THE HISTORY OF NOUREDDIN AND THE BEAUTIFUL PERSIAN.

THE city of Balsora was for a long time the capital of a kingdom tributary to the caliphs. During the life of the Caliph Haroun Alraschid it was governed by a king named Zinebi. The great caliph and the king were the offspring of two brothers, and were, therefore, closely related. Zinebi, who was unwilling to trust the administration of his government to one vizier only, chose two to preside in his council. They were named Khacan and Saouy.

“The character of the vizier Khacan was distinguished by mildness, liberality, and kindness. His greatest pleasure consisted in obliging all who came in contact with him. He granted every favour that he could accord consistently with that justice he held himself bound to administer. The whole court of Balsora, the city, and every part of the kingdom held him in the highest esteem, and the whole region echoed with his well-earned praise.

“Saouy, on the other hand, was a very different man. His mind was a constant prey to fretfulness and chagrin. Without distinction of rank or quality, he repulsed every applicant who approached him. His avarice was so great that, instead of doing good and earning blessings by the use of the immense wealth he possessed, he even denied himself the common necessaries of life. No one could love such a man; nor was a word ever uttered in his praise. And what increased the general aversion in which the people held him was his great hatred of Khacan, whose benevolent and generous actions he always endeavoured to represent in a bad point of view, that they might tell to the disadvantage of that excellent minister. He was also continually on the watch to undermine Khacan’s credit with the king.

“One day, after holding a council, the king indulged in familiar conversation with these two ministers, and some other members of the court. The subject happened to turn upon those female slaves whom it is the custom to purchase, and who are considered by their possessors nearly in the light of lawful wives. Some of the nobles present were of opinion that beauty and elegance of form in a slave were a full equivalent for the qualifications possessed by those ladies of high birth, with whom, either for the sake of a splendid connection, or from motives of interest, alliances of marriage were frequently formed.

“Others, among whom was the vizier Khacan, maintained that mere beauty and charms of person by no means comprehended all that was requisite in a wife; that these qualities should be accompanied by wit, intelligence, modesty, and pleasing manners; and heightened, if possible, by a variety of acquirements and accomplishments. To persons who have important concerns to transact, and who have passed a tedious day in close application to their affairs, nothing, they contended, can be so grateful, when they retire from bustle and fatigue, as the company of a well instructed wife, whose conversation will equally improve and delight. On the other hand, they contended, a slave whose sole recommendation is her beauty, could never compare in attractions with such a companion.

“The king was of the latter party, and proved himself so by ordering Khacan to purchase for him a slave, who, perfect in all exterior charms of beauty, should, above everything, possess a well cultivated mind.

“Saouy, who had been of a contrary opinion to Khacan, was jealous of the honour shown to his colleague by the king, and said to Zinebi: ‘O my lord, it will be extremely difficult to find so accomplished a slave as your majesty requires; and if such a woman be found, which I can scarcely believe possible, she will be cheaply bought at the expense of ten thousand pieces of gold.’ ‘Saouy,’ replied the king, ‘you seem to think this too large a sum. It would be so, perhaps, for you; but is not excessive for me.’ At the same time he ordered his grand treasurer, who was present, to pay ten thousand pieces of gold to Khacan.

“As soon as Khacan returned home, he sent to summon a number of men, who traded in slaves, and charged them, when they should find such a female slave as he described, to give him immediate notice of it. Equally anxious to oblige the vizier Khacan, and to promote their own interest, the slave merchants promised to use every means in their power to procure such a slave as he wished to purchase; and, indeed, a day seldom passed, in which they did not bring some woman to him, but he found some fault with each one.

“Early one morning, while Khacan was on his way to the royal palace, a merchant presented himself with great eagerness, and seizing the vizier’s stirrup, informed him that a Persian merchant, who had arrived very late on the preceding evening, had a slave to sell, whose beauty far surpassed anything he had ever beheld; and, with respect to intelligence and knowledge, the merchant assured him, that she surpassed everything the world had ever known.

“Delighted with the news, which would, he hoped, afford him a good opportunity of making his court, Khacan desired that the slave might be brought to him on his return from the palace, and thereupon he continued his way.

“The merchant did not fail to wait upon the vizier at the hour appointed; and Khacan found that the slave possessed charms so far above his expectation, that he immediately gave her the name of the Beautiful Persian. Being a man of great knowledge and penetration, he soon discovered, by the conversation he held with her, that he might seek in vain for any slave, who could excel her in all the qualities required by the king. He enquired, therefore, of the merchant, what was the sum demanded for her by the Persian trader who had brought her.

“ ‘O my lord,’ replied the merchant, ‘the trader, who is a man of few words, protests that he cannot consent to make the smallest abatement of ten thousand pieces of gold. He has assured me in the most solemn manner, that without taking into account his own care, pains, and time, he has expended very nearly that sum in engaging various masters for the improvement of her mental accomplishments; and then there is the unavoidable expense of dress and maintenance. From the very moment when he purchased her, in her early infancy, he considered her worthy of royal regard. He spared nothing in her education, that might enable her to attain so high an honour. She plays on every instrument, sings and dances to admiration, writes better than the most skilful masters, and makes exquisite verses. There are no books she has not read; nor am I exceeding the truth when I assert, that there never existed, till now, so accomplished a slave.’

 

Purchase of the beautiful Persian.

“The vizier Khacan, who understood the merits of the Beautiful Persian much better than the merchant, who merely repeated what the trader had told him, was unwilling to defer the purchase to a future day. Accordingly he sent one of his people to the place where the merchant informed him the trader might be found, to desire the immediate attendance of the Persian.

“As soon as he arrived, Khacan said: ‘It is not for myself that I am desirous to purchase your slave, but for the king. You must, however, propose a more moderate price than the sum which the merchant has mentioned to me.’

“ ‘O vizier,’ replied the Persian, ‘it would be to me an infinite honour were I allowed to present my slave to his majesty; but I am aware that such a proceeding would not become a stranger like myself. All that I desire is to be reimbursed for the money which I have actually expended in her education. I may, I think, assert with confidence that his majesty will be perfectly content with his purchase.’

“The vizier Khacan was not inclined to dispute the matter. He ordered the required sum to be paid to the merchant, who, before he withdrew, addressed Khacan as follows:—‘O vizier, since the slave you have purchased is intended for the king, allow me the honour to inform you, that she is exceedingly fatigued with the long journey she has so lately made; and, though her present beauty may well seem incomparable, yet she will appear to far greater advantage if you keep her in your own house about a fortnight, allowing her, in the meantime, such attentions as she may require. When you present her to the king at the end of that time, she will ensure you honour and reward, and entitle me, I hope, to your thanks. You may perceive that the sun has rather injured her complexion; but when she has used the bath a few times, and has been adorned in the manner your taste will direct, you may be sure, my lord, she will be so changed, that you will find her beauty infinitely beyond what you can at present imagine.’

“Khacan thought the advice of the merchant very good, and determined to follow it. He allotted to the Beautiful Persian an apartment near that of his wife, whom he requested to allow the slave a place at her own table, and to treat her with all the respect due to a lady belonging to the king. He farther desired that his wife would cause the most magnificent dresses to be made, and to choose apparel peculiarly becoming to the beautiful stranger, whom he thus addressed: ‘The good fortune I have just procured to you could not possibly be greater. I have purchased you for the king, whose joy in possessing you will, I trust, be even greater than the satisfaction I feel in having acquitted myself of the commission with which I have been charged. But it is right that I should inform you that I have a son, who, though he does not want intelligence, has all the inconsiderate rashness of youth. As you cannot avoid sometimes meeting him, I mention this to put you on your guard.’ The Beautiful Persian thanked the vizier for his information and advice, and assured him she would profit by it. Thereupon the vizier withdrew.

“Noureddin, the son of whom the vizier had spoken, was accustomed, without restraint, to enter the apartment of his mother, with whom he usually took his meals. He was very handsome to look upon—young, agreeable, and intrepid. He had, moreover, a great deal of wit; and, accustomed to express himself with extraordinary facility, he had the enviable gift of being able to carry by persuasion every point he wished to gain. From the moment when Noureddin first saw the Beautiful Persian, although he knew from the solemn assurance of his father that she had been purchased for the king, he put no constraint upon himself, nor did he strive against the feeling of love that began to possess him, but permitted himself to be allured by the charms of the fair stranger, with which he had been struck from the first. His passion increased with the delight he experienced in conversing with her, and he determined to employ every means in his power to procure her for himself.

“The Beautiful Persian was also much struck by the graces of Noureddin. ‘The vizier does me great honour,’ said she to herself, ‘in purchasing me for the king of Balsora. I should, however, have esteemed myself very happy, if he had designed me for his own son.’

“Noureddin never failed to profit by the opportunities he had of beholding the Beautiful Persian; and his delight was to converse, to laugh, to jest with her. Never did he quit her till he was driven away by his mother, who would often say: ‘It is not, my son, becoming in a young man, like you, to waste so much time in a woman’s apartment. Go, and labour to render yourself worthy of one day succeeding to the office and dignity of your father.’

“In consequence of the long journey which the Beautiful Persian had lately taken, much time had elapsed since she had enjoyed the luxury of the bath. Accordingly, about five or six days after she had been purchased, the wife of the vizier gave orders to have the bath in their house prepared for her use. She sent thither the Beautiful Persian, accompanied with a train of female slaves, who were commanded to render her every possible service and attention. The fair slave quitted the bath, arrayed in a most magnificent dress, which had been provided for her. The vizier’s lady had given herself the more trouble on this occasion, from a desire to please her husband; for she wished to show him how much she interested herself in whatever concerned his happiness.

“A thousand times handsomer than when Khacan purchased her, the Beautiful Persian appeared before the wife of the vizier, who scarcely knew her again.

“Having gracefully kissed the hand of Khacan’s wife, the fair slave thus addressed her: ‘I know not, O lady, how I may appear to you in the dress you have had the goodness to order for me. Your women assure me it so well becomes me, they hardly know me again—but I fear they are flatterers. It is to yourself that I wish to appeal. If, however, they should speak the truth, it is to you, O my mistress, that I am indebted for all the advantage this apparel gives me.’

“ ‘O my daughter,’ replied the vizier’s lady, with a look of great delight, ‘what my women have told you is no flattery. I am better able to judge than they; and without taking into account your dress, which, however, becomes you wonderfully, be assured you bring with you from the bath a beauty so infinitely above what you possessed before, that I cannot sufficiently marvel at it. If I imagined the bath were still sufficiently warm, I would use it myself.’ ‘O, my mistress,’ replied the Beautiful Persian, ‘I have no words to express my sense of the kindness you have shown me, who have done nothing to merit your favour. With respect to the bath, it is admirable; but if you intend to use it, there is no time to be lost, as I have no doubt your women will inform you.’

“The wife of the vizier reflecting that many days had elapsed since she bathed, was desirous of profiting by the opportunity. She made known her intention to her women, and they soon prepared all the requisites for the occasion. But before the vizier’s lady went to the bath she commanded two little female slaves to remain with the Beautiful Persian, who had retired to her apartment, giving them a strict order not to admit Noureddin if he made his appearance during her absence.

“While the lady was in the bath Noureddin came; and, not finding his mother in her apartment, he went towards that of the Beautiful Persian. In the ante chamber, he found the two slaves. He enquired of them for his mother, and they informed him she was in the bath. Then he asked, ‘Where is the Beautiful Persian?’ They replied, ‘She is just returned from thence, and is now in her chamber. But we cannot allow you to enter, having been strictly forbidden to do so by our lady, your mother.’

“The chamber of the Beautiful Persian was only shut off by a tapestry curtain. Noureddin was determined to enter. The two slaves tried to prevent him from doing so, but he took each of them by the arm and turned them out of the ante chamber. They ran to the bath, making loud and bitter complaints; and in tears informed their lady that Noureddin had driven them from their post, and in contempt of their remonstrance had entered the chamber of the Beautiful Persian.

“The excessive boldness of her son angered the good lady extremely. She instantly quitted the bath, and dressed herself with all possible haste. But before she could get to the chamber of the Beautiful Persian, Noureddin had left it, and had gone away.

“The Beautiful Persian was extremely astonished, when she saw the wife of the vizier enter, bathed in tears, and looking like a distracted person. ‘O, my mistress,’ said she, ‘may I presume to ask what it is that thus grieves you? Has any accident befallen you at the bath, that you have been compelled to quit it so soon?’

“ ‘How!’ cried the vizier’s lady, ‘can you ask with so tranquil an air why I am thus disordered, when my son, Noureddin, has been in your chamber alone with you? Could a greater misfortune possibly happen either to him or to me?’

“ ‘I beseech you, O lady,’ returned the Beautiful Persian, ‘to inform me what evil can happen to yourself, or your son, in consequence of his having been in my chamber?’

“ ‘Has not my husband informed you,’ cried the vizier’s lady, ‘that you were purchased for the king; and has he not already cautioned you not to allow Noureddin to approach you?’

“To this speech the Beautiful Persian replied, ‘I have not forgotten his injunction, madam; ‘but Noureddin came to inform me that the vizier, his father, had altered his plans concerning me; and that, instead of reserving me for the king as he had purposed, I was destined to be the wife of Noureddin. I believed what he told me, and felt no regret at the change in my destiny; for I have conceived a great affection for your son, notwithstanding the few opportunities we have had of seeing each other. I resign, without regret, the hope of belonging to the king, and shall esteem myself perfectly happy if I am allowed to pass my whole life with Noureddin.’

“ ‘Would to Heaven,’ cried the vizier’s lady, ‘that what you tell me were true. It would give me very great delight. But believe me, Noureddin is an impostor; he has deceived you. It is impossible that his father should have made the change he talks of. O unhappy young man! and unhappy parents! and thrice unhappy father, who must suffer the dreadful consequences of the king’s wrath! Neither my tears nor my prayers will be able to soften Khacan, or to obtain pardon for his son, whom he will sacrifice to his just resentment, when he shall be informed of the boldness of which Noureddin has been guilty.’ Having spoken these words, she wept bitterly, and her slaves, who were all anxious for the safety of Noureddin, mingled their tears with hers.

“The vizier Khacan, who came home soon after, was greatly astonished to find his wife and slaves bathed in tears, and the Beautiful Persian extremely melancholy. He inquired the cause of their grief; upon which, instead of replying, they redoubled their moans and tears. This conduct so increased his surprise, that addressing himself to his wife, he said, ‘I insist upon being informed of the cause of this sorrow.’

“The unhappy lady was thus obliged to speak. But first she said to her husband, ‘Promise me that you will not impute blame to me in what I am going to tell you. I assure you the calamity has not happened from any fault of mine.’ Then without waiting for his reply, she continued; “While I was in the bath, attended by my women, your son came home, and availed himself of this fatal opportunity to persuade the Beautiful Persian that you had relinquished your intention of giving her to the king, and that you intended her for his wife. I leave you to imagine what I felt at hearing he had told so terrible a falsehood. This is the cause of my grief, on your account, and on account of our son also, for whom I have not the courage to entreat your clemency.’

“It is impossible to describe the mortification of the vizier Khacan, when he was informed of the insolence of Noureddin. ‘Ah!’ cried he, beating his breast, wringing his hands, and tearing his beard, ‘is it thus, wretched youth—unworthy to live—is it thus that you precipitate your father into a pit of destruction from the highest degree of happiness? You have ruined him, and with him destroy yourself. In his anger at this offence, committed against his very person, the king will not be satisfied with your blood or mine.’

“His wife endeavoured to comfort him, and said, ‘Do not thus despair, I can easily, by disposing of a part of my jewels, procure ten thousand pieces of gold, with which you may purchase a slave more beautiful than this, and one more worthy of the king.’ ‘What! do you believe,’ returned the vizier, ‘that the loss of ten thousand pieces of gold thus troubles me? It is not this that afflicts me; what I lament is the loss of honour which to me is the most precious of all earthly things.’ ‘Nevertheless,’ observed the lady, ‘it appears to me, my lord, that a loss that can be repaired by money is not of such very great importance.’

“But the vizier resumed: ‘Surely, you are not ignorant that Saouy is my most inveterate enemy. Can you not see, that as soon as he shall become acquainted with the affair, he will go immediately to the king to triumph at my expense? “Your majesty,” he will say, “is accustomed to speak of the affection and zeal which Khacan shows for your service. He has, however, lately proved how little he is worthy of your generous confidence. He has received ten thousand pieces of gold to purchase you a slave. He has duly acquitted himself of his honourable commission, and the slave he has bought is the handsomest ever beheld; but, instead of bringing her to your majesty, he has thought proper to make a present of her to his son. He has said, as it were, my son, take this slave; you are more worthy of her than the king.” Then will my enemy add, with his usual malice, “His son is now the possessor of this slave, and every day rejoices in her charms. That the affair is precisely as I have had the honour to state your majesty may be assured by examining into it yourself.” Do you not perceive, ’ added the vizier, ‘that should it occur to Saouy to calumnate me thus, I am every moment liable to have the guards of the king entering my house, and carrying off the beautiful slave. It is easy to imagine all the terrible evils which will ensue.’

 

The vizier’s vexation.

“To this discourse of the vizier, her husband, the lady answered: ‘Sir, the malice of Saouy is certainly great, and should this affair come to his knowledge, he will be certain to represent it unfavourably to the king. But how can he, or any person, be informed of what happens in the interior of this house? And even if it should be suspected, and the king should interrogate you on the subject, you may easily say that on a nearer acquaintance with the slave you did not find her so worthy of his majesty’s regard as she at first appeared; that the merchant had deceived you; that she indeed possessed incomparable beauty; but was beyond measure deficient in those qualities of the mind which she had been supposed to possess. The king will rely on your word, and Saouy will once more have the mortification of failing in his plans to ruin you, which he has already so often attempted in vain. Take courage, then; and if you allow me to advise, send for the brokers, inform the slave merchants that you are by no means satisfied with the Beautiful Persian, and direct them to look out for another slave.’

“This counsel appeared to the vizier Khacan very judicious. His mind accordingly became more tranquil, and he determined to follow his wife’s advice. He did not, however, in the least abate his anger towards his son.

“Noureddin did not appear for the rest of the day. Fearing to take refuge with any of those young friends whose houses he was in the habit of frequenting, lest his father would have him searched for there, he went to some distance from the city, and concealed himself in a garden, where he had never before been, and was wholly unknown. He did not return home till very late at night, and long after the time when he well knew his father was accustomed to go to rest. He prevailed upon his mother’s women to let him in, and they admitted him with great caution and silence. He went out the next morning before his father had risen, and was obliged to take the same precautions for a whole month, to his great chagrin and mortification. The women, however, did not in the least flatter him. They told him frankly, that the vizier, his father, was exceedingly angry with him, and had, moreover, determined to kill him at the first opportunity, whenever he should come in his way.

“The vizier’s lady knew from her women that Noureddin returned home every night; but she had not the courage to solicit her husband to pardon him. At length she summoned resolution to mention the subject. ‘O my husband,’ said she, ‘I have not ventured hitherto to speak to you concerning your son. I entreat you now to allow me to ask what you intend to do with him. No son can behave worse towards a parent than Noureddin has behaved towards you. He has deprived you of great honour, and of the satisfaction of presenting to the king a slave so highly accomplished as the Beautiful Persian. All this I acknowledge. But, after all what do you purpose doing? Do you wish to destroy him utterly? Are you aware that by doing so you may bring upon yourself a very heavy calamity, in addition to the comparatively light misfortune which you have already sustained? Do you not fear that malicious or malignant persons, in their endeavours to discover the reason why your son is driven from you, may ascertain the real cause, which you are so anxious to conceal? Should this happen, you will have fallen into the very misfortune which you have strenuously endeavoured to avoid.’

“The vizier replied, ‘What you say is perfectly just and reasonable; but I cannot resolve to pardon Noureddin till I have chastised him in some degree as he deserves.’ ‘He will be sufficiently punished,’ urged his wife, if you put in execution the plan that has this moment occurred to me. Your son returns home every night, and departs in the morning, before you rise. Wait this evening for his arrival, and let him suppose that you intend to kill him. I will come to his assistance; and by appearing to grant his life to my prayers, you may oblige him to take the Beautiful Persian on any terms you wish. I know he loves her, and the beautiful slave does not dislike him.’

“Khacan was well pleased with this advice. Accordingly, before Noureddin, who arrived at his accustomed hour, was allowed to enter the house, the vizier placed himself behind the door, and so soon as it was opened rushed out upon his son, and threw him to the ground. Noureddin, looking up, beheld his father standing over him with a poniard in his hand, ready to stab him.

“The mother of Noureddin arrived at this moment, and seizing the vizier by the arm, exclaimed: ‘What are you doing, my lord?’ ‘Let me alone,’ replied he, ‘that I may kill this unworthy son.’ ‘Ah, my lord, exclaimed the mother, ‘you shall first kill me; never will I permit you to im brue your hands in your own blood.’ Noureddin took advantage of this moment’s respite. ‘My father,’ cried he, his eyes suffused with tears, ‘I entreat your pity and forbearance. Grant me the pardon I presume to ask, in the name of that Being from whom you will yourself hope forgiveness on the day when we shall all appear before him.’

“Khacan suffered the poniard to be wrested from him, and released Noureddin, who instantly threw himself at his father’s feet, which he passionately kissed, to express how sincerely he repented having given him offence. ‘Noureddin,’ said the vizier, ‘thank your mother, for it is out of respect to her that I pardon you. I will even give you the Beautiful Persian, on condition that you engage, on oath, not to consider her as a slave, but as your lawful wife, whom you will never, on any account, sell or repudiate. As she has infinitely more understanding and good sense than you, she may be able to moderate those fits of youthful indiscretion by which you seem likely to be ruined.’

“Noureddin, who had not dared to expect so much indulgence, thanked his father with the warmest expressions of gratitude, and readily took the oath required of him. The Beautiful Persian and he were perfectly satisfied with each other, and the vizier was very well pleased at their union.

“Under these circumstances Khacan did not think it prudent to wait till the king spoke to him of the commission he had received. He took every opportunity of himself introducing the subject, and of pointing out the difficulties he experienced in acquitting himself in this affair to his majesty’s satisfaction. He played his part with so much address, that in a short time the king thought no more of the matter. Saouy had indeed heard some rumours of what had happened; but Khacan continued so much in favour that he did not venture to speak of his suspicions.

“More than a year elapsed; and this delicate business had gone on much more prosperously than the vizier Khacan could have any reason to expect. But one day, when he had indulged himself with a bath, some very urgent affair obliged him to hasten to the palace, heated as he was. The cold air struck him so forcibly that it brought on a sudden and grievous fever, which confined him to his bed. His illness continuing to increase, he soon became sensible that his last moments were approaching. He therefore addressed Noureddin, who never quitted his side, in these terms: ‘My son, I know not whether I have made a good use of the great riches which the goodness of Allah has bestowed upon me. You see that my possessions are of no avail to protect me from the hand of death. But the one thing that I am anxious to impress upon your mind, at this awful moment, is the duty of remembering the promise you have made me with respect to the Beautiful Persian. In full confidence of your integrity I die happy.’

“These were the last words, which the vizier uttered. He expired immediately afterwards, to the inexpressible grief of his family, the city, and the court. The king lamented the loss of a wise, zealous, and faithful minister; the city wept for its friend and benefactor. Never was there seen at Balsora so magnificent a funeral. The viziers, emirs, and indeed all the nobles of the court, were eager to support the bier, which they bore, in succession, on their shoulders to the place of burial, while all the citizens, rich and poor, accompanied the procession with weeping and lamentations.

“Noureddin showed every token of profound grief for the loss he had sustained. For a long time he suffered no person to have access to him. At length, however, he one day gave permission that one of his intimate friends should be admitted. This friend endeavoured to comfort him, and finding him inclined to listen to advice, represented to Noureddin, that since every token of respect which duty and affection could claim had been paid to the memory of his father, it was time for him to re-appear in the world, to associate with his friends, and to assert that rank and character to which, by virtue of his birth and merits, he could lay claim. ‘We offend against the laws of nature and civilised life,’ said this judicious counseller, ‘if we do not render to our deceased parents every respect which tenderness dictates; and the world will very justly censure, as a proof of savage insensibility, any omission in these rites of tenderness and duty; but when we have acquitted ourselves in such a manner as to be above the possibility of reproach, it becomes us then to resume our former habits, and to live in the world like persons who have a character to sustain. Therefore dry your tears, and strive to recover that air of gaiety which was wont to diffuse such universal joy amongst all who had the pleasure of your acquaintance.’

“The advice of this friend was reasonable enough, and Noureddin would have been spared many misfortunes which afterwards befell him if he had followed it in moderation. But impetuous in all he did, he yielded even too implicitly to the persuasions of his friend, whom he immediately entertained with great good will; and when the friend was retiring, Noureddin begged that he would visit him again the next day, and bring with him three or four of their common friends. By degrees, he formed a society of ten persons, all nearly of his own age, with whom he spent his time in continual feasts and scenes of pleasure; and not a day passed on which he did not dismiss every one of them with some present.

“Sometimes, to make his house even more agreeable to his friends, Noureddin would request the Beautiful Persian to be present at their feast. Though she had the good nature to comply cheerfully with his commands, she greatly disapproved his excessive expenditure; on which subject she freely gave him her opinion: ‘I have no doubt,’ she said, ‘that the vizier, your father, has left you great riches; but be not angry if I, a slave, remind you that however great your wealth may be, you will assuredly come to the end of it, if you continue your present style of living. It is reasonable sometimes to regale, and entertain friends; but to run every day into the same unbounded expense is to pursue the sure road to want and wretchedness. It were far better, for your reputation and honour, that you followed the steps of your deceased father, and put yourself in the way of obtaining those offices, in which he gained so much glory.’

“Noureddin listened to the Beautiful Persian with a smile, and when she had finished, he replied, ‘My love, I beg you will cease this solemn discourse, and let us talk only of pleasure. My late father held me constantly in such great restraint that I am now very glad to enjoy the liberty for which I so often sighed in former days. There will be always time enough to adopt the regular plan you recommend; a man of my years ought to indulge in the delights of youth.’

“What contributed, perhaps, more than any thing else to the embarrassment of Noureddin’s affairs, was his extreme aversion to reckon with his steward. Whenever the steward and his book appeared, they were instantly dismissed. Noureddin would say, ‘Get you gone, I can trust your honesty. Only take care that my table be always handsomely furnished.’ Then would the steward reply, ‘O Noureddin, you are my master. Allow me, nevertheless, very humbly to remind you of the proverb, which says, “he who spends much, and reckons little, will be a beggar before he is a wise man.” It is not only the enormous expense of your table, but your profusion in other respects is utterly without bounds. Were your treasures as huge as mountains, they would not be sufficient to maintain your expenses. ’ ‘Begone, I tell you,’ repeated Noureddin, ‘I want none of your lectures; continue to provide for my table, and leave the rest to me.’

“In the meantime, the friends of Noureddin were very constant guests at his table, and lost no opportunity of profiting by his easy temper. They were ever praising and flattering him, and pretending to discover some extraordinary virtue, or grace, in his most trifling action. But, especially, they never neglected to extol to the skies every thing that belonged to him; and indeed, they found it very profitable to do so. One of them would say, ‘O my friend, I passed the other day by the estate which you have in such and such a place; nothing can be more magnificent, or better furnished than the house; and the garden belonging to it is an absolute paradise of delights.’ ‘I am quite delighted that you are pleased with it,’ answered Noureddin. ‘Ho, there! bring us pen, ink, and paper; the place is yours; I beg to hear no words on the subject; I give it you with all my heart.’ Others had only to commend one of his houses, baths, or the public inns erected for the accommodation of strangers—a property very valuable from the considerable revenue it brought in—and these were instantly given away. The Beautiful Persian represented to Noureddin the injury he did himself; but, instead of regarding her admonitions, he continued in the same course of extravagance till he had parted with every thing he possessed.

“In short, Noureddin, for the space of a year, attended to nothing but feasting and merriment; and thus he lavished away the vast property which his ancestors, and the good vizier, his father, had acquired, and managed with so much care and attention. The year had hardly gone by, when, while he was at table one day, he heard a rapping at the door of his hall. He had dismissed his slaves and shut himself up with his friends, that they might enjoy themselves free from interruption.

“One of his companions offered to rise and open the door, but Noureddin prevented him, and went to the door himself. He found the visitor was his steward; and withdrew a little way out of the hall, to hear what was wanted, leaving the door partly open.

“The friend, who had risen, had perceived the steward; and curious to hear what he might have to say to Noureddin he placed himself between the hangings and the door, and heard him thus address his master: ‘O my lord, I beg you will pardon me for interrupting you in the midst of your pleasures; but what I have to communicate appears to me to be of such great importance, that I could not, consistently with my duty, avoid intruding upon you. I have just been making up my accounts, and I find that what I have long foreseen, and of which I have often warned you, has now arrived; that not a single coin is left of all the sums I have received from you to defray your expenses. Whatever other funds you have paid over to me are also exhausted; and your farmers and various tenants have made it appear to me so very evident, that you have made over to others the estates they rented of you, that I can demand nothing from them. Here are my accounts, my lord, examine them; if you wish that I should continue to serve you, provide me with fresh funds; or permit me to retire.’ Noureddin was so astonished at this intelligence that he could not answer a word.

 

The beautiful Persian remonstrates with Noureddin against his extravagance.

“The friend, who had been listening, and who had heard all that passed, returned immediately to the rest of the party, and communicated the news. ‘You will do as you please,’ said he, ‘in the use you make of this information; with regard to myself, I declare to you, that this is the last time you will ever see me in Noureddin’s house.’ The others replied, ‘If things are really as you have represented, we have no more business here than yourself, and our foolish young friend will scarcely see us again.’

“Noureddin returned at this moment, and, though he endeavoured to put a good face upon the matter, and to diffuse the accustomed hilarity among his friends, he could not so dissemble but that they readily conjectured the truth of what they had just heard. Accordingly, he had hardly returned to his seat, when one of the company rose and thus addressed him: ‘O my friend, I am very sorry that I cannot enjoy the pleasure of your society any longer, therefore I hope you will excuse my departure.’ ‘What obliges you to leave us so soon?’ said Noureddin. ‘My lord,’ replied the guest, ‘my wife is brought to bed to-day, and you are well aware that in such cases, the presence of a husband is peculiarly necessary. ’ He then made a very low bow, and departed. Immediately afterwards another guest withdrew upon some pretence, and the whole party, one after another, followed the example, till there remained not one of all the friends who till this day had been the constant companions of Noureddin.

“Noureddin had not the least suspicion of the resolution his friends had taken not to see him again. He went to the apartment of the Beautiful Persian, to consult with her in private on the information he had received from his steward; and he openly expressed his sincere regret at having reduced his affairs to such great disorder.

“ ‘My lord,’ said the Beautiful Persian, ‘permit me to remind you, that, on this subject you never would listen to my counsel; you now see the result. I was not in the least deceived when I foretold the melancholy consequences you might expect, and great has been my concern that I could not make you at all conscious of the evil times that awaited you. Whenever I was anxious to speak to you on the subject you always replied: “Let us enjoy ourselves, and rejoice in the happy moments when fortune is favourable. The sky will probably not always be so bright.” Still I was not wrong when I reminded you, that we are ourselves able to build up our own fortune by the wisdom of our conduct. You would never listen to me; and I was compelled, in spite of my forebodings, to leave you to yourself.’

“ ‘I must acknowledge,’ replied Noureddin, ‘that I have been very wrong in neglecting the prudent advice you have given me, and in disregarding the dictates of your admirable wisdom; but, if I have expended all my estate, consider that it has been with a few select friends, whom I have long known; men of worth and honour, and who, full of kindness and gratitude, will not assuredly now abandon me.’ ‘My lord,’ said the Beautiful Persian, ‘if you have no other resource than the gratitude of your friends, believe me your hopes are ill-founded, as you will doubtless discover in a very short time.’

“ ‘O charming Persian,’ cried Noureddin, ‘I have a better opinion than you seem to have of my friends’ disposition to serve me. I will go round to all of them to-morrow morning, before their ordinary hour of coming hither, and you shall see me return with a large sum of money, which they will unite in subscribing for my wants. I have fully resolved that I will then change my manner of life, and use the money I obtain in some way of merchandise.’

“ On the next day Noureddin accordingly visited his ten friends, who all lived in the same street. He knocked at the door of the first, who happened to be one of the richest of them. A female slave appeared, and, before she opened the door, enquired who was there. ‘Tell your master,’ said Noureddin, ‘that it is Noureddin, son of the late vizier Khacan.’ The slave admitted him, and introduced him into a hall; then she went to the chamber, where her master was, to inform him that Noureddin was waiting to see him. ‘Noureddin!’ repeated the friend, in a tone of contempt, and so loudly that Noureddin heard him: ‘Go, tell him I am not at home—and whenever he comes again, give him the same answer.’ The slave returned, and informed Noureddin, that she had thought her master was at home, but that she had been mistaken.

“Noureddin went away confused and astonished. ‘Oh! the perfidious, pitiful wretch,’ cried he, ‘it was only yesterday that he protested to me I had no sincerer friend than himself, and now he treats me thus un-worthily! ’ He proceeded to the door of another who sent out the same reply. He then waited on a third, and went to all the rest in succession, receiving everywhere the same answer, though at the time they were everyone at home.

“These repulses naturally aroused the most serious reflections in the mind of Noureddin, and he clearly saw the fault he had committed in relying so fondly on these false friends, who had so assiduously surrounded his person. He now saw the vanity of protestations of regard, uttered amidst the enjoyment of splendid entertainments, and awakened only by an entertainer’s boundless liberality. ‘It is true,’ said he to himself, as tears flowed from his eyes, ‘it is only too true, that a man, situated as I have been, resembles a tree full of fruit; so long as any fruit remains on the tree it is surrounded by those who come to partake of its gifts, but when there is nothing more to be had, it is regarded no longer, but stands alone, stripped, and abandoned.’ So long as he was in the streets he endeavoured to put some restraint upon his feelings; but when he reentered his house, he went to the apartment of the Beautiful Persian, and gave full vent to his grief.

“So soon as the Beautiful Persian saw Noureddin return downcast and melancholy she understood that he had not derived from his friends the assistance he had expected. Therefore she said to him, ‘O my lord, are you now convinced of the truth of what I foretold?’ ‘Ah, my love,’ he replied, ‘what you foresaw is but too true. Not one of those men would receive me—see me—speak to me. Never could I have believed it possible that persons, who owe me so many obligations, and for whom I have deprived myself of all I possessed, could have treated me so cruelly. I am no longer master of my reason, and I much fear that, in the deplorable and wretched condition in which I now am, I may do something desperate, unless assisted by your kind and prudent counsels.’ ‘My lord,’ said the Beautiful Persian, ‘I know no other remedy for your misfortune than that of selling your slaves and furniture; you can thus raise a sum of money on which you may subsist till Heaven shall point out some other way of extricating you from your difficulties.’

“The remedy appeared to Noureddin extremely severe, but his present wants were very urgent. Therefore he first sold his slaves, who had become a useless burden, and for whose maintenance he could no longer provide. He lived for some time upon the money thus obtained, and, when this supply began to fail, he caused his furniture to be conveyed to the public mart, where it was sold greatly below its real value, as some of it was extremely rich, and had cost immense sums. Thus he was enabled to live for a considerable time. But at length this resource failed also; and now, as there remained nothing more to dispose of, he came again, and poured his griefs into the bosom of the Beautiful Persian.

“Noureddin did not in the least expect the proposal this prudent and generous woman now made him: ‘My lord,’ said she, ‘I am your slave, and you know the late vizier, your father, purchased me for ten thousand pieces of gold. I am well aware that I am not so valuable as I was at that time; but I flatter myself I may still produce a sum not much short of it. Therefore I counsel you to send me to the market and sell me immediately. With the money you thus obtain, which will be a very considerable sum, you may commence business as a merchant in some place where you are not known, and thus procure the means of living, if not in opulence, at least in a way that may render you happy and contented.’

“ ‘O charming, beautiful Persian!’ cried Noureddin, ‘is it possible that you can entertain such a thought? Have I given you so few proofs of my affection that you believe me capable of such meanness? And even if I could be so unworthy, should I not add the foulest perjury to my baseness, after the oath I made to my late father, which I would sooner die than break. No, never can I separate myself from one whom I love more than life itself; though your making to me so unaccountable a proposal proves only too clearly how far your affection to me falls short of that which I feel for you.’

“ ‘My lord,’ replied the Beautiful Persian, ‘I am convinced your love for me is as great as you describe it; and Heaven is my judge that my affection for you is not the less; and Heaven knows with what extreme repugnance I prevailed on myself to make the proposal which has so much displeased you; but, to meet the objection you offer, I have only to remind you that necessity has no law. Believe me, my love for you cannot possibly be exceeded by yours for me, nor can it ever change, or cease, to whatever master I may belong. Never can I know any joy so great as that of being re-united to you, if, as I hope may be the case, your affairs should ever be so prosperous as to enable you to re-purchase me. The necessity to which we are now driven is extremely severe; but, alas! what other means are left to extricate us from the poverty which now surrounds us!’

“Noureddin, who knew too well the truth of what the Beautiful Persian had been saying to him, and who had no other resource against the most ignominious poverty, was compelled to adopt the measure she proposed. Therefore, though with the most inexpressible regret, he conveyed her to the market-place, where female slaves were sold; and, addressing himself to a broker, said, ‘Hagi Hassan, I have a slave here whom I wish to sell; I beg of you to learn what price the purchasers will give for her.’

“Hagi Hassan desired Noureddin and the Beautiful Persian to enter a chamber, where the latter removed the veil that concealed her face; Hagi Hassan was struck with astonishment and said, ‘Can I be deceived? Is not this the slave whom the late vizier, your father, purchased for ten thousand pieces of gold?’ Noureddin assured him this was the Beautiful Persian herself; and Hagi Hassan, giving him reason to expect a large sum, promised to exert all his ability to obtain for her the best price possible.

“Hagi Hassan and Noureddin left the chamber where the Beautiful Persian remained. They went in search of the merchants who were occupied in purchasing various slaves, Greeks, Franks, Africans, Tartars, and others. Thus Hagi Hassan was obliged to wait till they had completed their business. When they were ready, and again assembled together, he said, with much pleasantry in his look and manner, ‘My good fellow-countrymen, every round thing is not a nut; every long thing is not a fig; every red thing is not flesh; and every egg is not fresh. I will readily agree that in the course of your lives you have seen and purchased many slaves; but never have you beheld a single one who can in the least compare with her I am about to show you. She is, in truth, a perfect slave. Come with me and look at her. I wish you yourselves to fix the price at which I ought to offer her.’

“The merchants followed Hagi Hassan, who opened the door of the apartment where the Beautiful Persian was. They beheld her with astonishment, and immediately agreed that to begin with, they could not possibly set a smaller price upon her than four thousand pieces of gold. They then left the room, and Hagi Hassan, after fastening the door, followed them out a little way, crying, with a loud voice, ‘The Persian slave for four thousand pieces of gold.’

“Not one of the merchants had yet spoken; and they were consulting together about the sum they should bid for her, when the vizier Saouy made his appearance. He had perceived Noureddin in the market, and said to himself, ‘It appears that Noureddin is still raising money from the sale of his effects’—for he knew that the young man had been selling some of his furniture—‘and is come hither to purchase a slave.’ As he was advancing, Hagi Hassan cried out a second time, ‘The Persian slave for four thousand pieces of gold.’

“Saouy imagined, from hearing this high price, that the slave must possess very extraordinary beauty. He immediately felt a strong desire to see her, and urged his horse forward towards Hagi Hassan, who was surrounded by the merchants. ‘Open the door,’ said he, ‘and let me see this slave.’ It was contrary to custom to permit a slave to be seen by any indifferent person after the merchants had seen her, and while they were bargaining for her; but they had not the courage to urge their right against the authority of the vizier, nor could Hagi Hassan avoid opening the door. He therefore made a sign to the Beautiful Persian to approach, so that Saouy might see her without alighting from his horse.

 

Sale of the beautiful Persian.

“When Saouy beheld the extraordinary beauty of this slave, he was beyond measure surprised; and knowing the name of the agent employed to sell her, who was a person with whom he had occasionally had business, he said, ‘Hagi Hassan, four thousand pieces of gold is, I think, the price at which you value her.’ ‘Yes, my lord,’ replied Hassan. ‘The merchants whom you see here, have just now agreed that I should put her up at that price. I now expect them to advance upon the price, and expect much more by the time they have done bidding.’ ‘I will give the money myself,’ said Saouy, ‘if no one offers more.’ He immediately gave the merchants a glance, which sufficiently expressed that he must not be outbidden. He was, indeed, so much feared by them all, that they took especial care not to open their lips, even to complain of the manner in which he had violated their rights.

“When the vizier had waited some time, and found that none of the merchants would bid against him: ‘Well, what do you wait for?’ he said to Hagi Hassan. ‘Go, find the seller, and conclude the bargain with him for four thousand pieces of gold, or learn what he intends farther.’ He did not at the time know that the slave belonged to Noureddin.

“Hagi Hassan locked the chamber door, and went to talk over the affair with Noureddin. ‘My lord,’ said he, ‘I am very sorry to be obliged to communicate very unpleasant intelligence: your slave is about to be sold for a miserable price.’ ‘How is this?’ enquired Noureddin. ‘My lord,’ said Hagi Hassan, ‘the business at first looked promising enough. The moment they had seen her, the merchants, without any doubt or hesitation, desired me to put her up at four thousand pieces of gold. Just as I had cried her at that price the vizier Saouy arrived. His presence immediately shut the mouths of all the merchants, who were evidently disposed to raise her to at least the price which she cost the late vizier, your father. Saouy will only give four thousand pieces of gold, and I assure you it is with great reluctance that I am come to report to you his inadequate offer. The slave is yours; and I cannot advise you to part with her at that price. You and all the world know the character of the vizier. Not only is the slave worth infinitely more than the sum he has offered, but he is so unprincipled a man that he will very likely invent some pretence for not paying you even the money he now offers.’

“ ‘Hagi Hassan,’ replied Noureddin, ‘I am much obliged to your for your advice. Do not imagine that I shall ever permit my slave to be sold to the enemy of my house. I am certainly in great need of money, but I would sooner die in the most abject poverty than part with her to Saouy. I have, therefore, one favour to request of you—that, as you are acquainted with all the customs and artifices of this kind of business, you will tell me what I must do to prevent Saouy from obtaining her?’

“Hagi Hassan replied, ‘That is easily done. Pretend, that having been in great wrath with your slave, you swore you would expose her in the public market, and that you have accordingly done so. But say that you had no intention of selling her, but merely wished to redeem your oath. This will satisfy every one, and Saouy will have nothing to say against it. Be ready, then; and in the moment when I shall present her to Saouy, come up and say that though her bad conduct made you threaten to sell her, you never intended to part with her in earnest.’ Thereupon he led forth the Beautiful Persian to Saouy, who was already before the door, ‘My lord,’ said he, leading her to him, ‘there is the slave, take her, she is yours.’

“Hagi Hassan had hardly finished these words, when Noureddin seized hold of the Beautiful Persian, and, drawing her towards him, gave her a box on the ear. ‘Come here, thou stubborn one,’ said he, in a tone sufficiently loud to be heard by every one, ‘and get thee gone. Your abominable temper compelled me to take an oath to expose you in the public market; but I shall not sell you at present. It will be time enough to do that when every other means fail.’

“The vizier was very angry at this action of Noureddin’s. ‘Worthless spendthrift,’ he exclaimed, ‘would you have me believe that you have anything left to dispose of except this slave?’ As he spoke he rode his horse at Noureddin, and endeavoured to seize the Beautiful Persian. Stung to the quick by the affront which the vizier had put upon him, Noureddin let the Beautiful Persian go, and desiring her to wait, threw himself immediately upon the horse’s bridle, and compelled him to fall back three or four paces. ‘You despicable old wretch,’ said he, to the vizier, ‘I would tear you to pieces this instant, if I were not restrained by regard for those about me.’

“As the vizier Saouy was not loved by any one, but, on the contrary, was hated by all, those present were delighted at the mortification he had received, and made known their satisfaction to Noureddin by various signs; giving him to understand that if he revenged himself in any way he chose he would experience no opposition from them.

“Saouy made every effort to oblige Noureddin to let go his horse’s bridle; but the latter being a young man of great strength, encouraged by the good wishes of those present, pulled the vizier from his horse into the middle of the street, and after giving him a great many blows, dashed his head forcibly against the pavement, till it was covered with blood. Half a score of slaves who were in waiting on the vizier would have drawn their sabres, and fallen upon Noureddin, but were prevented by the merchants. ‘What are you about to do?’ said these, ‘if one is a vizier, do you not know that the other is a vizier’s son? Let them decide their own quarrel; perhaps one day they may become friends, but in any case, should you kill Noureddin, your master, powerful as he is, will not be able to screen you from justice.’ Noureddin, fatigued with beating the vizier, left him in the middle of the street, and again taking charge of the Beautiful Persian, returned home, amidst the acclamations of all the people, who much commended him for what he had done.

“Exceedingly bruised by the blows he had received, Saouy, assisted by his servants, with the greatest difficulty got up, and was extremely mortified to find himself besmeared all over with blood and mire. Supporting himself upon the shoulders of two of his slaves, he went, in that forlorn condition, immediately to the palace; and it increased his confusion to see that, though all gazed at him with surprise, he was pitied by none. When he arrived near the apartment of the king, he began to weep and to cry out for justice, in a most pathetic manner. The king ordered him to be admitted; and as soon as he appeared, desired to know how it happened that he had been so ill-treated, and who had put him into so lamentable a state. ‘O great king,’ exclaimed Saouy, ‘it is because I am honoured with your majesty’s favour, and am allowed a share in your important counsels, that I have been treated in the shocking manner you now behold.’ ‘Let me have no useless words,’ said the king; ‘tell me at once what is the meaning of the affair, and who is the offender. If any one has done you a wrong, I shall know how to bring him to repentance.’

“ ‘O my king,’ said Saouy, who took care to give everything a turn in his own favour, ‘I was going to the market of female slaves, in order to purchase a cook, whom I required. On my arrival there, I heard them crying a slave for four thousand pieces of gold. I desired to see this slave, and I found her the most beautiful creature that eyes ever beheld. After looking upon her with the most extreme satisfaction, I asked to whom she belonged, and I was informed that Noureddin, the son of the late vizier Khacan, wished to sell her.’

“ ‘Your majesty may remember that about two or three years since you ordered to be paid to that minister ten thousand pieces of gold, with which he was charged to purchase a slave. He employed it in purchasing the one in question; but instead of bringing her to your majesty, whom it would appear he thought unworthy of her, he presented her to his son. Since his father’s death this son has, by the most unbounded extravagance of every sort, dissipated his whole fortune, so that nothing remained to him but this slave, whom he at length determined to sell, and who was in fact this day brought to market. I sent to speak with him; and without alluding in any way to the prevarication, or rather perfidy, of which his father had been guilty towards your majesty, I said to him, in the civillest manner possible, “Noureddin, the merchants, as I understand, have put up your slave at four thousand pieces of gold; and I doubt not that the competition which seems likely to take place, will raise the price very considerably; but trust to me, and sell her for the four thousand pieces of gold; I wish to purchase her for the king, our lord and master. This transaction will give me a good opportunity of recommending you to his majesty’s favour, which you will find of infinitely more value than any sum of money the merchants can give you.”

“ ‘Instead of answering me with the courtesy and civility I had a right to expect, Noureddin cast upon me a look of the most insolent contempt. “Thou detestable old wretch,” said he, “sooner than sell my slave to thee, I would give her to a Jew for nothing.” “But, Noureddin,” cried I, without allowing myself to be carried away by passion, however great the provocation I had received, “when you thus speak, you do not consider the insult you are offering to the king, to whose kindness your father, like myself, owed all that he enjoyed.”

“ ‘This remonstrance, which ought to have softened him, only irritated him the more. He rushed upon me like a madman, and without any regard for my age or dignity, pulled me off my horse, beat me till he was weary, and at last left me in the condition in which your majesty now sees me. I beseech you to consider that it is through my zeal for your interests that I have suffered this shocking insult.’ Having finished his speech, he hung down his head, and turning away, gave free course to his tears, which flowed in abundance.

“The king, imposed upon by this artful tale, and highly incensed against Noureddin, showed by his countenance how violent was his anger; and turning round to the captain of the guard who was near him, said, ‘Take forty of your men; go and sack Noureddin’s house, and after ordering it to be razed to the ground, return hither with him and his slave.’

“The captain of the guard did not quit the apartment so expeditiously, but that a groom of the chamber, who had heard the order given, got the start of him. The name of this officer was Sangiar. He had been formerly a slave belonging to the vizier Khacan, and had been introduced by him into the king’s household, where by degrees he had raised himself to the rank he held.

“Full of gratitude to his dead master, and of affection for Noureddin, whom he had known from the hour of his birth, and fully aware of the hate which Saouy had long entertained against the house of Khacan, Sangiar trembled with apprehension when he heard the order. He said to himself, ‘The conduct of Noureddin cannot be so bad as Saouy represents it. The malicious vizier has prejudiced the king, who will condemn Noureddin to death without giving him the least opportunity of justifying himself. ’ Sangiar therefore ran with such speed, that he arrived just in time to inform Noureddin of what had happened at the palace, and to give him an opportunity of escaping with the Beautiful Persian. He knocked at the door in so violent a manner that Noureddin, who for a long time had been without a servant, came and opened it himself, without a moment’s delay. ‘O my dear lord,’ said Sangiar to him, ‘there is no safety for you at Balsora; depart, and escape from the city without losing an instant.’

“ ‘How is this?’ replied Noureddin. ‘What has happened that I should depart so soon?’ ‘Go, I entreat you,’ resumed Sangiar, ‘and take your slave with you. Saouy has just related to the king, in such a manner as best suited his purpose, the encounter he had with you to-day, and the captain of the guard will be here in an instant with forty soldiers to sieze you and your slave. Take these forty pieces of gold to assist you in gaining some place of safety; I would give you more, but this is all I have about me. Excuse me if I depart at once—I leave you with great reluctance—but it is for the benefit of us both, as I am very anxious that the captain of the guard should not see me.’ Sangiar received the thanks of Noureddin, and immediately withdrew.

“Noureddin went to acquaint the Beautiful Persian of the necessity they were both under of making their escape that very instant. She only stayed to put on her veil; and then they quitted the house together, and had the good fortune not only to get out of the city without being discovered, but even to reach the mouth of the Euphrates, which was not far distant, and to embark on board a vessel then ready to weigh anchor.

“Indeed, at the very moment when they appeared, the captain was upon the deck in the midst of his passengers. ‘My friends,’ said he, ‘are you all here? Have any of you any business in the city, or have you forgotten any thing?’ To this the passengers replied they were all ready, and he might sail whenever he pleased. Directly Noureddin came on board, he enquired to what place the vessel was bound, and was delighted to find it was going to Baghdad. The captain then gave orders to weigh anchor and set sail; and favoured by the wind, the ship had soon left Balsora far behind.

 

Saouy complains to the King.

“Let us now relate what happened at Balsora, while Noureddin, accompanied by the Beautiful Persian, was escaping from the anger of the king.

“The captain of the guard hastened to the house of Noureddin, and knocked at the door. As no one answered, he caused it to be broken open; and immediately the soldiers rushed in, and searched every part of the house, but could find neither Noureddin nor his slave. The captain then ordered enquiries to be made, and himself examined some of the neighbours, as to whether they had seen any thing of them. But this was fruitless, for even if these people could have given any account of the fugitives, they were so cordially attached to Noureddin, that not one of them would have said any thing to his injury. While the men were plundering and destroying the house, the captain went to inform the king of his failure. ‘Let every place, where it is possible they can be concealed, be searched,’ said the king; ‘I must have them found.’

“The captain of the guard accordingly went back to make fresh enquiries, and the king, unwilling any longer to detain the vizier, dismissed him with honour. ‘Go home,’ said he, ‘and give yourself no further concern about the punishment of Noureddin. I will take care that his insolence is chastised.’

“That no means might be left untried, the king ordered it to be proclaimed through the city, that a thousand pieces of gold should be paid to any one who should apprehend Noureddin and his slave; and that whoever concealed them should be severely punished; but, notwithstanding all his care and diligence, he could obtain no information of them; so that the vizier Saouy had no consolation but that of having the king on his side.

“In the meantime Noureddin and the Beautiful Persian were pursuing their journey with all the good fortune possible; and in due time they arrived at the city of Baghdad. As soon as the captain perceived the place, glad to be so near the completion of his voyage, he exclaimed, addressing himself to the passengers, ‘rejoice, my friends, there is the great and wonderful city, to which people from every part of the world are constantly flocking. You will there find inhabitants without number; and, instead of the chilling blasts of winter, or the oppressive heats of summer, you will perpetually feel the mildness and beauty of spring, and enjoy the delicious fruits of autumn.’

“When they had cast anchor a little below the city, the passengers quitted the ship and went to their respective habitations. Noureddin gave five pieces of gold for the passage, and landed with the Beautiful Persian. As he had never before been at Baghdad he was wholly ignorant where to seek shelter. They walked, for a considerable time, by the side of the gardens which bordered the Tigris, one of which was bounded by a long and handsome wall. When they came to the end of this, they turned into a long well-paved street, in which they perceived the garden gate, near a very delightful fountain.

“The gate, which was extremely magnificent, was locked. Before it was an open vestibule, with a sofa on each side. ‘Here is a most convenient place,’ said Noureddin to the Beautiful Persian. ‘Night is coming on; and as we refreshed ourselves with food before we left the ship, I recommend that we remain here. To-morrow morning we shall have ample time to look for a lodging. What say you?’ ‘You know, my lord,’ replied the Beautiful Persian, ‘that I have no wish but to please you; if you desire to remain here I shall be happy to stay. Then each of them took a draught from the fountain, and seating themselves on one of the sofas conversed for some time, till, lulled by the agreeable murmur of the waters, they fell into a profound sleep.

“This garden, which belonged to the caliph, had in the middle of it a grand pavilion, called the painted pavilion; because it was ornamented with pictures in the Persian style, painted by masters whom the caliph had sent for from Persia. The grand and superb saloon which this pavilion contained was lighted by eighty windows, with a large chandelier in each; but, by the express command of the caliph, these were never lighted up except when he was there; but when lighted they made a most beautiful illumination, which could be seen at some distance in the country, and over a great part of the city.

“This garden was inhabited only by the person who kept it in order; a very aged officer, named Scheich Ibrahim, to whom the caliph had given this post as a reward for former services. He had received very particular injunctions not to admit into it all persons indiscriminately; and particularly, to prevent the visitors from sitting or resting upon the sofas placed without the gate, which were to be constantly kept with the greatest care; and, therefore, all whom he found offending were to be punished.

“This officer, who had been called out on some business, had not yet returned; but coming home before the day closed he perceived two persons sleeping on one of the sofas, their heads covered with a linen turban to protect them from the gnats. ‘So, so!’ said Scheich Ibrahim to himself, ‘it is thus that you disobey the commands of the caliph? But I shall teach you to respect them.’ He then, without any noise, let himself out through the gate, and soon after returned with a large cane in his hand and his sleeve tucked up. Just as he was going to strike with all his force, he paused: ‘Scheich Ibrahim,’ said he to himself, ‘you are going to beat these people without considering that, perhaps, they are strangers, who know not where to lodge, and are ignorant of the caliph’s prohibition. It will be better, first, to know who they are.’ He then gently raised up the linen which covered their heads, and was much surprised when he saw a young man of an extremely good, pleasing countenance, and a young woman of extraordinary beauty. He then roused Noureddin, by pulling him softly by the feet.

“Noureddin immediately lifted up his head; and, as soon as he saw an old man with a long white beard at his feet, he rose up on the sofa in a kneeling position, and seizing the visitor by the hand, which he kissed, he said, ‘good father, may Heaven preserve you; what do you wish of me?’ ‘My son,’ said Scheich Ibrahim, ‘who are you? whence come you?’ ‘We are strangers, who have just arrived,’ returned Noureddin, ‘and we wish to stay here till to-morrow morning.’ ‘You will be very badly lodged here,’ replied Scheich Ibrahim; ‘you will do better to go in with me. I will furnish you with a much more suitable place to sleep in; and the view of the garden, which is very beautiful, will delight you during the short portion of day that remains.’ ‘And is this garden yours?’ said Noureddin. ‘Certainly it is,’ said Scheich Ibrahim, smiling, ‘it is an inheritance I received from my father. Come in, I entreat you; you will not repent seeing it.’

“Noureddin rose and expressed to Scheich Ibrahim how much he was obliged by his politeness. Thereupon he went with the Beautiful Persian into the garden. Scheich Ibrahim locked the gate; and, walking before his guests, conducted them to a place whence they might see at one view the arrangement, grandeur, and beauty of the whole.

“Noureddin had seen many very beautiful gardens at Balsora, but never one that could be compared to this. When he had well observed everything, and had been amusing himself for some time by walking along the paths, he turned round to the old man who accompanied him, and asked his name. As soon as he had learned it, he said: ‘Scheich Ibrahim, I must confess that your garden is wonderful: may Heaven spare you many years to enjoy it. We cannot sufficiently thank you for the favour you have done us in showing us a place so extremely worth seeing: it is only right that we should in some way express our gratitude. Take, therefore, I pray you, these two pieces of gold, and endeavour to procure us something to eat, that we may all make merry together.’

“At the sight of the two pieces of gold, Scheich Ibrahim, who had a great admiration for that metal, could not help laughing in his sleeve. He took the money; and, as he had no assistant, left Noureddin and the Beautiful Persian by themselves, while he went to execute the commission. ‘These are good people,’ said he to himself, gleefully. ‘I should have done myself no small injury if I had ill-treated or driven them away. With the tenth part of this money I can entertain them like princes, and the remainder I may keep for my trouble.’

“While Scheich Ibrahim was gone to purchase some supper, of which he remembered that he was himself to partake, Noureddin and the Beautiful Persian walked about the garden till they came to the painted pavilion, situated in the middle of it. They stopped for some time to examine its wonderful structure, size, and loftiness; after they had gone round it, surveying it on all sides, they ascended by a grand flight of steps, formed of white marble, to the door of the saloon, which they found locked.

“They had just descended the steps when Scheich Ibrahim returned, laden with provisions. ‘Scheich Ibrahim,’ said Noureddin, in great surprise, ‘did you not say that this garden belonged to you?’ ‘I did say so, and I say it again,’ returned Scheich Ibrahim; ‘but why do you ask the question? ’ ‘And is this superb pavilion yours also?’ asked Noureddin. Scheich Ibrahim had not expected this question, and felt somewhat embarrassed. ‘If I should say it is not mine,’ thought he, ‘they will ask me immediately how it is possible that I can be master of the garden and not of the pavilion? ’ Therefore, having pretended that the garden was his, he found it necessary to assert the same of the pavilion. ‘My son,’ he replied, ‘the pavilion is not detached from the garden; both of them belong to me.’ ‘Since it is yours,’ replied Noureddin, ‘and you allow us to be your guests to-night, I entreat you to grant us the favour of letting us see the interior; for to judge from its external appearance, it must be beyond measure magnificent.’

“Scheich Ibrahim felt that it would not be civil in him to refuse Noureddin’s request after the handsome way in which the young stranger had treated him. He considered, too, that the caliph, who had not sent him the notice that always preceded a royal visit, would not be there that night; and that, therefore, his guests and himself might safely take their repast in the pavilion. Having, therefore, placed the provisions he had brought upon the first step of the staircase, he went to his apartment to find the key, and, returning with a light, opened the door.

“Noureddin and the Beautiful Persian entered the saloon, which they found so very splendid that they were for a long time wholly engrossed in admiring its riches and beauty. The sofas and ornaments, as well as the pictures, were in the highest degree magnificent; and, besides the lustres which hung at every window, there were between the frames silver branches, each containing a wax taper. Noureddin could not behold these objects without calling to mind the splendour in which he himself had lived, and heaving a sigh of regret.

“In the meantime Scheich Ibrahim brought the provisions, and prepared a table upon one of the sofas; and, now that everything was ready, he sat down to supper with Noureddin and the Beautiful Persian. When they had finished, and had washed their hands, Noureddin opened one of the windows, and calling the Beautiful Persian, said, ‘Come hither and admire with me the charming view, and the beauty of the garden in the light of the moon. Nothing can be more delightful.’ She obeyed, and they together enjoyed the sight, while Scheich Ibrahim was removing the cloth from the table.

“When he had done this, and had returned to his guests, Noureddin asked him if he had nothing in the way of liquor with which he could regale them. ‘Would you like some sherbet?’ said Scheich Ibrahim; ‘I have some that is exquisite; but you know, my son, sherbet is never taken after supper.’ ‘That’s very true,’ replied Noureddin; ‘but it is not sherbet we want. There is, you know, another kind of beverage; I am surprised you don’t understand what I mean.’ ‘You must surely mean wine,’ said Scheich Ibrahim. ‘You have guessed it exactly,’ replied Noureddin. If you have any, you will oblige us much by bringing a bottle; for you know it will pass away the time very agreeably from supper till bed time.’

“ ‘Allah forbid that I should ever touch wine!’ exclaimed the old man, ‘or that I should approach the place where it is kept! A man who, like me, has made the pilgrimage to Mecca^p four times, has renounced wine for the rest of his days.’

“ ‘Still you would do us a great kindness to procure us some,’ returned Noureddin, ‘and, if it will not be disagreeable to you, I will teach you a method of doing so without entering a tavern, or even touching the vessel that contains it.’ ‘I will agree on these conditions,’ returned Scheich Ibrahim; ‘only tell me what I am to do.’

“Noureddin resumed: ‘As we came here we saw an ass tied up at the entrance of your garden. I conclude it to be yours; and, therefore, you ought to make use of it in cases of necessity. Here, take these two pieces of gold; lead your ass with his panniers and proceed towards the first tavern; but do not approach it nearer than you like; give something to the first person who passes by, and beg him to go to the tavern with the ass and procure two pitchers of wine, one for each pannier; then let him lead the ass back to you, after he has paid for the wine with the money which you will give him. You have then nothing to do but to drive the ass before you hither, and we ourselves will take the pitchers out of the panniers. Thus, you see, you will do nothing that can give your conscience the least offence.’

“The two new pieces of gold which Scheich Ibrahim had now received, produced a wonderful effect upon his mind. When Noureddin had finished speaking, he exclaimed, ‘O my son, well do you understand things; without your assistance I could never have imagined any possible means by which I could have procured you wine, without feeling some compunction. ’ He left them to set about his commission, which he executed in a very short time. As soon as he returned Noureddin, descended the steps, drew the pitchers from the panniers, and carried them up into the saloon.

“ ‘Scheich Ibrahim now led back the ass to the place from whence he had taken it. When he returned, Noureddin said to him, ‘O worthy Scheich Ibrahim, we cannot sufficiently thank you for the trouble you have taken; but still there is one thing wanting.’ ‘What is there I can yet do to serve you?’ asked Scheich Ibrahim in reply. ‘We have no cups to drink out of,’ said Noureddin; ‘and a little fruit of some sort, if you have any, would be very acceptable.’ ‘You have only to command,’ said Scheich Ibrahim, ‘and you shall want for nothing you can desire.’

“He then went down, and in a short time had provided them a table with all sorts of fruit in dishes of the most beautiful porcelain, and with a variety of cups of gold and silver; and when he had asked them if they required anything more he withdrew, though they earnestly solicited his company.

“Noureddin and the Beautiful Persian again sat down to the table, and each of them took a cup of the wine, which they found excellent. ‘Tell me, my love,’ said Noureddin to the Beautiful Persian, ‘are we not the most fortunate people in the world to have thus come by accident into so delightful a place? Let us enjoy our good fortune, and endeavour to make amends for the bad fare of our voyage. Can happiness be more complete than mine, now that I have you on one side of me and good wine on the other.’ They filled their cups frequently, and conversed together in the most agreeable manner, occasionally amusing themselves with a song.

 

Scheich Ibrahim and his visitors.

“As they had most excellent voices, and the Beautiful Persian especially sang in a ravishing manner, their singing presently attracted Scheich Ibrahim, who listened to them a long time with the greatest pleasure, standing near the top of the stairs where he could not be seen. At length, unable to contain himself any longer, he pushed his head in at the door, and said to Noureddin, whom he believed to be already intoxicated, ‘Bravely sang, O my friend; I am delighted to see you so happy.’

“ ‘Ah! Scheich Ibrahim,’ cried Noureddin, turning towards him, ‘you are a worthy man, and we are much obliged to you. We dare not ask you to drink with us; but come in nevertheless. At least give us the honour of your company.’ ‘Go on, go on,’ replied Scheich Ibrahim; ‘I am sufficiently pleased with hearing your charming songs.’ Having said this he disappeared.

“The Beautiful Persian perceiving that Scheich Ibrahim only retreated as far as the top of the stairs, mentioned that fact to Noureddin. ‘My lord,’ said she, ‘you see what an aversion he expresses for wine. Yet I do not despair of making him drink some, if you will do what I propose.’ ‘What is that?’ exclaimed Noureddin. ‘You have only to speak, and I will do whatever you wish.’ ‘Then persuade him merely to come in and give us his company. When he has been here some time, pour out a cup of wine and offer it to him; if he refuse drink it yourself. Then feign to be asleep, and leave the rest to me.’

“Noureddin was not slow to enter into the Beautiful Persian’s design. He called to Scheich Ibrahim, who re-appeared at the door. ‘Scheich Ibrahim,’ said Noureddin, ‘we are your guests, and you have entertained us in the most noble manner possible. Will you not grant us the request we make, that you will honour us with your company? We will not ask you to drink; we only solicit the pleasure of having you with us.’

“Scheich Ibrahim allowed himself to be persuaded. He came in and placed himself at the edge of the sofa which was nearest the door. ‘You are badly seated there,’ said Noureddin, ‘and, besides, we have not the honour of seeing you. Come forward, I entreat you, and take a seat near the lady; it will gratify her much.’ ‘I will do whatever you desire,’ returned Scheich Ibrahim. He accordingly approached with a smiling countenance, pleased at the idea of being near so charming a woman, and seated himself at some little distance from the Beautiful Persian. Noureddin requested her to sing, in acknowledgment of the honour which Scheich Ibrahim had done them. She complied, and acquitted herself in a manner that moved him to ecstacy.

“When the Beautiful Persian had finished her song, Noureddin poured out a cup of wine, and offered it to Scheich Ibrahim. ‘Scheich Ibrahim,’ said he, ‘let me entreat you to drink this to our healths.’ ‘My lord,’ replied Scheich Ibrahim, starting back, as if the very sight of wine inspired him with horror, ‘I beg of you to excuse me; I have already told you that I have renounced wine long ago.’ ‘Then since you positively will not drink our healths,’ said Noureddin, ‘you must allow me to drink yours.’

“While Noureddin was drinking, the Beautiful Persian cut half an apple which she presented to Scheich Ibrahim. ‘You have refused to drink with us,’ said she; but I flatter myself you will not have the same aversion to taste this apple; it is a most excellent one.’ Scheich Ibrahim could not refuse the fruit from so fair a hand; he took it, with a slight inclination of his head, and began to eat it. The Beautiful Persian was saying many civil things to him, when Noureddin fell back on the sofa, and pretended to go to sleep. The Beautiful Persian immediately advanced towards Scheich Ibrahim and said to him, in a low voice: ‘Look at my lord, this is always his way whenever we begin to enjoy ourselves together; he has no sooner drunk a cup or two of wine than he falls asleep, and leaves me alone; but you, I hope, will have the goodness to give me your company while he is sleeping there.’

“The Beautiful Persian then took a cup, filled it with wine, and presented it to Scheich Ibrahim. ‘Take this,’ said she, ‘and drink my health; I will pledge you.’ Scheich Ibrahim made a great many difficulties, and was very anxious that she would desist from her request; but she pressed him in so lively a manner, that, overcome by her charms and entreaties, he took the cup and drank it off.

“The good old man loved wine heartily; but was ashamed of indulging before people with whom he was not acquainted. Like many others, he was in the habit of going to the tavern in private; and had not thought it necessary to take the precautions which Noureddin had recommended when he went to obtain the wine they were then drinking. Under cover of the night he had gone to purchase it himself of an innkeeper whom he knew, and had thus saved the money which, according to Noureddin’s instructions, he was to give the person whom he might employ.

“After he had taken his cup Scheich Ibrahim was eating the remainder of his apple, when the Beautiful Persian filled him another goblet, which he took with much less difficulty than he had made in drinking the first. To the third he made no objection whatever. He was going on to drink a fourth, when Noureddin, ceasing to feign sleep, rose up on his seat, and looking hard at the old man, burst out into a violent fit of laughter. ‘Ha, ha,’ said he, ‘Scheich Ibrahim; I have caught you. You told me you had renounced wine, and that you could not bear even the sight of it.’

“Scheich Ibrahim was somewhat disconcerted by this unexpected address, which caused the colour to mount rapidly into his cheeks; he did not, however, desist from draining his cup. When he had finished it he replied, smiling: ‘My friend, if what I have done is a sin, it ought not to be laid to my charge, but to that of this fair lady; how is it possible to resist so many charms?’

“The Beautiful Persian, who perfectly understood Noureddin, pretended to take the part of Scheich Ibrahim. ‘Scheich Ibrahim,’ she said, ‘let him talk on; do not suffer him to interrupt us; continue to drink and enjoy yourself.’ Some little time after Noureddin poured out some wine for himself, and afterwards offered some to the Beautiful Persian. When Scheich Ibrahim saw that Noureddin gave him none, he took a cup and held it out to him, saying, ‘Come now, why am I not to drink as well as you?’

“At this speech of Scheich Ibrahim’s Noureddin and the Beautiful Persian laughed very heartily. Noureddin filled his host’s cup, and they continued to enjoy themselves, laughing and drinking till midnight. About this time the Beautiful Persian noticed that there was only one light on the table. Accordingly she said to the good old officer: ‘O Scheich Ibrahim, you have allowed us only one taper, while there are so many handsome ones about the room. Do us the favour, I beseech you, to light them, that we may see a little more clearly.’ Scheich Ibrahim, full of the generosity which wine inspires when the head becomes a little heated, and unwilling, moreover, to break off a conversation he was then holding with Noureddin, called out to the beautiful lady, ‘Light them yourself. It is an office much more fitted for your age than mine; but take care not to light more than five or six: that will be sufficient.’ The Beautiful Persian rose, and taking a wax taper in her hand, proceeded to light up the whole eighty, without at all regarding the injunction of Scheich Ibrahim.

“Some time after, while Scheich Ibrahim was conversing with the Beautiful Persian upon some other subject, Noureddin, in his turn, requested him to light up some of the lustres. Without observing that all the tapers were burning, ‘You must,’ the old man answered, be extremely indolent, or have weaker limbs than mine, if you cannot light them yourself. Go, then, and light them; but remember, not more than three.’ Instead of confining himself to this number, Noureddin lighted up the whole number, and afterwards opened the fourscore windows, unobserved by Scheich Ibrahim, who was earnestly engaged in conversation with the Beautiful Persian.

“The Caliph Haroun Alraschid had not yet retired to his chamber. He was in a hall of his palace, which fronted the Tigris, and on one side commanded a view of the garden and the painted pavilion. By accident he opened a window on that side and was exceedingly surprised to see the pavilion brilliantly illuminated; the more, as from the great splendour of the light he at first imagined there was a fire in some part of the city. The grand vizier Giafar was still with him, waiting for the moment when the caliph should retire, to return to his own home. The caliph called out to him in a great rage: ‘Come here, thou careless vizier, come this way: look at the painted pavilion, and tell me why it is lighted up when I am not there.’

“The grand vizier trembled exceedingly from the mere fear that what the caliph said might be true; but he trembled much more when he looked and saw that it really was so. He was compelled, however, to find some pretence to appease his master. ‘Commander of the Faithful,’ said he, ‘I can give your majesty no other information on the subject, except that, about four or five days since Scheich Ibrahim came and informed me that he had an intention of holding an assembly of the ministers belonging to his mosque, in order to observe some ceremony which he was anxious to perform, under your majesty’s most happy reign. I asked him in what way he expected me to serve him in the affair; upon which he entreated me to obtain permission of your majesty that he might hold the meeting and perform the ceremony in the pavilion. I dismissed him, and said that he might do what he wished, and that I would not fail to speak to your majesty on the subject; and I entreat your pardon for having, through forgetfulness, neglected to do so. It would appear that Scheich Ibrahim has chosen this day for the ceremony; and has doubtless, in the course of entertaining the ministers, lighted up the pavilion for their pleasure.’

“ ‘Giafar,’ replied the caliph, in a tone that showed he was somewhat appeased, ‘it appears from your own account that you have committed three most unpardonable faults. First, you erred in giving permission to Scheich Ibrahim to perform this ceremony in the pavilion, for the mere keeper of a garden is not an officer of sufficient consideration to be allowed so great an honour; secondly, you were wrong in neglecting to speak to me on the subject; and thirdly, in not having revealed the real object of this good old man. I am convinced that he had no other view in his application to you than to try if he could obtain some gratuity to assist him in his undertaking. You had not the penetration to find this out, and I think he has done right to avenge himself for your omission by putting us to the greater expense of this illumination.’

“The grand vizier, delighted to see the caliph treat the affair in this pleasant way, readily acknowledged himself guilty of the faults with which he was reproached, and freely confessed that he had been very wrong in not having presented Scheich Ibrahim with a few pieces of gold. ‘Since that is the case,’ added the caliph, smiling, ‘it is proper you should be punished for your faults; your punishment, however, will not be very severe; it shall be to accompany me, and pass the remainder of this night with these good people, whom I should much like to see. Therefore while I go and put on the dress of a citizen, you and Mesrour must disguise yourselves in the same manner, and then accompany me.’ The grand vizier humbly represented to the caliph that it was very late, and the company would probably have gone before his majesty could arrive; but the caliph persisted in his intention. As there was not a shadow of truth in what the vizier had been saying, Giafar felt extremely embarrassed at this resolution of his master’s, but he was compelled to obey, and not reply.

“The caliph then sallied out from his palace in the disguise of a citizen, accompanied by the grand vizier Giafar, and Mesrour, the chief of the eunuchs. He proceeded through the streets of Baghdad until he arrived at the garden, the gate of which he found open. This was owing to the negligence of Scheich Ibrahim, who had forgotten to lock it when he returned from purchasing the wine. The caliph was very angry at this circumstance. ‘Giafar,’ said he to the grand vizier, ‘what do you say to the gate’s being open at this hour? Is it possible that Scheich Ibrahim should make it a custom thus to leave it open all night? I would rather hope that the neglect has been occasioned by the hurry and confusion arising from the entertainment that Scheich Ibrahim is giving.’ The caliph then entered the garden. When he had reached the pavilion, he felt unwilling to go up into the saloon before he knew what was going forward there. He, therefore, consulted with the grand vizier about climbing one of the nearest trees, in order to make his observations. But in looking towards the door of the saloon, the grand vizier perceived that it was not entirely closed, and called the caliph’s attention to the fact. Scheich Ibrahim had left the door half open when he had been persuaded to enter the room, and join the party of Noureddin and the Beautiful Persian.

“The caliph upon this gave up his first design, and ascended cautiously, without noise, to the door of the saloon, which he found so far open that he was able to see the people in the room without being himself observed. His surprise was great indeed when he saw a lady of incomparable beauty, and an extremely handsome young man, sitting at table with Scheich Ibrahim, who was holding a cup in his hand, and thus addressing the Beautiful Persian: ‘My charming lady, a good companion will never continue drinking all the evening without mixing music with his wine. Therefore do me the honour to listen to me, and I will sing you a very pleasant song.’

“He then began to sing, at which the caliph was exceedingly astonished, as he had never imagined till this moment that Scheich Ibrahim would indulge in wine, and had always believed him the grave sober man he appeared to be. He now withdrew from the door as cautiously as he had approached it, and returning to the grand vizier, who stood upon the staircase a few steps below. ‘Come up,’ said he to Giafar, ‘and see if the persons who are here are ministers of the mosque, as you wished me to believe.’

 

The caliph peeping into the pavilion.

“The tone with which the caliph pronounced these words showed the grand vizier but too plainly that affairs were going on very badly for him. He went up, and looking through the opening of the door, trembled with alarm when he saw three persons carousing to their hearts’ content. He returned to the caliph utterly confused, and wholly at a loss what to say. ‘What insolence is this?’ exclaimed Haroun. ‘Who are these people who presume to come and divert themselves in my garden and pavilion; and how can Scheich Ibrahim allow it, and even join in their festivities? Still I do not believe that a handsomer young man, and a lovelier young woman, or a better matched pair could be easily found. Before, therefore, I give way to my indignation, I wish to know more about them, and to learn who they are, and for what purpose they have come here.’ So saying the caliph returned to the door to observe them again, and the vizier, who followed, remained behind his master, while Haroun looked at the group. They both heard Scheich Ibrahim say to the Beautiful Persian: ‘My lovely lady, is there anything you can desire to render our pleasure this evening more complete?’ ‘It appears to me,’ replied the Beautiful Persian, ‘that our entertainment would be perfect if there were an instrument on which I could play. If you have one do me the favour to bring it for me.’ ‘O fairest lady,’ replied Scheich Ibrahim, ‘can you play on the lute?’ ‘Bring me one,’ said the Beautiful Persian, ‘and you shall hear.’

“Without going far from where he sat, Scheich Ibrahim took a lute out of a closet, and offered it to the Beautiful Persian, who began to put it in tune. The caliph in the meantime turned round to the grand vizier and said: ‘Giafar, the young lady is going to play upon the lute. If she plays well I will pardon her, and also the young man for her sake: but as to you, you shall certainly be hanged.’ ‘Commander of the Faithful,’ replied the grand vizier, ‘I pray to Heaven she may play ill.’ ‘Why so?’ asked the caliph. ‘The more of us there are to suffer,’ replied the grand vizier, ‘the better we shall console ourselves, that we die in good and pleasant company.’ The caliph, who was fond of ajest, laughed at this speech, and turning round towards the door he applied his ear to hear the Beautiful Persian play.

“The Beautiful Persian was already preluding in such a way that the caliph at once perceived by her manner of touching the strings, that she was perfectly mistress of the instrument. She afterwards sang an air, accompanying her excellent voice on the lute, and performed with so much skill and in so exquisite a style, that the caliph was quite charmed.

“As soon as the Beautiful Persian had finished her song, the caliph descended the stairs, followed by the vizier Giafar. When he reached the foot of the steps he said to the vizier, ‘On my life I have never heard so good a voice, nor a better player on the lute. Isaac,^q whom I believed the best lute-player in the world, is much inferior to her. I am so well satisfied that I wish to go in and hear her play before me; but the difficulty is to find out how I can obtain admittance.’

“ ‘Commander of the Faithful,’ replied the vizier, ‘if you were to enter, and Scheich Ibrahim were to recognise you, he would infallibly die with terror.’ ‘This is my embarassment,’ returned the caliph. ‘I should be sorry to be the cause of the old man’s death, after he has served me so many years. A plan comes into my mind which may answer. Stay you here with Mesrour, and wait in the nearest walk till I come back.’

“The vicinity of the Tigris had enabled the caliph, by means of a channel he had made under ground, to form a very handsome piece of water in his garden, to which resorted many of the finest fish of the river. With this fact the fishermen were well acquainted, and had often wished to have the liberty of fishing there; but the caliph had expressly forbidden Scheich Ibrahim to give any one that privilege. Nevertheless, that very night a fisherman, who was passing the garden gate which the caliph had left open as he found it, took advantage of the opportunity, and stealing into the garden had proceeded as far as the piece of water.

“He had thrown in his nets, and was just going to take them up, when the caliph, who suspected what might happen from the negligence of Scheich Ibrahim, and resolved to avail himself of the circumstance, came to the place. Notwithstanding his disguise, the fisherman knew Haroun immediately, and, throwing himself at his feet entreated his pardon, pleading the excuse of poverty for his fault. ‘Rise, and fear nothing,’ said the caliph; ‘only take up your nets, and let me see what fish you have got.’

“The fisherman, taking courage, readily performed what the caliph desired, and drew up five or six very fine fish. The caliph took the two largest and fastened them together, by means of a twig passed through their gills. He then said to the fisherman, ‘Give me your clothes and take mine.’ The exchange was made in a few moments, and the caliph found himself completely disguised as a fisherman from head to foot. He then sent the man away, saying, ‘Take up your nets and go about your business.’

“When the fisherman was gone, very much pleased with his good fortune, the caliph took the two fish in his hand, and went to look for the grand vizier Giafar and Mesrour. He stopped when he approached the grand vizier, who, not knowing him, angrily cried out, ‘What do you want, fellow? Go your ways.’ The caliph laughed heartily at this speech, and the grand vizier recognised him, and exclaimed: ‘O, Commander of the Faithful, is it possible it can be you? I did not know you in that disguise, and I beg a thousand pardons for my rudeness. You may immediately enter the saloon, without the smallest fear that Scheich Ibrahim will know you.’ ‘Do you, then, and Mesrour stay here,’ said the caliph, ‘while I go and play my part.’

“The caliph ascended the stairs of the saloon, and knocked at the door. Noureddin, who first heard him, spoke to Scheich Ibrahim, who inquired who was there? The caliph opened the door and advanced one step into the saloon, in order that he might be seen. Then he said: ‘Scheich Ibrahim, I am Kerim, the fisherman: I was told you were entertaining your friends; and, as I have this moment caught two very fine fish, I come to ask you if you would like to have them.’

“Noureddin and the Beautiful Persian were delighted to hear of the arrival of these fish. The Beautiful Persian said to him immediately, ‘Sche ich Ibrahim, pray do us the favour to make him come in, that we may see his fish.’ Scheich Ibrahim, who was no longer sufficiently sober to think of asking this pretended fisherman how he came there or whence he came, could refuse no request of the Beautiful Persian; therefore, turning his head towards the door, with great difficulty from the quantity of wine he had drank, he, with a stammering voice addressed the caliph, whom he took for a fisherman. ‘Come hither,’ said he, ‘my fine thief of the night; come hither, and let me see thee.’

“The caliph advanced, counterfeiting perfectly the manners of a fisherman, and showed his two fish. ‘These are really very fine,’ said the Beautiful Persian, ‘and I should like to taste them if they were dressed and served up.’ ‘The lady is right,’ cried Scheich Ibrahim. ‘What can we do with your fish in this state? Go and prepare them yourself, and bring them to us; you will find everything you want in my kitchen.’

“The caliph went back to the grand vizier Giafar, and said: ‘I have been extremely well received, but they want me to dress these fish.’ ‘I will go and prepare them,’ replied the grand vizier; it shall be done in an instant. ’ But the caliph said: ‘I am so very desirous to accomplish my whole purpose myself, that I will even take the trouble of cooking these fish. Since I have acted the fisherman so well, I can surely personate the cook. In my youth I often went into the kitchen, and have not badly acquitted myself there.’ He then went towards Scheich Ibrahim’s apartment, followed by the grand vizier and Mesrour.

“They all three set to work; and though the kitchen of Scheich Ibrahim was not very spacious, yet, as it contained everything necessary, the fish were soon prepared. The caliph carried up the dish, and served it with a lemon to each guest. They ate with much appetite, particularly Noureddin and the Beautiful Persian; and the caliph remained standing before them.

“When they had finished Noureddin looked up at the caliph, and said: ‘O fisherman, it is impossible to eat better fish; you have done us the greatest favour in the world.’ At the same time he put his hand into his bosom and drew out his purse, in which there still remained thirty pieces of gold out of the forty, which Sangiar, the officer of the king of Balsora had given him before his departure. ‘Here,’ he said, ‘take this; if I had more, I would give it you. Had I known you before I spent my fortune, I would have placed you beyond the reach of poverty. But you must accept this with as good a grace as if the present were more considerable.’

“The caliph took the purse, and thanked Noureddin. Perceiving that it contained gold, he cried, ‘O my lord, I cannot sufficiently acknowledge your generosity. I am particularly fortunate to have dealings with such noble gentlemen as you; but before I go away I have one request to make, which I entreat you to grant. I see a lute yonder, from which I conclude the lady plays. If you could prevail on her to favour me with a single tune I should return home the most contented creature in the world—for it is an instrument of which I am passionately fond.’

“ ‘Beautiful Persian,’ said Noureddin, addressing himself to her, ‘per- mit me to request of you this favour, which I hope you will not refuse.’ She took the lute, and having tuned it, she sang and played an air that charmed the caliph. When this was finished, she continued to play without singing, and performed with so much taste and expression that he was delighted to ecstacy. When the Beautiful Persian had done playing, the caliph cried, ‘Ye Heavens! what a voice! what a hand! what skill! was there ever such a singer!—such a player? No one ever saw or heard her equal!’

“Noureddin who was accustomed to give away whatever belonged to him to those who praised it, cried out: ‘O fisherman, I see clearly that you understand the matter; since she pleases you so much, she is yours—I make you a present of her.’ So saying he rose and taking his robe, which he had put off, was about to depart, and leave the caliph, whom he knew only as a fisherman, in possession of the Beautiful Persian.

“Exceedingly astonished at the liberality of Noureddin, the Beautiful Persian stopped him. ‘O my lord,’ said she, looking at him tenderly, ‘where do you mean to go? Resume your place, I beseech you, and listen to what I am going to sing and play.’ He did as she requested. Then touching the lute, and continuing to look upon him with her eyes bathed in tears, she sang some improvised verses, in which she keenly upbraided him with his heartlessness, which had made him so readily, and even so cruelly, abandon her to Kerim. She wished to express her sentiments by these means to Noureddin, without explaining herself further to a fisherman, such as Kerim appeared to be; for she had no more idea than had Noureddin himself that this was the caliph. When she had concluded she laid down her lute by her side, and put a handkerchief to her face to conceal the tears she was unable to restrain.

“Noureddin answered not a word to her reproaches, and seemed to express by his silence that he did not repent the donation he had made. But the caliph, surprised at what he had heard, said to him: ‘From what I see, sir, this beautiful, rare, and accomplished lady, whom you have just presented to me with so much generosity, is a slave—and you are her master. ’ ‘You have spoken truth, Kerim,’ replied Noureddin; ‘and you would be more astonished than you appear at present, if I were to relate to you all the misfortunes I have sustained on her account.’ ‘I pray you, my lord,’ returned the caliph, carefully preserving his assumed character, ‘be so kind as to make me acquainted with your history.’

“Noureddin who had just been conferring on him favours of much greater importance, was unwilling to refuse the pretended fisherman this further instance of his good will. He recounted to him his whole history, from the time of the purchase of the Beautiful Persian, by the vizier, his father, for the King of Balsora; and omitted nothing of what he had done, or suffered, from that day to his arrival at Baghdad, and even to the very moment when he was speaking.

“When Noureddin had finished his story the caliph said to him: ‘Where do you intend to go now?’ ‘Where am I going?’ repeated he, ‘why! where Heaven shall direct me.’ ‘If you will trust to me,’ replied the caliph, ‘you will go no further; indeed it is important that you should return to Balsora. I will write you a short note which you shall give the king from me. You will find after he has read it he will receive you very graciously, and that no one will say anything against you.’

“ ‘Kerim,’ replied Noureddin, ‘what you say to me is very extraordinary. Who ever heard that a fisherman like you could correspond with a king?’ ‘This ought not to surprise you,’ resumed the caliph, ‘we pursued our studies together under the same masters, and have always been the best friends in the world. It is true fortune has not equally favoured us. He has become a king, andIafisherman: but this inequality has not lessened our friendship. He has often wished to raise me up from my present condition, and has offered me his protection with all the kindness imaginable. I am satisfied, however, in the belief that he will refuse nothing I may ask for the benefit of my friends. Leave the affair to me, and you shall see it will prosper.’

 

A present for the fisherman.

“Noureddin consented to do what the caliph desired: and as there was in the saloon everything necessary for writing, the caliph wrote the following letter to the King of Balsora, adding at the top, near the edge of the paper in very small characters, In the name of Allah the most merciful; an established form to express that he required the most implicit obedience.

“ ‘The Caliph Haroun Alraschid to the King of Balsora.

 

“ ‘Haroun Alraschid, son of Mahdi, sends this letter to Mahomed Zinebi, his cousin. As soon as Noureddin, son of the late vizier Khacan, and the bearer of this letter, shall have delivered it, and you have read its contents, strip yourself instantly of the royal mantle, put it upon his shoulders, and resign to him your crown. Herein fail not. Farewell.’

“The caliph folded up the letter and sealed it, without informing Noureddin of its contents. ‘Take it,’ said he, ‘go and embark without delay; the vessel will weigh anchor very soon, as it departs every day about this hour; you may sleep after you are on board.’ Noureddin took the letter, and set off with only the little money he had in his pocket at the time when Sangiar gave him his purse; and the Beautiful Persian, inconsolable at his departure, withdrew to a sofa, where she gave full vent to her tears.

“Scarcely had Noureddin left the saloon when Scheich Ibrahim, who had sat in silent astonishment during the whole transaction, looked hard at the caliph, whom he still believed to be the fisherman Kerim, and said, ‘Hark ye Kerim, you came here to bring two fish, which at most were not worth more than twenty pieces of copper, and for them you have received a purse and a slave. Do you imagine that you are going to keep all this to yourself? I declare that I will have half the value of the slave: and with respect to the purse show me what it contains: if it be silver, you shall take one piece of it for yourself; if gold, I will take the whole, and give you some pieces of copper I have about me.’

“To make what follows intelligible, it is necessary to remark that the caliph, before he carried the fish into the saloon, had ordered the grand vizier to repair with all diligence to the palace, and bring back with him a royal garment, and four of those servants who attended on his person; and to wait on the other side of the pavilion till he should strike one of the windows with his hand. The grand vizier had acquitted himself of his commission, and he, Mesrour, and the four servants, were waiting at the place appointed till the signal should be given.

“The caliph, still in the character of a fisherman, boldly replied: ‘Scheich Ibrahim, what there may be in the purse, be it silver or gold I know not, I will share it with you with all my heart: but with respect to the slave, I will keep her to myself. If you are unwilling to agree to these conditions you shall have nothing at all.’

“Furious with rage at this insolence, as he deemed it, of a fisherman, Scheich Ibrahim snatched up one of the porcelain dishes that stood upon the table and threw it at the caliph’s head. The caliph very easily avoided a dish thrown by a drunken man; it struck the wall and broke into a thousand pieces. More angry than ever at having missed his aim, Scheich Ibrahim took the candle from the table, rose staggering from his seat, and went down the back stairs to find a cane.

“The caliph took this opportunity to give the signal at one of the windows, by striking it with his hand; and the grand vizier, Mesrour, and the four servants were with him in an instant. The servants very soon divested the caliph of the fisherman’s dress, and put on him that which they had brought. They were still employed about the caliph, who was seated on the throne which stood in the saloon, when Scheich Ibrahim, flushed with wine and anger, re-entered the room, flourishing a large cane with the full intention of giving the pretended fisherman a good beating. Instead of finding the object of his wrath he could perceive only the fisherman’s clothes lying in the middle of the saloon, while he beheld the caliph seated on the throne, with the grand vizier and Mesrour at his side. He started at the sight, scarcely knowing whether he was awake or asleep. The caliph laughed at his surprise, and exclaimed, ‘Scheich Ibrahim, what do you want?—whom seek you?’

“Scheich Ibrahim, who was now convinced that it was the caliph who had personated Kerim, threw himself immediately at his master’s feet, his face and long beard touching the ground. ‘O Commander of the Faithful, ’ he cried, ‘your vile slave hath offended you. He implores your mercy; he entreats your forgiveness!’ As the attendants had now finished dressing him, the caliph descended from his throne, saying, ‘Rise, I pardon thee.’

“The caliph hereupon addressed himself to the Beautiful Persian, who had checked her tears as soon as she heard that the garden and pavilion belonged to the caliph, and not to Scheich Ibrahim, as the latter had pretended, and that it was Haroun Alraschid himself who had been dressed as a fisherman. ‘O, Beautiful Persian,’ said he, ‘rise and follow me. After what you have seen I need not inform you who I am, and that I am of too exalted a rank to take advantage of the power which, with a generosity never equalled, Noureddin has bequeathed to me in making me your master. I have sent him to ascend the throne of Balsora, and you shall follow him and share his honours as soon as I have forwarded the despatches necessary for the full establishment of his authority as king. In the meantime I will order you an apartment in my palace, where you shall be treated with all the respect you deserve.’

“These noble words of the caliph’s reanimated the hopes of the Beautiful Persian, by enabling her to look for consolation in the hope of Noureddin’s elevation and success. She was now fully repaid for her affliction by the joy she felt on hearing that Noureddin, whom she passionately loved, was about to be raised to the summit of grandeur. The caliph did not fail to keep his word with her. He even recommended her to the care of his wife Zobeidè, to whom he imparted the high proof of his esteem which he had been conferring on Noureddin.

“Noureddin’s journey to Balsora was prosperous, though he arrived there sooner by some days than was quite desirable for his own sake. On his arrival he saw neither relation nor friend, but went immediately to the palace of the king, who was then holding a public court. He made his way through the crowd, holding the letter up in his hand. Every one made way, and he presented the missive to the king, who took it and read it, showing his emotion by the frequent changes in his countenance. He kissed the paper thrice, and was going to obey the directions it gave, when it occurred to him to show the letter to the vizier Saouy, the mortal enemy of Noureddin.

“Saouy, who had seen Noureddin’s arrival, and was anxiously conjecturing in his own mind what all this could possibly mean, was as much surprised by the contents of the letter as the king himself. Feeling that his own fortunes were at stake, he in a moment bethought himself of a way to elude them. Pretending not to have read the letter perfectly he turned aside, as if to hold it up to the light that he might peruse it a second time. Then, unperceived by all present, and with such dexterity that his proceedings could only be discovered on a very near examination, he tore off the top of the letter containing the words which expressed the caliph’s injunction of immediate and implicit obedience. This he conveyed to his mouth, and swallowed it.

“After this perfidious action, Saouy turned round to the king, and giving him the letter, said in a very low voice, ‘O king, what is your majesty’s intention?’ ‘To do as the caliph commands me,’ answered the king. ‘Be on your guard, my lord,’ returned the wicked vizier; ‘the writing is indeed the caliph’s, but the important superscription is wanting.’ The king had, indeed, read the superscription; but, in the perturbation he was in, he imagined he might have been deceived, since it was not now to be seen.

“ ‘O mighty king,’ continued the vizier, ‘it cannot be doubted that the caliph has given Noureddin this letter merely to get rid of his importunity, in consequence of the complaints he has been urging against your majesty and me; for it is not to be imagined that you are to execute the command it contains. It is, moreover, to be considered that no messenger has been sent with the firman^r appointing Noureddin in your place, without which the letter is useless. A king, like your majesty, is not to be deposed without some formality. Another claimant may arrive, even with a forged letter. Such irregular proceedings never have been, nor never can be allowed. Your majesty may be sure that I speak the truth; and I will take upon myself the whole responsibility, and bear all the consequences of your refusal.’

“The king allowed himself to be persuaded, and gave Noureddin entirely into the hands of the vizier Saouy, who, with the aid of a considerable escort, had him conducted to his own house. As soon as Noureddin arrived there he received the bastinado till he was to all appearance dead; and in this condition he was conveyed to a prison, where he was confined in the darkest and deepest cell, the keeper receiving strict orders to give him nothing but bread and water.

“When Noureddin, who had been half killed by the blows he had received, began to recover his senses and saw the dismal place he was in, he gave way to the most bitter lamentations, and deplored his unhappy fate. ‘O cruel fisherman,’ cried he, ‘how you have deceived me, and how credulous was I to believe you. But how could I expect so cruel a return for the benefits I had bestowed on you? Heaven bless you, nevertheless: I can never believe that your intention was wicked, and I will even fortify myself with patience for the end of my woes.’

“The unhappy Noureddin remained six days in this forlorn state. Not that he was forgotten by the vizier: that revengeful minister had resolved to take his enemy’s life in the most public and disgraceful manner; but he durst not perpetrate that deed on his own authority. In order to succeed in his base designs he loaded a number of his own slaves with rich presents, and, placing himself at their head, went to the king. ‘O my lord,’ said he, with the deepest malice, ‘see the present which the new king entreats your majesty to accept on his accession to the crown.’

“The king fully comprehended what Saouy wished him to understand. ‘What!’ said he, ‘is that wretch still living? I thought you had taken care to punish him as he deserved.’ ‘O, great king,’ replied Saouy, ‘it is not in my province to order the execution of any man; that power belongs to your majesty.’ ‘Go then,’ cried the king, ‘order that his head be cut off immediately! I give you full permission.’ ‘My lord,’ said Saouy, ‘I am infinitely obliged to your majesty for this act of justice; but, as Noureddin affronted me, as your majesty knows, in so very public a manner, I request the favour that you will permit the sentence to be executed before the palace, and that the criers may go and proclaim it in all parts of the city. As all the inhabitants were witnesses of the indignity that I endured, I wish that all may witness the reparation.’ The king granted the vizier’s request. The criers performed their duty, and occasioned a general sadness through the whole city. The recollection of the father’s virtues, still fresh in the minds of all, made them learn with indignation that the son was going to be ignominiously sacrificed at the solicitation and through the revengeful malice of the vizier Saouy.

“That wicked minister went to the prison in person, accompanied with twenty of his slaves, ministers of his cruelty. They led away Noureddin, and obliged him to mount an old broken-down horse, without a saddle. When Noureddin thus saw himself delivered into the hands of his enemy, he cried, ‘You are now triumphant, and glory in the abuse of your power: but I have confidence in the words written in one of our wise books: “You judge unjustly, and in a short time you shall yourself be judged.” The vizier Saouy was indeed exulting in his heart, and he replied angrily: ‘What! insolent wretch, dare you still insult me? However, I pardon you; I care not what happens if I have the pleasure of seeing your head taken off in the sight of all Balsora. Let me remind you of what another of our books says: “Who regards dying the day after the death of his enemy?” ’

“This implacable minister, surrounded by a number of armed slaves, ordered that Noureddin should be conducted before him by the rest, and they set off towards the palace. The people were ready to tear Saouy in pieces, and would certainly have stoned him, if any one had began the attack. When he had led Noureddin to the open space before the palace, opposite to the king’s apartment, Saouy left him in the hands of the executioner, and went immediately to the king, who was already in his cabinet, eager to feast his eyes with the bloody scene about to be enacted.

“The king’s guard and the slaves of the vizier Saouy formed a large circle about Noureddin. But they had great difficulty to restrain the populace, who made all possible efforts, though without success, to force their way to the prisoner and bear him away. The executioner now approached him: ‘O my master,’ said he, ‘I entreat you to pardon me the part I take in your death. I am only a slave, and am compelled to do my duty. If you have nothing further to say, be pleased to prepare for death; the king is going to command me to strike.’

“At this dreadful moment the disconsolate Noureddin turned to those about him and said: ‘Will no one, for charity, bring me a drop of water to quench my thirst?’ They instantly brought some in a cup for him, and handed it to him. The vizier Saouy, perceiving the delay from the window of the king’s cabinet, cried out to the executioner, ‘Strike, what do you wait for?’ These barbarous and inhuman words excited such universal indignation that the whole place resounded with loud and deep imprecations against the minister; while the king, naturally jealous of his authority, by no means approved the boldness of Saouy in his presence, and his displeasure appeared in his immediately crying out to desire the executioner to stop. He had, indeed, another reason for doing this: at this very moment, turning his eyes towards a wide street before him which led to the place of execution, he perceived a troop of horsemen, who were approaching at full speed. ‘O vizier,’ said he immediately to Saouy, ‘look yonder, what is that?’ Saouy, who suspected what it might be, urged the king to give the signal to the executioner. ‘No,’ replied the king, ‘I wish to know first who these horsemen are.’ They were the grand vizier Giafar and his suite, who had come from Baghdad by the order of the caliph.

“To account for this minister’s arrival at Balsora, it is necessary to observe that after the departure of Noureddin with the caliph’s letter, Haroun Alraschid had forgotten, not only on the next day, but for some days after, to send an express with the firman of which he had spoken to the Beautiful Persian. But soon after, passing one of the apartments in the inner palace, which belonged to his women, his attention was attracted by the sounds of a beautiful voice. He stopped, and hearing some words which expressed grief at absence, demanded of an officer of eunuchs, who attended him, what lady lived in that apartment. The officer told him it was the slave belonging to the young lord whom he had sent to Balsora to be king, in the room of Mohammed Zinebi.

 

The caliph reminded of Noureddin.

“ ‘Alas, poor Noureddin, son of Khacan!’ cried the caliph, ‘I had indeed forgotten thee! Despatch,’ he added, ‘and order Giafar to come to me immediately.’ The minister came accordingly. ‘O Giafar,’ said the caliph, ‘I have forgotten to send the firman which was necessary to confirm Noureddin as king of Balsora. There is no time now to prepare one. Therefore, use the utmost speed and repair to Balsora, with some of your servants, with all possible diligence. If Noureddin has been executed, and they have been the cause of his death, cause the vizier Saouy to be hanged. If Noureddin is still alive bring him hither, with the king and the vizier.’

“The grand vizier Giafar made no delay; but mounting his horse immediately, departed with a considerable number of the officers of his house. He arrived at Balsora at the time and in the manner already mentioned. As soon as he appeared at the place of execution all the people gave way to make room for him, crying out, ‘A pardon for Noureddin!’ He proceeded, with his whole train, to enter the palace, not alighting from his horse till he arrived at the foot of the stairs.

“The king of Balsora knew the prime minister of the caliph; and going out to meet him received him at the entrance of his apartment. The grand vizier desired to know if Noureddin were yet alive, and demanded, if he still lived, that he might be immediately sent for. The king answered that Noureddin lived, and ordered him to be brought before them. He soon made his appearance, bound, and a prisoner, but, at the command of the grand vizier, he was at once set at liberty; and Giafar further commanded that the cords taken from Noureddin should be put on Saouy.

“The grand vizier made a very short stay at Balsora. He quitted the city the next day, and, according to the orders he had received, took with him Saouy, the King of Balsora, and Noureddin, whom on his arrival at Baghdad he presented to the caliph. When he had given an account of his journey, and particularly mentioned the state in which he found Noureddin, and the manner in which the caliph’s envoy had been treated, through the counsel and animosity of Saouy, Haroun Alraschid, extremely incensed at this conduct, proposed that Noureddin should himself cut off the vizier’s head. ‘O Commander of the Faithful,’ replied Noureddin, ‘whatever injury this wicked man may have done me, or may have attempted to do my late father, I should esteem myself the most infamous of men were I to stain my hands with his blood.’ The caliph, well pleased with Noureddin’s generosity, ordered the common executioner to perform his office.

“The caliph wished to send Noureddin back to Balsora to reign there, but the latter humbly solicited leave to decline the honour. ‘O Commander of the Faithful,’ said he, ‘the city of Balsora is, and will ever be, after what has happened to me there, so distasteful to me that I venture to entreat your majesty to allow me to keep an oath I have taken—never to return thither as long as I live. I wish to place my whole glory in the performances of such services as I may perform near your majesty’s person, if you will grant me so great an honour as to allow me to remain here.’ The caliph hereupon placed him among those courtiers with whom he was most intimate; restored to him the Beautiful Persian, and bestowed on him so ample a fortune, that he and his wife lived together during the rest of their lives, in the enjoyment of all the happiness they could desire.

“With regard to the king of Balsora, the caliph, after duly pointing out to him how much it was his duty and interest to be very circumspect in the choice of his viziers, sent him back to his kingdom.

 

When Dinarzade perceived that the sultana her sister had concluded her story, she thanked her most heartily for the pleasure she had afforded her by the recital of that interesting history. Scheherazade replied, “If the sultan would suffer me to live till to-morrow, I would relate to him the history of Prince Camaralzaman, which he would find still more agreeable than that of Schemselnihar.” She was then silent; and Shahriar, who could not yet determine to give orders for her death, deferred passing the sentence, that he might listen to the new story which the sultana began to relate on the following night.