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"If Princess Zobeide was, on the one hand, charmed with the tender sentiments which accompanied the caliph's compliment, she was, on the other, much surprised to hear of the death of Nouzhatoul Aouadat, which she did not expect. This intelligence threw her into such a state of astonishment that she remained for some time unable to reply. At length she said, 'Commander of the Faithful, I am very grateful for all the tender sentiments which you express towards me; but allow me to say that I do not at all understand the intelligence you give me of the death of my slave. She is in perfect health. Heaven preserve us both, my lord; but you see me afflicted at the death of Abou Hassan, her husband, your favourite, whom I esteem as much for the regard I know that you have for him, as because he has sometimes very agreeably entertained me. But, my lord, the indifference which I see you manifest at his death, and the forgetfulness you show in so very little time, fill me with surprise and astonishment. And this insensibility appears to me the more strange from the confusion you seem disposed to make by telling me of the death of my slave, instead of speaking of his death.'
"The caliph, who supposed he was perfectly well informed of the death of the slave, and who had reason to feel certain from what he had seen and heard, began to laugh when he heard Princess Zobeide talk in this manner. 'Mesrour,' said he, turning towards the chief of the eunuchs, 'what say you to this speech? Is it not true that ladies have sometimes strange wanderings of the understanding that one can scarcely believe? For you have both heard and seen the particulars of this affair as well as myself.' And turning again to Princess Zobeide he resumed: 'Lady, shed no more tears for Abou Hassan, for he is perfectly well. Weep rather for the death of your dear slave. It is scarcely a moment since her husband came into my council hall in tears to announce to me the death of his wife. I ordered a purse of a hundred pieces of gold and a piece of brocade to be given him towards defraying the funeral expenses of his dead wife. Mesrour here was witness of all that happened.'
"Princess Zobeide could not believe the caliph was serious when he spoke thus. 'Commander of the Faithful,' replied she, 'although it be your custom to jest, I must say that this is not a proper time to do so. It is not my slave who is dead, but her husband, Abou Hassan, whose fate I lament, and which you ought to lament with me.'
"'And I,' replied the caliph, 'tell you without jesting that you are mistaken. It is Nouzhatoul Aouadat who is dead, and it is Abou Hassan who is alive and in perfect health.'
"Princess Zobeide was piqued at the caliph's direct contradiction. 'Commander of the Faithful,' she resumed in an earnest tone, 'may Heaven keep you from remaining long under this mistake. Allow me to repeat once more that it is Abou Hassan who is dead, and that Nouzhatoul Aouadat my slave, is certainly alive. It is not an hour since she left me. She came hither quite in despair, and in a state of affliction, the very sight of which would have drawn tears from me, even though she had not told me the real cause of her grief. All my women have been weeping with me, and they can give you the most convincing proofs of the truth of what I say. They will tell you also that I made Nouzhatoul Aouadat a present of a purse of a hundred pieces of gold and a piece of brocade. I was even going to send you the expression of my sympathy at the time you made your appearance.'
"The caliph's eyes sparkled with anger. He sat down on the sofa, and speaking to Mesrour, said, 'Go this moment and see which of the two is dead, and instantly bring me word. Although I am quite certain that Nouzhatoul Aouadat is dead, I would rather take this step than be any longer obstinate in a matter of which I am perfectly convinced.'
"The caliph had hardly finished speaking before Mesrour was gone. 'You will see in a moment,' continued he, speaking to Princess Zobeide, 'who is right, you or I.' 'For my part,' replied Princess Zobeidd, 'I very well know that I am right. 'And I,' retorted the caliph, 'am so assured that it is Nouzhatoul Aouadat who is dead that I will bet you any wager you please that she is dead, and that Abou Hassan is very well.' 'Do not think to carry your point so,' replied Princess Zobeide: 'I accept your wager. I am so convinced of the death of Abou Hassan that I am ready to stake whatever I hold most precious against what you please, be it of never so little value.' 'Since this is the case,' said the caliph, 'I stake my garden of delights against your palace of pictures.' Princess Zobeide replied, 'I will consent to it, and the wager is settled.'
"While the caliph and Princess Zobeide were contending so earnestly and with so much warmth whether it was Abou Hassan or Nouzhatoul Aouadat who was dead, Abou Hassan, who had foreseen that altercation would ensue upon this point, was on the alert to be prepared for whatever might happen. When he saw Mesrour at a distance through the lattice near which he sat conversing with his wife, he immediately understood for what purpose he had been sent. He told his wife to pretend to be dead once more, and to make her preparations quickly.
"In fact there was no time to lose, and it was as much as he could do before Mesrour arrived to place his wife upon the ground again, and to spread over her the piece of brocade which the caliph had ordered to be given to him. He then opened the door of his apartment, and with a melancholy countenance, holding his handkerchief before his eyes, seated himself at the head of the pretended corpse.
"Scarcely was he ready when Mesrour entered the chamber. The funeral preparations which met the eyes of the chief of the eunuchs gave him secret pleasure as far as it regarded the commission with which he was entrusted by the caliph. As soon as Abou Hassan saw him he rose to meet him, sighing and lamenting, 'O my friend, you see me in the greatest affliction possible for the death of my dear wife Nouzhatoul Aouadat.'
"Mesrour was much affected at this address, and could not refuse the tribute of a few tears to the memory of the dead lady. He lifted up the cloth which covered the body that he might look at her face; and after he had glanced at her countenance, he said, with a deep sigh: 'There is no other God but Allah: we must all submit to His will, and every creature must return to Him.' He then turned towards Abou Hassan, who was bathed in tears, and observed: ‘The saying is true which tells us that women sometimes know not what they say. Princess Zobeide is now in this predicament. She persisted in maintaining to the caliph that it was you who were dead, and not your wife. And, let the caliph say what he will to the contrary, he cannot succeed in altering her conviction. They were so earnest and obstinate in their altercation, that it would never have ended if the caliph, in order to convince the Princess Zobeide, had not determined to send me hither to ascertain the truth.'
"'Heaven preserve the Commander of the Faithful in the possession and good use of his excellent understanding,' replied Abou Hassan, the tears still in his eyes. ‘You see the state of the case, and that I have not imposed upon his majesty; and would to Heaven,' cried the deceiver, 'that I had never had occasion to go to him with such melancholy, such heartrending information.' 'You speak truth,' replied Mesrour; 'and I can assure you I sympathize very sincerely in your affliction. I must now reluctantly leave you to return to the caliph.'
"Lest Mesrour should turn back immediately to say something else, Abou Hassan followed him with his eyes for some time; and when he saw him at a considerable distance, he came back to his chamber and freed Nouzhatoul Aouadat from the covering under which she lay. 'This is a new scene in our play,' said he; ‘but I suppose it will not be the last. The Princess Zobeide will certainly not pay any regard to Mesrour's report; so that we must expect some new event.' While Abou Hassan was saying this Nouzhatoul Aouadat had time to put on her dress again. Then they resumed their seats near the lattice, and waited to see what would happen next.
"In the meantime Mesrour reached the Princess Zobeide's apartment. He entered her cabinet, laughing and clapping his hands as a man would do who had something agreeable to communicate. The caliph wished to have the matter instantly cleared up. As soon, therefore, as he saw Mesrour, he cried out: 'Thou wicked slave, this is no time for laughing. Speak out boldly: who is dead-the husband or the wife?'
"'Commander of the Faithful,' answered Mesrour, 'it is Nouzhatoul Aouadat who is dead; and Abou Hassan is still overwhelmed with grief.'
"Without giving Mesrour time to say more, the caliph broke out into a loud fit of laughter. 'Good news!' cried he; ‘only a moment since, the Princess Zobeide, your mistress, was the owner of the palace of pictures; it is now mine. It was betted against my garden of delights since you left us. Tell me every particular of what you have seen.'
"When Mesrour had described what he had seen, the caliph laughed very heartily, and addressing the princess, he said, 'Now, lady, do you continue to think that Nouzhatoul Aouadat is still living, and that Abou Hassan is head? and do you not confess that you have lost your wager?'
"Princess Zobeide was by no means satisfied that Mesrour had made a true report. 'How, my lord, can you think that I shall believe this slave?' she retorted; 'he is an impertinent fellow, who knows not what he says. I have seen with my own eyes Nouzhatoul Aouadat in the greatest affliction. I heard perfectly what she told me concerning the death of her husband.'
"'Lady,' returned Mesrour, 'I swear by your life, and by the life of the Commander of the Faithful (the most precious things in the world to me), that Nouzhatoul is dead, and that Abou Hassan is alive.' 'Thou liest, vile and contemptible slave!' cried the princess in a violent passion; 'and I will confound thee in a moment.' She immediately called her women by clapping her hands. 'Come hither,' said the princess to them; ' tell me the truth: who was it that came to me a short time before the Commander of the Faithful made his visit here? 'The women all answered that it was the poor wretched Nouzhatoul Aouadat. And, speaking to her treasuress, the Princess Zobeide demanded: 'What was it I ordered you to give her when she went away?' 'O lady,' replied the treasuress, 'I gave to Nouzhatoul Aouadat, by your majesty's order, a purse with a hundred pieces of gold, and a piece of brocade, which she took away with her.' 'Well, then, thou wretch! thou unworthy slave!' said the Princess Zobeide to Mesrour, 'what canst thou say to all thou hast now heard? Whom thinkest thou I am to believe; thee, or my treasuress, my women, and my own eyes?'
"Mesrour might easily have answered his mistress to some purpose; but, as he was afraid of irritating her still more, he chose to play a prudent part, and remain silent, thoroughly convinced all the while by the proofs he had seen that Nouzhatoul Aouadat was dead, and not Abou Hassan.
"During this altercation the caliph, who had heard the proofs brought on both sides, and which each party thought convincing, and who felt assured that the princess was wrong, laughed heartily at seeing the princess in such a rage with Mesrour. 'Lady, let me observe once more,' said he to her, 'that I know not who it was that said women are sometimes beside themselves; allow me to say that you make the truth of that saying very apparent. Mesrour is but just returned from Abou Hassan's apartments: he tells you he has seen with his own eyes Nouzhatoul Aouadat lying dead in the middle of her chamber, and Abou Hassan sitting near the corpse; and notwithstanding this testimony, you persist in your former opinion. It is a matter I cannot understand.
"Princess Zobeide seemed not to attend to this remonstrance of the caliph. 'Commander of the Faithful,' returned she, 'pardon me if I have a little suspicion of you. I see plainly that you are leagued with Mesrour in a design to thwart me, and to try my patience to the utmost. And as I perceive that the report which Mesrour has made was arranged between you, I beg you will allow me to send a person on my part to Abou Hassan's apartments that I may know whether I am really in error.'
"The caliph gave his consent, and his wife sent her nurse upon this important errand.
"The nurse departed, to the great joy of the caliph, who was delighted to see the princess in this embarrassment; but Mesrour, extremely mortified at seeing his mistress so angry with him, was pondering by what means he should appease her. For this reason he was delighted when he saw the princess determined to send her nurse to Abou Hassan's, because he felt convinced that the report the nurse would make would correspond entirely with his own, and would serve to restore him again to her favour.
"Meanwhile Abou Hassan, who had been keeping watch, perceived the nurse at some distance. He immediately conjectured what must be the errand on which the princess had sent her. He called his wife, and said: 'Here comes your lady's nurse to inquire into the truth. I must play again the dead man in my turn.'
"Everything was soon ready. Nouzhatoul Aouadat placed Abou Hassan upon the ground, threw over him the piece of brocade which the princess had given her, and placed the turban on his face. The nurse, in her eagerness, was approaching as quickly as she could. Entering the chamber she perceived Nouzhatoul Aouadat, all in tears, with her hair dishevelled, beating her breast and uttering loud lamentations.
"She drew near this pretended widow, and said in a very melancholy tone of voice: 'O my dear Nouzhatoul Aouadat, I am not come to disturb your grief, nor to prevent your shedding tears for a husband who loved you so tenderly.' 'Ah, my good mother,' instantly replied the disconsolate widow, 'you see to what a wretched situation I am reduced overwhelmed as I am with distress at the loss of my dear Abou Hassan. Alas! what will become of the poor Nouzhatoul Aouadat?'
"The nurse was in utter astonishment at seeing a state of things entirely opposite to what the chief of the eunuchs had reported to the caliph. 'The curse of Allah be upon this black-faced Mesrour,' exclaimed she earnestly, 'for having been the occasion of so great a quarrel between my good mistress and the Commander of the Faithful by the lies he has told them!' Then addressing herself to Nouzhatoul Aouadat, she continued: ‘My dear child, I must tell you the wickedness and falsehood of this wretch Mesrour, who has maintained with inconceivable impudence to our good mistress that you were dead, and that Abou Hassan was living.' 'Alas! my good mother,' cried Nouzhatoul Aouadat, 'would to Heaven he had spoken the truth! I should not be overwhelmed with affliction as you see me now, nor be lamenting a husband who was so dear to me.' At these last words she melted into tears.
"The nurse was much affected by the tears of Nouzhatoul Aouadat. She seated herself near the supposed widow, and shed many tears. Then she silently approached the head of Abou Hassan, raised his turban a little, and uncovered his face, to see whether she would know him. 'Ah, poor Abou Hassan,' said she, covering him again almost directly, 'I pray Heaven to have mercy upon you! Farewell, my child,' she continued, turning to the mourner; 'if I could stay with you a longer time I should be glad to do so. But my duty urges me to go instantly, and deliver my good mistress from the distressful state of anxiety into which that black villain has thrown her by his impudent falsehood, in assuring her that you were dead.'
"Princess Zobeide's nurse had scarcely closed the door upon leaving them when Nouzhatoul Aouadat wiped her eyes and took off the things in which Abou Hassan was wrapped. Then they returned together to their places on the sofa, prepared to get out of the difficulty whatever turn the matter should take.
"Princess Zobeide's nurse in the meantime returned even more quickly than she had gone. She entered the cabinet of the princess almost out of breath, and gave an account of her commission, relating in an artless manner all she had seen.
"Princess Zobeide heard the nurse's report with a satisfaction she could not conceal. The moment her messenger had ceased speaking, she said to the nurse, in a tone of triumph at having gained her point: 'Repeat what you have told me to the Commander of the Faithful, who looks upon us as deprived of our senses, and who besides would have it thought that we have no sentiment of religion-that we have no fear of Allah!'
"Mesrour, who expected that the nurse's report would prove favourable, was excessively mortified to find that all had turned out quite differently. For this reason he was much pleased at having an opportunity of explaining himself freely to the nurse rather than to the princess, whom he did not presume to answer. 'Thou toothless old woman,' said he to the nurse, 'I tell thee plainly thou art a liar: there is not a word of truth in what thou sayest. I saw with my own eyes Nouzhatoul Aouadat lying dead in the middle of her chamber.' 'Thou art a liar thyself!' replied the nurse, 'to dare to maintain such a falsehood to me, who am just returned from Abou Hassan's house. I saw him lying dead; and I left his wife in great grief, but perfectly alive.'
"The caliph, who had heard all this altercation, was very much embarrassed. It was to no purpose that he silently gave all possible attention to the matter. He knew not what to think of so much contradiction. The princess, for her part, as well as Mesrour, the nurse, and the female slaves who were present, knew not what to think of it, and were all silent. The caliph at last spoke. 'Lady,' said he, addressing himself to the princess, 'I see clearly we are all liars; I first, you next, then Mesrour, and then the nurse; at least it appears that no one of us is more worthy of credit than the rest. So let us go ourselves, that we may see with our own eyes on which side the truth lies. I see no other way of clearing up our doubts.'
"Saying this, the caliph rose. The princess followed him, and Mesrour walked before to open the door. 'Commander of the Faithful,' said he, 'I am much rejoiced your majesty has taken this step; and I shall be still more glad when I have convinced the nurse, not that she is doting, because that expression has had the misfortune to offend my good mistress, but that the report she made is not true.' The nurse replied angrily: 'Hold thy tongue, black-face! there is no dotard here but thyself.'
"Princess Zobeide, who was unusually angry with Mesrour, took her follower's part. 'Thou vile slave!' said she, ‘whatever thou mayest say, I still maintain that my nurse has spoken the truth; thee I can only regard as a liar.' '0 my gracious mistress,' answered Mesrour, ‘if the nurse is so truly assured that Nouzhatoul Aouadat is alive, and that Abou Hassan is dead, let her lay some wager with me: she would not dare.' The nurse was ready with an answer. 'I will readily dare,' said she, 'and take thee at thy word.' The nurse and he made a wager, in the presence of the caliph and the Princess Zobeide, of a piece of gold brocade with silver flowers, the pattern to be chosen by the winner.
"The apartment which the caliph and the princess left, although at some distance from those in which Abou Hassan and Nouzhatoul Aouadat lived, was directly opposite to them. Abou Hassan, who saw them coming, immediately apprised his wife of this circumstance. Nouzhatoul Aouadat looked through the lattice, and saw the procession coming. 'What shall we do?' cried she; 'we are ruined!' 'Not at all; don't be afraid,' returned Abou Hassan, very coolly. 'Let us both pretend to be dead, as we have each of us pretended before, and you shall see that all will turn out well.'
"In fact, Abou Hassan and his wife determined to cover themselves as well as they could; and, after they had placed themselves one beside the other in the middle of the chamber, each under a piece of brocade, they waited quietly for the arrival of the company who were coming to visit them.
"The illustrious visitors presently appeared. Mesrour opened the door, and the caliph and the Princess Zobeide entered the chamber, followed by all their attendants. They were much surprised, and stood silent for a time, looking at the dismal spectacle which presented itself to their view. Princess Zobeide at last broke silence. 'Alas!' said she to the caliph, 'both are dead! This is your doing.' she went on, looking at the caliph and Mesrour. 'Why did you obstinately endeavour to impose upon me that my dear slave was dead? Indeed she is dead now, doubtless for grief at having lost her husband.' 'Say rather,' replied the caliph, with a contrary prejudice, 'that Nouzhatoul Aouadat died first, and that Abou Hassan expired under the affliction of seeing his wife, your dear slave, die. So you must allow that you have lost your wager, and that the palace of pictures is now fairly mine.' 'And I,' replied the princess, 'maintain that you have lost, and that your favourite garden belongs to me. Abou Hassan died first; did not my nurse tell you, as well as I, that she saw his wife alive, and lamenting her husband's death?'
"This altercation of the caliph with Princess Zobeide brought on another debate.
"At last the caliph, reflecting upon all that had happened, agreed that the princess had as much reason as himself to maintain that she was the winner. Mortified at not being able to come at the truth in this matter, he drew near the two dead bodies, endeavouring to think of some method which should determine the wager in his own favour and against the princess. 'Yes,' cried he, a moment after, ‘I swear by the holy name of Allah that I will give a thousand pieces of money to the person who shall ascertain for me which of the two died first.'
"The caliph had scarcely said these last words when he heard a voice from under the brocade which covered Abou Hassan cry out: 'Commander of the Faithful, it was I who died first: give me the thousand pieces of gold.' And at the same time Abou Hassan freed himself from the brocade which covered him, and threw himself at the caliph's feet. His wife rose up in the same manner, and ran to throw herself at the feet of Zobeide; but out of decency she wrapped herself in the brocade. Princess Zobeide set up a loud cry, which increased the terror of all those who were present. The princess at last recovered from her fright, and was overjoyed at seeing her dear slave living again, for she had felt inconsolable at having seen her dead. 'Ah, you wicked one!' cried she, 'you have made me suffer much for your sake in more ways than one! I pardon you, however, from the bottom of my heart, since I find that you are not really dead.'
"The caliph on his part had not taken the thing so much to heart. Far from being afraid when he heard Abou Hassan 's voice, he was nearly bursting with laughter when he saw the pair of corpses freeing themselves from their coverings, and heard Abou Hassan very seriously demanding the thousand pieces of gold which he had promised to the person who should ascertain which died first. 'So then, Abou Hassan,' said the caliph, 'have you determined to make me die with laughter? How came it into your head thus to surprise both the princess and I, in a way against which we could not possibly guard?'
"'Commander of the Faithful,' replied Abou Hassan, 'I will tell you the whole truth without disguise. Your majesty very well knows that I always had a love for good living. The wife you gave me has not taught me economy in this point. With such dispositions, your majesty will easily believe that had our purse been as deep as the sea, and had we possessed all the wealth of your majesty, we should soon have found the means of squandering it. Ever since we have been together we have saved nothing, but have lived merely upon your majesty's bounty. This morning, after settling accounts with our cook, we found upon satisfying his demand and paying some other debts that there remained nothing of all the money you had given us. Then reflections on the past and resolutions to do better in future crowded on our minds. At last, the shame of seeing ourselves reduced to so wretched a situation, and our reluctance to inform your majesty of it, set us upon inventing this plan to supply our wants, by amusing you with a little artifice, which we entreat your majesty will have the goodness to forgive.'
"The caliph and princess were very well satisfied with the sincerity of Abou Hassan. They did not seem at all angry at what had occurred; on the contrary, the princess, who had hitherto taken the matter in too serious a light, could not help laughing, in her turn, at the thought of all that Hassan had devised to bring about his design. The caliph, who had scarcely once ceased laughing, said to Abou Hassan and his wife, as he rose: ‘Follow me, both of you; I will give you the thousand pieces of gold that I promised you, for the joy I feel that you are neither of you dead.'
"'Commander of the Faithful,' resumed Princess Zobeide, ' content yourself, I beseech you, with causing the thousand pieces of gold to be given to Abou Hassan; you owe them only to him: leave me to content his wife.' So saying, she ordered her treasuress to give a thousand pieces of gold to Nouzhatoul Aouadat also, as a token of the joy she felt to see that her favourite was still alive.
"Abou Hassan and Nouzhatoul Aouadat for a long time preserved the favour of the Caliph Haroun Alraschid and of Princess Zobeide, and gained enough from their bounty abundantly, to supply all their wants for the remainder of their lives."
The Sultana Scheherazade, when she had finished the history of Abou Hassan, promised Schahriar to relate to him on the morrow another story which should amuse him just as much as the adventure of the Sleeper Awakened. Dinarzade did not fail to remind her of her promise before it was day light, and Scheherazade related the following history:-
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