THE STORY OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR
ON THE TWENTIETH NIGHT
Sheherazade said:
The island of Serendib contained many pearls and precious stones, less beautiful, it is true, than those in my bundles, and many coconut trees.
One day, the king of Serendib himself asked me about public affairs in Baghdad and the way of governing in the caliphate Harun Al-Rashid. And I told him how fair and full of magnanimity the caliph was, and I dwelt at length on its merits and fine qualities. And the king of Serendib was amazed and said to me: “By Allah! I see that the caliph truly knows the wisdom and the art of governing its empire. And you have just made me take it with great affection. So I would very much like to prepare him some gift worthy of him and send it to him with you! I answered immediately: “I listen and I obey, O our master. Certainly! I will faithfully hand over your gift to the caliph who will be at the limit of enchantment. And at the same time I will tell him what an excellent friend you are for him, and that he can count on your alliance!"
At these words, the king of Serendib gave some orders to his chamberlains who hastened to obey. And this is what the gift they gave me for the caliph Harun Al-Rashid consisted of. There was, first, a large vase cut from a single ruby, of wonderful color, and half a foot high and a finger thick. This vase, which had the shape of a cup, was completely filled with round white pearls, each the size of a hazelnut. Secondly, there was a carpet made of a huge snakeskin, with scales the size of a gold dinar, which had the virtue of curing all illnesses for those who slept on it. Third, there were two hundred grains of the most exquisite camphor, each grain the size of a pistachio. Fourth, there were two elephant's teeth, each twelve cubits long, and two cubits wide at the base. In addition, there was, covered with her jewels, a beautiful young girl from Serendib.
At the same time, the king gave me a letter for the Emir of the Believers, saying to me: "You will excuse me to the caliph for the little that I send him as a gift. And you will tell him that I love him very much!" And I answered: “I listen and I obey!” and I kissed his hand. So he said to me: “However, Sindbad, if you prefer to remain in my kingdom, you will be on our head and in our eyes; and, in that case, I will send someone in your place to the caliph, to Baghdad!" So I cried out: “By Allah! O king of the century, your generosity is a great generosity, and you have showered me with your benefits; but there is just a ship leaving for Basra, and I would very much like to embark there to go and see my parents, my children and my country!"
At these words, the king would not press me any further to stay, and immediately sent for the captain of the ship in question, as well as the merchants who were leaving with me, and gave them a thousand recommendations about me, ordering them to treat me with all kinds of respects. He himself paid the price of my passage, and gave me a gift of many precious things which I still keep, because I could not bring myself to sell them, in memory of this excellent king of Serendib.
After bidding farewell to the king and to all the friends I had made during my stay in this charming island, I embarked on the ship, which immediately set sail. We set out with a good wind, trusting in the mercy of Allah, and we sailed from island to island and from sea to sea, until we arrived, by the grace of Allah, safely, to Basra, whence I hastened to Baghdad, with my riches and the present destined for the caliphate.
So, first of all, I went to the palace of the Emir of the Faithful, and I was ushered into the reception hall. So I kissed the land in the hands of the caliph, gave him the letter and the presents and told him my adventure in all its details. When the caliph had finished reading the letter of the king of Serendib and had examined the presents, he asked me if this king was as rich and as powerful as his letter and his presents indicated. I answered: “O emir of the Believers, I can testify that the king of Serendib does not exaggerate. Moreover, to his power and wealth he adds a great sense of justice, and governs his people wisely. He is the only kadi in his kingdom, where moreover the people are so peaceful that they never have disputes between them! Truly, this king is worthy of your friendship, O Emir of the Faithful!"
The caliph was satisfied with my words and said to me: “The letter that I have just read and your speech prove to me that the king of Serendib is an excellent man who is not unaware of the precepts of wisdom and good manners. Happy the people whom he governs!" Then the caliph presented me with a robe of honor and rich gifts, and loaded me with consideration and prerogatives, and wanted that my history be written by the most skillful scribes to be preserved in the archives of the reign.
So I withdrew, and ran to my street and to my house, where I lived in the midst of riches and honors, in the midst of my relatives and my friends, forgetting my past tribulations and thinking only of enjoying all the goods life could procure for me.
And such is my story during this sixth journey. But tomorrow, O my hosts, Allah willing, I will tell you the story of my seventh journey, which is more wonderful and more astonishing and more full of wonders than the other six put together.
And Sindbad the Sailor had the tablecloth spread out for the feast and served dinner to his guests, including Sindbad the Porter, to whom he gave, before his departure, a hundred gold pieces as on other days. And the porter retired to his home, marveling at all he had just heard. Then, the next day, he said his morning prayer and returned to the palace of Sindbad the Sailor.
At this point in her narration, Sheherazade saw the morning appear and quietly fell silent.
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