Chapter IX: Part 9

Their tears affected me very much. I entreated them to inform me of the cause of their grief, and why they were obliged, as they said, to leave me. “In the name of God, my beautiful ladies,” I exclaimed, “tell me, I beseech you, is it in my power to console you, or will my aid and assistance prove useless?” Instead of answering me in a direct manner, they said, “Would to God we had never seen or known you. Many men have done us the honour of visiting us previous to yourself, but no one possessed the elegance, the softness, the power of pleasing, the merit of yourself; nor do we know how we shall be able to live without you.” Upon this they renewed their tears. “Amiable ladies,” I cried, “do not, I beg of you, keep me any longer in suspense, but tell me the cause of your sorrow?”--“Alas!” answered they, “what else could afflict us but the necessity of separating ourselves from you. Perhaps we shall never meet again. Yet still, if you really wished it, and had sufficient command over yourself for the purpose, it is not absolutely impossible to us to rejoin you.”--“In truth, ladies,” I replied, “I do not at all understand what you mean; speak, I conjure you, more openly.”--“Well then,” said one of them, “to satisfy you, we must inform you we are all princesses and the daughters of kings. You have seen in what manner, and under what conditions, we live here; but at the end of each year we are compelled to absent ourselves forty days, to fulfil some duties which cannot be dispensed with; but which we are not at liberty to reveal; after this, we again return to this castle. Yesterday the year finished, and today we must leave you. This is the great cause of our affliction. Before we go, we will give you the keys of every thing; and particularly of the hundred doors, within which you will find ample room to gratify your curiosity and amuse your solitude during our absence. But for your own sake, and for our particular interest, we entreat you to refrain from opening the golden door. If you do open it, we shall never see you again; and the fear we are in lest you should, increases our sorrow. We hope you will profit by the advice we have given you. Your repose, your happiness, nay your life, depends upon it, therefore be careful. If you indiscreetly yield to your curiosity, you will also do us a considerable injury. We conjure you, therefore, not to be guilty of this fault, and to afford us the consolation of finding you here at the end of the forty days. We would take the key of the golden door with us, but it would be an offence to such a prince as you are, to doubt your circumspection and discretion.”

This speech affected me very sensibly. I made them understand that their absence would cause me much pain, and thanked them very much for the good advice they gave me. I assured them I would profit by it; and would perform things much more difficult if it would procure me the happiness of passing the remainder of my life with ladies of such rare and extraordinary merit. We took the most tender leave of each other; I embraced them all; and they departed from the castle, in which I remained quite alone.

The pleasantness of their company, good living, concerts, and various amusements, had so entirely engrossed my time during the whole year, that I had nor the least opportunity, nor indeed inclination, to examine the wonders that were contained in this enchanted palace. I had not even paid any attention to the multitude of extraordinary objects which were continually before my eyes; so much was I taken up with the charms and accomplishments of the ladies, and the pleasure I felt at finding them always employed in endeavouring to amuse me. I was very much afflicted at their departure; and although their absence was to last only forty days, this time, when deprived of their society, seemed to me an age.

I determined in my own mind to attend to the advice they had given me, not to open the golden door; but as I was permitted, with that one exception, to satisfy my curiosity, I took the keys belonging to the others, which were regularly arranged, and opened the first door. I entered a fruit-garden, to which I thought nothing in the world was comparable; not even that which our religion promises us the enjoyment of after death. The admirable order and arrangement in which the trees were disposed, the abundance and variety of the fruits, many of which were unknown to me, together with their freshness and beauty, and the elegant neatness apparent in every spot, ravished me with astonishment. I must not either neglect to inform you that this delightful garden was watered in a most singular manner: small channels cut out with great art and regularity, and of different sizes, conveyed the water in great abundance to the roots of some trees which required it in order to send forth their first leaves and flowers; while others, whose fruits were already set, received it with a more sparing hand; and those where the fruit was much swelled had still less, while a fourth sort, having the fruit come to its full size, had just what was sufficient to ripen it. The size also, which all the fruits acquired, very much exceeded what we are accustomed to observe in our gardens. Besides which, these channels that conducted the water to the trees on which the fruit was ripe, had barely enough to preserve it in the same state without decaying it.

I could not sufficiently examine and admire so beautiful a spot; and I should never have left it if I had not from this beginning conceived a still higher idea of the things which I had not yet seen. I returned with my mind full of the wonders I had beheld. I then closed that door, and opened the next.

In the place of a fruit-garden I now discovered one of flowers, which was not in its kind less singular. It contained a spacious parterre, not watered with such abundance as the preceding, but with greater skill and management, as it did not supply each flower with more than it wanted. The rose, the jessamine, the violet, the narcissus, the hyacinth, the anemone, the tulip, the ranunculus, the carnation, the lily, and an infinity of other flowers, which in other places bloom at various times, come all into flower at once in this spot; and nothing can be softer than the air you breathe in this garden.

I then opened the third door, where I discovered a very large aviary. It was paved with different coloured marbles, of the finest and least common sort. The cages were of sandal-wood and aloes; and contained a great number of nightingales, goldfinches, canaries, larks, and other birds, whose notes were sweeter and more melodious than any I had ever heard before. The vases which contained their food and water, were of jaspar or the most valuable agate. This aviary also was kept with the greatest degree of neatness; and from its vast extent I conceive that it would employ not less than a hundred persons to keep it in the state it then was; and yet no one appeared either here or in the other gardens, in none of which did I observe a single weed that was noxious, nor the least superfluous thing that could offend the sight.

The sun was already set, and I retired much delighted with the warbling of the multitude of birds, which were then flying about to find the most commodious place to perch and enjoy the repose of the night. I went back to my apartment, and determined to open all the other doors on the succeeding days, except the hundredth. The next day I did not fail to go to the fourth door and open it. But if that which I had seen on the foregoing days was capable of surprising me, what I now beheld put me in ecstacy. I first entered into a large court, surrounded by a building of a very singular sort of architecture, of which, to avoid being very prolix, I will not give you a description.

This building had forty doors, all open: each of which was an entrance into a sort of treasury, containing more riches than many kingdoms. The first contained large quantities of pearls, and what is almost incredible, the most valuable, which were as large as pigeons’ eggs, were more numerous than the smaller. The second was filled with diamonds, carbuncles, and rubies; the third with emeralds; the fourth contained gold in ingots; the fifth gold in money; the sixth ingots of silver; and the two following silver money. The rest were filled with amethists, chrysolites, topazes, opals, turquoises, hyacinths, and every other sort of precious stone we are acquainted with; not to mention agate, jaspar, cornelian, and coral, both in branches and whole trees, with which one apartment was entirely filled. Struck with surprise and admiration at the sight of all these riches, I exclaimed, “It is impossible that all the treasures of every potentate in the universe, if they were collected in the same spot, can equal these! How happy am I in possessing all these treasures as well as such amiable princesses!”

I will not detain you, madam, by giving you an account of all the wonderful and valuable things which I saw on the following days; I will only inform you that it took me up nine and thirty days in opening the ninety-nine doors, and in admiration of every thing that offered itself to my view. There now remained only the hundredth, which I was forbidden to touch. The fortieth day since the departure of the charming princesses now arrived. If I had been able, only for that one day, to have had the power over myself I ought to have had, I should have been the happiest instead of the most miserable of men. They would have returned the next day, and the pleasure I should have experienced in receiving them, ought to have acted as a restraint upon my curiosity; but through a weakness which I shall never cease to lament, I yielded to the temptation of some demon, who did not suffer me to rest till I had subjected myself to the pain and punishment I have since experienced.

I opened the fatal door, though I had promised not to attempt it. Before I even set my foot within-side, a very agreeable odour struck me, but so powerful it made me faint. I soon however recovered, but instead of profiting by such warning, instantly shutting the door and giving up all idea of satisfying my curiosity, I entered; having first waited till the odour was lessened and dispersed through the air. I then felt no inconvenience from it. I found a very large and vaulted room, the floor of which was strewed with saffron. It was illuminated with lights made of aloe-wood and ambergris, and placed on golden stands: these afforded a strong smell. The brightness caused by these was still farther heightened by many lamps of silver and gold, which were filled with oil composed of many perfumes.

Among the numerous objects which attracted my attention, was a black horse, the best formed and most beautiful that ever was seen. I went close to it in order to observe it more attentively. The saddle and bridle which were on it were of massive gold, richly worked. On one side of its manger there was clean barley and sesame, and the other was filled with rose-water; I then took hold of its bridle, and led it towards the light to examine it the better. I mounted it and endeavoured to make it go: but as it would not move, I struck it with a switch which I had found in its magnificent stable. It had hardly felt the stroke before it began to neigh in a most dreadful manner; then spreading its wings, which I had not till that moment perceived, it rose so high in the air, that I lost sight of the ground. I now thought only of holding fast on its back; nor did I experience any injury, if I except the great terror with which I was seized. At length it began to descend towards the earth, and lighted upon the terraced roof of a castle; then, without giving me time to get down, it shook me so violently that I fell off behind, and with the end of its tail it put out my right eye.

This was the way I became blind, and the prediction of the ten young lords was now instantly brought to my recollection. The horse itself immediately after spread its wings, took flight, and disappeared. I rose up, much afflicted at the misfortune which I had thus voluntarily brought upon myself. I traversed the whole terrace, keeping my hand up to my eye, as I experienced very considerable pain from the stroke. I then went down, and came to a saloon, which I immediately recognised from observing ten sofas disposed in a circle, and a single one in the middle less elevated: it was in fact in the very castle whence I had been carried up by the roc.

The ten young lords were not in it at that time. I however waited, and it was not long before they came, accompanied by the old man. They did not seem at all astonished at seeing me, nor at observing I had lost my right eye. “We are very sorry,” they said, “we cannot congratulate you on your return in the manner we could have wished; but you know we were not the cause of your misfortune.” --“It would be,” I replied, “very wrong in me to accuse you of it: I brought it entirely upon myself, and the fault lies with me alone.”--“If the unfortunate,” answered they, “can derive any consolation from knowing that others are in the same situation, we can afford you that satisfaction. Whatever may have happened to you, be assured we have experienced the same. We have equally enjoyed every species of pleasure for a whole year; and we should have continued in the enjoyment of the same happiness if we had not opened the golden door during the absence of the princesses. You have not been more prudent than we were, and you have experienced the same punishment. We wish we could receive you into our society to undergo the same penance we are performing, and which we know not the duration of; but we have before informed you of the motives which prevent us. You must therefore take your departure, and go to the court of Bagdad, where you will meet with the person who will be able to decide your fate.” They pointed out the road I was to follow; I then took my leave and departed.

During my journey, I shaved my beard and eyebrows, and put on the habit of a calender. I was a long time on the road, and it was only this evening that I arrived in this city. At the entrance of one of the gates I encountered these two calenders, my brethren, who were equally strangers with myself. We were all much surprised with each other, at the singular circumstance of having each lost our right eye. We had not, however, much leisure to converse on the subject of our mutual disgraceful misfortune. We had only time, madam, to implore your assistance, and which you have so generously afforded us.

When the third calender had finished the recital of his history, Zobeidè, addressing herself both to him and his brethren, said, “Depart; you are all three at liberty to go wherever you please.”--“Pardon, madam,” answered one of them, “we beg of you, our curiosity, and permit us to stay and hear the adventures of these gentlemen who have not yet spoken. The lady then turned to the side where the caliph, the vizier Giafar, and Mesrour, of whose real situation and character she was still ignorant, were, and desired each of them to relate his history.

The grand vizier, Giafar, who was always prepared to speak, immediately answered Zobeidè. “In order to obey you, madam,” said he, “we have only to repeat to you what we already related before we entered. We are,” he continued, “merchants of Moussoul, and we are come to Bagdad for the purpose of trading with our merchandise, which we have placed in the warehouses belonging to the khan where we live. We dined to-day together, with many others of our profession, at a merchant’s of this city, who, after treating us with the most delicate viands and finest wines, had ordered a company of male and female dancers, and a set of musicians, both vocal and instrumental. The great noise and uproar which we all made, attracted the notice of the watch, who came and arrested many of the guests, but we had the good fortune to escape. As, however, it was so very late, and the door of our khan would be shut, we knew not where to go to. It happened accidentally, that we passed through your street, and as we heard the sounds of pleasure and gaiety within your walls, we determined to knock at the door. This is the only relation we have to make, and which we have done according to your commands.”

Zobeidè, after listening to this narration, seemed to hesitate on what she should say; which the three calenders observing, they entreated her to be equally generous to the three pretended merchants of Moussoul, as she had been to them. “Well then,” she cried, “I agree to it. I wish all of you to be under the same obligation to me. I will therefore do you this favor, but it is only on condition that you instantly quit this house, and go wherever you please. Zobeidè gave this order in a tone of voice, that showed she meant to be obeyed: the caliph, the vizier, Mesrour, the three calenders, and the porter, therefore, went away without replying a word; for the presence of the seven armed slaves served to make them very respectful. They had no sooner left the house, and the door was shut, than the caliph said to the three calenders, at the same time without letting them know who he was, “What, gentlemen, as you are strangers, and but just arrived in this city, do you intend to do? and which way do you think of going, as it is not yet day-light?” --“This very thing, sir,” answered they, “much embarrasses us.”--“Follow us, then,” replied the caliph, “and we will relieve you from this difficulty.” He then whispered his vizier, and ordered him to conduct them to his own house, and bring them to the palace in the morning. “I wish,” added he, “to have their adventures written; for they are worthy of a place in the annals of my reign.”

The vizier Giafar carried the three calenders home; the porter went to his own house, and the caliph, accompanied by Mesrour, returned to his palace. He retired to his couch, but his mind was so entirely occupied by all the extraordinary things he had both seen and heard, he was unable to close his eyes. He was particularly anxious to know who Zobeidè was, and the motives she could possibly have for treating the two black dogs so ill; and also the reason that Aminè’s bosom was so covered with scars. The morning at length broke while he was still engaged with these reflections. He immediately got up, and went into the room where he held his councils; he then gave audience, and seated himself on his throne.

It was not long before the grand vizier arrived, who directly went through the usual ceremonies of respect. “Vizier,” said the caliph to him, “the business which is now before us is not very pressing; that of the three ladies and the two black dogs is of more consequence, nor will my mind be free from agitation till I am fully informed of every thing that has caused me so much astonishment. Go and order these ladies to attend, and at the same time bring back the three calenders with you. Begone, and remember I am impatient for your return.”

The vizier, who was well acquainted with the quick and violent disposition of his master, hastened to obey him. He arrived at the house of the ladies, and informed them, with as much politeness as possible, of the orders he had received to conduct them to the caliph; but did not hint at any thing relative to what passed the night before.

The ladies immediately put on their veils, and went along with the vizier, who, in passing his own door, called for the calenders. They had just learnt that they had before seen the caliph, and had even spoken to him without even knowing it was he. The vizier brought them all to the palace, and executed his commission with so much diligence, that the caliph was perfectly satisfied. This prince ordered the ladies to stand behind the door-way, which led to his own apartment, in order to preserve a certain decorum before the officers of his household. He kept the three calenders near him, who made it sufficiently apparent, by their respectful behaviour, that they were not ignorant in whose presence they had the honour to appear.

When the ladies were seated, the caliph turned himself towards them, and said, “When I inform you, ladies, that I introduced myself to you last night, disguised as a merchant, I shall without doubt cause you some alarm: you are afraid, probably, that you offended me, and you think, perhaps, that I have ordered you to come here only to show you some marks of my resentment; but be of good courage, and be assured that I have forgotten what is past, and that I am even very well satisfied with your conduct. I wish that all the ladies of Bagdad were possessed of as much sense as I have observed in you. I shall always remember the moderation with which you conducted yourselves after the incivility we were guilty of towards you. I was then a simple merchant of Moussoul, but I am now Haroun Alraschid, the seventh caliph of the glorious house of Abbas, which holds the place of our great prophet. I have ordered you here only for the sake of being informed who you are, and to inquire of you for what reason one of you, after having ill-treated the two black dogs, wept with them. Nor am I less curious to learn why the bosom of another became so covered with scars.”

Though the caliph pronounced these words very distinctly, and the three ladies understood them very well, the vizier Giafar, as was the custom, did not fail to repeat them. The prince had no sooner encouraged Zobeidè by this speech, which he addressed to her, than she gave him the satisfaction he required, in the following manner.

THE HISTORY OF ZOBEIDÈ.

Commander of the Faithful, the history which I am going to relate to your majesty is, probably, one of the most surprising you have ever heard. The two black dogs and myself are three sisters by the same mother and father; and I shall, in the course of my narration, inform you by what strange accident they have been transformed into these animals. The two ladies who live with me, and who are now here, are also my sisters by the same father, but by a different mother. She, whose bosom is covered with scars, is called Aminè; the name of the other is Safiè; and I am called Zobeidè.

After the death of our father, the estate which he left us was equally divided amongst us. When my two half-sisters had received their share, they went and lived with their mother; my other two sisters and I remained with ours, who was still alive, and who, when she died, left a thousand sequins to each of us. When we had received what belonged to us, my two elder sisters, for I am the youngest, married. They of course went to live with their husbands, and left me alone. Not long after their marriage, the husband of my eldest sister sold every thing he possessed, both of estate and moveables, and with the money he thus got together, and with what he received also with my sister, they both of them went over to Africa. Her husband there squandered away, in good living and dissipation, not only all his own fortune, but also that which my sister brought him. At length, finding himself reduced to the greatest distress, he found out some pretext for a divorce, and drove her from him.

She returned to Bagdad, but not without suffering almost incredible evils during so long a journey. She came to seek a refuge at my house in a state so deserving of pity, that she would have excited it even in the most obdurate hearts. I received her with every mark of affection she could expect from me; I inquired of her how she came to be in so wretched a condition; she informed me with tears in her eyes of the bad conduct of her husband, and of the unworthy treatment she had experienced from him. I was affected at her misfortunes, and mingled my tears with hers. I then made her go to the bath, and supplied her from my own wardrobe; this being done, I addressed these words to her: “You are my eldest sister, and I shall always look upon you as a mother. During your absence, God has caused the little fortune which has fallen to my lot to prosper; and the occupation I have followed has been that of breeding and bringing up silk-worms. Be assured, that every thing I possess is equally yours, and that you have the same power of disposing of it as myself.”

From this time we lived together in the same house for many months in perfect harmony. We often talked about our other sister, and were much surprised at never hearing any thing of her. At last she unexpectedly arrived, and in as miserable a state as the eldest had done. Her husband had ill-treated her in a similar manner, and I received her with the same kindness.

Some time after this, both my sisters, under the pretence, as they said, that they were a considerable burden to me, informed me that they had thoughts of marrying again. I told them, that if the only reason for this intention was the idea of being an expense to me, I begged they would continue to live with me without thinking of that, as my income was sufficient for us all three to live in the style and manner suitable to our condition; but I added, “I really think you wish to marry again. If that be the fact I am, I own, very much astonished at it. How can you, after the experience you have had of the small degree of satisfaction and comfort attached to that state, ever think of it a second time? You must be very well aware, that it is not common to meet with a virtuous and good husband. Believe me, it is better to continue to live together, and much the most agreeable.”

Every thing I said to them was without effect.--They had determined in their own minds to marry, and they executed their intentions. At the end, however, of a few months, they came again to me, and made a thousand excuses for not having followed my advice. “You are, it is true, our youngest sister,” they said, “but you possess more sense than we do. If you will once more receive us into your house, and only consider us as your slaves, we will never again be guilty of such a fault.”--“My dear sisters,” answered I, “my regard for you is not changed since last we parted. Return, and enjoy with me whatever I possess.” I embraced them, and we lived together as before.

A year passed, and we continued on the best terms. Observing, that God had blessed my small fortune, I determined to make a sea voyage, and risk some part of it in a commercial speculation. With this view I went with my two sisters to Balsora, where I purchased a vessel ready for sea, which I loaded with the merchandize I had brought with me from Bagdad. We set sail with a favourable wind, and soon reached the Persian gulf. When we were in the open sea, we steered directly for India: and after twenty days sail, we made land. The first that appeared was a very high mountain, at the foot of which we perceived a town, of considerable beauty and magnitude. As the wind was fresh, we soon arrived in the harbour, where we cast anchor.

I was too impatient to wait till my sisters were ready to accompany me; I therefore disembarked by myself, and went directly to the gate of the town. I observed rather a numerous guard, most of them sitting down, and others, who were standing with clubs in their hands. But the aspect of all of them was so hideous, it frightened me. I saw, however, they did not stir, and even that their eyes were motionless. This gave me courage, and on approaching still nearer to them, I perceived they were all petrified. I then entered the town, and passed through several streets, in all of which I observed men in every attitude, but they were without motion, and absolutely turned to stone. In the quarter of the town where the merchants resided, I found many shops shut up; and in some that were open I perceived other men, who were also petrified. I looked up towards the chimneys, and as I perceived no smoke, I concluded that those who were in the houses were exactly in the same situation as every one in the streets, and that all the inhabitants were changed into stone.

Having arrived at a large open place in the middle of the town, I discovered a great gate, covered with plates of gold, the two folding-doors of which were open; a silk curtain seemed drawn before it, and I could perceive a lamp suspended from the inside of the gate. After having considered this building some time, I did not doubt but it was the palace of the prince to whom this country belonged. Having been much astonished at not meeting with any one living person, I went in there, through the hopes of discovering some one. I drew aside the curtain; and my astonishment was much increased, when I saw in the vestibule a number of porters, or guards, some of them standing, others sitting down, and every one of them petrified.

I passed on to a large court, where there were many people: some seemed in the very act of going out, and others of entering; nevertheless they all remained in the same place, since they also were turned to stone, in the same manner as those which I had before seen. I passed on to a second court, and from thence to a third; but they were both deserted, and a sort of horrid silence reigned throughout the place. Having advanced to a fourth court, I saw opposite to me a very beautiful building, the windows of which were shut with a trellis of massive gold. I concluded, that this was the apartment of the queen. I entered, and going into a large hall, I saw many black petrified eunuchs; I immediately passed on, and went into a chamber very richly decorated, in which I perceived a lady, who was also transformed to stone: I knew that this was the queen, by a crown of gold which she had upon her head; and by a necklace of pearls, which were as large and round as small nuts. I examined them very nearly, and thought I had never seen any more beautiful.

I continued to admire, for some time, the riches and magnificence of this apartment, and above all the carpet, the cushions, and a sofa, which was covered with Indian stuff, of a gold ground, upon which there were the figures of men and of animals in silver, of very superior workmanship. From the chamber of the petrified queen I passed on through many other magnificent apartments, of various descriptions, until I came to one of an immense size, in which there was a throne of massive gold, raised a few steps above the floor, enriched with large emeralds. Upon the throne there was a bed formed of very rich stuff, round which there was a border of pearls; but what surprised me more than all the rest, was a very brilliant light, which seemed to issue from above the bed. I was curious to discover what was the cause of it; I ascended therefore, and leaning my head forward, I perceived upon a small stool, a diamond as large as an ostrich’s egg, and so perfect, that I could discover no defect in it. It sparkled so much, that I could scarcely support the brilliancy of it, when I looked at it by day-light.

There was a bolster upon each side of the bed, and a large lighted torch, the use of which I did not understand. This circumstance, however, led me to conclude, that there was some one alive in this superb palace; for I could not suppose, that these torches could continue burning of themselves. Many other singularities struck my attention in this chamber; but the diamond alone, which I have just mentioned, rendered it inestimable.

As all the doors were either wide open or only just pushed close, I passed through still more apartments, as beautiful as those which I had before seem I then went to the offices and store-rooms, which were filled with innumerable riches: and I was so much engaged in observing all these wonders that I absolutely forgot myself. I thought neither of my vessel, nor of my sisters, but was anxious only to satisfy my curiosity. In the mean time night came on, and its approach told me it was time to retire. I then wished to go back the same way I came, but it was no easy matter to find it again. I wandered about through the apartments, and finding myself in the large chamber, in which were the throne, the bed, the large diamond, and the lighted torches, I resolved to pass the night there, and early the next morning to go back to my vessel. I threw myself upon the bed, though not without some fear, in recollecting that I was alone in so deserted a place; and it was this fear, without doubt, which prevented me from sleeping.

It was now about midnight, when I heard a voice like that of a man, who was reading the koran, in the same manner, and in a similar tone, as it was the custom to read it in our temples. This gave me great joy; I immediately got up, and taking a torch to light me, I went on from one chamber to another, on that side whence I heard the voice. I stopped at the door of a cabinet, from which I was sure the voice issued: I laid down the torch on the ground, and looking in through a small opening, it seemed to me to be an oratory. I perceived within it, as in our temples, a sort of niche, which pointed out the way it was necessary to turn, when we repeated our prayers. There were also some lamps suspended, and also two chandeliers containing large candles made of white wax, all of which were lighted.

I perceived, also, a small carpet, spread out in the same manner as those which we spread with us, in order to kneel upon, when we pray. A young man, of a pleasant countenance, was seated upon this carpet, and recited, with great attention, from the koran, which lay before him upon a small desk.--Astonished and delighted at this sight, I endeavoured to account how it happened that he was the only person alive in a town, where every one else was petrified; and I did not doubt but that there was something very extraordinary in this.

As the door was scarcely shut, I entered, and, placing myself before the niche, I made the following prayer aloud:--

“God be praised, for having granted us so prosperous a voyage: may he continue to favour us with his protection, till we arrive in our own country. Listen to me, O Lord, and grant my prayer.” The young man then cast his eyes upon me, and said, “I entreat you, my good lady, to tell me who you are, and what has brought you to this desolate town? I will inform you, in return, who I am, what has happened to me, and for what reason the inhabitants of this town are reduced to the condition you have seen; and how it happens also, that I alone am safe, and have escaped so dreadful a disaster.”

I related to him, in a few words, whence I came, what had induced me to make this voyage, and how I had fortunately arrived at this port, after twenty days sail. Having said this, I entreated him, in his turn, to fulfil the promise he had made me; and I remarked to him how much I had been struck by the frightful desolation which I had observed in all the places through which I had passed.

“My dear lady,” then replied the young man, “have a moment’s patience.” At these words he shut the koran, put it into a rich case, and laid it in the niche. I took this opportunity to observe him very accurately, and I perceived so much grace and beauty in his countenance, that I felt an emotion I had been, till now, a stranger to. He made me sit down near him, and before he began his relation, I could not refrain from saying to him, with an air by which he might discover the sentiments he had inspired; “It is impossible for any one to wait with more impatience than I do, for the explanation of so many surprising things, which have struck my sight, from the first step I set in this town; nor can my curiosity be too soon gratified: speak, I conjure you, dear object of my soul; tell me by what miracle you alone are alive amidst so many persons, who seem to have died in such an uncommon manner.”

“You have made it very apparent, madam, by the prayer you have addressed to Him,” replied the young man, “that you are not ignorant of the true God. I am now about to inform you of a remarkable instance of his greatness and power. You must know, that this city was the capital of a very powerful kingdom, of the same name and title as that of the king, my father. This prince, as well as all his court, the inhabitants of this city, and also all his other subjects, were of the religion of Magi, idolaters of fire, and of Nardoun, the ancient king of the giants, who rebelled against God.

“Although both my father and mother were idolaters, I had in my infancy the good fortune to have a governess, or nurse, who was of the true religion: she was thoroughly acquainted with the koran, could repeat it by art, and explain it perfectly well. “My prince,” she would often say to me, “there is only one true God; take care how you acknowledge and adore any other.” She taught me also to read the Arabic language, and the book which she gave me for this purpose was the koran. I was no sooner capable of understanding it, than she explained to me all the particular points of that admirable book: she made me enter thoroughly into the spirit of it, entirely unknown to my father, and every one besides. She at length died; but it was not before she had given me all the instruction that was necessary to convince me most completely of the truths of the Mussulman religion. After her death, I remained constant and firm in the sentiments and opinions she had instilled into me; and I felt a perfect abhorrence for the god Nardown, and the worship of fire.

“About three years and a few months ago, a voice, like thunder, was heard on a sudden all over the town, so very distinctly, that no individual lost a single word. The words were these: “Inhabitants, abandon the worship of Nardoun, and of fire; and adore the only God, who shows mercy.”

“The same voice was heard three successive years, yet not one person was converted. On the last day of the third year, between three and four o’clock in the morning, every one of the inhabitants were in an instant transformed into stones; each remaining in the very posture and spot he then happened to be in. The king, my father, experienced the same fate; he was changed to a black stone, as you might see in a part of the palace; and the queen, my mother, experienced a similar transformation.

“I am the only person on whom God has not inflicted this terrible punishment. From this moment I have continued to serve him with greater zeal than ever, and I am well persuaded, my dear lady, that he has sent you for my consolation and comfort. How much do I thank him for his great mercies; for I own to you, that this solitude was become quite distressing.”

This narrative, and more particularly the latter part, still farther increased my attachment to the prince. “I can no longer doubt,” I said to him, “that Providence has conducted me to your country for the express purpose of enabling you to leave so melancholy a spot. The vessel in which I arrived, may lead you to conclude, that I am of some consequence in Bagdad, where I have left things of equal value with those I have brought. I can venture to offer you a safe retreat there, till the powerful Commander of the Faithful, the vicar of our great Prophet, whom you are not ignorant of, shall have bestowed upon you all the honours you so well deserve. This illustrious prince resides at Bagdad; and be assured he will no sooner be informed of your arrival in his capital, than you will acknowledge you have not sought his assistance in vain. It is not possible for you to live any longer in a city where every object is become insupportable to you. My vessel is at your service, and you may dispose of it at your pleasure.” He joyfully accepted the offer, and we passed the rest of the night in talking of our voyage.

As soon as the morning appeared, we departed from the palace, and went towards the harbour; where we found my sisters, the captain, and my slaves, all in great pain about my safety. After introducing my sisters to the prince, I informed them of the reason that had prevented my return on the preceding day; I related to them also my adventures, how I met the young prince, his history, and the cause of the entire desolation which reigned over the whole of so beautiful a city.

The sailors were many days engaged in landing the merchandize which I had brought with me, and in shipping, in the place of it, the most valuable and precious things we could find in the palace, in silver, in gold, and in jewels. We left behind us all the furniture, and a multitude of articles worked in gold, because we had no room to stow them in. Many vessels would have been necessary to have transported to Bagdad all the riches we saw in this city.

After we had filled the ship with whatever we wished to carry away, we set sail with the wind as favourable as we could wish; having first taken in such a supply of provisions and water as we judged sufficient for our voyage. Of the former indeed there yet remained a considerable quantity, which we had brought from Bagdad.

From the commencement of our voyage, the young prince, my sisters, and myself, entertained ourselves very agreeably every day: but alas! this harmony and good humour did not last long. My sisters became jealous of the good understanding which they observed to subsist between the prince and myself: and in a malicious manner asked me what I intended to do with him, when we arrived at Bagdad. I was very well aware, that they put this question to me only for the purpose of discovering my sentiments. I therefore pretended to give the matter a pleasant turn, and jocosely told them I intended to make him my husband; then turning directly to the prince, I said to him, “I entreat you, my prince, to accede to my plan. As soon as we arrive at Bagdad, it is my intention to offer you my person as the humblest of your slaves, to render you every service in my power, and to acknowledge you as absolute master over my actions.”

“Madam,” replied the prince, “I know not whether you say this in joke or not; but with respect to myself, I declare most seriously, before these ladies, your sisters, that I accept from this instant the offer you have now made me, most willingly; not indeed to consider you in the light of my slave, but as my mistress and wife, and I here claim no power whatever over your actions.” --At this speech my sisters instantly changed colour; and from this moment I observed, that they no longer continued to have the same regard for me as before.

We had already reached the Persian gulf, and were very near Balsora; where, if the wind proved strong and favourable, I hoped to arrive on the following day. But in the night, while I was fast asleep, my sisters seized that opportunity to throw me into the sea: they treated the prince also in the same manner; and he was unfortunately drowned. For some moments I supported myself on the surface of the water; and by good fortune, or rather by a miracle, I afterwards touched the bottom. I advanced forward towards something that appeared very black, and which, as well as the obscurity would suffer me to distinguish, I conjectured to be land. I happily gained the shore, and when the day appeared, I found that I was in a small desert island, about twenty miles from the town of Balsora. I immediately dried my clothes in the sun, and in walking about I discovered many sorts of fruit, and also a spring of fresh water. From these circumstances I had great hopes of being able to preserve my life.

I then went and reposed myself in the shade, and while there, I observed a very large and long serpent with wings. It advanced towards me, first moving on one side and then on the other, with its tongue hanging out of its mouth. From this I conjectured it had received some injury. I immediately got up, and perceived that it was pursued by another serpent still larger, who held it fast by the end of its tail, and was endeavouring to devour it. This excited my compassion; and instead of running away, I had the boldness and courage to take up a stone, which I accidentally found near me, and let it fall with all my strength on the larger serpent: I struck it on its head, and crushed it to pieces. The other, finding itself at liberty, immediately opened its wings and flew away. I continued to look for some time at this very extraordinary animal; but having lost sight of it, I again seated myself in the shade in another spot, and fell asleep.

Conceive what was my astonishment, when I awoke, to find close by my side a black woman, of a lively and agreeable expression of countenance, holding by a chain two dogs of the same colour. I immediately sat up, and asked her who she was.--“I am,” she replied, “that serpent which you delivered not long since from its most cruel enemy. I imagined I could not better repay the important services you had rendered me, than by what I have just now performed. I was well acquainted with the treachery of your sisters, and to gratify your revenge, as soon as I was delivered by your generous assistance, I collected together a great many of my companions, who are fairies like myself: we immediately transported all the lading of your vessel to your warehouses at Bagdad; and we then sunk the ship. These two black dogs, which you see here, are your sisters; I have given them that form; but this punishment will not be sufficient, and I wish you to treat them in the manner I am going to point out.”

At this instant the fairy took both the two black dogs and myself in her arms, and transported us to Bagdad, where I perceived, laid up in my warehouse, all the riches with which my vessel had been laden. Before the fairy left me she delivered to me the two black dogs, and spoke as follows: “I command you, by order of Him who can subvert the seas, and under the penalty of being changed to a similar animal, to inflict upon each of your sisters, every night, one hundred lashes with a whip; as a punishment for the crime they have been guilty of towards you and the young prince, whom they have drowned.” I felt myself obliged to promise to execute what she required.

Every evening from that instant I have, though unwillingly, treated them in the manner your majesty was a witness to last night. I endeavour to express to them, by my tears, with what repugnance and grief I fulfil my cruel duty; and in all this you may plainly perceive, that I am rather to be pitied than blamed. If there be any thing else that regards me, and of which you may wish to be informed, my sister Aminè, by the recital of her history, will afford you every explanation.

The caliph, after having listened with admiration and astonishment to the adventures of Zobeidè, desired his grand vizier Giafar, to request the agreeable Aminè to explain by what means she became so covered with scars. The latter, addressing herself to the caliph, began her history in the following manner.

THE HISTORY OF AMINÈ.

Commander of the Faithful, that I may not repeat those things which your majesty has already been informed of by my sister, I will only mention, that my mother, having taken a house to pass her widowhood in private, first bestowed me in marriage on the heir of one of the richest men in this city.

I had not been married quite a year before my husband died. I thus became a widow, and was in possession of all his property, which amounted to above ninety thousand sequins. The interest only of this sum would have been quite sufficient for me to have passed the remainder of my life with ease and reputation. In the mean time, as soon as the first six months of my mourning were over, I ordered ten different dresses to be made up, which were so very magnificent that each cost me a thousand sequins; and when my year of mourning was finished, I began to wear them.