Supplemental Nights to the Book of the Thousand and One Nights — Volume 3 (of 6) Part 1
General
Supplemental Nights to the Book of the Thousand and One Nights — Volume 3 (of 6) Part 1
Fairy tales; Tales -- Arab countries
Quoth Dunyazad, “O sister mine, an be thou other than sleepy, do tell us
some of thy pleasant tales,” whereupon Shahrazad replied, “With love and
good will.”——It hath reached me, O King of the Age, that the Sultan, on
sighting his son-in-law, cried to him, “Wherefore, O my child, hast thou
wrought on this wise and sufferest not the jewellers to complete the
Kiosque-window leaving in the pavilion an unfinished place?” Alaeddin
replied, “O King of the Age, I left it not imperfect save for a design
of mine own; nor was I incapable of perfecting it nor could I purpose
that thy Highness should honour me with visiting a pavilion wherein was
aught of deficiency. And, that thou mayest know I am not unable to make
it perfect, let thy Highness deign walk upstairs with me and see if
anything remain to be done therewith or not.” So the Sultan went up with
him and, entering the Kiosque, fell to looking right and left, but he
saw no default at all in any of the windows; nay, he noted that all were
perfect. So he marvelled at the sight and embraced Alaeddin and kissed
him, saying, “O my son, what be this singular feat? Thou canst work in a
single night what in months the jewellers could not do. By Allah, I deem
thou hast nor brother nor rival in this world.” Quoth Alaeddin, “Allah
prolong thy life and preserve thee to perpetuity! thy slave deserveth
not this encomium;” and quoth the King, “By Allah; O my child, thou
meritest all praise for a feat whereof all the artists of the world were
incapable.” Then the Sultan came down and entered the apartments of his
daughter, the Lady Badr al-Budur, to take rest beside her, and he saw
her joyous exceedingly at the glory and grandeur wherein she was; then,
after reposing awhile he returned to his palace. Now Alaeddin was wont
every day to thread the city-streets with his Mamelukes riding a-van and
arear of him showering rightwards and leftwards gold upon the folk; and
all the world, stranger and neighbour, far and near, were fulfilled of
his love for the excess of his liberality and generosity. Moreover he
increased the pensions of the poor Religious and the paupers and he
would distribute alms to them with his own hand; by which good deed, he
won high renown throughout the realm and most of the Lords of the land
and Emirs would eat at his table; and men swore not at all save by his
precious life. Nor did he leave faring to the chase and the Maydan-plain
and the riding of horses and playing at javelin-play[188] in presence of
the Sultan; and, whenever the Lady Badr al-Budur beheld him disporting
himself on the backs of steeds, she loved him much the more, and thought
to herself that Allah had wrought her abundant good by causing to happen
whatso happened with the son of the Wazir and by preserving her
virginity intact for her true bridegroom, Alaeddin.——And Shahrazad was
surprised by the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
Now when it was the Five Hundred and Seventy-third Night,
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account