The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night — Volume 08 (of 10)
General
The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night — Volume 08 (of 10)
Fairy tales; Tales -- Arab countries
[FN#144] Arab. "Himŕ," a word often occurring in Arab poetry, domain,
a pasture or watered land forcibly kept as far as a dog's bark would
sound by some masterful chief like "King Kulayb." (See vol. ii. 77.)
This tenure was forbidden by Mohammed except for Allah and the Apostle
(i.e. himself). Lane translates it "asylum."
[FN#145] She was a maid and had long been of marriageable age.
[FN#146] The young man had evidently "kissed the Blarney stone"; but
the flattery is the more telling as he speaks from the heart.
[FN#147] "Inshallah " here being= D. V.
[FN#148] i.e. The "Place of Light" (Pharos), or of Splendour. Here we
find that Hasan's wife is the youngest sister, but with an
extraordinary resemblance to the eldest, a very masterful young person.
The anagnorisis is admirably well managed.
[FN#149] i.e. the sweetmeats of the feast provided for the returning
traveller. The old woman (like others) cannot resist the temptation of
a young man's lips. Happily for him she goes so far and no farther.
[FN#150] The first, fourth, fifth and last names have already
occurred: the others are in order, Star o' Morn, Sun of Undurn and
Honour of Maidenhood. They are not merely fanciful, but are still used
in Egypt and Syria.
[FN#151] Arab. "Fájirah" and elsewhere "Áhirah," =whore and strumpet
used often in loose talk as mere abuse without special meaning.
[FN#152] This to Westerns would seem a most improbable detail, but
Easterns have their own ideas concerning "Al-Muhabbat al-ghariziyah"
=natural affection, blood speaking to blood, etc.
[FN#153] One of the Hells (see vol. iv. 143). Here it may be
advisable to give the names of the Seven Heavens (which are evidently
based upon Ptolemaic astronomy) and which correspond with the Seven
Hells after the fashion of Arabian system-mania. (1) Dar al-Jalál
(House of Glory) made of pearls; (2) Dár al-Salám (of Rest), rubies and
jacinths; (3) Jannat al-Maawá (Garden of Mansions, not "of mirrors," as
Herklots has it, p. 98), made of yellow copper; (4) Jannat al-Khuld (of
Eternity), yellow coral; (5) Jannat al-Na'ím (of Delights), white
diamond; (6) Jannat al-Firdaus (of Paradise), red gold; and (7) Jannat
al-'Adn (of Eden, or Al-Karár= of everlasting abode, which some make
No. 8), of red pearls or pure musk. The seven Hells are given in vol.
v. 241; they are intended for Moslems (Jahannam); Christians (Lazŕ);
Jews (Hutamah); Sabians (Sa'ir); Guebres (Sakar); Pagans or idolaters
(Jahím); and Hypocrites (Háwiyah).
[FN#154] Arab. "'Atb," more literally= "blame," "reproach."
[FN#155] Bresl. Edit. In the Mac. "it returned to the place whence I
had brought it"—an inferior reading.
[FN#156] The dreams play an important part in the Romances of
Chivalry, e.g. the dream of King Perion in Amadis de Gaul, chapt. ii.
(London; Longmans, 1803).
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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