burton--1001-nights--sample

the eye-corners with needle-gravers, were a warner to whoso would
be warned.” She questioned the second and third Kalandar; but all
replied like the first, “By Allah, O our mistress, each one of us cometh
from a different country, and we are all three the sons of Kings,
sovereign Princes ruling over suzerains and capital cities.” Thereupon
she turned towards them and said, “Let each and every of you tell me
his tale in due order and explain the cause of his coming to our place;
and if his story please us let him stroke his head 47 and wend his way.”
The first to come forward was the Hammál, the Porter, who said,
“O my lady, I am a man and a porter. This dame, the cateress, hired me
to carry a load and took me first to the shop of a vintner, then to the
booth of a butcher; thence to the stall of a fruiterer; thence to a grocer
who also sold dry fruits; thence to a confectioner and a perfumer-cumdruggist
and from him to this place where there happened to me with
you what happened. Such is my story and peace be on us all!”
At this the lady laughed and said, “Rub thy head and wend thy
ways!”; but he cried, “By Allah, I will not stump it till I hear the stories
of my companions.” Then came forward one of the Monoculars and
began to tell her
The First Kalandar’s Tale.
Know, O my lady, that the cause of my beard being shorn and my eye
being out-torn was as follows. My father was a King and he had a
brother who was a King over another city; and it came to pass that I
and my cousin, the son of my paternal uncle, were both born on one
and the same day. And years and days rolled on; and, as we grew up,
47
That is “make his bow,” as the English peasant pulls his forelock.
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