Part 55

The monarch replied, I am Gaiour, king of China; my desire to learn tidings of a daughter, whose name is Badoura, whom I married to Camaralzaman, son of Schahzaman, king of the isles of the Children of Khaledan, obliged me to leave my dominions. I suffered that prince to go to see his father Schahzaman, king of the isles of the Children of Khaledan, on condition he came back in a year with my daughter; from that time I have heard nothing of them. Your king will lay an infinite obligation on an afflicted father, to tell him if he knows what is become of them.

Prince Amgiad, perceiving by his discourse that the king was his grandfather, kissed his hand with tenderness, and answered him thus: Sir, I hope your majesty will pardon my freedom, when you know that I take it only to pay my duty to my grandfather: I am the son of Camaralzaman, king of the isle of Ebene, and of queen Badoura, for whom you are thus troubled; and I doubt not but they are both in good health in their kingdom.

The king of China, overjoyed to see his grandson, tenderly embraced him. Such a meeting, so happy and unexpected, drew tears from both. The king, inquiring on what occasion he came into a strange country, the prince told him all that had happened to him and his brother Assad. When he had ended his relation, My son, replied the king of China, it is not just that such innocent princes as you are should be longer ill used. Comfort yourself; I will carry you and your brother home, and make your peace. Return, and acquaint your brother with my arrival.

While the king of China encamped in the same place where prince Amgiad met him, that prince returned to let the king of the magicians, who waited for him impatiently, know how he had succeeded.

The king was amazed that so mighty a king as he of China should undertake such a long and troublesome journey, out of a desire to see his daughter, and that he was so near his capital. He gave orders to make things ready for his reception, and went forth to meet him.

While these things were transacting, a great dust was seen on another side of the town; and suddenly news came of the arrival of a third army, which obliged the king to stop, and to desire the prince Amgiad once more to see who they were, and on what account they came. Amgiad went accordingly, and prince Assad accompanied him. They found it was Camaralzaman their father’s army, with which he was coming to seek for them. He was so grieved for the loss of his sons, that at last emir Giondar declared how he had saved their lives, which made him resolve to go and see towards what country the two princes had travelled.

The afflicted father embraced the two princes with floods of tears of joy, which put an end to those he had a long time shed for grief. The princes had no sooner told him the king of China, his father-in-law, was arrived, but he, with them and a small party, rode to wait upon him in his camp. They had not gone far before they saw a fourth army, advancing in good order, which seemed to come from Persia.

Camaralzaman told the two princes to go and see what army it was, and he would in the meanwhile stay for them. They departed immediately; and, coming up to it, were presented to the king to whom the army belonged; and, after having saluted him with due reverence, they demanded on what design he approached so near the king of the magicians’ capital. The grand vizier, who was present, answered in the name of the king his master, The monarch to whom you speak is Schahzaman, king of the isles of the Children of Khaledan: who has a long time travelled, thus attended, to seek his son, prince Camaralzaman, who left his dominions many years ago: if you know any thing of him, you cannot oblige him more than to acquaint him with it.

The princes only replied, that they would bring him an answer in a little time: and, gallopping back as fast as they could, told Camaralzaman it was king Schahzaman’s army, and that the king his father was with it in person.

Wonder, surprise, joy, and grief, to have left the king his father without taking leave of him, had such an effect on king Camaralzaman, that he fainted as soon as he heard he was so near. Prince Amgiad and prince Assad, by their assiduities, at length brought him to himself; and when he had recovered his strength, he went to his father’s tent, and threw himself at his feet.

Never was there a more moving interview between a father and a son. Schahzaman kindly upbraided Camaralzaman with unkindness in so cruelly leaving him; and Camaralzaman discovered a hearty sorrow for the fault which love had urged him to commit.

The three kings and queen Margiana stayed three days at the court of the king of the magicians, who treated them magnificently. These three days were rendered more remarkable by prince Assad’s marriage with queen Margiana, and prince Amgiad with Bostama, for the service she had done his brother Assad.

At last the three kings, and queen Margiana, with her husband Assad, returned to their respective kingdoms. As for Amgiad, the king of the magicians had such an affection for him, he would not part with him; and being very old, he resigned his crown to him. Amgiad, when he had the supreme authority, did his utmost to exterminate the worship of fire, and establish the Mahometan religion throughout his dominions.

The Story of Noureddin and the Fair Persian.

The city of Balsora was for many years the capital of a kingdom tributary to the caliphs of Arabia. The king who governed it in the days of the caliph Haroun Alraschid was named Zinebi. They were cousins, the sons of two brothers. Zinebi not thinking it proper to commit the administration of his affairs to one single vizier, made choice of two, Khacan and Saouy.

Khacan was of a sweet, generous, and affable temper, and took a pride in obliging to the utmost of his power those with whom he had any concern, without the least hinderance to justice, which he was obliged to distribute; so that he was universally respected at court, in the city, and throughout the whole kingdom; and the praises he so highly deserved were the general theme.

Saouy was of a quite different character: he was always sullen and morose, and disgusted every body, without regard to their rank or quality. Instead of making himself beloved and admired for his riches, he was so perfect a miser as to deny himself the necessaries of life. In short, nobody could endure him, and nothing good was said of him. But what increased the people’s hatred against him the more, was his implacable aversion to Khacan; always interpreting in the worst sense the actions of that worthy minister, and endeavouring to do him all the ill offices imaginable with the king.

One day, after council, the king of Balsora amused himself with his two viziers and some other members of the council. The conversation turned upon the women slaves that are daily bought and sold, and are with us almost accounted in the same rank with our lawful wives. Some were of opinion that it was enough if the slave so bought was beautiful and well-shaped, to make amends for the wives, which very often, on account of alliance or interest in families, men are obliged to marry, though they are not always the greatest beauties, or possessed of any perfection, either of mind or body.

Others maintained, and amongst the rest Khacan, that neither beauty nor all bodily perfections were the only things to be desired in a slave, but that they ought to be accompanied with a great share of wit, prudence, modesty, and agreeableness, and if possible, much pleasing knowledge. The reason they gave for it was, that nothing could be more agreeable to persons on whom the management of important affairs depends, than after having spent the whole day in that fatiguing employment, to have a companion in their retirement, whose conversation is not only pleasing, but useful and amusing; for, in short, continued they, there is but little difference between brutes and those men who keep a slave only to look at, and gratify a passion that we have in common with them.

The king was entirely of their opinion who spoke last, and he gave a proof of it, by ordering Khacan to buy him a slave, a perfect beauty, mistress of all those qualifications they had just mentioned, and in particular, possessed of knowledge.

Saouy, jealous of the honour the king had done Khacan, and being of a contrary opinion, said, Sire, it will be very difficult to find a slave so accomplished as your majesty requires; and should they light upon such a one, (as I scarce believe they will,) she will be a cheap bargain at ten thousand pieces of gold. Saouy, replied the king, I perceive plainly you think it too great a sum; it may be so for you, though not for me. Then turning to his high treasurer, he ordered him to send the ten thousand pieces of gold to the vizier’s house.

Khacan, as soon as he came home, sent for all the brokers who used to deal in women slaves, and strictly charged them that if ever they met with a slave that answered the description he gave them, they should come and acquaint him with it. The brokers, partly to oblige the vizier, and partly for their own interest, promised to use their utmost endeavours to find out one to his liking. Scarce a day passed but they brought him one; but he always found some fault or other.

One day, as Khacan was getting on horseback, very early in the morning to go to court, a broker came to him, and catching hold of the stirrup with great eagerness, told him there was a Persian merchant arrived very late the day before, who had a slave to sell, so surprisingly beautiful, that she excelled all women that his eyes had ever beheld: and for wit and knowledge, added he, the merchant engages she shall match the finest wits, and the most learned persons of the age.

Khacan, overjoyed at this news, which made him hope for a favourable opportunity of making his court, ordered him to bring the slave to his palace against his return, and continued his journey.

The broker failed not to be at the vizier’s at the appointed hour; and Khacan, finding the lovely slave so much beyond his expectations, immediately gave her the name of the Fair Persian. As he had an infinite deal of wit and learning, he soon perceived by her conversation, that it was in vain to search farther for a slave that surpassed her in any of those qualifications required by the king, and therefore he asked the broker at what rate the Persian merchant valued her.

Sir, replied the broker, he is a man of few words in bargaining; and he tells me, that the very lowest price he can part with her at, is ten thousand pieces of gold. He has also sworn to me, that without reckoning his care and pains, from the time of his first taking charge of her, he has laid out pretty near the sum upon her education, in masters to accomplish both her body and her mind, besides clothes and maintenance; and as he always thought her fit for a king, so from her very infancy, when he first bought her, he has not been sparing of any thing that might contribute towards advancing her to that high honour. She plays upon all sorts of instruments to perfection; she sings, dances, writes better than the most celebrated authors, makes verses, and, in short, there is scarce any book but she has read; so that there never was a slave of so great a capacity heard of before.

The vizier Khacan, who understood the merit of the Fair Persian better than the broker, who only reported what he had heard from the merchant, was unwilling to drive off the bargain to another time; and therefore sent one of his servants to look after the merchant, where the broker told him he was to be found.

As soon as the Persian merchant came, It is not for myself, but the king, said the vizier Khacan, that I buy your slave; but however, you must let him have her at a more reasonable price than what you have set upon her.

Sir, replied the merchant, I should do myself an unspeakable honour in offering her as a present to his majesty, if it became a person in my situation to make him one of such inestimable value. I ask no more than her education and accomplishments have cost me; and all I have to say is, that I believe his majesty will be extremely pleased with the purchase.

The vizier Khacan would no longer stand bargaining with the merchant, but paid him the money down immediately. Sir, said he to the vizier, upon taking his leave of him, since the slave is designed for the king’s use, give me leave to tell you, that being extremely fatigued with our long journey, you see her at a great disadvantage; and though she has not her equal in the world for beauty, yet if you please to keep her at your own house but a fortnight, and take a little pains with her, she will appear quite another creature: after that, you may present her to the king with honour and credit; for which I hope you will think yourself much obliged to me. The sun, you see, has a little altered her complexion; but after two or three times bathing, and when you have dressed her as you think proper, she will be so changed that she will appear to your eyes infinitely more charming than now.

Khacan was much pleased with the advice the merchant gave him, and was resolved to follow it. He assigned the Fair Persian a particular apartment near his lady’s, whom he desired to invite her to an entertainment, and henceforth treat her as a person designed for the king; he also entreated her to get several suits of the richest clothes for her that could be had, and that became her best. Before he took his leave of the Fair Persian, Your happiness, madam, said he, cannot be greater than what I am about to procure for you: you shall judge for yourself; it is for the king himself I have purchased you, and I hope he will be better pleased with possessing you than I am in having discharged the commission his majesty has honoured me with. I think it, however, my duty to warn you, that I have a son, who, though he does not want wit, yet is young, insinuating, and forward; and to caution you how you suffer him to come near you. The Fair Persian thanked him for his good advice; and after she had given him an assurance of her intention to follow it, he withdrew.

Noureddin, for so the vizier’s son was named, had free access to his mother’s apartment, with whom he usually eat his meals. He was very genteel, young, agreeable, and bold; and being master of abundance of wit and readiness of expression, had the art of persuading others as he pleased. He saw the Fair Persian; and from the first interview, though he knew his father had bought her purposely for the king, and had declared the same to him, yet he never used the least endeavours to check the violence of his passion. In short, he resigned himself wholly to the power of her charms, by which his heart was at first conquered; and from his first conversation with her, he resolved to employ his utmost endeavours to get her from the king.

On the other hand, the Fair Persian had no dislike to Noureddin. The vizier, said she to herself, has done me honour to purchase me for the king of Balsora; but I should have thought myself very happy, if he had designed me only for his own son.

Noureddin was not backward in making use of the advantage of seeing and conversing with a beauty he was so passionately enamoured with; for he never would leave her till his mother forced him to do it. My son, said she, it is not proper for a young man like you to be always in the women’s apartment: go, mind your studies, and endeavour to qualify yourself to succeed your father in his high posts and honours.

It being a great while since the Fair Persian had bathed upon account of her long journey, the vizier’s lady, five or six days after she was purchased, ordered the bath in her own house to be got ready purposely for her. She sent her to it, with many of her women slaves, who were charged by the vizier’s lady to be as attentive to her as to herself; and after bathing, to put her on a very rich suit of clothes that she had provided for her. She was the more careful, in order to ingratiate herself with her husband, by letting him see how much she interested herself in every thing that contributed to his pleasure.

As soon as she came out of the bath, the Fair Persian, a thousand times more beautiful than ever she appeared to Khacan when he brought her, went to make a visit to his lady, who at first sight hardly knew her. The Fair Persian kissed her hand in a very graceful manner, and said to her, Madam, I know not how you like me in this dress you have pleased to order for me; but your women, who tell me it becomes me so extremely well, they should scarce know me, certainly flatter me: from you alone I expect to hear the truth; but, if what they say be really so. I am indebted to you, madam, for the advantage it has given me.

Oh! my daughter, cried the vizier’s lady, transported with joy, you have no reason to believe my women have flattered you: I am better skilled in beauty than they: and, setting aside your dress, which becomes you admirably well, your beauty is so much improved by the bath, that I hardly knew you myself. If I thought the bath was warm enough, I would take my turn; for I am now of an age that requires frequent use of it. Madam, replied the Fair Persian, I have nothing to say to the undeserved civilities you have been pleased to show me; but as for the bath, it is in wonderful fine order; and if you design to go in, you have no time to lose, as your women can inform you as well as I.

The vizier’s lady, considering that she had not bathed for some days past, was desirous to make use of that opportunity; and accordingly she acquainted her women with her intention, who immediately prepared all things necessary on such an occasion. The Fair Persian withdrew to her apartment; and the vizier’s lady, before she went to bathe, ordered two little female slaves to stay with her, with a strict charge, that if Noureddin came, they should not give him admittance.

While the vizier’s lady was bathing, and the fair slave alone in her apartment, in came Noureddin, and not finding his mother in her chamber, went directly to the Fair Persian’s, where he found the two little slaves in the antechamber: he asked them where his mother was? They told him, in the bath. Where is the Fair Persian, then? replied Noureddin. In her chamber, answered the slaves; but we have positive orders from your mother not to let you go in.

The entrance into the Fair Persian’s chamber being only covered with a piece of tapestry, Noureddin went to lift it up, in order to go in, but was opposed by the two slaves, who clapped themselves just before it, on purpose to stop his passage: he presently caught hold of them both by the arms, and, thrusting them out of the antechamber, locked the door upon them. Away they immediately ran, with a great outcry, to the bath, and, with tears in their eyes, told their lady, that Noureddin, having driven them away by force, was got into the Fair Persian’s chamber.

The vizier’s lady received the astonishing news of her son’s presumption with the greatest concern. She immediately left off bathing, and, dressing herself with all possible speed, came directly to the Fair Persian’s chamber; but before she could get thither, Noureddin was gone.

The Fair Persian was extremely surprised to see the vizier’s lady enter her chamber all in tears, and in the utmost confusion. Madam, said she to her, may I presume to ask the occasion of your concern? and what accident has happened in the bath, that makes you leave it so soon?

What! cried the vizier’s lady, can you so calmly ask that question, when my son Noureddin has been with you alone in your chamber? Can there happen a greater misfortune to him or me?

I beseech you, madam, said the fair slave, what prejudice can this action of Noureddin’s do to you or him?

How! replied the vizier’s lady, did not my husband tell you that you were designed for the king, and sufficiently cautioned you to beware of Noureddin?

I have not forgot it, madam, replied the Fair Persian; but your son came to tell me the vizier, his father, had changed his mind, and instead of reserving me for the king, as he first designed, has made him a present of my person. I easily believed him, madam; for, oh! think how a slave as I am, accustomed from my infant years to the laws of servitude, could or ought to resist him! I must own I did it with the less unwillingness on account of a violent inclination for him, which the freedom of conversation and daily intercourse has raised in my soul. I could, without regret, lose the hope of ever being the king’s, and think myself perfectly happy in spending my whole life with Noureddin.

At this discourse of the Fair Persian’s, Would to God, cried the vizier’s lady, that what you say were true! I should hear it with joy; but, believe me, Noureddin is an impostor, and has deceived you; for it is impossible his father should ever make him the present he spoke of. Ah! wretched youth, how miserable has he made me! but more his father, by the dismal consequences we must all expect to share with him! Neither my prayers her tears will be able to prevail, or obtain a pardon for him: but as soon as his father hears of his violence to you, he will inevitably sacrifice him to his just resentment. At these words she fell to weeping bitterly; and the slaves, who were as much afraid for Noureddin as herself, bore her company.

A little after this, in came the vizier Khacan; and being surprised to find his lady and her slaves all in tears, and the Fair Persian very melancholy, asked the reason of it; but, instead of answering him, his wife and his slaves kept on weeping and lamenting. He was more astonished at this than before: at last, addressing himself to his wife, I command you, said he, to let me know the occasion of your tears, and to tell me the whole truth.

The poor disconsolate lady could no longer refuse to satisfy her husband. Sir, said she, first promise not to use me unkindly for what I tell you, since I assure you that what has happened has not been occasioned by any fault of mine; then, without staying for his answer, Whilst I was bathing with my women, continued she, your son, laying hold of that fatal opportunity to ruin us both, came hither, and made the Fair Persian believe, that instead of reserving her for the king, as you once designed, you had given her to him as a present; I do not say what he did after such a notorious falsehood, but shall leave you to judge of it yourself. This is the cause of my affliction, upon your account, and his, for whom I want confidence to implore your pardon.

It is impossible to express the vizier Khacan’s distraction upon hearing of the insolence of his son Noureddin. Ah! cried he, beating his breast, and tearing his beard, miserable son! unworthy of life! hast thou at last thrown thy father from the highest pinnacle of happiness into a misfortune that must inevitably involve thee also in his ruin? neither will the king be satisfied with thy blood or mine, to avenge the affront offered to his royal person.

His lady endeavoured to comfort him. Afflict yourself no more about the matter, said she; I shall easily raise, with part of my jewels, ten thousand pieces of gold, and you may buy another slave, more beautiful, and more worthy of the king.

Ah! replied the vizier, could you think me capable of being so extremely afflicted at losing ten thousand pieces of gold? It is not that loss, nor the loss of all I am worth, for that I should not feel; but the forfeiting my honour, more precious than all the riches in the world. However, methinks, replied the lady, a loss that can be repaired by money cannot be so very great.