Tales from the Arabic/The First Officer’s Story

by Unknown

THE FIRST OFFICER’S STORY.

When I entered the service of this Amir,^[1] I had a great repute and every lewd fellow feared me of all mankind, and whenas I rode through the city, all the folk would point at me with their fingers and eyes. It befell one day, as I sat in the house of the prefecture, with my back against a wall, considering in myself, there fell somewhat in my lap, and behold, it was a purse sealed and tied. So I took it in my hand and behold, it had in it a hundred dirhems,^[2] but I found not who threw it and I said, “Extolled be the perfection of God, the King of the Kingdoms!”^[3] Another day, [as I sat on like wise,] somewhat fell on me and startled me, and behold, it was a purse like the first. So I took it and concealing its affair, made as if I slept, albeit sleep was not with me.

One day, as I was thus feigning sleep, I felt a hand in my lap, and in it a magnificent purse. So I seized the hand and behold, it was that of a fair woman. Quoth I to her, “O my lady, who art thou?” And she said, “Rise [and come away] from here, that I may make myself known to thee.” So I arose and following her, fared on, without tarrying, till she stopped at the door of a lofty house, whereupon quoth I to her, “O my lady, who art thou? Indeed, thou hast done me kindness, and what is the reason of this?” “By Allah,” answered she, “O Captain Muïn, I am a woman on whom desire and longing are sore for the love of the daughter of the Cadi Amin el Hukm. Now there was between us what was and the love of her fell upon my heart and I agreed with her upon meeting, according to possibility and convenience. But her father Amin el Hukm took her and went away, and my heart cleaveth to her and love-longing and distraction are sore upon me on her account.”

I marvelled at her words and said to her, “What wouldst thou have me do?” And she answered, “O Captain Muïn, I would have thee give me a helping hand.” Quoth I, “What have I to do with the daughter of the Cadi Amin el Hukm?” And she said, “Know that I would not have thee intrude upon the Cadi’s daughter, but I would fain contrive for the attainment of my wishes. This is my intent and my desire, and my design will not be accomplished but by thine aid.” Then said she, “I mean this night to go with a stout heart and hire me trinkets of price; then will I go and sit in the street wherein is the house of Amin el Hukm; and when it is the season of the round and the folk are asleep, do thou pass, thou and those who are with thee of the police, and thou wilt see me sitting and on me fine raiment and ornaments and wilt smell on me the odour of perfumes; whereupon do thou question me of my case and I will say, ‘I come from the Citadel and am of the daughters of the deputies^[4] and I came down [into the town,] to do an occasion; but the night overtook me at unawares and the Zuweyleh gate was shut against me and all the gates and I knew not whither I should go this night. Presently I saw this street and noting the goodliness of its ordinance and its cleanness, took shelter therein against break of day.’ When I say this to thee with all assurance^[5] the chief of the watch will have no suspicion of me, but will say, ‘Needs must we leave her with one who will take care of her till morning.’ And do thou rejoin, ‘It were most fitting that she pass the night with Amin el Hukm and lie with his family and children till the morning.’ Then do thou straightway knock at the Cadi’s door, and thus shall I have gained admission into his house, without inconvenience, and gotten my desire; and peace be on thee!” And I said to her, “By Allah, this is an easy matter.”

So, when the night darkened, we sallied forth to make our round, attended by men with sharp swords, and went round about the streets and compassed the city, till we came to the by-street where was the woman, and it was the middle of the night. Here we smelt rich scents and heard the clink of earrings; so I said to my comrades, “Methinks I spy an apparition.” And the captain of the watch said, “See what it is.” So I came forward and entering the lane, came presently out again and said, “I have found a fair woman and she tells me that she is from the Citadel and that the night surprised her and she espied this street and seeing its cleanness and the goodliness of its ordinance, knew that it appertained to a man of rank and that needs must there be in it a guardian to keep watch over it, wherefore she took shelter therein.” Quoth the captain of the watch to me, “Take her and carry her to thy house.” But I answered, “I seek refuge with Allah!^[6] My house is no place of deposit^[7] and on this woman are trinkets and apparel [of price]. By Allah, we will not deposit her save with Amin el Hukm, in whose street she hath been since the first of the darkness; wherefore do thou leave her with him till the break of day.” And he said, “As thou wilt.” Accordingly, I knocked at the Cadi’s door and out came a black slave of his slaves, to whom said I, “O my lord, take this woman and let her be with you till break of day, for that the lieutenant of the Amir Ilmeddin hath found her standing at the door of your house, with trinkets and apparel [of price] on her, and we feared lest her responsibility be upon you;^[8] wherefore it is most fit that she pass the night with you.” So the slave opened and took her in with him.

When the morning morrowed, the first who presented himself before the Amir was the Cadi Amin el Hukm, leaning on two of his black slaves; and he was crying out and calling [on God] for aid and saying, “O crafty and perfidious Amir, thou depositedst with me a woman [yesternight] and broughtest her into my house and my dwelling-place, and she arose [in the night] and took from me the good of the little orphans,^[9] six great bags, [containing each a thousand dinars,^[10] and made off;] but as for me, I will say no more to thee except in the Sultan’s presence.”^[11] When the Master of the Police heard these words, he was troubled and rose and sat down; then he took the Cadi and seating him by his side, soothed him and exhorted him to patience, till he had made an end of talk, when he turned to the officers and questioned them. They fixed the affair on me and said, “We know nothing of this affair but from Captain Muïneddin.” So the Cadi turned to me and said, “Thou wast of accord with this woman, for she said she came from the Citadel.”

As for me, I stood, with my head bowed to the earth, forgetting both Institutes and Canons,^[12] and abode sunk in thought, saying, “How came I to be the dupe of yonder worthless baggage?” Then said the Amir to me, “What aileth thee that thou answerest not?” And I answered, saying, “O my lord, it is a custom among the folk that he who hath a payment to make at a certain date is allowed three days’ grace; [so do thou have patience with me so long,] and if, [by the end of that time,] the culprit be not found, I will be answerable for that which is lost.” When the folk heard my speech, they all deemed it reasonable and the Master of Police turned to the Cadi and swore to him that he would do his utmost endeavour to recover the stolen money and that it should be restored to him. So he went away, whilst I mounted forthright and fell to going round about the world without purpose, and indeed I was become under the dominion of a woman without worth or honour; and I went round about on this wise all that my day and night, but happened not upon tidings of her; and thus I did on the morrow.

On the third day I said to myself, “Thou art mad or witless!” For I was going about in quest of a woman who knew me and I knew her not, seeing that indeed she was veiled, [whenas I saw her]. Then I went round about the third day till the hour of afternoon prayer, and sore was my concern and my chagrin, for I knew that there abode to me of my life but [till] the morrow, when the chief of the police would seek me. When it was the time of sundown, I passed through one of the streets, and beheld a woman at a window. Her door was ajar and she was clapping her hands and casting furtive glances at me, as who should say, “Come up by the door.” So I went up, without suspicion, and when I entered, she rose and clasped me to her breast I marvelled at her affair and she said to me, “I am she whom thou depositedst with Amin el Hukm.” Quoth I to her, “O my sister, I have been going round and round in quest of thee, for indeed thou hast done a deed that will be chronicled in history and hast cast me into slaughter^[13] on thine account.” “Sayst thou this to me,” asked she, “and thou captain of men?” And I answered, “How should I not be troubled, seeing that I am in concern [for an affair] that I turn over and over [in my mind], more by token that I abide my day long going about [searching for thee] and in the night I watch its stars [for wakefulness]?” Quoth she, “Nought shall betide but good, and thou shalt get the better of him.”

So saying, she rose [and going] to a chest, took out therefrom six bags full of gold and said to me, “This is what I took from Amin el Hukm’s house. So, if thou wilt, restore it; else the whole is lawfully thine; and if thou desire other than this, [thou shalt have it;] for I have wealth in plenty and I had no design in this but to marry thee.” Then she arose and opening [other] chests, brought out therefrom wealth galore and I said to her, “O my sister, I have no desire for all this, nor do I covet aught but to be quit of that wherein I am.” Quoth she, “I came not forth of the [Cadi’s] house without [making provision for] thine acquittance.”

Then said she to me, “To-morrow morning, when Amin el Hukm cometh, have patience with him till he have made an end of his speech, and when he is silent, return him no answer; and if the prefect say to thee, ‘What ailest thee that thou answereth him not?’ do thou reply, ‘O lord, know that the two words are not alike, but there is no [helper] for him who is undermost^[14], save God the Most High.’^[15] The Cadi will say, ‘What is the meaning of thy saying, “The two words are not alike”?’ And do thou make answer, saying, ‘I deposited with thee a damsel from the palace of the Sultan, and most like some losel of thy household hath transgressed against her or she hath been privily murdered. Indeed, there were on her jewels and raiment worth a thousand dinars, and hadst thou put those who are with thee of slaves and slave-girls to the question, thou hadst assuredly lit on some traces [of the crime].’ When he heareth this from thee, his agitation will redouble and he will be confounded and will swear that needs must thou go with him to his house; but do thou say, ‘That will I not do, for that I am the party aggrieved, more by token that I am under suspicion with thee.’ If he redouble in calling [on God for aid] and conjure thee by the oath of divorce, saying, ‘Needs must thou come,’ do thou say, ‘By Allah, I will not go, except the prefect come also.’

When thou comest to the house, begin by searching the roofs; then search the closets and cabinets; and if thou find nought, humble thyself unto the Cadi and make a show of abjection and feign thyself defeated, and after stand at the door and look as if thou soughtest a place wherein to make water, for that there is a dark corner there. Then come forward, with a heart stouter than granite, and lay hold upon a jar of the jars and raise it from its place. Thou wilt find under it the skirt of a veil; bring it out publicly and call the prefect in a loud voice, before those who are present. Then open it and thou wilt find it full of blood, exceeding of redness,^[16] and in it [thou wilt find also] a woman’s shoes and a pair of trousers and somewhat of linen.” When I heard this from her, I rose to go out and she said to me, “Take these hundred dinars, so they may advantage thee; and this is my guest-gift to thee.” So I took them and bidding her farewell, returned to my lodging.

Next morning, up came the Cadi, with his face like the ox-eye,^[17] and said, “In the name of God, where is my debtor and where is my money?” Then he wept and cried out and said to the prefect, “Where is that ill-omened fellow, who aboundeth in thievery and villainy?” Therewith the prefect turned to me and said, “Why dost thou not answer the Cadi?” And I replied, “O Amir, the two heads^[18] are not equal, and I, I have no helper but God; but, if the right be on my side, it will appear.” At this the Cadi cried out and said, “Out on thee, O ill-omened fellow! How wilt thou make out that the right is on thy side?” “O our lord the Cadi,” answered I, “I deposited with thee a trust, to wit, a woman whom we found at thy door, and on her raiment and trinkets of price. Now she is gone, even as yesterday is gone; and after this thou turnest upon us and makest claim upon me for six thousand dinars. By Allah, this is none other than gross unright, and assuredly some losel of thy household hath transgressed against her!”

With this the Cadi’s wrath redoubled and he swore by the most solemn of oaths that I should go with him and search his house. “By Allah,” replied I, “I will not go, except the prefect be with us; for, if he be present, he and the officers, thou wilt not dare to presume upon me.” And the Cadi rose and swore an oath, saying, “By Him who created mankind, we will not go but with the Amir!” So we repaired to the Cadi’s house, accompanied by the prefect, and going up, searched high and low, but found nothing; whereupon fear gat hold upon me and the prefect turned to me and said, “Out on thee, O ill-omened fellow! Thou puttest us to shame before the men.” And I wept and went round about right and left, with the tears running down my face, till we were about to go forth and drew near the door of the house. I looked at the place [behind the door] and said, “What is yonder dark place that I see?” And I said to the sergeants, “Lift up this jar with me.” They did as I bade them and I saw somewhat appearing under the jar and said, “Rummage and see what is under it.” So they searched and found a woman’s veil and trousers full of blood, which when I beheld, I fell down in a swoon.

When the prefect saw this, he said, “By Allah, the captain is excused!” Then my comrades came round about me and sprinkled water on my face, [till I came to myself,] when I arose and accosting the Cadi, who was covered with confusion, said to him, “Thou seest that suspicion is fallen on thee, and indeed this affair is no light matter, for that this woman’s family will assuredly not sit down under her loss.” Therewith the Cadi’s heart quaked and he knew that the suspicion had reverted upon him, wherefore his colour paled and his limbs smote together; and he paid of his own money, after the measure of that which he had lost, so we would hush up the matter for him.^[19] Then we departed from him in peace, whilst I said in myself, “Indeed, the woman deceived me not.”

After that I tarried till three days had elapsed, when I went to the bath and changing my clothes, betook myself to her house, but found the door locked and covered with dust. So I questioned the neighbours of her and they said, “This house hath been empty these many days; but three days agone there came a woman with an ass, and yesternight, at eventide, she took her gear and went away.” So I turned back, confounded in my wit, and every day [after this, for many a day,] I inquired of the inhabitants [of the street] concerning her, but could light on no tidings of her. And indeed I marvelled at the eloquence of her tongue and [the readiness of] her speech; and this is the most extraordinary of that which hath betided me.’

Return to El Melik ez Zahir Rukneddin Bibers el Bunducdari and the Sixteen Officers of Police.

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1. i.e. the prefect of police.
2. About fifty shillings.
3. i.e. those of the visible and invisible worlds.
4. i.e. of the Sultan’s officers of the household. The Sultan’s palace and the lodgings of his chief officers were situate, according to Eastern custom, in the citadel or central fortress of the city.
5. Lit. [self-]possession (temkin).
6. i.e. God forbid!
7. Or strong place.
8. i.e. lest ill-hap betide her and you be held responsible for her.
9. Which was in his custody in his ex-officio capacity of guardian, orphans in Muslim countries being, by operation of law, wards of the Cadi of their district.
10. Altogether six thousand dinars or about £3000.
11. i.e. except thou give me immediate satisfaction, I will complain of thee to the Sultan.
12. i.e. forgetting all that is enjoined upon the true-believer by the Institutes of the Prophet (Sunneh) and the Canons (Fers) of the Divine Law, as deduced from the Koran.
13. Lit. red i.e. violent or bloody) death.
14. Lit. the conquered one.
15. i.e. my view of the matter differs from that of the Cadi, but I cannot expect a hearing against a personage of his rank.
16. And therefore freshly shed.
17. For redness.
18. Or parties.
19. Lit. quench that fire from him.