MUCH as the princess Peri-nuzzade and her consort strove to divert the prince by every amusement they could devise, he seemed to enjoy none; but with wet eyes and parched lips, courting solitude, lay like the sand upon the seashore, watching for some intelligence of the bark of that enchantress, who had plunged his heart into the eddy of uncertainty. At length, Peri-nuzzade one day respectfully approaching him, kissed his feet, and said, “O thou, the dust of whose footsteps is as a refreshing collyrium to the eye of my soul, and to whom I owe duty and submission, I have a request to make, which, if permitted, I will present.”
When she had obtained admittance into the retirement of confidence, she sat down on the carpet of respect, and thus continued: “Though gardens of beauteous flowers and shrubs bloom fragrantly in thy view, and every mean of festivity and delight is before thee, what can occasion thy mind to be shrunk up like the withered rose-bud, and thy heart to bleed like the tulip from the scars of sorrow? If any wish or object lies concealed in the gracious bosom, inform me of it, that I may with my utmost ability endeavour its attainment. My husband Manochere is also thy life-bestowed servant, who will not withhold his existence in thy service, but willingly offer his head a sacrifice to thy commands.”
The prince, when he perceived her generous sympathy, convinced of her sincerity, disclosed the secret sorrows of his bosom, related the arrival of the bark, the overwhelming of his heart in the deluge of love, his voluntary exile from his friends and country in the path of search, and his sufferings in winding the labyrinth of uncertainty and exploring the intricacies of doubt. Peri-nuzzade, on hearing this difficult dilemma, after being for some time immersed in thought, replied, “Alas! thou sultaun of the throne of madness, how can we find out the name or trace of an unknown charmer, or explore her habitation? The undertaking is most arduous, and requires supernatural skill, for in it the foot of speed is useless. Seek, then, the keys of patience, that the portals of success may be unlocked, for the wise have stiled patience the key to enjoyment. Look only for the favour of that God, who can bring forth from the concealment of mystery the object of desire.”
The prince, upon this, resolved to follow the advice of Peri-nuzzade, who girded the belt of friendship round the waist of her heart, and diligently sought a remedy for her friend. After much enquiry, she found out an old lady, who was an experienced professor in the arts of love, and had long carried the standard of superiority at the college of profound skill in the mysteries and intrigues of amour and gallantry.
This dame she instructed to explore every path, and find out, if possible, some trace of the lady who had passed in the boat without rowers.
The old lady, who was a perfect guide in the road of love, having received her instructions, followed the course of the river, till she came to a city situated upon the bank, named Hussunabad,* in every street of which beauty was seen in numerous assemblage. Dimpled maidens, with an hundred smiles and glances, advanced on every side, and in each quarter smiling fawns, self-fascinated with their charms, bounded in herds together. Here, after much enquiry, she found the object of her search, clear as the sun, and understood that she was a gem of a royal mine, and moon of an imperial sky, named Mherbanou; who, from her vivacity, often sailed in a boat alone, and like the sun, unattended, encircled the globe. Such was her beauty, that the moon might have borrowed radiance from her charms, and the rose fragrance and glow from the freshness of her cheek.
The old woman now, having hired a house in the city, assumed the character of a seller of flowers, and by this means made acquaintance with the wife of a gardener who served the palace with nosegays and garlands. Through her she was introduced to the princess, and, being assured she was the beauty she had looked for, speedily returned to her mistress, who informed the prince of her success, and refreshed his sense with the odour of encouraging hope. With rapture he uttered the following
Although the prince (the goblet of whose soul overflowed with the wine of desire) wished, that at the instant, borrowing the feet of the western breeze, he might like the lover’s tear hasten in the path of expedition, and as the nightingale, soar on the wings of love in the air of Hussunabad; yet Peri-nuzzade, having with much difficulty conducted the bark of his mind from the whirlpool of impatience to the shore of resignation for that day, consented that early on the morrow he should depart for the place of his intention. With much regret, the diver in the sea of love having submitted himself to remain, conferred valuable jewels in reward for the important services of the old lady; who, like the Hooddud,* had brought from the Saba of his desires welcome intelligence of his Bilkees-resembling charmer.
In order to occupy his mind till such time as the Jonas of day should descend into the belly of the whale of the west, he engaged in a fishing party. The very first cast, a fish of great size was caught in the net; when the prince, pleased at so fine a prize, ordered it to be broiled on the spot, and wine to be set, as a relish to the treat. When the cook had opened the belly of the fish, a khulkaul* set with jewels, worthy of being a halo for the sun, fell out, like a dazzling star from the sign Pisces. The prince, astonished at such an event, examined eagerly the brilliant gems; but, upon handling the ornament, his pulse began to throb with sympathy, as a fish out of water, and the perfume of ecstacy to regale the perception of his soul. He exclaimed, “If I mistake not, this khulkaul must have kissed the feet of that moon, which the sun is desirous of possessing as a source of new light; for, if not, why do the flames of rapture glow suddenly in my heart?”
He instantly repaired to the old lady, and said, “Knowest thou aught of this khulkaul, so very valuable, that the rays of its brilliancy, like the moon, irradiate the surface of sight, or to what sun-resplendent maiden it belongs?” The deeply-skilled matron recollected it at first sight, and lighting up her countenance with the rays of gladness, said, “O thou active courser in the field of love, toss the cap of joy up to the sky of exultation, for this is the khulkaul of Mherbanou; and such unexpected good fortune forebodes that, in a short time, the blissful enjoyment of that cypress of the garden of beauty and elegance will be attained. To remain, therefore, any longer in this place, is not within the circle of prudence.”