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THE LOSS OF THE TALISMAN
SOON
after his marriage Prince Camaralzaman dreamt one night that he saw his
father
Schahzaman on his death-bed, and heard him speak thus to his
attendants:
"My son, my son, whom I so tenderly loved, has abandoned me." He
awoke with a great sigh, which aroused the princess, who asked him the
cause of
it. Next morning the princess went to her own father, and finding him
alone
kissed his hand and thus addressed herself to him: "Sir, I have a
favour
to beg of your majesty; it is that you will give me leave to go with
the prince
my husband to see King Schahzaman, my father-in-law." "Daughter,"
replied the king, "though I shall be very sorry to part with you for so
long a time, your resolution is worthy of you: go, child, I give you
leave, but
on condition that you stay no longer than a year in King Schahzaman's
court." The
princess communicated the King of China's consent to Prince
Camaralzaman, who
was transported with joy to hear it. The King
of China gave orders for preparations to be made for the journey; and
when all
things were ready, he accompanied the prince and princess several days'
journey
on their way. They parted at length with great weeping on all sides:
the king
embraced them, and having desired the prince to be kind to his
daughter, and to
love her always, he left them to proceed on their journey, and, to
divert his
thoughts, hunted all the way home. Prince
Camaralzaman and the Princess Badoura travelled for about a month, and
at last
came to a meadow of great extent, planted with tall trees, forming an
agreeable
shade. The day being unusually hot, Camaralzaman thought it best to
encamp
there. They alighted in one of the finest spots, and the prince ordered
his
servants to pitch their tents, and went himself to give directions. The
princess, weary with the fatigue of the journey, bade her women untie
her
girdle, which they laid down by her, and when she fell asleep, her
attendants
left her by herself. Prince
Camaralzaman having seen all things in order came to the tent where the
princess was sleeping; he entered, and sat down without making any
noise,
intending to take a nap himself; but observing the princess's girdle
lying by
her, he took it up, and looked at the diamonds and rubies one by one.
In doing
this, he saw a little purse hanging to it, sewed neatly on to the
stuff, and
tied fast with a ribbon; he felt it, and found there was something
solid inside
it. Desirous to know what it was, he opened the purse, and took out a
cornelian, engraven with unknown figures and characters. "This
cornelian," said the prince to himself, "must be something very
valuable, or my princess would not carry it with so much care." It was
Badoura's talisman, which the Queen of China had given her daughter as
a charm,
to keep her, as she said, from any harm as long as she had it about
her. The
prince, the better to look at the talisman, took it out to the light,
the tent
being dark; and while he was holding it up in his hand, a bird darted
down from
the air and snatched it away from him. Imagine
the concern and grief of Prince Camaralzaman when he saw the bird fly
away with
the talisman. He was more troubled at it than words can express, and
cursed his
unseasonable curiosity, by which his dear princess had lost a treasure
that was
so precious and so much valued by her. The bird
having got her prize settled on the ground not far off, with the
talisman in
her mouth. The prince drew near, in hopes she would drop it; but, as he
approached, the bird took wing, and settled again on the ground further
off.
Camaralzaman followed, and the bird, having swallowed the talisman,
took a
further flight: the prince still followed; the further she flew, the
more eager
he grew in pursuing her. Thus the bird drew him along from hill to
valley, and
valley to hill all day, every step leading him further away from the
field
where he had left his camp and the Princess Badoura; and instead of
perching at
night on a bush where he might probably have taken her, she roosted on
a high
tree, safe from pursuit. The prince, vexed to the heart for taking so
much
pains to no purpose, thought of returning to the camp; "but," said he
to himself, "which way shall I return? Shall I go clown the hills and
valleys which I passed over? Shall I wander in darkness? and will my
strength
bear me out? How dare I appear before my princess without her
talisman?"
Overwhelmed with such thoughts, and tired with the pursuit, he lay down
under a
tree, where he passed the night. He awoke
the next morning before the bird had left the tree, and, as soon as he
saw her
on the wing, followed her again that whole day, with no better success,
eating
nothing but herbs and fruits all the way. He did the same for ten days
together, pursuing the bird, and keeping his eye upon her from morning
to
night, always lying under the tree where she roosted. On the eleventh
day the
bird continued flying, and came near a great city. When the bird came
to the
walls, she flew over them, and the prince saw no more of her; so he
despaired
of ever recovering the Princess Badoura's talisman. Camaralzaman,
whose grief was beyond expression, went into the city, which was built
by the
seaside, and had a fine port; he walked up and down the streets without
knowing
where he was, or where to stop. At last he came to the port, in as
great
uncertainty as ever what he should do. Walking along the river-side, he
perceived the gate of a garden open, and an old gardener at work. The
good man
looked up and saw that he was a stranger and a Mussulman, so he asked
him to
come in, and to shut the door after him. Camaralzaman
entered, and, as the gardener bade him shut the door, demanded of the
gardener
why he was so cautious. "Because,"
replied the old man, "I see you are a stranger newly arrived, and a
Mussulman, and this city is inhabited for the most part by idolaters,
who have
a mortal aversion to us Mussulmans, and treat those few of us that are
here
with great barbarity. I suppose you did not know this, and it is a
miracle that
you have escaped as you have thus far, these idolaters being very apt
to fall
upon the Mussulmans that are strangers, or to draw them into a snare,
unless
those strangers know how to beware of them." Camaralzaman
thanked the honest gardener for his advice, and the safety he offered
him in
his house: he would have said more, but the good man interrupted him,
saying,
"You are weary, and must want to refresh yourself. Come in and rest."
He conducted him into his little hut, and after the prince had eaten
heartily
of what he set before him, he requested him to relate how he came
there. Camaralzaman
complied with his request, and when he had ended his story, he asked
him which
was the nearest way to the king his father's territories; "for it is in
vain," said he, "for me to think of finding my princess where I left
her, after wandering eleven days from the spot. Ah!" continued he,
"how do I know she is alive?" and so saying, he burst into tears. The
gardener replied that there was no possibility of his going thither by
land,
the roads were so difficult and the journey so long; besides, he must
necessarily pass through the countries of so many barbarous nations
that he
would never reach his father's. It was a year's journey from the city
where he
was to any country inhabited only by Mussulmans; the quickest passage
for him
would be to go to the Isle of Ebony, whence he might easily transport
himself
to the Isles of the Children of Khaledan: a ship sailed from the port
every
year to Ebony, and he might take that opportunity of returning to those
islands. "The ship departed," said the gardener, "but a few days
ago: if you had come a little sooner you might have taken your passage
in it.
If you will wait the year round until it makes the voyage again, and
will stay
with me in my house, such as it is, you will be as welcome to it as to
your
own." Prince
Camaralzaman was glad he had met with such a place of refuge, in a
place where
he had no acquaintances. He accepted the offer, and lived with the
gardener
till the time came that the ship was to sail to the Isle of Ebony. He
spent his
time in working all day in the garden, and all night in sighs, tears
and
complaints, thinking of his dear Princess Badoura. We must
leave him in this place, to return to the princess, whom we left asleep
in her
tent. The
princess slept a long time, and, when she awoke, wondered that Prince
Camaralzaman was not with her; she called her women, and asked them if
they
knew where he was. They told her they saw him enter the tent, but did
not see
him go out again. While they were talking to her, she took up her
girdle, found
the little purse open, and the talisman gone. She did not doubt but
that
Camaralzaman had taken it to see what it was, and that he would bring
it back
with him. She waited for him impatiently till night, and could not
imagine what
made him stay away from her so long. When it
was quite dark, and she could hear no news of him, she fell into
violent grief;
she cursed the talisman, and the man that made it. She could not
imagine how
her talisman should have caused the prince's separation from her: she
did not
however lose her judgment, and came to a courageous decision as to what
she
should do. She only
and her women knew of the prince's being gone; for his men were asleep
in their
tents. The princess, fearing they would betray her if they had any
knowledge of
it, moderated her grief, and forbade her women to say or do anything
that might
create the least suspicion. She then laid aside her robe, and put on
one of
Prince Camaralzaman's, being so like him that next day, when she came
out, his
men took her for him. She
commanded them to pack up their baggage and begin their march; and when
all
things were ready, she ordered one of her women to go into her litter,
she
herself mounting on horseback, and riding by her side. They
travelled for several months by land and sea; the princess continuing
the
journey under the name of Camaralzaman. They took the Isle of Ebony on
their
way to the Isles of the Children of Khaledan. They went to the capital
of the
Isle of Ebony, where a king reigned whose name was Armanos. The persons
who
first landed gave out that the ship carried Prince Camaralzaman, who
was
returning from a long voyage and was driven in there by a storm, and
the news
of his arrival was presently carried to the court. King
Armanos, accompanied by most of his courtiers, went immediately to meet
the
prince, and met the princess just as she was landing, and going to the
lodging
that had been taken for her. He received her as the son of a king who
was his
friend, and conducted her to the palace, where an apartment was
prepared for
her and all her attendants, though she would fain have excused herself,
and
have lodged in a private house. He showed her all possible honour, and
entertained her for three days with extraordinary magnificence. At the
end of
this time, King Armanos, understanding that the princess, whom he still
took
for Prince Camaralzaman, talked of going on board again to proceed on
her
voyage, charmed with the air and qualities of such an accomplished
prince as he
took her to be, seized an opportunity when she was alone, and spoke to
her in
this manner: "You see, prince, that I am old, and cannot hope to live
long; and, to my great mortification, I have not a son to whom I may
leave my
crown. Heaven has only blest me with one daughter, the Princess
Haļatalnefous
whose beauty cannot be better matched than with a prince of your rank
and
accomplishments. Instead of going home, stay and marry her from my
hand, with
my crown, which I resign in your favour. It is time for me to rest, and
nothing
could be a greater pleasure to me in my retirement than to see my
people ruled
by so worthy a successor to my throne." The King
of the Isle of Ebony's generous offer to bestow his only daughter in
marriage,
and with her his kingdom, on the Princess Badoura, put her into
unexpected
perplexity. She thought it would not become a princess of her rank to
undeceive
the king, and to own that she was not Prince Camaralzaman, but his
wife, when
she had assured him that she was he himself, whose part she had
hitherto acted
so well. She was also afraid to refuse the honour he offered her, lest,
as he
was much bent upon the marriage, his kindness might turn to aversion
and
hatred, and he might attempt something even against her life. Besides,
she was
not sure whether she might not find Prince Camaralzaman in the court of
King Schahzaman
his father. These
considerations, added to the prospect of obtaining a kingdom for the
prince her
husband, in case she found him again, determined her to accept the
proposal of
King Armanos, and marry his daughter; so after having stood silent for
some
minutes, she with blushes, which the king took for a sign of modesty,
answered,
"Sir, I am infinitely obliged to your majesty for your good opinion of
me,
for the honour you do me, and the great favour you offer me, which I
cannot
pretend to merit, and dare not refuse. "But,
sir," continued she, "I cannot accept this great alliance on any
other condition than that your majesty will assist me with your
counsel, and
that I do nothing without first having your approbation." The
marriage treaty being thus concluded and agreed on, the ceremony was
put off
till next day. In the mean time Princess Badoura gave notice to her
officers,
who still took her for Prince Camaralzaman, of what she was going to do
so that
they might not be surprised at it, assuring them that the Princess
Badoura
consented. She talked also to her women, and charged them to continue
to keep
the secret. The King
of the Isle of Ebony, rejoicing that he had got a son-in-law so much to
his
satisfaction, next morning summoned his council, and acquainted them
with his
design of marrying his daughter to Prince Camaralzaman, whom he
introduced to
them; and having made him sit down by his side, told them he resigned
the crown
to the prince, and required them to acknowledge him for king, and swear
fealty
to him. Having said this, he descended from his throne, and the
Princess
Badoura, by his order, ascended it. As soon as the council broke up,
the new
king was proclaimed through the city, rejoicings were appointed for
several
days, and couriers despatched all over the kingdom to see the same
ceremonies
observed with the same demonstrations of joy. As soon
as they were alone, the Princess Badoura told the Princess
Haļatalnefous the
secret, and begged her to keep it, which she promised faithfully to do.
"Princess,"
said Haļatalnefous, "your fortune is indeed strange, that a marriage,
so
happy as yours was, should be shortened by so unaccountable an
accident. Pray
heaven you may meet with your husband again soon, and be sure that I
will religiously
keep the secret committed to me. It will be to me the greatest pleasure
in the
world to be the only person in the great kingdom of the Isle of Ebony
who knows
what and who you are, while you go on governing the people as happily
as you
have begun. I only ask of you at present to be your friend." Then the
two
princesses tenderly embraced each other, and after a thousand
expressions of
mutual friendship lay down to rest. While
these things were taking place in the court of the Isle of Ebony,
Prince
Camaralzaman stayed in the city of idolaters with the gardener, who had
offered
him his house till the ship sailed. One
morning when the prince was up early, and, as he used to do, was
preparing to
work in the garden, the gardener prevented him, saying, "This day is a
great festival among the idolaters, and because they abstain from all
work
themselves, so as to spend the time in their assemblies and public
rejoicings,
they will not let the Mussulmans work. Their shows are worth seeing.
You will
have nothing to do to-day: I leave you here. As the time approaches in
which
the ship is accustomed to sail for the Isle of Ebony, I will go and see
some of
my friends, and secure you a passage in it." The gardener put on his
best
clothes, and went out. When
Prince Camaralzaman was alone, instead of going out to take part in the
public
joy of the city, the solitude he was in brought to his mind, with more
than
usual violence, the loss of his dear princess. He walked up and down
the garden
sighing and
groaning, till the noise which two birds made on a neighbouring tree
tempted
him to lift up his head, and stop to see what was the matter. Camaralzaman
was surprised to behold a furious battle between these two birds,
fighting one
another with their beaks. In a very little while one of them fell down
dead at
the foot of a tree; the bird that was victorious took wing again, and
flew
away. In an
instant, two other large birds, that had seen the fight at a distance,
came
from the other side of the garden, and pitched on the ground, one at
the feet
and the other at the head of the dead bird: they looked at it some
time,
shaking their heads in token of grief; after which they dug a grave
with their
talons, and buried it. When
they had filled up the grave with the earth they flew away, and
returned in a
few minutes, bringing with them the bird that had committed the murder,
the one
holding one of its wings in its beak, and the other one of its legs;
the
criminal all the while crying out in a doleful manner, and struggling
to
escape. They carried it to the grave of the bird which it had lately
sacrificed
to its rage, and there sacrificed it in just revenge for the murder it
had
committed. They killed the murderer with their beaks. They then opened
it, tore
out the entrails, left the body on the spot unburied, and flew away. Camaralzaman
remained in great astonishment all the time that he stood beholding
this sight.
He drew near the tree, and casting his eyes on the scattered entrails
of the
bird that was last killed, he spied something red hanging out of its
body. He
took it up, and found it was his beloved Princess Badoura's talisman,
which had
cost him so much pain and sorrow and so many sighs since the bird
snatched it
out of his hand. "Ah, cruel monster!" said he to himself, still looking
at the bird, "thou tookest delight in doing mischief, so I have the
less
reason to complain of that which thou didst to me: but the greater it
was, the
more do I wish well to those that revenged my quarrel on thee, in
punishing
thee for the murder of one of their own kind." It is
impossible to express Prince Camaralzaman's joy: "Dear princess,"
continued he to himself, "this happy minute, which restores to me a
treasure so precious to thee, is without doubt a presage of our meeting
again,
perhaps even sooner than I think." So saying, he kissed the talisman, wrapped it up in a ribbon, and tied it carefully about his arm. Till now he had been almost every night a stranger to rest, his trouble always keeping him awake, but the next night he slept soundly: he rose somewhat later the next morning than he was accustomed to, put on his working clothes, and went to the gardener for orders. The good man made him root up an old tree which bore no fruit. Camaralzaman
took an axe and began his work. In cutting off a branch of the root, he
found
that his axe struck against something that resisted the blow and made a
great
noise. He removed the earth, and discovered a broad plate of brass,
under which
was a staircase of ten steps. He went down, and at the bottom saw a
cavity
about six yards square, with fifty brass urns placed in order around
it, each
with a cover over it. He opened them all, one after another, and there
was not
one of them which was not full of gold-dust He came out of the cave,
rejoicing
that he had found such a vast treasure: he put the brass plate over the
staircase, and rooted up the tree against the gardener's return. The
gardener had learned the day before that the ship which was bound for
the Isle
of Ebony would sail in a few days, but the exact time was not yet
fixed. His
friend promised to let him know the day, if he called upon him on the
morrow;
and while Camaralzaman was rooting up the tree, he went to get his
answer. He
returned with a joyful countenance, by which the prince guessed that he
brought
him good news. "Son," said the old man (so he always called him, on
account of the difference of age between him and the prince), "be
joyful,
and prepare to embark in three days, for the ship will then certainly
set sail:
I have arranged with the captain for your passage." "In
my present situation," replied Camaralzaman, "you could not bring me
more agreeable news; and in return, I have also tidings that will be as
welcome
to you; come along with me, and you shall see what good fortune heaven
has in
store for you." The
prince led the gardener to the place where he had rooted up the tree,
made him
go down into the cave, and when he was there showed him what a treasure
he had
discovered, and thanked Providence for rewarding his virtue, and the
labour he
had done for so many years. "What
do you mean?" replied the gardener: "do you imagine I will take these
riches as mine? They are yours: I have no right to them. For fourscore
years,
since my father's death, I have done nothing but dig in this garden,
and could
not discover this treasure, which is a sign that it was destined for
you, since
you have been permitted to find it. It suits a prince like you, rather
than me:
I have one foot in the grave, and am in no want of anything. Providence
has
bestowed it upon you, just when you are returning to that country which
will
one day be your own, where you will make a good use of it." Prince
Camaralzaman would not be outdone in generosity by the gardener. They
had a
long dispute about it. At last the prince solemnly protested that he
would have
none of it, unless the gardener would divide it with him and take half.
The
good man, to please the prince, consented; so they parted it between
them, and
each had twenty-five urns. Having
thus divided it, "Son," said the gardener to the prince, "it is
not enough that you have got this treasure; we must now contrive how to
carry
it so privately on board the ship that nobody may know anything of the
matter,
otherwise you will run the risk of losing it. There are no olives in
the Isle
of Ebony, and those that are exported hence are wanted there; you know
I have
plenty of them; take what you will; fill fifty pots, half with the gold
dust,
and half with olives, and I will get them carried to the ship when you
embark."
Camaralzaman
followed this good advice, and spent the rest of the day in packing up
the gold
and the olives in the fifty pots, and fearing lest the talisman, which
he wore
on his arm, might be lost again, he carefully put it into one of the
pots,
marking it with a particular mark, to distinguish it from the rest.
When they
were all ready to be shipped, the prince retired with the gardener, and
talking
together, he related to him the battle of the birds, and how he had
found the
Princess Badoura's talisman again. The gardener was equally surprised
and
joyful to hear it for his sake. Whether
the old man was quite worn out with age, or had exhausted himself too
much that
day, he had a very bad night; he grew worse the next day, and on the
third day,
when the prince was to embark, was so ill that it was plain he was near
his
end. As soon as day broke, the captain of the ship came in person with
several
seamen to the gardener's; they knocked at the garden-door, and
Camaralzaman
opened it to them. They asked him where the passenger was that was to
go with
him. The prince answered, "I am he; the gardener who arranged with you
for
my passage is ill, and cannot be spoken with: come in, and let your men
carry
those pots of olives and my baggage aboard. I will only take leave of
the
gardener, and follow you." The
seamen took up the pots and the baggage, and the captain bade the
prince make
haste, for the wind being fair they were waiting for nothing but him. When the
captain and his men were gone, Camaralzaman went to the gardener, to
take leave
of him, and thank him for all his good offices: but he found him in the
agonies
of death, and had scarcely time to bid him rehearse the articles of his
faith,
which all good Mussulmans do before they die, when the gardener expired
in his
presence. The
prince being under the necessity of embarking immediately hastened to
pay the
last duty to the deceased. He washed his body, buried him in his own
garden
(for the Mahometans had no cemetery in the city of the idolaters, where
they
were only tolerated), and as he had nobody to assist him it was almost
evening
before he had put him in the ground. As soon as he had done it he ran
to the
waterside, carrying with him the key of the garden, intending, if he
had time,
to give it to the landlord; otherwise to deposit it in some trusty
person's
hand before a witness, that he might leave it when he was gone. When he
came to
the port, he was told the ship had sailed several hours before he came
and was
already out of sight. It had waited three hours for him, and the wind
standing
fair, the captain dared not stay any longer. It is
easy to imagine that Prince Camaralzaman was exceedingly grieved to be
forced
to stay longer in a country where he neither had nor wished to have any
acquaintance: to think that he must wait another twelvemonth for the
opportunity he had lost. But the greatest affliction of all was his
having let
go the Princess Badoura's talisman, which he now gave over for lost.
The only
course that was left for him to take was to return to the garden to
rent it of
the landlord, and to continue to cultivate it by himself, deploring his
misery
and misfortunes. He hired a boy to help him to do some part of the
drudgery;
and that he might not lose the other half of the treasure, which came
to him by
the death of the gardener, who died without heirs, he put the gold-dust
into
fifty other pots, which he filled up with olives, to be ready against
the time
of the ship's return. While
Prince Camaralzaman began another year of labour, sorrow and
impatience, the
ship, having a fair wind, continued her voyage to the Isle of Ebony,
and
happily arrived at the capital. The
palace being by the sea-side, the new king, or rather the Princess
Badoura,
espying the ship as she was entering the port, with all her flags
flying, asked
what vessel it was; she was told that it came annually from the city of
the
idolaters, and was generally richly laden. The
princess, who always had Prince Camaralzaman in her mind amidst the
glories
which surrounded her, imagined that the prince might be on board, and
resolved
to go down to the ship and meet him. Under pretence of inquiring what
merchandise was on board, and having the first sight of the goods, and
choosing
the most valuable, she commanded a horse to be brought, which she
mounted, and
rode to the port, accompanied by several officers in waiting, and
arrived at
the port just as the captain came ashore. She ordered him to be brought
before
her, and 'asked whence he came, how long he had been on his voyage, and
what good
or bad fortune he had met with: if he had any stranger of quality on
board, and
particularly with what his ship was laden. The
captain gave a satisfactory answer to all her demands; and as to
passengers,
assured her that there were none but merchants in his ship, who were
used to
come every year and bring rich stuffs from several parts of the world
to trade
with, the finest linens painted and plain, diamonds, musk, ambergris,
camphor,
civet, spices, drugs, olives, and many other articles. The
Princess Badoura loved olives extremely: when she heard the captain
speak of
them, she said, "Land them, I will take them off your hands: as to the
other goods, tell the merchants to bring them to me, and let me see
them before
they dispose of them, or show them to any one else." The
captain, taking her for the King of the Isle of Ebony, replied, "Sire,
there are fifty great pots of olives, but they belong to a merchant
whom I was
forced to leave behind. I gave him notice myself that I was waiting for
him,
and waited a long time; but as he did not come, and the wind was good,
I was
afraid of losing it, and so set sail." The
princess answered, "No matter; bring them ashore; we will make a
bargain
for them." The
captain. sent his boat aboard, and in a little time it returned with
the pots
of olives. The princess demanded how much the fifty pots might be worth
in the
Isle of Ebony. "Sir," said the captain, "the merchant is very
poor, and your majesty will do him a singular favour if you give him a
thousand
pieces of silver." "To
satisfy him," replied the princess, "and because you tell me he is
poor, I will order you a thousand pieces of gold for him, which do you
take
care to give him." The money was accordingly paid, and the pots carried
to
the palace in her presence. Night
was drawing on when the princess withdrew into the inner palace, and
went to
the Princess Haļatalnefous' apartment, ordering the fifty pots of
olives to be
brought thither. She opened one, to let the Princess Haļatalnefous
taste them,
and poured them into a dish. Great was her astonishment when she found
the
olives mingled with gold-dust. "What can this mean?" said she,
"it is wonderful beyond comprehension." Her curiosity increasing, she
ordered Haļatalnefous' women to open and empty all the pots in her
presence;
and her wonder was still greater, when she saw that the olives in all
of them
were mixed with gold-dust; but when she saw her talisman drop out of
that into
which the prince had put it, she was so surprised that she fainted
away. The
Princess Haļatalnefous and her women restored the Princess Badoura by
throwing
cold water on her face. When she recovered her senses, she took the
talisman
and kissed it again and again; but not being willing that the Princess
Haļatalnefous' women, who were ignorant of her disguise, should hear
what she
said, she dismissed them. "Princess,"
said she to Haļatalnefous, as soon as they were gone, "you, who have
heard
my story, surely guessed that it was at the sight of the talisman that
I
fainted. This is the talisman, the fatal cause of my losing my dear
husband
Prince Camaralzaman; but as it was that which caused our separation, so
I
foresee it will be the means of our meeting again soon." The next
day, as soon as it was light, she sent for the captain of the ship; and
when he
came she spoke to him thus: "I want to know something more of the
merchant
to whom the olives belong, that I bought of you yesterday. I think you
told me
you had left him behind you in the city of the idolaters: can you tell
me what he
is doing there?" "Yes,
sire," replied the captain, "I can speak on my own knowledge. I
arranged for his passage with a very old gardener, who told me I should
find
him in his garden, where he worked under him. He showed me the place,
and for
that reason I told your majesty he was poor. I went there to call him.
I told
him what haste I was in, spoke to him myself in the garden, and cannot
be
mistaken in the man." "If
what you say is true," replied the Princess Badoura, "you must set
sail this very day for the city of idolaters, and fetch me that
gardener's man,
who is my debtor; else I will not only confiscate all your goods and
those of
your merchants, but your and their lives shall answer for his. I have
ordered
my seal to be put on the warehouses where they are, which shall not be
taken
off till you bring me that man. This is all I have to say to you; go,
and do as
I command you." The
captain could make no reply to this order, the disobeying of which
would be a
very great loss to him and his merchants. He told them about it, and
they
hastened him away as fast as they could after he had laid in a stock of
provisions and fresh water for his voyage. They were so diligent, that
he set
sail the same day. He had a prosperous voyage to the city of the
idolaters, where
he arrived in the night. When he was as near to the city as he thought
convenient, he would not cast anchor, but let the ship ride off the
shore; and
going into his boat, with six of his stoutest seamen, he landed a
little way
off the port, whence he went directly to Camaralzaman's garden. Though
it was about midnight when he arrived there, the prince was not asleep.
His
separation from the fair Princess of China his wife afflicted him as
usual. He
cursed the minute in which his curiosity tempted him to touch the fatal
girdle.
Thus did
he pass those hours which are devoted to rest, when he heard somebody
knock at
the garden door. He ran hastily to it, half-dressed as he was; but he
had no
sooner opened it, than the captain and his seamen took hold of him, and
carried
him by force on board the boat, and so to the ship, and as soon as he
was
safely lodged, they set sail immediately, and made the best of their
way to the
Isle of Ebony. Hitherto
Camaralzaman, the captain, and his men had not said a word to one
another; at
last the prince broke silence, and asked the captain, whom he
recognised, why
they had taken him away by force? The captain in his turn demanded of
the
prince whether he was not a debtor of the King of Ebony? "I
the King of Ebony's debtor!" replied Camaralzaman in amazement; "I do
not know him, I never had anything to do with him in my life, and never
set
foot in his kingdom." The
captain answered, "You should know that better than I; you will talk to
him yourself in a little while: till then, stay here and have
patience." Though
it was night when he cast anchor in the port, the captain landed
immediately,
and taking Prince Camaralzaman with him hastened to the palace, where
he
demanded to be introduced to the king. The
Princess Badoura had withdrawn into the inner palace; however, as soon
as she
had heard of the captain's return and Camaralzaman's arrival, she came
out to
speak to him. As soon as she set her eyes on the prince, for whom she
had shed
so many tears, she knew him in his gardener's clothes. As for the
prince, who
trembled in the presence of a king, as he thought her, to whom he was
to answer
for an imaginary debt, it did not enter into his head that the person
whom he
so earnestly desired to see stood before him. If the princess had
followed the
dictates of her inclination, she would have run to him and embraced
him, but
she put a constraint on herself, believing that it was for the interest
of both
that she should act the part of a king a little longer before she made
herself known.
She contented herself for the present with putting him into the hands
of an
officer, who was then in waiting, with a charge to take care of him
till the
next day. When the
Princess Badoura had provided for Prince Camaralzaman, she turned to
the captain,
whom she was now to reward for the important service he had done her.
She
commanded another officer to go immediately and take the seal off the
warehouse
where his and his merchants' goods were, and gave him a rich diamond,
worth
much more than the expense of both his voyages. She bade him besides
keep the
thousand pieces of gold she had given him for the pots of olives,
telling him
she would make up the account with the merchant herself. This
done, she retired to the Princess of the Isle of Ebony's apartment, to
whom she
communicated her joy, praying her to keep the secret still. She told
her how
she intended to manage to reveal herself to Prince Camaralzaman, and to
give
him the kingdom. The
Princess of the Isle of Ebony was so far from betraying her, that she
rejoiced
and entered fully into the plan. The next
morning the Princess of China ordered Prince Camaralzaman to be
apparelled in
the robes of an emir or governor of a province. She commanded him to be
introduced into the council, where his fine person and majestic air
drew all
the eyes of the lords there present upon him. The
Princess Badoura herself was charmed to see him again, as handsome as
she had
often seen him, and her pleasure inspired her to speak the more warmly
in his
praise. When she addressed herself to the council, having ordered the
prince to
take his seat among the emirs, she spoke to them thus: "My lords, this
emir whom I have advanced to the same dignity with you is not unworthy
the
place assigned him. I have known enough of him in my travels to answer
for him,
and I can assure you he will make his merit known to all of you. " Camaralzaman
was extremely amazed to hear the King of the Isle of Ebony, whom he was
far
from taking for a woman, much less for his dear princess, name him, and
declare
that he knew him, while he thought himself certain that he had never
seen him
before in his life. He was much more surprised when he heard him praise
him so
excessively. Those praises, however, did not disconcert him, though he
received
them with such modesty as showed that he did not grow vain. He
prostrated
himself before the throne of the king, and rising again, "Sire, "said
he, "I want words to express my gratitude to your majesty for the
honour
you have done me: I shall do all in my power to render myself worthy of
your
royal favour. " From the
council-board the prince was conducted to a palace, which the Princess
Badoura
had ordered to be fitted up for him where he found officers and
domestics ready
to obey his commands, a stable full of fine horses, and everything
suitable to
the rank of an emir. Then the steward of his household brought him a
strong box
full of gold for his expenses. The less
he understood whence came his great good fortune, the more he admired
it, but
never once imagined that he owed it to the Princess of China. Two or
three days after, the Princess Badoura, that he might be nearer to her,
and in
a more distinguished post, made him high treasurer, which office had
lately
become vacant. He behaved himself in his new charge with so much
integrity, yet
obliging everybody, that he not only gained the friendship of the great
but
also the affections of the people, by his uprightness and bounty. Camaralzaman
would have been the happiest man in the world, if he had had his
princess with
him. In the midst of his good fortune he never ceased lamenting her,
and
grieved that he could hear no tidings of her, especially in a country
where she
must necessarily have come on her way to his father's court after their
separation. He would have suspected something had the Princess Badoura
still
gone by the name of Camaralzaman, but on her accession to the throne
she
changed it, and took that of Armanos, in honour of the old king her
father-in-law. She was now known only by the name of the young King
Armanos.
There were very few courtiers who knew that she had ever been called
Camaralzaman, which name she assumed when she arrived at the court of
the Isle
of Ebony, nor had Camaralzaman so much acquaintance with any of them
yet as to
learn more of her history. The
princess fearing he might do so in time, and desiring that he should
owe the
discovery to herself only, resolved to put an end to her own torment
and his;
for she had observed that as often as she discoursed with him about the
affairs
of his office, he fetched such deep sighs as could be addressed to
nobody but
her. She herself also lived under such constraint that she could endure
it no
longer. The
Princess Badoura had no sooner made this decision with the Princess
Haļatalnefous, than she took Prince Camaralzaman aside, saying, "I must
talk with you about an affair, Camaralzaman, which requires much
consideration,
and on which I want your advice. Come hither in the evening, and leave
word at
home that you will not return; I will take care to provide you a bed." Camaralzaman
came punctually to the palace at the hour appointed by the princess;
she took
him with her into the inner apartment, and having told the chief
chamberlain,
who was preparing to follow her, that she had no occasion for his
service, and
that he should only keep the door shut, she took him into a different
apartment. When the
prince and princess entered the chamber she shut the door, and, taking
the
talisman out of a little box, gave it to Camaralzaman, saying, "It is
not
long since an astrologer presented me with this talisman; you being
skilful in
all things, may perhaps tell me its use." Camaralzaman
took the talisman, and drew near a lamp to look at
it. As soon as he recollected it, with an astonishment which gave the
princess
great pleasure, "Sire," said he to the princess, "your majesty
asked me what this talisman is good for. Alas! it is only good to kill
me with
grief and despair, if I do not quickly find the most charming and
lovely
princess in the world to whom it belonged, whose loss it occasioned by
a
strange adventure, the very recital of which will move your majesty to
pity
such an unfortunate husband and lover, if you would have patience to
hear
it." "You
shall tell me that another time," replied the princess; "I am very
glad to tell you I know something of it already; stay here a little,
and I will
return to you in a moment." At these
words she went into her dressing-room, put off her royal turban, and in
a few
minutes dressed herself like a woman; and having the girdle round her
which she
wore on the day of their separation, she entered the chamber. Prince
Camaralzaman immediately knew his dear princess, ran to her, and
tenderly
embraced her, crying out, "How much I am obliged to the king, who has
so
agreeably surprised me!" "Do
not expect to see the king any more," replied the princess, embracing
him
in her turn, with tears in her eyes; "you see him in me: sit down, and
I
will explain this enigma to you." They sat
down, and the princess told the prince the resolution she came to, in
the field
where they encamped the last time they were together, as soon as she
perceived
that she waited for him to no purpose; how she went through with it
till she
arrived at the Isle of Ebony, where she had been obliged to marry the
Princess
Haļatalnefous, and accept the crown which King Armanos offered her as a
condition of the marriage : how the
princess, whose merit she highly extolled, had kept the secret, and how
she
found the talisman in the pots of olives mingled with the gold-dust,
and how
the finding it was the cause of her sending for him to the city of the
idolaters. The
Princess Badoura and Prince Camaralzaman rose next morning as soon as
it was
light, but the princess would no more put on her royal robes as king;
she
dressed herself in the dress of a woman, and then sent the chief
chamberlain to
King Armanos, her father-in-law, to desire he would be so good as to
come to
her apartment. When the
king entered the chamber, he was amazed to see there a lady who was
unknown to
him, and the high treasurer with her, who was not permitted to come
within the
inner palace. He sat down and asked where the king was. The
princess answered, "Yesterday I was king, sir, and today I am the
Princess
of China, wife of the true Prince Camaralzaman, the true son of King
Schahzaman. If your majesty will have the patience to hear both our
stories, I
hope you will not condemn me for putting an innocent deceit upon you."
The
king bade her go on, and heard her discourse from the beginning to the
end with
astonishment. The princess on finishing it said to him, "Sir, in our
religion men may have several wives; if your majesty will consent to
give your
daughter the Princess Haļatalnefous in marriage to Prince Camaralzaman,
I will
with all my heart yield up to her the rank and quality of queen, which
of right
belongs to her, and content myself with the second place. If this
precedence
was not her due, I would, however, give it her, after she has kept my
secret so
generously." King
Armanos listened to the princess with astonishment, and when she had
done,
turned to Prince Camaralzaman, saying, "Son, since the Princess Badoura
your wife, whom I have all along thought to be my son-in-law, through a
deceit
of which I cannot complain, assures me that she is willing, I have
nothing more
to do but to ask you if you are willing to marry my daughter and accept
the
crown, which the Princess Badoura would deservedly wear as long as she
lived,
if she did not quit it out of love to you." "Sir,"
replied Prince Camaralzaman, "though I desire nothing so earnestly as
to
see the king my father, yet the obligation I am under to your majesty
and the
Princess Haļatalnefous are so weighty, I can refuse her nothing."
Camaralzaman was proclaimed king, and married the same day with all
possible
demonstrations of joy. Not long
afterwards they all resumed the long
interrupted journey to the Isles of the Children of Khaledan, where
they were
fortunate enough to find the old King Schahzaman still alive and
overjoyed to
see his son once more; and after several months' rejoicing, King
Camaralzaman
and the two queens returned to the Island of Ebony, where they lived in
great
happiness for the remainder of their lives. |