# Arabian Nights Entertainments (1706)/Volume 2/The Story of Zobeide

The Sixty Third Night.
DEar Siſter, ſays Dinarzade, about break of Day, if you be not aſleep, pray tell us the Story of Zobeide; for doubtleſs that Lady told it to the Caliph. She certainly did, ſays Scheherazade, after that Prince, by this Diſcourſe had encouraged her to it. And it was in this manner that ſhe ſatisfied his Curiofity.
The Story of Zobeide.
COmmander of the Faithful, ſays ſhe, The Relation which I am about to give your Majeſty is one of the ſtrangeſt that ever was heard. The two black Bitches, and my ſelf, are Siſters, by the ſame Father and Mother; and I ſhall acquaint you by what ſtrange Accident they came to be metamorphoz’d. The two Ladies that live with me, and are now here, are alſo my Siſters by the Father’s ſide, but by another Mother: She that has the Scars on her Breaſt her Name is Amine, the other is Safie, and mine Zobeide.
After our Father’s Death, the Eſtate that he left us was equally divided among us; and as ſoon as thoſe two Siſters received their Portions, they went from me to live with their Mother. My other two Siſters and my ſelf ſtay’d with our Mother, who was then alive, and when ſhe dy’d ​left each of us a thouſand Sequins. As ſoon as we receiy’d our Portions, the two elder (for I am the youngeſt) being married, followed their Husbands, and left me alone. Some time after my eldeſt Siſter’s Husband ſold all that he had, and with that Money and my Siſter’s Portion they went both into Africa, where her Husband, by riotous Living and Debauchery, ſpent all; and finding himſelf reduc’d to Poverty, he found a Pretext for divorcing my Siſter, and put her away.
She return’d to this City, and having ſuffer’d incredible Hardſhips by the way, came to me in ſo lamentable a Condition, that it would have mov’d the hardeſt Heart to Compaſſion. I receiv’d her with all the Tenderneſs ſhe could expect, and inquiring into the Cauſe of her ſad Condition, ſhe told me with Tears how inhumanly her Husband had dealt by her. I was ſo much concern’d at her Misfortune, that it drew Tears from my Eyes, I put her into a Bagnio, and cloathed her with my own Apparel, and ſpoke to her thus. Sitter, you are my elder, and I eſteem you as my Mother During your Abſence, God has bleſt the Portion that fell to my Share, and the Employment I follow, to feed and bring up Silk-Worms. Aſſure your ſelf there’s nothing I have but what is at your Service, and as much at your Diſpoſal as my own.
We liv’d very comfortably together for ſome Months, and as we were often diſcourſing together about our third Siſter, and wondering we heard no News of her, ſhe came in as bad a Condition as the elder; her Husband had treated her after the ſame manner; and I receiv’d her likewiſe with the ſame Affection I had done the former.
Some time after, my two Siſters, on pretence that they would not be chargeable to me, told me they had thoughts to marry again. I anſwer’d them, that if their putting me to Charge was all the Reaſon, they might lay thoſe Thoughts aſide, and be very welcome to ſtay with me; for what I had, would be ſufficient to maintain us all three anſwerable to our Condition: But, ſays I, I rather believe you have a mind to marry again; which if you have, I’m ſure ’twill very much ſurprize me; after the Experience you have had of the ſmall Satisfaction there is in Wedlock, is it poſſible you dare venture a ſecond time? You know how rare it is to meet with a Husband that is a real honeſt Man, Believe what I ſay, and let ​us ſtay together, and live as comfortably as we can. All my Perſuaſion was in vain, they were reſolv’d to marry, and ſo they did. But after ſome Months were paſt, they came back again, and begg’d my Pardon a thouſand times, for not following my Advice. You are our younger Siſter, ſaid they, and abundantly more wiſe than we, but if you will vouchſafe to receive us once more into your Houſe, and account us your Slaves, we ſhall never commit ſuch a Fault again. My Anſwer was, Dear Siſters, I have not alter’d my Mind with reſpect to you ſince we laſt parted from one another; Come again, and take part of what I have. Upon this I embrac’d them, and we liv’d together as we did formerly.
We continued thus a whole Year in perfect Love and Tranquillity; and ſeeing that God had encreaſed my ſmall Stock, I projected a Voyage by Sea, to hazard ſomewhat in Trade. To this end I went with my two Siſters to Baſra, where I bought a Ship ready fitted for Sea, and laded her with ſuch Merchandize as I brought from Bagdad; we ſet Sail with a fair Wind, and ſoon got through the Perſian Gulph; and when we got into the Ocean we ſteered our Courſe for the Indies, and ſaw Land the twentieth Day. ’Twas a very high Mountain, at the bottom of which we ſaw a great Town; and having a freſh Gale, we ſoon reach’d the Harbour, where we caſt Anchor.
I had not Patience to ſtay till my Siſters were drefs’d to go along with me, but went aſhore in the Boat by my ſelf; and making directly to the Gate of the Town, I ſaw there a great number of Men upon the Guard, ſome ſitting, and others ſtanding with Battons in their Hands; and they had all ſuch dreadful Countenances that it frighten’d me; but perceiving they had no Motion, nay not ſo much as with their Eyes, I took Courage and went nearer, and then found they were all turn’d into Stones. I enter’d the Town, and paſs’d through ſeveral Streets, where there ſtood every where Men in ſeveral Poſtures, but all unmoveable and petrified. On that ſide where the Merchants liv’d I found moſt of the Shops ſhut, and in ſuch as were open, I likewiſe found the people petrified. I looked up the Chimneys, but ſaw no Smoak, which made me conjecture that thoſe within as well as thoſe without, were all turned into Stones.
​Being come into a vaſt Square, in the Heart of the City, I perceived a great Gate covered with Plates of Gold, the two Leaves of which ſtood open, and a Curtain of Silk Stuff ſeemed to be drawn before it: I alſo ſaw a Lamp hanging over the Gate. After I had well conſidered the Fabrick, I made no doubt but it was the Palace of the Prince who reigned over that Country: And being very much aſtoniſh’d that I had not met with one living Creature, I went thither in hopes to find ſome; I enter’d the Gate, and was ſtill more ſurprized, when I ſaw none but the Guards in the Porches, all petrified ; ſome ſtanding, ſome fitting, and ſome lying.
I croſſed over a large Court, where I ſaw a ſtately Building juſt before me, the Windows of which were encloſed with Gates of maſſy Gold, I looked upon it to be the Queen’s Apartment, and went into a large Hall, where there ſtood ſeveral black Eunuchs turned into Stone. I went from thence into a Room richly hung and furniſhed, where I perceiv’d a Lady in the ſame manner. I knew it to be the Queen by the Crown of Gold that hung over her Head, and a Necklace of Pearl about her Neck, each of them as big as a Nut; I went up cloſe to her to view it, and never ſaw any thing finer.
I ſtood ſome time and admir’d the Riches and Magnificence of the Room; but above all, the Foot-cloth, the Cuſhions and the Soſa’s, which were all lined with Indian Stuff of Gold, with Pictures of Men and Beaſts in Silver drawn to Admiration.
Scheherazade would have continued longer, but Day-light put a ſtop to her Diſcourſe. The Sultan was mightily pleas’d with the Story: I muſt, ſaid he, as he was getting out of Bed, know what all this wonderful Petrification of Men will at laſt come to.
The Sixty fourth Night.
DInarzade was ſo extreamly pleas’d with the beginning of this Story of Zobeide, that ſhe did not ſail to call to the Sultaneſs before Day: If you be not aſleep, Siſter, pray let us know what Zobeide ſaw more in this ſtrange Palace; Scheherazade anſwered, the Lady continued her Story to the Califf in this manner:
​Sir, ſaid ſhe, I went out of the Chamber where the petrified Queen was, and came thro’ ſeveral other Apartments and Cloſets richly furniſh’d: and at laſt came into a vaſt large Room, where there was a Throne of maſſy Gold, rais’d ſeveral Steps above the Floor, and enrich’d with large inchas’d Emeralds, and a Bed upon the Throne of rich Stuff, embroidered with Pearls. That which ſurprized me more than all the reſt, was a ſparkling Light which came from above the Bed: Being curious to know from whence it came, I mounted the Steps, and lifted up my Head I ſaw a Diamond as big as the Egg of an Oſtrich, lying upon a low Stool; it was ſo pure, that I could not find the leaſt Blemiſh in it, and it ſparked fo bright, that I could not endure the Luſtre of it, when I ſaw it by Day.
On each fide of the Bed’s head there ſtood a lighted Flambeau, but to what Uſe I could not apprehend: However, it made me imagine that there was ſome living Creature in this Place; for I could not believe that theſe Torches continued thus burning of themſelves: Several other Rarities detained my Curiolity in this Room, which was ineſtimable, were it only for the Diamond I mentioned.
The Doors being all open. or but half-ſhut, I ſurvey’d ſome other Apartments, that were as fine as thoſe I had already ſeen. I look’d into all the Offices and Store-Rooms, which were full of infinite Riches, and I was fo much taken with the Sight of all theſe wonderful Things, that I forgot my ſelf, and did not think on my Ship, or my Siſters; my whole Deſign was to ſatisfy my Curioſity: Mean time Night came on, which put me in Mind that it was Time to retire, I was for returning by the ſame Way I came in, but I could not find it, I loſt my ſelf among the Apartments; and finding I was come back again to that large Room where the Throne, the Couch, the large Diamond and the Torches ſtood, I reſolved to make my Night’s Lodging there, and to depart next Morning betimes, to get aboard my Ship. I laid my ſelf down on the Couch, not without ſome Dread to be alone in a wild Place; and this Fear hinder’d my Sleep.
About Midnight I heard a Voice like that of a Man reading the Alcoran, after the ſame manner, and in the ſame Tone as we uſe to read it in our Moſques. Being extreamly glad to hear it, I got up immediately, and taking a Torch ​in my Hand to light me, I paſſed from one Chamber to another, on that Side where the Voice came from him; I came to the Cloſet-Door, where I ſtood ſtill, no wiſe doubting that it came from thence. I ſet down my Torch upon the Ground, and looking through a Window, I found it to be an Oratory. In ſhort, it had, as we have in our Moſques, a Niche, that ſhews where we muſt turn to ſay our Prayers: There were alſo Lamps hung up, and two Candleſticks with large Tapers of white Wax burning.
I ſaw a little Carpet laid down like thoſe we have to kneel upon when we ſay Prayers, and a comely young Man ſat upon this Carpet reading the Alcoran, which lay before him upon a Desk, with great Devotion. At the ſight of this I was tranſported with Admiration, I wondred how it came to paſs that he ſhould be the only living Creature in a Town where all the People were turn’d into Stones, and I did not doubt but there was ſomething in it very extraordinary.
The Door being only half ſhut, I open’d it and went in, and ſtanding upright before the Niche, I ſaid this Prayer aloud, Praiſe be to God that has favour’d us with a happy Voyage, and may be graciouſly pleas’d to protect us in the ſame manner until we arrive again in our own Country. Hear me, O Lord, and grant my Requeſt.
The young Man caſt his Eyes upon me, and ſaid, My Lady, pray let me know who you are, and what has brought you to this deſolate City? And, in Requital, I will tell you who I am, what happened to me, why the Inhabitants of this City are reduced to that State you ſee them in, and why I alone am ſafe and ſound in the midſt of ſuch a terrible Diſaſter.
I told him in few Words from whence I came, what made me undertake the Voyage, and how I ſafely arrived at the Port after 20 Days ſailing ; and when I done, I pray’d him to perform his Promiſe, and told him how much I was ftruck by the frightful Deſolation which I had ſeen in all Places as I came along.
My dear Lady, ſays the young Man, have Patience for a Moment. At thoſe Words he ſhut the Alcoran, put it into a rich Caſe, and laid it in the Niche. I took that opportunity to obſerve him, and perceived ſo much good Nature and Beauty in him, that I felt ſuch ſtrange Commotions in my ​ſelf, as I never had done before. He made me fit down by him, and before he began his Diſcourſes, I could not forbear ſaying to him, with an Air that diſcover’d the Sentiments I was inſpired with, Amiable Sir, dear Object of my Soul, I can ſcarce have Patience to wait for an Account of all thoſe wonderful Things, that I have ſeen fince the firſt time I came into your City; and my Curioſity cannot be ſatisfied too ſoon, therefore, pray Sir, let me know by what Miracle you alone are left alive among ſo many Perſons that have died in ſo ſtrange a manner?
Scheherazade broke off here, and ſaid to Schahriar, Sir, perhaps your Majeſty does not perceive it is Day, ſhould I continue my Diſcourſe any longer, I ſhould abuſe your Attention. The Sultan got up, reſolving next Night to hear the Remainder of this wonderful Story,
The Sixty Fifth Night.
IF you be not aſleep, Siſter, ſays Dinarzade next Morning, before it was Day, I would pray you to reſume the Story of Zobeide, and acquaint us what paſs’d between her and the young Man, that ſhe found alive in that Palace you gave us ſo fine a Deſcription of. I will immediately ſatiſty you ſaid the Sultaneſs Zobeide went on with her Story thus.
Madam, ſays the young Man, you have given me to underſtand that you have the Knowledge of a true God, by the Praver you juſt now addreſſed to him. I will acquaint you with the moſt remarkable Effect of his Greatneſs and Power. You muſt know, that this City was the Metropolis of a mighty Kingdom, over which the King my Father did reign. That Prince, his whole Court, the Inhabitants of the City, and all his other Subjects, were Magi, Worſhippers of Fire, and of Nardoun the ancient King of the Giants who rebel!’d againſt God.
And tho’ I was begotten and born of an idolatrous Father and Mother, I had the good fortune in my Youth to have a Woman Governeſs, who was a good Muſſelman, I had the Alcoran by Heart, and underſtood the Explanation of it perfectly well. Dear Prince, would ſhe often times ſay, There is but one true God, take heed that you do not acknowledge and adore any other, She learnt me to read ​Arabick and the Book ſhe gave me to exerciſe upon was the Alcoran. As ſoon as I was capable of underſtanding it, ſhe cxplain’d to me all the Heads of this excellent Book, and infuſed into my Mind unknown to my Father, or any body elſe. She happened to die, but not before ſhe had perfectly inſtructed me in all that was neceſſary to convince me of the Muſſulman Religion. After her Death I perſiſted with conſtancy in the Belief I was in; and I abhor the falſe God Nardoun, and the Adoration of Fire.
’Tis about three Years and ſome Months ago, that a thundring Voice was heard all on a ſudden, ſo diſtinctly, through the whole City, that no body could miſs hearing it. The Words were theſe: Inhabitants, abandon the Worſhip of Nardoun, and of Fire, and worſhip the only God that ſhews Mercy.
This Voice was heard three Years ſucceſſively, but no body was converted: So the laſt Day of the Year, at four a Clock in the Morning, all the Inhabitants in general were chang’d in an Inſtant into Stone, every one in the ſame Condition and Poſture they happened then to be in. The King, my Father, had the ſame Fate, for he was metamorphos’d into a black Stone, as he is to be ſeen in this Palace; and the Queen my Mother had the like Deſtiny.
I am the only Perſon that did not ſuffer under that heavy Judgment, and ever ſince I have continued to ſerve him with more Fervency than before. I am perſuaded, dear Lady, that he has ſent you hither for my Comfort, for which I render him infinite Thanks, for I muſt own that this ſolitary Life is very uneaſy.
All theſe Expreſſions, and particularly the laſt, increaſed my Love to him extreamly: Prince, ſaid I, there is no doubt but Providence hath brought me into your Port, to preſent you with an Opportunity of withdrawing from this diſmal Place, the Ship that I am come in, may in ſome meaſure perſuade you that I am in ſome Eſteem at Bagdad, where I have left alſo a conſiderable Eſtate, and I dare engage to promiſe you ſanctuary there, until the mighty Commander of the Faithful, who is Vicegerent to our Prophet whom you acknowledge, do you the Honour that is due to your Merit. This renown’d Prince lives at Bagdad, and as ſoon as he is informed of your Arrival in his Capital, you will find that ’tis not in vain to implore his ​Aſſiſtance. ’Tis impoſſible you can ſtay any longer in a City where all the Objects you ſee muſt renew your Grief: My Veſſel is at your Service, where you may abſolutely command as you ſhall think fit. He accepted the Offer, and we diſcourſed the remaining part of the Night about our Embarkment.
As ſoon as it was Day we left the Palace, and came aboard my Ship, where we found my Siſters, the Captain and my Slaves, all very much troubled for my Abſence. After I had preſented my Siſters to the Prince, I told them what had hinder’d my Return to the Veſſel the Day before, how I had met with the young Prince, his Story, and the Cauſe of the Deſolation of ſo fine a City.
The Seamen were taken up ſeveral Days unlading the Merchandize I brought along with me, and embarking, inſtead of that, all the precious things in the Palace, as Jewels, Gold and Money. We left the Furniture and Goods, which conſiſted of an infinite Quantity of Plate, &c. becauſe our Veſſel could not carry it, for it would have required ſeveral Veſſels more to carry all the Riches to Bagdad, that was in our Option to take with us.
After we had laded the Veſſel with what we thought fit, we took ſuch Proviſions and Water aboard as were neceſſary for our Voyage, (for we had ftill a great deal of thoſe Proviſions left that we took in at Balſora) at laſt we ſet Sail with a Wind as favourable as we could wiſh.
Here Scheherazade ſaw Day, and ſtopt her Diſcourſe: The Sultan aroſe without ſpeaking a Word, but ha propos’d to himſelf to hear the end of Zobeide’s Story, and the wonderful Deliverance of this young, Prince.
The Sixty Sixth Night.
WHEN the enſuing Night was almoſt gone, Dinarzade being impatient to know the Succeſs of Zobeide’s Voyage, called to the Sultaneſs: My dear Siſter, Day begins to break, for God’s ſake continue the Story of yeſternight, and tell us whether the young Prince and Zobeide arriv’d ſafe at Bagdad. I will, ſays Scheherazade, Zobeide addreſſing her ſelf to the Caliph went on thus,
​Sir, ſaid ſhe, the young Prince, my Siſters and my felf enjoy’d our ſelves for ſometime very agreeably: But alas! this good Underftanding did not laſt long, for my Siſters grew jealous of the Friendſhip between the Prince and me, and maliciouſly ask’d me one Day, what we ſhould do with him when we came to Bagdad? I perceiv’d immediately that they put this Queſtion to me, on purpoſe to a diſcover my Inclinations, therefore reſolving to put it off with a Jeſt, I anſwer’d them, I will take him for my Husband: and upon that, turning my ſelf to the Prince, Sir, humbly beg of you to give your Conſent, for as ſoon as we came to Bagdad, I deſign to offer you my Perſon to be your Slave, to do you all the Service that is in my Power, and to reſign my ſelf wholly to your Commands.
The Prince anſwered, I know not, Madam, whether you be in jeſt or no; but for my own part, I ſeriouſly declare before theſe Ladies, your Siſters, that from this Moment I heartily accept your Offer, not with any Intention to have you as a Slave, but as my Lady and Miſtreſs; nor will I pretend to have any Power over your Actions. At theſe Words my Siſters changed Colour, and I could perceive afterwards, that they did not love me formerly.
We were come into the Perſian Gulph, and not far from Balſora, where I hop’d, conſidering the fair Wind, we might have arriv’d the Day following; but in the Night, when I was aſleep, my Siſters watch’d their Time, and threw me over board. They did the ſame to the Prince, who was drown’d, I ſwam ſome Minutes on the Water; but by good Fortune, or rather Miracle, I felt Ground, I went towards a black Place, that by what I could diſcern in the Dark ſeemed to be Land, and actually was a Flat on the Coaſt, which when Day came, I found to be a Deſart Iſland, lying about twenty Miles from Balſora. I ſoon dried my Cloths in the Sun, and as I walked along, I found ſeveral ſorts of Fruit, and likewiſe freſh Water, which gave me ſome hopes of preſerving my Life.
I laid my ſelf down in a Shade, and ſoon after I ſaw a winged Serpent, very large and long, coming towards me, wriggling to the right and to the left, and hanging out his Tongue, which made me think he had got ſome Hurt, I aroſe and ſaw a Serpent larger than he following him, hold-​ing him by the Tail, and endeavouring to devour him: I had Compaſſion on him, and inſtead of flying away, I had the Boldneſs and Courage to take up a Stone that by chance lay by me, and threw it at the great Serpent with all my Strength, whom I hit on the Head, and Killed him. The other finding him ſelf at liberty, took to his Wings and flew away: I looked a long while after him in the Air, as being an extraordinary thing; but he flew out of ſight, and I lay down again in another Place in the Shade and fell aſleep.
When I awaked, judge how I was ſurprized to ſee a black Woman by me, of a lively and agreeable Complexion, who held two Bitches tied together in her Hand, of the ſame Colour, I ſat up and asked her who ſhe was; I am, faid ſhe, the Serpent whom you delivered not long fince from my mortal Enemy. I knew not how to acknowledge the great Kindneſs you did me, but by doing what I have done. I knew the Treachery of your Siſters, and to revenge you on them, as ſoon as I was ſet at liberty by your generous Aſſiſtance, I called ſeveral of my Companions together, Fairies like my ſelf, we have carried all the Lading that was in your Veſſel, into your Store-houſes at Bagdad, and afterwards ſunk it.
Thoſe two black Bitches are your Siſters, whom I have transformed into this Shape: But this Puniſhment is not ſufficient, for I will have you to treat them after ſuch a manner as I ſhall direct.
At theſe Words the Fairy took me faſt under one of her Arms, and the two Bitches in the other, and carried me ta my Houſe in Bagdad, where I found all the Riches which were loaden on board my Veſſel in my Store-houſes. Before ſhe left me, ſhe delivered me the two Bitches, and told me, If you will not’be chang’d into a Bitch, as they are, I ordain you in the Name of him that governs the Sea, to give cach of your Siſters oy Night an 100 Laſhes with a Rod, for the Puniſhment of the Crime they have committed againſt your Perſon, and the young Prince whom they drowned. I was forced to promiſe that I would obey her Order. Since that time I have whipped them every Night, though with Regret, whereof your Majeſty has been a Witneſs. I give evidence by my Tears, with how much Sorrow and Reluctancy I muſt perform this cruel ​Duty; and in this your Majeſty may ſee I am more to be pitied than blamed. If there be any thing elſe, with relation to my ſelf, that you deſire to be informed of, my Sifter Amine will give you the full Diſcovery of it, by the Relation of her Story.
After the Caliph had heard Zobeide with a great deal of Aſtoniſhment, he deſired his Grand Viſier to pray fair Amine to acquaint him wherefore her Breaſt was mark’d with ſo many Scars.
Bur, Sir, ſaid Scheherazade, it is Day, and T dare not detain your Majeſty any longer. Schahriar being perſuaded that the Story which Scheherazade was to relate would explain the former, ſaid to himſelf, I muſt have the Pleaſure of hearing this Story out: Upon which he aroſe, and reſolved that Scheherazade ſhould live one Day longer.