The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night, vol 14 | Page 6

And A
Night

Story of the Sultan of Al-Yaman and His three Sons.[FN#1]

There was erewhile in the land of Al-Yaman a man which was a Sultan
and under him were three Kinglets whom he overruled. He had four
children; to wit, three sons and a daughter: he also owned wealth and
treasures greater than reed can pen or page may contain; as well as
animals such as horses and camels, sheep and black cattle; and he was
held in awe by all the sovrans. But when his reign had lasted for a
length of time, Age[FN#2] brought with it ailments and infirmities and
he became incapable of faring forth his Palace to the Divan, the hall of
audience; whereupon he summoned his three sons to the presence and
said to them, "As for me, 'tis my wish to divide among you all my
substance ere I die, that ye may be equal in circumstance and live in
accordance with whatso I shall command." And they said, "Hearkening
and obedience." Then quoth the Sultan, "Let the eldest of you become
sovereign after me: let the cadet succeed to my moneys and
treasures[FN#3] and as for the youngest let him inherit my animals of
every kind. Suffer none to transgress against other; but each aid each
and assist his co-partner." He then caused them to sign a bond and

agreement to abide by his bequeathal; and, after delaying a while, he
departed to the mercy of Allah. Thereupon his three sons got ready the
funeral gear and whatever was suited to his estate for the mortuary
obsequies such as cerements and other matters: they washed the corpse
and enshrouded it and prayed over it: then, having committed it to the
earth they returned to their palaces where the Wazirs and the Lords of
the Land and the city-folk in their multitudes, high and low, rich and
poor, flocked to condole with them on the loss of their father. And the
news of his decease was soon bruited abroad in all the provinces; and
deputations from each and every city came to offer condolence to the
King's sons. These ceremonies duly ended, the eldest Prince demanded
that he should be seated as Sultan on the stead of his sire in accordance
with the paternal will and testament; but he could not obtain it from his
two brothers as both and each said, "I will become ruler in room of my
father." So enmity and disputes for the government now arose amongst
them and it was not to be won by any; but at last quoth the eldest Prince,
"Wend we and submit ourselves to the arbitration of a Sultan of the
tributary sultans; and let him to whom he shall adjudge the realm take it
and reign over it." Quoth they "'Tis well!" and thereto agreed, as did
also the Wazirs; and the three set out without suite seeking the capital
of one of the subject Sovrans.--And Shahrázád[FN#4] was surprised by
the dawn of day[FN#5] and fell silent and ceased to say her permitted
say. Then quoth her sister Dunyázád, "How sweet is thy story, O sister
mine, and how enjoyable and delectable!" Quoth she, "And where is
this compared with that I would relate to you on the coming night, an
the King suffer me to survive?" Now when it was the next night and
that was
The Three Hundred and Thirtieth Night,
Dunyazad said to her, "Allah upon thee, O my sister, an thou be other
than sleepy, finish for us thy tale that we may cut short the watching of
this our latter night!" She replied, "With love and good will!" It hath
reached me, O auspicious King, the director, the right-guiding, lord of
the rede which is benefiting and of deed fair-seeming and worthy
celebrating, that the three Princes fared seeking a Sultan of the sultans
who had been under the hands of their sire, in order that they might

take him to arbitrator. And they stinted not faring till the middle way,
when behold, they came upon a mead abounding in herbage and in
rainwater lying sheeted.[FN#6] So they sat them down to rest and to eat
of their victual, when one of the brothers, casting his eye upon the
herbage, cried, "Verily a camel hath lately passed this way laden half
with Halwá-sweetmeats and half with Hámiz-pickles."[FN#7] "True,"
cried the second, "and he was blind of an eye." Exclaimed the third,
"'Tis sooth; and indeed he hath lost his tail." Hardly, however, had they
ended their words when lo! the owner of the camel came upon them
(for he had overheard their speech and had said to himself, "By Allah,
these three fellows have driven off my property, inasmuch as they have
described the burthen and