第4章

Then said he，'This，O King！ is my tale： hast thou ever heard one stranger？'So Taj alMuluk marvelled with great marvel at the young merchant's story，and fire darted into his entrails on hearing the name of the Lady Dunya and her loveliness.And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.

When it was the One Hundred and Twentyninth Night，She said，It hath reached me，O auspicious King，that the Wazir Dandan continued to Zau alMakan： Now when Taj alMuluk heard the story of the young merchant，he marvelled with great marvel and fire darted into his entrails on hearing the name of the Lady Dunya who，as he knew，had embroidered the gazelles； and his love and longing hourly grew，so he said to the youth，'By Allah，that hath befallen thee whose like never befel any save thyself，but thou hast a life term appointed，which thou must fulfil； and now I would fain ask of thee a question.'Quoth Aziz，'And what is it？'Quoth he，'Wilt thou tell me how thou sawest the young lady who wrought these gazelles？'Then he，'O my lord，I got me access to her by a sleight and it was this.When I entered her city with the caravan，I went forth and wandered about the garths till I came to a flower garden abounding in trees，whose keeper was a venerable old man，a Shaykh stricken in years.I addressed him，saying，'O ancient sir，whose may be this garden？' and he replied，'It belongs to the King's daughter，the Lady Dunya.We are now beneath her palace and，when she is minded to amuse herself，she openeth the private wicket and walketh in the garden and smelleth the fragrance of the flowers.' So I said to him，'Favour me by allowing me to sit in this garden till she come；haply I may enjoy a sight of her as she passeth.' The Shaykh answered，'There can be no harm in that.' Thereupon I gave him a dirham or so and said to him，Buy us something to eat.' He took the money gladly and opened door and，entering himself，admitted me into the garden，where we strolled and ceased not strolling till we reached a pleasant spot in which he bade me sit down and await his going and his returning.Then he brought me somewhat of fruit and，leaving me，disappeared for an hour； but after a while he returned to me bringing a roasted lamb，of which we ate till we had eaten enough，my heart yearning the while for a sight of the lady.Presently，as we sat，the postern opened and the keeper said to me，'Rise and hide thee.' I did so； and behold，a black eunuch put his head out through the garden wicket and asked，'O Shaykh，there any one with thee？' 'No，' answered he；and the eunuch said，'Shut the garden gate.' So the keeper shut the gate，and lo！ the Lady Dunya came in by the private door.

When I saw her，methought the moon had risen above the horizon and was shining； I looked at her a full hour and longed for her as one athirst longeth for water.After a while she withdrew and shut the door； whereupon I left the garden and sought my lodging，knowing that I could not get at her and that I was no man for her，more especially as I was become like a woman，having no manly tool： moreover she was a King's daughter and I but a merchant man； so； how could I have access to the like of her or to any other woman？Accordingly，when these my companions made ready for the road，I also made preparation and set out with them，and we journeyed towards this city till we arrived at the place ere we met with thee.Thou askedst me and I have answered；and these are my adventures and peace be with thee！'Now when Taj alMuluk heard that account，fires raged in his bosom and his heart and thought were occupied love for the Lady Dunya； and passion and longing were sore upon him.Then he arose and mounted horse and，taking Aziz with him，returned to his father's capital，where he settled him in a separate house and supplied him with all he needed in the way of meat and drink and dress.

Then he left him and returned to his palace，with the tears trickling down his cheeks，for hearing oftentimes standeth instead of seeing and knowing.[10] And he ceased not to be in this state till his father came in to him and finding him wan faced，lean of limb and tearful eyed，knew that something had occurred to chagrin him and said，'O my son，acquaint me with thy case and tell me what hath befallen thee，that thy colour is changed and thy body is wasted.So he told him all that had passed and what tale he had heard of Aziz and the account of the Princess Dunya； and how he had fallen in love of her on hearsay，without having set eyes on her.Quoth his sire，'O my son，she is the daughter of a King whose land is far from ours： so put away this thought and go in to thy mother's palace.'And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.

When it was the One Hundred and Thirtieth Night，She said，It hath reached me，O auspicious King，that the Wazir Dandan continued to Zau alMakan： And the father of Taj alMuluk spake to him on this wise，'O my son，her father is a King whose land is far from ours： so put away this thought and go into thy mother's palace where are five hundred maidens like moons，and whichsoever of them pleaseth thee，take her； or else we will seek for thee in marriage some one of the King's daughters，fairer than the Lady Dunya.'Answered Taj alMuluk，'O my father，I desire none other，for she it is who wrought the gazelles which I

saw，and there is no help but that I have her； else I will flee into the world and the waste and I will slay myself for her sake.'Then said his father，'Have patience with me，till I send to her sire and demand her in marriage，and win thee thy wish as I did for myself with thy mother.Haply Allah will bring thee to thy desire； and，if her parent will not consent，I will make his kingdom quake under him with an army，whose rear shall be with me whilst its van shall be upon him.'Then he sent for the youth Aziz and asked him，'O my son，tell me dost thou know the way to the Camphor Islands？