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

if you disliked me, did you take me to wife? but if you love not as other men, tell me so, and I will suffer my misfortune in silence.” The lady, moved by this remonstrance, replied, “Most virtuous princess, would that for your sake I were of the sex you suppose me; but, alas! I am like you a woman, disappointed in love.” She then related to her the wonderful adventures she had undergone since leaving her father’s house, at which the vizier’s daughter was so affected that she vowed for her a lasting friendship, agreed to keep her secret, and live with her till such times as chance should restore her lover. In return for this kindness the lady promised that should the object of her affections ever arrive, he should marry them both, and that she should have the precedence in the ceremony of union. The two friends having thus agreed, the vizier’s daughter regained her cheerfulness, and means were taken to convince her father, mother, and friends of the consummation of the nuptials. From this time they lived in perfect happiness together, one exercising the authority of sultan to the satisfaction of the subject, and the other acting the part of a satisfied and obedient wife; but still both were anxious to meet their mutual husband. As the capital of the kingdom was a mart for most nations of the world, the pretended sultan formed the following stratagem for discovering her beloved, not doubting but that he would travel over all parts of the world in search of the object of his affection. She erected a most magnificent caravanserai, furnished with baths hot and cold, and every convenience for the weary traveller. When it was finished, she issued a proclamation, that sojourners from all parts should be welcome to lodge in it, and be provided with every necessary till they could accommodate themselves in the city, or pursued, if only travellers, their journey to another part. Over the gate of this edifice she placed an exact statue of herself, and gave orders to the guards that whatever stranger, on looking at it, should shew signs of agitation, or utter words signifying that he knew the original, should be immediately seized and confined in the palace. Many weeks had not passed when the father of this enterprising lady, who had travelled many thousands of miles in search of his daughter, arrived at the gate, and on seeing the statue, exclaimed, “Alas! alas! how like my poor, lost child!” He wds immediately carried to the palace, lodged in a magnificent apartment, treated with the highest respect; but kept in complete ignorance as to the cause of his confinement and his future fate.

Not long after this, his disconsolate nephew, who, on the departure of the treacherous captain, had wandered from city to city in hopes of finding his mistress, arrived, and repaired to the caravanserai.

On sight of the statue his feelings overcame him; he sighed and fainted: when he was taken up by the guards and lodged in the palace, where being come to himself, he was astonished at the repect and attention paid him by the domestics, and the splendid manner in which he was entertained; but it was in vain that he inquired the cause of his detention, the only answer he could get being, “Have patience, my lord, and repose yourself till Providence shall free you from our confinement.” Soon after this the master of the ship, who had visited port after port in hopes of recovering his vessel, reached the city, and hearing of the hospitality with which all strangers were received at the caravanserai of the sultan, repaired to the gateway; but no sooner had he cast his eyes on the statue, than he exclaimed, “Ah! how like to the artful yet virtuous woman who cheated me of my property by stealing my ship.” Immediately he was seized by the guards, and conveyed to the palace, but treated with kindness. Many days had not succeeded to this event, when the sultan and the vizier, whose daughter with the thirty-nine ladies had been so artfully carried away from them by the enterprising heroine of this history, made their appearance at the gateway of the caravanserai, and on beholding the statue, cried out, “Surely this is the likeness of her who deprived us of our children; ah!

that we could find her and be revenged on her hypocrisy!” On saying this they were apprehended and taken to the palace, where they were conducted to apartments suitable to their rank. In a few days afterwards the chief of the banditti, who, burning with the ireful resolution of revenging the deaths of his associates, had travelled from place to place in hopes of finding the object of his fury, arrived at the gateway, and observing the statue, roared out in a rage, “Surely this is the resemblance of my tormenter; oh! that I could meet thy original, so that I might have the satisfaction of making her blood atone for the murder of my friends!” Instantly, as he had spoken, the guards at the gate rushing upon him, bound him hand and foot, conveyed him to the palace, where he was confined in a loathsome dungeon, and fed on the coarsest viands.

The pretended sultan having now all the parties in her power, one morning ascended her throne in full audience, and commanded them to be brought before her. When they had made their obeisance, she commanded them to relate the cause of their having journeyed to her capital; but the royal presence rendered them incapable of uttering a word: upon which she exclaimed, “Since you cannot speak, I will;” and then discovered to their astonished minds the adventures of each, which had occasioned their travelling. She then discovered herself, and fell upon the necks of her father and lover, with whom she retired into the private apartments. The sultan and his vizier were made happy in the company of the daughter of the latter and the other ladies. The master of the ship, as his troubles had atoned for his irregular behaviour, was received into favour, and had his vessel restored; but the savage chief of the banditti was put to death, by being cast into a burning pile, that no further injury might be offered to mankind.

In a few days, the most magnificent preparations being made, the double nuptials of the heroic lady and her friend the vizier’s daughter were celebrated with her constant lover, to whom she resigned her throne, and the happy wives lived together in felicity, undisturbed by jealousy of the husband’s attention to either, so equally did they share his love. The sultan and vizier, after being long entertained at the court, took leave, and returned, under an escort, to their own country; but the daughter and the thirty-nine ladies could not be prevailed upon to accompany them, only to visit and bid farewell to their parents, for such was their attachment to their gallant mistress, that they came back immediately, and were espoused to the principle nobles of her court. Years of unusual happiness passed over the heads of the fortunate adventurers of this history, until death, the destroyer of all things, conducted them to a grave which must one day be the resting-place for ages of us all, till the receiving angel shall sound his trumpet.

STORY OF HYJAUJE, THE TYRANNICAL GOVERNOR

OF COUFEH, AND THE YOUNG SYED.

As Hyjauje (the Ommiad caliph) was was one day seated in his hall of audience, surrounded by his nobles and dependents, tremblingly awaiting his commands, for his countenance resembled that of an enraged lion, there suddenly entered, unceremoniously, into the assembly a beardless youth of noble but sickly aspect, arrayed in tattered garments, for misfortune had changed his original situation, and poverty had withered the freshness of his opening youth. He made the customary obeisance to the governor, who returned his salute, and said, “Who art thou, boy? what hast thou to say, and wherefore hast thou intruded thyself into the company of princes, as if thou wert invited? who art thou, and of whom art thou the son?” “Of my father and mother,” replied the youth.

“But how earnest thou here?” “In my clothes.” “From whence?”

“From behind me.” “Where art thou going?” “Before me.” “Upon what dost thou travel?” “Upon the earth” Hyjauje, vexed at the pertness of the youth, exclaimed, “Quit this trifling, and inform me whence thou comest.” “From Egypt.” “Art thou from Cairo?” “Why askest thou?” said the boy?” “Because,” replied Hyjauje, “her sands are of gold, and her river Nile miraculously fruitful; but her women are wanton, free to every conqueror, and her men unstable.” “I am not from thence, but from Damascus,” cried the youth.” “Then,” said Hyjauje, “thou art from a most rebellious place, filled with wretched inhabitants, a wavering race, neither Jews nor Christians.” “But I am not from thence,” replied the youth, “but from Khorassan.” “That is a most impure country,”

said Hyjauje, “whose religion is worthless, for the inhabitants are of all barbarians the most savage. Plunderers of flocks, they know not mercy, their poor are greedy, and their rich men misers.” “I am not of them,” cried the youth, “but of Moussul.”

“Then,” exclaimed Hyjauje, “thou art of an unnatural and adulterous race, whose youths are catamites, and whose old men are obstinate as asses.” “But I am from Yemen,” said the boy. “If so,” answered the tyrant, “thou belongest to a comfortless region, where the most honourable profession is robbery, where the middling ranks tan hides, and where a wretched poor spin wool and weave coarse mantles.” “But I am from Mecca,” said the boy.”

“Then,” replied Hyjauje, “thou comest from a mine of perverseness, stupidity, ignorance, and slothfulness; for from among its people God raised up his prophet, whom they disbelieved, rejected, and forced away to a strange nation, who loved, venerated, and assisted him in spite of the men of Mecca.

But whence comest thou, youth? for thy pertness is become troublesome, and my inclination leads me to punish thee for thy impertinence.” “Had I been assured that thou durst kill me,”

cried the youth, “I should not have appeared before thee; but thou canst not.” “Woe to thee, rash boy,” exclaimed Hyjauje; “who is he that can prevent my executing thee instantly?” “To thee be thy woe,” replied the youth: “he can prevent thee who directs man and his inmost thoughts, and who never falsifieth his gracious promises.” “He it is,” cried the tyrant, “who instigates me to put thee to death.” “Withhold thy blaspheming,” replied the youth; “it is not God, but Satan that prompts thy mind to my murder, and with God I hope for refuge from the accursed: but know, that I am from the glorious Medina, the seat of religion, virtue, respectability, and honour, descended of the race of Bin Ghalib, and family of Ali, son of Abou Talib, whom God has glorified and approved, and will protect all his posterity, which you would extirpate; but you cannot root it out, for it will flourish even to the last day of the existence of this world.”

The tyrant was now overcome with rage, and commanded the youthful Syed to be slain; but his nobles and officers interceded for him, saying, while they bowed their necks before him, “Pardon, pardon; behold our heads and our lives a ransom for his! For God’s sake accept our intercession, O ameer, for this youth is not deserving of death.” “Forbear your entreaties,” exclaimed the tyrant, “for were an angel to cry from Heaven, �Do not slay him!’ I would not attend.” Upon this the young Syed said, “Thou ravest, O Hyjauje; who art thou that an angel should be commissioned for thy sake?”

The tyrant, struck with his magnanimity, became calm, and commanding the executioner to release the youth, said, “For the present I