The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night — Volume 02 (of 10)
General
The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night — Volume 02 (of 10)
Fairy tales; Tales -- Arab countries
Then each rushed upon the opponent, parrying blows and proving the marvellous
qualities were stored in him; and they fell to drawing on and withdrawing till
the breasts of the bystanders were straitened and they were weary of waiting
for the event. At last Zau al-Makan cried out his war cry and rushed upon
Hardub, King of Cæsarea,[FN#452] and struck him a stroke that shore head from
trunk and slew him on the spot. When the Infidels saw this, they charged in a
body, compact and united, upon Zau al-Makan, who met them amidfield, and they
engaged in hewing and foining, till blood ran in rills. Then the Moslems cried
out, "Allaho Akbar!" (God is most Great) and "There is no god but the God!",
and invoked salvation for the Prophet, the Bringer of Glad Tidings, the Bearer
of Bad Tidings. And there befel a great fight, but Allah assigned victory to
the Faithful and defeat to the Faithless. The Wazir Dandan shouted, "Take your
blood-revenge for King Omar bin al Nu'uman and his son Sharrkan!"; and bared
his head and cried out to the Turks. Now there were by his side more than
twenty thousand horse, and all charged with him as men, when the Faithless
found naught to save their lives but flight. So they turned tail to fly while
the biting sabre wrought its havoc and the Moslems slew of them that day some
fifty thousand horse and took more than that number: much folk also were slain
while going in at the gates, for the flock was great. Then the Greeks hove to
the doors and swarmed up the walls to await the assault; and in fine the Moslem
hosts returned to their tents aided to glory and victory, and King Zau al-Makan
went in to his brother whom he found in most joyous case. So he made a
prostration of thanks to the Bountiful and the Exalted; and then he came
forward and gave Sharrkan joy of his recovery. Answered he, "Verily we are all
under the benediction of this Religious, holy and righteous, nor would you have
been victorious, but for his accepted orisons; indeed all day he remained at
prayer to invoke victory on the Moslems."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of
day and ceased saying her permitted say.
When it was the One Hundred and Fourth 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