Classics Retold

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...