Part 20

Night came, and my husband arrived. He perceived that my head was very much wrapped up, and asked me the reason of it. I told him that I had a bad head-ache, which I hoped would have satisfied him, but he took up a taper, and observing that I had a wound on my cheek, “How happened this?” he cried. Now, although I was not guilty of a very great fault, I could not make up my mind to discover the whole affair to him; to enter also into this detail, seemed to me not the most decorous. I told him that as I was going to purchase the silk I wanted, and which he had given me permission to do, a porter with a bundle of wood had passed so close to me at the corner of a very narrow street, that one of the sticks had grazed my cheek; but that it was a mere trifle.

At this my husband was excessively enraged. “This act,” he cried, “shall not remain unpunished; I will to-morrow give an order to the officer of the police, to arrest all these brutes of porters, and hang every one of them.” Fearful of occasioning the death of so many innocent people, “Take care, my lord,” I cried, how you commit such an act of injustice: I should be very sorry to be the cause of your doing it; and if I were to be guilty of such a crime, I should think myself unworthy of pardon.”--“Tell me then, sincerely,” he said, “what am I to think of your wound?”

I then related to him that it had been done by a seller of brooms upon his ass, who, as he came behind me, had his head turned on one side, and the ass pushed by me so violently, that I fell down and cut my cheek against a piece of glass.”--“This being the fact,” added my husband, “the sun shall not have risen to-morrow morning before the grand vizier Giafar shall be informed of this insolence. He shall order the death of every broom-seller in the city.”--“In the name of God, my husband,” I cried, interrupting him, “I entreat you to pardon them, they are not culpable.”--“What then, madam,” said he, “am I to believe? Speak, I insist on hearing the strict truth from your lips.” --“My lord,” I replied, “I was seized with a giddiness, and fell down; this is the fact.”

My husband lost all patience at these words. “I have already,” he cried, “listened too long to your falsehoods;” and in saying this, he clapped his hands, and three slaves immediately came in. “Drag her from the bed,” he exclaimed, “and lay her at length in the middle of the chamber.” This order was instantly executed by the slaves, one of whom held me by the head, another by the feet, and he commanded the third to fetch a sabre. As soon as my husband saw him return with it, “Strike,” he cried, “cut her body in two and throw it into the Tigris, and let it become food for its fish. This is the punishment I inflict on those upon whom I have bestowed my affections, and who cannot preserve their fidelity to me.” As he observed that the slave rather hesitated in his obedience, “Strike,” he again cried, “why do you stop? what do you wait for?”

“Madam,” said the slave to me, “almost the last moment of your existence is at hand, recollect if there be any thing you wish to dispose of before your death.” I requested permission to speak a few words. This was granted me; I then raised my head, and casting a tender look at my husband, I said, “To what a state, alas! am I reduced! Must I then die in the very prime of my life.” I wished to proceed, but my tears and sighs choaked my utterance. This, however, had no effect on my husband. On the contrary, he began to reproach me in a way that it would have been useless for me to answer him. I then had recourse to prayers; but he heeded them not, and ordered the slave to do his duty. At this moment the old woman, who had been my husband’s nurse, came in, and throwing herself at his feet, endeavoured to appease him. “My son,” she cried, “as a reward for having nursed and brought you up, I conjure you to grant me her pardon. Consider, I beg, that he who slays shall be slain; and that you will thus tarnish your reputation, and lessen yourself in the estimation of society. What will they not say of such a cruel, inhuman disposition?” She pronounced these words in so affecting manner, and accompanied them with so many tears, that they made a very strong impression on my husband.

“Well then,” said he to his nurse, “out of regard for you I will grant her life; but I am determined she shall carry some marks to make her remember her crime.” Having said this, one of the slaves, by his order, gave me so many blows with a small pliant cane on my sides and bosom, that the skin and flesh were torn in every part. I remained quite senseless. After this, the same slaves who were the agents of his rage, carried me into another house, where I was taken all possible care of by the old woman. I was obliged to keep my bed four months; at length I was cured; but the scars which I could not prevent you from seeing yesterday, have remained there ever since. As soon as I was able to walk about and go out, I wished to return to the house which I possessed by my first husband, but I could only discover its situation, for my second husband, in the excess of his fury, was not satisfied with having that pulled down; he had even caused the whole street where it stood to be razed to the ground. This no doubt was a most unjustifiable and unheard-of revenge; but against whom could I lodge my complaint? Its author had taken such measures to conceal himself that I could not discover him. Besides, if I should have found him out, I might easily conjecture, from the manner in which he had treated me, that his power was almost absolute. How then dare I have complained?

Entirely desolate, and deprived of every succour, I had recourse to my dear sister Zobeidè, who has already related her history to your majesty; and I informed her of my misfortune. She received me with her accustomed goodness, and exhorted me to bear my afflictions with patience. “Such is the world,” she said: “it generally deprives us either of our fortunes, our friends, or our lovers, and sometimes even of all.” To prove, at the same time, the truth of what she said to me, she gave me an account of the death of the young prince, which was occasioned by her two sisters’ jealousy. She then informed me in what manner they had been transformed into dogs. After having, in short, given me a thousand proofs of her friendship and regard, she presented my youngest sister to me, who after the death of her mother had come to live with her.

Having returned our thanks to God for thus again uniting us, we resolved for the future to live free, and never again to separate. We have for a long time continued to pass this tranquil kind of life, and as I have the whole management of the house, I take a pleasure in sometimes going out myself to purchase the provisions we may have occasion for. I went out yesterday for this purpose, and ordered them to be brought home by a porter, who proved to be possessed of some wit and humour, and we detained him in order to divert us. The three calenders arrived about the beginning of the evening, and requested us to afford them an asylum till the morning. We received them upon one express condition, which they agreed to; and after placing them at our own table, they amused us with some music in a manner peculiar to themselves. At this particular time we heard a knock at our gate; and we saw there were three merchants of Moussoul, of a good handsome appearance, who requested the same favour of us which the calenders had before done; and we granted it them on the same condition, but not one of them observed their promise. Although we had the power to punish them, and with the greatest justice, we were satisfied with only requiring the recital of each of their histories; and we confined our revenge to the act of immediately dismissing them, and thus depriving them of the retreat they had requested.

The caliph Haroun Alraschid was very well satisfied with the account he thus received, and for which he was so anxious. And he publicly expressed the pleasure and astonishment which these narratives had afforded him. When the caliph had thus satisfied his curiosity, he wished to give some proofs of his generosity and magnificence to the calenders who were princes; and also to make the three ladies feel the consequences of his bounty. Without therefore employing the intervention of his grand vizier, he himself said to Zobeidè, “Has not that fairy, madam, whom you first beheld under the form of a serpent, and who has imposed so rigorous a law upon you, given you any information were she lives; or rather, has she not promised to see you again, and suffer the two dogs to re-assume their natural form?”

“I ought not to have forgotten, Commander of the Faithful,” replied Zobeidè, “to have informed you, that the fairy put a small packet of hair into my hand; saying, at the same time, that I should one day have occasion for her presence; and then, if I only burnt two single hairs she would instantly be with me, although she should happen to be beyond Mount Caucasus.”--“Where, madam,” replied the caliph, “is this packet of hair?” She replied, that she had from that time always carried it about with her very carefully. She then took it out of her pocket, and opening the lid of the box in which she kept it, she showed it to him. “Let us then,” cried the caliph, “make the fairy appear now; you cannot, since I wish it, call her more opportunely.”

Zobeidè having agreed to it, they brought some fire, and she directly put the contents of the packet upon it. At the same moment the whole palace shook, and the fairy, in the shape of a lady most magnificently dressed, appeared before the caliph. “Commander of the Faithful,” said she to the prince, “you see me here, ready to receive your commands. The lady who has called me here at your desire, has rendered me a very important service; to give her a proof of my gratitude, I have punished the perfidy of my sisters by transforming them into dogs, but if your majesty desires it, I will restore them to their natural shape.”

“Beautiful fairy,” answered the caliph, “you cannot afford me a greater pleasure than by granting me that favour. I will then find some means of consoling them for so severe a punishment: but in the first place I have another request to make to you in behalf of the lady who has been so ill-treated by her husband. As you are acquainted with almost every thing, I do not believe you can be ignorant of that. And you will oblige me very much if you mention the name of the cruel wretch who was not satisfied with executing so much cruelty towards her, but even most unjustly deprived her of all her fortune which belonged to her. I am really astonished that so criminal and inhuman an act, and one which flies in the very face of my power and authority, has never come to my knowledge.”

“For the sake of obliging your majesty,” replied the fairy, “I will restore the two dogs to their original form; I will cure the lady of all her scars so perfectly, that no one shall be able to tell that she has ever been wounded; and I will then inform you of the name of him who has treated her so ill.”

The caliph instantly sent to Zobeidè’s house for the two dogs; when they were come, the fairy asked for a cup-full of water, which they gave her. She pronounced some words over it, which they did not understand, and then threw some of it over Aminè and the two dogs. The latter were immediately changed into two females of most extraordinary beauty, and the scars of the former disappeared. The fairy then addressed the caliph as follows: “I have, O Commander of the Faithful, only now to discover to you what is the name of the unknown husband, which you require. He is very nearly related to you, since indeed it is Prince Amin, your eldest son, and brother to Prince Mamoun. He, having become enamoured of this lady from the description he had heard of her beauty, made use of that pretence to get her into his power, and married her. With regard to the blows he ordered her, he is in some measure to be excused. His wife was too easily prevailed on; and the different excuses she invented were enough to make him think that she was much more criminal than she really was. This is all that I can tell you for your satisfaction.” Having concluded this speech, she saluted the caliph and disappeared.

This prince, filled with wonder and astonishment, and well satisfied at the alterations and changes that he had been the means of effecting, performed some actions which will be eternally spoken of. He first of all called his son, Prince Amin, and told him he was acquainted with the secret of his marriage, and informed him of the cause of the wound in Aminè’s cheek. The prince did not wait till his father ordered him to take her again, but immediately received her.

The caliph next declared that he bestowed his heart and hand upon Zobeidè, and proposed her other three sisters to the calenders, the sons of kings, who accepted them with much joy for their wives. The caliph then assigned a most magnificent palace to each of them in the city of Bagdad; he raised them to the first offices of the empire, and admitted them into his council. They sent for the first cadi of Bagdad, who, with proper witnesses, drew up the forms of marriage; and the illustrious and famous caliph Haroun Alraschid, in bestowing happiness on so many persons, who had experienced such incredible misfortunes, acquired a thousand benedictions.

THE HISTORY OF SINDBAD, THE SAILOR.

In the reign of the same caliph, Sire, whom I mentioned in my last story, namely, Haroun Alraschid, there lived in Bagdad a poor porter, who was named Hindbad. One day, during the excessive heats of summer, he was carrying a heavy load from one extremity of the city to the other, and being much fatigued by the length of way he had already come, and having still much ground to traverse, he arrived in a street where the pavement was sprinkled with rose-water; and a gentle breeze refreshed the air. Delighted with this cool and pleasant situation, he placed his load on the ground, and took his station near a large mansion. The delicious scent of aloes and frankincense which issued from the windows, and mixing with the rose-water, perfumed the air, together with a charming concert within, which was accompanied by the melody of the nightingales and other birds peculiar to the climate of Bagdad, and the smell of different sorts of viands led him to suppose that some grand feast was given there. He wished to know whose residence it was; for, not having frequent occasion to pass that way, he was unacquainted with the names of the inhabitants. To satisfy his curiosity, therefore, he approached some servants who were standing, magnificently dressed, at the door, and inquired who was the master of that mansion. “What,” replied the servant, “are you an inhabitant of Bagdad, and do not know that this is the residence of Sindbad, the sailor, that famous voyager, who has sailed over all the seas under the sun?” The porter, who had heard of the immense riches of Sindbad, could not help comparing his situation, which appeared so enviable, with his own, which was so deplorable; and, distressed by the reflection he raised his eyes to heaven, and exclaimed in a loud voice, “Almighty Creator of all things, be pleased to consider the difference that there is between Sindbad and myself; I suffer daily a thousand ills, and find the greatest difficulty to supply my wretched family with bad barley bread, whilst the fortunate Sindbad expends his riches with profusion, and enjoys every pleasure. What has he done to obtain so happy a destiny, or I to merit one so rigorous?” In saying this he struck the ground with his foot, as is entirely given up to despair. He was still musing on his fate, when a servant came towards him from the house, and taking hold of his arms, said, “Come follow me; my master, Sindbad, wishes to speak with you.”

It may easily be imagined, that Hindbad was not a little surprised at the compliment that was paid him. After the words he had uttered, he began to fear that Sindbad sent for him to reprimand him, and therefore he tried to excuse himself from going; saying that he could not leave his load in the middle of the street: but the servant assuring him that it should be taken care of, pressed him so much to go, that the porter could no longer refuse.

He led him into a spacious room, where a number of persons were seated round a table, which was covered with all kinds of delicate viands. In the principal seat was a grave and venerable personage, whose long white beard hung down to his breast; and behind him were standing a crowd of officers and servants to wait on him. This person was Sindbad. The porter, quite confused by the number of the company, and the magnificence of the entertainment, made his obeisance with fear and trembling. Sindbad desired him to approach, and seating him at his right hand, helped him himself to the choicest dishes, and gave him some excellent wine, with which the sideboard was plentifully supplied, to drink.

Towards the end of the repast, Sindbad perceiving that his guests had done eating, began to speak; and addressing himself to Hindbad by the title of brother, as is the custom amongst the Arabians when they converse familiarly, he inquired his name and profession. “Sir,” replied he, “my name is Hindbad.”--“I am happy to see you,” said Sindbad, “and can answer for the pleasure the rest of the company also feel at your presence; but I wish to know from your own lips what it was you said just now in the street:” for Sindbad, before he went to dinner, had heard the whole of the discourse from the window, which was the reason of his sending for him. At this request Hindbad, full of confusion, hung down his head and replied, “Sir, I must confess to you that my fatigue had put me so out of humour, that I uttered some indiscreet words, which I entreat you to pardon me.”--“O,” resumed Sindbad, “do not imagine that I am so unjust as to have any resentment on that account. I feel for your situation, and instead of reproaching, I pity you heartily; but I must undeceive you on one point respecting myself, where you seem to be in an error. You suppose, no doubt, that the riches and comforts I enjoy have been obtained without any labour or trouble; you are mistaken. To arrive at this state, I have endured for many years the greatest mental as well as bodily sufferings, that you can possibly conceive. Yes, gentlemen,” continued he, addressing himself to the whole company, “I assure you that my sufferings have been of a nature so extraordinary, as would deprive the greatest miser of his love of riches. Perhaps you have heard only a confused account of my adventures in the seven voyages I have made on different seas; and as an opportunity now offers, I will, with your leave, relate the dangers I have encountered which I think will not be uninteresting to you.”

As Sindbad was going to relate his history chiefly on the porter’s account, he gave orders, before he began it, to have his burden, which had been left in the street, brought in, and placed where Hindbad should wish; this done, he spoke in these words:--

THE FIRST VOYAGE OF SINDBAD, THE SAILOR.

I dissipated the greatest part of my paternal inheritance in the excesses of my youth; but at length seeing my folly, I became convinced that riches were not of much use when applied to such purposes as I had employed them in; and I, moreover, reflected that the time I spent in dissipation was of still greater value than gold; and that nothing could be more truly deplorable than poverty in old age. I recollected the words of the wise Solomon, which my father had often repeated to me, that it is better to be in the grave than poor. Feeling the truth of all these reflections, I resolved to collect the small remains of my patrimony, and to sell my goods by auction. I then formed connections with some merchants who had negotiations by sea, and consulted those who appeared best able to give me advice. In short, I determined to employ to some profit the small sum I had remaining, and no sooner was this resolution formed, than I put it into execution. I repaired to Balsora [3], where I embarked with several merchants in a vessel which had been equipped at our united expence.

We set sail, and steered towards the East Indies by the Persian gulf, which is formed by the coast of Arabia Felix on the right, and by that of Persia on the left, and is commonly supposed to be seventy leagues in breadth in the widest part; beyond this gulf, the Western Sea, or Indian Ocean, is very spacious, and is bounded by the coast of Abyssinia, extending in length four thousand five hundred leagues to the island of Vakvak [4]. I was at first rather incommoded with what is termed sea-sickness, but I soon recovered my health, and from that period I have never been subject to that malady. In the course of our voyage we touched at several islands, and sold or exchanged our merchandize. One day, when in full sail, we were unexpectedly becalmed before a small island appearing just above the water, and which, from its verdure, resembled a beautiful meadow. The captain ordered the sails to be lowered and gave permission to those who wished it to go ashore, of which number I formed one. But during the time that we were regaling ourselves with eating and drinking, by way of relaxation from the fatigue we had endured at sea, the island suddenly trembled and we felt a severe shock.

They who were in the ship perceived the earth quake in the island, and immediately called to us to re-embark as soon as possible, or we should all perish, for that what we supposed to be an island was no more than the back of a whale. The most active of the party jumped into the boat, whilst others threw themselves into the water, to swim to the ship; as for me I was still on the island, or, more properly speaking, on the whale, when it plunged into the sea, and I had only time to seize hold of a piece of wood which had been brought to make a fire with. Meantime the captain, willing to avail himself of a fair breeze which had sprung up, set sail with those who had reached his vessel, and left me to the mercy of the waves. I remained in this situation the whole of that day and the following night; and on the return of morning I had neither strength nor hope left when a breaker happily dashed me on an island. The shore was high and steep, and I should have found great difficulty in landing had not some roots of trees, which fortune seemed to have furnished for my preservation, assisted me. I threw myself on the ground, where I continued more than half dead till the sun arose.

Although I was extremely enfeebled by the fatigues I had undergone, I tried to creep about in search of some herb or fruit that might satisfy my hunger. I found some; and had also the good luck to meet with a stream of excellent water, which contributed not a little to my recovery. Having in a great measure regained my strength, I began to explore the island, and entered a beautiful plain, where I perceived, at some distance, a horse that was grazing. I bent my steps that way, trembling between fear and joy, for I could not ascertain whether I was advancing to safety or perdition. I remarked, as I approached, that it was a mare tied to a stake; her beauty attracted my attention; but whilst I was admiring her I heard a voice, under ground, of a man, who shortly after appeared, and coming to me, asked me who I was. I related my adventure to him; after which he took me by the hand, and led me into a cave where there were some other persons, who were not less astonished to see me than I was to find them there.