# Arabian Nights Entertainments (1706)/Volume 1/The Story of the Fisherman

The Story of the Fiſherman.
    SIR,
THere was a very ancient Fiſherman, ſo poor, that he could ſcarce earn enough to maintain himſelf, his Wife, and three Children. He went every Day to fiſh betimes in a Morning; and impos’d it as a Law upon himfelf, not to caſt his Nets above four times a Day. He went one Morning by Moon-light; and coming to the Sea-bank, undreſs’d himſelf, and caſt in his Nets. As he drew them towards the Shoar, he found them very heavy, and thought he had a good draught of Fiſh, at which he rejoic’d within himſelf; but in a Moment after, perceiving that inſtead of Fiſh, there was nothing in his Nets but the Carkaſs of an Aſs he was mightily vex’d; Scheherazade ſtop’d here, becauſe ſhe aw it was Day.
Siſter, ſays Dinarzade, I muſt confeſs, that the beginning of this Story charms me, and I foreſee that the reſult of It will be very agreeable, There is nothing more ſur-​prizing, than the Story of this Fiſherman, replied the Sultaneſs you will by convinc’d of it next Night, if the Sultan will be ſo gracious, as to let me live. Schahriar being curious to hear the Succeſs of ſuch an extraordinary Fiſhing, would not order Scheherazade to be put to death that Day.
The Ninth Night.
MY dear Siſter, cries Dinarzade next Morning at the uſual Hour, if you be not aſleep, I pray you to go on with the Story of the Fiſherman; I am ready to die till I Hear it. I am willing to give you that Satisfaction, ſays the Sultaneſs; but at the ſame time, ſhe demanded leave of the Sultan, and having obtain’d it, began the Story again, as follows:
Sir, when the Fiſherman, vex’d to have made ſuch a ſorry Draught, had mended his Nets, which the Carcaſs of Aſs had broke in ſeveral places, he threw them in a ſecond time; and when he drew them, found a great deal of Reſiſtance, which made him to think he had taken abundance of Fiſh; but he found nothing, except a Pannier full of Gravel and Slime, which grieved him extreamly. O Fortune! cries he, with a lamentable Tone, don’t be angry at me, nor perſecute a Wretch, who prays thee to ſpare him. I came hither from my Houſe, to ſeek for my livelihood, and thou pronounceſt Death againſt me. I have no other Trade but this to ſubſiſt by; and notwithſtanding all the Care I take, I can ſcarcely provide what is abſolutely necefſary for my ſamily. But I am in the Wrong to complain of thee; thou tak’ſt Pleaſure to perſecute honeſt People, and to leave great Men in Obſcurity, whilſt thou ſhew’ſt ſavour to the Wicked, and advanceſt thoſe who have no Virtue to recommend them.
Having finiſh’d this Complaint, he threw away the Pannnier in a fret, and waſhing his Nets from the Slime, caſt them the third time; bur brought up nothing, except Stones, Shells and Mudd. No body can expreſs his Diſorder; he was within an Ace of going quite mad, How-​ever, when Day began to appear, he did not forget to ſay his Prayers, like a good Muſſulman, and afterwards added this Petition: Lord, you know, that I caſt my Nets only four times a Day; I have already drawn them three times, without the leaſt Reward for my Labour: I am only to caſt ’em once more; I pray you to render the Sea ſavourable to me, as you did to Moſes.
The Fiſherman having finiſh’d this Prayer, caſt his Nets the fourth time; and when he thought it was time, he drew them as formerly, with great Difficulty; but inſtead of Fiſh, found nothing in ’em but a Veſſel of yellow Copper, that by its Weight ſeem’d to be full of ſomething; and he obſerv’d that it was ſhut up and ſeal’d with Lead, having the Impreſſion of a Seal upon it. This rejoiced him: I will ſell it, ſays he to the Founder, and with the Money ariſing from the Product, buy a Meaſure of Corn. He examin’d the Veſſel on all Sides, and ſhook it, to ſee if what was within made any Noiſe, and heard nothing. This Circumſtance, with the Impreſſion of the Seal upon upon the leaden Cover, made him to think there was ſomething precious in it. To try this, he took a Knife and open’d it with very little Labour. He preſently turn’d the Mouth downward, but nothing came out, which ſurprizd him extreamly, He ſet it before him, and while he look’d upon it attentively, there came out a very thick Smoak, which oblig’d him to retire two or three Paces from it,
This Smoak mounted as highas the Clouds, and extending it ſelf along the Sea, and upon the Shoar, form’d a great Miſt, which we may well imagine did mightily aſtoniſh the Fiſherman, When the Smoak was all out of the Veſſel, it reunited it ſelf, and became a ſolid Body, of which there was form’d a Genie twice as high as the greateſt of Giants. At the ſight of a Monſter of ſuch an unſizeable Bulk, the Fiſherman would ſain have fled, but was ſo frighten’d, that he could not go one ſtep.
Solomon, cried the Genie immediately, Solomon, the great Propher, Pardon, Pardon, I will never more oppoſe your Will, l will obey all your Commands,—Scheherazade perceiving Day, broke off her Story.
​Upon which Dinarzarde ſaid, Dear Siſter, no body can keep their promiſe better than you have done yours. This Story is certainly more ſurpriſing than the former. Siſter, replies the Sultaneſs, there are more wonderful Things yet to come, if my Lord, the Sultan, will allow me to tell ’em you. Schahriar had too great a defire to hear out the Story of the Fiſherman, to deprive himſelf of that Pleafure; and therefore put off the Sultaneſs’s Death another Day.
The Tenth Night.
DInarzade call’d her Siſter next Night, when fhe thought it was time, and pray’d her to continue the Story of the Fiſherman; and the Sultan being alſo impatient to know what Concern the Genie had with Solomon, Scheherazade continued her Story thus.
Sir, the Fiſherman, when he heard theſe Words of the Genie, recover’d his Courage, and ſays to him,thou proud Spirit, what is that you talk? It’s above eighteen hundred Years ſince the Prophet Solomon died, and we are now at the end of Time: Tell me your Hiſtory, and how you came to be ſhut up in this Veſſel?
The Genie turning to the Fiſherman, with a fierce Look; ſays, You muſt ſpeak to me with more Civility; thou art very bold to call me a proud Spirit. Very well, replies the Fiſherman, ſhall I ſpeak to you with more Civility, and call you the Owl of good-luck? I ſay, anſwers the Geni, ſpeak to me more civilly, before I kill thee, Ah! replies the Fiſherman, why would you kill me? Did not I just now ſet you at Liberty, and have you already forgot it? Yes, I remember it, ſays the Genie, but that ſhall not hinder me to kill thee: I have only one ſavour to grant thee: And what’s that, ſays the Fiſherman? It is, anſwers the Genie, to give you your Choice, in what manner thou wouldſt have me take thy Life, but wherein have offended you, replies the Fiſherman? Is this your Reward for the good Service I have done you? Ican’t treat you otherwiſe, ſays the Genie; and that you may be convinc’d of it, hearken to my Story.
​I am one of thoſe rebellious Spirits, that oppos’d themſelves to the Will of Heav’n; all the other Genies own’d Solomon, the great Prophet, and ſubmitted to him. Sacar and I were the only Genies that would never be guilty of ſo mean a Thing: And to avenge himſelf, that great Monarch ſent Aſaph, the Son of Barakhia, his chief Miniſter, to apprehend me. That was accordingly done, Aſaph ſeizd my Perſon, and brought me by Force before his Maſter’s Throne.
Solomon, the Son of David, commanded me to quit my way of living, to acknowledge his Power, and to ſubmit myſelf to his Commands: I bravely refus’d to obey, and told him, I would rather expoſe my ſelf to his Reſentments, than ſwear Fealty, and ſubmit to him, as he required. To puniſh me, he ſhut me up in this Copper Veſſel; and to make ſure of me, that I ſhould not break Prifon, he ſtampt (himſelf) upon this leaden Cover, his Seal, with the great Name of God engraven upon it. Thus, he gave the Veſſel to one of the Genies who ſubmitted to him, with Orders to throw me into the Sea, which was executed, to my great Sorrow.
During the firſt hundred Years Impriſonment, I ſwore, that if any one would deliver me before the hundred Years expir’d, I would make him rich, ev’n after his Death: But that Century run out and no body did me that good Office. During the ſecond, I made an Oath, that I would open all the Treaſures of the Earth to any one that ſhould ſet me at Liberty, but with no better Succeſs. In the third, I promis’d to make my Deliverer a potent Monarch, to be always near him in a Spirit, and to grant him every Day three Demands, of what nature ſoever they might be: But this Century run out as well as the two former, and I continued in Priſon. At laſt, being angry, or rather mad, to find my ſelſ a Priſoner ſo long, I ſwore, that if afterwards any one ſhould deliver me, I would kill him without Pity, and grant him no other Favour, but to chuſe what kind of Death he would die and therefore, fince you have deliver’d me to-day, I give you that Choice.
This Diſcourſe afflicted the poor Fiſherman extreamly: I am very unfortunate, cries he, to come hither to do ſuch ​a Piece of good Service, to one that’s ſo ungrateful. I beg you to conſider your Injuſtice, and revoke ſuch an unreaſonable Oath: Pardon me, and Heav’n will pardon you; if you grant my Life, Heav’n will protect you from all Attempts againſt yours. No, thy Death’s reſolv’d on, ſays the Genie, only chuſe how you will die. The Fiſherman perceiving the Genie to be reſolute, was extreamly griev’d, not ſo much for himſelf, as for his three Children; and bewail’d the Miſery they muſt be reduc’d to by his Death. He endeavour’d ſtill to appeaſe the Genie, and ſays, Alas! be pleas’d to take pity on me, in conſideration of the good Service I have done you. I have told thee already, replies the Genie, it’s for that very Reaſon I muſt Kill thee. That’s very ſtrange, ſays the Fiſherman, are you reſolv’d to reward Good with Evil: The Proverb ſays, That he who does Good to one who. deſerves it not, is always ill rewarded. I muſt confeſs, I thought it was ſalſe; for in effect, there can be nothing more contrary to Reaſon, or the Laws of Society. Nevertheleſs, I find now by cruel Experience, that it is but too true. Don’t let’s loſe time, replies the Genie, all thy Reaſonings ſhall not divert me from my Purpoſe: Make haſte and tell me, which way you chuſe to die.
Neceflity is the Mother of Invention. The Fiſherman bethought himſelf of a Stratagem. Since I muſt die then, ſays he to the Genie, I ſubmit to the Will of Heaven; but before I chuſe the manner of Death, I conjure you by the great Name which was engraven upon the Seal of the Prophet Solomon, the Son of David, to anſwer me truly the Queſtion I am going to ask you.
The Genie finding himſelf oblig’d to a poſitive Anſwer, by this Adjuration, trembled; and replies to the Fiſherman, ask what thou wilt, but make haſte.—Day appearing, Scheherazade held her Peace.
Siſter, ſays Dinarzade, it muſt be own’d, that the more you ſpeak, the more you ſurprize and ſatisfie. I hope the Sultan, our Lord, will not order you to be put to Death, till he hears out the fine Story of the Fiſherman: The Sultan is abſolute, replies Scheherazade, we muſt ſubmit to his Will in every thing. But Schahriar, being as willing as ​Dinarzade, to hear an end of the Story, did again put off the Execution of the Sultaneſs.
The Eleventh Night.
SChahriar, and the Princeſs his Spouſe, paſſed this Night in the ſame manner as they had done the former, and before break of Day, Dinarzarde awak’d them with theſe Words, ſhe addreſs’d to the Sultaneſs: I pray you, Siſter, to reſume the Story of the Fiſherman; with all my Heart, ſaid Scheherazade, I am. willing to ſatisfy you, with the Sultan’s Permiſſion.
The Genie (continued ſhe) having promiſed to ſpeak the truth, the Fiſherman ſays to him, I would know if you were actually in this Veſſel? Dare you ſwear it,by the Name of the great God? Yes, replied the Genie, I do ſwear by that great Name, that I was, and it is a certain truth: In good ſaith, anſwer’d the Fiſherman, I cannot believe you; the Veſſel is not capable to hold one of your Feet, and how ſhould it be poſſible that your whole Body could lie in it? I ſwear to thee, notwithſtanding, replied the Genie, that I was there juſt as you ſee me here: Is it poſſible, that thou doſt not believe me, after this great Oath that I have taken? Truly not, ſaid the Fiſherman; nor will I believe you, unleſs you ſhew it me.
Upon which, the Body of the Genie was diffolv’d, and chang’d it ſelf into Smoak, extending it ſelf as formerly, upon the Sea and Shoar; and then at laſt being gather’d together, it began to re-enter the Veſſel, which it ſo continued to do ſucceſſively, by a ſlow and equal Motion, after a ſmooth and exact way, till nothing was lefr out, and immediately a Voice came forth, which ſaid to the Fiſherman, Well now, incredulous Fellow, I am all in the Veſſel don’t you believe me now?
The Fiſherman, inſtead of anſwering the Genie took the Cover of Lead, and having ſpeedily ſhut the Veſſel, Genie, cries he, now it’s your turn to beg my Favour, and to chuſe which way I ſhall put you to Death; but not ſo it’s better that I ſhould throw you into the Sea, whence I ​took you: And then I will build a Houſe upon the Bank, where I will dwell to give Notice to all Fiſhermen, who come to throw in their Nets, to beware of ſuch a wicked Genie as thou art, who haſt made an Oath to kill him that ſhall ſet thee at Liberty.
The Genie, enrag’d at thoſe Expreſſions, did all he could to get out of the Veſſel again, but it was not poſſible for him to do it; for the Impreſſion of Solomon’s Seal prevented him: So perceiving that the Fiſherman had got the Advantage of him, he thought fit to diſſemble his Anger. Fiſherman, ſays he, in a pleaſant tone, take heed you don’t do what you ſay; for what I ſpoke to you before, was only by way of Jeſt, and you are to take It no otherwiſe. O Genie! replies the Fiſherman, thou who waſt but a Moment ago, the greateſt of all Genies , and now art the leaſt of ’em, thy crafty Diſcourſe will ſignifie nothing to thee, but to the Sea thou ſhalt return: If thou haſt ſtay’d there already ſo long as thou haſt told me, thou may’ſt very well ſtay there till the Day of Judgment. I begg’d of thee in God’s Name, not to take away my Life, and thou didſt reject my Prayers; I am obliged to treat you in the ſame manner.
The Genie omitted nothing that could prevail upon the Fiſherman: Open the Veſſel, ſays he, give me my Liberty, I pray thee, and I promiſe to ſatisfie thee to thy own Content. Thou at a meer Traitor, replies the Fiſherman, I ſhould deſerve to loſe my Life, it I be ſuch a Fool as to truſt thee; thou wilt not ſail to treat me in the ſame manner, as a certain Grecian King treated the Phyſician Douban. Its a Story I have a mind to tell thee, therefore liſten to it.
The Story of the Grecian King and the Phyſician Douban.
THere was in the Country of Zouman, in Perſia, a King, whoſe Subjects were originally Greeks. This King was all over Leprous, and his Phyſicians in vain endeavour’d his Cure ; and when they were at their Wits end ​what to preſcribe to him, a very able Phyſician, called Douban, arriv’d at his Court.
This Phyſician had learn’d his Science in Greek, Perſian, Turkiſh, Arabian, Latin, Syriac and Hebrew Books; and beſides that, he was an expert Philoſopher, he fully underſtood the good and bad Qualities of all Sorts of Plants and Drugs. As ſoon as he was inform’d of the King’s Diſtemper, and underſtood that his Phyſicians had giv’n him over, he clad himſelf the beſt he could, and found a way to preſent himſelf to the King. Sir, ſays he, I know that all your Majeſty’s Phyſicians have not been able to cure you of the Leproſy, but if you will do me the Honour to accept my Service, I will engage my ſelf to cure you without Drenches, or external Applications.
The King liſten’d to what he ſaid, and anſwer’d, if you be able to perform what you promiſe, I will enrich you and your Poſterity; and beſides the Preſents I ſhall make you, you ſhall be my chief Favourite. Do you aſſure me then, that you will cure me of my Leproſy, without making me take any Potion, or applying any external Medicine? Yes, Sir, replies the Phyſician, I promiſe my ſelf Succeſs, through God’s Aſſiſtance, and to-morrow I will make trial of it.
The Phyſician return’d to his Quarters, and made a Mallet, hollow within, and at the Handle he put in his Drugs: He made alſo a Ball, in ſuch a manner as ſuited his Purpoſe, with which, next Morning, he went to preſent himſelf before the King, and ſalling down at his Feet, kiſs’d the very Gronnd.—Here Scheherazade, perceiving Day, acquainted the Sultan with it, and held her Peace.
I wonder, Siſter, ſays Dinarzade, where you learn fo many fine Things. You ſhall hear a great many others tomorrow, replies Scheherazade, if the Sultan, my Maſter, will be pleas’d to prolong my Life further. Schahriar, who long’d as much as Dinarzade to hear the Sequel of the Story of Douban the Phyſician, did not order the Sultaneſs to be put to Death that Day.
The Twelfth Night.
THE Twelfth Night was far advanc’d, when Dinarzade call’d, and ſays, Siſter, you owe us the Continuation of the agreeable Hiſtory of the Grecian King and the Phyſician Douban. I am very willing to pay my Debt, replies Scheherazade, and reſum’d the Story as follows.
Sir, the Fiſherman ſpeaking always to the Genie, whom he kept ſhut up in his Veſſel, went on thus: The Phyſician Douban roſe up, and after a profound Reverence, ſays to the King, he judg’d it meet that his Majeſty ſhould take Horſe, and go to the Place where he us’d to play at Mell. The King did ſo, and when he arriv’d there, the Phyſician came to him with the Mell, and ſays to him, Sir, exerciſe your ſelf with this Mell, and ſtrike the Ball with it, until you find your Hands and your Body in a Sweat. When the Medicine I have put up in the Handle of the Mell is heated with your Hand, it will penetrate your whole Body; and as ſoon as you ſhall ſweat, you may leave off the Exerciſe, for then the Medicine will have its Effect. As ſoon as you are return’d to your Palace, go into the Bath, and cauſe your ſelf to be well waſh’d and rubb’d; then go to Bed, and when you riſe to morrow, you will find your ſelf curd.
The King took the Mell, and ſtruck the Ball, which was return’d by his Officers that play’d with him; he ſtruck it again, and play’d ſo long, till his Hand and his whole Body were in a Sweat, and then the Medicine ſhut up in the Handle of the Mell had its Operation, as the Phyſician ſaid. Upon this the King left off Play, return’d to his Palace, entered the Bath, and obſerved very exactly what his Phyfician had preſcrib’d him.
He was very well after it, and next Morning when he aroſe, he perceiv’d with as much Wonder and Joy, that his Leproſy was cur’d, and his Body as clean, as if he had never been attack’d with that Diſtemper. As ſoon as he was dreſs’d, he came into the Hall of publick Audience, where he mounted his Throne, and ſhew’d himſelf to his Cour-​tiers, Who longing to know the Succeſs of the new Medicine, came thither betimes, and when they ſaw the King perfectly cur’d, did all of them expreſs a mighty Joy for it. The Phyſician Douban entering the Hall, bow’d himſelf before the Throne, with his Face to the Ground. The King perceiving him, call’d him, made him ſit down by his Side, ſhew’d him to the Aſſembly, and gave him all the Commendation he deſerv’d. His Majeſty did not ſtop here; but as he treated all his Court that Day, he made him to eat at his Table alone with him. At theſe Words, Scheherazade perceiving Day, broke off her Story. Siſter, ſaid Dimarzade, I know not what the Concluſion of this Story will be, but I find the Beginning very ſurpriſing. That which is to come, is yet better, anſwer’d the Sultaneſs, and I am certain you will not deny it, if the Sultan give me leave to make an end of it tomorrow Night. Schahriar conſented, and aroſe very well ſatisfied with-what he had heard.
The Thirteenth Night.
DInarzade, willing to keep the Sultan in Ignorance of her Deſign, cried out as if ſhe had ftarted out of her Sleep: O dear Siſter, I have had a troubleſome Dream, and nothing will ſooner make me forget it, than the Remainder of the Story of the Grecian King and the Doctor Douban. I do conjure you by the Love you always bore me, not to defer it a Moment longer. I ſhall not be wanting, good Siſter, to eaſe your Mind; and if my Sovereign will permit me, I will go on. Schahriar being charmed with, the agreeable manner of Scheherazade’s telling her Stories, ſays to her, You will oblige me no leſs than Dinarzade, therefore continue.
The Grecian King (ſays the Fiſherman to the Genie) was not ſatisfied with having admitted the Phyſician Douban to his Table, but towards Night, when he was about difmiſſing the Company, he cauſed him to be clad in along rich Robe, like unto thoſe which his Favourites uſually wore in his Preſence; and beſides that, he ordered him two ​thouſand Sequins. The next Day, and the Day following; he was very ſamiliar with him; in ſhort, this Prince thinking that he could never enough acknowledge the Obligations he lay under to that able Phyſician, beſtow’d every Day new Favours upon him. But this King had a Grand Viſer, that was avaricious, envious, and naturally capable of all Sorts of Miſchief; he could not ſee, without Envy, the Preſents that were given to the Phyſician, whoſe other Merits had already began to make him jealous, and therefore he reſolv’d to leflen him in the King’s Eſteem. To effect this, he went to the King, and told him in private, that he had ſome Advice to give him, which was of the greateſt Concernment. The King having ask’d what it was; Sir, ſaid he, it’s very dangerous for a Monarch to put Confidence in a Man, whoſe Fidelity he never tried. Tho’ you heap Favours upon the Phyſician Douban, and ſhew him all the Familiarity that may be, your Majeſty does not know but he may be a Traitor at the ſame time, and come on purpoſe to this Court to kill you. From whom have you this, anſwer’d the King, that you dare to tell it me? Conſider to whom you ſpeak, and that you adviſe a Thing which I ſhall not eafily believe. Sir, replied the Viſier, I am very well inform’d of what I have had the Honour to repreſent to your Majeſty, therefore do not let your dangerous Confidence grow to a further Height: If your Majeſty be aſleep, be pleaſed to awake; for I do once. more repeat it, that the Phyſician Douban did not leave the Heart of Greece, his Country, nor come hither to ſettle himſelf at your Court, but to execute that horrible Deſign, which I have now hinted to you.
No, no, Viſier, replies the King, I am certain, that this Man, whom you treat as a Villain and a Traitor, is one of the beſt and moſt virtuous Men in the World, and there is no Man I love ſo much. You know by what Medicine, or rather by what Miracle, he cur’d me of my Leproſy; If he had had a Deſign upon my Life, why did he ſave me? He needed only have left me to my Diſeaſe, I could not have eſcap’d it. My Life was already half gone, forbear then to fill me with unjuſt Suſpicions: Inſtead of liſtening to you, I tell you, that from this Day forward, I will give ​that great Man a Penſion of a thouſand Sequins per Month, for his Life; nay, tho’ I did ſhare with him all my Riches and Dominions, I ſhould never pay him enough, for what he has done for me: I perceive it to be his Virtue, which raiſes your Envy; but don’t you think that I will be unjuſtly poſſeſs’d with Prejudice againſt him. I remember too well what a Viſier ſaid to King Sindbad, his Maſter, to prevent his putting to Death the Prince, his Son _______ But, Sir, ſays Scheherazade, Day-light appears, which forbids me to go any further.
I am very well pleas’d that the Grecian King, ſays Dinarzade, had ſo much Firmneſs of Spirit, to reject the falſe Accuſation of his Viſier. If you commend the Firmneſs of that Prince to Day, ſays Scheherazade, you will as much condemn his Weakneſs to Morrow, if the Sultan be pleaſed to allow me time to finiſh this Story. The Sultan being curious to hear wherein the Grecian King diſcovered his Weakneſs, did further delay the Death of the Sultaneſs.
The Fourteenth Night.
AN Hour before Day, Dinarzade awak’d her Siſter; and ſays to her, you will certainly be as good as your Word, Madam, and tell us out the Story of the Fiſherman? To aflift your Memory, I will tell you where you left of: It was where the Grecian King maintain’d the Innocence of his Phyſician Douban, againſt his Vifier. I remember it, ſays Scheherazade, and am ready to give you Satisſaction.
Sir, continues ſhe, addreſling herſelf to Schahriar, that which the Grecian King ſaid about King Sindbad, rais’d the Viſier’s Curioſity, who ſays to him, Sir, I pray your Majeſty to pardon me; if I have the Boldneſs to demand of you, what the Viſier of King Sindbad ſaid to his Maſter, to divert him from cutting off the Prince his Son. The Grecian King had the Complaiſance to ſatisfy him: That Viſier, ſays he, after having repreſented to King Sindbad; that he ought to beware, leſt on the Accuſation of a Mo-​ther-in-law, he ſhould commit an Action, which he might afterwards repent of, told him this Story.
The Story of the Husband and the Parrot.
A Certain Man had a ſair Wife, whom belov’d ſo dearly, that he could ſcarce allow her to be out of his Sight. One Day, being oblig’d to go abroad about urgent Afſairs, he came to a Place where all Sorts of Birds were ſold, and there bought a Parrot, which not only ſpoke very well, but could alſo give an Account of every Thing that was done before it. He brought it in a Cage to his Houſe, pray’d his Wife to put it in the Chamber,and to take care of it, during a Journey he was oblig’d to undertake, and then went out.
At his Return, he took care to ask the Parrot concerning what had paſs’d in his Abſence, and the Bird told him Things that gave him Occaſion to upbraid his Wife. She thought ſome of her Slaves had betray’d her, but all of ’em ſwore they had been ſaithful to her, and they all agreed that it muſt have been the Parrot, that had told Tales.
Upon this, the Wife bethought her ſelf of a way, how the might remove her Husband’s Jealouſie, and at the ſame time revenge her ſelf of the Parrot, which ſhe effected thus. Her Husband being gone another Journey, ſhe commanded a Slave, in the Night time, to turn a Hand-mill under the Parrot’s Cage; ſhe ordered another to throw Water, in form of Rain, over the Cage; and a third to take a Glaſs, and turn it to the Right and to the Left before the Parrot, ſo as the Reflections of the Candle might ſhine on its Face. The Slaves ſpent great part of the Night, in doing what their Miſtreſs commanded them, and acquitted themſelves very dexterouſly.
Next Day the Husband return’d, and examin’d the Parrot again, about what had paſs’d during his Abſence. The Bird anſwer’d, Good Maſter, the Lightning, Thunder and Rain, did ſo much diſturb me all Night, that I cannot tell how much I ſuffered by it. The Husband, who knew that there had been neither Thunder, Lightning, nor Rain that Night, ſancicd that the Parrot, not having told him ​the Truth in this, might alſo have lied to him in the other upon which he took it out of the Cage, and threw it with ſo much Force to the Ground, that he kill’d it. Yet afterwards he underſtood by his Neighbours, that the poor Parrot had not lied to him, when it gave him an Account of his Wife’s baſe Conduct, which made him repent he had kill’d it. Scheherazade ſtopp’d here, becauſe ſhe ſaw it was Day.
All that you tell us, Siſter, ſays Dinarzade, is ſo curious, that nothing can be more agreeable. I ſhall be willing to divert you, anſwers Scheherazade, if the Sultan, my Maſter, will allow me Time to do it. Schahriar, who took as much Pleaſure to hear the Sultaneſs, as Dinarzade, aroſe and went about his Affairs, without ordering the Viſier to cut her off.
The Fifteenth Night,
DInarzade was punctual this Night, as ſhe had been the former, to awake her Siſter, and begg’d of her, as uſual, to tell her a Story. I am going to do it, Siſter, ſays Scheherazade; but the Sultan interrupted her, for fear ſhe ſhould begin a new Story, and bid her finiſh the Diſcourſe betwixt the Grecian King and his Viſier, about his Phyſician Douban. Sir, ſays Scheherazade, I will obey you, and went on with the Story as follows.
When the Grecian King, ſays the Fiſherman to the Genie, had finiſh’d the Story of the Parrot; and you, Viſier, adds he, becauſe of the Hatred you bear to, the Phyfician Douban, who never did you any Hurt, you would have me cut him off; but I will take care of that, for fear I ſhould repent it, as the Husband did the killing of his Parrot.
The miſchievous Viſier was too much concern’d to effect the Ruin of the Phyſician Douban, to ſtop here. Sir, ſays he, the Death of the Parrot was but a Trifle, and I believe his Mafter did not mourn for him long: But why ſhould your Fear of wronging an innocent Man, hinder your putting this Phyſician to Death? Is it not enough that he is accus’d of a Deſign againſt your Life, to autho-​rize you to take away his? When the Bufineſs in queſtion is to ſecure the Life of a King, bare Suſpicion ought to paſs tor Certainty; and it is better to ſacrifice the Innocent, than to ſpare the Guilty. But, Sir, this is not an uncertain Thing; the Phyſician Douban has certainly a mind to aſſaſſinate you. It is not Envy which makes me his Enemy. it’s only my Zeal, and the Concern I have for preſerving your Majeſty’s Life, that makes me give you my Advice in a Matter of this Importance. If it be ſalſe, I deſerve to be puniſh’d in the ſame manner as a Viſier was formerly puniſh’d. What had that Viſier done, ſays the Grecian King, to deſerve Puniſhment? I will inform your Majeſty of that, ſays the Viſier, if you will be pleas’d to hear me.
The Story of the Vifier that was puniſh’d.
THere was a King, ſays the Viſier, who had a Son that lov’d Hunting mightily. He allow’d him to divert himſelf that way very often; but gave Order to his Grand Viſier to attend him conſtantly, and never to loſe Sight of him.
One Hunting-day, the Huntſman having rouz’d a Deer, the Prince, who thought the Viſier follow’d him, purſu’d the Game fo ſar, and with ſo much Earneftneſs, that he was left quite alone. He ſtopp’d, and finding he had loſt his way, endeaveur’d to return the ſame way he came, to find out the Viſier, who had not been careful enough to follow him, and ſo wandred further,
While he rode up and down, without keeping any Road, he met, by the way-ſide, a handſome Lady, who wept bitterly. He ſtopt his Horſe, ask’d who ſhe was, how ſhe came to be alone in that Place, and what ſhe wanted, I am, ſays ſhe, Daughter to an Indian King: As was taking the Air on Horſe-back, in the Country, I grew fleepy, fell from my Horſe, who is got away, and I know not what is becomeof him. The young Prince taking Compaſſion on her, ask’d her to get up behind. him, which ſhe willingly accepted.
​As they paſs’d by the Ruins of a Houſe, the Lady ſigninified a Deſire to alight on ſome Occaſion. The Prince ſtopp’d, and ſuffered her to alight; then he alighted himſelf, and went near the Ruins with his Horſe in his Hand : But you may judge how much he was ſurpriz’d, when he heard the Lady within it, ſay theſe Words: Be glad, my Children, I bring you a handſome young Man, and very fat; and other Voices, which anſwer’d immediately, Mamma, is he, that we may eat him preſently, for we are very hungry.
The Prince heard enough to convince him of his Danger, and then he perceiv’d that the Lady, who call’d herſelf Daughter to an Indian King, was a Hogreſs, Wife to one of thoſe Savage Demons, call’d Hogres, who ſtay in remote Places, and make uſe of a thouſand Wiles to ſurprize and devour Paſſengers; fo that the Prince being thus frighten’d, mounted his Horſe as ſoon as he could.
The pretended Princeſs appear’d that very Moment, and perceiving ſhe had miſſed her Prey, ſhe cries, Fear nothing, Prince: Who are you? whom do you ſeek? I have loſt my way, replies he, and am ſeeking it. If you have loſt your way, ſays ſhe, recommend your ſelf to God, he will deliver you out of your Perplexity. Then the Prince lift up his Eyes towards Heaven.———But, Sir, fays Scheherazade, I am oblig’d to break off, for Day appears.
I long mightily, ſays Dinarzade, to know what became of that young Prince, I tremble for him, I will deliver you from your Uneafineſs to morrow, anſwers the Sultaneſs, if the Sultan will allow me to live till then. Schahriar, willing to hear an end of this Adventure, prolonged Scheherazade’s Life for another Day.
The Sixteenth Night.
DInarzade had ſuch a mighty Deſire to hear out the Story of the young Prince, that ſhe awak’d that Night ſooner than ordinary, and ſaid, Sifter, pray go on with the Story you began yeſterday: I am much concern’d for the young Prince, and ready to die for fear that he was ​eat up by the Hogrefs and her Children. Schahriar having fignified that he had the fame Fear, the Sultaneſs replies, Well, Sir, I will fatisfy you immediately.
After the counterfeit Indian Princeſs had bid the young Prince recommend himſelf to God, he could not believe ſhe ſpoke ſincerely, but thought ſhe was ſure of him, and therefore lifting up his Hands to Heav’n, ſaid, Almighty Lord, caſt thine Eyes upon me, and deliver me from this Enemy. After this Prayer, the Hogreſs entered the Ruins again, and the Prince rode off with all poſſible Haſte. He happily found his way again, and arriv’d fate and ſound at his Father’s Court, to whom he gave a particular Account of the Danger he had been in, through the Viſier’s Neglect; upon which, the King being incens’d againſt that Miniſter, order’d him to be ſtrangled that very Moment.
Sir, continues the Grecian King’s Viſier: To return to the Phyſician Douban, if you don’t take care, the Confidence you put in him will be fatal to you; I am very well aſſured that he is a Spy ſent by your Enemies to attempt your Majeſty’s Life. He has cur’d you, you will ſay: But alas! who can aſſure you of that? He has perhaps cur’d you only in Appearance, and not radically; who knows but the Medicine he has given you, may in time have pernicious Effects.
The Grecian King, who had naturally very little Senſe, was not able to diſcover the wicked Deſign of his Viſier, nor had he Firmneſs enough to perſiſt in his firſt Opinion. This Diſcourſe ſtaggered him: Viſier, ſays he, thou art in the right; he may be come on purpoſe to take away my Life, which he may eaſily do, by the very Smell of ſome of his Drugs. We muſt conſider what is fit for us to do in this Caſe.
When the Viſier found the King in ſuch a Temper as he would have him, Sir, ſays he. the ſureſt and ſpeedieſt Method you can take to ſecure your Life, is to ſend immediately for the Phyſician Douban, and order his Head to be cut off as ſoon as he comes. In truth, ſays the King, I believe that’s the way we muſt take to prevent his Deſign. When he had ſpoke thus, he call’d for one of his Officers, and order’d him to go for the Phyſician, who knowing ​nothing of the King’s Deſign, came to the Palace in great Haſte.
Know ye, ſays the King, when he ſaw him, why I ſent for you? No, Sir, anſwer’d he, I wait till your Majeſty be pleas’d to inform me. I ſent for you, reply’d the King, to rid my ſelf of you, by taking your Life.
No Man can expreſs the Surprize of the Phyſician, when he heard the Sentence of Death pronounc’d againſt him. Sir, ſays he, why would your Majeſty take my Life? What Crime haye I committed? I am inform’d by good hands, replies the King, that you came to my Court only to attempt my Life; but to prevent you, I will be ſure of yours, Give the Blow, ſays he to the Executioner, who was preſent, and deliver me from a perfidious Wretch, who came hither en purpoſe to afſaſſinate me.
When the Phyſician heard this cruel Order, he readily judg’d that the Honours and Preſents he had received from the King, had procur’d him Enemies, and that the weak Prince was impos’d upon. He repented that he had cur’d him of his Leproſy, but it was now too late. Is it thus, replies the Phyſician, that you reward me for curing you? The King would not hearken to him, but ordered the Hangman a ſecond time to ſtrike the ſatal Blow. The Phyſician, then, had recourſe to his Prayers: Alas! Sir, cries he, prolong my Days, and God will prolong yours; don’t put me to death, leſt God treat you in the ſame manner. The Fiſherman broke off his Diſcourſe here, to apply it to the Genie, Well, Genie, ſays he, you ſee what paſſed then betwixt the Grecian King and his Phyſician Douban, is acted juſt now betwixt us.
The Grecian King, continues he, inſtead of having regard to the Prayers of the Phyſician, who begg’d him for God’s ſake to ſpare him, cruelly reply’d to him, No, no; I muſt of Neceſſity cut you off, otherwiſe you may take my Life away with as much Subtleneſs as you cur’d me. The Phyfician melting into Tears, and bewailing himſelf ſadly for being fo ill rewarded by the King, prepar’d for Death. The Executioner bound up his Eyes, ty’d his Hands, and went to draw his Scimiter.
​Then the Conrtiers who were preſent, being mov’d with Compaſſion, begg’d the King to pardon him, afſſuring his Majeſty that he was not guilty of the Crime laid to his Charge, and that they would anſwer for his Innocence: But the King was inflexible, and anſwer’d them ſo, as they dar’d not to ſay any more of the Matter.
The Phyſician being on his Knees, his Eyes ty’dup, and ready to receive the fatal Blow, addreſſed himſelf once more to the King. Sir, ſays he, fince your Majeſty will not revoke the Sentence of Death; I beg, at leaſt, that you would give me leave to return to my Houſe, to give order about my Burial, to bid ſarewel to my Family, to give Alms, and to bequeath my Books to thoſe who are capable of making good uſe of them. I have one particularly I would preſent to your Majeſty, it’s a very precious Book, and worthy to be laid up very carefully in your Treaſury, Well, replies the King, why is that Book ſo precious as you talk of? Sir, ſays the Phyſician, becauſe it contains an infinite Number of curious Things; of which the chief is, that when you have cut off my Head, if your Majeſty will give your ſelf the Trouble to open the Book at the ſixth Leaf, and read the third Line of the left Page, my Head will anſwer all the Queſtions you ask it. The King being curious to ſee ſuch a wonderful Thing, deferr’d his Death till next Day, and ſent him home under a ſtrong Guard.
The Phyſician, during that time, pus his Afſairs in order; and the Report being ſpread, that an unheard of Prodigy was to happen after his Death, the Viſiers, Emirs, Officers of the Guard, and, in a word, the whole Court, repair’d next Day to the Hall of Audience, that they might be Witneſſes of it.
The Phyſician Douban was ſoon brought in, and advanc’d to the Foot of the Throne, with a great Book in his Hand; there he call’d for a Baſon, upon which he laid the Cover that the Book was wrapp’d in, and preſenting the Book to the King: Sir, ſays he, take that Book, if you pleaſe, and as ſoon as my Head is cut off, order that it be put into the Baſon upon the Cover of the Book; as ſoon as it is put there, the Blood will ſtop; then open the Book, and my Head will anſwer your Queſtions, But, Sir, ſays ​he, permit me once more to implore your Majeſty’s Clemency; for God’s Sake grant my Requeſt, I proteſt to you that I am innocent. Your Prayers, anſwers the King, are in vain; and were it for nothing but to hear your Head ſpeak after your Death, it’s my Will you ſnould die. As he ſaid this, he took the Book out of the Phyſician’s Hand, and order’d the Executioner to do his Duty.
The Head was ſo dextrouſly cut off, that it fell into the Baſon, and was no ſooner laid upon the Cover of the Book, but the Blood ſtopped; then, to the great Surprize of the King and all the Spectators, it open d its Eyes, and ſaid, Sir, will your Majeſty be pleas’d to open the Book? The King open’d it, and finding that one Leaf was as it were glew’d to another, that he might turn it with the more Eaſe, he put his Finger to his Mouth, and wet it with Spittle. He did ſo till he came to the ſixth Leaf, and finding no Writing on the Place where he was bid look for it, Phyſician, ſays he, to the Head, here’s nothing writ. Turn over ſome more Leaves, replies the Head. The King continu’d to turn over, putting always his Finger to his Mouth, until the Poiſon, with which each Leaf was imbru’d, coming to have its Effect; the Prince finding himſelf, all of aſudden, taken with an extraordinary Fit, his Eye-ſight ſail’d, and he fell down at the Foot of his Throne in great Convulſions. At theſe Words, Scheherazade perceiving Day, gave the Sultan Notice of it, and forbore ſpeaking.
Ah, dear Siſter, ſays Dinarzade, how grieved am I that you have not time to finiſh this Story; I ſhould be inconſolable if you loſe your Life to Day. Siſter, replies the Sultaneſs; that muſt be as the Sultan pleaſes; but I hope he will be ſo good as to ſuſpend my Death till to morrow. And accordingly Schahriar, ſar from ordering her Death that Day, expected next Night with much Impatience; ſo earneſt was he to hear out the Story of the Grecian King, and the Sequel of that of the Fiſherman and the Genie.
The Seventeenth Night.
THO’ Dinarzade was very curious to hear the reſt of the Story of the Grecian King, ſhe did not awake that Night fo ſoon as uſual, ſo that it was almoſt Day before ſhe call’d upon the Sultaneſs, and then ſaid, I pray you, Siſter, to continue the wonderful Story of the Grecian King; but make haſte, I beſeech you, for it will ſpeedily beDay.
Scheherazade reſum’d the Story where ſhe left off the Day before: Sir, ſays ſhe to the Sultan, when the Phyfician Douban, or rather his Head, ſaw that the Poiſon had taken Effect, and that the King had but a few Moments to live: Tyrant, it cried, now you ſee how Princes are treated, who abuſing their Authority, cut off innocent Men, God puniſhes ſoon or late their Injuſtice and Cruelty. Scarce had the Head ſpoke theſe Words, till the King fell down dead, and the Head it ſelf loſt what Life it had.
Sir, continues Scheherazade, ſuch was the end of the Grecian King and the Phyſician Douban; I muſt return now to the Story of the Fiſherman and the Genie, but it’s not worth while to begin it now, for it is Day. The Sultan, who always obſerv’d his Hours regularly, could ſtay no longer, but got up; and having a mind to hear the Sequel of the Story of the Genie and the Fiſherman, he bid the Sultancſs prepare to tell it him next Night.
The Eighteenth Night.
DInarzade made amends this Night for laſt Night’s Neglect ſhe awak’d a long time before Day, and calling upon Scheherazade, Siſter, ſays ſhe, if you be not aſleep, pray give us thereſt of the Story of the Fiſherman and the Genie; you know the Sultan deſires to hear it as well as I.
I ſhall ſoon ſatisfy his Curioſity and yours, anſwers the Sultaneſs; and then addreſſing her ſelf to Schahriar, Sir, ​continu’d The, as ſoon as the Fiſherman had concluded the Hiſtory of the Greek King and his Phyſician Douban, he made the Application to the Genie, whom he ſtil] kept ſhut up in the Veſſel, If the Grecian King, ſays he, would have ſuffer’d the Phyſician to live, God would alſo have ſuffered him to live; but he rejected his moſt humble Prayers, and it’s the ſame with thee, O Genie! Could I have prevail’d with thee, to grant me the Favour I demanded, I ſhould now have had pity upon thee; but ſince, notwithſtanding the extream Obligation thou waſt under to me, for having ſet thee at Liberty, thou didft perſiſt in thy Deſign to kill me, I am oblig’d, in my turn, to be as hard-hearted to thee.
My good Friend, Fiſherman, replies the Genie, I conjure thee once more, not to be guilty of ſo cruel a Thing; conſider, that it is not good to avenge one’s ſelf, and that on the other hand, it’s commendable to Good for Evil; don’t treat me as Imama treated Ateca formerly. And what did Imama to Ateca, replies the Fiſnerman? Ho! ſays the Genie, if you have a mind to know it, open the Veſſel; do you think that I can be in a Humour to tell Stories, in ſo ſtrait a Priſon. I will tell you as many as you pleaſe, when you let me out. No, ſays the Fiſherman, I will not let thee out, it’s in vain to talk of it, I am juſt going to throw you into the Bottom of the Sea. Hear me one Word more, cries the Genie, I promiſe to do thee no hurt; nay, ſar from that, I will ſhew thee a way how thou mayſt become exceeding rich.
The Hope of delivering himſelf from Poverty, prevail’d with the Fiſherman. I could liſten to thee, ſays he, were there any Credit to be given to thy Word; ſwear to me by the great Name of God, that you will ſaithfully perform what you promiſe, and I will open the Veſſel; I don’t believe you will dare to break ſuchan Oath.
The Genie ſwore to him, and the Fiſnerman immediately took off the Covering of the Veſſel: At that very Inſtant the Smoak came out, and the Genie having reſum’d his Form, as before, the firſt thing he did, was to kick the Veſſel into the Sea. This Action frightened the Fiſherman: Genie, ſays he, what’s the Meaning of that? won’t you ​keep the Oath yon juſt now made; and muſt I ſay to you, as the Phyſician Douban ſaid to the Grecian King, Suffer me to live, and God will prolong your Days.
The Genie laugh’d at the Fiſherman’s Fear, and anſwered, No, Fiſherman, be not afraid, I only did it to divert my ſelf, and to ſee if thou wouldſt be alarm’d at it; but to perſwade thee that I am inearneſt, take thy Nets and follow me. As he ſpoke thoſe Words, he walk’d before the Fiſherman, who having taken up his Nets, follow’d him, but with ſome Diſtruſt; they paſs’d by the Town, and came to the Top of a Mountain, from whence they deſcended into a vaſt Plain, which brought them to a great Pond, that lay betwixt four Hills.
When they came to the ſide of the Pond, the Genie ſays to the Fiſherman, Caſt in thy Nets and take Fiſh; the Fiſherman did not doubt to catch ſome, becauſe he ſaw a great Number in the Pond; but was extreamly ſurpriz’d, when he found they were of four Colours, that is to ſay, white, eed, blue and yellow. He threw in his Nets, and brought out one of each Colour; having never ſeen the like, he could not but admire them, and judging that he might get a conſiderable Sum for them, he was very joyful. Carry thoſe Fiſh, ſays the Genie to him, and preſent them to thy Sultan; he will give you more Money for them than ever you had in your Life. You may come every Day to fiſh in this Pond, but I give thee warning not to throw in thy Nets above once a Day; otherwiſe you will repent it. Take heed and remember my Advice; if you follow it exactly, you will find your Account in it. Having ſpoke thus, he ftruck his Foot upon the Ground, which open’d, and ſhut again after it had ſwallow’d up the Genie.
The Fiſherman being reſolv’d to follow the Genie’s Advice exactly, forbore caſting in his Nets a ſecond time; but rerurn’d to the Town very well ſatisfied with his Fiſh, and making a thouſand Reflections upon his Adyenture. He went ſtraight to the Sultan’s Palace, to preſent him his Fiſh.———But, Sir, ſays Scheherazade, I perceive Day, and muſt ſtop here.
Dear Siſter, ſays Dinarzade, how ſurpriſing are the laſt Events you have told us; I have much ado to believe, that ​any thing you have to ſay can be more ſurpriſing. Siſter, replies the Sultaneſs, if the Sultan, my Maſter, will let me live till to-morrow, I am perſwaded you will find the ſequel of the Hiſtory of the Fiſherman more wonderful than the beginning of it, and incomparably more diverting. Schahriar curious to know if the remainder of the Story of the Fiſherman, would be ſuch as the Sultaneſs ſaid, he put off the Execution of his cruel Law, for one Day more.
The Nineteenth Night.
TOwards Morning, Dinarzade call’d the Sultaneſs, and ſaid, dear Siſter, my Pendulum tells me it will be Day ſpeedily, therefore pray continue the Hiftory of the Fiſherman; I am extream impatient to know what the Iſſue of it was. Scheherazade having demanded leave of Schahriar, reſum’d her Diſcourſe as follows: Sir, I leave it to your Majeſty to think how much the Sultan was ſurpriz’d, when he ſaw the four Fiſhes which the Fiſherman preſented him. He took ’em up one after another, and beheld them with Attention; and after having admir’d ’em along time, take thoſe Fiſhes, ſays he to his prime Viſier, and carry them to the fine Cook-maid, that the Emperor of the Greeks has ſent me, I cannot imagine but they muſt be as good as they are fine.
The Viſier carried them himſelf to the Cook, and delivering them into her Hands, Look ye, ſays he, there are four Fiſhes newly brought to the Sultan, he orders you to dreſs them; and having ſaid fo, he returned to the Sultan, his Maſter, who ordered him to give the Fiſherman Four hundred Pieces of Gold of the Coin of that Country, which he did accordingly.
The Fiſherman, who had never ſeen ſo much Caſh in his Life-time, could ſcarce believe his own good Fortune, but thought it muſt needs be a Dream, until he found it to be real, when he provided Neceſſaries for his Family with it,
​But, Sir, ſays Scheherazade, having told you what happened to the Fiſherman, I muſt acquaint you next, with what befel the Sultan’s Cook-maid, whom we ſhall find in a mighty Perplexity. As ſoon as ſhe had gutted the Fiſhes, ſhe put them upon the Fire in a Frying-pan, with Oil, and when ſhe thought them fry’d enough on one ſide, ſhe turned them upon the other; but, O monſtrous Prodigy! Scarce were they turned, when the Wall of the Kitchen opened, and in comes a young Lady of wonderful Beauty, and comely Size. She was clad in flower’d Sattin, after the Egytptian manner, with Pendants in her Ears, a Necklace of large Pearl, and Bracelets of Gold, garniſhed with Rubies, with a Rod of Myrtle in her Hand, She came towards the Frying-pan, to the great Amazement of the Cook-maid, who continued unmoveable at this ſight, and ftriking one of the Fiſhes with the end of the Rod, ſays, Fiſh, Fiſh, art thou in thy Duty? The Fiſh having anſwered nothing, ſhe repeated theſe Words, and then the four Fiſhes lift up their Heads altogether, and ſaid to her, Yes, yes; if you reckon, we reckon ; if you pay your Debt, we pay ours; if you fly, we overcome, and are content. As ſoon as they had finiſhed thoſe Words, the Lady overturn’d the Frying-pan, and enter’d again into the open part of the Wall, which ſhut immediately, and became as it was before.
The Cook-maid was mightily frightned at this, and coming a little to her ſelf, went to take up the Fiſhes that fell upon the Hearth, but found them blacker than Coal, and not fit to be carried to the Sultan, She was grievouſly troubled at it, and fell a weeping moſt bitterly: Alas! ſays ſhe, what will become of me? If I tell the Sultan what I have ſeen, I am ſure he will not believe me, but will be mightily enraged againft me.
Whilſt ſhe was thus bewailing her ſelf, in comes the Grand Viſier, and ask’d her if the Fiſhes were ready; ſhe told him all that had happened, which we may eaſily imagine aſtoniſhed him mightily, but without ſpeaking a word of it to the Sultan, he invented an Excuſe that ſatisfied him, and ſending immediately for the Fiſherman, bid him bring him four more ſuch Fiſh, for a Misfortune had beſallen the other, that they were not fit to be carried to ​the Sultan. The Fiſherman, without ſaying any thing of what the Genie had told him, in order to excuſe himſelf from bringing them that very Day, told the Viſier, he had a great way to go for ’em, but would certainly bring them to-morrow Morning.
Accordingly the Fiſherman went away by Night, and coming to the Pond, threw in his Nets betimes next Morning, took four ſuch Fiſhes as the former, and brought them to the Viſier at the Hour appointed, This Miniſter took ’em himſelf, carried them to the Kitchen, and ſhutting himſelf up all alone with the Cook-maid, ſhe gutted them, and put ’em on the Fire, as ſhe had done the four others the Day before; when they were fryed on the one ſide, and that ſhe turn’d them upon the other, the Kitchen-Wall open’d, and the ſame Lady came in, with the Rod in her Hand, ftruck one of the Fiſhes, ſpoke to it as before, and all Four gave her the ſame Anſwer. But, Sir, ſays Sceherazade, Day appears, which obliges me to break off. What I have told you, is indeed very ſingular, but if I be alive to-morrow, I will tell you other Things, which are yet better worth your hearing. Schahriar, conceiving that the Sequel muſt be very curious, reſoly’d to hear her next Night.
The Twentieth Night.
Next Morning the Sultan prevented Dinarzade, and ſays to Scheherazade, Madam, I pray you to make an end of the Story of the Fiſherman, I am impatient to hear it. Upon which the Sultaneſs continued it thus.
Sir, after the four Fiſhes had anſwer’d the young Lady, ſhe overturn’d the Frying-pan with her Rod, and retir’d into the ſame Place of the Wall from whence ſhe came out. The Grand Viſer being Witneſs to what paſſed; this is too ſurpriſing and extraordinary, ſays he, to be conceal’d from the Sultan, I will inform him of this Prodigy, which he did accordingly, and gave him a faithful Account of all that happen’d.
​The Sultan being much ſurpriz’d, was mighty impatieft to fee this himſelf. To this end, he ſent immediately for the Fiſherman, and ſays to him, Friend, can’t you bring me four more ſuch Fiſhes? the Fiſherman reply’d, if your Majeſty will be pleas’d to allow me three Days time, I’ll do it. Having obtain’d his Time, he went to the Pond immediately, and at the firſt throwing in of his Net, he took four ſuch Fiſhes, and brought them preſently to the Sultan, who was ſo much the more rejoiced at it, that he did not expect them ſo ſoon, and order’d him other four hundred Pieces of Gold. As ſoon as the Sultan had the Fiſh, he order’d them to be carry’d into his Cloſet, with all that was neceſſary for frying them; and having ſhut himſelf up there with his Viſier, that Miniſter gutted them, put em in the Pan upon the Fire, and when they were fry’d on one Side, turn’d them upon the other; then the Wall of the Cloſet open’d, but inſtead of the young Lady, there came out a Black, in Habit of a Slave, and a gigantick Stature, with a great green Batton in his Hand. He advanc’d towards the Pan, and touching one of the Fiſhes with his Batton, ſays to it, with a terrible Voice, Fiſh, art thou in thy Duty? At theſe Words, the Fiſhes rais’d up their Heads, and anſwer’d, Yes, yes, we are; if you reckon, we reckon; if you pay your Debts, we pay ours; if you we overcome, and are content.
The Fiſhes had no ſooner finiſh’d thoſe Words, but the Black threw the Pan into the middle of the Cloſet, and reduc’d the Fiſhes to a Coal. Having done this, he retir’d fiercely, and entering again into the Hole of the Wall, it ſhut, and appear’d juſt as it was before.
After what I have ſeen, ſays the Sultan to the Viſier, it will not be poſſible for me to be eaſy in my Mind. Theſe Fiſn, without doubt, ſignify ſomething extraordinary, in which I have a mind to be ſatisfied. He ſent for the Fiſherman, and when he came, ſays to him, Fiſherman, the Fiſhes you have brought us, make me very uneaſy; where did you catch them? Sir, anſwers he, I fiſh’d for them in a Pond fituated betwixt four Hills, beyond the Mountain that we ſee from hence. Know you that Pond, ſays the Sultan to the Viſier? No, Sir, replies the Viſier, I never ​fo much as heard of it; and yet, it’s now ſixty Years ſince I hunted beyond that Mountain, and thereabouts. The Sultan ask’d the Fiſherman, how ſar the Pond might be from the Palace; the Fiſherman anſwer’d, it was not above three Hours Journey: Upon this Aſſurance, and there being Day enough before hand, the Sultan commanded all his Court to take Horſe, and the Fiſherman ſerv’d ’em for a Guide. They all aſcended the Mountain, and at the Foot of it, they ſaw, to their great Surprize, avaſt Plain, that no body had obſerv’d till then, and at laſt they came to the Pond, which they found actually to be ſituated betwixt four Hills, as the Fiſherman had ſaid. The Water of it was ſo tranſparent, that they obſerv’d all the Fiſhes, to belike thoſe which the Fiſherman had brought to the Palace.
The Sultan ſtaid upon the Bank of the Pond, and after beholding the Fiſhes with Admiration, he demanded of his Emirs, and all his Courtiers, if it was poſſible they had never ſeen this Pond, which was within ſolittle a way of the Town. They all anſwered, that they had never ſo much as heard of it.
Since you all agree, ſays he, that you never heard of it, and that I am no leſs aftoniſhed than you are, at this Novelty, lam reſolved not to return to my Palace, till I know how this Pond comes hither, and why all the Fiſh in it are of four Colours. Having ſpoke thus, he order’d his Court to encamp, and immediately his Pavilion, and the Tents of his Houſhold, were planted upon the Banks of the Pond.
When Night came, the Sultan retir’d under his Pavilion, and ſpoke to the Grand Viſierby himſelf, thus: Viſier, my Mind is very uneaſy; this Pond tranſported hither; the Black that appear’d to us in my Cloſet, and the Fiſhes that we heard ſpeak; all this does ſo much whet my Curioſity, that I cannot reſiſt the impatient Deſire that I have to be ſatisfied in it. To this end, I am reſolv’d to withdraw alone from the Camp and I order you to keep my Abſence ſeeret; ftay in my Pavilion, and to-morrow Morning when the Emirs and Courtiers come to attend my Levee, ſend ’em away, and tell ’em that I am ſomewhat indiſpos’d, and have a Mind to be alone, and the following Day tell them the ſame thing, till I return.
​The Grand Viſier ſaid ſeveral things to divert the Sultan from this Deſign; he repreſented to him the Danger to which he migjt be expos’d, and that all his Labour might perhaps be in vain. But ’twas to no purpoſe, the Sultan was reſolv’d on it, and would go, He put on a Suit fit for walking, and took his Scimiter, and as ſoon as he ſaw that all was quiet in the Camp, he goes out alone, and went over one of the Hills without much Difficulty; he found the Deſcent ftill more eaſy, and when he came to the Plain, walk’d on till the Sun roſe, and then he ſaw before him, at a conſiderable Diſtance, a great Building. He rejoic’d at the Sight, in hopes to be inform’d there, of what he had a mind to know. When he came near, he found it was a magnificent Palace, or rather a very ſtrong Caſtle, of fine black poliſhed Marble, and coverd with fine Steel, as ſmoothas a Looking-glaſs. Being mightily pleas’d that he had ſo ſpeedily met with ſomething worthy his Curioſity, he ſtopp’d before the Front of the Caſtle, and conſider’d it with abundance of Attention.
He afterwards came up to the Gate, which had two Leaves, one of them open; tho’ he might have enter’d when he would, yet he thought, it beſt to knock. He knock’d at firſt ſoftly, and waited for ſome time; but ſeeing no body, and ſuppoſing they had not heard him, he knock’d harder the ſecond time, but neither ſeeing nor hearing any body, he knock’d again and again, but no body appearing, it ſurpriz’d him extreamly; for he could not think, that a Caſtle ſo well in repair, was without Inhabitants. If there be no body in it, ſays he to himſelf, I have nothing to fear, and if there be, I have wherewith to defend my ſelf.
At laſt he enter’d, and when he came within the Porch he cried, is there no body here to receive a Stranger, who comes in for ſome Refreſhment as he paſſes by? He repeated the ſame two or three times; but tho’ he ſpoke very high, no body anſwer’d. This Silence increas’d his Aſtoniſhment; he came into a very ſpacious Court, and looking on every ſide, to ſee if he could perceive any body, he ſaw no living thing —— But, Sir, ſays Scheherazade, Day appears, and I muſt ſtop.
​Ah! Sifter, ſays Dinarzade, you break off at the very beſt of the Story. It’s true, anſwers the Sultaneſs, but Siſter, you ſee am forc’d to do ſo. If my Lord the Sultan pleaſes, you may hear the reſt to-morrow. Schahriar agreed to this, not ſo much to pleaſure Dinarzade, as to ſatisfy his own Curioſity, being mighty impatient to know what Adventure the Prince met with in the Caſtle.
The Twenty First Night.
DInarzade, to make amends for her Neglect the Night betore, never laid Eye together, and when ſhe thought it was time, awak’d the Sultaneſs, ſaying to her, my dear Siſter, pray give us an Account of what happen’d in the fine Caſtle where you left us yeſterday.
Scheherazade forth with reſum’d her Story, and addreſſing her ſelf to Schahriar, ſays Sir, the Sultan perceiving no body in the Court, enter’d the great Halls, which were hung with Silk Tapeſtry, the Alcoves and Soſa s were cover’d with Stuffs of Mecca, and the Porches with the richeſt Stuffs of the Indies, mixt with Gold and Silver. He came afterwards into an admirable Saloon, in the middle of which there was a great Fountain, with a Lion of maſſy Gold at each Corner: Water iſſued at the Mouths of the four Lions, and this Water, as it fell, form’d Diamonds and Pearls, that very well anſwered a Jett of Water, which ſpringing from the middle of the Fountain, roſe as high almoſt as the bottom of a Cupulo, painted after the Arabian manner.
The Caſtle, on three Sides, was encompaſſed by a Garden, with Fiower-pots, Water works, Groves, and a thouſand other fine Things concurr’d to embelliſh it; and what compleated the Beauty of the Place, was an infinite number of Birds, which fill’d the Air with their harmonious Notes, and always ſtay’d there, Nets being ſpread over the Trees, and ſaſten’d to the Palace, to keep them in. The Sultan walk’d along time from Apartment to Apartment, where he found every thing very great and magnificent. Being tir’d with walking, he ſat down in an open Cloſer, ​which had a view over the Garden, and there reflecting upon what he had already ſeen, and did then ſee, all of a ſudden he heard the Voice of one complaining, accompanied with lamentable Cries. He liften’d with Attention, and heard diſtinctly theſe ſad Wodrs; O Fortune! thou who wouldſt not ſuffer me longer to enjoy a hapyy Lot, and had made me the moſt unfortuuate Man in the World, forbear to perſecute me, and by a ſpeedy Death, put an end to my Sorrows. Alas! is it poſſible that I am ſtill alivs after fo many Torments as I have ſuffered?
The Sultan being affected withthoſe pitiful Complaints, roſe up, and made towards the Place where he heard the Voice; and when he came to the Gate of a great Hall, he opened it, and ſaw a handſome young Man, richly habited, ſat upon a Throne rais’d alittle above the Ground. Melancholy was painted on his Looks. The Sultan drew near and ſaluted him; the young Man returned him his Salute, by a low bow with his Head; but not being able to riſe up, he ſays to the Sultan; My Lord, I am very well ſatisfied that you deſerve I ſhould riſe up to receive you, and do you all poſſible Honour; but I am hinder’d from doing ſo, by a very ſad Reaſon, and therefore hope you will not take it ill. My Lord, replies the Sultan, I am very much oblig’d to you for having ſo good an Opinion of me: As to the Reaſon of your not riſing, whatever your Apology be, I heartily accept it. Being drawn hither by your Complaints, and afflicted by your Grief, I come to offer you my help. Would to God that it lay in my power to eaſe you of your Troubles; I would do my utmoſt to effect it. I flatter my ſelf that you would willingly tell me the Hiſtory of your Miſfortunes; but pray tell me firſt, the meaning of the Pond near this Place, where the Fiſhes are of four Colours? What this Caſtle is? How you come to be here? And why you are alone?
Inſtead of anſwering theſe Queſtions, the young Man began to weep bitterly. O how inconſtant is Fortune! cried he, ſhe takes pleaſure to pull down thoſe Men ſhe had raiſed up. Where are they who enjoy quietly the Happineſs which they hold of her, and whoſe Day is always clear and ſerene?
​The Sultan mov’d with Compaſſion to ſee him in that Condition, pray’d him forthwith to tell him the Cauſe of his exceſfive Grief. Alas! my Lord, replies the young Man, how is it poſſible but I ſhould grieve, and why ſhould not my Eyes be inexhauſtible Fountains of Tears? At theſe words lifting up his Gown, he ſhew’d the Sultan that he was a Man only from the Head to the Girdle, and that the other half of his Body was black Marble——Here Scheherazade broke off, and told the Sultan that Day appeared.
Schahriar was ſo much charm’d with the Story, and became fo much in Love with Scheherazade, that he reſolv’d to let her live a Month. He got up however as uſual, without acquainting her with his Reſolution.
The Twenty Second Night.
DInarzade was ſoimpatient to hear out the Story, that ſhe calfd her Siſter next Morning ſooner than uſual, and ſays to her, Siſter, pray continue the wonderful Story you began, but could not make an end of yeſterday Morning. I agree to it, replies the Sultanefs, hearken then.
You may eaſily imagine, continues ſhe, that the Sultan was ſtrangely ſurpriz’d, when he ſaw the deplorable Condition of the young Man. That which you ſhew me, ſays he; as it fills me with Horror, whets my Curioſity, ſo that I am impatient to hear your Hiſtory, which, no doubt, is very ſtrange, and I am perfuaded that the Pond and the Fiſhes make ſome part of it; therefore I conjure you to tell it me. You will find ſome Comfort in it, ſince, it is certain, that unfortunate People find ſome ſort of caſe in telling their Misfortunes. I will not refuſe you this Satisſaction, replies the young Man, tho’ I can’t do it without renewing my Grief. But I give you notice before-hand, to prepare your Ears, your Mind, and even your Eyes, for Things which ſurpaſs all that the moſt extraordinary Imagination can conceive.
The Hiſtory of the young King of the Black Iſles
YOU muſt know, my Lord, continu’d he, that my Father, who was call’d Mahmoud, was King of this Country. This is the Kingdom of the Black-Iſles, which takes its Name from the four little neighbouring Mountains, for thoſe Mountains were formerly Iſles. The Capitol where the King my Father had his Refidence, was where that Pond you now ſee is, The Sequel of my Hiſtory will inform you of all thoſe Changes.
The King my Father died when he was Seventy Years of Age; I had no ſooner ſucceeded him, but I marry’d, and the Lady I choſe to ſhare the Royal Dignity with me, was my Couſin, I had all the Reaſon imaginable to be ſatisfied in her Love to me, and for my part, I had ſo much Tenderneſs for her, that nothing was comparable to the good Underſtanding betwixt us, which Laſted five Years, at the end of which time, I perceived the Queen, my Couſin, had no more delight in me.
One Day, while ſhe was at Bath, I found my ſelf ſleepy after Dinner, and lay down upon a Soſa; two of her Ladies who were then in my Chamber, came and ſat down, one at my Head, and the other at my Feet, with Fans in their Hands to moderate the Heat, and to hinder the Flies from troubling me in my Sleep. They thought I was faſt, and ſpoke very low, but I only ſhut my Eyes, and heard every word they ſaid.
One When ſaysto the other, Is not the Queen much in the wrong, not to love ſuch an amiable Prince as this? Ay certainly, replies the other, for my part, I don’t underſtand it, and I know not why ſhe goes out every Night, and leaves him alone! Is it poſſible that he does not perceive it? Alas, ſays the firſt, how would you have him to perceive it? She mixes every Evening in his Drink the Juice of a certain Herb, which makes him ſleep ſo ſound all Night, that ſhe has time to go where ſhe pleaſes, and as Day begins to appear, ſhe comes and lies down by him again, and ​wakes him by the Smell of fomething ſhe puts under his Noſe.
You may gueſs, my Lord, how much I was ſurpriz’d at this Diſcourſe, and with what Sentiments it inſpir’d me; yet, whatever Emotions it made within me, I had Command enough over my ſelf to diſſemble it; feign’d my ſelf to wake without having heard one word of ft.
The Queen return’d from the Bath, we ſupp’d together, and before we went to Bed, ſhe preſented me with a Cup full of ſuch Water as I was accuſtomed to drink, but inſtead of putting it to my Mouth, I went to a Window that ſtood open, an threw out the Water ſo privately, that ſhe did not perceive it, and put the Cup again into her Hands, to perſwade her that I had drunk it.
We went to Bed together, and ſoon after, believing that I was aſleep, tho’ I was not, ſhe got up with ſo little Precaution, that ſhe ſaid, ſo loud as I could hear it diſtinctly, Sleep, and may you never wake again: She dreſs’d her ſelf ſpeedily, and went out of the Chamber.——As Scheherazade ſpoke thoſe Words, ſhe ſaw Day appear, and ftopp’d.
Dinarzade had heard her Siſter with a great deal of Pleaſure, and Schahriar thought the Hiſtory of the King of the Black-Iſles ſo worthy of his Curioſity, that he roſe up full of Impatience, for the return of the Night, that he might hear the reſt of it.
The Twenty Third Night.
AN Hour before Day, Dinarzad being awake, ſail’d not to call upon the Sultaneſs, and ſaid, Pray, dear Siſter, go on with the Hiſtory of the young King of the four Black-Iſlands. Scheherazade calling to mind where ſhe had left off,reſum’d the Story thus.
Aſſoon as the Queen my Wife went out, continues the King of the Black-Iſlands, I got up; dreſs’d me in haſte took my Scimiter, and follow’d her-ſo quick, that I foon heard the ſound of her Feet before me, and then walk’d ſoftly after her, for fear of being heard. She paſs’d thro’ ſeveral Gates, which open’d upon her, pronouncing ſome ​Magical Words, and the laſt ſhe open’d was that of the Garden which ſhe enter’d; I ſtopp’d at that Gate, that ſhe might not perceive me, as ſhe croſs’d a Plott, and looking after her as ſar as I could in the Night, I perceiv’d that ſhe enter’d a little Wood, whoſe Walks were guarded by thick Palliſadoes, I went thither by another way, and ſlipping behind the Palliſadoes of along Walk, I ſaw her walking there with a Man.
I gave very good heed to their Diſcourſe, and heard her ſay thus; I don’t deſerve, ſays the Queen: to her Gallant, to be upbraided by you for want of Diligence, you know very well what hinders me; but iſall the marks of Love that I have already given you, be not enough, I am ready to give you greater Marks of it: You need but command me you know my Power, I will if you deſire it, before Sun-riſing change this great City, and this fine Palace into frightful Ruins, which ſhall be inhabited by nothing but Wolves, Owls, and Ravens; would you have me to tranſport all the Stones of thoſe Walls ſo ſolidly built, beyond Mount Caucaſus, and out of the bounds of the habitable World; ſpeak but the Word, and all thoſe Places ſhall be chang’d.
As the Queen finiſh’d theſe Words, her Gallant and ſhe came to the end of the Walk, turn’d to enter another, and paſſed before me. I had already drawn my Scimiter, and Gallant being next me, I ſtruck him in the Neck, and made him ſall to the Ground; I thought I had kill’d him, and therefore retir’d ſpeedily without making my ſelf Known to the Queen, whom I had a mind to ſpare, becauſe ſhe was my Kinſwoman.
In the mean time, the Blow I had giv’n her Gallant was mortal; but ſhe preſerv’d his Life, by the Force of her Enchantments, in fuch a manner, however, that he could not be ſaid to be either dead or alive, As I croſfed the Garden, to return to the Palace, I heard the Queen cry out lamentably, and judging by that how much ſhe was griev’d, I was pleas’d that I had ſpar’d her Life.
When I return’d to my Apartment, I went to Bed, and being ſatisfied with having puniſh’d the Villain that did me the Injury, I went to ſleep; and I wak’d next Morning, ​found the Queen lying by me.———Sheherazade was oblig’d to ſtop here, becauſe ſhe ſaw Day.
O Heaven! Siſter, ſays Dinarzade, how it troubles me that you can ſay no more, Siſter, replies the Sultaneſs, you ought to hav eawak’d me morecarly, it is your Fault. I will make amends next Night, replies Dinarzade, for I doubt not but the Sultan is as willing to hear out the Story as I am, and I hope he will he ſo good, as to let you live one Day more.
The Twenty Fourth Night.
DInarzade was good as her word, fhe call’d the Sultaneſs very early, ſaying, Dear Siſter, if you be not aſleep, pray make an end of the agreeable Hiſtory of the King of the Black-Iſles, I am ready to die with Impatience to know how he came to be chang’d into Marble. You ſhall hear it, replies Scheherazade, if the Sultan will give us leave.
I found the Queen lying by me then, ſays the King of the Black-Iſlands, | can’t tell you whether ſhe ſleep’d of not but I got up without making any Noiſe, and went to my Cloſet, where I made an end of dreffing my ſelf. I afterwards went and held my Council, and at my return, the Queen was clad in Mourning, her Hair hanging about her Eyes, and part of it pull’d off, preſented her ſelf before me, and ſaid ; Sir, I come to beg your Majeſty not to be ſurpriz’d to ſee men this Condition; three afflicting pieces of News I have juſt now receiv’d all at once, are the Cauſe of my heavy Grief, of which the Tokens you ſee are but very ſaint Reſemblances. Alas! what is that News, Madam, ſays I? The Death of the Queen my dear Mother, anſwers ſhe, that of the King my Father, kill’d in Battle, and that of one of my Brothers, who is ſallen headlong into a Pit.
I was not ill-pleas’d, that ſhe made uſe of this Pretext, to hide the true Cauſe of her Grief, and I thought ſhe had not ſuſpected me to have kill’d her Gallant, Madam, ſays I, I am ſo far from blaming your Grief, that I aſ-​ſure you, I am willing to bear what ſhare of it is proper for me, I ſhould very much wonder, if you were inſenfible of ſo great a Loſs; Mourn on, your Tears are ſo many Proofs of your good Nature; but I hope, however, that Time and Reaſon will moderate your Grief.
She retir’d into her Apartment, where giving her ſelf wholly up to Sorrow,ſhe ſpent a whole Year in Mourning, and afflicting her ſelf. At the end of that time ſhe beg’d leave of me, to build a Burying-place for her ſelf, within the Bounds of the Palace, where ſhe would continue, ſhe told ſhe told me, to the end of her Days: I agreed to it, and ſhe built a ſtately Palace, with a Cupulo, that may be ſeen here, and ſhe called it the Palace of Tears: When it was finiſh’d, ſhe caus’d bring her Gallant thither, from the Place whither ſhe had made him be carried the ſame Night that I wounded him; ſhe had hinder’d his dying, by a Drink ſhe gave him, and carried to him her ſelf every Day, after he came to the Palace of Tears.
Yet, with all her Enchantments, ſhe could not cure the Wretch; he was not only unable to walk, and to help himſelf, but had alſo loſt the Uſe of his Speech, and gave no ſign of Life, but only by his Looks. Tho’ the Queen had no other Conſolation but to ſee him, and to ſay to him all that her fooliſh Paſſion could inſpire her with, yet every Day ſhe made him two long Viſits: I was very well inform’d of all this, but pretended to know nothing of it.
One Day I went out of Curioſity to the Palace of Tears, to ſee how the Princeſs employ’d her ſelf, and going to a place where ſhe could not ſee me, I heard her ſpeak thus to her Gallant; I am afflicted to the higheſt Degree, to ſee you in this Condition; I am as ſenſible as you your ſelf of the tormenting Grief you endure; but, dear Soul, I always ſpeak to you and you don’t anſwer me: How: long will you be filent? Speak only one Word: Alas! the fweeteſt Moments of my Life, are theſe I ſpend here in partaking of your Grief, I cannot live at a Diſtance from you, and wou’d prefer the Pleaſure of always ſeeing you to the Empire of the Univerſe.
At theſe Words, which were ſeveral times interrupted by her Sighs and Sobs, I loſſ all patience,and diſcovering ​my ſelf came up to her, and ſaid, Madam, you have mourn’d enough, it’s time to give over this Sorrow, which diſhonours us both; you have too much forgot what you owe to me and to your ſelf. Sir, ſays ſhe, it you have any. Kindneſs or Complaiſance left for me, I beſeech you put no Force upon me, allow me to give my ſelf up to mortal Grief, it’s impoſſible Time for to leſſen it.
When I ſaw that my Diſcourſe, inſtead of bringing her to Duty, ſerv’d only to increaſe her Rage, I gave over and retir’d. She continued every Day to viſit her Gallant, and for two whole Years gave her ſelf up to exceſſive Grief.
I went a ſecond time to the Palace of Tears, while ſhe was there, I hid my ſelf again, and heard her ſpeak thus to her Gallant: It is now three Years ſince you ſpoke one Word to me, you return no Anſwer to the Marks of Love I give you, by my Diſcourſes and Groans. Is it from want of Senſe, or out of Contempt? O Tomb! have you abated that exceſſive Love he had for me? Have you ſhut thoſe Eyes that ſhew’d me ſo much Love, and were all my Joy? No, no, I believe nothing of it. Tell me rather, by what Miracle you become entruſted with the rareſt Treafure that ever was in the World,
I muſt confeſs, my Lord, I was enrag’d at theſe Words; for, in ſhort, this Gallant ſo much doted upon this ador’d Mortal, was not ſuch an one as you would imagine him to have been: He was a black Indian, a Native of that Country. I ſay, I was ſo enrag’d at that Diſcourſe, that I diſcover’d my ſelf all of a ſudden, and addreſſing the Tomb in my turn, O Tomb! cry’d I, why don’t you ſwallow up that Monſter in Nature? or rather, why don’t you ſwallows up the Gallant and his Miſtreſs?
I had ſcarce finiſh’d thoſe Words when the Queen, who ſat by the Black, roſe up like a Fury. Ah cruel Man! ſays ſhe, thou art the Cauſe of my Grief; don’t you think but I know it? I have diſſembled it but too long, it’s thy barbarous Hand which hath brought the Object of my Love to this lamentable Condition; and you are ſo hard-hearted, as to come and inſult a deſpairing Lover. Yes, ſaid I, in a Rage, it’s I who. chaſtiz’d that Monſter according to his ​Deſert; I ought to have treated thee in the ſame manner; I repent now that I did not do it,thou haſt abus’d my Goodneſs too long. As I ſpoke theſe Words, I drew out my Scimiter, and lifted up my Hand to puniſh her; but ſhe ſtedſaſtly beholding me, ſays with a jeering Smile, moderate thy Anger. At the ſame time, ſhe pronounc’d Words I did not underſtand; and afterwards added, By Virtue of my Enchantments, I command thee immediately to become Marble and half Man. Immediately, my Lord, I became ſuch as you ſee me already, a dead Man among the Living, and a living Man among the Dead———Here Scheherazade perceiving Day, broke off her Story.
Upon which Dinarzade ſays, dear Siſter, I am extreamly oblig’d to the Sultan, it’s to his Goodneſs I owe the extraordinary Pleaſure I have in your Stories, My Siſter, replies the Sultaneſs, if the Sultan will be ſo good as to ſuffer me to live till to-morrow, I ſhall tell you a Thing that will afford as much Satisſaction as any thing you have yet heard, Tho’ Schahriar had not reſolv’d to defer the Death of Scheherazade a Month longer, he could not have order’d her to be put to Death that Day.
The Twenty Fifth Night.
TOwards the end of the Night, Dinarzade cry’d, Siſter; if I don’t treſpaſs too much upon your Complaiſance, I would pray you to finiſh the Hiſtory of the King of the Black Iſlands. Scheherazade having awak’d upon her Siſter’s Call, prepar’d to give her the Satisfation ſhe requir’d, and began thus.
The King, half Marble and half Man, continu’d his Hiſtory to the Sultan, thus; after this cruel Magician, unworthy of the Name of a Queen, had metamorphos’d me thus, and brought me into this Hall by another Enchantment, ſhe deſtroy’d my Capitol, which was very flouriſhing and full of People, ſhe aboliſh’d the Houſes, the publick Places and Markets, and made a Pond and deſert Field of it, which you may have ſeen; the Fiſhes of four Colours in the Pond, are the four Sorts of People, of diffe-​rent Religions, that inhabited the Place: The White are the Muſſulmen, the Red the Perſians, who worſhipped the Fire, the Blue the Chriſtians, and the Yellow the Jews: The four little Hills were the four Iſlands that gave Name to this Kingdom. I learn’d all this from the Magician, who, to add to my Affliction, told me with her own Mouth, thoſe Effects of her Rage. But this is not all, her Revenge was not ſatisfy’d with the Deſtruction of my Dominions, and the Metamorphoſis of my Perſon, ſhe comes every Day, and gives me over my naked Shoulders an hundred Blows with Ox-pizzles, which makes me all over Blood; and when ſhe has done ſo, covers me with a coarſe Stuff of Goats Hair, and throws over it this Robe of Brocade that you ſee, not to do me Honour, but to mock me.
At this Part of the Diſcourſe, the young King could not withold his Tears; and the Sultan’s Heart was ſo pierc’d with the Relation, that he could not ſpeak one Word to comforthim. A little time after, the young King lifting up his Eyes to Heaven, cry’d out, Mighty Creator of all Things, I ſubmit my ſelf to your Judgments, and to the Decrees of your Providence: I endure my Calamities with Patience, ſince it’s your Will it ſhould be ſo; but I hope your infinite Goodneſs will reward me for it.
The Sultan being much mov’d by the Recital of ſo ſtrange a Story, and animated to revenge this unfortunate Prince, ſays to him, Tell me whither this perſidious Magician retires; and where her unworthy Gallant may be, who is bury’d before his Death. My Lord, replies the Prince, her Gallant, as I have already told you, is in the Palace of Tears, in a Tomb in Form of a Dome, and that Palace joyns to this Caſtle on the Side of the Gate; to the Magician, I can’t preciſely tell whither ſhe retires, but every Day at Sun-riſing ſhe goes to ſee her Gallant, after having executed her bloody Vengeance upon me, as | have told you; and you ſee I am not in a Condition to defend my ſelf againſt ſo great Cruelty. She carries him the Drink with which ſhe has hitherto prevented his dying, and always complains of his never ſpeaking to her ſince he was wounded, ​Oh unfortunate Prince, ſays the Sultan, you can never be enough bewail’d! No body can be more ſenſibly touch’d with your Condition than I am; never did ſuch an extraordinary Misfortune beſal any Man, and thoſe who write your Hiſtory will have the Advantage to relate a Paſſage that ſurpaſſes all that has ever yet been writ. There’s nothing wanting but one thing, the Revenge which is due to you, and I will omit nothing that can be done to procure it.
While the Sultan diſcours’d upon this Subject with the young Prince, he told him who he was, and for what end he entred the Caſtle, and thought on a way to revenge him, which he communicated to him. They agreed upon the Meaſures they were to take for effecting their Deſign, but deferr’d the Execution of it till the next Day. In the mean time, the Night being ſar ſpent, the Sultan took ſome Reſt, but the poor young Prince paſs’d the Night without Sleep, as uſual, having never ſlept ſince he was enchanted, but he conceiv’d ſome Hopes of being ſpeedily delivered from his Miſery.
Next Morning the Sultam got up before Day, and, in order to execute his Deſign, he hid in a Corner his upper Garment that would have been cumberſome to him, and went to the Palace of Tears. He found it enlightned with an infinite Number of Flambeaus of white Wax, and a delicious Scent iſſued from ſeveral Boxes of fine Gold of admirable Workmanſhip, all ranged in excellent Order: As ſoon as he ſaw the Bed where the Black lay, he drew his Scimiter, kill’d the Wretch without Refiſtance, dragg’d his Corps into the Court of the Caftle, and threw it into a Well. After this he went and lay down-in the Black’s Bed, and took his Scimiter with him under the Counterpane, and lay there to execute what he had deſign’d. The Magician arriv’d in a little time: She firſt went into the Chamber where her Husband the King of the Black-Iſlands was, ſtripp’d him and beat him with Bulls Pizzles in a moſt barbarous manner. The poor Prince fill’d the Palace with his Lamentations to no purpoſe, and conjur’d her in the moſt affecting manner that could be, to take pity on him, but the cruel Woman would not give over, till ſhe had given him an hundred Blows. You had no Campaſſion ​on my Lover, ſays ſhe, and you are to expect none from me.——Scheherazade perceiving Day, ſtopp’d and could go no further.
O Heav’ns! ſays Dinarzade, Siſter, this was a barbarous Enchantreſs indeed! but muſt we ſtop here? Will you not tell us, whether ſhe receiv’d the Chaſtiſement ſhe deſerv’d? My dear Siſter, ſays the Sultaneſs, as I deſire nothing more, than to acquaint you with it to morrow, but you know that depends on the Sultan’s Pleaſure. After what Schahriar had heard, he was ſar from any Deſign to put Scheherazade to Death; on the contrary, ſays he to himſelf, I will not take away her Life, till ſhe has finiſh’d this furpriſing Story, tho’ it ſhould laſt for two Months. It ſhall always be in my Power to keep the Oath I have made.
The Twenty Sixth Night.
AS ſoon as Dinarzade thought it time to call the Sultaneſs, ſhe ſays to her: How much ſhould I be obliged to you, dear Siſter, if you would tell us what paſſed in the Palace of Tears. Schahriar having ſignified that he was as curious to know it as Dinarzade, the Sultaneſs reſum’d the Story of the young enchanted Prince, as follows.
Sir, after the Enchantreſs had given the King, her Husband, an hundred Blows with Bulls Pizzles, ſhe put on again his Covering of Goats Hair, and his Brocado Gown over all; ſhe went afterwards to the Palace of Tears, and as ſhe entred the ſame, ſhe renewed her Tears and Lamentations; then approaching the Bed, where ſhe thought her Gallant was, What Cruelty, cries ſhe, was it to diſturb the Contentment of ſo tender and paſſionate a Lover as I am! O thou who reproacheſt me that I am too inhuman, when I make thee feel the Effects of my Reſentment. Cruel Prince, does not thy Barbariety ſurpaſs my Vengeance? Ah Traitor! in attempting the Life of the Object which I adore, haſt not thou robbed me of mine? Alas! ſays ſhe, addreſſing her ſelf to the Sultan, while ſhe thought ſhe ſpoke to the Black: My Soul, my Life, will you always be ſilent? Are you reſolv’d to let me die,, without giving me ​ſo much Comfort as to tell me that you love me? My Soul, ſpeak one Word to me, at leaſt, I conjure you.
The Sultan making as if he had wak’d out of a deep Sleep, and counterfeiting the Language of the Blacks, anſwers the Queen with a grave Tone, There’s no Force or Power but in God alone, who is Almighty. At theſe Words, the Enchantreſs, who did not expect them, gave a great Shout, to ſignify her exceſſive Joy. My dear Lord, cries ſhe, don’t I deceive my ſelf, is it certain that I hear you, and you ſpeak to me? Unhappy Wretch, replies the Sultan, art thou worthy that I ſhould anſwer thy Diſcourſe? Alas! replies the Queen, why do you reproach me thus? The Cries, replied he, the Groans and Tears of thy Husband, who thou treateſt every Day with ſo much Indignity and Barbarity, hinder me to ſleep Night and Day. I ſhould have been cur’d long ago, and have recover’d the Uſe of my Speech, hadſt thou diſenchanted him. That’s the Cauſe of my Silence, which you complain of. Very well, ſays the Enchantreſs, to pacify you, I am ready to do what you will command me; would you that I reſtore him as he was? Yes, replies the Sultan, make haſte to ſet him at Liberty, that I be no more diſturb’d with his Cries.
The Enchantress went immediately out of the Palace of Tears, ſhe took a Cup of Water, and pronounc’d Words over it, which caus’d it to boil, as if it had been on the Fire. She went afterwards to the Hall, to the young King her Husband, and threw the Water upon him, ſaying, If the Creator of all things did form thee ſo as thou art at preſent; or if he be angry with-thee, don’t change. But if thou art in that Condition, meerly by Virtue of my Enchantments, reſume thy natural Shape, and become what thou waſt before. She had ſcarce ſpoke theſe Words, when the Prince finding himſelf reſtor’d to his former Condition, roſe up freely, with all imaginable Joy, and return’d Thanks to God. The Enchantreſs then ſaid to him, Get thee gone from this Caſtle, and never return here on Pain of Death. The young King yielding to Neceſſity, went away from the Enchantreſs, without replying one Word; and retir’d to a remote Place, where he impaticntly expected ths Succeſs of the Deſign which the Sultan had begun ſo happily. Mean ​while the Enchantreſs return’d to the Palace of Tears, and ſuppoſing that ſhe ſtill ſpoke to the Black, ſays, Dear Lover, I have done what you ordered, let nothing now hinder you to give me that Satisſaction of which I have been depriv’d ſo long.
The Sultan continued to counterfeit the Language of the Blacks: That which you have juſt now done, ſaid he, fignifies nothing to my Cure, you have only eas’d me of part of my Diſeaſe; you muſt cut it up by the Roots. My lovely Black, replies ſhe, What do you mean by the Root?Unfortunate Woman, replies the Sultan, don’t you underſtand that I mean the Town, and its Inhabitants, and the four Iſlands, which thou haſt deſtroy’d by thy Enchantments?
The Fiſhes every Night at midnight, raiſe their Heads out of the Pond, and cry for Vengeance againſt thee and me. This is the true Cauſe of the Delay of my Cure. Go ſpeedily, reſtore things as they were, and at thy Return I will give thee my Hand, and thou ſhalt help me to riſe.
The Enchantreſs fil’d with Hopes from thoſe Words, cried out in a Tranſport of Joy, My Heart, my Soul, you ſhall ſoon be reſtor’d to your Health, for I will immediately do what you command me. Accordingly ſhe went that Moment and when ſhe came to the Brink of the Pond, ſhe took a little Water in her Hand, and ſprinkling it——Here Scheherazade ſaw Day, and ſtopp’d.
Dinarzade ſays to the Sultaneſs, Siſter, I am much rejoyc’d to hear that the young King of the Four Black-Iſlands was diſenchanted, and I already conſider the Town and the Inhabitants, as reſtor’d to their former State; but I long to know what will become of the Enchantrefs. Have a little Patience, Siſter, replies the Sultaneſs, you ſhall have the Satisſaction you defire to morrow, if the Sultan my Lord will conſent to it. Schahriar having reſolv’d on’t already, as was ſaid before, roſe up and went about his Buſineſs.
The Twenty Seventh Night.
AT the uſual Hour, Dinarazade call’d upon the Sultaneſs, thus: Dear Siſter, pray tell us what was the Fate of the Magician Queen, as you promis’d us. Upon which Scheherazade went on thus: The Enchantreſs had no ſooner ſprinkled the Water, and pronounced ſome Words over the Fiſhes and the Pond, but the City was reſtored that very Minute. The Fiſhes became Men, Women and Children; Mahometans, Chriſtians, Perſians or Jews; Freemen or Slaves, as they were before; every one having recover’d their natural Form. The Houſes and Shops were immediately filld with their Inhabitants, who found all things as they were before the Enchantment. The Sultan’s numerous Retinue, who found themſelves encamp’d in the largeſt Square, were aſtoniſh’d to ſee themſelves in an Inſtant, in the middle of a large, fine, and well-peopled City.
To return to the Enchantreſs: As ſoon as ſhe had made this wonderful Change, ſhe return’d with all Diligence to the Palace of Tears, that ſhe might reap the Fruits of it. My dear Lord, cries ſhe, as ſhe entred, I come to rejoice with you for the Return of your Health; I have done all that you requir’d of me, then pray riſe and give me your Hand. Come near, ſays the Sultan, ſtill counterfeiting the Language of the Blacks. She did ſo. You are not near enough, replies he, come nearer; ſhe obey’d ; then he aroſe up and ſeiz’d her by the Arm ſo ſuddenly, that ſhe had not time ts know who it was, and with a Blow of his Scimiter cut her in two, ſo that the one half fell one way, and the other another. This being done, he left the Carcaſe upon the Place, and going out of the Palace of Tears, he went to ſeek the young King of the Black-Iſſls, who waited for him with a great deal of Impatience; and when he found him, Prince, ſays he, embracing him, rejoice; you have nothing to fear now, your cruel Enemy is dead.
​The young Prince return’d Thanks to the Sultan in fuch a manner, as ſhew’d that he was throughly ſenſible of the Kindneſs that he had done him, and in Acknowledgment wiſh’d him a long Life and all Happineſs. You may henceforward, ſays the Sultan, dwell peaceably in your Capitol, except you will go to mine, which is ſo near, where you ſhall be very welcome, and have as much Honour and Reſpect as if you were at home. Potent Monarch, to whom I am ſo much indebted, replies the King, you think then that you are very near your Capitol; yes, ſays the Sultan, I know it, it is not above four or five Hours Journey, It will take you a whole Year’s Journey, ſays the Prince. I do believe indeed that you came hither from your Capitol in the time you ſpoke of, becauſe mine was enchanted but ſince the Enchantment is taken off, things are changed: However this ſhall not hinder me to follow you, were it to the utmoſt Corners of the Earth. You are my Deliverer, and that I may give you Proofs of my acknowledging this, during my whole Life, I am willing to accompany you, and to leave my Kingdom without Regret.
The Sultan was extreamly ſurpriz’d, to underſtand that he was ſo ſar from his Dominions, and could not imagine how it cou’d be. But the young King of the Black-Iſlands convinc’d him ſo plainly, that he could no more doubt of it. Then the Sultan replied, It is no matter, the Trouble that I ſhall have to return to my own Country, is ſufficiently recompenſed by the Satisſaction I have had to oblige you, and by acquiring you for a Son; for ſince you will do me the Honour to attend me, and that I have no Child, I look upon you as one, and from this Moment I appoint you my Heir and Succeſſor.
This Diſcourſe be:ween the Sultan and the King of the Black-Iſlands concluded with moſt affectionate Embraces, after which the young Prince was wholly taken up in making Preparations for his Journey, which were finiſh’d in three Weeks time, to the great Regret of his Court and Subjects, who agreed to receive at his Hands one of his neareſt Kindred for King.
At laſt the Sultan and young Prince began their Journey, with an hundred Camels laden with ineſtimable Riches ​from the Treaſury of the young King, follow’d by fifty handſome Gentlemen, on Horſe-back, perfectly well mounted and dreſs’d. They had a very happy Journey; and when the Sultan, who had ſent Couriers to give Advice of his Delay, and of the Adventure which had occafion’d it, came near his Capitol, the principal Officers he had left there, came to receive him, and to affure him that his long Abſence had occafion’d no Alteration in his Empire. The Inhabitants came out alſo in great Crowds, received him with mighty Acclamations, and made publick Rejoycings for ſeveral Days.
Next Day after his Arrival, the Sultan gave all his Courtiers a very ample Account of all things, which contrary to his Expectation had detain’d him thy. He acquainted them with his having adopted the King of the Four Black-Iſlands, who was willing to leave a great Kingdom to accompany and live with him, and in ſhort, as an Acknowledgment of their Loyalty, he rewarded each of them according to their Rank.
And for the Fiſherman, as he was the firſt Cauſe of the Deliverance of the young Prince, the Sultan gave him a plentiful Eſtate, which made him and his Family happy the reſt of his Days.
Here Scheherazade made an end of the Story of the Fiſherman and the Genie. Dinorzade ſignified, that ſhe had taken a great deal of Pleaſure in it; and Schahriar having ſaid the ſame thing, the Sultaneſs told ’em, that ſhe knew another which was much finer, and if the Sultan would give her leave, ſhe would tell it ’em next Morning, for Day began to appear. Schahriar bethinking himſelf, that he had granted the Sultaneſs a Month’s Reprieve, and being curious moreover to know if this new Story would be as agreeable as ſhe promis’d, got up with a Deſign to hear it next Night.