Arabian Nights: 272nd Night: Seven Voyages of Sindbad - 1

The following night Shahrazad said:

The time of Harun al Rashid, the Commander of the Faithful. 
Baghdad City.

Sindbad the porter was a man of poor circumstances.  One day he bore a heavy burden.  The day was excessively hot. The heat was violently oppressing him. The load was heavy.  He was passing by the door of a merchant. The ground before it was swept and sprinkled with rose water, which steamed up from the hot pavement, within the space he heard some music, coming from many instruments, and the melodious warble of nightingales and other birds.  The appetizing smell of tasty dishes came.  Some banquet and merry making were going on.  He had never noticed such a magnificent house.  Who may be living here? To satisfy his curiosity he approached some of the well dressed servants who stood at the door, and asked them the name of the master of the house.

"What!" replied the servant, "Do you live in Baghdad, and not know that here lives the noble Sindbad sailor, that famous traveller who sailed over every sea upon which the sun shines?"

The potter had already heard people speak of immense wealth of Sindbad.  He could not help feeling envious of one whose lot seemed to be so happy as his own was miserable.  Looking up at the sky the porter exclaimed aloud, "Consider, Mighty Creator of all times, the difference between Sindbad's life and mine.  Everyday I suffer a thousand hardships and misfortunes, and have hard work to get even enough bad barley bread to keep myself and my family alive, while the lucky Sindbad spends money right and left and lives upon the fat of the land!  What has he done that you should give him this
pleasant life -- What have I done to deserve so hard a fate?"

The porter stamped upon the ground as his protest and despair.  At this moment a servant came out of the palace, and taking him by arm said, "Come with me, the noble Sindbad, my master wishes to speak to you."

Hindbad was not a little surprised at this summons, and feared that his unguarded words might have drawn upon him the displeasure of Sindbad. So he tried to excuse himself on the pretext that he could not leave the burden which had been entrusted to him in the street.  However, the lackey promised him that it should be taken  care of, and urged him to obey the call so pressingly that at last the porter was obliged to yield.

He followed the servant into a vast room, where a large number of people were seated round a table covered with all sorts of delicacies.  In the middle of them sat a tall grave man.  His long white beard gave him a venerable look.  Behind his chair stood a crowd of attendants eager to serve him.  He was Sindbad.  The porter was alarmed at the sight of Sindbad.  Though trembling, he saluted the company. Sindbad called him by a nod, and pointed towards a seat on his right hand. The porter took his seat.  Sindbad himself heaped a choice morsels upon his plate, and poured out for him a draught of excellent wine, and soon when the banquet drew to a close, spoke to him friendly, asking his name and occupation.

"My lord," said the porter, "I am called Hindbad."

"I am glad to see you here," continued Sindbad, "and I will answer for the rest of the company, that they are equally pleased, but I wish you to tell me what it was that you said just now in the street." Just before the start of banquet, Sindbad had heard the comment by Hindbad on the street, and he sent his men to fetch him.

The question confused Hindbad, and hanging down his head, replied, "My lord, I confess that, overcome by weariness and ill-humar, I uttered indiscreet words, which I pray you to pardon me."

"Oh!" replied Sindbad, "Do not imagine that I am so unjust as to blame you.  On the contrary I understand the situation and can pity you.  You appear to be mistaken about me.  And I wish to set you right.  You imagine that I have acquired all the wealth and luxury without difficulty or danger, but this is far from truth.  I reached this stage after years of toil."

Then he address the gathering, "Yes my noble friends, in fact, my adventures had been strange and chilling.  Perhaps, you must have heard of my Seven Voyages, and the dangers and wonders associated with it.  These were not only over sea, but the travel on land too was challenging.  My friends, I deem it an opportunity to give you a full account of my travels and voyages, which I think, will be of useful to you.  Before beginning the tale, Sindbad instructed his men to carry the burden which Hindbad had been carrying to its proper destination, thus freeing him to enjoy the former's account.

Morning overtook and Shahrazad lapsed into silence.










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