Arabs -- Folklore; Fairy tales -- Arab countries; Tales -- Arab countries
“No one, prince,” replied the sultan, “deserves greater
commisseration than yourself; nor can any one be more sensible of
your misfortune than I am. A more extraordinary fate can never have
happened to any; and they, who may hereafter compose your history,
will be able to relate an event the most surprising of any hitherto
recorded. One thing only is wanting to complete it, and that is for
you to be revenged: nor will I leave any thing untried to accomplish
it.” The sultan having first informed the prince who he was, and
the reason of his entering the castle, consulted with him on the
best means of affording him a just revenge; and a plan occurred to
the sultan, which he directly communicated. They then agreed upon
the steps it was necessary to take, in order to insure success; and
they deferred the execution of the plan till the following day. In
the mean time, as the night was far advanced, the sultan took some
repose. The young prince, as usual, passed his time in continual
watchfulness; for he was unable to sleep since his enchantment: the
hopes, however slight, which he cherished of being soon relieved
from his sufferings constantly occupied his thoughts.
The sultan rose as soon as it was day; and having concealed his robe
and external dress, which might incumber him, he went to the Palace
of Tears. He found it illuminated by a multitude of torches of white
wax; and a delicious perfume issuing from various beautiful golden
vases, regularly arranged, struck his senses. As soon as he
perceived the bed on which the black was laid, he drew his sabre,
and destroyed, without resistance, the little remains of life in
this wretch. He then dragged the body into the court of the castle,
and threw it into a well. Having done this he returned, and laid
down in the black’s place, hiding his sabre under the covering,
and remained there in order to complete what he projected. The
enchantress arrived soon after: her first business was to go into
the apartment where the king of the Black Isles, her husband, was.
She directly stripped him, and, with unexampled barbarity, began to
inflict upon his shoulders the accustomed number of blows. The poor
prince filled the whole building with his cries, and conjured her in
the most pathetic manner to have pity on him: the wretch, however,
ceased not to beat him till she had completed the hundred. “Thou
hadst no compassion on my lover,” said she, “expect therefore
none from me.” As soon as she had finished, she threw the coarse
garment made of goat-skin over him, and then the robe of brocade.
She next went to the Palace of Tears; and, on entering, began to
renew her lamentations. When she approached the couch where she
thought her lover always remained, she exclaimed, “What cruelty to
have thus destroyed the tranquil joy of so tender and fond a
mistress as I am! Cruel prince, thou reproachest me with being
inhuman, when I make thee feel the effects of my resentment, and has
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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