BOOK I.
Containing the history of Husn Bānū, the daughter of Burzakh the merchant—Her expulsion from the King of Khorasan’s capital, and her removal from her country—Her finding in the desert the treasures of seven kings, and her beneficence towards mankind—Her becoming celebrated in the world, and her being beloved by Munir, the Assyrian prince—Hatim hears of the circumstance—His visit to Husn Bānū on account of her seven remarkable sayings, of which he undertakes an explanation.
In the kingdom of Khorasan there lived a monarch named Kurdan Shah, who supported in his train five hundred thousand horsemen and ten thousand couriers, also musketeers and archers. Each of his nobles he entrusted with the care of a province; his justice and equity were such that he made the lion and the lamb drink water from the same fountain; and he never oppressed his subjects. In his reign there lived a merchant, named Burzakh, who possessed much wealth and dignity, and whose agents travelled in all directions in pursuit of commerce. He himself was on intimate terms with the king, and the monarch’s regard for him was extreme. After some time, when his hour arrived, he died, and left no heir except an only daughter, Husn Banu, on whom was settled the whole of her father’s wealth. At this period Husn Banu was twelve years old, and Burzakh on his death-bed left his daughter to the king’s care, who with great kindness said, “She is my own daughter”; and he accordingly made over to Husn Banu all the wealth left by her father.
Shortly after, the daughter, who was possessed of wisdom, and looked on worldly wealth as sand, began to bestow her treasures in charity, and she used to remark, “that we ought not to entangle ourselves amidst the contaminations of the world.” Having sent for her nurse, she consulted her, saying, “My dear mother, it is not my intention to marry; pray tell me by what means I can keep myself secure from the hands of worldly men.” The nurse replied, “I have seven propositions which you shall put to every man who desires to become your husband; whosoever shall answer them properly, and shall agree to the terms which they embrace, him you shall accept. The seven propositions are the following:
“1st. What I saw once, I long for a second time.
“2d. Do good, and cast it upon the waters.[1]
“3d. Do no evil; if you do, such shall you meet with.
“4th. He who speaks the truth is always tranquil.
“5th. Let him bring an account of the mountain of Nida.
“6th. Let him produce a pearl of the size of a duck’s egg.
“7th. Let him bring an account of the bath of Badgard.”
Husn Banu highly approved of these propositions; and one day shortly after, when seated in her balcony, and viewing the surrounding prospect, a dervise attended by forty slaves passed by, and his feet touched not the earth. When Husn Banu saw the pious man, she said to her nurse, “Oh, mother, who is this high personage that travels so magnificently, and whose foot treads not the ground, except it be paved with bricks of gold and silver?” The nurse replied, “Life of thy mother, this dervise is the king’s spiritual guide, and Kurdan Shah every month goes and waits upon this holy man, submits himself to him, and acts according to his advice; in short, he is devout and in communion with the Creator.” Husn Banu said, “My dear nurse, I have a desire to invite him to this house to an entertainment, and shew him every mark of respect”; to which proposal the nurse gave her approbation. She then called one of her attendants, and said to him, “Go to the presence of that illustrious man, and convey to his eminence my desire, stating that a certain lady invites his holiness to an entertainment; if out of condescension becoming the great, and benevolence becoming the pious, he should deign to visit the said humble lady, she will be most happy on the occasion.” When the attendant of Husn Banu waited on the dervise, and stated to him her representation, the pious man consented, and said, “To-morrow I will assuredly come.” The servant brought the intelligence to Husn Banu that the dervise would come next day, at which she was highly delighted, and gave orders to prepare all sorts of viands for the pious man. She also prepared for an offering to him nine suits of silken garments embroidered with gold, and seven trays of pure brilliant gold, along with several baskets full of fruit.
On the following morning the dervise with his forty attendants proceeded to the house of Husn Banu. Now although this dervise was a man in appearance, he possessed the nature of Shaïtan the fiend, and when going on his way he would not deign to tread the earth: for his slaves paved his path with bricks of gold and silver, and on these alone he placed his feet and walked; and in this mode of marching he came to Husn Banu’s house. When the latter was informed that the dervise was arrived, she ordered them to cover the space extending from the outer gate to the interior of the house with carpets embroidered with gold and silver, on which the pious man might walk. After the dervise stepped upon the carpet, he entered the house, and was seated on a throne befitting a king.
Husn Banu in the first place brought for the acceptance of the dervise the trays full of gold and silver, which he accepted not, saying, “These sculptured pieces of worldly dross are of no service to me.” When they saw that the dervise would not accept the money, they then brought him the baskets filled with sweet fruits, and laid them on the table. All the trays and other dishes, and also the dish-covers, were of gold and silver, as were likewise the ewers and goglets; and the whole display was princely. The couches and screens were richly embroidered with gold, and they placed before the dervise food of every kind and variety, and sweetmeats of every description; and they waited upon him for washing his hands, with ewers and goglets of gold. The arrangements of the table being finished the dervise began to eat; but ever and anon his eye wandered to the gold and the various utensils, and he said in his heart: “Gracious heaven! what a wealthy man Burzakh the merchant must have been, who possessed in his house treasures and stores to such an extent that it seems almost the wealth of a crowned head!” He at the same time considered in his heart, “This very night we must come into the house of Burzakh’s daughter and seize this treasure and furniture—we must have recourse to theft.” When the dervise had finished eating, they presented him with perfumes; but he all along had his eyes on the various movables.
After some time, as evening approached, the dervise took leave of Husn Banu. Her waiting men and other servants who had been in attendance on the dervise went to sleep. When about a watch of the night had passed, the dervise with his forty satellites, who were complete thieves, entered the house of Husn Banu, and having killed such of her people as attempted to give the alarm, securely carried off the whole property. Husn Banu with her nurse having ensconced themselves in the lattice, were observing the thieves, and knew them. After the latter had gone and the morning advanced, Husn Banu having taken with her a few of her domestics who had survived from the hands of that treacherous villain, came to the king’s court, and represented her grievance. The king asked, “Who is this, and against whom does she demand justice?” The attendants replied, “Sire, this is the daughter of Burzakh the merchant; she says, if it please the king, she will come to his presence and represent her own case.” The king summoned Husn Banu to his presence; she stated, “Long live the king! Yesterday, as a sacred duty, I gave an entertainment to a dervise, and bestowed on him my food; and this last night he has committed murder in my house. He with his forty attendants privately entered my dwelling and carried off the whole amount of my money and property, and my people lie slain and wounded; thus has the dark-minded dervise acted towards me.” The king on hearing this accusation was enraged and said: “Foolish woman, bringest thou accusations against the most eminent of the age? he covets nothing earthly.” Husn Banu replied, “Oh, upright prince! he deserves not to be called the eminent but rather the fiend of the age.” At this reply the king grew furious, and ordered that both herself and her attendants should be stoned to death, in order that others might take warning, and not utter such calumnies respecting his Majesty’s confessor and counsellor. Here the prime minister stood up and said, “Sire, this is the daughter of Burzakh the merchant, and you have been pleased already to shew her kindness; but now when her father is no more, if you cause the daughter to be thus put to death, then will perish from the hearts of your subjects all confidence in the king’s protection towards their surviving children; and instead thereof, they will be filled with distrust: for this reason, Sire, I have deemed it proper to warn you.” To this the king replied, “Well, for the sake of Burzakh, we shall spare her life; but you shall expel her from the city and confiscate her house; this instant she must be sent without the gates.” The people executed the order, and Husn Banu and her nurse turned their faces to the desert with weeping and lamentation; and the attendants of the hapless lady, reduced to ruin, wandered through the streets of the city. Husn Banu frequently said, “Oh, mother! this dervise has been a grievous curse to us; and yet, oh, God! what crime have we committed that we should be involved in such calamities?” The nurse endeavored to console her, saying, “My child, no remedy can be applied against the revolutions of fortune.”
In a few days they reached the desert, where, underneath a shady tree, exhausted with hunger and thirst, they fell asleep. To Husn Banu a man appeared in a dream, saying, “Be not sorrowful, underneath this tree is buried the treasure of the seven regions, which wealth the king of truth has here kept hidden for thy sake: arise and take possession thereof.” She said, “I am a woman and alone, how can I bring it out of the earth?” To this the man replied, “Do thou dig a little with a spade; let the means be applied by thee, and God will grant success. Moreover, no one is able forcibly to deprive thee of this wealth: arise then and build a city on this spot.”
The lady and her nurse accordingly got up, and with a piece of wood began to dig the earth, when instantly a pit full of yellow gold presented itself. It seemed like seven houses filled with pure gold, and also chests full of jewels of every description. There were likewise four cups full of rubies and costly pearls of the size of ducks’-eggs. Husn Banu rejoiced, and in conformity with the true faith, she stooped to the ground and rendered thousands of thanks to God the Most High. She then handed some of the gold to her nurse, and said, “Mother, do you return to the city and procure us people, and bring us some food to eat and raiment to put on, and at the same time look out for laborers and architects, for on this spot I will build a solid edifice.” The nurse objected, saying, “How can I leave you here alone until some one else arrive?” Whilst they were in this conversation, who should pass by but the foster-brother of Husn Banu, dressed in a mendicant’s habit. He recognized them and fell at the feet of Husn Banu, who weeping from joy lifted him up to her side, and consoled him, saying, “Brother, be of good cheer, God, the great and glorious, has bestowed on us abundance of wealth, even beyond calculation. Take part of it and proceed to the city; bring hither all my dependents and relations, and purchase tents and bring them, for on this spot we shall build lofty edifices, forming a spacious city; but you must not communicate this secret to any one.” The brother having taken part of the gold came to the city; and having assembled Husn Banu’s former dependents, who wandered begging about the streets, he procured elegant tents, and returned with them. Husn Banu, delighted, had the tents erected; and soon after her brother went a second time to the city, and waited on the principal builders, saying, “Send along with me your brother craftsmen; my master intends to build a mansion in the desert: he is a most generous man, and will reward you amply.” The builder to whom he spoke sent one of his brothers, named Muâmmir, along with Husn Banu’s foster-brother, and both returned to where that lady resided. The builder selected a pleasant spot, and there erected a lofty mansion; and Husn Banu bestowed on him a liberal remuneration. The builder, thus enriched, sent for his friends and strenuously labored in the rearing of edifices, the digging of wells, and the building of a palace.
Husn Banu shewed them the greatest kindness, and said, “Now we must have a city built here.” Muâmmir replied, that it was not lawful to build a city without an order from the king; but if his Majesty should grant permission, it would then be an easy matter. Husn Banu admitted the truth of this remark; and having dressed herself in man’s apparel, she mounted an Arab steed, and summoned several of her attendants. She also carried with her for a present, a cup full of rubies and a casket of brilliant jewels, and thus proceeded to the city, where she arrived a few days after. She then made presents to the king’s officers, who speedily conveyed the information to their master, that a certain merchant had arrived from abroad, and that he wished to offer presents to the king; that he now stood at the gate, a man of beautiful countenance and elegant form. The king gave orders to bring him in. Husn Banu accordingly entered, and after performing her obeisance to the king, she presented to him the casket of jewels and the cup full of rubies. When the king beheld the jewels and the cup, he was highly delighted, and said, “Sir, whence art thou?” She replied, “My father was a merchant of Iram, and in the course of events he died at sea. As I happened to be passing this way and had heard of your Majesty’s good qualities, my desire of expressing my attachment and of tendering my humble services became excessive. It is the wish of your slave to pass the remainder of his life in the service of your Highness. When admitted to kiss the threshold of your sublime gates, my prosperity will become permanent and my happiness complete. Now I have no kindred; I am an orphan, and have pitched my tents, in a tract of the desert, where I hope, through your majesty’s kindness and generosity, I may be allowed to build a city.” At this statement the king shewed much sympathy, and presented the stranger with a dress of honor, adding, with the greatest courtesy and affection, “As you have no father, let me be as a father to you, and let me adopt you as my son.” Husn Banu, with profound obeisance, replied, “Since your Majesty has adopted me into the royal family, and has raised from the dust this abject slave, let me state that my name is Behram; may I hope that my name will be deemed fit for this threshold, of which may the head be exalted.” Hereupon Kurdan Shah bestowed on Husn Banu the name of Mahrū Shah[2] and said, “My dear son, the desert is far distant, you must build your city near my capital, and I shall call your city by the name of Shahabad.” Husn Banu respectfully replied, “May the king’s life-time be long. I have taken a fancy to that desert, and besides it would be disrespectful to build any city in the vicinity of your Majesty’s capital. May I hope that an order will be issued to the principal architects enjoining them to make preparations for the building of a city.” Kurdan Shah gave his orders to the architects to that effect, and taking a most affectionate leave of Husn Banu, said, “My dear son, when will you return? you must not deprive me long of your visits.” Husn Banu, making a profound obeisance, said, “I hope that once every month I may kiss the threshold of your Majesty.”
Pleased and happy, Husn Banu returned to the desert, and ordered Muâmmir to draw up the plan of a city. Having sent for more artists to proceed speedily with the building, Muâmmir engaged in the building of the edifices which were to form the city, and promoted the work night and day with all expedition. Husn Banu from month to month made a journey to the city to visit the king, whose kindness and affection towards her were daily increasing. After two or three years a spacious city was built, and its name was called Shahabad; after which, Husn Banu ordered the builders to be munificently rewarded. It happened one day after Husn Banu had arrived to wait upon the king, that his Majesty was proceeding to visit the dervise formerly mentioned, and his eye having caught Husn Banu, he said, “My dear Mahrū Shah, to-day I am going to visit the most eminent man of the age: if you have a desire to do me a favor, pray accompany me; for to have seen this saint of the time is of itself eternal felicity.” In reply, Husn Banu said, “Truly my happiness in this is twofold; first, in being honored with the sight of this eminent personage; and, secondly, in attending your Majesty thither”; but in her heart she said that the sight of such a fiend was an abomination. In short, she accompanied the king to the abode of the dervise, and in conformity with his Majesty’s example, paid her respects to that pious man. Kurdan Shah spoke much in praise and commendation of Mahrū Shah, who in the meanwhile held down her head and listened, thinking in her own mind, “These praises are on account of the jewels and cup which I presented; for otherwise I am the daughter of Burzakh the merchant, and this king once expelled me from his city.”
When the king was about to take leave of the dervise, Husn Banu respectfully stood up and said, “If your holiness will deign to visit my house, I hope it will not be unbecoming the condescension of the illustrious.” The execrable dervise said, “I will assuredly come”; and Husn Banu observed, “The house of your slave is far distant, but in the capital is the residence of Burzakh the merchant, a house which is very commodious, and which I hope you will honor with a visit.” She then addressed the king, saying, “The house of Burzakh happens to be unoccupied; may I be favored for a few days with the use of it, that I may perform my respects to his holiness without his having the trouble of going a distance; and after giving him a feast, I shall proceed to my own city.” The king asked her, “Whence, my son, have you known the name of Burzakh?” Husn Banu replied, “There are many men in this city who were in his service; of them I have learned that such a house was suitable for a few days’ residence.” The king said, “I bestow upon you that house as a present.”
Husn Banu having made her obeisance came to her father’s house; and when she found it fallen to decay she gave vent to many a tear, and issued orders to have it repaired. Meanwhile she herself went to the city, and about a month after she sent to her father’s house the materials for the entertainment, consisting of trays of gold and silver, and vessels also of gold and silver; and having taken a cup full of rubies and jewels likewise she carried them with her. She then sent forward her attendants to the mansion, and went herself before the king, and said, “Now I will go for some days to the house of Burzakh; to-morrow I expect to entertain the renowned dervise with a banquet, and pass some time in attendance upon him.” On this, the king observed, “It is well, such being the choice of my son; but consider this house even as your own.” Husn Banu stood up and spoke: “This befriended slave of your august Highness is truly fortunate, but is unable to express a suitable acknowledgment. All the choice remaining in this slave is in the will of your Majesty, wheresoever you command me there I will stay.” The king added, “Wheresoever you be, let your heart be at ease.”
Husn Banu having taken leave of the king went to her father’s house, and ordered the materials for the banquet to be prepared. She also sent one of her servants to wait upon the dervise, and say that, if his Holiness would deign to visit her next day, it would be the highest favor. When the detestable Azrak heard the word banquet, he replied that he would assuredly come next day. Husn Banu ordered a princely throne, as on the previous occasion, and got ready the entertainment. Next day the abominable dervise came, and Husn Banu presented for his acceptance the jewels and the cup of rubies which she had brought with her; the dervise rejected them all. She at the same time placed all her movables on a side-board, in order that the eye of the dervise might constantly fall upon them, and that his avarice might be increased. The dervise observed them, and said in his heart, “To-night I shall make some contrivance for carrying off all this treasure”; and Husn Banu was at the same time rejoicing in her heart, thinking, “This night I shall have you with all this property tied together and carried before the king.”
In short, they brought the banquet before him, and presented him with water to wash his hands[3], and offered him food of every description; and the dervise along with his forty attendants began to eat. After having taken a few mouthfuls, he commanded that they should desist. Husn Banu made many apologies, and said, “Do me the kindness to eat, for your so doing will be happiness to your slave.” The dervise answered, saying, “To the pious a few mouthfuls are sufficient; to please you I have eaten heartily, but my usual food consists of a few grains of wheat.” When they had ceased from eating, they were presented with perfumes; but the dervise was saying in his heart, “The whole of this property is mine.” After some time the villainous Azrak took leave of Mahrū Shah and came to his own house, and deliberated with his attendant dervises one with another, saying, “I have made a vow, and consecrated it, and all the food you have eaten is to you as well as myself an accursed thing, till you bring away the jewels, the gold, and the silver.” All the attendants said, “It is well”; and when the night set in, the whole of them with their chief were in readiness for the theft.
Husn Banu also consulted her own people; and ordered them to leave the whole property in the same way as at the banquet, and open all the doors. She also wrote an explanatory letter to the captain of the night-watch, concluding, “We shall be on our guard here; do you also come and place yourselves in ambush, and the instant that my people raise a shout, present yourselves with the utmost speed.” She then charged her own people, saying, “When the thieves come, you are not to move till they, after having seized the property, are on their return; then you shall bind them all fast with the goods in their possession; and give the signal to the captain, that he may come and seize them.” Husn Banu’s men, agreeably to what their mistress had commanded, stationed themselves as quietly as if they were dead. Meanwhile, Azrak with his forty pious satellites arrived and entered the residence of Mahrū Shah, and all the property in money or effects which was found they tied up in bundles, and were carrying them off; Azrak himself having taken in his hands the cup full of rubies, was returning with them. At that instant Husn Banu’s people and those belonging to the captain rushed from their hiding-places, and bound the thieves with their hands behind their backs, whose hearts were like to burst from spite. The thieves were then consigned to the charge of the night-watch, each having the bundle which he carried fastened to his neck. Strict orders were issued to secure them fast till morning, when the affair should be decided before the king.
When Husn Banu saw that the enemy were overpowered and taken captives, she called her servants and rewarded them munificently, and then said, “So much of the night still remains, that you may pass the time in repose.” Next morning, when the king opened the public court, and was seated on the throne of royalty, he observed, “This last night there was a great uproar; does any one know the cause of it?” During this, the captain entered, and gave his report, saying, “About the time of midnight a gang of thieves entered the residence of Mahrū Shah, the house that belonged to Burzakh the merchant; they had seized all the property that Mahrū Shah had taken thither with him, and were on their return when information was given to me. I hurried to the spot, and having secured the thieves with the property, I have now brought them before the public court; and of the truth of this, Sire, we are certain for we have witnessed the fact.” When they were thus discoursing, Mahrū Shah entered and made his obeisance. The king having caused him to be seated, said, “My son, pray did the thieves last night break into your house?” Husn Banu said, in reply, “Long live your Majesty: the captain of the city arrived with assistance in time; and now it will be best to summon the thieves into your royal presence.” The king ordered them to be brought. The captain led them before the king in a row, at the head of which was Azrak with the cup of rubies suspended to his neck, and after him the other dervises, each having the bundle which he had stolen fastened to his neck, and his hands tied behind him.
The instant the king saw them he remarked, that, “This man at their head greatly resembles a certain dervise.” Husn Banu said, “Please your Majesty, let them be called nearer, and closely inspected; it is impossible that he should be the pious dervise.” The king made a signal to the captain, who made the thieves one by one with his bundle pass before his Majesty. The captain having thus sent them by turns, Husn Banu rose up, and seizing the hand of the dervise with the cup of rubies, led him before the king. His Majesty asked, “What is this fastened to the neck of Azrak?” Husn Banu displayed the cup of rubies to the king’s sight. The king was lost in amazement, and at last said, “Let every one of them be executed on the scaffold, in order that the rest of the priesthood may be deterred from such villainy, and that they may not mislead the people; and let them also be stripped naked.” When the thieves were stripped of their clothes, all their implements for thieving were discovered. The king issued an order, stating, “Let them be speedily executed on the gibbet, and let whatever property belongs to Mahrū Shah be returned to his own possession.”
When Husn Banu saw that they were conveying Azrak to execution, she arose from her seat and stood with hands joined before the king. His Majesty said, “What is your request?” Husn Banu replied, “Oh, my Lord, I am the hereditary child of your court, nay, I am your Majesty’s adopted daughter, the child of Burzakh the merchant. I am she whom your Majesty on account of this very dervise sentenced to banishment from your capital. The property that belonged to my father is still in the residence of the dervise; his house must, therefore, be searched, that the whole of his villainy may be discovered, and that the veracity of your daughter’s declaration may be confirmed before your Majesty.” The king, on hearing these words, was greatly surprised, and gave orders for searching the house of Azrak. He then addressed Husn Banu, saying, “I lately called thee my child, there my tongue uttered and my mind conceived what was true. Thou art no longer Burzakh’s daughter, thou art my own daughter.”—“May I hope then,” said Husn Banu, “that your Highness will condescend to visit the house of your daughter in the desert; there I have immense wealth, which I will freely bestow on him who is both my king and my father.” To this invitation his Majesty agreed; and in the meantime all the property left by Burzakh was discovered in the house of Azrak, and Husn Banu having presented the same to the king, returned to Shahabad, and ordered the streets of the city to be adorned on each side with elegant mirrors preparatory to his Majesty’s visit. Two days after, Kurdan Shah arrived at Shahabad, where Husn Banu received him with due honors, and conducted him to her own palace. She then presented his Majesty with another cup full of rubies and a golden tray filled with costly jewels, after which she pointed out the seven pits containing the gold.
His Majesty was delighted, and Husn Banu requested him to issue orders to his attendants for conveying the gold by loads to the royal treasury. The king gave orders to that effect to his prime minister, who along with the accountants proceeded to the mouth of the pit. Whenever they attempted to take up the gold in order to convey it away, the whole of it was turned into the forms of serpents and dragons. The attendants were terrified, and sent notice of the circumstance to the king. His Majesty on hearing this was astonished, and Husn Banu’s countenance turned pale whilst she dreaded what proceedings he might adopt. The king observed her anxiety, and said, “My child, why has thy countenance turned pale? Let nothing disturb thy mind, but be of good cheer, for this gold is destined for thee, and over it I have no power. Whatsoever thou pleasest do with it, take it into thy own possession and use it.” Husn Banu, making her obeisance, addressed the king with the following request: “Sire, it is my wish to make this city my home, and to spend this treasure in the service of God, and also that no one may molest my retirement.” Kurdan Shah in courteous phrase replied, “Wheresoever thou dwellest thou art my child, and hast the command of this treasure in thy own hand; do, therefore, as thou thinkest fit.”
Kurdan Shah then sent back his people to guard his palace, and he himself, after residing seven days at the house of Husn Banu, returned to the capital. After that, Husn Banu fitted up another house for entertaining travellers, and bounteously furnished every individual with food and drink suitable to his rank, and presented him at his departure with money for his journey, and such other articles as might be deemed useful, shewing her guests every attention. In a short time the name of Husn Banu, was celebrated by the travellers through every city and town to this effect: “There is a young lady not yet married, by name Husn Banu, who is extremely bounteous towards her fellow-creatures. Her servants and attendants are so endowed with integrity that they will not defraud the stranger of a single farthing. Gracious heaven! what an age is this, when menials are so conscientious! What wonderful liberality, whereby they freely bestow golden coins upon the poor! In the present times, people of the world in general feel reluctant for every farthing they give to the poor, and menials without scruple pilfer men’s property; but such as these have neither the fear of God nor regard for the Prophet.” In short, Husn Banu’s fame shone clearer than the sun throughout the quarters of the earth as far as the confines of the world.
The History of Shahzada Munir.
Historians have informed us that there was a certain king of Kharzim who had a son accomplished in mind; and that, through the medium of several men of intelligence, the fame of Husn Banu came to the hearing of this prince. In the heart of this youth was formed an eager desire to see Husn Banu; he therefore sent his own painter with the view of having a sight of Husn Banu, so as to have a portrait of her drawn and brought to him. The painter departed, and after several days arrived in Shahabad, where Husn Banu’s people, according to their custom, attended and presented him with food, shewing him every attention. After some stay, when about to take leave, they conveyed him to Husn Banu’s presence; she kindly inquired into his circumstances, and offered him money for his journey. The painter said, “My wish is to serve under your government, and spend the remainder of my life on your threshold.” Husn Banu asked, “What is your profession?”—“I am,” said he, “a painter, who can delineate the moon from behind a curtain.”[4] Husn Banu then said, “Well, you may delay your departure for a little.” Some short time after she began to consider in her mind, “How can I get a portrait of myself, for the painter is a stranger. However, what will be the harm of his delineating my features from behind a curtain?” The painter said, “Most bountiful lady, do you stand on the roof of the house[5], and cause a vessel full of water to be placed below, then look down into that vessel.” Husn Banu did so, and the painter seeing her form in the water, drew the picture and went with it to his own house, where he delineated every line and mole[6] that existed on the original. He at the same time made two copies of the portrait, one of which he presented to Husn Banu, and the other he kept for himself. Shortly after, he requested leave of Husn Banu to return for his family, if agreeable to her; on which she furnished him with money for the journey, and granted him permission.
The painter then conveyed the portrait of Husn Banu to his own prince, who, the instant he saw the picture, became quite frantic. When he returned to his senses, he determined in his own mind to set off without his father’s leave; and without money or necessaries for the journey, without informing any one of his design, and taking no one with him, he put his trust in God, and at the dead of night departed for Shahabad, where in due time he arrived, after encountering the fatigues of the road. Husn Banu’s people brought him food, as was their wont with regard to others, and shewed him all possible attention. Next morning they offered the prince coins of yellow gold, saying, “Accept this for expenditure on your way.” The prince replied, “To me gold is of no use.” Husn Banu’s people observed, “You seem penniless, pray accept this gold, for our lady bestows it in the service of God.” As he persisted in saying that it had no value for him, they informed Husn Banu, that “a traveller arrived yesterday, who will neither eat food sufficient for him, nor accept gold.” Husn Banu having summoned him to her presence, said, “Well, stranger, why do you refuse gold? Gold is a thing which in times of difficulty people find useful; it converts the pale countenance to red.” The prince replied, “When I came hither, I left much treasure and gold behind me. I am Prince of Kharzim; thy portrait has driven me mad, and my ardent desire to see thy face has sent me hither.” Husn Banu held down her head, and after some time said, “Young man, abandon such vain ideas; if you were the zephyr itself, you should not have wafted your breath over my ringlets.” The prince to this replied, “At least I will sacrifice my miserable life at thy gates.”—“To give away your life,” said Husn Banu, “is easy, but to see my face is impossible: however, if this idea has found a place in your heart, then you must submit to my injunctions.” The prince said, “Command me, and I shall from my soul consider it as a favor.” Husn Banu said, “The first thing I have to propose is this saying, ‘What I once saw, I long for a second time’; and you must travel till you find an explanation of it. Inform me where the man is that utters these words, and also what he has seen. After you have brought me a solution of this first enigma, I shall tell you the second.” The prince asked where that man dwelt; to which Husn Banu replied, “If I myself knew that, I should have sent my own people for the investigation of the circumstance.” The prince held down his head for some time, and then said, “I am ignorant in what direction I ought to go.”—“Then,” replied Husn Banu, “banish from your thought the idea of seeing my face.” Here the prince observed, “Thus bewildered, whither can I go? I have at least one resource left, and that is to die in thy city.”—“In my city,” said Husn Banu, “there is no room for such as speak thus foolishly; my people would not suffer your remaining.” Hereupon the prince said, “I suppose I must direct my steps towards the desert, in order to find the way and explore the intricacies leading to the abode of that man who exclaims in the words above-mentioned. If my stars prove friendly it is well, and if otherwise, I will sacrifice my life for thee.” Husn Banu then stated, “It will be requisite to enter into an agreement as to the length of time for which I am to expect your return.” To this the prince said, “For the space of a year.”
Husn Banu then ordered them to present him with food to eat and water to wash his hands; and having furnished him with necessaries for his journey, she requested to know his name. The prince replied, that his name was Munīr Shamī[7]; and then taking leave of Husn Banu, like one deprived of sight and hearing, he shaped his course to the wilderness, and with tears in his eyes began to traverse the mountains and the deserts. In short, the prince wandered towards the borders of Yemen, and sitting down underneath a tree in the desert, he gave vent to his tears copiously as the showers of early spring. It happened that Hatim Taï was passing that way on a hunting excursion, and came close by the prince Munīr. Hatim seeing a handsome youth with elegant apparel thus weeping, his heart melted on his account, and his eyes were filled with tears, as he said, “What calamity can have befallen this stranger? I must go and inquire.” He went up to the prince, and in condoling language asked him, “Oh, brother! what distress has happened, what accident has occurred, that thou weepest so?” The prince raised his head, and was surprised at seeing a youth of pleasant countenance, and of air and gait noble as the sun, the flowers in the rosebud of his cheeks fully blown, clothed in elegant apparel, and having his person accoutred with armor, standing by him and interesting himself in his condition. He replied then, “Oh, youth of benignant countenance, to me what avails the mentioning of my sorrows, which can be alleviated neither by my telling nor by your hearing?” Hatim said to him, “Let your mind be at ease; communicate to me the secrets of your heart, and whatsoever lies in my power, as my trust is in God, I will not fail to perform. I will supply you with money if it be of use to you; and my frail life is constantly devoted to the service of the Almighty, which consists in relieving the distress of my fellow-creatures.” The prince Munīr, in rapture, exclaimed, “Oh, brother! may God preserve your life,” and instantly taking out Husn Banu’s portrait, which he kept in his bosom, he handed it to Hatim, and said, “Judge yourself what must be my condition.” Hatim looked at the portrait and remained for some time in a state of abstraction; at length, he said, “With regard to those questions which she proposes, if you can suggest to me any plan, I will use every exertion in its accomplishment.”
In short, Hatim carried the prince along with him into Yemen, and there hospitably entertained him. After they had rested three days, he asked the prince whether he had any method to point out by which he could serve him. The prince replied, “Alas! I can propose nothing; to you I resign the affair and its accomplishment, and will remain grateful for your kindness while I have the breath of life.” Hatim called his domestics and strictly charged them, saying, “You shall continue to supply travellers with food, and the poor with money, the same as if I myself were present; so that it may not be known that I have gone anywhere from home, and let each of you be diligently occupied in his own department.” Having issued these orders, he took the prince by the hand, and set out from the capital of Yemen on the road that leads to Shahabad, where, in the course of time, after encountering the toils of the journey, they both arrived.
Husn Banu’s people conveyed them to the caravanseraï, presented them with food, and offered them gold. Hatim rejected both, saying, “Worthy people, I have not come hither for food or gold; I will neither taste of the one nor accept of the other.” Of this the people informed Husn Banu, who having summoned them both to her presence, said to them, “Why do you refuse gold, a thing which will one day be of service to you? The wise have remarked, ‘A thing laid by, will be found useful, though it be even the head of a serpent.’”[8] Hatim observing that the amassing of gold was proper only for the purpose of distributing it, stated, “Lady, the fame of your beauty and perfections has reached my ears; now if you will agree to one request of mine, I will accept of your gold and eat of your food, but otherwise I will depart hungry and thirsty from your city.” Husn Banu asked him, “Stranger, what is the request with which you wish me to comply?” Hatim answered, saying, “For one instant unveil your face, and afterwards I shall do whatsoever you command.” Husn Banu said, “Till once you have brought a solution to my seven questions, it will be impossible for you to see me unveiled.” Hatim asked what the seven questions were; and without waiting the reply, added, “You must promise me further that, if I should answer them, you shall become mine, and that on whomsoever I may bestow you, you shall not dispute my commands.” Husn Banu assented, saying, “When I shall have become yours, you shall do with me what you think proper; you can either bestow me on any other person, or cause me to remain in your own house.” Hatim then observed, that it would be requisite to call some witnesses, in whose presence this agreement might be ratified. This was accordingly done, and Hatim had the agreement confirmed before several people. After this, food was presented, of which they partook, and Hatim addressing Husn Banu, said, “This prince is my brother, who is to remain in your city till my return, and to him I expect that you will pay some attention.” To this Husn Banu assented, and Hatim then requested to know her first question. “My first question,” replied Husn Banu, “is this: There is a certain man who exclaims, ‘What I once saw, I long for a second time.’ Where is that man? what has he seen? and why does he long for the same a second time? When you have brought me all this information, I shall then tell you my second question.” Hatim having heard this, took leave of Husn Banu, and having conducted the prince Munīr to the house appointed for guests, he set out on his perilous journey.
Hatim began to consider in his mind, “Now, where am I to go, of whom can I ask my way, and what plan ought I to adopt?” But, on further reflection, he said to himself, “I have, by the aid of God, devoted my whole exertions to the service of my fellow-creatures, without any selfish consideration: assuredly, then, my Creator will conduct me to the proper place.” With this reflection, he fixed his reliance on God, and proceeded towards the wilderness. After a few days he arrived in a desert where not a bird was seen to flap its wing. Two or three days thence he was startled at seeing a wolf in pursuit of a milch doe, and so near that he was on the point of seizing her. Hatim shouted aloud to the wolf, “Ravenous animal, desist, she has a young one, and the milk flows from her breast.” The wolf stood still, and said, “Undoubtedly you are Hatim, as your heart is endowed with such compassion.” He asked, “How do you know that I am Hatim?” The wolf replied, “There is none but Hatim who evinces compassion and kindness to this extent towards his fellow-creatures, rational and irrational; and the name of Hatim is renowned in every quarter. But as you have this day withheld me from my prey, let me now have something to eat.”—“What do you eat?” said Hatim. The wolf answered, “Flesh is my food.” Hatim said to him, “If the small quantity of flesh which is on my body be agreeable to you, say the word, and I will give it you.”—“Nothing can be better,” replied the wolf, “than the flesh on your thigh.” Hatim then unsheathed his knife, and having cut away the flesh from his own thigh, he threw it to the wolf. The latter ate, and was satisfied, and said, “Oh, Hatim! why have you left your own capital of Yemen, and for what reason do you wander in this desert?” Hatim told the wolf, that the prince Munīr Shamī had fallen in love with Husn Banu; that she had seven questions for proposing, and that she was to accept only that man who could answer them; “and I,” said Hatim, “have undertaken, through the aid of Providence, to accomplish this task. The first question is this: ‘Where is the man who exclaims, What I once saw, I long for a second time?’ In order to be informed of this I sallied forth, recommending myself to God; but not knowing where that man is, I have directed my course to the desert, and thus far I have advanced.” The wolf here replied, “I do not know myself the place where that man is, but I have heard from the report of others that his abode is in the desert of Hăwaïda, and that whosoever goes thither will see him.” Hatim asked the wolf whether he knew where the desert of Hăwaïda lay; to which he answered, “As you go forward from hence, the road branches into two; avoid the path to the left, and proceed on that to the right hand, and it will lead you to the desert of Hăwaïda.”
Meanwhile the doe, having testified her gratitude to Hatim, departed; and the wolf likewise took his leave. Each of these animals looked back to see whether Hatim followed them; but the pain arising from his wound was so intense that he could not proceed, and he fell down at the side of a tree. It happened that underneath that tree a pair of jackals had formed their haunt, and were at that moment absent in search of food. When the two jackals, who were a male and a female, returned, they observed Hatim asleep, and the following dialogue ensued between them: “Here is one of the human race; how has he been brought hither? We must quit this place, for he can have no sympathy towards creatures of a different species.” M. “It is probable that this is Hatim on his way to explore the desert of Hăwaïda; and he has sunk down exhausted from the pain in his thigh.”—F. “How do you know that this is Hatim?”—M. “I have been informed by the learned that on a certain day Hatim should arrive at this tree.”—F. “What sort of a personage is Hatim?”—M. “He is Prince of Yemen, and one of God’s elect, and many a trial awaits him; we must not leave him distressed in heart.”—F. “How has he fallen into this state?”—M. “A wolf was about to seize a milch doe, and Hatim cut the flesh from his own thigh, and gave it to the wolf in lieu of the doe, which he thus preserved by involving himself in calamity.”—F. “Among the human race, are there really some who are thus endowed with humanity? Heaven knows, there is little compassion in mankind!”—M. “The human race are the noblest of God’s creatures; and Hatim in particular is extremely generous, endowed with humanity, and of high honor; he is also one who feareth and adoreth the Creator, for whose sake he tore off his own flesh and gave it to the wolf.”—F. “Thus wounded in the thigh, how can he live? or when can he reach the desert of Hăwaïda?”—M. “If the brains of the fowl called the Părīrū[9] could be applied to his wound, a complete cure would take place in the space of an hour; but this remedy it is almost impossible to procure from the place where it is.”—F. “Where is it to be found?”—M. “In the desert of Mazanderan; it is a fowl like a peacock, with a head like that of the human race. He allures all those who attempt to seize him, by giving them sherbet to drink, by the gracefulness of his movements and the sweetness of his looks.”—F. “Who is it then that can bring this remedy, and by the grace of God restore Hatim to health?”—M. “If you will attend to this youth for the space of seven days, I will go and bring the head of that fowl.”—F. “Nothing can be better, for it will be an instance of humanity from the part of the brute creation towards the human race. Until you return, while life remains in my body, I will not suffer a living creature to come near this youth.”
Hatim listened to the conversation of the jackals, but he was so exhausted that he had not strength to raise up. Meanwhile the male jackal, leaving the female, set out for Mazanderan; and on his arrival there, he saw the animal he was in quest of, sleeping underneath a tree. He approached it, and seizing its head in his mouth, he gave it such a pull that he severed it from the body, and returning with it he arrived agreeably to his promise. The female during his absence had rested neither night nor day, nor did she suffer any living creature to approach the tree. Hatim was conscious of all this, how the jackal having procured the head of the Părīrū, had now placed it before his female companion. The female jackal then with her mouth forced open the head, and having extracted the brain, applied it to Hatim’s wound. The instant it was applied, Hatim’s pain was removed; he rose up, and looking at the jackals, said, “You, though of the brute creation, have acted most humanely towards me; but you have without cause deprived another animal of life: in this you have not done well.” The male jackal said, “For that crime let me be answerable; and do you rest at ease. What, though I am of the brute creation, still I acknowledge a merciful God.” About an hour passed in such discourse, after which the flesh closed on Hatim’s wound, and he experienced a complete cure. He then addressed the jackals, saying, “You have acted most beneficently towards me; command me then in any way I can do you a favor, and whatever service you will require of me I will with all my heart and soul accomplish.” The jackals replied, “In this neighborhood there live a couple of ravenous hyenas, that every year devour our young ones, our strength being of no avail against them. If it is in your power, remove from us their depredations, and it will be doing us the highest favor.”
Hatim requested the jackal to shew him the haunt of the hyenas; which being done, he set out, but found that the place was empty. He there sat down till it was night, when both hyenas male and female arrived, and were surprised at seeing a man stationed in their abode. Growling, they said to him in their own language, “Oh, son of man! this is our dwelling place, not yours; how came you to sit here? Arise, and go your way, otherwise we shall tear you to pieces in this very spot.” Hatim replied, “Creatures of the Almighty, your own lives are dear to you, so ought you to consider the lives of others; and if you delight in destroying life, tremble for your own. On what account do you devour the young of the helpless jackals? Truly you have not the fear of God, and you have need to repent.” They said to him, “How come you to feel sympathy for the jackals? why do you not look after your own affairs?” Hatim replied, “I beseech you, by that God who hath created you and the whole universe, to abstain from eating their flesh; God is bountiful, and he will assuredly send you sustenance.” The hyenas, in answer to this, said, “We never will spare them.”
When Hatim found them thus callous and unmerciful, and disinclined to act honestly, he instantly sprung forward and suspended himself to the necks of the hyenas, by which means he threw them down, and fettered them. He then considered with himself, “If I kill them it will be contrary to my nature; for hitherto I have not inflicted pain on any living creature.” But on farther reflection it came into his mind, that it was highly proper to chastise ferocious animals. He therefore drew forth his knife, and having broken the teeth and cut off the claws of the hyenas he left them, and devoutly prayed to God to relieve the pain of the animals. The hearer of prayers attended to Hatim’s request, and removed the pain from the hyenas. Hatim then untied the fetters and set the animals at liberty; they fell at his feet, saying, “How can we henceforth obtain sustenance?” He replied, “God is bountiful.” Meanwhile the jackals presented themselves, and said, “Henceforth let the maintenance of the hyenas be left to our care, and while we live we shall provide for them.”
Hatim took leave of the jackals and proceeded on his way through the desert. After he had gone, the female jackal said to the male, “It would be very unkind that Hatim should wander alone to the desert of Hawaida, and you not to shew him the way.” Here the male jackal running, made up to him, and said, “Oh, Hatim! let me accompany you to Hawaida.” Hatim answered, “Already you have done me one kind deed, which I have not yet requited; why then do you lay me under further obligations?” To this the jackal said, “Servant of the Almighty, why should I allow you to wander astray from the country?” Hatim replied, “I will by no means take you away in my company; and if you have a desire to set me on the right way, it is quite sufficient that you shew me the proper path.” The jackal then said, “Oh, youth! there is one way which is near, but it has dangers innumerable; and there is another which is circuitous, and extremely rough; for this reason allow me to go with you.” In reply to this, Hatim said, “Do you shew me the nearest way, and God will render it smooth for me.” The jackal then directed him, saying, “Go straight forward to a place where the road divides into four branches, and then select that which leads right on: it is the shortest way, and if you can go safe it will take you to the desert of Hawaida.” Hatim bade adieu to the jackal and advanced; and after one month he arrived at the four divisions of the road, and keeping the direct path, advanced in the direction of the desert.
After he had gone part of the way, several bears presented themselves to his sight; for there the king of the bears with a thousand of these uncouth animals held his court, and it happened on that particular day that they were out on an excursion. When Hatim was seen by the bears, they instantly sent intelligence to their king that they had that day beheld one of the human race. His Majesty commanded them to seize the man and bring him thither; and the bears having caught Hatim, carried him with them. When the king of the bears minutely observed Hatim, he gave orders that he should be taken care of, and conveyed to their abode, to which they all returned. After this, when Hatim was brought before the king, his Majesty said, “Descendant of Adam, be seated, and tell us whence you came, and what is your name; but that is unnecessary, for you are Hatim.” Hatim answered, “Yes, I am; and I have come hither in the service of my Creator.” His Majesty then said to him, “Truly you are most welcome, and I will give you my daughter in marriage, for as yet I have met with none so proper for a son-in-law that I could bestow her on him, as it would be unbecoming to espouse her to any of my subjects or servants.” On hearing this tempting proposal, Hatim held down his head. The king of the bears asked him, “What is the cause of your holding down your head? have you nothing to say in reply? am I forsooth unworthy of being your father-in-law?” Hatim at last said, “You are of the brute creation, I of the human race, what conformity is there between us?” The bear said, “Oh, Hatim! rest you content on that score, and let nothing disturb your mind, for my daughter is of your own species.”
His Majesty then ordered his daughter to be arrayed and presented, and said to Hatim, “Go and look at her for one instant.” Hatim rose up, and beheld a female in human shape, and beautiful as the moon in her fourteenth night. He was wrapt in wonder, and having returned to his Majesty, he said, “You are a king and I am a beggar; it would be disrespectful in me to presume to espouse your daughter.” The bear replied, “You shall accept of her, notwithstanding every objection which you can contrive. Pray are you not Prince of Yemen?” Hatim began to reflect, “What a scrape I have fallen into! I have come forth on a particular service; how then can I remain captive here?” The bear observed his thoughtfulness a second time, and said, “Oh, Hatim! if you accept not my daughter, I shall send you into a place of confinement, where you shall remain fast till the day of judgment.” Here Hatim attempted a reply, but the bear became angry, and ordered them to confine Hatim in a certain dungeon, and keep strict watch over him. Instantly the bears carried Hatim to the dungeon, and having removed a large stone of extreme hardness they made him fast, and replaced the stone as before on the mouth of the dungeon. In this hole, Hatim, hungry, thirsty, and bewildered, was left for the space of two weeks, at the expiration of which the king sent for him, and having made him sit beside him, said, “Oh, Hatim! will you now espouse my daughter?” Hatim still remained silent, and the king ordered fruits to be brought and presented to him. Hatim being hungry, ate of the fruit and quenched his thirst with pure water, after which the bear again insisted on his marrying his daughter. To this, Hatim at last replied, that there could be no relationship between mankind and other animals; on hearing which, the king of the bears ordered him to be again shut up in the dungeon.
After some days, Hatim, exhausted with hunger and thirst, fell into a slumber, and in a dream he saw an aged man, who thus addressed him: “Oh, Hatim! why art thou thus dilatory in the service which thou hast taken in hand; and why dost thou not comply with the bear’s request?” He answered, “If I accept his daughter, they will never permit me to leave them for the accomplishment of my task.” The aged man again replied, “On that alone your liberation depends, for otherwise you must soon perish in this dungeon; therefore accept as your wife the bear’s daughter, and for this compliance on your part, she will effectually assist in setting you at liberty.” Here Hatim awaked from his dream, and in about two weeks after he was again brought before the king of the bears. His Majesty seated Hatim beside him, and repeated his former proposal, which being agreed to, he took Hatim by the hand and placed him on his own throne, and issued orders for his grandees to be in attendance. Agreements were then entered into, according to the usages of that race, after which the bear conveyed Hatim to the apartment of his daughter. There, to his surprise, he found the halls decorated with the most splendid couches such as belong to royalty; and on a splendid throne was seated his bride arrayed in gold and all sorts of jewels. For a short time he stood bewildered, when the king took the hand of his daughter and resigned her to Hatim agreeably to established custom. Every day the king sent a variety of the most delicious fruits to Hatim, till at length the latter observed, that to live entirely on fruit did not agree with him, and that he would prefer more substantial food. On hearing this, the king ordered his emissaries to collect from places inhabited by men all sorts of flour, sugar, milk, and butter, also vessels of porcelain. The order was no sooner expressed than executed, and thus Hatim was enabled to fare sumptuously twice a day on food the most delicious, which he himself dressed.
In this manner six months elapsed, when one day Hatim, addressing the bear’s daughter, said, “I have left home on a special service, and your father has forcibly detained me here; if you will permit my absence for some time, and make your father assent to this measure, when I have accomplished my undertaking I will return and live with you.” The bear’s daughter instantly went to her father, and acquainted him with Hatim’s request; to which the king replied, “Daughter, he is your husband; if you are yourself satisfied you have my consent.” The daughter observed, “Hatim appears to be a man of sincerity; he will assuredly return according to his promise.” In short, the king gave his permission, and ordered some of his subjects to conduct Hatim beyond the boundaries of his dominions. Hatim having taken leave of his wife, departed, and after some time arrived at a sandy desert which contained not a single human dwelling. Hatim placed his reliance upon God and proceeded; meanwhile a mysterious man with tattered garment presented him every evening with a loaf of bread and a jug full of water. Of these, after offering his thanks to the Creator, he partook, and thus continued to advance. Suddenly he espied before him a dragon, the head of which was reared up to the height of a mountain. At first sight he was dreadfully alarmed, but gradually began to suppose that it must be a mass of sand. When he drew nearer, the dragon observing him, inhaled his breath, and Hatim was irresistibly drawn from the earth notwithstanding his utmost efforts to keep himself firm, and in an instant he was swallowed alive by the monster.
When Hatim found himself inside of the dragon, he remembered his Creator, and with pious resignation to his will, said, “This I have merited, polluted as I am with sins; it has been my wish to become one of the servants of God, but ah, helpless me! what avail my frail efforts?” Thus Hatim constantly kept in mind the beneficence of the Almighty: for whosoever puts his trust in God, and sincerely devotes his life and fortune to the accomplishing of what is acceptable unto the Almighty, him the Creator will never forsake when in calamity. Sometimes he trieth his servants even as he tried Job the prophet of Iram, who bore his sufferings with patience and resignation. In like manner it behoveth the true servants of the Almighty that in every calamity they remain patient and resigned.
For three days and nights Hatim thus continued in the loathsome abdomen of the dragon, where he would have speedily died were it not for a talismanic pearl which his wife, the bear’s daughter, had fixed in his turban previous to his departure. This pearl had a charm in it by which its possessor became secured against the bad effects of fire and poison, and hence the venom of the dragon had no effect on Hatim. In truth the bounteous Creator had in time provided him with an antidote, as it was his will that Hatim should live. Meanwhile the dragon, heartily wishing to be rid of Hatim, said to himself, “What troublesome stuff have I swallowed here? I can never digest it, for it still lives and moves about within me.” It may be conceived that Hatim found little rest within the dragon’s abdomen; and he was constantly endeavoring to stand up and walk about, the trampling of his feet upon the stomach of the monster so annoyed the latter that he coiled and reared in all directions.
At length, when he found that his food was really destructive and caused him such pain, he bore it no longer, and making a strong effort he vomited, and Hatim was once more thrown into the open air, where the dragon left him and fled into the wilderness. Hatim remained on the spot for some time till his clothes were dried by the sun, and then proceeded on his way till, after traversing the sandy desert, he arrived exhausted with hunger and thirst on the banks of a river. Here he began to wash both himself and his clothes, when he observed a large fish playing near him. Hatim was congratulating himself on this providential supply of food, when the fish, of which the half was a human form of extreme beauty, being in fact the mermaid, approached, and seizing him by the hand, instantly drew him into the river. Hatim struggled hard to keep his ground, but his strength was of no avail; the fish hurried him through the deep, and thus conveyed him into her place of residence. Here he found himself in a splendid apartment seated on a superb couch, and the mermaid endeavoring by every sort of contrivance to reconcile him to his captivity.
For seven nights and days Hatim remained the dejected captive of this monster of the deep. At last becoming desperate, he said, “I have travelled thus far on business the most urgent, leaving my home and kindred; why then dost thou urge me to become an inmate of this thy abode? My sadness will never allow me to be an agreeable companion; I pray thee then to conduct me to that place whence I have been forcibly dragged.” To this the mermaid replied, “Oh, Hatim! stay with me three days longer, and I will consent to thy release.” When the three days had elapsed, Hatim reminded the mermaid of her promise, to which she replied, “Everything which tends to thy welfare shall be accomplished, yet remain a few days more.” Hatim said, “Remember thy promise, for to stay a moment longer is to me impossible.” The mermaid finding Hatim resolute, at last took him by the hand, and in an instant conveyed him to the spot from which she had taken him, and as a last effort said, “Oh, Hatim! is it really your intention to part with me?”—“My duty,” said Hatim, “is urgent, and nothing shall make me shrink from it.” When Hatim gave this decisive answer, the mermaid vanished. He then finished the washing of his clothes, in which he had been previously interrupted, and after drying them in the sun, he dressed himself, and once more set out.
After he had journeyed for some days he approached a mountain, the top of which was covered with trees in beautiful clusters. Having ascended, he entered these groves, which were lined with elegant couches, and through which flowed rivulets of pure water. The cool zephyr wafting its fragrance through the trees rendered the situation refreshing to the soul. Hatim reclined on one of the couches, and soon fell asleep. Meanwhile the proprietor of the place passing by, was surprised on beholding a youth of graceful mien there asleep. He sat down beside him, and shortly after, Hatim, refreshed by sleep, sat up, and seeing a stranger, respectfully saluted him. The other, in courteous terms, returned his salutation, and said, “Whence came you, and whither are you going? Pray tell me, what are your motives for traversing this dreary waste?” Hatim replied, “I am on my way to the desert of Hawaida.” The stranger, on hearing this, said, “How came you to adopt so mad a resolution? has none of your friends been kind enough to prevent your journey?”—“Such,” said Hatim, “is my sincere intention; and placing my reliance on God, I have undertaken this task, and have proceeded thus far on my way. A prince, named Munir Shami, has fallen desperately in love with Husn Banu, the daughter of Burzakh the merchant. The lady has asked of the prince seven questions, the solution of which is beyond his power. Weeping in the agonies of despair, he quitted the haunts of men and turned his face to the mountains and deserts, where I chanced to meet with him. I inquired into the cause of his distress, and learned from him his heart-melting tale. It came into my mind, that to question the distressed as to his circumstances, and then not to make an effort to relieve him, would be a line of conduct unbecoming a man. For this reason, Sir, I have endeavored to do my best in his cause.”
The stranger then said, “Assuredly you must be Hatim himself; for with the exception of Hatim, there is not a man alive who would have acted in such a manner. Generous Hatim! God is beneficent, and to you will render the task easy; but remember, that hitherto no one has returned in safety from the desert of Hawaida, and the few who have thence retraced their steps became distracted in mind and lost to the world; however, since you go, give ear to my advice. The instant you approach the desert of Hawaida, they will assail you with enchantment, against which your power and strength will be of no avail. Around you will gather damsels of surpassing beauty, and among these will be a nymph heart-ravishing, of graceful form, with waving tresses resplendent as the full moon; the moment you behold her your heart will be beyond your control, but you must remain firm of mind and not give way. Should you then resolve to advance, you have merely to take this fair damsel by the hand, and in an instant you will find yourself in the desert of Hawaida. Now, Hatim! if you do not follow my advice, you will have cause to repent of it till your dying hour.”
When he had done speaking, a man advanced to the couch on which they sat, with a table in his hands, and having fixed it before them, he covered it with cloth and presented them with water to wash their hands. He then laid upon the table a large bowl full of milk and rice, and two flagons full of pure water the most delicious that Hatim had ever tasted. Having rested there during the night, Hatim next morning took leave of his host and departed. After journeying for some days, he arrived on the shore of a lake surrounded with shady trees and brimful of clear water. When he was wrapt in admiration of this scene, a nymph of more than mortal beauty, perfect from head to foot, gracefully arose from the water. Hatim, dazzled with her splendor, covered his eyes, and the nymph seizing him by the hand hurried him into the deep. Hatim found himself for some time sinking rapidly, till at last his feet rested on firm ground. He then opened his eyes, and to his astonishment beheld around him a most beautiful and extensive garden. Here the nymph of the lake shortly after quitted her hold of his hand, and vanished from his sight. Hatim walked a considerable way through the garden, when, lo! thousands of beautiful women approached him from every quarter, each of whom tried to win him with her attractions, and endeavored to pierce his heart with the arrows of her loving glances.
To all these, however, Hatim paid not the least regard, for he kept in mind the advice of the stranger who had lately entertained him, and said to himself, “This is all enchantment.” The damsels then laid hold of Hatim and conveyed him to a splendid palace, which was entirely formed of precious stones and all sorts of jewels and pearls, and also decorated with numberless paintings. When Hatim was inside the palace, standing near a throne which he viewed with admiration, he thought within himself, “Now that I am in this palace, why should I not for once sit upon that throne?” He therefore advanced. Placing his foot on the throne, he heard a tremendous crash; he started back, thinking that the throne had been broken under his weight. He once more examined it, and seeing no ground for what he had imagined, he mounted the throne and sat down. He was no sooner upon the throne than the noise was repeated, and the beautiful damsel whom the stranger on the mountain had mentioned to him as likely to take his heart captive, approached him with smiles the most alluring. She was arrayed in gold and jewels of the costliest sort: with a veil cast over her countenance, she advanced and stood at the foot of the throne. Hatim was completely bewildered, and felt the strongest inclination to remove the veil from her face; but then he remembered the advice he had received, and said in his own mind, “It is only by seizing the hand of this damsel that I am to be delivered from this enchantment; however, ere I depart I must see further into the delusions of this place.” For three nights and days Hatim remained seated on the throne. The darkness of the night was dispelled by magic lamps which to him were invisible, and his ears were delighted with melodious sounds. Fantastic groups in endless variety danced along the scene; but, all through, the damsel of surpassing beauty stood by the throne, sweetly smiling in his face. They presented him with food and fruits of every description in costly dishes; but although Hatim ate most heartily, his hunger was not in the least appeased. Wondering in his mind, he said to himself, “Though I am constantly eating I am never satiated, how is this to be accounted for?” In this manner three days had elapsed, and on the fourth he said to himself, “Oh, Hatim! were you to look for a hundred years at these delusive appearances, still you would not have tired of them. At the same time you have left behind you a helpless youth, whose expectations are fixed on your exertions; if you waste the time, what will you have to answer before God?”
Hatim then seized the hand of the fair damsel, which he had no sooner done than a female form issued from the foot of the throne, and struck him a blow which felled him to the ground. He opened his eyes, and on looking round him saw not a trace of the garden, the palace, the throne, or the damsels. A dreary and boundless wilderness presented itself to his view, which he knew to be the desert of Hawaida. He then commenced his search for the man in quest of whom he had travelled, and after he had wandered for some space, his ear was greeted by the welcome sound of “What I once saw, I long for a second time.” Hatim listened with attention, and three times did he distinctly hear this sound, after which all was silent. He proceeded in the direction in which the voice was heard, and for seven nights and days he thus advanced. On his way he often heard the words repeated as it were before him, but never could he discover the person by whom they were uttered.
Hatim, thus bewildered, still advanced; when, lo! on the evening of the ninth day he saw an old man resting himself on the bare earth. Hatim approached and saluted the old man, who courteously returning his salutation, said to him, “Young stranger, whence came you, and what is your business here?”—“Venerable Sir,” said Hatim, “my business here is to learn truly from you what is it that you have seen once, and long to behold a second time.”—“Sit down by me,” said the aged man, “and I will tell you all.” Hatim sat down, and in an instant two loaves and two flagons full of pure water miraculously appeared before them. The old man handed to Hatim one of the loaves and one of the pitchers full of water, and reserved an equal quantity for himself, and both of them silently ate and drank. After their refreshment, Hatim addressed the old man, saying, “Venerable Sir, pray tell me the meaning of these words which you have so often repeated.” To this, the aged man replied, “I once upon a time arrived at the border of a lake, from the waters of which arose a damsel of angelic appearance, who, seizing me by the hand, hurried me into the midst of the deep. When I opened my eyes, I beheld to my astonishment a beauteous garden, from every quarter of which damsels fairest of form came in troops around me. At last they carried me into a palace, and left me standing beside a gorgeous throne, which I mounted and then sat down, beholding with admiration the objects that presented themselves to my view. A beautiful damsel with a veil gracefully thrown over her face approached and stood before the throne. The instant I beheld her fairy form, I lost hold of the reins of my heart and became frantic. I removed the veil from her face; she smiled irresistibly, and my transport knew no bounds. I seized her hand in order to seat her upon the throne, when on a sudden another female form seemed to issue from the earth beneath us, and raising herself, she struck me a blow which hurled me into this desert. Here I wander restless and forlorn, and my thoughts are ever fixed on the image of that heart-ravishing angel.”
Thus spoke the aged man, and then sighing bitterly he shed a flood of tears, and like a maniac flew in every direction, crying aloud, “What I once saw, I long for a second time.” Hatim ran in pursuit of him, and seizing him by the arm, said to him, “Venerable Sir, will your mind be at ease if you should see that fairy form a second time?”—“Assuredly, young man,” said he, “but the case is impossible.”—“Follow me,” said Hatim, “and I will conduct you to her abode.” The old man joyfully accompanied Hatim; and after travelling for some days, they entered the shady groves on the banks of the lake already mentioned.
Hatim then addressed his aged companion, saying, “Now, venerable Sir, when you again arrive in the enchanted palace, if it be your wish to remain there admiring the angelic damsel, you must on no account seize her hand or remove her veil. If you lay hold of her hand, the same disaster from which you have now made your escape will again befall you, and your retracing your way back to that enchanted paradise will be impossible. That I have been enabled to do so, is owing to the kindness of a hermit of exemplary piety, who gave me proper directions when on my way hither. Do you now ascend into yonder tree on the border of the lake, and the beautiful nymph will arise out of the water as formerly.”
Here Hatim took leave of the old man, and the instant the latter ascended the tree that overhung the lake, the nymph gracefully arose out of the water, and seizing him by the hand hurried him into the midst of the deep. Hatim now began to retrace his steps towards Shahabad, and in a few days arrived at the abode of the hermit on the mountain, to whom he related his whole adventure. Having taken an affectionate leave of the hermit, he journeyed onwards till he arrived in the desert of the bears, where he spent a whole month enjoying the society of his beautiful wife, the bear’s daughter. That period having elapsed, he bade adieu to his wife and new kindred, and his next stage was the residence of the jackals. After parting with the latter, nothing occurred worth notice till his safe arrival in Shahabad, where he was recognized and conducted to the caravanseraï by Husn Banu’s people. The Prince Munir Shami prostrated himself at Hatim’s feet, in order to give vent to his gratitude; but Hatim raised him to his bosom, and related to him all that he had seen.
Hatim, accompanied by the prince, waited upon Husn Banu, who, having veiled herself, most courteously received them, and addressing Hatim, she said, “Tell me, brave youth, what news have you brought?”—“An aged man,” replied Hatim, “in the desert of Hawaida once saw by the effect of magic a damsel of angelic form. She deprived him of his heart and of his senses, and since that time he has traversed the wilderness, crying aloud, ‘What I once saw, I long for a second time.’” Hatim then gave a full account to Husn Banu of the nature of the enchanted paradise, and how he had conveyed the old man to the banks of the lake through which he might reënter the magic scene. “In fine,” said Hatim, “those sounds shall be heard no more in the desert, for I have conducted the old man to the abode of that Houri who had robbed him of his heart.”
When Husn Banu heard the whole adventure, she expressed her admiration; and the nurse addressing her, said, “The youth speaks truly, for the case is really as he has related.” Food was then brought in, and Hatim was urged to take refreshment. This done, he said to Husn Banu, “The Supreme Creator has enabled me to explain one of your questions; let me now hear another, that I may endeavor to accomplish its solution.”—“Rest yourself,” said Husn Banu, “for some days till you are recovered from your present fatigue.” Husn Banu at the same time was deeply though secretly enamoured of the prince Munir, but respect for her own dignity compelled her to abide by her declaration, and there was no resource except the solution of the seven questions.
Hatim and the prince Munir rested for the night in the palace of Husn Banu, and next day waited upon her for the purpose of taking leave. Hatim requested to know her second question, which she told him, as follows: “I have heard,” said Husn Banu, “that a certain person has written above his door, ‘Do good, and cast it upon the waters.’ What means this motto, and where lives the writer of it? Having investigated this mystery, return and tell me the result; that is, the good that he has done, and cast upon the waters.” Hatim then took leave of Husn Banu, and having soothed the anxiety of the prince Munir, departed on his second adventure.