The Arabian Nights Entertainments. Anonymous
when the golden door has been opened, and the black horse has vanished with that vicious switch of his tail, we have a little feeling of having been "sold,"—a feeling which great art never gives. But we are in the best of humor; for were we not warned all along against just this foible of curiosity, and is not the story-teller smiling inscrutably and advising us to be thankful that we at least still have our two good eyes?
Beside the story interest, the life and movement of the tales, the spirits that enter and set their own precedents, there is for us the charm of mingling with men so different from ourselves: men adventurous but never strenuous, men of many tribulations but no perplexities. Fantastic, magnificent, extravagant, beautiful, gloriously colored, humorous—was ever book of such infinite contrasts?
THE CONTENTS
THE ILLUSTRATIONS
| The genie immediately returned with a tray bearing dishes of the most delicious viands | Frontispiece |
| PAGE | |
| He had the gift of understanding the language of beasts | 17 |
| He was chained to the spot by the pleasure of beholding three such beauties | 40 |
| These ladies vied with each other in their eager solicitude to do me all possible service | 88 |
| The gardener, with the rake which he had in his hand, drew the basket to the side of the canal | 120 |
| He presently discovered a gold box, about a foot square, which he gave into the princess's hands | 144 |
| She drew the poniard, and, holding it in her hand, began a dance | 240 |
| Having balanced my cargo exactly, and fastened it well to the raft, I went on board with the two oars I had made | 280 |
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS
THE SULTAN AND HIS VOW
It is written in the chronicles of the Sassanian monarchs that there once lived an illustrious prince, beloved by his own subjects for his wisdom and his prudence, and feared by his enemies for his courage and for the hardy and well-disciplined army of which he was the leader. This prince had two sons, the elder called Schah-riar, and the younger Schah-zenan, both equally good and deserving of praise.
When the old king died at the end of a long and glorious reign, Schah-riar, his eldest son, ascended the throne and reigned in his stead. Schah-zenan, however, was not in the least envious, and a friendly contest soon arose between the two brothers as to which could best promote the happiness of the other. Schah-zenan did all he could to show his loyalty and affection, while the new sultan loaded his brother with all possible honors, and in order that he might in some degree share the sultan's power and wealth, bestowed on him the kingdom of Great Tartary. Schah-zenan immediately went to take possession of the empire allotted him, and fixed his residence at Samarcand, the chief city.
After a separation of ten years Schah-riar so ardently desired to see his brother, that he sent his first vizier,[1] with a splendid embassy, to invite him to revisit his court. As soon as Schah-zenan was informed of the approach of the vizier, he went out to meet him, with all his ministers, in most magnificent dress, and inquired after the health of the sultan, his brother. Having replied to these affectionate inquiries, the vizier told the purpose of his coming. Schah-zenan, who was much affected at the kindness and recollection