Whilome there was a King in the land of Al-Sín and he had three male children to whose mother befell a mysterious malady. So they summoned for her Sages and leaches of whom none could understand her ailment and she abode for a while of time strown upon her couch. At last came a learned physician to whom they described her disorder and he declared, "Indeed this sickness cannot be healed save and except by the Water of Life, a treasure that can be trove only in the land Al-'Irák."

When her sons heard these words they said to their sire, "There is no help but that we make our best endeavour and fare there and thence bring for our mother the water in question." Hereupon the King gat ready for them a sufficiency of provisions for the way and they farewelled him and set forth intending for Barbarian land. The three Princes did not stop travelling together for seven days, at the Three Princes of China. 167 end of which time one said to other, "Let us separate and let each make search in a different stead, so Perhaps shall we hit upon our need."

So speaking they parted after dividing their viaticum and, bidding adieu to one another, each went his own way. Now the eldest Prince did not stop going over the wastes and none directed him to a town save after a while when his victual was exhausted and he had nothing remaining to eat. At that time he drew near to one of the cities where he was met at the entrance by a Jewish man who asked him saying, "Will you serve, O Moslem?" the youth to himself said, "I will take service and Perhaps Allah shall discover to me my need."

Then he said aloud, "I will engage myself to you;" and said the Jew, "Every day you will serve me in that Synagogue, whose floor you will sweep and clean its mattings and rugs and you will scour the candlesticks." " 'Tis well," replied the Prince, after which he fell to serving in the Jew's house, until one day of the days when his employer said to him, "O Youth, I will bargain with you a bargain." "And what may that be?" asked the young Prince, and the man answered, "I will condition with you for your daily food a scone and a half but the broken loaf you will not devour nor will you break the whole bread; yet do you eat your sufficiency and whoever does contrary to our agreement we will flay his face. So, If it be your desire to serve, you are welcome."

Now of his inexperience the Prince said to him, "We will serve you;" whereupon his employer rationed him with a scone and a half and went forth leaving him in the Synagogue. When it was noon the youth grew anhungered so he ate the loaf and a half; and about mid afternoon the Jew came to him and finding that he had devoured the bread asked him thereanent and the other answered, "I was hungry and I ate up all." Cried the Jew, "I made compact with you from the beginning that you should eat neither the whole nor the broken," and so saying he fared forth from him and presently brought a party of Jews, who in that town numbered some fifty head, and they seized the youth and slew him and bundling up the body in a mat set it in a corner of the synagogue. Such was his case; but as regards the Cadet Prince, he did not stop wayfaring and going from town to town until Fate at last threw him into the same place where his brother had been slain and perchance as he entered it he found the same Jew standing at the Synagogue door. The man asked him, "Will you serve, O Moslem?" and as the youth answered, "Yea truly," he led the new comer to his quarters. After this the Jew had patience for the first day and the second day 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 would 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 Seven Hundred and Eleventh 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 King's son tarried with the Jewish man the first day and the second day, after which his employer did with him even as he had done by his brother before him; to wit, he slew him and wrapping him in a mat placed his corpse beside that of the eldest Prince. in this way it happed to these twain; but as regards the youngest of the three, he did not stop travelling from town to town and enduring excessive fatigue and hunger and nakedness until by decree of Destiny and by determination of the Predestinator he was thrown into the hands of the same Jew whom he found standing at the Synagogue door.

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Here the man accosted him, saying, "Will you serve, O Moslem?" and the Youth agreeing he imposed upon him the same pact which he had made with his two brothers, and the Prince said, " 'Tis well, O Master."

Then the Jew said, "Do you sweep the Synagogue and cleanse it and shake out the mats and rugs;" and the other said, "Good!" But when the Prince left him and went into the building, his glance fell upon the two bundles of matting in which were wrapped the corpses of his brothers, so he drew near to them and, raising a corner of the covering, found the bodies stinking and rotten. at this he arose and fared forth the Synagogue and opening a pit in the ground took up his brothers (and he sorrowing over them and weeping) and buried them. Then he returned to the building and, rolling up the mats, heaped them together and so with the rugs, after which he built a fire under them until the whole were burnt and after he took down the candlesticks one and all and brake them to bits. Now when it was mid afternoon behold, the Jew came to the Synagogue and found a bonfire and all the furniture of it lying in ashes and when he saw this he buffeted his face and cried, "Why, O Moslem, have you done on such wise?" Replied the youth, "You have defrauded me, O Master," and rejoined the Jew, "I have not cheated you of anything. However, O Moslem, hie you home and bid your mistress slaughter a meat offering and cook it and do you bring it here directly." " 'Tis well, O my Master," said the Prince.

Now the Jew had two boy children in whom he delighted and the youth going to his house knocked at the door which was opened to him by the Jews and she asked, "What need you?" the Prince to the said,Jew's wife, "O my mistress, my master has sent me to you saying, 'Do you slaughter the two lambs that are with you and fifty chickens and an hundred pair of pigeons,' for all the masters are with him in the Synagogue and 'tis his desire to circumcise the boys." The Jew's wife replied to him, "And who shall slaughter me all this?" when he rejoined, "I will."

So she brought out to him the lambs and the chickens and the pigeons and he cut the throats of all. The Jewess hereupon arose and cried upon her neighbours to aid her in the cooking until the meats were well done and all were dished up. Then the youth hending the ten porcelain plates in hand went with them to a house in the Ghetto and rapped at the door and said, "My Master has sent all these to you." Meanwhile the Jew was in the Synagogue unknowing of such doings; and as the Prince was setting down the last of the plates which he carried with him, behold! the Jew came to that house because he had noticed his servant's absence, so he repaired there to see concerning the business of the meat offering wherewith he had charged him. He found his home in a state of pother and up take and down set and he asked the folk, "What is the matter?" They related the whole to him and said, "You sent to demand such and such," and when he heard this case he beat his face with his brogue 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 would 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 Seven Hundred and Twelfth 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, when the Jew came to his home and looked around, he found it in the condition which the youth had contrived, so he beat his face with his brogue and cried,

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"O the ruin of my house!" Suddenly the Prince entered and his employer asked him "Why do you on such wise, O Moslem?" Answered the youth, "truly you have defrauded me," and rejoined the other, "No; I have not cheated you on any wise."

Then said the Jew in his mind:—"Needs must I set a snare for this youth and slay him;" so he went in to his wife and said, "Spread for us our beds upon the terrace roof; and we will take thereto the young Moslem, our servant, and cause him lie upon the edge, and when he is drowned in slumber we will push him between us and roll him along the floor till he fall down from the terrace and break to bits his neck."

Now by fiat of Fate the youth was standing and overhearing their words. As soon as it was night time the woman arose and spread the beds upon the roof according as her husband had charged her do; but about mid afternoon the Prince bought him half a pound of filberts and placed them with all care and circumspection in his breast pocket. Presently, the Jew said to him, "O Moslem, we design to sleep in the open air, for the weather is now summery;" and he said, " 'Tis well, O my Master." Hereupon the Jew and the Jewess and the children and the Prince their servant went up to the roof and the first who lay him down was the house master, placing his wife and children beside him. Then he said to the youth, "Do you sleep here upon the side," when the Prince brought the filberts out of his breast pocket and cracked them with his teeth, and as often as they repeated to him, "Arise, O Moslem, and take your place on the couch," he answered them, "Whenas I shall have eaten these filberts." He did not stop watching them till all had lain down and were fast asleep, when he took his place on the bed between the mother and the two boys. Presently, the Jew awoke, and thinking that the youth was sleeping on the edge, he pushed his wife, and his wife pushed the servant, and the servant pushed the children towards the terrace marge, and both the little ones fell over and their brain pans were broken and they died.

The Jew hearing the noise of the fall fancied that none had tumbled save his servant the young Moslem; so he rose in joy and awoke his wife saying, "Indeed the youth has rolled off the terrace roof and has been killed." at this the woman sat up, and not finding her boys beside her, whilst the Prince still lay there she wailed and shrieked and buffeted her cheeks, and cried to her husband, "truly none has fallen save the children." at this he jumped up and attempted to cast the youth from the roof; but he, swiftlier than the lightning, sprang to his feet and shouted at the Jew and filled him with fear, after which he stabbed him with a knife which was handy, and the other fell down killed and drowned in the blood he had spilled. Now the Jew's wife was a model of beauty and of loveliness and stature and perfect grace, and when the King's son turned upon her and designed to slay her, she fell at his feet, and kissing them, placed herself under his protection. Hereupon the youth left her alive, saying to himself, "This be a woman and indeed she must not be mishandled;" and the Jewess asked him, "O my lord, what is the cause of your doing in this way? At first you came to me and told me the untruth, such and such falsehoods, and secondly, you wrought for the slaughter of my husband and children." Answered he, "In truth your man slew my two brothers wrongously and causelessly!"

Now when the Jewess heard of this deed she enquired of him, "And are you their very brother?" and he replied, "In good truth they were my brethren;" after which he related to her the reason of their faring from their father to seek the Water of Life for their mother's use. at this she cried, "By God, O my lord, the wrong was with my mate and not with you; but the Decreed chevisance does need, nor is there flight from it indeed; so do you abide content. However, as regards the Water in question, it is here ready beside me, and if you will carry me along with you to your country I will give you that same, which otherwise I will withhold from you; and Perhaps my going with you may bring you to fair end." the Prince in his mind said

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"Take her with you and perhaps she shall guide you to something of good:" and thereupon promised to bear her away. So she arose and led him into a closet where she showed him all the hoards of the Jew, ready moneys and jewellery and furniture and raiment; and everything that was with her of riches and resources she committed to the young Prince, amongst these being the Water of Life. So they bore away the whole of that treasure and he also carried off the Jewess, who was beautiful exceedingly, none being her peer in that day. Then they crossed the wilds and the wastes, intending for the land of Al-Sin, and they persevered for a while of time. 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 would 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 Seven Hundred and Fourteenth 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 young Prince did not stop wayfaring until the twain celebrating, near to the capital of China where, by the fiat of Fate and the sealed decree of Destiny, on entering the walls he found that his father had passed away, and that the city, being Kingless, had become like unto a flock of sheep lacking shepherd. Moreover he was certified that the Lords of his father's land and the Grandees of the realm and all the subjects were in the uttermost confusion. He went up to the palace and forgathered with his mother, and seeing that she had not been healed of her sickness, he brought her out the Water of Life and gave her to drink some little of it by which health returned to her and she rose from her couch and took seat and salam'd to him and asked concerning his brethren. However he concealed his secret thereanent fearing lest it induce in her weakly state a fresh attack and discovered to her nothing but said, "truly, we parted at such a place in order to seek the Water of Life."

Then she looked upon his companion the Jewess (and she cast in the mould of loveliness) and she questioned him concerning the woman and he recounted to her the whole affair, first and last, still concealing for the reason aforesaid, the fate of his brothers. Now on the second day the bruit went abroad throughout the city that the King's son had returned; so the Wazirs and Emirs and the Lords of the land and all who had their share in governance forgathered with him and they set him as King and Sultan in the stead of his sire. He took seat on the throne of his Kingship and bade and forbade and raised and deposed and so tarried for a while of time, until one day of the days when he determined to enjoy the hunt and chase and divert himself in pleasurable case. So he and his host rode forth the city when his glance fell upon a Badawi girl who was standing with the Shaykh her father considering his retinue; and the age of the maiden might have mastered thirteen years. But as soon as the King looked upon the girl love of her upon his heart alighted, and he was by that engrossed, for she was perfect in beauty and comeliness. Hereupon he returned to his palace and sending for her father he asked of him in marriage; the Shaykh, however, answered saying, "O our lord the Sultan, I will not give up my daughter save to one who has a handicraft of his own, for truly trade is a defence against poverty and folk say, 'Handicraft If it enrich not still it veils.'" Hereupon the King took thought in himself and said to the Shaykh, "O Man, I am Sovran and Sultan and with me is abundant good;" but the other replied, ", in King craft there is no trust." However, of his exceeding love to the girl the Sultan presently summoned the Shaykh of the Mat makers and learnt from him the craft of plaiting and he wove these articles of various colours both plain and striped. After this he sent for the father of the damsel and recounted to him what he had done and the Shaykh said to him, ", my daughter is in poor case and you are King

The Three Princes of China. 175 and Perhaps from some matter may befall a serious matter; moreover the subjects may say, 'Our King has wived with a Badawi girl.' " "O Shaykh," replied the King, "all men are the sons of Adam and Eve." Hereupon the Badawi granted to him his daughter and got ready her requisites in the shortest possible time and when the marriage tie was tied the King went in unto her and found her like unto a pearl. So he rejoiced in her and felt his heart at rest and after tarrying with her a full told year, one chance day of the days he determined to go forth in disguise and to wander about town and solace himself with its spectacles alone and unattended. So he went into the vestiary where the garments were kept and doffing his dress donned a garb which converted him into a Darwaysh. After this he fared forth in early morning to stroll around the streets and enjoy the sights of the highways and markets, yet he knew not what was hidden from him in the World of the Future. Now when it was noon tide he entered a street which set off from the Bazar and yet was no thoroughfare, and this he followed up until he reached the head and end, where stood a cook making Kabábs. So he said to himself, "Enter that shop and dine within it." He did so and was met by sundry shopmen who seeing him in Darwaysh's garb welcomed him and greeted him and led him within, when he said to them, "I want a dinner." "Upon the head and the eyes be it," they replied, and conducting him into a room within the shop showed him another till he came to the place intended, when they said to him, "Enter in this, O my lord."

So he pushed open the door and finding in the closet a matting and a prayer rug spread thereupon he said to himself, "By God, this is indeed a secret spot, well concealed from the eyes of folk."

Then he went up to the prayer rug and would have sat down upon it after pulling off his papooshes, but hardly had he settled himself in his seat when he fell through the floor for a depth of ten fathoms. And while falling he cried out, "Save me, O God the Saviour;" for now he knew that the people of that place only pretended to make Kababs and they had digged a pit within their premises. Also he was certified that each and every who came in asking for dinner were led to that place where they found

The Three Princes of China. 177 the prayer rug bespread and supposed that it was set within it for the use of the diners. But when the Sultan fell from his seat into the souterrain, he was followed by the thieves who designed to murther him and to carry off his clothes, even as they had done to many others. 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 would 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 Seven Hundred and Sixteenth 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 when the King fell into the pit (and he disguised in Darwaysh garb) the thieves sought to slay him and carry off his clothes, when he said to them, "Why kill me when my garments are not worth a thousand groats and I own not a single one? However, I have at hand a handicraft at which I am ready to work sitting in this pit and do you take and sell my produce for a thousand faddahs; and every day I will labour for you, finishing one and requiring nothing save my meat and drink and perpetual privacy in your quarters." "At what craft are you crafty?" asked they, and he answered, "At mat weaving: so do you bring me a piastre worth of rushes and the same of yarn." Accordingly they fared forth and fetched him his need and presently he made a mat and said to them, "Take you this and sell it not for less than a thousand faddahs."

They went out and carried the work to the Bazar where, as soon as the folk caught sight of it, they crowded about the seller, each man offering more until the price had risen to a thousand and two hundred silvern nusfs. Hereupon said the thieves to themselves, "By God, this Darwaysh can profit us with much profit and enrich us without other trade;" so every morning for ten days they brought him rushes and yarn and he wove for them a mat which they vended for a like sum. in this way it happened to him; but as regards the Wazirs and Emirs and lords of the land, they went up to the Council chamber for the first day and the second and the third until the week was ended and they awaited the coming of their King, but he came not, neither found they any tidings nor hit they upon any manifest traces and none knew where he had went. So they were sore exercised and confusion befell with much tittle tattle of folk; each one said his own say nor were they guided by any to what they should do. Furthermore, as often as they asked of the Harem they were answered, "We have no tidings of him;" so they were perplext and at last they agreed, their King being clean lost, to set up a Sultan as his successor. However the Wazirs said, "Tarry you until Allah shall open unto us a door by which we shall be rightly directed to him."

Now the King had required from the people of the pit rushes of various colours, red and green, and when they fetched them he fell to weaving a mat like those of the striped sort, on which he figured by marks and signs the name of the quarter in which he was gaoled and discovered to his men the way thereto and the site itself; after which he said to the thieves, "truly this mat misfitts every save those in the Royal Palace and its price is seven thousand faddahs. Do you take it and hie with it to the Sultan who shall buy it of you and pay you the price." They obeyed his bidding and going to the palace of the Grand Wazir found him sitting with the Lords of the land and with the Nobles of the realm talking over the matter of the King when behold, those who brought the mat entered into his presence. the Minister said, "What be that which is with you?" and they said, "A mat!" Whereupon he bade them unroll it and they did so before him; and he, being sagacious, experienced in all affairs, looked at that and fell to examining the bundle and turning it about, and considering it until suddenly he espied signs thereupon figured. He at once understood what they meant and he was rightly directed to the place where the King was confined; so he arose without delay and after ordering them to seize those who had brought the mat took with him a party and went forth, he and they, after mastering the marks which were upon the weft. He did not stop going

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(and the people of the pit with him under arrest) until such time as he arrived at the place. Here they went in and opened the souterrain and brought out the King who was still in Darwaysh garb. Presently, the Wazir sent for the Linkman and when he appeared they seized all who were in that place and struck off their heads; but as for the women they put them into large sacks of camel's hair and drowned them in the river: furthermore, they spoiled all that was on that site and the Sultan gave orders to raze the house until it became level with the ground. When all this had been done they questioned the Sultan concerning the cause of that event and he informed them of what had befallen him from incept to conclusion and lastly he cried, "Walláhi! The cause of my escape from this danger was nothing save the handicraft which I learnt; to wit, the making of mats, and the Almighty requite with welfare him who taught me because he was the means of my release; and, but for my learning this trade, you had never known the way to discover me, seeing that Allah makes for every effect a cause." And having on such wise ended this tale Ibn Ahyam fell to relating to the King the history of