Part 108

A great many officers came to attend the prince while he dismounted, and conducted him to the sultan’s apartment who was at that time conversing with his favourites. He approached the throne, laid the bottle at the sultan’s feet, and kissed the rich carpet which covered the footstool, and, rising, said, I have brought you, sir, the salutary water, which your majesty so much desired to keep among your other rarities in your treasury; but at the same time wish you such extraordinary health, as never to have occasion to make use of it.

After the prince had made an end of his compliment, the sultan placed him on his right hand, and then said to him, Son, I am very much obliged to you for this valuable present; as also for the great danger you have exposed yourself to on my account, which I have been informed of by the magician, who knows the fountain of lions; but do me the pleasure, continued he, to inform me by what address, or rather, by what incredible power, you have been preserved.

Sir, replied prince Ahmed, I have no share in the compliment your majesty is pleased to make me; all the honour is due to the fairy my spouse, and I take no other merit than that of having followed her good advice. Then he informed the sultan what that advice was by the relation of this his expedition, and how he had conducted himself. When he had done, the sultan, who showed outwardly all the demonstrations of joy, but secretly became more and more jealous, retired into an inward apartment, where he sent for the magician.

The magician, at her arrival, saved the sultan the trouble to tell her of the success of prince Ahmed’s journey, which she had heard of before she came, and therefore was prepared with the infallible means. This thought she communicated to the sultan, who declared it the next day to the prince, in the midst of all his courtiers, in these words: Son, said he, I have one thing more to ask of you, after which, I shall expect nothing more from your obedience, nor your interest with your wife. This request is, to bring me a man not above a foot and a half high, and whose beard is thirty feet long, who carries upon his shoulders a bar of iron of five hundred weight, which he uses as a quarter-staff, and who can speak.

Prince Ahmed, who did not believe that there was such a man in the world as his father described, would gladly have excused himself; but the sultan persisted in his demand, and told him the fairy could do more incredible things.

Next day the prince returned to the subterraneous kingdom of Pari Banou, to whom he told his father’s new demand, which, he said, he looked upon to be a thing more impossible than the two first: for, added he, I cannot imagine there is or can be such a man in the world: without doubt, he has a mind to try whether I am silly enough to go about to seek it; or if there is such a man, he seeks my ruin. In short, how can he suppose that I should lay hold of a man so small, armed as he describes? what arms can I make use of to reduce him to submission? If there are any means, I beg you will tell me how I may come off with honour this time also.

Do not affright yourself prince, replied the fairy; you ran a risk in fetching the water of the fountain of lions for your father; but there is no danger in finding out this man. It is my brother, Shaibar, who is so far from being like me, though we both had the same father, that he is of so violent a nature, that nothing can prevent his giving bloody marks of his resentment for a slight offence; yet, on the other hand, is so good as to oblige any one in whatever they desire. He is made exactly as the sultan your father has described him; and has no other arms than a bar of iron of five hundred pounds weight, without which he never stirs, and which makes him respected. I will send for him, and you shall judge of the truth of what I tell you; but be sure to prepare yourself not to be frightened at his extraordinary figure when you see him. What! my queen, replied prince Ahmed, do you say Schaibar is your brother? Let him be ever so ugly or deformed, I shall be so far from being frightened at the sight of him, that I shall love and honour him, and consider him as my nearest relation.

The fairy ordered a gold chafing-dish to be set with a fire in it under the porch of her palace, with a box of the same metal, which was a present to her, out of which, taking some incense, and throwing it into the fire, there arose a thick cloud of smoke.

Some moments after, the fairy said to prince Ahmed, Prince, there comes my brother; do you see him? The prince immediately perceived Schaibar, who was but a foot and a half high, coming gravely with his heavy bar on his shoulder; his beard thirty feet long, which supported itself before him, and a pair of thick mustaches in proportion, tucked up to his ears, and almost covering his face: his eyes were very small, like a pig’s, and deep sunk in his head, which was of an enormous size, and on which he wore a pointed cap: besides all this, he had a hump behind and before.

If prince Ahmed had not known that Schaibar was Pari Banou’s brother, he would not have been able to look at him without fear; but knowing first who he was, he waited for him with the fairy, and received him without the least concern.

Schaibar, as he came forwards, looked at the prince with an eye that would have chilled his soul in his body, and asked Pari Banou, when he first accosted her, who that man was? To which she replied, He is my husband, brother; his name is Ahmed; he is son to the sultan of the Indies. The reason why I did not invite you to my wedding was, I was unwilling to divert you from the expedition you were engaged in, and from which I heard with pleasure you returned victorious; on his account I have taken the liberty now to call for you.

At these words, Schaibar, looking on prince Ahmed with a favourable eye, which however, diminished neither his fierceness nor savage look, said, Is there any thing, sister, wherein I can serve him? he has only to speak. It is enough to me that he is your husband, to engage me to do for him whatever he desires. The sultan his father, replied Pari Banou, has a curiosity to see you, and I desire he may be your guide to the sultan’s court. He needs but lead me the way; I will follow him, replied Schaibar. Brother, replied Pari Banou, it is too late to go to-day, therefore stay till to-morrow morning; and in the mean time, as it is fit you should know all that has passed between the sultan of the Indies and prince Ahmed since our marriage, I will inform you this evening.

The next morning, after Schaibar had been informed of all that was proper for him to know, he set out with the prince Ahmed, who was to present him to the sultan. When they arrived at the gates of the capital, the people no sooner saw Schaibar, but they ran and hid themselves in the shops and houses, shutting their doors; while others, taking to their heels, communicated their fears to all they met, who staid not to look behind them, but ran too; insomuch that Schaibar and prince Ahmed, as they went along, found all the streets and squares desolate, till they came to the palace, where the porters, instead of preventing Schaibar from entering, ran away too; so that the prince and he advanced without any obstacle to the council-hall, where the sultan was seated on his throne and giving audience. Here likewise the officers, at the approach of Schaibar, abandoned their posts, and gave them free admittance.

Schaibar, carrying his head erect, went fiercely up to the throne, without waiting to be presented by prince Ahmed, and accosted the sultan of the Indies in these words: You have asked for me, said he: see, here I am: what would you have with me?

The sultan, instead of answering him, clapt his hands before his eyes, and turned away his head, to avoid the sight of so terrible an object. Schaibar was so much provoked at this uncivil and rude reception, after he had given him the trouble to come so far, that he instantly lifted up his iron bar, and saying, Speak, then let it fall on his head and killed him, before prince Ahmed could intercede in his behalf. All that he could do was to prevent his killing the grand vizier, who sat not far from him on his right hand, representing to him that he had always given the sultan his father good advice. These are they then, said Schaibar, who gave him bad; and as he pronounced these words, he killed all the other viziers on the right and left, flatterers and favourites of the sultan, who were prince Ahmed’s enemies. Every time he struck, he killed some one or other, and none escaped but they who, not rendered motionless by fear, saved themselves by flight.

When this terrible execution was over, Schaibar came out of the council-hall into the midst of the court-yard with the iron bar upon his shoulder, and looking at the grand vizier, who owed his life to prince Ahmed, he said, I know here is a certain female magician, who is a greater enemy of the prince my brother-in-law than all those base favourites I have chastized; let her be brought to me presently. The grand vizier immediately sent for her, and as soon as she was brought, Schaibar said, knocking her down with the iron bar, Take the reward of thy pernicious counsel, and learn to feign sickness again: he then left her dead on the spot.

After this he said, This is not yet enough; I will treat the whole city after the same manner, if they do not immediately acknowledge prince Ahmed my brother-in-law for their sultan, and sultan of the Indies. Then all that were present made the air ring with the repeated acclamations of Long life to sultan Ahmed; and immediately after he was proclaimed through the whole town. Schaibar made him be clothed in the royal vestments, installed him on the throne, and after he had made all swear homage and fidelity to him, went and fetched his sister Pari Banou, whom he brought with great pomp, and made her to be owned sultaness of the Indies.

As for prince Ali and princess Nouronnihar, as they had no hand in the conspiracy against prince Ahmed, who was now avenged, nor knew of any such conspiracy, prince Ahmed assigned them a considerable province, with its capital, where they spent the rest of their lives. Afterwards he sent an officer to prince Houssain, to acquaint him with the change, and make him an offer of which province he liked best; but that prince thought himself so happy in his solitude, that he bid the officer return the sultan his brother thanks for the kindness he designed him, assuring him of his submission; and that the only favour he desired of him was to give him leave to live retired in the place he had made choice of for his retreat.

The Story of the Sisters who envied their younger Sister.

There was a prince of Persia, named Khosrouschah, [109] who, when he first came to his crown, in order to obtain a knowledge of the world, took great pleasure in night adventures. He often disguised himself, attended by a trusty minister, disguised like him, and rambled through the whole city, and met with a great many particular adventures, which, said Scheherazade to the sultan, I shall not at present entertain your majesty with; but I hope you will hear with pleasure what happened to him upon his first ramble, which was in a little time after his accession to his father’s throne, who dying in a good old age, left him heir to the kingdom of Persia.

After the ceremonies of his deceased father’s funeral-rites, and his own coronation, were over, the new sultan Khosrouschah, as well from inclination as duty, went out one evening, attended by his grand vizier, disguised like himself, to observe what passed. As he went through a street in that part of the town inhabited only by the meaner sort of people, he heard some people talking very loud; and going up close to the house, from whence the noise came, and looking through a crack in the door, perceived a light, and three sisters sitting on a sofa, conversing together after supper. By what the eldest said, he presently understood the subject of their discourse was wishes; For, said she, since we have got upon wishes, mine shall be to have the sultan’s baker for my husband, for then I shall eat my fill of that bread, which by way of excellence is called the sultan’s bread: let us see if your tastes are as good as mine. For my part, replied the second sister, I wish I was the sultan’s chief cook’s wife; for then I should eat of the most excellent ragouts; and as I am persuaded that the sultan’s bread is common in the palace, I should not want any of that; therefore you see, sister, addressing herself to her eldest sister, that I have a better taste than you.

Then the youngest sister, who was very beautiful, and had more charms and wit than the two eldest, spoke in her turn: For my part, sisters, said she, I shall not limit my desires to such trifles, but take a higher flight; and since we are upon wishing, I wish to be the sultan’s wife. I would make him father of a prince, whose hair should be gold on one side of his head, and silver on the other; when he cries, the tears that fall from his eyes shall be pearl; and when he smiles, his vermilion lips shall look like a rose-bud fresh blown.

The three sisters’ wishes, particularly the youngest’s, seemed so singular to the sultan Khosrouschah, that he resolved to gratify them in their desires; and without communicating this his design to his grand vizier, he charged him only to take notice of the house, and bring the three sisters before him the next day.

The grand vizier, in executing the sultan’s orders, would but just give the three sisters time to dress themselves to appear before him, without telling them the reason. He brought them to the palace, and presented them to the sultan, who said to them, Do you remember the wishes you made last night, when you were all in so pleasant a mood? Speak the truth; I must know what they were.

At these unexpected words of the sultan, the three sisters were very much confounded. They cast down their eyes and blushed, and the colour which rose in the cheeks of the youngest quite captivated the sultan’s heart. Modesty, and fear lest they might have offended the sultan by their discourse, kept them silent. The sultan perceiving it, to encourage them, said, Fear nothing, I did not send for you to distress you; and since I see that is the effect of the question I ask you, without my intending it, and I know the wish of each, I will relieve you from your fears. You, added he, that wished to be my wife, you shall have your desire this day; and you, continued he, addressing himself to the two eldest sisters, you shall also be married to my chief baker and cook.

As soon as the sultan had declared his pleasure, the youngest sister, setting the eldest an example, threw herself at the sultan’s feet, to express her gratitude. Sir, said she, my wish, since it has come to your majesty’s knowledge, was only by way of conversation and amusement. I am unworthy of the honour you do me, and ask pardon for my boldness. The two other sisters would have excused themselves also; but the sultan interrupting them, said, No, no; it shall be so; every one’s wish shall be fulfilled.

The nuptials were all celebrated that day, as the sultan had resolved, but after a different manner. The youngest sister’s were solemnized with all the rejoicings usual at the marriages of the sultans of Persia; and those of the other two sisters according to the quality and distinction of their husbands; the one as the sultan’s chief baker, and the other as head cook.

The two elder sisters felt strongly the disproportion of their marriages to that of their younger sister. This consideration made them far from being content, though they were arrived at the utmost height of their wishes, and much beyond their hopes. They gave themselves up to an excess of jealousy, which not only disturbed their joy, but was the cause of great troubles and afflictions to the sultaness their younger sister. They had not an opportunity to communicate their thoughts to each other upon the preference the sultan had given her to their prejudice, but were altogether employed in preparing themselves for the celebration of their marriages. Some days afterwards, when they had an opportunity of seeing each other at the public baths, the eldest sister said to the other, Well, sister, what say you to our sister’s great fortune? Is not she a fine person to be a sultaness! I must own, said the other sister, I cannot conceive what charms the sultan could discover in her, to be so bewitched by a young jade. You know in what a state we have both seen her. Was it a reason sufficient for him not to cast his eyes on you, because she was somewhat younger than us? You were as worthy of his bed; and in justice he ought to have preferred you.

Sister, said the elder, I should not have said any thing, if the sultan had but pitched upon you; but that he should choose that hussy, is what grieves me. But I will revenge myself; and you, I think, are as much concerned as I; therefore I would have us contrive measures together, that we may act in concert in a common cause, and communicate to me what you think the likeliest way to mortify her, while I, on my side, will inform you what my desire of revenge shall suggest to me.

After this wicked plot, the two sisters saw each other very frequently, and always consulted how they might disturb and interrupt the happiness of the sultaness their younger sister. They proposed a great many ways, but in deliberating about the manner of executing them, they found so many difficulties, that they durst not attempt them. In the mean time, they often went together to make her visits with a detestable dissimulation, and every time gave her all the marks of friendship they could imagine, to persuade her how overjoyed they were to have a sister raised to so high a fortune. The sultaness, on her part, always received them with all the demonstrations of esteem and value they could expect from a sister who was not puffed up with her high dignity, and loved them as cordially as before.

Some months after her marriage, the sultaness found herself to be with child. The sultan expressed great joy, which was communicated to all the court, and spread throughout the capital of Persia. Upon this news, the two sisters came to pay their compliments, and entering into discourse with her sister about her lying-in, they proffered their service to deliver her, desiring her, if she was not provided with a midwife, to accept of them.

The sultaness said to them most obligingly, Sisters, I should desire no better, if it was absolutely in my power to make choice of you. I am however obliged to you for your good-will, but must submit to what the sultan shall order on this occasion. Let your husbands employ their friends to make interest, and get some courtier to ask this favour of the sultan; and if he speaks to me about it, be assured that I shall not only express the pleasure he does me, but thank him for making choice of you.

The two husbands applied themselves to some courtiers their patrons, and begged of them to use their interest to procure their wives the honour they aspired to. Those patrons exerted themselves so much in their behalf, that the sultan promised them to consider of it, and was as good as his word; for in conversation with the sultaness, he told her that he thought her sisters were the most proper persons to assist her in her labour; but would not name them before he asked her consent. The sultaness, sensible of the deference the sultan so obligingly paid her, said to him, Sir, I was prepared to do as your majesty shall please to command me. But since you have been so kind as to think of my sisters, I thank you for that regard you have shown them for my sake; and therefore I shall not dissemble, that I had rather have them than strangers.

Then the sultan Khosrouschah named the sultaness’s two sisters to be her midwives; and from that time they went backwards and forwards to the palace, overjoyed at the opportunity they should have of executing the detestable wickedness they had meditated against the sultaness their sister.

When the sultaness’s reckoning was out, she was safely delivered of a young prince, as bright as the day; but neither his innocence nor beauty were capable of moving the cruel hearts of the merciless sisters. They wrapped him up carelessly in his blankets, and put him into a basket, which they abandoned to the stream of a small canal which ran under the sultaness’s apartment, and declared she was delivered of a little dead dog, which they produced. This disagreeable news was announced to the sultan, who conceived so much anger thereat, as might have proved fatal to the sultaness, if his grand vizier had not represented to him that he could not, without injustice, make her answerable for the caprices of nature.

In the mean time, the basket in which the little prince was exposed was carried by the stream beyond a wall which bounded the prospect of the sultaness’s apartment, and from thence floated with the current down the gardens. By chance the intendant of the sultan’s garden, one of the principal and most considerable officers of the kingdom, walking in the garden by the side of this canal, and perceiving a basket floating, called to a gardener, who was not far off, and bid him come presently to him, and reach him that basket, which he showed him that he might see what was in it. The gardener, with a spade which he had in his hand, brought the basket to the side of the canal, took it up, and gave it to him.

The intendant of the gardens was extremely surprised to see in the basket a child, which, though he easily knew it to be but just born, had very fine features. This officer had been married several years, and though he had always been desirous of having children, Heaven had never blessed him with any. This accident interrupted his walk: he made the gardener follow him with the child; and when he came to his own house, which was situated at the entrance into the gardens of the palace, he went into his wife’s apartment. Wife, said he, as we have no children of our own, God has sent us one. I recommend him to you; provide him a nurse presently, and take as much care of him as if he were our own son; for, from this moment, I acknowledge him as such. The intendant’s wife received the child with great joy, and took particular pleasure in the care of him. The intendant himself would not inquire too narrowly whence the child came. He saw plainly it came not far off the sultaness’s apartment; but it was not his business to examine too closely into what had passed, nor to create disturbances in a place where peace was so necessary.

The year after the sultaness was brought to bed of another prince, on whom the unnatural sisters had no more compassion than on his brother; but exposed him likewise in a basket, and set him adrift in the canal, pretending this time that the sultaness was delivered of a cat. It was happy also for this child that the intendant of the gardens was walking by the canal side, who had it carried to his wife, and charged her to take as much care of it as of the first; which suited as well her inclination, as it was agreeable to the intendant.

The sultan of Persia was more enraged this time against the sultaness than before, and she had felt the effects of his anger, if the grand vizier’s remonstrances had not prevailed.