Part 28

While the Genius was thus encouraging Bedreddin, and instructing him in what he was to do, the hunchback had really quitted the hall. The Genius went to the place he had retired to, and assuming the figure of a large black cat, began to mew in a terrific manner; the hunchback clapped his hands, and made a noise to frighten it away, but the cat, instead of retreating, made a high back, and fixed its eyes, almost darting fire, fiercely on him, mewing still louder than before. It then increased in size so much, that it shortly appeared larger than an ass. The hunchback at this sight was going to call for assistance, but he was so terrified, that he could not utter a sound, and remained with his mouth open, unable to speak. To increase his terror, the Genius suddenly changed into a large buffalo, and under this shape cried with a loud voice “Base hunchback.” At these words the frightened groom fell on the floor, and covering his head with his robe to avoid seeing this horrible beast, he replied, trembling: “Sovereign prince of the buffaloes, what do you require of me?”--“Ill befal thee!” replied the Genius, “thou hast the temerity to dare to marry my mistress?” --“Ah, sir,” cried the hunchback, “I entreat you to pardon me; if I am criminal, it is through ignorance alone. I did not know that the lady had a buffalo for her lover; command me in whatever you please, I swear I am ready to obey.”--“By death!” resumed the Genius, “if thou quittest this spot, or break silence before the sun rises; nay, if thou utterest but a syllable, I will crush thy head to atoms. By that time I permit thee to leave this house, but I command thee to fly quickly, and not to look back; and if thou hast ever the audacity to return, it shall cost thee thy life.” Thus saying, the Genius transformed himself into a man, and took the hunchback by the heels; then, after holding him against the wall, his head downwards, he added, “If thou darest to stir before the sun rises, I will, as I have said, take thee by the feet and dash thy head into a thousand pieces against this wall.”

But to return to Bedreddin Hassan, who, encouraged by the Genius and by the fairy, who was present, had re-entered the hall, and had gone privately into the nuptial chamber, where he seated himself, waiting, with anxious expectation, the success of his adventure. At the expiration of some time the bride arrived, conducted by an old woman, who stopped at the door to wish the bridegroom happiness, without looking if it was the hunchback or another; she then shut it, and retired.

The young bride was extremely surprised at seeing, instead of the hunchback, Bedreddin Hassan, who presented himself to her with the utmost grace imaginable, “Ha! my friend,” exclaimed she, “how came you here at this hour? I suppose you are one of my husband’s comrades.”--“No, madam,” replied Bedreddin, “I am in a different situation from that disgusting hunchback.”--“But,” replied she, “you do not seem to be aware, that you are abusing my husband.”--“He your husband, madam!” returned Bedreddin, “can you remain so long in this opinion? Be undeceived: such beauty will not be sacrificed to the most despicable of men. I, madam, am the happy mortal for whom it is reserved. The sultan chose to amuse himself with imposing this little deceit on the vizier, your father, and has fixed on me for your true husband. You must have observed, that the ladies, the musicians, the dancers, your women, in short every one belonging to your house, were diverted with this comedy. We have dismissed the poor hunchback to his stable, where he is now regaling himself with a dish of cream; and you may rest assured, that he will never more appear before your beautiful eyes.”

At this discourse the daughter of the vizier, who had entered the nuptial chamber more dead than alive, changed countenance, and assumed an air of gaiety, which added so much to her beauty, that Bedreddin was quite charmed with her. “I did not expect,” said she, “so agreeable a surprise, I considered myself as condemned to pass the rest of my days in misery, but my happiness is so much greater, as I am going to be united to a man so worthy of my affection.” She then undressed herself and went to bed. Bedreddin Hassan, on his part, was delighted to find himself in possession of so many charms, and quickly undressed. He put his clothes on a chair, together with the purse, which the Jew had given him, and which was still full, notwithstanding all he had taken from it. He took off his turban to put on one for the night, which had been prepared for the hunchback, and he laid down in his shirt and drawers. [14] The drawers were of blue satin, and tied with a golden cord.

When the two lovers were asleep, the Genius, who had rejoined the fairy, told her it was now time to complete what they had so well begun, and so happily conducted thus far. “Let us not be surprised,” said he, “by day-light, which will now soon appear; go and take away the young man without waking him.”

The fairy repaired to the chamber of the lovers, who were both in a profound sleep, and stole away Bedreddin Hassan, drest as he was in his shirt and drawers: then flying with wonderful swiftness to the gates of Damascus, in Syria, whither she was accompanied by the Genius, they arrived precisely at the time, when the minister, appointed for that purpose, was calling the people to prayers at break of day. [15] The fairy gently placed Bedreddin on the ground, near the gate, and then retired with the Genius.

The gates were opened: and the people, who had assembled in great numbers to go out, were extremely surprised at seeing Bedreddin Hassan extended on the ground in only his shirt and drawers. One said, “He was obliged to decamp from his mistress in such haste, he had not time to dress himself.”--“See,” said another, “to what accidents one is exposed; he has passed the night in drinking with his friends, and being inebriated, went out for some purpose, and instead of returning he has wandered here, not knowing what he did, and has been overtaken by sleep.” Others formed different opinions, but no one could guess by what chance he got there. A slight breeze, which was beginning to rise, blew aside his shirt, and exposed a bosom whiter than snow. They were all so surprised with the whiteness of his skin, that they exclaimed with admiration so loud as to awaken the young man. His astonishment was not less than theirs on finding himself at the gate of a city where he had never been, and surrounded by a crowd of people, who were examining him attentively. “Gentlemen,” said he, “I entreat you to inform me where I am, and what you want of me.” One of them replied, “Young man, the gates of this city are but just opened, and when we came out, we found you lying here, just as you now are; and we stopped to look at you. Have you passed the night here, and do you know, that you are at one of the gates of Damascus?” --“At one of the gates of Damascus!” exclaimed Bedreddin, “you are joking with me; when I went to bed last night I was at Cairo.” At these words some of the people, moved with compassion, said it was a pity, that so handsome a youth should have lost his senses, and then passed on.

“My son,” said a good old man to him, “you must be mistaken; for how could you be last night at Cairo, and this morning at Damascus? That cannot be.”--“It is very true notwithstanding,” replied Bedreddin, “and I protest to you also, that I passed the whole of yesterday at Balsora.” He had scarcely pronounced these words, when they all burst into a laugh, and cried, “he is mad, he is mad.” Some however pitied him, on account of his extreme youth; and a man, who was present, said, “My son, you have lost your reason: you know not what you say. How is it possible that a man should be in the day at Balsora, in the night at Cairo, and in the morning at Damascus? You surely cannot be awake: collect your thoughts a little.”--“What I tell you,” rejoined Bedreddin, “is so true, that I was last night married in the city of Cairo.” All those who had laughed before, now redoubled their laughter at hearing this. “Take care,” resumed the person who addressed him before, “you must have dreamt all this, and the illusion still remains impressed on your mind.”--“I know what I say,” replied the youth, “tell me then how I should have dreamt I was at Cairo, where I am persuaded I was in reality; where my bride was conducted seven times before me, each time in a different dress; and where I saw a frightful hunchback, to whom they were going to marry her? Tell me too, what is become of my robe, my turban, and the purse of sequins I had at Cairo.”

Although he assured them that all this was true, yet the people, who listened to him, only laughed at what he said, which so confused him, that he did not know himself what to think of all that had happened. At length he arose, and walked into the city, and the crowd followed him, crying out, “A madman! a madman!” On hearing this, some ran to the windows, others came out at their doors, and some joining those who had surrounded Bedreddin, cried out also in the same manner, “A madman!” without knowing why. Being much embarrassed by this occurrence, he came to the house of a pastry-cook, who was opening his shop, and entered it, to escape from the hooting of the mob, who followed him.

This pastry-cook had formerly been the chief of a troop of wandering Arabs, who attacked caravans, and although he was established at Damascus, where no one had any reason to complain of his conduct, yet was he feared by all, who had any knowledge of him. The first look, therefore, which he cast on the populace that followed Bedreddin, dispersed them. The pastry-cook, seeing the coast clear, began to question the young man, inquiring who he was, and what had led him to Damascus. Bedreddin did not conceal either his birth, or the death of the grand vizier, his father; and then proceeded to relate how he had left Balsora, and in what manner, after falling asleep on the tomb of his father, he had, on waking, found himself at Cairo, where he had married a lady. Lastly, he expressed his surprise at seeing himself in Damascus, without being able to comprehend any of these miracles.

“Your history is very astonishing,” said the pastry-cook, “but if you will follow my advice, you will not disclose to any one the circumstance you have related to me; and you will wait patiently, until Heaven shall be pleased to put a period to the misfortunes with which it thinks proper to afflict you. You may remain with me till such a change takes place, and as I have no children, I will acknowledge you as my son, if you consent. After I have adopted you, you may go freely about the city, and will no longer be exposed to the insults of the populace.”

Although this adoption conferred no great honour on the son of a grand vizier, Bedreddin nevertheless accepted the proposal of the pastry-cook; judging very properly, that it was the only step he could take in his present situation. The pastry-cook procured him a dress, and taking witnesses with him, went before a cadi, to declare, that he acknowledged him as his son; after which Bedreddin resided with him, taking only the simple name of Hassan, and learned the art of making pastry.

Whilst this was passing at Damascus, the daughter of Schemseddin Mohammed awoke; and not finding Bedreddin by her side, concluded, that he had risen softly, not to interrupt her slumbers, and that he would soon come back again. She was waiting his return, when the vizier Schemseddin Mohammed, her father, much affected by the affront he conceived had been put upon him by the sultan of Egypt, came and knocked at the door of her apartment, that he might bewail with her the unhappy destiny she had been forced to submit to. He called her by her name, and she no sooner heard his voice than she got up to open the door to him. She kissed his hand, and received him with an air of so much satisfaction, that the vizier, who expected to find her bathed in tears, and as much afflicted as he felt himself, was extremely surprised. “Unhappy girl,” cried he, in an angry tone, “is it thus you appear before me? After the horrid sacrifice you have just completed, can you present yourself to me with a countenance which bespeaks content?” When the bride perceived her father’s displeasure at the joy which brightened her features, she replied, “My lord, I entreat you not to reproach me so unjustly. It is not that monster, the hunchback, who is more detestable in my eyes, than death itself, to whom I have been married; all the company treated him with such derision and contempt, that he was obliged to go away and hide himself, and make room for a charming young man who is my true husband.”--“What story are you relating,” interrupted the grand vizier, “has not the hunchback slept with you to-night?”--“No, my lord,” returned she, “I have slept only with the young man I was speaking of, who has large eyes, and fine black eyebrows.” At these words Schemseddin lost all patience, and put himself in a violent rage with his daughter. “Ah, foolish girl,” said he, “will you make me lose my senses, by relating such falsehoods?”--“It is you, father,” replied she, “who almost drive me out of my senses by your incredulity.”--“Is it not true then,” continued the vizier, “that the hunchback,--”--“Ah, let us talk no more of the hunchback,” interrupted she, “evil attend the hunchback! must I for ever hear nothing but the hunchback’s name repeated in my ears? I again tell you,” added she, “that he has not passed the night in my chamber; but my dear husband, whom I have mentioned to you, was the person, and indeed he cannot now be at any great distance from hence.”

Schemseddin Mohammed went out immediately to look for him; but instead of finding him, he was in the greatest astonishment at seeing the hunchback fellow standing on his head with his feet in the air, and in the very situation in which the Genius had left him. “What is the meaning of all this?” he asked him, “who placed you in that situation?” The hunchback, who instantly recognised the vizier, answered directly, “Ah, ha, you wish to give me in marriage to the mistress of a buffalo, do you; to one who is in love with a villainous Genius? but I won’t be your dupe, I promise you; so do not think of tricking me in that manner.”

Schemseddin Mohammed thought the hunchback was out of his senses, when he heard him talk in this manner. “Get away from hence,” he cried, “and stand upon your legs.”--“I will take good care how I do that,” answered he, “unless, indeed, the sun be risen. You must know, that as I was coming here yesterday evening, a large black cat suddenly appeared to me, and it kept increasing in size, till it was as large as a buffalo. I shall never forget what it said to me: mind therefore your own concerns, and leave me here.” Instead, however, of going, the vizier took hold of the hunchback by the legs, and obliged him to get up. He was no sooner on his legs than he ran away as fast as ever he could, without stopping once to look behind him. He went directly to the palace, and presented himself before the sultan of Egypt, who was highly diverted at the account he gave of the manner in which the Genius had treated him.

Schemseddin Mohammed then went back to his daughter’s apartment, still more astonished than before, and quite uncertain how to think or act, “Well, dishonoured girl,” said he to his daughter, “can you give me no farther account of this adventure, which both confuses and distracts me?”--“Sir,” she replied, “I cannot tell you any thing more than I have already had the honor of informing you of. But look here,” she added, “here is some part of my husband’s dress, which he has left on this chair, and perhaps this may throw some light upon what you wish to discover.” In saying this, she presented the turban of Bedreddin to the vizier, who took and examined it in every part. “I should conjecture this to be a turban that belonged to a vizier, if it were not made in the fashion of those [16] of Moussoul.” As he was thus feeling it, he thought he perceived something sewn up in the inside of it between the folds. He asked therefore for some scissors, and having unripped it, he discovered a paper folded up. This was in fact the packet which Noureddin Ali had given to his son Bedreddin, on his death-bed, and who had concealed it in this place, as the best method of preserving it. Schemseddin Mohammed having opened the packet, instantly knew the hand-writing of his brother Noureddin Ali, and read the following direction, _For my son, Bedreddin Hassan._ Before he had time to reflect on those circumstances, his daughter put the purse into her father’s hands, which she had found in Bedreddin’s pocket. He immediately opened it, and saw it filled with sequins, as I have before mentioned; for through the care of the Genius and fairy it constantly remained full, in spite of all the sums that Bedreddin had bestowed on those around him. Upon a sort of ticket, attached to the purse, he read these words; _a thousand sequins belonging to the Jew Isaac_. And under them the following, which the Jew had written before he had left Bedreddin: _Delivered to Bedreddin Hassan, in payment for the cargo which he has sold me of the first vessel that arrives in port belonging to him; and which did belong to Noureddin Ali, his father, of happy memory._ He had scarcely finished reading these words, when he uttered a loud cry, and fainted away.

When the vizier Schemseddin Mohammed was recovered from his fainting, by the assistance of his daughter, and the women she had called, “My daughter,” said he, “be not surprised at the accident which has just happened to me; the cause of it is such, that you will hardly give credit to it. The husband, who has passed the night with you, is no other than your cousin, the son of Noureddin Ali. The thousand sequins that are in this purse, remind me of the quarrel I had with my dear brother. This, without doubt, is the wedding present he makes you. God be praised for all these things, and particularly for this wonderful adventure, which so manifestly proves his power.” He then looked at the writing of his brother, and kissed it several times, bathing it with his tears. “Why cannot I,” said he, “see Noureddin himself here, and be reconciled to him, as well as I see his hand, which causes me so much joy?”

He read the packet through, and found the dates of his brother’s arrival at Balsora, of his marriage, and of the birth of Bedreddin Hassan; then comparing these dates with those of his own marriage, and of his daughter’s birth at Cairo, he could not help wondering at the coincidence; and reflecting, that his nephew was his son-in-law, he gave himself up entirely to the emotions of pleasure which all these circumstances gave rise to. He took the packet, and the ticket off the purse, and showed them to the sultan, who forgave what had past; and was so pleased with the history, that he ordered it to be written, that it might descend to posterity.

Nevertheless Schemseddin Mohammed could not comprehend why his nephew had disappeared; he hoped, however, every moment, that he would arrive, and expected him with the greatest impatience, that he might embrace him. Having waited seven days without seeing him, he ordered him to be sought for in every part of Cairo, but he could hear no tidings of him, which caused him great uneasiness. “This is, indeed,” said he, “a singular adventure; surely such never befel mortal before.”

Uncertain what might happen in the course of time, he thought proper to write himself the account of what had taken place; the manner in which the nuptials were celebrated, and how the hall and the chamber of his daughter were furnished. He also made a parcel of the turban, the purse, and the rest of the dress of Bedreddin, and locked it up.

At the expiration of a few days, the daughter of Schemseddin Mohammed perceived herself to be pregnant, and in nine months she was delivered of a son. A nurse was provided for the child, with other women and slaves to attend upon him, and his grandfather named him Agib. [17]

When the young Agib had attained the age of seven years, the vizier Schemseddin Mohammed, instead of having him taught to read at home, sent him to school to a master, who had a great reputation for his learning, and two slaves had the care of conducting and bringing him back every day. Agib used to play with his comrades, and as they were all of much inferior condition to himself, they behaved towards him with great deference; and in this the master of the school set the example, by excusing many faults in Agib which he did not pass over in the other scholars. The blind submission with which Agib was treated, completely spoilt him; he became proud and insolent; he expected his companions to bear every thing from him, but would not in return comply with any of their wishes. He domineered every where; and if any one dared to oppose his desires, he vented his anger in abusive language, and often even in blows. At last he made himself so insupportable to all the scholars, that they complained of him to the master of the school. At first he exhorted them to have patience, but when he perceived, that by so doing he only increased the insolence of Agib, and being tired himself of the trouble he gave him, he said to them, “My boys, I see that Agib is an impertinent fellow; I will tell you how to mortify him; and in a way that will prevent his tormenting you any longer; indeed that may perhaps prevent his returning any more to school. To-morrow when he comes, and you are going to play together, place yourselves round him, and let one of you say aloud, ‘We are going to play, but on condition that they who play shall tell their name, and that of their father and mother. Those who refuse to do so, we shall consider as bastards, and will not admit them to our games.’” The master then explained to them the confusion that Agib would feel on this occasion, and they all went home with the greatest satisfaction.

The following day, when they were assembled, they did not fail to do as their master had instructed them. They surrounded Agib, and one of them said, “Let us play at some game, but on condition that he who cannot tell his name, and that of his father and mother, shall not play with us.” They all agreed, Agib as well as the rest, to these conditions. Then the boy, who had spoken first, interrogated them all, and each answered satisfactorily till he came to Agib, who replied, “I am called Agib, my mother is named the Queen of Beauty, and my father Schemseddin Mohammed, the vizier of the sultan.”

At these words all the children cried, “Agib, what are you saying? that is not the name of your father, but of your grandfather.” --“Heaven confound you!” replied he angrily, “what! do you dare say, that the vizier Schemseddin Mohammed is not my father?” The scholars then all laughed at him, saying, “No, no; he is only your grandfather, and you shall not play with us; we will take care not to come near you.” Then they left him, and continued to laugh amongst themselves. Agib was mortified at their joking him, and began to cry.

The master, who had been listening, and heard all that passed, now made his appearance, and addressing Agib, “Do not you yet know, Agib,” said he, “that the vizier Schemseddin Mohammed is not your father? He is your grandfather, and the father of your mother, the Queen of Beauty. We, as well as yourself, are ignorant of the name of your father; we only know, that the sultan wished to marry your mother to one of his grooms, who was deformed, but that a Genius slept with her. This is unpleasant for you, but it ought to teach you to treat your companions with less haughtiness than you have hitherto done.”