Then said he to one of them, ‘Go thou to Hind and Sind and all their provinces and dependencies.’ To another, ‘Go thou to the land of the Persians and to China.’ To the third, ‘Go thou to the land of Khorassan.’ To the fourth, ‘Go thou to Northern Africa and all its coasts and districts.’ And to the fifth, ‘Go thou to Egypt and Syria.’ Moreover, he chose them out an auspicious day and said to them, ‘Set forth this day and be diligent in the accomplishment of my errand and be not slothful, though the quest cost you your lives.’ So they took leave of him and departed, each taking the direction prescribed to him. At the end of four months, four of them returned and told their master that they had searched towns and cities and countries for the thing he sought, but had found nought thereof, wherefore his breast was straitened.

  Meanwhile, the fifth servant journeyed till he came to the land of Syria and entered Damascus, which he found a pleasant and safe city, abounding in trees and streams and fruits and birds chanting the praises of God the One, the All-powerful, Creator of Night and Day. Here he abode some days, enquiring for his master’s desire, but none answered him and he was on the point of departing thence to another place, when he met a young man running and stumbling in his skirts. So he said to him, ‘Whither runnest thou in such haste?’ And he answered, saying, ‘There is an elder here, a man of learning, who every day at this time takes his seat on a stool and relates tales and anecdotes and entertaining stories, whereof never heard any the like; and I am running to get a place near him and fear I shall find no room, because of the much people.’ Quoth the stranger, ‘Take me with thee.’ And the young man said, ‘Make haste.’

  So he shut his door and hastened with him to the place of recitation, where he saw an old man of a bright countenance seated on a stool, holding forth to the people. He sat down near him and addressed himself to listen to his story, till the going down of the sun, when the old man made an end of his tale and the people dispersed from about him; whereupon the messenger accosted him and saluted him, and he returned his salutation and greeted him with the utmost honour and courtesy. Then said the messenger to him, ‘O my lord sheikh, thou art a comely and reverend man, and thy discourse is goodly; but I would fain ask thee of somewhat.’ ‘Ask of what thou wilt,’ replied the old man. Then said the other, ‘Hast thou the story of Seif el Mulouk and Bediya el Jemal?’ ‘And who told thee of this story?’ asked the old man. ‘None told me of it,’ answered the messenger; ‘but I am come from a far country, in quest of this story, and if thou have it and wilt, of thy bounty and charity, impart it to me and make it an alms to me, of the generosity of thy nature, I will pay thee whatever thou askest for its price; for, had I my life in my hand and sacrificed it to thee for this thing, yet were it pleasing to my heart.’ ‘Be of good cheer,’ replied the old man; ‘thou shalt have it; but this is no story that one telleth in the beaten way, nor do I give it to every one.’ ‘By Allah, O my lord,’ cried the other, ‘do not grudge it me, but ask of me what price thou wilt.’ ‘If thou wish for the story,’ replied the old man, ‘give me a hundred dinars and thou shalt have it; but upon five conditions.’

  When the messenger knew that the old man had the story and was willing to sell it to him, he rejoiced with an exceeding joy and said, ‘I will give thee the hundred dinars and ten to boot and take it on the conditions of which thou speakest.’ ‘Then go and fetch the money,’ said the old man, ‘and take that thou seekest.’ So the messenger kissed his hands and returned, joyful and happy, to his lodging, where he laid a hundred and ten dinars in a purse he had by him. As soon as it was morning, he put on his clothes and taking the dinars, repaired to the story-teller, whom he found seated at the door of his house. So he saluted him and the other returned his salute. Then he gave him the money and the old man took it and carrying the messenger into his house, made him sit down. Then he set before him inkhorn and pen and paper and giving him a book, said to him, ‘Write out what thou seekest of the story of Seif el Mulouk from this book.’ So the man fell to work and wrote till he had made an end of his copy, when he read it to the old man, and he corrected it and said to him, ‘Know, O my son, that my conditions are that thou tell not this story in the beaten road nor before women and girls nor to black slaves nor feather-heads nor boys; but read it only before kings and amirs and viziers and men of learning, such as expounders [of the Koran] and others.’ The messenger accepted the conditions and kissing the old man’s hand, took leave of him.

  Then he set out the same day, glad and joyful, and fared on diligently, of the excess of his contentment, for that he had gotten the story of Seif el Mulouk, till he came to his own country, when he despatched his servant to carry the good news to his master and say to him, ‘Thy servant is come back in safety and hath attained his desire and his aim.’ (Now there wanted but ten days of the term appointed between Hassan and the king.) Then he himself went in to him and told him all that had befallen him and gave him the book containing the story of Seif el Mulouk and Bediya el Jemal, whereat Hassan rejoiced with an exceeding joy and bestowed on him all the clothes he had on and gave him ten thoroughbred horses and the like number of camels and mules and three black and ten white slaves.

  Then the messenger rested in his privy chamber, whilst Hassan took the book and copied out the story plainly in his own hand; after which he presented himself before the king and said to him, ‘O king, I have brought thee a story and a rare and pleasant relation, whose like none ever heard.’ When the king heard this, he sent forthright for all the amirs, who were men of understanding, and all the learned doctors and folk of erudition and culture and poets and wits, and Hassan sat down and read the story before the king, who marvelled thereat and approved it, as did all who were present, and they showered gold and silver and jewels upon Hassan. Moreover, the king bestowed on him a sumptuous dress of honour of the richest of his raiment and gave him a great city with its castles and suburbs; and he appointed him one of his chief viziers and seated him on his right hand. Then he caused the scribes write the story in letters of gold and lay it up in his privy treasuries; and whenever, there-afterward, his breast was straitened, he would summon Hassan and he would read him the story, which was as follows:

  John Payne’s translation: detailed table of contents

  Story of Prince Seif el Mulouk and the Princess Bediya el Jemal.

  There was once, of old days and in bygone ages and times, a king in Egypt called Aasim ben Sefwan, a liberal and beneficent prince, venerable and majestic. He owned many cities and strengths and fortresses and troops and warriors and had a vizier named Faris ben Salih, and he and all his subjects worshipped the sun and the fire, instead of the All-powerful King, the Glorious, the Victorious. Now this king was become a very old man, wasted with age and sickness and decrepitude; for he had lived a hundred and fourscore years and had no child, male or female, by reason whereof he was ever in care and concern night and day.

  One day, he was sitting on the throne of his kingship with his amirs and viziers and captains and grandees in attendance on him, according to their wont, in their several stations, and whenever there came in an amir, who had with him a son or two sons, the king envied him and said in himself, ‘Every one of these is happy and rejoiceth in his children, whilst I, I have no child, and to-morrow I shall die and leave my kingdom and throne and lands and treasures, and strangers will take them and none will bear me in memory nor will there abide any remembrance of me in the world.’ Then he became drowned in the sea of melancholy thought and for the much thronging of sorrows and anxieties upon his heart, he shed tears and descending from his throne, sat down upon the ground, weeping and humbling himself [in supplication to God].

  When the vizier saw him do thus, he cried out to the notables of the realm and others who were present in the assembly, saying, ‘Go to your houses and rest till the king recover from that which aileth him.’ So they went away, leaving none in the presence save the vizier, who, as soon as the king came to himself, kissed the earth before him and said, ‘O king of the age, what meaneth this weeping? Tell me who hath transgressed against thee or thwarted thee of the kings or castellans or amirs or grandees, that we may all fall on him and tear his soul from his body.’ But he spoke not neither raised his head; whereupon the vizier kissed the earth before him a second time and said to him, ‘O king of the age, I am even as thy son and thy slave, and indeed I have reared thee on my shoulders; yet know I not the cause of thy grief and chagrin and distress and of this thy case; and who should know but I or who should stand in my stead before thee? Tell me therefore the cause of this thy weeping and affliction.’ Nevertheless, the king spoke not neither opened his mouth nor raised his head, but ceased not to weep and cry aloud and lament with an exceeding lamentation and say, ‘Alas!’

  The vizier took patience with him awhile, after which he said to him, ‘Except thou tell me the cause of this thine affliction, I will slay myself before thine eyes, rather than see thee thus distressed.’ Then King Aasim raised his head and wiping away his tears, said, ‘O vizier of good counsel, leave me to my grief and my affliction, for that which is in my heart of sorrow sufficeth me.’ But Faris said, ‘O king, tell me the cause of thy weeping. It may be God will appoint thee relief at thy hands.’ ‘O vizier,’ replied the king, ‘I weep not for treasure nor horses nor aught else, but that I am become an old man, nigh upon a hundred and fourscore years of age, and have not been blessed with a child, male or female: so, when I die, they will bury me and my trace will be blotted out and my name cut off and strangers will take my throne and kingship and none will have me in remembrance.’

  ‘O king of the age,’ rejoined the vizier, ‘I am older than thou by a hundred years, yet have I never been blest with a child and cease not day and night from care and concern; so how shall we do, I and thou?’ And Aasim said, ‘O vizier, hast thou no device or shift in this matter?’ Quoth the vizier, ‘Know, O king, that I have heard of a king in the land of Seba by name Solomon son of David, who pretendeth to prophetship and [avoucheth that he] hath a mighty Lord who can do all things and whose kingdom is in the heavens and [who hath dominion] over all mankind and birds and beasts and over the wind and the Jinn. Moreover, he knoweth the language of all birds and of all [other] created things; and withal, he calleth all creatures to the worship of his Lord and discourseth to them of their service. So let us send him a messenger in the king’s name and seek of him our desire, beseeching him to make petition to his Lord, that He vouchsafe each of us a child. If his faith be true and his Lord avail to do all things, He will assuredly bless each of us with a child, male or female, and if the thing betide thus, we will enter his faith and worship his Lord; else will we take patience and devise us another shift.’

  Quoth the king, ‘This is well seen, and my heart is lightened by this thy speech; but where shall we find a messenger befitting this grave matter, for that this Solomon is no little king and the approaching him is no light matter? Indeed, I will send him none, on the like of this affair, but thyself, for thou art old and versed in all manner of affairs and the like of thee is the like of myself; wherefore I desire that thou weary thyself and journey to him and occupy thyself diligently with [the accomplishment of] this matter, so haply solace may be at thy hand.’ ‘I hear and obey,’ answered the vizier; ‘but rise thou forthright and seat thyself upon the throne, so the amirs and grandees of the realm and officers and [other] the folk may enter [and apply themselves] to thy service, as of their wont; for they all went forth from thee, troubled at heart on thine account. Then will I go out and set forth on the king’s errand.’

  So the king arose forthright and sat down on the throne of his kingship, whilst the vizier went forth and said to the chief chamberlain, ‘Bid the folk proceed to their service, as of their wont.’ So the troops and captains and notables of the kingdom entered, after they had spread the tables, and ate and drank and withdrew, according to their wont, after which the vizier went out from King Aasim and repairing to his own house, equipped himself for travel and returned to the king, who opened to him the treasuries and provided him with rarities and things of price and rich stuffs and gear without a match, such as nor amir nor vizier could avail to possess. Moreover, he charged him to accost Solomon with reverence, foregoing him with the salutation; ‘then,’ continued he, ‘do thou ask of him thy need, and if he assent, return to us in haste, for I shall be awaiting thee.’ Accordingly, the vizier took the presents and setting out, fared on night and day, till he came within fifteen days’ journey of Seba.

  Meanwhile God (blessed and exalted be He!) spoke unto Solomon and said to him, ‘O Solomon, the King of Egypt sendeth unto thee his chief vizier, with a present of such and such rarities and things of price; so do thou despatch thy vizier Asef ben Berkhiya to him, to receive him with honour and meet him at the halting-places with victual; and when he cometh to thy presence, say to him, “The king [thy master] hath sent thee in quest of this and that and thy business is thus and thus.” Then do thou propound to him the faith.’ Whereupon Solomon bade his vizier take a company of his retainers [and go forth] to meet the Vizier of Egypt with honour and sumptuous provision at the halting-places. So Asef made ready all that was needed for their entertainment and setting out, fared on till he fell in with Faris and saluted him, entreating him and his company with exceeding honour. Moreover, he brought them victual and provender at the halting-places and said to them, ‘Welcome and fair welcome to the coming guests! Rejoice in the certain accomplishment of your desire! Be your souls glad and your eyes solaced and your breasts expanded!’

  Quoth Faris in himself, ‘Who acquainted him with this?’ And he said to Asef, ‘O my lord, and who gave thee to know of us and our errand?’ ‘It was Solomon, son of David (on whom be peace!), told us of this,’ answered Asef. ‘And who,’ asked Faris, ‘told our lord Solomon?’ ‘The Lord of the heaven and the earth told him, the God of all creatures,’ replied Asef. Quoth Faris, ‘This is none other than a mighty God;’ and Asef said, ‘And do ye not worship Him?’ ‘We worship the sun,’ answered Faris, ‘and prostrate ourselves thereto.’ ‘O Vizier Faris,’ said Asef, ‘the sun is but a star of the stars created by God (blessed and exalted be He!). And God forbid that it should be a Lord! For that whiles it appeareth and whiles is absent, but our Lord is [ever] present and never absent and He can do all things.’

  Then they journeyed on awhile till they came to the land of Seba and drew near the throne of Solomon son of David, who commanded his hosts of men and Jinn and beasts to rank themselves in their road. So the beasts of the sea and the elephants and leopards and lynxes [and other beasts of the land] ranged themselves on either side of the way, after their several kinds, whilst the Jinn drew out in two ranks in like manner, appearing all to [mortal] sight, without concealment, in divers gruesome forms. So they lined the road on either hand, and the birds spread out their wings over them, to shade them, warbling one to the other in all manner voices and notes.

  When the people of Egypt came to this terrible array, they were adread of them and dared not proceed; but Asef said to them, ‘Pass on amidst them and fear them not: for they are subjects of Solomon son of David, and none of them will harm you.’ So saying, he entered between the ranks, followed by all the folk and amongst them the Vizier of Egypt and his company, fearful: and they ceased not to fare on till they reached the city, where they lodged the embassy in the guest-house and entertained them sumptuously, entreating them with the utmost honour, for the space of three days.

  Then they carried them before Solomon, prophet of God (on whom be peace!), and they would have kissed the earth before him; but he forbade them, saying, ‘It befits not that a man prostrate himself save to God (to whom belong might and majesty!), Creator of heaven and earth and all other things; wherefore, whosoever of you hath a mind to stand, let him stand, but let none stand to do me worship.’ So they obeyed him and the Vizier Faris and some of his servants sat down, whilst certain of the lesser sort stood to wait on him. When they had sat awhile, the servants spread the tables and they all, men and beasts, ate till they had enough.

  Then Solomon bade Faris expound his errand, that it might be accomplished, saying, ‘Speak and conceal nothing of that on account whereof thou art come; for I know wherefore ye come and what is your errand. It is thus and thus.’ And he told him that which had passed between himself and his master, King Aasim; after which he said to him, ‘Is this that I have told thee the truth, O vizier?’ ‘O prophet of God,’ replied Faris, ‘this thou hast said is indeed truth and verity; but none was with the king and myself, when we discoursed of this matter nor was any ware of our case; who then told thee of all these things?’ ‘My Lord told me,’ answered Solomon, ‘He who knoweth the perfidy of the eye and what is hidden in the breasts.’ Quoth Faris, ‘O prophet of God, verily this is none other than a noble and mighty Lord, able unto all things.’ And he and his company embraced the faith of Islam.

  Then said Solomon to him, ‘Thou hast with thee such and such presents and rarities.’ And Faris answered. ‘Yes.’ Quoth the prophet, ‘I accept them all and give them unto thee. So do ye rest thou and thy company, in the place where you have been lodging, so the fatigue of the journey may cease from you; and to-morrow, thine errand shall be accomplished to the uttermost, if it be the will of God the Most High, Lord of heaven and earth and Creator of all creatures.’

  So Faris returned to his lodging and on the morrow presented himself before the lord Solomon, who said to him, ‘When thou returnest to King Aasim, do ye both go forth to such a place, where ye will find a tree. Mount upon it and sit silent until the mid-hour between the prayer of noon and that of the afternoon, when the mid-day heat hath subsided; then descend and look at the foot of the tree, whence ye will see two serpents issue, one with an ape’s head and the other with a head like that of an Afrit. Shoot them with arrows and kill them; then cut off a span’s length from their heads and the like from their tails and throw it away. The rest of the flesh cook and cook well and give it to your wives to eat: then lie with them that night and by God’s leave, they will conceive and bear male children.’ Moreover, he gave him a ring and a signet and a sword and a wrapper containing a tunic embroidered with gold and jewels, saying, ‘O Vizier Faris, when your sons grow up to man’s estate, give them each two of these things.’ Then said he, ‘In the name of God! May the Most High accomplish your desire! And now nothing remaineth for you but to depart, [relying] on the blessing of God the Most High, for the king looketh for thy return night and day and his eye is ever on the road.’

 

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