And The Caliph Harun Al-Rashid.

The Viceregent of the Lord of the three Worlds, Harun al-Rashid, had a boon companion of the number of his boon companions, by name Ishak bin Ibrahim al-Nadim al-Mausili, who was the most accomplished of the folk of his time in smiting upon the lute; and of the Commander of the Faithful's love for him, he set apart for him a palace of the choicest of his palaces, in which he was wont to instruct hand maidens in the arts of singing and of lute playing. If any slave girl became, by his instruction, clever in the craft, he carried her before the Caliph, who bade her perform upon the lute; and if she pleased him, he would order her to the Harim; else would he restore her to Ishak's palace. One day, the Commander of the Faithful's breast was straitened; so he sent after his Wazir Ja'afar the Barmecide and Ishak the cup companion and Masrur the eunuch, the Sworder of his vengeance; and when they came, he changed his habit and disguised himself, whilst Ja'afar and Ishak and Masrur and al-Fazl and Yúnus (who were also present) did the like. Then he went out, he and they, by the postern, to the Tigris and taking boat fared on till they came to near Al-Táf, when they landed and walked till they came to the gate of the high street. Here there met them an old man, handsome in his hoariness and of a venerable bearing and a dignified, agreeable of aspect and apparel. He kissed the earth before Ishak al-Mausili (for that he knew only him of the company, the Caliph being disguised, and deemed the others certain of his friends), and said to him, "O my lord, there is presently with me a hand maid, a lutanist, never saw eyes the like of her nor the like of her grace, and indeed I was on my way to pay my respects to you and give you to know of her; but Allah, of His favour, has spared me the trouble.

So now I desire to show her to you, and if she take your fancy, well and good; otherwise I will sell her." Ishak said, "Go before me to your quarters, till I come to you and see her." The old man kissed his hand and went away; whereupon Said Al-Rashid to him, "O Ishak, who is that man and what is his want?" The other replied, "O my lord, this is a man Sa'íd the Slave dealer called, and 'tis he that buys us maidens and Mamelukes. He declares that with him is a fair slave, a lutanist, whom he has withheld from sale, for that he could not fairly sell her till he had passed her before me in review." the Caliph said, "Let us go to him so we may see her, by way of solace, and sight what is in the slave dealer's quarters of slave girls;" and Ishak said, "Command belongs to Allah and to the Commander of the Faithful." Then he forewent them and they followed in his track till they came to the slave dealer's quarters and found a building tall of wall and large of lodgment, with sleeping cells and chambers within it, after the number of the slave girls, and folk sitting upon the wooden benches.

So Ishak entered, he and his company, and seating themselves in the place of honour, amused themselves by looking at the hand maids and Mamelukes and watching how they were bought and sold, till the vending came to an end, when some of the folk went away and some remained seated. Then cried the slave dealer, "Let none sit with us except whoever purchases by the thousand dinars and upwards." Accordingly those present withdrew and there remained none but Al-Rashid and his suite; whereupon the slave dealer called the damsel, after he had caused set her a chair of Fawwák, lined with Grecian brocade, and she was like the sun shining high in the shimmering sky. When she entered, she saluted and sitting down, took the lute and smote upon it, after she had touched its strings and tuned it, so that all present were amazed. Then she sang thereto these couplets:

"Breeze o' Morn, If you breathe over the loved one's land, Deliver my greeting to all the dear band! And declare to them still I am pledged to their love And my longing excels all that lover unmanned:

Tale of the Damsel Tohfat Al-Kulub. 49

O you who have blighted my heart, ears and eyes, My passion and ecstasy grow out of hand; And torn is my sprite every night with desire, And nothing of sleep can my eyelids command."

Ishak exclaimed, "Brava, O damsel! By God, this is a fair hour!" Whereupon she sprang up and kissed his hand, saying, "O my lord, in very truth the hands stand still before your presence and the tongues at your sight, and the eloquent when confronting you grow dumb; but you are the looser of the veil." Then she clung to him and cried, "Stand;" so he stood and said to her, "Who are you and what is your need?" She raised a corner of the veil, and behold she was a damsel as she were the full moon rising or the leven glancing, with two side locks of hair which fell down to her anklets. She kissed his hand and said to him, "O my lord, know that I have been in these quarters some five months, during which I have withheld myself from sale till you should be present and see me; and that slave dealer also made your coming a pretext for not vending me, and forbade me for all I sought of him night and day that he should cause you come here and vouchsafe me your company and gar me and you forgather." Ishak said, "Tell me what you would have;" and she said, "I beseech you, By God Almighty, that you buy me, so I may be with you by way of service."

He asked, "Is that your desire?" and she answered, "Yes." So Ishak returned to the slave dealer and said to him, "Ho you, Shaykh Sa'íd!" Said the old man, "At your service, O my lord," and Ishak continued, "In the corridor is a chamber and within it wones a damsel pale and wan. What is her price in dirhams and how much do you ask for her?" the slave dealer said, "She whom you mentionest, O my lord, is called Tohfat al-Humaká?" Ishak asked, "What is the meaning of Al-Humaka?" and the old man answered, "Her price has been weighed and paid an hundred times and she still says, Show me him who would buy me; and when I show her to him she says, This one I mislike; he has in him such and such a default. And in every one who would glad buy her she nots some defect or other, so that none cars now to purchase her and none seeks her, for fear lest she find some fault in him." Ishak said, "She seeks at this present to sell herself; so go you to her and inquire of her and see her price and send her to the palace."

Said Sa'íd, "O my lord, her price is an hundred dinars, though, were she free of this paleness that is upon her face, she would be worth a thousand gold pieces; but wanton folly and wanness have diminished her value; and behold I will go to her and consult her of this." So he betook himself to her and enquired of her, "Will you be sold to Ishak bin Ibrahim al-Mausili?" She replied, "Yes," and he said, "Leave folly, for to whom does it happen to be in the house of Ishak the cup companion?" Thereupon Ishak went forth the slave dealer's quarters and overtook Al-Rashid who had preceded him; and they did not stop walking till they came to their landing place, where they embarked in the boat and fared on to Thaghr al-Khánakah. As for the slave dealer, he sent the damsel to the house of Ishak al-Nadim, whose slave girls took her and carried her to the Hammam. Then each damsel gave her something of her gear and they decked her with earrings and bracelets, so that she redoubled in beauty and became as she were the moon on the night of its full. When Ishak returned home from the Caliph's palace, Tohfah rose to him and kissed his hand; and he saw that which the hand maids had done with her and thanked them for so doing and said to them, "Let her home in the house of instruction and bring her instruments of music, and if she be apt at song teach her; and may Allah Almighty vouchsafe her health and weal!"

So there passed over her three months, while she homed with him in the house of instruction, and they brought her the instruments of music. Furthermore, as time went on she was vouchsafed health and soundness and her beauty grew many times brighter than before and her pallor was changed to white and red, so that she became a seduction to all who saw her. One day, Ishak bade summon all who were with him of slave girls from the house of instruction and carried them up to Al-Rashid's palace, leaving none in his house save Tohfah and a cookmaid; for that he thought not of Tohfah, nor did she come to his

Tale of the Damsel Tohfat Al-Kulub. 51 memory, and none of the damsels reminded him of her. When she saw that the house was empty of the slave girls, she took the lute (now she was singular in her time for smiting upon the lute, nor had she her like in the world, no, not Ishak himself, nor any other) and sang thereto these couplets:

"When soul desires one that is its mate It never winns dear desire of Fate: My life for him whose tortures tare my frame, And dealt me pine he can alone abate! He says (that only he to heal my ill, Whose sight is medicine to my doleful state), 'O scoffer people, how long will mock my woe As though did Allah nothing else create?' "

Now Ishak had returned to his house on an occasion that called for him; and when he entered the vestibule, he heard a sound of singing, the like whereof he had never heard in the world, for that it was soft as the breeze and more strengthening than oil of almonds. So the pleasure of it gat hold of him and delight so seized him, that he fell down fainting in the vestibule. Tohfah heard the noise of footfalls and laying the lute from her hand, went out to see what was the matter. She found her lord Ishak lying aswoon in the entrance; so she took him up and strained him to her bosom, saying, "I conjure you in Allah's name, O my lord, tell me, has anything of ill befallen you?" When he heard her voice, he recovered from his fainting and he asked, "Who are you?" She answered, "I am your slave girl, Tohfah;" and he said to her, "Are you indeed Tohfah?" "Yes," she replied; and he, "By God, I had indeed forgotten you and remembered you not till this moment!" Then he looked at her and said, "truly, your case is altered to other case and your wanness is changed to rosiness and you have redoubled in beauty and loveliness. But was it you who was singing just now?" She was troubled and affrighted and answered, "Even I, O my lord;" whereupon Ishak seized upon her hand and carrying her into the house, said to her, "Take the lute and sing; for never saw I nor heard your like in smiting upon the lute; no, not even myself!" she said, "O my lord, you mockest me.

Who am I that you should say all this to me? Indeed, this is but of your kindness." he said, "Nay, By God, I said but the truth to you and I am not of those on whom pretence imposes. For these three months nature has not moved you to take the lute and sing thereto, and this is nothing save a rare thing and a strange. But all this comes of strength in the art and your self restraint." Then he bade her sing; and she said, "I hear and I obey." So she took the lute and tightening its strings to the sticking point, smote thereon a number of airs, so that she confounded Ishak's wit and for delight he was like to fly. Then she returned to the first mode and sang thereto these couplets: —

"By your ruined stead aye I stand and stay, Nor shall change or dwelling depart us tway! No distance of homestead shall gar me forget Your love, O friends, but I yearn alway: never flies your phantom the babes of these eyne You are moons in Nighttide's murkest array: And with growing passion my unrest grows And each morn I find union dissolved in woes."

When she had made an end of her song and laid down the lute, Ishak looked fixedly on her, then took her hand and offered to kiss it; but she snatched it from him and said to him, "Allah, O my lord, do not that!" he cried, "Be silent. By God, I had said that there was not in the world the like of me; but now I have found my dinár in the art but a dánik, for you are more excellent of skill than I, beyond comparison or approximation or calculation! This very day will I carry you up to the Commander of the Faithful, Harun al-Rashid, and when his glance lights on you, you will become a Princess of womankind. So Allah, in God's name, O my lady, whenas you becomest of the household of the Prince of True Believers, do not you forget me!" She replied, "Allah, O my lord, you are the root of my fortunes and in you is my heart fortified." at that he took her hand and made a covenant with her of this and she swore to him that she would not

Tale of the Damsel Tohfat Al-Kulub. 53 forget him. Then he said to her, "By God, you are the desire of the Commander of the Faithful! Now take the lute and sing a song which you will sing to the Caliph, when you go in to him " So she took the lute and tuning it, improvised these couplets:

"His lover has ruth on his woeful mood And o'erwept him as still by his couch he stood: And garred him drink of his lip dews and wine before he died and this food was his latest good."

Ishak stared at her and seizing her hand, said to her, "Know that I am bound by an oath that, when the singing of a damsel pleases me, she shall not end her song but before the Prince of True Believers. But now tell me, how came it that you tarriedst with the slave dealer five months and were not sold to any one, and you of this skill, especially when the price set on you was no great matter?" at this she laughed and answered, "O my lord, my story is a wondrous and my case a marvellous Know that I belonged aforetime to a Maghribi merchant, who bought me when I was three years old, and there were in his house many slave girls and eunuchs; but I was the dearest to him of them all So he kept me with him and used not to address me otherwise than, 'O daughterling,' and indeed to this moment I am a clean maid. Now there was with him a damsel, a lutanist, and she reared me and taught me the art, even as you see. Then was my master removed to the mercy of Allah Almighty and his sons divided his monies. I fell to the lot of one of them; but 'twas only a little while before he had wasted all his wealth and there was left him nothing of coin.

So I gave up the lute, fearing lest I should fall into the hand of a man who knew not my worth, for well I know that needs must my master sell me; and indeed but a few days passed before he carried me forth to the quarters of the slave merchant who buys damsels and displays them to the Commander of the Faithful. Now I desired to learn the art and mystery; so I refused to be sold to other than you, until Allah (extolled and exalted be He!) vouchsafed me my desire of your presence; whereupon I came out to you, as soon as I heard of your coming, and besought you to buy me. You heartenedst my heart and bought me; and since I entered your house, O my lord, I have not taken up the lute till now; but today, when I was left private by the slave girls, I took it; and my purpose in this was that I might see if my hand were changed or not. As I was singing, I heard a footfall in the vestibule; so springing up, I laid the lute from my hand and going forth to see what was to do, found you, O my lord, in this way."

Ishak said, "Indeed, this was of your fair fortune. By God, I know not that which you know in this art!" Then he arose and opening a chest, brought out from it striped clothes, netted with jewels and great pearls and other costly gems and said to her, "In the name of Allah, don these, O my lady Tohfah." So she arose and donned that dress and veiled herself and went up with Ishak to the palace of the Caliphate, where he made her stand without, whilst he himself went in to the Prince of True Believers (with whom was Ja'afar the Barmaki) and kissing the ground before him, said to him, "O Commander of the Faithful, I have brought you a damsel, never saw eyes of seer her like for excellence in singing and touching the lute; and her name is Tohfah." Al-Rashid asked, "And where be this Tohfah who has not her like in the world?" Answered Ishak, "that she stands, O Commander of the Faithful;" and he acquainted the Caliph with her case from beginning to end. Then said Al-Rashid, " 'Tis a marvel to hear you praise a slave girl in this way. Admit her that we may look upon her, for truly the morning may not be hidden."

Accordingly, Ishak bade admit her; so she entered, and when her eyes fell upon the Prince of True Believers, she kissed ground before him and said, "The Peace be upon you, O Commander of the faithful Fold and Asylum of all who the true Creed hold and Quickener of justice in the Worlds threefold! Allah make your feet tread on safest wise and give you joy of what He gave you in generous guise and make your harbourage Paradise and Hell fire that of yours enemies!" Al-Rashid said, "And on you be the Peace, O damsel! Sit." So she sat down and he bade her sing; whereupon she took the lute and tightening its strings, played thereon in many modes, so that the Prince of True Believers and Ja'afar were confounded in sprite

Tale of the Damsel Tohfat Al-Kulub. 55 and like to fly for delight. Then she returned to the first mode and improvised these couplets: —

"O my eyes! I swear by him I adore, Whom pilgrims seek thronging Arafát; If you call my name on the grave of me, I'll reply to your call tho' my bones go rot: I crave none for friend of my heart save you; So believe me, for true are the well begot."

Al-Rashid considered her comeliness and the goodliness of her singing and her eloquence and what other qualities she comprised and rejoiced with joy exceeding; and for the stress of that which overcame him of delight, he descended from the couch and sitting down with her upon the floor, said to her, "You have done well, O Tohfah. By God, you are indeed a choice gift!" Then he turned to Ishak and said to him, "You dealt not justly, O Ishak, in the description of this damsel, nor did you fairly set forth all that she comprised of charms and art; for that, By God, she is inconceivably more skilful than you; and I know of this craft that which none know save I!" Exclaimed the Wazir Ja'afar, "By God, you sayst truth, O my lord, O Commander of the Faithful. Indeed, she has done away my wit, has this damsel." Ishak said, "By God, O Prince of True Believers, I had said that there was not on the face of the earth one who knew the art of the lute like myself; but when I heard her, my skill became nothing worth in my eyes." Then said the Caliph to her, "Repeat your playing, O Tohfah."

So she repeated it and he cried to her, "Well done!" Moreover, he said to Ishak, "You have indeed brought me a marvellous thing, one which is worth in my eyes the empire of the world." Then he turned to Masrur the eunuch and said to him, "Carry Tohfah to the chamber of honour." Accordingly, she went away with the Castrato and the Caliph looked at her raiment and ornaments and seeing her clad in clothing of choice, asked Ishak, "O Ishak, from where has she these robes?" Answered he, "O my lord, these are something of your bounties and your largesse, and they are a gift to her from me. By God, O Commander of the Faithful, the world, all of it, were little in comparison with her!" Then the Caliph turned to the Wazir Ja'afar and said to him, "Give Ishak fifty thousand dirhams and a robe of honour of the choicest apparel." "Hearing and obeying," replied Ja'afar and gifted him with that which the Caliph ordered him. As for Al-Rashid, he was private with Tohfah that night and found her a pure virgin and rejoiced in her; and she took high rank in his heart, so that he could not suffer her absence a single hour and committed to her the keys of the affairs of the realm, for that which he saw in her of good breeding and fine wit and leal will. He also gave her fifty slave girls and two hundred thousand dinars and a quantity of raiment and ornaments, gems and jewels worth the kingdom of Egypt; and of the excess of his love for her, he would not entrust her to any of the hand maids or eunuchs; but, whenever he went out from her, he locked the door upon her and took the key with him, against he should return to her, forbidding the damsels to go in to her, of his fear lest they should slay her or poison her or practise on her with the knife; and in this way he abode awhile. One day, as she sang before the Commander of the Faithful, he was delighted with exceeding delight, so that he offered to kiss her hand; but she drew it away from him and smote upon her lute and broke it and wept. Al-Rashid wiped away her tears and said, "O desire of the heart, what is it makes you weep? May Allah not cause an eye of yours to shed tears!"

She said, "O my lord, what am I that you should kiss my hand? Will you have Allah punish me for this and my term come to an end and my felicity pass away? For this is what none ever attained unto." He rejoined, "Well said, O Tohfah. Know that your rank in my esteem is high and for that which delighted me of what I saw in you, I offered to do this, but I will not return unto the like of it; so be of good cheer, with eyes cool and clear, for I have no desire to other than yourself and will not die but in the love of you, and you to me art queen this day, to the exclusion of all humankind." Therewith she fell to kissing his feet; and this her fashion pleased him, so that his love for her redoubled and he became unable to brook severance from her a single hour. Now Al-Rashid one day went forth to the chase and left Tohfah in her pavilion. As she sat perusing a book, with a candle branch of gold before her, in which was a perfumed candle, behold, a musk apple

Tale of the Damsel Tohfat Al-Kulub. 57 fell down before her from the top of the saloon. So she looked up and beheld the Lady Zubaydah bint al-Kasim, who saluted her with a salam and acquainted her with herself, whereupon Tohfah sprang to her feet and said, "O my lady, were I not of the number of the new, I had daily sought your service; so do not you bereave me of those noble steps." The Lady Zubaydah called down blessings upon her and replied, "I knew this of you; and, by the life of the Commander of the Faithful, but that it is not of my wont to go forth of my place, I had come out to do my service to you." Then she said to her, "Know, O Tohfah, that the Commander of the Faithful has deserted all his concubines and favourites on yours account, even myself has he abandoned in this way, and I am not content to be as one of the mistresses; yet has he made me of them and forsaken me, and I have sought you, so you may beseech him to come to me, though it be but once a month, in order that I may not be the like of the hand maids and concubines nor take rank with the slave girls; and this is my need of you."

Answered Tohfah, "I hear and I obey! By God, O my lady, I would that he might be with you a whole month and with me but one night, so your heart might be heartened, for that I am one of your hand maids and you in every case art my lady." The Princess Zubaydah thanked her for this and taking leave of her, returned to her palace. When the Caliph came back from the chase and course, he betook himself to Tohfah's pavilion and bringing out the key, opened the lock and went in to her. She rose to receive him and kissed his hand, and he gathered her to his breast and seated her on his knee. Then food was brought to them and they ate and washed their hands; after which she took the lute and sang, till Al-Rashid was moved to sleep. When aware of this, she ceased singing and told him her adventure with the Lady Zubaydah, saying, "O Prince of True Believers, I would have you favour me with a favour and hearten my heart and accept my intercession and reject not my supplication, but fare you directly to the Lady Zubaydah." Now this talk befell after he had stripped himself naked and she also had doffed her dress; and he said, "You should have named this before we stripped ourselves naked, I and you!" But she answered, saying, "O Commander of the Faithful, I did this not except in accordance with the saying of the poet in these couplets,

"Of all intercessions can none succeed, Save whatever Tohfah bint Marján sue'd: No intercessor who comes enveiled; She sues the best who sues mother nude."

When Al-Rashid heard this, her speech pleased him and he strained her to his bosom. Then he went forth from her and locked the door upon her, as before; whereupon she took the book and sat perusing it awhile. Presently, she set it aside and taking the lute, tightened its strings; and smote thereon, after a wondrous fashion, such as would have moved inanimate things to dance, and fell to singing marvellous melodies and chanting these couplets:

"Cease for change to wail, The world blames who rail; Bear patient its shafts That for aye prevail. How often a joy Grief garbed you will hail: How oft gladding bliss Shall appear amid bale!"

Then she turned and saw within the chamber an old man, handsome in his hoariness and stately of semblance, who was dancing in goodly and winning wise, a dance whose like none might dance. So she sought refuge with Allah Almighty from Satan the Stoned and said, "I will not give over what I am about, for whatever the Lord wills, He fulfills." Accordingly, she went on singing till the Shaykh came up to her and kissed ground before her, saying, "Well done, O Highmost of the East and the West! May the world be not bereaved of you! By God, indeed you are perfect of manners and morals, O Tohfat al-Sudúr! Do you know me?" she cried, "Nay, By God, but I think you are of the Jann." he said, "You sayst truth; I am Abú al-Tawáif Iblis, and I come to you every night, and with me

Tale of the Damsel Tohfat Al-Kulub. 59 your sister Kamariyah, for that she loves you and swears not but by your life; and her pastime is not pleasant to her, except she come to you and see you whilst you see her not. As for me, I approach you upon an affair, by which you will gain and rise to high rank with the kings of the Jann and rule them, even as you rule mankind; and to that end I would have you come with me and be present at the festival of my daughter's wedding and the circumcision of my son; for that the Jann are agreed upon the manifestation of your command. And she answered, "Bismillah; in the name of the Lord." So she gave him the lute and he forewent her, till he came to the Chapel of Ease, and behold, within it was a door and a stairway. When Tohfah saw this, her reason fled; but Iblis cheered her with chat. Then he descended the steps and she followed him to the bottom of the stair, where she found a passage and they fared on within it, till they came to a horse standing, ready saddled and bridled and accoutred. Said Iblís, "Bismillah, O my lady Tohfah;" and he held the stirrup for her.

So she mounted and the horse heaved like a wave under her and putting forth wings soared upwards with her, while the Shaykh flew by her side; at which she was affrighted and clung to the pommel of the saddle; nor was it but an hour before they came to a fair green meadow, fresh flowered as if the soil of it were a fine robe, purfled with all manner bright hues. In the very middle of that mead was a palace towering high in air, with crenelles of red gold, set with pearls and gems, and a two leaved door; and about the gateway were much people of the chiefs of the Jann, clad in costliest clothing. When they saw the Shaykh, they all cried out, saying, "The Lady Tohfah is come!" And as soon as she reached the palace gate they pressed forward in a body, and dismounting her from the horse's back, carried her into the palace and fell to kissing her hands. When she entered, she beheld a palace whereof seers never saw the like; for within it were four halls, one facing other, and its walls were of gold and its ceilings of silver. It was high builded of base, wide of space, and those who descried it would be posed to describe it. At the upper end of the hall stood a throne of red gold set with pearls and jewels, up, to which led five steps of silver, and on its right and on its left were many chairs of gold and silver. Tohfah said, "The Shaykh led me to the estrade and seated me on a chair of gold beside the throne, and over the dais was a curtain let down, gold and silver wrought and broidered with pearls and jewels."

And she was amazed at that which she beheld in that place and magnified her Lord (extolled and exalted be He!) and hallowed Him. Then the kings of the Jann came up to that throne and seated themselves thereon; and they were in the semblance of Adam's sons, excepting two of them, who appeared in the form and aspect of the Jann, each with one eye slit endlong and jutting horns and projecting tusks. After this there came up a young lady, fair of favour and seemly of stature, the light of whose face outshone that of the waxen flambeaux; and about her were other three women, than whom none fairer abode on face of earth. They saluted Tohfah with the salam and she rose to them and kissed ground before them; whereupon they embraced her after returning her greeting and sat down on the chairs aforesaid. Now the four women who thus accosted Tohfah were the Princess Kamariyah, daughter of King Al-Shísbán, and her sisters; and Kamariyah loved Tohfah with exceeding love. So, when she came up to her, she fell to kissing and embracing her, and Shaykh Iblis cried, "Fair befall the accolade! Take me between you." At this Tohfah laughed and Kamariyah said, "O my sister, I love you, and doubtless hearts have their witnesses, for, since I saw you, I have loved you." Replied Tohfah, "By God, hearts have sea like deeps, and you, By God, art dear to me and I am your hand maid." Kamariyah thanked her for this and kissing her once more said, "These be the wives of the kings of the Jann: greet them with the salam!

Tale of the Damsel Tohfat Al-Kulub. 61

This is Queen Jamrah, that is Queen Wakhímah and this other is Queen Sharárah, and they come not but for you." So Tohfah rose to her feet and kissed their hands, and the three queens kissed her and welcomed her and honoured her with the utmost honour. Then they brought trays and tables and amongst the rest a platter of red gold, inlaid with pearls and gems; its raised rims were of or and emerald, and thereon were graven these couplets

To bear provisions assigned, By hands noble designed, For the gen'rous I'm made Not for niggardly hind! So eat safe all I hold And praise God of mankind.

After reading the verses they ate and Tohfah looked at the two kings who had not changed shape and said to Kamariyah, "O my lady, what be this feral and that other like unto him? By God, my eye may not suffer the sight of them." Kamariyah laughed and answered, "O my sister, that is my sire Al-Shisban and the other is called Maymún the Sworder; and of the arrogance of their souls and their insolence, they consented not to change their created shapes. Indeed, all whom you see here are nature fashioned like them; but on yours account they have changed favour, for fear lest you be disquieted and for the comforting of your mind, so you might become familiar with them and be at yours ease." Tohfah said, "O my lady, truly I cannot look at them. How frightful is this Maymun, with his monocular face! My eye cannot brook the sight of him, and indeed I am in affright of him." Kamariyah laughed at her speech, and Tohfah continued, "By God, O my lady, I cannot fill my eye with the twain!" Then he criedr father Al-Shisban to her, "What be this laughing?" So she bespoke him in a tongue none understood but they two and acquainted him with that which Tohfah had said; at which he laughed a prodigious loud laugh, as it were the roaring thunder. Presently, they ate and the tables were removed and they washed their hands; after which Iblis the Accursed came up to Tohfah and said to her, "O my lady, you gladdenest the place and enlightenest and embellishest it with your presence; but now Gladly would these kings hear something of your singing, for Night has dispread her pinions for departure and there abides of it but a little." she said, "Hearing and obeying." So she took the lute and touching its strings with rare touch, played thereon after wondrous wise, so that it seemed to those who were present as if the palace surged like a wave with them for the music. Then she began singing and chanting these couplets,

"Folk of my faith and oath, Peace with you be! you not I shall meet you, said, you meet me? I'll chide you softerwise than breeze o' morn, Sweeter than spring of coolest clarity. I' faith my eyelids are with tears chafed sore; My vitals plain to you some cure to see. My friends! Our union to disunion changed Was aye my fear for 'twas my certainty. I'll plain to Allah of all ills I bore; For pine and yearning misery still I dree."

The kings of the Jann were moved to delight by that sweet singing and seemly speech and thanked Tohfah therefore; and Queen Kamariyah rose to her and threw her arms round her neck and kissed her between the eyes, saying, "By God, 'tis good, O my sister and coolth of my eyes and core of my heart!" Then she said, "I conjure you By God, give us more of this lovely singing;" and Tohfah answered with "I hear and I obey." So she took the lute and playing thereon in a mode different from the former fashion, sang these couplets:

"I, oft as ever grows the pine of me, Console my soul with hope your sight to see. Perhaps shall Allah join our parted lives, even as my fortunes far from you cast He! Then oh! who thrallest me by force of love— Seized by fond affection's mastery, All hardships easy grow when you are near; And all the far draws near when near you be. Ah! be the Ruthful light to lover fond, Love lorn, frame wasted, ready Death to dree! Were hope of seeing you cut off, my loved; After yours absence sleep my eyes would flee! I mourn no worldly joyance, my delight Is but to sight you while you see my sight."

Tale of the Damsel Tohfat Al-Kulub. 63

At this the accursed Iblis was hugely pleased and thrust his finger up his fundament, whilst Maymun danced and said, "O Tohfat al-Sudur, soften the sound; for, as pleasure enters into my heart, it arrests my breath and blood." So she took the lute and altering the tune, played a third air; then she returned to the first and sang these couplets:

"The waves of your love over my life have rolled; I sink while I see you all aid withhold: You have drowned my vitals in deeps of your love, Nor can heart and sprite for your loss be consoled: Deem not I forget my troth after you: How forget what Allah decreed of old? Love clings to the lover who nights in grief, And 'plains of unrest and of woes ensouled."

The kings and all those who were present rejoiced in this with joy exceeding and the accursed Iblis came up to Tohfah and kissing her hand, said to her, "truly there abides but little of the night; so tarry with us till the morrow, when we will apply ourselves to the wedding and the circumcision."

Then all the Jann went away, whereupon Tohfah rose to her feet and Iblis said, "Go you up with Tohfah to the garden for the rest of the night." So Kamariyah took her and went with her into the garden, which contained all manner birds, nightingale and mocking bird and ringdove and curlew and other than these of all the kinds. within it were all manner of fruits: its channels were of gold and silver and the water of it, as it broke forth of its conduits, was like the bellies of fleeing serpents, and indeed it was as it were the Garden of Eden. When Tohfah beheld this, she called to mind her lord and wept sore and said, "I beseech Allah the Most High to vouchsafe me speedy deliverance and return to my palace and to my high estate and queendom and glory, and reunion with my lord and master Al-Rashid." Then she walked about that garden and saw in its midst a dome of white marble, raised on columns of black teak whereto hung curtains purfled with pearls and gems. In the very middle of this pavilion was a fountain, inlaid with all kinds of jacinths, and thereon a golden statue of a man and beside it a little door.

Tale of the Damsel Tohfat Al-Kulub. 65

She opened the door and found herself in a long corridor: so she followed it and entered a Hammam bath walled with all kinds of costly marbles and floored with a mosaic of pearls and jewels. within it were four cisterns of alabaster, one facing other, and the ceiling of the bath was of glass coloured with all varieties of colours, such as confounded the understanding of those who have insight and amazed the wit of every people. Tohfah entered the bath, after she had doffed her dress, and behold the Hammam basin was overlaid with gold set with pearls and red balasses and green emeralds and other jewels: so she extolled Allah Almighty and hallowed Him for the magnificence of that which she saw of the appointments of that bath. Then she made her Wuzu ablution in that basin and pronouncing the Prohibition, prayed the dawn prayer and what else had escaped her of orisons; after which she went out and walked in that garden among jessamine and lavender and roses and chamomile and gillyflowers and thyme and violets and basil royal, till she came to the door of the pavilion aforesaid. There she sat down, pondering that which would happen Al-Rashid after her, when he should come to her apartment and find her not; and she plunged into the sea of her solicitude, till slumber overtook her and soon she slept. Presently, she felt a breath upon her face; whereupon she awoke and found Queen Kamariyah kissing her, and with her three sisters, Queen Jamrah, Queen Wakhímah and Queen Sharárah.

So she arose and kissed their hands and rejoiced in them with the utmost joy and they did not stop, she and they, to talk and converse, what while she related to them her history, from the time of her purchase by the Maghrabi to that of her coming to the quarters of the slave dealer, where she besought Ishak al-Nadim to buy her, and how she won union with Al-Rashid, till the moment when Iblis came to her and brought her to them. They gave not over talking till the sun declined and yellowed and the hour of its setting drew near and the day departed, whereupon Tohfah was urgent in supplication to Allah Almighty, on the occasion of the sundown prayer, that he would reunite her with her lord

Tale of the Damsel Tohfat Al-Kulub. 67

Al-Rashid. After this, she abode with the four queens, till they arose and entered the palace, where she found the waxen tapers lit and ranged in candlesticks of gold and silver, and censing vessels of silver and gold filled with lign aloes and ambergris, and there were the kings of the Jann sitting. So she saluted them with the salam, kissing the earth before them and doing them service; and they rejoiced in her and in her sight. Then she ascended the estrade and sat down upon her chair, whilst King Al-Shisban and King Al-Muzfir and Queen Lúlúah and other kings of the Jann sat on chairs, and they brought choice tables, spread with all manner meats befitting royalties. They ate their fill; after which the tables were removed and they washed their hands and wiped them with napkins. Then they brought the wine service and set on tasses and cups and flagons and beakers of gold and silver and bowls of crystal and gold; and they poured out the wines and they filled the flagons. Then Iblis took the bowl and signed to Tohfah to sing: and she said, "I hear and I obey!" So she seized the lute in hand and tuning it, sang these couplets,

"Drink wine, O you lovers, I counsel you alwáy, And praise his worth who loves night and day; 'Mid the myrtle, narcissus and lavender, And the scented herbs that bedeck the tray."

So Iblis the Damned drank and said, "Brava, O desire of hearts! But you owest me still another aria." Then he filled the cup and signed to her to sing. she said, "I hear and I obey," and chanted these couplets,

"You know, I am whelmed in despair and despight, You dressed me blight that delights your sight: Your wone is between my unrest and my eyes; Nor tears to melt you, nor sighs have might. How oft shall I sue you for justice, and you With a pining death my dear love requite? But your harshness is duty, your farness near; Your hate is Union, your wrath is delight: Take your fill of reproach as you will: you claim All my heart, and I reck not of safety or blame."

All present were delighted and the sitting chamber was moved like a wave with mirth, and Iblis said, "Brava, O Tohfat al-Sudur!" Then they did not leave liquor bibbing and rejoicing and making merry and tambourining and piping till the night waned and the dawn grew near; and indeed exceeding delight entered into them. The most of them in mirth was the Shaykh Iblis, and for the stress of that which befell him of joyance, he doffed all that was on him of coloured clothes and cast them over Tohfah, and among the rest a robe broidered with jewels and jacinths, worth ten thousand dinars. Then he kissed the earth and danced and he thrust his finger up his fundament and hending his beard in hand, said to her, "Sing about this beard and endeavour after mirth and pleasance, and no blame shall happen you for this." So she improvised and sang these couplets:

"Barbe of the olden, the one eyed goat! What words shall your foulness o' deed denote? Be not of our praises so pompous proud: Your worth for a dock tail dog's I know.

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By God, tomorrow shall see me drub Your nape with a cow hide and dust your coat!"

All those present laughed at her mockery of Iblis and wondered at the wittiness of her visnomy and her readiness in versifying, whilst the Shaykh himself rejoiced and said to her, "O Tohfat al-Sudur, truly, the night be gone; so arise and rest yourself before the day; and tomorrow there shall be nothing save weal." Then all the kings of the Jinn departed, together with those who were present of guards; and Tohfah abode alone, pondering the case of Al-Rashid and bethinking her of how it went with him after her going, and of what had happened him for her loss, till the dawn lightened, when she arose and walked about the palace. Suddenly she saw a handsome door; so she opened it and found herself in a flower garden finer than the first—never saw eyes of seer a fairer than it. When she beheld this garth, she was moved to delight and she called to mind her lord Al-Rashid and wept with sore weeping and cried, "I crave of the bounty of Allah Almighty that my return to him and to my palace and to my home may be nearhand!" Then she walked about the parterres till she came to a pavilion, high builded of base and wide of space, never espied mortal nor heard of a grander than it.

So she entered and found herself in a long corridor, which led to a Hammam goodlier than that aforetime described, and its cisterns were full of rose water mingled with musk. Tohfah said, "Extolled be Allah! Indeed, this is none other than a mighty great king." Then she pulled off her clothes and washed her body and made her Ghusl ablution of the whole person and prayed that which was due from her of prayer from the evening of the previous day. When the sun rose upon the gate of the garden and she saw the wonders of it, with that which was within it of all kinds blooms and streams, and heard the voices of its birds, she marvelled at what she beheld of the rareness of its ordinance and the beauty of its disposition and sat musing over the case of Al-Rashid and pondering what was come of him after her. Her tears coursed down her cheeks and the zephyr blew on her;

so she slept and knew no more till she suddenly felt a breath on her side face, at which she awoke in affright and found Queen Kamariyah kissing her, and she was accompanied by her sisters, who said, "Rise, for the sun has set." So Tohfah arose and making the Wuzu ablution, prayed her due of prayers and accompanied the four queens to the palace, where she saw the grow candles lighted and the kings sitting. She saluted them with the salam and seated herself upon her couch; and behold, King Al-Shisban had shifted his semblance, for all the pride of his soul. Then came up Iblis (whom Allah damn!) and Tohfah rose to him and kissed his hands. He also kissed her hand and blessed her and asked, "How think you? Is not this place pleasant, for all its desertedness and desolation?" Answered she, "None may be desolate in this place;" and he cried, "Know that this is a site whose soil no mortal dare tread;" but she rejoined, "I have dared and trodden it, and this is one of your many favours." Then they brought tables and dishes and viands and fruits and sweetmeats and other matters, whose description passes powers of mortal man, and they ate their sufficiency; after which the tables were removed and the dessert trays and platters set on, and they ranged the bottles and flagons and vessels and phials, together with all manner fruits and sweet scented flowers. The first to raise the bowl was Iblis the Accursed, who said, "O Tohfat al-Sudur, sing over my cup." So she took the lute and touching it, carolled these couplets,

"Wake you, Ho sleepers all! and take your joy Of Time, and boons he deigned to bestow; Then hail the Wine bride, drain the wine ptisane Which, poured from flagon, flows with flaming glow: O Cup boy, serve the wine, bring round the red Whose draught gives all we hope for here below: What's worldly pleasure save my lady's face, Draughts of pure wine and song of musico?"

So Iblis drained his bowl and, when he had made an end of his draught, waved his hand to Tohfah; then, throwing off that which was upon him of clothes, delivered them to her. The suit would have brought ten thousand dinars and with it was a tray full of jewels worth a mint of money. Presently, he filled again and gave the cup to his son Al-Shisban, who took it

Tale of the Damsel Tohfat Al-Kulub. 71 from his hand and kissing it, stood up and sat down again. Now there was before him a tray of roses; so he said to her, "O Tohfah, sing you somewhat upon these roses." She replied, "I hear and I obey," and chanted these two couplets,

It proves my price over all the flowers that I Seek you each year, yet stay but little stound: And high my vaunt I'm dyed by my lord Whom Allah made the best ever trod on ground."

So Al-Shisban drank off the cup in his turn and said, "Brava, O desire of hearts!" And he bestowed on her that was upon him, to wit, a dress of cloth of pearl, fringed with great unions and rubies and purfled with precious gems, and a tray in which were fifty thousand dinars. Then Maymun the Sworder took the cup and began gazing intently upon Tohfah. Now there was in his hand a pomegranate flower and he said to her, "Sing you somewhat, O queen of mankind and Jinn kind upon this pomegranate flower; for indeed you have dominion over all hearts." she said, "I hear and I obey;" and she improvised and sang these couplets,

"Breathes sweet the zephyr on fair parterre; Robing lute in the flamings that fell from air: And moaned from the boughs with its cooing rhyme Voice of ring doves plaining their love and care: The branch dresses in suit of fine sendal green And in wine hues borrowed from bloom Gulnare."

Maymun the Sworder drained his bowl and said to her, "Brava, O perfection of qualities!" Then he signed to her and was absent awhile, after which he returned and with him a tray of jewels worth an hundred thousand ducats, which he gave to Tohfah. Thereupon Kamariyah arose and bade her slave girl open the closet behind the Songstress, in which she laid all that wealth; and committed the key to her, saying, "whatever of riches comes to you, lay you in this closet that is by your side, and after the festivities, it shall be borne to your palace on the heads of the Jinn." Tohfah kissed her hand and another king, by name Munír, took the bowl and filling it, said to her, "O ferly Fair, sing to me over my bowl somewhat upon the jasmine." She replied with, "I hear and I obey," and improvised these couplets,

" 'Twere as though the Jasmine (when self she enrobes On her boughs) does display to my wondering eyne; In sky of green beryl, which Beauty enclothes, Star groups like studs of the silvern mine."

Munir drank off his cup and ordered her eight hundred thousand dinars, at which Kamariyah rejoiced and rising to her feet, kissed Tohfah on her face and said to her, "Be the world never bereaved of you, O you who lordest it over the hearts of Jinn kind and mankind!" Then she returned to her place and the Shaykh Iblis arose and danced, till all present were confounded; after which the Songstress said, "truly, you embellishest my festivities, O you who commandest men and Jinn and rejoicest their hearts with your loveliness and the beauty of your faithfulness to your lord. All that your hands possess shall be borne to you in your palace and placed at your service; but now the dawn is nearhand; so do you rise and rest you according to your custom." Tohfah turned and found with her none of the Jinn; so she laid her head on the floor and slept till she had gotten her repose; after which she arose and betaking herself to the lakelet, made the Wuzu ablution and prayed. Then she sat beside the water awhile and meditated the matter of her lord Al-Rashid and that which had happened him after her loss and wept with sore weeping. Presently, she heard a blowing behind her; so she turned and behold, a Head without a body and with eyes slit endlong: it was of the bigness of an elephant's skull and bigger and had a mouth as it were an oven and projecting canines as they were grapnels, and hair which trailed upon the ground. So Tohfah cried, "I take refuge with Allah from

Tale of the Damsel Tohfat Al-Kulub. 73

Satan the Stoned!" And recited the Two Preventives; what while the Head drew near her and said, "Peace be with you, O Princess of Jinn and men and union pearl of her age and her time! Allah continue you on life, for all the lapsing of the days, and reunite you with your lord the Imam!" She replied, "And upon you be Peace; O you whose like I have not seen among the Jann!" The Head said, "We are a folk who may not change their favours and we are called Ghuls: mortals summon us to their presence, but we cannot present ourselves before them without leave. As for me, I have gotten leave of the Shaykh Abu al-Tawaif to appear before you and I desire of your favour that you sing me a song, so I may go to your palace and question its Haunters concerning the plight of your lord after you and return to you; and know, O Tohfat al-Sudur, that between you and your lord be a distance of fifty years' journey for the bona fide traveller." She rejoined, "Indeed, you grievest me anent him between whom and me is fifty years' journey;" but the Head cried to her, "Be of good cheer and of eyes cool and clear, for the sovrans of the Jann will restore you to him in less than the twinkling of an eye." she said, "I will sing you an hundred songs, so you will bring me news of my lord and that which happened him after me." And the Head said, "Do you favour me and sing me a song, so I may go to your lord and fetch you tidings of him, for that I desire, before I go, to hear your voice, so Perhaps my thirst may be quenched." So she took the lute and tuning it, sang these couplets:

"They have marched, yet no empty stead left they: They are gone, nor heart grieves me that fled be they: My heart forebode the bereaval of friends; Allah never bereave steads wherefrom sped be they! Though they hid the stations where led were they, I'll follow till stars fall in disarray!

You slumber, but wake shall never fly these lids; 'Tis I bear what you never bore—well away! It had irked them not to farewell who fares With the parting fires that my heart waylay. My friends, your meeting to me is much But more is the parting befell us tway: You're my heart's delight, or you present be Or absent, with you is my soul for aye!"

Thereupon the Head wept exceeding sore and cried, "O my lady, indeed you have solaced my heart, and I have nothing but my life; so take it." She replied, "Nay, If I but knew that you would bring me news of my lord Al-Rashid, 'twere fainer to me than the reign of the world;" and the Head answered her, "It shall be done as you desire." Then it disappeared and returning to her at the last of the night said, "O my lady, know that I have been to your palace and have questioned one of its Haunters of the case of the Commander of the Faithful and that which befell him after you; and he said, 'When the Prince of True Believers came to Tohfah's apartment and found her not and saw no sign of her, he buffeted his face and head and rent his raiment.' Now there was in your chamber the Castrato, the chief of your household, and the Caliph cried out at him, saying, 'Bring me Ja'afar the Barmaki and his father and brother at this very moment!' The Eunuch went out, bewildered in his wit for fear of the King, and when he stood in the presence of Ja'afar, he said to him, 'Come to the Commander of the Faithful, you and your father and your brother.'

So they arose in haste and betaking themselves to the presence, said, 'O Prince of True Believers what may be the matter?' He said, 'There is a matter which passes description. Know that I locked the door and taking the key with me, betook myself to my uncle's daughter, with whom I lay the night; but, when I arose in the morning and came and opened the door, I found no sign of Tohfah.' Ja'afar said, 'O Commander of the Faithful have patience, for that the damsel has been snatched away, and needs must she return, seeing that she took the lute with her, and 'tis her own lute. The Jinns have assuredly carried her off, and we trust in Allah Almighty that she will return.' Cried the Caliph, 'This is a thing which may nowise be!' And he abode in her apartment, nor eating nor

Tale of the Damsel Tohfat Al-Kulub. 75 drinking, while the Barmecides besought him to fare forth to the folk; and he weeps and tarries on such fashion till she shall return. This, then, is that which has happened him after you." When Tohfah heard his words, they were grievous to her and she wept with sore weeping; whereupon the Head to her said, "The relief of Allah the Most High is nearhand; but now let me hear something of your speech." So she took the lute and sang three songs, weeping the while. The Head exclaimed, "By God, you have been bountiful to me, the Lord be with you!" Then it disappeared and the season of sundown came: so she rose and betook herself to her place in the hall; whereupon behold, the candles sprang up from under the earth and kindled themselves. Then the kings of the Jann appeared and saluted her and kissed her hands and she greeted them with the salam. Presently, appeared Kamariyah and her three sisters and saluted Tohfah and sat down; whereupon the tables were brought and they ate; and when the tables were removed there came the wine tray and the drinking service. So Tohfah took the lute and one of the three queens filled the cup and signed to the Songstress. Now she had in her hand a violet, so Tohfah improvised these couplets: —

"I'm clad in a leaf cloak of green; In an honour robe ultramarine: I'm a wee thing of loveliest mien But all flowers as my vassals are seen: An Rose title her 'Morn pride,' I ween Nor before me nor after she's Queen."

The queen drank off her cup and bestowed on Tohfah a dress of cloth of pearl, fringed with red rubies, worth twenty thousand ducats, and a tray on which were ten thousand sequins. All this while Maymun's eye was upon her and presently he said to her, "Harkye, Tohfah! Sing to me." But Queen Zalzalah cried out at him, and said, "Desist, O Maymun. You sufferest not Tohfah to pay heed to us." he said, "I will have her sing to me:" and many words passed between them and Queen Zalzalah cried aloud at him. Then she shook and became like unto the Jinns and taking in her hand a mace of stone, said to him, "Fie upon you! What are you that you should bespeak us thus? By God, but for the respect due to kings and my fear of troubling the session and the festival and the mind of the Shaykh Iblis, I would assuredly beat the folly out of your head!" When Maymun heard these her words, he rose, with the fire shooting from his eyes, and said, "O daughter of Imlák, what are you that you should outrage me with the like of this talk?" she replied, "Woe to you, O dog of the Jinn, know you not your place?"

So saying, she ran at him, and offered to strike him with the mace, but the Shaykh Iblis arose and casting his turband on the ground cried, "Out on you, O Maymun! You do always with us in this way. Wheresoever you are present, you troublest our pleasure! Can you not hold your peace until you go forth of the festival and this bride feast be accomplished? When the circumcision is at an end and you all return to your dwellings, then do as you willest. Fie upon you, O Maymun! Wottest you not that kaiak is of the chiefs of the Jinn? But for my good name, you should have seen what would have happened you of humiliation and chastisement; yet on account of the festival none may speak. Indeed you exceedest; do you not ken that her sister Wakhimah is doughtier than any of the Jann? Learn to know yourself: have you no regard for your life?" So Maymun was silent and Iblis turned to Tohfah and said to her, "Sing to the kings of the Jinns this day and tonight until the morrow, when the boy will be circumcised and each shall return to his own place." Accordingly she took the lute and Kamariyah said to her (now she had a citron in hand), "O my sister, sing to me somewhat on this citron." Tohfah replied, "I hear and I obey," and improvising, sang these couplets,

"I'm a dome of fine gold and right cunningly dressed; And my sweetness of youth gladds every sight: My wine is ever the drink of kings And I'm fittest gift to the friendliest sprite."

At this Queen Kamariyah rejoiced with joy exceeding and drained her cup, crying, "Brava! O you choice Gift of hearts!" Furthermore, she took off a sleeved robe of blue brocade, fringed with red rubies, and a necklace of white jewels worth an hundred thousand ducats, and gave them to Tohfah. Then she passed the cup to her sister Zalzalah, who seized in her hand

Tale of the Damsel Tohfat Al-Kulub. 77 herb basil, and she said to Tohfah, "Sing to me somewhat on this basil." She replied, "Hearing and obeying," and improvised and sang these couplets,

"I'm the Queen of herbs in the seance of wine And in Heaven Na'ím are my name and sign: And the best are promised, in garth of Khuld, Repose, sweet scents and the peace divine: What prizes then with my price shall vie? What rank even mine, in all mortals' eyne?"

at that Queen Zalzalah rejoiced with joy exceeding and bidding her treasuress bring a basket, in which were fifty pairs of bracelets and the same number of earrings, all of gold, crusted with jewels of price, whose like nor mankind nor Jinn kind possessed, and an hundred robes of vari coloured brocades and an hundred thousand ducats, gave the whole to Tohfah. Then she passed the cup to her sister Shararah, who had in her hand a stalk of narcissus; so she took it from her and turning to the Songstress, said to her, "O Tohfah, sing to me somewhat on this." She.replied, "I hear and I obey," and improvised these couplets,

"With the smaragd wand does my form compare; 'Mid the finest flowers my worth's rarest rare: My eyes are likened to Beauty's eyne, And my gaze is still on the bright parterre."

When she had made an end of her song, Shararah was moved to delight exceeding, and drinking off her cup, said to her, "Brava, O you choice Gift of hearts!" Then she ordered her an hundred dresses of brocade and an hundred thousand ducats and passed the cup to Queen Wakhimah. Now she had in her hand something of Nu'uman's bloom, the anemone; so she took the cup from her sister and turning to the Songstress, said to her, "O Tohfah, sing to me on this." she said, "I hear and I obey," and improvised these couplets,

"I'm a dye was dyed by the Ruthful's might; And all confess me the goodliest sight: I began in the dust and the clay, but now On the cheeks of fair women I rank by right."

Therewith Wakhimah rejoiced with joy exceeding and drinking off the cup, ordered her twenty dresses of Roumí brocade and a tray, in which were thirty thousand ducats. Then she gave the cup to Queen Shu'á'ah, Regent of the Fourth Sea, who took it and said, "O my lady Tohfah, sing to me on the gillyflower." She replied, "Hearing and obeying," and improvised these couplets,

"The time of my presence never draws to a close, Amid all whose joyance with mirth o'erflows; When topers gather to sit at wine Or in nightly shade or when morning shows, I filch from the flagon to fill the bowls And the crystal cup where the winebeam glows."

Queen Shu'a'ah rejoiced with joy exceeding and emptying her cup, gave Tohfah an hundred thousand ducats. Then up sprang Iblis (whom Allah curse!) and cried, "truly, the dawn lightens;" whereupon the folk arose and disappeared, all of them, and there abode not one of them save the Songstress, who went forth to the garden and entering the Hammam made her Wuzu ablutions and prayed whatever lacked her of prayers. Then she sat down and when the sun rose, behold, there came up to her near an hundred thousand green birds, which filled the branches of the trees with their multitudes and they warbled in various voices, whilst Tohfah marvelled at their fashion. Suddenly, appeared eunuchs, bearing a throne of gold, studded with pearls and gems and jacinths, both white and red, and having four steps of gold, together with many carpets of sendal and brocade and Coptic cloth of silk sprigged with gold; and all these they spread in the centre of the garden and setting up the throne thereon, perfumed the place with virgin musk, Nadd and ambergris. After that, there came a queen; never saw eyes a fairer than she nor than her qualities; she was robed in rich raiment, broidered with pearls and gems, and on her head was a crown set with various kinds of unions and jewels. About her were five hundred slave girls, high bosomed maids, as they were moons, screening her, right and left, and she among them like the moon on the night of its full, for that she was

Tale of the Damsel Tohfat Al-Kulub. 79 the most worthy of them in majesty and dignity. She did not stop walking till she came to Tohfah, whom she found gazing on her in amazement; and when the Songstress saw her turn to her, she rose to her, standing on her feet, and saluted her and kissed ground between her hands. The queen rejoiced in her and putting out her hand to her, drew her to herself and seated her by her side on the couch; whereupon the Songstress kissed her hands and the queen said to her, "Know, O Tohfah, that all which you treadest of these carpets belongs not to any of the Jinn, who may never tread them without your leave, for that I am the queen of them all and the Shaykh Abu al-Tawaif Iblis sought my permission to hold festival and prayed me urgently to be present at the circumcision of his son. So I despatched to him, in my stead, a slave girl of my slave girls, namely, Shu'á'ah Queen of the Fourth Sea, who is vice reine of my reign. When she was present at the wedding and saw you and heard your singing, she sent to me, informing me of you and setting forth to me your grace and amiability and the beauty of your breeding and your courtesy.

So I am come to you, for that which I have heard of your charms, and by this I do you a mighty great favour in the eyes of all the Jann." Thereupon Tohfah arose and kissed the earth and the queen thanked her for this and bade her sit. So she sat down and the queen called for foods when they brought a table of gold, inlaid with pearls and jacinth; and jewels and bearing kinds manifold of birds and viands of various hues, and the queen said, "O Tohfah, in the name of Allah! Let us eat bread and salt together, I and you." Accordingly the Songstress came forward and ate of those meats and found within it somewhat the like whereof she had never eaten; no, nor anything more delicious than it, while the slave girls stood around the table, as the white compasses the black of the eye, and she sat conversing and laughing with the queen. Then said the lady, "O my sister, a slave girl told me of you that you said, 'How loathly is what that Jinni Maymun eats!" Tohfah replied, "By God, O my lady,

I have not any eye that scan look at him, and indeed I am fearful of him." When the queen heard this, she laughed till she fell backwards and said, "O my sister, by the might of the graving upon the seal ring of Solomon, prophet of Allah, I am queen over all the Jann, and none dare so much as cast on you a glance of the eye;" at which Tohfah kissed her hand. Then the tables were removed and the twain sat talking. Presently, up came the kings of the Jinn from every side and kissed ground before the queen and stood in her service; and she thanked them for this, but moved not for one of them. Then appeared the Shaykh Abu al-Tawáif Iblis (Allah curse him!) and kissed the earth before her, saying, "O my lady, may I not be bereft of these steps!" She replied, "O Shaykh Abu al-Tawáif, it behoves you to thank the bounty of the Lady Tohfah, who was the cause of my coming." Rejoined he, "You say truth," and kissed ground. Then the queen fared on towards the palace and there arose and alighted upon the trees an hundred thousand birds of manifold hues. The Songstress asked, "How many are these birds?" and Queen Wakhimah answered her, "Know, O my sister, that this queen is called Queen al-Shahbá and that she is queen over all the Jann from East to West. These birds you see are of her host, and unless they appeared in this shape, earth would not be wide enough for them. Indeed, they came forth with her and are present with her presence at this circumcision. She will give you after the measure of that which has been given to you from the first of the festival to the last of it; and indeed she honours us all with her presence." Then the queen entered the palace and sat down on the couch of the circumcision at the upper end of the hall, whereupon Tohfah took the lute and pressing it to her breast, touched its strings suchwise that the wits of all present were bewildered and Shaykh Iblis cried to her, "O my lady Tohfah, I conjure you, by the life of this noble queen, sing for me

Tale of the Damsel Tohfat Al-Kulub. 81 and praise yourself, and cross me not." she said, "I hear and I obey; still, but for yours adjuration, I had not done this. Say me, does any praise himself? What manner thing is this?" Then she improvised these couplets:

"In all fetes I'm Choice Gift to the minstrel race; Folk attest my worth, rank and my pride of place, While Fame, merit and praises with honour engrace."

Her verses pleased the kings of the Jann and they cried, "By God, you sayst truth!" Then she rose to her feet, hending lute in hand, and played and sang, whilst the Jinns and the Shaykh Abu al-Tawáif danced. Presently, the Father of the Tribes came up to her kissing her bosom, and gave her a Bráhmani carbuncle he had taken from the hidden hoard of Yáfis bin Núh (on whom be the Peace), and which was worth the reign of the world; its light was as the sheen of the sun and he said to her, "Take this and be equitable therewith to the people of the world." She kissed his hand and rejoiced in the jewel and said, "By God, this befits none save the Commander of the Faithful." Now Queen Al-Shahba laughed with delight at the dancing of Iblís and she said to him, "By God, this is a goodly pavane!" He thanked her for this and said to the Songstress, "O Tohfah, there is not on earth's face a skilfuller than Ishak al-Nadim; but you are more skilful than he. Indeed, I have been present with him many a time and have shown him positions on the lute, and there has happened me with him that which happened. Indeed, the story of my dealings with him is a long one but this is no time to repeat it; for now I would show you a shift on the lute, by which you will be exalted over all folk." she said, "Do what seems good to you."

So he took the lute and played thereon a wondrous playing, with rare divisions and marvellous modulations, and showed her a passage she knew not; and this was goodlier to her than all that she had gotten. Then she took the lute from him and playing thereon, sang and presently returned to the passage which he had shown her; and he said, "By God, you singest better than I!" As for Tohfah, it became manifest to her that her former practice was all of it wrong and that what she had learnt from the Shaykh Abu al-Tawáif Iblís was the root and foundation of all perfection in the art and its modes. So she rejoiced in that which she had won of skill in touching the lute far more than in all that had fallen to her lot of wealth and honour robes and kissed the Master's hand. Then said Queen Al-Shahba, "By God, O Shaykh, my sister Tohfah is indeed singular among the folk of her time, and I hear that she sings upon all sweet smelling blooms." Iblis replied, "Yes, O my lady, and I am in extremest wonderment at that. But there remains something of sweet scented flowers, which she has not besung, such as myrtle and tuberose and jessamine and the moss rose and the like." Then the Shaykh signed to her to sing somewhat upon the rest of the flowers, that Queen Al-Shahba might hear, and she said, "Hearing and obeying." So she took the lute and played thereon in many modes, then returned to the first and sang these couplets,

"I'm one of the lover retinue Whom long pine and patience have doomed rue: And sufferance of parting from kin and friends Has clothed me, O folk, in this yellow hue: Then, after the joyance had passed away, Heart break, abasement and cark I knew, Through the long, long day when the lift is light, Nor, when night is murk, my pangs cease pursue: So, 'twixt fairest hope and unfailing fear, My bitter tears ever flow anew."

at that Queen Al-Shahba rejoiced with joy exceeding and cried, "Brava, O queen of delight! No one is able to describe you. Sing to us on the Apple." Tohfah said, "I hear and I obey." Then she recited these couplets,

"I surpass all forms in my coquetry For my inner worth and my outer blee; Tend me noble hands in the sight of all And slake with pure waters the thirst of me; My robe is of sendal, and eke my veil Is of sunlight the Ruthful has bidden be: When my fair companions are marched afar, In sorrow fro' home they are forced to flee:

Tale of the Damsel Tohfat Al-Kulub. 83

But noble hands deign hearten my heart With beds where I sit in my high degree; And where, like full moon at its rise, my light 'mid the garden fruits you will ever see."

Queen Al-Shahba rejoiced in this with exceeding joy and cried, "Brava! By God, there is none excells you." Tohfah kissed the ground, then returned to her place and versified on the Tuberose, saying,

"I'm a marvel bloom to be worn on head! Though a stranger among you fro' home I fled: Make use of wine in my company And flout at Time who in languish sped. even so does camphor my hue attest, O my lords, as I stand in my present stead. So gar me your gladness when dawns day, And to highmost seat in your homes be I led: And quaff your cups in all jollity, And cheer and ease shall never cease to be."

At this Queen Al-Shahba rejoiced with exceeding joy and cried, "Brava, O queen of delight! By God, I know not how I shall do to give you your due! May the Most High grant us the grace of your long continuance!" Then she strained her to her breast and kissed her on the cheek; whereupon Iblis said,(on whom be a curse!), "This is a mighty great honour!" The queen said, "Know that this lady Tohfah is my sister and that her biddance is my biddance and her forbiddance my forbiddance. So all of you hearken to her word and render her worshipful obedience." Therewith the kings rose in a body and kissed ground before Tohfah, who rejoiced in this. Moreover, Queen Al-Shahba doffed dress and habited her in a suit adorned with pearls, jewels and jacinths, worth an hundred thousand ducats, and wrote for her on a slip of paper a patent appointing her to be her deputy. So the Songstress rose and kissed ground before the Queen, who said to her, "Of your favour, sing to us somewhat concerning the rest of the sweet scented flowers and herbs, so I may hear your chant and solace myself with witnessing your skill." She replied, "I hear and I obey, O lady mine," and, taking the lute, improvised these couplets,

"My hue excells all hues in light, And I would all eyes should enjoy my sight:

My site is the site of fillets and pearls Where the fairest brows are with jasmine dressed: My light's uprist (and what light it shows!) Is a silvern zone on the waist of Night."

Then she changed the measure and improvised these couplets,

"I'm the gem of herbs, and in seasons twain My tryst I keep with my lovers train: I do not stop union for length of time Nor visits, though some be of severance glad; The true one am I and my troth I keep, And, easy of plucking, no hand disdain."

Then, changing measure and the mode, she played so that she bewildered the wits of those who were present, and Queen Al-Shahba, moved to mirth and merriment cried, "Brava, O queen of delight!" Presently, she returned to the first mode and improvised these couplets on Nenuphar,

"I fear me lest freke espy me, In air when I glad deny me; So I root me beneath the wave, And my stalks to bow down apply me."

at this Queen Al-Shahba rejoiced with exceeding joy, and cried, "Brava, O Tohfah! Let me hear more of your chant." Accordingly, she smote the lute and changing the mode, recited on the Moss rose these couplets,

"Look on Nasrín those branchy shoots surround; With greenest leafery 'tis deckt and crowned: Its graceful bending stem draws every gaze While beauteous bearing makes their love abound."

Then she changed measure and mode and sang these couplets on the Water lily,

"O you who ask Súsan of her scent, Hear you my words and beauty of my lay. 'Emir am I whom all mankind desire' (She said) 'or present or when ta'en away.' "

When Tohfah had made an end of her song, Queen Al-Shahba rose and said, "I never heard from any the like of this;" and she drew the Songstress to her

Tale of the Damsel Tohfat Al-Kulub. 85 and fell to kissing her. Then she took leave of her and flew away; and on like wise all the birds took flight with her, so that they walled the horizon; whilst the rest of the kings tarried behind. Now as soon as it was the fourth night, there came the boy who was to be circumcised, adorned with jewels such as never saw eye nor heard ear of, and amongst the rest a crown of gold crusted with pearls and gems, the worth whereof was an hundred thousand sequins. He sat down upon the couch and Tohfah sang to him, till the chirurgeon came and they snipped his foreskin in the presence of all the kings, who showered on him a mighty great store of jewels and jacinths and gold. Queen Kamariyah bade her Eunuchs gather up all this and lay it in Tohfah's closet and it was as much in value as all that had fallen to her, from the first of the festivities to the last of it. Moreover, the Shaykh Iblis (whom Allah curse!) bestowed upon the Songstress the crown worn by the boy and gave the circumcisee another, at which Tohfah's reason took flight.

Then the Jinn departed, in order of rank, whilst Iblis farewelled them, band after band. Seeing the Shaykh thus occupied with taking leave of the kings, Maymun seized his opportunity, the place being empty, and taking up Tohfah on his shoulders, soared aloft with her to the confines of the lift, and flew away with her. Presently, Iblis came to look for the Songstress and see what she purposed, but found her not and sighted the slave girls slapping their faces: so he said to them, "Fie on you! What may be the matter?" They replied, "O our lord, Maymun has snatched up Tohfah and flown away with her." When Iblis heard this, he gave a cry whereto earth trembled and said, "What is to be done?" Then he buffetted his face and head, exclaiming, "Woe to you! This be none other than exceeding insolence. Shall he carry off Tohfah from my very palace and attaint mine honour? Doubtless, this Maymun has lost his wits." Then he cried out a second time, so that the earth quaked, and rose on his wings high in air. The news came to the rest of the kings; so they flew after him and overtaking him, found him full of anxiety and affright, with fire issuing from his nostrils, and said to him, "O Shaykh al-Tawaif, what is to do?" He replied, "Know you that

Maymun has carried off Tohfah from my palace and attainted mine honour." When they heard this, they cried, "There is no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah the Glorious, the Great. By God he has ventured upon a grave matter and truly he destroys self and folk!" Then Shaykh Iblis did not stop flying till he fell in with the tribes of the Jann, and they gathered together a world of people, none may tell the tale of them save the Lord of All might. So they came to the Fortress of Copper and the Citadel of Lead, and the people of the sconces saw the tribes of the Jann issuing from every deep mountain pass and said, "What be the news?" Then Iblis went in to King Al-Shisban and acquainted him with that which had befallen; whereupon he said, "truly, Allah has destroyed Maymun and his many! He pretends to possess Tohfah, and she is become queen of the Jann! But have patience till we devise that which befits in the matter of Tohfah." Iblis asked, "And what befits it to do?" And Al-Shisban answered, "We will fall upon him and kill him and his host with cut of brand."

Then Shaykh Iblis said, " 'Twere better to acquaint Queen Kamariyah and Queen Zalzalah and Queen Shararah and Queen Wakhimah; and when they are assembled, Allah shall ordain whatever He deems good in the matter of her release." Al-Shisban said, "Right is your advice" and your despatched to Queen Kamariyah an Ifrit called Salhab who came to her palace and found her sleeping; so he roused her and she said, "What is to do, O Salhab?" he cried, "O my lady, come to the succour of your sister the Songstress, for Maymun has carried her off and attainted yours honour and that of Shaykh Iblis." she said, "What sayst you?" and she sat up straight and cried out with a great cry. And indeed she feared for Tohfah and said, "By God, in very truth she used to say that he gazed at her and prolonged the gaze; but ill is that whereto his soul has prompted him." Then she rose in haste and mounting a Sataness of her Satans, said to her, "Fly." So she flew off with her and alighted in the palace of her sister Shararah, whereupon she sent for her sisters Zalzalah and Wakhimah and acquainted them with the tidings, saying, "Know that Maymun has snatched up Tohfah and flown off with her swiftlier than the blinding leven." Then they all flew off in haste and lighting down in the place where were their father Al-Shisban and their

Tale of the Damsel Tohfat Al-Kulub. 87 grandfather the Shaykh Abu al-Tawáif, found the folk on the sorriest of situations. When their grandfather Iblis saw them, he rose to them and wept, and they all wept for the Songstress. Then said Iblis to them, "that hound has attainted mine honour and taken Tohfah, and I think not other wise but that she is like to die of distress for herself and her lord Al-Rashid and saying, 'The whole that they said and did was false.' " Kamariyah said, "O grandfather mine, nothing is left for it but stratagem and device for her deliverance, for that she is dearer to me than everything; and know that accursed when he waxes ware of your coming upon him, will ken that he has no power to cope with you, he who is the least and meanest of the Jann; but we dread that he, when assured of defeat, will slay Tohfah; Why nothing will serve but that we contrive a sleight for saving her; else will she perish." He asked, "And what have you in mind of device?" and she answered, "Let us take him with fair means, and if he obey, all will be well; else will we practise stratagem against him; and expect not her deliverance from other than myself."

Iblis said, "The affair is yours; contrive what you will, for that Tohfah is your sister and your solicitude for her is more effectual than that of any other." So Kamariyah cried out to an Ifrit of the Ifrits and a calamity of the calamities, by name Al-Asad al-Tayyár, the Flying Lion and said to him, "Hie with my message to the Crescent Mountain, the wone of Maymun the Sworder, and enter and say to him, My lady saluts you with the salam and asks you, 'How can you be assured for yourself of safety, after what you have done, O Maymun? Could you find none to maltreat in your drunken humour save Tohfah, she too being a queen? But you are excused, because you did not this deed, but 'twas your drink, and the Shaykh Abu al-Tawáif pardons you, because you were drunken. Indeed, you have attainted his honour; but now restore her to her palace, for that she has done well and favoured us and rendered us service, and you know that she is this day our queen. Perhaps she may bespeak Queen Al-Shahba, whereupon the matter will become grievous and that in which there is no good shall happen you; and you will get no title of gain. truly, I give you good counsel, and so the Peace!' " Al-Asad answered, "Hearing and obeying," and flew till he came to the Crescent Mountain, when he sought audience of Maymun, who bade admit him.

So he entered and kissing ground before him, gave him Queen Kamariyah's message, which when he heard, he cried to the Ifrit, "Return from where you come and say to your mistress, 'Be silent and you will show your good sense.' Else will I come and seize upon her and make her serve Tohfah; and if the kings of the Jinn assemble together against me and I be overcome by them, I will not leave her to scent the wind of this world and she shall be neither mine nor theirs, for that she is presently my sprite from between my ribs; and how shall any part with his sprite?" When the Ifrit heard Maymun's words, he said to him, "By God, O Maymun, are you a changeling in your wits, that you speak these words of my lady, and you one of her page boys?" Whereupon Maymun cried out and said to him, "Woe to you, O dog of the Jinns! Will you bespeak the like of me with these words?" Then he bade those who were about him bastinado Al-Asad, but he took flight and soaring high in air, betook himself to his mistress and told her the tidings: when she said, "You have done well, O good knight!"

Then she turned to her sire and said to him, "Hear that which I shall say to you." he said, "Say on;" and she said, "I counsel you take your troops and go to him, for when he hears this, he will in turn levy his many and come forth to you; whereupon do you offer him battle and prolong the fight with him and make a show to him of weakness and giving way. Meantime, I will devise me a device for getting at Tohfah and delivering her, what while he is busied with you in battle; and when my messenger comes to you and informs you that I have gotten possession of Tohfah and that she is with me, return you upon Maymun immediately and overthrow him and his hosts, and take him prisoner. But, an my device succeed not with him and we fail to deliver Tohfah, he will assuredly practise to slay her, without recourse, and regret for her will remain in our hearts." Iblis said, "This is the right counsel" and bade call a march among the troops, whereupon an hundred thousand

Tale of the Damsel Tohfat Al-Kulub. 89 knights, doughty people of war, joined themselves to him and set out for the country of Maymun. As for Queen Kamariyah, she flew off to the palace of her sister Wakhimah, and told her what deed Maymun had done and how he declared that, whenas he saw defeat nearhand, he would slay Tohfah; adding, "And indeed, he is resolved upon this; otherwise had he not dared to work such sleight. So do you contrive the affair as you see fit, for in counsel you have no superior." Then they sent for Queen Zalzalah and Queen Shararah and sat down to take counsel, one with other, concerning what they had best do in the matter. Presently, said Wakhimah, " 'Twere advisable we fit out a ship in this our island home and embark within it, disguised as Adam's sons, and fare on till we come to anchor under a little island that lies over against Maymun's palace. There will we sit drinking and smiting the lute and singing; for Tohfah will assuredly be seated there overlooking the sea, and needs must she see us and come down to us, whereupon we will take her by force and she will be under our hands, so that none shall be able to molest her any more. Or, an Maymun be gone forth to do battle with the Jinns, we will storm his stronghold and take Tohfah and raze his palace and slay all within it.

When he hears of this, his heart will be broken and we will send to let our father know, at which he will return upon him with his troops and he will be destroyed and we shall have rest of him." They answered her, saying, "This is a good counsel." Then they bade fit out a ship from behind the mountain, and it was fitted out in less than the twinkling of an eye; so they launched it on the sea and embarking within it, together with four thousand Ifrits, set out, intending for Maymun's palace. They also bade other five thousand Ifrits betake themselves to the island under the Crescent Mountain and there lie in wait for them ambushed well. Thus fared it with the kings of the Jann; but as regards Shaykh Abu al-Tawáif Iblis and his son Al-Shisban the twain set out, as we have said, with their troops, who were of the doughtiest of the Jinn and the prowest of them in wing flying and horsemanship, and fared on till they drew near the Crescent Mountain. When the news of their approach reached Maymun, he cried out with a mighty great cry to the troops, who were twenty thousand riders, and bade them make ready for departure.

Then he went in to Tohfah and kissing her said, "Know that you are this day my life of the world, and indeed the Jinns are gathered together to wage war on me for your sake. If I win the day from them and am preserved alive, I will set all the kings of the Jann under your feet and you will become queen of the world." But she shook her head and shed tears; and he said, "Weep not, for I swear by the virtue of the mighty inscription borne on the seal ring of Solomon, you will never again see the land of men; no, never! Say me, can any one part with his life? Give ear, then, to my words; else will I slay you." So she was silent. And directly he sent for his daughter, whose name was Jamrah, and when she came, he said to her, "Harkye, Jamrah! Know that I am going to fight the clans of Al-Shisban and Queen Kamariyah and the Kings of the Jann. If I be vouchsafed the victory over them, to Allah be the laud and you will have of me largesse; but, If you see or hear that I am worsted and any come to you with ill news of me, hasten to kill Tohfah, so she may fall neither to me nor to them." Then he farewelled her and mounted, saying, "When this comes about, pass over to the Crescent Mountain and take up yours abode there, and await what shall befall me and what I shall say to you." And Jamrah answered, "I hear and I obey."

Now when the Songstress heard these words, she fell to weeping and wailing and said, "By God, nothing irks me but severance from my lord Al-Rashid; however, when I am dead, let the world be ruined after me!" And she was certified in herself that she was assuredly lost. Then Maymun set forth with his army and departed in quest of the hosts of the Jinn, leaving none in the palace save his daughter Jamrah and Tohfah and an Ifrit which was dear to him. They fared on till they met with the army of Al-Shisban; and when the two hosts came face to face, they fell each upon other and fought a fight, a passing sore than which nothing could be more. After a while, Al-Shisban's troops began to give way, and when Maymun saw them do thus, he despised them and

Tale of the Damsel Tohfat Al-Kulub. 91 made sure of victory over them. in this way it befell them; but as regards Queen Kamariyah and her company they sailed on without ceasing, till they came under the palace in which was Tohfah, to wit, that of Maymun the Sworder; and by the decree of the Lord of destiny, the Songstress herself was at that very time sitting on the belvedere of the palace, pondering the affair of Harun al-Rashid and her own and that which had befallen her and weeping for that she was doomed to death. She saw the vessel and what was within it of those we have named, and they in mortal guise, and said, "Alas, my sorrow for this ship and for the men that be within it!" As for Kamariyah and her many, when they drew near the palace, they strained their eyes and seeing the Songstress sitting cried, "that sits Tohfah. May Allah not bereave us of her!" Then they moored their craft and, making for the island which lay over against the palace, spread carpets and sat eating and drinking; whereupon Tohfah said, "Well come and welcome to that faces! These be my kinswomen and I conjure you By God, O Jamrah, that you let me down to them, so I may sit with them awhile and enjoy kindly converse with them and return." Jamrah said, "I may on no wise do that;" and Tohfah wept. Then the folk brought out wine and drank, while Kamariyah took the lute and sang these couplets,

"By God, had I never hoped to greet you Your guide had failed on camel to seat you! Far bore you parting from friend would greet you Till meseems my eyes for your wone entreat you."

When Tohfah heard this, she cried out so great a cry, that the folk heard her and Kamariyah said, "Relief is nearhand." Then the Songstress looked out to them and called to them, saying, "O daughters of my uncle, I am a lonely maid, an exile from kin and country: so for the love of Allah Almighty, repeat that song!" Accordingly Kamariyah repeated it and Tohfah swooned away. When she came to herself, she said to Jamrah, "By the rights of the Apostle of Allah (whom may He save and assain!) unless you suffer me go down to them and look on them and sit with them for a full hour, I will hurl myself headlong from this palace, for that I am weary of my life and know that I am slain to all certainty; Why will I kill myself, before you pass sentence upon me." And she was instant with her in asking. When Jamrah heard her words, she knew that, If she let her not down, she would assuredly destroy herself. So she said to her, "O Tohfah, between you and them are a thousand cubits; but I will bring the women up to you." The Songstress replied, "Nay, there is no help but that I go down to them and solace me in the island and look upon the sea anear; then will we return, I and you; for that, If you bring them up to us, they will be affrighted and there will happen them neither joy nor gladness.

As for me, I wish but to be with them, that they may cheer me with their company neither give over their merrymaking, so perhaps I may broaden my breast with them, and indeed I swear that needs must I go down to them; else I will cast myself upon them." And she cajoled Jamrah and kissed her hands, till she said, "Arise and I will set you down beside them." Then she took Tohfah under her armpit and flying up swiftlier than the blinding leven, set her down with Kamariyah and her company; whereupon she went up to them and accosted them, saying, "Fear you not: no harm shall befall you; for I am a mortal, like unto you, and I would glad look on you and talk with you and hear your singing." So they welcomed her and kept their places, whilst Jamrah sat down beside them and fell a snuffing their odours and saying, "I smell the scent of the Jinn! Would I know from where it comes!" Then said Wakhimah to her sister Kamariyah, "that foul slut smells us and presently she will take to flight; so what be this inaction concerning her?" Thereupon Kamariyah put out an arm long as a camel's neck, and dealt Jamrah a buffet on the head, that made it fly from her body and cast it into the sea.

Then she cried, "Allah is All great!" And they uncovered their faces, whereupon Tohfah knew them and said to them, "Protection!" Queen Kamariyah embraced her, as also did Queen Zalzalah and Queen Wakhimah and Queen Shararah, and the first named said to her, "Receive the good tidings of assured safety, for there abides no harm for you; but this is no time for talk." Then they cried out, whereupon up came the Ifrits ambushed in that island, bending swords and maces in hand, and taking up Tohfah,

Tale of the Damsel Tohfat Al-Kulub. 93 flew her to the palace and made themselves masters of it, whilst the Ifrit aforesaid, who was dear to Maymun and whose name was Dukhán, fled like an arrow and did not stop flying till he came to Maymun and found him fighting a sore fight with the Jinn. When his lord saw him, he cried out at him, saying, "Fie upon you! Whom have you left in the palace?" Dukhan answered, saying, "And who abides in the palace? Your beloved Tohfah they have captured and Jamrah is slain and they have taken the palace, all of it." At these ill tidings Maymun buffeted his face and head and said, "Oh! Out on it for a calamity!" Then he cried aloud. Now Kamariyah had sent to her sire and reported to him the news, at which the raven of the wold croaked for the foe. So, when Maymun saw that which had happened him (and indeed the Jinn smote upon him and the wings of eternal severance overspread his host), he planted the heel of his lance in the earth and turning its head to his heart, urged his charger at that and pressed upon it with his breast, till the point came forth gleaming from his back.

Meanwhile the messenger had made the friendly host with the news of Tohfah's deliverance, at which the Shaykh Abu al-Tawáif rejoiced and bestowed on the bringer of gladly tidings a sumptuous robe of honour and made him commander over a company of the Jann. Then they charged home upon Maymun's host and wiped them out to the last man; and when they came to Maymun, they found that he had slain himself and was even as we have said. Presently, Kamariyah and her sister Wakhimah came up to their grandfather and told him what they had done; whereupon he came to Tohfah and saluted her with the salam and congratulated her on deliverance. Then he made over Maymun's palace to Salhab; and, taking all the rebel's wealth gave it to the Songstress, while the troops encamped upon the Crescent Mountain. Furthermore, the Shaykh Abu al-Tawáif said to Tohfah, "Blame me not," and she kissed his hands, when behold, there appeared to them the tribes of the Jinn, as they were clouds, and Queen Al-Shahba flying in their van, drawn sword in grip. As she came in sight of the folk, they kissed ground between her hands and she said to them, "Tell me what has happened

Queen Tohfah from that dog Maymun and why did you not send to me and report to me?" they said, "And who was this dog that we should send to you on his account? Indeed he was the least and lowest of the Jinn." Then they told her what Kamariyah and her sisters had done and how they had practised upon Maymun and delivered the Songstress from his hand, fearing lest he should slay her when he found himself defeated; and she said, "By God, the accursed was wont to lengthen his looking upon her!" And Tohfah fell to kissing Al-Shahba's hand, whilst the queen strained her to her bosom and kissed her, saying, "Trouble is past; so rejoice in assurance of deliverance." Then they rose and went up to the palace whereupon the trays of food were brought and they ate and drank; after which Queen Al-Shahba said, "O Tohfah, sing to us, by way of sweetmeat for yours escape, and favour us with that which shall solace our minds, for that indeed my thoughts have been occupied with you." And Tohfah said, "I hear and I obey, O my lady." So she improvised and sang these couplets,

"Breeze of East If you breathe over the dear ones' land Speed, I pray you, my special salute and salam: And say them I'm pledged to love them and In pine that passes all pine I am."

at that Queen Al-Shahba rejoiced and with her all who were present; and they admired her speech and fell to kissing her; and when she had made an end of her song, Queen Kamariyah said to her, "O my sister, before you go to your palace, I would glad bring you to look upon Al-'Anká, daughter of Bahram Júr, whom Al-'Anka, daughter of the wind, carried off, and her beauty; for that there is not her fellow on earth's face." And Queen Al-Shahba said, "O Kamariyah, I also think it were well If I beheld her." Kamirayah said, "I saw her three years ago; but my sister Wakhimah sees her at all times, for she is near to her people, and she says that there is not in the world fairer than she. Indeed, this Queen Al-Anka is become a byword

Tale of the Damsel Tohfat Al-Kulub. 95 for beauty and comeliness." And Wakhimah said, "By the mighty inscription on the seal ring of Solomon, there is not her like for loveliness here below." Then said Queen Al-Shahba, "If it needs must be and the affair is as you say, I will take Tohfah and go with her to Al-Anka, so she may look upon her!" So they all arose and repaired to Al-Anka, who abode in the Mountain Kaf. When she saw them, she drew near to them and saluted them, saying, "O my ladies, may I not be bereaved of you!" Wakhimah to her said, "Who is like unto you, O Anka? Behold, Queen Al-Shahba is come to you." So Al-Anka kissed the Queen's feet and lodged them in her palace; whereupon Tohfah came up to her and fell to kissing her and saying, "Never saw I seemlier than this semblance." Then she set before them something of food and they ate and washed their hands; after which the Songstress took the lute and smote it well; and Al-Anka also played, and they fell to improvising verses in turns, whilst Tohfah embraced Al-Anka every moment. Al-Shahba cried, "O my sister, each kiss is worth a thousand dinars;" and Tohfah replied, "And a thousand dinars were little therefor;" at which Al-Anka laughed and after nighting in her pavilion on the morrow they took leave of her and went away to Maymun's palace. Here Queen Al-Shahba farewelled them and taking her troops, returned to her capital, whilst the kings also went away to their abodes and the Shaykh Abu al-Tawaif applied himself to diverting Tohfah till nightfall, when he mounted her on the back of one of the Ifrits and bade other thirty gather together all that she had gotten of treasure and raiment, jewels and robes of honour.

Then they flew off, whilst Iblis went with her, and in less than the twinkling of an eye he set her down in her sleeping room, where he and those who were with him bade adieu to her and went away. When Tohfah found herself in her own chamber and on her couch, her reason fled for joy and it seemed to her as if she had never stirred thence: then she took the lute and tuned it and touched it in wondrous fashion and improvised verses and sang. The Eunuch heard the smiting of the lute within the chamber and cried, "By God, that is the touch of my lady Tohfah!" So he arose and went, as he were a madman, falling down and rising up, till he came to the Castrato on guard at the gate of the Commander of the Faithful and found him sitting. When his fellow neutral saw him, and he like a madman, slipping down and stumbling up, he asked him, "What ails you and what brings you here at this hour?" The other answered, "Will you not make haste and awaken the Prince of True Believers?" And he fell to crying out at him; whereupon the Caliph awoke and heard them bandying words together and Tohfah's slave crying to the other, "Woe to you! Awaken the Commander of the Faithful in haste."

So he said, "O Sawab, what have you to say?" and the Chief Eunuch said, "O our lord, the Eunuch of Tohfah's lodging has lost his wits and cries, 'Awaken the Commander of the Faithful in haste!' " Then said Al-Rashid to one of his slave girls, "See what may be the matter." Accordingly she hastened to admit the Castrato, who entered at her order; and when he saw the Commander of the Faithful, he salamed not neither kissed ground, but cried in his hurry, "Quick: up with you! My lady Tohfah sits in her chamber, singing a goodly ditty. Come to her in haste and see all that I say to you! Hasten! She sits awaiting you." The Caliph was amazed at his speech and asked him, "What sayst you?" He answered, "Did you not hear the first of the speech? Tohfah sits in the sleeping chamber, singing and lute playing. Come your quickest! Hasten!" Accordingly Al-Rashid sprang up and donned his dress; but he believed not the Eunuch's words and said to him, "Fie upon you! What is this you sayst? Have you not seen this in a dream?" the Eunuch said, "By God, I know not what you say, and I was not asleep;" and Al-Rashid said, "An your speech be truthful, it shall be for your good luck, for I will free you and give you a thousand gold pieces; but, If it be untrue and you have seen this in dream land, I will crucify you."

The Eunuch said within himself, "O Protector, let me not have seen this in vision!" Then he left the Caliph and running to the chamber door, heard the sound of singing and lute playing; whereupon he returned to Al-Rashid and said to him, "Go and hearken and see who is asleep." When the Prince of True Believers drew near the door of the sleeping chamber, he heard the sound of the lute and Tohfah's voice singing; at which he could not restrain his reason and was like to faint for excess of delight. Then he pulled out the key but his hand refused to draw

Tale of the Damsel Tohfat Al-Kulub. 97 the bolt: however, after a while, he took heart and applying himself, opened the door and entered, saying, "I think this is none other than a vision or an imbroglio of dreams." When Tohfah saw him, she rose and corning to meet him, pressed him to her breast; and he cried out a cry in which his sprite was like to depart and fell down in a fit. She again strained him to her bosom and sprinkled on him rose water mingled with musk, and washed his face, till he came to himself, as he were a drunken man, and shed tears for the stress of his joy in Tohfah's return to him, after he had despaired of her returning. Then she took the lute and smote thereon, after the fashion she had learnt from Shaykh Iblis, so that Al-Rashid's wit was bewildered for excess of joy and his understanding was confounded for exultation; after which she improvised and sang these couplets,

"That I left you my heart to believe is unlief; For the life that's in it never leavs; brief, If you say 'I went,' says my heart What a fib!' And I bide 'twixt believing and unbelief."

When she had made an end of her verses, Al-Rashid said to her, "O Tohfah, yours absence was wondrous, yet is your presence still more marvellous." She replied, "By God, O my lord, you sayst truth;" then, taking his hand, she said to him, "O Commander of the Faithful, see what I have brought with me." So he looked and spied treasures such as neither words could describe nor registers could document, pearls and jewels and jacinths and precious stones and unions and gorgeous robes of honour, adorned with margarites and jewels and purfled with red gold. There he beheld what he never had beheld all his life long, not even in idea; and she showed him that which Queen Al-Shahba had bestowed on her of those carpets, which she had brought with her, and that throne, the like whereof neither Kisrá possessed nor Caesar, and those tables inlaid with pearls and jewels and those vessels which amazed all who looked on them, and that crown which was on the head of the circumcised boy, and those robes of honour, which Queen Al-Shahba and Shaykh Abu al-Tawaif had doffed and donned upon her, and the trays in which were those treasures; brief, she showed him wealth whose like he had never in his life espied and which the tongue avails not to describe and at which all who looked thereon were bewildered, Al-Rashid was like to lose his wits for amazement at this spectacle and was confounded at that he sighted and witnessed.

Then he said to Tohfah, "Come, tell me your tale from beginning to end, and let me know all that has happened you, as if I had been present." She answered, "I hear and I obey," and acquainting him with all that had happened her first and last, from the time when she first saw the Shaykh Abu al-Tawaif, how he took her and descended with her through the side of the Chapel of Ease; and she told him of the horse she had ridden, till she came to the meadow aforesaid and described it to him, together with the palace and that was within it of furniture, and related to him how the Jinn rejoiced in her, and whatever she had seen of their kings, masculine and feminine, and of Queen Kamariyah and her sisters and Queen Shu'a'ah, Regent of the Fourth Sea, and Queen Al-Shahba, Queen of Queens, and King Al-Shisban, and that which each one of them had bestowed upon her. Moreover, she recited to him the story of Maymun the Sworder and described to him his fulsome favour, which he had not deigned to change, and related to him that which befell her from the kings of the Jinn, male and female, and the coming of the Queen of Queens, Al-Shahba, and how she had loved her and appointed her vice reine and how she was thus become ruler over all the kings of the Jann; and she showed him the writ of investiture which Queen Al-Shahba had written her and told him what had happened her with the Ghulish Head, when it appeared to her in the garden, and how she had despatched it to her palace, beseeching it to bring her news of the Commander of the Faithful and of what had happened him after her.

Then she described to him the flower gardens, in which she had taken her pleasure, and the Hammam baths inlaid with pearls and jewels and told him that which had befallen Maymun the Sworder, when he bore her off, and how he had slain himself; in fine, she related to him everything she had seen of wonders and marvels and that which she had beheld of all kinds and colours among the Jinn. Then she told him the story of Al-Anka, daughter of Bahram Jur, with Al-Anka, daughter of the wind, and described to him her dwelling place and her island, whereupon Al-Rashid said, "O Tohfat al-Sadr, tell me of Al-Anka, daughter of Bahram Jur; is she of the Jinn kind or of mankind or of the bird kind? For this long time have I desired to find one who should tell me of her." Tohfah replied, " 'Tis well, O Commander

Women's Wiles. 99 of the Faithful. I asked the queen of this and she acquainted me with her case and told me who built her the palace." Al-Rashid said, "in God's name, tell it me;" and Tohfah said, "I will well," and proceeded to tell him. And he was amazed at that which he heard from her and what she reported to him and at that which she had brought back of jewels and jacinths of various hues and precious stones of many sorts, such as amazed the beholder and confounded thought and mind. As for this, Tohfah was the means of the enrichment of the Barmecides and the Abbasides, and they had endurance in their delight. Then the Caliph went forth and bade decorate the city: so they decorated it and the drums of glad tidings were beaten; and they made banquets to the people for whom the tables were spread seven days. And Tohfah and the Commander of the Faithful did not stop to enjoy the most delightsome of life and the most prosperous till there came to them the Destroyer of delights and the Severer of societies; and this is all that has come down to us of their story.