Thousand & One Nights: 49th Night

The second dervish was turned to an ape under the spell of a Demon, who kidnapped Aftimarus's daughter. The scene is the Baghdad house of three beautiful girls. The story is a part of his attempt to avoid the punishment of Baghdad house for breaking their rule.

The demon put him on the top of a mountain on the seashore. Now he is in the custody of the captain and the merchants. After fifty days travel, the ship was anchored off the sea of a port city. The king of the port city approached the merchants, and he was in search of of Vizier who is proficient in calligraphy. Along with the merchants, the ape also took the test to vizier's post. 

The king was very much pleased with the calligraphy of the ape. Calligraphy in different scripts. The king wanted to see the owner of these scripts immediately. But, his men smiled at his selection. The king was angry at their smile. They said that the owner of the script was an ape. Hearing this the king's curiosity was doubled. He said his men, "Take this robe of honour and this she-mule to the master of these scripts, and bring him to me on the she-mule in this robe."

The king's men came and boarded our ship. They took me from the captain, put on me the robe they brought, placed me on the she-mule, and walked behind me in a procession.

When I entered into the presence of the king, I prostrated, bowed three time, kissed the ground. Those who were present marveled at my fine manners; the king said, "This is wonder." Then by the order of the king everyone, except the king and myself, a servant and a mamluk remained.

Food was brought and set on the table, and he mentioned to me to eat with him. I washed my hands, knelt on the floor, took only little to eat. Then I took my pen, and inkwell, and over a board wrote the following lines:

Wail for the crane stewed in juice
Mourn for the meat baked or fried
Cry for the hens and chiks of grouse
Fried birds and two type fishes
Served on two loaves of bread 
Eggs like rolling eyes fry in their pain
Meat when grilled, what a lovely dish
Served with pickled greens; my wish.
'Tis my porridge indulged at night.
The king read the verses and pondered. After the food wine came.

After the wine we sat to play chess. The first was a draw. The second I won, and the third too. The king marveled at my skill. I wrote the following verses:
Armies always roam with arms
In hand and battle in heads 
But when night falls the black and
White sleep in the same bed.

The king read those verses, and overwhelmed with admiration and delight, said to the eunuch, "O, Muqbil, go to your lady, Sitt al-Husn and tell her that her father, the king summons her."

The eunuch came back with the king's daughter. The princess was surprised to see me, and she veiled her face and asked the king, "O father, have you lost your sense of honour, that you expose me to men?"

Astonished, the king asked, "Daughter, there is no one here except this little Mamluk, your mentor who brought you up, and I your father. From whom do you veil your face?"

She replied, "The ape before you. He is a young man, very learned and the son of a king."

"How he came to be an ape?"

He is under the spell of a demon, the son of Satan's daughter, who kidnapped the beautiful daughter of Aftimarus, imprisoned her, and had been enjoying her."

How he came under the spell of demon?"

"The young man on his way to another king, who was the friend of his father, was robbed by highway men, became alone and without money. A tailor helped him. Finding his learning not suitable for earning a living he became a wood cutter. The job led him to the daughter of Aftimarus, and their relationship. 
Suspecting their relationship, the demon killed the woman and made him an ape. Now he is sitting before us."

The king was amazed, and looking at me he asked, "Is it true?"

"Yes," I said.

Then he turned to his daughter and asked, "How did you know that he is enchanted?"

"O, father," said she, "there was with me an old and treacherous woman. She was a witch. She taught me witchcraft. I could move the huge boulder of your city beyond the mountain and beyond the ocean."

"O! God, protect my daughter and her skills. Could you deliver him out of the demon's spell? I would make him my vizier and marry you to him."

The End of the Night. Shahrazad looked at the king. The king is no more worried of her virginity and her chastity. But the break of the dawn is a problem. She is to engage herself with the kingdom. Shahrazad went out along with her sister Dinarzad. Shahriar was let alone. The Hakkim would come and begin his treatment for the day.





 

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