The Arabian Nights: Their Best-known Tales — John Shaqi
The Arabian Nights: Their Best-known Tales
General
The Arabian Nights: Their Best-known Tales
Arabs -- Folklore; Fairy tales; Fairy tales -- Arab countries; Folklore -- Arab countries; Tales -- Arab countries
Prince Perviz was as much afflicted at the death of Prince Bahman as the
princess, but not to waste time in needless regret, as he knew that she
still passionately desired possession of the marvellous treasures, he
interrupted her, saying: "Sister, our regret for our brother is vain;
our lamentations cannot restore him to life; it is the will of God; we
must submit and adore the decrees of the Almighty without searching into
them. Why should you now doubt of the truth of what the holy woman told
you? Do you think she spoke to you of three things that were not in
being, and that she invented them to deceive you who had received her
with so much goodness and civility? Let us rather believe that our
brother's death is owing to some error on his part, or some accident
which we cannot conceive. It ought not therefore to prevent us from
pursuing our object. I offered to go this journey, and am now more
resolved than ever; his example has no effect upon my resolution;
to-morrow I will depart."
The princess did all she could to dissuade Prince Perviz, conjuring him
not to expose her to the danger of losing two brothers; but he was
obstinate, and all the remonstrances she could urge had no effect upon
him. Before he went, that she might know what success he had, he left
her a string of a hundred pearls, telling her that if they would not run
when she should count them upon the string, but remain fixed, that would
be a certain sign he had undergone the same fate as his brother; but at
the same time told her he hoped it would never happen, but that he
should have the delight of seeing her again.
Prince Perviz, on the twentieth day after his departure, met the same
dervish in the same place as his brother Bahman had done before him. He
went directly up to him, and after he had saluted, asked him if he
could tell him where to find the Talking Bird, the Singing Tree, and the
Golden Water. The dervish urged the same remonstrances as he had done to
Prince Bahman, telling him that a young gentleman, who very much
resembled him, was with him a short time before; that, overcome by his
importunity, he had shown him the way, given him a guide, and told him
how he should act to succeed, but that he had not seen him since, and
doubted not but he had shared the same fate as all other adventurers.
"Good dervish," answered Prince Perviz, "I know whom you speak of; he
was my elder brother, and I am informed of the certainty of his death,
but know not the cause." "I can tell you," replied the dervish; "he was
changed into a black stone, as all I speak of have been; and you must
expect the same transformation, unless you observe more exactly than he
has done the advice I gave him, in case you persist in your resolution,
which I once more entreat you to renounce."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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