A plain and literal translation of the Arabian nights entertainments, now entituled The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night. Volume 7 (of 17). Народное творчество
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aright that the approaching host was one of Moslems, under the command of King Gharib. When the True Believers heard from the scouts of the coming of their King, they rejoiced and driving out to meet him, dismounted and kissed the earth between his hands–And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the Moslems saw the presence of their King Gharib, they joyed with exceeding joy; and, kissing the earth between his hands, saluted him and gat around him whilst he welcomed them and rejoiced in their safety. Then they escorted him to their camp and pitched pavilions for him and set up standards; and Gharib sat down on his couch of estate, with his Grandees about him; and they related to him all that had befallen, especially to Sa’adan. Meanwhile the Kafirs sought for Ajib and finding him not among them nor in their tents, told Jaland of his flight, whereat his Doomsday rose and he bit his fingers, saying, “By the Sun’s light-giving round, he is a perfidious hound and hath fled with his rascal rout to desert-ground. But naught save force of hard fighting will serve us to repel these foes; so fortify your resolves and hearten your hearts and beware of the Moslems.” And Gharib also said to the True Believers, “Strengthen your courage and fortify your hearts and seek aid of your Lord, beseeching him to vouchsafe you the victory over your enemies.” They replied, “O King, soon thou shalt see what we will do in battle-plain where men cut and thrust amain.” So the two hosts slept till the day arose with its sheen and shone and the rising sun rained light upon hill and down, when Gharib prayed the two-bow prayer, after the rite of Abraham the Friend (on whom be the Peace!) and wrote a letter, which he despatched by his brother Sahim to the King of the Kafirs. When Sahim reached the enemies’ camp, the guards asked him what he wanted, and he answered them, “I want your ruler.”21 Quoth they, “Wait till we consult him anent thee;” and he waited, whilst they went in to their Sovran and told him of the coming of a messenger, and he cried, “Hither with him to me!” So they brought Sahim before Jaland, who said to him, “Who hath sent thee?” Quoth he, “King Gharib sends me, whom Allah hath made ruler over Arab and Ajam; receive his letter and return its reply.” Jaland took the writ and opening it, read as follows:—“In the name of Allah, the Compassionating, the Compassionate the One, the All-knowing, the supremely Great the Immemorial, the Lord of Noah and Sálih and Húd and Abraham and of all things He made! The Peace be on him who followeth in the way of righteousness and who feareth the issues of frowardness who obeyeth the Almighty King and followeth the Faith saving and preferreth the next world to any present thing! But afterwards: O Jaland, none is worthy of worship save Allah alone, the Victorious, the One, Creator of night and day and the sphere revolving alway Who sendeth the holy Prophets and garreth the streams to flow and the trees to grow, who vaulted the heavens and spread out the earth like a carpet below Who feedeth the birds in their nests and the wild beasts in the deserts for He is Allah the All-powerful, the Forgiving, the Long-suffering, the Protector, whom eye comprehendeth on no wise and who maketh night on day arise He who sent down the Apostles and their Holy Writ. Know, O Jaland, that there is no faith but the Faith of Abraham the Friend; so cleave to the Creed of Salvation and be saved from the biting glaive and the Fire which followeth the grave But, an thou refuse Al-Islam look for ruin to haste and thy reign to be waste and thy traces untraced And, lastly, send me the dog Ajib hight that I may take from him my father’s and mother’s blood-wit.” When Jaland had read this letter, he said to Sahim, “Tell thy lord that Ajib hath fled, he and his folk, and I know not whither he is gone; but, as for Jaland, he will not forswear his faith, and to-morrow, there shall be battle between us and the Sun shall give us the victory.” So Sahim returned to his brother with this reply, and when the morning morrowed, the Moslems donned their arms and armour and bestrode their stout steeds, calling aloud on the name of the All-conquering King, Creator of bodies and souls, and magnifying Him with “Allaho Akbar.” Then the kettle-drums of battle beat until earth trembled, and sought the field all the lordly warriors and doughty champions. The first to open the gate of battle was Jamrkan, who drave his charger into mid-plain and played with sword and javelin, till the understanding was amazed; after which he cried out, saying, “Ho! who is for tilting? Ho! who is for fighting? Let no sluggard come out to me to-day nor weakling! I am the slayer of Kurajan bin Jaland; who will come forth to avenge him?” When Jaland heard the name of his son, he cried out to his men, “O whore-sons, bring me yonder horseman who slew my son, that I may eat his flesh and drink his blood.” So an hundred fighting men charged at Jamrkan, but he slew the most part of them and put their chief to flight; which feat when Jaland saw, he cried out to his folk, “At him all at once and assault him with one assault.” Accordingly they waved the awe-striking banners and host was heaped on host; Gharib rushed on with his men and Jamrkan did the same and the two sides met like two seas together clashing. The Yamáni sword and spear wrought havoc and breasts and bellies were rent, whilst both armies saw the Angel of Death face to face and the dust of the battle rose to the skirts of the sky. Ears went deaf and tongues went dumb and doom from every side came on whilst valiant stood fast and faint-heart fled: and they ceased not from fight and fray till ended the day, when the drums beat the retreat and the two hosts drew apart and returned, each to its tents.–And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when King Gharib ended the battle and the two hosts drew apart and each had returned to his own tents, he sat down on the throne of his realm and the place of his reign, whilst his chief officers ranged themselves about him, and he said, “I am sore concerned for the flight of the cur Ajib and I know not whither he has gone. Except I overtake him and take my wreak of him, I shall die of despite.” Whereupon Sahim came forward and kissing the earth before him, said, “O King, I will go to the army of the Kafirs and find out what is come of the perfidious dog Ajib.” Quoth Gharib, “Go, and learn the truth anent the dog.” So Sahim disguised himself in the habit of the Infidels and became as he were of them; then, making for the enemy’s camp, he found them all asleep, drunken with war and battle, and none were on wake save only the guards. He passed on and presently came to the King’s pavilion where he found King Jaland asleep unattended; so he crept up and made him smell and sniff up levigated Bhang and he became as one dead. Then Sahim went out and took a male mule, and wrapping the King in the coverlet of his bed, laid him on its back; after which he threw a mat over him and led the beast to the Moslem camp. Now when he came to Gharib’s pavilion and would have entered, the guards knew him not and prevented him, saying, “Who art thou?” He laughed and uncovered his face, and they knew him and admitted him. When Gharib saw him he said, “What bearest thou there, O Sahim?”; and he replied, “O King, this is Jaland bin Karkar.” Then he uncovered him, and Gharib knew him and said, “Arouse him, O Sahim,” So he made him smell vinegar22 and frankincense; and he cast the Bhang from his nostrils and, opening his eyes, found himself among the Moslems; whereupon quoth he, “What is this foul dream?” and closing his eyelids again, would have slept; but Sahim dealt him a kick, saying, “Open thine eyes, O accursed!” So he opened them and asked, “Where am I?”; and Sahim answered, “Thou art in the presence of King Gharib bin Kundamir, King of Irak.” When Jaland heard this, he said, “O King, I am under thy protection! Know that I am not at fault, but that who led us forth to fight thee was thy brother, and the same cast enmity between us and then fled.” Quoth Gharib, “Knowest thou whither he is gone?”; and quoth Jaland, “No, by the light-giving sun, I know not whither.” Then Gharib bade lay him in bonds and set guards over him, whilst each captain returned to his own tent, and Jamrkan while wending said to his men, “O sons of my uncle, I purpose this night to do a deed wherewith I may whiten my face with King Gharib.” Quoth they, “Do as thou wilt, we hearken to thy commandment and obey it.” Quoth he, “Arm yourselves and, muffling your steps while I go with you, let us fare softly and disperse about the Infidels’ camp, so that the very ants shall not be ware of you; and, when you hear me cry Allaho Akbar, do ye the like and cry out, saying, God is Most Great! and hold back and make for the city gate; and we seek aid from the Most High.” So the folk armed themselves cap-à-pie and waited till the noon of night, when they dispersed about the enemy’s camp and tarried awhile when, lo and behold! Jamrkan smote shield with sword and shouted, “Allaho Akbar!” Thereupon
Arab “Hákim”: lit. one who orders; often confounded by the unscientific with Hakím, a doctor, a philosopher. The latter re-appears in the Heb. Khákhám applied in modern days to the Jewish scribe who takes the place of the Rabbi.
As has been seen, acids have ever been and are still administered as counter-inebriants, while hot spices and sweets greatly increase the effect of Bhang, opium, henbane, datura, &c. The Persians have a most unpleasant form of treating men when dead-drunk with wine or spirits. They hang them up by the heels, as we used to do with the drowned, and stuff their mouths with human ordure which is sure to produce emesis.