第25章 THE BOOK OF THE THOUSAND NIGHTS AND ONE NIGHT(23)

And she wept and said again'O my lordspeak to me！'The King lowered his voice and knotting his tonguespoke after the fashion of the blacks and said'Alack！alack！there is no power and no virtue but in God the Most High the Supreme！'When she heard thisshe screamed out for joy and swooned away；and when she revivedshe said'O my lordcan it be true and didst thou indeed speak to me？'The King made his voice small and said'O accursed womanthou deservest not that I should speak to thee！'

'Why so？'asked she；and he replied'Because all day thou tormentest thy husband and his cries disturb meand all night long he calls upon God for help and invokes curses on thee and me and keeps me awake from nightfall to daybreak and disquiets me；

and but for thisI had been well long ago. This is what has hindered me from answering thee.'Quoth she'With thy leaveI will release him from his present condition.'Do so，'said the King'and rid us of his noise.'I hear and obey，'answered she，and going out into the palacetook a cup full of water and spoke over it certain wordswhereupon the water began to boil and bubble as the cauldron bubbles over the fire. Then she went up to the young King and sprinkled him with itsaying'By the virtue of the words I have spokenif thou art thus by my spellsquit this shape for thy former one.'And immediately he shook and rose to his feetrejoicing in his deliveranceand said'I testify that there is no god but God and that Mohammed is His apostle，may God bless and preserve him！'Then she said to him'Depart hence and do not returnor I will kill thee.'And she screamed out in his face. So he went out from before herand she returned to the dome and going down into the tombsaid'O my lordcome forth to methat I may see thy goodly form！'The King replied in a weak voice'What hast thou done？ Thou hast rid me of the branchbut not of the root.'O my belovedO my little black，'said she'what is the root？'Out on theeO accursed one！'

answered he. 'Every nightat the middle hourthe people of the citywhom thou by thine enchantments didst change into fish，lift up their heads from the water and cry to God for help and curse thee and me；and this is what hinders my recovery： so do thou go quickly and set them freeand after return and take me by the hand and raise me up；for indeed health returns to me.'

When she heard this speech of the Kingwhom she supposed to be the slaveshe rejoiced and said'O my lordon my head and eyes be itin the name of God！'Then she went outfull of joyand ran to the lake and taking a little of the water in her hand，spoke over it words that might not be understoodwhereupon there was a great stir among the fish；and they raised their heads to the surface and stood upright and became men as before. Thus was the spell dissolved from the people of the city and the lake became again a populous citywith its streets and bazaarsin which the merchants bought and soldand every one returned to his employment；whilst the four hills were restored to their original form of islands. Then the enchantress returned to the King and said to him'O my lordgive me thy noble hand and arise.'Come nearer to me，'answered hein a faint voice. So she came close to himand he took his sword and smote her in the breastthat the steel came forthgleamingfrom her back. He smote her again and cut her in twainand she fell to the ground in two halves. Then he went out and found the young King standing awaiting him and gave him joy of his deliverancewhereupon the youth rejoiced and thanked him and kissed his hand. Quoth the Sultan'Wilt thou abide in this thy city or come with me to mine？'O King of the age，'rejoined he'dost thou know how far it is from here to thy capital？'And the Sultan replied'Two and a half days'journey.'O King，'said the other'if thou sleepestawake！Between thee and thy capital is a full year's journey to a diligent traveller；and thou hadst not come hither in two days and a halfsave that the city was enchanted. ButKingI will never leave theenonot for the twinkling of an eye！'The Sultan rejoiced at his words and said'Praised be God，who hath bestowed thee upon me！Thou shalt be my sonfor in all my life I have never been blessed with a son.'And they embraced each other and rejoiced with exceeding great joy. Then they returned to the palaceand the young King bade his officers make ready for a journey and prepare his baggage and all that he required. The preparations occupied ten daysat the end of which time the young King set out in company of the Sultanwhose heart burned within him at the thought of his long absence from his capitalattended by fifty white slaves and provided with magnificent presents. They journeyed day and night for a whole yearand God ordained them safetytill they drew near the Sultan's capital and sent messengers in advance to acquaint the Vizier with his safe arrival. Then came out the Vizier and the troopswho had given up all hope of the Sultan's returnand kissed the ground before him and gave him joy of his safety. So he entered his palace and sat down on his throne and the Vizier came in to himto whom he related all that had befallen him with the young King： and the Vizier gave the latter joy of his deliverance. Then all things being set in orderthe Sultan gave largesse to many of his people and sending for the fisherman who had brought him the enchanted fish and had thus been the first cause of the delivery of the people of the Black Islands，bestowed on him a dress of honour and enquired of his condition and whether he had any childrento which he replied that he had three childrentwo daughters and one son. So the King sent for them and taking one daughter to wifemarried the other to the young King and made the son his treasurer. Moreoverhe invested his Vizier with the sovereignty of the Black Islands and despatched him thither with the fifty officerswho had accompanied the young King thencegiving him robes of honour for all the amirs. So the Vizier kissed hands and set out for the Black Islands. The fisherman became the richest man of his time，and he and his daughters and the two Kings their husbands abode in peace till death came to them.