THE fifth lady, (from whose cunning, the devil would own there was no escaping) of this assembly of frail ones, having instructed the Bramin in some magical terms, went to her house; where having feigned madness, she began to talk at random. The bramin, agreeably to her instructions, taking a book under his arm, soon appeared at the gate of the house, and said; “I am a most wise philosopher and skilful physician, and can cure all illnesses that afflict the human frame, in the most speedy manner.” The husband being informed, conducted the physician within; and having complimented him with the utmost respect, placed him in the seat of honour, and shewed him the patient. The learned physician having most artfully felt the pulse of the chaste dame, said, “This woman is free from bodily ills; but a powerful evil spirit hath taken possession of her, so that I know not whether the unhappy sufferer can escape with life from his hands.”
The lady’s relations, instantly bursting out into entreaty, hung upon his vest, and said, “O noble sir, this difficulty may be overcome by thy gracious favour; for God’s sake have pity, and do not at once plunge us into despair.” The physician replied, “Though it is long since I have left off such studies as this, and therefore do not defile myself with mercenary views; yet compassion for the youth of this woman, and your distress, overcome me, so that I will attempt her recovery.”
He then commanded that they should sweep and cleanse the house, throw ambergris into the fire, and spread the floor with flowers. The eminent physician then ascended the musnud of learning, and having set fire to some perfumes with paper, applied the smoke to her nose, and uttered some magical speeches. The evil spirit (the woman) now all at once exclaimed, “Ignorant wretch, take not vainly trouble upon thyself, for I cannot conceive how such a clumsy bird as thou wilt reach the battlement of the sky. They call me Kirnaus; an hundred thousand genii are under my command, who dare not move an hair’s breadth from the boundary of my authority. I have made many coxcombs like thee quaff the sherbet of death. Have compassion then on thy own precious life, and escape whilst thou hast a foot to carry thee, or I will order my forces to destroy thee.”
From hearing these expressions, a trembling seized all present; but the physician said, “I am not such a one as thou hast supposed; give not thyself up to vain conceits; if thy future safety is desireable, instantly release this innocent woman, or I will confine thee in a bottle,* and burn thee in the fire with a thousand tortures.” In short, much of this sort of altercation passed between the physician and the evil spirit, till at length the doctor, for that day withholding his hand, arose and said; “This is a difficult case and a dreadful calamity; I must undergo great mortifications and much trouble to master it.” The relations of the woman fell at his feet, and said, “With such compassionate behaviour and important favour, thou wilt make us all thy willing slaves. Do as is proper for this unhappy woman.” The physician, having comforted them, took leave.
On the following morning, when the golden egg of the sky appeared from the womb of the horizon, the perfectly-skilled physician, having coloured over some pigeon’s eggs with saffron, and put part of the blood of a white duck into an earthen pot, came to the house, and ordered it to be placed, covered up, over a fire, while the household formed a ring at a distance round the woman. When the pot boiled, the wife cried out, “I burn, I burn, for God’s sake forgive me, and again I will never attack this woman;” Upon which the physician said, “If thou wilt promise and swear, I will forgive thee.”
The woman now whispered a new device into the doctor’s ear, who commanded, that having taken the pot from the fire, they should bury it in the earth; upon which the spirit (the woman) exclaimed, “Now perform the religious ceremonies; array me in new and delicate cloathing; perfume me with costly essences; and, having placed me and the physician in a mohaffa,* throw over it an embroidered covering. Then call in the most melodious singers and musicians, and let four persons lifting the mohaffa on their shoulders, carry us four times round the court of my house.”
The physician said, “Such state as this belongs only to royalty; these poor people cannot accomplish it, so give up such impossible ceremonies, and make the business more easy.” The spirit replied, “Doctor, thou well knowest, the plan of every person is according to his genius.”
When altercation had passed all bounds, the wife’s friends effected the necessary preparations; and the physician entering the mohaffa, was ensnared in the lady’s dark tresses, each hair of which was fit for a ransom for the musk-bags of China, and moved his lips as if in prayers, while the husband and others his relations lifted the vehicle on their shoulders. The doctor then let down the curtains round the mohaffa; the bearers of the machine marched round the courts, as directed; while the musicians and singers followed them performing a concert.
The doctor at length lifting up the curtains, commanded them to set down the carriage. The artful wife, who was herself the contriver of this business, now stretching her eyes, gazed around, as if astonished, and with a modest voice exclaimed, “What means this sense-confounding assembly? and why am I in this mohaffa?” All with one voice, but most loudly the husband, cried out, “All is for thee,” and related particulars. The cunning wife, when she had lent an ear to their story from beginning to end, pretending ignorance, said, “Gracious heaven! I know nothing of the business.” In short, the virtuous physician, having been rewarded with a sum of money and effects for his services, was dismissed with an hundred compliments.*