The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night, vol 8 | Page 5

seize Kings' daughters and sever them from their
families and carry them to the Ruined Well and the High-builded
Castle of Japhet son of Noah and entreat them lewdly by debauching
them. I slew him by means of this ring on my finger, and Allah hurried
his soul to the fire and the abiding-place dire." Therewithal the King
was assured that this was indeed he who slew his son; so presently he
called his Wazirs and said to them, "This is the murtherer of my son
sans shadow of doubt: so how do you counsel me to deal with him?
Shall I slay him with the foulest slaughter or torture him with the
terriblest torments or how?" Quoth the Chief Minister, "Cut off his
limbs, one a day." Another, "Beat him with a grievous beating every
day till he die." A third, "Cut him across the middle." A fourth, "Chop
off all his fingers and burn him with fire." A fifth, "Crucify him;" and
so on, each speaking according to his rede. Now there was with the
Blue King an old Emir, versed in the vicissitudes and experienced in
the exchanges of the times, and he said, "O King of the Age, verily I
would say to thee somewhat, and thine is the rede whether thou wilt
hearken or not to my say." Now he was the King's privy Councillor and
the Chief Officer of his empire, and the Sovran was wont to give ear to

his word and conduct himself by his counsel and gainsay him not in
aught. So he rose and kissing ground before his liege lord, said to him,
"O King of the Age, if I advise thee in this matter, wilt thou follow my
advice and grant me indemnity?" Quoth the King, "Set forth thine
opinion, and thou shalt have immunity." Then quoth he, "O King of the
Age, an thou slay this one nor accept my advice nor hearken to my
word, in very sooth I say that his death were now inexpedient, for that
he his thy prisoner and in thy power, and under thy protection; so
whenas thou wilt, thou mayst lay hand on him and do with him what
thou desirest. Have patience, then, O King of the Age, for he hath
entered the garden of Iram and is become the betrothed of Badi'a
al-Jamal, daughter of King Shahyal, and one of them. Thy people
seized him there and brought him hither and he did not hide his case
from them or from thee. So an thou slay him, assuredly King Shahyal
will seek blood-revenge and lead his host against thee for his daughter's
sake, and thou canst not cope with him nor make head against his
power." So the King hearkened to his counsel and commanded to
imprison the captive. Thus fared it with Sayf al-Muluk; but as regards
the old Queen, grandmother of Badi'a al-Jamal, when her son Shahyal
came to her she despatched Marjanah in search of Sayf al-Muluk; but
she found him not and returning to her mistress, said, "I found him not
in the garden." So the ancient dame sent for the gardeners and
questioned them of the Prince. Quoth they, "We saw him sitting under a
tree when behold, five of the Blue King's folk alighted by him and
spoke with him, after which they took him up and having gagged him
flew away with him." When the old Queen heard the damsel's words it
was no light matter to her and she was wroth with exceeding wrath: so
she rose to her feet and said to her son, King Shahyal, "Thou art a King
and shall the Blue King's people come to our garden and carry off our
guests unhindered, and thou alive?" And she proceeded to provoke him,
saying, "It behoveth not that any transgress against us during thy
lifetime."[FN#1] Answered he, "O mother of me, this man slew the
Blue King's son, who was a Jinni and Allah threw him into his hand.
He is a Jinni and I am a Jinni: how then shall I go to him and make war
on him for the sake of a mortal?" But she rejoined, "Go to him and
demand our guest of him, and if he be still alive and the Blue King
deliver him to thee, take him and return; but an he have slain him, take

the King and all his children and Harim and household depending on
him; then bring them to me alive that I may cut their throats with my
own hand and lay in ruins his reign. Except thou go to him and do my
bidding, I will not acquit thee of my milk and my rearing of thee shall
be counted unlawful."--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day