Supplemental Nights to the Book of the Thousand and One Nights — Volume 3 (of 6) Part 2
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Supplemental Nights to the Book of the Thousand and One Nights — Volume 3 (of 6) Part 2
Fairy tales; Tales -- Arab countries
When he visited the King, he excused his absence, saying, “I was on a
journey with my father, but here am I, returned once more.” The King led
him by the hand into the garden, and the wife of the King again
perceiving him she sent for the midwife and demanded of her, “Why do you
mock me again, old woman?” Quoth she, “Have patience with me for three
days, O Queen; this time will be the beginning and the end.” Then she
rode on her pitcher to the island, and asked the young girl, “Has thy
brother brought thee the mirror?” “Yes; but still the rose sings not.”
“Ah, it only sings with its mistress, who is called Arab Zandyk,” and so
saying she departed. Muhammed the Discreet on his return home again
found his sister disconsolate, and in answer to his inquiries she said,
“I desire Arab Zandyk, mistress of the rose and of the mirror, that I
may amuse myself with her when you are absent.”
He at once mounted his horse and rode on till he came to the house of
the ogress. “How fares it with you, mother ogress?” “What do you want
now, Muhammed the Discreet?” “I wish Arab Zandyk, mistress of the rose
and of the mirror.” Quoth the ogress, “Many kings and pashas have not
been able to bring her: she has changed them all into stone; and thou
art small and poor—what will become of thee?” “Only, my dear mother
ogress, show me the way, and I shall bring her, with the permission of
God.” Said the ogress: “Go to the west side of the palace; there you
will find an open window. Bring your horse under the window and then cry
in a loud voice, ‘Descend, Arab Zandyk!’” Muhammed the Wary went
accordingly, halted beneath the window, and cried out, “Descend, Arab
Zandyk!” She looked from her window scornfully and said, “Go away, young
man.” Muhammed the Discreet raised his eyes and found that half of his
horse was changed into stone. A second time cried he in a loud voice,
“Descend, Arab Zandyk!” She insulted him and said, “I tell you, go away,
young man.” He looked again and found his horse entirely enchanted and
half of himself as well. A third time he cried in a loud voice, “I tell
you, descend, Arab Zandyk!” She inclined herself half out of the window,
and her hair fell down to the ground. Muhammed the Discreet seized it,
twined it round his hand, pulled her out, and threw her on the earth.
Then said she, “Thou art my fate, Muhammed the Wary; relinquish thy hold
of my hair, by the life of thy father the King.” Quoth he, “My father is
a fisherman.” “Nay,” she replied, “thy father is the King; by-and-by I
will tell thee his history.” Quoth he, “I will leave hold of your hair
when you have set at liberty the enchanted men.” She made a sign with
her right arm and they were at once set free. They rushed headlong
towards Muhammed the Prudent to take her from him, but some of them
said, “Thanks to him who hath delivered us: do you still wish to take
her from him?” So they left him and went their several ways.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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