Juvem

; With a i

,' THE -ARABS,!

YOUTH.

eil frontispiece and vignette title.

KING OF THE FOUR BLACK ISLES,

TALES OF THE ARABS:

containing

Cfje Stories

Merchant and the Genie The Old Man and the Bitch The Old Man and the two Black

Dops The Fisherman

The Grecian King: and the Phy- sician Douban The Husband and the Parrot Tiic History of tne Kins of the Black IsUk

LONDON :

PRINTED AND SOLD BY KNEVETT, ARLISS, AND BAKER, JUVENILE LIBRARY,

No. .87, Bartholomew Close, West Smiihfield.

X CHILDREN'S BOOK

COLLECTION

1*1

^C LIBRARY OF THE %

i UNivEksmr OF CAUFORNIA 3s

LOS ANGELES

TALES OF THE ARABS.

The Merchant and the Genie.

A MERCHANT, who had a great estate, one day being under the necessity of going a long journey, took horse, with some biscuits and dates, because he had a great desert to pass over, He arrived without any accident at the end of his journey, and, having dispatched his affairs, took horse again, in order to return home.

The fourth day of his journey, he was so much incommoded by the heat of the sun, that he turned out of the road to refresh himself under some trees. There he found a fountain of very clear running water; and alighting, tied his horse to a tree, and JnS

0 TALES OF THE ARABS.

sitting down by the fountain, took some biscuits, and, as he eat his dates, threw the shells away, "When he had done eating, he washed his hands, and said his prayers. He had not made an end, when he saw a genie appear, who, advancing towards him, with a scimitar in his hand, spoke to him in a terrible voice thus : Rise up, that 1 may kill thee with this scimitar, as you have killed my son. O heaven ! says the merchant, how should J kill your son ? 1 did not know him nor ever saw him. Did not you sit down when you came hi- ther, replies the genie ? Did not you take dates, and, as you eat them, throw the shells about on both sides? I did, answers the merchant. If it be so, replies the genie, I tell thee that thou habt killed my son : when you threw your nut-shells about, my son was passing by, and one of them went into his eye, which killed him, therefore I must kill thee. Ah! my lord, pardon me ! If I have, it was unknown to me, and 1 did it inno- cently : therefore I beg pardon, and suffer me to live. No, no, says the genie, persisting in his re- solution, 1 must kill thee ; and then taking the merchant by the arm, threw him with his face upon the ground, and lifted up his scimitar to cut off his head.

The merchant, all in tears, protested he wqs innocent, bewailed his wife and children. All this whining, says the monster, is to no purpose; though you should shed tears of blood, that shall not hinder me from killing thee. Why ! replied the merchant, will you absolutely take away the life of a poor innocent? Yes, replied the genie, \ am rtsolved upon it.

TALES OF THE ARABS.

When the merchant saw that the genie was going to cut oti his head, he cried, for heaven's sake hold your hand ! allow me to bid my wife and. children adieu, and when I have done so, I wilt come back. But, says the genie, if I grant you the time you demand, I doubt jou will never re- turn. If you will believe my oaih, answers the merchant, I swear, by this day twelve-months I will return under these trees, to put myself into your hands. Upon this the genie left him near the fountain, and disappeared.

The merchant, being recovered from his fright, mounted his horse, and set forward on his jour- ney. When he came home, his wife and children received him with all the demonstrations of joy. But he, instead of making them answerable re- turns, fell a weeping bitterly. Hia wife asked the reason of his excess ve grief and tears; we were all overjoyed, says she, at your return, but you frighten us to see you in this condition. Alas I replies the husband, the cause of it is, that I have but a year to live ; and then told what had passed betwixt him and the genie.

When they had heard this sad news, they all began to lament heavily: his wife made a pitiful outcry, and the children, being all in tears, made a most affecting spectacle.

Next morning, the merchant began \o put his affairs in order, and at last the year expired, and go he must. He put his burial-clothes in his portmanteau; but never was there such grief seen, as when he came to bid his wife and children adieu. My dear wife and children, says he, I obey the order of heaven in quitting you : and con- sider that it is the destiny of man to die. Having

8 TALES OF THE ARABS.

$aid those words, he went out of the hearing of the cries of his family, and arrived at the place, where he promised to meet the genie, on the day appointed. He alighted, and setting himself down by the fountain, waited the coming of the genie with all the sorrow imaginable. Whilst he lan- guished in this cruel expectation, a good old man, leading a bitch, appeared; they saluted one ano- ther, after which the old man says to him, Bro- ther, may I ask you why you are come into this deserted place, wnere there is nothing but evil spi- rits, and you cannot be safe. The merchant satis- fied his curiosity. The old man listened to him withastonishmeut, and cried out, This is the most surprising thing in the world, and you are bound by the most inviolable oath ; however, I will be witness to \04ir interview with the genie.

While the merchant and the old man were talk- ing, they saw another old man coming to them, followed by two black dogs; after they had sa- luted one another, he asked them what they did in that place? the old man with the bitch told him the adventure of the merchant and genie, with all that had passed betwixt them, particularly the merchant's oath. He added that this was the day agreed on, and that he was resolved to stay and see the issue.

The second old man, thinking it also worth his curiosity, resolved to do the like : he likewise sat down by them; and they had scarce begun to talk together, but there came a third old man, who, addressing himself to the two former, asked why the merchant looked so melancholy. They told him the reason, and he also resolved to be witness to the result.

TALES OF THE ARAL'S. <J

In a Jittle time they perceived in the field a thick vapour, like a cloud of dust raised by a whirlwind, advancing towards them, which va- nished all of a sudden, and then the genie ap- peared ; who, without saluting- them, came up to the merchant with his drawn scimitar, and taking him by the arm, says, Get thee up, that I may kill thee as thou didst kill my son.

When the old man that led the bitch saw the genie lay hold of the merchant, and about to kill him without pity, he threw himself at the feet of the monster, and kissing them, says to him, Prince of genies, I most humbly request you to suspend your anger, and do me the favour to hear me. 1 will tell you the history of riiy life, and of the bitch you see; and if you think it more wonderful and surprisingthan the ad venture of the merchant you are going to kill, I hope you will pardon him the third of his crime. The genie took some time to consult upon it, and at last agreed to it.

10 TALES OF THE ARABS.

The History of ike Old Man and the Bitch.

I SHALL begin then, says the old man. This bitch you see is my cousin, nay, what is move, my wife; she was only twelve years of age when I married her.

We lived together twenty years without any children, yet her barrenness did not hinder me from loving her. The desire of having children only made me buy a slave, by whom 1 had a son, who was extremely promising. My wife being jealous conceived a hatred both for mother and child, but concealed it so well, that I did not know it till it was too late.

Mean time my son grew up, and was ten years old when I was obliged to undertake a journey ; before I went, I recommended to my wife, of whom I had 110 mistrust, the slave and her son, and prayed her to take care of them during my ab- sense ; which was for a whole year. She made use of that time to satisfy her hatred ; she applied herself to magic, and changed my son into a calf, and his mother into a cow, and gave them to my farmer to fatten.

At my return, I asked for the mother and child : your slave, says she, is dead! and as for your son, I know not what is become of him : I have not seen him these two months. I was troubled at the death of my slave; but my son having also disappeared, as she told me, I was in hopes he would return in a little time. However, eight months passed, and I heard nothing of him. When the festival of the great Bairam happened, to ce- lebrate the same, 1 sent to my farmer for one of the fatest cows to sacrifice; and he sent me one

TALES OF THE ARABS. ll

accordingly. The cow which he brought me was my slave, the unfortunate mother of my son. I tied her, but as I was going to sacrifice her, she bellowed pitifully, and 1 could perceive streams of tears run iiorn her eyes.

My wife, who was enraged at my compassion, cries out, What do you do, husband? Sacrifice that cow, your farmer has not a tiner, nor one fitter for that use. I put the mell into the far- mer's hands, and bid him sacrifice her himself, for her tears and bellowing pierced my heart.

The farmer, less compassionate than I, sacri- ficed her; and when he flayed her, found her no* thing but bones, though to us she seemed very fat. Take her to yourself, says I to the farmer, and if you have a very fu,t calf, bring me it in her stead. Soon after he came with a very fat calf. Though I knew not that the calf was my son, yet I could not forbear being moved at the sight of him. Go, says I to the farmer, carry home that calf, take great care of him, and bring me another in his stead immediately.

As soon as my wife heard me say so, she imme- diately cried out, take my advice, sacrifice no other calf but that; so 1 tied the poor creature, and took the knife, and was going to strike it into his throat, when, turning his eyes, bathed with tears, in a languishing manner towards me, he attested me so, that 1 had not strength to sacrifice him, and tolrl my wife positively that I would have ano- ther calf to sacrifice. She used all her endeavours to make me change my resolution ; but I continued firm, and pacified her a little, by promising that I would sacrifice him against the Bairam next year.

Next morning, my farmer desired to speak with

12 TALES OF THE ARABS-

me alone; and told me, I come, says he, to tell you a piece of news, for which, I hope, you will return me thanks. I have a daughter that has some skill in maajic ; yesterday as I carried back the calf, which you would not sacrifice, I per- ceived she laughed when she saw him, and in a moment after, fell a weeping. I asked her why she acted two such contrary parts at one time. Father, replies she, the calf you bring back is our landlord's son : I laugh for joy to see him still alive, and I wept at the remembrance of the for- mer sacrifice that was m »c!e the other day of his mother, who was changed into a cow. These were enchantments of our master's wife, who hated them. This is what my daughter told me, said the farmer, and I come to acquaint you with it.

, 1 went immediately to my farmer's, to speak with his daughter myself. I then went to the stall where my son was; he could not answer my em- braces, but received them in such a manner, as fully satisfied me he was my son.

The farmer's daughter came. My good maid, says I, can you restore my son to his former shape? Yes, says she, I can ; but on two conditions ; The first is that you give him me for my husband, and the second is, that you allow me to punish the person who changed him into a calf. For the first, said I, I agree to it with all my heart; and as to what relates to my wife, I also agree to it ; only I must pray you not to take her life.

Then the maid took a vessel full of water, and addressing herself to the calf. O calf, says she, if thou wast created by the almighty and sovereign Master of the world, such as you appear at thi* e, continue in that form : but if thou beest ^

TALES OF THE ARABS. 13

wian,"and art changed into a calf by enchantment, return to thy natural shape. As she spoke these words, she threw water upon him, and in an in- stant he recovered his first shape.

My dear son, cried I, immediately embracing him, it is Heaven that has sent us this young maid to take off the horrible charm by which you were enchanted, and to avenge the injury done to you and your mother. I doubt not but, in ac- knowledgement, you will take your deliverer to wife, as I have promised. He consented to it with joy ; but before they were married, she changed my wife into a bitch; and this is she, you see here.

Since that time my son is become a widower, and gone to travel; and it being several years since 1 heard of him, I am come abroad to inquire after him; and not being willing to trust any body with my wife while I should come home, I thought fit to carry her every where with me. This is the history of myself and this bitch, is it not most wonderful? I agree it is, says the genie, and, upon that account, I forgive the merchant the third of his crime.

When the first old man had succeeded so well, and had finished his story, the second, who led the two black dogs, addressed himself to the genie, and says to him* I am going to tell yon what happened to me and these two black dogs you see by me, but when I have told it you, I hope you will be pleased to pardon the merchant the second third of his crime. Yes, replies the genie, provided your story surpasses that of the bitch. Then the second old man began in this (Banner.

]4 TALES OF THE ARABS.

The Story of the Second O/d Man, and the tw9 Black Dogs.

GREAT prince of genies, says the old man, you must know that we are three brothers. 1 and the two black dogs yon see; our faiher left each of us, when he died, one thousand seqinns; with that sum, we all entered airo the same way of living, and became merchants. A little time after we had opened shop, my eldest brother, one of these two dogs, resolved to travel and trade in foreign coun- tries. Upon this design he sold his estate, and bought goods proper for the trade he intended.

He went away, and was absent a whole year; at the end of whit h, a poor man, uho, I thought, had come to a*k alms, presented himself before rnein my s-hop. J said to him Go ' help you. God help you also, answered he, is it possible you do not know me? Upon this, I looked to him nar- rowly, and knew him. Ah, brother! cried J, em-» bracing him, h»»w <ou'd 1 know you in thi* con- dition ? I made him come into nay house, and asked him concerning his lie- Mi, and the success of his travels. Do not ask me that question, says he. It would only renew my grief to tell you all the particulars of my mifiortunes.

J immediately carried him to a bath, gave him the best clothes 1 had by me: and examining my books, and finding that I had doubled my stock, I gave him one half. He joyfully accepted the proffer, and recovered himself, and we lived to- gether as before.

Some time after my second brother, x^ho is the Other of the-e two dog>, would also sell his estate, and wiih the mouey bought such goods as were

TALES OF THE ARABI. 15

suitable to the trade he designed. He joined a caravan and took a journey. He returned at the end of the year in the same condition as my other brother; and I having gained another thousand sequins, gave him them, with which he furnished his shop, and continued to follow his trade.

Some time after, one of iny brothers came to me to propose a trading voyage with them ; I im- mediately rejected their proposal. You have tra- velled, said 1, and what have you gained by it? AY ho can assure me that I shall be more success- ful than you have been? but they importuned me so much, that they overcame at last; but when we were to depart, I found they had spent all I had given each of them. I did not, however, upbraicj. them i.i the least with it. On the contrary, my stock being six thousand sequins, I shared the half of it with them. 1 gave each of them a thousand sequins ; and keeping as much for myself, 1 buried the other three thousand in a corner of my house. We bought our goods, and embarked. After two months' sail, we arrived happily at a port* where we landed, and had very great vent for our goods. | especially sold mine so well, that I gained ten to one: and we bought commodities of that coun- $ry to transport and sell in our own.

When we were leady to embark, in order to, return, I met, upon the banks of the sea, a lady handsome enough, but poorly clad. She came up to me presently, kissed ray hand, and asked rne to rnarry her. I made some difficulty to agree to it; but she said so many things to persuade me, that I yielded. I ordered lit apparel to be made for her ; and after having married her, we set sail. During the navigation, I found she had so many

It) TALES OF THE ARABS.

good qualities, that I loved her every day more and more. In the mean time, my two brothers envied my prosperity; and their fury carried them so far as to conspire against mv lite; so that one night, when my wife and I were asleep, they threw us both into the sea.

My wife was a fairy, and she could not be drowned; but for me, it is certain, 1 had been lost without her help. I had scarcely fallen into the water, when she took me up, and carried me to an island. When it was day, the fairy said to me, You see husband, that, by saving your lire, I have not rewarded you ill for your kindness to me. You have dealt very generously with me, and I am mighty glad to have found an opportunity of testifying my acknowledgement to you: But I am incensed against your two brothers, and no- thing will satisfy me but their lives.

I listened to this discourse of the fairy with ad- miration ; but, madam, said I, for my brothers, I beg you to pardon them ; for the sake of heaven, moderate your anger; consider that they are my brothers, and that we must do good for evil.

I pacified the fairy by these words, who trans- ported me in an instant from the island where we were/ to the roof of my own house, which was ter- rassed, and disappeared in a moment. 1 went down, opened the doors, and dug up the three thousand sequins I had hid. I went afterwards to the place where my shop was, which I also opened, and was complimented by the merchants, my neighbours, upon my return. When I \\ent to my house, I perceived two black dogs. These are your brothers, said thefairy, I have condemned them to remain five years in that shape. Their

TALES OF THE ARABS. IT

perfidiousness too well deserves such a penance; and in short, after having told me where I might hear of her, she disappeared.

Now the five years being out, I am travelling in quest of her; and as I passed this way, I met this merchant, and the good old man that led the bitch, and sat down bv them. This is my his- tory, O prince of genies, do not you think this very extraordinary? I own it, says the genie, and upon that account, remit the merchant the second third of the crime which he has committed against me.

As soon as the second old man had finished his story ,the third began, and made the like demand of the genie with the two first. The genie made him the same promise as he had done the other two.

The third old man told his story to the genie, who was astonished at it; and no sooner heard the end of it, but he said to the third old man, I remit the other third part of the merchant's crime upon the account of your story. He is very much obliged to all three of you, for having delivered him out of this danger by your stories ; and having spoke thus, he disappeared, to the great content* ment of -the company.

The merchant failed not to give his three de- liverers the thanks he owed them. They rejoiced to see him out of danger ; after which he bid them adieu, and each of them went on his way. The merchant returned to his wife and children, and passed the rest of his days with them in peace.

18 TALES OF THE ARABS.

The Story of the Fisherman.

THERE was a fisherman, so poor, that he could scarce earn enough to maintain himself, his wife, and three rhildren. He went every day to fish : and imp^ed it as a law on himsel , not to cast his nets »ho\e fo'»r times a day.* He went oue morn- ing by moon-light, and, coming to the sea-hank, cast in l>is nets. A* he drew them towards the shore, he found them very heavy, and thought he had got a m»od draught of fish; but, in a moment after, perceiving that, instead of fish, there WHS no-* thin^ in his nets bui the caicaas of an ass, he was mightily vexed to have made such a sorry draught so he rhrew them in a second time ; and when he drew them, found a great deal of resistance, which made him think he had taken abundance offish ; but he found nothing except a pauier full of gra- vel and slime, winch grieved him extremely. O Fortune! cries he, I came hither from my house to seek for my livelihood, and notwithstanding all the care I take, 1 can scarcely provide what is absolutely necessary for'uay family.

Having finished this complaint, he threw away the panrier it* a fret, and washing his nets from the slime, cast them the third time, but brought up nothing except stones, shells, and mud. l\o» bodx can express his disorder; he was within an ace of goin<j quite mad. However, when day be* gan to appear, he did not forget to say his prayers like a good Mussulman,

The fisherman having finished this prayer, cast his nets the fourth time, and when he thought it was time, he drew them, as formerly, with great difficulty ; but instead of fish, found a vessel of

TALES OF THE ARABS. J9

yellow copper, that, by its weight, seemed to be full of something. This rejoiced him ; I will sell it, says he, to the founder, and, with the money arising from the product, buy a measure of corn. He examined the vessel on all sides, and shook it, to see if what was within made any noise, and heard nothing. This circumstance made him think there was something precious in it. To try this, he took a knife, and opened it with very lit- tle labour^ but nothing came out, which sur- prised him extremely. He set it before him, and while he looked upon it attentively, there came out a very thick smoke which obliged him to re- tire two or three paces from it.

This smoke mounted as high as the clouds, and extended itself along the sea-shore, which asto- nished the fisherman. When the smoke was all out of the vessel, it re-united itself, arid became a solid body, of which there was formed a genie, twice as high as the greatest of giants. At the sight of a monster of such unsizeable bulk, the fisherman would fain have fled, but was so fright- ened that he coidd not go one step.

Solomon, cried the genie immediately, Solo- mon, the great prophet, pardon, pardon; I will never more oppose your will.

The fisherman, when he heard these words of the genie, recovered his courage, and says to him, Thou proud spirit, what is this that you talk? It is above 1800 years isince the prophet Solomon died. Tell me your history, and how you came to be shut up in this vessel.

The genie, turning to the fisherman with a fierce look, says, You must speak to me with more civi- lity: thou art very, bold to call me a proud spirit. I"

20 TALES OF THE ARABS.

I have only one favour to grant thee. And what is that, says the fisherman? It is, answers the genie, to give you your choice in what manner you would have me to take thy life. But wherein have I offended you, replies the fisherman ? Is this your reward for the service I have done ? I cannot treat you otherwise, says the genie ; and that you may be convinced of it, hearken to my story.

I am one of those rebellious spirits that opposed themselves to the will of heaven ; all the other genies owned Solomon, the great prophet, and stfb- mitted to him. Sacar and I were the only genies that would never be guilty of so mean a thing : and to avenge himself, that great monarch sent Asaph, the son of Barakhia, his chief minister, to apprehend me. That was accordingly done ; Asaph seized my person, and brought me by force to his master's throne.

Solomon, the son of David, commanded me to quit my way of living, to acknowledge his power, and to submit myself to his commands: I bravely refused to obey, and told him, I would rather ex- pose myself to his resentments, than submit to him as he required. To punish rne, he shut me up in this copper vessel ; and gave it to one of the ge- nies, with orders to throw it into the sea. During the first three hundred years of my imprisonment, I swore, that if any one would deliver me before that time was expired, I would make him the rich- est monarch in the world, and every day grant them three demands of any nature, but these three hundred years ran out, and Icontinued in prison. At last, being angry to find myself a prisoner so long, I swore, that if afterwards any one should deliver me, I would kill him, and grant him no

TALES OF THE ARAB*. 21

other favour, but to choose what kind of death he would die; and therefore, since you have delivered me to-day, I give you that choice.

This discourse afflicted the poor fisherman ex- tremely. I beg you to consider your injustice, and revoke such .an unreasonable oath. No, thy death is resolved on, says the genie, only choose how you will die. The fisherman, perceiving the genie to be resolute, was extremely grieved. Me en- deavoured still to appease the genie, arid says, Alas ! be pleased to take pity on me, in consider- ation of the good service I have done you. J have told thee already, replies the- genie, it is for that very reason I must kill thee. Do not let us lose time; all thy reasonings shall not divert me from my purpose. Make haste, and tell me which way you choose to die.

Necessity is the mother of invention. The fish- erman bethought himself of a stratagem. Since I must die then, before I choose the manner of my death I conjure you to answer me truly the ques- tion I am going to ask you.

The genie, finding himself obliged to a positive answer, trembled ; and replies to the fisherman, ask what thou wilt, but make haste.

Having1 promised to speak the truth, the fisher- man says to him, I would know if you were actu- ally in this vessel? Yes, replied the genie, 1 do swear that I was. In good faith, answered the fish- erman, I cannot believe you; the vessel is not capable to hold one of your size. I swear to thee notwithstanding, replied the genie, that I was there just as you see me here. Truly, said the fisher- man, I will not believe you unless you shew it me.

Upon which the body of the genie was dissolved, '

22 TALES OF THE ARABS.

and changed itself into smoke, it began to re-enter the vessel, which it so continued to do succes- sively, by a slow and equal motion, till nothing was left out, and immediately a voice came forth, Well, now, incredulous fe.llow, I am all in the vessel, do not you believe me now ?

The fisherman, instead of answering the genie, took the cover of lead, and shutting the vessel, genie, cries he, now it is your turn to beg my fa- vour, and to choose which way I shall put thee to death ; but not so, it is better that I should throw you into the sea, whence I took you; and then I will build a house upon the bank, where I will dwell, to give notice to all fishermen, who come to throxv in their nets, to beware of such a wicked genie as thou art, who hast made an oath to kill him who shall set thee at liberty.

The genie, enraged at these expressions, did all he could to get out of the vessel again, but it was not possible. Fisherman, says he, in a pleasant tone, take heed you do not what you say ; for what I spoke to you before was only by way of jest, and you are to take it no otherwise. Open the vessel, give me my liberty, I pray thee, and I pro- mise to satisfy thee to thy own content. Thou art a mere traitor, replied the fisherman, I should de- serve to lose my life, if I be such a fool as to trust thee; thou wilt not fail to treat me in the same manner as a certain Grecian king treated the physician Douban. It is a story I have a mind to tell thee, therefore listen to it. The story of the Grecian king, and the physician Douban.

THERE was in the country of Zouraan, in Per- sia, a king, whose subjects were originally Greeks,

TALES OF THE ARABS. 23

This king was all over leprous, and his physicians in vain endeavoured hiscure ; and when they were at their wit's end what to prescribe him, a very able physician, called Douban, arrived at his court.

As soon as he was informed of the king's dis- temper, and understood that his physicians had given him over, he clad himself the best he could, and found a way to present himself to the kiwg. Sir, says he, if you will do me the honour to ac- cept my service, I will engage to cure you.

The king answered, if you are able to perform what you promise, I will enrich you and your pos- terity, and make you my chief favourite. Do you assure me then, that you will cure rne of my leprosy ? es, sir, replies the physician, I pro- mise myself success, through God's assistance, and to-morrow I will make a trial of it.

The physician returned to his quarters, and made a mallet, hollow within, and at the handle he put in his drugs: he made also a ball in such a manner as suited his purpose, with which, next morning, he went to present himself before the king-. Go, said he, to the place -where you play at the mell. The king did so, and when be ar- rived there the physician came to him with the mell, and says to him, sir, exercise yourself with this mell, and strike the ball until you find your hands and your body in a perspiration. As soon as you are returned to your palace, go into the bath, and cause yourself to be well rubbed ; then go to bed, and when you rise to-morrow, you will find yourself cured.

Next morning when he arose, he perceived, with as much wonder as joy, that his leprosy was cured, and his body as clean as if he had never been attacked with that distemper.

24 TALES OF THE ARABS.

The physician Douban in the mean time was made his chief favourite, and admitted to his table; but towards night, when he was about dismissing the company, he caused him to be clad in a long rich robe, like unto those which his favourites usually wore in his presence; and besides that, he ordered him two thousand sequins. But. this king had a grand visier that was avaricious; and could not see, without envy, the presents that were given to the physician, whose other merits had begun to make him jealous, and therefore resolved to lessen him in the king's esteem. To effect this, he went to the king, and told him that the physician Douban had come on purpose to his court to kill him. From whom have you this, answered the king, that you dare tell it me? Consider to whom you speak, and that you do ad- vance a thing which 1 shall not easily believe. Sir, replied the visier, I am very well informed of what I have had the honour to represent to your majesty.

No, no, visier, replies the king, I am certain that this man, whom you treat as a villain and a traitor, is one of the best and most virtuous men in the world. You knew by what medicine, or rather by what miracle, he cured me of my le- prosy t if he had a design upon my life, why did he save me? He needed only have left me to my disease; I could not have escaped. Instead of listening to YOU, I tell you, that 'from this day forward, I will give that great man a pension of a thousand sequins per month for his life. 1 perceive it to be his virtue that raises your envy; but do not think that I will be unjustly possessed with prejudice against him; I remember too well what

TALES OF THE ARABS. 25

n visier said to king Sinbad, his master, to pre- vent his putting to death the prince, his son.

This raised the visier's curiosity, who says to him, sir, I pray your majesty to pardon me, if I havre the boldness to demand of you what the visier of king Sinbad said to his master, to divert him from cutting off the prince, his son. The Grecian king had the complaisance to satisfy him. That visier, says he, after having represented to king Sinbad that he ought to beware lest, on the accusation of a mother-in-law, he should commit an action which he might afterwards repent of, told him this story :

The story of the husband and the parrot.

A CERTAIN man had a fair wife, whom he loved so dearly, that he could scarce allow her to be out of his sight. One day, being obliged to go abroad about urgent affairs, he bought a parrot, which not only spoke very well, but could also give an account of every thing that was done before it. He prayed his wife to put it in the chamber, and to take care of it.

At h?s return, he took care to ask the parrot concerning what had passed in his absence, and the bird told him things that gave him occasion to upbraid his wife.

Upon this, the wife bethought herself of a way how she might remove her husband's jealousy, and at the same time revenge herself of the par- rot. Her husband being gone another journey, she commanded a slave, in the nighttime, to turn a hand-mill under the parrot's cage; she ordered another to throw water, in form of rain, over the cage; and a third to take a glass, and turn it to

26 TALES OF THE ARABS.

the right and to the left before the parrot, so as the reflections of the candle might shine on its face.

Next night thehusband returned, and examined the parrot again about what had passed during bis absence. The bird answerd, Good master, the lightening, thunder, and rain, did so much dis- turb me all night, that I cannot tell how much I suffered by it. Thehusband, who knew that there had been neither thunder, lightening, nor rain that pight, fancied that the parrot, not having told him the truth in this, might also have lied to him in the other; upon which he took it out of the cage and killed it. Yet afterwards he understood that the poor parrot had not lied to him when it gave him an account of his wife's base conduct, which made him repent that he had killed it.

The mischievous visierwas too much concerned to effect the ruin of the physician Douban to stop here. Sir, says he, the death of the parrot was but a trifle, and I believe his master did not mourn for him Ion But why should your fear of wrong- ing an innocent man hinder your putting this phy- sician to death? This is not an uncertain thing; the physician Douban has certainly a mind to as- sassinate you. It is not envy which makes me his enemy. If it be false, I deserve to be punished ; but I am very well assured that he is a spy sent by your enemies to attempt your majesty's life. He has cured you, you will say; but alas ! who can assure you of that? He has perhaps cured you only in appearance, and not radically : who knows but the medicines he has given you may in time have pernicious effects ?

When the visier found the king in such a tern-

TALES OF THE ARABS. &7

per as he would have him, sir, says he, the surest and speediest method you can take to secure your life, is to send immediately for the physician Dou- ban, and order his head to be cut off as soon as he comes. In truth, says the king, I believe that is the way we must take to prevent his design. When he had spoke thus, he called for one of his officers, and ordered him to go for the physician; who, knowing nothing of the king's design, came to the palace in haste.

Know ye, says the king, when he saw him, why I sent for you ? No, sir, answered he, I wait till your majesty be pleased to inform me. I sent for you, replied the king, to rid myself of you by taking your life.

No man can express the surprise of the physi- cian, when he heard the sentence of death pro- nounced against him. Sir, says he, why would your majesty take away my life? What crime have I committed ? lam informed by good hands, replies the king, that you come to my court only to attempt my life; but to prevent you, I will be sure of yours. Give the blow, says he to the ex- ecutioner, who was present, and deliver me from a perfidious wretch, who came hither on purpose to assassinate me.

When the physician heard this cruel order, he readily judged that the honours and presents he had received from the king had procured him ene- mies, and that the weak prince was imposed upon.

The fisherman broke off his discourse here, to apply it to the genie. Well, genie, says he, you see what passed then betwixt the Grecian king and his physician Douban, is acted just now be- twixt us.

28 TALES OF THE ARABS,

The Grecian king, continues he, instead of hav- ing regard to the prayers of the physician, who begged him for God's sake to spare him, cruelly replied to him, no. The physician melted into tears, and prepared for death. The executioner bound up his eyes, and tied his hands, and went to draw his scimitar.

Then the courtiers, who were present, being moved with compassion, begged the king to par- don him, assured his majesty that he was not guilty of the crime laid to his charge, and that they would answer for his innocence ; but the kins: was inflexible.

The physician being on his knees, his eyes tied up, and ready to receive the fatal blow, addressed himself once more to the king: sir, says he, since your majesty will not revoke the sentence of my death; I heg, at least, that you will give me leave to return to my house to give orders about my burial, to bid farewel to my family, to give alms, and to bequeath my books to those who are ca- pab'e of making good use of them. I have one in particular I would present to your majesty; it is a very precious book, and worthy to be laid up very careiully in your treasury. The king, bein? curious to see such a wonderful thing, deferred his death till next day, and sent him home under a strong guard.

The physician, during that time, put his af- fairs in order; and the report being spread, that an unheard of prodigy was to happen after his death, the visiers, emirs, officers of the guard, and in a word, the whole court, repaired next day to the hall of audience, that they might be wit- nesses of it.

TALES OF THE ARABS. §9

The physician Douban was soon brought in and advanced to the foot of the throne, with a great book in his hand ; then he called for a ba- son, upon which he laid the cover that the book was wrapped in, and presenting the book to the king, Sir, says he, take that book, if you please, and as soon as my head is cut off, order that it may be put into the bason upon the cover of the book; as soon as it is put there, the blood will stop; then open the book and the head will an- swer your questions.

The head was so dexterously cut off, that it fell into the bason, and was no sooner laid upon the cover of the book, but the blood stopped ; then to the great surprise of the king, and all the spectators, it opened its eyes, and said, Sir, will your majesty be pleased to open the book ? The king opened it, and finding that one leaf was, as it were, glued to another, that he might turn it with more ease, he put his ringer to his mouth, and wet it with spittle. He did so till he came to the. sixth leaf, and finding no writing on the place where he .was bid to look for it, physician^ says he to the head, here is nothing writ. Turn over some more leaves replied the head. The king continued to turn over, putting always his finger to his mouth, until the poison, with which each leaf was imbued, came to have its effect; the prince finding himself, all of a sudden, taken with an extraordinary fit, his eye-sight failed, and he fell down at the foot of the throne in great con- vulsions.

When the physician Douban, or -rather his head, saw that the poison had taken effect, and that the king had but a few moments to live ; Tyrant, it

30 TALES OF THF ARABS.

cried, now you see how princes are treated, who, abusing their authority, cut off innocent men : God punishes soon or late, their injustice and cruelty. Scarce had the head spoke these words, when the king fell down dead, and the head itself lost what life it had.

Such was the end of the Grecian king, and the physician Douban; I must return now to the Story of the fisherman and the genie.

As soon as the fisherman had concluded the history of the Greek king, and his physician Dou- ban, he made the application to the genie, whom he still kept shut up in the vessel. If the Grecian king, says he, would have suffered him to live; but he rejected his most humhle prayers; and it is the same with thee, O genie.— Could I have prevailed with thee to grant me the favour I de- manded, I should now have had pity upon thee; but since, notwithstanding the extreme obliga- tion thou wast under to me for having set thee at liberty, thou didst persist in thy design to kill me, 1 am also obliged in my turn to be as hard- hearted to thee.

My good friend, fisherman, replies the genie, I conjure thee once more not to be guilty of so cruel a thing. Hear me one word more cries the genie, I promise to do the no hurt ; nay far from that, I will shew thee away how thou mayest be- come exceeding rich.

The hope of delivering himself from poverty prevailed with the fisherman. I could listen to thee says he, were there any credit to be given to thy word ; swear to me that you will faithfully perform what you promise, and I will open th« vessel.

TALES OF THE ARABS. 31

The genie swore to him, and the fisherman im- mediately took off the covering of the vessel, and the genie having resumed his ibrui as before, the first thing he did was to kick the vessel into the sea. This action frightening the fisherman, the genie laughed, and said, be not afraid, take thy net, and follow me. As he spoke these words, he walked before the fisherman, who, having taken up his nets, followed him, but with some distrust; They came to a great pond that lay betwixt four hills.

When they came to the side of the pond, the genie says to the fisherman, Cast in the nets, and take fish ; the fisherman did not doubt to catch some, because he saw a great number in the pond; but he was extremely snrprised when he found they \vereoffour colours; that is to say, white, red, blue, and yellow. He threw in his nets, and brought out one of each colour. Carry these fish, says the genie to him, and present them to the sultan: he will give yon more money for them than ever you had in your life. You may come every day to fish in this pond, and I give thee warning not to throw in thy nets above once a-day; otherwise you will repent it. Take h^eed, and remember my sdvice; if you follow it exactly, you will rind your account in it. Having spoke thus, he struck his foot upon the ground, which opened, and shut again after it had swallowed up the genie.

The fisherman, being resolved to follow the ge- nie's advice exactly, forebore casting in his nets a second time; but returned to the town very well satisfied with his fish, and making a thousand re- flections upon his adventure. He went strait t»

32 TALES OF THE ARATJS.

the sultan's palace, to present him his fish. The sultan took them up one after another, and be- held them with attention; and after having ad- mired them a long time, take these fishes, says he, to his prime visier, and carry them to the fine cook-maid that the emperor of the Greeks has sent me.

The visier carried them himself to the cook, and, delivering them into her hands, look ye, says he, there are four fishes newly brought to the sul- tan, he orders you to dress them : the sultan then ordered him to give the fisherman four hundred pieces of gold of the coin of the country.

The fisherman, who had never seen so much cash in his life-time, coald scarce believe his own good fortune.

As soon as the cook-maid had prepared the fishes, she put them upon the fire in a frying-pan, with oil, and when she thought them fried enough on one side, she turned them upon the other; but, O monstrous prodigy ! scarce were they turned, when the wall of the kitchen opened, and in comes a young lady of wonderful beauty. She was clad in flowered satin, after the Egyptian manner, with a rod of myrtle in her hand. She came towards the frying-pan, to the great amazement of the cook-maid, and striking one of the fishes with the end of the rod, says, *« Fish, fish, art thou in thy duty!" The fish said to her, ' Yes, yes: If you reckon, we reckon; if you pay your debts, we pay ours ; if you fly, we overcome, and are content.' As soon as they had finished these words, the lady overturned the frying- pan the fish became as black as coal, and she entered again into the open part of the wall, which shut immediately, and became as it was before.

TALES OF THE ARAIiS. 33

Whilst the cook was bewailing herself for the loss of the fish, in comes the grand visier, and asked her if they were ready? She told him all that happened, which astonished him mightily; but, without, speaking a word of it to the sultan, he invented an excuse that satisfied him, and send- ing immediately for the fisherman, bid him bring him four more such fish : for a misfortune had be- fallen the other, that they were not fit to be car- ried to the sultan. The fisherman told the visier he had a great way to go for them, but would certainly bring them to-morrow.

Accordingly the fisherman went away by night, and coming to the pond, threw in his nets betimes next morning, took four such fishes as the former, and brought them to the visier at the hour ap- pointed. The minister took them himself, car- ried them to the kitchen, and shutting himself up all alone with the cook-maid, she prepared them, and put them on the fire, as she had done the others; when they were fried on one side, and turned, the kitchen wall opened, and the same lady came in with the rod in her hand, struck one of the fishes, spoke to it as before, and all four gave her the same answer. The young lady then overturned the frying-pan with her rod, and re- tired into the same place of the wall from whence she came out. The grand visier being witness to what passed : this is too surprising and extraordi- nary, says he, to be concealed from the sultan : I will inform him of this prodigy.

The sultan, being much surprised, was mighty impatient to see this himself. To this end, he sent immediately for the fisherman, and says to him, friend, cannot you bring me four more such

34 TALES OF THE ARABS.

fishes? The fisherman rf plied, if your majesty will be pleased to allow me three days time, I will do it. Having obtained this time, he went to the pond immediately, and, at the first throwing in of his net, he took four such fishes, and brought them presently to the sultan, who was so much more rejoiced at it, that he did not expect them so soon, and ordered him other four hundred pieces of gold. As soon as the sultan had the fish, he ordered them to be carried into the closet, with all that was necessary for frving them ; and having shut himself up there with his visier, that minister prepared them, put them in the pan upon the fire, and when they were fried on one side, turned them upon the other ; then the wall of the closet opened ; but, instead of the young lady, there came out a black, in the habit of a slave, and of a gigantic stature, with a green batoon in his hand. He advanced towards the pan, and touching one of the fishes with his batoon, says to it, with a terrible voice, ' Fish, art thou in thy duty:' At these words, the fishes raised up their heads, and answered, ' Yes, yes, we are: if you reckon, we reckon ; if you pay your debts, we. pay ours; if you fly, we overcome, and are. content.'

The fishes had no sooner finished these words, but the black threw the pan into the middle of the fire, and reduced the fishes to a coal. Having done this, he retired fiercely, and entering again into the hole of the wall, it shut, and appeared just as it was before.

After what 1 have seen, says the sultan to the visier, it will not be possible tor me to be easy in my mind. These fish, without doubt, signifj

TALES OF THE ARABS. 35

something extraordinary, in which I have a mind to be satisfied. He sent for the fisherman ; and when he came, says to him, Fisherman, the tisbes you have brought us make me very uneasy ; where did you catch them ? Sir, answers he, 1 rished tor them in a pond situated betwixt four hills, be- yond the mountain that we see from hence. Know you that pond, says the sultan to the visier? No, sir, replies the visier, I never so much as heard of it. The sultan asked the fisherman, how far the pond might be from the place ? The fisherman answered, it was not above three hours journey. Upon this ihe sultan commanded all his court to take horse, and the fisherman served them for a guide. They all ascended the mountain, and at the foot of it they saw, to their great surprise, a vast plain that nobody had observed till then ; and at last they came to the pond, which they found actually to be situated betwixt four hills, as the fisherman had said. The water of it was so transpa- rent, that they observed all the fishes to be like those which the fisherman brought to the palace.

Since you all agree, says he, that you never heard of it, and as I am not less astonished than you are at this novelty, 1 am resolved not to re^» turn to my palace till I know how this pond came hither, and why all the fish in it are of four co-» lours. Having spoke thus, he ordered his court to encamp, and immediately his pavillion, and tents of his household were planted on the banks of the pond.

When night came, the sultan retired under his pavillion, and spoke to the grand visier by him- self thus: visier my mind is very uneasy, this pond transported hither, the black that appeared

3(5 TALES OF THE ARABS.

to us in my closet, and the fishes that we heard speak; all this does so ranch whet my curiosity, that 1 cannot resist the impatient desire that I have to be satisfied in it. To this end, I am re- solved to withdraw from the camp, and I order you to keep my absence secret.

The grand visiersaid several things to divert the sultan from his design, but it was to no purpose : the sultan was resolved on it, and would go. He put on a suit fit for walking, and took his scimitar; and as soon as he saw that all was quiet in the camp, he goes out alone, and went over one of the hills without much difficulty; he found the de- scent still more easy, and when he came to the plain, walked on till the sun arose, and then he saw before him at a cons'derable distance, a great building. He rejoiced at the sight, in hopes to be Informed there of what he had a mind to know ; he stopped before the front of the castle, and con- sidered it with abundance of attention.

He came up to the gate, and knocked at first softly, and waited for some time; but seeing no- body, and supposing they had not htard him, he knocked harder the second time ; but neither see- ing or hearing any body, he knocked again and again.

At last he entered, and when he carne within the porch, he cried very loud, but nobody an- swered.

This silence increased his astonishment; became into a very spacious court, and looking on every side to see if he could perceive any body, he feaw no living thing; and perceiving nobody in the court, entered the great halls. He came after- wards into an admirable saloon, in the middle of

TALES OF THE ARABS. 37

which was a fountain, with a lion of massy gold at each corner: Water issued out at the mouths of the four lions, and this water, as it fell, formed diamonds and pearls, that very well answered a jet of water, which, springing- from the middle of the fountain, rose as high almost as the bottom of a cupola, painted after the Arabian manner.

The castle, on three sides, was encompassed by a garden, and what completed the beauty of the place, was an infinite number of birds, which filled the air with their harmonious notes. The sultan walked for a long time from apartment to apartment, where he found every thing very grand and magnificent. Being tired with walking, he sat down in an open closet, which had a view- over the garden, and there reflecting upon what he had already seen, and did then see, all of a sudden he heard the voice of one complaining, accompanied with lamentable cries. He listened with attention, and beared distinctly these sad words: ' O fortune! thou who would not surfer me longer to enjoy a hnppy lot, and hast made the most unfortunate man in the world, forbear to persecute me, and, by a speedy death, put an end to my sorrows. Alas! is it possible that I am still alive after so many torments as I have suffered ?'

The sultan* being affected with those pitiful complaints, rose up, and made towards the place where he heard the voice; and when he came to the gate of a great hall, he opened it, and saw a handsome young man, richly habited, sitting upon a throne raised a little above the ground. Melan- choly was painted in his looks. The sultan drew near and saluted him ; The young man returned

38 TALES OF THE ARABS.

him his salute by a bow with his head ; but not being able to rise up, he says to the sultan, My lord, i am very well satisfied that you deserve I should rise to receive )ou, arid do you all pos- sible honour; but I am hindert-d from doing so by a very sad reason. My lord, replies the sul- tan, I am very much obliged to you for having so good an opinion of me; being drawn hither by your complaints, and affected by your grief, I come to offer you my help; I flatter myself that you would willingly tell me the history of your misfortunes: but pray tell me the tirst meaning of the pond near the palace, where the tishes are of four colours? what this castle is? how you come to be here? and why you are alone?

Instead of answering these questions, the young man began to weep bitterly. Oh how incon- stant is fortune, cried he ; She takes pleasure to pull down those she had raised up.

The sultan, moved with compassion to see him in that condition, prayed him forthwith to tell him the cause of his excessive grief. Alas ! my lord, replies the young man, how is it possible but I should grieve? At these words, lifting up his gown, he showed the sultan that he was a man only from the head to the girdle, and that the other half oi his body was black marble. The sultan was surprized, when he saw the deplorable condition of the young man. That which you show me, says he, as it fills me with horror, whets my curiosity so, that I am impatient to hear your history. 1 will not refuse you this satisfaction, replies the young man, though I cannot do it without renewing my grief. But I give you no- tice before-hand, to prepare your ears, your mind,

TALES OF THE ARABS. 39

and even your eyes, for things that surpass all the most extraordinary imagination can conceive.

The History of the Young King of the Black Isles.

You must know, my lord, that my father, who was called Mahmoud, was king of this country. This is the kingdom of the Black Isles, which takes its name from the four little neighbouring mountains : for those mountains were formerly isles: the capital where the king, my father, had his residence, was where that pond you now see is. The sequel of my history will inform you of all those changes.

The king, my father, died when he was seventy years of age; I had no sooner succeeded him, than I married my cousin. I had all the reason imaginable to be satisfied in her love to me; and, for my part, I had so much tenderness for her, that nothing was comparable to the good under- standing betwixt us, which lasted five years; at the end of which time, I perceived the queen, my cousin, had no more delight in me.

One day, while she was bathing, I found my- self sleepy after dinner, and lay down upon a sofa. Two of her ladies, who were then in my chamber, came and sat down, one at my head, and the other at my feet, with fans in their hands, to moderate the heat, and to hinder the flies froui troubling me in my sleep. They thought I was fast, and spoke very low: but I only shut my eyes, and heard every word they said.

One of them says to the other, Is not the queen much in the wrong, mot to love such an amiable

40 TALES OF THE ARABS.

prince as this ? Ay, certainly, replies the other: for my part I do not understand it, and I know not why she goes out every night, and leaves him alone. Is it possible that he does not perceive it ? Alas! says the first, how would you have him to perceive it ? She mixes every evening in his drink the juice of a certain herb, which mukes him sleep so sound all night, that she has time to go where she pleases, and as day begins to appear, she comes and lies down by him again, and wakes him.

You may guess, my lord, how much I was sur- prised at this discourse, I had command enough over myself to dissemble it, and feigned myself to awake, without having heard one word of it.

The queen returned from the bath ; we supped together, and before we went to bed, she pre- sented me with a cup of water, but instead of put- ting it to my mouth, I went to a window that stood open, and threw out the water so privately, that she did not perceive it.

We went to bed together, and soon after, be- lieving that 1 was asleep, though 1 was not, she got up with so little precaution, that she said, so loud that I could hear it distinctly, ' Sleep, and may you never wake again.' She dressed herself speedily, and went out of the chamber.

As soon as the queen my wife went out, I £ot up, dressed me in haste, took my scimitar, and followed her so quick, that 1 soon heard the sound of her feet before me, and then walked softly af- ter her* She passed through several gates, which opened upon her pronouncing some magical words ; and the last she opened was that of the garden, which she entered. As she crossed a

TALES OF THE ARABS. 4l

plat, and looking after her as far as I could in the night, 1 perceived that she entered a little wood,' and saw her walking therewith a man.

I gave good ear to their discourse, and heard her say thus : I do not deserve, says the queen to her gallant, to be upbraided by you for want of diligence ; you know very well what hinders me ; but if all the marks of love that I have already given you be not enough, I am ready to give you greater marks of it : you need but command me ; you know my power. 1 will, if you desire it, change this great city and this fine palace into frightful ruins, which shall be inhabited by no- thing but wolves, owls-, and ravens. Would you have me to transport all the stones of those walls, so solidly built, bevond mount Caucasus, and out of the bounds of the habitable world ? Speak but the word, and all those places shall be changed.

As the queen finished these words, her gallant and she came to the end of the w,alk, turned to enter another, and passed before me. I had al- ready drawn my scimitar, and her gallant being next me, I struck him in the neck, and made him fall to the ground. I thought 1 had killed him, and therefore retired speedily without making myself known to the queen, whom I had a mind to spare, because she was my kinswoman.

In the mean time the blow 1 had given her gal- lant was mortal ; but she preserved his life by the force of her enchantments in such a manner, how- ever, that he could not be said to be either dead or alive. As I crossed the garden, to return to palace, I heard the queen cry out lamentably,

ii

42 TALES OF THE ARABS.

and judging by that how much she was grieved, I was pleased that I had spared her life.

When I returned to her apartment, I went to bed, and being satisfied with having punished the villain that did me the injury, i went to sleep, and when I awakened next morning, found the queen lying by me; but I cannot tell you whe- ther she slept or not. I got up without making any noise, and held my council, and at my return the queen was dad in mourning, and her hair hanging about her eyes. She presented herself before me, and said, Sir, I come to beg your ma- jesty not to be surprised to see me in this condi- tion ; three afflicting pieces of news that I have just now received at once, are the cause of my heavy grief. Alas ! what is the news, Madam, said I ? * The death of the queen, my dear mo- ther,'answers she; ' that of the king, my father, killed in battle ; and that of one of my brothers,'

I was not ill pleased that she made use of this pretext to hide the true cause of her grief, and I thought she had not suspected me to have killed her gallant. ' Madam,' said I, * I am so far from blaming your grief, that I should very much wonder if you were insensible -of so great a loss. Mourn on, but I hope, however, that time and reason will moderate your grief.'

She spent a whole year in mourning and af- flicting herself. At the end of that time, she beg- ged leave of me to build a burying-place for her- self within the bounds of the palace, where she •would continue, she told me, to the end of her days. 1 agreed to it, and she built a stately pa- lace, with a cupola, that may be seen here; and she called it the Palace of Tears. When it waf

TALES OF THE ARABS. 43

finished, she caused her gallant to be brought ; she had hindered his dying by the drink she gave him, and carried to him herself every day after he came to the Palace of Tears. Yet, with all her enchantments, she could not cure the wretch, though she every day made him two long visits ; I was very well informed of all this, but pretend- ed to know nothing of it.

One day I went of curiosity to the Palace of Tears, to see how the princess employed herself, and, going to a place where she could not see me, 1 heard her speak thus to her gallant: I am af- flicted to the highest degree to see you in this condition ; I am as sensible as you are yourself of the tormenting grief you endure ; but, dear soul, I always speak to you, and you do not answer me. At these words, which were several times interrupted by her sighs and sobs, I lost all pa- tience ; and discovering myself, came up to her, and said, Madam, you have mourned enough, it is time to give over this sorrow, which dishonours us both ; you have too much forgot what you owe to me and yourself. Sir, says she, if you have any kindness or complaisance left for me, I be- seech you to put no force upon me, allow me to give myself up to mortal grief ; it is impossible for time to lessen it.

I went a second time to the Palace of Tears, while she was there ; I hid myself again, and heard her speak thus to her gallant : Jt is now three years since you spoke one word to me, you return no answer to the marks of love 1 give you by my discourse and groans. Is it from want of sense, or out of contempt ? O tomb ! have you abated that excessive love he had for me ! 1 was so en-

44 TALES OF THE ARABS.

raged at this discourse, that I discovered myself all of a sudden, and addressing the tomb in my turn, O tomb ! cried I, why do you not swallow up the gallant and his mistress.

1 scarce had finished these words, when the queen, who sat by the black, rose up like a fury, Ah, cruel man ! says she, thou art the cause of my grief, I have dissembled it but too long; it is thy barbarous hand which hath brought the object of my love to this lamentable condition. Yes, said I, in a rage, it is I who has chastised that monster according to his desert. As I spoke these wocds, I drew out my scimitar, and lifted up my hand to punish her ; but she, stedfastly beholding me, said, with a jeering smile, mode- rate thy anger. At the same time she pronounced words I did not understand, and afterwards added, By virtue of my enchantments, I command thee immediately to become half marble and half man. Immediately, my lord, I became such a* you see me.

After this cruel magician had metamorphosed me thus, and brought me into this hall by ano- therenchantrnent, she destroyed my capital, which was very flourishing and full of people, she abo- lished the houses, the public places and markets, and made a pond and desert field of it, which you may have seen ; the fishes of four colours in the pond, are the four sorts of people, of different religions, that inhabited the place. The white are the Musselmen ; the red, the Persians, who worshipped the fire; the blue, the Christians ; and the yellow, the Jews. The four little hills were the four islands that gave name to this king- dom. But this is not all ; her revenge was not

TALES OF THE ARABS. 45

satisfied with the destruction of my dominions, and the metamorphosis of my person ; she comes every day, and gives me over my naked shoulders an hundred blows, which makes me all over blood : and when she has done so, covers me with a coarse stuff of goat's hair, and throws over it this robe of brocade that you see, not to do me honour, but to rnock me.

While the sultan discoursed upon this subject with the young prince, he told him who he was, and for what end he entered the castle, and thought on a way to revenge him, which he communi- cated to him. They agreed upon the measures they were to take for effecting their design, but deferred the execution of it till the next day. In the mean time, the night being far spent, the sultan took some rest; but the poor young prince passed the night without sleep, as usual, having never slept since he was enchanted ; but he con- ceived some hopes of being speedily delivered from his misery.

Next morning the sultan got up before day, and in order to execute his design, he had hid in a corner his upper garment, that would have been incumbersome to him, and went to the Palace of Tears. He found it enlightened with an infinite number of flambeaux of white wax. As soon as he saw the bed where the black lay, he drew his scimitar, killed the wretch without resistance, dragged his corpse into the court of the castle, and threw it into a well. After this, he went and lay down in the black's bed, took his scimitar with him under the counterpane, and lay there to execute what he had designed.

The magician arrived in a little time : she first

46 TALES OF THE ARABS.

went into the chamber where her husband, the king of the Black Islands was, stripped him, and beat him in a most barbarous manner. The poor prince rilled the palace with his lamentations to no purpose, and conjured her, in the most af- fecting manner that could i>e, to take pity on him ; but the cruel woman would not give over till she had given him a hundred blows: she then put on again his covering of goat's hair, and hi» brocade gown over all. She afterwards went to the Palace of Tears, and as she entered the same, she renewed her tears and lamentations.

The sultan, making, f.s if he had awaked out of a deep sleep, and counterfeiting the language of the blacks, said to the queen with a grave lone, * There is no force or power but in God alone, who is almighty.' At these worc's, the en- chantress, who did not expect them, gave a great shout, to signify her excessive joy. My dear lord, says she, do not I deceive myself? is it cer- taiir that I hear you, and that you speak to me ?

1 command thee, said the sultan, to restore the young king of the Black Isles to his former state.

The enchantress went immediately out of the Palace of Tears ; and took a cup of water, and pronounced words over it, which she had scarce done, when the prince, finding himself restored to his former condition, rose up freely, with all imaginable joy, and returned thanks to God. The enchantress then said to him, Get thee gone - from this castle, and never return here on pain of death. The young king, yielding to necessity, retired to a remote place, where he immediately expected the success of the design which the sul-

TALES OP THE ARABS. 47

tan had begun so happily. Meanwhile the en- chantress returned to the Palace of Tears, and, supposing that she still spoke to the black, says, Dear lover, I have done what you ordered, let nothing now hinder you to give me that satisfac- tion of which I have been deprived so long.'

The sultan continued to counterfeit the lan- guage of the blacks, That which you have just done,' said he, signifies nothing to my cure ; you must cut it up by the roots. My lovely black, replies she, * what do you mean by the roots ? Unfortunate woman,' replies the sultan, * do you not understand that 1 mean the town and its inhabitants, and the four islands which thou hast destroyed by thy enchantments?'

This she agreed to, and as soon as she had made this wonderful change, she returned with all diligence to the Palace of Tears, that she might reap the fruits of it. My dear lord, cries she, as she entered, I come to rejoice with you for the return of your health; I have done all that you required of me, then pray rise, and give me your hand. Come near, says the sultan, still counterfeiting the language of the blacks. She did so. You are not near enough, replies he, come nearer. She obeyed. Then he rose up, and seized her by the arm so suddenly, that she had not time to know who it was, and with a blow of his scimitar cut her in two.

This being done, he left the carcase upon the the place, and went out to seek the young king of the Black Isles; when he found him, Prince, says he, rejoice, your cruel enemy is dead.

Knevett, Arliss, and Baker, Printers. Bartholomew Close.

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