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

The Fifty third Night.
ABOUT the latter end of the following Night, Dinarzade addreſs’d her Speech to the Sultaneſs thus: Dear Siſter, I pray, until Day appear, which will be very ſoon, be pleas’d to relate ſome of the fine Stories you have read: I would willingly, ſaid Schahriar, hear the Story of the third Callender, Sir, replied Scheherazade, you ſhall be obey’d. The third Callemder, perceiving it was his Turn to ſpeak, addreſs’d his Speech as the reſt had done to Zobeide, and began in this manner.
The Story of the Third Callender, a King’s Son.
    Moſt Honourable Lady.
THAT which I am going to tell you, very much differs from what you have heard already. The two Princes that ſpoke before me, have each loſt an Eye by the pure Effects of their Deſtiny, but mine I loſt through my own fault, and by haſtning to ſeek my own Misfortune, as you ſhall hear by the Sequel of my Story.
My Name is Agib, and I am the Son of a King who was called Caffib: After his Death I took Poſſeſſion of his Dominions, and reſided in the ſame City where he had live’d before, This City is ſituated on the Sea-Coaſt, has one of the fineſt and ſafeſt Harbours in the World, an Arſenal large enough for fitting out 50 Men of War to Sea, that are always ready on Occaſion, and alſo to fit out 50 Merchant Ships, with as many light Frigats, and Pleaſure Boats for Recreation. My Kingdom is compoſed of ſeveral fine Provinces upon Terra firma, belides a number of ſpacious I-​ſlands, every one of which lie almoſt in ſight of my Capital City.
The firſt thing I did was to viſit the Provinces: I afterwards caus’d to fit out and man my whole Fleet, and went to my Iſlands to gain the Hearts of my Subjects by my Preſence, and to confirm them in their Loyalty; and ſome time after I return’d, I went thither again, Theſe Voyages giving me fome Taſte of Navigation, I took ſo much pleaſure in it, that I reſolv’d to make ſome Diſcoveries beyond my Iſlands; to which end I cauſed only ten Ships to be fitted out, embark’d on board them, and ſet Sail.
Our Voyage was very ſucceſsful for 40 Days together, but on the 41ſt Night the Wind became contrary, and withal fo boiſterous, that we were like to have been loſt in the Storm. About Break of Day the Wind grew calm and the clouds were difpers’d, and the Sun having brought back fair Weather, we came cloſe to an Iſland, where we remain’d two Days to take in freſh Proviſions; this being done, we put off again to Sea. After ten Days Sail we were in hopes of ſeeing Land, for the Tempeſts we had gone through had ſo much abated my Curiofity, that I gave Orders to ſteer back to my own Coaſts; but I perceived at the ſame time that my Pilot knew not where we were. Upon the 10th Day, a Seaman being ſent to look out for Land from the Main-maſthead, he gave notice, that on Starboard and Larboard he could ſee nothing but the Sky and the Sea, which bounded the Horizon; but juft before us upon the Stem, he ſaw a great Blackneſs.
The Pilot chang’d Colour at this Relation, and throwing his Turban on the Deck with one Hand, and beating his Breaſt with t’other, cried, Oh, Sir, we are all loſt, not one of us will eſcape; and with all my Skill it is not in my Power to prevent it! Having ſpoke thus, he fell a crying like a Man who foreſaw unavoidable Ruin; his Deſpair put the whole Ship’s Crew into a Terror. I ask’d him what reaſon he had thus to deſpair? He told me, the Tempeſt, which he had out-liv’d, had brought us ſo for out of our Courſe, that to morrow about Noon we ſhall come near to that black Place, which is nothing elſe but the black Mountain that is a Mine of Adamant, which at this very Minute draws all your Fleet towards it, by virtue of the Iron and Nails that are in your Ships; and when we come to-morrow at a Certain Diſtance, ​the ſtreugth of the Adamant will have ſuch a Force, that all the Nails will be drawn out of the Sides and Bottoms of the Ships, and faſten to the Mountain, ſo that your Veſſel will fall to pieces, and ſink to the bottom. And as the Adamant has a Virtue to draw all Iron to it, whereby its Attraction becomes ſtronger, this Mountain on the ſide of the Sea is all cover’d over with Nails, drawn out of an infinite Number of Veſſels that have periſh’d by it; and this preſerves and augments it’s Virtue at the ſame time.
This Mountain, continues the Pilot, is very rugged, on the top of it, there’s a Dome of fine Braſs, ſupported by Pillar, of the ſame, and upon the top of that Dome there ſtands a Horſe of the ſame Metal, with a Rider on his Back, who has a Plate of Lead fix’d to his Breaſt, upon which ſome Taliſmanical Characters are engraven: Sir, the Tradition is, That this Statue is the chief Cauſe that ſo many Ships and Men have been loſt and ſunk in this Place, and that it will ever continue to be diſmal to all thoſe that have the Misfortune to come near it, until ſuch time that it ſhall be thrown down.
The Pilot, having ended his Diſcourſe, began to weep afreſh, and this made all the reſt of the Ship’s Company do the like. I my ſelf had no other Thoughts, but that my Days were to have an end: In the mean time every one began to provide for his own Safety, and to that end took all imaginable Precautions, and, being uncertain of the Event, they all made one another their Heirs, by virtue of a Will for the Benefit of thoſe that ſhould happen to be ſaved.
The next Morning we perceived the black Mountain very plain, and the Idea we had conceived of it made it appear more frightful than it was. About Noon we were come ſo near, that we found what the Pilot had foretold to be true, for we ſaw all the Nails and Iron about the Ships fly towards the Mountain, where they fix’d, by the Violence of the Attraction, with a horrible Noiſe; the Ships ſplit aſunder, and ſunk into the Sea which was ſo deep about that Place that we could not ſound it. All my People were drown’d, but God had Mercy on me, and permitted me to ſpare my ſelf by means of a Plank, which the Wind drove aſhore juſt at the Foot of the Mountain: I did not receive the leaſt Hurt, and my good Fortune brought me to a Landing-Place, where there were Steps that went up to the top of the Mountain.
​Scheherazade would have gone on with her Story, but Day appearing ſhe was oblig’d to keep ſilence The Sultan was convinc’d by this beginning, that the Sultaneſs had not deceived him, and therefore we are not to wonder that he did not order her to die that Day.
The Fifty Fourth Night.
FOR the ſake of Heay’n, cry’d Dinzrzade next Morning, If you benot aſleep, Siſter, go on with the Story of the third Callender, My dear Sitter, ſaid Scheherazade, the Prince renewed his Diſcourſe thus.
At the Sight of theſe Steps, ſaid he, for there was not a bit of Ground either on the Right or Left whereon a Man could ſet his Foot, I gave thanks to God, and recommended my ſelf to his holy Protection as I began to mount the Steps, which were ſo narrow, rugged and hard to get up, that had the Wind blown ever ſo little it would have thrown me down into the Sea. But at laſt I got up to the top without any Accident, I came into the Dome, and kneeling on the Ground, gave God thanks for his Mercies to me.
I paſs’d the Night under the Dome, and in my Sleep an old grave Man appear’d to me, and ſaid, Hearken Agib, as ſoon as thou art awake, dig up the Ground under thy Feet; thou ſhalt find a Bow of Braſs, and three Arrows of Lead, that are made under certain Conſtellations, to deliver Mankind from ſo many Calamities that threaten them. Shoot the three Arrows at the Statue, and the Rider ſhall fall into the Sea, but the Horſe will fall down by thy Side, which thou muſt bury in the ſame Place from whence you took the Bow and Arrows: This being done, the Sea will ſwell and riſe up to the Foot of the Dome that ſtands upon the Top of the Mountain: When it is come up ſo high, thou ſhalt ſee a Boat with one Man, and an Oar in each Hand: this Man is alſo of Metal, but different from that thou haſt thrown down; ſtep on board to him, without mentioning the Name of God, and let him conduct thee. He will in ten Days time bring thee into another Sea, where thou ſhalt find an Opportunity to get home to thy Country ſafe and ſound provided, as I have told thee, thou doſt not mention the Name of God during the whole Voyage.
​This was the Contents of the old Man’s Diſcourſe. When I awak’d I was very much comforted by this Viſion and did not fail to obſerve every thing that he had commanded me. I took the Bow and Arrows out of the Ground, ſhot ’em at the Horſeman, and with the third Arrow I overthrew him, and he fell into the Sea, as the Horſe fell by my fide, which I buried in the Place whence took the Bow and Arrows; and in the mean time the Sea ſwell and roſe up by Degrees: When it came as high as the Foot of the Dome that ſtood upon the Top of the Mountain, ſaw afar off a Boat rowing towards me, and I return’d God thanks that every thing ſucceeded according to my Dream.
At laſt the Boat came aſhore, and I ſaw the Man was made of Metal. According as I had dreamt, I ſtept aboard, and took great heed not to pronounce the Name of God, neither ſpoke I one Word at all; I ſat down, and the Man of Metal began to row off from the Mountain: He row’d without ceaſing till the ninth Day, that I ſaw ſome Iſlands, which put me in hopes that I ſhould be out of all the Danger that I was afraid of. The Exceſs of my Joy made me forget what I was forbidden todo: God’s Name be blef, ſaid I, The Lord be praiſed.
I had no ſooner ſpoke thoſe Words, but the Boat ſunk with the Man of Metal, and leaving me upon the Surface, I ſwam the remaining part of the Day towards that Land which appeared neareſt to me. A very dark Night ſucceeded, and not knowing where-abouts I was, I ſwam a a venture; my Strength beganat laſt to fail, and I deſpaired of being able to ſave my ſelf; when the Wind began to blow hard, and a Wave as big as a Mountain threw me on a Flat, where it left me, and drew back. I made haſte to get aſhore, fearing another Wave might waſh me back again: The firſt thing I did was to ſtrip and wring the Water out of my Cloaths, and then laid them down to dry on the Sand, which was ſtill pretty warm by the Heat of the Day.
Next Morning the Sun dried my Cloaths betimes, I put them on, and went forward to ſee where-abouts I. was; I had not walked very far, till I found I was got upon a little deſart Iſland, though very pleaſant, where there grew ſeveral ſorts of Trees and wild Fruits; but perceived it was very far from the Continent, which much diminiſhed the ​Joy I conceived for having eſcaped the Danger of the Seas. Notwithſtanding, I recommended my ſelf to God, and pray’d him to diſpoſe of me according to his good Will and Pleaſure; at the ſame time I ſaw a Veſſel coming from the main Land, before the Wind, directly to the Iſland. I doubted not but they were coming to anchor there, and being uncertain what ſort of People they might be, whether Friends or Foes, I thought it not ſafe for me to be ſeen, I got up into a very thick Tree, from whence I might ſafely view them. The Veſſel came into a little Creek, where ten Slaves landed, carrying a Spade and other Inſtruments fit for digging up the Ground; they went towards the middle of the Iſland, where I ſaw them ſtop and dig the Ground a long while, after which I thought I ſaw them lift up a Trap-Door. They returned again to the Veſſel and unladed ſeveral forts of Provifion and Furniture, which they carried to that Place where they had broke Ground, and ſo went downward, which made me ſuppoſe it was a subrerranean Being.
I ſaw them once more go to the Ship, and return ſoon after with an old Man, who led a very handſome young Lad in his Hand of about 14 or 15 Years of age; they all went down at the Trap-Door. And being come up aga’n, having let down the Trap-Door and cover’d it over with Earth, they return’d to the Creek where the Ship lay, but I ſaw not the young Man in their Company: this made me believe that he ſtay’d behind in that Place under-ground, at which I could not but be extreamly aſtoniſhed.
The old Man and the Slaves went aboard again, and the Veſſel having got under ſail ſteer’d its Courſe towards the main Land, When I perceiv’d they were at ſuch diſtance that they could not ſee me. I came down from the Tree, and went directly to the Place where I had ſeen the Ground broke; I removed the Earth by degrees, till I found a Stone that was two or three Foot ſquare. I lifted it up and ſaw it cover’d the Head of the Stair, which was alſo of Stone, I went down and came into a large Room, where there was laid a Foot-Carpet, and a Couch cover’d with Tapiſtry, and Cuſhions of rich Stuff, upon which the young Man ſat with a Fan in his Hand. I ſaw all this by the Light of two Tapers, together with the Fruits and Flower-Pots he had ſtanding about him, The young Lad was ſtartled ​at the ſight of me. But to rid him of his Fear, I ſpoke to him as I came in, thus; Whoever you be, Sir, do not fear any thing, a King, and the Son of a King, as I am, is not capable of doing you any Prejudice. On the contrary, it’s probable, that your good Deſtiny has brought me hither, to deliver you out of this Tomb, where, it ſeems, they have buried you alive, for Reaſons unknown to me. But that which makes me wonder, and what I cannot conceive (for you muſt know that I have been Witneſs to all that hath paſſed fince your coming into this Iſland) is, that you ſuffered your ſelf to be buried in this Place without any Reſiſtance.
Scheherazade broke off here, and the Sultan aroſe very impatient to know why this young Lad was thus abandoned in a deſart Iſland, as to which he promis’d himſelf Satisſaction next Night.
The Fifty Fifth Night.
DInarzade perceiving it was time to call upon the Sultaneſs ſaid, Siſter, it you be not aſleep, pray re-aſſume the Story of the third Callender, Scheherazade gave her no occaſion to repeat her requeſt, and went on in this manner:
The young Man, continued the third Callender, recovered himſelf theſe Words, and pray’d me, with a ſmiling Countenance, to ſit down by him; which when I had done, he ſaid, Prince, I am to acquaint you with a Matter ſo odd in it ſelf, that it cannot but ſurprize you.
My Father is a Merchant-Jeweller, who has acquired thro’ his Ingenuity in his Calling, a great Eſtate; he hath a great many Slaves, and alſo Deputies, whom he employ’s to go as Super-Cargoes to Sea with his own Ships, on purpoſe to maintain the Correſpondence he has at ſeveral Courts, which he furniſhes with ſach precious Stones as they want.
He had been married a long while and without Iſſue, when he underſtood by a Dream that he ſhould have a Son, though his Life would be but ſhort, at which he was very much concern’d when he awak’d. Some Days after my Mother acquainted him that ſhe was with Child, and the Time which ſhe ſuppoſed to be that of her Conception a-​greed exactly with the Day of his Dream. She was brought to-Bed of me at the end of nine Months, which occaſion’d great Joy in the Family.
My Father, who had obſerved the very Moment of my Birth, conſulted Aſtrologers about my Nativity, who told him, Your Son ſhall live very happily till the Age of fifteen when he will be in danger of loſing his Life, and hardly be able to eſcape it. But if his good Deſtiny preſerve him beyond that Time, he will live to grow very old. ’Twill be then (ſaid they) when the Statue of Braſs, that ſtands upon the Top of the Mountaia of Adamant, ſhall be thrown down into the Sea by Prince Agib, Son of King Caſſib; and, as the Stars prognoſticate your Son ſhall be kill’d 50 Days afterwards by that Prince.
As the Event of this Part of the Prediction about the Statue agrees exactly with my Father’s Dream, it afflicted him ſo much that he was ſtruck to the very Heart with it. In the mean time he took all imaginable Care of my Education until this preſent Year, which is the 15th of my Age; and he had notice given him yeſterday, that the Statue of Braſs had been thrown into the Sea about 10 days ago, by that ſame Prince I told you of. This News has coſt him ſo many Tears, and has alarm’d him ſo much, that he looks not like himſelf.
Upon theſe Predictions of the Aſtrologers, he has ſought by all means poſſible to ſatiſify my Horoſcope, and to preſerve my Life, ’Tis not long ſince he took this Precaution, to build me this ſubterranean Habitation to hide me in, till the Expiration of the 50 Days after the throwing down of the Statue, and therefore ſince it was that this had happened 10 Days ago, he came haſtily hither to hide me, and promiſed at the end of 40 Days to come again and fetch me out. As for my own part, I am in good hopes, and cannot believe that Prince Agib will come to ſeek for me in a Place under Ground, in the midſt of a deſart Iſland. This, my Lord, is what I have to ſay to you.
Whilſt the Jeweller’s Son was telling me this Story, I laugh’d in my ſelf at thoſe Aſtrologers who had forerold that I ſhould take away his Life; for I thought my ſelf ſo far from being likely to verify what they ſaid, that he had ſcarce done ſpeaking, when I told him with great Joy, Dear Sir, put your Confidence in the Goodneſs of God, ​and fear nothing, you may conſider it is a Debt you was to Pay; but that you are acquitted of it from this very Hour: I am glad that after my Shipwreck I came ſo fortunately hither, to defend you again all thoſe that would attempt your Death: I will not leave you till the 40 Days are expired, of which the fooliſh Aſtrologers have made you ſo apprehenſive; and in the mean while I will do you all the Service that that lies in my Power: After which I ſhall have the Benefit of getting to the main Land in your Veſſel, with leave of your Father and your ſelf; and when I am return’d into my Kingdom, I ſhall remember the Obligations I owe you, and endeavour to demonſtrate my Acknowledgments in a ſuitable manner.
This Diſcourſe of mine encouraged the Jeweller’s Son, and made him have Confidence in me. I took care not to tell him I was the very Agib whom he dreaded, leſt I ſhould put him into a Fright, and took as much care not to give him any cauſe to ſulpect it. We paſſed the Time in ſeveral Diſcourſes till Night came on, I found the young Lad of a ready Wit, and eat with him of his Proviſions, of which he had enough to have laſted beyond the 40 Days, though he had had more Gueſts than my ſelf. After Supper we continued ſome time in Diſcourſe, at laſt we went to bed.
The next Day when we got up, I held the Baſon and Water to him, I alſo provided Dinner, and ſet it on the Table in due time: After we had done, I invented a Play to divert our ſelves, not only for that Day, but for thoſe that followed. I prepared Supper after the ſame manner as I had prepared Dinner; and having ſupp’d we went to bed as formerly. We had Time enough to contract Friendſhip: I found he loved me; and for my part, I had fo great a Reſpect for him, that I have often ſaid to my ſelf, Thoſe Aſtrologers who predicted to his Father, that his Son ſhould die by my Hand, were Impoſtors; for it is not poſſible, that I could commit fo baſe an Action. In ſhort, Madam, we ſpent 39 Days in the pleaſanteſt manner that could be, in a Place like that under Ground.
The 40th Day appear’d: And in the Morning when the young Man awaked, he ſays to me with a Tranſport of Joy that he could not reſtrain, Prince, this is the 40th Day, and I am not dead, Thanks to God and your good Compa-​ny. My father will not fail to be here anon, to give you a Teſtimony of his Gratitude for it, and ſhall furniſh you with all that’s neceſſary for your Return to your Kingdom, but in the mean time, ſaid he, I beg of you to get ready ſome Water very warm, to waſh my whole Body in that portable Bagnio, that I may clean my ſelf, and change my Cloaths, to receive my Father more chearfully.
I ſet the Water on the Fire, and when it was hot put it into the moveable Bagnio: The Youth went in, and I my ſelf waſh’d and rubb’d him, At laſt he came out, and laid himſelf down in his B:d that I had prepared, and covered him with his Bed-cloaths. After he had ſlept a while he awak’d, and ſaid, Dear Prince, pray do me the Favour to fetch me a Melon and ſome Sugar, that I may eat ſome and retreſh me.
Out of ſeveral Melons that remain’d, I took the beſt and laid it on a Plate; and becauſe I could not find a Knife to cut it with, I asked the young Man, If he knew where there was one? There is one, ſaid he, upon this Corniſh over my Head: I accordingly ſaw it there, and made ſo much haſte to reach it, that while I had it in my Hand, my Foot being intangled in the Covering, I fell molt unhappily upon the young Man, and the Knife run into his Heart in a Minute.
Ar this Spectacle I cried out moſt hideouſly; I beat my Head, my Face and Breaſt; I tore my Cloaths; I threw my ſelf on the Ground with unſpeakable Sorrow and Grief: Alas! I cry’d, There was only ſome Hours wanting to have put him out of that Danger, from which he ſought Sanctuary here. And when I my ſelf thought the Danger paſt, then I became his Murtherer, and verified the Prediction. But, O Lord! ſaid I, lifting up my Face and my Hands to Heaven, I beg thy Pardon, and, if I be guilty of his Death, let me not live any longer.
Scheherazade, perceiving Day, was obliged to break oft this doleful Story. The Sultan of the Indies was mov’d with it, and found himſelf very uneaſy to think what would become of the Callender after this, and reſolved that Scheherazade ſhould not die that Day, becauſe ſhe was the only Perſon that cou’d reſolve him,
The Fifty Sixth Night.
DInarzade awak’d the Sultaneſs next Morning as uſual. If you be not aſleep, Siſter, ſaid ſhe, pray tell us what paſſed after the Death of the young Man.
Madam, continued the third Callender, addreſſing himſelf to Zobeide, After this Misfortune, I would have embrac’d Death without any Reluctancy, had it preſented it ſelf to me. But what we wiſh to our ſelves, whether good or bad, will not always happen: Nevertheleſs, conſidering with my ſelt, that all my Tears and Sorrows would not bring the young Man to life again, and the 40 Days being expir’d, I might be ſurpriz’d by his Father. I quitted that ſubterranean Dwelling, laid down the great ſtone upon the entry of it, and cover’d it with Earth.
I had ſcarce done, when, caſting my Eyes upon the Sea towards the main Land, I perceiv’d the Veſſel coming to fetch home the young Man. I began then to confider what I had beſt do; I ſaid to my ſelf, if I am ſeen by the old Man he will certainly lay hold on me, and perhaps cauſe me to be maſſacred by his Slaves. When he has ſeen his Son kill’d, all that I can aledge to juſtify my ſelf will not be able to perſuade him of my Innocence. It is better for me then to withdraw, ſince it is in my Power, than to expoſe my ſelſ to his Reſentments.
There happened to be near that ſubterranean Habitation a large Tree with thick Leaves, which I thought fit for me to hide in. I got up to it, and was no ſooner fix’d in a Place where I could not be ſeen, but I ſaw the Veſſel come to the ſame Place where ſhe lay the firſt time.
The old Man and his Slaves landed immediately, and advanced towards the ſubterranean Dwelling, with a Countenance that ſhewed ſome hope; but when they ſaw the Earth had been newly removed, they chang’d Colour, particularly the old Man. They lifted up the Stone and went down; they called the young Man by his Name, but he not anſwering, their Fears increaſed, they went down to ſeek him; and at length found him lying upon a Bed with the Knife in his Heart, for I had not power to take it out. At this Sight they cried out lamentably, which increaſed my Sorrow; the old Man fell down in a Swoon. The ​Slaves, to give him Air, brought him up in their Arms, and laid him at the Foot of the Tree where I was; but notwithſtanding all the Pains they took to recover him, the unfortunate Father continued a long while in that Condition, and made them, oftener than once, deſpair of his Life; but at laſt he came to himſelf. Then the Slaves brought up his Son’s Corpſe, dreſt in his beſt Apparel, and when they had made a Grave, they put him into it. The old Man ſupported by two Slaves, and his Face all covered with Tears, threw the firſt Earth upon him, after which the Slaves fill’d up the Grave.
This being done, all the Furniture was brought up from under Ground, and with the remaining Proviſions, put on board he Veſſel. The old Man overcome with Sorrow, and not being able to ſtand, was laid upon aſort of Litter and carry’d to the Ship, which put forth to Sea, and in a ſhort time ſail’d quite out of fight, The Day-light, which began to enter the Sultan’s Apartment, oblig’d Scheherazade to ſtop here. Schahriar aroſe at his uſual Hour, and for the ſame Reaſon as before, he prolong’d the Sultaneſs’s Life, and left her with Dinarzade.
The Fifty Seventh Night.
THE next Morning before Day, Dinarzade addreſſed her ſelf to the Sultaneſs in theſe Words, My dear Siſter, if you be not aſleep, be pleaſed to continue the Adventures of the third Callender. You muſt know then, Siſter, ſaid Scheherazade, that the Prince went on with the Relation of this Story to Zobeide and the Company as follows:
After the old Man and his Slaves were gone with the Veſſel, I was left alone upon the Iſland. I lay that Night in the ſubterranean Dwelling, which they had ſhut up, and when the Day came, I walk’d round the Iſle, and ſtopt in ſuch Places as I thought moſt proper to repoſe in, when I had need.
I led this weariſome Life for a Month together; after which I perceiv’d the Sea to be mightily fall’n, the Iſland to be much larger, and the main Land ſeem’d to be drawing nearer me. In effect, the Water grew ſo low, that there was but a ſmall Stream between me and the Terra firma, I croſs’d it, and the Water did not come above the ​middle of my Leg. It march’d ſo long upon the Slime and Sands that I was very weary; at laſt I got upon firm Ground, and when at a good diſtance from the Sea, I ſaw a good way before me ſomewhat like a great Fire, which gave me ſome Comfort, for I ſaid to my ſelf, I ſhall find ſome-body or other, it not being poſſible that this Fire ſhould kindle of it ſelf; but when I came nearer hand I found my Error, and ſaw that what I had taken to be Fire was a Caſtle of red Copper, which the Beams of the Sun made it look at a diſtance as if it had been in Flames.
I ſtopp’d near the Caſtle, and ſat down to admire its admirable Structure, and to reſt a while: I had not taken ſuch a full View of this magnificent Building as it deſerv’d, when I ſaw ten handſome young Men coming along, as if they bad been taking a Walk, but that which molt ſurpriz’d me was, that they were all blind of the Right-Eye; they accompany’d an old Man who was very tall, and of a venerable Aſpect.
I could not but wonder at the Sight of ſo many half blind Men altogether, and everyone of the ſame Eye: As I was thinking in my Mind, by what adventure all theſe Men could come together, they came up to me, and ſeem’d to be mighty glad to ſee me; after the firſt Complements were paſs’d, they enquired what had brought me thither? I told them my Story would be ſomewhat tedious, but if they would take the Trouble to fit down, I would ſatisfy their Requeſt, They did fo, and | related to them all that happen’d unto me fince I left my Kingdom, which fill’d them with Aſtoniſhment.
After I had ended my Diſcourſe, the young Gentlemen pray’d me to go with them into the Caſtle, I accepted the Proffer, and we paſs’d through a great many Halls, Anti-Chambers, Bed-Chambers and Cloſets, very well furniſh’d, and arriv’d at laſt into a ſpacious Hall, where there were ten ſmall blue Sofa’s ſet round, and ſeparate from one another, upon which they ſat by Day, and ſlept by Night. In the middle of this round there ſtood an eleventh Sofa, not ſo high as the reſt, but of the ſame Colour, upon which the old Man above mentioned ſat down, and the young Gentlemen made uſe of the other ten; whereas each Sofa could only contain one Man, one of the young Men lays to me, Comrade, ſit down upon that Carpet in the middle of the ​Room, and do not enquire into any thing that concerns us, nor the Reaſon why we are all blind of the Right-Eye, be content with what you ſee, and let not your Curioſity go any further.
The old Man having ſat a little while, roſe up and went out, but he return’d in a Minute or two, brought in Supper to thoſe ten Gentlemen, diſtributed to each Man his Proportion by himſelf, and likewiſe brought me mine, which I eat my ſelf, as the reft did; and when Supper was almoſt done, he preſented to each of us a Cup of Wine.
They thought my Story ſo extraordinary, that they made me repeat it after Supper, and this gave occaſion to Diſcourſes that laſted a good part of the Night. One of the Gentlemen, obſerving that it was late, ſaid to the old Man, you ſee it is time to go to-bed, and you don’t bring us that with which we may acquit our ſelves of our Duty: At theſe Words the old Man aroſe, and went into a Cloſet, from whence he brought out upon his Head ten Baſons one after another, all cover’d with blue Stuff; he ſet one before every Gentleman, together with a Light.
They uncever’d their Baſons, in which there was Aſhes, Coul-Duſt and Lamp-black; they mix’d altogether, and rubb’d and bedaub’d their Faces with it in ſuch a Manner, that they look’d very frightful. After having thus black’d themſelves, they fell a weeping and lamenting, beating their Heads and Breaſts, and cry’d continually, this is the Fruit of our Idleneſs and Debauchies.
They continued thus almoſt the whole Night, and when they left off, the old Man brought them Water, with which they waſh’d their Faces and Hands, they chang’d alſo their Cloaths which were ſpoil’d, and put on others; that they did not look in the leaſt as if they had been doing ſo ſtrange an Acton.
You may judge, Madam, how uneaſy I was all the while, I had a mind a thouſand times to break the Silence, which thoſe young Gentlemen had impoſed upon me, ask Queſtions, nor was it poſſible for me to ſleep that Night.
After we got up next Day, we went out to walk, and then I told them, Gentlemen, I declare to you, that I muſt renounce that Law which you preſcrib’d to me laſt ​Night, for I cannot obſerve it: You are Men of Senſe, and all of you have Wit in abundance, you have convinc’d me of it, yet I have ſeen you do ſuch Actions as none but Mad-men could be capable of. Whatever Misfortune befal me, I cannot forbear asking, why you bedaub’d your Faces with black, how it comes that each of you has but one Eye? ſome fingular thing muſt certainly be the Cauſe of it, therefore conjure you to fatisfy my Curioſity. To theſe preſſing Inſtances they anſwer nothing, but that it was none of my Buſineſs to ask ſuch Queſtion, and that I ſhould do well to hold my Peace.
We paſs’d that Day in Diſcourſes upon indifferent Subjects, and when Night was come, and every Man had ſupp’d, the old Man brought in the blue Baſons, and the young Gentlemen bedaub’d their Faces, wept and beat themlelves, crying, This is the Fruit of our Idleneſs and Debauchies, as before, and continued the ſame Actions the following Night. Ar laſt, not being able to reſiſt my Curioſity, I earneſtly pray’d them to ſatisty me, or to ſhow me how to return to my own Kingdom ; for it was impoſſible for me to keep them company any longer, and to ſee every Night ſuch an odd Spectacle, without being permitted to know the Reaſon.
One of the Gentlemen anſwer’d in behalf of the reſt, do not wonder at our Conduct in regard to your ſelf; and that hitherto we have not granted your Requeſt, it’s out of meer Kindneſs, to prevent your Sorrow of being reduced to the ſame Condition with us. If you have a mind to try our unfortunate Deſtiny, you need but ſpeak, and we will give you the Satisfaction you deſire. I told them I was reſolv’d on’t, let come what will. Once more, ſaid the ſame Gentleman, we adviſe you to reſtrain your Curioſity, it will coſt you the Loſs of your Right-Eye. No matter, ſaid I, I declare to you, that if ſuch a Misfortue befal me, I will not impute it to you, but to my ſelf.
He further repreſented unto me, that when I had loſt an Eye, I muft not hope to ſtay with them, if I were ſo minded, becauſe their Number was compleat, and no Addition could be made to it. I told them that it would be a great Satisfaction to me never to part from ſuch honeſt Gentlemen, but if there were neceſſity for it I am ready ​to ſubmit; and let it coſt me what it would, I begged them to grant my Requeſt,
The ten Gentlemen, perceiving that I was ſo poſitive in my Reſolution, took a Sheep and kill’d it, and after they had taken off the Skin preſented me with the Knife, telling me it would be uſeful to me on a certain Occaſion, which they ſhould tell me of preſently. We muſt ſew you into this Skin, ſaid they, and then leave you; upon which a Fowl of a monſtrous Size, call’d a Roc, will appear in the Air, and taking you to be a Sheep, will come down upon you, and carry you up to the very Sky; but let not that frighten you, he will come down with you again, and lay you upon the Top of a Mountain: When you find your ſelf upon the Ground, cut the Skin with the Knife, and throw it off, As ſoon as the Roc ſees you, he will fly away for Fear, and leave you at Liberty: Do not ſtay, but walk on till you come to a prodigious large Cattle, all cover’d with Plates of Gold, large Emerals, and other precious Stones: Go up to the Gate, which always ſtands open, and walk in: We have been in the Caſtle as long as we have been here; we will tell you nothing of what we ſaw, or what befel us there, you will learn it of your ſelf; all that we can inform you is, that it hath coſt each of us our Right-Eye, and the Penance which you have been Witneſs to, is what weare obliged to do, becauſe we have been there. The Hiſtory of each of us in particular is ſo full of extraordinary Adventures, that a large Volume would not contain ’em. But we muſt explain our ſelyes no further.
Here Scheherazade broke off her Diſcourſe, and ſays to the Sultan of the Indies, Sir, my Siſter call’d upon me this Morning ſooner than ordinary, I fear I have wearied your Majeſty’s Patience. But now Day appears in very good Seaſon, and commands my Silence. Schahriar’s Curiofity prevail’d ſtill upon him to diſpenſe with his cruel Oath.
The Fifty Eighth Night.
DInarzade did not call ſo early this Night as ſhe did the laſt, yet ſhe call’d upon the Sultaneſs before Day; If you be not aſleep, Siſter, pray continue the Story of ​the third Callender, Scheherazade reſum’d it thus, perſonating the Callender in his Diſcourſe to Zobeide.
Madam, when the Gentleman had ended this Drſcourſe, I wrapt my ſelf in the Sheep’s Skin, held faſt the Knife which was given me; and after thoſe young Gentlemen had been at the trouble to ſew the Skin about me, they retir’d into the Hall, and left me on the Place. The Roc they had ſpoke of was not long a coming, he fell down upon me, took me up between his tallons like a Sheep, and carried me up to the top of the Mountain.
When I found my ſelf upon the Ground, I made uſe of the Knife, cut the Skin, and throwing it off, the Roc at the Sight of me flew away, This Roc is a white Bird of a monſtrous Size, his Strength is ſuch that he can lift up Elephants from the Plains, and carry them to the top of Mountains, where he feeds upon them.
Being impatient till I reach’d the Caſtle, I loft no time, but made ſo much haſte, yhat I got thither in half a Day’s Journey, and I muſt ſay, that I found it ſurpaſs the Deſcription they had given me of it.
The Gate being open, I entred into a Court that was ſquare, and fo large, that there was round it 99 Gates of Wood Sanders and Aloes, with one of Gold, without counting thoſe of ſeveral magnificent Stair-Caſes, that led up to Apartments above, beſides many more I could not ſee. The hundred Doors I ſpoke of open’d into Gardens, or Store-houſes full of Riches, or into Places which contain’d Things wonderful to be ſeen.
I ſaw a Door ſtanding open juſt before me, through which I entred into a large Hall, where I found 40 young Ladies of ſuch perfect Beauty, that Imagination could not go beyond it; they were all moſt ſumptuouily apparel’d, and as ſoon as they ſaw me, roſe up, and without expectation my Complements, ſaid to me with demonſtrations of Joy, noble Sir, you are very welcome. And one ſpoke to me in the Name of the reſt thus, we have been in expectation a long while of ſuch a Gentleman as you, your Mein aſſures us that you are Maſter of all the good Qualities we can wiſh for; and we hope you will not find our Company diſagreeable or unworthy of yours.
They forced me notwithſtanding all the oppoſition I could make, to ſit down on a Seat that was higher than ​theirs, and tho’ I ſignified that I was uneafie: That’s your Place, ſaid they, you are at prefent our Lord, Maſter, and Judge, and we are your Slaves, ready to obey your Commands.
Nothing in the World, Madam, did ſo much aſtoniſh me, as the Paſſion and Eagerneſs of thoſe fair Ladies, to do me all poſſible Service. One brought hot Water to waſh my Feet, a ſecond pour’d ſweet ſcented Water on my Hands, others brought me all ſorts of Neceſſaries, and Change of Apparel; and others brought in a magnificent Collation; and the reſt came with Glaſſes in their Hands, to fill me delicious Wines, and all in good Order, and in the moſt charming Manner that could be: I eat and drank; after which the Ladies plac’d themſelves about me, and deſir’d an Account of my Travels, I gave them a full Relation of my Adventures, which laſted till Night came on.
Scheherazade making a Stop here, her Siſter ask’d her the Reaſon; do you not ſee ’tis Day, ſays the Sultaneſs, wherefore did you not call me ſooner?
The Sultan expecting ſome pleaſant Adventures from the Arrival of the third Callender at the Palace of the forty Ladies, would not deprive himſelf of the Pleaſure to hear them, and therefore again put off the Death of the Sultaneſs.
The Fifty Ninth Night.
DInarzade ſlept as long this Night as ſhe did the laſt, and when it was almoſt Day ſhe called to the Sultaneſs Dear Siſter, if you be not aſleep, pray tell us what paſs’d in the fine Caſtle where you left us yeſterday. I will, ſaid Scheherazade, and addreſſing her Speech to the Sultan ſaid, Sir, the Callender reſum’d his Narrative after this Manner.
When I had made an end of my Story, which I related to the forty Ladies, ſome of them that ſat neareſt me, ſaid to keep me Company, whilſt the reſt, ſeeing it was dark, roſe up to fetch Tapers: They brought a prodigious Quantity, which made ſuch a marvellous Light as if it had been Day, and they were ſo proportionably diſpoſed, that nothing could be more beautiful.
​Other Ladies cover’d a Table with dry Fruits, Sweetmeats, and every thing proper to make the Liquor reliſh: And a Side-board was ſet with ſeveral ſorts of Wines, and other Liquors. Some of the Ladies came in with muſical Inſtruments, and when every thing was prepared, they invited me to fit down to Supper. The Ladies ſat down with me, and we continued a long while at Supper. They that were to play upon the Inſtruments, and ſing, roſe up and made a moſt charming Conſort. The others began a ſort of Ball, and danc’d by two and two, one after another, with a wonderful good Grace.
It was paſt Midnight ere thoſe Divertiſements ended: At length one of the Ladies ſays to me, You are doubtleſs wearied by the Journey you have made to-day; It is time for you to go to reſt, your Lodging is prepared: But before you depart, make choice of any of us you like beſt, to be your Bedfe low. I anſwer’d, that I knew better things than to offer to make my own Choice, ſince they were all equally beautiful, witty and worthy of my Reſpects and Service, and that I would not be guilty of ſo much Incivility, as to prefer one before another.
The ſame Lady that ſpoke to me before anſwer’d, We are very well ſatisfied of your Civility, and find you are afraid to create a Jealouſy among us, which occaſions your Modeſty; but let not this hinder you. We aſſure you, that the good Fortune of her whom you chuſe, ſhall cauſe no Jealouſy; for we are agreed among our ſelves, that every Day one of us ſhall have the ſame Honour, till it go round; and when forty Days are paſt, to begin again; therefor: make your free Choice, and loſe no Time to go and take the Repoſe you ſtand in need of. I was oblig’d to yield to their Inſtances, and offer’d my Hand to the Lady that ſpoke, ſhe, in return, gave me hers, and we were conducted to a ſumptuous Apartment, where they left us; and then every one retir’d to their own Apartment. But Day appears, Sir, ſaid Scheherazade to the Sultan, and your Majeſty, I hope, will permit me to leave the Callender Prince with his Lady. Schahriar return’d no Anſwer: but ſaid to himſelf, as he got up, I muſt allow that the Story is extraordinary fine, and that I ſhould be very much in the wrong not to hear it out.
The Sixtieth Night.
DInarzade did not fail about the latter end of the next Night to addreſs the Sultaneſs thus: If you be nor alſeep, Siſter, pray relate to us the following part of the wonderful Story of the third Ca!lender: Very willingly, ſaid Scheherazade. That Prince continued it thus: I was ſcarced dreſs’d next Morning, till the other 39 Ladies came into my Chamber all in other Dreſſes than they had the Day before: They bid me Good-morrow, and enquir’d into my Health; after which they carried me to a Bagnio, where they waſh’d me themſelves, and whether I would or no, ſerv’d me in every thing I ſtood in need of; and when I came out of the Bath, they made me put on another Sute much richer than the Former.
We paſt the whole Day almoſt conſtantly at Table; and when it was Bed-time, they pray’d me again to make choice of one of them to keep me company. In ſhort, Madam, not to weary you with Repetitions, I muſt tell you, that I continu’d a whole Year among thoſe 40 Ladies, and receiv’d them into my Bed one after another; and during all the Time of this voluptuous Life, we met not with the leaſt Kind of Trouble. When the Year was expir’d, I was ſtrangely ſurpriz’d at thoſe 40 Ladies, inſtead of appearing with their uſual Cheerfulneſs, to ask how I did, enterd one Morning into my Chamber all in Tears: They embrac’d me with great Tendernef, one after another, ſaying, Adieu, dear Prince, adieu, for we muſt leave you. Their Tears affected me, I pray’d them to tell me the Reaſon of their Grief, and of the Separation they ſpoke of. For God’s Sake, ſair Ladies, let me know, ſaid I, if it be in my Power to comfort you, or if my Aſſiſtance can be any way uſeful to you. Inſtead of returning a direct Anſwer, wou’d to God, ſaid they, we had never ſeen or known you. Several Gentlemen have honour’d us with their Company before you; but never one of them had that Comelinefs, that Sweetneſs, that Pleaſantneſs of Humour and Merit which you have; we know not how to live without you. After they had ſpoke theſe Words, they began to weep bitterly. My dear Ladies, ſaid I, be ſo kind as not to keep me in ſuſpence ​any more: Tell me the Cauſe of your Sorrow. Alas! ſaid they, what other Thing could be capable of grieving us, but the neceſſity of parting from you. It may ſo happen, that we ſhall never ſee you again; but if you be fo minded, and have Command enough over your ſelf, it is not impoſſible for us to meet again. Ladies, ſaid I, I do not underſtand your Meaning, pray explain your ſelves more clearly.
Oh then! ſaid one of them, to ſatisfie you, we muſt acquaint you that we are all Princeſſes, Daughters of Kings, we live here together in ſuch Manner as you have ſeen; but at the End of every Year we are oblig’d to be abſent forty Days upon indiſpenſible Duties, which we are not Permitted to reveal; and afterwards we return again to this Caſtle. Yeſterday was the laſt of the Year, and we muſt leave you this Day, which is the Cauſe of our Grief. Before we depart, we will leave you the Keys to every thing, eſpecially thoſe belonging to the hundred Doors, where you will find enough to ſatisfy your Curioſity, and to ſweeten your Solitude during our Abſence: But for your own Welfare and our particular Concern in you, we recommend unto you to forbear opening the golden Door,for if you do, we ſhall never ſee you again; and the Fear of this augments our Grief. We hope, never the lefs, that you will follow the Advice we give you, as you tender you own Quiet and the Happineſs of your Life; therefore take heed that you do not give way to indiſcreet Curioſity, for you will do your ſelf a conſiderable Prejudice. We conjure you therefore not to commit this Fault, but to let us have the Comfort of finding you here again after forty Days. We would willingly carry the Key of the golden Door along with us; but that wou’d be an Affront to a Prince like you, to queſtion your Diſcretion and Modeſty. Scheherazade had a mind to go on; but ſhe ſaw Day appear, and ſtopped, the Sultan, being curious to know what the third Callender would do when the forty Ladies were gone, and had left him alone in the Caſtle, referred the hearing of it till next Day.
The Sixty Firſt Night.
THE officious Dinarzade being awake long before Day, called to the Sultaneſs, If you be not aſleep, Siſter, conſider that it is time to tell the remaining Part of the Story to our Lord the Sultan: Scheherazade addreſſing her ſelf to the Sultan, ſaid, Sir, Your Majeſty may be pleas’d to know, that the Callender purſued his Story thus.
Madam, ſaid he, this Diſcourſe of the fair Princeſſes made me extrem ſorrowful, I omitted not to make them ſenfible how much their Abſence would afflict me; I thanked them for their good Advice, and aſſur’d ’em that I would follow it, and willingly do what was much more difficult, in order to be ſo happy as to paſs the reſt of my Days with Ladies of ſuch rare Qualifications. We took leave of one another with a great deal of Tenderneſs; and having embraced them all, at laſt they departed, and I was left alone in the Caſtle.
Their agreeable Company, the good Cheer, the Conforts of Muſick, and other Pleaſures, had fo much diverted me during the whole Year, that I neither had Time, nor the leaſt Deſire to ſee the wonderful things contain’d in this inchanted Palace. Nay, I did not ſo much as take notice of a thouſand rare Objects that were every Day in my Sight; for I was ſo taken with the charming Beauty of thoſe Ladies, and took ſo much Pleaſure in ſeeing them wholly imploy’d to oblige me, that their Departure afflicted me very ſenſibly; and tho’ their Abſence was to be only 40 Days, it ſeemed to me an Age to live without them.
I promis’d myſelf not to forget the important Advice they had given me, not to open the Golden Door; but as I was permitted to ſatisfy my Curioſity in every thing elſe, I took the firſt of the Keys of the other Doors, which were hung up in good Order.
I open’d the firſt Door, and came into an Orchard, which I believe the Univerſe could not equal: I could not imagine that any thing could ſurpaſs it, but that which our Religion promiſes us after Death; the Symmetry, the Neatneſs, the admirable Order of the Trees, the abundance and di-​verſity of a thouſand Sorts of unknown Fruits, their Freſhneſs and Beauty, raviſh’d my Sight.
I ought not to forget, Madam, to acquaint you, that this delicious Orchard was water’d after a very particular manner; there were Channels ſo artificialy and proportionably digg’d, that they carried Water in abundance to the Roots of ſuch Trees as wanted it, for making them produce their Leaves and Flowers. Others carried it to thoſe that had their Fruit budded: Some carried it in leſſer Quantities to thoſe whoſe Fruit was growing big, and others carried only ſo much as was juſt requiſite to water thoſe who had their Fruit come to perfection and only wanted to be ripen’d. They exceeded the ordinary Fruits of our Gardens very much in bigneſs; and laſtly, thoſe Channels that watered the Trees whoſe Fruit was ripe, had no more Moiſture than juſt what would preſerve them from withering.
I could never be weary to look at and admire fo ſweet a Place; and I ſhould never have left it, had I not conceived a greater Idea of the other Things which I had not ſeen. I went out at laſt with my Mind fill’d with thoſe Wonders: I ſhut the Door and open’d the next.
Inſtead of an Orchard, I found a Flower-Garden, which was no leſs extraordinary in its kind: It contained a ſpacious Plot not water’d ſo profuſely as the former, but with greater Niceneſs, furniſhing no more Water than juſt what each Flower requir’d. The Roſes, Jeſſemins, Violets, Dills, Hyacinths, Wind-Flowers, Tulips, Crow-Foots, Pinks, Lillies and an infinite number of other Flowers, which don’t grow in other Places but at certain times, were there flouriſhing all at once, and nothing could be more delicicus than the fragrant Smell of this Garden.
I open’d the third Door, where I found a large Volary pav’d with Marble of ſeveral fine Colours that were not common. The Cage was made of Sanders and Wood of Aloes, it contain’d a vaſt number of Nightingales, Goldfinches, Canary-Birds, Larks, and other rare Singing-Birds, which I never heard of, and the Veſſels that held their Seed and Water, were of the moſt precious Jaipis or Agat.
Beſides, this Volary was ſo exceeding neat, that conſidering its Extent, one would think there could be no leſs than a hundred Perſons to keep it ſo clean as it was; but all ​this while not one Soul appear’d either here or in the Gar- dens where | had been; and yet I could not perceive a Weed, or any ſuperfluous thing there. The Sun was down, and I retir’d, being pertectly charm’d with the chirping Notes of the Multitude of Birds, who then began to perch upon ſuch places as were convenient for them to repoſe enduring the Night; I went to my Chamber, refolving to open all the reit of the Doors the Day following, excepting that of Gold.
I fail’d not to open the fourth Door next Day, and if what I had ſeen before was capable of ſurprizing me, that which I ſaw then put me into a perfect Extaſie, I went into a large Court ſurrounded with Buildings of an admirable Structure, the Deſcription of which I will paſs by to avoid Prolixity.
This Building had forty Doors wide open, and through each of them there was an Entrance into a Treaſury, ſeveral of which were of greater Value than the largeſt Kingdoms. The firſt contain’d Heaps of Pearls; and what is almoſt incredible, the number of thoſe Stones which are moſt precious, and as large as Pidgeons Eggs, exceeded the number of thoſe of the ordinary Size. in the ſecond Treaſury there were Diamonds, Carbuncles and Rubies. In the third there were Emeralds. In the fourth there were Ingots of Gold, In the fifth Money. In the ſixth Ingots of Silver. In the two following there was alſo Money. The reſt contained Amethyſts, Chryſoliſs, Topazes, Opals, Turkoiſes and Hyacinths, with all other fine Stones unknown to us, without mentioning Agat, Jaſpers, Cornelian and Coral, of which there was a Store-houſe fill’d not only with Branches, but whole Trees.
Being fill’d with Amazement and Admiration, I cry’d out to my ſelf after having ſeen all theſe Riches. Now, if all the Treaſure of the Kings of the Univerſe were gathered in one Place, they could not come near this: What good fortune have I to poſſeſs all this Wealth with ſo many admirable Princeſſes?
I ſhall not ſtay, Madam, to tell you the particulars of all the other rare and precious Things I ſaw the Days following, I ſhall only tell you that 39 Days afforded me but juſt as much time as was neceſſary to open 99 Doors, and to admire all that preſented itſelt to my View, ſo that there ​was only the hundredth Door left, the opening of which I was forbid.
Day began to appear in the Apartments of the Sultan of the Indies, which impoſed Silence upon Scheherazade: But Schahriar was too much taken with this pleaſant Story, rot to hear the remainder of it next Day, and accordingly he got up with that Reſolution.
The Sixty Second Night.
DInarzade who had as ardent Deſire as Schahriar, to hear what wonderful things were lock’d up by the Key belonging to the Golden Door, called the Sultaneſs very early. If you be not aſleep, Siſter, pray make an end of that amazing Story of the third Callender. He went on thus, ſays Scheherazade, I was come to the fortieth Day after the Departure of theſe charming Princeſſes, and had I but retained ſo much Power over myſelf as I ought to have had, I ſhould have been this Day the happieſt of all Mankind, whereas now I am the moſt unfortunate. They were to return next Day, and the Pleaſure of ſeeing them again ought to have reſtrained my Curioſity: But through my Weakneſs, which I ſhall ever repent, I yielded to the Temptations of the Evil Spirit, who gave me no reſt till I had thrown my ſelf into thoſe Misfortunes that I have ſince undergone.
I opened that ſatal Door, which I promiſed not to meddle with, and had not moved my Foot to go in, till a Smell that was pleaſant enough, but contrary to my Conſtitution, made me faint away: Nevertheleſs I came to my ſelf again, and inſtead of taking notice of this Warning to ſhut the Door, and forbear ſatisfying my Curioſity, I went in, after I had ſtood fome Time in the Air to carry off the Scent, which did not incommode me any more: I found a large Place very well vaulted; the Pavement was ſtrew’d over with Saffron; ſeveral Candleſticks of maſſy Gold, with lighted Tapers that ſmeil’d of Aloes and Ambergreeſe, lighted the Place; and this Light was augmented by Lamps of Gold and Silver, that burnt with Oil made of ſeveral Sorts of ſweet ſcented Materials.
Amongſt a great many Objects that engaged my Attention, I perceived. a black Horſe, of the handſomeſt and ​beſt Shape that ever was ſeen. I went nearer, the better to obſerve him, and found he had a Saddle and a Bridle of maſſy Gold, curiouſly wrought. The one ſide of his Trough was fill’d with clean Barley, and Sefſems, and the other with Roſe-Water: I took him by the Bridle, and led him forth to view him by the Light: I got on his Back, and would have had him move; but he not ſtirring, I whipt him with a Switch I had taken up in his magnificent Stable; and he had no ſooner felt the Stroke, when he began to neigh with a horrible Noiſe, and extended his Wings, which I had not ſeen before: He flew up with me into the Air, quite out of ſight. I thought on nothing, then, but to ſit faſt; and conſidering the Fear that had ſeized upon me, I ſate very well: He afterwards flew down again towards the Earth, and lighting upon the Terraſs of a Caſtle, without giving me any Time to get off, he ſhook me out of the Saddle with ſuch Force, that he made me fall behind him, and with the End of his Tail ſtruck out my Right-Eye.
Thus I became blind of one Eye, and then I began to remember the Predictions of the ten young Gentlemen. The Horſe flew again out of ſight. I got up very much troubled at the Misfortune I had brought upon my ſelf. I walk’d upon the Terraſs, covering my Eye with one of my Hands, for it pain’d me exceedingly, and then came down and enter’d into a Hall, which I knew preſently by the 10 Sofa’s in a Circle, and the 11th in the middle, lower than the reſt, to be the ſame Caſtle from whence I was taken away by the Roc.
The 10 halſ blind Gentlemen were not in the Hall when I came in, but ſoon after came with the old Man; they were not at all ſurpriz’d to ſee me again, nor at the loſs of my Eye; but ſaid, we are very ſorry that we cannot congratulate you upon your Return, as we could have deſired; but we are not the Cauſe of your Misfortune, I ſhould be in the wrong to accuſe you, ſaid I, for I have drawn it upon my ſelf, and I can charge the Fault upon no other Perſon. If it be a Conſolation to the Unfortunate, ſaid they, to have Fellows, this Example may afford us a Subject of rejoycing; all that has happened to you, we have alſo undergone; we taſted all forts of Pleaſure, during a Year ſucceſſively; and we had continued to enjoy the ſame Happineſs ſtill, had we not open-​ed the Golden Door, when the Princeſſes were abſent: You: have been no wiſer than we, and you had likewiſe the ſame Puniſhment; we would gladly receive you among us, to do ſuch Penance as we do, though we know not how long it may continue. But we have already declared the Reaſon that hinder us, therefore depart from hence and go to the Court of Bagdad, where you ſhall meet with him that can decide your Deſtiny: They told me the Way I was to travel, and ſo I left them.
On the Road I cauſed my Beard and Eye-brows to be ſhaven, and took on a Callender’s Habit, I have had a long Journey, but at laſt I arrived this Evening in this City, where I met theſe my Brother’s Callenders at the Gate, being Strangers as well as myſelf. We wonder’d much at one another, to ſee we were all three blind of the ſame Eye; but we had not leiſure to diſcourſe long of our common Calamities, we only had ſo much time as to come hither, to implore thoſe Favours which you have been generouſly pleaſed to grant us.
The third Callender having finiſhed this Relation of his Adventures, Zobeide addreſſed her Speech to him and his Fellow Callenders thus; Go where ever you think fit, you are all three at Liberty. But one of them anſwer’d, Madam, We beg you to pardon our Curioſity, and permit us to hear thoſe Gentlemens Stories who have not yet ſpoke. Then the Lady turn’d to that ſide where the Caliph, the Viſier Giafar, and Meſrour ſtood, whom ſhe knew not; but ſaid to them. ’Tis now your Turn to tell me your Adventures, therefore ſpeak.
The Grand Viſier Giafar, who had always been the the Spokeſman, anfwer’d Zobeide, thus, Madam, In order to obey you, we need only to repeat what we have ſaid already, before we enter’d your Houſe: We are Merchants of Mouſſel, that came to Bagdad, to ſell our Merchandize that lies in the Khan, where we lodge, We din’d to-day with ſeveral other Perſons of our Profeſſion, at a Merchant’s Houſe of this City; who after he had treated us with up choice Dainties, and excellent Wines, ſent for Men and Women Dancers, and Muficians. The great Noiſe we made brought in the Watch, who arreſted ſome of the Company, and we had the good Fortune to eſcape: But it being already late, and the Door of our Khan ſhut up, we ​knew not whither to retire. It was our Hap as we paſſed along this Street, to hear Mirth at your Houſe, which made us determine to knock at your Gate. This is all the Account that we can give you in Obedience to your Commands.
Zobeide having beard this Diſcourſe, ſeem’d to heſitate upon what ſhe ſhould ſay, which the Callenders perceiving, pray’d her to grant the ſame Favour to the three Mouſfol Merchants, as ſhe had done unto them. Well then, ſaid ſhe, I give my Conſent, for you ſhall be equally oblig’d to me: I pardon you all, provided you depart immediately out of this Houſe, and go whither you pleaſe.
Zobeide having given this Command in a Tone that ſignified ſhe wou’d be obey’d, the Caliph, the Viſier Meſrour, the three Callenders, and the Porter, departed without ſaying one Word: For the Preſence of the ſeven Slaves with their Weapons, kept them in awe. When they were out of the Houſe, and the Door ſhut, the Caliph ſaid to the Callenders, without making himſelf known, You Gentlemen Strangers, that are newly come to Town, which way do you deſign to go, ſince it is not yet Day. ’Tis that which perplexes us, Sir, ſaid they. Follow us, replies the Caliph, and we will bring you out of Danger. After ſaying theſe Words, he whiſper’d to the Viſier, Take them along with you, and tomorrow Morning bring them to me, I will cauſe their Hiflory to be put in Writing, ſor it deſerves a Place in the Annals of my Reign.
The Viſier Gisfar, took the three Callenders along with him; the Porter went to his Quarters, and the Caliph and Meſrour returned to the Palace: The Caliph went to Bed, but could not get a Wink of Sleep, his Spirits were ſo perplext by the extraordinary Things he had ſeen and heard: But above all, he was moſt concerned to know who Zobeide was; what Reaſon ſhe could have to be fo ſevere to the two black Bitches, and why Amine had her Boſom ſo mortificd. Day began to appear whilſt he was thinking upon theſe Things; he aroſe and went to his Council-Chamber, where he us’d to give Audicnce, and ſat upon his Throne.
The Grand Viſier came in a little after, and paid his Reſpects as uſual. Viſier, ſaid the Caliph, the Affairs that we have to conſider at preſent are not very preſſing, that of ​the three Ladies and the two black Bitches, is much more ſo: My Mind cannot beat eaſe, till I be throughly ſatishfied in all thoſe Matters that have ſurprized me ſo much. Go bring theſe Ladies, and the Callenders at the ſame time; make haſte, and remember that I do impatiently expect your Return,
The Viſier, that knew his Maſter’s quick and fiery Temper, made haſte to obey, and went to the Ladies to whom he communicated, in a civil way, the Orders he had to bring them before the Caliph, without taking any Notice of what had paſſed the Night before at their Houſe.
The Ladies put on their Veils, and went with the Viſier; as he paſſed by his own Houſe, he took the three Callenders along with him, and they, in the mean time, had got notice, that they had both ſeen and ſpoke with the Caliph, without knowing him. The Viſer brought them to the Palace with ſo much Diligence, that the Caliph was mighty well pleas’d at it. This Prince, that he might keep a due Decorum, before all the Officers of his Court that were then preſent, made thoſe Ladies be placed behind the Hanging of the Door of the Room that was next his Bed-Chamber, and kept the three Callenders by him; who, by their reſpecful Behaviour, gave ſufficient Proof, that they were not ignorant before whom they had the Honour to appear.
When the Ladies were placed, the Caliph turned towards them, and ſaid, Ladies, when I ſhall acquaint you that I came laſt Night diſguis’d, m a Merchant’s Habit, into your Houſe, it will certainly alarm you, and make you to fear that you have offended me; and, perhaps, you believe that I have ſent for you to no other end, but to ſhow ſome Marks of my Reſentment: But be not afraid, you may reſt afſur’d, that I have forgot all that is paſt, and am very well ſatisfied with your Conduct, I wiſh that all the Ladies of Bagdad had as much Diſcretion as you have given proof of before me. I ſhall always remember the Moderation you make uſe of, after the Incivility that we had committed. I was then a Merchant of Mouſſo!, but am at preſent Haroun Alraſchid, the ſeventh Caliph of the Glorious Houſe of Abbas, that holds the Place of our great Prophet, I have only ſent for you, ​to know who you are, and to ask you for what Reaſon one of you, after ſeverely whipping the two black Bitches, did weep with them. And I am no leſs curious to know, why another of you has her Boſom all full of Scars.
Tho’ the Caliph had pronounced theſe Words very diſtincly, and that the three Ladies heard him well enough, yet the Viſier Giafar did, out of Ceremony, repeat them over again.
Bur, Sir, ſaid Scheherazade, ’tis Day, and if your Majeſty thinks fit that I ſhould go on with the reſt of this Story, you will be pleaſed to prolong my Life until to Morrow. The Sultan agreed to it, knowing that Scheherazade would relate the Hiſtory of Zobeide, which he had a mighty Deſire to hear,