The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night — Volume 06 (of 10)
General
The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night — Volume 06 (of 10)
Fairy tales; Tales -- Arab countries
She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the eunuch having
put to flight the Emir Othman, the King’s officer, and his men, till
they were driven far from Judar’s gate, returned and sat down on his
chair at the door, caring for none. But as for the Emir and his
company, they returned, discomfited and funded, to King Shams
al-Daulah, and Othman said, “O King of the age, when I came to the
palace gate, I espied an eunuch seated there in a chair of gold and he
was passing proud for, when he saw me approach, he stretched himself at
full length albeit he had been sitting in his chair and entreated me
contumeliously, neither offered to rise to me. So I began to speak to
him and he answered without stirring, whereat wrath get hold of me and
I drew the mace upon him, thinking to smite him. But he snatched it
from me and beat me and my men therewith and overthrew us. So we fled
from before him and could not prevail against him.” At this, the King
was wroth and said, “Let an hundred men go down to him.” Accordingly,
the hundred men went down to attack him; but he arose and fell upon
them with the mace and ceased not smiting them till he had put them to
the rout; when he regained his chair; upon which they returned to the
King and told him what had passed, saying, “O King of the age, he beat
us and we fled for fear of him.” Then the King sent two hundred men
against him, but these also he put to the rout, and Shams Al-Daulah
said to his Minister, “I charge thee, O Wazir, take five hundred men
and bring this eunuch in haste, and with him his master Judar and his
brothers.” Replied the Wazir, “O King of the age, I need no soldiers,
but will go down to him alone and unarmed.” “Go,” quoth the King, “and
do as thou seest suitable.” So the Wazir laid down his arms and donning
a white habit,[FN#304] took a rosary in his hand and set out afoot
alone and unattended. When he came to Judar’s gate, he saw the slave
sitting there; so he went up to him and seating himself by his side
courteously, said to him, “Peace be with thee!”; whereto he replied,
“And on thee be peace, O mortal! What wilt thou?” When the Wazir heard
him say “O mortal,” he knew him to be of the Jinn and quaked for fear;
then he asked him, “O my lord, tell me, is thy master Judar here?”
Answered the eunuch, “Yes, he is in the palace.” Quoth the Minister, “O
my lord, go thou to him and say to him, ‘King Shams Al-Daulah saluteth
thee and biddeth thee honour his dwelling with thy presence and eat of
a banquet he hath made for thee;’” Quoth the eunuch, “Tarry thou here,
whilst I consult him.” So the Wazir stood in a respectful attitude,
whilst the Marid went up to the palace and said to Judar, “Know, O my
lord, that the King sent to thee an Emir and fifty men, and I beat them
and drove them away. Then he sent an hundred men and I beat them also;
then two hundred, and these also I put to the rout. And now he hath
sent thee his Wazir unarmed, bidding thee visit him and eat of his
banquet.
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