The Thousand and One Nights Volume I Part 37

[329] In his "Khi?a?;" description of the princ.i.p.al street of Cairo.

[330] In his "Khi?a?;" description of the suburbs or environ (?awa?ee) of Cairo--[The latest date in that work, as far as I am aware, is found in the account of the mosques, in two separate places. It is that of the year of the Flight 843 (in the edition recently printed at Cairo); and, as El-Ma?reezee died in the year 845, its occurrence is curious as shewing the likelihood that he continued the composition of his most celebrated work until very near his death. Indeed, it is probable that he never finished it; the seventh and last section, which is mentioned in the Preface, being wanting in all the MSS. This date, in each instance, may be an insertion by a later hand; but the author's History of the Sul?ans of Egypt was brought down, it is said by himself, to the year preceding his death.--ED.]

[331] Marginal note, in my copy of the original, by the sheykh Mohammad 'Eiyad.

[332] Marginal note, in my copy of the original, by the sheykh Mo?ammad 'Eiyad.

[333] Idem.

[334] A specimen of this mode of chanting is given in my work on the Modern Egyptians, vol. ii. end of chap. v.

[335] El-Ma?reezee's "Khi?a?;" account of the hospitals.

[336] ?ur-an, ch. v. v. 49.

[337] "Modern Egyptians," vol. i. ch. xiii.

[338] It would not be necessary to remark on this explanation of a curious custom if it had not been lately contradicted. Mr.

Lane derived his information from Arab authors, and from his friends in Cairo; but D'Ohsson, also, says, in his Tableau General de l'Empire Othoman, Code Religieux, livre ii. ch. iv.

(and the authority of the works from which he translated will hardly be questioned), that the Kha?eeb "est meme tenu de reciter tout le _Khouthbe_ sur la chaire, _Minnber_, en s'appuyant de la main sur la garde d'un sabre, dans tous les temples qui ont ete pris avec la ville par la force des armes."

The writer alluded to thinks that the use of the sword at Mekkeh proves Mr. Lane to be in error; whereas the custom is observed at Mekkeh because it was taken in war; but not at El-Medeeneh because this city was not so taken.--ED.

[339] The i?ameh see Note 24 to Chapter iv.

[340] For a more full account of the Friday-prayers, see my work on the Modern Egyptians, vol. i. ch. iii.

[341] Ammia.n.u.s Marcellinus, lib. xxii.

[342] See Note 6 to Chapter iv.

[343] D'Herbelot, Bibl. Or., article "Cadhi."

[Ill.u.s.tration]

CHAPTER VI.

COMMENCING WITH PART OF THE THIRTY-SECOND NIGHT, AND ENDING WITH PART OF THIS THIRTY-SIXTH.

THE STORY OF NOOR-ED-DEEN AND ENEES-EL-JELEES.[VI_1]

There was, in El-Ba?rah, a certain King who loved the poor and indigent, and regarded his subjects with benevolence; he bestowed of his wealth upon him who believed in Mo?ammad (G.o.d bless and save him!) and was such as one of the poets who have written of him hath thus described:--

He used his lances as pens; and the hearts of his enemies, as paper; their blood being his ink: And hence, I imagine, our forefathers applied to the lance the term Kha??eeyeh.[VI_2]

The name of this King was Mo?ammad the son of Suleyman Ez-Zeynee; and he had two Wezeers; one of whom was named El-Mo'een[VI_3] the son of Sawee; and the other, El-Fa?l[VI_4] the son of Kha?an. El-Fa?l the son of Kha?an was the most generous of the people of his age, upright in conduct, so that all hearts agreed in loving him, and the wise complied with his counsel, and all the people supplicated for him length of life; for he was a person of auspicious aspect,[VI_5] a preventer of evil and mischief: but the Wezeer El-Mo'een the son of Sawee hated others, and loved not good; he was a man of inauspicious aspect; and in the same degree that the people loved Fa?l-ed-Deen the son of Kha?an, so did they abhor El-Mo'een the son of Sawee, in accordance with the decree of the Almighty.

Now the King Mo?ammad the son of Suleyman Ez-Zeynee was sitting one day upon his throne, surrounded by the officers of his court, and he called to his Wezeer El-Fa?l the son of Kha?an, and said to him, I desire a female slave unsurpa.s.sed in beauty by any in her age, of perfect loveliness, and exquisite symmetry, and endowed with all praiseworthy qualities.--Such as this, replied his courtiers, is not to be found for less than ten thousand pieces of gold. And the Sul?an thereupon called out to the treasurer, saying, Carry ten thousand pieces of gold to the house of El-Fa?l the son of Kha?an. So the treasurer did as he commanded, and the Wezeer departed, after the Sul?an had ordered him to repair every day to the market, and to commission the brokers to procure what he had described, and had commanded also that no female slave of a greater price than one thousand pieces of gold should be sold without having been shewn to the Wezeer.

The brokers, therefore, sold no female slave without shewing her to him, and he complied with the King's command, and thus he continued to do for a considerable time, no slave pleasing him: but on a certain day, one of the brokers came to the mansion of the Wezeer El-Fa?l, and found that he had mounted to repair to the palace of the King; and he laid hold upon his stirrup, and repeated these two verses:--

O thou who hast reanimated what was rotten in the state! Thou art the Wezeer ever aided by Heaven.

Thou hast revived the n.o.ble qualities that were extinct among men.

May thy conduct never cease to be approved by G.o.d!

He then said, O my master, the female slave for the procuring of whom the n.o.ble mandate was issued hath arrived. The Wezeer replied, Bring her hither to me. So the man returned, and, after a short absence, came again, accompanied by a damsel of elegant stature, high-bosomed, with black eyelashes, and smooth cheek, and slender waist, and large hips, clad in the handsomest apparel; the moisture of her lips was sweeter than sirup; her figure put to shame the branches of the Oriental willow; and her speech was more soft than the zephyr pa.s.sing over the flowers of the garden; as one of her describers hath thus expressed:--

Her skin is like silk, and her speech is soft, neither redundant nor deficient: Her eyes, G.o.d said to them, Be,--and they were, affecting men's hearts with the potency of wine.

May my love for her grow more warm each night, and cease not until the day of judgment!

The locks on her brow are dark as night, while her forehead shines like the gleam of morning.

When the Wezeer beheld her, she pleased him extremely, and he looked towards the broker, and said to him, What is the price of this damsel?

The broker answered, The price bidden for her hath amounted to ten thousand pieces of gold, and her owner hath sworn that this sum doth not equal the cost of the chickens which she hath eaten, nor the cost of the dresses which she hath bestowed upon her teachers; for she hath learnt writing and grammar and lexicology, and the interpretation of the ?ur-an, and the fundamentals of law and religion, and medicine, and the computation of the calendar, and the art of playing upon musical instruments. The Wezeer then said, Bring to me her master:--and the broker immediately brought him; and lo, he was a foreigner, who had lived so long that time had reduced him to bones and skin, as the poet hath said,--

How hath time made me to tremble! For time is powerful and severe.

I used to walk without being weary; but now I am weary and do not walk.

And the Wezeer said to him, Art thou content to receive for this damsel ten thousand pieces of gold from the Sul?an Mo?ammad the son of Suleyman Ez-Zeynee? The foreigner answered, As she is for the Sul?an, it is inc.u.mbent on me to give her as a present to him, without price.[VI_6] So the Wezeer, upon this, ordered that the money should be brought, and then weighed the pieces of gold for the foreigner; after which, the slave-broker addressed the Wezeer, and said, With the permission of our lord the Wezeer, I will speak.--Impart what thou hast to say, replied the Wezeer.--It is my opinion, then, said the broker, that thou shouldst not take up this damsel to the Sul?an to-day; for she hath just arrived from her journey, and the change of air hath affected her, and the journey hath fatigued her; but rather let her remain with thee in thy palace ten days, that she may take rest, and her beauty will improve: then cause her to be taken into the bath, and attire her in clothes of the handsomest description, and go up with her to the Sul?an: so shalt thou experience more abundant good fortune. And the Wezeer considered the advice of the slave-broker, and approved it.

He therefore took her into his palace, and gave her a private apartment to herself, allotting her every day what she required of food and drink and other supplies, and she continued a while in this state of enjoyment.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

Now the Wezeer El-Fa?l had a son like the shining full moon, with brilliant countenance, and red cheek, marked with a mole like a globule of ambergris, and with grey down. The youth knew not of this damsel, and his father had charged her, saying, Know that I have purchased thee for the King Mo?ammad the son of Suleyman Ez-Zeynee, and that I have a son who hath not left a girl in the quarter without making love to her: therefore keep thyself concealed from him, and beware of shewing him thy face, or suffering him to hear thy voice. The damsel replied, I hear and obey:--and he left her and departed. And it happened, as fate had ordained, that she went one day into the bath which was in the house, and, after certain of the female slaves had bathed her, she attired herself in rich apparel, and her beauty and loveliness increased in consequence. She then went in to the Wezeer's wife, and kissed her hand, and she said to her, May it be favourable,[VI_7] O Enees-el-Jelees!

How didst thou find this bath?--O my mistress, she answered, I wanted nothing but thy presence there. And upon this, the mistress of the house said to the female slaves, Arise, and let us go into the bath. And they complied with her command, and went, accompanied by their mistress, who first charged two young slave-girls to keep the door of the private apartment in which was Enees-el-Jelees, saying to them, Suffer no one to go in to the damsel:--and they replied, We hear and obey. But while Enees-el-Jelees was sitting in her chamber, lo, the Wezeer's son, whose name was 'Alee Noor-ed-Deen, came in, and asked after his mother and the family. The two girls answered, They are gone into the bath. Now the damsel Enees-el-Jelees heard the speech of 'Alee Noor-ed-Deen as she sat in her chamber, and she said within herself, I wonder what this youth is like, of whom the Wezeer hath told me that he hath not left a girl in the quarter without making love to her: by Allah, I have a desire to see him. She then rose upon her feet, fresh as she was from the bath, and, approaching the door of the chamber, looked at 'Alee Noor-ed-Deen, and beheld him to be a youth like the full moon. The sight of him occasioned her a thousand sighs; and a look from the youth, at her, affected him also in the same manner. Each was caught in the snare of the other's love, and the youth approached the two slave-girls, and cried out at them; whereupon they fled from before him, and stopped at a distance, looking to see what he would do. He then advanced to the door of the chamber, and, opening it, went in, and said to the damsel, Art thou she whom my father hath purchased for me? She answered, Yes. And upon this, the youth, who was in a state of intoxication, went up to her, and embraced her, while she, in like manner, threw her arms around his neck, and kissed him. But the two slave-girls, having seen their young master enter the chamber of the damsel Enees-el-Jelees, cried out. The youth, therefore, soon ran forth, and fled for safety, fearing the consequence of his intrusion; and when the mistress of the house heard the cry of the two slave-girls, she came out dripping from the bath, saying, What is the cause of this cry in the house? And when she drew near to the two slave-girls whom she had placed at the door of the private chamber, she said to them, Wo to you! What is the matter?--They answered, as soon as they beheld her, Our master 'Alee Noor-ed-Deen came to us and beat us, and we fled from him, and he went into the chamber of Enees-el-Jelees, and when we cried out to thee he fled. The mistress of the house then went to Enees-el-Jelees, and said to her, What is the news?--O my mistress, she answered, as I was sitting here, a youth of handsome person came in to me, and said to me, Art thou she whom my father hath purchased for me?--And I answered, Yes.--By Allah, O my mistress, I believed that what he said was true; and he came up to me and embraced me, and kissed me three times, and he left me overcome by his love.

Upon this, the mistress of the house wept, and slapped her face, and her female slaves did the like, fearing for 'Alee Noor-ed-Deen, lest his father should slay him; and while they were in this state, lo, the Wezeer came in, and inquired what had happened. His wife said to him, Swear that thou wilt listen to that which I shall say. He replied, Well.

So she told him what his son had done; and he mourned, and rent his clothes, and slapped his face, and plucked his beard. His wife then said to him, Kill not thyself. I will give thee, of my own property, ten thousand pieces of gold, her price.--But upon this, he raised his head towards her, and said to her, Wo to thee! I want not her price; but I fear the loss of my life and my property.--Wherefore, O my master? she asked.--Knowest thou not, said he, that we have this enemy El-Mo'een the son of Sawee? When he heareth of this event, he will repair to the Sul?an, and say to him, Thy Wezeer whom thou imaginest to love thee hath received from thee ten thousand pieces of gold, and purchased therewith a female slave such as no one hath seen equalled, and when she pleased him, he said to his son, Take her; for thou art more worthy of her than the Sul?an:--and he took her; and the damsel is now with him.--Then the King will say, Thou liest. And he will say to the King, With thy permission, I will break in upon him suddenly, and bring her to thee.

And he will give him permission to do so: he will therefore make a sudden attack upon the house, and take the damsel, and conduct her into the presence of the Sul?an, and he will question her, and she will not be able to deny: he will then say, O my lord, I give thee good counsel, but I am not in favour with thee:--and the Sul?an will make an example of me, and all the people will make me a gazing-stock, and my life will be lost.--His wife, however, replied, Acquaint no one; for this thing hath happened privily: commit, therefore, thine affair unto G.o.d, in this extremity. And upon this, the heart of the Wezeer was quieted, and his mind was relieved.

Such was the case of the Wezeer.--Now as to Noor-ed-Deen, he feared the result of his conduct, and so pa.s.sed each day in the gardens, not returning to his mother until towards the close of the night: he then slept in her apartment, and rose before morning without being seen by any one else. Thus he continued to do so for the s.p.a.ce of a month, not seeing the face of his father; and at length his mother said to his father, O my master, wilt thou lose the damsel and lose the child? For if it long continue thus with the youth, he will flee his country.--And what is to be done? said he. She answered, Sit up this night, and when he cometh, lay hold upon him, and be reconciled to him, and give him the damsel; for she loveth him, and he loveth her; and I will give thee her price. So the Wezeer sat up the whole night, and when his son came, he laid hold upon him, and would have cut his throat;[VI_8] but his mother came to his succour, and said to her husband, What dost thou desire to do unto him? He answered her, I desire to slay him. The youth then said to his father, Am I of so small account in thy estimation? And upon this, the eyes of his father filled with tears, and he said to him, O my son, is the loss of my property and my life of small account with thee?--Listen, O my father, rejoined the youth:--and he implored his forgiveness. So the Wezeer rose from the breast of his son, and was moved with compa.s.sion for him; and the youth rose, and kissed his father's hand; and the Wezeer said, O my son, if I knew that thou wouldst act equitably to Enees-el-Jelees, I would give her to thee.--O my father, replied the youth, wherefore should I not act equitably towards her? And his father said, I charge thee, O my son, that thou take not a wife to share her place, and that thou do her no injury, nor sell her. He replied, O my father, I swear to thee that I will neither take a wife to share her place, nor sell her:--and he promised him by oaths to act as he had said, and took up his abode with the damsel, and remained with her a year; and G.o.d (whose name be exalted!) caused the King to forget the affair of the female slave; but the matter became known to El-Mo'een the son of Sawee; yet he could not speak of it, on account of the high estimation in which the other Wezeer was held by the Sul?an.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

After this year had expired, the Wezeer Fa?l-ed-Deen the son of Kha?an entered the oath, and came out in a state of excessive perspiration, in consequence of which the external air smote him, so that he became confined to his bed, and long remained sleepless; and his malady continued unremittingly; so he called, thereupon, his son 'Alee Noor-ed-Deen, and when he came before him, said to him, O my son, verily the means of life are apportioned, and its period is decreed, and every soul must drink the cup of death. I have nothing with which to charge thee but the fear of G.o.d, and forethought with regard to the results of thine actions, and that thou conduct thyself kindly to the damsel Enees-el-Jelees.--O my father, said the youth, who is like unto thee?

Thou hast been celebrated for virtuous actions, and the praying of the preachers for thee on the pulpits.--O my son, rejoined the Wezeer, I hope for the approbation of G.o.d, whose name be exalted! And then he p.r.o.nounced the two professions of the faith,[VI_9] and uttered a sigh, and was recorded among the company of the blest. And upon this, the palace was filled with shrieking, and the news reached the ears of the Sul?an, and the people of the city heard of the death of El-Fa?l the son of Kha?an, and even the boys in the schools wept for him.[VI_10] His son 'Alee Noor-ed-Deen arose, and prepared his funeral, and the Emeers and Wezeers and other officers of the state attended it, and among them was the Wezeer El-Mo'een the Son of Sawee; and as the procession pa.s.sed out from the mansion, one of the mourners recited these verses:--

I said to the man who was appointed to wash him,--Would that he had yielded obedience to my counsel,-- Put away from him the water, and wash him with the tears of honour, shed in lamentation for him: And remove these fragrant substances collected for his corpse, and perfume him rather with the odours of his praise: And order the n.o.ble angels to carry him, in honour. Dost thou not behold them attending him?

Cause not men's necks to be strained by bearing him: enough are they laden already by his benefits.[VI_11]

'Alee Noor-ed-Deen for a long time remained in a state of violent grief for the loss of his father; but as he was sitting one day in his father's house, a person knocked at the door, and he rose up and opened it, and lo, there was a man who was one of his father's intimate companions, and he kissed the hand of Noor-ed-Deen, and said to him, O my master, he who hath left a son like thee hath not died. This is the destination of the lord of the first and the last among mankind.[VI_12] O my master, cheer up thy heart, and give over mourning.--And upon this, 'Alee Noor-ed-Deen arose, and went to the guest-chamber, and removed thither all that he required, and his companions came together to him, and he took again his slave. Ten of the sons of the merchants became his a.s.sociates, and he gave entertainment after entertainment, and began to be lavish with presents. His steward, therefore, came in to him, and said to him, O my master Noor-ed-Deen, hast thou not heard the saying, He who expendeth and doth not calculate is reduced to poverty? This profuse expenditure, and these magnificent presents, will annihilate the property.--But when 'Alee Noor-ed-Deen heard these words of his steward, he looked at him, and replied, Of all that thou hast said to me, I will not attend to one word. How excellent is the saying of the poet:--

If I be possessed of wealth and be not liberal, may my hand never be extended, nor my foot raised!

Shew me the avaricious who hath attained glory by his avarice, and the munificent who hath died through his munificence.[VI_13]

Know, O Steward, he continued, that if there remain in thy hands what will suffice for my dinner, thou shalt not burden me with anxiety respecting my supper.--So the steward left him, and went his way; and 'Alee Noor-ed-Deen resumed his habits of extravagant generosity: whenever any one of his companions said, Verily this thing is beautiful!--he would reply, It is a present to thee:--and if any said, O my master, verily such a house is delightful!--he would reply, It is a present to thee.