Part 9 (1/2)

”After saying this his majesty died, and the younger brother became king; he did not attend to the [late king's] last injunctions; on the contrary, he gave it out that [his nephew was] mad and insane, and put him into a cage, and has placed such strict guards on the four sides of the garden that no bird can there flap its wing; and many a time he has administered to [his nephew] the poison called _halahal_; [373] but his life is stronger and the poison has had no effect. Now the princess and this prince are lover and mistress; she is distracted at home, and he in the cage; she sent him a love-letter by your hands; the spies instantly conveyed intelligence [of this circ.u.mstance]

to the king; a body of Abyssinians were ordered out and treated you thus. The king has consulted his _wazir_ on the means of putting to death this imprisoned prince, and that ungrateful wretch has persuaded the princess to kill the innocent prince with her own hands in the king's presence.'

”I said, 'Let us go, that I may see this scene even in my dying moments.' They at last agreed [to my request], and the two soldiers and myself, though wounded, went to the scene and stood in silence in a retired corner. We saw the king seated on his throne; the princess held in her hand a naked sword; the prince was taken out of the iron cage, and made to stand before [the king]; the princess, becoming an executioner, advanced with the naked sword to kill her lover. When she drew near the prince, she threw away the sword and embraced him. Then that lover said to her, 'I am willing to die thus; here, indeed, I desire thee,--there, also, I shall wish for thee.' [374] The princess said, 'I have come, under this pretext to behold thee.' The king, on seeing this scene, became greatly enraged, and reproached the _wazir_, and said, 'Hast thou brought me here to see this sight?' The [princess's] confidential servant separated the princess from the prince, and conducted her to the seraglio. The _wazir_ took up the sword, and flew with rage at the prince to end with one blow his unfortunate existence. As he lifted up his arm to strike, an arrow from an unknown hand pierced his forehead, so that [his head] was cleft in twain, and he fell down.

”The king, seeing this mysterious event, retired into his palace; and they put the young prince again into the cage, and carried him to the garden; I likewise came out from where I was. On the road, a man called me and conducted me to the princess; seeing me severely wounded, she sent for a surgeon, and enjoined him very strictly, 'cure this young man quickly, and perform the ablution of recovery. Your welfare depends on it; as much care and attention as you bestow on him, so many presents and favours you will receive from me.' In short, the surgeon used his skill and a.s.siduity according to the princess's injunctions, and at the end of forty days, having caused me to be bathed and washed, he presented me to the princess. She asked me, 'Is there now anything else left to be done.' I replied, that through her humanity I was quite recovered. The princess then gave me a rich _khil'at_ and a large sum of money, as she had promised; yea, she even gave me as much more, and then dismissed me.

”I took all my friends and servants with me, and set out from that country [to return home]. When I reached this spot, I desired all of them to return to their native country, and I erected on this hill this building, and got a statue made of the princess. I took up my residence here, and having rewarded my servants and slaves according to their respective merits, I dismissed them, saying, whilst I live, I leave it to you to provide me with food; beyond this act, you are your own masters. They supply me with subsistence from grat.i.tude, and I, with heart at ease, wors.h.i.+p this statue; whilst I live, this will be my sole [care and] employment; these are my adventures which you have just heard.” O, _Darweshes_! on hearing his story, I, having thrown the _kafni_ over my shoulders, and having put on the habit of a pilgrim, set out with extreme desire to see the country of the Franks. After long wandering over mountains and through woods, I began to resemble _Majnun Farhad_.

At last, my strong desire carried me to the same [European] city [where the old statue-wors.h.i.+pper had been]; I wandered through its streets and lanes like a lunatic, and I often remained near the seraglio of the princess; but I could get no opportunity to have an introduction to her. I was greatly vexed that I should not obtain the object for which I had undergone such misery and toil, and come so far. On day, I was standing in the _bazar_ when all at once the people began to run away, and the shopkeepers having shut up their shops, also fled. What crowds there were [a moment before], and how desert the place became [all of a sudden]! I soon perceived a young man rus.h.i.+ng forward from a side street; he was like _Rustam_ in appearance, and roared like a lion; he flourished a naked sword in each hand; he was in armour, with a pair of pistols in his girdle, and kept muttering something to himself like an inebriated maniac; two slaves followed him, clothed in woollen, and bearing on their heads a bier covered with velvet of _Kashan_.

On seeing this sight, I determined to proceed with it; those I met dissuaded me from it, but I would not hear them. Pus.h.i.+ng forward, the young man went towards a grand mansion; I also went along with him. He looked back, and perceiving me, he wished to give me a blow and cut me in two; I swore to him that this was the very thing I wished, saying, ”I forgive you my blood; relieve me by some means or other from the misery of life, for I am grievously afflicted; I have knowingly and voluntarily put myself in your way; do not delay [my execution].” Setting me determined to die, G.o.d infused compa.s.sion into his heart, and his anger cooled, and he asked me with much kindness and gentleness, ”Who art thou and why art thou tired of life?”

I replied, ”Sit down awhile that I may tell you; my story is very long and tedious. I am caught in the claws of love, for which reason I am desperate.” On hearing this, he unfastened his waist band, and having washed his hands and face, he took some food and gave me some likewise. When he finished his meal, he said, ”Say what has befallen thee?” I related all the adventures of the old man and the princess, and the cause of my going there, [i. e. to Europe]. On hearing them he wept at first, and then said, ”What numbers of homes this unfortunate [princess] has ruined! Well, thy cure is in my hands; it is probable that through the means of this guilty being thou wilt attain thy wishes; do not give way to anxiety; be confident.” He then ordered the barber to shave me, and to apply to me the bath; [375] his slave brought me a suit of clothes and dressed me: then the young man said to me, ”This bier which thou seest is that of the late young prince, who was confined in the iron cage; another _wazir_ murdered him at last through treachery; he indeed has obtained release though he has been wrongfully slain. I am his foster brother; I put that _wazir_ to death with a blow of my sword, and made the attempt to kill the king; but he entreated mercy, and swore that he was innocent; I having spurned him as a coward, allowed him to escape. Since then, my occupation has been this, to carry the bier, in this manner, through the city, on the first Thursday of every moon, and to mourn for the [murdered prince].”

On hearing these circ.u.mstances, from his mouth, I attained some consolation, saying, ”If he should wish it, then my desires will be accomplished; G.o.d has favoured me greatly, since he has made such a mad man well inclined towards me; so true is it, that if G.o.d is favourable, all goes well.” When the evening came, and the sun set, the young man took up the bier, and instead of one of the slaves, he put it on my head and took me along with him. He said, ”I am going to the princess, and will plead for thee as much as I am able; do not thou open thy lips, but remain silent and listen.” I replied, ”Whatever you advise, I will strictly do; G.o.d preserve you, for you feel pity on my case.” That young man proceeded towards the royal garden, and when we entered it, I perceived a marble platform of eight sides, in an open s.p.a.ce of the garden, on which was spread an awning of silver tissue with pearl fringe, and erected on poles set with diamonds; a rich brocade _masnad_, with pillows, was spread under the awning. The bier was placed there, and we were both ordered to go and sit under a tree [which he pointed out].

In a short time, the lights of flambeaux appeared, and the princess herself arrived, accompanied by some female attendants before and behind her; melancholy and anger were visible in her looks; she mounted the platform and sat down [on the _masnad_]. The foster-brother stood before her with folded arms, then sat down at a respectable distance on a corner of the _farsh_. The prayer for the dead was read; then the foster-brother said something; I having applied my ear, was listening with attention. At last, he said, ”O princess of the world, peace be upon you! The prince of the kingdom of Persia, hearing, in your absence, of your beauty and excellence, has abandoned his throne, and becoming a pilgrim like _Ibrahim Adham_; [376] he is arrived here, after overcoming many difficulties and undergoing great fatigue. The pilgrim hath quitted _Balkh_ [377] for thee; he hath wandered for some time through this city in distress and misery; at last, forming the resolution to die, he joined me; I attempted to alarm him with my sword; he presented his neck, and conjured me to strike without delay, adding, that was his wish. In short, he is firmly in love with you; I have proved him well, and have found him perfect in every way. For this reason I have mentioned him to you; if you take pity on his case and be kind to him, as he is a stranger, it would not be doing too much [on the part] of one who fears G.o.d and loves justice.”

On hearing this speech, the princess said, ”Where is he? if he is really a prince, then it does not signify, let him come before us.” The foster-brother got up and came [to where I was] and took me with him. I, on seeing the princess, became exceedingly overjoyed, but my reason and my senses departed. I became dumb; I had not power to speak. The princess shortly after returned [to her palace], and the foster-brother came to his own residence. When we reached his house, he said, ”I have related all the circ.u.mstances [you mentioned] to the princess from beginning to end, and have likewise interceded for you; now do you go there every night without fail and indulge in pleasure and joy.” I fell at his feet; [he lifted me up and] clasped me to his bosom. All the day, I continued counting the hours until the evening came, that I might go and see the princess. When the night arrived, I took leave of that young man, and went to the princess's lower garden; I sat down on the marble platform, reclining on my pillow.

A hour after, the princess came slowly, attended by one female servant only, and sat down on the _masnad;_ it was through my happy destinies that I lived to see this day! I kissed her feet; she lifted up my head, and embraced me, and said, ”Conceive this opportunity as fortunate; mind my advice; take me from hence, and go to some other country.” I replied, ”Come along.” After having thus spoken, we both got out of the garden, but we were so confused, through wonder and joy, that we could not use our hands and feet, and we lost our road; we went along, in another direction, but found not a place of rest. The princess got angry, and said, ”I am now tired, where is your house? hasten to get there; otherwise what do you mean to do? My feet are blistered; I shall [be obliged to] sit down somewhere on the road.”

I replied, ”My slave's house is near; we have now reached it; be easy in your mind, and march on.” I indeed told a falsehood, but I was at a loss where to take her. A locked door appeared on the road; I quickly broke the lock, and we entered the place; it was a fine house, laid out with carpets, and flasks full of wine were arranged in the recesses, and bread and roast meat were ready in the kitchen. We were greatly fatigued, and drank each of us, a gla.s.s of Portugal wine with our meat, and pa.s.sed the whole night together in mutual bliss. In this scene of felicity when the morning dawned, an uproar was raised in the town that the princess had disappeared. Proclamations were issued in every district and street; and bawds and messengers were despatched with orders, that wherever she was to be found, she might be seized [and brought to the king]; and guards of royal slaves were posted at all the gates of the city. Those guards received orders not to let an ant pa.s.s without the royal permission; and that whoever would bring any intelligence of the princess should receive a _khil'at_ and a thousand pieces of gold as a present. The bawds roamed through the whole city and entered every house.

I, who was ill fated, did not shut the door. An old hag, the aunt of Satan (may G.o.d make her face black), with a string of beads in her hand, and covered with a mantle, finding the door open, entered without fear, and standing before the princess, lifted up her hands and blessed her, saying, ”I pray to G.o.d that he may long preserve you a married woman, and that thy husband's turban may be permanent! I am a poor beggar woman, and I have a daughter who is in her full time and peris.h.i.+ng in the pains of child-birth; I have not the means to get a little oil which I may burn in our lamp; food and drink, indeed, are out of the question. If she should die, how shall I bury her? and if she is brought to bed, what shall I give the midwife and nurse, or how procure remedies for the lying-in woman? it is now two days since she has lain hungry and thirsty. O, n.o.ble lady! give her, out of your bounty, a morsel of bread that she may eat the same along with a drink of water.”

The princess took pity on her, and called her near her, and gave her four loaves, some roast meat, and a ring from her little finger, saying, ”having sold this, make jewels [for your daughter] and live comfortably; and come occasionally to see me, the house is yours.” The old hag having completely gained the object she came in search of, poured heartfelt blessings on the princess, saluted her and trotted off. She threw away the loaves and meat at the door, but kept the ring snug, saying to herself, ”the clue to trace the princess is now in my possession.” As G.o.d wished to preserve us from this calamity, just then the master of the house arrived; he was a brave soldier, mounted on an Arab horse, with a spear in his hand, and a deer hanging by the side of his saddle. Finding the door of his house open, the lock broken, and the old hag coming out of it, he was enraged, and seized her by the hair and dragged her to the house. He tied both her feet with a rope, and hung her on the branch of a true with her head down and her feet uppermost; so that in a short time the old devil died in agonies. The moment I saw the soldier's looks, I was overcome with such fear that I turned quite pale, and my heart began to tremble with dread. That brave man seeing us both alarmed, gave us a.s.surances of safety, and added, ”You have acted very imprudently; you have done the deed and left the door open.”

The princess, smiling, said, ”The prince said it was the house of his slave, and brought me here under a deception.” The soldier observed, ”The prince said truly, for all the people are the slaves and servants of princes; all are reared and fed from their favour and protection. This slave is yours without purchase; but to conceal secrets is consonant to good sense. O, prince, you and the princess's coming to this humble roof, and honouring me with your presence, will be a source of happiness to me in both worlds; and you have thus dignified your slave. I am ready to sacrifice my life for you; in no way will I withhold either it or my property [from your service]; you may repose here in confidence; there is now no danger. If this vile bawd had gone away in safety, she would have brought calamity [upon you]; remain here now as long as you please, and let this servant know whatever you require; he will procure it. What is the king! angels themselves shall have no tidings of your being here.” The brave fellow spoke such words of comfort, and gave such confidence, that we became more easy in our mind. Then I spoke, ”Well said, you are a brave fellow; when I am able, I will show you the return for this kindness; what is your name?” He answered, ”This slave's name is _Bihzad Khan_. In short, for the s.p.a.ce of six months, he performed from his heart and soul all the duty required, and we pa.s.sed our time very comfortably.

One day, my country and my parents recurred to my recollection, which made me pensive and melancholy. Seeing my thoughtful looks, _Bihzad Khan_ joined his hands together, and stood before me, [378] and began to say, ”If on the part of this slave any failure has occurred in performing his duty, then let the same be stated.” I said, ”For G.o.d's sake, why mention this? you have behaved to us in such a manner, that we have lived in this city as comfortably as any one does in his mother's womb; for I had committed such an act that every individual straw had become my enemy. Who was such a friend to us, that we could have tarried here a moment? May G.o.d preserve you in happiness! You are a brave man.” _Bihzad Khan_ then said, ”If you are tired of this place, I will conduct you in safety wherever you wish to go.” I then said, ”If I could reach my own country, I should see my parents; I am in this state; Lord knows what may have been their condition. I have attained the object for which I quitted my country; and it is proper I should now return [to my relations]; they have no tidings of me, whether I am dead or alive; [G.o.d knows] what sorrow they may feel in their hearts.” That brave man replied, ”It is very proper,--let us go.” Saying this, he brought a Turkish horse for me, which could travel a hundred _kos_ a-day, and a swift quiet mare of unclipped wings [379]

for the princess, and made us both mount; then putting on his cuira.s.s and arming himself completely, he mounted on his horse and said, ”I will go before, do you follow me with full confidence.”

When we came to the city gate, he gave a loud cry, and with his mace broke the bolt, and frightened the guards; he vociferated to them, ”Ye rascals, go and tell your master that _Bihzad Khan_ is carrying off the princess _Mihrnigar_, and the prince _Kamgar,_ who is his son-in-law; if he has any spark of manhood, then let him come out and rescue her; do not you be saying that I carried her off in silence and by stealth, otherwise let him stay in the fort and enjoy his repose.” This news soon reached the king; he ordered the _wazir_ and general to seize the three rebellious ones, and bring them tied neck and heels to the royal presence, and cut off their heads and lay them before the throne. After a short time, a numerous body of troops appeared, and the heavens and earth were darkened by a whirlwind of dust. _Bihzad Khan_ placed the princess and me on the abutment of an arch of the bridge which, like the bridge of _Jaunpur_, consisted of twelve arches, and he himself turned about, and pushed his horse towards the troops; he rushed in among them like a growling lion; the whole body was dispersed like a flock of sheep, [380] and he penetrated to the two chiefs and cut off both their heads. When the chiefs were killed, the troops dispersed, as the saying is, that ”All depends on the head; when it is gone, all is lost.” The king came immediately to their a.s.sistance, with a body of armed troops; _Bihzad Khan_ completely defeated them also.

The king fled; so true it is that ”G.o.d alone gives victory;”

but _Bihzad Khan_ behaved so bravely, that perhaps even _Rustam_ himself could not have equalled his valour. When he saw that the field of battle was cleared, and that no one remained to pursue him, and that there was nothing to apprehend, he came confidentially to the place where we were, and taking the princess and me along with him, he pushed forward. The duration of the journey is rendered short; we reached the boundaries of my country in a short time. I despatched a letter to the king, (who was my father), mentioning my safe arrival; he was quite rejoiced on reading it, and thanked G.o.d [for His goodness]. As the withered plant revives by water, so the joyful tidings renovated his drooping spirits; he took all his _amirs_ with him, and advanced for the purpose of receiving me as far as the banks of a large river, and an order for boats [to cross us over]

was issued to the superintendent of rivers. I saw the royal train from the opposite bank; from eagerness to kiss my father's feet, I plunged my horse into the river, and swimming over, I rode up to the king; he clasped me with eager fondness to his [paternal] bosom.

At this moment, another unforeseen calamity overwhelmed us. The horse on which I was mounted was perhaps the colt of the mare on which the princess rode, or they had been perhaps always together, for seeing my horse plunge into the river, the mare became restive, followed my horse, and likewise plunged into the river with the princess, and began to swim. The princess being alarmed, pulled the bridle; the mare was tender mouthed and turned over; the princess struggled, and sank with the mare, so that not a trace of either was ever seen again. On seeing this circ.u.mstance, _Bihzad Khan_ dashed into the river on horseback to afford a.s.sistance to the princess; he got into a whirlpool and could not extricate himself; all his efforts with his hands and feet were vain, and he also sank. The king seeing these sad circ.u.mstances, sent for nets and had them thrown into the river, and ordered the boatmen and divers [to look for the bodies]; they swept the whole river, but could find nothing. [381] O _Darweshes!_ this dreadful occurrence affected me so much that I became mad and frantic; I became a pilgrim, and wandered about, ever repeating these words,--”Such has been the fate of these three; that you have seen, now view the other side.” If the princess had vanished or died anywhere, I should then have some kind of consolation for my heart, for I would have gone in search of her, or have borne the loss with patience; but when she perished before my eyes [in this dreadful manner], I could not support [the shock]. At last, I determined to perish with her in the stream, that I might perhaps meet my beloved one in death.

I according plunged into that same river one night in order to drown myself, and went up to the neck in the water; I was on the point of stepping forward and diving down, when the same veiled horseman who saved you two, [382] came up and seized my arm; he consoled me, and said to me, ”Be comforted; the princess and _Bihzad Khan_ are alive; why do you uselessly throw away your life? such events do occur in the world. Do not despair of the help of G.o.d; if you live, you will some day or other meet the two persons [for whom you are going to sacrifice your life]. Proceed now to the empire of _Rum_; two other unfortunate _Darweshes_ are gone there already; when you meet them, you will attain your wishes.” O _Darweshes!_ I am come here to you, according to the advice of my heavenly Mentor; I firmly hope that each of us will gain the desires of his heart. These have been this pilgrim's adventures, which he hath related to you fully and entirely.

ADVENTURES OF THE FOURTH DARWESH.

The fourth _Darwesh_ began with tears the relation of his adventures in the following manner:--