The Arabian Nights (New Deluxe Edition) (90 page)

When the queen heard what the servant said, she came in a hurry, but when she saw the bird, she veiled her face and turned to go away. When the king saw his wife veil her face and turn to go away, he rose and said to her, “Why do you veil your face and turn away, when there is none here but the servants and your maids?” She replied, “O King, this is not a bird but a man.” When the king heard what his wife said, he replied, “You are lying; how can a bird be a man? O how much my wife likes to joke!” She replied, “By God, I am not joking but telling you the truth. This bird is King Badr, the king of Persia and the son of Jullanar of the Sea.”

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:

I heard, O happy King, that the queen told the king that that bird was King Badr, the king of Persia, that his mother was Jullanar of the Sea, his uncle Sayih, and his grandmother Farasha, and that he had been cast under a spell by Princess Jauhara, the daughter of King al-Shamandal. Then she told him the story from beginning to end, how he had demanded Jauhara in marriage from her father, how her father had refused, and how his uncle Sayih had fought al-Shamandal, defeated him, and taken him prisoner. When the king heard the story, he was amazed and said to his wife, who was the greatest sorceress of her day, “For my sake, deliver him from the spell and do not leave him to suffer in this condition. May God cut off the hand of that harlot Jauhara! How little is her mercy and how great is her perfidy!” His wife said, “O King, say to him, ‘King Badr, enter that room,'” and when the bird heard the king's words, it entered the room. Then the queen covered herself with a cloak, veiled her face, and taking in her hand a bowl of water, entered the room. Then she pronounced over the water certain words that none understood and sprinkled the bird with it, saying, “By the power of these mighty names and solemn and holy oaths and by the Almighty God, Creator of haven and earth, who allocates livelihood, allots the days of life, and resurrects the dead, leave your form as a bird and return to that in which God created you.” Hardly had she finished, when the bird shook violently and became a man, and the king saw before him a handsome young man, than whom there was none lovelier on the face of the earth.

When Badr looked at himself, he said, “Glory be to God, the Creator of all creatures and the Master of their destiny!” Then he kissed the king's hands and feet and said to him, “May God reward you for this!” and the king kissed his head and said to him, “King Badr, tell me your story from beginning to end.” Then King Badr told him his entire story, concealing nothing, and the king was very much amazed. Then he said to King Badr, “King Badr, what do you intend to do now?” He replied, “O King of the age, I ask of your bounty a ship with a company of servants and other necessities to convey me to my home and kingdom, for I have been long absent from my mother and relatives and subjects, and I fear that if I tarry much longer, I will lose my kingdom; besides, I fear that my mother is either already dead because of my absence or in all likelihood dying of grief for me, not knowing where I am or whether I am alive or dead. My lord the king has kindly . . .”

But morning overtook Shahrazad, and she lapsed into silence.

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The following night Shahrazad said:

I heard, O happy King, that King Badr begged the king and queen to grant him one more favor and equip him for the journey. The king was moved by his beauty and eloquence and, feeling affection for him, said, “I hear and obey.” Then he fitted out a ship for him, furnished it with all the necessities, and manned it with a company of his own servants.

King Badr bade him farewell, embarked, and set sail. He sailed before a fair wind for ten continuous days, but on the eleventh the wind began to blow harder, the sea raged, and the ship rose and fell so helplessly that the sailors were unable to control her. They drifted at the mercy of the waves until the ship hit a rock and broke up. Some men drowned and some escaped, while King Badr rode on one of the planks of the ship, after having almost drowned. For three days and nights he continued to rise and fall with the waves and to drift helplessly with the wind, not knowing in which direction he was going or where he was heading, until on the fourth day the waves cast him on the shore.

When he looked around, he saw a city as white as a fat dove, with high towers and beautiful buildings, built on the water, which was beating against its walls. When he saw the city, he rejoiced, for he was near death with hunger and thirst. He dismounted from the plank and tried to climb ashore to the city, but he was attacked by mules, asses, and horses, as countless as the grains of sand, which kicked him and prevented, him from climbing. So he swam around to the other side of the city, but when he came out, he was surprised to find no one there and said to himself, “I wonder to whom this city belongs and why there is no king or inhabitants and whose are these mules, asses, horses, and cattle, which prevented me from climbing.”

Then he walked aimlessly, musing on the situation, when suddenly he saw an old man.

But morning overtook Shahrazad, and she lapsed into silence.

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The following night Shahrazad said:

I heard, O happy King, that King Badr suddenly saw an old man, a fava-bean seller, sitting in his shop. He greeted him and the old man returned the greeting and, seeing his handsome face, asked him, “Young man, where do you come from and who brought you to this city?” King Badr told him the whole story, and the old man was very much amazed and asked him, “My son, did you see anyone on the way?” King Badr replied, “Father, no, by God, I did not. Indeed, I was amazed to see the city without inhabitants.” The old man said, “Son, come up into the shop, lest you perish.” King Badr went up into the shop and sat at the upper end, and the old man rose and brought him some food, saying, “Son, stay inside the shop and eat. Glory be to Him who has saved you from that she-devil.” King Badr was frightened, but he ate his fill and washed his hands. Then he turned to the old man and asked, “My lord, what is the meaning of your words? You have made me afraid of this city and its people.” The old man replied, “Son, you should know that this city is called the City of the Magicians, and its queen is an enchantress who is as enchanting as the moon. All the beasts you saw were once men like you and me but are now enchanted, for whenever a young man like you enters the city, that blasphemous witch seizes him and enjoys him for forty days and . . .”

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 old man said, “Then she casts a spell on him and turns him into a mule or an ass or one of the other beasts you saw. When any of the inhabitants of the city, who are sorcerers like her, wishes to go on an errand, he rides one of those beasts, who kicked you out of pity for you, to prevent you from climbing to the shore, lest she should cast a spell on you as she has done to them, for there is none who equals this cursed queen in the power of her magic. Her name is Lab, which means ‘the Sun.'” When King Badr heard what the old man said, he was terrified and shook like a thunderbolt, saying to himself, “Hardly did I believe that I had been delivered from sorcery, when God cast me into the den of worse sorcerers.” Then he pondered what to do. When the old man saw him trembling with fear, he said to him, “Son, go and sit at the door of the shop and see how many inhabitants there are in this city. Do not be afraid, for the queen and all the inhabitants respect me and like me and will not cause me any trouble.” When King Badr heard what the old man said, he went and sat at the door of the shop to look at the people.

But morning overtook Shahrazad, and she lapsed into silence.

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The following night Sbahrazad said:

I heard, O happy King, that when King Badr sat at the door of the shop to look at the people, he saw numberless people pass by. When they saw him, they marveled at his beauty and, coming up to the old man, asked “Shaikh, is this your most recent captive and prey?” He replied, “No, by God, he is my brother's son who lives far from here, and when I heard that his father was dead, I sent for him, so that I might see him and allay my grief.” They said to him, “He is a handsome young man, but we fear for him from Queen Lab, lest she should turn against you and take him from you, for she loves handsome young men.” The old man replied, “The queen will not cross me in anything, for she respects me and likes me, and when she hears that he is my nephew, she will not bother him, trouble him, or molest him.” Then King Badr lived with the old man for a full month, eating and drinking, and the old man loved him exceedingly.