Opening, part 28 Opening, part 28 of «The Arabian Nights Entertainments» by Andrew Lang: the whole text, 114 sentences and 2564 words. Every sentence has its own page with its syntax tree and pragmatics, parsed by Mova itself; 3 of them are in the tales treebank and were checked by a teacher model.
1 Being a man of great wisdom and learning, he perceived in the short conversation he had with her that he would seek in vain another slave to surpass her in any of the qualities required by the king, and therefore asked the dealer what price the merchant put upon her. 2 "Sir," was the answer, "for less than 10,000 gold pieces he will not let her go; he declares that, what with masters for her instruction, and for bodily exercises, not to speak of clothing and nourishment, he has already spent that sum upon her. 3 She is in every way fit to be the slave of a king; she plays every musical instrument, she sings, she dances, she makes verses, in fact there is no accomplishment in which she does not excel." 4 Khacan, who was better able to judge of her merits than the dealer, wishing to bring the matter to a conclusion, sent for the merchant, and said to him, "It is not for myself that I wish to buy your slave, but for the king. 5 Her price, however, is too high." 6 "Sir," replied the merchant, "I should esteem it an honour to present her to his Majesty, did it become a merchant to do such a thing. 7 I ask no more than the sum it has cost me to make her such as she is." 8 Khacan, not wishing to bargain, immediately had the sum counted out, and given to the merchant, who before withdrawing said: 9 "Sir, as she is destined for the king, I would have you observe that she is extremely tired with the long journey, and before presenting her to his Majesty you would do well to keep her a fortnight in your own house, and to see that a little care is bestowed upon her. 10 The sun has tanned her complexion, but when she has been two or three times to the bath, and is fittingly dressed, you will see how much her beauty will be increased." 11 Khacan thanked the merchant for his advice, and determined to follow it. 12 He gave the beautiful Persian an apartment near to that of his wife, whom he charged to treat her as befitting a lady destined for the king, and to order for her the most magnificent garments. 13 Before bidding adieu to the fair Persian, he said to her: "No happiness can be greater than what I have procured for you; judge for yourself, you now belong to the king. 14 I have, however, to warn you of one thing. 15 I have a son, who, though not wanting in sense, is young, foolish, and headstrong, and I charge you to keep him at a distance." 16 The Persian thanked him for his advice, and promised to profit by it. 17 Noureddin--for so the vizir's son was named--went freely in and out of his mother's apartments. 18 He was young, well-made and agreeable, and had the gift of charming all with whom he came in contact. 19 As soon as he saw the beautiful Persian, though aware that she was destined for the king, he let himself be carried away by her charms, and determined at once to use every means in his power to retain her for himself. 20 The Persian was equally captivated by Noureddin, and said to herself: "The vizir does me too great honour in buying me for the king. 21 I should esteem myself very happy if he would give me to his son." 22 Noureddin availed himself of every opportunity to gaze upon her beauty, to talk and laugh with her, and never would have left her side if his mother had not forced him. 23 Some time having elapsed, on account of the long journey, since the beautiful Persian had been to the bath, five or six days after her purchase the vizir's wife gave orders that the bath should be heated for her, and that her own female slaves should attend her there, and after-wards should array her in a magnificent dress that had been prepared for her. 24 Her toilet completed, the beautiful Persian came to present herself to the vizir's wife, who hardly recognised her, so greatly was her beauty increased. 25 Kissing her hand, the beautiful slave said: "Madam, I do not know how you find me in this dress that you have had prepared for me; your women assure me that it suits me so well that they hardly knew me. 26 If it is the truth they tell me, and not flattery, it is to you I owe the transformation." 27 "My daughter," answered the vizir's wife, "they do not flatter you. 28 I myself hardly recognised you. 29 The improvement is not due to the dress alone, but largely to the beautifying effects of the bath. 30 I am so struck by its results, that I would try it on myself." 31 Acting forthwith on this decision she ordered two little slaves during her absence to watch over the beautiful Persian, and not to allow Noureddin to enter should he come. 32 She had no sooner gone than he arrived, and not finding his mother in her apartment, would have sought her in that of the Persian. 33 The two little slaves barred the entrance, saying that his mother had given orders that he was not to be admitted. 34 Taking each by an arm, he put them out of the anteroom, and shut the door. 35 Then they rushed to the bath, informing their mistress with shrieks and tears that Noureddin had driven them away by force and gone in. 36 This news caused great consternation to the lady, who, dressing herself as quickly as possible, hastened to the apartment of the fair Persian, to find that Noureddin had already gone out. 37 Much astonished to see the vizir's wife enter in tears, the Persian asked what misfortune had happened. 38 "What!" exclaimed the lady, "you ask me that, knowing that my son Noureddin has been alone with you?" 39 "But, madam," inquired the Persian, "what harm is there in that?" 40 "How! 41 Has my husband not told you that you are destined for the king?" 42 "Certainly, but Noureddin has just been to tell me that his father has changed his mind and has bestowed me upon him. 43 I believed him, and so great is my affection for Noureddin that I would willingly pass my life with him." 44 "Would to heaven," exclaimed the wife of the vizir, "that what you say were true; but Noureddin has deceived you, and his father will sacrifice him in vengeance for the wrong he has done." 45 So saying, she wept bitterly, and all her slaves wept with her. 46 Khacan, entering shortly after this, was much astonished to find his wife and her slaves in tears, and the beautiful Persian greatly perturbed. checked by a teacher 47 He inquired the cause, but for some time no answer was forthcoming. 48 When his wife was at length sufficiently calm to inform him of what had happened, his rage and mortification knew no bounds. 49 Wringing his hands and rending his beard, he exclaimed: 50 "Wretched son! thou destroyest not only thyself but thy father. 51 The king will shed not only thy blood but mine." 52 His wife tried to console him, saying: "Do not torment thyself. 53 With the sale of my jewels I will obtain 10,000 gold pieces, and with this sum you will buy another slave." 54 "Do not suppose," replied her husband, "that it is the loss of the money that affects me. 55 My honour is at stake, and that is more precious to me than all my wealth. 56 You know that Saouy is my mortal enemy. 57 He will relate all this to the king, and you will see the consequences that will ensue." 58 "My lord," said his wife, "I am quite aware of Saouy's baseness, and that he is capable of playing you this malicious trick. 59 But how can he or any one else know what takes place in this house? 60 Even if you are suspected and the king accuses you, you have only to say that, after examining the slave, you did not find her worthy of his Majesty. 61 Reassure yourself, and send to the dealers, saying that you are not satisfied, and wish them to find you another slave." 62 This advice appearing reasonable, Khacan decided to follow it, but his wrath against his son did not abate. 63 Noureddin dared not appear all that day, and fearing to take refuge with his usual associates in case his father should seek him there, he spent the day in a secluded garden where he was not known. 64 He did not return home till after his father had gone to bed, and went out early next morning before the vizir awoke, and these precautions he kept up during an entire month. 65 His mother, though knowing very well that he returned to the house every evening, dare not ask her husband to pardon him. 66 At length she took courage and said: 67 "My lord, I know that a son could not act more basely towards his father than Noureddin has done towards you, but after all will you now pardon him? 68 Do you not consider the harm you may be doing yourself, and fear that malicious people, seeking the cause of your estrangement, may guess the real one?" 69 "Madam," replied the vizir, "what you say is very just, but I cannot pardon Noureddin before I have mortified him as he deserves." 70 "He will be sufficiently punished," answered the lady, "if you do as I suggest. 71 In the evening, when he returns home, lie in wait for him and pretend that you will slay him. 72 I will come to his aid, and while pointing out that you only yield his life at my supplications, you can force him to take the beautiful Persian on any conditions you please." 73 Khacan agreed to follow this plan, and everything took place as arranged. 74 On Noureddin's return Khacan pretended to be about to slay him, but yielding to his wife's intercession, said to his son: 75 "You owe your life to your mother. 76 I pardon you on her intercession, and on the conditions that you take the beautiful Persian for your wife, and not your slave, that you never sell her, nor put her away." 77 Noureddin, not hoping for so great indulgence, thanked his father, and vowed to do as he desired. 78 Khacan was at great pains frequently to speak to the king of the difficulties attending the commission he had given him, but some whispers of what had actually taken place did reach Saouy's ears. 79 More than a year after these events the minister took a chill, leaving the bath while still heated to go out on important business. checked by a teacher 80 This resulted in inflammation of the lungs, which rapidly increased. 81 The vizir, feeling that his end was at hand, sent for Noureddin, and charged him with his dying breath never to part with the beautiful Persian. 82 Shortly afterwards he expired, leaving universal regret throughout the kingdom; rich and poor alike followed him to the grave. 83 Noureddin showed every mark of the deepest grief at his father's death, and for long refused to see any one. 84 At length a day came when, one of his friends being admitted, urged him strongly to be consoled, and to resume his former place in society. 85 This advice Noureddin was not slow to follow, and soon he formed little society of ten young men all about his own age, with whom he spent all his time in continual feasting and merry-making. 86 Sometimes the fair Persian consented to appear at these festivities, but she disapproved of this lavish expenditure, and did not scruple to warn Noureddin of the probable consequences. 87 He, however, only laughed at her advice, saying, that his father had always kept him in too great constraint, and that now he rejoiced at his new-found liberty. 88 What added to the confusion in his affairs was that he refused to look into his accounts with his steward, sending him away every time he appeared with his book. 89 "See only that I live well," he said, "and do not disturb me about anything else." 90 Not only did Noureddin's friends constantly partake of his hospitality, but in every way they took advantage of his generosity; everything of his that they admired, whether land, houses, baths, or any other source of his revenue, he immediately bestowed on them. 91 In vain the Persian protested against the wrong he did himself; he continued to scatter with the same lavish hand. 92 Throughout one entire year Noureddin did nothing but amuse himself, and dissipate the wealth his father had taken such pains to acquire. 93 The year had barely elapsed, when one day, as they sat at table, there came a knock at the door. 94 The slaves having been sent away, Noureddin went to open it himself. 95 One of his friends had risen at the same time, but Noureddin was before him, and finding the intruder to be the steward, he went out and closed the door. checked by a teacher 96 The friend, curious to hear what passed between them, hid himself behind the hangings, and heard the following words: 97 "My lord," said the steward, "I beg a thousand pardons for interrupting you, but what I have long foreseen has taken place. 98 Nothing remains of the sums you gave me for your expenses, and all other sources of income are also at end, having been transferred by you to others. 99 If you wish me to remain in your service, furnish me with the necessary funds, else I must withdraw." 100 So great was Noureddin's consternation that he had not a word to say in reply. ← previous Opening, part 27next → Opening, part 29↑ back to The Arabian Nights Entertainments This page in Markdown → https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg128/28/