The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night — Volume 07 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 152 pages of information about The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night — Volume 07.

The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night — Volume 07 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 152 pages of information about The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night — Volume 07.
and holla’d to them.  They feared to draw near, knowing that the island was inhabited by a Ghul[FN#443] who ate Adamites, and would have sheered off; but we ran down to the marge of the sea and made signs to them, with our turband-ends and shouted to them, whereupon one of the sailors, who was sharp of sight, said to the rest, “Harkye, comrades, I see these men formed lke ourselves, for they have not the fashion of Ghuls.’  So they made for us, little by little, till they drew near us in the dinghy[FN#444] and were certified that we were indeed human beings, when they saluted us and we returned their salam and gave them the glad tidings of the slaying of the accursed, wherefore they thanked us.  Then we carried to the ship all that was in the cave of stuffs and sheep and treasure, together with a viaticum of the island-fruits, such as should serve us days and months, and embarking, sailed on with a fair breeze three days; at the end of which the wind veered round against us and the air became exceeding dark; nor had an hour passed before the wind drave the craft on to a rock, where it broke up and its planks were torn asunder.[FN#445] However, the Great God decreed that I should lay hold of one of the planks, which I bestrode, and it bore me along two days, for the wind had fallen fair again, and I paddled with my feet awhile, till Allah the Most High brought me safe ashore and I landed and came to this city, where I found myself a stranger, solitary, friendless, not knowing what to do; for hunger was sore upon me and I was in great tribulation.  Thereupon I, O my brother, hid myself and pulling off this my tunic, carried it to the market, saying in my mind, ’I will sell it and live on its price, till Allah accomplish to me whatso he will accomplish.’  Then I took the tunic in my hand and cried it for sale, and the folk were looking at it and bidding for it, when, O my brother, thou camest by and seeing me commandedst me to the palace; but thy pages arrested and thrust me into the prison and there I abode till thou bethoughtest thee of me and badst bring me before thee.  So now I have told thee what befel me, and Alhamdolillah—­Glorified be God—­for reunion!” Much marvelled the two Kings at Sa’id’s tale and Taj al-Muluk having made ready a goodly dwelling for Sayf al-Muluk and his Wazir, Daulat Khatun used to visit the Prince there and thank him for his favours and talk with him.  One day, he met her and said to her, “O my lady, where is the promise thou madest me, in the palace of Japhet son of Noah, saying, ’Were I with my people, I would make shift to bring thee to thy desire?’” And Sa’id said to her, “O Princess, I crave thine aid to enable him to win his will.”  Answered she, “Yea, verily; I will do my endeavour for him, that he may attain his aim, if it please Allah Almighty.”  And she turned to Sayf al-Muluk and said to him, “Be of good cheer and keep thine eyes cool and clear.”  Then she rose and going in to her mother, said to her, “Come with me forthright and let us purify ourselves
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The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night — Volume 07 from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.