The Arabian Nights Entertainments - Complete eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 1,940 pages of information about The Arabian Nights Entertainments.

The Arabian Nights Entertainments - Complete eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 1,940 pages of information about The Arabian Nights Entertainments.

The prince obeyed the commands of the Oone, who having first stopped his rider’s ears with cotton, mounted into the air, and after soaring for some hours descended; when the prince found himself in the island of Kafoor, and near the desired garden.  Having alighted from the shoulders of the generous Oone, he examined the spot, beheld groves, blooming shrubs, flowers bordering clear streams, and beautiful birds chanting various melodies.  The Oone said, “Behold the object, of thy search, enter the garden!” Upon this the prince left him, passed the gate, which was open, and entered.  He walked on every quarter, and depending from the branches of flowering shrubs saw cages holding a variety of beautiful birds, two birds in each cage.

The prince took down a large cage, and having examined the birds, placed in it such as pleased him to the number of six, with which he was preparing to leave the garden; when at the gate a watchman met him, who cried out loudly, “A robber! a robber!” Instantly numerous guards rushing out, seized the prince, bound, and carried him before the sultan, to whom they complained, saying, “We found in the garden this young man, carrying off a cage with six birds.  He must certainly be a robber.”

The sultan addressed the prince, saying, “What induced thee, youthful stranger, to violate my property, trespass on the garden, and attempt stealing these birds?” The prince returned no answer:  upon which the sultan exclaimed, “Young man, thou art verging upon death; yet still, if thy soul is bent upon having these birds, bring me from the Black Island some bunches of grapes, which are composed of emeralds and diamonds, and I will give thee six birds in addition to those thou hast stolen.”  Having said this, the sultan released the prince, who repaired to his generous friend the Oone, whom he informed of the unlucky conclusion of his adventure.  “Our task is an easy one,” answered the Oone; “mount upon my shoulders.”

The prince did as he was desired, and after two hours flight the Oone descended and alighted, when the prince found himself in the Black Island.  He immediately advanced towards the garden in which was the fruit composed of emeralds and diamonds.  On the way a monster met him of terrible appearance.

The monster sprung at the prince, who, with surprising agility, drawing his sword, wounded the furious beast on the forehead with such effect, that, uttering a dreadful groan, he fell dead at his feet.  It happened, by divine decree, that the sultan’s daughter looking from a window of the haram, beheld the combat, and, stricken with the manly beauty and prowess of the prince, exclaimed, “Who can withstand thy courage, or who resist thy all conquering charms?” But he did not see the princess, or hear her applause.

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The Arabian Nights Entertainments - Complete from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.