The Arabian Nights | Page 5

house was a father weeping for the loss of his daughter, in
another perhaps a mother trembling for the fate of her child; and instead of the blessings
that had formerly been heaped on the Sultan's head, the air was now full of curses.
The grand-vizir himself was the father of two daughters, of whom the elder was called
Scheherazade, and the younger Dinarzade. Dinarzade had no particular gifts to
distinguish her from other girls, but her sister was clever and courageous in the highest
degree. Her father had given her the best masters in philosophy, medicine, history and the
fine arts, and besides all this, her beauty excelled that of any girl in the kingdom of
Persia.
One day, when the grand-vizir was talking to his eldest daughter, who was his delight and
pride, Scheherazade said to him, "Father, I have a favour to ask of you. Will you grant it
to me?"
"I can refuse you nothing," replied he, "that is just and reasonable."
"Then listen," said Scheherazade. "I am determined to stop this barbarous practice of the
Sultan's, and to deliver the girls and mothers from the awful fate that hangs over them."
"It would be an excellent thing to do," returned the grand-vizir, "but how do you propose
to accomplish it?"
"My father," answered Scheherazade, "it is you who have to provide the Sultan daily with
a fresh wife, and I implore you, by all the affection you bear me, to allow the honour to
fall upon me."
"Have you lost your senses?" cried the grand-vizir, starting back in horror. "What has put
such a thing into your head? You ought to know by this time what it means to be the
sultan's bride!"
"Yes, my father, I know it well," replied she, "and I am not afraid to think of it. If I fail,
my death will be a glorious one, and if I succeed I shall have done a great service to my
country."

"It is of no use," said the grand-vizir, "I shall never consent. If the Sultan was to order me
to plunge a dagger in your heart, I should have to obey. What a task for a father! Ah, if
you do not fear death, fear at any rate the anguish you would cause me."
"Once again, my father," said Scheherazade, "will you grant me what I ask?"
"What, are you still so obstinate?" exclaimed the grand-vizir. "Why are you so resolved
upon your own ruin?"
But the maiden absolutely refused to attend to her father's words, and at length, in despair,
the grand-vizir was obliged to give way, and went sadly to the palace to tell the Sultan
that the following evening he would bring him Scheherazade.
The Sultan received this news with the greatest astonishment.
"How have you made up your mind," he asked, "to sacrifice your own daughter to me?"
"Sire," answered the grand-vizir, "it is her own wish. Even the sad fate that awaits her
could not hold her back."
"Let there be no mistake, vizir," said the Sultan. "Remember you will have to take her life
yourself. If you refuse, I swear that your head shall pay forfeit."
"Sire," returned the vizir. "Whatever the cost, I will obey you. Though a father, I am also
your subject." So the Sultan told the grand-vizir he might bring his daughter as soon as he
liked.
The vizir took back this news to Scheherazade, who received it as if it had been the most
pleasant thing in the world. She thanked her father warmly for yielding to her wishes, and,
seeing him still bowed down with grief, told him that she hoped he would never repent
having allowed her to marry the Sultan. Then she went to prepare herself for the marriage,
and begged that her sister Dinarzade should be sent for to speak to her.
When they were alone, Scheherazade addressed her thus:
"My dear sister; I want your help in a very important affair. My father is going to take me
to the palace to celebrate my marriage with the Sultan. When his Highness receives me, I
shall beg him, as a last favour, to let you sleep in our chamber, so that I may have your
company during the last night I am alive. If, as I hope, he grants me my wish, be sure that
you wake me an hour before the dawn, and speak to me in these words: "My sister, if you
are not asleep, I beg you, before the sun rises, to tell me one of your charming stories."
Then I shall begin, and I hope by this means to deliver the people from the terror that
reigns over them." Dinarzade replied that she would do with pleasure what her sister
wished.
When