Classics Retold

The following night Shahrazad said: The brokers showed the vizier every slave girl brought into the market, before they were sold.  But none pleased the vizier.  However, one day, as the vizier was about to mount his horse, on his way to royal palace , a broker came to him, caught hold of his stirrup , and said, "O Grand vizier ,  she, who has been demanded by the noble order is here." The vizier said, "Bring her to me." The broker went away, and soon returned with the girl. She was about five feet tall, with a slender waist, heavy hips, swelling breasts, smooth cheeks, and black eyes.  She was in her sweet youth, and had an elegant figure, dewy lips sweeter than syrup, and a voice softer than the morning breeze. The vizier was exceedingly pleased with her, and turning to the broker asked, "What is the price?" The broker replied, "Ten thousand dinars. Her owner says it doesn't cover the cost of chickens she had eaten, the wine she had drunk, and ...

The story is one of the longest and continuous romantic story in the collection of Arabian Nights. It has a strong Baghdad centred Abbasid historical background.  It is placed in the social environment of 8th to 9th century Baghdad. The protagonist, Ali ibn-Bakkar was a wealthy youth who came to Baghdad. The heroine Shams al-Nahar is associated with the courtly circle of Abbasid Caliph, Harun al Rashid. The text of the story depicts places, eunuchs, slave girls, gardens, merchants, robbers and the life in eighth and ninth century Baghdad, all of which were part of Abbasid culture and tradition. The narrative belongs to the romance of passions and tragic love type in Arabic literature, like that of Majnum Lyla, tragically ending in idealized love. Shams al Nahar was a slave girl attached to Caliph. But she enjoyed special privileges like separate quarters and maid servants. Abbasid era was known for opulence, patronage of poetry, and tales of love and intrigue at court.  The st...

The following night Shahrazad said: I heard, O happy King, that the jeweler said: Ali ibn Bakkar charged me and asked me to tell his mother to bear his loss with patience.  Then he fell in a swoon and remained unconscious for a long time, and when he came to himself, he heard a girl singing the following verses: Adversity hastened our parting,  After our happy Love and joyful life,  Such parting is a bitter pain; would  That a lover were spared a strife  Death's agony is a short moment. Parting's pain always remains God allowed all lovers to unite  But condemned me, kept apart. When he heard these verses, he groaned and his soul left his body. I wrapped him in a shroud and committed his body to the care of our host. Two days later I journeyed in the company of some people, and reached my house in Baghdad. Then I went to the house of Ali ibn Bakkar to meet his mother. I bade his servants to leave her mother alone, and I went to her, greeted her, sat by her, ...

The following night Shahrazad said: I heard, O happy King, that the jeweler related: Suddenly, a man came into the mosque, where we, (Ali ibn-Bakkar and I) took shelter after we were robbed on our way.  After ablutions and prayer, the man greeted us, and said, "You are strangers here, I suppose," "Yes, we are, we have been robbed, and we know no one to seek any help," said I "Will you come home with me," he asked. I turned to Ali ibn Bakkar, and said, "Let us go. We are strangers here and we have nowhere else to go."  The man understood our predicament, we were stripped of our garments and we were half naked.  He took off his girdle robe and turban, and gave it to us. We shared it and were now half-clad. "Let us take advantage of the early hours, and move," he said. He took us to his house.  He knocked at the door and the servant opened it and came out.  At first he arranged us enough clothes and gave it to us.  The servant led us to a ...

The following night Shahrazad said: I heard, O happy King, that the jeweler said: The maid said to me, "Go to Ali ibn Bakkar and warn him to be on guard until we find a way out this situation, or if we fail, to escape with his own life and possessions. This news was such a blow to me, that I could not stand up and my strength drained.  After she left, I hurried to Ali ibn-Bakkar. I said to him, "Gird yourself, summon your courage, gather your wits, compose yourself and shake off your languor, prostration and debility, for there has been a grave development that could cause the destruction of your life and your property."  He was alarmed and his colour changed, and he said to me, "O my friend, you have worried me terribly.  Tell me everything plainly." I said to him, "Such and such things have happened, and you are surely lost.  He sat dazed for a while, looking as if his soul has left his body; then he recovered and asked, "What shall I do?" I sa...

The following night Shahrazad said: I heard, O happy King, that the jeweler said: When I told Ali ibn Bakkar about the money that Shams al-Nahar had given me, he said, "What a wonderful woman and what perfect generosity! I will replace all the utensils and other goods you lost." He turned to his steward and gave him an order, and the steward brought carpets, drapes, and utensils of gold and silver, which were more than what I had lost.  And steward ordered his servants to carry them into my house.  I felt embarassed and thanked Ali ibn Bakkar for his generosity. I said, "Making the two of you happy is dessert to me than all the goods you have given me.  Out of my love for you I will even throw myself into peril for your sake." I stayed with him for the rest of that day and night.  He lay weak and wan and kept sighing and weeping.  When the day began to break, he said to me, "You should know that there is an end to everything and the end of love is death or enjo...

The following night Shahrazad said: I heard, O happy King, that the jeweler said: The girl in the service of Shams al-Nahar said, "Wait here until I come back." Then she hurried off, and returned carrying a heavy bag, and handing it to me, said, "Here is the money, take it and go, and may God protect you.  Where shall we meet?" I said, "Come to my house.  I will find out Ali ibn Bakkar, and arrange for you to meet him." I carried the heavy bag and walked forward. I knew it was money, but I did not know how much it comes. "Look!"  She called out from behind, "I am afraid you may not be able to find him out.  I too may not be able to find you." I replied, "Better come to my other house, I am straightway going there to replace the door and secure the place."  I reached home and counted the money.  Two thousand dinars.  I gave a part of it to my family, and another part to my creditors.  Then I took my servants and went to my othe...