Classic Audiobook Collection - The Literature of Arabia by Epiphanius Wilson ~ Full Audiobook [folklore]

Episode Date: March 20, 2024

The Literature of Arabia by Epiphanius Wilson audiobook. Genre: folklore The Literature of Arabia, edited and introduced by Epiphanius Wilson, is a gateway into classical Arabic storytelling, poetry, and legend, presented for English readers with guiding notes, context, and biographical sketches. Anchoring the volume is the Romance of Antar, the famed pre-Islamic epic of Antar, a warrior-poet born to an enslaved mother who must win honor among his tribe and fight for a place beside the woman he loves, Ibla, while rival clans and shifting alliances test his courage and reputation. From there, the book broadens into a curated set of Arabian poems, ranging from elegy and satire to reflections on fate, generosity, love, and the hard ethics of desert life, revealing how wit and music of language could be as potent as the sword. The collection then turns to selected tales from the Arabian Nights, where merchants, rulers, wanderers, and tricksters move through worlds of peril, wonder, and sharp moral consequence. Together, these selections form a lively portrait of a literary tradition shaped by oral performance, tribal memory, and the enduring power of narrative. For ad-free listening try our premium subscription Chapters (Approximate) (00:00:00) Chapter 01 (00:06:58) Chapter 02 (00:23:45) Chapter 03 (00:49:09) Chapter 04 (01:39:48) Chapter 05 (02:01:24) Chapter 06 (02:22:49) Chapter 07 (02:40:22) Chapter 08 (03:00:26) Chapter 09 (03:25:29) Chapter 10 (03:53:23) Chapter 11 (04:26:17) Chapter 12 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Literature of Arabia by Epiphanius Wilson. The Romance of Antar. Introduction The romantic figure of Antar, or Antara, takes the same place in Arabian literature as that of Achilles among the Greeks. The sit in Spain, Orlando in Italy, and Arthur in England are similar examples of national ideals put forth by poets and romance writers as embodiments of a certain half-mythic age of chivalry, when personal valour, prudence, generosity and high feeling gave the warrior an admitted pre-eminence among his fellows. The literature of Arabia is indeed rich in novels and tales. The thousand and one knights is of worldwide reputation, but the

romance of Antar is much less artificial, more expressive of high moral principles, and certainly superior in literary style to the fantastic recitals of the coffee-house and book. bazaar in which Sinbad and Morgiana figure. A true picture of Bedouin society in the centuries before Muhammad had conquered the Arabian Peninsula is given us in the charming episodes of Antar. We see the encampments of the tribe, the camels yielding milk and flesh for food, the women's friends and the counsellors of their husbands, the boys enneered to arms from early days, the careful breeding of horses, the songs of poet and minstrel stirring, all hearts, the male clad lines of warriors with lance and sword, the supreme.

power of the king, often dealing out justice with stern, sudden and inflexible ferocity. Among these surroundings, Antar appears, a dazzling and irresistible warrior and a poet of wonderful power. The Arab classics, in years long before Muhammad had taken the carba and made it the talisman of his creed, were hung in the little shrine where the black volcanic stone was kept. They were known as Malaket, or suspended books, which had the same meaning among Arabian literati as the term classic bore among the Italian scholars of the Renaissance. Numbered with these books of the Carber were the poems of Antar, who was thus the Tilesan of Arabian chivalry.

It is indeed necessary to recollect that in reading the episodes of Antar, we have been taken back to the heroic age in the Arabian Peninsula. War is considered the noblest occupation of a man, and Khalid despises the love of a noble maiden from pride in his passion for war. Antar has his famous horse, as the Sid has his Baviecka, and his irresistible sword as Arthur, his Excalibur. The wealth of chiefs and kings consists in horses and camels. There is no mention of money or jewelry. When a wager is made, the stakes are a hundred camels. The commercial spirit of the Arabian knights is wanting in this spirited romance of chivalry. The Arabs had sunk to a race of mere

traders when Aladdin became possessed of his lamp, and the trickery, greed, and avarice of peddlers and merchants are exhibited in incident after incident of the thousand and one nights. War is despised or feared, courage, less to be relied upon than astute knavery, and one of the facts that strikes us is the general frivolity, dishonesty and cruelty which prevails to the tales of Baghdad. The opposite is the case with Antar. Natural passion has full play, but nobility of character is taken seriously, and generosity and sensibility of heart are portrayed with truthfulness and naivete.

Of course, the whole romance is a collection of many romantic stories. It has no epic unity. It will remind the reader of the Mort D'Arthur of Sir Thomas Mallory, rather than of the Iliad. We have chosen the most striking of these episodes, as best calculated to serve as genuine specimens of Arabian literature. They will transport the modern reader into a new world, which is yet the old long-vanished world of pastoral simplicity and warlike enthusiasm in primitive of Arabia. But the novelty lies in the plot of the tales. Jeda and Khalid, Antar and Ibla, and the race between Shadub and the great races Dahrir and Ghabra bring before her eyes with singular freshness, the character of a civilisation, a domestic life, a political system which

were not wanting in refinement, purity and justice. The conception of such a dramatic personage as Antar would be original in the highest degree, if it were not based upon historic fact. Antar is a more real personage than Arthur and quite as real and historic as the Sid yet his adventures remind us very much of those which run through the story of the round table The Arabs in the days of romance were a collection of tribes and families

whose tents and villages were spread along the Red Sea between Egypt and the Indian Ocean There were some tribes more powerful than others and the result of their tyranny was often bitter war There was no central monarchy No priesthood and no written law the only stable and independent unit was family. Domestic life, with its purest virtues,

constituted the strong point amongst the Arabian tribes, where gentleness, free obedience, and forbearance were conspicuous. Each tribe bore the name of its first ancestor, and from him and his successors came down a traditionary, unwritten law, the violation of which was considered the most heinous of offences. There was no settled religion before the conquest of Muhammad. each tribe and each family worshipped whom they would, celestial spirits, sun and moon, or certain idols. In the account given in Antar of the Council of War, the ancients or old men of the tribe

came forth with idols or amulets round their neck, and the whole account of the council in which the bard, as well as the orator, addressed the people, is strictly accurate in historic detail. The custom of infanticide in the case of female children was perfectly authorised among the Arabs and illustrates the motive of the pretty episode of Khalid and Jada. War was individual and personal among the Arabs, and murder was atoned for by murder or by the price of a certain number of camels. Racing of horses, peaceful contest in arms or poetic 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 munific. All these historic facts are fully reflected in the highly emotional tale of Antar, which is the greatest of all national romances of Arabia. It would scarcely be possible to fix upon any individual writer as its author, for it has been edited over and over again by Arabian scribes, each adding his own glosses and enriching it with incidents. Its original date may have been the sixth century of our era,

about 500 years before the production of 1,001 nights. Epiphanius Wilson End of Chapter 1 Chapter 2 of the Literature of Arabia by Epiphanius Wilson This Libre of Ours recording is in the public domain The Early Fortunes of Antar At the time the romance of Antar opens

The most powerful and the best governed of the Bedouin tribes were those of the Absians and the Adnamians Kings Al-Hir, chief of the Absians was firmly established upon his throne so that the kings of other nations who were subject to him paid him tribute. The whole of Arabia, in short, became subject to the Abseans,

so that all the chiefs of other tribes and all inhabitants of the desert dreaded their power and depredations. Under these circumstances, and as a consequence of a flagrant act of tyranny on the part of Zahir, several chieftains, among whom was Shad, a son of Zahir, seceded from the Absean tribe and set out to seek adventures to attack other tribes and to carry off their cattle and treasure. These chieftains arrived at the dwelling place of a certain tribe named Jezila, whom they fought with and pillaged.

Amongst their booty was a black woman of extraordinary beauty, the mother of two children. Her name was Sibiba. Her elder son was Jaris, her younger Shadub. Shad became passionately enamoured of this woman and yielded all the rest of his share in the booty in order to obtain possession of her and her two children. He dwelt in the fields with this negress, whose sons took care of the cattle. In the course of time, Zabiba bore a son to Shadad. This child was born tony as an elephant. His eyes were bleared, his head thick with hair, his features hard and fixed.

The corners of his mouth drooped, his eyes started from his head, his bones were hard, his feet long. He had ears of prodigious size, and his glance flashed like fire. In other respects he resembled Shad, who was transported 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 Shadad wished to dispute the possession of the boy with him, and King Zahir was informed of the matter.

He demanded that the boy should be brought into his presence, and Shadad complied. As soon as the king caught sight of this extraordinary child, he uttered a cry of astonishment, and flung him a piece of goat's flesh. At the same moment a dog, who happened to be in the tent, seized the meat and ran off with it, but Antar, filled with rage, pursued the animal and, violently taking hold of him, drew his jaws apart, splitting the throat down to the shoulders, and thus recovered the meat. King Zohar, in amazement, deferred the matter to the caddy, who confirmed Shadadad's possession of Zabiba and her three children, Jaris, Shadoub, and Antar. Shad therefore provided a home for Zabiba in order that his sons might be educated in their business of tending the herds. It was at this time that Antar began to develop his strength of body, his courage and intelligence.

When he was ten years of age, he slew a wolf, which threatened to attack the herds committed to his charge. Although brutal, headstrong and passionate, he early exhibited a love of justice and a disposition to protect the weak, especially women. He put to death a slave who beat an old woman, his slave and companion, and this action, although at first misunderstood, did eventually gained the admiration of King Zohar, who treated Antar with distinction because of his nobility of character. In consequence of this action, which had been so much applauded by King Zohir, the young Arab women and then mothers hung around Antar to learn the details of this courageous deed and to congratulate him on his magnanimity. Among the young women was Iblah, daughter of Malik, the son of Zohar. Ibrahim, fair as the full moon, was somewhat younger than

Antar. She was accustomed to banter him in a familiar way, feeling that he was her slave. And you, she said to him, you, born so low, how dared you kill the 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 the laughingstock of all the servants. Of course, you were right, answered the Blas. with a smile. And we were all delighted that you escaped from the adventure, safe and sound. Because of the service you have rendered us by your conduct, our mothers look upon you as a son,

and we as a brother. From that moment, Antar made the service of women his special duty above all others. At that time, the Arabian ladies had the habit of drinking camel's milk morning and evening, and it was especially the duty of those who waited upon them to milk the camels, and to cool it in the wind before offering it to them. Antar had been for some time released from this duty when one morning he entered the dwelling of his uncle Malik and found there his aunt engaged in combing the hair of her daughter Ibla,

whose ringlets, black as the night, floated over her shoulders. Antar was struck with surprise, and Ibrahim, as soon as she knew that he had seen her, fled and left him with his eyes fixed abstractedly on her disappearing form. It was from this incident that the love of Antar for the daughter of his uncle took its origin. He saw how Iblah shone in society, and his passion grew to such an extent

that he ventured to sound her praises, and to express the feeling she excited in him by writing verses which, while they gained the admiration of the multitude, incurred also the envy of the chieftains. Moreover, his father could not pardon the presumption of Antarhu born a slave, had dared to cast eyes on his freeborn cousin.

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

Meanwhile, King Zahir was called upon a warlike expedition against the tribe of Tameen. All his warriors followed him, the women alone remained behind. Shad entrusted them to the protection of Antar, who pledged his life for their safety. During the absence of the warriors, Samaya, the lawful wife of Shad, conceived the idea of giving an entertainment on the bank of the Lake Zatulizard. Ebler attended it with her mother and Antar witnessed all the the amusements in which his beloved took part. His passion for her became intensified. He was once tempted to violate the modesty of love by the violence of desire, but at that

moment he saw a great cloud of dust rise in the distance. The shouts of war were heard, and suddenly the warriors of the tribe of Kathan appeared on the scene, and, descending on the pleasure-seekers, carried off the women, including Ibla. Antar, being unarmed, ran after one of the horsemen, seized him, strangled him and threw him to the ground. Then he put on the armour of the vanquished foe, attacked, and put to flight the tribe of Kathan, rescued the women, and obtained a booty of twenty-five horses. From that moment, Samaya, the wife of Shadad who hitherto had pronounced aversion to Antar, conceived a sincere affection for him. Kingsahir meantime had returned victorious from his expedition. Shadad returned at the same moment and went to visit his herds,

seeing Antar surrounded by horses which he did not know, and mounted upon a fine black courser, he asked, Where did these animals, and particularly this superb horse, come from? Then Antar not willing to betray the imprudence of Smaia, declared that, as the Cathanians had left their horses behind them, he had seized them. Shadad was indignant, and treated Antar as a robber, reproached him for his wickedness, and after repeatedly telling him how wrong it was to rouse discord among the Arabs, struck him with his whip, with such violence as to draw blood. Then, Samaya, distressed by the sight of this unjust treatment, took off her veil, letting her hair fall over her shoulders,

took Antar into her arms, and told all that had happened and how she and all the other women of her tribe were indebted to this hero for their honour and liberty. Shadad could not restrain his tenderness on learning the magnanimity of his son's silence. Soon afterwards, King Zahir, to whom this incident had been related, summoned Antar into his presence, declared that a man who could exhibit such courage and generosity was bound to become pre-eminent among his companions.

All the chieftains who surrounded the king congratulated Antar and one of his friends, in order to give the court a complete idea of this young man's remarkable gifts, asked him to recite some of his verses. In compliance with his request, he recited a poem in praise of warriors and war, and the king and all the court manifested their delight. Zohar bade Antar approach, gave him a rob owner,

and thanked him. That evening, Antar departed with his father Shadad, his heart full of joy over the honours which had been lavished on him, and his love for Ibla still more heightened. In spite of the indisputable virtues of Antar, in spite of the great services he had rendered the absin's, the chieftains of this tribe still regarded him as merely a common slave and tender of cattle. The beginning of his rises to favour excited a feeling of keen hatred and caused many plots to be laid against him. A series of intrigues was entered upon, the aim of which was the death of the hero, but each attack upon his reputation and his life redounded to his benefit, and furnished him with an opportunity of putting his enemies to silence and defeat, for by his generosity and magnanimity, even his envious foes felt

themselves under obligation to him. On each of his triumphs, the mutual love between himself and Ibler went on increasing. After the performance of many feats as a horseman, Antar came into possession of a famous horse named Abjur and a sword of a marvellous temper, Jami. And every time he appeared on the field of combat, as well as when he returned victorious from the fight, he made a poetic address, finishing with the words, I am the lover of Ibla. At the conclusion of a war in which he had performed prodigies of valour, King Zahir gave him the surname of Albufores, which means the father of horsemen. The greater grew his name, the more highly he was honored by King Zohir, so much the more did the hatred of the chieftains and the

love of Iblah towards him increase. But it came to pass that Iblah was asked in marriage by Amara, a stupid youth puffed up by his wealth and lineage. Antar on hearing the news was transported with rage and attacked his young rival with such violence that all the Arabian chiefs begged of Zahir to punish the aggressor. The king left to Shadad, Antar's father, the pronouncing of sentence. Shadad had, like the others, viewed the rise of Antar the black slave to favour with jealous eye, and sent him back to the pastures to keep the herds. It was at this point that the greatness of Antar's character appeared in its full dimensions. The hero submitted with resignation to the orders of 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 of witnesses, not to mount horse, nor engage in a battle without his permission. Tears flowed from his eyes, and before departing for the pastures, he went to see his mother Zibibibah and to talk with her concerning Iblah. "'Ibbla,' said his mother, "'but a moment ago she was here beside me, and said to me, "'Come for the heart of Antar, and tell him from me that even should my father torture me to death in trying to change my mind, I would not desire nor ask for other husband than Antar.' These words of Iblah filled with rapture the heart of Antar as he started for the pastures in company with his brothers, Jares and Shadub.

At this time the tribe of Abbs, which Zahir ruled over, was at war with that of Tex, on account of the carrying off of Anima, the daughter of the chief of the Tex, a man known as the drinker of blood. Animated by the desire to take vengeance and recover his daughter, this chief and his army fell upon the absin's like a thunderbolt. The Absians were defeated and their women, among whom was Iblah, taken prisoners. All pride was then, in this time of need laid aside, and to their assistance, Antar was summoned.

But, before acting, Antar laid down his conditions, and stipulated that, in case he succeeded him subduing the foe and recovering the women, Iblah should be given him in marriage. Malik, the father of Iblah, and Shadadad, the father of Antar, assented, and bound themselves by an oath to fulfil these conditions and to reinstate Antar in all the honours and dignities belonging to him. Antar was victorious. He rescued Ibrahim and received grateful expressions of gratitude from his beloved, while Kings are here gave him the kiss of royal honour. Everything seemed to unite in fulfilling the hopes of Antar. But at the very moment in which he was honoured by royal felicitations, several chieftains, indignant at the elevation of a black slave, employed every means to prevent his marriage.

with Ibrahimla, and to force him to undertake enterprises which would prove fatal to him. Shad, his father, and Malik, the father of Iblah connived at these plots. They demanded of Antar, who was of that trusting disposition which belongs to generous and brave men, that he gave as a wedding present to his bride a thousand camels of a particular breed not to be found except on the borders of the Persian kingdom. The hero made no remark on hearing this treacherous demand, and was so eager to please Iblah, he took no account of the difficulties to be undergone. He set off, and soon found himself engaged in a conflict with a large army of Persians, who made him prisoner, and led him off with the view of

bringing him into the presence of their king. There he was taken, bound and on horseback, when, at that instant, the news came that a fierce lion of extraordinary size was ravaging the country. It was alleged that even armed men fled before it. Antar, who was on the point of being put to death, asked the King of Persia to cause his arms at least to be unbound and to let him confront the lion. His prayer was granted. He rushed upon the savage creature

and transfixed it with his lance. Nor was this the only services at the King of Persia, who, in gratitude for many others, not only gave Antal the thousand camels he was looking for, but loaded him with treasures, with which to do homage to Ibla. On his return, Antar was received

with a rapturous welcome by the Absian tribe, but the hostile and envious continued to plot against him. They still aimed at preventing his marriage and compassing his death. Amara, who aspired to Iblah's hand, backed by all the chieftain's hostile to Antar, renewed his suit and pretensions. Iblah was carried off from her house among the absince and taken to another tribe. Then Antar set out in search of her, and at length rescued her. Their mutual love was intensified by this reunion.

By a series of wiles and intrigues skillfully conducted, the chiefs who surrounded Ibrahimus persuaded her to demand still further dowry from Antar. She spoke of Khalid and Jada, whose history had already been related. She said in presence of Antar that that young warrior girl would not consent to marry Khalid, saving on the condition that her camel's bride be held by the daughter of Mowah. This word was sufficient for Antar, and he promised Ibla that Jada should hold the bridal of her camel on her wedding day, and more than that, the head of Khalid should be slung, around the neck of the warrior girl.

Thus, the hero, constantly loving and beloved by Ibrahim, incessantly deceived by the cunningly devised obstacles raised by his foes, sustained his reputation for greatness of character and strength of arm, submitted with resignation to the severest tests, and passed victoriously through them all. After the death of King Zahir, whom he avenged, he undertook to assist Case, Zahir's son, in all his enterprises,

and after a long series of adventures, which tired the patience, love and courage of Antar, this hero, recognised as a chief among Arabian chieftains, obtained the great reward of his long struggles and mighty toils by marriage to his well-loved Ebla. End of Chapter 2. Chapter 3 of the Literature of Arabia by Epiphanius Wilson. This Librevox recording is in the public domain.

Read by Paul Wellford. Khalid and Jada Moharib and Zahir were brothers of the same father and mother. The Arabs call them brothers Jermain. Both were renowned for courage and daring. But Maharib was chief of the tribe, and Zahir being subject to his authority was no more than his minister, giving him counsel and advice.

Now, it happened that a violent disputer rose between them. Zahir subsequently retired to his tent in profound sorrow and not knowing what course to take. What's the matter with you? asked his wife. Why are you so troubled? What's happened to you? Has anyone displeased or insulted you, the greatest of Arab chiefs? What am I to do? replied Zahir. The man who has injured me is one whom I cannot lay hands on, order him wrong. He is my companion, the bosom of my family, my brother in the world. If it had been anyone but he, I would have shown him what sort of man

he was at once with, and have made an example of him before all the chiefs of our tribes. Leave him alone, let him enjoy his possessions alone, cried his wife. And, in order to persuade a husband 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 his parents. Zahir assented to the advice of his wife. He made all preparations for his departure, struck his tents, loaded his camels, and started off on the road towards the camp of the Sard tribe, with whom he was in alliance. Yet, in spite of all, he felt a keen pang at separating himself from his brother, and thus he spoke. On starting a journey which removes me from you, I shall be a thousand years

on the way, and each year will carry me a thousand leagues, even though the favours you heap upon me be worth a thousand Egypt's, and each of these Egypt had a thousand Niles. All those favours would be despised. I shall be contented with little so long as I am far from you. Away from you, I shall recite this distich, which is worth more than a necklace of fine pearls. When a man is wronged on the soil of his tribe, there is nothing left him but to leave it.

You, who have so wickedly injured me, before long shall feel the power of their kindly divinity, for he is your judge and mine, he is unchangeable and eternal. Zahir continued his journey until he reached the Sard tribe when he dismounted from his horse. He was cordially received and was pressed to take up his aboy with them. His wife was at the time soon to become a mother,

and he said to her, If a son is given to us, he will be right welcome, but if it be a daughter, conceal her sex, and let people think we have a male child, so that my brother may have no reason to crow over us. When her time came Zahir's wife brought into the world a daughter, they agreed that her name should actually be Jada, but that publicly she should be known as Jonda, that people might take her for a boy.

In order to promote this belief, they kept up feasting and entertainment early and late for many days. About the same time, Moharib, the other brother, had a son born to him whom he named Khalid, the Eternal. He chose this name in gratitude to God because, since his brother's departure, his affairs had prospered well. The two children eventually reached full-aged, and their renown was widespread among the Arabs. Zahir had taught his daughter to ride on horseback and had trained her in all the accomplishments fitting to our warrior bold and daring. He accustomed her to the severest toils and the most powerful. perilous enterprises. When he went to war, he put her among the other Arabs of the tribe, and in the midst of these horsemen she soon took her rank as one of the most valiant of them.

Thus it came to pass that she eclipsed all her comrades, and would even attack the lions in their dens. At last, her name became an object of terror. When she had overcome a champion, she never failed to cry out. I am Jonda, son of Zahir, horsemen of the tribes. Her cousin Khalid, on the other hand, distinguished himself equally by his brilliant courage. His father, Maharib, a wise and prudent chief, had built houses of entertainment for strangers. All horsemen found a welcome there. Khalid had been brought up in the midst of warriors. In this school his spirit had been formed.

Here he had learned to ride, and at last had become an intrepid warrior and a redoubtable hero. It was soon perceived by the rest of the army that his spirit and valor were unconquerable. Eventually, he heard tell of his cousin Jonda, and his desire to see and know him and to witness his skill in arms became extreme. But he could not satisfy the desire because of the dislike which his father showed for his cousin, the son of his uncle. This curiosity of Khalid continued unsatisfied until the death of his father Muharab, which put him in possession of rank, wealth and lands. He followed the example of his father in entertaining strangers, protecting the weak and unfortunate and giving remit to the naked. He continued also to scour the plains on horseback with his warriors, and in this way waxed greater in bodily strength and courage. After some time, gathering together a number of rich gifts, he started in company with his mother to visit his uncle.

He did not draw rein until he reached the dwelling of Zahir, who was delighted to see him, and made magnificent preparations for his entertainment, for the uncle had heard tell on many occasions of his nephew's worth and valour. Khaled also visited his cousin. suited her, pressed her to his bosom, and kissed her forehead, thinking she was a young man. He felt the greatest pleasure in her company, and remained ten days with his uncle, regularly taking part in the jousts and contests of the horsemen warriors. As for his cousin, the moment she had seen how handsome and valiant Khalid was, she had fallen violently in love with him.

Her sleep left her, she could not eat, and her love grew to such a pitch, that feeling her heart completely lost to him, she spoke to her mother and said, "'Oh, mother, should my cousin leave without taking me in his company, I shall die of grief at his absence.' Then her mother was touched with pity for her, and uttered no reproaches, feeling that they would be in vain. "'Shada,' she said, "'conceal your feelings and restrain yourself from grief. "'You have done nothing improper, for your cousin is the man of your choice, and is of your own blood. Like him, you are fair and attractive, like him, brave and skillful in horsemanship, "'Tomorrow morning when his mother approaches her,

"'I will reveal to her the whole matter. "'We will soon afterwards give you to him in marriage, "'and finally we will all return to our own country.' "'The wife of Zahir waited patiently "'until the following morning, "'when the mother of Khalid arrived. "'She then presented her daughter, "'whose head she uncovered,

"'so as to allow the hair to fall to her shoulders. "'At the sight of such charms, "'the mother of Khalid was beyond measure astonished "'and exclaimed, What? Is not this your son, Jonda? No, it's Shader. She, the moon of beauty, at last has risen. Then she told her all that had passed between herself and her husband, and how and why they had concealed the sex of the child. Dear Kinswoman, replied the mother of Khalid, still quite surprised. Among all the daughters of Arabia, who have been celebrated for their beauty, I have never seen one more lovely than this.

What is her name? I've already told you that it's Shida, and my special purpose in telling you the secret is to offer you all these charms, for I ardently desire to marry my daughter to your son, so that we may all be able to return to our land. The mother of Khalid at once assented to this proposal and said, The possession of Sheda will doubtless render my son very happy.

She at once rose and went out to look for Khalid and communicated to him all that she had seen and learned, not failing to extol, especially the charms of Jada. By the faith of an heir, said she, Never, my son, have I seen in the desert or in any city, a girl, such as your cousin, I do not accept the most beautiful. Nothing is so perfect as she is,

nothing more lovely and attractive, make haste, my son, to see your uncle and ask him for his daughter in marriage. You will be happy indeed if he grants your prayer. Go, my son, and do not waste time in winning her. When Khaled had heard these words, he cast his eyes to the ground and remained for some time thoughtful and gloomy. Then he replied, My mother, I cannot remain here any longer.

I must return home amid my horsemen and troops. I have no intention of saying anything more to my cousin. I am convinced that she is a person whose temper and ideas of life are uncertain. Her character and manner of speech are utterly destitute of stability and propriety. I have always been accustomed to live amid warriors on whom I spend my wealth and with whom I win a soldier's renown. As for my cousin's love for me, it is the weakness of a woman, of a young girl. He then donned his armour, mounted his horse, bade his uncle farewell, and denounced his intention of leaving at once. What means this haste? cried Zahir. I can remain here no longer, answered Khalid, and putting his horse to a gallop, he flung himself into the depths of the wilderness.

His mother, after relating to Jeda, the conversation she held with her son, mounted a camel, and made her way towards her own country. The soul of Jada felt keenly this indignity. She brooded over it, sleepless and without appetite. Some days afterwards, as her father was preparing with his horsemen to make a foray against his foes, his glance fell on Jada, and seeing how altered she was in face and dejected in spirit, he refrained from saying anything, thinking and hoping that she would surely become herself again after a short time. Scarcely was Zahir out of sight of his tents, when Jada, who felt herself like to die, and whose frame of mind was quite unsupportable, said to her mother,

"'Mother, I feel that I am dying, "'and that this miserable Khalid is still in the vigour of life. "'I should like, if God gives me the power, "'to make him taste their fury of death, "'the bitterness of its pang and torture.' "'So saying, she rose like a lioness, "'put on her armour, and mounted her horse, "'telling her mother she was going on a hunting expedition.

"'Swiftly, and without her, Without stopping, she traversed rocks and mountains, her excitement increasing as she approached the dwelling place of her cousin. As she was disguised, she entered, unrecognised, into the tent where strangers were received. Her visor was, however, lowered like that of a horseman of Hijaz. Slaves and servants received her, offered her hospitality, comporting themselves towards her as to one of the guests and the most noble personages of the land. That night, Jida took rest, but the following day she joined the military.

exercises, challenged many cavaliers, and exhibited so much address and bravery that she produced great astonishment among the spectators. Long before noon, the horseman of her cousin were compelled to acknowledge her superiority over themselves. Khalid wished to witness her prowess, and, surprised at the sight of so much skill, he offered to match himself with her. Jeda entered the contest with him, and then both of them, joining in combat, tried, one after another, all the methods of attack and defence, until the shadows of night came on.

When they were separated, both were unhurt, and none could say who was the victor. Thus, Jada, while rousing the admiration of the spectators, saw the annoyance they felt on finding their chief equaled in fight by so skillful an opponent. Khalid ordered his antagonist to be treated with all the care and honour imaginable, then retired to his tent, his mind filled with thoughts of his conflict. Jeda remained three days at her cousin's habitation. Every morning, she presented herself on the ground of combat, and remained under arms until night.

She enjoyed it greatly, still keeping her incognito, whilst Khalid, on the other hand, made no inquiries, and asked no questions of her, asked to who she was, and to what tribe she might belong. On the morning of the fourth day, while Khalid, according to his custom, rode over the plane and passed close to the tents reserved for strangers, he saw Jeda mounting her horse.

He saluted her, and she returned his salute. "'Noble Arab,' said Khalid, "'I should like to ask you one question. "'Up to this moment I have failed in courtesy towards you, "'but I now beg of you, in the name of that God "'who has endowed you with such great dexterity in arms, "'Tell me, who are you? "'And to what noble princes are you allied?

"'For I have never met your equal among brave cavaliers. "'Answer, may I beseech you? you, for I am dying to learn. Jeda smiled, and raising her visor, replied, Khaled, I am a woman and not a warrior. I am your cousin Jada, who offered herself to you, and wished to give herself to you. But you refused her from the pride you felt in your passion for arms.

As she spoke, she turned her horse suddenly, stuck spurs into him, and dashed off at full gallop towards her own country. Khaled filled with confusion withrew to his tent, not knowing what to do, nor what would be the end of the passionate love which he suddenly felt rise within him. He was seized with disgust for all these warlike habits and tastes, which had reduced him to the melancholy plight in which he found himself. His distaste for women was changed into love. He sent for his mother, and related to all that had occurred.

My son, she said, All these circumstances should render Jeda still dearer to you. wait patiently a little until I have been able to go and ask her of her mother she straight away mounted her camel and started through the desert on the tracks of Jada who were immediately on her arrival home had told her mother all that had happened as soon as the mother of Khalid arrived she flung herself into the arms of her kinswoman and demanded Jada in marriage for her son for Zahir had not yet returned from his foray when Jeda heard from her mother the request of Khalid she said

this shall never be though I be forced to drink the cup of death that which occurred at his tents was brought about by me to quench the fire of my grief and unhappiness and sooth the anguish of my heart at these words the mother of Khaled defeated over her object went back to her son who was tortured by the most cruel anxiety he rose suddenly to his feet for his love had reached the point of desperation and asked with inquietude what were the feelings of his cousin

When he learned the answer of Jada, his distress became overwhelming, for her refusal only increased his passion. What is to be done, my mother? he exclaimed. I see no way of escaping from this embarrassment, she replied. Accepting you assemble all your horsemen from among the Arab sheikhs and from among those with whom you are on friendly terms, wait until your uncle returns from the campaign, and then, surrounded by your followers, go to him, and in the presence of the assembled warriors demand of him his daughter in marriage. If he deny that he has a daughter,

tell him all that has happened and urge him until he gives way to your demand. This advice, and the plan proposed, moderated the grief of Khalid. 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 Khalid's bravest companions, could not help saying, this is a strange affair we've always heard say that your uncle had a some-name Jonda but now the truth is known you are certainly the man who has the right to the daughter of your uncle

it's therefore our best course to present ourselves in a body and prostrate ourselves before him asking him to return to his family and not to give his daughter to a stranger Khaled without hearing any more took with him a hundred of his bravest horsemen being those who had been brought up with Mojahrib and Zahir from their childhood,

and having provided themselves with presents, even more costly than those they had taken before, they started off and marched on until they came to the tribe of Sard. Khalid began by complimenting his uncle on his happy return from war, but no one could be more astonished than Zahir at this second visit, especially when he saw his nephew accompanied by all the chieftains of his family. It never for a moment occurred to him that his daughter Jada had anything to do with Khalid's return,

but thought that his nephew merely wished to persuade him to return to his native territory. He offered them every hospitality, provided them with tents, and entertained them magnificently. He ordered camels and sheep to be killed and gave a banquet.

He furnished his guests with all the things needed full and proper for three days. On the fourth day, Khalid arose, and after thanking his uncle for all his attentions, asked him for his daughter in marriage, and begged him, to return to his own land. Zahir denied that he had any child, but this son, Jonda,

but Khalid told him all that he had learned, and all that had passed between himself and Jada. At these words, Zahir was overcome with shame and turned his eyes to the ground. He remained for some moments plunged in thought, and after reflecting that the affair must need proceed from bad to worse, he addressed those present in the following words. "'Kinsman, I will no longer delay acknowledging the secret, therefore to any the matter, she shall be married to her cousin as soon as possible. Of all the men I know, he is most worthy of her. He offered his hand to Khaled, who immediately clasped it in the presence of the chiefs who were witnesses to their contract. The dowry was fixed at 500

brown, black-eyed camels, and a thousand camels looted with the choicest products of Yemen. The tribe of Sard, in the midst of which Zahir had lived, were excluded from all part in this incident. But when Zahir had asked his daughter's consent to this arrangement, Jeda was overwhelmed with confusion at the course her father had taken. Since he let his daughter clearly understand that he did not wish her to remain unmarried, she at last replied, My father, if my cousin desires to have me in marriage, I shall not enter into his tent until he undertakes the slaughter at my wedding,

a thousand camels, out of those which belong to Rashem, son of Malik, surnamed the brandisher of spears. Khalid agreed to these conditions, but the sheikhs and warriors did not leave Zahir before he had collected all his possessions for transportation to his own country. No sooner were these preparations completed, and Khalid marched forth at the head of a thousand horsemen, with whose assistance he subdued the tribe of Amir.

Having thrice wounded the brandisher of spears and slain a great number of his champions, he carried off their goods and brought back from their country even a richer spoil Langeida had demanded. Loaded with booty, he returned and was intoxicated with success. But when he asked that a day should be fixed for the wedding, Jida begged him to approach and said to him, If you desire that I become your wife, fulfill first of all my wishes

and keep the engagement I make with you, this is my demand. I wish that on the day of my marriage, some nobleman's daughter, a freeborn woman, hold the bridle of my camel. She must be the daughter of a pre-born woman. She must be the daughter of a prince of the highest rank, so that I may be the most honoured of all the daughters of Arabia. Khalid consented and prepared to carry out her wishes.

That very day he started with his horsemen and traversed plains and valleys, searching the land of Imar, even till he reached the country of Hijar and the hills of sand. In this place, he attacked the tribe family of Morwich, son of Mizal. He burst upon them like a rainstorm, and cutting away with his sword through the opposing. horsemen, he took prisoner Amima, daughter of Moowicz, at the very moment when she was betaking herself to flight. After having accomplished feats which rendered futile a resistance of the most experienced heroes, after having scattered all the tribes in flight, 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 they had first gathered in all the wealth which he had left at different points and places in the desert. The young maidens marched before him, sounding their symbols and other instruments of music. All the tribe rejoiced, and when Khalid appeared, he distributed clothing to the widows and orphans and invited his companions 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 caused them to be regaled with abundance of flesh and wine. But while all the guests abandoned themselves to feasting and pleasure, Khalid, accompanied by ten slaves, prepared to scour the wild and marshy places of the land in order to attack hand to hand in their caverns, the lions and lionesses and their cubs, and bear them slain to the tents in order to provide meat for all those who attended the festival.

Jada had been informed of this design. She disguised herself in a coat of mail, mounted her horse and left the tents. As three days of festivities still remained, she hastily followed Khalid into the desert and met him face to face in a cavern. She flung herself upon him with the impetuosity of the, of a wild beast and attacked him furiously, crying aloud, "'Arab, dismount from your horse, take off your coat of mail and your armour. If you hesitate to do so, I will run this lens through your heart.'

Khalid was resolved at once to resist her in this demand. They engaged in furious combat. The struggle lasted for more than an hour. When the warrior saw in the eyes of his adversary, an expression which alarmed him, he remounted his horse, and having wheeled round his steed from the place of combat, exclaimed, By the faith of an Arab, I adjure you to tell me what the horsemen of the desert you are, for I feel that your attack and the violence of your blows are irresistible. In fact, you have prevented me from accomplishing that which I had intended,

and all that I had eagerly desired to do. At these words, Jada raised her visor, thus permitting him to see her face. "'Chalid,' she cried, "'is it necessary, for the girl you love to attack wild beasts, "'in order that the daughters of Arabia may learn that this is, is not the exclusive privilege of a warrior? At this cutting rebut, Khalid 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 you come hither that merely to prove to me the extent of your

valour? By the faith of an Arab, replied Jada, I came into this desert solely for the purpose of helping you to hunt wild beasts, and in order that your warriors might not reproach you for choosing me as your wife." At these words, Khalid felt thrilled with surprise and admiration that such spirit and resolution should have been exhibited in the conduct of Jada. Then, both of them dismounted from their horses and entered into a cavern. There, Khalid seized two ferocious wild beasts, and Jada attacked and carried off a lion and two lionesses. After these exploits, they exchanged congratulations and Jada felt happy to be with Khalid. Meanwhile, she said, I shall not permit you to leave our tents until after our marriage.

She immediately left him in haste and betook herself 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 beast he had slain. Trembling with fright at the view of what Khalid had done, they extolled him with admiration above all other champions of the land. The feasts, meanwhile, went on and all who came were welcomed with magnificence. The maidens sounded their symbols. The slaves waved their swords in the air,

and the young girls sang from the morn till evening. It was in the midst of such rejoicings that Jada and Khaled were married. Amima, the daughter of Moorwich, held the reins of the young bride's camel, and men and women alike extolled the glory of Jada. End of Chapter 3. Chapter 4 of the literature of

of Arabia by Epiphanius Wilson. This labour of ox recording is in the public domain, read by Paul Wellford. The Absians and Fazarians. King Case, chief of the Absians, distrusting the evil designs of Hadifa, the chief of the tribe of Fazara, had sent out his slaves in every direction to look after Antar. One of these slaves on his return said to the king, As for Antar, I have not even heard his name, but as I have not even heard his name, but as I passed by the tribe of Tenim, I slept one night in the tents of the tribe, Bia. There I saw a cult of

remarkable beauty. He belonged to a man named Jahir, son of Awef. I have never seen a cult so fine and swift. This recital made a profound impression upon case, and in truth, this young animal was the wonder of the world and never had a handsomer horse been reared among the Arabs. He was in all points hybrid and renowned for race and lineage. For his sire was Okab and his dame Helway. And these were horses regarded by the Arabs as quicker than lightning. All the tribes admired their points, and the tribe of Bia had become celebrated above all others

because of the mare and stallion which pertained to it. As for this fine cult one day when his sire Ockob had been put out on pasture. He was being led by the daughter of Jahir along the side of a lake at noonday. And there he saw the mayor, Helway, who was tethered close to the tent of her master. He immediately began to neigh and slept his halter. The young girl, in her embarrassment, let him go, and for modesty took refuge in a tent of a friend. The stallion remained on the spot until the girl returned. She seized the halter and took him to the stables. But her father discerned the anxiety which she could not conceal.

He questioned her, and she told him what had happened. He became furious with rage on hearing her story, for he was naturally choleric. He ran among the tents, flinging off his turban, and crying at the top of his voice, while all the Arabs crowded round him. Tribe of beer! Tribe of beer! Kinsmen and friends, hear me.

Then he related what his daughter had told him. I cannot permit, he added, that the blood of my horse should be blended with that of Helway. Yet I am not willing to sell him for the most costly sheep and camels. And if I cannot otherwise prevent Helway from bearing a cult to my stallion, I shall be glad if someone will put them out to death. By all means, cried his listeners, do as you please, for we can have no objection. Such were the usual terms of Arabian,

courtesy. Nevertheless, Halloway, in course of time, bought a fine cult, whose birth brought great joy to her master. He named the young horse Dahir. The cult waxed in strength and beauty until he actually excelled his sire Okab. His chest was broad, his neck long, his hoofs hard, his nostrils widely expanded, his tail swept the ground, and he was of the gentlest temper. In short, he was the most perfect creature ever seen. Being reared, with the greatest care, his shape was perfect as the archway of a royal palace. When the Mayor Helway, followed by her cult, was one day moving along the shore of a lake,

Ocab's owner chanced to see them. He seized the young horse and took him home with him, leaving his mother in grief for his difference. As for Karim, he said, This cult belongs to me, and I have more right to him than anyone else. The news of the cult's disappearance soon reached his owner's ears. He assembled the chiefs of the tribe,

and told them what had happened. They sent to Jahir, and he was reproached bitterly. Jahir, they said, you have not suffered, yet have done injustice, in that you carried off that which belonged to another man. Say no more, answered Jahir. And spare me these reproaches, for by the faith of an Arab, I will not return the cult unless compelled by main force. I will declare war against you first.

At that moment, the trial. was not prepared for a quarrel, and several of them said to Jahir, we are too much attached to you to push things to such an extreme as that. We are your allies and kinsmen. We will not fight with you, though an idol of gold were at stake. Then Kareem, son of Wahrab, the latter being the owner of the Meran cult, a man renowned among the Arabs for his generosity, seeing the obstinacy of Jahir said to him,

"'Curzen, the cult is certainly yours and belongs to you. As for the mayor here, accept her as a present from my hand so that mother and cult 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 the generosity with which he had been treated that he returned the mayor and cult to Kareem, adding to the gift a pair of male and a pair of female camels.

Dehir soon became a horse of absolute perfectionist. in every point, and when his master Karim undertook to race him with another horse, he rode the 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 and distance you. And in fact, this always happened. As soon as King Case heard tell of this horse, he became beside himself with longing and mortification, and sleep left him. He sent to Karim, offering to buy the horse for as much gold or silver as the owner demanded,

and adding that the price would be forwarded without delay, this message enraged Kareem. Is not this case a fool or a man of no understanding? He exclaimed. Does he think I am a man of traffic, a horse dealer who cannot mount the horses he owns? I swear by the faith of an Arab that if he had asked for Dahir as a present,

I would have sent the horse and a troop of camels besides. But if he thinks of our tale, meaning him by bidding a price he will never have him, even if I were bound to drink the cup of death. The messenger returned to case and gave him the answer of Kareem, at which the latter was much annoyed. Am I a gang over the tribes of Abbs, of Adnan, of Vizara and of Dibyan? And yet a common Arab dares to oppose me, he exclaimed. He summoned his people and his warriors. Immediately there was a flash of armour of coats, of mail, and swords and helmets appeared amid the tents.

The champions mounted their steeds, shook their spears and marched forth against the tribe of Biah. As soon as they reached their enemy's territory, they overran the pastures and gathered an immense booty in castle, which Case divided among his followers. The next made for the tents and surprised the dwellers there, who were not prepared for such an attack. Karim being absent with his warriors on an expedition of the same sort, Case, at the head of the Abseans, pushing his way into the dwellings, carried off the wives and daughters of his foe. As for Dehir, he was tethered to one of the tent pegs,

for Kareem never used him as a charger, for fear some harm might befall him or he might be killed. One of the slaves, who had been left in the encampment, had been among the first to see the approach of the Abtians, went up to Dehir for the purpose of breaking the line by which he was hobbled. This he failed to accomplish, but mounting him and digging his heels into his flanks, he forced the horse, although he was hobbled, to rush off prancing like a fawn, until he reached the desert. It was in vain that the absence pursued him. They could not even catch up the trail of dust

that he left behind. As soon as case perceived De He, he recognised him, and the desire of possessing him became intensified. He hurried on, but his chagrin was great, as he perceived that, do what he would, he would never catch up with him. At last, the slave, perceiving that he had quite outdistance the absinceded, untied the feet of Dehir, leapt again into the saddle, and galloped off. Case, who had kept up the pursuit, gained ground during the stop, and coming within earshot of the slave, shouted out. Stop, Arab, there is no cause for fear. You have my protection. By the faith of a noble Arab, I swear it. At these words, the slave stopped.

Do you intend to sell that horse? said King Keis to him. For in that case, you have the most. eager buyer of all the Arabian tribesmen. I do not wish to sell him, sire, replied the slave. Accepting at one price, the restoration of all the booty. I will buy him then, the king answered, and he clasped the hand of the Arab as pledge of the bargain. The slave dismounted from the young horse and delivered him over to King Case, and the latter overjoyed it, having his wish leapt onto his back, and set out to rejoin the abseons,

whom he commanded to restore all the booty which they had taken. His order was executed to the letter. King Case, enchanted at the success of his enterprise and at the possession of Dahir, returned home. So great was his fondness for the horse that he groomed and fed him with his own hands. Soon as Haditha, chief of the tribe of Fazara, heard that Case had possession of Dehir, jealousy filled his heart. In concert with the other chiefs, he plotted the death of this beautiful horse. Now it came to pass that at this time Hadifa gave a great feast and Karwash Kingsmen of King Case was present. At the end of the meal and while the wine circulated freely

the course of conversation turned to the most famous chiefs of the time. The subject being exhausted, the guests began to speak about their most celebrated horses and next of the journeys made by them in the desert. Kinsmen, said Karwash. No one of you ever saw a horse like Tahir, which belonged. to my ally case. It is vain to seek who's equal. His pace is absolutely terrifying. He chases away, sorry, from the heart of him who beholds him, and protects like a strong tower the man who mounts him. Kawash did not stop here, but continue to praise in the highest and most distinguished language,

the host Dhar, unto all of the tribe of Fuzara and of the family of Ziyadh, felt a heart swell with rage. Do you hear him, brother? said Hamel to Hadifa. Come, that is enough, he added, turning towards Kawash. All that you have said about to hear is absolute nonsense. For at present, there are no horses better or finer than mine and those of my brother. With these words, he ordered his slaves to bring his horses and parade them before Kawash. This was done.

Come, Karwash, look at that horse. He is not worth the hay you've found. feed him on, said the other. Then those of Hadifa were led out. Among them was a mayor named Chabra, and a stallion called Marik. Now, look at these, said Haditha. They are not worth the hay they eat, replied Cowash. Haditha filled with indignation at these words. What? Not even Cabra. Not even Chabra, or all the horses in the world? repeated Cowash. Would you like to make a bet for us with King Case? Certainly, answered Kawash.

I will wager that Dahir will beat all the horses of the tribe of Vassara, even if he carries a hundred weight of stone on his back. They discussed the matter for a long time, the one affirming the other denying the statements, until Hadifa closed the altercation by saying, I halt to the wager on condition that the winner takes from the loser as many male and female camels as he chooses. You are going to play me a nice trick, said Cowash.

And for my part, I tell you plainly that I won't bet more than 20 camels. The man who loses shall pay this forfeit. The matter was arranged accordingly. They sat at table until nightfall and then rested. The next day, Cowash left his tent at early morn, went to the tribe of Abbs to find Case whom he told about the wager. You were wrong, said. case. You might have made a bet

with anyone excepting Hadifa, who is a man of tricks and treachery. If you have made the wager, you will have to declare it off. Case waited until the certain persons who were with him had retired then he at once took horse and repaired to the tribe of Fazara,

where everybody was taking their morning meal in their tents. Case dismounted, took off his arms and seating himself among them began to eat with them like a noble Arab. Cousin, said Haditha to him jokingly. what large mouthfuls you take heaven preserve me from having an appetite like yours it is true said case that i am dying of hunger but by him who abides always and will abide forever i came not here merely to eat your victuals my intention is to annul the wager which was yesterday made between you and my kinsman carawash i beg of you to cancel this bed for all that is uttered over cups and flaggons is of no serious account and ought to be forgotten

I would have to know. Was the answer? That you will not will draw from the challenge unless you forfeit the camels which are staked. If you accept this condition, I shall be perfectly indifferent to everything else. Nevertheless, if you wish it, I will seize the camels by force.

Or, if it be your good pleasure, I will waive every claim, save as a debt of honour. In spite of all that case could say, Hadifa remained firm in his resolution, and his brother began to deride Case, the latter lost his temper, and with a face blazing with wrath, he asked of Hadifa.

What stake did you offer in your wager with my cousin? Twenty-shee camels, said Hathifa. As for this first wager? answered Case. I cancel it, and propose another one in its stead. I will bet thirty camels. And I, forty, replied Hathifa. I make it fifty.

Was the retort of case. 60 quickly added the other and they continued raising the terms of the wager until the number of camel staked was 100 The contract of the bet

was deposited in the hands of a man named Sabik Son of Wahhab In the presence of a crowd of youths and old men What shall be the length of the race Asked Hathifa of Case 100 bow shots

replied Case And we have an archer here Ayas the son of Mansour Who will measure the ground Ayas was in fact the strongest and most accomplished archer, then living among the Arabs. King Case, by choosing Ayas, wish the course to be made long, knowing the 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 Case to Hadifa. Forty days will be required, replied Hadifa. To bring the horses into condition. You're right, said Case, and they agreed that the horses should be trained for 40 days. The race should take place by the Lake Zetala-Assad and that the horse that first reached the goal should be declared winner. All these preliminaries having been arranged, Case returned to his tent. Meanwhile, one of the horsemen of the tribe of Fazzara said to his neighbours,

Kinsman, you may rest assured that there is going to be a breach between the tribe of Abbs and that of Fuzara, as a result of this race between Dahi Ibra. The two tribes you must know will be mutually estranged, for King Case has been there in person. Now he is a prince and the son of a prince. He has made every effort to cancel the bet, but Hadifa would by no means consent.

All this is the beginning of a broil, which may be followed by a war, possibly lasting 50 years, and many a one will fall in the struggle. Hadifa, hearing this prediction, said, I don't trouble myself much about the matter, and your suggestions seem to me absurd. Oh, Hathifa! exclaimed Ayas.

I am going to tell you what will be the result of your obstinacy towards case. Then he recited some verses with the following meaning. In thee, oh Hathifa, there is no beauty, and in the purity of case there is not a single blot. How sincere and honest was his counsels, although they were lacking in prudence and dignity. Make a wager with the man who does not possess even an earth And whose father has never been rich enough to buy a horse

Let case alone He has wealth, lands, horses, a proud spirit And he is the owner of this Deir Who is always first on the day of a race Whether he is resting or running This Tahir, a steed whose feet even appear Through the obscurity of night like burning brands Ayyaz

replied Hadifa Do you think I would break my word? I will take the camels of Case and will not permit my name to be inscribed among the number of those who have been vanquished. Let things run their course. As soon as King Case had regained his tents, he hastened to tell his slaves to begin the training of his horses

and to pay a special attention to Dehir. Then he told his kinsman all that had taken place between himself and Hadifa. Antal was present at this recital as he took great interest in all that concerned the king, he said. Case, calm your fears. Keep your eyes well open. Run the race and have no fear.

For, by the faith of an Arab, if Hathifa makes any trouble or misunderstanding, I will kill him as well as the whole tribe of Vizara. The conversation on this subject continued until the reach of the tents, which Antar declined to enter before seeing Duhir. He walked several times round this animal and saw at a glance that the horse actually possessed qualities which astonished anyone who saw him. Hathifa quickly learned the return of Antar

and knew that the hero was encouraging King Case to run the race. Hamel, Hathifa's brother, had also heard the news and in the distress which he felt remarked to Hathifa. I fear lest Antar should fall upon me or some one of the family of Bader and killers and this renderers disgraced. Give up this race or we are ruined. Let me go to King Case

and I will not leave him until he promises to come to you and cancel the contract. Do as you please, answered Hathifa. Thereupon, Hamel took horse and went immediately to King Case. He found him with his uncle, Asiad, a wise and prudent man. Hamel approached Case, solicited him by kissing his hand, and after saying that he was the bearer of an important message, added,

"'Kinsman, you know that my brother, Haditha, is a low fellow whose mind is full of intrigues. I have spent the last three days in trying to persuade him, to cancel this wager. Alas, he has said, Very good if Case comes to me and wishes to be released from the contract, I will annulet, but no let any Arab think that I abandon the bed through fear of Antar. Now, you, Case, are aware that the greatest proof of attachment between Kingsmen is their willingness to give way to one another. So I am here to beg that you will come to the dwelling of my brother Havifa.

and ask him to give up the race before it causes trouble, and the tribe be utterly driven away from its territories. At this address of Hamel, Case became flushed with shame, for he was trusting and generous. He at once arose, and leaving his uncle Asiad in charge of his domestic business, he accompanied Hamill to the land of Fazzara. When they were midway on their journey, Hamill began to utter lavish praises of Case to the latter's face, and to blame his own brother's faults in the following terms. Oh, Case, do not let your ralpherson.

be stirred up against Haditha, for he is veryly a man headstrong and unjust in his actions. Oh, Case, if you persist in holding to the bet, great disasters will follow. Both you and he are impulsive and passionate, and this is what causes me to feel anxiety about you, cares. Put aside your private feelings, be kind and generous, and it will come to pass, that the oppressor himself will become the oppressed. Hamill continued to abuse his brother and to flatter case with expressions of admiration all the way until in the evening they arrived at the tribe of Fasara. Hadifa, who at the moment was surrounded by many powerful chiefs upon whose aid he depended in the hour of need had changed his mind since Brother Hamel's departure and in place of coming

to terms and making peace with case he determined to yield in nothing but to maintain rigorously the conditions of the coming race. He was speaking of this. very matter, with one of the chiefs at the moment when Case and Hamel presented themselves before him. As soon as Hadifah saw Case, he resolved to cover him with shame, turning therefore to his brother, he asked. He ordered you to go to this man by the faith of a noble Arab, even if all the men who cover the surface of the earth were to come and importune me, saying, oh, Hadifa, give up one here of these camels,

I would not yield until a lance had pierced my heart, and a sword, streaking the head from my shoulders. Case crimsoned and immediately remounted his horse, bitterly re-reproaching Hamel. He returned home with the utmost haste and found his uncle and brothers waiting for him in extreme anxiety. Oh, my son, said his uncle As Heard as soon as he saw him, You have had a disastrous journey, for it has caused you to be disgraced. If Haditha had not been surrounded by certain chiefs who gave him treacherous councils, I could have arranged the whole affair? answered Case. There is now nothing left but to carry out the race and the bed. King Case did not sleep the whole of that night. On the morrow, he thought of nothing but the

training of his horses during the 40 days interval before the race. All the Arabs of the land agreed to come to the pastures and see the race, and when the 40 days had expired, the horsemen of the two tribes came in a crowd to the banks of Lake Zatalersad. Next, a round. Next, a arrived the archer Ayas, who, turning his back to the lake, at the point where the horses were to start, drew his bow as he walked towards the north a hundred times, and measured out to the goal the course of a hundred bow shots. Soon the horseman of Ritfan and Dibyan arrived, for they were of the same territory, and because of their friendly relations and kinship were comprised as one tribe under the name of Adnan. Kinkase had begged Antar not to show himself on this occasion,

fearing that his appearance might cause dissension. Antal listened to this advice but was an noble to rest quiet in the tense. The interest he felt in case and the deep distrust with which the falseness of the Fazareans, who were always ready for treason, inspired him, induced him to show himself.

Gooding on his sword, Thami, and mounting his famous charger, Abjah, he took with him his brother Shidub and reached the spot, fixed upon for the race, in order that he might watch over the safety of kings or his sons. On his arrival, he seemed to excel all that crowd like a lot of

lion clad in coat of mail. He carried his naked sword and his eyes flashed like blazing culls. As soon as he had reached the middle of the crowd, he crowd out with a loud voice that struck terror to all hearts. Harkin, noble Arabian chieftains and men of renown assembled here. All of you know that I was supported and favoured by kings or here, father of King Case, that I am a slave bound to him by his goodness and munificence, that it is he who caused my parents to acknowledge me and gave me my rank, making me to be numbered among Arab chiefs. Although he is no longer living, I wish to show my gratitude to him

and bring the kings of the land into subjection to him, even after his death. He has left a son whom his brothers have acknowledged and have set on the throne of his father. This son is Case, whom they have thus distinguished because of his wisdom, rectitude and noble heart. I am the slave of Case, and him is proper. I intend to be the supporter of him whom I love and the enemy of whoever resists him. It shall never be said, as long as I live, that I have suffered an enemy to affront him, as to the conditions of this wager it is our duty to see them observed. The best thing, accordingly, to do is let the horse's race unobstructed,

for victory comes from the creator of day and night. I make an oath, therefore, by the holy house at Mecca, by the temple, by the eternal God, who never forgets his servants and never sleeps, that if Halifa commits any act of violence, I will make him drink the cup of vengeance and of death, and it will make the whole tribe of Vizara the byword of all the world. And you, Arab chieftains, if you sincerely desire the race to take place,

conduct yourselves with justice and impartiality. Otherwise, by the eyes of my dear Iblah, I will make the horses run the race in blood. Antara is right. the horsemen shouted on all sides. Hadifa chose as the rider of Rabra, a groom of the tribe of Dibyan. This man had passed all his days and many of his nights in rearing and tending horses. Case, on the other hand, chose as a rider of Duhir, a groom of the tribe of Abbs,

much better trained and experienced in his profession than was the Dibyanian. When the two contestants had mounted their horses, King Case gave his parting instruction to his groom. Do not let the reins hang too loosely in managing Duhir. If you see him flag, stand up in your stirrups and press his flanks gently with your legs. Don't urge him too much, or you'll break his spirit. Haditha heard this advice and repeated it word for word to his rider. Antar began to laugh.

By the faith of an Arab. He said to Hadifa, You will be beaten. A word's so scarce that you're obliged to use exactly those of Case. But as a matter of fact, case is a king, the son of a king. He ought always to be immisely. by others, and since you have followed, word by word, his speech, it is a proof that your horse will follow his in the desert.

At these words, the heart of Hadifa 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. This delay was indispensable to him in preparing the act of perfidy, which he meditated, for he had no sooner seen the hear than he was speechless, with astonishment at the beauty and perfection of the horse. The judges had already dismounted And the horsemen of the various tribes

Were preparing to return home When Shedou began to cry out with a loud voice Tribes of Apz, of Adnan Of Fisara and of Debian And all here, present Attend to me, for an instant And listen to the words Which I'll be repeated

From generation to generation All the warriors stood motionless Speak on, they cried What is your will? Perhaps there may be something good in your words illustrious Arabs continued Shadoub. You know what happened in consequence of the match between Dahrir and Ghra? I assure you on my life that I will outstrip both of them in running,

even were they swifter than the wind. But listen to the condition I offer. If I am the winner, I am to take the hundred camels which are at stake. But if I am beaten, I am to forfeit fifty. Upon this, one of the sheikhs of Fazzara exclaimed, What is that, you are saying, vile slave? Why should you receive a hundred camels if you win and only four-fit fifty if you lose? Do you ask why, ancient mire of a dunghill?

Replied Shadub. Because I have but two legs to run and a horse has four, not counting his tail. All the Arabs burst out laughing, yet, as they were astonished at the conditions proposed by Shadub, and extremely curious to see him run the race, they agreed that he should make the hazardous experiment. When all had returned to the tents, Antar said to Shadu, come now thou son of a cursed mother how dared thou say that thou couldst outst strip these two horses whose race all horsemen of our tribes have assembled to sea and who all the world admits have no equals in speed not even among the birds of the air by whom who created the springs and the rocks and who knows all things replied shadub i will outstrip those two horses be their fleet as the winds yes and my victory will have an advantageous result for when the arabs hear of it They will give up all idea of pursuing me when I run across the desert.

Antar laughed, for he was in doubt about Shadub's plan. The latter went to find King Case and his brother and the other witnesses of the race and made oath on his life that he would outstrip the two horses. All present acknowledged themselves witnesses of the oath and left the spot filled with astonishment at the proposition. As for the trickster Hathifa, in the evening, he summoned one of his slaves named Dames, a rascal, if ever there was one. "'Oh, dames,' he said,

"'you frequently boast of your cunning, "'but hitherto I have had no opportunity "'ofudging it to the proof.' "'My lord,' answered the slave. "'Tell me, in what way I can be useful to you?' "'I desire,' said Haditha. "'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 horse as well, "'and see if Dahir is in advance, If he is, show yourself suddenly, strike him on the head and cause him to stop, so that Ghamra mounts to rip him, and we may not incur the disgrace of defeat. For I confess that since I have seen Duhir, his excellent points have made me doubt the superiority of Chabra, and I fear my mare will be beaten, and she will become the laughingstock of all the Arabs. But, sir, how shall I distinguish Dai'hi?

from Habra when they advanced both of them wrapped in a cloud of dust. Rathifa replied, I am going to give you a sign and to explain how the matter may be free from difficulty. As he spoke, he picked up some stones from the ground and said, Take these stones with you at sunrise, begin to count them, and throw them to the earth four at a time. You must repeat the operation five times, and the last time, Habra, will arrive. That is the calculation I've made, so if a cloud of dust presents itself to you, and some of the stones, a third or a half of them, still remain in your hand,

you may be sure that Dehia has gained first place and is before your rise. You must then hurl a stone at his head, as I said, and stop this running, so that my mare make it in the lead. The slave agreed to do so. He provided himself with stones, and went to hide himself at the Great Pass, and Hadifa felt confident of gaining the wager. At the dawn of the day, the Arabs coming from all quarters were assembled on the race ground. The judges gave the signal for the start, and the two riders uttered loud shouts.

The racers started like flashes of lightning which dazzle the sight and seemed like the wind, when as it blows, it increases in fury. Rabra passed ahead of Dehir and distance him. Now you are lost, my brother of the tribe of Abbs! cried the Fazarian groom to the Absian. Try and console yourself for this defeat, you lie, retorted the absion. And in a few moments you'll see how completely you are mistaken. Wait till we're past this uneven ground.

Mayers always travel faster on rough roads than on smooth country. And so it happened, for when they arrived in the plane, De Heir shot forward like a giant, leaving a trail of dust behind him. It seemed as if he went on wings, not legs. In the twinkling of an eye, he had outstripped Rabra. "'Here,' cried the absion to the Fazarian groom. "'Send a messenger from me to the family of Bedder, "'and you yourself drink the bitter cup of patience behind me.'

Meanwhile, Shadub, swift as the north wind, kept ahead of Dehir, bound in like a fawn and running like an ostrich until he reached the defile where Dames was hidden. The slave had only thrown down less than a third of his pebbles when he looked up and saw Dahir approaching. He waited to the horse, passed close by him, and suddenly showed himself with a shout and hit the race of violently between the eyes with a stone.

The horse reared, stopped one moment, and the rider was on the point of being unseated. Shadub was a witness to the incident, and having looked at the slave, recognized him as belonging to the treacherous Havifa. And the violence of his rage, he flung himself upon Dems and struck him dead with his sword. Then he approached Duhir for the purpose of speaking smoothly to him

and starting him again on the race, but alas, the mayor, Rhabra rushed up like the wind. Then Shadub, fearing defeat, thinking of the camels he would forfeit, set out running at full speed towards the lake, where he arrived two bow-shots in advance of the horses. Grabra followed, then to hear last, bearing on the forehead the mark of the missile. His cheeks were covered with blood and tears.

All the spectators were astounded on seeing the agility and endurance of Shadub, but as soon as Raba had reached the finish, the Fasurians uttered loud shouts of joy. Dehio was led home, all bleeding, and his writer told the men of the tribe of Abbs what the slave had done. Case examined the wound of his horse and asked for full details of the occurrence. Antar grew crimson with anger and laid his hand upon his invincible sword, as if impatient to annihilate the tribe of the Fazareans. But the sheikhs restrained him, although with difficulty, after which they went to Hathifa to cover him with shame and to reproach him with the infamous deed he had done.

Haditha denied it with false oaths, affirming that he knew nothing of the blow dealt to Heidehir. Then he added, I demand the camels which are due to me, and I did not admit the treacherous pretext on which they are being withheld. That blow is doubtless of evil augury for the tribe of Fizarra, said Case. God will certainly give us victory and triumph and destroy them, for Hadifa only desired this race to take place in order that it might cause trouble and discord, and the disturbance which this contest is sure to

excite will stir up one tribe against the other, so that there will be many men killed and children made orphans. The conversation which followed among the tribesmen became more and more excited, confusion followed, shouts rang out on all sides, and drawn swords flashed. Bloodshed would have

resulted had not the sheikhs and the wise men dismounted, and with bared heads mingled with the crowd, with humble mean, imploring them, until at last the matter was settled as harmoniously as possible. It was agreed that Shadoop should receive the amount of the wager, a hundred camels from the tribe of Fazzara, and that Hadifa should abandon his claim and refrain from all dispute.

Such were the measures taken to extinguish the hostility and disorder which threatened to burst out among the tribes. Then the different families retired to their undwellings, but the hearts of all were filled with bitter hatred. One whose resentment seemed keenest was Hadifa, especially when he learned of the slave dame's death. As for Case, he was also. filled with mute rage and intense hatred. Yet Antar tried to reassure him.

King, he said to him, do not let your heart be prayed a mortification for I swear by the two of kings O'her your father that I will cause disgrace and infamy to fall on Heifa and it is only from regard for you that I have up to this time delayed action. Soon after all returned to their tents. The following morning she did kill 20 of the camels he had won the day before and caused the meat to be distributed among the widows and those who had been wounded and crippled in war. He slaughtered 20 others, which he used in entertaining the tribe of Abbs, including women and slaves. Finally, the next day, he killed the rest of the camels and made a great feast near the lake

Zatlerasad, to which he invited the sons of King Zahir and his noble chieftains. At the end of this banquet, when the wines circulated among the guests, all praised the behaviour of Shadub, but the news of the camel slaughter, and of all the feasting was soon known to the tribe of Fazzara. All the enraged tribesmen hastened to seek Hadifa. What, said they, while we were first in the race, slaves and traitorous absinns have eaten our camels, sent for an equal number of camels by all means, but if refuses them, let us make a terrible war against the absin's. Hadifah raised his eyes upon his son, Abu Theraka. Mount horse at once, he said to him, and go and say to case, my father says that you must

this instant peer the wager, or we will come and seize the amount by main force, and we'll bring trouble upon you. There was then present a chief among the sheikhs, who, hearing the order that Haditha had given to his son, said, "'Oh, Havifa, are you not ashamed to send such a message to the tribe of the Abseans? Are they not our kindred and allies? Does this proposal harmonise with the council and desire of allaying dissension?' The genuine man shows great for generosity and kindness. I think it quite reasonable to expect that you desist from this perverse mood, which will end in our total extermination. Case has shown himself quite impartial and has done wrong to no one. Cherish, therefore, peace with the horseman of the tribe of Abbs. Take warning from what happened to the slave dames. He struck to hear the horse of King Case and got punished him at once.

He has left bathed in his slavish blood. I beg you to listen to none, but wise counsels, thanked nobly, and abandoned-based designs. While you are thus forewarned as to your situation, keep a prudent eye on your affairs. This discourse rendered Havifa furious. Contemptible Sheikh, dog of a traitor! He exclaimed, What, must I be in fear of case,

and the whole tribe of the absence? By the faith of an Arab, I will let all men of honour know that if case refuses to send the camels, I will not leave one of his tents stand in. The shech was indignant, and to increase the fear he would cast into the heart of Hathifa, he spoke to him in verses to the following effect. Insult is cowardliness, for it takes by surprise him who is not expecting it,

as the knight enraps those who wander in the desert. When the sword shall once be drawn, look out for blows. Be just, and do not clove thyself with dishonour. Inquire of those who know the fate of Theimand and his tribe, when they committed acts of rebellion and tyranny. They will tell you that her command of God from unhigh destroyed them in one night, and on the morrow they are scattered on the ground,

their eyes turned towards the sky. Hadifa dissembled his contempt for these verses and the sheikh who had pronounced them, but he ordered his son to go at once to Case. Abu Faraka started for the tribe of Abbs, and as soon as he arrived there, repaired to the home of Case, who was absent. The messenger asked then for his wife,

Maudela, the daughter of Vrebia. What do you desire of my husband? She asked. I demand my jewel the prize of the horse race. Misfortune, take you and that which you demand. She replied, Son of Havifa, do you not fear the consequences of such perfidy? If Case were here, he would send you to your death instantly.

Abu Faracher returned to his father to whom he told all that the wife of Case had said. What, you coward! shouted her Difa. Do you come back without completing your errand? Are you afraid of the daughter of Rebia? Go to him again. As Amu Faraka reminded his father that it was now near nightfall,

the message was postponed until the next day. As for Case, when he re-entered his home, he learned from his wife that Abu Faraka had come to ask for the camels. By the faith of an Arab, he said, If I had been here, I would have slain him, but the matter is closed. Let us think, no more of it. Yet King Case passed the night in grief and annoyance until sunrise,

at which time he bitook himself to his tent, Antar came to see him. Case rose, and making him take a seat mention the name of Havifa. Would you believe he had the shamelessness to send his son to demand the camels of me? If I had been present, I would have slain the messenger. Scarcely had he finished uttering these words when Amu Faraka presented himself on horseback, without dismounting and uttering no word of salutation or preface, he said. Case, my father desires that you send him that which is his Jew. By so doing, your conduct will be that of a generous man,

but if you refuse, my father will come against your, carry off his property by force and plunge you into misfortune. On hearing these words, Case felt the light changed to darkness before his eyes. Oh, thou son of a vile coward. He exclaimed. How is it that you are not more respectful in your address to me? He seized a javelin and plunged it into the breast of Abu Faraka. Pierce through the young messenger lost control of his horse.

Anta dragged him down and flung him on the ground. Then turning the horse's head away from the direction of Fizarra, he struck him on the flank with a holly stick and the horse took the road towards the pastures and finally entered his stable, all covered with blood. The shepherds at once led him to the tent, crying out, Miss Fortune,

Miss Fortune! Hadifa became furious. He smote upon his breast and repeating the words, Tribe of Fazara, To arms! To arms! To arms!

And all the disaffected came to Hadifa once more begging him to declare war on the absions And to take vengeance on them. Kinsmen! Replied Haditha with alacrity. Let none of us sleep tonight. Without our armor on.

And so it happened. At break of day, Hadifa was on horseback. The warriors were ready, and only women and children, and the feeble were left in the tents. Case, on the other hand, after slaying Abu Faraka, expected that the Fazarians would come and attack himself and his warriors. He therefore prepared for battle. Antar was charged with taking the necessary reconnoiter. He left in the tents only women, children, and those two feeble to bear the sword. Then he put himself in command of the heroes of Karad.

Nothing could be more brilliant than the ranks of the abscians in their coats of mail and gleaming weapons. These preparations caused an anxious moment for both parties. They marched forth against each other and the sun had scarcely appeared before scimitars flashed and the whole country was in a turmoil. Antar was impatient to press forward and satisfy his thirst for battle. But lo, Haditha, dressed in a black robe, advances, his heart broken by the death of his son. son of Zahir, he cried to Case. It is a base action to slur child, but it is good to meet in battle, to decide with these lancers which shall predominate you or me. These words cut Case to the quick.

Hared along by passion, he left his standard and rushed against Hathifa. Then the two chiefs, spurred on by mutual hatred, fought together on their noble charges until nightfall. Case was mounted on to here, and Hathifa. on Rhabra. In the course of this combat, the exploits of the past were eclipsed. Each tribe despaired of his chieftain's safety, and they were eager to make a general attack in order to stop the struggle of the chieftains and the fury with which they contended. Cries began to herd in the air. Simitars were drawn and lancers advanced over the ears of Arabian charges. Antar approached certain absin chiefs and said, Let us attack the traitors. He prepared to charge when the ancients

of the two tribes came forth into the middle of the plain with heads uncovered, their feet bared and their idols hung from their shoulders. Standing between the two armies, they spoke as follows. Ginsmen and allies, in the name of that harmony which has hitherto prevailed among us. Let us do nothing that will make us the byword of our slaves. Let us not furnish our enemies with grunt for reproaching us. Let us forget all matters of our slaves. Let us forget all matters of dispute and dissension. Let us not turn wives into widows and childrens into orphans. Satisfy your warlike ardour by attacking those among the Arabs who are your real foes, and you, kinsmen of Vizara, show yourselves more humble and less haughty towards your brethren,

the Abseans. Above all, forget not that insolent wrong has often caused the destruction. of many tribes, which have had sore reason to regret their impious actions. In this way, many men have been deprived of their possessions, and a vast number been plunged into the gulf of despair and regret. Expect the fatal hour of death, the day of dissolution, for it is upon you. You'll be rent asunder by the threatening. eagles of destruction and enclosed in the dark prison house of the tomb. Take care that when your bodies are separated from life, men may think about you without any

other memory than that of your virtues. The sheikhs talked together for a long time, and meanwhile, the flame of passion which had been kindled in the soul of the two heroes, Case and Haditha, became quenched. Haditha withdrew from the fight and it was agreed that Case should pay as the price of Abu Faraka's blood a quantity of cattle and a string of camels. The sheikhs did not even wish

then to quit the field of battle until Case and Hadifa embraced each other and agreed to all the arrangements. Antar was crimson with rage. Oh, King Case! He exclaimed. What have you done?

What? While our swords flush in our hands shall the tribe of Fizara exact a price for the blood of its dead and we never be able to obtain retaliation excepting with our spear points. The blood of our dead is shed and shall we not avenge it? Hadifa was beside himself on hearing these words. And you, vile bastard, said Antar to him.

You son of a vile mother, must your honour be purchased at the expense of our disgrace? But for the presence of these noble sheikhs, I would annihil it you and all your people. this very instant. Then Hathifa's indignation and anger overlept all bounds. By the faith of an Arab, he said to the sheikhs. I wish to hear no talk of peace

at the moment that the enemy is ready to spear me. Do not talk in that way, dear son of my mother, said Hamel to his brother. Do not dart away on the path of imprudence, abandon these gloomy resolutions, remain in peace with allies of the absence, for their shorthy.

shining stars, the burnished son that guides all Arabs who love glory. It was but the other day that you wronged them by causing the horse Dahir to be wounded and thus erred from the path of justice. As for you, son, he was justly slain, for you had sent him to demand something that was not due you. After all, nothing is so proper as to make peace, for he would seek and stir at war is a tyrant and an oppressor. accept therefore the compensation offered you or you are likely to call up a-round as a fire which will burn us in the flames of hell hamel concluded with verses of the following import by the truth of him who has rooted firm the mountains without foundations if you decline to accept the compensation offered by the absin's you are in the wrong they acknowledge hadifa as their chief be a chief in very deed and be content with the cattle and camels offered you dismount from the horse of outrage and mount it not again, for it will carry you to the sea of grief and calamity.

Haditha renounced like a generous man all violence, but particularly the idea of contending with the absinns. Make of them, and of their leader a powerful rampart against the enemies that may attack us. Make of them friends that will remain faithful, for they are men of the noblest intentions. Such are the abscans, and if Case has acted on jambisers,

justly towards you, it is you who first set him the example some days ago. When Hamel finished these verses, the chiefs of the different tribes thanked him, and Haditha, having consented to accept the compensation offered, all the Arabs renounced violence and war. All who carried arms remained at home. Case sent to Haditha 200 camels, six men's slaves, ten women's slaves, and ten horses. Thus, peace was re-established, and everyone rested in tranquility throughout the The land. End of Chapter 4. Chapter 5 of the Literature of Arabia by Hepaphanius Wilson.

This Librevox recording is in the public domain. Selections from Arabian Poetry Part 1. Introduction The essential qualities of Arabian poetry appear in the Romance of Antar and the tales of A thousand and one nights. For such a blending of prose and verse is the favourite form of Arabian literature in its highest and severest form, even in the drama. But the character of the people is most clearly shown in the lyrical poems of the Bedouin country. The pastoral poetry of the peninsula is so local in its illusions that it cannot adequately be translated into English. It is in the lyrics that we find that touch of nature which makes the whole world kin. The gorgeousness

of Hindu literature with its lavish description of jewelry and gold, precious stones and marbles, hideous demons and mighty gods, is not to be looked for in Arabia. There, the horizon is clear, and the plain has nothing but human occupants. The common passions of men are the only powers at work. Love, war, sorrow and wine are the subject of these little songs, some of which might have been written by Anakrian Moore and others by Catalyst. The influence of Greek poetry is indeed manifest in these light and sometimes frivolous effusions. The sweet, sweetness and grace which distinguish some are only equaled by the wit of others, for wit is the prevailing characteristic of Arabian poetry, which is attractive for its cleverness, its brightness,

the alternate smiles and tears which shine through it, and make the present selections so refreshing and interesting a revelation of the national heart and intellect. I use the word of refreshing because some of the imagery of these lyrics is new to me, and quite unparalleled in European literature. What can be more novel and at the same time more charming than the following simile with which a short elegy concludes. But though in dust thy relics lie, thy virtues, Marno, ne'er shall die,

though Niles' full stream be seen no more that spread his waves from shore to shore, still in the verdure of the plain, his vivying smiles remain. The praise of a humble lot has been sung from Hafiz to Horace, but never illustrated by a prettier conceit than the Arabic poet has recourse to in this stanza. Not always wealth, not always force.

A splendid destiny commands, the lordly vulture knows the course that rots upon yon barren sands. No want, no weakness still conspires to binders 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 axiom of 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 of their distinguishing qualities. It is quite attic in its flavour and exquisitely delicate in its combined good humour and freedom from rancour.

An epigram, according to the old definition, should be like a bee, It should carry the sweetness of honey, although it bears a sting at the end. Sometimes the end has a point which does not sting, as in the following 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. Marshall himself could not have excelled the wit of an epigram addressed to 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 a translation, is one of those experiences which enlarge and stimulate the mind and expand its range of impressions, with a distinctly elevating and liberalizing effect. It has the result of genuine education, in that it increases our capacity for sympathy for other people, making us better acquainted with the language in which they reveal that common human heart which they share with us. Epiphanius Wilson

An elegy Those dear abodes which once contained the fair amidst Matata's wilds I seek in vain. No towers, nor tents, nor cottages are there, but scattered ruins and a silent plain. The proud canals that once Rihanna graced, their course neglected, and their waters gone, Among the levelled sands are dimly traced,

Like moss-grown letters on a mouldering stone. Rihanna say, How many a tedious year, Its hallowed circles or our heads hath rolled, 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 poor's 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 caused their locks with glittering gems to glow? How oft hath Eve her dewy treasures born 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 veil, 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 given their deep foundations to the light, as the retouching pencil that recalls a long-lost picture to the raptured sight. Save where the rains have washed the gathered sand

and bared the scanty fragments to our view, as the dust sprinkled on a punctured hand bids the faint tints, resume their azure hue. No mossy record of those once-loved seats points out the mansion to inquiring eyes. No tottering wall, in echoing sounds, repeats our. Our mournful questions and our bursting sighs. Yet, midst those ruined heaps, that naked plain, can faithful memory former scenes restore.

Recall the busy throng, the jocund train, And picture all that charmed us there before. Near shall my heart the fatal mourn forget, That bore the fair ones from these seats so dear. I see, I see the crowding litters yet, and yet, the tent-pulls 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 and clothes. What melting glances through those curtains play. Sure, we are as antelopes or tutors rose. Through yonder veils, their sportive young survey. The band moved on to trace their steps I strove.

I saw them urge the camel's hastening flight till the white vapour, like a rising grove, snatched them forever from my aching sight. Nor since that morn have I noir a scene. The bansar burst which held us once so fast. Memory but tells me that such things have been and sad reflection adds that they are past. Lebed Ben Rabiat al-Amari.

The author of this poem was a native of Yemen. He was contemporary with Muhammad and was already celebrated as a poet when the prophet began to promulgate his doctrines. Lebed embraced Islamism and was one of the most aggressive helpers in its establishment. He fixed his abode in the city of Kufa where he died at a very advanced age.

This elegy, as is evident, was written previous to Libid'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 Marno. Friends of my heart who share my sighs, go seek the turf where Marno lies, and woo the dewy clouds of spring to sweep it with prolific wing. within that cell, beneath that heap, friendship and truth and honour sleep, beneficence that used to clasp the world within her ample grasp, there rests entombed, of thought bereft, for where one conscious atom left, new bliss,

new kindness to display, t'would burst the grave, and seek the day. But though in dust thy relics lie, Thy virtues, Marno, 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 vivying smiles remain. Hassan Alassad, Tomb of Sayy, Blessed are the tenants of the tomb. With envy, I their lot. survey, for Syed shares the solemn gloom, and mingles with their mouldering clay.

Dear youth, I'm doomed thy loss to mourn, when gathering ills around combine, and whither now, shall Malak turn, where look for any help but thine. At this third moment, when the foe, my life with a rage, insatiate seeks, in vain, I strive toward the blow, my love, my buckler falls, my sabre breaks. Upon thy grassy tomb I knelt and sought from pain a short relief. The attempt was vain, I only felt in tenser pangs and livelier grief. The bud of woe no more repressed, fed by the tears that drenched it there, shot forth and filled my laboring breast, soon to expand, and shed despair. But though of sighted, I'm bereft, from whom the stream of bounty came, Syed, a nobler mead has left, the exhaustless heritage of fame.

Though mute the lips on which I hung, their silence speaks more loud to me than any voice from mortal tongue. What Syed was, let Malik be. Abdul Malik al-Harathy Abdul Malik was a native of Arabia Felix. The exact period when he flourished is unknown but as this production is taken from Hamasa, it is most probable that he was anterior to Mohammedanism, the death of his mistress. Dost thou wonder that I flew charmed to meet my Leila's view?

Dost thou wonder that I hung raptured on my Leila's tongue? If her ghost's funereal screech through the earth my grave should reach, on that voice I loved so well my transported ghost would dwell if in death I can descry where my Leila's relics lie Sahar's dust will flee away there to join his Leila's clay

Abu Sahar Al-Hadilly 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! How frail are riches and their joys. Morn builds the heap which Eve destroys. Yet, can they have one sure delight? The thought, the 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 hoarder 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 loved 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. Near may I strive to swell the heap, till want and woe have ceased to weep. With brow unaltered 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 blessed,

I ne'er was found to look with scorn on those around, nor for the loss of poultry ore shall Hattam seem to Hattom poor. Hatem Thai Hatem Thai 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 Hatam. Hatam was also a poet but his talents were principally exhorted in recommending his favourite virtue, the Battle of Sabla.

sabler them sourced the exulting foe in fancied triumphs crowned thou heard'st their frantic females throw these galling taunts around make now your choice the terms we give desponding victims here these fetters on your hands receive or in your hearts the spear and is the conflict o't 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, though now the prospect lowers, and conquest, peace, and liberty shall gild our future hours. The foe advanced.

In Fermary we rushed o'er's sands, and the red sabre marked our way amidst their yielding bands. Then, as they writhed in death's cold grasp, we cried, our choice is made, these hands the sabres hilt shall clasp your hearts shall have the blade jaffer ben alba this poem and the one following it are both taken from the hamasa and afford curious instances of the animosity which prevailed amongst the arabian clans and of the ranker with which they precede each other when once at variance verses to my enemies why thus to passion give the rain Why seek your kindred tribe to wrong? Why strive to drag to light again the fatal feud entombed so long?

Think not, if fury ye display, but equal fury we can deal. Hope not, if wronged, but we repay revenge for every wrong we feel. Why thus, to passion, give the rain? Why seek the robe of peace to turn? tear. Rash youth desist your coarse restrain, or dread the wrath ye blindly dare. Yet friendship we not ask from foes, nor favour hope from you to prove. We loved you not, great Alan owes, nor blamed 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 heaven, hating and hated by each other. Alfadil Ibn Alibis On his friends With conscious pride I view the band of faithful friends that round me stand With pride exalt that I alone can join these scattered gems in one For there are a wreath of pearls and I the silken cord on which they lie "'Tis mine their in most souls to see. "'Unlocked is every heart to me.

"'To me they cling, on me they rest, "'and I have a place in every breast, "'for there are wreath of pearls, "'and I, the silken cord, on which they lie. "'Meskin, al-Darmi, on temper. "'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, though thy spirit's my pride, I'd wish for some sweetness to temper the bowl. If life be ne'er suffered to rest or subside, it may not be flat, but I fear it will be foul. Nabaget, Benny Jaiid

There have been several Arabian poets of the name Nabiget The author of these verses was descended from the family of Jaiid As he died in the 40th year of Hagirah aged 120 He must have been four score at the promulgation of Islamism He however declared himself an early convert to the new faith The Song of Messuna The Russet Suit of Camel's Hair with spirits light and eyes serene

is dearer to my bosom far than all the trappings of a queen The humble tent and murmuring breeze That whistles through its fluttering wall My unaspiring fancy please Better than towers and splendid hall The attendant cults that bounding fly And frolic by the littest side

Are dearer in Messuna's eye Than gorgeous mules in all their pride The watchdog's voice that bays wheneer a stranger seeks his master's cot sound sweeter in Messuna's ear than yonder trumpet's long-drawn note. The rustic youth, unspoilt by art, some of my kindred poor but free, will ever to Measuna's heart be dearer, pampered fool than thee. Messuna was a daughter of the tribe of Calab, a tribe, according to Abelpheda, 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 Khalifa Moya, but this exalted situation by no means suited the disposition of Messuna, and amidst all the pomp and splendour of Damascus, she languished for the simple pleasures of her native desert. End of Chapter 5 Chapter 6 of the Literature of Arabia by Epiphanius Wilson. This Libre Vox recording is in the public domain.

Arabian Poetry Part 2 To My Father Must then my failings from the shaft of anger ne'er escape? And dost thou storm, because I've quaffed the water of the grape? That I can thus from wine be driven, thou surely near canst think, Another reason thou hast given why I resolve to drink. T'was sweet the flowing cup to seize, tis sweet thy rage to see. And first I drink myself to please, and next, to anger thee. Yazid.

Yazid succeeded Mojah in the Khalafat, AH-60, and in most respects showed himself to be 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 these actions which he knew no good Muslim 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.

Not always wealth, not always force, a splendid destiny commands. The lordly vulture knows the course that rots upon yon barren sands. No want, no 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 Muhammad Ben Indris Shafay, the founder of one of the four Orthodox sects into which Mohammedans are divided was a disciple of Malik Ben-Anz

and master to Ahmed Ibn 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 Abu Hanifa. This differs in tenets considerably from the three others, for whilst the Malekites, the Shafayites and the Hanbalites, are invariably bigoted tradition in their interpretations of the Quran, the Hanifites consider themselves as at liberty in any difficulty to make use of their own reason.

To the Khalifa Haran al-Rashid. Religion's gems can narrow dawn the flimsy robe by pleasure worn. Its feeble texture soon would tear and give those jewels to the air. Thrice happy they who seek the abode of peace and pleasure in their god, who spurned the world its joys despise and grasp at bliss beyond the skies. The author of this poem was a hermit of Syria, equally celebrated for his talents and piety. He was son to a prince of Kharassan and born about the 97th year of the Hegira. This poem was addressed to the chleifa upon his undertaking a pilgrimage to Mecca.

Lines to Harin and Yahya. The affrighted sun ear while he fled And hid his radiant face in night A cheerless gloom The world overspread But Harren came and all was bright Again the sun shoots forth his rays Nature is decked in beauty's robe

For mighty Haran's sceptre sways And Yahya's arm sustains the globe Isaac Almusoli Isaac Almusili 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 Musil, he is generally supposed to have been a native of that place. The ruin of Barmecades. No, Barmak! Time hath never shown so saddy change of wayward fate, nor sorrowing mortal has 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 caressed, The widowed world bewails her lord. The family of Barmak 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 favour Which they enjoyed at the Court of Baghdad,

Where for many years, they filled the highest offices of the state With universal approbation. To Tahr Ben-Hosain 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 Tahr, if you can, and a monster, perhaps, may be changed to a man. Tahrer Ben-Hosain was ambidexter and one-eyed,

and, strange to say, the most celebrated general of his time. The adieu The Boatman who was an abidesxter. shout, "'Tis time to part, no longer can we stay. T'was then, Maimna taught my heart how much a glance could say. With trembling steps to me she came. Farewell, she would have cried, but ear her lips the word could frame, in half-form 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 brow, she hung.

My willing arms and braced the maid, my heart with raptures beat, while she but wept the moor and said, Would we had never met? Abu Muhammad. This was sung before the Khalifa Wathik by Abu Muhammad, a musician of Baghdad as a specimen of his musical talents, and such were its effects upon the Khalifa that he immediately testified his approbation of the performance

by throwing his own robe over the shoulders of Abu Muhammad and ordering him a present of a hundred thousand dirhams. To my mistress, ungenerous and mistaken maid, to scorn me thus because I'm poor, canst thou a liberal hand upbraid for dealing round some worthless ore? Despairs the wish of little souls

the great but gather to bestow. Yon current down the mountain rolls, and stagnates in the swamp below. Abu Taman Habib Abu Taman is considered the most excellent of all the Arabian poets. He was born near Damascus, H.190, and educated in Egypt, but the principal part of his life was spent at Baghdad under the patronage of the Abbasid Khalifers.

To a female cup-bearer. 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. Abdel Salam bin Ragban. Abdel Salam 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 contemptual.

of Cock of the Evil Genai. He died in the 236th year of the Hegirah, aged near 80. Masdud on the monks of Chabet. Tenants of Yon hallowed feign, let me your devotions share. Their increasing rapture's reign, none are ever sober there. Crowded gardens, festive bowers, ne'er shall claim a thought of mine. You can give in Ichabet's towers, Pura joys and brighter wine, though your pallid faces prove how you nightly vigils keep,

tis but that you ever love flowing goblets more than sleep. Though your eyeballs dim and sunk stream in penitential guise, tis but that the wine you've drunk bubbles over from your eyes. The three following songs were written by Mashdued, Rakik, and Raiz, three of the most celebrated impoveritators in Baghdad. at an entertainment given by Abu Isi. Rakik to his female companions. Though the peevish tongues upbraid,

though the brows of wisdom scowl, Fair ones here on roses laid, Careless will we quoth the bow. Let the cup, with nectar crowned, Through the grove its beams display, It can shed a lustre round, Brighter than the torch of day. Let it pass from how,

hand to hand, circling still with ceaseless flight, till the streaks of grey expand, O'er the fleeting robe of night. As night flits, she does but cry, Seize them moments that remain. Thus our joys, with your joys shall vie, tenants of yon-hallowed feign. Dialogue by Reis Raise Made 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. Destined 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, or my selim's rosy cheek, To a lady weeping, When I beheld thy blue eyes shine, Through the bright drop that pity drew, I saw beneath those tears of thine, a blue-eyed violet bathed in dew.

The violet ever sensed the gale, its hues adorn the fairest wreath, but sweetest through a dewy veil, its colours glow, its odours breathe, when mirth sits smiling, 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 through pity's flood they gleam, who, but must love their softened beam. Ibn al-Rumi Ibn al-Rumi is reckoned by the Arabian writers as one of the most excellent of all their poets. He was by birth Assyrian and passed the greatest part of his time at Emessa, where he died A.H. 283.

On a valetudinarian. So careful is Issa, and anxious to last, so afraid of himself is he grown. He swears through two nostrils. The breath goes too fast, and he's trying to breathe through but one. Eben al-Rumi, on a miser. Hang her a thoughtless, wasteless fool.

She scatters corn wherever she goes. Korth Hassan, angry at his mule, that dropped a dinner to the crows. Ibn al-Rumi To Qasim obio Allah Poor Qasim, thou art doomed to mourn by destiny's decree Whatever happens it must turn to misery for thee. Two sons hath thou, the one thy pride,

The other was thy pest. Ah, why did cruel death decide to snatch away the best? No wonder thou should droop with woe of such a child bereft. But now thy tears must doubly flow, for our others left. Ali Ben Ahmed bin Mansoor. Ali bin 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 a matter of indifference to him whether an enemy or a brother smarted under its severity. He died at Baghdad A.H. 302. A friend's birthday. When born, in tears we saw thee drowned, while thine assembled friends around with smiles their joy confessed. So live, that at thy parting hour they may the flood of sorrow poor, and thou in smile be dressed. 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 a puss is gone. Tis fate's decree. Yet I must still her loss deplore, for dearer than a child was she, and near shall I behold her more. With many a sad, presaging tear, this mourn I saw her steal away while she went on without a fear, except that she should miss her prey. I saw her to the dovehouse climb, with cautious feet, and slow she stepped, resolved to balance

loss of time by eating faster than she crept. Her subtle foes were on the watch and marked her course with fury fought, and while she hoped the birds to catch, an arrows point the huntress court. in fancy she had got them all and drunk their blood and sucked their breath alas she only got a fall and only drank the draught of death why why was the pigeon's flesh so nice that thoughtless cats should love it thus hadst thou but lived on rats and mice thou hadst been living still poor puss Cursed be the taste however refined that prompts us for such joys to wish, and cursed the dainty where we find destruction lurking in the dish. Ibn Al-Aulah Rani, an epigram upon Ibn Naftah Wah. By the former with ruin and death we are cursed. 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. Mohamed bin Arfa, here called Nafta Wah, was descended from a noble family in Charasin. 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 Hegira 323. fire. A riddle. The loftiest cedars I can eat, yet neither paunch nor mouth have I. I storm, when'er you give me meat. When'er you give me drink, I die.

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 Oriental. It is taken from the Mostatharov, where a great number of similar productions on various subjects are preserved. To a lady blushing. Leila, when I gaze on thee, my altered cheek turns pale, while upon thine sweet maid I see a deepening 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 chlifa Rathibylla Rathibilla Suntam octado was the 20th Chalifa 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 talk hotter 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 deemed their joys would never fade till themselves were seen no more, swept into oblivion's shade, who, with health and pleasure gay, ere his fragile state could know,

were not age and pain to say, Man is but a child of woe. The Khalifa Razi Billa, to a dove. The dove, to ease an aching breast, in piteous murmurs, vents her cares. Like me she sorrows for oppressed, Like me, a load of grief she bears. Her plaints are heard in every wood,

While I would fain conceal my woes, But veins 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 murmurings are thy part, And silent grief,

And tears are mine. Saraj Alwarak On a thunderstorm Bright smiled the morn Till o'er its head The clouds in thickened folding spread a robe Of sable hue Then, gathering round day's golden king

They stretched their wide Oshadowing wing And hid him from our view The rain, his absent beams deplored And softened into weeping poured its tears in many a flood. The lightning laughed with horrid glare. The thunder growled in rage,

the air in silent sorrow stud. Abraham Ben-Girate Abu Isaac, to my favourite mistress. I saw their jealous eyeballs roll. I saw them mark each glance of mine. I saw thy terrors and my soul shed every, pang that tortured thine. In vain to wean my constant heart, or quench my glowing flame they strove, each deep-laid scheme, each envious art, but waked my fears, for her I love.

T'was this compelled the stern decree that forced thee to those distant towers, and left me naught but love for thee to cheer my solitary hours. Yet let not Abla sink depressed, nor separations pangs deplore. We meet not, tis to meet more blessed. We parted, tis to part no more. Safe Aduelet, Sultan of Aleppo. Chapter 7 of the Literature of Arabia by Epiphanius Wilson. This Libra Fox recording is in the public domain. Read by Paul Wellford.

Arabian Poetry Part 3 Crucifixion of Ibn Bakir Whatever thy fate in life and death, thou art doomed above us still to rise, whilst at a distance far beneath, we view thee with admiring eyes. The gazing crowd still round thee throng, still to thy well-known voice repair, as when, erewhile, thy hallowed tongue poured in the mosque the solemn prayer. Still generous vizier, we survey thine arms extended o'er our head, as lately in the festive day when they were stretched 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 confined. 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. Abu Hassan Alan Bari. Ibn Bakir was vizier to Azad Adholi or Bacthir Emir al-Umra of Baghdad under the chalif's Moti-Lila and Teh-Lana, but Azad Adhore being deprived of his office and driven from Baghdad Adola, Sultan of Persia,

Ibn Bakir was seized and crucified at the gates of the city by order of the conqueror. Caprices of Fortune 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 oceans cavern lies Each lesser star that studs the sphere Sparkles with undiminished light Dark and eclipsed alone appear The Lord of Day

The Queen of Night Shem's al-Mali-Cabas History can show few princes so amiable And few so unfortunate as Shem's Almali-Cabas 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 orator, a philosopher and a poet.

On life. Like sheep, we're doomed to travel over the fated track to all assigned. 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, awaits his prey. Extemporary verses. Lowering as Barcady's face, the wintry night came in, cold as the music of his base, and lengthened as his chin. Sleep from my aching eyes had fled, and kept as far apart, a sense from Ibn Fachti's head or virtue from his heart. The dubious paths my footsteps balked, I slipped along the sod, as if on Jabba's faith I'd walked, or on his truth had trod. At length the rising king of day burst on a gloomy wood, like Karawash's eye whose ray dispenses every good.

Ibn Al-Ramakram The occasion of the following composition is thus related by Abel Féder Karawash Sultan of Musil being one winter evening engaged in a party of pleasure along with Barcadi, Ibn Fachti, Abu Jabber and the improvisatory poet Ibn Al-Ramacram 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. Ibn Al Ramachram took his subject from the stormy appearance of the night and immediately produced these verses. On the death of a sun. Tyrant of man, imperious fate, I bow before thy dread decree, no 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 bowel. Think not that stream will backward flow or cease its destined 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 mead she never gave, as soon the airy tower shall stand that's built upon a passing wave. Life is asleep of three-score years. Death bids us wake and hail the light, and man, with all his hopes and fears,

is but a phantom of the night. Ali bin Muhammad al-Tahmanee. Ali bin Muhammad was a native of that part of Arabia called Hijaz and was celebrated not only as a poet, but as a politician. To Leila. Leila, with two successful art, has spread from me, Loves 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 fluttering pinions free, soon would it bid its chains adieu,

or did the child its suffering see, He'd pity and relieve them too. On moderation in our pleasures, How oft does passion's grasp destroy the pleasure that it strives to gain? How soon the thoughtless course of joy is doomed To terminate in pain? When prudence would thy steps delay

She but restrains to make thee blessed. 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 erase. Abou al-Kasim Ibn Tavata Tabataba. Tabataba deduced his pedigree from Ali bin Abu Talib and Fatima, the daughter of Muhammad. He was born at Ispahan, but passed the principal part of his life in Egypt, where he was appointed chief of the sheriffs, a descendant of the prophet, a dignity held in the highest veneration by every Muslimman. He died in the year of Hegira 418, with the reputation of being one of the

most excellent poets of his time. The Vale of Bazaar The intertwining bows for thee Have wove sweet dell A verdant vest And thou in turn Shallth 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 her watchful mother bend A brighter cup A sweeter draught I gather from that rill of thine Than maddening drunkers ever quaffed

than all the treasures of the vine. So smoothed the pebbles on its shore that not a maiden can thither stray but counts her string of jewels o'er and thinks the pearls have slipped away. Ahmed bin Yusuf on Menezi. Ben Yusuf, for many years acted as vizier to Abu Nasser, Sultan of Dear Becker.

His political talents are much praised and he's particularly celebrated for the address he displayed while upon an embassy to the Greek emperor at Constantinople. Yusuf's poetry must be looked upon merely as a jeer-dispris, suggested by the beauties of the veil of Bazaar as he passed through it. To adversity! Hail! Chastening friend, adversity! Tis thine the mental oar to temper and refine, to cast in virtues mould the yielding heart, and honours polish to the mind impart. Without thy awakening touch thy plastic aid, I'd lain the shapeless mass that nature made, but formed a great artist by thy magic hand,

I gleam a sword to conquer and command. Abouman Bar Karawash The life of this prince was chequered with various adventures. He was perpetually engaged in contests either with the neighbouring sovereigns or the princes of his own family. After many struggles he was obliged to submit to his brother Abu Qamu, who immediately ordered him to be seized and conveyed to a place of security. on the incompatibility of pride and true glory.

Think not, Abdullah, pride and fame can ever travel hand in hand, with breast-opposed and adverse aim on the same narrow path they stand. Thus youth and age together meet, and life-divided moments share. This can't advance till that retreat. What's here increased is lessened there. And thus, the falling shades of night still struggle with the lucid ray, and ere they stretch their glimmy flight must win the lengthened space from day.

Abu Alola Abu Alola is esteemed as one of the most excellent of the Arabian poets who was born blind, but this did not deter him from his pursuit of literature. Abu Udala died at Mara in the year 449, aged 86. The death of Nedham Almulk Thy virtues famed through every land thy spotless life in age and youth prove the appurl by nature's hand

formed out of purity and truth Too long its beams of orient light Upon a thankless world were shed Allah has now revenged the slight And called it to its native bed Shabal Adole 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 you are so ungoverned and wild some wounds to our cheek 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. Welladatta, verses to my daughters.

With jock and heart and cheerful brow I used to hail the festal morn How must Muhammad greet it now A prisoner helpless and forlorn While these dear maids In a beauty's bloom With want oppressed with rags or spread By sordid labours at the loom

Must earn a poor precarious bread Those feet that never touched the ground Till musk or camphor strid the way Now bare and swollen with many a wound must struggle through the mairie clay. Those radiant cheeks are veiled in woe, a shower descends from every eye, and not a starting tear can flow

that wakes not an attending sigh. Fortune that Willam owned my sway and bowed obsequious to my nod now sees me destined to obey and bend beneath oppression's rod. Ye mortals with success elate, who bask in hope's delusive beam, attentive view Muhammad's fate

and own that bliss is but a dream Muhammad Bed Abad Seville was one of the small sovereigms in which Spain had been divided after the extinction of the House of Omea. It did not long retain its independence and the only prince who ever presided over it as a separate kingdom seems to have been

Muhammad bin Abad, the author of these verses. For 33 years he reigned over Seville and the neighbouring district 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. Sarinade to my sleeping mistress. Sure, Harat's potent spells were breathed upon that magic sword, thine eye,

for, if it wounds us thus while sheathed, when drawn, tis vain its edge to fly. How canst thou doom me, cruel fare, plunged in the hell of scorn to groan? No idlier this heart could share. This heart has worshipped thee alone. Ali bin Abed This author was by birth an African, but having passed over to Spain he was much patronised by Mohammed Sultan of Seville. After the fall of his master, Benabed returned to Africa and died at Tangier, AH 488. Harrett, referred to in the first line of the poem,

is a wicked angel who is permitted to tempt mankind by teaching them magic. See the legend respecting them in the Quran. In the sixth line, the poet alludes to the punishments denounced in the Quran against those who worship a plurality of gods. Their couch shall be in hell, and o'er them shall be coverings of fire. The Inconsistent When I sent you my melons, you cried out with scorn,

They ought to be heavy and wrinkled and yellow. When I offered myself, and whom those graces adorn, you flouted, and called me an ugly old fellow. 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. 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 defence can tears afford, What aid supply in this dread hour, When, kindled by the sparkling sword, Wars raging flames the land devour. No more let sleep 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 through trackless deserts fly some in the vultures more 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 ensanguine 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 pity nor shame your breasts can warm, your souls can move, let emulation's bursting flame wake you to vengeance and to love.

Almod Hafer, Allah be wordy. The capture of Jerusalem took place in the 492nd year of, the Hegira, AD 1099. Alibuwadi who wrote these verses was an aided of Kharassan. He died in AH 507. End of Chapter 7. Chapter 8 of the literature of Arabia by Epiphanius Wilson. This Liam of Oakhicic recording is in the public domain.

Read by Paul Wellford. Arabian Poetry, Part 4. To a lady. No, Abla, no. When Salim tells of many an unknown grace that dwells in Abla's face and mine, when he describes the sense refined that lights thine eyes and fills thy mind, by thee alone unseen. Tis not that drunk with love he sees ideal charms, which only please through passion's partial veil. Tis not that flattery's glosing tongue hath basely

framed an idle song, but truth that breathed the tale. Thine eyes unaided ne'er could trace each opening charm, each varied grace that round thy person plays. Some must remain concealed from thee, for Saleem's watchful eye to see, for Salim's tongue to praise. One polished 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 on the face. shows. An epigram. 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 fizz can pierce, at once the doctor they retain, the mourners and the hearse.

George Written to Abu al-Cheer Saluma 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 of sequoice run. I always fancy that I meet some father, followed by his son. A man like thee, scarce air appeared, a beard like thine, where shall we find it?

Surely thou cherishest thy beard, in hope to hide thyself behind it. Isai Ben Khalif. Lamyat al-Ajum. No kind supporting hand I meet, but fortitude shall stay my feet. No borrowed splendors, round me shine, But virtue's lustre all is mine.

A fame unsullied still, I boast, Obscured, concealed, but never lost. The same bright orb that led the day, Poors from the west, his mellowed ray. Zora, farewell, No more I see within thy walls a home for me. Deserted, spurned, aside I'm told, lost, as an old sword whose scabbards 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, through desert veils I've wound my way. The faithful beast whose back I press in groan laments her lord's distress. In every quivering of my spear,

a sympathetic sigh I hear, the camel bending with his load and struggling through the thorny road, amidst the fatigues that bear him down, in Hassan's woes forgets his own, yet cruel friends my wanderings chide, my suffering's slight, my toils deride. Once wealth I own engrossed each thought, there was a moment when I sought the glittering stores ambition claims, to feed the wants his fancy frames, but now tis past the changing day has snatched my high-built hopes away

and bade this wish my labour's clothes. Give me not riches, but repose. Tis he that mine my friend declares, that statue, like the lance he bears, I see that breast which ne'er contained a thought by fear or folly stained, whose powers can every change obey in business grave, in trifles gay, and formed each varying taste to please can mingle dignity with ease. What, though with magic influence, sleep, or every closing eyelid creep,

Though drunk with its oblivious wine, our comrades on their bails recline. My Saleem's trance I sure can break, Salim, tis I who speak, dangers on every side impend, and sleeps thou, careless, of thy friend? Thou sleep'st while every star on high beholds me with a wakeful eye, Thou changest ere the changeful knight Hath streaked her fleeting robe with white Tis love that hurries me along I'm deaf to fear's repressive song

The rocks of Hidham I'll ascend Though adverse darts each path defend And hostile sabres glitter there To guard the tresses of the fair Come, Salim, let us pierce the grove While night befriends to seek my love their clouds of fragrance as they rise Shall mark the place where Abla lies

Around her tent my jealous foes Like lions spread their watchful rose Amidst their bands Her bower appears Em bosomed in a wood of spears A wood still nourished by the dews Which smiles and softest looks diffused Thrice happy youths

Who midst yon shades Sweet converse hold with Idom's maids. What bliss to view them Gild the hours And brightened wit and fancies powers While every foible they disclose New transport gives new graces show

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 doomed 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 bull goes round. Amidst those veils 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 through a half-closed veil. The lions howling round the shade, my footsteps haunt, my walks invade. No fears shall drive me from the grove

if Abler listen to my love. Ah, Salim, shall the spells of ease thy friendship chain, Thine ardour freeze. Wilt thou enchanted thus decline each generous thought, each bold design? Then, far from men,

some cell prepare, or build a mansion in the air, but yield to us ambitions tied who fearless on its waves can ride. Enough for thee if thou receive the scattered spray that billows leave. Contempt and want

the wretch await, who slumbers in an abject state. Mids rushing crowds by toil and pain, the mead of honour we must gain. At honour's call, the camel hastes through trackless wilds and dreary wastes, till in the glorious race she find the fleetest courses left behind.

By toils like these alone, he cries, the adventurous youths to greatness rise. If plaited indents were fame and pompous ease our noblest aim, the orb that regulates the day would near from Ares Mansion stray. I've bent at Fortune's shrine too long, too oft she heard my suppliant tongue,

too oft has mocked my idle prayers, while fools and knaves engrossed her cares. Awake for them, asleep to me, heedless of worth, she scorned each plea. Ah, had her eyes just more surveyed the different claims with each displayed, those eyes from partial fondness free had slept to them and waked for me. But, midst my sorrow and my toils, hope ever smoothed my breast with smiles, her hand removed each gathering ill and oaked life's closing prospects still. Yet spite of all her

friendly art, the specious scene now gained my heart. I loved it not, although the day met my approach and jeered my way. I loathe now the hours retreat and fly with me, reverted feet. My soul from every tarnish free may boldly vaunt her purity, but are, how keen, however bright, the sabre glitter to the sight, its splendour lost, its polish, vain, till some bold hand the steel sustain. Why have my days been stretched by fate to see the vile and vicious grate, while I, who led the races so long, am last and meanest of the throng. Why has death so long delayed 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, No hope his laws will change for me, Each shifting scene, each varying hour, But proves the ruthless tyrant's power. But though with ill's unnumbered cursed,

We owe to faithless man the worst. For man can smile with specious art And plant a dagger in the heart. He's only fitted for the strife Which fills the boisterth paths of life. who, as he treads the crowded scenes, upon no kindred bosom leans. Too long my foolish heart had deemed mankind, as virtuous as they seemed. 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 these honeyed words and what they mean. With honest pride, a late I see, the sons of falsehood shrink from me. As from the right lines even way, the biased curves deflecting stray. But what avails it to complain? With souls like theirs reproof is vain, If on our air such bosoms share,

The sabre's point must fix it there. but why exhaust life's rapid bowl And suck the dreads with sorrow foul When long year this my youth has drained Whatever zest the cup contained 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 Contentments realms no fear invade No cares annoy No sorrow no sorrows shade. Their place secured in peace we rest, no ought demand to make us blessed, while pleasures gave fantastic bower the splendid pageant of an hour. Like yonder meteor in the skies, flits with a breath, no more to rise. As through life's various walks we're led, may prudence hover over our head. May she our words, our actions guide, our faults correct, our secrets hide. may she, where are our footsteps stray, direct our paths, and clear the way.

Till every scene of tumult passed, she brings us to repose at last, teach us to love that peaceful shore and roam through folly's wiles, no more. Moid Edin al-Hasan Abu Ismail Altogray Abou Ismail was a native of Ispohan. He devoided himself to the service of Seljuk Sultans of Persia and enjoyed the confidences of Malik Shah and his son and grandson, Muhammad and Massoud, by the last of whom he was raised to the dignity of vizier.

Massoud, however, was not long in a condition to for forward Abu Ismail any protection, for being attacked by his brother Mahmud, he was defeated and driven from Musil, and upon the fall of his master the vizier was seized and thrown into prison, and at length in the year 515 sentenced to be put to death. To youth. Yes, youth, thou art 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 wooed thee to prolong thy stay, but vain were all my tears and sighs, thou only fledst more fast away. Yet, though thou fledst 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. Ibn Al-Rabia, on love. I never knew a sprightly fair that was not dear to me, and freely I my heart could share with everyone I see.

It is not this or that alone, on whom my choice would fall. I do not more inclined to one than I incline to all. the circles bounding line are they its centre is my heart my ready love the equal ray that flows to every part abu ali abu ali flourished in egypt about the year five thirty and was equally celebrated as a mathematician and as a poet a remonstrance with a drunkard as drenched in wine the other night zaid from the banquet sallied thus i reproved his drunken plight thus he, my prudence, rallied. In beverage so impure and vile, how canst thou thus delight? My cups, he answered, with a smile,

are generous and bright. Beware those dangerous draughts, I cried, With love the goblet flows. And cursed 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 all. 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. Yachya bin Salamot. This author was a native of Syria and died at Miafariqia

in the year of Higera 553. Verses Though such unbounded love you swear, tis only art, I see, can I believe that one so fair should have a dot 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. Chalfa Almancliffe Lemrilla Almancliffe Mont Lafie was the 31st Khalifa of the House of Abbas and the only one who possessed any real authority since the reign of Radi. These lines were addressed to a lady who pretended a passion for him in his old age. On procrastination, Youth is a drunken, noisy hour, with every folly fraught,

but man by ages chastening power is sobered into thought. Then we resolve our faults to shun and shape our course anew. But here the wise reforms begun, life closes on our view. The travellers thus who wildly roam or heedlessly delay are left, when they should reach their home, be knighted on the way. Hebert Allah Ibn Altanthameth. Ibn Altalmyth died in the 560th year of the Hegira at the advanced age of 100. The early death of Abu al-Hassan Ali.

Soon hast thou run the race of life, nor could our tears thy speed control. Still, in their course's generous strife, the best will soonest reach the goal. As death upon his hands turn 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 conveyed, stretched over 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.

Al-Nas al-Ladin Allah Al-Nal-A was the 34th Abbasid Khalifa, and the last, excepting three, who enjoyed this splendid title, which was finally abolished by the Tartars in the year six-fifah. The Interview A song Darkness closed around Loud that tempest drove

When through yonder glen I saw my lover rove Dearest youth Soon he reached 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 through the gloom nor fear the ghosts that haunt the grove dearest youth in this heart said he fear no seat confined when each thought is filled alone with thee and love dearest maid end of chapter eight chapter nine of the literature of arabia by epiphanius wilson this levovox recordings in the public domain read by paul wellford Arabian Knights The Seven Voyages of Sinbad Part 1 First and Second Voyages In the times of the Khalifa Harin al-Rashid There lived in Baghdad a poor reporter named Hindbad

Who on a very hot day was sent To carry a heavy load from one end of the city to the other Before he had accomplished half the distance He was so tired that Finding himself in a quiet street Where the pavement was sprinkled with rose water And a cool breeze was blowing he set his burden on the ground

and sat down to rest in the shade of a grand house. Very soon he decided that he could not have chosen a pleasanter place. A delicious perfume of aloes wood and pastels came from the open windows and mingled with the scent of the rosewater which steamed up from the hot pavement. Within the palace he heard some music, as of many instruments cunningly played and the melodious warble of nightingales and other birds, and by this, and the appetising smell of many dainty dishes of which he presently became aware, he judged that feasting and merry-making were going on.

He wondered who lived in this magnificent house, which he had never seen before, the street in which it stood, being one which he seldom had occasion to pass. To satisfy his curiosity, he went up to some splendidly dressed servants who stood at the door, and asked one of them the name of the master of the mansion. What? he replied, do you live in Baghdad and not know that here lived the noble Sinbad the sailor, that famous traveller who sailed over every sea upon which the sun shines? The porter, who had often heard people speak of the immense wealth of Sinbad,

could not help feeling envious of one whose lot seemed to be as happy as his own was miserable. Casting his eyes up to the sky, he exclaimed aloud, Consider, mighty creator of all things, the difference between Sinbad's life and mine. Every day I suffer a thousand hardships and misfortunes and have hard work to get even enough bad barley bread to keep myself and my family alive, while the lucky Sinbad spends money right and left and lives upon the fat of the land. What has he done that you should give him? this pleasant life, what have I done to deserve so hard a fate?' So saying, he stamped upon the ground like one beside himself with misery and despair.

Just at this moment a servant came out of the palace and taking him by the arm, said, Come with me, the noble Sinbad, my master wishes to speak to you. Hinbad was not a little surprised at this summons, and feared that his unguarded words might have drawn upon him the displeasure of Sinbad, so he tried to excuse himself upon the pretext that he could not leave the burden which had been interested to him in the street. However, the lackey promised him that it should be taken care of and urged him to obey the call so pressingly that at last the porter was obliged to yield. He followed the servant into a vast room where a great company was seated around a table

covered with all sorts of delicacies. In the place of honour sat a tall, grave man, whose long white beard gave him a venerable air. Behind his chest at a crue. round of attendance eager to minister to his wants. This was the famous Sinbad himself. The porter, more than ever alarmed at the sight of so much magnificence, tremblingly saluted the noble company. Sinbad, making a sign for him to approach, caused him to be seated at his right hand, and himself heaped choice morsels upon his plate, and poured out for him a draft of excellent wine, and presently, when the banquet drew to a close, spoke to him familiarly, asking his name and occupation.

My lord, replied the porter. I am called Hindbad. I am glad to see you here, continued Sinbad, and I will answer for the rest of the company that they are all equally pleased, but I wish you to tell me what it was you said just now in the street. For Sinbad, passing by the open window before the feast began, had heard his complaint, and therefore had sent for him.

At this question, Hinbad was covered with confusion, and hanging down his head replied, My lord, I confess that, overcome by weariness and ill-humour, I uttered indiscreet words, which I pray you to pardon me. Oh, replied Simbad, do not imagine that I am so unjust as to blame you. On the contrary, I understand your situation and can pity you. Only you appear to be mistaken about me, and I wish to set you right. You doubtless imagine that I have acquired all.

of wealth and luxury that you see me enjoy without difficulty or danger, but this is far indeed from being the case. I have only reached this happy state after having for years suffered every possible kind of toil and danger. Yes, my noble friends, he continued addressing the company. I assure you that my adventures have been strange enough to deter even the most avaricious men from seeking wealth by travelling the seas. Since you have perhaps heard but confused a of my seven voyages and the dangers and wonders that I have met with by sea and land, I will now give you a full and true account of them, which I think you will be well pleased to hear. As Sinbad was relating his adventures chiefly on account of the porter, he ordered,

before beginning his tale, that the burden which had been left in the street should be carried by some of his own servants to the place for which Hinbad had set out at first, while he remained to listen to the story. First voyage I had inherited considerable wealth from my parents, and being young and foolish, I at first squanded it recklessly upon every kind of pleasure. But presently, finding that riches speedily take to themselves wings, if managed as badly as I was managing mine, and remembering also that to be old and poor is misery indeed, I began to bethink me of how I could make the best of what still remained to me. I sold all my household goods by public auction, and joined a company of merchants who traded by,

sea, embarking with them at Balsora in a ship which we had fitted out between us. We set sail and took our course towards the East Indies by the Persian Gulf, having the coast of Persia upon our left hand and upon our right the shores of Arabia Felix. I was at first much troubled by the uneasy motion of the vessel, but speedily recovered my health, and since that hour have been no more plagued by seasickness. From time to time we landed at various islands where we sold or exchanged 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 were filled, and the captain

gave permission to all who wished to land for a while and amuse themselves. I was among the number, but when after strolling about for some time we lighted a fire and sat down to enjoy their past which we had brought with us, we were startled by a sudden and violent trembling of the island, while at the same moment those left upon 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 a sleeping whale. Those who were nearest to the boat threw themselves into it, others sprang into the sea, but before I could save myself, the whale plunged suddenly into the depths of the ocean, leaving me clinging to a piece of wood which we had brought to make our fire.

Meanwhile, a breeze had sprang up, and in the confusion that ensued on board, our vessel in hoisting the sails and taking up those who were in the boat and clinging to its side, no one missed me, and I was left at the mercy of 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 and spent as I was, I clung to my frail support, and great was my joy when the morning light showed me that I had drifted against an island. The cliffs were high and steep, but, luckily for me, some tree roots protruded in places,

and by their aid I climbed up at last, and stretched myself upon the turf at the top. where I lay more dead than alive, till the sun was high in the heavens. By that time I was very hungry, but after searching I came upon some eatable herbs, and a spring of clear water, and much refreshed, I set out to explore the island. Presently, I reached a great plain where a grazing horse was tethered, and as I stood looking at it, I heard voices talking apparently underground, and in a moment a man appeared who housed me how I came upon the island. I told him my adventures, and heard in return that he was one of the grooms of Mehraj,

the king of the island, and that each year they came to feed their master's horse in this plain. He took me to a cave where his companions were assembled, and when I had eaten of the food they set before me, they bade me think myself fortunate to have come upon them when I did, since they were going back to their master on the morrow, and without their aid, I could certainly never found my way to the inhabited part of the island. Early the next morning we accordingly set out, and when we reached the capital I was graciously received by the king,

to whom I related my adventures. upon which he ordered that I should be well cared for and provided with such things as I needed. Being a merchant, I sought out men of my own profession, and particularly those who came from foreign countries, as I hoped in this way to hear news from Baghdad, and to find some means of returning thither, for the capital was situated upon the seashore and visited by vessels from all parts of the world. In the meantime I heard many curious things and answered many questions concerning my own country, for I talked willingly with all who came to me. Also, to while away the time of waiting, I explored a little island named Castle,

which belonged to King Mechrage, and which was supposed to be inhabited by a spirit named De Geel. Indeed, the sailors assured me that often at night the playing of timbles could be heard upon it. However, I saw nothing strange upon my voyage, saving some fish that were full two hundred cubits long, but were, fortunately, more in dread of us than we were of them, and fled from if we did but strike upon aboard to frighten them. Other fishes there were only a cubit long, which had heads like owls. One day, after my return, as I went down to the key, I saw a ship which had just cast anchor and was discharging her cargo,

while the merchants to whom it belonged were busily directing the removal of it to their warehouses. Drawing nearer, I presently noticed that my own name was marked upon some of the packages, and after carefully examining them, I felt sure that they were indeed those which I had put on board our ship at Balsora. I then recognised the captain of the vessel, but, as I was certain that he believed me to be dead, I went up to him and asked who owned the packages that I was looking at. There was on board my ship, he replied, a merchant of Baghdad named Sinbad. One day he and several of my other passengers landed upon what we supposed to be an island, but which was really an enormous whale floating asleep upon the waves. No sooner

did it feel upon its back the heat of the fire which had been kindled, then it plunged into the depths of the sea. Several of the people who were upon it perished in the waters, and among others this unlucky Sinbad. This merchandise is his, but I have resolved to dispose of it for the benefit of his family, if I should have a chance to meet with them. Captain, said I, I am that Sinbad,

whom you believe to be dead, and these are my possessions. When the captain heard these words, he cried out in amazement. Like a day, and what is the world coming to? In these days there is not an honest man to be met with. Did I not, with my own eyes, see Sinbad drown? And now you have the audacity to tell me you are he? I should have taken you to be a just man. And yet, for the sake of obtaining that which does not belong to you,

you are ready to invent this horrible falsehood. Have patience, and do me the favour to hear my story, said I. Speak then, replied the captain. I am all attention. So I told of my escape, and have my fortunate meeting with the king's grooms, and how kindly I had been received at the palace. Very soon I began to see that I had made some impression upon him, and after the arrival of some of the other merchants, who showed great joy at once more seeing me alive,

he declared that he also recognised me. Throwing himself upon my neck, he exclaimed, Heaven be praised that you have escaped from so greater danger. As to your goods, I pray you take them and dispose of them as you please. I thanked him and praised his honesty, begging him to accept several bails of merchandise in token of my gratitude, but he would take nothing. Of the choicest of my goods I prepared a present for King Mahraj,

who was at first amazed, having known that I had lost my all. However, when I had explained to him how my bales had been miraculous to restored to me, he graciously accepted my gifts, and in return gave me many valuable things. I then took leave of him, and exchanging my merchandise for sandal and aloeswood, camphor, nutmegs, cloves, pepper and ginger, I embarked upon the same vessel, and traded so successfully upon our homeward voyage that I arrived in Balsora with about 100,000 sequins.

My family received me with as much joy as I felt upon seeing them once more, I bought land and slaves and built a great house in which I resolved to live happily, and in the enjoyment of all the pleasures of life, to forget my past sufferings. Here Sinbad paused, and commanded the musicians to play again, while the feasting continued until evening. When the time came for the porter to depart, Sinbad gave him a purse containing 100 sequins, saying,

Take this, Inbad, and go home. But tomorrow come again and you shall hear more of my adventures. The porter retired quite overcome by so much generosity, and you may imagine that he was well received at home, where his wife and children thanked their lucky stars that they had found such a benefactor. The next day, Hinbad dressed in his best, returned to the Voyager's house,

and was received with open arms. As sin as all the guests arrived, the banquet began as before, and when they had feasted long and merrily, Sinbad addressed them thus. My friends, I beg that you will give me your attention while I relate the adventures of my life. my second voyage, which you will find even more astonishing than the first.

Second voyage. I had resolved, as you know, on my return from the first voyage, to spend the rest of my days quietly in Baghdad, but very soon I grew tired of such an idle life and longed once more to find myself upon the sea. I procured, therefore, such goods as were suitable for the places I intended to visit, and embarked for the second time in a good ship with other merchants whom I knew to be honourable men. We went from island to island often making excellent bargains Until one day we landed at a spot which

Though covered with fruit trees And abounding in springs of excellent water Appeared to possess neither houses nor people While my companions wandered here and there gathering flowers and fruit I sat down in a shady space And having heartily enjoyed the provisions on the wine I had brought with me I fell asleep Lulled by the murmur of a clear brook which flowed close by

How long I slept I know not but when I opened my eyes and started to my feet, I perceived with horror that I was alone and the ship was gone. I rushed to and fro like one distracted, uttering cries of despair, and when from the shore I saw the vassal under full sail just disappearing upon the horizon, I wished bitterly enough that I had been content to stay at home in safety. But since wishes would do me no good,

I presently took courage and looked about me for a means of escape. When I had climbed a tall tree I first of all directed my anxious glances towards the sea But finding nothing hopeful there I turned landward And my curiosity was excited By a huge dazzling white object So far off that I could not make out what it might be

Descending from the tree I hastily collected what remained of my provisions And set off as fast as I could go towards it As I drew near It seemed to me to be a white ball of immense size and height. When I could touch it, I found it marvellously smooth and soft.

As it was impossible to climb it, for it presented node foothold, I walked around it, seeking some opening, but there was none. I counted, however, that it was at least 50 paces round. By this time the sun was near setting, but quite suddenly it fell dark. Something like a huge black cloud came swiftly over me,

and I saw with amazement that it was a bird of extraordinary size which was hovering near. Then I remembered that I had often heard the sailors speak of a wonderful boat called a rock, and it occurred to me that the white object which had so puzzled me must be its egg. Sure enough, the bird settled slowly down upon it, covering it with its wings to keep it warm, and I cowered close beside the egg in such a position that one of the bird's feet, which was as large as the trunk of a tree, was just in front of me. Taking off my turban I bound myself securely to it

with the linen in the hope that the rock, when it took flight next morning, would bear me away with it from the desolate island. And this was precisely what did happen. As soon as the dawn appeared, the bird rose into the air, carrying me up and up, till I could no longer see the earth.

And then, suddenly it descended so swiftly that I almost lost consciousness. When I became aware that the rock had settled and that I was once again upon solid ground, I hastily unbound my turban from its front, and freed myself, and not a moment too soon for the bird, pouncing upon a huge snake, killed it with a few blows from its powerful beak, and seizing it rose up into the air once more, and soon disappeared from my view.

When I had looked about me, I began to doubt if I had gained anything by quitting the desolate island. The valley in which I found myself were deep and narrow, and surrounded by mountains which towered into the clouds, and were so steep and rocky that there was no way. of climbing up their sides. As I wondered about seeking anxiously for some means of escaping from this trap, I observed that the ground was strewed with diamonds, some of them an astonishing size. The sight gave me great pleasure, but my delight was speedily dampened when I saw also a number of horrible snakes so long and so large that the smallest of them could have swallowed

an elephant with ease. Fortunately, for me, there seemed to hide in caverns of the rocks by days and only came out by night, probably because of their enemy, the rock. All day long I wandered up and down the valley, and when it grew dusk I crept into a little cave, having blocked up the entrance to it with a 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, hissing horribly, so that I could scarcely close my eyes for terror.

I was thankful when the morning light appeared, and when I judged by the silence that the serpents had retreated to their dens, I came tremblingly out of my cave and wandered up and down the valley once more, kicking the diamonds contemptuously out of my path, for I felt that they were indeed vain things to a man in my situation. At last, overcome with weariness, I sat down upon a rock, but I had hardly closed my eyes

when I was startled by something which fell to the ground of the thud close beside me. It was a huge piece of fresh meat, and as I stared at it, several more pieces rolled over the cliffs in different places. I had always thought that the stories the sailors told of the famous valley of diamonds and of the cunning way which some merchants

had devised for getting at the precious stones were mere travellers invented to give pleasure to the hearers, but now I perceived that they were surely true. These merchants came to the valley at the time when the eagles which keep their eerie in their rock had hatched their young. The merchants then threw great lumps of meat into the valley.

these, falling with so much force upon the diamonds, were sure to take up some of the precious stones with them, when the eagles pounced upon the meat and carried it off to their nest to feed their hungry brood. Then the merchants, scaring away the parent birds with shouts and outcries, would secure their treasures. Until this moment, I had looked upon the valley as my grave, for I had seen no possibility of getting out alive, but now I took courage and began to devise a means of escape. I began by picking up all the largest diamonds I could find and storing them carefully in a leathern wallet, which had held my provisions.

This I tied securely to my belt. I then chose the piece of meat which seemed most suited to my purpose and with the aid of my turban bound it firmly to my back. This done, I laid down upon my face and waited the coming of the eagles. I soon heard the flapping of their mighty wings above me and had the satisfaction of feeling one of them seize upon my piece of meat and me with it and rise slowly towards his nest, into which he presently dropped me.

Luckily for me the merchants were on the watch and set up their usual outcries. They rushed to the nest, scaring away the eagle. Their amazement was great when they discovered me, and also their disappointment, and with one accord they fell to abusing me for having robbed them of their usual profit. Addressing myself to the one who seemed most to grieved, I said, I am sure if you knew all that I have suffered, you would show more kindness towards me. And as for diamonds, I have enough here of the very best for you and me and all your company. So saying, I showed them to him.

The others all crowded around me, wondering at my adventures and admiring the device by which I had escaped from the valley. And when they had led me to their camp and examined my diamonds, they assured me that in all the years that they had carried on their trade, they had seen no stones to be compared with them for size and beauty. I found that each merchant chose a particular nest and took his chance of what he might find in it. So I begged the one who owned the nest to which I had been carried to take as much as he would of my treasure,

but he 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 toil no more. I stayed with the merchants several days, and then as they were journeying homewards I gladly accompanied, them. Our way lay across high mountains infested with frightful serpents,

but we had the good luck to escape them and came at last to the seashore. Thence we sailed to the Isle of Roja, where the camper trees grow to such a size that a hundred men could shelter under one of them with ease. The sap flows from an incision

made high up in the tree into a vessel hung there to receive it, and soon hardens into a substance called camphor, but the tree itself withers up and dies when it has been so treated. In the same island we saw the rhinoceros, an animal which is smaller than the elephant and larger than the buffalo. It has one horn about a cubit 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 rhinoceros fights with the elephant, and, transfixing him with the horn, carries him off upon his head, but becoming blinded with the blood of his enemy, he falls helpless to the ground, and then comes the rock and clutches them both up in his talons and takes them to feed his young. This doubtless astonishes you but if you do not believe my tale go to Roja and see for yourself.

For fear of weering you I pass over in silence many other wonderful things which we saw in this island. Before we left I exchanged one of my diamonds for much goodly merchandise by which I profited greatly on our homeward way. At last we reached Basora

when I hastened to Baghdad where my first action was to bestow large sums of money upon the poor, after which I settled down to enjoy tranquilly the riches I had gained with so much toil and pain. Having thus related the adventure of his second voyage, Sinbad again bestowed a hundred sequins upon Hinbad, inviting him to come again on the following day, and hear how he fared upon his third voyage. The other guests also departed to their homes,

but all returned at the same hour next day, including the porter whose former life of hard work and poverty had already begun to seem like a bad dream. Again, after the feast was over did Sinbad claim the attention of his guests and began the account of his third voyage. End of Chapter 9 Section 10 of the Literature of Arabia by Epiphanius Wilson. This Librevox recording is in the public domain, read by Paul Wellford. Arabian Knights, the Seven Voyages of Sinbad,

Part 2, Third and Fourth Voyages Third Voyage After a very short time, the pleasant, easy life I led made me quite forget the perils of my two voyages. Moreover, as I was still in the prime of life, it pleased me better to be up and doing. So, once more, providing myself with the rarest and choicest merchandise of Baghdad,

I conveyed it to Basora and set sail with other merchants of my acquaintance for distant lands. We had touched at many ports and made much profit when one day upon the sea we were caught by a terrible wind which blew us completely out of our reckoning and lasting for several days finally drove us into harbour on a strange island. I would rather have come to anchor anywhere than here, quoth our captain. This island and all adjoining it are inhabited by hairy savages who are certain to attackers

and whatever these dwarves may do, we dare not resist, since they swarm like locusts, and if one of them is killed, the rest will fall upon us and speedily make an end of us. These words caused great consternation among all the ship's company, and only too soon we were to find out that the captain spoke truly. There appeared a vast multitude of hideous savages, not more than two feet high and covered with reddish fur. Throwing themselves into the waves, they surrounded our vessel. chattering meanwhile in a language we could not understand and pledging at ropes and gangways they swarmed up the ship's side with such speed and agility 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 them from their purpose whatever it might be of this we were not left in doubt for long hoisting the sails and cutting the cable of the anchor they sailed our vessel to an island which lay a little further off, where they drove us a shore, then taking possession of her,

they made off to the place from which they had come, leaving us helpless upon a shore, avoided with horror by all mariners for a reason which you will soon learn. Turning away from the sea, we wandered miserably inland, finding as we went various herbs and fruits which we ate, feeling that we might as well live as long as possible, though we had no hope of escape. Presently, we saw in the far distance what seemed to be a splendid palace towards which we turned our weary steps, but when we reached it, we saw that it was a castle, lofty and strongly built. Pushing back the heavy ebony doors, we entered the courtyard, but upon the threshold of the great hall beyond it, we paused, frozen with horror at the sight which greeted

us. On one side lay a huge pile of bones, human bones, and on the other, numberless spits for roasting. Overcome with despair we sank trembling to the ground and lay there without speech or motion. The sun was setting when a loud noise aroused us. The door of the hall was violently burst open and a horrible giant entered. He was as tall as a palm tree and perfectly black and had one eye which flamed like a burning coal in the middle of his forehead. His teeth were long and sharp and grinned horribly while his lower lip hung down upon his chest, and he had ears like elephants ears, which covered his shoulders and nails like the claws of some fierce bird. At this terrible sight, our senses left us, and we lay like dead men. When at last we came to ourselves,

the giant sat examining us attentively with his fearful eye. Presently, when he had looked at us enough, he came towards 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 bone he set me down again and went on to the next, whom he treated in the same fashion. At last he came to the captain, and finding him the fattest of us all,

he took him up in one hand and stuck him upon a spit and proceeded to kindle a huge fire at which he presently roasted him. After the giant had supped, he lay down to sleep, snoring like the loudest thunder, while we lay shivering with horror the whole night through,

and when day broke he awoke and went out leaving us in the castle. When we believed him to be really gone, we started up bemoaning our horrible fate until the hall echoed with our despairing cries. Though we 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 thought of 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 down the island eating such fruit as we could find, and when night came we returned to the castle, having sought in vain for any other place of shelter. At sunset, the giant returned, supped upon one of our unhappy comrades,

slept and snored till dawn, and then left us as before. Our condition seemed to us so frightful that several of my companions thought it would be better to leap from the cliffs and perish in the waves at once, rather than await so miserable an end. But I had a plan of escape, which I now unfolded to them, and which they at once agreed to attempt. Listen, my brothers, I added. You know that plenty of driftwood lies along the shore. Let us make several rafts and carry them to a suitable place. If our plot succeeds, we can wait patiently for the chance of some passing ship

which would rescue us from this fatal island. If it fails, we must quickly take to our rafts, frail as they are. We have more chance of saving our lives with them than we have if we remain here. All agreed with me, and we spent the day. in building rafts, each capable of carrying three persons. At nightfall, we returned to the castle, and very 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 finished his horrible repast, he lay down to sleep as before, and when we heard him begin to snore, I, and nine of my boldest comrades, rose softly,

and each took a spit, which we made red-hot in the fire, and then, at a given signal, we plunged it with one accord into the giant's eye completely blinding him. Uttering a terrible cry, he sprang to his feet, clutching in all directions trying to seize one of us, but we had all fled different ways as soon as the deed was done, and thrown ourselves flat upon the ground in corners where he was not likely to touch us with his feet. After a vain search, he fumbled about till he found the door, and fled out of it howling frightfully. As for us, when he was gone, we made haste to leave the fatal castle.

and stationing ourselves beside our rafts, we waited to see what would happen. Our idea was that if when the sun rose we saw nothing of the giant and heard no longer his howls, which still came faintly through the darkness, growing more and more distant, we should conclude that he was dead and that we might safely stay upon the island and need not risk our lives upon the frail rafts. But alas, morning light showed us our enemy approaching us, supported, on either hand, by two giants, nearly as large and as far as far as far as, fearful as himself, while a crowd of others followed close upon their heels.

Hesitating no longer, we clambered upon our rafts and rode with all our might out to sea. The giants, seeing their prey escaping them, seized up huge pieces of rock and wading into the worter, held them after us with such good aim that all the rafts except the one I was upon were swamped and their luckless crews 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 raft beyond the reach of the giants, but by dint of hard rowing we at last gained the open sea. Here we were at the mercy of the wind and the waves, which tossed us to and fro all that day and night, but the next morning we found ourselves near an island, upon which we gladly landed.

There we found delicious fruits, and having satisfied our hunger, we presently lay down to rest upon the shore. suddenly we were aroused by a loud rustling noise and starting up saw that it was caused by an immense snake which was gliding towards us over the sand. So swiftly it came 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 of him in its mighty coils and proceeded to swallow him. By this time my other companions and I were running for our lives to some place where we might hope to be safe from this new horror, and seeing a tall tree we climbed up into it, having first provided ourselves with a store of fruit of the surrounding bushes. When night came, I fell asleep, but only to be awakened once more by the terrible snake,

which, after hissing horribly around the tree, at last reared itself up against it, and finding my sleeping comrade who was perched just below me, it swallowed him also, and crawled away. leaving me half dead with terror. When the sun rose, I crept down from the tree with hardly a hope of escaping the dreadful fate which had overtaken my comrades, but life is sweet, and I determined to do all I could to save myself. All day long I toiled with frantic haste

and collected quantities of dry brushwood, reeds and thorns, which I bound with faggots, and making a circle of them under my tree, I piled them firmly one upon another until I had a kind of tent in which I crouched like a mouse in a hole when she sees the cat coming. You may imagine what a fearful night I passed, for the snake returned eager to devour me and glided round and round my frail shelter seeking an entrance. Every moment I feared that it would succeed in pushing aside some of the faggots,

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 half-suffocated by the poisonous breath of the monster, I came out of my tent and crawled down to the sea, feeling that it would be better to plunge from the cliffs and end my life at once than past such another night of horror. But to my joy and relief, I saw a ship sailing by,

and by shouting wildly and waving my turban, I managed to attract the attention of her crew. A boat was sent to rescue me, and very sorry, soon I found myself on board surrounded by a wondering crowd of sailors and merchants, eager to know by what chance I found myself in that desolate island. After I had told my story, they regaled me with the choicest food the ship afforded, and the captain, seeing that I was in rags, generously bestowed upon me one of his own coats. After sailing about for some time and touching at many ports, we came at last to the island

of Salahad, where sandalwood grows in great abundance. Here we anchored, and I was as I stood watching the merchants, disembarking their goods, and preparing to sell or exchange them, the captain came up to me and said, I have here, brother, some merchandise belonging to a passenger of mine who is dead. Will you do me the favour to trade with it,

and when I meet with his heirs, I shall be able to give them the money, though it will be only just that you shall have a portion for your trouble. I consented gladly, for I did not like standing by idle. Whereupon he pointed the bills out to me, and sent for the person whose duty it was to keep a list of the goods that were upon the ship. When this man came, he asked in want name the merchandise was to be registered.

In the name of Sinbad the sailor, replied the captain. At this, I was greatly surprised, but looking carefully at him, I recognised him to be the captain of the ship upon which I had made my second 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 recognised me. So, Captain, said I, the merchant who owned those bales was called Sinbad? Yes, he replied. He was so named. He belonged to Baghdad and joined my ship at Basura, but by mischance he was left behind upon a desert island where he had landed to fill up our

water casks, and it was not until four hours later that he was missed. By that time, the wind had freshened, 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 Sinbad who fell asleep upon the island and awoke to find himself abandoned.

The captain stared at me in amazement, but was presently convinced that I was indeed speaking the truth and rejoiced greatly at my escape. I'm glad to have that piece of carelessness of my conscience at any rate, said he. Now take you. Now, take your goods and the profit I have made for you upon them, and may you prosper in future. I took them gratefully, and we went from one island to another, I laid in stores of cloves,

cinnamon, and other spices. In one place, I saw a toy choice which was 20 cubits long and as many broad. Also, a fish that was like a cow, and had skin so thick that it was used to make shields. Another I saw that was like a camel in shape and colour. So by degrees we came back to Basora And I returned to Baghdad with so much money That I could not make myself count it Besides treasures without end I gave largely to the poor

And bought much land to add to what I had already possessed And thus ended my third voyage When Sinbad had finished his story He gave another hundred sequins to Hindbad Who then departed with the other guests But next day, when they had all reassembled And the banquet was ended their host continued his adventures.

Fourth voyage. Rich and happy as I was after my third voyage, I could not make up my mind to stay at home altogether. My love of trading and the pleasure I took in anything that was new and strange made me set my affairs in order and begin my journey through some of the Persian provinces, having first sent off stores of goods to await my coming in the different 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 violent hurricane, our vessel became a total wreck in spite of all

our worthy Captain Cadoo to save her, and many of our company perished in the waves. I, with a few others, had the good fortune to be washed ashore, clinging to pieces of the wreck for the storm had driven us near an island, and scrambling up beyond the reach of the waves, we threw ourselves down quite exhausted to wait for mourning. At daylight, we wandered inland and soon saw some huts to which we directed our steps. As we drew near, their black inhabitants swarmed out in great numbers and surrounded us, and we were led to their houses, as it were divided among our captors. I, with five others, was taken into a hut where we were made to sit upon the ground,

and certain herbs were given to us, which the blacks made signs for us to eat. Observing that they didn't touch them themselves, I was careful only to pretend to taste my portion, but my companions, being very hungry, rashly ate up all that were set before them. and very soon I had the horror of seeing them become perfectly mad. Though they chatted incessantly, I could not understand a word they said, nor did the heed when I spoke to them. The savages now produced large bowls full of rice prepared with coconut oil, of which my crazy comrades ate eagerly. But I only tasted a few grains, understanding clearly that the object of our captors

was to fatten us up speedily for their own eating, and this is exactly what happened. My unlucky companions, having lost their reason, felt neither anxiety. nor fear, and ate greedily all that was offered them. So they were soon fat, and there was an end of them, but I grew leaner day by day, for I ate but little, and even that little did me no good by reason of my fear for what lay before me. However, as I was so far from being attempted in Morsel, I was allowed to wander about freely, and one day, when all the blacks had gone off upon some expedition, leaving only an old man to guard me, I managed to escape from him, and plunged into the forest, running faster the more he cried for me to come back, until I had completely distanced

him. For seven days I hurried on, resting only when the darkness stopped me, and living chiefly upon coconuts, which afforded me both meat and drink, and on the eighth day I reached the seashore, and saw a party of white men gathering pepper, which grew abundantly all about. Reassured by the nature of their occupation, I advanced towards them and greeting me in Arabic, asking who I was, and whence I came. My delight was great on hearing this familiar speech, and I willingly satisfied their curiosity, telling them how I'd been shipwrecked and captured by the blacks. But these savages devour men, said they. How did you escape? I repeated to them what I have just told you, at which they were mightily astonished. I stayed with them until they had collected as much pepper as they wished,

and then they took me back to their own country and presented me to their king, by whom I was hospitably received. To him also I had to relate my adventures which surprised him much, and when I had finished, he ordered that I should be supplied with food and raiment and treated with consideration. The island on which I found myself was full of people and abounded in all sorts of desirable things, and a great deal of traffic went on in the capital, where I soon began to feel at home and contented. Moreover, the king treated me with special favour, and in consequence of this, everyone, whether at the court or in town, sought to make life pleasant to me. One thing I remarked which I thought very strange, this was that, from the greatest to the least,

all men rode their horses without bridles or stirrups. I one day presumed to ask his majesty why he did not use them, to which he replied, you speak to me of things which I have never before heard. This gave me an idea. I found a clever workman and made him cut out under my direction the foundation of a saddle, which I watered and covered with choice leather, adorning it with rich gold embroidered. I then got a locksmith to make me a bit and a pair of spurs after a pattern that I drew for him. When all these things were completed, I presented them to the king and showed him how to use them. When I had saddled one of his horses, he mounted it and rode about, quite delighted with the novelty, and to show his gratitude, he rewarded me with large gifts.

After this, I had to make saddles for all the principal officers of the king's household, and as they all gave me rich presents, I soon became very wealthy and quite an important person in the city. One day, the king sent for me and said, Sinbad, I am going to ask a favour of you. Both I and my subjects esteem you and wish you to end your days and monsters. Therefore, I desire that you will marry a rich and beautiful lady, whom I will find for you, and think no more of your own country. As the king's will was law, I accepted the charming bride he presented to me, and lived happily with her. Nevertheless, I had every intention of escaping at the first opportunity and going back to Baghdad. Things were thus going

prosperously with me when it happened that the wife of one of my neighbours, with whom I had struck up quite a friendship, fell ill, and presently died. I went to his house to offer my consolations and found 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 an hour left to live come come said i surely it's not as bad as all that i trust that you may be spared from many years i hope answered he that your life may be long but as for me all is finished i have set my house in order and to-day i shall be buried with my wife this has been the law upon our island from our earliest age ages. The living husband goes to the grave with his dead wife. The living wife with her dead husband, so did our fathers, so must we do. The law changes not, and all must submit to it. As he spoke, the friends and relations of the unhappy pair began to assemble. The body decked in

rich robes and sparkling with jewels was laid upon an open beer, and the procession started, taking its way to a high mountain at some distance from the city. The wretched husband, loathe from head to foot in a black mantle following mournfully. When the place of interment was reached, the corpse was lowered just as it was into a deep pit. Then the husband, bidding farewell to all his friends, stretched himself upon another beer, upon which were laid seven little loaves of bread and a picture of water. He was also let down, down, down to the depths of the horrible cavern. And then a stone was laid over the opening, and the melancholy company went its way

back to the city. You may imagine that I was no unmoved spectator of these proceedings. To all the others, it was a thing to which they had being accustomed from their youth up, but I was so horrified I could not help telling the king how it struck me. Sire, I said, I'm more astonished than I can express to you at this strange custom which exists in your dominions of burying the living with the dead. In all my travels I've never before met with so cruel and horrible a law. What would you have, Sinbad? He replied. It's the law for everybody. I myself should be buried with the Queen if she were the first to die. But your majesty, said I, dare I ask if this law applies to foreigners also? Why, yes, replied the king, smiling, in what I could but consider a very

heartless manner. There are no exceptions to the rule if they have married in the country. When I heard this, I went home much cast down, and from that time forward, my mind was never easy. If only my wife's little finger ached, I fancied she was going to die. And sure enough, before long, she fell really ill, and in a few days breathed her last. My dismay was great, for it seemed to me that to be buried alive was even a worse fate than to be devoured by cannibal. Nevertheless, there was no escape. The body of my wife, arrayed in her richest robes and decked with all her jewels, was laid upon the beer. I followed it, and after me came a great procession headed by the king and all his nobles, and in this order we reached the fatal 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, and those who stood by, hoping to save myself even at this last moment, but it was no avail. No one spoke to me. They even appeared to hasten over their dreadful task, and I speedily found myself descending into the gloomy pit with my seven loaves and a picture of water beside me. Almost before I reached the bottom, the stone was rolled into place above my head, and it was left to my fate. A feeble ray of light shone into the cavern through some chink, and when I had the courage to look about me, I could see that I was in a vast vault, bestrewed with bones and bodies of the dead. I even fancied that I heard the expiring sighs of those who, like myself, had come into this dismal place alive.

All in vain did I shriek aloud with rage and despair, reproaching myself for the love of gain and adventure which had brought me to such a pass. But at length, growing calmer, I took up my bread and water, and wrapping my face in my mantle, I grew up to my way towards the end of the cavern where the 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 road of the rain. rock was ruled away overhead, and I saw that a beer was being lowered into the cavern, and that the corpse upon it was a man. In a moment my mind was made up. The woman who followed had nothing to expect but a lingering death. I should be doing her a service if I shortened her

misery. Therefore, when she descended already insensible from terror, I was ready armed with a huge bone, one blow from which left her dead, and I secured the bread and water, which gave me a hope of life. Several times did I have recourse to this desperate expedient. and I know not how long I had been a prisoner, when one day I fancied that I heard something near me which breathed loudly. Turning to the place from which the sound came, I dimly saw a shadowy form which fled at my movement, squeezing itself through a cranny in the wall. I pursued it as fast as I could and found myself in a narrow crack among the rocks, along which I was just able to force my way. I followed it for what seemed to me many miles, and at last saw before me a glimmer of light, which grew clearer every moment until I merged upon the seashore with a joy which I cannot describe.

When I was sure that I was not dreaming, I realised that it was doubtless, some little animal which had found its way into the cavern from the sea, and when disturbed, had fled, showing me a means of escape, which I could never 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 across them. being assured of this I returned to the cavern and amassed a rich treasure of diamonds, rubies, emeralds and jewels of all kinds which strewed the ground.

These I made into bales and stored them into a safe place upon the beach and then waited hopefully for the passing of a ship. I had looked out for two days, however, before a single sail appeared, so it was with much delight that I at last saw a vessel not very far from the shore and by waving my arms and uttering loud cries succeeded in attracting the attention of her crew. A boat was sent off to me, and in answer to the question of the sailors as to how I came to be in such a plight,

I replied that had been shipwrecked two days before, but had managed to scramble ashore with the bales which I pounded out to them. Lucky for me, they believed my story, and without even looking at the place where they found me, took up my bundles and rode me back to the ship. Once on board, I soon saw that the captain was too much occupied with the difficulties of navigation to pay much heed to me, though he generously made me welcome,

I would not accept the jewels which I offered him to pay my passage. Our voyage was prosperous, and after visiting many lands and collecting in each place, great stores of goodly merchandise, I found myself at last in Baghdad, once more with unheard-of riches of every description. Again, I gave large sums of my 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 I passed my time in feasting and merriment.

Here, Sinbad paused, and all these heroes declared that the adventure of his fourth voyage had pleased them better than anything they had heard before. They then took their leave, followed by Hindbad, who had once more received a hundred sequins, and with the rest had been bidden to return next day for the story of the fifth voyage. The time came, all were in their places, and when they had eaten and drunk of all that were set before them, Sinbad began his tale. End of Section 10. Chapter 11

Of the Literature of Arabia by Epiphanius Wilson This Libre Vox recording is in the public domain Read by Paul Wellford Arabian Nights The Seven Voyages of Sinbad Part 3, 5th, 6th and 7th Voyages Fifth Voyage Not even all that I had gone through

Could make me contented with a quiet life I soon worried of its pleasures And longed for change and adventure Therefore I set out once more but this time in a ship of my own, which I built and fitted out at the nearest seaport. I wished to be able to call it whatever port I chose, taking my own time, but as I did not intend carrying enough goods for a full cargo, I invited several merchants of different nations to join me.

We set sail with the first favourable wind, and after a long voyage upon the open seas, we landed upon an unknown island which proved to be uninhabited. We determined, however, to explore it, but had not gone far when we found a rock'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 spite of all I could say to deter them, the merchants who were with me fell upon it with their hatchets, breaking the shell and killing the young rock. Then,

lighting a fire upon the ground, they hacked morsels from the bird, and proceeded to roast them while I stood by aghast. Scarcely had they finished their ill-omened repast, when the air above us was darkened by two mighty shadows. The captain of my ship, knowing by experience what this meant, cried out to us that the parent birds were 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 rocks reached their despoiled nest and hovered about it, uttering frightful cries when they discovered the mangled remains of their young one. For a moment, we lost sight of them and were flattering ourselves that we had escaped when they reappeared and soared into the air directly over our vessel, and we saw that

each held in its claws an immense rock ready to crushes. There was a moment of breathless suspense, then one bird loosed its hold and the huge block of stone hurtled through the air, but thanks to the presence of mine of the helmsman who turned our ship violently in other direction, it fell into the sea close beside us, cleaving it asunder till we could nearly see the bottom. We had hardly time to draw breath of relief before the other oak fell with a mighty crash, right in the midst of our luckless vessel, smashing it into a thousand fragments and crushing or hurling into the sea, passengers and crew. I myself went down with a rest, but had the good fortune to rise unhurt, and by holding onto a piece of drift-woods with one hand and swimming with the other, I kept myself

afloat and was presently washed up by the tide onto an island. Its shores were steep and rocky, but I scrambled 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 I found myself, and truly it seemed to me that I had reached a garden of delights. There were trees everywhere, and they were laden with flowers and fruit, while a crystal stream wandered in and out under their shadow. When night came, I slept sweetly in a cozy nook, though the remembrance that I was alone in a strange land

made me sometimes start up and look around me an alarm, and then I wished heartily that I had stayed at home at ease. However, the morning sunlight restored my courage, and I once more wandered among the trees, but always with some anxiety as to what I might see next. I had penetrated some distance into the 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 like myself. Going up to him, I greeted him in a friendly way, but he only nodded his head at me in reply. I then asked what he did there and he made signs to me that he wished to get across the river to gather some fruit and seemed to beg me to carry him on in my back. Pitying his age and feebleness, I took him up and wading across the stream, I bent down that he might more easily reach

the bank and bade him get down. But instead of allowing himself to be set upon his feet, even now it makes me laugh to think of it, this creature, who had seemed so decrepit, leapt nimbly upon my shoulders, and hugging his legs around my neck, gripped me so tightly that I was well-nigh choked, and so overcome with terror, that I fell insensible to the ground. When I recovered, my enemy was still in his place, though he had released his hold enough to allow me breathing space, and seeing me revive, he prodded me adroitly, first with one foot, and then with the other, until I was forced to get up and stagger about with him under the trees, while he gathered than ate the choicest fruits. This went on all day, and even at night, when I threw myself

down half-dead with weariness, the terrible old man held on tight to my neck, nor did he fail to greet the first glimmer of morning light by drumming upon me with his heels, until I perforce awoke and resumed my dreary march with rage and bitterness in my heart. It happened one day that I passed under a tree under which lay several dry gourds, and catching one up, I amuse myself with scooping out its contents and pressing into it the juice of several bunches of grapes, which hung from every bush. When it was full, I left it propped in the fork of a tree, and a few days later, carrying the hateful old man that way, I snatched up my gourd as I passed it and had the satisfaction of a draught of excellent wine, so good and refreshing that I even

forgot my detestable burden and began to sing and caper. The old monster was not slow to perceive the effect which my draft had produced, and that I carried him more likely than usual. So he stretched out his skinny hand, and seizing the gourd first, tasted its contents cautiously, then drained them to the very last drop. The wine was strong and the gourd capacious, so he also began to sing after a fashion, and soon I had the delight of feeling the iron grip of his goblin legs unclasp, and with one vigorous effort I threw him to the ground, from which he never moved again. I was so rejoiced. to have at last got rid of this uncanny old man that I ran leaping and bounding down to the seashore

where, by the greatest good luck, I met with some mariners who had anchored off the island to enjoy the delicious fruits and to renew their supply of water. They heard the story of my escape with amazement, saying, You fell into the hands of the old man of the sea, and it is a mercy that he did not strangle you, as he has everyone else upon whose shoulders he has managed to perch himself. This island is well known as the scene of his evil deeds, and no merchant or sailor who lands upon it cares to stray far away from his comrades. After we had talked for a while, they took me back with them on board their ship, where the captain received me kindly, and we soon set sail, and after several days reached a large and prosperous-looking town where all houses were

built of stone. Here we anchored, and one of the merchants who had been very friendly to me on the took me ashore with him and showed me a lodging set apart for strange merchants. He then provided me with a large sack and pointed 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 sight of them, for if you strayed, your life would be in danger. With that, he supplied me with provisions and bade me farewell, and I set out with my new companions. I soon learnt that the object of our expedition was to fill our sack with cocoa nuts, but when at length I saw the trees and noted their immense height and the slippery smoothness of their slender trunks, I did not at all understand how we were to do it.

The crowns of the cocoa palms were all alive with monkeys big and little, which skipped from one to the other with surprising agility, seeming to be curious about us and disturbed at our appearance. And I was at first surprised when my companions, after collecting stones, began to throw them at the lively creatures, which seemed to me quite harmless. But very soon, 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 and spiteful gestures, so that after very little labour our sacks were filled with 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 same occupation until I had earned enough money to carry me to my own country. This I did, and before long, had amassed a considerable sum. Just then, I heard that there was a trading ship ready to sail, and taking leave of my friend, I went on board, carrying with me a goodly store of cocoa nuts, and we sailed first to the island where pepper grows, then to Camari, where the best aloeswood is found, and where men drink no wine by an unalterable law. Here I exchanged my nuts for pepper and good aloeswood, and went to fishing for pearls with some of the other merchants. and my divers were so lucky that very soon I had immense number, and those very large and perfect.

With all these treasures, I came joyfully back to Baghdad, where I disposed of them for large sums of money, of which I did not fail as before, to give the tenth part to the poor, and after that I rested from my labours and comforted myself with all the pleasures that my riches could give me. Having thus ended his story, Sinbad ordered that 100 sequins be given to Hindbad, and the guests then withdrew. but after the next 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 with shipwreck and unheard of perils, I could again tempt fortune and risk fresh trouble.

I'm even surprised myself when I look back, but evidently it was my fate to rove, and after a year of repose I prepared to make a sixth voyage, regardless of the entreaties of my friends and relations, who did all they could to keep me at home. Instead of going by the Persian Gulf, I travelled a considerable way overland and finally embarked from a distant Indian port with a captain who meant to make a long voyage.

And truly he did so, for we fell in with stormy weather which drove us completely out of our course so that for many days neither captain nor pilot knew where we were, no where we were going. When they did at last discover our position, we had small ground for rejoicing, for the captain, casting his turban upon the deck and tearing his beard, declared that we were in the most dangerous spot upon the whole wide sea,

and he had been caught by a current, which was at that moment sweeping us to destruction. It was too true. In spite of all the sailors could do, we were driven with frightful rapidity towards the foot of a mountain, which rose sheer out of the sea, and our vessel was dashed to pieces upon the rocks at its base, not, however, until we had managed to scramble on shore, carrying with us the most precious of our possessions. 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, since from this fatal sport, no shipwrecked mariner as ever returned. This speech discouraged us much, and we began to lament over our sad fate. The mountain formed the seawood-bred.

boundary of a large island and the narrow strip of rocky shore upon which we stood was scrooned with the wreckage of a thousand gallant ships while the bones of the luckless mariners shone white in the sunshine and we should have to think how soon our own would be added to the heap all around two lay vast quantities of the costliest merchandise and treasures were heaped in every cranny of the rocks but all these things only added to the desolation of the scene It struck me as a very strange thing that a river of clear, fresh water which gushed out from the mountain

not far from where we stood, instead of flowing into the sea as rivers generally do, turned off sharply and flowed out of sight under a natural archway of rock and when I went to examine it more closely I found that inside the cave the walls were thick with diamonds, rubies and masses of crystal

and the floor was strewn with ambergris. Here then upon this desolate shore we abandoned ourselves to our fate, for there was no possibility of scaling the mountain, and if a ship had appeared, it could only have shed our doom. The first thing our captain did was to divide equally amongst us

all the food we possessed, and then the length of each man's life depended on the time he could make his portion last. I myself could live upon very little. Nevertheless, by the time I had buried the last of my companions, my stock of provisions were so small that I hardly thought I should live long enough

to dig my own grave, which I said about doing, while I regretted bitterly the roving disposition which was always bringing me into such straits, and thought longingly of all the comfort and luxury that I had left. But luckily for me, the fancy took me to stand once more beside the river where it plunged out of sight into the depths of the cavern, and as I did so, an idea struck me. This river, which hid itself underground, doubtless emerged again at some distant spot. Why should I not build a raft and trust myself to its swiftly flowing water? If I perished before I could reach the light of day once more, I should be nowhere as often

I was now, for death stared me in the face. Well, there was always the possibility that, as I was born under a lucky star, I might find myself safe and sound in some desirable land. I decided as any rate to risk it, and speedily built myself a stout raft of driftwood, with strong cords, of which enough, and to spare, lay strewn upon the beach. I then made up many packages of rubies, emeralds, rock crystal, 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, and loosened the cord which held it to the bank. Once out in the current, my raft flew swiftly

under the gloomy archway, and I found myself in total darkness, carried smoothly forward by the rapid river. On I went, as it seemed to me for many nights and days. Once the channel became so small that I had a narrow escape of being crushed against the rocky roof, and after 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 of food, I began to wonder if I must, after all, die of hunger. Then, worn out with anxiety and fatigue, I fell into a deep sleep, and when I again opened my eyes, I was once more in the light of day. A beautiful country lay before me, and my raft, which was tied to the river bank, was surrounded by friendly-looking black men.

I rose and saluted them, and they spoke to me in return, but I couldn't understand a word of their language. Feeling perfectly bewildered by my sudden return to life and light, I murmured to myself in Arabic, closed thine eyes, and while thou sleepest, heaven will change thy fortune from evil to good. one of the natives who understood this tongue then came forward saying my brother be not surprised to see us this is our land and as we came 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 for your awakening tell us now whence you come and where you are going by that dangerous way i replied that nothing would please me better than to tell them but that i was

starving and would fain eat something first. I was soon supplied with all I needed, and having satisfied my hunger, I told them faithfully all that had befallen me. They were lost in wonder at my tale when it was interpreted to them, and said that adventures so surprising must 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, followed by several strongmen carrying my raft just as it was upon their shoulders. In this order we marched into the city of Sarandib, where the natives presented me to their king, whom I saluted in the Indian fashion, prostrating myself at his feet and kissing the ground, but the monarch bade me arise and sit beside him, asking first what was my name?

I am Sinbad, I replied, whom men call the sailor, for have voyaged much upon many seas. And how came you here? asked the king. I told my story, concealing nothing, and his surprise and delight were so great that he ordered my adventures to be written in letters of gold and laid up in the archives of his kingdom. Presently my raft was brought in and the bails opened in his presence, and the king declared that in all his treasury there were no such rubies and emeralds as those which lay in great heaps before him. Seeing that he looked at them with interest, I ventured to say that I myself and all that I had were at his disposal, but he answered me smiling. "'A, Sinbad, heaven forbid, that I should covet your riches, "'I will rather add to them, for a desire that you shall not leave my kingdom "'without some tokens of my goodwill.'

"'He then commanded his officers to provide me with a suitable lodging at his expense "'and sent slaves to wait 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 grateful thanks, "'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 worthy of attention than the city. The island of Serendib being situated on the equinoctial line, the days and nights are therefore of equal length. The chief city is placed at the end of a beautiful valley, formed by the highest mountain in the world, which is in the middle of the island. I had the curiosity to ascend to its

very summit, for this was the place to which Adam was banished out of paradise. Here are found rubies and many precious things, and rare plants grow abundantly with sea. seed trees and cocoa palms. On the seashore and at the mouths of the rivers the divers seek for pearls and in some valleys diamonds are plentiful. After many days I petitioned the king that I might return to my own country to which he graciously consented. Moreover, he loaded me with rich gifts and when I went to take leave of him, he entrusted me with a royal present and a letter to the commander of the faithful our sovereign lord saying, I pray you give these to the chlifa Hanan Arashid and a sure him of my friendship. I accepted the charge respectfully and soon embarked upon the vessel which

the king himself had chosen for me. The king's letter was written in blue characters upon a rare and precious skin of yellowish colour and these were the words of it. The king of the Indies, before whom walk a thousand elephants who lives in a palace of which the roof blazes with a hundred thousand rubies and whose treasure house contains twenty thousand diamond crowns, to the Khalifa, Haran, Arashid sends greeting. Though the offering we present to you is unworthy of your notice, we pray you to accept it as a mark of their esteem and friendship which we cherish for you, and of which we gladly send you this token,

and we ask of you a like regard if you deem as worthy of it. Adieu, brother. The present consisted of a vase carved from a single ruby, six inches high, and as thick as my finger. This was filled with the choicest pearls, large, and of perfect shape and luster. Secondly, a huge snake skin with scales as large as a sequin,

which would preserve from sickness those who slept upon it. Then quantities of aloeswood, camphor and pistachio nuts, and lastly, a beautiful slave girl whose robes glittered with precious stones. After a long and prosperous voyage, we landed at Balsora

and I made haste to reach Baghdad and taking the king's letter, I presented myself at the palace gate, followed by the beautiful slave and the various members of my own family bearing the treasure. As soon as I declared my errand, I was conducted into the presence of the khalifa, to whom, after I had made my obeisance, I gave the letter and the king's gift, and when he had examined them, he demanded of me whether the Prince of Serendib was really as rich and powerful as he claimed 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 wealth and grandeur. Nothing can equal and magnificence of his palace. Where he goes abroad, his throne is prepared on the back of an elephant, on either side of him ride his ministers, his favourites, and his courtiers. On his elephant's neck sits an officer, his golden lance in his hand, and behind him stands another bearing a pillar of gold, and at the top of which is an emerald as long as my hand. A thousand men in cloth of gold mounted upon richly, caparisoned elephants go before him, and as the procession moves onwards, the officer who guides his elephant cries aloud, Behold the mighty monarch,

the powerful and valiant sultan of the Indies, whose palace is covered with a hundred thousand rubies who possesses 20,000 diamond crowns. Behold a monarch greater than Solomon and Mirage in all their glory. Then the one who stands behind the throne answers, this king so great and powerful must die must die must die must die and the first takes up the chant again all praise to him who lives forevermore further my lord in serendib no judge is needed for to the king himself his people come for justice the chalifa was well satisfied with my report from the king's letter said he i judge that he was a wise man it seems 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 to my own house when sindbad had done speaking his guest withdrew

Hindbad having first received a hundred sequins, but all returned next day to hear the story of the seventh voyage. Seventh and last voyage. After my sixth voyage, I was quite determined that I would go to see no more. I was now of an age to appreciate a quiet life, and I had run risks 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 there's an officer of the chlifa wished to speak to me, and when he was admitted he bade me to follow him into the presence of Haran al-Rashid, which I accordingly did, and after I saluted him, the chlifah said,

I have sent for you, Sinbad, because I need your services. I have chosen you to bear a letter and a gift to the king of Sardib in return for his message of friendship. The Khalifa's commandment fell upon me like a thunderbolt. Commander of the faithful, I answered, I am ready to do all that you. your majesty commands, but I humbly pray to you to remember that I am utterly disheartened by the unheard-of sufferings I have undergone. Indeed, I have made a vow never again to leave Baghdad. 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 extraordinary experiences, but I do not see why they should hinder you from doing as I wish. You have only to go straight to Serendib, give him my message, then you are free to come back and do as you will. But go you must. My honour and dignity demanded. Seeing that there was no help for it, I declared myself willing to obey and the Khalifa, delighted at having got his own way, gave me a thousand sequence for the expenses of the voyage. I was soon ready to start, and taking the letter and the present I embarked at Balsora and sailed quickly and safely to Serendib. Here, when I disclosed my own, and I disclosed my I was well received and brought into the presence of the king who greeted me with joy.

Welcome, Sinbad, he cried. I have thought of you often and rejoiced to see you once more. After thanking him for the honour that he did me, I displayed the chlifa's gifts. First, a bed with complete hangings, all cloth of gold, which cost a thousand sequins, and another like it of crimson stuff, 50 robes of rich embroidery, a hundred of the finest white linen from Cairo, sewers, Khufa and Alexandria, then more beds of different fashion and a negate vase carved with the figure of a man aiming an arrow at a lion, and finally a costly table which had once belonged to King Solomon. The king of Surin-Dib received with satisfaction the assurance of the Khalifa's friendship toward him, and now my task being accomplished I was anxious to depart, but it was some time before the king

would think of letting me go. At last, however, he dismissed me with many presents, and I lost no time in going on board a ship which sailed at once and for four days all went well. On the fifth day we had the misfortune to fall in with pirates who seized our vessel, killing all who resisted and making prisoners of those who were prudent enough to submit at once, of whom I was one. When they had despoiled us of all we possessed, they forced us to put on vile raiment and sailing to a distant island there sold us for slaves. I fell into the hands of a rich merchant who took me home with him and clothed and fed me well, and after 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 that doubtless with practice my skill would come back to me. Upon this, he provided me with a bow and arrows, and mounting me with him upon his elephant, took the way to a vast forest which lay far from the town. when we had reached the wildest part of it we stopped and my master said to me this forest swarms with elephants hide yourself in this great tree and shoot at all that passed you when you have succeeded in killing one come and tell me so saying he gave me a supply of food and returned to the town and i perched myself high up in the tree and kept watch that night i saw nothing but just after sunrise the next morning a large herd of elephants came crashing and trampling by i lost no time in letting fly several arrows and at least last, one of the great animals fell to the ground dead, and the others retreated, leaving me free to come down from my hiding place, and run back to tell my master of my success, for which I was praised and regaled were good things. Then we went back to the forest together and dug a mighty

trench in which we buried the elephant I had killed in order that when it became a skeleton, my master might return and secure its tusks. For two months I hunted thus, and no day passed without my securing an elephant. Of course, I did not always station myself in the same tree, but sometimes in one place, sometimes in another. One morning, as I watched the coming of the elephants, I was surprised to see that. Instead of passing the tree I was in, as they usually did,

they paused and completely surrounded it, trumpeting horribly and shaking the very ground with their heavy tread, and when I saw that their eyes were fixed upon me, I was terrified, and my arrows dropped from my trembling hand. I had indeed good reason for my terror when an instant later The largest of the animals wound his trunk Round the stem of my tree

And with one mighty effort Torer it up by the roots Bringing me to the ground Entangled in its branches I thought now That my last hour was surely come But the huge creature Picking me up gently enough

Set me upon its back Where I clung more dead than alive And followed by the whole herd Turned and crashed off into the dense forest It seemed to me a long time before I was once more set upon my feet by the elephant, and I stood as if in a dream watching the herd which turned and trampled off in another direction, and were soon hidden in the dense underwood. Then recovering myself, I looked about me and found that I was standing up on the side

of a great hill, strewn as far as I could see on either hand, with bones and tusks of elephant. This then must be the elephant's burying place, I said to myself, and they must have brought me here that I might cease to persecute them, seeing that I want nothing but their 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, not seeing a single elephant, by the way, which convinced me that they had retired deeper into the forest to leave the way open to Ivory Hill,

and I did not know how sufficiently to admire their sagacity. After a day and a night, I reached my master's house, and was received by him with joyful surprise. "'Ah, poor Sinbad,' he cried. "'I was wondering what could have become of you. "'When I went to the forest, I found the tree newly uprooted, "'and the arrows lying beside it. "'I feared I should never see you again.

"'Pray, tell me how you escape death.' "'I soon satisfied his curiosity, "'and the next day we went to the ivory hill, "'and he was overjoyed to find that I had told him nothing but the truth. "'When we had loaded our elephant with as many tusks as it could carry, "'and were on our way back to the city,' he said, "'My brother, since I can no longer treat, you as a slave, one who has enriched me thus, take your liberty, and may heaven prosper you.

I will no longer conceal from you that these wild elephants have killed numbers of our slaves every year. No matter what good advice we gave them, they were caught sooner or later. You alone have escaped the wiles of these animals. Therefore you must be under special protection of heaven. Now, through you the whole town will be enriched without further loss of life. Therefore, you shall not only receive your liberty, but I will also bestore upon you. you a fortune. To which I replied, Master, I thank you, and I wish you all prosperity. For myself, I ask only liberty to return to my own country. It is well, he answered. The monsoon will soon bring the ivory ships hither, then I will send you on your way with somewhat to pay your passage.

So I stayed with him till the time of the monsoon, and every day we added to our store of ivory till all his warehouses were overflowing with it. By this time, the other merchants knew the secret, but there was enough and to spare for all. When the ships at last arrived, my master himself chose the one in which I was to sail, and put on board for me a great store of choice provisions, also ivory in abundance, and all the costliest curiosities of the country for which I could not thank him enough, and so he parted. I left the ship at the first port we came to, not feeling at ease upon the sea, after all that has happened to me by reason of it, and having disposed of my ivory for much gold, and bought many rare and costly presents, I loved. I loved to have to be able to my ivory, I

loaded my pack animals and joined a caravan of merchants. Our journey was long and tedious, but I bore it patiently, reflecting that at least I had not to fear tempests, nor pirates, nor serpents, nor any of the other perils from which I had suffered before, and at length reached Baghdad. My first care was to present myself before the Khalifa, and give him an account of my embassy. He assured me that my long absence had disquieted him much, but he nevertheless hoped for the best. As to my adventure among the elephants, he heard it with amazing, declaiming that he could not have believed it had not my truthfulness been well known to him. By his orders, this story and the others I had told him were written by his scribes in letters of

gold and laid up among his treasures. I took my leave of him, well satisfied with the honours and he bestowed upon me, and since that time I have rested from my labours and given myself up wholly to my family and friends. Thus, Sinbad at end of the story of his seventh and last voyage, and turning to Hinbad, he added. Well, my friend, and what do you think now? Have you ever heard of anyone who has suffered more or had more narrow escapes than I have? Is it not just that I should now enjoy life of ease and tranquility?

Hinbrad drew near, and kissing his hand, respectfully, replied, Sir, you have indeed known fearful perils. My troubles have been nothing compared to yours. Moreover, the generous use you make of your wealth proves that you deserve it. May you live long and happily in the enjoyment of it. Sinbad then gave him a hundred sequins, and henceforward counted him among his friends.

Also, he caused him to give up his profession as a porter, and to eat dearly at his table that he might all his life remember Sinbad the sailor. End of Chapter 11. Chapter 12 of the literature of Arabia by Epiphanius Wilson. This Librevox recording is in the public domain, read by Paul Wellford. Arabian Knights Aladdin's wonderful lamp There once lived a poor tailor

who had a son called Aladdin A careless, idle boy Who would do nothing but play all day long in the streets With little idle boys like himself This so grieved the father That he died Yet, in spite of his mother's tears and prayers Aladdin did not mend his ways

One day, when he was playing in the streets as usual A stranger asked him his age And if he were the son of Mustafa the Taylor I am sir, replied Aladdin. but he died a long while ago. On this, the stranger, who was a famous African magician, fell on his neck and kissed him, saying, I am your uncle, and knew you from your likeness 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 always thought he was dead. However, she prepared supper and bid Aladdin seek his uncle, who came laden with wine and fruit. He presently fell down and kissed the place where Mustafa used to sit, bidding Aladdin's mother not to be surprised at not having seen him before, as he had been 40 years out of the country. He then turned to Aladdin and asked him his trade, at which the boy hung his head while his mother burst into tears. On learning that Aladdin was idle and would learn no trade, he offered to take a shop for him and stock it with merchandise. eyes. Next day he bought Aladdin a fine suit of clothes and took him all over the city, showing

them the sights, and brought him home at nightfall to his mother, who was overjoyed to see her son so fine. Next day, the magician led Aladdin into some beautiful gardens a long way outside the city gates. They sat down by a fountain, and the magician pulled a cake from his girdle, which he divided between them. They then journeyed onwards till they almost reached the mountains. Aladdin was so tired that he begged to go back, but the magician beguiled him with pleasant 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 you something wonderful. Only do you gather up sticks while I kindle a fire. When it was lit, the magician threw on it a powder he had about him, at the same time saying some magical words. The earth trembled a little and opened in front of them, disclosing a square flat stone with a brass ring in the middle to raise it by. Aladdin tried to run away, but the magician caught him and gave him a blow that knocked him down. What have I done, uncle? He said piteously, whereupon the magician said more kindly,

fear nothing but obey me. Beneath this stone lies a treasure which is to be yours, and no one else may touch it, so you must do exactly as I tell you. At the word treasure, Aladdin forgot his fears and grasped the ring as he was told, saying the names of his father and grandfather. The stone came up quite easily, and some steps appeared. Go down, said the magician. At the foot of these steps, you'll find an open door leading into three large holes. Tuck up your gown and go through them without touching anything, or you will die instantly. These holes lead into a garden of fine fruit trees.

Walk on till you come to a niche in a terrace where stands a light. lighted lamp, pour out the oil it contains, and bring it to me. He drew a ring from his finger and gave it to Aladdin, bidding him prosper. Aladdin found everything as the magician had said, gathered some fruit off the trees, and having got the lamp, arrived at the mouth of the cave. The magician cried out in a great hurry, make haste and give me the lamp. This Aladdin refused to do until he was out of the cave. The magician flew into a terrible passion, and throwing some more powder on the fire, he said something, and the stone rolled back into its place. The magician left Persia forever, which plainly showed that he was no uncle of Aladdin's,

but a cunning magician who had read in his magic books of a wonderful lamp, which would make him the most powerful man in the world. Though he alone knew where to find it, he could only receive it from the hand of another. He had picked out the foolish Aladdin for this purpose, intending to get the lamp and kill him afterwards. For two days, Aladdin remained in the dark, crying and lamenting. At last he clasped his hand in prayer and in so doing rubbed the ring which the magician had forgotten to take from him. Immediately an enormous and frightful genie rose out of the earth saying, What words thou with me? I am the slave of the ring and will obey thee in all things. Aladdin fearlessly replied, deliver me from this place, whereupon the earth opened and he found

himself outside. As soon as his eyes could bear the light, he went home, but fainted on the threshold. When he came to himself, he told his mother what had passed, and showed her the lamp and the fruits he had gathered in the garden, which were, in reality, precious stones. He then asked for some food. Her last child, she said, I have nothing in the house, but I have spun a little cotton and we'll go and sell it. Aladdin bade her keep her cotton, for he would sell the lamp instead. As it was very dirty, she began to rub it, that it might fetch a higher price. Instantly, a hideous genie appeared, and asked what she would have. She fainted away, but Aladdin snatched the lamp and said boldly, fetch me something to eat. The genie returned with a silver bowl, twelve silver plates containing

rich meats, two silver cups and two bottles of wine. Aladdin's mother, when she came to herself, said, when's come this splendid feast? Ask not, but eat, replied Aladdin. So they sat at breakfast till it was dinner time, and Aladdin told his mother about the lamp. She begged him to sell it, and have nothing to do with devils. No, said Aladdin. Since chance has made us aware of its virtues, we will use it, and the ring likewise, which I shall always wear on my finger. When he'd eaten all the genie had brought, Aladdin sold one of the silver plates, and so on, till none was left. He then had recourse to the genie, who gave him another set of plates, and thus they lived for many years. One day, Aladdin heard an order from the Sultan, proclaimed that everyone was to stay at home

and close his shutters while the princess, his daughter, went to and from the bath. Aladdin was seized by a desire to see her face, which was very difficult as she always went veiled. He hid himself behind the door of the bath and peeped through a chink. The princess lifted her veil as she went in and looked so beautiful that Aladdin fell in love with her at first sight. He went home so changed that his mother was frightened. He told her he loved the princess so deeply that he could not live without her and meant to ask her in marriage of her father. His mother, on hearing this, burst out laughing, but Aladdin, alas prevailed upon her to go before the sultan carry his request. She fetched her and laid on it the magic fruits from the enchanted garden, which sparkled and shone like the

most beautiful jewels. She took these with her to please the sultan and set out trusting in their lamp. The grand vizier and the lords of council had just gone in as she entered the hall and placed herself in front of the sultan. He, however, took no notice of her. She went every day for a week and stood in the same place. When the council broke up on the sixth day, the sultan said to his vizier, I see a certain woman in the audience chamber every day carrying something in a napkin. Call her next time that I may find out what she wants. Next day, at a sign from the vizier, she went up to the foot of the thrown and remained kneeling till the Sultan said to her, Rise, good woman, and tell me what you want.

She hesitated, so the Sultan sent away all but the vizier and bade her speak freely, promising to forgive her beforehand for anything that she might say. She then told of her son's violent love for the princess. I prayed him to forget her, she said. But in vain, he threatened to do some desperate deed if I refuse to go and ask your majesty for the hand of the princess. Now I pray you to forgive not me alone, but my son, Aladdin. The Sultan asked her kindly what she had in a napkin

Whereupon she unfolded the jewels and presented them He was thunderstruck And turning to the vizier said What says thou? Ought I not to bestow the princess On one who values her at such a price? The vizier, who wanted her for his own son begged her sultan to withhold her for three months

In the course of which he hoped his son would contrive To make him a richer present The Sultan granted this and told Aladdin's mother That though he consented to the marriage she must not appear before him again for three months. Aladdin waited patiently for nearly three months, but after two had elapsed, his mother, going into the city to buy oil, found everyone rejoicing, and asked what was going on. Do you not know, was the answer, that the son of the grand vizier is to marry the Sultan's daughter tonight? Breathless, she ran and told Aladdin, who was overwhelmed

at first, but presently bethought him off the lamp. He rubbed it, and the genie appeared, saying, What is thy will? Aladdin replied, the sultan, as thou knowest, has broken his promise to me, and the vizier's son is to have the princess. My command is that tonight you bring hither, the bride and bridegroom. Master, I obey, said the genie. Aladdin then went to his chamber, where, sure enough, at midnight, the genie transported the bed containing the vizier'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 vizier's son out of bed, leaving Aladdin with the princess. Fear nothing, Aladdin said to her, you are my wife, promised to me by your unjust father,

and no harm shall come to you. The princess was too frightened to speak, and passed the most miserable night 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 unhappy vizier's son jumped up and hid himself, while the princess would not say a word and was very sorrowful. The Sultan sent her mother to her, who said, How comes it, child, that you will not speak to your father?

What has happened? The princess sighed deeply, and at last told her mother how, during the night, the bed had been carried into some strange house and what had passed there. Her mother did not believe her in the least, but bade her rise 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 off her head. She then confessed to all, bidding him ask the vizier's son if it were not so. The Sultan told the vizier to ask his son, who owned the truth, adding that, dearly as he loved the princess, he had rather die than go through another such

fearful night and wished to be separated from her. His wish was granted, and there was an end of feasting and rejoicing. When the three months were over, Aladdin sent his mother to remind the Sultan of his promise. She stood in the same place as before, and a Sultan who had forgotten Aladdin at once remembered him and sent for her. On seeing her poverty, the Sultan felt less inclined than ever to keep his word, and asked the vizier's advice, who counselled him to set so high a value on the princess that no living man could come up to it. The Sultan then turned to Aladdin's mother, saying, Good woman, a Sultan must remember his promises, and I will remember mine. But your son must first send me 40 basins of gold, brimful of jewels, carried by 40 black slaves, led by, as many

white ones, splendidly dressed. Tell him that I await his answer. The mother of Aladdin bowed low, and went home, thinking all was lost. She gave Aladdin the message, adding, He may wait long enough for your answer. Not so long, mother as you think, her son replied. I would do a great deal more than that for the princess. He summoned the genie, and in a few moments the 80 slaves arrived and filled up the small house and garden. Aladdin made them set out to the palace two and two, followed by his mother. They were so richly dressed with such splendid jewels in their girdles that everyone crowded to see them under the basins of gold that they carried on their heads.

They entered the palace and after kneeling before the sultan stood in a half circle around the throne with their arms crossed while Aladdin's mother presented them to the sultan. He hesitated no longer but said, good woman, return and tell your son that I wait for him with open arms. She lost no time in telling Aladdin, bidding him make haste, but Aladdin first called the genie. I want a scented bath, he said, a richly embroidered habit, a horse surpassing the sultans, and twenty slaves to attend me. Besides this, six slaves beautifully dressed to wait on my mother,

and lastly, ten thousand pieces of gold in ten purses. No sooner said than done, Aladdin mounted his horse and passed through the streets, the slaves strewing gold as they went. Those who had played with 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 and led him into a hall where a feast was spread, intending to marry him to the princess that very day. But Aladdin refused, saying,

I must build a palace fit for her and took his leave. Once home, he said to the genie, build me a palace of the finest marble set with jasper a gate and other precious stones. In the middle you shall build me a large hall with a dome. It's four walls of massy gold and silver, each side having six windows, whose lattices all except one which is to be left unfinished, must be set with diamonds and rubies. There must be stables and horses and grooms and slaves.

Go and see about it. The palace was finished by next day, and the genie carried him there and showed him all his orders faithfully carried out, even to the laying of a velvet carpet from Aladdin's palace to the sultans. Aladdin's mother then dressed herself carefully and walked to the palace with her slaves while he followed on horseback. The sultan sent musicians with trumpets and symbols to meet them so that the air resounded with music and cheers.

She was taken to the princess, who saluted her and treated her with great honour. At night the princess said goodbye to her father and set out on the carpet for Aladdin's palace, with his mother at her side and followed by the hundred slaves. She was charmed at the sight of Aladdin, who ran to receive her. Princess, he said, blame your beauty for my boldness if I have displeased you. She told him that, having seen him,

she willingly obeyed her father in this matter. After the wedding had taken place, Aladdin led her into the hall where a feast was spread, and she supped with him, after which they danced till midnight. Next day, Aladdin invited the sultan to see the palace. On entering the hall with the four-and-twenty windows with their rubies, diamonds and emerales, he cried,

It's a world's wonder. There's only one thing that surprises me. Was it by accident that one window was left unfinished? No, sir, my design, returned Aladdin. I wished your majesty to have the glory of finishing this palace. The Sultan was pleased and sent for the best jewelers in the city. He showed them the unfinished window and bade them fit it up like the others. 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 that their task was vain, bade them undo their work, and carried the jewels back, and the genie finished the window at his command. The Sultan was surprised to receive his jewels again, and visited Aladdin, who showed him the finished window. The Sultan embraced him, and the envious vizier, meanwhile hinting that it was the work of enchantment. Aladdin had won the hearts of the people by his gentle bearing. He was made captain of the Sultan's armies and won several battles for him, but remained modest and courteous as before, and thus lived in peace and content for several years. But far away, in Africa, the magician had remembered Aladdin, and by his magic arts, discovered that Aladdin, instead of perishing miserably in the cave, had escaped and married a princess with whom he was living in great honour and wealth.

He knew that the poor Taylorson could only have accomplished this by means of the lamp, and travelled night and day till he reached the capital of China, bent on Aladdin's ruin. As he passed through the town, he heard people talking everywhere about a marvellous palace. Forgive my incoenance, he asked. What is this palace you speak of? Have you not heard of Prince Aladdin's palace? Was the reply? The greatest wonder of the world. I will direct you if you have a mind to see it. The magician thanked him who spoke, and having seen the palace, knew that it had been raised by the genie of the lamp and became half mad with rage. He determined to get hold of

lamp and again plunge Aladdin into the deepest poverty. And luckily, Aladdin had gone a hunting for eight days. We'd give the magician plenty of time. He bought a dozen copper lamps, put them into a basket, and went to the palace crying, New lamps for old, followed by a jeering crowd. The princess, sitting in the hall of four-and-twenty windows, sent a slave to find out what the noise was about, who came back laughing so that the princess scolded her. Madam?

replied the slave. Who can help laughing to see an old fool offering to exchange fine new lamps for old ones. Another slave, hearing this, said, There is an old one on the cornice there, which he can have. Now, this was the magic lamp which Aladdin had left there, as he could not 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 the crowd. little he cared, but left off, crying his lamps and went out of the city gates to a lonely place where he remained till nightfall when he pulled out the lamp and rubbed it. The genie appeared and at the magician's command carried him together with the palace

and the princess in it to a lonely place in Africa. Next morning, the Sultan looked out of the window towards Aladdin's palace and rubbed his eyes, for it was gone. He sent for the vizier and asked what had become of the palace. The vizier looked out too and was lost in astonishment. He again put it down to enchantment, and this time the Sultan believed him and sent 30 men on horseback to fetch Aladdin in chains. They met him riding home, bound him, and forced him to 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 made Aladdin kneel down, bandaged his eyes, and raised his scimitar to strike. At that instant, the vizier, who saw that the crowd, had forced their way into the courtyard and were scaling the walls to rescue Aladdin, called to the executioner to stay his hand. The people, indeed, looked so threatening that the Sultan gave way and ordered Aladdin to be unbound and pardoned him in sight of the crowd. Aladdin now begged to know what he had done. False wretch, said the Sultan, come hither, and showed him from the window the place where

his palace had stood. Aladdin was so amazed he could not say a word. Where is my palace, and my daughter demanded the Sultan. For the first, I am not so deeply concerned, but my daughter, I must have, and you must find her or lose your head. Aladdin begged for 40 days in which to find her, promising if he failed, to return and suffer death at the Sultan's pleasure.

His prayer was granted, and he went forth sadly from the Sultan's presence. For three days he wandered about like a madman, asking everyone what had become of his palace, but they only laughed and pitied him. He came to the banks of a river and knelt down to say his prayers before throwing himself in. In doing so, he rubbed the magic ring he still wore. The genie 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 the ring. You must ask the slave of the lamp. Even so, said Aladdin, but thou canst take me. to the palace and set me down under my dear wife's window. He at once found himself in Africa under the window of the princess and fell asleep out of sheer weariness. 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 the lamp and vainly wondered, heard robbed him of it. That morning, the princess rose earlier than she had done since she had been carried into Africa by the magician, whose company she was forced to endure once a day. She, however, treated him so. harshly that he dared not live there altogether. As she was dressing, one of her women looked out and saw Aladdin. The princess ran and opened the windows and at the noise she made, Aladdin looked up. She called to him to come to her, and great 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's name, before we speak of anything else, for your unsaken mind, tell me what has become

of an old lamp I left on the cornice in the hall of four and twenty windows when I went to hunting? "'Alas,' she said, "'I am the innocent cause of our sorrows,' "'and told him of the exchange of the lamp. "'Now I know,' cried Aladdin, "'that we have to thank the African magician for this. "'Where is the lamp?' "'He carries it about with him,' said the princess.

"'I know, for he pulled it out of his breast to show me. "'He wishes me to break my faith with you "'and marry him, saying that you are beheaded "'by my father's command. "'He is for ever speaking ill of you, "'but I only replied by my tears. "'If I persisting, I doubt not that he will use violence. Aladdin comforted her and left for a while.

He changed clothes with the first person he met in the town, and having bought a certain powder, returned to the princess, who let him in by a little side door. Put on your most beautiful dress, he said to her, and received the magician 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 his country. He will go for some, and while he is gone, I will tell you what to do. She listened carefully to Aladdin, and when he left her, I raided herself gaily for the first time since she left China. She put on a girdle and headdress of diamonds,

and seeing in a glass that she looked more beautiful than ever, received the magician, saying to his great amazement, I have made up my mind that Aladdin is dead and that all my tears 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 wines of China and would fain taste those of Africa.

The magician flew to his cellar, and the princess put the powder Aladdin had given her in her cup. When she returned, she asked him to drink her health in the wine of Africa, handing him her cup in exchange for his, as a 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. She set her cup to her lips and kept it there, while the magician drained his to the dregs and fell back lifeless. The princess then opened the door to Aladdin and flung her arms round his neck,

but Aladdin put her away, bidding her to leave him as he had more to do. He then went to the dead magician, took the lamp out of his vest, 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 little shocks, and little thought she was at home again. The sultan, who was sitting in his closet, mourning for his lost daughter, happened to look up and rubbed his eyes, for there stood the palace as before. He hastened thither and Aladdin received him in the hall 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 the magician that he might believe. A ten days feast was proclaimed and it 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, more wicked and more cunning than himself. He travelled to China to avenge his 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 a dagger to her breast, telling her to rise and do his bidding on pain of death. He changed clothes with her, coloured his face like hers, put on her veil, and murdered her, but that she might tell no tales. Then he went towards the palace of Aladdin, and all the people, think he was the holy woman,

gathered round him, kissing his hands and begging his blessing. When he got to the palace, there was such a noise going on round him that the princess bade her slave, looking at out of the window and ask what was the matter. The slave said it was the holy woman, curing people by her touch of their ailments, whereupon the princess, who had long desired to see Fatima, sent for her. On coming to the princess, the magician offered up a prayer for her health and prosperity. When he had done, the princess made him sit by her and begged him to stay with her always. The false Fatima, who wished for nothing better, consented, but kept his veil down for fear of discovery. The princess showed him in the hall and asked him what he thought of it.

"'It's truly beautiful,' said the false Fatima. "'In my mind, it wants but one thing.' "'And what is that?' said the princess. "'If only a rocks' egg,' replied he, "'were hung up from the middle of this dome, "'it would be the wonder of the world.' "'After this, the princess could think of nothing but a rock's egg, "'and when Aladdin returned from hunting,

"'he found her in a very ill-humour. "'He begged to know what was amiss, "'and she told him that all her pleasure in the hall "'was spoiled for want of a rock's egg hanging from the dome. If that's all, replied Aladdin, you shall soon be happy. He left her and rubbed the lamp, and when the genie appeared, commanded him to bring a rock's egg.

The genie gave such a loud and terrible shriek that the whole shook. Rich, he said, Is it not enough that I have done everything for you, but you must command me to bring my master and hang him up in the midst of this dome? You and your wife and your palace deserve to be burnt to ashes. but this request does not come from you but from the brother of the African magician whom you destroyed

he is now in your palace disguised as the holy woman whom he murdered it was he who put that wish in your wife's head take care of yourself for he means to kill you so saying the genie disappeared Aladdin went back to the princess saying his headache and requesting that the Holy Fatima should be fetched to lay her hands on it

but when the magician came near Aladdin seizing his dagger pierced him to the heart. What have you done? cried the princess. You've killed the holy woman. Not so, replied Aladdin, but a wicked magician and told her of how she had been deceived. After this, Aladdin and his wife lived in peace. He succeeded the Sultan when he died

and reigned for many years, leaving behind a long line of kings. End of chapter 12.