"SIR," said Scheherazade, "the Caliph Haroun Alraschid one day desired his grand vizier Giafar to be with him on the following morning. 'I wish,' said he, 'to visit all parts of the city, and to ascertain in what esteem my officers of justice are held. If there be any of whom just complaints are Bade, we will discharge them, and put others in their places who will give greater satisfaction. If, on the contrary, there be any who are praised, we will reward them according to their deserts.'
"The grand vizier repaired to the palace at the appointed time. The caliph, Giafar, and Mesrour the chief of the eunuchs, disguised themselves, that they might not be known, and set out together.
"They passed through several squares and many marketplaces; and as they came into a small street they perceived, by the light of the moon, a man with a white beard, and of tall stature, carrying nets on his head. He had on his arm a basket made of palm-leaves, and in his hand a stick. 'To judge by this old man's appearance,' said the caliph, 'I should not suppose him rich; let us question him concerning his lot.' 'Good man,' said the vizier, ‘what art thou?' ' My lord,' replied the old man, 'I am a fisherman, but the poorest and most miserable of my trade. I went out at noon to go and fish, and from that time till now I have caught nothing; and yet I have a wife and young children, but have nothing wherewith to feed them.'
"The caliph, touched with compassion, said to the fisherman: 'Wilt thou return, and cast thy nets once more? We will give thee an hundred sequins for what thou bringest up.' The fisherman, taking the caliph at his word, and forgetting all the troubles of the past day, returned towards the Tigris, in company with him, Giafar, and Mesrour.
"They arrived on the banks of the river. The fisherman cast his nets, and drew out a chest, closely shut and very heavy. The caliph immediately ordered the vizier to count out a hundred sequins to the fisherman, whom he then dismissed. Mesrour took the chest on his shoulders by order of his master, who, anxious to know what it could contain, returned immediately to the palace. On opening the chest, they found a large basketis this the way you inspect the actions of my people? Murder is committed with impunity under your administration, and my subjects are thrown into the Tigris, that they may rise in vengeance against me on the day of judgment! If you do not speedily revenge the death of this woman by the execution of her murderer, I swear that I will have you hanged, with forty of your relations.' 'Commander of the Faithful.' replied the grand vizier, 'I entreat your majesty to grant me time to make proper investigation.' 'I give you three days,' returned the caliph; 'look to it.' made of palm-leaves, the upper part sewn together with a bit of red worsted. To satisfy the impatience of the caliph, they cut the worsted with a knife, and drew out of the basket a parcel wrapped in a piece of old carpet, and tied with cord. The cord was soon untied and the packet undone, and then they saw, to their horror, the body of a young lady, whiter than snow, and cut into pieces. The caliph's astonishment at this dismal spectacle cannot be described; but his surprise was quickly changed to anger; and, casting a furious look at the vizier, he cried: 'Wretch!
"The vizier Giafar returned home in the greatest distress. 'Alas! ' thought he, 'how is it possible, in so large and vast a city as Bagdad, to discover a murderer, who no doubt has committed this crime secretly and alone, and has now in all probability fled from the city?'
"He ordered the officers of police and justice who were under his command to make strict search for the criminal. They sent out their underlings, and exerted themselves personally in this affair. But all their diligence was fruitless; they could discover no traces that might lead to the murderer's capture, and the vizier concluded that, unless Heaven interposed in his favour, his death was inevitable.
"On the third day, an officer of the sultan came to the house of the unhappy minister, and summoned him to his master. The vizier obeyed, and when the caliph demanded of him the murderer, he replied, with tears in his eyes: 'O Commander of the Faithful, I have found no one who could give me any intelligence concerning him.' The caliph reproached Giafar in the bitterest words, and commanded that he should be hanged before the gates of the palace, together with forty of the Barmecides.
"Whilst the executioners were preparing the gibbets, and the officers went to seize the forty Barmecides at their different houses, a public crier was ordered by the caliph to proclaim, in all the quarters of the city, that whoever wished to have the satisfaction of seeing the execution of the grand vizier Giafar, and forty of his family, the Barmecides, was to repair to the square before the palace.
"When everything was ready, the judge placed the grand vizier and the forty Barmecides each under the gibbet that was destined for him; and a cord was fastened round the neck of each of the prisoners. The people who crowded the square could not behold such a spectacle without feeling pity and shedding tears; for the vizier Giafar and his relations the Barmecides were much loved for their probity and liberality, not only at Bagdad, but throughout the whole empire of the caliph.
"Everything was ready for the execution of the caliph's cruel order, and the next moment would have seen the death of some of the worthiest inhabitants of the city, when a young man, of comely appearance, and well dressed, pressed through the crowd till he reached the grand vizier. He kissed Giafar's hand, and exclaimed: ‘Sovereign vizier, chief of the emirs of this court, the refuge of the poor! you are not guilty of the crime for which you are going to suffer; let me expiate the death of the lady who was thrown into the Tigris; I am her murderer: I alone ought to be punished.'
"Although this speech created great joy in the vizier, he nevertheless felt pity for a youth, whose countenance, far from expressing guilt, indicated nobility of soul. He was going to reply, when a tall man of advanced age, who had also pushed through the crowd, came up, and said to the vizier: 'My lord, do not believe what this young man says to you. I alone am the person that killed the lady; I alone am worthy of punishment. In the name of God I conjure you not to confound the innocent with the guilty.' 'O my master,' interrupted the young man, addressing himself to the vizier, ‘I assure you that it was I who committed this wicked action, and that no person in the world is my accomplice.' ' Alas! my son,' resumed the old man, ‘despair has led you hither, and you wish to anticipate your destiny; as for me, I have lived for a long time in this world; let me sacrifice my life to save yours. My lord,' continued he, addressing the vizier, 'I repeat it - I am the criminal; sentence me to death, and let justice be done.'
"The contest between the old man and the youth obliged the vizier to bring them before the caliph, with the permission of the commanding officer of justice, who was happy to have an opportunity of obliging him.
"When he came into the presence of the sovereign, he kissed the ground seven times, and then spoke these words: ‘Commander of the Faithful, I bring to you this old man and this youth, each of whom accuses himself as the murderer of the lady.' The caliph then asked the two men which of them had murdered the lady in so cruel a manner, and then thrown her into the Tigris. The youth assured him that he had committed the deed; the old man maintained that the crime was his. 'Go,' said the caliph to the vizier, 'give orders that both of them be hanged.' ‘But, Commander of the Faithful,' replied the vizier, 'if one only is guilty, it would be unjust to execute the other.'
"At these words the young man cried out: 'I swear by the great God who has built up the heavens to where they now are, that it is I who killed the lady, who cut her in pieces, and then threw her into the Tigris four days since. I am the person who is to be punished.' The caliph was surprised at this solemn oath, which he was inclined to believe, as the old man made no reply. Therefore, turning to the youth, he exclaimed: 'Unhappy wretch! for what reason hast thou committed this detestable crime?' 'Commander of the Faithful,' returned the young man, 'if all that has passed between this lady and myself could be written, it would form a history which might be serviceable to mankind.' 'Then I command thee to relate it,' said the caliph. Obedient to the order the young man began his story in these words:-
"SOVEREIGN of the Believers, I must acquaint your majesty that the murdered lady was my wife, and daughter to this old man whom you see, who is my uncle on my father's side. She was only twelve years of age when he bestowed her on me in marriage; and eleven years have passed since that period. She has borne me three sons, who are still alive, and I must do her the justice to say, that she never gave me the least cause for displeasure. She was prudent and virtuous; and her greatest pleasure was to make me happy. In return I loved her with the truest affection, and anticipated all her wishes, instead of thwarting them.
"About two months since she fell sick: I treated her with all possible care, and spared no pains to effect her cure. At the expiration of a month she grew better, and wished to go to the bath. Before she went out of the house she said to me: 'Cousin,' for so she used familiarly to call me, 'I wish to eat some apples. I have had this desire for a long time, and I must confess that it has now increased to such a degree, that if I am not gratified I fear some misfortune will happen.' I replied: 'I will do all in my power to content you.'
"I immediately went into all the markets and shops I could think of in quest of apples; but I could not obtain one, although I offered to pay a sequin for each. I returned home much vexed at having taken so much trouble to no purpose. As for my wife, when she came back from the bath, and did not see any apples, she was so chagrined that she could not sleep all night. I rose early the next morning and went into all the gardens, but could not succeed in my purpose. I only met with an old gardener, who told me that, whatever pains I might take, I should not find any apples excepting in your majesty's gardens at Balsora.
"As I was passionately fond of my wife, and could not bear the thought of neglecting any means to satisfy her longing, I put on the dress of a traveller, and, having informed her of my intention, I set out for Balsora. I travelled with such despatch that I reached my home at the end of a fortnight. I brought with me three apples, which had cost me a sequin apiece. They were the last in the garden, and the gardener would not sell them at a lower price. When I arrived I presented them to my wife; but her longing was then over, so she received in silence, and only placed them by her side. But her sickness continued, and I did not know what remedy to apply for her disorder.
"A few days after my return, as I sat in my shop in the public square, I saw a tall black slave enter, holding an apple in his hand, which I knew to be one of those I had brought from Balsora. I could have no doubt on the subject, for I knew that there were none in Bagdad, nor in any of the gardens in the environs. I called the slave, and said: 'My good slave, pray tell me where you got that apple.' He replied laughing: 'It is a present from my mistress. I have been to see her to-day and found her unwell. I saw three apples by her side, and asked her where she had got them; and she told me that her foolish husband had been a fortnight's journey on purpose to get them for her. We breakfasted together, and when I came away I brought this with me.'
"This intelligence enraged me beyond measure. I rose and then shut up my shop; I ran hastily home, and went into the chamber of my wife. I looked for the apples; and seeing but two, I inquired what was become of the third. My wife, turning her head towards the side where the apples were, and perceiving that there were only two, replied coldly: 'I do not know what is become of it, cousin.' This answer convinced me that the slave had spoken truth. Transported by a fit of jealousy, I drew a knife which hung from my girdle and plunged it in the breast of my unhappy wife. I then cut off her head, and hewed her body into pieces. I tied up these pieces in a bundle, which I concealed in a folding basket, and after sewing up the opening of the basket with some red worsted, I enclosed it in a chest, and as soon as it was night carried it on my shoulders to the Tigris, and threw it in.
"My two youngest children were in bed and asleep, and the third was from home. On my return I found him sitting at the door, weeping bitterly. I asked him the reason of his tears. 'Father,' said he, 'this morning I took away from my mother, without her knowledge, one of the three apples you brought her. I kept it for some time, but as I was playing with it in the street, with my little brothers, a great black slave who was passing snatched it out of my hand, and took it away with him. I ran after him, asking him for it; I told him that it belonged to my mother, who was ill, and that you had been a fortnight's journey to procure it for her. All my entreaties were useless, for he would not return it; and as I followed him, crying, he turned back and beat me, and then ran off as fast as he could. Since then I have been walking about the city waiting for your return. I was staying here for you, my father, to beg that you will not tell my mother, lest it should make her worse.' And when he had finished speaking he wept anew.
"This story of my son's plunged me into the deepest affliction. I now saw the enormity of my crime, and repented, too late, my credulous belief of the story of the wicked slave. My uncle, who is now present, arrived at that moment. He came to see his daughter; but instead of finding her alive he learnt from my lips that she was no more, for I disguised nothing from him, and without waiting for his condemnation I denounced myself as the most criminal of men. Nevertheless, instead of pouring forth the reproaches I justly deserved, this good man mingled his tears with mine, and we wept together three whole days; he for the loss of a daughter he had always tenderly loved, I for that of a wife who was dear to me, and of whom I had miserably deprived myself by giving credit to the false statement of a lying slave.
"This, Sovereign of the Faithful, is the sincere confession which your majesty required of me: you know the extent of my crime, and I humbly supplicate you to give orders for my punishment; however rigorous it may be I shall not murmur at it, but esteem it too light."
"At this the caliph was in great astonishment; but this equitable prince, finding that the youth was more to be pitied than blamed, began to take his part. 'The action of this young man,' said he, 'is excusable in the sight of God, and may be pardoned by man. The wicked slave is the sole cause of this murder: he is the only one who ought to be punished; therefore,' continued he, addressing the vizier, 'I give you three days to find him: if you do not produce him within that time your life shall be the forfeit instead of his.'
"The unhappy Giafar was again overwhelmed with despair on hearing this new decree of the caliph; but as he did not dare to argue with his sovereign, he went out of his master's presence, and returned to his own house with his eyes bathed in tears, fully persuaded that he had only three days to live. He was so convinced of the impossibility of finding the slave that he did not even seek him. 'It is not to be believed,' cried he, 'that in such a city as Bagdad, where there are vast numbers of black slaves, I should ever be able to discover the man the caliph requires. If Allah do not reveal him to me as he revealed the murderer, nothing can possibly save me.'
"He passed the two first days in weeping with his family, who could not help murmuring at the rigour of the caliph. On the third day he prepared for death with firmness, and like a minister who had ever acted with integrity, and had done nothing of which he was ashamed. At length an officer of the palace arrived, with the news that the caliph was much displeased at not having heard from him about the black slave. 'I am ordered,' continued he, 'to bring you to the foot of the throne.' The miserable vizier prepared to follow the officer; but as he was going, his youngest daughter was brought to him. She was five or six years old, and the women who had the care of her were bringing her to take leave of her father.
"As he was particularly fond of this daughter, he entreated the officer to allow him a few minutes to speak to her. He approached the child, and, taking her in his arms, kissed her several times. In kissing her he perceived she had something large and fragrant in her bosom. 'My dear little girl,' said he, 'what have you in your bosom? ' 'My dear father,' replied she, 'it is an apple, on which is written the name of the caliph, our lord and master. Rihan our slave sold it me for two sequins.'
"At these words the grand vizier Giafar cried aloud with surprise and joy, and immediately took the apple from the child's bosom. He ordered the slave to be called, and exclaimed, when the black was brought into his presence: 'Rascal! where didst thou get this apple? ' 'My lord,' replied the slave, ‘I swear to you that I have not stolen it either from your garden or from that of the Commander of the Faithful.
" 'The other day I passed through a street where there were three or four children at play. One of them had this apple in his hand, and I took it away from him. The child ran after me, saying that the apple did not belong to him, but to his mother, who was ill; that his father, to gratify her longing, had gone to a great distance to procure it, and had brought her three; that this was one which he had taken without his mother's knowledge. He entreated me to return it, but I would not attend to him, and brought the apple home; after which I sold it to the little lady, your daughter, for two sequins. This is all I have to say.'
" 'The other day I passed through a street where there were three or four children at play. One of them had this apple in his hand, and I took it away from him. The child ran after me, saying that the apple did not belong to him, but to his mother, who was ill; that his father, to gratify her longing, had gone to a great distance to procure it, and had brought her three; that this was one which he had taken without his mother's knowledge. He entreated me to return it, but I would not attend to him, and brought the apple home; after which I sold it to the little lady, your daughter, for two sequins. This is all I have to say.'
"Giafar could not help marvelling how the roguery of a slave had caused the death of an innocent woman, and nearly deprived himself of life. He took the slave with him, and when he reached the palace he related to the caliph what the slave had confessed, and the chance by which he discovered the crime.
"The astonishment of the caliph was beyond all bounds; he could not contain himself, and burst into violent fits of laughter. At last, having regained his composure, he said to the vizier, that since his slave had occasioned all this distress he merited an exemplary punishment. ‘Commander of the Faithful,' replied the vizier, ‘I cannot deny it; yet his crime is not unpardonable. I know a history, far more surprising, of a vizier of Cairo, called Noureddin Ali, and of Bedreddin Hassan, of Balsora. As your majesty takes pleasure in hearing such stories, I am ready to relate it to you; provided that if you find it more wonderful than the circumstance which occasions me to tell it, you will remit the punishment of my slave.' ' Let it be so,' returned the caliph; 'but I do not think you can save your slave, for the story of the apples is very marvelous.' Giafar then began his story in these words:-
"COMMANDER of the Faithful, there was once a sultan in Egypt who was a great observer of justice. He was merciful, beneficent, and liberal, and his valour made him the terror of the neighbouring states. The vizier of this sultan was a prudent, wise, and discerning man, skilled in literature and all the sciences. This minister had two sons, handsome in person, and resembling their father in talents. The eldest was named Schemseddin Mohammed, and the youngest Noureddin Ali. On the death of the vizier, their father, the sultan sent for them, and having put on each the dress of an ordinary vizier, spoke thus: 'I regret your father's death, and feel sincerely for your loss; and as I wish to prove my sympathy to you, I invest each of you with equal dignity; for I know you live together, and are perfectly united. Go and imitate your father.'
"The two new viziers thanked the sultan for the favour he had conferred on them, and returned home to order their father's funeral. When a month had expired they made their appearance in public, and went for the first time to the council of the sultan, after which they continued to attend regularly every day that it assembled. Whenever the sultan went out to hunt one of the brothers accompanied him, and this honour was accorded to them alternately. One evening, when the eldest brother was to accompany the sultan to the chase on the morrow, the brothers were talking after supper on different subjects, Schemseddin Mohammed said to Noureddin All: ‘Brother, as we are not yet married, and live in such harmony, a thought has occurred to me. Let us both marry on the same day, and wed two sisters, whom we will choose out of some family whose rank is equal to our own. What think you of this proposal?' 'I think, brother,' replied Noureddin Ali, 'it is worthy of the friendship that unites us. You could not have proposed a better plan, and I am ready to do whatever you wish in this matter.' 'Oh,' resumed the eldest, ‘this is not all; my design goes much farther. In the event that our marriage is blessed with offspring, and that your wife brings you a son, while mine presents me with a daughter, we will unite the two when they are of a proper age.' 'Ah!' exclaimed his brother, ‘this is indeed an admirable project. This marriage will complete our union, and I readily give my consent. But, brother,' added he, 'if this marriage is indeed to take place, should you expect my son to settle a fortune on your daughter?' 'In that there is no difficulty,' replied the other, 'and I am persuaded that besides the usual agreements in a marriage contract, you would not object to give in your son's name at least three thousand sequins, three good estates, and three slaves.' ‘That I cannot agree to,' returned Noureddin Ali. 'Are not we brothers and colleagues, each invested with the same dignity and title? and do not we both know what is just? Inasmuch as the man is more noble than the woman, ought not you to bestow a handsome marriage portion on your daughter? I perceive you are a man who wishes to enrich himself at the expense of others.'
"Although Noureddin Ali spoke these words in jest, his brother, who was of a fiery temper, was highly offended. 'Woe to thy son!' said he, angrily, 'since you dare to prefer him to my daughter. Know that after such insolence I would not marry my daughter to your son, even if you were to give her more riches than you possess.' This strange quarrel between the brothers about the marriage of their children, who were not yet born, did not cease here. Schemseddin Mohammed went so far as to threaten his brother. ‘If I were not obliged,' said he, 'to accompany the sultan to-morrow, I would treat you as you deserve; but on my return you shall learn that it does not become the younger brother to treat the elder with the insolence you have shown towards me.' With these words he retired to his apartment, and his brother followed his example.
"Schemseddin Mohammed rose very early the next morning, and repaired to the palace; from whence he went out with the sultan. As for Noureddin Ali, he passed the night in great distress; and having well considered that it was not possible for him to remain any longer with a brother who treated him with such contempt, he formed the resolution of quitting his home. He caused a good mule to be caparisoned, provided himself with money, precious stones, and some eatables; and having told his people that he was going on a journey of three or four days, he departed.
"On leaving Cairo, he went over the desert towards Arabia; but his mule became lame on the road, and he was obliged to continue his journey on foot. He had the good fortune to be overtaken by a messenger who was going to Balsora, and who took him up behind him on his camel. When they were arrived at Balsora, Noureddin Ali alighted, thanking the messenger for his assistance. As he walked along the streets, seeking for a lodging, he saw a person of high rank coming towards him, accompanied by a numerous train. All the inhabitants paid great respect to this personage, waiting to let him pass; and Noureddin Ali stopped like the rest. It was the grand vizier of the Sultan of Balsora, parading the city to enforce peace and good order by his presence.
"This minister chanced to cast his eyes on the young man, and was struck with his engaging countenance; he looked on Noureddin Ali with favour, and as he passed near him, perceiving that the stranger wore a traveller's garb, he stopped to ask him who he was, and from whence he came. ' My lord,' replied Noureddin Ali, 'I come from Egypt, and am a native of Cairo. I have quitted my country on account of a quarrel with one of my relations, and I have resolved to travel over the whole world, and to die rather than return home.' When the grand vizier, who was a venerable old man, heard these words, he replied, 'My son, do not persevere in the project you have formed. In this world there is nothing but misery, and you little think what hardships you will have to endure. Come rather with me, and perhaps I can make you forget the cause which has induced you to quit your country.'
"Noureddin Ali followed the grand vizier of Balsora, who soon became acquainted with his good qualities and conceived a great affection for him; so that one day when they were alone together, the old man thus addressed him: 'My son, I am, as you see, so far advanced in years that there is no prospect of my living much longer. Heaven has given me an only daughter as handsome as yourself, and she is now of a marriageable age. Many of the most powerful lords of this court have already demanded her of me for their sons, but I never could bring myself to part with her. Now, I love you, and think you so worthy of being allied to my family that I am willing to accept you as my son-in-law. If this proposal pleases you, I will inform the sultan that I have adopted you by this marriage, and I will entreat him to permit me to bestow upon you my appointment as grand vizier of Balsora; and as I require rest in my old age, I will resign to you all my possessions, with the administration of the affairs of state.'
"On hearing this speech, Noureddin Ali threw himself at the grand vizier's feet, and in terms which evinced the joy and gratitude that flowed from his heart, declared himself ready to do anything his patron should dictate. The grand vizier then called together the principal officers of his household, and ordered them to prepare the great hall in his house for a grand entertainment. He sent invitations to all the nobles of the court, and to the great men of the city, to summon them to the feast. Noureddin Ali had made him acquainted with his rank, and when they were all assembled he thus addressed them: 'My friends, I am happy to inform you of a circumstance which I have hitherto kept secret. I have a brother who is grand vizier of the Sultan of Egypt, as I have the happiness to be grand vizier to the sultan of these dominions. This brother of mine has an only son, whom he would not marry at the court of Egypt, and he has sent him here to be united to my daughter, that the two branches of our family might be thus joined together. This young nobleman whom you see here, and whom I recognized as my nephew on his arrival, I am going to make my son-in-law. I trust you will do him the honour of being present at the nuptials which I intend shall be solemnized this day.' The grand vizier spoke thus because he thought that no one could be offended at his preferring his nephew to all those noblemen who had offered their alliance; and indeed, they replied that he did right to conclude this marriage, that they would willingly be present at the ceremony, and that they hoped Allah would bless both uncle and nephew many years with the fruits of this happy union. When they had thus expressed their approbation of marriage of the vizier's daughter with Noureddin Ali, they sat down to table, and feasted for a considerable time. Towards the end of the repast the cadis entered with the marriage contract in their hands. The chief among the noblemen signed it, and the whole company retired.
"When all the guests were gone, the grand vizier desired the attendants who had the care of the bath to conduct Noureddin Ali thither. He found provided for him new linen of a beautiful fineness and whiteness, as well as every other necessary. When the bridegroom had enjoyed his bath he was going to resume his own dress, but another of the greatest magnificence was presented to him in its place. Thus adorned, and perfumed with the most exquisite odours, he returned to the grand vizier, his father-in-law, who was charmed with his appearance, and placed him by his side, saying, 'My son, you have disclosed to me who you are and the rank you held at the Egyptian court; you have also told me that you had a quarrel with your brother, and that this caused you to leave your country; I entreat you to relate to me the nature of this quarrel, for you must conceal nothing from me.'
"Noureddin Ali related all the circumstances connected with his dispute with his brother. The grand vizier could not refrain from laughing very heartily. 'This is indeed,' said he, 'the strangest thing I ever heard of! Is it possible that your quarrel was carried to such lengths merely for an imaginary wedding? I am sorry that you quarrelled with your elder brother for such a trifle; however, I perceive that he was in the wrong to be offended with what you said merely in jest, and I ought to be thankful that this strife has been the means of procuring me a son-in-law such as you. But,' continued the old man, 'the night is advancing, and it is time for you to retire. Go, my daughter is expecting your arrival. To-morrow I will present you to the sultan, and I flatter myself he will receive you in a way that shall satisfy us both.'
"Noureddin Ali left his father-in-law to repair to the chamber of his bride. And it is a very remarkable thing that on the same day that these nuptials were celebrated at Balsora, Schemseddin Mohammed was married at Cairo in the following manner:-
"After Noureddin Ali had left Cairo with the intention never to return, Schemseddin Mohammed, who was absent with the sultan on the hunting party, returned at the end of a month. Schemseddin Mohammed at once ran into the apartment of Noureddin Ali; but great was his surprise on being informed that his brother had left Cairo, under pretence of making a journey of four or five days; that he set off on a mule on the very day of the sultan's departure; and that since that time he had never been seen or heard of. Schemseddin Mohammed was the more chagrined at this intelligence as he accused himself of having caused his brother's flight by the harsh words he had used towards him. He dispatched a courier who passed through Damascus and went on to Aleppo; but Noureddin Ali was at that time at Balsora. When the messenger returned without bringing any tidings of him, Schemseddin Mohammed determined to send in other directions to seek for Noureddin Ali, but in the meantime he formed the design of marrying. He made choice of the daughter of one of the most powerful nobles of Cairo, and was united to her on the same day that his brother married the daughter of the grand vizier of Balsora.
"But this is not all," continued Giafar; " I will now tell you, Commander of the Faithful, what happened afterwards. At the expiration of nine months the wife of Schemseddin Mohammed brought her husband a daughter, at Cairo, and on the same day the wife of Noureddin Ali, at Balsora, brought into the world a boy, who was named Bedreddin Hassan. The grand vizier of Balsora testified his joy by vast gifts to the poor and by instituting public rejoicings on the birth of his grandson. To prove his affection for Noureddin Ali, he afterwards went to the palace to entreat the sultan to grant him leave to transfer his office, that he might have the satisfaction, before he died, of seeing his son-in-law in his place.
"The sultan readily granted to his vizier the wished-for favour, and he ordered Noureddin Ali to be clothed in his presence in the dress of a grand vizier.
"The happiness of the father-in-law was complete when he saw Noureddin Ali presiding at the council in his place. Noureddin Ali acquitted himself of his new duties so well that he appeared to have exercised the office all his life. He presided at the council whenever the infirmities of age would not allow his father-in-law to be present. The good old man died four years after this marriage, with the satisfaction of seeing a descendant firmly established, who promised to sustain the honour and credit of his family.
" Noureddin Ali performed the last duties to his dead father-in-law with the greatest tenderness and gratitude; and as soon as Bedreddin Hassan, his son, had reached the age of seven years, he placed him under the care of an excellent master, who began the boy's education in a way suitable to his birth.
"By the time Bedreddin Hassan had been two years with his tutor, he had learned to read, and could write the Koran by heart. Noureddin Ali, his father, then procured him other masters, and he made such a rapid progress in his studies that at the age of twelve years he was no longer in need of their assistance. By that time the features of his countenance had become so beautiful that he was the admiration of all who saw him.
"As his father wished to make him capable of one day filling the situation he himself held, he spared nothing to qualify him for it. In short, he neglected nothing that could tend to the advancement of his dearly beloved son; and he had begun to enjoy the fruits of his care, when he was suddenly attacked by a disease so violent that he felt his end was approaching. He prepared to die like a good Mussulman. In these precious moments he did not forget his beloved son Bedreddin Hassan; he caused him to be called to his bedside, and thus addressed him: 'My son, you see that this world is perishable; that world only to which I am shortly going is eternal. You must from this moment begin to prepare to take this journey without regret; your conscience acquitting you of having neglected any of the duties of a Mussulman, or of an honest man. With regard to your religion, you have been sufficiently instructed in that by the masters you have had, as well as by what you have read. As to your duty as an honest man, I will now give you some advice. As it is right you should know who you are, and you cannot possibly have that knowledge without knowing who I am, I will now inform you.
"'I was born in Egypt; my father was prime minister to the sultan of that country. I, too, had the honour of being one of the viziers of the same sultan, jointly with my brother, your uncle, who I believe is still alive, and is called Schemseddin Mohammed. I was compelled to separate from him, and I came into this country. But you will learn all these things more fully from a packet which I shall give you.'
"Noureddin Ali then took out a scroll, which he had written with his own hand, and gave it to Bedreddin Hassan. ' Take it,' he said; 'read it at your leisure; you will find in it, among other things, the date of my marriage, and that of your birth.' Bedreddin Hassan, truly grieved at seeing his father in such a state, and, touched by his discourse, received the packet with tears in his eyes, promising never to let it go out of his possession.
"Noureddin Ali continued to give counsel to his son till the last moments of his life; and after his death he was interred with all the honours due to his rank and dignity. Bedreddin Hassan was inconsolable at the death of his father. Instead of mourning for one month, as is the custom, he passed two in retreat, overwhelmed by his sorrow; during which time he would not see any one, nor did he even go out to pay his respects to the sultan, who, displeased with this neglect, which he considered as a mark of contempt towards him, suffered his anger to rise to a great height. He summoned the new grand vizier whom he had elected in the place of Noureddin Ali, and ordered him to go to the house of the deceased minister, and to confiscate it, together with all Noureddin Ali's other houses, grounds, and effects; nor was anything to be left for Bedreddin Hassan, whose person also he ordered the officer to seize.
"The grand vizier immediately set out to execute his commission. One of the slaves of Bedreddin Hassan, who had by chance joined the crowd at the council, no sooner learnt the intention of the grand vizier than he hastened to warn his master of the danger. He found him seated in the vestibule of his house, as full of affliction as if his father were but just dead. The slave threw himself at his master's feet quite out of breath, and exclaimed, 'Fly, my lord, fly quickly!' ‘What is the matter?' inquired Bedreddin Hassan, raising his head, 'what news hast thou?' ‘My lord,' replied the slave, 'you have not a moment to lose. The sultan is enraged against you, and they are now coming by his order to confiscate all your possessions, and even to seize your person.'
"This news brought by the faithful and affectionate slave occasioned Bedreddin Hassan some perplexity. ' But,' said he, 'cannot I return and take even some money and jewels?' ‘My dear lord,' replied the slave, 'the grand vizier will be here in a moment. Depart instantly and make your escape.' Bedreddin Hassan immediately got up from the sofa on which he was sitting, and put on his slippers; then covering his head with one corner of his robe to conceal his face, he fled, without knowing whither to turn his steps to avoid the danger which threatened him. The first thought that occurred to him was to make for the nearest gate of the city. He ran without stopping till he came to the public cemetery, and as evening was approaching, determined to pass the night near his father's tomb. This tomb was a large edifice of magnificent appearance, built in the shape of a dome, which Noureddin Ali had erected during his lifetime; but Bedreddin Hassan on his way met with a very rich Jew, a banker and merchant by profession.
"This Jew, who was called Isaac, knew Bedreddin Hassan, and he stopped and saluted him very respectfully: after kissing his hand, he said, 'My lord, may I take the liberty of asking you where you are going to at this hour alone, and seemingly so agitated? Is there anything that disturbs you?' ‘Yes,' replied Bedreddin Hassan, ' I fell asleep just now, and my father appeared to me in a dream. His countenance was threatening, as if he had been very angry with me. I awoke much terrified, and I set off immediately to come and pray at his tomb.' ‘My lord,' replied the Jew, who did not know the real cause of Bedreddin Hassan's quitting the city, ‘as the late grand vizier your father, of happy memory, had several vessels laden with merchandise, which are still at sea and now belong to you, I entreat you to grant me the preference over any other merchant. I am in a position to purchase for ready money the cargoes of all your vessels; and as a proof of what I say, if it please you, I will give you a thousand sequins for the first which arrives in port; I have the money here in a purse, and am ready to pay it.' Saying this, he drew out a large purse, which he showed to Bedreddin Hassan.
"Forced from his home, and robbed of everything he possessed, Bedreddin Hassan looked upon this proposition of the Jew as a favour from Heaven, and accepted the offer with great joy. 'O my master,' said the Jew, 'you grant me then the cargo of the first of your vessels that arrives for one thousand sequins?' 'I do,' replied Bedreddin Hassan, 'the bargain is made.' The Jew then put the purse of sequins into his hands, at the same time offering to count them, but Bedreddin Hassan saved him the trouble by saying he trusted in his honour. 'Then, my lord,' resumed the Jew, 'will you have the goodness to write an acknowledgment of the bargain we have made?' He then pulled from his girdle an ink-horn, and taking a cane prepared for writing, he presented it to the young man, with a leaf of paper which he found in his pocket-book, and while he held the ink, Bedreddin Hassan wrote these words:-
" ' This writing is to witness that Bedreddin Hassan, of Balsora, has sold the cargo of the first of his ships which shall arrive at this port to the Jew Isaac, for the sum of one thousand sequins, received.
' BEDREDDIN HASSAN, OF BALSORA.'
' BEDREDDIN HASSAN, OF BALSORA.'
"This writing he gave to the Jew, who put it in his girdle, and they separated; Isaac pursuing his way to the city, while Bedreddin Hassan proceeded to the tomb of his father, Noureddin Ali. When he had reached it, he prostrated himself, and with many tears began to lament his miserable fate. 'Alas!' said he, 'unfortunate Bedreddin, what will become of thee? Where wilt thou find refuge from the unjust prince who persecutes thee?' He remained a considerable time in this state; but at length he arose, and, leaning his head on his father's sepulchre, he renewed his lamentations, and continued to weep and sigh until, overtaken by sleep, he fell into a gentle slumber.
"He had scarcely begun to taste the sweets of repose, when a genie, who had chosen this cemetery as his retreat during the day, and who was about to set forth on his nightly excursions, perceived this young man in the tomb of Noureddin Ali. He entered, and, as Bedreddin Hassan lay with his face upwards, the genie was struck with admiration at his beauty; and, after gazing at him for some time, he said to himself, 'To judge of this creature by his countenance, it can only be an angel sent by Allah from the terrestrial paradise to enchant the world with its beauty.' After he had contemplated the sleeper again, he rose into the air, where by chance he met a fairy. They saluted each other, and the genie said, 'I entreat you to descend with me to the cemetery where I live, and I will show you a prodigy of beauty, who will awaken your admiration as he has excited mine.' The fairy consented, and they both instantly descended. When they came to the tomb, the genie, showing Bedreddin Hassan to her, exclaimed, 'Tell me, did you ever see so handsome a youth as this?'
"The fairy examined Bedreddin Hassan attentively, and then replied, turning towards the genie, 'I confess that he is very handsome, but I have just seen at Cairo an object still more wonderful; and will tell you something concerning it if you will attend to me.' ‘That I will, with pleasure,' replied the genie. 'You must know, then,' resumed the fairy, 'that the Sultan of Egypt has a vizier named Schemseddin Mohammed, and this Schemseddin Mohammed has a daughter about twenty years of age. She is the most beautiful and perfect creature ever seen. A few days since, the sultan, hearing from every one of the extraordinary beauty of this young lady, sent for the vizier her father, and said to him, "I understand you have a daughter who is marriageable, and I wish to make her my wife; will not you give her to me?" The vizier was rather disconcerted, and, instead of accepting the offer with joy, he replied, "O sultan, I am not worthy of the honour your majesty would confer on me; and I humbly entreat you not to be displeased that I should decline your offer. You know that I had a brother called Noureddin Ali, who, like myself, had the honour of being one of your viziers. We had a quarrel, in consequence of which he suddenly disappeared, and I have never heard of him since that time till within these four days, when I learnt that he had lately died at Balsora, where he enjoyed the dignity of grand vizier to the sultan. He has left one son; and as we formerly agreed that our children, if ever we had any, should marry each other, I am certain that when he died he had not abandoned his design. For this reason I wish, on my part, to perform my promise; and I supplicate your majesty to permit me to do so."
"The fairy examined Bedreddin Hassan attentively, and then replied, turning towards the genie, 'I confess that he is very handsome, but I have just seen at Cairo an object still more wonderful; and will tell you something concerning it if you will attend to me.' ‘That I will, with pleasure,' replied the genie. 'You must know, then,' resumed the fairy, 'that the Sultan of Egypt has a vizier named Schemseddin Mohammed, and this Schemseddin Mohammed has a daughter about twenty years of age. She is the most beautiful and perfect creature ever seen. A few days since, the sultan, hearing from every one of the extraordinary beauty of this young lady, sent for the vizier her father, and said to him, "I understand you have a daughter who is marriageable, and I wish to make her my wife; will not you give her to me?" The vizier was rather disconcerted, and, instead of accepting the offer with joy, he replied, "O sultan, I am not worthy of the honour your majesty would confer on me; and I humbly entreat you not to be displeased that I should decline your offer. You know that I had a brother called Noureddin Ali, who, like myself, had the honour of being one of your viziers. We had a quarrel, in consequence of which he suddenly disappeared, and I have never heard of him since that time till within these four days, when I learnt that he had lately died at Balsora, where he enjoyed the dignity of grand vizier to the sultan. He has left one son; and as we formerly agreed that our children, if ever we had any, should marry each other, I am certain that when he died he had not abandoned his design. For this reason I wish, on my part, to perform my promise; and I supplicate your majesty to permit me to do so."
"'The Sultan was extremely irritated by this answer of Schemseddin Mohammed, and said to him, "Is it thus you return the condescension with which I proposed my alliance to your family? You dare to show preference to another over me? I swear to you that your daughter shall have for her husband the meanest and ugliest of my slaves." With these words he dismissed the vizier, who returned home much mortified.
"'To-day the sultan ordered to be brought to him one of his grooms, who is very much deformed, and so ugly it is impossible to look at him without terror; and, after commanding Schemseddin Mohammed to give his consent to the marriage of his daughter with this horrible slave, he had the contract drawn up, and signed by witnesses in his presence. The preparations for these strange nuptials are now completed, and at this moment all the slaves of the nobles of the Egyptian court are at the door of a bath, each with a torch in his hand; they are waiting for the humpbacked groom, who is in the bath, to come out, that they may lead him to his bride, who is already dressed to receive him. At the time I left Cairo the ladies were assembled to conduct her, in her nuptial ornaments, to the hall, where she is to receive her deformed bridegroom, and where she is now expecting him.'
"When the fairy had ceased speaking, the genie replied that he could not believe it possible for the beauty of this damsel to surpass that of the youth who lay sleeping before them. 'I win not dispute with you,' said the fairy; 'I will only say that he deserves to marry the charming lady who is destined for the groom; and I think we should perform a good action were we to frustrate the injustice of the sultan, and to substitute this young man for the slave.' 'You speak wisely,' resumed the genie. 'Let us disappoint the vengeance of the sultan, console an afflicted father, and make his daughter as happy as she now believes herself to be miserable. I take upon me to carry this youth to Cairo without waking him; and I leave to you the task of disposing of him after we have executed our enterprise.'
"After the genie and the fairy had decided together what they should do, the genie gently raised Bedreddin Hassan, transported him through the air with inconceivable swiftness, and placed him at the door of a public apartment adjoining the bath from whence the groom was to come.
"Awaking at this instant, Bedreddin Hassan was much astonished to find himself in a city quite unknown to him, and was going to inquire where he was, when the genie gave him a gentle tap on the shoulder, and warned him not to speak a word; then putting a torch in his hand, he said to him, 'Go and join the people whom you see at the door of yonder bath, and walk with them till you come to a hall where a wedding is going to be celebrated. You will easily distinguish the bridegroom by his being deformed. Place yourself on his right hand when you enter; and from time to time open the purse of sequins which you have in your bosom, and distribute the money among the musicians and dancers as you go along. When you have reached the hall, do not fail to give some also to the female slaves whom you will see about the bride. Be bold, and be not surprised at anything; fear no one, and trust for the consequence in the power of who will dispose of everything as he thinks best for you.'
"The young Bedreddin Hassan, thus instructed in what he was to do, advanced towards the door of the bath. The first thing he did was to light his torch by that of a slave; then mixing with the rest as if he had been sent by a nobleman of Cairo, he walked with them, and accompanied the groom, who came out of the bath and mounted one of the horses from the sultan's stable.
"Finding himself near the musicians and dancers who preceded the humpbacked groom, Bedreddin Hassan frequently drew from his purse handfuls of sequins, which he distributed amongst them. As he conferred these bounties with admirable grace and with a very liberal air, all those who received them cast their eyes on him and no sooner had they seen him than they were fascinated by him, so great was his beauty.
"At length the procession arrived at the palace of Schemseddin Mohammed, who little thought his nephew was so near him. To prevent confusion, some of the officers stopped all the slaves who carried torches, and would not suffer them to enter. They also wanted to exclude Bedreddin Hassan; but the musicians and dancers declared they would not proceed if he were not allowed to accompany them. 'He is not one of the slaves,' said they. 'He must be some young stranger who wishes from curiosity to see the ceremonies observed at weddings in this city.' Saying this, they placed him in their midst, and made him go in, in spite of the officers. They took from him his torch, and when they had brought him into the hall they placed him on the right hand of the groom, who was seated on a magnificent throne, next to the daughter of the vizier.
"The bride was dressed in her richest ornaments, but her countenance displayed a melancholy, the cause of which was easily divined by any one who saw by her side the humpbacked bridegroom. The throne of this ill-matched pair was erected in the middle of a large divan; the wives of the emirs, viziers, and officers of the sultan's chamber, together with many other ladies of the court, were seated a little below on each side according to their rank.
"When they saw Bedreddin Hassan enter, they all fixed their eyes on him, and could not cease looking at him, so much were they struck with the beauty of his figure and countenance. 'This handsome youth,' exclaimed the ladies, 'ought to be married to our bride, and not this deformed wretch.' They went further than this, and even ventured to utter imprecations against the sultan, who was abusing his power by uniting deformity to beauty. At length the musicians began their concert, and the women who had dressed the bride approached her.
"Each time the bride changed her dress, which according to custom she was obliged to do seven different times, she arose, and, followed by her women, passed before the groom, without deigning to look at him, and went to present herself to Bedreddin Hassan, to show herself to him in her new ornaments. Remembering the instructions he had received from the genie, Bedreddin Hassan on each of these occasions put his hand into the purse and drew it out full of sequins, which he distributed to the women who attended the bride. They testified their gratitude, and told him by signs that they wished him to marry the bride instead of the humpbacked groom.
"When the ceremony of changing the dresses was completed, the musicians ceased playing and retired, making signs to Bedreddin Hassan to remain. The ladies also motioned him to stay, and took their leave, together with all those who did not belong to the house. The bride went into a closet, where her women followed to undress her, and there remained no one in the hall except the humpbacked groom, Bedreddin Hassan, and some servants. The humpback, who was furiously enraged with Bedreddin Hassan, gave him a scowling look out of the corners of his eyes, and cried out, 'What art thou waiting for Get thee gone? Why dost thou not depart with the rest?' As Bedreddin Hassan had no pretext for remaining, he retired somewhat out of countenance; but he had scarcely left the vestibule when the genie and the fairy appeared before him, and stopped him. 'Whither art thou going?' said the genie. 'Return, for the hunchback has left the hall; and proceed at once to the chamber of the bride. When you are alone with her tell her confidently that you are her husband, that the sultan only intended to put off a jest upon the hunchback, and that to appease this pretended husband you have ordered him a large dish of cream in his stable. Use all the arguments you can think of to persuade her of the truth of this. We will take proper precautions so that the hunchback shall not return to prevent you from visiting your bride, for she is yours, not his.'
"While the genie was thus encouraging Bedreddin Hassan, and instructing him in the part he was to play, the hunchback really quitted the hall. The genie went and sought him out, and assuming the figure of a large black cat, began to mew in a terrific manner. The hunchback clapped his hands and made a noise to frighten the creature away; but the cat, instead of retreating, set up its back and fixed its fiery eyes fiercely on him, mewing louder than before. It then began to swell, increasing in size until it was larger than an ass. The hunchback was going to call for assistance, but he was so terrified that he could not utter a sound. To increase his terror, the genie suddenly changed himself into a large buffalo, and under this shape cried with a loud voice, 'O miserable hunchback!' At these words the frightened groom fell on the floor; and replied, trembling, 'Sovereign prince of the buffaloes, what dost thou require of me?' 'I'll befall thee!' replied the genie; 'thou hast the temerity to dare to marry my mistress?' 'O my lord!' cried the hunchback, 'I entreat you to pardon me; if I have erred it is through ignorance alone. Command me in whatever you please, I swear I am ready to obey.' ' I swear to thee,' resumed the genie, 'that if thou quittest this spot or breakest silence before the sun rises, nay, if thou utterest but a syllable, I will crush thy head to atoms. At sunrise I permit thee to leave this house; but I command thee to fly quickly, and if thou hast ever the audacity to return, it shall cost thee thy life.' Thus saying the genie transformed himself into a man, and took the hunchback by the heels; then, holding him against the wall with his head downwards, he added, 'If thou darest to stir before the sun rises I repeat to thee that I will take thee by the feet and dash thy head against this wall.'
"Meanwhile Bedreddin Hassan, encouraged by the genie and the fairy, had re-entered the hall, and proceeded privately into the nuptial chamber, where he seated himself, waiting with anxious expectation the issue of his adventure. After some time the bride arrived.
"The young bride was extremely surprised when, instead of the hunchback, she beheld Bedreddin Hassan. 'O my friend!' exclaimed she, 'how came you here at this hour? I suppose you are one of my husband's comrades?' 'No, madam,' replied Bedreddin Hassan, 'I have nothing to do with that disgusting hunchback. Be undeceived: such beauty as yours will not be sacrificed to the most despicable of men. I am the happy mortal to whom you are married. The sultan chose to amuse himself by playing off this little jest on the vizier your father, and has selected me for your real husband. We have dismissed the hunchback to his stable, where he is now regaling himself with a dish of cream; and you may be assured that he will never more appear before your beautiful eyes.'
"At this discourse the daughter of the vizier regained an air of cheerfulness, which added so much to her beauty that Bedreddin Hassan was quite charmed with her. 'I did not expect so agreeable a surprise,' said she, 'I considered myself condemned to pass the rest of my days in misery, but my happiness is so much the greater in being united to a man so worthy of my affection,' Bedreddin Hassan was delighted to find himself in possession of so beautiful a spouse. He undressed, putting his clothes on a chair, together with the purse which the Jew had given him, and which was still full, notwithstanding all the gold he had taken from it.
"When the two lovers were asleep, the genie, who had sought out the fairy, told her it was now time to complete the task they had so well begun and so happily conducted thus far. 'Let us not,' said he, 'be surprised by daylight, which will now soon appear; go and take away the young man without waking him.'
"The fairy repaired to the chamber of the lovers, who were both sleeping profoundly, and stole away Bedreddin Hassan, dressed as he was in his shirt and drawers. Accompanied by the genie, she flew with wonderful swiftness to the gates of Damascus, in Syria. The fairy gently placed Bedreddin Hassan on the ground near the gate, and then flew away, the genie vanishing with her.
"Presently the gates were opened; and the people, who had assembled in great numbers to go out, were extremely surprised at seeing Bedreddin Hassan lying on the ground in only his shirt and drawers. A slight breeze which was beginning to rise blew aside the cap which shaded his face. They were all surprised at the whiteness of the skin, and they exclaimed so loudly in their admiration that they awakened the young man. His astonishment was not less than theirs on finding himself at the gate of a city where he had never been, and on seeing a crowd of people, who were examining him attentively. He cried out, ‘Friends, I entreat you to inform me where I am, and what you want of me.' One of the spectators replied, 'Young man, the gates of this city are but just opened, and when we came out we found you lying here, just as you now are; and we stopped to look at you. Have you passed the night here, and do you know that you are at one of the gates of Damascus!' 'At one of the gates of Damascus!' exclaimed Bedreddin Hassan, 'you do but jest with me; when I went to bed last night I was at Cairo.' At these words some of the people, moved with compassion, said it was a pity that so handsome a youth should have lost his senses; and so they passed on.
"A venerable old man next addressed him. 'My son,' he said, 'you must be mistaken; for how could you be last night at Cairo, and this morning at Damascus? That cannot be.' 'It is very true, notwithstanding,' replied Bedreddin Hassan; 'and I assure you, moreover, that I passed the whole of yesterday at Balsora.' He had scarcely uttered these words when they all burst into a laugh, and cried, 'He is mad, he is mad!' Some, however, pitied him on account of his extreme youth; and a man who was looking on said, 'My son, you have lost your reason: you know not what you say. How is it possible that a man should be in one day at Balsora, in the same night at Cairo, and the next morning at Damascus?' 'What I tell you,' persisted Bedreddin Hassan, 'is as true as that I was last night married in the city of Cairo.' All those who had laughed before burst into fresh shouts at hearing this. 'Take care,' resumed the person who had addressed him before, 'you must have dreamt all this, and the illusion still remains impressed on your mind.' 'I know what I am saying,' replied the youth, 'I have not dreamt I was at Cairo, for I am persuaded I was there in reality. But can you tell me what is become of my robe, my turban, and the purse of sequins I had at Cairo?'
"Although he assured them that all this was true, yet the people who listened to him only laughed at what he said. At length he rose and walked into the city; but the crowd followed him, crying out, 'A madman! a madman!' On hearing this, some of the inhabitants ran to the windows, others came out at their doors, and some joined the throng who had surrounded Bedreddin Hassan, and joined in the cry, 'A madman!' without knowing why they shouted. Tormented by his pursuers, he came to the house of a pastrycook, and entered to escape from the hooting of the mob who followed him.
"This pastrycook had formerly been the chief of a troop of wandering Arabs who attacked caravans; and although he now established at Damascus, yet he was feared by all who knew anything of his former life. His appearance soon dispersed the mob that followed Bedreddin Hassan. The pastrycook began to question the young man, inquiring who he was, and what had led him to Damascus. Bedreddin Hassan related the story of his birth, and told of the death of the grand vizier his father. He then proceeded to relate how he had left Balsora; how, after falling asleep on the tomb of his father, he had awaked to find himself at Cairo, where he married a lady. Lastly, he expressed his surprise at seeing himself in Damascus without being able to understand any of these miracles.
"'Your history is very astonishing,' said the pastrycook; 'but if you will follow my advice, you will not disclose to any one the facts you have related to me. You may remain with me till your fortunes change; and, as I have no children, I will adopt you as my son, if you consent. You may then go freely about the city, and will no longer be exposed to the insults of the populace.'
"Although this proposal conferred no great honour on the son of a grand vizier, Bedreddin Hassan nevertheless accepted the pastrycook's offer, judging, very properly, that it was the only step he could take in his present situation. The pastrycook procured him clothes; and, taking witnesses with him, went before a cadi to declare that he adopted the young man as his son. Bedreddin Hassan resided with him, and only calling himself by the simple name of Hassan, soon learned the art of making pastry.
"Whilst this was passing at Damascus, the daughter of Schemseddin Mohammed awoke; and, not finding Bedreddin Hassan by her side, concluded that he had risen softly, not to interrupt her slumbers, and that he would soon return. She was still expecting him, when her father, the vizier Schemseddin Mohammed, came to the door of her apartment. He was much affected by the affront he conceived had been put upon him by the Sultan of Egypt, and came to bewail with her on the unhappy destiny to which she had been abandoned. He called her by her name; and she no sooner heard his voice than she rose up to open the door to him. She kissed his hand, and received him with an air of so much satisfaction that the vizier, who expected to find her bathed in tears, and in grief equal to his own, was extremely surprised 'Miserable one!' cried he, in an angry tone, 'is it thus you appear before me? Bearing the horrid fate to which you have been sacrificed, can you present yourself to me with a countenance which bespeaks content?' When the bride perceived her father's displeasure at the joy which brightened her features, she replied, 'My lord, I entreat you not to reproach me so unjustly. I have not been married to that monster the hunchback, who is more detestable in my eyes than death itself; all the company treated him with such derision and contempt that he was obliged to go away and hide himself, and make room for a charming young man, who is my real husband.' 'What story is this?' cried the grand vizier; 'was not the hunchback married to you last night?' ‘ No, my lord,' returned she, 'my husband is the young man I was speaking of, who has large eyes and fine black eyebrows.' At these words Schemseddin Mohammed lost all patience, and put himself in a violent rage with his daughter. 'Ah, foolish girl!' said he, 'will you make me lose my senses by the lies you tell?' 'It is you, father,' replied she, 'who almost drive me out of my senses by your incredulity.' 'Is it not true,' persisted the vizier, 'that the hunchback--' 'Let us talk no more of the hunchback,' interrupted she; 'evil befall the hunchback! I again tell you,' she continued, 'that he has not passed the night in my chamber, but my dear husband, whom I have mentioned to you; and indeed he cannot be now at any great distance from hence.'
"Schemseddin Mohammed went out immediately to look for this husband; but, instead of finding him, he was in the greatest astonishment at seeing the humpbacked fellow standing on his head with his feet in the air, and in the very position in which the genie had left him. 'What is the meaning of all this?' he asked him. 'Who placed you in that situation?' The hunchback, who instantly recognized the vizier, answered, 'You are the man who wishes to give me in marriage to the mistress of a buffalo; to one who is in love with a genie? But I won't be your dupe, I promise you.'
"Schemseddin Mohammed thought the hunchback was out of his senses. ' Get up,' he cried, 'and stand upon your legs.' 'I will beware how I do that,' answered he, 'unless, indeed, the sun be risen. You must know, that as I was coming here yesterday evening, a large black cat suddenly appeared to me; and it kept increasing in size till it was as large as a buffalo. I shall never forget what it said to me; therefore leave me here.' Instead of complying, the vizier took hold of the hunchback by the legs and obliged him to get up. As soon as he was on his legs he ran away as fast as he could. He went directly to the palace, and presented himself before the Sultan of Egypt, who was highly amused at the account he gave of the manner in which the genie had treated him.
"Schemseddin Mohammed then went back to his daughter's apartment, quite uncertain how to think or act. 'Unhappy girl,' he said to his daughter, 'can you give me no further account of this adventure, which confuses and distracts me?' 'My father,' she replied, 'I cannot tell you anything more than I have already had the honour to relate to you. But see,' she added, 'here is some part of my husband's dress, which he has left on this chair, and perhaps this may throw some light on what you wish to discover.' So saying, she presented the turban of Bedreddin Hassan to the vizier, who examined it attentively. He then said, 'I should conjecture this to be a turban that belonged to a vizier if it were not made in the fashion of those of Moussoul.' As he was thus turning it over in his hands, he felt something sewn up in the inside of the turban between the folds. He asked, therefore, for scissors, and on unripping the turban, he discovered a paper folded up. This was the packet which Noureddin Ali on his death-bed had given to his son Bedreddin Hassan, who had concealed it in his turban. On opening the packet, Schemseddin Mohammed instantly knew the handwriting of his brother Noureddin Ali, and read the following direction: -' For my son, Bedreddin Hassan. 'Before he had time to reflect on these circumstances, his daughter put into her father's hands the purse which she had found in Bedreddin Hassan's pocket. He immediately opened it, and saw it filled with sequins; for, through the care of the genie and fairy, it had remained full in spite of all the gold that Bedreddin Hassan had bestowed on those around him. Upon a sort of ticket attached to the purse the vizier read these words:-'A thousand sequins belonging to the Jew Isaac.' And under them was the following inscription, which the Jew had written before he had left Bedreddin Hassan:-' Delivered to Bedreddin Hassan, in payment for the cargo of the first vessel that arrives in port belonging to him, and which belonged to Noureddin Ali, his father, of happy memory' The vizier had scarcely finished reading these words, when he uttered a loud cry and fainted away.
"When Schemseddin Mohammed recovered from his fainting-fit, he exclaimed, 'My daughter, be not surprised at the accident which has just happened to me; so wonderful is the adventure which has caused it, that you will hardly give credit to it. The husband who has passed the night with you is no other than your cousin, the son of Noureddin Ali. The thousand sequins in this purse remind me of the quarrel I had with my dear brother. Doubt not, this is the wedding-present he makes you. Allah be praised for all these things.' He then looked at the writing in his brother's hand, and kissed it many times, bathing it with his tears. 'Why cannot I see Noureddin Ali himself here,' he exclaimed, 'and be reconciled to him, as well as I see his handwriting, which causes me so much joy?'
"He read the packet through and found the dates of his brother's arrival at Balsora, of his marriage, and of the birth of Bedreddin Hassan; then, comparing these dates with those of his own marriage and of his daughter's birth at Cairo, he could not help wondering at the coincidence; and remembering that his nephew was his son-in-law, he gave himself up entirely to the emotions of pleasure to which all these circumstances gave rise.
"Nevertheless Schemseddin Mohammed could not understand why his nephew had disappeared: he expected him to arrive every moment, and awaited his coming with the greatest impatience. When seven days had passed, and no Bedreddin Hassan appeared, he ordered him to be sought for in every part of Cairo; but he could hear no tidings of him, and this caused him much uneasiness. 'This is, indeed,' said he, 'a singular adventure; surely such a strange fate never befell mortal before.'
"Uncertain what might happen in the course of time, he thought proper himself to write the account of what had taken place, detailing the manner in which the nuptials were celebrated, and how the hall and the chamber of his daughter were furnished. He also carefully preserved the turban, the purse, and the rest of the dress of Bedreddin Hassan.
"After some time the daughter of Schemseddin Mohammed gave birth to a son. A nurse was provided for the child, with other women and slaves to attend upon him, and his grandfather named him Agib.
"When the young Agib had attained the age of seven years, the vizier Schemseddin Mohammed, instead of having him taught to read at home, sent him to school to a master who had a great reputation for his learning; and two slaves had the care of conducting him to school and bringing him back every day. Agib used to play with his comrades; and as hey were all of much inferior condition to himself they treated him with great deference, and in this the schoolmaster set the example by excusing many faults in Agib which he did not pass over in other scholars. The blind submission with which Agib was treated completely spoiled him. He became proud and insolent; he expected his companions to bear everything from him, but would not in return comply with any of their wishes. At last he made himself so obnoxious to all the scholars that they complained of him to the master of the school. The master at first exhorted them to have patience; but perceiving that by so doing he only increased the insolence of Agib, and being tired himself of the trouble that headstrong boy gave, he said to them, 'My boys, I see that Agib is an insolent fellow. I will tell you how to mortify him in a way that will prevent his tormenting you any longer; indeed, it may perhaps prevent his returning any more to school. To-morrow when he comes, and you are going to play together, place yourselves round him and let one of you say aloud, 'We are going to play, but every one who wishes to join in the game must tell his name, and that of his father and mother. Those who refuse to do so shall not play with us.' The master then explained to them how mortified Agib would be, and they all went home with the greatest satisfaction.
"The following day, when they were assembled, they did not fail to do as their master had instructed them. They surrounded Agib, and one of them said, 'Let us play at some game, but on condition that he who cannot tell his name, and that of his father and mother, shall not play with us.' Agib and all the rest agreed to these conditions. Then the boy who had spoken first interrogated them all, and each answered satisfactory till Agib's turn came. The boy said, 'I am called Agib, my mother is named the Queen of Beauty, and my father is Schemseddin Mohammed, the vizier of the sultan.'
"At these words all the children cried, 'Agib, this is not true; that is not the name of your father, but of your grandfather.' 'Woe to you!' replied he, angrily, 'do you dare to say that the vizier Schemseddin Mohammed is not my father?' The scholars then all laughed at him, and cried out, 'No, no! he is only your grandfather, and you shall not play with us; we will take care not to come near you.' Then they left him and continued to laugh among themselves. Agib was so mortified that he began to cry.
"The master, who had been listening and heard all that passed, now made his appearance and said to Agib, 'Do not you know yet, Agib, that the vizier Schemseddin Mohammed is not your father? He is your grandfather, and the father of your mother. Like yourself, we are ignorant of the name of your father; we only know that the sultan wished to marry your mother to one of his grooms who was deformed, but that a genie took the groom's place. This is unpleasant for you, but it ought to teach you to treat your companions with less haughtiness than you have hitherto shown.'
"Vexed at the jokes of his schoolfellows, little Agib immediately left the school, and returned home in tears. He went first to the apartment of his mother, who, alarmed at seeing him in such grief, anxiously inquired the cause. When he had told her his adventure, he cried out, 'In the name of God, mother, tell me who is my father?' 'My son,' replied she, 'your father is Schemseddin Mohammed, who embraces you every day.' 'You do not tell me the truth,' said Agib, 'he is not my father, but yours. But whose son am I?' At this the Queen of Beauty, recalling to her mind the night of her marriage, which had been followed by so long a widowhood, began to weep bitterly, mourning the loss of a husband so amiable as Bedreddin Hassan.
"The Queen of Beauty and her son Agib were still weeping when Schemseddin Mohammed entered, and desired to know the cause of their grief. His daughter related the mortification her son had met with at school. This account very soon affected the vizier, who joined his tears with theirs. Being very much disturbed by this cruel reflection, he went to the palace of the sultan, prostrated himself at his master's feet, and humbly entreated permission to take a journey to seek his nephew Bedreddin Hassan, for he could not bear that the whole city should suppose his daughter had been married to a genie. The sultan felt for the grief of the vizier, approved his intention, and gave him leave to execute it; he even wrote a letter of recommendation in the most gracious manner to the princes and nobles in whose dominions Bedreddin Hassan might be, requesting them to authorize the young man's departure with the grand vizier.
"Schemseddin Mohammed immediately began to prepare for his departure, and at the end of four days he set off, accompanied by his daughter and by Agib his grandson.
"They took the road to Damascus, and travelled for nineteen days without stopping; but on the twentieth they halted in a beautiful meadow, at a little distance from the gates of the city, and had their tents pitched on the banks of a river.
"The vizier Schemseddin Mohammed declared his intention of remaining two days in this spot, proposing to continue his journey on the third. He allowed the persons in his suite to visit Damascus. They almost all availed themselves of this permission.
"The Queen of Beauty, who wished that her son Agib should also have the gratification of walking about this celebrated city, ordered the black eunuch who held the office of governor to the child to take Agib into the town, admonishing him to be very careful that the boy did not meet with any accident.
"Agib, who was magnificently dressed, set out with the eunuch. Directly they entered the city, Agib, who was as beautiful as the morning, attracted the admiration of every one. Some ran out from their doors to see him nearer; others came to the windows; and people who were walking in the streets, not satisfied with stopping to look at him, ran by his side to have the pleasure of contemplating his beauty for a longer time. The eunuch and Agib came by chance to the shop where Bedreddin Hassan was; and, pressed by the throng that surrounded them, they were obliged to stop at his door.
"The pastrycook who had adopted Bedreddin Hassan as his son had been dead some years, and to this adopted son had left his shop and all his property. Bedreddin Hassan, therefore, was now master of the shop, and exercised the trade of a pastrycook so successfully that he had acquired a great reputation in Damascus. Observing many people assembled round his door to look at Agib and the black eunuch, Bedreddin Hassan also began to examine them attentively.
"Directly he cast his eyes on Agib he felt himself agitated, without knowing why. He was not struck, like the crowd, with the extreme beauty of the boy; his emotion arose from another cause, which he could not understand. It was the force of nature which moved this tender father, and caused him to approach Agib, and say to him with an engaging air, ‘My little lord, you have won my heart; I beg you will do me the favour to walk into my shop, and eat some of my pastry, that I may have the pleasure of admiring you at my leisure.' He pronounced these words with so much tenderness that the tears came into his eyes. Little Agib was affected by his manner, and, turning towards the eunuch, said, 'This good man has a countenance that pleases me, and he speaks to me in so affectionate a manner that I cannot avoid doing what he requests; let us go in and eat some of his pastry.' 'Not so,' replied the eunuch; 'it would be a pretty tale to tell that the son of a vizier had gone into a pastrycook's shop to eat; do not think that I shall allow it.' 'Alas! my young master,' cried Bedreddin Hassan, 'those are very cruel who trust you with a man who treats you so harshly.' Then addressing the eunuch, he continued, 'My good friend, do not prevent this young gentleman from doing me the favour I ask. Rather do me the favour of coming in with him, and thus you will evince that, although you are without as brown as the chestnut, you are as white as that nut within. Do you know,' continued he, ‘that I have a secret which will change your colour from black to white?' The eunuch began to laugh on hearing this, and asked Bedreddin Hassan what this secret was. 'I will tell you,' replied the pastrycook; and immediately he recited some verses in praise of black eunuchs. The eunuch was delighted with these verses, and no longer resisted the entreaties of Bedreddin Hassan. He suffered Agib to go into the pastrycook's shop, whither he also accompanied him.
"Bedreddin Hassan was extremely pleased at having obtained his request; and, returning to his work, he said, 'I was making some cheesecakes; you must if you please, eat some, for I feel sure you will find them excellent.' Saying this, he drew a cheesecake out of the oven, and, having strewed on it some grains of pomegranate and sugar, he served it to Agib, who found it delicious. The eunuch, to whom Bedreddin Hassan presented one likewise, was of the same opinion.
"Whilst they were both eating, Bedreddin Hassan examined Agib with the greatest attention; and, reflecting that perhaps the charming wife from whom he had been so soon and cruelly separated might have brought him such a son, he could not suppress some tears. He was preparing to question the little Agib on the reason of his journey to Damascus, but had not time to satisfy his curiosity; for the eunuch took him away as soon as he had done eating. Bedreddin Hassan was not satisfied with following him with his eyes only; but, immediately shutting up his shop, he went out and overtook them by the time they had reached the gate of the city.
"The eunuch, perceiving that he followed them, said to him angrily, 'Importunate man! what do you want?' 'My good friend,' replied Bedreddin Hassan, 'do not be displeased; I have a little business just beyond the city, which I have thought of; and I must go and give orders concerning it.' This answer did not satisfy the eunuch, who turned to Agib and said, 'See what you have brought on me. You would go into this man's shop, but indeed I was a fool to suffer it.' 'Perhaps,' said Agib, ‘he may really have business beyond the city, and the road is free to all.' They then continued walking, without looking behind them, till they had reached the tents of the grand vizier; they then looked back, and saw that Bedreddin Hassan still followed them closely. Agib, perceiving that the pastrycook was within a few paces of him, feared that the vizier his grandfather would learn that he had been in a pastrycook's shop to eat. Urged by this fear, he took up a large stone that lay at his feet and threw it at Bedreddin Hassan. It struck him in the middle of his forehead, and covered him with blood. Agib then ran away as fast as he could into the tent of the eunuch.
"Bedreddin Hassan returned to the city, staunching the blood from his wound. 'I was wrong,' said he to himself, 'to leave my house and occasion so much trouble to the child; for he only treated me thus because he no doubt supposed that I had some bad design against him.' When he reached home he had his wound dressed, and consoled himself with the reflection that there were many people in this world more unfortunate than himself.
"Bedreddin Hassan continued to exercise the business of a pastrycook at Damascus, and his uncle Schemseddin Mohammed left the city three days after his arrival. The vizier took the road at Emaus, and went from thence to Hamah, and thence to Aleppo, where he rested two days. From Aleppo he crossed the Euphrates, entered Mesopotamia, and after traversing Mardin, Moussoul, Sengira, Diarbekir, and several other towns, he arrived at last at Balsora, where he directly requested an audience of the sultan. That prince, who had been informed of the rank of Schemseddin Mohammed, immediately granted his request. He received him very favourably, and asked him the cause of his journey to Balsora. 'O King!' replied the vizier Schemseddin Mohammed, ‘I am come to learn tidings of the son of Noureddin All, my brother, who had the honour of serving your majesty.' ‘It is a long time since Noureddin All died,' said the sultan; 'and as for his son, all that I can tell you is that, about two months after the death of his father, he suddenly disappeared, and no one has seen him since, notwithstanding the pains I have taken to discover him. But his mother, who was the daughter of one of my viziers, is still living.' Schemseddin Mohammed requested permission to see this lady, and to conduct her into Egypt. The sultan consented, and Schemseddin Mohammed inquired for the abode of this lady, and went to her immediately, accompanied by his daughter and her son.
"The widow of Noureddin Ali lived in the same house which had been occupied by her deceased husband. On entering it he kissed the door and a marble tablet, on which the name of his brother was written in letters of gold. He desired to speak to his sister-in-law, whose servants informed him that she was in a small edifice, built in the shape of a dome, which they showed him in the middle of a spacious court. This affectionate mother was accustomed to pass the greater part of the day and night in this building, which she had erected to represent the tomb of Bedreddin Hassan, whom she supposed to be dead, after she had long and vainly expected his return. She was then weeping for the loss of this dear son, and Schemseddin Mohammed found her plunged in the deepest affliction.
"He saluted her on entering, and informed her that he had the honour of being her brother-in-law; and also told her the reason which had caused him to leave Cairo and travel to Balsora. After he had made his sister-in-law acquainted with all that had happened at Cairo on the night of his daughters nuptials, and the surprise which the discovery of the packet that was found sewn up in Bedreddin Hassan's turban had occasioned, he presented Agib and the Queen of Beauty to her.
"When the widow of Noureddin Ali understood that the dear son she so much regretted might still be alive, she rose up and tenderly embraced the Queen of Beauty and little Agib, in whom she recognized the features of Bedreddin Hassan. She kissed the child again and again, and he received her embraces with every demonstration of joy. 'It is time, madam,' said Schemseddin Mohammed, 'to forget your sorrows and to dry your tears; for you must now arrange your affairs, and go with us into Egypt. The Sultan of Balsora has given me permission to take you with me, and I trust you will not refuse to come. I hope we shall have the good fortune to meet with my nephew your son.'
"The widow of Noureddin Ali listened to this proposal with great pleasure, and instantly began to make preparations for departure. Schemseddin Mohammed requested another audience of the sultan, to take leave of that monarch, who sent him back laden with honours. Entrusted with a present for the Sultan of Egypt, he left Balsora, and again took the road to Damascus.
"As soon as they arrived in the vicinity of that city, Schemseddin Mohammed ordered his servants to pitch the tents just without the gate by which they were to enter. He told his people he should remain there three days, that he might rest himself, and also to purchase whatever things were most curious and worthy of being presented to the Sultan of Egypt. While he himself was occupied in selecting the most beautiful stuffs, which the principal merchants brought to him, Agib entreated the black eunuch to go and walk with him in the city, declaring that he was desirous of seeing whatever he had not had time to visit when he was there before, and that he was also very anxious to get some news of the pastrycook whom he had wounded with the stone. The eunuch agreed to the proposal, and walked into the city with him, having first obtained leave of Agib's mother, the Queen of Beauty.
"They entered Damascus, walked through the great squares, saw the public buildings, and the covered market where the richest merchandise was sold. They then passed by the shop of Bedreddin Hassan, whom they found still engaged in making cheesecakes. 'Hail to you! ' said Agib to him. 'Look at me; do you not remember to have seen me before?' At these words Bedreddin Hassan cast his eyes upon the boy, and instantly recognized him. At the very same moment - Oh, surprising effect of paternal love! - he felt the same emotion he had experienced at his first meeting with Agib. He was greatly troubled; and, instead of answering him, he stood for some time unable to speak a single word. At length he said, 'Do me the favour, my young lord, once more to come into my shop, and eat a cheesecake. I beg you will pardon me for the displeasure I caused you by following you out of the city. It was a sort of charm which drew me after you, and which I could neither resist nor explain to myself.'
"Surprised at this speech of Bedreddin Hassan's, Agib replied, ‘The friendship you profess towards me is carried to excess, and I will not come into your house unless you promise faithfully not to follow me when I go away. If you pledge your word and keep it, I will come again to-morrow.' 'My little master,' answered Bedreddin Hassan, 'I will do anything you desire me.' Agib and the eunuch then entered his shop.
"Bedreddin Hassan immediately set before them some cheesecakes. ' Come,' said Agib, 'sit down by me and eat with us.' When Bedreddin Hassan was seated he was going to embrace Agib, to express to him the joy he experienced at being near him; but Agib pushed him back, saying, 'Be quiet; your friendship is too tender. Be content with looking at and conversing with me.' Bedreddin Hassan obeyed, and began to sing a song which he composed at the moment in praise of Agib. He did not eat, but was attentive to serve his guests. When they had finished eating he took a vase of sherbet, and prepared a large china bowlful, in which he put some snow, and presenting the bowl to little Agib, 'Take it,' cried he; 'it is rose sherbet, the most delicious that this city can produce; you never tasted any so good.' Agib drank some with great pleasure; Bedreddin Hassan then took the bowl and offered it to the eunuch, who drained it to the last drop.
"When Agib and the eunuch were satisfied they thanked the pastrycook for the good entertainment they had received, and returned as quickly as they could, as it was late. They arrived at the encampment of Schemseddin Mohammed, and went first to the tent which the ladies occupied. The grandmother of Agib was rejoiced to see him again; and as she had always her son Bedreddin Hassan in her mind, she could not refrain from tears on embracing the boy. ‘Ah, my child,' cried she, 'my happiness would be complete if I could have the pleasure of embracing your father Bedreddin Hassan as I embrace you.' She was just going to supper. She made him sit next her, and asked him many questions about his walk; then saying that he must be hungry, she helped him to a piece of cheesecake of her own making; and it was excellent, for, as we have already said, she could make these cakes better than any pastrycook. She gave some to the eunuch also; but they had both eaten so much that they could hardly touch it.
"Agib had scarcely begun to eat the cheesecake before him when, pretending that it did not suit his palate, he put it back on his plate; and Schaban, for this was the name of the eunuch, did the same. Vexed at seeing her grandson so indifferent about her cheesecake, the widow of Noureddin Ali said, 'What, my son!do you scorn the work of my hands in this way? Let me tell you that no one in the world can make such good cheesecakes excepting your father Bedreddin Hassan, to whom I myself taught the curious art of making them.' 'Ah, my good grandmother,' cried Agib, 'if you cannot make them better than this, there is a pastrycook in the city who surpasses you in skill; we have just been eating one in his shop, which is a great deal better than this.'
"At these words the grandmother cast an angry look at the eunuch. 'How! Schaban,' said she, 'is my grandson entrusted to your care that you should take him to eat at a pastrycook's like a beggar's child?' 'O lady,' replied the eunuch, 'it is true that we have been talking to a pastrycook, but we did not eat at his house.' ‘Indeed,' interrupted Agib, ‘we went into his shop and ate a cheesecake.' The lady, more angry than ever at the eunuch's deceit, left the table and ran to the tent of Schemseddin Mohammed, whom she informed of this misdemeanour of the eunuch in terms likely to exasperate the vizier against the delinquent.
The History of Noureddin Ali and Bedreddin Hassan 3
THE HISTORY OF NOUREDDIN ALI AND BED-REDDIN HASSAN continued...
"Schemseddin Mohammed, who was naturally of a warm temper, flew into a violent passion. He immediately repaired to the tent of his sister-in-law, and said to the eunuch: ' Wretch! hast thou the temerity to abuse the confidence I have placed in thee?' Schaban, although sufficiently convicted by the testimony of Agib, thought proper still to deny the fact. But the child maintained the contrary. 'Now, thou wicked slave,' cried the vizier, turning to the eunuch, 'after this wilt thou deny that you both went into a pastryshop and ate there?' Schaban had the effrontery to swear that it was not true. 'Thou art a liar!' said the vizier, 'I believe my grandson rather than thee. Nevertheless, if thou canst eat the whole of the cheesecake which is on this table I shall be persuaded that thou speakest the truth,'
"Though he was full to the very throat, Schaban submitted to this trial and took a bit of the cheesecake; but he was obliged to take it out of his mouth again, for his stomach turned against it. He, however, persisted in his falsehood. Irritated by the repeated falsities of the eunuch, and fully convinced that he was guilty, the vizier had him laid on the ground and ordered him to receive the bastinado. The unhappy wretch uttered loud cries on suffering this punishment, and confessed his fault. 'It is true,' cried he, 'that we did eat a cheesecake at a pastryshop; and it was an hundred times better than that which is on this table.'
"The widow of Noureddin Ali thought it was through spite to her and to mortify her that Schaban praised the pastrycook's cheesecake; therefore addressing herself to him, she said, 'I cannot believe that the cheesecakes of this pastrycook are more excellent than mine. I will be satisfied on this point; thou knowest where the man lives; go to him and bring me back a cheesecake directly.'She then ordered some money to be given to the eunuch that he might buy the cheesecake; and he set off. When he came to Bedreddin Hassan's shop he said, 'Here is some money for you; give me one of your cheesecakes; one of our ladies wishes to taste them.' There happened to be some hot cakes on the table, just out of the oven; Bedreddin Hassan chose the best, and giving it to the eunuch, said, 'Take this, I warrant it to be excellent; and I can assure you that no one in the world can make such cheesecakes excepting my mother, who perhaps is still living.'
"Schaban returned quickly to the tent with his cheesecake. He placed it before the widow of Noureddin Ali, who was impatiently expecting it. She broke off a piece to taste it; but it had scarcely touched her lips when she uttered a loud cry and fainted away. Schemseddin Mohammed, who was present, was very much surprised at this accident, and did all in his power to restore her. As soon as she was recovered she exclaimed, 'By Allah! it must have been my son, my dear son Bedreddin Hassan, who made this cake.'
"When the vizier Schemseddin Mohammed heard his sister-in-law say that it was Bedreddin Hassan who had made the cheesecake, he felt inexpressible joy; but then reflecting that this joy was altogether premature, he said to her, 'But, madam, what makes you think this? Cannot there be a pastrycook in the world who is able to make cheesecakes as well as your son?' 'I allow,' replied she, ' that there may be pastrycooks capable of making them as good, but as I make them in a very peculiar manner, and as no one except my son possesses this secret it must certainly have been he who made this. Let us rejoice, my dear brother,' added she, in a transport of joy ; 'we have at length found him whom we have been so long and so anxiously seeking.' 'Madam,' said the vizier, 'I entreat you to moderate your impatience; we shall soon know what to think of this adventure. We have only to desire the pastrycook to come here; if he be Bedreddin Hassan, you and my daughter will recollect him. But you must conceal yourselves, and see him without his seeing you, for I do not wish the discovery to take place at Damascus.'
He then left the ladies in their tent and retired to his own. Then he summoned fifty of his people before him, and said to them, 'Take each of you a stick, and follow Schaban, who will conduct you to a pastrycook's in the city. When you get there break everything you find in his shop; if he inquires why you commit such an outrage, only ask if it was not he who made the cheesecake that was bought of him by a eunuch; if he acknowledge the fact, seize him; bind him securely, and bring him to me, but take care that you do not strike or hurt him. Go, and lose no time.'
"The vizier was quickly obeyed; his people, armed with sticks and led by the black eunuch, repaired to the house of Bedreddin Hassan, where they broke in pieces the plates, the boilers, the saucepans, the tables, and all other furniture and utensils they could discover, so that Bedreddin Hassan's shop was deluged with sherbet, cream, and confectionery. At this sight Bedreddin Hassan was much astonished, and said to them in a pitiful tone: 'My good people, why do you treat me thus? What have I done?' 'Was it you,' asked they in return, 'who made the cheesecake which you sold the eunuch who is with us?' 'Yes,' said Bedreddin Hassan, 'I made it myself. What fault have you to find with it? I defy any one to make a better!' Instead of answering him they seized his person, and having torn off the linen of his turban, they made use of it to tie his hands behind him; then they dragged him by force out of his shop.
"The populace, who had gathered round, were touched with compassion for Bedreddin Hassan. They took his part, and were inclined to oppose the designs of the people of Schemseddin Mohammed; but at this moment some officers of the governor of the city arrived, and dispersing the mob, favoured the carrying off of Bedreddin Hassan; for Schemseddin Mohammed had been to the governor of Damascus to acquaint him with the order he had given, and to request his assistance and guard; and this governor, who ruled over Syria in the name of the Sultan of Egypt, did not dare to refuse anything to the vizier of his master. Bedreddin Hassan was therefore dragged away.
"On his arrival, the vizier inquired for the pastrycook When he was brought before him, poor Bedreddin Hassan said, with tears in his eyes, 'Oh, my lord, my lord, do me the favour to tell me in what I have offended you?' 'How, wretch!' exclaimed the vizier, ' was it not thou who madest the cheesecake thou sentest me?' 'I confess that it was,' replied Bedreddin Hassan, 'but what crime have I committed by doing so?' 'I will punish thee as thou deservest,' resumed Schemseddin Mohammed, 'and thou shalt pay with thy life for having made so bad a cake.' 'Woe is me!' cried Bedreddin Hassan; 'what do I hear? Is it a crime worthy of death to have made a bad cheesecake?' ‘Yes,' replied the vizier, 'and expect not from me any other treatment.'
"As Schemseddin Mohammed had resolved to set off that same night, he ordered the tents to be struck and all preparations to be made for the commencement of the journey. As for Bedreddin Hassan, the vizier gave instructions that he might be put in a well-fastened case, and carried on a camel. As soon as everything was in readiness, the vizier and the people in his suite began their march. They travelled the whole of that night and the following day without resting; at the approach of night they stopped. They then took Bedreddin Hassan out of his case to give him some food; but they were careful to keep him at a distance from his mother and his wife; and during the twenty days occupied by their journey they treated him in the same manner.
"On reaching Cairo they encamped without the city walls, by order of the vizier, who desired his servants to bring Bedreddin Hassan before him. When the prisoner was come, Schemseddin Mohammed said to a carpenter, whom he had sent for on purpose, 'Go, and get some wood, and cut me a large stake immediately.' 'Oh, my lord,' cried Bedreddin Hassan, 'what are you going to do with this stake?' 'To fasten you to it,' replied the vizier, 'and then have you carried through all the quarters of the city, that every one may behold in thee a vile pastrycook, who makes cheesecakes without putting pepper in them.' At these words Bedreddin Hassan exclaimed in so comic a manner that Schemseddin Mohammed had difficulty to refrain from laughter: 'Oh, Allah! is it then for not having put pepper in a cheesecake that I am condemned to suffer a cruel and ignominious death? What!' said Bedreddin Hassan, 'was everything in my house to be broken and destroyed, myself imprisoned in a box, and at last a stake prepared for my execution! was all this done only because I did not put pepper in a cheesecake? Powers of Heaven! who ever heard of such a thing?'
"As the night was now far advanced, Schemseddin Mohammed ordered Bedreddin Hassan to be put back into his case, and said to him,' Remain there till to-morrow; the day shall not pass before I order thee to be put to death.' The case was taken away and placed on the camel that had brought it from Damascus; all the other camels were reladen, and the vizier mounting his horse, ordered that the camel which carried his nephew should go before him: thus he entered the city, followed by all his equipage. After passing through several streets, he arrived at his house, where the case was deposited with strict charge not to open it till he should think proper.
"Whilst they were unloading the other camels, Schemseddin Mohammed took aside the mother of Bedreddin Hassan and his daughter, and addressing the latter, said, 'God be praised, my dear daughter, that we have so happily met with your cousin and husband. I dare say you recollect the state in which your chamber was on the night of your nuptials? Go and have everything placed as it was then. If by chance you do not remember it, I can supply the defect in your memory by the description I wrote at the time. On my part, I will go and give orders for the rest.'
"The Queen of Beauty went joyfully to execute the commands of her father, who began to place all the things in the hall in the same position as when Bedreddin Hassan was there with the humpbacked groom of the Sultan of Egypt. As he read the writing, his servants put each piece of furniture in its place. The throne was not forgotten, nor the lighted torches. When everything was prepared in the hall, the vizier entered the chamber of his daughter, where he placed the clothes of Bedreddin Hassan, together with the purse of sequins. Then he said to the Queen of Beauty: 'Undress yourself, my daughter, and go to bed; and when Bedreddin Hassan comes into this chamber, begin to complain of his long absence, and tell him that you were much surprised when you awoke not to find him by your side. Press him to return to bed; and to-morrow morning you will entertain your mother-in-law and me with the account of what he says.' At these words, he went out of his daughter's chamber, and left her.
"Schemseddin Mohammed commanded all the servants, excepting only two or three, to go out of the hall, and to these he gave directions to take Bedreddin Hassan out of the case, to put him on a shirt and drawers, and thereupon to bring him into the hall, where they were to leave him alone, and shut the door. In spite of his unhappy condition, Bedreddin Hassan had fallen so soundly asleep, that the servants of the vizier took him out of the case, and put on his shirt and drawers, without waking him; and then they carried him so quickly into the hall that they did not give him time to recollect himself. When he found himself alone in the hall, he looked round; and the things he saw reminding him of his marriage, he perceived with astonishment, on a closer inspection, that this was the same hall in which he had seen the humpbacked groom. His surprise increased when, drawing near to the door of a chamber which he found open, he saw his clothes in the same spot where he remembered to have placed them on the night of his nuptials. 'Good heavens!' said he, rubbing his eyes, 'am I asleep or awake?'
"The Queen of Beauty, who watched him, was much amused at his astonishment. She drew aside the curtain of the bed, and advancing her head, said in a tender voice, ‘My lord, what are you doing at the door? Come and lie down again. You have been absent a long time; I was much surprised, when I awoke, not to find you by my side.' Bedreddin Hassan's countenance changed when he perceived that the lady who spoke to him was the same charming person to whom he had been married years ago. He went into the chamber; but instead of going to bed, as his mind was full of the thoughts of what had passed during the last ten years, and he could not persuade himself that so many events had taken place in only one night, he approached the chair where his clothes and purse of sequins were. These he examined with great attention, and then exclaimed, ‘By the great living God! these are things which I cannot understand.' The lady, who was diverted at his embarrassment, said to him, ‘Once more, my dear lord, let me beg you to come to bed; what troubles you thus?' At these words, he advanced towards the Queen of Beauty, and said, 'I entreat you, madam, to acquaint me if it is long since I left you.' 'The question surprises me,' replied she; 'did you not just now rise from the bed? Your mind must be strangely disturbed.' 'Madam,' resumed Bedreddin Hassan, 'my spirits certainly are not very composed. I remember to have been with you, it is true; but I also remember to have lived ten years at Damascus. If I have really slept with you this night, I cannot have been absent so long.' 'Yes, my lord,' replied the Queen of Beauty, 'you have no doubt dreamt that you were at Damascus.' 'What a ridiculous thing is this!' cried Bedreddin Hassan, bursting into a laugh; 'I assure you, madam, that this dream will appear to you very laughable. I found myself at the gates of Damascus in my shirt and drawers, just as I am at this moment; I entered the city amidst the shouts and hisses of the populace, who followed to insult me; I took refuge with a pastrycook who adopted me, taught me his business, and left me all his property when he died; after his death I kept his shop. In short, madam, a great number of adventures befell me, which would be too tedious to relate; all I can say is, that I did well to awake, for they were going to nail me to a stake.' 'And why,' said the Queen of Beauty, pretending surprise, 'why were you to suffer so cruelly? You must have committed some heinous crime,' 'No indeed,' replied Bedreddin Hassan, 'it was for the most ridiculous thing you can conceive. My only crime was that I had sold a cheesecake in which I had not put any pepper.' 'I must confess,' said the lady, laughing heartily, 'that you were treated very unjustly.' '0 madam,' resumed he, 'this was not all; on account of this cursed cheesecake, in which I was accused of not having put any pepper, they broke and destroyed everything in my shop; they bound me with cords, and shut me up in a case, where I was so closely confined that I feel as if I were still in it. At last they sent for a carpenter, and ordered him to prepare a stake to crucify me. But God be praised that all this is only a dream.'
"Bedreddin Hassan did not pass the night very quietly; he awoke from time to time, and asked himself whether he was dreaming or awake. He doubted his good fortune; and, wishing to ascertain the truth, he drew the curtains, and cast his eyes round the room. 'I am not deceived,' said he; 'this is the same chamber into which I came instead of the hunchback, and where I saw the beautiful lady who was destined for him.' Daylight, which now began to appear, had not removed his uneasiness when the vizier Schemseddin Mohammed, his uncle, knocked at the door, and entered to wish him good day. Bedreddin Hassan was extremely surprised to see a man with whom he was so well acquainted appear immediately after; but the visitor no longer bore the appearance of the terrible judge who had pronounced the decree of his death. ' Ah!' cried he, 'it is you who have treated me so cruelly, and condemned me to a death, the thoughts of which still fill me with horror, for having made a cheesecake without putting pepper in it!' The vizier laughed; and, to dispel Bedreddin Hassan's fears, related how, by the interference of a genie (for the account he had received from the hunchback made him suspect the truth) the young man had been conveyed to his house, and had married his daughter instead of the groom belonging to the sultan. He then acquainted him that it was by means of the packet written by Noureddin Ali that he had discovered him to be his nephew; and at last told him how, in consequence of this discovery, he had left Cairo, and had gone to Balsora in search of him. 'My dear nephew,' added he, embracing Bedreddin Hassan with the greatest tenderness, 'I beg your pardon for all I have made you suffer since I have discovered you. I wished to bring you here before I acquainted you with your good fortune, which you must find so much the more pleasant, as it has cost you so much pain. Console yourself for all your afflictions with the joy you must experience at being again with those who are most dear to you. Whilst you dress yourself, I will summon your mother, who is all impatience to embrace you; and I will bring you your son, whom you saw at Damascus, and towards whom you felt so much affection without knowing him.'
"No words can give any idea of the joy of Bedreddin Hassan when he saw his mother and his son Agib. These three persons embraced each other with all the transports which nature and the tenderest affection can inspire.
"Whilst these things were passing in the house of Schemseddin Mohammed, the vizier himself had gone to the palace, to give the sultan an account of the success of his journey. The sultan was so delighted at the account of this wonderful history, that he ordered it to be written and carefully preserved among the archives of his kingdom."
"The vizier Giafar, having concluded the history of Bedreddin Hassan, said to the Caliph: ‘Commander of the Faithful, this is what I had to relate to your majesty.' The caliph thought this history so surprising that he did not hesitate to grant a pardon to the slave Rihan; and to console the young man for the loss of a wife he tenderly loved, the caliph married him to one of his slaves.
"But, my lord,' added Scheherazade, "however entertaining the history I have related may have been, I know another which is far more wonderful: if your majesty will but hear it to-morrow night, I am sure you will think so too. "Shahriar arose without making any reply, for he was doubtful what he should do. "This good sultana," said he to himself, "relates very long stories; and when she has once begun one, there is no possibility of refusing to hear the whole of it. I do not know whether I ought not to order her death to-day; yet no, I will not do anything precipitately. The story she promises me is, perhaps, the most amusing of any I have yet heard, and I must not deprive myself of the pleasure of hearing it. After she has finished it I will give orders for her execution."
Dinarzade did not fail on the following morning to wake the sultana before daybreak, according to her usual custom. And Scheherazade, having requested permission of Shahriar to relate the history she had promised him, began as follows:-