Part 110

At last the dervise broke silence. Sir, said he to prince Bahman, I know the way you ask of me; but the friendship which I conceived for you the first moment I saw you, and which is grown stronger by the service you have done me, kept me in suspense, whether I should give you the satisfaction you desire. What motive can hinder you? replied the prince; and what difficulties do you find in so doing? I will tell you, replied the dervise; the danger you are going to expose yourself to is greater than you can believe. A great number of gentlemen, of as much bravery and courage as you can have, passed by here, and asked me the same question you do now. When I had used all my endeavours to persuade them to desist, they would not believe me; at last, I have yielded to their importunities; I was compelled to show them the way, and I can assure you they have all perished, and I have not seen one come back again. Therefore, if you have any regard for your life, take my advice, go no farther, return home.

Prince Bahman persisted in his resolution. I will not believe, said he to the dervise, but that your advice is sincere. I am obliged to you for the friendship you express for me; but whatever may be the danger you tell me of, nothing shall make me change my intention: whoever attacks me, I am well armed, and can say I am as brave as any one. But they who shall attack you are not to be seen, replied the dervise, for there are a great many of them; how will you defend yourself against invisible persons? It is no matter, answered the prince; all you say shall not persuade me to do any thing contrary to my duty. Since you know the way, I conjure you once more to tell me, and not refuse me that favour.

When the dervise found he could not prevail upon prince Bahman, and that he was obstinately bent to pursue his journey, notwithstanding the wholesome advice he gave him, he put his hand into a bag that lay by him, and pulled out a bowl, which he presented to him. Since I cannot prevail on you to hear me and take my advice, said he, take this bowl, and when you are on horseback throw it before you, and follow it to the foot of a mountain, where it will stop. As soon as the bowl stops, alight, and leave your horse with the bridle over his neck, and he will stand in the same place till you return. As you go up the hill, you will see on your right and left hand a great quantity of large black stones, and will hear on all sides of you a confusion of voices, which will say a thousand injurious things to you to discourage you, and prevent your climbing up to the top of the hill: but take care, and be not afraid; and, above all things, do not turn your head to look behind you; for in that instant you will be changed into such a black stone as those you see, which are all so many gentlemen, who have failed in this enterprise, as I told you. If you escape the danger which I give you but a slight description of, that you might reflect on it, and get to the top of the mountain, you will see a cage, and in that cage is the bird you seek: ask him where are the singing tree and the yellow water, and he will tell you. I have nothing more to say; this is what you have to do, and the danger you have to avoid; but if you would believe me, you would take my advice, and not expose your life. Consider once more while you have time, that the difficulty is almost insuperable, and attached to a condition which may be counteracted even by inadvertence, as you may easily comprehend.

I am very much obliged to you for your repeated advice, replied prince Bahman, after he had received the bowl, but I cannot follow it. However, I will endeavour to conform myself to that part of it which bids me not to look behind me as I go up, and I hope to come and see you again soon, and thank you more when I have got what I am in search after. After these words, to which the dervise made no other answer than that he should be overjoyed to see him again, and wished that might be the case, he mounted his horse, took his leave of the dervise with a low bow, and threw the bowl before him.

The bowl rolled away to the last with as much swiftness as when prince Bahman first delivered it out of his hand, which obliged him to put his horse to the same pace to follow it without losing sight of it, and when it came to the foot of the mountain which the dervise named, it stopped. The prince alighted from off his horse, which never stirred from the spot, though he had the bridle on his neck; and having first surveyed the mountain, and seen the black stones, he began to climb up it; but he had not gone four steps, before he heard the voices mentioned by the dervise, though he could see nobody. Some said, Where is that fool going? where is he going? what would he have? do not let him pass. Others, Stop him, catch him, kill him; and others with a voice like thunder, Thief! assassin! murderer! while some in a gibing tone, cried, No, no, do not hurt him; let the pretty fellow pass; the cage and bird are kept for him.

Notwithstanding all those troublesome voices, prince Bahman mounted with courage and resolution for some time, but the voices increasing with so loud a din so near him, both behind and before, at last he was seized with fear, his legs trembled under him, he staggered, and presently finding that his strength failed him, he forgot the dervise’s advice, turned about to run down the hill, and was that instant changed into a black stone, --a metamorphosis which had happened to so many before him, who had attempted the same thing. His horse likewise underwent the same change.

From the time of prince Bahman’s departure, the princess Parizade always wore the knife and sheath in her girdle, and pulled it out several times in a day to know whether her brother was alive. She had the consolation to understand he was in perfect health, and to talk of him frequently with prince Perviz, who sometimes prevented her by asking her what news.

On the fatal day that prince Bahman was metamorphosed into a stone, as prince Perviz and the princess were talking together in the evening, as usual, the prince desired his sister to pull out the knife, to know how their brother did. The princess drew out the knife, and looking upon it, and seeing the blood run down the point, was seized with so much horror and grief, that she threw it down. Ah! my dear brother, cried she; I have been the cause of your death, and shall never see you more! How unhappy am I! Why did I tell you of the speaking bird, singing tree, and yellow water? or rather, of what importance was it to me to know whether the religious woman thought this house ugly or handsome, or complete or not? I wish to heaven she had never addressed herself to me! Deceitful hypocrite! added she, is this the return you have made me for the kind reception I gave you? Why did you tell me of a bird, a tree, and a water, which, imaginary as I am persuaded they are, by my dear brother’s death, yet disturb me, by your enchantment.

Prince Perviz was as much afflicted at the death of prince Bahman as the princess; but not to waste time in needless regret, as he knew by the princess’s sorrow that she still passionately desired the possession of the speaking bird, the singing tree, and the golden water, he interrupted her, and said, Sister, our regret for our brother Bahman is vain and useless, for our grief and lamentations cannot restore him to life; it is the will of God, and we must submit to it, and adore the decrees of the Almighty, without searching into them. Why should you now doubt of the truth of what the holy woman told you? do you think she spoke to you of three things that were not in being? and that she invented them on purpose to deceive you, who had given her no cause to do so, but received her with so much goodness and civility? Let us rather believe that our brother’s death is owing to some fault of his, or some accident, which we cannot conceive. It ought not therefore to prevent us from pursuing our object. I offered to go this journey, and am in the same mind still; his example has no effect upon my resolution; to-morrow I will go myself.

The princess did all she could to dissuade prince Perviz, conjuring him not to expose her to the danger of losing two brothers instead of one; but he was resolved, and all the remonstrances she could urge had no effect upon him. Before he went, that she might know what success he had, as she did that of his brother by the knife, he left her a string of a hundred pearls, telling her, that if they would not run when she told them upon the string, but remain fixed, that should be a certain sign he had undergone the same late as his brother; but at the same time told her, he hoped that would never happen, but that he should have the happiness to see her again, to their mutual satisfaction.

Prince Perviz, on the twentieth day from his setting out, met with the same dervise in the same place his brother Bahman had done before him. He went directly up to him, and after he had saluted him, asked him if he could tell him where to find the speaking bird, the singing tree, and the golden water? The dervise made the same difficulties and remonstrances he had done to prince Bahman, telling him, that a young gentleman, who very much resembled him, was with him a short time before; that, overcome by his importunity and pressing instances, he showed him the way, gave turn a guide, and told him how he should act to succeed; but that he had not seen him since, and doubted not but he had shared the same fate as all before him.

Good dervise, answered prince Perviz, I know whom you speak of; he was my elder brother, and I am informed of the certainty of his death, but know not what it was. I can tell you, replied the dervise: he was changed into a black stone, as all I speak of have been; and you must expect the same change, unless you observe more exactly than he has done the good advice I gave him, in case you persist in your resolution, which I once more entreat you to renounce.

Dervise, said prince Perviz, I cannot enough express how much I am obliged to you for the care you take of my life, who am a stranger to you, and have done nothing to deserve your kindness: but I must tell you, I have thoroughly considered this enterprise before I undertook it, and I cannot give it up: therefore I beg of you to do me the same favour you have done my brother. Perhaps I may have better success in following the directions I expect from you. Since I cannot prevail with you, said the dervise, nor persuade you to give up your obstinate resolution, if my age did not prevent me, and I could stand, I would get up to reach you a bowl I have here, which will show you the way.

Without giving the dervise time to say more, the prince alighted from his horse, and went up to the dervise, who had taken a bowl out of his bag, in which he had a great many others, and gave it him, with the same directions he had given prince Bahman; and, after warning him not to be frightened at the voices he should hear, without seeing any body, however threatening they might be, but to continue his way up the hill till he saw the cage and bird, he let him go.

Prince Perviz thanked the dervise, and when he had remounted his horse, and taken his leave, he threw the bowl before his horse, and spurring him at the same time, followed it. When the bowl came to the bottom of the hill, it stopped, and the prince got off his horse, and stood some time to recollect the dervise’s directions. He encouraged himself, and began to walk up with a resolution to reach the top; but before he had gone above six steps, he heard a voice, which seemed to be very near him, as of a man behind him, say, in an insulting tone, Stay, rash youth, that I may punish you for your boldness.

Upon this affront, the prince forgetting the dervise’s advice, clapped his hand upon his sword and drew it, and turned about to revenge himself; but had scarce time to see that nobody followed him, before he and his horse were changed into black stones.

In the mean time the princess Parizade, several times a day after her brother Perviz set out, strung over her chaplet which she received from his hand the day he set out; and when she had nothing else to do, she told the grains over her fingers, one after another. She did not omit it at night, but when she went to bed put it about her neck; and in the morning when she awoke, counted over the pearls again to see if they would slide.

The day that prince Perviz was changed into a stone, she was pulling over the pearls as she used to do, when all of a sudden she could not stir them, and never doubted that it was a certain token that the prince her brother was dead. As she had determined before what to do, in case it should so happen, she lost no time in outward show of grief, which she concealed as much as possible; but having disguised herself in man’s apparel, armed and equipped, she mounted her horse the next morning, having told her servants she should return in two or three days, and took the same road her brothers had done before her.

The princess, who had been used to ride on horseback in hunting, supported the fatigue of so long a journey better than other ladies could have done; and as she made the same days’ journeys as her brothers, she also met with the dervise on the twentieth day. When she came near him, she alighted off her horse, and leading him by the bridle, went and sat down by the dervise, and after she had saluted him, she said, Good dervise, give me leave to rest myself by you; and do me the favour to tell me if you have not heard that there are somewhere hereabouts a speaking bird, a singing tree, and golden water.

Madam, answered the dervise, for so I must call you, since by your voice I know you to be a woman disguised in man’s apparel, I thank you for your compliment, and receive the honour you do me with great pleasure. I know the place very well where these things you speak of are to be found: but what makes you ask me this question?

Good dervise, replied the princess, I have had such an advantageous relation of them given me, that I have a very great desire to possess them. --Madam, replied the dervise, you have been told the truth. These things are more singular and surprising than they have been represented to you, but you have not been acquainted with the difficulties which must be surmounted in order to obtain them. If you had been fully informed of them, you would not have undertaken so troublesome and dangerous an enterprise. Take my advice; go no farther; return, and do not urge me to contribute towards your ruin.

Good father, said the princess, I have come a great way, and should be sorry to return home without executing my design. You talk of difficulties, and danger of my life; but you do not tell me what those difficulties are, and wherein the danger consists. This is what I desire to know, that I may consider of it, and judge whether I can or cannot trust my courage and strength to undertake it.

Then the dervise repeated to the princess Parizade what he had said to the princes Bahman and Perviz, exaggerating the difficulties of climbing up to the top of the mountain, where she was to make herself mistress of the bird, which would inform her of the singing tree and golden water; the noise and din of the terrible threatening voices which she would hear on all sides of her, without seeing any body; and in short, the great quantity of black stones, alone sufficient to strike terror into her and every one else. He entreated her to reflect, that those stones were so many brave gentlemen, so metamorphosed, for omitting to observe the principal condition for success in that undertaking, which was, not to look behind them before they had got possession of the cage.

When the dervise had done, the princess replied, By what I comprehend from your discourse, the difficulty of succeeding in this affair is, first, the getting up to the cage, without being frightened at the terrible din of voices I shall hear; and secondly, not to look behind me: for this last, I hope I shall be mistress enough of myself to observe it. As to the first, I own that those voices, such as you represent them to be, are capable of striking terror into the most undaunted; but as in all enterprises and dangers every one may use contrivance, I desire to know of you if I may make use of it in one of so great importance to me? And what is that you would make use of, said the dervise. To stop my ears with cotton, answered the princess, that the voices, however loud and terrible they may be, may make less impression on my imagination, and my mind may remain free from that disturbance which might make me lose the use of my reason.

Madam, replied the dervise, of all the persons who have addressed themselves to me, to ask the way, I do not know that ever any one made use of the contrivance you propose. All I know is, they all perished. If you persist in your design, you may make the experiment. You will be fortunate if it succeeds; but I would advise you not to expose yourself to the danger.

My good father, replied the princess, nothing prevents my persisting in my design. I am sure my contrivance will succeed, and am resolved to try the experiment. Nothing remains for me but to know which way I must go, a favour I conjure you not to refuse me. The dervise exhorted her again, for the last time, to consider well what she was going to do; but finding her resolute, he took out a bowl, and presenting it to her, said, Take this bowl; mount your horse again, and when you have thrown it before you, follow it through all its windings, till it stops at the bottom of the mountain, and there do you stop, light off your horse, and ascend the mountain. Go, you know the rest; but be sure not to forget to avail yourself of what I have told you.

After the princess Parizade had thanked the dervise, and taken her leave of him, she mounted her horse, threw the bowl before her, and followed it till it stopped at the foot of the mountain.

The princess alighted from her horse, stopped her ears with cotton; and after she had well examined the way she was to keep to get up to the top, she began with a moderate pace, and walked up with intrepidity. She heard the voices, and perceived the great service the cotton was to her. The higher she went, the louder and more numerous the voices seemed; but they were not capable of making any impression on her. She heard a great many affronting speeches, and raillery very disagreeable to a woman, which she only laughed at. I mind not, said she to herself, all that can be said, were it worse; I only laugh at them, and shall pursue my way. At last she got so high, that she began to perceive the cage and bird, which endeavoured, with the voices, to frighten her, crying in a thundering voice, notwithstanding the smallness of its size, Retire, fool, and come no higher.

The princess, encouraged more by this object, redoubled her haste, and soon saw herself just at her journey’s end; she got to the top of the mountain, where the ground was level; and running directly to the cage, and clapping her hand upon it, cried, Bird, I have you, in spite of you, and you shall not escape me.

When the princess Parizade was pulling the cotton out of her ears, the bird said to her, Brave lady, be not angry with me for joining with those who exerted themselves to preserve my liberty. Though kept in a cage, I was content with my condition; but since I am destined to be a slave, I would rather be yours than any other person’s in the world, since you have obtained me so courageously and so worthily. From this instant I swear inviolable fidelity to you, and an entire submission to your commands. I know who you are, and will tell you. You do not know yourself who you are; but the time will come when I shall do you a piece of service, which I hope you will think yourself obliged to me for. For a proof of my sincerity, tell me what you desire, and I am ready to obey you.

The princess’s joy was the more inexpressible, because the conquest she had made had cost her the lives of two beloved brothers, and given her more trouble and danger than she could have imagined before she tried it, notwithstanding what the dervise had represented to her. Bird, said she, it was my intention to have told you that I wish for many things which are of the last importance to me; and am overjoyed that you have shown your good will, and prevented me. I have been told that there is not far off a golden water, the property of which is very wonderful; before all things, I ask you to tell me where it is. The bird showed her the place, which was just by, and she went and filled a little silver flagon which she had brought along with her. She returned to the bird, and said, Bird, this is not enough; I want also the singing tree: tell me where it is. Turn about, said the bird, and you will see behind you a wood, where you will find this tree. The princess went into the wood, and by the harmonious concert she heard, soon knew the tree among many others, but it was very large and high. She came back to the bird, and said to it, Bird, I have found the singing tree, but I can neither pull it up by the roots nor carry it. The bird replied, It is not necessary that you should take it up by the roots; it is enough that you break off a branch, and carry it to plant in your garden: it will take root as soon as it is put into the earth, and in a little time will grow to as fine a tree as this you see.

When the princess Parizade had in her hand the three things which the religious woman had told her of, and for which she had conceived so great a desire, she said again to the bird, Bird, all you have done for me yet is not enough. You have been the cause of the death of my two brothers, who must be among the black stones which I saw as I came up the hill. I wish to take them home with me.

The bird seemed reluctant to satisfy the princess in this point, and, indeed, made some difficulty to do it. Bird, said the princess, remember you told me that you were my slave. You are so; and your life is at my disposal. I cannot controvert that truth, answered the bird; but, although what you now ask of me is more difficult than all the rest, yet I will do it for you. --Cast your eyes around, added he, and look if you can see a little pitcher. I see it already, said the princess. Take it, then, said he, and as you go down the hill, spill a little of the water that is in it upon every black stone, and that will be the way to find your brothers again.