# Arabian Nights Entertainments (1706)/Volume 2/The Story of the Second Callender

The Fortieth Night.
DInarzade not doubting to find as much Delight in the Story of the ſecond Callender, as ſhe had in the firſt, fail’d not to call upon the Sultaneſs before Day. If you be not aſleep, Siſter, ſaid ſhe, I would pray you to begin the Story that you promis’d: Upon which, Scheherazade addreſſed her Diſcourſe to the Sultan, and ſpoke as follows:
Sir, The Story of the firſt Callender ſeem’d very ſtrange to the whole Company, but eſpecially to the Califf, who notwithſtanding the Slaves ſtood by with their Scimeters in their Hands, could not forbear whiſpering to the Viſier. Many Stories have heard, but neyer any thing that came near the Story of the Callender. Whilſt he was ſaying this the ſecond Callender began, addreſſing his Speech to Zobeide.
The Story of the Second Callender a King’s Son.
MADAM, ſaid he, to obey your Command, and to ſhow you by what ſtrange Accident I became blind ​of the right Eye, I muſt of Neceſlity give you the whol Account of my Life.
I was ſcarce paſt my Inſancy when the King my Fathar (for you muſt know, Madam, I am a Prince by Birth) perceiv’d that I was endow’d with a great deal of Senſe, and ſpared nothing that was proper for improving it, he employ’d all the Men in his Dominions that excell’d in Sciences and Arts, to be conſtantly about me.
No ſooner had I learnt to read and write, but I learn’d the Alcoran from the Beginning to the End by Heart. That admirable Book which contains the Foundation, the Precepts and the Rules of our Religion: And that I might be throughly inſtructed in it, I read the Works of the moſt approved Authors, by whoſe Commentaries it had been explained. I added to this Study, that of all the Traditions collected from the Mouth of our Prophet, by the great Men that were co-temporary with him. I was no! ſatisfied with the Knowledge alone of all that had any Relation to our Religion, but made alſo a particular Search in our Hiſtories. I made my ſelf perfect in polite Learning, in the Works of Poets and Verſification. I applied my ſelf to Geography, to Chronology, and to ſpeak our Arabian Language in its Purity, nor forgetting, in the mean time, all ſuch Exerciſes as were proper for a Prince to underſtand. But one thing which I was mightily in love with, and ſucceeded into Admiration, was, to form the Characters of our Arabian Language, wherein I ſurpaſſed all the Writing-Maſters of our Kingdom that had acquired the greareſt Reputation.
Fame did me more Honour than I deſerved, for ſhe not only ſpread the Renown of my Parts through all the Dominions of the King my Father, but carried it as ſar as the Indian Court, whoſe Potent Monarch, deſirous to ſee me, ſent an Ambaſſador with rich Preſents, to demand me of my Father, who was extream glad of this Embaſſy for ſeveral Reaſons; he was perſwaded that nothing cou’d be more commendab’e in a Prince of my Age than to travel and fee foreign Courts; and beſides he was very glad to gain the Friendſhip of the Indian Sultan. I departcd with the ​Ambaſſador, but with no great Retinue, becauſe of the Length and Difficulty of the Journey.
When we had travell’d about a Month, we diſcover’d at a Diſtance a great Cloud of Duſt, and under that we ſaw very ſoon 50 Horſemen well armed, who were Robbers coming toward us at a full Gallop. Scheherazade perceiving Day, told the Sultan of it, who got up, but deſiring to know what paſt between the 50 Men on Horſeback, and the Indian Ambaſſador, this Prince was ſomewhat impatieat till next Night came.
The Forty Firſt Night.
IT was almoſt Day when Dinarzade awak’d next Morning, and call’d to her Siſter, if you be not aſleep, dear Siſter, I pray you continue the Story of the ſecond Callender. Scheherazade began in this Manner:
Madam (ſays the Callender) always ſpeaking to Zobeide, as we had 10 Horſes laden with Baggage and other Preſents, that I was to carry to the Indian Sultan, from the King my Father, and that my Retinue was but ſmall, you may eaſily judge that theſe Robbers came boldly up to us; and not being in a Poſture to make any Oppoſition, we told them that we were Ambaſſadors, belonging to the Sultan of the Indies, and hop’d they would attempt nothing contrary to the Reſpect that is due to them, thinking by this Means to ſave our Equipage and our Lives: But the Robbers moſt inſolently replied, For what Reaſon would you have us ſhew any Reſpect to the Sultan your Maſter; we are none of his Subjects, nor are we upon his Territories? And having ſpoke thus, they ſurrounded and fell upon us: I defended my ſelf as long as I could; but finding my ſelf wounded, and ſeeing the Ambaſſador with his Servents and mine lying on the Ground, I made uſe of what Strength was yet remaining in my Horſe, who was alſo very much wounded, and ſeparated my ſelf from the Crowd, and rode away as ſaſt as he could carry me: but he happening all of a ſudden to ſall under me, by Wearineſs and the Loſs of Blood, he fell down dead. I got rid of him in a Trice; ​and finding that I was purſu’d, it made me judge the Robbers were not willing to quit the Booty they had got.
Scheherazade perceiving Day coming on, was oblig’d to ſtop here. Oh Siſter, ſaid Dizarzade, to-morrow I ſhall be more diligent, in hopes you will make Reparation to the Sultan for the Loſs that his Curioſity has ſuſtain’d through my Neglect. Schahriar aroſe without ſaying one Word, and went to his uſual Conſultation,
The Forty Second Night.
DInarzade ſail’d not to call the Sultaneſs a good while before Day: My dear Siſter, ſays ſhe, if you be not aſleep, I pray you reſume the Story of the Callender; I conſent to it, ſaid Scheherazade; and ſo continu’d in theſe Words:
Here you ſee me, ſaid the Callender, all alone wounded, deſtitute of all Help, and in a ſtrange Country; I durſt not betake my ſelf to the high Road, fearing I might ſall again into the Hands of theſe Robbers. When I had bound up my Wound, which was not dangerous, I march’d on the reſt of the Day, and arriv’d at the Foot of a Mountain, where I perceiv’d a Paſſage into a Cave; I went in, and ſtay’d there that Night with little Satisfaction, after I had eaten ſome Fruits that I gather’d by the way,
I continued my Journey for ſeveral Days following, without finding any Place of Abode: But after a Month’s time, I came to a large Town well inhabited, and ſituated ſo much the more advantageouſly, that it was ſurrounded with ſeveral Rivers, ſo that it enjoyed a perpetual Spring.
The pleaſant Objects which then preſented themſelves to my View, afforded me ſome Joy, and ſuſpended for ſome time the mortal Sorrow with which I was overwhelm’d, to find my ſelf in ſuch a Condition. My Face, Hands and Feet, were all tawny and ſun-burnt, and by my long Journey my Shoes and Stockings were quite worn out, ſo that I was forc’d to walk bare-footed; and beſides, my Cloaths were all in Rags. I entred into the Town to inform my ſeif where I was, and addreſs’d my ſelf to a ​Taylor that was at work in his Shop; who perceiving by my Air that I was a Perſon of more Note than my outward Appearance beſpoke me to be, made me to fit down by him, and ask’d me who I was, and from whence I came, and what had brought me thither ? I did not conceal anything of all that had beſall’n me, nor made I any Scruple to difcover my Quality.
The Taylor liſten’d with Attention to my Words; but after I had done ſpeaking, inſtead of giving me any Conſolation, he augmented my Sorrow: Take heed; ſays he, how you diſcover to any Perſon what you have now declared to me; for the Prince of this Country is the greateſt Enemy that the King your Father has, and he will certainly do you ſome Miſchief when he comes to hear of your being in this City. I made no doubt of the Taylor’s Sincerity, when he nam’d the Prince: But fince that Enmity which is between my Father and him has no relation to my Adventures, I muſt beg your Pardon, Madam, to paſs it over with Silence.
I return’d the Taylor Thanks for his good Advice, and ſhew’d my ſelf inclinable wholly to follow his Counſel, and aſſur’d him that his Favours ſhall never be forgot by me. And as he believ’d I could not but be hungry, he caus’d them to bring me ſomewhat to eat, and offered meat the ſame Time a Lodging in his Houſe, which I accepted. Some Days after finding me pretty well recover’d of the Fatigue I had endured by a long and tedious Journey; and beſides, being ſenſible that moſt Princes of our Religion, did apply themſelves to ſome Art or Calling, that might ſtand them in ſtead upon Occaſion, he ask’d me if I had learnt any thing whereby I might get a Livelihood, and not be burthenſome to any Man? I told him that I underſtood the Laws both divine and humane; that I was a Grammarian and Poet, and above all, that I underſtood Writing perfectly well. By all this, ſays he, you will nor be abie, in this Country, to purchaſe yourſelf one Morſel of Bread; nothing is of leſs Uſe here than thoſe Sciences: But if you will be advis’d by me, ſays he, dreſs your ſelf in a Labourer’s Habit; and ſince you appear to be ſtrong, and of a good Conſtitution, you ſhall go into the next Forreſt and cut ​down Fire-Wood, which you may bring to the Market to be ſold; and I can aſſure you, it will turn to ſo good an Account, that you may live by it, without Dependance upon any Man: And by this Means, you will be in a Condition to wait for the ſavourable Minute, when Heaven ſhall think fit to diſpel thoſe Clouds of Misfortune that thwart your Happineſs, and oblige you to conceal your Birth; I will take care to ſupply you with a Rope and a Hatchet.
The Fear of being known, and the Neceſſity I was under of getting a Livelihood, made me agree to this Propoſal, notwithſtanding all the Meanneſs and Hardſhips that attend it. The Day following the Taylor brought mea Rope, a Hatchet and a ſhort Coat, and recommended me to ſome poor People that gain’d their Bread after the ſame Manner, that they might take me into their Company, They conducted me to the Wood, and the firſt Day I brought in as much upon my Head as brought me half a Piece of Gold, which is the Money of that Country: For tho’ the Wood is not ſar diſtant from the Town, yet it was very ſcarce there, by reaſon that few or none would be at the Trouble to go and cut it. I gain’d a good Sum of Money in ſhort Time, and repaid my Taylor what he advanced for me.
I continu’d this Way of Living for a whole Year and one Day; that by chance I was gone ſarther into the Wood than uſual, I happen’d to light on a very pleaſant Place, where I began to cut down Wood; and in pulling up the Root of a Tree, I eſpied an Iron Ring, ſaſten’d to a Trap-Door of the ſame Metal: I took away the Earth that cover’d it; and having lift it up, ſaw Stairs, which I went down with my Ax in my Hand.
When I was come to the Bottom of the Stairs, I found my ſelf in a large Palace, which put me in a mighty Conſternation, becauſe of the great Light, which appear’d as clear in it, as if it had been above Ground in the open Air. I went forward along a Gallery, ſupported by Pillars of Jaſpis, the Baſis and Chapter of maſſey Gold: But ſeeing a Lady of a noble and free Air, and extraordinary beautiful, coming towards me; this turn’d my Eyes from beholding any other Object but her alone.
​Here Scheherazade ſtopt, becauſe Day appeared: But Dinarzade ſaid, Dear Siſter, I confeſs I am extreamly well-pleas’d with what you have told us to-day, and I do imagine that the following Part muſt be no leſs furprizing. You are not miſtaken, ſaid the Sultaneſs, for the Remainder of, this Story of the ſecond Callender is better worth, my Lord, the Sultan’s Attention, than all that he has hitherto heard. I doubt that, ſays Schahriar, (as he was getting up) but we ſhall know that to-morrow.
The Forty Third Night.
THE Sultaneſs being awak’d, as uſual, gave the Sultan an Account, that the ſecond Callender continu’d the Story, thus: Being deſirous (ſays he) to ſpare the Lady the Trouble to come to me, I made haſte to meet her; and as I was ſaluting her with a low Bow, ſhe ask’d me, What are you, a Man or a Genie? A Man, Madam, ſaid I: I have no Correſpondence with Genies. By what Adventure, ſaid ſhe, (fetching a deep Sigh) are you come hither? I have liv’d heretheſe 25 Years, and never ſaw any Man but your ſelf, during that Time.
Her great Beauty, which had already ſmitten me, and the Sweetneſs and Civility wherewith ſhe received me, made me bold to ſay to her, Madam, before I have the Honour to ſatisfy your Curiofity, give me leave to tell you, that I am infinitely ſatisfy’d with this unexpectted Rencounter, which offers me an Occaſion of Conſolation in the midſt of my Affliction; and perhaps it may give me an Opportunity to make you alſo more happy than you are. I gave her a true Account by what ſtrange Accident, ſhe ſaw in me, the Son of a King, in ſuch a Condition as I then appear’d in her Preſence; and how Fortune would have it, that I ſhould diſcover the Entrance into that magnificent Priſon, where I had found her, but in an uncaſie Condition, according to Appearance.
Alas! Prince, ſaid ſhe, (ſighing once more) you have juſt Cauſe to believe, this rich and pompous Priſon, cannot be otherwiſe than a moſt weariſome Abode; the moſt ​charming Places in the World, being no wiſe delightful when we are detained there contrary to our Will, It’s not poſſible but you have heard of the great Epitimarus, King of the Iſle of Ebene, ſo called from that precious Wood it produces in Abundance, I am the Princeſs his Daughter.
The King, my Father, had choſen for me a Husband, a Prince that was my Couſin; but on my Wedding-Night, in the midſt of the Rejoicing, there was in the Court, and the Capitol City of the Kingdom, of the Iſle of Ebene, before I was given to my Spouſe, a Genie, who took me away; I ſainted at the ſame Moment, and loſt all my Senſes; but when I came to my ſelf again, I found my ſelf in this Place. I was a long time inconſolable, but Time and Neceſlity hath accuſtom’d me to ſee and receive the Genie. ’Tis 25 Years, as I told you before, that I have continued in this Place, where, I muſt confeſs, I have every thing that I can wiſh for, neceſſary to Lite, and alſo every thing that can ſatisfy a Princeſs that loves nothing but fine Dreſles and Faſhions.
Every ten Days, ſays the Princeſs, the Genie comes hither to lie with me one Night, which he never exceeds; and the Excuſe he makes for it is, that he is married to another Wife, who would grow jealous, if ſhe came to know how unfaithful he was to her: Mean while, if I have occaſion for him by Day or Night, as ſoon as I touch a Taliſman, which is at the Entrance into my Chamber, the Genie appears. It is now the fourth Day ſince he was here, and I do not expect him before the End of ſix more; ſo, if you pleaſe, you may ſtay five Days and keep me Company, and I will endeavour to entertain you according to your Quality and Merit. I thought my ſelf too fortunate, to have obtained ſo great a Favour, without asking it, to refuſe ſo obliging a Proffer. The Princeſs made me go into a Bagnio, which was the moſt handſome, the moſt commodious, and the moſt ſumptuous, that could be imagin’d; and when I came forth, inſtead of my own Cloaths, I found another very coſtly Suit, which I did not eſteem ſo much for its Richneſs, as that it made me look worthy to be in her Company. We ſat down on a Sofa cover’d with rich Tapeſtry, with Cuſhions to lean upon of the rareſt In-​ian Brocard; and ſome time after, ſhe cover’d a Table with ſeveral Diſhes of delicate Meats. We eat together, and paſſed the remaining Part of the Day with very much Satisſaction; and at Night ſhe receiv’d me into her Bed.
The next Day, as ſhe contriv’d all manner of Ways to pleaſeme, ſhe brought in, at Dinner, a Bottle of old Wine, the moſt excellent that ever was taſted, and out of Complaiſance, ſhe drank ſome Part of it with me. When my Head grew hot with the agreeable Liquor, Fair Princeſs, ſaid I, you have been too long thus buried alive, come follow me, and enjoy the real Day, from which you have been deprived ſo many Years, and abandon this ſalſe Light, that you have here. Prince, replied ſhe, with a Smile, Leave this Diſcourſe, if you out of ten Days will grant me Nine, and reſign the laſt to the Genie, the ſaireſt Day that ever was would be nothing in my Eſteem. Princeſs, ſaid I, it’s the Fear of the Genie that makes me ſpeak thus; for my part, I value him ſo little, that I will break his Taliſman, with the Conjuration that’s wrote about it, in Pieces, Let him come then, I will expect him, and how braye or redoubtable ſoever he be I ſhall make him feel the Weight of my Arm. I ſwear ſolemnly, that I will extirpate all the Genies in the World, and him firſt. The Princeſs, who knew the Conſequence, conjur’d me not to touch the Taliſman, for that would be a means, ſaid ſhe, to ruin both you and me; I know what belongs to Genies better than you. The Fumes of the Wine did not ſuffer me to hearken to her Reaſons; bur I gave the Taliſman a Kick with my Foot, and broke it in ſeveral Pieces.
At theſe Words Scheherazade perceiving Day, grew ſilent, and the Sultan got up, not doubting but the breaking of the Taliſman had ſome remarkable Event, and therefore reſolved to hear that Story to the end.
The Forty Fourth Night.
DInarzade being awake ſomewhat before Day, ſays to the Sultaneſs, Siſter, if you be not aſleep, I pray you acquaint us with what happen’d in the ſubrerranean Palace ​after the Prince had broke the Taliſman, I am juſt going to relate it, ſaid Scheherazade. Upon which reaſſuming her Narrative, ſhe continu’d her Diſcourſe thus, in the Perſon of the ſecond Callender.
The Taliſman was no ſooner broke, but the Palace began to ſhake, and was ready to ſall, with a hideous Noiſe like Thunder, accompanied with Flaſhes of Lightning, and a great Darkneſs. This terrible Noiſe in a Moment diſpell’d the Fumes of my Wine, and made me fentible, but too late, of the Folly I had committed. Princeſs, cry’d I, what means all this? She anſwer’d in a Fright, and without any Concern for her own Misfortunes, Alas, you’re undone if you do not eſcape preſently.
I followed her Advice, and my Fears were ſo great that I forgot my Hatchet and Cords. I was ſcarcely got to the Stairs by which I came down, till the inchanted Palace open’d at once, and made Paſſage for the Genie, He ask’d the Princeſs in great Anger, What has happen’d to you, and why did you call me? A Qualm at my Stomach, ſaid the Princeſs, made me fetch this Bottle which you ſee here, out of which I drank Twice or Thrice, and by Miſchance made a ſalſe Step, and fell upon the Taliſman, which is broke, and that is all the matter.
At this Anſwer, the furious Genie told her, You are a Falſe Woman, and a Liar; How came that Ax, and thoſe Ropes there? I never ſaw them till this Moment, ſaid the Princeſs. Your coming in ſuch an impetuous manner, has, it may be forc’d them up in ſome Place as you came along, and ſo brought them hither without your knowing it.
The Genie made no other Anſwer but what was accompanied with Reproaches and Blows, of which I heard the Noiſe. I could not endure to hear the pitiful Cries and Shouts of the Princeſs ſo cruelly abus’d. I had already laid off the Suit ſhe made me put on, and took my own, which I had laid on the Stairs the Day before, when I came out of the Bagnio: I made haſte up Stairs, being ſo much the more full of Sorrow and Compaſſion, that I had been the Cauſe of ſo great a Misfortune, and that by ſacrificing the faireſt Princeſs upon Earth to the Barbarity of a mercileſs Genie, I was become the moſt criminal and ungrateful of ​all Mankind. ’Tis true, ſaid I, ſhe has been a Priſoner this 25 Years; but, ſetting Liberty aſide, ſhe wanted nothing that could make her Happy, My Madneſs has put an End to our Happineſs, and brought her under the Cruelty of an unmerciful Devil; I let down the Trap-door, cover’d it again with Earth, and return’d to the City with a Burden of Wood, which I bound up without knowing what I did; ſo great was my Trouble and Sorrow.
My Landlord the Taylor was very much rejoyc’dto ſee me; your Abſence, ſaid he, has diſquieted me very much, by reaſon you had entruſted me with the Secret of your Birth, and | knew not what to think; I was afraid ſome Body had known you; God be thank’d for your Return, I thanked him for his Zeal and Affection, but never a Word durſt I ſay of what had paſt, nor the Reaſon why I came back without my Hatchet and Cords.
I retir’d to my Chamber, where I reproach’s myſelf a thouſand Times for my exceſſive Imprudence; nothing (ſaid I) could have paralleld the Princeſs’s good Fortune and mine, had I forborn to brake the Taliſman.
While I was thus giving my ſelf over to melancholy Thoughts, the Taylor came in, and told me, An old Man, ſaid he, whom I do not know, brings me here your Hatchet and Cords, which he found in his Way, as he tells me, and underſtood by your Comrades that go along with you to the Woods, that you lodge here; come out and ſpeak ito him, for he will deliver them to none but your ſelf.
At this Diicourſe, I chang’d Colour, and fell a trembling: While the Taylor was asking me the Reaſon, my Chamber Floor open’d at once, and the old Man, having no Patience to ſtay, appeared to us with my Hatchet and Cords. This was the Genie, the Raviſher of the ſair Princeſs of the Iſle of Ebene, who had thus diſguis’d himſelf, after he had treated her with the utmoſt Barbarity. I am a Genie, ſaid he, Son of the Daughter of Eblis, Prince of Genies; Is not this your Hatchet, ſaid he, ſpeaking to me, and are not theſe your Cords?
Here Scheherazade ſaw Day, and left off. The Sultan found the Story of the ſecond Callender too curious, not to ​deſire that he might hear it out, and therefore got up, with an Intention to hear the reſt next Morning.
The Forty Fifth Night.
THE Day following, Dinarzade call’d upon the Sultneſs, My dear Siſter, pray tell us how the Genie treated the Prince. I will ſatisfy your Curioſity, replied Scheherazade, and then re-aſlum’d her Story of the ſecond Callender, thus:
The Callender continuing his Diſcourſe to Zobeide, Madam, ſays he, After the Genie had put that Queſtion to me, he gave me no Time to anſwer, nor was it in my Power; ſo much had his terrible Aſpect put me beſide my ſelf. He graſp’d me by the Middle, dragg’d me out of the Chamber, and mounting into the Air, carried me up as high as the Skies with ſuch Swiftneſs, that I perceived I was got ſo high without being able to take notice of the Way he carried me in ſo few Moments. He deſcended again in like manner to the Earth, which on a ſudden he cauſed to open with a Knock of his Foot, and ſo ſunk down at once, where I found my ſelf in the inchanted Palace, before the fair Princeſsof the Iſle of Ebene. But alas, what a Spectacle was there! I ſaw that which pierc’d me to the Heart; this poor Princeſs was quite naked, all in Blood, and laid upon the Ground more like one dead than alive, with her Cheeks all bath’d in Tears.
Perfidious Wretch, ſaid the Genie to her, pointing at me, Is not this your Gallant? She caſt her languithing Eyes upon me, and anſwered mournfully, I do not know him, I never ſaw him till this Moment. What, ſaid the Genie, He is the Cauſe of thy being in the Condition thou art juſtly in; and yet dar’ſt thou ſay thou doſt not know him? If I do not know him, ſaid the Princeſs, would you have me to make a Lie on purpoſe to ruin him? Oh then, ſaid the Genie, pulling out a Scimiter, and preſenting it to the Princeſs, It you never ſaw him before, take the Scimiter and cut off his Head. Alias, replied the Princeſs, How is it poſſible that I ſhould execute what you would force me to ​do? My Strength is ſo far ſpent that I cannot lift up my Arm; and if I could, how ſhould I have the Heart to take away an innocent Man’s Life, and one I do not know? This Refuſal, ſaid the Genie to the Princeſs, ſufficiently informs me of the Crime. Upon which, turning to me, And thou (ſaid he) doſt thou not know her?
I ſhould have been the moſt ungrateful Wretch, and the moſt perfidious of all Mankind, if I had not ſhown my ſelf as ſaithful to the Princeſs as ſhe was to me, who had been the Cauſe of her Misfortunes. Therefore I anſwer’d the Genie, How ſhould I know her, that never ſaw her till now? If that be ſo, ſaid he, Take the Scimeter and cut off her Head: On this Condition I will ſet thee at Liberty, for then I ſhall be convinc’d that thou didſt never ſee her till this very Moment, as thou ſay’ſt thy ſelf. With all my Heart, reply’d I, and took the Scimeter in my Hand.
But, Sir, ſaid Scheherazade, ’tis Day, and I ought not to abuſe your Majeſty’s Patience. Theſe are wonderful Events, ſaid the Sultan to himſelf. We ſhall know to Morrow if the Prince was ſo cruel as to give Obedience to the Genie’s Command.
The Forty Sixth Night.
WHen the Night was near at an end Dinarzade calls upon the Sultaneſs, Siſter, if you be not aſleep, I would pray you to continue the Story which you could not finiſh Yeſterday, I will, ſaid Scheherazade, and without Loſs of Time you ſhall underſtand, that the ſecond Callender went on thus.
Do not think, Madam, that I drew near to the ſair Princeſs of the Ile Ebene, to be the Executioner of the Genie’s Barbarity, I did it only to demonſtrate by my Behaviour, as much as poſſible, that as ſhe had ſhown her Reſolution, to ſacrifice her Life for my ſake, that I would not refuſe to ſacrifice mine for hers. The Princeſs, notwithſtanding, her Pain and Suffering, underſtood my Meaning; which ſhe ſignified by an obliging Look, and made me underſtand her Willingneſs to die for me; and that ſhe was ſatisfied to ​ſee how willing I was alſo to die for her, Upon this I ſtept back and threw the Scimeter on the Ground, I ſhall for ever (ſays I to the Genie) be hateful to all Mankind, ſhould I be fo baſe as to murder, I do no only ſay a Perſon whom I do not know, but alſo a Lady like this; who is ready to give up the Ghoſt; do with me what you pleaſe, fince I am in your Power, I cannot obey your barbarous Commands.
I fee, ſaid the Genie, that you both outbrave me and inſult my Jealouſie; but both of you ſhall know by the Treatment I give you, what I am capable to do. At theſe Words the Monſter took up the Scimeter and cut off one of her Hands, which only left her ſo much Life as to give me a Token with the other, that ſhe bid me for ever Adieu. For the Blood ſhe had loſt before, and that which guſh’d out then, did not permit her to live above one or two Moments after this barbarous Cruelty; the Sight of which threw me into a Fit. When I was come to my ſelſ again, I expoſtulated with the Genie, why he made me languiſh in expectation of Death: Strike, cry’d I, for I am ready to receive the mortal Blow, and expect it as the greateſt Favour you can ſhow me. But inſtead of agreeing to that, Look ye, ſays he, how Genies treat their Wives whom they ſuſpect of Unfaithfulneſs; ſhe has receiv’d thee here: and were I certain that ſhe had put any further Affront upon me, I would make thee to die this Minute; but I will content my ſelf to transform thee into a Dog, Aſs, Lion or Bird, take thy choice of any of theſe, I will leave it to thy ſelf.
Theſe words gave me ſome Hopes to mollifie him, O Genie, ſaid I, moderate your Paſſion, and ſince you will not take away my Life, give it me generouſly, I ſhall always remember your Clemency, if you pardon me, as one of the beſt Men in the World pardoned one of his Neighbours that bore him a mortal Hatred, The Genie ask’d me what had paſſed between thoſe two Neighbours, and ſaid, he would have Patience till he heard the Story, which | told him thus; and I believe, Madam, you will not take it ill if I aſlo relate it to you.
The Story of the Envious Man, and of him that he Envied.
IN a conſiderable Town, two Perſons dwelt next Door to one another; one of them conceiv’d ſuch a violent Hatred againſt the other, that he who was hated, reſolv’d to remove his Dwelling farther off, being perſuaded that their being Neighbours was the only Cauſe from whence his Animoſity did ariſe: For tho’ he had done him ſeveral Pieces of Service, he found, nevertheleſs, that his Hatred was nothing diminiſh’d; therefore he ſold his Houſe with what Goods he had left, and retir’d to the Capitol City of that Kingdom, which was not far diſtant, He bought a little Spot of Ground, which lay about half a League from the City; he had a Houſe convenient enough, with a fine Garden and a pretty ſpacious Court, wherein there was a deep Well which was not in uſe.
The honeſt Man having made this Purchaſe, put on a Dervis or a Monk’s Habit, to lead a retired Life, and cauſed ſeveral Cells to be made in the Houſe, where in a ſhort time he eſtabliſh’d a numerous Society of Derviſes, he came ſoon to be publickly known by his Virtue, through which he acquired the Eſteem of a great many People, as well of the Commonaly as of the Chief of the City. In ſhort, he was extreamly honoured and cheriſhed by every one. People came from afar to recommend themſelves to his Prayers; and all thoſe who came to live with him publiſh’d what Bleſſings they received through his Means.
The great Reputation of this honeſt Man having ſpread through the Town from whence he came, it touch’d the envious Man ſo much to the quick, that he left his Houſe and Affairs with a Reſolution to go and ruin him: With this Intent he went to the new Convent of Derviſes, of which his former Neighbour was the Head; who received him with all imaginable Tokens of Friendſhip. The envious Man told him that he was come on purpoſe to communicate a Buſineſs of importance to him, which he could not do but in private: And becauſe that no-body ſhall hear us, let us, ​ſays he, take a walk in your Court; and ſeeing Night begins to draw on, command your Derviſes to retire to their Cells. The Head of the Derviſes did as he required.
When the envious Man ſaw that he was alone with this good Man, he begun to tell him his Errand, walking aſide by ſide in the Court till he ſaw his Opportunity; and getting the good Man near the Brink of the Well, he gave him a Thruſt and puſh’d him into it, without any Body’s being Witneſs to fo wicked an Action. Having done thus he marched off immediately, got out at the Gate of the Convent, without being known of any one, and came Home to his own Houle very well ſatisfied with his Journey, being fully perſuaded that the Object of his Hatred was no more in this World but found himſelf highly miſtaken.
Scheherazade could go no further becauſe Day began to appear. The Sultan conceived great Indignat ion againſt the envious Man, and ſays to himfelf, I heartily wiſh that no Hurt may come to this honeſt Man. I hope to hear to-morrow that Heaven did not forſake him on this Occaſion.
The Forty ſeventh Night.
IF you be not aſleep, Siſter, ſaid Dinarzade, next Morning, I conjure you to tell us if the honeſt Dervis came ſafe and ſound out of the Well. Yes, replied Scheherazade: And the ſecond Callender purſued his Story thus. The old Well, ſays he, was inhabited by Fairies and Genies, which happened luckily for the Relief of the Head of the Convent; for they received and ſupported him, and carried him to the Bottom, ſo that he got no Hurt. He perceived well enough that there was ſomething extraordinary in his Fall, which muſt otherwiſe have coſt him his Life; whereas he neither ſaw nor felt any thing. But he ſoon heard a Voice, which ſaid, Do you know what honeſt Man this is to whom we have done this Piece of Service? Another Voice anſwer’d, No. To which the firſt replied, Then I will tell you. This Man out of Charity, the greateſt that ever was known, left the Town he lived in, and has eſtabliſh’d himſelf in this Place, in hopes to cure one of ​his Neighbours of the Envy he had conceiv’d againſt him; he has acquired ſuch a general Eſteem, that the envious Man, not able to endure it, came hither on purpoſe to ruin him, which he had perform’d had it not been for the Aſſiſtance which we have given this honeſt Man, whoſe Reputation is ſo great, that the Sultan who keeps his Reſidence in the neighbouring City, was to pay him a Viſit to-morrow, to recommend the Princeſs hiſ Daughter to his Prayers.
Another Voice ask’d, What need had the Princeſs of the Dervis’s Prayers? To which the firſt anſwer’d, You do not know, it ſeems, that ſhe is poſſeſs’d by Genie Maimoun, the Son of Dimdim, who is fallen in Love with her. But know well how this good Head of the Dervifes may cure her; the Thing is very eaſy, and I will tell it you. He has a black Cat in his Convent with a white Spot at the End of her Tail, about the Bigneſs of a ſmall Piece of Silver Money, let him only pull ſeven Hairs out of this white Spot, burn them and ſmoke the Princeſs’s Head with the Fume, ſhe will not only preſently be cured, but be ſo ſafely deliver’d from Maimoun, the Son of Dimdim, that he will never dare to come near her a ſecond Time.
The Head of the Derviſes remembred every Word of this Diſcourſe between the Fairies and the Genies, who were very ſilent all the Night after. The next Morning by break of Day, that he could diſcern one Thing from another, the Well being broke down in ſeveral Places, he faw a Hole by which he crept out with eaſe.
The other Derviſes who had been ſeeking for him, were rejoyced to ſee him; he gave them a brief Account of the Wickedneſs of that Man to whom he had given ſo kind a Reception the Day before, and retired into his Cell. It was not long till the black Cat, of whom the Fairies and the Genies had made mention in their Diſcourſes the Night before, came to fawn upon her Maſter, as ſhe was accuſtomed to do; he took her up and pull’d out ſeven Hairs off the white Spot that was upon her Tail, and laid them aſide for his Uſe when Occaſion ſhould ſerve.
The Sun was not high when the Sultan, who would leave no means untried that he thought could reſtore the Princeſs to her perfect Health, arrived at the Gate of the ​Convent. He Commanded his Guards to halt, whilſt he with his principal Officers went in, The Derviſes received him with profound Reſpect.
The Sultan called their Head aſide, and ſays, Good Sheich, it may be, you know already the Cauſe of my coming hither. Yes, Sir, replies he very gravely, it I do not miſtake it, ’tis the Diſeaſe of the Princeſs which procures me this Honour that I have not deſerved. That’s the very Thing, replied the Sultan, You will give me new Life, if your Prayers, as I hope they will, can procure my Daughter’s Health. Sir, ſaid the good Man, if your Majeſty will be pleaſed to let her come hither, I am in hopes, that thro’ God’s Aſſiſtance and Favour, ſhe ſhall return in perfect Health.
The Prince, tranſported with Joy, ſent immediately to Fetch his Daughter, who very ſoon appear’d with a numerous train of Ladies and Eunuchs, but maſqued, ſo that her Face was not ſeen. The Chief of the Derviſes caus’d a Pall to be held over her Head, and he had no ſooner thrown the ſeven Tufts of Hair upon the burning Coals, but the Genie Maimoun, the Son of Dimdim, gave a great Cry without any Thing being ſeen, and left the Princeſs at Liberty; upon which ſhe took off the Veil from her Face, and roſe up to ſee where ſhe was, ſaying, Where am I, and who brought me hither? At which Words the Sultan overcome with Exceſs of Joy, embraced his Daughter, and kiſſed her Eyes; he alſo kiſſed the Chief of the Derviſes Hands, and ſaid to his Officers, Tell me your Opinion, What Reward does he, deſerve that has thus cured my Daughter? They all cry’d, He deſerves her in Marriage. That is what I had in my Thoughts, ſaid the Sultan; and I make him my Son-in-Law from this Moment. Some Time after the prime Viſier died, and the Sultan conferr’d the Place upon the Derviſe. The Sultan himſelf alſo died without Heirs male; upon which the religious Orders and the Militia gathered together, and the honeſt Man was declared and acknowledged Sultan by general Conſent.
Day-light appearing, Scheherazade was obliged to break off her Story. Schahriar look’d upon the Dervis to be worthy of the Crown he had got, but was deſirous to know ​if the envious Man did not die for Spite, and got up with an Intention to hear it next Night.
The Forty Eighth Night.
DInarzade, when it was time, addreſſed her Speech to the Sultaneſs, thus: My dear Siſter, ſaid ſhe, if you be not aſleep, I would pray you to conclude the Story of the hated and envious Man. With all my Heart, anſwers Scheherazade. The ſecond Callender continued his Story thus: The honeſt Dervis, ſaid he, being mounted on the Throne of his Father-in-law, as he was one Day in the midſt of his Courtiers upon a March, he eſpied the envious Man among the Crowd of People that ſtood as he paſt along, and calling one of the Viſiers that attended him, whiſper’d in his Ear thus; Go bring me that Man you ſee there; but have a care you do not frighten him. The Viſier obey’d, and when the envious Man was brought into his Preſence, the Sultan ſaid, Friend, I am extream glad to ſee you: Upon which he called to an Officer, Go immediately, ſays he, and cauſe to be paid this Man eut of my Treaſury 100 Pieces of Gold, let him have alſo 20 Load of the richeſt Merchandize in my Store-houſe, and a ſufficient Guard to conduct him to his Houſe. After he had given this Charge to the Officer, he bid the envious Man farewel, and proceeded on his March.
When I had finiſhed the Recital of this Story to the Genie, the Murtherer of the Princeſs of the Iſle of Ebene, I made the Application to himſeif thus, O Genie! You ſee here that this bountiful Sultan did not content himſelf to have forgot the Deſign of the envious Man to take away his Life, but treated him kindly, and ſent him back with all the Favours which I juſt now related, In ſhort, I made uſe of all my Eloquence, praying him to imitate ſuch a good Example, and to grant me Pardon: But it was impoſſible for me to move his Compaſſion.
All that I can do for thee, ſaid he, is, that I will not take thy Life; don’t flatter thy ſelf that I will ſend thee ſafe and ſound back, I muſt let thee feel what I am able to do by my ​Inchantments; with that he laid violent Hands on me, and carried me croſs the Vault of the ſubterrannean Palace, which opened to give him Paſſage, he flew up with me ſo high, that the Earth ſeemed to be only a little white Cloud; from thence he came down again like Lightning, and alighted upon the Ridge of a Mountain,
There he took up an Handful of Earth, and pronounced or rather mutter’d ſome Words which I did not underſtand, and threw it upon me, Leave the Shape of a Man, ſays he to me, and take on thee that of an Ape. He vaniſh’d immediately, and left me alone transform’d into an Ape overwhelm’d with Sorrow in a ſtrange Country, not knowing if I was near unto, or far from my Father’s Dominions,
I went down from the height of the Mountain, and came into a plain Country, which took me a Month’s time to travel through, and then I came to a Coaſt of the Sea, It happened to be then a great Calm, and I eſpied a Veſſel about half a League from the Shore: I would not loſe this good Opportunity,but broke off a large Branch from a Tree, which I carried with me to the Sea-ſide, and ſet my ſelf aſtride upon it, with a Stick in each Hand to ſerve me for Oars.
I launched out in this Poſture, and advanced near the Ship: When I was nigh enough to be known, the Seamen and Paſſengers that were upon the Deck thought it an extraordinary Spectacle, and all of ’em look’d upon me with great Aſtoniſhment. In the meantime I got aboard, and laying hold of a Rope, I jump’d upon the deck and having loſt my Speech, I found my ſelf in very great Perplexity; and indeed the Riſque I run then, was nothing leſs than when I was at the Mercy of the Genie.
The Merchants being both ſuperſtitious and ſcrupulous, believ’d I ſhould occaſion ſome Miſchief to their Voyage if they receiv’d me; therefore, ſays one, I will knock him down with an Hand-ſpike; ſays another, I will ſhoot an Arrow through his Guts; ſays a third, Let us throw him into the Sea. Some of them would not have fail’d to have executed their Deſign, if I had not got to that ſide where the Captain was, when I threw my ſelf at his Feet, and took him by the Coat in a begging Poſture. This ​Action, together with the Tears which he ſaw guſh from my Eyes, moved his Compaſſion; ſo that he took me into his Protection, threatned to be revenged on him that ſhould do me the leaſt Hurt; and he himſelf made very much of me. And on my part, though I had no Power to ſpeak, I did by my Geſtures, ſhew all poſſible Signs of Gratitude.
The Wind that ſucceeded the Calm was gentle and ſavourable, and did not alter for 50 Days, but brought us ſafe to the Port of a fine Town, well peopled, and of great Trade, where we came to an Anchor: It was ſo much the more conſiderable, that it was the Capital City of a powerful State.
Our Veſſel was ſpeedily ſurrounded with an infinite Number of Boats full of People, that either came to congratulate their Friends upon their ſafe Arrival, or to enquire for thoſe they had left behind them in the Country, from whence they came, or, out of Curiofity, to ſee a Ship that came from a ſar Country.
Aomgſt the reſt, ſome Officers came on board, deſiring to ſpeak with our Merchants in the Name of the Sultan, The Merchants appearing, one of the Officers told them, the Sultan, our Maſter, hath commanded us to acquaint you that he is glad of your ſafe Arrival, and prays you to take the Trouble, every one of you to write ſome Lines upon this Roll of Paper, and that his Deſign by this may be underſtood, you muſt know that we had a prime Viſier, who, beſides a great Capacity to manage Affairs, underſtood writing to the higheſt Perfection. This Miniſter is lately dead, at which the Sultan is very much troubled, and ſince he can never behold his writing without Admiration, he has made a ſolemn Vow, not to give the Place to any Man but to him that can write as well as he did. Abundance of People have preſented their Writings; but to this Day, no body in all this Empire has been judg’d worthy to ſupply the Viſier’s Place.
Thoſe Merchants that believed they could write well enough to pretend to his high Dignity, wrote one after another what they thought fit. After they had done, I advanc’d, and took the Roll out of the Gentleman’s Hand, But all the People, eſpecially the Merchants, cried out, He will tear it or throw it into the Sea, till they ſaw how pro-​perly I he!d the Roll; and made a Sign that T would write in my turn, Then they were of another Opinion, and their Fears turn’d into Admiration: However, ſince they had never ſeen an Ape that could write, nor could be perſuaded that I was more ingenious than other Apes, they offer’d to ſnatch the Roll out of my Hand; but the Captain took my part once more. Let him alone, ſaid he, ſuffer him to write. If he only ſcribles the Paper, I promiſe you that I will puniſh him upon the ſpot. If on the contrary he writes well, as I hope he will, becauſe I never ſaw an Ape ſo handy and ingenious, and ſo apprehenſive of every thing, I do declare that I will own him as my Son; I had one that had not by far the Wit that he has. Perceiving that no Man did any more oppoſe my Deſign, I took the Pen and wrote before I had done, ſix ſorts of Hands, us’d among the Arabians, and each ſpecimen extemporary Diſtich or Quatrain in praiſe of the Sultan. My Writing did not only out do that of the Merchants, but I dare ſay, they had not before ſeen any ſuch ſair Writing in that Country. When I had done, the Officers took the Roll and carried it to the Sultan.
Thus far was Scheherazade come with her Story when Day-light appear’d, Sir, ſaid ſhe to Schahriar, If I had time to continue, I would give your Majeſty an Account of Things far more ſurprizing than what I have already told, The Sultan, who had reſolved to hear the End of the Story, got up without ſaying one Word.
The Forty Ninth Night.
THE next Morning Dinarzade, being awake before Day, called the Suitaneſs, and ſaid, Siſter, if you be not aſleep, pray let us hear the reſt of the Adventures, that happened to the Ape. I believe my Lord the Sultan is no leſs curious to know it than my ſelf. You ſhall both be ſatisfied, anſwer’d Scheherazade, and that you may ſoon be eas’d of your Longing, the ſecond Callender continued his Story thus.
The Sultan took little Notice of any of the other Writings, but confider’d mine, which was ſo much to his liking that he ſays to the Officers, Take the fineſt Horſe in my ​$table, with the richeſt Harneſs, and a Robe of the moſt ſumptuous Brocard to put upon that Perſon who wrote thoſe ſix Hands, and bring him hither to me. At this Command the Officers could not forbear laughing; the Sultan grew angry at their Boldneſs, and were ready to puniſh them till they told him, Sir, we humbly beg your Majeſty’s Pardon, theſe Hands are not writ by a Man, but by an Ape. What do you ſay, ſays the Sultan? Thoſe admirable Characters, are they not writ by the Hand of a Man? No, Sir, replied the Officers, we do afſure your Majeſty, that it was an Ape, who wrote them in our Preſence. The Sultan was too much ſurpriz’d at this Account, not to deſire a fight of me, and therefore ſays, Do what I commanded you, and bring me ſpeedily that wonderful Ape.
The Officers returned to the Veſſel, and ſhew’d the Captain their, Order, who anſwer’d, the Sultan’s Commands muſt be obey’d. Whereupon they cloath’d me with that rich Brocard-Robe, and carried me a-ſhore, where they ſet me on Horſeback whilſt the Sultan waited for me at the Palace with a great Number of Courtiers, whom he gather’d together to do me the more Honour.
The Cavalcade being begun, the Harbour, the Streets, the publick Places, Windows, Terraſes, Palaces and Houſes were all fil’d with an infinite Number of People of all ſorts, who were curious to come from all Parts of the City to ſee me: For the Rumour was ſpread in a Moment, that the Sultan had choſen an Ape to his Grand-Viſier; and after having ſerved for a Speectacle to the People, who could not forbear to expreſs their Surprize by redoubling their Shouts and Cries, I arrived at the Palace of the Sultan.
I found the Prince ſat on his Throne in the midſt of the Grandees; I made my Bow three times very low, and at laſt I kneel’d and kiſs’d the Ground before him, and afterwards ſat down in my Seat in the Poſture of an Ape. The whole Aſſembly admired me, and could not comprehend how it was poſſible that an Ape ſhould underſtand ſo well to give the Sultan his due Reſpect; and he himſelf was more aſtoniſh’d than any Man. In ſhort, the Ceremony of the Audience would have been compleat, could I have added a Speech to my Behaviour but Apes do never ſpeak, and the Advantage I had of having been a Man did not allow me that Privilege, ​The Sultan diſmiſs’d his Courtiers, and none remain’d by him but the Chief of his Eunuchs, a little young Slave and my ſelf. He went from his Chamber of Audience into his own Apartment, where he ordered Dinner to be brought. As he ſat at Table he gave me a Sign to come near and eat with him: To ſhow my Obedience, I kiſſed the Ground, ſtood up, ſat me down at Table, and eat with Diſcretion and moderately.
Before the Table was uncovered, I eſpied an Inkhorn, which I made a ſign ſhould be brought me; having got it I wrote upon a large Peach ſome Verſes after my way, which teſtified my Acknowledgment to the Sultan; who, having read them after my preſenting him the Peach, it increaſed his Aſtoniſhment. When the Table was uncover’d, they brought him a particular Liquor, of which he caus’d them to give me a Glaſs: I drank, and wrote ſome new Verſes upon it, which explained the State I was in after a great many Sufferings. The Sultan read them likewiſe, and ſaid, An Ape that was capable of doing ſo much, ought to be exalted above the greateſt of Men.
The Sultan cauſed them to bring in a Cheſs-board, and asked me by a Sign, if I underſtood that Game, and would play with him? I kifled the Ground, and laying my Hand upon my Head, ſignified that I was ready to receive that Honour. He won the firſt Game, but I won the ſecond and third; and perceiving he was ſomewhat diſpleaſed at it, made a Quatrain to pacifie him, in which I told him, That two potent Armies had been fighting very eagerly all Day, but that they made up a Peace towards the Evening and paſſed the remaining part of the Night very peaceably together upon the Field of Battle.
So many Things appearing to the Sultan, ſar beyond whatever any one had either ſeen or known of the Behavour and Knowledge of Apes, he would not be the only Witneſs of theſe Prodigies himſelf; but having a Daughter, called the Lady of Beauty, to whom the Head of the Eunuchs then preſent was Governor, Go, ſaid the Sultan to him, and bid your Lady come hither: I am willing ſhe ſhould have a Share in my Pleaſure.
The Eunuch went, and immediately brought the Princeſs, who had her Face uncover’d; but ſhe was no ſoonet got into the Room, when ſhe put on her Veil, and ſaid to ​the Sultan, Sir, your Majeſty muſt needs have forgot your ſelf; I am very much ſurprized that your Majeſty has ſent for me to appear among Men. How Daughter! ſaid the Sultan, you do not know what you ſay! Here is no body but the little Slave, the Eunuch your Governor, and my ſelf, who has the Liberty to ſee your Face; and yet you lower your Veil, and would make me a Criminal in having ſent for you hither. Sir, ſaid the Princeſs, Your Majeſty ſhall ſoon underſtand that I am not in the wrong. That Ape you ſee before you, tho’ he had the Shape of an Ape, is a young Prince, Son of a great King; he has been metamorphiz’d into an Ape by Inchantment. A Genie, the Son of the Daughter of Eblis, has maliciouſly done him this Wrong, after having cruelly taken away the Life of the Princeſs of the Iſle of Ebene, Daughter to the King Epitimarus.
The Sultan afſtoniſh’d at this Diſcourſe, turned towards me, and ſpoke no more by Signs, but in plain Words asked me, if it was true what his Daughter aid? Seeing I cou’d not ſpeak, I put my Hand to my Head to ſignify that what the Princeſs ſpoke was true. Upon this the Sultan ſaid again to his Daughter, How do you know that this Prince has been transform’d by inchantments into an Ape? Sir, replied the Lady of Beauty, your Majeſty may remember, that when I was paſt my Infancy, I had an old Lady waited upon me, ſhe was a moſt expert Magician, and taught me 70 Rules of Magick, by Virtue of which I can tranſport your capital City into the midſt of the Sea in the Twinkling of an Eye, or beyond Mount Cancaſus. By this Science I know all inchanted Perſons at firſt Sight: I know who they are, and by whom they have been Inchanted; therefore do not admire if I ſhould forthwith relieve the Prince in deſpight of the Inchantments, from that which hinders him to appear in your ſight what he naturally is. Daughter, ſaid the Sultan, I did not believe you to have underſtood ſo much. Sir, replied the Princeſs, theſe Things are curious and worth knowing; but I think I ought not to bragg of them. Since it is ſo, ſaid the Sultan, you can diſpel the Prince’s Inchantment. Yes, Sir, ſaid the Princeſs, I can reſtore him to his firſt Shape again. Do it then, ſaid the Sultan, you cannot do me a greater Pleaſure; for will have him to be my Viſier, and he ſhall ​marry you. Sir, ſaid the Princeſs, I am ready to obey you in all that you ſhall be pleas’d to command me.
Scheherazade, as ſhe ſpoke, ſpied Day, and broke off her Story of the fecond Callender: And Schahriar judging the Sequel wou’d be as diverting as the former Part of it, reſolved to hear it next Day.
The Fiftieth Night.
DInazade call’d upon the Sultaneſs at the uſual Hour, ſaying, Siſter, if you be not aſleep, pray do us the Favour to tell us how the Lady of Beauty reſtor’d the ſecond Callender to his former Shape. You ſhall hear it, ſaid Scheherazade; The Callender reſum’d his Diſcourſe thus,
The Princeſs, the Lady of Beauty, went into her Apartment, from whence the brought a knife, which had ſome Hebrew Words engraven on the Blade: She made us all viz. the Sultan, the Maſter of the Eunuchs, the little Slave and my ſelf, to go down into a private Court adjoining to the Palace, and there left us under a Gallery that went round it. She placed her ſelf in the middle of the Court, where ſhe made a great Circle, and within it ſhe wrote ſeveral Words in Arabian Characters, ſome of them ancient, and others of thoſe which they call the Character of Cleopatra.
When She had finiſhed and prepared the Circle as ſhe thought fit, ſhe placed her ſelf in the Center of it, where ſhe began Adjurations, and repeated Verſes out of the Alcoran. The Air grew inſentibly dark, as if it had been Night, and the World about to be diflolved: We found our ſelves ſtruck with a panick Fear, and this Fear encreaſed the more when we ſaw the Genie, the Son of the Daughter of Eblis, appear all of a ſudden in the Shape of a Lion of a frightful Size.
As ſoon as the Princeſs perceived this Monſter, You Dog, ſaid ſhe, inſtead of creeping before me, dare you preſent your ſelf in this Shape, thinking to frighten me? And thou, reply’d the Lion, art thou not afraid to break the Treaty which was ſolemnly made and confirm’d between us by Oath, not to wrong or do one another any Hurt? Oh ​thou curſed Creature! reply’d the Princeſs, I can juſtly reproach thee with doing ſo. The Lion anſwered fiercely, thou ſhalt quickly have thy Reward for the Trouble thou hiſt given me to return: With that he opened histerrible Throat, and run at her to devour her; but ſhe, being on her Guard, leap’d backward, got Time to pull out one of her Hairs, and by pronouncing three or four Words, chang’d her ſelf into a ſharp Sword, wherewith ſhe cut the Lion through the Middle in two Pieces.
The Two parts of the Lion vaniſhed, and the Head only was left, which changed it ſelf into a large Scorpion. Immediately the Princeſs turn’d her ſelf into a Serpent, and fought the Scorpion; who, finding himſelf worſted, took the Shape of an Eagle, and flew away: But the Serpent at the ſame time took alſo the ſhape of an Eagle that was black and much ſtronger, and purſued him; ſo that we loſt the Sight of them both.
Some time after they had diſappeared, the Ground opened before us, and out of it came forth a Cat, black and white, with her Hair ſtanding upright, and keeping a fearful Miauling; a black Wolf followed her cloſe, and gave her no Time to reſt. The Cat being thus hard beſet, changed her ſelf into a Worm; and being nigh to a Pomgranate that had accidentally fallen from a Tree that grew on the Side of a Canal, which was deep but not broad; the Worm pierced the Pomegranate in an Inſtant, and hid it ſelf, but the Pomgranate ſwell’d immediately, and became as big as a Gourd, which mounting up to the Top of the Gallery, rowl’d there for ſome Space backward and forward, fell down again into the Court, and broke into ſeveral Pieces.
The Wolf, who had in the mean while transformed it ſelf into a Cock, fell a picking up the Seeds of the Pomgranate one after another, but finding no more he came towards us with his Wings ſpread, making a great Noiſe, as if he would ask us whether there was any more Seed. There was one lying on the Brink of the Canal, which the Cock perceiving as he went back, run ſpeedily thither; but juſt as he was going to pick it up, the Seed roul’d into the River and turn’d into a little Fiſh.
But I ſee Day, Sir, ſaid Scheherazade, which had it not come ſo ſuddenly, I am perſuaded that which I ſhould have ​ſaid further would have given your Majeſty a great deal of Satisfaction. Upon this ſhe ſtop’d and the Sultan aroſe; his Thoughts being altogether taken up with unheard of Adventures, he was extreamly impatient till he heard the reſt of the Story.
The Fifty firſt Night.
DInarzade made no Scruple to diſturb the Sultaneſs next Morning, and call’d to her, Siſter, If you be not aſleep, pray begin where you left off that wonderful Story laſt Night, I am very deſirous to know what followed after all thoſe Metamorphoſes. Scheherazade call’d to mind where ſhe made a Stop, and addreſſing her Diſcourſe to the Sultan, Sir, ſays ſhe, the ſecond Callender continued his Story after this manner.
The Cock jump’d into the River and was turned into a Pike that purſued the ſmall Fiſh; they continued both under Water above two Hours and we knew not what was become of them, but all of a ſudden we heard terrible Cries which made us to quake, and a little while after we ſaw the Genie and Princeſs all in Flames: They threw Flaſhes of Fire out of their Mouths at one another, till they came to it Hand to Hand, then the two Fires increaſed, with a thick burning Smoak, which mounted ſo high that we had Reaſon to fear it would ſet the Palace on Fire. But we very ſoon had a more preſſing Occaſion of Fear, for the Genie having got looſe from the Princeſs, came to the Gallery where we ſtood, and blew Flames of Fire upon us: We had all periſhed if the Princeſs, running to our Aſſiſtance, had not forc’d him by her Efforts, to retire and defend himſelt againſt her; yet notwithſtanding all her Diligence ſhe could not hinder the Sultan’s Beard from being burnt and his Face ſpoil’d; the chief of the Eunuchs from being ſtifled and burnt on the Spot, nor a Spark to enter my Right-Eye and make it blind. The Sultan and I expected nothing but Death, when we heard a cry, Victory, Victory; and all of a ſudden the Princeſs appeared in her natural Shape, but the Genie was reduc’d to an Heap of Aſhes.
The Princeſs came-near to us, and that ſhe might not loſe Time, cal’d for a Cup full of Water, which the young ​Slave that had got no Damage, brought her: She took it, and after pronouncing ſome Words over it, threw it upon me, laying, If thou art become an Ape by Inchantmont, change thy Shape and take that of a Man which thou hadſt before. Theſe Words were hardly utter’d till I became a Man, as I was before, one Eye only excepted.
I was preparing my ſelf to give Thanks to the Princeſs, but ſhe prevented me, by addreſſing her ſelf to her Father thus, Sir, I have got the Victory over the Genie, as your Majeſty may ſee; but it’s a Victory that coſts me dear; I have but a few Moments to live, and you will not have the Satisfaction to make the Match you intended, the Fire has pierced me during the terrible Combat, and I find it conſumes me by degrees: This would not have happen’d had I perceived the laſt of the Pomgranate Seed, and ſwal- low’d it as I did the other, when I was chang’d into a Cock: The Genie had fled thither as to his laſt Intrenchment, and upon that the Succeſs of the Combat depended, which would have been ſucceſsful and without Danger to me. This lip oblig’d me to have recourſe to Fire, and to fight with thoſe mighty Arms as I did between Heaven and Earth, in your Preſence; for in ſpite of all his redoubtable Art and Experience, I made the Genie to know that I underſtand more than he, I have conquer’d and reduc’d him to Aſhes, but I cannot eſcape Death which is approaching.
Here Scheherazade broke off the Story of the ſecond Callender, and ſaid to the Sultan, Sir, Day- light appears which forbids me to ſay any more; but if your Majeſty thinks fit to let me live till to-morrow, you ſhall hear the End of this Story. Schahriar conſented and got up according to Cuſtom, to take care of the Affairs of his Empire.
The Fifty ſecond Night.
DInarzade awaking ſome Time before Day, called upon the Sultaneſs, and ſaid, My dear Siſter, if you be not aſleep, I would pray you to finiſh the Story of the ſecond Callender. Scheherazade reſum’d her Diſcourſe; and went on as follows:
The Callender always directing his Speech to Zobeide, told her, Madam, the Sultan ſuffered the Princeſs, the Lady of ​Beauty, to go on with the Recital of her Combat. And when ſhe had done, he ſpoke to her in a Tone that ſufficiently teſtified his Grief. My Daughter ſaid he, you ſee in what Condition your Father is; alas! I wonder that I am yet alive! Your Governor, the Eunuch, is dead, and the Prince whom you have delivered from his Enchantment has loſt one of his Eyes. He could ſpeak no more, for his Tears, Sighs, and Sobs made him Speechleſs; his Daughter and I were exceeding ſenſible of his Sorrow, and wept with him.
In the mean Time, while we were ſtriving to out-do one another in Grief, the Princeſs cry’d, I burn, Oh I burn. She found that the Fire which conſumed her, had at laſt ſeiz’d upon her whole Body, which made her ſtill cry, I burn, until Death had made an end of her intolerable Pains. The Effect of that Fire was ſo extraordinary, that in a few Moments ſhe was wholly reduc’d to Aſhes, as was the Genie.
I can’t tell you, Madam, how much I was grieved at ſo diſmal a Spectacle: I had rather all my Life have continued an Ape or a Dog, than to have ſeen my Benefactreſs thus miſerably periſh. The Sultan being afflited beyond all that can be imagin’d, cried out piteouſly, and beat himſelf on his Head and Stomach until ſuch time as, being quite overcome with Grief, he fainted away, which made me Fear his Life. In the mean time the Eunuchs and Officers came running at the Sultan’s Cries, and with very much ado brought him to himſelf again, There was no need of that Prince and me to give them a long Narrative of this Adventure, in order to convince them of their great Grief. The two Heaps of Aſhes, into which the Princeſs and the Genie had been reduc’d, was Demonſtration enough. The Sultan was hardly able to ſtand upright, but was forced to be ſupported by them till he could get to his Apartment.
When the Noiſe of the tragical Event had ſpread itſelf through the Palace and the City, all the People bewail’d the Misfortune of the Princeſs, the Lady of Beauty, and were ſenſible of the Sultan’s Affliction, Every one was in deep Mourning for ſeven Days, and a great many Ceremonies were perform’d: The Aſhes of the Genie were thrown into the Air, but thoſe of the Princeſs were gather’d into a precious Urn to be kept, and the Urn was ſet ​in a ſtately Tomb, which was built for that purpoſe, on the ſame Place where the Aſhes had laid,
The Grief which the Sultan conceived for the Loſs of his Daughter threw him into a fit of Sickneſs which confined him to his Chamber tor a whole Month. He had not fully recovered Strength when he ſent for me, Prince, ſaid he, Hearken to the Orders which I now give you, it will coſt you your Life if you do not put them in Execution. I afſur’d him of exact Obedience; upon which he went on thus; I have conſtantly lived in perfect Felicity, and was never croſſed by any Accident; but by your Arrival all my Happineſs I poſſeſſed is vaniſhed, my Daughter is dead, her Governor is no more, and it is through a Miracle that I am yet alive. You are the Cauſe of all thoſe Misfortunes, for which it is impoſſible that I ſhould be comforted; therefore depart from hence in Peace, but without further Delay, ſor I my ſelf muſt periſh if you ſtay any longer; I am perſuaded, that your Preſence brings Miſchief along with it: That is all I have to ſay to you. Depart, and take care of ever appearing again in my Dominions; there is no Conſideration whatſoever, that ſhall hinder me from making you repent of it. I was going to ſpeak, but he ſtopt my Mouth by Words full of Anger; and ſo I was oblig’d to remove from his Palace, rejected, baniſh’d, thrown off by all the World, and not knowing what would become of me, Before I left the City I went into a Bagnio, where I caus’d my Beard and my Eye-brows to be ſhav’d, and put on a Callender’s Habit. I began my Journey, not ſo much deploring my own Miſeries, as the Death of the two fair Princeſſes, of which I have been the Occaſion, I paſſed through many Countries without making my ſelf known; at aſt I reſolv’d to come to Bagdad, in hopes to get my ſelf introduc’d to the Commander of the Faithful to move his Compaſſion, by giving him an Account of my ſtrange Adventures. I came hither this Evening, and the firſt Man I met was this Callender, our Brother, that ſpoke before me. You know the remaining Part, Madam, and the Cauſe of my having the Honour: to be here.
When the ſecond Callender made an end of his Story, Zobeide, to whom he had addreſs’d his Speech, told him, ’Tis very well, you may go which way you pleaſe, I give you leave; but inſtead of departing, he alſo petition’d the Lady ​to ſhow him the ſame Favour ſhe had vouchſafed the firſt Callender, and went and ſat down by him: But, Sir, ſaid Scheherazade, as ſhe ſpoke theſe Words, ’Tis Day, and I muſt go no further. I dare however aſſure you, that how agreeable ſoever the Story of the ſecond Callender may ſeem to you, that of the third will be no leſs Worthy of your hearing, if your Majeſty will be pleas’d to have the Patience. The Sullan being deſirous to know whether it would appear ſo wonderful as the laſt, got out of Bed with a Reſolution to prolong Scheherazade’s Life further, tho’ the Delay he had granted was determined ſeveral Days before.