ORIENTAL LITERATURE

THE LITERATURE OF ARABIA

With Critical and Biographical Sketches by

Epiphanius Wilson, A. M. 

1900

CONTENTS

THE ROMANCE OF ANTAR

IntroductionThe Early Fortunes of AntarKhaled and DjaidaThe Absians and Fazareans

ARABIAN POETRY

IntroductionSELECTIONS. -- An Elegy The Tomb of Mano Tomb of Sayid On the Death of His Mistress On Avarice The Battle of Sabla Verses to My Enemies On His Friends On Temper The Song of Maisuna To My Father On Fatalism To the Caliph Harun-al-Rashid Lines to Harun and Yahia The Ruin of Barmecides To Taher Ben Hosien The Adieu To My Mistress To a Female Cup-bearer Mashdud on the Monks of Khabbet Rakeek to His Female Companions Dialogue by Rais To a Lady Weeping On a Valetudinarian On a Miser To Cassim Obio Allah A Friend's Birthday To a Cat An Epigram upon Ebn Naphta-Wah Fire To a Lady Blushing On the Vicissitudes of Life To a Dove On a Thunder Storm To My Favorite Mistress Crucifixion of Ebn Bakiah Caprices of Fortune On Life Extempore Verses On the Death of a Son To Leila On Moderation in our Pleasures The Vale of Bozâa To Adversity On the Incompatibility of Pride and True Glory The Death of Nedham Almolk Lines to a Lover Verses to My Daughters Serenade to My Sleeping Mistress The Inconsistent The Capture of Jerusalem To a Lady An Epigram On a Little Man with a Very Large Beard Lamiat Alajem To Youth On Love A Remonstrance with a Drunkard Verses On Procrastination The Early Death of Abou Alhassan Aly The Interview

ARABIAN NIGHTS

THE SEVEN VOYAGES OF SINDBAD First Voyage Second Voyage Third Voyage Fourth Voyage Fifth Voyage Sixth Voyage Seventh and Last VoyageALADDIN'S WONDERFUL LAMP

THE ROMANCE OF ANTAR

[_Translation by Étienne Delécluse and Epiphanius Wilson_]

INTRODUCTION

The romantic figure of Antar, or Antarah, takes the same place inArabian literature as that of Achilles among the Greeks. The Cid inSpain, Orlando in Italy, and Arthur in England, are similar examples ofnational ideals put forth by poets and romance writers as embodiments ofa certain half-mythic age of chivalry, when personal valor, prudence, generosity, and high feeling gave the warrior an admitted preeminenceamong his fellows. The literature of Arabia is indeed rich in novels andtales. The "Thousand and One Nights" is of world-wide reputation, butthe "Romance of Antar" is much less artificial, more expressive of highmoral principles, and certainly superior in literary style to thefantastic recitals of the coffee house and bazaar, in which Sinbad andMorgiana figure. A true picture of Bedouin society, in the centuriesbefore Mohammed had conquered the Arabian peninsula, is given us in thecharming episodes of Antar. We see the encampments of the tribe, thecamels yielding milk and flesh for food, the women friends andcouncillors of their husbands, the boys inured to arms from early days, the careful breeding of horses, the songs of poet and minstrel stirringall hearts, the mail-clad lines of warriors with lance and sword, thesupreme power of the King--often dealing out justice with stern, sudden, and inflexible ferocity. Among these surroundings Antar appears, adazzling and irresistible warrior and a poet of wonderful power. TheArab classics, in years long before Mohammed had taken the Kaaba andmade it the talisman of his creed, were hung in the little shrine wherethe black volcanic stone was kept. They were known as Maallakat, orSuspended Books, which had the same meaning among Arabian literati asthe term classic bore among the Italian scholars of the Renaissance. Numbered with these books of the Kaaba were the poems of Antar, who wasthus the Taliessin of Arabian chivalry. 

It is indeed necessary to recollect that in reading the episodes ofAntar we have been taken back to the heroic age in the Arabianpeninsula. War is considered the noblest occupation of a man, and Khaleddespises the love of a noble maiden "from pride in his passion for war. "Antar has his famous horse as the Cid had his Babicca, and hisirresistible sword as Arthur his Excalibur. The wealth of chiefs andkings consists in horses and camels; there is no mention of money orjewelry. When a wager is made the stakes are a hundred camels. Thecommercial spirit of the Arabian Nights is wanting in this spiritedromance of chivalry. The Arabs had sunk to a race of mere traders whenAladdin became possessed of his lamp, and the trickery, greed, andavarice of peddlers and merchants are exhibited in incident afterincident of the "Thousand and One Nights. " War is despised or feared, courage less to be relied upon than astute knavery, and one of the factsthat strikes us is the general frivolity, dishonesty, and cruelty whichprevail through the tales of Bagdad. The opposite is the case withAntar. Natural passion has full play, but nobility of character is takenseriously, and generosity and sensibility of heart are portrayed withtruthfulness and naiveté. Of course the whole romance is a collection ofmany romantic stories: it has no epic unity. It will remind the readerof the "Morte d'Arthur" of Sir Thomas Malory, rather than of the"Iliad. " We have chosen the most striking of these episodes as bestcalculated to serve as genuine specimens of Arabian literature. Theywill transport the modern reader into a new world--which is yet the old, long vanished world of pastoral simplicity and warlike enthusiasm, inprimitive Arabia. But the novelty lies in the plot of the tales. Djaidaand Khaled, Antar and Ibla, and the race between Shidoub and the greatracers Dahir and Ghabra, bring before our eyes with singular freshnessthe character of a civilization, a domestic life, a political system, which were not wanting in refinement, purity, and justice. Theconception of such a dramatic personage as Antar would be original inthe highest degree, if it were not based upon historic fact. Antar is amore real personage than Arthur, and quite as real and historic as theCid. Yet his adventures remind us very much of those which run throughthe story of the Round Table. 

The Arabs, in the days of romance, were a collection of tribes andfamilies whose tents and villages were spread along the Red Sea, betweenEgypt and the Indian Ocean. There were some tribes more powerful thanothers, and the result of their tyranny was often bitter war. There wasno central monarchy, no priesthood, and no written law. The only stableand independent unit was the family. Domestic life with its purestvirtues constituted the strong point amongst the Arabian tribes, wheregentleness, free obedience, and forbearance were conspicuous. Each tribebore the name of its first ancestor, and from him and his successorscame down a traditionary, unwritten law, the violation of which wasconsidered the most heinous of offences. There was no settled religionbefore the conquest of Mohammed; each tribe and each family worshippedwhom they would--celestial spirits, sun and moon, or certain idols. Inthe account given in Antar of the Council of War, the ancients, or oldmen of the tribe, came forth with idols or amulets round their necks, and the whole account of the council, in which the bard as well as theorator addressed the people, is strictly accurate in historic details. The custom of infanticide in the case of female children was perfectlyauthorized among the Arabs, and illustrates the motive of the prettyepisode of Khaled and Djaida. War was individual and personal among theArabs, and murder was atoned for by murder, or by the price of a certainnumber of camels. Raising of horses, peaceful contests in arms, orpoetic competitions where each bard recited in public his compositions, formed their amusements. They were very sensible to the charms of music, poetry and oratory, and as a general rule the Arab chieftain was brave, generous, and munificent. 

All these historic facts are fully reflected in the highly emotionaltale of "Antar, " which is the greatest of all the national romances ofArabia. It would scarcely be possible to fix upon any individual writeras its author, for it has been edited over and over again by Arabianscribes, each adding his own glosses and enriching it with incidents. Its original date may have been the sixth century of our era, about fivehundred years before the production of the "Thousand and One Nights. "

E. W. 

THE EARLY FORTUNES OF ANTAR

At the time the "Romance of Antar" opens, the most powerful and the bestgoverned of the Bedouin tribes were those of the Absians and theAdnamians. King Zoheir, chief of the Absians, was firmly establishedupon his throne, so that the kings of other nations, who were subject tohim, paid him tribute. The whole of Arabia in short became subject tothe Absians, so that all the chiefs of other tribes and all inhabitantsof the desert dreaded their power and depredations. 

Under these circumstances, and as a consequence of a flagrant act oftyranny on the part of Zoheir, several chieftains, among whom wasShedad, a son of Zoheir, seceded from the Absian tribe, and set out toseek adventures, to attack other tribes, and to carry off their cattleand treasure. These chieftains arrived at the dwelling-place of acertain tribe, named Djezila, whom they fought with and pillaged. Amongst their booty was a black woman of extraordinary beauty, themother of two children. Her name was Zebiba; her elder son was Djaris;her younger Shidoub. Shedad became passionately enamoured of this woman, and yielded all the rest of his share in the booty in order to obtainpossession of her and her two children. He dwelt in the fields with thisnegress, whose sons took care of the cattle. In course of time Zebibabore a son to Shedad. This child was born tawny as an elephant; his eyeswere bleared, his head thick with hair, his features hard and fixed. Thecorners of his mouth drooped, his eyes started from his head, his boneswere hard, his feet long; he had ears of prodigious size, and his glanceflashed like fire. In other respects he resembled Shedad, who wastransported with delight at the sight of his son, whom he named Antar. 

Meanwhile the child waxed in strength, and his name soon became known. Then the companions of Shedad wished to dispute the possession of theboy with him, and King Zoheir was informed of the matter. He demandedthat the boy should be brought into his presence, and Shedad complied. As soon as the king caught sight of this extraordinary child, he uttereda cry of astonishment, and flung him a piece of goat's flesh. At thesame moment a dog, who happened to be in the tent, seized the meat andran off with it. But Antar, filled with rage, pursued the animal, and, violently taking hold of him, drew his jaws apart, splitting the throatdown to the shoulders, and thus recovered the meat. King Zoheir, inamazement, deferred the matter to the Cadi, who confirmed Shedad'spossession of Zebiba, and her three children, Djaris, Shidoub, andAntar. 

Shedad therefore provided a home for Zebiba, in order that his sonsmight be educated in their business of tending the herds. It was at thistime that Antar began to develop his strength of body, his courage, andintelligence. When he was ten years of age he slew a wolf whichthreatened to attack the herds committed to his charge. Although brutal, headstrong, and passionate, he early exhibited a love of justice, and adisposition to protect the weak, especially women. He put to death aslave who beat an old woman, his slave and companion; and this action, although at first misunderstood, eventually gained the admiration ofKing Zoheir, who treated Antar with distinction, because of his nobilityof character. In consequence of this action, which had been so muchapplauded by King Zoheir, the young Arab women and their mothers hunground Antar to learn the details of this courageous deed, and tocongratulate him on his magnanimity. 

Among the young women was Ibla, daughter of Malek, the son of Zoheir. Ibla, fair as the full moon, was somewhat younger than Antar. She wasaccustomed to banter him in a familiar way, feeling that he was herslave. "And you, " she said to him, "you, born so low, how dared you killthe slave of a prince? What provocation can you have against him?""Mistress, " replied Antar, "I struck that slave because he deserved it, for he had insulted a poor woman. He knocked her down, and made her thelaughing stock of all the servants. " "Of course you were right, "answered Ibla, with a smile, "and we were all delighted that you escapedfrom the adventure safe and sound. Because of the service you haverendered us by your conduct, our mothers look upon you as a son, and weas a brother. "

From that moment Antar made the service of women his special duty aboveall others. At that time the Arabian ladies had the habit of drinkingcamel's milk morning and evening, and it was especially the duty ofthose who waited upon them to milk the camels, and to cool it in thewind before offering it to them. Antar had been for some time releasedfrom this duty, when one morning he entered the dwelling of his uncleMalek, and found there his aunt, engaged in combing the hair of herdaughter Ibla, whose ringlets, black as the night, floated over hershoulders. Antar was struck with surprise, and Ibla, as soon as she knewthat he had seen her, fled and left him with his eyes fixed abstractedlyon her disappearing form. 

It was from this incident that the love of Antar for the daughter of hisuncle took its origin. He saw how Ibla shone in society, and his passiongrew to such an extent that he ventured to sound her praises, and toexpress the feeling she excited in him by writing verses which, whilethey gained the admiration of the multitude, incurred also the envy ofthe chieftains. Moreover his father could not pardon the presumption ofAntar, who, born a slave, had dared to cast eyes on his free-borncousin. 

When therefore he slew a slave who had slandered him, his father orderedhim to be flogged, and sent away to watch over the cattle in thepastures. He had now before him a fresh opportunity for exhibiting hisprodigious strength and invincible courage. A lion attempted to attackthe herds committed to his care. He killed it at the very moment thathis father Shedad, enraged against him, had come, accompanied by hisbrother, to do him ill. But a mingled feeling of admiration and fearheld their hands, and in the evening, when Antar returned from thepastures, his father and his uncle made him seat himself at dinner withthem, while the rest of the attendants stood behind them. 

Meanwhile King Zoheir was called upon a warlike expedition against thetribe of Temin. All his warriors followed him; the women alone remainedbehind. Shedad entrusted them to the protection of Antar, who pledgedhis life for their safety. During the absence of the warriors, Semiah, the lawful wife of Shedad, conceived the idea of giving an entertainmenton the bank of the lake Zatoulizard. Ibla attended it with her mother, and Antar witnessed all the amusements in which his beloved took part. His passion for her became intensified. He was once tempted to violatethe modesty of love by the violence of desire, but, at that moment, hesaw a great cloud of dust rise in the distance; the shouts of war wereheard; and suddenly the warriors of the tribe of Cathan appeared on thescene, and, descending on the pleasure-seekers, carried off the women, including Ibla. Antar, being unarmed, ran after one of the horsemen, seized him, strangled and threw him to the ground. Then he put on thearmor of the vanquished foe, attacked and put to flight the tribe ofCathan, rescued the women, and obtained a booty of twenty-five horses. From that moment Semiah, the wife of Shedad, who hitherto had apronounced aversion to Antar, conceived a sincere affection for him. 

King Zoheir, meantime, had returned victorious from his expedition. Shedad returned at the same moment, and went to visit his herds. SeeingAntar surrounded by horses which he did not know, and mounted upon afine black courser, he asked, "Where did these animals, and particularlythis superb horse, come from?" Then Antar, not willing to betray theimprudence of Semiah, declared that, as the Cathanians had left theirhorses behind them, he had seized them. Shedad was indignant, andtreated Antar as a robber, reproached him for his wickedness, and afterrepeatedly telling him how wrong it was to rouse discord among theArabs, struck him with his whip, with such violence as to draw blood. Then Semiah, distressed by the sight of this unjust treatment, took offher veil, letting her hair fall over her shoulders, took Antar into herarms and told all that had happened and how she and all the other womenof her tribe were indebted to this hero for their honor and liberty. Shedad could not restrain his tenderness on learning the magnanimity ofhis son's silence. Soon afterwards King Zoheir, to whom this incidenthad been related, summoned Antar into his presence, and declared that aman who could exhibit such courage and generosity was bound to becomepreeminent among his companions. All the chieftains who surrounded theking congratulated Antar, and one of his friends, in order to give thecourt a complete idea of this young man's remarkable gifts, asked him torecite some of his verses. 

In compliance with this request he recited a poem in praise of warriorsand war, and the king and all the court manifested their delight. Zoheirbade Antar approach, gave him a robe of honor, and thanked him. Thatevening Antar departed with his father Shedad, his heart full of joyover the honors which had been lavished on him, and his love for Iblastill more heightened. 

In spite of the indisputable virtues of Antar, in spite of the greatservices he had rendered the Absians, the chieftains of this tribe stillregarded him as merely a common slave and tender of cattle. Thebeginning of his rise to favor excited a feeling of keen hatred, andcaused many plots to be laid against him. A series of intrigues wasentered upon, the aim of which was the death of the hero. But eachattack upon his reputation and his life redounded to his benefit, andfurnished him with an opportunity of putting his enemies to silence anddefeat. For by his generosity and magnanimity, even his envious foesfelt themselves under obligation to him. On each of his triumphs themutual love between himself and Ibla went on increasing. 

After the performance of many feats as a horseman, Antar came intopossession of a famous horse named Abjer, and a sword of marvelloustemper, Djamy--and every time he appeared on the field of combat, aswell as when he returned victorious from the fight, he made a poeticaddress, finishing with the words, "I am the lover of Ibla. " At theconclusion of a war in which he had performed prodigies of valor, KingZoheir gave him the surname of Alboufauris, which means, "The Father ofHorsemen. "

The greater grew his name, the more highly he was honored by KingZoheir, so much the more did the hatred of the chieftains and the loveof Ibla towards him increase. But it came to pass that Ibla was asked inmarriage by Amarah, a stupid youth, puffed up by his wealth and lineage. Antar, on hearing the news, was transported with rage, and attacked hisyoung rival with such violence that all the Arabian chiefs begged ofZoheir to punish the aggressor. The king left to Shedad, Antar's father, the pronouncing of sentence. Shedad had, like the others, viewed therise of Antar, the black slave, to favor, with jealous eye, and sent himback to the pastures to keep the herds. 

It was at this point that the greatness of Antar's character appeared inits full dimensions. The hero submitted with resignation to the ordersof his father, "to whom, " he said, "he owed obedience as to his master, since he was his slave"; and he swore to him, in the presence ofwitnesses, not to mount horse, nor engage in battle, without hispermission. Tears flowed from his eyes, and before departing for thepastures he went to see his mother Zebiba, and to talk with herconcerning Ibla. "Ibla?" said his mother--"but a moment ago she washere beside me, and said to me, 'Comfort the heart of Antar, and tellhim from me, that even should my father torture me to death in trying tochange my mind, I would not desire nor ask for other husband thanAntar. '"

These words of Ibla filled with rapture the heart of Antar, as hestarted for the pastures in company with his brothers, Djaris andShidoub. 

At this time the tribe of Abs, which Zoheir ruled over, was at war withthat of Tex, on account of the carrying off of Anima, daughter of thechief of the Tex, a man known as "The Drinker of Blood. " Animated by thedesire to take vengeance and recover his daughter, this chief and hisarmy fell upon the Absians like a thunderbolt. The Absians weredefeated, and their women, among whom was Ibla, taken prisoners. Allpride was then, in this time of need, laid aside, and to theirassistance Antar was summoned. But before acting Antar laid down hisconditions, and stipulated that, in case he succeeded in subduing thefoe and recovering the women, Ibla should be given him in marriage. Malek, the father of Ibla, and Shedad, the father of Antar, assented, and bound themselves by an oath to fulfil these conditions and toreinstate Antar in all the honors and dignities belonging to him. 

Antar was victorious. He rescued Ibla, and received grateful expressionsof gratitude from his beloved, while King Zoheir gave him the kiss ofroyal honor. Everything seemed to unite in fulfilling the hopes ofAntar. But at the very moment in which he was honored by royalfelicitations, several chieftains, indignant at the elevation of a blackslave, employed every means to prevent his marriage with Ibla, and toforce him to undertake enterprises which would prove fatal to him. Shedad, his father, and Malek, the father of Ibla, connived at theseplots. They demanded of Antar, who was of that trusting dispositionwhich belongs to generous and brave men, that he give as a weddingpresent to his bride, a thousand camels, of a particular breed, not tobe found excepting on the borders of the Persian kingdom. The hero madeno remark on hearing this treacherous demand, and was so eager to pleaseIbla, that he took no count of the difficulties to be undergone. He setoff and soon found himself engaged in conflict with a large army ofPersians, who made him prisoner, and led him off with the view ofbringing him into the presence of their king. There he was taken, boundand on horseback, when at that instant, the news came that a fierce lionof extraordinary size was ravaging the country. It was alleged that evenarmed men fled before it. Antar, who was on the point of being put todeath, asked the King of Persia to cause his arms at least to beunbound, and to let him confront the lion. His prayer was granted; herushed upon the savage creature, and transfixed it with his lance. Norwas this the only service he did the King of Persia, who in gratitudefor many others, not only gave Antar the thousand camels he was lookingfor, but loaded him with treasures, with which to do homage to Ibla. 

On his return Antar was received with a rapturous welcome by the Absiantribe. But the hostile and the envious continued to plot against him. They still aimed at preventing his marriage, and compassing his death. Amarah, who aspired to Ibla's hand, backed by all the chieftains hostileto Antar, renewed his suit and pretensions. Ibla was carried off fromher house among the Absians, and taken to another tribe. Then Antar setout in search of her, and at length rescued her: their mutual love wasintensified by this reunion. By a series of wiles and intriguesskilfully conducted, the chiefs who surrounded Ibla persuaded her todemand still further dowry from Antar. She spoke of Khaled and Djaida, whose history has already been related; she said, in presence of Antar, that that young warrior girl would not consent to marry Khaled, savingon the condition that her camel's bridle be held by the daughter ofMoawich. This word was sufficient for Antar, and he promised to Iblathat Djaida should hold the bridle of her camel on her wedding day; andmore than that, the head of Khaled should be slung round the neck of thewarrior girl. Thus the hero, constantly loving and beloved by Ibla, incessantly deceived by the cunningly devised obstacles raised by hisfoes, sustained his reputation for greatness of character and strengthof arm, submitted with resignation to the severest tests, and passedvictoriously through them all. After the death of King Zoheir, whom heavenged, he undertook to assist Cais, Zoheir's son, in all hisenterprises, and after a long series of adventures which tired thepatience, love, and courage of Antar, this hero, recognized as chiefamong Arabian chieftains, obtained the great reward of his longstruggles and mighty toils, by marriage to his well-loved Ibla. 

KHALED AND DJAIDA

Moharib and Zahir were brothers, of the same father and mother; theArabs call them "brothers germane. " Both were, renowned for courage anddaring. But Moharib was chief of the tribe, and Zahir, being subject tohis authority, was no more than his minister, giving him counsel andadvice. Now it happened that a violent dispute arose between them. Zahirsubsequently retired to his tent, in profound sorrow, and not knowingwhat course to take. "What is the matter with you?" asked his wife, "Whyare you so troubled? What has happened to you? Has any one displeased orinsulted you--the greatest of Arab chiefs?" "What am I to do?" repliedZahir; "the man who has injured me is one whom I cannot lay hands on, ordo him wrong; he is my companion in the bosom of my family, my brotherin the world. Ah, if it had been any one but he, I would have shown himwhat sort of a man he was at odds with, and have made an example of himbefore all the chiefs of our tribes!" "Leave him; let him enjoy hispossessions alone, " cried his wife, and, in order to persuade herhusband to take this course, she recited verses from a poet of the time, which dissuade a man from tolerating an insult even at the hands of hisparents. 

Zahir assented to the advice of his wife. He made all preparations fordeparture, struck his tents, loaded his camels, and started off on theroad towards the camp of the Saad tribe, with whom he was in alliance. Yet in spite of all, he felt a keen pang at separating himself from hisbrother--and thus he spoke: "On starting on a journey which removes mefrom you, I shall be a thousand years on the way, and each year willcarry me a thousand leagues. . . . Even though the favors you heap upon mebe worth a thousand Egypts, and each of these Egypts had a thousandNiles, all those favors would be despised. I shall be contented withlittle so long as I am far from you. Away from you, I shall recite thisdistich, which is worth more than a necklace of fine pearls: 'When a manis wronged on the soil of his tribe, there is nothing left him but toleave it; you, who have so wickedly injured me, before long shall feelthe power of the kindly divinity, for he is your judge and mine, he isunchangeable and eternal. "

Zahir continued his journey, until he reached the Saad tribe, when hedismounted from his horse. He was cordially received and was pressed totake up his abode with them. His wife was at that time soon to become amother, and he said to her: "If a son is given to us, he will be rightwelcome; but if it be a daughter, conceal her sex and let people thinkwe have a male child, so that my brother may have no reason to crow overus. " When her time came Zahir's wife brought into the world a daughter. They agreed that her name should be actually Djaida, but that publiclyshe should be known as Djonder, that people might take her for a boy. Inorder to promote this belief, they kept up feasting and entertainmentearly and late for many days. 

About the same time Moharib, the other brother, had a son born to him, whom he named Khaled (The Eternal). He chose this name in gratitude toGod, because, since his brother's departure, his affairs had prosperedwell. 

The two children eventually reached full age, and their renown waswidespread among the Arabs. Zahir had taught his daughter to ride onhorseback, and had trained her in all the accomplishments fitting to awarrior bold and daring. He accustomed her to the severest toils, andthe most perilous enterprises. When he went to war, he put her among theother Arabs of the tribe, and in the midst of these horsemen she soontook her rank as one of the most valiant of them. Thus it came to passthat she eclipsed all her comrades, and would even attack the lions intheir dens. At last her name became an object of terror; when she hadovercome a champion she never failed to cry out: "I am Djonder, son ofZahir, horseman of the tribes. "

Her cousin Khaled, on the other hand, distinguished himself equally byhis brilliant courage. His father Moharib, a wise and prudent chief, hadbuilt houses of entertainment for strangers; all horsemen found awelcome there. Khaled had been brought up in the midst of warriors. Inthis school his spirit had been formed, here he had learned to ride, andat last had become an intrepid warrior, and a redoubtable hero. It wassoon perceived by the rest of the army that his spirit and valor wereunconquerable. 

Eventually he heard tell of his cousin Djonder, and his desire to seeand know him and to witness his skill in arms became extreme. But hecould not satisfy this desire because of the dislike which his fathershowed for his cousin, the son of his uncle. This curiosity of Khaledcontinued unsatisfied until the death of his father Moharib, which puthim in possession of rank, wealth, and lands. He followed the example ofhis father in entertaining strangers, protecting the weak andunfortunate, and giving raiment to the naked. He continued also to scourthe plains on horseback with his warriors, and in this way waxed greaterin bodily strength and courage. After some time, gathering together anumber of rich gifts, he started, in company with his mother, to visithis uncle. He did not draw rein until he reached the dwelling of Zahir, who was delighted to see him, and made magnificent preparations for hisentertainment; for the uncle had heard tell on many occasions of hisnephew's worth and valor. Khaled also visited his cousin. He salutedher, pressed her to his bosom, and kissed her forehead, thinking she wasa young man. He felt the greatest pleasure in her company, and remainedten days with his uncle, regularly taking part in the jousts andcontests of the horsemen and warriors. As for his cousin, the moment shehad seen how handsome and valiant Khaled was, she had fallen violentlyin love with him. Her sleep left her; she could not eat; and her lovegrew to such a pitch that feeling her heart completely lost to him, shespoke to her mother and said: "O mother, should my cousin leave withouttaking me in his company, I shall die of grief at his absence. " Then hermother was touched with pity for her, and uttered no reproaches, feelingthat they would be in vain. "Djaida, " she said, "conceal your feelings, and restrain yourself from grief. You have done nothing improper, foryour cousin is the man of your choice, and is of your own blood. Likehim, you are fair and attractive; like him, brave and skilful inhorsemanship. Tomorrow morning, when his mother approaches us, I willreveal to her the whole matter; we will soon afterwards give you to himin marriage, and finally we will all return to our own country. "

The wife of Zahir waited patiently until the following morning, when themother of Khaled arrived. She then presented her daughter, whose headshe uncovered, so as to allow the hair to fall to her shoulders. At thesight of such charms the mother of Khaled was beyond measure astonished, and exclaimed: "What! is not this your son Djonder?" "No! it isDjaida--she the moon of beauty, at last has risen. " Then she told herall that had passed between herself and her husband, and how and whythey had concealed the sex of their child. "Dear kinswoman, " replied themother of Khaled, still quite surprised, "among all the daughters ofArabia who have been celebrated for their beauty I have never seen onemore lovely than this one. What is her name?" "I have already told youthat it is Djaida, and my especial purpose in telling you the secret isto offer you all these charms, for I ardently desire to marry mydaughter to your son, so that we may all be able to return to our ownland. " The mother of Khaled at once assented to this proposal, and said:"The possession of Djaida will doubtless render my son very happy. " Sheat once rose and went out to look for Khaled, and communicated to himall she had seen and learned, not failing to extol especially the charmsof Djaida. "By the faith of an Arab, " said she, "never, my son, have Iseen in the desert, or in any city, a girl such as your cousin; I do notexcept the most beautiful. Nothing is so perfect as she is, nothing morelovely and attractive. Make haste, my son, to see your uncle and ask himfor his daughter in marriage. You will be happy indeed if he grants yourprayer: Go, my son, and do not waste time in winning her. "

When Khaled had heard these words, he cast his eyes to the ground, andremained for some time thoughtful and gloomy. Then he replied: "Mymother, I cannot remain here any longer. I must return home amid myhorsemen and troops. I have no intention of saying anything more to mycousin; I am convinced that she is a person whose temper and ideas oflife are uncertain; her character and manner of speech are utterlydestitute of stability and propriety. I have always been accustomed tolive amid warriors, on whom I spend my wealth, and with whom I win asoldier's renown. As for my cousin's love for me, it is the weakness ofa woman, of a young girl. " He then donned his armor, mounted his horse, bade his uncle farewell, and announced his intention of leaving at once. "What means this haste?" cried Zahir. "I can remain here no longer, "answered Khaled, and, putting his horse to a gallop, he flung himselfinto the depths of the wilderness. His mother, after relating to Djaidathe conversation she held with her son, mounted a camel and made her waytowards her own country. 

The soul of Djaida felt keenly this indignity. She brooded overit--sleepless and without appetite. Some days afterwards, as her fatherwas preparing with his horsemen to make a foray against his foes, hisglance fell on Djaida, and seeing how altered she was in face, anddejected in spirit, he refrained from saying anything, thinking andhoping that she would surely become herself again after a short time. 

Scarcely was Zahir out of sight of his tents, when Djaida, who feltherself like to die, and whose frame of mind was quite unsupportable, said to her mother: "Mother, I feel that I am dying, and that thismiserable Khaled is still in the vigor of life. I should like, if Godgives me the power, to make him taste the fury of death, the bitternessof its pang and torture. " So saying, she rose like a lioness, put on herarmor, and mounted her horse, telling her mother she was going on ahunting expedition. Swiftly, and without stopping, she traversed rocksand mountains, her excitement increasing as she approached thedwelling-place of her cousin. As she was disguised, she entered, unrecognized, into the tent where strangers were received. Her visorwas, however, lowered, like that of a horseman of Hijaz. Slaves andservants received her, offered her hospitality, comporting themselvestowards her as to one of the guests, and the most noble personages ofthe land. That night Djaida took rest; but the following day she joinedthe military exercises, challenged many cavaliers, and exhibited so muchaddress and bravery, that she produced great astonishment among thespectators. Long before noon the horsemen of her cousin were compelledto acknowledge her superiority over themselves. Khaled wished to witnessher prowess, and, surprised at the sight of so much skill, he offered tomatch himself with her. Djaida entered the contest with him, and thenboth of them joining in combat tried, one after another, all the methodsof attack and defence, until the shadows of night came on. When theyseparated both were unhurt, and none could say who was the victor. ThusDjaida, while rousing the admiration of the spectators, saw theannoyance they felt on finding their chief equalled in fight by soskilful an opponent. Khaled ordered his antagonist to be treated withall the care and honor imaginable, then retired to his tent, his mindfilled with thoughts of his conflict. Djaida remained three days at hercousin's habitation. Every morning she presented herself on the groundof combat, and remained under arms until night. She enjoyed it greatly, still keeping her _incognito_, whilst Khaled, on the other hand, made no enquiries, and asked no questions of her, as to who she was andto what tribe she might belong. 

On the morning of the fourth day, while Khaled, according to his custom, rode over the plain, and passed close to the tents reserved forstrangers, he saw Djaida mounting her horse. He saluted her, and shereturned his salute. "Noble Arab, " said Khaled, "I should like to askyou one question. Up to this moment I have failed in courtesy towardsyou, but, I now beg of you, in the name of that God who has endowed youwith such great dexterity in arms, tell me, who are you, and to whatnoble princes are you allied? For I have never met your equal amongbrave cavaliers. Answer me, I beseech you, for I am dying to learn. "Djaida smiled, and raising her visor, replied: "Khaled, I am a woman, and not a warrior. I am your cousin Djaida, who offered herself to you, and wished to give herself to you; but you refused her--from the prideyou felt in your passion for arms. " As she spoke she turned her horsesuddenly, stuck spurs into him, and dashed off at full gallop towardsher own country. 

Khaled filled with confusion withdrew to his tent, not knowing what todo, nor what would be the end of the passionate love which he suddenlyfelt rise within him. He was seized with disgust for all these warlikehabits and tastes, which had reduced him to the melancholy plight inwhich he found himself. His distaste for women was changed into love. Hesent for his mother and related to her all that had occurred. "My son, "she said, "all these circumstances should render Djaida still dearer toyou. Wait patiently a little, until I have been able to go and ask herof her mother. " She straightway mounted her camel, and started throughthe desert on the tracks of Djaida, who immediately on her arrival homehad told her mother all that had happened. As soon as the mother ofKhaled had arrived, she flung herself into the arms of her kinswoman anddemanded Djaida in marriage for her son, for Zahir had not yet returnedfrom his foray. When Djaida heard from her mother the request of Khaled, she said, "This shall never be, though I be forced to drink the cup ofdeath. That which occurred at his tents was brought about by me toquench the fire of my grief and unhappiness, and soothe the anguish ofmy heart. "

At these words the mother of Khaled, defeated of her object, went backto her son, who was tortured by the most cruel anxiety. He rose suddenlyto his feet, for his love had reached the point of desperation, andasked with inquietude what were the feelings of his cousin. When helearned the answer of Djaida his distress became overwhelming, for herrefusal only increased his passion. "What is to be done, my mother, " heexclaimed. "I see no way of escaping from this embarrassment, " shereplied, "excepting you assemble all your horsemen from among the Arabsheiks, and from among those with whom you are on friendly terms. Waituntil your uncle returns from the campaign, and then, surrounded by yourfollowers, go to him, and in the presence of the assembled warriors, demand of him his daughter in marriage. If he deny that he has adaughter, tell him all that has happened, and urge him until he givesway to your demand. " This advice, and the plan proposed moderated thegrief of Khaled. As soon as he learned that his uncle had returned home, he assembled all the chiefs of his family and told his story to them. All of them were very much astonished, and Madi Kereb. One of theKhaled's bravest companions, could not help saying: "This is a strangeaffair; we have always heard say that your uncle had a son namedDjonder, but now the truth is known. You are certainly the man who hasmost right to the daughter of your uncle. It is therefore our bestcourse to present ourselves in a body and prostrate ourselves beforehim, asking him to return to his family and not to give his daughter toa stranger. " Khaled, without hearing any more, took with him a hundredof his bravest horsemen, being those who had been brought up withMoharib and Zahir from their childhood, and, having provided themselveswith presents even more costly than those they had taken before, theystarted off, and marched on until they came to the tribe of Saad. Khaledbegan by complimenting his uncle on his happy return from war, but noone could be more astonished than Zahir at this second visit, especiallywhen he saw his nephew accompanied by all the chieftains of his family. It never for a moment occurred to him that his daughter Djaida hadanything to do with Khaled's return, but thought that his nephew merelywished to persuade him to return to his native territory. He offeredthem every hospitality, provided them with tents and entertained themmagnificently. He ordered camels and sheep to be killed, and gave abanquet; he furnished his guests with all things needful and proper forthree days. On the fourth day Khaled arose, and after thanking his unclefor all his attentions, asked him for his daughter in marriage, andbegged him to return to his own land. Zahir denied that he had any childbut his son Djonder, but Khaled told him all that he had learned, andall that had passed between himself and Djaida. At these words Zahir wasovercome with shame and turned his eyes to the ground. He remained forsome moments plunged in thought, and after reflecting that the affairmust needs proceed from bad to worse, he addressed those present in thefollowing words: "Kinsmen, I will no longer delay acknowledging thissecret; therefore to end the matter, she shall be married to her cousinas soon as possible, for, of all the men I know, he is most worthy ofher. " He offered his hand to Khaled, who immediately clasped it inpresence of the chiefs who were witnesses to the contract. The dowry wasfixed at five hundred brown black-eyed camels, and a thousand camelsloaded with the choicest products of Yemen. The tribe of Saad, in themidst of which Zahir had lived, were excluded from all part in thisincident. 

But when Zahir had asked his daughter's consent to this arrangement, Djaida was overwhelmed with confusion at the course her father hadtaken. Since he let his daughter clearly understand that he did not wishher to remain unmarried, she at last replied: "My father, if my cousindesires to have me in marriage, I shall not enter into his tent until heundertakes to slaughter at my wedding a thousand camels, out of thosewhich belong to Gheshem, son of Malik, surnamed 'The Brandisher ofSpears. '" Kahled agreed to this condition; but the sheiks and thewarriors did not leave Zahir before he had collected all his possessionsfor transportation to his own country. No sooner were these preparationscompleted than Khaled marched forth at the head of a thousand horsemen, with whose assistance he subdued the tribe of Aamir. Having thricewounded "The Brandisher of Spears, " and slain a great number of hischampions, he carried off their goods and brought back from theircountry even a richer spoil than Djaida had demanded. Loaded with bootyhe returned, and was intoxicated with success. But when he asked that aday should be fixed for the wedding, Djaida begged him to approach, andsaid to him: "If you desire that I become your wife, fulfil first of allmy wishes, and keep the engagement I make with you. This is my demand: Iwish that on the day of my marriage, some nobleman's daughter, afree-born woman, hold the bridle of my camel; she must be the daughterof a prince of the highest rank, so that I may be the most honored ofall the daughters of Arabia. " Khaled consented, and prepared to carryout her wishes. That very day he started with his horsemen, andtraversed plains and valleys, searching the land of Ymer, even till hereached the country of Hijar and the hills of Sand. In this place heattacked the tribe-family of Moawich, son of Mizal. He burst upon themlike a rain-storm, and cutting a way with his sword through the opposinghorsemen, he took prisoner Amima, daughter of Moawich, at the verymoment when she was betaking herself to flight. 

After having accomplished feats which rendered futile the resistance ofthe most experienced heroes, after having scattered all the tribes inflight, and carried off all the wealth of all the Arabs in that country, he returned home. But he did not wish to come near his tents until hehad first gathered in all the wealth which he had left at differentpoints and places in the desert. 

The young maidens marched before him sounding their cymbals and otherinstruments of music. All the tribe rejoiced; and when Khaled appeared, he distributed clothing to the widows and orphans, and invited hiscompanions and friends to the feast he was preparing for his wedding. All the Arabs of the country came in a crowd to the marriage. He causedthem to be regaled with abundance of flesh and wine. But while all theguests abandoned themselves to feasting and pleasure, Khaled, accompanied by ten slaves, prepared to scour the wild and marshy placesof the land, in order to attack hand to hand in their caverns the lionsand lionesses and their cubs, and bear them slain to the tents, in orderto provide meat for all those who attended the festival. 

Djaida had been informed of this design. She disguised herself in coatof mail, mounted her horse, and left the tents; as three days offestivities still remained, she hastily followed Khaled into the desert, and met him face to face in a cavern. She flung herself upon him withthe impetuosity of a wild beast, and attacked him furiously, cryingaloud, "Arab! dismount from your horse, take off your coat of mail, andyour armor; if you hesitate to do so, I will run this lance through yourheart. " Khaled was resolved at once to resist her in this demand. Theyengaged in furious combat. The struggle lasted for more than an hour, when the warrior saw in the eyes of his adversary an expression whichalarmed him. He remounted his horse, and having wheeled round his steedfrom the place of combat, exclaimed: "By the faith of an Arab, I adjureyou to tell me what horseman of the desert you are; for I feel that yourattack and the violence of your blows are irresistible. In fact, youhave prevented me from accomplishing that which I had intended, and allthat I had eagerly desired to do. " At these words Djaida raised hervisor, thus permitting him to see her face. "Khaled, " she cried, "is itnecessary for the girl you love to attack wild beasts, in order that thedaughters of Arabia may learn that this is not the exclusive privilegeof a warrior?" At this cutting rebuke Khaled was overcome with shame. "By the faith of an Arab, " he replied, "no one but you can overcome me;but is there anyone in this country who has challenged you, or are youcome hither merely to prove to me the extent of your valor?" "By thefaith of an Arab, " replied Djaida, "I came into this desert solely forthe purpose of helping you to hunt wild beasts, and in order that yourwarriors might not reproach you for choosing me as your wife. " At thesewords Khaled felt thrilled with surprise and admiration, that suchspirit and resolution should have been exhibited in the conduct ofDjaida. 

Then both of them dismounted from their horses and entered into acavern. There Khaled seized two ferocious wild beasts, and Djaidaattacked and carried off a lion and two lionesses. After these exploitsthey exchanged congratulations, and Djaida felt happy to be with Khaled. "Meanwhile, " she said, "I shall not permit you to leave our tents untilafter our marriage. " She immediately left him in haste and betookherself to her own dwelling. 

Khaled proceeded to rejoin the slaves whom he had left a little way off, and ordered them to carry to the tents the beasts he had slain. Trembling with fright at the view of what Khaled had done, they extolledhim with admiration above all other champions of the land. 

The feasts meanwhile went on, and all who came were welcomed withmagnificence. The maidens sounded their cymbals; the slaves waved theirswords in the air, and the young girls sang from morn till evening. Itwas in the midst of such rejoicings that Djaida and Khaled were married. Amima, the daughter of Moawich, held the reins of the young bride'scamel, and men and women alike extolled the glory of Djaida. 

THE ABSIANS AND FAZAREANS

King Cais, chief of the Absians, distrusting the evil designs ofHadifah, the chief of the tribe of Fazarah, had sent out his slaves inevery direction to look after Antar. One of these slaves on his returnsaid to the king: "As for Antar, I have not even heard his name; but asI passed by the tribe of Tenim, I slept one night in the tents of thetribe Byah. There I saw a colt of remarkable beauty. He belonged to aman named Jahir, son of Awef. I have never seen a colt so fine andswift. " This recital made a profound impression upon Cais. And in truththis young animal was the wonder of the world, and never had a handsomerhorse been reared among the Arabs. He was in all points high-bred andrenowned for race and lineage, for his sire was Ocab and his dam Helweh, and these were horses regarded by the Arabs as quicker than lightning. All the tribes admired their points, and the tribe of Byah had becomecelebrated above all others, because of the mare and stallion whichpertained to it. 

As for this fine colt, one day, when his sire Ocab had been put out onpasture, he was being led by the daughter of Jahir along the side of alake at noonday, and there he saw the mare Helweh, who was tetheredclose to the tent of her master. He immediately began to neigh, andslipped his halter. The young girl in her embarrassment let him go, andfor modesty took refuge in the tent of a friend. The stallion remainedon the spot until the girl returned. She seized the halter and took himto the stables. 

But her father discerned the anxiety which she could not conceal. Hequestioned her, and she told him what had happened. He became furiouswith rage on hearing her story, for he was naturally choleric; he ranamong the tents, flinging off his turban, and crying at the top of hisvoice, while all the Arabs crowded round him, "Tribe of Byah, tribe ofByah! Kinsmen and friends, hear me. " Then he related what his daughterhad told him. "I cannot permit, " he added, "that the blood of my horseshould be blended with that of Helweh; yet I am not willing to sell himfor the most costly sheep and camels; and if I cannot otherwise preventHelweh from bearing a colt to my stallion, I shall be glad if some onewill put the mare to death. " "By all means, " cried his listeners, "do asyou please, for we can have no objection. " Such were the usual terms ofArabian courtesy. 

Nevertheless, Helweh, in course of time, bore a fine colt, whose birthbrought great joy to her master. He named the young horse Dahir. Thecolt waxed in strength and beauty, until he actually excelled his sireOcab. His chest was broad, his neck long, his hoofs hard, his nostrilswidely expanded. His tail swept the ground, and he was of the gentlesttemper; in short, he was the most perfect creature ever seen. Beingreared with the greatest care, his shape was perfect as the archway of aroyal palace. When the mare Helweh, followed by her colt, was one daymoving along the shore of a lake, Ocab's owner chanced to see them. Heseized the young horse, and took him home with him, leaving his motherin grief for his difference. "As for Jahir, " he said, "this colt belongsto me, and I have more right to him than anyone else. "

The news of the colt's disappearance soon reached his owner's ears. Heassembled the chiefs of the tribe, and told them what had happened. Theysent to Jahir, and he was reproached bitterly. "Jahir, " they said, "youhave not suffered, yet have done injustice, in that you carried off thatwhich belonged to another man. " "Say no more, " answered Jahir, "andspare me these reproaches, for, by the faith of an Arab, I will notreturn the colt, unless compelled by main force. I will declare waragainst you first. " At that moment the tribe was not prepared for aquarrel; and several of them said to Jahir: "We are too much attached toyou to push things to such an extreme as that; we are your allies andkinsmen. We will not fight with you, though an idol of gold were atstake. " Then Kerim, son of Wahrab (the latter being the owner of themare and colt, a man renowned among the Arabs for his generosity), seeing the obstinacy of Jahir, said to him: "Cousin, the colt iscertainly yours, and belongs to you; as for the mare here, accept her asa present from my hand, so that mother and colt will not be separated, and no one will ever be able to accuse me of wronging a kinsman. "

The tribe highly applauded this act, and Jahir was so humiliated by thegenerosity with which he had been treated, that he returned mare andcolt to Kerim, adding to the gift a pair of male and a pair of femalecamels. 

Dahir soon became a horse of absolute perfection in every point, andwhen his master Kerim undertook to race him with another horse, he rodethe animal himself, and was in the habit of saying to his antagonist, "Even should you pass me like an arrow, I could catch you up, anddistance you, " and in fact this always happened. 

As soon as King Cais heard tell of this horse, he became beside himselfwith longing and mortification, and his sleep left him. He sent toKerim, offering to buy the horse for as much gold or silver as the ownerdemanded, and adding that the price would be forwarded without delay. This message enraged Kerim. "Is not this Cais a fool, or a man of nounderstanding?" he exclaimed. "Does he think I am a man of traffic--ahorse-dealer, who cannot mount the horses he owns? I swear by the faithof an Arab that if he had asked for Dahir, as a present, I would havesent the horse, and a troop of camels besides: but if he thinks ofobtaining him by bidding a price, he will never have him; even were Ibound to drink the cup of death. "

The messenger returned to Cais, and gave him the answer of Kerim, atwhich the latter was much annoyed. "Am I a king over the tribes of Abs, of Adnan, of Fazarah, and of Dibyan, " he exclaimed, "and yet a commonArab dares to oppose me!" He summoned his people and his warriors. Immediately there was the flash of armor, of coats of mail, and swordsand helmets appeared amid the tents; the champions mounted their steeds, shook their spears, and marched forth against the tribe of Byah. As soonas they reached their enemy's territory they overran the pastures, andgathered an immense booty in cattle, which Cais divided among hisfollowers. They next made for the tents and surprised the dwellersthere, who were not prepared for such an attack: Kerim being absent withhis warriors on an expedition of the same sort. Cais at the head of theAbsians, pushing his way into the dwellings, carried off the wives anddaughters of his foe. 

As for Dahir, he was tethered to one of the tent-pegs, for Kerim neverused him as a charger, for fear some harm might befall him, or he mightbe killed. One of the slaves who had been left in the encampment, andhad been among the first to see the approach of the Absians, went up toDahir for the purpose of breaking the line by which he was hobbled. Thishe failed to accomplish, but mounting him, and digging his heels intohis flanks, he forced the horse, although he was hobbled, to rush offprancing like a fawn, until he reached the desert. It was in vain thatthe Absians pursued him; they could not even catch up with the trail ofdust that he left behind him. 

As soon as Cais perceived Dahir, he recognized him, and the desire ofpossessing him became intensified. He hurried on, but his chagrin wasgreat, as he perceived that, do what he would, he never could catch upwith him. At last the slave, perceiving that he had quite out-distancedthe Absians, dismounted, untied the feet of Dahir, leapt again into thesaddle, and galloped off. Cais, who had kept up the pursuit, gainedground during this stop, and coming within ear-shot of the slave, shouted out, "Stop, Arab, there is no cause for fear; you have myprotection; by the faith of a noble Arab, I swear it. " At these wordsthe slave stopped. "Do you intend to sell that horse?" said King Cais tohim, "for in that case you have the most eager buyer of all the Arabiantribesmen. " "I do not wish to sell him, sire, " replied the slave, "excepting at one price, the restoration of all the booty. " "I will buyhim then, " the King answered, and he clasped the hand of the Arab aspledge of the bargain. The slave dismounted from the young horse, anddelivered him over to King Cais, and the latter overjoyed at having hiswish, leapt on to his back, and set out to rejoin the Absians, whom hecommanded to restore all the booty which they had taken. His order wasexecuted to the letter. King Cais, enchanted at the success of hisenterprise, and at the possession of Dahir, returned home. So great washis fondness for the horse that he groomed and fed him with his ownhands. Soon as Hadifah, chief of the tribe of Fazarah, heard that Caishad possession of Dahir, jealousy filled his heart. In concert withother chiefs he plotted the death of this beautiful horse. 

Now it came to pass that at this time Hadifah gave a great feast, andCarwash, kinsman of King Cais, was present. At the end of the meal, andwhile the wine circulated freely the course of conversation turned tothe most famous chiefs of the time. The subject being exhausted, theguests began to speak about their most celebrated horses, and next, ofthe journeys made by them in the desert. "Kinsmen, " said Carwash, "noneof you ever saw a horse like Dahir, which belongs to my ally Cais. It isvain to seek his equal; his pace is absolutely terrifying. He chasesaway sorrow from the heart of him who beholds him, and protects like astrong tower the man who mounts him. " Carwash did not stop here, butcontinued to praise, in the highest and most distinguished language, thehorse Dahir, until all of the tribe of Fazarah and of the family ofZyad, felt their hearts swell with rage. "Do you hear him, brother?"said Haml to Hadifah; "come, that is enough, " he added, turning towardsCarwash. "All that you have said about Dahir is absolute nonsense--forat present there are no horses better or finer than mine, and those ofmy brother. "

With these words he ordered his slaves to bring his horses and paradethem before Carwash. This was done. "Come, Carwash, look at that horse. ""He is not worth the hay you feed him on, " said the other. Then those ofHadifah were led out; among them was a mare, named Ghabra, and astallion called Marik. "Now look at these, " said Hadifah. "They are notworth the hay they eat, " replied Carwash. Hadifah, filled withindignation at these words: "What, not even Ghabra?" "Not even Ghabra, or all the horses in the world, " repeated Carwash. "Would you like tomake a bet for us with King Cais?" "Certainly, " answered Carwash--"Iwill wager that Dahir will beat all the horses of the tribe of Fazarah, even if he carries a hundred weight of stone on his back. " Theydiscussed the matter for a long time, the one affirming the otherdenying the statements, until Hadifah closed the altercation by saying, "I hold to the wager, on condition that the winner takes from the loseras many male and female camels as he chooses. " "You are going to play mea nice trick, " said Carwash, "and for my part I tell you plainly that Iwon't bet more than twenty camels; the man whose horse loses shall paythis forfeit. " The matter was arranged accordingly. They sat at tableuntil nightfall, and then rested. 

The next day Carwash left his tent at early morn, went to the tribe ofAbs, to find Cais, whom he told about the wager. "You were wrong, " saidCais. "You might have made a bet with anyone excepting Hadifah, who is aman of tricks and treachery. If you have made the wager, you will haveto declare it off. " Cais waited until certain persons who were with himhad retired, then he at once took horse, and repaired to the tribe ofFazarah, where everybody was taking their morning meal in their tents. Cais dismounted, took off his arms, and seating himself among them beganto eat with them, like a noble Arab. "Cousin, " said Hadifah to himjokingly, "What large mouthfuls you take; heaven preserve me from havingan appetite like yours. " "It is true, " said Cais, "that I am dying ofhunger, but by Him who abides always, and will abide forever, I came nothere merely to eat your victuals. My intention is to annul the wagerwhich was yesterday made between you and my kinsman Carwash, I beg ofyou to cancel this bet, for all that is uttered over cups and flagons isof no serious account, and ought to be forgotten. " "I would have you toknow, " was the answer, "that I will not withdraw from the challenge, unless you forfeit the camels which are staked. If you accept thiscondition, I shall be perfectly indifferent to everything else. Nevertheless, if you wish it, I will seize the camels by force, or, ifit be your good pleasure, I will waive every claim, save as a debt ofhonor. " In spite of all that Cais could say, Hadifah remained firm inhis resolution, and as his brother began to deride Cais, the latter losthis temper, and with a face blazing with wrath he asked of Hadifah, "What stake did you offer in your wager with my cousin?" "Twentyshe-camels, " said Hadifah. "As for this first wager, " answered Cais, "Icancel it, and propose another one in its stead: I will bet thirtycamels. " "And I forty, " replied Hadifah, "I make it fifty, " was theretort of Cais. "Sixty, " quickly added the other; and they continuedraising the terms of the wager, until the number of camels staked wasone hundred. The contract of the bet was deposited in the hands of a mannamed Sabic, son of Wahhab, and in the presence of a crowd of youths andold men. "What shall be the length of the race?" asked Hadifah of Cais. "One hundred bow-shots, " replied Cais, "and we have an archer here, Ayas, the son of Mansour, who will measure the ground. " Ayas was in factthe strongest and most accomplished archer then living among the Arabs. King Cais, by choosing Ayas, wished the course to be made long, knowingthe endurance of his horse, and the longer distance Dahir had to travel, the more he gained speed, from the increased excitement of his spirit. "Well now, we had better fix the day for the race, " said Cais toHadifah. "Forty days will be required, " replied Hadifah, "to bring thehorses into condition. " "You are right, " said Cais, and they agreed thatthe horses should be trained for forty days, that the race should takeplace by the lake Zatalirsad, and that the horse that first reached thegoal should be declared winner. All these preliminaries having beenarranged, Cais returned to his tents. 

Meanwhile one of the horsemen of the tribe of Fazarah said to hisneighbors: "Kinsmen, you may rest assured that there is going to be abreach between the tribe of Abs and that of Fazarah, as a result of thisrace between Dahir and Ghabra. The two tribes, you must know, will bemutually estranged, for King Cais has been there in person; now he is aprince and the son of a prince. He has made every effort to cancel thebet, but Hadifah would by no means consent. All this is the beginning ofa broil, which may be followed by a war, possibly lasting fifty years, and many a one will fall in the struggle. "

Hadifah hearing this prediction, said: "I don't trouble myself muchabout the matter, and your suggestion seems to me absurd. " "O Hadifah, "exclaimed Ayas, "I am going to tell you what will be the result of allyour obstinacy towards Cais. " Then he recited some verses, with thefollowing meaning: "In thee, O Hadifah, there is no beauty; and in thepurity of Cais there is not a single blot. How sincere and honest washis counsels, although they were lacking in prudence and dignity. Make awager with a man who does not possess even an ass, and whose father hasnever been rich enough to buy a horse. Let Cais alone; he has wealth, lands, horses, a proud spirit, and he is the owner of this Dahir, who isalways first on the day of a race, whether he is resting orrunning--this Dahir, a steed whose feet even appear through theobscurity of night like burning brands. " "Ayas, " replied Hadifah, "doyou think I would break my word? I will take the camels of Cais, andwill not permit my name to be inscribed among the number of those whohave been vanquished. Let things run their course. "

As soon as King Cais had regained his tents he hastened to tell hisslaves to begin the training of his horses, and to pay especialattention to Dahir. Then he told his kinsmen all that had taken placebetween himself and Hadifah. Antar was present at this recital, and ashe took great interest in all that concerned the king, he said, "Cais, calm your fears, keep your eyes well open, run the race, and have nofear. For, by the faith of an Arab, if Hadifah makes any trouble ormisunderstanding, I will kill him, as well as the whole tribe ofFazarah. "

The conversation on this subject continued until they reached the tents, which Antar declined to enter before seeing Dahir. He walked severaltimes round this animal, and saw at a glance that the horse actuallypossessed qualities which astonished any one who saw him. 

Hadifah quickly learned the return of Antar, and knew that the hero wasencouraging King Cais to run the race. Haml, Hadifah's brother, had alsoheard the news, and in the distress which he felt remarked to Hadifah, "I fear lest Antar should fall upon me, or some one of the family ofBeder, and kill us, and thus render us disgraced. Give up this race, orwe are ruined. Let me go to King Cais, and I will not leave him until hepromises to come to you and cancel the contract. " "Do as you please, "answered Hadifah. Thereupon Haml took horse, and went immediately toKing Cais. He found him with his uncle Assyed, a wise and prudent man. Haml approached Cais, saluted him by kissing his hand, and after sayingthat he was the bearer of an important message, added: "Kinsman, youknow that my brother Hadifah is a low fellow, whose mind is full ofintrigues. I have spent the last three days in trying to persuade him tocancel this wager. At last he has said: 'Very good, if Cais comes to me, and wishes to be released from the contract, I will annul it; but do notlet any Arab think that I abandon the bet through fear of Antar. ' Nowyou, Cais, are aware that the greatest proof of attachment betweenkinsmen is their willingness to give way to one another. So I am here tobeg that you will come to the dwelling of my brother Hadifah and ask himto give up the race, before it causes trouble, and the tribe be utterlydriven away from its territories. " At this address of Haml, Cais becameflushed with shame, for he was trusting and generous. He at once arose, and leaving his uncle Assyed in charge of his domestic business, heaccompanied Haml to the land of Fazarah. When they were midway on theirjourney Haml began to utter lavish praises of Cais to the latter's face, and to blame his own brother's faults, in the following terms: "O Cais, do not let your wrath be stirred up against Hadifah, for he is verily aman headstrong and unjust in his actions. O Cais, if you persist inholding to the bet, great disasters will follow. Both you and he areimpulsive and passionate, and this is what causes me to feel anxietyabout you, Cais. Put aside your private feelings, be kind and generous, and it will come to pass that the oppressor himself will become theoppressed. "

Haml continued to abuse his brother, and to flatter Cais withexpressions of admiration all the way, until in the evening they arrivedat the tribe of Fazarah. Hadifah, who at the moment was surrounded bymany powerful chiefs, upon whose aid he depended in the hour of need, had changed his mind since his brother Haml's departure, and in place ofcoming to terms and making peace with Cais he had determined to yield innothing, but to maintain rigorously the conditions of the coming race. He was speaking of this very matter with one of the chiefs at the momentwhen Cais and Haml presented themselves before him. As soon as Hadifahsaw Cais, he resolved to cover him with shame. Turning therefore to hisbrother, he asked: "Who ordered you to go to this man? By the faith of anoble Arab, even if all the men who cover the surface of the earth wereto come and importune me, saying, 'O Hadifah, give up one hair of thesecamels, ' I would not yield until a lance had pierced my heart and asword stricken the head from my shoulders. " Cais crimsoned, andimmediately remounted his horse, bitterly reproaching Haml. He returnedhome with the utmost haste, and found his uncle and brothers waiting forhim in extreme anxiety. "O my son!" said his uncle Assyed as soon as hesaw him, "you have had a disastrous journey, for it has caused you to bedisgraced. "

"If Hadifah had not been surrounded by certain chiefs, who gave himtreacherous counsels, I could have arranged the whole affair, " answeredCais. "There is now nothing left but to carry out the race and the bet. "

King Cais did not sleep the whole of that night. On the morrow hethought of nothing but the training of his horses during the forty days'interval before the race. All the Arabs of the land agreed to come tothe pastures and see the race, and when the forty days had expired thehorsemen of the two tribes came in a crowd to the banks of lakeZatalirsud. Next arrived the archer Ayas, who, turning his back to thelake at the point where the horses were to start, drew his bow as hewalked toward the north a hundred times, and measured out to the goalthe course of a hundred bow-shots. Soon the horsemen of Ghitfan andDibyan arrived, for they were of the same territory, and because oftheir friendly relations and kinship were comprised as one tribe underthe name of Adnan. King Cais had begged Antar not to show himself onthis occasion, fearing that his appearance might cause dissension. Antarlistened to this advice, but was unable to rest quiet in the tents. Theinterest he felt in Cais, and the deep distrust with which the falsenessof the Fazareans--who were always ready for treason--inspired him, induced him to show himself. Girding on his sword Dhami, and mountinghis famous charger, Abjer, he took with him his brother Shidoub, andreached the spot fixed upon for the race, in order that he might watchover the safety of King Zoheir's sons. On his arrival he seemed to excelall that crowd, like a lion clad in coat of mail. He carried his nakedsword, and his eyes flashed like blazing coals. As soon as he hadreached the middle of the crowd, he cried out with a loud voice, thatstruck terror to all hearts: "Hearken, noble Arabian chieftains and menof renown assembled here--all of you know that I was supported andfavored by King Zoheir, father of King Cais, that I am a slave bound tohim, by his goodness and munificence; that it is he who caused myparents to acknowledge me, and gave me my rank, making me to be numberedamong Arab chiefs. Although he is no longer living, I wish to show mygratitude to him, and bring the kings of the land into subjection tohim, even after his death. He has left a son, whom his brothers haveacknowledged, and have set on the throne of his father. This son isCais, whom they have thus distinguished, because of his wisdom, rectitude, and noble heart. I am the slave of Cais, and am his property;I intend to be the supporter of him whom I love, and the enemy ofwhosoever resists him. It shall never be said, as long as I live, that Ihave suffered an enemy to affront him. As to the conditions of thiswager, it is our duty to see them observed. The best thing, accordingly, to do is to let the horses race unobstructed, for victory comes from thecreator of day and night. I make an oath, therefore, by the holy houseat Mecca, by the temple, by the eternal God, who never forgets hisservants and never sleeps, that if Hadifah commits any act of violence, I will make him drink the cup of vengeance and of death; and will makethe whole tribe of Fazarah the byword of all the world. And you, Arabchieftains, if you sincerely desire the race to take place, conductyourselves with justice and impartiality; otherwise, by the eyes of mydear Ibla, I will make the horses run the race in blood. " "Antar isright, " the horsemen shouted on all sides. 

Hadifah chose, as the rider of Ghabra, a groom of the tribe of Dibyan. This man had passed all his days and many of his nights in rearing andtending horses. Cais, on the other hand, chose as rider of Dahir a groomof the tribe of Abs, much better trained and experienced in hisprofession than was the Dibyanian. When the two contestants had mountedtheir horses King Cais gave this parting instruction to his groom: "Donot let the reins hang too loosely in managing Dahir; if you see himflag, stand up in your stirrups, and press his flanks gently with yourlegs. Do not urge him too much, or you will break his spirit. " Hadifahheard this advice and repeated it, word for word, to his rider. 

Antar began to laugh. "By the faith of an Arab, " he said to Hadifah, "you will be beaten. Are words so scarce that you are obliged to useexactly those of Cais? But as a matter of fact Cais is a king, the sonof a king; he ought always to be imitated by others, and since you havefollowed, word by word, his speech, it is a proof that your horse willfollow his in the desert. "

At these words the heart of Hadifah swelled with rage and indignation, and he swore with an oath that he would not let his horse run that day, but that he wished the race to take place at sunrise, next morning. Thisdelay was indispensable to him in preparing the act of perfidy which hemeditated, for he had no sooner seen Dahir than he was speechless withastonishment at the beauty and perfections of the horse. 

The judges had already dismounted and the horsemen of the various tribeswere preparing to return home, when Shidoub began to cry out with a loudvoice, "Tribes of Abs, of Adnan, of Fazarah and of Dibyan, and all herepresent attend to me for an instant, and listen to words which shall berepeated from generation to generation. " All the warriors stoodmotionless. "Speak on, " they cried, "what is your will? Perhaps theremay be something good in your words. " "Illustrious Arabs, " continuedShidoub, "you know what happened in consequence of the match betweenDahir and Ghabra: I assure you on my life that I will outstrip both ofthem in running, even were they swifter than the wind. But listen to thecondition I offer; if I am the winner, I am to take the hundred camelswhich are at stake; but if I am beaten, I am to forfeit fifty. " Uponthis one of the Sheiks of Fazarah exclaimed, "What is that you aresaying, vile slave? Why should you receive a hundred camels if you winand only forfeit fifty if you lose?" "Do you ask why, ancient mire of adunghill, " replied Shidoub, "because I have but two legs to run on and ahorse has four, not counting his tail. " All the Arabs burst outlaughing; yet as they were astonished at the conditions proposed byShidoub, and extremely curious to see him run the race, they agreed thathe should make the hazardous experiment. 

When all had returned to the tents Antar said to Shidoub: "Come, now, thou son of a cursed mother, how dared thou say that thou couldstoutstrip these two horses, whose race all horsemen of our tribes haveassembled to see, and who all the world admits have no equals in speed, not even among the birds of the air?" "By him who created the springs inthe rocks and who knows all things, " replied Shidoub, "I will outstripthose two horses, be they fleet as the winds. Yes, and my victory willhave an advantageous result, for when the Arabs hear of it, they willgive up all idea of pursuing me, when I run across the desert. " Antarlaughed, for he was in doubt about Shidoub's plan. The latter went tofind King Cais and his brothers, and the other witnesses of the race, and made oath on his life that he would outstrip the two horses. Allpresent acknowledged themselves witnesses of the oath, and left thespot, filled with astonishment at the proposition. 

As for the trickster Hadifah, in the evening he summoned one of hisslaves named Dames, a rascal, if ever there was one. "O Dames, " he said, "you frequently boast of your cunning, but hitherto I have had noopportunity of putting it to the proof. " "My Lord, " answered the slave, "tell me in what way I can be useful to you. " "I desire, " said Hadifah, "that you go and post yourself in the great pass. Remain in this place, and go and hide yourself there in the morning. Watch the horses well, and see if Dahir is in advance. If he is, show yourself suddenly, strikehim on the head, and cause him to stop, so that Ghabra may outstrip him, and we may not incur the disgrace of defeat. For I confess that since Ihave seen Dahir, his excellent points have made me doubt the superiorityof Ghabra, and I fear my mare will be beaten, and we shall become thelaughing stock of all the Arabs. " "But, sir, how shall I distinguishDahir from Ghabra when they advance, both of them wrapped in a cloud ofdust?" Hadifah replied, "I am going to give you a sign, and to explainhow the matter may be free from difficulty. " As he spoke he picked upsome stones from the ground and said: "Take these stones with you atsunrise, begin to count them, and throw them to the earth, four at atime. You must repeat the operation five times, and the last time Ghabrawill arrive. That is the calculation I have made, so that if a cloud ofdust presents itself to you, and some of the stones, a third or a halfof them, still remain in your hand, you may be sure that Dahir hasgained first place, and is before your eyes. You must then hurl a stoneat his head, as I said, and stop his running, so that my mare may gainthe lead. " The slave agreed to do so. He provided himself with stonesand went to hide himself at the great pass, and Hadifah felt confidentof gaining the wager. 

At the dawn of day, the Arabs, coming from all quarters, were assembledon the race ground. The judges gave the signal for the start, and thetwo riders uttered loud shouts. The racers started like flashes oflightning which dazzle the sight and seemed like the wind when, as itblows, it increases in fury. Ghabra passed ahead of Dahir and distancedhim. "Now you are lost, my brother of the tribe of Abs, " cried theFazarean groom to the Absian, "try and console yourself for thisdefeat. " "You lie, " retorted the Absian, "and in a few moments you willsee how completely you are mistaken. Wait till we have passed thisuneven ground. Mares always travel faster on rough roads than on smoothcountry. " And so it happened, for when they arrived in the plain, Dahirshot forward like a giant, leaving a trail of dust behind him. It seemedas if he went on wings, not legs; in the twinkling of an eye he hadoutstripped Ghabra. "Here, " cried the Absian to the Fazarean groom, "send a messenger from me to the family of Beder, and you yourself drinkthe bitter cup of patience behind me. " Meanwhile Shidoub, swift as thenorth wind, kept ahead of Dahir, bounding like a fawn and running likean ostrich, until he reached the defile where Dames was hidden. Theslave had only thrown down less than a third of his pebbles, when helooked up and saw Dahir approaching. 

He waited till the horse passed close by him, and suddenly showedhimself with a shout, and hit the racer violently between the eyes witha stone. The horse reared, stopped one moment, and the rider was on thepoint of being unseated. Shidoub was a witness to the incident, andhaving looked at the slave, recognized him as belonging to thetreacherous Hadifah. In the violence of his rage he flung himself uponDames, and struck him dead with his sword: then he approached Dahir forthe purpose of speaking soothingly to him, and starting him again on therace; but, alas, the mare Ghabra rushed up like the wind. Then Shidoub, fearing defeat, thinking of the camels he would forfeit, set out runningat full speed towards the lake, where he arrived two bow-shots inadvance of the horses. Ghabra followed, then Dahir last, bearing on hisforehead the mark of the missile; his cheeks were covered with blood andtears. 

All the spectators were astounded on seeing the agility and endurance ofShidoub; but as soon as Ghabra had reached the finish the Fazareansuttered loud shouts of joy. Dahir was led home all bleeding, and hisrider told the men of the tribe of Abs what the slave had done. Caisexamined the wound of his horse and asked for full details of theoccurrence. Antar grew crimson with anger, and laid his hand upon hisinvincible sword, as if impatient to annihilate the tribe of theFazareans. But the sheiks restrained him, although with difficulty, after which they went to Hadifah to cover him with shame, and toreproach him with the infamous deed he had done. Hadifah denied it, withfalse oaths, affirming that he knew nothing of the blow dealt to Dahir;then he added, "I demand the camels which are due to me, and I do notadmit the treacherous pretext on which they are being withheld. "

"That blow is doubtless of evil augury for the tribe of Fazarah, " saidCais. "God will certainly give us victory and triumph, and destroy them. For Hadifah only desired this race to take place in order that it mightcause trouble and discord, and the disturbance which this contest issure to excite will stir up one tribe against another, so that therewill be many men killed, and children made orphans. " The conversationwhich followed among the tribesmen became more and more excited, confusion followed, shouts rang out on all sides, and drawn swordsflashed. Bloodshed would have resulted had not the sheiks and wise mendismounted and with bared heads mingled with the crowd, with humblemien, imploring them, until at last the matter was settled asharmoniously as possible. It was agreed that Shidoub should receive theamount of the wager--a hundred camels from the tribe of Fazarah, andthat Hadifah should abandon his claims and refrain from all dispute. Such were the measures taken to extinguish the hostility and disorderwhich threatened to burst out among the tribes. Then the differentfamilies retired to their own dwellings, but the hearts of all werefilled with bitter hatred. One whose resentment seemed keenest wasHadifah, especially when he learned of the slave Dames's death. As forCais, he was also filled with mute rage and intense hatred. Yet Antartried to reassure him. "King, " he said to him, "do not let your heart bea prey to mortification; for I swear by the tomb of King Zoheir, yourfather, that I will cause disgrace and infamy to fall on Hadifah, and itis only from regard for you that I have up to this time delayed action. "Soon after all returned to their tents. 

The following morning Shidoub killed twenty of the camels he had won theday before, and caused the meat to be distributed among the widows andthose who had been wounded and crippled in war. He slaughtered twentyothers, which he used in entertaining the tribe of Abs, including womenand slaves. Finally, the next day, he killed the rest of the camels andmade a great feast near the lake Zatalirsad, to which he invited thesons of King Zoheir and his noblest chieftains. At the end of thisbanquet, when the wine circulated among the guests, all praised thebehavior of Shidoub. But the news of the camel slaughter and of all thefeasting was soon known to the tribe of Fazarah. All the enragedtribesmen hastened to seek Hadifah. "What, " said they, "while we werefirst in the race, slaves and traitorous Absians have eaten our camels!Send for an equal number of camels, by all means; but if he refuses themlet us make a terrible war upon the Absians. "

Hadifah raised his eyes upon his son Abou-Firacah. "Mount horse atonce, " he said to him, "and go and say to Cais: my father says that youmust this instant pay the wager, or he will come and seize the amount bymain force, and will bring trouble upon you. " There was then present achief among the sheiks, who, hearing the order that Hadifah had given tohis son, said: "O Hadifah, are you not ashamed to send such a message tothe tribe of the Absians? Are they not our kindred and allies? Does thisproposal harmonize with the counsel and desire of allaying dissensions?The genuine man shows gratitude for generosity and kindness. I think itquite reasonable to expect that you desist from this perverse mood, which will end in our total extermination. Cais has shown himself quiteimpartial and has done wrong to no one; cherish, therefore, peace withthe horsemen of the tribe of Abs. Take warning from what happened to theslave Dames; he struck Dahir, the horse of King Cais, and God punishedhim at once; he is left bathed in his slavish blood. I beg you to listento none but wise counsels; act nobly, and abandon base designs. Whileyou are thus forewarned as to your situation, keep a prudent eye on youraffairs. " This discourse rendered Hadifah furious. "Contemptible sheik!Dog of a traitor!" he exclaimed. "What! Must I be in fear of Cais andthe whole tribe of the Absians? By the faith of an Arab, I will let allmen of honor know that if Cais refuse to send the camels I will notleave one of his tents standing. " The sheik was indignant, and toincrease the fear he would cast into the heart of Hadifah he spoke tohim in verses, to the following effect: "Insult is cowardliness, for ittakes by surprise him who is not expecting it, as the night enwrapsthose who wander in the desert. When the sword shall once be drawn lookout for blows. Be just and do not clothe thyself with dishonor. Enquireof those who know the fate of Themond and his tribe, when they committedacts of rebellion and tyranny. They will tell you that a command of Godfrom on high destroyed them in one night, and on the morrow they layscattered on the ground, their eyes turned towards the sky. "

Hadifah dissembled his contempt for these verses and the sheik who hadpronounced them, but he ordered his son to go at once to Cais. Abou-Firacah started for the tribe of Abs, and as soon as he arrivedthere repaired to the home of Cais, who was absent. The messenger askedthen for his wife Modelilah, the daughter of Rebia. "What do you desireof my husband?" she asked. "I demand my due, the prize of the horserace. " "Misfortune take you and that which you demand, " she replied. "Son of Hadifah! Do you not fear the consequences of such perfidy? IfCais were here he would send you to your death, instantly. " Abou-Firacahreturned to his father, to whom he told all that the wife of Cais hadsaid "What, you coward, " shouted Hadifah, "do you come back withoutcompleting your errand? Are you afraid of the daughter of Rebia? Go tohim again. "

As Abou-Firacah reminded his father that it was now near night-fall, themessage was postponed until the next day. As for Cais, when here-entered his home, he learned from his wife that Abou-Firacah had cometo ask for the camels. "By the faith of an Arab, " he said, "if I hadbeen here I would have slain him. But the matter is closed; let us thinkno more of it. " Yet King Cais passed the night in grief and annoyanceuntil sunrise, at which time he betook himself to his tent Antar came tosee him. Cais rose, and making him take a seat, mentioned the name ofHadifah. "Would you believe he had the shamelessness to send his son todemand the camels of me? Ah, if I had been present I would have slainthe messenger. " Scarcely had he finished uttering these words whenAbou-Firacah presented himself on horseback. Without dismounting, anduttering no word of salutation or preface, he said: "Cais, my fatherdesires that you send him that which is his due; by so doing yourconduct will be that of a generous man; but if you refuse, my fatherwill come against you, carry off his property by force, and plunge youinto misfortune. "

On hearing these words Cais felt the light change to darkness before hiseyes. "O thou son of a vile coward, " he exclaimed "how is it that youare not more respectful in your address to me?" He seized a javelin andplunged it into the breast of Abou-Firacah. Pierced through, the youngmessenger lost control of his horse. --Antar dragged him down and flunghim on the ground. Then, turning the horse's head away from thedirection of Fazarah, he struck him on the flank with a holly-stick, andthe horse took the road towards the pastures, and finally entered hisstable, all covered with blood. The shepherds at once led him to thetents, crying out, "Misfortune! Misfortune!"

Hadifah became furious. He smote upon his breast, repeating the words:"Tribe of Fazarah, to arms, to arms, to arms!" and all the disaffectedcame to Hadifah once more, begging him to declare war on the Absians, and to take vengeance on them. "Kinsmen!" replied Hadifah, withalacrity, "let none of us sleep to-night without our armor on. " And soit happened. 

At break of day Hadifah was on horseback; the warriors were ready, andonly women and children and the feeble were left in the tents. Cais, onthe other hand, after slaying Abou-Firacah, expected that the Fazareanswould come and attack himself and his warriors; he therefore preparedfor battle. Antar was charged with taking the necessary reconnoitre. Heleft in the tents only women, children, and those too feeble to bear thesword; then he put himself in command of the heroes of Carad. Nothingcould be more brilliant than the ranks of the Absians in their coats ofmail and gleaming weapons. These preparations caused an anxious momentfor both parties. They marched forth against each other, and the sun hadscarcely appeared, before scimitars flashed, and the whole country wasin a turmoil. 

Antar was impatient to press forward, and satisfy his thirst for battle;but, lo! Hadifah, dressed in a black robe, advances, his heart broken bythe death of his son. "Son of Zoheir, " he cried to Cais, "it is a baseaction to slay a child; but it is good to meet in battle, to decide withthese lances which shall predominate, you or me. " These words cut Caisto the quick. Hurried along by passion he left his standard and rushedagainst Hadifah. Then the two chiefs, spurred on by mutual hatred, fought together on their noble chargers, until nightfall. Cais wasmounted on Dahir, and Hadifah on Ghabra. In the course of this combatthe exploits of the past were eclipsed. Each tribe despaired of hischieftain's safety, and they were eager to make a general attack, inorder to stop the struggle of the chieftains and the fury with whichthey contended. Cries began to be heard in the air. Scimitars weredrawn, and lances advanced over the ears of Arabian chargers. Antarapproached certain Absian chiefs and said, "Let us attack the traitors. "He prepared to charge, when the ancients of the two tribes came forthinto the middle of the plain, with heads uncovered, their feet bared, and their idols hung from their shoulders. Standing between the twoarmies they spoke as follows: "Kinsmen and allies, in the name of thatharmony which has hitherto prevailed among us, let us do nothing thatwill make us the byword of our slaves. Let us not furnish our enemieswith ground for reproaching us. Let us forget all matter of dispute anddissension. Let us not turn wives into widows and our children intoorphans. Satisfy your warlike ardor by attacking those among the Arabswho are your real foes; and you, kinsmen of Fazarah, show yourselvesmore humble and less haughty, towards your brethren the Absians. Aboveall, forget not that insolent wrong has often caused the destruction ofmany tribes, which have had sore reason to regret their impious actions;in this way many men have been deprived of their possessions, and a vastnumber been plunged into the gulf of despair and regret. Expect thefatal hour of death, the day of dissolution, for it is upon you. Youwill be rent asunder by the threatening eagles of destruction, andenclosed in the dark prison-house of the tomb. Take care, that when yourbodies are separated from life, men may think about you without anyother memory than that of your virtues. "

The sheiks talked together for a long time, and meanwhile the flame ofpassion which had been kindled in the soul of the two heroes, Cais andHadifah, became quenched. Hadifah withdrew from the fight, and it wasagreed that Cais should pay as the price of Abou-Firacah's blood aquantity of cattle and a string of camels. The sheiks did not wish eventhen to quit the field of battle until Cais and Hadifah embraced eachother and had agreed to all the arrangements. Antar was crimson withrage. "O King Cais, " he exclaimed, "what have you done? What! while ourswords flash in our hands shall the tribe of Fazarah exact a price forthe blood of its dead? And we never be able to obtain retaliationexcepting with our spear points! The blood of our dead is shed, andshall we not avenge it?" Hadifah was beside himself on hearing thesewords. "And you, vile bastard, " said Antar to him, "you son of a vilemother, must your honor be purchased at the expense of our disgrace? Butfor the presence of these noble sheiks I would annihilate you and allyour people this very instant. "

Then Hadifah's indignation and anger overleaped all bounds. "By thefaith of an Arab, " he said to the sheiks, "I wish to hear no talk ofpeace at the moment that the enemy is ready to spear me. " "Do not talkin that way, dear son of my mother, " said Haml to his brother. "Do notdart away on the path of imprudence; abandon these gloomy resolutions. Remain in peace with the allies of the Absians, for they are shiningstars: the burnished sun that guides all Arabs who love glory. It wasbut the other day that you wronged them by causing the horse Dahir to bewounded, and thus erred from the path of justice. As for your son, hewas justly slain, for you had sent him to demand something that was notdue you. After all, nothing is so proper as to make peace, for he whowould seek and stir up war is a tyrant, and an oppressor. Accepttherefore the compensation offered you, or you are likely to call uparound us a fire which will burn us in the flames of hell. " Hamlconcluded with verses of the following import: "By the truth of him whohas rooted firm the mountains, without foundations, if you decline toaccept the compensation offered by the Absians, you are in the wrong. They acknowledge Hadifah as their chief; be a chief in very deed, and becontent with the cattle and camels offered you. Dismount from the horseof outrage, and mount it not again, for it will carry you to the sea ofgrief and calamity. Hadifah, renounce like a generous man, all violence, but particularly the idea of contending with the Absians. Make of themand of their leader a powerful rampart against the enemies that mayattack us. Make of them friends that will remain faithful, for they aremen of the noblest intentions. Such are the Absians, and if Cais hasacted unjustly towards you, it is you who first set him the example somedays ago. "

When Haml finished these verses, the chiefs of the different tribesthanked him, and Hadifah having consented to accept the compensationoffered, all the Arabs renounced violence and war. All who carried armsremained at home. Cais sent to Hadifah two hundred camels, sixmen-slaves, ten women-slaves, and ten horses. Thus peace wasreestablished and every one rested in tranquillity throughout the land. 

SELECTIONS FROM ARABIAN POETRY

[_Translation by J. D. Carlyle_]

INTRODUCTION

The essential qualities of Arabian poetry appear in the "Romance ofAntar, " and the tales of the "Thousand and One Nights. " For such ablending of prose and verse is the favorite form of Arabian literaturein its highest and severest form, even in the drama. But the characterof the people is most clearly shown in the lyrical poems of the Bedouincountry. The pastoral poetry of the peninsula is so local in itsallusions that it cannot adequately be translated into English. It is inthe lyrics that we find that "touch of nature which makes the wholeworld kin. " The gorgeousness of Hindoo literature, with its lavishdescription of jewelry and gold, precious stones and marbles, hideousdemons, and mighty gods, is not to be looked for in Arabia. There thehorizon is clear, and the plain has nothing but human occupants. Thecommon passions of men are the only powers at work; love, war, sorrow, and wine, are the subjects of these little songs, some of which mighthave been written by "Anacreon" Moore, and others by Catullus. Theinfluence of Greek poetry is indeed manifest in these light andsometimes frivolous effusions. The sweetness and grace which distinguishsome are only equalled by the wit of others. For wit is the prevailingcharacteristic of Arabian poetry, which is attractive for itscleverness, its brightness, the alternate smiles and tears which shinethrough it, and make the present selections so refreshing andinteresting a revelation of the national heart and intellect. 

I use the word refreshing, because some of the imagery of these lyricsis new to me, and quite unparalleled in European literature. What canbe more novel, and at the same time more charming than the followingsimile, with which a short elegy concludes:--

 "But though in dust thy relics lie, Thy virtues, Mano, ne'er shall die; Though Nile's full stream be seen no more, That spread his waves from shore to shore, Still in the verdure of the plain His vivifying smiles remain. "

The praise of a humble lot has been sung from Háfiz to Horace, butnever illustrated by a prettier conceit than the Arabic poet hasrecourse to in this stanza:--

 "Not always wealth, not always force A splendid destiny commands; The lordly vulture gnaws the corse That rots upon yon barren sands. 

 "Nor want nor weakness still conspires To bind us to a sordid state; The fly that with a touch expires, Sips honey from the royal plate. "

This is undoubtedly a very original way of stating the philosophic axiomof the Augustan poet, "The lord of boundless revenues, Do not salute as happy. "

I have spoken of the wit of these verses, which is certainly one oftheir distinguishing qualities. It is quite Attic in its flavor andexquisitely delicate in its combined good-humor and freedom from rancor. An epigram, according to the old definition, should be like a bee; itshould carry the sweetness of honey, although it bears a sting at theend. Sometimes the end has a point which does not sting, as in thefollowing quatrain of an Arabic poet:--

 "When I sent you my melons, you cried out with scorn, They ought to be heavy and wrinkled and yellow; When I offered myself, whom those graces adorn, You flouted, and called me an ugly old fellow. "

Martial himself could not have excelled the wit of an epigram addressedto a very little man who wore a very big beard, which thus concludes:--

 "Surely thou cherishest thy beard In hope to hide thyself behind it. "

To study a literature like that of the Arabians, even partially and in atranslation, is one of those experiences which enlarge and stimulate themind and expand its range of impressions with a distinctly elevating andliberalizing effect. It has the result of genuine education, in that itincreases our capacity for sympathy for other peoples, making us betteracquainted with the language in which they reveal that common humanheart which they share with us. 

E. W. 

AN ELEGY[1]

 Those dear abodes which once contain'd the fair, Amidst Mitata's wilds I seek in vain, Nor towers, nor tents, nor cottages are there, But scatter'd ruins and a silent plain. 

 The proud canals that once Rayana grac'd, Their course neglected and their waters gone, Among the level'd sands are dimly trac'd, Like moss-grown letters on a mouldering stone. 

 Rayana say, how many a tedious year Its hallow'd circle o'er our heads hath roll'd, Since to my vows thy tender maids gave ear, And fondly listened to the tale I told?

 How oft, since then, the star of spring, that pours A never-failing stream, hath drenched thy head? How oft, the summer cloud in copious showers Or gentle drops its genial influence shed?

 How oft since then, the hovering mist of morn Hath caus'd thy locks with glittering gems to glow? How oft hath eve her dewy treasures borne To fall responsive to the breeze below?

 The matted thistles, bending to the gale, Now clothe those meadows once with verdure gay; Amidst the windings of that lonely vale The teeming antelope and ostrich stray. 

 The large-eyed mother of the herd that flies Man's noisy haunts, here finds a sure retreat, Here watches o'er her young, till age supplies Strength to their limbs and swiftness to their feet. 

 Save where the swelling stream hath swept those walls And giv'n their deep foundations to the light (As the retouching pencil that recalls A long-lost picture to the raptur'd sight). 

 Save where the rains have wash'd the gathered sand And bared the scanty fragments to our view, (As the dust sprinkled on a punctur'd hand Bids the faint tints resume their azure hue). 

 No mossy record of those once lov'd seats Points out the mansion to inquiring eyes; No tottering wall, in echoing sounds, repeats Our mournful questions and our bursting sighs. 

 Yet, midst those ruin'd heaps, that naked plain, Can faithful memory former scenes restore, Recall the busy throng, the jocund train, And picture all that charm'd us there before. 

 Ne'e shall my heart the fatal morn forget That bore the fair ones from these seats so dear-- I see, I see the crowding litters yet, And yet the tent-poles rattle in my ear. 

 I see the maids with timid steps descend, The streamers wave in all their painted pride, The floating curtains every fold extend, And vainly strive the charms within to hide. 

 What graceful forms those envious folds enclose! What melting glances thro' those curtains play! Sure Weira's antelopes, or Tudah's roes Thro' yonder veils their sportive young survey!

 The band mov'd on--to trace their steps I strove, I saw them urge the camel's hastening flight, Till the white vapor, like a rising grove, Snatch'd them forever from my aching sight. 

 Nor since that morn have I Nawara seen, The bands are burst which held us once so fast, Memory but tells me that such things have been, And sad Reflection adds, that they are past. 

_Lebid Ben Rabiat Alamary_. 

 [1] The author of this poem was a native of Yemen. He was contemporary with Mohammed and was already celebrated as a poet when the prophet began to promulgate his doctrines. Lebid embraced Islamism and was one of the most aggressive helpers in its establishment. He fixed his abode in the city of Cufa, where he died at a very advanced age. This elegy, as is evident, was written previous to Lebid's conversion to Islamism. Its subject is one that must be ever interesting to the feeling mind--the return of a person after a long absence to the place of his birth--in fact it is the Arabian "Deserted Village. "

THE TOMB OF MANO

 Friends of my heart, who share my sighs! Go seek the turf where Mano lies, And woo the dewy clouds of spring, To sweep it with prolific wing. 

 Within that cell, beneath that heap, Friendship and Truth and Honor sleep, Beneficence, that used to clasp The world within her ample grasp. 

 There rests entomb'd--of thought bereft-- For were one conscious atom left New bliss, new kindness to display, 'Twould burst the grave, and seek the day. 

 But tho' in dust thy relics lie, Thy virtues, Mano, ne'er shall die; Tho' Nile's full stream be seen no more, That spread his waves from shore to shore, Still in the verdure of the plain His vivifying smiles remain. 

_Hassan Alasady_. 

TOMB OF SAYID[2]

 Blest are the tenants of the tomb! With envy I their lot survey! For Sayid shares the solemn gloom, And mingles with their mouldering clay. 

 Dear youth! I'm doom'd thy loss to mourn When gathering ills around combine; And whither now shall Malec turn, Where look for any help but thine?

 At this dread moment when the foe My life with rage insatiate seeks, In vain I strive to ward the blow, My buckler falls, my sabre breaks. 

 Upon thy grassy tomb I knelt, And sought from pain a short relief-- Th' attempt was vain--I only felt Intenser pangs and livelier grief. 

 The bud of woe no more represt, Fed by the tears that drench'd it there, Shot forth and fill'd my laboring breast Soon to expand and shed despair. 

 But tho' of Sayid I'm bereft, From whom the stream of bounty came, Sayid a nobler meed has left-- Th' exhaustless heritage of fame. 

 Tho' mute the lips on which I hung, Their silence speaks more loud to me Than any voice from mortal tongue, "What Sayid was let Malec be. "

_Abd Almalec Alharithy_. 

 [2] Abd Almalec was a native of Arabia Felix. The exact period when he flourished is unknown, but as this production is taken from the Hamasa it is most probable that he was anterior to Mohammedanism. 

THE DEATH OF HIS MISTRESS[3]

 Dost thou wonder that I flew Charm'd to meet my Leila's view? Dost thou wonder that I hung Raptur'd on my Leila's tongue? If her ghost's funereal screech Thro' the earth my grave should reach, On that voice I lov'd so well My transported ghost would dwell:-- If in death I can descry Where my Leila's relics lie, Saher's dust will flee away, There to join his Leila's clay. 

_Abu Saher Alhedily_. 

 [3] The sentiment contained in this production determines its antiquity. It was the opinion of the Pagan Arabs that upon the death of any person a bird, by them called Manah, issued from his brain, which haunted the sepulchre of the deceased, uttering a lamentable scream. 

ON AVARICE[4]

 How frail are riches and their joys? Morn builds the heap which eve destroys; Yet can they have one sure delight-- The thought that we've employed them right. 

 What bliss can wealth afford to me When life's last solemn hour I see, When Mavia's sympathizing sighs Will but augment my agonies?

 Can hoarded gold dispel the gloom That death must shed around his tomb? Or cheer the ghost which hovers there, And fills with shrieks the desert air?

 What boots it, Mavia, in the grave, Whether I lov'd to waste or save? The hand that millions now can grasp, In death no more than mine shall clasp. 

 Were I ambitious to behold Increasing stores of treasured gold, Each tribe that roves the desert knows I might be wealthy if I chose:--

 But other joys can gold impart, Far other wishes warm my heart-- Ne'er may I strive to swell the heap, Till want and woe have ceas'd to weep. 

 With brow unalter'd I can see The hour of wealth or poverty: I've drunk from both the cups of fate, Nor this could sink, nor that elate. 

 With fortune blest, I ne'er was found To look with scorn on those around; Nor for the loss of paltry ore, Shall Hatem seem to Hatem poor. 

_Hatem Tai_. 

 [4] Hatem Tai was an Arabian chief, who lived a short time prior to the promulgation of Mohammedanism. He has been so much celebrated through the East for his generosity that even to this day the greatest encomium which can be given to a generous man is to say that he is as liberal as Hatem. Hatem was also a poet; but his talents were principally exerted in recommending his favorite virtue. 

THE BATTLE OF SABLA[5]

 Sabla, them saw'st th' exulting foe In fancied triumphs crown'd; Thou heard'st their frantic females throw These galling taunts around:--

 "Make now your choice--the terms we give, Desponding victims, hear; These fetters on your hands receive, Or in your hearts the spear. "

 "And is the conflict o'er, " we cried, "And lie we at your feet? And dare you vauntingly decide The fortune we must meet?

 "A brighter day we soon shall see, Tho' now the prospect lowers, And conquest, peace, and liberty Shall gild our future hours. "

 The foe advanc'd:--in firm array We rush'd o'er Sabla's sands, And the red sabre mark'd our way Amidst their yielding bands. 

 Then, as they writh'd in death's cold grasp, We cried, "Our choice is made, These hands the sabre's hilt shall clasp, Your hearts shall have the blade. "

_Jaafer Ben Alba_. 

 [5] This poem and the one following it are both taken from the Hamasa and afford curious instances of the animosity which prevailed amongst the several Arabian clans, and of the rancor with which they pursued each other, when once at variance. 

VERSES TO MY ENEMIES

 Why thus to passion give the rein? Why seek your kindred tribe to wrong? Why strive to drag to light again The fatal feud entomb'd so long?

 Think not, if fury ye display, But equal fury we can deal; Hope not, if wrong'd, but we repay Revenge for every wrong we feel. 

 Why thus to passion give the rein? Why seek the robe of peace to tear? Rash youths desist, your course restrain, Or dread the wrath ye blindly dare. 

 Yet friendship we not ask from foes, Nor favor hope from you to prove, We lov'd you not, great Allah knows, Nor blam'd you that ye could not love. 

 To each are different feelings given, This slights, and that regards his brother; 'Tis ours to live--thanks to kind heav'n-- Hating and hated by each other. 

_Alfadhel Ibn Alabas_. 

ON HIS FRIENDS[6]

 With conscious pride I view the band Of faithful friends that round me stand, With pride exult that I alone Can join these scatter'd gems in one:-- For they're a wreath of pearls, and I The silken cord on which they lie. 

 'Tis mine their inmost souls to see, Unlock'd is every heart to me, To me they cling, on me they rest, And I've a place in every breast:-- For they're a wreath of pearls, and I The silken cord on which they lie. 

_Meskin Aldaramy_. 

 [6] These lines are also from the Hamasa. 

ON TEMPER[7]

 Yes, Leila, I swore by the fire of thine eyes, I ne'er could a sweetness unvaried endure; The bubbles of spirit, that sparkling arise, Forbid life to stagnate and render it pure. 

 But yet, my dear maid, tho' thy spirit's my pride, I'd wish for some sweetness to temper the bowl; If life be ne'er suffer'd to rest or subside, It may not be flat, but I fear 'twill be foul. 

_Nabegat Beni Jaid_. 

 [7] There have been several Arabian poets of the name of Nabegat. The author of these verses was descended from the family of Jaid. As he died in the fortieth year of the Hegira, aged one hundred and twenty, he must have been fourscore at the promulgation of Islamism; he, however, declared himself an early convert to the new faith. 

THE SONG OF MAISUNA[8]

 The russet suit of camel's hair, With spirits light, and eye serene, Is dearer to my bosom far Than all the trappings of a queen. 

 The humble tent and murmuring breeze That whistles thro' its fluttering wall, My unaspiring fancy please Better than towers and splendid halls. 

 Th' attendant colts that bounding fly And frolic by the litter's side, Are dearer in Maisuna's eye Than gorgeous mules in all their pride. 

 The watch-dog's voice that bays whene'er A stranger seeks his master's cot, Sounds sweeter in Maisuna's ear Than yonder trumpet's long-drawn note. 

 The rustic youth unspoilt by art, Son of my kindred, poor but free, Will ever to Maisuna's heart Be dearer, pamper'd fool, than thee. 

 [8] Maisuma was a daughter of the tribe of Calab; a tribe, according to Abulfeda, remarkable both for the purity of dialect spoken in it, and for the number of poets it had produced. She was married, whilst very young, to the Caliph Mowiah. But this exalted situation by no means suited the disposition of Maisuna, and amidst all the pomp and splendor of Damascus, she languished for the simple pleasures of her native desert. 

TO MY FATHER[9]

 Must then my failings from the shaft Of anger ne'er escape? And dost thou storm because I've quaff'd The water of the grape?

 That I can thus from wine be driv'n Thou surely ne'er canst think-- Another reason thou hast giv'n Why I resolve to drink. 

 'Twas sweet the flowing cup to seize, 'Tis sweet thy rage to see; And first I drink myself to please; And next--to anger thee. 

_Yezid_. 

 [9] Yezid succeeded Mowiah in the Caliphate A. H. 60; and in most respects showed himself to be of a very different disposition from his predecessor. He was naturally cruel, avaricious, and debauched; but instead of concealing his vices from the eyes of his subjects, he seemed to make a parade of those actions which he knew no good Mussulman could look upon without horror; he drank wine in public, he caressed his dogs, and was waited upon by his eunuchs in sight of the whole court. 

ON FATALISM[10]

 Not always wealth, not always force A splendid destiny commands; The lordly vulture gnaws the corse That rots upon yon barren sands. 

 Nor want, nor weakness still conspires To bind us to a sordid state; The fly that with a touch expires Sips honey from the royal plate. 

_Imam Shafay Mohammed Ben Idris_. 

[10] Shafay, the founder of one of the four orthodox sects into which the Mohammedans are divided, was a disciple of Malek Ben Ans, and master to Ahmed Ebn Hanbal; each of whom, like himself, founded a sect which is still denominated from the name of its author. The fourth sect is that of Abou Hanifah. This differs in tenets considerably from the three others, for whilst the Malekites, the Shafaites, and the Hanbalites are invariably bigoted to tradition in their interpretations of the Koran, the Hanifites consider themselves as at liberty in any difficulty to make use of their own reason. 

TO THE CALIPH HARUN-AL-RASHID[11]

 Religion's gems can ne'er adorn The flimsy robe by pleasure worn; Its feeble texture soon would tear, And give those jewels to the air. 

 Thrice happy they who seek th' abode Of peace and pleasure, in their God! Who spurn the world, its joys despise, And grasp at bliss beyond the skies. 

_Ibrahim Ben Adham_. 

[11] The author of this poem was a hermit of Syria, equally celebrated for his talents and piety. He was son to a prince of Khorasan, and born about the ninety-seventh year of the Hegira. This poem was addressed to the Caliph upon his undertaking a pilgrimage to Mecca. 

LINES TO HARUN AND YAHIA[12]

 Th' affrighted sun ere while he fled, And hid his radiant face in night; A cheerless gloom the world overspread-- But Harun came, and all was bright. 

 Again the sun shoots forth his rays, Nature is deck'd in beauty's robe-- For mighty Harun's sceptre sways, And Yahia's arm sustains the globe. 

_Isaac Almousely_. 

[12] Isaac Almousely is considered by the Orientals as the most celebrated musician that ever flourished in the world. He was born in Persia, but having resided almost entirely at Mousel, he is generally supposed to have been a native of that place. 

THE RUIN OF BARMECIDES[13]

 No, Barmec! Time hath never shown So sad a change of wayward fate; Nor sorrowing mortals ever known A grief so true, a loss so great. 

 Spouse of the world! Thy soothing breast Did balm to every woe afford; And now no more by thee caress'd, The widow'd world bewails her Lord. 

[13] The family of Barmec was one of the most illustrious in the East. They were descended from the ancient kings of Persia, and possessed immense property in various countries; they derived still more consequence from the favor which they enjoyed at the court of Bagdad, where, for many years, they filled the highest offices of the state with universal approbation. 

TO TAHER BEN HOSIEN[14]

 A pair of right hands and a single dim eye Must form not a man, but a monster, they cry:-- Change a hand to an eye, good Taher, if you can, And a monster perhaps may be chang'd to man. 

[14] Taher Ben Hosien was ambidexter and one-eyed and, strange to say, the most celebrated general of his time. 

THE ADIEU[15]

 The boatmen shout, "Tis time to part, No longer we can stay"-- 'Twas then Maimnna taught my heart How much a glance could say. 

 With trembling steps to me she came; "Farewell, " she would have cried, But ere her lips the word could frame In half-form'd sounds it died. 

 Then bending down with looks of love, Her arms she round me flung, And, as the gale hangs on the grove, Upon my breast she hung. 

 My willing arms embraced the maid, My heart with raptures beat; While she but wept the more and said, "Would we had never met!"

_Abou Mohammed_. 

[15] This was sung before the Caliph Wathek, by Abou Mohammed, a musician of Bagdad, as a specimen of his musical talents; and such were its effects upon the Caliph, that he immediately testified his approbation of the performance by throwing his own robe over the shoulders of Abou Mohammed, and ordering him a present of an hundred thousand dirhems. 

TO MY MISTRESS[16]

 Ungenerous and mistaken maid, To scorn me thus because I'm poor! Canst thou a liberal hand upbraid For dealing round some worthless ore?

 To spare's the wish of little souls, The great but gather to bestow; Yon current down the mountain rolls, And stagnates in the swamp below. 

_Abou Teman Habib_. 

[16] Abou Teman is considered the most excellent of all the Arabian poets. He was born near Damascus A. H. 190, and educated in Egypt; but the principal part of his life was spent at Bagdad, under the patronage of the Abasside Caliphs. 

TO A FEMALE CUP-BEARER[17]

 Come, Leila, fill the goblet up, Reach round the rosy wine, Think not that we will take the cup From any hand but thine. 

 A draught like this 'twere vain to seek, No grape can such supply; It steals its tint from Leila's cheek, Its brightness from her eye. 

_Abd Alsalam Ben Ragban_. 

[17] Abd Alsalam was a poet more remarkable for abilities than morality. We may form an idea of the nature of his compositions from the nickname he acquired amongst his contemporaries of Cock of the Evil Genii. He died in the 236th year of the Hegira, aged near eighty. 

MASHDUD ON THE MONKS OF KHABBET[18]

 Tenants of yon hallow'd fane! Let me your devotions share, There increasing raptures reign-- None are ever sober there. 

 Crowded gardens, festive bowers Ne'er shall claim a thought of mine; You can give in Khabbet's towers-- Purer joys and brighter wine. 

 Tho' your pallid faces prove How you nightly vigils keep, 'Tis but that you ever love Flowing goblets more than sleep. 

 Tho' your eye-balls dim and sunk Stream in penitential guise, 'Tis but that the wine you've drunk Bubbles over from your eyes. 

[18] The three following songs were written by Mashdud, Rakeek, and Rais, three of the most celebrated improvisators in Bagdad, at an entertainment given by Abou Isy. 

RAKEEK TO HIS FEMALE COMPANIONS

 Tho' the peevish tongues upbraid, Tho' the brows of wisdom scowl, Fair ones here on roses laid, Careless will we quaff the bowl. 

 Let the cup, with nectar crown'd, Thro' the grove its beams display, It can shed a lustre round, Brighter than the torch of day. 

 Let it pass from hand to hand, Circling still with ceaseless flight, Till the streaks of gray expand O'er the fleeting robe of night. 

 As night flits, she does but cry, "Seize the moments that remain"-- Thus our joys with yours shall vie, Tenants of yon hallow'd fane!

DIALOGUE BY RAIS

 _Rais_:

 Maid of sorrow, tell us why Sad and drooping hangs thy head? Is it grief that bids thee sigh? Is it sleep that flies thy bed?

 _Lady_:

 Ah! I mourn no fancied wound, Pangs too true this heart have wrung, Since the snakes which curl around Selim's brows my bosom stung. 

 Destin'd now to keener woes, I must see the youth depart, He must go, and as he goes Rend at once my bursting heart. 

 Slumber may desert my bed, Tis not slumber's charms I seek-- 'Tis the robe of beauty spread O'er my Selim's rosy cheek. 

TO A LADY WEEPING[19]

 When I beheld thy blue eyes shine Thro' the bright drop that pity drew, I saw beneath those tears of thine A blue-ey'd violet bath'd in dew. 

 The violet ever scents the gale, Its hues adorn the fairest wreath, But sweetest thro' a dewy veil Its colors glow, its odors breathe. 

 And thus thy charms in brightness rise-- When wit and pleasure round thee play, When mirth sits smiling in thine eyes, Who but admires their sprightly ray? But when thro' pity's flood they gleam, Who but must love their soften'd beam?

_Ebn Alrumi_. 

[19] Ebn Alrumi is reckoned by the Arabian writers as one of the most excellent of all their poets. He was by birth a Syrian, and passed the greatest part of his time at Emessa, where he died A. H. 283. 

ON A VALETUDINARIAN

 So careful is Isa, and anxious to last, So afraid of himself is he grown, He swears thro' two nostrils the breath goes too fast, And he's trying to breathe thro' but one. 

_Ebn Alrumi_. 

ON A MISER

 "Hang her, a thoughtless, wasteful fool, She scatters corn where'er she goes"-- Quoth Hassan, angry at his mule, That dropt a dinner to the crows. 

_Ebn Alrumi_. 

TO CASSIM OBIO ALLAH[20]

 Poor Cassim! thou art doom'd to mourn By destiny's decree; Whatever happens it must turn To misery for thee. 

 Two sons hadst thou, the one thy pride, The other was thy pest; Ah, why did cruel death decide To snatch away the best?

 No wonder thou shouldst droop with woe, Of such a child bereft; But now thy tears must doubly flow, For, ah! the other's left. 

_Aly Ben Ahmed Ben Mansour_. 

[20] Aly Ben Ahmed distinguished himself in prose as well as poetry, and an historical work of considerable reputation, of which he was the author, is still extant. But he principally excelled in satire, and so fond was he of indulging this dangerous talent that no one escaped his lash; if he could only bring out a sarcasm, it was matter of indifference to him whether an enemy or a brother smarted under its severity. He died at Bagdad A. H. 302. 

A FRIEND'S BIRTHDAY[21]

 When born, in tears we saw thee drown'd, While thine assembled friends around, With smiles their joy confest; So live, that at thy parting hour, They may the flood of sorrow pour, And thou in smiles be drest!

[21] The thought contained in these lines, appears so natural and so obvious, that one wonders it did not occur to all who have attempted to write upon a birthday or a death. 

TO A CAT

 Poor Puss is gone! 'Tis fate's decree-- Yet I must still her loss deplore, For dearer than a child was she, And ne'er shall I behold her more. 

 With many a sad presaging tear This morn I saw her steal away, While she went on without a fear Except that she should miss her prey. 

 I saw her to the dove-house climb, With cautious feet and slow she stept Resolv'd to balance loss of time By eating faster than she crept. 

 Her subtle foes were on the watch, And mark'd her course, with fury fraught, And while she hoped the birds to catch, An arrow's point the huntress caught. 

 In fancy she had got them all, And drunk their blood and suck'd their breath; Alas! she only got a fall, And only drank the draught of death. 

 Why, why was pigeons' flesh so nice, That thoughtless cats should love it thus? Hadst thou but liv'd on rats and mice, Thou hadst been living still, poor Puss. 

 Curst be the taste, howe'er refined, That prompts us for such joys to wish, And curst the dainty where we find Destruction lurking in the dish. 

_Ibn Alalaf Alnaharwany_. 

AN EPIGRAM UPON EBN NAPHTA-WAH[22]

 By the former with ruin and death we are curst, In the latter we grieve for the ills of the first; And as for the whole, where together they meet, It's a drunkard, a liar, a thief, and a cheat. 

_Mohammed Ben Zeid Almotakalam_. 

[22] Mohammed Ben Arfa, here called Naphta-Wah, was descended from a noble family in Khorasan. He applied himself to study with indefatigable perseverance, and was a very voluminous author in several branches of literature, but he is chiefly distinguished as a grammarian. He died in the year of the Hegira 323. 

FIRE[23]

_A Riddle_. 

 The loftiest cedars I can eat, Yet neither paunch nor mouth have I, I storm whene'er you give me meat, Whene'er you give me drink, I die. 

[23] This composition seems a fit supplement to the preceding one; notwithstanding its absurdity, however. It is inserted merely to show that this mode of trifling was not unknown to the Orientals. It is taken from the Mostatraf, where a great number of similar productions on various subjects are preserved. 

TO A LADY BLUSHING[24]

 Leila, whene'er I gaze on thee My altered cheek turns pale, While upon thine, sweet maid, I see A deep'ning blush prevail. 

 Leila, shall I the cause impart Why such a change takes place? The crimson stream deserts my heart, To mantle on thy face. 

_The Caliph Radhi Billah_. 

[24] Radhi Billah, son to Moctader, was the twentieth Caliph of the house of Abbas, and the last of these princes who possessed any substantial power. 

ON THE VICISSITUDES OF LIFE

 Mortal joys, however pure, Soon their turbid source betray; Mortal bliss, however sure, Soon must totter and decay. 

 Ye who now, with footsteps keen, Range through hope's delusive field, Tell us what the smiling scene To your ardent grasp can yield?

 Other youths have oft before Deem'd their joys would never fade, Till themselves were seen no more Swept into oblivion's shade. 

 Who, with health and pleasure gay, E'er his fragile state could know, Were not age and pain to say Man is but the child of woe?

_The Caliph Radhi Billah_. 

TO A DOVE

 The Dove to ease an aching breast, In piteous murmurs vents her cares; Like me she sorrows, for opprest, Like me, a load of grief she bears. 

 Her plaints are heard in every wood, While I would fain conceal my woes; But vain's my wish, the briny flood, The more I strive, the faster flows. 

 Sure, gentle Bird, my drooping heart Divides the pangs of love with thine, And plaintive murm'rings are thy part, And silent grief and tears are mine. 

_Serage Alwarak_. 

ON A THUNDER STORM

 Bright smil'd the morn, till o'er its head The clouds in thicken'd foldings spread A robe of sable hue; Then, gathering round day's golden king, They stretch'd their wide o'ershadowing wing, And hid him from our view. 

 The rain his absent beams deplor'd, And, soften'd into weeping, pour'd Its tears in many a flood; The lightning laughed with horrid glare; The thunder growl'd, in rage; the air In silent sorrow stood. 

_Ibrahim Ben Khiret Abou Isaac_. 

TO MY FAVORITE MISTRESS

 I saw their jealous eyeballs roll, I saw them mark each glance of mine, I saw thy terrors, and my soul Shar'd ev'ry pang that tortur'd thine. 

 In vain to wean my constant heart, Or quench my glowing flame, they strove; Each deep-laid scheme, each envious art, But wak'd my fears for her I love. 

 'Twas this compelled the stern decree, That forc'd thee to those distant towers, And left me nought but love for thee, To cheer my solitary hours. 

 Yet let not Abla sink deprest, Nor separation's pangs deplore; We meet not--'tis to meet more blest; We parted--'tis to part no more. 

_Saif Addaulet, Sultan of Aleppe_. 

CRUCIFIXION OF EBN BAKIAH[25]

 Whatever thy fate, in life and death, Thou'rt doom'd above us still to rise, Whilst at a distance far beneath We view thee with admiring eyes. 

 The gazing crowds still round thee throng, Still to thy well-known voice repair, As when erewhile thy hallow'd tongue Pour'd in the Mosque the solemn prayer. 

 Still, generous Vizir, we survey Thine arms extended o'er our head, As lately, in the festive day, When they were stretch'd thy gifts to shed. 

 Earth's narrow boundaries strove in vain To limit thy aspiring mind, And now we see thy dust disdain Within her breast to be confin'd. 

 The earth's too small for one so great, Another mansion thou shalt have-- The clouds shall be thy winding sheet, The spacious vault of heaven thy grave. 

_Abou Hassan Alanbary_. 

[25] Ebn Bakiah was vizir to Azzad Addaulet or Bachteir, Emir Alomra of Bagdad, under the Caliphs Moti Lillah and Tay Lillah; but Azzad Addaulet being deprived of his office, and driven from Bagdad by Adhed Addaulet, Sultan of Persia, Ebn Bakiah was seized and crucified at the gates of the city, by order of the conqueror. 

CAPRICES OF FORTUNE[26]

 Why should I blush that Fortune's frown Dooms me life's humble paths to tread? To live unheeded, and unknown? To sink forgotten to the dead?

 'Tis not the good, the wise, the brave, That surest shine, or highest rise; The feather sports upon the wave, The pearl in ocean's cavern lies. 

 Each lesser star that studs the sphere Sparkles with undiminish'd light: Dark and eclips'd alone appear The lord of day, the queen of night. 

_Shems Almaali Cabus_. 

[26] History can show few princes so amiable and few so unfortunate as Shems Almaali Cabus. He is described as possessed of almost every virtue and every accomplishment: his piety, justice, generosity, and humanity, are universally celebrated; nor was he less conspicuous for intellectual powers; his genius was at once penetrating, solid, and brilliant, and he distinguished himself equally as an orator, a philosopher, and a poet. 

ON LIFE

 Like sheep, we're doom'd to travel o'er The fated track to all assign'd, These follow those that went before, And leave the world to those behind. 

 As the flock seeks the pasturing shade, Man presses to the future day, While death, amidst the tufted glade, Like the dun robber, [A] waits his prey. 

[A] The wolf. 

EXTEMPORE VERSES[27]

 Lowering as Barkaidy's face The wintry night came in, Cold as the music of his bass, And lengthen'd as his chin. 

 Sleep from my aching eyes had fled, And kept as far apart, As sense from Ebn Fahdi's head, Or virtue from his heart. 

 The dubious paths my footsteps balk'd, I slipp'd along the sod, As if on Jaber's faith I'd walk'd, Or on his truth had trod. 

 At length the rising King of day Burst on the gloomy wood, Like Carawash's eye, whose ray Dispenses every good. 

_Ebn Alramacram_. 

[27] The occasion of the following composition is thus related by Abulfeda. Carawash, Sultan of Mousel, being one wintry evening engaged in a party of pleasure along with Barkaidy, Ebn Fahdi, Abou Jaber, and the improvisatore poet, Ebn Alramacram, resolved to divert himself at the expense of his companions. He therefore ordered the poet to give a specimen of his talents, which at the same time should convey a satire upon the three courtiers, and a compliment to himself. Ebn Alramacram took his subject from the stormy appearance of the night, and immediately produced these verses. 

ON THE DEATH OF A SON[28]

 Tyrant of man! Imperious Fate! I bow before thy dread decree, Nor hope in this uncertain state To find a seat secure from thee. 

 Life is a dark, tumultuous stream, With many a care and sorrow foul, Yet thoughtless mortals vainly deem That it can yield a limpid bowl. 

 Think not that stream will backward flow, Or cease its destin'd course to keep; As soon the blazing spark shall glow Beneath the surface of the deep. 

 Believe not Fate at thy command Will grant a meed she never gave; As soon the airy tower shall stand, That's built upon a passing wave. 

 Life is a sleep of threescore years, Death bids us wake and hail the light, And man, with all his hopes and fears, Is but a phantom of the night. 

_Aly Ben Mohammed Altahmany_. 

[28] Aly Ben Mohammed was a native of that part of Arabia called Hejaz; and was celebrated not only as a poet, but as a politician. 

TO LEILA

 Leila, with too successful art, Has spread for me love's cruel snare; And now, when she has caught my heart, She laughs, and leaves it to despair. 

 Thus the poor sparrow pants for breath, Held captive by a playful boy, And while it drinks the draught of death, The thoughtless child looks on with joy. 

 Ah! were its flutt'ring pinions free, Soon would it bid its chains adieu, Or did the child its suff'rings see, He'd pity and relieve them too. 

ON MODERATION IN OUR PLEASURES[29]

 How oft does passion's grasp destroy The pleasure that it strives to gain? How soon the thoughtless course of joy Is doom'd to terminate in pain?

 When prudence would thy steps delay, She but restrains to make thee blest; Whate'er from joy she lops away, But heightens and secures the rest. 

 Wouldst thou a trembling flame expand, That hastens in the lamp to die? With careful touch, with sparing hand, The feeding stream of life supply. 

 But if thy flask profusely sheds A rushing torrent o'er the blaze, Swift round the sinking flame it spreads, And kills the fire it fain would raise. 

_Abou Alcassim Ebn Tabataba_. 

[29] Tabataba deduced his pedigree from Ali Ben Abou Taleb, and Fatima, the daughter of Mohammed. He was born at Ispahan, but passed the principal part of his life in Egypt, where he was appointed chief of the sheriffs, i. E. The descendants of the Prophet, a dignity held in the highest veneration by every Mussulman. He died in the year of the Hegira 418, with the reputation of being one of the most excellent poets of his time. 

THE VALE OF BOZAA[30]

 The intertwining boughs for thee Have wove, sweet dell, a verdant vest, And thou in turn shalt give to me A verdant couch upon thy breast. 

 To shield me from day's fervid glare Thine oaks their fostering arms extend, As anxious o'er her infant care I've seen a watchful mother bend. 

 A brighter cup, a sweeter draught, I gather from that rill of thine, Than maddening drunkards ever quaff'd, Than all the treasures of the vine. 

 So smooth the pebbles on its shore, That not a maid can thither stray, But counts her strings of jewels o'er, And thinks the pearls have slipp'd away. 

_Ahmed Ben Yousef Almenazy_. 

[30] Ben Yousef for many years acted as vizir to Abou Nasser, Sultan of Diarbeker. His political talents are much praised, and he is particularly celebrated for the address he displayed while upon an embassy to the Greek Emperor at Constantinople. Yousef's poetry must be looked upon merely as a jeu d'esprit suggested by the beauties of the vale of Bozâa, as he passed through it. 

TO ADVERSITY[31]

 Hail, chastening friend Adversity! 'Tis thine The mental ore to temper and refine, To cast in virtue's mould the yielding heart, And honor's polish to the mind impart. Without thy wakening touch, thy plastic aid, I'd lain the shapeless mass that nature made; But form'd, great artist, by thy magic hand, I gleam a sword to conquer and command. 

_Abou Menbaa Carawash_. 

[31] The life of this prince was checkered with various adventures; he was perpetually engaged in contests either with the neighboring sovereigns, or the princes of his own family. After many struggles he was obliged to submit to his brother, Abou Camel, who immediately ordered him to be seized, and conveyed to a place of security. 

ON THE INCOMPATIBILITY OF PRIDE AND TRUE GLORY[32]

 Think not, Abdallah, pride and fame Can ever travel hand in hand; With breast oppos'd, and adverse aim, On the same narrow path they stand. 

 Thus youth and age together meet, And life's divided moments share; This can't advance till that retreat, What's here increas'd, is lessen'd there. 

 And thus the falling shades of night Still struggle with the lucid ray, And e'er they stretch their gloomy flight Must win the lengthen'd space from day. 

_Abou Alola_. 

[32] Abou Alola is esteemed as one of the most excellent of the Arabian poets. He was born blind, but this did not deter him from the pursuit of literature. Abou Alola died at Maara in the year 449, aged eighty-six. 

THE DEATH OF NEDHAM ALMOLK

 Thy virtues fam'd thro' every land, Thy spotless life, in age and youth, Prove thee a pearl, by nature's hand, Form'd out of purity and truth. 

 Too long its beams of Orient light Upon a thankless world were shed; Allah has now reveng'd the slight, And call'd it to its native bed. 

_Shebal Addaulet_. 

LINES TO A LOVER

 When you told us our glances soft, timid and mild, Could occasion such wounds in the heart, Can ye wonder that yours, so ungovern'd and wild, Some wounds to our cheeks should impart?

 The wounds on our cheeks are but transient, I own, With a blush they appear and decay; But those on the heart, fickle youths, ye have shown To be even more transient than they. 

_Waladata_. 

VERSES TO MY DAUGHTERS[33]

 With jocund heart and cheerful brow I used to hail the festal morn-- How must Mohammed greet it now?-- A prisoner helpless and forlorn. 

 While these dear maids in beauty's bloom, With want opprest, with rags o'erspread, By sordid labors at the loom Must earn a poor, precarious bread. 

 Those feet that never touched the ground, Till musk or camphor strew'd the way, Now bare and swoll'n with many a wound. Must struggle thro' the miry clay. 

 Those radiant cheeks are veil'd in woe, A shower descends from every eye, And not a starting tear can flow, That wakes not an attending sigh. 

 Fortune, that whilom own'd my sway, And bow'd obsequious to my nod, Now sees me destin'd to obey, And bend beneath oppression's rod. 

 Ye mortals with success elate, Who bask in hope's delusive beam, Attentive view Mohammed's fate, And own that bliss is but a dream. 

_Mohammed Bed Abad_. 

[33] Seville was one of those small sovereignties into which Spain had been divided after the extinction of the house of Ommiah. It did not long retain its independence, and the only prince who ever presided over it as a separate kingdom seems to have been Mohammed Ben Abad, the author of these verses. For thirty-three years he reigned over Seville and the neighboring districts with considerable reputation, but being attacked by Joseph, son to the Emperor of Morocco, at the head of a numerous army of Africans, was defeated, taken prisoner, and thrown into a dungeon, where he died in the year 488. 

SERENADE TO MY SLEEPING MISTRESS[34]

 Sure Harut's[B] potent spells were breath'd Upon that magic sword, thine eye; For if it wounds us thus while sheath'd, When drawn, 'tis vain its edge to fly. 

 How canst thou doom me, cruel fair, Plung'd in the hell[C] of scorn to groan? No idol e'er this heart could share, This heart has worshipp'd thee alone. 

_Aly Ben Abd_. 

[34] This author was by birth an African; but having passed over to Spain, he was much patronized by Mohammed, Sultan of Seville. After the fall of his master, Ben Abd returned to Africa, and died at Tangier, A. H. 488. 

[B] A wicked angel who is permitted to tempt mankind by teaching them magic; see the legend respecting him in the Koran. 

[C] The poet here alludes to the punishments denounced in the Koran against those who worship a plurality of Gods: "their couch shall be in hell, and over them shall be coverings of fire. "

THE INCONSISTENT[35]

 When I sent you my melons, you cried out with scorn, They ought to be heavy and wrinkled and yellow; When I offer'd myself, whom those graces adorn, You flouted, and call'd me an ugly old fellow. 

[35] Written to a lady upon her refusal of a present of melons, and her rejection of the addresses of an admirer. 

THE CAPTURE OF JERUSALEM[36]

 From our distended eyeballs flow A mingled stream of tears and blood; No care we feel, nor wish to know, But who shall pour the largest flood. 

 But what defense can tears afford? What aid supply in this dread hour? When kindled by the sparkling sword War's raging flames the land devour. 

 No more let sleep's seductive charms Upon your torpid souls be shed: A crash like this, such dire alarms, Might burst the slumbers of the dead. 

 Think where your dear companions lie-- Survey their fate, and hear their woes-- How some thro' trackless deserts fly, Some in the vulture's maw repose;

 While some more wretched still, must bear The tauntings of a Christian's tongue-- Hear this--and blush ye not to wear The silken robe of peace so long?

 Remember what ensanguin'd showers The Syrian plains with crimson dyed, And think how many blooming flowers In Syrian forts their beauties hide. 

 Arabian youths! In such a cause Can ye the voice of glory slight? Warriors of Persia! Can ye pause, Or fear to mingle in the fight?

 If neither piety nor shame Your breasts can warm, your souls can move, Let emulation's bursting flame Wake you to vengeance and to love. 

_Almodhafer Alabiwerdy_. 

[36] The capture of Jerusalem took place in the 492d year of the Hegira, A. D. 1099. Alabiwerdy, who wrote these verses, was a native of Khorasan; he died A. H. 507. 

TO A LADY

 No, Abla, no--when Selim tells Of many an unknown grace that dwells In Abla's face and mien, When he describes the sense refin'd, That lights thine eye and fills thy mind, By thee alone unseen. 

 Tis not that drunk with love he sees Ideal charms, which only please Thro' passion's partial veil, 'Tis not that flattery's glozing tongue Hath basely fram'd an idle song, But truth that breath'd the tale. 

 Thine eyes unaided ne'er could trace Each opening charm, each varied grace, That round thy person plays; Some must remain conceal'd from thee, For Selim's watchful eye to see, For Selim's tongue to praise. 

 One polish'd mirror can declare That eye so bright, that face so fair, That cheek which shames the rose; But how thy mantle waves behind, How float thy tresses on the wind, Another only shows. 

AN EPIGRAM[37]

 Whoever has recourse to thee Can hope for health no more, He's launched into perdition's sea, A sea without a shore. 

 Where'er admission thou canst gain, Where'er thy phiz can pierce, At once the Doctor they retain, The mourners and the hearse. 

_George_. 

[37] Written to Abou Alchair Selamu, an Egyptian physician. The author was a physician of Antioch. 

ON A LITTLE MAN WITH A VERY LARGE BEARD

 How can thy chin that burden bear? Is it all gravity to shock? Is it to make the people stare? And be thyself a laughing stock?

 When I behold thy little feet After thy beard obsequious run, I always fancy that I meet Some father followed by his son. 

 A man like thee scarce e'er appear'd-- A beard like thine--where shall we find it? Surely thou cherishest thy beard In hope to hide thyself behind it. 

_Isaai, Ben Khalif_. 

LAMIAT ALAJEM[38]

 No kind supporting hand I meet, But Fortitude shall stay my feet; No borrow'd splendors round me shine, But Virtue's lustre all is mine; A Fame unsullied still I boast, Obscur'd, conceal'd, but never lost-- The same bright orb that led the day Pours from the West his mellow'd ray. 

 Zaura, farewell! No more I see Within thy walls, a home for me; Deserted, spurn'd, aside I'm toss'd, As an old sword whose scabbard's lost: Around thy walls I seek in vain Some bosom that will soothe my pain-- No friend is near to breathe relief, Or brother to partake my grief. For many a melancholy day Thro' desert vales I've wound my way; The faithful beast, whose back I press, In groans laments her lord's distress;

 In every quiv'ring of my spear A sympathetic sigh I hear; The camel bending with his load, And struggling thro' the thorny road, 'Midst the fatigues that bear him down, In Hassan's woes forgets his own; Yet cruel friends my wanderings chide, My sufferings slight, my toils deride. 

 Once wealth, I own, engrossed each thought, There was a moment when I sought The glitt'ring stores Ambition claims To feed the wants his fancy frames; But now 'tis past--the changing day Has snatch'd my high-built hopes away, And bade this wish my labors close-- Give me not riches, but repose. 'Tis he--that mien my friend declares, That stature, like the lance he bears; I see that breast which ne'er contain'd A thought by fear or folly stain'd, Whose powers can every change obey, In business grave, in trifles gay, And, form'd each varying taste to please, Can mingle dignity with ease. 

 What, tho' with magic influence, sleep, O'er every closing eyelid creep: Tho' drunk with its oblivious wine Our comrades on their bales recline, My Selim's trance I sure can break-- Selim, 'tis I, 'tis I who speak. Dangers on every side impend, And sleep'st thou, careless of thy friend? Thou sleep'st while every star on high, Beholds me with a wakeful eye-- Thou changest, ere the changeful night Hath streak'd her fleeting robe with white. 

 'Tis love that hurries me along-- I'm deaf to fear's repressive song-- The rocks of Idham I'll ascend, Tho' adverse darts each path defend, And hostile sabres glitter there, To guard the tresses of the fair. 

 Come, Selim, let us pierce the grove, While night befriends, to seek my love. The clouds of fragrance as they rise Shall mark the place where Abla lies. Around her tent my jealous foes, Like lions, spread their watchful rows; Amidst their bands, her bow'r appears Embosom'd in a wood of spears-- A wood still nourish'd by the dews, Which smiles, and softest looks diffuse. Thrice happy youths! who midst yon shades Sweet converse hold with Idham's maids, What bliss, to view them gild the hours, And brighten wit and fancy's powers, While every foible they disclose New transport gives, new graces shows. 'Tis theirs to raise with conscious art The flames of love in every heart; 'Tis yours to raise with festive glee The flames of hospitality: Smit by their glances lovers lie, And helpless sink and hopeless die; While slain by you the stately steed To crown the feast, is doom'd to bleed, To crown the feast, where copious flows The sparkling juice that soothes your woes, That lulls each care and heals each wound, As the enlivening bowl goes round. Amidst those vales my eager feet Shall trace my Abla's dear retreat, A gale of health may hover there, To breathe some solace to my care. I fear not love--I bless the dart Sent in a glance to pierce the heart: With willing breast the sword I hail That wounds me thro' an half-clos'd veil: Tho' lions howling round the shade, My footsteps haunt, my walks invade, No fears shall drive me from the grove, If Abla listen to my love. 

 Ah, Selim! shall the spells of ease Thy friendship chain, thine ardor freeze! Wilt thou enchanted thus, decline Each gen'rous thought, each bold design? Then far from men some cell prepare; Or build a mansion in the air-- But yield to us, ambition's tide, Who fearless on its waves can ride; Enough for thee if thou receive The scattered spray the billows leave. 

 Contempt and want the wretch await Who slumbers in an abject state-- 'Midst rushing crowds, by toil and pain The meed of Honor we must gain; At Honor's call, the camel hastes Thro' trackless wilds and dreary wastes, Till in the glorious race she find The fleetest coursers left behind: By toils like these alone, he cries, Th' adventurous youths to greatness rise; If bloated indolence were fame, And pompous ease our noblest aim, The orb that regulates the day Would ne'er from Aries' mansion stray. 

 I've bent at Fortune's shrine too long-- Too oft she heard my suppliant tongue-- Too oft has mock'd my idle prayers, While fools and knaves engross'd her cares, Awake for them, asleep to me, Heedless of worth she scorn'd each plea. Ah! had her eyes, more just survey'd The diff'rent claims which each display'd, Those eyes from partial fondness free Had slept to them, and wak'd for me. 

 But, 'midst my sorrows and my toils, Hope ever sooth'd my breast with smiles; Her hand remov'd each gathering ill, And oped life's closing prospects still. Yet spite of all her friendly art The specious scene ne'er gain'd my heart; I lov'd it not altho' the day Met my approach, and cheer'd my way; I loath it now the hours retreat, And fly me with reverted feet. 

 My soul from every tarnish free May boldly vaunt her purity, But ah, how keen, however bright, The sabre glitter to the sight, Its splendor's lost, its polish vain, Till some bold hand the steel sustain. 

 Why have my days been stretch'd by fate, To see the vile and vicious great-- While I, who led the race so long, Am last and meanest of the throng? Ah, why has death so long delay'd To wrap me in his friendly shade, Left me to wander thus alone, When all my heart held dear is gone!

 But let me check these fretful sighs-- Well may the base above me rise, When yonder planets as they run Mount in the sky above the sun. Resigned I bow to Fate's decree, Nor hope his laws will change for me; Each shifting scene, each varying hour, But proves the ruthless tyrants' power. 

 But tho' with ills unnumber'd curst, We owe to faithless man the worst; For man can smile with specious art, And plant a dagger in the heart. He only's fitted for the strife Which fills the boist'rous paths of life, Who, as he treads the crowded scenes, Upon no kindred bosom leans. Too long my foolish heart had deem'd Mankind as virtuous as they seem'd; The spell is broke, their faults are bare, And now I see them as they are; Truth from each tainted breast has flown, And falsehood marks them all her own. Incredulous I listen now To every tongue, and every vow, For still there yawns a gulf between Those honeyed words, and what they mean; With honest pride elate, I see The sons of falsehood shrink from me, As from the right line's even way The biass'd curves deflecting stray-- But what avails it to complain? With souls like theirs reproof is vain; If honor e'er such bosoms share The sabre's point must fix it there. But why exhaust life's rapid bowl, And suck the dregs with sorrow foul, When long ere this my youth has drain'd Whatever zest the cup contain'd? Why should we mount upon the wave, And ocean's yawning horrors brave, When we may swallow from the flask Whatever the wants of mortals ask?

 Contentment's realms no fears invade, No cares annoy, no sorrows shade, There plac'd secure, in peace we rest, Nor aught demand to make us blest. While pleasure's gay fantastic bower, The splendid pageant of an hour, Like yonder meteor in the skies, Flits with a breath no more to rise. 

 As thro' life's various walks we're led, May prudence hover o'er our head! May she our words, our actions guide, Our faults correct, our secrets hide!

 May she, where'er our footsteps stray, Direct our paths, and clear the way!

 Till, every scene of tumult past, She bring us to repose at last, Teach us to love that peaceful shore, And roam thro' folly's wilds no more!

_Mauid Eddin Alhassan Abou Ismael Altograi_. 

[38] Abou Ismael was a native of Ispahan. He devoted himself to the service of the Seljuk Sultans of Persia, and enjoyed the confidence of Malec Shah, and his son and grandson, Mohammed and Massoud, by the last of whom he was raised to the dignity of vizir. Massoud, however, was not long in a condition to afford Abou Ismael any protection, for, being attacked by his brother Mahmoud, he was defeated, and driven from Mousel, and upon the fall of his master the vizir was seized and thrown into prison, and at length in the year 515 sentenced to be put to death. 

TO YOUTH

 Yes, youth, thou'rt fled, and I am left, Like yonder desolated bower, By winter's ruthless hand bereft Of every leaf and every flower. 

 With heaving heart and streaming eyes I woo'd thee to prolong thy stay, But vain were all my tears and sighs, Thou only fled'st more fast away. 

 Yet tho' thou fled'st away so fast, I can recall thee if I will; For I can talk of what is past, And while I talk, enjoy thee still. 

_Ebn Alrabia_. 

ON LOVE[39]

 I never knew a sprightly fair That was not dear to me, And freely I my heart could share, With every one I see. 

 It is not this or that alone On whom my choice would fall, I do not more incline to one Than I incline to all. 

 The circle's bounding line are they, Its centre is my heart, My ready love the equal ray That flows to every part. 

_Abou Aly_. 

[39] Abou Aly flourished in Egypt about the year 530, and was equally celebrated as a mathematician and as a poet. 

A REMONSTRANCE WITH A DRUNKARD[40]

 As drench'd in wine, the other night, Zeid from the banquet sallied, Thus I reprov'd his drunken plight, Thus he my prudence rallied;

 "In bev'rage so impure and vile, How canst thou thus delight?"-- "My cups, " he answer'd with a smile, "Are generous and bright. "

 "Beware those dang'rous draughts, " I cried, "With love the goblet flows"-- "And curst is he, " the youth replied, "Who hatred only knows. "

 "Those cups too soon with sickness fraught Thy stomach shall deplore"-- "Then soon, " he cried, "the noxious draught And all its ills are o'er. "

 "Rash youth, thy guilty joys resign. " "I will, " at length he said, "I vow I'll bid adieu to wine As soon as I am dead. "

_Yahia Ben Salamet_. 

[40] This author was a native of Syria, and died at Miafarakir in the year of the Hegira 553. 

VERSES[41]

 Tho' such unbounded love you swear, 'Tis only art I see; Can I believe that one so fair Should ever dote on me?

 Say that you hate, and freely show That age displeases youth; And I may love you when I know That you can tell the truth. 

_Caliph Almonklafi Laimrillah_. 

[41] Almonklafi was the thirty-first Caliph of the house of Abbas, and the only one who possessed any real authority since the reign of Radhi. These lines were addressed to a lady who pretended a passion for him in his old age. 

ON PROCRASTINATION[42]

 Youth is a drunken noisy hour, With every folly fraught; But man, by age's chast'ning power, Is sober'd into thought. 

 Then we resolve our faults to shun, And shape our course anew; But ere the wise reform's begun Life closes on our view. 

 The travellers thus who wildly roam, Or heedlessly delay, Are left, when they should reach their home, Benighted on the way. 

_Hebat Allah Ibn Altalmith_. 

[42] Ibn Altalmith died in the 560th year of the Hegira, at the advanced age of one hundred. 

THE EARLY DEATH OF ABOU ALHASSAN ALY[43]

 Soon hast thou run the race of life, Nor could our tears thy speed control-- Still in the courser's gen'rous strife The best will soonest reach the goal. 

 As Death upon his hand turns o'er The different gems the world displays, He seizes first to swell his store The brightest jewel he surveys. 

 Thy name, by every breath convey'd, Stretch'd o'er the globe its boundless flight; Alas! in eve the lengthening shade But lengthens to be lost in night!

 If gracious Allah bade thee close Thy youthful eyes so soon on day, 'Tis that he readiest welcomes those Who love him best and best obey. 

_Alnassar Ledin Allah_. 

[43] Alnassar Ledin Allah was the thirty-fourth Abasside Caliph, and the last excepting three who enjoyed this splendid title, which was finally abolished by the Tartars in the year 656. 

THE INTERVIEW

_A Song_

 Darkness clos'd around, loud the tempest drove, When thro' yonder glen I saw my lover rove, Dearest youth! Soon he reach'd our cot--weary, wet, and cold, But warmth, wine, and I, to cheer his spirits strove, Dearest youth! How my love, cried I, durst thou hither stray Thro' the gloom, nor fear the ghosts that haunt the grove? Dearest youth! In this heart, said he, fear no seat can find, When each thought is fill'd alone with thee and love, Dearest maid!

ARABIAN NIGHTS

[_Selected tales edited by Andrew Lang_]

THE SEVEN VOYAGES OF SINDBAD

In the times of the Caliph Harun-al-Rashid there lived in Bagdad a poorporter named Hindbad, who, on a very hot day, was sent to carry a heavyload from one end of the city to the other. Before he had accomplishedhalf the distance he was so tired that, finding himself in a quietstreet where the pavement was sprinkled with rose-water, and a coolbreeze was blowing, he set his burden upon the ground, and sat down torest in the shade of a grand house. Very soon he decided that he couldnot have chosen a pleasanter place; a delicious perfume of aloes-woodand pastilles came from the open windows and mingled with the scent ofthe rose-water which steamed up from the hot pavement. Within the palacehe heard some music, as of many instruments cunningly played, and themelodious warble of nightingales and other birds, and by this, and theappetizing smell of many dainty dishes of which he presently becameaware, he judged that feasting and merry-making were going on. Hewondered who lived in this magnificent house which he had never seenbefore, the street in which it stood being one which he seldom hadoccasion to pass. To satisfy his curiosity he went up to some splendidlydressed servants who stood at the door, and asked one of them the nameof the master of the mansion. 

"What, " replied he, "do you live in Bagdad, and not know that here livesthe noble Sindbad the Sailor, that famous traveller who sailed overevery sea upon which the sun shines?"

The porter, who had often heard people speak of the immense wealth ofSindbad, could not help feeling envious of one whose lot seemed to be ashappy as his own was miserable. Casting his eyes up to the sky heexclaimed aloud:--

"Consider, Mighty Creator of all things, the difference betweenSindbad's life and mine. Every day I suffer a thousand hardships andmisfortunes, and have hard work to get even enough bad barley bread tokeep myself and my family alive, while the lucky Sindbad spends moneyright and left and lives upon the fat of the land! What has he done thatyou should give him this pleasant life--what have I done to deserve sohard a fate?"

So saying he stamped upon the ground like one beside himself with miseryand despair. Just at this moment a servant came out of the palace, andtaking him by the arm said, "Come with me, the noble Sindbad, my master, wishes to speak to you. "

Hindbad was not a little surprised at this summons, and feared that hisunguarded words might have drawn upon him the displeasure of Sindbad, sohe tried to excuse himself upon the pretext that he could not leave theburden which had been intrusted to him in the street. However the lackeypromised him that it should be taken care of, and urged him to obey thecall so pressingly that at last the porter was obliged to yield. 

He followed the servant into a vast room, where a great company wasseated round a table covered with all sorts of delicacies. In the placeof honor sat a tall, grave man, whose long white beard gave him avenerable air. Behind his chair stood a crowd of attendants eager tominister to his wants. This was the famous Sindbad himself. The porter, more than ever alarmed at the sight of so much magnificence, tremblinglysaluted the noble company. Sindbad, making a sign to him to approach, caused him to be seated at his right hand, and himself heaped choicemorsels upon his plate, and poured out for him a draught of excellentwine, and presently, when the banquet drew to a close, spoke to himfamiliarly, asking his name and occupation. 

"My lord, " replied the porter, "I am called Hindbad. "

"I am glad to see you here, " continued Sindbad. "And I will answer forthe rest of the company that they are equally pleased, but I wish you totell me what it was that you said just now in the street. " For Sindbad, passing by the open window before the feast began, had heard hiscomplaint and therefore had sent for him. 

At this question Hindbad was covered with confusion, and hanging downhis head, replied, "My lord, I confess that, overcome by weariness andill-humor, I uttered indiscreet words, which I pray you to pardon me. "

"Oh!" replied Sindbad, "do not imagine that I am so unjust as to blameyou. On the contrary, I understand your situation and can pity you. Onlyyou appear to be mistaken about me, and I wish to set you right. Youdoubtless imagine that I have acquired all the wealth and luxury thatyou see me enjoy without difficulty or danger, but this is far indeedfrom being the case. I have only reached this happy state after havingfor years suffered every possible kind of toil and danger. 

"Yes, my noble friends, " he continued, addressing the company, "I assureyou that my adventures have been strange enough to deter even the mostavaricious men from seeking wealth by traversing the seas. Since youhave, perhaps, heard but confused accounts of my Seven Voyages, and thedangers and wonders that I have met with by sea and land, I will nowgive you a full and true account of them, which I think you will be wellpleased to hear. "

As Sindbad was relating his adventures chiefly on account of the porter, he ordered, before beginning his tale, that the burden which had beenleft in the street should be carried by some of his own servants to theplace for which Hindbad had set out at first, while he remained tolisten to the story. 

FIRST VOYAGE

I had inherited considerable wealth from my parents, and being young andfoolish I at first squandered it recklessly upon every kind of pleasure, but presently, finding that riches speedily take to themselves wings ifmanaged as badly as I was managing mine, and remembering also that to beold and poor is misery indeed, I began to bethink me of how I could makethe best of what still remained to me. I sold all my household goods bypublic auction, and joined a company of merchants who traded by sea, embarking with them at Balsora in a ship which we had fitted out betweenus. 

We set sail and took our course towards the East Indies by the PersianGulf, having the coast of Persia upon our left hand and upon our rightthe shores of Arabia Felix. I was at first much troubled by the uneasymotion of the vessel, but speedily recovered my health, and since thathour have been no more plagued by sea-sickness. 

From time to time we landed at various islands, where we sold orexchanged our merchandise, and one day, when the wind dropped suddenly, we found ourselves becalmed close to a small island like a green meadow, which only rose slightly above the surface of the water. Our sails werefurled, and the captain gave permission to all who wished to land for awhile and amuse themselves. I was among the number, but when afterstrolling about for some time we lighted a fire and sat down to enjoythe repast which we had brought with us, we were startled by a suddenand violent trembling of the island, while at the same moment those leftupon the ship set up an outcry bidding us come on board for our lives, since what we had taken for an island was nothing but the back of asleeping whale. Those who were nearest to the boat threw themselves intoit, others sprang into the sea, but before I could save myself the whaleplunged suddenly into the depths of the ocean, leaving me clinging to apiece of the wood which we had brought to make our fire. Meanwhile abreeze had sprung up, and in the confusion that ensued on board ourvessel in hoisting the sails and taking up those who were in the boatand clinging to its sides, no one missed me and I was left at the mercyof the waves. All that day I floated up and down, now beaten this way, now that, and when night fell I despaired for my life; but, weary andspent as I was, I clung to my frail support, and great was my joy whenthe morning light showed me that I had drifted against an island. 

The cliffs were high and steep, but luckily for me some tree-rootsprotruded in places, and by their aid I climbed up at last, andstretched myself upon the turf at the top, where I lay, more dead thanalive, till the sun was high in the heavens. By that time I was veryhungry, but after some searching I came upon some eatable herbs, and aspring of clear water, and much refreshed I set out to explore theisland. Presently I reached a great plain where a grazing horse wastethered, and as I stood looking at it I heard voices talking apparentlyunderground, and in a moment a man appeared who asked me how I came uponthe island. I told him my adventures, and heard in return that he wasone of the grooms of Mihrage, the King of the island, and that each yearthey came to feed their master's horses in this plain. He took me to acave where his companions were assembled, and when I had eaten of thefood they set before me, they bade me think myself fortunate to havecome upon them when I did, since they were going back to their master onthe morrow, and without their aid I could certainly never have found myway to the inhabited part of the island. 

Early the next morning we accordingly set out, and when we reached thecapital I was graciously received by the King, to whom I related myadventures, upon which he ordered that I should be well cared for andprovided with such things as I needed. Being a merchant I sought out menof my own profession, and particularly those who came from foreigncountries, as I hoped in this way to hear news from Bagdad, and find outsome means of returning thither, for the capital was situated upon thesea-shore, and visited by vessels from all parts of the world. In themeantime I heard many curious things, and answered many questionsconcerning my own country, for I talked willingly with all who came tome. Also to while away the time of waiting I explored a little islandnamed Cassel, which belonged to King Mihrage, and which was supposed tobe inhabited by a spirit named Deggial. Indeed, the sailors assured methat often at night the playing of timbals could be heard upon it. However, I saw nothing strange upon my voyage, saving some fish thatwere full two hundred cubits long, but were fortunately more in dread ofus than even we were of them, and fled from us if we did but strike upona board to frighten them. Other fishes there were only a cubit longwhich had heads like owls. 

One day after my return, as I went down to the quay, I saw a ship whichhad just cast anchor, and was discharging her cargo, while the merchantsto whom it belonged were busily directing the removal of it to theirwarehouses. Drawing nearer I presently noticed that my own name wasmarked upon some of the packages, and after having carefully examinedthem, I felt sure that they were indeed those which I had put on boardour ship at Balsora. I then recognized the captain of the vessel, but asI was certain that he believed me to be dead, I went up to him and askedwho owned the packages that I was looking at. 

"There was on board my ship, " he replied, "a merchant of Bagdad namedSindbad. One day he and several of my other passengers landed upon whatwe supposed to be an island, but which was really an enormous whalefloating asleep upon the waves. No sooner did it feel upon its back theheat of the fire which had been kindled, than it plunged into the depthsof the sea. Several of the people who were upon it perished in thewaters, and among others this unlucky Sindbad. This merchandise is his, but I have resolved to dispose of it for the benefit of his family if Ishould ever chance to meet with them. "

"Captain, " said I, "I am that Sinbad whom you believe to be dead, andthese are my possessions!"

When the captain heard these words he cried out in amazement, "Lackaday!and what is the world coming to? In these days there is not an honestman to be met with. Did I not with my own eyes see Sindbad drown, andnow you have the audacity to tell me that you are he! I should havetaken you to be a just man, and yet for the sake of obtaining that whichdoes not belong to you, you are ready to invent this horriblefalsehood. "

"Have patience, and do me the favor to hear my story, " said I. 

"Speak then, " replied the captain, "I am all attention. "

So I told him of my escape and of my fortunate meeting with the king'sgrooms, and how kindly I had been received at the palace. Very soon Ibegan to see that I had made some impression upon him, and after thearrival of some of the other merchants, who showed great joy at oncemore seeing me alive, he declared that he also recognized me. 

Throwing himself upon my neck he exclaimed, "Heaven be praised that youhave escaped from so great a danger. As to your goods, I pray you takethem, and dispose of them as you please. " I thanked him, and praised hishonesty, begging him to accept several bales of merchandise in token ofmy gratitude, but he would take nothing. Of the choicest of my goods Iprepared a present for King Mihrage, who was at first amazed, havingknown that I had lost my all. However, when I had explained to him howmy bales had been miraculously restored to me, he graciously accepted mygifts, and in return gave me many valuable things. I then took leave ofhim, and exchanging my merchandise for sandal and aloes-wood, camphor, nutmegs, cloves, pepper, and ginger, I embarked upon the same vessel andtraded so successfully upon our homeward voyage that I arrived inBalsora with about one hundred thousand sequins. My family received mewith as much joy as I felt upon seeing them once more. I bought land andslaves, and built a great house in which I resolved to live happily, andin the enjoyment of all the pleasures of life to forget my pastsufferings. 

Here Sindbad paused, and commanded the musicians to play again, whilethe feasting continued until evening. When the time came for the porterto depart, Sindbad gave him a purse containing one hundred sequins, saying, "Take this, Hindbad, and go home, but to-morrow come again andyou shall hear more of my adventures. "

The porter retired quite overcome by so much generosity, and you mayimagine that he was well received at home, where his wife and childrenthanked their lucky stars that he had found such a benefactor. 

The next day Hindbad, dressed in his best, returned to the voyager'shouse, and was received with open arms. As soon as all the guests hadarrived the banquet began as before, and when they had feasted long andmerrily, Sindbad addressed them thus:--

"My friends, I beg that you will give me your attention while I relatethe adventures of my second voyage, which you will find even moreastonishing than the first. "

SECOND VOYAGE

I had resolved, as you know, on my return from my first voyage, to spendthe rest of my days quietly in Bagdad, but very soon I grew tired ofsuch an idle life and longed once more to find myself upon the sea. 

I procured, therefore, such goods as were suitable for the places Iintended to visit, and embarked for the second time in a good ship withother merchants whom I knew to be honorable men. We went from island toisland, often making excellent bargains, until one day we landed at aspot which, though covered with fruit-trees and abounding in springs ofexcellent water, appeared to possess neither houses nor people. While mycompanions wandered here and there gathering flowers and fruit I satdown in a shady place, and, having heartily enjoyed the provisions andthe wine I had brought with me, I fell asleep, lulled by the murmur of aclear brook which flowed close by. 

How long I slept I know not, but when I opened my eyes and started to myfeet I perceived with horror that I was alone and that the ship wasgone. I rushed to and fro like one distracted, uttering cries ofdespair, and when from the shore I saw the vessel under full sail justdisappearing upon the horizon, I wished bitterly enough that I had beencontent to stay at home in safety. But since wishes could do me no good, I presently took courage and looked about me for a means of escape. WhenI had climbed a tall tree I first of all directed my anxious glancestowards the sea; but, finding nothing hopeful there, I turned landward, and my curiosity was excited by a huge dazzling white object, so far offthat I could not make out what it might be. 

Descending from the tree I hastily collected what remained of myprovisions and set off as fast as I could go towards it. As I drew nearit seemed to me to be a white ball of immense size and height, and whenI could touch it, I found it marvellously smooth and soft. As it wasimpossible to climb it--for it presented no foothold--I walked roundabout it seeking some opening, but there was none. I counted, however, that it was at least fifty paces round. By this time the sun was nearsetting, but quite suddenly it fell dark, something like a huge blackcloud came swiftly over me, and I saw with amazement that it was a birdof extraordinary size which was hovering near. Then I remembered that Ihad often heard the sailors speak of a wonderful bird called a roc, andit occurred to me that the white object which had so puzzled me must beits egg. 

Sure enough the bird settled slowly down upon it, covering it with itswings to keep it warm, and I cowered close beside the egg in such aposition that one of the bird's feet, which was as large as the trunk ofa tree, was just in front of me. Taking off my turban I bound myselfsecurely to it with the linen in the hope that the roc, when it tookflight next morning, would bear me away with it from the desolateisland. And this was precisely what did happen. As soon as the dawnappeared the bird rose into the air carrying me up and up till I couldno longer see the earth, and then suddenly it descended so swiftly thatI almost lost consciousness. When I became aware that the roc hadsettled and that I was once again upon solid ground, I hastily unboundmy turban from its foot and freed myself, and that not a moment toosoon; for the bird, pouncing upon a huge snake, killed it with a fewblows from its powerful beak, and seizing it rose up into the air oncemore and soon disappeared from my view. When I had looked about me Ibegan to doubt if I had gained anything by quitting the desolate island. 

The valley in which I found myself was deep and narrow, and surroundedby mountains which towered into the clouds, and were so steep and rockythat there was no way of climbing up their sides. As I wandered about, seeking anxiously for some means of escaping from this trap, I observedthat the ground was strewed with diamonds, some of them of anastonishing size. This sight gave me great pleasure, but my delight wasspeedily dampened when I saw also numbers of horrible snakes so long andso large that the smallest of them could have swallowed an elephant withease. Fortunately for me they seemed to hide in caverns of the rocks byday, and only came out by night, probably because of their enemy theroc. 

All day long I wandered up and down the valley, and when it grew dusk Icrept into a little cave, and having blocked up the entrance to it witha stone, I ate part of my little store of food and lay down to sleep, but all through the night the serpents crawled to and fro, hissinghorribly, so that I could scarcely close my eyes for terror. I wasthankful when the morning light appeared, and when I judged by thesilence that the serpents had retreated to their dens I came tremblinglyout of my cave and wandered up and down the valley once more, kickingthe diamonds contemptuously out of my path, for I felt that they wereindeed vain things to a man in my situation. At last, overcome withweariness, I sat down upon a rock, but I had hardly closed my eyes whenI was startled by something which fell to the ground with a thud closebeside me. 

It was a huge piece of fresh meat, and as I stared at it several morepieces rolled over the cliffs in different places. I had always thoughtthat the stories the sailors told of the famous valley of diamonds, andof the cunning way which some merchants had devised for getting at theprecious stones, were mere travellers' tales invented to give pleasureto the hearers, but now I perceived that they were surely true. Thesemerchants came to the valley at the time when the eagles, which keeptheir eyries in the rocks, had hatched their young. The merchants thenthrew great lumps of meat into the valley. These, falling with so muchforce upon the diamonds, were sure to take up some of the preciousstones with them, when the eagles pounced upon the meat and carried itoff to their nests to feed their hungry broods. Then the merchants, scaring away the parent birds with shouts and outcries, would securetheir treasures. Until this moment I had looked upon the valley as mygrave, for I had seen no possibility of getting out of it alive, but nowI took courage and began to devise a means of escape. I began by pickingup all the largest diamonds I could find and storing them carefully inthe leathern wallet which had held my provisions; this I tied securelyto my belt. I then chose the piece of meat which seemed most suited tomy purpose, and with the aid of my turban bound it firmly to my back;this done I laid down upon my face and awaited the coming of the eagles. I soon heard the flapping of their mighty wings above me, and had thesatisfaction of feeling one of them seize upon my piece of meat, and mewith it, and rise slowly towards his nest, into which he presentlydropped me. Luckily for me the merchants were on the watch, and settingup their usual outcries, they rushed to the nest, scaring away theeagle. Their amazement was great when they discovered me, and also theirdisappointment, and with one accord they fell to abusing me for havingrobbed them of their usual profit. Addressing myself to the one whoseemed most aggrieved, I said:--

"I am sure, if you knew all that I have suffered, you would show morekindness towards me, and as for diamonds, I have enough here of the verybest for you and me and all your company. " So saying I showed them tohim. The others all crowded around me, wondering at my adventures andadmiring the device by which I had escaped from the valley, and whenthey had led me to their camp and examined my diamonds, they assured methat in all the years that they had carried on their trade they had seenno stones to be compared with them for size and beauty. 

I found that each merchant chose a particular nest, and took his chanceof what he might find in it. So I begged the one who owned the nest towhich I had been carried to take as much as he would of my treasure, buthe contented himself with one stone, and that by no means the largest, assuring me that with such a gem his fortune was made, and he need toilno more. I stayed with the merchants several days, and then as they werejourneying homewards I gladly accompanied them. Our way lay across highmountains infested with frightful serpents, but we had the good luck toescape them and came at last to the seashore. Thence we sailed to theisle of Roha, where the camphor-trees grow to such a size that a hundredmen could shelter under one of them with ease. The sap flows from anincision made high up in the tree into a vessel hung there to receiveit, and soon hardens into the substance called camphor, but the treeitself withers up and dies when it has been so treated. 

In this same island we saw the rhinoceros, an animal which is smallerthan the elephant and larger than the buffalo. It has one horn about acubit long which is solid, but has a furrow from the base to the tip. Upon it is traced in white lines the figure of a man. The rhinocerosfights with the elephant, and transfixing him with his horn carries himoff upon his head, but becoming blinded with the blood of his enemy, hefalls helpless to the ground, and then comes the roc, and clutches themboth up in his talons and takes them to feed his young. This doubtlessastonishes you, but if you do not believe my tale go to Roha and see foryourself. For fear of wearying you I pass over in silence many otherwonderful things which we saw in this island. Before we left I exchangedone of my diamonds for much goodly merchandise by which I profitedgreatly on our homeward way. At last we reached Balsora, whence Ihastened to Bagdad, where my first action was to bestow large sums ofmoney upon the poor, after which I settled down to enjoy tranquilly theriches I had gained with so much toil and pain. 

Having thus related the adventures of his second voyage, Sindbad againbestowed a hundred sequins upon Hindbad, inviting him to come again onthe following day and hear how he fared upon his third voyage. The otherguests also departed to their homes, but all returned at the same hournext day, including the porter, whose former life of hard work andpoverty had already begun to seem to him like a bad dream. Again afterthe feast was over did Sindbad claim the attention of his guests andbegan the account of his third voyage. 

THIRD VOYAGE

After a very short time the pleasant easy life I led made me quiteforget the perils of my two voyages. Moreover, as I was still in theprime of life, it pleased me better to be up and doing. So once moreproviding myself with the rarest and choicest merchandise of Bagdad, Iconveyed it to Balsora, and set sail with other merchants of myacquaintance for distant lands. We had touched at many ports and mademuch profit, when one day upon the open sea we were caught by a terriblewind which blew us completely out of our reckoning, and lasting forseveral days finally drove us into harbor on a strange island. 

"I would rather have come to anchor anywhere than here, " quoth ourcaptain. "This island and all adjoining it are inhabited by hairysavages, who are certain to attack us, and whatever these dwarfs may dowe dare not resist, since they swarm like locusts, and if one of them iskilled the rest will fall upon us, and speedily make an end of us. "

These words caused great consternation among all the ship's company, andonly too soon we were to find out that the captain spoke truly. Thereappeared a vast multitude of hideous savages, not more than two feethigh and covered with reddish fur. Throwing themselves into the wavesthey surrounded our vessel. Chattering meanwhile in a language we couldnot understand, and clutching at ropes and gangways, they swarmed up theship's side with such speed and agility that they almost seemed to fly. 

You may imagine the rage and terror that seized us as we watched them, neither daring to hinder them nor able to speak a word to deter themfrom their purpose, whatever it might be. Of this we were not left longin doubt. Hoisting the sails, and cutting the cable of the anchor, theysailed our vessel to an island which lay a little further off, wherethey drove us ashore; then taking possession of her, they made off tothe place from which they had come, leaving us helpless upon a shoreavoided with horror by all mariners for a reason which you will soonlearn. 

Turning away from the sea we wandered miserably inland, finding as wewent various herbs and fruits which we ate, feeling that we might aswell live as long as possible though we had no hope of escape. Presentlywe saw in the far distance what seemed to us to be a splendid palace, towards which we turned our weary steps, but when we reached it we sawthat it was a castle, lofty, and strongly built. Pushing back the heavyebony doors we entered the courtyard, but upon the threshold of thegreat hall beyond it we paused, frozen with horror, at the sight whichgreeted us. On one side lay a huge pile of bones--human bones; and onthe other numberless spits for roasting! Overcome with despair we sanktrembling to the ground, and lay there without speech or motion. The sunwas setting when a loud noise aroused us, the door of the hall wasviolently burst open and a horrible giant entered. He was as tall as apalm tree, and perfectly black, and had one eye, which flamed like aburning coal in the middle of his forehead. His teeth were long andsharp and grinned horribly, while his lower lip hung down upon hischest, and he had ears like elephant's ears, which covered hisshoulders, and nails like the claws of some fierce bird. 

At this terrible sight our senses left us and we lay like dead men. Whenat last we came to ourselves the giant sat examining us attentively withhis fearful eye. Presently when he had looked at us enough he cametowards us, and stretching out his hand took me by the back of the neck, turning me this way and that, but feeling that I was mere skin and bonehe set me down again and went on to the next, whom he treated in thesame fashion; at last he came to the captain, and finding him thefattest of us all, he took him up in one hand and stuck him upon a spitand proceeded to kindle a huge fire at which he presently roasted him. After the giant had supped he lay down to sleep, snoring like theloudest thunder, while we lay shivering with horror the whole nightthrough, and when day broke he awoke and went out, leaving us in thecastle. 

When we believed him to be really gone we started up bemoaning ourhorrible fate, until the hall echoed with our despairing cries. Thoughwe were many and our enemy was alone it did not occur to us to kill him, and indeed we should have found that a hard task, even if we had thoughtof it, and no plan could we devise to deliver ourselves. So at last, submitting to our sad fate, we spent the day in wandering up and downthe island eating such fruits as we could find, and when night came wereturned to the castle, having sought in vain for any other place ofshelter. At sunset the giant returned, supped upon one of our unhappycomrades, slept and snored till dawn, and then left us as before. Ourcondition seemed to us so frightful that several of my companionsthought it would be better to leap from the cliffs and perish in thewaves at once, rather than await so miserable an end; but I had a planof escape which I now unfolded to them, and which they at once agreed toattempt. 

"Listen, my brothers, " I added. "You know that plenty of driftwood liesalong the shore. Let us make several rafts, and carry them to a suitableplace. If our plot succeeds, we can wait patiently for the chance ofsome passing ship which would rescue us from this fatal island. If itfails, we must quickly take to our rafts; frail as they are, we havemore chance of saving our lives with them than we have if we remainhere. "

All agreed with me, and we spent the day in building rafts, each capableof carrying three persons. At nightfall we returned to the castle, andvery soon in came the giant, and one more of our number was sacrificed. But the time of our vengeance was at hand! As soon as he had finishedhis horrible repast he lay down to sleep as before, and when we heardhim begin to snore I, and nine of the boldest of my comrades, rosesoftly, and took each a spit, which we made red-hot in the fire, andthen at a given signal we plunged it with one accord into the giant'seye, completely blinding him. Uttering a terrible cry, he sprang to hisfeet clutching in all directions to try to seize one of us, but we hadall fled different ways as soon as the deed was done, and thrownourselves flat upon the ground in corners where he was not likely totouch us with his feet. 

After a vain search he fumbled about till he found the door, and fledout of it howling frightfully. As for us, when he was gone we made hasteto leave the fatal castle, and, stationing ourselves beside our rafts, we waited to see what would happen. Our idea was that if, when the sunrose, we saw nothing of the giant, and no longer heard his howls, whichstill came faintly through the darkness, growing more and more distant, we should conclude that he was dead, and that we might safely stay uponthe island and need not risk our lives upon the frail rafts. But alas!morning light showed us our enemy approaching us, supported on eitherhand by two giants nearly as large and fearful as himself, while a crowdof others followed close upon their heels. Hesitating no longer weclambered upon our rafts and rowed with all our might out to sea. Thegiants, seeing their prey escaping them, seized up huge pieces of rock, and wading into the water hurled them after us with such good aim thatall the rafts except the one I was upon were swamped, and their lucklesscrews drowned, without our being able to do anything to help them. Indeed I and my two companions had all we could do to keep our own raftbeyond the reach of the giants, but by dint of hard rowing we at lastgained the open sea. Here we were at the mercy of the winds and waves, which tossed us to and fro all that day and night, but the next morningwe found ourselves near an island, upon which we gladly landed. 

There we found delicious fruits, and having satisfied our hunger wepresently lay down to rest upon the shore. Suddenly we were aroused by aloud rustling noise, and starting up, saw that it was caused by animmense snake which was gliding towards us over the sand. So swiftly itcame that it had seized one of my comrades before he had time to fly, and in spite of his cries and struggles speedily crushed the life out ofhim in its mighty coils and proceeded to swallow him. By this time myother companion and I were running for our lives to some place where wemight hope to be safe from this new horror, and seeing a tall tree weclimbed up into it, having first provided ourselves with a store offruit off the surrounding bushes. When night came I fell asleep, butonly to be awakened once more by the terrible snake, which after hissinghorribly round the tree at last reared itself up against it, and findingmy sleeping comrade who was perched just below me, it swallowed himalso, and crawled away leaving me half dead with terror. 

When the sun rose I crept down from the tree with hardly a hope ofescaping the dreadful fate which had overtaken my comrades; but life issweet, and I determined to do all I could to save myself. All day long Itoiled with frantic haste and collected quantities of dry brushwood, reeds and thorns, which I bound with fagots, and making a circle of themunder my tree I piled them firmly one upon another until I had a kind oftent in which I crouched like a mouse in a hole when she sees the catcoming. You may imagine what a fearful night I passed, for the snakereturned eager to devour me, and glided round and round my frail shelterseeking an entrance. Every moment I feared that it would succeed inpushing aside some of the fagots, but happily for me they held together, and when it grew light my enemy retired, baffled and hungry, to his den. As for me I was more dead than alive! Shaking with fright and halfsuffocated by the poisonous breath of the monster, I came out of my tentand crawled down to the sea, feeling that it would be better to plungefrom the cliffs and end my life at once than pass such another night ofhorror. But to my joy and relief I saw a ship sailing by, and byshouting wildly and waving my turban I managed to attract the attentionof her crew. 

A boat was sent to rescue me, and very soon I found myself on boardsurrounded by a wondering crowd of sailors and merchants eager to knowby what chance I found myself in that desolate island. After I had toldmy story they regaled me with the choicest food the ship afforded, andthe captain, seeing that I was in rags, generously bestowed upon me oneof his own coats. After sailing about for some time and touching at manyports we came at last to the island of Salahat, where sandal-wood growsin great abundance. Here we anchored, and as I stood watching themerchants disembarking their goods and preparing to sell or exchangethem, the captain came up to me and said:--

"I have here, brother, some merchandise belonging to a passenger of minewho is dead. Will you do me the favor to trade with it, and when I meetwith his heirs I shall be able to give them the money, though it will beonly just that you shall have a portion for your trouble. "

I consented gladly, for I did not like standing by idle. Whereupon hepointed the bales out to me, and sent for the person whose duty it wasto keep a list of the goods that were upon the ship. When this man camehe asked in what name the merchandise was to be registered. 

"In the name of Sindbad the Sailor, " replied the captain. 

At this I was greatly surprised, but looking carefully at him Irecognized him to be the captain of the ship upon which I had made mysecond voyage, though he had altered much since that time. As for him, believing me to be dead it was no wonder that he had not recognized me. 

"So, captain, " said I, "the merchant who owned those bales was calledSindbad?"

"Yes, " he replied. "He was so named. He belonged to Bagdad, and joinedmy ship at Balsora, but by mischance he was left behind upon a desertisland where we had landed to fill up our water-casks, and it was notuntil four hours later that he was missed. By that time the wind hadfreshened, and it was impossible to put back for him. "

"You suppose him to have perished then?" said I. 

"Alas! yes, " he answered. 

"Why, captain!" I cried, "look well at me. I am that Sindbad who fellasleep upon the island and awoke to find himself abandoned!"

The captain stared at me in amazement, but was presently convinced thatI was indeed speaking the truth, and rejoiced greatly at my escape. 

"I am glad to have that piece of carelessness off my conscience at anyrate, " said he. "Now take your goods, and the profit I have made for youupon them, and may you prosper in future. "

I took them gratefully, and as we went from one island to another I laidin stores of cloves, cinnamon, and other spices. In one place I saw atortoise which was twenty cubits long and as many broad, also a fishthat was like a cow and had skin so thick that it was used to makeshields. Another I saw that was like a camel in shape and color. So bydegrees we came back to Balsora, and I returned to Bagdad with so muchmoney that I could not myself count it, besides treasures without end. Igave largely to the poor, and bought much land to add to what I alreadypossessed, and thus ended my third voyage. 

When Sindbad had finished his story he gave another hundred sequins toHindbad, who then departed with the other guests, but next day when theyhad all reassembled, and the banquet was ended, their host continued hisadventures. 

FOURTH VOYAGE

Rich and happy as I was after my third voyage, I could not make up mymind to stay at home altogether. My love of trading, and the pleasure Itook in anything that was new and strange, made me set my affairs inorder, and begin my journey through some of the Persian provinces, having first sent off stores of goods to await my coming in thedifferent places I intended to visit. I took ship at a distant seaport, and for some time all went well, but at last, being caught in a violenthurricane, our vessel became a total wreck in spite of all our worthycaptain could do to save her, and many of our company perished in thewaves. I, with a few others, had the good fortune to be washed ashoreclinging to pieces of the wreck, for the storm had driven us near anisland, and scrambling up beyond the reach of the waves we threwourselves down quite exhausted, to wait for morning. 

At daylight we wandered inland, and soon saw some huts, to which wedirected our steps. As we drew near their black inhabitants swarmed outin great numbers and surrounded us, and we were led to their houses, andas it were divided among our captors. I with five others was taken intoa hut, where we were made to sit upon the ground, and certain herbs weregiven to us, which the blacks made signs to us to eat. Observing thatthey themselves did not touch them, I was careful only to pretend totaste my portion; but my companions, being very hungry, rashly ate upall that was set before them, and very soon I had the horror of seeingthem become perfectly mad. Though they chattered incessantly I could notunderstand a word they said, nor did they heed when I spoke to them. Thesavages now produced large bowls full of rice prepared with cocoanutoil, of which my crazy comrades ate eagerly, but I only tasted a fewgrains, understanding clearly that the object of our captors was tofatten us speedily for their own eating, and this was exactly whathappened. My unlucky companions having lost their reason, felt neitheranxiety nor fear, and ate greedily all that was offered them. So theywere soon fat and there was an end of them, but I grew leaner day byday, for I ate but little, and even that little did me no good by reasonof my fear of what lay before me. However, as I was so far from being atempting morsel, I was allowed to wander about freely, and one day, whenall the blacks had gone off upon some expedition leaving only an old manto guard me, I managed to escape from him and plunged into the forest, running faster the more he cried to me to come back, until I hadcompletely distanced him. 

For seven days I hurried on, resting only when the darkness stopped me, and living chiefly upon cocoanuts, which afforded me both meat anddrink, and on the eighth day I reached the sea-shore and saw a party ofwhite men gathering pepper, which grew abundantly all about. Reassuredby the nature of their occupation, I advanced towards them and theygreeted me in Arabic, asking who I was and whence I came. My delight wasgreat on hearing this familiar speech, and I willingly satisfied theircuriosity, telling them how I had been shipwrecked, and captured by theblacks. "But these savages devour men!" said they. "How did you escape?"I repeated to them what I have just told you, at which they weremightily astonished. I stayed with them until they had collected as muchpepper as they wished, and then they took me back to their own countryand presented me to their King, by whom I was hospitably received. Tohim also I had to relate my adventures, which surprised him much, andwhen I had finished he ordered that I should be supplied with food andraiment and treated with consideration. 

The island on which I found myself was full of people, and abounded inall sorts of desirable things, and a great deal of traffic went on inthe capital, where I soon began to feel at home and contented. Moreover, the King treated me with special favor, and in consequence of thiseveryone, whether at the court or in the town, sought to make lifepleasant to me. One thing I remarked which I thought very strange; thiswas that, from the greatest to the least, all men rode their horseswithout bridle or stirrups. I one day presumed to ask his Majesty why hedid not use them, to which he replied, "You speak to me of things ofwhich I have never before heard!" This gave me an idea. I found a cleverworkman and made him cut out under my direction the foundation of asaddle, which I wadded and covered with choice leather, adorning it withrich gold embroidery. I then got a locksmith to make me a bit and a pairof spurs after a pattern that I drew for him, and when all these thingswere completed I presented them to the King and showed him how to usethem. When I had saddled one of his horses he mounted it and rode aboutquite delighted with the novelty, and to show his gratitude he rewardedme with large gifts. After this I had to make saddles for all theprincipal officers of the King's household, and as they all gave me richpresents I soon became very wealthy and quite an important person in thecity. 

One day the King sent for me and said, "Sindbad, I am going to ask afavor of you. Both I and my subjects esteem you, and wish you to endyour days amongst us. Therefore I desire that you will marry a rich andbeautiful lady whom I will find for you, and think no more of your owncountry. "

As the King's will was law I accepted the charming bride he presented tome, and lived happily with her. Nevertheless I had every intention ofescaping at the first opportunity, and going back to Bagdad. Things werethus going prosperously with me when it happened that the wife of one ofmy neighbors, with whom I had struck up quite a friendship, fell ill, and presently died. I went to his house to offer my consolations, andfound him in the depths of woe. 

"Heaven preserve you, " said I, "and send you a long life!"

"Alas!" he replied, "what is the good of saying that when I have but anhour left to live!"

"Come, come!" said I, "surely it is not so bad as all that. I trust thatyou may be spared to me for many years. "

"I hope, " answered he, "that your life may be long, but as for me, allis finished. I have set my house in order, and to-day I shall be buriedwith my wife. This has been the law upon our island from the earliestages--the living husband goes to the grave with his dead wife, theliving wife with her dead husband. So did our fathers, and so must wedo. The law changes not, and all must submit to it!"

As he spoke the friends and relations of the unhappy pair began toassemble. The body, decked in rich robes and sparkling with jewels, waslaid upon an open bier, and the procession started, taking its way to ahigh mountain at some distance from the city, the wretched husband, clothed from head to foot in a black mantle, following mournfully. 

When the place of interment was reached the corpse was lowered, just asit was, into a deep pit. Then the husband, bidding farewell to all hisfriends, stretched himself upon another bier, upon which were laid sevenlittle loaves of bread and a pitcher of water, and he also was letdown-down-down to the depths of the horrible cavern, and then a stonewas laid over the opening, and the melancholy company wended its wayback to the city. 

You may imagine that I was no unmoved spectator of these proceedings; toall the others it was a thing to which they had been accustomed fromtheir youth up; but I was so horrified that I could not help telling theKing how it struck me. 

"Sire, " I said, "I am more astonished than I can express to you at thestrange custom which exists in your dominions of burying the living withthe dead. In all my travels I have never before met with so cruel andhorrible a law. "

"What would you have, Sindbad?" he replied. "It is the law foreverybody. I myself should be buried with the Queen if she were thefirst to die. "

"But, your Majesty, " said I, "dare I ask if this law applies toforeigners also?"

"Why, yes, " replied the king smiling, in what I could but consider avery heartless manner: "they are no exception to the rule if they havemarried in the country. "

When I heard this I went home much cast down, and from that time forwardmy mind was never easy. If only my wife's little finger ached I fanciedshe was going to die, and sure enough before very long she fell reallyill and in a few days breathed her last. My dismay was great, for itseemed to me that to be buried alive was even a worse fate than to bedevoured by cannibals, nevertheless there was no escape. The body of mywife, arrayed in her richest robes and decked with all her jewels, waslaid upon the bier. I followed it, and after me came a great procession, headed by the king and all his nobles, and in this order we reached thefatal mountain, which was one of a lofty chain bordering the sea. 

Here I made one more frantic effort to excite the pity of the King andthose who stood by, hoping to save myself even at this last moment, butit was of no avail. No one spoke to me, they even appeared to hastenover their dreadful task, and I speedily found myself descending intothe gloomy pit, with my seven loaves and pitcher of water beside me. Almost before I reached the bottom the stone was rolled into its placeabove my head, and I was left to my fate. A feeble ray of light shoneinto the cavern through some chink, and when I had the courage to lookabout me I could see that I was in a vast vault, bestrewn with bones andbodies of the dead. I even fancied that I heard the expiring sighs ofthose who, like myself, had come into this dismal place alive. All invain did I shriek aloud with rage and despair, reproaching myself forthe love of gain and adventure which had brought me to such a pass, butat length, growing calmer, I took up my bread and water, and wrapping myface in my mantle I groped my way towards the end of the cavern, wherethe air was fresher. 

Here I lived in darkness and misery until my provisions were exhausted, but just as I was nearly dead from starvation the rock was rolled awayoverhead and I saw that a bier was being lowered into the cavern, andthat the corpse upon it was a man. In a moment my mind was made up, thewoman who followed had nothing to expect but a lingering death; I shouldbe doing her a service if I shortened her misery. Therefore when shedescended, already insensible from terror, I was ready armed with a hugebone, one blow from which left her dead, and I secured the bread andwater which gave me a hope of life. Several times did I have recourse tothis desperate expedient, and I know not how long I had been a prisonerwhen one day I fancied that I heard something near me, which breathedloudly. Turning to the place from which the sound came I dimly saw ashadowy form which fled at my movement, squeezing itself through acranny in the wall. I pursued it as fast as I could, and found myself ina narrow crack among the rocks, along which I was just able to force myway. I followed it for what seemed to me many miles, and at last sawbefore me a glimmer of light which grew clearer every moment until Iemerged upon the sea-shore with a joy which I cannot describe. When Iwas sure that I was not dreaming, I realized that it was doubtless somelittle animal which had found its way into the cavern from the sea, andwhen disturbed had fled, showing me a means of escape which I couldnever have discovered for myself. I hastily surveyed my surroundings, and saw that I was safe from all pursuit from the town. 

The mountains sloped sheer down to the sea, and there was no road acrossthem. Being assured of this I returned to the cavern, and amassed a richtreasure of diamonds, rubies, emeralds and jewels of all kinds, whichstrewed the ground. These I made up into bales, and stored them into asafe place upon the beach, and then waited hopefully for the passing ofa ship. I had looked out for two days, however, before a single sailappeared, so it was with much delight that I at last saw a vessel notvery far from the shore, and by waving my arms and uttering loud criessucceeded in attracting the attention of her crew. A boat was sent offto me, and in answer to the questions of the sailors as to how I came tobe in such a plight, I replied that I had been shipwrecked two daysbefore, but had managed to scramble ashore with the bales which Ipointed out to them. Luckily for me they believed my story, and withouteven looking at the place where they found me, took up my bundles, androwed me back to the ship. Once on board, I soon saw that the captainwas too much occupied with the difficulties of navigation to pay muchheed to me, though he generously made me welcome, and would not evenaccept the jewels with which I offered to pay my passage. Our voyage wasprosperous, and after visiting many lands, and collecting in each placegreat store of goodly merchandise, I found myself at last in Bagdad oncemore with unheard-of riches of every description. Again I gave largesums of money to the poor, and enriched all the mosques in the city, after which I gave myself up to my friends and relations, with whom Ipassed my time in feasting and merriment. 

Here Sindbad paused, and all his hearers declared that the adventures ofhis fourth voyage had pleased them better than anything they had heardbefore. They then took their leave, followed by Hindbad, who had oncemore received a hundred sequins, and with the rest had been bidden toreturn next day for the story of the fifth voyage. 

When the time came all were in their places, and when they had eaten anddrunk of all that was set before them Sindbad began his tale. 

FIFTH VOYAGE

Not even all that I had gone through could make me contented with aquiet life. I soon wearied of its pleasures, and longed for change andadventure. Therefore I set out once more, but this time in a ship of myown, which I built and fitted out at the nearest seaport. I wished to beable to call at whatever port I chose, taking my own time; but as I didnot intend carrying enough goods for a full cargo, I invited severalmerchants of different nations to join me. We set sail with the firstfavorable wind, and after a long voyage upon the open seas we landedupon an unknown island which proved to be uninhabited. We determined, however, to explore it, but had not gone far when we found a roc's egg, as large as the one I had seen before and evidently very nearly hatched, for the beak of the young bird had already pierced the shell. In spiteof all I could say to deter them, the merchants who were with me fellupon it with their hatchets, breaking the shell, and killing the youngroc. Then lighting a fire upon the ground they hacked morsels from thebird, and proceeded to roast them while I stood by aghast. 

Scarcely had they finished their ill-omened repast, when the air aboveus was darkened by two mighty shadows. The captain of my ship, knowingby experience what this meant, cried out to us that the parent birdswere coming, and urged us to get on board with all speed. This we did, and the sails were hoisted, but before we had made any way the rocsreached their despoiled nest and hovered about it, uttering frightfulcries when they discovered the mangled remains of their young one. For amoment we lost sight of them, and were flattering ourselves that we hadescaped, when they reappeared and soared into the air directly over ourvessel, and we saw that each held in its claws an immense rock ready tocrush us. There was a moment of breathless suspense, then one birdloosed its hold and the huge block of stone hurtled through the air, butthanks to the presence of mind of the helmsman, who turned our shipviolently in another direction, it fell into the sea close beside us, cleaving it asunder till we could nearly see the bottom. We had hardlytime to draw a breath of relief before the other rock fell with a mightycrash right in the midst of our luckless vessel, smashing it into athousand fragments, and crushing, or hurling into the sea, passengersand crew. I myself went down with the rest, but had the good fortune torise unhurt, and by holding on to a piece of driftwood with one hand andswimming with the other I kept myself afloat and was presently washed upby the tide on to an island. Its shores were steep and rocky, but Iscrambled up safely and threw myself down to rest upon the green turf. 

When I had somewhat recovered I began to examine the spot in which Ifound myself, and truly it seemed to me that I had reached a garden ofdelights. There were trees everywhere, and they were laden with flowersand fruit, while a crystal stream wandered in and out under theirshadow. When night came I slept sweetly in a cosey nook, though theremembrance that I was alone in a strange land made me sometimes startup and look around me in alarm, and then I wished heartily that I hadstayed at home at ease. However, the morning sunlight restored mycourage, and I once more wandered among the trees, but always with someanxiety as to what I might see next. I had penetrated some distance intothe island when I saw an old man bent and feeble sitting upon the riverbank, and at first I took him to be some shipwrecked mariner likemyself. Going up to him I greeted him in a friendly way, but he onlynodded his head at me in reply. I then asked what he did there, and hemade signs to me that he wished to get across the river to gather somefruit, and seemed to beg me to carry him on my back. Pitying his age andfeebleness, I took him up, and wading across the stream I bent down thathe might more easily reach the bank, and bade him get down. But insteadof allowing himself to be set upon his feet (even now it makes me laughto think of it!), this creature who had seemed to me so decrepit leapednimbly upon my shoulders, and hooking his legs round my neck gripped meso tightly that I was well-nigh choked, and so overcome with terror thatI fell insensible to the ground. When I recovered my enemy was still inhis place, though he had released his hold enough to allow me breathingspace, and seeing me revive he prodded me adroitly first with one footand then with the other, until I was forced to get up and stagger aboutwith him under the trees while he gathered and ate the choicest fruits. This went on all day, and even at night, when I threw myself down halfdead with weariness, the terrible old man held on tight to my neck, nordid he fail to greet the first glimmer of morning light by drumming uponme with his heels, until I perforce awoke and resumed my dreary marchwith rage and bitterness in my heart. 

It happened one day that I passed a tree under which lay several drygourds, and catching one up I amused myself with scooping out itscontents and pressing into it the juice of several bunches of grapeswhich hung from every bush. When it was full I left it propped in thefork of a tree, and a few days later, carrying the hateful old man thatway, I snatched at my gourd as I passed it and had the satisfaction of adraught of excellent wine so good and refreshing that I even forgot mydetestable burden, and began to sing and caper. 

The old monster was not slow to perceive the effect which my draught hadproduced and that I carried him more lightly than usual, so he stretchedout his skinny hand and seizing the gourd first tasted its contentscautiously, then drained them to the very last drop. The wine was strongand the gourd capacious, so he also began to sing after a fashion, andsoon I had the delight of feeling the iron grip of his goblin legsunclasp, and with one vigorous effort I threw him to the ground, fromwhich he never moved again. I was so rejoiced to have at last got rid ofthis uncanny old man that I ran leaping and bounding down to thesea-shore, where, by the greatest good luck, I met with some marinerswho had anchored off the island to enjoy the delicious fruits, and torenew their supply of water. 

They heard the story of my escape with amazement, saying, "You fell intothe hands of the Old Man of the Sea, and it is a mercy that he did notstrangle you as he has everyone else upon whose shoulders he has managedto perch himself. This island is well-known as the scene of his evildeeds, and no merchant or sailor who lands upon it cares to stray faraway from his comrades. " After we had talked for awhile they took meback with them on board their ship, where the captain received mekindly, and we soon set sail, and after several days reached a large andprosperous-looking town where all the houses were built of stone. Herewe anchored, and one of the merchants, who had been very friendly to meon the way, took me ashore with him and showed me a lodging set apartfor strange merchants. He then provided me with a large sack, andpointed out to me a party of others equipped in like manner. 

"Go with them, " said he, "and do as they do, but beware of losing sightof them, for if you strayed your life would be in danger. "

With that he supplied me with provisions, and bade me farewell, and Iset out with my new companions. I soon learnt that the object of ourexpedition was to fill our sacks with cocoa-nuts, but when at length Isaw the trees and noted their immense height and the slippery smoothnessof their slender trunks, I did not at all understand how we were to doit. The crowns of the cocoa-palms were all alive with monkeys, big andlittle, which skipped from one to the other with surprising agility, seeming to be curious about us and disturbed at our appearance, and Iwas at first surprised when my companions after collecting stones beganto throw them at the lively creatures, which seemed to me quiteharmless. But very soon I saw the reason of it and joined them heartily, for the monkeys, annoyed and wishing to pay us back in our own coin, began to tear the nuts from the trees and cast them at us with angry andspiteful gestures, so that after very little labor our sacks were filledwith the fruit which we could not otherwise have obtained. 

As soon as we had as many as we could carry we went back to the town, where my friend bought my share and advised me to continue the sameoccupation until I had earned money enough to carry me to my owncountry. This I did, and before long had amassed a considerable sum. Just then I heard that there was a trading ship ready to sail, andtaking leave of my friend I went on board, carrying with me a goodlystore of cocoanuts; and we sailed first to the islands where peppergrows, then to Comari where the best aloes-wood is found, and where mendrink no wine by an unalterable law. Here I exchanged my nuts for pepperand good aloes-wood, and went a-fishing for pearls with some of theother merchants, and my divers were so lucky that very soon I had animmense number, and those very large and perfect. With all thesetreasures I came joyfully back to Bagdad, where I disposed of them forlarge sums of money, of which I did not fail as before to give the tenthpart to the poor, and after that I rested from my labors and comfortedmyself with all the pleasures that my riches could give me. 

Having thus ended his story, Sindbad ordered that one hundred sequinsshould be given to Hindbad, and the guests then withdrew; but after thenext day's feast he began the account of his sixth voyage as follows. 

SIXTH VOYAGE

It must be a marvel to you how, after having five times met withshipwreck and unheard-of perils, I could again tempt fortune and riskfresh trouble. I am even surprised myself when I look back, butevidently it was my fate to rove, and after a year of repose I preparedto make a sixth voyage, regardless of the entreaties of my friends andrelations, who did all they could to keep me at home. Instead of goingby the Persian Gulf, I travelled a considerable way overland, andfinally embarked from a distant Indian port with a captain who meant tomake a long voyage. And truly he did so, for we fell in with stormyweather which drove us completely out of our course, so that for manydays neither captain nor pilot knew where we were, nor where we weregoing. When they did at last discover our position we had small groundfor rejoicing, for the captain, casting his turban upon the deck andtearing his beard, declared that we were in the most dangerous spot uponthe whole wide sea, and had been caught by a current which was at thatmoment sweeping us to destruction. It was too true! In spite of all thesailors could do we were driven with frightful rapidity towards the footof a mountain, which rose sheer out of the sea, and our vessel wasdashed to pieces upon the rocks at its base, not, however, until we hadmanaged to scramble on shore, carrying with us the most precious of ourpossessions. When we had done this the captain said to us:--

"Now we are here we may as well begin to dig our graves at once, sincefrom this fatal spot no shipwrecked mariner has ever returned. "

This speech discouraged us much, and we began to lament over our sadfate. 

The mountain formed the seaward boundary of a large island, and thenarrow strip of rocky shore upon which we stood was strewn with thewreckage of a thousand gallant ships, while the bones of the lucklessmariners shone white in the sunshine, and we shuddered to think how soonour own would be added to the heap. All around, too, lay vast quantitiesof the costliest merchandise, and treasures were heaped in every crannyof the rocks, but all these things only added to the desolation of thescene. It struck me as a very strange thing that a river of clear freshwater, which gushed out from the mountain not far from where we stood, instead of flowing into the sea as rivers generally do, turned offsharply, and flowed out of sight under a natural archway of rock, andwhen I went to examine it more closely I found that inside the cave thewalls were thick with diamonds, rubies, and masses of crystal, and thefloor was strewn with ambergris. Here, then, upon this desolate shore weabandoned ourselves to our fate, for there was no possibility of scalingthe mountain, and if a ship had appeared it could only have shared ourdoom. The first thing our captain did was to divide equally amongst usall the food we possessed, and then the length of each man's lifedepended on the time he could make his portion last. I myself could liveupon very little. 

Nevertheless, by the time I had buried the last of my companions mystock of provisions was so small that I hardly thought I should livelong enough to dig my own grave, which I set about doing, while Iregretted bitterly the roving disposition which was always bringing meinto such straits, and thought longingly of all the comfort and luxurythat I had left. But luckily for me the fancy took me to stand once morebeside the river where it plunged out of sight in the depths of thecavern, and as I did so an idea struck me. This river which hid itselfunderground doubtless emerged again at some distant spot. Why should Inot build a raft and trust myself to its swiftly flowing waters? If Iperished before I could reach the light of day once more I should be noworse off than I was now, for death stared me in the face, while therewas always the possibility that, as I was born under a lucky star, Imight find myself safe and sound in some desirable land. I decided atany rate to risk it, and speedily built myself a stout raft ofdrift-wood with strong cords, of which enough and to spare lay strewnupon the beach. I then made up many packages of rubies, emeralds, rockcrystal, ambergris, and precious stuffs, and bound them upon my raft, being careful to preserve the balance, and then I seated myself upon it, having two small oars that I had fashioned laid ready to my hand, andloosed the cord which held it to the bank. Once out in the current myraft flew swiftly under the gloomy archway, and I found myself in totaldarkness, carried smoothly forward by the rapid river. On I went as itseemed to me for many nights and days. Once the channel became so smallthat I had a narrow escape of being crushed against the rocky roof, andafter that I took the precaution of lying flat upon my precious bales. Though I only ate what was absolutely necessary to keep myself alive, the inevitable moment came when, after swallowing my last morsel offood, I began to wonder if I must after all die of hunger. Then, wornout with anxiety and fatigue, I fell into a deep sleep, and when I againopened my eyes I was once more in the light of day; a beautiful countrylay before me, and my raft, which was tied to the river bank, wassurrounded by friendly looking black men. I rose and saluted them, andthey spoke to me in return, but I could not understand a word of theirlanguage. Feeling perfectly bewildered by my sudden return to life andlight, I murmured to myself in Arabic, "Close thine eyes, and while thousleepest Heaven will change thy fortune from evil to good. "

One of the natives, who understood this tongue, then came forwardsaying:--

"My brother, be not surprised to see us; this is our land, and as wecame to get water from the river we noticed your raft floating down it, and one of us swam out and brought you to the shore. We have waited foryour awakening; tell us now whence you come and where you were going bythat dangerous way?"

I replied that nothing would please me better than to tell them, butthat I was starving, and would fain eat something first. I was soonsupplied with all I needed, and having satisfied my hunger I told themfaithfully all that had befallen me. They were lost in wonder at my talewhen it was interpreted to them, and said that adventures so surprisingmust be related to their King only by the man to whom they had happened. So, procuring a horse, they mounted me upon it, and we set out, followedby several strong men carrying my raft just as it was upon theirshoulders. In this order we marched into the city of Serendib, where thenatives presented me to their King, whom I saluted in the Indianfashion, prostrating myself at his feet and kissing the ground; but themonarch bade me rise and sit beside him, asking first what was my name. 

"I am Sindbad, " I replied, "whom men call 'the Sailor, ' for I havevoyaged much upon many seas. "

"And how came you here?" asked the King. 

I told my story, concealing nothing, and his surprise and delight wereso great that he ordered my adventures to be written in letters of goldand laid up in the archives of his kingdom. 

Presently my raft was brought in and the bales opened in his presence, and the king declared that in all his treasury there were no such rubiesand emeralds as those which lay in great heaps before him. Seeing thathe looked at them with interest, I ventured to say that I myself and allthat I had were at his disposal, but he answered me smiling:--

"Nay, Sindbad. Heaven forbid that I should covet your riches; I willrather add to them, for I desire that you shall not leave my kingdomwithout some tokens of my good-will. " He then commanded his officers toprovide me with a suitable lodging at his expense, and sent slaves towait upon me and carry my raft and my bales to my new dwelling-place. You may imagine that I praised his generosity and gave him gratefulthanks, nor did I fail to present myself daily in his audience-chamber, and for the rest of my time I amused myself in seeing all that was mostworthy of attention in the city. The island of Serendib being situatedon the equinoctial line, the days and nights there are of equal length. The chief city is placed at the end of a beautiful valley, formed by thehighest mountain in the world, which is in the middle of the island. Ihad the curiosity to ascend to its very summit, for this was the placeto which Adam was banished out of Paradise. Here are found rubies andmany precious things, and rare plants grow abundantly, with cedar-treesand cocoa-palms. On the sea-shore and at the mouths of the rivers thedivers seek for pearls, and in some valleys diamonds are plentiful. After many days I petitioned the King that I might return to my owncountry, to which he graciously consented. Moreover, he loaded me withrich gifts, and when I went to take leave of him he intrusted me with aroyal present and a letter to the Commander of the Faithful, oursovereign lord, saying, "I pray you give these to the CaliphHarun-al-Rashid, and assure him of my friendship. "

I accepted the charge respectfully, and soon embarked upon the vesselwhich the King himself had chosen for me. The King's letter was writtenin blue characters upon a rare and precious skin of yellowish color, andthese were the words of it: "The King of the Indies, before whom walk athousand elephants, who lives in a palace, of which the roof blazes witha hundred thousand rubies, and whose treasure-house contains twentythousand diamond crowns, to the Caliph Harun-al-Rashid sends greeting. Though the offering we present to you is unworthy of your notice, wepray you to accept it as a mark of the esteem and friendship which wecherish for you, and of which we gladly send you this token, and we askof you a like regard if you deem us worthy of it. Adieu, brother. "

The present consisted of a vase carved from a single ruby, six incheshigh and as thick as my finger; this was filled with the choicestpearls, large, and of perfect shape and lustre; secondly, a hugesnake-skin, with scales as large as a sequin, which would preserve fromsickness those who slept upon it. Then quantities of aloes-wood, camphor, and pistachio-nuts; and lastly, a beautiful slave-girl, whoserobes glittered with precious stones. 

After a long and prosperous voyage we landed at Balsora, and I madehaste to reach Bagdad, and taking the King's letter I presented myselfat the palace gate, followed by the beautiful slave, and various membersof my own family, bearing the treasure. 

As soon as I had declared my errand I was conducted into the presence ofthe Caliph, to whom, after I had made my obeisance, I gave the letterand the King's gift, and when he had examined them he demanded of mewhether the Prince of Serendib was really as rich and powerful as heclaimed to be. 

"Commander of the Faithful, " I replied, again bowing humbly before him, "I can assure your Majesty that he has in no way exaggerated his wealthand grandeur. Nothing can equal the magnificence of his palace. When hegoes abroad his throne is prepared upon the back of an elephant, and oneither side of him ride his ministers, his favorites, and courtiers. Onhis elephant's neck sits an officer, his golden lance in his hand, andbehind him stands another bearing a pillar of gold, at the top of whichis an emerald as long as my hand. A thousand men in cloth of gold, mounted upon richly caparisoned elephants, go before him, and as theprocession moves onward the officer who guides his elephant cries aloud, 'Behold the mighty monarch, the powerful and valiant Sultan of theIndies, whose palace is covered with a hundred thousand rubies, whopossesses twenty thousand diamond crowns. Behold a monarch greater thanSolomon and Mihrage in all their glory!'

"Then the one who stands behind the throne answers: 'This king, so greatand powerful, must die, must die, must die!'

"And the first takes up the chant again, 'All praise to Him who livesfor evermore. '

"Further, my lord, in Serendib no judge is needed, for to the Kinghimself his people come for justice. "

The Caliph was well satisfied with my report. 

"From the King's letter, " said he, "I judged that he was a wise man. Itseems that he is worthy of his people, and his people of him. "

So saying he dismissed me with rich presents, and I returned in peace tomy own house. 

When Sindbad had done speaking his guests withdrew, Hindbad having firstreceived a hundred sequins, but all returned next day to hear the storyof the seventh voyage. 

SEVENTH AND LAST VOYAGE

After my sixth voyage I was quite determined that I would go to sea nomore. I was now of an age to appreciate a quiet life, and I had runrisks enough. I only wished to end my days in peace. One day, however, when I was entertaining a number of my friends, I was told that anofficer of the Caliph wished to speak to me, and when he was admitted hebade me to follow him into the presence of Harun-al-Rashid, which Iaccordingly did. After I had saluted him, the Caliph said:--

"I have sent for you, Sindbad, because I need your services. I havechosen you to bear a letter and a gift to the King of Serendib in returnfor his message of friendship. "

The Caliph's commandment fell upon me like a thunderbolt. 

"Commander of the Faithful, " I answered, "I am ready to do all that yourMajesty commands, but I humbly pray you to remember that I am utterlydisheartened by the unheard-of sufferings I have undergone. Indeed, Ihave made a vow never again to leave Bagdad. "

With this I gave him a long account of some of my strangest adventures, to which he listened patiently. 

"I admit, " said he, "that you have indeed had some extraordinaryexperiences, but I do not see why they should hinder you from doing as Iwish. You have only to go straight to Serendib and give my message, thenyou are free to come back and do as you will. But go you must; my honorand dignity demand it. "

Seeing that there was no help for it, I declared myself willing to obey;and the Caliph, delighted at having got his own way, gave me a thousandsequins for the expenses of the voyage. I was soon ready to start, andtaking the letter and the present I embarked at Balsora, and sailedquickly and safely to Serendib. Here, when I had disclosed my errand, Iwas well received, and brought into the presence of the king, whogreeted me with joy. 

"Welcome, Sindbad, " he cried. "I have thought of you often, and rejoiceto see you once more. "

After thanking him for the honor that he did me, I displayed theCaliph's gifts. First a bed with complete hangings all cloth of gold, which cost a thousand sequins, and another like to it of crimson stuff. Fifty robes of rich embroidery, a hundred of the finest white linen fromCairo, Suez, Cufa, and Alexandria. Then more beds of different fashion, and an agate vase carved with the figure of a man aiming an arrow at alion, and finally a costly table, which had once belonged to KingSolomon. The King of Serendib received with satisfaction the assuranceof the Caliph's friendliness towards him, and now my task beingaccomplished I was anxious to depart, but it was some time before theking would think of letting me go. At last, however, he dismissed mewith many presents, and I lost no time in going on board a ship, whichsailed at once, and for four days all went well. On the fifth day we hadthe misfortune to fall in with pirates, who seized our vessel, killingall who resisted, and making prisoners of those who were prudent enoughto submit at once, of whom I was one. When they had despoiled us of allwe possessed, they forced us to put on vile raiment, and sailing to adistant island there sold us for slaves. I fell into the hands of a richmerchant, who took me home with him, and clothed and fed me well, andafter some days sent for me and questioned me as to what I could do. 

I answered that I was a rich merchant who had been captured by pirates, and therefore I knew no trade. 

"Tell me, " said he, "can you shoot with a bow?"

I replied that this had been one of the pastimes of my youth, and thatdoubtless with practice my skill would come back to me. 

Upon this he provided me with a bow and arrows, and mounting me with himupon his own elephant took the way to a vast forest which lay far fromthe town. When we had reached the wildest part of it we stopped, and mymaster said to me: "This forest swarms with elephants. Hide yourself inthis great tree, and shoot at all that pass you. When you have succeededin killing one come and tell me. "

So saying he gave me a supply of food, and returned to the town, and Iperched myself high up in the tree and kept watch. That night I sawnothing, but just after sunrise the next morning a large herd ofelephants came crashing and trampling by. I lost no time in letting flyseveral arrows, and at last one of the great animals fell to the grounddead, and the others retreated, leaving me free to come down from myhiding-place and run back to tell my master of my success, for which Iwas praised and regaled with good things. Then we went back to theforest together and dug a mighty trench in which we buried the elephantI had killed, in order that when it became a skeleton my master mightreturn and secure its tusks. 

For two months I hunted thus, and no day passed without my securing anelephant. Of course I did not always station myself in the same tree, but sometimes in one place, sometimes in another. One morning as Iwatched the coming of the elephants I was surprised to see that, insteadof passing the tree I was in, as they usually did, they paused, andcompletely surrounded it, trumpeting horribly, and shaking the veryground with their heavy tread, and when I saw that their eyes were fixedupon me I was terrified, and my arrows dropped from my trembling hand. Ihad indeed good reason for my terror when, an instant later, the largestof the animals wound his trunk round the stem of my tree, and with onemighty effort tore it up by the roots, bringing me to the groundentangled in its branches. I thought now that my last hour was surelycome, but the huge creature, picking me up gently enough, set me uponits back, where I clung more dead than alive, and followed by the wholeherd turned and crashed off into the dense forest. It seemed to me along time before I was once more set upon my feet by the elephant, and Istood as if in a dream watching the herd, which turned and trampled offin another direction, and were soon hidden in the dense underwood. Then, recovering myself, I looked about me, and found that I was standing uponthe side of a great hill, strewn as far as I could see on either handwith bones and tusks of elephants. "This then must be the elephants'burying-place, " I said to myself, "and they must have brought me herethat I might cease to persecute them, seeing that I want nothing buttheir tusks, and here lie more than I could carry away in a lifetime. "

Whereupon I turned and made for the city as fast as I could go, notseeing a single elephant by the way, which convinced me that they hadretired deeper into the forest to leave the way open to the Ivory Hill, and I did not know how sufficiently to admire their sagacity. After aday and a night I reached my master's house, and was received by himwith joyful surprise. 

"Ah! poor Sindbad, " he cried, "I was wondering what could have become ofyou. When I went to the forest I found the tree newly uprooted, and thearrows lying beside it, and I feared I should never see you again. Praytell me how you escaped death. "

I soon satisfied his curiosity, and the next day we went together to theIvory Hill, and he was overjoyed to find that I had told him nothing butthe truth. When we had loaded our elephant with as many tusks as itcould carry and were on our way back to the city, he said:--

"My brother--since I can no longer treat as a slave one who has enrichedme thus--take your liberty, and may Heaven prosper you. I will no longerconceal from you that these wild elephants have killed numbers of ourslaves every year. No matter what good advice we gave them, they werecaught sooner or later. You alone have escaped the wiles of theseanimals, therefore you must be under the special protection of Heaven. Now through you the whole town will be enriched without further loss oflife, therefore you shall not only receive your liberty, but I will alsobestow a fortune upon you. "

To which I replied, "Master, I thank you, and wish you all prosperity. For myself I only ask liberty to return to my own country. "

"It is well, " he answered, "the monsoon will soon bring the ivory shipshither, then I will send you on your way with somewhat to pay yourpassage. "

So I stayed with him till the time of the monsoon, and every day weadded to our store of ivory till all his warehouses were overflowingwith it. By this time the other merchants knew the secret, but there wasenough and to spare for all. When the ships at last arrived my masterhimself chose the one in which I was to sail, and put on board for me agreat store of choice provisions, also ivory in abundance, and all thecostliest curiosities of the country, for which I could not thank himenough, and so we parted. I left the ship at the first port we came to, not feeling at ease upon the sea after all that had happened to me byreason of it, and having disposed of my ivory for much gold, and boughtmany rare and costly presents, I loaded my pack animals, and joined acaravan of merchants. Our journey was long and tedious, but I bore itpatiently, reflecting that at least I had not to fear tempests, norpirates, nor serpents, nor any of the other perils from which I hadsuffered before, and at length we reached Bagdad. My first care was topresent myself before the Caliph, and give him an account of my embassy. He assured me that my long absence had disquieted him much, but he hadnevertheless hoped for the best. As to my adventure among the elephantshe heard it with amazement, declaring that he could not have believed ithad not my truthfulness been well-known to him. 

By his orders this story and the others I had told him were written byhis scribes in letters of gold, and laid up among his treasures. I tookmy leave of him, well satisfied with the honors and rewards he bestowedupon me; and since that time I have rested from my labors, and givenmyself up wholly to my family and my friends. 

Thus Sindbad ended the story of his seventh and last voyage, and turningto Hindbad he added:--

"Well, my friend, and what do you think now? Have you ever heard ofanyone who has suffered more, or had more narrow escapes than I have? Isit not just that I should now enjoy a life of ease and tranquillity?"

Hindbad drew near, and kissing his hand respectfully, replied, "Sir, youhave indeed known fearful perils; my troubles have been nothing comparedto yours. Moreover, the generous use you make of your wealth proves thatyou deserve it. May you live long and happily in the enjoyment of it. "

Sindbad then gave him a hundred sequins, and henceforward counted himamong his friends; also he caused him to give up his profession as aporter, and to eat daily at his table that he might all his liferemember Sindbad the Sailor. 

ALADDIN'S WONDERFUL LAMP

There once lived a poor tailor, who had a son called Aladdin, acareless, idle boy, who would do nothing but play all day long in thestreets with little idle boys like himself. This so grieved the fatherthat he died; yet, in spite of his mother's tears and prayers, Aladdindid not mend his ways. One day, when he was playing in the streets asusual, a stranger asked him his age, and if he were not the son ofMustapha the tailor. 

"I am, sir, " replied Aladdin; "but he died a long while ago. "

On this the stranger, who was a famous African magician, fell on hisneck and kissed him, saying: "I am your uncle, and knew you from yourlikeness to my brother. Go to your mother and tell her I am coming. "

Aladdin ran home, and told his mother of his newly-found uncle. 

"Indeed, child, " she said, "your father had a brother, but I alwaysthought he was dead. "

However, she prepared supper, and bade Aladdin seek his uncle, who cameladen with wine and fruit. He presently fell down and kissed the placewhere Mustapha used to sit, bidding Aladdin's mother not to be surprisedat not having seen him before, as he had been forty years out of thecountry. He then turned to Aladdin and asked him his trade, at which theboy hung his head, while his mother burst into tears. On learning thatAladdin was idle and would learn no trade, he offered to take a shop forhim and stock it with merchandise. Next day he bought Aladdin a finesuit of clothes, and took him all over the city, showing him the sights, and brought him home at nightfall to his mother, who was overjoyed tosee her son so fine. 

Next day the magician led Aladdin into some beautiful gardens a long wayoutside the city gates. They sat down by a fountain, and the magicianpulled a cake from his girdle, which he divided between them. They thenjourneyed onwards till they almost reached the mountains. Aladdin was sotired that he begged to go back, but the magician beguiled him withpleasant stories, and led him on in spite of himself. 

At last they came to two mountains divided by a narrow valley. 

"We will go no farther, " said the false uncle. "I will show yousomething wonderful; only do you gather up sticks while I kindle afire. "

When it was lit the magician threw on it a powder he had about him, atthe same time saying some magical words. The earth trembled a little andopened in front of them, disclosing a square flat stone with a brassring in the middle to raise it by. Aladdin tried to run away, but themagician caught him and gave him a blow that knocked him down. 

"What have I done, uncle?" he said piteously; whereupon the magiciansaid more kindly: "Fear nothing, but obey me. Beneath this stone lies atreasure which is to be yours, and no one else may touch it, so you mustdo exactly as I tell you. "

At the word treasure, Aladdin forgot his fears, and grasped the ring ashe was told, saying the names of his father and grandfather. The stonecame up quite easily and some steps appeared. 

"Go down, " said the magician; "at the foot of those steps you will findan open door leading into three large halls. Tuck up your gown and gothrough them without touching anything, or you will die instantly. Thesehalls lead into a garden of fine fruit-trees. Walk on till you come to aniche in a terrace where stands a lighted lamp. Pour out the oil itcontains and bring it to me. "

He drew a ring from his finger and gave it to Aladdin, bidding himprosper. 

Aladdin found everything as the magician had said, gathered some fruitoff the trees, and, having got the lamp, arrived at the mouth of thecave. The magician cried out in a great hurry:--

"Make haste and give me the lamp. " This Aladdin refused to do until hewas out of the cave. The magician flew into a terrible passion, andthrowing some more powder on the fire, he said something, and the stonerolled back into its place. 

The magician left Persia forever, which plainly showed that he was nouncle of Aladdin's, but a cunning magician who had read in his magicbooks of a wonderful lamp, which would make him the most powerful man inthe world. Though he alone knew where to find it, he could only receiveit from the hand of another. He had picked out the foolish Aladdin forthis purpose, intending to get the lamp and kill him afterwards. 

For two days Aladdin remained in the dark, crying and lamenting. At lasthe clasped his hands in prayer, and in so doing rubbed the ring, whichthe magician had forgotten to take from him. Immediately an enormous andfrightful genie rose out of the earth, saying:--

"What wouldst thou with me? I am the Slave of the Ring, and will obeythee in all things. "

Aladdin fearlessly replied: "Deliver me from this place!" whereupon theearth opened, and he found himself outside. As soon as his eyes couldbear the light he went home, but fainted on the threshold. When he cameto himself he told his mother what had passed, and showed her the lampand the fruits he had gathered in the garden, which were in realityprecious stones. He then asked for some food. 

"Alas! child, " she said, "I have nothing in the house, but I have spun alittle cotton and will go and sell it. "

Aladdin bade her keep her cotton, for he would sell the lamp instead. Asit was very dirty she began to rub it, that it might fetch a higherprice. Instantly a hideous genie appeared, and asked what she wouldhave. She fainted away, but Aladdin, snatching the lamp, said boldly:--

"Fetch me something to eat!"

The genie returned with a silver bowl, twelve silver plates containingrich meats, two silver cups, and two bottles of wine. Aladdin's mother, when she came to herself, said:--

"Whence comes this splendid feast?"

"Ask not, but eat, " replied Aladdin. 

So they sat at breakfast till it was dinner-time, and Aladdin told hismother about the lamp. She begged him to sell it, and have nothing to dowith devils. 

"No, " said Aladdin, "since chance has made us aware of its virtues, wewill use it and the ring likewise, which I shall always wear on myfinger. " When they had eaten all the genie had brought, Aladdin sold oneof the silver plates, and so on till none was left. He then had recourseto the genie, who gave him another set of plates, and thus they livedfor many years. 

One day Aladdin heard an order from the Sultan proclaimed that everyonewas to stay at home and close his shutters while the princess, hisdaughter, went to and from the bath. Aladdin was seized by a desire tosee her face, which was very difficult, as she always went veiled. Hehid himself behind the door of the bath, and peeped through a chink. Theprincess lifted her veil as she went in, and looked so beautiful thatAladdin fell in love with her at first sight. He went home so changedthat his mother was frightened. He told her he loved the princess sodeeply that he could not live without her, and meant to ask her inmarriage of her father. His mother, on hearing this, burst out laughing, but Aladdin at last prevailed upon her to go before the Sultan and carryhis request. She fetched a napkin and laid in it the magic fruits fromthe enchanted garden, which sparkled and shone like the most beautifuljewels. She took these with her to please the Sultan, and set out, trusting in the lamp. The grand-vizir and the lords of council had justgone in as she entered the hall and placed herself in front of theSultan. He, however, took no notice of her. She went every day for aweek, and stood in the same place. 

When the council broke up on the sixth day the Sultan said to his vizir:"I see a certain woman in the audience-chamber every day carryingsomething in a napkin. Call her next time, that I may find out what shewants. "

Next day, at a sign from the vizir, she went up to the foot of thethrone, and remained kneeling till the Sultan said to her: "Rise, goodwoman, and tell me what you want. "

She hesitated, so the Sultan sent away all but the vizir, and bade herspeak freely, promising to forgive her beforehand for anything she mightsay. She then told him of her son's violent love for the princess. 

"I prayed him to forget her, " she said, "but in vain; he threatened todo some desperate deed if I refused to go and ask your Majesty for thehand of the princess. Now I pray you to forgive not me alone, but my sonAladdin. "

The Sultan asked her kindly what she had in the napkin, whereupon sheunfolded the jewels and presented them. 

He was thunderstruck, and turning to the vizir said: "What sayest thou?Ought I not to bestow the princess on one who values her at such aprice?"

The vizir, who wanted her for his own son, begged the Sultan to withholdher for three months, in the course of which he hoped his son wouldcontrive to make him a richer present. The Sultan granted this, and toldAladdin's mother that, though he consented to the marriage, she must notappear before him again for three months. 

Aladdin waited patiently for nearly three months, but after two hadelapsed his mother, going into the city to buy oil, found everyonerejoicing, and asked what was going on. 

"Do you not know, " was the answer, "that the son of the grand-vizir isto marry the Sultan's daughter to-night?"

Breathless, she ran and told Aladdin, who was overwhelmed at first, butpresently bethought him of the lamp. He rubbed it, and the genieappeared, saying: "What is thy will?"

Aladdin replied: "The Sultan, as thou knowest, has broken his promise tome, and the vizir's son is to have the princess. My command is thatto-night you bring hither the bride and bridegroom. "

"Master, I obey, " said the genie. 

Aladdin then went to his chamber, where, sure enough at midnight thegenie transported the bed containing the vizir's son and the princess. 

"Take this new-married man, " he said, "and put him outside in the cold, and return at daybreak. "

Whereupon the genie took the vizir's son out of bed, leaving Aladdinwith the princess. 

"Fear nothing, " Aladdin said to her; "you are my wife, promised to me byyour unjust father, and no harm shall come to you. "

The princess was too frightened to speak, and passed the most miserablenight of her life, while Aladdin lay down beside her and slept soundly. At the appointed hour the genie fetched in the shivering bridegroom, laid him in his place, and transported the bed back to the palace. 

Presently the Sultan came to wish his daughter good-morning. The unhappyvizir's son jumped up and hid himself, while the princess would not saya word, and was very sorrowful. 

The Sultan sent her mother to her, who said: "How comes it, child, thatyou will not speak to your father? What has happened?"

The princess sighed deeply, and at last told her mother how, during thenight, the bed had been carried into some strange house, and what hadpassed there. Her mother did not believe her in the least, but bade herrise and consider it an idle dream. 

The following night exactly the same thing happened, and next morning, on the princess's refusing to speak, the Sultan threatened to cut offher head. She then confessed all, bidding him ask the vizir's son if itwere not so. The Sultan told the vizir to ask his son, who owned thetruth, adding that, dearly as he loved the princess, he had rather diethan go through another such fearful night, and wished to be separatedfrom her. His wish was granted, and there was an end of feasting andrejoicing. 

When the three months were over, Aladdin sent his mother to remind theSultan of his promise. She stood in the same place as before, and theSultan, who had forgotten Aladdin, at once remembered him, and sent forher. On seeing her poverty the Sultan felt less inclined than ever tokeep his word, and asked the vizir's advice, who counselled him to setso high a value on the princess that no man living could come up to it. 

The Sultan then turned to Aladdin's mother, saying: "Good woman, aSultan must remember his promises, and I will remember mine, but yourson must first send me forty basins of gold brimful of jewels, carriedby forty black slaves, led by as many white ones, splendidly dressed. Tell him that I await his answer. " The mother of Aladdin bowed low andwent home, thinking all was lost. 

She gave Aladdin the message, adding: "He may wait long enough for youranswer!"

"Not so long, mother, as you think, " her son replied. "I would do agreat deal more than that for the princess. " He summoned the genie, andin a few moments the eighty slaves arrived, and filled up the smallhouse and garden. 

Aladdin made them set out to the palace, two and two, followed by hismother. They were so richly dressed, with such splendid jewels in theirgirdles, that everyone crowded to see them and the basins of gold theycarried on their heads. 

They entered the palace, and, after kneeling before the Sultan, stood ina half-circle round the throne with their arms crossed, while Aladdin'smother presented them to the Sultan. 

He hesitated no longer, but said: "Good woman, return and tell your sonthat I wait for him with open arms. "

She lost no time in telling Aladdin, bidding him make haste. But Aladdinfirst called the genie. 

"I want a scented bath, " he said, "a richly embroidered habit, a horsesurpassing the Sultan's, and twenty slaves to attend me. Besides this, six slaves, beautifully dressed, to wait on my mother; and lastly, tenthousand pieces of gold in ten purses. "

No sooner said than done. Aladdin mounted his horse and passed throughthe streets, the slaves strewing gold as they went. Those who had playedwith him in his childhood knew him not, he had grown so handsome. 

When the Sultan saw him he came down from his throne, embraced him, andled him into a hall where a feast was spread, intending to marry him tothe princess that very day. 

But Aladdin refused, saying, "I must build a palace fit for her, " andtook his leave. 

Once home he said to the genie: "Build me a palace of the finest marble, set with jasper, agate, and other precious stones. In the middle youshall build me a large hall with a dome, its four walls of massy goldand silver, each side having six windows, whose lattices, all exceptone, which is to be left unfinished, must be set with diamonds andrubies. There must be stables and horses and grooms and slaves; go andsee about it!"

The palace was finished by next day, and the genie carried him there andshowed him all his orders faithfully carried out, even to the laying ofa velvet carpet from Aladdin's palace to the Sultan's. Aladdin's motherthen dressed herself carefully, and walked to the palace with herslaves, while he followed her on horseback. The Sultan sent musicianswith trumpets and cymbals to meet them, so that the air resounded withmusic and cheers. She was taken to the princess, who saluted her andtreated her with great honor. At night the princess said good-by to herfather, and set out on the carpet for Aladdin's palace, with his motherat her side, and followed by the hundred slaves. She was charmed at thesight of Aladdin, who ran to receive her. 

"Princess, " he said, "blame your beauty for my boldness if I havedispleased you. "

She told him that, having seen him, she willingly obeyed her father inthis matter. After the wedding had taken place Aladdin led her into thehall, where a feast was spread, and she supped with him, after whichthey danced till midnight. 

Next day Aladdin invited the Sultan to see the palace. On entering thehall with the four-and-twenty windows, with their rubies, diamonds, andemeralds, he cried:--

"It is a world's wonder! There is only one thing that surprises me. Wasit by accident that one window was left unfinished?"

"No, sir, by design, " returned Aladdin. "I wished your Majesty to havethe glory of finishing this palace. "

The Sultan was pleased, and sent for the best jewellers in the city. Heshowed them the unfinished window, and bade them fit it up like theothers. 

"Sir, " replied their spokesman, "we cannot find jewels enough. "

The Sultan had his own fetched, which they soon used, but to no purpose, for in a month's time the work was not half done. Aladdin, knowing thattheir task was vain, bade them undo their work and carry the jewelsback, and the genie finished the window at his command. The Sultan wassurprised to receive his jewels again and visited Aladdin, who showedhim the window finished. The Sultan embraced him, the envious vizirmeanwhile hinting that it was the work of enchantment. 

Aladdin had won the hearts of the people by his gentle bearing. He wasmade captain of the Sultan's armies, and won several battles for him, but remained modest and courteous as before, and lived thus in peace andcontent for several years. 

But far away in Africa the magician remembered Aladdin, and by his magicarts discovered that Aladdin, instead of perishing miserably in thecave, had escaped, and had married a princess, with whom he was livingin great honor and wealth. He knew that the poor tailor's son could onlyhave accomplished this by means of the lamp, and travelled night and daytill he reached the capital of China, bent on Aladdin's ruin. As hepassed through the town he heard people talking everywhere about amarvellous palace. 

"Forgive my ignorance, " he asked, "what is this palace you speak of?"

"Have you not heard of Prince Aladdin's palace, " was the reply, "thegreatest wonder of the world? I will direct you if you have a mind tosee it. "

The magician thanked him who spoke, and having seen the palace knew thatit had been raised by the genie of the lamp, and became half mad withrage. He determined to get hold of the lamp, and again plunge Aladdininto the deepest poverty. 

Unluckily, Aladdin had gone a-hunting for eight days, which gave themagician plenty of time. He bought a dozen copper lamps, put them into abasket, and went to the palace, crying: "New lamps for old!" followed bya jeering crowd. 

The princess, sitting in the hall of four-and-twenty windows, sent aslave to find out what the noise was about, who came back laughing, sothat the princess scolded her. 

"Madam, " replied the slave, "who can help laughing to see an old fooloffering to exchange fine new lamps for old ones?"

Another slave, hearing this, said: "There is an old one on the cornicethere which he can have. "

Now this was the magic lamp, which Aladdin had left there, as he couldnot take it out hunting with him. The princess, not knowing its value, laughingly bade the slave take it and make the exchange. 

She went and said to the magician: "Give me a new lamp for this. "

He snatched it and bade the slave take her choice, amid the jeers of thecrowd. Little he cared, but left off crying his lamps, and went out ofthe city gates to a lonely place, where he remained till nightfall, whenhe pulled out the lamp and rubbed it. The genie appeared, and at themagician's command carried him, together with the palace and theprincess in it, to a lonely place in Africa. 

Next morning the Sultan looked out of the window towards Aladdin'spalace and rubbed his eyes, for it was gone. He sent for the vizir, andasked what had become of the palace. The vizir looked out too, and waslost in astonishment. He again put it down to enchantment, and this timethe Sultan believed him, and sent thirty men on horseback to fetchAladdin in chains. They met him riding home, bound him, and forced himto go with them on foot. The people, however, who loved him, followed, armed, to see that he came to no harm. He was carried before the Sultan, who ordered the executioner to cut off his head. The executioner madeAladdin kneel down, bandaged his eyes, and raised his scimitar tostrike. At that instant the vizir, who saw that the crowd had forcedtheir way into the courtyard and were scaling the walls to rescueAladdin, called to the executioner to stay his hand. The people, indeed, looked so threatening that the Sultan gave way and ordered Aladdin to beunbound, and pardoned him in the sight of the crowd. 

Aladdin now begged to know what he had done. 

"False wretch!" said the Sultan, "come hither, " and showed him from thewindow the place where his palace had stood. 

Aladdin was so amazed that he could not say a word. 

"Where is my palace and my daughter?" demanded the Sultan. "For thefirst I am not so deeply concerned, but my daughter I must have, and youmust find her or lose your head. "

Aladdin begged for forty days in which to find her, promising if hefailed, to return and suffer death at the Sultan's pleasure. His prayerwas granted, and he went forth sadly from the Sultan's presence. Forthree days he wandered about like a madman, asking everyone what hadbecome of his palace, but they only laughed and pitied him. He came tothe banks of a river, and knelt down to say his prayers before throwinghimself in. In so doing he rubbed the magic ring he still wore. 

The genie he had seen in the cave appeared, and asked his will. 

"Save my life, genie, " said Aladdin, "and bring my palace back. "

"That is not in my power, " said the genie; "I am only the Slave of theRing; you must ask the Slave of the Lamp. "

"Even so, " said Aladdin, "but thou canst take me to the palace, and setme down under my dear wife's window. " He at once found himself inAfrica, under the window of the princess, and fell asleep out of sheerweariness. 

He was awakened by the singing of the birds, and his heart was lighter. He saw plainly that all his misfortunes were owing to the loss of thelamp, and vainly wondered who had robbed him of it. 

That morning the princess rose earlier than she had done since she hadbeen carried into Africa by the magician, whose company she was forcedto endure once a day. She, however, treated him so harshly that he darednot live there altogether. As she was dressing, one of her women lookedout and saw Aladdin. The princess ran and opened the window, and at thenoise she made Aladdin looked up. She called to him to come to her, andgreat was the joy of these lovers at seeing each other again. 

After he had kissed her Aladdin said: "I beg of you, Princess, in God'sname, before we speak of anything else, for your own sake and mine, tellme what has become of an old lamp I left on the cornice in the hall offour-and-twenty windows, when I went a-hunting. "

"Alas!" she said, "I am the innocent cause of our sorrows, " and told himof the exchange of the lamp. 

"Now I know, " cried Aladdin, "that we have to thank the African magicianfor this! Where is the lamp?"

"He carries it about with him, " said the princess, "I know, for hepulled it out of his breast to show me. He wishes me to break my faithwith you and marry him, saying that you were beheaded by my father'scommand. He is forever speaking ill of you, but I only reply by mytears. If I persist, I doubt not that he will use violence. "

Aladdin comforted her, and left her for awhile. He changed clothes withthe first person he met in the town, and having bought a certain powderreturned to the princess, who let him in by a little side door. 

"Put on your most beautiful dress, " he said to her, "and receive themagician with smiles, leading him to believe that you have forgotten me. Invite him to sup with you, and say you wish to taste the wine of hiscountry. He will go for some, and while he is gone I will tell you whatto do. "

She listened carefully to Aladdin, and when he left her arrayed herselfgayly for the first time since she left China. She put on a girdle andhead-dress of diamonds, and seeing in a glass that she looked morebeautiful than ever, received the magician, saying to his greatamazement: "I have made up my mind that Aladdin is dead, and that all mytears will not bring him back to me, so I am resolved to mourn no more, and have therefore invited you to sup with me; but I am tired of thewines of China, and would fain taste those of Africa. "

The magician flew to his cellar, and the princess put the powder Aladdinhad given her in her cup. When he returned she asked him to drink herhealth in the wine of Africa, handing him her cup in exchange for his asa sign she was reconciled to him. 

Before drinking the magician made her a speech in praise of her beauty, but the princess cut him short, saying:--

"Let me drink first, and you shall say what you will afterwards. " Sheset her cup to her lips and kept it there, while the magician drainedhis to the dregs and fell back lifeless. 

The princess then opened the door to Aladdin, and flung her arms roundhis neck, but Aladdin put her away, bidding her to leave him, as he hadmore to do. He then went to the dead magician, took the lamp out of hisvest, and bade the genie carry the palace and all in it back to China. This was done, and the princess in her chamber only felt two littleshocks, and little thought she was at home again. 

The Sultan, who was sitting in his closet, mourning for his lostdaughter, happened to look up, and rubbed his eyes, for there stood thepalace as before! He hastened thither, and Aladdin received him in thehall of the four-and-twenty windows, with the princess at his side. Aladdin told him what had happened, and showed him the dead body of themagician, that he might believe. A ten days' feast was proclaimed, andit seemed as if Aladdin might now live the rest of his life in peace;but it was not to be. 

The African magician had a younger brother, who was, if possible, morewicked and more cunning than himself. He travelled to China to avengehis brother's death, and went to visit a pious woman called Fatima, thinking she might be of use to him. He entered her cell and clapped adagger to her breast, telling her to rise and do his bidding on pain ofdeath. He changed clothes with her, colored his face like hers, put onher veil and murdered her, so that she might tell no tales. Then he wenttowards the palace of Aladdin, and all the people thinking he was theholy woman, gathered round him, kissing his hands and begging hisblessing. When he got to the palace there was such a noise going onround him that the princess bade her slave look out of the window andask what was the matter. The slave said it was the holy woman, curingpeople by her touch of their ailments, whereupon the princess, who hadlong desired to see Fatima, sent for her. On coming to the princess themagician offered up a prayer for her health and prosperity. When he haddone the princess made him sit by her, and begged him to stay with heralways. The false Fatima, who wished for nothing better, consented, butkept his veil down for fear of discovery. The princess showed him thehall, and asked him what he thought of it. 

"It is truly beautiful, " said the false Fatima. "In my mind it wants butone thing. "

"And what is that?" said the princess. 

"If only a roc's egg, " replied he, "were hung up from the middle of thisdome, it would be the wonder of the world. "

After this the princess could think of nothing but a roc's egg, and whenAladdin returned from hunting he found her in a very ill humor. Hebegged to know what was amiss, and she told him that all her pleasure inthe hall was spoilt for the want of a roc's egg hanging from the dome. 

"If that is all, " replied Aladdin, "you shall soon be happy. "

He left her and rubbed the lamp, and when the genie appeared commandedhim to bring a roc's egg. The genie gave such a loud and terrible shriekthat the hall shook. 

"Wretch!" he said, "is it not enough that I have done everything foryou, but you must command me to bring my master and hang him up in themidst of this dome? You and your wife and your palace deserve to beburnt to ashes; but this request does not come from you, but from thebrother of the African magician whom you destroyed. He is now in yourpalace disguised as the holy woman--whom he murdered. He it was who putthat wish into your wife's head. Take care of yourself, for he means tokill you. " So saying the genie disappeared. 

Aladdin went back to the princess, saying his head ached, and requestingthat the holy Fatima should be fetched to lay her hands on it. But whenthe magician came near, Aladdin, seizing his dagger, pierced him to theheart. 

"What have you done?" cried the princess. "You have killed the holywoman!"

"Not so, " replied Aladdin, "but a wicked magician, " and told her of howshe had been deceived. 

After this Aladdin and his wife lived in peace. He succeeded the Sultanwhen he died, and reigned for many years, leaving behind him a long lineof kings.