🧚 Opening, part 4 · page 2

When he came back _Mihr-un-Nisa_ had only one dove in her hands.73

“Where is the other?” said Prince Salim.74

“I let it fly,” said _Mihr-un-Nisa_.75

And, “How did you do that, stupid-one?” said the Prince angrily.76

“Just so, my Prince,” said _Mihr-un-Nisa_, opening her other hand, from which the second dove also flew happily away.77

She looked so beautiful in her naughtiness that the Prince fell in love with her that minute.78 And many years afterwards, when he became Emperor, he married her, and changed her name to _Nŭr Mahal_, “the Light of the Palace”.79 And again, for she seemed more beautiful still to him every day, he changed it to _Nŭr Jehan_, “the Light of the World”.80

And her lovely face is still to be seen painted on ivory and vellum among the treasures of the ancient city of Delhi.81

The Boy who was Always Thirteen82

There were once a man and woman so truly good that the great god said he would reward them with whatever they wished to ask.83 “We want a son,” said the man and his wife.84

“You shall have a son,” said Shiva, the great god.85 “But you must now choose the kind of son you want.86 Will you have him perfect in every way, beautiful and good and clever, and loved by all the world, but doomed to be no older than his thirteenth year?87 Or will you have him just an ordinary boy, but living as long as the ordinary man, so that you may even see his children’s children?88 Choose: that which you wish shall be given.”89

And the man and his wife were sorrowful; for to choose was not easy.90 How could they bear their son to die when he was thirteen.91 Yet how could they bear to have him just an ordinary boy, like any other that came into the world, and had trouble, and made mistakes, and died at last, leaving no name behind him?92 And the puzzle was too hard for the man.93

“I cannot choose,” he said to his wife.94 “You must decide.95 It is your business.”96

And the woman said: “We will have the perfect son that Shiva has offered us.97 And the rest we will leave to the gods.”98

So Kamil, the perfect one, was born, and grew from happy baby to happy boy.99 And he was beautiful to look upon; and clever was he, and strong, and gentle, and kind.100 Everyone loved him, and to all gave he love also, making happiness wherever he went.101

And his father and mother, and all the people of his village, alike forgot that there could be any end to this happiness.102 But the King of Death did not forget.103 “No older than his thirteenth year,” had said Shiva, the great god.104 And Kamil, the perfect boy, was in his thirteenth year.105

So, on his birthday, the King of Death sent his messengers, to bring Kamil away to the Kingdom of Death.106 “It is only another kind of life,” said the messengers; “do not be afraid, come with us.107 The King himself is waiting to receive you.”108

But the boy said: “Why should I come?109 I want no other kind of life.110 This life I love.111 Why should I come?112 I will not come with you.”113

“No one has ever disobeyed the King of Death,” said the messengers.114 “Come, you must.”115

“I will not come,” said the boy.116 “Go back to the King of Death and say: ‘The boy who loves the life he knows, says that he cannot come to the new life which he does not know.’”117

And the messengers went trembling back to the King with this message.118

Now the King of Death is very old, and very kind and gentle, and he has the wisdom of Peace and of Forgetfulness.119 And the journey back to the life which the boy loved was for him a very long journey.120 “But I must see,” he said, “the one person who has disobeyed me.”121 So he sent for his black buffalo, and he rode the long and painful journey back to Life and Youth in the world of the-things-that-pass.122

And it was spring-time, and the leaves of the pipal tree were shining after a shower of rain, which had made all the world smell sweet with the good earth-smell.123 And the birds were singing.124 And under the pipal tree stood the perfect boy beside the shrine of Shiva, the great god, playing a little tune of the gladness of the-things-that-pass.125

He played on a slender reed of bamboo, blowing with his mouth; and he called the cattle to come home to rest, for it was the cow-dust hour, and the sun was setting.126

When the King of Death was close by the perfect boy stopped playing, and looked at him riding on the long, long back of his slow-moving grey-black buffalo.127

“What an old, old man you are!” said the perfect boy; “never have I seen you before.128 Who are you?”129

“You have seen my messengers,” said the King.130 “I am Death, who sent to fetch you to my kingdom.131 Why did you not come?”132

“I told your messengers,” said the boy.133 “It was quite true.134 It is very kind of you to want to take me to your kingdom; but I do not wish any other life.135 I love this life very much, and I am so happy.136 I love my father and my mother, and all the men-and-women people, and the children-people, and the beast-people, and bird-people in this good life that I know.137 You stay with us too.138 See, I will ask my mother to make room for you in our own little hut.”139 But the King of Death shook his head.140

“I have a kingdom, and I come to take you to it.141 Come, make no trouble.142 Get up behind me on the buffalo; we must be back before to-morrow’s day.”143

“And I say again, I will not come,” said the boy, standing firm.144 “See, I appeal to Shiva to protect me;” and he put out his hand to the large pebble of black stone, Shiva’s symbol, which had been brought to the shrine from the great sacred river of the West Country.145

Then the King of Death was angry, and he laid hands on the boy to take him by force; and he dragged him away, so that the symbol of Shiva fell to the ground.146

And now Shiva himself, the great god, was angered, and his voice thundered forth, ordering the King of Death back to the Kingdom of Death.147 “And you shall not return to the world of the-things-that-pass, till I bid you,” said Shiva.148

So back went the old king on his slow-moving, grey-black buffalo.149 And the boy was happy, and life was again full of love and goodness as before, in his world of the-things-that-pass.150

But the King of Death could no more send his messengers to the Earth; so everything lived forever--the men and women and beasts and birds and flower-people all lived; and yet new men and women and beasts and birds and flower-people were always coming to the Earth, as before.151 So that the Earth was fuller than it could hold.152