Classics Retold

On the eighty ninth night Shahrazad said: I heard, O happy king, Ja'far said to the Caliph: When Ajib heard the insulting remarks of the children and the monitor, he left at once and came crying to his mother Sit al-Husn. When she saw him, her heart was on fire for him, and she asked him, "Son why do you cry? May God never let you cry again!" Sobbing he told her what had happened; then he asked her, "Who, then is my father?" She replied, "Your father is the vizier of Cairo" He said, "You are lying, the vizier is your own father, he is my grandfather. Who, then is my father? When Sit al-Husn heard him speak of his father, her cousin and husband Badr al-Din Hasan, she recalled her wedding night, she wept bitterly and recited the following verses: Lit the love in me and went  away,  Here I am empty hearth and heart. His shrine is too distant to visit,  Long distance that kept us apart. When he left, my patience left So did my endurance and control. H...

Elizabeth, as they drove along, watched for the first appearance of Pemberly Woods with some perturbation; and when at length they turned in at the lodge, her spirits were in a high flutter. The park was large with variety of ground.  They entered it in one of the lowest points, and drove for some time through a beautiful wood stretched over a wide area. Elizabeth's mind was too full of conversation, but she saw every remarkable spot and point of view.  They gradually ascended for half a mile and then found themselves at the top of a considerable eminence, where the wood ceased, and the sight of Pemberly House, at the opposite side of the valley, into which the winding road goes.  A large handsome stone building standing on a raised ground, backed by a ridge of wooded hills, and in front, a  stream with natural banks.  Elizabeth was delighted.  She had never seen a place so blessed by nature. They descended the hill, crossed the bridge, and drove to the doo...

Eighty eighth night Shahrazad said: I heard, O king, Ja'far said to the Caliph: Days and months went by, and when her time came, the daughter of the vizier of Cairo, gave birth to a boy, who had a face as round as the full moon, or the rising sun, a radiant brow and rosy cheeks. They cut his navel cord, applied kohl to eyelids, and his grandfather named him Ajib and committed him to the care of the nurses, stewardesses, and servants. When Ajib was seven he was sent to a teacher to teach him good manners. Ajib remained with the teacher for four years. He began to bully, beat and abuse other children. At last they got together and complained to the monitor. The monitor said, "I will tell you what you should do tomorrow so that he will stop coming here and you will never see him again. When he comes tomorrow, gather around him to play a game and say to each other, "No one can join us in this game, unless he tells us the name of his mother and father, for he who does not know...

Had Elizabeth's opinion been all drawn from her family, she could not have formed a very pleasing opinion of happy married life.  Her father, captivated by youth and beauty and good humour had married a woman whose weak understanding and illiberal mind had very early in their marriage put an end to all real affection for her. He was fond of reading books and it had become his principal enjoyment. Elizabeth, however, had never been blind to the impropriety of her father's behaviour as a husband. She had always seen it with pain.  But she overlooked it, respecting his abilities, and grateful for his affectionate treatment of herself.  She had never felt so strongly as now the disadvantages to the children of so unsuitable a marriage; nor ever been fully aware of evils arising from ill-judged direction of talents; talents, which rightly used might have preserved the respectability of her daughters, even if incapable of enlarging the mind of his wife. When Elizabeth rejoiced ...

The first week of their return was gone.  The second began.  The regiment's stay at Meryton was coming to an end.  All young ladies in the neighborhood were drooping apace.  The dejection was almost universal. The elder Miss Bennets alone were still able to eat, drink, and sleep; and follow the usual course of their employments.  Very frequently were they reproached for this insensibility of Kitty and Lydia, whose own misery was extreme, and who could not comprehend such hard-heartedness in any of the family. "Good Heaven! What is to become of us? What are we to do?" would they often exclaim in the bitterness of the woe.  How can you be smiling so, Lizzy?" Their affectionate mother shared all their grief, and she remembered what she herself endured on a similar occasion five and twenty years ago. "I am sure," said she, "I cried for two days together when Colonel Miller's regiment went away.  I thought I should have broken my heart."   "I ...

Eighty Seventh Night. Shahrazad said: It is related, O king, Ja'far said to the Caliph:  O commander of the Faithful! When the vizier Shams al Din Muhammad came to himself and recalled what he had discovered, he was amazed, and when he opened the sealed cover, and saw that it was his brother's handwriting, he was even more amazed and said, "Daughter, do you know who the man who entered you really was? By God, he is none other than your cousin, and these thousand dinars are your dowry. Glory be to the omnipotent God who controls everything, for He has turned the cause of my quarrel with my brother Nur al Din Ali into a just resolution. I wonder how all this came about?" He looked at the letter again, and when he saw the date in his brother's handwriting, he kissed it many times, and as he kept looking at the handwriting, he wept. He read the letter again, and found the date of his brother's arrival in Basra, the marriage contract, consummation of the marriage, ...

Next morning. Elizabeth related the chief of the scene between Mr Darcy and herself.  Jane was sorry that Mr Darcy should have delivered his sentiments in a manner so little suited to recommend them.  But she was more sorry of the refusal by her sister. "His being so sure of succeeding was wrong," said she, "and certainly ought not to have appeared; but consider how much it must increase his disappointment." "Indeed," said Elizabeth, "I am heartily sorry for him; but he has other feelings, which will probably soon drive away his regard for me.  You do not blame me, however, for refusing him?" "Blame you! Oh no." "But you blame me for having spoken so warmly of Wickham?" "No - I do not know that you were wrong in what you said." "But you will know it, when I tell you what happened the very next day." She then spoke of the letter, repeating the whole of its contents as far as they concerned George Wickham.  W...

The following night Shahrazad said:  It is said, O King Ja'far said to the Caliph. When the hunchbacked said to the father of the bride, "Couldn't you people have found anyone for me to marry except a girl who consorts with buffaloes and demons for lovers? May God curse the devil and my wretched lot," the vizier said, "get up and go!" The hunchbacked did not leave, but said, "I am not crazy. The sun has not risen yet. I will not go until the sun rises. Yesterday I came to relieve here when a black tomcat suddenly emerged and screamed at me in a way that made me obey him. Leave me and go your way. May God reward you and curse the bride!" But the vizier took him out of the toilet, and the hunchbacked straightway went to the king and told him what had happened. Meanwhile, the father of the bride went back inside the house, amazed and bewildered, not knowing what to make of his daughter. He went to her and said, "Damn it, tell me your secret!...

Second week of May.  The three young ladies set out from Churchgate street for the town.  As they drew near the inn where Mr Bennet's carriage was to meet them, they saw Kitty and Lydia looking out of dining-room upstairs.  The two girls have been in the place above two hours visiting an opposite milliner, watching the sentinel on guard, and dressing a salad and cucumber.  They welcomed their sisters, displayed a table set out with cold meet, which a inn larder usually affords, exclaiming, "Is not this nice? Is not this agreeable surprise?" "And we mean to treat you all," added Lydia, "but you must lend us money, for we have just spent ours at the shop out there." Then showing her purchases, "Look here, I have bought this bonnet.  I do not think it is very pretty; but I thought I might as well put it.  I shall put it to pieces as soon as I get home, and see if I can make it up any better." When her sisters abused it as ugly, she added with pe...

The story told by Shahrazad to her sister Dinarzad is the frame story. This Night's story is by Ja'far the vizier to his Caliph Harun al Rashid. The story is about the son of another vizier. Badr al-Din Hasan was the son of deceased vizier of Basra. He was later adopted by a  cook in Damascus. Sit al-Husn was the daughter of Shams al Din Muhammad, the vizier of Cairo. The king of Cairo was attracted to the daughter of the vizier, and he demanded the vizier to give her to him in marriage. The vizier did not oblige. As a revenge the king decided to marry the daughter of vizier to a penniless hunchbacked. Two demons, feeling pity towards Badr al-Din Hasan, and finding that he was the best match to Sit al-Husn, interfere in the marriage, and it was solemnized between Sit al-Husn and Badr al-Din Hasan, by a clever scheme. Later, the demons took the bridegroom, who was in deep sleep after the consummation,  to Damascus. Continue to read the story: When Sit al-Husn heard her father s...

On Saturday morning Elizabeth and Mr Collins met for breakfast a few minutes before the others appeared; and took the opportunity of paying the parting civilities which he deemed necessary. "I know not, Miss Elizabeth," said he, "whether Mrs Collins has yet expressed her sense of your kindness in coming to us; but I am very certain you will not leave the house without receiving her thanks for it.  The favour of your company has been much felt, I assure you.  We know how little there is to tempt anyone to our humble abode.  Our plain manner of living, our small rooms and few domestics, and the little we see of the world, must make Hunsford extremely dull to a young lady like yourself; but I hope you will believe us grateful for the condescension and that we have done everything in our power to prevent your spending your time unpleasantly." Elizabeth was eager with her thanks and assurances of happiness.  She spent six weeks with great enjoyment; and the pleasure of b...

Hiring fairs also known as mop fairs or statute fairs were a common practice in Victorian England in rural areas. These fairs provided opportunity to both employers and farm workers. Prospective workers could come to the fairs expound their skills and experience demand a price and enter into contracts for a specified period with the employers, and receive advance money. Key features of Hiring Fairs:- 1. Badges and symbols:- Workers wore badges or carried items signifying their occupation such as: * Shepherds: A crook or tuft of wool. * Cowmen: A lock of cow hair or wisps of straw. * Dairy maids: Milking stool or pail. *Farmers: A piece of straw. Hiring Process: The landlords would approach potential workmen, discuss experience and skills and offer a fast-penny, usually a shilling to seal the agreement. Periods: A farming Season. Purpose and Significance: It served as markets attracting large crowds. It also acted as an entertainment for the villagers. It also provided an opportunity fo...

Shahrazad said: Ja'far said to the Caliph:  The crowd at the gate of Damascus city cried out at Badr al-Din Hasan, "He is mad." Badr al-Din began to run. The crowd followed him shouting "Madman!" "Madman!" He entered the city and ran through the markets with the crowd pressing on him until he took refuge in a cook's shop. This cook had been a scoundrel and a robber until he repented, and reformed, and opened a cook's shop. Yet all the people of Damascus were still frightened by him and afraid of his mischief. When the crowd saw Badr al-Din Hasan enter this shop, they retreated, dispersed, and went their ways. The cook looked at Badr al-Din Hasan and asked, "Young man, where do you come from?" Badr al-Din told his story from beginning to end. The cook said, "This is a strange story. Keep it to yourself until God sends you relief, and stay with me in this shop, for I am childless and I will adopt you as my son."  Badr al-Din H...

On 83rd night Shahrazad said: This is the story that vizier of Harun al Rashid told the latter. Stories never end. It is like links in a chain, each one is connected to another.  Now vizier says that Badr al-Din Hasan is married to Sit al-Husn, the daughter of King of Cairo. The vizier continued his story: Badr al-Din Hasan and Sit al-Husn embraced each other, and he took her virginity, and consummated the marriage. She placed her one arm under his neck, and cheek on cheek they went to sleep. Bosom to bosom in each other's arms they lay in bliss. When they were sleep the demon said to the she-demon, "Take up the young man, and let us return him to the palace where he was asleep, before morning overtakes us." The she-demon took up Badr al-Din Hasan as he lay asleep, without his trousers, clad only in his thin sequin shirt with its Morocan gold embroidery and in his blue skullcap, and flew away with him, while the demon flew by her side. But no sooner the day dawned, the an...

The attendants brought her before the hunchbacked. She turned her face away and moved towards Badr al Din Hasan and stood before him. The singing women followed her. Badr al-Din Hasan took a fistful of gold coins and gave it to the singing  women. The attendants signalled the guests to depart. Then they took the bride inside to undress her and prepare her for the  bridegroom. Badr al-Din Hasan and the hunchbacked were left alone. The hunchbacked turned to the other and said, "You have cheered us and favoured us with your presence. Would you please rise and leave us now?" Badr al-Din rose and was leaving, when the demon and the she-demon appeared.  "Where are you going? asked the demon, "wait here and when the hunchbacked goes to the privy to relieve himself, get into the bridal chamber and lie in the canopied bed, and when the bride comes, and speaks to you, 'It is I who am your husband, for the king had planned all this only to laugh at the hunch backed whom we...

When they were gone, Elizabeth began to go through all the letters which she received from Jane.  They contained no complaints, nor was there any revival of past occurences, or any communication of present suffering.  But in all, and in almost every line of each, there was a want of that cheerfulness, characteristic of her style.  Elizabeth noticed every  sentence conveying uneasiness and the loss of serenity. She was suddenly roused by the sound of doorbell, and her spirits were little fluttered by the idea of it being Colonel Fitzwilliam, who had once before called late in the evening.  But, to her utter amazement, she saw Mr Darcy walk into the room.  He inquired after her health.  She answered him with cold civility.  He sat down for a few moments, and then getting up, walked about the room.  Elizabeth was surprised, but said not a word.  After a silence of few minutes, he came he came towards her in an agitation, and thus began: "In...

The first time in her ramble within the park she happened to meet Mr Darcy, and she felt the perverseness of the meeting.  She did not want it to happen again.  So she took care to inform him that it was favourite haunt of hers.  But it occurred a second and even a third time. But at the third meeting, she came to realise that they were not accidental. It seemed like a wilful ill-nature, or a voluntary penance, for on these occasions it was not merely a few formal inquiries and an awkward pause and then away, but he actually thought it necessary to turn back and walk with her.  He never said a great deal, nor did she give herself the trouble of talking or of listening much; but it struck her in the course of their third meeting that he was asking some unconnected questions - about her pleasure in being at Hunsford, her love of solitary walks, and her opinion of Mr and Mrs Collins's happiness; and that in speaking of Rosings, and her not perfectly understanding the ho...

Badr al-Din Hasan, the son of deceased Nur al Din Ali was in the matrimonial pavilion of the daughter of the vizier of the king of Cairo city. The marriage was planned by the king to avenge his vizier who refused King's request. The king coveted the beautiful daughter of the vizier, but the vizier refused to oblige. The king decided to marry her to a hunchbacked of Cairo. Two demons, he and she found that Badr al-Din Hasan was perfect match for daughter of the vizier, and interfere to defeat the plan of the king. They clandestinely bring Badr al-Din Hasan to the pavalion. The bride and Badr al Din Ali happen to meet. Continue to read The attendants presented the bride, in her first dress. As she swayed coquettishly, to the delight and amazement of Badr al-Din Hasan and every one present. When he looked at her cousin in her red satin dress, and saw her blooming face, he was rejoiced and thought the lines of poet: Moon above reeds on dunes She flamed in red attire  The bounty of her ...

Next morning. Elizabeth was sitting by herself, and writing a letter to Jane.  Charlotte and Maria were gone on business into the village, when she was startled by a ring at the door, the certain signal of a visitor. As she had heard no carriage, she thought it not unlikely to be Lady Catherine, and under that apprehension was putting away the unfinished letter, when the door opened, and, to her surprise, Mr Darcy entered the room. He seemed astonished too on finding her alone, and apologized for his intrusion by letting her know that he thought all the ladies were to be within. They sat down. After pleasantries about Rosings, they were sinking into dead silence.  She thought of when she had seen him last in Hertfordshire, and feeling curious to know what he would say on the subject of their hasty departure, she observed: "How very suddenly you all quitted Netherfield last November, Mr Darcy! It must have been a most agreeable surprise to Mr Bingley to see you all  so soo...