“SIR, there was formerly a merchant who had a great estate in lands, goods, and money. He had numbers of deputies, fetors, and slaves. One day, being under the necessity of going a long journey, he mounted his horse, and put a wallet behind him with some biscuits and dates, because he had to pass over a great desert, where he could procure no provisions. He arrived without accident at the end of his journey; and, having dispatched his business, took horse again, in order to return home.
"On the fourth day of his journey, being in want of refreshment, he alighted from his horse, and sitting down by a fountain, took some biscuits and dates out of his wallet; and, as he ate his dates, he threw the stones about on all sides. When he had done eating, being a good Mussulman, he washed his hands, his face and his feet, and said his payers. He was still on his knees, when he saw a Genie appear, white with age, and of enormous stature. The monster advanced towards him, scimitar in hand, and spoke to him in a terrible voice, thus: ' Rise up, that I may kill thee, as thou hast killed my son.' The merchant, frightened at the hideous shape of the giant, answered : ' How can I have slain thy son? I do not know him, nor have I ever seen him.' 'What!' replied the Genie, 'didst not thou take dates out of thy wallet, and after eating them, didst not thou throw the stones on all sides? ' 'I do not deny it,’ answered the merchant. 'Then,’ said the Genie, 'I tell thee thou hast killed my son: and the way was thus: When thou threwest the date stones, my son was passing by, and one of them was flung into his eye, and killed him; therefore I must kill thee' Ah! my lord, pardon me,’ cried the merchant; 'for, if I have killed thy son, it was accidentally; therefore suffer me to live.’ 'No, no,’ said the Genie, ‘I must kill thee, since thou hast killed my son.’ The Genie then threw the merchant upon the ground, and lifted up the scimitar to cut off his head.”
When Sheherazade spoke these words, she perceived it was day; and knowing that the Sultan rose betimes in the morning, she held her peace. " Oh sister,” said Dinarzade, "what a wonderful story is this!" "The remainder of it,” said Sheherazade, "is more surprising; and you will be of my mind if the Sultan will let me live this day, and permit me to continue the story to-night,” Shahriar, who had listened to Sheherazade with pleasure, said to himself "I will let her stay till to-morrow, for I can at any time put her to death, when she has made an end of her story.” So, having resolved to defer her death till the following day, he arose, and having prayed, went to the council.
The grand vizier, in the meantime, was in a state of cruel suspense. Unable to sleep, he passed the night in lamenting the approaching fate of his daughter, whose executioner he was destined to be. How great was his surprise when the Sultan entered the council chamber, without giving him the horrible order he expected.
The Sultan spent the day, as usual, in regulating the affairs of his kingdom; and on the approach of night retired with Sheherazade to his apartment. The next morning, before the day appeared, Dinarzade did not fail to address her sister: "My dear sister," she said, "if you are not asleep, I entreat you, before the morning breaks, to continue your story,” The Sultan did not wait for Sheherazade to ask permission, but said, "Finish the tale of the Genie and the Merchant,” Sheherazade immediately went on as follows:
"Sir, when the merchant perceived that the Genie was about to slay him, he cried, 'One word more, I entreat the give me time to go and take leave of my wife and children and divide my estate among them, as I have not yet made my will; and when I have set my house in order, I promise to return to this spot, and submit myself to thee.' 'But if I grant thee the respite thou askest,' replied the Genie, 'I fear thou wilt not return.' ‘I swear by the God of heaven and earth, that I will not fail to repair hither.' ‘What length of time requirest thou?' said the Genie: ‘It will take me a full year to arrange everything. But I promise thee, that afterr twelve months have passed thou shalt find me under these trees, waiting to deliver myself into thy hands.' On this, the Genie left him, and immediately disappeared.
"The merchant, having recovered from his fright, mounted his horse, and continued his journey. But if, on the one hand, he rejoiced at escaping for the moment from a great present peril, he was, on the other, much distressed, when he recollected the fatal oath he had taken. On his arrival at home, his wife and family received him with signs of the greatest joy; but instead of returning their embraces, he wept so bitterly that they supposed something very extraordinary had happened. His wife inquired the cause of his tears, and of his violent grief.' Alas!' he replied, ' how should I feel cheerful, when I have only a year to live?’ He then related to them what had passed, and that he had given his word to return, and at the end of a year, to submit to his death.
"When they heard this melancholy tale, they were in despair.
"The next day the merchant began to settle his affairs, and first of all to pay his debts. He made many presents to his different friends, and large donations to the poor. He set at liberty many of his slaves of both sexes; divided his property among his children; appointed guardians for those of tender age; to his wife he returned all the fortune she brought him, and added as much more as the law would permit.
" The year soon passed away, and he was compelled to depart. He took in his wallet his graveclothes; but when he attempted to take leave of his wife and children, his grief quite overwhelmed him. They could not bear his loss, and almost resolved to accompany him, and all perish together. Compelled at length to tear himself away, he addressed them in these words: 'In leaving you, my children, I obey the
command of God; imitate me, and submit with fortitude to his necessity. Remember, that to die is the inevitable destiny of man.' Having said this he snatched himself away from them, and set out. He arrived at the destined spot on the very day he had promised. He got off his horse, and, seating himself by the side of the fountain, with such sorrowful sensations as may easily be imagined, waited the arrival of the Genie.
"While he was kept in this cruel suspense, there appeared an old man leading a hind, who came near to him. When they had saluted each other, the old man said, ‘May I ask of you, brother, what brought you to this desert place, which is so full of evil genii, that there is no safety? From the appearance of these trees, one might suppose this spot was inhabited; but it is, in fact, a solitude, where to tarry is dangerous.'
"The merchant satisfied the old man's curiosity, and related his adventure. The old man listened with astonishment to the account, and when it was ended, he said, 'Surely nothing in the world can be more surprising; and you have kept your oath inviolate! In truth I should like to be a witness to your interview with the Genie.' Having said this, he sat down near the merchant, and while they were talking, another old man, followed by two black dogs, appeared. As soon as he was near enough, he saluted them, and inquired the reason of their stay in that place. The first old man related the adventure of the merchant, and added, that this was the appointed day, and therefore he was determined to remain, to see the event.
"The second old man resolved to stay likewise; and sitting down, joined in the conversation. He was hardly seated, when a third arrived, and addressing himself to the other two, asked why the merchant, who was with them, appeared so melancholy. They related the cause, which seemed to the newcomer so wonderful, that he also resolved to be witness to what passed between the Genie and the merchant.
"They quickly perceived, towards the plain, a thick vapour or smoke, like a column of dust, raised by the wind. This vapour approached them; and on its sudden disappearance, they saw the Genie, who, without noticing them, went towards the merchant, with his scimitar in his hand; and taking him by the arm, cried, 'Get up, that I may kill thee as thou hast slain my son.' The merchant and the three old men were so horrified that they began to weep, and filled the air with their lamentations.
"When the old man, who led the hind, saw the Genie lay hold of the merchant, and about to murder him without mercy, he threw himself at the monster's feet and kissing them, said, 'Prince of the Genii, I humbly entreat you to abate your rage, and do me the favour to listen to me. I wish to relate my own history, and that of the hind, which you see here! and if you find it more wonderful and surprising than the adventure of this merchant, whose life you wish to take, may I not hope that you will at least remit a third part of the punishment of this unfortunate man? 'After meditating for some time, the Genie answered, ' Good; I agree to it.'"
"I AM now going," said he, "to begin my tale, and I request your attention. The hind that you see here is my cousin; nay more, she is my wife. When I married her she was only twelve years old; and she ought therefore to look upon me not only as her relation and husband, but even as her father.
"We lived together thirty years, without having any children; this, however, did not decrease my kindness and regard for her. Still my desire for an heir was so great that I purchased a female slave, who bore me a son of great promise and beauty. Soon afterwards my wife was seized with jealousy, and consequently took a great aversion to both mother and child; yet she so well concealed her feelings that I, alas! never had a suspicion of them till too late.
"In the meantime my son grew up; and he was about ten years old when I was obliged to make a journey. Before my departure, I recommended both the slave and the child to my wife, whom I trusted implicitly, and begged her to take care of them during my absence, which would last not less than a year. Now was the time she endeavoured to gratify her hatred. She applied herself to the study of magic; and when she was sufficiently skilled in that diabolical art to execute the horrible design she meditated, the wretch carried my son to a distant place. There, by her enchantments, she changed him into a calf; and giving the creature to my steward, told him it was a purchase of hers, and ordered him to rear it. Not satisfied even with this infamous action, she changed the slave into a cow, which she also sent to my steward.
"Immediately on my return I inquired after my child and his mother. 'Your slave is dead,’ said she, 'and it is now more than two months since I have beheld your son; nor do I know what is become of him.' I was deeply affected at the death of the slave, but as my son had only disappeared, I consoled myself with the hope that he would soon be found. Eight months however passed, and he did not return; nor could I learn any tidings of him. The festival of the great Bairam was approaching; to celebrate it I ordered my steward to bring me the fattest cow I had for a sacrifice. He obeyed my commands; and the cow he brought me was my own slave, the unfortunate mother of my son. Having bound her, I was about to offer her up; but she lowed most sorrowfully, and tears even fell from her eyes. This seemed to me so extraordinary that I could not but feel compassion for her; and I was unable to strike the fatal blow. I therefore ordered that she should be taken away, and another cow brought.
"My wife, who was present, seemed angry at my compassion, and resisted an order which defeated her malice. 'What are you about, husband?' said she. 'Why not sacrifice this cow? Your steward has not a more beautiful one, nor one more proper for the purpose.' Wishing to oblige my wife, I again approached the cow; and struggling with the pity that held my hand, I was again going to give the mortal blow, when the victim a second time disarmed me by her renewed tears and meanings. I then delivered the instruments into the hands of my steward. 'Take them.’ I cried, 'and perform the sacrifice yourself, for the lamentations and tears of the animal have overcome me.’
"The steward was less compassionate than I; he sacrificed her. On taking off her skin we found her greatly emaciated, though she had appeared very fat. 'Take her away,’ said I, to the steward, greatly mortified. 'I give her to you to do as you please with; feast upon her with any friend you choose; and if you have a very fat calf, bring it in her place.’ He had not been gone long before a remarkably fine calf was brought out. Although I was ignorant that this calf was my own son, yet I felt a sensation of pity arise in my breast at the first sight of him. As soon as he perceived me, he made so great an effort to come to me, that he broke his cord. He lay down at my feet, with his head on the ground, as if he endeavoured to seek my compassion. He was striving in this manner to make me understand that he was my son.
"I was still more surprised and affected by this action than I had been by the tears of the cow. I felt a kind of tender pity, and a great interest for him. 'Go back,’ I cried, ‘and take all possible care of this calf, and in its stead bring me another directly.'
"So soon as my wife heard this she exclaimed, 'What are you about, husband? Do not, I pray you, sacrifice any calf but this.' 'Wife,’ answered I, 'I will not sacrifice him; I wish to preserve him, therefore do not oppose it.’ This wicked woman, however, did not agree to my wish. She hated my son too much to suffer him to remain alive; and she continued to demand his death so obstinately that I was compelled to yield. I bound the calf; and, taking the fatal knife, was going to bury it in the throat of my son, when he turned his eyes so persuasively upon me that I had no power to execute my intention. The knife fell from my hand, and I told my wife I was determined to have another calf brought. She tried every means to induce me to alter my mind. I continued firm, however, in my resolution, promising, in order to appease her, to sacrifice this calf at the feast of Bairam on the following year.
"The next morning my steward desired to speak with me in private. 'I am come,’ said he, 'to give you some information, which, I trust, will afford you pleasure. I have a daughter, who has some little knowledge of magic; and yesterday, as I was bringing back the calf which you were unwilling to sacrifice, I observed that she smiled on seeing it, and next moment began to weep. I inquired of her the cause of two such contrary emotions. "My dear father,” she answered, "that calf, which you bring back, is the son of our master; I smiled with joy at seeing him still alive, and wept at the recollection of his mother, who was yesterday sacrificed in the shape of a cow. These two metamorphoses have been contrived by the enchantments of our master's wife, who hated both the mother and the child." 'This,' continued the steward, 'is what my daughter said, and I come to report it to you.’ Imagine, O Genie, my surprise at hearing these words. I went to the stable, where the calf had been placed; he could not return my caresses; but he received them in a way which convinced me that he was really my son.
"When the daughter of the steward made her appearance, I asked her if she could restore the poor creature to his former shape. 'Yes,’ replied she, ' I can.’ ' Ah! 'exclaimed I, ‘if you can perform such a miracle, I will make you the mistress of all I possess.' She then answered with a smile, 'I can restore your son to his own form, only on two conditions: firstly, that you bestow him upon me for my husband; and secondly, that I may be permitted to punish her who changed him into a calf.' 'To the first condition,’ I replied, ' I agree with all my heart; I will do still more, I will give you, for your own separate use, a considerable sum of money, independent of what I destine for my son. I agree also to the stipulation concerning my wife; for a horrible crime like this is worthy of punishment. Do what you please with her; I only entreat you to spare her life. 'I will treat her then,’ she said, 'as she has treated your son.’ To this I gave my consent.
"The damsel then took a vessel full of water; and pronouncing over it some words I did not understand, she thus addressed the calf: 'O calf, if thou hast been created, as thou now appearest, by the all-powerful Sovereign of the world, retain that form; but, if thou art a man, and hast been changed by enchantment into a calf, reassume thy natural figure!' As she said this she threw the water over him, and he instantly regained his own form.
"'My child! my dear child!' I exclaimed; 'it is Allah who hath sent this damsel to us, to destroy the horrible charm with which you were enthralled, and to avenge the evil that has been done to you and your mother. I am sure your gratitude will lead you to accept her for a wife, as I have already promised for you.’ He joyfully consented; but before they were united the damsel changed my wife into this hind, which you see here. I wished her to have this form in preference to any other, that we might see her, without repugnance, in our family.
"Since that time my son has become a widower, and is now travelling. Many years have passed since I have heard anything of him; I have therefore now set out with a view to gain some information; and as I did not like to trust my wife to the care of any one during my absence, I thought proper to carry her with me. This is the history of myself and the hind. Can anything be more wonderful?" "I agree with you," said the Genie, "and in consequence, I remit to this merchant a third part of his penalty."
"As soon as the first old man had finished his history," Continued Sheherazade, "the second, who led the two black dogs, said to the Genie, 'I will tell you what has happened to me, and to these two dogs, which you see here; and I am sure you will find my history still more astonishing than that which you have heard. But when I have told it, will you forgive this merchant another third of his penalty? ' Yes,' answered the Genie, 'provided your history surpass that of the hind.' "This being settled, the second old man began as follows :—
"GREAT Prince of the Genii, you must know that these two black dogs which you see here, and myself, are three brothers. Our father left us, when he died, one thousand sequins each. With this sum we all embarked in the same calling; namely, as merchants. Soon after we had opened our warehouse, my eldest brother, who is now one of these dogs, resolved to carry on his business in foreign countries. With this view he sold all his goods, and bought such kind of merchandise as was adapted to the different lands he proposed visiting.
"He departed, and was absent a whole year. At the end of that time, a poor man, who seemed to me to be asking charity, presented himself at my warehouse. 'God help you,’ said I. ‘And you also,’ answered he: ‘is it possible you do not know me?' On looking attentively at him, I recognized my brother. 'Ah! my brother,’ I cried, embracing him, 'how should I possibly know you in the state you are in?' I made him come in directly, and inquired concerning his health and the success of his voyage. ‘Do not ask me,’ he replied; 'you behold in me a token of my fate. To enter into a detail of all the misfortunes that I have suffered in the last year, and which have reduced me to the state you see, would only be to renew my affliction.’
"I instantly shut up my shop; and putting aside all my own affairs, I took him to the bath, and dressed him in the best apparel my wardrobe afforded. I examined the state of my business; and finding by my accounts that I had just doubled my capital, and that I was now worth two thousand sequins, I presented him with half my fortune. 'Let this, my brother,’ I said, 'make you forget your losses.’ He joyfully accepted the thousand sequins; again settled his affairs; and we lived together as we had done before.
"Some time after this, my second brother, the other of these black dogs, wished also to dispose of his property. Both his elder brother and myself tried every means in our power to dissuade him from his intention, but in vain. He sold all, and with the money he bought such merchandise as he considered proper for his journey. He took his departure, and joined a caravan. At the end of a year he also returned, as destitute as his brother had been. I furnished him with clothes; and as I had gained another thousand sequins, I gave them to him. He bought a shop, and continued to carry on his business.
"One day both my brothers came to me, and proposed that I should make a voyage with them, for the purpose of traffic. At first I opposed their scheme. 'You have travelled,’ said I, 'and what have you gained? Who will ensure that I shall be more fortunate than you?' They returned, however, so often to the subject that, after withstanding their solicitations for five years, I at length yielded.
"When it became necessary to prepare for the voyage, and we were consulting on the sort of merchandise to be bought, I discovered that they had consumed their capital, and that nothing remained of the thousand sequins I had given to each. I did not, however, reproach them. On the contrary, as my fortune had increased to six thousand sequins, I divided the half with them, saying: 'We must, my brothers, risk only three thousand sequins, and endeavour to conceal the rest in some secure place; so that if our voyage be not more successful than the ventures you have already made, we shall be able to console ourselves with what we have left, and resume our former profession. I will give one thousand sequins to each of you, and keep one thousand myself; and I will conceal the other three thousand in a corner of my house.’ We purchased our goods, embarked in a vessel, and set sail with a favourable wind. After sailing about a month, we arrived, without any accident, at a port, where we landed and disposed of our merchandise with great advantage. I, in particular, sold mine so well that I gained ten sequins for one. We then purchased the produce of the country we were in, in order to traffic with it in our own.
"About the time when we were ready to embark for our return, I accidentally met on the seashore a woman, very handsome, but poorly dressed. She accosted me by kissing my hand; entreated me most earnestly to permit her to go with me, and besought me to take her for my wife. I pleaded many difficulties against such a plan; but at length she said so much to persuade me, urging that I ought not to regard her poverty, and assuring me I should be well satisfied with her conduct, that I was entirely overcome. I directly procured proper dresses for her; and when I had married her in due form, she embarked with me and we set sail.
"During our voyage, I found my wife possessed of so many good qualities that I loved her every day more and more. In the meantime my two brothers, who had not traded so advantageously as myself, and who were jealous of my prosperity, began to feel exceedingly envious. They even went so far as to conspire against my life; and one night, while my wife and I were asleep, they threw us into the sea.
"My wife proved to be a fairy; consequently, she possessed supernatural power. You may therefore imagine she was not hurt. As for me, I should certainly have perished but for her aid. I had hardly, however, fallen into the water before she took me up, and transported me to an island. As soon as it was day the fairy thus addressed me: 'You may observe, my husband, that in saving your life, I have not badly rewarded the good you have done me. You must know that I am a fairy; I saw you upon the shore, when you were about to sail, and felt a great regard for you. I wished to try the goodness of your heart, and therefore I presented myself before you in the disguise you saw. You acted most generously; and I am delighted to find an opportunity of showing my gratitude. But I am angry with your brothers; nor shall I be satisfied till I have taken their lives.'
"I listened with astonishment to the words of the fairy, and thanked her, as well as I could, for the great obligation she had conferred on me. 'But, lady,' said I to her, ' I must entreat you to pardon my brothers; for although I have the greatest reason to complain of their conduct, yet I am not so cruel as to wish their ruin.' I related to her what I had done for each of them, and my story only increased her anger. 'I must instantly fly after these un grateful wretches,’ cried she, 'and bring them to a just punishment; I will destroy their vessel, and sink them to the bottom of the sea.’ 'No, beautiful lady,’ replied I, ‘for Heaven's sake moderate your indignation, and do not execute so dreadful a design; remember they are still my brothers, and that we are bound to return good for evil.'
"I appeased the fairy by these words; and so soon as I had pronounced them, she transported me in an instant from the island, where we were, to the top of my own house, which was terraced. She then disappeared. I descended, opened the doors, and dug up the three thousand sequins which I had hidden. I afterwards repaired to my shop, opened it, and received the congratulations of the merchants in the neighbourhood on my safe return. When I went home I perceived these two black dogs, which came towards me, fawning. I could not imagine what this meant; but the fairy, who soon appeared, satisfied my curiosity. 'My dear husband,’ said she, 'be not surprised at seeing these two dogs in your house; they are your brothers.' My blood ran cold on hearing this, and I inquired by what power they had been transformed into their present shape. 'It is I,’ replied the fairy, 'who have done it; at least it is one of my sisters, to whom I gave the commission; and she has also sunk their ships. You will lose the merchandise it contained, but I shall recompense you in some way; as to your brothers, I have condemned them to remain under this form for ten years, as a punishment for their perfidy.’ Then, after informing me where I might hear of her, she disappeared.
"The ten years are now completed, and I am travelling in search of her. As I was passing this way I met this merchant, and the good old man, who is leading his hind, and here I tarried. This, O Prince of the Genii, is my history; does it not appear to you most marvellous? " "Yes," replied the Genie, "I confess it is wonderful, and therefore I remit the second third of the merchant's punishment."
When the second old man had finished his story the third began by asking the Genie, as the others had done, if he would forgive the remaining third of the merchant's crime, provided this third history surpassed the other two, in the singularity and marvellousness of its events: the Genie repeated his former promise.
"The third old man related his history to the Genie, but as it has not yet come to my knowledge, I cannot repeat it; but I know it was so much beyond the others, in the variety of wonderful adventures it contained, that the Genie was astonished. He had no sooner heard the conclusion than he said: 'I grant thee the remaining third part of the merchant's pardon; and he ought to be greatly obliged to you all for having, by telling your histories, freed him from his dangerous position; but for this aid he would not now have been in this world.' Having said this, he disappeared, to the great joy of the whole party.
"The merchant did not omit to bestow many thanks upon his liberators. They rejoiced with him at his safety, and then bidding him adieu, each went his separate way. The merchant returned home to his wife and children, and spent the remainder of his days with them in peace. But, sir," added Sheherazade, "however wonderful those tales which I have related to your Majesty may be, they are not equal to that of the fisherman.' Dinarzade, observing that the Sultan made no answer, said: "Since there is still some time, my sister, pray tell this history; the Sultan, I hope, will not object to it." Shahriar consented to the proposal, and Sheherazade went on as follows :—