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THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS
INTRODUCTION
THE chronicles of the ancient Kings of Persia, who extended their empire into the Indies, and as far as China, tell of a powerful king of that family, who dying, left two sons. The eldest, Shahriar, inherited the bulk of his empire; the younger, Shahzenan, who like his brother Shahriar was a virtuous prince, well beloved by his subjects, became King of Samarcande.
After they had been separated ten years, Shahriar resolved to send his vizier to his brother to invite him to his court. Setting out with a retinue answerable to his dignity, that officer made all possible haste to Samarcande. Shahzenan received the ambassador with the greatest demonstrations of joy. The vizier then gave him an account of his embassy. Shahzenan answered thus:—" Sage vizier, the Sultan does me too much honour; I long as passionately to see him, as he does to see me. My kingdom is in peace, and I desire no more than ten days to get myself ready to go with you, there is no necessity that you should enter the city for so short a time: I pray you to pitch your tents here, and I will order provisions in abundance for yourself and your company.”
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At the end of ten days, the King took his leave of his Queen, and went out of town in the evening with his retinue, pitched his royal pavilion near the vizier's tent, and discoursed with that ambassador till midnight. But willing once more to embrace the Queen, whom he loved entirely, he returned alone to his palace, and went straight to her apartment.
The King entered without any noise, and pleased himself to think how he should surprise his wife, whose affection for him he never doubted. Great was his surprise, when by the lights in the royal chamber, he saw a male slave in the Queen's apartment! He could scarcely believe his own eyes. "How! " said he to himself, " I am scarce gone from Samarcande, and they dare thus disgrace me!" And he drew his scimitar, and killed them both; and quitting the town privately, set forth on his journey.
When he drew near the capital of the Indies, the Sultan Shahriar and all the court came out to meet him: the princes, overjoyed at meeting, embraced, and entered the city together, amid the acclamations of the people; and the Sultan conducted his brother to the place he had provided for him.
But the remembrance of his wife's disloyalty made such an impression upon the countenance of Shahzenan, that the Sultan could not but notice it. Shahriar endeavoured to divert his brother every day, by new schemes of pleasure, and the most splendid entertainments; but all his efforts only increased the King's sorrow.
One day, Shahriar had started on a great hunting match, about two days' journey from his capital; but Shahzenan, pleading ill health, was left behind. He shut himself up in his apartment, and sat down at a window that looked into the garden.
Suddenly a secret gate of the palace opened, and there came out of it twenty women, in the midst of whom walked the Sultaness. The persons who accompanied the Sultaness threw off their veils and long robes, and Shahzenan was greatly surprised when he saw that ten of them were black slaves, each of whom chose a female companion. The Sultaness clapped her hands, and called: "Masoud, Masoud!" and immediately a black came running to her; and they all remained conversing familiarly together.
When Shahzenan saw this he cried: " How little reason had I, to think that no one was so unfortunate as myself!" So, from that moment he forbore to repine. He ate and drank, and he continued in very good humour; and when the Sultan returned, he went to meet him with a shining countenance.
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Shahriar was overjoyed to see his brother so cheerful; and spoke thus: "Dear brother, ever since you came to my court I have seen you afflicted with a deep melancholy; but now you are in the highest spirits. Pray tell me why you were so melancholy, and why you are now cheerful?"
Upon this, the King of Tartary replied as follows: "You are my Sultan and master; but excuse me, I beseech you, from answering your question.”—" No, dear brother," said the Sultan, " you must answer me; I will take no denial." Shahzenan, not being able to withstand his brother's importunity, told him the story of the Queen of Samarcande's treachery: "This,” said he, "was the cause of my grief; judge, whether I had not reason enough to give myself up to it"
Then Shahriar said: "I cease now to wonder at your melancholy. But, bless Allah, who has comforted you; let me know what your comfort is, and conceal nothing from me." Obliged again to yield to the Sultan, Shahzenan gave him the particulars of all that he had seen from his window. Then Shahriar spoke thus: "I must see this with my own eyes." " Dear brother," answered Shahzenan, "that you may without much difficulty. Appoint another hunting match; and after our departure you and I will return alone to my apartments; the next day you will see what I saw." The Sultan, approving the stratagem, immediately appointed a new hunting match.
Next day the two princes set out, and stayed for some time at the place of encampment. They then returned in disguise, and went straight to Shahzenan's apartment. They had scarce placed themselves in the window, when the secret gate opened, the Sultaness and her ladies entered the garden with the blacks. Again she called Masoud; and the Sultan saw that his brother had spoken truth.
" O heavens!" cried he, " what an indignity!"
Then Shahriar ordered that the Sultaness should be strangled; and he beheaded all her women with his own hand. After this he resolved to marry a virgin every day, and to have her killed the next morning. And thus every day a maiden was married, and every day a wife was sacrificed.
The report of this unexampled cruelty spread consternation through the city. And at length, the people who had once loaded their monarch with praise and blessing, raised one universal outcry against him.
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The grand vizier, who was the unwilling agent of this horrid injustice, had two daughters, the eldest called Sheherazade, and the youngest Dinarzade. The latter was a lady of very great merit; but the elder had courage, wit, and penetration in a remarkable degree. She studied much, and never forgot anything she had once read. She had successfully applied herself to philosophy, physic, history, and the liberal arts; and made verses that surpassed those of the best poets of her time. Besides this, she was a perfect beauty; all her great qualifications were crowned by solid virtue; and the vizier passionately loved a daughter so worthy of his affection.
One day, as they were discoursing together, she said to him, " Father, I have one favour to beg of you, and most humbly pray you to grant it me." " I will not refuse it," he answered, " provided it be just and reasonable." " I have a design," resumed she, " to stop the course of that barbarity which the Sultan exercises upon the families of this city." " Your design, daughter," replied the vizier, " is very commendable; but how do you intend to effect it ?" "Father," said Sheherazade, " since by your means the Sultan celebrates new marriage, I conjure you to procure me the honour of being his bride."
This proposal filled the vizier with horror. " O heavens," replied he, " have you lost your senses, daughter, that you make such a dangerous request to me? You know the Sultan has sworn by his soul that he will never be married for two days to the same woman; and would you have me propose you to him " "Dear father," said the daughter, " I know the risk I run; but that does not frighten me. If I perish, at least my death will be glorious; and if I succeed, I shall do my country an important piece of service." " No, no," said the vizier, " whatever you can represent to induce me to let you throw yourself into that horrible danger, do not think that I will agree to it. When the Sultan shall order me to strike my dagger into your heart, alas! I must obey him; what a horrible office for a father!" "Once more, father," said Sheherazade, “grant me the favour I beg." " Your stubbornness," replied the vizier, "will make me angry; why will you run headlong to your ruin? I am afraid the same thing will happen to you that happened to the ass, who was well off, and could not keep so." " What happened to the ass?" asked Sheherazade. "I will tell you," said the vizier.
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