Arabs -- Folklore; Fairy tales -- Arab countries; Tales -- Arab countries
Having written this, he gave it to the Jew, who put it in his
pocket-book, and they separated; Isaac pursuing his way to the city,
and Bedreddin Hassan that which led to the tomb of his father,
Noureddin Ali. When he had reached it, he prostrated himself with
his face towards the earth; and, bathed in tears, began to lament
his miserable fate. “Alas!” said he, “unfortunate Bedreddin,
what will become of thee? Where will thou go to seek an asylum from
the unjust prince who persecutes thee? Was it not affliction enough
to lose a father so dear? Why would fortune add another grief to
those thou hast already suffered?” He remained a considerable time
in this state; but at length he arose, and leaning his head on his
father’s sepulchre, he renewed his lamentations, and continued to
weep and sigh, until overtaken by sleep, he laid himself down on the
pavement, where he fell into a gentle slumber.
He scarcely tasted the sweets of repose, when a Genius, who had
chosen this cemetery as his retreat during the day, preparing to
begin his nightly excursions, perceived this young man in the tomb
of Noureddin Ali. He entered, and as Bedreddin lay on his back he
was struck with admiration of his beauty, and having examined him
attentively for some time, he said to himself, “To judge of this
creature by his countenance, it can only be an angel sent by God
from the terrestrial paradise, to inflame the world with his
beauty.” After he had considered him again, he rose into the air,
where by chance he met a fairy. They saluted each other, after which
he said, “I entreat you to descend with me to the cemetery where I
live, and I will show you a prodigy in beauty, who is no less worthy
of your admiration than of mine.” The fairy consented, and they
both instantly descended: when they were in the tomb, the Genius,
showing her Bedreddin, “Well,” said he, “did you ever see so
handsome a youth as this?”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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