Arabian Nights: 266th Night: Jullanar of the Sea - 37

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, she turns herself into a she-bird, and lets him mount her. Now she knows that you have found out, she will no longer be good to you. But don't be afraid of her, I will protect you.  There is no one better skilled in magic than I, though I use it rarely.  I have delivered many men from her hand, for she has no power over me, and she fears me, as do the inhabitants of this city, who are fire worshippers like her.  Come back to me tomorrow, and tell me what she does to you, because tonight she will plan to destroy you.  Dissemble with her till tomorrow; and come back, I will tell you what to do."

King Badr bade him farewell and returned to queen Lab's palace.

The queen had been waiting for him, and when she saw him, she welcomed him happily.  The maids set food. After food wine was brought.  She drank, and plied him with wine.  By midnight he was drunk and unconscious.  She said to him, "I conjure you by God and by the God you worship, if I ask you a question, will you answer me truthfully?"  He being unconscious, and not knowing what he was saying, replied, "Yes." 

She said, "O my lord, and my darling, when you looked and did not find me, did you not search for me until you find me in the garden in the form of a white she-bird, and a black bird mounted on me, and then turn back into my human form?"

He replied, "Yes."

She said, "That black bird was one of my officers, whom I loved.  But one day he cast his eye on one of my women, and I became jealous and turned him into a bird and killed the woman.  But I cannot bear to be without him, and whenever I desire him, I turn myself into a she-bird, and let him possess me, as you have seen.  It is because of this that you are jealous and angry at me, yet by the fire and light, you love me and I love you more than ever."

But morning overtook and Shahrazad lapsed into silence.



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