Husnapari, observing the numerous assemblage on the sea-shore, halted with her train at some distance, and sent one of her attendants to inquire who they were. The messenger soon returned, and informed her that these were the guardians of the shores of Kulzum, and that they were about to convey the man to the king’s presence. “I myself,” continued the messenger, “saw this flower of Adam’s race, as he sat on the sea-shore; his face was beautiful, and his hair waved in graceful ringlets. His form was elegant as the moon in her fourteenth night.”
When Husnapari heard this description of Hatim’s beauty and perfection, her desire to see him was greatly increased. She said to her fairy train: “Alas! when am I to behold with my own eyes this lovely being?”—“Let us watch them in the meantime from a distance,” said her companions; “and when they shall have halted for the night, perhaps we shall be able to carry off the man when his guards fall asleep.” In short, the fairies of Kulzum set out with their prisoner, and in a few days approached the garden of Husnapari, within a furlong of which they halted for the night. When half the night had elapsed, a select few of Husnapari’s attendants, who were proficients in magic, approached the guards, and overpowering their eyelids with sleep, cast a charm over the eyes of Hatim so that he fell into a profound slumber, and then they carried him into the presence of their mistress.
The instant Husnapari beheld him, her heart was enamoured of his beauty. She lifted him in her arms, sleeping as he was, and carried him herself into her own garden. When Hatim awoke, and looked around him, he was surprised at finding himself surrounded by fairy damsels of surpassing beauty, in the midst of a garden green and fragrant as that of Iram. He addressed the fair assemblage, and said: “Tell me, who are you, and who has brought me hither?” The fairest of the troop replied, “This is the garden of Masnapari, a fairy of exalted rank, and I am his daughter. My name is Husnapari. When the news of your arrival in our dominions became divulged, my ardent desire to behold your form overcame my prudence; for which reason my attendants brought you hither when asleep.” Hatim rejoined: “Now that you have gained your wish, may I request that you will aid me in the accomplishing of my enterprise?”—“How can I serve you?” replied the beautiful fairy. “The object of my coming into your country,” said Hatim, “is to get possession of the Shahmuhra.”—“Your journey is to little purpose,” replied Husnapari, “for no living creature can get the Shahmuhra from the hands of the fairy king; stay with me, then, for my heart has been yours since the moment I first saw you.”—“I will comply with your request,” said Hatim, “if you procure for me the Shahmuhra.”—“I repeat to you,” rejoined the fairy, “that I cannot—no creature can, by force or stratagem, get possession of the Shahmuhra. But I know that you are destined to acquire this treasure, so you may rest satisfied.” In fine, Husnapari detained Hatim in her garden, where both of them experienced uninterrupted happiness.
When the guards awoke from their slumbers, and found no trace of Hatim, they began to search for him in all directions, but to no purpose. They then held a consultation on what was best to be done. Most of them believed that Hatim had made his escape, and could not as yet be far off, while others suggested that probably some youthful fairy, enamoured of his beauty, had stolen him during the night. “But what shall we do?” said they to one another; “if the king should hear of this affair, he will flay us alive.” They resolved to keep the affair in secrecy, and in the meantime to make the strictest search. If the man should be found, they were to conduct him before the king as if nothing had happened; and if not, they considered it safest to absent themselves.
After a considerable period had thus elapsed, Mahparí becoming impatient, said to his courtiers, “Can you tell me the reason why this man has not yet made his appearance? I must make further inquiries concerning him.” His Majesty immediately despatched to the guardians of the shores of Kulzum a messenger, who received as an answer from them, “It is now a considerable time since we sent our prisoner to the capital, escorted by a guard of soldiers; of these we have heard nothing since, nor can we conjecture what is the cause of their delay.” The messenger conveyed this information to the king, who being exceedingly wroth, ordered his troops to scour the country in search of the delinquents, and find out what they had done with the man.
Agreeably to his commands, emissaries were sent in all directions, and not long after one of Hatim’s escort was seized and carried to the capital. Mahparí threatened him with the severest punishment, unless he told truly what had become of the man whom they had in charge. The fairy guard with trembling voice replied, “Spare my life, O king, and I will tell truly all that I know respecting the man.”—“Speak the truth, then,” said the king, “otherwise you shall die.” The guard proceeded: “Sire, we received the man in charge, and for several days journeyed with him towards the foot of your throne. It happened, as we halted for the night in a certain spot near a garden, that we were all overpowered with sleep, and when we awoke the man was nowhere to be seen. It is certain that some one must have stolen him from us, for he would not have gone of his own accord, as he frequently expressed his most ardent desire to have an interview with your Majesty. It is most likely, then, that some of the fairy damsels on seeing him, became enamoured of his person, for verily he is of rare beauty and gracefulness, and contrived to carry him off while we were asleep. Next morning, when we awoke and missed our charge, we fled in all directions, from fear of your Majesty’s wrath; and this is the whole truth.”
On hearing this statement, Mahparí ordered the culprit’s life to be spared, and contented himself by detaining him prisoner, until such time as the man should be found. Meanwhile he sent forth his servants, with orders to search every corner within fairy-land until they discovered Hatim. It happened about three months after, that one of the escort from Kulzum entered unobserved the garden of Masnapari, and having concealed himself in a corner, saw the beautiful fairy and Hatim walking hand in hand amidst the flowers. He instantly recognized the object of his search, and leaving his hiding-place, he boldly presented himself amidst the fairy troop, saying, “Most foolish damsels, you are aware that the king has ordered this man to be brought into his presence, whither we were conducting him; and yet you had the boldness to carry him off by stratagem. If you value your lives, surrender him into my charge, otherwise death and degradation await you.”
On hearing this address, Husnapari, instigated by fear and resentment, said to her attendants, “How durst you, without my permission, admit a stranger into the garden? Seize the villain, let him be severely punished, and for the remainder of his life confined in fetters.” The spy with the utmost activity bounded off as they were about to lay hold of him, and fled beyond their reach. With all speed he made for the capital, and on his arrival blackened his face, and taking his station at the palace gate, stated that he had a complaint to lay before the king. His Majesty was pleased to admit him, and inquired, “Why hast thou blackened thy face? Tell me who has injured thee?”—“Sire,” replied the spy, “my complaint is against the beautiful daughter of Masnapari. I am one of those who formed the escort of the Arabian prince from Kulzum, and while we were conducting our charge hither agreeably to your Majesty’s order, this damsel, whose name is Husnapari, contrived to steal him from us by night, and since then she has detained him in her father’s garden. I happened to discover the circumstance, and demanded of her the man as my prisoner. Enraged, she threatened me with severe punishment and confinement for life. I fortunately made my escape, and hastened to lay my information before your Majesty.”
When the sovereign of the fairy realms heard this intelligence his anger was extreme. He instantly despatched his commander-in-chief, accompanied by thirty thousand troops, with orders to seize Masnapari, and make him responsible for his daughter’s conduct. When Masnapari beheld this formidable array drawn up around his mansion, he was perplexed, and addressing the commander, said, “For what purpose are these forces? In what respect have I incurred his Majesty’s displeasure?”—“Pray sir,” said the commander, “where is your daughter?”—“For some months past,” replied the other, “she has been enjoying the delights of our garden in the country.”—“Wretched being!” rejoined the commander, “I pity your case; be it known to you, that your daughter has privately conveyed into that garden the man whom the sentinels of Kulzum found upon their coast. This is the cause of the king’s resentment towards you.”
When the mother of Husnapari heard this statement, pale with fear she hastened to the garden, where she found her daughter seated on a bed of flowers and engaged in conversation with Hatim. The enraged mother struck Husnapari on the head, saying, “Abandoned one! you have caused the ruin of your family. The king’s troops have surrounded our dwelling in quest of this man, whom you have chosen for your lover.” Husnapari, surprised and terrified at these tidings, stood motionless, and her beautiful countenance assumed the hue of death. The mother immediately gave her daughter and Hatim in charge to the commander of the troops; and she herself, with the whole of her relations, was ordered to follow to the capital.