The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night, vol 3 | Page 8

yet!' *
Quoth I, 'O blamer where may patience wone?'"
Then said he, "This, O King! is my tale: hast thou ever heard one
stranger?" So Taj al-Muluk marvelled with great marvel at the young
merchant's story, and fire darted into his entrails on hearing the name of
the Lady Dunya and her loveliness.--And Shahrazad perceived the
dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
When it was the One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Night,
She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Wazir Dandan
continued to Zau al-Makan: Now when Taj al-Muluk heard the story of
the young merchant, he marvelled with great marvel and fire darted
into his entrails on hearing the name of the Lady Dunya who, as he
knew, had embroidered the gazelles; and his love and longing hourly
grew, so he said to the youth, "By Allah, that hath befallen thee whose
like never befel any save thyself, but thou hast a life term appointed,
which thou must fulfil; and now I would fain ask of thee a question."
Quoth Aziz, "And what is it?" Quoth he, "Wilt thou tell me how thou
sawest the young lady who wrought these gazelles?" Then he, "O my
lord, I got me access to her by a sleight and it was this. When I entered
her city with the caravan, I went forth and wandered about the garths
till I came to a flower garden abounding in trees, whose keeper was a
venerable old man, a Shaykh stricken in years. I addressed him, saying,
'O ancient sir, whose may be this garden?' and he replied, 'It belongs to
the King's daughter, the Lady Dunya. We are now beneath her palace
and, when she is minded to amuse herself, she openeth the private
wicket and walketh in the garden and smelleth the fragrance of the
flowers.' So I said to him, 'Favour me by allowing me to sit in this
garden till she come; haply I may enjoy a sight of her as she passeth.'
The Shaykh answered, 'There can be no harm in that.' Thereupon I gave
him a dirham or so and said to him, Buy us something to eat.' He took
the money gladly and opened door and, entering himself, admitted me
into the garden, where we strolled and ceased not strolling till we
reached a pleasant spot in which he bade me sit down and await his

going and his returning. Then he brought me somewhat of fruit and,
leaving me, disappeared for an hour; but after a while he returned to me
bringing a roasted lamb, of which we ate till we had eaten enough, my
heart yearning the while for a sight of the lady. Presently, as we sat, the
postern opened and the keeper said to me, 'Rise and hide thee.' I did so;
and behold, a black eunuch put his head out through the garden wicket
and asked, 'O Shaykh, there any one with thee?' 'No,' answered he; and
the eunuch said, 'Shut the garden gate.' So the keeper shut the gate, and
lo! the Lady Dunya came in by the private door. When I saw her,
methought the moon had risen above the horizon and was shining; I
looked at her a full hour and longed for her as one athirst longeth for
water. After a while she withdrew and shut the door; whereupon I left
the garden and sought my lodging, knowing that I could not get at her
and that I was no man for her, more especially as I was become like a
woman, having no manly tool: moreover she was a King's daughter and
I but a merchant man; so; how could I have access to the like of her or--
to any other woman? Accordingly, when these my companions made
ready for the road, I also made preparation and set out with them, and
we journeyed towards this city till we arrived at the place ere we met
with thee. Thou askedst me and I have answered; and these are my
adventures and peace be with thee!" Now when Taj al-Muluk heard
that account, fires raged in his bosom and his heart and thought were
occupied love for the Lady Dunya; and passion and longing were sore
upon him. Then he arose and mounted horse and, taking Aziz with him,
returned to his father's capital, where he settled him in a separate house
and supplied him with all he needed in the way of meat and drink and
dress. Then he left him and returned to his palace, with the tears
trickling down his cheeks, for hearing oftentimes standeth instead of
seeing and knowing.[FN#10] And he ceased not to be in this state till
his father came in to him and finding