THE ISLAND KING AND THE PIOUS ISRAELITE.
There was once a notable of the Children of Israel, a man of
wealth who had a pious and blessed son. When his last hour drew
nigh, his son sat down at his head and said to him, "O my lord,
give me an injunction." Quoth the father, "O dear son, I charge
thee, swear not by Allah or truly or falsely." Then he died and
certain lewd fellows of the Children of Israel heard of the
charge he had laid on his son and began coming to the latter and
saying, "Thy father had such and such monies of mine, and thou
knowest it; so give me what was entrusted to him or else make
oath that there was no trust." The good son would not disobey his
sire's injunction, so gave them all they claimed; and they ceased
not to deal thus with him, till his wealth was spent and he fell
into straitest predicament. Now the young man had a pious and
blessed wife, who had borne him two little sons; so he said to
her, "The folk have multiplied their demands on me and, while I
had the wherewithal to free myself of debt, I rendered it freely;
but naught is now left us, and if others make demands upon me, we
shall be in absolute distress, I and thou; our best way were to
save ourselves by fleeing to some place, where none knoweth us,
and earn our bread among the lower of the folk." Accordingly, he
took ship with her and his two children, knowing not whither he
should wend; but, "When Allah judgeth, there is none to reverse
His judgment;"[FN#499] and quoth the tongue of the case,
"O flier from thy home when foes affright! * Whom led to weal and
happiness such flight,
Grudge not this exile when he flees abroad * Where he on wealth
and welfare may alight.
An pearls for ever did abide in shell, * The kingly crown they
ne'er had deckt and dight."
The ship was wrecked, yet the man saved himself on a plank and
his wife and children also saved themselves, but on other planks.
The waves separated them and the wife was cast up in one country
and one of the boys in another. The second son was picked up by a
ship, and the surges threw the father on a desert island, where
he landed and made the Wuzu-ablution. Then he called the
prayer-call,--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased
to say her permitted say.
When it was the Four Hundred and Eightieth Night,
She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the
man landed upon the island, he made the Wuzu-ablution to free
himself from the impurities of the sea and called the call to
prayer and stood up to his devotions, when, behold, there came
forth of the sea, creatures of various kinds and prayed with him.
When he had finished, he went up to a tree and stayed his hunger
with its fruits; after which he found a spring of water and drank
thereof and praised Allah, to whom be honour and glory! He abode
thus three days and whenever he stood up to pray, the
sea-creatures came out and prayed in the same manner as he
prayed. Now after the third day, he heard a voice crying aloud
and saying, "O thou just man, and pious, who didst so honour thy
father and revere the decrees of thy Lord, grieve not, for Allah
(be He extolled and exalted!) shall restore to thee all which
left thy hand. In this isle are hoards and monies and things of
price which the Almighty willeth thou shalt inherit, and they are
in such a part of this place. So bring thou them to light; and
verily, we will send ships unto thee; and do thou bestow charity
on the folk and bid them to thee." So he sought out that place,
and the Lord discovered to him the treasures in question. Then
ships began resorting to him, and he gave abundant largesse to
the crews, saying to them, "Be sure ye direct the folk unto me
and I will give them such and such a thing and appoint to them
this and that." Accordingly, there came folk from all parts and
places, nor had ten years passed over him ere the island was
peopled and the man became its King.[FN#500] No one came to him
but he entreated him with munificence, and his name was noised
abroad, through the length and breadth of the earth. Now his
elder son had fallen into the hands of a man who reared him and
taught him polite accomplishments; and, in like manner, the
younger was adopted by one who gave him a good education and
brought him up in the ways of merchants. The wife also happened
upon a trader who entrusted to her his property and made a
covenant with her that he would not deal dishonestly by her, but
would aid her to obey Allah (to whom belong Majesty and Might!);
and he used to make her the companion of his voyages and his
travels. Now the elder son heard the report of the King and
resolved to visit him, without knowing who he was; so he went to
him and was well received by the King, who made him his
secretary. Presently the other son heard of the King's piety and
justice and was also taken into his service as a steward. Then
the brothers abode awhile, neither knowing the other, till it
chanced that the merchant, in whose home was their mother, also
hearing of the King's righteous and generous dealing with the
lieges, freighted a ship with rich stuffs and other excellent
produce of the land, and taking the woman with him, set sail for
the island. He made it in due course and landing, presented
himself with his gift before the King; who rejoiced therein with
exceeding joy and ordered him a splendid return-present. Now,
there were, among the gifts, certain aromatic roots of which he
would have the merchant acquaint him with the names and uses; so
he said to him, "Abide with us this night."--And Shahrazad
perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
When it was the Four Hundred and Eighty-first Night,
She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the
King said, "Abide with us this night," the merchant replied, "We
have in the ship one to whom I have promised to entrust the care
of her to none save myself; and the same is a holy woman whose
prayers have brought me weal and I have felt the blessing of her
counsels." Rejoined the King, "I will send her some trusty men,
who shall pass the night in the ship and guard her and all that
is with her." The merchant agreed to this and abode with the
King, who called his secretary and steward and said to them, "Go
and pass the night in this man's ship and keep it safe,
Inshallah!" So they went up into the ship and seating themselves,
this on the poop and that on the bow, passed a part of the night
in repeating the names of Allah (to whom belong Majesty and
Might!). Then quoth one to the other, "Ho, such an one! The King
bade us keep watch and I fear lest sleep overtake us; so, come,
let us discourse of stories of fortune and of the good we have
seen and the trials of life." Quoth the other, "O my brother, as
for my trials Fate parted me from my mother and a brother of
mine, whose name was even as thine; and the cause of our parting
was this. My father took ship with us from such a place, and the
winds rose against us and were contrary, so that the ship was
wrecked and Allah broke our fair companionship." Hearing this the
first asked, "What was the name of thy mother, O my brother?";
and the second answered, "So and so." Thereat brother threw
himself upon brother saying, "By Allah, thou art my very
brother!" And each fell to telling the other what had befallen
him in his youth, whilst the mother heard all they said, but held
her peace and in patience possessed her soul. Now when it was
morning, one said to the other, "Come, brother, let us go to my
lodging and talk there;" and the other said, "'Tis well." So they
went away and presently, the merchant came back and finding the
woman in great trouble, said to her, "What hath befallen thee and
why this concern?" Quoth she, "Thou sentest to me yesternight men
who tempted me to evil, and I have been in sore annoy with them."
At this, he was wroth and, repairing to the King, reported the
conduct of his two trusty wights. The King summoned the twain
forthwith, as he loved them for their fidelity and piety; and,
sending for the woman, that he might hear from her own lips what
she had to say against them, thus bespake her, "O woman, what
hath betided thee from these two men in whom I trust?" She
replied, "O King, I conjure thee by the Almighty, the Bountiful
One, the Lord of the Empyrean, bid them repeat the words they
spoke yesternight." So he said to them, "Say what ye said and
conceal naught thereof." Accordingly, they repeated their talk,
and lo! the King rising from his throne, gave a great cry and
threw himself upon them, embracing them and saying, "By Allah, ye
are my very sons!" Therewith the woman unveiled her face and
said, "And by Allah, I am their very mother." So they were united
and abode in all solace of life and its delight till death parted
them; and so glory be to Him who delivereth His servant when he
restoreth to Him, and disappointeth not his hope in Him and his
trust! And how well saith the poet on the subject,
"Each thing of things hath his appointed tide * When 'tis, O
brother, granted or denied.
Repine not an affliction hit thee hard; * For woe and welfare aye
conjoint abide:
How oft shall woman see all griefs surround * Yet feel a joyance
thrill what lies inside!
How many a wretch, on whom the eyes of folk * Look down, shall
grace exalt to pomp and pride!
This man is one long suffering grief and woe; * Whom change and
chance of Time hath sorely tried:
The World divided from what held he dearest, * After long union
scattered far and wide;
But deigned his Lord unite them all again, * And in the Lord is
every good descried.
Glory to Him whose Providence rules all * Living, as surest
proofs for us decide.
Near is the Near One; but no wisdom clearer * Shows him, nor
distant wayfare brings Him nearer."
And this tale is told of
