thus:

"O my sons, since I have not been able to dissuade
you from aspiring to marry the Princess Nouronnihar,
I have determined on a plan that will preserve harmony
among you. Do ye travel separately into different
countries where ye may not meet one another. As ye
know, I am very curious, and delight in rarities of all
kinds, therefore I promise the Princess in marriage to
that one of you who shall bring me the most extraor-
dinary wonder. I will give you each a sum of money
Suited to your rank and sufficient for the purchase of
the rarities you seek. This money must not be ex-
pended in extravagant display, or in hiring attendants,
or in buying costly garments; but ye must go disguised
as merchants on your travels."

Upon hearing these words, the three Princes con-
sented to the proposal of the Sultan, their father, each
flattering himself that Destiny would prove favourable,
and give him the Princess Nouronnihar. The Sultan
bestowed upon them the money he had promised, and
made things ready for their departure. The Princes
passed the night in sleep, and when morning dawned
went out together from the city, each dressed in the
garb of a merchant, and accompanied by a trusty
attendant habited as a slave, all well mounted and
equipped. They journeyed on that day, and when



210 Story of Prince Ahmed

night overtook them, lodged at a Khan, where the
way divided into three roads. When morning came,
they agreed each to follow one of the roads, and to
travel a year, after which they would return to the
Khan and meet together again, and carry their rarities
to the Sultan their father.

Prince Houssain the eldest, who had heard of the
power and extent and riches and splendour of the
Kingdom of Bisnagar, bent his course thither, and,
after journeying through desert wastes and over barren
mountains, and fertile lands, for the space of three
months, arrived at the capital city of that country.
He took lodgings at a Khan, and immediately inquired
where he might find the market-quarter. On this
being pointed out to him, he hastened thither, and found
it to be large and divided into several streets, all
vaulted and shaded from the sun. The shops were alike
in shape and size, and all the merchants who dealt in
the same sort of goods lived on one street.

As Prince Houssain walked through the place, he
beheld shops stocked with many kinds of merchandise,
such as the finest linens from India, coloured and em-
broidered to represent men, and landscapes, and trees,
and flowers. He wondered also at the rich silks and
brocades from Persia, and the beauty and delicacy of
the porcelain from Japan and China. But when he
came to the street of the goldsmiths, he was overcome
by the sight of prodigious quantities of wrought gold
and silver, and his eyes were dazzled by the lustre
of the pearls, and rubies, and emeralds, and other
precious stones exposed for sale. Prince Houssain
also beheld numerous flower-sellers who thronged the
streets; for the inhabitants of the city were great lovers



The Princess Nouronnihar 211

of flowers and carried nosegays in their hands, and the
merchants kept potted plants and bouquets in their
shops, so that the air was deliciously perfumed.

After Prince Houssain had gone through the streets,
he was much fatigued, and, entering a shop, sat down
to rest. He had not been seated long, when he per-
ceived a man passing by with a piece of carpet under
his arm, and heard him cry out: "O ye buyers, I have
here for sale a piece of carpet, and its price is thirty
purses of gold!" The Prince surprised at this exorbi-
tant price asked for so small a piece of carpet, called
the crier to him and said: "Show me thy goods."
Thereupon the man laid the carpet before him, and
the Prince wondered at the smallness of its size, and
the meanness of its material. When he had examined
it well, he said: "O crier, why dost thou ask so high a
price for a thing so indifferent in appearance?" "O
my master," answered the crier, "this price seems ex-
travagant to thee, but thy amazement will be greater
when I tell thee that I have orders to raise it to forty
purses, and not to part with it under that price."

"And why such a great price?" asked Prince Hous-
sain. "Verily there must be some extraordinary virtue
in it, of which I know nothing." "Thou art right,"
answered the crier. " Know then that whosoever sitteth
upon this carpet, will be transported instantly whither-
soever he may desire to be." On hearing this the Prince
thought to himself: "Surely I can carry the Sultan my
father no greater rarity!" and he said to the crier:
"If the carpet hath the virtue thou dost attribute to it,
I shall not think forty purses of gold too much to pay
for such a treasure, but shall make thee a present be-
sides." "O my master," replied the crier, "I have told



212 Story of Prince Ahmed

thee the truth, and it will be an easy matter to convince
thee of it, if I convey thee to the Khan where thou
lodgest. With the permission of the master of this
shop we will go into his warehouse, where I will spread
the carpet; and, when we have both sat down upon it,
thou mayest wish us in thy apartment at the Khan.
If we are not instantly transported thither, then it
shall be no bargain, and thou shalt be free. As for thy
gift I shall receive it as a favour and feel grateful to
thee for thy generosity."

The Prince accepted the condition, and, having ob-
tained permission from the owner of the shop, they
went into the warehouse, where they both sat down
upon the carpet. As soon as the Prince had formed a
wish to be transported to his apartment in the Khan,
he found himself and the crier there. As he desired
no more convincing proof of the wonderful virtue of the
carpet, he counted to the crier forty purses of gold,
and gave him twenty pieces of gold for himself, after
which the man thanked him and departed. In this
wise Prince Houssain became the possessor of the magic
carpet, and was overjoyed at finding so great a rarity,
which he felt sure would gain for him the hand of the
Princess Nouronnihar. In short he thought it impos-
sible for his younger brothers to meet with anything
that could compare with the wonderful carpet.

Since considerable time yet remained before the
expiration of the year agreed upon by the three Princes
for the duration of their travels, Prince Houssain de-
termined to spend the remainder of the period in ob-
serving the strange sights of the Kingdom of Bisna-
gar. He thereupon proceeded to inform himself of its
strength, and its laws, and its customs, and its religion.



The Princess Nouronnihar 213

He visited its temples and gardens, and presented
himself at the court of the ruler of the city. Thus the
Prince diverted himself agreeably until the last day of
the year whereon he and his brothers had appointed
to meet.

He then paid the master of the Khan what he owed
him, and going into his apartment, shut the door and
locked it, and spreading his carpet, he and his officer
sat down upon it. As soon as Prince Houssain formed
his wish he was transported to the Khan at which he
and his brothers were to meet, and where he remained
until their arrival. And such was the adventure of
Prince Houssain.

Now, as to Prince Ali, the second brother, he trav-
elled into Persia, and three days after he had parted
from his brothers, joined a caravan. He proceeded to
journey on for the period of four months, when he
arrived at Sheerauz, which was then the capital of the
empire of Persia, and having on the way made friends
with some merchants, he lodged at the same Khan
with them.

The next morning, while the merchants opened their
bales of goods, Prince Ali dressed himself, and went
to walk in that quarter of the city where were sold pre-
cious stones, gold, silver, brocades, fine linens, and other
costly articles. Prince Ali as he looked about him was
overcome by the prodigious quantities of the most pre-
cious merchandise exposed to view. Among the criers
who passed backward and forward with all sorts of
goods, he was not a little surprised to see a man who
held in his hand an ivory tube about a foot in length
and an inch thick, which he cried at forty purses. At
first Prince Ali thought that the crier was mad, but on



214 Story of Prince Ahmed

being informed by a merchant that the man was one
of the most sensible criers in the market-streets, he
called to him, saying: "O crier, what meanest thou by
offering that ivory tube at forty purses of gold?" He
replied: "O my master, this tube is furnished with a
glass at each end, and by looking through one end
thou wilt see whatever object thou wishest to behold."
"I am ready," said Prince Ali, "to pay thee the price
thou askest if thou prove the truth of thy state-
ment."

Thereupon the crier presented him with the tube,
and the Prince looked through it, wishing at the same
time to see the Sultan his father. Immediately he be-
held him seated upon his throne in the midst of his
court. Next the Prince wished to see the Princess
Nouronnihar, and instantly he beheld her laughing,
surrounded by her women.

Prince Ali wanted no other proof to persuade him
that this tube was the most valuable article, not only
in the city of Sheerauz, but in all the world. He said
to the crier: "Verily this glass is wonderful, so come
thou with me and I will pay thee the forty purses."
He took the crier to the Khan where he lodged, and
giving him the money received the tube. Prince Ali
was overjoyed at this purchase, and assured himself
that his brothers would not be able to meet with any-
thing so rare and wonderful, and that the Princess Nou-
ronnihar must be the recompense for all his fatigue
and travel.

After this the Prince spent some time visiting the
court of Persia, and seeing the strange sights of the
country. He then joined a caravan and took his de-
parture, and arrived happily without accident or trou-



The Princess Nouronnihar 215

ble at the place of meeting where he found Prince Hous-
sain. They both awaited there the arrival of Prince
Ahmed. And thus it happened to Prince Ali.

Now, as to Prince Ahmed, the youngest of the
brothers, he took the road to Samarcand, and the day
after his arrival in that city, set out for the market-
streets, as his brothers had done. He had not walked
long before he heard a crier, who had an artificial
apple in his hand, proclaim that he would sell the apple
at five-and-thirty purses. He stopped the crier and
said to him: "Let me see that apple, and tell me what
virtue or extraordinary property it possesseth to be
valued at so high a price." "O my master," replied
the crier, giving the apple into his hand, "if thou look-
est at the outside of this it is not remarkable, but if
thou dost consider its wonderful properties thou wilt
say it is invaluable. Know that it cureth every sick
person of mortal disease; for even if he be dying, it
will restore him immediately to perfect health; and
this merely by his smelling of it."

"If one may believe thee," replied Prince Ahmed,
"the virtues of this apple are wonderful indeed, and
it is invaluable. But how wilt thou prove to me the
truth of thy statement? "

Before the crier could answer a merchant standing
near stepped forward and said that he had a friend
dangerously ill, whose life was despaired of, and that
this offered an opportunity to prove the virtue of the
apple. Upon hearing this Prince Ahmed said to the
crier: "I will give thee forty purses of gold for the
apple, if the sick person be cured by smelling of it."
"Come, O my master," answered the crier, "let us go
and make the experiment, and the apple shall be thine."



216 Story of Prince Ahmed

They went together to the house of the sick man, who
on smelling of the fruit, instantly recovered and arose
from his couch. The Prince, overjoyed, counted out to
the crier the forty purses, and received the apple.

He then waited with the greatest impatience for the
next caravan for India. In the meantime he saw all
that was curious in Samarcand and in the country
surrounding the city, and visited the Valley of Sogd,
which is called by the Arabians one of the four Paradises
of the world, because of the beauty of its fields, and gar-
dens, and palaces, and for the abundance of its delicious
fruits of all sorts. After this Ahmed joined himself to
the first caravan that set forth for India, and, notwith-
standing the long journey, arrived in perfect health at
the Khan where Prince Houssain and Prince Ali awaited
him.

The brothers then displayed their rarities to one
another, and explained their wonderful properties,
and the two elder Princes entered into a dispute as to
the relative merits of the magic carpet and the ivory
tube, each claiming that his was the most extraordi-
nary rarity. At this point Prince Houssain took the
ivory tube from the hand of Prince Ali, and put the
end to his eye, when his brothers saw his expression
change to alarm and affliction. Prince Houssain did
not give them time to ask what was the matter, but
cried out: "Alas! Alas! O my brothers! to what pur-
pose have we undertaken such long fatiguing journeys
with the hopes of being recompensed by the possession
of the beautiful Nouronnihar, when in a few moments
the lovely Princess will breathe her last! I see her on ij
her bed, surrounded by her women and eunuchs, who
are all in tears, and who seem to expect her death..






The Princess Nouronnihar 217

Take the tube and behold for yourself the miserable
state she is in, and mingle your tears with mine!"

Prince Ali took the tube out of Houssain's hand, and
after he had seen the sad sight, presented it to Ahmed,
who took it and also beheld the melancholy spectacle
which so much concerned them all. When Prince
Ahmed took the tube out of Ali's hand, and saw
that the Princess Nouronnihar's end was so near, he
addressed himself to his two brothers, as follows: "The
Princess who is equally the object of our vows, is at
death's door; but provided we make haste and lose no
time, we may preserve her life." He then took the
artificial apple out of his bosom, and said: "With this
I may yet save her." "If that be so," replied Prince
Houssain, "we will transport ourselves immediately
into her apartment by means of my carpet, Come,
lose no time, sit down; it is large enough to hold us all.
But first let me give orders to our servants to set out
immediately and join us at the palace."

As soon as the orders were given, the three Princes
placed themselves upon the carpet, and, as their in-
terest was the same, they all framed the same wish,
and were transported instantly into the apartment of
the Princess Nouronnihar. At the sudden sight of the
three Princes, the eunuchs were about to draw their
swords and fall upon them, but happily perceived in
time that they were the sons of the Sultan.

Prince Ahmed no sooner saw himself in Nouron-
nihar's apartment, than he rose from the carpet and
hastening to the bedside put the apple to her nose.
The Princess immediately opened her eyes, and rising
from her bed asked to be dressed. The three Princes
threw themselves at her feet, congratulating her upon



2i8 Story of Prince Ahmed

her recovery, and then went to present themselves
before the throne of the Sultan their father. They
found that he had already been informed of their sud-
den arrival and of the wonderful recovery of the Princess
his niece whom he loved as if she were his daughter.
He received and embraced them with the greatest joy,
and immediately each Prince presented the rarity
which he had brought; Prince Houssain, his carpet;
Prince Ali, his ivory tube; and Prince Ahmed, his
artificial apple. After each had described the virtues
of his wonder he placed it in the Sultan's hands, leav-
ing him to decide to which one of them he would give
the Princess Nouronnihar, according to his promise.

The Sultan of India, having listened to all the Princes
had to say in favour of their rarities, remained silent
for some time, then said: "O my sons, if I could do it
with justice, I would declare for one of you; but con-
sider whether I can do so. It is true, Ahmed, that the
Princess my niece was restored to health by the means
of thine artificial apple, but let me ask thee whether
thou couldst have been serviceable to her if thou hadst
not known by Ali's tube the danger in which she was,
and if Houssain's carpet had not brought thee to her,
in time? Thy tube, Ali, informed thee and thy brothers
that ye were likely to lose the Princess, but thou must
grant that the knowledge of her illness would have been
of no service without the artificial apple and the carpet.
And as for thee, Houssain, the Princess would be un-
grateful if she did not appreciate the value of thy
carpet, which was so necessary a means toward effect-
ing her cure; but consider whether it would have been
of any use, if thou hadst not been made acquainted
with her illness by Ali's tube, or if Ahmed had not



The Princess Nouronnihar 219

applied his artificial apple. Therefore, as neither the
carpet, nor the ivory tube, nor the apple was alone the
cause of her cure, I cannot grant the Princess to any
one of you; and the only fruit ye have reaped from your
travels is the glory of having equally contributed to
restore her to health.

"Since this is the case," continued the Sultan, "ye
see that I must devise other means to determine which
shall have the Princess in marriage. I will do so im-
mediately. Go and procure each of you a bow and
arrow, and repair to the plain where the horses are
exercised. I will soon join you there, and will give
the Princess Nouronnihar to him who shooteth the
furthest."

The three Princes could offer no objections to the
decision of the Sultan. As soon as they were dismissed
from his presence, each provided himself with a bow
and arrow, which he delivered to one of his officers;
after which the three Princes went to the plain ap-
pointed, followed by a great concourse of people.

The Sultan did not make them wait long for him.
As soon as he arrived, Prince Houssain, as the eldest,
took his bow and arrow, and shot first. Prince All
shot next, and much beyond him. Prince Ahmed shot
last of all, but it so happened that nobody could see
where his arrow fell, and notwithstanding all his search
it was not found. The Sultan, therefore, determined
in favour of Prince Ali, and gave orders to call the
Cadis and witnesses so that the contract of marriage
of Prince Ali to the Princess Nouronnihar might be
performed. This was immediately done, and the city
decorated, and the marriage celebrated with great
magnificence. *




22O Story of Prince Ahmed



THE FAIRY PALACE

RINCE Houssain would not honour the feast
with his presence. But as his grief and dis-
appointment were insupportable he left the
court, and renounced all right of succession
to the throne of his father. Then placing him-
self under the instruction of a famous sheikh
he became a dervish and spent the rest of his life in
solitude.

Prince Ahmed, urged by the same motive, did not
attend the marriage feast of Prince Ali and the Prin-
cess Nouronnihar. But as he could not imagine what
had become of his arrow, he resolved to search for it.
With this intent he went to the place where Prince
Houssain's and Prince Ali's were gathered up, and pro-
ceeded straight forward from thence, looking carefully
on both sides as he advanced. He went so far that at
last he began to think his labour was in vain, yet he
could not help proceeding until he came to some craggy
rocks, which completely obstructed his path.

As he approached them, he perceived an arrow on
the ground. He took it up, and to his great astonish-
ment found it to be the one he had shot. "Verily,"
said he to himself, "neither I nor any man living, could
shoot an arrow so far. And as it was lying flat, not
sticking in the ground, it must have rebounded from
this rock! Verily there must be some mystery in this.
Perhaps Destiny, wishing to make amends for depriving
me of the Princess Nouronnihar, hath reserved a greater
blessing for me."



The Fairy Palace 221

As the rocks were full of sharp points and projec-
tions, the Prince searched until he found a cave. This
he entered, and perceived an iron door, which seemed
to have no lock. He feared it was fastened, but, push-
ing against it, it opened, and he beheld a long and dark
passage, which descended gradually. Holding the
arrow in his hand he walked down the passage. For a
while he could see nothing because of the darkness,
but presently he perceived a light in the distance. He
hastened his footsteps and emerging from the passage,
was surprised to find himself in a spacious square,
where he beheld a magnificent palace, the admirable
structure of which he had not time to examine, for at
the same moment a damsel of majestic air, and of great
beauty, adorned with rich garments and jewels, ad-
vanced toward him. She was attended by a troop of
damsels, also magnificently dressed.

As soon as Ahmed perceived her, he hastened to
pay his respects, but she, addressing him first, said:
"Come near, O Prince Ahmed, thou art welcome."
Surprised to hear himself named in a palace he had
never heard of, though so nigh to his father's capital,
Prince Ahmed returned the damsel's salutation by
throwing himself at her feet and exclaiming: "O my
mistress, I return thee a thousand thanks for welcom-
ing me to this place. If I have been guilty of rudeness
in presuming to enter here, pardon my fault. And
wilt thou not tell me how thou knowest my name, and
why thou who livest in the same neighbourhood with
myself art unknown to me? " " O my Prince," answered
the damsel, "enter thou with me into yonder hall,
and there will I gratify thy request."

After these words she led Prince Ahmed into the



222 Story of Prince Ahmed

hall, whose dome was adorned with gold and azure.
It was furnished with carpets and couches of inesti-
mable richness. So magnificent was the hall that the
Prince could not forbear expressing his admiration, but
exclaimed that he had never beheld its equal.

"I can assure thee," answered the damsel, "that
this is but a small part of my palace, as thou wilt judge
when thou hast seen all the apartments." She then
seated herself upon a couch of alabaster adorned with
pure gold, and placed the Prince at her side. "Thou
art surprised," she continued, "that I know thee, and
am not known by thee. I am the Fairy Periebanou,
the daughter of one of the most powerful Kings of
the Genii. Therefore wonder not that I know thee,
and the Sultan thy father, and the Princes thy
brothers, and the Princess Nouronnihar. I am no
stranger to your loves and adventures; since it was I
myself who sold the artificial apple which thou bought-
est at Samarcand; the carpet which Prince Houssain
purchased at Bisnagar; and the tube which Prince Ali
procured at Sheerauz. This is sufficient to let thee
know that I am not unacquainted with everything
that concerneth thee. I have to add that thou didst
seem to me worthy of a more happy fate than the posses-
sion of Nouronnihar, and in order that thou mightest
attain to it, I was present when thou drewest thine
arrow, and foreseeing that it would not go beyond
Prince Houssain's, I seized it in the air, and gave it the
necessary force that carried it afar, and caused it to
strike against the rocks near which thou didst find it.
It is now in thy power to avail thyself of this favour-
able opportunity which presenteth itself to make thee
happy."




"I AM THE FAIRY PERIEBANOU, THE DAUGHTER OF ONE OF THE MOST
POWERFUL KINGS OF THE GENII"



The Fairy Palace 223

As the Fairy Periebanou spoke, she looked tenderly
at the Prince, and then remained silent with downcast
eyes and a modest blush upon her cheek. As for
Prince Ahmed he reflected that the Princess Nouron-
nihar could never be his, and he saw that the Fairy
excelled her infinitely in beauty and accomplishments.
He blessed the moment in which he had thought of seek-
ing the arrow, and his heart was filled with love for the
Fairy. "Should I," replied he, "all my life have the
happiness of being thy slave, I would think myself
the most fortunate of men. And if thou wilt permit it,
I will devote my life to thee, and live henceforth at thy
court." "O my Prince," answered the Fairy, "it is
not as a slave that I would admit thee to my court, but
as my husband. Be not surprised that I should speak
thus openly to thee, for the same customs are not ob-
served among us Fairies as with human-kind, and we
consider that we confer an obligation by our frank-