Section 00 of the Arabian Nights Entertainment's Volume 1. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Tim Gregory. The Arabian Nights Entertainment's Volume 1 by Anonymous. Translated by Dr. Jonathan Scott, Section 00. The Publishers' Preface. This, the Aldean edition of the Arabian Nights Entertainment, forms the first four volumes of a proposed series of reprints of the standard works of fiction which have appeared in the English language. It is our intention to publish the series in an artistic way, while illustrating a text typographically as perfect as possible. The text in all cases will be carefully chosen from approved editions. The series is intended for those who appreciate well-printed and illustrated books, or who are in want of a handy and handsome edition of such works to place upon their bookshelves. The exact origin of the tales, which appear in the Arabic as the Thousand and One Nights, is unknown. The Caliph Haroun al-Rashid, who figures in so life-like a manner in many of the stories, was a contemporary of the Emperor Charlemagne, and there is internal evidence that the collection was made in the Arabic language about the end of the 10th century. They undoubtedly convey a picturesque impression of the manners, sentiments, and customs of Eastern medieval life. The stories were translated from the Arabic by M. Galande, and first found their way into English in 1704, when they were re-translated from M. Galande's French text, and at once became exceedingly popular. This process of double translation had great disadvantages. It induced Dr. Jonathan Scott, Oriental Professor, to publish in 1811 a new edition, revised and corrected from the Arabic. It is upon this text that the present edition is formed. It will be found free from that grossness which is unavoidable in a strictly literal translation of the original into English, and which has rendered the splendid translations of Sir R. Burton and Mr. J. Payne quite unsuitable as the basis of a popular edition, though at the same time stamping the works as the two most perfect editions for the students. The scholarly translation of Layne, by the two strict and adherents to Oriental forms of expression and somewhat pedantic rendering of the spelling of proper names, is found to be tedious to a very large number of readers attracted by the rich imagination, romance, and humor of these tales. End of Section 00, recording by Tim Gregory, Seattle, Washington. Section 1 of the Arabian Nights Entertainment's Volume 1. This is a LibriVox recording, all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Lizzie Driver. The Arabian Nights Entertainment's Volume 1, by Anonymous. Translated by Dr. Jonathan Scott. Section 1. The Arabian Nights Entertainment's. The Chronicles of the Cessations, Ancient Kings of Persia, who extended their empire into the Indies, over all the adjacent islands, and a great way beyond the Ganges as far as China, acquaint us that there was formerly a king of that potent family, who was regarded as the most excellent prince of his time. He was as much beloved by his subjects for his wisdom and prudence, as he was dreaded by his neighbours on account of his valor and well-disciplined troops. He had two sons, the elder, Sharia, the worthy heir of his father, and endowed with all his virtues. The younger, Shorzumon, a prince of equal merit. After a long and glorious reign, this king died, and Sharia amounted his throne. Shorzumon, being excluded from all share in the government by the laws of the empire, and obliged to live a private life, was so far from envying the happiness of his brother, that he made it his whole business to please him, and in this succeeded without much difficulty. Sharia, who had naturally a great affection for the prince's brother, gave him the kingdom of great tartary. Shorzumon went immediately and took possession of it, and fixed the seat of his government at Samarkand, the metropolis of the country. After they had been separated ten years, Sharia, being very desirous of seeing his brother, resolved to send an ambassador to invite him to his court. He made a choice of his prime Vizier for the embassy, and sent him to tartary, with a retinue answerable to his dignity. The Vizier proceeded with all possible expedition to Samarkand. When he came near to the city, Shorzumon was informed of his approach, and went to meet him attended by the principal lords of his court, who, to show the greater honour to the sultan's minister, appeared in magnificent apparel. The king of tartary received the ambassador with the greatest demonstrations of joy, and immediately asked him concern in the welfare of the sultan, his brother. The Vizier, having acquainted him that he was in health, informed him of the purpose of his embassy. Shorzumon was much affected, and answered, Sage Vizier, the sultan, my brother, does me too much honour. Nothing could be more agreeable to me, for I as ardently long to see him, as he does to see me. Time has not diminished my friendship more than his, my kingdom is in peace, and I want no more than ten days to get myself ready to return with you. There is therefore no necessity for your entering the city for so short a period.  The Vizier readily complied, and as soon as the king returned to the city, he sent him a prodigious quantity of provisions of all sorts, with presence of great value. In the meanwhile, Shorzumon prepared for his journey, gave orders about his most important affairs, appointed a council to govern in his absence, and named a minister of whose wisdom he had sufficient experience, and in whom he had entire confidence to be their president. At the end of ten days, his equipage being ready, he took leave of the queen his wife, and went out of town in the evening with his retinue. He pitched his royal pavilion near the Vizier's tent, and conversed with him till midnight. Wishing once more to see the queen whom he ardently loved, he returned alone to his palace, and went directly to Her Majesty's apartments. But she, not expecting his return, had taken one of the meanest officers of her household to her bed. The king entered without noise, and pleased himself to think how he would surprise his wife, who he thought loved him with reciprocal tenderness. But how great was his astonishment when, by the light of the flambéau, he beheld a man in her arms. He stood immovable for some time, not knowing how to believe his own eyes. But finding there was no room for doubt. How? said he to himself, I am scarcely out of my palace, and but just under the walls of Samarkand, and dare they put an outrage upon me, profidious wretches, your crime shall not go unpunished. As a king, I am bound to punish wickedness committed in my dominions. And, as an enraged husband, I must sacrifice you to my just resentment. The unfortunate prince, giving way to his rage, then drew his scimitar, and approached in the bed to kill them both with one blow. Their sleep into death. And afterwards, taking them up, he threw them out of a window into the ditch that surrounded the palace. Having thus avenged himself, he returned to his pavilion without saying one word of what had happened, gave orders that the tent should be struck, and everything made ready for his journey. All were speedily prepared, and before day he began his march, with kettle-drums and other instruments of music, that filled everyone with joy, except in the king. He was so much afflicted by the disloyalty of his wife, that he was seized with extreme melancholy, which preyed upon his spirits during the whole of his journey. When he drew near the capital of the Indies, the sultan, Sharia, and all his court came out to meet him. The princes were overjoyed to see one another, and having alighted, after mutual embraces and other marks of affection and respect, remounted, and entered the city amidst the acclamations of the people, the sultan conducted his brother to the palace provided for him, which had a communication with his own by a garden. It was so much more than magnificent, as it was set apart as a banqueting-house for public entertainments, and other diversions of the court, and its splendour had been lately augmented by new furniture. Sharia immediately left the king of Tartary, that he might give him time to bathe and to change his apparel.  The courtiers out of respect kept at a distance, and the two princes entertained one another suitably to their friendship, their consanguinity, and their long separation. The time of supper being come, they ate together, after which they renewed their conversation, which continued till Sharia, perceiving that it was very late, left his brother to repose. The unfortunate Shars-Iman retired to his bed. Though the conversation of his brother had suspended his grief for some time, it returned again with increased violence, so that, instead of taking his necessary rest, he tormented himself with the bitterest reflections. All the circumstances of his wife's disloyalty presented themselves afresh to his imagination, in so lively a manner that he was, like one, distracted. Not being able to sleep, he arose, and abandoned himself to the most afflicting thoughts, which made such an impression upon his countenance, as it was impossible for the sultan not to observe. What, said he, can be in the matter with the king of Tartary, that he is so melancholy? Has he had any cause to complain by his reception? No, surely. I have received him as a brother whom I love, so that I can charge myself with no omission in that respect. Perhaps it grieves him to be at such a distance from his dominions, or from the queen his wife. If that be the case, I must forthwith give him the presents I designed for him, that he may return to Sama Khan. Accordingly the next day Sharia sent him part of those presents, being the greatest rarities and the richest things that the indies could afford. At the same time he endeavoured to divert his brother every day by new objects of pleasure and the most splendid entertainments. But these, instead of affording him ease, only increased his sorrow. One day Sharia, having appointed a great hunting-match, about two days' journey from his capital in a place that abounded with deer, shows Yuman besought him to excuse his attendance, for his health would not allow him to bear him company. The sultan, unwilling to put any constraint upon him, left him at his liberty, and went to hunting with his nobles. The king of Tartary, being thus left alone, shut himself up in his apartment, and sat down at a window that looked into the garden. That delicious place, and that sweet harmony of an infinite number of birds, which chose it for their retreat, must certainly have diverted him, had he been capable of taking pleasure in anything. But being perpetually tormented with the fatal remembrance of his queen's infamous conduct, his eyes were not so much fixed upon the garden, as lifted up to heaven to bewail his misfortune. While he was thus absorbed in grief, a circumstance occurred which attracted the whole of his attention. A secret gate of the sultan's palace suddenly opened, and there came out a bit twenty women, in the midst of whom walked a sultaness, who was easily distinguished from the rest by her majestic air. This princess, thinking that the king of Tartary was going to hunting with his brother the sultan, came with her retinue near the window of his apartment. For the prince had so placed himself that he could see all that passed in the garden without being perceived himself. He observed that the persons who accompanied the sultaness threw off their veils and long robes, that they might be more at their ease. But he was greatly surprised to find that ten of them were black men, and that each of these took his mistress. The sultaness on her part was not long without her gallant. She clapped her hands and called, Masoud, Masoud! And immediately a black descended from a tree around towards her with great speed. Modesty will not allow, nor is it necessary to relate what passed between the blacks and the ladies. It is sufficient to say that Shorzumon saw enough to convince him that his brother was as much to be pitted as himself. This armorous company continued together till midnight, and having bathed together in a great piece of water, which was one of the chief ornaments of the garden, they dressed themselves, and re-entered the palace by the secret door. All except Masoud, who climbed up his tree and got over the garden wall as he had come in. These things, having passed in the King of Tartary's sight, filled him with a multitude of reflections. How little reason had I, said he, to think that an arm was so unfortunate as myself. It is surely the unavoidable fate of all husbands, since even the sultan my brother, who is sovereign of so many dominions, and the greatest prince of the earth, could not escape.  I am resolved that the remembrance of a misfortune so common shall never more disturb my peace. From that moment he forebearer flitting himself. He called for his supper, ate with a better appetite than he had done since his leaving Samarkand, and listened, with some degree of pleasure, to the agreeable concert of vocal and instrumental music that was appointed to entertain him while at table. He continued after this very cheerful, and when he was informed that the sultan was returning, went to meet him, and paid him his compliments with great gaiety. Sharia at first took no notice of this alteration. He politely expostulated with him for not bearing him company, and without giving him time to reply, entertained him with an account of the great number of dear and other game they had killed, and the pleasure he had received in the chase. Shorzumon heard him with attention, and being now relieved from the melancholy which had before depressed his spirits and clouded his talents, took up the conversation in his turn, and spoke a thousand agreeable and pleasant things to the sultan. Sharia, who expected to have found him in the same state as he had left him, was overjoyed to see him so cheerful. Dear brother, said he, I return thanks to heaven for the happy change it has wrought in you during my absence. I am indeed extremely rejoiced, but I have a request to make to you, and conjure you not to deny me. I can refuse you nothing," replied the king of Tartary. You may command Shorzumon as you please. Speak. I am impatient to know what you desire of me. Ever since you came to my court, resumed Sharia, I have found you immersed in a deep melancholy, and I have in vain attempted to remove it by different diversions. I imagined it might be occasioned by the distance from your dominions, or that love might have a great share in it, and that the queen of Samarkand, who no doubt is an accomplished beauty, might be the cause. I do not know whether I am mistaken in my conjecture, but I must own that it was for this very reason I would not importune you upon the subject, for fear of making you uneasy. But without myself contributing anything towards effecting the change, I find, on my return, that your mind is entirely delivered from the black vapor which disturbed it. Pray, do me the favour to tell me why you were so melancholy, and wherefore you are no longer so. The king of Tartary continued for some time, as if he had been meditating, and contriving what he should answer. But at last replied, You are my sultan and master, but, excuse me, I beseech you from answering your question. No, dear brother, said to the sultan, you must answer me, I will take no denial. Shorsumon, not being able to withstand these pressing entreaties, replied, Well then, brother, I will satisfy you, since you command me, and having told him the story of the queen of some Macan's treachery, this, said he, was the cause of my grief, judge whether I had not sufficient reason for my depression. Oh, my brother, said the sultan, in a tone which showed what interest he took in the king of Tartary's affliction. What a horrible event, do you tell me?  None can blame you for what you have done. It was just. And for my part, had the case been mine, I should scarcely have been so moderate. I could not have satisfied myself with the life of one woman. I should have sacrificed a thousand to my fury. I now cease to wonder at your melancholy. Yours was too afflicting and too mortifying not to overwhelm you. Oh, heaven, what a strange adventure! Nor do I believe that like ever befall any man but yourself. But I must bless God, who has comforted you. And since I doubt not but your consolation is well-grounded, be so good as to inform me what it is and conceal nothing from me. Shorzuman was not so easily prevailed upon in this point, as he had been in the other, mother's account. But, being obliged to yield to his pressing insistences, answered, I must obey you, then, since your command is absolute. Yet I am afraid that my obedience will occasion your trouble to be greater than my own. But you must blame yourself, since you forced me to reveal what I should otherwise have buried in eternal oblivion. What you say, answered Shira, serves only to increase my curiosity. Discover the secret, whatever it be. The king of Tartary, being no longer able to refuse, related to him the particulars of the blacks in disguise, of the ungoverned passion of the sultaness and her ladies. Nor did he forget Masoud. After having been witness to these infamous actions he continued, I believed all women to be naturally lewd. And that they could not resist their inclination. Being of this opinion, it seemed to me to be in men an unaccountable weakness to place any confidence in their fidelity. This reflection brought me on many others. And in short, I thought the best thing I could do was to make myself easy. It cost me some pains indeed. But at last I grew reconciled. And if you will take my advice you will follow my example. Though the advice was good, the sultan could not approve of it. But fell into a rage. What? said he. Is the sultaness of the Indies capable of prostituting herself in so baser manner? No, brother. I cannot believe what you state. Unless I beheld it with my own eyes. Yours must needs have deceived you. The matter is so important that I must be satisfied of it myself. Dear brother," answered Shorzyman, that you may, without much difficulty. Appoint another hunting-match, and when we are out of town with your court and mine, we will rest under our tents, and at night let you and I return unattended to my apartments. I am certain the next day you will see a repetition of the scene. The sultan approved the stratagem. Immediately appointed another hunting-match. And that same day the tents were pitched at the place appointed. The next day the two princes set out with all their retinue. They arrived at the place of encampment, and stayed there till night. Sharia then called his grand vizier, and without equating him with his design, commanded him during his absence to suffer no person to quench the camp on any presence whatever. As soon as he had given this order, the king of Grand Tatry and he took horse, passed through the camping-cognito, returned to the city, and went to Shorzyman's apartment. They had scarcely placed themselves in the window whence the king of Tatry had beheld to the scene of the disguised blacks. When the secret gate opened, and the sultaness and her ladies entered the garden with the blacks, and she, having called to Massoud, the sultan saw more than enough fully to convince him of his dishonour and misfortune. Oh heavens! he exclaimed. What indignity! what horror! Can the wife of a sovereign be capable of such infamous conduct? After this let no prince boast of being perfectly happy. Alas, my brother! Continued he, embracing the king of Tatry. Let us both renounce the world. Honor is banished out of it. If it flatter us one day it betrays us the next. Let us abandon our dominions and go into foreign countries, where we may lead an obscure life and conceal our misfortunes. Shorzyman did not at all approve of this plan, but did not think fit to contradict Sharia in the heat of his passion. Dear brother, he replied, your will shall be mine. I am ready to follow you with soever you please. But promise me that you will return, if we meet with any one more unhappy than ourselves. To this I agree, said the sultan, but doubt much whether we shall. I am not of your opinion in this, replied the king of Tatry. I fancy our journey will be but short. Having thus resolved, they went secretually out of the palace. They travelled as long as daylight continued and lay the first night under trees. They arose about break of day, went on till they came to a fine meadow on the seashore, that was besprinkled with large trees. They sat down under one of them to rest and refresh themselves, and the chief subject of their conversation was the infidelity of their wives. They had not rested long before they heard a frightful noise from the sea, and a terrible cry which filled them with fear. The sea then opened and there arose something like a great black column, which reached almost to the clouds. This redoubled their terror, made them rise with haste and climb up into a tree and mabied themselves. They had scarcely got up when, looking to the place from whence the noise proceeded, and where the sea had opened, they observed that the black column advanced, winding about towards the shore, cleaving the water before it. They could not at first think what this could mean, but in a little time they found that it was one of those malignant genies that are mortal enemies to mankind and are always doing the mischief.  He entered the meadow with his burden, which he laid down just at the foot of the tree where the two princes were concealed, who gave themselves over as lost. The genie sat down by his box and, opening it with four keys that he had at his girdle, there came out a lady magnificently apparelled of a majestic stature and perfect beauty. The monster made her sit down by him, and eyeing her with an amorous look said, Lady, nay, most accomplished of all ladies who are admired for their beauty, my charming mistress, who I carried off on your wedding day and have loved so constantly ever since, let me sleep a few moments by you, for I find myself so very drowsy that I come to this place to take a little rest. Having spoken thus, he laid down his huge head upon the lady's knees and, stretching out his legs, which reached as far as the sea, he fell asleep presently and snored so loud that he made the shores echo. The lady, happening at this time to look up, saw the two princes in the tree and made a sign to them with her hand to come down without making any noise. Their fear was extreme when they found themselves discovered and they prayed the lady by other signs to excuse them, but she, after having laid to the monster's head softly on the ground, rose up and spoke to them with a low but eager voice to come down to her. She would take no denial. They informed her by signs that they were afraid of the genie and would feign have been excused, upon which she ordered them to come down and threatened, if they did not make haste, to awaken the genie and cause him to put them to death. These words so much intimidated the princes that they began to descend with all possible precaution, lest they should awaken the genie. When they had come down, the lady took them by the hand and, going a little farther with them under the trees, made them a very urgent proposal. At first they rejected it, but she obliged them to comply by her threats. Having obtained what she desired, she perceived that each of them had a ring on his finger which she demanded. As soon as she had received them, she pulled out a string of other rings which she showed the princes and asked them if they knew what those jewels meant. No, said they, we hope you'll be pleased to inform us. These are, she replied, the rings of all the men to whom I have granted my favours. There are four score and eighteen which I keep as memorials of them, and I asked for yours to make up the hundred, so that I have a hundred gallants already, notwithstanding the vigilance of this wicked genie that leaves me. He may lock me up in this glass box and hide me in the bottom of the sea, but I find methods to elude his vigilance. You may see this, that when a woman has formed a project, there is no husband or lover that can prevent her from putting it in execution. Men had better not put their wives under such restraint, as it only served to teach them cunning. Having spoken thus to them, she put their rings in the same string with the rest, and sitting down by the monster, as before, laid his head upon her lap and made a sign to the princes to depart. They returned immediately the way they had come, and when they were out of sight of the lady and the genie, Sharia said to Jorzuman, Well, brother, what do you think of this adventure? Have not the genie a very faithful mistress? And do you not agree that there is no wickedness equal to that of women? Yes, brother, answered the king of great Tatry, and you must also agree that the monster is more unfortunate and more to be pity than ourselves. Therefore, since we have found what we sought for, let us return to our dominions, and let not this hinder us from marrying. For my part I know a method by which to preserve the fidelity of my wife invulnerable. I will say no more at present, but you will hear of it in a little time, and I am sure you will follow my example. The sultan agreed with his brother, and, continuing their journey, they arrived in the camp the third night after their departure. The news of the sultan's return being spread, the courtiers came to times in the morning before his befillion to wait his pleasure. He ordered them to enter, received them with a more pleasant air than he had formally done, and gave each of them a present. After which he told them he would go no farther, ordered them to take horse, and return with expedition to his palace. As soon as he arrived he proceeded to the sultaness's apartment, commanded her to be bound before him and delivered to his grand vizier with an order to strangle her. Which was accordingly executed by that minister, without inquiring into a crime. The enraged prince did not stop here, but cut off the heads of all the sultaness's ladies with his own hand. After this rigorous punishment, being persuaded that no woman was chased, he resolved, in order to prevent the disloyalty of such as he should afterwards marry, to wed one every night, and have her strangled next morning. Having imposed this cruel law upon himself, he swore that he would put it into force immediately after the departure of the king of Tartary, who shortly took leave of him, and being laid in with magnificent presence, set forward on his journey. Shorzuman having departed, Sharia ordered his grand vizier to bring him the daughter of one of his generals. The vizier obeyed. The sultan lay with her, and putting her next morning into his hands again, in order to have her strangled, commanded him to provide him another the next night, whatever reluctance the vizier might feel to put such orders in execution. As he owed blind obedience to the sultan his master, he was forced to submit. He bought then him the daughter of a subaltern, whom he also put to death the next day. After her he bought a citizen's daughter, and in a word there was every day a maid married and a wife murdered. The rumour of this unparalleled barbarity occasioned a general consternation in the city, where there was nothing but crying and lamenting. Here a father in tears, and inconsolable for the loss of his daughter, and there tender mothers dreading, lest their daughter should share the same fate, filling the air with cries of distress and apprehension. So that, instead of the commendation and blessings which the sultan had hithero received from his subjects, their mouths were now filled with imbrications. The grand vizier, who, as has already been observed, was the unwilling executioner of this horrid course of injustice, had two daughters. The elder called her herazade, and the younger dianazade. The latter was highly accomplished, but the former possessed courage, wit, and penetration, infinitely above her sex. She had read much, and had so admirable a memory, that she never forgot anything she had read. She had successfully applied herself to philosophy, medicine, history, and the liberal arts. And her poetry excelled the compositions of the best writers of her time. Besides this she was a perfect beauty, and all her accomplishments were crowned by solid virtue. The vizier loved this daughter so worthy of his affection. One day, as they were conversing together, she said to him, Father, I have one favour to beg of you, and most humbly pray you to grant it. I will not refuse, answered he, provided it be just and reasonable. For the justice of it, resumed she, there can be no question, and you may judge of this by the motive which obliges me to make the request. I wish to stop that barbarity which the sultan exercises upon the families of this city. I would dispel those painful apprehensions, which so many mothers feel of losing their daughters in such a fatal manner. Your designed daughter, replied the vizier, is very commendable, but the evil you would remedy seems to me incurable. How do you propose to affect your purpose? Father, said your herizard, since by your means the sultan makes every day a new marriage, I conjure you by the tender affection you bear me to procure me the honour of his bed. The vizier could not hear this without horror. O heaven, he replied in a passion, have you lost your senses, daughter, that you make such a dangerous request? You know the sultan has sworn that he will never lie above one night with the same woman, and to command her to be killed the next morning. Would you then have me propose you to him? Consider well to what your indiscreet zeal will expose you. Yes, dear father, replied the virtuous daughter, I know the risk I run, but that does not alarm me. If I perish, my death will be glorious, and if I succeed, I shall do my country an important service. No, no, said the vizier, whatever you may offer to induce me to let you throw yourself into such imminent danger, do not imagine that I will ever consent when the sultan shall command me to strike my poignard into your heart. Alas, I must obey, and what an employment will that be for a father. Ah, if you do not dread death at least cherish some fears of afflicting me with the mortal grief of him being my hands in your blood. Once more, father, replied Scheherazade, grant me the favour I solicit. Your stubbornness, resumed the vizier, will rouse my anger. Why will you run headlong to your ruin? They, who do not foresee the end of a dangerous enterprise, can never conduct it to a happy issue. I am afraid the same thing will happen to you as befell the ass, which was well off, but could not remain so.  I will tell you, replied the vizier, if you will hear me. End of section 1. The Arabian Knights Entertainment's Volume 1 by Anonymous, translated by Dr. Jonathan Scott. Section 2. The Ass, the Ox, and the Laborer. A very wealthy merchant possessed several country houses, where he kept a large number of cattle of every kind. He retired with his wife and family to one of these estates in order to improve it under his own direction. He had the gift of understanding the language of beasts, and the condition that he should not, on pain of death, interpret it to anyone else. And this hindered him from communicating to others what he learned by means of this faculty.  One day, as he sat near them, and was amusing himself in looking at his children who were playing about him, he heard the ox say to the ass, Spritely, oh how happy do I think you when I consider the ease you enjoy and the little labor that is required of you. When you are fully rubbed down and washed, you have well-dressed corn and fresh clean water. Your greatest business is to carry the merchant, our master, when he has any little journey to make, and word not for that, you would be perfectly idle. I am treated in a very different manner, and my condition is as deplorable as yours is fortunate. Daylight no sooner appears than I am fastened to a plow and made to work till night, which so fatigues me that sometimes my strength entirely fails. Besides, the laborer who is always behind me beats me continually. By drawing the plow, my tail is all flayed, and in short, after having laboured from morning to night when I am brought in, they give me nothing to eat but sorry dry beans, not so much as cleansed from dirt or other food equally bad. And to heighten my misery, when I have filled my belly with such ordinary stuff, I am forced to lie all night in my own dung. So that you see, I have reason to envy your lot.   You suffer them to conduct you whether they please and show no manner of resolution. In the meantime, what advantage do you reap from all the indignities you suffer?  But they would not treat you so if you had as much courage as strength. When they come to fasten you to the stall, why do you not resist? Why do you not gore them with your horns and show that you are angry by striking your foot against the ground? And in short, why do you not frighten them by bellowing aloud? Nature has furnished you with means to command respect, but you do not use them. They bring you sorry beans and bad straw, eat none of them, only smell and then leave them. If you follow my advice, you will soon experience a change for which you will thank me. The ox took the ass's advice in very good part and owned he was much obliged to him. You're sprightly, added he. I will not fail to do as you direct, and you shall see how I will acquit myself. Here ended their conversation, of which the merchant lost not a word. Early the next morning the laborer went for the ox. He fastened him to the plow and conducted him to his usual work. The ox, who had not forgotten the ass's counsel, was very troublesome and untowardly all that day, and in the evening, when the laborer brought him back to the stall and began to fasten him, the vicious beast instead of presenting his head willingly as he used to do was restive and drew back bellowing and then made at the laborer as if he would have gored him with his horns.  The day following the laborer came as usual to take the ox to his labor, but finding the stall full of beans, the straw that he had put in the night before not touched and the ox lying on the ground with his legs stretched out and panting in a strange manner, he believed him to be unwell, and was not proper to take him to work, went immediately and acquainted his master with his condition. The merchant, perceiving that the ox had followed all the mischievous advice of the ass, determined to punish the latter and accordingly ordered the laborer to go and put him in the ox's place and to be sure to work him hard. The laborer did as he was desired.  Besides, he had been so soundly beaten that he could scarcely stand when he came back. Meanwhile, the ox was mightily pleased. He ate up all that was in his stall and rested himself the whole day.   Unfortunately, everything smiled upon me. I had all that I could wish, and it is my own fault that I am brought to this miserable condition, and if I cannot contrive some way to get out of it, I am certainly undone. As he spoke, his strength was so much exhausted that he fell down in his stall as if he had been half-dead.  You will expose yourself to destruction by your erroneous policy. Take my advice. Remain quiet, and do not seek to hasten your death. Father, replied Scheherazade, the example you have set before me will not induce me to change my resolution. I will never cease importuning you until you present me to the Sultan as his bride. The Vizier, perceiving that she persisted in her demand, replied, Alas, then, since you will continue obstinate, I shall be obliged to treat you in the same manner as the merchant whom I before referred to treated his wife a short time after.  Therefore, after supper, he went out by moonlight and sat down by them, his wife bearing him company.  What will I do? replied the ox. I will continue to act as you taught me. I will draw back from him and threaten him with my horns as I did yesterday. I will feign myself ill and at the point of death.  Alas, what did you hear? demanded the ox. As you love me, withhold nothing from me, my dear Spritely. Our master, replied the ass, cast himself thus to the laborer. Since the ox does not eat and is not able to work, I would have him killed tomorrow, and we will give his flesh as an alms to the poor for God's sake. As for the skin, that will be of use to us, and I would have you give it to the courier to dress. Therefore, be sure to send for the butcher.  The interest I feel in your preservation and my friendship for you, obliged me to make it known to you that you are nice.  Our master will by this think that you are recovered, and no doubt will recall his orders for killing you. But if you act otherwise, you will certainly be slaughtered.  The ox was greatly alarmed and bellowed for fear. The merchant, who heard the conversation very attentively, fell into a loud fit of laughter. His wife was greatly surprised and asked, Tell me what you laugh at so heartily that I may laugh with you. Wife, replied he, you must content yourself with hearing me laugh. No, returned she, I will know the reason.  The rest is a secret which I am not allowed to reveal. What demanded she hinders you from revealing the secret?  You only jeer me, cried his wife. What would you have me believe cannot be true?  Having spoken thus, she went into the house and seating herself in a corner, cried there all night. Her husband lay alone, and finding next morning that she continued in the same humor, told her she was very foolish to afflict herself in that manner, that the thing was not worth so much, that it concerned her very little to know while it was of the utmost consequence to him to keep the secret. Therefore, continued he, I conjure you to think no more of it. I shall still think so much of it, replied she, as never to forbear weeping till you have satisfied my curiosity. But I tell you very seriously, answered he, that it will cost me my life if I yield to your indiscreet solicitations. Let what will happen, said she, I do insist upon it.  Accordingly he called for them and sent for her father and mother and other relations. When they were come and had heard the reason of their being summoned, they did all they could to convince her that she was in the wrong, but to no purpose.  Her father and mother spoke to her by herself and told her that what she desired to know was of no importance to her, but they could produce no effect upon her, either by their authority or by entreaties. When her children saw that nothing would prevail to draw her out of that sullen temper, they wept bitterly. The merchant himself was half frantic and almost ready to risk his own life to save that of his wife, whom he sincerely loved. The merchant had fifty hens and one cock, with a dog that gave good heed to all that passed.  Are you not ashamed to add thus today?  If you do not know, replied the dog, then I will tell you that this day our master is in great perplexity. His wife would have him reveal a secret which is of such a nature that the disclosure would cost him his life. Things are come to that pass that it is to be feared he will scarcely have resolution enough to resist his wife's obstinacy. For he loves her and is affected by the tears she continually sheds. We are all alarmed at this situation while you only insult our melancholy and have the impudence to divert yourself with your hens.  He has but one wife and cannot govern her, and though I have fifty, I make them all do what I please. Let him use his reason. He will soon find a way to rid himself of this trouble. How, demanded the dog, what would you have him do? Let him go into the room where his wife is, resumed the cock, locked the door, and take a stick and thrash her wealth, and I will answer for it, that will bring her to her senses and make her forbear to importune him to discover what he ought not to reveal.  Upon this, perceiving that she repented of her impertinent curiosity, persisted, and opening the door, her friends came in, were glad to find her cure to her obstinacy, and complimented her husband upon this happy expedient to bring his wife to reason. Daughter, added the grandfisier, you deserve to be treated as the merchant treated his wife. Father, replied Scheherazade, I beg that you would not take it ill that I persist in my opinion. I am nothing moved by the story of this woman. I could relate many to persuade you that you ought not to oppose my design. Besides, pardon me for declaring that your opposition is in vain, for if your paternal affection should hinder you from granting my request, I will go and offer myself to the Sultan. In short, the father, being overcome by the resolution of his daughter, yielded to her importunity, and though he was much grieved that he could not divert her from so fatal a resolution, he went instantly to acquaint the Sultan, that next night he would bring him Scheherazade. The Sultan was much surprised at the sacrifice which the grandfisier proposed to make. How could you, said he, resolve to bring me your own daughter? Sir, answered the vizier, it is her own offer. The sad destiny that awaits her could not intimidate her. She prefers the honor of being your Majesty's wife for one night to her life. But do not act under a mistake, vizier, said the Sultan. Sir, when I place Scheherazade in your hands, I expect you will put her to death, and if you fail, I swear that your own life shall answer. Sir, rejoined the vizier, my heart without doubt will be full of grief to execute your commands, but it is to no purpose for nature to murmur. Though I am her father, I will answer for the fidelity of my hand to obey your order. Scheherazade accepted his minister's offer and told him he might bring his daughter when he pleased. The grandfisier went with the intelligence to Scheherazade, who received it with as much joy as if it had been the most agreeable information she could have received. She thanked her father for having so greatly obliged her and perceiving that he was overwhelmed with grief, told him for his consolation that she hoped he would never repent of having married her to the Sultan, and on the contrary, he should have reason to rejoice at his compliance all his days. Her business now was to adorn herself to appear before the Sultan, but before she went, she took her sister Dinarzade apart and said to her, My dear sister, I have need of your assistance in a matter of great importance, and must pray you not to deny it me. My father is going to conduct me to the Sultan. Do not let this alarm you, but hear me with patience. As soon as I am in his presence, I will pray him to allow you to lie in the bride chamber that I may enjoy your company this one night more. If I obtain that favor, as I hope to do, remember to awake me tomorrow an hour before day, and to address me in these or some such words. My sister, if you be not asleep, I pray you that till daybreak, which will be very shortly, you will relate to me one of the entertaining stories of which you have read so many. I will immediately tell you one, what this means to deliver the city from the consternation it is under her present. Dinarzade answered that she would with pleasure act as she required her. The Grand Vizier conducted Scheherazade to the palace and retired after having introduced her into the Sultan's apartment. As soon as the Sultan was left alone with her, he ordered her to uncover her face. He found her so beautiful that he was perfectly charmed, but perceiving her to be in tears demanded the reason. Sir, answered Scheherazade, I have a sister who loves me tenderly, and I could wish that she might be allowed to pass the night in this chamber, that I might see her and once more bid her adieu. Will you be pleased to allow me the consolation of giving her this last testimony of my affection? She here, having consented, Dinarzade was sent for, who came with all possible expedition. An hour before day, Dinarzade failed not to do as her sister had ordered. Dear sister, cried she, if you be not asleep, I pray that until daybreak, which will be very shortly, you will tell me one of those pleasant stories you have read. Alas, this may perhaps be the last time I shall enjoy that pleasure. Scheherazade, instead of answering her sister, addressed herself to the Sultan. Sir, will your Majesty be pleased to allow me to afford my sister this satisfaction? With all my heart, applied the Sultan. Scheherazade then bade her sister attend, and afterwards addressing herself to Scheherazade proceeded as follows. End of Section 2. Recording by Paul Siegel of Maynard, Massachusetts. By Anonymous. Translated by Dr. Jonathan Scott. Section 3. The Merchant and the Genie. There was formerly a merchant, who possessed much property in lands, goods, and money, and had a great number of clerks, factors, and slaves. He was obliged from time to time to visit his correspondence on business. And one day, being under the necessity of going a long journey to a fair of importance, he took horse and carried with him a wallet containing biscuits and dates because he had a great desert to pass over where he could procure no sorts of provisions. He arrived without any incident at the end of his journey, and having dispatched his affairs, took horse again in order to return home. The fourth day of his journey, he was so much incommodated by the heat of the sun that the reflection of that heat from the earth that he turned out of the road to refresh himself under some trees. He found at the root of a large tree a fountain of very clear running water. Having alighted, he tied his horse to a branch, and sitting down by the fountain, took some biscuits and dates out of his wallet. As he ate his dates, he threw the shells carelessly in different directions. When he had finished his repast, being a good Muslim, he washed his hands, face, and feet, and said his prayers. Before he had finished, and while he was yet on his knees, he saw a genie white with age and a monstrous bulk advancing toward him with a scimitar in his hand.  The merchant, being as much alarmed by the hideous shape of the monster as at his threatening language, answered him trembling, Alas, my good lord, of what crime can I be guilty toward you that you should take away my life?  Heavens exclaimed the merchant, how could I kill your son? I never knew, never saw him. Did you not sit down when you came hither? demanded the genie. Did you not take dates out of your wallet? And as you ate them, did you not throw the shells about in different directions? I did all that you say, answered the merchant, I cannot deny it. If it be so, resumed the genie, I tell thee that thou hast killed my son. And in this manner, when thou were throwing the shells about my son was passing by, and thou didst throw one into his eye, which killed him. Therefore I must kill thee. Lord, pardon me, cried the merchant, no pardon, exclaimed the genie, no mercy. Is it not just to kill him that has killed another? I agree that it is, replied the merchant, but certainly I never killed your son and if I have it was unknown to me and I did it innocently. I beg you therefore to pardon me and suffer me to live. No, no, returned the genie, persisting in his resolution.   The merchant, with tears, protested he was innocent, bewailed his wife and children and supplicated the genie in the most moving expressions. The genie with his cimeter still lifted up, had the patience to hear his unfortunate victims to the end of his lamentations, but he would not relent. All this whining, said the monster, is to no purpose.  What, exclaimed the merchant, can nothing prevail with you? Will you absolutely take away the life of a poor innocent? Yes, replied the genie, I am resolved. As soon as she had spoken these words, perceiving it was day knowing that the sultan rose early in the morning to say his prayers and hold his counsel, Sheherazad discontinued her story. Dear sister, said De Narazad, what a wonderful story this is. The remainder of it, replied Sheherazad, is more surprising and you will be of this opinion if the sultan will but permit me to live over this day and allow me to proceed with the relation of the esuing night. Sheheryar, who had listened to Sheherazad with much interest, said to himself, I will wait till tomorrow. For I can at any time put her to death when she has concluded her story. Having thus resolved not to put Sheherazad to death that day, he rose and went to his prayers and to attend his counsel. During this time the Grand Vizier was in utmost distress. Instead of sleeping he spent the night in sighs and groans bewailing the lot of his daughter, of whom he believed he should himself shortly be the executioner. As with this melancholy prospect before him, he dreaded to meet the sultan. He was agreeably surprised when he found the prince entered the council chamber without giving him the fatal orders he expected. The sultan, according to his customs, spent the day in regulating his affairs and when the night had closed in retired with Sheherazad. The next morning before day De Narazad failed not to call her sister. My dear sister, if you be not asleep I pray you till daybreak which is very near to go on with the story you began last night. The sultan, without waiting for Sheherazad to ask his permission, bade her proceed with the story of the genie and the merchant upon which Sheherazad continued her relation as follows. FN In the original work Sheherazad continually breaks off to ask the sultan to spare her life for another day that she may finish the story she is relating. As these interruptions considerably interfere with the continued interest of the stories it has been deemed advisable to omit them. When the merchant saw that the genie was going to cut off his head he cried aloud to him for heaven's sake hold your hand allow me one word have the goodness to grant me some respite to bid my wife and children adieu to divest my estate among them by will go to law after my death when I have done this I will come back and submit to whatever you shall please to command but said the genie if I grant you the time you ask I doubt you will never return if you will believe my oath answered the merchant I swear by all that is sacred that I will come and meet you here without fail what time do you require then demanded the genie I ask a year said the merchant I cannot in less settle my affairs and prepare myself to die without regret but I promise you that this day twelve months I will return under these trees to put myself into your hands do you take heaven to be witness to this promise said the genie I do answer the merchant and you may rely upon my oath upon this the genie left him near the fountain the merchant being recovered from his terror mounted his horse and proceeded on his journey glad on the one hand that he escaped so great a danger but grieved on the other when he reflected on his fatal oath when he reached home his wife and children received him with all the demonstrations of perfect joy but he, instead of returning their caresses wept so bitterly that his family apprehended something calamitous had befallen him his wife inquired reason of his excessive grief and tears we are all overjoyed said she at your return but you alarm us by your lamentations pray tell us the cause of your sorrow alas replied the husband I have but a year to live he then related what had passed betwixt him and the genie and informed her that he had given him his oath to return at the end of the year to receive death from his hands when they heard this afflicting intelligence they all began to lament in the most distressing manner his wife uttered the most piteous cries beat her face and tore her hair the children all in tears made the house resound with their groans and the father not being able to resist the impulse of nature mingled his tears with theirs so that, in a word they exhibited the most affecting spectacle possible on the following morning the merchant applied himself to put his affairs in order and first of all to pay his debts he made presents to his friends gave liberal alms to the poor set his slaves of both sexes at liberty divided his property among his children appointed guardians for that such of them as were not of age and after restoring to his wife all that was due her by their marriage contract he gave her in addition as much as the law would allow him at last the year expired and he was obliged to depart he put his burial clothes in his wallet but when he came to bid his wife and children adieu their grief surpassed description they could not reconcile their minds to the separation but resolved to go and die with him when, however it became necessary for him to tear himself from these dear objects he addressed them in the following terms his wife and children I obey the will of heaven in quitting you follow my example submit with fortitude to this necessity and consider that it is the destiny of man to die having thus spoke he went out of the hearing of the cries of his family and pursuing his journey arrived on the day appointed at the place where he had promised to meet the genie he alighted and seating himself down by the fountain waited the coming of the genie with all the sorrow imaginable whilst he languished under this painful expectation an old man leading a hind appeared and drew near him after they had saluted one another the old man said to him brother may I ask why you are common to this desert place which is possessed solely by evil spirits and where consequently you cannot be safe from the beautiful trees which are seen here one might indeed suppose the place inhabited but it is in reality a wilderness where it can be dangerous to remain long the merchant satisfied his curiosity and related to him the deep venture which obliged him to be there the old man listened with astonishment and when he had done exclaimed this is the most surprising thing in the world and you are bound by the most inviolable oath however I will be the witness of your interview with the genie he then seated himself by the merchant and they entered into conversation but I see day said cherazad and must leave off yet the best of the story is to come the sultan resolving to hear the end of it suffered her to live that day also the next morning dinarjad made the same request to her sister as before my dear sister said she if you be not asleep tell me one of the pleasant stories that you have read the sultan wishing to learn what followed betwixt the merchant and the genie bade her proceed with that which she did it follows sir while the merchant and the old man who led the hind were conversing they saw another old man coming towards him followed by two black dogs and after they had sleuded one another he asked them what they did in that place the old man with the hind told him the adventure of the merchant and genie with all that had passed between them the merchant's oath he added that it was the day agreed on that he was resolved to stay and see the issue the second old man thinking it was also worth his curiosity resolved to do the same and took his seat beside them they had scarcely begun to converse together when there arrived a third old man leading a mule he addressed himself to the two former and asked why the merchant who sat with them looked so melancholy they told him the reason which appeared to him so extraordinary that he also resolved to witness the result for that purpose sat down with them in a short time they perceived a thick vapor like a cloud of dust raised by a whirlwind advancing towards them when it had come to them it suddenly vanished and the genie appeared who without saluting them went to the merchant with a drawn cimeter and said get the up that I may kill thee as thou dist my son the merchant and the three old men began to lament and fill the air with their cries when the old man who led the hind saw the genie lay hold of the merchant and about to kill him he threw himself at the feet of the monster and kissing them said prince of genies I most humbly request you to suspend your anger and do me the favor to hear me I will tell you the history of my life and of the hind you see and if you think it more wonderful and surprising than the adventure of the merchant I hope you will pardon the unfortunate man a third of his offense the genie took some time to deliberate on this proposal but it answered at last well then, I agree end of section 3 recording by Tim Gregory Seattle, Washington section 4 this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Tim Gregory the Arabian Knights Entertainment's volume 1 by Anonymous translated by Dr. Jonathan Scott section 4 the story of the first old man and the hind I shall begin my story then listen to me, I pray you with attention this hind you see is my cousin nay, what is more my wife she was only 12 years of age when I married her so that I may justly say she ought to regard me equally as her father, her kinsman and her husband we lived together 20 years without any children her barrenness did not affect any change in my love I still treated her with much kindness and affection my desire of having children only induced me to purchase a slave by whom I had a son who was extremely promising my wife being jealous cherished a hatred for both mother and child but concealed her aversion that I knew nothing of it till it was too late meantime my son grew up and was 10 years old when I was obliged to undertake a long journey before I went I recommended to my wife of whom I had no mistrust the slave and her son and prayed her to take care of them during my absence which was to be for a whole year she however employed that time to satisfy her hatred she applied herself to magic and when she had learnt enough of that diabolical art to execute her horrible design the wretch carried my son to a desolate place where, by her enchantments she changed him into a calf and gave him to my farmer to fatten pretending she had bought him enmity did not stop at this abominable action but she likewise changed the slave into a cow and gave her also to my farmer at my return I inquired for the mother and child your slave, said she is dead and as for your son I know not what has become of him I have not seen him this two months I was afflicted at the death of the slave as she informed me my son had only disappeared I was in hopes he would shortly return however eight months passed and I heard nothing of him when the festival of the great Bayram was to be celebrated I sent my farmer for one of the fattest cows to sacrifice he accordingly sent me one and the cow which was brought before me proved to be my slave the unfortunate mother of my son I bound her but as I was going to sacrifice her she bellowed piteously and I could perceive tears streaming from her eyes this seemed to me very extraordinary and finding myself moved with compassion I could not find in my heart to give her a blow but ordered my farmer to get me another my wife who was present was enraged at my tenderness and resisting an order which disappointed her malice she cried out what are you doing husband sacrifice that cow your farmer has not a finer nor one fitter for the festival out of deference to my wife I came again to the cow and combating my compassion which suspended the sacrifice was going to give her the fatal blow when the victim redoubling her tears and bellowing disarmed me a second time I then put the mallet into the farmer's hands and desired him to take it and sacrifice her himself for her tears and bellowing pierced my heart the farmer less compassionate than myself sacrificed her but when he flayed her he found her to be nothing except bones though she seemed very fat take her yourself said I to him dispose of her in alms or any way you please and if you have a very fat calf bring it me in her stead I did not inquire what he did with the cow but soon after he had taken her away he had returned with the fat calf though I knew not the calf was my son yet I could not forebear being moved at the sight of him on his part as soon as he beheld me he made so great an effort to come near me that he broke his cord he threw himself at my feet with his head against the ground as if he meant to excite my compassion conjuring me not to be so cruel as to take his life and did as much as was possible for him to signify that he was my son I was more surprised and affected with this action than with the tears of the cow I felt a tender pity which interested me on this behalf or rather did its duty go said I to the farmer carry home that calf take great care of him and bring me another in his stead immediately as soon as my wife heard me give this order she exclaimed what are you about husband take my advice sacrifice no other calf but that wife I replied I will not sacrifice him I will spare him and pray do not you oppose me the wicked woman had no regard to my wishes she hated my son too much to consent that I should save him I tied the poor creature and taking up the fatal knife was going to plunge it into my son's throat when turning his eyes bathed with tears in a languishing manner towards me he affected me so much that I had not strength to kill him I let the knife fall and told my wife positively that I would have another calf to sacrifice and not that she used all her endeavours to persuade me to change my resolution but I continued firm and pacified her a little by promising that I would sacrifice him against the veyrum of the following year the next morning my farmer desired to speak to me alone I come, said he, to communicate to you a piece of intelligence for which I hope you will return me thanks I have a daughter that has some skill in magic yesterday, as I carried back the calf which you would not sacrifice I perceived she laughed when she saw him and in a moment after fell a weeping I asked her why she acted two such opposite parts at one and the same time rather, replied she the calf you bring back is our landlord's son I laughed for joy to see him still alive and wept at the remembrance of the sacrifice that was made the other day of his mother who was changed into a cow these two metamorphoses were made by the enchantments of our master's wife who hated both the mother and the son this is what my daughter told me and I come to acquaint you with it I leave you to judge how much I was surprised I went immediately to my farmer to speak to his daughter myself as soon as I arrived I went forthwith to the stall where my son was kept he could not return my embraces but receive them in such a manner as fully satisfied me he was my son the farmer's daughter came to us my good maid said I can you restore my son to his former shape yes she replied I can oh said I if you do I will make you mistress of all my fortune she answered me smiling you are our master and I well know what I owe to you but I cannot restore your son to his former shape except on two conditions one is that you give him to me for my husband and the second that you allow me to punish the person who changed him into a calf as to the first I replied I agree with all my heart nay I promise you more a considerable fortune for yourself independently of what I designed for my son in a word you shall see how I will reward the great service I expect from you as to what relates to my wife I also agree a person who has been capable of committing such a criminal action justly deserves to be punished I leave her to your disposal only I must pray you not to take her life I am going then answered she to treat her as she treated your son to this I consent said I provided you first of all to restore to me my son the damsel then took a vessel full of water pronounced over at words that I did not understand and addressing herself to the calf oh calf if thou wast created by the almighty and sovereign master of the world such as thou appearest at this time continue in that form but if thou be a man an art changed into a calf by enchantment returned to thy natural shape by the permission of the sovereign creator as she spoke she threw water upon him and in an instant he recovered his natural form my son my dear son cried I immediately embracing him with such a transport of joy that I knew not what I was doing it is heaven that has sent us this young maid to remove the horrible charm by which you were enchanted by the imagery done to you and your mother I doubt not but in acknowledgment you will make your deliverer your wife as I have promised he joyfully consented but before they married she changed my wife into a hind and this is she whom you see here I desired she might have this shape rather than another less agreeable that we might see her in the family without honor at that time my son has become a widower and gone to travel it being now several years since I heard of him I have come abroad to inquire after him and not being willing to trust anybody with my wife till I should return home I thought fit to take her everywhere with me this is the history of myself in this hind is it not one of the most I admit it is said the genie and on that account forgive the merchant one third of his crime when the first old man had finished his story the second who led two black dogs addressed the genie and said I am going to tell you what happened to me and these two black dogs you see by me I am certain you will say that my story is yet more surprising than that which you have just heard I hope you will be pleased to pardon the merchant another third of his offense I will reply to genie provided your story surpassed that of the hind then the second old man began in this manner end of section 4 recording by Tim Gregory www.tarjama.com section 5 the Arabian Nights Entertainment volume 1 by Dr John Nathan Scott section 5 the story of the second old man and the two black dogs great pleasure and pleasure and pleasure and pleasure and pleasure and pleasure and pleasure and pleasure and pleasure and pleasure great prince of genies you must know that we are three brothers the two black dogs and myself our father when he died left each of us one thousand sequins with that sum we all became merchants a little time after we had opened shop my eldest brother one of these two dogs resolved to travel and trade in foreign countries with this view he sold his estate and bought goods suited to the trade intended to follow he went away and was absent a whole year after the expiration of this time a poor man who I thought has come to us comes presented himself before me in my shop I said to him God help you he returned my salutation and continued is it possible you do not know me upon this I looked at him narrowly and recognized him ah brother cried embracing him how could I know you in this condition I made him come into my house and asked him concerning his health and the success of his travels do not ask me that question said he when you see me you see all it would only renew my grief to relate to you the particulars these fortunes I have experienced since I left you which have reduced me to my present condition I immediately shut up my shop and taking him to a bath gave him the best clothes I had fighting on exam mining my books that I had doubled my stock that is to say that I was worth 2,000 sequence I gave him one half with that said I brother you may make up your loss he joyfully accepted the present and having repaired these fortunes we live together as before some time after my second brother who is the other of these two dogs who don't sell his estate he send a brother and myself did all we could to divert him from his purpose but without effect he disposed of it and with the money bought such goods as was suitable to the trade which he designed to follow he joined a caravan and he parted at the end of the year he returned in the same condition as my other brother having myself by this time gained another thousand sequence I made him a present of them with this sum he furnished the shop and continued his trade some time after one of my brothers came to me to propose that I should join them in a trading voyage I immediately declined you have traveled said I and what have you gained by it who can assure me that I should be more successful than you have been it was in vain that they urged open me all the considerations they thought likely to gain me over to their design for I constantly refused but after having resisted their solicitations five whole years they import tuned me so much that at last they overcame my resolution when however the time arrived that we were to make preparation for our voyage to buy the goods necessary to the undertaking I found they had spent all and had not one theorem left of the thousand sequence I had I did not on this account on the contrary my stock being still six thousand sequence I shared the half of it with them telling them my brothers we must venture this three thousand sequence and hide the rest in some secure place that in case our voyage be not more successful than yours was formally we may have way with to assist us to follow our ranks and toy of living I gave each of them a thousand sequence and keeping as much for myself I brought it the other three thousand dinner corner of my house we purchased goods and having embarked them on board the vessel which reflected betwixt us we put to sea with a favorable wind after two months sale we arrived happily at port where we landed and had a very good market for our goods I especially sawed mine so well that I gained ten to one with the produce we bought commodities of that country to carry back with us for sale when we were ready to embark on our return I met on the seashore a lady handsome enough but poorly clad and me gracefully kissed my hand we sought me with the greatest turnissness imaginable to marry her and take her along with me I made some difficulty to agree to this proposal but she urged so many things to purse with me that I ought not to object to her on account of her poverty and that I should have all the reason in the world to be satisfied with her conduct that at last I yielded I ordered proper apparent to be made for her and after having married her according to form I took her on board and reset sale I found my wife possessed so many good qualities that my love to her everyday increased in the meantime my two brothers who had not managed their affairs as successfully as I had mine envied my prosperity with their feelings to carry them so far that they conspired against my life and one night when my wife and I were asleep threw us both into the sea my wife proved to be a fairy and by consequence a genie so that she could not be drowned but for me it is certain I must have perished without her help I had scarcely fallen into the water when she took me up and carried me to an island one day appeared she said to me you see husband that by saving your life I have not rewarded the will for your kindness to me you must know that I am a fairy and being upon the sea shore when you were going to embark I found a stronger desire to have you for my husband I had the mind to try your goodness and presented myself before you in disguise you have done generously by me and I am glad of an opportunity of returning my acknowledgement but I am Vincent against your brothers and nothing will satisfy me but their lives I listened to this discourse with admiration I thank the fairy the best way I could for the great kindness she has done me but madam said I as for my brothers I beg you to pardon them whatever cause of resentment they have given me I am not cruel enough to desire their death I then informed her what I had done for them but this increased her indignation and she exclaimed I must immediately pursue those ungrateful traitors and take speedy vengeance on them I will destroy their vessel and sink them into the bottom of the sea my good lady replied I for heaven's sake for bear consider that they are my brothers and that we ought to return good for evil I purcified her by these words and as soon as I had concluded she transported me in a moment from the island to the roof of my own house which was tourist and instantly disappeared I descended opened the doors and dug up the 3000 sequins I had formally secreted I went afterward to my shop which I also opened and was complimented by the merchants my neighbors upon my return when I went back to my house I perceived there two black dogs which came up to me in a very submissive manner I could not divine the meaning of this circumstance which greatly astonished me but the fairy who immediately appeared said husband be not surprised to see these dogs they are your brothers I was troubled at this declaration and asked her by what power they were so transformed I did it said she or at least authorized one of my sisters to do it who at the same time sunk their ship you have lost the goods you had on board but I will compensate you another way as to your two brothers I have condemned them to remain five years in that ship their perfidiousness too one deserves such a penance having this spoken and told me where I might hear of her she disappeared the five years being now nearly expired I am traveling in quest of her and as I passed this way I met this merchant and the good old man who let the hide and sat down by them this is my history oh prince of genies do not you think is very extraordinary I own it is reply the genie and on that account the second third of the crime which he has committed against me as soon as the second old man has finished the third began his story after repeating the request of the two former that the genie would pardon the merchant the other third of his crime provided what they should relate surpassed in singularity of incidents the narratives he had already heard the genie made him the same promise as he had given the others the third old man related his story to the genie and it exceeded the two former stories so much in the variety of wonderful adventures that the genie was astonished and no sooner heard the conclusion than he said to the old man I remit the other third of the merchant's crime on account of your story he is greatly obliged to all of you for having delivered him out of his danger by what you have related for to this he owes his life having spoken thus he disappeared to the great contentment of the company the merchant failed not to make due acknowledgement to his deliverers they rejoiced to see him out of danger and beating him a due and proceeded on his way the merchant returned to his wife and children and passed the rest of his days with them in peace end of section 5 section 6 of the Arabian Nights Entertainment volume 1 this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer LibriVox.org recording by Ted Nugent the Arabian Nights Entertainment volume 1 by anonymous translated by Dr. John Nathan Scott section 6 the story of the fisherman there was an aged fisherman who was so poor that he could scarcely as much as would maintain himself his wife and three children he went every day to fish betimed in the morning and imposed it as a law upon himself not to cast his nets above four times the day he went one morning by the moonlight and coming to the seaside undressed himself and cast in his nets as he drew them towards the shore he found them very heavy and thought he had a good drop of fish at which he rejoiced but in a moment after perceiving that instead of fish his nets contained nothing but the carcass of an ass he was much vexed when the fisherman had landed his nets which the carcass of the ass had broken in several places he threw them in a second time and when he drew them found a great deal of resistance which made him think he had taken the abundance of fish but he found nothing except the basket full of gravel and slime which gripped him extremely oh fortune cried he with a lamentable tone be not angry with me no persecutor wretch who prays thee to spare him I came hither from my house to seek for my livelihood and thou pronounces against me a sentence of death by and notwithstanding all my care I can scarcely provide what is absolutely necessary for my family but I am to blame to complain of thee thou takes the pleasure to persecute honest people and to leave great men in obscurity while thou showest favor to the wicked and advances those who have no virtue to recommend them having finished this complaint he fretfully threw away the basket and washing his nets from the slime cast them the third time but brought up nothing except stones shells and mud no language can express his disappointment he was almost distracted however when they began to appear he did not forget to say his prayers like a good moslemown and he added to them this petition Lord thou knowest that I cast my nets only four times a day and we have already drawn them three times without the least reward for my labor I am only to cast them once more I pray thee to render the sea favorable to me as thou didst to Moses the fisherman having finished this prayer cast his nets the fourth time and when he thought drew them as formally with great difficulty but instead the fish found nothing in them but to vessel the yellow copper which from its weight seemed not to be empty and he observed that it was shut up and sealed with lead having the impression of a sealed opponent this turn the fortune rejoiced him I will sell it said he to the fowler and with the money by a measure of corn he examined the vessel on all sides and shook it to try if its contents made any noise but of nothing this circumstance with the impression of the seal the iron cover made him think it enclosed something precious to try this he took a knife and opened it with very little labor he turned the mouth downward but nothing came out which surprised him extremely he blessed it before him but why he viewed it tentatively there came out a very thick smoke which obliged him to retire two or three pieces back the smoke ascended to the clouds and extending itself along the sea and upon the shore formed a great mist which we may well imagine filled the fisherman with astonishment when the smoke was all out of the vessel it reunited and became a solid body of which was formed the genie twice as high as the greatest of giants at the sight of a monster of such an unwildly bonk the fisherman would fell half flat so frightened that he could not move Solomon cried the genie immediately Solomon the great prophet pardon pardon I will never more oppose your will I will obey all your commands when the fisherman heard this was of the genie he recovered his courage and said to him thou proud spirit what is thee do you say it is above 800 years seen the prophet Solomon die and we are now at the end of time tell me your story and how you came to be shut up in this vessel the genie turning to the fisherman with the fierce look said thou must speak to me with more respect thou art presumptuous fellow to call me the proud spirit very well said the fisherman shall I speak to you more civilly and call you the hour of good luck I say answered the genie speak to me more respectfully or I will kill thee ah reply the fisherman why would you kill me did I not just now set you at liberty and have you already forgotten my services yes the spirit said the genie but that shall not save thy life I have only one favor to grant thee and what is that asked the fisherman it is answered the genie to give thee thy choice in what manner put thee to death but wherein have I offended you demanded the fisherman is that your reward for the service I have rendered you I cannot treat thee otherwise said the genie and that thou may know the reason here come to my story I am one of those rebellious spirits that oppose the will of heaven nearly all other genies out Solomon the great prophet and yielded to his authority Shabir and I were the only two that would never be guilty of a mean submission and to avenge himself that great monarch the son of parakeer his chief minister to apprehend me that was accordingly done asap sees my person and brought me by force before his masters thrown Solomon the son of David commanded me to acknowledge his power and to submit to his command I briefly refused and told him that I would rather expose myself to his resentment than swear fealty as he required to punish me he shut me up in this copper vessel and that I might not break my prison he himself stands upon this copper he sealed with the great name of God he then gave the vessel to one of the genies who had submitted with thordes to throw me into the sea which to my sorrow were executed during the first hundred years of my imprisonment I swore that if anyone should deliver me before the expiration of that period I would make him rich even after his death but that century ran out and nobody did me that good office during the second I made a note that I would open all the treasures of the earth to anyone that might set me at liberty with better success in the third I promised to make my deliverer a potent monarch to be always near him in spirit and to grant him everyday three requests of what nature so ever they might be but this century passed as well as the two former and I continued in prison at last being angry or rather mad to fight myself a prisoner so long I swore that if afterwards anyone should deliver me I would kill him without mercy and grant him no other favor but to choose the manner of his death and therefore since thou has delivered me today I give thee that choice this discourse afflicted the fishermen extremely I am very unfortunate to come hither to do such a kindness to one that is so ungrateful I beg you to consider real injustice and revoke such an unreasonable love pardon me heaven will pardon you if you grant me my life heaven will protest you from all attempts against your own no thy death is resolved on said the genie only choose in what manner you will die the fisherman perceiving the genie to be resolute was extremely grieved not so much for himself as on account of his three children and bewilled the misery they must be reduced by his death he endeavoured still to appease the genie and said Alice be pleased to take pity on me in consideration of the service I have done you I have told thee I have already replied the genie it is for that very reason I must kill thee that is strange said the fisherman are you resolved to reward good with evil the proverb says that he who does good to one who deserves it not is always still rewarded I must confess I thought it was fall for certainly there can be nothing more contrary to reason or the laws of society nevertheless I fight now by cruelly experience that it is but too true do not lose time interrupted the genie all thy reasoning shall not divert me from my purpose make haste and tell me what kind of death thou preferest necessity is the mother of invention the fisherman be thought himself of a stratagem since I must die then said he to the genie I submit to the will of heaven but before I choose the manner of my death I conjure you by the great name which was engraved upon the seal of the prophet Solomon the son of David to answer me truly the question I am going to ask you the genie fighting himself obliged to a positive answer by this adoration trembled and replied to the fisherman ask what thou willed but make haste the fisherman then said to him I wish to know if you were actually in this vessel dare you swear it by the name of the great god yes replied the genie I do swear by that great name that I was in good faith answered the fisherman I cannot believe you the vessel is not capable of holding one of your size and how should it be possible that your whole body should lie in it I swear to be notwithstanding replied the genie that I was there just as you see me here is it possible that thou cost not believe me after the solar mode that I have taken truly not I said the fisherman nor will I believe you unless you go into the vessel again upon which the body of the genie dissolved and changed itself into smoke extending as before upon the sea shore at the end at last being collected it began to re-enter the vessel which is continued to do by a slow and equal motion till no part remained out when immediately a voice came forth which said to the fisherman well now incredulous fellow I am in the vessel do not you believe me now the fisherman instead of answering the genie took the cover of lead and having speedily replaced it on the vessel genie cried he now it is your turn to beg my favor and to choose which way I shall put you to death but not so it is better that I should throw you into the sea when I took you and then I will build a house upon the shore where I will reside and give notice to all fishermen who come to throw in their nets to beware of such a wicked genie as thou art who has met the north to kill him that shall set thee at liberty the genie enraged at these sick expressions struggled to set himself at liberty but it was impossible for the impression of Solomon's seal prevented him perceiving that the fisherman had caught the advantage of him for he thought fit to disemble his anger fisherman said he take heed do not what you threaten for what I spoke to you was only by the way of jazz old genie replied the fisherman thou who was but a moment ago the greatest of all genies and now art the least of them thy crafty discourse will signify nothing to the seal thou shalt return if thou has been there already so long as thou has told me thou mayest very well stay there till the day of judgment I begged of thee in God's name not to take away my life and thou didst reject my prayers I am of lies to treat thee in the same manner the genie omitted nothing that he thought likely to prevail with the fisherman open the vessel said he my liberty and I promise to satisfy thee to thy own content thou art a traitor replied the fisherman I should deserve to lose my life if I was such a fool as to trust thee thou wilt not fail to treat me in the same manner as a certain grassian king treated the physician doban it is a story I have a mind to tell thee therefore listen to it