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Arabian Nights Entertainments (1706)/Volume 2/The Story of the First Callender

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4634078Arabian Nights Entertainments, Volume 2 — The Story of the First Callender


The Thirty Seventh Night.

DInarzade, who also took a great deal of Pleasure to hear the Sultaness’s Stories, says to her, about the Close of the following Night, dear Sister, if you be not asleep, I conjure you to go on with the agreeable Story of the three Callenders.

Scheherazade demanded leave of the Sultan, and having obtain’d it: Sir, says she, The three Callenders, the Califf, the Grand Visier Giafar, the Eunuch Mesrour and the Porter, were all in the middle of the Hall, sat upon a foot Carpet in presence of the three Ladies, who sat upon a Sosa, and the Slaves stood ready to do whatever their Mistresses should command.

The Porter understanding that he might rid himself of his Danger, by telling his History, spoke first, and said, Madam, you know my History already, and the Occasion of my coming hither; so that what I have to say, will be very short. My Lady, your Sister there, call’d me this Morning, at the Place where I ply’d as Porter, to see if any body will employ me, that I might get Bread, I follow’d her to a Vintner’s, then to an Herb-woman’s, then to one that sold Oranges, Lemons and Citrons then to a Grocer’s, next to a Confectioner’s, and a Druggist’s, with my Basket upon my Head as full as I was able to carry it; then I came hither where you had the Goodness to suffer me to continue till now, a Favour that I shall never forget. This, Madam, is my History.

When the Porter had done, Zobeide says to him, go, march, let’s see you no more here. Madam, replies the Porter, I bed you to let me stay, it would not be just, after the rest have had the Pleasure to hear my History, that I should not also have the Satisfaction to hear theirs. And having spoke thus, sat him down at the End of the Sosa, glad at the Heart to have escap’d the Danger, that had frightned him so much. After him one of the three Callenders directing his Speech to Zobeide, as the Principal of the three Ladies, and the Person that commanded him to speak, begun his Story thus.

The History of the first Callender, a King’s Son.

MADAM, in order to inform you how I lost my Right Eye, and why I was obliged to put myself into a Callender’s Habit, I must tell you, that I am a King’s Son born, the King my Father had a Brother that reigned as he did, over a neighbouring Kingdom; and the Prince his Son and I were almost of an Age.

After I had learned my Exercises, and that the King my Father granted me such Liberty as suited my Dignity, I went orderly every Year to see my Uncle, at whole Court I diverted my self during a Month or two, and then returned again to my Father’s. These several Journeys gave Occasion of contracting a very firm and particular Friendship between the Prince my Cousin and my self. The last time I saw him he receiv’d me with greater Demonstrations of Tenderness than he had done at any time before; and resolving one Day to give me a Treat, he made great Preparations for that purpose. We continued a long time at Table, and after we had both supp’d very well; Cousin (says he) you will hardly be able to guess how I have been employ’d since your last Departure from hence, now about a Year past, I have had a great many Men at work to perfect a Design I have in my Mind; I have caus’d an Edifice to be built, which is now finished, so as one may dwell in it: You will not be displeas’d if I shew it you. But first you are to promise me upon Oath that you will keep my Secret, according to the Confidence repose in you.

The Love and Familiarity that was between us would not allow me to refuse him any thing. I very readily took the Oath he required of me: Upon which he says to me, Stay here till I return, I will be with you in a Moment; and accordingly he came with a Lady in his Hand, of a singular Beauty, and magnificently apparall’d: He did not discover who she was, neither did I think it was Manners in me to make inquiry. We sat down again with this Lady at Table, where we continued some time, entertaining our selves with Discourses upon indifferent Subjects; and now and then a full Glass to drink one another’s Health. After which the Prince said, Cousin, we must loose no time, therefore pray oblige me to take this Lady along with you, and conduct her to such a Place, where you will see a Tomb newly built in form of a Dome; you will easily know it, the Gate is open, go in there together, and tarry till I come, which will be very speedily.

Being true to my Oath, I made no further Inquiry, but took the Lady by the Hand, and by the Directions which the Prince, my Cousin, had given me, I brought her to the Place, by the Light of the Moon, without missing one Step of the Way. We were scarcely got thither, till we saw the Prince following after, carrying a little Pitcher with Water, a Hatchet, and a little Bag with Plaister.

The Hatchet serv’d him to break down the empty Sepulchre in the middle of the Tomb; he took away the Stones one after another, and laid them in a Corner: when all this was taken away, he digg’d up the Ground, where I saw a Trap-door under the Sepulchre, which he lift up, and underneath perceived the Head of a Stair-case leading into a Vault. Then my Cousin speaking to the Lady, said, Madam, it is by this Way, that we are to go to the Place I told you of: Upon which the Lady drew nigh, and went down, and the Prince began to follow after; but turning first to me, said, my dear Cousin, I am infinitely oblig’d to you for the Trouble you have been at, I thank you. Adieu. I cried, dear Cousin, what is the meaning of this? Be content, replied he, you may return back the same way you came.

Scheherazade being come this length, saw Day appear, which hinder’d her to proceed any further. The Sultan got up, but long’d very much to know the Design of the Prince and his Lady, which seem’d as if they had a mind to bury themselves alive, and impatiently waited for next Night, that he might be thoroughly inform’d of it.

The Thirty Eighth Night.

DInarzade a wak’d the Sultaness next Night as usual, and pray’d her to continue the History of the first Callender. Schahriar also signified to the Sultaness, that it would be very pleasing to him, she resum’d the Thread of her Discourse as follows.

Madam, says the Callender to Zobeide, I could get nothing further from him, but was oblig’d to take leave of him; as I returned to my Uncle’s Palace, the Vapours of the Wine get up into my Head; however I got to my Apartment, and went to Bed. Next Morning, when I awak’d, I began to reflect upon what befel me the Night before, and after recollecting all the Circumstances of such a singular Adyenture, I sancied it was nothing but a Dream. Being full of these Thoughts, I sent to see if the Prince, my Cousin, was ready to receive a Visit from me; but when they brought back word that he did not lye in his own Lodgings that Night, they knew not what was become of him, and were in much Trouble about it, I conceiv’d that the strange Event of the Tomb was but too true. I was sensibly afflicted at it; and stealing away privately from my People, I went to the publick Burying-place, Where there was a vast Number of Tombs like that which I had feen: I spent the Day in viewing them one after another, but could not find that I sought for; and thus I spent Four Days successively in vain.

You must know that all this while the King, my Uncle; was absent, and had been a hunting for several Days, I grew weary of staying for him; and having pray’d his Ministers to make my Apology to him at his Return, I left his Palace, and set out towards my Father’s Court, from which I had never been so long absent before. I left the Ministers of the King my Uncle in great Trouble to think what was become of the Prince my Cousin; but because of my Oath I had made to keep his Secret, I durst not tell them any thing of what I had seen or knew, in order to make them easy.

I arriv’d at my Father’s Capitol, the usual Place of his Residence, where, contrary to Custom, I found a great Guard at the Gate of the Palace, who surrounded me as I enter’d. I ask’d the Reason, and the commanding Officer replied, Prince, the Army has proclaimed the Grand Visier King, instead of your Father, who is dead; and I take you Prisoner in the Name of the new King. At these Words the Guards laid hold on me, and carried me before the Tyrant: I leave you to judge, Madam, how much I was surprized and grieved.

This Rebel Visier had entertained a mortal Hatred against me of a long time, upon this Occasion. When I was a Stripling, I lov’d to shoot in a Cross-bow; and being one Day upon the Terrace of the Palace with my Bow, a Bird happening to come by, I shot, but miss’d him, and the Ball by Misfortune hit the Visier, who was taking the Air upon the Terrace of his own House, and put out one of his Eyes, As soon as I understood it, I not only sent to make my Excuse to him, but did it in Person: Yet he always resented it, and, as Opportunity offer’d, made me sensible of it. But now, Madam, that he had me in his Power, he express’d his Resentments in a very barbarous Manner; for he came to me like a Mad-man, as soon as ever he saw me, and thrusting his Finger into my right Eye, pull’d it out himself; and so, Madam, I became blind of one Eye.

But the Usurper’s Cruelty did not stop here; he order’d me to be shut up in a Box, and commanded the Executioner to carry me into the Country to cut off my Head, and leave me to be devour’d by the Birds of Prey. The Hangman and another, carried me thus shut up on Horse-back into the Country, in order to execute the Usurper’s barbarous Sentence; but by my Prayers and Tears, I mov’d the Executioner’s Compassion: Go, says he to me, get you speedily out of the Kingdom, and take heed of ever returning to it, otherwise you will certainly meet your own Ruin, and will be the Cause of mine. I thank’d him for the Favour he did me; and as soon as I was left alone, I comforted my self for the Loss of my Eye, by considering that I had very narrowly escap’d a much greater Danger.

Being in such a Condition, I could not travel far at a time, I retir’d to remote Places while it was Day, and travell’d as far by Night as my Strength would allow me, At last I arriv’d in the Dominions of the King my Uncle, and came to his Capitol.

I gave him a long Detail of the tragical Cause of my Return, and of the sad Condition he saw me in. Alas! cries he, was it not enough for me to have lost my Son? but must I have also News of the Death of a Brother I lov’d so dearly, and see you also reduced to this deplorable Condition? he told me how uneasie he was, that he could hear nothing of his Son, notwithstanding all the Diligence and Enquiry he could make. At these Words the unfortunate Father burst out into Tears, and was so much afflicted, that pitying his Grief, it was impossible for me to keep the Secret any longer; so that, notwithstanding my Oath to her Prince my Cousin, I told the King his Father all that I knew.

His Majesty listen’d to me with some sort of Comfort, and when I had done, Nephew, says he, what you tell me gives me some hope. I knew that my Son order’d that Tomb to be built, and I can guess pretty near at the Place, and with the Idea you still have of it, I fancy we shall find it: But since he order’d it to be built privately, and took your Oath to keep his Secret, I am of Opinion, that we ought to go in Quest of it alone, without saying any thing. But he had another Reason for keeping the Matter secret, which he did not then tell me, and an important Reason it was, as you will perceive by the Sequel of my Discourse.

We both of us disguis’d our selves, and went out by a Door of the Garden which open’d into the Field, and soon found what we sought for. I knew the Tomb, and was so much the more rejoyc’d at it, because I had formerly sought it a long time in vain. We enter’d, and found the Iron Trap pull d down upon the Entrance of the Stair-case; we had much ado to raise it, because the Prince had fasten’d it on the Inside, with the Water and Morter formerly mention’d; but at last we did get it up.

The King, my Uncle, went down first, I follow’d, and we went down about fifty Steps. When we came to the Foot of the Stairs, we found a Sort of Anti-chamber, full of a thick Smoak, and ill Scent, which obscur’d the Lamp that gave a very fine Light.

From this Anti-chamber, we came into another, very large, supported by great Columns, and lighted by several branched Candlesticks, There was a Cistern in the Middle, and Provisions of several Sorts standing on one Side of it; but we were very much surpriz’d to see no Body. Before us there appear’d an high Sosa, which we mounted by several Steps, and over this there appear’d a very large Bed, with the Curtains drawn close. The King went up, and opening the Curtains, perceiv’d the Prince his Son, and the Lady, in Bed together, but burnt and chang’d toa Coal, as if they had been thrown into a great Fire, and taken out again before they were consum’d.

But that which surpriz’d me most of all, was, that this Spectacle, which fil’d me with Horror, the King, my Uncle, instead of testifying his Sorrow to see the Prince, his Son, in such a frightful Condition, spit on his Face, and says to him with an angry Air, This is the Punishment of this World, but that of the other will last to Eternity; and not content with this, he pull’d off his Sandal, and gave his Son a great Blow on the Cheek with it,

But, Sir, says Scheherazade, it is Day, I am sorry your Majesty’s Time will not allow you to hear me further: This History appearing very strange to the Sultan, he got up and resolv’d to hear the rest of it next Night.

The Thirty Ninth Night.

DInarzade being awake sooner than ordinary, called her Sitter Scheherazade, My good Sultaness, said she, I pray you make an end of the Story of the first Callender, for I’m ready to die with Impatience till I know the Issue of it. Very well then, said Scheherazade, You remember how the first Callender continu’d his Story to Zebeide; I cannot enough express, Madam (said he) how much I was astonish’d when I saw the King my Uncle, abuse the Prince his Son thus after he was dead. Sir, said I, whatever Grief this dismal Sight is capable to impress upon me, I am forced to suspend it on purpose to ask your Majesty what Crime the Prince my Cousin may have committed, that his Corps should deserve this Sort of Treatment. Nephew, replied the King, I must tell you, that my Son (who is unworthy of that Name) lov’d his Sister from his Infancy, and so she did him: I did not hinder their growing Love, because I did not foresee the pernicious Consequence of it. This Tenderness encreas’d as they grew in Years, and came to such a Head, that I dreaded the End of it at last. I applied such Remedies as were in my Power; I not only gave my Son a severe Reprimand in private, laying before him the foulness of the Passion he was entertaining, and, the eternal Disgrace he would bring upon my Family, if he persisted in such criminal Courses: but I also represented the same thing to my Daughter; and besides, I shut her up so close, that she could have no Conversation with her Brother. But that unfortunate Creature had swallowed so much of the Poison, that all the Obstacles which by my Prudence, I could lay in the way, serv’d only the more to inflame their Love.

My Son being persuaded of his Sister’s Constancy, on Pretence of building a Tomb, caus’d this subterraneous Habitation to be made, in hopes to find one Day or other, an Opportunity to possess himself of that Object which was the Cause of his Flame, and to bring her hither, He laid hold on the time of my Absence, to enter by Force into the Place of his Sister’s Confinement: But that is a thing which my Honour would not suffer me to make publick. And after so damnable an Action, he came and inclos’d himself and her in this Place, which he has supplied, as you see, with all Sorts of Provisions, that he might enjoy his detestable Pleasures for along Time, which ought to be a Subject of Horror to all the World: But God that would not suffer such an Abomination, has justly punish’d them both. At these Words he melted into Tears, and I joined mine with his.

After a while, casting his Eyes upon me, dear Nephew, cry’d he, embracing me, if I have lost that unworthy Son, I shall happily find in you what will better supply his Place. And upon some other Reflections he made on the doleful End of the Prince and Princess his Daughter, we both fell into a new Fit of weeping.

We went up the same Stairs again, and departed at last from that dismal Place, We let down again the Trap-Door, and cover’d it with Earth and such other Materials as the Tomb was built of, on purpose to hide, as much as lay in our Power, so terrible an Effect of the Wrath of God.

We had not been very long got back to the Palace, unperceiv’d by any one, but we heard a confused Noise of Trumpets, Drums, and other Instruments of War: We soon understood by the thick Cloud of Dust, which almost darkned the Air, that it was the Arrival of a formidable Army. And it prov’d to be the same Visier that had dethron’d my Father, and usurped his Throne, who with a vast Number of Troops, was come also to possess himself of that of the King my Uncle.

That Prince, who then had only his usual Guards about him, could not refit so many Enemies; they invested the City, and the Gates being open’d to them without any Resistance, they very soon became Masters of the City, and broke into the Palace where the King my Uncle was, who defended himself till he was kill’d, and sold his Life at a dear Rate: For my part, I fought as well as I could for a while, but seeing we were forc’d to submit to a superior Power, I thought on my Retreat and Safety, which I had the good Fortune to effect by some back Ways, and got to one the King’s Servants, on whose Fidelity I could depend.

Being thus surrounded with Sorrows and persecuted by Fortune, I had Recourse to a Stratagem, which was the only Means left me to save my Life; I caused my Beard and Eye-brows to be shay’d, and putting on a Callender’s Habit, I pass’d, unknown by any, out of the City: After that, by degrees, I found it easy to get out of my Uncle’s Kingdom, by taking the By-roads.

I avoided passing through Towns, until I was got into the Empire of the mighty Governor of the Musselmen, the glorious and renown’d Califf Haroun Alrashid, when I thought my self out of Danger, and considering what I was to do, I resolv’d to come to Bagdad, intending to throw my self at that Monarch’s Feet, whose Generosity is every where applauded. I shall move him to Compassion, said I to my self, by the Relation of my surprizing Misfortunes, and without doubt he will take pity on such an unfortunate Prince, and not suffer me to implore his Assistance in vain.

In short, after a Journey of several Months, I arrived Yesterday at the Gate of this City into which I enter’d about the Dusk of the Evening, and standing still a little while to revive my Spirits, and to consider on which Hand I was to turn, this other Callender you see here next to me, came also along; he saluted me, and I him: You appear, said I, to be a Stranger as I am: You are not mistaken, replied he. He had no sooner return’d this Answer, but this third Callender you see there overtook us. He saluted us, and told us, he was a Stranger newly come to Bagdad; so that as Brethren we join’d together, resolving not to separate from one another.

Mean while it was late, and we knew not where to seek a Lodging in the City where we had no Acquaintance, or had never been before. But good Fortune having brought us before your Gate, we made bold to knock, when you receiv’d us with so much Kindness, that we are incapable to return you suitable Thanks. This, Madam, (said he) is in Obedience to your Commands, the Account I am to give you why I lost my right Eye, wherefore my Beard and Eye-browe are shav’d, and how I came to be with you at this present Time.

’Tis enough, says Zobeide, you may retire to what Place you think fit. The Callender made his Excuse, and beg’d the Ladies Leave to stay till he had heard the Relations of his two Comrades, whom I cannot (says he) leave with Honour; and till he might also hear thole of the three other Persons that were in Company.

Here Scheherazade said to the Sultan, Sir, The Day-light which see, prevents me from going on with the Story of the second Callender; but if your Majesty will hear it to-morrow, you will find as much Satisfaction in that, as in this Story, of the first. To which the Sultan gave Consent, and so got up, in order to go to Council.