Part 2 (1/2)

One [152] day of the days, as he sat in the street, playing with the vagabond boys, behold, a Maugrabin [153] dervish came up and stopping to look at the lads, singled out Alaeddin from his comrades and fell to gazing upon him and straitly considering his favour. Now this dervish was from the land of Hither Barbary [154] and he was an enchanter who would cast mountain upon mountain with his sorcery and was skilled to boot in physiognomy. [155] When he had well considered Alaeddin, he said in himself, ”Certes, this boy is he whom I seek and he it is in quest of whom I came forth from my country.” So he took one of the lads apart and asked him of Alaeddin, whose son he was, and questioned him of all his affairs; after which he went up to Alaeddin and taking him aside, said to him, ”Harkye, boy, art thou not the son of such an one the tailor?”

And he answered him, saying ”Yes, O my lord; but my father died awhile agone.” When the Maugrabin magician heard this, he threw himself upon Alaeddin and embracing him, fell to kissing him and weeping, that his tears ran down upon his cheek.

Alaeddin was astonished at the Maugrabin's behaviour; so he asked him and said to him, ”What is the cause of thy weeping, O my lord, and whence knewest thou my father?” The Maugrabin answered him, in a mournful, broken voice, [156] saying, ”How, O my son, canst thou ask me this question, after telling me that thy father, my brother, is dead, for thy father was [indeed] my brother [157] and I am newly come from my country and was rejoicing exceedingly, after this my strangerhood, of my expectation that I should see him and solace myself with him; [158] and now thou tellest me that he is dead! Marry, blood discovered unto me that [159] thou wast the son of my brother, and indeed I knew thee from amongst all the lads; although thy father, when I left him, was not yet married. And [160] now, O my son Alaeddin,” continued he, ”I have lost my consolation [161] and my joy in thy father, my brother, whom I had hoped, after my strangerhood, to see ere I died; but separation hath afflicted me in him [162] and there is no fleeing from that which is [163] nor is there any resource against the ordinance of G.o.d the Most High.”

Then he took Alaeddin and said to him, ”O my son, I have no comfort [163] but in thee [164] and thou art [to me] in the stead of thy father, since thou art his successor and whoso leaveth [a successor] is not dead, O my son.” With this he put his hand [to his pocket] and bringing out ten diners, gave them to Alaeddin, saying, ”O my son, where is your house and where is thy mother, my brother's wife?” So Alaeddin took him and showed him the way to their house; and the magician said to him, ”O my son, take these monies and give them to thy mother and salute her on my behalf and tell her that thine uncle is come back from his strangerhood; and G.o.d willing, to-morrow I will come visit you, so I may salute her and look upon the house wherein my brother dwelt and see where his tomb is.” [165] Alaeddin kissed his hand and hastened home, running in his joy, to his mother and entered, contrary to his wont, for that he was not used to go in to her save at eating-times. So he went in to her, rejoicing, and said to her, ”O my mother, I bring thee glad news of my uncle, in that he is come back from his absence, and he saluteth thee.” ”O my son,” quoth she, ”meseemeth thou makest mock of me. Who is thine uncle and whence hast thou an uncle on life?” And he said to her, ”O my mother, why didst thou tell me that I had no uncles and no kinsfolk on life? Indeed, this man is my uncle and he embraced me and kissed me, weeping, and bade me tell thee of this.” And she answered him, saying, ”Yes, O my son, I knew thou hadst an uncle, but he is dead and I know not that thou hast a second uncle.”

As [166] for the Maugrabin enchanter, he went forth at dawn and fell to searching for [167] Alaeddin, for that he might not brook parting from him; [168] and as he went about in the thoroughfares of the city, he came upon the lad, who was playing with the vagabonds, as of his wont.

So he went up to him and taking him by the hand, embraced him and kissed him; then he brought out of his purse two diners and said to Alaeddin, ”Go to thy mother and give her these two diners and say to her, 'My uncle would fain sup with us; so take these two diners and make a good supper.' But first show me once more the way to your house.” ”On my head and eyes, O my uncle,” answered Alaeddin and foregoing him, showed him the way to the house. Then the Maugrabin left him and went his way, whilst Alaeddin returned home and telling his mother [what had pa.s.sed], gave her the two diners and said to her, ”My uncle would fain sup with us.” So she arose forthright and went out to the market, where she bought all that was needful and returning home, borrowed of her neighbours that which she required of platters and the like and proceeded to make ready for supper.

When the time of the evening-meal came, she said to Alaeddin, ”O my son, the supper [169] is ready and maybe s.h.i.+ne uncle knoweth not the way to the house. Go thou and meet him.” And he answered her with ”Hearkening and obedience.” But, whilst they were in talk, behold, there came a knocking at the door; whereupon Alaeddin went out and opening, found the Maugrabin enchanter, and with him a slave bearing wine and fruits. So he brought them in and the slave went his way, whilst the Maugrabin entered and saluted Alaeddin's mother; then he fell a-weeping and said to her, ”Where is the place in which my brother was wont to sit?” She pointed him to her husband's sitting-place, whereupon he went thither and prostrating himself, fell to kissing the earth and saying, ”Alas, how scant is my delight and how sorry my fortune, since I have lost thee, O my brother and apple [170] of mine eye!” And the abode on this wise, weeping and lamenting, till Alaeddin's mother was certified that he was in earnest and that he was like to swoon of the excess of his wailing and his lamentation. So she came to him and raised him from the ground, saying, ”What profiteth it that thou shouldst kill thyself?” And [171]

she proceeded to comfort him and made him sit down.

Then, before she laid the table, the Maugrabin fell to relating to her [his history] and said to her, ”O wife of my brother, let it not amaze thee that in all thy days thou never sawest me neither knewest of me in my late brother's lifetime, for that I left this country forty years agone and became an exile from my native land. I journeyed to the lands of Hind and Sind and all the country of the Arabs and coming presently into Egypt, sojourned awhile in the magnificent city [of Cairo], which is the wonder of the world. [172] Ultimately I betook myself to the land of Hither Barbary [173] and sojourned there thirty years' s.p.a.ce, [174]

till one day of the days, as I sat, [175] O wife of my brother, I bethought me of my country and my native place and of my late brother and longing waxed on me to see him and I fell a-weeping and lamenting over my strangerhood and distance from him. In fine, my yearning for him importuned me till I resolved to journey to this country, the which was the falling-place of my head [176] and my native land, that I might see my brother. And I said in myself, ”O man, how long wilt thou be an exile [177] from thy country and thy native place, whenas thou hast an only brother and no more? Arise and journey and look upon him ere thou die.

Who knoweth the calamities of fate and the vicissitudes of the days?

Sore pity 'twere that thou shouldst die and not see thy brother.

Moreover, Allah (praised be He) hath given thee abundant wealth and it may be thy brother is in poor case and straitened, and thou wilt help him, an [178] thou see him.” So I arose forthright and equipped myself for travel; then, reciting the Fatiheh [179], I took horse, after the Friday prayer, and came, after many hards.h.i.+ps and fatigues,--which I suffered, till the Lord (to whom belong might and majesty) protected [me],--to this city. I entered it and as I went about its thoroughfares the day before yesterday, I saw my brother's son Alaeddin playing with the boys; and by Allah the Great, O wife of my brother, when I saw him, my heart crave to him, for that blood yearneth unto blood, and my soul foreboded me he was my brother's son. At his sight I forgot all my toils and troubles and was like to fly for joy; then, when he told me that my late brother had departed to the mercy of G.o.d the Most High, I swooned away for stress of grief and chagrin; and most like he hath told thee of that which overcame me. [180] But I comforted myself somewhat with Alaeddin, who standeth in stead of [181] the departed, for that whoso leaveth [a successor] [182] dieth not.”

Then, [183] when he saw her weeping at this speech, he turned to Alaeddin, by way of making her forget the mention of her husband and feigning to comfort her, so he might the better accomplish his device upon her, and said to him, ”O my son Alaeddin, what hast thou learned of crafts and what is thy business? Hast thou learned thee a trade whereby thou mayst live, thou and thy mother?” At this Alaeddin was confounded and abashed and hung down his head, bowing it to the ground, whilst his mother said to the Maugrabin, ”How? By Allah, he knoweth nought at all!

So graceless a lad I never saw. All day long he goeth about with the vagabond boys of the quarter like himself; nay, his father, woe is me, died not but of his chagrin concerning him; and now, as for me, my case is woeful. I spin cotton and toil night and day, to earn two cakes of bread, that we may eat them together. This, then, is his condition, O my brother-in-law, and by thy life, he cometh not in to me save at eating-times, and I am thinking to bolt the door of my house and not open to him and let him go seek his living for himself, for that I am grown an old woman and have no strength left to toil and provide for the maintenance of a fellow like this. [184] By Allah, I get mine own livelihood, I that need one who shall maintain me.” [185]

Therewithal the Maugrabin turned to Alaeddin and said to him, ”How is this, O son of my brother? It is a disgrace to thee to go vagabonding about in this abjection. This befitteth not men like thee. Thou art gifted with understanding, O my son, and the child of [reputable] folk; [186] I and it is a shame upon thee that thy mother, who is an old woman, should toil for thy maintenance, now thou art grown a man.

Nay, it behoveth thee get thee some means whereby thou mayst maintain thyself, O my son. See, by G.o.d's grace, (praised be He) here in our city be masters of crafts, nowhere is there a place more abounding in them: choose, then, the craft which pleaseth thee and I will establish thee therein, so that, when thou growest up, O my son, thou mayst find thee thy craft whereby thou shalt live. Belike thou hast no mind to thy father's trade; so choose other than it. Tell me the craft which pleaseth thee and I will help thee in all that is possible, O son of my brother.” Then, seeing that Alaeddin was silent and answered him nothing, he knew that he had no mind to any craft at all and recked of nothing but vagabondage and said to him, ”O son of my brother, be not abashed at me; [187] if so be withal [188] thou caress not to learn a trade, I will open thee a merchant's shop of the costliest stuffs and thou shalt make thyself acquainted with [189] the folk [190] and shalt give and take and sell and buy and become known in the city.”

When Alaeddin heard these words of his uncle the Maugrabin, to wit, that it was his intent to make him a merchant, [191] a trader, [192] he rejoiced exceedingly, well knowing that all merchants' apparel is neat and elegant; [193] so he looked at the Maugrabin and smiled and bowed his head, as who should say, ”I am content.” The [194] magician, seeing him smile, knew that he was content to be a merchant and said to him, ”Since thou art content that I should make thee a merchant and open thee a shop, be a man, O son of my brother, and to-morrow, G.o.d willing, I will take thee first to the market and let cut thee an elegant suit of clothes such as merchants wear; and after that I will look thee out a shop and perform my promise to thee.” Now Alaeddin's mother was in some little doubt as to the Maugrabin; but, when she heard his promise to her son that he would open him a shop as a merchant with stuffs and capital and what not else, she concluded that he was in very deed her brother-in-law, inasmuch as a stranger would not do thus with her son. So she fell to admonis.h.i.+ng her son and exhorting him to put away ignorance and folly from his head and be a man, and bade him still yield obedience to his uncle, as he were his father, and apply himself to make up the time which he had wasted in idleness [with] those who were like him, after which she arose and laying the table, spread the evening-meal and they all sat down and fell to eating and drinking, whilst the Maugrabin talked with Alaeddin upon matters of merchandry and the like.

Then, when he saw that the night was far spent, [195] he arose and went to his lodging, promising to return in the morning and take Alaeddin, so he might let cut him a merchant's suit.

Alaeddin slept not that night for joy and when it was morning, behold, the Maugrabin knocked at the door. The lad's mother arose and opened to him; however, he would not enter, but sought Alaeddin, that he might take him with him to the market. So Alaeddin went out to him and gave him good-morning and kissed his hand; whereupon the Maugrabin took him by the hand and going with him to the market, entered the shop of a seller of all manner of clothes and demanded a suit of costly stuffs.

The merchant brought him what he sought, all sewn and ready, and the Maugrabin said to Alaeddin, ”Choose that which pleaseth thee, O my son.”

Alaeddin rejoiced exceedingly, when he saw that his uncle gave him his choice, and chose clothes to his mind, such as pleased him. The Maugrabin at once paid the merchant their price and going out, carried Alaeddin to the bath, where they bathed and came forth and drank wine.

[196] Then Alaeddin arose and donned the new suit; whereat he rejoiced and was glad and coming up to his uncle, kissed his hand and thanked him for his bounties. After [197] this the Maugrabin carried him to the bazaar of the merchants and showed him the market and the selling and buying and said to him, ”O my son, it behoveth thee consort with the folk, especially with the merchants, so thou mayst learn of them merchandry, since this is become thy craft.”

Then he took him again and showed him the city and the mosques and all the sights of the place; after which he carried him to a cook's shop, where the morning-meal was set before them in silver platters. So they ate and drank till they had enough and going forth, fared on, whilst the Maugrabin proceeded to show Alaeddin the pleasaunces and fine buildings, [198] going in with him to the Sultan's palace and showing him all the fair and fine quarters [199] [of the city]; after which he carried him to the Khan of the stranger merchants, where he himself lodged. and invited certain of the merchants who were in the Khan. Accordingly they came and sat down to supper, and he informed them that this was his brother's son and that his name was Alaeddin. Then, after they had eaten and drunken, the night being now come, the Maugrabin arose and taking Alaeddin, carried him back to his mother.

When she saw her son as he were one of the merchants, her wit fled [and she waxed] sorrowful for gladness and fell to extolling the Maugrabin's bounty and saying to him, ”O my brother-in-law, I might not suffice [to thy deserts,] though I thanked thee all my life long and praised thee for the good thou hast done with my son.” ”O wife of my brother,”

answered he, ”this is no manner of kindness in me, [200] for that this is my son and it behoveth me stand in the stead of my brother his father; so be thou easy.” Quoth she, ”I pray G.o.d, by the glory of the ancients [201] and the moderns, that He let thee [live] and continue thee, O my brother-in-law, and prolong me thy life, so thou mayst be [as] a wing [202] to this orphan boy; and he shall still be under thine obedience and thy commandment and shall do nought but that which thou biddest him.” ”O wife of my brother,” rejoined the Maugrabin, ”Alaeddin is a man of understanding and [the son of] decent folk, and my hope is in G.o.d that he will follow in his father's footsteps and be the solace of s.h.i.+ne eyes; [203] but it irketh me that, to-morrow being Friday, I cannot open him a shop. It being congregation day, all the merchants will go out after prayers to the gardens and pleasaunces; but, G.o.d willing, on Sat.u.r.day, an it please the Creator, we will do our business.

Tomorrow I will come to you and take Alaeddin, that I may show him the gardens and pleasaunces without the city,--it may be he hath not yet seen them,--and he shall see the merchant-folk and the notables a-pleasuring there, so he may become acquainted with them and they with him.” [204]

The [205] Maugrabin lay the night in his lodging; and on the morrow he came to the tailor's house and knocked at the door. Alaeddin--of the excess of his joy in the clothes he had donned and of the pleasures he had enjoyed on the past day, what with the bath and eating and drinking and viewing the folk and the thought that his uncle was coming in the morning to take him and show him the gardens--slept not that night neither closed an eye and thought the day would never break. [206] So, when he heard a knocking at the door, he went out at once in haste, like a spark of fire, and opening, found his uncle the Maugrabin. The latter embraced him and kissed him and took him by the hand, saying, ”O son of my brother, to-day I will show thee a thing such as thou never sawest in thy life.” Then they went off together and the Maugrabin fell to making merry with [207] Alaeddin and amusing him with familiar talk. They went forth the gate of the city and the Maugrabin proceeded to walk with him among the gardens and to show him the fine pleasaunces and marvellous high-builded palaces; and whena.s.soever they looked upon a garden or a palace [208] or a pavilion, [209] he would stand and say to Alaeddin, ”Doth this please thee, O my son Alaeddin?”

Alaeddin was like to fly for joy, inasmuch as he saw that which he had never in his life seen, and they gave not over walking and gazing till they were weary, when they entered a fine garden there, that cheered the heart and brightened the eye with its springs [210] welling up among flowers and its waters issuing from the mouths of lions of bra.s.s like unto gold, and sitting down by a lake, rested awhile. As for Alaeddin, he rejoiced and was exceeding glad and fell a-jesting with the Mangrabin and making merry with him, as he were his uncle in very deed. Then the latter arose and loosing his girdle, brought out therefrom a bag full of victual and fruit and the like and said to Alaeddin, ”O son of my brother, thou art maybe anhungred; come, eat what thou wilt.” So Alaeddin proceeded to eat and the Maugrabin with him and they were gladdened and refreshed and their souls were cheered. Then said the Maugrabin, ”Rise, O my son, an thou be rested, so we may walk a little and fare onward.” [211] So Alaeddin arose and the Maugrabin walked on with him from garden to garden till they had pa.s.sed them all and came to a high mountain. [212]

Now Alaeddin had never gone forth the gate of the city nor in all his life had he walked the like of that walk; so he said to the Maugrabin, ”O my uncle, whither are we going? See, we have left all the gardens behind us and are come to the foot of a mountain. [213] If the way be [yet] far, I have no strength left me for walking, for that I am worn out with fatigue and there remain no more gardens before us; so let us turn back and return to the city.” ”O my son,” replied the Maugrabin, ”this is the way and the gardens are not yet at an end, for we are going [214] to view a garden, whose like is not with the kings and compared with which all these which thou hast seen are as nothing. So gird up thy loins [215] for walking; praised be G.o.d, thou art a man.” And he fell to amusing him with fair words and telling him rare stories, true and false, till they reached the place at which this Maugrabin enchanter aimed and in quest whereof he was come from Barbary [216] to the land of China; whereupon, ”O son of my brother,” quoth he to Alaeddin, ”sit and rest thee; this is the place for which we were making; and now, please G.o.d, I will show thee marvellous things, the like whereof no one in the world hath seen, nor hath any looked upon that which thou art about to behold. But [217] do thou, after thou art rested, arise and seek sticks and gra.s.s and reeds and such like matters as are small and dry, so we may kindle a fire, and I will cause thee look, O son of my brother, upon a thing which pa.s.seth understanding.” [218]

When Alaeddin heard this, he yearned to see what his uncle was about to do; so he forgot his fatigue and rising forthright, fell to gathering brushwood and dry sticks and gathered till the Maugrabin said to him, ”Enough, O son of my brother.” Then he brought out of his pocket a casket, from which he took what he needed of perfumes, and proceeded to make fumigations and conjurations, speaking words that might not be understanded; and straightway it darkened and thundered and the earth quaked and opened. At this Alaeddin was sore affrighted and would have fled; which when the Maugrabin enchanter saw, he was exceeding, incensed at him, for that without Alaeddin his labour was of none avail, since the treasure whereat he sought to come might not be opened save by means of the lad. So, when he saw him offer to flee, he rose to him and lifting his hand, smote him on his head, that he came nigh to knock out his teeth; whereupon Alaeddin swooned away and fell upon the earth; but, after a little, he recovered his senses, by the virtue of the Maugrabin's enchantments, and falling a-weeping, said to him, ”O my uncle, what have I done to deserve from thee this blow?” The Maugrabin proceeded to soothe him and said to him, ”O my son, it is my desire to make thee a man; so cross me not, for that I am thine uncle and as it were thy father; wherefore do thou obey me in that which I shall say to thee, and after a little thou shalt forget all this travail and annoy, whenas thou lookest upon things marvellous.”

Now, when the earth clove in sunder before the enchanter, there appeared to him an alabaster slab and in it a ring of molten bra.s.s; [219] so he turned to Alaeddin and said to him, ”An thou do that which I shall tell thee, thou shalt become richer than all the kings; and on this account, O my son, I beat thee, for that here is a treasure and it is in thy name, and thou, thou wouldst fain have pa.s.sed it by and fled. But now collect thy wits [220] and see how I have opened the earth by my conjurations and incantations. Under [221] yonder stone, wherein is the ring, is the treasure whereof I have told thee; so do thou put thy hand to the ring and lift the slab, for that none of mankind can open it but thou and none but thou can set his foot within this treasure, since it is guarded for thee. But needs must thou hearken from me that which I shall teach thee and lose not [222] a syllable of my speech. Marry, all this, O my son, is for thy good, for that this is an exceeding great treasure, the kings of the world possess not its like, and it is thine and mine.” So poor Alaeddin forgot fatigue and beating and weeping, of his amazement at the Maugrabin's speech and joy that he should become rich after such a measure that even the kings would be no wealthier than he, and said to him, ”O my uncle, command me all thou wilt, for I will be obedient unto thy commandment.” And the Maugrabin said to him, ”O son of my brother, thou art as my very son, nay, dearer, for being my brother's son. I have no kindred other than thyself and thou art my natural heir and successor, O my son.”

Therewith he came up to Alaeddin and kissed him saying, ”All these my toils, whom do they concern? [223] They are all for thy sake, O my son, that I may make [224] thee a man rich and great [225] exceedingly; so gainsay me not in aught that I shall tell thee; but go up to yonder ring and raise it, as I bade thee.” ”O my uncle,” quoth Alaeddin, ”this stone is heavy; I cannot raise it of myself, [226] so come thou also and help me raise it, for I am little of years.” ”O son of my brother,” replied the Maugrabin, ”it will not be possible for us to do aught, an I help thee, and our toil will be wasted in vain; but do thou put thy hand to the ring and raise it and it will immediately come up with thee; for, as I said to thee, none may handle it but thou. But, when thou raisest it, name thine own name and those of thy father and mother and it will straightway rise with thee, nor shalt thou feel its weight.”

Accordingly, Alaeddin took courage and summoning his resolution, did as the Maugrabin bade him and raised the slab with all ease, whenas he p.r.o.nounced his own name and those of his father and his mother. So the stone came up and he threw it aside; whereupon [227] there appeared to him an underground place and its door, whereas one entered by a stair of some dozen steps, and the Maugrabin said to him, ”O Alaeddin, give heed [228] and do punctually that which I shall tell thee, neither fail of aught thereof. Go down with all circ.u.mspection into yonder vault till thou come to the bottom thereof and thou wilt find there a place divided into four chambers, [229] in each of which thou wilt see four jars of gold and others of native ore and silver. Beware lest thou handle them or take aught therefrom, but pa.s.s them by till thou come to the fourth chamber, and let not thy clothes or thy skirts touch the jars, no, nor the walls, and stay not one moment; for, an thou do contrary to this, thou wilt forthright be transformed and wilt become a black stone. When thou comest to the fourth chamber, thou wilt find there a door; open it and speak the names which thou spokest over the slab; then enter and thou wilt find thyself in a garden, all adorned with trees and fruits.