The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night — Volume 07 (of 10)
General
The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night — Volume 07 (of 10)
Fairy tales; Tales -- Arab countries
Shahrazad continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that
Sa’adan having broken into the palace of King Jamak and pounded to
pieces those therein, the survivors cried out, “Quarter! Quarter!”; and
Sa’adan said to them, “Pinion your King!” So they bound Jamak and took
him up, and Sa’adan drove them before him like sheep and brought them
to Gharib’s presence, after the most part of the citizens had perished
by the enemy’s swords. When the King of Babel came to himself, he found
himself bound and heard Sa’adan say, “I will sup to-night off this King
Jamak:” whereupon he turned to Gharib and cried to him, “I throw myself
on thy mercy.” Replied Gharib, “Become a Moslem, and thou shalt be safe
from the Ghul and from the vengeance of the Living One who ceaseth
not.” So Jamak professed Al-Islam with heart and tongue and Gharib bade
loose his bonds. Then he expounded The Faith to his people and they all
became True Believers; after which Jamak returned to the city and
despatched thence provaunt and henchmen to Gharib; and wine to the camp
before Babel where they passed the night. On the morrow, Gharib gave
the signal for the march and they fared on till they came to
Mayyáfárikín,[FN#1] which they found empty, for its people had heard
what had befallen Babel and had fled to Cufa-city and told Ajib. When
he heard the news, his Doom-day appeared to him and he assembled his
braves and informing them of the enemy’s approach ordered them make
ready to do battle with his brother’s host; after which he numbered
them and found them thirty thousand horse and ten thousand foot.[FN#2]
So, needing more, he levied other fifty thousand men, cavalry and
infantry, and taking horse amid a mighty host, rode forwards, till he
came upon his brother’s army encamped before Mosul and pitched his
tents in face of their lines. Then Gharib wrote a writ and said to his
officers, “Which of you will carry this letter to Ajib?” Whereupon
Sahim sprang to his feet and cried, “O King of the Age, I will bear thy
missive and bring thee back an answer.” So Gharib gave him the epistle
and he repaired to the pavilion of Ajib who, when informed of his
coming, said, “Admit him!” and when he stood in the presence asked him,
“Whence comest thou?” Answered Sahim, “From the King of the Arabs and
the Persians, son-in-law of Chosroë, King of the world, who sendeth
thee a writ; so do thou return him a reply.” Quoth Ajib, “Give me the
letter;” accordingly Sahim gave it to him and he tore it open and found
therein, “In the name of Allah the Compassionating, the Compassionate!
Peace on Abraham the Friend await! But afterwards. As soon as this
letter shall come to thy hand, do thou confess the Unity of the
Bountiful King, Causer of causes and Mover of the clouds;[FN#3] and
leave worshipping idols. An thou do this thing, thou art my brother and
ruler over us and I will pardon thee the deaths of my father and
mother, nor will I reproach thee with what thou hast done. But an thou
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