The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night — Volume 07 (of 10) — John Shaqi
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
She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Mura’ash
and his men found salvation in the Saving Faith, Al-Islam, he called
for Gharib and Sahim and kissed them between the eyes and so did all
the Grandees who crowded to buss their hands and heads. Then Mura’ash
sat down on the throne of his kingship and, seating Gharib on his right
and Sahim on his left hand, said to them, “O mortals, what shall we
say, that we may become Moslems?” Replied Gharib, “Say:—There is no
god but _the_ God, and Abraham is the Friend of God!” So the King and
his folk professed Al-Islam with heart and tongue, and Gharib abode
with them awhile, teaching them the ritual of prayer. But presently he
called to mind his people and sighed, whereupon quoth Mura’ash,
“Verily, trouble is gone and joy and gladness are come.” Quoth Gharib,
“O King, I have many foes and I fear for my folk from them.” Then he
related to him his history with his brother Ajib from first to last,
and the King of the Jinns said, “O King of men, I will send one who
shall bring thee news of thy people, for I will not let thee go till I
have had my fill of thy face.” Then he called two doughty Marids, by
name Kaylaján and Kúraján, and after they had done him homage, he bade
them repair to Al-Yaman and bring him news of Gharib’s army. They
replied, “To hear is to obey,” and departed. Thus far concerning the
brothers; but as regards the Moslems, they arose in the morning and led
by their captains rode to King Gharib’s palace, to do their service to
him; but the eunuchs told them that the King had mounted with his
brother and had ridden forth at peep o’ day. So they made for the
valleys and mountains and followed the track of the Princes, till they
came to the Valley of Springs, where they found their arms cast down
and their two gallant steeds grazing and said, “The King is missing
from this place, by the glory of Abraham the Friend!” Then they mounted
and sought in the valley and the mountains three days, but found no
trace of them; whereupon they began the mourning ceremonies and,
sending for couriers, said to them, “Do ye disperse yourselves about
the cities and sconces and castles, and seek ye news of our King.”
“Harkening and obedience!” cried the couriers, who dispersed hither and
thither each over one of the Seven Climes and sought everywhere for
Gharib, but found no trace of him. Now when the tidings came to Ajib by
his spies that his brother was lost and there was no news of the
missing, he rejoiced and going in to King Ya’arub bin Kahtan, sought of
him aid which he granted and gave him two hundred thousand Amalekites,
wherewith he set out for Al-Yaman and sat down before the city of Oman.
Jamrkan and Sa’adan sallied forth and offered him battle, and there
were slain of the Moslems much folk, so the True Believers retired into
the city and shut the gates and manned the walls. At this moment came
up the two Marids Kaylajan and Kurajan and, seeing the Moslem
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