Classics Retold

The following night Shahrazad said: King Badr said to his mother, "Mother, nothing remains except that I should marry to unite us all.  Jullanar said, "Son, this is a good idea. But wait, we will see who is a match for you."  His grandmother Farasha, his uncle Sayih and his cousins agreed with mother, and all of them endeavoured to find out a suitable match for king Badr. Then each of them went out to search throughout the world, while Jullanar sent out her waiting women on the backs of demons, saying to them, "Leave not a province, or a city, or a King's palace without noticing every beautiful girl there." When king Badr noted these efforts, he said to his mother, "Mother, stop this, for none will satisfy me."  But morning overtook and Shahrazad lapsed into silence.

The following night Shahrazad said: King Badr dismounted from the she-mule and delivered her to the old woman, who, as soon as she received her, removed the bit from her mouth, took water in her hand, and sprinkled it on the she-mule with some words of incantation, followed by "O my daughter, leave this form and return to your human form."  The queen was at once restored to her original form.  The two women embraced and kissed each other.  King Badr realised that the old woman was queen Lab's mother and that he had been tricked, and he saw the danger lurking behind.  He wanted to escape, but there was not a way.  The old woman gave a loud whistle, and there appeared before her a huge demon. It stood like a huge mountain and its shadow fell over the entire premises.  The old woman mounted on its back, followed by her daughter.  The demon picked king Badr and put him on its shoulder and flew off and landed at the palace of queen Lab. While queen and her ...

The following night Shahrazad said: King Badr said to the queen of Magi, "As long as you love me, nothing will change me towards you, for I love even more than you love me.  Eat of my barley meal." She took a mouthful and ate it. No sooner had it settled down in her stomach than she began to convulse.  King Badr took water in his hand, and threw it in her face, and said, "Leave this form and turn into a dappled mule.  When she saw herself in this condition, tears rolled down her cheeks, and she began to rub her head against his feet. He tried to bridle her; but she would not let him, so he left her and went to the old man and gave an account of the happenings.  The old man took a bridle, saying, "Bridle her with this, for when she sees this, she will submit and let you bridle her.   King Badr took the bridle and returned to the queen.  She came up to him.  He set the bit in her mouth, mounted her, and rode to the old man.  The old man said to...