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NOURJAHAD AN EASTERN TALE. CHEMZEDDIIN was in his
twenty-second year when he ascended the throne
of Persia. His wisdom and extraordinary endowments rendered him the
delight of
his people, and filled them with expectations of a happy and glorious
reign. Of
all the persons who sur‑rounded the monarch’s throne, none appeared to
possess
the sultan’s favour and confidence like Nourjahad, the son of Namarand.
Nourjahad was about the same age with Schemzeddin, and had been bred up
with
him from his infancy. To a very engaging countenance and person,
Nourjahad
added a liveliness of temper, and an agreeable manner of address, that
won the
affections of every one who approached him. The sultan loved him
affectionately, and the people expected to see him elevated to the
highest
pinnacle of honour. Schemzeddin was indeed desirous of promoting his
favourite,
but notwithstanding his attachment to him, the monarch would not
appoint
Nourjahad to the rank of minister of state, till he had consulted some
old
lords about the court, who had been the constant friends and able
counsellors
of the late sultan, his father. Accordingly, having called them into
his closet
one morning, he proposed the matter to them, and desired their opinion:
but he
perceived that these grave and prudent men disapproved the choice he
had made
of Nourjahad to fill an office so important in its management to the
welfare of
the state. They accused him of avarice and a boundless love of
pleasure; and
the sultan dismissed them with evident marks of displeasure; but he
said to
himself: ‘It is the interest of Nourjahad to conceal his faults from
me, and my
attachment may blind me to his defects. I will probe Nourjahad’s soul.
From
himself I will judge of himself; and if he passes through the trial
unsullied,
he shall be second only to myself in the empire.’
Shortly
after, the
sultan invited Nourjahad to walk with him one evening by moonlight, in
the
garden of the seraglio. Schemzeddin leaned on the shoulder of his
favourite, as
they rambled from one delicious scene to another, rendered still more
enchanting by the silence of night, the mild lustre of the moon, and
the
fragrance which arose from a thousand odoriferous shrubs. ‘Tell me,
Nourjahad,’
said the sultan, carelessly throwing himself upon a bank of violets,
and
inviting his favourite to sit near; ‘Tell me, truly, what would satisfy
thy
wishes, if thou wert certain of possessing all thou couldst desire?’
Nourjahad
remained sometime silent, till the sultan, with an affected smile of
levity,
repeated the question. ‘My wishes,’ answered the favourite, ‘are
boundless. I
should desire to be possessed of inexhaustible riches; and I should
also desire
to have my life prolonged to eternity.’ — ‘Wouldst thou, then,’ said
Schemzeddin, ‘forego the hopes of Paradise?’ — ‘I would,’ answered the
favourite, ‘make a paradise of this earthly globe, by the variety of my
pleasures, and take my chance for the other afterwards.’ — ‘Begone,’
said the
sultan, starting from his seat, ‘thou art no longer worthy of my love.
I
thought to have promoted thee to the highest honours; but such a sordid
wretch
does not deserve to live. Ambition, though a vice, is the vice of great
minds;
but avarice, and an insatiable thirst for pleasure, degrade a man below
the
brute.’ Thus saying, he was about to depart, but Nourjahad falling on
his
knees, and holding the sultan’s robe, said: ‘Let not my lord’s
indignation be
kindled against his slave, for a few light words which fell from him
only in
sport. I swear to thee, my prince, by our holy prophet Mahomet, that my
real
desire for wealth extends no further than to be enabled to procure the
sober
enjoyments of life; and as for length of years, let not mine be
prolonged a day
beyond that in which I can be serviceable to my sovereign and my
country.’ —
‘It is not,’ replied the sultan, mildly, ‘for mortal eyes to penetrate
into the
secret recesses of thy heart. Thou hast called our great prophet to
witness thy
oath: remember, God thou canst not deceive, though me thou mayest.’ Schemzeddin
then
left him, without waiting his reply, and Nourjahad retired to his own
house,
which joined to the sultan’s palace. He passed the rest of
the night in
traversing his chamber, regretting his imprudence, and tormenting
himself with
apprehensions of his disgrace. The next day he was unable to quit his
apartment; all at night, wearied with his anxieties, he threw himself
on his
couch, and fell into a deep sleep, from which he was roused by a voice
that
said: ‘Nourjahad! Nourjahad! awake, and possess the secret
wishes of thy soul.’
He started from his couch, and beheld a youth of more than mortal
beauty, whose
shining hair was encircled with a wreath of flowers, that shed around
him the
most fragrant perfumes. ‘Fear not!’ said the youth,
‘I am thy guardian genius.
I have power to grant thy wishes, be they what they may. Wouldst thou
be
restored to the favour and confidence of the sultan, thy master; or
wouldst
thou rather see the wish accomplished, which thou breathed last night
to
Schemzeddin in the gardens of the royal palace?’ Nourjahad
bowed his head, and
answered, ‘Disguise to thee, O son of Paradise, were vain and
fruitless. If I
dissembled to Schemzeddin, it was to reinstate myself in his good
opinion, by
whose favour alone I have been able to exist; but my heart pants to
possess
that which I declared to the sultan, and that alone.’
— ‘Rash mortal,’ replied
the youth, ‘reflect once more before you receive the fatal
boon; for once
granted, you will wish in vain to have it recalled.’
— ‘What can I have to
fear,’ demanded Nourjahad, ‘when I am possessed of
endless riches and immortality?’
— ‘Your own passions,’ replied the youth.
‘I will submit to all the evils they
may inflict,’ said he, ‘give me but the means of
gratifying them to their full
extent.’ — ‘Take thy wish!’
cried the genius, with a look of disdain and
discontent. ‘The contents of this phial bestow immortality
upon thee, and
to-morrow’s sun beholds thee richer than all the kings of the
east.’ Nourjahad
eagerly stretched his hand to receive a vessel of gold, enriched with
precious
stones. ‘Hold!’ cried the youth, ‘there
is one condition annexed to this
dangerous gift. You will live to eternity; but you will be subject to
fits of
deep sleep, which will last for months, for years; nay, perhaps for a
whole
century.’ — ‘Horrible!’ cried
Nourjahad. ‘It is worth considering,’ said the
genius; ‘decide not too hastily; for if thou pervertest the
power thou wilt
possess, and incline thy heart to vice, thou wilt be punished with this
suspension of thy faculties, which will last in proportion to the error
thou
hast committed.’ — ‘I accept the
condition,’ cried Nourjahad; for though I mean
to enjoy all the pleasures of life, I will never commit any crimes:
and, after
all, what is twenty, thirty, or even fifty years of sleep, for a man
who is to
live to all eternity!’ — ‘Here
then,’ said the genius, ‘swallow this liquid,
and possess thy wish.’ Nourjahad applied the vessel to his
lips, and drank a
liquid so potent in its effect, that he fell back in a temporary
trance; and
when he again opened his eyes, the apparition had vanished, and his
chamber was
in total darkness. He would have considered all that had passed as a
dream, had
he not still held the empty golden vessel in his hand, which he now
placed
under his pillow; and, filled with delightful expectations, he again
composed
himself to sleep. The sun was in its meridian when he awoke the next
day; but
how great was his surprise, how high his transport, to see that his
chamber was
filled with large urns containing gold and silver coin, diamonds, and
all kinds
of precious stones. On one of
them was
placed a scroll of paper containing these words: ‘Thy days are without
number,
thy riches inexhaustible, thy prudence be thy guard! In thy garden is a
subterraneous cavern, where thou mayest conceal thy treasure. I have
marked the
spot. Farewell.’ Nourjahad having examined with increasing delight his
treasures, hastened to the garden. In a remote corner, near the ruins
of an
ancient temple, he perceived a key of polished steel, hanging to a
scarf of
white taffety, and suspended at the branch of a tree. He was not long
before he
discovered a door behind the ruin, and opening it with the key, he
descended by
a few steps into a spacious cavern. Nourjahad, glad to have so
convenient a
place in which to deposit his treasure, returned to the house, and
ordered that
no visitors should be admitted to him. This one day he resolved to pass
in
laying down plans of various pleasures to be enjoyed for ages to come. Before the visit of
the genie, Nourjahad imagined that if he had these boundless riches, he
should
employ them to notable and generous purposes; but he had deceived
himself:
there exists a wide difference between the fancied and actual
possession of
wealth, for Nourjahad, now absorbed in selfishness, thought only of the
indulgence of his own appetites. ‘My temper,’ said he, as he lay
stretched at
his ease upon a sofa, does not incline me to take much trouble. I shall
not
aspire to high employments about the court, but I will have the finest
palaces
and gardens, the most splendid equipages, the most beautiful slaves in
my
seraglio, and the temperance of the sultan Schemzeddin shall be no
pattern for
me. Every corner of the earth shall be searched for dainties to supply
my
table, and bands of the choicest musicians shall entertain me while I
enjoy my
sumptuous banquets. Then no fear of surfeits: I will eat and drink to
excess,
and bid defiance to death.’ Here Nourjahad started, for he remembered
the
genius had not promised to secure him against the attacks of pain and
sickness.
‘Perhaps,’ said he, after a pause, ‘that advantage may be included.
Besides, a
little temporary pain now and then will be nothing: I shall the more
enjoy my
returning health. But I recollect that Schemzeddin used to talk of
wisdom, and
intellectual pleasures, as being the greatest enjoyment. Well, I can
purchase
those too; I will have half a score wise and learned men always at my
command,
to entertain me with their conversation; and when I am weary of living
in this
country, I will make a tour of the earth, and see every curiosity the
habitable
world contains.’ For three
whole
days Nourjahad was taken up with considering what scheme of pleasure he
should
begin with; and having entirely forgot to pay his court to Schemzeddin,
the
monarch, on the fourth day, was so offended at his absence, that he
sent one of
his officers to forbid him his presence forever. ‘Tell him, however,’
said the
sultan, ‘that in remembrance of my former favour, I will allow him one
thousand
crowns a-year for his support, and grant him the house he lives in.’
Nourjahad
received this message with great indifference; not daring, however, to
show any
mark of disrespect, he answered: ‘Tell my lord the sultan, that I would
not
have been thus long without throwing myself at his feet, but I was
hastily sent
for to visit a dying friend at some leagues distance, who has made me
his heir.
The thousand crowns, therefore, my royal master will be pleased to
bestow on
some one who wants them more than I do; but the house I will thankfully
accept,
and it will daily remind me, that Schemzeddin does not utterly detest
his
slave.’ Nourjahad gave this turn to his acceptance of the house, which
it would
have been very inconvenient to have retired from, as he had already
deposited
his treasures in the subterraneous cavern of the garden. Thus, he had
already,
in two instances, departed from the truth, in consequence of his
ill-judged
indulgence of unreasonable wishes. He now bent his thoughts wholly on
pleasure.
He employed one Hasem, the principal of his domestics, to regulate his
household,
and furnish him with every gratification of costly furniture,
magnificent
habits, and a princely retinue. His slaves were all perfectly
beautiful, and
his table was daily furnished with the most expensive and rarest
products of
every country. A few men of science and learning were invited to his
house, for
the instruction and entertainment of his leisure hours; but leisure
hours he
had none, for he was either gratifying his appetites, or surfeited with
excess.
Among the beauties
of his seraglio he had selected a young maid so perfect in loveliness,
and so
highly accomplished, that he gave her his entire affections, and made
her his
bride. By Mandana he was equally beloved, and longing to unbosom
himself to
some one on whose fidelity he could rely, he disclosed to her the
marvellous
story of his destiny. His mind thus relieved of its secret, he had not
one
anxious thought remaining, and plunged at once into a sea of luxurious
enjoyments. He forgot his duty towards God, and neglected all the laws
of the Prophet
Mahomet. The cries of distress or the sufferings of poverty no longer
melted
his heart. Becoming daily more sensual and avaricious, his boundless
wealth
seemed scarcely sufficient to gratify his wishes. He soon grew idle and
effeminate; and the pride he took in displaying the pomp of his retinue
to the
wondering eyes of the people, was the only motive that incited him to
action. He thus
continued
to wallow in voluptuousness for three months uninterruptedly, when one
day, as
he was preparing to set out for a beautiful villa, he had purchased for
a rural
retirement, the officer who had forbade his appearance at court,
arrived from
the sultan. ‘I am sorry, my lord,’ said he, ‘to be a second time the
messenger
of ill-tidings; but the sultan, hearing of the extraordinary splendor
and
magnificence in which you live, would needs know whence you derive your
wealth,
and has commanded me to conduct you to his presence.’ Nourjahad was
exceedingly
startled at this unexpected summons, but he dared not dispute the
sultan’s
orders; and he followed the officer to the palace of Schemzeddin. He
entered
trembling, and prostrated himself at the foot of the throne. ‘Whence is
it,
Nourjahad,’ said Schemzeddin, ‘that I am compelled by the murmurs of my
people,
to inquire into the source of the extraordinary wealth that thou hast
displayed? Who was the friend that bequeathed thy riches to thee, and
what are
their amount?’ Nourjahad, terrified at the dangers that threatened him,
fell at
the feet of the sultan, and related the visit of the genie, and its
miraculous
consequences. But the sultan sternly commanded him from his presence,
and
likewise ordered that he should be conducted back to his own house,
from whence
he was not to stir without permission from the sultan, on pain of
death. Nourjahad,
filled
with grief and vexation, was led like a prisoner back to his own
palace, and
had the mortification to find the gates of his dwelling surrounded by
the
sultan’s guards. He retired to his closet, repenting that he had made
so imprudent
a choice. ‘If,’ said he, ‘I had asked the genie to restore me to
Schemzeddin’s
favour, he would have advanced me to the highest offices of the state;
I should
have enjoyed my liberty, and have been respected, but now, I am only
envied and
hated; and of what use is my wealth since I am confined to one house?
Unfortunate Nourjahad, where are all thy schemes of felicity?’ In two
or three
days he was more reconciled to his lot, and ordered a sumptuous banquet
to be
prepared; his musicians were commanded to exercise their utmost art, to
soothe
his mind with all the enchanting powers of harmony; his apartments were
illuminated with thousands of torches, composed of fragrant spices, and
shedding delightful odours, and his slaves decked in the most costly
jewels:
himself attired in robes such as the kings of Persia used to wear, was
seated
under a canopy of silver tissue. With all these splendid preparations,
Nourjahad sat down to his banquet, unsatisfied and dispirited, but
resolved to
elevate himself in some way; he forgot the laws of the religion he
professed,
which enjoins sobriety, for the historian who relates his life, affirms
that
Nourjahad that night, for the first time in his life, — got drunk. In
this
state, he was carried insensible to bed, and when he next awoke from a
sound
slumber, he missed his beloved Mandana, and called aloud for his
slaves; but no
one answered. Being very passionate, he jumped out of bed, and ran into
the
antechamber, yet found none of his slaves in waiting; enraged at this,
he was
about to descend the stairs, when a female slave appeared, who no
sooner
perceived him, than she gave a shriek, and was going to run away, but
Nourjahad
seizing her roughly by the arm, commanded her to go and tell Mandana
that he
desired to see her. ‘Alas!
my lord,’
said the slave, ‘I wish she were in a condition to com to
you.’ ‘What do you
mean,’ cried he, ‘I hope she is not sick? I am sure
she went to bed in perfect
health last night!’ — ‘Last night, my
lord! alas, alas!’ — ‘Wretch!’
exclaimed
Nourjahad, what do you mean?’ — ‘My lord,
Mandana has been dead more than three
years.’ — ‘Infamous creature,
I’ll teach you to trifle with your master,’ and
he shook her so violently that her screams brought several other
domestics, and
among the rest, Hasem to her rescue. ‘My lord,’
said Hasem, ‘pardon your slave,
and suffer us to rejoice in your recovery, when we had despaired of
your ever
unclosing your eyes; having slept four years and twenty
days!’ At this instant
Nourjahad, with some confusion, recollected the condition the genie had
affixed
to his gift. He ordered every one but Hasem to withdraw, and when they
were
alone, he said, ‘tell me then Hasem, is Mandana really
dead?’ — ‘She is, my
lord; and when she was dying, she called me to her, and ordered me to
take
charge of the household; assuring me that you would one day revive
again. Here
my lord are the keys of the coffers she delivered to me, and I have
endeavoured
to preserve order and decorum in the management of your affairs; and
your
condition has been kept a profound secret from every one but your own
family.’
Nourjahad shed torrents of tears to the memory of Mandana and for a
long time
he felt disgusted with everything around him; but as time passed away,
his
grief diminished, and he began to feel some inclination to return to
his former
excesses. He had the prudence to relate to Hasem the mystery of his
destiny to
prevent the likelihood of being buried alive, should another deep sleep
fall
upon him. Having
taken this
precaution, he selected from his seraglio a beauty, named Cadiga, and
married
her. And now he once more delivered himself up to intemperance of every
kind.
He forgot that there were wants and distresses among his fellow
creatures. He
lived only for himself, and his heart became as hard as the coffers
which held
his misapplied treasures. The poets and sages whom he entertained in
his house,
began to grow irksome to him, and at length thinking their company
tedious, he
turned them out of his palace. One day the most extravagant project
came into
his head that ever filled the imagination of man: because his gardens
were very
beautiful, he fancied they must resemble the gardens of Paradise, and
he
ordered the women of his seraglio to personate the Houries, those angelic beings
who are said to be the
companions of true believers in the Mahometan Paradise. He called
himself the
Prophet Mahomet, and gave orders to Hasem to prepare for the celestial
masquerade. Neither art nor expense was spared on this extraordinary
occasion.
The fountains were ordered to run with milk and wine, instead of water;
and
fruits, blossoms, and flowers were gathered together to embellish this
terrestrial Paradise. On the day the festivities were to commence, the
weather
being extremely hot, Nourjahad, who had been viewing the preparations
with
childish impatience, lay down on a couch to take a short repose,
leaving orders
to be awakened before sunset. Nourjahad,
however,
opened his eyes without any one’s having disturbed his slumbers, and
finding
the day already closed, he sprung up in a violent passion, and stamping
on the
floor, ordered the slave who appeared, to bid his women, one and all,
to hasten
into his apartment. While he was resolving to punish their neglect with
the
greatest severity, they appeared, throwing up their veils as they
entered his
apartment. But oh, heavens! what was Nourjahad’s anger and
astonishment, When
instead of the beautiful Houries he expected to see, he beheld only a
train of
withered and deformed old women. Surprise and indignation deprived him
of the
power of speech, till the foremost stepped forward and offered to
embrace him;
he pushed her from him, crying, ‘Avaunt, fiend, where are my slaves?
where is
Hasem? where are the women of my seraglio?’ ‘Alas!
my lord!
have you entirely forgot me, forgot your beloved Cadiga?’
— ‘Thou Cadiga?
detested wretch, thou liest! this very day, my Cadiga was as beautiful
as an
angel; and thou resemblest nothing but a fury.’ —
‘Alas! my lord, you have not
seen your Cadiga these forty years and eleven months, till this
moment.’ —
‘What!’ cried Nourjahad, ‘have I slept so
long as forty years and eleven
months?’ — ‘Yes, my lord, and we your
faithful wives have in the meantime
undergone the natural transformation from youth to age.’
— ‘By the temple of
Mecca!’ exclaimed Nourjahad, ‘this genius of mine
is no better than an evil
spirit, or he could not take such delight in persecuting me.’
— ‘Ah, my lord!’
cried Cadiga, ‘I am not ignorant of the strange fate by which
your life is
governed; Hasem, your faithful Hasem, communicated it to me with his
dying
breath.’ — ‘Is Hasem dead?’
— ‘Yes, my lord, he died some months since,
bequeathing to me your secret, and the care of your person, and
household.’
Nourjahad now ordering them all to withdraw, threw himself again on his
couch —
‘I see,’ said he, ‘the folly of my
expectations. Mandana and Hasem are dead,
and Cadiga grown old and ugly, and already totters on the brink of the
grave. I
lose all whom I love, and my immortality does not secure me from
affliction,
nor can I purchase happiness with all my wealth. Fool that I was to
desire a
step ‘beyond the bounds of prudence and moderation. A friend
shall no sooner
become endeared to me, than death will deprive me of him, and if I
marry again
how many bright eyes am I doomed to see for ever closed? ah! it is a
comfortless life that I have chosen. I find too late, that my boundless
riches
cannot purchase happiness.’ Nourjahad
now grew
peevish, morose, and tyrannical. Cruelty took possession of his breast;
he
abused his women, beat his slaves, and seemed to enjoy no satisfaction,
but
that of tormenting others. Cadiga ventured to expostulate with him.
‘To whom am
I accountable,’ said he, ‘for my
actions?’ — ‘To God and our
Prophet.’ — ‘Thou
liest,’ he replied, ‘as I am exempt from death, I
can never be brought to
judgment.’ — ‘But hast thou no regard for
the laws of society, nor pity for the
sufferings of thy fellow creatures?’ —
‘Foolish woman! dost thou then talk to
me of laws who think myself bound by none?’ —
‘Thou art a monster, and not fit
to live!’ said the undaunted Cadiga. ‘Go tell thy
Prophet so!’ exclaimed
Nourjahad, plucking a poniard from his side, and plunging it into her
bosom.
She fell at his feet, weltering in her blood; and he left the chamber,
without
showing the least concern for the deed he had committed. That night he
went to
rest as usual, and when he awoke again, he beheld a man, sitting near
the foot
of his couch, weeping; what is the matter?’ asked Nourjahad.
‘Schemzeddin is
dead! my lord — the good sultanis no more!’
— ‘I am glad of it,’ cried
Nourjahad, ‘I shall now have my liberty. Who is next to reign
in Ormuz?’ —
‘Doubtless, my lord, the Prince Schemerzad, the eldest son of
Schemzeddin.’ —
‘Slave, Schemzeddin had no son.’ —
‘Pardon me, my lord, the prince was born the
very hour Cadiga died by your hand; and he is esteemed the wisest and
most
accomplished prince of his age.’ — ‘Thou
art very insolent methinks to mention
Cadiga before me, and a sultan of four and twenty hours old must needs
be very
wise and accomplished.’ — ‘Nay, my
lord,’ replied the man, ‘the prince this
very day is twenty years old.’ Nourjahad
on
hearing this, looked in the face of the man and perceived him to be a
stranger
— ‘twenty years old?’ said he, starting
up, — ‘it should seem then that I have
slept twenty years; and who art thou, for I do not remember ever to
have seen
thy face before? and how camest thou hither?’ —
‘My name,’ answered the
stranger, ‘is Cozro. I am the brother of Cadiga, who sent for
me when she was
dying, and made me swear by our holy Prophet to her that I would watch
and
attend on you carefully. I did not know till afterwards, that you had
murdered
my sister, and when I did learn it I could scarce refrain from
inflicting
vengeance on thee!’ — ‘And pray what
restrained thee?’ — ‘Reverence for my
oath, and the fear of offending the Almighty.’ Nourjahad
was
struck with awe at this answer, but he continued silent while Cozro
proceeded
to inform him, that his slaves, even those he had most trusted, had
plundered his
coffers and absconded. ‘Alas!’ cried Nourjahad, my
treacherous joys have
deceived me, I am bereft of hope, I am like a savage beast in the
desert, whose
paths are shunned by all mankind.’ —
‘Nourjahad,’ said Cozro, ‘I have heard
thy
story from Cadiga; and know, oh, mistaken man, that thy misfortunes are
the
consequences of thy crimes. Thou hast abused the power vested in thy
hands, and
by the immutable laws of heaven, either in this world or the next, vice
will
receive its punishment, and virtue its reward.’ —
‘Alas!’ replied Nourjahad,
‘thou hast awakened in me a remorse, of which I was never
sensible before. I
look back with shame and horror on my past life. What shall I do, oh,
Cozro, to
expiate my offences?’ — ‘If thy
repentance is sincere,’ replied Cozro, ‘the
means are amply in thy power. Thy riches will enable thee to diffuse
blessings
among mankind.’ — ‘It shall be
so,’ exclaimed Nourjahad with rapture. ‘My
treasures shall be open to thee, thou good old man. Inquire out every
family in
Ormuz, whom calamity hath overtaken, and restore them to prosperity.
Seek the
helpless and the innocent, and by a timely supply of their wants,
secure them
against the attacks of poverty, or temptations of vice. Find out merit
wherever
it lies concealed, clogged by adversity, or obscured by malice; lift it
up from
the dust, and let it shine conspicuous to the world!’
— ‘Blessed be the purpose
of thy heart!’ said Cozro, ‘and prosperous be the
days of thy life!’ Nourjahad
now sent
Cozro forth on his benevolent errand, and only waited to have himself
released
from the prohibition Schemzeddin had laid upon him, to join Cozro in
his
mission. No notice had yet been taken of a petition he had sent to the
new
sultan, for the restoration of his liberty, but Nourjahad bore that
with
patience, and spent his days in his closet, laying plans for the
benefit of his
fellow creatures. He was now temperate in all his appetites, and
returned to
the strict exercise of all the sacred duties of his religion. One day
he was
surprised to find that Cozro did not return at his usual time, but was
still
more amazed to see an officer attended by a guard, enter his apartment,
and
accuse him of employing an agent to distribute large sums of money in
the city,
to bring a revolt among the people. It was in vain that Nourjahad
attempted to
refute the charge. He was called a traitor, was dragged from his house,
and
lodged in one of the dungeons of the state prison. At midnight, the
jailer
entered with some bread and water, and from him he learned that his
accomplice,
as they called Cozro, refusing to confess the particulars of the
treason in
which he was concerned, was already condemned to death, and that the
bell now
tolling was the signal for his execution. Nourjahad prostrated himself
on the
ground. ‘Alas!’ cried he, ‘and then to cause the death of the most
virtuous man
I know! Ah, why was I not content with the common lot of mortals? Oh,
holy
Prophet!’ he exclaimed, ‘take back the gift which I, in the ignorance
and
presumption of my heart, so vainly desired; and which, too late, I find
a
punishment instead of a blessing.’ He had scarce pronounced these
words, when
the door of his dungeon flew open, and his guardian genius, all radiant
with
light stood before him. ‘Nourjahad,’ he said, thy prayers are heard,
yet
examine thy heart once more. Art thou willing to become poor again and
subject
to death, the common lot of mortals?’ — ‘Most willing,’ answered
Nourjahad. —
‘Then joyfully do I resume the dangerous gift I bestowed on thy erring
wishes.
Prostrate thyself with thy face to the earth, and await what shall
befall
thee.’ The
door of the
dungeon then closed, and Nourjahad continued in prayer and meditation,
till the
dawn of the following morning, when the keeper of the prison appeared
to lead
him to the presence of the sultan. He was carried out of the dungeon,
and
placed in an open carriage, between two officers, with drawn sabres in
their
hands. The chariot was surrounded by soldiers, and in this manner he
was
conveyed to the hall of audience, where the sultan was seated on his
throne,
with his emirs, his nobles, and all the great officers of his court
standing
round him. Nourjahad stood before the sultan with his eyes bent upon
the
ground; his deportment was modest and respectful; but supported by
conscious
innocence, he discovered no symptoms of fear. Schemerzad made a sign
for every
one to withdraw, except the grand vizier, who stood on the steps of his
throne.
‘Art thou prepared,’ demanded the sultan,
‘to make a full confession of thy
treasonable designs? Say, audacious wretch! to what end was thy
profusion
employed?’ — ‘To obtain a blessing from
heaven,’ answered Nourjahad; ‘and by
relieving the wants and afflictions of others, to make some atonement
for my
own intemperate use of wealth, which ought to have been employed to
better
purposes.’ — ‘Wouldst thou persuade me
that charity was thy only motive?’ — ‘It
was, illustrious sultan. I have spoken the truth, and to convince your
majesty,
that I never harboured any treasonable design against your person or
government, I am ready at this moment to deliver into your hands that
immense
treasure which, had I been vile enough so to have employed it, would
have
bought the fidelity of half your subjects.’ —
‘Do then,’ said the sultan, ‘as
thou hast spoken, and I will believe thee.’ —
‘If your majesty will permit any
one to go with me to my house, I will deliver into his hands all my
wealth; and
if my lord permits me to live, I will henceforward labour to support
myself.’ —
‘No,’ replied the sultan, ‘I will not
trust thee from my sight; instruct my
vizier where to find thy treasures.’ Nourjahad then delivered
up the key of the
subterranean cavern which contained the urns full of gold and precious
stones,
and directed the vizier in what part of the garden he was to find the
entrance
of the cavern. As the
gardens of
Nourjahad joined those of the royal palace, the vizier was not long in
going
and returning, but he brought word that there was not a single urn, nor
any
vestige of treasure concealed in the cavern. Nourjahad instantly
recollected
that his guardian spirit had probably reclaimed this, as well as the
other
gift, and said: ‘A genie who watches over my motions, has doubtless
carried
away my wealth.’ — ‘Wretch!’ cried the sultan, ‘darest thou suppose,
that
affecting to be mad can save thy forfeit life?’ — ‘My lord,’ replied
Nourjahad,
prostrating himself at the foot of the throne, ‘I call Heaven to
witness, I
have spoken nothing but the truth. The severest tortures you can
inflict will
extort no more. I was willing to sacrifice the wealth I believed myself
to
possess, and I am now as ready to yield up my life.’ — ‘Art thou not
afraid to
die?’ said Schemerzad. ‘No, mighty sultan; I look upon death to a
virtuous man
to be the forerunner to everlasting happiness.’ On this the sultan
arose, and
clapped his hands which Nourjahad supposed was the signal for his
execution;
but instead of slaves to seize him, he beheld his guardian genius
standing
close to the throne of Schemerzad. Awed and amazed, he started back,
and gazed
on the vision, when the angelic youth casting off the circlet that
bound his
forehead, and throwing off a head of artificial flaxen hair that flowed
upon
his shoulders, a fall of brown hair dropped in light curls upon his
blushing
cheeks; and Nourjahad beheld in the person of his seraphic guide, his
beloved
and beautiful Mandana. At the
same moment,
the sultan exclaimed, ‘Look up, Nourjahad! raise thy eyes to thy
master’s face;
no longer the angry Schemerzad, but Schemzeddin, thy friend and
protector.’ —
‘And for whom wouldst thou take me?’ said the vizier, throwing aside
his
turban. ‘By Mahomet,’ cried Nourjahad, ‘if I do not dream, I behold the
royal
Schemzeddin, and in thee, vizier, my faithful slave, Hasem.’ — ‘It is
even so,’
said the sultan, ‘I loved you, Nourjahad, too well not to endeavour to
work
your reformation. I employed the beautiful Mandana to personate your
guardian
angel. I introduced her into your chamber through a secret door,
unknown to
you, which communicates with a gallery in the royal palace. You fell
into the
snare. The liquid you drank was an opiate, and while you slept we
conveyed the
urns into your chamber, filled from the royal treasury. When you were
settled
in your imaginary felicity, Hasem offered himself to your service, and
I had
Mandana, who already loved you passionately, presented to you. No
wonder her
charms captivated your heart. As I foresaw, you yielded to all manner
of
excess; and I, to awaken your remorse, had an opiate administered, and
withdrew
Mandana from your arms. The confinement I laid you under, was to
prevent your
having any communication beyond your own household; and you were served
only by
my slaves, who were bound by solemn oaths to keep my secret. You did
not
suspect that you had slept only a night instead of four years; but you
were not
reformed, and we imposed on you that you had had a second sleep of
longer
duration. Your beautiful slaves were conveyed away in the night, and
old women
introduced, instructed to personate them, which they did admirably; and
Hasem,
whom you supposed to be dead, remained secretly in your house to govern
the
mechanism of our plot. Still you continued to rebel against the laws of
God and
man, and at length stained your hand with blood: happily, you did not
take the
life you aimed at; she who personated Cadiga, still lives. I now
determined
myself to be an eye-witness of your conduct, and to try if any spark of
virtue
remained in your soul, which could be rekindled. When you awoke the
next morning,
I presented myself as Cozro, and I had soon the satisfaction to find
thee a new
man. Fourteen months only have elapsed since we began our trial. The
greatest
part of the sums expended have returned to my coffers, and that which
has been
otherwise disposed of, I do not regret, since I find Nourjahad become
worthy to
be the friend of Schemzeddin. Take back thy amiable wife, Mandana, and
receive
the fixed confidence and love of thy sultan.’ History says, that Nourjahad was raised to the highest offices of state; that his wisdom and virtue proved an ornament and support to the Persian throne during the course of a long and prosperous life; and that his name became famous throughout the eastern world. |