Thousand & One Nights: 4: Taming An Obstinate Woman

The merchant and his woman visit the stable to see how the donkey and the ox are getting on. It was a full moon day. The ox and the donkey were in conversation. "Listen, ox," said donkey, "what are you going to do tomorrow?" 
"The same," said ox, "I will pretend to be ill, lie down and puff my belly."

"Damn me!"said donkey himself. "Don't do it," he said to the ox, "don't you know that our master said to the plough man?"
"What?" asked the ox.
"He said that if the if the ox failed to get up and eat, he would call a butcher. I am afraid for you. So, when he brings fodder, get up and eat it."

The merchant laughed loudly at the words of the donkey.

"What are you laughing at?" asked his woman. The merchant was now aware of his situation. "Are you making fun of me?" asked his wife.
"No," said the merchant.
"Then, why did you laugh?"
"I cannot tell you."
"Why?"
"I cannot tell the conversation of the animals."
"But I would like to hear it. The conversation of animals!. Tell me."
"No. I cannot. It will be my end."
"You are lying, this is nothing but excuse. If you don't tell me I will leave you." Then she went back crying to the house. She continued crying till the morning.

"Damn it! Tell me why you you are crying.  Ask for God's forgiveness, and stop questioning, and leave me in peace."

"I insist," she said, "and I will not desist."

The farmer kept fifty hens and a rooster in his house, and he had a dog. The rooster, beating and clapping his wings had jumped on a hen, and after seeding, jumped on another. Dog, irritated at this show, said to the rooster, "shameless rooster, aren't you ashamed to do such a thing, while our mistress is threatening to leave her master?" 
"Why she is leaving?" asked the rooster.
"She is leaving, because the master did not reveal her, the animal language." said the dog.
"Why doesn't he reveal it?" asked the rooster.
"Once he reveals it he will die," said the dog.
"Why doesn't he let her leave. Let her leave.  Another woman will take her place. There are enough women in this country."

The merchant heard the conversation between the rooster and the dog.

"Teach me the animal language, else I will leave you," said his woman to the merchant.
"Leave me at the earliest." said the merchant.
She stamped her foot in anger and left to the backyard of his house.

"If you do not relent," said the vizier to his daughter,"I shall do you what the merchant did to his woman."

"I can tell you many such tales," said Shahrazad, "my dear father, the vizier of India Indochina, such tales don't deter me from my request.  If you don't take me to king Shahriar, I shall go to him by myself behind your back and tell him that you have refused to give me to him, and that you have begrudged his master."

The vizier asked his daughter, "must you really do this?" 
"Yes, I must." She replied.

Tired and exhausted, the vizier went to the king, kissed the ground before him, told him of his daughter and of her request.  The king was astonished. "Vizier," said Shahriar, how can you give me your daughter?" 

"My king and Lord, I am not giving her to you. She is coming to you, tonight." The king was surprised. Is she an ordinary woman or a Demon. The king found his nerves failed him the first time in his life. Very many queens of ancient times had overpowered men of strength. Fear began to grip him. For the first time after the massacre of his lady and concubines wisdom was beginning to dawn on him. He wanted to see the daughter of vizier. Never were any dearth of women in his life. But he never cared for the women. The vizier was sitting before him.
"Send her to me in the evening," said Shahriar.

End of the Section 
















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