Part 43
She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Sa’id continued, “Now when I struck the Ghul with the sword he cried out to me, ‘O man, an thou desire to slay me, strike me a second stroke!” I was about so to do when he who had directed me to the scymitar said, ‘Smite him not a second time, for then he will not die but will live and destroy us!’ So I held my hand as he bade me, and the Ghul died. Then said the blind man to me, ‘Open the mouth of the cave and let us fare forth; so haply Allah may help us and bring us to rest from this place.’ And I said, ‘No harm can come to us now; let us rather abide here and repose and eat of these sheep and drink of this wine, for long is the land.’ Accordingly we tarried there two months, eating of the sheep and of the fruits of the island and drinking the generous grape-juice till it so chanced one day, as we sat upon the beach, we caught sight of a ship looming large in the distance; so we made signs for the crew and holla’d to them. They feared to draw near, knowing that the island was inhabited by a Ghul[FN#443] who ate Adamites, and would have sheered off; but we ran down to the marge of the sea and made signs to them, with our turband-ends and shouted to them, whereupon one of the sailors, who was sharp of sight, said to the rest, “Harkye, comrades, I see these men formed like ourselves, for they have not the fashion of Ghuls.’ So they made for us, little by little, till they drew near us in the dinghy[FN#444] and were certified that we were indeed human beings, when they saluted us and we returned their salam and gave them the glad tidings of the slaying of the accursed, wherefore they thanked us. Then we carried to the ship all that was in the cave of stuffs and sheep and treasure, together with a viaticum of the island-fruits, such as should serve us days and months, and embarking, sailed on with a fair breeze three days; at the end of which the wind veered round against us and the air became exceeding dark; nor had an hour passed before the wind drave the craft on to a rock, where it broke up and its planks were torn asunder.[FN#445] However, the Great God decreed that I should lay hold of one of the planks, which I bestrode, and it bore me along two days, for the wind had fallen fair again, and I paddled with my feet awhile, till Allah the Most High brought me safe ashore and I landed and came to this city, where I found myself a stranger, solitary, friendless, not knowing what to do; for hunger was sore upon me and I was in great tribulation. Thereupon I, O my brother, hid myself and pulling off this my tunic, carried it to the market, saying in my mind, ‘I will sell it and live on its price, till Allah accomplish to me whatso he will accomplish.’ Then I took the tunic in my hand and cried it for sale, and the folk were looking at it and bidding for it, when, O my brother, thou camest by and seeing me commandedst me to the palace; but thy pages arrested and thrust me into the prison and there I abode till thou bethoughtest thee of me and badest bring me before thee. So now I have told thee what befel me, and Alhamdolillah—Glorified be God—for reunion!” Much marvelled the two Kings at Sa’id’s tale and Taj al-Muluk having made ready a goodly dwelling for Sayf al-Muluk and his Wazir, Daulat Khatun used to visit the Prince there and thank him for his favours and talk with him. One day, he met her and said to her, “O my lady, where is the promise thou madest me, in the palace of Japhet son of Noah, saying, ‘Were I with my people, I would make shift to bring thee to thy desire?’” And Sa’id said to her, “O Princess, I crave thine aid to enable him to win his will.” Answered she, “Yea, verily; I will do my endeavour for him, that he may attain his aim, if it please Allah Almighty.” And she turned to Sayf al-Muluk and said to him, “Be of good cheer and keep thine eyes cool and clear.” Then she rose and going in to her mother, said to her, “Come with me forthright and let us purify ourselves and make fumigations[FN#446] that Badi’a al-Jamal and her mother may come and see me and rejoice in me.” Answered the Queen, “With love and goodly gree;” and rising, betook herself to the garden and burnt off these perfumes which she always had by her; nor was it long before Badi’a al-Jamal and her mother made their appearance. The Queen of Hind foregathered with the other Queen and acquainted her with her daughter’s safe return, whereat she rejoiced; and Badi’a al-Jamal and Daulat Khatun foregathered likewise and rejoiced in each other. Then they pitched the pavilions[FN#447] and dressed dainty viands and made ready the place of entertainment; whilst the two Princesses withdrew to a tent apart and ate together and drank and made merry; after which they sat down to converse, and Badi’a al-Jamal said, “What hath befallen thee in thy strangerhood?” Replied Daulat Khatun, “O my sister how sad is severance and how gladsome is reunion; ask me not what hath befallen me! Oh, what hardships mortals suffer!” cried she, “How so?” and the other said to her, “O my sister, I was inmured in the High-builded Castle of Japhet son of Noah, whither the son of the Blue King carried me off till Sayf al-Muluk slew the Jinni and brought me back to my sire;” and she told her to boot all that the Prince had undergone of hardships and horrors before he came to the Castle.[FN#448] Badi’a al-Jamal marvelled at her tale and said, “By Allah, O my sister, this is the most wondrous of wonders! This Sayf al-Muluk is indeed a man! But why did he leave his father and mother and betake himself to travel and expose himself to these perils?” Quoth Daulat Khatun, “I have a mind to tell thee the first part of his history; but shame of thee hindereth me therefrom.” Quoth Badi’a al-Jamal, “Why shouldst thou have shame of me, seeing that thou art my sister and my bosom-friend and there is muchel a matter between thee and me and I know thou willest me naught but well? Tell me then what thou hast to say and be not abashed at me and hide nothing from me and have no fear of consequences.” Answered Daulat Khatun, “By Allah, all the calamities that have betided this unfortunate have been on thine account and because of thee!” Asked Badi’a al-Jamal, “How so, O my sister?”; and the other answered, “Know that he saw thy portrait wrought on a tunic which thy father sent to Solomon son of David (on the twain be peace!) and he opened it not neither looked at it, but despatched it, with other presents and rarities to Asim bin Safwan, King of Egypt, who gave it, still unopened, to his son Sayf al-Muluk. The Prince unfolded the tunic, thinking to put it on, and seeing thy portrait, became enamoured of it; wherefore he came forth in quest of thee, and left his folk and reign and suffered all these terrors and hardships on thine account.”——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
When it was the Seven Hundred and Seventy-fourth Night,
She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Daulat Khatun related to Badi’a al-Jamal the first part of Sayf al-Muluk’s history; how his love for her was caused by the tunic whereon her presentment was wrought; how he went forth, passion-distraught, in quest of her; how he forsook his people and his kingdom for her sake and how he had suffered all these terrors and hardships on her account. When Badi’a al-Jamal heard this, she blushed rosy red and was confounded at Daulat Khatun and said, “Verily this may never, never be; for man accordeth not with the Jann.” Then Daulat Khatun went on to praise Sayf al-Muluk and extol his comeliness and courage and cavalarice, and ceased not repeating her memories of his prowess and his excellent qualities till she ended with saying, “For the sake of Almighty Allah and of me, O sister mine, come and speak with him, though but one word!” But Badi’a al-Jamal cried, “By Allah, O sister mine, this that thou sayest I will not hear, neither will I assent to thee therein;” and it was as if she heard naught of what the other said and as if no love of Sayf al-Muluk and his beauty and bearing and bravery had gotten hold upon her heart. Then Daulat Khatun humbled herself and said, “O Badi’a al-Jamal, by the milk we have sucked, I and thou, and by that which is graven on the seal-ring of Solomon (on whom be peace!) hearken to these my words for I pledged myself in the High-builded Castle of Japhet, to show him thy face. So Allah upon thee, show it to him once, for the love of me, and look thyself on him!” And she ceased not to weep and implore her and kiss her hands and feet, till she consented and said, “For thy sake I will show him my face once and he shall have a single glance.” With that Daulat Khatun’s heart was gladdened and she kissed her hands and feet. Then she went forth and fared to the great pavilion in the garden and bade her slave-women spread it with carpets and set up a couch of gold and place the wine-vessels in order; after which she went into Sayf al-Muluk and to his Wazir Sa’id, whom she found seated in their lodging, and gave the Prince the glad tidings of the winning of his wish, saying, “Go to the pavilion in the garden, thou and thy brother, and hide yourselves there from the eyes of men so none in the palace may espy you, till I come to you with Badi’a al-Jamal.” So they rose and repaired to the appointed pavilion, where they found the couch of gold set and furnished with cushions, and meat and wine ready served. So they sat awhile, whilst Sayf al-Muluk bethought him of his beloved and his breast was straitened and love and longing assailed him: wherefore he rose and walked forth from the vestibule of the pavilion. Sa’id would have followed him, but he said to him, “O my brother, follow me not, but sit in thy stead till I return to thee.” So Sa’id abode seated, whilst Sayf al-Muluk went down into the garden, drunken with the wine of desire and distracted for excess of love-longing and passion-fire: yearning agitated him and transport overcame him and he recited these couplets,
“O passing Fair[FN#449] I have none else but thee; * Pity this slave in thy love’s slavery! Thou art my search, my joy and my desire! * None save thyself shall love this heart of me: Would Heaven I knew thou knewest of my wails * Night-long and eyelids oped by memory. Bid sleep to sojourn on these eyen-lids * Haply in vision I thy sight shall see. Show favour then to one thus love-distraught: * Save him from ruin by thy cruelty! Allah increase thy beauty and thy weal; * And be thy ransom every enemy! So shall on Doomsday lovers range beneath * Thy flag, and beauties ‘neath thy banner be.”
Then he wept and recited these also,
“That rarest beauty ever bides my foe * Who holds my heart and lurks in secresy: Speaking, I speak of nothing save her charms * And when I’m dumb in heart-core woneth she.”
Then he wept sore and recited the following,
“And in my liver higher flames the fire; * You are my wish and longsome still I yearn: To you (none other!) bend I and I hope * (Lovers long-suffering are!) your grace to earn; And that you pity me whose frame by Love * Is waste and weak his heart with sore concern: Relent, be gen’rous, tender-hearted, kind: * From you I’ll ne’er remove, from you ne’er turn!”
Then he wept and recited these also,
“Came to me care when came the love of thee, * Cruel sleep fled me like thy cruelty: Tells me the messenger that thou are wroth: * Allah forfend what evils told me he!”
Presently Sa’id waxed weary of awaiting him and going forth in quest of him, found him walking in the garden, distraught and reciting these two couplets,
“By Allah, by th’ Almighty, by his right[FN#450] * Who read the Koran-Chapter ‘Fátír[FN#451] hight; Ne’er roam my glances o’er the charms I see; * Thy grace, rare beauty, is my talk by night.”
So he joined him and the twain walked about the garden together solacing themselves and ate of its fruits. Such was their case;[FN#452] but as regards the two Princesses, they came to the pavilion and entering therein after the eunuchs had richly furnished it, according to command, sat down on the couch of gold, beside which was a window that gave upon the garden. The castratos then set before them all manner rich meats and they ate, Daulat Khatun feeding her foster-sister by mouthfuls,[FN#453] till she was satisfied; when she called for divers kinds of sweetmeats, and when the neutrals brought them, they ate what they would of them and washed their hands. After this Daulat Khatun made ready wine and its service, setting on the ewers and bowls and she proceeded to crown the cups and give Badi’a al-Jamal to drink, filling for herself after and drinking in turn. Then Badi’a al-Jamal looked from the window into the garden and gazed upon the fruits and branches that were therein, till her glance fell on Sayf al-Muluk, and she saw him wandering about the parterres, followed by Sa’id, and she heard him recite verses, raining the while railing tears. And that glance of eyes cost her a thousand sighs,——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
When it was the Seven Hundred and Seventy-fifth Night,
She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Badi’a al-Jamal caught sight of Sayf al-Muluk as he wandered about the garden, that glance of eyes cost her a thousand sighs, and she turned to Daulat Khatun and said to her (and indeed the wine sported with her senses), “O my sister, who is that young man I see in the garden, distraught, love-abying, disappointed, sighing?” Quoth the other, “Dost thou give me leave to bring him hither, that we may look on him?”; and quoth the other, “An thou can avail to bring him, bring him.” So Daulat Khatun called to him, saying “O King’s son, come up to us and bring us thy beauty and thy loveliness!” Sayf al-Muluk recognised her voice and came up into the pavilion; but no sooner had he set eyes on Badi’a al-Jamal, than he fell down in a swoon; whereupon Daulat Khatun sprinkled on him a little rose-water and he revived. Then he rose and kissed ground before Badi’a al-Jamal who was amazed at his beauty and loveliness; and Daulat Khatun said to her, “Know, O Princess, that this is Sayf al-Muluk, whose hand saved me by the ordinance of Allah Almighty and he it is who hath borne all manner burthens on thine account: wherefore I would have thee look upon him with favour.” Hearing this Badi’a al-Jamal laughed and said, “And who keepeth faith, that this youth should do so? For there is no true love in men.” Cried Sayf al-Muluk, “O Princess, never shall lack of faith be in me, and all men are not created alike.” And he wept before her and recited these verses,
“O thou, Badi’a ‘l-Jamál, show thou some clemency * To one those lovely eyes opprest with witchery! By rights of beauteous hues and tints thy cheeks combine * Of snowy white and glowing red anemone, Punish not with disdain one who is sorely sick * By long, long
## parting waste hath waxed this frame of me:
This is my wish, my will, the end of my desire, * And Union is my hope an haply this may be!”
Then he wept with violent weeping; and love and longing got the mastery over him and he greeted her with these couplets,
“Peace be to you from lover’s wasted love, * All noble hearts to noble favour show: Peace be to you! Ne’er fail your form my dreams; * Nor hall nor chamber the fair sight forego! Of you I’m jealous: none may name your name: * Lovers to lovers aye should bend thee low: So cut not off your grace from him who loves * While sickness wastes and sorrows overthrow. I watch the flowery stars which frighten me; * While cark and care mine every night foreslow. Nor Patience bides with me nor plan appears: * What shall I say when questioned of my foe? God’s peace be with you in the hour of need, * Peace sent by lover patient bearing woe!”
Then for the excess of his desire and ecstasy he repeated these couplets also:—
If I to aught save you, O lords of me, incline; * Ne’er may I win of you my wish, my sole design! Who doth comprise all loveliness save only you? * Who makes the Doomsday dawn e’en now before these eyne? Far be it Love find any rest, for I am one * Who lost for love of you this heart, these vitals mine.
When he had made an end of his verses, he wept with sore weeping and she said to him, “O Prince, I fear to grant myself wholly to thee lest I find in thee nor fondness nor affection; for oftentimes man’s fidelity is small and his perfidy is great and thou knowest how the lord Solomon, son of David (on whom be the Peace!), took Bilkis to his love but, whenas he saw another fairer than she, turned from her thereto.” Sayf al-Muluk replied, “O my eye and O my soul, Allah hath not made all men alike, and I, Inshallah, will keep my troth and die beneath thy feet. Soon shalt thou see what I will do in accordance with my words, and for whatso I say Allah is my warrant.” Quoth Badi’a al-Jamal, “Sit and be of good heart and swear to me by the right of thy Faith and let us covenant together that each will not be false to other; and whichever of us breaketh faith may Almighty Allah punish!” At these words he sat down and set his hand in her hand and they sware each to other that neither of them would ever prefer to the other any one, either of man or of the Jann. Then they embraced for a whole hour and wept for excess of their joy, whilst passion overcame Sayf al-Muluk and he recited these couplets,
“I weep for longing love’s own ardency * To her who claims the heart and soul of me. And sore’s my sorrow parted long from you, * And short’s my arm to reach the prize I see; And mourning grief for what my patience marred * To blamer’s eye unveiled my secresy; And waxed strait that whilome was so wide * Patience nor force remains nor power to dree. Would Heaven I knew if God will ever deign to join * Our lives, and from our cark and care and grief set free!”
After this mutual troth-plighting, Sayf al-Muluk arose and walked in the garden and Badi’a al-Jamal arose also and went forth also afoot followed by a slave-girl bearing somewhat of food and a flask[FN#454] of wine. The Princess sat down and the damsel set the meat and wine before her: nor remained they long ere they were joined by Sayf al-Muluk, who was received with greeting and the two embraced and sat them down.——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
When it was the Seven Hundred and Seventy-sixth Night,