It is told among the many things which happened in Cairo the God guarded that within it dwelt a man who was an Emir and who had a son Mohammed Shalabi called, a youth in his day unique for beauty and loveliness, nor in his time was there his peer for comeliness and seemlihead amongst women or amongst men. Now when he had attained the age of ten and was approaching puberty, his sire betrothed him and wedded him to a fair wife who loved him with fondest love even after marriage. There was also in Misr a Kazi al-'Askar, a Judge of the Army, who had a daughter singular for form and favour and bloom and brilliancy, and stature and symmetric grace and she was known as Sitt al-Husn—the Lady of Loveliness. Now one chance day of the days she went forth together with her mother and the handmaidens to the Baths and when they reached the half way behold, they were confronted by the young Shalabi whose glance fell upon the girl and her glance lit upon the youth, wherefrom love and affection for him settled in her heart and it was with him after the same fashion. Presently, she began to send him messages and letters and he to do on like guise, yet could neither win possession of other nor indeed could the twain meet privately in one place. This endured for the space of three years therefore were their hearts melted in fire of mutual love longing, until on a certain day when desire in the girl surged high for her lover and likewise did his yearning for his beloved; as well neither availed to win union. Hereupon befell them sore travail and trouble and the young lady sent an old woman to her dearling praying him to meet her in such a site; and when the go between had informed him of it, he arose to obey her without delay, unknowing what was hidden from him in the Secret Purpose. He fared till he came to the place in question when it was the hour of sunset and here the Shalabi forgathered with the Kazi's daughter who had kept tryst with him accompanied by her handmaidens; and soon the twain, he and she, repaired to a retired spot.
Now by the decree of the Decreer which is written upon the foreheads and the brows of mankind, one of the folk belonging to the Chief of Police was loitering about the place when the couple entered that secret stead; and as soon as they had settled themselves comfortably, each began complaining to other of the pangs of separation. After this the handmaidens brought to them food, meat and wine, and they ate and drank and toyed and were cheered and made merry from set of sun till the noon o' night and they conversed together as boon companions until either was fulfilled of other and the pains of parting had vanished from their hearts. Such was the case with the lover and the beloved; but as regards the Waifs man who was looking upon them and listening, he well knew the place in which the couple had retired and having noted it and certified himself of it, he went to the Chief of Police and made his report saying, "In such a site of such a ward
Mohammed, His Mistress and His Wife. 243 are a man and a maid whereupon show the signs of affluence, and doubtless If you seize them you will easily get from each and either some fifteen purses." The Wali hearing these words immediately led out his party and marched with them to the spot appointed; and he did not stop going for half the night until they all came to the trysting place. Then he pushed forward axe in hand and smote the door and broke it down; and directly he rushed into the room without being expected by the youth or the young lady whom he found sitting together in the very height of enjoyment. But when they saw him suddenly appear they were consterned and confounded and confused as to their affair, so he arrested them and led them off and carried them to his house, where he placed them in prison. immediately the bruit concerning the youth went abroad and reached his family; to wit, how Mohammed Shalabi had been seized by the Chief of Police, together with the girl his beloved. Now after imprisoning them the Wali said, "This pair shall remain with me for a day or two days and until I catch them in their robbery;" but one of the party said, "Indeed you know not and you have not learnt that this damsel is the daughter of the Kazi of the Army who throughout the past year wrought for the slaying of you by the Sultan." And hardly had the Wali heard these words than his heart was filled with joy and he exclaimed, "By God, needs must I have his wench disgraced and proclaimed by bell about the thoroughfares of Cairo and him dishonoured in the presence of the Sultan and degraded from his degree."
Now when it was morning tide a rumour flew about town that the Judge's daughter had been seized by the Wali and the watch together with the young Shalabi in a certain place and presently the report reached her father who cried, "There is no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah, the Glorious, the Great!
O Saving God, save me! Oh, vile disgrace and foul dishonour before Sultan and subjects who shall say the Kazi's daughter has been seduced and abused. However may the Veiler enveil me!" On his part the Wali went up to the Palace and sought the Sovran to acquaint him therewith; but, finding that he had business, he sat him down to await its ending when he purposed informing him concerning the daughter of his enemy the Chief Kazi. On such wise it befell him; but as regards the wife of the youth who was lover to the girl, as soon as the rumour reached her that the Shalabi had been arrested by the Wali and the watch, she arose to her feet without hesitation and delay and doffing whatever of woman's dress was upon her 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 would 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 Seven Hundred and Seventy fourth 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 as soon as the Shalabi's wife was informed touching her husband how the Wali had seized him in company with the Kazi's daughter, she arose directly and doffing whatever of woman's dress was upon her and donning man's disguise provided herself with something of provisions and went forth intending for the gaol in the Waifs house. She asked for the road as she went and a man of the people directed her to the office until she reached the place carrying her victuals; then she enquired for the gaoler. So they made him meet her and she said, "Open to me the prison in which they have gaoled the Shalabi
Mohammed, His Mistress and His Wife. 245 and the maiden," and she promised him by signs a gold piece; hereupon he admitted her and she passed into the room where lay her spouse and the girl and set meat before him. But he knew her not and cried, "Indeed I will nor eat nor drink, and do you fare from me and leave me in this my plight." she said, "Nay, you must eat and gladness shall befall you." Accordingly he came forward and ate a small matter and she after sitting with him for an hour or so, arose and doffed her man's dress. Then she stripped the Kazi's daughter of all the clothes she was wearing and garbed her in the masculine garb wherewith she had entered to the twain. The young lady did as she was bidden and showed like to the Shalabi's wife who lastly served her with what remained of the meat and said to her, "Up with you and hie you home."
So the Kazi's daughter fared forth under the disguise of a dainty youth such an one as he who soon had entered the gaol; and as soon as she had go on their way the wife took seat beside her husband. When he saw her habited in the habit of the Kazi's daughter he recognised her and knew her for his spouse; so he asked of her, "What has brought you here?" and she answered, "I have come with this contrivance for the purpose of saving you and of saving the honour of the girl you love." But as soon as the Kazi's daughter had departed in her disguise the gaoler was deaf to entreaty and closed the prison doors upon the pair and the Shalabi and his spouse sat down together and his heart was satisfied and his secret was safe directed, and fell from him all the sorrow which had settled upon his heart. Such was the case with these two; but as regards the Chief of Police, when he went up to the Sultan and saw that he was busied he took patience until the work was ended, after which he came forward and kissed ground before him and salam'd to him and blessed him. The King returned his salute and then said, "What is to do?" and he said, ", I found during the past night the Lady Sitt al-Husn, daughter to the Kazi al-'Askar, companying with her lover a certain Mohammed Shalabi son of the Emir Such and such; so I seized the couple and confined them by me and now I myself come to report the case in your presence."
When the Sultan heard these words, he was wroth with exceeding wrath and his eyes flashed red and his outer jugulars swelled and he foamed at the mouth and roaring cried, "How can it be that the daughter of the Kazi al-Islam companies with a lover and allows herself to be debauched? By God, needs must I slay her and sty her father and slay the youth her lover." Thus befell it with the Sultan and the Wali; but as regards the matter of the girl Sitt al-Husn, when she went forth the prison in the dress of a Shalabi, a dainty youth, she did not stop going till she reached her paternal home. Here she repaired to a place which was private and having doffed her man's dress garbed her in maidenly garments, then retiring secretly to her own room lay her down and her heart was heartened and trouble and turmoil and travail of mind fell from her. Now at that time her mother was lamenting like a funeral mourner and buffeting her face and her breast and kept crying out, "Oh the shame of us! Oh the dishonour of us! When they shall have informed the Sultan of this, he shall surely slay her sire." And the Kazi grew distraught and full of thought and he also said in his mind, "How shall I remain Kazi al-Islam when the folk of Cairo say, 'truly the daughter of our Lord High Chancellor has been debauched?' " With these words he kept visiting his wife's apartment and sitting with her for awhile, then faring forth and coming in from place to place and he wandered about like one bewildered of wits. When behold, a handmaid of the handmaidens entered the room in which lay the Kazi's daughter and finding her strown upon her bed looked upon her and recognised her. So she left her and running in her haste went her to the mistress and cried, "O my lady, indeed Sitt al-Husn of whom you are talking is lying down in such a
Mohammed, His Mistress and His Wife. 247 room of the Harem." Thereupon the mother arose and went and came upon her daughter, so she rejoiced in her and returning to the Kazi in his apartment acquainted him therewith. He also repaired to his daughter's bower and finding her within it he said, "Where have you been?" she said, "O my father, my head began to ache after sunset time, so I lay me down in this place." Hereupon without delay the Kazi took horse, he and his Officials, and repaired to the Sultan 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 would 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 Seven Hundred and Seventy sixth 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 Kazi of the Army repaired to the Sultan, he and the whole of his officials, and he did not stop going until he entered the presence, where he salam'd and said, ", is it lawful and allowed of Allah Almighty that your Wali charge us with calumnious charge and false?" As the Chief of Police was standing close by, the Sultan asked him, "How can the Wali have misspoken you and your daughter when she is still imprisoned by him and in his house?" whereto the Chief of Police added, " 'Tis true! His daughter is surely with us in durance vile, she along with her lover, for indeed I found the pair in such a place." Said the Kazi, ", I will abide here beside you and do you let the Wali go down and bring before you that which is with him in gaol, and the case shall be made manifest, because hearing with the ear is not like eyeing with the eye." The Sultan replied, "This counsel is right," whereupon the Chief of Police returned to his house and ordered the gaoler to open the gaol and bring thereout the maiden Sitt al-Husn and her lover the youth Mohammed Shalabi.
The man did his bidding and leading forth of prison the couple committed them to the Chief of Police who took them and fared with them to the Sovran, rejoicing the while with all joy. The citizens of Cairo heard of all this, so they flocked in crowds to solace them with the spectacle; and when the Wali reached the presence, the maiden and the young man being with him, he set them before the Sultan. Presently, the King asked the youth saying, "Who may you be, O young man, and who is your father?" and answered he, "I am son of such an Emir;" when the King who believed that she was the daughter of the Chief Kazi continued, "And this maiden that is with you, who may she be and whose daughter?" The youth replied, "This is my wife, " and the King rejoined, "How can she be your wife?"
So the youth retorted, "Indeed she is; and Such an one and So and so and Such another together with a host of your favoured courtiers know right well that she is my spouse and that she is the daughter of So and so." Hereupon they accosted her and bespoke her and she bespake them, so they recognised her and were certified that she was lawful wife to the Shalabi. Then asked the King, "How is it that the Wali arrested you and her?" and the youth answered, ", I went out with this my wife intending to enjoy ourselves and, finding a place that was cheerful and pleasant we tarried there until midnight when the Wali broke in upon us and seized us, scandalously declaring that I was companying with the Kazi's daughter. Then he carried us off and gaoled us in his house and now (praise be to God!) here we are between your hands. So do you whatever you will and command according to Holy Law and whoever shall deserve chastisement deal it to him, for you are the lord of our necks and the master of our good."
Now when the youth spoke these words the King bade put to death the Chief of Police and harry his house and enslave his women and he commanded the Crier before the execution to cry about the thoroughfares of Cairo in front of the Wali that he was being led to die and declare, "This is the award of him who dishonours the noble and charges the folk with lying charges and false!"
After that they slew the Chief of Police and thus carried out the King's commandment. 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 would 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 Fellah and His Wicked Wife. 249
The Seven 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 after the Wali had been put to death the Sultan bestowed his good upon Mohammed Shalabi and having gifted him with munificent gifts sent him home with his spouse in all honour. And when the youth returned to his quarters he fell to kissing his wife's hands and feet, for that he had been saved at her hands by the stratagem she had wrought for him and she had preserved the honour of the Kazi's daughter and had enabled her father to prevail over his enemy the Wali. "And now I will relate to you" (Said Shahrazad) " another tale touching the wiles of women;" and thereupon she fell to recounting the story of