The Arabian Nights Entertainments
journey was to divert attention by creating the idea of the prince's
death. "Your father will doubtless be plunged in the deepest grief,"
he went on, "but his joy at your return will be all the greater."
The prince and his companion now continued their journey by land and
sea, and as they had brought plenty of money to defray their expenses
they met with no needless delays. At length they reached the capital
of China, where they spent three days in a suitable lodging to recover
from their fatigues.
During this time Marzavan had an astrologer's dress prepared for the
prince. They then went to the baths, after which the prince put on the
astrologer's robe and was conducted within sight of the king's palace
by Marzavan, who left him there and went to consult his mother, the
princess's nurse.
Meantime the prince, according to Marzavan's instructions, advanced
close to the palace gates and there proclaimed aloud:
"I am an astrologer and I come to restore health to the Princess
Badoura, daughter of the high and mighty King of China, on the
conditions laid down by His Majesty of marrying her should I succeed,
or of losing my life if I fail."
It was some little time since anyone had presented himself to run the
terrible risk involved in attempting to cure the princess, and a crowd
soon gathered round the prince. On perceiving his youth, good looks,
and distinguished bearing, everyone felt pity for him.
"What are you thinking of, sir," exclaimed some; "why expose yourself
to certain death? Are not the heads you see exposed on the town wall
sufficient warning? For mercy's sake give up this mad idea and retire
whilst you can."
But the prince remained firm, and only repeated his cry with greater
assurance, to the horror of the crowd.
"He is resolved to die!" they cried; "may heaven have pity on him!"
Camaralzaman now called out for the third time, and at last the
grand-vizir himself came out and fetched him in.
The prime minister led the prince to the king, who was much struck by
the noble air of this new adventurer, and felt such pity for the fate
so evidently in store for him, that he tried to persuade the young man
to renounce his project.
But Camaralzaman politely yet firmly persisted in his intentions, and
at length the king desired the eunuch who had the guard of the
princess's apartments to conduct the astrologer to her presence.
The eunuch led the way through long passages, and Camaralzaman followed
rapidly, in haste to reach the object of his desires. At last they
came to a large hall which was the ante-room to the princess's chamber,
and here Camaralzaman said to the eunuch:
"Now you shall choose. Shall I cure the princess in her own presence,
or shall I do it from here without seeing her?"
The eunuch, who had expressed many contemptuous doubts as they came
along of the newcomer's powers, was much surprised and said:
"If you really can cure, it is immaterial when you do it. Your fame
will be equally great."
"Very well," replied the prince: "then, impatient though I am to see
the princess, I will effect the cure where I stand, the better to
convince you of my power." He accordingly drew out his writing case
and wrote as follows--"Adorable princess! The enamoured Camaralzaman
has never forgotten the moment when, contemplating your sleeping
beauty, he gave you his heart. As he was at that time deprived of the
happiness of conversing with you, he ventured to give you his ring as a
token of his love, and to take yours in exchange, which he now encloses
in this letter. Should you deign to return it to him he will be the
happiest of mortals, if not he will cheerfully resign himself to death,
seeing he does so for love of you. He awaits your reply in your
ante-room."
Having finished this note the prince carefully enclosed the ring in it
without letting the eunuch see it, and gave him the letter, saying:
"Take this to your mistress, my friend, and if on reading it and seeing
its contents she is not instantly cured, you may call me an impudent
impostor."
The eunuch at once passed into the princess's room, and handing her the
letter said:
"Madam, a new astrologer has arrived, who declares that you will be
cured as soon as you have read this letter and seen what it contains."
The princess took the note and opened it with languid indifference.
But no sooner did she see her ring than, barely glancing at the
writing, she rose hastily and with one bound reached the doorway and
pushed back the hangings. Here she and the prince recognised each
other, and in a moment they were locked in each other's arms, where
they tenderly embraced, wondering how they came to meet at last after
so long a separation. The nurse, who had hastened after her charge,
drew them back to the inner room, where the princess restored her ring
to Camaralzaman.
"Take it back," she said, "I could not keep it without returning yours
to you, and I am resolved to wear that as long as I live."
Meantime the eunuch had hastened back to the king. "Sire," he cried,
"all the former doctors and astrologers were mere quacks. This man has
cured the princess without even seeing her." He then told all to the
king, who, overjoyed, hastened to his daughter's apartments, where,
after embracing her, he placed her hand in that of the prince, saying:
"Happy stranger, I keep my promise, and give you my daughter to wife,
be you who you may. But, if I am not much mistaken, your condition is
above what you appear to be."
The prince thanked the king in the warmest and most respectful terms,
and added: "As regards my person, your Majesty has rightly guessed
that I am not an astrologer. It is but a disguise which I assumed in
order to merit your illustrious alliance. I am myself a prince, my
name is Camaralzaman, and my father is Schahzaman, King of the Isles of
the Children of Khaledan." He then told his whole history, including
the extraordinary manner of his first seeing and loving the Princess
Badoura.
When he had finished the king exclaimed: "So remarkable a story must
not be lost to posterity. It shall be inscribed in the archives of my
kingdom and published everywhere abroad."
The wedding took place next day amidst great pomp and rejoicings.
Marzavan was not forgotten, but was given a lucrative post at court,
with a promise of further advancement.
The prince and princess were now entirely happy, and months slipped by
unconsciously in the enjoyment of each other's society.
One night, however, Prince Camaralzaman dreamt that he saw his father
lying at the point of death, and saying: "Alas! my son whom I loved so
tenderly, has deserted me and is now causing my death."
The prince woke with such a groan as to startle the princess, who asked
what was the matter.
"Ah!" cried the prince, "at this very moment my father is perhaps no
more!" and he told his dream.
The princess said but little at the time, but next morning she went to
the king, and kissing his hand said:
"I have a favour to ask of your Majesty, and I beg you to believe that
it is in no way prompted by my husband. It is that you will allow us
both to visit my father-in-law King Schahzaman."
Sorry though the king felt at the idea of parting with his daughter, he
felt her request to be so reasonable that he could not refuse it, and
made but one condition, which was that she should only spend one year
at the court of King Schahzaman, suggesting that in future the young
couple should visit their respective parents alternately.
The princess brought this good news to her husband, who thanked her
tenderly for this fresh proof of her affection.
All preparations for the journey were now pressed forwards, and when
all was ready the king accompanied the travellers for some days, after
which he took an affectionate leave of his daughter, and charging the
prince to take every care of her, returned to his capital.
The prince and princess journeyed on, and at the end of a month reached
a huge meadow interspersed with clumps of big trees which cast a most
pleasant shade. As the heat was great, Camaralzaman thought it well to
encamp in this cool spot. Accordingly the tents were pitched, and the
princess entering hers whilst the prince was giving his further orders,
removed her girdle, which she placed beside her, and desiring her women
to leave her, lay down and was soon asleep.
When the camp was all in order the prince entered the tent and, seeing
the princess asleep, he sat down near her without speaking. His eyes
fell on the girdle which, he took up, and whilst inspecting the
precious stones set in it he noticed a little pouch sewn to the girdle
and fastened by a loop. He touched it and felt something hard within.
Curious as to what this might be, he opened the pouch and found a
cornelian engraved with various figures and strange characters.
"This cornelian must be something very precious," thought he, "or my
wife would not wear it on her person with so much care."
In truth it was a talisman which the Queen of China had given her
daughter, telling her it would ensure her happiness as long as she
carried it about her.
The better to examine the stone the prince stepped to the open doorway
of the tent. As he stood there holding it in the open palm of his
hand, a bird suddenly swooped down, picked the stone up in its beak and
flew away with it.
Imagine the prince's dismay at losing a thing by which his wife
evidently set such store!
The bird having secured its prey flew off some yards and alighted on
the ground, holding the talisman it its beak. Prince Camaralzaman
advanced, hoping the bird would drop it, but as soon as he approached
the thief fluttered on a little further still. He continued his
pursuit till the bird suddenly swallowed the stone and took a longer
flight than before. The prince then hoped to kill it with a stone, but
the more hotly he pursued the further flew the bird.
In this fashion he was led on by hill and dale through the entire day,
and when night came the tiresome creature roosted on the top of a very
high tree where it could rest in safety.
The prince in despair at all his useless trouble began to think whether
he had better return to the camp. "But," thought he, "how shall I find
my way back? Must I go up hill or down? I should certainly lose my
way in the dark, even if my strength held out." Overwhelmed by hunger,
thirst, fatigue and sleep, he ended by spending the night at the foot
of the tree.
Next morning Camaralzaman woke up before the bird left its perch, and
no sooner did it take flight than he followed it again with as little
success as the previous day, only stopping to eat some herbs and fruit
he found by the way. In this fashion he spent ten days, following the
bird all day and spending the night at the foot of a tree, whilst it
roosted on the topmost bough. On the eleventh day the bird and the
prince reached a large town, and as soon as they were close to its
walls the bird took a sudden and higher flight and was shortly
completely out of sight, whilst Camaralzaman felt in despair at having
to give up all hopes of ever recovering the talisman of the Princess
Badoura.
Much cast down, he entered the town, which was built near the sea and
had a fine harbour. He walked about the streets for a long time, not
knowing where to go, but at length as he walked near the seashore he
found a garden door open and walked in.
The gardener, a good old man, who was at work, happened to look up,
and, seeing a stranger, whom he recognised by his dress as a Mussulman,
he told him to come in at once and to shut the door.
Camaralzaman did as he was bid, and inquired why this precaution was
taken.
"Because," said the gardener, "I see that you are a stranger and a