The Story Of Prince Ahmed And The Fairy Paribanou

: The Blue Fairy Book

There was a sultan, who had three sons and a niece.

The eldest of the Princes was called Houssain, the second

Ali, the youngest Ahmed, and the Princess, his niece,

Nouronnihar.



The Princess Nouronnihar was the daughter of the

younger brother of the Sultan, who died, and left the

Princess very young. The Sultan took upon himself the

care of his daughter's education, and brought her up in

his palace with the three Princes, proposing to marry

her when she arrived at a proper age, and to contract an

alliance with some neighboring prince by that means.

But when he perceived that the three Princes, his sons,

loved her passionately, he thought more seriously on

that affair. He was very much concerned; the difficulty

he foresaw was to make them agree, and that the two

youngest should consent to yield her up to their elder

brother. As he found them positively obstinate, he

sent for them all together, and said to them: "Children,

since for your good and quiet I have not been able to

persuade you no longer to aspire to the Princess, your

cousin, I think it would not be amiss if every one traveled

separately into different countries, so that you might not

meet each other. And, as you know I am very curious,

and delight in everything that's singular, I promise my

niece in marriage to him that shall bring me the most

extraordinary rarity; and for the purchase of the rarity

you shall go in search after, and the expense of traveling,

I will give you every one a sum of money."



As the three Princes were always submissive and

obedient to the Sultan's will, and each flattered himself

fortune might prove favorable to him, they all consented

to it. The Sultan paid them the money he promised

them; and that very day they gave orders for the

preparations for their travels, and took their leave of the

Sultan, that they might be the more ready to go the

next morning. Accordingly they all set out at the same

gate of the city, each dressed like a merchant, attended

by an officer of confidence dressed like a slave, and all

well mounted and equipped. They went the first day's

journey together, and lay all at an inn, where the road

was divided into three different tracts. At night, when

they were at supper together, they all agreed to travel

for a year, and to meet at that inn; and that the first

that came should wait for the rest; that, as they had

all three taken their leave together of the Sultan, they

might all return together. The next morning by break

of day, after they had embraced and wished each other

good success, they mounted their horses and took each

a different road.



Prince Houssain, the eldest brother, arrived at

Bisnagar, the capital of the kingdom of that name, and the

residence of its king. He went and lodged at a khan

appointed for foreign merchants; and, having learned

that there were four principal divisions where merchants

of all sorts sold their commodities, and kept shops, and

in the midst of which stood the castle, or rather the

King's palace, he went to one of these divisions the next

day.



Prince Houssain could not view this division without

admiration. It was large, and divided into several

streets, all vaulted and shaded from the sun, and yet

very light too. The shops were all of a size, and all that

dealt in the same sort of goods lived in one street; as

also the handicrafts-men, who kept their shops in the

smaller streets.



The multitude of shops, stocked with all sorts of

merchandise, as the finest linens from several parts of India,

some painted in the most lively colors, and representing

beasts, trees, and flowers; silks and brocades from

Persia, China, and other places, porcelain both from

Japan and China, and tapestries, surprised him so much

that he knew not how to believe his own eyes; but when

he came to the goldsmiths and jewelers he was in a kind

of ecstacy to behold such prodigious quantities of wrought

gold and silver, and was dazzled by the lustre of the

pearls, diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and other jewels

exposed to sale.



Another thing Prince Houssain particularly admired

was the great number of rose-sellers who crowded the

streets; for the Indians are so great lovers of that flower

that no one will stir without a nosegay in his hand or a

garland on his head; and the merchants keep them in

pots in their shops, that the air is perfectly perfumed.



After Prince Houssain had run through that division,

street by street, his thoughts fully employed on the

riches he had seen, he was very much tired, which a

merchant perceiving, civilly invited him to sit down in his

shop, and he accepted; but had not been sat down long

before he saw a crier pass by with a piece of tapestry

on his arm, about six feet square, and cried at thirty

purses. The Prince called to the crier, and asked to see

the tapestry, which seemed to him to be valued at an

exorbitant price, not only for the size of it, but the

meanness of the stuff; when he had examined it well, he told

the crier that he could not comprehend how so small a

piece of tapestry, and of so indifferent appearance, could

be set at so high a price.



The crier, who took him for a merchant, replied: "If

this price seems so extravagant to you, your amazement

will be greater when I tell you I have orders to raise it

to forty purses, and not to part with it under."

"Certainly," answered Prince Houssain, "it must have

something very extraordinary in it, which I know nothing

of." "You have guessed it, sir," replied the crier, "and

will own it when you come to know that whoever sits

on this piece of tapestry may be transported in an

instant wherever he desires to be, without being stopped

by any obstacle."



At this discourse of the crier the Prince of the Indies,

considering that the principal motive of his travel was

to carry the Sultan, his father, home some singular

rarity, thought that he could not meet with any which

could give him more satisfaction. "If the tapestry,"

said he to the crier, "has the virtue you assign it, I shall

not think forty purses too much, but shall make you a

present besides." "Sir," replied the crier, "I have told

you the truth; and it is an easy matter to convince you

of it, as soon as you have made the bargain for forty

purses, on condition I show you the experiment. But,

as I suppose you have not so much about you, and to

receive them I must go with you to your khan, where

you lodge, with the leave of the master of the shop, we

will go into the back shop, and I will spread the tapestry;

and when we have both sat down, and you have formed

the wish to be transported into your apartment of the

khan, if we are not transported thither it shall be no

bargain, and you shall be at your liberty. As to your

present, though I am paid for my trouble by the seller,

I shall receive it as a favor, and be very much obliged to

you, and thankful."



On the credit of the crier, the Prince accepted the

conditions, and concluded the bargain; and, having got the

master's leave, they went into his back shop; they both

sat down on it, and as soon as the Prince formed his

wish to be transported into his apartment at the khan

he presently found himself and the crier there; and, as he

wanted not a more sufficient proof of the virtue of the

tapestry, he counted the crier out forty pieces of gold,

and gave him twenty pieces for himself.



In this manner Prince Houssain became the possessor

of the tapestry, and was overjoyed that at his arrival

at Bisnagar he had found so rare a piece, which he never

disputed would gain him the hand of Nouronnihar. In

short, he looked upon it as an impossible thing for the

Princes his younger brothers to meet with anything

to be compared with it. It was in his power, by sitting

on his tapestry, to be at the place of meeting that very

day; but, as he was obliged to stay there for his brothers,

as they had agreed, and as he was curious to see the King

of Bisnagar and his Court, and to inform himself of the

strength, laws, customs, and religion of the kingdom,

he chose to make a longer abode there, and to spend

some months in satisfying his curiosity.



Prince Houssain might have made a longer abode in

the kingdom and Court of Bisnagar, but he was so eager

to be nearer the Princess that, spreading the tapestry,

he and the officer he had brought with him sat down,

and as soon as he had formed his wish were transported

to the inn at which he and his brothers were to meet,

and where he passed for a merchant till they came.



Prince Ali, Prince Houssain's second brother, who

designed to travel into Persia, took the road, having three

days after he parted with his brothers joined a caravan,

and after four days' travel arrived at Schiraz, which was

the capital of the kingdom of Persia. Here he passed

for a jeweler.



The next morning Prince Ali, who traveled only for

his pleasure, and had brought nothing but just necessaries

along with him, after he had dressed himself, took

a walk into that part of the town which they at Schiraz

called the bezestein.



Among all the criers who passed backward and forward

with several sorts of goods, offering to sell them,

he was not a little surprised to see one who held an ivory

telescope in his hand of about a foot in length and the

thickness of a man's thumb, and cried it at thirty purses.

At first he thought the crier mad, and to inform himself

went to a shop, and said to the merchant, who stood at

the door: "Pray, sir, is not that man" (pointing to the

crier who cried the ivory perspective glass at thirty

purses) "mad? If he is not, I am very much deceived."



"Indeed, sir," answered the merchant, "he was in his

right senses yesterday; I can assure you he is one of the

ablest criers we have, and the most employed of any

when anything valuable is to be sold. And if he cries

the ivory perspective glass at thirty purses it must be

worth as much or more, on some account or other. He

will come by presently, and we will call him, and you

shall be satisfied; in the meantime sit down on my sofa,

and rest yourself."



Prince Ali accepted the merchant's obliging offer, and

presently afterward the crier passed by. The merchant

called him by his name, and, pointing to the Prince,

said to him: "Tell that gentleman, who asked me if

you were in your right senses, what you mean by crying

that ivory perspective glass, which seems not to be

worth much, at thirty purses. I should be very much

amazed myself if I did not know you." The crier,

addressing himself to Prince Ali, said: "Sir, you are not

the only person that takes me for a madman on account

of this perspective glass. You shall judge yourself

whether I am or no, when I have told you its property

and I hope you will value it at as high a price as those I

have showed it to already, who had as bad an opinion

of me as you.



"First, sir," pursued the crier, presenting the ivory

pipe to the Prince, "observe that this pipe is furnished

with a glass at both ends; and consider that by looking

through one of them you see whatever object you wish

to behold." "I am," said the Prince, "ready to make you

all imaginable reparation for the scandal I have thrown

on you if you will make the truth of what you advance

appear," and as he had the ivory pipe in his hand, after

he had looked at the two glasses he said: "Show me at

which of these ends I must look that I may be satisfied."

The crier presently showed him, and he looked

through, wishing at the same time to see the Sultan his

father, whom he immediately beheld in perfect health,

set on his throne, in the midst of his council. Afterward,

as there was nothing in the world so dear to him,

after the Sultan, as the Princess Nouronnihar, he wished

to see her; and saw her at her toilet laughing, and in a

pleasant humor, with her women about her.



Prince Ali wanted no other proof to be persuaded that

this perspective glass was the most valuable thing in

the world, and believed that if he should neglect to

purchase it he should never meet again with such another

rarity. He therefore took the crier with him to the

khan where he lodged, and counted him out the money,

and received the perspective glass.



Prince Ali was overjoyed at his bargain, and

persuaded himself that, as his brothers would not be able

to meet with anything so rare and admirable, the Princess

Nouronnihar would be the recompense of his fatigue

and trouble; that he thought of nothing but visiting the

Court of Persia incognito, and seeing whatever was

curious in Schiraz and thereabouts, till the caravan

with which he came returned back to the Indies. As

soon as the caravan was ready to set out, the Prince

joined them, and arrived happily without any accident

or trouble, otherwise than the length of the journey and

fatigue of traveling, at the place of rendezvous, where he

found Prince Houssain, and both waited for Prince

Ahmed.



Prince Ahmed, who took the road of Samarcand, the

next day after his arrival there went, as his brothers

had done, into the bezestein, where he had not walked

long but heard a crier, who had an artificial apple in

his hand, cry it at five and thirty purses; upon which

he stopped the crier, and said to him: "Let me see that

apple, and tell me what virtue and extraordinary

properties it has, to be valued at so high a rate." "Sir,"

said the crier, giving it into his hand, "if you look at the

outside of this apple, it is very worthless, but if you

consider its properties, virtues, and the great use and benefit

it is to mankind, you will say it is no price for it, and that

he who possesses it is master of a great treasure. In

short, it cures all sick persons of the most mortal diseases;

and if the patient is dying it will recover him immediately

and restore him to perfect health; and this is

done after the easiest manner in the world, which is by

the patient's smelling the apple."



"If I may believe you," replied Prince Ahmed, "the

virtues of this apple are wonderful, and it is invaluable;

but what ground have I, for all you tell me, to be

persuaded of the truth of this matter?" "Sir," replied the

crier, "the thing is known and averred by the whole

city of Samarcand; but, without going any further, ask

all these merchants you see here, and hear what they

say. You will find several of them will tell you they

had not been alive this day if they had not made use of

this excellent remedy. And, that you may better

comprehend what it is, I must tell you it is the fruit of the

study and experiments of a celebrated philosopher of

this city, who applied himself all his lifetime to the study

and knowledge of the virtues of plants and minerals,

and at last attained to this composition, by which he

performed such surprising cures in this town as will

never be forgot, but died suddenly himself, before he

could apply his sovereign remedy, and left his wife and

a great many young children behind him, in very indifferent

circumstances, who, to support her family and

provide for her children, is resolved to sell it."



While the crier informed Prince Ahmed of the virtues

of the artificial apple, a great many persons came about

them and confirmed what he said; and one among the

rest said he had a friend dangerously ill, whose life was

despaired of; and that was a favorable opportunity to

show Prince Ahmed the experiment. Upon which

Prince Ahmed told the crier he would give him forty

purses if he cured the sick person.



The crier, who had orders to sell it at that price, said

to Prince Ahmed: "Come, sir, let us go and make the

experiment, and the apple shall be yours; and I can assure

you that it will always have the desired effect."

In short, the experiment succeeded, and the Prince, after

he had counted out to the crier forty purses, and he had

delivered the apple to him, waited patiently for the first

caravan that should return to the Indies, and arrived

in perfect health at the inn where the Princes Houssain

and Ali waited for him.



When the Princes met they showed each other their

treasures, and immediately saw through the glass that

the Princess was dying. They then sat down on the

carpet, wished themselves with her, and were there in a

moment.



Prince Ahmed no sooner perceived himself in Nouronnihar's

chamber than he rose off the tapestry, as did

also the other two Princes, and went to the bedside, and

put the apple under her nose; some moments after the

Princess opened her eyes, and turned her head from

one side to another, looking at the persons who stood

about her; and then rose up in the bed, and asked to be

dressed, just as if she had waked out of a sound sleep.

Her women having presently informed her, in a manner

that showed their joy, that she was obliged to the

three Princes for the sudden recovery of her health, and

particularly to Prince Ahmed, she immediately expressed

her joy to see them, and thanked them all together, and

afterward Prince Ahmed in particular.



While the Princess was dressing the Princes went to

throw themselves at the Sultan their father's feet, and

pay their respects to him. But when they came before

him they found he had been informed of their arrival

by the chief of the Princess's eunuchs, and by what

means the Princess had been perfectly cured. The

Sultan received and embraced them with the greatest

joy, both for their return and the recovery of the

Princess his niece, whom he loved as well as if she had been

his own daughter, and who had been given over by the

physicians. After the usual ceremonies and compliments

the Princes presented each his rarity: Prince

Houssain his tapestry, which he had taken care not to

leave behind him in the Princess's chamber; Prince Ali

his ivory perspective glass, and Prince Ahmed his

artificial apple; and after each had commended their present,

when they put it into the Sultan's hands, they begged

of him to pronounce their fate, and declare to which

of them he would give the Princess Nouronnihar for a

wife, according to his promise.





The Sultan of the Indies, having heard, without

interrupting them, all that the Princes could represent

further about their rarities, and being well informed of

what had happened in relation to the Princess Nouronnihar's

cure, remained some time silent, as if he were

thinking on what answer he should make. At last he

broke the silence, and said to them: "I would declare

for one of you children with a great deal of pleasure if

I could do it with justice; but consider whether I can

do it or no. 'Tis true, Prince Ahmed, the Princess my

niece is obliged to your artificial apple for her cure; but

I must ask you whether or no you could have been so

serviceable to her if you had not known by Prince Ali's

perspective glass the danger she was in, and if Prince

Houssain's tapestry had not brought you so soon. Your

perspective glass, Prince Ali, informed you and your

brothers that you were like to lose the Princess your

cousin, and there you must own a great obligation.



"You must also grant that that knowledge would have

been of no service without the artificial apple and the

tapestry. And lastly, Prince Houssain, the Princess

would be very ungrateful if she should not show her

acknowledgment of the service of your tapestry, which

was so necessary a means toward her cure. But consider,

it would have been of little use if you had not

been acquainted with the Princess's illness by Prince

Ali's glass, and Prince Ahmed had not applied his

artificial apple. Therefore, as neither tapestry, ivory

perspective glass, nor artificial apple have the least

preference one before the other, but, on the contrary, there's a

perfect equality, I cannot grant the Princess to ally one

of you; and the only fruit you have reaped from your

travels is the glory of having equally contributed to

restore her health.



"If all this be true," added the Sultan, "you see that

I must have recourse to other means to determine certainly

in the choice I ought to make among you; and

that, as there is time enough between this and night,

I'll do it to-day. Go and get each of you a bow and

arrow, and repair to the great plain, where they exercise

horses. I'll soon come to you, and declare I will give

the Princess Nouronnihar to him that shoots the farthest."



The three Princes had nothing to say against the

decision of the Sultan. When they were out of his presence

they each provided themselves with a bow and arrow,

which they delivered to one of their officers, and

went to the plain appointed, followed by a great

concourse of people.



The Sultan did not make them wait long for him,

and as soon as he arrived Prince Houssain, as the eldest,

took his bow and arrow and shot first; Prince Ali shot

next, and much beyond him; and Prince Ahmed last

of all, but it so happened that nobody could see where

his arrow fell; and, notwithstanding all the diligence that

was used by himself and everybody else, it was not to

be found far or near. And though it was believed that

he shot the farthest, and that he therefore deserved the

Princess Nouronnihar, it was, however, necessary that

his arrow should be found to make the matter more

evident and certain; and, notwithstanding his remonstrance,

the Sultan judged in favor of Prince Ali, and

gave orders for preparations to be made for the wedding,

which was celebrated a few days after with great

magnificence.



Prince Houssain would not honor the feast with his

presence. In short, his grief was so violent and insupportable

that he left the Court, and renounced all right

of succession to the crown, to turn hermit.



Prince Ahmed, too, did not come to Prince Ali's and

the Princess Nouronnihar's wedding any more than his

brother Houssain, but did not renounce the world as

he had done. But, as he could not imagine what had

become of his arrow, he stole away from his attendants

and resolved to search after it, that he might not have

anything to reproach himself with. With this intent he

went to the place where the Princes Houssain's and

Ali's were gathered up, and, going straight forward

from there, looking carefully on both sides of him, he

went so far that at last he began to think his labor was

all in vain; but yet he could not help going forward till

he came to some steep craggy rocks, which were bounds

to his journey, and were situated in a barren country,

about four leagues distant from where he set out.





II





When Prince Ahmed came pretty nigh to these rocks

he perceived an arrow, which he gathered up, looked

earnestly at it, and was in the greatest astonishment

to find it was the same he shot away. "Certainly,"

said he to himself, "neither I nor any man living could

shoot an arrow so far," and, finding it laid flat, not

sticking into the ground, he judged that it rebounded

against the rock. "There must be some mystery in

this," said he to himself again, "and it may be

advantageous to me. Perhaps fortune, to make me amends

for depriving me of what I thought the greatest happiness,

may have reserved a greater blessing for my comfort."



As these rocks were full of caves and some of those

caves were deep, the Prince entered into one, and, looking

about, cast his eyes on an iron door, which seemed

to have no lock, but he feared it was fastened. However,

thrusting against it, it opened, and discovered an

easy descent, but no steps, which he walked down with

his arrow in his hand. At first he thought he was going

into a dark, obscure place, but presently a quite different

light succeeded that which he came out of, and, entering

into a large, spacious place, at about fifty or

sixty paces distant, he perceived a magnificent palace,

which he had not then time enough to look at. At the

same time a lady of majestic port and air advanced as

far as the porch, attended by a large troop of ladies, so

finely dressed and beautiful that it was difficult to

distinguish which was the mistress.



As soon as Prince Ahmed perceived the lady, he made

all imaginable haste to go and pay his respects; and the

lady, on her part, seeing him coming, prevented him from

addressing his discourse to her first, but said to him:

"Come nearer, Prince Ahmed, you are welcome."



It was no small surprise to the Prince to hear himself

named in a place he had never heard of, though so nigh

to his father's capital, and he could not comprehend

how he should be known to a lady who was a stranger

to him. At last he returned the lady's compliment by

throwing himself at her feet, and, rising up again, said

to her:



"Madam, I return you a thousand thanks for the

assurance you give me of a welcome to a place where I

believed my imprudent curiosity had made me penetrate

too far. But, madam, may I, without being

guilty of ill manners, dare to ask you by what adventure

you know me? and how you, who live in the same neighborhood

with me, should be so great a stranger to me?"



"Prince," said the lady, "let us go into the hall, there

I will gratify you in your request."



After these words the lady led Prince Ahmed into the

hall. Then she sat down on a sofa, and when the Prince

by her entreaty had done the same she said: "You are

surprised, you say, that I should know you and not be

known by you, but you will be no longer surprised when

I inform you who I am. You are undoubtedly sensible

that your religion teaches you to believe that the world

is inhabited by genies as well as men. I am the daughter

of one of the most powerful and distinguished genies,

and my name is Paribanou. The only thing that I have

to add is, that you seemed to me worthy of a more happy

fate than that of possessing the Princess Nouronnihar;

and, that you might attain to it, I was present when

you drew your arrow, and foresaw it would not go beyond

Prince Houssain's. I took it in the air, and gave

it the necessary motion to strike against the rocks near

which you found it, and I tell you that it lies in your

power to make use of the favorable opportunity which

presents itself to make you happy."



As the Fairy Paribanou pronounced these last words

with a different tone, and looked, at the same time,

tenderly upon Prince Ahmed, with a modest blush on her

cheeks, it was no hard matter for the Prince to comprehend

what happiness she meant. He presently considered

that the Princess Nouronnihar could never be his and

that the Fairy Paribanou excelled her infinitely in

beauty, agreeableness, wit, and, as much as he could

conjecture by the magnificence of the palace, in immense

riches. He blessed the moment that he thought of seeking

after his arrow a second time, and, yielding to his

love, "Madam," replied he, "should I all my life have

the happiness of being your slave, and the admirer of

the many charms which ravish my soul, I should think

myself the most blessed of men. Pardon in me the boldness

which inspires me to ask this favor, and don't refuse

to admit me into your Court, a prince who is entirely

devoted to you."



"Prince," answered the Fairy, "will you not pledge

your faith to me, as well as I give mine to you?" "Yes,

madam," replied the Prince, in an ecstacy of joy; "what

can I do better, and with greater pleasure? Yes, my

sultaness, my queen, I'll give you my heart without the

least reserve." "Then," answered the Fairy, "you are

my husband, and I am your wife. But, as I suppose,"

pursued she, "that you have eaten nothing to-day, a slight

repast shall be served up for you, while preparations are

making for our wedding feast at night, and then I will

show you the apartments of my palace, and you shall

judge if this hall is not the meanest part of it."



Some of the Fairy's women, who came into the hall

with them, and guessed her intentions, went immediately

out, and returned presently with some excellent meats

and wines.



When Prince Ahmed had ate and drunk as much as he

cared for, the Fairy Paribanou carried him through all the

apartments, where he saw diamonds, rubies, emeralds

and all sorts of fine jewels, intermixed with pearls, agate,

jasper, porphyry, and all sorts of the most precious

marbles. But, not to mention the richness of the furniture,

which was inestimable, there was such a profuseness

throughout that the Prince, instead of ever having seen

anything like it, owned that he could not have imagined

that there was anything in the world that could come up

to it. "Prince," said the Fairy, "if you admire my palace

so much, which, indeed, is very beautiful, what would you

say to the palaces of the chief of our genies, which are

much more beautiful, spacious, and magnificent? I could

also charm you with my gardens, but we will let that

alone till another time. Night draws near, and it will be

time to go to supper."



The next hall which the Fairy led the Prince into, and

where the cloth was laid for the feast, was the last apartment

the Prince had not seen, and not in the least inferior

to the others. At his entrance into it he admired the

infinite number of sconces of wax candles perfumed with

amber, the multitude of which, instead of being confused,

were placed with so just a symmetry as formed an agreeable

and pleasant sight. A large side table was set out

with all sorts of gold plate, so finely wrought that the

workmanship was much more valuable than the weight

of the gold. Several choruses of beautiful women richly

dressed, and whose voices were ravishing, began a concert,

accompanied with all sorts of the most harmonious

instruments; and when they were set down at table the Fairy

Paribanou took care to help Prince Ahmed to the most

delicate meats, which she named as she invited him to

eat of them, and which the Prince found to be so

exquisitely nice that he commended them with exaggeration,

and said that the entertainment far surpassed those of

man. He found also the same excellence in the wines,

which neither he nor the Fairy tasted of till the dessert

was served up, which consisted of the choicest sweetmeats

and fruits.



The wedding feast was continued the next day, or,

rather, the days following the celebration were a continual

feast.



At the end of six months Prince Ahmed, who always

loved and honored the Sultan his father, conceived a

great desire to know how he was, and that desire could

not be satisfied without his going to see; he told the Fairy

of it, and desired she would give him leave.



"Prince," said she, "go when you please. But first,

don't take it amiss that I give you some advice how you

shall behave yourself where you are going. First, I don't

think it proper for you to tell the Sultan your father of

our marriage, nor of my quality, nor the place where you

have been. Beg of him to be satisfied in knowing you are

happy, and desire no more; and let him know that the sole

end of your visit is to make him easy, and inform him of

your fate."



She appointed twenty gentlemen, well mounted and

equipped, to attend him. When all was ready Prince

Ahmed took his leave of the Fairy, embraced her, and

renewed his promise to return soon. Then his horse,

which was most finely caparisoned, and was as beautiful

a creature as any in the Sultan of Indies' stables, was led

to him, and he mounted him with an extraordinary grace;

and, after he had bid her a last adieu, set forward on his

journey.



As it was not a great way to his father's capital, Prince

Ahmed soon arrived there. The people, glad to see him

again, received him with acclamations of joy, and followed

him in crowds to the Sultan's apartment. The Sultan

received and embraced him with great joy, complaining

at the same time, with a fatherly tenderness, of the

affliction his long absence had been to him, which he said was

the more grievous for that, fortune having decided in

favor of Prince Ali his brother, he was afraid he might

have committed some rash action.



The Prince told a story of his adventures without speaking

of the Fairy, whom he said that he must not mention,

and ended: "The only favor I ask of your Majesty is to

give me leave to come often and pay you my respects, and

to know how you do."



"Son," answered the Sultan of the Indies, "I cannot

refuse you the leave you ask me; but I should much

rather you would resolve to stay with me; at least tell me

where I may send to you if you should fail to come, or

when I may think your presence necessary." "Sir,"

replied Prince Ahmed, "what your Majesty asks of me is

part of the mystery I spoke to your Majesty of. I beg

of you to give me leave to remain silent on this head, for I

shall come so frequently that I am afraid that I shall

sooner be thought troublesome than be accused of negligence

in my duty."



The Sultan of the Indies pressed Prince Ahmed no

more, but said to him: "Son, I penetrate no farther into

your secrets, but leave you at your liberty; but can tell

you that you could not do me a greater pleasure than to

come, and by your presence restore to me the joy I have

not felt this long time, and that you shall always be

welcome when you come, without interrupting your business

or pleasure."



Prince Ahmed stayed but three days at the Sultan his

father's Court, and the fourth returned to the Fairy

Paribanou, who did not expect him so soon.



A month after Prince Ahmed's return from paying a

visit to his father, as the Fairy Paribanou had observed

that the Prince, since the time that he gave her an account

of his journey, his discourse with his father, and the leave

he asked to go and see him often, had never talked of the

Sultan, as if there had been no such person in the world,

whereas before he was always speaking of him, she thought

he forebore on her account; therefore she took an opportunity

to say to him one day: "Prince, tell me, have you

forgot the Sultan your father? Don't you remember the

promise you made to go and see him often? For my part

I have not forgot what you told me at your return, and

so put you in mind of it, that you may not be long before

you acquit yourself of your promise."



So Prince Ahmed went the next morning with the same

attendance as before, but much finer, and himself more

magnificently mounted, equipped, and dressed, and was

received by the Sultan with the same joy and satisfaction.

For several months he constantly paid his visits, always

in a richer and finer equipage.



At last some viziers, the Sultan's favorites, who judged

of Prince Ahmed's grandeur and power by the figure he

cut, made the Sultan jealous of his son, saying it was to

be feared he might inveigle himself into the people's favor

and dethrone him.



The Sultan of the Indies was so far from thinking that

Prince Ahmed could be capable of so pernicious a design

as his favorites would make him believe that he said

to them: "You are mistaken; my son loves me, and I am

certain of his tenderness and fidelity, as I have given him

no reason to be disgusted."



But the favorites went on abusing Prince Ahmed till

the Sultan said: "Be it as it will, I don't believe my son

Ahmed is so wicked as you would persuade me he is; how

ever, I am obliged to you for your good advice, and don't

dispute but that it proceeds from your good intentions."



The Sultan of the Indies said this that his favorites

might not know the impressions their discourse had made

on his mind; which had so alarmed him that he resolved

to have Prince Ahmed watched unknown to his grand

vizier. So he sent for a female magician, who was introduced

by a back door into his apartment. "Go immediately,"

he said, "and follow my son, and watch him so well

as to find out where he retires, and bring me word."



The magician left the Sultan, and, knowing the place

where Prince Ahmed found his arrow, went immediately

thither, and hid herself near the rocks, so that nobody

could see her.



The next morning Prince Ahmed set out by daybreak,

without taking leave either of the Sultan or any of his

Court, according to custom. The magician, seeing him

coming, followed him with her eyes, till on a sudden she

lost sight of him and his attendants.



As the rocks were very steep and craggy, they were an

insurmountable barrier, so that the magician judged that

there were but two things for it: either that the Prince

retired into some cavern, or an abode of genies or fairies.

Thereupon she came out of the place where she was hid

and went directly to the hollow way, which she traced

till she came to the farther end, looking carefully about

on all sides; but, notwithstanding all her diligence, could

perceive no opening, not so much as the iron gate which

Prince Ahmed discovered, which was to be seen and

opened to none but men, and only to such whose presence

was agreeable to the Fairy Paribanou.



The magician, who saw it was in vain for her to search

any farther, was obliged to be satisfied with the discovery

she had made, and returned to give the Sultan an account.



The Sultan was very well pleased with the magician's

conduct, and said to her: "Do you as you think fit; I'll

wait patiently the event of your promises," and to

encourage her made her a present of a diamond of great

value.



As Prince Ahmed had obtained the Fairy Paribanou's

leave to go to the Sultan of the Indies' Court once a

month, he never failed, and the magician, knowing the

time, went a day or two before to the foot of the rock

where she lost sight of the Prince and his attendants, and

waited there.



The next morning Prince Ahmed went out, as usual, at

the iron gate, with the same attendants as before, and

passed by the magician, whom he knew not to be such,

and, seeing her lie with her head against the rock, and

complaining as if she were in great pain, he pitied her,

turned his horse about, went to her, and asked her what

was the matter with her, and what he could do to ease her.



The artful sorceress looked at the Prince in a pitiful

manner, without ever lifting up her head, and answered

in broken words and sighs, as if she could hardly fetch

her breath, that she was going to the capital city, but on

the way thither she was taken with so violent a fever that

her strength failed her, and she was forced to lie down

where he saw her, far from any habitation, and without

any hopes of assistance.



"Good woman," replied Prince Ahmed, "you are not so

far from help as you imagine. I am ready to assist you,

and convey you where you will meet with a speedy cure;

only get up, and let one of my people take you behind



him."



At these words the magician, who pretended sickness

only to know where the Prince lived and what he did,

refused not the charitable offer he made her, and that her

actions might correspond with her words she made many

pretended vain endeavors to get up. At the same time

two of the Prince's attendants, alighting off their horses,

helped her up, and set her behind another, and mounted

their horses again, and followed the Prince, who turned

back to the iron gate, which was opened by one of his

retinue who rode before. And when he came into the

outward court of the Fairy, without dismounting himself,

he sent to tell her he wanted to speak with her.



The Fairy Paribanou came with all imaginable haste,

not knowing what made Prince Ahmed return so soon,

who, not giving her time to ask him the reason, said:

"Princess, I desire you would have compassion on this

good woman," pointing to the magician, who was held

up by two of his retinue. "I found her in the condition

you see her in, and promised her the assistance she stands

in need of, and am persuaded that you, out of your own

goodness, as well as upon my entreaty, will not abandon

her."



The Fairy Paribanou, who had her eyes fixed upon the

pretended sick woman all the time that the Prince was

talking to her, ordered two of her women who followed

her to take her from the two men that held her, and carry

her into an apartment of the palace, and take as much

care of her as she would herself.



While the two women executed the Fairy's commands,

she went up to Prince Ahmed, and, whispering in his ear,

said: "Prince, this woman is not so sick as she pretends

to be; and I am very much mistaken if she is not an

impostor, who will be the cause of a great trouble to you.

But don't be concerned, let what will be devised against

you; be persuaded that I will deliver you out of all the

snares that shall be laid for you. Go and pursue your

journey."



This discourse of the Fairy's did not in the least frighten

Prince Ahmed. "My Princess," said he, "as I do not

remember I ever did or designed anybody an injury, I

cannot believe anybody can have a thought of doing me

one, but if they have I shall not, nevertheless, forbear

doing good whenever I have an opportunity." Then he

went back to his father's palace.



In the meantime the two women carried the magician

into a very fine apartment, richly furnished. First they

sat her down upon a sofa, with her back supported with

a cushion of gold brocade, while they made a bed on the

same sofa before her, the quilt of which was finely

embroidered with silk, the sheets of the finest linen, and the

coverlet cloth-of-gold. When they had put her into bed

(for the old sorceress pretended that her fever was so

violent she could not help herself in the least) one of the

women went out, and returned soon again with a china

dish in her hand, full of a certain liquor, which she

presented to the magician, while the other helped her to sit

up. "Drink this liquor," said she; "it is the Water of the

Fountain of Lions, and a sovereign remedy against all

fevers whatsoever. You will find the effect of it in less

than an hour's time."



The magician, to dissemble the better, took it after a

great deal of entreaty; but at last she took the china dish,

and, holding back her head, swallowed down the liquor.

When she was laid down again the two women covered

her up. "Lie quiet," said she who brought her the china

cup, "and get a little sleep if you can. We'll leave you,

and hope to find you perfectly cured when we come again

an hour hence."



The two women came again at the time they said they

should, and found the magician up and dressed, and sitting

upon the sofa. "Oh, admirable potion!" she said:

"it has wrought its cure much sooner than you told me it

would, and I shall be able to prosecute my journey."



The two women, who were fairies as well as their

mistress, after they had told the magician how glad they

were that she was cured so soon, walked before her, and

conducted her through several apartments, all more noble

than that wherein she lay, into a large hall, the most richly

and magnificently furnished of all the palace.



Fairy Paribanou sat in this hall on a throne of massive

gold, enriched with diamonds, rubies, and pearls of an

extraordinary size, and attended on each hand by a great

number of beautiful fairies, all richly clothed. At the

sight of so much majesty, the magician was not only

dazzled, but was so amazed that, after she had prostrated

herself before the throne, she could not open her lips to

thank the Fairy as she proposed. However, Paribanou

saved her the trouble, and said to her: "Good woman, I

am glad I had an opportunity to oblige you, and to see

you are able to pursue your journey. I won't detain you,

but perhaps you may not be displeased to see my palace;

follow my women, and they will show it you."



Then the magician went back and related to the Sultan

of the Indies all that had happened, and how very rich

Prince Ahmed was since his marriage with the Fairy,

richer than all the kings in the world, and how there was

danger that he should come and take the throne from his

father.



Though the Sultan of the Indies was very well persuaded

that Prince Ahmed's natural disposition was good, yet

he could not help being concerned at the discourse of the

old sorceress, to whom, when she was taking her leave,

he said: "I thank thee for the pains thou hast taken, and

thy wholesome advice. I am so sensible of the great importance

it is to me that I shall deliberate upon it in council."



Now the favorites advised that the Prince should be

killed, but the magician advised differently: "Make him

give you all kinds of wonderful things, by the Fairy's

help, till she tires of him and sends him away. As, for

example, every time your Majesty goes into the field, you

are obliged to be at a great expense, not only in pavilions

and tents for your army, but likewise in mules and camels

to carry their baggage. Now, might not you engage him

to use his interest with the Fairy to procure you a tent

which might be carried in a man's hand, and which should

be so large as to shelter your whole army against bad

weather?"



When the magician had finished her speech, the Sultan

asked his favorites if they had anything better to propose;

and, finding them all silent, determined to follow the

magician's advice, as the most reasonable and most agreeable

to his mild government.



Next day the Sultan did as the magician had advised

him, and asked for the pavilion.



Prince Ahmed never expected that the Sultan his

father would have asked such a thing, which at first

appeared so difficult, not to say impossible. Though he

knew not absolutely how great the power of genies and

fairies was, he doubted whether it extended so far as to

compass such a tent as his father desired. At last he

replied: "Though it is with the greatest reluctance imaginable,

I will not fail to ask the favor of my wife your

Majesty desires, but will not promise you to obtain it;

and if I should not have the honor to come again to pay

you my respects that shall be the sign that I have not had

success. 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, "I should be

very sorry if what I ask of you should cause me the

displeasure of never seeing you more. I find you don't know

the power a husband has over a wife; and yours would

show that her love to you was very indifferent if she, with

the power she has of a fairy, should refuse you so trifling

a request as this I desire you to ask of her for my sake."

The Prince went back, and was very sad for fear of

offending the Fairy. She kept pressing him to tell her

what was the matter, and at last he said: "Madam, you

may have observed that hitherto I have been content with

your love, and have never asked you any other favor.

Consider then, I conjure you, that it is not I, but the

Sultan my father, who indiscreetly, or at least I think so,

begs of you a pavilion large enough to shelter him, his

Court, and army from the violence of the weather, and

which a man may carry in his hand. But remember it is

the Sultan my father asks this favor."



"Prince," replied the Fairy, smiling, "I am sorry that

so small a matter should disturb you, and make you so

uneasy as you appeared to me."



Then the Fairy sent for her treasurer, to whom, when

she came, she said: "Nourgihan"--which was her name--"bring

me the largest pavilion in my treasury." Nourgiham

returned presently with the pavilion, which she

could not only hold in her hand, but in the palm of her

hand when she shut her fingers, and presented it to her

mistress, who gave it to Prince Ahmed to look at.



When Prince Ahmed saw the pavilion which the Fairy

called the largest in her treasury, he fancied she had a

mind to jest with him, and thereupon the marks of his

surprise appeared presently in his countenance; which

Paribanou perceiving burst out laughing. "What!

Prince," cried she, "do you think I jest with you? You'll

see presently that I am in earnest. Nourgihan," said she

to her treasurer, taking the tent out of Prince Ahmed's

hands, "go and set it up, that the Prince may judge

whether it may be large enough for the Sultan his father."



The treasurer went immediately with it out of the

palace, and carried it a great way off; and when she had

set it up one end reached to the very palace; at which

time the Prince, thinking it small, found it large enough

to shelter two greater armies than that of the Sultan his

father's, and then said to Paribanou: "I ask my Princess

a thousand pardons for my incredulity; after what I have

seen I believe there is nothing impossible to you." "You

see," said the Fairy, "that the pavilion is larger than what

your father may have occasion for; for you must know

that it has one property--that it is larger or smaller

according to the army it is to cover."



The treasurer took down the tent again, and brought

it to the Prince, who took it, and, without staying any

longer than till the next day, mounted his horse, and went

with the same attendants to the Sultan his father.



The Sultan, who was persuaded that there could not be

any such thing as such a tent as he asked for, was in a

great surprise at the Prince's diligence. He took the tent

and after he had admired its smallness his amazement was

so great that he could not recover himself. When the tent

was set up in the great plain, which we have before

mentioned, he found it large enough to shelter an army twice

as large as he could bring into the field.



But the Sultan was not yet satisfied. "Son," said he,

"I have already expressed to you how much I am obliged

to you for the present of the tent you have procured me;

that I look upon it as the most valuable thing in all my

treasury. But you must do one thing more for me, which

will be every whit as agreeable to me. I am informed that

the Fairy, your spouse, makes use of a certain water,

called the Water of the Fountain of Lions, which cures

all sorts of fevers, even the most dangerous, and, as I am

perfectly well persuaded my health is dear to you, I don't

doubt but you will ask her for a bottle of that water for

me, and bring it me as a sovereign medicine, which I may

make use of when I have occasion. Do me this other

important piece of service, and thereby complete the duty

of a good son toward a tender father."



The Prince returned and told the Fairy what his father

had said; "There's a great deal of wickedness in this

demand?" she answered, "as you will understand by what

I am going to tell you. The Fountain of Lions is situated

in the middle of a court of a great castle, the entrance

into which is guarded by four fierce lions, two of which

sleep alternately, while the other two are awake. But

don't let that frighten you: I'll give you means to pass by

them without any danger."



The Fairy Paribanou was at that time very hard at

work, and, as she had several clews of thread by her, she

took up one, and, presenting it to Prince Ahmed, said:

"First take this clew of thread. I'll tell you presently the

use of it. In the second place, you must have two horses;

one you must ride yourself, and the other you must lead,

which must be loaded with a sheep cut into four quarters,

that must be killed to-day. In the third place, you must

be provided with a bottle, which I will give you, to bring

the water in. Set out early to-morrow morning, and when

you have passed the iron gate throw the clew of thread

before you, which will roll till it comes to the gates of the

castle. Follow it, and when it stops, as the gates will be

open, you will see the four lions: the two that are awake

will, by their roaring, wake the other two, but don't be

frightened, but throw each of them a quarter of mutton,

and then clap spurs to your horse and ride to the fountain;

fill your bottle without alighting, and then return with

the same expedition. The lions will be so busy eating they

will let you pass by them."



Prince Ahmed set out the next morning at the time

appointed by the Fairy, and followed her directions

exactly. When he arrived at the gates of the castle he

distributed the quarters of mutton among the four lions,

and, passing through the midst of them bravely, got to

the fountain, filled his bottle, and returned back as safe and

sound as he went. When he had gone a little distance from

the castle gates he turned him about, and, perceiving two

of the lions coming after him, he drew his sabre and

prepared himself for defense. But as he went forward he

saw one of them turned out of the road at some distance,

and showed by his head and tail that he did not come to

do him any harm, but only to go before him, and that the

other stayed behind to follow, he put his sword up again

in its scabbard. Guarded in this manner, he arrived at the

capital of the Indies, but the lions never left him till they

had conducted him to the gates of the Sultan's palace;

after which they returned the same way they came, though

not without frightening all that saw them, for all they

went in a very gentle manner and showed no fierceness.



A great many officers came to attend the Prince while

he dismounted his horse, and afterward conducted him

into the Sultan's apartment, who was at that time

surrounded with his favorites. He approached toward the

throne, laid the bottle at the Sultan's feet, and kissed the

rich tapestry which covered his footstool, and then said:



"I have brought you, sir, the healthful water which your

Majesty desired so much to keep among your other

rarities in your treasury, but at the same time wish you

such extraordinary health as never to have occasion to

make use of it."



After the Prince had made an end of his compliment

the Sultan placed him on his right hand, and then said to

him: "Son, I am very much obliged to you for this valuable

present, as also for the great danger you have exposed

yourself to upon my account (which I have been informed

of by a magician who knows the Fountain of Lions); but

do me the pleasure," continued he, "to inform me by

what address, or, rather, by what incredible power, you

have been secured."



"Sir," replied Prince Ahmed, "I have no share in the

compliment your Majesty is pleased to make me; all the

honor is due to the Fairy my spouse, whose good advice

I followed." Then he informed the Sultan what those

directions were, and by the relation of this his expedition

let him know how well he had behaved himself. When he

had done the Sultan, who showed outwardly all the

demonstrations of great joy, but secretly became more

jealous, retired into an inward apartment, where he sent

for the magician.



The magician, at her arrival, saved the Sultan the

trouble to tell her of the success of Prince Ahmed's journey,

which she had heard of before she came, and therefore

was prepared with an infallible means, as she

pretended. This means she communicated to the Sultan

who declared it the next day to the Prince, in the midst

of all his courtiers, in these words: "Son," said he, "I have

one thing more to ask of you, after which I shall expect

nothing more from your obedience, nor your interest with

your wife. This request is, to bring me a man not above

a foot and a half high, and whose beard is thirty feet long

who carries a bar of iron upon his shoulders of five

hundredweight, which he uses as a quarterstaff."



Prince Ahmed, who did not believe that there was such

a man in the world as his father described, would gladly

have excused himself; but the Sultan persisted in his

demand, and told him the Fairy could do more incredible

things.



The next day the Prince returned to his dear Paribanou,

to whom he told his father's new demand, which, he said,

he looked upon to be a thing more impossible than the two

first; "for," added he, "I cannot imagine there can be such

a man in the world; without doubt, he has a mind to try

whether or no I am so silly as to go about it, or he has a

design on my ruin. In short, how can he suppose that I

should lay hold of a man so well armed, though he is but

little? What arms can I make use of to reduce him to my

will? If there are any means, I beg you will tell them, and

let me come off with honor this time."



"Don't affright yourself, Prince," replied the Fairy;

"you ran a risk in fetching the Water of the Fountain of

Lions for your father, but there's no danger in finding

out this man, who is my brother Schaibar, but is so far

from being like me, though we both had the same father,

that he is of so violent a nature that nothing can prevent

his giving cruel marks of his resentment for a

slight offense; yet, on the other hand, is so good as to

oblige anyone in whatever they desire. He is made

exactly as the Sultan your father has described him,

and has no other arms than a bar of iron of five hundred

pounds weight, without which he never stirs, and which

makes him respected. I'll send for him, and you shall

judge of the truth of what I tell you; but be sure to

prepare yourself against being frightened at his extraordinary

figure when you see him." "What! my Queen," replied

Prince Ahmed, "do you say Schaibar is your brother?

Let him be never so ugly or deformed I shall be so far

from being frightened at the sight of him that, as our

brother, I shall honor and love him."



The Fairy ordered a gold chafing-dish to be set with

a fire in it under the porch of her palace, with a box of

the same metal, which was a present to her, out of

which taking a perfume, and throwing it into the fire,

there arose a thick cloud of smoke.



Some moments after the Fairy said to Prince Ahmed:

"See, there comes my brother." The Prince immediately

perceived Schaibar coming gravely with his heavy

bar on his shoulder, his long beard, which he held up

before him, and a pair of thick mustachios, which he

tucked behind his ears and almost covered his face; his

eyes were very small and deep-set in his head, which

was far from being of the smallest size, and on his head

he wore a grenadier's cap; besides all this, he was very

much hump-backed.



If Prince Ahmed had not known that Schaibar was

Paribanou's brother, he would not have been able to

have looked at him without fear, but, knowing first

who he was, he stood by the Fairy without the least

concern.



Schaibar, as he came forward, looked at the Prince

earnestly enough to have chilled his blood in his veins,

and asked Paribanou, when he first accosted her, who

that man was. To which she replied: "He is my husband,

brother. His name is Ahmed; he is son to the

Sultan of the Indies. The reason why I did not invite

you to my wedding was I was unwilling to divert you

from an expedition you were engaged in, and from

which I heard with pleasure you returned victorious,

and so took the liberty now to call for you."



At these words, Schaibar, looking on Prince Ahmed

favorably, said: "Is there anything else, sister, wherein

I can serve him? It is enough for me that he is your

husband to engage me to do for him whatever he desires."

"The Sultan, his father," replied Paribanou, "has a

curiosity to see you, and I desire he may be your guide to

the Sultan's Court." "He needs but lead me the way

I'll follow him." "Brother," replied Paribanou, "it is

too late to go to-day, therefore stay till to-morrow morning;

and in the meantime I'll inform you of all that has

passed between the Sultan of the Indies and Prince

Ahmed since our marriage."



The next morning, after Schaibar had been informed

of the affair, he and Prince Ahmed set out for the Sultan's

Court. When they arrived at the gates of the capital

the people no sooner saw Schaibar but they ran and hid

themselves; and some shut up their shops and locked

themselves up in their houses, while others, flying,

communicated their fear to all they met, who stayed not

to look behind them, but ran too; insomuch that Schaibar

and Prince Ahmed, as they went along, found the

streets all desolate till they came to the palaces where

the porters, instead of keeping the gates, ran away too,

so that the Prince and Schaibar advanced without any

obstacle to the council-hall, where the Sultan was seated

on his throne, and giving audience. Here likewise

the ushers, at the approach of Schaibar, abandoned their

posts, and gave them free admittance.



Schaibar went boldly and fiercely up to the throne,

without waiting to be presented by Prince Ahmed, and

accosted the Sultan of the Indies in these words: "Thou

hast asked for me," said he; "see, here I am; what wouldst

thou have with me?"



The Sultan, instead of answering him, clapped his

hands before his eyes to avoid the sight of so terrible an

object; at which uncivil and rude reception Schaibar

was so much provoked, after he had given him the

trouble to come so far, that he instantly lifted up his

iron bar and killed him before Prince Ahmed could

intercede in his behalf. All that he could do was to

prevent his killing the grand vizier, who sat not far from

him, representing to him that he had always given the

Sultan his father good advice. "These are they, then,"

said Schaibar, "who gave him bad," and as he

pronounced these words he killed all the other viziers and

flattering favorites of the Sultan who were Prince

Ahmed's enemies. Every time he struck he killed some

one or other, and none escaped but they who were not

so frightened as to stand staring and gaping, and who

saved themselves by flight.



When this terrible execution was over Schaibar came

out of the council-hall into the midst of the courtyard

with the iron bar upon his shoulder, and, looking hard

at the grand vizier, who owed his life to Prince Ahmed,

he said: "I know here is a certain magician, who is a

greater enemy of my brother-in-law than all these base

favorites I have chastised. Let the magician be brought

to me presently." The grand vizier immediately sent

for her, and as soon as she was brought Schaibar said,

at the time he fetched a stroke at her with his iron bar:

"Take the reward of thy pernicious counsel, and learn

to feign sickness again."



After this he said: "This is not yet enough; I will use

the whole town after the same manner if they do not

immediately acknowledge Prince Ahmed, my brother-in-law,

for their Sultan and the Sultan of the Indies." Then

all that were there present made the air echo again with the

repeated acclamations of: "Long life to Sultan Ahmed";

and immediately after he was proclaimed through the

whole town. Schaibar made him be clothed in the royal

vestments, installed him on the throne, and after he had

caused all to swear homage and fidelity to him went

and fetched his sister Paribanou, whom he brought with

all the pomp and grandeur imaginable, and made her

to be owned Sultaness of the Indies.



As for Prince Ali and Princess Nouronnihar, as they

had no hand in the conspiracy against Prince Ahmed

and knew nothing of any, Prince Ahmed assigned them

a considerable province, with its capital, where they spent

the rest of their lives. Afterwards he sent an officer to

Prince Houssain to acquaint him with the change and

make him an offer of which province he liked best; but

that Prince thought himself so happy in his solitude

that he bade the officer return the Sultan his brother

thanks for the kindness he designed him, assuring him

of his submission; and that the only favor he desired of

him was to give him leave to live retired in the place he

had made choice of for his retreat.[1]





[1] Arabian Nights.







THE HISTORY OF JACK THE GIANT-KILLER





In the reign of the famous King Arthur there lived

in Cornwall a lad named Jack, who was a boy of a bold

temper, and took delight in hearing or reading of conjurers,

giants, and fairies; and used to listen eagerly to

the deeds of the knights of King Arthur's Round Table.



In those days there lived on St. Michael's Mount, off

Cornwall, a huge giant, eighteen feet high and nine feet

round; his fierce and savage looks were the terror of all

who beheld him.



He dwelt in a gloomy cavern on the top of the

mountain, and used to wade over to the mainland in search

of prey; when he would throw half a dozen oxen upon

his back, and tie three times as many sheep and hogs

round his waist, and march back to his own abode.



The giant had done this for many years when Jack

resolved to destroy him.



Jack took a horn, a shovel, a pickaxe, his armor, and

a dark lantern, and one winter's evening he went to the

mount. There he dug a pit twenty-two feet deep and

twenty broad. He covered the top over so as to make

it look like solid ground. He then blew his horn so

loudly that the giant awoke and came out of his den

crying out: "You saucy villain! you shall pay for this

I'll broil you for my breakfast!"



He had just finished, when, taking one step further,

he tumbled headlong into the pit, and Jack struck him

a blow on the head with his pickaxe which killed him.

Jack then returned home to cheer his friends with the

news.



Another giant, called Blunderbore, vowed to be

revenged on Jack if ever he should have him in his power.

This giant