The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night — Volume 03 (of 10)
General
The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night — Volume 03 (of 10)
Fairy tales; Tales -- Arab countries
Jerusalem folk had paid the cameleer money to transport the stranger to
Damascus, and he had taken it and fled after casting his charge upon
the midden by the side of the ash-heap of the Hammam. But when he
ended his words, Sultan Kanmakan took his sword forthright and cut off
his head, saying, "Praised be Allah who hath given me life, that I
might requite this traitor what he did with my father, for I have heard
this very story from King Zau al-Makan himself." Then the Kings said
each to other, "It remaineth only for us to wreak our revenge upon the
old woman Shawahi, yclept Zat al-Dawahi, because she is the prime cause
of all these calamities and cast us into adversity on this wise. Who
will deliver her into our hands that we may avenge ourselves upon her
and wipe out our dishonour?" And King Rumzan said, "Needs must we bring
her hither." So without stay or delay he wrote a letter to his
grandmother, the aforesaid ancient woman, giving her to know therein
that he had subdued the kingdoms of Damascus and Mosul and Irak, and
had broken up the host of the Moslems and captured their princes,
adding, "I desire thee of all urgency to come to me, bringing with thee
Queen Sophia, daughter of King Afridun, and whom thou wilt of the
Nazarene chiefs, but no armies; for the country is quiet and wholly
under our hand." And when she read the letter and recognised the
handwriting of King Rumzan, she rejoiced with great joy and forthright
equipping herself and Queen Sophia, set out with their attendants and
journeyed, without stopping, till they drew near Baghdad. Then she
foresent a messenger to acquaint the King of her arrival, whereupon
quoth Rumzan, "We should do well to don the habit of the Franks and
fare forth to meet the old woman, to the intent that we may be assured
against her craft and perfidy." Whereto Kanmakan replied, "Hearing is
consenting." So they clad themselves in Frankish clothes and, when
Kuzia Fakan saw them, she exclaimed, "By the truth of the Lord of
Worship, did I not know you, I should take you to be indeed Franks!"
Then they sallied forth with a thousand horse, King Rumzan riding on
before them, to meet the old woman. As soon as his eyes fell on hers,
he dismounted and walked towards her and she, recognizing him,
dismounted also and embraced him, but he pressed her ribs with his
hands, till he well nigh broke them. Quoth she, "What is this, O my
son?" But before she had done speaking, up came Kanmakan and Dandan;
and the horsemen with them cried out at the women and slaves and took
them all prisoners. Then the two Kings returned to Baghdad, with their
captives, and Rumzan bade them decorate the city which they did for
three days, at the end of which they brought out the old woman Shawahi,
highs Zat al- Dawahi, with a peaked red turband of palm-leaves on her
head, diademed with asses' dung and preceded by a herald proclaiming
aloud, "This is the reward of those who presume to lay hands on Kings
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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