[255]. She could legally compel him to sell her; because, being an Infidel, he had attempted to debauch a Moslemah.
[256]. Arab. “Haláwat wa Mulabbas”; the latter etymologically means one dressed or clothed. Here it alludes to almonds, etc., clothed or coated with sugar. See Dozy s.v. “labas.”
[257]. Arab. “’Ubb” from a root = being long: Dozy (s.v.), says poche au sein; Habb al-’ubb is a woman’s ornament.
[258]. Who, it will be remembered, was Dalilah’s grandson.
[259]. Arab. “Tábút,” a term applied to the Ark of the Covenant (Koran ii. 349), which contained Moses’ rod and shoes, Aaron’s mitre, the manna-pot, the broken Tables of the Law, and the portraits of all the prophets which are to appear till the end of time—an extensive list for a box measuring 3 by cubits. Europeans often translate it coffin, but it is properly the wooden case placed over an honoured grave. “Irán” is the Ark of Moses’ exposure, also the large hearse on which tribal chiefs were carried to earth.
[260]. i.e. What we have related is not “Gospel Truth.”
ARDASHIR AND HAYAT AL-NUFUS.[[261]]
There was once in the city of Shíráz a mighty King called Sayf al-A’azam Shah, who had grown old, without being blessed with a son. So he summoned the physicists and physicians and said to them, “I am now in years and ye know my case and the state of the kingdom and its ordinance; and I fear for my subjects after me; for that up to this present I have not been vouchsafed a son.” Thereupon they replied, “We will compound thee a somewhat of drugs wherein shall be efficacy, if it please Almighty Allah!” So they mixed him drugs, which he used and knew his wife carnally, and she conceived by leave of the Most High Lord, who saith to a thing, “Be,” and it becometh. When her months were accomplished, she gave birth to a male child like the moon, whom his father named Ardashir,[[262]] and he grew up and throve and applied himself to the study of learning and letters, till he attained the age of fifteen. Now there was in Al-Irak a King called Abd al-Kádir who had a daughter, by name Hayát al-Nufús, and she was like the rising full moon; but she had an hatred for men and the folk very hardly dared name mankind in her presence. The Kings of the Chosroës had sought her in marriage of her sire; but, when he spoke with her thereof, she said, “Never will I do this; and if thou force me thereto, I will slay myself.” Now Prince Ardashir heard of her fame and fell in love with her and told his father who, seeing his case, took pity on him and promised him day by day that he should marry her. So he despatched his Wazir to demand her in wedlock, but King Abd al-Kadir refused, and when the Minister returned to King Sayf al-A’azam and acquainted him with what had befallen his mission and the failure thereof, he was wroth with exceeding wrath and cried, “Shall the like of me send to one of the Kings on a requisition and he accomplish it not?” Then he bade a herald make proclamation to his troops, bidding them bring out the tents and equip them for war with all diligence, though they should borrow money for the necessary expenses; and he said, “I will on no wise turn back, till I have laid waste King Abd al-Kadir’s dominions and slain his men and plundered his treasures and blotted out his traces!” When the report of this reached Ardashir he rose from his carpet-bed, and going in to his father, kissed ground[[263]] between his hands and said, “O mighty King, trouble not thyself with aught of this thing”——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
Now when it was the Seven Hundred and Twentieth Night,
She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when report of this reached the Prince he went in to his sire the King and, kissing ground between his hands, said, “O mighty King, trouble not thy soul with aught of this thing and levy not thy champions and armies neither spend thy monies. Thou art stronger than he, and if thou loose upon him this thy host, thou wilt lay waste his cities and dominions and spoil his good and slay his strong men and himself; but when his daughter shall come to know what hath befallen her father and his people by reason of her, she will slay herself, and I shall die on her account; for I can never live after her; no, never.” Asked the King, “And what then thinkest thou to do, O my son?” and the Prince answered, “I will don a merchant’s habit and cast about how I may win to the Princess and compass my desire of her.” Quoth Sayf al-A’azam, “Art thou determined upon this?”; and quoth the Prince, “Yes, O my sire;” whereupon the King called to his Wazir, and said to him, “Do thou journey with my son, the core of my heart, and help him to win his will and watch over him and guide him with thy sound judgment, for thou standest to him even in my stead.” “I hear and obey,” answered the Minister; and the King gave his son three hundred thousand dinars in gold and great store of jewels and precious stones and goldsmiths’ ware and stuffs and other things of price. Then Prince Ardashir went in to his mother and kissed her hands and asked her blessing. She blessed him and, forthright opening her treasures, brought out to him necklaces and trinkets and apparel and all manner of other costly objects hoarded up from the time of the bygone Kings, whose price might not be evened with coin. Moreover, he took with him of his Mamelukes and negro-slaves and cattle all that he needed for the road and clad himself and the Wazir and their company in traders’ gear. Then he farewelled his parents and kinsfolk and friends; and, setting out, fared on over wolds and wastes all hours of the day and watches of the night; and whenas the way was longsome upon him he improvised these couplets:—