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
five elders, one after other, imploring their aidance. Thereupon Abd
al-Ruwaysh took inkcase and a sheet of paper and wrote a letter, which
he sealed and gave to Hasan, together with a pouch of perfumed
leather,[FN#116] containing incense and fire-sticks[FN#117] and other
needs, and said to him, "Take strictest care of this pouch, and whenas
thou fallest into any strait, burn a little of the incense therein and
name my name, whereupon I will be with thee forthright and save thee
from thy stress." Moreover, he bade one of those present fetch him an
Ifrit of the Flying Jinn; and he did so incontinently; whereupon quoth
Abu al-Ruwaysh to the fire-drake, "What is thy name!" Replied the
Ifrit, "Thy thrall is hight Dahnash bin Faktash." And the Shaykh said
"Draw near to me!" So Dahnash drew near to him and he put his mouth to
his ear and said somewhat to him, whereat the Ifrit shook his head and
answered, "I accept, O elder of elders!" Then said Abu al-Ruwaysh to
Hasan, "Arise, O my son, mount the shoulders of this Ifrit, Dahnash the
Flyer; but, when he heaveth thee heaven-wards and thou hearest the
angels glorifying God a-welkin with 'Subhána 'lláh,' have a care lest
thou do the like; else wilt thou perish and he too." Hasan replied, "I
will not say a word; no, never;" and the old man continued, "O Hasan,
after faring with thee all this day, to-morrow at peep of dawn he will
set thee down in a land cleanly white, like unto camphor, whereupon do
thou walk on ten days by thyself, till thou come to the gate of a city.
Then enter and enquire for the King of the city; and when thou comest
to his presence, salute him with the salam and kiss his hand: then give
him this scroll and consider well whatso he shall counsel thee." Hasan
replied, "Hearing and obeying," and rose up and mounted the Ifrit's
shoulders, whilst the elders rose and offered up prayers for him and
commended him to the care of Dahnash the Firedrake. And when he had
perched on the Flyer's back the Ifrit soared with him to the very
confines of the sky, till he heard the angels glorifying God in Heaven,
and flew on with him a day and a night till at dawn of the next day he
set him down in a land white as camphor, and went his way, leaving him
there. When Hasan found himself in the land aforesaid with none by his
side he fared on night and day for ten days, till he came to the gate
of the city in question and entering, enquired for the King. They
directed him to him and told him that his name was King Hassún,[FN#118]
Lord of the Land of Camphor, and that he had troops and soldiers enough
to fill the earth in its length and breadth. So he sought audience of
him and, being admitted to his presence, found him a mighty King and
kissed ground between his hands. Quoth the King, "What is thy want?"
Whereupon Hasan kissed the letter and gave it to him. The King read it
and shook his head awhile, then said to one of his officers, "Take this
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