The Arabian Nights Entertainments, - [best autobiographies to read .txt] 📗

elder princes, notwithstanding they owed the restoration of their lives to their brother, became envious of the valuable presents he had received, and of the fame he would acquire at home for his achievement. They said to one another, “When we reach the capital the people will applaud him, and say, �Lo! the two elder brothers have been rescued from destruction by the youngest.’”

The youngest prince being supplied with horses, camels, and carriages, for himself and companions, began his march homewards, and proceeded by easy stages towards the capital of his father; within one day’s journey of which was a reservoir of water lined with marble. On the brink of this he ordered his tents to be pitched, resolving to pass the night and enjoy himself in feasting with his brothers. An elegant entertainment was prepared, and he sat with them till it was time to repose; when they retired to their tents, and he lay down to sleep, having on his finger a ring, which he had found in the cage of the Bulbul.

The envious brothers thinking this a fit opportunity to destroy their generous preserver, arose in the dead of night, and taking up the prince, cast him into the reservoir, and escaped to their tents undiscovered. In the morning they issued orders of march, the tents were struck, and the camels loaded; but the attendants missing the youngest prince, inquired after him; to which the brothers replied, that being asleep in his tent, they were unwilling to disturb him. This satisfied them, and having pursued their march they reached the capital of their father, who was overjoyed at their return, and admired the beauty of the Bulbul, which they had carried with them; but he inquired with eagerness what was become of their brother.

The brothers replied, “We know nothing of him, and did not till now hear of his departure in search of the bird, which we have brought with us.” The sultan dearly loved his youngest son; and on hearing that his brothers had not seen him, beat his hands together, exclaiming, “Alas! alas! there is no refuge or asylum but with the Almighty, from whom we came, and to whom we must return.”

We must now return to the youngest brother. When he was cast into the reservoir he awoke, and finding himself in danger, exclaimed, “I seek deliverance from that God who relieveth his servants from the snares of the wicked.” His prayer was heard, and he reached the bottom of the reservoir unhurt; where he seated himself on a ledge, when he heard persons talking. One said to another, “Some son of man is near.” “Yes,” replied the other, “he is the youngest son of our virtuous sultan; who, after having delivered his two brothers from enchantment, hath been treacherously cast into this reservoir.” “Well,” answered the first voice, “he may easily escape, for he has a ring upon his finger, which if he will rub a genie will appear to him and perform whatever he may command.”

The prince no sooner heard these words than he rubbed his hand over the ring, when a good genie appearing, said, “Prince, what are thy commands?”

“I command,” replied the prince, “that thou instantly prepare me tents, camels, domestics, guards, and every thing suitable to my condition.” “All is ready,” answered the genie; who, at the same instant taking him from the ledge, conducted him into a splendid encampment, where the troops received him with acclamations. He ordered signals of march to be sounded, and proceeded towards the capital of his father. When he had arrived near the city, he commanded his tents to be pitched on the plain. Immediately his orders were obeyed, the tents were raised (a most magnificent one for himself), before which the servants raised a gorgeous awning, and sprinkled water to lay the dust. The cooks lighted their fires, and a great smoke ascended, which filled the plain.

The inhabitants of the city were astonished at the approach of the army, and when they saw the encampment pitched, supposed it to be that of a powerful enemy preparing for assaulting them.

Intelligence of this unexpected host was conveyed to the sultan; who, on hearing it, instead of alarm, felt a pleasure which he could not account for, and said, “Gracious Allah! my heart is filled with delight; but why I know not.” Immediately he commanded his suite to attend, and repaired to the encampment of his son, to whom he was introduced; but the prince being habited very richly, and differently from what he had seen him in, was not known by the sultan.

The prince received his father with the honours due to his rank, and when they were seated, and had entered into conversation, said, “What is become of thy youngest son?” The words were scarcely uttered, when the old sultan fell fainting to the earth.

On his recovery, he exclaimed, “Alas! my son’s imprudence led him to travel, and he has fallen a prey to the beasts of the forest.”

“Be comforted,” replied the prince; “the disasters of fortune have not reached thy son, for he is alive and in health.” “Is it possible?” cried the sultan; “ah! tell me where I shall find him!” “He is before thee,” replied the prince: upon which, the sultan looking more closely, knew him, fell upon his neck, wept, and sunk to the earth overpowered with ecstacy.

When the sultan had recovered, he desired his son to relate his adventures, which he did from first to last. Just as he had finished the elder brothers arrived, and seeing him in such splendour, hung down their heads, abashed and unable to speak; but yet more envious than ever. The old sultan would have put them to death for their treachery, but the youngest prince said, “Let us leave them to the Almighty, for whoever commits sin will meet its punishment in himself.”

When the husbandman had concluded the above story, the sultan was so highly pleased that he presented him with a large sum of money, and a beautiful slave, inquiring at the same time if he could divert him with another story, to which he replied in the affirmative.

On another night, when the sultan and the countryman had sat down to converse, the former desired him to relate some ancient story, when the latter began as follows.

Story of a Sultan of Yemen and his three Sons.

It has been related, that in the kingdom of Yemen there was a sultan who had three sons, two of whom were born of the same mother, and the third of another wife, with whom becoming disgusted from some caprice, and having degraded her to the station of a domestic, he suffered her and her son to live unnoticed among the servants of the haram. The two former, one day, addressed their father, requesting his permission to hunt: upon which he presented them each with a horse of true blood, richly caparisoned, and ordered proper domestics to attend them to the chase.

When they had departed, the unfortunate youngest brother repaired to his unhappy mother, and expressed his wishes to enjoy, like the elder princes, the pleasures of the field. “My son,” replied she, “it is not in my power to procure thee a horse or other necessaries.” Upon this he wept bitterly; when she gave him some of her silver ornaments, which he took, and having sold them, with the price purchased a foundered steed. Having mounted it, and provided himself with some bread, he followed the track of his brothers for two days, but on the third lost his way. After wandering two days more he beheld upon the plain a string of emeralds and pearls, which shone with great lustre. Having taken it up, he wreathed it round his turban, and returned homewards exulting in his prize; but when he had arrived near the city his brothers met him, pulled him from his horse, beat him, and forced it from him. He excelled them both in prowess and vigour, but he was fearful of the sultan’s displeasure, and his mother’s safety, should he punish his insulters. He therefore submitted to the indignity and loss, and retired.

The two cowardly princes entered the palace, and presented the string of jewels to the sultan; who, after admiring it, said, “I shall not rest satisfied till the bird arrives to whom this certainly must have belonged:” upon which the brothers replied, “We will travel in search of it, and bring it to our august father and sultan.”

Preparations being made, the brothers departed, and the youngest prince having mounted his lame steed followed them. After three days’ journey he reached an arid desert, which having passed over by great exertion, he arrived almost exhausted at a city; which on entering he found resounding with the shrieks of lamentation and woe. At length he met with a venerable old man, to whom having made a respectful salute, he inquired of him the cause of such universal mourning. “My son,” replied the old man, “on a certain day during the last forty-three years, a terrible monster has appeared before our city, demanding a beautiful virgin to be delivered up to him, threatening to destroy it in case of refusal. Unable to defend ourselves, we have complied with his demand, and the damsels of the city have drawn lots for the dreadful sacrifice; but this year the chance has fallen upon the beautiful daughter of our sultan. This is the day of the monster’s usual arrival, and we are involved in universal lamentation for her unhappy fate.”

When the young prince heard the above, he, under the direction of the old man, repaired to the place of the monster’s resort, resolved to conquer him or die. Scarcely had he reached it, when the princess approached it, splendidly habited, but with a dejected head, and drowned in tears. He made a respeftful salute, which she returned, saying, “Hasten, young man, from this spot, for a monster will soon appear, to whom, by my unhappy fate, I am destined. Should he discover thee, he will tear thee in pieces.”

“Princess,” replied he, “I know the circumstance, and am resolved to become a ransom for thy beauty.”

The prince had hardly uttered these words, when a column of dust arose; from which with dreadful howlings and fury the monster issued, lashing his gigantic sides with his thick tail. The princess shrieked, and wept in the agonies of fear; but the prince drawing his sabre, put himself in the way of the savage monster; who, enraged, snorted fire from his wide nostrils, and made a spring at the prince. The gallant youth with wonderful agility evaded his talons, and darting from side to side of the monster, watched his opportunity, till rushing upon him, he cleft his head asunder just between his eyes, when the huge creature fell down and growled his last in a tremendous roar.

The princess, on seeing the monster expire, ran to her deliverer, wiped the dust and sweat from his face with her veil, uttering grateful thanks, to which he replied, “Return to thy lamenting parents;” but she would not, and said, “My lord, and light of my eyes, thou must be mine and I thine.” “That is perhaps impossible,” rejoined the prince; and hastening from her, he returned to the city, where he took up his lodging in an obscure corner. She now repaired to the palace. On her entrance, the sultan and her mother were astonished, and inquired in alarm the cause of her return; fearing that she had escaped from the monster, who would in revenge destroy the city.

The princess related the story of her deliverance by a handsome youth: upon which, the sultan, with his attendants, and most of the inhabitants of the place, repaired to view the monster, whom they found extended dead on the