O Lord of beneficence and benevolence, my parents left me such wealth and riches that when they died, I inherited more than enough to live comfortably for the rest of my life, enjoying the ease and pleasures that belong to the great and fortunate. As their only child, I had nothing to worry about until one day, in the prime of my manhood, I decided to marry—to take a wife who was fair and lovely to look upon, so that we might live together in mutual love and blessing. But Allah Almighty willed it otherwise; Destiny had other plans, and instead of giving me a good companion, he gave me grief and the deepest misery. I married a woman whose outward form and features were a perfect model of beauty and loveliness, yet who possessed not a single gracious quality of mind or soul. On the very second day after the wedding, her evil nature began to reveal itself. You are well aware, O Prince of True Believers, that by our Muslim custom a man may not look upon his betrothed's face before the marriage contract, nor can he complain afterward if his bride proves a shrew or a fright—he must dwell with her as best he can and accept his fate, fair or unfair.

When I first saw my bride's face and found that it was indeed fair and lovely, I rejoiced greatly and gave thanks to Almighty Allah for bestowing such a charming companion upon me. That night I slept with her in joy and delight, but the next day when the noon meal was served, I found her not at the table. I sent someone to summon her, and after some delay she came and sat down. I hid my annoyance and said nothing about her lateness, though I soon had ample reason to regret my silence. Among the many dishes served to us was a fine pilaf, which I began to eat with a spoon, according to the custom in our city. But Aminah pulled out an ear pick from her pocket and began picking up the rice grain by grain. I was astounded by this strange behaviour and said to her gently, "Aminah, why do you eat in this way? Did your people teach you this method, or are you counting the grains, hoping to make a full meal later? You've eaten barely ten or twenty grains in all this time. Or perhaps you're practicing thrift? If so, know that Allah Almighty has given me wealth in abundance, and you need not worry on that account. Please eat as others do and as you see your husband eat."

I hoped she would offer some words of thanks, but she said nothing and continued picking up grain after grain. To provoke me further, she would pause for a long time between each grain. When the next course of bread came, she broke off a crumb or two and tossed them into her mouth; in truth, she ate less than a sparrow would consume. I marvelled at her obstinate and willful behaviour, but in my innocence I told myself, "Perhaps she is not accustomed to eating with men and is too shy to eat heartily in her husband's presence. In time she will behave like

History of Sidi Nu'uman. 189 others." I also thought that perhaps she had already eaten and lost her appetite, or that it was her habit to eat alone. So I said nothing. After dinner I went out to get some air and to play the jaríd, and I thought no more of the matter. When we sat down to eat again, my bride ate in the same manner as before, and she persisted in this perverse behaviour. I was troubled and wondered how she managed to stay alive on so little food. One night I saw her rise stealthily from my side, thinking I was asleep, though I was wide awake. I watched as she stepped carefully from the bed, afraid she might disturb me. I was seized with curiosity about why she would leave like this, so I continued to feign sleep and snore, but I watched her closely. Soon I saw her dress and leave the room. I sprang from bed, threw on my robe, and slung my sword across my shoulder, then looked out the window to see where she was going. She crossed the courtyard, opened the street door, and left. I followed her, slipping out through the unlocked entrance. By the light of the moon, I followed her until she entered a cemetery near our home. —And as the morn began to dawn Shahrazad held her peace till

The end of the Six Hundred and Twelfth Night

Then she said: "I have heard that Sidi Nu'uman continued his story, saying: When I reached the cemetery, I stood outside, close to the wall, and peered over it so that I could watch Aminah without her seeing me. And what did I see but Aminah sitting with a ghul! Your Highness knows well that ghuls are of the race of devils—unclean spirits that inhabit ruins and terrify solitary travellers, sometimes seizing and feeding upon their flesh. If they find no traveller to eat by day, they go by night to the graveyards and dig up the dead to devour them. I was amazed and terrified to see my wife sitting with a ghul. The two of them dug up a corpse that had been newly buried, and together they tore the flesh from the bones. Aminah ate and made merry while chatting with her companion, but I stood at a distance and could not hear what they said. I trembled with fear at the sight. When they finished eating, they cast the bones back into the grave and heaped the earth over it as before. I hurried home, leaving the street door half open as my wife had done, went to my room, and threw myself on the bed, feigning sleep. Soon Aminah returned, undressed, and lay down beside me. By her manner I knew she had not seen me and did not suspect that I had followed her to the cemetery. This relieved my mind somewhat, though I was sickened at the thought of lying beside a cannibal and corpse eater. I lay still until I heard the Muezzin's call for dawn prayers.

Then I rose, performed my ablutions, and went to the mosque. After saying my prayers and completing my religious duties, I walked in the gardens, turning the matter over in my mind. I resolved that I must remove my wife from such evil companionship and break her of this ghastly habit. With this resolution, I came home at dinner time. When Aminah saw me, she ordered the servants to serve the midday meal, and we sat at the table together. As before, she began picking up the rice grain by grain. I said to her, "Aminah, it troubles me to see you picking up each grain like a hen. If this dish doesn't please your taste, know that by God's grace, all kinds of meat are laid before us. Eat what pleases you most. Every day the table is spread with different dishes, and if none of these satisfy you, you have only to ask for whatever food you desire. Yet I have a question for you: Is there no meat on this table as rich and savory as human flesh, that you refuse every dish set before you?" Before I could finish, my wife became aware

History of Sidi Nu'uman. 191 that I knew of her night adventure. She suddenly blazed with fury, her face flushed red as fire, her eyes bulged from their sockets, and foam flecked her mouth. Seeing her rage, I was terrified and my mind went blank with fear. In the madness of her passion, she seized a pitcher of water that stood beside her and, dipping her fingers into it, muttered words I could not understand. Then, sprinkling drops over me, she cried, "Accursed wretch! For your insolence and betrayal, be turned at once into a dog!" Immediately I was transformed, and she seized a stick and began to beat me mercilessly, nearly killing me. I ran from room to room, but she pursued me with the staff, striking me again and again until she was exhausted. Then she threw the street door half open. As I made for the exit to save my life, she tried to slam it shut to crush me, but I saw her intent and dodged, though I left the tip of my tail behind. Yelping pitifully, I escaped and felt fortunate to have gotten away without broken bones. When I stood in the street, whining and injured, the dogs of the neighbourhood saw a stranger and came rushing at me, barking and biting. With my tail between my legs, I ran through the marketplace and into the shop of a butcher who sold sheep's and goat's heads and hooves. There I crouched low and hid myself in a dark corner.

—And as the morn began to dawn Shahrazad held her peace till

The end of the Six Hundred and Thirteenth Night

Then she said: "I have heard that Sidi Nu'uman continued his story as follows: The shopkeeper, despite his religious scruples which led him to consider all dogs unclean, took pity on my sorry plight and drove away the yelling and snarling curs that tried to follow me into his shop. I escaped and spent the night hidden in my corner. Early the next morning the butcher went out to buy his usual stock—sheep's and goat's heads and hooves—and returned with a large supply, which he began to lay out for sale. A whole pack of dogs gathered around the shop, drawn by the smell of meat, and I joined them. The owner noticed me among the mongrels and said to himself, "This dog hasn't eaten since yesterday when it ran in here yelping with hunger." He threw me a good-sized piece of meat, but I refused it. Instead, I went to him and wagged my tail, trying to show him that I wanted his protection and to stay with him. He thought I had already eaten enough, though, and picked up a staff to drive me away. Seeing that the butcher would not help me, I trotted away. After wandering here and there, I came to a bakery and stood at the door. Through it I could see the baker having his breakfast. Though I made no sign that I wanted food, he threw me a piece of bread. Instead of snapping it up and gulping it down greedily, as most dogs do, I approached him with the bread and gazed at his face, wagging my tail in thanks. He was pleased by my good manners and smiled at me. Though I was not hungry, I began eating the bread slowly and carefully, just to please him and show my respect. He was even more satisfied with my behaviour and wanted to keep me in his shop. Seeing his intent, I sat by the door and gazed at him wistfully, so he would understand that I only wanted his protection and nothing more. He caressed me, took me into his care, and kept me to guard his shop. I would not enter his house until he led the way first. He showed me where to sleep at night and fed me well at every meal, treating me with great kindness. I watched his every movement and would lie down or rise up whenever he commanded. Whenever he left home and I did not follow, he would stand in the street and call to me, crying "Bakht! Bakht!"—an auspicious name he had given me. At once I would come rushing

History of Sidi Nu'uman. 193 about and prance before the door. When he set out to get fresh air, I would pace beside him, sometimes running ahead, sometimes following at his heels, always looking up at his face. For some time I lived with him in great comfort. One day, a woman came to the bakery to buy bread and gave the baker several dirhams. One of the coins was counterfeit while the others were good. My master tested each coin, found the false one, and returned it, demanding a true dirham instead. But the woman argued and refused to take it back, swearing it was genuine. The baker said, "This dirham is worthless beyond doubt. Look at my dog here—he is only a beast, but I tell you he will know whether a coin is true or false." He called me by name: "Bakht! Bakht!" At once I sprang up and ran to him. He scattered all the coins on the ground before me and cried, "Look at these dirhams carefully. If there is a false coin among them, separate it from the rest." I inspected each coin and found the counterfeit. I placed it on one side and all the good coins on another, then put my paw on the false silver and looked up at my master, wagging what remained of my tail. The baker was delighted with my ability, and the woman, astonished at what had happened, took back her bad dirham and paid another in exchange.

When the woman left, my master called together his neighbours and friends and told them what had happened. They threw good coins and bad coins on the ground before me to test me themselves and see if I was as clever as my master claimed. Many times in a row, I picked out the false coins from among the true ones and marked them with my paw, never making a mistake. Everyone went away amazed and told the story to all they met, and so word of me spread throughout the city. That entire day I spent testing coins, both good and bad.

—And as the morn began to dawn Shahrazad held her peace till

The end of the Six Hundred and Fourteenth Night

Then she said: "I have heard that Sidi Nu'uman continued his story, saying: From that day forward, the baker honored me even more greatly, and all his friends and acquaintances laughed and said, "Surely you have a most valuable money-tester in this dog!" Some were even jealous of my master's good fortune in having me, and tried often to entice me away, but the baker kept me at his side and would never let me go. My fame brought him many customers from every part of the city. Some days later, another woman came to buy bread and paid the baker six dirhams, one of which was worthless. My master handed them to me to test, and at once I picked out the false one, marked it with my paw, and looked up at the woman's face. She grew confused, confessed that it was counterfeit, and praised me for finding it. As she left, she made signs to me that I should follow her without the baker's knowledge. For long I had been praying to Allah to restore me to human form, hoping that someone good and faithful might notice my wretched state and help me. When the woman turned back several times and looked at me, I felt sure she knew what had happened to me.

So I kept my eyes on her. Seeing this, she came back before going far and beckoned me to follow. I understood her signal and, sneaking away from the baker, who was busy heating his oven, I followed her. Pleased beyond measure to see me obey, she led me straight home, locked the door behind us, and took me into a room where sat a fair young woman in an embroidered dress, whom I took to be the good woman's daughter. The young woman was skilled in magical arts. Her mother said to her, "Daughter, here is a dog that can distinguish false coins from true ones. When I first heard of this marvel, I thought to myself that surely this creature must be a man whom some cruel sorcerer had turned into a dog. Today I went to buy bread at that baker's shop to test this animal myself, and indeed it proved itself in the most remarkable way. Look carefully at this dog and tell me—is it truly an animal, or is it a man transformed into a beast by witchcraft?" The young lady, who had

History of Sidi Nu'uman. 195 covered her face. She studied me carefully, then exclaimed, "Mother, what you say is true, and I will prove it at once!" She rose from her seat, took a basin of water, and sprinkled some drops over me, saying, "If you were born a dog, remain a dog. But if you were born a man, then by the virtue of this water, resume your human form and appearance." Instantly I was transformed from a dog back into human shape. I fell at the young woman's feet, kissed the ground before her, and thanked her profusely. Then, kissing the hem of her garment, I cried, "O my lady, you have shown extraordinary kindness to a stranger and someone you did not know. How can I find words to thank and bless you as you deserve? I pray you, tell me how I may show my gratitude. From this day forward, I am your servant and forever in your debt." I then told her all that had happened to me and spoke of Aminah's wickedness and the wrongs she had done. I also thanked her mother for bringing me to her home. The young woman said to me, "O Sidi Nu'uman, I beg you not to thank me so excessively. Rather, I am glad and grateful to have been able to serve one as worthy as you. I have known your wife Aminah for many years, even before you married her. I knew that she possessed skill in witchcraft, and she knows that I too possess such knowledge, for we both learned from the same mistress. We would meet at the bathhouse as friends, but because she was ill-mannered and bad-tempered, I chose not to continue our acquaintance. Do not think that simply restoring your form is enough for me. I must take proper vengeance on her for the wrong she has done you. I will give you the means to do this yourself, so that you will have power over her and be master of your own home once again. Wait here a little while until I return." With that, the young woman went into another room, and I sat and talked with her mother.

and praised her for her excellence and kindness to me. The old woman also told me strange and wonderful deeds that her daughter had performed with pure intentions and honest means. Presently, the girl returned with a pitcher in her hand and said, "O Sidi Nu'uman, my magical knowledge tells me that Aminah is away from home now, but she will return soon. She has deceived the servants and feigned grief at your disappearance, telling them that you were sitting eating with her when you suddenly rose and went out on some important matter. While you were away, a dog came rushing through the open door into the room, and she drove it away with a staff." She handed me a flask full of magical water and continued, "Go now to your own house and keep this flask with you. Wait patiently for Aminah to return. When she comes and sees you, she will be greatly troubled and will try to flee. But before she goes, sprinkle some drops from this flask on her and recite the spells I am about to teach you. I need say no more—you will see what happens with your own eyes." The young woman then taught me the magical incantations, which I committed firmly to memory. After this I took my leave and bade them both farewell. When I reached home, everything happened exactly as she had told me. I had been there only a short time when Aminah came in. The moment she saw me, she trembled greatly and wanted to run away. But I quickly sprinkled drops of the magical water on her and spoke the spells, and at once she was transformed into a mare—the very animal Your Highness remarked upon yesterday. I was amazed at the transformation. I seized the mare by its mane, led it to the stable, and tied it with a halter.

—And as the morn began to dawn Shahrazad held her peace till

The end of the Six Hundred and Fifteenth Night

Then she said: "I have heard that Sidi Nu'uman continued his story, saying: When I had secured the mare, I loaded her with reproaches for her wickedness and vile nature, and beat her

The Caliph's Night Adventure. 197 with a whip until my arm was weary. Then I resolved that I would ride her at full gallop around the square each day, thus giving her the punishment she deserved."

Here Sidi Nu'uman fell silent, having finished his tale. Presently, he spoke again: "O Commander of the Faithful, I trust you do not disapprove of my actions. Indeed, I believe you would have punished such a woman far more severely than I have." He kissed the hem of the Caliph's robe and was silent. Harun al-Rashid, when he saw that the man had finished speaking, exclaimed, "Your story is truly strange and remarkable. Your wife's wickedness was inexcusable, and I believe your punishment of her is just and proper. But I must ask you one thing—how long do you intend to keep her in this bestial form? Would it not be better now to seek out the young woman who transformed her and ask her to restore your wife to human shape? Yet I confess I fear greatly that if this sorceress, this ghulah, is restored to her human form, she may take up her spells and sorcery again and work even greater harm against you than she has already done. And from such vengeance, you might not be able to escape." After this, the Prince of True Believers did not press the matter further, for he was by nature mild and merciful. He then turned to the third man whom the Wazir had brought before him and said, "As I was walking through a certain quarter of the city, I was astonished to see your mansion—so great and magnificent is it.

When I asked the people there, they all told me that this palace belongs to one whom they call Khwajah Hasan. They said that you were once very poor and in straitened circumstances, but that Allah Almighty has widened your means and given you such wealth that you have built the finest of buildings. Moreover, though you have such a splendid home and abundant riches, you have not forgotten your former estate. You do not squander your wealth in riotous living, but instead you increase it through honest trade. All the neighbourhood speaks well of you, and I have heard no one say anything against you. So I now wish to hear from your own lips the true account of these matters and to learn how you gained such wealth. I have summoned you before me so that I may be assured of all this by hearing it directly from you. Have no fear—tell me your whole story. I desire nothing from you except to know your case. Enjoy to your heart's content the wealth that Almighty Allah has bestowed upon you, and let your soul take pleasure in it." The Caliph's gracious words reassured the man. Khwajah Hasan threw himself before the Commander of the Faithful, kissed the carpet at the foot of the throne, and exclaimed, "O Prince of True Believers, I will relate to you the faithful account of my adventures. Let Almighty Allah be my witness that I have done nothing contrary to your laws and just commandments, and that all this wealth has come to me solely through the favour and goodness of Allah." Harun al-Rashid bade him speak boldly and openly. At once, he began to recount in the following words the History of