The Thousand and One Nights Volume IV Part 18

Daughter if n.o.bles, thou hast reached thy wishes' goal, I trow: In happy presage then rejoice and fear not any woe.

Treasures this very day, will I collect and neath escort Of hors.e.m.e.n and of champions, to Shamikh they shall go.

Brocade and bladders full of musk I will to him despatch And eke white silver and red gold I'll send to him also.

Yea, and a letter neath my hand my wish for ties of kin And for alliance with himself shall give him eke to know; And all endeavour will I use, forthwith, that he thou lov'st Once more with thee may be conjoined, to part from thee no mo.

I, too, have battened upon love and know the taste thereof And can excuse the folk who've quaffed the self-same cup of woe.

Then, returning to his palace, he summoned his Vizier and causing pack him up countless treasure, bade him carry it to King Shamikh and say to him, 'The King is minded to ally himself with thee by marrying Uns el Wujoud, s.h.i.+ne officer, to his daughter. So needs must thou send him with me, that the marriage may be solemnized in her father's kingdom.' And he wrote a letter to King Shamikh, to this effect, and gave it to the Vizier, charging him without fail bring back Uns el Wujoud, on pain of deposition from his office. 'I hear and obey,'

answered the Vizier and setting out forthright, in due course arrived at the court of King Shamikh, to whom he delivered the letter and presents, saluting him in the name of King Dirbas.

When Shamikh read the letter and saw the name of Uns el Wujoud, he burst into tears and said to the Vizier, 'And where is Uns el Wujoud? He went away, and we know not his place of abiding.

Bring him to me, and I will give thee the sum of the presents thou hast brought me, twice told.' And he wept and sighed and groaned, reciting the following verses:

Him whom I loved to me restore; By gold and gifts I set no store.

Nor do I crave largesse, indeed, Of pearls and gems and precious ore.

As 'twere a moon at full, for us, In beauty's heaven he did soar.

Pa.s.sing in wit and grace, gazelles With him comparison gave o'er.

His shape was as a willow-wand, For fruits that sweet seductions bore; But in the willow, to enslave The hearts of men, there is no lore.

I reared him from a child upon The bed of fondness evermore; And now I am at heart distraught For him and sorrow pa.s.sing sore.

Then said he to the Vizier, 'Go back to thy master and tell him that Uns el Wujoud has been missing this year past, and his lord knoweth not whither he is gone nor hath any news of him.'

'O my lord,' answered King Dirbas's Vizier, 'my master said to me, "An thou come back without him, thou shalt be ousted from the Vizierate and shall not enter my city." How then can I return without him?' So King Shamikh said to his Vizier Ibrahim, 'Take a company and go with him and make search for Uns el Wujoud everywhere.' 'I hear and obey,' answered Ibrahim, and taking a company of his own retainers, set out in quest of Uns el Wujoud, accompanied by King Dirbas's Vizier; and as often as they fell in with Bedouins or others, they enquired at them of Uns el Wujoud, saying, 'Have ye seen a man, whose name is so and so and his favour thus and thus?' But they answered, 'We know him not.'

So they fared on, enquiring in city and hamlet and seeking in hill and plain and desert and wold, till they came to the sea-sh.o.r.e, where they took s.h.i.+p and sailed, till they came to the Mountain of the Bereaved Mother; and King Dirbas's Vizier said to Ibrahim, 'Why is this mountain thus called?' 'There was once of old time,' answered the other Vizier, 'a Jinniych, of the Jinn of China, who fell pa.s.sionately in love with a man and being in fear of her own people, searched all the earth for a place, where she might hide him from them, till she happened on this mountain and finding it inaccessible both to men and Jinn, carried off her beloved and lodged him therein. There she used to visit him privily, till she had borne him a number of children, and the merchants, sailing by the mountain, in their voyages over the sea, heard the weeping of the children, as it were the wailing of a woman who had lost her young, and said, "Is there here a mother bereaved of her children?" For which reason the place was named the Mountain of the Bereaved Mother.' And King Dirbas's Vizier marvelled at this.

Then they landed and making for the castle, knocked at the gate, which was opened to them by an eunuch, who knew the Vizier Ibrahim and kissed his hands. Ibrahim entered and finding in the courtyard, among the serving men, a man in the habit of a fakir,[FN#82] said. 'Whence comes yonder fellow?' Quoth they, 'He is a merchant, who hath lost his goods by s.h.i.+pwreck, but saved himself on a plank; and he is an ecstatic.'[FN#83] Now this was none other than Uns el Wujoud, [but the Vizier knew him not]; so he left him and went on into the castle. He found there no trace of his daughter and questioned her women, who answered, 'She abode with us but a little while and went away, how and whither we know not.' Whereupon he wept sore and repeated the following verses:

O house, whose birds warbled for joyance whilere And whose sills were resplendent with glory and pride, Till the lover came to thee, bemooning himself For his pa.s.sion, and found thy doors open and wide, Would I knew where my soul is, my soul that was late In a house, where its masters no longer abide!

Therein were all things that are costly and rich And with suits of brocade it was decked, like a bride.

Yea, happy and honoured its doorkeeper were. Would G.o.d I knew whither its mistress hath tried!

Then he wept and sighed and bemoaned himself, exclaiming, 'There is no resource against the ordinance of G.o.d neither is there any escape from that which He hath decreed!' Then he went up to the roof and finding the strips of Baalbek stuff tied to the battlements and hanging down to the ground, knew that she had descended thence and had fled forth, as one distracted and mad with pa.s.sion. Presently, he turned and seeing there two birds, an owl and a raven, deemed this an ill omen; so he groaned and recited these verses:

Unto the loved ones' stead I came, as hoping, by their sight, To quench the fire that burnt in me of love-longing and woe; But no beloved found I there, nor aught, indeed, I found, Save two ill-omened ones, an owl And eke a corby-crow.

And quoth the tongue o' the case to me, "Thou hast been tyrannous And hast two longing lovers torn, the one the other fro!

Taste of the anguish, then, of love what thou hast made them taste And live, 'twixt agony and tears, in sorrow evermo."

Then he descended, weeping, and bade the servants go forth and search the island for their mistress; so they sought for her, but found her not. As for Uns el Wujoud, when he was certified that Rose-in-bud was indeed gone, he gave a great cry and fell down in a swoon, nor came to himself for a long time, whilst the folk deemed that a ravishment from the Merciful One had taken him and that he was absorbed in contemplation of the splendour of the majesty of the Requiter of good and evil.

Then, despairing of finding Uns el Wujoud and seeing that Ibrahim was distracted for the loss of his daughter, King Dirbas's Vizier addressed himself to return to his own country, for all he had not attained the object of his journey, and said to Ibrahim? 'I have a mind to take yonder fakir with me; it may be G.o.d, for his sake, will incline the King's heart to me, for that he is a holy man; and after, I will send him to Ispahan, which is near our country.' 'Do &as thou wilt,' answered Ibrahim.

So they took leave of one another and departed, each for his own country, King Dirbas's Vizier carrying with him Uns el Wujoud, who was still insensible. They bore him with them on muleback, unknowing if he were carried or not, for three days, at the end of which time he came to himself and said, 'Where am I?' 'Thou art in company with King Dirbas's Vizier,' answered they and went and told the latter, who sent him rose-water and sherbet of sugar, of which they gave him to drink and restored him. Then they fared on till they drew near King Dirbas's capital and the King, being advised of his Vizier's coming, wrote to him, saying, 'An Uns el Wujoud be not with thee, come not to me ever.'

When the Vizier read the royal mandate, it was grievous to him, for he knew not that Rose-in-bud was with the King nor why he had sent him in quest of Uns el Wujoud, neither knew he that the fakir he had with him was Uns el Wujoud himself; and the latter in like manner knew not whither they were bound nor that the Vizier had been despatched in quest of himself. So, when he saw him thus chagrined, he said to him, 'What ails thee?' And he answered, 'I was sent by the King on an errand, which I have not been able to accomplish. So, when he heard of my return, he wrote to me? saying, "Enter not my city, except thou have fulfilled my need."' 'And what is the King's need?' asked Uns el Wujoud. So the Vizier told him the case, and he said, 'Fear nothing, but go boldly to the King and take me with thee; and I will be surety to thee for the coming of Uns el Wujoud.'

At this the Vizier rejoiced and said, 'Is this true that thou sayest?' 'Yes,' answered he; whereupon the Vizier mounted and carried him to King Dirbas, who said to him, 'Where is Uns el Wujoud?' 'O King,' answered the young man, 'I know where he is.' So the King called him to him and said, 'Where?' 'Near at hand, replied Uns d Wujoud. 'Tell me what thou wouldst with him, and I will fetch him to thee.' 'With all my heart,'

answered the King; 'but the case calls for privacy.'

So he bade the folk withdraw and, carrying Uns el Wujoud into his closet, told him the whole story; whereupon quoth the youth, 'Clothe me in rice apparel, and I will eftsoons bring Uns el Wujoud to thee.' So they brought him a sumptuous dress, and he donned it and said, 'I am the Delight of the World[FN#84]

and the Mortification of the Envious.' So saying, he transfixed ail hearts with his glances and recited the following verses:

My loved one's memory cheers me still in this my solitude And doth wanhope from me away, as I in absence brood.

I have no helper but my tears; yet, when from out mine eyes They flow, they lighten my despair and ease my drearihood.

Sore is my longing; yea, it hath no like and my affair In love and pa.s.sion's marvellous, beyond all likelihood.

I lie the night long, wakeiul-eyed,--no sleep is there for me,--And pa.s.s, for love, from heaven to h.e.l.l, according to my mood.

Yea, patience fair some time I had, but have it now no more; And longing and chagrin increase upon me, like a flood.

Indeed, my body's worn to nought, for severance from her; Yearnings my aspect and my form to change have all subdued.

Mine eyelids ulcerated are with weeping, nor can I Avail to stay the constant tears, wherewith they're still bedewed.

Indeed, I can no more; my strength, my very vitals fail. How many sorrows have I borne, on sorrows still renewed!

My heart and head are grizzled grown, for loss of a princess In beauty, sure, the fairest maid that ever lover wooed.

In her despite, our parting was, for no desire hath she Save to be joined with me and feed once more on lovers' food.

I wonder, will my fate to me union vouchsafe with her I cherish, after absence long and stress of lonelihood, And shut the book of severance up, that now is open wide, And blot out troubles from my thought with love's supremest good?

Shall my beloved, in my land, my cup-companion be And sorrow and affliction be by pure delight ensued?

'By Allah,' exclaimed the King, 'ye are, indeed, a pair of true lovers and in the heaven of beauty two s.h.i.+ning stars! Your story is marvellous and your case extraordinary.' Then he told him all that had befallen Rose-in-bud; and Uns el Wujoud said, 'Where is she, O King of the age?' 'She is with me now,'

answered Dirbas and sending for the Cadi and the witnesses, drew up the contract of marriage between her and him. Then he loaded Uns el Wujoud with favours and bounties and sent to King Shamikh, advising him of what had befallen, whereat the latter rejoiced with an exceeding joy and wrote back to him, saying, 'Since the marriage contract hath been drawn up at thy court! it behoves that the wedding and consummation be at mine.' And he made ready camels and horses and men and sent them in quest of the lovers.

When the emba.s.sy reached King Dirbas, he gave the pair great store of treasure and despatched them to King Shamikh's court with an escort of his own troops. The day of their arrival was a notable day, never was seen a greater; for the King a.s.sembled all the singers and players on instruments of music and made banquets and held high festival seven days; and on each day he gave largesse to the folk and bestowed on them sumptuous dresses of honour. Then Uns el Wujoud went in to Rose-in-bud, and they embraced and sat weeping for excess of joy and gladness, whilst she recited the following verses:

Gladness is come, dispelling grief and putting care aside; We are united now and have our enviers mortified.

The fragrant breeze of union blows fresh and sweet for us, Whereby our bodies, vitals, hearts are all revivified.

The splendour of fulfilled delight in all its glory s.h.i.+nes, And for glad tidings beat the drums about us far and wide.

Think not we weep for stress Of grief or for affliction; nay, It is for joy our tears flow down and will not be denied.

How many terrors have we seen, that now are past away! Yet we each agonizing strait did patiently abide.

In one hour of delight have we forgotten all the woes, Whose stresses made us twain, whilom, grey-haired and hollow-eyed.

Then they clipped each other and ceased not from their embrace, till they fell down in a swoon, for the ecstasy of reunion; and when they came to themselves, Uns d Wujoud recited these verses:

Ah, how peerlessly sweet are the nights of delight, When the loved one to me keeps the troth she did plight, When enjoyment enjoyment ensues and the bonds Of estrangement between us are sundered outright, And fortune is come to us, favouring and fair, After turning away with aversion and spite!

Fair fortune hath set up her standards for us And we drink from her hand a cup pure of affright.

United, our woes each to each we recount And the nights when in torments we watched for the light.

But now, O my lady, forgotten have we Our griefs, and G.o.d pardon the past its upright!

How pleasant, how lovesome, how joyous is life! Enjoyment my pa.s.sion doth only excite.

Then they gave themselves up anew to the pleasures of the nuptial bed and pa.s.sed seven whole days thus, carousing and conversing and reciting verses and telling pleasant tales and anecdotes, in the intervals of amorous dalliance; for so drowned were they in the sea of pa.s.sion, that they knew not night from day and it was to them, for very stress of joy and gladness and pleasure and delight, as if the seven days were but one day, and that without a morrow. Nor did they know the seventh day, but by the coming of the singers and players on instruments of music;[FN#85] whereat Rose-in-bud was beyond measure wondered and improvised the following verses:

Despite the enviers' rage and malice of the spy, I've won of him I love my wish to satisfy; Yea, we have crowned our loves with many a close embrace, On cus.h.i.+ons of brocade and silken stuffs piled high Upon a couch full soft, of perfumed leather made And stuffed with down of birds of rarest kind that fly.

Thanks to the honeyed dews of my beloved's lips, Ill.u.s.trious past compare, no need of wine have I.

Yea, for the sweet excess of our fulfilled delight, The present from the past we know, nor far from nigh.

A miracle indeed! Seven nights o'er us have pa.s.sed, Without our taking note of how they flitted by; Till, on the seventh day, they wished us joy and said, "Your union G.o.d prolong to all eternity!"

When she had finished, Uns el Wujoud kissed her, more than a hundred times, and recited the following verses:

O day of pure delight and mutual happiness! The loved one came and set me free from loneliness.

She blest me with the sweets of all her glorious charms, What while her converse filled my spirit with liesse.

She plied me with the wine of amorous delight, Till all my senses failed, for very drunkenness.

Yea, merry each with each we made, together lay, Then fell to wine and did, in song, our cheer express; Nor knew we, of the days that fleeted over us, The present from the past, for very joy's excess.

Fair fall all those that love of ease and twinned delight, And joy to them fulfil its promise none the less!

Ne'er may they know the taste of parting's bitter cup! G.o.d succour them as me He succoured in my stress!

Then they went forth and distributed to the folk alms and largesse of money and raiment and so forth; after which Rose-in-bud bade empty the bath for her and turning to Uns el Wujoud, said to him' 'O solace of my eyes, I have a mind to see thee in the bath; and we will be alone together therein.' He gladly consented to this, and she bade perfume the bath for them with all manner of scented woods and essences and light the candles. Then, of the excess of her contentment, she recited the following Verses:

O thou aforetime of my heart that mad'st prize (And the present for us on the past still relies), Thou, the only companion I crave, for to me None other the want of thy presence supplies, To the bath,--that in midst of h.e.l.l-fire we may see Even Paradise s.h.i.+ning,--come, light of mine eyes!

We will scent it with ambergris, aloes and musk, Till the fragrance in clouds from all quarters arise.