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THE BOOK OF THE THOUSAND NIGHTS AND ONE NIGHT：
Now First pletely Done Into English
Prose and Verse； From The Original Arabic；
By John Payne
（Author of 〃The Masque of Shadows；〃 〃Intaglios： Sons；〃 〃Songs of Life and Death；〃
〃Lautrec；〃 〃The Poems of Master Francis Villon of Paris；〃 〃New Poems；〃 Etc； Etc。）。
In Nine Volumes：
VOLUME THE EIGHTH。
London
Printed For Subscribers Only
1901
Delhi Edition
Mesrour and Zein el Mewasif
Ali Noureddin and the Frank King’s Daughter
The Man of Upper Egypt and His Frank Wife
The Ruined Man of Baghdad and His Slave Girl
King Jelyaad of Hind and His Vizier Shimas： Whereafter Ensueth the History of King Wird Khan； Son of King Jelyaad； With His Women and Viziers
The Cat and the Mouse
The Fakir and His Pot of Butter
The Fishes and the Crab
The Crow and the Serpent
The Fox and the Wild Ass
The Unjust King and the Pilgrim Prince
The Crows and the Hawk
The SerpentCharmer and His Wife
The Spider and the Wind
The Two Kings
The Blind Man and the Cripple
The Foolish Fisherman
The Boy and the Thieves
The Man and His Wilful Wife
The Merchant and the Thieves
The Foxes and the Wolf
The Shepherd and the Thief
The Heathcock and the Tortoises
Aboukir the Dyer and Abousir the Barber
Abdallah the Fisherman and Abdallah the Merman
MESROUR AND ZEIN EL MEWASIF。
There was once； of old days and in bygone ages and times； a merchant named Mesrour； who was of the goodliest of the folk of his day； and he had wealth galore and was in easy case； but loved to take his pleasure in gardens and orchards and to divert himself with the love of fair women。 One night； as he lay asleep； he dreamt that he was in a most lovely garden； wherein were four birds； and amongst them a dove； white as polished silver。 The dove pleased him and an exceeding love for her grew up in his heart。 Presently a great bird swooped down on him and snatched the dove from his hand； and this was grievous to him。 Then he awoke and strove with his yearnings till the morning； when he said in himself； 'Needs must I go today to some one who will expound to me this dream。' So he went forth and fared right and left； till he was far from his dwellingplace； but found none to interpret the dream to him。 Then he set out to return； but on his way the fancy took him to turn aside to the house of a certain rich merchant； and when he drew near to it； he heard from within a plaintive voice； reciting the following verses from a sorrowful heart：
The East wind from her traces blows tousward； fragrancefraught； With perfume such as heals the sick and soothes the lovedistraught。
By the deserted steads I stand and question； but my tears Nought answers save the witness mute； the ruin time hath wrought。
Breath of the breeze； I prithee tell； quoth I； shall its delight To this abidingplace return； by fairer fortune brought？
And shall I yet a fawn enjoy； whose shape hath ravished me； Yea； and whose languordrooping lids have wasted me to nought？
When he heard this； he looked in at the door and saw a garden of the goodliest of gardens； and at its farther end a curtain of red brocade； embroidered with pearls and jewels； behind which sat four damsels； and amongst them a young lady over four and under five feet in height； as she were the round of the moon and the shining full moon。 She had great liquid black eyes and joined eyebrows； a mouth as it were Solomon's seal and lips and teeth like pearls and coral； and indeed she ravished all wits with her beauty and grace and symmetry。 When Mesrour saw her； he entered the garden and went on； till he came to the curtain： whereupon she raised her head and saw him。 So he saluted her and she returned his greeting with dulcet speech； and when he beheld her more closely； his reason was confounded and his heart transported。 Then he looked at the garden and saw that it was full of jessamine and gillyflowers and violets and roses and orange blossoms and all manner sweetscented flowers。 All the trees were laden with fruits and there ran down water from four estrades； which occupied the four angles of the garden。 He looked at the first estrade and found the following verses written around it with vermilion：
May grief ne'er enter thee nor yet dismay； O house； nor fortune e'er thy lord bewray！
Fair fall the house that harbours every guest； When straitened upon him is place and way！
Then he looked at the second estrade and found the following written thereon in red gold：
The garment of fair fortune shine on thee； dwelling； still； Whilst on the gardenbranches the songbirds pipe and trill！
May fragrant odours harbour in every part of thee And lovers in thy precincts their hearts' desire fulfil！
In glory and in pleasance still may thy dwellers live； What while a wandering pla shines out on heaven's hill！
Then he looked at the third； on which he found these verses written in ultramarine：
Still mayst thou last in glory and prosper； house of mine； As long as night shall darken； as long as lights shall shine！
All at thy gates who enter good luck embrace and good From thee betide each er in one unbroken line！
And on the fourth was painted in yellow characters the following verse：
This garden and this lake； a pleasant sittingplace； These； by the clement Lord； are all I ask of grace。
Moreover； in that garden were birds of all kinds； turtle and cushat and culver and nightingale； each carolling his several song； and amongst them the lady； swaying gracefully to and fro and ravishing all who saw her with her beauty and grace and symmetry。 'O man；' said she to Mesrour； 'what brings thee into a house other than thy house and wherefore est thou in unto women other than thy women； without leave of their owner？' 'O my lady；' answered he； 'I saw this garden； and the goodliness of its verdure pleased me and the fragrance of its flowers and the singing of its birds； so I entered； thinking to gaze on it awhile and go my way。' 'With all my heart；' said she。 Mesrour was amazed at the sweetness of her speech and the amorous languor of her glances and the elegance of her shape； and transported by her beauty and grace and the pleasantness of the garden and the birds。 So he recited the following verses：
She shone； a moon； amongst the ways； midmost a garden fair； Wherein sweet jessamine and rose and fragrant basil were；
And myrtle and anemones bloodred and eglantine And violets； passing about the cassiatree； blew there。
The zephyr steals from it the scents； wherewith it laden is； Its perfume from the boughs exhaled； breathes fragrance everywhere。
Hail； O thou garden； that all flowers and sweets doth prehend； That perfect art in every grace and fashion of the fair！
Under the shadow of thy boughs the full moon （1） shih bright And with the sweetest melodies the songbirds fill thine air。
Thy ringdove and thy mockingbird； yea； and thy turtledove And nightingales stir up my soul to longing and despair；
And yearning harbours in my heart： dazed at thy goodliness Am I； and as one stupefied for drunkenness； I fare。
Then she said to him； 'Harkye； sirrah！ Begone about thy business； for we are none of the women who are neither thine nor another's。' （2） And he answered； 'O my lady； I said nothing ill。' Quoth she； 'Thou soughtest to divert thyself with the sight ＇of the garden＇ and thou hast looked on it； so go thy ways。' 'O my lady；' said he； 'belike ＇thou wilt give me＇ a draught of water； for I am athirst。' Quoth she； 'How canst thou drink of a Jew's water； and thou a Nazarene？' But he replied； 'O my lady； your water is not forbidden to us nor ours to you； for we are all ＇as＇ one creature。' So she said to her slavegirl； 'Give him to drink。' And she did so。 Then she called for the table of food； and there came four damsels； highbosomed maids； bearing four trays ＇of meats＇ and four flagons full of old wine； as it were the tears of a slave of love for clearness； and ＇set them down before him on＇ a table around whose marge were graven the following verses：
They set a table down before the boon panions' eyne； For eating； borne on wroughten feet of gold and silver fine；
The Garden of Eternity （3） it seemed； the which unites All that the soul can weary for of costly meat and wine。
Quoth she； 'Thou soughtest to drink of our drink； so up and at our meat and drink！' He could hardly credit his ears and set down forthright at the table； whereupon she bade her nurse （4） give him a cup； that he might drink。 Now her slavegirls were called； one Huboub； another Khutoub and the third Sukoub； and she who gave him the cup was Huboub。 Presently； the breeze blew ＇on the lady＇ and the scarf （5） fell from her head and discovered a fillet of glittering gold； set with pearls and jewels and jacinths； and on her breast was a necklace of all manner gems and precious stones； to which hung a sparrow of red gold； with feet of red coral and bill of white silver and ＇body＇ full of aloes and ambergris and odoriferous musk。 Then he looked at the breast of her shift and saw thereon the following verse wroughten in red gold：
The fragrance of musk； that breathes from the breasts of the fair； The zephyr borrows； to sweeten th