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"There was, in
ancient times, a King of the countries of India and China, possessing
numerous troops, and guards, and servants, and domestic dependents; and
he had two sons; one of the whom was a man of mature age; and the other,
a youth. Both of these princes were brave horsemen; but especially the
elder, who inherited the kingdom of his father, and governed his
subjects with such justice that the inhabitants of his country and whole
empire loved him. He was called King Shahriyar: his younger brother was
named ShahZeman, and was King of Samarkand . . . "
The Thousand and
One Nights is one of the
great storybooks of the world. This translation of selected stories from
a much larger collection has become the most well-known of folk tales
for younger readers. Among other stories, Volume I includes the Story of
the Fisherman and the Story of hte Envious Wezier and the Prince and the
Ghuleh.
Excerpt
In the name of God,
the Compassionate, the Merciful
PRAISE be
to God, the Beneficent King, the Creator of the universe, who hath
raised the heavens without pillars, and spread out the earth as a bed;
and blessing and peace be on the lord of apostles, our lord and our
master Mohammad, and his Family; blessing and peace, enduring and
constant, unto the day of judgment.
To proceed, the lives of former generations are a lesson to posterity;
that a man may review the remarkable events which have happened to
others, and be admonished; and may consider the history of people of
preceding ages, and of all that hath befallen them, and be restrained.
Extolled be the perfection of Him who hath thus ordained the history of
former generations to be a lesson to those which follow. Such are the
Tales of a Thousand and One Nights, with their romantic stories and
their fables.
It is related (but God alone is all-knowing, as well as all-wise, and
almighty, and all-bountiful), that there was, in ancient times, a King
of the countries of India and China, possessing numerous troops, and
guards, and servants, and domestic dependents; and he had two sons; one
of whom was a man of mature age; and the other, a youth. Both of these
princes were brave horsemen; but especially the elder, who inherited the
kingdom of his father, and governed his subjects with such justice that
the inhabitants of his country and whole empire loved him. He was called
King Shahriyar: his younger brother was named Shah-Zeman,1 and was King
of Samarkand. The administration of their governments was conducted with
rectitude, each of them ruling over his subjects with justice during a
period of twenty years with the utmost enjoyment and happiness. After
this period, the elder King felt a strong desire to see his brother, and
ordered his Wezir2 to repair to him and bring him.
Having taken the advice of the Wezir on this subject, he immediately
gave orders to prepare handsome presents, such as horses adorned with
gold and costly jewels, and memluks,3 and beautiful virgins, and
expensive stuffs. He then wrote a letter to his brother, expressive of
his great desire to see him; and having sealed it, and given it to the
Wezir, together with the presents above mentioned, he ordered the
minister to strain his nerves, and tuck up his skirts, and use all
expedition in returning. The Wezir answered, without delay, I hear and
obey; and forthwith prepared for the journey: he packed his baggage,
removed the burdens, and made ready all his provisions within three
days; and on the fourth day, he took leave of the King Shahriyar, and
went forth towards the deserts and wastes. He proceeded night and day;
and each of the kings under the authority of King Shahriyar by whose
residence he passed came forth to meet him, with costly presents, and
gifts of gold and silver, and entertained him three days; after which,
on the fourth day, he accompanied him on one day’s journey, and took
leave of him. Thus he continued on his way until he drew near to the
city of Samarkand, when he sent forward a messenger to inform King Shah-Zeman
of his approach. The messenger entered the city, inquired the way to the
palace, and, introducing himself to the King, kissed the ground before
him, and acquainted him with the approach of his brother’s Wezir; upon
which Shah-Zeman ordered the chief officers of his court, and the great
men of his kingdom, to go forth a day’s journey to meet him; and they
did so; and when they met him, they welcomed him, and walked by his
stirrups until they returned to the city. The Wezir then presented
himself before the King Shah-Zeman, greeted him with a prayer for the
divine assistance in his favour, kissed the ground before him, and
informed him of his brother’s desire to see him; after which he handed
to him the letter. The King took it, read it, and understood its
contents; and answered by expressing his readiness to obey the commands
of his brother. But, said he (addressing the Wezir), I will not go until
I have entertained thee three days. Accordingly, he lodged him in a
palace befitting his rank, accommodated his troops in tents, and
appointed them all things requisite in the way of food and drink: and so
they remained three days. On the fourth day, he equipped himself for the
journey, made ready his baggage, and collected together costly presents
suitable to his brother’s dignity.
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