THE
STORY OF PRINCE AHMED AND THE FAIRY PARIBANOU
There
was a sultan, who had three sons and a niece. The eldest of the Princes was
called Houssain, the second Ali, the youngest Ahmed, and the Princess, his niece,
Nouronnihar. The Princess Nouronnihar
was the daughter of the younger brother of the Sultan, who died, and left the
Princess very young. The Sultan took upon himself the care of his daughter's
education, and brought her up in his palace with the three Princes, proposing
to marry her when she arrived at a proper age, and to contract an alliance with
some neighboring prince by that means. But when he perceived that the three
Princes, his sons, loved her passionately, he thought more seriously on that affair.
He was very much concerned; the difficulty he foresaw was to make them agree,
and that the two youngest should consent to yield her up to their elder
brother. As he found them positively obstinate, he sent for them all together,
and said to them: "Children, since for your good and quiet I have not been
able to persuade you no longer to aspire to the Princess, your cousin, I think
it would not be amiss if every one traveled separately into different
countries, so that you might not meet each other. And, as you know I am very
curious, and delight in everything that's singular, I promise my niece in
marriage to him that shall bring me the most extraordinary rarity; and for the
purchase of the rarity you shall go in search after, and the expense of traveling,
I will give you every one a sum of money."
As
the three Princes were always submissive and obedient to the Sultan's will, and
each flattered himself fortune might prove favorable to him, they all consented
to it. The Sultan paid them the money he promised them; and that very day they
gave orders for the preparations for their travels, and took their leave of the
Sultan, that they might be the more ready to go the next morning. Accordingly
they all set out at the same gate of the city, each dressed like a merchant,
attended by an officer of confidence dressed like a slave, and all well mounted
and equipped. They went the first day's journey together, and lay all at an
inn, where the road was divided into three different tracts. At night, when
they were at supper together, they all agreed to travel for a year, and to meet
at that inn; and that the first that came should wait for the rest; that, as
they had all three taken their leave together of the Sultan, they might all
return together. The next morning by break of day, after they had embraced and
wished each other good success, they mounted their horses and took each a
different road.
Prince
Houssain, the eldest brother, arrived at Bisnagar, the capital of the kingdom
of that name, and the residence of its king. He went and lodged at a khan
appointed for foreign merchants; and, having learned that there were four
principal divisions where merchants of all sorts sold their commodities, and
kept shops, and in the midst of which stood the castle, or rather the King's
palace, he went to one of these divisions the next day.
Prince
Houssain could not view this division without admiration. It was large, and
divided into several streets, all vaulted and shaded from the sun, and yet very
light too. The shops were all of a size, and all that dealt in the same sort of
goods lived in one street; as also the handicrafts-men, who kept their shops in
the smaller streets.
The
multitude of shops, stocked with all sorts of merchandise, as the finest linens
from several parts of India, some painted in the most lively colors, and
representing beasts, trees, and flowers; silks and brocades from Persia, China,
and other places, porcelain both from Japan and China, and tapestries,
surprised him so much that he knew not how to believe his own eyes; but when he
came to the goldsmiths and jewelers he was in a kind of ecstacy to behold such
prodigious quantities of wrought gold and silver, and was dazzled by the lustre
of the pearls, diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and other jewels exposed to sale.
Another
thing Prince Houssain particularly admired was the great number of rose-sellers
who crowded the streets; for the Indians are so great lovers of that flower
that no one will stir without a nosegay in his hand or a garland on his head;
and the merchants keep them in pots in their shops, that the air is perfectly
perfumed.
After
Prince Houssain had run through that division, street by street, his thoughts
fully employed on the riches he had seen, he was very much tired, which a
merchant perceiving, civilly invited him to sit down in his shop, and he
accepted; but had not been sat down long before he saw a crier pass by with a
piece of tapestry on his arm, about six feet square, and cried at thirty
purses. The Prince called to the crier, and asked to see the tapestry, which
seemed to him to be valued at an exorbitant price, not only for the size of it,
but the meanness of the stuff; when he had examined it well, he told the crier
that he could not comprehend how so small a piece of tapestry, and of so
indifferent appearance, could be set at so high a price.
The
crier, who took him for a merchant, replied: "If this price seems so
extravagant to you, your amazement will be greater when I tell you I have
orders to raise it to forty purses, and not to part with it under."
"Certainly," answered Prince Houssain, "it must have something
very extraordinary in it, which I know nothing of." "You have guessed
it, sir," replied the crier, "and will own it when you come to know
that whoever sits on this piece of tapestry may be transported in an instant
wherever he desires to be, without being stopped by any obstacle."
At
this discourse of the crier the Prince of the Indies, considering that the
principal motive of his travel was to carry the Sultan, his father, home some
singular rarity, thought that he could not meet with any which could give him
more satisfaction. "If the tapestry," said he to the crier, "has
the virtue you assign it, I shall not think forty purses too much, but shall make
you a present besides." "Sir," replied the crier, "I have
told you the truth; and it is an easy matter to convince you of it, as soon as
you have made the bargain for forty purses, on condition I show you the
experiment. But, as I suppose you have not so much about you, and to receive
them I must go with you to your khan, where you lodge, with the leave of the
master of the shop, we will go into the back shop, and I will spread the
tapestry; and when we have both sat down, and you have formed the wish to be
transported into your apartment of the khan, if we are not transported thither
it shall be no bargain, and you shall be at your liberty. As to your present,
though I am paid for my trouble by the seller, I shall receive it as a favor,
and be very much obliged to you, and thankful."
On
the credit of the crier, the Prince accepted the conditions, and concluded the
bargain; and, having got the master's leave, they went into his back shop; they
both sat down on it, and as soon as the Prince formed his wish to be
transported into his apartment at the khan he presently found himself and the
crier there; and, as he wanted not a more sufficient proof of the virtue of the
tapestry, he counted the crier out forty pieces of gold, and gave him twenty
pieces for himself.
In
this manner Prince Houssain became the possessor of the tapestry, and was
overjoyed that at his arrival at Bisnagar he had found so rare a piece, which
he never disputed would gain him the hand of Nouronnihar. In short, he looked
upon it as an impossible thing for the Princes his younger brothers to meet
with anything to be compared with it. It was in his power, by sitting on his
tapestry, to be at the place of meeting that very day; but, as he was obliged
to stay there for his brothers, as they had agreed, and as he was curious to
see the King of Bisnagar and his Court, and to inform himself of the strength,
laws, customs, and religion of the kingdom, he chose to make a longer abode
there, and to spend some months in satisfying his curiosity.
Prince
Houssain might have made a longer abode in the kingdom and Court of Bisnagar,
but he was so eager to be nearer the Princess that, spreading the tapestry, he
and the officer he had brought with him sat down, and as soon as he had formed
his wish were transported to the inn at which he and his brothers were to meet,
and where he passed for a merchant till they came.
Prince
Ali, Prince Houssain's second brother, who designed to travel into Persia, took
the road, having three days after he parted with his brothers joined a caravan,
and after four days' travel arrived at Schiraz, which was the capital of the
kingdom of Persia. Here he passed for a jeweler.
The
next morning Prince Ali, who traveled only for his pleasure, and had brought
nothing but just necessaries along with him, after he had dressed himself, took
a walk into that part of the town which they at Schiraz called the bezestein.
Among
all the criers who passed backward and forward with several sorts of goods,
offering to sell them, he was not a little surprised to see one who held an
ivory telescope in his hand of about a foot in length and the thickness of a
man's thumb, and cried it at thirty purses. At first he thought the crier mad,
and to inform himself went to a shop, and said to the merchant, who stood at
the door: "Pray, sir, is not that man" (pointing to the crier who
cried the ivory perspective glass at thirty purses) "mad? If he is not, I
am very much deceived."
"Indeed,
sir," answered the merchant, "he was in his right senses yesterday; I
can assure you he is one of the ablest criers we have, and the most employed of
any when anything valuable is to be sold. And if he cries the ivory perspective
glass at thirty purses it must be worth as much or more, on some account or other.
He will come by presently, and we will call him, and you shall be satisfied; in
the meantime sit down on my sofa, and rest yourself."
Prince
Ali accepted the merchant's obliging offer, and presently afterward the crier
passed by. The merchant called him by his name, and, pointing to the Prince,
said to him: "Tell that gentleman, who asked me if you were in your right
senses, what you mean by crying that ivory perspective glass, which seems not
to be worth much, at thirty purses. I should be very much amazed myself if I
did not know you." The crier, addressing himself to Prince Ali, said:
"Sir, you are not the only person that takes me for a madman on account of
this perspective glass. You shall judge yourself whether I am or no, when I have
told you its property and I hope you will value it at as high a price as those
I have showed it to already, who had as bad an opinion of me as you.
"First,
sir," pursued the crier, presenting the ivory pipe to the Prince,
"observe that this pipe is furnished with a glass at both ends; and
consider that by looking through one of them you see whatever object you wish
to behold." "I am," said the Prince, "ready to make you all
imaginable reparation for the scandal I have thrown on you if you will make the
truth of what you advance appear," and as he had the ivory pipe in his
hand, after he had looked at the two glasses he said: "Show me at which of
these ends I must look that I may be satisfied." The crier presently
showed him, and he looked through, wishing at the same time to see the Sultan
his father, whom he immediately beheld in perfect health, set on his throne, in
the midst of his council. Afterward, as there was nothing in the world so dear
to him, after the Sultan, as the Princess Nouronnihar, he wished to see her;
and saw her at her toilet laughing, and in a pleasant humor, with her women
about her.
Prince
Ali wanted no other proof to be persuaded that this perspective glass was the
most valuable thing in the world, and believed that if he should neglect to
purchase it he should never meet again with such another rarity. He therefore
took the crier with him to the khan where he lodged, and counted him out the
money, and received the perspective glass.
Prince
Ali was overjoyed at his bargain, and persuaded himself that, as his brothers
would not be able to meet with anything so rare and admirable, the Princess
Nouronnihar would be the recompense of his fatigue and trouble; that he thought
of nothing but visiting the Court of Persia incognito, and seeing whatever was
curious in Schiraz and thereabouts, till the caravan with which he came
returned back to the Indies. As soon as the caravan was ready to set out, the
Prince joined them, and arrived happily without any accident or trouble,
otherwise than the length of the journey and fatigue of traveling, at the place
of rendezvous, where he found Prince Houssain, and both waited for Prince
Ahmed.
Prince
Ahmed, who took the road of Samarcand, the next day after his arrival there
went, as his brothers had done, into the bezestein, where he had not walked
long but heard a crier, who had an artificial apple in his hand, cry it at five
and thirty purses; upon which he stopped the crier, and said to him: "Let
me see that apple, and tell me what virtue and extraordinary properties it has,
to be valued at so high a rate." "Sir," said the crier, giving
it into his hand, "if you look at the outside of this apple, it is very
worthless, but if you consider its properties, virtues, and the great use and
benefit it is to mankind, you will say it is no price for it, and that he who
possesses it is master of a great treasure. In short, it cures all sick persons
of the most mortal diseases; and if the patient is dying it will recover him
immediately and restore him to perfect health; and this is done after the
easiest manner in the world, which is by the patient's smelling the
apple."
"If
I may believe you," replied Prince Ahmed, "the virtues of this apple
are wonderful, and it is invaluable; but what ground have I, for all you tell
me, to be persuaded of the truth of this matter?" "Sir," replied
the crier, "the thing is known and averred by the whole city of Samarcand;
but, without going any further, ask all these merchants you see here, and hear
what they say. You will find several of them will tell you they had not been
alive this day if they had not made use of this excellent remedy. And, that you
may better comprehend what it is, I must tell you it is the fruit of the study
and experiments of a celebrated philosopher of this city, who applied himself
all his lifetime to the study and knowledge of the virtues of plants and
minerals, and at last attained to this composition, by which he performed such
surprising cures in this town as will never be forgot, but died suddenly himself,
before he could apply his sovereign remedy, and left his wife and a great many
young children behind him, in very indifferent circumstances, who, to support
her family and provide for her children, is resolved to sell it."
While
the crier informed Prince Ahmed of the virtues of the artificial apple, a great
many persons came about them and confirmed what he said; and one among the rest
said he had a friend dangerously ill, whose life was despaired of; and that was
a favorable opportunity to show Prince Ahmed the experiment. Upon which Prince
Ahmed told the crier he would give him forty purses if he cured the sick
person.
The
crier, who had orders to sell it at that price, said to Prince Ahmed:
"Come, sir, let us go and make the experiment, and the apple shall be
yours; and I can assure you that it will always have the desired effect."
In short, the experiment succeeded, and the Prince, after he had counted out to
the crier forty purses, and he had delivered the apple to him, waited patiently
for the first caravan that should return to the Indies, and arrived in perfect
health at the inn where the Princes Houssain and Ali waited for him.
When
the Princes met they showed each other their treasures, and immediately saw
through the glass that the Princess was dying. They then sat down on the
carpet, wished themselves with her, and were there in a moment.
Prince
Ahmed no sooner perceived himself in Nouronnihar's chamber than he rose off the
tapestry, as did also the other two Princes, and went to the bedside, and put
the apple under her nose; some moments after the Princess opened her eyes, and
turned her head from one side to another, looking at the persons who stood
about her; and then rose up in the bed, and asked to be dressed, just as if she
had waked out of a sound sleep. Her women having presently informed her, in a
manner that showed their joy, that she was obliged to the three Princes for the
sudden recovery of her health, and particularly to Prince Ahmed, she
immediately expressed her joy to see them, and thanked them all together, and
afterward Prince Ahmed in particular.
While
the Princess was dressing the Princes went to throw themselves at the Sultan
their father's feet, and pay their respects to him. But when they came before
him they found he had been informed of their arrival by the chief of the
Princess's eunuchs, and by what means the Princess had been perfectly cured.
The Sultan received and embraced them with the greatest joy, both for their
return and the recovery of the Princess his niece, whom he loved as well as if
she had been his own daughter, and who had been given over by the physicians.
After the usual ceremonies and compliments the Princes presented each his
rarity: Prince Houssain his tapestry, which he had taken care not to leave
behind him in the Princess's chamber; Prince Ali his ivory perspective glass,
and Prince Ahmed his artificial apple; and after each had commended their
present, when they put it into the Sultan's hands, they begged of him to
pronounce their fate, and declare to which of them he would give the Princess
Nouronnihar for a wife, according to his promise.
The
Sultan of the Indies, having heard, without interrupting them, all that the
Princes could represent further about their rarities, and being well informed
of what had happened in relation to the Princess Nouronnihar's cure, remained
some time silent, as if he were thinking on what answer he should make. At last
he broke the silence, and said to them: "I would declare for one of you children
with a great deal of pleasure if I could do it with justice; but consider
whether I can do it or no. 'Tis true, Prince Ahmed, the Princess my niece is
obliged to your artificial apple for her cure; but I must ask you whether or no
you could have been so serviceable to her if you had not known by Prince Ali's
perspective glass the danger she was in, and if Prince Houssain's tapestry had
not brought you so soon. Your perspective glass, Prince Ali, informed you and
your brothers that you were like to lose the Princess your cousin, and there
you must own a great obligation.
"You
must also grant that that knowledge would have been of no service without the
artificial apple and the tapestry. And lastly, Prince Houssain, the Princess
would be very ungrateful if she should not show her acknowledgment of the
service of your tapestry, which was so necessary a means toward her cure. But
consider, it would have been of little use if you had not been acquainted with
the Princess's illness by Prince Ali's glass, and Prince Ahmed had not applied
his artificial apple. Therefore, as neither tapestry, ivory perspective glass,
nor artificial apple have the least preference one before the other, but, on
the contrary, there's a perfect equality, I cannot grant the Princess to ally
one of you; and the only fruit you have reaped from your travels is the glory
of having equally contributed to restore her health.
"If
all this be true," added the Sultan, "you see that I must have
recourse to other means to determine certainly in the choice I ought to make
among you; and that, as there is time enough between this and night, I'll do it
to-day. Go and get each of you a bow and arrow, and repair to the great plain,
where they exercise horses. I'll soon come to you, and declare I will give the
Princess Nouronnihar to him that shoots the farthest."
The
three Princes had nothing to say against the decision of the Sultan. When they
were out of his presence they each provided themselves with a bow and arrow,
which they delivered to one of their officers, and went to the plain appointed,
followed by a great concourse of people.
The
Sultan did not make them wait long for him, and as soon as he arrived Prince
Houssain, as the eldest, took his bow and arrow and shot first; Prince Ali shot
next, and much beyond him; and Prince Ahmed last of all, but it so happened
that nobody could see where his arrow fell; and, notwithstanding all the
diligence that was used by himself and everybody else, it was not to be found
far or near. And though it was believed that he shot the farthest, and that he
therefore deserved the Princess Nouronnihar, it was, however, necessary that
his arrow should be found to make the matter more evident and certain; and,
notwithstanding his remonstrance, the Sultan judged in favor of Prince Ali, and
gave orders for preparations to be made for the wedding, which was celebrated a
few days after with great magnificence.
Prince
Houssain would not honor the feast with his presence. In short, his grief was
so violent and insupportable that he left the Court, and renounced all right of
succession to the crown, to turn hermit.
Prince
Ahmed, too, did not come to Prince Ali's and the Princess Nouronnihar's wedding
any more than his brother Houssain, but did not renounce the world as he had
done. But, as he could not imagine what had become of his arrow, he stole away
from his attendants and resolved to search after it, that he might not have
anything to reproach himself with. With this intent he went to the place where
the Princes Houssain's and Ali's were gathered up, and, going straight forward
from there, looking carefully on both sides of him, he went so far that at last
he began to think his labor was all in vain; but yet he could not help going
forward till he came to some steep craggy rocks, which were bounds to his
journey, and were situated in a barren country, about four leagues distant from
where he set out.
II
When
Prince Ahmed came pretty nigh to these rocks he perceived an arrow, which he
gathered up, looked earnestly at it, and was in the greatest astonishment to
find it was the same he shot away. "Certainly," said he to himself,
"neither I nor any man living could shoot an arrow so far," and,
finding it laid flat, not sticking into the ground, he judged that it rebounded
against the rock. "There must be some mystery in this," said he to
himself again, "and it may be advantageous to me. Perhaps fortune, to make
me amends for depriving me of what I thought the greatest happiness, may have
reserved a greater blessing for my comfort."
As
these rocks were full of caves and some of those caves were deep, the Prince
entered into one, and, looking about, cast his eyes on an iron door, which
seemed to have no lock, but he feared it was fastened. However, thrusting
against it, it opened, and discovered an easy descent, but no steps, which he
walked down with his arrow in his hand. At first he thought he was going into a
dark, obscure place, but presently a quite different light succeeded that which
he came out of, and, entering into a large, spacious place, at about fifty or
sixty paces distant, he perceived a magnificent palace, which he had not then
time enough to look at. At the same time a lady of majestic port and air
advanced as far as the porch, attended by a large troop of ladies, so finely
dressed and beautiful that it was difficult to distinguish which was the
mistress.
As
soon as Prince Ahmed perceived the lady, he made all imaginable haste to go and
pay his respects; and the lady, on her part, seeing him coming, prevented him
from addressing his discourse to her first, but said to him: "Come nearer,
Prince Ahmed, you are welcome."
It
was no small surprise to the Prince to hear himself named in a place he had
never heard of, though so nigh to his father's capital, and he could not
comprehend how he should be known to a lady who was a stranger to him. At last
he returned the lady's compliment by throwing himself at her feet, and, rising
up again, said to her:
"Madam,
I return you a thousand thanks for the assurance you give me of a welcome to a
place where I believed my imprudent curiosity had made me penetrate too far.
But, madam, may I, without being guilty of ill manners, dare to ask you by what
adventure you know me? and how you, who live in the same neighborhood with me,
should be so great a stranger to me?"
"Prince,"
said the lady, "let us go into the hall, there I will gratify you in your
request."
After
these words the lady led Prince Ahmed into the hall. Then she sat down on a
sofa, and when the Prince by her entreaty had done the same she said: "You
are surprised, you say, that I should know you and not be known by you, but you
will be no longer surprised when I inform you who I am. You are undoubtedly
sensible that your religion teaches you to believe that the world is inhabited
by genies as well as men. I am the daughter of one of the most powerful and
distinguished genies, and my name is Paribanou. The only thing that I have to
add is, that you seemed to me worthy of a more happy fate than that of
possessing the Princess Nouronnihar; and, that you might attain to it, I was
present when you drew your arrow, and foresaw it would not go beyond Prince
Houssain's. I took it in the air, and gave it the necessary motion to strike
against the rocks near which you found it, and I tell you that it lies in your
power to make use of the favorable opportunity which presents itself to make
you happy."
As
the Fairy Paribanou pronounced these last words with a different tone, and
looked, at the same time, tenderly upon Prince Ahmed, with a modest blush on
her cheeks, it was no hard matter for the Prince to comprehend what happiness
she meant. He presently considered that the Princess Nouronnihar could never be
his and that the Fairy Paribanou excelled her infinitely in beauty,
agreeableness, wit, and, as much as he could conjecture by the magnificence of
the palace, in immense riches. He blessed the moment that he thought of seeking
after his arrow a second time, and, yielding to his love, "Madam,"
replied he, "should I all my life have the happiness of being your slave,
and the admirer of the many charms which ravish my soul, I should think myself
the most blessed of men. Pardon in me the boldness which inspires me to ask
this favor, and don't refuse to admit me into your Court, a prince who is
entirely devoted to you."
"Prince,"
answered the Fairy, "will you not pledge your faith to me, as well as I
give mine to you?" "Yes, madam," replied the Prince, in an
ecstacy of joy; "what can I do better, and with greater pleasure? Yes, my
sultaness, my queen, I'll give you my heart without the least reserve."
"Then," answered the Fairy, "you are my husband, and I am your
wife. But, as I suppose," pursued she, "that you have eaten nothing
to-day, a slight repast shall be served up for you, while preparations are
making for our wedding feast at night, and then I will show you the apartments
of my palace, and you shall judge if this hall is not the meanest part of
it."
Some
of the Fairy's women, who came into the hall with them, and guessed her
intentions, went immediately out, and returned presently with some excellent
meats and wines.
When
Prince Ahmed had ate and drunk as much as he cared for, the Fairy Paribanou
carried him through all the apartments, where he saw diamonds, rubies, emeralds
and all sorts of fine jewels, intermixed with pearls, agate, jasper, porphyry,
and all sorts of the most precious marbles. But, not to mention the richness of
the furniture, which was inestimable, there was such a profuseness throughout
that the Prince, instead of ever having seen anything like it, owned that he
could not have imagined that there was anything in the world that could come up
to it. "Prince," said the Fairy, "if you admire my palace so
much, which, indeed, is very beautiful, what would you say to the palaces of
the chief of our genies, which are much more beautiful, spacious, and
magnificent? I could also charm you with my gardens, but we will let that alone
till another time. Night draws near, and it will be time to go to supper."
The
next hall which the Fairy led the Prince into, and where the cloth was laid for
the feast, was the last apartment the Prince had not seen, and not in the least
inferior to the others. At his entrance into it he admired the infinite number
of sconces of wax candles perfumed with amber, the multitude of which, instead
of being confused, were placed with so just a symmetry as formed an agreeable
and pleasant sight. A large side table was set out with all sorts of gold
plate, so finely wrought that the workmanship was much more valuable than the
weight of the gold. Several choruses of beautiful women richly dressed, and
whose voices were ravishing, began a concert, accompanied with all sorts of the
most harmonious instruments; and when they were set down at table the Fairy
Paribanou took care to help Prince Ahmed to the most delicate meats, which she
named as she invited him to eat of them, and which the Prince found to be so
exquisitely nice that he commended them with exaggeration, and said that the
entertainment far surpassed those of man. He found also the same excellence in
the wines, which neither he nor the Fairy tasted of till the dessert was served
up, which consisted of the choicest sweetmeats and fruits.
The
wedding feast was continued the next day, or, rather, the days following the
celebration were a continual feast.
At
the end of six months Prince Ahmed, who always loved and honored the Sultan his
father, conceived a great desire to know how he was, and that desire could not
be satisfied without his going to see; he told the Fairy of it, and desired she
would give him leave.
"Prince,"
said she, "go when you please. But first, don't take it amiss that I give
you some advice how you shall behave yourself where you are going. First, I
don't think it proper for you to tell the Sultan your father of our marriage,
nor of my quality, nor the place where you have been. Beg of him to be
satisfied in knowing you are happy, and desire no more; and let him know that
the sole end of your visit is to make him easy, and inform him of your
fate."
She
appointed twenty gentlemen, well mounted and equipped, to attend him. When all
was ready Prince Ahmed took his leave of the Fairy, embraced her, and renewed
his promise to return soon. Then his horse, which was most finely caparisoned,
and was as beautiful a creature as any in the Sultan of Indies' stables, was
led to him, and he mounted him with an extraordinary grace; and, after he had
bid her a last adieu, set forward on his journey.
As
it was not a great way to his father's capital, Prince Ahmed soon arrived
there. The people, glad to see him again, received him with acclamations of
joy, and followed him in crowds to the Sultan's apartment. The Sultan received
and embraced him with great joy, complaining at the same time, with a fatherly
tenderness, of the affliction his long absence had been to him, which he said
was the more grievous for that, fortune having decided in favor of Prince Ali
his brother, he was afraid he might have committed some rash action.
The
Prince told a story of his adventures without speaking of the Fairy, whom he
said that he must not mention, and ended: "The only favor I ask of your
Majesty is to give me leave to come often and pay you my respects, and to know
how you do."
"Son,"
answered the Sultan of the Indies, "I cannot refuse you the leave you ask
me; but I should much rather you would resolve to stay with me; at least tell
me where I may send to you if you should fail to come, or when I may think your
presence necessary." "Sir," replied Prince Ahmed, "what
your Majesty asks of me is part of the mystery I spoke to your Majesty of. I
beg of you to give me leave to remain silent on this head, for I shall come so
frequently that I am afraid that I shall sooner be thought troublesome than be
accused of negligence in my duty."
The
Sultan of the Indies pressed Prince Ahmed no more, but said to him: "Son,
I penetrate no farther into your secrets, but leave you at your liberty; but
can tell you that you could not do me a greater pleasure than to come, and by
your presence restore to me the joy I have not felt this long time, and that
you shall always be welcome when you come, without interrupting your business
or pleasure."
Prince
Ahmed stayed but three days at the Sultan his father's Court, and the fourth
returned to the Fairy Paribanou, who did not expect him so soon.
A
month after Prince Ahmed's return from paying a visit to his father, as the
Fairy Paribanou had observed that the Prince, since the time that he gave her
an account of his journey, his discourse with his father, and the leave he
asked to go and see him often, had never talked of the Sultan, as if there had
been no such person in the world, whereas before he was always speaking of him,
she thought he forebore on her account; therefore she took an opportunity to
say to him one day: "Prince, tell me, have you forgot the Sultan your
father? Don't you remember the promise you made to go and see him often? For my
part I have not forgot what you told me at your return, and so put you in mind
of it, that you may not be long before you acquit yourself of your
promise."
So
Prince Ahmed went the next morning with the same attendance as before, but much
finer, and himself more magnificently mounted, equipped, and dressed, and was
received by the Sultan with the same joy and satisfaction. For several months
he constantly paid his visits, always in a richer and finer equipage.
At
last some viziers, the Sultan's favorites, who judged of Prince Ahmed's
grandeur and power by the figure he cut, made the Sultan jealous of his son,
saying it was to be feared he might inveigle himself into the people's favor
and dethrone him.
The
Sultan of the Indies was so far from thinking that Prince Ahmed could be
capable of so pernicious a design as his favorites would make him believe that
he said to them: "You are mistaken; my son loves me, and I am certain of
his tenderness and fidelity, as I have given him no reason to be
disgusted."
But
the favorites went on abusing Prince Ahmed till the Sultan said: "Be it as
it will, I don't believe my son Ahmed is so wicked as you would persuade me he
is; how ever, I am obliged to you for your good advice, and don't dispute but
that it proceeds from your good intentions."
The
Sultan of the Indies said this that his favorites might not know the
impressions their discourse had made on his mind; which had so alarmed him that
he resolved to have Prince Ahmed watched unknown to his grand vizier. So he
sent for a female magician, who was introduced by a back door into his
apartment. "Go immediately," he said, "and follow my son, and
watch him so well as to find out where he retires, and bring me word."
The
magician left the Sultan, and, knowing the place where Prince Ahmed found his
arrow, went immediately thither, and hid herself near the rocks, so that nobody
could see her.
The
next morning Prince Ahmed set out by daybreak, without taking leave either of
the Sultan or any of his Court, according to custom. The magician, seeing him
coming, followed him with her eyes, till on a sudden she lost sight of him and
his attendants.
As
the rocks were very steep and craggy, they were an insurmountable barrier, so
that the magician judged that there were but two things for it: either that the
Prince retired into some cavern, or an abode of genies or fairies. Thereupon
she came out of the place where she was hid and went directly to the hollow
way, which she traced till she came to the farther end, looking carefully about
on all sides; but, notwithstanding all her diligence, could perceive no
opening, not so much as the iron gate which Prince Ahmed discovered, which was
to be seen and opened to none but men, and only to such whose presence was
agreeable to the Fairy Paribanou.
The
magician, who saw it was in vain for her to search any farther, was obliged to
be satisfied with the discovery she had made, and returned to give the Sultan
an account.
The
Sultan was very well pleased with the magician's conduct, and said to her: "Do
you as you think fit; I'll wait patiently the event of your promises," and
to encourage her made her a present of a diamond of great value.
As
Prince Ahmed had obtained the Fairy Paribanou's leave to go to the Sultan of
the Indies' Court once a month, he never failed, and the magician, knowing the
time, went a day or two before to the foot of the rock where she lost sight of
the Prince and his attendants, and waited there.
The
next morning Prince Ahmed went out, as usual, at the iron gate, with the same
attendants as before, and passed by the magician, whom he knew not to be such,
and, seeing her lie with her head against the rock, and complaining as if she
were in great pain, he pitied her, turned his horse about, went to her, and
asked her what was the matter with her, and what he could do to ease her.
The
artful sorceress looked at the Prince in a pitiful manner, without ever lifting
up her head, and answered in broken words and sighs, as if she could hardly
fetch her breath, that she was going to the capital city, but on the way
thither she was taken with so violent a fever that her strength failed her, and
she was forced to lie down where he saw her, far from any habitation, and
without any hopes of assistance.
"Good
woman," replied Prince Ahmed, "you are not so far from help as you
imagine. I am ready to assist you, and convey you where you will meet with a
speedy cure; only get up, and let one of my people take you behind him."
At
these words the magician, who pretended sickness only to know where the Prince
lived and what he did, refused not the charitable offer he made her, and that
her actions might correspond with her words she made many pretended vain
endeavors to get up. At the same time two of the Prince's attendants, alighting
off their horses, helped her up, and set her behind another, and mounted their
horses again, and followed the Prince, who turned back to the iron gate, which
was opened by one of his retinue who rode before. And when he came into the
outward court of the Fairy, without dismounting himself, he sent to tell her he
wanted to speak with her.
The
Fairy Paribanou came with all imaginable haste, not knowing what made Prince
Ahmed return so soon, who, not giving her time to ask him the reason, said:
"Princess, I desire you would have compassion on this good woman,"
pointing to the magician, who was held up by two of his retinue. "I found
her in the condition you see her in, and promised her the assistance she stands
in need of, and am persuaded that you, out of your own goodness, as well as
upon my entreaty, will not abandon her."
The
Fairy Paribanou, who had her eyes fixed upon the pretended sick woman all the
time that the Prince was talking to her, ordered two of her women who followed
her to take her from the two men that held her, and carry her into an apartment
of the palace, and take as much care of her as she would herself.
While
the two women executed the Fairy's commands, she went up to Prince Ahmed, and,
whispering in his ear, said: "Prince, this woman is not so sick as she
pretends to be; and I am very much mistaken if she is not an impostor, who will
be the cause of a great trouble to you. But don't be concerned, let what will
be devised against you; be persuaded that I will deliver you out of all the
snares that shall be laid for you. Go and pursue your journey."
This
discourse of the Fairy's did not in the least frighten Prince Ahmed. "My
Princess," said he, "as I do not remember I ever did or designed
anybody an injury, I cannot believe anybody can have a thought of doing me one,
but if they have I shall not, nevertheless, forbear doing good whenever I have
an opportunity." Then he went back to his father's palace.
In
the meantime the two women carried the magician into a very fine apartment,
richly furnished. First they sat her down upon a sofa, with her back supported
with a cushion of gold brocade, while they made a bed on the same sofa before
her, the quilt of which was finely embroidered with silk, the sheets of the
finest linen, and the coverlet cloth-of-gold. When they had put her into bed
(for the old sorceress pretended that her fever was so violent she could not
help herself in the least) one of the women went out, and returned soon again
with a china dish in her hand, full of a certain liquor, which she presented to
the magician, while the other helped her to sit up. "Drink this
liquor," said she; "it is the Water of the Fountain of Lions, and a
sovereign remedy against all fevers whatsoever. You will find the effect of it
in less than an hour's time."
The
magician, to dissemble the better, took it after a great deal of entreaty; but
at last she took the china dish, and, holding back her head, swallowed down the
liquor. When she was laid down again the two women covered her up. "Lie
quiet," said she who brought her the china cup, "and get a little
sleep if you can. We'll leave you, and hope to find you perfectly cured when we
come again an hour hence."
The
two women came again at the time they said they should, and found the magician
up and dressed, and sitting upon the sofa. "Oh, admirable potion!"
she said: "it has wrought its cure much sooner than you told me it would,
and I shall be able to prosecute my journey."
The
two women, who were fairies as well as their mistress, after they had told the
magician how glad they were that she was cured so soon, walked before her, and
conducted her through several apartments, all more noble than that wherein she
lay, into a large hall, the most richly and magnificently furnished of all the
palace.
Fairy
Paribanou sat in this hall on a throne of massive gold, enriched with diamonds,
rubies, and pearls of an extraordinary size, and attended on each hand by a
great number of beautiful fairies, all richly clothed. At the sight of so much
majesty, the magician was not only dazzled, but was so amazed that, after she
had prostrated herself before the throne, she could not open her lips to thank
the Fairy as she proposed. However, Paribanou saved her the trouble, and said
to her: "Good woman, I am glad I had an opportunity to oblige you, and to
see you are able to pursue your journey. I won't detain you, but perhaps you
may not be displeased to see my palace; follow my women, and they will show it
you."
Then
the magician went back and related to the Sultan of the Indies all that had
happened, and how very rich Prince Ahmed was since his marriage with the Fairy,
richer than all the kings in the world, and how there was danger that he should
come and take the throne from his father.
Though
the Sultan of the Indies was very well persuaded that Prince Ahmed's natural
disposition was good, yet he could not help being concerned at the discourse of
the old sorceress, to whom, when she was taking her leave, he said: "I
thank thee for the pains thou hast taken, and thy wholesome advice. I am so
sensible of the great importance it is to me that I shall deliberate upon it in
council."
Now
the favorites advised that the Prince should be killed, but the magician
advised differently: "Make him give you all kinds of wonderful things, by
the Fairy's help, till she tires of him and sends him away. As, for example,
every time your Majesty goes into the field, you are obliged to be at a great
expense, not only in pavilions and tents for your army, but likewise in mules
and camels to carry their baggage. Now, might not you engage him to use his
interest with the Fairy to procure you a tent which might be carried in a man's
hand, and which should be so large as to shelter your whole army against bad
weather?"
When
the magician had finished her speech, the Sultan asked his favorites if they
had anything better to propose; and, finding them all silent, determined to
follow the magician's advice, as the most reasonable and most agreeable to his
mild government.
Next
day the Sultan did as the magician had advised him, and asked for the pavilion.
Prince
Ahmed never expected that the Sultan his father would have asked such a thing,
which at first appeared so difficult, not to say impossible. Though he knew not
absolutely how great the power of genies and fairies was, he doubted whether it
extended so far as to compass such a tent as his father desired. At last he
replied: "Though it is with the greatest reluctance imaginable, I will not
fail to ask the favor of my wife your Majesty desires, but will not promise you
to obtain it; and if I should not have the honor to come again to pay you my
respects that shall be the sign that I have not had success. But beforehand, I
desire you to forgive me, and consider that you yourself have reduced me to
this extremity."
"Son,"
replied the Sultan of the Indies, "I should be very sorry if what I ask of
you should cause me the displeasure of never seeing you more. I find you don't
know the power a husband has over a wife; and yours would show that her love to
you was very indifferent if she, with the power she has of a fairy, should
refuse you so trifling a request as this I desire you to ask of her for my
sake." The Prince went back, and was very sad for fear of offending the
Fairy. She kept pressing him to tell her what was the matter, and at last he
said: "Madam, you may have observed that hitherto I have been content with
your love, and have never asked you any other favor. Consider then, I conjure
you, that it is not I, but the Sultan my father, who indiscreetly, or at least
I think so, begs of you a pavilion large enough to shelter him, his Court, and
army from the violence of the weather, and which a man may carry in his hand.
But remember it is the Sultan my father asks this favor."
"Prince,"
replied the Fairy, smiling, "I am sorry that so small a matter should
disturb you, and make you so uneasy as you appeared to me."
Then
the Fairy sent for her treasurer, to whom, when she came, she said:
"Nourgihan"--which was her name--"bring me the largest pavilion
in my treasury." Nourgiham returned presently with the pavilion, which she
could not only hold in her hand, but in the palm of her hand when she shut her
fingers, and presented it to her mistress, who gave it to Prince Ahmed to look
at.
When
Prince Ahmed saw the pavilion which the Fairy called the largest in her
treasury, he fancied she had a mind to jest with him, and thereupon the marks
of his surprise appeared presently in his countenance; which Paribanou perceiving
burst out laughing. "What! Prince," cried she, "do you think I
jest with you? You'll see presently that I am in earnest. Nourgihan," said
she to her treasurer, taking the tent out of Prince Ahmed's hands, "go and
set it up, that the Prince may judge whether it may be large enough for the
Sultan his father."
The
treasurer went immediately with it out of the palace, and carried it a great
way off; and when she had set it up one end reached to the very palace; at
which time the Prince, thinking it small, found it large enough to shelter two
greater armies than that of the Sultan his father's, and then said to
Paribanou: "I ask my Princess a thousand pardons for my incredulity; after
what I have seen I believe there is nothing impossible to you." "You
see," said the Fairy, "that the pavilion is larger than what your
father may have occasion for; for you must know that it has one property--that
it is larger or smaller according to the army it is to cover."
The
treasurer took down the tent again, and brought it to the Prince, who took it,
and, without staying any longer than till the next day, mounted his horse, and
went with the same attendants to the Sultan his father.
The
Sultan, who was persuaded that there could not be any such thing as such a tent
as he asked for, was in a great surprise at the Prince's diligence. He took the
tent and after he had admired its smallness his amazement was so great that he
could not recover himself. When the tent was set up in the great plain, which
we have before mentioned, he found it large enough to shelter an army twice as
large as he could bring into the field.
But
the Sultan was not yet satisfied. "Son," said he, "I have
already expressed to you how much I am obliged to you for the present of the
tent you have procured me; that I look upon it as the most valuable thing in
all my treasury. But you must do one thing more for me, which will be every
whit as agreeable to me. I am informed that the Fairy, your spouse, makes use
of a certain water, called the Water of the Fountain of Lions, which cures all
sorts of fevers, even the most dangerous, and, as I am perfectly well persuaded
my health is dear to you, I don't doubt but you will ask her for a bottle of
that water for me, and bring it me as a sovereign medicine, which I may make
use of when I have occasion. Do me this other important piece of service, and
thereby complete the duty of a good son toward a tender father."
The
Prince returned and told the Fairy what his father had said; "There's a
great deal of wickedness in this demand?" she answered, "as you will
understand by what I am going to tell you. The Fountain of Lions is situated in
the middle of a court of a great castle, the entrance into which is guarded by
four fierce lions, two of which sleep alternately, while the other two are
awake. But don't let that frighten you: I'll give you means to pass by them
without any danger."
The
Fairy Paribanou was at that time very hard at work, and, as she had several
clews of thread by her, she took up one, and, presenting it to Prince Ahmed,
said: "First take this clew of thread. I'll tell you presently the use of
it. In the second place, you must have two horses; one you must ride yourself,
and the other you must lead, which must be loaded with a sheep cut into four
quarters, that must be killed to-day. In the third place, you must be provided
with a bottle, which I will give you, to bring the water in. Set out early
to-morrow morning, and when you have passed the iron gate throw the clew of
thread before you, which will roll till it comes to the gates of the castle.
Follow it, and when it stops, as the gates will be open, you will see the four
lions: the two that are awake will, by their roaring, wake the other two, but
don't be frightened, but throw each of them a quarter of mutton, and then clap
spurs to your horse and ride to the fountain; fill your bottle without
alighting, and then return with the same expedition. The lions will be so busy
eating they will let you pass by them."
Prince
Ahmed set out the next morning at the time appointed by the Fairy, and followed
her directions exactly. When he arrived at the gates of the castle he
distributed the quarters of mutton among the four lions, and, passing through
the midst of them bravely, got to the fountain, filled his bottle, and returned
back as safe and sound as he went. When he had gone a little distance from the
castle gates he turned him about, and, perceiving two of the lions coming after
him, he drew his sabre and prepared himself for defense. But as he went forward
he saw one of them turned out of the road at some distance, and showed by his
head and tail that he did not come to do him any harm, but only to go before
him, and that the other stayed behind to follow, he put his sword up again in
its scabbard. Guarded in this manner, he arrived at the capital of the Indies,
but the lions never left him till they had conducted him to the gates of the
Sultan's palace; after which they returned the same way they came, though not
without frightening all that saw them, for all they went in a very gentle
manner and showed no fierceness.
A
great many officers came to attend the Prince while he dismounted his horse,
and afterward conducted him into the Sultan's apartment, who was at that time
surrounded with his favorites. He approached toward the throne, laid the bottle
at the Sultan's feet, and kissed the rich tapestry which covered his footstool,
and then said:
"I
have brought you, sir, the healthful water which your Majesty desired so much
to keep among your other rarities in your treasury, but at the same time wish
you such extraordinary health as never to have occasion to make use of
it."
After
the Prince had made an end of his compliment the Sultan placed him on his right
hand, and then said to him: "Son, I am very much obliged to you for this
valuable present, as also for the great danger you have exposed yourself to
upon my account (which I have been informed of by a magician who knows the
Fountain of Lions); but do me the pleasure," continued he, "to inform
me by what address, or, rather, by what incredible power, you have been
secured."
"Sir,"
replied Prince Ahmed, "I have no share in the compliment your Majesty is
pleased to make me; all the honor is due to the Fairy my spouse, whose good advice
I followed." Then he informed the Sultan what those directions were, and
by the relation of this his expedition let him know how well he had behaved
himself. When he had done the Sultan, who showed outwardly all the
demonstrations of great joy, but secretly became more jealous, retired into an
inward apartment, where he sent for the magician.
The
magician, at her arrival, saved the Sultan the trouble to tell her of the
success of Prince Ahmed's journey, which she had heard of before she came, and
therefore was prepared with an infallible means, as she pretended. This means
she communicated to the Sultan who declared it the next day to the Prince, in
the midst of all his courtiers, in these words: "Son," said he,
"I have one thing more to ask of you, after which I shall expect nothing
more from your obedience, nor your interest with your wife. This request is, to
bring me a man not above a foot and a half high, and whose beard is thirty feet
long who carries a bar of iron upon his shoulders of five hundredweight, which
he uses as a quarterstaff."
Prince
Ahmed, who did not believe that there was such a man in the world as his father
described, would gladly have excused himself; but the Sultan persisted in his
demand, and told him the Fairy could do more incredible things.
The
next day the Prince returned to his dear Paribanou, to whom he told his
father's new demand, which, he said, he looked upon to be a thing more
impossible than the two first; "for," added he, "I cannot
imagine there can be such a man in the world; without doubt, he has a mind to
try whether or no I am so silly as to go about it, or he has a design on my
ruin. In short, how can he suppose that I should lay hold of a man so well
armed, though he is but little? What arms can I make use of to reduce him to my
will? If there are any means, I beg you will tell them, and let me come off
with honor this time."
"Don't
affright yourself, Prince," replied the Fairy; "you ran a risk in
fetching the Water of the Fountain of Lions for your father, but there's no
danger in finding out this man, who is my brother Schaibar, but is so far from
being like me, though we both had the same father, that he is of so violent a
nature that nothing can prevent his giving cruel marks of his resentment for a
slight offense; yet, on the other hand, is so good as to oblige anyone in
whatever they desire. He is made exactly as the Sultan your father has
described him, and has no other arms than a bar of iron of five hundred pounds
weight, without which he never stirs, and which makes him respected. I'll send
for him, and you shall judge of the truth of what I tell you; but be sure to
prepare yourself against being frightened at his extraordinary figure when you
see him." "What! my Queen," replied Prince Ahmed, "do you
say Schaibar is your brother? Let him be never so ugly or deformed I shall be
so far from being frightened at the sight of him that, as our brother, I shall
honor and love him."
The
Fairy ordered a gold chafing-dish to be set with a fire in it under the porch
of her palace, with a box of the same metal, which was a present to her, out of
which taking a perfume, and throwing it into the fire, there arose a thick
cloud of smoke.
Some
moments after the Fairy said to Prince Ahmed: "See, there comes my
brother." The Prince immediately perceived Schaibar coming gravely with
his heavy bar on his shoulder, his long beard, which he held up before him, and
a pair of thick mustachios, which he tucked behind his ears and almost covered
his face; his eyes were very small and deep-set in his head, which was far from
being of the smallest size, and on his head he wore a grenadier's cap; besides
all this, he was very much hump-backed.
If
Prince Ahmed had not known that Schaibar was Paribanou's brother, he would not
have been able to have looked at him without fear, but, knowing first who he
was, he stood by the Fairy without the least concern.
Schaibar,
as he came forward, looked at the Prince earnestly enough to have chilled his
blood in his veins, and asked Paribanou, when he first accosted her, who that
man was. To which she replied: "He is my husband, brother. His name is
Ahmed; he is son to the Sultan of the Indies. The reason why I did not invite
you to my wedding was I was unwilling to divert you from an expedition you were
engaged in, and from which I heard with pleasure you returned victorious, and
so took the liberty now to call for you."
At
these words, Schaibar, looking on Prince Ahmed favorably, said: "Is there
anything else, sister, wherein I can serve him? It is enough for me that he is
your husband to engage me to do for him whatever he desires." "The
Sultan, his father," replied Paribanou, "has a curiosity to see you,
and I desire he may be your guide to the Sultan's Court." "He needs
but lead me the way I'll follow him." "Brother," replied
Paribanou, "it is too late to go to-day, therefore stay till to-morrow
morning; and in the meantime I'll inform you of all that has passed between the
Sultan of the Indies and Prince Ahmed since our marriage."
The
next morning, after Schaibar had been informed of the affair, he and Prince
Ahmed set out for the Sultan's Court. When they arrived at the gates of the
capital the people no sooner saw Schaibar but they ran and hid themselves; and
some shut up their shops and locked themselves up in their houses, while
others, flying, communicated their fear to all they met, who stayed not to look
behind them, but ran too; insomuch that Schaibar and Prince Ahmed, as they went
along, found the streets all desolate till they came to the palaces where the
porters, instead of keeping the gates, ran away too, so that the Prince and
Schaibar advanced without any obstacle to the council-hall, where the Sultan
was seated on his throne, and giving audience. Here likewise the ushers, at the
approach of Schaibar, abandoned their posts, and gave them free admittance.
Schaibar
went boldly and fiercely up to the throne, without waiting to be presented by
Prince Ahmed, and accosted the Sultan of the Indies in these words: "Thou
hast asked for me," said he; "see, here I am; what wouldst thou have
with me?"
The
Sultan, instead of answering him, clapped his hands before his eyes to avoid
the sight of so terrible an object; at which uncivil and rude reception
Schaibar was so much provoked, after he had given him the trouble to come so
far, that he instantly lifted up his iron bar and killed him before Prince
Ahmed could intercede in his behalf. All that he could do was to prevent his
killing the grand vizier, who sat not far from him, representing to him that he
had always given the Sultan his father good advice. "These are they,
then," said Schaibar, "who gave him bad," and as he pronounced
these words he killed all the other viziers and flattering favorites of the
Sultan who were Prince Ahmed's enemies. Every time he struck he killed some one
or other, and none escaped but they who were not so frightened as to stand
staring and gaping, and who saved themselves by flight.
When
this terrible execution was over Schaibar came out of the council-hall into the
midst of the courtyard with the iron bar upon his shoulder, and, looking hard
at the grand vizier, who owed his life to Prince Ahmed, he said: "I know
here is a certain magician, who is a greater enemy of my brother-in-law than
all these base favorites I have chastised. Let the magician be brought to me
presently." The grand vizier immediately sent for her, and as soon as she
was brought Schaibar said, at the time he fetched a stroke at her with his iron
bar: "Take the reward of thy pernicious counsel, and learn to feign
sickness again."
After
this he said: "This is not yet enough; I will use the whole town after the
same manner if they do not immediately acknowledge Prince Ahmed, my
brother-in-law, for their Sultan and the Sultan of the Indies." Then all
that were there present made the air echo again with the repeated acclamations
of: "Long life to Sultan Ahmed"; and immediately after he was
proclaimed through the whole town. Schaibar made him be clothed in the royal
vestments, installed him on the throne, and after he had caused all to swear
homage and fidelity to him went and fetched his sister Paribanou, whom he
brought with all the pomp and grandeur imaginable, and made her to be owned
Sultaness of the Indies.
As
for Prince Ali and Princess Nouronnihar, as they had no hand in the conspiracy
against Prince Ahmed and knew nothing of any, Prince Ahmed assigned them a
considerable province, with its capital, where they spent the rest of their
lives. Afterwards he sent an officer to Prince Houssain to acquaint him with
the change and make him an offer of which province he liked best; but that
Prince thought himself so happy in his solitude that he bade the officer return
the Sultan his brother thanks for the kindness he designed him, assuring him of
his submission; and that the only favor he desired of him was to give him leave
to live retired in the place he had made choice of for his retreat.[1]
[1]
Arabian Nights.
0 Comments
If you have any Misunderstanding Please let me know