Classics Retold

The following night Shahrazad said: The queen said to Badr, "You love me and I love you, for you are my lot in life." When he heard this, he being drunk, replied, "Yes, this is how I felt." Then she embraced him, kissed him, and pretending to love him, lay down to sleep, and he lay beside her.  In the middle of the night, she rose from bed, while Badr lay awake, pretending to be asleep, and taking care to follow her movement.  She took red sand from a bag and spread it on the floor of the room, and it became a running stream.  Then she took a handful of barley and strewed it in the soil on the bank of the stream and watered it with the water from the stream and turned it into ears of barley. Then, she reaped the barley and ground it into flour. Then she laid the meal aside, and returning to bed, slept beside Badr till the morning.  In the morning Badr went to see the old man. He narrated his experience of previous day to the old man.  The old man laughed and sai...

The following night Shahrazad said: King Badr went to the old favabean seller's shop.  The old man received him happily. The old man asked, how did you fare with that infidel?" King Badr replied, "It was alright till last night.  But today an untoward incident took place.  When I woke up in the morning I did not see her by my side. I waited for a long time, but she did not turn up.  Then I went in search of her to the garden."  Then he told what he had seen in the garden, how queen Lab in the form of a white bird, and a black mamluk as a black bird had been making love.  The old man said, "The cursed woman has started to play games.  You should beware of her. All the birds in the garden are her lovers. She enjoy them and then turn them into birds.  The black bird was one of her Mamluks. She was madly in love with him.  But when he eyed one of her maids, she cast a spell over him and turned him into a bird.  Whenever she lusts for him, sh...

The following night Shahrazad said: Day and night for forty days king Badr and queen Lab lived a life of eating and drinking and pleasure seeking. There was a break on the forty first day.  When Badr woke up, ready for a fun, Lab was not in the bed. Keeping his charge ready, he waited, but she did not come. "Where could she have gone?" He felt lonely, and getting out of bed, put on his clothes and went out into the garden. He came by the bank of a stream. The gurgle of water flowing along the rocky surface caught his attention. He moved close to it. There were two birds, a black one and a white one engaged in courtship rituals.  The black bird fanned his tail, and spread his wings, took off into the air and hoaverd around above the white bird. His serenades, like singing and chirping evoked equal serenades from his beloved, hopping on the boulder in the stream. The black bird flew down and stood on its claws beside the white bird, and it crouched allowing her beloved to mount...

The following night Shahrazad said: The queen gave a cup to Badr who took it and drank it off, and they continued to drink till they began to get drink. Then the girls began to play lutes and harps and they sang songs. Badr thought that the palace and everything in it were dancing to the tune of the girls. Badr forgot his separation from home, and said to himself, "By God, this queen is young and beautiful and I will never leave her. Her kingdom is vaster than mine and she is fairer than Jauhara."  He continued to drink till nightfall, and the palace was lighted with candles, and scent of perfumes and incense spread the entire palace. The girls sang: O what a day we spent under the tree Pleasure and delight, the rivulet  Shining, and the myrtle blue The starry narcissus and roses bright The glittering wine and brimming cup And crackling incense rising in light. They continued to drink while the girls sang.  Then she dismissed the girls, lay on the bed, and drew the young ...

The following night Shahrazad said: The Queen gave favabean seller one thousand dinars and took young Badr and went away.  Young Badr rode beside her, and the people looked at him, felt sorry for him, and would say, "By God, such young and beautiful man does not deserve to be enchanted by that cursed witch."  They reached at the palace of witch; the princes and nobles and servants dismounted and stood in attendance. The queen took Badr by hand and led him towards the throne. The queen sat on the throne, and made Badr sit by her side.  Then she dismissed all the chamberlains, princes and prominent personalities, and they kissed the ground before her and departed.  Then the queen took king Badr by hand and walked into a large parlour, adorned with gold and jewel with rooms on either side, and in the middle of the parlour stood a beautiful garden.  In the middle of the garden, there stood a large pond full of golden fish.  King Badr said to himself, "Glory be ...

The following night Shahrazad said: The old man said to king Badr, "She may hurt even her relatives, but she will not dare hurt me.  Have you not seen how her troops and retinue stood at my shop and saluted me?  By God, son, this infidel refuses to salute even the kings, but whenever she passes by my shop, she stops to salute me and speak with me, as you have seen and heard." Next morning, queen Lab came with her girls, Mamluks and attendants who were armed with swords and spears, stopped at the door of the shop and saluted the old man.  The old man kissed the ground before her, and returned the salute. The queen said to him, "Father, fulfill your pledge at once."  The old man replied, "Swear to me again that you will never harm him, enchant him, or do to him anything he abhors."  She swore again by her faith and unveiled a face like the moon, and said, "Father, how you procrastinate in giving me your handsome nephew!  Am I not more beautiful than he?...

The following night Shahrazad said: The queen said to the old man, "Father, will you give him to me as a gift? I love him.  By the fire and light, by the hot wind and cool shade, I will make him my lot in life.  Do not fear for him, for I may harm everyone on the face of the earth, but I will not harm him.  You know the mutual esteem we hold for each other." The old man replied, "O my queen, I can neither give him to you as a gift nor surrender him to you." She said, "By the fire and the light, by the hot wind and the cool shade, and by my faith, I will not leave without him.  I will not betray him or enchant him, and I will do only what will please him." The old man who did not dare cross her, fearing for himself and for young Badr, secured an oath from her that she would not harm the young man and that she would return him as she received him.  Then he said to her, "When you return from the square tomorrow, I will give him to you." She thanked ...

The following night Shahrazad said: King Badr sat at the door of the shop, watching people who passed, and there were plenty of them. Some of them saw, and a few of them came by, and asked the old man, "Shaikh, is this your latest captive and prey?"  He replied, "No, by God, he is my brother's son. He lives far away. His father was dead, so I brought him here." "He is handsome young man, Queen Lab is sure to eye him. She would snatch him from you." The old man replied, "The Queen will not cross me.  She likes me and respects me.  When she knew that he is my son she would not bother him. King Badr lived with him for a full month, eating and drinking, and the old man liked him very much.  One day, king Badr had been sitting at the door of the shop, as he used to, there marched thousand officers riding Arabian horses with gilded saddles, dressed in uniforms, girded with jeweled girdles, and holding drawn swords.  When they passed by, they saluted the...

The following night Shahrazad said: King Badr, after the shipwreck, was landed in the city of Magicians. The old man, a favabean seller hosted him, and gave him food. According to the favabean seller the chief witch of the city used to catch any young man who enters the city, enjoys him lavishly and then turn him into an ass, or mule. Thus the city was now full of asses and mules.  The name of the witch was Lab, which means 'the sun.' These mules and asses, when any stranger or new comer tries to enter the city kick them out, so as to save them from the misfortune they suffer.  On hearing this tale, King Badr was terrified, and shook like a thunderbolt, saying to himself, "Hardly did I believe that I had been delivered from sorcery, when God cast me into the den of worse sorcerers."  Then he pondered over what to do.  The old man saw him trembling with fear, and said, "Son, go and sit at the door of the shop and see how many inhabitants there are in the city.  D...

The following night Shahrazad said: Badr suddenly saw an old man, a favabean seller sitting in his shop. He greeted him, and the old man returned the greeting.  Seeing his handsome face the old man asked, "Young man, where do you come from and who brought you to this city?" King Badr told him the whole story, and the old man was very much surprised, and asked him, "My son, did you see anyone on the way?"  King Badr replied, "No father, I did not.  Indeed I was amazed to see the the city without inhabitants." The old man said, "Son, come up into the shop, lest you perish." King Badr went up into the shop and sat at the upper end, and the old man rose and brought him some food.  The old man said, "Stay inside and eat. Glory to him, who saved you from the she-devil."  King Badr was frightened, but he ate his fill and washed his hands.  Then he turned to the old man and asked, "My lord, what is the meaning of your words?  You have made...

The following night Shahrazad said: At the request of Badr, a ship with enough sailors and provisions were arranged by the king and bid him farewell.  King Badr, set out before a fair wind, and the voyage was smooth for continuous ten days, but on the eleventh day the wind began to blow harder, sea raged making hills and valleys of waves and the ship rose and fell and sailors found it strenuous to control her. She drifted high and low, hit a rock and broke up. Some of the sailors drowned and some of them escaped. King Badr caught hold of a floating plank, and cling to it.  For three days he drifted helplessly with the ups and downs of the waves, not knowing where he is moving.  On the fourth day waves swept him ashore.  He was very tired, and he fell into a deep sleep.  After sleep, when he looked around, he saw high towers of beautiful buildings stood on the water, and waves were beating against the walls of them. He was happy that he was still alive.  He ...

The following night Shahrazad said: The queen told the King that the bird was king Badr, the king of Persia, that his mother was Jullanar of the sea, his uncle Sayih and his grandmother Farasha, and that he had been cast under spell by princess Jauhara the daughter of King al-Shamandal.  Then she told him the story from beginning to end, how he had demanded Jauhara in marriage from her father, how her father had refused, how his uncle Sayih had fought al-Shamandal, defeated him, taken him prisoner.  When the king heard the story, he was amazed and said to his wife, who was the greatest sorceress of the day, said, "For my sake, deliver him from the spell and do not leave him to suffer in this condition.  May God cut off the hand of that harlot Jauhara.  How little is her mercy, and how great is her perfidy!" His wife said, "O king, say to him, 'king  Badr, enter the room.'" The king did say what the queen said, and the bird entered the room, adjacent to the d...

King Badr was turned into bird by Jauhara, the daughter of al-Shamandal the king. Now the bird was at the palace of another king. He was put in a cage by the servant and hung up.  The king asked for the bird, and the servant brought the cage to him.  The king found that the food was untouched by the bird. He said to himself, "O my lord, what bird is this? What kind of food it likes? I don't know what it will eat, so that I may feed it.  But the king continued to look at it and marveled at its beauty. King called for the food. The table was laid before him. And he began to eat.  The bird hopped and fluttered inside the cage. The king understood that the bird craves for food. He called the servant to open the cage, and the servant came and opened the cage. The bird flitted out and flew down to the table and perched on it. Slowly it hopped on to the plates, pecked on it raised its head and swallowed it. In this way it ate bread, meat, sweets and fruits. The king, the of...

The following night Shahrazad said: Jullanar's mother sent men to search for her grandson, Badr the young king, while his mother returned to her kingdom in tears, feeling sad and depressed. Young Badr stayed in the green Island where he was left by the maid of Jauhara the daughter of al-Shamandal. Badr, in the form of a bird with white feather, red bill and red claws pecked seeds and fruits hopped on dead leaves and wet ground, an ibis like bird, stayed in this way scooping water with his bill and tilting his head back to let fill his throat. A forlorn bird, not used to a flock, one day perched on a branch of a tree.  On the way came a bird hunter to the green Island looking for game.  When he drew close to king Badr in white feathered bird he was dazzled and marveled an,d said to himself, "This is a lovely bird, the like of which I have never seen se⁶en." Then he cast his net and caught it, and took it to the city, and then to its market, where a man came by and asked hi...

The following night Shahrazad said: Queen Jullanar waited for her son.  The son did not come. She was not aware of his journey overseas with his uncle Sayih in search of Jauhara. Jullanar set out to overseas in search of her son, and reached the palace of her mother.  The mother told her of the latest developments, how Sayih and Badr came, and their mission to the palace of King al-Shamandal with taking bags of rubies and jewels to seek the hand of Jauhara, and how king al-Shamandal treated them when he knew that they came to seek the hand of his daughter, and how they quarrelled over it, and quarrel became a battle, of Sayih's request for forces, and how she sent one thousand fully armed horsemen to the battlefield, and how Sayih and his men won the battle and took al-Shamandal a prisoner, and how king Badr without her knowledge and leave, and without knowing that his uncle had won the battle, ran away. And since then they had no news of him.  Sayih has sent men in every...

The following night Shahrazad said: King Badr had trusted her, and embraced her and kissed her, and he thought that his uncle Sayih has not done justice to her charm or beauty. Suddenly Jauhara pressed him to her bosom, and uttering words he could not understand spat in his face and said, "Leave your human form, you vile good-for-nothing, and turn into a bird, the prettiest of birds, with white feathers and red bill and feet." Hardly had she uttered those words, king Badr was transformed into a bird of white feathers and red bill and feet.  The bird stood looking at Jauhara. The princess Jauhara had with her one of her maids, who had been hiding in the tree.  She climbed down at the call of the princess. The princess said to her, "By God, if I did not fear for my father, who is his uncle's prisoner, I would have killed him.  Listen girl, take him and carry him to the island of Thirst.  Leave him there and come back."   The girl took the bird, and carried it...

The following night Shahrazad said: Jauhara was on the top of a tree in an island. Badr was under the tree blinking at her.  Badr marveled at the strange coincidence, and he said to himself, "There is no doubt that my uncle had defeated al-Shamandal," and he felt very Happy, "and there is no doubt that I have attained my aim and fulfilled my wish by the capture of her father." He said to her, "Oh my lady, come down to me, for I am captured by your eyes and slain by your love.  It was on our account that this turmoils took place, for I am Badr, king of Persia, and Sayih is my uncle, who came to your father to demand you in marriage for me.  I have left my kingdom and my mother and relatives; I have parted from my friends and companions, and I have come far away from my country for your sake.  Our meeting here is a rare coincidence.  Come down to me, and I will take you to your father's palace, ask my uncle Sayih to release him, and make you my lawful wife....

The following night Shahrazad said: Sayih fled to the palace gate, where he found more than a thousand of his cousins, relatives and members of his entourage, followers and servants whom his mother had sent to support him.  They were armed to the teeth, with coats of mail and spears. They saw Siyah running, and they asked him, "What's the matter?"  Sayih told them what had happened. They know that al-Shamandal is an ill-tempered and arrogant man. They dismounted, and drawing their swords, hurried into the palace and saw al-Shamandal seated on his throne still raging against Siyah.  He was surrounded by his guards, attendants, servants and slave girls. The surge of Sayih's followers was not noticed by al-Shamandal's men. When they saw them coming with drawn sword.  al-Shamandal cried out, "Damn you, away with the heads of those dogs!" But his men were not prepared to fight; and before long the king was seized and bound by Sayih and his men.  Jauhara heard...

The following night Shahrazad said: Sayih said to al-Shamandal, "The sage says, 'If you wish to be denied, ask for what can't be supplied,' but my wish is one that the king is able to grant, for it is at his disposal and he is to give." al-Shamandal said, "Explain your case, tell me your need, and ask your wish."  Sayih said, "O King of the age, I come to you as a suitor, seeking the unique pearl, the priceless jewel, and the glorious princess Jauhara, daughter of our lord the king.  O king do not disappoint your suitor, but desire him who desires your daughter."   The king laughed in derision, until he fell on his back.  Then he said, "O Sayih, I thought you an excellent and wise young man who is reasonable and uttered nothing but what is sensible.  What has possessed you and urged you to embark on such a grave venture, and dangerous adventure to seek in marriage the daughter of the king who rules over cities and provinces and also comman...

The following night Shahrazad said: Sayih said to his mother, "My nephew is superior to her, because his father was king of all Persians.  He is now their king. Indeed, none but Jauhara is worthy of him, and none but he is worthy of her.  I will take to her father necklaces of rubies and other jewels, a present worthy of him, and demand her in marriage. If he objects to that I must endeavour to fulfill my nephew's wish, even if costs my life, because I was the cause of his infatuation, and just as I plunged him in the ocean of love, I will endeavour to marry him to the girl, and God will help me." His mother replied, "Do as you wish, but when you speak with al Shamandal, beware of offending him, for you know his pride and violent temper, and I fear he will lay hands on you, for he has no respect for anyone."  Sayih replied, "I hear and obey." He took two bags full of precious necklaces, emerald cabochons, and rubies and diamonds, and bade his servants ...

The following night Shahrazad said: When Sayih found that his nephew was insistent on getting Jauhara, he took off his finger a seal ring engraved with the names of the Almighty God and said to him, "Put this ring on your finger, it will protect you from whales and other beasts of the sea." And he gave the ring to his nephew. The king put the ring on his finger, and they plunged into the sea and reached his grandma's house.  She had been with her relatives. The king greeted her and kissed her hand. She embraced him, and kissed him between the eyes, and said, "O my son I bless you on you on your coming.  How is your mother Jullanar?" He replied, "O grandma, she is well, and she sends greeting to you, and her cousins." Sayih informed his mother that the king had fallen in love with Jauhara, the daughter of al-Shamandal as soon as he had heared of her." And he told her the story from beginning to end. "I may demand her in marriage on behalf of h...

The following night Shahrazad said:  That the conversation between Jullanar and her brother was overheard by by King Badr who had been lying beside them, half asleep and half awake. "She has jewel-like teeth, sweet lips, black eyes, a soft bod, heavy hips, and a slender waist." Badr had an obsession with full hipped girls. And the name Jauhara nurtured his obsession. Jullanar replied to her brother, "You are right, for I have seen her many times when she was a child. But it has been years before.  By God, none but Jauhara is worthy of my son." "But her father al-Shamandal is powerful, proud and ill-tempered.  Say nothing to your son, until we propose our idea to her father and receive his approval.  If he refuses we will keep quiet and seek another alliance," replied Sayih. Jullanar replied, "This is an excellent idea." Next morning the king and his uncle went for a bath.  After they returned, the servants gave them wine. Tables were set for food...

The following night Shahrazad said: The old king, father of King Badr is dead. They buried him, a stately burial. They, the natives, friends and family members mourned over him for a full month. Jullanar's mother, brother and cousins came and offered their condolences. They said, "O Jullanar, although your husband is dead, he has left this noble young man, this fierce lion and radiant moon." The lord and chief officers of the state went to Badr, the king and said, "O king, mourning is unseemly, except for women.  The death of your father should not distract you."   They took him to bath, and when he came out, he put on a fine robe embroidered with gold and adorned with rubies and other jewels, and placing the royal crown on his head, sat on the throne and took care of the affairs of the people, judging fairly between the strong and the weak, and exacting from the prince the right of the beggar, so that all the people loved him and invoked blessings upon him.  He...

The terms HOMO and JOMO usually appear in discussions of modern life, especially digital.  Homo is an abbreviated version of Hazard of Missing Out commonly known as  Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) Fomo refers to the anxiety that "others are having rewarding experience without you." It is an exclusion fear.  Traditionally fuelled by public opinion social media accelerate it. The positive counterpoint of Fomo/Homo is JOMO: Joy of Missing Out. JOMO refers to finding contentment in not participating in everything, and embracing solitude, rest or a simpler pace.  Instead of anxiety it brings satisfaction: I don't need to be everywhere. I enjoy where I am. Example: Choosing to read a book at home instead of attending a party. FOMO/HOMO is anxiety about exclusion  JOMO is peace in selective exclusion. The term FOMO was coined by Dr Dan Herman, a marketing strategist, in an article for The Journal of Brand Management.  He used it to describe  consumer behaviour: H...

During the first year of Badr's tenure, every day he went to play with the Ball and mallet, and every day he balanced it with  kingly duty. In the second year, in addition to ball and mallet play, the king went for hunting. And his royal duties covered visits to cities and provinces of the kingdom.  One day the old king went to bath and got a chill. The chill had grown to fever.  The king sensed that he was going to die. He called his son, and asked him to take care of his mother, as well as all his officers.  Then he summoned all the prlnces, lords and prominent persons and made them swear allegiance to his son.  He lingered a few days and died.  His son king Badr and Jullanar and all princes and viziers and officers of the state mourned over him, and they built him a tomb.  Morning overtook and Shahrazad lapsed into silence.

The following night Shahrazad said: Jullanar's mother and other members of the family returned, and they occasionally visited the palace and continued happy relationship with the king and the queen. The young boy Badr was imparted with the education required to the status of a prince. He had learned the skills of chivalry, such as archery, spearply and playing with the ball and mallet, a kind of modern day polo.  When the boy has acquired education required for a prince, his father summoned the princes, the lords, and the chief officers of the state, and made them take an oath that they would make his son to succeed him as the king. They were very happy and willing to submit to the authority.  Next day, the king rode into the city with the princes, officers of the state and the troops and entered the city square.  Then they returned to the palace.  Near the palace they stopped and dismounted  waiting for the son and his entourage. They came and dismounted. Then ...

The following night Shahrazad said: Jullanar's brother Sayih said, when a child is born to us, we pencil his eyes.  This is a ritual, which ward off the child from drowning, suffocation and other dangers expected of life in the sea. We walk in the sea just as you walk on land.  He pulled from his pocket a sealed bag, and breaking the seal he emptied it scattering the strings of rubies and all kinds of jewels in addition to three hundred emeralds and cabochons, and three hundred gemstones, as big as pigeon eggs glittering like the sun. Then he said, "O king, these big gems are a gift for your little son Badr; and these rubies, emeralds and other jewels are a gift from us to you.  See, we had not brought you anything, being unaware of Jullanar's situation.  Now we have met you and become one family, and in future we will bring other gifts in due course.  I know the source of these stones better than anyone else in land and sea." The king was dazzled by the show of...

The following night Shahrazad said: Jullanar's mother went to the king and announced the birth of his son.  The king rejoiced, and knelt in gratitude before the Almighty.  The king bestowed robes of honour, distributed, sweets, gifts and money.  The boy was named Badr, and the name was the choice of king. He bade the princes, lords and Chamberlains to celebrate the birth with the participation of all the people.  The city was decorated, jailes opened and prisoners were released.  Widows and orphans were clothed and alms dispersed. Mamluks and male and female slaves were freed. A mass banquet was arranged for general public and for prominent persons.  The celebrations lasted for ten full days.  On the eleventh day, the king was sitting with Jullanar and her brother, mother and cousins. The brother stood up, walked towards the child, who was in the hands of the old woman, took him, cradled him in his arms, flew with the boy out of the window, glided towa...

The following night Shahrazad said:  Jullanar said to the king, "How can I bear to part from you? You should know that when I praised you to my brother, mother and cousins, they felt a great affection for you and desired to see you, saying, 'We will not leave until we meet him and eat with him, so that his bread and salt may bind with us together."'  The king replied, "I heard and obey. But I am afraid of them because of the fire I saw flaming from their mouths, for although I was not near them, I almost died of fright." Jullanar laughed and said, "Do not worry, for they do this only when they are angry, and they got angry this time because I had invited them to eat with you.  Then she took him by hand and led him to them, while they sat before the food, waiting for him.  He came up to them and greeted them. They greeted him back with high respect, and sprang up to their feet and kissed the ground before him.  They said to him, "O King of the age, ...

The following night Shahrazad said: When her mother, brother, and her cousins insisted her to return to their home, Jullanar said, "O my mother, how can I return to you now.  I am the daughter of a king.  My protector is also the son of a king. Further, I am carrying his life in my womb. I request you to let me finish with him." Her mother was happy to hear her rise to the occasion, and she said, "You know your position and status. I am happy that you bind yourself to your duty.  If you wish to stay here, I will gladly abode by your wish.  Your brother and cousins will have no objection to this." She said, "I will stick on to him. It is my duty." The king was happy to hear this. They were also rejoiced. Jullanar called for food and the maids set the table, spread clothes on it, all kinds of food, fruits and sweets were laid on. The guests took their seats, but the mother of Jullanar thought, "Where is the king, who she claims is very much in love with...

The following night Shahrazad said: The king saw the old woman, the young man, and the young women walk on the surface of the water, until they reached the palace, while Jullanar stood at the window to welcome them.  They saw her standing at the window, and happily leapt and flew like birds, and in the next instant stood beside her.  One by one they embraced her tearfully, telling her how much they missed these three years. Jullanar kissed her brother's head, and his hands and feet, and did the same to her mother and cousins.  They sat for a while expressing their anguish over her disappearance. Then they inquired about her present situation. "When I left you," said Jullanar, "I came out of the sea and sat on the shore of the Island of Moon, where a man found me, and later he sold me to a merchant.  He was familiar with this palace and he brought me here and sold me to the king of this city for ten thousand dinars.  I have had a happy life with him. He is fully ...

The following night Shahrazad said: When the king heard Jullanar's explanation of her hitherto silence, he was very much satisfied. Her future plan to bring her own kith and kin to take care of her delivery, the king found, reasonable and he said to her, "Do as you wish, and I will agree with whatever you do." Now, Jullanar explained to the king the life in the sea. She said, "We walk in the sea and see daylight.  We see the Sun and sky, and the night and the Moon and the stars. In the sea there are creatures of all types, just as there are on land, and more.  The king marveled at what she said. She took out a case of Javanese aloewood  from her pocket, opened it and took out from it a bead of the same wood.  She threw it into the fire, and whispered some words that the king could not understand. There arose a smoke, then it became a cloud of smoke.  She said to the king, "Rise and hide in a closet.  You can see my mother and brother together with my cousin...

The following night Shahrazad said: When the king heard her words, he replied, "You are telling that you are a broken hearted woman in a foreign land.  There is no reason for it, since my entire kingdom is for you.  You said that you have a mother and father and a brother.  Where are they? Pardon me, I have not asked your name." She replied, "I am called Jullanar of the Sea.  My father was a sea-king.  After his death the kingdom came into the hands of my mother, my brother and myself.  My mother is descended from the daughters of sea, and not the daughters of land.  My brother's name is Sayih.  One day I quarrelled with him and left the sea. I decided to throw myself into the hands of a man of the land.  I came out of the sea and sat on on the shore of the Island of the Moon, where an old man came up to me and took me to his house. There he tried to make love to me. Being an old man his organ failed him.  Out of frustration he sold me t...

The following night Shahrazad continued the story of Jullanar.  At the end of the year after the coming of Jullanar, one day the king opened up his heart to the slave girl. By this time the king was infatuated with the girl, and made a final attempt to make her speak.  The king said to the girl, "O my heart's delight, By God, the whole kigdom is not worth a grain of sand to me when I see you unable to speak or reply to. me.  You are dearer to me than my eyes.  I have deserted my concubines, my favourites, and all my other women, and made you my lot in life.  I have been praying to God to soften your heart and make you speak to me.  Sometimes, I am sceptic and think that you are dumb and deaf.  If you are really deaf or dumb you say it to me. I have no son to inherit my kingdom.  I am too old and weak.  I am lonely and forlorn.  My lady, if you are able to speak, please say a word before I die.  The girl bowed her head, in thought an...

The following night Shahrazad continued the story of Jullanar: The slave girl was not in a mood to speak and sat down with bowed head. But the king continued with his pleasantries.  But inspite of his efforts the girl remained in the same state.  The maids removed the table. The king and the girl washed their hands. Again, he began his efforts to make the girl speak. But he failed.  He said to himself, "O God, she is beautiful, but it seems that she is deaf and dumb." He summoned his concubines, favourites and other women, and bade them to entertain her with all kinds of music and songs.  The king enjoyed it, but she did not.  And the king could not ascertain what was her response to these events.  The king was very much depressed.  He dismissed all others and remained alone with her, in his private chamber. He took off his clothes, lay down in his bed, and drew her to him.  He looked at her, and took off her clothes one by one until she was fully...

The following night Shahrazad continued: The King of Khurasan was dazzled by the beauty and grace of new slave girl. He turned to the merchant and asked the price of the girl.  The merchant said, "O King, I bought her from another merchant for two thousand dinars, and to this day I have traveled for three years and spent one thousand dinars on her to bring her to you; but your slave does not want any money for her; she is a gift to our lord, the king." At these words the king was very happy, and bestowed a robe of honour on him.  He also ordered to pay him ten thousand dinars and one of his choice horses.  The merchant kissed the ground before him and departed. The king committed the girl to the care of his his nurses and attendents.  He said to her care takers, "Prepare her, and leave her alone in one of my choice apartment. They brought her whatever she needed, clothes, food and drink.  Then they took her to bath.  After bath she looked even more charming...

When the king found that the merchant was at ease and comfortable, he asked him, "Where is the girl whom you consider to be worthy of me?" The merchant replied, "She is beautiful and elegant beyond description, and she is standing at the door with the servants awaiting your pleasure.  With your leave, I will bring her at once." The king gave him leave, and here came a tall girl, as slender as a spear, wrapped in a silk cloak embroidered with gold.  The king stood up from his throne, and walked towards a private chamber, and asked one of his servants, to bring the girl.  The girl entered the private chamber of the king, where he unveiled her.  The king found her brighter than rising moon and slender than a reed, with her hair hanging down to her anklets, with dark eyes, rosy cheeks, heavy hips and slender waist.  The king was dazzled by her beauty and grace. Morning overtook and Shahrazad put a break to her story telling.

The following night Shahrazad said: The king of the city state of Khurasan was unhappy and worried because he had no sons to pass on his kingdom after his death. One day he was seated on his throne, the vizier was standing by his side; and the lords, princes and prominent persons were sitting  before him; Mamluks, and servants were standing in attendance, a servants came in and said, "O King of the age, there is a merchant at the door, with a girl worthy of our lord the king.  He wishes to present her to the king.  He says that there is none like her in beauty or charm." The king replied, "Bring him to me." The servant disappeared and returned with the merchant led by a chamberlain.  The merchant kissed the ground and bowed before the king, who engaged him in conversation.  The king was very friendly and encouraged him to speak freely.  When the merchant felt himself at ease, the king smiled at the merchant, and asked...... But morning overtook the night, S...

Once in Persia, there was a king whose capital was the city of Khurasan.  He was mighty king, so that all lords, chiefs, and fiefs paid him tributes that made him rich. He was sensible and judicious, and was very kind to his subjects. Towards minor offenders he showed clemency.  His subjects loved him very much. He had myraids of concubines, whom he housed in separate houses. But the king had no sons. He was worried over this, and he abundantly gave alms  and offered sacrifices to deities. He was worried over this, and he feared that he would die without having a successor to his throne. Slave trade had been flourishing in the city and slave merchants came to him when new slave girls came by and the king bought them at high price. In addition to better price, if the girl was of exceptional beauty, the king would bestow on him robes of honour and written orders exempting him from levy of taxes.  Merchants from far and wide markets came to him and offered concubines....

The following night Shahrazad said: I heard, O happy King, that Ja'far set out at once and journeyed until he reached Basra at the very moment when, as I have described, the executioner stood with drawn sword and was about to strike off Nur al-Din's head.  Ja'far went up to the king, saluted him, and inquired what was the matter With Nur al-Din, and the king explained situation.  Ja'far bade Nur al-Din be brought before him.  They brought him with execution mat and sword.  He bade them to untie him.  They did so. He bade them to tie the vizier, and tie the rope around his neck. They did so.  Then he took all the three and reached Baghdad, the City of Peace, went to the palace of the Caliph, and presented him Nur al-Din and told what he saw at Basra, and how he could save Nur al-Din. The Caliph said to Nur al-Din, " Nur al-Din ibn-Khaqan, Take this sword, and strike off the head of your enemy with your own hand.  Taking the sword, Nur al-Din went upto t...

The following night Shahrazad said: I heard, O happy King, that one night, that the Caliph Harun al Rashid passed by one of the chambers in his palace, he heard someone reciting the following verses: The torments of love has wracked  Me body and soul, ever since  the  Fate has drove us apart. God allows All lovers to unite, but,  condemned  My unrequited heart. The Caliph cried out, "Who is in the chamber?" A woman replied, "O my lord, I am Anis al Jalis, whose lord you sent to Basra to replace the Lord, Muhammad ibn Sulaiman as king." The Caliph recollected his word to Anis al Jalis, and called out Ja'far. When the Ja'far came the Caliph said, "I have forgotten Nur al-Din Ali ibn-Khaqan and forgotten to send the investiture and the deed of bestowal, and I fear that his enemy may have succeeded in killing him.  Ride posthaste to Basra, and if you find him dead, hang the vizier, but if you find him alive, bring him with the king and the vizier to me, and...

The following night Shahrazad said: I heard, O happy King, that people said to Nur al-Din, "Let whatever happens happen."  The attendants rode with Nur al-Din until they came below the palace wall.  Then they made him kneel on the execution mat, and the executioner bandaged his eyes, and drawing his sword, asked him twice, whether he had a last wish.  Then he knelt before him, and removing the bandage from his eyes, said to him, "I am only a servant, who does what he is told; I have no choice, and you will die as soon as the king gives the order." Nur al-Din looked to the right and left, and realising that none could help him or save him, and feeling very thirsty, recited the following verses: My life is spent and death is nearing, Will no one help me and God's help Will no one pity me in my distress  With a cup of water ease my pain? If I die thirsty, like Ali's holy son And martyrdom attain. The people wept. The executioners rose, and brought him a cup of ...

The following night Shahrazad said: I heard, O happy King, that the vizier said, "And I will be satisfied." The king replied, "Do as you wish."  The vizier departed and bade a crier make the proclamation, and the crier did, and when the people heard it, and they mourned and wept for Nur al-Din The vizier went to the jail with ten Mamluks, and said to the jailer, "Bring  me that young prisoner." The jailer brought Nur al-Din, and when he opened his eyes and saw his enemy, the vizier preparing to kill him, he asked the vizier, "Are you secure against the gate?  Have you heard what the poet says: For long they ruled us arbitrarily,  But suddenly vanished their powerful rule. The vizier said, "Do you mean to threaten me, you good for nothing? After I strike off your head despite the people of Basra, let fate do with me what it will, for the poet says: He who outlives his foe for single Day, will have attained his wish And had his way." He ordere...

The following night Shahrazad said: I heard, O happy King, that when King Muhammad ibn-Sulaiman al-Zainabi of Basra heard the advice of his vizier ibn-Sawi he directed the vizier to take Nur al-Din Ali. The vizier took Nur al-Din Ali to his palace, and shouted to his servants,  "Throw him to the ground."  The servants threw him to the ground and beat him until he fainted.  Then the vizier shackled him and threw him into a jail, shouting to the jailer, whose name was Qutait, "Qutait, throw him into the jail, and punish him." The jailer beat Nur al-Din well into the night, until he fainted.  When he came to himself in the dark night, he recited the following: I will endure it to my last breath. When God fulfills his His decree,  He who says life is sweetness  A day bitter than aloes will see. Nur al Din suffered the same treatment for ten days until the vizier decided to strike his head.  So he took some gifts and gave them to a group of unknown bedouins...

The following night Shahrazad said: I heard, O happy King, the old man went into a store room, and fetched a stick to beat the fisherman.  The fisherman, who was the Caliph in disguise, cried out from the window, "Help, help!" and was at once joined by the vizier and his men, who dressed the fisherman in royal robes, seated him on a chair, and stood in attendance. When the old man came out of the store room with the stick, rushing towards the fisherman, he was stunned to see instead the Caliph seated on a chair, and Ja'far standing in attendance.  The old man began to bite his nails in bewilderment and  exclaimed, "Am I sleep or awake?" The Caliph turned to him, and said, "O Shaikh Ibrahim, What state do I see you in?"  The old man became sober at once, and rolling on the ground recited the following verses: Forgive my error, it was a slip Grant your slave a clemency  I have confessed my own sin Where is the expected clemency? The Caliph forgave him an...

The following night Shahrazad said: I heard, O happy King, when Caliph in disguise of a fisherman said, "I will write a letter to the king, and he will no longer harm you." Nur al-Din asked, "Is there in the whole world a fisherman writing letter to a king?" The Caliph in Fisherman said, "The king and I studied together under the same tutor.  I was above him, but somehow, by hook or crook, or by luck, he became the king. Kings are made by his followers.  And kings have to make false promises to his followers like 'I will give you fifteen hundred thousand dinars to each of you, when I am made king.'  Later the idiot followers forget it as king's jumla. So king also conveniently forgets it." Since these are alien to me I became a fisherman.  Yet whenever I write to ask him, he obliges. Nur al-Din said, "Very well, write and show me." The Caliph in Fisherman took the paper and ink, and after the invocation to God wrote the following: Thi...