warmed water for him and washed therewith his hands and feet and face. Meanwhile, the Stoker went to the market and bought some rose water and sugar, and sprinkled Zau al-Makan's face with the water and gave him to drink of the sherbet. Then he fetched a clean shirt and put it on him. With this, Zau al-Makan sniffed the zephyr of health and recovery returned to him; and he sat up and leant against the pillow. at this the Fireman rejoiced and exclaimed, "Praise be to Allah for the welfare of this youth! O Allah, I beseech You by Your knowledge of hidden things, that You make the salvation of this youth to be at my hands!"—

When it was the Fifty fourth night

And he did not stop to nurse him for three days, giving him to drink of sherbet of sugar and willow flower water and rose water; and doing him all manner of service and kindness, till health began to return to his body and Zau al-Makan opened his eyes. Presently, came in the Fireman and, seeing him sitting up and showing signs of amendment, said to him, "What is now your state, O my son?" "Praise be to Allah," replied Zau al-Makan, "I am well and like to recover, if such be the will of Allah Almighty at this time." The Stoker praised the Lord of All for this and, going fast to the market, bought ten chickens, which he carried to his wife and said, "Kill two of these for him every day, one at dawn of day and the other at fall of day." So she rose up and killed a fowl and brought it to him boiled, and fed him with the flesh and made him drink its broth. When he had done eating, she fetched hot water and he washed his hands and lay back upon the pillow, whereupon she covered him up with the coverlet, and he slept till the time of the mid afternoon prayer. Then she arose and killed another fowl and boiled it;

after which she cut it up and, bringing it to Zau al-Makan, said, "Eat, O my son!" While he was eating; behold, her husband entered and seeing her feeding him, sat down at his head and said to him, "How is it with you now, O my son?" "Thanks be to Allah for recovery!" he replied: "may the Almighty requite you your kindness to me." At this the Fireman rejoiced and going out, bought sherbet of violets and rose water and made him drink it. Now the Stoker used to work at the Hammam all day for a wage of five dirhams, whereof he spent every day, for Zau al-Makan, one dirham upon sugar and sherbet of rose water and willow flower water, and another dirham for fowls; and he did not stop to entreat him thus kindly during a whole month, till the traces of illness ceased from him and he was once more sound and whole. Thereupon the Fireman and his wife rejoiced and asked him, "O my son, will you go with me to the bath?"; whereto he answered, "Yes!" So the Stoker went to the bazar and fetched a donkey boy, and he mounted Zau al-Makan on the ass and supported him in the saddle till they came to the bath.

Then he made him sit down and seated the donkey boy in the furnace room and went forth to the market and bought lote leaves and lupin flour, with which he returned to the bath and said to Zau al-Makan, "O my master, in Allah's name, walk in and I will wash your body." So they entered the inner room of the bath, and the Fireman took to rubbing Zau al-Makan's legs and began to wash his body with the leaves and meal, when there came to them a bathman, whom the bath keeper had sent to Zau al-Makan; and he, seeing the Stoker washing and rubbing him, said, "This is doing injury to the keeper's rights." Replied the Fireman, "The master overwhelms us with his favours!" Then the bathman proceeded to shave Zau al-Makan's head, after which he and the Stoker washed themselves and returned to the house, where he clad Zau al-Makan in a shirt of fine stuff and a robe of his own; and gave him a handsome turband and girdle and a light kerchief which he wound about his neck. Meanwhile the Fireman's wife had killed and cooked two chickens; so, as soon as Zau al-Makan entered and seated himself on the carpet, the husband arose and, dissolving sugar in willow flower water, made him drink of it.

Then he brought the food tray and, cutting up the chickens, fed him with the flesh and gave him the broth to drink till he was satisfied; when he washed his hands and praised Allah for recovery, and said to the Fireman, You are he whom the Almighty vouchsafed to me and made the cause of my cure!" "Leave this talk," replied the other, "and tell us the cause of your coming to this city and from where you are. Your face shows signs of gentle breeding." "Tell me first how you came to fall in with me," said Zau al-Makan; "and after I will tell you my story." Rejoined the Fireman, "As for that, I found you lying on the rubbish heap by the door of the fire house, as I went to my work near the morning, and knew not who had thrown you there. So I carried you home with me; and this is all my tale." Zau al-Makan, said, "Glory to Him who quickens the bones, though they be rotten! Indeed, O my brother, you have not done good save to one worthy of it, and you will presently gather its fruitage." And he added, "But where am I now?" "You are in the city of Jerusalem," replied the Stoker; where upon Zau al-Makan called to mind his strangerhood and remembered his separation from his sister and wept. Then he discovered his secret to the Fireman and told him his story and began repeating,

"In love they bore me further than my force would go, And for them made me suffer resurrection throe: Oh, have compassion, cruel! on this soul of mine Which, since you fared, is pitied by each envious foe Nor grudge the tender mercy of one passing glance My case to lighten, easing this excess of woe: I said,'Heart, bear this loss in patience!' Patience cried 'Take heed! no patience in such plight I'm wont to show.' "

Then he redoubled his weeping, and the Fireman said to him, "Weep not, but rather praise Allah for safety and recovery." Asked Zau al-Makan, "How far is it hence to Damascus?" Answered the other, "Six days' journey." Then Zau al-Makan, said, "Will you send me there?" "O my lord," the Stoker, said, "how can I allow you to go alone, and you a youth and a stranger to boot? If you would journey to Damascus, I am one who will go with you; and if my wife will listen to and obey me and accompany me, I will take up my abode there; for it is no light matter to part with you." Then he said to his wife, "Will you travel with me to Damascus of Syria or will you abide here, whilst I lead this my lord there and return to you?

For he is bent upon going to Damascus of Syria and, By God, it is hard to me to part with him, and I fear for him from highway men." she replied, "I will go with you both;" and he rejoined, "Praised be Allah for accord, and we have said the last word!" Then he rose and selling all his own goods and his wife's gear,—,

When it was the Fifty fifth night

he replied, "Allah make weal your lot, O my son! Surely He will compensate us with His favours and cause our mourning to cease. What sayst you, O my son, about our walking abroad to view Damascus and cheer your spirits?" Replied Zau al-Makan, "Your will is mine." So the Fireman arose and placed his hand in that of Zau al-Makan and the two walked on till they came to the stables of the Viceroy of Damascus, where they found camels laden with chests and carpets and brocaded stuffs, and horses ready saddled and Bactrian dromedaries, while Mamelukes and negro slaves and folk in a hubbub were running to and fro. Zau al-Makan, said, "I wonder to whom belong all these chattels and camels and stuffs!" So he asked one of the eunuchs, "where this dispatching?" and he answered, "These are presents sent by the Emir of Damascus to King Omar bin al-Nu'uman, with the tribute of Syria."

Now when Zau al-Makan heard his father's name, his eyes brimmed over with tears, and he began repeating,

"Oh you gone from the gaze of these lidded eyne, You whose sight in my spirit shall ever dwell! Your charms are gone, but this heart of me Has no sweet, and no pleasures its sour dispel If Allah s grace make us meet again, In long drawn love tale my love I'll tell

And when he had ended his verse, he wept and the Fireman said to him, "O my son, we hardly believed that your health had returned; so take heart and do not weep, for I fear a relapse for you." And he did not stop comforting and cheering him, whilst Zau al-Makan sighed and moaned over his strangerhood and separation from his sister and his family; and tears streamed from his eyes and he recited these couplets,

"Get you provisions in this world before you go upon your way; And know how surely Death descends your life lot to waylay: All your worldly goods are pride and the painfullest repine; All your worldly life is vexing of your soul in vain display: Say is not worldly wone like a wanderer's place of rest, Where at night he 'nakhs' his camels and moves off at dawn of day?"

And he continued to weep and wail over his separation; whilst the Fireman also bewept the loss of his wife, yet did not stop to comfort Zau al-Makan till morning dawned. When the sun rose, he said to him, "It seems to me you yearnest for your native land?" "Yes," replied Zau al-Makan, "and I can no longer tarry here; so I will commend you to Allah's care and set out with these folk and journey with them, little by little, till I come to my motherland." Said the Stoker, "And I with you; for of a truth I cannot bear to part with you. I have done you kindly service and I mean to complete it by tending you on your travel." At this, Zau al-Makan rejoiced and said, "Allah abundantly requite you for me!" And was pleased with the idea of their travelling together. The Fireman at once went forth and bought another ass, selling the camel; and laid in his provisions and said to Zau al-Makan, "This is for you to ride by the way; and, when you are weary of riding, you can dismount and walk." Zau al-Makan said, "May Allah bless you and aid me to requite you! For truly you have dealt with me more lovingly than one with his brother." Then he waited till it was dark night, when he laid the provisions and baggage on that ass and set forth upon their journey.

This much befell Zau al-Makan and the Fireman; but as regards what happened to his sister Nuzhat al-Zaman, when she left her brother in the Khan where they abode and, wrapped in the old camlet, went out to seek service with some one, that she might earn wherewithal to buy him the roast meat he longed for, she fared on, weeping and knowing not where to go, whilst her mind was occupied with thoughts of her brother and of her family and her native land. So she implored Allah Almighty to do away with these calamities from them and began versifying,

"Dark falls the night and Passion comes sore pains to gar me dree, And pine upstirs those ceaseless pangs which work my tormentry And do not stop separation flames my vitals to consume, And drives me on destruction way this sorrow's ecstacy And longing breeds me restlessness; desire for ever fires, And tears to all proclaim what I would keep in secrecy No cunning shift is known to me a meeting to secure, That I may quit this sickly state, may cure my malady: The love which blazes in my heart is fed with fancy fuel, The lover from its hell of fire must bear Hell's agony! O you who blame me for all befell me, 'tis enough, Patient I bear whatever wrote the Reed of Doom for me: By Love I swear I'll never be consoled, no, never more; I swear the oath of Love's own slaves who know no perjury: O Night, to chroniclers of Love the news of me declare, That sleep has fed my eyelids of your knowledge witness bear!"

Then she walked on, weeping and turning right and left as she went, when behold, there espied her an old Badawi who had come into the town from the desert with wild Arabs other five. The old man took note of her and saw that she was lovely, but she had nothing on her head save a piece of camlet, and, marvelling at her beauty, he said to himself, "This charmer dazzls men's wits but she is in squalid condition, and whether she be of the people of this city or she be a stranger, I needs must have her." So he followed her, little by little, till he met her face to face and stopped the way before her in a narrow lane, and called out to her, asking her case, and said, "Tell me, O my little daughter! Are you a free woman or a slave?" When she heard this, she said to him, "By your life, do not add to my sorrows!" He said, "Allah has blessed me with six daughters, of whom five died and only one is left me, the youngest of all; and I came to ask you if you be of the folk of this city or a stranger; that I might take you and carry you to her, to bear her company so as to divert her from pining for her sisters. If you have no kith and kin, I will make you as one of them and you and she shall be as my two children."

Nuzhat al-Zaman bowed her head in bashfulness when she heard what he said and communed with herself, "Perhaps I may trust myself to this old man." Then she said to him, "O nuncle, I am a maiden of the Arabs and a stranger and I have a sick brother; but I will go with you to your daughter on one condition, which is, that I may spend only the day with her and at night may return to my brother. If you strike this bargain I will fare with you, for I am a stranger and I was high in honour among my tribe, and I awoke one morning to find myself vile and abject. I came with my brother from the land of al-Hijaz and I fear lest he know not where I am." When the Badawi heard this, he said to himself, "By God, I have got my desire!" Then he turned to her and replied, "There shall none be dearer to me than you; I wish you only to bear my daughter company by day and you will go to your brother at earliest nightfall. Or, if you will, bring him over to dwell with us." And the Badawi did not stop to console her heart and coax her, till she trusted in him and agreed to serve him.

Then he walked on before her and, when she followed him, he winked to his men to go in advance and harness the dromedaries and load them with their packs and place upon them water and provisions, ready for setting out as soon as he should come up with the camels. Now this Badawi was a base born churl, a highway thief and a traitor to the friend he held most gladly, a rogue in grain, past master of plots and chicane. He had no daughter and no son and was only passing through the town when, by the decree of the Decreer, he fell in with this unhappy one. And he did not stop to hold her in converse on the highway till they came without the city of Jerusalem and, when outside, he joined his companions and found they had made ready the dromedaries. So the Badawi mounted a camel, having seated Nuzhat al-Zaman behind him and they rode on all night. Then she knew that the Badawi's proposal was a snare and that he had tricked her; and she continued weeping and crying out the whole night long, while they journeyed on making for the mountains, in fear any should see them.

Now when it was near dawn, they dismounted from their dromedaries and the Badawi came up to Nuzhat al-Zaman and said to her, "O city strumpet, what is this weeping? By God, If you hold not your peace, I will beat you to death, O you town filth!" When she heard this she loathed life and longed for death; so she turned to him and said, "O accursed old man, O gray beard of hell, how have I trusted you and you have played me false, and now you would torture me?" When he heard her reply he cried out, "O lazy baggage, do you dare to bandy words with me?" And he stood up to her and beat her with a whip, saying, "If you hold not your peace, I will kill you!" So she was silent awhile, then she called to mind her brother and the happy estate she had been in and she shed tears secretly. Next day, she turned to the Badawi and said to him, "How could you play me this trick and lure me into these bald and stony mountains, and what is your design with me?" When he heard her words he hardened his heart and said to her, "O lazy baggage of ill omen and insolent! Will you bandy words with me?" and he took the whip and came down with it on her back till she felt faint. Then she bowed down over his feet and kissed them;

and he left beating her and began reviling her and said, "By the rights of my bonnet, if I see or hear you weeping, I will cut out your tongue and stuff it up your coynte, O you city filth!" So she was silent and made him no reply, for the beating pained her; but sat down with her arms round her knees and, bowing her head upon her collar, began to look into her case and her abasement after her lot of high honour; and the beating she had endured; and she called to mind her brother and his sickness and forlorn condition, and how they were both strangers in a far country, which drave her tears down her cheeks and she wept silently and began repeating,

"Time has for his wont to upraise and debase, Nor is lasting condition for human race: In this world each thing has appointed turn; Nor may man transgress his determined place: How long these perils and woes? Ah woe For a life, all woeful in perilous case! Allah bless not the days which have laid me low in the world, with disgrace after so much grace! My wish is baffled, my hopes cast down, And distance forbids me to greet his face: O you who passes that dear one's door, Say for me, these tears shall flow evermore!"

When she had finished her verses, the Badawi came up to her and, taking compassion on her, bespoke her kindly and wiped away her tears. Then he gave her a barley scone and said, "I love not one who answers at times when I am in wrath: so henceforth give me no more of these impertinent words and I will sell you to a good man like myself, who will do well with you, even as I have done." "Yes; whatever you do is right," answered she, and when the night was longsome upon her and hunger burnt her, she ate very little of that barley bread. In the middle of the night the Badawi gave orders for departure,—

When it was the Fifty sixth night

and, about midnight, when hunger burned her, she ate a very little of that barley bread and the Badawi ordered his party to set out; so they loaded their loads and he mounted a camel setting Nuzhat al-Zaman behind him. Then they journeyed and did not stop journeying for three days, till they entered the city of Damascus and alighted at the Sultan's Khan, close by the Viceroy's Gate. Now she had lost her colour by grief and the fatigue of such travelling, and she did not stop to weep over her misfortunes. So the Badawi came up to her and said, "O you city filth, by the right of my bonnet, if you leave not this weeping, I will sell you to none but a Jew!" Then he arose and took her by the hand and carried her to a chamber, and walked off to the bazar, and he went round to, the merchants who dealt in slave girls, and began to parley with them, saying, "I have brought a slave girl whose brother fell ill, and I sent him to my people about Jerusalem, that they might tend him till he is cured. As for her I want to sell her, but after the dog her brother fell sick, the separation from him was grievous to her, and since then she does nothing but weep, and now I wish that whoever is minded to buy her of me speak softly to her and say, 'Your brother is with me in Jerusalem ill'; and I will be easy with him about her price." Then one of the merchants came up to him and asked, "How old is she?" He answered, "She is a virgin, just come to marriageable age, and she is endowed with sense and breeding and wit and beauty and loveliness. But from the day I sent her brother to Jerusalem, her heart has been yearning for him, so that her beauty is fallen away and her value lessened."

Now when the merchant heard this, he set forth with the Badawi and said, "O Shaykh of the Arabs, I will go with you and buy of you this girl whom you praise so highly for wit and manners and beauty and loveliness; and I will pay you her price but it must be upon conditions which if you accept, I will give you ready money, and if you accept not

I will return her to you." the Badawi, said, "If you will, take her up to the Sultan Sharrkan, son of Omar bin al-Nu'uman lord of Baghdad and of the land of Khorasan, and condition me any conditions you like, for when you have brought her before King Sharrkan, Perhaps she will please him, and he will pay you her price and a good profit for yourself to boot." Rejoined the merchant, "It happens that I have just now something to ask from him, and it is this that he write me an order upon the office, exempting me from custom dues and also that he write me a letter of recommendation to his father, King Omar bin al-Nu'uman. So if he take the girl, I will weigh you out her price at once." "I agree with you to this condition," answered the Badawi. So they returned together to the place where Nuzhat al-Zaman was and the wild Arab stood at the chamber door and called out, saying, "O Najiyah!" Which was the name wherewith he had named her. When she heard him, she wept and made no answer. Then he turned to the merchant and said to him, "There she sits; go to her and look at her and speak to her kindly as I enjoined you."

So the trader went up to her in courteous wise and saw that she was wondrous beautiful and loveable, especially as she knew the Arabic tongue; and he said to the Badawi, "If she be even as you saidest, I shall get of the Sultan what I will for her." Then he bespake her, "Peace be on you, my little maid! How are you?" She turned to him and replied, "This also was registered in the Book of Destiny." Then she looked at him and, seeing him to be a man of respectable semblance with a handsome face, she said to herself, "I believe this one comes to buy me;" and she continued, "If I hold aloof from him, I shall abide with my tyrant and he will do me to death with beating. In any case, this person is handsome of face and makes me hope for better treatment from him than from my brute of a Badawi. May be he comes only to hear me talk; so I will give him a fair answer." All this while her eyes were fixed on the ground; then she raised them to him and said in a sweet voice, "And upon you be peace, O my lord, and Allah's mercy and His benediction! This is what is commanded of the Prophet, whom Allah bless and preserve!

As for yours enquiry how I am, if you would know my case, it is such as you would not wish but to your foe." And she held her peace. When the merchant heard what she said, his fancy took wings for delight in her and, turning to the Badawi, he asked him, "What is her price, for indeed she is noble?" Thereupon the Badawi grew angry and answered, "You will turn me the girl's head with this talk! Why do you say that she is noble, while she is of the scum of slave girls and of the refuse of folk? I will not sell her to you!" When the merchant heard this, he knew the man to be weak of wits and said to him, "Calm yourself, for I will buy her of you with these blemishes you mentionest." "And how much will you give me for her?" enquired the Badawi. Replied the merchant, "Name your price for her: none should name the son save his sire." Rejoined the Badawi, "None shall name it but you yourself." the merchant said to himself, "This wildling is a rudesby and a maggotty head. By God, I cannot tell her price, for she has won my heart with her fair speech and good looks; and, if she can read and write, it will be complete fair luck to her and to her purchaser. But this Badawi does not know her worth." Then he turned and said to him, "O Shaykh of the Arabs, I will give you in ready money, clear of the tax and the Sultan's dues, two hundred gold pieces."

Now when the Badawi heard this, he flew into a violent rage and cried at the merchant, saying, "Get up and go your ways! By God, were you to offer me two hundred dinars for the bit of camlet she wears, I would not sell it to you. And now I will not sell her, but will keep her by me, to pasture the camels and grind my grist." And he cried out to her, saying, "Come here, you stinkard! I will not sell you." Then he turned to the merchant and said to him, "I used to think you a man of judgment; but, by the right of my bonnet, if you begone not from me, I will let you hear what shall not please you!" The merchant said to himself, "Of a truth this Badawi is mad and knows not her value, and I will say no more to him about her price at the present time; for By God, were he a man of sense, he would not say, 'By the rights of my bonnet!' By the Almighty, she is worth the kingdom of the Chosroes and I have not her price by me, but if he ask even more, I will give him what he will, though it be all my goods."

Then he turned and said to him, "O Shaykh of the Arabs, take patience and calm yourself and tell me what clothes she has with you?" Cried the Badawi, "And what has the baggage to do with clothes? By God, this camlet in which she is wrapped is ample for her." "With your leave," said the merchant, "I will unveil her face and examine her even as folk examine slave girls whom they think of buying." Replied the other, "Up and do what you will and Allah keep your youth! Examine her outside and inside and, if you will, strip off her clothes and look at her when she is naked." the trader, said, "Allah forfend! I will look at nothing save her face." Then he went up to her and was put to shame by her beauty and loveliness,—

When it was the fifty seventh night

She answered, "Do you ask what is my name this day or what it was before this day?" Thereupon the merchant enquired, "Have you then two names: to day's and yesterday's?" "Yes," she replied, "my name in the past was Nuzhat al-Zaman, the Delight of the Age; but my name at this present is Ghussat al-Zaman, the Despight of the Age." When the merchant heard this his eyes brimmed over with tears and he to her, said, "Have you not a sick brother?" "Ay By God, O my lord, I have," she said, "but fortune has parted me and him and he lies sick in Jerusalem." The merchant's head was confounded at the sweetness of her speech and he said to himself,

"truly, the Badawi spoke the truth of her." Then she called to mind her brother and his sickness and his strangerhood and her separation from him in his hour of weakness and her not knowing what had befallen him; and she thought of all that had happened to her with the Badawi and of her severance from her mother and father and native land; and the tears coursed down her cheeks and fast as they started they dropped; and she began reciting,

"Allah, where'er you be, His aid impart To you, who distant dwellest in my heart! Allah be near you how so far you fare; Ward off all shifts of Time, all dangers thwart! My eyes are desolate for your vanisht sight, And start my tears—ah me, how fast they start! Would Heaven I kenned what quarter or what land Homes you, and in what house and tribe you are An fount of life you drain in greenth of rose, While drink I tear drops for my sole desart? If you 'joy slumber in those hours, when I Feel 'twixt my side and couch coals' burning smart? All things were easy save to part from you, For my sad heart this grief is hard to dree."

When the merchant heard her verses, he wept and put out his hand to wipe away the tears from her cheeks; but she let down her veil over her face, saying, "Heaven forbid, O my lord!" Then the Badawi, who was sitting at a little distance watching them, saw her cover her face from the merchant while about to wipe the tears from her cheeks; and he concluded that she would have hindered him from handling her: so he rose and running to her, dealt her, with a camel's halter he had in his hand, such a blow on the shoulders that she fell to the ground on her face. Her eyebrow struck a stone which cut it open, and the blood streamed down her cheeks; whereupon she screamed a loud scream and felt faint and wept bitterly. The merchant was moved to tears for her and said in himself, "There is no help for it but that I buy this damsel, though at her weight in gold, and free her from this tyrant." And he began to revile the Badawi whilst Nuzhat al-Zaman lay insensible. When she came to herself, she wiped away the tears and blood from her face; and she bound up her head: then, raising her glance to heaven, she besought her Lord with a sorrowful heart and began repeating,

"And pity one who erst in honour throve, And now is fallen into sore disgrace. She weeps and bathes her cheeks with railing tears, And asks 'What cure can meet this fatal case?'"

When, she had ended her verse, she turned to the merchant and said in an undertone, "By the Almighty, do not leave me with a tyrant who knows not Allah the Most High! If I pass this night in his place, I shall kill myself with my own hand: save me from him, so Allah save you from Gehenna fire." Then the merchant to the Badawi, said, "O Shaykh of the Arabs, this slave is none of yours affair; so do you sell her to me for what you will." "Take her," the Badawi, said, "and pay me down her price, or I will carry her back to the camp and there set her to feed the camels and gather their dung." Said the merchant, "I will give you fifty thousand dinars for her." "Allah will open!" replied the Badawi. "Seventy thousand," said the merchant. "Allah will open!" repeated the Badawi: "this is not the capital spent upon her, for she has eaten with me barley bread to the value of ninety thousand gold pieces." The merchant rejoined, "You and yours and all your tribe in the length of your lives have not eaten a thousand ducats' worth of barley; but I will say you one word, wherewith if you be not satisfied, I will set the Viceroy of Damascus on you and he will take her from you by force."

The Badawi continued, "Say on!" "An hundred thousand," the said,merchant. "I have sold her to you at that price," answered the Badawi; "I shall be able to buy salt with her." The merchant laughed and, going to his lodgings, brought the money and put it into the hand of the Badawi, who took it and made off, saying to himself, "Needs must I go to Jerusalem where, Perhaps, I shall happen on her brother, and I will bring him here and sell him also." So he mounted and journeyed till he arrived at Jerusalem, where he went to the Khan and asked for Zau al-Makan, but could not find him. Such was the case with him; but for what regards the merchant and Nuzhat al-Zaman, when he took her he threw some of his clothes over her and carried her to his lodgings,—

When it was the Fifty eighth night,

When she heard his words, she wept and sobbed, and the merchant said to her, "O my lady, I observe that, every time I mention Baghdad, yours eyes are tearful: is there any one there whom you love? If it be a trader or the like, tell me; for I know all the merchants and so forth there and, if you would send him a message, I will bear it for you." she replied, "By God, I have no acquaintance among merchant folk and the like! I know none there but King Omar bin Nu'uman, Lord of Baghdad." When the merchant heard her words, he laughed and rejoiced with exceeding joy and said in himself, "By God, I have won my wish!" Then he said to her, "Have you been shown to him in time past?" She answered, "No, but I was brought up with his daughter and he holds me dear and I have high honour with him; so if you would have the King grant you your desire, give me ink case and paper and I will write you a letter; and when you reachest the city of Baghdad, do you deliver it into the hand of King Omar bin al-Nu'uman and say to him, 'Your handmaid, Nuzhat al-Zaman, would have you to know that the chances and changes of the nights and days have struck her as with a hammer, and have smitten her so that she has been sold from place to place; and she sends you her salams.'

And, if he ask further of her, say that I am now with the Viceroy at Damascus." The merchant wondered at her eloquence, and his affection for her increased and he said to her, "I cannot but think that men have played upon yours understanding and sold you for money. Tell me, do you know the Koran by heart?" "Yes," answered she; "and I am also acquainted with philosophy and medicine and the prolegomena of science and the commentaries of Galen, the physician, on the canons of Hippocrates; and I have commented him and I have read the Tazkirah and have commented the Burhán; and I have studied the Simples of Ibn Baytár, and I have something to say of the canon of Meccah, by Avicenna. I can ree riddles and can solve ambiguities, and discourse upon geometry and am skilled in anatomy. I have read the books of the Sháfi'í school and the Traditions of the Prophet and syntax; and I can argue with the Olema and discourse of all kinds learning. Moreover I am skilled in logic and rhetoric and arithmetic and the making of talismans and almanacs, and I know thoroughly the Spiritual Sciences and the times appointed for religious duties and I understand all these branches of knowledge." Then she to the merchant, said, "Bring me ink case and paper, that I write you a letter which shall aid you on your journey to Baghdad and enable you to do without passports."

Now when the merchant heard this, he cried out, "Brava! Brava! Then O happy he in whose palace you will be!" Thereupon he brought her paper and ink case and a pen of brass and kissed the earth before her face to do her honour. She took a sheet and handled the reed and wrote therewith these verses,

"I see all power of sleep from eyes of me has flown; Say, did your parting teach these eyne on wake to wone? What makes your memory light such burnings in my heart? Has every lover strength such memories to own? How sweet the big dropped cloud which rained on summer day; 'Tis gone; and before I taste its sweets afar 'tis flown:

I pray the wind with windy breath to bring some news From you, to lover people wi' love so woe begone: Complains to you a lover of all hope forlorn, For parting pangs can break not only heart but stone."

And when she had ended writing the verses she continued, "These words are from her who says that melancholy destroys her and that watching wasts her; in the murk of whose night is found no light and darkness and day are the same in her sight. She tosses on the couch of separation and her eyes are blackened with the pencils of sleeplessness; she watches the stars arise and into the gloom she strains her eyes: truly, sadness and leanness have consumed her strength and the setting forth of her case would run to length. No helper has she but tears and she recits these verses,

'No ringdove moans from home on branch in morning light, But shakes my very frame with sorrow's killing might: No lover sighs for his love or gladds heart To meet his mate, but breeds in me redoubled blight I bear my plaint to one who has no ruth for me; Ah me, how Love can part man's mortal frame and sprite!' "

Then her eyes welled over with tears, and she wrote also these two couplets,

"Love smote my frame so sore on parting day, That severance severed sleep and eyes for aye. I waxt so lean that I am still a man, But for my speaking, you would never say."

Then she shed tears and wrote at the foot of the sheet, "This comes from her who is far from her folk and her native land, the sorrowful hearted woman Nuzhat al-Zaman." In fine, she folded the sheet and gave it to the merchant, who took it and kissed it and understood its contents and exclaimed, "Glory to Him who fashioned you!"—

When it was the fifty ninth night

Then he redoubled his kindness and made himself pleasant to her all that day; and when night came, he sallied out to the bazar and bought some food, wherewith he fed her; after which he carried her to the Hammam and said to the bath woman, "As soon as you have made an end of washing her head, dress her and send and let me know of it." And she replied, "Hearing is obeying." Meanwhile he fetched food and fruit and grow candles and set them on the bench in the outer room of the bath; and when the tire woman had done washing her, she dressed her and led her out of the bath and seated her on the bench. Then she sent to tell the merchant, and Nuzhat al-Zaman went forth to the outer room, where she found the tray spread with food and fruit. So she ate and the tire woman with her, and gave the rest to the people and keeper of the bath. Then she slept till the morning, and the merchant lay the night in a place apart from her. When he aroused himself from sleep he came to her and waking her, presented her with a shift of fine stuff and a head kerchief worth a thousand dinars, a suit of Turkish embroidery and walking boots purfled with red gold and set with pearls and gems. Moreover, he hung in each of her ears a circlet of gold with a fine pearl within it, worth a thousand dinars, and threw round her neck a collar of gold with bosses of garnet and a chain of amber beads that hung down between her breasts over her navel.

Now to this chain were attached ten balls and nine crescents, and each crescent had in its midst a bezel of ruby, and each ball a bezel of balass: the value of the chain was three thousand dinars and each of the balls was priced at twenty thousand dirhams, so that the dress she wore was worth in all a great sum of money. When she had put these on, the merchant bade her adorn herself, and she adorned herself to the utmost beauty; then she let fall her fillet over her eyes and she fared forth with the merchant preceding her. But when folk saw her, all wondered at her beauty and exclaimed, "Blessed be Allah, the most excellent Creator! O lucky the man in whose house she shall be!" And the trader did not stop walking (and she behind him) till they entered the palace of Sultan Sharrkan; when he sought an audience and, kissing the earth between his hands, said, ", I have brought you a rare gift, unmatched in this time and richly gifted with beauty and with good qualities." the King, said, "Let me see it." So the merchant went out and brought her, she following him till he made her stand before King Sharrkan.

When he beheld her, blood yearned to blood, though she had been parted from him in childhood and though he had never seen her, having only heard a long time after her birth that he had a sister called Nuzhat al-Zaman and a brother Zau al-Makan, he having been jealous of them, because of the succession. And such was the cause of his knowing little about them. Then, having placed her before the presence, the merchant said, ", besides being peerless in her time and beauty and loveliness, she is also versed in all learning, sacred and profane, including the art of government and the abstract sciences." the King to the trader, said, "Take her price, according as you bought her, and go your ways." "I hear and I obey," replied the merchant; "but first write me a patent, exempting me for ever from paying tithe on my merchandise." Said the King, "I will do this, but first tell me what price you paidest for her." Said the merchant, "I bought her for an hundred thousand dinars, and her clothes cost me another hundred thousand." When the Sultan heard these words, he declared, "I will give you a higher price than this for her;" and, calling his treasurer, said to him, "Pay this merchant three hundred and twenty thousand ducats; so will he have an hundred and twenty thousand dinars profit."

Thereupon the Sultan summoned the four Kazis and paid him the money in their presence and then he said, "I call you to witness that I free this my slave girl and purpose to marry her." So the Kazis wrote out the deed of emancipation and the contract of marriage, when the Sultan scattered much gold on the heads of those present; and the pages and the eunuchs picked up this largesse. Then, after paying him his monies, Sharrkan bade them write for the merchant a perpetual patent, exempting him from toll, tax or tithe upon his merchandise and forbidding each and every in all his government to molest him, and lastly bestowed on him a splendid dress of honour.—

When it was the sixties night

They answered, "There is no evil in that!"; and he commanded the curtain to be let down between him and those with him and the maiden and those with her; and the women about the damsel behind the curtains began to wish her joy and kiss her hands and feet, when they learned that she was become the King's wife. Then they came round her and took off her dresses easing her of the weight of her clothes and began to look upon her beauty and loveliness. Presently, the wives of the Emirs and Wazirs heard that King Sharrkan had bought a hand maiden unmatched for her beauty and learning and philosophy and account keeping, and versed in all branches of knowledge, that he had paid for her three hundred and twenty thousand dinars, and that he had set her free and had written a marriage contract with her and had summoned the four Kazis to make trial of her, how she would answer all their questions and hold disputation with them. So they asked leave of their husbands and repaired to the palace in which was Nuzhat al-Zaman. When they came in to her, they found the eunuchs standing before her; and, as soon as she saw the wives of the Emirs and Wazirs and Grandees of the realm coming to call upon her, she arose to them on her feet and met them with courtesy, her handmaidens standing behind her, and she received them saying, "You be welcome!"

The while she smiled in their faces so as to win their hearts; and she promised them all manner of good and seated them in their proper stations, as if she had been brought up with them; so all wondered at her beauty and loveliness and said to one another, "This damsel is none other than a Queen, the daughter of a King." Then they sat down, magnifying her worth and said to her, "O our lady, this our city is illumined by you, and our country and abode and birth place and reign are honoured by your presence. The kingdom indeed is your kingdom and the palace is your palace, and we all are your hand maids; so, By God, do not shut us out from your favours and from the sight of your beauty." And she thanked them for this. All this while the curtains were let down between Nuzhat al-Zaman and the women with her, on the one side, and King Sharrkan and the four Kazis and the merchant seated by him on the other. Presently, King Sharrkan called to her and said, "O Queen, the glory of yours age, this merchant has described you as being learned and accomplished; and he claims that you are skilled in all branches of knowledge, even to astrology: so let us hear something of all this he has mentioned, and favour us with a short discourse on such subjects."

She replied, saying:—"O King, I hear and I obey. The first subjects whereof I will treat are the art of government and the duties of Kings and what behoves governors of commandments according to religious law, and what is incumbent on them in respect of satisfactory speech and manners. Know then, O King, that all men's works tend either to religious or to laical life, for none attains to religion save through this world, because it is the best road to futurity. Now the works of this world are not ordered save by the doings of its people, and men's doings are divided into four divisions, government, commerce, husbandry and craftsmanship. Now government requires perfect administration with just and true judgment; for government is the pivot of the edifice of the world, which world is the road to futurity; since Allah Almighty has made the world for His servants as viaticum to the traveller for the attainment of his goal; and it befits each man that he receive of it such measure as shall bring him to Allah, and that he follow not in this his own mind and his individual lust. If folk would take of worldly goods with justice and equity, all cause of contention would be cut off; but they take of it with violence and after their own desires, and their persistence within it gives rise to contentions; so they have need of the Sultan, that he do justice between them and order their affairs; and, if the King restrain not his folk from one another, the strong will drive the weak to the wall. Hence Ardeshir says, 'Religion and Kingship be twins'; religion is a hidden treasure and the King is its keeper; and the Divine Ordinances and men's intelligence point out that it behoves the people to adopt a Sultan who shall withhold oppressor from oppressed and do the weak justice against the strong and restrain the violence of the proud and the rebels against rule.

For know, O King, that according to the measure of the Sultan's good morals, even so will be the time; as says the Apostle of Allah (on whom be peace and salvation!), 'There be two classes who, if they be good, the people will be good; and if they be bad, the people will be bad, even the Olema and the Emirs.' And it is said by a certain sage, 'There be three kinds of Kings, the King of the Faith, the King who protects things to which reverence is due, and the King of his own lusts.' The King of the Faith obligs his subjects to follow their faith, and it behoves he be the most faithful, for it is by him that they take pattern in the things of the Faith; and it becomes the folk to obey him in whatever he commands according to Divine Ordinance; but he shall hold the discontented in the same esteem as the contented because of submission to the decrees of Destiny. As for the King who protects things to be reverenced, he upholds the things of the Faith and of the World and compells his folk to follow the Divine Law and to preserve the rights of humanity; and it fitts him to unite Pen and Sword; for whoever declins from what Pen has written, his feet slip and the King shall rectify his error with the sharp Sword and dispread his justice over all mankind.

As for the King of his own lusts, he has no religion but the following his desire and, as he fears not the wrath of his Lord who set him on the throne, so his Kingdom inclins to deposition and the end of his pride is in the house of perdition. And sages say, 'The King has need of many people, but the people have need of but one King'; Why it beseems that he be well acquainted with their natures, that he reduce their discord to concord, that with his justice he encompass them all and with his bounties overwhelm them all. And know, O King, that Ardeshir, styled Jamr Shadid, or the Live Coal, third of the Kings of Persia, conquered the whole world and divided it into four divisions and, for this purpose, gat for himself four seal rings, one for each division. The first seal was that of the sea and the police of prohibition and on it was written, Alternatives. The second was the seal of tribute and of the receipt of monies, and on it was written, Building up. The third was the seal of the provisioning department and on it was written, Plenty. The fourth was the seal of the oppressed, and on it was written, Justice. And these usages remained valid in Persia until the revelation of al-Islam. Chosroes also wrote his son, who was with the army, 'Be not you too open handed with your troops, or they will be too rich to need you.' "—

When it was the sixty first night

And Nuzhat al-Zaman discoursed upon the policy of Kings till the bystanders said, "Never have we seen one reason of rule and government like this damsel! Perhaps she will let us hear some discourse upon subject other than this." When she heard their words and understood them she said, "As for the chapter of good breeding, it is wide of comprehension, being a compend of things perfect. Now it so happened that one day there came to the Caliph Mu'áwiyah one of his companions, who mentioned the people of Irak and the goodness of their wit; and the Caliph's wife Maysún, mother of Yezíd, heard his words. So, when he was gone, she said to the Caliph, 'O Prince of the Faithful, I would you let some of the people of Irak come in and talk to you, that I may hear their discourse.' Therewith Mu'áwiyah said to his attendants, 'See who is at the door?' And they answered, 'The Banu Tamim.' 'Let them come in,' he said. So they came in and with them Al-Ahnáf son of Kays. Then Mu'awiyah said, 'Enter, O Abu Bahr,' and drew a curtain between himself and Maysun, that she might hear what they said without being seen herself; then he said to Al-Ahnaf, 'O Son of the Sea, draw near and tell me what counsel you have for me.' Al-Ahnaf said, 'Part your hair and trim your moustachio and pare your nails and pluck yours armpits and shave your pubes and ever use the toothstick because within it be two and seventy virtues, and make the Ghusl or complete ablution on Friday, as an expiation for all between the Fridays.'"

When it was the sixty second night

And all this is a section of the chapter of good breeding, and know O King, that Mu'aykib was intendant of the public treasury during the Caliphate of Omar bin al-Khattab,"—

When it was the sixty third night

When it was the sixty fourth night

Then said Nuzhat al-Zaman, "Hear,the second division of the first chapter of the instances of the followers of the Apostle and other holy men. Says al-Hasan al-Basri, Not a soul of the sons of Adam goes forth of the world without regretting three things, failure to enjoy what he has amassed, failure to compass what he hoped, failure to provide himself with sufficient viaticum for that whereto he goes. It was said of Sufyan, 'Can a man be a religious and yet possess wealth?' He replied, 'Yes, so he be patient when grieved and be thankful when he has received.' Abdullah bin Shaddad, being about to die, sent for his son Mohammed and admonished him, saying, 'O my son, I see the Summoner of Death summoning me, and so I charge you to fear Allah both in public and private, to praise Allah and to be truthful in your speech, for such praise brings increase of prosperity, and piety in itself is the best of provision for the next world; even as says one of the poets,

'I see not happiness lies in gathering gold; The man most pious is man happiest: In truth the fear of God is best of stores, And God shall make the pious choicely blest.'"

Then Nuzhat al-Zaman, said, "Let the King also give ear to these notes from the second section of the first chapter." He asked, 'What be they?'; and she answered, "When Omar bin Abd al-Aziz succeeded to the Caliphate, he went to his household and laying hands on all that was in their hold, put it into the public treasury. So the Banu Umayyah flew for aid to his father's sister, Fátimah, daughter of Marwan, and she sent to him saying, 'I must needs speak to you.' So she came to him by night and, when he had made her alight from her beast and sit down, he said to her, 'O aunt, it is for you to speak first, since you have some thing to ask: tell me then what you would with me.' she replied, 'O Commander of the Faithful, it is yours to speak first, for your judgment perceivs that which is hidden from the intelligence of others.' Then said Omar, 'Of a verity Allah Almighty sent Mohammed as a blessing to some and a bane to others; and He elected for him those with him, and commissioned him as His Apostle and took him to Himself,'"—

When it was the sixty fifth night

Then Nuzhat al-Zaman to her brother Sharrkan and the four Kazis, said, "Here ends the second section of the first chapter."— —

When it was the sixty sixth night

Then Nuzhat al-Zaman, said, addressing herself to Sharrkan, "How many instances of admonition are there not in this chapter! Of a truth I cannot report all appertaining to this head in a single sitting,"—

When it was the sixty seventh night

Then said the Kazis, "O King, of a truth this damsel is the wonder of the world, and of our age the unique pearl! Never heard we her like in the length of time or in the length of our lives." And they called down blessings on the King and went away. Then Sharrkan turned to his attendants and said, "Begin you to prepare the marriage festival and make ready food of all kinds." So they directly did his bidding as regards the viands, and he commanded the wives of the Emirs and Wazirs and Grandees depart not until the time of the wedding banquet and of the unveiling of the bride. Hardly came the period of afternoon prayer when the tables were spread with whatever heart can desire or eye can delight in of roast meats and geese and fowls; and the subjects ate till they were satisfied. Moreover, Sharrkan had sent for all the singing women of Damascus and they were present, together with every slave girl of the King and of the notables who knew how to sing. And they went up to the palace in one body. When the evening came and darkness starkened they lighted candles, right and left, from the gate of the citadel to that of the palace; and the Emirs and Wazirs and Grandees marched past before King Sharrkan, whilst the singers and the tire women took the damsel to dress and adorn her, but found she needed no adornment. Meantime King Sharrkan went to the Hammam and coming out, sat down on his seat of estate, whilst they paraded the bride before him in seven different dresses: after which they eased her of the weight of her raiment and ornaments and gave such injunctions as are enjoined upon virgins on their wedding nights.

Then Sharrkan went in unto her and took her maidenhead; and she at once conceived by him and, when she announced it, he rejoiced with exceeding joy and commanded the savants to record the date of her conception. On the morrow he went forth and seated himself on his throne, and the high officers came in to him and gave him joy. Then he called his private secretary and bade him write a letter to his father, King Omar bin al-Nu'uman, saying that he had bought him a damsel, who excels in learning and good breeding and who is mistress of all kinds of knowledge. Moreover he wrote, 'There is no help but that

I send her to Baghdad to visit my brother Zau al-Makan and my sister Nuzhat al-Zaman. I have set her free and married her and she has conceived by me." And he went on to praise her wit and salute his brother and sister together with the Wazir Dandan and all the Emirs. Then he sealed the letter and despatched it to his father by a post courier who was absent a whole month, after which time he returned with the answer and presented it in the presence. Sharrkan took it and read as follows, "After the usual Bismillah, this is from the afflicted distracted man, from him who has lost his children and home by bane and ban, King Omar bin al-Nu'uman, to his son Sharrkan. Know that, since your departure from me, the place is become contracted upon me, so that no longer I have power of patience nor can I keep my secret: and the cause of it is as follows. It chanced that when I went forth to hunt and course Zau al-Makan sought my leave to fare Hijaz wards, but I, fearing for him the shifts of fortune, forbade him from it until the next year or the year after. My absence while sporting and hunting endured for a whole month"—

When it was the sixty eighth night

Then he wrote in verse,

"That pair in image quits me not one single hour, Whom in my heart's most honourable place I keep: Sans hope of their return I would not live one hour, Without my dreams of them I never would stretch me in sleep."

The letter went on, "And after the usual salutations to you and yours,

I command you neglect no manner of seeking news of them, for indeed this is a shame to us." When Sharrkan read the letter he felt grief for his father and joy for the loss of his brother and sister. Then he took the missive and went in with it to Nuzhat al-Zaman who knew not that he was her brother, nor he that she was his sister, albeit he often visited her both by night and by day, till the months were accomplished and she sat down on the stool of delivery. Allah made the child birth easy to her and she bare a daughter, whereupon she sent for Sharrkan and seeing him she said to him, "This is your daughter: name her as you will." He said, "It is usual to name children on the seventh day after birth." Then he bent over the child to kiss it and he saw, hung about its neck, a jewel, which he knew at once for one of those which Princess Abrizah had brought from the land of the Greeks. Now when he saw the jewel hanging from his babe's neck he recognised it right well, his senses fled and wrath seized on him; his eyes rolled in rage and he looked at Nuzhat al-Zaman and said to her, "from where had you this jewel, O slave girl?" When she heard this from Sharrkan she replied, "I am your lady, and the lady of all in your palace! Are you not ashamed to say to me, Slave girl? I am a Queen, daughter of King Omar bin al-Nu'uman." Hearing this, he was seized with trembling and hung his head earthwards,—

When it was the sixty ninth night

"Yes," answered she; and he continued, "Tell me the cause of your leaving your sire and of your being sold for a slave." So she related to him all that had befallen her from beginning to end, how she had left her brother sick in the Sanctified City, Jerusalem, and how the Badawi had kidnapped her and had sold her to the trader. When Sharrkan heard this, he was certified of her being his sister on the sword side and said to him self, "How can I have my sister to wife? By God, needs must I marry her to one of my chamberlains; and, if the thing get wind, I will declare that I divorced her before consummation and married her to my Chief Chamberlain." Then he raised his head and sighing said, "O Nuzhat al-Zaman, you are my very sister and I cry:—'I take refuge with Allah from this sin whereinto we have fallen,' for I am Sharrkan, son of Omar bin al-Nu'uman." She looked at him and knew he spoke the truth; and, becoming as one demented, she wept and buffeted her face, exclaiming, "There is no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah! Truly have we fallen into mortal sin! What shall I do and what shall I say to my father and my mother when they ask me, from where had you your daughter?"

Sharrkan, said, "It were meetest that I marry you to my Chamberlain and let you bring up my daughter in his house, that none may know you be my sister. This has befallen us from Almighty Allah for a purpose of his own, and nothing shall cover us but your marriage with this Chamberlain, before any know." Then he fell to comforting her and kissing her head and she asked him, "What will you call the girl?" "Call her Kuzia Fakán," answered he. Then he gave the mother in marriage to the Chief Chamberlain, and transferred her to his house with the child, which they reared on the laps of the slave girls, and fed with milk and dosed with powders. Now all this occurred whilst the brother, Zau al-Makan, still tarried with the Fireman at Damascus. One day there came to King Sharrkan a courier from his father, with a letter which he took and read and found within it, "After the Bismillah know, O beloved King, that I am afflicted with sore affliction for the loss of my children: sleep ever fails me and wakefulness ever assails me. I send you this letter that, as soon as you receivest it, you make ready the monies and the tribute, and send them to us, together with the damsel whom you have bought and taken to wife; for I long to see her and hear her discourse; more especially because there has come to us from Roum land an old woman of saintly bearing and with her be five damsels, high bosomed virgins, endowed with knowledge and good breeding and all arts and sciences befitting mortals to know; and indeed tongue fails me to describe this old woman and these who with her go; for of a truth they are compendiums of perfections in learning and accomplishments.

As soon as I saw them I loved them, and I wished to have them in my palace and in the compass of my hand; for none of the Kings owns the like of them; so I asked the old woman their price and she answered, 'I will not sell them but for the tribute of Damascus.' And I, By God, did not hold this price exorbitant, indeed it is but little, for each one of them is worth the whole valuation. So I agreed to that and took them into my palace, and they remain in my possession. Why do you forward the tribute to us that the woman may return to her own country; and send to us the damsel to the end that she may dispute with them before the doctors; and, if she prevail over them, I will return her to you accompanied by the tribute of Baghdad."—

When it was the Seventies night

As soon as Sharrkan knew the contents, he went in to his brother in law and said to him, "Bring the damsel to whom I married you;" and when she came he showed her the letter and said, "O my sister! What answer would you advise me make to this letter?" she replied, "Seek advice from yourself!" And presently added (for she yearned after her people and her native land), "Send me together with my husband the Chamberlain, to Baghdad, that I may tell my father my tale and let him know whatever befell me with the Badawi who sold me to the merchant, and that I also inform him how you bought me of the trader and gave me in marriage to the Chamberlain, after setting me free." "Be it so," replied Sharrkan. Then Sharrkan took his daughter, Kuzia Fakan, and committed her to the charge of the wet nurses and the eunuchs, and he made ready the tribute in haste, bidding the Chamberlain travel with the Princess and the treasure to Baghdad. He also furnished him two travelling litters; one for himself and the other for his wife. And the Chamberlain replied, "I hear and I obey." Moreover Sharrkan collected camels and mules and wrote a letter to his father and committed it to the Chamberlain; then he bade farewell to his sister, after he had taken the jewel from her and hung it round his daughter's neck by a chain of pure gold; and she and her husband set out for Baghdad the same night.

Now it so happened that Zau al-Makan and his friend the Fireman had come forth from the hut in which they were, to see the spectacle, and they beheld camels and Bukhti dromedaries and bat mules and torches and lanterns alight; and Zau al-Makan enquired about the loads and their owner and was told that it was the tribute of Damascus going to King Omar bin al-Nu'uman, Lord of the City of Baghdad. He then asked, "Who be the leader of the caravan?" and they answered, "The Head Chamberlain who has married the damsel so famous for learning and science." Thereupon Zau al-Makan wept with bitter weeping and was minded of his mother and his father and his sister and his native land, and he said to the Stoker, "I will join this caravan and, little by little, will journey homewards." the Fireman, said, "I would not suffer you to travel single handed from the Holy City to Damascus, then how shall I be sure of your safety when you farest for Baghdad? But I will go with you and care for you till you effectest yours object." "With joy and good will," answered Zau al-Makan. Then the Fireman gat him ready for the journey and hired an ass and threw saddle bags over it and put within it something of provisions; and, when all was prepared, he awaited the passage of the caravan. And presently the Chamberlain came by on a dromedary and his footmen about him. Then Zau al-Makan mounted the ass and said to his companion, "Do you mount with me." But he replied, "Not so: I will be your servant." Zau al-Makan, said, "There is no help for it but you ride awhile."

"'Tis well," the said,Stoker; "I will ride when I grow tired." Then said Zau al-Makan, "O my brother, soon shall you see how I will deal with you, when I come to my own folk." So they fared on till the sun rose and, when it was the hour of the noonday sleep the Chamberlain called a halt and they alighted and reposed and watered their camels. Then he gave the signal for departure and, after five days, they came to the city of Hamah, where they set down and made a three days' halt;—

When it was the Seventy first night

Thereupon said to him the Fireman, "Leave this weeping and wailing, for we are near the Chamberlain's tent." Zau al-Makan, said, "Needs must I recite something of verse; Perhaps it may quench the fire of my heart." "in God's name," cried the other, "cease this lamentation till you come to yours own country; then do what you will, and I will be with you wherever you are." Replied Zau al-Makan, "By God! I cannot forbear from this!" Then he turned his face towards Baghdad and the moon was shining brightly and shedding her light on the place, and Nuzhat al-Zaman could not sleep that night, but was restless and called to mind her brother and wept. And while she was in tears, she heard Zau al-Makan weeping and improvising the following distichs,

"Al-Yaman's leven gleam I see, And sore despair despairs me For friend who erst abode wi' me Crowning my cup with gladdest grace It minds me o' one who jilted me To mourn my bitter liberty. Say truth, you fair sheet lightning! shall We meet once more in joy and glee? O blamer! spare to me your blame My Lord has sent this dule to dree, Of friend who left me, glad to flee; Of Time that breeds calamity All bliss has fled the heart of me Since Fortune proved my enemy. He brimmed a bowl of merest pine, And made me drain the dregs, did he I see me, sweetheart, dead and gone before I again shall gaze on you Time! please bring our childhood back, Restore our happy infancy, When joy and safety 'joyed we From shafts that now they shoot at me! Who aids the hapless stranger people, That nights in fright and misery, That wastes his days in lonely grief, For Time's Delight' no more must be? Doomed us despite our will to bear The hands of base borns cark and care."

When he ended his verse he cried out and fell down in a fainting fit. This is how it fared with him; but as regards Nuzhat al-Zaman, when she heard that voice in the night, her heart was at rest and she rose and in her joy she called the Chief Eunuch, who said to her, "What is your will?" she said, "Arise and bring me him who recited verses but now." he replied, "Of a truth I did not hear him"—

When it was the Seventy second night

he replied, "Of a truth I heard him not and I know him not and folks are all sleeping." But she said, "Whomsoever you see awake, he is the reciter." So he went, yet found none on wake save the Stoker; for Zau al-Makan was still insensible, and when his companion saw the Eunuch standing by his head he was afraid of him. Then said the Eunuch, "Are you he who repeated poetry but now and my lady heard him?" The Stoker fancied that the dame was wroth with the reciter; and, being afraid, he replied, "By God, 'twas not I!" Rejoined the Eunuch, "Who then was the reciter?: point him out to me. You must know who it was, seeing that you are awake." The Fireman feared for Zau al-Makan and said in himself, "Perhaps the Eunuch will do him some hurt"; so he answered, "By God, I know not who it was." Said the Eunuch, "By God, you lie, for there is none on wake here but you! So needs must you know him." "By God," replied the Fireman, "I tell you the truth!: some passer by, some wayfarer must have recited the verses and disturbed me and kept me awake; Allah requite him!" The Eunuch, said, "If you happen upon him, point him out to me and I will lay hands on him and bring him to the door of our lady's litter; or do you take him with yours own hand." Said the Fireman, "Go you back and I will bring him to you." So the Eunuch left him and went his ways; and, going in to his mistress, told her all this and said to her, "None knows who it was; it must have been some passer by, some wayfarer." And she was silent. Meanwhile, Zau al-Makan came to himself and saw that the moon had reached the middle Heavens;

the breath of the dawn breeze breathed upon him and his heart was moved to longing and sadness; so he cleared his throat and was about to recite verses, when the Fireman asked him, "What will you do?" Answered Zau al-Makan, "I have a mind to repeat something of poetry, that I may quench therewith the fire of my heart." the other, said, "You know not what befell me whilst you were a faint, and how I escaped death only by beguiling the Eunuch." "Tell me what happened," Zau said,al-Makan. Replied the Stoker, "Whilst you were aswoon there came up to me but now an Eunuch, with a long staff of almond tree wood in his hand, who took to looking in all the people's faces, as they lay asleep, and asked me who it was recited the verses, finding none awake but myself. I told him in reply it was some passer by, some wayfarer; so he went away and Allah delivered me from him; else had he killed me. But first he said to me, 'If you hear him again, bring him to us.' " When Zau al-Makan heard this he wept and said, "Who is it would forbid me to recite? I will surely recite, befall me what may; for I am near my own land and care for none."

Rejoined the Fireman, "Your design is nothing save to lose your life;" and Zau al-Makan retorted, "Needs must I recite verses." "truly," said the Stoker, "needs must there be a parting between me and you in this place, albeit I had intended not to leave you, till I had brought you to your native city and re united you with your mother and father. You have now tarried with me a year and a half and I have never harmed you in anything. What ails you, then, that you must needs recite verses, seeing that we are tired out with walking and watching and all the folk are asleep, for they require sleep to rest them of their fatigue?" But Zau al-Makan answered, "I will not be turned away from my purpose." Then grief moved him and he threw off concealment and began repeating these couplets,

"Stand you by the homes and hail the lords of the ruined stead; Cry you for an answer, Perhaps reply to you shall be sped: If the night and absence irk your spirit kindle a torch Wi' repine, and illuminate the gloom with a gleaming gleed:

If the snake of the sand dunes hiss, I shall marvel not at ali! Let him bite so I bite those beauteous lips of the luscious red: O Eden, my soul has fled in despite of the maid I love: Had I lost hope of Heaven my heart in despair were dead."

And he also improvised the two following distichs,

"We were and were the days enthralled to all our wills, Dwelling in union sweet and homed in fairest site: Who shall restore the home of the beloved, where showed Light of the Place for aye conjoined with Time's Delight?"

And as he ceased his verses, he shrieked three shrieks and fell senseless to the ground and the Fireman rose and covered him. When Nuzhat al-Zaman heard the first improvisation, she called to mind her father and her mother and her brother and their whilome home; then she wept and cried at the Eunuch and said to him, "Woe to you! He who recited the first time has recited a second time and I heard him close by. By God, If you fetch him not to me, I will assuredly rouse the Chamberlain on you, and he shall beat you and cast you out. But take these hundred dinars and give them to the singer and bring him to me gently, and do him no hurt. If he refuse, hand to him this purse of a thousand dinars, then leave him and return to me and tell me, after you have informed yourself of his place and his calling and what countryman he is. Return quickly and linger not."—

When it was the Seventy third night

So the Eunuch went out and laid about the people and trod in their tents, but found none awake, all being asleep for weariness, till he came to the Stoker and saw him sitting up, with his head uncovered. So he drew near and seizing him by the hand, said to him, "It was you did recite the verses!" The Fireman was afeard for his life and replied, "No, By God, O chief of the people, it was not I!" But the Eunuch said, "I will not leave you till you show me who it was that recited the verses, for I dread returning to my lady without him."

Now when the Fireman heard these words he feared for Zau al-Makan and wept with exceeding weeping and said to the Eunuch, "By God, it was not I, and I know him not. I only heard some passer by, some wayfarer, recite verses: so do not you commit sin on me, for I am a stranger and come from the Holy City of Jerusalem; and Abraham, the friend of Allah, be with you all." "Rise up and fare with me," rejoined the Eunuch, "and tell my lady this with yours own mouth, for I have seen none awake save yourself." the Stoker, said, "Have you not come and seen me sitting in the place where I now am, and do you not know my station? You know none can stir from his place, except the watchman seize him. So go you to your station and if you again meet any one after this hour reciting anything of poetry, whether he be near or far, it will be I or some one I know, and you will not learn of him but by me." Then he kissed the Eunuch's head and spoke him fair till he went away; but the Castrato fetched a round and, returning secretly, came and stood behind the Fireman, fearing to go back to his mistress without tidings.

As soon as he was gone, the Stoker arose and aroused Zau al-Makan and said to him, "Come, sit up, that I may tell you what has happened." So Zau al-Makan sat up, and his companion told him what had passed, and he answered, "Let me alone; I will take no heed of this and I care for none, for I am near my own country." the Stoker, said, "Why will you obey your flesh and the devil? If you fear no one, I fear for you and for my life, so in God's name! Recite nothing more of verses till you come to yours own land. Indeed, I had not deemed you so ill conditioned. Do you not know that this lady is the wife of the Chamberlain and is minded to chastise you for disturbing her? Perhaps, she is ill or restless for fatigue of the journey and the distance of the place from her home, and this is the second time she has sent the Eunuch to look for you." However Zau al-Makan paid no heed to the Fireman's words but cried out a third time and began versifying with these couplets,

"I fly the carper's injury, Whose carping sorely vexes me: He chides and taunts me, knowing not He burns me but more grievously The blamer cries 'He is consoled!' I say, 'My own dear land to see'

They ask, 'Why be that land so dear?' I say, 'It taught me in love to be:' They ask, 'What raised its dignity?' I say, 'What made my ignomy:' Whate'er the bitter cup I drain, Far be fro' me that land to flee: Nor will I bow to those who blame, And for such love would deal me shame."

Hardly had he made an end of his verses and come to a conclusion, when the Eunuch (who had heard him from his hiding place at his head) came up to him; whereupon the Fireman fled and stood afar off to see what passed between them. Then said the Eunuch to Zau al-Makan, "Peace be with you, O my lord!" "And on you be peace," replied Zau al-Makan, "and the mercy of Allah and His blessings!" "O my lord," continued the Eunuch—

When it was the Seventy fourth night

Zau al-Makan, said, "And who be this bitch that seeks for me? Allah curse her and curse her husband with her!" And he began to revile the Eunuch, who could make him no answer, because his mistress had charged him to do Zau al-Makan no hurt, nor bring him save of his own especial free will; and, if he would not accompany him, to give him the thousand dinars. So the Castrato began to speak him fair and say to him, "O my lord, take this purse and go with me. We will do you no unright, O my son, nor wrong you in anything; but our object is that you bend your gracious steps with me to my mistress, to receive her answer and return in weal and safety: and you will have a handsome present as one who brings good news." When Zau al-Makan heard this, he arose and went with the Eunuch and walked among the sleeping folk, stepping over them; whilst the Fireman followed after them from afar, and kept his eye upon him and said to himself, "Alas the pity of his youth! To morrow they will hang him." And he did not stop following them till he approached their station, without any observing him. Then he stood still and said, "How base it will be of him, if he say it was I who bade him recite the verses!"

This was the case of the Stoker; but as regards what befell Zau al-Makan, he did not stop walking with the Eunuch till he reached his station and the Castrato went in to Nuzhat al-Zaman and said, "O my lady, I have brought you him whom you sought, and he is a youth, fair of face and bearing the marks of wealth and gentle breeding." When she heard this, her heart fluttered and she cried, "Let him recite some verses, that I may hear him nearhand, and after ask him his name and his condition and his native land." Then the Eunuch went out to Zau al-Makan and said to him, "Recite what verses you know, for my lady is here close by, listening to you, and after I will ask you of your name and your native country and your condition." he replied, "With love and gladness but, If you ask my name, it is erased and my trace is unplaced and my body a waste. I have a story, the beginning of which is not known nor can the end of it be shown, and behold, I am even as one who has exceeded in wine drinking and who has not spared himself; one who is afflicted with distempers and who wanders from his right mind, being perplexed about his case and drowned in the sea of thought." When Nuzhat al-Zaman heard this, she broke out into excessive weeping and sobbing, and said to the Eunuch, "Ask him if he have parted from one he loves even as his mother or father." The Castrato asked as she bade him, and Zau al-Makan replied, "Yes, I have parted from every one I loved: but the dearest of all to me was my sister, from whom Fate has separated me." When Nuzhat al-Zaman heard this, she exclaimed, "Allah Almighty reunite him with what he loves!"—

When it was the Seventy fifth night

Then she to the Eunuch, said, "Tell him to let me hear somewhat anent his separation from his countrymen and his country." The Eunuch did so, and Zau al-Makan sighed heavily and began repeating these couplets

"Is not her love a pledge by all mankind confest? The house that homs Hinda be for ever blest! Her love all levels; man can reck of nothing beside; nothing or before or after can for man have zest. 'Tis though the vale is paved with musk and ambergris That day when Hinda's footstep on its face is prest: Hail to the beauty of our camp, the pride of folk, The dearling who enslaves all hearts by her behest: Allah on 'Time's Delight' send large dropped clouds that teem With genial rain but bear no thunder in their breast."

And also these,

"I vow to Allah if at home I sight My sister Nuzhat al-Zamani called, I'll pass the days in joyance and delight Mid bashful minions, maidens soft and white: To sound of harps in various modes they smite Draining the bowl, while eyes rain lively light 'Neath half closed lids, a sipping lips red bright By stream bank flowing through my garden site."

When he had finished his verse, Nuzhat al-Zaman lifted up a skirt of the litter curtain and looked at him. As soon as her eyes fell on his face, she knew him for certain and cried out, "O my brother! O Zau al-Makan!" He also looked at her and knew her and cried out, "O my sister! O Nuzhat al-Zaman!" Then she threw herself upon him and he gathered her to his bosom and the twain fell down in a fainting fit. When the Eunuch saw this case, he wondered at them and throwing over them something to cover them, waited till they should recover. After a while they came to themselves, and Nuzhat al-Zaman rejoiced with exceeding joy: oppression and depression left her and gladness took the mastery of her, and she repeated these verses,

"Time sware my life should fare in woeful waste; Forsworn art Time, expiate your sin in haste! Comes weal and comes a welcome friend to aid; To him who brings good news, rise, gird your waist: I spurned old world tales of Eden bliss; Till came I Kausar on those lips to taste."

When Zau al-Makan heard this, he pressed his sister to his breast; tears streamed from his eyes for excess of joy and he repeated these couplets,

"Long I lamented that we fell apart, While tears repentant railed from these eyne; And sware, if Time unite us twain once more, 'Severance' shall never sound from tongue of mine: Joy has so overwhelmed me that excess Of pleasure from my eyes draws gouts of brine: Tears, O my eyes, have now become your wont You weep for pleasure and you weep for pine!"

They sat awhile at the litter door till she said to him, "Come with me into the litter and tell me all that has befallen you, and I will tell you what happened to me." So they entered and Zau al-Makan said, "Do you begin your tale." Accordingly she told him all that had come to her since their separation at the Khan and what had happened to her with the Badawi; how the merchant had bought her of him and had taken her to her brother Sharrkan and had sold her to him; how he had freed her at the time of buying; how he had made a marriage contract with her and had gone in to her and how the King, their sire, had sent and asked for her from Sharrkan. Then she said, "Praised be Allah who has vouchsafed you to me and ordained that, even as we left our father together, so together shall we return to him!" And she added, "Of a truth my brother Sharrkan gave me in marriage to this Chamberlain that he might carry me to my father. And this is what befell me from beginning to end; so now tell me how it has fared with you since I left you." Thereupon he told her all that had happened to him from beginning to end; and how Allah vouchsafed to send the Fireman to him, and how he had journeyed with him and spent his money on him and had served him night and day. She praised the Stoker for this and Zau al-Makan added, "Of a truth, O my sister, this Fireman has dealt with me in such benevolent wise as would not lover with lass nor sire with son, for that he fasted and gave me to eat, and he walked whilst he made me ride; and I owe my life to him." She said, "Allah willing, we will requite him for all this, according to our power."

Then she called the Eunuch, who came and kissed Zau al-Makan's hand, and she said, "Take your reward for glad tidings, O face of good omen! It was your hand reunited me with my brother; so the purse I gave you and all in it are yours. But now go to your master and bring him quickly to me." The Castrato rejoiced and, going in to the Chamberlain, summoned him to his mistress. Accordingly, he came in to his wife and finding Zau al-Makan with her, asked who he was. So she told him all that had befallen them both, first and last, and added, "Know, O Chamberlain, that you have married no slave girl; far from it, you have taken to wife the daughter of King Omar bin al-Nu'uman for I am Nuzhat al-Zaman, and this is my brother, Zau al-Makan." When the Chamberlain heard the story he knew it to be truth, and its manifest truth appeared to him and he was certified that he was become King Omar bin al-Nu'uman's son in law, so he said to himself, " 'Twill be my fate to be made viceroy of some province." Then he went up to Zau al-Makan and gave him joy of his safety and reunion with his sister, and bade his servants immediately make him ready a tent and one of the best of his own horses to ride.

Thereupon said Nuzhat al-Zaman, "We are now near our country and I would be left alone with my brother, that we may enjoy each other's company and take our fill of it before we reach Baghdad; for we have been parted a long, long time." "Be it as you bid," replied the Chamberlain, and, going forth from them, sent them grow candles and various kinds of sweetmeats, together with three suits of the costliest for Zau al-Makan. Then he returned to the litter and related the good he had done and Nuzhat al-Zaman said to him, "Bid the Eunuch bring me the Fireman and give him a horse to ride and ration him with a tray of food morning and evening, and let him be forbidden to leave us." The Chamberlain called the Castrato and charged him to do accordingly; so he replied, "I hear and I obey;" and he took his pages with him and went out in search of the Stoker till he found him in the rear of the caravan, girthing his ass and preparing for flight. The tears were running adown his cheeks, out of fear for his life and grief for his separation from Zau al-Makan; and he was saying to himself, "Indeed, I warned him for the love of Allah, but he would not listen to me; Oh would I knew what is become of him!" Before he had done speaking the Eunuch was standing by his head whilst the pages surrounded him. The Fireman turned and seeing the Eunuch and the pages gathered around him became yellow with fear,—

When it was the Seventy sixth night

; before he had done speaking the Castrato was standing by his head and his side muscles quivered for fear and he lifted up his voice and cried, "truly he knows not the value of the good offices I have done him! Believe he has denounced me to the Eunuch (hence these pages get about me) and he has made me an accomplice in his crime." Then the effeminated one cried at him, saying, "Who was it recited the verses? O liar! Why did you say, 'I never repeated these couplets, nor do I know who repeated them;' when it was your companion? But now I will not leave you between this place and Baghdad, and what betids your comrade shall happen you." the Fireman, said, "What I feared has befallen me." And he repeated this couplet,

" 'Twas as I feared the coming ills discerning: But unto Allah we are all returning."

Then the Eunuch cried upon the pages, saying, "Take him off the ass." So they carried him along with the caravan, surrounded by the pages, as the white contains the black of the eye; and the Castrato said to them, "If a hair of him be lost, you will be lost with it." And he bade them privily treat him with honour and not humiliate him. But when the Stoker saw himself beset by the pages, he despaired of his life and turning to the Eunuch, said to him, "O Chief, I am neither this youth's brother nor am I akin to him, nor is he sib to me; but I was a Fireman in a Hammam and found him cast out, in his sickness, on the dung heap." Then the caravan fared on and the Stoker wept and imagined in himself a thousand things, whilst the Eunuch walked by his side and told him nothing, but said to him, "You disturbedst our mistress by reciting verses, you and this youth: but fear nothing for your self;" and kept laughing at him the while to himself. Whenever the caravan halted, they served him with food, and he and the Castrato ate from one dish.

Then the Eunuch bade his lads bring a gugglet of sugared sherbet and, after drinking himself, gave it to the Fireman, who drank; but all the while his tears never dried, out of fear for his life and grief for his separation from Zau al-Makan and for what had befallen them in their strangerhood. So they both travelled on with the caravan, whilst the Chamberlain now rode by the door of his wife's litter, in attendance on Zau al-Makan and his sister, and now gave an eye to the Fireman; and Nuzhat al-Zaman and her brother occupied themselves with converse and mutual condolence; and they did not stop in this way till they came within three days' journey from Baghdad. Here they alighted at eventide and rested till the morning morrowed; and as they awoke and they were about to load the beasts, behold, there appeared afar off a great cloud of dust that darkened the firmament till it became black as gloomiest night. Thereupon the Chamberlain cried out to them, "Stay, and your loading delay!"; then, mounting with his Mamelukes, rode forward in the direction of the dust cloud. When they drew near, suddenly appeared under it a numerous conquering host like the fulltide sea, with flags and standards, drums and kettledrums, horsemen and footmen. The Chamberlain marvelled at this; and when the troops saw him, there detached itself from amongst them a plump of five hundred cavaliers, who fell upon him and his suite and surrounded them, five for one; whereupon he said to them, "What is the matter and what are these troops, that you do this with us?"

Asked they, "Who are you; and from where come you, and where are you bound?" and he answered, "I am the Chamberlain of the Emir of Damascus, King Sharrkan, son of Omar bin al-Nu'uman, Lord of Baghdad and of the land of Khorasan, and I bring tribute and presents from him to his father in Baghdad." When the horsemen heard his words they let their head kerchiefs fall over their faces and wept, saying, "In very truth King Omar is dead and he died not but of poison. So fare you forwards; no harm shall befall you till you join his Grand Wazir, Dandan."

Now when the Chamberlain heard this, he wept sore and exclaimed, "Oh for our disappointment in this our journey!" Then he and all his suite wept till they had come up with the host and sought access to the Wazir Dandan, who granted an interview and called a halt and, causing his pavilion to be pitched, sat down on a couch within it and commanded to admit the Chamberlain. Then he bade him be seated and questioned him; and he replied that he was Chamberlain to the Emir of Damascus and was bound to King Omar with presents and the tribute of Syria. The Wazir, hearing the mention of King Omar's name, wept and said, "King Omar is dead by poison, and upon his dying the folk fell out amongst themselves as to who should succeed him, until they were like to slay one another on this account; but the notables and grandees and the four Kazis interposed and all the people agreed to refer the matter to the decision of the four judges and that none should gainsay them. So it was agreed that we go to Damascus and fetch thence the King's son, Sharrkan, and make him Sultan over his father's realm. And amongst them were some who would have chosen the cadet, Zau al-Makan, for, They said, his name be Light of the Place, and he has a sister Nuzhat al-Zaman called, the Delight of the Time; but they set out five years ago for al-Hijaz and none knows what is become of them." When the Chamberlain heard this, he knew that his wife had told him the truth of her adventures; and he grieved with sore grief for the death of King Omar, albeit he joyed with exceeding joy, especially at the arrival of Zau al-Makan, for that he would now become Sultan of Baghdad in his father's stead.—

When it was the Seventy seventh night

When the Minister heard these words he rejoiced with great joy and said, "O Chamberlain, tell me the tale of the twain and what befell them and the cause of their long absence." So he repeated to him the whole story and told him that Nuzhat al-Zaman was his wife and related to him the adventures of Zau al-Makan from beginning to end. As soon as he had ended his tale, the Wazir sent for the Emirs and Wazirs and Chief Officers and acquainted them with the matter; at which they rejoiced with great joy and wondered at the happy chance. Then they gathered in a body and went in to the Chamberlain and did their service to him, kissing the ground between his hands; and the Wazir Dandan also rose and went out to meet him and stood before him in honour. After this, the Chamberlain held on that day a Divan council; and he and the Wazir sat upon a throne, whilst all the Emirs and Grandees and Officers of State took their places before them, according to their several ranks. Then they melted sugar in rose water and drank, after which the Emirs sat down to hold council and permitted the rest of the host to mount and ride forward leisurely, till they should make an end of their debate and overtake them.

So the officers kissed the ground between their hands and mounting, rode onwards, preceded by the standards of war. When the grandees had finished their conference, they took horse and rejoined the host; and the Chamberlain approached the Wazir Dandan and said, "I deem it well to ride on before you, and precede you, that I may get ready a place for the Sultan and notify him of your coming and of your choosing him as Sultan over the head of his brother Sharrkan." "Aright you reckon," answered the Wazir. Then the Chamberlain rose up in haste and Dandan also stood up to do him honour and brought him presents, which he conjured him to accept. In similar guise did all the Emirs and Grandees and Officers of State, bringing him gifts and calling down blessings on him and saying to him, "Perhaps you will mention our case to Sultan Zau al-Makan and speak to him to continue us in our dignities." The Chamberlain promised all they required and bade his pages be ready to march, whereupon the Wazir Dandan sent with him tents and bade the tent pitchers set them up at a day's journey from the city. And they did his bidding.

Then the Chamberlain mounted and rode forward, full of joy and saying to himself, "How blessed is this journey!"; and indeed his wife was exalted in his eyes, she and her brother Zau al-Makan. They made all haste over their journey, till they reached a place distant a day's journey from Baghdad, where the Chamberlain called a halt for rest, and bade his men alight and make ready a sitting place for the Sultan Zau al-Makan, son of King Omar bin al-Nu'uman, while he rode forward with his Mamelukes and, alighting at a distance from Nuzhat al-Zaman's litter, commanded the eunuchs to ask leave of admission to the presence. They did so and she gave permission; whereupon he went in to her and conversed with her and her brother; and told them of the death of their father; and of Zau al-Makan, how the heads of the people had made him King over them in the stead of his sire; and he gave them joy of the kingdom. They both wept for their father and asked the manner of his being killed; but the Chamberlain answered, "The news rests with the Wazir Dandan who will be here to morrow leading all the host; and it only remains for you, O King, to do what they counsel, since they have unanimously chosen you Sultan; for if you do not this, they will choose someone else and you can not be sure of your life with another Sultan. Perhaps he will kill you, or discord may befall between you twain and the kingdom pass out of the hands of both."

Zau al-Makan bowed his head awhile and then said, "I accept this position;" for indeed there was no refusing; and he was certified that the Chamberlain had counselled him well and wisely and set him on the right way. Then he added, "O my uncle, how shall I do with my brother Sharrkan?" "O my son," replied the Chamberlain, "your brother will be Sultan of Damascus and you Sultan of Baghdad; so take heart of grace and get ready your case." Zau al-Makan accepted this and the Chamberlain presented him with a suit of royal raiment and a dagger of state, which the Wazir Dandan had brought with him; then leaving him he bade the tent pitchers choose a spot of rising ground and set up thereon a spacious pavilion, in which the Sultan might sit to receive the Emirs and Grandees. Moreover he ordered the kitcheners to cook rich viands and serve them and he commanded the water carriers to dispose the water troughs. They did as he bade them and presently arose a cloud of dust from the ground and spread till it walled the horizon round.

After awhile, the dust dispersed and there appeared under it the army of Baghdad and Khorasan, a conquering host like the full tide sea.—

When it was the Seventy eighth night

Now Zau al-Makan had donned robes of royal estate and girt himself with the sword of state: so the Chamberlain brought him a steed and he mounted, surrounded by the Mamelukes and all the company from the tents on foot, to do him service, and he rode on until he came to the great pavilion, where he sat down and he laid the royal dagger across his thighs, whilst the Chamberlain stood in attendance on him and his armed slaves stationed themselves under the entrance awning of the Shahmiyanah, with drawn swords in their hands. Presently, up came the troops and the host and craved admission; so the Chamberlain went in to Zau al-Makan and asked his leave, whereupon he bade admit them, ten by ten. The Chamberlain acquainted them with the King's commands, to which they re plied, "We hear and we obey;" and all drew up before the pavilion entrance. Then he took ten of them and carried them through the vestibule into the presence of Sultan Zau al-Makan, whom when they saw, they were awed; but he received them with most gracious kindness and promised them all good. So they gave him joy of his safe return and invoked Allah's blessings upon him, after which they took the oath of fealty never to gainsay him in anything and they kissed ground before him and withdrew. Then other ten entered and he entreated them as he had entreated the others; and they did not stop to enter, ten by ten, till none was left but the Wazir Dandan. Lastly the Minister went in and kissed the ground before Zau al-Makan, who rose to meet him, saying, "Welcome, O Wazir and sire sans peer!

truly, yours acts are those of a counsellor right dear, and judgement and foreseeing clear are in the hands of the Subtle of Lere." Then bade he the Chamberlain immediately go out and cause the tables to be spread and order all the troops thereto. So they came and ate and drank. Moreover the Sultan commanded his Wazir Dandan call a ten days' halt of the army, that he might be private with him and learn from him how and Why his father had been slain. The Wazir obeyed the commands of the Sultan with submission and wished him eternity of glory and said, "This needs must be!" He then repaired to the heart of the encampment and ordered the host to halt ten days. They did as he bade them and, moreover, he gave them leave to divert themselves and ordered that none of the lords in waiting should attend upon the King for service during the space of three days. Then the Wazir went to the Sultan and reported all to him, and Zau al-Makan waited until nightfall, when he went in to his sister Nuzhat al-Zaman and he asked, "Do you know the cause of my father's murder or not?" "I have no knowledge of the cause," she answered, and drew a silken curtain before herself, whilst Zau al-Makan seated himself without the curtain and commanded the Wazir to the presence and, when he came, said to him, "I desire you relate to me in detail the cause of the killing of my sire, King Omar bin al-Nu'uman!" "Know then, O King," replied Dandan, "that King Omar bin al-Nu'uman, when he returned to Baghdad from his chasing and hunting and entered the city, enquired for you and your sister, but could not find you and knew that you twain had gone on the Pilgrimage; at which he was greatly grieved and much angered, and his breast was straitened and he abode thus half a year, seeking news of you from all who came and went, but none could give him any tidings.

Now while we were in attendance upon him one day, after a whole year had sped since you were lost to his sight, lo! there came to us an ancient dame with signs of being a devotee, accompanied by five damsels, high bosomed virgins like moons, endowed with such beauty and loveliness as tongue fails to describe; and, to crown their perfections of comeliness, they could read the Koran and were versed in various kinds of learning and in the histories of bygone peoples. Then that old woman sought audience of the King, and he bade admit her; whereupon she entered the presence and kissed the ground between his hands.

I was then sitting by his side and he, seeing in her the signs of asceticism and devoutness, made her draw near and take seat close by him. And when she had sat down she addressed him and said, 'Know, O King, that with me are five damsels, whose like no King among the Kings possesses; for they are endowed with wit and beauty and loveliness and perfection. They read the Koran and the Traditions and are skilled in all manner of learning and in the history of bygone races. They stand here between your hands to do you service,and it is by trial that folk are prized or despised.' Your father, who has passed on; looked at the damsels and their favour pleased him; so he said to them, "Let each and every of you make me hear something of what she knows anent the history of the folk of old and of peoples long gone before!'—

When it was the Seventy ninth night

Ware how you hurtest man with hurt of heart;

'Tis hard to win you back the heart offended: For hearts indeed, from where love is alien made, Like broken glass may nevermore be mended.

'The maiden continued and concluded with pointing out to us what sages say, 'The best of brethren is he who is the most constant in good counsel; the best of action is that which is fairest in its consequence, and the best of praise is not that which is in the mouths of men. It is also said, 'It behoves not the servant to neglect thanking Allah especially for two favours, health and reason.' Again it is said, 'whoever honours himself, his lust is a light matter to him, and he who makes much of his small troubles, Allah afflicts him with the greater; he who obeys his own inclination neglects his duties and he who listens to the slanderer loses the true friend. He who thinks well of you, do you fulfill his thought of you. He who exceeds in contention sinns, and he who against unright stands not on ward, is not safe from the sword. Now will I tell you something of the duties of Kazis and judges. Know, O King, that no judgement serves the cause of justice save it be given after proof positive, and it behoves the judge to treat all people on the same level, to the intent that the great may not hunger for oppression nor the small despair of justice. Furthermore he should extract proof from the complainant and impose an oath upon the defendant; and mediation is admissible between Moslems, except it be a compromise sanctioning the unlawful or forbidding the lawful. If you will have done anything during the day, of which your reason is doubtful but your good intention is proved, you (O Kazi) should revert to the right, for to do justice is a religious obligation and to return to that which is right is better than persistence in wrong.

Then (O judge) you should study precedents and the law of the case and do equal justice between the suitors, as well fixing yours eyes upon the truth and committing yours affair to Allah (be He extolled and exalted!). And require you proof of the complainant, and if he adduce evidence let him have due benefit of it; and if not, put the defendant to his oath; for this is the ordinance of Allah. Receive you the testimony of competent Moslem witnesses, one against other, for Almighty Allah has commanded judges to judge by externals, He Himself taking charge of the inner and secret things. It behoves the judge also to avoid giving judgement, whilst suffering from stress of pain or hunger, and that in his decisions between folk he seek the face of Allah Almighty, for he whose intent is pure and who is at peace with himself, Allah shall guarantee him against what is between him and the people.' Said al-Zuhri, 'There are three things for which, if they be found in a Kazi, he should be deposed; namely, if he honour the base, if he love praise and if he fear dismissal. And Omar bin Abd al-Aziz once deposed a Kazi, who asked him, 'Why have you dismissed me?' 'It has reached me,' answered Omar,

'that your converse is greater than your condition.' It is said also that Iskandar said to his Kazi, 'I have invested you with this function and committed to you in it my soul and mine honour and my manliness; so do you guard it with your sense and yours understanding.' To his Cook he said, 'You are the Sultan of my body; so look you tender it as yours own self.' To his Secretary he said, 'You are the controller of my wit: so do you watch over me in what you writest for me and from me.'" Thereupon the first damsel backed out from the presence and a second damsel came forward. —

When it was the Eighties night

When it was the Eighty first night

When it was the Eighty second night

When it was the Eighty third night

When it was the Eighty fourth night

When it was the Eighty fifth night

•—

When it was the Eighty sixth night

Now when the Wazir Dandan had made an end of his story, Zau al-Makan and his sister, Nuzhat al-Zaman wept; and the Chamberlain, who wept also, said to Zau al-Makan, "O King, weeping will avail you nothing; nor shall anything profit you but that you harden your heart and strengthen your stress and stablish your sovranty; for truly whoever leavs the like of you is not dead." Thereupon Zau al-Makan gave over his weeping and caused his throne to be set up without the pavilion, and then commanded the army to pass in review order before him. And the Chamberlain sat by his side and all the armour bearers behind him, whilst the Wazir Dandan and the rest of the Emirs and Grandees stood each in his dividual stead. Then King Zau al-Makan to the Minister Dandan, said, "Inform me concerning my sire's treasures;" and he replied, "I hear and I obey;" and gave him to know of the late King's hoards and monies, and what was in the treasury of amassed wealth and jewels, and acquainted him with other precious things. So Zau al-Makan opened his hand to the army, and gave a sumptuous robe of honour to the Wazir Dandan, saying, "You continuest in office." Whereupon Dandan kissed the ground before him and wished him long life.

Then he bestowed dresses on the Emirs, after which he said to the Chamberlain, "Bring out before me the tribute of Damascus that is with you." So he was shown the chests of money and rarities and jewels, when he took them and parted them all amongst the troops,—

When it was the Eighty seventh night

Then all went away to their tents and when it was morning he gave orders for marching. So they marched for three days, till, on the fourth day, they drew near to Baghdad. When they entered the city, they found it decorated, and Zau al-Makan, the Sultan, went up to his father's palace and sat down on the throne, whilst the Emirs of the army and the Wazir Dandan and the Chamberlain of Damascus stood between his hands. Then he bade his private secretary write a writ to his brother Sharrkan, acquainting him with all that had passed, from beginning to end, and he concluded, "As soon as you have read this letter, make ready yours affair and join us with yours army, that we may turn to Holy War upon the Infidels and take man bote for our father and wipe out the stain upon our honour." Then he folded the letter and sealed it with his seal ring and said to the Minister Dandan, "None shall carry this letter but you; and it behoves you speak my brother fair and say to him, 'If you have a mind to your father's kingdom, it is yours, and your brother shall be Viceroy for you in Damascus; for to this effect am I instructed by him.' "

So the Wazir went down from before him and made ready for his march. Then Zau al-Makan bade set apart a magnificent house for the Fireman and furnished it with the best of furniture and long is the tale of that Fireman. Presently, Zau al-Makan went out chasing and hunting and, as he was returning to Baghdad, one of the Emirs presented him with blood horses and with beauteous handmaids whose description the tongue evades. One of the damsels pleased him: so he went in unto her and knew her that night, and she conceived by him directly. After a while, the Wazir Dandan returned from his journey, bringing him news of his brother Sharrkan and that he was then on his way to him, and said, "It were fitting you go forth to meet him." Zau al-Makan replied, "I hear and I consent;" and riding forth with his Grandees a day's journey from Baghdad, he pitched his pavilions there awaiting his brother. Next morning appeared King Sharrkan amid the army of Syria, a horseman of might, a lion fierce in fight, a prow and doughty knight. As the squadrons drew near and the dust clouds came close by and the troops rode up with banners on high, Zau al-Makan and those with him pushed forward to meet Sharrkan and his men; and when Zau al-Makan saw his brother, he desired to dismount, but Sharrkan conjured him not to do in this way, and himself footed it, and walked a few paces towards him.

As soon as he reached Zau al-Makan, the new Sultan threw himself upon him, and Sharrkan embraced him and wept with great weeping and the twain condoled with each other. Then they mounted and rode onward, they and their troops, till they reached Baghdad, where they alighted and went up to the royal palace and there they passed that night, and when next morning came, Zau al-Makan went forth and bade summon the troops from all parts, and pro claimed a Holy War and a Razzia. They then awaited the coming of the levies from each quarter of the kingdom, and every one who came they entreated with honour and promised him all manner of good; till in so doing a full month had sped, and the fighting men flocked to them in a continuous body. Then Sharrkan said to Zau al-Makan, "O my brother, tell me your history." So he told him all that had befallen him from beginning to end, including the benevolent dealing of the Fireman with him. Asked Sharrkan, "Have you requited his kindness?", and he answered, "O my brother! I have not rewarded him as yet, but God willing! I will recompense him whenas I return from this raid"—

When it was the Eighty eighth night

; and he answered, "O my brother, I have not rewarded him as yet, but God willing! I will recompense him whenas I return from this raid and find time so to do." Therewith Sharrkan was certified that his sister, Nuzhat al-Zaman, had told him the whole truth; but he concealed what had passed between them and offered his salutation to her by her husband the Chamberlain. She sent him back her greeting, calling down blessings on him and enquiring after her daughter Kuzia Fakan, to which he replied that the maiden was well and in the best of health and safety. Where upon she praised Almighty Allah and gave him thanks. Then Sharrkan went to his brother to take counsel with him for departure; and Zau al-Makan said, "O my brother, as soon as the army is complete and the Arabs have come in from all parts, we will march forth." So he bade make ready the commissariat and prepare munitions of war and went in to his wife, who was now five months gone with child; and he put under her astrologers and mathematicians, to whom he appointed stipends and allowances. Then he set out three months after the arrival of the army of Syria, and as soon as the Arabs were come in and the troops were assembled from all directions; and, as he fared forth, he was followed by the warriors and the united host.

Now the name of the General of the Daylam army was Rustam and that of the General of the army of the Turks Bahram. And Zau al-Makan marched in mid host and on his right was his brother Sharrkan, and on his left the Chamberlain his brother in law. So the squadrons broke up and pushed forward and the battalions and companies filed past in battle array, till the whole army was in motion. They did not stop to fare on for the space of a month, and each body dismounted at its own ground and there rested every week three days (for the host was great); and they advanced in this order till they came to the country of the Greeks. Then the people of the villages and hamlets and the poorer sort took fright at them and fled to Constantinople. But when King Afridun heard the tidings he arose and betook himself to Zat al-Dawahi, the same who had contrived the stratagem, and had travelled to Baghdad and had slain King Omar bin al-Nu'uman; and who, after carrying off her slaves and Queen Sophia, had returned with them all to her native land. Now when she had been restored to her son, the King of Greece, and felt herself safe, she said to King Hardub, "Cool yours eyes; for I have avenged by blood the shame of your daughter Abrizah, and have killed Omar bin al-Nu'uman and have brought back Sophia.

So now let us go to the King of Constantinople and carry to him his daughter and acquaint him with what has happened, that all of us be on guard and prepare our forces; and I will fare with you to King Afridun, Lord of Constantinople, for I opine that the Moslems will not await our attack." Hardub said, "Tarry you till they draw near our country, that we may make us ready meantime and assemble our power." Accordingly they took to levying their forces and preparing for war, and, when the news of the Moslems' advance reached them, they were prepared for defence; and Zat al-Dawahi had preceded them. Now when she and her son arrived at Constantinople the King of Kings, Afridun, hearing of the approach of Hardub, King of the Greeks, came forth to meet him and asked how it was with him and the cause of his visit. So Hardub acquainted him with the cunning doings of his mother, Zat al-Dawahi, how she had slain the Moslem King and recovered from him Queen Sophia, and had said, "The Moslems have assembled their forces and are on their way to attack us, Why it behoves that we two join hands in single band and meet them."

Now King Afridun rejoiced in the return of his daughter and the killing of King Omar bin al-Nu'uman; and he sent to all countries seeking succour and acquainting the folk with the cause of slaying the Moslem King. So the Nazarene troops flocked to him and three months were not past before the army of the Greeks was complete, besides which there joined themselves to him Franks from all their lands, French, Germans and Ragusans, with men of Zara, Venetians, Genoese, and all the hosts of the Yellow Faces; and, when the gathering was at its full, earth was straitened on them by reason of their multitude. Then Afridun, the Great King, ordered a march; so they set out and did not stop to defile through the city for ten days. They fared on till they reached the Wady called al-Nu'uman, a broad sided vale close by the Salt Sea, where they halted three days; and on the fourth they were about to set out again, when news came that the army of al-Islam on them prest, and the defenders of the faith of Mohammed, of Men the Best. So they halted in it other three days, and on the eighth they espied a dust cloud which towered till it walled the whole land; nor was an hour of the day past before that dust began to drift and was torn to shreds in the lift, and pierced through its shades the starry radiance of lance and the white leven of blades. Presently, there appeared beneath it the banners Islamitan and the ensigns Mahometan; the horsemen urged forward, like the letting loose of seas that surged, clad in mail, as they were mackerel back clouds which the moon enveil; whereupon the two hosts clashed, like two torrents on each other dashed. Eyes fell upon eyes; and the first to seek combat singular was the Wazir Dandan, he and the army of Syria, numbering thirty thousand bridles, and with him were the General of the Turks, and the General of Daylam, Rustam and Bahram, amid twenty thousand horse, behind whom came the men from the shores of the Salt Sea, clad in iron mail, as they were full moons that past through a night o'ercast. Then the Nazarene host called out on Jesus and Mary, and the defiled Cross and they heaped themselves upon the Wazir Dandan and those with him of the Syrian host. Now all this was in pursuance of a stratagem devised by that ancient woman Zat al-Dawahi; for, before his departure, King Afridun had gone in to her and he asked,

"How shall I do and what plan shall I pursue?; it is you have caused this great distress to us;" and she had answered, "O great King and mighty Cohen! I will teach you a trick would baffle Iblis himself, though he summon to his assistance all his grisly hosts."—

When it was the Eighty ninth night

And she had answered, "O great King and mighty Cohen, I will teach you a trick would baffle the Devil himself though he summon to his assistance all his grisly hosts. It is that you send fifty thousand men going down in ships, and sailing over the sea to the Mountain of Smoke; and there let them land and stir not till the standards of al-Islam come upon you, when do you up and at them. Then bid the troops from the seaward sally out upon the Moslems and take them in rear, whilst we confront them from the landward. So not one of them shall escape, and our sorrows shall cease and peace abide with us." Now the counsel of this ancient woman commended itself to King Afridun, and he replied, "Right is the recking you reckon, O Princess of wits and recourse of Kings and Cohens warring for their blood wit!" So when the army of al-Islam came upon them in that valley, before they knew of it the flames began to burn up the tents and the swords in men's bodies to make rents. Then hurried up the army of Baghdad and Khorasan who numbered one hundred and twenty thousand horse, with Zau al-Makan in the front of war.

When the host of the Infidels that lay by the sea saw them, they sallied out against them and followed in their tracks; and when Zau al-Makan espied this he cried out to his men, "Turn back to the Infidels, O People of the Chosen Apostle, and slay those who deny and hate the authority of the Compassionating, the Compassionate!" So they turned and fought with the Christians. Then Sharrkan marched up with another corps of the Moslem host, some hundred thousand men, whilst the Infidels numbered almost a thousand and six hundred thousand men. When the Moslems were united, their hearts were strengthened and they cried out, saying, "truly Allah has promised us victory, and to the Infidels has assigned defeat." And they clashed together with sword and spear. Now Sharrkan tare through rank and row and raged among the masses of the foe, fighting so fierce a fight as to make children grey grow; nor did he cease journeying among the infidel horde and working havoc among them with the keen edged sword, shouting "Allaho Akbar!" —Allah is Most Great—till he drove back the host to the coast. Then failed the force of the foe and Allah gave victory to the faith of al-Islam, and folk fought folk, drunken without strong drink, till they slew of the Infidels in this affair forty and five thousand, while of the Moslems but three thousand and five hundred fell. Moreover, the Lion of the Faith, King Sharrkan, and his brother, Zau al-Makan, slept not that night, but occupied themselves with congratulating their braves and with looking to the wounded and with assuring the army of victory and salvation and promise of reward in the world to come. Thus far concerning the Moslem; but as regards King Afridun, Lord of Constantinople and Sovran of Roum, and Zat al-Dawahi, they assembled the Emirs of the host and said to them, "truly, we had worked our will and solaced our hearts, but our over confidence in our numbers, and that only, defeated us."

Then to them the ancient one, said, the Lady of Calamities, "In very truth nothing shall profit you, except you draw you close to the Messiah and put your trust in the True Belief, for, by the virtue of the Messiah, the whole strength of the Moslem host lies in that Satan, King Sharrkan." "To morrow," said King Afridun, "I have resolved to draw up in battle array and to send out against them that redoubtable cavalier, Luke bin Shallot; for if King Sharrkan come forth as a champion to fight single handed, our man will slay him and will slay the other Moslem Knights, till not one is left. And I purpose this night to sacre you all with the Holy Incense." When the Emirs heard these words they kissed the ground before him. Now the incense which he designated was the excrement of the Chief Patriarch, the denier, the defiler of the Truth, and they sought for it with such instance, and they so highly valued it that the high priests of the Greeks used to send it to all the countries of the Christians in silken wraps after mixing it with musk and ambergris. Hearing of it Kings would pay a thousand gold pieces for every dram and they sent for and sought it to fumigate brides as well; and the Chief Priests and the great Kings were wont to use a little of it as collyrium for the eyes and as a remedy in sickness and colic; and the Patriarchs used to mix their own skite with it, for that the skite of the Chief Patriarch could not suffice for ten countries. So, as soon as dawn was seen and the morning shone with its shine and sheen, the horsemen ran to their spears full keen, and King Afridun,—

When it was the Nineties night

Luka, said, "I hear and I obey;" and the King made the sign of the cross on his forehead and felt assured of help from Heaven being near hand. Then Luka went out from the presence and the accursed one mounted a sorrel horse; he was clad in a red robe and a hauberk of gold set with jewels, and he bore a trident spear, as he were Iblis the damned on the day of drewing out his hosts war to darraign. Then he rode forward, he and his horde of Infidels, even as though they were driving to the Fire, preceded by a herald, crying aloud in the Arabic tongue and saying, "Ho, sect of Mohammed (upon whom be salutation and salvation!), let none of you come out but your champion Sharrkan, the Sword of al-Islam, Lord of Damascus in Sham!" Nor had he made an end of speaking, when arose a tumult in the plain; all the people heard the strain and the whole moving bodies of the armies twain called to mind the Day of Complain. Then the cowards trembled and all necks turned towards the sound, and lo! it was King Sharrkan, son of King Omar bin al-Nu'uman. For when his brother, Zau al-Makan, saw that accursed one push out on the plain, and heard the pursuivant, he turned to Sharrkan and said to him, "Of a surety they seek for you."

He said, "Should it so be, 'twere most pleasing to me." So when they made sure of the matter and heard the herald crying in the plain, "Let none of you come out against me save Sharrkan," they knew this cursed Luka to be champion of the land of Roum who had sworn to sweep the earth clean of Moslems. Now he was one of the greatest of villains, a wretch who caused hearts to pain; and the Daylamites Turks and Kurds dreaded his might and main. Presently, Sharrkan drave at him like a lion angry grim, mounted on a courser like a wild gazelle flying snell and slim; and coming near to him made the spear he seized to shake as it were a darting snake, and recited these couplets,

"I have a sorrel steed, whose pride is glad to bear the rein, Shall give you what you like not and make you feel his main: I have a handy limber spear full bright and keen of point, Upon whose shaft the dam of Death her throny seat has ta'en: I have a trenchant glaive of Hind; and, when I bare its face Of scabbard veil, from out its brow the rays of leven rain."

Luka understood not the sense of his speech nor did he apprehend the vehemence of the verse; but he smote his forehead with his hand, in honour of the Cross drawn thereon and kissed it; then he couched his throw spear and ran at Sharrkan. But first he tossed the javelin with one hand in air to such height that it was lost to the spectators' sight; and, catching it with the other hand as do the jugglers, hurled it at Sharrkan. It flew from his grasp like a shooting star and folk clamoured and feared for Sharrkan; but, as the spear flew near him, he put out his hand and caught it in full flight to the amazement of all who saw the sight. Then he shook it with the hand that took it till it was well near broken, and hurled it so high into the welkin that it disappeared from view. As it descended, he caught it again with the other hand, in less than the twinkling of an eye, and cried out from his heart core, saying, "By the truth of Him who created the sevenfold skies, I will assuredly make this cursed people a byword for mankind to despise!" Then threw he the throw spear at Luka, who thought to do as Sharrkan had done and put forth his hand to hend it in mid flight; but Sharrkan prevented him, and sped at him a second throw spear which smote him and the point fell on his forehead, in the very centre of the sign of the Cross, and Allah hurried his soul to the Fire and Dwelling place dire. But when the Infidels saw Luka bin Shamlut fall slain, they buffeted their faces and they cried, "Alas!" And "Woe worth the day!" And called for aid upon the Abbots of the monasteries,—

When it was the Ninety first night

and "Woe worth the day!" And called upon the Abbots of the monasteries and cried, "Where be the crosses?" So the Religious offered up prayers and the Christians all drew together against Sharrkan; and, brandishing their scymitars and lances, rushed forward to the attack. Then army met army and breasts fell under hoof, whilst spear and sword ruled the day and fore arms and wrists grew weak and the coursers seemed created without legs; nor did the herald of war cease calling to fight, till arms were weary and day took flight and night came on with darkness dressed. So the two hosts drew apart, whilst every brave staggered like a drunken knave, for that with so much cut and thrust they strave; and the place was choked with the slain; fell were the wounds and the hurt knew not by whom they fell. Then Sharrkan joined his brother, Zau al-Makan, and the Chamberlain and the Wazir Dandan, and said to them, "truly Allah has opened a door for the Infidels to fall, praised be the Lord of the Worlds one and all!" Replied Zau al-Makan, "Let us never cease to praise Allah, for that He has dispelled trouble from the Arab and the Ajam. Indeed the folk, generation after generation, shall tell of your derring do against the accursed Luka, the falsifier of the Evangel; of your catching the throw spear in mid flight, and how the enemy of Allah among men you did smite; and your fame shall endure until the end of time."

Then said Sharrkan, "Harkye, O grand Chamberlain and doughty Capitayne!" And he answered, "Adsum!" Sharrkan, said, "Take with you the Wazir Dandan and twenty thousand horse, and lead them seven parasangs towards the sea, and force the march till you shall have come near the shore, and there remain only two parasangs between you and the foe. Then ambush you in the hollows of the ground till you hear the tumult of the Infidels disembarking from their ships; and the war cry from every side strike your ear and you know that the sabres have begun labour between us and them; and, whenever you see our troops falling back, as if defeated, and all the Infidels following them, as well those in front as those from the seaward and the tents, do you still lie in wait for them: but as soon as you see the standard with the words, There is no god but the God, and Mohammed is God's Apostle (on whom be salutation and salvation!), then up with the green banner, and do your endeavour and fall on their rear and shout, 'Allaho Akbar! Allah is most Great!' and circle round that they may not interpose between the retreating army and the sea." He replied, "I hear and I obey!"; and directly they agreed upon this matter and they went forth. Now the Chamberlain took with himself the Wazir Dandan and twenty thousand men even as Sharrkan had commanded. As soon as dawned the morn, the troops sprung to horse when they had donned their armour gear and drawn the scimitar and slung the spear.

Then the Christians dispread themselves over hill and dale and the Ecclesiasts cried out and all heads were bared, and those in the ships hoisted the Cross at their mast heads and began making for shore from every side, and landed their horses and gat them ready for fight and fray, whilst the sword blades glittered bright and the javelins glanced like leven light on mail shirt white; and all joined fight and the grind mill of Death whirled round and ground those who fought from horse and aground: heads from bodies flew and tongues mute grew and eyes no vision knew. Scymitars strave with utmost strain and heads flew over the battle plain; gall bladders clave and wrists were shorn in twain; steeds plashed in pools of gore and beards were gripped right sore; the host of al-Islam called out, saying, "On the Prince of Mankind be blessings and peace, and to the Compassionate glory and praise, which never shall cease, for His boons which aye increase;" and the host of the Infidels shouted, "Glory to the Cross and the Belt and the vine prest juice, and the wine presser and the Priests and the Monks and the Festival of Palms and the Metropolitan!"

Now Zau al-Makan and Sharrkan held back and their troops gave way and feigned flight from before the enemy, while the Infidel array pressed hard upon them deeming them in rout, and made ready to foin and hew. Then the meiny of the Moslems raised their voices, reciting the first verses of the Chapter of the Cow, whilst the dead were trampled under hoofs of steeds, and the heralds of the Greeks cried out, "Ho, servants of the Messiah! Ho, people of the True Faith! Ho, followers of the Primate! Truly Divine grace upon you opes; for see, the hosts of al-Islam like birds with broken wings incline to elope! So turn you not to them your backs, but let your swords cleave deep in their necks and hold not your hands from them, else are you outcasts from the Messiah, Mary's son, who spoke even when a cradled one!" Now Afridun, King of Constantinople, deemed that the Infidels were victorious, knowing not that this was but a clever stratagem of the Moslems, and sent to King Hardub of Roum congratulations on success, adding, "Availed us nothing but the Holy Merde of the Arch Patriarch, whose fragrance exhaled from the beards and mustachios of the slaves of the Cross near and far; and I swear, by the Miracles of the Messiah; and by your daughter Abrizah, the Nazarene, the Mariolater; and by the Waters of Baptism, that I will not leave upon the earth a single defender of al-Islam! And to the bitter end will I carry out this plan." So the messenger betook himself with the address to King Hardub, whilst the Infidels called to one another saying, "Take we vengeance wreak for Luka!"—

When it was the Ninety second night

while Hardub King of Greece cried aloud, "Ho, to our revenge for Abrizah!" Thereupon King Zau al-Makan shouted "Ho, servants of the Requiting King!: smite the children of denial and disobedience with the blanch of sword and the brown of spear!" So the Moslems returned to the Infidels and plied them with the keen edged scimitar, whilst their herald cried aloud, "Up, and at the foes of the Faith, all you who love the Prophet Elect, with hope of salvation on the Day of Fear, to win favour of the Bountiful, the Forgiving One; for truly the Garden of Paradise is under the shadow of swords!" And behold, Sharrkan and his men charged down upon the Infidels and cut off their retreat and wheeled and tourneyed among the ranks; when lo! a knight of goodly presence opened a passage through the army of Unbelievers and circled here and there amongst the Deniers, cutting and thrusting and covering the ground with heads and trunks, so that the Faithless feared him and their necks bent under his lunge and hew. He was girt with two swords, his glances and his brand, and he was armed with two lances, one of bamboo cane and the other his straight wand like shape; and his flowing hair stood him in stead of many warriors, even as says the poet,

"Laud not long hair, except it be dispread In two fold locks, on day of fight and fray, over youth who bears his lance 'twixt flank and thigh, From many a whiskered knight to win the day."

And as sings another,

"I say to him, what while he slings his sword, 'For sword shall serve those looks that sword like show!' Says he, 'My sabre looks for those I love, My sword for those who sweets of love unknow!' "

When Sharrkan saw him, he said to him, "I conjure you by the Koran and the attributes of the Compassionate One, O Champion of the Champions! Tell me who you are: for truly by your deeds this day you have pleased the Requiting King, whom one thing distracts not from other thing; in that you have been discomforting the children of impiety and in rebellion revelling." Then cried the Cavalier to him saying, "You are he who made brother covenant with me but yesterday: how quickly you have forgotten me!" Thereupon he withdrew his mouth veil, so that what was hidden of his beauty was disclosed, and lo! it was none other than Zau al-Makan. Then Sharrkan rejoiced in his brother, save that he feared for him the rush of fighting and the crush of braves a smiting; and this for two reasons, the first, his tender age and exposure to the evil eye, and the second, that his safety was to the kingdom the greater of the two overshadowing wings. So he said to him, "O King! You riskest your life, so join your steed to mine; in very truth I fear for you from the foe; and better you stint hazarding yourself forth of these squadrons, that we may shoot at the enemy yours unerring shaft."

Zau al-Makan, said, "I desire to even you in fray and I will not be niggard of' myself before you in the mellay." Then the host of al-Islam, heaping itself upon the Infidels, girt them on all sides, warred on them a right Holy War, and brake the power of the children of impiety and pride and stowre. But King Afridun sighed when he saw the evil wreak that had fallen on the Greek, and they turned their backs from fight and addressed themselves to flight, making for the ships, when lo! there came out upon them from the sea coast another host, led by the Minister Dandan, the champion who was wont to make champions bite the dust, and to lay load on them with cut and thrust. Nor less came forth the Emir Bahram, Lord of the Provinces of Sham, amid twenty thousand horse doughty of arm; and the host of al-Islam pressed them in front and on flank and wrought them grievous harm. Then a body of the Moslems turned against those who in the ships remained, and perdition on them rained, till they threw themselves into the main, and they slew of them many slain, more than a hundred thousand noblemen, nor was one of their champions, great or small, saved from bale and bane. Moreover, they took their ships, with all the money and treasure and cargo, save a score of keel, and the Moslems got that loot whose like was never gotten in by gone years; nor was such cut and thrust ever heard of by men's ears.

Now amongst the booty were fifty thousand horses, besides treasure and spoil past reckoning and arithmetic, at which the Moslems rejoiced with an exceeding joy for that Allah had given them victory and protection. Such was the case with them; but as regards the fugitive Infidels they soon reached Constantinople, where the tidings preceded them that King Afridun had prevailed over the Moslems; so the ancient dame, said, Zat al-Dawahi, "I know that my son Hardub, King of Roum, is no runagate and that he fears not the Islamitic hosts, but will restore the whole world to the Nazarene faith." Then she bade the Great King, Afridun, give command that the city be decorated, and the people held festival high and drank their wines drunkenly and knew not the decrees of Destiny. Now whilst they were in the midst of their rejoicings, behold, the raven of dule and downfall croaked over them, and up came the twenty fugitive ships in which was the King of Caesarea. So King Afridun, Lord of Constantinople, met them on the sea shore, and they told him all that had befallen them from the Moslem, and they wept sore and groaned and moaned; and rejoicing at weal was turned into dismay for unheal; and they informed him concerning Luka son of Shamlut, how calamity had happened him and how Death had shot him with his shaft. at that the horrors of Doomday rose upon King Afridun, and he knew that there was no making straight their crook.

Then came up from them the sound of weeping and wailing; the city was full of men mourning and the keeners were keening, and sighs and cries were heard from all sides. And when King Hardub of Greece met King Afridun he told him the truth of the case and how the flight of the Moslems was by way of stratagem and deceit, and said to him, "Look not to see any of the army, save those who have already reached you." When King Afridun heard these words he fell down in a fainting fit, with his nose under his feet; and, as soon as he revived, he exclaimed, "Surely the Messiah was wroth with them that he caused the Moslems to prevail over them!" Then came the Arch Patriarch sadly to the King who said to him, "O our father, annihilation has overtaken our army and the Messiah has punished us!" Replied the Patriarch, "Grieve not nor feel concerned, for it cannot be but that one of you have sinned against the Messiah, and all have been punished for his offence, but now we will read prayers for you in the churches, that the Mohammedan hosts may be repelled from you."

After which the old woman, Zat al-Dawahi, came to Afridun and said to him, "O King, truly the Moslem hosts are many, and we shall never overcome them save by wile: wherefor I purpose to work upon them by guile and repair to this army of al-Islam, Perhaps I may win my wish of their leader and slay their champion, even as I slew his father. If my stratagem succeed in his case, not one of the host he leads shall return to his native land, for all are strong only because of him; but I desire to have some Christian dwellers of Syria, such as go out every month and year to sell their goods, that they may help me (for this they can do) in carrying out my plan." Replied the King, "Be it so whenever you will." So she bade fetch an hundred men, natives of Najran, in Sham, and the King asked them, "Have you not heard what has befallen the Christians with the Moslems?" "Yes," answered they; and he rejoined, "Know you that this woman has devoted her life to the Messiah and purposes to go forth with you, disguised as Monotheists and Mohammedans, to work out a device which shall profit us and hinder the Moslem from us: say, then, are you also willing to devote yourselves to the Anointed and I will give you a quintal of gold? He of you who escapes shall have the money, and him of you who dies will the Messiah reward." "O King," replied they, "we will devote our lives to the Messiah, and we will be your sacrifice."

Thereupon the old woman took all she required of aromatic roots and placed them in water which she boiled over the fire till the black essence of them was extracted. She waited till the decoction was cold, then dipped the corner of a long kerchief within it and stained her face therewith. Moreover, she donned over her clothes a long gaberdine with an embroidered border and took in her hand a rosary, and afterwards went in to King Afridun, who knew her not, nor did any of his companions know her, till she discovered herself to them: and there was none in the assembly but who thanked and praised her for her cunning; and her son rejoiced and said, "May the Messiah never fail you!" Thereupon she took with her the Syrian Christians, and set out for the army of Baghdad.—

When it was the Ninety third night

O King, we have no need of the Chief Patriarch nor of his prayers, but will consult my mother's counsel and observe what she will do with her craft unending against the Moslem hosts; for these are marching with all their power, they will soon be upon us and they will encircle us on all sides." When King Afridun heard this, terror took hold upon his heart and he wrote letters, without delay, to all the nations of the Nazarenes, saying, "It behoves none of the Messiahites or Cross knights to hold back, especially the folk of the strongholds and, forts: but let them all come to us, foot and horse, women and children, for the Moslem hosts already tread our soil. So haste! Haste you! Before what we fear to us here appear." Thus much concerning them; but regarding the work of the old woman, Zat al-Dawahi; when she went forth from the city with her suite, she clad them in the clothing of Moslem merchants, having provided herself with an hundred mules carrying stuffs of Antioch, such as goldwoven satins and royal brocades and so forth. And she had taken a letter from King Afridun to the following effect:—"These be merchantmen from the land of Sham who have been with us: so it besitts none to do them harm or hindrance, nor take tax and tithe of them, till they reach their homes and safe places, for by merchants a country flourishes, and these are no men of war nor of ill faith."

Then the accursed Zat al-Dawahi to those with her, said, "truly I wish to work out a plot for the destruction of the Moslem." Replied they, "O Queen, command us whatever you will; we are at your disposal and may the Messiah never disappoint your dealings!" Then she donned a gown of fine white wool and rubbed her forehead, till she made a great mark as of a scar and anointed it with an ointment of her own fashion, so that it shone with prodigious sheen. Now the old hag was lean bodied and hollow eyed, and she bound her legs tightly round with cords just above her feet, till she drew near the Moslem camp, when she unwound them, leaving their marks deeply embedded in her ankles. Then she anointed the wheals with dragon's blood and bade her companions beat her with a severe beating, and set her in a chest and, she said, "Cry abroad the Refrain of Unity, nor fear from it anything of damage!" Replied they, "How can we beat you, who be our sovereign lady, Zat al-Dawahi, mother of the King we glory in?" Then she said, "We blame not nor deal reproach to him who goes to the jakes, and in need evil becomes good deed.

When you have set me in the chest, take it and make it one of the bales and place it on mule back and fare forth with it and the other goods through the Moslem camp, and fear you no blame. And if any of the Moslems hinder you, give up the mules and their lading and be take yourselves to their King, Zau al-Makan, and implore his protection saying, 'We were in the land of the Infidels and they took nothing from us, but wrote us a passport, that none shall do us hindrance or work our mischance.' If he ask you, 'What profit had you of your property in the land of Roum?' answer him, 'We profited in the deliverance of a pious man, who had been bound down in an underground cell near fifteen years, crying out for help yet none helped him. Nay, the Infidels tortured him night and day. We knew not this; but, after we had tarried in Constantinople for some time, having sold our goods and bought others in their stead, we determined on and made ready for a return to our native land. We spent that night conversing about our journey, and when day broke, we saw figured upon the wall a human form; and as we drew near it, behold, it moved and said, 'O Moslems, is there amongst you one who is minded to woo the favour of the Lord of the three Worlds?' 'How so?' asked we; and the figure answered, 'Know that Allah has made me speak to you, to the intent that your faith be fortified, and that your belief embolden you and that you may go forth of the country of

King Omar Bin Al-Nu'uman and his Sons. 237 the Infidels and repair to the Moslem host; for with them wones the Sword of the Compassionate One, of our Age the Champion, King Sharrkan, by whom He shall conquer Constantinople town and destroy the sect of the Nazarene. And when you shall have journeyed three days, you will find an hermitage known as the Hermitage of the ascetic Matruhina and containing a cell; visit it with pure intent and contrive to arrive there by force of will, for within it is a Religious from the Holy City, Jerusalem, by name Abdullah, and he is one of the devoutest of mankind, endowed with the power of working saintly miracles such as dispel doubts and obscurity. Certain of the monks seized him by fraud and shut him up in a souterrain where he has lain a long time. By his deliverance you will please the Lord of Faithful Men, for such release is better than fighting for the Faith.' "

Now when the ancient dame and those with her had agreed upon such words, she said, "As soon as that which I impart shall reach the ears of King Sharrkan, say him further, 'Hearing this from that image we knew that the holy man'"—

When it was the Ninety fourth night

When once you have brought me into the Moslem camp, and I mix with them you shall see," the old woman continued, "how I will make shift to beguile them and slay them all, even to the last man." The Nazarenes hearing what she said, kissed her hands and set her in the chest, after they had beaten her with a grievous beating in obedience to her commands, for they saw it was incumbent on them to do her bidding in this; then they all made for the Moslem host as has erst been said. Such was the case with the damned hag, Zat al-Dawahi and her companions; but as regards the Mohammedan army, they indeed, after Allah had given them victory over their enemies and they had plundered everything in the ships of money and hoards, all sat down to converse with one another and Zau al-Makan said to his brother Sharrkan, "truly, Allah has granted us to prevail because of our just dealing and discipline and concord amongst ourselves; Why continue, O Sharrkan, to obey my commandment, in submission to Allah (be He exalted and extolled!), for I mean to slay ten Kings in blood revenge for my sire, to cut the throat of fifty thousand Greeks and to enter Constantinople."

Replied Sharrkan, "My life be your ransom against death! Needs must I follow out the Holy War, though I wone many a year in their country. But I have, O my brother, in Damascus a daughter, named Kuzia Fakan, whom I love heartily, for she is one of the marvels of the time and she will soon be of age." Zau al-Makan said, "And I also have left my wife with child and near her time, nor do I know what Allah will vouchsafe me by her. But promise me, O my brother, that if Allah bless me with a son, you will grant me your daughter for wife to him, and make covenant with me and pledge me your faith thereon." "With love and good will," replied Sharrkan; and, stretching out his hand to his brother, he said, "If she bring you a son, I will give him my daughter Kuzia Fakan, to wife." At this Zau al-Makan rejoiced, and they fell to congratulating each other on the victory

King Omar Bin Al-Nu'uman and his Sons. 239 over the enemy. And the Wazir Dandan also congratulated the two brothers and said to them, "Know, O you Kings, that Allah has given us the victory, for that we have devoted our lives to Him (be He exalted and ex tolled!); and we have left our homes and households; and it is my counsel that we follow up the foe and press upon him and harass him; so Perhaps Allah shall enable us to win our wishes, and we shall destroy our enemies, branch and root. If it please you, do you go down in these ships and sail over the sea, whilst we fare forward by land and bear the brunt of battle and the thrust of fight." And the Minister Dandan did not stop to urge them to combat and repeated his words who said,

"To slay my foes is chiefest bliss I wist, And on the courser's back be borne a list; Comes promising tryst a messenger from friend Full oft, when comes the friend without en tryst."

And these words of another,

"War for my mother (If I live) I'll take; Spear for my brother; scimitar for sire With every shag haired brave who meets his death Smiling, till won from Doom his dear desire!"

And when the Wazir ended his verses, he said, "Praise, be to Him who aided us dear victory to uphold and who has given us spoil of silver and fine gold!" Then Zau al-Makan commanded the army to depart; and they fared on forcing their marches for Constantinople, till they came to a wide and spacious champaign, full of all things fair and glad, with wild cattle frisking and gazelles pacing to and fro across the plain. Now they had traversed great deserts and drink had been six days cut off from them, when they drew near this meadow and saw within it waters founting and ripe fruits flaunting and that land as it were Paradise; for it had donned its adornments and decked itself. Gently waved the branches of its trees drunken with the new wine of the dew, and combined with the nectar of Tasnim the soft breathings of the morning breeze. Mind and gazer were confounded by its beauty, even as says the poet,

"Behold this lovely garden! 'tis as though Spring over its frame her greeny cloak had spread. Looking with fleshly eyne, you will but sight A lake whose waters balance in their bed; But look with spirit eyes and lo! will see Glory in every leaf o'erwaves your head."

And as another says,

"The stream's a cheek by sunlight rosy dyed, Whose down is creeping shade of tamarisk stems; Round legs of tree trunks wavelets roll in rings Silvern, and blossoms are the diadems."

When Zau al-Makan saw this champaign, with its trees bowing and its flowers blooming and its birds warbling, he called to his brother Sharrkan and said, "O my brother, truly in Damascus is nothing the like of this place. We will not march from it save after three days, that we may take rest ourselves and that the army of al-Islam may regain strength and their souls be fortified to en counter the blamed Infidels." So they halted within it and while camping behold, they heard a noise of voices from afar, and Zau al-Makan asked the cause of it, and was answered that a caravan of merchants from the Land of Syria had halted there to rest and that the Moslem troops had come on them and had Perhaps seized something of the goods which they had brought from the country of the Infidels. After a while up came the merchants, crying out and appealing to the King for aidance. When Zau al-Makan saw this, he bade them be brought before him and, when in presence, they said to him, "O King, we have been in the country of the Infidels and they plundered us of nothing: why then do our brothers the Moslems despoil our goods, and we in their own land? Of a truth when we saw your troops, we went up to them, and they robbed us of what we had with us and we have now reported to you all that has befallen us." Thereupon they brought out to him the letter of the King of Constantinople, and Sharrkan read it and said, "We will presently restore to you what has been taken from you; but yet it behoves you not to carry merchandise to the country of the Infidels." Replied they, "O our Lord, in very truth Allah despatched us there that we might win what Ghazi never won the like of, not even you in all your razzias." Asked Sharrkan, "What was it you won?" "O King," answered they, "we will not tell you save in private; for if

King Omar Bin Al-Nu'uman and his Sons. 241 this matter be noised among the folk, Perhaps it may come to the ears of some, and this will be the cause of our ruin and of the ruin of all Moslems who resort to the land of the Greeks." Now they had hidden the chest in which was the damned Zat al-Dawahi. So Zau al-Makan and his brother brought them to a private place, where they laid bare to both of them the story of the devotee, and wept till they made the two Kings weep—

When it was the Ninety fifth night

They said, "We delivered him and slew the hermit, fearing for our lives; after which we made haste to fly for dread of death; but a trusty man told us that in this hermitage are quintals of gold and silver and stones of price." Then they fetched the chest and brought out the accursed old woman, as she were a cassia pod for excess of blackness and leanness, and she was laden with the same fetters and shackles. When Zau al-Makan and the bystanders saw her, they took her for a man of the best of Allah's devotees and surpassing in pious qualities, more especially because of the shining of her forehead for the ointment wherewith she had anointed her face. So Zau al-Makan and Sharrkan wept sore; then they rose up in honour and kissed her hands and feet, sobbing aloud: but she signed to them and said, "Cease this weeping and hear my words." at this they dried their tears in obedience to her bidding, and she said, "Know you both that I was content to accept what my Lord did unto me, for I kenned that the affliction which befell me was a trial from Him (be He exalted and extolled!); and whoever has not patience under calamity and tribulation, for him there is no coming to the delights of Paradise.

I had indeed supplicated Him that I might return to my native land, not as a compensation for the sufferings decreed to me, but that I might die under the horse hoofs of warriors fighting for the Faith who, being slain in fray, live again without suffering death." Then she repeated the following couplets,

"Our Fort is Tor and flames the fire of fight: Moses are you and this is time for aid: Cast down your rod, 'twill swallow all they wrought, Nor dread for men their ropes be vipers made. For Chapters read on fight day lines of foes, And on their necks 'grave versets wi' your blade!"

King Omar Bin Al-Nu'uman and his Sons. 243

When the old woman had ended her verse, her eyes overflowed with tears and her forehead under the unguent shone like gleaming light, and Sharrkan rose and kissed her hand and caused food be brought before her: but she refused it, saying, "I have not broken my fast by day for fifteen years; and how should I break it at such a time when my Lord has been bountiful to me in delivering me from the captivity of the Infidels and removing from me that which was more grievous to me than torment of fire? I will wait till sun down." So when it was nightfall, Sharrkan and Zau al-Makan came and served her with food and said, "Eat, O ascetic!" But she said, "This is no time for eating; it is the time for worshipping the Requiting King." Then she stood up in the prayer niche and remained praying till the night was spent; and she did not stop to do in this way for three days and nights, sitting not but at the time of the Salam or salutation ending with several prayers. When Zau al-Makan saw her in this way, firm belief in her gat hold of his heart and he said to Sharrkan, "Cause a tent of perfumed leather to be pitched for this Religious, and appoint a body servant to wait upon him."

On the fourth day she called for food; so they brought her all kinds of meats that could seduce the sense or delight the sight; but of all this she would eat only a scone with salt. Then she again turned to her fast and, as the night came, she rose anew to pray; when Sharrkan said to Zau al-Makan, "truly, this man carries renunciation of the world to the extreme of renouncing, and, were it not for this Holy War, I would join myself to him and worship Allah in his service, till I came before His presence. And now I desire to enter his tent and talk with him for an hour." Zau al-Makan, said, "And I also: to morrow we sally forth to fight against Constantinople, and we shall find no time like the present." Said the Wazir Dandan, "And I no less desire to see this ascetic; Perhaps he will pray for me that I find death in this Holy War and come to the presence of my Lord, for I am weary of the world." So as soon as night had darkened, they repaired to the tent of that witch, Zat al-Dawahi; and, seeing her standing to pray, they drew near her and fell a weeping for pity of her; but she paid no heed to them till midnight was past, when she ended her orisons by pronouncing the salutation.

Then she turned to them and after wishing them long life, asked them "Why come you?", whereto they answered, "O you holy man! Did you not hear us weep around you?" She rejoined, "To him who stands in the presence of Allah, remains no existence in time, either for hearing any or for seeing anything about him." They said, "We would have you recount to us the cause of your captivity and pray for us this night, for that will profit us more than the possession of Constantinople."

Now when she heard their words she said, "By God, were you not the Emirs of the Moslems, I would not relate to you anything of this at any time; for I complain not but to Allah alone. However, to you I will relate the circumstances of my captivity. Know, then, that I was in the saintly City of Jerusalem with certain ecstatics and inspired men, and did not magnify myself among them, for that Allah (be He exalted and extolled!) had endowed me with humility and abnegation, till I chanced to go down to the sea one night and walked upon the water. Then entered into me pride; from where I know not, and I said to myself, 'Who like me can walk the water?' And my heart from that time hardened and Allah afflicted me with the love of travel. So I journeyed to Roum land and visited every part for a whole year, and left no place but within it I worshiped Allah. When I came to this spot, I clomb the mountain and saw there an hermitage, inhabited by a monk called Matruhina, who, when he sighted me, came out and kissed my hands and feet and said, 'truly, I have seen you since you entered the land of the Greeks, and you have filled me with longing for the land of al-Islam.'

Then he took my hand and carried me into that hermitage, and brought me to a dark room; and, when I entered it unawares, he locked the door on me and left me there forty days, without meat or drink; for it was his intent to kill me by delay. It chanced one day, that a Knight called Dakianus came to the hermitage, accompanied by ten squires and his daughter Tamasil, a girl whose beauty was incomparable. When they entered that hermitage, the monk Matruhina told them of me, and the Knight said, 'Bring him out, for surely there is not on him a bird's meal of meat.' So they opened the door of the dark room and found me standing in the niche, praying and reciting the Koran

King Omar Bin Al-Nu'uman and his Sons. 245 and glorifying Allah and humbling myself before the Almighty. When they saw me in this state Matruhina exclaimed, 'This man is indeed a sorcerer of the sorcerers!'; and hearing his words, they all came in on me, Dakianus and his company as well, and they beat me with a grievous beating, till I desired death and reproached myself, saying, 'This is his reward who exalts himself and who prids himself on that which Allah has vouchsafed to him, beyond his own competence! And you, O my soul, truly self esteem and arrogance have crept into you. Do you not know that pride angers the Lord and hardens the heart and brings men to the Fire?' Then they laid me in fetters and returned me to my place which was the dungeon under ground. Every three days, they threw me down a scone of barley bread and a draught of water; and every month or two the Knight came to the hermitage. Now his daughter Tamasil had grown up, for she was nine years old when I first saw her, and fifteen years passed over me in captivity, so that she had reached her four and twenties year. There is not in our land nor in the land of the Greeks a fairer than she, and her father feared lest the King take her from him; for she had vowed herself to the Messiah and rode with Dakianus in the habit of a cavalier, so that albeit none might compare with her in loveliness, no one who saw her knew her for a woman. And her father had laid up his monies in this hermitage, every one who had anything of price or treasured hoard being wont to deposit it within it, and I saw there all manner of gold and silver and jewels and precious vessels and rarities, none may keep count of them save Almighty Allah.

Now you are worthier of these riches than those Infidels; so lay hands on that which is in the hermitage and divide it among the Moslems and especially on fighters in the Holy War. When these merchants came to Constantinople and sold their merchandise, that image which is on the wall spoke to them, by grace of a marvel which Allah granted to me; so they made for that hermitage and slew Matruhina, after torturing him with most grievous torments, and dragging him by the beard, till he showed them the place where I was; when they took me and found no path but flight for dread of death. Now to morrow night Tamasil will visit that hermitage as is her habit, and her father and his squires will come after her, as he fears for her; so, if you would witness these things, take me with you and I will deliver to you the monies and the riches of the Knight Dakianus which be in that mountain; for I saw them bring out vessels of gold and silver to drink from it, and I heard a damsel of their company sing to them in Arabic and well away! That so sweet a voice should not be busied in chaunting the Koran. If, then, you will; enter into that hermitage and hide there against the coming of Dakianus and his daughter; and take her, for she is fit only for the King of the Age, Sharrkan, or King Zau al-Makan." at that they all rejoiced with the exception of the Wazir Dandan, who put scant faith in her story, for her words took no hold on his reason, and signs of doubt in her and disbelief showed in his face. Yet he was confounded at her discourse, but he feared to speak with her for awe of the King.

Then the ancient dame, said, Zat al-Dawahi, "truly, I fear lest the Knight come and, seeing these troops encamped in the meadow, be afraid to enter the hermitage." So Zau al-Makan ordered the army to march upon Constantinople and said, "I have resolved to take with me an hundred horse and many mules and make for that mountain, where we will load the beasts with the monies which be in the hermitage." Then he sent at once for the Chief Chamberlain whom they brought into the presence; and he summoned likewise the leaders of the Turks and Daylamites and said, "As soon as it is dawn, do you set forth for Constantinople; and you, O Chamberlain, will take my place in council and contrivance, while you, O Rustam, will be my brother's deputy in battle. But let none know that we are not with you and after three days we will rejoin you." Then he chose out an hundred of the doughtiest riders, and he and Sharrkan and the Minister Dandan set out for the hermitage, and the hundred horsemen led the mules with chests for transporting the treasure.—

When it was the Ninety sixth night

They obeyed her and left five horsemen at the foot of the mountain, whilst the rest rode on before Zat al-Dawahi, who gained new strength for excess of joy, so that Zau al-Makan said, "Glory be to Him who sustains this holy man, whose like we never saw!" Now the witch had written a letter to the King of Constantinople and despatched it on the wings of a bird, acquainting him with what had passed and ending, "I wish you to send me ten thousand horsemen of the bravest of the Greeks and let them steal along the foot of the mountains with caution, lest the host of al-Islam get sight of them; and, when they reach the hermitage, let them ambush themselves there, till I come to them with the Moslem King and his brother, for I shall inveigle them and will bring them there, together with the Wazir and an hundred horse and no more, that I may presently deliver to them the crosses which be in the hermitage. I am resolved to slay the Monk Matruhina, since my scheme cannot be carried out but by taking his life. If my plot work well, not one of the Moslems shall return to his own country; no, not a living people nor one who blows the fire alight; and Matruhina shall be a sacrifice for the followers of the Nazarene faith and the servants of the Cross, and praise be to the Messiah, first and last."

When this letter reached Constantinople, the keeper of the carrier pigeons carried it to King Afridun, who read it and immediately inspected his host and equipped ten thousand cavaliers with horses and dromedaries and mules and provisions and bade them repair to that hermitage and, after reaching the tower, to hide within it. Thus far concerning them; but as regards King Zau al-Makan and his brother Sharrkan and the Wazir Dandan and the escort, when they reached the hermitage they entered and met the Monk Matruhina, who came out to see who and what they were; whereupon that pious man Zat al-Dawahi, said, "Slay this damned fellow." So they smote him with their swords and made him drink the cup of death. Then the accursed old woman carried them to the place of offerings and ex votos, and brought out to them treasures and precious things more than she had described to them; and after gathering the whole together, they set the booty in chests and loaded the mules therewith. As for Tamasil, she came not, she or her father, for fear of the Moslems; so Zau al-Makan tarried there, awaiting her all that day and the next and a third, till Sharrkan said to him, "By God, I am troubled anent the army of al-Islam, for I know not what is become of them."

His brother replied, "And I also am concerned for them: we have come by this great treasure and I do not believe that Tamasil or any one else will approach the hermitage, after that befell which has befallen the host of the Christians. It behoves us, then, to content ourselves with what Allah has given us and depart; so Perhaps He will help us conquer Constantinople." Accordingly they came down from the mountain, while Zat al-Dawahi was impotent to oppose their march for fear of betraying her deceit; and they fared forwards till they reached the head of a defile, where the old woman had laid an ambush for them with the ten thousand horse. As soon as these saw the Moslems they encircled them from all sides, couching lance and baring the white sabre blade; and the Infidels shouted the watch word of their faithless Faith and set the shafts of their mischief astring. When Zau al-Makan and his brother Sharrkan and the Minister Dandan looked upon this host, they saw that it was a numerous army and said, "Who can have given these troops information of us?" Replied Sharrkan,

King Omar Bin Al-Nu'uman and his Sons. 249

"O my brother, this be no time for talk; this is the time for smiting with swords and shooting with shafts; so gird up your courage and hearten your hearts, for this strait is like a street with two gates; though, by the virtue of the Lord of Arabs and Ajams, were not the place so narrow I would bring them to nothing, even though they were an hundred thousand men!" Zau al-Makan said, "Had we wotted this we would have brought with us five thousand horse;" and the Wazir Dandan continued, "If we had ten thousand horse they had availed us nothing in these narrows; but Allah will succour us against them. I know this defile and its straitness, and I know there be many places of refuge in it; for I have been here on razzia with King Omar bin al-Nu'uman, what while we besieged Constantinople. We abode in this place, and here is water colder than snow. So come, let us push out of this defile before the Infidel host increase on us and get the start of us to the mountain top, from where they will hurl down rocks upon us, and we powerless to come at them."

So they began hurrying on to get out of those narrows; but the pious man, Zat al-Dawahi, looked at them and said, "What is it you fear, you who have vowed yourselves to the Lord, and to working His will? By God, I abode imprisoned underground for fifteen years, yet never gainsaid the Almighty in anything he did with me! Fight you in Allah's way; so whoever of you is slain Paradise shall be his abode, and whoever slays, his striving shall be to his honour." When they heard from the ascetic these words, their care and anxiety ceased from them and they stood firm till the Infidels charged down from all sides, whilst the swords played upon their necks and the cup of death went round amongst them. The Moslems fought for the service of Allah a right good fight, and wrought upon His foes with sway of sword and lunge of lance; whilst Zau al-Makan smote upon the men and garred the knights bite the dust and their heads from their bodies take flight, five by five and ten by ten, till he had done to death a number of them past numbering and an accompt beyond counting.

Now while so doing, he looked at the accursed old woman who was waving her sword and heartening them, and all who feared fled to her for shelter; but she was also signing the Infidels to slay Sharrkan. So troop after troop rushed on him with design to do him die; but each troop that charged, he charged and drove back; and when another troop attacked him he repelled the assault with the sword in their backs; for he thought it was the devotee's blessing that gave him the victory, and he said in himself, "truly on this holy man Allah looks with eyes of His favour and strengthens my prowess against the Infidels with the purity of his pious intent: for I see that they fear me and cannot prevail against me, but every one who assails me turns tail and takes flight." So they battled the rest of the day and, when night fell, the Moslems took refuge in a cave of that defile being weary with stress of war and cast of stone: and that day were slain of them five and forty. And when they were gathered together, they sought the devotee, but could find no trace of him; and this was grievous to them and they said, "Perhaps, he has died a martyr."

Sharrkan, said, "I saw him heartening the horsemen with divine instances and using as talisman verses of Holy Writ." Now while they were talking, behold, the accursed old woman, Zat al-Dawahi, stood before them, hending in hand the head of the Chief Captain of the ten thousand horse, a noble knight, a champion fierce in fight and a Satan for blight. One of the Turks had slain him with an arrow, and Allah hurried his soul to the fire; and when the Infidels saw what that Moslem had done with their leader, they all fell on him and wrought his bane and hewed him in pieces with their swords, and Allah hurried his soul to Heaven. Then the accursed old woman cut off that Knight's head and brought it and threw it at the feet of Sharrkan and Zau al-Makan and the Wazir Dandan. Now when Sharrkan saw her, he sprang up hastily before her and exclaimed, "Praised be Allah for your safety and for our sighting you, O holy man and devout champion of the Religion!" she replied, "O my son, I have sought martyrdom this day, and have thrown my life away amid the Infidel array, but they feared me with dismay. When you dispersed, I grew jealous for your honour; so I rushed on the Chief Knight their leader, albeit he was a match for a thousand horse, and I smote him till I severed head from trunk. Not one of the Infidels could near me; so I brought his head to you,"—

When it was the Ninety seventh night

Sharrkan, said, "How will you pass to them, O you holy man, seeing that the valley is blocked up on all sides by the Miscreants?" the accursed hag, said, "Allah will veil me from their eyes and they shall not sight me; nor, if any saw me, would he dare to attack me at that time, for I shall be as one non existing, absorbed in Allah, and He will fend off from me His foes." "You say truth, O holy man," rejoined Sharrkan, "for indeed I have been witness of that; so, if you can pass out at the first of the night, 'twill be best for us." she replied, "I will set out at this very hour and, if you desire, you will go with me and none shall see you. Furthermore if your brother also have a mind to go with us we will take him, but none else; for the shadow of a saint can cover only twain." Sharrkan said, "As for me I will not leave my comrades; but, if my brother will, there is no harm in his going with you and setting us free of this strait; for he is the stronghold of the Moslems and the sword of the Lord of the three Worlds; and if it be his pleasure, let him take with him the Wazir Dandan, or whom else he may elect and send us ten thousand horse to succour us against these caitiffs."

So after debate they agreed on this and the old woman said, "Give me leisure to go before you and consider the condition of the Infidels, if they be asleep or awake." They said, "We will not go forth save with you and trust our affair to Allah." "If I do your bidding," she replied, "blame me not but blame yourselves; for it is my advice that you await me till I bring you tidings of the case." Then said Sharrkan, "Go to them and delay not from us, for we shall be awaiting you." Thereupon she fared forth and Sharrkan turned to his brother addressing him and said, "Were not this holy man a miracle worker, he had never slain that furious knight. This is proof sufficient of the ascetic's power;

and of a truth the pride of the Infidels is laid low by the slaying of this cavalier, for he was violent, an evil devil and a stubborn." Now whilst they were thus devising of the mighty works of the devotee, behold, the accursed Zat al-Dawahi came upon them and promised them victory over the Unbelievers; wherefor they thanked her (not knowing that all this was wile and guile) and the damned hag asked, "Where be the King of the Age, Zau al-Makan, and the Minister Dandan?" Answered he, "Here am I!" "Take with you your Wazir," she said, "and follow after me, that we may fare forth to Constantinople." Now she had acquainted the Infidels with the cheat she had put upon the Moslems, and they rejoiced with exceeding great joy, and said, "Our hearts will not be contented till we shall have slain their King in return for the Knight's death; because we had no stouter rider than he;" and they added (bespeaking the ill omened hag as she told them her plan of faring to the land of the Moslems), "When you bring him to us, we will bear him to King Afridun." Then she went out and went out with her Zau al-Makan and the Minister Dandan, and she walked on before the two saying, "Fare forth with the blessing of Almighty Allah!"

So they did her bidding, for the shaft of Fate and Fortune of man's lot had shot them, and she did not stop leading them both through the midst of the Grecian camp, till they came to the defile, the narrow pass aforesaid, whilst the Infidel enemy watched them, but did them no hindrance; for the infernal old woman had enjoined this. Now when Zau al-Makan and the Wazir Dandan saw that the Infidel host offered them no let and stay and yet had them in sight, the Wazir exclaimed, "By God, this is one of the holy man's saintly miracles! And doubtless he be of the elect." Rejoined Zau al-Makan, "By God, I think the Infidels be nothing but blind, for we see them and they see us not." And while they were thus praising the holy man and recounting his mighty works and his piety and his prayers, behold, the Infidels charged down on them from all sides and surrounded them and seized them, saying, "Is there anyone else with you twain, that we may seize upon him too?" And the Wazir Dandan replied, "See you not that other man that is before us?" Replied the Unbelievers, "By the truth of the Messiah and the Monks, and the Primate and the Metropolitan, we see none save you two!" Then Zau al-Makan said, "By God, this is a chastisement decreed to us by Almighty Allah!"—

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When it was the Ninety eighth night

And the Wazir Dandan replied, "See you not that other man who be with us?" They rejoined, "By the truth of the Messiah and the Monks and the Primate and the Metropolitan, we see none save you two!" Then the Infidels laid shackles on their feet and set men to guard them during the night, whilst Zat al-Dawahi fared on and disappeared from their sight. So they fell to lamenting and saying to each other, "truly, the opposing of pious men leads to greater distress than this, and we are punished by the strait which has befallen us." So far concerning Zau al-Makan and the Wazir Dandan; but as regards King Sharrkan, he passed that night in the cavern with his comrades, and when dawned the day and he had prayed the morn prayer, he and his men made ready to do battle with the Infidel and he heartened them and promised them all good. Then they sallied out till they were hard upon the Unbelievers and, when these saw them from afar, they cried out to them, saying, "O Moslems, we have taken captives your Sultan and your Wazir who has the ordering of your affairs; and except you leave off fighting us, we will slay you to the last man; but an you yield yourselves we will take you to our King, who will make peace with you on condition that you quit our country and return home and harm us in nothing, and we will do you no harm in anything. If you accept, it will be well for you; but if you refuse there remains nothing for you but death. So we have told you truth and this is our last word to you."

Now when Sharrkan heard this and was certified of the captivity of his brother and the Wazir Dandan, he was weighed down with woe and wept; his force failed him and, making sure of death, he said to himself, "Would I knew the cause of their capture! Did they fail of respect to the holy man or disobey him, or what was the matter?" Then they sprang up to battle with the Unbelievers and slew great numbers of them. The brave was known that day from craven men, and sword and spear were dyed with bloody stain; for the Infidels flocked up on them, as flies flock to drink, from hill and from plain; but Sharrkan and his men did not stop to wage the fight of those who fear not to die, nor let death hinder them from the pursuit of victory, till the valley ran gore and earth was full of the slain she bore. And when night fell the armies separated, each making for his own place; and the Moslems returned to the cavern where gain and loss were manifest to them: few remained of them and there was no dependence for them but on Allah and the scimitar.

Now there had been slain of them that day five and thirty men of the chiefest Emirs, and they had killed thousands of the Infidels, footmen and fighters on horse. When Sharrkan saw this, the case was grievous to him and he asked his comrades, "What shall we do?"; whereto all answered, "That which al-mighty Allah wills shall befall us." On the morning of the second day, Sharrkan said to the remnant of his troop, "If you go forth to fight, not one of you will remain alive and we have but little left of food and water; so I deem you would do better to bare your brands and go forth and stand at the mouth of this cavern, to hinder any from entering. Perhaps the holy man may have reached the Moslem host, and may return with ten thousand horse to succour us in fight with the Infidels, for Perhaps the Unfaithful may have failed to see him and those with him." They said, "This were the better course to take, and of its expediency no doubt we make." So the troop went out and held the cavern mouth standing by its walls; and every one of the Infidels who sought to enter in, they slew. Thus did they fend off the foe from the gape of the cave and they patiently supported all such assaults, till day was done and night came on dusky and dun; ——

When it was the Ninety ninth night

And one of them, said, "Up and at them, for there remain

King Omar Bin Al-Nu'uman and his Sons. 255 of them but five and twenty men! If we cannot prevail on them to fight, let us light a fire upon them; and if they submit themselves and yield to us, we will take them prisoners, but if they refuse we will leave them for fuel to the fire, so shall they become to men of foreseeing mind a warning dire. May the Messiah on their fathers have no grace, and may the sojourn of the Nazarenes be for them no abiding place!" So they carried fuel to the jaws of the cavern and set fire to it. Thereupon Sharrkan and his companions made sure of perdition and yielded themselves prisoners. And while they were in this condition, lo! the knight their captain said to those who counselled their slaughter, "It is not for any save for King Afridun to kill them, that he may gratify his wrath; therefore it behoves us to keep them in durance by us till the morrow, when we will journey with them to Constantinople and deliver them to our King, who shall deal with them as he please." They said, "This is the right course;" and he commanded to pinion them and set guards over them. Then, as soon as it was black night, the Infidels busied themselves with feasting and making festival; and they called for wine and drank it till all fell upon their backs.

Now Sharrkan and his brother, Zau al-Makan, were in confinement and so also were his companion knights; whereupon the elder turned to the younger brother and said to him, "O my brother, how win free?" "By God," replied Zau al-Makan, "I know not; for here we be like birds in cage." Then Sharrkan grew wroth and sighed for excess of rage and stretched himself, till his pinion bonds brast asunder; whereupon being free he arose and went up to the Captain of the guard, and taking from his pocket the keys of the fetters, freed Zau al-Makan and the Wazir Dandan and the rest of his men. Then he turned to the two and said, "I desire to slay three of these Infidels and take and don their dress, we three; so that we shall be guised as Greeks and we will pass through them, without their knowing us, and fare forth to our own force." Replied Zau al-Makan, "This is no safe counsel for if we kill them, I fear some of their comrades may hear their shrieks and the foe be aroused upon us and kill us. 'Twere the surer way to pass out of the defile." So they agreed upon this and set out;

and, when they had left the head of the strait a little distance behind, they saw horses picketed and the riders sleeping: and Sharrkan said to his brother, "Better we take each one of us a steed." There were five and twenty horsemen, so they took five and twenty horses, whilst Allah sent sleep upon the Infidels for a purpose He knew; and the Faithful mounted and fared on till they were out of reach. Meanwhile Sharrkan set to gathering from the Infidels as many weapons, swords, and spears, as were wanted. And while they took saddle and struck forwards none of the Infidels supposed that anyone could release Zau al-Makan and his brother and their men; or that their prisoners had power to escape. Now when all the captives were safe from the Unfaithful, Sharrkan came up with his comrades, and found them awaiting his arrival, on coals of flame, expecting him in anxious grame, so he turned to them and said, "Feel no fear since Allah protects us. I have that to propose which Perhaps shall effect our purpose." "What is it?" asked they, and he answered, "I desire that you all climb to the mountain top and cry out with one voice, 'Allaho Akbar!' and you add, 'The army of Al-Islam is upon you! Allaho Akbar!'

This wise their company will surely be dissolved nor will they find out the trick for they are drunk, but they will think that the Moslem troops have encompassed them about on all sides and have mingled with them; so they will fall on one another brand in hand during the confusion of drunkenness and sleep, and we will cleave them asunder with their own swords and the scimitar will go round amongst them till dawn." Replied Zau al-Makan, "This plan is not good; we should do better to make our way to our army and speak not a word; for if we cry out 'Allaho Akbar,' they will wake and fall on us and not one of us will escape." Rejoined Sharrkan, "By God, though they should awake 'tis no matter, and I long that you fall in with my plan, for nothing save good can come of it!" So they agreed thereon and clomb the mountain and shouted, "Allaho Akbar!" And hills and trees and rocks re worded their Allaho Akbar for fear of the Almighty. But when the Kafirs heard this slogan they cried out to one another, ——

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When it was the One Hundredth night

So they agreed thereon and clomb the mountain head and shouted, "Allaho Akbar!"; and hills and trees and rocks re worded their Allaho Akbar for fear of the Almighty. The Infidels heard it and cried out one to other and donned their armour and said, "The foe is upon us, by the truth of the Messiah!" Then they fell on one another and slew of their own men more than any knows save Almighty Allah. As soon as it was dawn, they sought for the captives, but found no trace of them, and their captains said, "They who did this were the prisoners in our possession; up, then, and after them in all haste till you overtake them, when we will make them quaff the cup of requital; and let not fright nor the panic of sudden awaking possess you." So they took horse and rode after the fugitives and it wanted but an eye twinkling before they overtook them and surrounded them. Now when Zau al-Makan saw this, he was seized with increase of terror and said to his brother, "What I feared would come, is come upon us, and now it remains only for us to fight for the Faith."

But Sharrkan preferred to hold his peace. Then Zau al-Makan and his companions rushed down from the hill crest, shouting, "Allaho Akbar!" And his men repeated the war cry and addressed themselves to fight and to sell their lives in the service of the Lord of Faithful Men; and while they were in this case, behold, they heard many voices voicing, "There is no god but the God! God is most great! Salutation and salvation upon the Apostle, the Bringer of glad Tidings, the Bearer of bad Tidings!" So they turned towards the direction of the sound and saw a company of Moslems who believed in one God, pushing towards them, at which their hearts were heartened and Sharrkan charged upon the Infidels crying out, "There is no god but the God! God is most great!" He and those with him, so that earth quaked as with an earthquake and the Unbeliever host brake asunder and fled into the mountains and the Moslems followed them with lunge and blow, and Zau al-Makan and his comrades of the Moslems did not stop to smite the hosts of the Infidel foe, and parted heads from bodies till day darkened and night coming on starkened sight.

Thereupon the Moslems drew together and passed the night in congratulations; and, when morning dawned and daybreak shone with its shine and sheen, they saw Bahram, the captain of the Daylamites, and Rustam, the captain of the Turks, advancing to join them, with twenty thousand cavaliers like lions grim. As soon as they saw Zau al-Makan, the riders dismounted and saluted him, and kissed ground between his hands when he said to them, "Rejoice you in the glad tidings of the victory of the Moslem and the discomfiture of the tribe of Unbelievers!" Then they gave one another joy of their deliverance and of the greatness of their reward after Resurrection Day. Now the cause of the coming of the succours to that place was this. When the Emir Bahram and the Emir Rustam and the Chief Chamberlain, with the Moslem host and flags flaunting high ahead, came in sight of Constantinople they saw that the Nazarenes had mounted the walls and manned the towers and the forts, and had set all their defenders in order of defence, as soon as they learned of the approach of the host of Al-Islam and the banners Mohammedan, and they heard the clash of arms and the noise of war voices and tramp of horse hoofs; and from their lookouts they beheld the Moslems, with their standards and ensigns of the Faith of Unity under the dust clouds and lo! they were like a flight of locusts or rain clouds raining rain; and the voices of the Moslems chanting the Koran and glorifying the Compassionate One, struck their ears.

Now the Infidels knew of the approach of this host through Zat al-Dawahi with her craft and whoredom, calumny and contrivance. And the armies of Al-Islam drew near, as it were the swollen sea, for the multitude of footmen and horsemen and women and children. Then the General of the Turks to the General of the Daylamites, said, "O Emir, of a truth, we are in jeopardy from the multitude of the foe who is on the walls. Look at that bulwarks and at this world of folk like the seas that clash with dashing billows. Indeed that Infidel outnumbers us an hundredfold and we cannot be safe from spies who may inform them that we are without a Sultan. In very truth, we run danger from these enemies, whose numbers may not be told and whose resources none can withhold, especially in the absence of King Zau al-Makan and his brother Sharrkan and the illustrious Wazir Dandan.

King Omar Bin Al-Nu'uman and his Sons. 259

If they know of this, they will be emboldened to attack us in their absence and with the sword they will annihilate us to the last man; not one of us safety shall see. So it is my counsel that you take ten thousand riders of the allies and the Turks, and march them to the hermitage of Matruhina and the meadow of Malúkhiná in quest of our brothers and comrades. If you act by my advice, it may be we shall approve ourselves the cause of their deliverance, in case they be hard pressed by the Infidels; and if you act not, blame will not attach to me. But, an you go, it behoves that you return quickly, for ill suspicion is part of prudence." The Emir aforesaid fell in with his counsel; so they chose twenty thousand horse and they set out covering the roads and making for the monastery above mentioned. So much for the cause of their coming; but as regards the ancient dame, Zat al-Dawahi, as soon as she had delivered Sultan Zau al-Makan and his brother Sharrkan and the Wazir Dandan into the hands of the Infidels, the foul whore mounted a swift steed, saying to the Faithless, "I design to rejoin the Moslem army which is at Constantinople and contrive for their destruction; for I will inform them that their chiefs are dead, and when they hear that from me, their joining will be disjointed and the cord of their confederation cut and their host scattered.

Then will I go to King Afridun, Lord of Constantinople, and to my son Hardub, King of Roum, and relate to them their tidings and they will sally forth on the Moslems with their troops and will destroy them and will not leave one of them alive." So she mounted and struck across country on her good steed all the livelong night; and, when day dawned, appeared the armies of Bahram and Rustam advancing towards her. So she turned into a wayside brake and hid her horse among the trees and she walked a while saying to herself, "Perhaps the Moslem hosts be returning, routed, from the assault of Constantinople." However, as she drew near them she looked narrowly and made sure that their standards were not reversed, and she knew that they were coming not as conquered men, but fearing for their King and comrades. When she was assured of this, she hastened towards them, running at speed, like a devil of ill counsel, till reaching them she cried out, "Haste you! Haste you! O soldiers of the Compassionate One, hasten to the Holy War against the hosts of Satan!" When Bahram saw her he dismounted and kissed the ground before her and he asked,

"O friend of Allah, what is behind you?" Answered she, "Question not of sad case and sore condition; for when our comrades had taken the treasure from the hermitage of Matruhina, and designed to win their way Constantinople wards, thereupon came out on them a driving host and a dreadful of the Infidels." And the damned witch repeated to them the story to fill them with trouble and terror, adding, "'The most of them are dead, and there are but five and twenty men left." Bahram said, "O holy man! When did you leave them?" "But this night," she replied. He cried, "Glory be to Allah! To Him who has rolled up the far distance for you like a rug, so that you have sped thus walking upon your feet and propt upon a mid rib of palm tree! But you are one of the saints which fly like birds when inspired and possessed by His directions." Then he mounted his horse, and he was perplexed and confounded by what he had heard from the beldam so strong in lies and ill calumnies, and he said, "There is no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah, the Glorious, the Great! Truly our labour is lost and our hearts are heavy within us, for our Sultan is a prisoner and those who are with him."

Then they cut across the country, wide and side, night and day, and when morning dawned they reached the head of the defile and saw Zau al-Makan and Sharrkan shouting. "There is no god but the God! Allaho Akbar! And Salutation and Salvation upon the Congratulator, the Comminator." Whereupon he and his drove at the Unbelievers and whelmed them, as the rain torrent whelms the waste; and cried out their war cries, till fear gat hold of the prowest Knights and the mountains were cloven in affright. And when shone the day and showed its shine and sheen, the breeze of morning blew upon them sweet and fragrant, and each recognised other as has been said before. Then they kissed the ground before the King and before his brother Sharrkan, who told them all that had befallen the party in the cave. Now at that they marvelled and said to one another, "Hasten we back to Constantinople, for we left our companions

King Omar Bin Al-Nu'uman and his Sons. 261 there, and our hearts are with them." So they hurried departure, commending themselves to the Subtle, the All wise, and Zau al-Makan exhorted the Moslems to steadfastness and versified in the following couplets,

"Be praises mine to all praiseworthy You, O Lord, who did not stop my aid to be! Though was I lost abroad, You were to me Strongest support which vouchsafed victory: You gav'st me wealth and reign and goodly gifts, And slungest conquering sword of valiancy: You mad'st me blest beneath Your kingly shade, Engraced with generous boons dealt glad and free: You savedst from every fear I feared, by aid Of my Wazir, the Age's noblest he! Garred us Your grace in fight to throw the Greek, Who yet came back dressed in War's cramoisie: Then made I feint to fly from out the fight; But like grim lion turning made them flee, And left on valley sole my foemen, drunk Not with old wine but Death cup's revelry: Then came the Saintly Hermit, and he showed His marvels wrought for town and wold to see; When slew they hero people who woke to dwell In Eden bowers in which sweet rill lets well."

But, when Zau al-Makan had made an end of versifying, his brother Sharrkan congratulated him on his safety and thanked him for the deeds he had done; after which both set out forcing their marches to rejoin their army. ——

When it was the One Hundred and first night

Then he questioned her of what had befallen, and she repeated to him her disquieting lies and deluding calumnies, saying, "In truth I fear for the Emir Rustam, and the Emir Bahram, for that I met them and theirs on the way and sent them and their following to relieve the King and his companions. Now there are but twenty thousand horse and the Unbelievers outnumber them; so I would have you at this moment send off the rest of your troops at full speed to their succour, lest they be slain to the last man." And she cried to them, "Haste! Haste!" When the Chamberlain and the Moslems heard these words, their spirits fell and they wept; but Zat al-Dawahi said to them, "Ask aidance of Allah and bear patiently this tribulation; for you have the example of those who have been before you of the people of Mohammed; and Paradise with its palaces is laid out By God for those who die martyrs; and needs must all die, but most praiseworthy is dying while fighting for the Faith." The Chamberlain, hearing this speech of the accursed old woman, called for the Emir Bahram's brother, a knight by name Tarkash; and, choosing out for him ten thousand horse, riders famed for force, bade him set out at once.

So he fared forth and marched all that day and the whole of the next night, till he neared the Moslems. When daylight dawned, Sharrkan saw the dust cloud about them and feared for the men of Al-Islam and said, "If these troops which are coming upon us be Moslem men our victory is assured by them; but, if these be Nazarenes, there is no gainsaying Destiny's decrees." Then he turned to his brother, Zau al-Makan, and said, "Never fear, for with my life I will ransom you from death. If these be Mohammedan troops, then were it an increase of heavenly favours; but, if they be our foes, there is no help save that we fight them. Yet do I long to meet the Holy Man before I die, so I may beg him to pray that I die not save by death of martyrdom." Whilst the twain were thus speaking, behold, there appeared the banners inscribed with the words, "There is no god but the God and Mohammed is the Apostle of God;" and Sharrkan cried out, "How is it with the Moslems?"

King Omar Bin Al-Nu'uman and his Sons. 263

"All are sound and safe," replied they, "and we came not but out of concern for you." Then the Chief of the army dismounted and, kissing ground before Sharrkan, asked, "O my lord, how be the Sultan and the Wazir Dandan and Rustam and my brother Bahram; are they all in safety?" He answered, "All well; but who brought you tidings of us?" Said Tarkash; "It was the Holy Man who told us that he had met my brother Bahram and Rustam and had sent them both to you and he also assured us that the Infidels had encompassed you and out numbered you; but I see not the case save the contrary of it and that you are victorious." They questioned him, "And how did the Holy Man reach you?"; and he replied, "Walking on his feet and he had compassed in a day and a night, ten days' journey for a well girt horseman." "There is no doubt but that he is a Saint of Allah," said Sharrkan, "but where is he now?" They rejoined, "We left him with our troops, the folk of the Faith, moving them to do battle with the rebels and the Faithless." at that Sharrkan rejoiced and all thanked Allah for their own deliverance and the safety of the Holy Man; and commended the dead to His mercy saying, "This was writ in the Book."

Then they set out making for Constantinople by forced marches, and whilst they were on this enterprise, behold, a dust cloud arose to such height that it walled the two horizons, the eastern and the western, from man's sight and the day was darkened by it to night. But Sharrkan looked at it and said, "truly, I fear lest this be the Infidels who have routed the army of Al-Islam for that this dust walls the world, east and west, and hides the two horizons, north and south." Presently, appeared under the dust a pillar of darkness, blacker than the blackness of dismal days; nor ceased to come upon them that column more dreadful than the dread of the Day of Doom. Horse and foot hastened up to look at it and know the terrors of the case, when behold, they saw it to be the recluse aforesaid; so they thronged round him to kiss his hands and he cried out, "O people of the Best of Mankind, the lamp which shins in darkness blind, truly the Infidels have outwitted the Moslems by guile, for they fell upon the host of the One God whilst they deemed themselves safe from the Faithless, and attacked them in their tents and made a sore slaughter of them what while they looked for no wile; so hasten to the aid of the Believers in the unity of God, and deliver them from those who deny Him!"

Now when Sharrkan heard these words, his heart flew from his breast with sore trouble; and, alighting from his steed in amazement, he kissed the Recluse's hands and feet. On like wise did his brother, Zau al-Makan, and the rest of the foot and horse troops, except the Wazir Dandan, who dismounted not but said, "By God, my heart flies from this devotee, for I never knew show of devotion to religion that bred not bane. So leave him and rejoin your comrades the Moslems, for this man is of the outcasts from the gate of the mercy of the Lord of the Three Worlds! How often have I here made razzias with King Omar bin al-Nu'uman and trodden the earth of these lands!" Sharrkan said, "Put away from you such evil thought, have you not seen this Holy Man exciting the Faithful to fight, and holding spears and swords light? So slander him not, for backbiting is blameable and poisoned is the flesh of the pious. Look how he incits us to fight the foe; and, did not Almighty Allah love him, He had cast him aforetime into fearful torment." Then Sharrkan bade bring a Nubian mule for the ascetic to ride and said, "Mount, O pious man, devout and virtuous!" But the devotee refused to ride and feigned self denial, that he might attain his end; and they knew not that this holy personage was like him of whom the poet says,

"He prays and he fasts for an end he does espy; When once his end is safely won then fast and prayer good bye."

So the devotee did not stop to walk among the horsemen and the footmen, like a wily fox meditating guile, and began to uplift her voice, chanting the Koran and praising the Compassionate One. And they continued pressing forward till they approached the camp of Al-Islam, where Sharrkan found the Moslem in conquered plight and the Chamberlain upon the brink of falling back in flight, whilst the sword of Greece havoc dressed among the Faithful, the righteous and those who work unright, ——

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When it was the On Hundred and Second night

So they let down for her a string and she tied thereto a letter whose purport was the following: "From the terriblest of tribulations and the chiefest of all calamities, Zat al-Dawahi, to King Afridun greeting. But afterwards. Of a truth I have contrived a device for destroying the Moslems; so bide you quiet and content. I have cozened and captured their Sultan and the Wazir Dandan; and then I returned to their camp and acquainted them therewith, by which their pride had a fall and their withers were wrung. And I have so wrought upon the host 'leaguering Constantinople that they have sent ten thousand men under the Emir Tarkash to succour the captives, of whom there be now left but few; it is therefore my object that you sally forth against them with all your power while this day endurs; and that you fall on them in their tents and that you leave them not till you shall have slain them to the last man; for, truly the Messiah looks down upon you and the Blessed Virgin favours you; and I hope of the Messiah that he forget not what deed I have done." When her letter came to King Afridun, he rejoiced with great joyance; and, sending at once for King Hardub of Greece, son of Zat al-Dawahi, read the letter to him as soon as he came, at which he was exceeding glad and said, "See my mother's craft; truly it dispenses with swords, and her aspect stands in stead of the terrors of the Day of Dread."

Rejoined Afridun, "May the Messiah not bereave us of your venerable parent nor deprive her of her wile and guile!" Then he bade the Knights give orders for sallying outside the city, and the news was noised abroad in Constantinople. So the Nazarenes and the cohorts of the Cross burst forth and unsheathed their keen sabres in their numbers, shouting out their professions of impiety and heresies, and blaspheming the Lord of all Creatures. When the Chamberlain saw the sally, he said, "Behold, the Greek is upon us and they surely have learned that our Sultan is far away; and Perhaps they have attacked us, for that the most part of our troops have marched to the succour of King Zau al-Makan!" Therewith he grew wroth and cried out, "Ho, soldiers of Al-Islam and favourers of the True Faith, an you flee you are lost, but if you stand fast, you win! Know you that valiancy lies in endurance of outrance and that no case is so strait but that the Almighty is able to make it straight; Allah assain you and look upon you with eyes of compassion glad!" Thereupon the Moslems cried out, "Allaho Akbar!" And the believer in the One God shouted his slogan, and whirled the mill wheels of fight with cutting and thrusting in main and might; scymitars and spears played sore and the plains and valleys were swamped with gore. The priests and monks priested it, tight girding their girdles and uplifting the Crucifixes, while the Moslem shouted out the professions of the Requiting King and verses of the Koran began to sing. The hosts of the Compassionate One fought against the legions of Satan; and head flew from body of man, while the good Angels hovered above the people of the Chosen Prophet, nor did the sword cease to smite till the day darkened and night came on and starkened.

Now the miscreants had encompassed the Moslems and made sure of escaping the pains that awaited them; and the Faithless greeded for victory over the Faithful until day dawned and dazzled. There upon the Chamberlain mounted, he and his men, trusting that Allah would help them to victory; and host was mingled with host and battle rose a foot and took post. And heads flew from trunks whilst the brave stood fast in stead; the craven turned tail and fled; and the Judge of death judged and sentence sped, so that the champions fell from their saddles slain and corpses cumbered meadow and plain. Then the Moslem began to give ground and rearwards bent; and the Greek took possession of some of their tents; whereupon the Moslems were about to break and retreat and take flight, when meanwhile behold, up came Sharrkan with the rest

King Omar Bin Al-Nu'uman and his Sons. 267 of the host of Al-Islam and the standards of the Believers in Unity. And having come up with them, he charged the Infidels; and followed him Zau al-Makan and the Wazir Dandan and the Emirs Bahram and Rustam with his brother Tarkash. When the foe saw this, they lost head and their reason fled, and the dust clouds towered till they covered the country, whilst the righteous Believers joined their pious comrades. Then Sharrkan accosted the Chamberlain and praised him for his steadfastness; and he in turn gave the Prince joy of his timely succour and his gaining the day. at that the Moslems were glad and their hearts were heartened; so they rushed upon their enemies and devoted themselves to Allah in their Fight for the Faith. But when the Idolaters beheld the standards Mohammedan and there on the profession of Faith Islamitan, proclaiming the Unity, they shrieked "Woe!" And "Ruin!" And besought succour of the Patriarchs of the Monasteries. Then fell they to calling upon John and Mary and the Cross abhorrent and stayed their hands from slaughter, whilst King Afridun went up to consult King Hardub of Greece, for the two Kings stood one at the head of each wing, right and left.

Now there was with them also a famous cavalier, Láwiyá called, who commanded the centre; and they drew out in battle array, but indeed they were full of alarm and affray. Meanwhile, the Moslems aligned their forces and thereupon Sharrkan came to his brother, Zau al-Makan, and said, ", doubtless they mean to champion it, and that is also the object of our desire; but it is my wish to push forward the stoutest hearted of our fighters, for by forethought is one half of life wrought." Replied the Sultan, "As you will, O companion of good counsel!" "It is my wish," added Sharrkan, "to stand in mid line opposite the Infidel, with the Wazir Dandan on my left and you on my right, whilst the Emir Bahram leads the dexter wing and the Emir Rustam leads the wing sinistral; and you, O mighty King, will be under the standards and the ensigns, for that you are the pillar of our defence; upon you, after Allah, is our dependence and we will all be your ransom from anything that can harm you." Zau al-Makan thanked him therefor, and the slogan arose and the sabre was drawn; but, as things stood thus, behold, there came forth a cavalier from the ranks of Roum; and, as he drew near, they saw that he was mounted on a slow paced she mule, fleeing with her master from the shock of swords.

Her housings were of white silk covered by a prayer carpet of Cashmere stuff, and on her back sat a Shaykh, an old man of comely presence and reverend aspect, garbed in a gown of white wool. He did not stop pushing her and hurrying her on till he came near the Moslem and said, "I am an ambassador to you all, and an ambassador has nothing to do save to deliver; so give me safe conduct and permit of speech, that I communicate to you my message." Replied Sharrkan, "You are in safety: fear neither sway of sword nor lunge of lance." Thereupon the old man dismounted and, taking the Cross from his neck, placed it before the Sultan and humbled himself with much humility. Then to him the Moslems, said, "What is with you of news?"; and He said, "I am an ambassador from King Afridun, for I counselled him to avert the destruction of all these frames of men and temples of the Compassionate One; and to him it seemed righteous to stay the shedding of blood and limit it to the encounter of two knights in shock of fight singular; so he agreed to that and he says to you, 'truly, I will ransom my army with my life; so let the Moslem King do as I do and with his life ransom his host. And if he kill me, there will be no stay left in the army of Roum, and if I kill him, there will be no stability with the Moslems.' "

When Sharrkan heard this he said, "O monk, I agree to that, for it is just nor may it be gainsaid; and behold, I will meet him in duello and do with him derring do, for I am Champion of the Faithful even as he is Champion of the Faithless; and if he slay me, he will have won the day and nothing will remain for the Moslems forces save flight. So return to him, O you monk, and say that the single combat shall take place to morrow, for this day we have come off our journey and are weary; but after rest neither reproach nor blame fear you." So the monk returned (and he rejoicing) to King Afridun and King Hardub, and told them both what Sharrkan had said, at which King Afridun was glad with exceeding gladness and fell from him anxiety and sadness, and he said to himself, "No doubt but this Sharrkan is their doughtiest swayer of the sword and the dourest at lunge of lance; and when I shall have slain him, their hearts will be disheartened and their strength will be shattered." Now Zat al-Dawahi had written to King Afridun of that and had told him how Sharrkan was a Knight of the Braves and the bravest of knights and had warned him against him; but Afridun was a stalwart cavalier who fought in many a fashion; he could hurl rocks and throw spears

King Omar Bin Al-Nu'uman and his Sons. 269 and smite with the iron mace and he feared not the prowest of the prow. So when he heard the report of the monk that Sharrkan agreed to the duello, he was like to fly for exceeding joy, because he had self confidence and he knew that none could withstand him. The Infidels passed that night in joy and jubilee and wine bibbing; and, as soon as it was dawn, the two armies drew out with the swart of spear and the blanch of blade. And behold, a cavalier rode single handed into the plain, mounted on a steed of purest strain, and for foray and fray full ready and glad. And that Knight had limbs of might and he was clad in an iron cuirass made for stress of fight. On his breast he wore a jewelled mirror and in his hand he bore a keen scimitar and his lance of Khalanj wood, the curious work of the Frank, weighing a quintal. Then the rider uncovered his face and cried out, saying, "whoever knows me truly has enough of me, and whoever knows me not right soon shall ken who I be. I am Afridun the overwhelmed by the well omened Shawáhi, Zat al-Dawahi."

But he had not ended speaking before Sharrkan, the Champion of the Moslems, fared forth to meet him, mounted on a sorrel horse worth a thousand pieces of red gold with accoutrements purfled in pearls and precious stone; and he bore in baldrick a blade of watered Indian steel that through necks shore and made easy the hard and sore. He drave his charger between the two hosts in line whilst the horsemen all fixed on him their eyne, and he cried out to Afridun, "Woe to you, O accursed! Do you deem me one of the horsemen you have overta'en who cannot stand against you on battle plain?" Then each rushed upon other and they bashed together like two mountains crashing or two billows dashing and clashing: they advanced and retreated; and drew together and withdrew; and did not stop of fray and fight and weapon play, and strife and stay, with stroke of sword and lunge of lance. Of the two armies looking on, some said, "Sharrkan is victor!" And others, "Afridun will conquer!"; and the two riders stayed not their hands from the hustle until ceased the clamour and the bustle; and the dust columns rose and the day waned and the sun grew yellow and wan.

Then cried out King Afridun to Sharrkan, saying, "By the truth of the Messiah and the Faith which is no liar, you are nothing save a doughty rider and a stalwart fighter; but you are fraudful and your nature is not that of the noble. I ken your work is other than praiseworthy nor is your prowess that of a Prince; for your people behave to you as though you were a slave; and see! They bring you out a charger which is not yours, that you may mount and return to the fight. But by the truth of my Faith, your fighting irks and fatigus me and I am weary of cutting and thrusting with you; and if you purpose to lay on load with me to night, you would not change anything of your harness nor your horse, till you approve to the cavaliers, your generous blood and skill in brunt." When Sharrkan heard him say these words concerning his own folk behaving to him though he were a slave, he waxt wroth and turned towards his men, meaning to sign to them and bid them not prepare him change of harness or horse, when lo! Afridun shook his throw spear high in air and cast it at Sharrkan.

Now when the Moslem turned his back, he found none of the men near him, and he knew this to be a trick of the accursed Infidel; so he wheeled round in haste and behold, the javelin came at him, so he swerved from it, till his head was bent low as his saddle bow. The weapon grazed his breast, and pierced the skin of his chest, for Sharrkan was high bosomed: whereupon he gave one cry and swooned away. at that the accursed Afridun was joyful, thinking he had slain him; and shouted to the Infidels bidding them rejoice, at which the Faithless were encouraged and the Faithful wept. When Zau al-Makan saw his brother reeling in selle so that he well near fell, he despatched cavaliers towards him and the braves hurried to his aid and came up with him. Thereupon the Infidels drove at the Moslems; the two hosts joined battle and the two lines were mingled, whilst the keen scimitar of al-Yaman did good work. Now the first to reach Sharrkan was the Wazir Dandan,—

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When it was the One Hundred and Third night

Replied Afridun, "To morrow shall end the affair when to fight I fare: I will seek Zau al-Makan and slay him, and their army shall turn tail and of flight shall avail." Such was the case with the Kafirs; but as regards the host of al-Islam, when Zau al-Makan returned to his tent, he thought of nothing but his brother and, going into the pavilion, found him in evil case and sore condition; whereupon he summoned for counsel the Wazir Dandan and Rustam and Bahram. When they entered, they opined to assemble the physicians that they might medicine Sharrkan, and they wept and said, "The world will not readily afford his like!" And they watched by him all that night, and about the later hours came to them the Recluse in tears. When Zau al-Makan saw him, he rose in honour; and the Religious stroked Sharrkan's wound with his hand, chanting something of the Koran and repeating by way of talisman some of the verses of the Compassionate One.

And the pretender did not stop to watch over him till dawn, when he came to himself and, opening his eyes, moved his tongue in his mouth and spoke. At this Zau al-Makan rejoiced, saying, "Of a truth the blessing of the Holy Man has taken effect on him!" And Sharrkan said, "Praised be Allah for recovery; indeed, I am well at this hour. That accursed one played me false; and, but that I swerved aside lighter than lightning, the throw spear had pierced through my breast. So praised be Allah for saving me! And how is it with the Moslems?" Answered Zau al-Makan, "All are weeping for you." Sharrkan, said, "I am well and in good case; but where is the Holy Man?" Now he was sitting by him and said, "At your head." So the Prince turned to him and kissed his hand when he said, "O my son! Be of good patience and Allah shall increase your reward; for the wage is measured by the work." Sharrkan rejoined, "Pray for me," and he prayed for him. As soon as morning dawned and day brake in shine and sheen, the Moslems sallied out to the plain and the Kafirs made ready to thrust and cut.

Then the Islamite host advanced and offered fight with weapons ready dressed, and King Zau al-Makan and Afridun made to charge one at other. But when Zau al-Makan fared forth into the field, there came with him the Wazir Dandan and the Chamberlain and Bahram, saying, "We will be your sacrifice." He replied, "By the Holy House and Zemzem and the Place! I will not be stayed from going forth against these wild asses." And when he rode out into the field he played with sword and spear till riders marvelled and both armies wondered; then he rushed upon the foe's right wing and of it slew two knights and in like manner he dealt with the left wing. Presently, he stayed his steed in the midst of the field and cried out, "Where is Afridun, that I may make him taste the cup of disgrace?" But when King Hardub saw the case he conjured Afridun not to attack him, saying, "O King, yesterday it was your turn to fight: it is mine to day. I care nothing for his prowess." So he rushed out towards Zau al-Makan brand in hand and under him a stallion like Abjar,

King Omar Bin Al-Nu'uman and his Sons. 273 which was Antar's charger, and its coat was jet black even as says the poet,

"On the glancing racer outracing glance He speeds, as though he would collar Doom: His steed's black coat is of darkest jet, And like Night in her nightliest gloom: Whose neigh sounds glad to the hearer's ears Like thunders rolling in thund'rous boom: If he race the wind he will lead the way, And the lightning flash will behind him loom."

Then each rushed upon the opponent, parrying blows and proving the marvellous qualities were stored in him; and they fell to drawing on and withdrawing till the breasts of the bystanders were straitened and they were weary of waiting for the event. At last Zau al-Makan cried out his war cry and rushed upon Hardub, King of Caesarea, and struck him a stroke that shore head from trunk and slew him on the spot. When the Infidels saw this, they charged in a body, compact and united, upon Zau al-Makan, who met them amidfield, and they engaged in hewing and foining, till blood ran in rills. Then the Moslems cried out, "Allaho Akbar!" —God is most Great—and "There is no god but the God!"; and invoked salvation for the Prophet, the Bringer of Glad Tidings, the Bearer of Bad Tidings. And there befell a great fight, but Allah assigned victory to the Faithful and defeat to the Faithless. The Wazir Dandan shouted, "Take your blood revenge for King Omar bin al-Nu'uman and his son Sharrkan!"; and bared his head and cried out to the Turks. Now there were by his side more than twenty thousand horse, and all charged with him as one man, when the Faithless found nothing to save their lives but flight. So they turned tail to fly while the biting sabre wrought its havoc and the Moslems slew of them that day some fifty thousand horse and took more than that number: much folk also were slain while going in at the gates, for the flock was great.

Then the Greeks hove to the doors and swarmed up the walls to await the assault; and in fine the Moslem hosts returned to their tents aided to glory and victory, and King Zau al-Makan went in to his brother whom he found in most joyous case. So he made a prostration of thanks to the Bountiful and the Exalted; and then he came forward and gave Sharrkan joy of his recovery. Answered he, "truly we are all under the benediction of this Religious, holy and righteous, nor would you have been victorious, but for his accepted orisons; indeed all day he remained at prayer to invoke victory on the Moslems."—

When it was the One Hundred and Fourth night

So he told him all that had passed between him and the accursed Hardub and related how he had slain him and sent him to the malediction of Allah; and Sharrkan praised him and thanked him for his prowess. When Zat al-Dawahi heard tell of her son's death (and she still drest as a devotee), her face grew yellow and her eyes ran over with railing tears: she kept her counsel, however, and feigned to the Moslems that she was glad and wept for excess of joy. But she said to herself, "By the truth of the Messiah, there remains no profit of my life, if I burn not his heart for his brother, Sharrkan, even as he has burned my heart for King Hardub, the mainstay of Christendom and the hosts of Crossdom!" Still she kept her secret. And the Wazir Dandan and King Zau al-Makan and the Chamberlain remained sitting with Sharrkan till they had dressed and salved his wound; after which they gave him medicines and he began to recover strength; at which they joyed with exceeding joy and told the troops who congratulated themselves, saying, "To morrow he will ride with us and do manly devoir in the siege."

King Omar Bin Al-Nu'uman and his Sons. 275

Then said Sharrkan to them, "You have fought through all this day and are weary of fight; so it behoves that you return to your places and sleep and not sit up." They accepted his counsel and then each went away to his own pavilion, and none remained with Sharrkan but a few servants and the old woman Zat al-Dawahi. He talked with her through part of the night, then he stretched himself to rest: and his servants did likewise and presently sleep overcame them all and they lay like the dead. Such was the case with Sharrkan and his men; but as regards the old woman she alone abode awake while they slumbered in the tent and, looking at Sharrkan she presently saw that he was drowned in sleep. Thereupon she sprang to her feet, as she were a scald she bear or a speckled snake, and drew from her waistcloth a dagger so poisoned that if laid thereon it would have melted a rock. Then she unsheathed the poniard and went up to Sharrkan's head and she drew the knife across his throat and severed his weasand and hewed off his head from his body. And once more she sprang to her feet; and, going the round of the sleeping servants, she cut off their heads also, lest they should awake.

Then she left the tent and made for the Sultan's pavilion, but finding the guards on the alert, turned to that of the Wazir Dandan. Now she found him reading the Koran and when his sight fell upon her he said, "Welcome to the Holy Man!" Hearing this from the Wazir, her heart trembled and she said, "The reason of my coming here at this time is that I heard the voice of a saint amongst Allah's Saints and am going to him." Then she turned her back, but the Wazir said to himself, "By God, I will follow our Devotee this night!" So he rose and walked after her: but when the accursed old woman sensed his footsteps, she knew that he was following her: Why she feared the disgrace of discovery and said in herself, "Unless I serve some trick upon him he will disgrace me." So she turned and said to him from afar, "Ho, you Wazir, I am going in search of this Saint that I may learn who he is; and, after learning this much, I will ask his leave for you to visit him. Then I will come back and tell you: for I fear yours accompanying me, without having his permission, lest he take umbrage at me seeing you in my society."

Now when the Wazir heard these words, he was ashamed to answer her; so he left her and returned to his tent, and would have slept; but sleep was not favourable to him and the world seemed heaped upon him.

Presently, he rose and went forth from the tent saying in himself, "I will go to Sharrkan and chat with him till morning." But when he entered into Sharrkan's pavilion, he found the blood running like an aqueduct and saw the servants lying with their throats cut like beasts for food. At this he cried a cry which aroused all who were asleep; the folk hastened to him and, seeing the blood streaming, set up a clamour of weeping and wailing. Then the noise awoke the Sultan, who enquired what was the matter, and it was said to him, "Sharrkan your brother and his servants are murthered." So he rose in haste and entered the tent, and found the Wazir Dandan shrieking aloud and he saw his brother's body without a head. at that he swooned away and all the troops crowded around him, weeping and crying out, and so remained for a while, till he came to himself, when he looked at Sharrkan and wept with sore weeping, while the Wazir and Rustam and Bahram did the like. But the Chamberlain cried and lamented more than the rest and asked leave to absent himself, such was his alarm. Then said Zau al-Makan, "Know you who did this deed and how is it I see not the Devotee, him who the things of this world has put away?" the Wazir, said, "And who should have been the cause of this affliction, save that Devotee, that Satan? By God, my heart abhorred him from the first, because I know that all who pretend to be absorbed in practices religious are vile and treacherous!"

And he repeated to the King the tale of how he would have followed the Religious, but he forbade him, whereupon the folk broke out into a tumult of weeping and lamentation and humbled themselves before Him who is ever near, Him who ever answers prayer, supplicating that He would cause the false Devotee who denied Allah's testimony to fall into their hands. Then they laid Sharrkan out and buried him in the mountain aforesaid and mourned over his far famed virtues.—

When it was the One Hundred and Fifth night

Then he bade be brought out the treasure taken from the Monastery of Matruhina; and mustered the troops and divided the monies among them, and he did not leave one of them but he gave him gifts which contented him. Moreover, he assembled in the presence three hundred horse of every division and said to them, "Do you send supplies to your households, for I am resolved to abide by this city, year after year, till I have taken man bote for my brother Sharrkan, even if I die in this stead." And when the army heard these words and had received his gifts of money they replied, "I hear and I obey!" Thereupon he summoned couriers and gave them letters and charged them to deliver the same, together with the monies, to the soldiers' families and inform them that all were safe and satisfied, and acquaint them saying, "We are encamped before Constantinople and we will either destroy it or die; and, albeit we be obliged to abide here months and years, we will not depart hence till we take it." Moreover, he bade the Wazir Dandan write to his sister, Nushat al-Zaman, and said to him, "Acquaint her with what has befallen us, and what be our situation and commend my child to her care since that, when I went out to war, my wife was near her delivery and by this time she must needs have been brought to bed; and if she has given birth to a boy, as I have heard say, hasten your return and bring me the acceptable news."

Then he gave them something of money, which they pouched and set out at once; and all the people flocked forth to take leave of them and entrust them with the monies and the messages. After they had departed, Zau al-Makan turned to the Wazir Dandan and commanded him to advance with the army against the city walls. So the troops pushed forward, but found none on the ramparts, at which they marvelled, while Zau al-Makan was troubled at the case, for he deeply mourned the severance from his brother Sharrkan and he was sore perturbed about that traitor the Ascetic. In this condition they abode three days without seeing anyone. So far concerning the Moslems; but as regards the Greeks and the cause of their refusing to fight during these three days the case was this. As soon as Zat al-Dawahi had slain Sharrkan, she hastened her march and reached the walls of Constantinople, where she called out in the Greek tongue to the guards to throw her down a rope. They said, "Who are you?"; and she said, "I am Zat al-Dawahi." They knew her and let down a cord to which she tied herself and they drew her up; and, when inside the city, she went in to the King Afridun and said to him, "What is this I hear from the Moslems? They say that my son King Hardub is slain."

He answered, "Yes;" and she shrieked out and wept right grievously and did not stop weeping thus till she made Afridun and all who were present weep with her. Then she told the King how she had slain Sharrkan and thirty of his servants, at which he rejoiced and thanked her; and, kissing her hands, exhorted her to resignation for the loss of her son. She said, "By the truth of the Messiah, I will not rest content with killing that dog of the Moslem dogs in blood revenge for my son, King of the Kings of the age! Now there is no help for it but that I work some guile and I contrive a wile by which to slay the Sultan Zau al-Makan and the Wazir Dandan and the Chamberlain and Rustam and Bahram and ten thousand cavaliers of the army of al-Islam; for it shall never be said that my son's head be paid with the bloodwit of Sharrkan's head; no, never!" Then she said to King Afridun, "Know,that it is my wish to set forth mourning for my son and to cut my Girdle and to break the Crosses." Replied Afridun, "Do what you desire; I will not gainsay you in anything. And if you prolong your mourning for many days it were a little thing; for though the Moslems resolve to beleaguer us years and years, they will never win their will of us nor gain anything of us save trouble and weariness."

Then the Accursed One (when she had ended with the calamity she had wrought and the ignominies which in herself she had thought) took ink case and paper and wrote thereon:—"From Shawahi, Zat al-Dawahi, to the host of the Moslems. Know you that I entered your country and duped by my cunning your nobles and at first hand I slew your King Omar bin al-Nu'uman in the midst of his palace. Moreover, I slew, in the affair of the mountain pass and of the cave, many of your men; and the last I killed were Sharrkan and his servants. And if fortune do not stay me and Satan obey me, I needs must slay me your Sultan and the Wazir Dandan, for I am she who came to you in disguise of a Recluse and who heaped upon you my devices and deceits. Why, an you would be in safety after this, fare you forth at once; and if you seek your own destruction do not stop abiding for the nonce;

King Omar Bin Al-Nu'uman and his Sons. 279 and though you tarry here years and years, you shall not do your desire on us. And so peace be yours!" After writing her writ she devoted three days to mourning for King Hardub; and, on the fourth, she called a Knight and bade him take the letter and make it fast to a shaft and shoot it into the Moslem camp. When this was done, she entered the church and gave herself up to weeping and wailing for the loss of her son, saying to him who took the kingship after him, "Nothing will serve me but I must kill Zau al-Makan and all the nobles of al-Islam." Such was the case with her; but as regards what occurred to the Moslems, all passed three days in trouble and anxiety, and on the fourth when gazing at the walls behold, they saw a knight holding a bow and about to shoot an arrow along whose side a letter was bound. So they waited till he had shot it among them and the Sultan bade the Wazir Dandan take the missive and read it. He perused it accordingly; and, when Zau al-Makan heard it to end and understood its purport, his eyes filled with tears and he shrieked for agony at her perfidy; and the Minister Dandan said, "By God, my heart shrank from her!"

The Sultan, said, "How could this whore play her tricks upon us twice? But by the Almighty I will not depart hence till I fill her cleft with molten lead and jail her with the jailing of a bird encaged, then bind her with her own hair and crucify her over the gate of Constantinople." And he called to mind his brother and wept with excessive weeping. But when Zat al-Dawahi arrived amongst the Infidels and related to them her adventures at length, they rejoiced at her safety and at the slaying of Sharrkan. There upon the Moslems addressed themselves again to the siege of the city and the Sultan promised his men that, if it should be taken, he would divide its treasures among them in equal parts. But he dried not his tears grieving for his brother till his body was wasted and sick, growing thin as a tooth pick. Presently, the Wazir Dandan came in to him and said, "Be of good cheer and keep yours eyes cool and clear; in very truth your brother died not but because his hour was come, and there is no profit in this mourning. How well says the poet,

"whatever is not to be no sleight shall bring to pass; What is to be without a failure shall become; Soon the becoming fortune shall be found to be, And Folly's brother shall abide forlorn and glum."

Why do you leave this weeping and wailing and hearten your heart to bear arms." He replied, "O Wazir, my heart is heavy for the death of my father and my brother and for our absence from hearth and home; and my mind is concerned for my subjects." Thereupon the Wazir and the bystanders wept; but they did not stop from pushing forward the siege of Constantinople for a length of days. And they being thus, behold, news arrived from Baghdad, by one of the Emirs to the effect that the King's wife had been blessed with a boy, and that his sister, Nuzhat al-Zaman, had named him Kanmakan. Moreover, that the boy bid fair to be famous, already showing wondrous signs and marvellous tokens; and that she had commanded the Olema and the preachers to pray for mother and child from the pulpits and bless them in all wise; furthermore that the twain were well, that the land had enjoyed abundant rains, and that his comrade the Fireman was established in all prosperity, with eunuchs and slaves to wait upon him; but that he was still ignorant of what had befallen him. And she ended with the greeting of peace. Then Zau al-Makan to the Wazir Dandan, said, "Now is my back strengthened for that I have been blest with a son whose name is Kanmakan."—

When it was the One Hundred and Sixth night

And he spoke to the Wazir Dandan, saying, "I am minded to leave this mourning and order perlections of the Koran for my brother and command alms deeds on his account." the Wazir, said, "Your design is good." Thereupon he caused tents to be pitched over his brother's tomb; so they raised them and gathered together such of the men at arms as could repeat the Koran; and some began reciting the Holy volume; whilst others chanted litanies containing the names of Allah, and thus they did till the morning.

King Omar Bin Al-Nu'uman and his Sons. 281

Then Zau al-Makan went up to the grave of his brother Sharrkan and poured forth copious tears, and improvised these couplets,

"They bore him bier'd, and all who followed wept With Moses' shrieks what day o'erhead shook Tor; Till reached the grave which Fate had made his home, Dug in men's souls who one sole God adore: never had I thought before to see my joy Borne on the bier which heads of bearers bore: Ah no! nor before they homed you in the dust That stars of heaven earth ever covered over. Is the tomb dweller hostage of a stead, Where light and splendour over your face shall pour? Praise to restore his life her word has pledged: Cribbed and confined he shall dispread the more!"

When Zau al-Makan had made an end of his versifing he wept and wept with him all the troops; then he came to the grave and threw himself upon it wild with woe, and the Wazir repeated the words of the poet,

"glad leaving life that fleets you have th' eternal won; You did as whilom many a doer like you has done Leftest this worldly house without reproach or blame, Ah, may th' ex change secure you every benison! You were from hostile onset shield and firm defence, For us to baffle shafts and whistling spears to shun. I see this world is only cheat and vanity, Where man nothing else must seek but please the Truthful One: Th' Empyrean's Lord allow you bower of heavenly bliss, And wi' your faithful friends The Guide show goodly wone: I bid you last good even with sigh of bitter grief, Seeing the West in woe for lack of Easting Sun."

When the Wazir Dandan had finished his reciting, he wept with sore weeping and the tears rained from his eyes like cushioned pearls.

Then came forward one who had been of Sharrkan's boon companions in his cups and he wept till ran in rills the drops, and he enumerated the dead man's generous qualities, reciting the following pentastichs,

"Where gone is Bounty since your hand is turned to clay? And I in misery lie since you were ta'en away. See'st not, O litter guide (Heaven keep you glad and gay!), How tears adorn my cheeks, these furrowed wrinkles fray? A sight to joy yours eyes and fill you with dismay. By God never this heart within I spoke of you, Ah no! nor dared my sight to see your brilliancy: Save that my tear drops sorest wound have garred me dree Yea! and if ever on other rest these eyne of me, May yearning draw their reins nor suffer sleep to see."

And when the man stinted reciting, Zau al-Makan and the Minister Dandan wept and the whole army was moved to tears; after which all retired to their tents, and the King turning to the Wazir took counsel with him concerning the conduct of the campaign. in this way the two passed days and nights, while Zau al-Makan was weighed down with grief and mourning till at last he said, "I long to hear stories and adventures of Kings and tales of lover folk enslaved by love; Perhaps Allah may make this to solace that which is on my heart of heavy anxiety, and stint and stay my weeping and wailing." the Wazir, said, "If nothing can dispel your trouble but hearing curious tales of Kings and people long gone before and stories of folk enslaved by love of old, and so forth, this thing were easy, for I had no other business, in the lifetime of your father (who has passed on) than to relate stories and to repeat verses to him. This very night I will tell you a tale of a lover and his beloved, so shall your breast be broadened." When Zau al-Makan heard these words from the Minister, his heart was set upon that which had been promised to him and he did nothing but watch for the coming of the night, that he might hear what the Wazir Dandan had to tell of the Kings of old and distracted lovers long gone before. And hardly would he believe that night had fallen before he bade light the grow candles and the lamps and bring all that was needful of meat and drink and perfume gear, and what not; and when all was in presence, he summoned the Wazir Dandan,

Taj Al-Muluk And The Princess Dunya. 283 and the Emirs Rustam and Bahram and Tarkash and the Grand Chamberlain; then waited till the whole party was seated before him; whereupon he turned to the Minister and said, "Know, O Wazir, that night is come and has let down over us its veil of gloom, and we desire that you tell us those tales which you promisedst us." Replied the Wazir, "With joy and good will."—

When it was the One Hundred and Seventh night

Replied the Wazir, "With love and gladness! Know,that there reached my ears a relation of a lover and a loved one and of the discourse between them and what befell them of things rare and fair, a story such as repells care from the heart and dispells sorrow like unto that of the patriarch Jacob; and it is as follows":—