Penrhyn Wingfield Coussens

“ Let us come to that which is of the greatest importance for us to know, and not conceal from each other the curiosities we have brought, but show them, that we may ourselves judge to which of us the sultan our father may give the preference. I will tell you that the rarity which I have brought from the kingdom of Bisnagar is the carpet on which I sit. It looks but ordinary, and makes no show, but its virtues are wonderful. Whoever sits on it, and desires to be transported to any place, be it ever so far distant, is immediately carried thither. ”

“ If I should not come again to pay you my respects, it will be the sign that I have not been able to succeed in my petition; but beforehand, I desire you to forgive me, and consider that you yourself have reduced me to this extremity.”
“Son,” replied the Sultan of the Indies, “your wife would show that her love to you was very slight if, with the power she possesses as a fairy, she should refuse so trifling a request as that I have begged you to make. Go; only ask her. If she loves you, she will not deny you.”
All these reasons of the Sultan of the Indies could not satisfy Prince Ahmed ”

“ Prince Ali took the tube out of Houssain’s hand, and after he had seen the same object with the deepest grief presented it to Ahmed, who also beheld the sad sight which so much concerned them all.
When Prince Ahmed had taken the tube out of Ali’s hands, and saw that the Princess Nouronnihar’s end was so near, he addressed himself to his two companions, and said, “Brothers, the Princess Nouronnihar, whom we all equally loved, is indeed just at death’s door; but provided we make haste and lose no time, we may preserve her life. ”

“ Next day the prince returned to Perie Banou, to whom he related his father’s new demand, “which,” he said, “I look on to be a thing more difficult than the two first, for I cannot imagine there is or can be such a man in the world. Without doubt he seeks my ruin; but if there are any means, I beg you will tell me how I may come off with honor this time also.”
“Do not alarm yourself, prince,” replied the fairy; “you ran a risk in fetching the water of the fountain of lions for your father, but there is no danger in finding this man. He is my brother Schaibar. ”

“ From the chariot stepped one who had the look of a king, and who trod the air as easily and as gracefully as though he were on hard ground.
In a voice so clear that it was distinctly heard by every one of the awed watchers, he said:
“Princess Moonlight, many moons ago you committed a grave fault, and for punishment were sent down to earth to live for a time. The bamboo-cutter and his wife have taken good care of you, and to them we have given wealth. The time has come for you to return to your own people, so come at once from this lowly dwelling.” ”

“ Then Sarkap lost, first his kingdom, then the wealth of the whole world, and lastly his head.
Just then, a servant came in to announce the birth of a daughter to Rajah Sarkap, 290and he, overcome by misfortunes, said, “Kill her at once! For she has been born in an evil moment, and has brought her father ill luck!”
But Rasalu rose up in his shining armor, tender-hearted and strong, saying: “Not so, O King! She has done no evil. Give me this child to wife; and if you will vow, by all you hold sacred, never again to play chaupur for another’s head, I will spare yours now!” ”

“ The fairy reminded him of the old woman on whom he had compassion, and said that she was the spy of the sultan, and had told him all she had seen and heard. “But,” she said, “the mere knowledge of my abode by the sultan would not so trouble you. There is something else which is the cause of your grief and vexation.”
“Perie Banou,” said Prince Ahmed at last, “it is even so. My father doubts my fidelity to him, unless I can provide a tent large enough to shelter him, his court, and army when he goes to war, and small enough for a man to carry in his hand.” ”

“ For that you must mix the elixir of life with some water out of the sky-dragon’s mouth.”
“And where is the sky-dragon to be found?” inquired Wang Chih.
“In the sky, of course. You really ask very stupid questions. He lives in a cloud-cave. And when he comes out of it he breathes fire, and sometimes water. If he is breathing fire you will be burned up, but if it is only water, you will easily be able to catch some in a little bottle. What else do you want?”
For Wang Chih still lingered at the mouth of the cave. ”

“ He made inquiries and found that Prince Varna was at the house of his former governess, so he went there at once, determined to find out the truth for himself.
The two ladies and Prince Varna were in earnest conversation when the Rajah reached their house, and great was his astonishment to find that this was really his long lost brother, whom he immediately recognized.
“Brother,” said he, “I came here thinking to find an impostor, but it makes me happy to see alive you whom we have so long mourned as dead. The throne is yours, and I am your most loyal subject.” ”

“ Drums and trumpets sounded; a man in a scarlet mantle, embroidered in gold, sat on a splendidly caparisoned horse surrounded by richly dressed slaves; half Bagdad crowded after him, and they all shouted, “Hail, Mirza, the Lord of Bagdad!”
The two storks on the palace roof looked at each other, and the Caliph Chasid said, “Can you guess now, Grand Vizier, why I have been enchanted? This Mirza is the son of my deadly enemy, the mighty magician Kaschnur, who in an evil moment vowed vengeance on me. Still I will not despair! Come with me, my faithful friend ”

“ Mobarec, having thus instructed Prince Zeyn, began his conjuration. Immediately 234their eyes were dazzled by a long flash of lightning, which was followed by a clap of thunder. The whole island was covered with a thick darkness, a furious storm of wind blew, a dreadful cry was heard, the island felt a shock as if of an earthquake, and the Sultan of the Genii appeared in the shape of a very handsome man, yet there was something terrific in his air. ”

“ At the palace everything was splendidly prepared. The many lights made the porcelain walls and floors glitter, and the gorgeous tinkling flowers helped to make the place look very beautiful. The people moving back and forth caused the little golden bells to tinkle all the time. In the center of the great hall, in which was the Emperor’s throne, was a golden perch, put there for 9the Nightingale. The whole court was present, and the little kitchen maid, who had shown the First Lord where the bird could be found, was allowed to stand behind the door where she could see and hear everything. ”

“ Presently a great number of genii and fairies danced before them, and at last divided themselves into two rows, through which the prince and Perie Banou passed toward their chambers and, after bowing, retired.
Every day spent with the fairy Perie was a continual feast, for every day she provided new delicacies, new concerts, new dances, new shows, and new diversions, which were all so gratifying to the senses that Ahmed, if he had lived a thousand years among men, could not have experienced equal enjoyment. ”

“ This ruler issued a decree that no one in his dominions should receive any reward, office or honor that he did not truly deserve.
Now at the court were three royal children, each of them richly endowed with virtue and talent, and they grew up to be handsome and amiable young men, well-liked by every one. The king was very fond of them and wished them to occupy the highest stations in life which would accord with their merit. So one day he sent for them and said, “My children, I would like to set you above all others in my palace, for I believe you capable of great deeds of virtue. ”

“ There were strange faces everywhere; and although when evening came the Feast of Lanterns was being held once more, there was no Ho-Seen-Ko carrying her red and yellow fish, or Han Chung with his flaming red ball.
At last he found a woman, a very, very old woman, who told him that when she was a tiny girl she remembered her grand-mother saying how, when she was a tiny girl, a poor young man had been spirited away by the Genii of the mountains on the day of the Feast of Lanterns, leaving his wife and little children with only a few handfuls of rice in the house. ”

“ The next morning as Prince Ahmed went out as usual at the iron door, with his attendants, on his journey to the capital, he saw a woman lying with her head on a rock, and complaining as if she was in great pain. He pitied her, turned his horse, and said, “Good woman, I will assist you, and convey you where you shall not only have all possible care taken of you, but where you will find a speedy cure. ”

“ Our fairy marriages are contracted with no other ceremonies than a mutual consent. I will give orders for the preparation of our wedding feast this evening; and in the meanwhile I will show you my palace.”
The fairy led Ahmed through the apartments of the palace, where he saw diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and all sorts of fine jewels intermixed with pearls, agate, jasper, and the most precious marbles, together with the richest furniture disposed in the most elegant profusion. ”

“ Sad and lonely do I live like any hermit within these walls, avoided by the world and a terror even to animals; the beauties of nature are hidden from me, for I am blind by day, and it is only when the moon sheds her pale light on this spot that the veil falls from my eyes and I can see.” The owl paused, and once more wiped her eyes with her wing, for the recital of her woes had drawn fresh tears from her.
134The Caliph fell into deep thought on hearing this story of the Princess. ”

“ Wang Chih stared, and grew more and more puzzled. Here he was up in the moon, and yet he could have thrown a stone into the busy street of the Chinese town below his window.
“How does it come here,” he stammered, at last.
314“Oh, that is my secret,” replied the wise old Hare. “I know how to do a great many things which would surprise you. But the question is, do you want to go back there?”
Wang Chih shook his head.
“Then close the window. It is the window of the Present. And look through the other, which is the window of the Past.” ”

“ To this he consented, and at once, as though understanding all that was said, the bird flew to Zaïda and nestled on her shoulder.
That night the mother dreamed that she saw the “good queen,” who told her to go to a certain tree in her garden and to lift up a large stone which she would find beneath it. There she would find a small phial which was filled with bright red liquid. This she was to sprinkle over the Rajah’s bird.
This dream made such an impression upon the former governess that in the morning, as soon as she arose, she hastened to the garden. ”

“ Every night when I go home to my Mother I am so tired that I sit and rest for a little while in the wood, and then I hear the Nightingale sing, and it is so wonderful that it always brings tears to my eyes. ”

“ He slept out on the mountain, and early in the morning found his way back to the cave where the two old men were playing chess.
At first they said they could do nothing for him and told him to go away and not disturb them; but Wang Chih would not go, and they found the only way to get rid of him was to give him some really good advice.
“You must go to the White Hare of the Moon, and ask him for a bottle of the elixir of life. If you drink that you will live forever,” said one of them. ”

“ He had no idea where the home of the Genii was, but Yun-Ying took him out into the garden, and showed him, in the far distance, a range of snow-capped mountains, with one peak towering above all the others.
“That is Mount Sumi,” she said, “and it is there the Genii live, sitting on the snow-peaks, 346and looking down at the Lake of Gems.”
“In order to reach it you must cross the Blue River, the White River, the Red River, and the Black River, all of which are full of monstrous fishes. That is why my mother is sending you,” sighed Yun-Ying. “She thinks you will not return alive.” ”