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