next day presented themselves before the Sultan as



Cucumber Stuffed with Pearls 267

before. He again forgave their negligence, but to pre-
vent their forgetting a third time, he presented Prince
Bahman with three little golden balls, saying: "Place
these in thy bosom, and the noise they will make falling
out on the floor when thou dost undress, will remind
thee, if thou dost not recollect before." The event hap-
pened just as the Sultan had foreseen; without the balls,
the Princes would not have thought of speaking to
their sister of this affair. For as Prince Bahman un-
loosed his girdle to go to bed, the balls dropped upon
the floor. He then called Prince Perviz and they both
went into the apartment of the Princess Periezade, to
whom they told all that had happened from first to
last.

The Princess was astonished at this intelligence, and
she said : " I fear much lest your meeting with the Sultan
separate you from me. However, as Sultans will be
obeyed in all things, it may be dangerous for you to
oppose the command of Sultan Khosroushah; otherwise
I should advise you not to present yourselves before
him. But before we decide the matter, let us consult
the Speaking Bird and hear what he has to say, for he
is very wise and hath promised me his assistance in all
difficulties." The Princess then sent for the cage, after
which she related to the Bird all that had happened.
He answered: "The Princes, thy brothers, must obey
the Sultan's command, and in their turn invite him to
come and see thy mansion."

The next morning the Princes met the Sultan hunt-
ing, who asked them if they had remembered to speak
to their sister. "Yes, O my lord," replied Prince Bah-
man, "we have obtained her consent and we await
with impatience the time to present ourselves before



268 The Princess Periezade

thee." The Sultan, delighted at hearing these words,
ordered the Princes to ride beside his horse and ac-
company him to his palace. They did so and entered
the city in state, while the eyes of the people, who
crowded the streets, were fixed upon the Princes Bah-
man and Perviz, and all agreed in wishing that the
Sultan had been blessed with two such handsome sons.
The Sultan entered his palace, and ordered a feast to
be prepared. He then entertained the Princes magnif-
icently and clad them in robes of honour, and con-
versed with them.

Night approaching, the brothers kissed the ground
before the Sultan, and asked his permission that they
might return to their sister, saying: "O our lord, when
thou goest a-hunting wilt thou not do us the honour
to visit our house, and refresh thyself? It is not worthy
of thy presence, but Sultans sometimes have vouch-
safed to take shelter in a cottage." "O my children,"
replied the Sultan, "your house cannot be otherwise
than beautiful and worthy of its owners. To-morrow
morning I will be at the place where I first met you.
Meet me, and ye shall be my guides."

When the Princes Bahman and Perviz had returned
home, they gave the Princess an account of the dis-
tinguished reception the Sultan had given them, and
told her that he would visit their mansion the next
morning. "Then," said the Princess, " we must prepare
a repast fit for a Sultan, and I will consult the Speaking
Bird; perhaps he will tell us what is appropriate for
the occasion" The Princes approved of her plan,
and after they had retired she consulted the Bird alone.
"Bird," said she, "the Sultan will do us the honour
to-morrow to come and visit our mansion. Tell us what



Cucumber Stuffed with Pearls 269

we must do to entertain him in a fitting manner."
"O my good mistress," replied the Speaking Bird,
"thou hast excellent cooks, let them do the best they
can, but above all let them prepare a dish of cucum-
bers stuffed with pearls, which must be set before
the Sultan in the first course before any other
dishes."

"Cucumbers stuffed with pearls!" exclaimed the
Princess Periezade, with amazement. "Surely, Bird,
thou knowest not what thou sayest! It is an unheard-
of dish. Besides, all the pearls I have are not enough
for such a dish!" "O my mistress," answered the
Speaking Bird, "do what I say, and be not uneasy
about what will happen. Nothing but good will fol-
low. As for the pearls, go early to-morrow morning
to the foot of the first tree on thy right hand in the
garden. Dig under it, and thou wilt find more than
thou needest."

Morning having arrived, the Princess, attended by
a gardener, went early to the tree which the Speaking
Bird had told her of, and bade the man dig at its foot.
He did so and soon struck something hard with his spade,
and presently uncovered a golden box about a foot
square which he handed to the Princess. On opening
it she saw it to be full of magnificent pearls. She shut
the box, and returned with it to the house; while the
gardener threw the earth into the hole at the foot of
the tree, as it was before. The Princess then called
the chief cook, and gave him directions for preparing
the banquet, saying: "Besides all this thou must pre-
pare an extraordinary dish for the Sultan's own eating,
composed of cucumbers stuffed with these pearls;"
and at the same time she opened the golden box and



2 yo The Princess Periezade

showed him the pearls. The chief cook, though filled
with astonishment at such an order, took the box and
returned to the kitchen.

The next day, the two Princes went to the place
appointed and as soon as the Sultan arrived the hunt
began and lasted till midday. Prince Bahman then
conducted the Sultan to the mansion, while Prince
Perviz rode on before to announce their coming to the
Princess Periezade. When the Sultan entered the court-
yard, the Princess, approaching, threw herself at his
feet, and saluted him. He raised her, and, after gazing
for some time upon her beauty and loveliness, he said:
"Verily these brothers are worthy of this sister, and
she is worthy of them! After looking on this face, so
full of beauty and intelligence, I am not amazed that
the brothers will do nothing without their sister's con-
sent! I will now enjoy the sight of this mansion, which
I have heard tell is full of rarities."

"O my lord," replied the Princess, "it is only a plain
country-place, fit for such people as we are, who live
retired from the world. It is not to be compared
with houses in the great cities," and having spoken
thus the Princess led the Sultan into the mansion. She
conducted him through all the apartments, and the
Sultan was filled with wonder and admiration when he
saw the magnificent furniture and the rich carpets and
hangings in every room. The Princess opened a door,
which led into the garden, and the first object which
presented itself to the Sultan's view, was the fountain
of Golden Water that was playing high in the air.
The Princess then led him to the spot where the Sing-
ing Tree was planted, and there the Sultan heard a
most harmonious concert different from any he had



Cucumber Stuffed with Pearls 271

ever heard before. Overcome with amazement he
followed the Princess who conducted him to another
part of the garden, where he observed a prodigious
number of singing birds in the trees around, filling the
air with their songs and warblings. "These birds,"
said the Princess, "come from all parts of the world to
accompany the song of a Speaking Bird, which thou
mayest perceive in a cage hanging in one of the windows
of the hall in which our repast will be served. His
notes are sweeter than those of any other bird, even of
the nightingale."

The Sultan went into the hall, and as the Speaking
Bird was singing, the Princess raised her voice, and
said: "O my slave, here is the Sultan. Salute him."
The Speaking Bird immediately left off singing, and
all the other birds ceased also. "The Sultan is wel-
come," it said, "Allah prosper him, and give him long
life!" After this the Princess placed the Sultan on a
couch which was made of alabaster overlaid with plates
of red gold. The two Princes entered and seated them-
selves near the Princess, and the slaves brought in the
repast.

As soon as the Sultan saw the dish of cucumbers, he
reached out his hand and took one, but when he had
cut it he was astonished to find it stuffed with pearls.
"What," said he, "is this? With what design were
these cucumbers filled with such riches, since pearls
cannot be eaten?" He then looked at the two Princes
and the Princess, but the Speaking Bird interrupting
him, said: "O my lord, canst thou wonder at cucumbers
stuffed with pearls, and yet so easily believe that thy
two sons were a dog and a yellow cat, and thy daughter
a mouse? Verily the two sisters of the Sultana were



272 The Princess Periezade

envious of her good fortune, and satisfied their malice
and cruelty by deceiving thee. Accuse them and they
will confess their evil deeds. The two brothers and
the sister, whom thou seest before thee, are thine own
children. They were exposed in baskets, and thy head
gardener found them, and provided for them and
educated them with love and care."

Hearing these words the Sultan was filled with de-
light. "Bird," cried he, "I believe that what thou hast
discovered to me is true, for from the first I have been
drawn to these young people! Come, then, my sons,
come, my daughter, let me embrace you, and give you
the first marks of a father's love and tenderness!"
The Sultan then arose, and embraced the two Princes
and the Princess, and they embraced him. He then
finished his repast, and arising, said: "O my children,
ye see in me your father; to-morrow will I bring the
Sultana your mother, therefore prepare to receive her."
He then mounted his horse and rode to his palace,
where he alighted and commanded his Vizier to seize
the Sultana's two sisters and bring them before him.
The Vizier did so, and they were brought before the
Sultan. They confessed their crimes and were con-
demned and instantly beheaded.

Then the Sultan Khosroushah, accompanied by his
grandees, went to the place where the Sultana's cage
was hung, and caused her to be taken out. He then
embraced her tenderly and wept on seeing the misera-
ble condition to which she was reduced. "O my be-
loved," he said, "I come to entreat thy pardon for the
injustice I have done thee, and to make reparation for
all. I have already punished the wicked wretches who
deceived me in such an abominable manner; and I



Cucumber Stuffed with Pearls 273

hope that thou wilt forget all sorrow when I present
to thee two accomplished Princes and a lovely Princess,
our children. Come, now, and resume thy former rank
and all the honours that are thy due." All this being
said and done, the news spread through the city, and
the streets were filled with rejoicing people.

Next morning early, the Sultan and the Sultana,
arrayed in magnificent garments, went with all their
court to the house built by the head gardener; where
the Sultan presented the Princes Bahman and Perviz
and the Princess Periezade to his wife, saying: "These,
O my much injured wife, are the two Princes thy sons,
and the Princess thy daughter. Embrace them with
tenderness since they are worthy both of me and thee."
The Sultana, then, with tears flowing from her eyes,
received her children with joy, on whose account she
had so long endured the severest sufferings.

The Sultan then mounted his horse, and with the
Princes Bahman and Perviz on his right hand, and the
Sultana and the Princess Periezade on his left, and
followed by the officers of his court, he returned to his
capital. Crowds of people came out to meet them and
with acclamations of joy ushered them into the city.
All eyes were fixed not only on the Sultana and her
children, but also on the Speaking Bird which the
Princess carried before her in his cage. Every one
admired his sweet notes which drew about him all the
other singing birds.

Thus the Princes Bahman and Perviz and the
Princess Periezade were brought to the palace with
much pomp and ceremony; and nothing was heard
or seen all night but illuminations and rejoicings
throughout the city. These lasted many days and



274 The Princess Periezade

spread throughout all parts of the empire of Persia.
And after this the Sultan and his wife and children
continued to live together in utmost happiness until
they were visited by the terminator of delights and the
separator of companions.



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