The Arabian Nights Entertainments, vol 1 | Page 6

clouds. This redoubled their terror, made them rise with
haste, and climb up into a tree m bide 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 them mischief. He was
black and frightful, had the shape of a giant, of a prodigious stature,
and carried on his head a large glass box, fastened with four locks of
fine steel. 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 appareled, 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, whom I carried off on
your wedding-day, and have loved so constantly ever since, let me
sleep a few moments by you; for I found myself so very drowsy that I
came 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 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 fain 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 awake 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
shewed the princes, and asked them if they knew what those jewels
meant? "No," said they, "we hope you will be pleased to inform us."
"These are," she replied, "the rings of all the men to whom I have
granted my favours. There are fourscore and eighteen, which I keep as
memorials of them; and I asked for yours to make up the hundred. So
that I have had a hundred gallants already, notwithstanding the
vigilance of this wicked genie, who never 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 by 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 serves to teach them cunning."
Having spoken thus to them, she put their rings on the same string with
the rest, and sitting down by the monster, as before, laid his head again
upon her lap, end 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 Shier-ear said to

Shaw-zummaun "Well, brother, what do you think of this adventure?
Has 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 Tartary; "and you must also agree that the
monster is