The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night, vol 14 by Sir Richard Francis Burton (the best books to read TXT) ๐
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The Sultan who Fared Forth in the Habit of a Darwaysh,[FN#50]
He ceased not wayfaring, as become a wanderer, till he came to Cairo[FN#51] city whose circuit was a march of two and a half days and which then was ruled by her own King Mohammed hight. He found the folk in safety and prosperity and good ordinance; and he solaced himself by strolling about the streets to the right and left and he diverted his mind by considering the crowds and the world of men contained in the capital, until he drew near the palace when suddenly he sighted the Sultan returning from the chase and from taking his pleasure. Seeing this the Darwaysh retired to the wayside, and the King happening to glance in that direction, saw him standing and discerned in him the signs of former prosperity. So he said to one of his suite, โTake yon man with thee and entertain him till I send for him.โ His bidding being obeyed he entered the Palace and, when he had rested from the fatigues of the way, he summoned the Fak๏ฟฝr to the presence and questioned him of his condition, saying, โThou, from what land art thou?โ He responded, โO my lord, I am a beggar man;โ and the other rejoined, โThere is no help but that thou tell me what brought thee hither.โ The Darwaysh retorted, โO my lord, this may not be save in privacy,โ and the other exclaimed, โBe it so for thee.โ The twain then arose and repaired to a retired room in the Palace and the Fakir recounted to the Sultan all that had befallen him since the loss of his kingship and also how he, a Sultan, had given up the throne of his realm and had made himself a Darwaysh. The Sovran marvelled at his self-denial in yielding up the royal estate and cried, โLaud be to Him who degradeth and upraiseth, who honoureth and humbleth by the wise ordinance of His Allmight,โ presently adding, โO Darwaysh, I have passed through an adventure which is marvellous; indeed โtis one of the Wonders of the World[FN#52] which I needs must relate to thee nor from thee withhold aught thereof.โ And he fell to tellingโAnd Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and fell silent and ceased saying her permitted say. Then quoth her sister Dunyazad, โHow sweet and tasteful is thy tale, O sister mine, and enjoyable and delectable!โ Quoth she, โAnd where is this compared with that I would relate to you on the coming night an the Sovran suffer me to survive?โ Now when it was the next night and that was The Three Hundred and Forty-third Night, Dunyazad said to her, โAllah upon thee, O my sister, an thou be other than sleepy, finish for us thy tale that we may cut short the watching of this our latter night!โ She replied, โWith love and good will!โ It hath reached me, O auspicious King, the director, the right-guiding, lord of the rede which is benefiting and of deeds fair-seeming and worthy celebrating, that the King fell to telling the beggar man
The History of Mohammed, Sultan of Cairo.
I began my career in the world as a Darwaysh, an asker, owning naught of the comforts and conveniences of life, till at length, one day of the days, I became possessor of just ten silverlings[FN#53] (and no more) which I resolved to expend upon myself. Accordingly I walked into the Bazar purposing to purchase somewhat of provaunt. While I was looking around, I espied a man passing by and leading in an iron chain a dog-faced baboon and crying โHaraj![FN#54] this ape is for sale at the price of ten faddahs.โ The folk jibed at the man and jeered at his ape; but quoth I to myself, โBuy this beast and expend upon it the ten silverlings.โ Accordingly I drew near the seller and said to him, โTake these ten faddahs;โ whereupon he took them and gave me the ape which I led to the cell wherein I dwelt. Then I opened the door and went in with my bargain but began debating in my mind what to do and said, โHow shall I manage a meal for the baboon and myself?โ While I was considering behold, the beast was suddenly transformed, and became a young man fair of favour who had no equal in loveliness and stature and symmetric grace, perfect as the moon at full on the fourteenth night; and he addressed me saying, โO Shaykh Mohammed, thou hast bought me with ten faddahs, being all thou hadst and art debating how we shall feed, I and thou.โ Quoth I, โWhat art thou?โ and quoth he, โQuery me no questions, concerning whatso thou shalt see, for good luck hath come to thee.โ Then he gave me an Ashrafi[FN#55] and said, โTake this piece of gold and fare thee forth to the Bazar and get us somewhat to eat and drink.โ I took it from him and repairing to the market purchased whatso food our case required; then returning to the cell set the victual before him and seated myself by his side. So we ate our sufficiency and passed that night, I and he, in the cell, and, when Allah caused the morn to dawn, he said to me, โO man, this room is not suitable to us: hie thee and hire a larger lodging.โ I replied, โTo hear is to obey;โ
and, rising without stay or delay, went and took a room more roomy in the upper part of the Wak๏ฟฝlah.[FN#56] Thither we removed, I and the youth, and presently he gave me ten dinars more and said, โGo to the Bazar and buy thee furniture as much as is wanted.โ Accordingly, I went forth and bought what he ordered and on my return I found before him a bundle containing a suit of clothes suitable for the Kings. These he gave to me desiring that I hie me to the Hammam and don them after bathing, so I did his bidding and washed and dressed myself and found in each pocket of the many pockets an hundred gold pieces; and presently when I had donned the dress I said to myself, โAm I dreaming or wide awake?โ[FN#57] Then I returned to the youth in the room and when he saw me he rose to his feet and commended my figure and seated me beside him. Presently he brought up a bigger bundle and bade me take it and repair to the Sultan of the City and at the same time ask his daughter in marriage for myself.โAnd Shahrazad was surprised by the dawn of day and fell silent and ceased to say her permitted say. Then quoth her sister Dunyazad, โHow sweet is thy story, O sister mine, and how enjoyable and delectable!โ
Quoth she, โAnd where is this compared with that I would relate to you on the coming night, an the Sovran suffer me to survive?โ
Now when it was the next night and that was The Three Hundred and Forty-fourth Night, Dunyazad said to her, โAllah upon thee, O my sister, an thou be other than sleepy, finish for us thy tale that we may cut short the watching of this our latter night!โ She replied, โWith love and good will!โ It hath reached me, O auspicious King, the director, the right-guiding, lord of the rede which is benefiting and of deeds fair-seeming and worthy celebrating, that the Sultan of Cairo continued:[FN#58]โSo I took it and repaired with it to the King of that city, and a slave whom the youth had bought bore the bundle. Now when I approached the Palace I found thereabout the Chamberlains and Eunuchs and Lords of the Land: so I drew near them and when they saw me in that suit they approved my appearance and questioned me saying, โWhat be thy business and what dost thou require?โ I replied, โMy wish is to have audience of the King,โ and they rejoined, โWait a little while till we obtain for thee his permission.โ Then one of the ushers went in and reported the matter to the Sultan who gave orders to admit me; so the man came out and led me within and on entering the presence I salamed to the Sovran and wished him welfare
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