Classic Audiobook Collection - (Volume 6) Arabian Nights - The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night by Anonymous ~ Full Audiobook [folklore]

Starting point is 00:00:00 the book of a thousand knights and a night volume six five hundred and thirty seventh night to five hundred and thirty ninth night simbred the seamen and simbred the landsmen they lived in the city of baghdad during the reign of the commander of the faithful harun al-rashid a man named simbath the hamal one in poor case who bore burdens on his head for hire to him one day of a great heat that whilst he was carrying a heavy load, he became exceeding weary and sweated profusely, the heat and a weight alike oppressing him. Presently, as he was passing the gate of a merchant's house, before which the ground was swept and watered, and there the air was temperate, he sighted a broad bench beside the door, so he set his load thereon, to take rest and smell the air. had perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say when it was the five hundred and thirty-seventh night she said it hath reached me o auspicious king that when the hamal set his load upon the bench to take rest and smell the air

Starting point is 00:01:17 they came out upon him from the court-door a pleasant breeze and the delicious fragrance he sat down on the edge of the bench and at once heard from within the melodious sound of lutes and other stringed instruments and mirth-exciting voices, singing and reciting, together with the song of birds warbling and glorifying Almighty Allah, in various tombs and tongues, turtles, mockingbirds, merlis, nightingales, cushats, and stone curlews, whereat he marvelled in himself, and was moved to mighty joy and solos. Then he went up to the gate, and saw within a great flower-garden, wherein were pages and black slave, and such a train of servants and attendants and so forth as is found only with kings and sultans and his nostrils were greeted with a savoury odours of all manner meats rich and delicate and delicious and generous wines so he raised his eyes heavenwards and said glory to thee o lord o creator and provider who provi'st whom so thou wilt without count or stint o mine holy one i cry thee pardon for all sins, and turn to thee repenting of all offences.

Starting point is 00:02:35 O Lord, there is no gain, saying thee in thine ordinance, and thy dominion. Neither wilt thou be questioned of that thou dost, for thou indeed over all things art almighty. Extoled be thy perfection, whom thou wilt thou makest poor, and whom thou wilt thou makest rich, whom thou wilt thou exaltest, and whom thou wilt thou abestestest, and whom thou abestestest, and there is no God but thou. How mighty is thy majesty, and how enduring thy dominion,

Starting point is 00:03:06 and how excellent thy government! Verily thy favours whom thou wilt of thy servants, whereby the owner of this place, abideth in all joyance of life, and delighteth himself with a pleasant scents and delicious meats, and exquisite wines of all kind, for indeed thou appointest unto thy creatures,

Starting point is 00:03:27 that which thou wilt thou wilt, and that which hast forordoned unto them wherefore are some weary and others are at rest and some enjoy fair fortune and affluence whilst others suffer the extreme of travail and misery even as i do and he fell to recite him how many by my labours that evermore endure all goods of life and joy and in coolish shade recline each morn that dons i wake in travail and in bow and strangest my care condition and my burden gars me pine many others are in luck and from misery are free and fortune never loads them with loads the like of mine they live their happy days in all solace and delight eat drink and dwell in honour me the noble and the dine all living things are made of little drop of sperm thine origin is mine and my proverence is dine yet the difference and distance twi'en twi'n of us afar as the difference of saviour twixt winniger and wine but at thee o god all wise i venture not to rail whose ordinance is just and whose justice cannot fail when simbbered the porter had made an end to reciting his verses he bore up his burden and was about to fare on when there came forth to him from the gate a little foot-page fair of face and shapely of shape and dain to have dressed who caught him by the hand saying come in and speak with my lord for he calleth for thee the porter would have excused himself to the page but the lad would take no refusal so he left his load with the door-keeper in the vestibule and followed the boy into the house

Starting point is 00:05:12 which he found to be a goodly mansion radiant and full of majesty till he brought him to a grand sitting-room wherein he saw a company of nobles and great lords seated at tables garnished with all manner of flowers and sweet-scented herbs besides great plenty of dainty aviants and fruits dried and fresh and confections and wines of the choicest vintages there also were instruments of music and mirth and lovely slave-girls playing and singing all the company was ranked according to rank and in the highest place sat a man of a worshipful and noble aspect whose bed-sized horrorness had stricken and he was stately of stature and fair of favor agreeable of aspect and in the highest place sat a man of worshipful and noble aspect whose bedside's horridness had stricken and he was stately of stature and fair of favor agreeable of aspect and full of gravity and dignity and majesty so simbred the porter was confounded at that which he beheld and said in himself by allah this must be either a piece of paradise or some king's palace then he saluted the company with much respect praying for their prosperity and kissing the ground before them stood with his head bowed down in humble attitude and shaharasad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to stay her permitted say when it was the five hundred and thirty-eighth night she said it hath reached me o auspicious king that simbbered the porter after kissing ground between their hands stood with his head bowed down in humble attitude the master of the house bade him draw near and be seated and bespoke him kindly bidding him welcome then he set before him various kinds of vines rich and delicate and delicious and the porter after saying his bishmilla fell to and ate his fill after which he exclaimed praise be allah what so be our case

Starting point is 00:07:09 and washing his hands returned thanks to the company for his entertainment quoth the host thou art welcome and thy day is ablest but what is thy name and calling quoth the other O my lord, my name is Simbaed the Hamel, and I carry folk's goods on my head for hire. The housemaster smiled, and rejoined. No, O porter, that thy name is even as mine, for I am Simba the seaman, and now, O porter, I would have thee let me hear the couplets thou recitedst at the gate anoon. The porter was abashed and replied, Allah upon thee! Excuse me for toil and travail and lack of luck. when the hand is empty. Teach a man ill manners and boorish ways, said the host,

Starting point is 00:08:00 Be not ashamed. Thou art become my brother, but repeat to me the verses, for they pleased me when as I heard thee recite them at the gate. Hereupon the porter repeated the couplets, and they delighted the merchant, who said to him, know, O Hamal, that my story is a wonderful one, and thou shalt hear all that befell me, and all I underwent, ere I rose to this state of prosperity and became the lord of this place wherein thou seest me for i came not to this high estate save after travail saw and perils galore and how much toil and trouble have i not suffered in days of yore i have made seven voyages by each of which hangeth a marvellous tale such as confounded the reason and all this came to pass by doom of fortune and fate for from what destiny doth write there is neither refuge nor flight. Know then, good, my lords, continued he,

Starting point is 00:08:59 that I am about to relate the first voyage of Symbeth the seaman. My father was a merchant, one of the notables of my native place, a monied man, an ample of means, who died whilst I was yet a child, leaving me much wealth in money, and lands, and farmhouses. When I grew up, I laid hands on the whole, and ate of the best, and drank freely, and wore rich, clothes and lived lavishly, companioning and consorting with youths of my own age, and considering that this course of life would continue for ever, and cannot change.

Starting point is 00:09:35 Thus did I for a long time, but at last I awoke from my heedlessness, and, returning to my senses, I found my wealth had become unwealth, and my condition ill-conditioned, and all I once had left my hand, and recovering my reason, I was stricken. with dismay and confusion, and bethought me of a saying over Lord Solomon, son of David. On hubby-piece, which I had heard of foretime from my father, three things are better than other three, the day of death is better than the day of birth, a live dog is better than a dead lion, and the grave is better than want. Then I got together my remains of estates and property, and sold all, even my clothes, for three thousand dirhams.

Starting point is 00:10:23 with which i resolved to travel to foreign parts remembering the saying of the poet by means of toil man shall skate to height who to fame aspire mustn't sleep o night who seeketh pearl in the deep must dive winning wheel and wealth by his mane and might and who seeketh fame without toil and strife the impossible seeketh and wasted life so taking heart i bought me goods merchandise and all needed for a voyage and impatient to be at sea i embarked with a company of merchants on board a ship bound for there we again embarked and sailed many days and nights and we passed from isle to aisle and sea to sea and shore to shore buying and selling and bartering in everywhere the ship touched, and continued our course till we came to an island, as it were garth for the gardens of paradise. Here the captain cast anchor, and making fast to the shore, put out their landing planks. So all on board landed and made furnaces, and lighting fires therein, busied themselves in various ways, some cooking and some washing, whilst other some walked about the island for solace, and the crew fell to eating and drinking and

Starting point is 00:11:40 playing and sporting. I was one of the walkies, but, as we were thus engaged, behold the master, we were standing on the gunwell, cried out to us at the top of his voice, saying, Ho there! Passengers! Run for your lives, and hasten back to the ship, and leave your gear, and save yourselves from destruction. Allah preserve you, for this island whereon ye stand, is no true island but a great fish, stationary, a middlemost of the sea, whereon the sand has settled, and trees have sprung up of all time, so that it is become like unto an island. But, when ye lighted fires on it, it felt the heat and moved, and in a moment it will sink with you into the sea, and you will all be drowned. So leave your gear, and seek your safety ere you die.

Starting point is 00:12:28 And Shah Rasa had perceived the dawn of day, and ceased saying her permitted say. when it was the five hundred and thirty-ninth night she said it hath reached me o auspicious king that when the shipmaster cried to the passengers leave your gear and seek safety ere you die all who heard him left gear and goods clothes washed and unwashed fire-pots and brass cooking-pots and fled back to the ship for their lives and some reached it while others among whom was i did not for suddenly the island shook and sank into the abysses of the deep with all that were thereon, and the dashing sea surged over it with clashing waves. I sank with the others down, down, into the deep, but Almighty Allah preserved me from drowning, and threw in my way a great wooden tub of those that had served the ship's company for tubbing. I gripped it for the sweetness of life, and, bestriding it like one riding, paddled with my feet like orfs, whilst the waves tossed me as in sport right and left.

Starting point is 00:13:34 meanwhile the captain made sail and departed with those who had reached the ship regardless of the drowning and the drowned and i ceased not following the vessel with my eyes till she was hid from sight and i made sure of death darkness closed in upon me while in this plight and the winds and waves bore me on all that night and the next day till the tub brought to with me under the lee of a lofty island with trees overhanging the tide i caught hold of a branch and the night and the next day till the tub brought to with me under the lee of a lofty island with trees overhanging the tide i caught hold of a branch and by its aid clambered up on to the land after coming nigh upon death but when i reached the shore i found my legs cramped and numbed and my feet brought traces of the nibbling of fish upon their souls withal i had felt nothing for excess of anguish and fatigue i threw myself down on the island ground like a dead man and drowned in desolation swooned away nor did i return to my senses till next morning, when the sun rose and revived me, but I found my feet swollen, so made shift to move by shuffling on my breach, and crawling on my knees, for in that island were found store of fruits and springs of sweet water. I ate of the fruits which strengthened me, and thus I abode days and nights, till my life seemed to return, and my spirits began to revive, and I was better

Starting point is 00:14:58 able to move about. So, after due consideration, I fell to exploring the island and diverting myself with gazing upon all things that Allah Almighty had created there, and rested under the trees from one of which I cut me a staff to lean upon. One day, as I walked along the march, I caught sight of some object in the distance, and thought it a wild beast, or one of the monster creatures of the sea, but, as I drew near it, looking hard the while, I saw that it was a noble mare, teethered on the beach. Presently I went up to her, but she cried out against me with a great cry, so that I trembled for fear and turned to go away. When they came forth a man from under the earth, and followed me, crying out and saying,

Starting point is 00:15:47 Who, and went art thou, and what caused thee to come hither? Oh, my lord, answered, I. I am in very sooth a waif, a stranger, and was left to drown with sundry others by the ship we voyaged in. But Allah graciously sent me a wooden tub, so I saved myself thereon, and it floated with me, till the waves cast me up on this island. When he heard this, he took my hand and say, Come with me, carried me into a great Sardab, or underground chamber, which was spaces as a saloon. He made me sit down, and it's a up. upper end, then he brought me somewhat of food, and being unhungered, I ate till I was satisfied and refreshed, and when he had put me at mine ease, he questioned me of myself, and I told him

Starting point is 00:16:36 all that had befallen me from first to last, and as he wandered at my adventure, I said, By Allah, or my lord, excuse me, I have told thee the truth of my case and accident which betide me, and now I desire that thou tell me who thou art, and why thy abides'st hair, and why thy abides here under the earth, and why thou hast teeted yonder mare on the brink of the sea? Answered he, No, that I am one of the several who are stationed in different parts of this island, and we are the grooms of King Mirjan, and under our hand are all his horses. Every month, about new moon-tide, we bring hither our best mares, which have never been covered, and picket them on the sea-shore, and hide ourselves in this place under the ground,

Starting point is 00:17:23 so that none may aspire. Presently, the stallions of the sea sent the mares and come up out of the water, and seeing no one, leap the mares, and do their will of them. When they have covered them, they try to drag them away with them, but cannot, by reason of the leg ropes.

Starting point is 00:17:42 So they cry out at them, and butted them, and kick them, which we're hearing, know that the stallions have dismounted, so we run out and shout at them, whereupon they are startled, and return in fare to the sea. Then the mares conceived by them,

Starting point is 00:17:58 and bear colts and fillies, worth a mint of money, nor is they alike to be found on earth's face. This is the time of the coming forth of the sea stallions, and, inshallah, I will bear thee to King Mirjan. And Shah Harassad besieed the dawn of day, and ceased to say her permitted say. End of Section 1.

Starting point is 00:18:23 by Christine G. in Oslo, Norway, the 10th of December, 2011. Section 2. Of the Book of A Thousand Nights and a Night, Volume 6. This is a Librevox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information, or to volunteer, please visitlibrovox.org. Recording by Christine G. The Book of A Thousand Nights and a Night. volume six by anonymous translated by richard francis burton five hundred and fortyth night to five hundred and forty-second night when it was the five hundred and forty-th night she continued it hath reached me o auspicious king that the psyche said to simba the seaman i will bear thee to king mirjan and show thee our country and know that hadst thou not happened on us thou hadst thou hadst

Starting point is 00:19:23 perished miserably, and none had known of thee. But I will be the means of the saving of thy life, and of thy return to thine own land. I called down blessings on him, and thanked him for his kindness and courtesy. And, while we were yet talking, behold, the stallion came up out of the sea, and, giving a great cry, sprang upon the mare, and covered her. When he had done his will of her, He dismounted, and would have carried her away with him, but could not by reason of the teethe. She kicked and cried out at him. Whereupon the groom took a sword and target, and ran out of the underground saloon, smiting the buckler with a blade, and calling to his company,

Starting point is 00:20:10 who came up shouting and brandishing spares, and the stallion took fright at them, and plunging into the sea, like a buffalo, disappeared under the waves. after this, we sat awhile, till the rest of the grooms came up, each leading a mare, and seeing me with a fellow psyche, questioned me of my case, and I repeated my story to them. Thereupon they drew near me, and spreading the table, ate and invited me to eat. So I ate with them, after which they took course, and mounting me on one of the mares, set out with me, and fed on without ceasing, till we came to the capital city of King Mirjan, and going into him acquainted him with my story.

Starting point is 00:20:54 Then he sent for me, and when they sent me before him, and salams had been exchanged, he gave me a cordial welcome, and wished me a long life, and bade me tell him my tale. So I related to him all that I had seen, and all that had befallen me from first to last, whereat he marveled and said to me, By Allah, oh my son, thou hast indeed been miraculously preserved. where not the term of thy life a long one, thou hadst not escaped from these straits, but praised by Allah for safety.

Starting point is 00:21:27 Then he spoke cheerily to me, and entreated me with kindness and consideration. Moreover, he made me his agent for the port and register for all ships that entered the harbour. I attended him regularly, to receive his commandments, and he favoured me, and did me all manner of kindness, and invested me with costly and splendid robes. indeed i was high in credit with him as an intercessor for the folk and an intermediary between them and him when they wanted aught of him i abhorred thus a great while and as often as i passed through the city to the port i questioned the merchants and travellers and sailors of the city of baghdad so happily i might hear of an occasion to return to my native land but could find none who knew it or knew any who resorted thither At this I was chagrined, for I was wary of long strangered, and my disappointment endured for a time till one day, going into King Mirjan, I found him with a company of Indians. I saluted them, and they returned my salaam, and politely welcomed me and asked me of my country.

Starting point is 00:22:39 And Shah Harazad perceived the dawn of day, and ceased saying her permitted say. when it was the five hundred and forty-fourth night she continued it hath reached me o auspicious king that simba the seamen said when they asked me on my country i question them of theirs and they told me that they were of various castes some being called shakiria who are the noblest of their castes and neither oppress nor offer violence to any and others brahmans a folk who abstain from wine but the people who abstain from wine but the live in delight and solace and merriment, and own camels and horses and cattle. Moreover, they told me that the people of India are divided in two and seven de castes, and I marveled at this with exceeding marvel. Amongst other things that I saw in King Mirjan's dominions was an island called Cassil, wherein all night is heard the beating of drums and tabrettes.

Starting point is 00:23:43 But we were told by the neighboring islanders, and by two, travelers, that the inhibits are people of diligence and judgment. In this sea I also saw a fish two hundred cubits long, and the fishermen fare it, so they strike together pieces of wood and put it to flight. I also saw another fish, with a head like that of an owl, besides many other wonders and rarities, which it would be tedious to recount. I occupied myself thus in visiting the island's till, one day, as I stood in the port, with a staff in my hand, according to my custom, behold, a great ship wherein were many merchants, came sailing for the harbour. When it reached the small inner port with a ship's anchor under the city,

Starting point is 00:24:33 the master furled his sails, and making pass to the shore, put out the landing planks, whereupon the crew fell to breaking bulk and landing cargo, whilst I stood by, taking written note of them. They were long in bringing the goods ashore, so I asked the master, is there all left in thy ship? And he answered, Oh, my lord,

Starting point is 00:24:54 there are divers bales of merchandise in the hall, whose owner was drowned from amongst us at one of the islands on our course. So his goods remain in our charge by way of trust, and we propose to sell them, and note their price, that we may convey it to his people in the city of Baghdad,

Starting point is 00:25:13 of peace. What was the merchant's name? Coth I, and called he, Simba the Seaman, whereupon I straightly considered him, and knowing him, cried out to him with a great cry, saying, O, Captain, I am that Simba, the seaman, who travelled with other merchants, and when the fish heaved, and thou collards to us, some save themselves, and other sank, I being one of them, but Allah Almighty threw in my way a great tub of wood, of those the crew had used to wash withal, and the winds and waves carried me to this island, whereby Allah's grace I fell in with King Mirjan's grooms, and they brought me hither to the king their master. When I told him my story, he entreated me with favour, and made me his harbour master, and I have

Starting point is 00:26:02 prospered in his service, and found acceptance with him. These bales, therefore, are mine, the goods which God hath given me. And Shaharazad perceived the dawn of day, and ceased to say her permitted say. When it was the five hundred and forty-second night, she continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious king, that when Simbad the seaman said to the captain, These bales are mine, the goods which Allah had given me. The other exclaimed, There is no majesty, and there is no might saving Allah, the glorious, the great.

Starting point is 00:26:40 Verily, there is neither conscience nor good faith left along men, said I, O race, what means these words, seeing that I have told thee my case? And he answered, Because thou heardest me say that I had with me goods whose owner was drowned, thou thinkest to take them without right, but this is forbidden by law to thee, for we saw him drown before our eyes, together with many other passengers, nor was one of them saved. so how canst thou pretend that thou art the owner of the goods o captain said i listen to my story and give heed to my words and my truth will be manifest to thee for lying and leasing are the letter-marks of hypocrites then i recounted to him all that had befallen me since i sailed from baghdad with him to the time when we came to the fish island where we nearly drowned and i reminded him of certain matters which had passed between us whereupon both he and the merchants were certified at the truth of my story, and recognized me, and gave me joy of my deliverance, saying, By Allah, we thought not that thou hadst escaped drowning, but the Lord hath granted thee new life.

Starting point is 00:27:57 Then they delivered my bales to me, and I found my name written thereon, nor was aught there of flacking, so I opened them, and making up a present for King Mirjan, of the finest and costliest of the content. caused the sailors carry it up to the palace where i went in to the king and laid my present at his feet acquainting him with what had happened especially concerning the ship and my goods whereat he wandered with exceeding wonder and the truth of all that i had told him was made manifest to him his affection for me redoubled after that and he showed me exceeding honour and bestowed on me a great present in return for mine then i sold my bales and what other matters i owned making a great profit on them and bought me other goods and gears of the growth and fashion of the island city when the merchants were about to start on their hong-board voyage i embarked on board the ship all that i possessed and going into the king thanked him for all his favours and friendship and craved his leave to return to my own land and friends he farewelled me and bestowed on me a great store of the country stuff and produce and i took leave of him and embarked then we set sail and fared on nights and days then we set sail and fair dawn nights and days by the permission of allah almighty then fortune served us and fate favoured us so that we arrived in safety at the basora city where i landed rejoiced at my safe return to my natal soil

Starting point is 00:29:35 after a short stay i set out for baghdad the house of peace with store of goods and commodities of great prize reaching the city in due time i went straight to my own quarter and entered my house where all my friends and kinsfolk came to greet me then i bought me eunuchs and concubines servants and negro slaves till i had a large establishment and i bought me houses and lands and gardens till i was richer and impregers till i was richer and impover better case than before, and returned to enjoy the society of my friends and familiars more assidiously than ever, forgetting all I had suffered of fatigue and hardship, and strangehood and every peril of travel, and I applied myself to all manner of joyce and solaces and delights, eating the daintiest wines, and my wealth allowed this state of things to endure. This, then, is the story of my first voyage, and to-morrow, in Shala, I will tell you the tale of the second of my seven voyages. Sait he, who telleth the tale.

Starting point is 00:30:45 Then Simber the seaman made Simba the landsman sup with him, and bade give him a hundred gold pieces, saying, Thou hast chaired us with thy company this day. The porter thanked him, and taking the gift, went his way, pondering that which he had heard, and marvelling mightingly at what things betide mankind. He passed the night in his own place, and with early morning repaired to the abode of Simba the Seaman, who received him with honour, and seated him by his side. As soon as the rest of the company was assembled,

Starting point is 00:31:19 he set meat and drink before them, when they had well eaten and drunken, and were merry and in cheerful case, he took up his discourse and recounted them in these words, the narrative of the second voyage of Simbeth the Seaman. Know, oh my brother, that I was living a most comfortable and enjoyable life, in all solace and delight, as I told you yesterday. And Shahar-Assad perceived the dawn of day, and ceased saying her permitted say.

Starting point is 00:31:53 End of Section 2. Recording by Christine G. in Oslo, Norway. The 11th of December 2011. Section 3 of the Book of a Thousand Nights and a Night, Volume 6. This is a Librevox recording. All Librevox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Librevox.org. Recording by Christine G. The Book of A Thousand Nights and a Night, Volume 6, by Anonymous,

Starting point is 00:32:32 translated by Richard Francis Burton 543rd night to 545 night When it was the 543rd night She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious king, That when Simba the Seaman's guests were all gathered together, He thus bespake them. I was living a most enjoyable life, Until one day my mind became possessed,

Starting point is 00:33:00 With the thought of travelling about the world of men and seeing their cities and islands, and a longing ceased me to traffic and to make money by trade. Upon this resolve I took a great store of cash, and, buying goods and gear fit for travel, bound them up in bales. Then I went down to the riverbank, where I found a noble ship and brand-new about to sail, equipped with sail of fine cloth and well manned and provided, so I took passage in her, with a number of other merchants, and after embarking our goods, we ways anchor the same day. Bright fare was our voyage, and we sailed from place to place, and from aisle to aisle, and whenever we anchored, we met a crowd of merchants,

Starting point is 00:33:48 and notables, and customers, and we took to buying and selling and bartering. At last destiny brought us to an island, fair and verdant, in trees abundance. with yellow ripe fruits luxuriant and flowers fragrant and birds warbling soft descant and streams crystalline and radiant but no sign of man showed to the squire no not a blower of the fire the captain made fast with us to this island and the merchants and sailors landed and walked about enjoying the shade of the trees and the song of the birds that chanted the praises of the one the victorious and marvelling at the works of the omnipotent king i landed with the rest and sitting down by a spring of sweet water that welled up among the trees took out some vivers i had with me and ate that which allah almighty had allotted unto me and so sweet was a sepher and so fragrant were the flowers that presently i awaxed drowsily and lying down in that place was soon drowned in sleep when i awoke i found myself alone for the ship had sailed and left me behind nor had one of the merchants or sailors bethought himself of me i saired the island right and left but found neither man nor gin whereat i was beyond measure troubled and my gall was like to burst for stress of chagrin and anguish and concern because i was left quite alone without aught of worldly gear or meat or drink

Starting point is 00:35:29 weary and heart-broken. So I gave myself up, for lost, and said, Not always that the crock escaped the shock. I will save the first time by finding one who brought me from the desert island, to an inhibited place, but now there is no hope for me. Then I fell to weeping and wailing, and gave myself up to an axis of rage, blaming myself for having again ventured upon the perils and hardships of voyage, when, as I was at my ease, in my own house, in my own land, taking my pleasure with good meat and good drink and good clothes, and lacking nothing, neither money nor goods.

Starting point is 00:36:10 And I repented me of having left Baghdad, and this was the more after all the travails and dangers I had undergone in my first voyage, wherein I had so narrowly escaped destruction, and exclaimed, Verily we are alas, and unto him we are returning. I was indeed even, as one mad and gin struck impressantly I rose, and walked about the island, right and left, and every wither, unable for trouble to sit or tarry in any one place. Then I climbed a tall tree, and looked in all directions, but saw nothing save sky and sea, and trees and birds, and aisles and sands.

Starting point is 00:36:51 However, after a while my eager glances fell upon some great white thing, are far off the interior of the island. So I came down from the tree, and made for that which I had seen. And behold, it was a huge white dome rising high in air, and a vast compass. I walked all around it, but found no door thereto, nor could I muster strength or nimbleness, by reason of its exceeding smoothness and slipperiness. So I marked a spot where I stood, and went round about the dome,

Starting point is 00:37:26 to measure its circumference, which I found fifty good paces. And as I stood, casting about how to gain an entrance, the day being near its fall, and the sun being near the horizon, behold, the sun was suddenly hidden from me, and the air became dull and dark. We thought a cloud had come over the sun, but it was the season of summer, so I marvelled at this, and lifting my head, looked steadfastly at the sky, when i saw that the cloud was none other than an enormous bird of gigantic earth an inordinately wider wing which as it flew through the air wheeled the sun and hid it from the island at this sight my wonder redoubled and i remembered a story and shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to stay her permitted say when it was the five hundred and forty-fourth night she said it hath reached me o auspicious king

Starting point is 00:38:28 that simbeth the seaman continued in these words my wonder redoubled and i remembered the story i had heard of foretime of pilgrims and travellers how in a certain island dwelleth a huge bird called a rooque which feedeth its young on elephants and i was certified that the dome which caught my sight was none other than a rooak's egg as i looked and wondered at the marvellous works of the almighty the bird alighted on the dome and brooded over it with its wings covering it and its legs stretched out behind it on the ground and in this posture it fell asleep glory be to him sleepeth not when i saw this i arose and unwinding my turban from my head doubled it and twisted it into a rope with which i girt my middle and bound my waist fast to the legs of the rook saying to myself, Peer adventure, this bird may carry me to a land of cities and inhabitants, and that will be bettered and abiding in this desert island. I passed a night watching and fearing to sleep, lest the bird should fly away with me unawares,

Starting point is 00:39:45 and, as soon as the dawn broke and mourn shone, the rooak rose off its egg, and spreading its wings with a great cry, flew up into the air, dragging me with it, nor ceased it to soar and to tower till i thought it had reached the limit of the firmament after which it descended earthwards little by little till it lighted on top of a high hill as soon as i found myself on the hard ground i made haste to unbind myself quaking for fear of the bird though it took no heed of me nor even felt me and losing my turban from its feet i made off with my best beat presently i saw it catch up in its huge claws something from the earth and rise with it high in air and observing it narrowly i saw it to be a serpent big of bulk and gigantic of girth wherewith it flew away clean out of sight i marvelled at this and ferrying forwards found myself on a peak overlooking a valley exceeding great and wide and deep and bounded by vast mountains that spied high in air

Starting point is 00:40:55 none could describe the summits for the excess of their height nor was any able to climb up there too when i saw this i blamed myself for that which i had done and said would heaven i had tarried in the island it was better than this wild desert for there i had at least fruit to eat and water to drink and here are neither trees nor fruits nor streams but there is no majesty and there is no might save in allah the glorious a great verily as often as i am quit of one peril i fall into worse danger and are more grievous however i took courage and walking among the vady found that its soils was of diamond the stone wherewith they pierce minerals and precious stones and porcelain and the eonics for that it is a dense stone and a jaw whereon neither iron nor hardhead hath effect neither can we cut off or earth therefrom nor break it, save by means of leadstone. Moreover, the valley swarmed with snakes and vipers, each big is a palm tree, that would have made but one gulp of an elephant, and they came out by night, hiding during the day, lest the rooks and eagles pounce on them, and tear them to pieces, as was they a want. Why, I what not?

Starting point is 00:42:21 And I repented of what I had done, and said, By Allah, I have made haste to bring destruction upon myself. The day became too vain, as I went along, and I looked about for a place where I might pass the night, being a fair of the serpents, and I took no thought of meat and drink in my concern for my life. Presently I caught sight of a cave-nail hand, with a narrow doorway, so I entered, and seeing a great stone close to the mouth, I rolled it up and stopped the entrance, saying to myself, i am safe here for the night and as soon as it is stay i will go forth and see what destiny will do then i looked within the cave and saw to the upper end a great serpent brooding on her eggs at which my flesh quaked and my hair stood on end

Starting point is 00:43:13 but i raised my eyes to heaven and committing my case to fate and lot abode all that night without sleep till daybreak when i rolled back the stone from the mouth of the cave and went forth staggering like a drunken man and giddy with watching and fear and hunger As in this sore case I walked along the valley, behold, they fell down before me a slaughtered beast. But I saw no one, whereat I marveled with great marveled, and presently remembered a story I had heard of foretime, of traders and pilgrims and travellers, how the mountains where other diamonds are full of perils and terrors, nor can any fare through them.

Starting point is 00:43:54 But the merchants who traffic in the diamonds have a device by which they obtain them, that is to say, they take a sheep and slaughter, and skin it and cut it in pieces, and cast them down from the mountain-tops into the valley-soul, where their meat being fresh and stick it with blood, some of the gems cleave to it. There they leave it to mid-day, when the eagles and vultures swoop down upon it, and carry it in their claws to the mountain summits, whereupon the merchants come and shout them, and scare them away from the meat. then they come and taking the diamonds which they find sticking to it go their ways with them and leave the meat to the birds and beasts nor can any come at the diamonds but by this device and shahar asad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say when it was the five hundred and forty-fifth night she said it hath reached me o auspicious king that simber the seaman continued his relation of what befell him in the mountain of diamonds, and informed them that merchants cannot come at the diamonds, save by the device aforesaid.

Starting point is 00:45:08 So, when I saw the slaughtered beast fall, he pursued, and bethought me of the story, I went up to it and filled my pockets, and shawl-girdle, and turban, and the folds of my clothes, with the choicest diamonds, and, as I was thus engaged, down fell before me, another great piece of meat. Then, with my unrolled turban, and lying on my back, I set the bit on my breast so that it was hidden by the meat, which was thus raised above the ground. Hardly had I gripped it, when an eagle swooped down upon the flesh, and, seizing it with his talents, flew up with it high in air, and me clinging thereto, and ceased not its flight till it alighted on the head of one of the mountains where, dropping the carcass, he fell to rendering it. But, behold, there arose

Starting point is 00:46:00 behind him, a great noise of shouting and clattering of wood, whereat the bird took fright and flew away. Then I looted off myself the meat, with clothes dobed with blood therefrom, and stood up by its side. Whereupon up came the merchant, who had cried out at the eagle, and seeing me standing there, bespoke me not, but was of a affrighted at me and shook with fare. However, he went up to the carcass, and turning it over, found no diamonds sticking to it, whereat he gave a great cry and exclaimed, Harrow, my disappointment! There is no majesty, and there is no might save in Allah, with whom we seek refuge from Satan the stoned, and he bemoaned himself, and beat hand upon hand,

Starting point is 00:46:45 saying, Alas! the pity of it! How cometh this? Then I went up to him, and he said to me, Who art thou, and what caused thee to come hither? And I, fear not, I am a man and a good man and a merchant. My story is a wondrous, and my adventurous, and my adventurous, marvellous. And the manner of my coming hither is prodigious, so be of good share. Thou shalt receive of me, what shall rejoice thee, for I have with me great plenty of diamonds,

Starting point is 00:47:15 and I will give thee thereof what shall suffice thee, for each is better than aught, thou couldst get otherwise, so fair nothing. The man rejoiced thereat, and thanked and blessed me. Then we talked together, till the other merchants, hearing me in discourse with their fellow, came up and saluted me, for each of them had thrown down his piece of meat. And as I went off with them, I told them my whole story, how I had suffered hardships at sea, and the fashion of my reaching the valley. But I gave the owner of the meat a number of the stones.

Starting point is 00:47:51 I had by me, so they all wished me joy of my escape, saying, by Allah, a new life hath been decreed to thee, for none ever reached yonder valley, and came off, thence alive, before thee, but praise it be Allah for thy safety. We passed a night together, in a safe and pleasant pace, beyond measured, rejoiced at my deliverance from the valley of serpents, and my arrival in an inhabited land. And on the morrow, we set out and journeyed over the mighty, range of mountains, seeing many serpents in the valley, till we came to a fair great island, wherein was a garden of huge camper trees, under each of which an hundred men might take shelter. When the folk have a mind to get the camper, they bore into the upper part of the bowl with a long iron,

Starting point is 00:48:42 whereupon the liquid camper, which is the sap of the tree, floweth out, and they catch it in vessels, where it concreted like gum, but, after this, the tree dieth and become firewood. Moreover, there is in this island a kind of wild beast called rhinoceros, that pastureth as deuce dears and buffaloes with us, but it is a huge brute, bigger of body than the camel, and like it feedeth upon the leaves and twigs of trees. It is a remarkable animal, with a great and thick horn, ten cubits long, a middleward its head, wherein, when cleft in twain, is the likeness of a man. Voyages and pilgrims and travellers declared that this beast called Karkadan will carry off a great elephant on its horn, and grace about the island, and sea-coath

Starting point is 00:49:35 their wits, and take no heed of it, till the elephant dieth, and its fat, melting in the sun, runneth down into the rhinoceros eyes and blindeth him so that he lieth down on the shore then comes the bird rook and carryeth off both the rhinoceros and that which is on its horn to feed its young withal moreover i saw in this island many kinds of oxen and buffaloes whose like are not found in our country here i sold some of the diamonds which i had by me for gold dynasts and silver dirhams and bartered others for the produce of the country and loathing them upon beast of burden fed on with the merchants from valley to valley and town to town buying and selling and viewing foreign countries and the works and creatures of allah till we came to basra city where we abode a few days after which i continued my journey to baghdad and shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say end of section three recording by christine g in oslo norway the eleventh of december two thousand and eleven section four of the book of a thousand nights and a night volume six this is a liberovox recording all librovox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit librovoc dot org recording by christine g the book of a thousand knights and a night volume six by anonymous translated by richard francis burton five hundred and forty-sixth to five hundred and forty-eighth night when it was the five hundred and forty-sixth night

Starting point is 00:51:36 she said it hath reached me o auspicious king that when simbred the seaman returned from his travel to baghdad the house of peace he arrived at home with great store of diamonds and money and goods, continued he, I foregathered with my friends and relations and gave alms and lagers, and bestowed curious gifts, and made presents to all my friends and companions. Then I betook myself to eating well, and drinking well, and wearing fine clothes, and making merry with my fellows, and forgot all my sufferings in the pleasure of return to the solace and delight of life, with light heart and broadened breast. And every one who heard of my return, came and questioned me of my adventures and of foreign countries, and I related to them, all that had befallen me, and the much I had suffered, whereat they wandered, and gave me joy of my safe

Starting point is 00:52:28 return. This, then, is the end of the story of my second voyage, and to-morrow, inshallah, I will tell you what befell me in my third voyage. The company marvelled as his story, and supped with him, after which he ordered, and hundred dinars of go to be given to the porter to be given to the porter who took the sum with many thanks and blessings which he stinted not even when he reached home and went his way wondering at what he had heard next morning as soon as day came in its sheen and shone he rose and praying the dawn prayer repaired to the house of a simb of the seaman even as he had bidden him and went in and gave him good-morrow the merchant welcomed him and made him sit with him till the rest of the company arrived, and when they had well eaten and drunken, and were merry with joy and jollity, their host began by saying, Harken, O my brothers, to what I am about to tell you, for it is even more wondrous than what you have already heard. But Allah alone caneth what thinks his omniscience concealed from man, and listen to the third voyage of Simbad the seaman.

Starting point is 00:53:46 you yesterday, I returned from my second voyage all the joyed as my safety, and with great increase of wealth. Allah, having required me all that I had wasted and lost, and I abode a while in Baghdad's city, savoring the utmost ease and prosperity and comfort and happiness, till the carnal man was once more ceased with longing for travel, and diversion, and adventure, and yearned as to traffic and lucre and emolument, for that the human heart is nature prone to evil. So making up my mind, I laid in great plenty of good suitable for sea voyage, and repairing to Basora, went down to the shore, and found their fine ship ready to sail, with a full crew, and a numerous company of merchants, men of worth and subsonance, faith, piety, and consideration.

Starting point is 00:54:38 I embarked with them, and we set sail on the blessing of Allah Almighty, anon his aidance, and his favour, to bring our voyage to a safe, and prosperous issue, and already we congratulated one another on our good fortune and boon voyage. We fared on from sea to sea, and from island to island, and city to city, in all delight and contentment, buying and selling wherever we touched, and taking our solace and our pleasure, till one day when, as we sailed atwart the dashing sea, swollen with clashing billows, behold the master, who stood on the gunwale, examining the ocean in all directions, cried out with a great cry, and buffeted his face, and plucked out his bed, and rent his raiment, and bade furl the sail, and cast the anchors. So he said to him, O race, what is the matter? No, oh, my brethren, allah preserve you, that the wind hath gotten the better of us, and hath driven us out of our course into mid-ocean, and and destiny, for our ill luck, hath brought us to the mountain of the suburb, a hairy folk like apes,

Starting point is 00:55:51 among whom no man ever fell and came forth alive, and my heart prosaggeth, that we all be dead man. Hardly had the master made an end of his speech, when the apes were upon us. They surrounded the ship on all sides, swamming like locusts, and crowding the shore. They were the most frightful of wild creatures, covered with black hair like felt, foul of favour, and small of stature, being but four spans high, yellow-eyed and black-faced. None knoweth their language, nor what they are, and they shunned a company of men. We fared to slay them, or strike them, or drive them away, because of their inconceivable multitude, lest if we heard one, the rest fall on us and slay us, for numbers prevail over courage.

Starting point is 00:56:40 So we let them do their will, albeit we fear they would plunder our goods and gear. They swarmed up on the cables and gnawed them asunder, and unlikewise they did with all the ropes of the ship, so that it fell from the wind and stranded upon their mountainous coast. Then they laid hands on all the merchants and crew, and landing us on the island, made off with the ship and its cargo, and went there ways. We wot not whither. We were thus left on the island. eating of its fruits and pot-herbs and drinking of its streams till one day we espied in its midst what seemed an inhabited house.

Starting point is 00:57:20 So we made for it as fast as our feet could carry us, and behold. It was a castle, strong and tall, compassed about with a lofty wall, and having a two-leaved gate of ebony wood, both of which leaves open stood. We entered and found within a space wide and bare like a great square, round which should, stood many high doors open thrown, and at the farther end, a long bench of stone and brass ears, with cooking gear hanging thereon, and about it great plenty of bones. But we saw no one, and marveled thereat with exceeding wonder. Then we sat down in the courtyard a little while, and presently falling asleep, slept from the forenoon till sundown, when, lo, the earth trembled

Starting point is 00:58:05 under our feet, and the air rumbled with a terrible tone. Then they came upon us, from the top of the castle a huge creature in likeness of a man black of color tall and big of bulk as he were a great date-tree with eyes like colds of fire and eye-teeth like boast husk and a vast big gape like the mouth of a well moreover he had long loose lips like camels hanging down upon his breast and airs like two charms falling over his shoulder-blades and the nails of his hands were like claws of a lion's when we saw this frightful giant we were like to faint and every moment increased our fare and terror and we became as dead man for excess of horror and of fright and shah al-asad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say when it was the five hundred and forty-seventh night she said it hath reached me o auspicious king that simbered the seamen continued when we saw this frightful giant we were struck with exceeding terror and horror and after trampling upon the earth he sat awhile on the bench then he arose and coming to us seized me by the arm choosing me out from among my comrades the merchants he took me up in his hand and turning me over felt me as a butcher feeleth a sheep he is about to slaughter and i but a little mouthful in his hands but finding me lean and fleshless for the stress of toil and trouble and weariness let me go and took up another whom in like manner he turned over and felt and let go nor did he cease to feel and turn over the rest of us one after another till he came to the master of the ship

Starting point is 00:59:53 now he was a sturdy stout broad-shouldered white fat and in full vigour so he pleased a giant who seized him as a butcher ceases a beast and throwing him down set his foot on his neck and break it after which he fetched a long spit and thrusting it up his back-side brought it forth of the crown of his head then lighting a fierce fire he set it over the spit with the rays thereon and turned it over the coals till the fleshed forth the fleshed the fire he set it over the spid with the rays thereon and turned it over the coals till the fleshed was roasted when he took this bit of the fire and set it like a cabab stick before him then he tear the body limb from limb as one joineth a chicken and rendering the flesh with his nails fell to eating of it and gnawing the bones till there was nothing left but some of these which he threw on one side of the wall this done he sat for a while then he lay down on the stone bench and fell asleep snarking and snoring like the gurgling of a lamb or a cow with its throat cut, nodded he awake till morning, when he rose, and fared forth, and went his ways. As soon as we were certified that he was gone, we began to talk with one another, weeping and bemoaning ourselves for the risk we ran, and saying, Would heaven we had been drowned in the sea, or that the apes had eaten us? That were better

Starting point is 01:01:18 than to be roused over the coals. By Allah, this is a vile, foul death. death but what so the lord willeth must come to pass and there is no majesty and there is no might save in him the glorious the great we shall assuredly perish miserably and none will know of us and there is no escape for us from this place then we arose and roamed bouty island hoping that happily we might find a place to hide us in or a means of flight for indeed death was a light matter to us provided we were not roasted over the fire and eaten however we could not find no hiding-place and the evening overtook us so of the excess of our terror we returned to the castle and sat down a while presently the earth trembled under our feet and the black ogre came up to us and turning us over felt one after another till a fan of his liking whom he took and served as he had done the captain killing and roasting and eating him after which he lay down on the bench and slept all night and he sat down on the bench and slept all night snarking and snoring like a beast with its throat-cart till daybreak when he arose and went out as before then we drew together and conversed and said one to another by allah we had better throw ourselves into the sea and be drowned than die roasted for this is an abominable death quote one of us hear ye my words let us cast about to kill him and be at peace from the grief of him and with the moslems of his barbarity and tyranny then said i hear me o my brothers if there is nothing for it but to slay him let us carry some of this firewood and planks down to the sea-shore and make us a boat wherein if we succeed in slaughtering him we may either embark and let the waters carry us whither allah willeth or else abided here till

Starting point is 01:03:14 some ship pass, when we will take passage in it. If we fail to kill him, we will embark on the boat and put out to sea, and if we be drowned, we shall at least escape, being roasted over a kitchen fire, with sliced evisance, whilst if we escape, we escape, and if we be drowned, we die martyrs. By Allah, said they all, this reed is all right, and we agreed upon this, and set about carrying it out. So we hailed to you. down to the beach the pieces of wood which lay about the bench and making a boat mordid to the strand after which we stowed therein somewhat of victual and returned to the castle as soon as evening fell the earth trembled under our feet and in came the blackamore upon us snarling like a dog about to bite he came up to us and feeling us and turning us over one by one took one of us and did with him as he had done before and he had done before and he had done before and ate him, after which he lay down on the bench, and snored and snorted like thunder.

Starting point is 01:04:20 As soon as we were assured that he slept, we arose, and taking two iron spits of those standing there, heathed them in the fiercest of the fire, till they were red-hot, like burning coals, when we gripped fast hold of them, and going up to the giant, as he lay snoring on the bench, thrust them into his eyes, and pressed up on them, all of us, with our united might, so that his eyeballs burst and he became stone-blind. Thereupon he cried with a great cry, whereat our hearts trembled and springing up from the bench, he fell like groping after us, blindfold. We fled from him right and left, and he saw us not, for his sight was altogether blent, but we were in terrible fare of him, and made sure we were dead men despairing of escape.

Starting point is 01:05:09 Then he found the door, feeling for it with his hands, and went out roaring a left, and went out, and behold the earth shook under us for the noise of his roaring and we quaked for fare as he quitted the castle we followed him and betook ourselves to the place where we had moored our boat saying to one another if this occurs to abide absent till the going down of the sun and come not to the castle we shall know that he is dead and if we come back we will embark in the boat and paddle till we escape committing our affair to allah but as we spoke behold up came the blackamore with other two as they were goals fowler and more frightful than he with eyes like red-hot coals which when we saw we hurried into the boat and casting off the moorings paddled away and pushed out to sea as soon as the ogus caught sight of us they cried out at us and running down to the seashore fell up pelting us with rocks whereof some fell among us and others fell into the sea we paddled with all our might till we were beyond their reach but the most part of us were slain by the rock-throwing and the winds and waves sported with us and carried us into the midst of the dashing sea swollen with billows clashing we knew not whither we went and my fellows died one after another till they remained but three myself and two others and shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say when it was the five hundred and forty-eighth night she said it hath reached me o auspicious king that simb of the seamen thus continued

Starting point is 01:06:55 most part of us were slain by the rock throwing and only three of us remained on board the boat for as often as one died we threw him into the sea we were so exhausted for stress and hunger but we took courage and heartened one another and worked for dear life and paddled with mane and might till the winds cast us upon an island as we were dead men for fatigue and fear and famine we landed on the island and walked about it for a while finding that it abound we landed on the island and walked about it for a while finding that it abound bounded in trees and streams and birds, and we ate of the fruits, and rejoiced in our escape from the black, and our deliverance from the perils of the sea, and thus we did, till nightfall, when we lay down and fell asleep for excess of fatigue. But we had hardly closed our eyes, before we were aroused by a hissing sound like the sort of wind, an awakening, saw a serpent like a dragon, a seldom-seen sight, of monstrous smake and belly of enormous bulk which lay in circle round us presently it reared its head and seizing one of my companions swallowed him up to his shoulders then it gulped down the rest of him and we heard his ribs crack in its belly

Starting point is 01:08:11 presently it went its way and we abode in sore amazement and grief for our comrade and mortal fare for ourselves saying by allah this is a marvellous thing each kind of death that we abode in sore amazement and grief for our comrade and mortal fare for ourselves saying by allah this is a marvellous thing each kind of death that threatens us is more terrible than the last we were rejoicing in our escape from the black ogre and our deliverance from the perils of the sea but now we have fallen into that which is worse there is no majesty and there is no might save in allah by the almighty we have escaped from the blackamore and from drowning but how shall we escape from this abonemobal and viprish monster then we walked about the island eating of its fruits and drinking of its streams till dusk when we climbed up into a high tree and went to sleep there i being the topmost as soon as it was dark night up came the serpent looking right and left and making for the tree whereon we were climbed up to my comrade and swallowed him down to his shoulders then it coiled about the bowl with him whilst i who could not take my eyes of the sight heard his bow and he heard his bow and then it coiled about the bowl with him whilst i who could not take my eyes of the sight heard his bow bones crack in its belly, and it swallowed him whole, after which it slid down from the tree. When the day broke, and the light showed me that the serpent was gone, I came down, as I were a dead man for stress of fare and anguish, and thought to cast myself into the sea, and be at rest from the vows of the world, but could not bring myself to this, for verily life is there.

Starting point is 01:09:42 So I took five pieces of wood, broad and long, and bound one crosswise to the soul, and on my feet, and others in like fashion on my right and left sides, and over my breast, and the broadest and largest abound across my head, and made them fast with ropes. Then I lay down on the ground on my back, so that I was completely fenced in by the pieces of wood, which enclosed me like a buyer. So as soon as it was dark, up came the serpent, as usual, and made towards me, but could not get at me to swallow me for the wood that fenced me in. so it wriggled round me on every side whilst i looked on like one dead by reason of my terror and every now and then it would glide away and come back but as often as it tried to come at me it was hindered by the pieces of wood wherewith i had bound myself on every side it ceased not to beset me thus from sundown to dawn but when the light of day shone upon the beast it made off in the utmost fury and extreme disappointment

Starting point is 01:10:49 Then I put out my hand and unbound myself, well-nighed down among the dead men for fear and suffering, and went down to the island shore, when the ship afar off in the midst of the waves, suddenly struck my sight. So I tore off a great branch of a tree, and made signs with it to the crew, shouting out the while, which when the ship's company saw, they said to another, We must stand in and see what this is. peradventure tis a man, so they made for the island and presently heard my cries, whereupon they took me on board and questioned me of my case. I told them all my adventures, from first to last, whereat they marvelled mightingly and covered my shame with some of their clothes. Moreover, they sat before me somewhat of food, and I ate my fill, and I drank, cold, sweet water, and was mightingly refreshed, and Allah Almighty quickened me after me after.

Starting point is 01:11:47 I was virtually dead, so I praised the most highest and thanked him for his favours and exceeding mercies, and my heart revived in me after utter despair, till me seemed as if all I had suffered were but a dream I had dreamed, who sailed on with a fair wind, Almighty sent us, till we came to an island, called Al-Salahita, with boundeth in sandalwood when the captain cast anchor, and Shah Harasa had perceived the dawn of day, and ceased saying her permitted say, End of Section 4, recording by Christine G. in Oslo, Norway, the 11th of December 2011. Section 5 of the Book of a Thousand Nights and a Night, Volume 6. This is a Librevox recording.

Starting point is 01:12:41 All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visitlibrivox.org. The Book of A Thousand Nights and a Night, Volume 6, by Anonymous. Translated by Richard Francis Burton Section 5 When it was the 549th night, she said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Sinbad the seaman continued, And when we had cast anchor,

Starting point is 01:13:13 The merchants and the sailors landed with their goods to sell and to buy. Then the captain turned to me and said, hark ye, thou art a stranger and a pauper, and tellest us that thou hast undergone frightful hardship. Wherefore I have a mind to benefit thee with somewhat that may further thee to thy native land, so thou wilt ever bless me and pray for me. So be it, answered I, thou shalt have my prayers. Quoth he, know then, that there was with us a man, a traveller whom we lost, and we know not if he be alive or dead, for we had no news of him.

Starting point is 01:13:47 So I purpose to commit his bales of good to thy charge that thou mayst sell them in this island. A part of the proceeds we will give thee as an equivalent for thy pains and services, and the rest we will keep till we return to Baghdad, where we will inquire for his family and deliver it to them, together with the unsold goods. Say me, then, wilt thou undertake the charge and land and sell them as other merchants do? I replied, hearkening and obedience to thee, O my lord, and great is thy kindness to me, and thanked him, whereupon he bade the sailors and porters bear the bales in question ashore, and commit them to my charge.

Starting point is 01:14:27 The ship's scribe asked him, O master, what bales are these and what merchant's name shall I write upon them? And he answered, write on them the name of Sinbad the seaman, him who was with us in the ship, and whom we lost at the Rooks Island, and of whom we have no tidings, for we mean this stranger to sell them, and we will give him a part of the price for his pains, and keep the rest till we return to Baghdad, where, if we find the owner, we will make it over to him, and if not to his family. And the clerk said, Thy words are apposite, and thy read is right. Now, when I heard the captain give orders for the veils to be inscribed with my name, I said to myself,

Starting point is 01:15:06 By Allah, I am Sindbad the seaman. So I armed myself with courage and patience, and waited till all the merchants had landed and were gathered together, talking and chaffering about buying and selling. Then I went up to the captain and asked him, O my lord, knowest thou what manner of man was this Sindbad, whose goods thou hast committed to me for sale? And he answered, I know of him not, save that he was a man from Baghdad's city, Sindbad height the seaman, who was drowned with many others when we lay anchored at such an island,

Starting point is 01:15:39 and I have heard nothing of him since then. At this I cried out with great cry, and said, O Captain, whom Allah keep, know that I am that Sinbad the seaman, and that I was not drowned. But when thou castest anchor at the island I landed with the rest of the merchants and crew, and I sat down in a pleasant place by myself, and ate somewhat of food I had with me, and enjoyed myself, till I became drowsy and was drowned in sleep. And when I awoke I found no ship, and none near me. These goods are my goods, and these bales are my bales, and all the merchants who fetched

Starting point is 01:16:13 jewels from the valley of diamonds saw me there, and will bear me witness, that I am the very sindbad the seaman, for I related to them everything that had befallen me, and told them how you forgot me and left me sleeping on the island, and that betided me which betided me. When the passengers and crew heard my words they gathered about me, and some of them believed me, and others disbelieved. But presently, behold, one of the merchants, hearing me mention the valley of diamonds, came up to me and said to them, Hear what I say, good people. When I related to you the most wonderful thing in my travels, and I told you that at the time

Starting point is 01:16:48 we cast down our slaughtered animals into the valley of serpents, I, casting with the rest, as was my wont, there came up a man, hanging to mine, ye believed me not, and gave me the lie. Yes, quoth they, thou didst tell us some such tale, but we had no cause, but we had no call to credit thee. He resumed, Now this is the very man, by token that he gave me diamonds of great value, and high price, whose like are not to be found, requiting me more than would have come up sticking to my quarter of meat, and I accompanied with him to Basora City, where he took leave of us and went on to his native stead, whilst we returned to our own land. This is he, and he told us his name, Sinbad the seaman, and how the ship left him on the desert island. And know ye that Allah

Starting point is 01:17:32 had sent him hither, so might the truth of my story be made manifest to you. Moreover, these are his goods, for when he first foregathered with us he told us of them, and the truth of his words is patent. Hearing the merchant's speech, the captain came up to me and considered me straightly a while, after which he said, What was the mark on thy bales? Thus and thus, answered I, and reminded him of somewhat that had passed between him and me when I was shipping with him from Basora. Thereupon he was convinced that I was indeed Sinbad the seaman, and took me round the neck and gave

Starting point is 01:18:06 me joy of my safety, saying, By Allah, O my lord, thy case is indeed wondrous, and thy tale marvellous, but lauded be Allah, who hath brought thee and me together again, and who hath restored to thee thy goods and gear. And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day, and ceased to say her permitted say. When it was the five hundred and fiftyth night she said, It hath reached me, O auspicious king, that Sinbad the seaman thus continued. Alham Dalila, quoth the captain, Lauded be Allah who hath restored unto thee thy goods and gear. Thus I disposed of my merchandise to the best of my skill,

Starting point is 01:18:45 and profited largely on them, whereat I rejoiced with exceeding joy, and congratulated myself on my safety and the recovery of my goods. We ceased not to buy and sell at the several islands till we came to the land of Hind, where we brought cloves and ginger and all men, manner of spices. And thence we fared on to the island of Sindh, where also we bought and sold.

Starting point is 01:19:08 In these Indian seas I saw wonders without number or count, amongst others a fish like a cow, which bringeth forth its young and suckleth them like human beings, and of its skin bucklers are made. There were eke fishes like asses and camels, and tortoises twenty cubits wide. And I saw also a bird that cometh out of a sea-shell, and layeth eggs and hatcheth her chicks on the surface of the water, never coming up from the sea to the land. Then we set sail again with a fair wind and the blessing of Almighty Allah, and after a prosperous voyage arrived safe and sound at Basara.

Starting point is 01:19:43 Here I abode a few days, and presently returned to Baghdad, where I went at once to my quarter and my house, and saluted my family and familiars and friends. I had gained on this voyage what was beyond count and reckoning, so I gave alms and largesse, and clad the widow in the world, the orphan by way of thanksgiving for my happy return, and fell to feasting and making merry with my companions and intimates, and forgot while eating well, and drinking well, and dressing well, everything that had befallen me, and all the perils and hardship I had suffered.

Starting point is 01:20:15 These, then, are the most admirable things I cited on my third voyage, and to-morrow, and it be the will of Allah, you shall come to me and I will relate the adventures of my fourth voyage, which is still more wonderful than those you have already heard, sayeth he who telleth the tale. Then Sinbad the Seaman bad gives Sinbad the landsman a hundred gold dinars as of want and called for food. So they spread the tables and the company ate the night meal and went their ways, marveling at the tale they had heard.

Starting point is 01:20:45 The porter, after taking his gold past the night in his own house, also wondering at what his namesake the seaman had told him, and as soon as day broke and the morning showed with its sheen and shone, he rose and praying the dawn prayer, but took himself to the same to Sinbad the Seaman, who returned his salute and received him with an open breast and cheerful favor, and made him sit with him till the rest of the company arrived, when he caused set on food and they ate and drank, and made merry. Then Sinbad the seaman bespake them, and related to them the narrative of the fourth voyage of Sinbad the seaman. Know, O my brethren, that after my return from my third voyage and for gathering with my friends, and forgetting all my perils and hardships

Starting point is 01:21:27 in the enjoyment of ease and comfort and repose, I was visited one day by a company of merchants who sat down with me and talked of foreign travel and traffic, till the old bad man within me yearned to go with them and enjoy the sight of strange countries, and I long for the society of the various races of mankind, and for traffic and profit. So I resolved to travel with them,

Starting point is 01:21:51 and buying the necessaries for a long voyage and great store of costly goods more than ever before, transported them from Baghdad to Basara, where I took the ship with the merchants in question, who were of the chief of the town. We set out, trusting in the blessing of Almighty Allah, and with a favoring breeze and the best conditions we sailed from island to island, and sea to sea, till one day there arose against us, a contrary wind, and the captain cast out his anchors, and brought the ship to a standstill, fearing lest she should found her in mid-ocean. Then we all fell to prayer, and humbling our

Starting point is 01:22:26 before the most high. But as we were thus engaged, there smote us a furious squall which tore the sails to rags and tatters. The anchor cable parted, and the ship foundering, we were cast into the sea, goods and all. I kept myself afloat by swimming half the day, till when I had given myself up for a lost, the Almighty threw in my way one of the planks of the ship, whereon I and some others of the merchants scrambled. And Shahrazad received the dawn of the day, and ceased, saying her permitted say. When it was the 551st night, she said, It hath reached me, O auspicious king,

Starting point is 01:23:04 That Sinbad the seaman continued as follows. And when the ship foundered, I scrambled onto a plank with some others of the merchants, And mounting it as we would a horse, Paddled with our feet in the sea. We abode thus a day and a night, The wind and waves helping us on, And on the second day,

Starting point is 01:23:22 Shortly before the mid-time between sunrise and noon, The breeze freshened, and the sea wrought, and the rising waves cast us upon an island, well-nigh dead bodies for weariness and want of sleep, cold, and hunger, and fear and thirst. We walked about the shore, and found abundance of herbs, whereof we ate enough to keep breath in body, and to stay our failing spirits, then lay down and slept till morning hard by the sea. And when morning came with its sheen and shone, we arose and walked about the island to the right and left, till we came in sight of an inhabited house afar off. So we made towards it, and ceased not walking till we reached the door thereof, when lo! A number of naked men issued from

Starting point is 01:24:05 it, and without saluting us, or a word said, laid hold of us masterfully, and carried us to their king who signed us to sit. So we sat down, and they set food before us such as we knew not, and whose like we had never seen in all our lives. My companions ate of it for stress of hunger, But my stomach revolted from it, and I would not eat it. And my refraining from it was, by Allah's favor, the cause of my being alive till now. For no sooner had my comrades tasted of it, then their reason fled, and their condition changed, and they began to devour it like madmen possessed of an evil spirit. Then the savages gave them to drink of coconut oil, and anointed them therewith,

Starting point is 01:24:44 and straight away after drinking thereof, their eyes turned into their heads, and they fell to eating greedily against their want. When I saw this I was confounded and concerned for them, nor was I less anxious about myself for fear of the naked folk. So I watched them narrowly, and it was not long, before I discovered them to be a tribe of Meijian cannibals whose king was a ghoul. All who came to their country, or who so they caught in their valleys, or on their roads, they brought to this king, and fed them upon that food, and anointed them with that oil,

Starting point is 01:25:16 whereupon their stomachs dilated that they might eat largely, whilst their reason fled, and they lost the power of thought and became idiots. Then they stuffed them with coconut oil and the aforesaid food till they became fat and gross, when they slaughtered them by cutting their throats, and roasted them for the king's eating. But as for the savages themselves, they ate human flesh raw. When I saw this I was sore dismayed for myself and my comrades, who were now become so stupefied that they knew not what was done with them, and the naked folk committed them to one who used every day to lead them out,

Starting point is 01:25:50 and pasture them on the island like cattle. And they wandered amongst the trees and rested at will, thus waxing very fat. As for me I wasted away and became sickly for fear and hunger, and my flesh shrivelled on my bones, which, when the savages saw they left me alone, and took no thought of me, and so far forgot me that one day I gave them the slip, and walking out of their place made for the beach which was distant, and there espied a very old man seated on a high place, Girt by the waters. I looked at him, and knew him for the herdsmen, who had charge of pasturing my fellows, and with him were many others in like case. As soon as he saw me he knew me to be in

Starting point is 01:26:29 possession of my reason, and not afflicted like the rest whom he was pasturing, so signed to me from afar, as who should say, turn back and take the right-hand road, for that will lead thee into the king's highway. So I turned back as he bade me, and followed the right-hand road, now Now running for fear and then walking leisurely to rest me, till I was out of the old man's sight. By this time the sun had gone down and the darkness set in, so I sat down to rest and would have slept, but sleep came not to me that night for stress of fear and famine and fatigue. When the night was half spent I rose and walked on till the day broke in all its beauty,

Starting point is 01:27:07 and the sun rose over the heads of the lofty hills and athwart the low gravelly plains. Now I was weary and hungry and thirsty, so I ate my fill of herbs and grass. grasses that grew in the island, and kept life in body and stayed my stomach. After which I set out again and fared on all that day and the next night, staying my greed with roots and herbs. Nor did I cease walking for seven days and their nights, till the morn of the eighth day, when I caught sight of a faint object in the distance. So I made towards it, though my heart quaked for all I had suffered first and last, and behold, it was a company of men gathering pepper-grains. As soon as they saw me they hastened up to me and surrounding me on all sides said to me,

Starting point is 01:27:49 Who art thou, and whence come? I replied, No, O folk, that I am a poor stranger, and acquainted them with my case and all the hardships and perils I had suffered. And Scheherazade perceived the dawn of day, and ceased to say her permitted say. End of Section 5. Section 6. Of the Book of A Thousand Nights and a Night Volume 6. This is a Libervox recording.

Starting point is 01:28:24 All Libervox recordings were in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. The Book of A Thousand Nights and a Night, Volume 6, by Anonymous, translated by Richard Francis Burton. Section 6. When it was the 552nd night, she said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Sinbad the Seaman continued, And the men, gathering pepper in the island, questioned me of my case, when I acquainted them with all the hardships and perils I had suffered, and how I had fled from the savages, whereat they

Starting point is 01:28:59 marveled and gave me joy of my safety, saying, By Allah, this is wonderful, but how didst thou escape from these blacks who swarm in the island, and devour all who fall in with them? Nor is any safe from them, nor can any get out of their clutches. And after I had told them, the fate of my companions, they made me sit by them till they got quit of their work, and fetched me somewhat of good food which I ate, for I was hungry, and rested a while, after which they took ship with me, and carrying me to their island home, brought me before their king, who returned my salute, and received me honorably, and questioned me of my case. I told him all that had befallen me from the day of my leaving Baghdad city,

Starting point is 01:29:38 whereupon he wandered with great wonder at my adventures, he and his courtiers, and bade me sit by him. Then he called for food, and I ate with him what sufficed me, and washed my hands, and returned thanks to Almighty Allah for all his favors praising him, and glorifying him. Then I left the king and walked for solace about the city, which I found wealthy and populace, abounding in market streets well-stocked with food and merchandise and full of buyers and sellers. So I rejoiced at having reached so pleasant a place, and took my ease there after my fatigues, and I made friends with the townsfolk, nor was it long before I became more in honor in favor with them and their king than any of the chief men of the realm.

Starting point is 01:30:21 Now I saw that all the citizens, great and small, rode fine horses, high-priced and thoroughbred, without saddles or housings, whereat I wondered, and said to the king, Wherefore, O my lord, dost thou not ride with the saddle, therein is ease for the rider, and increase of power? What is a saddle, asked he, I never saw nor used such a saddle. a thing in all my life. And I answered, With thy permission I will make thee a saddle, that thou mayst ride on it, and see the comfort thereof.

Starting point is 01:30:49 And quoth he, do so. So quoth I to him, furnish me with some wood. Which being brought, I sought me a clever carpenter, and sitting by him showed him how to make the saddle-tree, portraying for him the fashion thereof in ink on the wood. Then I took wool and teased it and made felt of it, and covering the saddle-tree with leather, stuffed it, and polished it, and attached the girth and stirrup-leathers, after which I fetched a blacksmith, and described him the fashion of the stirrups and bridle bit. So he forged a fine pair of stirrups and a bit, and filed them smooth and tinned them.

Starting point is 01:31:25 Moreover, I made fast to them fringes of silk and fitted bridle-leathers to the bit. Then I fetched one of the best of the royal horses, and saddling and bridling him, hung the stirrups to the saddle, and led him to the king. The thing took his fancy, and he thanked me. Then he mounted, and rejoiced greatly in the saddle, and rewarded me handsomely for my work. When the king's wazir saw the saddle, he asked of me one like it, and I made it for him. Furthermore, all the grandees and officers of state came for saddles to me, so I fell to making saddles, having taught the craft to the carpenter and blacksmith, and selling them to all who sought,

Starting point is 01:32:01 till I amassed great wealth and became in high honor and great favor with the king, and his household and grandees. I abode thus, till one day, as I was sitting with the king in all respect and contentment, he said to me, know thou, O such and one, thou art become one of us, dear is a brother, and we hold thee in such regard and affection, that we cannot part with thee, nor suffer thee to leave our city, wherefore I desire of the obedience in a certain matter, and I will not have thee gainsay me. Answered I, O king, what is it thou desirest of me?

Starting point is 01:32:34 Far be it from me to gainsay thee. and ought, for I am indebted to thee for many favours and bounties and much kindness, and, praised be Allah, I am become one of thy servants. Quoth he, I have a mind to marry thee to a fair, clever, and agreeable wife, who is wealthy as she is beautiful, so thou mayst be naturalized and domiciled with us. I will lodge thee with me in my palace, wherefore, oppose me not, neither cross me in this. When I heard these words I was ashamed and held my peace, nor could make him any answer, by reason of my much bashfulness before him. Asked he, Why dost thou not reply to me, O my son?

Starting point is 01:33:15 And I answered, saying, O my master, it is thine to command, O king of the age. So he summoned the Kazi and the witnesses, and married me straight away to a lady of a noble tree and high pedigree, wealthy in monies and means, the flower of an ancient race, of surpassing beauty and grace, and the owner of farms and estates, and many a dwelling-place. And Scheherazade perceived the dawn of day, and ceased, saying her permitted say. When it was the five hundred and fifty-third night, she said, It hath reached me, O auspicious king, that Sindbad the seaman continued in these words. Now after the king my master had married me to this choice wife, he also gave me a great and goodly house standing alone,

Starting point is 01:34:02 together with slaves and officers, and assigned me pay and allowances. So I became in all ease and contentment and delight, and forgot everything which had befalled me of weariness and trouble and hardship, for I loved my wife with fondest love, and she loved me no less, and we were as one, and abode in the utmost comfort of life, and in its happiness. And I said in myself, when I return to my native land I will carry her with me. But what so is predestined to a man that needs must be, and none knoweth what shall befall him. We lived thus a great while, till Almighty Allah bereft one of my neighbours of his wife. Now he was a gossip of mine, so hearing the cry of the keeners, I went in to condole with him

Starting point is 01:34:45 on his loss, and found him in very ill plight, full of trouble, and weary of soul and mind. I condoled with him, and comforted him, saying, Mour not for thy wife, who hath now found the mercy of Allah. The Lord will surely give thee a better in her stead. and thy name shall be great, and thy life shall be long in the land, inshallah. But he wept bitter tears, and replied, O my friend, how can I marry another wife, and how shall Allah replace her to me with a better than she,

Starting point is 01:35:13 when as I have but one day left to live? O my brother, said I, returned to thy senses, and announce not the glad tidings of thine own death. For thou art well, sound, and in good case. By thy life, O my friend, rejoined he, tomorrow thou wilt lose me and will never see me again till the day of resurrection. I asked, how so? And he answered,

Starting point is 01:35:37 This very day they bury my wife, and they bury me with her in one tomb, for it is the custom with us, if the wife die first, to bury the husband alive with her, and in like manner the wife, if the husband die first, so that neither may enjoy life after losing his or her mate. By Allah! cried I, this is the most vile, lewd custom, and not to be endured of any. Meanwhile, behold, the most part of the townsfolk came in and fell to condoling with my gossip

Starting point is 01:36:03 for his wife and for himself. Presently they laid the dead woman out, as was their want, and setting her on a beer, carried her and her husband without the city till they came to a place in the side of the mountain, at the end of the island by the sea. And here they raised a great rock, and discovered the mouth of a stone-riveted pit or well, leading down into a vast underground cavern that ran beneath the mountain. Into this pit they threw the corpse. Then, tying a rope of palm fibers under the husband's armpits,

Starting point is 01:36:34 they let him down into the cavern, and with him a great pitcher of fresh water and seven scones by way of Viaticum. When he came to the bottom he loosed himself from the rope, and they drew it up, and stopping the mouth of the pit with the great stone they returned to the city, leaving my friend in the cavern with his dead wife. When I saw this I said to myself, By Allah, this fashion of death is more grievous than the first.

Starting point is 01:36:59 And I went into the king and said to him, Oh, my lord, why do ye bury the quick with the dead? Quoth he, It hath been the custom thou must know of our forebears and our olden kings from time immemorial, if the husband die first to bury his wife with him and the like with the wife, so we may not sever them, alive or dead.

Starting point is 01:37:19 I asked, O king of the age, if the wife of a foreigner like myself died, among you, deal ye with him as with yonder man? And he answered, assuredly, we do with him even as thou hast seen. When I heard this my gall-bladder was like to burst, for the violence of my dismay and concern for myself. My wit became dazed. I felt as if in a vile dungeon, and hated their society, for I went about in fear lest my wife should die before me, and they bury me alive with her. However, after a while I comforted myself, saying,

Starting point is 01:37:52 Happily I shall pre-decease her, or shall have returned to my own land before she die, for none knoweth which shall go first and which shall go last. Then I applied myself to diverting my mind from this thought, with various occupations. But it was not long before my wife sickened and complained, and took to her pillow, and fared after a few days to the mercy of Allah, and the king and the rest of the folk came, as was their want, to condole with me and her family, and to console us for her loss, and not less to condone with me for myself. Then the women washed her, and arraying her in her richest raiment and golden ornaments,

Starting point is 01:38:28 necklaces and jewelry, laid her on the beer, and bore her to the mountain aforesaid, where they lifted the cover of the pit, and cast her in, after which all my intimates and acquaintances, and my wife's kith and kin came round me to farewell me in my lifetime, and console me for my own death, whilst I cried out among them saying, Almighty Allah never made it lawful to bury the quick with the dead. I am a stranger, not one of your kind. I cannot abare your custom, and had I known it, I never would have wedded among you. They heard me not, and paid no heed to my words,

Starting point is 01:39:01 but laying hold of me, bound me my force, and let me down into the cavern, with a large gouglet of sweet water and seven cakes of bread, according to their custom. When I came to the bottom, they called out to me to cast my house, myself loose from the cords, but I refused to do so. So they threw them down on me, and closing the mouth of the pit with the stones aforesaid went their ways. And Scheherazade perceived the dawn of day, and ceased to say her permitted say. When it was the five hundred and fifty-fourth night, she said, It hath reached me, O auspicious king, that Sindbad the seaman continued.

Starting point is 01:39:37 When they left me in the cavern with my dead wife, and closing the mouth of the pit went their ways, I looked about me, and found myself in a vast cave full of dead bodies that exhaled a fulsome and loathsome smell, and the air was heavy with the groans of the dying. Thereupon I felt blaming myself for what I had done, saying, By Allah, I deserve all that hath befallen me, and all that shall befall me. What curse was upon me to take a wife in this city! There is no majesty, and there is no might, save in Allah the glorious the great. As often as I say I have escaped from one calamity, I fall in.

Starting point is 01:40:11 to a worse. By Allah, this is an abominable death to die. Would heaven I had died a decent death and been washed and shrouded like a man and a Muslim? Would I had been drowned at sea or perished in the mountains? It were better than to die this miserable death. And on such wise I kept blaming my own folly and greed of gain in that black hole, knowing not night from day, and I ceased not to ban the foul fiend and to bless the almighty friend. Then I threw myself down the bones of the dead and lay there, imploring Allah's help, and in the violence of my despair, invoking death which came not to me, till the fire of hunger burned my stomach and thirst set my throat aflame, when I sat up, and feeling for the bread, ate a morsel, and upon it

Starting point is 01:40:56 swallowed a mouthful of water. After this the worst night I ever knew, I arose, and exploring the cavern found that it extended a long way with hollows in its sides, and its floor was strewn with dead bodies and rotten bones, that had lain there from old, and, in time. So I made myself a place in a cavity of the cavern, afar from the corpses lately thrown down, and there slept. I abode thus a long while, till my provision was like to give out, and yet I ate not save once every day or second day, nor did I drink more than an occasional draught, for fear my vitals should fail me before my death. And I said to myself, Eat little and drink little, Be like the Lord shall vouchsafe deliverance to thee.

Starting point is 01:41:39 One day as I sat thus, pondering my case and bethinking me how I should do when my bread and water should be exhausted, behold, the stone that covered the opening was suddenly rolled away and the light streamed down upon me. Quoth I, I wonder what is the matter. Happily they have brought another corpse. Then I espied folks standing about the mouth of the pit, who presently let down a dead man and a live woman, weeping and bemoaning herself, and with her an ampler supply of bread and water than usual. I saw her and she was a beautiful woman, but she saw me not, and they closed up the opening and went away. Then I took the leg-bone of a dead man, and going up to the woman smote her on the crown of the

Starting point is 01:42:21 head, and she cried one cry and fell down in a swoon. I smote her a second and a third time till she was dead. When I laid hands on her bread and water and found on her great plenty of ornaments and rich apparel, necklaces, jewels, and gold trinkets, for it was their custom to bury women in all their finery. I carried the vivers to my sleeping-place on the cavern side, and ate and drank of them sparingly, no more than suffice to keep the life in me, lest the provant come speedily to an end, and I perish of hunger and thirst.

Starting point is 01:42:53 Yet did I never wholly lose hope in Almighty Allah. I abode thus a great while, killing all the live folk they let down into the cavern, and taking their provisions of meat and drink. Till one day as I slept, I was awakened by something scratching and burrowing among the bodies in a corner of the cave, and said, What can this be? Fearing wolves or hyenas. So I sprang up, and seizing the leg bone aforesaid, Made for the noise.

Starting point is 01:43:18 As soon as the thing was ware of me, it fled from me into the inward of the cavern, and lo it was a wild beast. However, I followed it to the further end till I saw afar off a point of light, not bigger than a star, now appearing, then disappearing. So I made for it,

Starting point is 01:43:34 and as I drew near, it grew larger and brighter, till I was certified that it was a crevice in the rock, leading to the open country, and I said to myself, there must be some reason for this opening, either it is the mouth of a second pit, such as that by which they let me down, or else it is a natural fissure in the stonery. So I bethought me a while, and nearing the light found that it came from a breach in the backside of the mountain, which the wild beasts had enlarged by burrowing that they might enter and devour the dead, and freely go to and fro. When I saw this my spirits revived, and hope came back to me, and I made sure of life, after having died a death.

Starting point is 01:44:11 So I went on, as in a dream, and making shift to scramble through the breach, found myself on the slope of a high mountain, overlooking the salt sea, and cutting off all access thereto from the island, so that none could come at that part of the breach from the city. I praised my lord, and thanked him, rejoicing greatly, and heartening myself with the prospect of deliverance. Then I returned through the crack to the cavern, and brought out all the food and water I had saved up, and donned some of the dead folks' clothes over my own, after which I gathered together all the collars and necklaces of pearls and jewels, and trinkets of gold and silver

Starting point is 01:44:46 set with precious stones and other ornaments and valuables I could find upon the corpses, and making them into bundles with the grave clothes and raiment of the dead, carried them out to the back of the mountain facing the seashore, where I established myself, purposing to wait there, till it should please Almighty Allah to send me relief by means of some passing ship. I visited the cavern daily, and as often as I found folk buried alive there, I killed them all indifferently, men and women, and took their vittal and valuables, and transported them to my seat on the seashore. Thus I abode for a long while. And Scheherazade perceived the dawn of day, and ceased, saying her permitted say. End of Section 6.

Starting point is 01:45:29 Section 7 Of the Book of a Thousand Nights and a Night Volume 6 This is a Libravox recording All Librevox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer Please visit Librevox.org

Starting point is 01:45:57 The Book of a Thousand Nights and a Night Volume 6 by Anonymous Translated by Richard Francis Burton Section 7 when it was the five hundred and fifty-fifth night she said it hath reached me o auspicious king that sindbad the seaman continued and after carrying all my victuals and valuables from the cavern to the coast i abode a long while by the sea pondering my case till one day i got sight of a ship passing in the midst of the clashing sea swollen with dashing billows. So, I took a piece of white shroud I had with me, and tying it to a staff, ran along the seashore, making signals therewith and calling to the people in the ship,

Starting point is 01:46:49 till they espied me, and, hearing my shouts, sent a boat to fetch me off. When it drew near, the crew called out to me, saying, Who art thou, and how cameest thou to be on this mountain, whereon never we saw any in our born days? I answered, I am a gentle, and a merchant who hath been wrecked and saved myself on the planks of the ship with some of my goods and by the blessings of the almighty and the decrees of destiny and my own strength and skill after much toil and moyle i have landed with my gear in this place where i waited some passing ship to take me off so they took me in their boat together with the bundles i had midst of jewels and valuables from the cavern tied up in the clothes and shrouds and rode back with me to the ship where the captain said to me how comeest thou o man to yonder place on yonder mountain behind which hath a great city all my life i have sailed these seas and passed to and fro hard by these heights yet never saw i hear any living thing save wild beasts and birds i repeated to him the story i had told the sailors but acquainted him with nothing of that which had befallen me in the city and the cavern lest there should be any of the islandry in the ship then i took out some of the best pearls i had with me and offered them to the captain saying o my lord thou hast been the means of saving me off this mountain

Starting point is 01:48:18 i have no ready money but take this for me in requital of thy kindness and good offices but he refused to accept it of me saying when we find a shipwrecked man on the sea-shore or on an island we take him up and give him meat and drink and if he be naked we clothe him nor take we aught from him nay when we reach a port of safety we set him ashore with the present of our own money and entreat him kindly and charitably for the love of allah the most high so i pray that his life be long in the land and rejoiced in my escape trusting to be delivered from my stress and to forget my past mishaps for every time i remembered being let down into the cave with my dead wife i shuddered in horror then we pursued our voyage and sailed from island to island and sea to sea till we arrived at the island of the bell which containeth a city two days journey and extent whence after six days run we reached the island kalae hard by the land of hind this place is governed by a potent and puissant king and it produces excellent camphor and an abundance of the indian rattan here also is a lead mine at last for the decree of the law we arrived in safety at bazaar town where i tarried a few days then went on to bagdad city and finding my quarter entered my house with lively pleasure there i forgathered with my family and friends who rejoiced in my happy return and gave my joy of my safety i laid up in my storehouses all the goods i had brought with me and gave alms and l'erghese to fakers and beggars and clothed the widow in the orphan then i gave myself up to pleasure returning to my old merry mode of life such then be the most marvellous adventures of my fourth voyage but to-morrow if you will kindly come to me i will tell you that which befell me in my fifth voyage

Starting point is 01:50:20 which was yet rare and more marvellous than those which forewent it and thou o my brother sindbad the landsman shaltz up with me as thou art wont saith he who telleth the tale when sinbad the seaman had made an end of his story. He called for supper, so they spread the table and the guests ate the evening meal, after which he gave the porter an hundred dinars as usual, and he and the rest of the company went their ways, glad at heart and marvelling at the tales they had heard, for that each story was more extraordinary than that which forwent it. The porter's sinbad passed the night in his own house, and all joy, cheer and wonderment, and, as soon as morning came, with its sheen and shone, he prayed the dawn prayer and repaired to the house of Sinbad the Sealand, who welcomed him and bade him sit with him till the rest of the company arrived. When they ate and drank, and made Mary,

Starting point is 01:51:17 and the top went round amongst them, presently their host began the narrative of the fifth voyage, and Scheherazade perceived the dawn of day, and ceased to say her permitted say. when it was the five hundred and fifty-sixth night she said it had reached me o auspicious king that the host began in these words the narrative of the fifth voyage of sindbad the seamen know o my brothers that when i had been a while on shore after my fourth voyage and when in my comfort and pleasures and merry-making's and in my rejoicing over my large gains and profits i had forgotten all i had endured of perils and sufferings the carnal man was again seized with the longing to travel and to see foreign countries and islands accordingly i bought costly merchandise suited to my purpose and making it up into bales prepared to where i walked about the river quay till i found a fine tall ship newly builded with gear unused and fitted ready for sea she pleased me so i bought her and embarking my goods in her hired a master in crew, over whom I set certain of my slaves and servants as inspectors. A number of merchants also bought their outfits and paid me fridayed in passage money.

Starting point is 01:52:42 Then, after reciting the Fatiaf, we set sail over Allah's pool, and an adjoin chair, promising ourselves a prosperous voyage and much profit. We sailed from city to city, and from island to island, and from sea to sea, viewing the cities and countries by which we passed, and seldom. and buying and not a full view till one day we came to a great uninhabited island deserted and desolate, whereon was a white dome, a biggest bulk, half buried in the sands. The merchants landed to examine this dome, leaving me in the ship, and when they drew near, behold, it was a huge ruckus egg.

Starting point is 01:53:26 They fell a beating, it with stones, knowing not what it was, and presently broke it open. whereupon much water ran out of it, and the young Raka appeared within. So they pulled it forth of the shell and cut its throat, and took of it a great store of meat. Now I was in the ship and knew not what they did, but presently one of the passengers came up to me and said, Oh, my lord, come and look at the egg we thought to be a dome. So I looked and seeing the merchant's beating of the stones called out of them, stop stop do not meddle with the egg or the bird of rucca will come out and break our ship and destroy us but they paid no heed to me and gave not over smiting upon the egg when behold the day grew dark and the sun was hidden from us as if some great cloud passed over the firmament so we raised our eyes and saw that what we took for a cloud was the rucca hoised between us and the sun and it was his wings that darkened the day

Starting point is 01:54:30 When he came and saw his egg broken, he cried a loud cry, whereupon his mate came flying up, and they both began circling about the ship, crying out at us with voices louder than thunder. I called to the Reyes and crew, Prodopsy and seek safety in flight before we be all destroyed. So the merchants came on board, and we cast off and made haste from the island to gain the open sea. When the Ruccas saw this, they flew off and we crowded all sail on the ship, thinking to get out of their country. But presently the two reappeared and flew after us, and stood over us, each carrying in its claws a huge boulder which it had brought from the mountains.

Starting point is 01:55:18 As soon as the Hevaca came up with us, he let fall upon us the rock he held in his pounces, but the master put about the ship, so the rock missed her by some small matter, and plunged into the waves with such violence that the ship pitched high, and then sank into the thorough of the sea, and the bottom of the ocean appeared to us. Then the Shira let fall her rock, which was bigger than that of her mate, and as Destiny had decreed, it fell on the poop of the ship and crushed it. The rudder flying into twenty pieces, whereupon the sea, the vessel, foundered, and all, and everything on the board were cast into the main.

Starting point is 01:56:02 As for me, I struggled for sweet life, till Almighty Allah threw in my way one of the planks of the ship, to which I clung in bestriding it, fell a padding with my feet. Now the ship had gone down hard by an island in the midst of the main, and the winds and waves bore me on till, by permission of the most high, they can't have gone down hard by the island He cast me upon the shore of the island, at the last gasp for toil, in distress, and half-dead with hunger and thirst, so I landed, more like a corpse on a live man, and throwing myself down on the beach, lay there a while, till I began to revive and recover spirits. When I walked about the island and found it as if it were one of the garths and gardens of paradise, its trees and abundance dight, or ripe yellow fruit, for fright. Its streams ran clear and bright, its flowers were fair to the scent and to the sight, and its birds warbled with the light the praises of him, to whom belong permanence in all night.

Starting point is 01:57:08 So I ate my fill of the fruits, and slaked my thirst with the water of the streams, till I could no more, and return thanks to the most high and glorified him. And Scheherazade received the dawn of day, and ceased, saying her permitted say when it was the five hundred and fifty-seventh night she said it hath reached me o auspicious king that sindbad the seaman continued so when i escaped drowning and reached the island which afforded me fruit to eat and water to drink i returned thanks to the most high and glorified him after which i sat till nightfall hearing no voice and seeing none inhabitant then then i lay down well-nigh dead for travail and trouble and terror and slept without cease till morning when i arose and walked about under the trees till i came to a channel of draw well fed by a spring of running water by which well sat an old man a venerable speck girt about with a waist-cloth made of the fibre of palm-fonds quoth i to myself heavily this shakes is one of those who were wrecked in the ship and hath made his way to this island so i drew near to him and saluted him and he returned my sailor by sign'd by signs but spoke not and i said to him

Starting point is 01:58:41 o nunkle mine what causeth thee to sit here he shook his head and moaned and signed to me with his hand as who should say take me on thy shoulders and carry me to the other side of the well channel and quoth i in my mind i will deal kindly with him and do what he desire with it may be that i shall win me a reward in heaven for he may be a paralytic so i took him on my back and carrying him to the place where he pointed said to him dismount at thy leisure but he would knock it off my back and ran his legs around my neck i looked at him and seeing that they were like a buffalo's hide for blackness and roughness was affrighted and would have cast him off but he clung to me and gripped my neck with his legs till i was well-nigh choked the world would be black in my sight and i fell senseless to the ground like one dead but he still kept his seat and raising his legs drummed with his heels and beat hard on the palm rods of my back and shoulders till he forced me to run with his shoulders till he forced me to run with his feet hard on the palm rods of my back and shoulders till he forced me to rise for excess of pain then he signed to me with his hand to carry him hither and thither among the trees which bore the best fruits and if ever i refused to do his bidding or loitered and took my leisure he beat me with his feet more grievously than if i had been beaten with whips he ceased not to signal with his hand whenever he was minded to go so i carried him about the island like a captive slave and he bepiced to his hand whenver he was minded to go so i carried him about the island like a captive slave and he bepiced and cock-skittled my shoulders in back, dismounting night or day, and when as he wished to sleep,

Starting point is 02:00:26 he wound his legs around my neck and leaned back, and slept a while, then arose and beat me, whereupon I sprang up in haste, unable to gainsay him, because of the pain he inflicted on me, and indeed I blamed myself, and sore repented me of having taken compassion on him, and continued in this condition. Suffering fatigue, not to be described, till I said to myself, I brought him a will and he requitted me with my ill. By Allah, never more will I do any man of service so long as I live, and again and again I besought the most high that I might die

Starting point is 02:01:07 for stress of weariness and misery, and thus I abode a long while till, one day, I came with him to a place where him, was about, of gourds, many of them dry, so they took a great dry gourd, and cutting open the heat, scooped out the inside, and cleaned it, after which I gathered grapes from a vine, which grew hard by and squeezed them into the gourd, till it was full of the juice. Then I sobbed up the mouth, and set it in the sun, for I left it for some days until it became strong wine, and every day I used to drink of it to comfort and sustain me under my fatigue. teeth with that froward and obstinate theme and as often as i drank myself drunk i forgot my troubles and took new heart one day he saw me drinking and signed with his hand as who should say what is that quoth i

Starting point is 02:02:05 it is an excellent cordial but cheereth the heart and reviveth the spirits then being heated with wine i ran and danced with him among the trees flapping my hands and singing and singing making merry, and I staggered under him by design. When he saw this he signed to me to give him the gore that he might drink, and I feared him, and gave it to him. So he took it in, draining it to the dregs, cast it to the ground whereupon he grew full of stone, and began to clap hands and jig to and fro on my shoulders, and he made water upon me so copiously that all my dress was drenched,

Starting point is 02:02:43 but presently the fumes of the wine rising to his head, he became helplessly drunk, and his side muscles and limbs relaxed, and he swayed to and fro on my back. When I saw that he had lost his senses for drunkenness, I put my hand to his legs, and, loosing them from the neck, stooped down while nigh to the ground, and threw him at full height. And Scheherazade perceived the dawn of day, and ceased to say her permitted say. End of Section 7 Section 8 of The Book of A Thousand Nights and a Night

Starting point is 02:03:24 Volume 6 This is a Libravox recording All Libravox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer Please visit Libravox.org The Book of A Thousand Nights and a Night Volume 6 by Anonymous Translated by Richard Francis Burton

Starting point is 02:03:41 Section 8 When it was the 558th night She said it hath reached meal auspicious king, that Sinban the seaman continued. So I threw the devil off my shoulders, hardly crediting my deliverance from him and fearing lest he should shake off his drunkenness and do me a mischief. Then I took up a great stone from among the trees, and coming up to him, smote him therewith on the head, with all my might, and crushed in his skull as he lay dead drunk. Thereupon his flesh, and fat and blood, bean and a pulp, he died, and went, and he died, and

Starting point is 02:04:18 to his deserts. The fire, no mercy of Allah, be upon him. I then returned, with the heart at ease, to my former station on the seashore, an abode in that island many days, eating of its fruits and drinking of its waters, and keeping a lookout for passing ships. To one day, as I sat on the beach, recalling all that had befallen me, and saying, I wonder if Allah will save me alive and restore me to my home. home and family and friends. Behold, a ship was making for the island, through the dashing sea and clashing waves. Presently it cast anchor, and the passengers landed, so I made for them, and when they saw me

Starting point is 02:05:04 all hastened up to me and gathered around me, questioned me of my case and how I came to the. I told them all that had betided me, whereat they marvelled with exceeding marble and said, He who rode on thy shoulders is called the Sheikh al-Bai'ar, or Old Man of the Sea. Footnote. More literally, the chief of the sea. Sheikh being here a chief rather than an elder, so the old man of the mountain, famous in crusading days, was the chief who lived on the Nusaria or Ansari range, a northern prolongation

Starting point is 02:05:40 of the Libanus. Our Old Man of the text may have been suggested by the Quranic commentators on chapter 6. When an infidel rises from the grave, a hideous figure meets him and says, Why wondrous thou at my loathsomeness? I am thine evil deeds. Thou didst ride upon me in the world, and now I will ride upon thee." End a footnote. And none ever felt his legs on neck and came off alive but thou.

Starting point is 02:06:11 And those who die under him, he eateth. So praise be to Allah for thy safety. Then they said somewhat of food before me, whereof I ate my fill, and gave me somewhat of clothes wherewith I clad myself anew, and covered my nakedness. After which they took me up to the ship, and we sailed for days and nights, till fate brought us to a place called City of the Apes, builded with lofty houses, all of which gave upon the sea, and it had a single gate studded and strengthened with iron nails. Now every night, as soon as it is dusk, the dwellers in this city used to come forth of the

Starting point is 02:06:52 gates and putting out to sea in boats and ships, past the night upon the waters, in their fear lest apes should come down on them from the mountains. Hearing this I was sore troubled remembering what I had before suffered from the ape kind. Presently I landed to solace myself in the city, but meanwhile the ship set sail without me, and I repented of having gone ashore, and calling to mine my companions, in what had befallen me with the apes, first and after, sat down and fell a weeping and lamenting. Presently one of the townsfolk accosted me, and said to me, O my lord, me seeth thou art a stranger in these parts.

Starting point is 02:07:35 Yes, answered I, I am indeed a stranger and a poor one, who came hither in a ship which cast anchor here, and I landed to visit the town. But when I could have gone on board again, I found they'd sailed without me. Quoth he, come and embark with us, for if thou lie the night in the city, the apes will destroy thee. Harkening and obedience, replied I, and rising, straight away embarked with him in one of the boats, whereupon they pushed off from the shore, and anchoring a mile or so from the land, there past the night. At daybreak they rode back to the city and landing, went each about his business. Thus they did every night, for if any tarried in the town by night, the apes came down on him and slew him.

Starting point is 02:08:28 As soon as it was day the apes left the place and ate of the fruits of the gardens, then went back to the mountains and slept there till nightfall, when they again came down upon the city. footnote in parts of west africa and especially in guerrilla land there are many stories of women and children being carried off by apes and all believe that the former bear issue to them it is certain that the anthropoid ape is lustfully excited by the presence of women and i have related how at cairo eighteen fifty six a huge synocephalus would have raped a girl had it not been bayoneted young ladies who visit the demidoff gardens and menagerie at florence were often scandalized by the vicious exposure of the baboons party-coloured persons The female monkey equally solicits the attention of man, and I heard in India from my late friend Merza Ali Akbar of Bombay that to his knowledge connection had taken place. Whether there would be issue and whether such issue would be viable are still disputed points. The produce would add another difficulty to the pseudoscience called psychology. As such mule would have only half a soul and issued by a congena would have a cortisone, would have a cortisol.

Starting point is 02:09:50 soul. A traveller well known to me once proposed to breed pithacoid men who might be useful as hewers of wood and drawers of water. His idea was to put the highest races of ape to the lowest of humanity. I never heard what became of his breeding stables. End a footnote. Now this place is farthest of the country of the blacks, and one of the strangest things that befell me during my sojourn in the city was on this one. wise. One of the company with whom I passed the night in the boat asked me, O my lord, thou art apparently a stranger in these parts. Hasth thou any craft whereat thou canst work? And I answered, By Allah, O my brother, I have no trade, nor no I any handicraft.

Starting point is 02:10:41 For I was a merchant and a man of money and substance, and had a ship of my own, laid him with great store of goods and merchandise. But it found it at sea and all were drowned except me, who saved myself on a piece of plank, which Allah vouched safe to me of his favour. Upon this he bought me a cotton bag and given it to me, said, Take this bag and fill it with pebbles from the beach, and go forth with the company of the townsfolk,

Starting point is 02:11:11 to whom I will give a charge respecting thee. Do as they do, and be like that. shalt gain what may further thy return voyage to thy native land. Then he carried me to the beach where I filled my bag with pebbles large and small, and presently we saw a company of folk issue from the town, each bearing a bag like mine filled with pebbles. To these he committed me, commending me to their care and saying, This man is a stranger, so take him with you and teach him how to gather, that he may may be.

Starting point is 02:11:45 get his daily bread, and you will earn your reward and recompense in heaven. On our heads and eyes be it, answered they, in bidding me welcome, fed on with me till we came to a spacious waddy, full of lofty trees with trunks so smooth that none might climb them. Now sleeping under these trees were many apes, which, when they saw us, rose and fled from us, and swarmed up among the branches, whereupon my companions began to pelt them with what they had in their bags, and the apes fell to pluckin of the fruit of the trees and casting them at the folk. I looked at the fruits they cast at us and found them to be Indian.

Starting point is 02:12:27 Footnote. Arab Jahus al-Hindi. Our word Kakoa is from the port. Kokoa meaning a bug, bug-bug, in allusion to its caricature of the human face, hair, eyes and mouth. I may here note that a Kakoa tree is easily climbing. with a bit of rope or a handkerchief. End of footnote. Or cocoa nuts.

Starting point is 02:12:50 So I chose out a great tree full of apes, and going up to it, began to pelt them with stones, and they in return pelted me with nuts, which I collected, as did the rest, so that even before I had made an end of my bag full of pebbles, I had gotten great plenty of nuts. And as soon as my companions had in like manner gotten as many nuts as they could carry, We returned to the city, where we arrived at the fag end of the day. Then I went in to the kindly man, who had brought me in company with the nut-gatherers, and gave him all I had gotten, thanking him for his kindness. But he would not accept them, saying,

Starting point is 02:13:30 Sell them and make profit by the price, and presently he added, Giving me the key of a closet in his house, store thy nuts in this safe place, and go thou forth every morning, and gather them as thou hast done today, and choose out the worst for sale, and supplying thyself, but lay up the rest here, so happily thou mayst collect enough to serve thee for thy return home. Allah requite thee, answered I,

Starting point is 02:13:58 and did as he advised me, going out daily with the Kokoahnut gatherers, who commended me to one another, and showed me the best stocked trees. Footnote. Tomb pictures in Egypt show, Tame Monkeys gathering fruits, and Grosier, description of China quoted by Holland Lane, mentions a similar mode of harvesting tea by irritating the monkeys of the Middle Kingdom.

Starting point is 02:14:21 End a footnote. Thus did I, for some time, till I had laid up great store of excellent nuts, besides a large sum of money, the price of those I had sold. I became thus at my ease, and bought all I saw, and had a mine too, and passed my time pleasantly, greatly enjoying my stay in the city till as i stood on the beach one day a great ship steering through the heart of the sea presently cast anchor by the shore and landed a company of merchants who proceeded to sell and buy and barter their goods for cacoa nuts and other commodities then i went to my friends and told them of the coming of the ship and how i had a mine to return to my own country and he said tis for thee to decide. So I thanked him for his bounties, and took leave of them. Then, going to the captain of the ship, I agreed with him for my passage, and embarked my cacoa-nuts, and what else

Starting point is 02:15:25 I had possessed. We weighed anchor, and Shara-zad perceived the dawn of the day, and ceased to say in her permitted say. When it was the 559th night, she said it hath reached me, our auspicious king, that Sinbad the seaman continued. So I left the city of the apes and embarked my cacaoanuts and what else I possessed. We weighed anchor the same day and sailed from island to island and sea to sea. Whenever we stopped I sold and traded with my cacoa nuts, and the Lord requited me more than I erst had and lost. Amongst other places we came to an island abounding in cloves.

Starting point is 02:16:07 Note. Clothes and cinnamon in those days grew in widely distant places. End of footnote. And cinnamon and pepper. And the country people told me that by the side of each pepper bunch groweth a great leaf, which shadeth it from the sun and casteth the water off it in the wet season. But when the rain seeth, the leaf turneth over and droopeth down by the side of the bunch. Footnote. In pepper plantations it is usual to set bananas for shading the young shrubs, which bear bunches like ivy fruit, not pods, end of footnote. Here I took great store of pepper and cloves and cinnamon, in exchange for cocoa-nuts, and we passed thence to the island of Al-Usirat, footnote.

Starting point is 02:16:54 The Brussels edit has Al-Maharat. Lankles calls it the island of Al-Kamari, C-lane, Section 386, and a footnote. Whence cometh the Cormorin allowswood, and thence to another island, five days journey and length, where grows the Chinese lean allows, which is better than the Cormorin, but the people of this island. Footnote, Insula pro-pencila. Cormoran is a corruption of Cania, Virgo the goddess Dürga, and Cammari, are made, a princess, from a temple of Shiva's wife, hence Ptolemies, and neared it to the northeast,

Starting point is 02:17:39 Promontorium, Cori quad coromini, Kaput insula vocant, says Maphis. In the text, Aloud refers to the eaglewood, so-called because spotted like the bird's plume. That of Champa, Kakin, China, mentioned in Kamoans, is still famous. End a footnote. A fowler of condition and religion than those of the other,

Starting point is 02:18:06 for that they love fornication and wine-bibbing, and know not prayer nor call to prayer. Thence, we came to the pearl fisheries, and I gave the divers some of my cocoa-nuts and said to them, Dived for my luck and lot. They did so and brought up from the deep blight. Footnote. Arabic.

Starting point is 02:18:27 Bikrat is tank, pool, reach, blight. hence bick burkart far arun in the suez gulf end of footnote great store of large and priceless pearls and they said to me by allah o my master the luck is a lucky then we sailed on with the blessing of allah whose name be exalted and ceased not sailing till we arrived safely at bussara there i abode a little and then went on to bagdad where i entered my quarter and found my house and found my house and i entered my house and and for gathered with my family and saluted my friends who gave me joy of my safe return, and I laid up all my goods and valuables in my storehouses. Then I distributed arms and largesse and clothed the widow and orphan, and made presents to my relations and comrades. But the Lord hath requited me fourfold that I had lost,

Starting point is 02:19:23 after which I returned to my old merry way of life, and forgot all I had suffered in the great profit and gain I had made. such then is the history of my fifth voyage and its wonderments and now to supper and to-morrow come again i will tell you what befell me in my sixth voyage for it was still more wonderful than this saith he who telleth the tale then he called for food and the servants spread the table and when they had eaten the evening meal he bade gave simbad the porter and hundred golden dinars and the landsmen returned home and laid him down to sleep. Much marvelling at all he had heard. Next morning, as soon as it was light, he prayed the dawn prayer, and, after blessing Muhammad the cream of all creatures, betook himself to the house of Sinbad the seaman, and wished him a good day. The merchant bade him, sat and talked with him, till the rest of the company arrived. Then the servants

Starting point is 02:20:27 spread the table, and when they had well eaten and drunken, and were mirthful and merry, Sinbad the Seaman began, in his words, the narrative of. The sixth voyage of Sinbad the Seaman. No, O my brothers and friends and companions all, that I abode some time, after my return from my fifth voyage, in great solace and satisfaction and mirth, and merriment, joints, and enjoyment and I forgot what I had suffered seeing the great gain and profit I had made till one day as I sat making merry and enjoying myself with my friends. There came into me a company of merchants whose case told tales of travel and talked with

Starting point is 02:21:12 me of voyage and adventure and greatness of pelf and lucre. Thereupon I remember the days of my return from abroad and my joy at once more seeing my native of land and for gathering with my family and friends, and my soul yearned for travel and traffic. So, compelled by fate and fortune, I resolved to undertake another voyage, and buying me fine and costly merchandise meant for foreign trade, made it up into bales, with which I journeyed from Baghdad to Basarra. Here I found a great ship ready for sea, and full of merchants and notables, who had with them goods of price. So I embarked my bales therein, and we left Basarra in safety and good spirits,

Starting point is 02:22:01 under the safeguard of the king, the preserver, and Shah Razad perceived the dawn of the day, and ceased to say her permitted say. When it was the five hundred and sixty-th night. She said it hath reached me, O auspicious king, that Sinbad the seaman continued, And after embarking my bales and leaving Basar in safety and good spirits, we continued our voyage from place to place and from city to city, buying and selling and profiting, and devoting ourselves with the sight of countries with strange folk dwell. And fortune, and this voyage smiled upon us,

Starting point is 02:22:43 till one day, as we went along, behold, the captain suddenly cried with a great cry, and cast his turbaned on the deck. Then he buffered his face like a woman, and plucked out his beard and fell down in the waist of the ship, with nigh fainting for stress of grief and rage, and crying, Oh, alas, for the ruin of my house and the orphanship of my poor children.

Starting point is 02:23:10 So all the merchant and sailors came round about him and asked him, O master, what is the matter? For the light had become night before their soul, and he answered saying, Know, O folk, that we have wandered from our course, and left the sea whose ways we know, and come into a sea whose ways I know not, and unless Allah vouchsafe us a means of escape,

Starting point is 02:23:34 we are all dead men. Wherefore pray ye to the Most High, and he deliver us from this strait. Happily amongst you is one righteous whose prayers the Lord will accept. Then he rose and cloned the mast, to see whether there was any escape from that strait, and he would have loosened the sails, but the wind redoubled upon the ship, and whirled her round thrice, and drave her backwards, whereupon the rudder brake, and she fell off toward a high mountain.

Starting point is 02:24:08 With this the captain came down from the mast, saying, There is no majesty, and there is no might save in Allah, the glorious, the great, nor nor can man prevent that which he is for ordained by fate. By Allah we are fallen on a place of sure destruction, and there is no way of escape for us, nor can any of us be saved. Then we all fell a weeping over ourselves, and bidding one another farewell for that our days were to come to an end, and we had lost all hope of life. Presently the ship struck the mountain and broke up, and all and everything on board of her

Starting point is 02:24:49 were plunged into the sea. Some of the merchants were drowned, and others made shift to reach the shore and save themselves upon the mountain. Aye amongst the number and when we got a shore we found a great island, or rather peninsula. Footnote, probably Cape Cormorin to judge from the river, but the text named Sarindib, Ceylon Island, famous for gems. This was noticed by Marco Polo, Section 3, Cap 19, and ancient authors relate the same of Tabrabane, end of footnote, whose base was strewn with wreckage of crafts and goods and gear cast up by the sea from the broken ships whose passengers had been drowned, and the quantity confounded comte in calculation. So I climbed the cliffs into the inward of the aisle and walked on inland

Starting point is 02:25:42 until I came into a stream of sweet water that welled up at the nearest foot of the mountains, and disappeared in the earth under the range of the hills on the opposite side. But all the other passengers went over the mountains, to the inner tracks, and dispersing hither and tither, were confounded at what they saw and became like madmen at the sight of the wealth and treasures wherewith the shores with strewn. As for me I looked into the bed of the stream, said, and saw therein great plenty of rubies and great royal pearls. Footnote. I need hardly trouble the reader with a note on pearl fisheries. The descriptions of

Starting point is 02:26:25 travellers are continuous from the days of Pliny, Solonis, and Marco Polo. Maximilian of Transylvania in his narrative of Magellan's voyage says that Salybes produced pearls, Biggest turtles, doves eggs, and the king of Pornay. Borneo, had two unions as great as goose's eggs. Pigafetta reduces this to hen's eggs, and Sir Thomas Herbert to Dove's eggs. End of footnote. And all kinds of jewels and precious stones, which were as gravel to the bed of the rivulets, that ran through the fields, and the sand sparkled and glittered with gems and precious

Starting point is 02:27:06 oars. Moreover, we found in the island abundance of the finest lean aloes, both Chinese and cormoran, and there also is a spring of crude ambergrees. Footnote, Arabic. Anbar, pronounced Ambar, wherein I would derive ambrosia. Ambergres was long supposed to be a fossil, a vegetable which grew upon the sea bottom or rose in springs, or a substance produced in the water like naphther or bitumen. Now it is known to be the agester of a whale. It is found in lumps weighing several pounds upon the Zanzibar coast,

Starting point is 02:27:47 and is sold at a high price, being held a potent aphrodisiac. A small hollow is drilled in the bottom of the cup, and the coffee is poured upon the bit of amberries it contains. When the illigerious matter shows in dots amidst the Kama coffee cream, the bubbly froth which floats upon the surface in which an expert coffee servant, distributes equally among the guests. Argent Sola mentions in Salon springs of liquid bitumen thicker than our oil

Starting point is 02:28:18 and some of pure balsam. End a footnote. Which floweth like wax or gum over the stream banks, for the great heat of the sun and runeth down to the sea shore where the monsters of the deep come up and swallowing it

Starting point is 02:28:33 return into the sea. But it burneth in their bellies, so they cast it up again and it congealeth on the surface of the water, whereby its colour and quantities are changed, and at last the waves cast it ashore, and the travellers and merchants who know it, collect it and sell it. But as to the raw ambergris, which is not swallowed, it floweth over the channel and congealeth on the banks, and when the sun shineth on it, it melteth and scenteth the whole valley and with a musk-like fragrance. Then, when the sun ceaseth from it, it congealeth again.

Starting point is 02:29:13 But none can get to this place, where is the crude ambergris, because of the mountains, which enclose the island on all sides, in which foot of a man cannot ascend. Footnote. The tale-teller forgets that Sinbad and his companions have just ascended it, but this in consequence is a characteristic of the Eastern Saga. I may note that the description of the Ambriquist in the text tells us admirably, well what it is not. End a footnote.

Starting point is 02:29:43 We continued thus to explore the island, marvelling at the wonderful works of Allah and the riches we found there, but saw troubled for our own case and dismayed at our prospects. Now we had picked up on the beach some small matter of victual from the wreck and husbanded it carefully, eating but once every day or two. in our fear lest it should fail us, and we die miserably of famine or affright. Moreover, we were weak for colic brought on by the sea-sickness and the low diet, and my companions deceased, one after the other, till there was but a small company of us left. Each that died we washed, and shrouded in some of the clothes and linen cast ashore by the tides.

Starting point is 02:30:28 And after little the rest of my fellows perished, one by one, till I had buried the last of the party, and a boat alone on the island. With but a little provision left, I who was want to have so much. And I wept over myself, saying, Would heaven I had died before my companions, and they had washed me and buried me? It had been better than I should perish, and none wash me and shroud me, and bury me. But there is majesty, and there is no might save in Allah, the glorious, the great. And Shahrazad perceived to the dawn of the day, and seethed saying, her permitted say.

Starting point is 02:31:10 End of Section 8. Section 9 of the Book of A Thousand Nights and a Night, Volume 6. This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. The Book of A Thousand Nights and a Night, Volume 6 by Anonymous, translated by Richard Francis Burton, Section 9. When it was the 561st night.

Starting point is 02:31:39 She said it hath reached me, I waspicious king, that Sinbad the seaman continued in these words. Now after I had buried the last of my party and abode alone on the island, I arose and dug me a deep grave on the seashore, saying to myself, When as I grow weak and I know that death cometh to me, I will cast myself into the grave and die there. So the wind may drift the sand over me and cover me, and I be buried therein.

Starting point is 02:32:07 Then I fell to reproaching myself for my little wit in leaving my native land and betaken me again to travel. After all I had suffered during my first five voyages, and when I had not made a single one without suffering more horrible perils and more terrible hardships than in its forerunner, and having no hope of escape from my present stress. And I repented me of my folly and bemoaned myself, especially as I had no need of money,

Starting point is 02:32:32 seeing that I had enough and more than enough and could not spend what I had, no, nor a half of it in all my life. However, after a while Allah sent me a thought, and I said to myself, By God, needs must this stream have an end as well as beginning. Ogo an issue somewhere, and belike its course may lead to some inhabited place. So my best plan is to make me a little boat, big enough to sit in and carry it and launching it on the river, embark therein and drop down the stream. If I escape, I escape by God's leave, and if I perish, better die in the river than here. Then, sign for myself, I set to work collecting a number of pieces of Chinese and cormor and aloeswood, and I bound them together with ropes from the wreckage.

Starting point is 02:33:24 Then I chose out from the broken-up ship's straight planks of even size and fixed them firmly upon the aloeswood, making me a boat raft a little narrower than the channel of the stream, and I tied it tightly and firmly as though it were nailed. Then I loaded it with the goods, precious oars and jewels, and the union pearls which were like gravel, and the best of the ambergris, crude and pure, together with what I had collected on the island and what was left me of victual and wild herbs. Lastly I lashed a piece of wood on either side, to serve me as oars, and launched it, and embarking did according to the saying of the poet.

Starting point is 02:34:03 Fly, fly with life when as evil's threat, leave the house to tell of its builder's fate. Land after land shalt thou seek and find, but no other life on thy wish shall wait. Fret not thy soul and thy thoughts are night, all woes shall end or sooner or late. Who so is born in one land to die, there and only there shall gang his gate. Nor trust great things to another white, Sol hath only soul for Confederate. My boat raft drifted with the stream, I pondering the issue of my affair, and the drifting ceased not till I came to the place where it disappeared beneath the mountain. I rode my conveyance into the place which was intensely dark, and the current carried me the raft with it down the underground channel. The thin stream bore me on through a narrow tunnel where the raft

Starting point is 02:35:00 touched either side and my head rubbed against the roof, returned therefrom being impossible. Then I blame myself for having thus risked my life, and said, If this passage grow any straighter, the raft will hardly pass, and I cannot turn back, so I shall inevitably perish miserably in this place. And I threw myself down upon my face on the raft, by reason of the narrowness of the channel, whilst the stream ceased not to carry me along, knowing not night from day, for the excess of the gloom which encompassed me

Starting point is 02:35:35 about in my terror and concern for myself lest I should perish. And in such condition my course continued down the channel which now grew wide and then straight a till saw a weary by reason of the darkness which could be felt, I fell asleep, as I lay prone on the raft, and I slept knowing not if the time were long or short, When I awoke at last I found myself in the light of heaven, and opening my eyes I saw myself in a broad stream and the raft moored to an island in the midst of a number of Indians and Abyssinians.

Starting point is 02:36:11 As soon as these blackermores saw that I was awake, they came up to me and bespoke me in their speech. But I understood not what they said and thought that this was a dream and a vision which had betided me for stress of concerned and chagrin. But I was delighted at my escape from the river. When they saw I understood them not and made them no answer, one of them came forward and said to me in Arabic, Peace be with thee, O my brother. Who art thou, and whenst farthest thou tither? How camest thou into this river,

Starting point is 02:36:44 and what manner of land lies beyond yonder mountains? For never knew we any one make his way thence to us. Quoth I, and upon thee be peace and the truth of Allah and his blessing. Who are ye in what country is this? Oh my brother answered he, we are husbandmen and tillers of the soil, who came out to water our fields and plantations, and finding thee asleep on this raft, laid hold of it, and made it fast by us, against thou shouldest awake at thy leisure. So tell us how thou camest hither. I answered, for Allah's sake, O my lord,

Starting point is 02:37:27 E'er I speak give me somewhat to eat, for I am starving, and after ask me what thou wilt. So he hastens to fetch me food, and I ate my fill till I was refreshed, and my fear was calmed by a good belly full, and my life returned to me. Then I rendered thanks to the most high, for mercy's great and small. Glad to be out of the river and rejoicing to be amongst them, and I told them all my adventures, from first to last, especially my troubles in the narrow channel, and Shara'azade perceived the dawn of the day, and ceased to say her permitted say. When it was the five hundred and sixty-second night, she said it hath reached me, our auspicious king, that Sinbad the seaman continued.

Starting point is 02:38:20 When I landed and found myself amongst the Indians and Abyssinians, and had taken some rest, they consulted among themselves and said to one another, There is no help for it, but we carry him with us and present him to our king, that he may acquaint him with his adventures. So they took me, together with the raft boat, and its lading of monies and merchandise, jewels, minerals, and golden gear, and brought me to their king, who was king of Sarandib, telling him what had happened, whereupon he saluted me and bade me welcome.

Starting point is 02:38:55 Then he questioned me of my condition and adventures through the man who had spoken Arabic, and I repeated to him my story from beginning to end, whereat he marvelled exceedingly, and gave me joy of my deliverance, after which I arose and fetched from the raft great store of precious oars and jewels and ambergris, and leen aloes, and presented them to the king, who accepted them, and treated me with the utmost honour, appointing me a lodging in his own palace. So I consorted with the chief of the islanders, and they paid me the utmost respect,

Starting point is 02:39:29 and I quitted not the Royal Palace. Now the island of Sarindib lieth under the equinoctial line, its night and day both numbering 12 hours. It measureth 80 leagues long by a breadth of 30, and its width is bounded by a lofty mountain and a deep valley. The mountain is conspicuous from a distance of three days, and it containeth many kinds of rubies and other minerals, and spice trees of all sorts.

Starting point is 02:39:56 The surface is covered with emery, wherewith gems are cut and fashioned. Diamonds are in its rivers, and pearls are in its valleys. I ascended that mountain and solaced myself with a view of its marbles, which are indescribable and afterwards are returned to the king. Thereupon all the travellers and merchants who came to the place questioned me of the affairs of my native land, and of the Caliph Harun al-Rashid and his rule, and I told them of him,

Starting point is 02:40:25 and of that what for he was renowned, and they praised him because of this, whilst I in turn questioned them of their manners and customs of their own countries, and got the knowledge I desired. One day the king himself asked me of the fashions and forms of government of my country, and I acquainted him with the circumstance of the Caliph's sway in the city of Baghdad and the justice of his rule. The king marvelled at my account of his appointments, and said, by Allah the Caliph's ordinances are indeed wise and his fashions of praiseworthy guys and thou hast made me love him

Starting point is 02:41:04 by what thou tellest me wherefore I have a mind to make him a present and send it by thee quoth I hearken in an obedience O my lord I will bear thy gift to him and to inform him that thou art his sincere lover and true friend Then I abode with the king in great honour

Starting point is 02:41:23 and regard and consideration for a long while till, one day, as I sat in his palace, I heard news of a company of merchants that were fitting out a ship for Basarra, and said to myself, I cannot do better than voyage with these men. So I rose without stay or delay and kissed the king's hand and acquainted him with my longing,

Starting point is 02:41:44 to set out with the merchants. For that I pined after my people, and mine own land. Quoth he, thine own master, yet, if it be thy will to abide with us, on our head and eyes be it, for thou gladdenest us with thy company. By Allah, are my lord, answered I. Thou hast indeed overwhelmed me with thy favours and well-doings, but I weary for a sight of my friends and family and native country. When he heard this, he summoned the merchants in question and commended me to their care, paying my freight and passage money.

Starting point is 02:42:25 Then he bestowed me great riches from his treasuries and charged me with a magnificent present for the Caliph Harun al-Rashid. Moreover he gave me a sealed letter saying, Carry this with thine own hand to the commander of the faithful and give him many salutations from us. Hearing and obedience, I replied. The missive was written on the skin of the Kawi, which is finer than lamb parchment and of yellow colour,

Starting point is 02:42:56 with ink of ultramarine and the contents were as follows. Peace be with thee from the king of Al Hind, before whom are a thousand elephants, and upon whose palace crinels are a thousand jewels. But after, Lord to the Lord and praises to his prophet, we send thee a trifling gift, which be thou pleased to accept. thou art to us a brother and a sincere friend,

Starting point is 02:43:24 and great is the love we bear for thee in heart, favour us with a reply. The gift besitteth not thy dignity, but we beg of thee, O our brother, graciously to accept it, and peace be with thee. And the present was a cup of ruby, a span high,

Starting point is 02:43:43 the inside of which was adorned with precious pearls, and a bed covered with the skin of the serpent which swalloweth the elephant, which skin hath spots, each like a dinah, and whoso sitteth upon it, never sickeneth. And a hundred thousand miscarls

Starting point is 02:44:00 of Indian line aloes, and a slave-girl like a shining moon. Then I took leave of him, and of all my intimates and acquaintances in the island, and embarked with the merchants aforesaid. We sailed with a fair wind, committing ourselves to the care of Allah, be he extolled and exalted.

Starting point is 02:44:20 And by his permission arrived at Basarar, where I passed a few days and nights equipping myself and packing up my bales. Then I went on to Baghdad City, the House of Peace, where I sought an audience with the Caliph and laid the king's presence before him. He asked me whence they came and I said to him,

Starting point is 02:44:41 By Allah, a commander of the faithful, I know not the name of the city, nor the way thither. He then asked me, O Sinbad, is this true which the king writeth? And I answered after kissing the ground, O my lord, I saw in his kingdom

Starting point is 02:44:59 much more than he hath written in his letter. For state processions a throne is set for him upon a huge elephant, 11 cubits high, and upon this he sitteth having his great lords and officers and guests standing in two ranks. On his right hand, and on his left.

Starting point is 02:45:18 At his head is a man handing in hand a golden javelin, and behind him another with a great mace of gold, whose head is an emerald, a span long and as thick as a man's thumb. And when he mounteth horse, there mount with him a thousand horsemen clad in gold, brocade and silk. And as the king proceedeth,

Starting point is 02:45:39 a man precedeth him, crying, This is the king of great dignity, of high authority. And he continueth to repeat his praises in words I remember not, saying at the end of his panegyric, this is the king owning the crown, whose like nor Solomon nor the Mirage, ever possessed. Then he is silent, and one behind him proclaimeth, saying, He will die, again I say he will die, and the other addeth, extolled be the perfection of the living who dieth not.

Starting point is 02:46:13 Moreover, by reason of his justice and ordinance and intelligence, there is no Qazi in his city, and all his leges distinguish between truth and falsehood. Quoth the Caliph, How great is this king? His letter hath shown me this, and as for the mightiness of his dominion, thou hast told us what thou hast eyewitnessed. By Allah, he hath been endowed with wisdom and with wide rule. Then I related to the commander of the faithful all that had befallen me in my last voyage, at which he wanted exceedingly, and bade his historians record my story and store it up in his treasuries, for the edification of all who might see it.

Starting point is 02:46:58 Then he conferred on me exceeding great favours, and I repaired to my quarter and entered my home, where I warehoused all my goods and possessions. presently my friends came to me and i distributed presents among my family and gave arms and largesse after which i yielded myself to joyance and enjoyment mirth and merry-making and forgot all that i had suffered such then o my brothers is the history of what befell me in my sixth voyage and to-morrow inshallah i will tell you the story of my seventh and last voyage which is still more wondrous and marvellous than that of the first six saith he who telleth the tale then he bade laid the table and the company supped with him after which he gave the porter a hundred dinars as of want and they all went their ways marvelling beyond measure and the company supped with him after which he gave the porter a hundred dinars as of want and they all went their ways marvelling beyond measure and, at that which they had heard. And, Shahrazad perceived the dawn of the day

Starting point is 02:47:58 and ceased saying her permitted say. When it was the 563rd night. She said it hath reached me, O auspicious king, that when Sinbad the seaman had related the history of what befell him in his sixth voyage, and all the company had dispersed, Sinbad the landsman went home and slept as of want.

Starting point is 02:48:21 Next day he rose and prayed the dawn prayer, and repaired to his namesake's house where after the company was all assembled the host began to relate the seventh voyage of sindbad the seaman No, O company, that after my return from my sixth voyage, which brought me abundant profit, I resumed my former life in all possible joyance and enjoyment and mirth, and making merry day and night, and I tarried some time in this solace and satisfaction, till my soul began once more too long to sail the seas and see foreign countries, and company with merchants and hear new things. So having made up my mind, I packed up in Bales a quantity of pre-ailles, a quantity of pre-mened. precious stuffs suited for sea trade and repaired with them from Baghdad City to

Starting point is 02:49:11 Basara town, where I found a ship ready for sea. And in her a company of considerable merchants. I shipped with them and becoming friends we set forth on our venture in health and safety, and sailed with a fair wind till we came to a city called Mut-Nat al-Sin. But after we had left it, as we fared on in all cheer and confidence, devising of traffic and travel, behold, there sprang up a violent headwind, and a tempest of rain fell on us and drenched us and our goods. So we covered the bales with our cloaks and garments, and drug it and canvas, lest they be spoiled by the rain, and betook ourselves to prayer

Starting point is 02:49:55 and supplication to Almighty Allah, and humbled ourselves before him for deliverance from the peril that was upon us. But the captain arose and tightened in his girdle, tucked up his skirts, and after taking refuge with Allah from Satan the stoned, climbed to the mast-head, whence he looked out right and left and gazing at the passengers and crew, fell to buffet in his face and plucking out his beard. So he cried to him, O raise, what is the matter? And he replied, saying, seek ye deliverance of the most high from the straight into which we have fallen,

Starting point is 02:50:33 and bemoan yourselves and take leave of one another, for know that the wind hath gotten the mastery of us, and hath driven us into the utmost of the seas of the world. Then he came down from the mast-head, and opening his sea-chest, pulled out a bag of blue cotton, from which he took a powder like ashes. This he set in a saucer, wetted with a little water, and after waiting a short time smelt and tasted it. And then he took out of the chest a booklet,

Starting point is 02:51:03 wherein he read a while and said weeping, No, O ye passengers, that in this book is a marvellous matter, denoting that whoso come thither shall surely die, without hope of escape, for that this ocean is called the sea of the clime of the king, wherein is a sepulter of our Lord Solomon, son of David, on both be peace, and therein a serpents of vast bulk and fearsome aspect, and what ships however cometh to these climes, there riseth to her a great fish out of the sea, and swalloweth

Starting point is 02:51:37 her up with all and everything on board her. Hearing these words from our captain, great was our wonder, but hardly had he made an end of speaking, when the ship was lifted out of the water, and let fall again and we applied to praying the death-prayer, and committed to the day-praying, and committing our souls to Allah. Presently we heard a terrible great cry like the loud, peeling thunder, whereat we were terror-struck and became as dead men, giving ourselves up for lost. Then behold, there came up to us a huge fish,

Starting point is 02:52:11 as big as a tall mountain, at whose sight we became wild for a fight, and, weeping sore, made ready for death, marvelling at its vast size and gruesome resemblance, When lo, a second fish made its appearance, and which we had seen naught more monstrous. So we bemoaned ourselves of our lives and farewelled one another. But suddenly up came a third fish, bigger than the first two, whereupon we lost the power of thought and reason,

Starting point is 02:52:42 and were stupefied for the excess of our fear and horror. Then the three fish began circling around about the ship, and the third and biggest opened his mouth to swallow it, and we looked into its mouth and behold, it was wider than the gate of a city, and its throat was like a long valley. So we besought the Almighty and called for succour upon his apostle, on whom be blessing and peace,

Starting point is 02:53:07 when suddenly a violent squall of wind arose and smote the ship, which rose out of the water and settled upon a great reef, the haunt of sea monsters, where it broke up and fell asunder into planks, and all and everything on board were plunged into the sea. As for me, I tore off all my clothes but my gown and swam a little way, till I happened upon one of the ship's planks, where to I clung and bestrored it like a horse, whilst the winds and the waters sported with me, and the waves carried me up and cast me down, and I was in most piteous plight for fear and distress and hunger and thirst. Then I reproached myself for what I had done, and my soul was weary after a life

Starting point is 02:53:51 of ease and comfort, and I said to myself, O Sinbad, O seamen, thou repentest not, and yet thou art ever suffering hardships and travails. Yet, wilt thou not renounce sea travel? Or, and thou say, I renounce? Thou liest in thy renouncement? Endure then with patience, that which thou sufferest, for verily thou deservedest all that betideth thee. And Shara Zad perceived the dawn of the day, and ceased to say her permitted say. End of Section 9. Section 10 of the Book of a Thousand Nights and a Night, Volume 6. This is a Librevox recording.

Starting point is 02:54:40 All Librevox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Librevox.org. The Book of a Thousand Nights and a Night, Volume 6, by Anonymous, Translated by Richard Francis Burton, Section 10, when it was the five hundredth and sixty-fourth night. She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious king, that Sinmad the seaman, continued, But when I had bestridden the plank, quoth I to myself, thou deservest all that betideth thee. All this is decreed to me of Allah, whose name be exult. to turn me from my greed of gain whence ariseth all that i endure for i have wealth galore then i return to my senses and said in very sooth this time i repent to the most high with a sincere repentance

Starting point is 02:55:46 of my lust for gain and venture and never will i again name travel with tongue nor in thought and i ceased not to humble myself before almighty Allah, and weep and bewail myself, recalling my former estate of solace, and satisfaction, and mirth, and merriment, and joyance, and thus I abode two days, at the end of which time I came to a great island abounding in trees and streams. There I landed, and ate of fruits of the island and drank of its waters, till I was refreshed, and my life returned to me, and my strength and spirits were restored, and I recited, oft when thy case shows nutty and tangled skein, fate downs from heaven, and straightens every ply, in patience keep thy soul till clear thy lot, for he who ties the knot can eke on tie.

Starting point is 02:56:52 walked about till I found on the further side a great river of sweet water, running with a strong current, whereupon I called to mind the boat-raft I had made aforetime, and said to myself, Needs must I make another? Happly I may free me from this strait. If I escape, I have my desire, and I vow to Allah Almighty to forswear travel. And if I perish, I shall be at peace, and I shall be at peace, and shall rest from toil and moil. So I rose up, and gathered together, great store of pieces of wood from the trees, which were all of the finest sander's wood,

Starting point is 02:57:34 whose like is not alb, I knew it not, and made shift to twist creepers and tree twigs into a kind of rope, with which I bound the billets together, and so contrived a raft. Then saying, and I be saved, tis of God's grace, I embarked thereon and committed myself to the current, and it bore me on for the first day and the second, and the third, after leaving the island. Whilst I lay in the raft, eating not and drinking when I was a thirst of the water of the river, till I was weak and giddy as a chicken, for stress of fatigue and famine and fear, at the end of this time I came to a high mountain, where I was weak, and giddy as a chicken, for stress of fatigue and famine and fear. At the end of this time I came to a high mountain whereonder ran the river, which when I saw I feared for my life, by reason of the straightness I had suffered in my former journey,

Starting point is 02:58:30 and I would fain have stayed the raft and landed on the mountain side. But the current overpowered me, and drew me into the subterranean passage like an archway, whereupon I gave myself up for lost, and said, there is no majesty, there is no might save in Allah, the glorious, the great. However, after a little, the raft glided into open air, and I saw before me a wide valley, where into the river fell with a noise like the rolling of thunder, and a swiftness as the rushing of the wind. I held on to the raft, for fear of falling off it, whilst the waves tossed me right and left,

Starting point is 02:59:15 and the craft continued to descend with the current, nor could I avail to stop it, nor turn it shorewards, till it stopped with me, at a great and goodly city, grandly edified, and containing much people. And when the townsfolk saw me on the raft, dropping down with the current, they threw me out ropes which I had not strength enough to hold. Then they tossed a net over the craft,

Starting point is 02:59:43 and drew it ashore with me, whereupon i fell to the ground amidst them as i were a dead man for stress of fear and hunger and lack of sleep after a while there came up to me out of the crowd an old man of reverend aspect well stricken in years who welcomed me and threw over an abundance of handsome clothes wherewith i covered my nakedness then he carried me to the hammam bath and brought me to the hammam bath and brought me to my cordial sherbet's and delicious perfumes. Moreover, when I came out, he bore me to his house, where his people made much of me, and, seating me in a pleasant place, set rich food before me, whereof I ate my fill, and returned thanks to God the most high for my deliverance, thereupon his pages fetched me hot water, and I washed my hands, and his handmaids brought me silken napkins, with which I dried them and wiped my mouth. Also the sheikh set apart for me an

Starting point is 03:00:52 apartment in a part of his house, and charged his pages and slave-girls to wait upon me, and do my will, and supply my wants. They were assiduous in my service, and I abode with him in the guest-chamber three days, taking my ease of good eating and good drinking, and good sense, till the life returned to me, and my terrors subsided, and my heart was calmed, and my mind was eased. On the fourth day the Sheikh, my host, came into me, and said, Thou cheerest us with thy company, O my son, and praise be Allah for thy safety. Say, wilt thou now come down with me to the beach and the bazaar, and sell thy goods, and take their price? Be like, and to be like, and to be like, like thou mayst buy thee wherewithal to traffic. I have ordered my servants to remove thy stock in trade from the sea, and they have piled it on the shore.

Starting point is 03:01:55 I was silent a while, and said to myself, What mean these words, and what goods have I? Then said he, O my son, be not troubled nor careful, but come with me to the market, and if any offer for thy goods what price? Contenteth thee, take it. But, and thou be not satisfied, I will lay them up for thee in my warehouse, against a fitting occasion for sale. So I bethought me of my case, and said to myself, Do his bidding, and see what are these goods. And I said to him, O my nuncle the sheikh, I hear and I obey, I may not gainsay thee in aught, for Allah's blessing is on all thou dost. accordingly he guided me to the market street where i found that he had taken in pieces the raft which carried me and which was of sandalwood and i heard the broker calling it for sale and shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say when it was the five hundred and sixty-fifth night she said it hath reached me o auspicious king

Starting point is 03:03:15 that Sinbad the seaman thus resumed his tale. I found that the sheikh had taken to pieces my raft, which lay on the beach, and the broker was crying the sandalwood for sale. Then the merchants came, and opened the gate of bidding for the wood, and bid against one another till its price reached a thousand dinars. When they left bidding, and my host said to me, here, O my son, this is the current price of thy goods in hard times like these. Wilt thou sell them for this, or shall I lay them up for thee in my storehouses, till such time as prices rise? O my lord, answered I, the business is in thy hands, do as thou wilt. Then, asked he, wilt thou sell the wood to me, O my son, for an hundred gold pieces over and above what the merchants

Starting point is 03:04:09 have bidden for it. And I answered, yes, I have sold it to thee for monies received. So he bade his servants transport the wood to his storehouses, and, carrying me back to his house, seated me and counted out to me the purchase money, after which he laid it in bags, and setting them in a privy place, locked them up with an iron padlock, and gave me its key. Some days after this the Sheikh said to me, O my son, I have somewhat to propose to thee, wherein I trust thou wilt to do my bidding. Quoth I, what is it?

Starting point is 03:04:51 Quoth he, I am a very old man, and I have no son, but I have a daughter, who is young in years and fair of favour, and endowed with abounding wealth and beauty. Now I have a mind to marry her to thee. that thou mayst abide with her in this our country, and I will make thee master of all I have in hand, for I am an old man, and thou shalt stand in my stead. I was silent for shame, and made him no answer, whereupon he continued, Do my desire in this, O my son, for I wish but thy will, and if thou wilt but do as I say,

Starting point is 03:05:35 thou shalt have her at once, and be as my son, and all that is under my hand, or that cometh to me, shall be thine, and if thou have a mind to traffic and travel to thy native land, none shall hinder thee, and thy property will be at thy sole disposal. So do as thou wilt. By allah, O my uncle, replied I, thou art become to me even as my father. and i am a stranger and have undergone many hardships while for stress of that which i have suffered naught of judgment or knowledge is left to me it is for thee therefore to decide what i shall do hereupon he sent his servants for the kazi and the witnesses and married me to his daughter making us for a noble marriage feast and high festival when i went into her i found her perfect in beauty and loved her and symmetry and grace, clad in rich raiment, and covered with a profusion of ornaments and necklaces, and other trinkets of gold and silver and precious stones, worth a mint of money, a price none could pay.

Starting point is 03:06:53 She pleased me, and we loved each other, and I abode with her in solace and delight of life, till her father was taken to the mercy of Allah Almighty. So we shrouded him and buried him, and I laid hands on the whole of his property, and all his servants and slaves became mine. Moreover, the merchants installed me in his office, for he was their sheikh and their chief, and none of them purchased aught but with his knowledge and by his leave.

Starting point is 03:07:26 And now his rank passed on to me. When I became acquainted with the townsfolk, I found that at the beginning of each month they were transformed, in that their faces changed, and they became like birds, and they put forth wings, wherewith they flew unto the upper regions of the firmament, and none remained in the city save the women and children. And I said in my mind, when the first of the month cometh, I will ask one of them to kill me, carry me with them, whither they go. So when the time came, and their complexion changed, and their forms altered, I went in to one of the townsfolk, and said to him, Allah upon thee, carry me with thee, that I might divert myself with the rest and return with you.

Starting point is 03:08:18 This may not be, answered he, but I ceased not to solicit him, and I importuned him, till he consented. Then I went out in his company, without telling any of my family, or servants, or friends, and he took me on his back, and flew up with me so high in air, that I heard the angels glorifying God in the heavenly dome. Whereat I wandered, and exclaimed, Praise be Allah! Extoled be the perfection of Allah! Hardly had I made an end of pronouncing the Tasby, praise be Allah, when there came out a fire from heaven, and all but consumed the company, whereupon they fled from it, and descended

Starting point is 03:09:02 with curses upon me, and, casting me down on a high mountain, went away, exceeding wrath with me, and left me there alone. As I found myself in this plight, I repented of what I had done, and reproached myself for having undertaken that for which I was unable, saying, there is no majesty and there is no might save in Allah, the glorious, the great. No sooner am I delivered from one affliction than I fall into a worse, and I continued in this case, knowing not whither I should go, when, lo, there came up two young men, as they were moons, each using as a staff a rod of red gold.

Starting point is 03:09:50 So I approached them and saluted them, and when they return my salam i said to them allah upon you train who are ye and what are ye quoth they we are of the servants of the most high allah abiding in this mountain and giving me a rod of red gold they had with them went their ways and left me i walked on along the mountain ridge staying my steps with the staff and pondering the case of the two youths, when, behold, a serpent came forth from under the mountain, with a man in her jaws, whom she had swallowed, even to below his navel, and he was crying out and saying, Whoso delivereth me, Allah will deliver him from all adversity. So I went up to the serpent, and smote her on the head with the golden staff, whereupon she cast the man forth of her mouth. And Sharaad perceived the dawn of day.

Starting point is 03:10:53 and ceased to say her permitted say. End of Section 10. Section 11 of the Book of a Thousand Nights and at Night, Volume 6. This is a Libervox recording. All Libervox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Librevox.org. The Book of a Thousand Nights and a Night, Volume 6, by Anonymous. translated by Richard Francis Burton.

Starting point is 03:11:33 When it was the 56th night, she said, It hath reached me, O auspicious king, that Sinbad the seaman thus continued. When I smote the serpent on the head with my golden staff, she cast the man forth of her mouth. Then I smote her a second time, and she turned and fled. Whereupon he came to me, and said, Since my deliverance from yonder serpent hath been at thy hands, I will never leave thee, and thou shalt be my comrade on this mountain. And welcome, answered I.

Starting point is 03:12:02 So we fared on along the mountain till we fell in with the company of folk, and I looked and saw amongst them the very man who carried me and cast me down there. I went to him, and spake him fair, excusing myself to him, and saying, O my comrade, is it not thus that friend should deal with friend? Quoth he, it was thou who well nigh destroyed us by thy tasba, and thy glorifying God on my lord. my back." Quoth I, "'Pardon me, for I had no knowledge of this matter. But if thou wilt take me with thee, I swear not to say a word.' So he relented, and consented to carry me with him, but he made an express

Starting point is 03:12:41 condition that, so long as I abode on his back, I should abstain from pronouncing the Tasba or otherwise glorifying God. Then I gave the wand of gold to him, whom I had delivered from the serpent, and bade him farewell, and my friend took me on his back, and, and flew with me as before, till he brought me to the city and set me down in my own house. My wife came to meet me, and saluting me gave me joy of my safety, and then said, Beware of going forth hereafter with yonder folk, neither consort with them, for they are brethren of the devils, and know not how to mention the name of Allah Almighty, neither worship they him. And how did thy father with them? asked I, and she answered,

Starting point is 03:13:25 my father was not of them neither did he is they and as now he is dead methinks thou hadst better sell all we have and with the price by merchandise and journey to thine own country and people and i with thee for i care not to tarry in this city my father and mother being dead so i sold all the shakes property piece-mill and looked for one who should be journeying thence to besora that i might join myself to him and while thus doing i heard of a company of townsfolk who had a mind to make the voyage but could not find them a ship so they bought wood and built them a great ship wherein i took passage with them and paid them all the higher then we embarked i and my wife with all our movables leaving our houses and domains and so forth and set sail and ceased not sailing from island to island and from sea to sea, with a fair wind and a favouring, till we arrived at Pissora's safe and sound. I made no stay there, but freighted another vessel, and transferring my goods to her, set out forthright for Baghdad City, where I arrived in safety, and entering my quarter and repairing to my house,

Starting point is 03:14:33 four gathered with my family and friends and familiars, who laid up my goods and my warehouses. When my people, who, reckoning the period of my absence on this my seventh voyage, had found it to be seven and twenty years, and had given up all hope of me, heard of my return, and they came to welcome me, and to give me joy of my safety, and I related to them all that had befallen me, whereat they marvelled with exceeding marvel. Then I foreswore travel, and vowed to Allah the most high I would venture no more by land or sea, for that this seventh and last voyage had surfeited me of travel and adventure, and I thank the Lord, be he praised and glorified, and blessed him for having to be he,

Starting point is 03:15:13 restored me to my kith and kin and country and home. Consider therefore, O Sinbad, O landsman, continued Sinbad the Seaman, What sufferings I have undergone, and what perils and hardships I have endured before coming to my present state. Allah, upon thee, O my lord, answered Simbad this landsman. Pardon me the wrong I did thee. And they cease not from friendship and fellowship, abiding in all cheer and pleasures and solos of life, till there came to them the destroyer of delights and the sunderer of societies and the shatterer of palaces and the caterer for cemeteries to wit the cup of death and glory be to the living one who dieth not a translation of the seventh voyage of sindbad the seaman according to the version of the calcutta edition which differs in essential form from the preceding tale know o my brothers and friends and companions all that when i left voyaging and commersing

Starting point is 03:16:12 I said in myself, Sufficeth me that hath befallen me, and I spent my time in solace and pleasure. One day as I sat at home, there came a knock at the door, and when the porter opened, a page entered, and said, The caliph biddeth thee to him. I went with him to the king's majesty, and kissed ground, and saluted him, whereupon he welcomed me, and entreated me with honour, and said, O Sinbad, I have an occasion for thee, wilt thou do it? so i kissed his hand and asked him saying o my lord what occasion hath the master for the slave where to he answered me i am minded that thou travel to the king of sarendib and carry to him our writ and our gift for that he hath sent to us a present and a letter i trembled at these words and rejoined by allah the omnipotent o my lord i have taken a loathing to wayfar and when i hear the words voyage or travel my limbs tremble for what hath befallen me of hardships and horrors indeed i have no desire whatever for this more by token as i have bound myself by oath not to quit bagdad then i informed the caliph of all i had passed through from first to last and he marvelled with exceeding marvel and said By the Almighty O Sinbad, from ages of old such mishaps as happened to thee were never known to happen to any, and thou dost only write never even to talk of travel. For our sake, however, thou wilt go this time and carry our present, and our letter to him of Sarendib, and, inshallah, by God's leave, thou shalt return quickly, and on this wise we shall be under no obligation to the said king.

Starting point is 03:17:55 I replied that I heard and obeyed, being unable to oppose his command, so he gave me gifts, and the missive with money to pay my way, and I kissed hands and left the presents. Then I dropped down from Baghdad to the Gulf, and with other merchants embarked, and our ship sailed before a fair wind many days and nights, till, by Alizade, we reached the island of Sarandib. As soon as we had made fast we landed, and I took the present and the letter, and going in with them to the king, kissed the ground before him. When he saw me, he said, Well, come, O Sinbad, by Allah omnipotent, we were longing to see thee, and glory be to God

Starting point is 03:18:36 who hath again shownest thy face. Then taking me by the hand, he made me sit by his side, rejoicing, and he welcomed me with familiar kindness again, and entreated me as a friend. After this he began to converse with me, and courteously addressed me, and asked, what was the cause of thy coming to us, O sin bad? So, after kissing his hand and thanking him, I answered, O my lord, I have brought thee a present from my master, the Caliph Harun al-Rashid, and offered him the present and the letter which he read, and at which he rejoiced with passing joy.

Starting point is 03:19:11 The present consisted of a mare worth ten thousand ducats, bearing a golden saddle set with jewels, a book, a sumptuous suit of clothes, and then hundred different kinds of white carring cloths, and silks of Suez, Kufa and Alexandria, Greek carpets, and an hundred mons, weight of linen and raw silk. Moreover, there was a wondrous rarity, a marvelous cup of crystal, middlemost of which was the figure of a lion, faced by a kneeling man grasping a bow with arrow, drawn to the very head, together with the food-tray, of Suleiman, the son of David, on whom be peace.

Starting point is 03:19:49 The missive ran as follows. Peace from King Al-Rashid, the aided of the aid of the food. Allah, who hath vouchsafe to him and his forefathers noble rank and widespread glory, be on the fortunate sultan. But after, thy letter came to our hands, and we rejoiced thereat, and we have sent the book entitled, Delight of the Intelligent and For Friends the Rare Present, together with sundry curiosities suitable for kings, so do thou favor us by accepting them, and peace be with thee.

Starting point is 03:20:19 Then the king lavished upon me much wealth and entreated me with all honor, so I prayed for him and thanked him for his munificence. Some days after I craved his leave to depart, but could not obtain it except by great pressing, whereupon I farewelled him and fared forth from his city, with merchants and other companions, Homewards bound without any desire for travel or companions, Homewards bound without any desire for travel or trade. We continued voyaging and coasting along many islands, but when we were halfway, we were surrounded by a number of canoes, wherein were men like devils, armed with bows and arrows, swords and daggers, habited in mail-coats and other armory. They fell upon us and wounded and slew all who opposed them. Then, having captured the ship and her contents, carried us to an island where they sold us at the meanest price. Now I was bought by a wealthy man, who, taking me to his house, gave me meat and drink and clothing,

Starting point is 03:21:20 and treated me in the friendliest manner, so I was heartened, and I rested a little. One day he asked me, Do thou know any art or craft? And I answered him, O my lord, I am a merchant, and know nothing but trade and traffic. Dost thou know, rejoined he, how to use bow and arrow? Yes, replied I. I know that much. Thereupon he bought me a bow and arrows, and mounted me behind him on an elephant.

Starting point is 03:21:50 Then he set out as night was well nigh over, and, passing through a forest of huge growths, came to a tall and sturdy tree up which he made me climb. Then he gave me the bow and arrows, saying, Sit here now, and when the elephants troop hither in early morning, shoot at them, be like thou wilt hit one, and if he fall, come and tell me. with this he left me i hid myself in the trees being in sore terror and trembling nigh till the sun arose and when the elephants appeared and wandered about among the trees i shot my arrows at them and continued till i had shot down one of them

Starting point is 03:22:28 In the evening I reported my success to my master, who was delighted in me, and entreated me with high honor, and the next morning he removed the slain elephant. In this wise I continued, every morning, shooting an elephant, which my master would remove, till one day, as I was perched in hiding, on the tree, there came suddenly, and unexpectedly, an innumerable host of elephants, whose screaming and trumpeting were such that I imagined the earth trembled under them. all surrounded my tree, whose circumference was some fifty cubits, and one enormous monster came up to it, and, winding his trunk round the bowl, hauled it up by the roots, and dashed it to the ground. I fell down fainting amongst the beasts, when the monster elephant wound his trunk about me, and, setting me on his back, went off with me, the others accompanying us. He carried me, still unconscious, till he reached the place for which he was making, when he rolled me off his back, and presently went his ways, followed by the others.

Starting point is 03:23:23 So I rested a little, and when my terror had subsided, I looked about me and found myself among the bones of elephants, whereby I concluded that this was their burial place, and that the monster elephant had led me thither on account of the tusks. So I arose and walked a whole day and night till I arrived at the house of my master, who saw my colour changed by stress of a fright and famine. He rejoiced in my return, and said to me, By Allah, thou hast made my heart sore. I went when thou wast missing, and found thee. a tree torn up, and thought that the elephants had slain thee. Tell me how it was with thee. I acquainted him with all that had betided me, whereat he wondered greatly, and rejoiced, and at last asked me, dost thou know the place? Whereto I answered, yes, O my master. So we mounted an elephant, and fared until we came to the spot, and when my master beheld the heaps of tusks, he rejoiced

Starting point is 03:24:19 greatly, then carrying away as many as he wanted, and he returned with me home. after this he entreated me with increased favour and said o my son thou hast shownst the way to great gain wherefore allo requite thee thou art freed for the almighty sake and before his face the elephants used to destroy many of us on account of our hunting them for their ivories and sorovellos but allah hath preserved thee from them and thou hast profited us by the heaps to which thou hast led us o my master replied i god free thy neck from the fire and do thou grant me, O my master, thy gracious leave to return to my own country. Yes, quoth he, thou shalt have that permission, but we have a yearly fare, when merchants come to us from various quarters to buy up these ivories. The time is drawing near, and when they shall have done their business, I will send thee under their charge, and will give thee wherewithal to reach thy home.

Starting point is 03:25:16 So I blessed and thanked him, and remained with him, treated with respect and honour for some days, when the merchants came, as he had foretold, and bought and sold and bartered, and when they had made their preparations to return, my master came to me, and said, Rise and get thee ready to travel, with the traders in route to thy country. They had bought a number of tusks, which they had bound together in loads, and were embarking them when my master sent me with them, paying for my passage, and settling all my debts, besides which he gave me a large present in

Starting point is 03:25:48 goods. We set out and voyage from island to island, till we had crossed the sea, and landed, it on the shores of the Persian Gulf. When the merchants brought out and sold their stores, I also sold what I had at a high profit, and I bought some of the prettiest things in the place for presents and beautiful rarities, and everything else I wanted. I likewise bought for myself a beast, and we fared forth and crossed the deserts from country to country till I reached Baghdad. Here I went into the Caliph, and after saluting him and kissing hands, informed him of all that had befallen me. Whereupon he rejoiced in my safety, and

Starting point is 03:26:23 thanked Almighty Allah, and he bade my story be written in letters of gold. I then entered my house and met my family and brethren, and such is the end of the history that happened to me during my seven voyages. Praise be to Allah, the one, the creator, the maker of all things in heaven and earth. Now when Shahrazad had ended her story of the two sinbad's, Dinarazad exclaimed, Oh, my sister, how pleasant is thy tale, and how tasteful, how sweet and how grateful! She replied, And what is this compared with that I could tell thee tomorrow night? Quote the king,

Starting point is 03:27:00 What may it be? And she said, It is a tale touching The city of brass. It is related that there was, in tide of yore, and in times and years long gone before, at Damascus of Syria, a caliph known as Ab Ab Ab-Aulik bin Marwan,

Starting point is 03:27:19 the fifth of the Amiyadh house. As this commander of the faithful was seated one day in his palace, conversing with his sultans and kings and the grandees of his empire, the talk turned upon the legends of past peoples and the traditions of our Lord Solomon, David's son, on the Twain be peace, and on that which Almighty Allah had bestowed on him of lordship and dominion over men and gin and birds and beasts and reptiles, and the wind and other created things, and quoth the Caliph, Of a truth we hear from those who forewent us that the Lord, extolled and exalted be he, vouchsafed unto none the like, of that which he vouchsafed unto our Lord Solomon, and that he attained unto that where to never attained other than he, in that he was wont to imprison jinns and marids and satans and cucur bites of copper, and to stop them with lead and seal them with his ring. And Shaharazad perceived the dawn of the day.

Starting point is 03:28:21 and cease to say, her permitted say. End of Section 11. Section 12 of the Book of a Thousand Nights and a Night, Volume 6. This is a Libervox recording. All Libervox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visitlibervox.org. The Book of a Thousand Nights and a Night, Volume 6 by Anonymous, translated by Richard Francis Burton. was the five hundred and sixty-seventh night she said it hath reached me o auspicious king that when the caliph abd al-malik bin marwan sat conversing with his grandees concerning our lord solomon and these noted what allah had bestowed upon him of lordship and dominion quoth the commander of the faithful

Starting point is 03:29:18 indeed he attained unto that whetra never attained other than he in that he was wont to imprison jinns and marids and satans and cucrobytes of copper and stop them with lead and sealed them with his ring. Then said Talib bin Sal, who was a seeker after treasures and had books that discovered to him hordes and wealth hidden under the earth, O commander of the faithful, Allah make thy dominion to endure and exalt thy dignity here and hereafter. My father told me of my grandfather, that once he took ship with the company, intending for the island of Sicilia or Sicily, and sailed until there arose against them a contrary wind, which drove them from their course, and brought them, after a month, to a great mountain in one of the lands of Allah the most high. But where the land was they wot not. Quoth my

Starting point is 03:30:10 grandfather, this was in the darkness of the night, and as soon as it was day there came forth to us from the caves of the mountain, folk, black of color, and naked of body, as they were wild beasts, understanding not one word of what was addressed to them, nor was there any of them who new Arabic, save their king who was one of their kind. When he saw the ship, he came down to it with the company of his followers, and saluting us, bade us welcome, and questioned us of our case and our faith. We told him all concerning ourselves, and he said, be of good cheer, for no harm shall befall you. And when we, in turn, ask them of their faith, we found that each was of one of the many creeds prevailing before the preaching of al-Islam, and the mission of Muhammad,

Starting point is 03:30:54 whom may Allah bless and keep. So my shipmates remarked, We wot not what thou sayest. Then quoth the king, No Adam's son hath ever come to our land before you, But fear not, and rejoice in the assurance of safety, And have returned to your own country. Then he entertained us three days,

Starting point is 03:31:14 feeding us on the flesh of birds and wild beasts and fishes, than which they had no other meat, And on the fourth day he carried us down to the beach, that we may divert ourselves by looking upon the fisher-folk. There we saw a man casting his net to catch fish, and, presently, he pulled them up, and behold, in them was a cucor-bite of copper, stopped with lead and sealed with the signet of Solomon, son of David, on whom be peace.

Starting point is 03:31:41 He brought the vessel to land and broke it open. When there came forth a smoke which rose, a twisting, blew to the zenith, and we heard a horrible voice saying, I repent! I repent! Pardon, O prophet of Allah! I will never return to that which I did aforetime. Then the smoke became a terrible giant, frightful of form, whose head was level with the mountain-tops, and he vanished from our sight, whilst our hearts were well-nigh torn out for terror,

Starting point is 03:32:07 but the blacks thought nothing of it. Then we returned to the king and questioned him of the matter, whereupon quoth he, know that this was one of the jinns whom Solomon, son of David, being wroth with them, shut up in these vessels and cast into the sea, after stopping the mouths with melted lead. Our fishermen, oft times, in casting their nets, bring up such bottles,

Starting point is 03:32:29 which, being broken open, there come forth of them gins, who, deeming that Solomon is still alive and can pardon them, make their submission to him, and say, I repent, O prophet of Allah. The Caliph marveled at Talib's story, and said, Glory be to God, verily, to Solomon was given a mighty dominion. Now Al-Nabiga al-Zubiani was present, and he said, Talib have spoken soothly,

Starting point is 03:32:55 as is proven by the saying of the al-wise, the primeval one. And Solomon, when Allah to him said, rise, be thou caliph, rule with righteous sway. Honor obedience for obeying thee, and who rebels in prison him for aye. Wherefore he used to put them in copper bottles and cast them into the sea.

Starting point is 03:33:16 The poet's words seem good to the caliph, and he said, By Allah, I long to look upon some. of these solomonic vessels, which must be a warning to who so will be warned. O commander of the faithful, replied Talib, it is in thy power to do so without stirring abroad. Send to thy brother, Abd al-Aziz bin Marwan, so he may write to Musa bin Nasser, governor of Magrib, or Morocco, bidding him to take horse thence to the mountains whereof I spoke, and fetch thee therefrom as many of such kukubites as thou hast a mind to. For those mountains,

Starting point is 03:33:52 adjoined the frontiers of his province the caliph approved his counsel and said thou hast spoken sooth o talib and i desire that touching this matter thou be my messenger to musa bin nassir wherefore thou shalt have the white flag and all thou hast a mind to of monies and honour and so forth and i will care for thy family during thine absence with love and gladness o commander of the faithful answered talib go with the blessing of allah and his aid quoth the caliph and bade write a letter to his brother abd al aziz his vicer his viceroy in north-western africa bidding him go himself in quest of the solomonic bottles leaving his son to govern in his stead moreover he charged him to engage guides and to spare neither men nor money nor to be remiss in the matter as he would take no excuse then he sealed the two letters and committed them to talib bin sall bidding him advance the royal ensigns before him and make his utmost speed and gave him treasure and horsemen and footmen to further him on his way and made provision for the wants of his household during his absence so talib set out and arrived in due course at cairo and Shahrazad perceived the dawn of the day, and ceased to say, her permitted say. When it was the five hundred and sixty-eighth night, she said, it hath reached me, O auspicious king, that Talib bin Sal set out with his escort and crossed the desert country between

Starting point is 03:35:26 Syria and Egypt, where the governor came out to meet him, and entreated him and his company with high honor, whilst they tarried with him. Then he gave them a guide to bring them to the Saeed or Upper Egypt, where the Emir Musa had his abiding place, and when the son of Nassir heard of Talib's coming, he went forth to meet him, and rejoiced in him. Talib gave him the Caliph's letter, and he took it reverently, and laying it on his head, cried, I hear, and I obey the prince of the faithful. Then he deemed it best to assemble his chief officers, and when all were present, he acquainted them with the contents of the Caliph's letter, and sought counsel of them how he should act. O Amir, answered they, if thou seekest one who shall guide thee to the place,

Starting point is 03:36:11 summon the Sheikh Abd al-Samad Ibn Abd al-Kudus, al-Samudi, for he is a man of varied knowledge, who hath travelled much and knoweth by experience all the seas and wastes and words and countries of the inhabitants and wonders thereof, wherefore send thou for him, and he will surely guide thee to thy desire. So Musa sent for him, and behold, he was a very ancient man, shot in years and broken down with lapse of days. The emir saluted him, and said, O Sheikh Abd al-Samad, our lord, the commander of the faithful Abd al-Ameek bin Marwan, hath commanded me thus and thus. I have small knowledge of the land wherein is that which the caliph desireth, but it is told me that thou knowest it well, and the ways thither.

Starting point is 03:36:58 Wilt thou, therefore, go with me and help me to accomplish the caliph's need? So it please Allah the most high, thy trouble and travail, shall not go waste. Replied the Sheikh, I hear and obey the bidding of the commander of the faithful, But no, O'amir, That road thither is long and difficult

Starting point is 03:37:17 In the way's few. How far is it? asked Musa, And the Sheikh answered, It is a journey of two years and some months Going and the like returning, and the way is full of hardships and terrors and things wondrous and marvellous. Now thou art a champion of the faith,

Starting point is 03:37:34 and our country is hard by that of the enemy, and, peradventure the Nazarenes may come out upon us in thine absence, wherefore it behooveth thee to leave one to rule thy government in thy stead. It is well, answered the emir, and appointed his son Harun, governor during his absence, requiring the troops to take the oath of fealty to him, and bidding them obey him in all he should commend. And they heard his words and promised obedience. Now this Harun was a man of great prowess, renowned warrior and a doughty knight, and the Sheikh Abd al-Samad feigned to him that the place they sought was distant but four-month journey along the shores of the sea, with camping places all along the way, adjoining one another and grass and springs, adding, Allah will assuredly make the matter easy to us,

Starting point is 03:38:21 through thy blessing, O lieutenant of the commander of the faithful. Quoth the Emir Musa, knowest thou if any of the kings hath trodden this land before us? And quoth the sheikh, yes it belonged aforetime to darius the greek king of alexandria but he said to musa privately o ameer take with thee a thousand camels laden with victual and a store of guglets the emir asked and what shall we do with these and the sheik answered on our ways the desert of caoan or cyrene the witch is a vast woald four days journey long and lacketh water nor therein doth sound or voice ever sound nor is soul at any time to be seen. Moreover, there bloweth the simoon, and other hot winds called Al-Jawab, which dry up the water-skins,

Starting point is 03:39:11 but if there be water in the gugglets, no harm can come to it. Right, said Musa, and sending to Alexandria, let bring thence great plenty of gugglets. Then he took with him his wazir, and two thousand cavalry, clad in male cap-apie,

Starting point is 03:39:27 and set out, without other, to guide them, but abd al-Samad who forewent them writing on his hackney the party fared on diligently now passing through inhabited lands then ruins and anon traversing frightful wards and thirsty wastes and then mountains which spired high in air nor did they leave journeying a whole year's space till one morning when the day broke after they had travelled all night behold the sheikh found himself in a land he knew not and said there is no majesty and there is no might save an au Allah, the glorious, the great, Quoth the emir, What is to do, O Sheikh? And he answered, saying, By the Lord of Kaaba, We have wandered from our road.

Starting point is 03:40:12 How comeeth that? asked Musa, and Abd al-Samad answered. The stars were overclouded, and I could not guide myself by them. Where on God's earth are we now? Asked the Amir, and the Sheikh answered, I know not, for I never set eyes on this land until this moment. said musa guide us back to the place where we went astray but the other i know it no more then musa let us push on haply allah will guide us to it or direct us a right of his power

Starting point is 03:40:43 so they fared on till the hour of noon prayer when they came to a fair champagne and wide and level and smooth as it were the sea when calm and presently there appeared to them on the horizon some great thing high and black in whose midst as it were as it were when calm and presently there appeared to them on the horizon some great thing high and black in whose midst as it was were smoke rising to the confines of the sky they made for this and stayed not in their course till they drew near thereto when lo it was a high castle firm of foundations and great and gruesome as it were a towering mountain builded all of black stone with frowning crinels and a door of gleaming china still that dazzled the eyes and dazed the wits round about it were a thousand steps and that which appeared afar off was as it were smoke rising was a central dome of lead and hundred cubits high. When the emir saw this, he marvelled thereat with exceeding marvel, and how this place was void of inhabitants, and the sheikh, after he had certified himself thereof, said, There is no God but the God, and Muhammad is the apostle of God. Quoth Musa, I hear thee praise the Lord and hallow him, and misceith thou rejoicest. O Amir, answered Abd al-Samad, rejoice, for Allah, extolled.

Starting point is 03:42:00 and exalted be he hath delivered us from the frightful wards and thirsty wastes how knowest that said musa and the other i know it for that my father told me of my grandfather that he said we were once journeying in this land and straying from the road we came to this palace and thence to the city of brass between which and the place thou seekest is two full months travel but thou must take the sea-shore and leave it not for there be watering-places and wales and camping grounds established by King Zhu Al-Carnain Iskander, who, when he went to the conquest of Maritania, found by the way thirsty deserts and wastes and wilds, and dug therein water-pits and built cisterns. Quoth Musa, Allah rejoice thee with good news. And quoth the Sheikh, come, let us go look upon yonder palace and its marvels, for it is an admonition to whose will be admonished. So the emir went up to the palace. with the sheikh and his officers and coming to the gate found it open now this gate was built with lofty columns and porticoes whose walls and ceilings were inlaid with gold and silver and precious stones and there led up to it flights of steps among which were two wide stairs of coloured marble never was seen their like and over the doorway was a tablet whereon were gravened letters of gold in the old ancient ionian character oh ameer asked the sheikh shall i read and musa answered read and god bless thee for all that betiteth us in this journey dependeth on thy blessing so the sheikh who was a very learned man and versed in all tongues and characters went up to the tablet and read what so was thereon and it was versed like this

Starting point is 03:43:47 The signs that hear their mighty works portray Worn us that all must tread the self-same way O thou who standest in this stead to hear Tidings of folk whose power hath passed for aye Enter this palace gate and ask the news Of greatness fallen into dust and clay Death has destroyed them and dispersed their might And in the dust they lost their rich display

Starting point is 03:44:11 As had they only set their burdens down To rest a while And then had rode away When the Emir Musa heard these couplets, he wept till he lost his senses and said, There is no God but the God, the living, the eternal, who ceaseth not. Then he entered the palace, and was confounded at its beauty, and the goodliness of its construction. He diverted himself a while by viewing the pictures and images therein, till he came to another door, over which also were written verses, and said to the Sheikh,

Starting point is 03:44:43 Come read me these. So he advanced and read as follows. Under these domes how many a company, halted of old and fared, with out and stay, See thou what might displays on other whites, Time with his shifts which could such Lord's way lay. They shared together what they gathered, and left their joys and fared to death decay. What joys they joyed, what food they ate, and now, in dust, they're eaten, for the worm a prey. At this the Emir Musa wept bitter tears, and the world waxed yellow before his eyes, and he said, Verily, we were created for a mighty matter.

Starting point is 03:45:24 Then they proceeded to explore the palace, and found it desert and void of living thing, its courts desolate and dwelling places laid waste. In the midst stood a lofty pavilion, with a dome rising high in air, and about it were four hundred tomes builded of yellow marble. The emir drew near unto these, and behold, amongst them, was a great tomb, wide and long, and at its head stood a tablet of white marble, whereon were gravened these couplets. How oft have I fought, and how many have slain, how much have I witnessed of blessing and bane, how much have I eaten, how much have I drunk, how oft have I hearken to singing-girl strain, How much have I bidden, How oft have forbid, How many a castle And cast a lane,

Starting point is 03:46:11 I have sieged, And the cloistered maids, In the depths of its walls For my captives were tain. But of ignorance sinned I to win me the meads, Which one proved not, and brought nothing of gain. Then reckon thy reckoning, O man, and be wise, ere the goblet of death and doom thou shalt drain, for yet but a little the dust on thy head they shall strew, and thy life shall go down to the dead. And the emir and his companions wept, then, drawing near unto the pavilion, they saw that it had eight doors of sandalwood, studded with nails of gold and stars of silver, and inlaid with all manner precious stones. On the first door were written these verses.

Starting point is 03:46:57 What I left, I left it not for the nobility of soul, but through sentence, and decree that to every man are dight what while i lived happy with temper hot and high my hoarding-place defending like a lion in the fight i took no rest and greed of gain forbade me give a grain of mustard seed to save from the fires of hell my sprite until stricken on a day as with arrow by decree of the maker the fashioner the lord of might and right when my death was appointed my life i could not keep By the many of my stratagems, my cunning, and my sleight, My troops I had collected availed me not, And none of my friends, and my neighbours, Had power to mend my plight. Through my life I was weaned in journeying to death,

Starting point is 03:47:46 In stress or in solace, in joyance or despite, So when money-bags are bloated, And dinar unto dinar, Thou attest, all may leave thee with fleeting of the night. And the driver of a camel, And the digger of a grave, are what thine air shall bring ere the morning dawneth bright, and on judgment day alone shall thou stand before thy lord,

Starting point is 03:48:09 overladen with thy sins and thy crimes and shine affright. Let the world not seduce thee with lurings, but behold what measure to thy family and neighbors it hath doled. When Musa heard these verses he wept with such weeping that he swooned away. Then, coming to himself, he entered the pavilion, and saw there a long tomb, awesome to look upon, whereon was a tablet of china steel, and Sheikh Abd al-Samad drew near it, and read this inscription. In the name of everlasting Allah, the never beginning, the never-ending, in the name of Allah who begetteth not, nor is he begot, and unto whom

Starting point is 03:48:49 the like is not, in the name of Allah, the Lord of Majesty and Might, in the name of the living one, who to death is never dight. And Jaharazad perceived the dawn of the day, and ceased to say, her permitted say. When it was the five hundred and sixty-ninth night, she said, it hath reached me, O auspicious king, that Sheikh Abd al-Samad, having read the aforesaid, also found the following. O thou who comest to this place,

Starting point is 03:49:20 take warning by that which thou seest to the accidents of time and the vicissitudes of fortune, and be not deluded by the world and its pomp and vanities and fallacies and falsehoods and vain allurements, for that it is flattering, deceitful, and treacherous, and the things thereof are but alone to us, which it will borrow back from all borrowers. It is likened to the dreams of the dreamer, and the sleep visions of the sleeper, or as the mirage of the desert, which the thirsty take for water,

Starting point is 03:49:49 and Satan maketh it fair for men even unto death. These are the ways of the world. Wherefore put not thou thy trust therein, neither incline thereto, for it betrayeth him who leaneth upon it, and who, who, who, committed himself thereunto in his affairs. Fall not thou into its snares, neither take hold upon its skirts, but be warned by my example. I possessed four thousand bay horses, and a haughty palace, and I had to wife a thousand daughters of kings, high-bosomed maids, as they were moons. I was blessed with a thousand sons, as they were fierce lions, and I abode a thousand years, glad of heart

Starting point is 03:50:29 and mind, and I amassed treasures beyond the competence of all the kings of the regions of the earth, deeming that delight would still endure to me. But there fell on me, unawares, the destroyer of delights, and the sunderer of societies, and the desolator of domiciles, and the spoiler of inhabited spots, the murderer of great and small, babes and children and mothers, he who hath no ruth on the poor for his poverty or feareth the king for all his bidding or forbidding verily we abode safe and secure in this palace till there descended upon us the judgment of the lord of the three worlds lord of the heavens and lord of the earths the vengeance of the manifest truth overtook us when there died of us every day too till a great company of us had perished when i saw that destruction had entered our dwellings and had homed with us and in the sea of deaths had drowned us i summoned a writer and bade him indict these verses and instances and admonitions the which i let grave with rule and compass on these doors and tablets and tombs now i had an army of a thousand thousand bridles men of warrior mien with forearms strong and keen armed with spears and mail-clote sheen and swords that gleam so i bade them don their long-hanging hauberks angered on their biting blades and mount their high-metalled steeds and level their dreadful lances and whence there fell on us the doom of the lord of heaven and earth i said to them ho all ye soldiers and troopers

Starting point is 03:52:03 can ye avail to ward off that which is fallen on me from the omnipotent king but the troopers and soldiers availed not unto this and said how shall we battle with him to whom no chamberlain barth access the lord of the door which hath no doorkeeper then quoth i to them bring me my treasures now i had in my treasuries a thousand cisterns in each of which were a thousand quintals of red gold and the like of white silver besides pearls and jewels of all kinds and other things of price beyond the attainment of the kings of the earth so they did that and when they had laid all the treasure in my presence i said to them can ye ransom me with all this treasure or buy me one day of life therewith but they could not so they resigned themselves to four ordained fate and fortune, and I submitted to the judgment of Allah, enduring patiently that which he decreed unto me of affliction, till he took my soul, and made me to dwell in my grave, and if thou ask of my name, I am Cush, the son of Shadad, son of Ad the greater, and upon the tablets were engraved these lines. And thou wouldst know my name, whose day is done, with shifts of time and chances neath the sun. No, I am Shadad's son, who ruled mankind, and o'er all earth upheld dominion.

Starting point is 03:53:22 All stubborn peoples abject were to me, and sham to Cairo, and to Adnan one. I reigned in glory, conquering many kings, and people feared my mischief every one. Ye tribes and armies in my hand I saw, the world all dreaded me, both friends and foe. When I took course, I viewed my numbered troops, bridles on neighing steeds a million, And I had wealth that none could tell or count Against misfortune, treasuring all I won. Fain had I bought my life with all my wealth, And for a moment's space my death to shun.

Starting point is 03:53:59 But God would not save what his purpose willed, So from my brethren cut I bowed alone. And death, that Sunder's man, exchanged my lot to Popper Hut from Grandier's mansion, when found I all mine actions gone and pass, Wherefore I'm pledged, and by my sin undone, Then fear, O man, who by a brink-dust range, The turns of fortune, and the chance of change.

Starting point is 03:54:28 The Amir Musa was hurt to his heart, And loathed his life for what he saw of the slaughtering places of the folk, And as they went about the highways and byways of the palace, Viewing its sitting-chambers and pleasances, behold they came upon a table of yellow onyx up borne on four feet of juniper wood and thereon these words graven at this table have eaten a thousand kings blind of the right eye and a thousand blind of the left and yet other thousands sound of both eyes all of whom have departed the world and have taken up their sojourn in the tombs and the catacombs all this the emir wrote down and left the palace carrying off with him not save the table aforesaid then he fared on with his host three days space under the guidance of the sheikh abd al-sammad till they came to a high hill whereon stood a horseman of brass in his hand he held a lance with a broad head in brightness like blinding leaven whereon was graven o thou that comest unto me if thou know not the way to the city of brass rub the hand of this rider and he will turn round and presently stop then taketh the direction whereto he faceeth and fair fearless for it will bring thee without hardship to the city aforesaid.

Starting point is 03:55:44 And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of the day, and ceased to say, her permitted say. End of Section 12. Section 12 of the Book of A Thousand Nights and a Night, Volume 6. This is a Librevox recording. All Librevox recordings are in the public domain. For more information, or to volunteer, please visit libavox dot org the book of a thousand knights and a night volume six by anonymous translated by richard francis burton section thirteen

Starting point is 03:56:36 when it was the five hundred and seventieth night she said it hath reached me o auspicious king that when the emir moussin rubbed the horseman's hand he revolved like the dazzling lightning and stopped facing in a direction other than that wherein they were journeying. So they took the road to which he pointed, which was the right way, and finding it a beaten track, fared on through their days and nights, till they had covered a wide tract of country. Then they came upon a pillar of black stone like a furnace chimney, wherein was one sunken up to his armpits. He had two great wings and four-arms,

Starting point is 03:57:20 two of them like the arms of the sons of Adam, and other two as they were lion's paws with claws of iron, and he was black and tall and frightful of aspect, with hair like horse's tails, and eyes like blazing coals, slit upright in his face. Moreover, he had in the middle of his forehead a third eye, as it were that of a lynx, from which flew sparks of fire. and he cried out, saying, Glory to my Lord, who hath adjudged unto me this grievous torment, and sore punishment until the day of doom. When the folk saw him, they lost their reason for affright,

Starting point is 03:58:05 and turned to flee. So the emir Moussa, asked the Sheikh Abid al-Samad, What is this? And he answered, I know not. Whereupon, quoth Moussa, draw near and question him of his condition. Happily he will discover to thee his case. Allah is saying thee, Emir, indeed, I am afraid of him, replied the Sheikh.

Starting point is 03:58:28 But the emir rejoined, saying, Fear not, he is hindered from thee and from all others, by that wherein he is. So Abed al-Samad drew near to the pillar, and said to him, which was therein, O creature, what is thy name, and what art thou, and how camest thou here in this fashion? I am an Ifrit of the Jin, replied he, by name Dachish, son of al-Ahmash, and am confined here by the all-mite, prisoned here by the providence, and punished by the judgment of Allah, till it pleases him to whom belong might and majesty to release me. Then said Moussa, ask him why he is endurance of this column.

Starting point is 03:59:13 So the Sheikh asked him of this, and the Ifrit replied, saying, Verily my tale is wondrous and my case marvelous, and it is this. One of the sons of Iblis had an idol, of Red Cornelian, whereof I was guardian, and there served it a king of the kings of the sea, a prince of puissant power, and prow of prowess, overruling a thousand, thousand warriors of the John, who smote with swords before him, and answered his summons in time of need. all these were under my commandment, and obeyed my behest, being each and every rebels against Solomon, son of David, an home be peace, and I used to enter the belly of the idol, and thence bid and forbid them.

Starting point is 04:00:03 Now this king's daughter loved the idol, and was frequent in prostration to it, and assiduous in its service, and she was the fairest woman of her day, accomplished in beauty and loveliness, elegance, and grace. She was described unto Solomon, and he sent to her father, saying, Give me thy daughter to wife, and break, shine idol of Cornelian, and testify saying, There is no God but the God, and Solomon is the prophet of Allah. And thou do this, our due shall be thy due,

Starting point is 04:00:39 and thy debt shall be our debt shall be our debt. But, if thou refuse, make ready to answer the summons of the Lord, and on thy grave gear, for I will come upon thee with an irresistible host, which shall fill the waste places of earth, and make thee as yesterday that is passed away, and hath no return for I. When this message reached the king he waxed insolent and rebellious, prideful and contumacious, and he cried to his wazirs, What say ye of this? Know ye that Solomon, son of David, hath sent requiring me,

Starting point is 04:01:17 to give him my daughter to wife, and break my idol of Cornelian, and enter his faith? And they replied, O mighty king, how shall Solomon do thus with thee? Even could he come at thee in the midst of this vast ocean, he could not prevail against thee, for the maids of the John will fight on thy side, and thou wilt ask succor of shine idol whom thou servest, and he will help thee, and give thee victory over him, so thou wouldst do well to consult on this matter thy lord, meaning the idol aforesaid, and hear what he saith.

Starting point is 04:01:57 If he say, fight him, fight him, and if not, not. So the king went in with a-o'-for-said, and, here would he sayth, and, if not. stay or delay to his idol, and offered up sacrifices and slaughtered victims, after which he fell down before him, prostrate and weeping, and repeated these verses. O my lord, well I wheat thy puissant hand, Suleiman would break thee and see thee band. O my lord, to crave succor, here I stand, command, and I bow to thy high command. Then I, continued the Ifrit, addressing the Sheikh, and those about him, of my ignorance and want of wit and recklessness of the commandment of Solomon, and lack of knowledge anend his power, entered the belly of the idol, and made answer as follows. As for me, of him I feel not a fright, for my lore and my wisdom are infinite.

Starting point is 04:02:56 If he wish for warfare I'll show him fight, and out of his body I'll tear his sprite. When the king heard my boastful reply he hardened his heart, and resolved to wage war upon the prophet, and to offer him battle. Wherefore he beat the messenger with a grievous beating, and returned a foul answer to Solomon, threatening him and saying, Of a truth thy soul hath suggested to thee a vain thing, Does thou menace me with mendacious words? But gird thyself our battle, For, and thou come not to me,

Starting point is 04:03:32 I will assuredly come to thee. So the messenger returned to Solomon and told him all that had passed, and whatso had befallen him, which, when the prophet heard, he raged like doomsday, and addressed himself to the fray, and levied armies of men and John,

Starting point is 04:03:51 and birds and reptiles. He commanded, his wazir al-dimriyat king of the john to gather together the mairids of the jinn from all parts and he collected for him six hundred thousand thousand of devils moreover by his order his wazir asaf bin barkia levied him an army of men to the number of a thousand thousand or more these all he furnished with arms and armor and mounting with his host upon his carpet took for flight through air while the beasts fared under him, and the birds flew overhead, till he lighted down on the island of the refractory king, and encompassed it about, filling earth with his hosts. And Shahrissat perceived the dawn of day, and ceased saying her permitted say. When it was the five hundred and seventy-first night, she said, It hath reached me, O auspicious king,

Starting point is 04:04:54 that the Ifrit continued, So when Solomon the prophet, with whom be peace, Lighted down with his host on the island, He sent to our king, saying, Behold, I am come, Defend thy life against that which is fallen upon thee, Or else make thy submission to me, And confess my apostolship,

Starting point is 04:05:15 And give me thy daughter to lawful wife, And break thine idol, And worship the one God, The alone worshipful, and testify thou and shine and say, There is no God but the God, and Solomon is the apostle of Allah. This, if thou do, thou shalt have pardon and peace.

Starting point is 04:05:36 But if not, it will avail thee nothing to fortify thyself in this island, for Allah extolled and exalted be he, hath bidden the wind obey me, so I will bid it bear me to thee on my carpet, and make thee a warning and an example to deter others. But the king made answer to his messenger, saying, It may not on any wise be as he requireth of me, So tell him I come forth to him. With this reply the messenger returned to Solomon,

Starting point is 04:06:10 who thereupon gathered together all the gin that were under his hand, to the number of a thousand thousand, and added to them other than they of Merids and satans from the islands of the sea and the tops of the mountains, and drawing them up on parade, opened his armories, and distributed to them arms and armor. Then the prophet drew out his host in battle array, dividing the beasts into two bodies, one on the right wing of the men, and the other on the left, and bidding them tear the enemy's horses in sunder. Furthermore, he ordered the birds which were in the island to hover over their heads,

Starting point is 04:06:54 and whenas the assault should be made, that they should swoop down and tear out the foe's eyes with their beaks, and buffet their faces with their wings, and they answered, saying, We hear and we obey Allah and thee, O Prophet of Allah. Then Solomon seated himself on a throne of Alabam, stuttered with precious stones and plated with red gold, and commanding the wind to bear him aloft, set his wazir Asaf bin Barquia, and the kings of mankind on his right, and his wazir al-Dimiriat,

Starting point is 04:07:31 and the kings of the jin on his left, arraying the beasts and vipers and serpents in the van. Thereupon they all set on us together, and we gave them battle two days over a vast plain, But on the third day disaster befell us, and the judgment of Allah the Most High was executed upon us. Now the first to charge upon them were I and my troops, and I said to my companions, Abide in your places whilst I sally forth to them, and provoke al-Dimidiat to combat Singular, and behold he came forth to the duello as he were a vast mountain, with his first fires flaming and his smoke spiring, and shot at me a falling star of fire, but I swerved from it, and it missed me. Then I cast at him in my turn a flame of fire, and smote him, but his shaft

Starting point is 04:08:29 overcame my fire, and he cried out at me so terrible a cry, that me seemed the skies were fallen flat upon me, and the mountains trembled at his voice. Then he commanded his hosts to charge, accordingly they rushed on us and we rushed on them, each crying out upon other, and battle reared its crest, rising in volumes, and smoke ascending in columns, and hearts well-nigh cleaving. The birds and the flying gin fought in the air, and the beasts and men and the foot-faring john in the dust, and I fought with al-Dimiriat, till I was a weary, and he not less so. At last I grew weak and turned to flee from him, whereupon my companions and tribesmen likewise took to flight, and my hosts were put to the route, and Solomon cried out, saying, Take yonder furious tyrant, the accursed, the infamous.

Starting point is 04:09:31 Then man fell upon man and gin upon gin, and the armies of the prophet charged down upon us with the wild beasts and lions on their right hand, and on their left rending our horses and tearing our men. Whilst the birds hovered overhead in air, pecking out our eyes with their claws and beaks, and beating our faces with their wings, and the serpents struck us with their fangs till the most of our folk lay prone upon the face of the earth like the trunks of date-trees

Starting point is 04:10:06 thus defeat befell our king and we became a spoil unto solomon as to me i fled from before aldemiriat but he followed me three months journey till i fell down for weariness and he overtook me and pouncing upon me made me prisoner quoth i by the virtue of him who hath exalted thee and abased me spare me and bring me into the presence of solomon on whom be peace so he carried me before solomon who received me after the foulest fashioned and bade bring this pillar and hollow it out then he set me herein and chained me and sealed me with his signet ring and al-dimiriat bore me to this place wherein thou seest me moreover he charged a great angel to guard me and this pillar is my prison until judgment day shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say when it was the five hundred and seventy-second night she said it hath reached me o auspicious king that when the jinny who was prisoned in the pillar had told them his tale from first to last the folk marvelled at his story and at the frightfulness of his favour and the emir moussa said there is no god but the god God. Soothly was Solomon gifted with a mighty dominion. Then said the Sheikh Abid al-Samad to the jinny, "'Ho there, I would fain ask thee of a thing whereof do thou inform us.' "'Ask what thou wilt,' answered the Ifritah-ish, and the sheikh said.

Starting point is 04:11:53 "'Are there hereabouts any of the Ifritz imprisoned in bottles of brass from the time of Solomon, on whom be peace?' "'Yes,' replied the jinny. there be such in the sea of Al-Karkar, on the shores whereof dwell a people of the lineage of Noah, on whom be peace, for their country was not reached by the deluge, and they are cut off there from the other sons of Adam. Quoth Abt al-Samad, and which is the way to the city of brass, and the place wherein are the cucur-bites of Solomon, and what distance lieeth between us and it? Quote the Ifrit, it is near at hand, and directed them in the way thither. So they left him, and fared forward, till there appeared to them afar off a great blackness, and therein two fires facing each other, and the Amir Moussa asked the Sheikh, What is yonder vast blackness, and its twin fires? And the guide answered,

Starting point is 04:12:54 Rejoice, O Emir, for this is the city of brass, as it is described in the the book of hidden treasures which I have by me. Its walls are of black stone, and it hath two towers and illusion brass, which appear to the beholder in the distance, as they were twin fires, and hence it is named the city of brass. Then they fared on without ceasing, till they drew near the city, and behold it was, as it were, a piece of a mountain, or a mass of iron cast in a mold, and impenetrable for the height of its walls and bulwarks, while nothing could be more beautiful than its buildings and its ordinance. So they dismounted down and sought for an entrance, but saw none neither found any trace of opening in the walls, albeit there were five and twenty

Starting point is 04:13:46 portals to the city, but none of them was visible from without. Then quoth the emir Oshake, I see to this city no sign of any gate. and quoth he o emir thus is it described in my book of hidden treasures it hath five and twenty portals but none thereof may be opened save from within the city asked mousse and how shall we do to enter the city and view its wonders and talib son of sachl his wazir answered allah assain the emir let us rest here two or three days and god willing we will make shift to come within the the walls. Then said Musa to one of his men, Mount thy camel, and ride round about the city, so happily thou may light upon a gate, or a place somewhat lower than this fronting us, or, inshallah, a breach whereby we can enter. Accordingly he mounted his beast, taking water and vittles with him, and rode round the city two days and two nights,

Starting point is 04:14:51 without drawing rain to rest, but found the wall thereof, as it were, one block, without breach or way of ingress. And on the third day he came again in sight of his companions, dazed and amazed at what he had seen of the extent and loftiness of the place, and said, O Emir, the easiest place of access is this where you have alighted. Then Musa took Talib and Abed al-Samad, and ascended the highest hill, which overlooked the city. When they reached the top, they beheld beneath them a city, never saw eyes a crater or a goodlier, with dwelling places and mansions of towering height, and palaces, and pavilions and domes gleaming gloriously bright, and sconces and bulwarks

Starting point is 04:15:41 of strength infinite. And its streams were aflowing, and flowers are blowing, and fruits are glowing. It was a city with gates impregnable, but void and still, without a voice or a cheering, inhabitant. The owl hooded in its quarters. The bird skimmed circling over its squares, and the raven croaked in its great thoroughfares, weeping and bewailing the dwellers who erst made it their dwelling. The emir stood a while, marvelling and sorrowing, for the desolation of the city and saying, "'Glory to him whom nor ages, nor changes nor times can blight, him who created all things of his might. Presently he chanced to look aside

Starting point is 04:16:30 and caught sight of seven tablets of white marble afar off. So he drew near them and finding inscriptions graven thereon called the Sheikh and bade him read these. Accordingly he came forward, and examining the inscriptions, found that they contained matter of admonition and warning and instances and restraint to those of understanding. On the first tablet was inscribed in the ancient Greek character,

Starting point is 04:17:00 O son of Adam, how heedless art thou of that which is before thee. Verily thy years and months and days have diverted thee therefrom. Knowest thou not that the cup of death is filled for thy bane, which in a little while to the dregs thou shalt drain? look to thy doom ere thou enter thy tomb where be the kings who held dominion over the lands and abased allah's servants and built these palaces and had armies under their commands by allah the destroyer of delights and the severer of societies and the devastator of dwelling places came down upon them and transported them from the spaciousness of their palaces to the stateness of their burial places and at the foot of the tablet were written the following verses where are the kings earth-peopling where are they the built and peopled left they air and i their tombed yet pledged to actions passed away and after death upon them came decay where are their troops they failed to ward and guard where are the wealth and hordes and treasuries lay

Starting point is 04:18:20 The Imperians' Lord surprised them with one word, nor wealth nor refuge could their doom delay. When the emir heard this he cried out, and the tears ran down his cheeks, and he exclaimed, By Allah, from the world abstaining is the wisest course and the soul assaining. And he called for pencase and paper, and wrote down what was graven on the first tablet. Then he drew near the second tablet. and found these words graven thereon. O son of Adam, what hath seduced thee from the service of the ancient of days, and made thee forget that one day thou must defray the debt of death.

Starting point is 04:19:05 What is thou not that it is a transient dwelling, wherein for none there is abiding, and yet thou taketh thought unto the world, and cleaves fast thereto? Where be the kings who Iraq peopled, and the forequarters of the globe possesses, Where be they who abode in Ispahan and the land of Khorasan? The voice of the summoner of death summoned them, and they answered him, and the herald of destruction hailed them, and they replied, Here are we. Verily that which they builded and fortified profited them not. Neither did what they had gathered, and provided a veil for their defense.

Starting point is 04:19:47 And at the foot of the tablet were graven the following, verses. Where be the men who built and fortified? High places never manned there like espied. In fear of fate, they levied troops and hosts, a veiling knot when came the time and tide. Where be the chisras homed in strongest walls? As though they ne'er had been from home, they tried. The Emir Moussa wept, and exclaimed, By Allah, we are indeed created. for a grave matter. Then he copied the inscription and passed on to the third tablet. And Chokr Assad perceived the dawn of day, and ceased saying, her permitted say. End of Section 13.

Starting point is 04:20:37 Recording by Eva Easton, Sloatsburg, New York, December 2011. Section 14 of the Book of a Thousand Nights and a Night, Volume 6. This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. The Book of a Thousand Nights and a Night, Volume 6 by Anonymous, translated by Richard Francis Burton. Section 14 When it was the 573 night, she said, It hath reached me, or, O auspicious king, that the Emir Moussa passed on to the third tablet, whereon was

Starting point is 04:21:31 written, O son of Adam, the things of this world thou lovest and prizes, and the Hest of thy lord, thou spurnest and despisest. All the days of thy life pass by, and thou art content thus to abide. Make ready thy viaticum against the day appointed for thee to see and prepare to answer the Lord of every creature that be. And at the foot were written these verses. Where is the

Starting point is 04:22:02 white who peopled in the past, Hind land and sinned, and there the tyrant played? Husanj and Habash bound beneath his yoke, Anubia curbed, and lo its puissance laid, Look not for news of what is in his grave. Ah, he is far who can thy vision aid. The stroke of death fell on him, sharp and sure, nor saved him palace, nor the lands he swayed. At this Musa wept with sore weeping, and going on to the fourth tablet he read inscribed thereon, O son of Adam, how long shall thy lord bear with thee, and thou every day sun day sunken in the sea of thy folly. Hath it then been established unto thee that some day thou shalt not die? O son of Adam, let not the deceits of thy days and nights and times and hours, delude thee with

Starting point is 04:23:03 their delights, but remember that death lieth ready for thee ambushing, fain on thy shoulders to spring, nor doth a day pass, but he mourneth with thee in the morning, and nightly, with thee by night. Beware then of his onslaught, and make provision there against. As was with me, so it is with thee. Thou wastest thy whole life, and squanderest the joys in which thy days are rife. Harken, therefore, to my words, and put thy trust in the Lord of Lords, for in the world there is no stability. It is but as a spider's web to thee. and at the foot of the tablet were written these couplets where is the man who did those labors ply and baste and built and reared these walls on high where be the castle's lords who therein dwelt fared forth and left them in decay to lie all are entombed in pledge against the day when every sin shall show to every eye none but the lord most high endurance

Starting point is 04:24:16 hath, whose might and majesty shall never die. When the emir read this he swooned away, and presently coming to himself, marvelled exceedingly and wrote it down. Then he drew near the fifth tablet, and behold, thereon was graven. O son of Adam, what is it that distracteth thee from obedience of thy creator, and the author of thy being? Him who reared thee whenas thou wast a little one, and fed thee whenas thou wast full-grown. Thou art ungrateful for his bounty, albeit he watcheth over thee with his favours, letting down the curtain of his protection over thee. Needs must there be for thee an hour bitterer than aloes, and hotter than live coals. Provide thee, therefore, against it, for who shall sweeten its gall or quench its fires?

Starting point is 04:25:14 Bethink thee who forewent thee of peoples and heroes, And take warning by them ere thou perish, And at the foot of the tablet were graven these couplets. Where be the earth kings, Who from where they bowed, sped, and to graveyards with their hoardings yode, Erest on their mounting Days their hats beheld, hosts that conceal the ground whereon they rode? How many a king they humbled in their day. How many a host they led and laid on load. But from the Imperian's lord, in haste, there came, one word, and joy-waxed grief ere morning glowed. The emir marvelled at this, and wrote it down, after which he passed on to the sixth tablet, and behold, was inscribed thereon. O son of Adam, think not that safety will endure forever, and I, seeing that death is sealed

Starting point is 04:26:14 to thy head all way. Where be thy fathers, where be thy brethren, where thy friends and dear ones? They have all gone to the dust of the tombs, and presented themselves before the glorious, the forgiving, as if they had never eaten nor drunken, and they are a pledge for that which they have earned. So look to thyself, ere thy tomb come upon thee, and at the foot of the tablet with these couplets. Where be the kings who ruled the Franks of old? Where be the king who people Tenghis wold? Their works are written in a book which he, the one, the all-father, shall as witness hold. At this the emir Moussa, marvelled, and wrote it down, saying, there is no God but the God, indeed, how goodly were these folk? Then he went up to the seventh tablet, and behold,

Starting point is 04:27:12 thereon was written. Glory to him who foreordaineth death to all he createth, the living one, who dieth not. O son of Adam, let not thy days, and their delights delude thee, neither shine hours and the delisces of their time, and know that death to thee cometh, and upon thy shoulder sitteth. Beware then of his assault, and make ready for his onslaught. As it was with me, so it it is with thee. Thou wastest the sweet of thy life and the joints of shine ours. Give ear, then, to my reed, and put thy trust in the Lord of Lords, and know that in the world is no stability, but it is, as it were, a spider's web to thee, and all that is therein shall die and cease to be. Where is he who laid the foundation of Amid, and built it, and built it

Starting point is 04:28:12 Farakene, and exalted it. Where be the peoples of the strong places? When as them they had inhabited, after their might into the tombs they descended. They have been carried off by death, and we shall in like manner be afflicted by doom. None abideth save Allah the most high, for he is Allah the forgiving one. The Emir Musa wept and copied all the. The Emir Mousa wept and copied all this, and indeed the world, was belittled in his eyes. Then he descended the hill, and rejoined his host, with whom he passed the rest of the day, casting about for a means of access to the city. And he said to his Wazir Talib bin Sakhil, and to the chief officers about him, How shall we contrive to enter this city and view its marvels?

Starting point is 04:29:07 Happily we shall find therein wherewithal to win the favor of the commander of the faithful. Allah prolong the emir's fortune, replied Talib. Let us make a ladder and mount the wall therewith, so peradventure we may come at the gate from within. Quote the emir, this is what occurred to my thought also, and admirable is the advice. Then he called for carpenters and blacksmiths, embade them fashion wood, and build a ladder, plated and banded with iron. So they made a strong ladder, and many men wrought at it a whole month. Then all the company laid hold of it, and set it up against the wall, and it reached the top as truly as if it had been built for it before that time. The emir marvelled and said, The blessing of Allah be upon you. It

Starting point is 04:30:03 It seems as though ye had taken the measure of the Muir, so excellent is your work. Then said he to his men, Which of you will mount the ladder, and walk along the wall, and cast about for a way of descending into the city, so to see how the case stands, and let us know how we may open the gate? Whereupon quoth one of them, I will go up, O Amir, and descend and open to you. And Moussa answered, saying,

Starting point is 04:30:33 go and the blessing of allah go with thee so the man mounted the ladder but when he came to the top of the wall he stood up and gazed fixedly down into the city then clapped his hands and crying out at the top of his voice by allah thou art fair cast himself down into the place and moussa cried by allah he is a dead man but another came up to him and said o emir thou art fair cast himself down into the place and mouca cried by allah he is a dead man But another came up to him and said, O emir, this was a madman, and doubtless his madness got the better of him and destroyed him. I will go up and open the gate to you, if it be the will of Allah the most high. Go up, replied Moussa, and Allah be with thee.

Starting point is 04:31:19 But beware lest thou lose thy head, even as did thy comrade. Then the man mounted the ladder, but no sooner had he reached the top of the wall then he laughed aloud, saying, Well done, well done. And clapping palms cast himself down into the city, and died forthright.

Starting point is 04:31:39 When the emir saw this, he said, And such be the action of a reasonable man? What is that of the madman? If all our men do on this wise, we shall have none left, and shall fail of our errand, and that of the commander of the faithful. Get you ready for the march,

Starting point is 04:31:57 verily we have no conceit, with this city. But a third one of the company said, Happily another may be steadier than they. So a third mounted the wall, and a fourth, and a fifth, and all cried out, and cast themselves down, even as did the first, nor did they leave to do thus, till a dozen had perished in like fashion. Then the sheikh Abd al-Samat came forward, and heartened himself, and said, This affair is reserved to none of than myself, for the experienced is not like the inexperienced. Quoth the emir, indeed thou shalt not do that, nor will I have thee go up,

Starting point is 04:32:40 and thou perish we shall all be cut off to the last man, since thou art our guide. But he answered, saying, Peradventure, that which we seek may be accomplished at my hands by the grace of God most high, So the folk all agreed to let him mount the ladder, and he arose, and heartening himself said, In the name of Allah the compassionating the compassionate, and mounted the ladder, calling on the name of the Lord, and reciting the verses of safety. When he reached the top of the wall, he clapped his hands, and gazed fixedly down into the city, whereupon the folk below cried out to him with one accord, saying, O Sheikh Abd al-Samad, for the Lord's sake, cast not thyself down. And they added,

Starting point is 04:33:31 Verily we are Allah's, and unto him we are returning. If the Sheikh fall, we are dead men, one and all. Then he laughed beyond all measure, and sat a long hour, reciting the names of Allah Almighty, and repeating the verses of safety. Then he rose a rid, cried out at the top of his voice, saying, O emir have no fear, no hurt shall be tied you, for Allah to whom belong might and majesty hath averted from me the wiles and malice of Satan. By the blessing of the words, in the name of Allah the compassionating the compassionate, asked Musa, what didst thou see, O Sheikh? And Abt al-Samad answered, I saw ten maidens, as they were hurries of heaven, calling to me with their hands. And Shacher-Assad perceived the dawn of day, and ceased to say,

Starting point is 04:34:32 her permitted say. When it was the five hundred and seventy-fourth night, she said, It hath reached me, O auspicious king, that the Sheikh Abd al-Samad answered, I saw ten maidens like hurries of heaven, and they calling and signing come hither to us, and me seemed there was below me a lake of water. So I thought, to throw myself down, when behold, I espied my twelve companions, lying dead. So I restrained myself and recited somewhat of Allah's book, whereupon he dispelled from me the damsel's witch-like wiles, and malicious guiles, and they disappeared. And doubtless, this was an enchantment devised by the people of the city, to repel any who should seek to gaze upon, or to enter the place and it hath succeeded in slaying our companions then he walked on along the wall till he came to the two towers of brass aforesaid and saw therein two gates of gold without padlocks or visible means of opening

Starting point is 04:35:45 hereat he paused as long as allah pleased and gazed about him awhile till he espied in the middle of one of the gates a horseman of brass with hand outstretched as if pointing, and in his palm was somewhat written. So he went up to it and read these words. O thou who comest to this place, and thou wouldst enter, turned the pin in my navel twelve times, and the gate will open. Accordingly he examined the horseman, and finding in his navel a pin of gold, firm set and fast fixed, he turned it twelve times, whereupon the horsemen revolved like the blinding lightning,

Starting point is 04:36:30 and the gate swung open with a noise like thunder. He entered and found himself in a long passage, which brought him down some steps into a guard-room furnished with goodly wooden benches, whereon sat men, dead, over whose heads hung fine shields and keen blades, and bent bows and shafts ready-nigh-nought. Thence he came to the main gate of the city, and, finding it secured with iron bars, and curiously wrought locks and bolts and chains, and other fastenings of wood and metal, said to himself, "'Be like the keys are with yonder dead folk.'

Starting point is 04:37:13 So he turned back to the guard-room, and seeing amongst the dead an old man seated upon a high wooden bench, who seemed the chiefest of them, said in his mind, Who knows but they are with this shake? Doubtless he was the warder of the city, and these others were under his hand. So he went up to him, and, lifting his gown, behold, the keys were hanging to his girdle, whereat he joyed with exceeding joy, and was like to fly for gladness. Then he took them, and going up to the wood, and going up to the ground. the portal, undid the padlocks, and drew back the bolts and bars, whereupon the great leaves

Starting point is 04:37:57 flew open with a crash, like the peeling thunder, by reason of its greatness and terribleness. At this he cried out, saying, Al-Aq-Bar, God is most great. And the folk without answered him with the same words, rejoicing and thanking him for his deed. The Emir-Musseh also was delighted at the Sheikh's safety and the opening of the city gate, and the troops all pressed forward to enter. But Moussa cried out to them, saying, O folk, if we all go in at once, we shall not be safe from some ill chance which may be tied us. Let half enter, and other half tarry without. So he pushed forwards with half his men, bearing their weapons of war, and, finding their comrades lying dead, they buried them. And they saw the doorkeepers and eunuchs and

Starting point is 04:38:54 chamberlains and officers, reclining on couches of silk, and all were corpses. Then they fared on till they came to the chief marketplace, full of lofty buildings, whereof none overpassed the others, and found all its shops open, with the scales hung out, and the brazen vessels ordered, and the caravan sarahs full of all manner goods, and they beheld the merchants sitting on shop-boards, dead, with shriveled skin and rotted bones, a warning to those who can take warning, and here they saw four separate markets, all replete with wealth. Then they left the great bazaar, and went on till they came to the silk market, where they found silks and brocades, or frayed with red gold and diapered with white-silver upon all manner of colors, and the owners lying dead upon mats of scented goats' leather, and looking as if they would speak.

Starting point is 04:39:57 After which they traversed the market street of pearls and rubies and other jewels, and came to that of the Shrofts and money-changers, whom they saw sitting dead upon carpets of raw silk, and dyed stuffs in shops full of gold and silver. Thence they passed to the perfumers bazaar, where they found the shops filled with drugs of all kinds, and bladders of musk and ambergris, and nadsent and camphor and other perfumes, in vessels of ivory and ebony and calan wood,

Starting point is 04:40:32 and Andalusian copper, the which is equal in value to gold, and various kinds of rattan in Indian cane, But the shopkeepers all lay dead, nor was there with them ought of food. And hard by this drug market they came upon a palace, imposingly edified, and magnificently decorated. So they entered, and found therein banners displayed, and drawn sword-blades, and strung bows,

Starting point is 04:41:02 and bucklers hanging by chains of gold and silver, and helmets gilded with red gold. In the vestibules stood benches of ivory, plated with glittering gold, and covered with silken stuffs, whereon lay men whose skin had dried up on their bones. The fool had deemed them sleeping, but for lack of food they had perished and tasted the cup of death. Now when the Amir Musa saw this he stood still, glorifying Allah the most high, and hallowing him, and contemplating the beauty of the palace, and the massiveness of its masonry, and fair perfection of its ordnance, for it was

Starting point is 04:41:45 builded after the goodliest and stablest fashion, and the most part of its adornment was of green lapis lazuli, and on the inner door which stood open, were written in characters of gold and ultramarine, these couplets. Consider thou, O man, what these places to thee showed, and be upon thy guard, thou travel the same road, and prepare thee good provisions some day may serve thy turn, for each dweller in the house needs must yeed with those who yode. Consider how this people their palaces adorned, and in dust have been pledged for the seed of acts they sowed. They built, but their building availed them not and hordes, nor save their lives, nor day of destiny foreslode.

Starting point is 04:42:36 How often did they hope for what things were undecreed, And passed unto their tombs, before hope the bounty showed, And from high and awful state, All a sudden they were sent to the straightness of the grave, And, oh, base is their abode. Then came to them a crier after burial, and cried, What booted thrones or crowns, or the gold to you bestowed! Where now are gone the faces hid by curtain and by,

Starting point is 04:43:06 veil, whose charms were told in proverbs, those beauties allamode. The tombs aloud replied to the questioners and cry, Deaths canker and decay those rosy cheeks corrode. Long time they ate and drank, but their joints had a term. And the eater eke was eaten and was eaten by the worm. When the emir read this he wept, till he was like to swoon away. And Shach Ashrasad perceived the dawn of day, and ceased saying, her permitted say. When it was the five hundred and seventy-fifth night, she said, It hath reached me, O auspicious king, that the emir wept till he was like to swoon away, and bade right down the verses, after which he passed on into the inner palace,

Starting point is 04:43:59 and came to a vast hall, at each of whose four corners stood a pavilion, lofty and spacious, washed with gold and silver and painted in various colors. In the heart of the hall was a great jetting fountain of alabaster surmounted by a canopy of brocade, and in each pavilion was a sitting place, and each place had its richly wrought fountain and tank paved with marble, and streams flowing in channels along the floor, and meeting in great and grand cistern of many colored marbles. Quote the emir to the Sheikh Abd al-Samad, come, let us visit yonder pavilion. So they entered the first and found it full of gold and silver and pearls and jacinths and other precious stones and metals, besides chests

Starting point is 04:44:54 filled with brocades, red and yellow and white. Then they repaired to the second pavilion, and opening a closet there, found it full of arms and armor, such as gilded helmets and Davidian Halberks, and Hindi swords and Arabian spears, and Kerasmian maces, and other gear of fight and fray. Thence they passed to the third pavilion, wherein they saw closets padlocked and covered with curtains wrought with all manner of embroidery. They opened one of these, and found it full of weapons, curiously adorned with open work, and with gold and silver damascene and jewels. Then they entered the fourth pavilion,

Starting point is 04:45:40 and, opening one of the closets there, beheld in it great store of eating and drinking vessels of gold and silver, with platters of crystal and goblets set with fine pearls, and cups of carnelian and so forth. So they all fell to taking that which suited their tastes, and each of the soldiers carried off what he could, When they left the pavilions they saw in the midst of the palace, a door of teakwood

Starting point is 04:46:09 mark-a-treeed with ivory and ebony, and plated with glittering gold, over which hung a silken curtain purpled with all manner of embroideries, and on this door were locks of white-silver, that opened by artifice without a key. The Sheikh Abd al-Samad went valiantly up thereto, and by the aid of his knowledge and skill opened it. the locks, whereupon the door admitted them into a corridor, paved with marble, and hung with veil-like tapestries, embroidered with figures of all manner beasts and birds, whose bodies were of red gold and white silver, and their eyes of pearls and rubies, amazing all who looked upon them. Passing onwards they came to a saloon, builded all of polished marble, inlaid with jewels which

Starting point is 04:47:02 seemed to the beholder as though the floor were flowing water, and whoso walked thereon slipped. The emir bade the sheikhs drew somewhat upon it, that they might walk over it, which, being done, they made shift to fair forwards till they came to a great domed pavilion of stone, gilded with red gold, and crowned with a cupola of alabaster, about which were set lattice windows carved and jeweled with rods of emerald, beyond the competence of any king. Under this dome was a canopy of brocade, reposing upon pillars of red gold, and wrought with figures of birds whose feet were of smaragd, and beneath each bird was a network of fresh-ewed pearls. The canopy was spread above a jetting fountain of ivory and cornelian, plated with

Starting point is 04:47:57 glittering gold, and thereby stood a couch set with pearls and rubies and other jewels, and beside the couch a pillar of gold. On the capital of the column stood a bird fashioned of red rubies, and holding in his bill a pearl which shone like a star, and on the couch lay a damsel. As she were the lucidant sun, eyes never saw a fairer. She wore a tight-fitting body, and she wore a tight-fitting body, robe of fine pearls, with a crown of red gold on her head, filleted with gems, and on her forehead were two great jewels, whose light was as the light of the sun. On her breast she wore a jeweled amulet, filled with musk and ambergris, and worth the empire of the Caesars, and around her neck hung a collar of rubies and great pearls, hollowed and filled with odiferous musk, and it seemed as if she gazed

Starting point is 04:48:59 on them to the right and to the left. And Shahr-Assad perceived the dawn of day, and ceased to say, her permitted say. End of Section 14. Recording by Eva Easton, Slottsburgh, New York, December 2011. Section 15 of the Book of A Thousand Nights and a Night, Volume 6. This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. The Book of A Thousand Nights and a Night, Volume 6 by Anonymous. translated by Richard Francis Burton. Section 15. When it was the five hundred and seventy-sixth night, she said, It hath reached me, O auspicious king, that the damsel seemed to be gazing at the folk to the right and to the left. The emir Moussaix marvelled at her exceeding beauty, and was confounded at the blackness of her hair and the redness of her cheeks,

Starting point is 04:50:15 which made the beholder deem her alive, and not. not dead, and said to her, Peace be with thee, O damsel. But Talib Ibn Sakhl said to him, Allah preserve thee, O emir, verily this damsel is dead, and there is no life in her. So how shall she return thy salaam? Adding, indeed, she is but a corpse embalmed with exceeding art. Her eyes were taken out after her death, and quicksilver set under them, after which they were restored to their sockets. Wherefore they glisten, and when the air moveth the lashes, she seemeth to wink, and it appeareth to the beholder, as though she looked at him, for all she is dead. At this the emir marvelled beyond measure, and said,

Starting point is 04:51:02 Glory be to God, who subjugated his creatures to the dominion of death. Now the couch on which the damsel lay had steps, and thereon stood two statues of undelusioned copper, representing slaves, one white and the other black. The first held a mace of steel, and the second a sword of watered steel which dazzled the eye. And between them on one of the steps of the couch lay a golden tablet, whereon were written in characters of white silver, the following words. In the name of God the compassionating the compassionate, praise be to Allah, the creator of mankind, and he is the Lord of Lords, the causer of causes. In the name of Allah, the never-beginning, the everlasting, the ordainer of fate and fortune, O son of Adam, what hath

Starting point is 04:51:57 be fooled thee in this long esperance? What hath unminded thee of the death-day's mischance? Knowest thou not that death calleth for thee, and hasteneth to seize upon the soul of thee? Be ready, therefore, for the way, and provide thee for thy departure from the world, for assuredly thou shalt leave it without delay. Where is Adam, first of humanity? Where is Noah with his progeny? Where be the kings of Hind and Iraq plain, and they who over earth's widest regions reign? Where do the Amokites abide, and the giants and tyrants of olden tide? Indeed the dwelling places are void of them, and they have departed from kindred and home.

Starting point is 04:52:46 Where be the kings of Arab and Ajam? They are dead all of them, and gone and are become rotten bones. Where be the lords so high instead? They are all done dead. Where are Cora and Hamam? Where is Shadad, Salavad? Where be Canaan and Zul-Awtad, Lord of the Stakes? by allah the reaper of lives hath reaped them and made void the lands of them did they provide them against the day of resurrection or make ready to answer the lord of men o thou if thou know me not i will acquaint thee with my name

Starting point is 04:53:27 i am tadmura daughter of the kings of the amalekites of those who held dominion over the lands in equity and brought low the necks of humanity i possessed that which never king possessed and was righteous in my rule and did justice among my lieges yea i gave gifts and largesse and freed bondsmen and bonds women thus lived i many years in all ease and delight of life till death knocked at my door and to me and to my folk befell calamities galore and it was on this wise there betided us seven successive years of drought wherein no drop of rain fell on us from the skies and no green things sprouted for us on the face of earth so we ate what was with us a wittle then we fell upon the sky's and we fell upon the sky's and we fell upon the sky'stide for us on the face of earth so we ate what was with us a vittle then we fell upon the cattle and devoured them until nothing was left. Thereupon I let bring my treasures and meted them with measures, and sent out trusty men to buy food. They circuited all the lands in quest thereof, and left no city unsought, but found it not to be bought, and returned to us with the treasure after a long absence, and gave us to know that they could not succeed

Starting point is 04:54:46 in bartering fine pearls for poor wheat, bushel for bushel, wait for weight. So when we despaired of succour, we displayed all our riches and things of price, and shutting the gates of the city and its strong places, resigned ourselves to the deem of our Lord, and committed our case to our king. Then we all died, as thou seest us, and left what we had built it, and all we had hoarded. This then is our story, and after the substance not abideth but the trace. Then they looked at the foot of the tablet, and read these couplets. O child of Adam, let not hope make mock and flight at thee, prom all thy hands have treasured it, remove it thou shalt be.

Starting point is 04:55:40 I see thou covetest the world and fleeting worldly charms, And races past, and gone have done the same as thou, I see. Lawful and lawless wealth they got, but all their hoarded store, Their term accomplished, not delayed, of destiny's decree. Armies they led in puissant men, and gained them gold galore, Then left their wealth and palaces by pay to compel to flee, to straightness of the graveyard, and humble bed of dust. Whence pledged for every word and deed, they never more win free,

Starting point is 04:56:18 as a company of travellers had unloaded in the night, at house that lacketh food, nor is o'er feign of company. Whose owner saith, O folk, there be no lodging here for you, So packed they who had erst unpacked and ferriedly. misliking much the march nor the journey nor the halt had aught of pleasant chances or had aught of goodly greet then prepare thou good provision for to-morrow's journey stored naught but righteous honest life shall avail thee with the lord and the emir moussaid wept as he read by allah the fear of the lord is the best of all property the pillar of certainty and the soul sure surest Day. Verily death is the truth manifest, and the sure behest, and therein, O thou, is the goal and return place evident. Take warning, therefore, by those who to the dust did wend, and hastened

Starting point is 04:57:22 on the way of the predestant end. Seeest thou not that hoary hairs summon thee to the tomb, and that the whiteness of thy locks maketh moan of thy doom. Wherefore be thou on the wake, thy departure and shine account to make. O son of Adam, what hath hardened thy heart in mode abhorred? What hath seduce thee from the service of thy lord? Where be the peoples of old time? They are a warning to who so will be warned. Where be the kings of al-Sin and the lords of majestic mean? Where is Shadat bin Ad, and whatso he built and he established? is Nimrod who revolted against Allah and defied him? Where is Pharaoh who rebelled against God and denied him? Death followed hard upon the trail of them all, and laid them low, sparing neither great nor small,

Starting point is 04:58:23 male nor female, and the reaper of mankind cut them off, yea, by him who maketh night to return upon day. Know, O thou who comest to this place, that she whom thou seest here was not deluded by the world and its frail delights for it is faithless perfidious a house of ruin vain and treacherous and salutary to the creature is the remembrance of his sins wherefore she feared her lord and made fair her dealings and provided herself with provont against the appointed marching day whoso cometh to our city and allah vouchsafeth him competence to enter it let him take of the treasure all he can but touch not aught that is on my body for it is the covering of my shame and the outfit for the last journey wherefore let him fear allah and despoil naught thereof else will he destroy his own self this have i set forth to him for a warning for a warning for from me, and a solemn trust to be, wherewith peace be with ye, and I pray Allah to keep you from sickness and calamity. And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day, and ceased saying, her permitted

Starting point is 04:59:48 say. When it was the five hundred and seventy-seventh night, she said, It hath reached me, O auspicious king, that when the Imir Musa read this he wept with exceeding weeping, till he swooned, away and presently coming to himself wrote down all he had seen and was admonished by all he had witnessed then he said to his men fetch the camels and load them with these treasures and vases and jewels O emir, Astelib, shall we leave our damsel with what is upon her, things which have no equal, and whose like is not to be found, and more perfect than aught else thou takest? Nor couldst thou find a goodlier offering wherewithal to propitiate the favor of the commander of the faithful. But Musa answered, O man, heardest thou not what the lady sayeth on this tablet? More by token, that she giveth it in trust.

Starting point is 05:00:48 to us who are no traitors. And shall we rejoin the Wazir Telib, because of these words, leave all these riches and jewels, seeing that she is dead? What should she do with these that are the adornments of the world, and the ornament of the worldling, seeing that one garment of cotton would suffice for her covering? We have more right to them than she. So saying he mounted the steps of the couch between the pillars, but when he came with within reach of the two slaves lo the mace-bearer smote him on the back and the other struck him with the sword he held in his hand and lopped off his head and he dropped down dead quoth the emir allah have no mercy on thy resting-place indeed there was enough in these treasures and greed of gain assuredly degradeth a man then he bade admit the troops so they entered and loaded the camels with those treasures and precious oars, after which they went forth, and the Emir commanded them to shut the gate as before. They fared on along the seashore a whole month, till they came in sight of a

Starting point is 05:02:02 high mountain overlooking the sea and full of caves, wherein dwelt a tribe of blacks, clad in hides, with Bernoucces also of hide, and speaking an unknown tongue. When they saw the troops, they were startled, like shying steeds, and fled into the caverns, whilst their women and children stood at the cave doors, looking on the strangers. O Sheikh Abt al-Samat asked the emir, what are these folk, and he answered, They are those whom we seek for the commander of the faithful. So they dismounted and setting down their loads, pitched their tents, whereupon, almost before they had done, down came the king and, and, and, they were they, and, they were upon, and, they were in the king,

Starting point is 05:02:47 of the blacks from the mountain and drew near the camp. Now he understood the Arabic tongue, so when he came to the emir he saluted him with the salaam, and Moussa returned his greeting, and entreated him with honor. Then quoth he to the emir, Are ye men or jin? Well, we are men, quoth Moussa. But doubtless ye are jin, to judge by your dwelling apart in this mountain which is cut off from mankind. and by your inordinate bulk nay rejoined the black we also are children of adam of the lineage of ham son of noah with whom be peace and this sea is known as al-car asked mouzah o king what is your religion and what worship ye and he answered saying we worship the god of the heavens and our religion is that of mohammed whom allah bless and preserve And how came ye by the knowledge of this? questioned the emir, seeing that no prophet was

Starting point is 05:03:52 inspired to visit this country? No emir replied the king, that there appeared to us while ere from out the sea a man, from whom issued a light that illumined the horizons, and he cried out, in a voice which was heard of men far and near, saying, O children of ham, reverence to him who seeth, and is not seen, and say ye, There is no God but the God, and Muhammad is the messenger of God. And he added, I am Abu al-Abas al-Khizr. Before this we were wont to worship one another, but he summoned us to the service of the Lord of all creatures.

Starting point is 05:04:34 And he taught us to repeat these words. There is no God, save the God alone, who hath for partner none, and his is the kingdom, and his is the praise. He giveth life and his, and his is the praise. He giveth life and death, and he over all things is Almighty. Nor do we draw near unto Allah, be he exalted and extolled, except with these words, for we know none other.

Starting point is 05:04:59 But every eve before Friday we see a light upon the face of earth, and we hear a voice saying, Holy and glorious Lord of the angels and the Spirit, what he willeth is and what he willeth not is not every boon is of his grace and there is neither majesty nor is there might save in allah the glorious the great but ye quoth the king who and what are ye and what bringeth you to this land quoth moussa we are officers of the sovereign of al islam the commander of the faithful abbd al malik bin marwan who hath heard tell of the Lord Solomon, son of David on whom be peace, and of that which the most high bestowed upon him of supreme dominion, how he held sway over gin and beast and bird, and was wont when he was wrothed with one of the marids, to shut him in a cucurbite of brass, and, stopping its mouth on him with lead, whereon he impressed his seal ring, to cast him into the sea of Al-Kar-Kar.

Starting point is 05:06:08 now we have heard tell that this sea is now your land so the commander of the faithful hath sent us hither to bring him some of these cucerbites that he may look thereon and solace himself with their sight such then is our case and what we seek of thee o king and we desire that thou further us in the accomplishment of our errand commanded by the commander of the faithful with love and gladness replied the black king and carrying them to the guest-house, entreated them with the utmost honor, and furnished them with all they needed, feeding them upon fish. They abode thus three days, when he bade his divers fetched from out the sea some of the vessels of Solomon. So they dived and brought up twelve cucur-bytes, whereat the emir and the sheikh, and all the company rejoiced in the accomplishment of the Caliph's need. Then Moussa gave the king of the blacks many and great gifts, and he in turn made him a present of the wonders of the deep, being fishes in human form, saying, Your entertainment these three days hath been of the meat of these fish.

Starting point is 05:07:23 Quoth the emir, needs must we carry some of these to the caliph, for the sight of them will please him more than the cucuribites of Solomon. Then they took leave of the Black King, and setting out on their homeward journey, traveled till they came to Damascus, where Moussa went in to the commander of the faithful, and told him of all that he had cited, and heard of verses and legends and instances, together with the manner of the death of Thelib bin Zahel, and the Caliph said, would i had been with you that i might have seen what you saw then he took the brazen vessels and opened them cucurbite after cucurbite whereupon the devils came forth of them saying we repent o prophet of allah never will we return to the like of this thing no never and the caliph marvelled at this as for the daughters of the deep presented to them by the black king they made them cisterns of planks full of water and laid them therein but they died of the great heat then the caliph sent for the spoils of the brazen city and divided them among the faithful and shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say end of section fifteen recording by eva easton slothburg new york december two thousand eleven section sixteen of the The Book of a Thousand Nights and a Night, Volume 6. This is a Libervox recording.

Starting point is 05:09:07 All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libavox.org. The Book of A Thousand Nights and a Night, Volume 6, by Anonymous, translated by Richard Francis Burton, Section 16. When it was the five hundred and seventy-eighth night, she said, It hath reached me, O auspicious king, That the Caliph marvelled much at the Cucurites in their contents. Then he sent for the spoils,

Starting point is 05:09:44 And divided them among the faithful, saying, Never gave Allah unto any the like of that which he bestowed upon Solomon David's son. Thereupon the Emir-Musset sought leave of him, To appoint his son, governor of the province, his stead, that he might betake himself to the holy city of Jerusalem there to worship Allah. So the commander of the faithful invested his son Harun with the government, and Musa repaired to the glorious and holy city where he died. This then is all that hath come down to us of the story of the city of brass, and God is all knowing. Now, continued Shachrassad, I have another

Starting point is 05:10:30 tale to tell Anant the craft and malice of women, or the tale of the king, his son, his concubine, and the seven wazirs. There was, in days of yore, and in ages and times long gone before, a puissant king among the kings of china, the crowned heads, who ruled over many men of war and vassals, with wisdom and justice, might and majesty, equitable to his riots, liberal to his lieges, and dearly beloved by the hearts of his subjects. He was wealthy as he was powerful, but he had grown old without being blessed with the son, and this caused him sore affliction. He could only brood over the cutting off of his seed, and the oblivion that would bury his name, and the passing of his realm into the stranger's hands.

Starting point is 05:11:27 So he secluded himself in his palace, never going in and out, or rising and taking rest, till the lieges lost all tidings of him, and were sore perplexed and began to talk about their king. Some said he's dead, others said no, he's not, but all resolved to find a ruler who would reign over them

Starting point is 05:11:50 and carry out the customs of government. At last, utterly despairing of male issue, he sought the intercession of the prophet, whom Allah bless and keep, with the most high, and implored him by the glory of his prophets and saints and martyrs and others of the faithful who were acceptable to heaven that he would grant him a son, to be the coolth of his eyes and heir to the kingdom after him. Then he rose forthright, and, withdrawing to his sitting saloon, sent for his wife, who was the daughter of his uncle. Now this queen was of surpassing beauty and loveliness, the fairest of all his wives, and the dearest to him as she was the nearest, and to boot a woman of excellent wit and passing judgment.

Starting point is 05:12:41 She found the king dejected and sorrowful, tearful-eyed, and heavy-hearted, so she came. kissed ground between his hands and said, O king, may my life ransom thy life. May time never prove thy foe, nor the shifts of fortune prevail over thee. May Allah grant thee every joy and ward off from thee all annoy. How is it I see thee brooding over thy case

Starting point is 05:13:10 and tormented by the displeasures of memory? He replied, Thou wottest well that I am a man, now shawten in years, who hath never been blessed with a son, a sight to cool his eyes, so I know that my kingdom shall pass away to the stranger in blood, and my name and memory will be blotted out amongst men. Tis this causeth me to grieve with excessive grief. Allah do away with thy sorrows, quoth she, long ere this day a thought struck me, and yearning for issue arose in my heart, even after,

Starting point is 05:13:47 as in thine. One night I dreamed a dream, and a voice said to me, The king thy husband pinedth for progeny. If a daughter be vouchsafe to him, she will be the ruin of his realm. If a son, the youth will undergo much trouble and annoy, but he will pass through it without loss of life. Such a son can be conceived by thee and thee only, and the time of thy conception is when the moon conjoineth with Gemini. I woke from my dream, but, after what I heard that voice declare, I refrained from breeding, and would not consent to bear children. There is no help for it, but that I have a son, inshallah, God willing, cried the king. Thereupon she soothed and consoled him,

Starting point is 05:14:40 till he forgot his sorrows, and went forth amongst the lieges, and sat as of want upon his throne of estate. All rejoiced to see him once more, and especially the lords of his realm. Now, when the conjunction of the moon and Gemini took place, the king knew his wife carnally, and by order of Allah Almighty she became pregnant. Presently she announced the glad tidings to her husband, and led her usual life until her nine months of pregnancy were completed, and she bare a male child whose face was as the ranger of the moon on its fourteenth night. The lieges of the realm congratulated one another there an aunt, and the king commanded an assembly of his olima and philosophers, astrologers, and horoscopists, whom he thus addressed. I desire you to forecast the fortune of my son, and to determine his ascendant, and whatever is shown by his nativity. They replied, Tis well in Allah's name, let us do so, and cast his nativity with all diligence.

Starting point is 05:15:55 After ascertaining his ascendant, they pronounced judgment in these words. We see his lot favorable, and his life viable and durable. save that a danger awaiteth his youth. The father was sorely concerned at this, saying, when they added, But, O king, he shall escape from it, Nor shall aught of injury accrue to him. Hereupon the king cast aside all carc and care,

Starting point is 05:16:23 And robed the wizards and dismissed them with splendid honoraria. And he resigned himself to the will of heaven, and acknowledged that the decrees of destiny may not be countervay. He committed his boy to wet nurses and dry nurses, handmaids and eunuchs, leaving him to grow and fill out in the harem till he reached the age of seven. Then he addressed letters to his viceroyes and governors in every clime, and by their means gathered together Olima and philosophers and doctors of law and religion, from all countries, to a number of three hundred and three score. he held an especial assembly for them and when all were in presents he bade them draw near him and be at their ease while he sent for the food-trays and all ate their sufficiency and when the banquet ended and the wizards had taken seats in their several degrees the king asked them wot ye wherefore i have gathered you together where to all answered we wot not o king he continued he continued he continued it is my wish that you select from amongst you fifty men and from these fifty ten and from these ten one that he may teach my son omnem rem skibilem

Starting point is 05:17:51 for when as i see the youth perfect in all science i will share my dignity with the prince and make him partner with me in my possessions no o king they replied that that among us none is more learned or more excellent than al-sindibad hight the sage, who warneth in thy capital under thy protection. If such be thy design, summon him and bid him do thy will. The king acted upon their advice, and the sage, standing in the presence, expressed his loyal sentiments with his salutation, whereupon his sovereign bade him draw nigh, and thus raised his rank, saying, I would have thee to know, O sage, that I summoned this assembly of the learned, and bade them choose me out a man to teach my son all knowledge,

Starting point is 05:18:44 when they selected thee without dissenting thought or voice. If then thou feel capable of what they claimed for thee, come thou to the task and understand that a man's son and heir is the very fruit of his vitals and core of his heart and liver. my desire of thee is thine instruction of him and to happy issue allah guideth the king then sent for his son and committed him to al sindibad conditioning the sage to finish his education in three years he did accordingly but at the end of that time the young prince had learned nothing his mind being wholly occupied with play and disport and when summoned and examined by his sire behold his knowledge was as nil thereupon the king turned his attention to the learned once more and bade them elect a tutor for his youth so they asked and what hath his governor al sindiband been doing and when the king answered he hath taught my son not the olima and philosophers and high officers summoned the instructor and said to him

Starting point is 05:20:00 o sage what prevented thee from teaching the king's son during this length of days o wise man he replied the prince's mind is wholly occupied with disport and play yet an the king will make with me three conditions and keep to them i will teach him in seven months what he would not learn nor indeed could any other lessen him within seven years i hearken to thee quoth the king and i submit myself to thy conditions and quoth al-Sindibed hear from me sire and bear in mind these three sayings whereof the first is do not to others what thou wouldst not they do unto you and second do not hastily without consulting the experienced and thirdly where thou haste power show pity in teaching this lad i require no more of thee but to accept these three dicta and adhere thereto cried the king bear ye witness against me o all ye here assembled that i stand firm by these conditions and caused a prosa verbao to be drawn up with his personal security and testimony of his courtiers thereupon the sage taking the prince's hand led him to his place and the king sent them all requisites of provont and kitchen batterys, carpets, and other furniture. Moreover, the tutor bade build a house whose walls he lined with the whitest stucco painted over with Cerrus, and lastly he delineated thereon all the

Starting point is 05:21:46 objects concerning which he proposed to lecture his pupil. When the place was duly furnished, he took the lad's hand and installed him in the apartment which was amply furnished with belly timber, and after establishing him therein, went forth and fastened the door with seven padlocks. Nor did he visit the prince save every third day when he lessened him on the knowledge to be extracted from the wall pictures, and renewed his provision of meat and drink, after which he left him again to solitude. So, whenever the youth was straightened in breast by the tedium and ennui of loneliness, applied himself diligently to his object lessons, and mastered all the deductions therefrom. His governor, seeing this, turned his mind into other channel, and taught him the inner meanings

Starting point is 05:22:41 of the external objects, and in a little time the pupil mastered every requisite. Then the sage took him from the house, and taught him cavalieries, and jared play and archery. When the pupil had thoroughly mastered these arts, the tutor sent to the king, informing him that the prince was perfect and complete in all things required to figure favorably amongst his peers. Hereat the king rejoiced, and, summoning his wazirs and lords of estate, to be present at the examination, commanded the sage to send his son into the presence. Thereupon Al-Sindibed consulted his pupil's horoscope, and found it barred by an inauspicious conjunction, which would last seven days. So, in sore affright for the youth's life, he said,

Starting point is 05:23:36 Look into thy nativity scheme. The prince did so, and, recognizing the portent, feared for himself, and presently asked the sage, saying, What dost thou bid me do? I bid thee, he answered, Remain silent, and speak not a word during this a night, Even though thy sire slay thee with scourging. And thou pass safely through this period, Thou shalt win to high rank,

Starting point is 05:24:05 And succeed to thy sire's reign. But an things go otherwise, Then the behest is with Allah, From the beginning to the end thereof. Quote the pupil, Thou art in fault, O preceptive. and thou hast shown undue hast in sending that message to the king before looking into my horoscope. Hats thou delayed till the week had passed all had been well. Quoth the tutor,

Starting point is 05:24:34 O my son, what was to be was, and the sole defaulter therein was my delight in thy scholarship. But now be firm in thy resolve, rely upon Allah Almighty, and determine not to utter a single word. Thereupon the prince fared for the presence, and was met by the wazirs who led him to his father. The king accosted him, and addressed him, but he answered not, and sought speech of him, but he spake not. Whereupon the courtiers were astounded, and the monarch sore concern for his son, summoned Al-Sindibedad, but the tutor so hid himself that none could hit upon his trace, nor gain tidings of him, and folk said, He was ashamed to appear before the king's majesty and the courtiers.

Starting point is 05:25:26 Under these conditions the sovereign heard some of those present saying, Send the lad to the seraglio where he will talk with the women and soon set aside this bashfulness, and approving their counsel, gave orders accordingly. So the prince was led into the palace which was compassed about by a running stream, whose banks were planted with all manner of fruit trees and sweet-smelling flowers. Moreover, in this palace were forty chambers, and in every chamber ten slave-girls, each skilled in some instrument of music, so that, whenever one of them played,

Starting point is 05:26:06 the palace danced to her melodious strains. Here the prince passed one night, but on the following morning the king's favorite concubine, happened to cast eyes upon his beauty and loveliness, his symmetrical stature, his brilliancy, and his perfect grace, and love got hold of her heart, and she was ravished with his charms. So she went up to him, and threw herself upon him, but he made her no response. Whereupon, being dazed by his beauty, she cried out to him, and required him of himself, and importuned him. Then she again threw herself upon him, and clasped him to her bosom, kissing him, and saying,

Starting point is 05:26:52 O king's son, grant me thy favours, and I will set thee in thy father's stead. I will give him to drink of poison so he may die, and thou shalt enjoy his realm and wealth. When the prince heard these words he was sore enraged against her, and said to her by signs, O a cursed one, so it please, Almighty Allah, I will assuredly requite thee this thy deed, when as I can speak, for I will go forth to my father, and will tell him, and he shall kill thee. So, signing, he arose in rage, and went out from her chamber, whereat she feared for herself. Thereupon she buffeted her face, and rent her raiment, and tear her hair, and bared her head, then went into the king, and cast herself at his feet, weeping and wailing. When he saw her in this plight he was sore

Starting point is 05:27:48 concerned and asked her, What aileth thee, O damsel? How is it with thy lord my son? Is he not well? And she answered, O king, this thy son, whom thy courtiers avouch to be dumb, required me of myself, and I repelled him. Whereupon he did with me as thou seest, and would have slain me. So I fled from him. nor will I ever return to him, nor to the palace again, no, never again. When the king heard this he was wroth with exceeding wrath, and, calling his seven wazirs, bade them put the prince to death. However, they said one to other,

Starting point is 05:28:28 If we do the king's commandment, he will surely repent of having ordered his son's death, for he is passing dear to him, and this child came not to him save after despair, and he will round upon us and blame us, saying, Why did ye not contrive to dissuade me from slaying him? So they took counsel together to turn him from his purpose, and the chief wazir said, I will warrant you from the king's mischief this day.

Starting point is 05:28:58 Then he went into the presence, and prostrating himself craved leave to speak. The king gave him permission, and he said, O king, though thou hadst a thousand sons, yet were it no light matter, to thee to put one of them to death, on the report of a woman, be she true or be she false, and be like this is a lie, and a trick of her against thy son, for indeed, O king, I have heard tell great plenty of stories of the malice, the craft and perfidy of women. Quote the king, tell me somewhat of that which hath come to

Starting point is 05:29:36 thy knowledge thereof. And the wazir answered, saying, Yes, there hath reached me, O king, a tale entitled, the king and his wazir's wife. There was once a king of the kings, a potent man and a proud, who was devoted to the love of women, and one day being in the privacy of his palace, he espied a beautiful woman on the terrace roof of her house, and could not contain himself from falling, insomidly in love with her. He asked his folk to whom the house and the damsel belonged, and they said, This is the dwelling of the wazirs such an one, and she is his wife. So he called the minister in question, and dispatched him on an errand to a distant part of the kingdom,

Starting point is 05:30:25 where he was to collect information and to return. But as soon as he obeyed and was gone, the king contrived by a trick to gain access to his house and his spouse. When the wazir's wife saw him, she knew him, and springing up, kissed his hands and feet, and welcomed him. Then she stood afar off, busying herself in his service, and said to him, O our lord, what is the cause of thy gracious coming? Such an honour is not for the like of me. Quoth he, the cause of it is that love of thee, and desire thee words have moved me to this. whereupon she kissed ground before him a second time, and said, By Allah, O our Lord, indeed, I am not worthy to be the handmaid of one of the king's servants.

Starting point is 05:31:17 Whence then have I the great good fortune to be in such high honor and favor with thee? Then the king put out his hand to her, intending to enjoy her person when she said, This thing shall not escape us, but take patience, O my king, and abide with thy handmaid all this day, that she may make ready for thee somewhat to eat and drink. So the king sat down on his minister's couch, and she went in haste and brought him a book, wherein he might read, whilst she made ready the food. He took the book, and beginning to read, found therein moral instances and exhortations, such as restrained him from adultery, and broke his courage to commit sin and crime.

Starting point is 05:32:04 After a while she returned and set before him some ninety dishes of different kinds of colors, and he ate a mouthful of each and found that, while the number was many, the taste of them was one. At this he marvelled with exceeding marvel and said to her, O damsel, I see these meats to be manifold in various, but the taste of them, of them is simple and the same. Allah prosper the king, replied she, This is a parable I have said for thee that thou mayst be admonished thereby. He asked, and what is its meaning? And she answered, Allah amend the case of our lord the king, in thy palace are ninety concubines of various colors, but their taste is one. When the king heard

Starting point is 05:32:54 this he was ashamed, and rising hastily went out. without offering her any affront and returned to his palace. But in his haste and confusion he forgot his signet ring, and left it under the cushion where he had been sitting, and albeit he remembered it he was ashamed to send for it. Now hardly had he reached home when the wazir returned, and, presenting himself before the king, kissed the ground and made his report to him of the state of the province,

Starting point is 05:33:27 in question. Then he repaired to his own house, and sat down on his couch, and, chancing to put his hand under the cushion, behold, he found the king's seal-ring. So he knew it, and taking the matter to heart, held aloof in great grief from his wife for a whole year, not going in unto her, nor even speaking to her, whilst she knew not the reason of his anger. and shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say end of section sixteen recording by eva easton slotsburgh new york january two thousand twelve section seventeen of the book of a thousand nights and a night volume six this is a libravox recording all libavoc's recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravocs.org. The Book of a Thousand Nights and a Night, Volume 6, by Anonymous, translated by Richard

Starting point is 05:34:48 Francis Burton, Section 17. When it was the 579th night, she said, It hath reached me, O auspicious king, that the wazir held aloof from his wife, whilst she knew not the cause of his wrath. At last, being weary of the long-sum neglect, she sent for her sire and told him the case, whereupon quoth he, I will complain of him to the king at some time when he is in the presence. So one day he went into the king, and finding the wazir and the kazi of the army before him, complained thus, singing, Almighty Allah amend the king's case. I had a fair flower-garden, which I planted with mine own hand, and thereon spent my substance till it bare fruit, and its fruitage was ripe for plucking,

Starting point is 05:35:44 when I gave it to this thy wazir, who ate of it what seemed good to him, then deserted it, and watered it not, so that its bloom wilted and withered, and its sheen departed, and its state changed. Then said the wazir, O my king, this man saith sooth, I did indeed care for in guard the garden, and kept it in good condition, and ate thereof, till one day I went thither, and I saw the trail of the lion there, wherefore I feared for my life, and withdrew from the garden. The king understood him that the trail of the lion meant his own seal-ring, which he had forgotten, and he had forgotten in the woman's house. So he said, return, O wazir, to thy flower-garden, and fear nothing, for the lion came not near it. It hath reached me that he went thither, but by the honor of my

Starting point is 05:36:43 fathers and forefathers, he offered it no hurt. Harkening and obedience, answered the minister, and returning home sent for his wife, and made his peace with her, and thenceforth put faith in her chastity. This I tell thee, O King, continued the wazir, for no other purpose save to let thee know how great is their craft, and how precipitancy bequeath repentance. And I have also heard the following story of the confectioner, his wife, and the parrot. Once upon a time there dwelt in Egypt, a confectioner who had a wife famed for beauty and loveliness, and a parrot, with a parrot, which which, as occasion required, did the office of watchmen and guard, bell and spy, and flapped her wings, did she but hear a fly buzzing about the sugar. This parrot caused abundant trouble to the wife,

Starting point is 05:37:43 always telling her husband what took place in his absence. Now one evening, before going out to visit certain friends, the confectioner gave the bird strict injunctions to watch all night, and bade his wife make all fast, as he should not return until morning. Hardly had he left the door than the woman went for her old lover, who returned with her, and they passed the night together in mirth and merriment, while the parrot observed all. Be times in the morning the lover fared forth, and the husband returning, was informed by the parrot of what had taken place.

Starting point is 05:38:22 Whereupon he hastened to his wife's room, and beat her with a painful beating. She thought in herself, Who could have informed against me? And she asked a woman that was in her confidence whether it was she. The woman protested by the world's visible and invisible that she had not betrayed her mistress,

Starting point is 05:38:44 but informed her that on the morning of his return home, the husband had stood some time before the cage, listening to the parrot's talk. When the wife heard this, she resolved, to contrive the destruction of the bird. Some days after, the husband was again invited to the house of a friend where he was to pass the night, and before departing he enjoined the parrot with the same injunctions as before, wherefore his heart was free from care, for he had his spy at home. The wife and her confidant then planned how they might destroy the credit of the

Starting point is 05:39:22 parrot with the master. For this purpose, they resolved to counterfeit a storm, and this they did by placing over the parrot's head a hand-mill, which the lover worked by pouring water upon a piece of hide, by waving a fan, and by suddenly uncovering a candle-hid under a dish. Thus did they raise such a tempest of rain and lightning that the parrot was drenched and half-drowned in a deluge. Now rolled the thunder, then flashed the lightning. That from the night. noise of the hand-mill, this from the reflection of the candle, when thought the parrot to herself, in very sooth the flood hath come on, such an one as belike Noah himself never witnessed.

Starting point is 05:40:09 So saying she buried her head under her wing a prey to terror. The husband, on his return, hastened to the parrot to ask what had happened during his absence, and the bird answered that she found it impossible to describe the deluge. and tempest of the last night, and that years would be required to explain the uproar of the hurricane and storm. When the shopkeeper heard the parrot talk of last night's deluge, he said, surely, O bird, thou art gone clean daft. Where was there even in a dream, rain, or lightning, last night? Thou hast utterly ruined my house and ancient family. My wife is the most virtuous woman of the age, and all thine accusations of her are lies, so in his wrath he dashed the cage upon

Starting point is 05:41:00 the ground, tore off the parrot's head, and threw it from the window. Presently his friend, coming to call upon him, saw the parrot in this condition with head torn off, and without wings or plumage. Being informed of the circumstances he suspected some trick on the part of the woman, and said to the husband, When your wife leaves home to go to the Hammam bath, compel her confidant to disclose the secret. So as soon as his wife went out, the husband entered his harim

Starting point is 05:41:35 and insisted on the woman telling him the truth. She recounted the whole story, and the husband now bitterly repented, having killed the parrot of whose innocence he had proof. This I tell thee, O King, continued the Wazirisier, that thou mayst know how great art the craft and malice of women, and that to act in haste leadeth to repent at leisure. So the king turned from slaying his son, but next day the favorite came into him, and kissing the ground before him said, O king, why dost thou delay to do me justice?

Starting point is 05:42:14 Indeed the kings have heard that thou commandest a thing, and thy wazir countermandeth it. Now the obedience of kings is in the fulfillment of their commandments, and everyone knows thy justice and equity, so do thou justice for me on the prince. I also have heard tell a tale concerning the Fuller and his son. There was once a man which was a fuller, and he used every day to go forth to the Tigris Bank a cleaning clothes, and his son was wont to go with him that he might swim whilst his father was fulling, nor was he forbidden from this. One day, as the boy was swimming, he was taken with cramp in the forearms and sank, whereupon the fuller plunged into the water, and caught hold of him, but the boy clung about him and pulled him down, and so father and son were both drowned.

Starting point is 05:43:10 Thus it is with thee, O King, except thou prevent thy son and do me justice on him, I fear lest both of you sink together, thou and he. And Shachr-Rasad perceive the dawn of day, and cease to say, her permitted say. When it was the five hundred and eighty-th night, she said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the favorite had told her tale of the Fuller and his son, she ended with, I fear lest both of you sink together, thou and he. Moreover, continued she, for an instance of the malice of men, I have heard tell a tale concerning the rake's trick against the chaste wife. A certain man loved a beautiful and lovely woman, a model of charms and grace,

Starting point is 05:44:04 married to a man whom she loved and who loved her. Moreover, she was virtuous and chased, like unto me, and her rake of a lover found no way to her. So when his patience was at an end, he devised a device to win his will. Now the husband had a young man whom he had brought up in his house, and who was in high trust with him as his steward.

Starting point is 05:44:30 So the rake addressed himself to the youth, and ceased not. insinuating himself into his favor by presence and fair words and deeds till he became more obedient to him than the hand to the mouth and did whatever he ordered him one day he said to him hark ye such an one wilt thou not bring me into the family dwelling place sometime when the lady is gone out yes answered the young steward so when his master was at the shop and his mistress gone forth to the hammam, he took his friend by the hand, and, bringing him into the house, showed him the sitting-rooms and all that was therein.

Starting point is 05:45:15 Now the lover was determined to play a trick upon the woman, so he took the white of an egg which he had brought with him in a vessel, and spilt it on the merchant's bedding, unseen by the young man. After which he returned thanks, and leaving the house went his way. In an hour or so the merchant came home, and going to the bed to rest himself, found thereon something wet. So he took it up in his hand, and looked at it, and deemed it man's seed. Whereat he stared at the young man with eyes of wrath, and asked him, Where is thy mistress?

Starting point is 05:45:54 And he answered, She is gone forth to the hammam, and will return forthright after she has made her ablutions. When the man heard this, his suspicion concerning the seaman was confirmed, and he waxed furious, and said, Go at once, and bring her back. The steward accordingly fetched her, and when she came before her husband, the jealous man sprang upon her and beat her a grievous beating, then binding her arms behind her, offered to cut her throat with a knife. But she cried out to the neighbors who came to her, and she said to them, This my man hath beat me unjustly and without cause, and is minded to kill me, though I know

Starting point is 05:46:40 not what is mine offense. So they rose up and asked him, Why hast thou dealt thus with her? And he answered, She is divorced. Quote they, thou hast no right to maltreat her, either divorce her or use her kindly, for we know her prudence and purity in chastel. Indeed she hath been our neighbor this long time, and we wot no evil of her. Quoth he, When I came home I found on my bed seed like human sperm, and I know not the meaning of this. Upon this a little boy, one of those present, came forward and said,

Starting point is 05:47:22 Show it to me, uncle mine! When he saw it, he smelt it, and, calling for fire and a frying-pan, he took the white of egg and cooked it so that it became solid. Then he ate of it and made the husband and the others taste of it, and they were certified that it was white of egg. So the husband was convinced that he had sinned against his wife's innocence, she being clear of all offense, and the neighbors made peace between them after the divorce, and he prayed her pardon and presented her with an hundred gold pieces. And so the wicked lover's cunning trick came to naught. And know, O king, that this is an instance of the malice of men and their perfidy. When the king

Starting point is 05:48:12 heard this he bade his son be slain. But on the next day, the second wazir came forward for intercession, and kissed ground in prostration. Whereupon the king said, raise thy head prostration must be made to Allah only so the minister rose from before him and said o king hasten not to slay thy son for he was not granted to his mother by the almighty but after despair nor didst thou expect such good luck and we hope that he will live to become a garden to thy reign and a guardian of thy good wherefore have patience o king Be like he will offer a fit excuse, and if thou make haste to slay him, thou wilt surely repent, even as the merchant white repented. Asked the king, And how was it with the merchant a wazir? And the wazir answered,

Starting point is 05:49:10 O king, I have heard a tale of the miser and the loaves of bread. There was once a merchant who was a niggered and miserly in his eating and drinking. One day he went on a journey to a certain town, and as he walked in the market streets, behold, he met an old trot with two scones of bread, which looked sound and fair. He asked her, are these for sale? And she answered yes. So he beat her down, and bought them at the lowest price, and took them home to his lodging, where he ate them that day. When morning morrowed he returned to the same place, and finding the old woman there with other two scones, bought these also. And thus he ceased not, during twenty-five days' space, when the old wife disappeared. He made inquiry for her,

Starting point is 05:50:03 but could hear no tidings of her, till one day, as he was walking about the high streets, he chanced upon her. So he accosted her, and after the usual salutation, and with much praise and politeness, asked why she had disappeared from the market, and ceased to supply the two cakes of bread. Hearing this, at first she evaded giving him a reply, but he conjured her to tell him her case. So she said, "'Here my excuse, O my Lord, which is that I was attending upon a man who had a corroding ulcer on his spine, and his doctor bade us knead flour with butter into a plaster, and lay it on the place of pain, where it abode all night. In the morning I used to take that flour and turn it into dough,

Starting point is 05:50:55 and make it into two scones, which I cooked and sold to thee or to another. But presently the man died, and I was cut off from making cakes. When the merchant heard this he repented, when as repentance availed him not, saying, Verily we are Allah's, and verily unethemed, to him we are returning. There is no majesty, and there is no might, save in him, the glorious, the great. And Shahr-Assad perceived the dawn of day, and ceased saying, her permitted say.

Starting point is 05:51:31 When it was the 581st night, she said, It hath reached me, O auspicious king, that when the old trot told the merchant the provenance of the scones, he cried, there is no majesty and there is no might save in Allah the glorious the great, and he repeated the saying of the Most High, Whatever evil falleth to thee, it is from thyself, And vomited till he fell sick, And repented whenas repentance availed him not. Moreover, O King, continued the second wazir,

Starting point is 05:52:06 I have heard tell of the malice of women, a tale of the lady and her two lovers. Once upon a time there was a man who was sword-bearer to one of the kings, and he loved a damsel of the common sort. One day he sent his page to her with a message, as of want between them, and the lad sat down with her and toyed with her. She inclined to him and pressed him to her breast, and groped him and kissed him whereupon he sought carnal connection of her,

Starting point is 05:52:38 and she consented. But as the two were thus, lo, the youth's master knocked at the door. So she pushed the page through a trap-door into an underground chamber there, and opened the door to his lord, who entered, handing sword in hand, and sat down upon her bed. Then she came up to him and sported and toyed with him, kissing him and pressing him to her bosom, and he took her and lay with her. Presently her husband knocked at the door, and the gallant asked her, "'Who is that?' Whereto she answered, "'My husband.' "'Quoth he, how shall I do?'

Starting point is 05:53:19 "'Quoth she, draw thy sword and stand in the vestibule, and abuse me and revile me, and when my husband comes into thee, do thou go forth and win thy ways.' He did as she bade him, and when the husband entered, he saw the king's sword-bearer standing with naked brand in hand, abusing and threatening his wife. But when the lover saw him he was ashamed, and sheathing his scimitar, went forth the house. Said the man to his wife, what means this? And she replied, O man, how blessed is the hour of thy coming. Thou hast saved a true believer from slaughter, and had happed after this fashion. I was on the house-terriss spinning when behold, there came up to me a youth, distracted and panting for fear of death, fleeing from yonder man, who followed upon him as hard

Starting point is 05:54:14 as he could with his drawn sword. The young man fell down before me, and kissed my hands and feet, saying, O protector of thy mercy, save me from him who would slay me wrongously. So I hid him in that underground chamber of hours, and presently in came yonder man to me, naked brand in hand, demanding the youth, but I denied him to him, whereupon he fell to abusing and threatening me as thou sawest, and praised be Allah who sent thee to me, for I was distraught, and had none to deliver me. Well hast thou done, O woman, answered the husband, thy reward is with Allah the Almighty, and may he abundantly requite thy good deed. Then he went to the trap-door, and called to the page, saying, Come forth, and fear not, No,

Starting point is 05:55:04 harm shall befall thee. So he came out, trembling for fear, and the husband said, Be of good cheer, none shall I hurt thee, condoling with him on what had befallen him, whilst the page called down blessings on his head. Then they both went forth, nor was that Cornuto, nor was the page aware of that which the woman had contrived. This then, O King, said the wazir, is one of the tricks of women. So beware, lest thou rely upon their words. The king was persuaded and turned from putting his son to death. But on the third day the favorite came in to him, and, kissing the ground before him, cried, O king, do me justice on thy son, and be not turned from thy purpose by thy minister's prate,

Starting point is 05:55:55 for there is no good and wicked wazirs, and be not as the king of Baghdad, who relied on the word of a certain wicked counsellor of his. Quoth he, and how was that? Quoth she, There hath been told me, O auspicious and well-advised king, a tale of the king's son and the ogreys. A certain king had a son whom he loved and favoured with exceeding favor over all his other children, and this son said to him one day, O my father, I have a mind to fare a coursing and a hunting, so the king bade furnish him and commanded one of his wazirs to bear him company and do all the service he needed during his trip the minister accordingly took everything that was necessary for the journey and they set out with a retinue of eunuchs and officers and pages and rode on sporting as they went till they came to a green and well-grast champagne abounding in pasture and water and game here the prince turned to the minister and told him that the place pleased him, and he purposed to halt there. So they set down in

Starting point is 05:57:08 that sight, and they loosed the falcons and lynxes and dogs, and caught great plenty of game, whereat they rejoiced and abode there some days, in all joints of life and its delight. Then the king's son gave the signal for departure, but, as they went along a beautiful gazelle, as if the sun rose shining from between her horns that had strayed from her mate, sprang up before the prince, whereupon his soul longed to make prize of her, and he coveted her. So he said to the wazir, I have a mind to follow that gazelle, and the minister replied, Do what seemeth good to thee. Thereupon the prince rode single-handed after the gazelle, till he lost sight of his companions, and chased her all that day till dusk, when she took refuge

Starting point is 05:58:01 in a bit of rocky ground, and darkness closed in upon him. Then he would have turned back, but knew not the way, whereat he was sore concerned and said, There is no majesty, and there is no might, save in Allah the glorious the great. He sat his mare all night till morning dawned, in quest of relief, but found none. and when the day appeared he fared on at hazard fearful famished thirsty and knowing not whither to wend till it was noon and the sun beat down upon him with burning heat by that time he came in sight of a great city with massive base and lofty bulwarks but it was ruined and desolate nor was there any live thing therein save owl and raven as he stood among the buildings marvelling at their orders as he stood among the buildings marvelling at their ordinance low his eyes fell on a damsel young beautiful and lovely sitting under one of the city walls wailing and weeping copious tears so he drew nigh to her and asked who art thou and who brought thee hither She answered, I am called Bint al-Tamima, daughter of Altiaq, king of the gray country.

Starting point is 05:59:17 I went out one day to obey a call of nature, when an Ifrith of the gin snatched me up and soared with me between heaven and earth. But as he flew there fell on him a shooting star in the form of a flame of fire and burned him, and I dropped here, where these three days I have hungered and thirsted, but when I saw thee I longed for life. And Shachrassad perceived the dawn of day, and ceased to say her permitted say. End of Section 17. Recording by Eva Easton, Slotspurg, New York, January 2012. Section 18 of the Book of a Thousand Nights and a Night, Volume 6 This is a Librevox recording

Starting point is 06:00:12 All Librevox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer Please visit Librevox.org Recording by M.J. Frank The Book of A Thousand Nights and a Night Volume 6 By Anonymous Translated by Richard Francis Burton

Starting point is 06:00:37 section eighteen when it was the five hundred and eighty-second night she said it hath reached me o auspicious king that the prince when addressed by the daughter of king al-taic who said to him when i saw thee i longed for life was smitten with ruth and grief for her and took her up on his courser's crupper saying be of good cheer and keep thine eyes cool and clear for if allah extolled and exalted be he restore me to my people and family i will send thee back to thine own folk then he rode on praying for deliverance and presently the damsel said to him o king's son set me down that i may do an occasion under this wall so he drew bridle and she alighted he waited for her a long while as she hid herself behind the wall and she came forth with the foulest of favours which when he saw his hair stood on end and he quaked for fear of her and he turned deadly pale then she sprang upon his steed behind him wearing the most loathly of aspects and presently she said to him O king's son, what ails thee that I see thee troubled and thy favor changed? I have bethought me of somewhat that troubles me.

Starting point is 06:02:21 Seek aid against it of thy father's troops and his braves. He whom I fear careth not for troops, neither can braves affright him. Aid thyself against him with thy father's monies and treasures. he whom i fear will not be satisfied with wealth ye hold that ye have in heaven a god who seeth and is not seen and is omnivotent and omniscient yes we have none but him then pray thou to him haply he will deliver thee from me thine enemy so the king's son raised his eyes to heaven and began to pray with his whole heart saying o my God, I implore thy succour against that which troubleth me. Then he pointed to her with his hand, and she fell to the ground, burnt black as charcoal. Therewith he thanked Allah and praised him, and ceased not to fare forwards.

Starting point is 06:03:27 And the Almighty, extolled and exalted be he, of his grace, made the way easy to him, and guided him into the right road, so that he reached his own land, and came upon his father's capital after he had despaired of life. Now all this befell by the contrivance of the wazir who traveled with him to the end that he might cause him to perish on the way. But Almighty Allah succored him. And this, said the damsel, have I told thee, O king, that thou mayest know that wicked wazirs deal not honestly by,

Starting point is 06:04:08 nor counsel with sincere intent their kings. Wherefore be thou wise and aware of them in this matter. The king gave ear to her speech, and bad put his son to death. But the third wazir came in and said to his brother ministers, I will warrant you from the king's mischief this day. And going into him, kissed the ground between his hands and said, O King, I am thy true counsellor, and solicitous for thee and for thine estate, and indeed I read thee the best of read.

Starting point is 06:04:50 It is that thou hasten not to slay thy son, the coolf of thine eyes, and the fruit of thy vitals. Happily his sin is but a slight slip, which this damsel hath made great to thee. And indeed I have heard tell. that the people of two villages once destroyed one another because of a drop of honey asked the king how was that and the wazir answered saying no o king that i have heard this story anent the drop of honey a certain hunter used to chase wild beasts in wald and one day he came upon a grotto in the mountains where he found a hollow full of bees' honey. So he took somewhat thereof in a water-skin he had with him, and throwing it over his shoulder, carried it to the city,

Starting point is 06:05:51 followed by a hunting-dog which was dear to him. He stopped at the shop of an oilman and offered him the honey for sale, and he bought it. Then he emptied it out of the skin that he might see it, and in the act a drop fell to the ground, whereupon the flies flocked to it, and a bird swooped down upon the flies. Now the oilman had a cat,

Starting point is 06:06:17 which sprang upon the bird, and the huntsman's dog, seeing the cat, sprang upon it, and slew it. Whereupon the oilman sprang upon the dog and slew it, and the huntsman in turn sprang upon the oilman and slew him. Now the oilman was of one village and the huntsman of another, and when the people of the two places heard what had passed, they took up arms and weapons, and rose one on another in wrath, and the two lines met. Nor did the sword leave to play amongst them till there died of them much people. None knoweth their number, save Almighty Allah. And among other stories of the malice of women, continued the wazir.

Starting point is 06:07:09 I have heard tell, O King. One concerning. The woman who made her husband sift dust. A man once gave his wife a durham to buy rice. So she took it and went to the rice cellar who gave her the rice and began to jest with her and ogle her, for she was dowered with beauty and loveliness, saying,

Starting point is 06:07:35 rice is not good but with sugar, which, if thou wilt have, come in with me for an hour. So saying, give me sugar, she went in with him into his shop, and he won his will of her, and said to his slave, weigh her out a Durham's worth of sugar. But he made the slave a privy sign, and the boy, taking the napkin in which was the rice, emptied it out and put in earth and dust in its stead. And for the sugar set stones, after which he again knotted up the napkin and left it by her. His object in doing this was that she should come to him a second time,

Starting point is 06:08:21 so when she went forth of the shop he gave her the napkin and she took it, thinking to have in it rice and sugar and ganged her gait. But when she returned home and setting it before her husband went for a cooking pot, he found in it earth and stones. So as soon as she came back bringing the pot, he said to her, Did I tell thee I had ought to build that thou bringest me earth and stones? When she saw this, she knew that the rice-cellar's slave had tricked her. So she said to her husband,

Starting point is 06:09:00 O man, in my trouble of mine for what hath befallen me, I went to fetch the sieve and brought the cooking-pot. What hath troubled thee? asked he, and she answered. Oh, husband, I dropped the Durham thou gavest me in the market street, and was ashamed to search for it before the folk. Yet I grudged to lose the silver, so I gathered up the earth from the place where it fell and brought it away, thinking to sift it at home. Wherefore I went to fetch the sieve,

Starting point is 06:09:35 but brought the cooking pot instead. Then she fetched the sieve and gave it to her husband, saying, Do thou sift it, for thine eyes are sharper than mine. Accordingly he sat, sifting the clay, till his face and beard were covered with dust, and he discovered not her trick, neither knew what had befallen her. This then, O king, said the wazir, is an instance of the malice of women, and consider the saying of Allah Almighty, surely the cunning of you, women is great. And again, indeed the malice of Satan is weak in

Starting point is 06:10:19 comparison with the malice of women. The king gave ear to his wazir's speech, and was persuaded thereby and was satisfied by what he cited to him of the signs of Allah. And the lights of good counsel arose and shone in the firmament of his understanding, and he turned from his purpose of slaying his son. But on the fourth day the favorite came into him weeping and wailing, and kissing the ground before him, said, O auspicious king and lord of good reed, I have made plainly manifest to thee my grievance,

Starting point is 06:10:59 and thou hast dealt unjustly by me, and hast forborne to avenge me on him who hath wronged me, because he is thy son and the darling of thy heart. But Allah, extolled and exalted be he, will presently succour me against him, even as he succored the king's son against his father's wazir. And how was that? asked the king. and she answered i have heard tell o king a tale of the enchanted string there was once in times gone by a king who had one son and none other

Starting point is 06:11:39 and when the prince grew up to man's estate he contracted him in marriage to another king's daughter now the damsel was a model of beauty and grace and her uncle's son had sought her in wedlock of her sire but she would none of him. So when he knew that she was to be married to another, envy and jealousy got hold of him, and he bethought himself and sent a noble present to the wazir of the bridegroom's father, and much treasure, desiring him to use craft for slaying the prince

Starting point is 06:12:16 or contrive to make him leave his intent of espousing the girl, and adding, O wazir, indeed jealous, "'Lasie moveeth me to this, for she is my cousin.' The wazir accepted the present and sent an answer, saying, "'Be of good cheer and of eyes cool and clear, "'for I will do all that thou wishest.' Presently the bride's father wrote to the prince,

Starting point is 06:12:44 bidding him to his capital, that he might go in to his daughter. Whereupon the king his father gave him leave to wend his way thither, sending with him the bribed wazir and a thousand horse besides presents and litters tents and pavilions the minister set out with the prince plotting the while in his heart to do him a mischief and when they came into the desert he called to mind a certain spring of running water in the mountains there called al sarah whereof whosoever drank from a man became a woman So he called a halt of the troops near the fountain, and presently mounting steed again, said to the prince, "'Hast thou a mind to go with me and look upon a spring of water near hand?' The prince mounted, knowing not what should befall him in the future, and they rode on, unattended by any, and without stopping till they came to the spring. The prince being thirsty, said to the wazir,

Starting point is 06:13:50 "'Oh, minister, I am suffering from drought.' And the other answered, "'Get thee down and drink of this spring.' So he alighted and washed his hands and drank, when behold, he straightway became a woman. As soon as he knew what had befallen him, he cried out and wept till he fainted away, and the wazir came up to him as if to learn what had befallen him

Starting point is 06:14:19 and cried, What aileth thee? So he told him what had happened, and the minister feigned to condole with him, and weep for his affliction, saying, Allah Almighty be thy refuge to thine affliction. How came this calamity upon thee, and this great misfortune to be tied thee? And we, carrying thee with joy and gladness, that thou mightest go into the king's daughter, Verily now I know not whether we shall go to her or not, but the reed is thine. What dost thou command me to do? Quoth the prince,

Starting point is 06:15:04 Go back to my sire and tell him what hath betided me, for I will not stir hence till this matter be removed from me, or I die in my regret. So he wrote a letter to his father, telling him what had happened, and the wazir took it, set out on his return to the city, leaving what troops he had with the prince, and inwardly exulting for the success of his plot. As soon as he reached the king's capital, he went

Starting point is 06:15:36 into him, and, telling him what had passed, delivered the letter. The king mourned for his son, with sore mourning and sent for the wise men and masters of esoteric science, that they might discover and explain to him this thing which had befallen his son. but none could give him an answer. Then the wazir wrote to the lady's cousin, conveying to him the glad news of the prince's misfortune, and he, when he read the letter, rejoiced with great joy and thought to marry the princess,

Starting point is 06:16:10 and answered the minister, sending him rich presents and great store of treasure, and thanking him exceedingly. Meanwhile, the prince abode by the stream three days and three days, nights, eating not nor drinking, and committing himself in his strait unto Allah, extolled and exalted be he, who disappointeth not whoso relieth on him. On the fourth night, lo, there came to him a cavalier on a bright bay steed with a crown on his head, as he were of the sons of the kings, and said to him,

Starting point is 06:16:48 Who brought thee hither, O youth? The prince told him his mishap how he was wending to his wedding, and how the wazir had led him to a spring, whereof he drank and incurred what had occurred. And as he spoke, his speech was broken by tears. Having heard him, the horseman pitied his case and said, It was thy father's wazir who cast thee into this strait, for no men alive save he knoweth of this spring, presently adding, Mount thee behind me and come with me to my dwelling,

Starting point is 06:17:25 for thou art my guest this night. Acquaint me who thou art, ere I fare with thee, quote the prince, and quote the other, I am a king's son of the John, as thou a king's son of mankind. So be of good cheer and keep thine eyes clear of tear, for I will surely do away thy kark and care. and this is a slight thing unto me so the prince mounted him behind the stranger and they rode on leaving the troops from the first of the day till midnight when the king's son of the gin asked the prince

Starting point is 06:18:04 knowest thou how many days march we have covered in this time not i we have come a full year's journey for a diligent horseman the prince marvelled at this and said how shall i do to return to my people that is not thine affair but my business as soon as thou art quit of thy complaint thou shalt return to thy people in less than the twinkling of an eye for that is an easy man matter to me. When the prince heard these words, he was ready to fly for excess of joy. It seemed to him as he were in the embroil of a dream, and he exclaimed, Glory be to him who can restore the unhappy to happiness. And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. When it was the 583 night, she said, it hath reached me o auspicious king that the prince of the jin said to the prince of mankind when thou art quit of thy complaint thou shalt return to thy folk in less than the twinkling of an eye and the king's son rejoiced they fared on all that night till the morning morrowed when lo they found themselves in a green and smiling country full of trees spiring and birds

Starting point is 06:19:38 quiring and garth's fruit growing and palaces high showing and waters afloing and odoriferous flowers abloving here the king's son of the gin alighted from his steed and bidding the prince do the like took him by the hand and carried him into one of the palaces where he found a great king and puissant sultan and abode with him all that day eating and drinking till nightfall. Then the king's son of the gin mounted his courser, and taking the prince up behind him, fared on swiftly through the murks and glooms until morning. When lo, they found themselves in a dark land and a desert, full of black rocks and stones, as it were a piece of hell. And the prince asked the jinny, "'What is the name of this land?' answered the other. It is called the black country, and belongs to one of the kings of the Jin by name

Starting point is 06:20:45 Zul Janahan, against whom none of the other kings may prevail. Neither may any enter his dominions, save by his permit. So tarry thou here whilst I go ask leave. So saying, he went away, and returning after a while they fared on again, till they landed at a spring of water, welling forth of a black rock. and the king's son of the gin said to the king's son of men a light he dismounted and the other cried drink of this water so he drank of the spring without stay or delay and no sooner had he done so than by the grace of Allah he became a man as before at this he

Starting point is 06:21:35 joyed with exceeding joy and asked the jinny oh my brother how is this spring called, answered the other. It is called the women's spring, for that no woman drinketh thereof, but she becomeeth a man. Wherefore do thou praise Allah the most high, and thank him for thy restoration and mount. So the prince prostrated himself in gratitude to the Almighty, after which he mounted again, and they fared on diligently all that day, till they returned to the Ginny's home, where the prince passed the night in all solace of life. They spent the next day in eating and drinking till nightfall, when the king's son of the gin asked the prince, Hast thou a mind to return to thy people this very night?

Starting point is 06:22:30 Yes, he answered, for indeed I long for them. Then the jinny called one of his father's slaves, Rajiz, height, and said to him, Take this young man mounted on thy shoulders, and let not the day dawn, ere he be with his father-in-law and his wife. Replied the slave, Harkening and obedience, and with love and gladness, and upon my head and eyes. Then, withdrawing a while, reappeared in the form of an effreate. When the prince saw this, he was a man.

Starting point is 06:23:06 He lost his senses for a fright, but the jinny said to him, Fear not, no harm shall befall thee. Mount thy horse, and leap him on to the Eiffrit's shoulders. Nay, answered he, I will leave my horse with thee, and bestride his shoulders myself. So he bestrode the Ephrete's shoulders, and when the genie cried, close thine eyes, O my lord, and be not craven. He strengthened his heart and shut his eyes. Thereupon the Eiffrit rose with him into the air

Starting point is 06:23:44 and ceased not to fly between sky and earth, whilst the prince was unconscious, nor was the last third of the night come before he had lighted down with him on the terrace roof of his father-in-law's palace. Then said the Eiffrit, dismount and open thine eyes, for this is the palace of the palace of the palace.

Starting point is 06:24:04 thy father-in-law and his daughter. So he came down and the Eiffrit flew away and left him on the roof of the palace. When the day broke and the prince recovered from his troubles, he descended into the palace, and as his father-in-law caught sight of him, he came to meet him and marveled to see him descend from the roof of the palace, saying, We see folk enter by doors, but thou comest from the skies. Quote the prince, Whatso Allah may he be extolled and exalted, Willeth, that cometh to pass. And he told him all that had befallen him,

Starting point is 06:24:47 From first to last, Whereat the king marveled and rejoiced in his safety, And as soon as the sun rose, Bad his wazir make ready splendid bride-feasts. So did he, and they held the marriage festival. after which the prince went in unto his bride and abode with her two months, then departed with her for his father's capital. As for the damsel's cousin, he died forthright of envy and jealousy.

Starting point is 06:25:20 When the prince and his bride drew near his father's city, the king came out to meet them with his troops and wazirs, and so Allah, blessed and exalted be he, enabled the prince to prevail against his bride's cousin and his father's minister. And I pray the Almighty, added the damsel, to aid thee against thy wazirs, O king, and I beseech thee to do me justice on thy son. When the king heard this he bade put his son to death. And Scheherazade perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say, her permitted say. when it was the 584th night she said it hath reached me o auspicious king that when the

Starting point is 06:26:14 favorite had told her tale to the king she said i beseech thee to do me justice by putting thy son to death now this was the fourth day so the fourth wazir entered and kissing the ground before him said allah establish and protect the king oh king be deliberate in doing this This thou art resolved upon, for the wise man doth not till he hath considered the issue thereof, and the proverb saith, Whoso looketh not to his actions end, hath not the world to friend, and whoso acteth without consideration, there befalleth him what befell the Hamam keeper with his wife. And what betided him? asked the king, and the wazir answered. i have heard tell o king a tale of the wazir's son and the hamam keeper's wife there was once a bath-keeper to whom resorted the notables of the folk and head men

Starting point is 06:27:24 and one day there came into him a handsome youth of the sons of wazirs who was fat and bulky of body so he stood to serve him and when the young men put off his clothes he saw not his yard, for that it was hidden between his thighs, by reason of the excess of his fat, and there appeared thereof but what was like unto a filbert. At this the bath-keeper fell a lamenting and smiting hand upon hand, which when the youth saw he said to him, What ails thee, O bath-keeper, to lament thus? And he answered, saying, O my lord, my lamentation! is for thee, because thou art in sore straits, for all thy fair fortune and goodliness and exceeding comeliness, seeing thou hast not wherewithal to do and receive delight like unto other men.

Starting point is 06:28:26 Quoth the youth, thou sayest sooth, but thou mindest me of somewhat I had forgotten. What is that? asked the bath-keeper, and the youth answered. "'Take this gold-piece and fetch me a pretty woman "'that I may prove by nature on her.' "'So he took the money and be taking himself to his wife,' said to her. "'O woman, there is come to me in the bath, "'a young man of the sons of the wazirs, "'as he were the moon on the fullest night.

Starting point is 06:28:58 "'But he hath no prickle like other men, "'for that which he hath is but some small matter like unto a filbert.' i lamented over his youth and he gave me this dinar and asked me to fetch him a woman on whom he might approve himself now thou art worthier of the money than another and from this no harm shall betide us for i will protect thee so do thou sit with him a while and laugh at him and take this dinar from him so the good wife took the dinar and rising adorned herself and donned the richest of her Now she was the fairest woman of her time. Then she went out with her husband, and he carried her into the Wazir's son in a privy place. When she came into him, she looked at him, and finding him a handsome youth, fair of favor as he were the moon at full, was confounded at his beauty and loveliness, and on likewise his heart and wit were amazed at the first sight of her and the

Starting point is 06:30:05 sweetness of her smile. So he rose forthright and locking the door, took the damsel in his arms, and pressed her to his bosom, and they embraced, whereupon the young man's yard, swelled, and rose on end, as it were that of a jackass, and he rode upon her breast and futtered her whilst she sobbed and sighed and writhed and wriggled under him. Now the bath-keeper was standing behind the door, awaiting what should be tied between them, and he began to call her saying, O Oum Abdela, enough! Come out for the day as long upon thy sucking child! Quote the youth, Go forth to thy boy and come back. But quoth she, If I go forth from thee, my soul will depart my body. As regards the child, so I must either leave him to die of weeping or let him be reared an

Starting point is 06:31:08 orphan without a mother. So she ceased not to abide with him till he had done his desire of her ten times running, while her husband stood at the door, calling her and crying out and weeping and imploring succor. But none came to aid him, and he ceased not to do thus, saying, I will slay myself. Till at last, finding no way of access to his wife, and being distraught with rage and jealousy, to hear her sighing and murmuring and breathing hard under the young man, he went up to the top of the bath,

Starting point is 06:31:46 and casting himself down therefrom, died. Moreover, O King, continued the wazir, there hath reached me another story of the malice of women. what is that asked the king and the wazir said know o king that it is anent the wife's device to cheat her husband there was once a woman who had no equal in her day for beauty and loveliness and grace and perfection and a certain lewd youth and an obscene setting eyes on her fell in love with her and loved her with exceeding passion but she was chaste and inclined not to adultery it chanced one day that her husband went on a journey to a certain town whereupon the young man fell to sending to her many times a day but she made no reply at last he resorted to an old woman who dwelt hard by and after saluting her he sat down and complained to her of his sufferings for love of the woman and his longing to enjoy her quoth she i will warrant thee this no harm shall befall thee for i will surely bring thee to thy desire in shalah and it please allah the most high

Starting point is 06:33:13 at these words he gave her a dinar and went his way when the morning morrowed she appeared before the woman and renewing an old acquaintance with her felt to visiting her daily eating the under time with her her and the evening meal and carrying away food for her children. Moreover, she used to sport and jest with her till the wife became corrupted and could not endure an hour without her company. Now she was wont when she left the lady's house to take bread and fat, wherewith she mixed a little pepper and to feed a bitch that was in that quarter. And thus she did day by day till the bitch became fond of her and followed her wherever she went. One day she took a cake of dough, and putting therein an overdose of pepper,

Starting point is 06:34:06 gave it to the bitch, to eat, whereupon the beast's eyes began to shed tears for the heat of the pepper, and she followed the old woman weeping. When the lady saw this, she was amazed and asked the ancient, Oh, my mother, what ails this bitch to weep? answered she learn oh my heart's love that hers is a strange story know that she was once a close friend of mine a lovely and accomplished young lady a model of comeliness and perfect grace A young Nazarene of the quarter fell in love with her, and his passion and pining increased on him till he took to his pillow, and he sent to her times manifold, begging her to have

Starting point is 06:34:55 compassion on him and show him mercy, but she refused, albeit I gave her good counsel, saying, Oh, my daughter, have pity on him, and be kind and consent to all he wisheth. She gave no heed to my advice, and till the young man's patience, failing him, he complained at last to one of his friends, who cast an enchantment on her, and changed her human shape into canine form. When she saw what transformation had befallen her, and that there was none to pity her case save myself, she came to my house and began to fawn on me and bust my hands and feet, and whine and shed tears, till I recognized her and said to her, how often did I not warn thee, but my advice profited thee not.

Starting point is 06:35:49 And Scheherazade perceived the dawn of day, and ceased saying her permitted say. End of Section 18. Recording by M.J. Frank, Portland, Oregon. Section 19 of the Book of A Thousand Nights and a Night, Volume 6. This is a Librevox recording. recordings were in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Librovocs.org. The Book of a Thousand Nights and a Night, Volume 6, by Anonymous. Translated by Richard Francis Burton. Section 19 When it was the 585th night, she said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King,

Starting point is 06:36:45 that the old trot related to the young lady the tale of the bitch, and recounted the case in her cunning and deceit with the view to gain her consent, and said to her, When the enchanted beast came to me, and wept, I reminded her, how often did I not warn thee? But my advice profited thee not. However, O my daughter, seeing her misery, I had compassion on her case, and kept her by me, and as often as she bethinketh herself of her former estate, she weepeth thus in pity for herself. when the lady heard this she was taken with great alarm and said o my mother by allah thou affrightest me with this thy story why so asked the old woman answered the lady because a certain handsome young man fell in love with me and hath sent many times to me but hitherto i have repelled him and now i fear lest there befall me the like of what befell this bitch

Starting point is 06:37:49 oh my daughter rejoin the old woman look thou to what i counsel thee and beware of crossing me for i am in great fear for thee if thou know not his abiding-place describe his semblance to me that i may fetch him to thee and let not any one's heart be angered against thee so the lady described him to her and she showed not to know him and said when i go out i will ask after him. But when she left the lady, she went straight to the young man and said to him, Be of good cheer, for I have played with the girl's wits. So tomorrow at noon, wait thou at the head of the street till I come and carry thee to her house, where thou shalt take thine ease with her, the rest of the day and all night long. At this the young man rejoiced with exceeding joy, and gave her two dinars, saying, When I have won my wish, of her, I will give thee ten gold pieces. Then she returned to the lady and said to her,

Starting point is 06:38:55 I have seen him and spoken with him on this matter. I found him exceeding wrath with thee, and minded to do thee a harm, but I plied him with fair words till he agreed to come to-morrow at the time of the call to noon prayer. When the lady heard this, she rejoiced exceedingly and said, Oh, my mother, if he keeps his promise, I will give thee ten dinars. Quoth the old woman, look to his coming from none but from me. When the next morn morrowed, she said to the lady, Make ready the early meal and forget not the wine, and adorn thyself and don thy richest dress and decoration, whilst I go and fetch him to thee. So she clad herself in her finest finery,

Starting point is 06:39:43 and prepared food whilst the old woman went out to look for the young man, who came not. so she went around searching for him but could come by no news of him and she said to herself what is to be done shall the food and drinks she hath gotten ready be wasted and i lose the gold pieces she promised me indeed i will not allow my cunning contrivance to come to naught but will look her out another man and carry him to her so she walked about the highways till her eyes fell on a pretty fellow young and distinguished looking to whom the folk bowed and who bore in his face the traces of travel she went up to him and saluting him asked hast thou a mind to meet and drink and a girl adorned and ready answered he where is this to be had at home in my house rejoined she and carrying him to his own house knocked at the door the lady opened to them and ran in again to make an end of her dressing and perfuming whilst the wicked old woman brought the man who was the husband and house-master into the saloon and made him sit down congratulating herself on her cunning contrivance presently in walked the lady who no sooner set eyes on her husband and her husband sitting by the old trot, then she knew him, and guessed how the case stood. Nevertheless, she was not taken aback, and without stay or delay, bethought her of a device to hoodwink him,

Starting point is 06:41:22 so she pulled off her outer boot and cried at her husband. Is this how thou keepest the contract between us? How canst thou betray me and deal thus with me? Know that when I heard of thy coming, I sent this old woman to try thee, and she hath made thee fall into that against which I warn thee. So now I am certified of thine affair, and that thou hast broken faith with me. I thought thee, chaste and pure, till I saw thee, with my own eyes, in this old woman's company, and knew that thou didst frequent loose baggage. So saying she fell to beating him with her slipper about the head and crying out, Divorce me, divorce me!

Starting point is 06:42:08 Whilst he excused himself and swore to her by Allah the most high that he had never in his life been untrue to her, nor had done aught of that whereof she suspected him, but she stinted not to weep and scream and bash him, crying out and saying, Come to my help, O Muslims, till he laid hold of her mouth with his hand, and she bit it. Moreover, he humbled himself to her and kissed her hands and feet, whilst she would

Starting point is 06:42:39 not be appeased and continued to cuff him. At last she winked at the old woman to come and hold her hand from him. So she came up to her and kissed her hands and feet till she made peace between them, and they sat down together, whereupon the husband began to kiss her hands, saying, Allah Almighty requite thee with all good, for that thou hast delivered me from her, and the old woman marveled at the wife's cunning and ready wit. This then, O king, said the wazir, is one of the many instances of the craft and malice and perfidy of women.

Starting point is 06:43:19 When the king heard this story, he was persuaded by it, and turned from his purpose to slay his son, and Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day, and ceased to say her permitted say. When it was the five hundred and eighty-sixth night, she said, It hath reached me, O auspicious king, that when the fourth wazir had told his tale, the king turned from his purpose to slay his son.

Starting point is 06:43:47 But on the fifth day, the damsel came into him handing a bowl of poison in hand, calling on heaven for help in buffeting her cheeks and face, and said to him, O king, either thou shalt do me justice and avenge me on thy son, or I will drink up this poison cup and die, and the sin of my blood shall be on thy head at the day of doom. These thy ministers accuse me of malice and perfidy, but there be none in the world more perfidious than men. Hast thou not heard the story of the goldsmith and the Kashmir singing girl? What befell the twain, O damsel? asked the king.

Starting point is 06:44:28 and she answered saying there hath come to my knowledge o august king a tale of the goldsmith and the cashmere singing girl there lived once in a city of persia a goldsmith who delighted in women and in drinking wine one day being in the house of one of his intimates he saw painted on the wall the figure of a lutenist a beautiful damsel beholder never beheld a fairer or a more pleasant he looked at the picture again and again marvelling at its beauty and fell so desperately in love with it that he sickened for passion and came near to die it chanced that one of his friends came to visit him and sitting down by his side asked how he did and what ailed him where too the goldsmith answered oh my brother that which ails me is love and it befell on this wise I saw a figure of a woman painted on the house-wall of my brother, such an one and became enamoured of it. Hereupon the other fell to blaming him and said, This was of thy lack of wit.

Starting point is 06:45:40 How couldst thou fall in love with a painted figure on a wall that can neither harm nor profit, that seeth not, neither heareth, that neither taketh nor withholdeth, said the sick man. He who painted yonder picture never could have limned it save after the likeness of some beautiful woman. Happily rejoined his friend. He painted it from imagination.

Starting point is 06:46:06 In any case, replied the goldsmith, Here am I dying for love of the picture, and if there live the original thereof in the world, I pray Allah Most High to protect my life till I see her. When those who were present went out, they asked for the painter of the picture, and finding that he had traveled to another town, wrote him a letter, complaining of their comrade's case, and inquiring whether he had drawn the figure of his own inventive talents, or copied it from a living model. To which he replied, I painted it after a certain singing girl belonging to one of the wazirs in the city of Kashmir in the land of Hind. When the goldsmith

Starting point is 06:46:49 heard this, he left Persia for Kashmir's city, where he arrived after much travail. he tarried awhile there till one day he went and clapped up an acquaintance with a certain of the citizens who was a druggist a fellow of a sharp wit keen crafty and being one even tied in company with him asked him of their king and his polity to which the other answered saying well our king is just and righteous in his governance equitable to his lieges and beneficent to his commons and abhorreth nothing in the world save sorcerers. But whenever a sorcerer or sorceress falls into his hands, he casteth them into a pit without the city, and there leaveth them in hunger to die. Then he questioned him of the king's wazirs, and the druggist told him of each minister, his fashion and condition, till the talk came round to the singing girl, and he told him, she belongeth to such a wazir. The goldsmith took note of the minister's abiding place, and waited some days,

Starting point is 06:48:00 till he had devised a device to his desire. And one night of rain and thunder and stormy winds, he provided himself with thieves tackle and repaired to the house of the wazir who owned the damsel. Here he hanged a rope ladder with grappling irons to the battlements, and climbed up to the terrace roof of the palace. Thence he descended to the inner court. and making his way into the harem found all the slave-girls lying asleep each on her own couch and amongst them reclining on a couch of alabaster and covered with a coverlet of cloth of gold a damsel as she were the moon rising on a fourteenth night at her head stood a candle of ambergris and at her feet another each in a candlestick of glittering gold her brilliancy dimming them both, and under her pillow lay a casket of silver, wherein were her jewels. He raised the coverlet, and drawing near her, considered her straightly, and behold it was the lutenist whom he desired,

Starting point is 06:49:08 and of whom he was come in quest. So he took out a knife and wounded her in the back parts, a palpable outer wound, whereupon she awoke in terror. But when she saw him she was afraid to cry out, he came to steal her goods, so she said to him, Take the box in what is therein, but slay me not, for I am in thy protection and under thy safeguard, and my death will profit thee nothing. Accordingly, he took the box, and went away. And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day, and ceased saying her permitted say. When it was the five hundred and eighty-seventh night, she said, it hath reached me, O auspicious king, that when the goldsmith had entered the wazir's palace,

Starting point is 06:49:57 he wounded the damsel slightly in the back parts, and taking the box which contained her jewels, went it his way. And when morning morrowed he donned clothes after the fashion of men of learning, and doctors of the law, and taking the jewel case, went in therewith to the king of the city, before whom he kissed the ground and said to him, O king, I am a devout man, with all a loyal well-wisher to thee and come hither a pilgrim to thy court from the land of karrasan attracted by the report of thy just governance and righteous dealings with thy subjects and minded to be under thy standard i reached this city at the last of the day and finding the gate locked and barred threw me down to sleep without the walls but as i lay betwixt sleep and wake behold i saw four women come up. One riding on a broomstick, another on a wine-jar, a third on an oven-peel, and a fourth on a black bitch, and I knew that they were witches making for thy city. One of them came up to me,

Starting point is 06:51:06 and kicked me with her foot, and beat me with a fox's tail she had in her hand, hurting me grievously. Whereat I was wroth and smote her with a knife I had with me, wounding her in the back parts, as she turned to flee from me. When she felt the wound she fled before me, and in her flight, let drop this casket, which I picked up, and opening, found these costly jewels therein. So do thou take it, for I have no need thereof, being a wanderer in the mountains, who hath rejected the world from my heart, and renounced it in all that is in it, seeking only the face of Allah the most high. Then he set the casket before the king, and fared forth. The king opened the box, and emptying out all the trinkets it contained,

Starting point is 06:51:56 fell to turning them over with his hand, till he chanced upon a necklace whereof he had made a gift to the wazir to whom the girl belonged. Seeing this he called the minister in question and said to him, "'This is the necklace I gave thee?' He knew it at first sight, and answered, "'It is, and I gave it to a singing-girl of mine,' Quoth the king, Fetch that girl to me forthwith. So he fetched her to him, and he said, Uncover her back parts and see if there be a wound therein or no.

Starting point is 06:52:30 The wazir accordingly bared her backside, and finding a knife wound there, said, Yes, oh my lord, there is a wound. Then, said the king, This is the witch of whom the devotee told me, and there can be no doubt of it, and bade cast her into the witches well. So they carried her thither at once. As soon as it was night, and the goldsmith knew that his plot had succeeded, he repaired to the pit, taking with him a purse of a thousand dinars, and entering into converse with the water, sat talking with him till a third part of the

Starting point is 06:53:07 night was passed, when he broached the matter to him, saying, know, oh my brother, that this girl is innocent of that they lay to her charge, and that it was I brought this calamity upon her. Then he told him the whole story, first and last, adding, Take, oh my brother, this purse of a thousand dinars, and give me the damsel, that I may carry her to my own land, for these gold pieces will profit thee more than keeping her in prison. Moreover Allah will requite thee for us, and we too will both offer up prayers for thy prosperity and safety. When the warder heard this story, he marveled with exceeding marvel at the device and its success,

Starting point is 06:53:54 then taking the money he delivered the girl to the goldsmith, conditioning that he should not abide one hour with her in the city. Thereupon the goldsmith took the girl and fared on with her, without ceasing till he reached, his own country and so he won his wish see then o king said the damsel the malice of men and their wiles now thy wiseres hinder thee from doing me justice on thy son but to-morrow we shall stand both thou and i before the just judge and he shall do me justice on thee o king when the king heard this he commanded to put his son to death but the fifth wazir came into him and kissing the ground before him said o mighty king delay and hasten not to slay thy son speed will oftentimes repentance breed and i fear for thee lest thou repent even as did the man who never laughed for the rest of his days and how was that o wazir asked the king quoth he i have heard tell o king this tale concerning the man who never left during the rest of his days there was once a man who was rich in lands and houses and monies and goods eunuchs and slaves and he died and went to the mercy of allah the most high leaving a young son who when he grew up gave himself to feasting and carousing and hearing music and singing and the loud laughter of parasites and he wasted his substance in gifts and prodigality till he had squandered all the money his father left him and shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say end of section nineteen recording by ronda fetterman

Starting point is 06:55:51 Section 20 of the Book of a Thousand Nights and a Night, Volume 6. This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. The Book of a Thousand Nights and a Night, Volume 6, by Anonymous, translated by Richard Francis Burton, Section 20. When it was the 58th night, she said, it hath reached me, O auspicious king, that the young man, when he had squandered all the money his

Starting point is 06:56:32 father had left him, and not thereof remained to him, betook himself to selling his slaves and handmaids, lands and houses, and spent the proceeds on likewise, till he was reduced to beggary and must-needs labor for his living. He abode thus a year's space at the end of which time he was sitting one day under a wall, awaiting who should hire him, when behold, there came up to him an old man of comely aspect and apparel, and saluted him. The young man asked, O uncle, hast thou known me aforetime? And the other answered, Not so, O my son, I know thee not at all, at all, but I see the trace of gentle breeding on thee despite thy present case. O uncle rejoined the poor,

Starting point is 06:57:22 man. Needs must fate and fortune be accomplished. But, O uncle, O bright of blee, hast thou any occasion wherein thou wouldst employ me? said the other. I wish, O my son, to employ thee in a slight manner. What is it? Quoth the young man, and quoth the stranger. We are eleven old men in one house, but we have none to serve us. So, and thou wilt stay and take service. with us, thou shalt have food and clothing to thy heart's content, besides what cometh to thee of coin and other good, and happily Allah will restore thee thy fortune by our means. Replied the youth, hearkening and obedience. But I have a condition to impose on thee. What is that? O my son, it is that thou keep our secret in what thou seest us do, and if thou see us weep,

Starting point is 06:58:21 that thou question us not of the cause of our weeping. It is well, O uncle. Come with me, oh, my son, with the blessing of Allah Almighty. So he followed him to the bath, where the old man caused cleanse his body of the crusted dirt, after which he sent one to fetch a handsome garment of linen and clad him therein. Then he carried him to his company,

Starting point is 06:58:47 which was in his domicile, and the youth found a house lofty and spacious and strongly built, wherein were sitting chambers facing one another, and saloons, in each one a fountain of water, with the birds warbling over it and windows on every side, giving upon a fair garden within the house. The old man brought him into one of the parlors,

Starting point is 06:59:09 which was variegated with many colored marbles, the ceiling thereof being decorated with ultramarine and glowing gold, and the floor be spread with silken carpets. Here he found ten shakes in mourning apparel, seated one opposite other, weeping and wailing. He marveled at their case and purpose to ask the reason, when he remembered the condition and held his peace. Then he who had brought him, delivered to him a chest containing thirty thousand dinars, and said to him, O my son, spend freely from this chest what is fitting for our entertainment and thine own, and be thou faithful and remember that wherewith I charged thee.

Starting point is 06:59:53 I hear and I obey, answered he, and serve them days and nights, till one of them died, whereupon his fellows washed him and shrouded him, and buried him in a garden behind the house. Nor did death cease to take them, one after other, till there remained but the sheikh who had hired the youth for service. Then the two men, old and young, dwelt together, in that house alone for years and years, nor was there with them a third save Allah the most high, till the elder fell sick, and when the younger despaired of his life, he went up to him, and condoling with him, said, O uncle mine, I have waited upon you twelve years and have not failed of my duties a single hour, but have been loyal and faithful to you and served

Starting point is 07:00:43 you with my might and main. Yes, so my son, answered the old old. old man. Thou hast served us well until all my comrades are gone to the mercy of Allah, to whom belong honor and glory, and needs must I die also. O my lord, said the other, thou art in danger of death, and I would fain have thee acquaint me with the cause of your weeping and wailing and of your unceasing mourning and lamentation and regrets. Oh, my son, answered the old man.

Starting point is 07:01:18 it concerns thee not to know this so importune me not of what i may not do for i have vowed to almighty allah that i would acquaint none of his creatures with this lest he be afflicted with what befell me and my comrades if then thou desire to be delivered from that into which we fell look thou open not yonder door and pointed to a certain part of the house but if thou have a mind to suffer what we have suffered what we have suffered then open it and thou shalt learn the cause of that thou hast seen us do and when as thou knowest it thou shalt repent what time repentance will avail thee not and shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say when it was the five hundred and eighty-ninth night she said it hath reached me o auspicious king that the surviving sheik of the ten said to the youth Beware how thou open yonder door, or thou shalt repent what time repentance will avail thee not. Then his sickness grew on him, and he accomplished his term, and departed life to the presence of his lord. And the young man washed him with his own hands, and shrouded him, and buried him by the side of his comrades, after which he abode alone in the place, and took possession of whatsoever was therein. With all he was uneasy and troubled concerning the case of the old men,

Starting point is 07:02:53 till one day as he sat pondering the words of his dead master, and his injunction not to open the door, he suddenly bethought himself to go and look for it. So he rose up and repaired to the part whither the dead man had pointed, and sought till, in a dark, unfrequented corner, he found a little door, over which the spider had seen, spun her webs, and which was fastened with four padlocks of steel. Seeing this, he recalled the old man's warning, and restrained himself, and went away. And he held aloof from it seven days,

Starting point is 07:03:31 whilst all the time his heart prompted him to open it. On the eighth day his curiosity got the better of him, and he said, Come what will needs must I open the door, and see what will happen to me therefrom. Nothing can avert what is faded and foreordained of Allah the most high, nor doth ought befall but by his will. So saying he rose and broke the padlocks, and opening the door, saw a narrow passage, which he followed for some three hours, when low, he came out on the shore of a vast ocean, and fared on along the beach, marvelling at this main, whereof he had no knowledge and turning right and left presently a great eagle swooped down upon him from the lift and seizing him in its talons flew away with him betwixt heaven and earth till it came to an island in the midst of the sea where it cast him down and flew away the youth was dazed and knew not whither he should wend but after a few days as he sat pondering his case he caught sight of the sails of a ship

Starting point is 07:04:44 in the middlemost of the main, as it were a star in the sky, and his heart claved to it, so happily his deliverance might be therein. He continued gazing at the ship, until it drew nigh, when he saw that it was a foist builded all of ivory and ebony, inlaid with glistening gold made fast by nails of steel, with oars of sandal and line aloes. In it were ten damsels, high bosom maids as they were moons and when they saw him they came ashore to him and kissed his hands saying thou art the king the bridegroom then there accosted him a young lady as she were the sun shining in sky serene bearing in hand a silken napkin wherein were a royal robe and a crown of gold set with all manner rubies and pearls she threw the robe over him and set the crown upon his head after which the damsels bore him on their arms to the foist where he found all kinds of silken carpets and hangings of various colours then they spread the sails and stretched out into mid-ocean quoth the young man indeed when they put to sea with me we seemed it was a dream and i knew not whither they were wending with me presently we drew near to the young man indeed when they put to sea with me seemed it was a dream and i knew not whither they were wending with me

Starting point is 07:06:09 presently we drew near to land and i saw the shore full of troops none knoweth their number save allah extolled and exalted be he and all were magnificently arrayed and clad in complete steel as soon as the vessel had made fast the land they brought me five marked horses of noble breeds housed and saddled with gold inlaid with all manner pearls and high-priced beasel stones i chose out one of them and mounted it whilst they led the four others before me then they raised the banners and the standards over my head whilst the troops range themselves right and left and we set out with drums beating and cymbals clashing and rode on whilst i debated in myself whether i were in sleep or on wake and we never ceased faring i believing not in that my estate but taking all this for the embrilio of a dream till we drew near to the green mead full of palaces and gardens and trees and streams and blooms and birds chanting the praises of allah the one the victorious hereupon behold an army sallied out from amid the palaces and gardens as it were the torrent when it poureth down and the host overflowed the mead these troops halted at a little distance from me and presently there rode forth from amongst them a king preceded by some of his chief officers on foot when he came up to the young man saith the tale-teller he dismounted also and the two saluted he saluted he saluted each other after the goodliest fashion. Then said the king, come with us for thou art my guest.

Starting point is 07:07:59 So they took horse again, and rode on stirrup touching stirrup in great and stately procession, conversing as they went till they came to the royal palace, where they alighted together, and Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day, and ceased to say, her permitted say. when it was the five hundred ninety-of-night she said it hath reached me o auspicious king that the two rode together in stately procession till they entered the palace when the king taking the young man by the hand led him into a domed room followed by his suite and making him sit down on a throne of gold seated himself beside him then he unbound the swath from his lower face and behold the king was a young lady like the splendid sun shining in the sheeny sky perfect in beauty and loveliness brilliancy and grace arrogance and all perfection the youth looked upon this singular blessing and embodied boon and was lost in wonder at her charms and comeliness and seemly head and at the splendour and affluence he saw about him when she said know o king that i am the queen of this land and that all the troops thou hast seen whether horse or foot are women there is no man amongst them for in this hour state the men delve and sow and e'er and occupy themselves with the tillage of the earth and the building of towns and other mechanical crafts and useful arts whilst the women govern and fill the great offices of state and bear arms

Starting point is 07:09:45 at this the youth marvelled with exceeding marvel and as they were in discourse behold in came the wazir who was a tall grey-haired old woman of venerable semblance and majestic aspect, and it was told him that this was the minister. Quoth the queen to her, Bring us the causey and witnesses. So she went out to do this, and the queen, turning to him, conversed with him in friendly fashion, and enforced herself to reassure his awe of her, and do away his shame with speech blander than the Zephyr, saying, Are thou content to be to me barren, and I to thee, femme? Thereupon he arose, and would have kissed ground between her hands, but she forbade him, and he replied, saying,

Starting point is 07:10:36 O my lady, I am the least of thy slaves who serve thee. Seest thou all these servants and soldiers, and riches, and hordes and treasures? Asked she, and he answered, Yes, quoth she. all these are at thy commandment to dispose of them and give and bestow as seemeth good to thee then she pointed to a closed door and said all these things are at thy disposal save yonder door that shalt thou not open and if thou open it thou shalt repent when repentance will avail thee not so beware and again i say beware hardly had she made an end of speaking when the waziris entered followed by the kazi and witnesses all old women with their hair streaming over their shoulders and of reverend and majestic presence and the queen bade them draw up the contract of marriage between herself and the young man accordingly they performed the marriage ceremony and the queen made a great bride feast to which she bade all the troops and after they had eaten and drunken he went in unto his bride and found her a maid virginal so he did away her hymen and abode with her seven years in all joyance and solace and delight of life

Starting point is 07:12:02 till one day of the days he bethought himself of the forbidden door and said in himself except there were within treasures greater and grander than any i have seen she had not forbidden me therefrom so he rose and opened the door when lo behind it was the very bird which had brought him from the sea-shore to the island and it said to him no welcome to a face that shall never prosper when he saw it and heard what it said he fled from it but it followed him and seizing him in its talons flew with him an hour's journey betwixt heaven and earth till it set him down in the place whence it had first carried him off and flew away. When he came to his senses he remembered his late estate, great, grand and glorious, and the troops which rode before him and his lordly rule, and all the honor and fair fortune he had lost and fell to weeping and wailing.

Starting point is 07:13:09 He abode two months on the seashore, where the bird had set him down, hoping yet to return to his wife, till as he sat one night wakeful, mourning, and musing, behold, he heard one speaking, albeit he saw no one, and saying, How great were the delights? Alas, far from thee is the return of that which has passed. When he heard this, he redoubled in his regrets,

Starting point is 07:13:42 and despaired of recovering his wife and his fair estate that was. so he returned weary and broken-hearted to the house where he had dwelt with the old men and knew that they had fared even as he and that this was the cause of their shedding tears and lamenting their lot wherefore he ever after held them excused then being overcome with chagrin and concern he took to his chamber and gave himself up to mourning and lamentation and he ceased not crying and complaining and left eating and drinking and pleasant sense and merriment nor did he laugh once till the day of his death when they buried him beside the shakes see then o king continued the wazir what cometh of precipitance verily it is unpraised worthy and bequeath repentance, and in this I give thee true advice and loyal counsel. When the king heard this story, he turned from slaying his son, and Sharazade perceived the dawn of day, and ceased saying her permitted say. End of Section 20, recording by Rhonda Fetterman.

Starting point is 07:15:03 Section 21 of the Book of a Thousand Nights and a Night, Volume 6. This is a Libravox recording. all Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. The Book of a Thousand Nights and a Night, Volume 6, by Anonymous, translated by Richard Francis Burton. Section 21. When it was the 591st night, she said, it hath reached me, O auspicious king, that when the king heard this story he turned from slaying his son. But on the Sixth day the favorite came into him, handing a naked knife in hand, and said to him, No, O my lord, that except thou hearken to my complaint and protect thy right and thine honor against

Starting point is 07:15:55 these thy ministers, who are banded together against me, to do me wrong. I will kill myself with this knife, and my blood will testify against thee on the day of doom. Indeed, they pretend that women are full of tricks and malice and perfidy, and they design thereby to defeat me of my due, and hinder the king from doing me justice. But behold, I will prove to thee that men are more perfidious than women by the story of a king among the kings, and how he gained access to the wife of a certain merchant. And what passed between them? asked the king, and she answered, I have heard tell, O August King, a tale of the king's son and the merchant's wife. A certain merchant who was addicted to jealousy had a wife that was a model of beauty and loveliness,

Starting point is 07:16:47 and of the excess of his fear and jealousy of her. He would not abide with her in any town, but built her a pavilion without the city, apart from all other buildings. And he raised its height and strengthened its doors, and provided them with curiously. locks, and when he had occasion to go into the city, he locked the doors and hung the keys about his neck. One day, when the merchant was abroad, the king's son of that city came forth to take his pleasure and solace in the open country without the walls, and seeing the solitary pavilion stood still to examine it for a long while. At last he caught sight of a charming lady looking

Starting point is 07:17:30 and leaning out of one of the windows, and being smitten with amazement at her grace and charms, cast about for a means of getting to her, but could find none. So he called up one of his pages, who brought him in case and paper, and wrote her a letter, setting forth his condition for love of her. Then he set it on the pile point of an arrow, and shot it at the pavilion, and it fell in the garden, where the lady was then walking with her maidens. She said to one of the girls, hasten and bring me yon letter, for she could read writing, and when she had read it and understood what he said in it of his love and passion, yearning and longing, she wrote him a merciful reply to the effect that she was smitten with a yet fiercer desire for him, and then threw

Starting point is 07:18:22 the letter down to him from one of the windows of the pavilion. When he saw her, he was He picked up the reply, and after reading it, came under the window and said to her, "'Let me down a thread that I may send thee this key, which do thou take and keep by thee.' So she let down a thread, and he tied the key to it. Then he went away, and repairing to one of his father's wazirs, complained to him of his passion for the lady, and that he could not live without her. And the minister said, And how dost thou bid me contrive? quoth the prince i would have thee set me in a chest and commit it to the merchant feigning to him that it is thine and desiring him to keep it for thee in his country house some days that i may have my will of her then do thou demand it back from him

Starting point is 07:19:14 the wazir answered with love and gladness so the prince returned to his palace and fixing the padlock the key whereof he had given the lady on a chest he had by him entered therein then the wazir locked it upon him and setting it on a mule carried it to the pavilion of the merchant who seeing the minister came forth to him and kissed his hands saying be like our lord the wazir hath some need or business which we may have the pleasure and honour of accomplishing for him quoth the minister i would have thee set this chest in the safest and best place within thy house and keep it till i seek it of thee so the merchant made the reporters carry it inside and set it down in one of his store closets, after which he went out on business. As soon as he was gone, his wife arose and went up to the chest, and unlocked it with the key the king's son had given her, whereupon there came forth a youth like the moon. When she saw him she donned her richest raiment, and carried him to her sitting saloon, where they abode seven days, eating and drinking and making merry. And as often as her husband came home,

Starting point is 07:20:31 she put the prince back into the chest and locked it upon him. One day the king asked for his son, and the wazir hurried off to the merchant's place of business, and sought of him the chest. And Chárazad perceived the dawn of day, and ceased to say her permitted say. When it was the 592nd night, she said it hath reached me, O auspicious king, that when the wazir reached the merchant's counting-house, he asked for the box. The man accordingly repaired in haste to his pavilion, contrary to his custom, and knocked at the door. When his wife was aware of him, she hurried the prince back into the chest, but in her confusion forgot to lock it. the merchant bade the porters take it up and carry it to his house in the town so they took up the box by the lid whereupon it flew open and lo the prince was lying within when the merchant saw him and knew him for the king's son he went out to the wazir and said to him go in thou and take the king's son for none of us may lay hands on him

Starting point is 07:21:44 so the minister went in and taking the prince went away with him as soon as they were gone the merchant put away his wife and swore that he would never marry again and continued the damsel i have heard tell also o king a tale of the page who feigned to know the speech of birds a certain man of rank once entered the slave market and saw a page being cried for sale so he bought him and carrying him home said to his wife take good care of him the lad abode there for a while till one day the man said to his wife go forth to-morrow to the garden and take thy solace therein and amuse thyself and enjoy thyself and she replied with love and gladness now when the page heard this he made ready in secret meat and drink and fruits and dessert and sallied forth with them privily that night to the garden where he laid the meat under one tree the wine under another and the fruit and conserves under a third in the way his mistress must pass when morning morrowed the husband bade him accompany the lady to that garden carrying with him, him all the provisions required for the day. So she took horse and riding thither with him, dismounted and entered. Presently as they were walking about, a crow croaked, and the page said, Thou sayest sooth, whereupon his mistress asked him,

Starting point is 07:23:21 dost thou know what the crow said? And he answered, yes, so my lady, he said, under yonder tree is meat, go and eat it. So she said, I see, see thou really dost understand them then she went up to the tree and finding a dish of meat ready dressed was assured that the youth told the truth and marvelled with exceeding marvel they ate of the meat and walked about awhile taking their pleasure in the garden till the crow croaked a second time and the page again replied thou sayest sooth what said he quoth the lady and quoth the page o my lady he sayest that under such a tree are a gouglet of water flavored with musk and a pitcher of old wine. So she went up with him to the tree, and finding the wine and water there, redoubled in wonderment, and the page was magnified in her eyes. They sat down and drank, then arose and walked in another part of the garden. Presently the crow croaked again, and the page said,

Starting point is 07:24:28 thou sayest sooth said the lady what sayeth he now and the page replied he saith that under yonder tree are fruits fresh and dried so they went thither and found all as he said and sat down and ate then they walked about again till the crow croaked a fourth time whereupon the page took up a stone and threw it at him quoth she what said he that thou should stone him oh my lady answered he he said what i cannot tell thee say on rejoined she and be not abashed in my presence for there is naught between me and thee but he ceased not to say no and she pressed him to speak till at last she conjured him to tell her and he answered the crow said to me do with thy lady even as doth her husband when she heard his words she laughed till she fell backward and said this is a light matter and i may not gainsay thee therein so saying she went up to a tree and spreading the carpet under it lay down and call to him to come and do her need when lo her husband who had followed them unawares and saw this called out to the page saying hark ye boy what ails thy mistress to lie there weeping answered the page o my lord she fell off the tree and was killed and none but allah be he extolled and exalted restored her to thee wherefore she lay down a while to recover herself by rest when the lady saw her husband standing by her head she rose and made a show of weakness and pain saying oh my back oh my sides

Starting point is 07:26:26 come to my help oh my friends i shall never survive this so her husband was deceived and said to the page fetch thy mistress's horse and set her thereon then he carried her home the boy holding one stirrup and the man the other and saying allah vouchsafed thee ease and recovery these then o king said the damsel are some instances of the craft of men and their perfect Wherefore let not thy wazirs turn thee from succoring me and doing me justice. Then she wept, and when the king saw her weeping, for she was the dearest to him of all his slave-girls, he once more commanded to put his son to death. But the sixth minister entered, and kissing-ground before him, said, May the Almighty advance the king. Verily, I am a loyal counselor to thee.

Starting point is 07:27:26 in that i counseled thee to deal deliberately in the matter of thy son and shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say when it was the five hundred and ninety-third night she said it hath reached me o auspicious king that the sixth wazir said o king deal deliberately in the matter of thy son for falsehood is as smoke and fact is built on base which shall not be broken yea and the light of sooth dispelleth the night of untruth know that the perfidy of women is great even as saith allah the most high in his holy book verily the malice of you is great and indeed a tale hath reached me that a certain woman be fooled the chiefs of the state on such wise as never did any before her asked the king and And how was that? And the wazir answered, I have heard tell a tale, O King, as follows concerning the lady and her five suitors. A woman of the daughters of the merchants was married to a man who was a great traveller. It chanced once that he set out for a far country and was absent so long that his wife,

Starting point is 07:28:49 for pure ennui, fell in love with a handsome young man of the sons of the merchants, and they loved each other with exceeding love. One day the youth quarreled with another man, who lodged a complaint against him with the chief of police, and he cast him into prison. When the news came to the merchant's wife, his mistress, she well-nigh lost her wits. Then she arose and donning her richest clothes repaired to the house of the chief of police. She saluted him and presented a written petition to this purport. hast clapped in jail as my brother, such and such, who fell out with such and one, and those who testified against him bore false witness. He hath been wrongfully imprisoned, and I have none

Starting point is 07:29:38 other to come into me, nor to provide for my support. Therefore I beseech thee of thy grace to release him. When the magistrate had read the paper, he cast his eyes on her, and fell in love with her forthright. So he said to her, Go into the house. till I bring him before me then I will send for thee and thou shalt take him oh my lord replied she I have none to protect me save almighty Allah I am a stranger and may not enter any man's abode Quoth the Wally I will not let him go except thou come to my home and I take my will of thee rejoined she if it must be so thou must needs come to my lodging and sit and sleep the siesta, and rest the whole day there. And where is thy abode? asked he, and she answered, In such a place, and appointed him for such a time.

Starting point is 07:30:39 Then she went out from him, leaving his heart taken with love of her, and she repaired to the Qazi of the city, to whom she said, O our lord the Qazi, he exclaimed, Yes, and she continued, look into my case, and thy reward be with Allah the most high. Quoth he, who hath wronged thee? And quoth she, O my lord, I have a brother, and I have none but that one, and it is on his account that I come to thee. Because the Wali hath imprisoned him for a criminal, and men have borne false witness against him, that he is a wrongdoer, and I beseech thee to intercede for him with the chief of police. when the kazi looked on her he fell in love with her forthright and said to her enter the house and rest awhile with my handmaids whilst i send to the wali to release thy brother

Starting point is 07:31:37 if i knew the money fine which is upon him i would pay it out of my own purse so i may have my desire of thee for thou pleasest me with thy sweet speech quoth she if thou o my lord do thus we must not blame other Quoth he and thou wilt not come in when thy ways then said she and thou wilt have it so o our lord it will be privier and better in my place than in thine for here are slave-girls and eunuchs and goers in and comers out and indeed I am a woman who wotteth not of this fashion but need compeleth asked the kazi and where is thy house and she answered in such a place and appointed him for the same day and time as the chief of police then she went out from him to the wazir to whom she preferred her petition for the release from prison of her brother who was absolutely necessary to her but he also required her of herself saying suffer me to have my will of thee and i will set thy brother free quoth she and thou wilt have it so be it in my house for there it will be privier both for me and for thee it is not far distant and thou knowest that which behovest us women of cleanliness and adornment asked he where is thy house in such a place answered she and appointed him for the same time as the two others then she went out from him to the king of the city and told him her story and sought of him her brother's release. Who imprisoned him? inquired he, and she replied,

Starting point is 07:33:25 "'Twas the chief of police. When the king heard her speech, it transpierced his heart with the arrows of love, and he bade her enter the palace with him, that he might send to the Kazi and release her brother. Quoth she, O king, this thing is easy to thee, whether I will or nil, and if the king will indeed have this of me, it is of my good fortune but if he come to my house he will do me the more honor by setting step therein even as saith the poet o my friends have ye seen or have ye heard of his visit whose virtues i hold so high quoth the king we will not cross thee in this so she appointed him for the same time as the three others and told him where her her house was. And Shara'azade perceived the dawn of day, and ceased to say her permitted say.

Starting point is 07:34:28 End of Section 21, recording by Rhonda Federman. Section 22 of the Book of a Thousand Nights and a Night, Volume 6. This is a Libervox recording. All Libervox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visitlibovox.org. by Jacob Starr. The Book of a Thousand Nights and a Night, Volume 6, by Anonymous. Translated by Richard Francis Burton, Section 22. When it was the 594th night, she said,

Starting point is 07:35:14 It hath reached me, O auspicious king, that the woman told the king where her house was, and appointed him for the same time as the Wali, the Qazi, and the wazir. Then she left him, and betaking herself to a man, was a carpenter, said to him, I would have thee make me a cabinet with four compartments, one above other, each with its door for locking up. Let me know thy hire, and I will give it thee. Replied he, my price will be four dinars, but, O noble lady, and well protected, if thou wilt vouchsafe me thy favours, I will ask nothing of thee. Rejoined she, and there be no help but that thou

Starting point is 07:35:54 have it so, then make thou five compartments with their padlocks. And she appointed him to bring it exactly on the day required. Said he, It is well, sit down, O my lady, and I will make it for thee forthright, and after I will come to thee at my leisure. So she sat down by him, whilst he fell to work on the cabinet, and when he had made an end of it, she chose to see it at once carried home and set up in the sitting chamber. Then she took four gowns and carried them to the dyer, who dyed them each of a different color, after which she applied herself to making ready meat and drink, fruits, flowers, and perfumes. Now when the appointed tristing day came, she donned her costliest dress, and adorned herself, and scented herself, then spread the sitting-room with various kinds of

Starting point is 07:36:45 rich carpets and sat down to await who should come. And behold, the kazi was the first to appear, devancing the rest and when she saw him she rose to her feet and kissed the ground before him then taking him by the hand made him sit down by her on the couch and lay with him and fell to jesting and toying with him by and he would have her do his desire but she said o my lord doff thy clothes and turbaned and assume this yellow cassock and this headkerchief whilst i bring thee meat and drink and after thou shalt win thy will so saying she took his clothes and turbaned and assume this yellow cassohift and this headkerchief whilst i bring thee meat and drink and after thou shalt win thy will so saying she took his clothes and turbaned and clad him in the cassock and kerchief but hardly had she done this when lo there came a knocking at the door asked he who is that rapping at the door and she answered my husband quoth the kazi what is to be done and where shall i go quoth she fear nothing i will hide thee in this cabinet and he do as seemeth good to thee so she took him by the hand and pushing him into the lowest compartment, lock the door upon him. Then she went to the house-door, where she found the Wali. So she bust ground before him, and taking his hand, brought him into the saloon, where she made him sit down, and said to him, O my lord, this house is thy house, this place is thy place,

Starting point is 07:38:07 and I am thy handmaid. Thou shalt pass all this day with me, wherefore do thou doff thy clothes and don this red gown, for it is a sleeping gown. So she took away his clothes, and made him assumed the red gown, and set on his head an old patched rag she had by her, after which she sat by him on the divan, and she sported him while he toyed with her a while, till he put out his hand to her, whereupon she said to him, O our lord, this day is thy day, and none shall share in it with thee, but first, of thy favour and benevolence, write me in order for my brother's release from jail that my heart may be at ease. Quoth he, harkening and obedience on my head, and I, be it, and wrote a letter to his treasurer, saying,

Starting point is 07:38:52 As soon as this communication shall reach thee, do thou set such an one free, without stay or delay, neither answer the bearer a word. Then he sealed it, and she took it from him, after which she began to toy again with him on the divan, when, behold, someone knocked at the door. He asked, Who is that? And she answered, my husband.

Starting point is 07:39:15 What shall I do? said he, and she, enter this cabinet till I send him away and return to thee. So she clapped him into the second compartment from the bottom, and padlocked the door on him. And meanwhile, the kazi heard all they said. Then she went to the house-door, and opened it, whereupon lo, the wazir entered. She busts the ground before him, and received him with all honor and worship, saying, O my lord, thou exaltest us by coming to our house. Allah never deprive us of the light of thy countenance.

Starting point is 07:39:46 Then she seated him on the divan, and said to him, O my lord, doth thy heavy dress and turbaned and don these lighter vestments. So he put off his clothes and turbaned, and she clad him in a blue cassock and a tall red bonnet, and said to him, erst thy garb was that of the wazerate, so leave it to its own time and don this light gown, which is better fitted for carousing in making merry and sleep. thereupon she began to play with him and he with her and he would have done his desire of her but she put him off saying o my lord this shall not fail us as they were talking there came a knocking at the door and the wazir asked her who is that to which she answered my husband quoth he what is to be done quoth she enter this cabinet till i get rid of him and come back to thee and fear thou nothing so she put him in the third compartment and locked the door on him, after which she went out and opened the house-door, and lo, and behold, in came the king. As soon as she saw him, she kissed the ground before him, and, taking him by the hand, led him into the saloon, and seated him on the divan at the upper end. Then she said to him, Verily, O king, thou dost us high honour, and if we brought thee to gift the world and all that therein is, it would not be worth a single one of thy steps uswards.

Starting point is 07:41:12 and shahrazad perceived the dawn of the day and ceased to say her permitted say when it was the five hundred and ninety-fifth night she said it hath reached me o auspicious king that when the king entered the lady's house she said to him had we brought thee to gift the world and all which is therein it would not be worth a single one of thy steps uswards and when he had taken his seat on the divan she said give me leave to speak one word say what thou wilt answered he and she said o my lord take thine ease and doft thy dress and turbaned now his clothes were worth a thousand dinars and when he put them off she clad him in a patched gown worth at the very most tender arms and fell to talking and jesting with him all this while the folk in the cabinet hearing everything that passed but not daring to say a word presently the king put his hand to her neck and sought to do his desire of her when she said this thing shall not failest but i had first promised myself to entertain thee in this sitting-chamber and i have that which shall content thee now as they were speaking some one knocked at the door and he asked her who is that my husband answered she and he make him go away of his own good will or i will fare forth to him and send them away per force replied she nay o my lord have patience till i send him away by my skilful contrivance and i how shall i do inquired the king whereupon she took him by the hand and making him enter the fourth compartment of the cabinet locked it upon him then she went out and opened the house-door and behold the carpenter entered and saluted her quoth she what manner of thing is this cabinet thou hast made me what aileth thee o my lady asked he and she answered the top compartment is too straight rejoined he not so

Starting point is 07:43:13 and she, Go in thyself and see, it is not wide enough for thee. Quoth he, it is wide enough for four, and entered the fifth compartment, whereupon she locked the door on him. Then she took the letter of the chief of police, and carried it to the treasurer, who, having read and understood it, kissed it and delivered her lover to her. She told him all she had done, and he said, And how shall we act now? She answered, We will remove hence to another city, for after this work there is no tarrying for us here so twain packed up what goods they had loading them on camels set out forthright for another city meanwhile the five abode each in his compartment of the cabinet without eating or drinking three whole days during which time they held their water until at last the carpenter could retain his no longer so he staled on the king's head and the king yearned on the wazir's head and the wazir pittled on the wali and the wali pissed on the

Starting point is 07:44:13 the head of the Kazi. Whereupon the judge cried out and said, What nastiness is this? Doth not what straight we are in suffice us, but you must make water upon us? The chief of police recognized the Kazi's voice and answered saying aloud, Allah increased thy reward, O Kazi! And when the Kazi heard him, he knew him for the Wali. Then the chief of police lifted up his voice and said, What means this nastiness? and the wazir answered saying Allah increased thy reward, O Ali. Whereupon he knew him to be the minister, when the wazir lifted up his voice and said,

Starting point is 07:44:50 What means this nastiness? But when the king heard and recognized his minister's voice, he held his peace and concealed his affair. Then, said the wazir, May God damn this woman for her dealing with us, she hath brought hither all the chief officers of the state, except the king. Quoth the king,

Starting point is 07:45:09 hold your peace for i was first to fall into the toils of this lewd strumpet whereat cried the carpenter and i what have i done i made her a cabinet for four gold pieces and when i came to seek my hire she tricked me into entering this compartment and locked the door on me and they fell to talking with one another diverting the king and doing away his chagrin presently the neighbours came up to the house and seeing it deserted said one to other but yesterday our neighbour the wife of the wife of the woman such an one was in it, but now no sound is to be heard therein, nor is soul to be seen. Let us break open the doors, and see how the case stands, lest it comes to the ears of the Wali or the king, and we be cast into prison, and regret not doing this thing before. So they broke open the doors, and entered the saloon, where they saw a large wooden cabinet, and heard men within groaning for hunger and thirst. Then said one of them, is there a jenai in this cabinet and his fellow let us heap fuel about it and burn it with fire when the kazi heard this he bawled out to them do it not and shahrazad perceived the dawn of the day and ceased to say her permitted say

Starting point is 07:46:24 when it was the five hundred and ninety-sixth night she said it hath reached me o auspicious king that when the neighbors proposed to heap fuel about the cabinet and to burn it the kazi bawled out to them do it not. And they said one to another, verily the gin make believe to be mortals and speak with men's voices. Thereupon the Qazi repeated somewhat of the sublime Quran and said to the neighbors, draw near to the cabinet wherein we are. So they drew near, and he said, I am so and so the Qazi, and ye are such and one and such in one, and we are here a company. Quoth the neighbors, Who brought you here? And he told them the whole case from beginning to end. Then they fetched a who opened the five doors and led out Cazee, Wazir, Wali, King, and Carpenter, in their queer disguises, and each, when he saw how the others were accoutred, fell a laughing at them.

Starting point is 07:47:18 Now she had taken away all their clothes, so every one of them sent out to his people for fresh clothes and put them on and went out, covering himself therewith from the sight of the folk. Consider therefore, O our Lord, the king, said the wazir, what a trick this woman had played off upon the folk, and I have heard tale also a tale of. wishes, or the man who longed to see the night of power. A certain man had longed all his life to look upon the night of power, and one night it befell that he gazed at the sky, and saw the angels and heaven's gates thrown open, and he beheld all things prostrating themselves before their lord, each in its several stead.

Starting point is 07:47:56 So he said to his wife, Hark ye such an one, verily Allah hath shown me the knight of power, and it hath been proclaimed to me, from the invisible world, that three prayers will be granted unto me, so I will consult thee for counsel as to what shall I ask." Quoth she, O man, the perfection of man in his delight is in his prickle. Therefore do thou pray Allah to grate in thy yard and magnify it. So he lifted up his hands to heaven and said, O Allah, great in my yard and magnify it. Hardly had he spoken when his tool became as big as a column, and he could neither sit nor stand nor move about, nor even stir from his stead, and when he would have carnally known his wife, she fled before him from place to place. So he said to her,

Starting point is 07:48:40 O accursed woman, what is to be done? This is thy list by reason of thy lust. She replied, No, by Allah, I did not ask for this length and huge bulk, for which the gate of a street were too straight. Pray heaven to make it less. So he raised his eyes to heaven and said, O Allah, rid me of this thing and deliver me therefrom. And immediately his prickle disappeared altogether, and he became clean smooth. When his wife saw this, she said, I have no occasion for thee, now thou art become pegless as a eunuch, shaven and shorn. And he answered her, saying, All this comes of thine ill-omened counsel and thine imbecile judgment. I had three prayers accepted of Allah, wherewith I might have gotten me my good, both in this

Starting point is 07:49:23 world and in the next, and now two wishes are gone in pure waste by lewd will, and there remaineth but one. Quoth she, pray Allah the most high to restore thee thy yard as it was. So he prayed to his lord, and his prickle was restored to its first estate. Thus the man lost his three wishes by the ill counsel and lack of wit in the woman. And this, O king, said the wazir, have I told thee that thou mightest be certified at the thoughtlessness of women and their inconsequence and silliness, and see what cometh of hearkening to their counsel? Wherefore be not persuaded by them to slay thy son, thy heart's core, who shall cause thy remembrance to survive thee. The king gave ear to his minister's words, and forbore to put his son to death.

Starting point is 07:50:06 But on the seventh day, the damsel came in, shrieking, and, after lighting a great fire in the king's presence, made as she would cast herself therein. Whereupon they laid hands on her, and brought her before him. He asked her, why hast thou done this? And she answered, except thou do me justice on thy son, I will cast myself into this very fire, and accuse thee of this on the day of resurrection, for I am a weary of my life, and before coming into thy presence I wrote my last will and testament, and gave alms of my goods and resolved upon death, and thou wilt repent with all repentance, even as did the king, of having punished the pious woman who kept the haman. Quoth the king, how is that?

Starting point is 07:50:48 And quoth she, I have heard tell, O king, this tale, constable. concerning the stolen necklace. There was once a devotee, a recluse, a woman who had devoted herself to religion. Now she used to resort to a certain king's palace, whose dwellers were blessed by her presence, and she was held of them in high honor. One day she entered that palace, according to her custom, and sat down beside the king's wife. Presently the queen gave her a necklace worth a thousand dinars, saying, keep this for me, O woman, whilst I go to the hammam.

Starting point is 07:51:21 So she entered the bath, which was in the palace, and the pious woman remaining in the place where the queen was, and awaiting her return, laid the necklace on the prayer carpet, and stood up to pray. As she was thus engaged, there came a magpie, which snatched up the necklace while she went out to obey the call of nature, and, carrying it off, hid it inside a crevice in a corner of the palace walls. When the queen came out of the bath, she sought the necklace of the recluse,

Starting point is 07:51:47 who also searched for it, but found it not nor could light on any trace of it. So she said to the king's wife, By Allah, O my daughter, none hath been with me. When thou gavest me the necklace, I laid it on the prayer-carpet, and I know not if one of the servants saweth and took it without my heed, whilst I was engaged in prayer. Almighty Allah only knoweth what has come of it. When the king heard what had happened,

Starting point is 07:52:09 he bade his queen to put the bath-woman into the question by fire and grievous blows. And Shaharazad preceded the dawn of the day, and cease to say her permitted say. End of Section 22, recording by Jacob Starr, Salt Lake City, Utah, November 18th, 2011. Section 23 of the Book of A Thousand Nights and a Night, Volume 6. This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information, or to volunteer,

Starting point is 07:52:52 here please visit libervox dot org recording by m j frank the book of a thousand nights and a night volume six by anonymous translated by richard francis burton section twenty three when it was the five hundred and ninety-seventh night she said it hath reached me o auspicious king, that when the king bad his queen questioned the bath-woman with fire and grievous blows, they tortured her with all manner tortures, but could not bring her to confess or to accuse any. Then he commanded to cast her into prison, and manacle and fetter her. And they did as he bad. One day after this, as the king sat in the inner court of his palace, with the queen by his side and water flowing around him. He saw the pie fly into a crevice in a corner of the wall and

Starting point is 07:54:04 pull out the necklace. Whereupon he cried out to a damsel who was with him, and she caught the bird and took the necklace from it. By this the king knew that the pious bathwoman had been wronged and repented of that he had done with her. So he sent for her to the presence, and fell to kissing her head and with many tears sought pardon of her. Moreover, he commanded much treasure to be given to her, but she refused and would none of it. However, she forgave him and went away, swearing never again to enter anyone's house. So she betook herself to wandering in the mountains and valleys and worshipped God until she died, and Almighty Allah have mercy upon her.

Starting point is 07:55:03 And for an instance of the malice of the male sex, continued the damsel, I have heard, O king, tell this tale of the two pigeons. A pair of pigeons once stored up wheat and barley in their nest during the winter, and when the summer came, the grain shriveled and became less, so the male pigeon said to his wife, thou hast eaten of this grain replied she no by allah i have never touched it but he believed not her words and beat her with his wings and pecked her with his bill till he killed her when the cold season returned the corn swelled out and became as before whereupon he knew that he had slain his wife wronglessly and wickedly and he repented when as repentance availed him not

Starting point is 07:56:04 then he lay down by her side mourning over her and weeping for grief and left meat and drink till he fell sick and died but added the damsel i know a story of the malice of men more extraordinary than any of these quoth the king let us hear what thou hast to tell and quoth she i have heard tell o king this story of prince beram and the princess al d'atma there once was a king's daughter who had a king's daughter who had no equal in her time for beauty and loveliness and symmetrical stature and grace brilliancy amorous lace and the art of ravishing the wits of the masculine race and her name was al datma she used to boast indeed there is none like me in this age nor was there one more accomplished than she and she and in horsemanship and martial exercises, and all that behoove at the cavalier. So all the king's son saw her to wife, but she would take none of them, saying, No man shall marry me except he overcome me at lunge of lance and stroke of sword in fair

Starting point is 07:57:39 field and patent plain. If any can do this, I will willingly wed him, but if I overcome him, I will take his sword. I will take his sword, horse and clothes and arms and right with fire upon his forehead this is the freed man of al-dat-ma now the sons of the kings flocked to her from every quarter far and near and she overcame them and put them to shame stripping them of their arms and branding them with fire presently the son of a king of the kings of the persians by name beram ibn taji heard of her and journeyed from afar to her father's court bringing with him men and horses and great store of wealth and royal treasures when he drew near the city he sent her parent a rich present and the king came out to meet him and honored him with the utmost honor then the king's son sent a message to him by his vizier demanding his daughter's hand in marriage but the king answered saying oh my son as regards my daughter al-a-lutma i have no power over her for she haths for she haths by her soul to marry none except he overcome her in the listed field quoth the prince i journeyed hither from my father's court with no other object but this, I came here to woo and for thine alliance to sue, quote the king, thou shalt meet her tomorrow. So next day he sent to bid his daughter, who, making ready for battle, dawned her harness

Starting point is 07:59:36 of war, and the folk hearing of the coming joust flocked from all sides to the field. presently the princess rode into the lists armed kappa-piae and belted with visor down and the persian king's son came out single-handed to meet her equipped at all points after the fairest of fashions then they drove at each other and fought a great while whaling and fulsing advancing and retreating till the princess finding in his own him such courage and cavalry as she had seen and none else, began to fear for herself lest he put her to shame before the bystanders, and knew that he would assuredly overcome her. So she resolved to trick him, and, raising her visor low, her face appeared more brilliant than the full moon, which when he saw he was confounded by her. her beauty and his strength failed and his spirit faltered.

Starting point is 08:00:52 When she perceived this, she fell upon him unawares in his moment of weakness, and tear him from his saddle, and he became in her hands as he were a sparrow in the clutches of an eagle, knowing not what was done with him for amazement and confusion. So she took his steed and clothes and armoured. and branding him with fire let him wind his ways when he recovered from his stupor he abode several days without meat or drink or sleep for despite and love of the girl which had taken hold upon his heart then he sent a letter by certain of his slaves to his father advising him that he could not return home till he had won his will of the princess or died for want of her when his sire got the letter he was sore concerned for his son and would have succored him by sending troops and soldiers but his wazirs dissuaded him from this and exhorted him to patience so he committed his affair to almighty allah meanwhile the prince cast about for a means of coming to his desire and presently disguising himself as a decrepit old man with a white beard over his own black beard repaired to a garden of the princess where she used to walk most of her days here he sought out the gardener and said to him

Starting point is 08:02:32 i am a stranger from a far country and from my youth upwards i have been a gardener and in the grafting of trees and the culture of fruits and flowers and care of the vine none is more skill than I. When the gardener heard this, he rejoiced in him with exceeding joy, and carried him into the garden, where he commended him to his underlings. And the prince betook himself to the service of the garden and the tending of the trees, and the bettering of their fruits, and improving the Persian water-wheels, and disposing the irrigation channels. One day, as he was thus employed, lo he saw some slaves enter the garden leading mules laden with carpets and vessels and asked them the meaning of this to which they answered the princess is minded to take her pleasure when he heard these words he hastened to his lodging and fetching some of the jewels and ornaments he had brought with him from home sat down in the garden and spread some of the garden and spread some of the wood and he had brought with him from home sat down in the garden and spread some somewhat of them out before him shaking and making a show of extreme old age and shahrazad perceived the dawn of the day and ceased to say her permitted say

Starting point is 08:04:11 when it was the five hundred and ninety-eighth night she said it hath reached me o auspicious king that the son of the persian king after disguising himself as an old man, shotten in years, and taking a seat in the garden, spread out somewhat of the jewels and ornaments before him, and made a show of shaking and trembling as if for decrepitude and the weakness of extreme senility. After an hour or so, a company of damsels and eunuchs entered with the princess in their midst, as she were the moon among the stars, and dispersed. about the garden plucking the fruits and diverting themselves presently they espied a man sitting under one of the trees and making towards him who was the prince found him a very old man whose hands and feet trembled for decrepitude and before him store

Starting point is 08:05:20 of precious jewels and royal ornaments so they marveled at his case and asked him what he did there with the jewels. When he answered, with these trinkets I would fain buy me to wife one of you. They laughed together at him and said, If one of us married thee, what will thou do with her? Said he, I will give her one kiss and divorce her. Then quoth the princess, I give thee the, this damsel to wife so he rose in coming up to her leaning on his staff and shivering and staggering kissed her and gave her the jewels and ornaments whereat she rejoiced and they laughing at him went their way next day they came again to the garden and finding him seated in the same place with more jewels and ornaments than before spread in front of him asked him oh shake what wilt thou do with this jewelry and he answered saying i wish therewith to take one of you to wife even as yesterday so the princess said i marry thee to this damsel and he came up to her and kissed her and gave her the jewels and they all went their ways

Starting point is 08:06:57 but seeing such generosity to her handmaids the princess said to herself i have more right to all these fine things than these baggagees and no harm can be tied me so when morning morrowed she went down from her chamber singly into the garden in the habit of one of her damsels and presenting herself privily before the prince said to him o sheik the king's daughter hath sent me to thee that thou mayest marry me he looked at her and knew her so he answered with love and gladness and gave her jewels and ornaments of the finest and costliest then he rose to kiss her and she off her guard and fearing nothing but when he came up to her he suddenly laid hold of her with a strong hand and instantly throwing her down on the ground abated her maidenhead then he pulled the beard from his face and said to her dost thou not know me asked she who art thou and he answered i am beram the king's son of persia who have changed my favor and am become a stranger to my people and estate for thy sake and have lavished my treasures for thy love so she rose from under him in silence and answered not his address nor spake a word of reply to

Starting point is 08:08:43 him being dazed for what had befallen her and seeing nothing better than to be silent for fear of shame and she bethought herself and said if I kill myself it will useless, and if I do him die, his death will profit me not." And presently added, Nothing will serve me but that I elope with him to his own country. Then she gathered together her monies and treasures, and sent to him, acquainting him therewith, to the intent that he also might equip himself with his wealth and needs, and they agreed upon a night on which to depart.

Starting point is 08:09:30 So at the appointed time, they mounted race-horses and set out under cover of the gloom, nor did morning morrow till they had traversed a great distance, and they ceased not faring forwards till they drew near his father's capital in the land of the Persians. When the king heard of his son's coming, he rode out to meet him with his troops, and rejoiced in him,

Starting point is 08:09:57 with exceeding joy. Then, after a few days, he sent the princess's father a splendid present and a letter to the effect that his daughter was with him and demanding her wedding equipage. Al-Datma's father

Starting point is 08:10:15 came out to meet the messengers with the greatest gladness, for that he had deemed his daughter lost and had grieved sore for her loss. After which he made bride-feasts and summoning the cassi and the witnesses let draw up the marriage contract between his daughter and the prince of persia he invested the envoys with robes of honour then he made ready her equipage and despatched it to her and prince beron abode with her till death suddened their union see therefore o king continued the favourite the malice of men in their dealing with women as for me i will not go back from my due till i die so the king once more commanded to put his son to death but the seventh wazir came in to him and kissing the ground before him said

Starting point is 08:11:15 o king have patience with me whilst i speak these words of good counsel to thee how many patient and slow-moving men unto their hope attain and how many many who are precipitate fall into shameful state. Now I have seen how this damsel have profligately excited the king by lies to horrible and unnatural cruelties. But I his mameluke, whom he hath overwhelmed with his favors and bounties, do prefer him true and loyal reed, for that I, O king, know of the malice of women that we can. which none knoweth save myself and in particular there hath reached me on this subject the story of the old woman and the son of the merchant with its warning instances asked the king and what fell out between them o wazir and the seventh wazir answered i have heard tell o king the tale of the house with the bellesir

Starting point is 08:12:30 belvedere. A wealthy merchant had a son who was very dear to him, and who said to him one day, O my father, I have a boon to beg of thee, quoth the merchant, O my son, what is it, that I may give it thee and bring thee to thy desire, though it were the light of mine eyes. Quoth the youth, give me money, that I may journey with the merchants to the city of Bavis. and see its sights and sail on the tigris and look upon the palace of the caliphs for the sons of the merchants have described these things to me and i long to see them for myself said the father oh my child oh my little son how can i endure to part from thee but the youth replied i have set my say and there is no help for it but i journey to baghdad with thy consent or e'en without it such a longing for its sight hath fallen upon me as can only be assuaged by the going hither and shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say when it was the five hundred and ninety-ninth night she said it hath reached me o auspicious king that the merchant's son said to his sire there is no help for it but that i journey to bagdad

Starting point is 08:14:14 now when the father saw that there was no help for it he provided his son with goods to the value of thirty thousand gold pieces and sent him with certain merchants in whom he trusted committing him to their charge. Then he took leave of the youth, who journeyed with his friends the merchants till they reached Baghdad, the House of Peace, where he entered the market and hired him a house

Starting point is 08:14:42 so handsome and delectable and spacious and elegant that on seeing it he well-nigh lost his wits for admiration. For therein were pavilions facing one another, with floors of colored marbles and ceilings inlaid with gold and lapis lazuli. And its gardens were full of warbling birds.

Starting point is 08:15:09 So he asked the doorkeeper what was its monthly rent, and he replied, Ten dinars. Quoth the young man, Speakest thou soothly, or dost thou but jest with me? Quoth the porter, By Allah, I speak not. not but the truth, for none who taketh up his abode in this house lodgeth in it more than

Starting point is 08:15:34 a week, or too. And how is that, quoth the youth, and quoth the porter, O my son, whoso dwelleth in this house, cometh not forth of it except sick or dead, wherefore it is known amongst all the folk of Baghdad, so that none of offereth to inhabit it, and thus cometh it that its rent has fallen so low. Hearing this, the young merchant marveled with exceeding marvel and said, Needs must there be some reason for this sickening and perishing? However, after considering a while and seeking refuge with Allah from Satan stoned,

Starting point is 08:16:21 he rented the house and took up his abode there. Then he put away apprehension from his thought, and busied himself with selling and buying, and some days passed by without any such ill case befalling him in the house as the doorkeeper had mentioned. One day as he sat upon the bench before his door there came up a grizzled crone, as she were a snake, speckled, white, and black, calling aloud on the name of Allah, magnifying him inordinately, and at the same time, putting away the stones and other obstacles from the path seeing the youth sitting there she looked at him and marvelled at his case whereupon quoth he to her

Starting point is 08:17:11 o woman dost thou know me or am i like any thou knowest when she heard him speak she toddled up to him and saluting him with the salaam asked how long hast thou dwelt in this house house answered he two months oh my mother and she said it was hereat i marvelled for i o my son know thee not neither dost thou know me nor yet art thou like unto any one i know but i marvelled for that none other than thou hath taken up his abode in this house but hath gone forth from it dead or dying save thee alone. Doubtless, oh, my son, thou hast periled thy young years, but I suppose thou hast not gone up to the upper story, neither looked out from the belvidere there.

Starting point is 08:18:19 So saying she went her way, and he fell a pondering her words, and said to himself, I have not gone up to the top of the house, nor did I know that there was a belvedere there then he arose forthright and going in searched the by-aways of the house till he espied in a wall corner among the trees a narrow door between whose posts the spider had woven her webs and said to himself haply the spider hath not webbed over the door but because death and doom is within however he heartened himself with the saying of god the most high say nothing shall befall us but what allah hath written for us and opening the door ascended a narrow flight of stairs till he came to the terrace roof where he found a belvedere in which he sat down to rest and solace himself with the view presently he caught sight of a fine house and a well-care-for hard by

Starting point is 08:19:39 surmounted by a lofty belvedere overlooking the whole of baghdad in which sat a damsel fair as a whory her beauty took possession of his whole heart and made away with his reason bequeathing to him the pains and patience of job and the grief and weeping of jacob and as he looked at her and considered her curiously an object to enumer and ascetic and make a devotee lovesick fire was lighted in his vitals and he cried folks say that whoso taketh up his abode in this house dieeth or sickeneth and this be so young demsel is assuredly the cause would heaven i knew how i shall win free of this affair for my wits are clean gone then he descended from the terrace pondering his case and sat down in the house but being unable to rest he went out and took his seat at the door absorbed in melancholy thought when behold up came the old woman afoot praising and magnifying allah as she went when he saw her he rose and accosting her with a courteous salon and wishes for her life being prolonged said to her o my mother i was healthy and hearty till thou madest mention to me of the door leading to the belvedere. So I opened it, and ascending to the top of the house, saw thence what stole away my senses.

Starting point is 08:21:37 And now methinks I am a lost man, and I know no physician for me but thyself. When she heard this, she laughed and said, No harm shall befall thee, inshallah, so Allah please. whereupon he rose and went into the house and coming back with a hundred dinars in his sleeve said to her take this o my mother and deal with me the dealing of lords with slaves and succour me quickly for if i die a claim for my blood will meet thee on the day of doom answered she with love and gladness but o my son i expect thou lend me thum aid in some small matter whereby hangs the winning of thy wish quoth he what wouldst thou have me do o my mother quoth she go to the silk market and inquire for the shop of abu alfab bin kaidam sit thee down on his counter and salute him and say to him give me the face veil thou hast by thee or afraid with gold, for he hath none handsomer in his shop. Then buy it of him, oh my son, at his own price, however high,

Starting point is 08:23:09 and keep it till I come to thee to-morrow, Allah Almighty willing. So saying, she went away, and he passed the night upon live coals of the gaza wood. Next morning he took a thousand ducats in his pocket, and repairing to the silk market, sought out the shop of Abu al-Fath. To him he was directed by one of the merchants. He found him a man of dignified aspect, surrounded by pages, eunuchs, and attendance, for he was a merchant of great wealth and consideration befriended by the Caliph. And of the blessings which Allah the Most High had bestowed upon him was the damsel who had ravished the young man's heart.

Starting point is 08:23:56 She was his wife, and had not her match for beauty, nor was her like to be found with any of the sons of the kings. The young man saluted him, and Abu al-Fath returned his salaam and bade him be seated. So he sat down by him and said to him, Oh, merchant, I wish to look at such a face veil. accordingly he bade his slave bring him a bundle of silk from the inner shop and opening it brought out a number of veils whose beauty amazed the youth among them was the veil he sought so he bought it for fifty gold pieces and bore it home well pleased and shahrazad perceived the dawn of the day and ceased to say her permitted say end of section twenty three recording by m j frank portland oregon section twenty four of the book of a thousand knights and a knight volume six this is a librivox recording all librivox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit librivox.org recording by steve mattingly the book of a thousand knights and a night volume six by anonymous translated by richard francis burton section twenty four when it was the six hundredth night she said it hath reached me o auspicious king that the youth after buying the veil of the merchant bore it home but hardly had he reached the house when lo

Starting point is 08:26:05 up came the old woman. He rose to her and gave her his purchase, when she bade him bring a live coal with which she burnt one of the corners of the veil, then folded it up as before, and, repairing to Abu al-Fath's house, knocked at the door. Asked the damsel, who is there? And she answered, aye, such and one. Now the damsel knew her for a friend of her mother, so when she heard her voice she came out and opening the door to her said, what brought thee here o my mother my mamma hath left me and gone to her own house replied the old woman o my daughter i know thy mother is not with thee for i have been with her in her home and i come not to thee but because i fear to pass the hour of prayer wherefore i desire to make my wuzu ablution with thee for i know thou art clean and thy house pure the damsel admitted the old trot who saluted her and called down blessings upon her then she took the ewer and went into the wash-house where she made her ablutions and prayed in a place there presently she came out again and said to the damsel o my daughter i suspect thy handmaidens have been in yonder place and defiled it so do thou show me another place where i may pray for the damsel for the damsel i suspect thy handmaidens have been in yonder place and defiled it so do thou show me another place where i may pray for the

Starting point is 08:27:21 The prayer I have prayed, I account null and void. Thereupon the damsel took her by the hand and said to her, Oh, my mother, come and pray on my carpet where my husband sits. So she stood there and prayed and worshipped, bowed and prostrated. Presently she took the damsel unawares and made shift to slip the veil under the cushion unseen of her. Then she blessed her and went her ways. Now, as the day was closing, Abu al-Fath came home. and sat down upon the carpet whilst his wife brought him food and he ate of it his sufficiency and washed his hands after which he leant back upon the cushion

Starting point is 08:28:01 presently he caught sight of a corner of the veil protruding from under the cushion so he pulled it out and considered it straightly when knowing it for that he had sold to the young man he at once suspected his wife of unchastity thereupon he called her and said whence had thou this veil and she swore an oath to him saying none hath come to me but thou the merchant was silent for fear of scandal and said to himself if i open up this chapter i shall be put to shame before all baghdad for he was one of the intimates of the caliph and so he could do nothing save hold his peace so he asked no questions but said to his wife whose name was marzia it hath reached me that thy mother lieth ill of heartache and all the women are with her weeping over her wherefore i order thee to go to her. Accordingly, she repaired to her mother's house, and found her in the best of help, and she asked her daughter, What brings thee here at this hour? So she told her what her husband had said, and sat with her a while. When, behold, up came porters, who brought her clothes from her husband's house, and transporting all her paraphernalia, and what not else belonged to her of goods and vessels, deposited them in her mother's lodging. When the mother saw this, she said to her daughter,

Starting point is 08:29:16 tell me what hath passed between thee and thy husband to bring about this but she swore to her that she knew not the cause thereof and that there had befallen nothing between them to call for this conduct quoth her mother needs must there be a cause for this and she answered saying i know of none and after this with almighty allah be it to make provision whereupon her mother fell a weeping and lamented her daughter's separation for the like of this man by reason of his sufficiency and fortune and the greatness of his race and dignity. On this wise things abode some days, after which the cursed, ill-omined old woman, whose name was Miriam the coronist, paid a visit to Mazia in her mother's house, and saluted her cordially, saying, What ails thee, O my daughter, O my darling? Indeed thou hast troubled my mind. Then she went into her mother and said to her, O my sister, what is this business about thy daughter and her husband? It hath reached me that he hath divorced her. What hath she done to call for this? Quoth the mother, belike her husband will return to her by the blessed influence of

Starting point is 08:30:22 thy prayers, O Havas, so do thou pray for her, O my sister, for thou art a day faster and a night prayer. Then the three fell to talking together, and the old woman said to the damsel, O my daughter, grieve not, for if Allah please, I will make peace between thee and thy husband before many days. And then she left them, and go into the young merchant, said to him, get ready a handsome entertainment for us for i will bring her to thee this very night so he sprang up and went forth and provided all that was fitting of meat and drink and so forth and then sat down to await the twain whilst the old woman returned to the girl's mother and said to her oh my sister we have a splendid bride-feast to-night so let thy daughter go with me that she may divert herself and make merry with us and throw off her carc and care and forget the ruin of her home i will bring her back to thee even as i took her away the mother dressed her daughter in her finest dress and costliest jewels and accompanied her to the door where she commended her to the old woman's charge saying where lest thou let any of almighty allah's creatures look upon her for thou knowest her husband's rank with the caliph and do not tarry but bring her back to me as soon as possible

Starting point is 08:31:39 the old woman carried the girl to the young man's house which she entered thinking at the place where the wedding was to be held but as soon as she came into the sitting saloon and shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say when it was the six hundred and first night she said it hath reached me o auspicious king that as soon as the damsel entered the sitting saloon the youth sprang up to her and flung his arms around her neck and kissed her hands and feet she was confounded at his loveliness as well as that the beauty of the place and the profusion of meat and drink flowers and perfumes that she saw therein and deemed all was a dream when the old woman saw her amazement she said to her the name of her of allah be upon thee o my daughter fear not i am here sitting with thee and i will not leave thee for a moment thou art worthy of him and he is worthy of thee so the damsel sat down shamefast and in great confusion but the young man jested and toyed with her and entertained her with laughable stories and loving verses till her breast broadened and she became at her ease then she ate and drank and growing warm with wine took the lute and sang these couplets my friend who went hath returned once more o the welcome light that such beauty shows and but for the fear of those arrowy eyes from his lovely cheek i had culled the rose and when the youth saw that she to his beauty did incline he waxed drunken without wine and his life was a light matter to him compared with his love presently the old woman went out and left them alone together to enjoy their loves till the next morning when she went into them and gave them both good-morrow and asked the damsel how hast thou passed the night o my lady answered the girl right well thanks to thy adroitness and the excellence of thy going between

Starting point is 08:33:36 then said the old woman up let us go back to thy mother at these words the young man pulled out an hundred sequins and gave them to her saying take this and leave her with me to-night so she left him and repaired to the girl's mother to whom quoth she thy daughter saluteth thee and the bride's mother hath sworn her to abide with her this night replied the mother o my sister bear her my salam and if it please and amuse the girl there is no harm in her staying the night so let her do this and divert herself and come back to me at her leisure for all i fear for her is her chagrin on account of an angry husband and the old woman ceased not to make excuse after excuse to the girl's mother and to put off cheat upon cheat upon her till messiah had tarried seven days with the young man of whom she took an hundred dinars a day for herself while he enjoyed all the solace of life and cohesion but at the end of this time the girl's mother said to her bring my daughter back to me forthright for i am uneasy about her because she hath been so long absent and i misdoubt me of this so the old woman went out saying woe to thee shall such words be spoken to the like of me and going to the young man's house took the girl by the hand and carried her away leaving him lying asleep on his bed for he was drunken with wine to her mother she received her with pleasure and gladness and seeing her in redoubled beauty and brilliancy rejoiced in her with exceeding joy saying o my daughter my heart was troubled about thee and in my uneasiness i offended again this my sister the coronist with a speech that wounded her replied messiah rise and kiss her hands and feet for she hath been to me as a servant in my hour of need and if thou do it not thou art no mamma of mine nor am i thy girl

Starting point is 08:35:31 so the mother went up at once to the old woman and made her peace with her meanwhile the young man recovered from his drunkenness and missed the damsel but congratulated himself on having enjoyed his desire presently miriam the old coronist came into him and saluted him saying what thinkest thou of my feet quoth he excellently well conceived and contrived of thee was that same and then quoth she come let us mend what we have marred and restore this girl to her husband, for we have been the cause of their separation, and it is unrighteous. Asked he, how shall I do? And she answered, go to Abel Alfath's shop, and salute him, and sit down by him till thou seest me pass by. When do thou rise in hast and catch hold of my dress, and abuse me and threaten me, demanding of me the veil? And do thou say to the merchant, thou knowest, O my lord, the face veil I bought of thee for fifty dine hours. It's so chanced that my handmaid put it on and burnt a corner of it by accident.

Starting point is 08:36:37 So she gave it to this old woman, who took it, promising to get it fine drawn, and return it, and went away, nor have I seen her from that day to this. With joy and good will, replied the young man, and rising forthright walked to the shop of the silk merchant, with whom he sat awhile, till, behold the old woman passing, telling her beads on a rosary she held in hand. Whereupon he sprang up, and laying hold of her dress began to abuse and rail at her, while she answered him with fair words, saying, Indeed, my son, thou art excusable. So the people of the bazaar flocked round the two, saying,

Starting point is 08:37:15 What is the matter? And he replied, O folk, I bought of this merchant a veil for fifty dinars, and gave it to my slave-girl who wore it a while, then sat down to fumigate it with perfume. Presently a spark flew out of the censor, and lighting on the edge of the veil, burnt a hole in it. So we committed it to this pestilent old woman that she might give it to, who should fine draw it, and return it to us. But from that time we have never set eyes on her again till this day. Answered the old woman, this young man speaks sooth. I had the veil from him, but I took it with me into one of the houses where I am wont to visit and forgot it there nor do i know where i left it and being a poor woman i feared its owner and dared not face him now the girl's husband was listening to all they said and shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say

Starting point is 08:38:07 when it was the six hundred and second night she said it hath reached me o auspicious king that when the young man seized the old woman and spoke to her of the veil as she had primed him the girl's husband's husband's husband's her of the veil as she had primed him the girl's husband was listening to all they said from beginning to end. And when he heard the tale which the crafty old woman contrived with the young man, he rose to his feet and said, Allah Almighty, I crave pardon of the omnipotent one for my sins and for what my heart suspected. And he praised the Lord who had discovered to him the truth. Then he accosted the old woman and said to her, dost thou use to visit us? replied she, O my son, I visit you and other than you for the sake of arms, but from that day to this none hath given me news of the veil. Asked the merchant, hast thou inquired at my house? And she answered,

Starting point is 08:39:00 O my lord, I did indeed go to thy house and ask, but they told me that the person of the house had been divorced by the merchant, so I went away and asked no father, nor have I inquired of anybody else until this day. Hereupon the merchant turned to the young man and said, let the old woman go her way for the veil is with me so saying he brought it out from the shop and gave it to the fine drawer before all present then he betook himself to his wife and giving her somewhat of money took her to himself again after making abundance of excuses to her and asking pardon of allah because he knew not what the old woman had done said the wazir this then o king is an instance of the malice of women and for another to the same purport i have heard tell the following tale an end the king's son and the ifrit's mistress a certain king's son was once walking alone for his pleasure when he came to a green meadow abounding in trees laden with fruit and birds singing on the boughs and a river running athwarted

Starting point is 08:40:06 the place pleased him so he sat down there and taking out some dried fruits he had brought with him began to eat when lo he aspired a great smoke rising up to heaven and taking fright he climbed up into a tree and hid himself among the branches thence he saw an ifrit rise out of the midst of the stream bearing on his head a chest of marvel secured by a padlock he set down the chest on the meadow sward and opened it and there came forth a damsel of mortal race like the sun shining in the sheenie sky after seating her he solaced himself by gazing on her awhile then laid his head in her lap and fell asleep whereupon she lifted up his head and laying it on the chest rose and walked about presently she chanced to raise her eyes to the tree wherein was the prince and seeing him signed to him to come down he refused but she swore to him saying except thou come down and do as i bid thee i will wake the ifrit and point thee out to him when he will straightway kill thee the king's son fearing she would do as she said came down whereupon she kissed his hands and feet and besought him to do her need to this he consented and when he had satisfied her wants she said to him to him give me this seal-ring i seal on thy finger so he gave her his signet and she set it in a silken kerchief she had with her wherein were more than fourscore others when the prince saw this he asked her what dost thou with all these rings and she answered in very sooth this ifrit carried me off from my father's palace and shut me in this box which he beareth about on his head wherever he goeth with the keys about him and he hardly leaveth me one moment alone of the excess of his jealousy over me and hindreth me from what i desire when i saw this i swore that i would deny my last favours to no man whatsoever and these rings thou seest are after the tale of the men who have had me

Starting point is 08:42:07 for after cohesion i took from each a seal-ring and laid it in this kerchief and then she added and now go thy ways that i may look for another than thyself for the ifrrit will not awake yet awhile hardly crediting what he had heard the prince returned to his father's palace but the king knew naught of the damsel's malice for she feared not this and took no count thereof and seeing that his son had lost his ring he bade put him to death then he rose from his place and entered his palace but his wazirs came into him and prevailed with him to abandon his purpose in the same night the king sent for all of them and thanked them for having dissuaded him from slaying his son and the prince also thanked them saying it was well done of you to counsel my father to let me live and inshallah i will soon requite you abundantly then he related to them how he had lost the ring and they offered up prayers for his long life and advancement and withdrew see then o king said the wazir the malice of women and what they do unto men the king hearkened to the minister's council and again countermanded his order to slay his son next morning it being the eighth day as the king sat in his audience chamber in the midst of his grandees and emirs and wazirs and olima the prince entered with his hand in that of his governor al sindibat and praised his father and his ministers and lords and lords and divines in the mrs in the mrs and the mrs in the mrs and praised his father and his ministers and lords and divines in the most eloquent words and thank them for having saved his life so that all who were present wandered at his eloquence and fluency of speech his father rejoiced in him with exceeding all-surpassing joy and calling him to him kissed him between the eyes then he called his preceptor alcyndibad and asked him why his son had kept silence these seven days to which he replied

Starting point is 08:43:58 o our lord the truth is it was i who enjoined him to this in my fear for him of death i knew this from the day of his birth and when i took his nativity i found it written in the stars that if he should speak during this period he would surely die but now the danger is over by the king's fortune at this the king was glad and said to his wazirs if i had killed my son would the fault have fallen on me or the damsel or on the preceptor al sindibad but all present refrained from replying and al sindibad said to the prince answer thou o my son and shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say section twenty five of the book of a thousand nights and a night volume six this is a librivox recording all librivox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit librivox dot org recording by steve mattingly the book of a thousand nights and a knight volume six by anonymous translated by richard francis burton section twenty five when it was the six hundred and third night. She said, it hath reached me, O auspicious king, that when Al-Sindibad said, Answer thou, O my son, the prince replied, I have heard tell that a merchant at whose house certain guests once alighted, sent his slave-girl to the market to buy a jar of clotted milk.

Starting point is 08:45:41 So she bought it and set out on her return home. But on the way there passed over her a kite, holding and squeezing a serpent in its claws, and a drop of the serpent's venom fell into the milk jar, unknown to the girl. So when she came back, the merchant took the milk from her and drank of it, he and his guests, but hardly had it settled in their stomachs when they all died. Now consider, O King, whose was the fault in this matter. Thereupon some present said, It was the fault of the company who drank the milk without examining it,

Starting point is 08:46:17 and others some that of the girl who left the jar without cover but al-Sindibad asked the prince what sayest thou o my son answered he i say that the folk it was neither the fault of the damsel nor of the company for their appointed hour was come their divinely decreed provision was exhausted and allah had foreordained them to die thus when the courtiers heard this they marvelled greatly and lifted up their voices blessing the king's son and saying o our lord thou hast made a reply sans purr and thou art the sages man of thine age sans reproach indeed i am no sage answered the prince the blind sheikh and the son of three years and the son of five years were wiser than i said the bystanders o youth tell us the stories of these three who were wiser than thou are O youth. Answered he, with all my heart, I have heard tell this tale concerning the sandalwood merchant and the sharpers. There once lived an exceeding rich merchant, who was a great traveller, and who visited all manner of places. One day, being minded to journey to a certain city, he asked those who came thence, saying, What kind of goods bought most profit there? And they answered, Chanderswood, for it selleth at a

Starting point is 08:47:43 price. So he laid out all his money in sandal and set out for that city. And arriving there at close of day, behold, he met an old woman driving her sheep. Quoth she to him, Who art thou, o man? And quoth he, I am a stranger, a merchant. Beware of the townsfolk, said she, for they are cheats, rascals, robbers, who love nothing more than imposing on the foreigner that they may get the better of him and devour his substance indeed i give thee good counsel then she left him and on the morrow there met him one of the citizens who saluted him and asked him o my lord whence comest thou answered the merchant from such a place and what merchandise hast thou bought with thee inquired the other and replied he chanderswood for it is high of price with you quoth the townsman he blundered who told thee that for we burn nothing under our cooking-pots save sandalwood whose worth with us is but that of fuel when the merchant heard this he sighed and repented and stood balanced between belief and unbelief and then he alighted at one of the carnes of the city and when it was night he saw a merchant make fire of chander's wood under his cooking-pot now this was the man who had spoken with him and this proceeding was a trick of his when the townsman saw the merchant looking at him he asked wilt thou sell me thy sandal wood for a measure of whatever thy soul shall desire

Starting point is 08:49:16 i sell it to thee answered the merchant and the buyer transported all the wood to his own house and stored it up there whilst the cellar purposed to take an equal quantity of gold for it next morning the merchant who was a blue-eyed man went out to walk in the city but as he went along one of the town's-floke who was blue-eyed and one-eyed to boot caught hold of him saying thou are he who stole my eye and i will never let thee go the merchant denied this saying i never stole it the thing is impossible whereupon the folk collected round them and besought the one-eyed man to grant him till the morrow that he might give him the price of his eye so the merchant procured one to be surety for him and they let him go now his sandal had been rent in the struggle with the one-eyed man so he stopped at a cobbler's stall and gave it to him saying mend it and thou shalt have of me what shall content thee then he went on till he came to see some people sitting at play of forfeits and sat down with them to divert his cork and care they invited him to play with them and he did so but they practised on him and overcoming him offered him his choice either to drink up the sea or disperse all the money he had have patience with me till to-morrow said he and they granted him the delay he sought whereupon he went away saw concern for what had betided him and knowing not how he should do and sat down in a solitary place heart heavy careful thought oppressed and behold the old woman passed by and seeing him thus said to him peradventure the townsfolk have gotten the better of thee for i see thee troubled at that which hath befallen thee recount to me what aileth thee so he told all that had passed from first to last and she said as for him who diddled thee in the matter of the chanderswood

Starting point is 08:51:14 thou must know that with us it is worth ten gold pieces a pound but i will give thee a reed whereby i trust thou shalt deliver thyself and it is this go to such and such a gate whereby lives a blood shake, a cripple who is knowing, wise as a wizard and experienced. And all resort to him and ask him what they require, when he counsels them what will be their advantage, for he is versed in craft and magic and trickery. Now he is a sharper, and the sharper's resort to him by night. Therefore, I repeat, go thou to his lodging and hide thyself from thine adversaries, so that thou mayest hear what they say unseen of them. For he telleth them, which party got the better and which got the worse and haply thou shahrahthah'st from them some plan which may avail to deliver thee from them and shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say when it was the six hundred and fourth night she said it hath reached me o auspicious king that the old woman said to the merchant go this knight to that expert who is frequented by the townsfolk and hide thine identity

Starting point is 08:52:29 haply shalt thou hear from him some plea which shall deliver thee from thine adversaries so he went to the place she mentioned and hid himself albeit he took a seat near the blind man before long up came the shanks company who were wont to choose him for their judge they saluted the oldster and one another and sat down round him whereupon the merchant recognized his four adversaries the chiefs set somewhat of food before them and they ate then each began to tell what had befallen him during his day and amongst the rest came forward he of the chanderswood and he told the sheikh how he had bought of one man's sandal below its price and had agreed to pay for it a sa'ar or measure of whatever the seller should desire quoth the old man thine opponent hath the better of thee ask the other how can that be and the sheik answered what if he say i will take the measure full of gold or silver wilt thou give it to him yes replied the other i will give it to him and still be the gainer and the sheik answered and if he say i will take the measure full of fleas half male and half female what wilt thou do so the sharper knew that he was worsted and then came forward the one-eyed man and said o shake i met to-day a blue-eyed man a stranger to the town so i picked a quarrel with him and caught hold of him saying twas thou robest me of my eye nor did i let him go till some became surety for him that he should return to me to-morrow and satisfy me for my eye quoth the ulster if he will he may have the better of thee and thou the worse how so asked the sharper and the chief said he may say to thee pluck out thine eye and i will pluck out one of mine then we will weigh them both and if thine eye be of the same weight as mine thou say a sooth in what thou vouchest

Starting point is 08:54:28 so wilt thou owe him the legal price of his eye and be stone blind whilst he will see with his other eye so the sharper knew that the merchant might baffle him with such plea then came the cobbler and said o sheik a man bought me his sandal shoe to-day saying mend this and i asked him what wage wilt thou give me when he answered thou shalt have of me what will content thee now nothing will content me but all the wealth he hath quoth the oldster and he will he may take his sandal from thee and give thee nothing how so quoth the cobbler and quote the sheik he has but to say to thee the sultan the sultan enemies are put to the route, his foes are waxed weak, and his children and helpers are multiplied. Art thou content or no? If thou say, I am content, he will take his sandal and go away, and if thou say, I am not content, he will take his sandal and beat thee wherewith over the face and the neck. So the cobbler owned himself worsted. And then came forward the gamester and said, O Sheikh, I played at forfeits with a man to-day, and beat him, and quoth I to him,

Starting point is 08:55:41 If thou drink the sea, I will give thee all my wealth, and if not I will take all that is thine. Replied the chief, and he will, he may worst thee. How so? asked the Sharper, and the Sheikh answered, He hath but to say, Hold for me the mouth of the sea in thine hand, and give it to me, and I will drink it. But thou will not be able to do this, so he will baffle. thee with this plea. When the merchant heard this, he knew how it behoved him to deal with his adversaries. Then the sharpers left the shake, and the merchant returned to his lodging. Now, when morning morrowed, the gamester came to him, and summoned him to drink the sea,

Starting point is 08:56:22 so he said to him, hold for me its mouth, and I will drink it up. Whereupon he confessed himself beaten, and redeemed his forfeit by paying an hundred gold pieces. Then came the cobbler and sought of him what should content him. Quoth the merchant, Our lord the sultan hath overcome his foes and hath destroyed his enemies and his children are multiplied. Art thou content or no? I am content, replied the cobbler, and, giving up the shoe without wage, went away. Next came the one-eyed man and demanded the legal price of his eye, said the merchant, pluck out thine eye, and I will pluck out mine, then we will weigh them, and if they are equal in weight, I will acknowledge thy truth, and pay thee the price of thine eye. But if they differ,

Starting point is 08:57:13 thou liest, and I will sue thee for the price of mine eye. Quoth the one-eyed man, grant me time, but the merchant answered saying, I am a stranger, and grant time to none, nor will I part from thee till thou pay. So the sharper ransomed his eye by paying him and hundred ducats, and went away. Last of all came the buyer of the Chanderswood, and said, Take the price of thy wear, asked the merchant, what wilt thou give me? And the other answered, We agreed for a saw our measure of whatever thou should's desire. So, if thou wilt, take it full of gold and silver. Not I, rejoined the merchant, not I, nothing shall serve me, but am Ist have it full of fleas, half male and half female, said the sharper, I can

Starting point is 08:58:00 nothing of the kind, and confessing himself beaten, returned him his sandalwood, and redeemed himself from him with an hundred sequins, to be off his bargain. Then the merchant sold the chanderswood at his own price, and quitting the city of Sharper's return to his own land, and Shahar Azad perceived the dawn of day, and ceased her permitted say. When it was the six hundred and fifth night, she said, It hath reached me, O auspicious, as king, that when the merchant had sold his Chanderswood and had taken the money, he quitted that city and returned to his own land. And then the prince continued, But this is not more wondrous than the tale of the three-year-old child. What may that be?

Starting point is 08:58:46 asked the king, and the prince answered, I have heard tell this tale of the debauchee and the three-year-old child. Know, O King, that a certain profligate man who was addicted to the sex, heard of a beautiful and lovely woman who dwelt in a city other than his own. So he journeyed hither, taking with him a present, and wrote her a note, setting forth all that he suffered of love, longing and desire for her, and how his passion for her had driven him to forsake his native land and come to her. And he ended by praying for an assignation. She gave him leave to visit her, and, as he entered her abode, she stood up and received him with all honour and worship. kissing his hands and entertaining him with the best entertainment of meat and drink.

Starting point is 08:59:35 Now she had a little son, but three years old, whom she left, and busied herself in cooking rice. Presently the man said to her, Come, let us go and lie together. But she replied, My son is sitting looking at us. Quoth the man, he is a little child, understanding not, neither knowing how to speak. Quoth the woman, Thou wouldst not say thus, and thou knew his intelligence. and when the boy saw that the rice was done he wept with bitter weeping and his mother said to him what gars thee weep o my son ladle me out some rice answered he and put clarified butter in it so she ladled him out somewhat of rice and put butter therein and the child ate a little and then began to weep again quoth she what ails thee now o my son and quoth he o mother mine i want some sugar with my rice

Starting point is 09:00:29 at this said the man who was un-angered thou art none other than a cursed child curse thyself by allah answered the boy seeing thou weariest thyself and journeyest from city to city in quest of adultery as for me i wept because i had somewhat in my eye and my tears brought it out and now have eaten rice with butter and sugar and am content so which is the cursed of us twain the man was confounded at this rebuke from a little child and forthright grace entity and he was reclaimed, wherefore he laid not a finger on the woman, but went out from her and returned to his own country, where he lived a contrite life till he died. As for the story of the five-year-old continued the prince, I have heard Tell O King the following anent, the stolen purse. Four merchants once owned in common a thousand gold pieces, so they laid them mingled together in one purse and set out to buy merchandise. therewith. They happened as they wended their way on a beautiful garden. So they left the purse

Starting point is 09:01:36 with a woman who had care of the garden, saying to her, mind thee, thou shall not give it back, save when all four of us in person demand it of thee. She agreed to this, and they entered and strolled a while about the garden walks, and ate and drank and made merry. After which one of them said to the others, I have with me scented full as earth. Come, let us wash our heads therewith in this running water. Quoth another, we lack a comb. And a third, let us ask the keeper, belike she hath a comb. Thereupon one of them arose, and accosting the caretaker, said to her, Give me the purse. She said, Not until ye be all present, or thy fellows bid me give it to thee. Then he called to his companions, who could see him, but not hear him, saying,

Starting point is 09:02:24 She will not give it me, and they said to her, Give it him. thinking he meant the cone. So she gave him the purse, and he took it, and made off as fast as he could. When the other threes were wary of waiting, they went to the keeper and asked her, Why wilt thou not give him the comb? answered she, he demanded naught of me save the purse, and I gave not that same, but with your consent, and he went away with it. And when they heard her words, they buffeted their faces, and laying hands upon her said, we authorised thee only to give him the comb, and she rejoined. He named not a comb to me.

Starting point is 09:03:03 Then they seized her and hailed her before the Qazi, to whom they related their claim, and he condemned her to make good the purse, and bound over sundry of her debtors to answer for her. And Shaharazad perceived the dawn of day, and ceased to say her permitted say. End of Section 25. Section 26 of the Book of a Thousand Nights and a Night, Volume 6.

Starting point is 09:03:33 This is a Librevox recording. All Librevox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Librevox.org. Recording by Gemlad. The book of A Thousand Nights and a Night, Volume 6, by Anonymous. Translated by Richard Francis Burton, Section 26. When it was the 606. night, she said, It hath reached me, O auspicious king, that the Karzi condemned the caretaker

Starting point is 09:04:03 to make good the purse, and bound of sundry of her debtors to answer for her. So she went forth, confounded, and knowing not her way out of difficulty. Presently she met a five-year-old boy, who, seeing her troubled, said to her, what ails thee, oh my mother? But she gave him no answer, contemning him because of his tender age, and he repeated his question a second time, and a third time till at last she told him all that had passed, not forgetting the condition that she was to keep the purse until all four had demanded it of her, said the boy, Give me a dear hand to buy sweetmeats with all, and I will tell you how thou mayst to quit thyself. So she gave him a silver, and said to him, what hast thou to say,

Starting point is 09:04:44 Quoth he, Return to the kazi, and say to him, It was agreed between myself and them that I should not give them the purse, except all four of them were present. Let them all four come, and I will give them the purse, as was agreed. So she went back to the Karzi, and said to him as the boy had counselled, and he asked the merchants, was it thus agreed between you and this woman? And they answered, yes, quoth the carsey, then bring me your comrade and take the purse. So they went in quest of their fellow, whilst the keeper came off scot-free, and went her way without let or hindrance. And Allah is omniscient. When the king and his wazir and those present in the assembly heard the prince's words,

Starting point is 09:05:23 they said to his father, O our lord the king, in very sooth thy son is the most accomplished man of his time, and they called down blessings upon the king and the prince. Then the king strained his son to his bosom, and kissed him between the eyes, and questioned him of what had passed between the favourite and himself. And the prince swore to him, by almighty Allah and by his holy prophet, that it was she who had required him of love which he refused, adding. Moreover, she promised me that she would give thee poison to drink and kill thee. so should the kingship be mine? Whereupon I waxed wroth and signed to her, O a cursed one!

Starting point is 09:06:00 When as I can speak I will requite thee! So she feared me, and did what she did. The king believed his words, and sending for the favourite, said to those present, How shall we put this damsel to death? Some counselled him to cut out her tongue, and other some to burn it with fire. But when she came before the king, she said to him,

Starting point is 09:06:20 My case with thee, is like unto naught save the tale of the foxes, and the folk. How so? asked he, and she said, I have heard, O King, tell a story of the fox and the folk. A fox once made his way into a city by the wall, and entering a courier's storehouse, played havoc with all therein, and spoiled the skins for the owner. One day the courier set a trap for him, and taking him, beat him with the hides till he fell down senseless, whereupon the man deeming him to be dead, cast him out into the road by the city gate. presently an old woman who was walking by seeing the fox said this is a fox whose eye hung about a child's neck his salutary against weeping so she plucked out his right eye and went away then passed a boy who said what does this tail on this fox and cut off his brush after a while up came a man saying this is a fox whose gall cleareth away film and dimness from the eyes if they be anointed therewith like coal took out his knife to slit up the fox's paunch

Starting point is 09:07:24 but reynard said in himself we bore with the plucking out of the eye and the cutting off of the tail but as for the slitting of the paunch there is no putting up with that so saying he sprang up and made off through the gate of the city hardly believing in his escape quoth the king i excuse her and in my son's hands be her doom if he will let him torture her and if he will let him kill her quoth the prince pardon is better than vengeance and And mercy is of the quality of the noble, and the king repeated, "'Tis for thee to decide, O my son.' So the prince set her free, saying, "'Depart from our neighbourhood, and I'll a pardon what is past.' Therewith the king rose from his throne of estate, and seating his son thereon, crowned him with his crown,

Starting point is 09:08:13 and bade the grandees of his realm swear fealty, and commanded them do homage to him. And he said, "'Oh, folk, indeed, I am stricken in years, and desire to withdraw apart and devote myself only to the service of my lord, and I call you to witness that I divest myself of the kingly dignity, even as I have divested myself of my crown, and set it on my son's head. So the troops and officers swore fealty to the prince, and his father gave himself up to the worship of his lord, nor stinted from this, whilst his son

Starting point is 09:08:45 abode in his kingship, doing justice and righteousness, and his power was magnified, and his sultanate strengthened, and he abode in all delight and solace of life, till there came to him the certainty. Judar and his brethren. There was once a man and a merchant named Omar, and he had for issue three sons, the eldest called Salim, the youngest Judar, and the cadet Salim. He reared them all till they came to man's estate, but the youngest he loved more than his brothers, who, seeing this, waxed jealous of Judah, and hated him. Now when their father, who was a man shot in years, saw that his two eldest sons hated their brother, he feared lest after his death trouble should befall him from them. So he assembled a company of his kinsfolk,

Starting point is 09:09:31 together with diverse men of learning and property distributors of the Karzies court, and bidding bring all his monies and cloth, said to them, O folk, divide you this money and stuff into four portions according to the law. They did so, and he gave one part to each of his sons, and kept the fourth himself, saying, this was my good, and I have divided it among them in my lifetime, and this that I have kept shall be for my wife, their mother, wherewithal, to provide for her subsistence, when as she shall be a widow, and Sharazard perceived the dawn of day, and ceased saying her permitted say. When it was the six hundred and seventh night, she said, it hath reached me, oh auspicious

Starting point is 09:10:09 king, that when the merchant had divided his money and stuff into four portions, he said, this share shall be for my wife, their mother, wherewithal to provide for her subsistence, when as she shall be a widow. A little while after this he died, and neither of the two elder brothers was content with his share, but sought more of Judah, saying, our father's wealth is in thy hands. So he appealed to the judges, and the Muslims who had been present at the partition came and bore witness of that which they knew, wherefore the judge forbade them from one another, but Judah and his brothers wasted much money and bribes to him. After this, the Twain left him a while. Presently, however, they began again to plot against him, and he appealed a second time

Starting point is 09:10:52 to the magistrate, who once more decided in his favour, but all three lost much money which went to the judges. Nevertheless, Salim and Salim forbore not to seek his hurt and to carry the case from court to court, he and they losing till they had given all their good for food to the oppressors and they became poor, all three. Then the two elder brothers went to their mother, and flouted her and beat her, and seizing her money, crave her away. So she betook herself to her son Juda, and told him how his brothers had dealt with her, and fell to cursing the twain, said he, O my mother, do not curse them, for Allah will requite each of them according to his deed. But, O mother, mine, see, I am become poor, and so are my brethren, for strife occasioneth lost

Starting point is 09:11:38 ruin rife, and we have striven amain and fought, I am they, before the judges, and it hath profited us not. Nay, we have wasted all our father left us, and are disgraced among the folk by reason of our testimony one against other. Shall I then contend with them a new on thine account, and shall we appeal to the judges? This may not be. Rather do thou take up thine abode with me, and the scone I eat I will share with thee. Do thou pray for me, and Allah will give me the means of thine alimony. Leave them to receive of the Almighty the recompense of their deed, and console thyself with the saying of the poet, who says, said, If a fool oppressed thee bear patiently, and from time expect thy revenge to see, shun tyranny, for if mount opressed, a mount twould be shattered by tyranny. And he soothed and comforted her, till she consented and took up her dwelling with him. Then he get him a net, and went to fishing every day in the river of the banks about Bullack and old Cairo, or some other place in which there was water. And one day he would earn ten coppers, another twenty, and another thirty, which he spent upon his mother and himself.

Starting point is 09:12:44 and they ate well and drank well. But as for his brothers, they plied no craft, and neither souls nor bought. Misery and ruin, and overwhelming calamity entered their houses, and they wasted that which they had taken from their mother, and became of the wretched naked beggars. So at times they would come to their mother, humbling themselves before her exceedingly, and complaining to her of hunger, and she, a mother's heart being pitiful, would give them some mouldy, sour-smelling bread, or if there were any meat cooked the day before, she would say to them, them, eat it quick and go, ere your brother come, for it would be grievous to him, and he would harden his heart against me, and he would disgrace me with him. So they would eat in haste and go. One day among days they came in to their mother, and she set cooked meat and bread before them.

Starting point is 09:13:31 As they were eating, behold, in came their brother Judar, at whose sight the parent was put to shame and confusion, fearing lest he should be wroth with her, and she bowed her face earthwards, abashed before her son. But he smiled in their faces, saying, welcome, O my brothers, a blessed day. How comes it that you visit me on this blessed day? Then he embraced them both, and treated them lovingly, saying to them, I thought not that you would have left me desolate by your absence, nor that you would have foreborne to come and visit me and your mother, said they, by Allah, oh, our brother, we longed sore for thee, and naught without us but abashment, because of what befell between us and they, but indeed we

Starting point is 09:14:08 have repented much. "'Twas Satan's doing, the curse of Allah the most high be upon him, and now we have no blessing but thyself and our mother.' And Shurazard perceived the dawn of day, and ceased to say her committed say. When it was the six hundred and eighth night, she said, "'It hath reached me, your auspicious king, that when Judah rented his place and saw his brothers, he welcomed them both, saying,

Starting point is 09:14:32 "'And I have no blessing but you twain, And his mother exclaimed, "'Alla whitened thy face and increased thy prosperity, for thou art the most generous of us all are my son. Then he said, Welcome to you both. Abide with me, for the Lord is bountiful, and good aboundeth with me.

Starting point is 09:14:49 So he made peace with them, and they supped and righted with him, and next morning, after they had broken their fast, Judah shouldered his net and went out, trusting in the opener whilst the two others also went forth and were absent till midday, when they returned and their mother set the noon meal before them. At nightfall, Judah came home,

Starting point is 09:15:07 bearing meat and greens, and the abode on this wiser month's space, Judar catching fish and selling it, and spending their price on his mother and his brothers, and these eating and frolicing till, one day, it chanced he went down to the riverbank, and throwing his net, brought it up empty. He cast it a second time, but again it came up empty, and he said in himself, No fish in this place. So he removed to another, and threw the net there, but without avail, and he ceased not to remove from place to place,

Starting point is 09:15:37 till nightfall, but caught not a single sprat, and said to himself, Wonderful! Had the fish fled the river or what! Then he shouldered the net and made for home, chagrand, concerned, feeling for his mother and brothers, and knowing not how he should feed them that night. Presently he came to a baker's oven, and saw the folk crowding for bread, with silver in their hands, whilst the baker took no note of them. So he stood there sighing, and the baker said to him, Welcome to thee, O Judar! Does thou want bread?

Starting point is 09:16:06 but he was silent, and the baker continued, "'And thou have no dirhams. "'Take thy sufficiency, and thou shalt get credit.' "'So Judah said, "'Give me ten coppers worth of bread, "'and take this net in pledge,' rejoined the baker. "'Nay, my poor fellow, "'the net is thy gate of earning thy livelihood,

Starting point is 09:16:23 "'and if I take it from thee, "'I shall close up against thee the door of thy subsistence. "'Take thee ten nuff's worth of bread, "'and take these other ten, "'and to-morrow bring me fish for the twenty. "'On my head and eyes be it,' "'quoth Judar, and took the bread, and money, saying,

Starting point is 09:16:37 Tomorrow the Lord will dispel the trouble of my case, and will provide me the means of acquittance. Then he bought meat and vegetables, and carried them home to his mother, who cooked them, and they supped and went to bed. Next morning he arose at daybreak, and took the net, and his mother said to him, Sit down and break thy fast,

Starting point is 09:16:55 but he said, Do thou and my brothers break fast, and went down to the river about Bulak, where he ceased not to cast once, twice, thrice, and to shift about all day, without aught falling to him. till the hour of mid-afternoon prayer, when he shouldered his net and went away, sore dejected. His way led him, perforce, by the booth of the baker, who, when he saw him, counted out to him the loaves and the money, saying,

Starting point is 09:17:19 Come, take it and go, and it be not to-day, it will be to-morrow. Judah would have excused himself, but the baker said to him, Go, there needeth no excuse, and thou had netted aught it would be with thee, so, seeing the empty-handed, I knew thou hadst got nought, and if to-morrow there have no better look, come and take bread and be not abashed, for I will give thee credit. So Judah took the bread and money, and went home. On the third day also he sallied forth, and fished from tank to tank until the time of afternoon prayer,

Starting point is 09:17:50 but caught nothing. So he went to the baker, and took the bread and silver as usual. On this wise he did seven days running, till he became disheartened, and said in himself, Today I go to the Lake Karoon. So he went thither, and was about to cast. his net, when there came up to him unawares at Magrabi, a moor, clad in splendid attire, and riding a she-mule, with a pair of gold-embroidered saddle-bags on her back, and all her

Starting point is 09:18:16 trappings also afraid. The moor alighted and said to him, Peace be upon thee, O Judah, O son of Oma. And on thee likewise be peace, O my lord the pilgrim, replied the fisherman. Quoth the Magrabi, O Judah, I have need of thee, and given thou obey me, thou shalt get great good, and shalt be my companion and manage my affairs for me. Courseed Judah, O my lord, tell me what is in thy mind, and I will obey thee, without demur, said the moor, repeat the fatihar, the opening chapter of the Quran. So he recited it with him, and the moor, bringing out a silken cord, said to Judah,

Starting point is 09:18:56 pinion my elbows behind me with this cord, as fast as fast can be, and cast me into the lake, then wait a little while, and if thou see me put forth my hands above the wood, water, raising them high, e'er my body show, cast thy net over me and drag me out in haste. But if thou see me come up feet foremost, then know that I am dead, in which case do thou leave me, and take the mule and saddle-bags, and carry them to the merchant's bazaar, where thou wilt find a jewel by name Shania. Give him the mule, and he will give thee an hundred dinars, which do thou take and go thy ways, and keep the matter secret with dull secrecy. So Judah tied his arms tightly behind his.

Starting point is 09:19:36 back and he kept saying, "'Tie tighter.' Then he said, "'Push me till I fall into the lake.' So he pushed him in, and he sank. Judas stood waiting some time till, behold, the moor's feet appeared above the water, whereupon he knew that he was dead.

Starting point is 09:19:53 So he left him, and drove the mule to the bazaar, where seated on a stool at the door of his storehouse, he saw the Jew, who spying the meal, cried, "'In very sooth the man hath perished,' adding, "'and naught undid him but covetous. Then he took the mule from Judar and gave him an hundred dinars, charging him to keep them at a secret. So Judar went and bought what bread he needed,

Starting point is 09:20:15 saying to the baker, Take this gold piece! And the man summed up what was due to him and said, I still owe thee two days bread. And Sharazad perceived the dawn of day, and ceased saying her permitted say. End of Section 26. Recording by Gemlad.

Starting point is 09:20:37 Section number 27 of the Book of A Thousand Nights and a Night, Volume 6. This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Recording by Natalie Gray. The Book of A Thousand Nights and a Night, Volume 6, by Anonymous, translated by Richard Francis Burton. Section 27. When it was the 600 and Ninth Night. She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Judar, when the baker, after summing up what was due to him, said, I still owe thee two days' bread, replied, Good, and went on to the butcher, to whom he gave a gold piece and took meat, saying,

Starting point is 09:21:33 Keep the rest of the dinar on account. Then he bought vegetables, and going home, found his brothers importuning their mother for victual, whilst she cried, Have patience till your brother come home, for I have not. So he went into them and said, Take and eat, and they fell on the food like cannibals. Then he gave his mother the rest of his gold, saying, If my brothers come to thee, give them wherewithal to buy food and eat in my absence. He slept well that night, and next morning he took his net, and going down to Lake Karoon, stood there and was about to cast his net, when behold, there came up to him a second Maghribi, riding on a she-mule more handsomely accoutred than he of the day before, and having with him

Starting point is 09:22:28 a pair of saddle-bags, of which each pocket contained a casket. Peace be with thee, O Judar, said the moor. And with thee be peace, O my lord the pilgrim, replied Judar. Asked the more. Did there come to thee yesterday a moor riding on a mule like this of mine? Hereat, Judar was alarmed and answered, I saw none, fearing lest the other say, Whither went he?

Starting point is 09:22:58 And if he replied, he was drowned in the lake, that haply he should charge him with having drowned him, wherefore he could not but deny. Rejoined the more. Hark ye, oh unhappy, this was my brother who is gone before me. Judar persisted. I know not of him. Then the more inquired, Didst thou not bind his arms behind him, and throw him into the lake, and did he not say to thee, If my hands appear above the water first, cast thy net over me and drag me out in haste, But if my feet show first, know that I am dead, and carry the mule to the Jew Shemaiah, Who shall give thee an hundred dinars. Quoth Judar, since thou knowest all this,

Starting point is 09:23:49 Why and wherefore dost thou question me? And quoth the more, I would have thee do with me, as thou didst with my brother. Then he gave him a silken cord, saying, Bind my hands behind me and throw me in, And if I fare, as did my brother, take the mule to the Jew, And he will give thee other hundred dinars. Said Judar, come on. So he came, and he bound him and pushed him into the lake, where he sank.

Starting point is 09:24:20 Then Judar sat watching, and after a while his feet appeared above the water, and the fisher said, He is dead and damned. Inchallah, may Maghribes come to me every day, and I will pinion them and push them in, and they shall die, and I will content me within hundred dinars for each dead man. Then he took the mule to the Jew,

Starting point is 09:24:44 who seeing him asked, The other is dead? Answered Judar, May thy head live, And the Jew said, This is the reward of the covetous. Then he took the mule and gave Judar an hundred dinars with which he returned to his mother. Oh, my son, she said, whence hast thou this?

Starting point is 09:25:07 So he told her, and she said, Go not again to Lake Karun. Indeed, I fear for thee from the Moors, said he, Oh, my mother, I do but cast them in by their own wish, and what am I to do? This craft bringeth me an hundred dinars a day, and I return speedily. wherefore by Allah I will not leave going to Lake Karun till the race of the Maghrabah is cut off and not one of them is left. So on the morrow, which was the third day, he went down to the lake and stood there, till there came up a third more, riding on a mule with saddle-bags, and still more richly accoutred than the first two, who said to him,

Starting point is 09:25:50 Peace be with thee, O Judar, O son of Omar. and the fisherman saying in himself, How comes it that they all know me? Returned his salute. Asked the Maghribi, Have any Moors passed by here? Two, answered Judar. Whither went they?

Starting point is 09:26:12 inquired the Moor? And Judah replied, I pinioned their hands behind them and cast them into the lake where they were drowned, and the same fate is in store for thee. The Moor laughed and rejoined, saying, O unhappy, every life hath its term appointed. Then he alighted and gave the fishermen the silken cord, saying, Do with me, O Judar, as thou didst with them. Said Judar, put thy hands behind

Starting point is 09:26:43 thy back that I may pinion thee, for I am in haste and time flies. So he put his hands behind him, and Judar tied him up and cast him in. Then he waited a while. Presently, the moor thrust both hands forth of the water and called out to him saying, Ho, good fellow, cast out thy net! So Judar threw the net over him and drew him ashore, and lo, in each hand, he held a fish as red as coral. Quoth the moor, bring me the two caskets that are in the saddlebags. So Judar brought them and opened them to him, and he laid in each casket a fish and shut them up. Then he pressed Judar to his bosom and kissed him on the right cheek and the left, saying, Allah saved thee from all stress. By the almighty hadst thou not cast the net over me,

Starting point is 09:27:39 and pulled me out, I should have kept hold of these two fishes till I sank and was drowned, for I could not get ashore of myself. Quoth Judar, O my lord the pilgrim, Allah upon thee, tell me the true history of the two drowned men and the truth anent these two fishes and the Jew. And Shahar Tzad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. When it was the six hundred and tenth night, she continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious king, that when Judar asked the Maghribi, saying, Prithee, tell me the first of the drowned men. The Maghribi answered,

Starting point is 09:28:23 Know, O Judar, that these drowned men were my two brothers, by name Abd al-Salam and Abd al-Ahad. My own name is Abd al-Samad, and the Jew also is our brother. His name is Abd al-rahim, and he is no Jew, but a true believer of the Maliki school.

Starting point is 09:28:45 Our father, whose name was Abd al-Wadud, taught us magic and the art of solving mysteries and bringing hordes to light, and we applied ourselves there too, till we compelled the Ephrits and Marids of the Jin to do us service. By and by our sire died and left us much wealth, and we divided amongst us his treasures and talismans, till we came to the books, when we fell out over a volume called The Fables of the Ancients, whose like is not in the world. nor can its price be paid of any, nor is its value to be evened with gold and jewels,

Starting point is 09:29:28 for in it are particulars of all the hidden hordes of the earth and the solution of every secret. Our father was wont to make use of this book, of which we had some small matter by heart, and each of us desired to possess it that he might acquaint himself with what was therein. Now, when we fell out, there was in our company an old man, by name Cohen al-Abton, who had reared our sire and taught him divination and grammery, and he said to us, Bring me the book. So we gave it him, and he continued, Ye are my sons, sons, and it may not be that I should wrong any of you. So, whoso is minded to have the volume, let him address himself to achieve the treasure of all Shemardal, and bring me the celestial planisphere, and the coal file, and the seal ring, and the sword, for the ring hath a marid that serveth it, called al-Ra-ad al-Kasif, and whoso hath possession thereof, neither king nor sultan may prevail against him. And if he will, he may therewith make himself

Starting point is 09:30:54 master of the earth in all the length and breadth thereof. As for the brand, if its bearer draw it and brandish it against an army, the army will be put to the route. And if he say the while, slay yonder host, there will come forth of that sword, lightning, and fire, that will kill the whole many. As for the planisphere, its possessor hath only to turn its face toward any country, east or west, with whose sight he hath a mind to solace himself, and therein he will see that country and its people, as they were between his hands, and he sitting in his place. And if he be wroth with a city and have a mind to burn it, he hath but to face the planisphere towards the sun's disk, saying, let such a city be burnt, and that city will be consumed with fire. As for the coal file, who so pencletheth his eyes therefrom,

Starting point is 09:32:03 he shall espy all the treasures of the earth. And I make this condition with you, which is that whoso faileth to hit upon the hordes shall forfeit his right, and that none save he who shall achieve the treasure, and bring me the four precious things which be therein shall have any claim to take this book. So we all agreed to this condition.

Starting point is 09:32:33 And he continued, O my sons, know that the treasure of al-Shemardal is under the commandment of the Sons of the Red King, and your father told me that he had himself essayed to open the treasure, but could not. For the sons of the Red King fled from him into the land of Egypt, and took refuge in a lake there called Lake Karun, whither he pursued them but could not prevail over them by reason of their stealing into that lake which was guarded by a spell. And Shaharitzad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. When it was the six hundred and eleventh night, she said, It hath reached me, O auspicious king, that when the Cohen al-Abtan had told the youths this

Starting point is 09:33:29 much, he continued his tale as follows. So your father returned empty-handed, and unable to win his wish, and after failing he complained to me of his ill success, whereupon I drew him an astrological figure, and found that the treasure could be achieved only by means of a young fisherman of Cairo, Hise Judar bin Omar, the place of four-gathering with whom was at Lake Karun, for that he should be the means of capturing the sons of the Red King, and that the charm would not be dissolved, save if he should bind the hands of the treasure-seeker behind him, and cast him into the lake, there to do battle with the sons of the Red King. And he whose lot it was to succeed would lay hands upon them, but,

Starting point is 09:34:27 If it were not destined to him, he should perish, and his feet appear above water. As for him who was successful, his hands would show first, whereupon it behoved that Judar should cast the net over him and draw him ashore. Now, quoth my brothers Abd al-Salem and Abd al-Ahad, We will wend and make trial, although we perish. and quoth I, and I also will go. But my brother, Abd al-rahim, he whom thou sawest in the habit of a Jew, said, I have no mind to this. Thereupon we agreed with him that he should repair to Cairo in the disguise of a Jewish merchant, so that if one of us perished in the lake, he might take his mule and

Starting point is 09:35:20 saddlebags and give the bearer and hundred dinars. The first, that came to thee, the sons of the Red King slew, and so did they with my second brother. But against me they could not prevail, and I laid hands on them. cried Judar, and where is the catch? Asked the more, Didst thou not see me shut them in the caskets? Those were fishes, said Judar. Nay, answered the Magribe, they are Ephra. in the guise of fish. But, O Judar, continued he, thou must know that the treasure can be opened only by

Starting point is 09:36:05 thy means. So say, wilt thou do my bidding and go with me to the city Fez and Mechness, where we will open the treasure? And after I will give thee what thou wilt, and thou shalt ever be my brother in the bond of Allah, and return to thy family with a joyful heart. said Judar, Oh, my lord the pilgrim, I have on my neck a mother and two brothers. And Scheherazade perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.

Starting point is 09:36:41 End of Section 27, recording by Natalie Gray, www. Voicebynately.com Section number 28 of the Book of a Thousand Nights and a Night, volume six. This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Recording by Natalie Gray. The Book of a Thousand Nights and a Night, Volume 6, by Anonymous, translated by Richard

Starting point is 09:37:22 Francis Burton. Section 28. When it was the 612 night, she continued it hath reached me o auspicious king that judar said to the maghribi i have on my neck a mother and two brothers whose provider i am and if i go with thee who shall give them bread to eat replied the moor this is an idle excuse if it be but a matter of expenditure i will give thee a thousand ducats for thy mother wherewith she may provide herself till thou come back, and indeed thou shalt return before the end of four months. So when Judar heard mention of the thousand dinars, he said, Here with them, O pilgrim, and I am thy man. And the moor, pulling out the money, gave it to him, whereupon he carried it to his mother, and told her what had passed between them, saying, Take these thousand dinars and expend of them upon thyself and my brothers, whilst I journeyed to Morocco with the moor, for I shall be absent four months, and great good

Starting point is 09:38:34 will betide me. So bless me, O my mother, answered she, O my son, thou desolatest me, and I fear for thee. Oh, my mother, rejoined he, no harm can befall him who is in Allah's keeping, and the Maghribi is a man of worth, and he went on to praise his condition to her, quoth she, Allah incline his heart to thee. Go with him, O my son, per adventure he will give thee somewhat. So he took leave of his mother and rejoined the more Abd al-Samad, who asked him, Hast thou consulted thy mother? Yes, answered Judar, and she blessed me. Then mount behind me, said the Maghribi. So Judar mounted the mills crupper, and they rode. on from noon till the time of mid-afternoon prayer when the fisherman was enhungered,

Starting point is 09:39:31 but seeing no victual with the moor said to him, O my lord the pilgrim, be like thou hast forgotten to bring us aught to eat by the way. Asked the moor, art thou hungry? And Judar answered, yes. So Abd al-Samad al-Samad alighted and made Judar alight and take down the saddle-bag. Then he said, to him. What wilt thou have, oh my brother? Anything. Allah upon thee. Tell me what thou hast a mind to. Bread and cheese. Oh, my poor fellow, bread and cheese besit thee not. Wish for some good thing. Just now everything is good to me. Dost thou like nice browned chicken? Yes. Dost thou like rice and honey? Yes. And the moor went on to ask him if he liked this dish and that dish, till he had named

Starting point is 09:40:33 four and twenty kinds of meats, and Judar thought to himself, he must be daft, where are all these dainties to come from, seeing he hath neither cook nor kitchen. But I'll say to him, tis enough. So he cried, That will do, thou makest me long for all these meats, and I see nothing. Quoth the more, thou art welcome, O Judar, and putting his hand into the saddlebags pulled out a golden dish containing two hot brown chickens. Then he thrust his hand a second time and drew out a golden dish full of kebabs.

Starting point is 09:41:11 Nor did he stint taking out dishes from saddlebags till he had brought forth the whole of the four and twenty kinds he had named, whilst Judar looked on. Then said the more, fall too poor fellow and judar said to him oh my lord thou carest in yonder saddlebags kitchen and kitcheners the moor laughed and replied these are magical saddlebags and have a servant who would bring us a thousand dishes an hour if we called for them quoth judar by allah a meat thing in saddlebags then they ate their fill and threw away what was left after which the moor replaced the empty dishes in the saddlebags and putting in his hand drew out an ewer. They drank and making the wuzu ablution prayed the mid-afternoon prayer. After which Abd al-Samad replaced the ewer and the two caskets in the saddle-bags

Starting point is 09:42:13 and throwing them over the mules back mounted and cried, Up with thee and let us be off, presently adding, O Judar, knowest thou how far we have come since we left Cairo? Not I by Allah, replied he. And Abd al-Samad, we have come a whole month's journey. Asked Judar, and how is that? And the moor answered, know, O Judar, that this mule under us is a marid of the Jin, who every day performeth a year's journey, but,

Starting point is 09:42:51 For thy sake, she hath gone an easier pace. Then they set out again, and fared on westwards till nightfall, when they halted and the Maghribi brought out supper from the saddle-bags, and in like manner in the morning he took forth wherewithal to break their fast. So they rode on four days, journeying till midnight, and then alighting and sleeping until morning, when they fared on again, and all that Judar had a mind to he sought of the moor who brought it out of the saddlebags.

Starting point is 09:43:27 On the fifth day they arrived at Fez and Mechness and entered the city where all who met the Maghribi saluted him and kissed his hands, and he continued riding through the streets till he came to a certain door, at which he knocked, whereupon it opened, and out came a girl like the moon, to whom said he, Oh, my daughter, oh Rama, Open us the upper chamber. On my head and eyes, oh my papa, replied she,

Starting point is 09:44:00 and went in, swaying her hips to and fro, with a graceful and swimming gate like a thirsting gazelle, movements that ravished Judar's reason, and he said, This is none other than a king's daughter. So she opened the upper chamber, and the moor, taking the saddlebags from the mule's back, said, Go, and God bless thee.

Starting point is 09:44:25 When lo, the earth clove asunder, and swallowing the mule, closed up again as before. And Judar said, O protector, praised be Allah, who hath kept us in safety on her back. Quoth the Maghribi, Marvel not, O Judar, I told thee that the mule was an ephret.

Starting point is 09:44:47 but come with us into the upper chamber so they went up into it and judar was amazed at the profusion of rich furniture and pendants of gold and silver and jewels and other rare and precious things which he saw there as soon as they were seated the more bade rama bring him a certain bundle and opening it drew out a dress worth a thousand dinars which he gave to judar saying don this dress o judar and welcome to thee. So Judar put it on, and became a fair and sample of the kings of the West. Then the Maghribi laid the saddle-bags before him, and putting in his hand, pulled out dish after dish, till they had before them a tray of forty kinds of meat, when he said to Judar, Come near, O my master, eat and excuse us. And Scheheritzad perceived the dawn of day, and ceased saying her permitted say. When it was the six hundred and thirteenth night,

Starting point is 09:45:54 she continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious king, That Maghraby, having served up in the pavilion, A tray of forty kinds of meat, said to Judar, Come near, O my master, and excuse us, For that we know not what meats thou desirest, But tell us what thou hast a mind to, and we will set it before thee without delay.

Starting point is 09:46:20 Replied Judar, By Allah, O my lord the pilgrim, I love all kinds of meat, and unlove none, so ask me not of aught, but bring all that cometh to thy thought, for save eating, to do I have not. After this he tarried twenty days with the moor, who clad him in new clothes every day,

Starting point is 09:46:40 and all this time they ate from the saddle-bags, for the Maghribi bought neither meat, nor bread, nor aught else, nor cooked, but brought everything out of the bags, even to various sorts of fruit. On the twenty-first day he said, O Judar, up with thee, this is the day appointed for opening the horde of Al-Shemar-Dal. So he rose, and they went afoot without the city, where they found two slaves, each holding a she-mule. The moor mounted one beast, and Judar the other, and they ceased not riding till noon, when they came to a stream of running water, on whose banks Abd al-Samad alighted saying,

Starting point is 09:47:25 Dismount, O Judar! Then he signed with his hand to the slaves and said, To it! So they took the mules and going each his own way were absent a while, after which they returned, one bearing a tent which he pitched, and the other carpets which he spread. spread in the tent and laid mattresses, pillows, and cushions there around. Then one of them brought the caskets containing the two fishes, and another fetched the saddle-bags, whereupon the Maghribi arose and said,

Starting point is 09:48:00 Come, O Judar! So Judar followed him into the tent and sat down beside him, and he brought out dishes of meat from the saddle-bags, and they ate the undern meal. Then the moor took the two caskets and conjured over them both, whereupon there came from within voices that said, Admoose, at thy service, O diviner of the world, have mercy upon us, and called aloud for aid. But he ceased not to repeat conjurations, and they to call for help, till the two caskets flew and sundar, the fragments flying about, and there came forth two men with pinion hands, saying,

Starting point is 09:48:46 Quarter, O diviner of the world, what wilt thou with us? Quoth he, My will is to burn you both with fire, except ye make a covenant with me, to open to me the treasure of all shamardal. Quoth they, We promise this to thee, and we will open the treasure sure to thee, so thou produced to us Judar bin Omar, the fisherman, for the horde may not be opened but by his means, nor can any enter therein save Judar. cried the Maghribi, Him of whom ye speak I have brought, and he is here, listening to you and looking at you.

Starting point is 09:49:34 Thereupon they covenanted with him to open the treasure to him, and he released them. Then he brought out a hollow wand, and tablets of red carnelian which he laid on the rod, and after this he took a chafing dish, and setting charcoal thereon, blew one breath into it, and it kindled forthwith. Presently he brought incense and said, O Judar, I am now about to begin the necessary conjurations and fumigations, and when I have once begun, I may not speak, or the charm will be not. So I will teach thee first what thou must do to win thy wish. Teach me, quoth Judar.

Starting point is 09:50:22 No, quote the more, that when I have recited the spell and thrown on the incense, the water will dry up from the river's bed and discover to thee a golden door, the bigness of the city gate, with two rings of metal thereon. Whereupon do thou go down to the door, and knock a light knock, and wait a while, then knock a second time, a knock louder than the first, and wait another while, after which give three knocks in rapid, succession, and thou wilt hear a voice ask, Who knocketh at the door of the treasure, unknowing how to solve the secrets? Do thou answer, I am Judar, the fisherman, son of Omar, and the door will open, and there will come forth a figure with a brand in hand, who will say to

Starting point is 09:51:21 thee, If thou be that man, stretch forth thy neck, that I may strike off thy head. Then do thou stretch forth thy neck, and fear not, for when he lifts his hand and smites thee with the sword, he will fall down before thee, and in a little thou wilt see him a body sand soul, and the stroke shall not hurt thee, nor shall any harm befall thee. But if thou gainsay him, he will slay thee. When thou hast undone his enchantment by obedience, enter and go on, till thou see another door, at which do thou knock, and there will come forth to thee a horseman riding a mare with a lance on his shoulder, and say to thee, what bringeth thee hither, where none may enter, ne man, ne genie, and he will shake his lance at thee. Bear thy breast to him,

Starting point is 09:52:22 and he will smite thee and fall down forthright, and thou shalt see him a body without a soul. but if thou cross him he will kill thee. Then go on to the third door, whence there will come forth to thee, a man with a bow and arrows in his hand, and take aim at thee. Bear thy breast to him, and he will shoot at thee and fall down before thee,

Starting point is 09:52:48 a body without a soul. But if thou oppose him, he will kill thee. Then go on to the fourth door. and Scheherazade perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say when it was the six hundred and fourteenth night she continued it hath reached me o auspicious king that the Maghribi said to judah go on to the fourth door and knock and it shall be open to thee when there will come forth to thee a lion huge of bulk which will rush upon thee opening his mouth and showing he hath a mind to devour thee. Have no fear of him, neither flee from him. But when he cometh to thee, give him thy hand and he will bite at it,

Starting point is 09:53:42 and fall down straightway, nor shall aught of hurt betide thee. Then enter the fifth door, where thou shalt find a black slave who will say to thee, Who art thou? Say, I am Judar, and he will answer, if thou be that man, open the sixth door. Then do thou go up to the door and say, O Issa, tell Musa to open the door, whereupon the door will fly open, and thou wilt see two dragons, one on the left hand and another on the right, which will open their mouths and fly at thee, both at once. Do thou put forth to them both hands, and they will bite each a hand, and fall down dead.

Starting point is 09:54:33 But, and thou resist them, they will slay thee. Then go on to the seventh door and knock, whereupon there will come forth to thee thy mother, and say, welcome, O my son, come that I may greet thee. But do thou reply, hold off from me and doff thy dress, and she will make answer, O my son, I am thy mother, and I have a claim upon thee for suckling thee and for rearing thee. How then wouldst thou strip me naked? Then do thou say, Except thou put off thy clothes, I will kill thee, and look to thy right, where thou wilt see a sword hanging up. take it and draw it upon her, saying strip, whereupon she will wheedle thee and humble herself to thee.

Starting point is 09:55:24 But have thou no ruth on her nor be beguiled, and as often as she puteth off aught, say to her, Off with the rave, nor do thou cease to threaten her with death, till she doff all that is upon her, and fall down, whereupon the enchantment will be dissolved, and the charms undone, and the charms undone, thou wilt be safe as to thy life. Then enter the hall of the treasure where thou wilt see the gold lying in heaps, but pay no heed to aught thereof, but look to a closet at the upper end of the hall where thou wilt see a curtain drawn. Draw back the curtain, and thou wilt descry the enchanter al-Shemar-Dal, lying upon a couch of gold, with something at his head, round and shining like the moon, which is the celestial planisphere. He is baldriced with the sword,

Starting point is 09:56:24 his finger is the ring, and about his neck hangs a chain, to which hangs the coal file. Bring me the four talismans, and beware lest thou forget aught of that which I have told thee, or thou will repent, and there will be fear for thee. And he repeated his directions, second and a third and a fourth time, till Judar said, I have them by heart, but who may face all these enchantments that thou namest, and endure against these mighty terrors? Replied the more, O Judar, fear not, for they are semblances without life. And he went on to hearten him, till he said, I put my trust in Allah. Then Abd al-Samad threw perfumes on the chafing dish, and addressed himself to reciting conjurations for a time when, behold, the water disappeared and uncovered

Starting point is 09:57:23 the riverbed, and discovered the door of the treasure. Whereupon Judar went down to the door and knocked, therewith he heard a voice saying, Who knocketh at the door of the treasure, unknowing how to solve the secrets? Quoth he, I am Judar, son of Omar. Whereupon, the door opened, and there came forth a figure with a drawn sword, who said to him, Stretch forth thy neck. So he stretched forth his neck, and the species smote him and fell down lifeless. Then he went on to the second door, and did the like, nor did he cease to do thus, till he had undone the enchantments of the first six doors, and came to the seventh door. Whence there issued forth to him his mother, saying,

Starting point is 09:58:17 I salute thee, O my son, he asked, what art thou? And she answered, O my son, I am thy mother who bear thee nine months, and suckled thee and reared thee, quoth he, put off thy clothes, quoth she, thou art my son, how wouldst thou strip me naked? But he said, Strip, or I will strike off thy head with this sword. and he stretched out his hand to the brand, and drew it upon her, saying, Except thou strip, I will slay thee. Then the strife became long between them, and as often as he redoubled on her his threats,

Starting point is 09:58:56 she put off somewhat of her clothes, and he said to her, Dough the rest, with many menaces, while she removed each article slowly and kept saying, Oh, my son, thou hast disappointed my fosterage of thee, till she had nothing left but her petticoat trousers. Then she said, O my son, is thy heart stone, wilt thou dishonour me by discovering my shame? Indeed this is unlawful, O my son!

Starting point is 09:59:26 And he answered, Thou sayest sooth, put not off thy trousers. At once as he uttered these words, she cried out, He hath made default, beat him. Whereupon there fell upon him blows like raindrops, and the servants of the treasure flocked to him and dealt him a funding which he forgot not in all his days, after which they thrust him forth and threw him down without

Starting point is 09:59:53 the treasure, and the hoard doors closed of themselves, whilst the waters of the river returned to their bed. And Scheheritsad perceived the dawn of day, and ceased saying her permitted say. Recording by Natalie Gray www. www. www. . Section 29 of the Book of a Thousand Nights and a Night,

Starting point is 10:00:26 Volume 6 This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Recording by Natalie Gray The Book of A Thousand Nights and a Night, Volume 6.

Starting point is 10:00:45 by Anonymous, translated by Richard Francis Burton, Section 29, when it was the six hundred and fifteenth night. She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious king, that when the servants of the treasure beat Judar and cast him out, and the horde doors closed of themselves, whilst the river-waters returned to their bed, Abd al-Samad the Maghribi took Judar up in haste, and repeated conjurations over him till he came to his senses, but still dazed as with drink, when he asked him, What hast thou done, O wretch? Answered Judar, O my brother, I undid all the opposing unchantments, till I came to my mother, and there befell between her and myself a long contention. But I made her doth her clothes,

Starting point is 10:01:41 O my brother, till but her trousers remained upon her, and she said to me, do not dishonour me, for to discover one's shame is forbidden. So I left her her trousers out of pity, and behold, she cried out and said, He hath made default, beat him. Whereupon there came out upon me folk, whence I know not, and funding me with a belaboring which was a sister of death, thrust me forth, nor do I know what befell me after this. Quoth the more, did I not warn thee not to swerve from my directions? Verily thou hast injured me and hast injured thyself. For if thou hadst made her take off her pettico trousers, we had one to our wish, but now thou must abide with me till this day next year. Then he cried out to the two slaves, who struck the tent forthright and loaded it on the beasts.

Starting point is 10:02:40 Then they were absent a while, and presently returned with the two mules, and the twain mounted and rode back to the city of Fez, where Judar tarried with the Maghribi, eating well and drinking well, and dawning a grand dress every day till the year was ended and the anniversary day dawned. Then the Moor said to him, Come with me, for this is the appointed day. And Judar said, Tis well. So the Maghribi carried him without the city, where they found the two slaves with the mules,

Starting point is 10:03:16 and rode on till they reached the river. Here the slaves pitched the tent and furnished it, and the moor brought forth the tray of food, and they ate the morning meal, after which Abd al-Samad brought out the wand and the tablets as before, and kindling the fire in the chafing dish, made ready the incense. Then said he, O Judar, I wish to renew my charge to thee. Oh, my lord the pilgrim, replied he, If I have forgotten the Bostonado, I have forgotten the injunctions.

Starting point is 10:03:52 asked the more, Dost thou indeed remember them? And he answered, yes. Quoth the more, Keep thy wits and think not that the woman is thy very mother. Nay, she is but an enchantment in her semblance, whose purpose is to find thee defaulting. Thou camest off alive the first time, but, and thou tripped this time, they will slay thee. Quoth Judar, If I slip this time, I deserve to be burnt of them." Then Abd al-Samad cast the perfumes into the fire and recited the conjurations till the river dried up, whereupon Judar descended and knocked. The door opened and he entered and undid the several enchantments till he came to the seventh

Starting point is 10:04:44 door and the semblance of his mother appeared before him, saying, welcome, oh my son. he said to her, how am I thy son, O accursed, strip. And she began to wheedle him and put off garment after garment till only her trousers remained. And he said to her, strip, O accursed. So she put off her trousers and became a body without a soul. Then he entered the hall of the treasures, where he saw gold lying in heaps, but paid no heed to it, and passed on to the closet at the upper end, where he saw the enchanter Al-Shemar-Dal, lying on a couch of gold, baldriced with the sword, with the ring on his finger, the coal-file on his breast, and the celestial planisphere hanging over his head. So he loosed the sword, and taking the ring, the coal-file and the planisphere, went forth,

Starting point is 10:05:43 when behold a band of music sounded for him, and the servants of the treasure cried out, saying, mayest thou be assained with that thou hast gained, O Judar, nor did the music leave sounding, till he came forth of the treasure to the Maghribi, who gave up his conjurations and fumigations, and rose up and embraced him and saluted him. Then Judar made over to him the four hoarded talismans, and he took them, and cried out to the slaves who carried away the tent, and brought the mules. So they mounted and returned to Fez City, where the moor fetched the saddlebags and brought forth dish after dish of meat till the tray was full, and said, Oh, my brother, O Judar, eat!

Starting point is 10:06:33 So he ate till he was satisfied, when the moor emptied what remained of the meats and other dishes, and returned the empty platters to the saddlebags. Then quoth he, O Judar, thou have thou had. left home and native land on our account, and thou hast accomplished our dearest desire, wherefore thou hast a right to require a reward of us. Ask therefore what thou wilt. It is Almighty Allah who giveth unto thee by our means. Ask thy will and be not ashamed, for thou art deserving. O my lord, quoth Judar, I ask first, of Allah the most high, and then of thee, that thou give me yonder saddle-bags. So the Maghribi called

Starting point is 10:07:24 for them, and gave them to him, saying, Take them, for they are thy due, and if thou hadst asked of me aught else instead, I had given it to thee. Eat from them, thou and thy family. But my poor fellow, these will not profit thee, save by way of Proven, and thou hast wearied thyself with us, and we promise to send thee home rejoicing. So we will join to these, other saddlebags full of gold and gems, and forward thee back to thy native land, where thou shalt become a gentleman and a merchant, and clothe thyself and thy family, nor shalt thou want ready money for thine expenditure, and know that the manner of using our gift is on this wise. Put thy hand therein, say, O servant of these saddle-bags, I conjure thee by virtue of the mighty names, which have power

Starting point is 10:08:25 over thee, bring me such a dish, and he will bring thee whatsoever thou askest, though thou shouldst call for a thousand different dishes a day. So saying he filled him a second pair of saddle-bags, half with gold, and half with gems and precious stones, and sending for a slave and a mule, said to him, Mount this mule, and the slave shall go before thee and show thee the way, till thou come to the door of thy house, where do thou take the two pair of saddle-bags, and give him the mule that he may bring it back, but admit none into thy secret, and so we commend thee to Allah. May the Almighty increase thy good, replied Judar, and laying the two pairs of saddle-bags on the mule's back, Mount and set forth. The slave went on before him, and the mule followed him all that day and night,

Starting point is 10:09:24 and on the morrow he entered Cairo by the gate of victory, where he saw his mother seated, saying, Ames, for the love of Allah! At this sight he well-nigh lost his wits and alighting, threw himself upon her, and when she saw him she wept. Then he mounted her on the mule and walked by her stirrup, till they came to the house, where he set her down, and taking the saddle-bags, left the she-mule to the slave, who led her away and returned with her to his master, for that both slave and mule were devils. As for Judar, it was grievous to him that his mother should beg, so when they were in the house he asked her, Oh, my mother, are my brothers well? And she answered,

Starting point is 10:10:12 They are both well, quoth he, why dost thou beg by the wayside? Quoth she, because I am hungry, oh my son. And he, before I went away, I gave the n hundred dinars one day, the like the next, and a thousand on the day of my departure. Oh, my son, they cheated me and took the money from me, saying, we will buy goods with it. Then they drove me away, and I fell to begging by the wayside, for stress of hunger. O my mother, no harm shall befall thee.

Starting point is 10:10:47 Now I am come, so have no concern, for these saddlebags are full of gold and gems, and good aboundeth with me. Verily thou art blessed, O my son. Allah accept of thee and increase thee of his bounties. Go, O my son, fetch us some victual, for I slept not last night for excess of hunger,

Starting point is 10:11:09 having gone to bed supperless. Welcome to thee, O my mother. Call for what thou wilt to eat, and I will set it before thee this moment, for I have no occasion to buy from the market, nor need I any to cook. Oh, my son, I see not with thee. I have with me in these saddlebags all manner of meats. Oh, my son, whatever is ready will serve to stay hunger. True, when there is no choice, men are content with the smallest thing, but where there is they like to eat what is good, and I have abundance, so call for what thou hast a mind to. O my son, give me some hot bread and a slice of cheese. Oh, my mother, this befitteth not thy condition. Then give me to eat of that which besitteth my case, for thou knowest it.

Starting point is 10:12:02 O my mother, rejoined he, What suit thine estate are browned meat and roast chicken, and peppered rice, and it becometh thy rank to eat. of sausages and stuffed cucumbers, and stuffed lamb and stuffed ribs of mutton, and vermicelli with broken almonds, and nuts, and honey, and sugar, and fritters and almond cakes. But she thought he was laughing at her, and making mock of her, so she said to him, Yao, Yao, what has come to thee? Dost thou dream, or art thou deft? asked he, Why deemest thou that I am mad? And she answered,

Starting point is 10:12:41 thou names to me all manner rich dishes, who can avail unto their price, and who knoweth how to dress them. Quoth he, by my life thou shalt eat of all that I have named to thee, and that at once. And quoth she, I see nothing. And he, bring me the saddle-bags. So she fetched them, and feeling them, found them empty. However, she laid them before him, and he thrust in his hand and pulled out dish. after dish, till he had set before her all he had named. Whereupon asked she, Oh, my son, the saddle-bags are small, and moreover they were empty, yet hast thou taken thereout all these dishes. Where then were they all? And he answered, O my mother, know that these saddle-bags, which the moor gave me, are enchanted, and they

Starting point is 10:13:35 have a servant whom, if one desire ought, he hath but to adjure by the names which command him, saying, O servant of these saddle-bags, bring me such a dish, and he will bring it. Quoth his mother, and may I put out my hand and ask of him? Quoth he, do so. So she stretched out her hand and said, O servant of the saddle-bags, by the virtue of the names which command thee, bring me stuffed ribs. Then she thrust in her hand and found a dish containing delicate stuffed ribs of lamb. So she took it out and called for bread and what else she had a mind to, after which Judar said to her, O my mother, when thou hast made an end of eating, empty what is left of the food into dishes other than these, and restore the empty platters to the saddle-bags carefully. So she arose

Starting point is 10:14:29 and laid them up in a safe place. And look, O mother mine, that thou keep this secret, added he, and whenever thou hast a mind to aught, take it forth of the saddle-bag, and give alms and feed my brothers, whether I be present or absent. Then he fell to eating with her, and behold, while they were thus occupied, in came his two brothers, whom a son of the quarter had apprised of his return, saying, Your brother has come back, riding on a she-meal with a slave before him, and wearing a dress that hath not its like. So they said to each other, would to heaven we had not evilly entreated our mother, there is no hope but that she will surely tell him how he did by her,

Starting point is 10:15:14 and then, oh, our disgrace with him. But one of the twain said, Our mother is soft-hearted, and if she tell him, our brother is yet tenderer over us than she, and, given we excuse ourselves to him, he will accept our excuse. So they went into him, and he rose to them and saluting them with the friendliest salutation,

Starting point is 10:15:37 bade them sit down and eat. So they ate till they were satisfied, for they were weak with hunger, after which Judar said to them, O my brothers, take what is left and distribute it to the poor and needy. O brother, replied they, let us keep it to sup withal. But he answered, When suppertime cometh ye shall have more than this. So they took the rest of the vitual, and going out, gave it to every poor man who passed by them, saying, take and eat till nothing was left then they brought back the dishes and judar said to his mother put them in the saddle-bags and shahirzad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say when it was the six hundred and sixteenth night she continued it hath reached me o auspicious king that judar when his brethren had finished their under meal said to his mother put back the platters in the saddle-bags.

Starting point is 10:16:40 And when it was even-tied, he entered the saloon and took forth of the saddle-bags, a table of forty dishes, after which he went up to the upper room, and, sitting down between his brothers, said to his mother, bring the supper. So she went down to the saloon,

Starting point is 10:16:57 and, finding there the dishes ready, laid the tray and brought up the forty dishes, one after other. Then they ate the evening meal, and when they had done, Judar said to his brothers, Take and feed the poor and needy. So they took what was left and gave alms thereof, and presently he brought forth to them sweetmeats,

Starting point is 10:17:18 whereof they ate, and what was left he bade them give to the neighbors. On the morrow they break their fast after the same fashion, and thus they fared ten days, at the end of which time, Quoth Salim, How cometh it, that our brother seteth before us a banquet in the morning, a banquet at noon, and a banquet at sundown, besides sweetbeats late at night, and all that is left he giveth to the poor. Verily this is the fashion of sultans, yet we never see him by aught, and he hath neither kitchener nor kitchen, nor doth he light a fire. Whence hath he this great plenty? Hasth thou not a

Starting point is 10:18:02 to discover the cause of all this? Quoth Salim. By Allah I do not, but knowest thou any who will tell us the truth of the case? Quoth Salim, none will tell us save our mother. So they laid a plot and repairing to their mother one day in their brother's absence, said to her, O our mother, we are hungry. Replied she, rejoice, for ye shall presently be satisfied. And going into the saloon sought of the servant of the saddle-bags, hot meats, which she took out and set before her sons. "'Oh, our mother!' cried they, "'this meat is hot, yet hast thou not cooked, neither kindled a fire.' Quoth she, "'It cometh from the saddle-bags.'

Starting point is 10:18:51 "'And quoth they, What manner a thing be these saddle-bags?' She answered, "'They are enchanted, and the required is produced by the charm. She then told her sons their virtue, and joining them to secrecy, said they, The secret shall be kept, O our mother, but teach us the manner of this. So she taught them the fashion thereof, and they fell to putting their hands into the saddle-bags, and taking forth whatever they had a mind to. But Judar knew not of this. Then, quote Salim, privily to Salim,

Starting point is 10:19:26 Oh my brother, how long shall we abide with Judar servant-wise and eat of his alms? Shall we not contrive to get the saddlebags from him and make off with them? And how shall we make shift to do this? We will sell him to the galleys. How shall we do that? We two will go to the Reyes, the chief captain of the Sea of Suez, and bid him to an entertainment with two of his company. What I say to Judar, do thou confirm,

Starting point is 10:19:56 and at the end of the night I will show thee what I will do. So they agreed upon the sale of their brother, and going to the captain's quarters said to him, O Rice, we have come to thee on an errand that will please thee. Good, answered he, and they continued. We two are brethren, and we have a third brother, a lewd fellow and good for nothing. When our father died, he left us some money which we shared amongst us,

Starting point is 10:20:23 and he took his part of the inheritance, and wasted it in frowardness and debauchery till he was reduced to poverty, when he came upon us and cited us before the magistrates, a vouching that we had taken his good and that of his father, and we disputed the matter before the judges and lost the money. Then he waited a while and attacked us a second time, until he brought us to beggary, nor will he desist from us, and we are utterly weary of him,

Starting point is 10:20:50 wherefore we would have thee by him of us. Quoth the captain, can ye cast about with him and bring him to me here if so i will pack him off to sea forthright quoth they we cannot manage to bring him here but be thou our guest this night and bring with thee two of thy men not one more and when he is asleep we will aid one another to fall upon him we five and seize and gag him Then shalt thou carry him forth the house under cover of the night, and after do thou with him as thou wilt. Rejoined the captain, With all my heart, will ye sell him for forty dinars? And they, Yes, come after nightfall to such a street, by such a mosque, and thou shalt find one of us awaiting thee. And he replied, Now be off. Then they repaired to Judar, and waited a while, after which Salim went up to him. and kissed his hand. Quoth Judar,

Starting point is 10:21:49 What ails thee, O my brother? And he made answer, saying, Know that I have a friend, who hath many a time bidden me to his house in thine absence, and hath ever hospitably entreated me, and I owe him a thousand kindnesses, as my brother here wotteth. I met him to-day, and he invited me to his house, but I said to him, I cannot leave my brother Judar, quoth he, bring him with thee, and quoth I, he will not consent to that, but if ye will be my guests, thou and thy brothers, for his brothers were sitting with him, and I invited them, thinking that they would refuse. But he accepted my invitation for all of them, saying, look for me at the gate of the little mosque, and I will come to thee, I and my brothers,

Starting point is 10:22:38 and now I fear they will come and am ashamed before thee, so, wilt thou hearten my heart and entertain them this night, for thy good is abundant, oh my brother. Or if thou consent not, give me leave to take them into the neighbor's houses. Replied Judar, why shouldst thou carry them into the neighbor's houses? Is our house then so straight, or have we not wherewith to give them supper? Shame on thee to consult me. Thou hast but to call for whatever thou needst, and have rich vions and sweetmeats to spare. Whenever thou bringest home folk in my absence, Ask thy mother, and she will set before thee victual more than enough.

Starting point is 10:23:16 Go and fetch them. Blessings have descended upon us through such guests. So Salim kissed his hand, and going forth, sat at the gate of the little mosque till after sundown, when the captain and his men came up to him, and he carried them to the house. When Judar saw them, he bade them welcome, and seated them, and made friends of them, knowing not what the future had in store for him at their hands. Then he called to his mother for supper, and she fell to taking dishes out of the saddlebags, whilst he said, Bring such and such meats, till she had set forty different dishes before them.

Starting point is 10:23:54 They ate their sufficiency, and the tray was taken away, the sailors thinking the while that this liberal entertainment came from Salem. When a third part of the night was passed, Judar set sweetmeats before them, and Salim served them, whilst his two brothers sat with the guests till they sought to sleep. Accordingly, Judar lay down, and the others with him, who waited till he was asleep, when they fell upon him together, and gagging and pinioning him before he was awake, carried him forth of the house under cover of the night. And Scheherzad perceived the dawn of day,

Starting point is 10:24:33 and ceased saying her permitted say. End of Section 29, recording, by Natalie Gray. www. www. www. . .

Starting point is 10:24:50 Section 30 of the Book of a Thousand Nights and a Night, volume 6. This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information

Starting point is 10:25:03 or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Recording by Natalie Gray. The Book of A Thousand Nights and a Night, volume six, by Anonymous, translated by Richard Francis Burton. Section 30. When it was the 617th night, she said, It hath reached me, O auspicious king, that they seized Judar, and carrying him forth of the house

Starting point is 10:25:33 under cover of the night, at once packed him off to Suez, where they shackled him and set him to work as a galley slave, and he ceased not to serve thus in silence a whole year. So far concerning Judar, but as for his brothers, they went in next morning to his mother and said to her, Our mother, our brother Judar is not awake. Said she, do ye wake? Asked they, where lieeth he? And she answered, with the guests. They rejoined. Happily he went away with them whilst we slept, O mother, it would seem that he had tasted of strangerhood and yearned to get at hidden hordes,

Starting point is 10:26:18 for we heard him at talk with the Moors, and they said to him, We will take thee with us and open the treasure to thee. She inquired, Hath he then been in company with Moors? And they replied, saying, Were they not our guests yesterday night? And she,

Starting point is 10:26:37 Most like he hath gone with them, but Allah will direct him on the right way, for there is a blessing upon him, and he will surely come back with great good. But she wept, for it was grievous to her to be parted from her son. Then they said to her, O a cursed woman, dost thou love Judar with all this love, whilst as for us, whether we be absent or present, thou neither joyest in us nor sorrowest for us. Are we not thy sons, even as Judar is thy son? she said ye indeed are my sons but ye are reprobates who deserve no favor of me for since your father's death i have never seen any good in you whilst as for judar i have had abundant good of him and he hath heartened my heart and entreated me with honor wherefore it behoveth me to weep for him because of his kindness to me and to you when they heard this they abused her and beat her

Starting point is 10:27:39 her, after which they sought for the saddle-bags, till they found the two pairs, and took the enchanted one, and all the gold from one pouch, and jewels from the other of the unenchanted, saying, This was our father's good, said their mother. Not so, by Allah, it belongeth to your brother, Judar, who brought it from the land of the Maghribi, said they, thou liest, it was our father's property, and we will dispose of it as we please. Then they divided the gold and jewels between them, but a bramble arose between them concerning the enchanted saddlebags. Salim saying, I will have them.

Starting point is 10:28:22 And Salim saying, I will take them. And they came to high words. Then she said, Oh, my sons, ye have divided the gold and the jewels, but this may not be divided, nor can its value be made up in money, and if it be cut in twain its spell will be voided. So leave it with me, and I will give you to eat from it at all times, and be content to take a morsel with you. If ye allow me ought to clothe me, t'will be of your bounty, and each of you shall traffic with the folk for himself.

Starting point is 10:28:56 Ye are my sons, and I am your mother. Wherefore let us abide as we are, lest your brother come back and we be disgraced. but they accepted not her words and passed the night wrangling with each other now it chanced that a janissary of the king's guards was a guest in the house adjoining judas and heard them through the open window so he looked out and listening heard all the angry words that passed between them and saw the division of the spoil next morning he presented himself before the king of egypt whose name was shams al-dhah and told him all he had heard whereupon he sent for judar's brothers and put them to the question till they confessed and he took the two pairs of saddle-bags from them and clapped them in prison appointing a sufficient daily allowance to their mother Now, as regards Judar, he abode a whole year in service at Suez, till one day, being in a ship bound on a voyage over the sea, a wind arose against them, and cast the vessel upon a rock projecting from a mountain, where she broke up and all on board were drowned, and none get ashore save

Starting point is 10:30:14 Judar. As soon as he landed, he fared on inland, till he reached an encampment of Badawi, who questioned him of his case, and he told them he had been a sailor. Now there was in camp a merchant, a native of Jida, who took pity on him, and said to him, wilt thou take service with me, O Egyptian, and I will clothe thee and carry thee with me to Jida. So Judar took service with him, and accompanied him to Jida, where he showed him much favor. After a while, his master the merchant, set out on a pilgrimage to Mecca, taking Judar with him, and when they reached the city, the kairine repaired to the Haram Temple to circumambulate the Ka'aba. As he was making the prescribed circuits, he suddenly saw his friend Abd al-Samad the Moor, doing the like. And Scheheritsad perceived the dawn of day,

Starting point is 10:31:14 and ceased to say her permitted say when it was the six hundred and eighteenth night she said it hath reached me o auspicious king that judar as he was making the circuits suddenly saw his friend abd al samad also circumambulating and when the maugabe caught sight of him he saluted him and asked him of his date whereupon judar wept and told him all that had befallen him so the moor carried him to his lodging and entreated him with honour clothing him in a dress of which the like was not and saying to him thou hast seen the end of thine ills o judar then he drew out for him a geometric figure which showed what had befallen salim and salim and said to judar such and such things have befallen thy brothers and they are now in the king of egypt's prison. But thou art right welcome to abide with me and accomplish thine ordinances of pilgrimage, and all shall be well. Replied Judar, O my lord, let me go and take leave of the merchant with whom I am, and after I will come back to thee. Dost thou, O money? asked the moor, and he answered, No, said Abd al-Samad, go thou and take leave of him, and come back,

Starting point is 10:32:45 forthright, for bread hath claims of its own from the ingenuous. So Judar returned to the merchant and farewelled him, saying, I have fallen in with my brother. Go, bring him here, said the merchant, and we will make him an entertainment. But Judar answered, saying, he hath no need of that, for he is a man of wealth and hath many servants. Then the merchant gave Judar twenty dinar, saying, acquit me of responsibility. And he bade him adieu and went forth from him. Presently he saw a poor man, so he gave him the twenty ducats and returned to the moor, with whom he abode till they had accomplished the pilgrimage rites. When Abd al-Samad gave him the seal ring that he had taken from the treasure of al-Shemar-Dal, saying, This ring will win thee thy wish, for it enchanteth and hath a servant,

Starting point is 10:33:44 by name Al Ra'Aad al-Kasif. So whatever thou hast a mind to of the wants of this world, rub this ring, and its servant will appear and do all thou biddest him. Then he rubbed the ring before him, whereupon the genie appeared, saying, At some, O my lord, ask what thou wilt, and it shall be given thee. Hast thou a mind to people a ruined city, or ruin a populous one? To slay a king or to rout a host? Orahad, said Abd al-Samad,

Starting point is 10:34:21 This is become thy lord. Do thou serve him faithfully. Then he dismissed him and said to Judar, Rub the ring and the servant will appear, and do thou command him to do whatever thou desirest, for he will not gain say thee. Now go to thine own country and take care of the, ring, for by means of it thou wilt baffle thine enemies, and be not ignorant of its puissance.

Starting point is 10:34:52 O my lord, quoth Judar, with thy leave I will set out homewards. Quoth the Maghribi, summon the genie and mount upon his back, and if thou say to him, bring me to my native city this very day, he will not disobey thy commandment. So he took leave of Moore Abd al-Sammer. So he took leave of Muir abd al-Samad and rubbed the ring, whereupon Al-Raad presented himself, saying, At-Sam, ask and it shall be given to thee, said Judar, carry me to Cairo this day, and he replied, Thy will be done. And taking him on his back, flew with him from noon till midnight, when he set him down in the courtyard of his mother's house and disappeared. Judar went into his mother, who rose weeping and greeted him fondly, and told him how the king had beaten his

Starting point is 10:35:49 brothers, and cast them into jail, and taken the two pairs of saddle-bags, which, when he heard, it was no light matter to him, and he said to her, grieve not for the past, I will show thee what I can do, and bring my brothers hither forthright. So he rubbed the ring, whereupon its servant appeared, saying, Here I am, ask and thou shalt have. Quoth Judar, I bid thee, bring my two brothers from the prison of the king. So the genie sank into the earth, and came not up, but in the midst of the jail where Salim lay in piteous plight and sore sorrow for the plagues of prison, so that they wished for death, and one of them said to the other, By Allah, oh my brother, mother, affliction is longsome upon us. How long shall we abide in this prison? Death would be a relief.

Starting point is 10:36:47 As he spoke, behold, the earth clove in sunder, and out came Al-Ra-Ad, who took both up and plunged with them into the earth. They swooned away for excess of fear, and when they recovered, they found themselves in their mother's house, and saw Judar seated by her side. Quoth he, I salute you, oh my brothers, you have cheered me by your presence. And they bowed their heads and burst into tears. Then said he, weep not, for it was Satan and covetize that led you to do thus. How could you sell me? But I comfort myself with the thought of Joseph, whose brothers did with him even more than ye did with me, because they cast him into the pit. And Scheheredazadezad perceived the dawn of day, and ceased saying her permitted say. When it was the six hundred and nineteenth night, she continued,

Starting point is 10:37:47 It hath reached me, O auspicious king, that Judar said to his brothers, How could you do with me thus? But repent unto Allah and crave pardon of him, and he will forgive you both, for he is the most forgiving, the merciful. As for me, I pardon you and welcome you. No harm shall befall you. Then he comforted them, and set their hearts at ease, and related to them all he had suffered, till he fell in with Sheikh Abdel Samad, and told them also of the seal ring. They replied, O our brother, forgive us this time, and if we return to our old ways, do with us as thou wilt. Quoth he, no harm shall befall you, but tell me what the king did with you. Quoth they, he beat us, and he beat us,

Starting point is 10:38:37 threatened us with death and took the two pairs of saddle-bags from us. Will he not care? said Judar, and rubbed the ring, whereupon Al-Ra-Aad appeared. When his brothers saw him, they were frightened and thought Judar would bid him slay them, so they fled to their mother, crying, Oh, our mother, we throw ourselves on thy generosity. Do thou intercede for us, O our mother! And she said to them, Oh, my sons, fear nothing.

Starting point is 10:39:08 Then said Judar to the servant, I command thee to bring me all that is in the king's treasury of goods and such. Let nothing remain, and fetch the two pairs of saddlebags he took from my brothers. I hear and I obey, replied Al-Ra-ad, and disappearing straightway, gathered together all he found in the treasury, and returned with the two pairs of saddle-bags, and the deposits therein, and laid them before Judar, saying, Oh my lord, I have left nothing in the treasury.

Starting point is 10:39:41 Judar gave the treasure to his mother, bidding her keep it, and laying the enchanted saddle-bags before him, said to the genie, I command thee to build me this night a lofty palace, and overlay it with liquid gold, and furnish it with magnificent furniture, and let not the day dawn ere thou be quit of the whole work, replied he, Thy bidding shall be obeyed, and sank into the earth. Then Judar brought forth food, and they ate and took their ease, and lay down to sleep. Meanwhile, Al-Ra-a-od summoned his attendant gin and bade them build a palace. So some of them fell to hewing stones, and some to building, whilst others plastered and painted

Starting point is 10:40:25 and furnished. Nor did the day dawn ere the ordinance of the palace was complete, whereupon Al-Ra-od came to Judar and said to him, Oh, my lord, the palace is finished, and in best order, and it pleased thee to come and look on it. So Judar went forth with his mother and brothers, and saw a palace whose like there was not in the whole world, and it confounded all minds with the goodliness of its ordinance. Judar was delighted with it,

Starting point is 10:40:57 while he was passing along the highway, and with all it had cost him nothing. Then he asked his mother, "'Say me, wilt thou take up thine abode in this palace?' And she answered, "'I will, O my son,' and called down blessings upon him. Then he rubbed the ring and bade the genie fetch him forty handsome white handmaids and forty black damsels and as many mamelukes and negro slaves.

Starting point is 10:41:25 "'Thy will be done,' answered Al Ra'ad, and betaking himself with forty of his attendant genii to hind and sinned and Persia, snatched up every beautiful girl and boy they saw till they had made up the required number. Moreover, he sent other fourscore who fetched comely black girls, and forty others brought male chattels, and carried them all to Judar's house, which they filled. Then he showed them to Judar, who was pleased with them and said, said, Bring for each a dress of the finest. Ready, replied the servant, then quoth he, Bring a dress for my mother and another for myself and also for my brothers. So the genie

Starting point is 10:42:12 fetched all that was needed and clad the female slaves, saying to them, This is your mistress, kiss her hands and cross her knot, but serve her white and black. The Mamelukes also dressed themselves and kissed Judar's hands, and he and his brothers arrayed themselves in the robes the genie had brought them, and Judar became like unto a king, and his brothers as wazirs. Now his house was spacious, so he lodged Salim and his slave-girls in one part thereof, and Salim and his slave-girls in another, whilst he and his mother took up their abode in the new palace, and each in his own place was like a Sultan, so far concerning them. But as regards the king's treasurer, thinking to take something from the treasury, he went in and found it altogether empty, even as saith the poet, twas as a hive

Starting point is 10:43:12 of bees that greatly thrived. But when the bee swarm fled, twas clean unhived. So he gave a great cry and fell down in a fit. When he came to himself, he left the door open, and going in to King Shams al-Dala said to him, O commander of the faithful, I have to inform thee that the treasury have become empty during the night. Quoth the king, what hast thou done with my monies which were therein? Quoth he, by Allah I have not done aught with them, nor know I what is come of them. I visited the place yesterday and saw it full, but today when I went in, I found it clean, empty. I'll obey it the doors were locked, the walls were unpierced, and the bolts are unbroken, nor hath a thief entered it.

Starting point is 10:44:05 Asked the king, Are the two pairs of saddlebags gone? Yes, replied the treasurer, whereupon the king's reason flew from his head. And Scheheret-Zad perceived the dawn of day, and ceased to say her permitted say. End of Section 30, recording by by Natalie Gray. www. www.

Starting point is 10:44:30 voicebynately.com Section 31 of the Book of A Thousand Nights and a Night, Volume 6. This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Recording by Novella Serena. The Book of a Thousand Nights and a Night. Volume 6 by Anonymous, Translated by Richard Francis Burton.

Starting point is 10:45:09 Section 31 When it was the 620th night, she said, It hath reached me, O auspicious king, that when the treasurer informed the king that all in the treasury had been plundered, including the two pairs of saddlebags, the king's reason flew from his head and he rose to his feet, saying, Go thou before me. followed the treasurer to the treasury and he found nothing there whereat he was wroth with him and he said to them o soldiers know that my treasury hath been plundered during the night and i know not who did this deed and dared thus to outrage me without fear of me

Starting point is 10:45:50 said they how so and he replied ask the treasurer so they questioned him and he answered saying yesterday i visited the treasury and it was full but this morning When I entered it, I found it empty, though the walls were unpierced and the doors unbroken. They all marveled at this, and could make the king no answer when in came the genissary, who had denounced Salim and Salim, and said to Shams'adullah, O king of the age, all this night I have not slept for that which I saw. And the king asked, and what didst thou see? No, O king of the age, answered the kavas. But all night long I'd been amusing myself with watching builders at work, and, when it was

Starting point is 10:46:37 day, I saw a palace ready edified, whose like is not in the world. So I asked about it and was told that Judar had come back with great wealth and mamelukes and slaves, and that he had freed his two brothers from prison, and built this palace wherein he is as a Sultan." Quoth the King, Go, look in the prison. So they went thither, and not finding Salim and Salim returned and told the king, who said, It is plain now who be the thief, he who took Salim and Salim out of prison it is, Who hath stolen my monies?

Starting point is 10:47:13 Quoth the vizier, O my lord, and who is he? And quoth the king, their brother Judar, and he hath taken the two pairs of saddle-bags. But, O Vazir, do thou send him an emir with fifty men to seal up his goods and lay hands on him and his brothers and bring them to me that I may hang them. And he was sore enraged and said, Ho, off with the emir at once, and fetch them that I may put them to death. But the vizier said to him, Be thou merciful, for Allah is merciful and hasteth not to punish his servants,

Starting point is 10:47:50 when as they sit against him. Moreover, he who can build a palace in a single knight as these say, None in the world can vie with him, and verily I fear lest the emir fall into difficulty for Judar. Have patience, therefore, whilst I devise for thee some device of getting at the truth the case, and so shalt thou win thy wish, O king of the age. Quoth the king, counsel me how I shall do, O Vazir, and the minister said, Send him an emir with an invitation, and I will make much of him for thee,

Starting point is 10:48:26 and make a show of love for him, and ask him of his estate, after which we will see. If we find him stout of heart we will use slight with him, and if weak of will, then do thou seize him and do with him thy desire. The king agreed to this, and dispatched one of his amirs, Othman eyes, to go and invite Judar, and say to him, the king bideth thee to a banquet, and the king said to him, return not, except with him. Now this Othman was a fool, proud, and conceited, so he went forth upon his errand, and when he came to the gate of Judar's palace he saw before the door a eunuch, seated upon a chair of gold,

Starting point is 10:49:08 who at his approach rose not, but sat as if none came near, though there were with the emir fifty footmen. Now this eunuch was none other than Al-Rad al-Kasif, the servant of the ring, whom Judar had commanded to put on the guise of a eunuch and sit at the palace gate. So the emir rode up to him and asked him, O slave, where is thy lord? Whereeto he answered, in the palace? But he stirred not from his leaning posture, whereupon the emir othman waxed raw,

Starting point is 10:49:40 and said to him, O pestilent slave, art thou not ashamed when I speak to thee, to answer me sprawling at thy length like a gallows-bird? replied the eunuch, often multiply not words. hardly had athman heard this when he was filled with rage and drawing his mace would have smitten the eunuch knowing not that he was a devil but al-rard leapt upon him and taking the mace from him dealt him four blows with it now when the fifty men saw their lord beaten it was grievous to them so they drew their swords and ran to slay the slave but he said do ye draw on us old dogs and rose at them with the mace and every one whom he smote he broke his bones and drowned him in his blood so they fell back before him and fled whilst he followed them beating them till he had driven them far from the palace gate after which he returned and sat down on his chair at the door caring for none.

Starting point is 10:50:41 And Scheherazade proceeds the dawn of the day and ceased, saying her permitted say, When it was the six hundred and twenty-first night, she said, It hath reached me, O auspicious king, that the eunuch having put to flight the Emir Othman, the king's officer, and his men, till they were driven far from Judar's gate, returned and sat down on his chair at the door, caring for none. But, as for the emir and his company, they returned, discomfited and funded, to King Shamsaldaa and Othman said, Othman, said, O king of the age, when I came to the palace gate, I espied in eunuch seated there, in a chair of gold, and he was passing proud for, when he saw me approach, he stretched himself

Starting point is 10:51:26 at full length, albeit he had been sitting in his chair, and entreated me contumeliously, neither offered to rise to me. So I began to speak to him, and he answered with Albeit, stirring, whereat wrath get hold of me, and I drew the mace upon him, thinking to smite him. But he snatched it from me, and beat me and my men therewith and overthrew us, so he fled from before him and could not prevail against him. At this the king was wroth and said, Let an hundred men go down to him.

Starting point is 10:51:57 Accordingly, the hundred men went down to attack him. But he arose and fell upon them with the mace, and ceased not smiting them till he had put them to the route, when he regained his chair. Upon which they returned to the king and told him what had passed, saying, O king of the age, he beat us, and we fled for fear of him. Then the king sent two hundred men against him,

Starting point is 10:52:20 but these also he put to the route, and Shamsal D'Lah said to his minister, I charge thee, O Vazir, take five hundred men, and bring this eunuch in haste, and with him his master Judar and his brothers. replied the vizier, O king of the age,

Starting point is 10:52:37 I need no soldiers, but will go down to him alone and unarmed. Go, quoth the king, and do as thou seest suitable. So, the vizier laid down his arms and, dawning a white habit, took a rosary in his hand and set out a foot alone and unattended.

Starting point is 10:52:57 When he came to Judar's gate, he saw the slave sitting there, so he went up to him and seating himself by his side courteously said to him, Peace be with thee. Whereto he replied, And on thee be peace, O mortal, what wilt thou? When the vizier heard him say, O mortal,

Starting point is 10:53:17 He knew him to be of the gene and quaked for fear. Then he asked him, O my lord, tell me, is thy master Judar here? Answered the eunuch. Yes, he is in the palace. Quoth the minister. O my lord, go thou to him and say to him, King Shamsalda saluteth thee and bideth the honour his dwelling with thy presence,

Starting point is 10:53:42 and eat of a banquet he hath made for thee. Quoth the eunuch, tarry thou here whilst I consult him? So the vizier stood in a respectful attitude, whilst the marid went up to the palace and said to Judar, No, O my lord, that the king sent to thee in a mere and fifty men, and I beat them, and drove them away. Then he sent a hundred men, and I beat them also, then two hundred, and these also I put to the route. And now he hath sent thee his vizier, unarmed, bidding thee visit him and eat of his banquet.

Starting point is 10:54:18 What sayest thou? Said Judar, go, bring the vizier hither. So the marid went down and said to him, O vizier, come speak with my lord. On my head be it, replied he, and going in to-hear-in-in-he-in. to Judar found him seated in greater state than the king upon a carpet whose like the king could not spread, and was dazed and amazed at the goodliness of the palace and its decoration and appointments, which made him seem as he were a beggar in comparison. So he kissed the ground before Judar and called down blessings on him, and Judar said to him,

Starting point is 10:54:55 What is thy business, O Vazir? replied he, O my lord, thy friend, King Shams'aul-Dala saluted thee with the salon, and longeth to look upon thy face. Wherefore he hath made thee in entertainment, so say, wilt thou heal his heart, and eat of his banquet? Quoth Judar, if he be indeed my friend, salute him, and bid him come to me. On my head be it, quoth the minister. Then Judar, bringing out the ring, rubbed it, and bathe the ring, The jinny fetch him a dress of the best, which he gave to the vizier, saying, Donned this dress,

Starting point is 10:55:33 and go tell the king what I say. So the vizier donned the dress, the like whereof he had never dawned, and returning to the king told him what had passed and praised the palace, and that which was therein saying, Judar bideth thee to him. So the king called out, Up ye men, mount your horses and bring me my steed that we may go to Judar. He and his suite rode off for the Karin palace. Meanwhile, Judar summoned the Marid and said to him,

Starting point is 10:56:02 It is my will that thou bring me some of the Ifritz at thy command in the guise of guards and station them in the open square before the palace, that the king may see them and be awed by them, so that his heart may tremble and he shall know that my power and majesty be greater than his. Thereupon Al-Rahad brought him two hundred Ifrites of great stature and strength in the guise of guards, magnificently armed and equipped. And when the king came and saw these tall burly fellows, his heart feared them. Then he entered the palace and found Judar sitting in such state as nor king nor sult it could even.

Starting point is 10:56:39 So he saluted him and made his obeisance to him. Yet Judar rose not to him, nor did him honor, nor said be seated, but left him standing. And Scheherazade preceded the dawn of the day, and ceased to say her permitted say. It was the six hundred and twenty-second night. She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious king, That when the king entered,

Starting point is 10:57:04 Judar rose not to him, Nor did him honour, nor even said, Be seated, But left him standing, So that fear entered into him, And he could neither sit nor go away, And said to himself, If he feared me,

Starting point is 10:57:17 He would not leave me thus unheeded, Peradventry he will do me a mischief, Because of what I did with his brothers. Then said Judar, O king of the age, it beseemeth not the like of thee to wrong the folk and take away their good, replied the king, O my lord, deign excuse me, for greed impelled me to this, and fate was thereby fulfilled, and, were there no offending, there would be no forgiving. And he went on to excuse himself for the past, and prayed to him for pardon and indulgence, till he recited amongst other things this poetry. O thou of generous seed and true nobility, Reproach me not for that which came from me to thee.

Starting point is 10:58:01 We pardon thee if thou have wrought us any wrong, And if I wrought the wrong, I pray thee pardon me. And he ceased not to humble himself before him, Till he said Allah pardon thee, and bade him be seated. So he sat down and Judar invested him with garments of pardon and immunity, and ordered his brother spread the table. When they had eaten, he clad the whole of the king's company in robes of honour and gave them large s, after which he bade the king depart.

Starting point is 10:58:31 So he went forth, and thereafter came every day to visit Judar, and held not his divan, save in his house, wherefore friendship and familiarity waxed great between them, and they abode thus a while, till one day the king, being alone with his minister, said to him, O vizier, I fear lest Judar slay me and take the kingdom away from me, replied the vizier, O king of the age, as for his taking the kingdom from thee, have no fear of that, for Judar's present estate is greater than that of the king, and to take the kingdom would be a lowering of his dignity. But, if thou fear that he kill thee, thou hast a daughter, give her to him to wife,

Starting point is 10:59:15 and thou, and he will be of one condition. Quote the king, O Vazir, be thou intermediary between us and him, and quote the minister, do thou invite him to an entertainment and pass the night with him in one of thy saloons, then bid thy donner don her richest dress and ornaments, and pass by the door of the saloon. When he seeth her, he will assuredly fall in love with her, and when we know this, I will turn to him, and tell him that she is thy daughter, and engage him in converse and lead him on, so that thou shalt seem to know nothing of the matter till he ask her to thee to wife. When thou hast married him to the princess, thou and he will be as one thing, and thou wilt

Starting point is 10:59:57 be safe from him, and if he die, thou wilt inherit all he hath, both great and small. Replied the king, thou sayest sootho, my vizier, and made a banquet, and invited there to Judar who came to the sultan's palace, and they sat in the saloon in great good cheer to the end of the day. Now the king had commanded his wife to array the maiden in her richest raiment and ornaments, and carry her by the door of the saloon. She did as he told her, and when Judar saw the princess, who had not her match for beauty and grace, he looked fixedly at her and said, Ah! And his limbs were loosened, for love and longing and passion and pine were sore upon him, desire and transport get hold upon him, and he turned pale. Quote the vizier,

Starting point is 11:00:46 may no harm befall thee o my lord why do i see thee change colour and in suffering asked judar o vizir whose daughter is this damsel verily she hath enthralled me and ravished my reason replied the vizier she is the daughter of thy friend the king and if she please thee i will speak to him that he marry thee to her quoth judar do so o vizir and as i live i will bestow on thee what thou wilt and will give the king whatsoever he shall ask to her dowry, and we will become friends and kinsfolk. Quote the minister, It shall go hard, but thy desire be accomplished. Then he turned to the king and said in his ear, O king of the age,

Starting point is 11:01:35 Thy friends Judar seeketh alliance with thee, and will have me ask of thee for him the hand of thy daughter, the princess Asia. So disappoint me not, But accept my intercession, and what dowry soever thou askest, he will give thee. Said the king, the dowry I have already received, and as for the girl, she is his handmaid.

Starting point is 11:01:57 I give her to him to wife, and he will do me honor by accepting her. And Scheherazade perceived the dawn of the day, and ceased saying her permitted say. End of Section 31, Recording by Novela Serena. 32 of the Book of a Thousand Nights and a Night, Volume 6. This is a Libervox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org.

Starting point is 11:02:33 The Book of a Thousand Nights and a Night, Volume 6, by Anonymous, translated by Richard Francis Burton. Section 32. When it was the six hundred and twenty-third night, she said it hath reached me, O auspicious king, that when the wazir whispered the king, Judar seeketh alliance with thee by taking thy daughter to wife, the other replied, The dowry I have already received, and the girl is his handmaid. He will do me honor by accepting her. So they spent the rest of that night together, and on the morrow the king held a court, to which he summoned great and small, together with the Sheikh al-Islam. Then Judar demanded the princess in marriage, and the king said,

Starting point is 11:03:15 the dowry I have received. Thereupon they drew up the marriage contract, and Judar sent for the saddle-bags containing the jewels, and gave them to the king as settlement upon his daughter. The drums beat, and the pipes sounded, and they held high festival, whilst Judar went in unto the girl. Thenceforward, he and the king were as one flesh, and they abode thus for many days, till Shamsaldaula died. Whereupon the troops proclaimed Judar's sultan, and he refused.

Starting point is 11:03:44 But they importuned him till he consented, and they made him king in his father-in-law's stead. Then he bade build a cathedral mosque over the late king's tomb in the Bundukhania quarter, and endowed it. Now the quarter of Judar's house was called Yamania, but when he became sultan, he built there in a congregational mosque and other buildings, wherefore the quarter was named after him and was called the Judaria quarter. Moreover, he made his brother Salim his wazir of the right, and his brother Salim his wazir of the left hand, and thus they abode a year and no more, for at the end of that time, Salim, said to Salim, O my brother, how long is this state to last? Shall we pass our whole lives and slavery to our brother Judar? We shall never enjoy luck or lordship whilst he lives, adding,

Starting point is 11:04:33 So how shall we do to kill him and take the ring and the saddle-bags? replied Salim, Thou art craftier than I, do thou devise whereby we may kill him. If I effect this, asked Salim, wilt thou agree that I be sultan and keep the ring, and that thou be my right hand, wazir, and have the saddle-bags? Salim answered, I consent to this, and they agreed to slay Judar their brother for love of the world and of dominion. So they laid a snare for Judar, and said to him, O our brother, verily we have a mind to glory in thee, and would fain have thee enter our houses, and eat of our entertainment,

Starting point is 11:05:11 and solace our hearts. Replied Judar, so be it, in whose house shall the banquet be. In mine, said Salim, and after thou hast eaten of my victual, thou shalt be the guest of my brother, said Judar, tis well, and went with him to his house, where he set before him poisoned food, of which when he had eaten his flesh rotted from his bones, and he died. Then Salim came up to him and would have drawn the ring from his finger, but it resisted him. So he cut off the finger with a knife. Then he rubbed the ring, and the Marad presented himself, saying,

Starting point is 11:05:46 Adsem, ask what thou wilt. Quotes Salim, take my brother Salim, and put him to death, and carry forth the two bodies, the poisoned and the slaughtered, and cast them down before the troops. So the Marad took Salim and slew him, then carrying the two corpses forth, He cast them down before the chief officers of the army, who were sitting at table in the parlour of the house. When they saw Judar and Salim slain, they raised their hands from the food and fear get hold of them, and they said to the Marid, Who hath dealt thus with the Sultan and the wazir?

Starting point is 11:06:19 Replied the genie, their brother, Salim. And behold, Salim came up to them and said, O soldiers, eat and make merry, for Judar is dead and I have taken to me the seal ring, whereof the Marid before you is the servant, and I bade him slay my brother Salim lest he dispute the kingdom with me, for he was a traitor, and I feared lest he should betray me. So now I am become sultan over you, will ye accept of me? If not I will rub the ring and bid the marids slay you all great and small. And Sharazad preceded the dawn of day, and ceased to say, her permitted say. When it was the six hundred and twenty-fourth night, she continued,

Starting point is 11:06:59 it hath reached me, O auspicious king, that when Salem said to the officers, Will ye accept me as your sultan? Otherwise I will rub the ring and the marid shall slay you all, great and small. They replied, We accept thee to king and sultan. And then he bade bury his brothers and summoned the divan. And some of the folk followed the funeral, whilst others forewent him in state possession to the audience hall of the palace, where he sat down on the throne, and they did homage to him as king, after which he said, It is my will to marry my brother Judar's wife, quoth they,

Starting point is 11:07:37 wait till the days of widowhood are accomplished. Quoth he, I know not days of widowhood, or aught else. As my head liveth, I needs must go in unto her this very night. So they drew up the marriage contract, and sent to tell the princess Asia, who replied, Bid him enter. Accordingly he went into her, and she received him with a show of joy and welcome. But by and by she gave him poison in water, and made an end of him. Then she took the ring and broke it, that none might possess it thenceforward, and tore up the saddle-bags, after which she sent to the Sheikh al-Islam and other great officers of state, telling them what had passed, and saying to them, choose you out a king to rule over you, and this is all that hath come down to

Starting point is 11:08:22 us of the story of Judar and his brethren. But I have also heard, O king, a tale called the history of Garib and his brother Ajib. There was once in olden time a king of might, Kundamir Hyes, who had been a brave and doughty man of war, a Karaman in his day, but was grown passing old and decrepit. Now it pleased Allah to vouchsafe him in his extreme senility a son whom he named Ajib, the wonderful, because of his beauty and loveliness. So he committed the babe to the midwives and wet nurses and handmaids and serving

Starting point is 11:08:58 women, and they reared him till he was full seven years old, when his father gave him in charge to a divine of his own folk and faith. The priest taught him the laws and tenets of their misbelief, and instructed him in philosophy and all manner of other knowledge, and it needed but three full-told years, ere he was proficient therein, and his spirit waxed resolute and his judgment mature, and he became learned, eloquent, and philosophic, consorting with the wise and disputing with the doctors of the law. When his father saw this of him, it pleased him, and he taught him to back the steed and stab with spear and smite with sword,

Starting point is 11:09:35 till he grew to be an accomplished cavalier, versed in all martial exercises, and by the end of his twentieth year he surpassed in all things all the folk of his day. But his skill and weapons made him grow up a stubborn tyrant and a devil arrogant, using to ride forth a hunting and a chasing amongst a thousand horsemen, and to make raids and razeas upon the neighboring knights, cutting off caravans and carrying away the daughters of kings and nobles. Wherefore many brought complaints against him to his father, who cried out to five of his slaves, and when they came said,

Starting point is 11:10:09 "'Sease this dog, so they seized Prince Ajib, and pinioning his hands behind him, beat him by his father's command till he lost his senses, after which the king imprisoned him in a chamber so dark one might not know heaven from earth or length from breath. And there he abode two days and a night. Then the emirs went into the king and kissing the ground between his hands, interceded with him for the prince, and he released him. So Ajib bore with his father for ten days at the end of which he went into him as he slept by night and smote his neck. When the day rose he mounted the throne of his sire's estate and bade his men arm themselves, Kappa Pye, in steel, and stand with drawn swords in front of him, and on his

Starting point is 11:10:53 right hand, and on his left. By and by, the emirs and captains entered, and finding their king slain and his son Ajib seated on the throne, were confounded in mind and knew not what to do. But Ajib said to them, O folk, verily ye see what your king hath gained. Whoso obeyeth me, I will honor him, and whoso gainsayeth me, I will do with him, that which I did with my sire. When they heard these words they feared lest he do them a mischief, so they replied, Thou art our king, and the son of our king, and kissed ground before him, whereupon he thanked them and rejoiced in them. Then he bade bring forth money and apparel, and clad them in sumptuous robes of honour and showered largesse upon them, wherefore they all loved him and obeyed him.

Starting point is 11:11:42 In like manner he honoured the governors of the provinces, and the sheikhs of the Badawa, win, both tributary and independent, so that the whole kingdom submitted to him, and the folk obeyed him, and he reigned and bade and forbade in peace and quiet for a time of five months. One night, however, he dreamed a dream as he lay slumbering, whereupon he awoke, trembling, nor did sleep visit him again till morning. As soon as it was dawn he mounted his throne, and his officers stood before him, right and left. Then he called the Oneramance and the astrologers, and said to them, expound to me my dream. What was the dream, asked they? And he answered, as I slept last night, I saw my father

Starting point is 11:12:23 standing before me, with his yard uncovered, and there came forth of it a thing the bigness of a bee which grew till it became as a mighty lion, with claws like hangers. As I lay wondering at this lo, it ran upon me and smiting me with its claws, rent my belly in sunder, whereupon I awoke, startled, and trembling. So expound ye to me, the meaning of this dream. The interpreters looked one at other, and after considering, said, O mighty king, this dream pointeth to one born of thy sire between whom and thee shall befall strife and enmity, wherein he shall get the better of thee. So be on thy guard against him, by reason of this thy vision. When Ajib heard their words he said, I have no brother whom I should fear.

Starting point is 11:13:10 So this your speech is mere lying. They replied, We tell thee not save what we know, but he was en angered with them, and bastinadoed them. Then he arose, and going into the paternal palace, examined his father's concubines, and found one of them seven months gone with child. Whereupon he gave an order to two of his slaves, saying, Take this damsel, ye twain, and carry her to the seashore, and drown her. So they took her forthright, and going to the seashore, designed to drown her. When they looked at her, and seeing her to be of singular beauty,

Starting point is 11:13:44 loveliness, said to each other, why should we drown this damsel? Let us rather carry her to the forest and live with her there in rare loveliest. Then they took her and fared on with her days and nights till they had borne her afar off and had brought her to a bushy forest, abounding in fruit trees and streams, where they both thought at the same time to win their will of her. But each said, I will have her first, so they fell out one with the other concerning this, and while so doing a company of blackamours came down upon them, and they drew their swords, and both sides fell too, laying on load. The melee waxed hot with cut and thrust, and the two slaves fought their best, but the blacks slew them both in less than the twinkling of an eye. So the damsel

Starting point is 11:14:30 abode alone, and wandered about the forest, eating of its fruits, and drinking of its founts, till in due time she gave birth to a boy, brown but clean-limbed and comely, whom she named Garib, the stranger, by reason of her strangerhood. Then she cut his naval string, and wrapping him in some of her own clothes, gave him to suck, harrowed at heart, and with vital sorrowing for the estate she had lost and its honor and solace. And Chorazade perceived the dawn of day, and ceased saying her permitted say. When it was the six hundred and twenty-fifth night, she said, It hath reached me auspicious king, that the damsel abode in the bush, harrowed at heart and a sorrowed. But she suckled her babe, albeit she was full of grief and fear for

Starting point is 11:15:15 her loneliness. Now behold, one day there came horsemen and footmen into the forest with hawks and hounds and horses laden with partridges and cranes and wild geese and diverse other waterfowl, and young ostriches and hares and gazelles and wild oxen and lynxes and wolves and lions. Presently these Arabs entered the thicket and came upon the damsel sitting with her child on her breast asuckling him. So they drew near and asked her, Say are thou a mortal or a Jinnia? answered she, I am immortal, O chiefs of the Arabs. Thereupon they told her Imer, whose name was Mardas, principal of the Banu Katan, and who had come forth that day to hunt with five hundred of his cousins and the nobles of his tribe, and who in the course of the chase had

Starting point is 11:16:04 happened upon her. He bade them bring her before him, which they did, and she related to him, her past from first to last whereat he marvelled then he cried to his kinsman and escort to continue the chase after which they took her and returned to their encampment where the emir appointed her a separate dwelling-place and five damsels to serve her and he loved her with exceeding love and went into her and lay with her she conceived by him straightway and when her months were accomplished she bare a man-child and named him sahim al-lil he grew on to him he grew up with his brother garib among the nurses and throve and waxed upon the lap of the emir madas who in due time committed the two boys to a fakie for instruction in the things of their faith after which he gave them in charge to a valiant of knights of the arabs for training them to smite with sword and lunge with lance and shoot with shaft so by the time they reached the age of fifteen they knew all they needed and surpassed each and every brave of their tribe for garib would undertake a thousand horse and sahim al lael no fewer now mardas had many enemies and the men of his tribe were the bravest of all the arabs being doughty cavaliers none might warn himself at their fire in his neighborhood was an emir of the arabs hasan bin sabit hight who was his intimate friend and he took to wife a noble lady of his tribe and bade all his friends to the wedding amongst them mardas lord of the banu kattan who accepted his invitation and set forth with three hundred riders of his tribe leaving other four hundred to guard the women hassan met him with honor and seated him in the highest stead

Starting point is 11:17:47 then came all the cavaliers to the bridle and he made them bride feasts and held high festival by reason of the marriage after which the arabs departed to their dwelling-places when mardos came in sight of his camp he saw slain men lying about and birds hovering over them right and left and his heart sank within him at the site. Then he entered the camp and was met by Garib, clad in complete suit of ring-mail, who gave him joy of his safe return. Quoth Mardos, what meaneth this case, O Garib? And quoth Garib, Al-Hamal bin Majid attacked us with five hundred horsemen of his tribe. Now the reason of this was that the Emir Mardas had a daughter called Madhiyah. Seer never saw a fairer than she, and Al-Hamal, Lord of the Banu Naban, heard of her charms, whereupon he took horse with five hundred of his men and rode to Mardas to demand her hand. But he was not accepted and was sent away disappointed. So he awaited till Mardas was absent on his visit to Hassan,

Starting point is 11:18:49 when he mounted with his champions, and, falling upon the camp of the Banu Katan, slew a number of their knights and the rest fled to the mountains. Now Garib and his brother had ridden forth a hunting and chasing within hundred horse and returned not till midday, when they found that al-Hamal had seized the camp and all therein, and had carried off the maidens among whom was Madhiyah, driving her away with the captives. When Garib saw this, he lost his wits for rage and cried out to Sahim, saying, O my brother, O son of an accursed dam, they have plundered our camp and carried off our women and children, up and at the enemy that we may deliver the captives. So Garib and Sahim and their hundred horse rushed upon the foe, and

Starting point is 11:19:34 Garib's wrath redoubled, and he reaped a harvest of heads slain, given the champion's death-cup to drain, till he won to al-hamal and saw Madhiyah among the captives. Then he drave at the lord of the Banu-Naban braves. With his lance lunged him and from his destrier hurled him. Nor was the time of mid-afternoon prayer come before he had slain the most part of the foe, and put to rout the rest, and rescued the captives, whereupon he returned to the camp in triumph, bearing the head of al-Hamal on the point of his lance, and improvising these couplets. I am he who is known on the day of fight, and the gin of earth at my shade take fright, and a sword have I when my right hand wields, death hastens from left on mankind to alight. I have eke a lance, and who look thereon,

Starting point is 11:20:24 present head of the liveliest light. And Garib, I'm highs of my tribe the brave, and if few my men I feel not affright. Hardly had Garib made an end of these verses when up came Mardas, who seeing the slain and the vultures was sore troubled and with fluttering heart asked the cause. The youth, after due greetings, related all that had befallen the tribe in his step-sire's absence. So Mardas thanked him and said, Thou hast well requited our fosterage pains in rearing thee, O Garib. Then he alighted and entered his pavilion, and the men stood about him all the tribe praising Garib, and saying, O our emir, but for Garib, not one of the tribe had been saved. And Mardas again thanked him, and Sharazade perceived the dawn of day, and ceased to say her permitted

Starting point is 11:21:13 say. End of Section 32. Recording by Bill Borsed. Section 33 of the Book of a Thousand Nights and a Night, Volume 6. This is a Libravox recording. All LibraVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. The Book of A Thousand Nights and a Night, Volume 6, by Anonymous, translated by Richard Francis Burton.

Starting point is 11:21:47 Section 33 When it was the 626th Night She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious king, that Maras, hearing the tribesmen's praises of Garib,

Starting point is 11:22:00 again thanked him for his daring due. But the youth, when he had delivered Madia from Al-Hamal, whom he slew, was smitten by the shaft of her glances

Starting point is 11:22:10 and fell into the nets of her allurements, wherefore his heart could not forget her, and he became drowned in love and longing and the sweets of sleep forsook him,

Starting point is 11:22:19 and he had no joy of drink or meat. He would spur his whole, horse up to the mountain-tops, where he would spend the day in composing verses and return at nightfall, and indeed manifest upon him were the signs of affection and distraction. He discovered his secret to one of his companions, and it became noised abroad in the camp, till it reached the ears of Mardas, who thundered, enlightened, and rose up and sat down and sparked and snorted and reviled the sun and the moon, saying, This is the reward of him who reareth the sons of adultery.

Starting point is 11:22:53 But except I kill Garib, I shall be put to shame. Then he consulted one of the wise men of his tribe, and after telling his secret took counsel with him of killing the youth. Quoth the elder, O Imir, "'Twas but yesterday that he freed thy daughter from captivity. If there be no help for it, but thou must slay him, let it be by the hand of another than thyself, so none of the folk may mist doubt of thee.'

Starting point is 11:23:19 Quoth Mardas, advise me how I may do him die, for I look to none but to thee for his death. O Imer, answered the other, Wait till he go forth to hunt and chase. When do thou take an hundred horse And lie and wait for him in some cave till he pass, Then fall upon him unawares and cut him in pieces, So shalt thou be quit of his reproach.

Starting point is 11:23:41 Said Marras, This should serve me well, And chose out an hundred and fifty of his furious knights And Amalekites, Whom he lessened to his will. Then he watched Garib till one day, day he went forth to hunt and rode far away amongst the dells and hills, whereupon Mardos followed him with his men, ill-omened whites, and lay in wait for him by the way against

Starting point is 11:24:02 he should return from the chase that they might sally forth and slay him. But as they lay in ambush among the trees, behold, there fell upon them five hundred true Amalekites, who slew sixty of them and made fourscore and ten prisoners, and trussed up Mardos with his arms behind his back. Now the reason of this was that when Garib put Al-Hamal and his men to the sword, the rest fled and ceased not flying till they reached their lord's brother and told him what had happened, whereat his doom-day rose and he gathered together his Amalekites, and choosing out five hundred cavaliers, each fifty L's high, set out with them in quest of blood revengment for his brother.

Starting point is 11:24:44 By the way he fell in with Martas and his companions, and there happened between them what happened, after which he bade his men alight and rest, saying, O folk, the idols have given us an easy brood-wreak, so guard ye Mardus and his tribesmen till I carry them away, and do them die with the foulest of deaths. When Mardis saw himself a prisoner, he repented of what he had done and said, This is the reward of rebelling against the Lord. Then the enemy passed the night, rejoicing in their victory, while Mardis and his men despaired of life and made sure of doom. So far concerned, them. But as regards Sahim Al-Lail, who had been wounded in the fight with Al-Hamal, he went into his sister Madhya, and she rose to him and kissed his hands, saying, may thy two hands

Starting point is 11:25:30 ne'er whither, nor thine enemies have occasion to be blither. But for thee and Garib, we had not escaped captivity among our foes. No, however, O my brother, that thy father hath ridden forth with an hundred and fifty horse, purposing to slaughter Garib, and thou wottest it would be sore loss and foul wrong to slay him, for that it was he who saved your shame and rescued your good. When Sahim heard this, the light in his sight became night. He donned his battle harness, and mounting steed rode for the place where Garib was a-hunting. He presently came up with him and found that he had taken great plenty of game. So he accosted him, and saluted him, and said, Oh, my brother, why didst thou go forth without telling me? Replied Garib, by Allah, not hindered

Starting point is 11:26:18 me but that I saw thee wounded and thought to give thee rest. Then said Sahim, O my brother, beware of my sire, and told him how Mardis was abroad with an hundred and fifty men seeking to slay him. Quoth Garib, Allah shall cause his treason to cut his own throat. Then the brothers set out campwards, but night overtook them by the way, and they rode on in darkness, till they drew near the wadi wherein the enemy lay, and heard the naying of steeds in the gloom. whereupon said Sahim, O my brother, my father and his men are ambushed in yonder valley,

Starting point is 11:26:53 let us flee from it. But Garib dismounted, and throwing his bridle to his brother, said to him, Stay in this stead till I come back to thee. Then he went on till he drew in sight of the folk, when he saw that they were not of his tribe and heard them naming Mardis and saying, We will not slay him save in his own land. Wherefore he knew that N uncle Mardis was their prisoner, and said, By the life of Medea, I will not depart hence till I have delivered her father that she may not be troubled.

Starting point is 11:27:22 Then he sought, and ceased not seeking till he hit upon Martus, and found him bound with cords. So he sat down by his side, and said to him, Heaven deliver thee, O uncle, from these bonds and this shame. When Martis saw Garib, his reason fled, and he said to him, O my son, I am under thy protection, so deliver me and write of my fosterage of thee. Quoth Garib, if I deliver thee, wilt thou give me Madhiyah? Quoth the emir, O my son, by whatso I hold sacred, she is thine to all time. So he loosed him, saying, make for the horses, for thy son Sahim is there. And Maras crept along like a snake till he came to his son, who rejoiced in him and congratulated him on his escape. Meanwhile, Garib unbound one after another of the prisoners till he had freed the whole nighty and they were all far from the foe. Then he sent them their weapons and war-horses, saying to them, mount ye and scatter

Starting point is 11:28:20 yourselves round about the enemy and cry out, Ho! Sons of Khatton! And when they awake do ye remove from them, and encircle them in a thin ring. So he waited till the last and third watch of the night, when he cried out, Ho! Sons of Khatan! his men answered in like guys, crying, Oh, sons of Catan, as with one voice. And the mountains echoed their slogan, so that it seemed to the raiders as though the whole tribe of Banu Katan

Starting point is 11:28:47 were assailing them, wherefore they all snatched up their arms and fell upon one another, and Shara Zad perceived the dawn of day, and ceased saying her permitted say. When it was the six hundred and twenty-seventh night, she said it hath reached me, O auspicious king, that when the raiders awoke from sleep and heard Garib and his men crying out, Ho! Sons of Catan! They imagined that the whole tribe was assailing them, wherefore they snatched up their arms and fell one upon other with mighty slaughter.

Starting point is 11:29:18 Garib and his men held aloof, and they fought one another till daybreak, when Garib and Martas and their inighty warriors came down upon them and killed some of them and put the rest to flight. Then the Banu Katan took the horses of the fugitives and the weapons of the slain and returned to the to their turn to their turn to the turrets. tribal camp, whilst Mardus could hardly credit his deliverance from the foe. When they reached the encampment the stay-at-home folk all came forth to meet them, and rejoiced in their safe return. Then they alighted and betook them to their tents, and all the youths of the tribe flocked to

Starting point is 11:29:52 Gareeb's stead, and great and small saluted him and did him honor. But when Mardis saw this, and the youths encircling his stepson, he waxed more jealous of Garib than before, and said to his kinsfolk, Verily, hatred of Garib groweth on my heart, and what irketh me most is that I see these flocking about him, and to-morrow he will demand Madhya of me. Quoth his confidant, O Emir, ask of him somewhat he cannot avail to do. This pleased Mardis, who passed a pleasant night, and on the morrow, as he sat on his stuffed carpet with the Arabs about him, Garib entered, followed by his men and surrounded by the youth of the tribe, and kissed the ground before Mardas, who, making a show of joy,

Starting point is 11:30:38 rose to do him honor, and seated him beside himself. Then said Garib, O uncle, thou madest me a promise, do thou fulfill it. Replied the emir, O my son, she is thine to all time, but thou lackest wealth. Quoth Garib, O uncle, ask of me what thou wilt, and I will fall upon the emirs of the Arabs in their houses, and on the kings in their towns, and bring thee fee enough to fend the land from east to west. O my son, quoth Mardos, I have sworn by all the idols that I would not give Madhiyah, save to him who should take my blood-white of mine enemy and do away my reproach.

Starting point is 11:31:16 O uncle, said Garib, tell me with which of the kings thou hast a feud, that I may go to him and break his throne upon his pate. O my son, replied Mardos, I once had a son, a champion of champions, and he went forth one day to chase and hunt with an hundred horse. They fared on from valley to valley till they had wandered far away amongst the mountains, and came to the wadi of blossoms and the castle of Ham bin Shays bin Shad bin Khalad. Now in this place, O my son, dwelleth a black giant, 70 cubits high, who fights with trees from their roots uptorn. And when my son reached his wadi, the tyrant sallied out upon him and his men and slew them all, save three braves, who escaped to

Starting point is 11:32:00 and brought me the news. So I assembled my champions and fared forth to fight the giant, but could not prevail against him. Wherefore I was balked of my revenge, and swore that I would not give my daughter in marriage, save to him who should avenge me of my son. Said Garib, O uncle, I will go to this Amalekite and take the reek of thy son, on him, with the help of Almighty Allah. And Martis answered, saying, O Garib, if thou get the victory over him, thou will gain of him such booty of wealth and treasures as fires may not devour. cried Garib, swear to me, before witnesses thou will give me her to wife,

Starting point is 11:32:40 so that with heart at ease I may go forth to find my fortune. Accordingly, Mardis swore this to him, and took the elders of the tribe to witness, whereupon Garib fared forth, rejoicing in the attainment of his hopes, and went into his mother to whom he related what had passed. my son, said she, know that Martis hateth thee, and doth but send thee to this mountain to bereave me of thee, then take me with thee, and let us depart the tents of this tyrant. But he answered, O my mother, I will not depart hence, till I win my wish and foil my foe. Thereupon he slept till morning arose with its sheen and shone, and hardly had he mounted

Starting point is 11:33:19 his charger when his friends the young men came up to him. two hundred stalwart knights armed capapier and cried out to him saying take us with thee we will help thee and company thee by the way and he rejoiced in them and cried allah requite you for us with good adding come my friends let us go so they set out and fared on the first day and the second day till evening when they halted at the foot of a towering mount and baited their horses as for garib he left the rest and walked on into that mountain till he came to a cave whence issued a light he entered and found at the higher facing end of the cave a sheikh three hundred and forty years old whose eyebrows overhung his eyes and whose mustachios hid his mouth garib at this sight was filled with awe and veneration and the hermit said to him methinks thou art of the idolaters o my son stone worshiping in the stead of the all-powerful king the creator of night and day and of the sphere rolling on her way when garib heard his words his side muscles quivered and he said o sheik where is this lord of whom thou speakest that i may worship him and take my fill of his sight replied the sheikh o my son this is the supreme lord upon whom none may look in this world he seeth and is not seen he is the most high of aspect and is present everywhere in his works he it is who maketh all the maid and ordereth time to vade and fate he is the creator of men and gin and sendeth the prophets to guide his creatures into the way of rite whoso obeyeth him he bringeth into heaven and whoso gainsayeth him he casteth into hell

Starting point is 11:35:05 asked Garib, and how, O uncle, saith whoso worshippeth this puissant lord, who over all hath power? O my son, answered the Sheikh, I am of the tribe of Ad, which were transgressors in the land and believed not in Allah. So he sent unto them a prophet, named Hood, but they called him liar, and he destroyed them by means of a deadly wind. But I believed together with some of my tribe, and we were saved from destructural. Moreover, I was present with the tribe of Thamud, and saw what befell them with their prophet Sala. After Sala, the Almighty sent a prophet called Abraham the Friend to Nimrod's son of Canaan, and there befell what befell between them.

Starting point is 11:35:54 Then my companions died in the saving faith, and I continued in this cave to serve Allah the Most High, who provideth my daily bread without my taking thought. Quoth Garib, O uncle, what shall I say that I may become of the troop of this mighty Lord? Say, replied the old man, there is no God but the God and Abraham is the friend of God. So Abraham embraced the faith of submission, with heart and tongue, and the Sheikh said to him, May the sweetness of belief and devotion be established in thy heart. Then he taught him somewhat the biblical ordinances and scriptures of al-Islam, and said to

Starting point is 11:36:35 him, What is thy name? And he replied, My name is Garib. Asked the old man, Whither art thou bound, O Garib? So he told him all his history, till he came to the mention of the ghoul of the mountain whom he sought, and Sharazade perceived the dawn of day, and ceased to say her permitted say. When it was the six hundred and twenty-eighth night, she said it hath reached me, O auspicious king, that when Garib became a Muslim, and told the sheikh his past, from first to last, till he came to the mention of the mountain ghoul whom he sought the old man asked him o garib art thou mad that thou goest forth against the ghoul of the mountain single-handed and he answered o my lord i have with me two hundred horse o garib rejoined the hermit hast thou ten thousand riders yet shouldst thou not prevail against him for his name is the ghoul who eateth men we pray allah for safety and he is of the children of ham his father's name was hindi who peopled hind and named it and he left this son after him whom he called sa'adan the ghul now the same was o my son even in his sire's lifetime

Starting point is 11:37:48 a cruel tyrant and a rebellious devil and had no other food than flesh of the sons of adam his father when about to die forbade him from this but he would not be forbidden and he redoubled in his forwardness till hindi banished him and drove him forth the land of hind after battles and sore travail. Then he came to this country, and fortifying himself herein, established his home in this place, once he is wont to sally forth, and cut the road of all that come and go, presently returning to the valley he haunteth. Moreover, he hath begotten five sons,

Starting point is 11:38:24 warlike warlocks, each of whom will do battle with a thousand braves, and he hath flocked the valley with his booty of treasure and goods besides horses and camels and cattle and sheep. wherefore i fear for thee from him so do thou implore almighty allah to further thee against him by the talil the formula of unity and when thou drivest at the infidels cry god is most great for saying there is no god but the god confoundeth those who misbelieve then the sheik gave him a steel mace and hundred pounds in weight with ten rings which clashed like thunder when as the wielder brandished it and a sword forged of a thunderbolt, three ls long and three spans broad, wherewith, if one smote a rock, the stroke would cleave it in sunder. Moreover, he gave him a hobark, and target, and a

Starting point is 11:39:18 book, and said to him, return to thy tribe, and expound unto them al-Islam. So Garib left him, rejoicing in his new faith, and fared till he found his companions, who met him with salams, saying, What made thee tarry thus? Whereupon he rech, related to them that which had befallen him, and expounded to them al-Islam, and they all Islamized. Early next morning, Garib mounted and rode to the hermit to farewell him, after which he set out to return to his camp, when, behold, on his way, there met him a horseman, Capapier, armed so that only his eyes appeared, who made at him saying, "'Daf would asan thee, O scum, of the Arabs, or I will do thee die!'

Starting point is 11:40:04 therewith gharib crave at him and there befell between them a battle such as would make a new-born child turn grey and melt the flinty rock with its sore affray but presently the badawi did off his face veil and lo it was garib's half-brother sahim alail now the cause of his coming thither was that when garib set out in quest of the mountain ghoul sahim was absent and on his return not seeing his brother he went into his mother whom he found weeping he asked the reason of her tears and she told him what had happened of his brother's journey whereupon without allowing himself aught of rest he donned his war-gear and mounting rode after Garib till he overtook him, and there befell between them what befell. When, therefore, Sahim discovered his face, Garib knew him, and saluted him, saying, What moved thee to do this? Quil's Sahim, I had a mind to measure myself with thee in the field, and make trial of my lustyhood in cut and thrust.

Starting point is 11:41:04 Then they rode together, and on the way Garib expounded Al-Islam to Sahim, who embraced the faith, nor did they cease riding till they were hard upon the valley. meanwhile the mountain ghoul espied the dust of their horses feet and said to his sons o my sons mount and fetch me yonder loot so the five took horse and made for the party when gharib saw the five amalekites approaching he plied shovel-iron upon his steed's flank and cried out saying who are ye and what is your race and what do you require whereupon phalun bin sa adan the eldest of the five came out and said dismount ye and bind one another and we will drive you to our father that he may roast various of you and boil various for it as long since he has tasted the flesh of adam's son when garib heard these words he drove at faloon shaking his mace so that the rings rang like the roaring thunder and the giant was confounded then he smote him a light blow with the mace between the shoulders and he fell to the ground like a tall trunked palm-tree whereupon sahim and some of his men fell upon him and pinioned him then putting a rope about his neck they hailed him along like a cow now when his brothers saw him a prisoner they charged home upon garib who took three three of them captive, and the fifth fled back to his sire, who said to him,

Starting point is 11:42:31 What is behind thee, and where are the brothers of thee? Quoth he, verily, a beardless youth, forty cubits high, hath taken them prisoner. Quoth Sa'adan, May the son pour no blessing on you, and going down from his hold, tore up a huge tree with which he went in quest of Garib and his folk. And he was on foot, for that no horse might carry him, because of the bigness of his body. His son followed him, and the twain went on until they came up with Garib and his company. When the ghoul fell upon them, without words said, and slew five men with his club. Then he made at Sahim and struck him with his tree, but Sahim avoided the blow, and it fell

Starting point is 11:43:11 harmless, whereat Sa'adan was wroth, and throwing down the weapon, sprang upon Sahim, and caught him in his pounces as the sparrow hawk catcheth up the sparrow. Now when Garib saw his brother in the ghoul's clutches, he cried out, saying, Allah Ho, Akbar, God is most great. O the favor of Abraham, the friend, the Muhammad, the blessed one, whom Allah may keep and assain. And Shara Zad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying, her permitted say.

Starting point is 11:43:42 End of Section 33. Recording by Bill Borsed. Section 34 of the Book of A Thousand Nights and A Night, Volume 6. This is the Libre Works recording. All Libre Works recordings are on the public to me. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libreworks.org. Recording by Sir Tharthe.

Starting point is 11:44:07 The book of A Thousand Nights and a Knight, Volume 6, by Anonymous, translated by Richard Francis Burton. Section 34, when it was the 629th night. She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious king, that when Gharib saw his brother in the clutches of the gul. He cried out saying, O, the favor of Abraham, the friend, the blessed one, whom Allah, keep and assain, and crave his charger at sa'adan, shaking his mace, till the rings loud rang. Then he cried out again, God is most great, and smote the gul on the flat of the ring.

Starting point is 11:45:01 ribs with his mace whereupon he fell to the ground insensible and loosed his grip on sahim nor did they come to himself ere he was pinioned and shackled when his son saw this he turned and fled but Gharib drove steed after him and smitting him with his maze between the shoulders, threw him from his horse. So they bound him with his father and brethren, and hardering them with ropes, hailed them all six along like baggage camels, till they reached the Gull's castle, which they found full of goods and treasures and things of price. And there they also came upon twelve hundred Ajami. men of Persia wound and shackled, Kharib sat down on Sa Adan's chair, which had aforetime belonged to Shasa bin Shesh bin Shaddad bin Adh, causing Sahim to stand on his right and his companions on his either hand and sending for the gul of the mountain said to him, how findest thou thyself o accursed replied sadan o my lord in the sorriest of plights of abasement and mortification my sons and i we are bound with robes like camels

Starting point is 11:46:32 Quoth, Garib, it is my will, you enter my faith, the faith al-Islam, hise and acknowledge the unity of all knowledge of the all-knowing king, whose all might created light and night and everything. There is no God but He, the requiting king, and confess the mission and prophethood of Abraham, the friend, on whom be peace. So the Gull and his sons made the required profession After the goodliest fashion And Gharip bade loose their bonds

Starting point is 11:47:10 Whereupon Sa'adan whipped and would have kissed his feet He and his sons But Gharip forbade them and they stood with the rest Who stood before him Then said Gharip Hark ye sa'adun And he replied, At thy service O my lord

Starting point is 11:47:27 Quoth Gharip What are these capital this. O my lord, Coth the Gull, these are my game from the land of the Persians and are not the only ones. Asked Kareep, and who is with them? And Sa'adan answered, O my lord, there is with them the princess, Fakharn Tadth, daughter of King Sabor of Persia, and a hundred damesel like moons.

Starting point is 11:47:56 When Garib heard this, he marvelled and said, O Emir, how came ye by these replied sa'adun i went forth one night with my sons and five of my slaves in quest of booty but finding no spoil in our way we dispersed over wilds and words and fared on hoping we might happen on somewhat of prey and not written empty-handed till we found ourselves in the land of Persians. Presently we espiced a dust cloud and sent on to reconniter one of our slaves who was absent a while and presently returned and said, Oh my lord, this is the princess Fakhartaj, daughter of Sabur, king of Persians, turcomans and medes and she is on a journey attended by two thousand horse quoth i thou hast laddened us with good news we could have no finer loot than this then i and my sons fell upon the persons and slew of them three hundred men and took the princes and twelve hundred cavaliers prisoners together with all that was with her of treasure and riches and brought them to this our castle got kareep has thou offered any violence to the princess fakr tharj kodzadan not i as thy head liveth

Starting point is 11:49:25 and by the virtue of the faith i have but now amplest kharib replied it was well done of thee o sa'adhan for her father is the king of the world and doubtless he will despatch troops in quest of her and lay waste the dwellings of those those who took her, and whoso looketh not to issue and end hath not fate to friend. But where is the damsel? said Sa'adun. I have set apart a pavilion for her and her damsels, said Therib. Show me her lodging, where to Sa'adhan rejoined. Hearkening and obedience, so he carried him to the pavilion, and there he found. found the princess, woundful and cast down, weeping for her former condition of dignity and delight. When Gareeb saw her, he thought the moon was near him, and magnified Allah, and all hearing,

Starting point is 11:50:29 the all-seeing. The princess also looked at him and saw him a princely cavalier, with valour, shining from between his eyes, and testifying for him, and not against him, so she rose and kissed his hands, then fell at his feet saying, O hero of the age, I am under thy protection, guard me from the school, for I fear lest he do away with my maidenhead, and after debor me. So take me to serve thine hand maidens.

Starting point is 11:51:03 Coth, Gereeb, thou art safe, and thou shalt be restored to thy father and the seat of thy worship. whereupon she prayed that he might live long and have advancement in rank and honour. Then he bade unbind the Persians and turning to the princess, said to her, What brought the fort of thy palace to the vials and ways so that the highway robbers made prize of thee? She replied, O my lord, my father and all the people of his gleam, Turks and their day, Palaimites are Magians, worshipping fire and not the all-powerful king. Now in our country is a monastery called the Monastery of the Fire,

Starting point is 11:51:53 where every year the daughters of the Medians and worshippers of the fire resort at the time of their festivals and abide there a month, after which they return to their houses. So I and my damsel set out as wont, attended by 2,000 horse, whom my father sent with me to guard me but by the way this ghul came out against us and slew some of us taking the rest captive and present us in this hold this then is what befell me o valiant champion whom allah guard against the shifts of time and gharib said fear not for i will bring thee to thy palace and the seat of thy honour's wherefore she blessed him and kissed his hands and feet then he went out from her after having commanded to treat her with respect and slept till morning then he made the wuzoo ablution and prayed a two-bow prayer after the right of our father abraham the friend on whom be peace wills the gul and his sons in gharib's company all did the like after him then he turned to the gul and said to the gul and said to the

Starting point is 11:53:09 and said to him o sardan will thou not show me the wady of blossoms i will o my lord said he so garib and his company and the princess fakertage and her maidens all rose and went forth while sardan commanded his slaves and slave girls to slaughter and cook and make ready the morning meal and bring it to them among the trees for the giant had a hundred and fifty handmaids and a thousand chattels to pasture his camels and oxen and sheep when they came to the valley they found it beautiful exceedingly and passing all the and the birds on the tree sang joyously and the mocking nightingale thrilled out her melody and the qshat filled her moan the mansions made by the deity and shahrazad perceived the dawn of the day and see the shahrazad perceived the dawn of the day and see to say her permitted say when it was the six hundred and thirtieth night she said it hath reached me o auspicious king that when gharib and his merry men and the giant and his tribe reached the wady of blossoms they found birds flying free the quixet filling with her mown the mansions made by the deity the bull-bull singing as if it It were human harmony, and the mule whom to describe tongue faileth utterly. The turtle, who spaining madden's men for love ecstasy and the ring-dow, and the popenjoy answering her with fluency. There also were trees laden with all manner of fluidary of each two kinds, the pomegranate

Starting point is 11:55:02 sweet and sore upon branches growing luxuriantly the almond apricot the camphor apricot and the almond horace the plum with whose branches the bows of the myro-ballon were entwined tight the orange as it were a creches flaming tight the shadok weighed down with heavy fright the lemon that cures lack of appetite the chryton against jaundice of soft sovereign might and the date red and yellow bright need a special handiwork of allah the most high of the like of this place saith the enamoured poet when its birds in the lake make melody the lawn-lover yearneth its sight to sea tis as eden breathing a fragrant breeze with its shade and fruits and drills flowing free kharib marvelled at the beauty of that wady and wade them set up there the pavilion of fagr tharthage the corsight so they paced it among the trees and spread it with richer tapestries then he sat down and the slaves brought food and they ate sufficiently after which quote kareb harkyehya sa'adhan and quote he at thy service o my lord hast thou ought of wine asked Gareep and Sa'adan answered, Yes, I have a system full of old wine, said Gareep,

Starting point is 11:56:39 Bring us some of it, so Saadhan sent ten slaves who written with great plenty of wine, and they ate and drank and were mirthful and merry. In Gareep we thought him of Mhdiya and improvised these couplets. My mind are union days when ye were nigh, and flames my heart with clouse-consuming loaves. why allah ne'er of will i quitted you but shifts of time from you compelled me go peace and fair luck and greetings thousandfold to you from exiled lovers finding woe they both eating and drinking and taking their pleasure in the valley for three days after which they returned to the castle then gharib called sahim and said to him take a hundred horse and go to the thy father and mother and thy tribe, the Banu Khahtan, and bring them all to this place.

Starting point is 11:57:39 Here to pass the rest of their days, wills I carry the princess of Persia back to her father. As for thee, O Sa'than, carry thou here with thy sons, till I return to thee. Asht Sa'an, and why wilt thou not carry me with thee to the land of the Persians? Garibhan said, because thou stole'st away King Sabu's daughter, and if his eye fall on thee, he will eat thy flesh and drink thy blood. When the gull heard this, he laughed a loud laugh, as it were the pealing thunder, and said, O my lord, by the life of thy head, if the persons and meat is united against me, I would make them quaff the cup of annihilation, quote Garib, tis as thou sayest, but taddinger,

Starting point is 11:58:28 tarry thou here in fort till i return to thee and quoth the ghul i hear and i obey then sahim departed with his comrades of the banu kathan for the dwelling places of their tribe and gharip set out with princess fakertach and her company intending for the cities of sabur king of the persians thus far concerning them what as regards kings sabur he abode awaiting his daughter's return from the monastery of the fire and when the appointed time passed by and she came not flames raised in his heart where of the oldest wisest and chiefest was heist died in and so he said to him o minister verily my daughter delayed her return and i have no news of her though the appointed times is past so do thou send a courier to a monastery of fire to learn what is come of her hearkening and obedience replied didon and summoning the chief of the couriers said to him when thou fort tried to the monastery so he lost no time and when he reached it he asked the monks of the king's daughter but they said we have not seen her this year so the career returned to the city of isvanir and told the wazir who went in to the king and acquainted him with the message now when sabur heard this he cast his crown on the ground tore his beard and fell down in a trance they sprinkled water upon him and presently he came to himself tearful-eyed and heavy-hearted and repeated the words of the poet when i far apart at patience call and tears tears came to call but patience never hears what then if fortune parted us so far fortune and perfidy are peers then he called ten of his captains and bade them mount with a thousand horse and ride in different directions in quest of his daughter

Starting point is 12:00:44 so they mounted forthright and departed each with his thousand whilst fakr thard's mother clad herself and her woman in black and strewed ashes on her head and sat weeping and lamenting such was their case and shahrazad perceived the dawn of the day and ceased saying her permitted say when it was the six hundred and thirty-first night she said it hath reached me o auspicious king that king sabur sent his troops in quest of his daughter whose mother clad herself and her woman in black such was their case but as regards the strange adventures of carib and the princes they journeyed on ten days and on the eleventh day appeared at dust cloud which rose to the confines of the sky whereupon kareep called the emir of the persons and said to him go learn the cause thereof i hear and obey replied he and crave his charger till he came under the cloud of dust where he saw folk and inquired of them court one of them we are of the banu hattel and are questing for plunder Our emir is Simpson bin Al Jirah, and we are 5,000 horse. The Persians returned in haste and told, They are saying to Garib, who cried out to his men of the Banukatan,

Starting point is 12:02:14 And to the person saying, Don your arms. They did as he bade them. And presently up came the Arabs who were shouting, A plunder, a plunder. Kout Garib, Allah, confound you. o'ed dogs of arabs then he loosened his horse and drove at them with the career of a right valiant knight shouting allah u aubber ho for the faith of abraham the friend on whom be peace and there we fell between them great fight and sword fra and the sword went round in a sway and there was much said and say nor did they leave fighting till fled the day and gloom came when they drew from one another way.

Starting point is 12:03:06 Then Garib numbered his tribesmen and found that five of the Banu carton had fallen and three and seventy of the Persians, but of the Banu Hattel they had slain more than five hundred horse. As for some son, he alighted and sought nor meet nor sleep, but said, In all my life I never saw such a fighter as this youth. anon he fighteth with the sword and anon with the mace but to-morrow i will go forth on champion wise and defy him to combat of twain in the battle-plane where edge and point are feign and i will cut off these adepts now when garib returned to his camp the princess fakertage met him leaping and affrighted for the fear of that which had befallen and kissed his foot in the stiddle saying, May thy hands never wither, nor life force be blither, O champion of the age! Alhamdallillah, praise to God, who hath saved thee alive this day.

Starting point is 12:04:13 Verily, I am in fear for thee from beyonder Arabs. When Gareeb heard this, he smiled in her face and heartened and comforted her, saying, Fear not, O princes. Did the enemy feel this wild and bold, yet I would scarecogn. gathered him by the might of Allah Almighty. She thanked him and prayed that he might be given the victory over his force, after which she returned to her woman and Garib went to his tent, where he cleansed himself of the blood of the infidels, and they lay on guard.

Starting point is 12:04:50 Through the night, next morning the two hosts mounted and sought the plain, were cut in thrust, ruled sovereign. The first to pick into the open was Garib, who craved his charger, till he was near the infidels and cried out, Who is for jesting with me? Let no sluggard or weakling come out to me, whereupon they rushed forth a giant, a malachite of the lineage of the tribe of Ed, armed with an iron, failed twenty pounds in weight, and drove Garib, saying, O scum of the Arabs, take what command? to thee and learned the glad tidings that thy last hour is at hand so saying he aimed a blow at garib but he avoided it and the fail sank a cubit into the ground now the balawi was spent double with the blow so garib smothed him with his mason clove his forehead in sunder and he fell down dead and allah hurried his soul to hellfire then garib charged and field and called for champions. So there came out to him a second and third and a fourth

Starting point is 12:06:06 and so on, till ten had come forth to him and he slew them all. When the infidels saw his form of fight and his smashing blows, they hung back and forward to far forth to him. Whereupon Samsung looked at them and said, Allah never bless you, I will go forth to him. So he donned his battle-gare and driving his charger into midfield, where he fronted the foe, and cried out to Gharib, saying, Fye on thee, O dog of the Arabs, hath thy strength waxed so great that thou should defy me in the open field and slaughter my men, and Gareep replied, Up and take blood revenge for the slaughter of thy graves. So Samson ran at Gareep, who awaited him with broad and plighted him.

Starting point is 12:06:57 and heartened and they smote each other with maces till the two hosts marvelled and every eye was fixed on them then they wheeled about in the field and stuck at each other two strokes but garib avoided samsung's stroke which we had broke and dealt with a buffet that beat in his fresh bone and cast him to the ground stone dead whereupon all his host ran at garib as one man and he ran at them crying God is most great. Help and victory for us and shame and defeat for those who misbelieve the faith of Abraham to friend

Starting point is 12:07:36 on whom be peace. And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of the day and ceased to say her permitted say. End of Section 34. Section 35 of the book

Starting point is 12:07:54 of a thousand knights and the night. Volume 6. This is the Librivox recording. All Libre Box recordings are in the public domain. For more information on the volunteer, please visit liryvogs.org.

Starting point is 12:08:08 Recording by Omba 2.3. The Book of a Thousand Nights and the Night, Volume 6 by Anonymous, translated by Richard Francis Barton, Section 35. When it was the 632nd knight, she said, It had reached me, or auspicious king,

Starting point is 12:08:30 that when Samsung's tribes, rushed upon Gareve as one man. He ran at them crying, God is most great, help and victory for us, and shame and defeat for the miscreant. Now, when the infidels are the name of the all-powerful king, the one the all-conquering, whom the sight comprehended not, but he comprehended the sight, they looked at one another and said, What is this saying that make it our side-muscles tremble, and weakened, our resolution and codget the life to fail in us. Never in our lives hard we ought goodlier than

Starting point is 12:09:10 this saying, adding, let us leave fighting that we may ask its meaning. So, they held the hands from the battle and dismounted, and the elders assembled and held counsel together, seeking to go to Garib and say, Let ten of us repair to him. So, they chose, they choose, out ten of their best who set out for Garib's tents. Now he and his people had alighted and returned to their camp, marvelling at the withdrawal of the infidels from the fight. But presently, lo and behold, the ten came up and seeking speech of Garib, kissed the art before him, and wished him glory and lasting life. "'Court he to them. What made you leave fighting?'

Starting point is 12:10:00 and called today, O my lord, thou didst affright us, with the words thou shaltest out at us. Then asked Garib, what calamity do ye worship? And they answered, We worship Wad and Suwa, and ye are goves, Lords of the tribe of Noah. And Garib, we serve none but Allah Almighty, maker of all things and provider of all livings. He it is, who created the heavens and art, and established the mountains, who made water to well from the stones, and the trees to grow and feed it while bests in wood. For he is Allah, the One, the all-powerful Lord. When they heard this, their bosoms broadened to the words of unity faith, and they said, Verily, this be a Lord high and great, Compassionating and

Starting point is 12:11:00 compassionate, adding, and what shall we say, to become of the Muslims, of those which submit themselves to him? God's Garib, say, there is no God but the God, and Abraham is the friend of God. So the ten made veracious profession of the veritable religion, and the Garib said to them, and the sweet saver of all islam be indeed established in your hearts fair yet to your tribe and expound the fate to them and if they profess they shall be saved but if they refuse we will bond them with fire so the ten elders returned and expounded all islam to their people and set forth to them the path of truth and creed and they embraced the fate of submission and they embraced the fate of submission with heart and tongue. Then they repaired on foot to Garib's tent, and casing ground between his hands, wished him honour and high rank, saying,

Starting point is 12:12:07 O our Lord, we are become thy slaves, so command us with what thou wilt, for we are to de-audient and obedient, and who you'll never depart from thee, since Allah had guided us into the right way at thy heads. replied he Allah abundantly required you Return to your dwellings and march forth With your good and your children And for me to the wedding of blossoms

Starting point is 12:12:34 And the castle of Sasa bin Shays Whilst I carried the princess Fakhrtha's Daughter of Sabur King of the Persians Back to her father and returned to you Harkening and obedience Said they and straightforward returned to their encampment, rejoicing in Allah-Slam, and expounded the true fate to their wives and children, who became believers.

Starting point is 12:13:04 Then they struck their tents and set forth with their garden cattle, for the way they are blossoms. When they came inside of the castle of Shea's, Saddam and his sons sell it forth to them. But Karib had charged them, saying, If the girl of the mountain come out to you and offer to attack you, do ye call upon the name of Allah, the old creator, and he will leave his hostile intent and receive you hospitably. So, when he would have fallen upon them, they called aloud upon the name of Almighty Allah,

Starting point is 12:13:41 and straightway he received them kindly and asked them of their case. They told him all that had passed between Karib and themselves, whereupon he rejoiced in them and lodged them with him and loaded them with favours. Such was their case, but as regards Garib, he and his, escorting the princess, fared on five days' journey towards the city of his Baneer, and on the sixth day they saw a dust-cloud. So Garif sent one of the Persians to learn the meaning of this, and he went and returned swiftly, then bird in flight saying o my lord these be a thousand horse of our comrades whom the king had sent in quest of his daughter fakar tharj when gharifar this he commanded his company to halt and pitch the tents so they halted and waited till the newcomers reached them when they went to meet them and told to man their captain that the princes was with them whereupon he went into gharib and casing the ground before him inquired for her carib sent him to her pavilion and he entered and kissed her hands and feet and acquainted her with what had befallen her father and mother

Starting point is 12:15:07 she told him in return all that had betided her and how gharib had delivered her from the girl of the mountain and ceased saying how parm it had say when it was the six hundred and thirty-third night she said it had reached me o auspicious king that when the king's daughter fortharthage had told to man all that had befallen her from the mountain girl and how he had imprisoned her and would have devoured her but for garib adding and indeed it behoved my sire to give him to half of his reign to man arroach and returned to garib and kissed his hands and feet and thanked him for his good dealing saying with i leave o my lord i'll return to his baneer and deliver our king the good news of his daughter's approach go replied garib and take of him the gift of glad tidings so toman returned with all diligence to isbanir the cities and entering the palace kissed crown before the king who said to him what is there of new o bringer of good news quote to man i will not speak thee till thou give me the gift of glad tidings quote the king tell me thy glad tidings and i will not speak thee till thou give me the gift of glad tidings tell me thy glad tidings and i will content thee so toman said o king i bring thee joyful intelligence of the return of princess when sabur heard his daughter's name he fell down fainting and they sprinkled rose-water on him till he recovered and cried to toman draw near to me and tell me all the good which had befallen her

Starting point is 12:17:06 so he came forward and acquainted him with all that had betided the princes and sabur bade hand upon hand saying unhappy thou o fakar thaj and he bade gave to man ten thousand gold pieces and conferred on him the government of ishfahan city and its dependencies then he cried out to his amirs saying mount all of you and fair we fought to meet the prince Francis Fakhardtage. And the chief eunuch went into the Queen Mother and told her and all the Harim the good news, whereat she rejoiced and gave him a robe of honour and thousand dinars. Moreover, the people of the city hard of this and decorated the market streets and houses. Then the King and Taman took horse and rode till the headside of Kareeb. And Savur footed it and made some steps towards Karib, who also dismounted and advanced

Starting point is 12:18:11 to meet him, and they embraced and saluted each other. And Sabur bent over Karib's hand and kissed it and thanked him for his favors. They pitched their pavilions in face of each other, and Sabur went into his daughter, who rose and embracing him, told him all that had befallen her and how Karib had rescued her from the clutches of the goal of the mountain. Quote the king, By thy life of princes of fair ones, I will overwhel him with gifts.

Starting point is 12:18:47 And, quote she, O my papa, make him thy son-in-law, that he may be to thee a force against thy foes, for he is passing valiant. Her father replied, O my daughter, knows thou not that King Kirat-Shah, seeked thee in marriage and that he had cast a brocade and had given an hundred thousand tenures in settlement and he is king of shiraj and its dependencies and is lord of empire and horsemen and footmen but when the princess heard these words she said o my papa i desire not that whereof thou speakest and if thou constrain me to that i have no mind too i will slay myself

Starting point is 12:19:35 So Sabur left her and went into Garib, who rose to him, and they set a while together. But the king could not take his fill of looking upon him, and he said in his mind, By Allah, my daughter is excusable if she loved this Badovi. Then he called for food, and they ate and passed the night together. On tomorrow they took horse and rode, till they arrived at the city of his baneer, and entered stirrup to stirrup and it was for them a great day fakr thaj repaired to her palace and the abiding place of a rank where her mother and her women received her with cries of joy and loud as for king sabur he sat down on his throne and seated garib on his right hand whilst the princes and chamberlains the amirs vajirs and nababs stood on either hand and gave him joy of the recovery of his daughter said savour who so loved me let him bestow a robe of honour on gharib and there fell dresses of honour on him like drops of rain

Starting point is 12:20:51 turned gharip about the king's guest ten days when he would have departed but sabur clad him in an honourable robe and swore him by his fate that he should not march for a whole month Quote Garib, O king, I am plighted to one of the girls of the Arabs and their desire to go into her. Quote the king, whether is the fairer thy betrothed it or fakertage. O king of the age, replied Garib, what is the slave beside the Lord? And, Sabur said, Fakarthage has become thy handmaid, for that thou didst rescue her. from the pouches of the girl and she shall have none other husband than thyself thereupon kari broge and kissed ground saying o king of the age thou art a sovereign and i am but a poor man and belike thou wilt ask a heavy diary replied the king o my son know that kirad shah lord of shiraj and dependents is thereof seek at her in marriage

Starting point is 12:22:05 and had appointed an hundred thousand diners to Haddawa. But I have chosen thee before all men, that I may make thee the sword of my kingship and my shield against Vangians. Then he turned to his chief officers and said to them, Be witness against me, O loads of mine empire, that I marry my daughter, Fakhartar, Taj, to my son, Gareep. And, Shaharajad perceived, the dawn of day and ceased to say her palm it did say.

Starting point is 12:22:42 When it was the six hundred and thirty-fourth night, she continued, it had reached me auspicious king, that Sabur, king of Ajamland, said to his chief officers, bear a witness against me that I marry my daughter, Fakhartaj, to my son Kareeb. With death, he joined palms with him, and she became his wife. Then said Garib, Appoint me a dower, and I will bring it to thee, for I have in the castle of Sasa, wealth and treasures beyond count. Replied Sabur, O my son, I want of thee need a treasure nor wealth, and I will take nothing for her dower, save the hate of Jamar Khan King of Dust and the city of Avarge. Quote Garib, O king of the age, I will fare. my folk fought right and go to diefow and spoil his realm."

Starting point is 12:23:41 Quote Sabur, Allah required thee with good, and dismissed the lords and comments, thinking, If Karib go forth against Jamar Khan, he will never more return. When morning marrowed, the king mounted with Karib, and bidding all his troops take horse-roved forth to the plain, where he said to his men, Do ye tilt its pairs? and gladdened my heart. So the champions of Persia land pled one against other, and Garib said, O king of the age, I have a mind to tilt with the horsemen of a young land, but on one condition. Asked the king, what is that? And answered Garib, it is that I shall don in light tunic and take a headless lance, with a pannin dipped in saffron, whilst the Persian champion

Starting point is 12:24:36 sally fought and tilt against me with sharp spares if any conquer me i will render myself to him but if i conquer him i will mark him on the breast and he shall leave the plain then the king cried to the commander of the troops to bring forward the champions of the posthumes so he chose out from amongst the princes one thousand two hundred of his stoutest champions and the king said to them in the persian tongue whoso slavid this badavi may ask of me what he will so they strove with one another for precedence and charged on upon garib and truth was distinguished from falsehood and jest from honest quote garib i put my trust in allah the god of abraham the friend the deity who had power over all and from whom naught is hidden the one the almighty whom the sight comprehended not Then an Amalekite-like giant of the Persian champions rushed out to him. But Garib let him not stand long before him, ere he marked him and covered his breast with Saffrin, and as he turned away, he smote him on the nap of the shaft of his lance, and he fell to the ground, and his pages bore him from the lists.

Starting point is 12:26:04 Then a second champion came forth against him, and he overcome him, and marked him on the breast and thus did he with a third and the fourth and the fifth and there came out against him champion after champion till he had overcome them all and marked them on the breast for almighty allah gave him the victory over them and they fared for to vanquish from the play then the servants set food and strong wine before them and they ate and drank till garib sweets were dazed by the drink by and by who were dazed by by who were dazed by by the went out to obey a call of nature and would have returned but lost his way and entered the palace of fakar tharaj when she saw him her region fled and she cried out to her women saying go forth from me to your own places sir david drew and she rose and kissed garib's hand saying welcome to my lord who delivered me from the girl indeed i am thine hand-made for ever and ever. Then she drew him to her bed and embraced him, whereupon desire was halt upon him, and he broke her seal, and lay with her till the morning. Meanwhile the king taught that he had departed, but on the morrow he went into him, and Sabu rose to him, and made him sit by his side.

Starting point is 12:27:35 Then entered the tributary kings, and, kissing the ground, stood ranged in rows on the right and left, and fell to talking of Garif's valor and saying, Extoled be he, who gave him such prowess, albeit he is so young in years. As they were thus engaged, behold, all espied from the palace windows, the dust of horse approaching, and the king cried out to his scouts, saying, Woe to you, go and bring me news of yonder dust. So a cavalier took horse and riding off. returned after a while and said,

Starting point is 12:28:14 O king, we found under dead dust, an hundred horse belonging to an Amir, Hais, Sahim al-Lail. Kareeb, hearing these words, cried out, O my lord, this is my brother, whom I had sent on in Iran, and I will go forth to meet him. So saying, he mounted, with his hundred men of the Banu Kha'an,

Starting point is 12:28:39 and the thousand persians and wrote to meet his brother in great state but greatness belonged to god alone when the two came up with each other they dismounted and embraced and gharip said to o my brother hast thou brought our tribe to the castle of sasa and the worthy of blossoms o my brother replied sahim when the perfidious dog mardas hard dead thou hadst made the master of the stronghold belonging to the mountain-cull. He was saw Shagrind and said, Except I march hands. Karib will come and carry off my daughter, Madhya without Dawa. So he took his daughter and his guts and set out with his strife for the land of Iraq, where he entered the city of Kufa and put himself under the protection of King Azib, seeking to give him his daughter to wife. Kariv had his brother story, he well-nigh gave up the ghost for rage, and said,

Starting point is 12:29:45 By the virtue of the fate of al-Islam, the fate of Abraham the friend, and by the supreme lord, I will assuredly go to the land of Iraq, and fierce war upon it I will set on food. Then they returned to the city, and going into the king, kissed ground before him. He rose to Garib and saluted Sahim. after which the elder brother told him what had happened and he put ten captains at his commandment under each one's hand ten thousand hauls of the daftiest of the arabs and the ajams who equipped themselves and were ready to depart in three days then gharip set out and journeyed till he reached the castle of sasa whence the girl and his sons came forth to meet him and dismounting kissed his feet in the stirrups He told them all that had passed, and the giants said, O my lord, do thou abide in this thy castle, whilst I with my sons and servants repair to Iraq,

Starting point is 12:30:53 and lay west the city Al-Rustak, and bring to thy hand all its defenders bound in straightest bond. But Garib thanked him and said, O Sadan, we will all go. So he made him ready. and the whole body set out for iraq leaving a thousand horse to guard the castle thus far concerning them but as regards modest he arrived with his tribe in the land of iraq bringing with him a handsome present and fared for kufa city which he entered then he presented himself before ajib and kissed the crown between his hands and after washing what his wish to kings said O my lord, I come to place myself under thy protection. And, Shaharajad posived the dawn of day, and ceased saying how parmen did say. End of Section 35.

Starting point is 12:32:02 Section 36 of the Book of A Thousand Nights and a Night, Volume 6. This is a Librevox recording. All Librevox recordings were in the public domain. For more information, or device. volunteer, please visit Librevox.org The Book of a Thousand Nights and a Night, Volume 6,

Starting point is 12:32:22 by Anonymous, translated by Richard Francis Burton, Section 36. When it was the 635th night, she said, It hath reached me, O auspicious king, that Mardis coming into the presence of Ajib, said to him,

Starting point is 12:32:39 I come to place myself under thy protection. Quoth Ajib, Tell me who hath wrong thee, that I may protect thee against him, though it were Sabur, king of the Persians and the Turkamans and the Dalamites. Quoth Mardis, O king of the age, he who hath wronged me is none other than a youth whom I reared in my bosom. I found him in his mother's lap in a certain valley, and took her to wife. She brought me a son, whom I named Sahim Alil, and her own son, Garib Haiz, grew up on my knees and became a blasting thunderbolt and a lasting calamity, for he smote al-Hamal, prince of the

Starting point is 12:33:16 Banu Nabhan, and slew footmen, and threw horsemen. Now I have a daughter who befitteth thee alone, and he sought her of me, so I required of him the head of the ghoul of the mountain. Wherefore he went to him, and, after engaging him in singular combat, made the master his man, and took the castle of Sasa bin Shays bin Shad bin Shad, bin Ad, wherein are the treasures of the ancients, and the hordes of the moderns. Moreover, I hear that, become a moslem, he goeth about summoning the folk to his faith. He is gone now to bear the princess of Persia,

Starting point is 12:33:49 whom he delivered from the ghoul, back to her father, King Sabur, and will not return but with the treasures of the Persians. When Ajib heard the story of Mardis, he changed color to yellow and was in ill case and made sure of his own destruction. Then he said, O Mardis, is the youth's mother with thee or with him,

Starting point is 12:34:08 And Martis replied, She is with me in my tense. Quoth Ajib, what is her name? Quoth Mardis, her name is Nisra. Tis very she rejoined Ajib and sent for her to the presence. Now when she came before him, he looked on her and knew her and asked her, O accursed, where are the two slaves I sent with thee? And she answered, They slew each other on my account.

Starting point is 12:34:33 Whereupon Ajib bared his blade and smote her and cut her in twain. Then they dragged her away. and cast her out. But trouble and suspicion entered Ajib's heart, and he cried, O Mardis, give me thy daughter to wife. He rejoined. She is one of thine handmaids. I give her to thee to wife, and I am thy slave, said Ajib, I desire to look upon this son of an adulteress, Garib, that I may destroy him and cause him taste all manner of torments. Then he bade give Mardis to his daughter's dowry, thirty thousand dinars, and a hundred pieces of silk brocated and fringed with gold and a hundred pieces of silk-watered stuffs and kerchiefs and golden collars so he went forth with this mighty fine dowry and set himself to equip medea in all diligence such was their case but as regards

Starting point is 12:35:22 he fared on till he came to al jazeera which is the first town in al-a-rock and is a walled and fortified city and he hard by it called a halt when the townsfolk saw his army encamped before it they bolted the gates and man the walls then went to the king of the city who was called al damig the brainer for that he used to brain the champions in the open field of fight and told him what was come upon them so he looked forth from the battlements of the palace and seeing a conquering host all of them persians encamped before the city said to the citizens o folk what do yonder ajams want and they replied we know not now all de mig had among his officers a man called sabah al kifar the desert lion keen of wit and penetrating as he were a flame of fire so he called him and said to him go to this stranger host and find out who they be and what they want and return quickly accordingly he sped like the wind to the persian tents where a company of arabs rose up and met him saying who art thou and what dost thou require he replied i am a messenger and an envoy from the lord of the city to your chief so they took him and carried him through the lines of tents pavilions and standards till they came to garib's shamiana and told him of the mission he bade them bring him in and they did so whereupon he kissed ground before garib and wished him honour in length of days Quoth Garib, what is thine errand? And quoth Saba al-Kifar, I am an envoy from the lord of the city of Al Jazeera, al-Damig, brother of King Kundamir, lord of the city of Kufa and the land of Iraq.

Starting point is 12:37:00 When Garib heard his father's name, the tears railed from his eyes and rills, and he looked at the messenger and said, What is thy name? And he replied, My name is Sabah al-Kifar. Said Garib, return to thy lord and tell him that the commander of this host is called Garib, son of Kundimir, king of Kufa, whom his son Ajib slew, and he has come to take blood, revenge for his sire on Ajib the perfidious hound. So Saba al-Kifar returned to the city, and in great joy kissed the ground, when Al-Damig said, What is going on there, O Sabah al-Kifar?

Starting point is 12:37:35 He replied, O my master, the leader of yon host is thy nephew, thy brother's son, and told him all. The king deemed himself in a dream and asked the messenger, Sabah al-Kifar, is this thou tellest me true? And the desert lion answered, As thy head liveth, it is sooth. Then Aldamig bade his chief officers take horse forthright, and all rode out to the camp, whence Garib came forth and met him, and they embraced and saluted each other, after which Garib carried him to his tents, and they sat down on beds of estate. Aldamig rejoiced in Garib, his brother's son, and presently turning to him, said, I have also yearned to take blood revenge for thy father, but could not avail

Starting point is 12:38:15 against the dog thy brother, but that his troops are many, and my troops are few. Replied Garib, O uncle, here am I come to avenge my sire and blot out our shame and rid the realm of Ajib, said al-Damig, O son of my brother, thou hast two blood reeks to take, that of thy father and that of thy mother. Asked Garib, and what aileth my mother? And al-Damig answered, Thy brother Ajib has slain her, and Shara Zad perceived the dawn of the day, and ceased to say her permitted say. when it was the six hundred and thirty-sixth night she said it hath reached me o auspicious king that when gharib heard these words of his uncle aldamig verily thy brother ajib hath slain her

Starting point is 12:38:58 he asked what was the cause thereof and was told of all that had happened especially how mardis had married his daughter to ajib who was about to go into her thereupon grieve's reason fled from his head and he swooned away and was nigh upon death no sooner did he come to himself than he cried out to the troops saying to horse but aldamig said to him o son of my brother wait till i make ready mine affairs and mount among my men and fare with thee at thy stirrup replied garib i have no patience to wait do thou equip thy troops and join me at kufa thereupon garib mounted with his troops and rode till he came to the town of babel whose folks took fright at him now there was in this town a king called jamaq under whose hand were twenty thousand horsemen and there gathered themselves together to him from the village's other fifty thousand horse who pitched their tents facing the city then garib wrote a letter and sent it to king jamaq by messenger who came up to the city gate and cried out saying i am an envoy whereupon the warder of the gate went in and told jamaq who said bring him to me so he led in the messenger who kissing the ground before the king gave him the letter and jimak opened it and read its contents as follows praise be to allah lord of the three worlds lord of all things who giveth to all creatures their daily bread and who over all things is omnipotent these from gharib son of king kundamir lord of irak and kufa to jamaq immediately this letter reacheth thee let not thy reply be other than to break thine idols and confess the unity of the all-knowing king creator of light and darkness creator of all things the all-powerful and accept thou do as i bid thee i will make this day the blackest of thy days peace beyond those who follow in the way of salvation fearing the issues of fornication and obey the hast of the most high king lord of this world and the next him who saith to a thing be and it becometh

Starting point is 12:41:00 now when jemak read this letter his eyes paled and his color failed and he cried out to the messenger go to thy lord and say to him to-morrow at daybreak there shall be fight and conflict and it shall appear who is the conquering hero so he returned and told garib who bade his men make ready for battle whilst jemak commanded his tents to be pitched in face of garib's camp and his troops poured forth like the surging sea and passed the night with intention of slaughter as soon as dawned the day the two hosts mounted and drew up in battle array and beat their drums a mane and drave their steeds of swiftest strain and they filled the whole earthly plain and the champions to come out were fain now the first who sallied forth a championing to the field was the ghoul of the mountain bearing on shoulder a terrible tree and he cried out between the two hosts saying i am sadan the ghoul who is for fighting who is for jousting let no sluggard come forth to me nor weakling and he called out to his son saying woe to you bring me fuel and fire for i am and hungered so they cried upon their slaves who brought firewood and kindled a fire in the heart of the plain then there came out to him a man of the kaffirs an amalekite of the unbelieving amalekites bearing on his shoulder a mace like the mast of his ship and drove at sadan the ghoul saying woe to thee o sidon When the giant heard this, he waxed furious beyond measure, and raising his tree club aimed at the infidel a blow that hummed through the air. The Amalekite met the stroke with his mace, though the tree beat down his guard and descending with its own weight, together with the weight of the mace upon his head, beat in his brain pan, and he fell like a long-stemmed palm tree.

Starting point is 12:42:44 Thereupon Codon cried to his slave, saying, Take this fatted calf and roast him quickly. so they hastened to skin the infidel, and roasted him and brought him to the ghoul, who ate his flesh and crunched his bones. Now when the kaffirs saw how Saddam did with their fellow, their hair and piles stood on end. Their skins quaked, their color changed, their hearts died within them, and they said to one another, "'whoso goeth out against the school, he eateth him,

Starting point is 12:43:11 and cracketh his bones, and causeth him to lack the zephyr wind of the world. Wherefore they held their hands, quailing for fear of the ghoul and his son, and turned to fly, making for the town. But Garib cried out to his troops, saying, Up and after the runaways. So the Persians and the Arabs crave after the king of Babel and his host, and cause sword to smite them till they slew of them twenty thousand or more. Then the fugitives crowded together in the city gate,

Starting point is 12:43:40 and they killed of them much people, and they could not avail to shut the gate. So the Arabs and the Persians entered with them, fighting, and Sadan snatching a mace from one of the slain. wielded it in the enemy's face and gained the city racecourse. Thence he fought his way through the foe and broke into the king's palace, where he met with Jamak, and so smote him with the mace, that he toppled senseless to the ground. Then he fell upon those who were in the palace,

Starting point is 12:44:05 and pounded them into pieces, till all that were left cried out, quarter, quarter! And Sadon said to them, Pinyin your king, and Shahrazad saw the dawn of day, and ceased saying her permitted say. End of Section 36 End of the book

Starting point is 12:44:22 A Thousand Nights and a Night, Volume 6

Classic Audiobook Collection - (Volume 6) Arabian Nights - The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night by Anonymous ~ Full Audiobook [folklore]

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