The adventures of Hatim Taï, a romance

by Unknown

To this proposal the prince of the genii expressed his assent, and Hatim took a cupful of water, and dipped into it the potent muhra of the bear’s daughter, after which he gave the draught to the genius to drink. The charm took effect, for no sooner had the genius drained the cup, than, by the decree of the Most High, he was deprived of all his enchantment, his power reduced to that of an ordinary mortal. Hatim again said to him, “The next ordeal you must undergo, is to enter this large jar and remain for some time shut within it. If you do this, you shall have the king’s daughter; otherwise, you must pay, instead, a thousand rubies, a thousand diamonds, and a pearl of the murghab.”

The genius prided himself on his skill in magic, and his supernatural power; he therefore accepted the proposal without hesitation. Hatim brought a large jar, and told him to enter. The genius entered the jar, and Hatim immediately shut the mouth of it; and having pronounced the sacred charm of the blessed Khizr, the lid of the jar became firm as a rock of adamant. He then called to the prince of the genii to come out, but it was no longer in his power to do so. Hatim ordered the people to collect a large quantity of dried wood; and having piled up the same around the jar, he set fire to it. The genius now found himself undone; for as soon as he felt the heat, he made every effort in his power to break the jar and effect his escape. His attempts were fruitless, for in a very short time his life was consumed, and the jar was cast into a deep pit, and covered over with earth and stones.

Hatim then addressed the people, saying, “Rejoice, my friends, for your enemy shall no more harass your country.” The king and all the people proffered their gratitude to Hatim, and presented to him gold and jewels, and whatever was rare and valuable. “I covet not such gifts as you offer me,” said Hatim, “they are of no service to me at present, but I will accept them of your hands, and distribute them among the poor and destitute of the city.” Every house in the city resounded with the praises of Hatim’s wisdom, beneficence, and generosity. For three days they detained him, and vied with each other in doing him service; and the whole country was one scene of joy and festivity.

On the fourth day Hatim took his leave, and turned his face to the road. In the course of time he arrived at the foot of the mountain which the old man had described. He passed on without any interruption, and came to the desert, where he found abundance of sweet water, and witnessed many of the wonders of the creation. After he had passed through the desert, he came to the spot where the road separated in two directions. Here he unfortunately forgot the old man’s advice, for he really intended to take the safe road, though circuitous. “I must never,” said he to himself, “disregard the advice of the wise, and the old man earnestly advised me to take the right-hand path.” Hatim accordingly proceeded rapidly on his way; but he soon changed his mind, and turned aside in order to find the left-hand road. He soon found himself involved in a forest abounding with underwood of thorns and brambles, so that every step he took was attended with difficulty. He had not long advanced, when the clothes were torn from his body; and he bitterly regretted his disregard of the old man’s directions.

Hatim at length, after vast labor, got clear of the forest; but no sooner did he appear in the open plain than thousands of griffins rushed upon him from all quarters. Hatim stood terrified at the sight, for those animals had a most frightful appearance, in some measure resembling a tiger, a dog, and a fox, as if these three animals had been formed into one. When the griffins were about to devour Hatim, on a sudden an old man stood by him, and said, “They who disregard the admonitions of the wise, end in distress and misery.”—“Forgive me, venerable man,” said Hatim, “I have grievously erred.”—“Lose no time,” said the old man, “in using the talisman of the bear’s daughter: cast it on the ground before you.”

Hatim immediately produced the precious muhra; and the moment he threw it upon the plain the old man vanished from his sight. The effect of the muhra was wonderful: the ground assumed a yellow hue, it then became black as night; after that, it changed into green; and lastly, it became red as fire. Meanwhile the griffins were diverted from their attack upon Hatim, and ran furiously at one another. The fight was terrible, and in the course of a few minutes they all perished by mutual slaughter. Hatim looked with astonishment at the carnage, and praised the great Creator for his deliverance. He then took up his talisman and prepared for his journey.

As he advanced, he came to a desert of solid brass, the vegetation of which consisted of sharp pins of brass and iron. He had no sooner entered the desert than these pins pierced his feet. Onward he limped, however; and in the agony of pain, said to himself, “O Hatim, it becomes thee to suffer calamity without murmur, for what avails regret at present?” He proceeded thus for some time, while the soles of his feet were pierced like a sieve. At length he thought he could see the extremity of the desert, when on a sudden dragons of immense size and terrible aspect rushed from all quarters to devour him. The dragons bore a mixed resemblance to the eagle, the tiger, and the fox: their tails resembled that of the jackal, and their feet resembled those of the eagle. Hatim cast a look of despair around him, and was about to bid adieu to life, when the old man stood by him, took him by the hand, and said, “Be brave; does it become Hatim to fear?”—“Wonderful man!” replied Hatim, “it is not in any mortal to behold these monsters and refrain from trembling.”—“Have recourse to your talisman,” said the old man. Hatim drew out the sacred muhra, and cast it upon the ground. The effect was such as he had lately witnessed; for the dragons stood abashed, and the color of the ground was changed, and when it became red the monsters furiously encountered one another till not one of them was left alive.

Hatim took up his muhra and having resumed his journey, devoutly thanked his Great Preserver for deliverance from such dangers. In the course of a few days he arrived at a very large city. When the people saw him they were astonished, and said, “Tell us, wonderful man, how you were able to pass in safety through the brazen desert.”—“I am indebted for my safety,” replied Hatim, “to the goodness of God alone. He has watched over me in the hour of danger, for none of the monsters that infest the desert has done me the least harm.” Now the forest of brambles and the brazen desert had been long considered in that city as impenetrable, and all travellers and caravans had been previously compelled to take a long and circuitous route in approaching the city. When the people, therefore, saw Hatim approach their city by these dangerous quarters, they became highly interested in the subject, as they saw a prospect of opening an easy communication with the rest of the world. When the king got intelligence that a stranger had arrived safe by the short and dangerous route, he could scarcely believe the information, and immediately despatched some of his people to ascertain the fact and in the meantime to detain the stranger. The messengers went and made the necessary investigation. They returned, and informed the king that if a path were cut through the forest, it would be quite safe in every respect.

At this intelligence his Majesty was highly pleased and having sent for Hatim, said to him, “Noble stranger, I have done you wrong in suspecting the truth of your statement, and I pray for your forgiveness. I confess I did not at first believe you. I, therefore, placed a watch over you till I should be assured of the fact by my own people: had I found that you had deceived me, I should have punished you accordingly.”—“Your Majesty,” replied Hatim, “has acted as a king ought, that is, according to strict justice; for it is expedient that the liar should suffer punishment. But why should I deceive you, in stating what was untrue?”

The king then brought forth loads of gold, and said to Hatim, “Accept this as a reward for the services you have done me.”—“I am alone,” said Hatim, “I cannot carry this gold with me, and I have no one to carry it for me.”—“My own people,” replied the king, “shall convey it to your country.”—“I have a dangerous journey to perform,” returned Hatim, “and an important task to accomplish: till that is done, I cannot visit my native country.”—“Tell me,” resumed the king, “whither are you bound, and I will accompany you in person.”—“In a neighboring country,” said Hatim, “is the bath of Badgard: I am going to explore it, but I have heard that no one has hitherto returned thence with life.”—“You have heard the truth, noble stranger,” said the king; “I, therefore, advise you as a friend to banish such thoughts from your mind.”—“What is decreed must happen,” replied Hatim; “my resolution is fixed.”