SECOND

THE SECOND KALANDAR'S TALE
KNOW, O my lady, that I was not born one-eyed, and mine is a strange

story. And it were graven with needle graver on the eye corners, it
were a warner to whoso would be warned. I am a king, son of a king,

and was brought up like a prince. I learned intoning the Koran
according the seven schools, and I read all manner books, and held

disputations on their contents with the doctors and men of science.
Moreover, I studied star lore and the fair sayings of poets, and I

exercised myself in all branches of learning until I surpassed the
people of my time. My skill in calligraphy exceeded that of all the

scribes, and my fame was bruited abroad over all climes and cities,
and all the kings learned to know my name.

Amongst others, the King of Hind heard of me and sent to my father
to invite me to his court, with offerings and presents and rarities

such as befit royalties. So my father fitted out six ships for me
and my people, and we put to sea and sailed for the space of a full

month till we made the land. Then we brought out the horses that
were with us in the ships, and after loading the camels with our

presents for the Prince, we set forth inland. But we had marched
only a little way when behold, a dust cloud up flew, and grew until it

walled the horizon from view. After an hour or so the veil lifted
and discovered beneath it fifty horsemen, ravening lions to the sight,

in steel armor dight. We observed them straightly and lo! they were
cutters-off of the highway, wild as wild Arabs. When they saw that

we were only four and had with us but the ten camels carrying the
presents, they dashed down upon us with lances at rest. We signed to

them with our fingers, as it were saying, "We be messengers of the
great King of Hind, so harm us not!" But they answered on like wise,

"We are not in his dominions to obey nor are we subject to his sway."
Then they set upon us and slew some of my slaves and put the lave to

flight. And I also fled after I had gotten a wound, a grievous hurt,
whilst the Arabs were taken up with the money and the presents which

were with us. I went forth unknowing whither I went, having become
mean as I was mighty, and I fared on until I came to the crest of a

mountain, where I took shelter for the night in a cave. When day arose
I set out again, nor ceased after this fashion till I arrived at a

fair city and a well filled. Now it was the season when winter was
turning away with his rime and to greet the world with his flowers

came prime, and the young blooms were springing and the streams flowed
ringing, and the birds were sweetly singing, as saith the poet

concerning a certain city when describing it:
A place secure from every thought of fear,

Safety and peace forever lord it here.
Its beauties seem to beautify its sons

And as in Heaven its happy folk appear.
I was glad of my arrival, for I was wearied with the way, and yellow

of face for weakness and want, but my plight was pitiable and I knew
not whither to betake me. So I accosted a tailor sitting in his little

shop and saluted him. He returned my salaam, and bade me kindly
welcome and wished me well and entreated me gently and asked me of the

cause of my strangerhood. I told him all my past from first to last,
and he was concerned on my account and said: "O youth, disclose not

thy secret to any. The King of this city is the greatest enemy thy
father hath, and there is blood wite between them and thou hast

cause to fear for thy life." Then he set meat and drink before me, and
I ate and drank and he with me, and we conversed freely till

nightfall, when he cleared me a place in a corner of his shop and
brought me a carpet and a coverlet. I tarried with him three days,

at the end of which time he said to me, "Knowest thou no calling
whereby to will thy living, O my son?" "I am learned in the law," I

replied, "and a doctor of doctrine, an adept in art and science, a
mathematician, and a notable pen-man." He rejoined, "Thy calling is of

no account in our city, where not a soul understandeth science or even
writing, or aught save money-making." Then said I, "By Allah, I know

nothing but what I have mentioned," and he answered, "Gird thy
middle and take thee a hatchet and a cord, and go and hew wood in

the wold for thy daily bread till Allah send thee relief, and tell
none who thou art lest they slay thee."

Then he bought me an ax and a rope and gave me in charge to
certain woodcutters, and with these guardians I went forth into the

forest, where I cut fuel wood the whole of my day and came back in the
evening bearing my bundle on my head. I sold it for half a dinar, with

part of which I bought provision, and laid by the rest. In such work I
spent a whole year, and when this was ended, I went out one day, as

was my wont, into the wilderness and, wandering away from my
companions, I chanced on a thickly grown lowland in which there was an

abundance of wood. So I entered and I found the gnarled stump of a
great tree and loosened the ground about it and shoveled away the

earth. Presently my hatchet rang upon a copper ring, so I cleared away
the soil and behold, the ring was attached to a wooden trapdoor.

This I raised, and there appeared beneath it a staircase.
I descended the steps to the bottom and came to a door, which I

opened and found myself in a noble hall strong of structure and
beautifully built, where was a damsel like a pearl of great price,

whose favor banished from my heart an grief and cark and care, and
whose soft speech healed the soul in despair and captivated the wise

and ware. Her figure measured five feet in height, her breasts were
firm and upright, her cheek a very garden of delight, her color lively

bright, her face gleamed like dawn through curly tresses which gloomed
like night, and above the snows of her bosom glittered teeth of a

pearly white. When I looked upon her I prostrated myself before Him
who had created her, for the beauty and loveliness He had shaped in

her, and she looked at me and said, "Art thou man or Jinni?" "I am a
man," answered I, and she, "Now who brought thee to this place where I

have abided five-and-twenty years without even yet seeing man in
it?" Quoth I (and indeed I found her words wondersweet, and my heart

was melted to the core by them), "O my lady, my good fortune led me
hither for the dispelling of my cark and care."

Then I related to her all my mishap from first to last, and my
case appeared to her exceedinggrievous, so she wept and said: "I will

tell thee my story in my turn. I am the daughter of the King Ifitamus,
lord of the Islands of Abnus, who married me to my cousin, the son

of my paternal uncle. But on my wedding night an Ifrit named Jirjis
bin Rajmus, first cousin- this is, mother's sister's son- of Iblis,

the Foul Fiend, snatched me up and, flying away with me like a bird,
set me down in this place, wither he conveyed all I needed of fine

stuffs, raiment and jewels and furniture, and meat and drink and other
else. Once in every ten days he comes here and lies a single night

with me, and then wends his way, for he took me without the consent of
his family. And he hath agreed with me that if ever I need him by

night or by day, I have only to pass my hand over yonder two lines
engraved upon the alcove and he will appear to me before my fingers

cease touching. Four days have now passed since he was here, and as
there remain six days before he come again, say me, wilt thou abide

with me five days, and go hence the day before his coming?" I
replied "Yes, and yes again! O rare, if all this be not a dream!"

Hereat she was glad and, springing to her feet, seized my hand and
carried me through an archeddoorway to a hammam bath, a fair hall and

richly decorate. I doffed my clothes, and she doffed hers, then we
bathed and she washed me. And when this was done we left the bath, and

she seated me by her side upon a high divan, and brought me sherbet
scented with musk. When we felt cool after the bath, she set food

before me and we ate and fell to talking, but presently she said to
me, "Lay thee down and take thy rest, for surely thou must be

weary." So I thanked her, my lady, and lay down and slept soundly,
forgetting all that happened to me. When I awoke I found her subbing

and shampooing my feet, so I again thanked her and blessed her and
we sat for a while talking. Said she, "By Allah, I was sad at heart,

for that I have dwelt alone underground for these five-and-twenty
years, and praise be to Allah Who hath sent me someone with whom I can

converse!" Then she asked, "O youth, what sayest thou to wine?" and
I answered, "Do as thou wilt." Whereupon she went to a cupboard and