The Three Princes And The Princess Nouronnihar [Fairy Tales From The Arabian Nights]
There was once a sultan of India who had three sons. These, with the princess his niece, were the ornaments of his court. The eldest of the princes was called Houssain, the second Ali, the youngest Ahmed, and the princess his niece, Nouronnihar. The Princess Nouronnihar was the daughter of the younger brother of the sultan, to whom the sultan in his lifetime allowed a considerable revenue. But that prince had not been married long before he died, and left the princess very young. The sultan, out of brotherly love and friendship, took upon himself the care of his niece's education, and brought her up in his palace with the three princes, where her singular beauty and personal accomplishments, joined to a sprightly disposition and irreproachable conduct, distinguished her among all the princesses of her time.
The
sultan, her uncle, proposed to get her married, when she arrived at a proper
age, to some neighbouring prince, and was thinking seriously about it, when he
perceived that the three princes his sons had all fallen in love with her. He
was very much concerned, owing to the difficulty he foresaw whether the two
younger would consent to yield to their elder brother. He spoke to each of them
apart; and after having remonstrated on the impossibility of one princess being
the wife of three persons, and the troubles they would create if they
persisted, he did all he could to persuade them to abide by a declaration of
the princess in favour of one of them; or to suffer her to be married to a
foreign prince. But as he found them obstinate, he sent for them all together,
and said to them, 'Children, since I have not been able to persuade you no
longer to aspire to marry the princess your cousin; and as I have no
inclination to force her to marry any of you, I have thought of a plan which
will please you all, and preserve union among you, if you will but follow my
advice. I think it would be best, if every one travelled separately into a
different country, so that you might not meet each other: and as you know I
delight in every thing that is rare and singular, I promise my niece in
marriage to him that shall bring me the most extraordinary curiosity; and for
travelling expenses, I will give each of you a sum befitting your rank and the
purchase of the curiosity you search.'
As
the three princes were always submissive and obedient to the sultan's will, and
each flattered himself that fortune would favour him, they all consented. The
sultan gave them the money he promised; and that very day they issued orders in
preparation for their travels, and took leave of the sultan, that they might be
ready to set out early the next morning. They all went out at the same gate of
the city, each dressed like a merchant, attended by a trusty officer dressed
like a slave, all well mounted and equipped. They went the first day's journey
together; and slept at the first inn, where the road divided into three
different tracks. At night when they were at supper together, they agreed to
travel for a year, and to make that inn their rendezvous; that the first that
came should wait for the rest; that as they had all three taken leave together
of the sultan, they should all return together. The next morning by break of
day, after they had embraced and wished each other good success, they mounted
their horses, and each took a different road.
Prince
Houssain, the eldest brother, who had heard wonders of the extent, strength,
riches, and splendour of the kingdom of Bisnagar, bent his course towards the
Indian coast; and, after three months travelling with different caravans,
sometimes over deserts and barren mountains, and sometimes through populous and
fertile countries, he arrived at Bisnagar, the capital of the kingdom of that
name and the residence of its king. He lodged at a khan appointed for foreign
merchants; and having learnt that there were four principal quarters where
merchants of all sorts kept their shops, in the midst of which stood the
castle, or rather the king's palace, as the centre of the city, surrounded by
three courts, and each gate two leagues distant from the other, he went to one
of these quarters the next day.
Prince
Houssain could not see this quarter without admiration. It was large, and
divided into several streets, all vaulted and shaded from the sun, and yet very
light. The shops were all of the same size and proportion; and all that dealt
in the same sort
of merchandise, as well as the craftsmen, lived in one street.
The
multitude of shops stocked with the finest linens from several parts of India,
some painted in the brightest colours, with men, landscapes, trees, and
flowers; silks and brocades from Persia, China, and other places; porcelain
from Japan and China, foot carpets of all sizes,—all this surprised him so much
that he knew not how to believe his own eyes; but when he came to the shops of
the goldsmiths and jewellers (for those two trades were exercised by the same
merchants), he was dazzled by the lustre of the pearls, diamonds, rubies,
emeralds, and other precious stones exposed for sale. But if he was amazed at
seeing so many riches in one place, he was much more surprised when he came to
judge of the wealth of the whole kingdom by considering that except the
Brahmins and ministers of the idols, who profess a life retired from worldly
vanity, there was not an Indian, man or woman, through the extent of that
kingdom, who did not wear necklaces, bracelets, and ornaments about their legs
and feet, made of pearls and other precious stones.
Another
thing Prince Houssain particularly admired was the great number of
rose-sellers, who crowded the streets; for the Indians are such lovers of that
flower, that not one will stir without a nosegay in his hand, or a garland on
his head; and the merchants keep them in pots in their shops, so that the air
of the whole quarter, however large, is perfectly perfumed.
After
Prince Houssain had run through the quarter, street by street, his thoughts
fully occupied by the riches he had seen, he was very much tired, and a
merchant civilly invited him to sit down in his shop. He accepted the offer;
but had not been seated long before he saw a crier pass by with a piece of
carpet on his arm, about six feet square, and cry it at thirty purses. The
prince called to the crier, and asked to see the carpet, which seemed to him to
be valued at an exorbitant price, not only for its size, but the meanness of
the stuff. When he had examined it well, he told the crier that he could not comprehend
how so small and poor a piece could be priced so high.
The
crier, who took him for a merchant, replied, 'Sir, if this price seems so
extravagant to you, your amazement will be greater when I tell you I have
orders to raise it to forty purses, and not to part with it for less.'
'Certainly,'
answered Prince Houssain, 'it must have something very extraordinary about it,
which I know nothing of. '
'You
have guessed right, sir,' replied the crier, 'and will own as much when you
come to know that whoever sits on this piece of carpet may be transported in an
instant wherever he desires to go without being stopped by any obstacle.'
At
this the Prince of the Indies, considering that the principal motive of his
journey was to carry some singular curiosity home to the sultan his father,
thought that be could not meet with anything which could give him more
satisfaction. 'If the carpet,' said he to the crier, 'has the virtue you assign
it, I shall not think forty purses too much but shall make you a present besides.'
'Sir,'
replied the crier, 'I have told you the truth; and it will be an easy matter to
convince you of it, as soon as you have made the bargain for forty purses, by
experiment. But as I suppose you have not so much with you, and that I must go
with you to the khan where you lodge, with the leave of the master of the shop
we will go into his back shop, and I will spread the carpet; and when we have
both sat down, and you have formed the wish to be transported into your room at
the khan, if we are not transported thither it shall be no bargain. As to your
present, as I am paid for my trouble by the seller, I shall receive it as a
favour, and be very much obliged to you for it.'
The
prince accepted the conditions, and concluded the bargain; and having obtained
the master's leave, they went into his back shop; they both sat down on the
carpet, and as soon as the prince wished to be transported into his room at the
khan, he found himself and the crier there, and as he wanted no more convincing
proof of the virtue of the carpet, he counted to the crier forty purses of
gold, and gave him twenty pieces for himself.
In
this manner Prince Houssain became the possessor of the carpet, and was
overjoyed that on his arrival at Bisnagar he had found so rare a treasure,
which he never doubted would gain him the Princess Nouronnihar. In short he
looked upon it as an impossible thing for the princes, his younger brothers, to
meet with anything to compare with it. It was in his power, by sitting on this
carpet, to be at the place of rendezvous that very day; but as he was obliged
to wait for his brothers, as they had agreed, and as he was curious to see the
King of Bisnagar and his court, and to learn about the laws, customs, and
religion of the kingdom, he chose to make a longer abode there.
It
was a custom of the King of Bisnagar to give audience to all strange merchants
once a week; and Prince Houssain, who remained incognito, saw him often; and as he was
handsome, clever, and extremely polite, he easily distinguished himself among
the merchants, and was preferred before them all by the sultan, who asked him
about the Sultan of the Indies, and the government, strength, and riches of his
dominions.
The
rest of his time the prince spent in seeing what was most remarkable in and
about the city; and among other things he visited a temple, all built of brass.
It was ten cubits square, and fifteen high; and the greatest ornament to it was
an idol of the height of a man, of massy gold: its eyes were two rubies, set so
artificially, that it seemed to look at those who looked at it, on whichever
side they turned. Besides this, there was another not less curious, in a
village in the midst of a plain of about ten acres, which was a delicious
garden full of roses and the choicest flowers, surrounded with a small wall
breast high, to keep the cattle out. In the midst of this plain was raised a
terrace, a man's height, so nicely paved that the whole pavement seemed to be
but one single stone. A temple was erected in the middle of this terrace, with
a dome about fifty cubits high, which might be seen for several leagues round.
It was thirty cubits long, and twenty broad, built of red marble, highly
polished. The inside of the dome was adorned with three rows of fine paintings,
in good taste: and there was not a place in the whole temple but was
embellished with paintings, bas-reliefs, and figures of idols from top to
bottom.
Every
night and morning there were ceremonies performed in this temple, which were
always succeeded by sports, concerts, dancing, singing, and feasts. The
ministers of the temple and the inhabitants of the place had nothing to live on
but the offerings of pilgrims, who came in crowds from the most distant parts
of the kingdom to perform their vows.
Prince
Houssain was also spectator of a solemn feast, which was celebrated every year
at the court of Bisnagar, at which all the governors of provinces, commanders
of fortified places, all the governors and judges of towns, and the Brahmins
most celebrated for their learning, were obliged to be present; and some lived
so far off that they were four months in coming. This assembly, composed of
innumerable multitudes of Indians, met in a plain of vast extent, as far as the
eye could reach. In the centre of this plain was a square of great length and
breadth, closed on one side by a large scaffolding of nine stories, supported
by forty pillars, raised for the king and his court, and those strangers whom
he admitted to audience once a week. Inside, it was adorned and furnished magnificently;
and on the outside were painted fine landscapes, wherein all sorts of beasts, birds, and
insects, even flies and gnats, were drawn as naturally as possible. Other
scaffolds of at least four or five stories, and painted almost all alike,
formed the other three sides.
On
each side of the square, at some little distance from each other, were ranged a
thousand elephants, sumptuously harnessed, each having upon his back a square
wooden castle, finely gilt, in which were musicians and actors. The trunks,
ears, and bodies of these elephants were painted with cinnabar and other
colours, representing grotesque figures.
But
what Prince Houssain most of all admired was to see the largest of these
elephants stand with his four feet on a post fixed into the earth, two feet
high, playing and beating time with his trunk to the music. Besides this, he
admired another elephant as big, standing on a board, which was laid across a
strong beam about ten feet high, with a great weight at the other end which
balanced him, while he kept time with the music by the motions of his body and
trunk.
Prince
Houssain might have made a longer stay in the kingdom and court of Bisnagar,
where he would have seen other wonders, till the last day of the year, whereon
he and his brothers had appointed to meet. But he was so well satisfied with
what he had seen, and his thoughts ran so much upon the Princess Nouronnihar,
that he fancied he should be the more easy and happy the nearer he was to her.
After he had paid the master of the khan for his apartment, and told him the
hour when he might come for the key, without telling him how he should go, he
shut the door, put the key on the outside, and spreading the carpet, he and the
officer he had brought with him sat down on it, and, as soon as he had wished,
were transported to the inn at which he and his brothers were to meet, where he
passed for a merchant till they came.
Prince
Ali, the second brother, travelled into Persia with a caravan, and after four
months' travelling arrived at Schiraz, which was then the capital of the
kingdom of Persia, and having on the way made friends with some merchants,
passed for a jeweller, and lodged in the same khan with them.
The
next morning, while the merchants were opening their bales of merchandise,
Prince Ali took a walk into that quarter of the town where they sold precious
stones, gold and silver work, brocades, silks, fine linens, and other choice
and valuable merchandise, which was at Schiraz called the bezestein. It was a
spacious and well-built place, arched over, and supported by large pillars;
along the walls,
within and without, were shops. Prince Ali soon rambled through the bezestein,
and with admiration judged of the riches of the place by the prodigious
quantities of most precious merchandise there exposed to view.
But
among all the criers who passed backwards and forwards with several sorts of
things to sell, he was not a little surprised to see one who held in his hand
an ivory tube about a foot in length and about an inch thick, and cried it at
thirty purses. At first he thought the crier mad, and to make sure, went to a
shop, and said to the merchant, who stood at the door, 'Pray, sir, is not that
man mad? If he is not, I am very much deceived.'
'Indeed,
sir,' answered the merchant, 'he was in his right senses yesterday, and I can
assure you he is one of the ablest criers we have, and the most employed of any
when anything valuable is to be sold; and if he cries the ivory tube at thirty
purses, it must be worth as much, or more, for some reason or other which does
not appear. He will come by presently, and we will call him; in the meantime
sit down on my sofa and rest yourself.'
Prince
Ali accepted the merchant's obliging offer, and presently the crier passed by.
The merchant called him by his name; and pointing to the prince, said to him,
'Tell that gentleman, who asked me if you were in your right senses, what you
mean by crying that ivory tube, which seems not to be worth much, at thirty
purses: I should be very much amazed myself, if I did not know you were a
sensible man.'
The
crier, addressing himself to Prince Ali, said, 'Sir, you are not the only
person that takes me for a madman on account of this tube; you shall judge
yourself whether I am or no, when I have told you its peculiarity. First, sir,'
pursued the crier, presenting the ivory tube to the prince, 'observe that this
tube is furnished with a glass at both ends; by looking through one of them you
see whatever object you wish to behold.'
'I
am,' said the prince, 'ready to make you all proper reparation for the scandal
I have thrown on you, if you will make the truth of what you say appear'; and
as he had the ivory tube in his hand, he said, 'Show me at which of these ends
I must look.' The crier showed him, and he looked through, wishing at the same
time to see the sultan, his father. He immediately beheld him in perfect
health, sitting on his throne, in the midst of his council. Afterwards, as there
was nothing in the world so dear to him, after the sultan, as the Princess Nouronnihar, he
wished to see her, and saw her laughing, and in a pleasant humour, with her
women about her.
Prince
Ali needed no other proof to persuade him that this tube was the most valuable
thing, not only in the city of Schiraz, but in all the world; and he believed
that, if he should neglect it, he would never meet again with such another
rarity. He said to the crier, 'I am very sorry that I should have entertained
so bad an opinion of you, but hope to make you amends by buying the tube, so
tell me the lowest price the seller has fixed upon it. Come with me, and I will
pay you the money.' The crier assured him that his last orders were to take no
less than forty purses; and, if he disputed the truth of what he said, he would
take him to his employer. The prince believed him, took him to the khan where
he lodged, counted out the money, and received the tube.
Prince
Ali was overjoyed at his bargain; and persuaded himself that, as his brothers
would not be able to meet with anything so rare and marvellous, the Princess
Nouronnihar would be his wife. He thought now of visiting the court of Persia
incognito, and seeing whatever was curious in and about Schiraz, till the
caravan with which he came returned back to the Indies. When the caravan was
ready to set out, the prince joined them, and arrived without any accident or
trouble at the place of rendezvous, where he found Prince Houssain, and both
waited for Prince Ahmed.
Prince
Ahmed took the road to Samarcand; and the day after his arrival there went, as
his brothers had done, into the bezestein. He had not walked long before he
heard a crier, who had an artificial apple in his hand, cry it at
five-and-thirty purses. He stopped the crier, and said to him, 'Let me see that
apple, and tell me what virtue or extraordinary property it has, to be valued
at so high a rate.'
'Sir,'
said the crier, putting it into his hand, 'if you look at the outside of this
apple, it is very ordinary; but if you consider the great use and benefit it is
to mankind, you will say it is invaluable. He who possesses it is master of a
great treasure. It cures all sick persons of the most mortal diseases, fever,
pleurisy, plague, or other malignant distempers; and, if the patient is dying,
it will immediately restore him to perfect health; and this is done after the
easiest manner in the world, merely by the patient smelling the apple.'
'If
one may believe you,' replied Prince Ahmed, 'the virtues of this apple are
wonderful, and it is indeed valuable: but what ground has a plain man like myself, who may wish
to become the purchaser, to be persuaded that there is no deception or
exaggeration in the high praise you bestow on it?'
'Sir,'
replied the crier, 'the thing is known and averred by the whole city of
Samarcand; but, without going any further, ask all these merchants you see
here, and hear what they say; several of them would not have been alive this
day if they had not made use of this excellent remedy. It is the result of the
study and experience of a celebrated philosopher of this city, who applied
himself all his life to the knowledge of plants and minerals, and at last
performed such surprising cures in this city as will never be forgotten; but he
died suddenly himself, before he could apply his own sovereign remedy, and left
his wife and a great many young children behind him in very indifferent
circumstances; to support her family, and provide for her children, she has
resolved to sell it.'
While
the crier was telling Prince Ahmed the virtues of the artificial apple, a great
many persons came about them, and confirmed what he said; and one among the
rest said he had a friend dangerously ill, whose life was despaired of, which
was a favourable opportunity to show Prince Ahmed the experiment. Upon which
Prince Ahmed told the crier he would give him forty purses if he cured the sick
person by letting him smell at it.
The
crier, who had orders to sell it at that price, said to Prince Ahmed, 'Come,
sir, let us go and make the experiment, and the apple shall be yours; it is an
undoubted fact that it will always have the same effect as it already has had
in recovering from death many sick persons whose life was despaired of.'
The
experiment succeeded, and the prince, after he had counted out to the crier
forty purses, and the other had delivered the apple to him, waited with the
greatest impatience for the first caravan that should return to the Indies. In
the meantime he saw all that was curious in and about Samarcand, especially the
valley of Sogda, so called from the river which waters it, and is reckoned by
the Arabians to be one of the four paradises of this world, for the beauty of
its fields and gardens and fine palaces, and for its fertility in fruit of all
sorts, and all the other pleasures enjoyed there in the fine season.
Prince
Ali, who was there some time before Prince Ahmed, asked Prince Houssain, who
got there first, how long he had been there; he told him three months: to which
he replied, 'Then certainly you have not been very far.'
'I
will tell you nothing now,' said Prince Houssain, 'but only assure you I was
more than three months travelling to the place I went to.'
'But
then,' replied Prince Ali, 'you made a short stay there.'
'Indeed,
brother,' said Prince Houssain, 'you are mistaken: I resided at one place over
four or five months, and might have stayed longer.'
'Unless
you flew back,' replied Prince Ali again, 'I cannot comprehend how you can have
been three months here, as you would make me believe.'
'I
tell you the truth,' added Prince Houssain, 'and it is a riddle which I shall
not explain till our brother Ahmed comes; then I will let you know what
curiosity I have brought home from my travels. I know not what you have got,
but believe it to be some trifle, because I do not see that your baggage is
increased.'
'And
pray what have you brought?' replied Prince Ali, 'for I can see nothing but an
ordinary piece of carpet, with which you cover your sofa, and as you seem to
make what you have brought a secret, you cannot take it amiss that I do the
same.'
'I
consider the rarity which I have purchased,' replied Prince Houssain, 'to excel
all others whatever, and should not have any objection to show it you, and make
you agree that it is so, and at the same time tell you how I came by it,
without being in the least apprehensive that what you have got is better. But
we ought to wait till our brother Ahmed arrives, that we may all communicate
our good fortune to each other.'
Prince
Ali would not enter into a dispute with Prince Houssain, but was persuaded
that, if his perspective glass were not preferable, it was impossible it should
be inferior, and therefore agreed to wait till Prince Ahmed arrived, to produce
his purchase.
When
Prince Ahmed came, they embraced and complimented each other on the happiness
of meeting together at the place they set out from. Then Prince Houssain, as
the elder brother, said, 'Brothers, we shall have time enough hereafter to entertain ourselves with the
particulars of our travels: let us come to that which is of the greatest
importance for us to know; let us not conceal from each other the curiosities
we have brought home, but show them, that we may do ourselves justice
beforehand and see to which of us the sultan our father may give the
preference.
'To
set the example,' continued Prince Houssain, 'I will tell you that the rarity
which I have brought from my travels to the kingdom of Bisnagar, is the carpet
on which I sit, which looks but ordinary and makes no show; but, when I have
declared its virtues to you, you will be struck with admiration, and will
confess you never heard of anything like it. Whoever sits on it as we do, and
desires to be transported to any place, be it ever so far off, is immediately
carried thither. I made the experiment myself before I paid down the forty
purses, and when I had fully satisfied my curiosity at the court of Bisnagar,
and had a mind to return, I made use of no other means than this wonderful
carpet for myself and servant, who can tell you how long we were coming hither.
I will show you both the experiment whenever you please. I expect you to tell
me whether what you have brought is to be compared to this carpet.'
Here
Prince Houssain ended, and Prince Ali said, 'I must own, brother, that your
carpet is one of the most surprising things imaginable, if it has, as I do not
doubt in the least, that property you speak of. But you must allow that there
may be other things, I will not say more, but at least as wonderful, in another
way; and to convince you there are, here is an ivory tube, which appears to the
eye no more a rarity than your carpet. It cost me as much, and I am as well
satisfied with my purchase as you can be with yours; and you will be so just as
to own that I have not been cheated, when you know by experience that by
looking at one end you see whatever you wish to behold. Take it,' added Prince
Ali, presenting the tube to him, 'make trial of it yourself.'
Prince
Houssain took the ivory tube from Prince Ali, and clapped that end to his eye
which Prince Ali showed him, to see the Princess Nouronnihar, and to know how
she was, when Prince Ali and Prince Ahmed, who kept their eyes fixed upon him,
were extremely surprised to see his countenance change suddenly with
extraordinary pain and grief. Prince Houssain would not give them time to ask
what was the matter, but cried out, 'Alas! princes, to what purpose have we
undertaken long and fatiguing journeys? In a few moments our lovely princess
will breathe her last. I saw her in her bed, surrounded by her women and
attendants, who were all in tears. Take the tube, behold for yourselves the miserable state she
is in.'
Prince
Ali took the tube out of Prince Houssain's hand and after he had looked,
presented it to Prince Ahmed.
When
Prince Ahmed saw that the Princess Nouronnihar's end was so near, he addressed
himself to his two brothers, and said, 'Princes, the Princess Nouronnihar, the
object of all our vows, is indeed at death's door; but provided we make haste
and lose no time, we may preserve her life.' Then he took out the artificial
apple, and showing it to the princes his brothers, said to them, 'This apple
which you see here cost as much as either the carpet or tube. The opportunity
now presents itself to show you its wonderful virtue. Not to keep you longer in
suspense, if a sick person smells it, though in the last agonies, it restores
him to perfect health immediately. I have made the experiment, and can show you
its wonderful effect on the Princess Nouronnihar, if we make all haste to
assist her.'
'If
that is all,' replied Prince Houssain, 'we cannot make more haste than by
transporting ourselves instantly into her room by the means of my carpet. Come,
lose no time; sit down on it by me; it is large enough to hold us all three:
but first let us give orders to our servants to set out immediately, and join
us at the palace.'
As
soon as the order was given, Prince Ali and Prince Ahmed went and sat down by
Prince Houssain, and all three framed the same wish, and were transported into
the Princess Nouronnihar's chamber.
The
presence of the three princes, who were so little expected, frightened the
princess's women and attendants, who could not comprehend by what enchantment
three men should be among them; for they did not know them at first, and the
attendants were ready to fall upon them, as people who had got into a part of
the palace where they were not allowed to come; but they presently recollected
and found their mistake.
Prince
Ahmed no sooner saw himself in Nouronnihar's room, and perceived the princess
dying, than he rose off the tapestry, as did also the other two princes, and
went to the bed-side, and put the apple under her nose. Some moments after, the
princess opened her eyes, and turned her head from one side to another, looking
at the persons who stood about her; she then rose up in the bed, and asked to be dressed,
just as if she had awaked out of a sound sleep. Her women informed her, in a
manner that showed their joy, that she was obliged to the three princes her
cousins, and particularly to Prince Ahmed, for the sudden recovery of her
health. She immediately expressed her joy to see them, and thanked them all
together, and afterwards Prince Ahmed in particular, and they then retired.
While
the princess was dressing, the princes went to throw themselves at the sultan
their father's feet, and pay their respects to him. The sultan received and
embraced them with the greatest joy, both for their return and for the
wonderful recovery of the princess his niece, whom he loved as if she had been
his own daughter, and who had been given over by the physicians. After the
usual compliments, the princes presented each the curiosity which he had
brought: Prince Houssain his carpet, which he had taken care not to leave
behind him in the princess's chamber; Prince Ali his ivory tube, and Prince
Ahmed the artificial apple; and after each had commended his present, when they
put it into the sultan's hands, they begged him to pronounce their fate, and
declare to which of them he would give the Princess Nouronnihar for a wife,
according to his promise.
The
Sultan of the Indies having kindly heard all that the princes had to say,
without interrupting them, and being well informed of what had happened in
relation to the Princess Nouronnihar's cure, remained some time silent, as if
he were thinking what answer he should make. At last he broke silence, and said
to them in terms full of wisdom, 'I would declare for one of you, my children,
with a great deal of pleasure, if I could do so with justice; but consider
whether I can. It is true, Prince Ahmed, the princess my niece is obliged to
your artificial apple for her cure, but let me ask you, whether you could have
been so serviceable to her if you had not known by Prince Ali's tube the danger
she was in, and if Prince Houssain's carpet had not brought you to her so soon?
'Your
tube, Prince Ali, informed you and your brothers that you were likely to lose
the princess your cousin, and so far she is greatly obliged to you. You must
also grant that that knowledge would have been of no service without the
artificial apple and the carpet.
'And
for you, Prince Houssain, consider that it would have been of little use if you
had not been acquainted with the princess's illness by Prince Ali's tube, and
Prince Ahmed had not applied his artificial apple. Therefore, as neither the
carpet, the ivory tube, nor the artificial apple has the least preference one
over the other,
but, on the contrary, there is a perfect equality, I cannot grant the princess
to any one of you, and the only fruit you have reaped from your travels is the
glory of having equally contributed to restore her to health.
'If
this be true,' added the sultan, 'you see that I must have recourse to other
means to determine with certainty in the choice I ought to make among you, and
as there is time enough between this and night, I will do it to-day. Go, and
get each of you a bow and arrow, and repair to the great plain outside the
city, where the horses are exercised. I will soon come to you, and I declare I
will give the Princess Nouronnihar to him that shoots the farthest.
'I
do not, however, forget to thank you all in general, and each in particular,
for the presents you brought me. I have a great many rarities in my museum
already, but nothing that comes up to the carpet, the ivory tube, and the
artificial apple, which shall have the first place among them, and shall be
preserved carefully, not only for show, but to make an advantageous use of them
upon all occasions.'
The
three princes had nothing to say against the decision of the sultan. When they
were out of his presence, they each provided themselves with a bow and arrow,
which they delivered to one of their officers, and went to the plain appointed,
followed by a great concourse of people.
The
sultan did not make them wait long; and as soon as he arrived, Prince Houssain,
as the eldest, took his bow and arrow, and shot first. Prince Ali shot next,
and much beyond him; and Prince Ahmed last of all; but it so happened, that
nobody could see where his arrow fell; and, notwithstanding all the search of
himself and everybody else, it was not to be found far or near. And though it
was believed that he shot the farthest, and that he therefore deserved the
Princess Nouronnihar, it was necessary that his arrow should be found, to make
the matter evident and certain; so, notwithstanding his remonstrances, the
sultan determined in favour of Prince Ali, and gave orders for preparations to
be made for the wedding, which was celebrated a few days afterwards with great
magnificence .
0 Comments:
Post a Comment