The Arabian Nights Entertainments, vol 1 | Page 7

more unfortunate, and more to be pitied 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 inviolable.
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 betimes
in the morning before his pavilion to wait his pleasure. He ordered
them to enter, received them with a more pleasant air than he had
formerly done, and gave each of them a present. After which, he told
them he would go no farther, ordered them to take horse, and returned
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 her to his grand
vizier, with an order to strangle her, which was accordingly executed
by that minister, without inquiring into her 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 chaste, 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 in force immediately after the
departure of the king of Tartary, who shortly took leave of him, and
being laden with magnificent presents, set forward on his journey.
Shaw-zummaun having departed, Shier-ear 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 brought him then the daughter of a
subaltern, whom he also put to death the next day. After her he brought
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
lamentation. Here, a father in tears, and inconsolable for the loss of his
daughter; and there, tender mothers dreating lest their daughters 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 hitherto received from his subjects, their mouths
were now filled with imprecations.
The grand vizier who, as has been already observed, was the unwilling
executioner of this horrid course of injustice, had two daughters, the
elder called Scheherazade, and the younger Dinarzade. 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 any thing 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
design, daughter," replied the vizier "is very commendable; but the evil

you would remedy seems to me incurable. How do you propose to
effect your purpose?" "Father," said Scheherazade, "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