Chapter LIV: Part 54

The two husbands applied themselves to some courtiers their patrons, and begged of them to use their interest to procure their wives the honour they aspired to. Those patrons exerted themselves so much in their behalf, that the sultan promised them to consider of it, and was as good as his word; for in conversation with the sultaness, he told her that he thought her sisters were the most proper persons to assist her in her labour; but would not name them before he asked her consent. The sultaness, sensible of the deference the sultan so obligingly paid her, said to him, Sir, I was prepared to do as your majesty shall please to command me. But since you have been so kind as to think of my sisters, I thank you for that regard you have shown them for my sake; and therefore I shall not dissemble, that I had rather have them than strangers.

Then the sultan Khosrouschah named the sultaness’s two sisters to be her midwives; and from that time they went backwards and forwards to the palace, overjoyed at the opportunity they should have of executing the detestable wickedness they had meditated against the sultaness their sister.

When the sultaness’s reckoning was out, she was safely delivered of a young prince, as bright as the day; but neither his innocence nor beauty were capable of moving the cruel hearts of the merciless sisters. They wrapped him up carelessly in his blankets, and put him into a basket, which they abandoned to the stream of a small canal which ran under the sultaness’s apartment, and declared she was delivered of a little dead dog, which they produced. This disagreeable news was announced to the sultan, who conceived so much anger thereat, as might have proved fatal to the sultaness, if his grand vizier had not represented to him that he could not, without injustice, make her answerable for the caprices of nature.

In the mean time, the basket in which the little prince was exposed was carried by the stream beyond a wall which bounded the prospect of the sultaness’s apartment, and from thence floated with the current down the gardens. By chance the intendant of the sultan’s garden, one of the principal and most considerable officers of the kingdom, walking in the garden by the side of this canal, and perceiving a basket floating, called to a gardener, who was not far off, and bid him come presently to him, and reach him that basket, which he showed him that he might see what was in it. The gardener, with a spade which he had in his hand, brought the basket to the side of the canal, took it up, and gave it to him.

The intendant of the gardens was extremely surprised to see in the basket a child, which, though he easily knew it to be but just born, had very fine features. This officer had been married several years, and though he had always been desirous of having children, Heaven had never blessed him with any. This accident interrupted his walk: he made the gardener follow him with the child; and when he came to his own house, which was situated at the entrance into the gardens of the palace, he went into his wife’s apartment. Wife, said he, as we have no children of our own, God has sent us one. I recommend him to you; provide him a nurse presently, and take as much care of him as if he were our own son; for, from this moment, I acknowledge him as such. The intendant’s wife received the child with great joy, and took particular pleasure in the care of him. The intendant himself would not inquire too narrowly whence the child came. He saw plainly it came not far off the sultaness’s apartment; but it was not his business to examine too closely into what had passed, nor to create disturbances in a place where peace was so necessary.

The year after the sultaness was brought to bed of another prince, on whom the unnatural sisters had no more compassion than on his brother; but exposed him likewise in a basket, and set him adrift in the canal, pretending this time that the sultaness was delivered of a cat. It was happy also for this child that the intendant of the gardens was walking by the canal side, who had it carried to his wife, and charged her to take as much care of it as of the first; which suited as well her inclination, as it was agreeable to the intendant.

The sultan of Persia was more enraged this time against the sultaness than before, and she had felt the effects of his anger, if the grand vizier’s remonstrances had not prevailed.

The third time the sultaness lay in she was delivered of a princess, which innocent babe underwent the same fate as the princes her brothers; for the two sisters being determined not to put an end to their detestable schemes, till they had seen the sultaness their younger sister at least cast off, turned out, and humbled, exposed this child also on the canal. But the princess was preserved from certain death by the compassion and charity of the intendant of the gardens, as well as the two princes her brothers.

To this inhumanity the two sisters added a lie and deceit as before. They produced a piece of wood, and affirmed it to be a false birth which the sultaness was delivered of.

The sultan Khosrouschah could no longer contain himself, when he was informed of the new extraordinary birth. What! said he, this woman, unworthy of my bed, will fill my palace with monsters, if I let her live any longer! No, it shall not be, added he: she is a monster herself, and I must rid the world of her. He pronounced this sentence of death, and ordered the grand vizier to see it executed.

The grand vizier, and the courtiers who were present, cast themselves at the sultan’s feet, to beg of him to revoke that sentence. Your majesty, I hope, will give me leave, said the grand vizier, to represent to you, that the laws which condemn persons to death were made to punish crimes: the three extraordinary labours of the sultaness are not crimes; for in what can she be said to have contributed towards them? A great many other women have had, and have the same every day, and are to be pitied; but not punished. Your majesty may abstain from seeing her, and let her live. The affliction in which she will spend the rest of her life after the loss of your favour, will be a punishment great enough.

The sultan of Persia considered with himself, and found that it was injustice in him to condemn the sultaness to death for extraordinary births, and said, Let her live then; I will give her life; but it shall be on this condition, that she shall desire to die more than once every day. Let a wooden shed be built for her at the gate of the principal mosque, with iron bars to the windows, and let her be put into it, in the coarsest habit; and every Mussulman that shall go into the mosque to prayers shall spit in her face. --If any one fail, I will have him exposed to the same punishment; and that I may be punctually obeyed, I charge you, vizier, to appoint persons to see this done.

The sultan pronounced this last sentence in such a tone, that the grand vizier durst not open his mouth; and it was executed, to the great satisfaction of the two envious sisters. A shed was built, and the sultaness, truly worthy of compassion, as soon as her month was up, was put into it, and exposed ignominiously to the contempt of the people; which usage, as she did not deserve, she bore with a constancy which excited the admiration, as well as compassion, of those who judged of things better than the vulgar.

The two princes and the princess were nursed and brought up by the intendant of the gardens and his wife, with all the tenderness of a father and mother; and as they advanced in age, they all showed marks of superior greatness, (and the princess in particular, a charming beauty,) which discovered itself every day by their docility and good inclinations above trifles, and different from those of common children, and by a certain air which could only belong to princes and princesses. All this increased the affections of the intendant and his wife, who called the eldest prince Bahman, and the second Perviz, both of them names of the most ancient sultans of Persia, and the princess Parizade, which name also had been borne by several sultanesses and princesses of the kingdom. [110]

As soon as the two princes were old enough, the intendant provided proper masters to teach them to read and write; and the princess their sister, who was often with them when they were learning their lessons, showing a great desire to learn to read and write, though much younger than they, the intendant was so much taken with that disposition of hers, that he employed the same master to teach her also. Her emulation, vivacity, and piercing wit, made her in a little time as great a proficient as her brothers.

From that time, the brothers and sister had all the same masters in all the other arts, in geography, poetry, history, even the secret sciences; all which came so easily to them, and in a little time they made so wonderful a progress, that their masters were amazed, and frankly owned, that if they held on so but a little longer, they could teach them no farther. At the hours of recreation, the princess learned to sing, and play upon all sorts of instruments; and when the princes were learning to ride, she would not permit them to have that advantage over her, but went through all exercises with them, learning to ride, bend the bow, and dart the reed or javelin, and oftentimes outstrip them in the race.

The intendant of the gardens was so overjoyed to find his adopted children so accomplished in all the perfections of body and mind, and that they answered so well the charge he had been at upon their education, that he resolved to be still at a greater expense; for whereas he had till then been content only with his lodge at the entrance of the garden, and kept no country-house, he purchased a country-seat at a small distance from the city, surrounded with a large tract of arable land, meadows, and woods. As the house was not sufficiently handsome nor convenient, he pulled it down, and spared no expense to make it magnificent. He went every day to hasten, by his presence, the great number of workmen he employed; and as soon as there was an apartment ready to receive him, he passed several days together there, when his presence was not necessary at court; and by the same exertions, the house was furnished in the richest manner, answerably to the magnificence of the edifice. Afterwards he made gardens, according to the plan drawn by himself, after the manner of the great lords in Persia. He took in a large compass of ground for a park, which he walled round, and stocked with fallow deer, that the princes and princess might divert themselves with hunting when they pleased.

When this country-seat was finished and fit for habitation, the intendant of the gardens went and cast himself at the sultan’s feet, and, after representing to him how long he had served him, and the infirmities of age which he found growing upon him, he begged he would permit him to resign his charge into his majesty’s hands, and retire. The sultan gave him leave with the more pleasure, because he was satisfied with his long services, both in his father’s reign and his own; and when he granted it, he asked him what he should do to recompense him. Sir, replied the intendant of the gardens, I have received so many obligations from your majesty, and the late sultan your father, of happy memory, that I desire no more than the honour of dying in your favour.

He took his leave of the sultan Khosrouschah, and afterwards returned to the country retreat he had built, with the two princes, Bahman and Perviz, and the princess Parizade. His wife had been dead some years, and he himself had not lived above six months with them, before he was surprised by so sudden a death, that he had not time to give them the least account of their birth, which he had resolved to do, as necessary to oblige them to continue to live, as they had then done, agreeably to their rank and condition, and the education he had given them, and to their own inclination.

The princes Bahman and Perviz, and the princess Parizade, who knew no other tether than the intendant of the sultan’s gardens, regretted and bewailed him as such, and paid him all the honours in his funeral obsequies which their love and filial gratitude required of them. Content with the plentiful fortune he left them, they lived together in the same perfect union, free from the ambition of distinguishing themselves at court, with a view to places of honour and dignity, which they might easily have obtained.

One day, when the two princes were hunting, and the princess Parizade stayed at home, a religious old woman came to the gate, and desired leave to go in to say her prayers, it being then the hour. The servants went and asked the princess’s leave, who ordered them to show her into the oratory, which the intendant of the sultan’s gardens had taken care to fit up in his house, for want of a mosque in the neighbourhood. She bade them also, after the good woman had finished her prayers, show her the house and gardens, and then bring her to her.

The religious old woman went into the oratory, said her prayers, and when she came out again, two of the princess’s women, who waited on her, invited her to see the house and gardens; which civility she accepted of, and followed them from one apartment to another, and observed, as a person who understood what belonged to furniture, the nice arrangement of every thing. They conducted her also into the garden, the disposition of which she found so new and well planned, that she admired it, observing that the person who drew it, must have been an excellent master of his art. Afterwards she was brought before the princess, who waited for her in the great hall, which, in propriety, beauty, and richness, exceeded all she had admired before in the apartments.

As soon as the princess saw the devout woman, she said to her, My good mother, come near and sit down by me. I am overjoyed at the happiness of having the opportunity of profiting for some moments by the good example and discourse of such a person as you, who has taken the right way, by dedicating yourself to the service of God. I wish every body were as wise.

The religious woman, instead of sitting upon a sofa, would only sit upon the edge of it. The princess would not permit her to do so, but rising from her seat, and taking her by the hand, obliged her to come and sit by her. The good woman, sensible of the civility, said, Madam, I ought not to have so much respect shown me; but since you command me, and are mistress of your own house, I obey you. When she had sat down, before they entered into any conversation, one of the princess’s women brought a little low table of mother of pearl and ebony, with a china dish full of cakes upon it, and a great many others set round it full of fruits in season, and wet and dry sweetmeats.

The princess took up one of the cakes, and presenting her with it, said, Eat, good mother, and make choice of what you like best; you had need to eat after coming so far. Madam, replied the good woman, I am not used to eat such nice things; but will not refuse what God has sent me by so liberal a hand as yours.

While the religious woman was eating, the princess ate something too, to bear her company, and asked her a great many questions upon the exercise of devotion which she practised, and how she lived; all which questions she asked with great modesty. Talking of several things, at last she asked her what she thought of the house, and how she liked it.

Madam, answered the devout woman, I must certainly have very bad taste to disapprove any thing in it, since it is beautiful, regular, and magnificently furnished with exactness and judgment, and all its ornaments adjusted in the best manner. Its situation is an agreeable spot, and no garden can be more delightful; but yet if you will give me leave to speak my mind freely, I will take the liberty to tell you, that this house would be incomparable, if it had three things which are wanting to it. My good mother, replied the princess Parizade, what are those three things? I conjure you, in God’s name, to tell me what they are: I will spare nothing to get them if it be possible.

Madam, replied the devout woman, the first of these three things, is the speaking bird, which is called Bulbulkezer, and is so singular a creature that it can draw round it all the singing birds of the neighbourhood, which come to accompany his song. The second is, the singing tree, the leaves of which are so many mouths which form a harmonious concert of different voices, and never cease. The third is the yellow water of gold colour, a single drop of which being poured in a vessel properly prepared in whatever part of the garden, it increases so that it fills it immediately, and rises up in the middle like a fountain, which continually plays in it, and yet the basin never overflows.

Ah! my good mother, cried the princess, how much I am obliged to you for the knowledge of these things! They are surprising, and I never before heard there were such curious and wonderful things in the world; but as I am well persuaded that you know where they are, I expect that you should do me the favour to tell me.

Madam, replied the good woman, I should be unworthy the hospitality you have with so much goodness shown me, if I should refuse to satisfy your curiosity in that point; and am glad to have the honour to tell you that these three things are to be met with in the same spot on the confines of this kingdom towards India. The road to it lies before your house, and whoever you send needs but to follow it for twenty days, and on the twentieth let him but ask the first person he meets, where the speaking bird, singing tree, and yellow water are, and he will be informed. After these words, she rose from her seat, took her leave, and went her way.

The princess Parizade’s thoughts were so taken up with what the religious woman had told her of the speaking bird, singing tree, and yellow water, that she never perceived she was gone, till she wanted to ask her some question for her better information; for she thought that what she had told her was not a sufficient reason for exposing herself by undertaking a long journey possibly to no purpose. However, she would not send after her to fetch her back, but endeavoured to remember all she had told her; and when she thought she had recollected every word, she took real pleasure in thinking of the satisfaction she should have, if she could get these wonderful things into her possession; but the difficulties she apprehended, and the fear of not succeeding, made her very uneasy.

She was lost in these thoughts, when her brothers returned from hunting; who, when they entered the great hall, instead of finding her lively and gay, as she used to be, were amazed to see her so pensive, and hang down her head as if something troubled her.

Sister, said prince Bahman, what is become of all your mirth and gayety? Are you not well? or has some misfortune befallen you? Has any body given you reason to be so melancholy? Tell us, that we may know how to act, and give you some relief. If any body has affronted you, we will resent it.

The princess Parizade remained in the same posture some time without answering; but at last lifted up her eyes to look at her brothers, and then held them down again, telling them nothing disturbed her.

Sister, said prince Bahman, you conceal the truth from us; there must be something of consequence. It is impossible, for the short time we have been absent, we could observe so sudden a change, if nothing was the matter with you. You would not have us satisfied with the unsatisfactory answer you have given us: do not conceal any thing from us, unless you would have us believe that you renounce the friendship and strict union which have hitherto subsisted between us from our infancy.

The princess, who had not the smallest intention to break with her brothers, would not suffer them to entertain such a thought, but said, When I told you nothing disturbed me, I meant, nothing that was of any great importance to you; but to me it is of some consequence; and since you press me to tell you by our strict union and friendship, which are so dear to me, I will. You think, and I always believed so too, that this house, which our late father built for us, was complete in every thing, and that nothing was wanting. But this day I have learned that it wants three things, which would render it so perfect, that no country-seat in the world could be compared with it. These three things are, the speaking bird, the singing tree, and the yellow water. After she had informed them wherein consisted the excellency of these three rarities, A religious woman, added she, has made this discovery to me, and told me the place where they are to be found, and the way thither. Perhaps you may imagine these things to be trifles, and of little consequence to render our house complete, and that, without these additions, it will always be thought fine enough with what it already contains, and that we can do without them. You may think as you please; but I cannot help telling you that I am persuaded they are absolutely necessary, and I shall not be easy without them. Therefore, whether you value them or not, I desire you to give me your opinion, and consider what person you may think proper for me to send on this conquest.

Sister, replied prince Bahman, nothing can concern you in which we have not an equal interest. It is enough you have an earnest desire for the things you mention, to oblige us to take the same interest; but if you had not, we feel ourselves inclined of our own accord, and for our own particular satisfaction. I am persuaded my brother is of the same opinion, and therefore we ought to undertake this conquest, as you call it; for the importance and singularity of it deserves that name. I will take that charge upon myself; only tell me the place, and the way to it, and I will defer my journey no longer than till to-morrow.

Brother, said prince Perviz, it is not convenient that you, who are the head and support of the family, should be absent so long. I desire my sister would join with me to oblige you to abandon your design, and allow me to undertake it. I hope to acquit myself as well as you, and it will be a more regular proceeding. --I am persuaded of your good-will, brother, replied prince Bahman, and that you will acquit yourself as well as me in this journey; but I have resolved on it, and will do it. You shall stay at home with our sister, and I need not recommend her to you. He spent the remainder of that day in making preparations for his journey, and informing himself from the princess of the directions the devout woman left her, that he might not miss his way.

The next morning early, prince Bahman mounted his horse, and prince Perviz and the princess Parizade, who would see him set out, embraced, and wished him a good journey. But in the midst of their adieus, the princess recollected one thing, which she had not thought on before. Brother, said she, I had quite forgotten the accidents which attend travellers. Who knows whether I shall ever see you again? Alight, I beseech you, and give up this journey. I would rather be deprived of the sight and possession of the speaking bird, singing-tree, and yellow water, than run the risk of never seeing you more.

Sister, replied prince Bahman, smiling at the sudden fears of the princess Parizade, my resolution is fixed, and was it not, I should determine upon it now, and you must allow me to execute it. The accidents you speak of befall only those who are unfortunate. It is true, I may be of that number; but there are more who are not so than who are, and I may be of the former number. But as events are uncertain, and I may fall in this undertaking, all I can do is to leave you this knife.

Then prince Bahman pulled a knife out of his pocket, and presenting it in the sheath to the princess, said, Take this knife, sister, and give yourself the trouble sometimes to pull it out of the sheath: while you see it clean as it is now, it shall be a sign that I am alive; but if you find it stained with blood, then you may believe me dead, and indulge me with your prayers.

The princess Parizade could obtain nothing more of prince Bahman. He bade adieu to her and prince Perviz for the last time, and rode away well mounted, armed, and equipped. When he got into the road, he never turned to the right hand nor to the left, but went directly forwards toward India. The twentieth day he perceived on the road side a hideous old man, who sat under a tree some small distance from a thatched house, which was his retreat from the weather.

His eyebrows were as white as snow, and so was the hair of his head; his whiskers covered his mouth, and his beard and hair reached down to his feet. The nails of his hands and feet were grown to an extensive length; his flat broad hat, like an umbrella, covered his head. He had no clothes, but only a mat thrown round his body.

This old man was a dervise, who had for many years retired from the world, and had neglected himself to give himself up entirely to the service of God; so that at last he was become what we have described.

Prince Bahman, who had been all that morning very attentive to see if he could meet with any body that could give him information of the place he was going to, stopped when he came near the dervise, as the first person he had met and alighted from off his horse, in conformity to the directions the religious woman had given the princess Parizade; and leading his horse by the bridle, advanced towards him, and saluting him, said, God prolong your days, good father, and grant you the accomplishment of your desires.

The dervise returned the prince’s salutation, but so unintelligibly, that he could not understand one word he said: prince Bahman perceiving that this difficulty proceeded from the dervise’s whiskers hanging over his mouth, and unwilling to go any farther without the instructions he wanted, he pulled out a pair of scissors he had about him, and having tied his horse to a branch of the tree, said to the dervise, Good dervise, I want to have some talk with you; but your whiskers prevent my understanding what you say; and if you will consent, I will cut off some part of them and of your eyebrows, which disfigures you so much, that you look more like a bear than a man.

The dervise did not oppose the prince, but let him do it; and when the prince had cut off as much hair as he thought fit, he perceived that the dervise had a good complexion, and that he did not seem so old as he really was. Good dervise, said he, if I had a glass, I would show you how young you look: you are now a man, but before, nobody could tell what you were.

The kind behaviour of prince Bahman made the dervise smile, and return his compliment. Sir, said be, whoever you are, I am infinitely obliged to you for the good office you have done me, and am ready to show my gratitude, by doing any thing in my power for you. You must have alighted here upon some account or other. Tell me what it is, and I will endeavour to serve you if I can.

Good dervise, replied prince Bahman, I have come a great way, and am in search after the speaking bird, the singing tree, and the yellow water; I know these three things are not far from hence, but cannot tell exactly the place where they are to be found: if you know, I conjure you to show me the way, that I may not mistake it, and lose my labour after so long a journey.

The prince, while he spoke, observed that the dervise changed countenance, held down his eyes, and looked very serious, and, instead of making any reply, remained silent; which obliged him to say to him again, Good father, I fancy you heard me; tell me whether you know what I ask you, that I may not lose my time, and inform myself somewhere else.

At last the dervise broke silence. Sir, said he to prince Bahman, I know the way you ask of me; but the friendship which I conceived for you the first moment I saw you, and which is grown stronger by the service you have done me, kept me in suspense, whether I should give you the satisfaction you desire. What motive can hinder you? replied the prince; and what difficulties do you find in so doing? I will tell you, replied the dervise; the danger you are going to expose yourself to is greater than you can believe. A great number of gentlemen, of as much bravery and courage as you can have, passed by here, and asked me the same question you do now. When I had used all my endeavours to persuade them to desist, they would not believe me; at last, I have yielded to their importunities; I was compelled to show them the way, and I can assure you they have all perished, and I have not seen one come back again. Therefore, if you have any regard for your life, take my advice, go no farther, return home.

Prince Bahman persisted in his resolution. I will not believe, said he to the dervise, but that your advice is sincere. I am obliged to you for the friendship you express for me; but whatever may be the danger you tell me of, nothing shall make me change my intention: whoever attacks me, I am well armed, and can say I am as brave as any one. But they who shall attack you are not to be seen, replied the dervise, for there are a great many of them; how will you defend yourself against invisible persons? It is no matter, answered the prince; all you say shall not persuade me to do any thing contrary to my duty. Since you know the way, I conjure you once more to tell me, and not refuse me that favour.

When the dervise found he could not prevail upon prince Bahman, and that he was obstinately bent to pursue his journey, notwithstanding the wholesome advice he gave him, he put his hand into a bag that lay by him, and pulled out a bowl, which he presented to him. Since I cannot prevail on you to hear me and take my advice, said he, take this bowl, and when you are on horseback throw it before you, and follow it to the foot of a mountain, where it will stop. As soon as the bowl stops, alight, and leave your horse with the bridle over his neck, and he will stand in the same place till you return. As you go up the hill, you will see on your right and left hand a great quantity of large black stones, and will hear on all sides of you a confusion of voices, which will say a thousand injurious things to you to discourage you, and prevent your climbing up to the top of the hill: but take care, and be not afraid; and, above all things, do not turn your head to look behind you; for in that instant you will be changed into such a black stone as those you see, which are all so many gentlemen, who have failed in this enterprise, as I told you. If you escape the danger which I give you but a slight description of, that you might reflect on it, and get to the top of the mountain, you will see a cage, and in that cage is the bird you seek: ask him where are the singing tree and the yellow water, and he will tell you. I have nothing more to say; this is what you have to do, and the danger you have to avoid; but if you would believe me, you would take my advice, and not expose your life. Consider once more while you have time, that the difficulty is almost insuperable, and attached to a condition which may be counteracted even by inadvertence, as you may easily comprehend.

I am very much obliged to you for your repeated advice, replied prince Bahman, after he had received the bowl, but I cannot follow it. However, I will endeavour to conform myself to that part of it which bids me not to look behind me as I go up, and I hope to come and see you again soon, and thank you more when I have got what I am in search after. After these words, to which the dervise made no other answer than that he should be overjoyed to see him again, and wished that might be the case, he mounted his horse, took his leave of the dervise with a low bow, and threw the bowl before him.

The bowl rolled away to the last with as much swiftness as when prince Bahman first delivered it out of his hand, which obliged him to put his horse to the same pace to follow it without losing sight of it, and when it came to the foot of the mountain which the dervise named, it stopped. The prince alighted from off his horse, which never stirred from the spot, though he had the bridle on his neck; and having first surveyed the mountain, and seen the black stones, he began to climb up it; but he had not gone four steps, before he heard the voices mentioned by the dervise, though he could see nobody. Some said, Where is that fool going? where is he going? what would he have? do not let him pass. Others, Stop him, catch him, kill him; and others with a voice like thunder, Thief! assassin! murderer! while some in a gibing tone, cried, No, no, do not hurt him; let the pretty fellow pass; the cage and bird are kept for him.

Notwithstanding all those troublesome voices, prince Bahman mounted with courage and resolution for some time, but the voices increasing with so loud a din so near him, both behind and before, at last he was seized with fear, his legs trembled under him, he staggered, and presently finding that his strength failed him, he forgot the dervise’s advice, turned about to run down the hill, and was that instant changed into a black stone, --a metamorphosis which had happened to so many before him, who had attempted the same thing. His horse likewise underwent the same change.

From the time of prince Bahman’s departure, the princess Parizade always wore the knife and sheath in her girdle, and pulled it out several times in a day to know whether her brother was alive. She had the consolation to understand he was in perfect health, and to talk of him frequently with prince Perviz, who sometimes prevented her by asking her what news.

On the fatal day that prince Bahman was metamorphosed into a stone, as prince Perviz and the princess were talking together in the evening, as usual, the prince desired his sister to pull out the knife, to know how their brother did. The princess drew out the knife, and looking upon it, and seeing the blood run down the point, was seized with so much horror and grief, that she threw it down. Ah! my dear brother, cried she; I have been the cause of your death, and shall never see you more! How unhappy am I! Why did I tell you of the speaking bird, singing tree, and yellow water? or rather, of what importance was it to me to know whether the religious woman thought this house ugly or handsome, or complete or not? I wish to heaven she had never addressed herself to me! Deceitful hypocrite! added she, is this the return you have made me for the kind reception I gave you? Why did you tell me of a bird, a tree, and a water, which, imaginary as I am persuaded they are, by my dear brother’s death, yet disturb me, by your enchantment.

Prince Perviz was as much afflicted at the death of prince Bahman as the princess; but not to waste time in needless regret, as he knew by the princess’s sorrow that she still passionately desired the possession of the speaking bird, the singing tree, and the golden water, he interrupted her, and said, Sister, our regret for our brother Bahman is vain and useless, for our grief and lamentations cannot restore him to life; it is the will of God, and we must submit to it, and adore the decrees of the Almighty, without searching into them. Why should you now doubt of the truth of what the holy woman told you? do you think she spoke to you of three things that were not in being? and that she invented them on purpose to deceive you, who had given her no cause to do so, but received her with so much goodness and civility? Let us rather believe that our brother’s death is owing to some fault of his, or some accident, which we cannot conceive. It ought not therefore to prevent us from pursuing our object. I offered to go this journey, and am in the same mind still; his example has no effect upon my resolution; to-morrow I will go myself.

The princess did all she could to dissuade prince Perviz, conjuring him not to expose her to the danger of losing two brothers instead of one; but he was resolved, and all the remonstrances she could urge had no effect upon him. Before he went, that she might know what success he had, as she did that of his brother by the knife, he left her a string of a hundred pearls, telling her, that if they would not run when she told them upon the string, but remain fixed, that should be a certain sign he had undergone the same late as his brother; but at the same time told her, he hoped that would never happen, but that he should have the happiness to see her again, to their mutual satisfaction.

Prince Perviz, on the twentieth day from his setting out, met with the same dervise in the same place his brother Bahman had done before him. He went directly up to him, and after he had saluted him, asked him if he could tell him where to find the speaking bird, the singing tree, and the golden water? The dervise made the same difficulties and remonstrances he had done to prince Bahman, telling him, that a young gentleman, who very much resembled him, was with him a short time before; that, overcome by his importunity and pressing instances, he showed him the way, gave turn a guide, and told him how he should act to succeed; but that he had not seen him since, and doubted not but he had shared the same fate as all before him.

Good dervise, answered prince Perviz, I know whom you speak of; he was my elder brother, and I am informed of the certainty of his death, but know not what it was. I can tell you, replied the dervise: he was changed into a black stone, as all I speak of have been; and you must expect the same change, unless you observe more exactly than he has done the good advice I gave him, in case you persist in your resolution, which I once more entreat you to renounce.

Dervise, said prince Perviz, I cannot enough express how much I am obliged to you for the care you take of my life, who am a stranger to you, and have done nothing to deserve your kindness: but I must tell you, I have thoroughly considered this enterprise before I undertook it, and I cannot give it up: therefore I beg of you to do me the same favour you have done my brother. Perhaps I may have better success in following the directions I expect from you. Since I cannot prevail with you, said the dervise, nor persuade you to give up your obstinate resolution, if my age did not prevent me, and I could stand, I would get up to reach you a bowl I have here, which will show you the way.

Without giving the dervise time to say more, the prince alighted from his horse, and went up to the dervise, who had taken a bowl out of his bag, in which he had a great many others, and gave it him, with the same directions he had given prince Bahman; and, after warning him not to be frightened at the voices he should hear, without seeing any body, however threatening they might be, but to continue his way up the hill till he saw the cage and bird, he let him go.

Prince Perviz thanked the dervise, and when he had remounted his horse, and taken his leave, he threw the bowl before his horse, and spurring him at the same time, followed it. When the bowl came to the bottom of the hill, it stopped, and the prince got off his horse, and stood some time to recollect the dervise’s directions. He encouraged himself, and began to walk up with a resolution to reach the top; but before he had gone above six steps, he heard a voice, which seemed to be very near him, as of a man behind him, say, in an insulting tone, Stay, rash youth, that I may punish you for your boldness.

Upon this affront, the prince forgetting the dervise’s advice, clapped his hand upon his sword and drew it, and turned about to revenge himself; but had scarce time to see that nobody followed him, before he and his horse were changed into black stones.

In the mean time the princess Parizade, several times a day after her brother Perviz set out, strung over her chaplet which she received from his hand the day he set out; and when she had nothing else to do, she told the grains over her fingers, one after another. She did not omit it at night, but when she went to bed put it about her neck; and in the morning when she awoke, counted over the pearls again to see if they would slide.

The day that prince Perviz was changed into a stone, she was pulling over the pearls as she used to do, when all of a sudden she could not stir them, and never doubted that it was a certain token that the prince her brother was dead. As she had determined before what to do, in case it should so happen, she lost no time in outward show of grief, which she concealed as much as possible; but having disguised herself in man’s apparel, armed and equipped, she mounted her horse the next morning, having told her servants she should return in two or three days, and took the same road her brothers had done before her.

The princess, who had been used to ride on horseback in hunting, supported the fatigue of so long a journey better than other ladies could have done; and as she made the same days’ journeys as her brothers, she also met with the dervise on the twentieth day. When she came near him, she alighted off her horse, and leading him by the bridle, went and sat down by the dervise, and after she had saluted him, she said, Good dervise, give me leave to rest myself by you; and do me the favour to tell me if you have not heard that there are somewhere hereabouts a speaking bird, a singing tree, and golden water.

Madam, answered the dervise, for so I must call you, since by your voice I know you to be a woman disguised in man’s apparel, I thank you for your compliment, and receive the honour you do me with great pleasure. I know the place very well where these things you speak of are to be found: but what makes you ask me this question?

Good dervise, replied the princess, I have had such an advantageous relation of them given me, that I have a very great desire to possess them. --Madam, replied the dervise, you have been told the truth. These things are more singular and surprising than they have been represented to you, but you have not been acquainted with the difficulties which must be surmounted in order to obtain them. If you had been fully informed of them, you would not have undertaken so troublesome and dangerous an enterprise. Take my advice; go no farther; return, and do not urge me to contribute towards your ruin.

Good father, said the princess, I have come a great way, and should be sorry to return home without executing my design. You talk of difficulties, and danger of my life; but you do not tell me what those difficulties are, and wherein the danger consists. This is what I desire to know, that I may consider of it, and judge whether I can or cannot trust my courage and strength to undertake it.

Then the dervise repeated to the princess Parizade what he had said to the princes Bahman and Perviz, exaggerating the difficulties of climbing up to the top of the mountain, where she was to make herself mistress of the bird, which would inform her of the singing tree and golden water; the noise and din of the terrible threatening voices which she would hear on all sides of her, without seeing any body; and in short, the great quantity of black stones, alone sufficient to strike terror into her and every one else. He entreated her to reflect, that those stones were so many brave gentlemen, so metamorphosed, for omitting to observe the principal condition for success in that undertaking, which was, not to look behind them before they had got possession of the cage.

When the dervise had done, the princess replied, By what I comprehend from your discourse, the difficulty of succeeding in this affair is, first, the getting up to the cage, without being frightened at the terrible din of voices I shall hear; and secondly, not to look behind me: for this last, I hope I shall be mistress enough of myself to observe it. As to the first, I own that those voices, such as you represent them to be, are capable of striking terror into the most undaunted; but as in all enterprises and dangers every one may use contrivance, I desire to know of you if I may make use of it in one of so great importance to me? And what is that you would make use of, said the dervise. To stop my ears with cotton, answered the princess, that the voices, however loud and terrible they may be, may make less impression on my imagination, and my mind may remain free from that disturbance which might make me lose the use of my reason.

Madam, replied the dervise, of all the persons who have addressed themselves to me, to ask the way, I do not know that ever any one made use of the contrivance you propose. All I know is, they all perished. If you persist in your design, you may make the experiment. You will be fortunate if it succeeds; but I would advise you not to expose yourself to the danger.

My good father, replied the princess, nothing prevents my persisting in my design. I am sure my contrivance will succeed, and am resolved to try the experiment. Nothing remains for me but to know which way I must go, a favour I conjure you not to refuse me. The dervise exhorted her again, for the last time, to consider well what she was going to do; but finding her resolute, he took out a bowl, and presenting it to her, said, Take this bowl; mount your horse again, and when you have thrown it before you, follow it through all its windings, till it stops at the bottom of the mountain, and there do you stop, light off your horse, and ascend the mountain. Go, you know the rest; but be sure not to forget to avail yourself of what I have told you.

After the princess Parizade had thanked the dervise, and taken her leave of him, she mounted her horse, threw the bowl before her, and followed it till it stopped at the foot of the mountain.

The princess alighted from her horse, stopped her ears with cotton; and after she had well examined the way she was to keep to get up to the top, she began with a moderate pace, and walked up with intrepidity. She heard the voices, and perceived the great service the cotton was to her. The higher she went, the louder and more numerous the voices seemed; but they were not capable of making any impression on her. She heard a great many affronting speeches, and raillery very disagreeable to a woman, which she only laughed at. I mind not, said she to herself, all that can be said, were it worse; I only laugh at them, and shall pursue my way. At last she got so high, that she began to perceive the cage and bird, which endeavoured, with the voices, to frighten her, crying in a thundering voice, notwithstanding the smallness of its size, Retire, fool, and come no higher.

The princess, encouraged more by this object, redoubled her haste, and soon saw herself just at her journey’s end; she got to the top of the mountain, where the ground was level; and running directly to the cage, and clapping her hand upon it, cried, Bird, I have you, in spite of you, and you shall not escape me.

When the princess Parizade was pulling the cotton out of her ears, the bird said to her, Brave lady, be not angry with me for joining with those who exerted themselves to preserve my liberty. Though kept in a cage, I was content with my condition; but since I am destined to be a slave, I would rather be yours than any other person’s in the world, since you have obtained me so courageously and so worthily. From this instant I swear inviolable fidelity to you, and an entire submission to your commands. I know who you are, and will tell you. You do not know yourself who you are; but the time will come when I shall do you a piece of service, which I hope you will think yourself obliged to me for. For a proof of my sincerity, tell me what you desire, and I am ready to obey you.