The Arabian Nights (New Deluxe Edition) (71 page)

The jeweler related later: “The next day she came in, looking cheerful. I asked her, ‘What is the news?' She replied, ‘I went to my lady and showed her the letter, and when she seemed upset and worried, I said to her that she should not worry, fear, or grieve that Abu al-Hasan's absence would harm her relationship with Ali ibn-Bakkar, adding that I had found another man to take his place. Then I told her about your friendship with Abu al-Hasan and how you gained his confidence, about your relationship with Ali ibn-Bakkar, and about our understanding and how in my distraction I lost the letter, how you found it, and how you agreed to keep the affair secret. When she heard my account, she was astonished and said that she wished to hear it from your own mouth, so that she might find comfort, assure herself of your commitment, and confirm your resolve to carry out what you had kindly offered to do. So get ready to go with me to her, with God's blessing and help.'” When the jeweler heard the girl's words, he saw that what she proposed was a grave matter, not to be undertaken lightly or entered into rashly, and he said to her, “You should know that I am not a man of high rank like Abu al-Hasan, who used his wares for an excuse to enter the caliph's palace. Indeed, when he used to relate to me what he did there, I used to tremble with fear. If your lady wishes to speak with me, it must be in a place other than the Commander of the Faithful's palace, for I do not have the heart for such an undertaking.” He persisted in refusing to go with her, while she kept encouraging him and assuring him of protection and safety. But each time he rose to go with her, his legs failed him and his hands trembled. Finally the girl said to him, “Never mind; she will come to you, but do not stir from your place.”

She went away in a hurry; then she came back and said, “Beware that none should be with you in the house, for he may tell.” The jeweler related later: “I replied, ‘There is no one with me.' Then with the utmost caution, she went out and returned, followed by a lady who was followed by two maids. When the lady entered, her perfume filled the house and her beauty lighted it, and when I saw her, I sprang to my feet and, offering her a cushion, seated her and sat before her. She sat without speaking until she was rested, and she unveiled her face, and I thought that it was the full moon or the rising sun. Then she turned to the girl with a weak motion and asked, ‘Is this the man?' The girl replied, ‘Yes he is.' I greeted her, and she returned my greeting in the best of manners and said, ‘Our confidence in you moved us to come to you, entrust you with our secret, and count on your silence. May you be worthy of such confidence and trust, for you seem to be a man of honor; loyalty, and generosity. Then she inquired about my situation, my family, and my friends, and I acquainted her with my circumstances, adding, ‘You should know, my lady, that I have another house that I have set apart for entertaining my friends and colleagues, and there is nothing there save what I have told your maid.' Then she questioned me about my involvement in the affair, and I told her, and when I finished, she sighed, expressing sadness for the loss of Abu al-Hasan, and invoked blessings on him. Then she said, ‘You should know that the minds of men are alike in desires, although different in situation and purpose, and although men are diverse in their pursuits, no task is accomplished without speech, no wish is fulfilled without endeavor, and no rest is enjoyed without toil.'”

But morning overtook Shahrazad, and she lapsed into silence. Then Dinarzad said, “Sister, what an entertaining story!” Shahrazad replied, “What is this compared with what I shall tell you tomorrow night if the king spares me and lets me live!”

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The following night Shahrazad said:

I heard, O happy King, that Shams al-Nahar admonished the jeweler, adding, “‘No secret is confided without trust nor is an endeavor undertaken without ability; no success is achieved save with the help of the generous, nor is a serious matter entrusted save to a man of nobility and honor. Each man deserves to be thanked according to the kindliness of his intentions, the extent of his application, and the efficacy of his deeds. As for you, no man exceeds you in humanity and generosity. You know my secret, understand my situation, and see that I have been driven beyond my endurance. This girl, as you well know, I hold in trust and high favor, for she keeps my counsel and transacts my affairs; therefore, trust her in everything she tells you or asks you to do, and you will be pleased; besides, you will be safe from any danger, for we will not ask you to come to any place before making sure that it is secure. She will bring you news from me and act as our go-between.' Then she rose, hardly able to stand, and I saw her to the door of the house and returned, having seen of her beauty, witnessed of her actions, and heard of her speech what dazzled my eyes and captivated my mind.

“Then I changed my clothes and went to Ali ibn-Bakkar's house. His servants rushed toward me from all directions and brought me to him. I found him lying prostrate on the bed, and when he saw me, he said, ‘Welcome! You have tarried too long and added worry to my worries. I have not closed my eyes since I saw you last. Yesterday the girl came to me with a sealed letter,' and he went on to tell me all that had passed, adding, ‘I am perplexed and my patience fails me, for I have neither the knowledge nor the power to find relief, for Abu al-Hasan was of great help and comfort to me because she knew him and liked him.' I laughed and he said, ‘Why do you laugh at my tears and the tale of my trial and woe?' Then he recited the following verses:

He who laughs at my tears would now have wept,

Had he suffered like me the pain I know,

For none can feel compassion for the damned,

Save one like him who knows protracted woe.”

When the jeweler heard this, he told Ali ibn-Bakkar all that had passed since the jeweler left him, and when he finished, Ali ibn-Bakkar wept bitterly and said, “In any event I am lost; may God grant me a speedy end, for I have lost all satisfaction, all patience, and all resolve, and were it not for you, I would have wasted away with passion and died of sorrow. You will be my comforter in my affliction until God's will is done, for His are the grace and the blessing and His are the thanks and the praise. I will be your slave at your mercy, and I will contradict you in nothing but follow you in everything.” The jeweler related later: “I said to him, ‘O my lord, nothing will quench this fire, save your reunion, but this must not be in my house, which is exposed to danger and harmful consequences, but in another more suitable place of mine, which I prefer for the purpose. There the two of you will meet to converse, complain to each other of your suffering, and renew your vows, and you will be all by yourselves.' He replied, ‘Do what you wish.' I stayed with him that night, entertaining him with conversation, till daybreak.”

But morning overtook Shahrazad, and she lapsed into silence. Then Dinarzad said to her sister, “Sister, what a strange and entertaining story!” Shahrazad replied, “What is this compared with what I shall tell you tomorrow night if the king spares me and lets me live!”

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The following night Shahrazad said:

It is related, O happy King, that the jeweler said: “I stayed with him that night and in the morning returned to my house and hardly had I sat down, when the maidservant arrived. I told her what had passed between Ali ibn-Bakkar and myself, and she said, ‘It is better if we meet at our place.' I replied, ‘My place is safer.' She said, ‘You are right. I will go to my lady, tell her what you have said, and convey to her your invitation.' She went out and, returning soon, said, ‘Go to your other house and make it ready.' Then she took out a purse and, giving it to me, said, ‘Use this money to buy food and drink.' But I swore that I would never touch it, and she took the purse back and departed.

“I was still annoyed at her behavior, when I went to my other house. I took with me all the utensils in my possession, borrowed from every friend all sorts of fine vessels of gold and silver, carpets, drapes, and whatever else was needed, bought all the necessary provisions, and had everything ready. When the girl came and saw what I had done, she was pleased. I said to her, ‘Go now to Ali ibn-Bakkar and bring him here secretly.' She went out and brought him back, finely dressed and looking all delicacy and grace. I received him with respect and courtesy and, seating him on a couch, set before him the most marvelous vessels and sat talking with him.

“The girl went away and returned after the evening prayer with Shams al-Nahar, attended only by two maids. When the two lovers saw each other, they were so overcome with passion that they stood still; then they fell down in a swoon. It was a terrible sight. I endeavored to revive him on one side, while the girl endeavored to revive Shams al-Nahar on the other until they came to themselves. When they regained some strength, they talked with each other for a while in a faint voice. Then I offered them some wine and they drank, and I set food before them and they ate. Then they fell to thanking me, and I asked them whether they would like some more wine and they said that they would. So I took them to another room, where they sat to drink, forgot their worries, enjoyed themselves, and grew merry, all the while feeling astonished and pleased with what I had done for them. Then Shams al-Nahar asked me, ‘Do you have a lute or some other musical instrument?' I replied, ‘Yes, indeed,' and brought her a lute. She took it and, tuning it, played and sang with consummate skill.”

But morning overtook Shahrazad, and she lapsed into silence. Then Dinarzad said, “Sister, what a strange and entertaining story!” Shahrazad replied, “What is this compared with what I shall tell you tomorrow night if the king spares me and lets me live!”

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The following night Shahrazad said:

I heard, O happy King, that the jeweler said: “Shams al-Nahar took the lute and, tuning it, played and sang with consummate skill the following verses:

If you are a true messenger,

Deliver and be coy no more.

Say nothing save for my love's news,

And let the truth my joy restore.

And if he did deign to reply,

Even without him I will live,

For with coyness he gains such charm

That I will his coyness forgive.

Then she sang these verses:

I lay sleepless as if in love with lack of sleep,

And pined as if pining was made for me,

As my tears coursed over my burning cheeks,

Who can at once in fire and water be?

“Her singing was so lovely that I had never heard anything like it before. But suddenly we heard terrifying noises and screams and felt as if the house was going to cave in under us. Then a servant, whom I had ordered to stand at the door of the house, rushed in and said, ‘Some unknown men have broken the door and are raiding the house,' and, while a maid screamed from the rooftop, ten masked men, wearing swords and holding daggers, followed by ten more, attacked us. When I saw them, I ran out of the house and sought refuge in the house of one of my neighbors, and when I heard an uproar in my house, I concluded that the two lovers were found out and that they were being seized by the chief of police, and I remained in hiding till midnight.”