IT is recounted that in Mosul was a King and he was Lord of moneys and means and troops and guards. Now in the beginning of his career his adventures were strange for that he was not of royal rank or race, nor was he of the sons of Kings but prosperity met him because of the honesty of his manners and morals. His name was Abu Niyyah, the single minded—and he was so poor that he had nothing of worldly weal, so he said to himself, "Remove you from this town and Perhaps Allah will widen your means of livelihood given that the byword said, 'Travel, for indeed much of the joys of life are in travelling.' " So he fixed his mind upon removal from the town; and, having very few articles of his own, he sold them for a single dinar which he took and fared forth from his place of birth seeking another stead. Now when journeying he sighted following him a man who was also on the
Abu Niyyah and Abu Niyyatayn. 265 move and he made acquaintance with him and the two fell to communing together upon the road. Each of the twain wished to know the name of his comrade and Abu Niyyah asked his fellow, saying, "O my brother, what may be your name?" whereto the other answered, "I am called Abu Niyyatayn—the two minded." "And I am Abu Niyyah!" cried the other, and his fellow traveller questioned him saying, "Have you with you anything of money?" 'Whereto he replied, "I have with me a single Ashrafi and no more." the other said, "But I have ten gold pieces, so do you have a care of them and the same will be eleven." Abu Niyyah accepted the charge and they went upon the road together and as often as they entered a town they nighted within it for a single night or two and in the morning they departed from it. This continued for a while of time until they made a city which had two gates and Abu Niyyah forewent his fellow through one of the entrances and suddenly heard an asker which was a slave begging and saying, "O you beneficent, O doers of good deeds, an alms shall bring ten fold." And as the chattel drew near and Abu Niyyah noted his words, his heart was softened and he gave him his single Ashrafi; whereupon his comrade looked upon him and asked, "What have you doled to him?" Answered he, "An Ashrafi;" and the other said, "You have but a single gold piece whilst I have ten;" so he took the joint stock from him and left him and went his way. Then her sister Dunyazad said, "How sweet is your story, O sister mine, and how enjoyable and delectable!" She said, "And where is this compared with what I should relate to you on the coming night if the King permits me to survive?"
Now when it was the next night and that was
The Four Hundred and Seventy third Night
Dunyazad said to her, "In God's name, O my sister, If you be other than sleepy, finish for us your tale that we may cut short the watching of this our latter night!" She replied, "With love and good will!" It has reached me,the director, the right guiding, lord of the counsel which is benefiting and of deeds fair seeming and worthy celebrating, that the man Abu Niyyatayn took from Abu Niyyah the ten Ashrafis and said to him, "The gold piece belonging to you you have given to the asker;" then, carrying away the other ten he left him and went about his business. Now Abu Niyyah had with him not a single copper neither anything of provisions so he wandered about the town to find a Cathedral mosque and seeing one he went into it and made the Wuzu ablution and prayed that which was incumbent on him of obligatory prayers. Then he seated himself to rest until the hour of the sunset devotions and he said to himself, "Ho, Such an one! This be a time when no one knows you; so go forth and fare round about the doors and have a heed, Perhaps Allah Almighty our Lord shall give you something of daily bread you will eat blessing the Creator."
Hereupon he went forth the Mosque and wandered through the nearest quarter, when behold, he came upon a lofty gate and a well adorned; so he stood before it and saw a slave lad coming out from it and bearing on his head a platter in which was a pile of broken bread and some bones, and the boy stood there and shook the contents of the platter upon the ground. Abu Niyyah seeing this came forward and fell to picking up the orts of bread and ate them and gnawed the flesh from sundry of the bones till he was satisfied and the slave diverted himself by looking on. After that he cried, "praise be to God — Glory be to God!" And the chattel went upstairs to his master and said, "O my lord, I have seen a marvel!" The other said, "And what may that be?" and the servile said, "I found a man standing at our door and he was silent and spoke not a word; but when he saw me throwing away the remnants of our eating cloth he came up to them and fell to devouring bittocks of the bread and to breaking the bones and sucking them, after which he cried, 'praise be to God.'"
Abu Niyyah and Abu Niyyatayn. 267
Said the master, "O my good slave, do you take these ten Ashrafis and give them to the man;" so the lad went down the stair and was half way when he filched one of the gold pieces and then having descended he gave the nine. Hereupon Abu Niyyah counted them and finding only nine said, "There wants one Ashrafi, for the asker declared, An almsdeed brings tenfold, and I gave him a single gold piece." The housemaster heard him saying, "There wants an Ashrafi," and he bade the slave call aloud to him and Abu Niyyah went upstairs to the sitting room, where he found the owner, a merchant of repute, and salam'd to him. The other returned his greeting and said, "Ho fellow!" And the other said, "Yes," when the first resumed, "The slave, what did he give you?" "He gave me," said Abu Niyyah, "nine Ashrafis;" and the housemaster rejoined, "Why did you declare, There fails me one gold piece? Have you a legal claim of debt upon us for an Ashrafi, O you scanty of shame?" He answered, "No, By God, O my lord; my intent was not that but there befell me with a man which was a beggar such and such matter."
Hereupon the merchant understood his meaning and said to him, "Do you sit you down here and pass the night with us." So Abu Niyyah seated himself by his side and nighted with the merchant until the morning. Now this was the season for the payment of the poor rates, and that merchant was wont to take the sum from his property by weight of scales, so he summoned the official weigher who by means of his balance computed the account and took out the poor rate and gave the whole proceeds to Abu Niyyah. he said, "O my lord, what shall I do with all this good, especially as you have favoured me with your regard?" "No matter for that," the said,other; so Abu Niyyah went forth from the presence of his patron and hiring himself a shop fell to buying what suited him of all kinds of merchandise such as a portion of coffee beans and of pepper and of tin; and stuffs of Al-Hind, together with other matters, saying to himself, "truly this shop is the property of your hand." So he sat there selling and buying and he was in the easiest of life and in all comfort rife for a while of time when behold, his quondam companion, Abu Niyyatayn was seen passing along the market street. His eyes were deep sunken and he was propped upon a staff as he begged and cried, "O good folk, O you beneficent, give me an alms for the love of Allah!"
But when his sometime associate, Abu Niyyah looked upon him, he knew him and said to the slave whom he had bought for his service, "Go you and bring me that man." at this the chattel went and brought him and Abu Niyyah seated him upon the shop board and sent his servile to buy something of food and he set it before Abu Niyyatayn who ate till he was filled. After this the wanderer asked leave to depart but the other said to him, "Sit you here, O Shaykh; for you are my guest during the coming night." Accordingly he seated himself in the shop till the hour of sundown, when Abu Niyyah took him and led him to his lodging where the slave served up the supper tray and they ate till they had eaten their sufficiency. Then they washed their hands and abode talking together till at last Abu Niyyah said, "O my brother, have you not recognised me?" to which the other responded, "No, By God, O my brother." Hereupon said the housemaster, "I am your whilome comrade Abu Niyyah, and we came together, I and you, from such and such a place to this city. But I, O my brother, have never changed my intent and all you see with me of good, the half of it belongs to you."
When it was morning tide he presented him with the moiety of all he possessed of money and means and opened for him a shop in the Bazar by the side of his own and Abu Niyyatayn fell to selling and buying, and he and his friend Abu Niyyah led the most joyous of lives. This endured for a while of time until one day of the days when Abu Niyyatayn to Abu Niyyah said, "O my brother, we have exhausted our sitting in this city, so do you travel with us unto another." Abu Niyyah said, "Why, O my brother, should we cease abiding here in comfort when we have gained abundance of wealth and moveables and valuables and we seek nothing save a restful life?" However Abu Niyyatayn did not stop to repeat his words to him and persist in his purpose and reiterate his demand, till Abu Niyyah was pleased with the idea of travelling
Abu Niyyah and Abu Niyyatayn. 269
Then her sister Dunyazad said, "How sweet and tasteful is your tale, O sister mine, and how enjoyable and delectable!" She said, "And where is this compared with what I should relate to you on the coming night and the King suffer me to survive?"
Now when it was the next night and that was
The Four Hundred and Seventy fifth Night
Dunyazad said to her, "In God's name, O my sister, If you be other than sleepy, finish for us your tale that we may cut short the watching of this our latter night!" She replied, "With love and good will!" It has reached me,the director, the right guiding, lord of the counsel which is benefiting and of deeds fair seeming and worthy celebrating, that Abu Niyyah was pleased with the idea of travelling companied by Abu Niyyatayn: so they got themselves ready and loaded a caravan of camels and mules and went off from that city and travelled for a space of twenty days. At last they came to a camping ground about sunset hour and they alighted within it seeking rest and a nighting stead, and next morning when they arose they sought where they could fodder and water their cattle. Now the only place they found was a well and one said to other, "Who will descend within it and draw for us drink?" Cried Abu Niyyah, "I will go down" (but he knew not what was fated to him in the Eternal Purpose), and so saying he let himself down by the rope into the well and filled for them the water buckets till the caravan had its sufficiency. Now Abu Niyyatayn for the excess of his envy and hatred was scheming in his heart and his secret soul to slay Abu Niyyah, and when all had drunk he cut the cord and loaded his beasts and fared away leaving his companion in the well, for the first day and the second until the coming of night. Suddenly two 'Ifrits forgathered in that well and sat down to converse each with other, when the first said, "What is to do with you and how is your case and what may you be?" his fellow said, "By God, O my brother, I am satisfied with extreme satisfaction and I never leave the Sultan's daughter at all at all." The second Ifrit asked, "And what would forbid you from her?" and he answered,
"I should be driven away by something of wormwood powder scattered beneath the soles of her feet during the congregational prayers of Friday." Then the other said, "I also, By God, am joyful and exulting in the possession of a Hoard of jewels buried without the town near the Azure Column which serves as benchmark." "And what," asked the other to his friend, "would expel you from it and expose the jewels to the gaze of man?" whereto he answered, "A white cock in his tenth month slaughtered upon the Azure Column would drive me away from the Hoard and would break the Talisman when the gems would be visible to all." Now as soon as Abu Niyyah had heard the words of the two Ifrits, they arose and departed from the well; and it was the morning hour when, behold, a caravan was passing by that place, so the travellers halted seeking a drink of water. Presently, they let down a bucket which was seized by Abu Niyyah and as he was being drawn up they cried out and asked, "What are you, of Jinn kind or of man kind?" and he answered, "I am of the Sons of Adam." Hereupon they drew him up from the pit and questioned him of his case and he said, "I have fallen into it and I am sore anhungered." Accordingly they gave him something to eat and he ate and travelled with them till they entered a certain city and it was on First day. So they passed through the market streets which were crowded and found the people in turmoil and trouble; and as one enquired the cause of it he was answered, "truly the Sultan has a beautiful daughter who is possessed and overridden by an 'Ifrit, and whoever of the physicians would lay the Spirit and is unable or ignorant so to do,
Abu Niyyah and Abu Niyyatayn. 271 the King takes him and cutts off his head and hangs it up before his palace. Indeed of late days a student came here, a youth who knew nothing of expelling the Evil One, and he accepted the task and the Sultan designs to smite his neck at this very hour; so the people are flocking with design to divert themselves at the decapitation."
Now when Abu Niyyah heard these words he rose without delay and walked in haste till he came into the presence of the Sultan whom he found seated upon his throne and the Linkman standing with his scimitar brandished over the head of the young student and expecting only the royal order to strike his neck. So Abu Niyyah salam'd to him and said, ", release that youth from under the sword and send him to your prison, for if I avail to laying the Spirit and driving him from your daughter you will have mercy upon that people, and if I fail you will shorten by the head me as well as him." Hereupon the King let unbind the youth and sent him to jail; then he said to Abu Niyyah, "Would you go at once to my daughter and unspell her from the Jinni?" But the other replied, "No, O King, not until Meeting day at what time the folk are engaged in congregational prayers."
Now when Abu Niyyah had appointed the Friday, the King set apart for his guest an apartment and rationed him with liberal rations. Then her sister Dunyazad said, "How sweet is your story, O sister mine, and how enjoyable and delectable!" She said, "And where is this compared with what I should relate to you on the coming night if the King permits me to survive?"
Now when it was the next night and that was
The Four Hundred and Seventy seventh Night
Dunyazad said to her, "In God's name, O my sister, If you be other than sleepy, finish for us your tale that we may cut short the watching of this our latter night!" She replied, "With love and good will!" It has reached me,the director, the right guiding, lord of the counsel which is benefiting and of deeds fair seeming and worthy celebrating, that Abu Niyyah having appointed the Sultan for Meeting day, when he would unsorcel the Princess, waited till the morning dawned. Then he went forth to the Bazar and brought him a something of wormwood for a silvern Nusf and brought it back, and, as soon as the time of congregational prayers came, the Sultan went forth to his devotions and gave orders that Abu Niyyah be admitted to his daughter whilst the folk were busy at their devotions. Abu Niyyah repaired to his patient, and scattered the Absinthium beneath the soles of her feet, when, lo, and behold! she was made whole, and she groaned and cried aloud, "Where am I?" at this the mother rejoiced and whoever were in the Palace; and, as the Sultan returned from the Mosque, he found his daughter sitting sane and sound, after they had dressed her and perfumed her and adorned her, and she met him with glee and gladness.
So the two embraced and their joy increased, and the father fell to giving alms and scattering moneys amongst the Fakirs and the miserable and the widows and orphans, in gratitude for his daughter's recovery. Moreover he also released the student youth and largessed him, and bade him gang his gait. After this the King summoned Abu Niyyah into the presence and said to him, "O young man, ask a boon first of Allah and then of me and let it be everything you wish and want." the other said, "I require of you to wife the damsel from whom I drove away the Spirit," and the King turning to his Minister said, "Counsel me, O Wazir." the other said, "Put him off until the morrow;" and the Sultan said, "O youth, come back to me here on the morning of the next day." Hereupon Abu Niyyah was dismissed the presence, and early on the day appointed he came to the Sultan and found the Wazir beside him hending in hand a gem whose like was not to be found amongst the Kings. Then he set it before the Sultan and said to him, "Show it to the Youth and say to him, 'The dowry of the Princess, my daughter, is a jewel like unto this.' But whilst Abu Niyyah was standing between his hands the King showed him the gem and repeated to him the words of the Wazir, thinking to himself that it was a pretext for refusing the youth, and saying in his mind, "He will never be able to produce anything like that which the Wazir has brought." Hereupon Abu Niyyah asked, "An so be I bring you ten
Abu Niyyah and Abu Niyyatayn. 273 equal to this, will you give me the damsel?" and the King answered, "I will." The youth went from him when this was agreed upon and fared to the Market Street, where he bought him a white cock in its tenth month, such as had been described by the 'Ifrit, whose plume had not a trace of black or red feathers but was of the purest white. Then he fared without the town and in the direction of the setting sun until he came to the Azure Column, which he found exactly as he had heard it from the Jinni, and going to it, he cut the throat of the cock thereupon, when all of a sudden the earth gaped and within it appeared a chamber full of jewels sized as ostrich eggs. That being the Hoard, he went forth and brought with him ten camels, each bearing two large sacks, and returning to the treasure room, he filled all of these bags with gems and loaded them upon the beasts. Presently, he entered to the Sultan with his string of ten camels and, causing them kneel in the courtyard of the Divan, cried to him, "Come down,and take the dowry of your daughter." So the Sultan turned towards him and, looking at the ten camels exclaimed, "By God, this Youth is Jinn mad; yet will I go down to see him." Accordingly he descended the staircase to the place where the camels had been made kneel, and when the sacks had been unloaded and as the King came amongst them, the bags were opened and were found full of jewels greater and more glorious than the one was with him. Hereupon the Sultan was perplext and his wits were bewildered, and he cried to the Wazir, "Walláhi! I think that all the Kings of the Earth in its length and its breadth have not one single gem the like of these: but say me how shall I act, O Wazir?" The Minister replied, "Give him the girl."
Then her sister Dunyazad said, "How sweet and tasteful is your tale, O sister mine, and how enjoyable and delectable!" She said, "And where is this compared with what I should relate to you on the coming night, if the King permits me to survive?"
Now when it was the next night and that was
The Four Hundred and Seventy ninth Night
Dunyazad said to her, "In God's name, O my sister, If you be other than sleepy, finish for us your tale that we may cut short the watching of this our latter night!" She replied, "With love and good will!" It has reached me,the director, the right guiding, lord of the counsel which is benefiting and of deeds fair seeming and worthy celebrating, that the Wazir said to the King, "Give him the girl." Hereupon the marriage tie was tied and the bridegroom was led in to the bride, and either rejoiced mightily in his mate, and was increased their joy and destroyed was all annoy. Now Abu Niyyah was a favourite of Fortune, so the Sultan appointed to him the government during three days of every week, and he continued ruling after that fashion for a while of time. But one day of the days, as he was sitting in his pleasaunce, suddenly the man Abu Niyyatayn passed before him leaning on a palm stick, and crying, "O you beneficent, O you folk of good!" When Abu Niyyah beheld him he said to his Chamberlain, "here with that man;" and as soon as he was brought he bade them lead him to the Hammam and dress him in a new habit. They did his bidding and set the beggar before his whilome comrade who said to him, "Do you know me?" "No, O my lord," said the other; and he, "I am your companion of old whom you would have left to die in the well; but I, By God, never changed my intent, and all that I own in this world I will give unto you half of it."
And they sat in converse for a while of time, until at last the Double minded one, "from where came you by all this?" and he said, "From the well in which you threwest me." Hereupon from the excess of his envy and malice Abu Niyyatayn said to Abu Niyyah, "I also will go down that well and what to you was given the same shall be given to me." Then he left him and went forth from him, and he did not stop faring until he made the place. Presently, he descended, and having reached the bottom, there sat until the hour of nightfall, when behold! the two 'Ifrits came and, taking seat by the well mouth, salam'd each to other. But they had no force nor contrivance and both were as weaklings; so said one of them, "What is your case, O my brother, and how is your health?" and said the other, "Ah me, O my brother, since the hour that I was with you in this place on such a night, I have been cast out of the Sultan's daughter, and until this tide I have been unable to approach her or indeed at any other time." Said his comrade,
Abu Niyyah and Abu Niyyatayn. 275
"I also am like you, for the Hoard has gone forth from me, and I have grew feeble." Then cried the twain, "By God, the origin of our losses is from this well, so let us block it up with stones." Hereupon the twain arose and brought with them crumbling earth and pebbles, and threw it down the well when it fell upon Abu Niyyatayn, and his bones were crushed upon his flesh. Now his comrade, Abu Niyyah sat expecting him to return, but he came not, so he cried, "Walláhi! Needs must I go and look for him in that well and see what he is doing." So he took horse and fared there and found the pit filled up; so he knew and was certified that his comrade's intent had been evil, and had cast him into the hands of death. Then her sister Dunyazad said, "How sweet is your story, O sister mine, and how enjoyable and delectable!" She said, "And where is this compared with what I should relate to you on the coming night, if the Sovran permits me to survive?"
Now when it was the next night and that was
The Four Hundred and Eighties Night
Dunyazad said to her, "In God's name, O my sister, If you be other than sleepy, finish for us your tale that we may cut short the watching of this our latter night!" She replied, "With love and good will!" It has reached me,the director, the right guiding, lord of the counsel which is benefiting and of deeds fair seeming and worthy celebrating, that Abu Niyyah knew and was certified of his comrade Abu Niyyatayn being dead, so he cried aloud, "There is no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah the Glorious, the Great. O Allah mine, do you deliver me from envy, for that it destroys the envier and Perhaps jealousy may lead to frowardness against the Lord (glorified be His Glory!);" and so saying he returned to the seat of his kingdom. Now the Sultan's daughter his spouse had two sisters, both married, and she after the delay of a year or so proved with child, but when her tale of days was told and her delivery was nearhand her father fell sick and his malady grew upon him. So he summoned the Lords of his court and his kingdom one and all and he said, "In very deed this my son in law shall after my decease become my successor;" and he wrote a writ to that purport and devised to him the realm and the reign before his demise; nor was there long delay before the old King departed to the ruth of Allah and they buried him. Hereupon trouble arose between his two other sons in law who had married the Princesses and they said, "We were connected with him before this man was and we are before him in our claim to the kingdom."
Thereupon said the Wazir, "This counsel is other than right, for that the old King before his decease devised his country to this one and also wrote it in his will and testament: here therefore you are opposing him, and the result will be trouble and repentance." And when the Minister spoke on such wise they kept to their houses. Presently, the wife of Abu Niyyah bare him a babe, her two sisters being present at her accouchement; and they gave to the midwife an hundred gold pieces and agreed upon what was to be done. So when the babe was born they put in his place a pup and taking the infant away sent it by a slave girl who exposed it at the gateway of the royal garden. Then they said and spread abroad, "truly the Sultan's wife has been delivered of a doglet," and when the tidings came to Abu Niyyah's ears he exclaimed, "truly this also is a creation of Allah Almighty's:" so they clothed the pup and tended it with all care. soon the wife became pregnant a second time and when her days were fulfilled she bare a second babe which was the fairest of its time and the sisters did with it as they had done with the first and taking the infant they exposed him at the door of the garden.
Then they brought to the mother another dog pup in lieu of her babe, saying, "truly the Queen has been delivered a second time of a doglet." Now in this way it fared with them: but as regards the two infants which were cast away at the garden gate the first was taken up by the Gardener whose wife, by the decree of the Decreer, had become a mother on that very same night; so the man carried away the infant he found exposed and brought
Abu Niyyah and Abu Niyyatayn. 277 the foundling home and the woman fell to suckling it. After the third year the Gardener went forth one day of the days and happening upon the second infant in similar case he bore it also back to his wife who began to suckle it and wash it and tend it and nurse it, till the twain grew up and entered into their third and fourth years. The Sultan had in the meantime been keeping the two pups which he deemed to have been brought forth by his wife until the Queen became in the family way for the third time. Hereupon the Sultan said, "By God, 'tis not possible but that I be present at and witness her accouchement;" and the while she was bringing forth he sat beside her. So she was delivered of a girl child, in whom the father rejoiced with great joy and bade bring for her wet nurses who suckled her for two years until the milk time was past. This girl grew up till she reached the age of four years and she could distinguish between her mother and her father who, whenever he went to the royal garden would take her with him.
But when she beheld the Gardener's two boys she became familiar with them and would play with them; and, as each day ended, her father would carry her away from the children and lead her home, and this parting was grievous to her and she wept right sore. at this the Sultan would take also the boys with her until sleep prevailed over her, after which he would send the twain back to their sire the Gardener. But Abu Niyyah the Sultan would ever wonder at the boys and would exclaim, "Praise be to Allah, how beautiful are these dark skinned children!" This endured until one day of the days when the King entered the garden and there found that the two beautiful boys had taken some clay and were working it into the figures of horses and saddles and weapons of war and were opening the ground and making a water leat; so the Sultan wondered at that time after time for that he ever found them in similar case. And he marvelled the more because whenever he looked upon them his heart was opened to both and he yearned to the twain and he would give them some gold pieces although he knew not the cause of his affection.
Now one day he entered the garden, as was his wont, and he came upon the two boys of whom one was saying, "I am the Sultan!" And the other declaring, "I am the Wazir!" He wondered at their words and immediately summoned the Gardener and asked him concerning the lads, and lastly he said to him, "Say me truth and fear nothing from me." the other said, "By God,albe falsehood be saving, yet is truth fastness more saving and most saving; and indeed as regards these children the elder was found by me exposed at the gateway of the royal garden on such a night of such a year, and I came upon the second in the very same place; so I carried them to my wife who suckled them and tended them and they say to her, 'O mother,' and they say to me, 'O father.' " Hereupon Abu Niyyah the King returned home and summoning the midwife he asked, saying, "By the virtue of my predecessors in this kingdom, do you tell me the truth concerning my spouse, whether or no she was delivered of two dog pups," and she answered, "No, By God,truly the Queen bare you two babes like full moons, and the cause of their exposure before the garden gate was your wife's two sisters who envied her and did with her these deeds whereof she was not aware. " Hereupon cried Abu Niyyah, "praise be to God—Glory be to God who has brought about this good to me and has united me with my children, and truthful is the say, 'whoever does an action shall be requited of his Lord and the envious people has no delight and of his envy he shall win nothing save despight.' " Then the King of Mosul, being a man of good intent, did not put to death his wife's sisters and
Abu Niyyah and Abu Niyyatayn. 279 their husbands, but banished them his realm, and he lived happily with his Queen and children until such time as the Destroyer of delights and the Severer of societies came to him and he deceased to the mercy of Almighty Allah.
END OF VOLUME XIV.
Appendix A.
INEPTIÆ BODLEIANÆ
This Appendix concerns the difficulties that Sir Richard Burton felt he experienced in researching text in the care of The Bodleian Library Oxford.
It has no interest for the modern reader of the Tales and is therefore omitted.
For interested parties the content can be retrieved in one of the many web sites that contain photo images of this volume's text.
Appendix B.
THE THREE UNTRANSLATED TALES IN MR. E. J. W. GIBB'S "FORTY VEZIRS."
THE THIRTY-EIGHTH VEZIR'S STORY.
(Page 353 of Mr. Gibb's translation.)
There was in the city of Cairo a merchant, and one day he bought a slave girl, and took her to his house. There was in his house an ape; this the merchant fetched and dragged up to the slave girl. He said, "Yield yourself over to this, and I will set you free." The slavegirl did so of necessity, and she conceived by him. When her time was come she bare a son all of whose members were shaped like those of a man, save that he had a tail like an ape. The merchant and the slave girl occupied themselves bringing up this son. One day, when the son was five or six months old, the merchant filled a large cauldron with milk, and lighted a great fire under it. When it was boiling, he seized the son and cast him into the cauldron; and the girl began to lament. The merchant said, "Be silent, make no lamentation; go and be free;" and he gave her some sequins. Then he turned, and the cauldron had boiled so that not even any bones were left. The merchant took down the cauldron, and placed seven strainers, one above the other; and he took the scum that had gathered on the liquid in the cauldron and filtered it through the seven strainers, and he took that which was in the last and put it into a bottle. And the slave girl bare in her heart bitter hatred against the merchant, and she said in herself, "Even as you have burned my liver will I burn you;" and she began to watch her opportunity. (One day) the merchant said to her, "Make ready some food," and went out.
So the girl cooked the food, and she mixed some of that poison in the dish. When the merchant returned she brought the tray and laid it down, and then withdrew into a corner. The merchant took a spoonful of that food, and as soon as he put it into his mouth, he knew it to be the poison, and he cast the spoon that was in his hand at the girl. A piece, of the bigness of a pea, of that poisoned food fell from the spoon on the girl's hand, and it made the place where it fell black. As for the merchant, he turned all black, and swelled till he became like a blown out skin, and he died. But the slave girl medicined herself and became well; and she kept what remained of the poison and sold it to those who asked for it.
THE FORTIETH VEZIR'S STORY. (Page 366 in Mr. Gibb's translation.)
There was of old time a tailor, and he had a fair wife. One day this woman sent her slave girl to the carder's to get some cotton teased. The slave girl went to the carder's shop and gave him cotton for a gown to get teased. The carder while teasing the cotton displayed his yard to the slave girl. She blushed and passed to his other side. As she thus turned round the carder
APPENDIX B.
displayed his yard on that side also. Thus the slave girl saw it on that side too. And she went and said to her mistress, "that carder, to whom I went, has two yards." The lady said to her, "Go and say to that carder, 'My mistress wishes you; come at night.' " So the slave girl went and said this to the carder. As soon as it was night the carder went to that place and waited: The woman went out and met the carder and said, "Come and have to do with me while I am lying by my husband." When it was midnight the carder came and waked the woman. The woman lay conveniently and the carder fell to work. She felt that the yard which entered her was but one, and said, "Ah my soul, carder, at it with both of them." While she was softly speaking her husband awaked and asked, "What means your saying, 'At it with both of them?' " He stretched out his hand to his wife's kaze and the carder's yard came into it. The carder drew himself back and his yard slipped out of the fellow's hand, and he made shift to get away. The fellow said, "Out on you, wife, what meant that saying of yours, 'At it with both of them?"' The woman said, "O husband, I saw in my dream that you were fallen into the sea and were swimming with one hand and crying out, 'Help! I am drowning!' I shouted to you from the shore, 'At it with both of them,' and you begannest to swim with both your hands." Then the husband said, "Wife, I too know that I was in the sea, from this that a wet fish came into my hand and then slipped out and escaped; you speak truly." And he loved his wife more than before.
THE LADY'S THIRTY FOURTH STORY.
(From the India Office MS.)
(Page 399 in Mr. Gibb's translation.)
They tell that there was a Khoja and he had an exceeding fair son, who was so beautiful that he who looked upon him was confounded. This Khoja watched over his son right carefully; he let him not come forth from a certain private chamber, and he did not leave the ribbon of his trousers unsealed. When the call to prayer was chanted from the minaret, the boy would ask his father saying, "Why do they cry out thus?" and the Khoja would answer, "Someone has been undone and has died, and they are calling out to bury him." And the boy believed these words. The beauty of this boy was spoken of in Persia; and a Khoja came from Persia to Baghdad with his goods and chattels for the love of this boy. And he struck up a friendship with the boy's father, and ever gave to him his merchandise at an easy price, and he sought to find out where his son abode. When the Khoja had discovered that the boy was kept safe in that private chamber, he one day said to his father, "I am about to go to a certain place; and I have a chest whereinto I have put whatever I possess of valuables; this I shall send to you, and do you take it and shut it up in that chamber where your son is." And the father answered, "Right gladly." So the Khoja let build a chest so large that he himself might lie in it, and he put within it wine and all things needful for a carouse.
APPENDIX B.
Then he said to his servant, "Go, fetch a porter and take this chest to the house of Khoja Such an one, and say, 'My master has sent this to remain in your charge,' and leave it and come away. And again on the morrow go and fetch it, saying, 'My master wishes the chest.' " So the servant went for a porter, and the Khoja hid himself in the chest. Then the boy laded the porter with the chest and took it to the other Khoja's house, where he left it and went away. When it was night the Khoja came forth from the chest, and he saw a moon face sleeping in the bed clothes, and a candle was burning in a candlestick at his head; and when the Khoja beheld this he was confounded and exclaimed, "And blessed be God, the fairest of Creators!" Then the Khoja laid out the wine and so forth; and he went up softly and waked the boy. And the boy arose from his place and addressed himself to speak, saying, "Why have you come here?" At once the Khoja filled a cup and gave it to him, saying, "Drink this, and then I shall tell you what manner of man I am."
And he besought the boy and spread out sequins before him. So the boy took the cup and drank what was in it. When the Khoja had given him to drink three or four cups the face of the boy grew tulip hued, and he became heated with the wine and began to sport with the Khoja. So all that night till morning did the Khoja make merry with the boy; and whatever his desire was, he attained thereto. When it was morning, the Khoja again went into the chest; and the servant came and laded the porter with the same and took it back to his house. And on the morrow, when the boy and his father were sitting together, the mu'ezzin chanted the call to prayer, whereupon the boy exclaimed, "Out on you, father; and the boy who is undone dies, and so this fellow goes up there and bawls out; last night they undid me; how is it that I am not dead?" Then the father smote the boy on the mouth and said, "Speak not such words; they are a shame." And then he knew why the chest had come.
VOL 14 INDEX