She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the two Marids, after snatching up Gharib and Sahim in their sleep, carried them to Mura’ash, king of the Jann, whom they saw seated on the throne of his kingship, as he were a huge mountain, with four heads on his body,26 the first that of a lion, the second that of an elephant, the third that of a panther, and the fourth that of a lynx. The Marids set them down before Mura’ash and said to him, “O King, these twain be they we found in the Valley of Springs.” Thereupon he looked at them with wrathful eyes and snarked and snorted and shot sparks from his nostrils, so that all who stood by feared him. Then said he, “O dogs of mankind, ye have slain my son and lighted fire in my liver.” Quoth Gharib, “Who is thy son, and who hath seen him?” Quoth Mura’ash, “Were ye not in the Valley of Springs and did ye not see my son there, in the guise of a bird, and did ye not shoot at him with wooden bolts that he died?” Replied Gharib, “I know not who slew him; and, by the virtue of the Great God, the One, the Immemorial who knoweth things all, and of Abraham the Friend, we saw no bird, neither slew we bird or beast!” Now when Mura’ash heard Gharib swear by Allah and His greatness and by Abraham the Friend, he knew him for a Moslem (he himself being a worshipper of Fire, not of the All-powerful Sire), so he cried out to his folk, “Bring me my Goddess.27” Accordingly they brought a brazier of gold and, setting it before him, kindled therein fire and cast on drugs, whereupon there arose therefrom green and blue and yellow flames and the King and all who were present prostrated themselves before the brazier, whilst Gharib and Sahim ceased not to attest the Unity of Allah Almighty, to cry out “God is Most Great” and to bear witness to His Omnipotence. Presently, Mura’ash raised his head and, seeing the two Princes standing in lieu of falling down to worship, said to them, “O dogs, why do ye not prostrate yourselves?” Replied Gharib, “Out on you, O ye accursed! Prostration befitteth not man save to the Worshipful King, who bringeth forth all creatures into beingness from nothingness and maketh water to well from the barren rock-well, Him who inclineth heart of sire unto new-born scion and who may not be described as sitting or standing; the God of Noah and Salih and Hud and Abraham the Friend, Who created Heaven and Hell and trees and fruit as well,28 for He is Allah, the One, the All-powerful.” When Mura’ash heard this, his eyes sank into his head29 and he cried out to his guards, saying, “Pinion me these two dogs and sacrifice them to my Goddess.” So they bound them and were about to cast them into the fire when, behold, one of the crenelles of the palace-parapet fell down upon the brazier and brake it and put out the fire, which became ashes flying in air. Then quoth Gharib, “God is Most Great! He giveth aid and victory and He forsaketh those who deny Him, Fire worshipping and not the Almighty King!” Presently quoth Mura’ash, “Thou art a sorcerer and hast bewitched my Goddess, so that this thing hath befallen her.” Gharib replied, “O madman, an the fire had soul or sense it would have warded off from self all that hurteth it.” When Mura’ash heard these words, he roared and bellowed and reviled the Fire, saying, “By my faith, I will not kill you save by the fire!” Then he bade cast them into gaol; and, calling an hundred Marids, made them bring much fuel and set fire thereto. So they brought great plenty of wood and made a huge blaze, which flamed up mightily till the morning, when Mura’ash mounted an elephant, bearing on its back a throne of gold dubbed with jewels, and the tribes of the Jinn gathered about him in their various kinds. Presently they brought in Gharib and Sahim who, seeing the flaming of the fire, sought help of the One, the All-conquering Creator of night and day, Him of All-might, whom no sight comprehendeth, but who comprehendeth all sights, for He is the Subtle, the All-knowing. And they ceased not humbly beseeching Him till, behold, a cloud arose from West to East and, pouring down showers of rain, like the swollen sea, quenched the fire. When the King saw this, he was affrighted, he and his troops, and entered the palace, where he turned to the Wazirs and Grandees and said to them, “How say ye of these two men?” They replied, “O King, had they not been in the right, this thing had not befallen the fire; wherefore we say that they be true men which speak sooth.” Rejoined Mura’ash, “Verily the Truth hath been displayed to me, ay, and the manifest way, and I am certified that the worship of the fire is false; for, were it goddess, it had warded off from itself the rain which quenched it and the stone which broke its brasier and beat it into ashes. Wherefore I believe in Him Who created the fire and the light and the shade and the heat. And ye, what say ye?” They answered, “O King, we also hear and follow and obey.” So the King called for Gharib and embraced him and kissed him between the eyes and then summoned Sahim; whereupon the bystanders all crowded to kiss their hands and heads.–And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.

Now when it was the Six Hundred and Fifty-second Night,

She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Mura’ash and his men found salvation in the Saving Faith, Al-Islam, he called for Gharib and Sahim and kissed them between the eyes and so did all the Grandees who crowded to buss their hands and heads. Then Mura’ash sat down on the throne of his kingship and, seating Gharib on his right and Sahim on his left hand, said to them, “O mortals, what shall we say, that we may become Moslems?” Replied Gharib, “Say:—There is no god but the God, and Abraham is the Friend of God!” So the King and his folk professed Al-Islam with heart and tongue, and Gharib abode with them awhile, teaching them the ritual of prayer. But presently he called to mind his people and sighed, whereupon quoth Mura’ash, “Verily, trouble is gone and joy and gladness are come.” Quoth Gharib, “O King, I have many foes and I fear for my folk from them.” Then he related to him his history with his brother Ajib from first to last, and the King of the Jinns said, “O King of men, I will send one who shall bring thee news of thy people, for I will not let thee go till I have had my fill of thy face.” Then he called two doughty Marids, by name Kaylaján and Kúraján, and after they had done him homage, he bade them repair to Al-Yaman and bring him news of Gharib’s army. They replied, “To hear is to obey,” and departed. Thus far concerning the brothers; but as regards the Moslems, they arose in the morning and led by their captains rode to King Gharib’s palace, to do their service to him; but the eunuchs told them that the King had mounted with his brother and had ridden forth at peep o’ day. So they made for the valleys and mountains and followed the track of the Princes, till they came to the Valley of Springs, where they found their arms cast down and their two gallant steeds grazing and said, “The King is missing from this place, by the glory of Abraham the Friend!” Then they mounted and sought in the valley and the mountains three days, but found no trace of them; whereupon they began the mourning ceremonies and, sending for couriers, said to them, “Do ye disperse yourselves about the cities and sconces and castles, and seek ye news of our King.” “Hearkening and obedience!” cried the couriers, who dispersed hither and thither each over one of the Seven Climes and sought everywhere for Gharib, but found no trace of him. Now when the tidings came to Ajib by his spies that his brother was lost and there was no news of the missing, he rejoiced and going in to King Ya’arub bin Kahtan, sought of him aid which he granted and gave him two hundred thousand Amalekites, wherewith he set out for Al-Yaman and sat down before the city of Oman. Jamrkan and Sa’adan sallied forth and offered him battle, and there were slain of the Moslems much folk, so the True Believers retired into the city and shut the gates and manned the walls. At this moment came up the two Marids Kaylajan and Kurajan and, seeing the Moslem beleaguered waited till nightfall, when they fell upon the miscreants and plied them with sharp swords of the swords of the Jinn, each twelve cubits long, if a man smote therewith a rock, verily he would cleave it in sunder. They charged the Idolators, shouting, “Allaho Akbar! God is Most Great! He giveth aid and victory and forsaketh those who deny the Faith of Abraham the Friend!” and whilst they raged amongst the foes, fire issued from their mouths and nostrils, and they made great slaughter amongst them. Thereupon the Infidels ran out of their tents offering battle but, seeing these strange things, were confounded and their hair stood on end and their reason fled. So they snatched up their arms and fell one upon other, whilst the Marids shore off their heads, as a reaper eareth grain, crying, “God is Most Great! We are the lads of King Gharib, the friend of Mura’ash, King of the Jinn!” The sword ceased not to go round amongst them till the night was half spent, when the Misbelievers, imagining that the mountains were all Ifrits, loaded their tents and treasure and baggage upon camels and made off; and the first to fly was Ajib.–And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.

Now when it was the Six Hundred and Fifty-third Night,

She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Misbelievers made off and the first to fly was Ajib. Thereupon the Moslems gathered together, marvelling at this that had betided the Infidels and fearing the tribesmen of the Jinn. But the Marids ceased not from pursuit, till they had driven them far away into the hills and wolds; and but fifty thousand Rebels30 of two hundred thousand escaped with their lives and made for their own land, wounded and sore discomfited. Then the two Jinns returned and said to them, “O host of the Moslems, your lord King Gharib and his brother Sahim salute you; they are the guests of Mura’ash, King of the Jann, and will be with you anon.” When Gharib’s men heard that he was safe and well, they joyed with exceeding joy and said to the Marids, “Allah gladden you twain with good news, O noble spirits!” So Kurajan and Kaylajan returned to Mura’ash and Gharib; and acquainted them with that which had happened, whereat Gharib finding the two sitting together felt heart at ease and said, “Allah abundantly requite you!” Then quoth King Mura’ash, “O my brother, I am minded to show thee our country and the city of Japhet31 son of Noah (on whom be peace!)” Quoth Gharib, “O King, do what seemeth good to thee.” So he called for three noble steeds and mounting, he and Gharib and Sahim, set out with a thousand Marids, as they were a piece of a mountain cloven lengthwise. They fared on, solacing themselves with the sight of valleys and mountains, till they came to Jabarsá,32 the city of Japhet son of Noah (on whom be peace!) where the townsfolk all, great and small, came forth to meet King Mura’ash and brought them into the city in great state. Then Mura’ash went up to the palace of Japhet son of Noah and sat down on the throne of his kingship, which was of alabaster, ten stages high and latticed with wands of gold wherefrom hung all manner coloured silks. The people of the city stood before him and he said to them, “O seed of Yafis bin Nuh, what did your fathers and grandfathers worship?” They replied, “We found them worshipping Fire and followed their example, as thou well knowest.” “O folk,” rejoined Mura’ash, “we have been shown that the fire is but one of the creatures of Almighty Allah, Creator of all things; and when we knew this, we submitted ourselves to God, the One, the All-powerful, Maker of night and day and the sphere revolving alway, Whom comprehendeth no sight, but Who comprehendeth all sights, for He is the Subtle, the All-wise. So seek ye Salvation and ye shall be saved from the wrath of the Almighty One and from the fiery doom in the world to come.” And they embraced Al-Islam with heart and tongue. Then Mura’ash took Gharib by the hand and showed him the palace and its ordinance and all the marvels it contained, till they came to the armoury, wherein were the arms of Japhet son of Noah. Here Gharib saw a sword hanging to a pin of gold and asked, “O King, whose is that?” Mura’ash answered, “’Tis the sword of Yafis bin Nuh, wherewith he was wont to do battle against men and Jinn. The sage Jardúm forged it and graved on its back names of might.33 It is named Al-Máhik—the Annihilator—for that it never descendeth upon a man, but it annihilateth him, nor upon a Jinni, but it crusheth him; and if one smote therewith a mountain ’twould overthrow it.” When Gharib heard tell of the virtues of the sword, he said, “I desire to look on this blade;” and Mura’ash said, “Do as thou wilt.” So Gharib put out his hand, and, hending the sword, drew it from its sheath; whereupon it flashed and Death crept on its edge and glittered; and it was twelve spans long and three broad. Now Gharib wished to become owner of it, and King Mura’ash said, “An thou canst smite with it, take it.” “’Tis well,” Gharib replied, and took it up, and it was in his hand as a staff; wherefore all who were present, men and Jinn, marvelled and said, “Well done, O Prince of Knights!” Then said Mura’ash, “Lay thy hand on this hoard for which the Kings of the earth sigh in vain, and mount, that I may show thee the city.” Then they took horse and rode forth the palace, with men and Jinns attending them on foot,–And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.

Now when it was the Six Hundred and Fifty-fourth Night,

She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Gharib and King Mura’ash rode forth the palace of Japhet, with men and Jinns attending them on foot, they passed through the streets and thoroughfares of the town, by palaces and deserted mansions and gilded doorways, till they issued from the gates and entered gardens full of trees fruit-bearing and waters welling and birds speaking and celebrating the praises of Him to whom belong Majesty and Eternity; nor did they cease to solace themselves in the land till nightfall, when they returned to the palace of Japhet son of Noah and they brought them the table of food. So they ate and Gharib turned to the King of the Jann and said to him, “O King, I would fain return to my folk and my force; for I know not their plight after me.” Replied Mura’ash, “By Allah, O my brother, I will not part with thee for a full month, till I have had my fill of thy sight.” Now Gharib could not say nay, so he abode with him in the city of Japhet, eating and drinking and making merry, till the month ended, when Mura’ash gave him great store of gems and precious ores, emeralds and balass-rubies, diamonds and other jewels, ingots of gold and silver and likewise ambergris and musk and brocaded silks and else of rarities and things of price. Moreover he clad him and Sahim in silken robes of honour gold-inwoven and set on Gharib’s head a crown jewelled with pearls and diamonds of inestimable value. All these treasures he made up into even loads for him and, calling five hundred Marids, said to them, “Get ye ready to travel on the morrow, that we may bring King Gharib and Sahim back to their own country.” And they answered, “We hear and we obey.” So they passed the night in the city, purposing to depart on the morrow, but, next morning, as they were about to set forth behold, they espied a great host advancing upon the city, with horses neighing and kettle-drums beating and trumpets braying and riders filling the earth for they numbered threescore and ten thousand Marids, flying and diving, under a King called Barkán. Now this Barkan was lord of the City of Carnelian and the Castle of Gold and under his rule were five hill-strongholds, in each five hundred thousand Marids; and he and his tribe worshipped the Fire, not the Omnipotent Sire. He was a cousin of Mura’ash, the son of his father’s brother, and the cause of his coming was that there had been among the subjects of King Mura’ash a misbelieving Marid, who professed Al-Islam hypocritically, and he stole away from his people and made for the Valley of Carnelian, where he went in to King Barkan and, kissing the earth before him, wished him abiding glory and prosperity. Then he told him of Mura’ash being converted to Al-Islam, and Barkan said, “How came he to tear himself away from his faith34?” So the rebel told him what had passed and, when Barkan heard it, he snorted and snarked and railed at Sun and Moon and sparkling Fire, saying, “By the virtue of my faith, I will surely slay mine uncle’s son and his people and this mortal, nor will I leave one of them alive!” Then he cried out to the legions of the Jinn and choosing of them seventy thousand Marids, set out and fared on till he came to Jabarsá35 the city of Japhet and encamped before its gates. When Mura’ash saw this, he despatched a Marid, saying, “Go to this host and learn all that it wanteth and return hither in haste.” So the messenger rushed away to Barkan’s camp, where the Marids flocked to meet him and said to him, “Who art thou?” Replied he, “An envoy from King Mura’ash;” whereupon they carried him in to Barkan, before whom he prostrated himself, saying, “O my lord, my master hath sent me to thee, to learn tidings of thee.” Quoth Barkan, “Return to thy lord and say to him:—This is thy cousin Barkan, who is come to salute thee.”–And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.

Now when it was the Six Hundred and Fifty-fifth Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the Marid-envoy of Mura’ash was borne before Barkan and said to him, “O my lord, my master hath sent me to thee to learn tidings of thee,” Barkan replied, “Return to thy lord and say to him:—This is thy cousin Barkan who is come to salute thee!” So the messenger went back and told Mura’ash, who said to Gharib, “Sit thou on thy throne whilst I go and salute my cousin and return to thee.” Then he mounted and rode to the camp of his uncle’s son. Now this was a trick36 of Barkan, to bring Mura’ash out and seize upon him, and he said to his Marids, whom he had stationed about him, “When ye see me embrace him,37 lay hold of him and pinion him.” And they replied, “To hear is to obey.” So, when King Mura’ash came up and entered Barkan’s pavilion, the owner rose to him and threw his arms round his neck; whereat the Jann fell upon Mura’ash and pinioned him and chained him. Mura’ash looked at Barkan and said, “What manner of thing is this?” Quoth Barkan, “O dog of the Jann, wilt thou leave the faith of thy fathers and grandfathers and enter a faith thou knowest not?” Rejoined Mura’ash, “O son of my uncle, indeed I have found the faith of Abraham the Friend to be the True Faith and all other than it vain.” Asked Barkan, “And who told thee of this?”; and Mura’ash answered, “Gharib, King of Irak, whom I hold in the highest honour.” “By the right of the Fire and the Light and the Shade and the Heat,” cried Barkan, “I will assuredly slay both thee and him!” And he cast him into gaol. Now when Mura’ash’s henchman saw what had befallen his lord, he fled back to the city and told the King’s legionaries who cried out and mounted. Quoth Gharib, “What is the matter?” And they told him all that had passed, whereupon he cried out to Sahim, “Saddle me one of the chargers that King Mura’ash gave me.” Said Sahim, “O my brother, wilt thou do battle with the Jinn?” Gharib replied, “Yes, I will fight them with the sword of Japhet son of Noah, seeking help of the Lord of Abraham the Friend (on whom be the Peace!); for He is the Lord of all things and sole Creator!” So Sahim saddled him a sorrel horse of the horses of the Jinn, as he were a castle strong among castles, and he armed and mounting, rode out with the legions of the Jinn, hauberk’d cap-à-pie. Then Barkan and his host mounted also and the two hosts drew out in lines facing each other. The first to open the gate of war was Gharib, who drave his steed into the mid-field and bared the enchanted blade, whence issued a glittering light that dazzled the eyes of all the Jinn and struck terror to their hearts. Then he played38 with the sword till their wits were wildered, and cried out, saying, “Allaho Akbar! I am Gharib, King of Irak. There is no Faith save the Faith of Abraham the Friend!” Now when Barkan heard Gharib’s words, he said, “This is he who seduced my cousin from his religion; so, by the virtue of my faith, I will not sit down on my throne till I have decapitated this Gharib and suppressed his breath of life and forced my cousin and his people back to their belief: and whoso baulketh me, him will I destroy.” Then he mounted an elephant paper-white as he were a tower plastered with gypsum, and goaded him with a spike of steel which ran deep into his flesh, whereupon the elephant trumpeted and made for the battle-plain where cut and thrust obtain; and, when he drew near Gharib, he cried out to him, saying, “O dog of mankind, what made thee come into our land, to debauch my cousin and his folk and pervert them from one faith to other faith. Know that this day is the last of thy worldly days.” Gharib replied, “Avaunt,39 O vilest of the Jann!” Therewith Barkan drew a javelin and making it quiver40 in his hand, cast it at Gharib; but it missed him. So he hurled a second javelin at him; but Gharib caught it in mid-air and after poising it launched it at the elephant. It smote him on the flank and came out on the other side, whereupon the beast fell to the earth dead and Barkan was thrown to the ground, like a great palm-tree. Before he could stir, Gharib smote him with the flat of Japhet’s blade on the nape of the neck, and he fell upon the earth in a fainting-fit; whereupon the Marids swooped down on him and surrounding him pinioned his elbows. When Barkan’s people saw their king a prisoner, they drove at the others, seeking to rescue him, but Gharib and the Islamised Jinn fell upon them and gloriously done for Gharib! indeed that day he pleased the Lord who answereth prayer and slaked his vengeance with the talisman-sword! Whomsoever he smote, he clove him in sunder and before his soul could depart he became a heap of ashes in the fire; whilst the two hosts of the Jinn shot each other with flamy meteors till the battle-field was wrapped in smoke. And Gharib tourneyed right and left among the Kafirs who gave way before him, till he came to King Barkan’s pavilion, with Kaylajan and Kurajan on his either hand, and cried out to them, “Loose your lord!” So they unbound Mura’ash and broke his fetters and–And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.

Now when it was the Six Hundred and Fifty-sixth Night,

She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when King Gharib cried out to Kaylajan and Kurajan, saying, “Loose your lord!”, they unbound Mura’ash and broke his fetters, and he said to them, “Bring me my arms and my winged horse.” Now he had two flying steeds, one of which he had given to Gharib and the other he had kept for himself; and this he mounted after he had donned his battle-harness. Then he and Gharib fell upon the enemy, flying through the air on their winged horses, and the true believing Jinn followed them, shouting “Allaho Akbar—God is Most Great!”—till plains and hills, valleys and mountains re-worded the cry. The Infidels fled before them and they returned, after having slain more than thirty thousand Marids and Satans, to the city of Japhet, where the two Kings sat down on their couches of estate and sought Barkan, but found him not; for after capturing him they were diverted from him by stress of battle, where an Ifrit of his servants made his way to him and loosing him, carried him to his folk, of whom he found part slain and the rest in full flight. So he flew up with the King high in air and sat him down in the City of Carnelian and Castle of Gold, where Barkan seated himself on the throne of his kingship. Presently, those of his people who had survived the affair came in to him and gave him joy of his safety; and he said, “O folk, where is safety? My army is slain and they took me prisoner and have rent in pieces mine honour among the tribes of the Jann.” Quoth they, “O King, ’tis ever thus that kings still afflict and are afflicted.” Quoth he, “There is no help but I take my wreak and wipe out my shame, else shall I be for ever disgraced among the tribes of the Jann.” Then he wrote letters to the Governors of his fortresses, who came to him right loyally and, when he reviewed them, he found three hundred and twenty thousand fierce Marids and Satans; who said to him, “What is thy need?” And he replied, “Get ye ready to set out in three days’ time;” whereto they rejoined “Harkening and obedience!” On this wise it befel King Barkan; but as regards Mura’ash, when he discovered his prisoner’s escape, it was grievous to him and he said, “Had we set an hundred Marids to guard him, he had not fled; but whither shall he go from us?” Then said he to Gharib, “Know, O my brother, that Barkan is perfidious and will never rest from wreaking blood-revenge on us, but will assuredly assemble his legions and return to attack us; wherefore I am minded to forestall him and follow the trail of his defeat, whilst he is yet weakened thereby.” Replied Gharib, “This is the right rede, and will best serve our need;” and Mura’ash said, “Oh my brother, let the Marids bear thee back to thine own country and leave me to fight the battles of the Faith against the Infidels, that I may be lightened of my sin-load.” But Gharib rejoined, “By the virtue of the Clement, the Bountiful, the Veiler, I will not go hence till I do to death all the misbelieving Jinn; and Allah hasten their souls to the fire and dwelling-place dire; and none shall be saved but those who worship Allah the One, the Victorious! But do thou send Sahim back to the city of Oman, so haply he may be healed of his ailment.” For Sahim was sick. So Mura’ash cried to the Marids, saying, “Take ye up Sahim and these treasures and bear them to Oman city.” And after replying, “We hear and we obey,” they took them and made for the land of men. Then Mura’ash wrote letters to all his Governors and Captains of fortresses and they came to him with an hundred and sixty thousand warriors. So they made them ready and departed for the City of Carnelian and the Castle of Gold, covering in one day a year’s journey and halted in a valley, where they encamped and passed the night. Next morning as they were about to set forth, behold, the vanguard of Barkan’s army appeared, whereupon the Jinn cried out and the two hosts met and fell each upon other in that valley. Then the engagement was dight and there befel a sore fight as though an earthquake shook the site and fair plight waxed foul plight. Earnest came and jest took flight, and parley ceased ’twixt wight and wight,41 whilst long lives were cut short in a trice and the Unbelievers fell into disgrace and despite; for Gharib charged them, proclaiming the Unity of the Worshipful, the All-might and shore through necks and left heads rolling in the dust; nor did night betide before nigh seventy thousand of the Miscreants were slain, and of the Moslemised over ten thousand Marids had fallen. Then the kettle-drums beat the retreat, and the two hosts drew apart,–And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.

<1 2 3 4 5 6...10 >

На страницу:

Перейти

4 из 10