The Arabian Nights Entertainments, vol 1 | Page 3

the
palace provided for him, which had a communication with his own by a
garden. It was so much the more 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.
Shier-ear immediately left the king of Tartary, that he might give him
time to bathe, and to change his apparel. As soon as he had done, he
returned to him again, and they sat down together on a sofa or alcove.
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 Shier-ear, perceiving that it was very late, left his brother to repose.
The unfortunate Shaw-zummaun retired to 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.
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 the matter with the king of Tartary that he is so
melancholy? Has he any cause to complain of 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 Samarcand." Accordingly the next day Shier-ear
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, Shier-ear having appointed a great hunting-match, about two
days journey from his capital, in a place that abounded with deer,
Shaw-zummaun 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 a-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 the 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 of it twenty women, in the midst
of whom walked the sultaness, who was easily distinguished from the
rest by her majestic air. This princess thinking that the king of Tartary
was gone a-hunting with his brother the sultan, came with her retinue

near the windows 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, and ran 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
Shaw-zummaun saw enough to convince him, that his brother was as
much to be pitied as himself. This amorous 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