The Arabian Nights, Volume I of IV

by Unknown

Near the subterraneous cavern there was a large tree, the thick foliage of which seemed to me well adapted for concealment. I immediately got up into it, and had no sooner placed myself so as not to be seen, than I observed the vessel come to land in the same place it had before done. The old man and the slaves instantly came on shore, and approached the subterraneous dwelling in a manner that showed they had some hopes. But when they saw that the ground had been lately disturbed, they changed colour, especially the old man. They then lifted up the stone and descended the stairs. They called the young man by his name, but no answer was returned. Their fears redoubled. They searched about, and at last found him stretched on his couch with the knife through his heart, for I had not had the courage to draw it out. On seeing this they uttered such lamentable cries that my tears flowed afresh. The old man fainted, and the slaves brought him out in their arms, that he might feel the air, and for this purpose they placed him at the foot of the very tree in which I was. Notwithstanding all their cares, this unfortunate father remained so long in this state, that they more than once despaired of his life.

He at length recovered from this long fainting fit. The slaves then went down and brought up the body of his son, clothed in his finest garments, and as soon as the grave which they made was ready, they put the body in. The old man, supported by two slaves, with his face bathed in tears, threw in the first piece of earth, after which the slaves filled up the grave. This being done, the furniture and remainder of the provisions were put on board the vessel. The old man, overcome with sorrow, was unable to support himself, and was therefore carried to the vessel in a sort of litter by the slaves, and they immediately put to sea. They soon got to a considerable distance from the island, and I lost sight of them.

I now remained alone in the island, and passed the following night in the subterraneous dwelling, which had not been again shut up; and the next day I took a survey of the whole island; resting in those places most adapted to the purpose whenever I felt myself weary. I passed a whole month in this unpleasant manner; at the end of which time I perceived the sea considerably diminish, the island appeared to become sensibly larger, and the main land approached nearer. In truth, the water decreased so much, that there was now only a small channel between me and the continent, and I passed over without being deeper than the middle of my leg. I then walked so far on the flat sand, that I was greatly fatigued. I at last reached firmer ground, and was already at a considerable distance from the sea, when I saw before me something that appeared like a large fire. At this I was much rejoiced; “For here,” said I to myself, “I shall certainly find some persons, as a fire cannot light itself.” But as I went nearer, my mistake began to clear up, and I soon found out that what I had taken for a fire was a sort of castle of red copper, from which the rays of the sun were reflected in such a manner as to make it appear in flames.

I stopped near this castle and sat down, as well to consider the beauty of the building, as in some degree to recover from my fatigue. I had not yet bestowed all the attention upon this magnificent house which it deserved, when I perceived ten well-made young men come out for the purpose, as it appeared, of walking; but what seemed to me more surprising was, that they were all blind of the right eye; an old man of rather a large stature, whose appearance was very venerable, accompanied them.

I was very much astonished at meeting so many people at the same time who were not only blind of one eye, but had also lost the same eye. While I was endeavouring to discover in my own mind for what purpose, or by what circumstance they were thus collected together, they accosted me; and showed signs of great joy at seeing me. After the first compliments had passed, they inquired of me what brought me there: I told them that my history was rather long; but if they would take the trouble to sit down, I would afford them the satisfaction they wished. They seated themselves, and I related to them every thing that had happened to me, from the moment I had left my own kingdom till that instant. This narration greatly excited their surprise. When I had finished my story, they entreated me to come with them into the castle. I accepted their offer, and passing through a long suit of halls, antichambers, saloons, and cabinets, all very well furnished, we came at length to a large and magnificent apartment, where there were ten small blue sofas placed in a circle, but unconnected, which served both to sit on and repose during the day, and also to sleep upon in the night. In the midst of this circle there was another sofa, less raised, but of the same colour, upon which the old man, whom I have spoken of, sat, while the young ones seated themselves upon the other ten. As each sofa held only one person, one of the young men said to me, “sit down, my friend, upon the carpet in the middle of this place; and do not endeavour to inform yourself of any thing that regards us, nor the reason why we are all blind of the right eye; be satisfied with what you see, and do not carry your curiosity any farther. The old man did not remain long seated: he got up and went out, but very soon returned, bringing with him a supper for the ten young men; to each of whom he distributed a certain portion. He gave me mine in the same way, which, like the rest, I eat alone. As soon as it was finished, the old man presented each of us with a cup of wine.

My history appeared to them so extraordinary, that they made me repeat it, when supper was over. This afterwards led to a conversation, which lasted great part of the night. One of the young men now observing that it was so late, said to the old one, “You see that it is time to retire to rest, and yet you do not bring us what is necessary for us to discharge our duty.” At this the old man got up, and went into a cabinet, from whence he brought upon his head ten basons, one after the other all covered with blue stuff; he placed one of them with a torch before each of the young men. They uncovered their basons, in which there were some ashes, some charcoal in powder, and some lamp black. They mixed all these together, and began to rub them over their faces, and smear their countenances until their appearance was very frightful. After they had blacked themselves over in this manner, they began to weep, to make great lamentations, and to beat their head and breast, calling out incessantly all the time, “Behold the consequences of our idleness and debaucheries.”

They passed almost the whole night in this strange occupation; at last they gave over, when the old man brought them some water, in which they washed their face and hands. They then took off their dresses, which were much torn, and put on others, so that they did not appear to have been engaged in those extraordinary occupations to which I had been a witness. Judge what was my fear during all this time. I was tempted a thousand times to break the silence which they had imposed upon me, for the purpose of asking them questions: nor could I, during the remainder of the night, get any rest.

The following morning, as soon as we were up, we went out to take the air, and I then said unto them, “I must inform you, gentlemen, that I renounce the law you imposed upon me last night, as I can no longer observe it. You are wise men, and you have given me sufficient reason to believe that you possess an enlarged understanding; yet at the same time I have seen you do things which none but madmen would be guilty of. Whatever misfortune may happen to me in consequence, I cannot refrain from inquiring for what reason you daubed your faces with ashes, charcoal, and black paint, and how you have all lost an eye. Something very singular must be the cause of this; I entreat you, therefore, to satisfy my curiosity.” Notwithstanding such pressing entreaties, they only answered that the inquiries I made did not relate to me, that I had no interest in their actions, and that I might remain in peace. We passed the day in conversing upon different subjects, and, when night approached, we supped separately, as before, and the old man again brought the blue basons, with the contents of which the others anointed themselves; they then wept, beat themselves, and exclaimed, “Behold the consequence of our idleness and our debaucheries.” The next day and following night they did the same thing.

I could at last no longer resist my curiosity; and I very seriously entreated them to satisfy me, or inform me by what road I could return to my kingdom; for I told them it was impossible to remain any longer with them and be every night a witness to such an extraordinary sight, if I was not permitted to know the motives that produced it. One of the young men thus answered me for the rest; “Do not be astonished at what we do in your presence: if we have not hitherto yielded to your entreaties, it has been entirely out of friendship for you; and to spare you from the regret of being reduced to the same state in which you see us. If you wish to experience our unfortunate fate you have only to speak, and we will give you the satisfaction you require.” I told them, I was determined to know it at all events. “Once more,” replied the same young man, “we advise you to restrain your curiosity; for it will cost you the sight of your right eye.”—“It is of no consequence,” I answered, “and I declare to you, that if this misfortune does happen, I shall not consider you as the cause of it, but shall lay the blame entirely on myself.” Again he represented to me, that when I should have lost my eye, I must not expect to remain with them, even if I had thought of it; as their number was complete, and could not be increased. I told them that it would be a satisfaction to me not to separate myself from such agreeable men as they appeared to be; but still if it were necessary I would submit to it: since whatever might be the consequence I wished them to grant me the satisfaction I required.

The ten young men observing that I was not to be shaken in my resolution, took a sheep and killed it: after they had taken off the skin, they gave me the knife they had made use of, and said, “Take this knife, it will serve you for an occasion of which we will soon inform you: we are going to sew you up in this skin, in which it is necessary you should be entirely concealed. We shall then leave you in this place and retire. Soon afterwards a bird of a most enormous size, which they call a roc, will appear in the air, and taking you for a sheep, will plunge down upon you and lift you up to the clouds: but do not let this alarm you. The bird will soon return with his prey towards the earth, and will lay you down on the top of a mountain. As soon as you shall feel yourself upon the ground, rip open the skin with the knife, and discover yourself. On seeing you, the roc will be alarmed and fly away, leaving you at liberty. Do not stop there, but go on until you arrive at a castle of a most prodigious magnitude, entirely covered with plates of gold, set with large emeralds and other precious stones. Go to the gate, which is always open, and enter. All of us who are here have been in this castle: but we will tell you nothing of what we saw nor what happened to us, as you will learn every thing yourself. The only thing we can inform you of is, that it has cost each of us a right eye, and the penance of which you were witness is what we are obliged to undergo in consequence of our having been there. The particular history of each of us is full of such wonderful adventures they would make a large book—but we cannot now tell you more.”