Bagh O Bahar, or Tales of the Four Darweshes

"She gave me another _khil'at_ of dignity, and a title. I then went to the audience of the king, and presented my _pesh-kash_. I addressed his majesty [on the best means] to rem...

"I made him my _salam_, and he called me to him; I delivered him the ring, and, paying him many compliments, I showed him the handkerchief, and mentioned also the circumstance o...

"On saying this, I went up to the Jew and said, to-day is the sabbath day; [289] why dost thou continue to inflict stripes on them? The Jew replied, 'If you wish to take their p...

To please my guest I was compelled to advance, and receive her with the utmost kindness, and place her near the young man. On seeing her, he became as rejoiced as if he had rece...

"'In short, all of them, having left me by myself, went out of that fortress, and shut the door. At that moment I wept bitterly at my solitary and helpless state, and began to k...

"At length, on hearing these pious admonitions, the heart of that stony-hearted one became softened, and through the favour and mercy of God she began to weep, and said, 'Well,...

When night was over, and the dawn began to appear, we arrived on the banks of a certain lake; alighting from our horses, we washed our hands and faces; having breakfasted in gre...

"At last, I made him enter into my companionship, and dressing him in a variety of rich clothes and all kinds of jewels, I used to gaze at him. In short, by being always with me...

_Khiradmand_ had been the _Wazir_ of his majesty's father, and when the king was heir-apparent he had loved him; moreover, he was wise and zealous. He said (to _Azad Bakht_,) "I...

A moment after, coming to himself, he heaved a heart-burning sigh; the room resounded with it; then I perceived that he was likewise tortured with the pangs of love, and was suf...

Gazing on her, and hearing her exclamations, I became torpid. It occurred to me, what savage tyrant could wound so beautiful a lady! what [demon] possessed his heart, and how co...

The _khwaja_ answered, "O, son, I comprehend perfectly all that you say, and am generally censured for these reasons; for the inhabitants of this city have fixed upon me the nam...

At this moment, another unforeseen calamity overwhelmed us. The horse on which I was mounted was perhaps the colt of the mare on which the princess rode, or they had been perhap...

"At last, the king heard of this circumstance, and called me at night in private and mentioned to me how matters stood; he coaxed me so with fine speeches, that at last he got m...

I asked him, "what is the noble name of your honour?" He replied, "they call the name of this nameless one _Bedar Bakht_." Seeing his good qualities and affable manners, I went...

When the second _Darwesh_ had likewise finished telling the relation of his adventures, the night ended, and the time of morning was just beginning. The king, _Azad Bakht_, sile...

The _Bagh O Bahar_, or "Garden and Spring," has, for the last half century, been held as a classical work throughout our Indian empire. It highly deserves this distinguished fat...

"'Last night, I saw in a dream that somebody advised me, saying, "arise quickly and take a horse, a dress, a rope-ladder, and some money for expenses, and go to that pit, and de...

"Six of his daughters being of one mind, replied, 'Whatever your majesty says, is true, and our happiness depends on your welfare alone.' But the princess now present, though sh...

The prince, according to custom, disappeared; and in the evening _Azad Bakht_ was sitting with the _Darweshes_ and conversing with them, when a folded paper fell near the king;...

[249] The _langot_ or _langoti_ is a piece of cloth wrapped or fastened round the loins, and tucked in between the feet. It barely conceals what civilization requires should be...

[149] The _masnad_ and its large back pillow are criterions of Asiatic etiquette. To an inferior or dependant, the master of the house gives the corner of the _masnad_ to sit on...

[42] Alluding to the confusion which reigned in _Upper Hindustan_ after the assassination of _'Alamgir_ the Second, and the flight of _Shah 'Alam. Upper Hindustan_ was then in a...

[406] A mode of punishment used in former times in Persia, India, and Arabia, against great enemies or atrocious delinquents. Such treatment the poor emperor Valerian experience...