第39章 KEMEREZZEMAN AND BUDOUR.(1)

There was once，of old time，a king called Shehriman，who was lord of many troops and guards and officers and reigned over certain islands，known as the Khalidan Islands，on the borders of the land of the Persians；but he was grown old and decrepit，without having been blessed with a son，albeit he had four wives，daughters of kings，and threescore concubines，with each of whom he was wont to lie one night in turn.This preyed upon his mind and disquieted him，so that he complained thereof to one of his Viziers，saying，I fear lest my kingdom be lost，when I die，for that I have no son to take it after me.'O King，'answered the Vizier，peradventure God shall yet provide for this；do thou put thy trust in Him and be constant in supplication to Him.'So the King rose and making his ablutions，prayed a two-bow prayer with a believing heart；after which he called one of his wives to bed and lay with her forthright.By Gods grace，she conceived by him and when her months were accomplished，she bore a male child，like the moon on the night of its full.The King named him Kemerezzeman and rejoiced in him with exceeding joy and bade decorate the city in his honour.So they decorated the city seven days，whilst the drums beat and the messengers bore the glad tidings abroad.Meanwhile nurses and attendants were provided for the boy and he was reared in splendour and delight，until he reached the age of fifteen.He grew up of surpassing beauty and symmetry，and his father loved him very dear，so that he could not brook to be parted from him day or night.One day，he complained to one of his Viziers of the excess of his love for his son，saying，O Vizier，of a truth I fear the shifts and accidents of fortune for my son Kemerezzeman and fain would I marry him in my lifetime.'O King，'answered the Vizier，marriage is one of the most honourable of actions，and thou wouldst indeed do well to marry thy son in thy lifetime，ere thou make him king.'Quoth the King，Fetch me my son；so Kemerezzeman came and bowed his head before his father，out of modesty.'O Kemerezzeman，'said the King，I desire to marry thee and rejoice in thee in my lifetime.'O my father，answered the prince，know that I have no wish to marry，nor doth my soul incline to women；for that I have read many books and heard much talk concerning their craft and perfidy，even as saith the poet：

If ye would know of women and question of their case，Lo，I am versed in their fashions and skilled all else above.

When a mans head grows grizzled or for the nonce his wealth Falls from his hand，then，trust me，he hath no part in their love.

And again：

Gainsay women；he obeyeth Allah best who saith them nay，And he prospers not who giveth them his bridle-rein to sway；

For theyll hinder him from winning to perfection in his gifts，Though a thousand years he study，seeking after wisdoms way.

Wherefore （continued Kemerezzeman） marriage is a thing to which I will never consent；no，not though I drink the cup of death.'

When the King heard this，the light in his sight became darkness and he was excessively chagrined at his sons lack of obedience to his wishes；yet，for the great love he bore him，he forbore to press him and was not wroth with him，but caressed him and spoke him fair and showed him all manner of kindness such as tends to cultivate affection.He took patience with him a whole year，during which time Kemerezzeman increased daily in beauty and elegance and amorous grace，till he became perfect in eloquence and loveliness.All men were ravished with his beauty and every breeze that blew carried the tidings of his charms；he was a seduction to lovers and a garden of delight to longing hearts，for he was sweet of speech and his face put the full moon to shame.Accomplished in symmetry as in elegance and engaging manners，his shape was slender and graceful as the willow-wand or the flowering cane and his cheeks might pass for roses or blood-red anemones.He was，in fine，charming in all respects，even as the poet hath said of him：

He comes and'Blest be God！'say all men，high and base.'Glory to Him who shaped and fashioned forth his face！'

Hes monarch of the fair，wherever they may be；For，lo，theyre all become the liegemen of his grace.

The water of his mouth is liquid honey-dew And twixt his lips for teeth fine pearls do interlace.

Perfect in every trait of beauty and unique，His witching loveliness distracts the human race.

Beauty itself hath writ these words upon his cheek，'Except this youth theres none thats fair in any place.'

When the year came to an end，the King called his son to him and said，O my son，wilt thou not hearken to me？Whereupon Kemerezzeman fell down for respect and shame before his father and replied，O my father，how should I not hearken to thee，seeing that God commandeth me to obey thee and not gainsay thee？

O my son，'said King Shehriman，know that I desire to marry thee and rejoice in thee，whilst yet I live，and make thee king over my realm，before my death.'When the prince heard this，he bowed his head awhile，then raised it and said，O my father，this is a thing that I will never do，though I drink the cup of death.I know of a surety that God the Most High enjoins on me obedience to thee；but in His name I conjure thee，press me not in this matter of marriage，neither think that I will ever marry my life long；for that I have read the books both of the ancients and the moderns and have come to know all the troubles and calamities that have befallen them through women and the disasters that have sprung from their craft without end.How well says the poet：

He，whom the baggages entrap，Deliverance shall never know，Although a thousand forts he build，Plated with lead；--gainst such a foe It shall not profit him to build Nor citadels avail，I trow.

Women are traitresses to all，Both near and far and high and low.

With fingers dyed and flowing hair Plaited with tresses，sweet of show，And eyelids beautified with kohl，They make one drink of bale and woe.

And no less excellently saith another：