The Arabian Nights (New Deluxe Edition) (88 page)

But morning overtook Shahrazad, and she lapsed into silence.

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The following night Shahrazad said:

I heard, O happy King, that Sayih said to his mother, “My nephew is superior to her, for his father was king of all the Persians and he is now their present king. Indeed, none but Jauhara is worthy of him, and none but he is worthy of her. I intend to take to her father necklaces of rubies and other jewels, a present worthy of him, and demand her in marriage. If he objects that he is a king, Badr is also a king, and a handsome king at that, with a greater kingdom, vaster dominion, and many more troops and followers. I must endeavor to fulfill his wish, even if it costs me my life, because I was the cause of his infatuation, and just as I plunged him in the ocean of love, so will I endeavor to marry him to the girl, and the Almighty God will help me in my endeavor.” His mother replied, “Do as you wish, but when you speak with al-Shamandal, beware of offending him, for you know his pride and violent temper, and I fear that he will lay hands on you, for he has no respect for anyone.” Sayih replied, “I hear and obey.”

Then he took two bags full of precious necklaces, emerald cabochons, and rubies and diamonds, and, giving them to his servants to carry, set out for the palace of al-Shamandal. When he arrived, he asked for leave to see the king, and when leave was granted, he entered, kissed the ground before him and greeted him in the best of manners. When the king saw him, he rose to return the greeting and bade him be seated. When he was seated, the king said to him, “Blessed is your coming. I have missed you in your absence. Tell me your wish, and I will grant it.” Sayih rose and, kissing the ground once more before the king, said to him, “O King of the age, my errand is to the Almighty God and to the gallant king and valiant lion, whose fame has spread far and wide and whose praise has been sung in all the provinces and cities, for his justice, his forbearance, his mercy, his generosity, his kindness, and his graciousness.” Then he opened the two bags and, emptying out the precious necklaces, the emerald cabochons, and the rubies and diamonds before the king, said to him, “O King, I hope that you will do me a favor and make me happy by accepting my present.” King al-Shamandal replied, “There is neither reason nor explanation for such a present. What prompted you to give me this great treasure, and what do you expect in return? Explain your case and tell me your need. If it is in my power, I will grant it at once without further ado; and if I am unable to grant it, I will be excused, for ‘God asks nothing of a soul beyond its means.'” Sayih rose and, kissing the ground before the king, said, “O King, my need is within your means; it is in your possession and within your power, for I am not mad enough to ask the king for a favor he is unable to grant.”

But morning overtook Shahrazad, and she lapsed into silence.

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The following night Shahrazad said:

I heard, O happy King, that Sayih said to King al-Shamandal, “The sage says, ‘If you wish to be denied, ask for what can't be supplied,' but my wish is one that the king is able to grant, for it is at his disposal and his to give.” The king said, “Explain your case, tell me your need, and ask your wish.” Sayih said, “O King of the age, I come to you as a suitor, seeking the unique pearl, the priceless jewel, and the glorious Princess Jauhara, daughter of our lord the king. O King, do not disappoint your suitor, but desire him who desires you.” When the king heard this, he laughed in derision until he fell on his back. Then he said, “O Sayih, I thought you an excellent and wise young man who said nothing but what was reasonable and uttered nothing but what was sensible. What has possessed you and urged you to embark on such a grave venture and dangerous adventure, to seek in marriage the daughters of kings who rule over cities and provinces and who command armies and retinues? Is your self-esteem so high and your sense so little that you dare affront me with such a demand?”

Sayih replied, “O King, may God guide you; I do not seek your daughter for myself, and even if I did, I am her match and more, for you know that my father was one of the kings of the sea, like you, and that our kingdom has been taken from us. I seek her for none other than King Badr, the king of Persia, whose might and fame you know. If you object that you are a great king, King Badr is a great king too, indeed greater, and if you object that your daughter possesses beauty, charm, and grace, King Badr is more beautiful, more charming, and more amiable. Indeed he has no equal in discernment, fairness, courtesy, and generosity. If you grant my request and give him your daughter in marriage, you will have done the right thing and settled the matter, as any wise and sensible man would do, but if you reject us and treat us arrogantly, you will not have treated us properly or fairly. O King, you know that Princess Jauhara, the daughter of our lord the king, must have a husband, for the sage says, ‘A girl needs a husband or a grave,' and if you intend to marry her at all, my nephew is worthier of her than any other man, but if you dislike us and refuse to have anything to do with us, you will not find a better man.” When King al-Shamandal heard Sayih's words, he was so furious that he almost lost his senses and his soul left his body. He said, “O dog, shall the like of you dare speak to me like this and freely mention my daughter's name in public gatherings, saying that your nephew is a match for her? Who are you, who is your father, who is your sister, who is your nephew, and who is his dog of a father that you should speak such words to me and address me in this manner? Guards, seize this good-for-nothing and strike off his head.” The guards drew their swords and attacked Sayih, who fled to the palace gate, where he found his cousins, relatives, followers, and servants.

But morning overtook Shahrazad, and she lapsed into silence.

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The following night Shahrazad said:

I heard, O happy King, that the young man fled to the palace gate, where he found more than a thousand of his cousins, relatives, members of his entourage, followers, and servants, whom his mother had sent to his aid, armed to the teeth, with coats of mail and spears. When they saw him running, they asked him, “What is the matter?” and he told them what had happened. When they heard what he said, they realized that al-Shamandal was an ill-tempered, arrogant man. They dismounted and, drawing their swords, went in with him to al-Shamandal, whom they found seated on his throne, still raging against Sayih, unaware of their coming and surrounded by his guards, attendants, and servants, who were unprepared for battle. When he saw Sayih's men enter with drawn swords, he cried out to his men, “Damn you, away with the heads of these dogs!” but before long his men were routed and he was seized and bound. When his daughter Jauhara heard that her father had been taken captive and his men and followers had been killed, she fled from the palace to one of the islands and, climbing a tree, hid herself there.

Earlier, when the two clans were still fighting, it happened that some of Sayih's servants came to his mother and told her of the battle, and when King Badr heard about it, he ran away in fear, saying to himself, “All this turmoil is on my account, and none is to answer for it but I.” So he ran away, not knowing where to go, until, as it had been foreordained, he came to the same island where Jauhara had taken refuge and, being tired, stopped to rest at the very tree in which she was hiding. He threw himself down, like a dead man, and as he lay on his back to rest, he chanced to look up and saw Princess Jauhara, who looked like the shining moon. He said to himself, “Glory be to God who created this wonderful form! Unless I am wrong, she must be Princess Jauhara. I think that when she heard of the battle between her father and my uncle, she fled to this island and hid in this tree. If she is not Princess Jauhara herself, then she is one who is even more beautiful.” He pondered for a while, then said to himself, “I will seize her and question her, and if she is indeed Jauhara, I will ask her to marry me and I will attain my wish.” Then he spoke to her, saying, “O end of all desire, who are you and who brought you here?” She looked at him and, seeing that he was a young man as beautiful as the full moon, with a slender figure and a sweet smile, said to him, “O fair young man, I am Princess Jauhara, the daughter of King al-Shamandal. I took refuge in this place because Sayih and his men fought my father, killed most of his men, and bound him and took him prisoner. I fled, fearing for my life.”

But morning overtook Shahrazad, and she lapsed into silence.

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The following night Shahrazad said:

I heard, O happy King, that Princess Jauhara said to King Badr, “Young man, I feared for my life and fled to this island.” When Badr heard this, he marveled at this strange coincidence and said to himself, “There is no doubt now that my uncle Sayih has defeated King al-Shamandal,” and he felt very happy, adding, “and there is no doubt that I have attained my aim and fulfilled my wish by the capture of her father.” Then he looked at her and said to her, “O my lady, come down to me, for I am captured my your eyes and slain by your love. It was on your account and mine that these turmoils and broils took place, for I am Badr, king of Persia, and Sayih is my uncle, who came to your father to demand you in marriage for me. I have left my kingdom and my mother and relatives; I have parted from my friends and companions, and I have come far away from my country for your sake. Our meeting here is a rare coincidence. Come down to me and I will take you to your father's palace, ask my uncle Sayih to release him, and make you my lawful wife.”