Zubeideh

“ Meanwhile, the Lady Zubeideh, when, in the absence of the Khalif, she had done this thing with Cout el Culoub, abode perplexed and said to herself, ‘What answer shall I make the Khalif, when he comes back and asks for her?’ Then she called an old woman, who was with her, and discovered her secret to her, saying, ‘What shall I do, seeing that Cout el Culoub is no more?’ ‘O my lady,’ replied the old woman, ‘the time of the Khalif’s return is at hand; but do thou send for a carpenter and bid him make a figure of wood in the shape of a corpse. ”

“ And she reviled Mesrour, whilst the Khalif laughed. Mesrour was vexed at this and said to the Khalif, "He spoke sooth who said, 'Women lack wit and religion.'" Then said the Lady Zubeideh to the Khalif, "O Commander of the Faithful, thou sportest and jestest with me, and this slave hoodwinketh me, to please thee; but I will send and see which is dead of them." And he answered, saying, "Send one who shall see which is dead of them." So the Lady Zubeideh cried out to an old woman, a stewardess, and said to her, "Go to the house of Nuzhet el Fuad in haste and see who is dead and loiter not." ”

“ If thou knowest me not, I will tell thee who I am. I am Cout el Culoub, the Khalif’s slave-girl, and the lady Zubeideh was jealous of me; so she drugged me and put me in this chest. Praised be God for that the matter hath come to no worse issue! But this befell me not save for thy good luck, for thou wilt certainly get of the Khalif Er Reshid money galore, that will be the means of thine enrichment.’ Quoth Khelifeh, ‘Is not the Khalif he in whose palace I was imprisoned?’ ‘Yes,’ answered she; and he said, ‘By Allah, I never saw a stingier than he, that piper little of good and wit! ”

“ THE KHALIF HAROUN ER RESHID AND THE PRINCESS ZUBEIDEH IN THE BATH.
The Khalif Haroun er Reshid loved the Princess Zubeideh with an exceeding love and laid out for her a pleasaunce, in which he made a great pool and led thither water from all sides. Moreover, he set thereabout a screen of trees, which so grew and interlaced over the pool, that one could go in and wash, without being seen of any, for the thickness of the leafage. ”

“ On the morrow we will go our way, and with God the Most High be thy reward; for we adore music and there is not one of us but hath store of odes and songs and ballads.’ ‘I must consult [my wife] ,’ answered he and returned and told Zubeideh, who said, ‘Open the door to them.’ So he went down again and bringing them up, made them sit down and welcomed them. Then he brought them food, but they would not eat and said, ‘O my lord, our victual is to magnify God with our hearts and hear music with our ears: and God bless him who saith:
We come for your company only, and not for your feasts ”

“ Abbaseh, with the unreflecting passion of Eastern ladies of high rank, beat one of her women with whom she was vexed, and the girl, in her spite, revealed the fatal secret to Zubeideh, who seized an early opportunity of gratifying her rancour against both her husband’s favourite sister and the Barmecides (especially Yehya, who, as intendant of the palace, enforced the rules of harem discipline with a strictness that was far from pleasing to the imperious Sultana) , by repeating it to Er Reshid. ”

“ When the Khalif hears this, it will be grievous to him and he will weep: then will he cause recitations of the Koran to be made over her and will watch by night over her tomb. If he should say to himself, “My cousin Zubeideh has compassed the death of Cout el Culoub out of jealousy,” or if love-longing should master him and he order to take her forth of the tomb, fear thou not; for when they dig and come to the figure, he will see it as it were a human body, shrouded in costly grave-clothes ”

“ Quoth Mesrour, "Come, let us go, that I may put this ill-omened old woman to shame [FN#37] and deal her a sound drubbing for her lying." And she answered him, saying, "O dotard, is thy wit like unto my wit? Indeed, thy wit is as the hen's wit." Mesrour was incensed at her words and would have laid violent hands on her, but the Lady Zubeideh warded him off from her and said to him, "Her sooth-fastness will presently be distinguished from thy sooth-fastness and her leasing from thy leasing." ”

“ For I claim Zobeid’s hand. Here”—as he gave the magic crystal to Zemzem—“is the greatest rarity on earth! Without its help we would not have known of Zobeid’s terrible plight! She is mine—mine—mine!”
“There is something in what you say,” admitted the Caliph. He turned to his daughter. “Zobeid, I really believe that he is right and that ...”
“Wait a moment! Just wait a moment!” cut in the Prince of Persia. “A fiddlestick for magic globe and magic apple! Valuable—I grant. Also interesting. But it was my magic flying carpet which brought us here in time to save the Princess’ life. ”

“ When she had succeeded to the full extent of her wishes, she commenced teaching him to play chess, and spent several hours a day in this manner, until he finally played with a skill equal to her own. By this time, the palace was completed, and after having purchased horses and slaves, and every thing necessary to the maintenance of a princely household, Zubeydeh and the wood-cutter took possession of it during the night, in order that they might not be observed by the Caliph. Zubeydeh bade the wood-cutter remember the promise he had made her. ”

“ We may easily conceive the caliph then repented, but too late, that he had not taken the advice of his vizier, who, with Mesrour, the calenders and porter, was from his ill-timed curiosity on the point of forfeiting his life. Before they would strike the fatal blow, one of the slaves said to Zobeide, and her sisters: "High, mighty, and adorable mistresses, do you command us to strike off their heads?" "Stay," said Zobeide, "I must examine them first." The frightened porter interrupted her thus: "In the name of heaven, do not put me to death for another man's crime. I am innocent ”

“ The caliph, who thought that he was perfectly well informed of the death of the slave, and had just reason to believe so, because he had both seen and heard Abou Hassan, laughed, and shrugged up his shoulders, to hear Zobeide talk in this manner. "Mesrour," said he, to the eunuch, "what do you think of the princess's discourse? Do not women sometimes lose their senses; for you have heard and seen all as well as myself?" Then turning to Zobeide, "Madam," said he, "shed no more tears for Abou Hassan, for I can assure you he is well; but rather bewail the death of your dear slave. ”

“ The caliph, his grand vizier, and the chief of the eunuchs, being introduced by the fair Safie, very courteously saluted the ladies and the calenders; the ladies returned them the like civilities, supposing them to be merchants. Zobeide, as the chief, says to them, with a grave and serious countenance, which was natural to her, You are welcome; but, before I proceed further, I hope you will not take it ill if we desire one favour of you. Alas! said the vizier, what favour? We can refuse nothing to such fair ladies. Zobeide replied, It is, that you would only have eyes, but no tongues ”

“ It was for this reason that he whispered to his vizier, who was near him, instantly to declare who he was. But this wise and prudent minister, wishing to preserve the honour of his master, and being unwilling to make public the great affront he had brought upon himself, answered, “We suffer only what we deserve.” When, however, in obedience to the caliph, he wished to speak, Zobeidè would not give them time. She immediately addressed herself to the three calenders, and observing that they were all three blind with one eye, she asked if they were brothers. ”

“ When the third calender had finished the recital of his history, Zobeidè, addressing herself both to him and his brethren, said, “Depart; you are all three at liberty to go wherever you please.”—“Pardon, madam,” answered one of them, “we beg of you, our curiosity, and permit us to stay and hear the adventures of these gentlemen who have not yet spoken. The lady then turned to the side where the caliph, the vizier Giafar, and Mesrour, of whose real situation and character she was still ignorant, were, and desired each of them to relate his history. ”

“ And now, according to your and your daughter’s pledge, I claim her as my own—my bride—my wife!”
“Fair and just!” admitted the Caliph of Bagdad; but his words as well as Zobeid’s exclamation of horror and consternation were swallowed in the Indian’s angry:
“Why—the pretensions of this Mongol are absolutely preposterous! Saved Zobeid’s life, did he? By Shiva! There is hardly a Brahmin or holy fakir in Hindustan who is not familiar with Sanjivnividya—the science of restoring the dead to life!” ”

“ Huddled close against Zemzem, she whispered to her the reason for her serene fortitude of soul.
“Ahmed is coming!” she said. “Aye! He is coming! I saw it in the magic crystal!”
“But he is alone, Heaven-Born! What can one man do against the Mongol horde?”
“Have you ever been in love, Zemzem?” smiled Zobeid. ”