# 040 - Seven Hundred and Fifty-fourth Night to Seven Hundred and Fifty-sixth Night

An episode of [Arabian Nights Volume 7 - Tales of Adventure and Intrigue](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1858984052), 24 Dec 2025, 27 min.

Audio: https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/68851121/040_seven_hundred_and_fifty_fourth_night_to_seven_hundred_and_fifty_sixth_night.mp3

Dive into the enchanting world of Arabian Nights, a mesmerizing collection of stories that have captivated audiences for centuries. This compilation, woven together through the artful storytelling of Shahrazad, features a rich tapestry of myths and folklore from the Indian subcontinent, Persia, and Arabia. Despite the absence of an original manuscript, this timeless collection is believed to have originated between AD 800-900. Among its many treasures are the iconic tales of Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves and the adventures of Sinbad the Sailor. This volume is part of the renowned sixteen-volume translation by Richard Francis Burton, showcasing the allure of these age-old narratives. (Summary adapted from Wikipedia) This episode includes AI-generated content.

## Transcript

[0:00] Speaker 1: Section forty of the Book of A Thousand Knights and
[0:03] Speaker 1: a Night, Volume seven. This is a LibriVox recording. All
[0:08] Speaker 1: LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information
[0:12] Speaker 1: or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox dot org. Recording by
[0:18] Speaker 1: Pam Castile. The Book of A Thousand Knights and a Night,
[0:22] Speaker 1: Volume seven by Anonymous, translated by Richard Francis Burton, Section forty.
[0:31] Speaker 1: When it was the seven hundred and fifty fourth night,
[0:34] Speaker 1: she said it hath reached me o auspicious King, that
[0:39] Speaker 1: when the Queen awoke, she repaired to the hamman bath
[0:42] Speaker 1: in the palace, King Badr Bassim being with her, and
[0:46] Speaker 1: they bathed and were purified, after which she clad him
[0:50] Speaker 1: in the finest of raiment and called for the service
[0:53] Speaker 1: of wine. So the waiting women brought the drinking gear,
[0:57] Speaker 1: and they drank presently. The Queen arose, and, taking bad
[1:00] Speaker 1: Dear Bassim by the hand, sat down with him on chairs,
[1:04] Speaker 1: and bade bring food, whereof they ate and washed their hands.
[1:09] Speaker 1: Then the damsels fetched the drinking gear and fruits and
[1:12] Speaker 1: flowers and confections, and they ceased not to eat and drink,
[1:16] Speaker 1: whilst the singing girls sang various airs till the evening.
[1:21] Speaker 1: They gave no over, eating and drinking and merry making
[1:24] Speaker 1: for a space of forty days. When the queen said
[1:27] Speaker 1: to him, oh, bah, dear Basim, samey weather is the
[1:31] Speaker 1: more pleasant this place or the shop of thine uncle,
[1:34] Speaker 1: the grocer. He replied, by allah, o Queen, this is
[1:39] Speaker 1: the pleasanter, for my uncle is but a beggarly man
[1:42] Speaker 1: who vendeth pot herbs. She laughed at his words, and
[1:46] Speaker 1: the twain lay together in the pleasantest of cays till
[1:49] Speaker 1: the morning, when King Badr Basim awoke from sleep and
[1:53] Speaker 1: found not Queen lad by his side. So he said,
[1:56] Speaker 1: where in heaven I knew? Where can she have gone?
[2:00] Speaker 1: And indeed he was troubled at her absence and perplexed
[2:03] Speaker 1: about the case, for she stayed away from him a
[2:06] Speaker 1: great while and did not return. So he donned his
[2:09] Speaker 1: dress and went seeking her, but not finding her, and
[2:12] Speaker 1: he said to himself, haply she is gone to the
[2:15] Speaker 1: flower garden. Thereupon he went out into the garden and
[2:19] Speaker 1: came to a running rill, beside which he saw a
[2:22] Speaker 1: white shee bird, and on the stream bank a tree
[2:25] Speaker 1: full of birds of various colors, and he stood and
[2:28] Speaker 1: watched the birds without their seeing him, and behold, a
[2:32] Speaker 1: black bird flew down upon that white shee bird, and
[2:35] Speaker 1: fell to billing her pigeon fashion. Then he leapt on
[2:38] Speaker 1: her and trod her three consecutive times, after which the
[2:42] Speaker 1: bird changed and became a woman. But dear looked at her,
[2:46] Speaker 1: and lo it was Queen lab So he knew that
[2:49] Speaker 1: the black bird was a man transmuted, and that she
[2:52] Speaker 1: was enamored of him, and had transformed herself into a
[2:56] Speaker 1: bird that he might enjoy her. Wherefore jealousy got hold
[3:00] Speaker 1: upon him, and he was wroth with the queen because
[3:03] Speaker 1: of the black bird. Then he returned to his place
[3:06] Speaker 1: and lay down on the carpet bed, And after an
[3:09] Speaker 1: hour or so, she came back to him and fell
[3:11] Speaker 1: to kissing him and jesting with him. But being sore
[3:15] Speaker 1: incensed against her, he answered her not a word. She
[3:19] Speaker 1: saw what was to do with him, and was assured
[3:22] Speaker 1: that he had witnessed what befell her when she was
[3:24] Speaker 1: a white bird and was trodden by the blackbird. Yet
[3:28] Speaker 1: she discovered not to him, but concealed what ailed her.
[3:31] Speaker 1: When he had done her need, he said to her,
[3:34] Speaker 1: o Queen, I would have THEE give me leave to
[3:36] Speaker 1: go to my uncle's shop, for I long after him
[3:40] Speaker 1: and have not seen him these forty days. She replied,
[3:44] Speaker 1: go to him, but tarry not from me, for I
[3:46] Speaker 1: cannot brook to be parted from THEE, nor can I
[3:49] Speaker 1: endure without THEE. An hour, he said, I hear, and
[3:53] Speaker 1: I obey, and mounting, rode to the shop of the Shike.
[3:57] Speaker 1: The grocer, who welcomed him and rose to him, and
[4:00] Speaker 1: embracing him, said to him, how hast thou fared with
[4:03] Speaker 1: Yonder idolatrous? He replied, I was well in health and
[4:07] Speaker 1: happiness till this last night, and told him what had
[4:11] Speaker 1: passed in the garden with the black bird. Now, when
[4:13] Speaker 1: the old man heard his words, he said, beware of her,
[4:17] Speaker 1: for know that the birds upon the tree were all
[4:20] Speaker 1: young men and strangers, whom she loved and enchanted and
[4:23] Speaker 1: turned into birds. That black bird thou sawest was one
[4:27] Speaker 1: of her mamelukes, whom she loved with exceeding love, till
[4:31] Speaker 1: he cast his eyes upon one of her women. Wherefore
[4:34] Speaker 1: she changed him into a black bird. And Shahrazad perceived
[4:38] Speaker 1: the dawn of day and ceased, saying her permitted say,
[4:44] Speaker 1: when it was the seven hundred and fifty fifth night,
[4:47] Speaker 1: she continued it. Hath reached me o auspicious king, that
[4:52] Speaker 1: when Badar Basim acquainted the old grocer with all the
[4:55] Speaker 1: doings of Queen lab and what he had seen of
[4:58] Speaker 1: her proceedings, the Shyke gave him to know that all
[5:02] Speaker 1: the birds upon the tree were young men and strangers
[5:05] Speaker 1: whom she had enchanted, and that the black bird was
[5:08] Speaker 1: one of her mamelukes, whom she had transmuted. And continued
[5:12] Speaker 1: the Shykh, when as she lusteth after him, she transformeth
[5:16] Speaker 1: herself into a she bird, that he may enjoy her,
[5:19] Speaker 1: for she still loveth him with passionate love. When she
[5:23] Speaker 1: found that thou knewest of her case, she plotted evil
[5:26] Speaker 1: against THEE. For she loveth THEE not wholly. But no
[5:30] Speaker 1: harm shall betide THEE from her, so long as I
[5:33] Speaker 1: protect THEE. Therefore, fear nothing, For I am a Moslem
[5:37] Speaker 1: by name Abdallah, and there is none in my day
[5:40] Speaker 1: more magical than I. Yet do I not make use
[5:43] Speaker 1: of Grammary, save upon constraint. Many a time have I
[5:47] Speaker 1: put to naught the sorceries of yonder accursed and delivered
[5:50] Speaker 1: folk from her, and I care not for her, because
[5:53] Speaker 1: she can do me no hurt. Nay, she feareth me
[5:56] Speaker 1: with exceeding fear, as do all in the city who
[6:00] Speaker 1: like her our magicians and serve the fire, not the
[6:03] Speaker 1: omnipotent Sire. So tomorrow, come thou to me and tell
[6:07] Speaker 1: me what she doth with THEE. For this very night
[6:10] Speaker 1: she will cast about to destroy THEE. And I will
[6:13] Speaker 1: tell THEE how thou shalt do with her, that thou
[6:15] Speaker 1: mayest save thyself from her malice. Then King Badar Basim
[6:20] Speaker 1: farewell the Shykeh and returned to the Queen, whom he
[6:23] Speaker 1: found awaiting him. When she saw him, she rose and
[6:26] Speaker 1: seating him and welcoming him, brought him meat and drink,
[6:29] Speaker 1: and the two ate till they had enough and washed
[6:32] Speaker 1: their hands, after which she called for wine, and they
[6:35] Speaker 1: drank till the night was well nigh half spent, when
[6:38] Speaker 1: she plied him with cup after cup, till he was
[6:41] Speaker 1: drunken and lost sense and wit. When she saw him,
[6:45] Speaker 1: thus she said to him, I conjure THEE by Allah,
[6:48] Speaker 1: and by whatso thou worshipest? If I ask THEE a question,
[6:52] Speaker 1: wilt thou inform me rightly and answer me truly. And he,
[6:56] Speaker 1: being drunken, answered yes, o, my lady, quoth she o
[7:01] Speaker 1: my lord, and light of mine eyes. When thou awokest
[7:05] Speaker 1: last night and foundest me, not thou soughtest me till
[7:09] Speaker 1: thou sawest me in the garden under the guise of
[7:12] Speaker 1: a white shee bird, and also thou sawest the blackbird
[7:15] Speaker 1: leap on me and tread me. Now I will tell
[7:18] Speaker 1: the truth of this matter. That black bird was one
[7:21] Speaker 1: of my mamelukes, whom I loved with exceeding love. But
[7:25] Speaker 1: one day he cast his eyes upon a certain of
[7:28] Speaker 1: my slave girls. Wherefore jealousy gat hold upon me, and
[7:33] Speaker 1: I transformed him by my spells into a black bird,
[7:36] Speaker 1: and her I slew. But now I cannot endure without
[7:40] Speaker 1: him a single hour. So whenever I lust after him,
[7:44] Speaker 1: I change myself into a she bird and go to him,
[7:47] Speaker 1: that he may leave me and enjoy me, even as
[7:50] Speaker 1: thou hast seen art. Thou not therefore incensed against me
[7:55] Speaker 1: because of this, albeit by the virtue of fire and light,
[7:58] Speaker 1: shade and heat, I love THEE more than ever and
[8:01] Speaker 1: have made THEE my portion of the world. He answered,
[8:05] Speaker 1: being drunken. Thy conjecture of the cause of my rage
[8:09] Speaker 1: is correct, and it had no reason other than this.
[8:13] Speaker 1: With this, she embraced him and kissed him, and made
[8:16] Speaker 1: great show of love to him. Then she lay down
[8:19] Speaker 1: to sleep, and he by her side. Presently about midnight
[8:23] Speaker 1: she rose from the carpet bed, and King Badar Bassim
[8:26] Speaker 1: was awake, but he feigned sleep and watched stealthily to
[8:30] Speaker 1: see what she would do. She took out of a
[8:32] Speaker 1: red bag a something red, which she planted amiddlemost the chamber,
[8:37] Speaker 1: and it became a stream running like the sea, after
[8:41] Speaker 1: which she took a handful of barley, and, strewing it
[8:44] Speaker 1: on the ground, watered it with water from the river,
[8:47] Speaker 1: whereupon it became wheat in the ear, and she gathered
[8:51] Speaker 1: it and grounded into flower. Then she set it aside, and,
[8:54] Speaker 1: returning to bed, lay down by Badar Bassim till morning,
[8:58] Speaker 1: when he arose and washed face and asked her leave
[9:01] Speaker 1: to visit the shite his uncle. She gave him permission,
[9:05] Speaker 1: and he repaired to Abdallah and told him what had passed.
[9:08] Speaker 1: The old man laughed and said, by Allah, this miscreant
[9:13] Speaker 1: which plotteth mischief against thee but reck thou not of her. Ever,
[9:18] Speaker 1: Then he gave him a pound of parched corn, and
[9:21] Speaker 1: said to him, take this with THEE, and know that
[9:24] Speaker 1: when she seeth it, she will ask THEE, what is this?
[9:28] Speaker 1: And what wilt thou doth it? Do Thou answer, abundance
[9:32] Speaker 1: of good things is good? And eat of it. Then
[9:35] Speaker 1: will she bring forth to THEE parched grain of her own,
[9:38] Speaker 1: and say to THEE, eat of this soawik And do
[9:41] Speaker 1: thou feign to her that thou eatest thereof, But eat
[9:44] Speaker 1: of this instead, And beware and have a care lest
[9:48] Speaker 1: thou eat of hers even a grain. For an thou
[9:51] Speaker 1: eats so much as a grain thereof, her spells will
[9:54] Speaker 1: have power over THEE, and she will enchant THEE and
[9:57] Speaker 1: say to THEE leave this forl of a man. Whereupon
[10:02] Speaker 1: thou wilt quit thine own shape, for what shape she will?
[10:06] Speaker 1: But an thou eat nought thereof, Her enchantments will be
[10:09] Speaker 1: null and void, and no harm will betide THEE. Therefrom whereat,
[10:14] Speaker 1: she will be shamed, with shame exceeding and say to THEE,
[10:17] Speaker 1: I did but jest with THEE. Then she will make
[10:20] Speaker 1: a show of love and fondness to thee. But this
[10:23] Speaker 1: will all be but hypocrisy in her and craft. And
[10:27] Speaker 1: do thou also make a show of love to her,
[10:30] Speaker 1: and say to her, O, my lady, and light of
[10:33] Speaker 1: mine eyes, eat of this parched barley, and see how
[10:36] Speaker 1: delicious it is. And if she eat thereof, though it
[10:39] Speaker 1: be but a grain, take water in thy hand and
[10:42] Speaker 1: throw it in her face, saying, quit this human form,
[10:46] Speaker 1: For what form soever thou wilt have her take? Then
[10:49] Speaker 1: leave her and come to me, and I will counsel
[10:52] Speaker 1: thee what to do. So Ba dear Bassim took leave
[10:55] Speaker 1: of him, and, returning to the palace, went in to
[10:58] Speaker 1: the queen, who said to him, welcome and well come,
[11:01] Speaker 1: and good cheer to thee. And she rose and kissed him, saying,
[11:05] Speaker 1: thou hast tarried long from me, O, my lord, he replied,
[11:09] Speaker 1: I have been with my uncle, and he gave me
[11:12] Speaker 1: to eat of this sawak quoth she we have better
[11:15] Speaker 1: than that. Then she laid his parched sowack in one
[11:19] Speaker 1: plate and hers in another, and said to him, eat
[11:22] Speaker 1: of this, for tis better than thine. So he feigned
[11:26] Speaker 1: to eat of it, and when she thought he had
[11:28] Speaker 1: done so, she took water in her hand and sprinkled
[11:31] Speaker 1: him therewith, saying, quit this form, o thou gallows bird,
[11:36] Speaker 1: thou miserable, and take that of a mule, one eyed
[11:39] Speaker 1: and fowl of favor. But he changed not which when
[11:44] Speaker 1: she saw she arose and went up to him and
[11:47] Speaker 1: kissed him between the eyes, saying, oh, my beloved, I
[11:51] Speaker 1: did but jest with thee bear me no malice because
[11:54] Speaker 1: of this, quoth he, O, my lady, I bear thee
[11:58] Speaker 1: no wit of malice. Nay, I am assured that thou
[12:01] Speaker 1: lovest me, but eat of this my parched barley. So
[12:06] Speaker 1: she ate a mouthful of abdallah sawik. But no sooner
[12:09] Speaker 1: had it settled in her stomach than she was convulsed,
[12:12] Speaker 1: and King Badar Basim took water in his palm and
[12:16] Speaker 1: threw it in her face, saying, quit this human form,
[12:19] Speaker 1: and take that of a dapple mule. No sooner had
[12:23] Speaker 1: he spoken than she found herself changed into a she mule,
[12:27] Speaker 1: whereupon the tears rolled down her cheeks, and she fell
[12:30] Speaker 1: to rubbing her muzzle against his feet. Then he would
[12:34] Speaker 1: have bridled her, but she would not take the bit,
[12:37] Speaker 1: so he left her, and, growing to the grocer, told
[12:39] Speaker 1: him what had passed, Abdallah brought out for him a
[12:42] Speaker 1: bridle and bade him rein her forthwith so he took
[12:46] Speaker 1: it to the palace, and when she saw him, she
[12:48] Speaker 1: came up to him, and he set the bit in
[12:50] Speaker 1: her mouth, and mounting her, rode forth to find the shikh.
[12:53] Speaker 1: But when the old man saw her, he rose and
[12:56] Speaker 1: said to her, Almighty Allah confound thee o ak cursed woman.
[13:01] Speaker 1: Then quoth he to Badir, O, my son, there is
[13:05] Speaker 1: no more tarrying for thee in this city. So ride
[13:08] Speaker 1: her and fare with her whither thou wilt, and beware
[13:11] Speaker 1: lest thou commit the bridle to any king. Badir thanked him, and,
[13:15] Speaker 1: farewelling him, fared on three days without ceasing, till he
[13:20] Speaker 1: drew near another city, and there met him an old man,
[13:23] Speaker 1: gray headed and comely, who said to him, whence comest thou,
[13:27] Speaker 1: o my son? Badr replied, from the city of this witch,
[13:31] Speaker 1: And the old man said, thou art my guest. To night.
[13:35] Speaker 1: He consented and went with him. But by the way
[13:38] Speaker 1: behold they met an old woman who wept when she
[13:41] Speaker 1: saw the mule, and said, there is no god but
[13:45] Speaker 1: the God. Verily this mule resembleth my son's she mule,
[13:50] Speaker 1: which is dead, and my heart acheth for her. So
[13:53] Speaker 1: allah upon thee, O, my lord, do thou sell her
[13:57] Speaker 1: to me? He replied by allah, O, my mother, I
[14:01] Speaker 1: cannot sell her. But she cried, Allah upon thee, do
[14:05] Speaker 1: not refuse my request, for my son will surely be
[14:09] Speaker 1: a dead man except I buy him this mule. And
[14:12] Speaker 1: she importuned him till he exclaimed, I will not sell
[14:17] Speaker 1: her save for a thousand dinars, saying in himself, whence
[14:21] Speaker 1: should this old woman get a thousand gold pieces? Thereupon
[14:25] Speaker 1: she brought out from her girdle a purse containing a
[14:28] Speaker 1: thousand ducats, which, when King Ba der Basim saw, he said, O,
[14:33] Speaker 1: my mother, I did but jest with thee. I cannot
[14:36] Speaker 1: sell her. But the old man looked at him and said, O,
[14:40] Speaker 1: my son, in this city none may lie for whoso
[14:44] Speaker 1: lieth they put to death. So King by Derby sim
[14:47] Speaker 1: lighted down from the mule, and Shahrazad perceived the dawn
[14:52] Speaker 1: of day and ceased to say her permitted say when
[14:58] Speaker 1: it was the seven hundred and fifty sixth night, she
[15:01] Speaker 1: pursued it. Hath reached me, O auspicious king that when
[15:07] Speaker 1: Ba der Basim dismounted from and delivered the mule to
[15:10] Speaker 1: the old woman. She drew the bit from her mouth,
[15:13] Speaker 1: and taking water in her hand, sprinkled the mule. Therewith, saying, O,
[15:18] Speaker 1: my daughter quit this shape for that form wherein thou
[15:21] Speaker 1: wast aforetime. Upon this she was straightway restored to her
[15:26] Speaker 1: original semblance, and the two women embraced and kissed each other.
[15:31] Speaker 1: So King Badr Basim knew that the old woman was
[15:34] Speaker 1: Queen Lab's mother, and that he had been tricked and
[15:37] Speaker 1: would have fled. When lo, the old woman whistled a
[15:41] Speaker 1: loud whistle, and her caw was obeyed by an effort
[15:44] Speaker 1: as he were a great mountain whereat. Badir was affrighted
[15:48] Speaker 1: and stood still. Then the old woman mounted on the
[15:51] Speaker 1: Iffrit's back, taking her daughter behind her, and King Badr
[15:55] Speaker 1: Basim before her, and the effort flew off with them.
[15:59] Speaker 1: Nor was at a full hour ere there were in
[16:01] Speaker 1: the palace of Queen lad who sat down on the
[16:04] Speaker 1: throne of kingship and said to Badir gallows bird, that
[16:09] Speaker 1: thou art now am I come hither and have attained
[16:13] Speaker 1: to that I desired? And soon will I show thee
[16:16] Speaker 1: how I will do with thee and with yonder, O
[16:18] Speaker 1: man the grocer, how many favors have I shown him?
[16:23] Speaker 1: Yet he clothed me frowardness, for thou hast not attained
[16:27] Speaker 1: thine inn, but by means of him. Then she took
[16:30] Speaker 1: water and sprinkled him therewith, saying, quit the shape wherein
[16:34] Speaker 1: thou art for the form of a foul favored fowl,
[16:38] Speaker 1: the foulus of all fowls. And she set him in
[16:42] Speaker 1: a cage and cut off from him meat and drink.
[16:45] Speaker 1: But one of her women, seeing this cruelty, took compassion
[16:49] Speaker 1: on him and gave him food and water without her knowledge.
[16:53] Speaker 1: One day, the damsel took her mistress at unawares, and,
[16:57] Speaker 1: going forth the palace, repaired to the old grocer, to
[17:00] Speaker 1: whom she told the whole case, saying, Queen lab is
[17:04] Speaker 1: minded to make an end of thy brother's son. The
[17:07] Speaker 1: shykh thanked her and said, there is no help but
[17:10] Speaker 1: that I take the city from her and make thee
[17:13] Speaker 1: queen thereof in her stead. Then he whistled a loud whistle,
[17:17] Speaker 1: and there came forth to him an effort with four wings,
[17:21] Speaker 1: to whom he said, take up this damsel and carry
[17:24] Speaker 1: her to the city of Julnar the sea born and
[17:27] Speaker 1: her mother Parishah, for they twain are the most powerful
[17:31] Speaker 1: magicians on face of earth. And he said to the damsel,
[17:34] Speaker 1: when thou comest thither, tell them that King bad Der
[17:38] Speaker 1: Bassim is Queen Lab's captive. Then the effort took up
[17:42] Speaker 1: his load, and, flying off with her, in a little while,
[17:45] Speaker 1: set her down upon the terrace roof of Queen Julnar's palace.
[17:49] Speaker 1: So she descended, and, going into the queen, kissed the
[17:52] Speaker 1: earth and told her what had passed to her son
[17:55] Speaker 1: first and last. Whereupon Julnar rose to her and entreated
[17:59] Speaker 1: her with honor and thanked her. Then she let beat
[18:02] Speaker 1: the drums of the city and acquainted her lieges and
[18:05] Speaker 1: the lords of her realm with the good news that
[18:08] Speaker 1: King Badar Bassim was found. After which she and her
[18:11] Speaker 1: mother Parishah and her brother Sali assembled all the tribes
[18:15] Speaker 1: of the Djen and the troops of the main, for
[18:18] Speaker 1: the kings of the Jen obeyed them since the taking
[18:21] Speaker 1: of King al Salmandal. Presently they all flew up into
[18:25] Speaker 1: the air, and, lighting down on the city of the Sorceress,
[18:28] Speaker 1: sacked the town and the palace and slew all the
[18:31] Speaker 1: unbelievers therein in the twinkling of an eye. Then said
[18:35] Speaker 1: Julnar to the damsel, where is my son? And the
[18:39] Speaker 1: slave girl brought her the cage, and, signing to the
[18:42] Speaker 1: bird wherein cried, this is thy son. So Julnar took
[18:46] Speaker 1: him forth from the cage and sprinkled him with water, saying,
[18:50] Speaker 1: quit this shape for the form wherein thou wast aforetime,
[18:54] Speaker 1: nor had she made an end of her speech. Ere
[18:56] Speaker 1: he shook and became a man as before. Whereupon his mother,
[19:00] Speaker 1: seeing him restored to human shape, embraced him, and he
[19:04] Speaker 1: wept with sore. Weeping on likewise did his uncle Sali,
[19:08] Speaker 1: and his grandmother, and the daughters of his uncle, and
[19:11] Speaker 1: fell to kissing his hands and feet. Then Julnar sent
[19:15] Speaker 1: for shaykh Abdallah, and, thanking him for his kind dealing
[19:18] Speaker 1: with her son, married him to the damsel whom he
[19:21] Speaker 1: had despatched to her with news of him, and made
[19:24] Speaker 1: him king of the city. Moreover, she summoned those who
[19:28] Speaker 1: survived of the citizens, and they were Moslems, and made
[19:32] Speaker 1: them swear failty to him and take the oath of loyalty,
[19:35] Speaker 1: where too they replied, hearkening and obedience. Then she and
[19:40] Speaker 1: her company farewelled him and returned to their own capital.
[19:44] Speaker 1: The towns folk came out to meet them with drums beating,
[19:48] Speaker 1: and decorated the place three days and held high festival
[19:52] Speaker 1: of the greatness of their joy for the return of
[19:54] Speaker 1: their king bad dear Bassim. After this, Badir said to
[19:58] Speaker 1: his mother, O, my mother, naught remains but that I
[20:02] Speaker 1: marry and we be all united. She replied, right is
[20:06] Speaker 1: thy read O, my son, But wait till we ask
[20:09] Speaker 1: who befitteth THEE. Among the daughters of the kings, and
[20:13] Speaker 1: his grandmother Parashah and the daughters of both his uncles,
[20:16] Speaker 1: said O, by dear Basim, we will help THEE to
[20:19] Speaker 1: win thy wish. Forthright then each of them arose and
[20:23] Speaker 1: fared forth, questing in the lands, whilst Julnar sent out
[20:26] Speaker 1: her waiting women on the necks of ifrits, bidding them
[20:30] Speaker 1: leave not a city nor a king's palace, without noting
[20:33] Speaker 1: all the handsome girls that were therein But when King
[20:37] Speaker 1: by dear Basim saw the trouble they were taking in
[20:39] Speaker 1: this matter, he said to Julnar, O, my mother, leave
[20:43] Speaker 1: this thing, for none will content me save Jehara, daughter
[20:47] Speaker 1: of King al Samandal, for that she is indeed a
[20:50] Speaker 1: jewel according to her name, replied Julnar, I know that
[20:55] Speaker 1: which thou seekest, and bade forthright bring al Samandal the king.
[21:00] Speaker 1: As soon as he was present, she sent for bad
[21:02] Speaker 1: Dear Basim and acquainted him with the king's coming, whereupon
[21:06] Speaker 1: he went in to him. Now, when al Samandal was
[21:09] Speaker 1: aware of his presence, he rose to him and saluted
[21:12] Speaker 1: him and bade him welcome. And King bad Dear Basim
[21:15] Speaker 1: demanded of him his daughter Jehara in marriage. Quoth he,
[21:19] Speaker 1: she is thine handmaid and at thy service and disposition,
[21:23] Speaker 1: and despatched some of his suite, bidding them seek her abode,
[21:27] Speaker 1: and after telling her that her sire was in the
[21:29] Speaker 1: hands of King bad Dear Basim, to bring her forthright.
[21:33] Speaker 1: So they flew up into the air and disappeared. And
[21:36] Speaker 1: they returned after a while with the princess, who, as
[21:40] Speaker 1: soon as she saw her father, went up to him
[21:42] Speaker 1: and threw her arms round his neck. Then, looking at her,
[21:45] Speaker 1: he said, O, my daughter, know that I have given
[21:49] Speaker 1: thee in wedlock to this magnanimous, sovereign and valiant lion
[21:53] Speaker 1: King bad Dear Basim, son of Queen Junar the Sea born.
[21:57] Speaker 1: For that he is the goodliest of the folk of
[21:59] Speaker 1: his day, and most powerful, and the most exalted of
[22:02] Speaker 1: them in degree, and the noblest in rank. He befitteth
[22:06] Speaker 1: none but THEE, and thou none but him, answered she,
[22:10] Speaker 1: I may not gainsay thee, O, my sire, do as
[22:13] Speaker 1: thou wilt, for indeed, chagrin and despite are at an end,
[22:17] Speaker 1: and I am one of his handmaids. So they summoned
[22:21] Speaker 1: the Kazi and the witnesses, who drew up the marriage
[22:23] Speaker 1: contract between King Bay Dear Basim and the Princess Jehara,
[22:28] Speaker 1: And the citizens decorated the city and beat the drums
[22:31] Speaker 1: of rejoicing, and they released all who were in the jails,
[22:34] Speaker 1: whilst the king clothed the widows and orphans, and bestowed
[22:38] Speaker 1: robes of honor upon the lords of the realm and
[22:41] Speaker 1: emirs and grandees. And they made bride feast and held
[22:44] Speaker 1: high festival night and morn ten days, at the end
[22:48] Speaker 1: of which time they displayed the bride in nine different
[22:51] Speaker 1: dresses before King by Dear Basim, who bestowed an honorable
[22:55] Speaker 1: robe upon King al Samandal and sent him back to
[22:59] Speaker 1: his country and people and kinsfolk. And they ceased not
[23:02] Speaker 1: from living the most delectable of life and the most
[23:05] Speaker 1: solaceful of days, eating and drinking and enjoying every luxury,
[23:09] Speaker 1: till there came to them the destroyer of delights and
[23:12] Speaker 1: the sunderer of societies. And this is the end of
[23:16] Speaker 1: their story. May Allah have mercy on them all moreover,
[23:20] Speaker 1: o auspicious King. A tale is also told anit king
[23:25] Speaker 1: Mohammed bin Sabaik and the merchant Hassan. There was once,
[23:29] Speaker 1: in days of yore, and in ages and times long
[23:32] Speaker 1: gone before, a king of the kings of the Persians
[23:36] Speaker 1: by name Mohammed bin Sabaik, who ruled over Khurasan land
[23:41] Speaker 1: and used every year to go on razia into the
[23:43] Speaker 1: countries of the miscreants in Hind and sinned in China
[23:48] Speaker 1: and the lands of may war Anar beyond the Oxus
[23:51] Speaker 1: and other regions of the Barbarians, and what not else.
[23:55] Speaker 1: He was a just king, a valiant and a generous
[23:58] Speaker 1: and loved table talk and tales and verses and anecdotes
[24:02] Speaker 1: and histories and entertaining stories and legends of the ancients.
[24:07] Speaker 1: Whoso knew a rare recital and related it to him
[24:10] Speaker 1: in such fashion as to please him. He would bestow
[24:13] Speaker 1: on him a sumptuous robe of honor, and clothe him
[24:16] Speaker 1: from head to foot, and give him a thousand dinars,
[24:20] Speaker 1: and mount him on a horse saddled and bridled, besides
[24:23] Speaker 1: other great gifts. And the man would take all this
[24:26] Speaker 1: and wend his way. Now it chanced that one day
[24:30] Speaker 1: there came an old man before him and related to
[24:33] Speaker 1: him a rare story, which pleased the king and made
[24:36] Speaker 1: him marvel. So he ordered him a magnificent present, amongst
[24:40] Speaker 1: other things, a thousand dinars of Khorazan, and a horse
[24:44] Speaker 1: with its housings and trappings. After this, the fruit of
[24:47] Speaker 1: the King's munificence was blazed abroad in all countries. And
[24:52] Speaker 1: there heard of him a man Assan, the merchant height,
[24:55] Speaker 1: who was a generous, open handed and learned, a scholar,
[24:59] Speaker 1: and an accompani poet. Now the king had an envious wazir,
[25:03] Speaker 1: a maultum in parvo of ill, loving no man rich
[25:07] Speaker 1: nor poor, and whoso came before the King and he
[25:10] Speaker 1: gave him aught, he envied him and said, verily, this
[25:15] Speaker 1: fashion annihilateth wealth and ruineth the land and such is
[25:19] Speaker 1: the custom of the king. But this was naught save
[25:23] Speaker 1: envy and despite in that minister. Presently the King heard
[25:26] Speaker 1: talk of Hasan the merchant, and sending for him, said
[25:30] Speaker 1: to him, as soon as he came into the presence,
[25:33] Speaker 1: O merchant, Hassan, this wazir of mine vexus and thwarteth
[25:37] Speaker 1: me concerning the money I give to poets and boon
[25:41] Speaker 1: companions and story tellers and gleamin. And I would have
[25:45] Speaker 1: THEE tell me a goodly history and a rare story
[25:48] Speaker 1: such as I have never before heard. An it please me.
[25:52] Speaker 1: I will give THEE lands galore with their forts in
[25:55] Speaker 1: free tenure, in addition to thy fifes and untaxed lands,
[26:00] Speaker 1: besides which I will put my whole kingdom in thy hands,
[26:03] Speaker 1: and make THEE my chief Wazir. So shalt thou sit
[26:07] Speaker 1: on my right hand and rule my subjects. But an
[26:10] Speaker 1: thou bring me not that which I bid THEE, I
[26:13] Speaker 1: will take all that is thy hand and banish THEE.
[26:15] Speaker 1: My realm, replied Hassan, hearkening and obedience to our lord
[26:20] Speaker 1: the King. But thy slave beseecheth THEE to have patience
[26:24] Speaker 1: with him a year? Then will he tell Thee a
[26:27] Speaker 1: tale such as thou hast never in thy life heard,
[26:31] Speaker 1: neither hath other than thou heard its like nough to
[26:34] Speaker 1: say a better than it, quoth the King. I grant
[26:38] Speaker 1: THEE a whole year's delay, and he called for a
[26:41] Speaker 1: costly robe of honor, wherein he robed hasan saying, keep
[26:46] Speaker 1: thy house and mount not horse. Neither go nor come
[26:49] Speaker 1: for a year's time, till thou bring me that I
[26:52] Speaker 1: seek of THEE, and thou bring it. Especial favor awaiteth THEE.
[26:56] Speaker 1: An thou mayst count upon that which I have promised THEE.
[27:00] Speaker 1: But an thou bring it not, Thou art not of us,
[27:03] Speaker 1: nor are we of THEE. And Shahrazad perceived the dawn
[27:07] Speaker 1: of day and ceased, saying her permitted say. End of
[27:12] Speaker 1: section forty. Recording by Pam Castile

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